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 five of our group – Somerset, Imperial, Daish’s, Devonshire, County – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award for 2024.
Don’t miss these coach inclusive breaks!
Local pick up points from make it easy to get away.
Price includes return coach travel from: Rochdale, Royton, Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne, Hyde, Stockport, Cheadle, Lymm Services. All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s).
Angela Kelly
Cosying up to Winter
at Broadstone Mill Shopping Outlet 28-29 QUALITY CARE YOU CAN TRUST Stockport Denture Clinic
WE all know that dementia is a modern curse, robbing us of loved ones many years before their bodies finally succumb.
Seeing someone you care about gradually disappearing is a special kind of cruelty. It really is heartbreaking to see those you know diminishing in this horrible way.
One small light in the gloom, though, is the role that music can play here. In fact, it can be a powerful trigger in re-awakening feelings and connections and, just for a time, revealing the real person still within.
I thought of this when I visited my friend and former neighbour Anne in a local care home recently. Always a vibrant, chatty person, Anne’s personality seems to have retreated over time and, though not unhappy, she is a very different soul these days to the lady I once knew.
Memories are still there, hidden away, but something of who she is resurfaced on my last visit when a music therapist was holding a great singsong in the home.
This is a regular occurrence and is something that Anne, and the majority of the older people there, really enjoy. It was truly heartwarming singing the old songs like She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountains and We’ll Meet Again and we all joined in. Amazingly, the residents knew all the words and enjoyed adding musically to the fun with tambourines and other simple musical Even the most unresponsive found the pull of these evocative songs very strong and, you would like to think, they also prompted personal memories of other times with family and friends.
Music can often heal, soothe and calm but it can also, as here, become an important memory-prompt that opens long-shut mental doors and reminds the brain of the happy occasions before dementia struck.
There is no doubt that research is now making positive strides against this awful illness that has claimed so many lives before their time. But, for now, there is still the magic of music to occasionally offer a simple route back to the core of individuals and make them smile.
Jamie’s Cooking Up Life Lessons
TOP chef Jamie Oliver is at it again – trying to promote food and nutrition among school children.
After his successful campaign to get Turkey Twizzlers taken off the menu in school canteens, Jamie is back.
This time, he wants to hugely expand his mission to teach
schoolchildren about food and nutrition by getting the Government to restore an A level in the subject, scrapped by ex-Prime Minister David Cameron.
Jamie has set up a Ministry of Food Foundation to offer lessons for students aged between 11 and 14 on cooking from scratch. This involves a 10-week programme offered at 320 schools across the UK and already taken up by around 80,000 pupils.
Those taking part are given practical advice on necessary food skills like chopping and frying plus nutritional information, along with lesson plans, recipes and worksheets.
They are accompanied by videos featuring Jamie and his 13 year-old son Buddy.
The restaurateur has plainly not lost his passion for improving both school dinners and the basic knowledge that youngsters need to help them towards healthy independent living as they grow older.
These are wonderfully practical skills for all young people to have and a natural antidote to fast-food diets that may not be as healthy as parents want for their offspring.
These sorts of skills for life are immediately useful but also offer greater knowledge of an area that can provide potential career choices.
At a time when obesity rates and levels of tooth decay are rising among the young, these lessons sound eminently sensible. Definitely food for thought by both schools and parents.
To tip or not to tip –that is the question
TIPPING can be a very thorny subject. Do you tip at all and how much? Or is there a service charge meant to include that?
But the conundrum for me has always been: do the right people actually get the tips?
When you’ve had particularly good service from, say, a restaurant waitress and you pop a couple of extra pounds on your bill, does she receive any of that?
From October 1 this year the whole subject was made slightly clearer as new rules came in that ensure service workers in the UK are now legally entitled to keep 100 per cent of the money earned through tips. Experts reckon this means an extra £200 million for workers.
The rules insist that any tips left in cash or paid by card as well as any service charges applied by restaurants, cafes, hotels, hairdressers or taxis, have to be passed on to staff.
This is good news because we are often talking about workers in some of the lowest paid industries, many of whom are young people working part-time while they study or in their first jobs.
When my daughters were younger and working in cafes, restaurants, hotels or bars, tips were really important to boost their wages.
Unfortunately, some mean employers have not always ensured that staff get their tips although many do “divvy up” the whole lot and then share it out equally in what sounds a fair system.
It is often difficult to know just how much to tip although some areas are easier.You can ask a taxi driver, for example, to keep the change or add a pound or two to what you’re giving them.
I’ve got a lovely hairdresser and nail lady and I always add on a couple of quid to their charges because I really appreciate what they do.
Not everyone believes in tipping. I know people who refuse to tip on principle as they feel that those providing a service are already being paid for the work. It is a personal thing.
However, when money is so tight for so many and there seems to be a whole raft of individuals totally unprepared to work at all, getting good service I reckon deserves some appreciation.
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!
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The highlight of the tour is an extravaganza of non-stop singing, dancing, music, humour and variety, the biggest Christmas show of its kind in Europe, a firm favourite with our Ava Travel customers.
During our tour we will have the opportunity to travel through the picturesque towns and villages of Norfolk to visit the historic city Norwich with a chance to do some last-minute Christmas shopping .
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HARROGATE FIZZ AND FAYRE
Join us as we head to the elegant cosmopolitan, Victorian spa town of Harrogate for our Harrogate Fizz and Fayre tour.
Tour Details:
Get wrapped up and fall under Yorkshire’s Christmas spell. Experience an authentic Yorkshire Christmas welcome at The Cairn Hotel, including a mulled wine reception, a festive themed mini afternoon tea on one afternoon and entertainment each evening.
Don’t miss out, start the festive fun early and join us in elegant Harrogate, don’t delay, book today!
JUDI DENCH BRITISH SUPERSTAR
ASK a large cross-section of the British public who is the country’s greatest living actress and it’s a safe bet that a majority will name Dame Judi Dench.
At the age of 89 she has won accolades and awards in the UK and in America and has tackled every kind of role from Shakespeare’ s best-known heroines to M in the Bond films.
Yet, at her first film audition, the 5’ 1” aspiring actress was told “Miss Dench, you have every single thing wrong with your face.”
This unlikely superstar was born in York where her father was a doctor and her first brush with any kind of theatre was playing an angel in one of the York Mystery Plays.
She studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London but has admitted that she didn’t take her studies too seriously initially. She was, however, caught out during an improvisational scene when she realized what acting was actually all about and so studied harder than she had ever done before.
Judi went the classic route of “serious” actors, performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and at the Old Vic Theatre.
Her first Shakespearean role was as Ophelia in Hamlet in 1957 at the age of 23, straight from drama school. Unfortunately, this was also memorable for some of the wrong reasons: on her debut, she tripped as she stepped into the spotlight and fell flat on her face!
Since then, in an acting career that has spanned seven decades, she has played virtually all of Shakespeare’s leading ladies with some of her performances being hailed as the greatest of all time.
The theatre has always been her first love and she once pointed out that she prefers stage first, television second and film third.
It was TV, though, which initially brought her to the attention of a much wider audience when she starred in the comedy series A Fine Romance (1981 – 1984) with husband Michael Williams.
In fact, she won a BAFTA for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for this very popular role as well as demonstrating her versatility to those who had pegged her only as a classical actress.
She later added to her TV repertoire with the BBC 1 romantic series As Time Goes By (1992 – 2005). Then period drama series Cranford (2007) helped cement her popularity with TV audiences, playing gentle Miss Matty Jenkyns in a star-studded cast.
Judi made her film debut, winning a BAFTA for Most Promising Newcomer in 1968 for her leading role as Sally Bowles in Cabaret.
Her film appearances during this time, though, were generally infrequent and included supporting roles in major films like James Ivory’s A Room with a View (1985).
In 1995, however she rose to international fame as M in Bond film GoldenEye and went on to reprise this role in eight further James Bond films until her final cameo appearance in Spectre in 2015.
In fact, it wasn’t until the film Mrs Brown in 1997, starring Judi as Queen Victoria with Billy Connolly as faithful attendant John Brown, that Hollywood really acknowledged Judi’s potential.
Even though she had performed regularly on stage in the US in Old Vic productions almost 40 years earlier, her first Oscar nomination for Mrs Brown suddenly made her favourite choice for more film roles.
Since then, she has specialized in playing dignified, strong-willed women.
In 1998, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Queen Elizabeth 1 in Shakespeare in Love – even though she only appeared in four scenes and gave a performance of six minutes in total.
Other nominations for Academy Awards came subsequently from films Chocolat (2000), Iris (2001), Mrs Henderson Presents (2005), Notes on a Scandal (2006), Philomena (2013) and Belfast (2021).
She is also the recipient of several honorary awards including the BAFTA Fellowship Award, the Society of London Theatre Special Award and the British Film Institute Fellowship Award.
After Shakespeare in Love, the producers of the Bond franchise gave her character M a far larger role and one central to the film’s plot.
More recently, Judi has beens the narrator of Spaceship Earth, the dark ride at famous American theme park EPCOT, replacing Jeremy Irons.
She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1970, a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1988 and a Member of the Order of Companions of Honour (CH) in 2005.
She had a long marriage to the late Michael Williams and they had one daughter, Finty, who made Judi a grandmother at 62 when Sam Michael Williams was born.
Her own view of acting as a career is pragmatic. She once said: “I don’t think anybody can be told how to act. I think you can give advice. But you have to find your own way through it.”
She also stated: “I don’t like reading scripts very much. I like it better for someone to just explain to me what the story is about.” Judi also has strong views on ageing. “I don’t like it all,” she has stated. “Suddenly I get up out of a chair and can’t rush across the room.
“But there’s nothing I can do about that, alas. My energy levels are OK but I can’t see very well. People have to come up and wave at me. If a restaurant is too dark I can end up talking to the backs of chairs.”
She also doesn’t take her acknowledged status as a national treasure too seriously, either. “I hate that,” she stated. “It’s not just tedious, it’s some old rock in a cupboard that the glass is shut on and nobody gets it out to dust it.
“I loathe it. I just want to be called a joker. A jobbing actor. Somebody who has a laugh.”
All Dame Judi’s fans know is just how lucky they have been to have her considerable talents on offer for so many years.
My Summer getaway to the Isle of Wight
This year I visited the Isle of Wight, I have been before many times and have never left disappointed.
For comfort and ease I opted to travel by coach with Daish’s Holidays. The whole process was so easy and well organised. I was picked up at a meeting point at a set time in the morning and after a couple of pick-ups we were on our way. The journey was long but was broken up with comfort stops along the way, so it seemed to fly by. On arrival we were greeted at reception and processed very quickly with check in by the staff.
Perfectly positioned in Shanklin stepping out of the hotel to the left is the town centre, modern with shops, bars and restaurants and to the right the old town with tearooms, restaurants, gift shops, and pubs with thatched roofs aplenty.
Accommodation at the hotel is half board included in the rate, the food was nice but I prefer to eat out when on holiday and I certainly wasn’t stuck for choice.
One of my favourites was the Village Inn, a traditional thatched pub in the centre of Shanklin old village, serving real ales, good home made food and locally caught crab and lobster in a warm and cosy atmosphere. It has a pretty enclosed courtyard garden to the rear with comfortable seating, heaters and lighting for when the sun goes down.
Another favourite of mine is an authentic Italian restaurant called Pavarotti’s with an inviting ambiance that echoes the warmth of Italy. Portions are generous and of great value.
Just a short distance from the hotel is a walk-way, through a park down to the seafront, if mobility is an issue there is a shuttle bus that stops outside the hotel and takes you down that runs quite regularly, or the cliff lift that is reasonably priced at a £1 return.
Once on the Esplanade there is varied choice of things to do from arcades, crazy golf, cafés, traditional fish and chips or for those wanting a bit more of a relaxed holiday there are restaurants and bars with outside seating to soak up the sun and take in the sea air. At the end of the promenade nestled beneath Shanklin Chine, Fisherman's Cottage Inn is the perfect spot to enjoy lunch or dinner. With outside seating, it steps out onto a small part of the beach.
For the more energetic there is a flat coastal path that takes you to the next town Sandown, it’s approximately 2 mile in length but has many little eateries along it’s length, so a great deal to see along the way.
Located on the northern side of Sandown, Sandham Gardens is the ideal place to relax and enjoy some quality time with friends and family. With the Gardens free to enter and enjoy at any time, you only pay for the additional activities you wish to experience and there are many.
By Helen Gergus.
The Daish’s Hotel is part of the family-owned UK coach holiday provider Daish’s Holidays and is situated on Shanklin High Street. It was Daish’s very first hotel purchased in 1979.
The hotel was awarded a 2024 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for the 10th year running, cementing its place among travellers’ favourite places to stay. The original building dates back to the 18th century when it was coaching inn and guests can still see a number of the period features today.
The hotel has 72 bedrooms and facilities include a coffee shop, a bar and restaurant and ballroom. Daish’s Hotel hosts a programme of live entertainment every evening which includes cabaret and dancing, bingo, quizzes and games. There is also the option to book excursions and day trips via the hotel.
What’s included in a Daish’s Holiday package:
• Luxury coach travel or free hotel guest parking on-site
• Convenient pickup and drop-off along popular routes
• Breakfast and three-course evening meal every day
• On-site entertainment
The hotel is open to guests all year round Tariff July 2024 – June 2025 based on two people sharing a standard room:
Prices are from £159 self-drive - £179 coach to £559 self-drive - £579 coach
Early Booking and Kid’s Go Free discounts also apply. www.daishs.com/isle-of-wight/daishs-hotel
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
we
Join our facebook community by ‘liking’ our page to vie fers,
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DELIGHTFUL CORNER OF WALES
The Ivy Bush Royal Hotel
THE ENGLISH RIVIERA - TORQUAY
The Belgrave Sands Hotel & Spa ~ 4 Star
The natural beauty of the Pembrokeshire coast and southwest Wales are famed all over the world and are a delight to visit at any time of year. Glorious sandy beaches and seemingly endless rugged coastline give way to the Preseli Hills, historic towns and little villages. We stay in Carmarthen for our tour, ideal for visiting this delightful corner of Wales.
CUMBRIA MISTLETOE & MARKETS
The Cumbria Grand Hotel
TENBY & PEMBROKESHIRE
The Giltar Hotel, Tenby ~ 3 Star
BOURNEMOUTH
ALL INCLUSIVE TURKEY & TINSEL AT THE WINNOCK
The Winnock Hotel
Mayfair Hotel~ 3 Star
For these holidays we stay in Tenby, with its pastel-coloured buildings, narrow streets,
Nobody does Christmas quite like the Lake District. Put a warm cup of mulled wine into your mittened hands, explore the wonderful winter markets, or find a roaring fire in a country pub and enjoy a glass or two of local ale.
ISLE OF WIGHT – TASTE OF CHRISTMAS
The Trouville Hotel
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.
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
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs are just as stunning in the winter as in the summer. There’s lots included in our Scottish Turkey & Tinsel package and lots of opportunity to cosy up in front of a warm fire with a warming drink. So, get ready for Christmas on our All-Inclusive holiday.
Welcome to Harrogate, a Victorian spa town and rural district in the heart of Yorkshire. A beautiful location to use as our base for this festive tour.
An award-winning resort where elegant Victorian villas, a bustling harbour and palmCITY Best ~ 3 Star
The East Anglia coast is starkly beautiful, with mo contrast, we featu of Norwich, and the Norfo
our
Bells Hotel & Country Club ~ 3 Star
Perthshire is a region of breath-taking variety, from its serene glens and endless expanse of lush forest to its bleakly beautiful moors, rushing rivers and
visits to historic towns. This is a place whe beaten track and escape the everyda
SPECTACULAR
SKEGNESS & THE BEST OF LINCOLNSHIRE
The Mercure Hotel
The Royal Hotel, Skegness ~ 3 Star
Experience the best of Lincolnshi historic towns and villages, a thriving seaside esort and ‘Bomber Country’ heritage.
The Thursford Christmas Spectacular is the largest Christmas Show in the country! Set in the magical surroundings of mechanical organs and fairground carousels, with a cast of 130 professional singers, dancers and musicians – many of whom are West End performers.
by ‘liking’ our
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
Cairn Hotel
S E L E C TION O F O U R C O A C H T O U R S 2 0 2 3
A SELECTION OF OUR COACH TOURS 2024
EASTBOURNE TURKEY & TINSEL
The Haddon Hall Hotel
WINDSOR CASTLE & CRUISE THE THAMES
Eastbourne is a town with grace and elegance, that has something for everyone – a landscaped, pedestrianised town centre, bordered by a large range of shops, a clean, well-managed beach and seafront renowned for its attractive three-tier flower decked level promenade.
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.
A WARM CHRISTMAS WELCOME TO WALES
PICTURESQUE PEMBROKESHIRE & BEAUTIFUL GOWER
The Beaufort Park Hotel
The Ivy Bush Royal Hotel, Car marthen ~ 3 Star
This Christmas tour combines the imposing scenery of North Wales, amidst the valleys and hillsides, with the vibrant life of Chester. Our base in on the outskirts of the friendly market town of Mold, which has a tradition of a welcome typical of this part of Wales with its proud heritage and strong family connections.
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.
CHRISTMAS IN HARROGATE
Doubletree By Hilton Majestic
THE HISTORIC CITY OF WORCESTER & STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Fownes Hotel ~ 3 Star
We invite you to spend Christmas in the Victorian spa town of Harrogate with thriving streets busy with shops and eateries. Possibly the most distinctive feature of Harrogate is its vast open space that surrounds the town centre, known locally as The Stray, at 200 acres this gives Harrogate town centre a green and spacious feel, unique to 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
INTERESTED?
The Toorak Hotel
SOUTHSEA & CHICHESTER HARBOUR CRUISE
An award-winning resort where elegant Victorian villas, a bustling harbour, and palm-fringed beaches give the English Rivera its well-earned name.
Best Wester n Royal Beach Hotel ~ 3 Star
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.
CHRISTMAS IN BLACKPOOL
Doric Hotel
KENT, THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN OF ENGLAND
Best Wester n Plus Burlington Hotel ~ 4 Star
Spend your festive holiday in the fresh, seaside air. With plenty of things to do, special added extras and a beautiful backdrop just waiting to be explored, this is sure to be your most magical Christmas yet. Let us help you capture the spirit of Christmas and make the festivities truly memorable.
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 | £399
LLANDUDNO
- TURKEY & TINSEL
The Marlborough Hotel
SPRING, SOUTH SHIELDS & THE DURHAM COAST
The Little Haven Hotel ~ 3 Star
Llandudno is Wales’s largest resort, uniquely situated between the Great and Little Ormes with two wonderful beaches, the award-winning North Shore and the quiet, sand-duned West Shore.
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.
DEVONSHIRE & ILFRACOMBE
The Salutation Hotel
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel ~ 3 Star
Perthshire is a region of breath-taking variety, from its serene glens and endless expanse of lush forest to its bleakly beautiful moors, running rivers and tumbling waterfalls.
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 May | 5 Days | £479
BEAUTIFUL CORNWALL
The Doric Hotel ~ 3 Star
The Royal York & Faulkner Hotel
Sidmouth is probably the most unspoilt resort in the country and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful. Quiet and unhurried, Sidmouth has preserved the natural beauty of the countryside with colourful gardens, open spaces and tree covered hills. 30th December | 4 Days | £459
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
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
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
Sanctuary Court
Set in an enviable location in Wilmslow, Cheshire, close to handy local amenities, The Sanctuary offers thoughtfully designed homes with exclusive on-site communal facilities.
COSY up to Winter this year and weather-proof your home and your lifestyle.
Even though energy bills are a worry and money is tight for many people currently, there are still ways to improve your home and the way you live to keep warm when temperatures drop.
You need to keep your home warm as low indoor temperatures can have a serious impact on health, especially if you have medical conditions or are older.
Try to heat rooms you spend a lot of time in, like the living room or bedroom, to at least 18 deg C.
One way to lose heat is through DRAUGHTS that can come from gaps under doors or windows not as well-insulated as you’d really like them to be.
You can buy draught blockers relatively cheaply and they really help to insulate a room. Insulation tape is also a cheap but effective buy used around those draughty areas.
Even cat flaps can lead to lost heat so try to fit one that cuts down on draughts as it’s worth the upgrade.
If your WINDOWS really do need replacing, look at affording one or two main ones if you can. You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes to your heating bills and is an investment worth making.
Invest in thicker CURTAINS or thermal curtains. When darkness comes, they not only make a room cosier but they really do help keep in the heat.
Even if you’re a fresh-air fan in the bedroom, during the Winter keep your bedroom windows closed at night to retain heat and keep out the chill, especially as night temperatures dip.
British Gas advises “heat your home, not your walls.” They suggest covering a thin sheet of card with tinfoil and placing it behind your RADIATORS. If you’re feeling particularly crafty, make it t-shaped so that it sits on your radiator brackets.
This will reflect the heat back into your rooms which means they warm up faster and retain more heat. If DIY isn’t your thing you can also buy readymade foil insulation.
Now that many of us like free-flowing areas in the home, closing doors everywhere doesn’t fit in with this open environment. But, shutting DOORS can limit the effectiveness of draughts and keep
warm air contained within a space for longer.
Before the worst of Winter hits, take a look at your front and back doors and ensure that they fit well and are in the right condition to insulate your home well. Cold weather often pushes through ill-fitting doors.
Have you lagged your PIPES? Insulating hot water pipes with foam tubes keeps the water inside your pipes hotter for longer and prevents pipes freezing.
It also makes your heating and hot water much more efficient. You can buy pipe lagging from any DIY store and fit it in seconds, no tools required.
Make sure your BOILER is serviced each year to make it last longer and work more efficiently otherwise it could cost you money. Always use a Gas Safe Registered Engineer; go to www. gassaferegister.co.uk to check if someone is registered or to find one near you.
RADIATORS are the best source of heat in the average home but we very often make a room’s layout our priority rather than considering our heating.
Take a look at each room in your home and check whether there are sofas, sideboards, wardrobes or cupboards blocking heat from radiators. Just rearranging a room can help you get the full benefit from your radiators’ warmth.
Another clever tip from British Gas is to use your OVEN to help heat the house. Once you have used the oven and got the food out, don’t just close the door.
Leave the oven door open and let the heat transfer slowly into your kitchen. It will help keep your house warm while you eat. Naturally, keep the kids and pets away from the door!
If you have a cold FIREPLACE that you don’t normally use, think about getting a new fire installed. Stoves and woodburners in particular are not only effective in heating a room but actually look cosier.
LIGHTING can also play a role in making a room appear warmer during cold weather. Dimmers are useful for toning down lighting to a pleasant glow and dimming your lights an average of 50 per cent can cut your electric use by a whopping 40 per cent over time and make your light bulbs last 20 times longer.
Even though we all know that energy bills can be a problem, there are lots of free or lowcost ways to save money on them. Phone the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234.
For example, you could set your heating to come on just before you get up and switch off after you’ve gone to bed. If it’s very cold, set your heating to come on earlier and turn off later rather than turning up the thermostat.
If you can’t afford to heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room throughout the day and your bedroom just before you go to bed. If your system uses storage heaters, make sure that they are set up in the most efficient way possible.
ELECTRIC BLANKETS are a cosy way to stay warm in bed but it’s important to unplug blankets before you go to bed, unless they have thermostat control for safe all-night use.
Never use a hot water bottle with an electric blanket – even if the blanket is switched off.
If you have wood or laminate FLOORING, consider putting rugs down to better insulate your home. It may be that you’ve been thinking about new carpets and Winter is a great time to improve home insulation provided by good flooring.
Buy woollen THROWS to pop on furniture to make a room even cosier –you can also put them round your legs if you want to be even warmer!
Age Concern also suggests wearing warm nightwear, thick socks and slippers to combat cold temperatures that can disrupt sleep.
EMBRACE the freedom of owning a caravan Bringing families together
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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.
CHRISTMAS SPICED ORANGE ROAST DUCK
Method
180C oven. Pat the skin of the duck dry and rub 1tsp of the smoked salt into the skin. Place the bird breast side down in a roasting tin with the shallots and roast for 1 hour.
While this is roasting, peel and halve any large potatoes. Place them in a pan of water and boil them for 8 minutes, or until a knife can be inserted. Then tip the potatoes into a colander in the sink and allow them to steam. Shake the colander a little to fluff up the potatoes and then set aside.
After 1 hour, drain off all the fat reserving it to cook your potatoes in! Then carefully lift and turn the duck in the tray. Surround it
Serves: 6 people Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Ingredients
• 1x whole duck (roughly 2.2kg)
• Maldon Smoked Sea Salt
• 500g Maris piper potatoes
• 5x banana shallots, peeled and halved
• 6x clementines
• 2x bay leaves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tbsp honey
• 50g Seville orange marmalade
with 3 clementines, halved, the cinnamon and bay and return to the oven for a further one hour (keep watching and basting).
Meanwhile, roast the potatoes in the duck fat adding a good pinch of Maldon Smoked Sea Salt.
Before the end of the cooking, add the juice of the 3 remaining clementines to a small pan and simmer until reduced by half, then add the honey and marmalade. Brush the duck with the sticky glaze and return to the oven for the final 10 minutes.
Serve the duck with the roast potatoes, braised red cabbage and sprouts.
CHARRED BRUSSEL SPROUTS ON TOAST WITH RICOTTA AND PARMESAN
Method
Preheat the oven to 180c.
Place the Brussel sprouts onto a large baking tray and drizzle with the olive oil, then season with Maldon Sea Salt and black pepper. Place into the oven and roast for 15 – 20 minutes until charred in places.
Serves: 2 people Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
• 2x slices of sourdough bread
• 200g Brussel sprouts, halved
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 100g ricotta
• ½ lemon, zested
• 30g blanched hazelnuts, toasted
• 50g parmesan, finely grated
• Pinch of Maldon Sea Salt
• Cracked black pepper
Toast the two pieces of sourdough bread. In a small bowl mix together the ricotta and lemon zest along with some Maldon Sea Salt and black pepper. Then spread the ricotta mixture on top of each toast. Roughly chop the toasted hazelnuts.
Top each toast with the charred Brussel sprouts, a scattering of toasted hazelnuts and some grated parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
MUSHROOM, BUTTERNUT SQUASH, CHESTNUT AND CARAMELIZED ONION WREATH
Method
Preheat the oven to 200c.
Start by making the caramelized onions. To a frying pan add 1 tbsp of olive olive plus a knob of butter and allow it to melt. When foaming, add the sliced onions and a pinch of Maldon Sea Salt. Fry these on a low heat for at least 10 minutes until they are soft and translucent. Then add the soft brown sugar and continue to cook for another 5 minutes until the onions have gone sticky, soft and caramelized. Set aside to cool.
Place all the mushrooms onto a baking tray along with the diced butternut squash. Then drizzle with the remaining olive oil and some salt and pepper. Place into the hot oven and roast for 25 minutes until the squash is tender and the mushrooms are golden. Set the tray aside to cool.
Serves: 6 people
Prep time: 25 minutes, plus chilling
Cook time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients
For the pastry
• 2 red onions, finely sliced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 knob of butter
• Pinch of Maldon Sea Salt
• 1 tsp soft brown sugar
• 450g mixed mushrooms (chestnut, shittake, oyster), torn into pieces
• ½ small butternut squash, peeled and diced into 2cm cubes
• 50g chestnuts, crumbled
• Small handful sage leaves, shredded
• A little grated nutmeg
• 30g dried cranberries
• Pinch of Maldon Garlic Sea Salt
• 1x 320g sheet of puff pastry
• Milk or egg to glaze
Once the vegetables have cooled you can make the filling. Simply mix in a bowl with the caramelized onions, chestnuts, sage, nutmeg, dried cranberries and Maldon Garlic Sea Salt.
Unroll the pastry onto a baking tray and then pile the filling down the middle in a line. Then roll the pastry over to seal it, as though making a large sausage roll. Use the egg wash to seal it down, and then take the two open ends and join them together, sealing them as well. Any excess pastry can be cut off and used to decorate the wreath, if desired. Egg wash the whole outside of the wreath and then place into the fridge for 30 minutes.
Once the wreath has chilled, place it into the preheated oven and bake for 35 – 40 minutes until it is golden and crisp on the outside. Cool slightly before serving – can be served warm or cold.
Stress Free Christmas Shopping With Broadstone Mill Shopping Outlet
As the festive season approaches, now is the perfect time to start shopping for gifts that will delight family and friends. Planning ahead can save you the stress of last-minute scrambling, and at Broadstone Mill Shopping Outlet, we’ve got everything you need under one roof!
Give the gift of a festive home this Christmas with our selection of stylish homeware. Whether you’re looking to refresh someone’s bedding, upgrade their kitchenware, or add decorative touches, we have everything you need at unbeatable prices. Plush throws, cosy cushions are just a few items that create a beautiful, inviting home. Explore our wide range of homeware to help your loved ones’ homes sparkle this Christmas.
If you’re running out of time to find the perfect present, don’t worry! Broadstone Mill Shopping Outlet has you covered with a variety of thoughtful last-minute gift options. From fashionable clothing and this season’s handbags to comfy slippers and scented candles, we’ve got something for everyone.
Don’t forget that our gift cards can be a lifesaver. Pair a gift card with a personal
in a
position and much
than our previous tearoom you’ll love the
the light that the
touch like a festive mug or a box of chocolates to make your present extra special.
mill windows allow in, the spacious feel as well as the new menu too! Angelica’s is a contemporary twist on a traditional tearoom with a stylish décor which is appealing to all who visit. The tearoom opened just before Christmas but had it’s official launch in February so it’s still feels and looks brand new.
To make your Christmas shopping even easier, we’re extending our hours for *Late Night Shopping* on Thursdays in
December. We’ll be open until 7 pm on the 5th, 12th, and 19th, giving you plenty of time to shop stress-free.
Broadstone Mill Shopping Outlet is your one-stop shop for ticking off your entire Christmas list in one trip!
Victor Hugo once said that “Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age, however, once you reach the 50-year milestone there seems to be a whole list of things to do, family members to support, places to go, countries to visit, but for many of us work is still to be achieved.
Our 50s can be intense years, everything we may have worked for in life is coming to fruition, if you run your own business or are a partner or director in a business then how you manage and plan your future is just as important as what you have achieved in the past.
Many of us know we need a Will to make sure what we have worked hard for goes to our nearest and dearest, or those we choose as beneficiaries, but what about your business affairs? No matter what your interest is in a business – owner, director, partner or sole trader – you need a specific Business Will, or everything you have worked hard for could be at risk.
Why make a Business Will?
It may be that you’ve been in business for years but never considered a specific Business Will, or you may be considering passing the reigns over to the next generation, whatever your personal situation succession planning is vitally important for family businesses and organising finances ahead of any unperceived occurrences is a must.
Losing a family member can be a distressing time, sometimes the anguish of the bereavement may also be compounded with the additional pressure of how a family business is going to be distributed.
It is important to ensure that a business owner’s Will is consistent with the corporate documents that have been created and subsequently governed the running of the family business/
company, and dovetails with any additional agreements made within the family business. These could take the form of a Shareholder’s Agreement or other legally binding family agreement.
It is therefore essential if you have any interest in a business to seek professional legal advice.
A bespoke Business Will is especially important for SMEs as their family may be reliant on the business as a source of income. With many small and medium-sized businesses, it is something to seriously think about and get sound advice.
Owning a business outright, having an interest, or shares, should have an impact on your Will and solicitor, Sarah Finnigan at Pearson Solicitors specialises in Tax, Trust & Business Wills. Sarah focuses specifically on this area of law and is an expert in her field.
“Most business clients don’t hesitate to take out insurance, but if they die or become incapable of running things it will affect their business. There is no age limit to retirement or how long people choose to work for themselves, but planning for any eventuality makes prudent business sense,” says Sarah.
“If a majority shareholder dies their shares may end up in the name of a spouse who has never been involved in the day to day running of any company, so how useful to have notes for loved ones who may ultimately be tasked with selling on stock, fixtures and fittings and any property a sole trader owned.”
Why it pays to get the right advice
“Invaluable inheritance tax savings are available to businesses and can be dealt with in a Will, hence the importance of engaging a solicitor to help. Your adviser needs to be familiar with the documents that create and govern companies and partnerships, and au fait with the correct tax efficient ways to deal with such assets within the business owner’s Will,” says Sarah.
We’ll get you smiling ...
Are your dentures holding you back?
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
