When it comes to inviting, relaxing breaks, we have the ideal holiday for you...
Whether you’re looking for a romantic break for two, a family holiday or getting away with friends, Daish’s Holidays offers 12 hotels in 10 of the most popular UK destinations. Our fleet of 35 luxury coaches provide return travel in comfort and style from your pick up point and will take you directly to your hotel, aiming to arrive between 3 – 5pm.
If you’d like to get out and about to explore the local area on your holiday, then all of our breaks can also be booked on a self-drive basis so you’ve got the freedom of having your own car.
Every break includes:
Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice
We are proud to announce that six of our group – County, Devonshire, Abbey Lawn, Bournemouth Sands, Daish’s, Imperial – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award for 2023.
Local pick up points from make it easy to get away.
All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s).
Blackpool Illuminations Tinsel and Turkey Break
Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/double rooms with sole occupancy. Optional local excursions can be booked at the hotel. Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates available in 2024. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown. Offer ends 31th August 2024
Daish’s Hotel
and fatty tissues behind the eye become inflamed. This can cause the eyes and eyelids to become red, swollen and uncomfortable and the eyes can be pushed forward (‘staring’ or ‘bulging’ eyes).
What will an optician test for and check (beyond long and short sightedness)?
6. Thyroid eye disease: Thyroid eye disease is a condition in which the eye muscles, eyelids, tear glands and fatty tissues behind the eye become inflamed. This can cause the eyes and eyelids to become red, swollen and uncomfortable and the eyes can be pushed forward (‘staring’ or ‘bulging’ eyes).
6. Thyroid eye disease: Thyroid eye disease is a condition in which the eye muscles, eyelids, tear glands and fatty tissues behind the eye become inflamed. This can cause the eyes and eyelids to become red, swollen and uncomfortable and the eyes can be pushed forward (‘staring’ or ‘bulging’ eyes).
What will an optician test for and check (beyond long and short sightedness)?
“A close inspection of the lens, retina and optic nerve can reveal a host of disorders, high blood pressure and diabetes among them, even if the patient feels fine and shows no other symptoms.
What will an optician test for and check (beyond long and short sightedness)?
“A close inspection of the lens, retina and optic nerve can reveal a host of disorders, high blood pressure and diabetes among them, even if the patient feels fine and shows no other symptoms.
“There are lots of age-related eye conditions, including cataracts and glaucoma, that an eye examination can also identify at an early stage – so it is crucial to get your eyes test regularly, especially as you get older.
“A close inspection of the lens, retina and optic nerve can reveal a host of disorders, high blood pressure and diabetes among them, even if the patient feels fine and shows no other symptoms.
“There are lots of age-related eye conditions, including cataracts and glaucoma, that an eye examination can also identify at an early stage – so it is crucial to get your eyes test regularly, especially as you get older.
“There are lots of age-related eye conditions, including cataracts and glaucoma, that an eye examination can also identify at an early stage – so it is crucial to get your eyes test regularly, especially as you get older.
“Many opticians will carry out an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan as part of the eye examination. This hospital-quality scan uses cutting-edge technology to look more closely at your retina. OCT technology uses light waves to take images of your retina; similar to how an ultrasound scan uses sound waves. During an OCT scan, you will be asked to sit in front of a small machine with your chin placed on a support. The instrument then takes a picture of your eyes, revealing to the optician what is going on beneath the surface of the eye. They will review this information as part of your eye examination.
Travel
IN THIS ISSUE
2-3
6-7
GREAT VALUE 5 DAY HALF BOARD BREAKS from Daish’s Holidays
TWITTERING ON By Angela Kelly
9-9 TRAVEL
Enchanted by Scotland’s idyllic Highlands and Islands
12-13 CELEBRITY FEATURE
Nicole Kidman, winning awards and hearts
18-19 HOME
Open up your home this Summer
22-23 GARDEN
Make the most of your outdoor space
24-27 FOOD
“Headaches could also be a sign that you need to pay your eyes some attention – eye strain (either from an outdated prescription or too much time spent looking at a screen), can lead to headaches. If you are experiencing headaches regularly it can be easy to overlook eyes as the root cause.
Effortless recipes in just one pot
28-29 WE’LL GET YOU SMILING
Quality care you can trust
“It really is important to book an eye examination if anything at all is concerning you.
“Many opticians will carry out an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan as part of the eye examination. This hospital-quality scan uses cutting-edge technology to look more closely at your retina. OCT technology uses light waves to take images of your retina; similar to how an ultrasound scan uses sound waves. During an OCT scan, you will be asked to sit in front of a small machine with your chin placed on a support. The instrument then takes a picture of your eyes, revealing to the optician what is going on beneath the surface of the eye. They will review this information as part of your eye examination.
ENCHANTED BY SCTOLAND’S IDYLLIC HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS
“Many opticians will carry out an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan as part of the eye examination. This hospital-quality scan uses cutting-edge technology to look more closely at your retina. OCT technology uses light waves to take images of your retina; similar to how an ultrasound scan uses sound waves. During an OCT scan, you will be asked to sit in front of a small machine with your chin placed on a support. The instrument then takes a picture of your eyes, revealing to the optician what is going on beneath the surface of the eye. They will review this
“Headaches could also be a sign that you need to pay your eyes some attention – eye strain (either from an outdated prescription or too much time spent looking at a screen), can lead to headaches. If you are experiencing headaches regularly it can be easy to overlook eyes as the root cause.
“An optician will also ask you questions about your general health in order to build up an overall picture if your lifestyle and any issues they should be aware of.
“An optician will also ask you questions about your general health in order to build up an overall picture if your lifestyle and any
“Other common stages of an eye exam include tonometry test –this uses puffs of air to measure pressure inside your eye, again this can help to identify any early signs of glaucoma. A slit lamp is used to check the health of your cornea, your iris and your lens. Your optician will use a powerful microscope to assess each eye.
“An optician will also ask you questions about your general health in order to build up an overall picture if your lifestyle and any
A good option for plant lovers is a pergola. It’s a feature in itself but growing your favourite climber up it quite literally takes the look to another level. One fast-growing option is Trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine), which has evergreen
“Headaches could also be a sign that you need to pay your eyes some attention – eye strain (either from an outdated prescription or too much time spent looking at a screen), can lead to headaches. If you are experiencing headaches regularly it can be easy to overlook eyes as the root cause.
“It really is important to book an eye examination if anything at all is concerning you.
Bridgeman House
For more advice visit www.essilor.co.uk
“It really is important to book an eye examination if anything at all is concerning you.
A good option for plant lovers is a pergola. It’s a feature in itself but growing your favourite climber up it quite literally takes the look to another level. One fast-growing option is Trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine), which has evergreen
For more advice visit www.essilor.co.uk
J. Child & Son Ltd Monumental Masons
A good option for plant lovers is a pergola. It’s a feature in itself but growing your favourite climber up it quite literally takes the look to another level. One fast-growing option is Trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine), which has evergreen
“The sight part of the test is known as refraction – this is where the optician will ask you to read letters on a chart in front of you whilst different lenses are out in front of your eyes to fine tune
“Other common stages of an eye exam include tonometry test –this uses puffs of air to measure pressure inside your eye, again this can help to identify any early signs of glaucoma. A slit lamp is used to check the health of your cornea, your iris and your lens. Your optician will use a powerful microscope to assess each eye.
“Other common stages of an eye exam include tonometry test –this uses puffs of air to measure pressure inside your eye, again this can help to identify any early signs of glaucoma. A slit lamp is used to check the health of your cornea, your iris and your lens. Your optician will use a powerful microscope to assess each eye.
“The sight part of the test is known as refraction – this is where the optician will ask you to read letters on a chart in front of you whilst different lenses are out in front of your eyes to fine tune your prescription
What should prompt you to go for an eye test –bearing in mind this may not be just for sight, but if you are worried about anything else?
“The sight part of the test is known as refraction – this is where the optician will ask you to read letters on a chart in front of you whilst different lenses are out in front of your eyes to fine tune
What should prompt you to go for an eye test –bearing in mind this may not be just for sight, but
redness and discomfort for more than a couple of days then you should get your eyes tested. Symptoms such as eye pain, burning, blurred / double vision, floaters with flashing lights and droopy
What should prompt you to go for an eye test –bearing in mind this may not be just for sight, but
redness and discomfort for more than a couple of days then you should get your eyes tested. Symptoms such as eye pain, burning, blurred / double vision, floaters with flashing lights and droopy
“Redness and irritation are often an early warning signal that your eyes could do with a bit more looking after. This can be caused by a range of factors including fatigue, allergies, over-wearing contact lenses or an infection such as conjunctivitis. Your option
redness and discomfort for more than a couple of days then you should get your eyes tested. Symptoms such as eye pain, burning, blurred / double vision, floaters with flashing lights and droopy eyelids could all be signs that something isn’t right.
“Redness and irritation are often an early warning signal that your eyes could do with a bit more looking after. This can be caused by a range of factors including fatigue, allergies, over-wearing contact lenses or an infection such as conjunctivitis. Your option can advise and recommend treatment if it’s needed.
“Redness and irritation are often an early warning signal that your eyes could do with a bit more looking after. This can be caused by a range of factors including fatigue, allergies, over-wearing contact lenses or an infection such as conjunctivitis. Your option can advise and recommend treatment if it’s needed.
J. Child & Son Ltd Monumental Masons
Help and Advice Freely Given, Home Visits, Detailed Brochure
l Distinctive Memorials in a Wide Choice of Materials
J. Child & Son Ltd Monumental Masons
Help and Advice Freely Given, Home Visits, Detailed Brochure
l Style and Ornamentation to Personal Specification
l Large Display of Vases and Statues
l Inscriptions in any Language
l Distinctive Memorials in a Wide Choice of Materials
l Cleaning and Renovations
Help and Advice Freely Given, Home Visits, Detailed Brochure
l Memorial Insurance
l Style and Ornamentation to Personal Specification
l Maintenance Contracts
l Large Display of Vases and Statues
l Distinctive Memorials in a Wide Choice of Materials
l Inscriptions in any Language
l Cleaning and Renovations
446 Blackburn Road ASTLEY BRIDGE
l Style and Ornamentation to Personal Specification
l Memorial Insurance
BOLTON BL1 8NL
l Large Display of Vases and Statues
l Maintenance Contracts
Tel/Fax 01204 309189
l Inscriptions in any Language
l Cleaning and Renovations
515 Bury Road
Blackburn Road
l Memorial Insurance
ROCHDALE OL11 4DG
l Maintenance Contracts
Tel/Fax 01706 645993
BRIDGE BOLTON BL1 8NL
Tel/Fax 01204 309189 515 Bury Road
ROCHDALE OL11 4DG
Tel/Fax 01706 645993
8NL Tel/Fax 01204 309189 515 Bury Road
OL11 4DG Tel/Fax 01706 645993
jenny@jchildmemorials.co.uk
TWITTERING ON
By Angela Kelly - because x’ing on doesn’t
sound quite the same
Are they really “boring” tourist attractions?
A QUICK glance at what are rated the top 100 most boring tourist attractions in the world is a revelation.
Not just because our possibly world-weary, techy children and young people may be hard to please or that, from the sounds of reviews, some attractions are cobbled together with sticking plaster.
No. The surprise is the variety of places that come under the banner of “tourist attraction.”
The ranking was created by Solitaire and drawn up by an analysis of 66.7 million Google reviews of 3,290 popular tourist attractions worldwide in 384 cities across 72 countries. In other words, comprehensive.
That unwanted top spot went to the Branson Scenic Railway in Missouri, USA, scoring a boredom rating of five out of five. Shrek’s Adventure London ranked eighth and the London Dungeon twelfth. The Torture Museum in Amsterdam was 18th ,the Museum of Death in New Orleans 41st and the Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours & Oddities Parlor in San Antonio in Texas 99th.
I like the sound of the International UFO Museum and Research Centre in Roswell in New Mexico (a disappointing 17th) and the National Leprechaun Museum of Ireland in Dublin (38th).
However, I can’t imagine what the Meow Wolf Denver Convergence Station has to offer – perhaps not quite a howling success at 73rd on the list.
Most of the attractions deemed boring appear to be in America and the UK gets off quite lightly (or generally has fascinating, good value attractions).
Our children and grandchildren have been brought up going to various homegrown and international tourist attractions so their opinions really count for something. However, “boring” is still a very subjective concept.
Good luck to our dedicated Olympians!
VERY soon the Paris Olympic Games will be upon us and athletes of all kinds and disciplines will be filling our TV screens and newspaper headlines.
I’ve always admired anyone at the top of their sport because the amount of dedication they need to succeed is truly amazing. They routinely sacrifice any sort of home and social life to training and still never lose their hunger for winning.
So it’s good to see British swimmer Adam Peaty returning to worldclass competition after taking time away last year.
Then, he had physical concerns and worries about his mental health and did exactly the right thing by stepping back from the sport that had absorbed such a large part of his life and where he’d been so successful.
Now, though, he wants to defend his Olympic title and win a third straight breaststroke gold medal as part of the 33-strong Team GB swimming team in Paris.
He certainly looks well and in good form and states: “Over the whole history of the Olympics it’s almost unheard of to do three in a row.” So he’s certainly motivated and sounds in a good place mentally.
All good luck to him and all the GB teams this Summer. You really are all winners to get to the Olympics at all and we’re sure you’ll do us proud.
Raquel’s bikini finds a new home
ACTRESS Raquel Welch, who died earlier this year at 82, was an icon of the screen.
OK, she was no Judi Dench when it came to acting honours, but she was always entertaining to watch and had fans across the world.
Iconic posters of her in the comedy film One Million Years BC as a scantily clad cavewoman (they weren’t always big on historical fact during those golden years of Hollywood) became one of the most popular posters of all time.
So it was interesting to see that an auction of her wardrobe items in Los Angeles recently included this “costume” which was, in effect, a couple of pieces of fake fur stitched together.
This raised $13,000 (£10,000) and it would be fascinating to know where it ended up. Definitely not adorning the average female form on a shopping trip to Tesco.
It’s a sad goodbye to Our Vera
IT’S a real shame to learn that ITV is not planning to make any more episodes of the detective series Vera.
The brilliant Brenda Blethyn has been the quirky character of the title for the past 14 years and the series has racked up thousands of contented viewers.
The series is based on the character created by author Ann Cleeves and was first broadcast in May, 2011.
Viewers quickly warmed to Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope with her sensible shoes, drab coat and hat and mind like a bacon-slicer.
We will definitely miss those compelling storylines and her liberal use of the word “pet” when talking to everyone from Chief Constables to suspected murderers.
We will also miss the stunning Northumberland scenery that features regularly here. Sweeping shots of those fabulous moors must have done wonders for the tourist industry in the North-east. While TV programmes do have a shelf-life, it’s sad that there won’t be new mysteries to puzzle the brain-cells and be solved by our Vera.
So much more than just a good story
IT’S more than 20 years since the film Calendar Girls introduced the feisty Yorkshire Women’s Institute members who shed their clothes for a charity calendar to a wider audience.
It is, however, much more than just a fascinating story based on reallife. The actual calendars, the film and the stage musical have helped to raise more than £6 million for blood cancer charities both here and in the USA.
And, listening to a funny and touching talk at a charity lunch recently by one of the original Calendar Girls Tricia Stuart – on whom Helen Mirren’s role is based - it’s easy to see that it has changed more than just lives.
The decision of these brave women to create an alternative WI calendar altered opinions of the WI itself for the better and revelolutionised perceptions of middle-aged women forever.
The Calendar Girls proved that they were so much more than just a good story and we owe them a real vote of thanks.
Enchanted by Scotland’s idyllic Highlands and Islands
Taking a small ship cruise with luxury liner Hebridean Island Cruises, Silver Travel writer Kerry Gallagher sees Scotland in style and comfort.
Arriving in Oban, we boarded the 48-passenger Lord of the Highlands – a sleek, attractive ship which has been completely transformed from its former life as an Aegean ferry. It now boasts just three decks, 19 cabins, a comfortable lounge and stylish restaurant.
In our spacious cabin there were subtle splashes of Scottish touches, from the tartan soft furnishings to a tray of whisky on the dresser and, of course, the delicious Scottish shortbread biscuits! We feel at home in no time and quickly find ourselves on first name terms with not only the onboard team and crew, but our fellow guests too.
From ship to shore
Over the course of the week, we’d weave our way through some of Scotland’s most impressive landscapes. Our daily routine became second nature. The mornings were spent enjoying a delicious hearty breakfast in the Caledonia Restaurant, followed by a relaxing few hours at sea, where we could soak in the scenery, unwind with a book and even indulge in a treat or two served up by the wonderful onboard team. Our afternoons took us to an array of pretty port towns, small seaside villages, and idyllic islands which were a delight to discover.
Our itinerary started on the beautiful Isle of Skye with a stop in the colourful capital of Portree. The iconic brightly painted houses lining the shore were a sight to behold and further out across the bay mountains framed the dramatic backdrop. Here we wandered the shops and admired the views – made all the better thanks to some unseasonably sunny weather. Afterwards we hopped back across to the mainland for a visit to Eilean Donan – a fully resorted castle dating back to the 13th century and the setting for a showdown during the Jacobite risings which ultimately led to its destruction in 1719. It wasn’t until 1911 that the rebuild began and, over 20 years, it was restored to its glory.
Heading further north we made our way to Gairloch, which is a tourist hotspot during the summer months, but we managed to enjoy the best of both worlds – lovely weather without the crowds! There’s so much to explore in and around this area from a beautiful waterfall walk to quirky art galleries and the excursion over to Inverewe Gardens is a must – the rhododendrons were just coming into bloom showering the gardens in colour.
Eilean Donan
Our journey continued back onto the Isle of Skye with a visit to Armadale Castle. The ruins of the country estate stand proud on the water’s edge surrounded by well-kept gardens and a fascinating museum telling the tales of times gone by and the former residents – the oldest and most powerful of Scotland’s clans – Clan Donald.
The next stop was a real eye opener… the UK’s most remote village which has absolutely no road access, and is only accessible from the water, or a 17-mile hike across mountainous terrain! It’s a unique little village and unlike anywhere I have ever visited.
The Isle of Mull was to be our last, but certainly not least, stop of the week. And what better place to start our time on the island than in Tobermory. I could happily have spent much longer in this pretty port, again framed by its iconic colourful houses. The main street is awash with shops, restaurants, cafes, galleries, and museums.
The next day we ventured further into the Isle of Mull – which is just breathtakingly beautiful – over to the sacred Isle of Iona. This tiny island off the southwest coast of Mull is delightfully picturesque. No visit would be complete without spending some time at the Abbey. Set in a peaceful location, the imposing building dates back to 563 and has an intriguing tale to tell from surviving Viking attacks to its disuse after the Reformation, and subsequent rebirth.
Looking back, it’s almost impossible to believe we fit so much into one short week. But the pace of the cruise never felt rushed, there was plenty of time to relax, and we had free time in all ports to do as we pleased. It really was a very special and unique way to see such remote and beautiful parts of our country.
Next steps
If you’d like more information on Hebridean Island Cruises and the itineraries available to explore Scotland, call Silver Travel Advisor on 0800 412 5678.
Isle of Iona
Established in 2016 we offer fantastic holidays in the UK and across Europe. With fabulous excursions, quality hotel accommodation, executive coaches and top class tour drivers, a trip with AVA Travel is one to remember! We also have a huge selection of UK day trips to suit every traveller. AVA are committed to making the whole process of taking a holiday with us as easy and pain free as possible.
OVER 200 HOLIDAYS AND SHORT BREAKS TO CHOOSE FROM!
VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR CALL OUR FRIENDLY TEAM TO ORDER YOUR FREE BROCHURE TODAY!
HOME PICK UP & DROP OFF INCLUDED ON ALL OUR HOLIDAYS*
Ava Travel Leyland Ltd
WARNERS NIDD HALL, YORKSHIRE
Join us as we head to Nidd Hall on the outskirts of Harrogate!
Tour Details:
Enjoy the fabulous facilities of our Warner Leisure Hotel, which include indoor pool sauna & steam. Also Includes half day tour to Harrogate for free time and a full day tour of the historic walled city of York.
Our Journey home includes a stop in Skipton and a cruise on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
Book Now:
Don't miss this fantastic break, call the team on 01772 622222 for more details or to book your
Cork Coast and the Ring of Kerry has it all! This breathtaking area is filled with the tallest mountains in the country, rolling green hills, sparkling lakes, sandy beaches and jaw-dropping cliffs.
Enjoy exploring Cork, visit Bantry House & Gardens, and a boat trip to Garish Island to see its colony of Seals. Visit Kenmare’s Derreen Gardens, and enjoy a scenic journey around the Ring of Kerry with wonderful stops and photo opportunities along the way!
Book Now: 01772 622222
Join us and make wonderful memories as we head north to Scotland! This Ava Travel customer favourite is the ultimate island-hopping experience covering the islands of Skye, North Uist, Banbecula, Sout Uist and Barra.
Tour Details: A fantastic tour that is set to make you fall in love with the stunning views to be found in the Hebrides. With lots to explore there is plenty for everybody!
Book Now: Call the team on 01772 622222
Join us as we head to Brugge for our Christmas Market tour. Explore the picturesque, chocolate-box city from our 4* luxury boutique hotel just a short walk from the centre.
Tour Details:
Get into the festive spirit with this fantastic tour. Enjoy some Christmas shopping, take in the festive sights & sounds or take a horse-drawn carriage ride. Be sure to visit De Witte Pelikkan, the magical all year round Christmas Shop
Book Now: Don't miss this fantastic break, call the team on 01772 622222
NICOLE KIDMAN WINNING AWARDS AND HEARTS
NICOLE Kidman is an actress who has never rested on either her looks or her laurels.
Tall (5’ 11”), blonde and slender with modelesque stature, her success story could have been quite different. But the elegant young woman chose a challenging path instead and has carved out a stellar career that has seen her winning awards and hearts all over the world.
She was actually born in Honolulu, Hawaii while her Australian parents were on educational visas there. Her father was a biochemist and clinical psychologist and her mother a nursing instructor.
Shortly after her birth, the family moved back to Washington DC and three years later returned to the Kidman seniors’ native Sydney, Australia where young Nicole was raised.
Her first love was ballet but she took up mime and drama and in her adolescent years acting became her sole interest. She eventually dropped out of high school to pursue an acting career and landed her first film role at 16 in Aussie holiday favourite Bush Christmas in 1983.
That appearance prompted film and TV offers including a lead in BMX Bandits and a role in TV miniseries Vietnam in 1987, for which she won her first Australian Film Institute award.
With the help of an American agent, she made her US debut three years later opposite Billy Zane in smash-hit thriller Dead Calm, introducing her to a whole new audience worldwide.
It was her next big film, Days of Thunder in 1990, however, which really changed her life.
In this racetrack romance, she played opposite heartthrob Tom Cruise. The couple fell for each other on and off-set and, after a whirlwind romance, married in 1990.
Determined to carry on her own on-screen career, Nicole next appeared as a catty high school senior in the Australian coming of age film Flirting in 1991. The same year, she was Dustin Hoffman’s moll in gangster movie Billy Bathgate.
She reunited with Tom Cruise for the 1992 film Far and Away as young Irish lovers fleeing to America in the late 1800s before starring opposite Michael Keaton in tearjerker My Life in 1993.
She was an effective leading lady opposite Val Kilmer’s Batman in 1995 film Batman Forever but it was Gus Van Sant’s film To Die For that began to show audiences Nicole’s wider skills.
In this tale of a murderous newscaster, largely told to camera, she showed real comic timing and earned thousands of new fans. She also won a Golden Globe and several critics’ awards for the role as she entered a new period of acknowledged versatility.
The following year, she worked on Jane Campion’s adaptation of Henry James’s The Portrait of a Lady and a few months later moved completely away from period drama to star as a nuclear weapons’ expert opposite George Clooney in The Peacemaker. Now she was also an action star.
In 1998, she joined Sandra Bullock in romantic comedy Practical Magic involging two witch sisters. She returned to the stage the same year for the David Hare play The Blue Room, which opened in London and for which she received a Laurence Olivier award nomination for Best Actress.
She hit the headlines when she teamed up with Cruise once more for Stanley Kubrick’s controversial sexual thriller Eyes Wide Shut in 1999.
Unfortunately, the headlines continued not long afterwards as she and Cruise divorced.
Nicole later returned to the screen to play a mail-order bride in Birthday Girl. Then in 2001, she took the role of cabaret actress and courtesan Satine in Baz Luhrmann’s lavish, impressive musical Moulin Rouge! opposite Ewan McGregor.
Her performance, including her singing, received positive reviews and she received her second Gold Globe Best Actress Award and her first Academy Award.
The awards kept coming with her next film, psychological horror flick The Others. The following year was another complete change of role when she portrayed Virginia Woolf in Stephen Daldry’s The Hours, alongside Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore.
Always keen to challenge stereotypes, she wore nose prosthetics as the English author during the 1920s, winning more awards including an Oscar for the brave portrayal.
In 2004, she courted controversy in drama film Birth and the same year joined a starry cast including Mathew Broderick, Bette Midler, Christopher Walken and Glenn Close in the black comedy sci-fi film remake of The Stepford Wives.
The following year, she starred in the Sydney Pollack thriller The Interpreter and then played opposite Will Ferrell in romantic comedy Bewitched, based on the famous 1960s sitcom of the same name.
She lent her voice to a character in animated box-office smash Happy Feet, starred in fantasy adventure The Golden Compass and in 2008 was back with director Baz Luhrmann for the sweeping period film Australia opposite Hugh Jackman.
By 2010, she had moved into production, as executive producer and star of the film adaptation of Pullitzer Prize-winning play Rabbit Hole.
Films following that included opposite Colin Firth in BritishAustralian historical drama The Railway Man, the live-action animated comedy Paddington and the role of Queen Atlanna in hit movie Aquaman. She reprised this popular role in the 2023 Aquaman sequel.
Her working life now is a combination of production and acting in film and TV projects including this year in animated film Spellbound.
She married Australian and American country music star Keith Urban 18 years ago and they have two children.
A woman of strong family values, at 57 she is a star who knows herself and where she wants her career path to lead while still relishing artistic and personal challenges.
Accepting her Academy Award for The Hours, she stated: “I am standing in front of my mother, and my whole life I have wanted to make my mother proud.
“And now I’m going to make my daughter proud.”
Perhaps that sums up the kind of strong role model that Nicole has always been and just what is important in the life of this very untypical Hollywood star.
Bringing families together
EMBRACE the freedom of owning a caravan
With so many beautiful landscapes and exciting attractions on your doorstep now’s the time to hitch up and hit the road. Whether it’s by rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, rolling hills or sparkling rivers, new adventures are ahead of you and memories are waiting to be made.
Let us help you prepare for your next adventure – with hundreds of new and quality used caravans and motorhomes to choose from and the support of a friendly experienced team we can guide you to the perfect vehicle for your dreams.
The experts at our long established family business are on hand to help everyone from first-timers to experienced caravanners and we welcome thousands of new and returning customers every year as they keep their caravan in tip top condition and stock up on awnings and accessories.
DOOR TO D OO R COACH TOURS 2 02 3
WE DO THINGS A BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN OUR RIVALS.
If you’ve never tried coach holidays before, why not let
All our tours include our ‘Door to Door’ service. That means that you are picked up by a taxi or small minibus right from your front door. No feeders, no interchanges, no changing coaches, no changing drivers and definately no hassle!
We’ve been established for over 120 yearsso we know a bit about coaching holidays!
www.ellensmith.co.uk
WE ARE FINANCIALLY SECURE.
We are members of the Bonded Coach Holiday group overseen by The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Ltd. This is a Government Approved Protection Scheme.
Y FINANCIAL
And use some excellent privately-owned hotels. r n coaches ans matu
HOW DOES IT WORK? we e
We use a wide range of mainly 3 and 4 star hotels, some privately owned many part of larger chains. All entrances and excursions are included in the price stated.
WE’RE OFF ON HOLID
We use modern executive coaches and all our drivers are experienced, mature and
The same happens on the way back too, taxi back
All our customers are offered our coach specific insurance, pre existing medical conditions
WITHIN 30 MINUTES
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HEART OF WALES
The Metropole Hotel
THE ENGLISH RIVIERA - TORQUAY
HIDDEN CORNERS OF YORKSHIRE
NORTHUMBERLAND
TENBY & PEMBROKESHIRE
BOURNEMOUTH
Blackwell Grange Hotel
The Belgrave Sands Hotel & Spa ~ 4 Star
Mid-Wales is the green heart of Wales. The clears seas, bright harbours and hidden coves of the Ceredigion coastline give way to Red Kite filled skies, busy market towns and dramatic hills.
An award-winning resort where elegant Victorian villas, a bustling harbour and palm-
GLESGA GRUB
The Garfield House Hotel
This brand-new tour for 2024 samples some of Scotland’s most famous exports whilst taking in the area’s diverse landscapes. From the cityscapes of Glasgow, to the ‘Bonnie Banks’ of Loch Lomond and the weaving Ayrshire coastline, this tour has a bit of everything.
White Swan Alnwick
The Giltar Hotel, Tenby ~ 3 Star
For these holidays we stay in Tenby, with its pastel-coloured buildings, narrow streets,
Northumberland is a land of big adventures, breath taking beauty and unlimited possibilities. Discover romantically ruinous castles, barely visited beaches, bunting-strewn market towns, and enjoy endless
Mayfair Hotel~ 3 Star
A splendid variety of magnificent scenery and contrasting countryside, with quaint Yorkshire towns and villages. We enjoy a ride on the Wensleydale Railway, re-opened after 50 years, reliving rural railway travel as it used to be and relax with a boat trip on the Tees to Yarm.
With seven miles of golden sands and sparkling sea, the vibrant cosmopolitan town of Bournemouth has it all – a vast variety of shops and estaurants, endless countryside fering peace and d-winning ga
BEAUTIFUL
BEAUTIFUL KENT
The Orida Hotel
NORFOLK COAST & CITY
Best ~ 3 Star
Known as the Garden of England, Kent boasts beautiful beaches, stunning castles, exciting culture, and delicious food and drink. There are so many beautiful villages, towns, cities, and seasides to explore, we are spoilt for choice, but we think our itinerary will showcase the very best Kent has to offer.
The East Anglia coast is starkly beautiful, with mo contrast, we featu of Norwich, and the Norfo
Bells Hotel & Country Club ~ 3 Star
Based in the bustling seaside town of Oban, our tour explores the enchanting Inner Hebridean Islands of Mull and ancient Iona. We take in some stunning scenery as we travel along loch-side roads with towering mountains and visit iconic Inveraray
visits to historic towns. This is a place whe beaten track and escape the everyda
CUMBRIAN CAVALCADE
Crown & Mitre Hotel
SKEGNESS & THE BEST OF LINCOLNSHIRE
The Royal Hotel, Skegness ~ 3 Star
Experience the best of Lincolnshi historic towns and villages, a thriving seaside esort and ‘Bomber Country’ heritage.
Most people think of the Lake District when you mention Cumbria but there is life away from the Lakes. Some of the earliest stone circles in Britian, the remains of the Roman Empire, abbeys & priories, ancient churches, castles and pele towers, as well as spectacular scenery, can all be found in this beautiful part of the country.
THE ISLE OF PORTLAND & DORSET
natural and ruggedly beautiful. This unique tied
Chesil Beach. Its isolated location, quaint villages, and rocky, coastal scenery give the island its own
S E L E C TION O F O U R
A SELECTION OF OUR COACH TOURS 2024
C O A C H T O U R S 2 0 2 3
GREAT YARMOUTH
Palm Court Hotel
WINDSOR CASTLE & CRUISE THE THAMES
Based in Norfolk’s premier seaside resort, this is a holiday of many contrasts, from the hustle and bustle of a busy seaside resort to the relaxing calm of The Broads, to the historic City of Norwich and the quieter resorts and towns of the region.
The Bull Hotel, Gerrard’s Cross ~ 4 Star
A lovely tour as we discover the splendour of Royal Windsor and explore mighty Windsor Castle. Offering a welcome contrast, we also enjoy a relaxing cruise along the River Thames.
21st April | 5 Days | £489
YORK SHORT BREAK
Middleton’s Hotel
PICTURESQUE PEMBROKESHIRE & BEAUTIFUL GOWER
York is a city where ancient walls surround incredible attractions, shops, and eateries. York is unlike any other English city – there’s thirty worldclass museums for a start.
The Ivy Bush Royal Hotel, Car marthen ~ 3 Star
The natural beauty of the Pembrokeshire coast and the Gower Peninsula are famed all over the world. Glorious sandy beaches and rugged coastline give way to the Preseli Hills, historic towns, and little villages.
SOUTHPORT
The Waterfront Hotel
THE HISTORIC CITY OF WORCESTER & STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Fownes Hotel ~ 3 Star
Southport is a fun-loving seaside town with attractions for all, and an abundance of independent restaurants, and bars, making it a foodie’s haven. Whether it’s the historic Victorian architecture, iron Pier, or shops, there’s plenty to keep you occupied from our base just a short stroll from the heart of the town.
This is an area of literary greats, of culinary brilliance and iconic heritage. We enjoy the birthplace of William Shakespeare and a relaxing river cruise, the historic city of Worcester, and the beautiful scenic Cotswolds.
8th May | 5 Days | £439
ST ANNES ON SEA
St Ives Hotel
SOUTHSEA & CHICHESTER HARBOUR CRUISE
SANDBANKS IN AUTUMN Sandbanks
Hotel
SPRING, SOUTH SHIELDS & THE DURHAM COAST
Best Wester n Royal Beach Hotel ~ 3 Star
St Annes on Sea, on the Fylde Coast, offers a gentle and peaceful way of life. St Annes boasts a beautifully restored Victorian Pier, promenade with views across to North Wales, multi award-winning beach huts, a wide-open sandy beach, plenty of places to eat, and wonderful seaside charm.
A great tour for the summer – stroll along Southsea seafront, visit the historic cathedral city of Chichester and enjoy a relaxing harbour cruise and indulge with a gin tasting at Bombay Sapphire.
CORNISH DELIGHTS - LATE SUMMER
KENT, THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN OF ENGLAND
The Rosemundy House Hotel
Sandbanks, a small peninsula on the Dorset coast which contains some of the most expensive houses and land in the country. In fact, Sandbanks is becoming as famous for its well-known residents and lavish lifestyles of some of its occupants as it is for its beach!
The Little Haven Hotel ~ 3 Star
A great Spring tour based in South Shields overlooking the River Tyne and Little Haven Beach. We explore the scenic coastline before enjoying time in the historic city of Durham as well as a visit to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
25 h April | 5 Days | £439
SCARBOROUGH
DEVONSHIRE & ILFRACOMBE
The Park Manor Hotel
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel ~ 3 Star
Cornwall is in the far west of Great Britain on a peninsula tumbling into the vast Atlantic Ocean, almost completely surrounded by the sea. Cornwall is loved for its dramatic coastline, captivating fishing harbours and of course, its pasties and cream teas!
Best Wester n Plus Burlington Hotel ~ 4 Star
Known as the Garden of England, Kent boasts beautiful beaches, stunning castles, exciting culture, and delicious food & drink. Our tour is ideally based in Folkestone, and we include visits to some lovely coastal and inland towns
2nd May | 5 Days |
Scarborough enjoys an unrivalled position as one of Britain’s premier coastal resorts, yet also lies tantalisingly close to North Yorkshire’s rugged national park. You can enjoy golden beaches, superb parks and gardens, and a wide range of leisure amenities, which have given Scarborough its justifiable reputation.
A short break with excursions to interest everyone. We take in North Devon throughout with visits to interesting attractions which, when combined with our excellent hotel, makes this an enjoyable break. 8th
BOURNEMOUTH
BLACKPOOL
Marsham Court Hotel
The Doric Hotel ~ 3 Star
ISLE OF WIGHT
The Trouville Hotel
With seven miles of golden sands and sparkling sea, the vibrant cosmopolitan town of Bournemouth has it all – a vast variety of shops and restaurants, buzzing nightlife, endless countryside offering peace and relaxation and beautiful award-winning gardens.
A holiday in Blackpool will leave you feeling refreshed, relaxed and recharged – even if you are on the go 25 hours a day! Perhaps it’s the resort’s infectious zest for life, or maybe it’s just that, uniquely, whatever your routine, Blackpool can offer a perfect break from it.
9th May | 5 Days | £299
Rosemundy House Hotel AA ~ 4 Star
Boasting award-winning beaches, unspoilt and spectacular scenery and a rich, historical heritage, the Isle of Wight has something for everyone to enjoy. Discover picturesque villages, spectacular cliffs, and sandy beaches. Our base is Sandown, a traditional seaside resort with long stretches of beach and a Victorian pier.
Cornwall is in the far west of Great Britain on a peninsula tumbling into the vast Atlantic Ocean, almost completely surrounded by the sea. Cornwall is loved for its dramatic course, its pasties and cream teas!
13th May | 6 Days | £519
INTERESTED? 01706 648126 and request a copy of our 2024 brochure. You’ll be surprised at the variations of tours we operate. Visit our website www.ellensmith.co.uk
OPEN UP YOUR HOME THIS SUMMER
THE first signs of Spring and the onset of Summer make us want to throw open our doors and windows and welcome in sunlight and fresh air.
Just as Winter makes us want to close all the doors, pull the blinds down and the heavy curtains across and hunker down so these new seasons insist that we open up our homes and embrace the warmer weather.
It’s also a time when we relish the space in our homes and if we feel we need more, make plans. And a CONSERVATORY or ORANGERIE could be top of your list.
These smart glass structures are a great way of adding useful extra space to your home while bringing you closer to your garden and outside greenery.
If it’s below a certain size it can be built under permitted development rights but if it exceeds these limits you will need to apply for planning permission as it becomes an extension. So it’s certainly worth checking out the building regulations around conservatories.
Use a supplier whose work you have already seen and check on their website for reviews beforehand.
Considering exactly what you want this new space for should influence both your choice of conservatory and whether a building extension might be better.
Ensure a new conservatory blends in with your current home and with the adjoining rooms but do take a look at the very latest styles before you finally choose. Remember that old and new can look good together.
Another brilliant way to open up a room and bring the outside inside spectacularly is with BIFOLD DOORS
External bifold doors are a great way to open up a living space like the kitchen or living room areas. Choosing good quality materials helps prevent against warping or cracking and an installer with a proven reputation can ensure few problems and only pleasure ahead.
Going into Summer also highlights the WINDOWS of your home and if they’re looking drab, dull or just need replacing this is an excellent time to do it. This not only improves the value of your home but improves the quality of your lifestyle.
Upgrading from single glazing or outdated double glazing can also improve your home’s energy efficiency. Advanced thermal technology means that double glazing keeps your home at ideal temperatures all through the seasons.
Local companies have everything from sliding sash windows to casement windows. Dark window frames continue to be popular in 2024 with popular colours including deep blues, dark olive greens and sleek black.
Modern windows are also very streamlined and allow homeowners to enjoy their lovely views. Aluminium slimline frames are especially effective in enhancing views, with flush sash windows another minimalist option.
It may also be a good time to invest in some lighter, brighter CURTAINS. Thermal curtains come in all colours so look better for Summer and keep the room cool.
Lightweight voile curtains create an ethereal, softer effect in rooms like the lounge but you can still go for blackout curtains
for bedrooms where complete darkness offers a better chance of a good night’s sleep.
BLINDS may also be worth considering for a more contemporary look to your home. Roman blinds are ideal for small to medium-sized windows like a bedroom as they can gently filter light into the room or be customized with a blackout lining.
Electric blinds are now popular with many homeowners. They look clean and modern and can be controlled via a mobile phone, tablet, Alexa or Google Home so you can set timers to open and close them exactly when you want – perfect for when you’re on holiday.
Roller blinds are probably the easiest to install and still a very effective choice of window covering. They come in such a wide range of colours and patterns now that they can blend into any room’s décor and can be made from moisture-resistant materials for use in bathrooms and kitchens.
Wooden blinds have seen a surge in popularity and can look very stylish and vertical blinds are great for large windows and doors, creating a stylish appearance. They can also help to lower room temperatures during warmer months by reducing the amount of light coming into the home.
Take a fresh look at FLOOR COVERINGS to lighten up and expand a room. Go for new carpets in durable material and paler colours or for wooden flooring in a lighter, warmer wood. The latter really opens up a drab room and helps maximise light.
PAINTING walls a sunny shade like a lovely yellow will definitely bring the light into any room. Even a signature wall in such a bright shade makes a difference, especially teamed with complementary wallpaper for a whole new seasonal look.
In fact, it’s worth going outside your home to take a look at your property’s kerb appeal and seeing whether it needs a new coat of fresh, bright paint on the exterior. That brighter look just follows you into the home!
Or, bring the garden inside with plenty of PLANTS – whether hanging plants in high holders or just clusters of plant pots on a shelf in the lounge.
Large and lively PAINTINGS also bring fresh interest to larger rooms. Use a couple on one wall or put together several photographs of family and friends on another to refresh a plain room.
If you can afford to, swap heavy older FURNITURE for lighter, sleeker modern items like sofas or recliners.
These days, many main living rooms just boast a couple of really comfortable chairs which not only better reflect the way we live but also give that room far more space. Add a large TV screen, freestanding or on the wall, and you’ve got a much more contemporary look.
Be strategic with LIGHTING in your home. Modern lighting can be really bright, thanks to LED, so there’s no excuse for dark corners and you can highlight paintings or special features in any room with a spotlight to make evenings just as light and bright as those special days of Summer.
The Cost of Care Home Fees
As we get older, we hope for a healthy and active retirement, but we do need to consider our future care requirements such as the cost of care home fees and who should pay for these.
Our families share similar concerns, that care home fees will wipe out any inheritance, but often fees can be challenged and money recouped.
Solicitor, Mike Talbot, specialises in care home advice and has helped clients recover money by challenging the NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding scheme. From £4,000 to £100,000 Mike has been able to claim care costs back.
If you or a relative are in a nursing home because of mental or physical illness then you might be paying for something which could have been funded by the NHS, with the care provided either in a home or even in your own home.
“In 1999 a landmark ruling said the NHS was responsible for funding if the primary reason for extended care was a health
need, but each Primary Care Trust has its own procedures, so it is a bit of a postcode lottery,” says Mike.
Speaking about his cases he adds: “I have been able to claim fees back for healthcare and personal care costs, care home fees, board and accommodation, without other assets being taken into account.”
In one recent case, we recouped £70,000 when a daughter came to us following her mother’s death. She had resided in a care home for several years, but her care was only partially funded. The family firmly believed that due to the complex care needs
when funding was denied. Assisted by an application to review GP records and a thorough review of all medical records, we successfully built up a case for retrospective CHC funding.
“Sadly, our client’s mother had passed away, but a significant part of the estate was recovered, and it was something they should not have been paying,” added Mike.
“Cost of care is a huge financial burden and causes a great deal of worry and concern amongst families.”
Here’s what one of our clients had to say about our services:
“My father had significant health needs, he was eligible for funding, but I knew nothing about it, he was entitled to that money, he had worked hard all his life. Mr Talbot helped my family and my father get what he deserved.”
Care Home Neglect
With an ageing population where we spend our later years is important.
Later life accommodation comes in many forms, some of us are lucky to live in our own homes well into our old age, others reside with family, but for many a care or nursing home is essential.
You hope it’s going to be a home away from home, but sometimes accidents happen, and care can be substandard or even neglectful. Falls are common in older people, but three times more common in care homes. They make up 40% of admissions to hospitals and every fall has consequences, a failure to prevent them is inexcusable as risk assessments should maintain a good duty of care for all residents.
“Nursing and care homes are subject to regulation, rating, and inspection by organisations such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC), so it’s a good idea to make sure the home you choose is properly regulated,” advised Personal Injury Solicitor, Mike Talbot.
He has helped secure compensation for victims and their families, but more importantly, he has influenced care homes to address the issues to prevent future neglect.
Unexplained injuries or bruises, poor personal hygiene, bed sores and pressure ulcers, malnutrition, or dehydration, withdrawn behaviour or potential depression can all be signs of neglect.
“In most cases, care homes are respectful of their residents and treat them with kindness but when care goes wrong residents can suffer serious injuries, long-term health issues, or in the most serious cases, I have dealt with the sad death of a loved one,” he said.
If you are suffering from neglect in a care home, or you believe a relative is at risk report your concerns to the care home manager, record all events with dates and times, get photographic evidence, if possible, take notes, and then get legal advice.
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE
Giving you garden a new look.
It’s time to start afresh in the garden and turn those ideas you’ve been dreaming about over winter into reality. Whether a major transformation or simply disguising an ugly drain cover, making plans and acting on them is exciting and rejuvenating for you and your outdoor space. One of the best moves I made last year was to give my wooden panel fencing a facelift. The dark protective coating had done its job but really made the garden feel much smaller and enclosed than it needed to be. Admittedly the lighter paint finish I chose required a few coats to mask what was underneath but the difference it made justified all the hard work – not only has the fencing receded from view but the paler backdrop really sets off plants growing against it.
Here’s a few more ideas to give your outdoor space a lift in 2024.
Borrow the view
Is there a view or attractive feature beyond your garden that you could focus the eye on to make your plot feel bigger than it actually is? It could be a church spire, a group of trees or perhaps some hills on the horizon. Trimming an opening in a hedge will frame the scene and draw the eye to what lies outside as will creating a ‘window’ in a boundary wall. Some rustic screening or trellising with an archway in it can have the same effect. Alternatively, use a simple pair of trees in pots or two attractive tall urns either side of a feature to direct attention to it.
Grow wild
Many modern flowers offer wildlife little or no nectar or have such large and intricate flower heads that insects can’t find a way
inside to reach it. Provide a helping hand by planting a native wildflower patch that will offer food, in the form of pollen, seeds, fruits, nectar and foliage to feast on, as well as shelter and nesting sites. Go for plants like common knapweed (Centaurea nigra) and oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgar). Field scabious (Knautia arvensis) has lovely lilac flowers, shaped like a pin cushion on tall upright stems and flowers between July and September. For scent try chamomile with its apple-like aroma in June to August. Wildflowers are not only easy to grow but fairly pest resistant too.
Devise a plan
Grab a diary or calendar in the new year sales or programme your phone to remind you about jobs, like pruning and sowing, that need to be done at a particular time. If it’s major design work you’re considering then don’t underestimate the importance of planning before digging. It’ll save time and stop you from making costly mistakes when you’re tempted to buy at the garden centre. Knowledge is key so get to know everything about your plot from soil type to which areas are in sun and shade. Are there large trees that will affect plant growth or structures, like a bin store, that you’d like to disguise. Know what you want to use your garden for and how much time and resources you can devote to it.
Take it easy
Having a gorgeous garden doesn’t mean you have to be a slave to it. Keep things low maintenance by growing plants that are reliable, easy to care for and offer a long flowering season. Evergreen shrubs like viburnums, mahonia and camellias have attractive flowers, provide year-round interest and need little pruning. And don’t forget bulbs will come back year after year. In spring snowdrops (galanthus) look wonderful planted in drifts under trees or brightening up bare space between border shrubs. Crocuses inject much needed colour at this time too. Choose perennials like Geranium ‘Rozanne’ that just need deadheading to encourage more flowers and go for trees like acers that will add height but need little to no pruning.
Get the seasons covered
Whatever the season you can never predict the weather. A veranda or gazebo will take all the guesswork out of the equation, leaving you free to entertain outdoors whenever you want or just relax and enjoy the garden year-round under cover from rain or full-on sun.
Add water
Tap into the relaxing sound of running water. These days we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to designs and size of water features. From traditional ponds with built in electrics for larger plots to solar fountains for smaller ones, water adds an extra dimension to your outdoor space and also encourages wildlife. Make it a focal point or use it in amongst planting or a quiet corner for added interest. A still water feature, hidden from view ready to be discovered, is effective too as it provides an element of surprise.
Love your lawn
If you don’t have time to do anything else then the quickest and best way of giving your garden a lift is to make sure lawn edges are looking neat and tidy. It’s amazing what a difference a trim can make. Well-defined edges against paving show you care and look really stylish. Do it at least once every other cut using long-handled edging shears or a special half-moon edging iron. A powered nylon-line trimmer will make quick work of a larger lawn.
Think outside the border
Don’t confine plants to borders and patio pots. Create extra space for them to grow in by lifting slabs and planting up the gaps with tough rock plants, low growing herbs and succulents. If you’ve got a large expanse of patio that you want to keep for entertaining, it’s a simple way of softening the look of it and makes the space much more inviting and individual. In the same way see a broken slab as a planting opportunity rather than an eyesore. Choose drought tolerant types that are happy with limited root space like Thymus serpyllum, houseleeks and aubretia. Less hard landscaping is good for the environment too.
Make your garden glow
Experiment with mains powered lighting, solar and batteryoperated lights to emphasise the best features of your garden and turn it into a useable space after dark. When angled correctly
spotlights will help show off a specimen plant or sculpture or the beautiful peeling bark of trees like that of Tibetan cherry. At the other end of the spectrum the portability of battery-operated lanterns makes them ideal for special events – use them to guide party guests along a garden path or to make an alfresco dining table glow. Going for one colour type – either a warm or cool white – will help unify the scheme.
Create a stylish office
Exchange the rush of your daily commute for a stroll across the lawn. Having a dedicated space for work or hobbies, where you can spread out rather than be confined to a corner of a spare room, is life-changing. And the beauty is that you get to look out onto your garden every day. Make it an inviting space year-round by choosing designs made from energy efficient structured insulated panels, which are also tougher than timberframed buildings. Look for a professional firm working with these materials who can provide a free survey and advice on any planning restrictions.
Kwoklyn Wan offers 80 effortless recipes that are cooked in just one pot – a slow cooker, rice cooker, traditional clay pot or, of course, the humble wok.
MONKFISH THAI-STYLE GREEN CURRY
One of the most opulent pieces of fish you can use poached in a creamy, spicy and fragrant Thai-style curry sauce. Best served on top of jasmine steamed rice with a spritz of lime juice.
Method
Roughly chop the shallots, garlic, ginger, chillies and lemongrass, then place into a blender with the remaining paste ingredients and blend until smooth.
Place a wok or deep-sided saucepan over a medium heat, add the oil and, once hot, add the blended curry paste and fry gently for 5–8 minutes. Add the coconut milk and bring to a simmer, then allow it to cook over a low heat for 3 minutes.
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Equipment - Wok or deep-sided saucepan
Blender
Serves 4
Ingredients
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 400ml (14fl oz) can coconut milk
• 600g (1lb 5oz) monkfish, cut into bite-sized chunks
• pinch of salt and white pepper
• 3 spring onions (scallions), roughly chopped
• small handful of coriander (cilantro) leaves, roughly chopped
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
For the curry paste
• 3 shallots
• 3 garlic cloves
• thumb-sized piece of ginger or galangal
• 3 red bird’s-eye chillies
• 2 lemongrass stalks
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• zest and juice of 1 lime
Season the fish with salt and pepper and add to the curry sauce with the spring onions (scallions). Bring back up to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes or until the fish has begun to flake. Turn off the heat and gently stir in the chopped coriander (cilantro) leaves.
Serve with rice or noodles along with a wedge of lime.
GARLIC CHICKEN POT RICE
Not only is this simple to prepare and keeps washing-up to a minimum, this one-pot winner allows the rice to take on all of the flavours of the marinade. Place the chicken in a bowl along with the salt and rice vinegar. Cover with water and massage the chicken with your hands for 30 seconds, then allow to sit for 30 minutes. This process will tenderize the chicken and remove any impurities. Drain and pat dry with kitchen paper.
Method
Place all the marinade ingredients in a bowl, add the drained chicken and use your hands to massage the marinade into the chicken. Cover and set to one side to marinate for at least 20 minutes or ideally for 2 hours in the fridge.
Place the rice in a bowl and wash 2–3 times until the water becomes less cloudy, then cover with water and allow to soak for 35 minutes. Once soaked, pour off the excess water and place the rice into a 3–4-litre (131/4–171/2-cup) clay pot or large saucepan. Pour over 250ml (1 cup) of water and evenly spread
• 1⁄2 green (bell) pepper, deseeded and finely diced
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 2 tbsp Chinese rice wine (Shaoxing wine)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tsp dark soy sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• pinch of white pepper
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
over the marinated chicken (along with any remaining marinade) and top with half of the spring onions (scallions).
Place over a medium heat and, once the water begins to bubble and has begun to be absorbed, turn the heat down to its lowest setting, put on the lid and allow to cook for 25 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow it to stand with the lid on for a further 10 minutes – no peeking! (If you like a crispy bottom to your rice, you can leave the heat on low for the last 10 minutes.) Check the chicken is cooked and then sprinkle with the remaining chopped spring onions and serve.
WOK-FRIED AUBERGINE
Here, soft aubergine (eggplant) fingers soak up the garlic and salty soya bean sauce like delicious little sponges.
Prep 5 Minutes
Cook 10 Minutes
Equipment - Wok
Serves 2
Ingredients
• 3 large aubergines (eggplants)
• 2–3 tbsp vegetable oil, plus extra for frying, if needed
• 5 spring onions (scallions), finely chopped, whites and greens separated
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 2 tbsp soya bean sauce
Method
Begin by cutting the aubergines (eggplants) into fingers of roughly 3 x 12cm (11/4 x 41/2in).
Place a wok over a medium-high heat and add the oil. Once hot, add the aubergine slices and fry until golden brown on all sides. Once browned, remove from the wok and set to one side.
Add a little more oil to the wok and add the spring onion (scallion) whites, garlic and ginger. After 30 seconds, add the soya bean sauce and mix well, then add the browned aubergines. Continue to cook, stirring gently and ensuring the aubergines are well dressed with the sauce, then add the spring onion greens. After 1 minute add a splash of water, stir and cook for a further minute, then turn off the heat and serve.
Great with a simple bowl of rice or noodles.
BEEF BRISKET RENDANG
Nothing quite beats slow-cooked red meat. Now combine that with spices and fragrant aromatics from Southeast Asia and creamy coconut milk and you just know this dish is going to be a knockout. Be patient and you can expect to be rewarded with true melt-in-the-mouth moments of happiness.
Method
Place the beef in a bowl, add the salt and the vinegar and then cover with water. Allow to soak for 30 minutes; this process will help remove any impurities from the meat and loosen the muscle fibres, ensuring it’s tender when cooked.
Once the meat has soaked, drain and place on to kitchen paper to absorb any excess water.
Place the rendang paste ingredients into a blender with a little water and blend until smooth.
Place a 3–4-litre (131/4–171/2-cup) flameproof casserole or claypot over a medium heat along with the oil, then add the blended spice paste along with the cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise and cardamom and fry for a couple of minutes until fragrant. Now add the drained beef along with the lemongrass
• 750g (1lb 10oz) beef brisket or boneless short ribs
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp white rice vinegar
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• 2 star anise
• 3 cardamom pods
• 2 lemongrass stalks, crushed
• 1 tbsp tamarind paste
• 11⁄2 tbsp coconut sugar (or demerara sugar)
• 400ml (14fl oz) can coconut milk
• 375ml (11⁄2 cups) water
• 8 makrut lime leaves
For the rendang paste
• 6 shallots
• 5 garlic cloves
• thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled
• 2 lemongrass stalks
• 6 red bird’s-eye chillies
and cook, turning occasionally, to seal the beef. Once the beef is sealed on all sides, add the tamarind paste and sugar and mix before adding the coconut milk and water. Stir again, bring to the boil and then turn down the heat to low.
Add the lime leaves and gently stir in, then cover with a lid and allow to cook for 11/2 hours, stirring occasionally. After 11/2 hours the meat should be tender and falling apart and the sauce will be thick and sticky. If the sauce is still a little thin, remove the lid and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is reduced and any excess liquid is practically dried up. Serve on top of fluffy steamed rice.
A smile is one of the most basic, biologically uniform expressions of all humans. Smiling is not just a universal means of communicating, it’s also a frequent one. More than 30% of us smile more than 20 times a day and less than 14% of us smile less than 5 times a day.
Smiling has a host of benefits which include:
Mood Boosting - Psychologists have found that even if you’re in a bad mood smiling can lift your spirits.
Boost your immunity - smiling makes your body more relaxed and contributes to a good health and stronger immunity.
Relieves Stress - Smiling releases endorphins which reduce stress and change your mood. Even forcing a smile has the same effect.
Lowering blood pressure - Reducing stress and smiling can also help lower blood pressure.
Smiles are infectious - Not only do others smile when we smile but studies also suggest we appear more attractive to others when we smile.
“What
if you don’t like your smile, do you suffer from loose poorly fitted or broken dentures? We have been helping denture wearers to get beautiful smiles.”
CONSTRUCTING A GOOD SET OF DENTURES
Constructing a functional and aesthetically pleasing set of dentures is the most difficult task in dentistry. We are not only replacing lost teeth, but also lost tissue matter and bone. In other words, we have to re-create your facial features as they were before the loss of your natural teeth.
In most cases we do not know what your teeth looked like, what size they were
or what position they were in originally. We have a few indications but mostly we have to rely on our visual and artistic judgement.
At the same time we have to use our technical expertise in order to make the denture stable and functional. Denture construction is more art than science.
WHAT IS A CLINICAL DENTAL TECHNICIAN?
A Clinical Dental Technician (CDT) is a qualified dental technician that has under gone further Education and Training in areas such as Medical Emergencies Cross Infection Control and Oral Pathology (cancers and anomalies) to name just a few sections that make up the Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology as Awarded by the Royal Collage of Surgeons (RCS).
It is this qualification that allows the clinicians at Stockport Denture Clinic to be able to be registered and regulated with the General Dental Council (the official body for protecting the public with regards to dentistry) and carry indemnity insurance. It is this qualification, which means that only Dentists and Clinical Dental Technicians are the only Dental Professionals permitted to supply dentures direct to the public.
A dental technician is not qualified to supply a denture directly to the public. However, despite this being an act of Mal practice many technicians will still practice illegally without informing the patient that they are not qualified. If you are unsure if your denture provider is qualified; ask them for their GDC registration number, then contact the GDC
to see if they are registered not just as a dental technician but as a CDT.
FUNCTIONAL DENTURES
Although the appearance of your new smile is important, we aim to create functional and comfortable dentures. We will ensure that you are comfortable with the way you bite with your new dentures, enabling you to eat with optimum efficiency.
DENTURES NEED REGULAR SERVICING
Dentures are in constant use almost 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They are also in a pretty hostile environment in the mouth, being attacked by strong acid, bacteria, hot, cold and spicy food. Denture material absorbs liquids and food odour.
Daily cleaning is essential as well as professional ultrasonic cleaning in a dental laboratory at least once a year. Due to constant bone resorbtion dentures will become loose sooner or later.
Loose dentures will increase damage to the gums and bone structure, and increase the risk of breakage.
OUR AIM
Dentures should be created to look natural and suit your personality and appearance. Due to our hands on approach in both the clinic and laboratory your dentures will be created with great care and critique. Each denture is meticulously constructed using expert technical skills in order to replicate natural tooth form and appearance.
STOCKPORT DENTURE CLINIC
Quality Care You Can Trust
Affordable Funeral Service
Losing a loved one can be one of life's most upsetting and distressing times. We go out of our way to help ease the worries where funeral arrangements are concerned.
Not only involved with losing a loved one is the emotional upset, but it can also be a time of financial worry and strain and we not only lend a sympathetic ear but also an affordable funeral service too.
Or maybe you see not the need for an elaborate funeral and want only a simple, low key occasion without all the fuss.
Affordable without compromising on care. If we can help please call for an informal chat and advice
SPRINGHEAD
Funeral Service
Your Local Caring Independent Funeral Director
Direct Cremation - £1200
Direct Cremation - £1200
Direct cremation at a fixed price inclusive of all necessary disbursements, cremation fee, doctor’s fees and an eco friendly coffin (no funeral service)
Low Fuss Funeral - £2250
Low Fuss Funeral - £2350
• The payment of a cremation fee
• The payment of the Doctor's fees
• The payment of the Minister's / Celebrant fees
• The conveyance of your loved one into our Chapel of Rest
• The provision of an oak effect coffin with handles
• The arranging and conducting of the funeral
• The provision of the hearse and necessary staff on the day of the funeral
Bespoke Funeral - £2500
Bespoke Funeral - £2400
• All of the above plus..
• The viewing of your loved one at our traditional chapel of rest
• The leaving from a home address on the day of the funeral before proceeding to the crematorium
Inclusive Funeral - £2800
Inclusive Funeral - £2700
• The payment of a cremation fee
• The payment of the Doctor's fees
• The payment of the Minister’s / Celebrant fees
• The conveyance of your loved one into our Chapel of Rest
• The provision of an oak effect coffin with handles
• The arranging and conducting of the funeral
• The provision of the hearse and necessary staff on the day of the funeral
• The viewing of your loved one at our traditional chapel of rest
• The leaving from a home address on the day of the funeral before proceeding to the crematorium
• Obituary in the local newspaper
• Floral tribute to the value of £50
• One family limousine
ALL OTHER FUNERAL REQUIREMENTS UNDERTAKEN AFFORDABLY
Springhead Funeral Service
Chapels of Rest
616 Wakefield Rd, Huddersfield, HD5 8PZ
Tel: 01484 534 488
7/9 Stainland Rd, Halifax (opposite Andy Thorntons)
Tel: 01422 327 382
Pre-paid Funerals at today's prices guaranteed with Golden Leaves Funeral Plans
Please call for an information pack or informal chat
