Kirklees & Calderdale 49

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W W W. 5 0 P L U S M A G A Z I N E . C O . U K APRIL - JUNE 2016

KIRKLEES & CALDERDALE EDITION 49

WIN

James Martin THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

A HOLIDAY FOR TWO WITH ROBINSONS HOLIDAYS

The UK’s largest stocks of Collection

Discover the largest selection of superb quality rugs in the UK. We travel far and wide to find the finest rugs in theworld. Every one of our showrooms is home to the most exquisite array of designs. Thousands of designs in every size, shape and colour. When it comes to rugs, we’ve got everything covered.

Service

If you are looking for something special to make the finishing touch to your room you are sure to find it at FrithRugs. With our “Bring to home” service we can even bring a selection to your home for you to choose in situ, so its never been easier to find the perfect quality large rug

Colour

Enjoy a rainbow of shades. Our rugs come in every tone from subtle neutrals in cream and beige to fired-up reds, gorgeous greens and bold blues. Calming and invigorating colours create the right mood for any setting. Bring in samples of your existing colour scheme and find the perfect match.

Warmth

Turn up the heat with a beautiful rug. There’s no faster way to add a warming focal point to any room in the home. Choose a vibrant shade and introduce rich tones to lift your mood and warm your heart. Select a deep pile design and sink into softness and cosy indulgence.

Beauty

Every rug is a work of art. Each hand made rug is unique and has been beautifully created by master craftsmen. This is exceptional quality and skill that has to be seen to be believed. Visit a showroom and the sheer beauty of our designs will take your breath away.

Over 30,000 rugs in stock, with free next day delivery

quality Rugs & large Rugs Style

What’s your style? Traditional, floral, tribal, modern, plain? We source rugs from all over the world with designs from the Middle and Far East and a vast range of machine made wool rugs from Europe. Most rugs are made especially for us. Our exclusive Laura Jade Designer Collection features a dazzling display of contemporary designs and colours.

Ideas and inspiration for everyone.

Quality

It’s our watchword. We search the world for fine rugs and only the best meet our exacting quality standards.

Our buyers inspect every rug before dispatch to our showrooms. This kind of attention to detail is unmistakable. Step inside a showroom and discover the largest collection of superb quality rugs you’ve ever seen.

Comfort

Beautiful to the eye. Warm and comfortable underfoot. All our rugs are made from only the finest materials and come in a range of thicknesses to suit any room. Choose from sleek rugs in fine silk to long pile shaggy rugs. Kick off your shoes and enjoy the sensation. Comfort is guaranteed.

Choice

See rugs in every size, shape and colour. Our vast selection of sizes ranges from a modest 31 cm sqaure to a huge 8m by 5m. Even larger rugs are available to order.

Choose from rectangles, squares, circles, ovals and octagons as well as hall runners in a variety of lengths.

Custom

Most of our designs are available to order in any size, any shape and any colour. So, if we don’t have the right rug in stock for you, we will arrange for this to be custom made, exactly as you want it.

Tel: 0845 4 900 600 Showrooms at: FrithRugs Kaydon House, Kinmel Park, Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, North Wales LL18 5TY FrithRugs Lythgoes Lane (A49) Warrington WA2 7XE FrithRugs Ridings Park, Eastern Way, Hawks Green, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 7FJ Lifestyle Furniture Plus, Snugborough Trading Estate, Union Mills, Douglas, Isle of Man IM4 4LH Floor Style Canterbury, Nason’s, Maynard Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3RQ

• 30,000 RUGS IN STOCK • ORDER TODAY, HAVE IT DELIVERED FREE TOMORROW* *Excludes weekend delivery.

• FREE PARKING • BESPOKE SERVICE • OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Open: Mon-Sat: 10.00-5.00, Sun & Bank Hols: 10.00 - 4.00 Closed: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day & Easter Sunday FrithRugs is a trademark of GH Frith (Bodelwyddan) Ltd.

DPSv2

CONTENTS

T w itte r in g O n with Graham Smith

INSIDE...

16-17

8-9

EXOTIC RIVERS OF THE WORLD A look at River Cruising

16-17 JAMES MARTIN

Plates, Mates and Automobiles The Tour!

19-20 HOME TIPS

Changing the mood of your home.

25-28 SPRING IS IN THE AIR

Time to improve your outdoor spaces.

31-34 Out and about

Places to go and things to do.

36-38 sweet treats

Desserts to delight by James Martin.

To read more titles of the magazine, enter our competitions or to subscribe to our regular newsletter visit our new look website:

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Advertising Sales We're expanding!

If you have experience and would like to sell into this prestigious magazine, please give us a call on 01204 860 194 or email CV to john@mcgrathmedia.co.uk

6th Floor | 120 Bark Street | Bolton | BL1 2AX T: (01204) 860 194 | F: (01204) 860 213 e: admin@mcgrathmedia.co.uk

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Cavalier approach to the weather!

I forget who sang about “it might as well rain until September”, well in my part of the world it has been doing and right through to Spring.

Graham Smith

Prolonged wet weather gets us all in different ways. It’s a treat for my sciatica for instance. I’ve just spent three months walking like a ruptured duck thanks to pins, needles and pains and the urge to emigrate to warmer climes has crossed my mind more than once as I’ve performed an inelegant pose to put socks on in the morning.

Being part time guardian to six spaniels has its moments too as the rain has turned their garden into something resembling a boating lake and a toilet trip followed by 24 muddy paws trooping back in the house can be traumatic. Sometimes it’s nearly a fire engine job. Some perform their ablutions on dry land but others feel the urge to go on an Amazonian safari without a boat to the farthest flung corner of the quagmire and return looking like a mud wrestling competitor and they’re not fussy where they wipe their feet. Towels are to be avoided if they prefer wiping their feet and mud-soaked torsos on the best carpet and a shake of the head can lead to half an hour’s wiping down of tiles and paintwork.

There’s brainless Ben, the largest of the group, who thinks he’s God’s gift to the female sex even though he’s long since been separated from the equipment to do anything about it. He considers himself the only five-legged specimen of the breed and will aquaplane across the garden to offer his lustful ministrations to the nearest female, also devoid of the equipment and usually the inclination, so, thwarted, he’ll lunge back inside to attempt procreation with a stuffed rabbit or teddy bear. Not a pretty sight.

Whether the vet had a bad day when performing Ben’s neutering I don’t know but the sad animal has a fascination for vigorously licking my good lady’s leg, whatever she may be

TWITTER doing, which has alarming similarities to Sarah Ferguson’s fascination with having her toes sucked as a prelude to other delights. I worry about him. The look on his face if you remonstrate with him is reminiscent of an errant drunk on a Saturday night but he seems happy in his own world.

Milly is the senior member of the pack and rather like a dotty dowager. She is blind and deaf but that doesn’t prevent her finding the filthiest corner of the garden, ploughing through it until she resembles an outsize mud pie and gazing sightlessly at you afterwards as much as to say, “It’s your fault, clean me up and where’s my food?”

It’s a dog’s life? It certainly is for those who have to care for them during this monsoon season. Roll on summer!

When I’m 65 I officially become an OAP this year and although thoughts of retirement are far away it’s becoming noticeable that my bodily functions are no longer matching my mentality.

You know the feeling, you lose control.

You can cough, break wind and pass water all at the same time but not always voluntarily and invariably in the wrong place. Hair which long since stopped growing on your head sprouts from ever other bodily orifice and often in places where scissors or a razor could be positively injurious.

Your mind wanders back to your youth but your legs wander in odd directions and young people are opening doors for you even if you don’t want to go through them.

I’m still having sex at 64 although I live at 58, it’s no distance! But as we strive to do all we once did through advancing years isn’t it amazing what aids we needs to do it! Now cleanse your minds I didn’t mean that although I note that those who do need a pill of the aphrodisiac variety still have to pay for them on private prescription.

Develop a bad back though and you’ll get a cocktail of drugs over the telephone from your doctor for free even though he may never have met and diagnosed you.

You put more by the side of the bed than in it. Hair gel and aftershave are replaced by hair restorer and various embrocations to aid mobility and by the time you’ve reached the bathroom you’ve forgotten why you set off, and if it’s really bad you’ve maybe done it in the hall anyway.

Age is only a number they say. Indeed it is but a number of things are starting to happen which I could well do without.

A recurrent bad back, the front’s not so good either, blood pressure pills in a world where standards would give anyone blood pressure, the list is endless and growing daily.

Pass me the pension book but I refuse to go gently into that goodnight and intend to grow old disgracefully.

Food on the move Is it really necessary to drink coffee and eat on the move?

The modern trend is to ponse along with a cardboard cup of whatever in the mornings, in the street, the car or at a desk, and as the day goes on it

seems the modern generation cannot be without some sort of drink in their hands whatever they are doing.

In my day we ate at tables, used knives and forks and drank sitting down, what’s wrong with that?

Have a nice day Have you notices the number of glib and insincere phrases which have crept into the patter from sales people?

“Have a nice day”, “Will that be a small, medium or large?”, “Is there anything else I can help with today?”

All patronising insincerities which are obviously taught as standard at training courses and are surely designed to get right up our nostrils.

Gone are the days when natural conversation peppered our daily lives in shops and restaurants. Now it is replaced by plasticised Americanisms which grate with me like fingernails down a wall.

But as I said earlier I officially become a dinosaur this year and look what became of them!

God Save the Queen I see the trendies would like a new song at sporting events to replace the national anthem.

Oh for God’s sake what’s wrong with them? In a European world where we have to have straight bananas, standard measure condoms and all manner of bureaucratic tripe can we not stick with the one thing which is unique to this country? Stand up for it, sing it, be proud we have it, use it or lose it.

Hasn’t this country lost enough?

WIN A SELF DRIVE HOLIDAY FOR TWO... ...with Robinsons Holidays to either the Abbey Lawn Hotel in Torquay, the Imperial Hotel in Eastbourne or the Ocean View Hotel on the Isle of Wight. (See pages 6 & 7 for hotel details) Prize is for any Monday to Friday 4 nights’ stay and includes dinner, bed and breakfast in a standard twin or double room.

Closing date for competition is 30th April 2016.

Full terms & conditions on the website.

GO TO WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK TO ENTER! WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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Offering Great Value Holidays For Over 90 Years

from only

£159 Sunny Sussex Eastbourne

Located on the south coast within the historic county of Sussex, lies the elegant seaside resort of Eastbourne. Renowned for its top sunshine records and award winning beaches, Eastbourne is understandably a popular holiday destination for all.

With a sprinkling of high street shops, centrally located, a Victorian pier and a rich history boasting a variety of castles, museums and galleries, Eastbourne is sure to cater for your every need.

Imperial Hotel Located just a stone’s throw away from the promenade and band stand, this grand Victorian hotel is full of character and home to a number of spacious, comfortable bedrooms, all accessible via lifts.

Guests are able to unwind in the relaxing lounge area before an evening meal in the Majestic Restaurant, offering hearty, home cooked food.

Hotel facilities l All rooms are en-suite with telephone, television and hairdryer l Free WiFi in Public areas l Premier rooms available* l Complimentary tea and coffee in all rooms l Waiter service l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Table d’hôte menu l Optional a la carte menu available l Live entertainment most evenings l Ballroom/Dance floor l Two lifts serving all floors l Porterage.

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The Garden Isle Isle of Wight

Take a short boat ride across the Solent and discover the Isle of Wight, an island of astounding natural beauty with a variety of attractions to suit all ages.

Located on the south east coast of the island, the traditional seaside resort of Shanklin is home to golden sandy beaches and a quaint collection of shops housed in traditional thatched cottages. It is understandably one of the most popular resorts on the island with plenty to entertain.

Ocean View Hotel Situated in a premier location with an idyllic seaside position, the charming, well-appointed Ocean View Hotel boasts uninterrupted panoramic views across Sandown Bay. The hotel also offers a large sprung dance floor and provides live entertainment most evenings.

Hotel facilities l All rooms are en-suite with telephone, television and hairdryer l Free WiFi in Public areas l Premier and sea views rooms available* l Complimentary tea and coffee in all rooms l Waiter service l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Licensed bar l Table d’hôte menu l Optional a la carte menu available l Live entertainment most evenings l Ballroom/Dance floor l Heated indoor swimming pool l Indoor bowling green, table tennis and snooker room l Lift serving all floors l Porterage.

Please note that on each floor of the hotel, some steps may need to be negotiated.

Delightful Devon Torquay

Located in the heart of the English Riviera, Torquay is renowned for its mild climate, award winning sandy beaches and secluded coves and has been a popular holiday destination since the early 19th century.

With its distinctive European atmosphere, sophisticated environment and beautifully varied scenery, Torquay remains a popular holiday destination.

Abbey Lawn Hotel If you’re looking to unwind in style, this elegant Georgian hotel is the place to stay. Located in the grounds of the former Torre Abbey with stunning views of the bay, the Abbey Lawn hotel offers an exceptional standard of comfort throughout.

The hotel comprises superb facilities, including a heated indoor swimming pool and a conservatory lounge overlooking the bay, where guests can relax and enjoy a drink.

Hotel facilities l All rooms are en-suite with telephone, television and hairdryer l Free WiFi in Public areas l Premier and front facing rooms available* l Complimentary tea and coffee in all rooms l Waiter service l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Licensed bar l Table d’hôte menu l Optional a la carte menu available l Live entertainment most evenings l Ballroom/Dance floor l Heated indoor pool l Lift serving all floors l Porterage.

The Robinsons Difference Local joining points l No single supplements* l High standard of accommodation l Great choice of menus l Executive coaches with extra legroom l Includes excursions l Friendly staff l Own hotels in great locations l Peace of mind security l Payment in instalments * Robinsons own hotels l

9 Day Tours 2016

8 nts dinner, bed & breakfast IMPERIAL OCEAN VIEW 30 Apr 07 May 14 May 21 May 28 May 04 Jun 11 Jun 18 Jun 25 Jun 02 Jul 09 Jul 16 Jul 23 Jul 30 Jul 06 Aug 13 Aug 20 Aug 27 Aug 03 Sept 10 Sept 17 Sept 24 Sept 01 Oct 15 Oct 29 Oct 06 Nov 26 Nov

£395 £409 £419 £429 £429 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £419 £409 £399 £389 £309 £299 £289 £309 £309

£395 £409 £419 £429 £429 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £419 £409 £399 £389 £309 £299 £289 £309 £309

ABBEY LAWN £395 £409 £419 £429 £429 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £419 £409 £399 £389 £309 £299 £289 £309 £309

Only standard rooms available on 9 Day Tours

8 Day Tours 2016

7 nts dinner, bed & breakfast IMPERIAL OCEAN VIEW 30 Apr 01 May 07 May 08 May 14 May 15 May 21 May 22 May 28 May 29 May 04 Jun 05 Jun 11 Jun 12 Jun 18 Jun 19 Jun 25 Jun 26 Jun 02 Jul 03 Jul 09 Jul 10 Jul 16 Jul 17 Jul 23 Jul 24 Jul 30 Jul 31 Jul 06 Aug 07 Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 27 Aug 28 Aug 03 Sept 04 Sept 10 Sept 11 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 24 Sept 25 Sept

£349 £349 £359 £359 £369 £369 £379 £379 £389 £389 £399 £399 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £389 £389 £379 £379 £369 £369 £359 £359

£349 £349 £359 £359 £369 £369 £379 £379 £389 £389 £399 £399 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £389 £389 £379 £379 £369 £369 £359 £359

7 Day Tours 2016

6 nts dinner, bed & breakfast

ABBEY LAWN £349 £349 £359 £359 £369 £369 £379 £379 £389 £389 £399 £399 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £389 £389 £379 £379 £369 £369 £359 £359

Imperial Hotel Supplements per person: Premier Room - £35 Abbey Lawn Hotel Supplements per person: Premier Room - £50 Front Facing Room - £15 Ocean View Hotel Supplements per person: Premier Room - £50 Sea View Room - £15

IMPERIAL OCEAN VIEW

5 Day Tours 2016

4 nts dinner, bed & breakfast

ABBEY LAWN

IMPERIAL OCEAN VIEW

ABBEY LAWN

24 Apr

£269

£269

£269

25 Apr

£189

£189

£189

01 May

£299

£299

£299

02 May £199

£199

-

08 May

£315

£315

£315

06 May £205

£205

-

15 May

£325

£325

£325

10 May £209

£209

-

22 May

£335

£335

£335

16 May £215

£215

-

29 May

£345

£345

£345

20 May £219

£219

-

05 Jun

£355

£355

£355

12 Jun

£379

£379

£379

24 May £225

£225

-

19 Jun

£379

£379

£379

30 May £229

£229

-

26 Jun

£379

£379

£379

03 Jun

£239

£239

-

03 Jul

£379

£379

£379

07 Jun

£239

£239

-

10 Jul

£379

£379

£379

13 Jun

£239

£239

-

17 Jul

£379

£379

£379

17 Jun

£239

£239

-

24 Jul

£379

£379

£379

21 Jun

£239

£239

-

31 Jul

£379

£379

£379

27 Jun

£239

£239

-

07 Aug

£379

£379

£379

01 Jul

£239

£239

-

14 Aug

£379

£379

£379

05 Jul

£239

£239

-

21 Aug

£379

£379

£379

11 Jul

£239

£239

-

28 Aug

£379

£379

£379

15 Jul

£239

£239

-

04 Sept

£369

£369

£369

19 Jul

£239

£239

-

£239

£239

-

11 Sept

£369

£369

£369

25 Jul

18 Sept

£359

£359

£359

29 Jul

£239

£239

-

25 Sept

£329

£329

£329

02 Aug

£239

£239

-

09 Oct

£249

£249

£249

08 Aug

£239

£239

-

23 Oct

£239

£239

£239

12 Aug

£239

£239

-

06 Nov

£259

£259

£259

16 Aug

£239

£239

-

20 Nov

£259

£259

£259

22 Aug

£239

£239

-

26 Aug

£239

£239

-

30 Aug

£239

£239

-

05 Sept £239

£239

-

09 Sept £235

£235

-

13 Sept £229

£229

-

19 Sept £225

£225

-

23 Sept £219

£219

-

27 Sept £215

£215

-

01 Oct

£209

£209

£209

05 Oct

£205

£205

£205

09 Oct

£199

£199

£199

15 Oct

£195

£195

£195

19 Oct

£189

£189

£189

23 Oct

£185

£185

£185

29 Oct

£179

£179

£179

02 Nov

£189

£189

£189

06 Nov

£189

£189

£189

12 Nov

£185

£185

£185

16 Nov

£185

£185

£185

20 Nov

£179

£179

£179

26 Nov

£179

£179

£179

30 Nov

£179

£179

£179

* 05 Dec £169

£169

£169

* 12 Dec £159

£159

£159

† 23 Dec £399  29 Dec £349

£399

£399

£349

£349

Only standard rooms available on 7 Day Tours

We offer you ...

3 4/6/7/8 nights dinner, bed & breakfast 3 2 included excursions 3 Local pick-up points 3 Service of driver courier

Your Groups’ Specialist for coach holidays in the UK and Europe

We can tailor make tours to your specific requirements, if you want more information then contact our groups department on 0800 7851025 or email groups@robinsons-holidays.co.uk

With over 90 years of experience in tailor making holidays, we at Robinsons offer a personal service. Whether you need help with part or all of your groups holidays we can lend a hand in organising, booking and everything in-between.

We are flexible in our approach and can offer destinations found in this brochure or we can tailor make to your specification, whether in the UK or Europe. We offer all of our group’s excellent benefits: • 1 FREE place for every 10 paying passengers • Special interest and activity groups catered for • Complete financial security-BCH Bonded

Imperial Hotel: Supplements per person: Premier Room £20 Ocean View: Supplements per person: Premier Room £30 Front Facing Room: £10 Abbey Lawn : Supplements per person: Premier Room £30 Front Facing Room: £10 Turkey & Tinsel; * Unlimited single rooms; † Christmas Tour includes 3 resort lunches & 1 mystery excursion -  New Year Tour includes 3 resort lunches & 1 mystery excursion

Robinsons Holidays, Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP

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7

TRAVEL

Exotic Rivers of the World

By J e n n i e C a r r f r o m S i lv e r T rav e l A d v i s o r River cruising has been growing in popularity over the last five years, with many taking trips along the Rhine, Danube or Seine to enjoy the beauty to be found along these waterways of Europe. Historical cities, small towns and river bank scenery are part and parcel of every voyage. However, have you ever thought of exploring further afield on an Asian or Russian river?

River cruises can take you to exotic destinations, with much to explore and discover from the comfort of your floating hotel. Daily excursions allow you to discover the heartlands of new countries, which can be overlooked on ocean cruises. Our river cruising partners, see the fact box below for details, have a superb variety of itineraries and guide-accompanied shore visits that ensure you can immerse yourself in both the culture and history of the destination, whilst enjoying excellent on board facilities and dining.

The Yangtze and Li Rivers, China China has so much to offer visitors and the stunning scenery of the Yangtze is a real must-see one of these. It is Asia’s longest river and the third longest in the world. The Three Gorges, Wu, Qutung and Xiling, are quite magical, with towering mountains and limestone karsts on either side of a narrow passage, created by the upstream dam.

Often covered in mist, the atmosphere is other worldly and mystical.

Downstream the river is vast, with verdant countryside and agriculture on both banks or busy industrial cities utilising it for transport. You can take a short trip through the Gorges or spend longer travelling on the river, stopping at towns and cities on your voyage.

The Li River is famous for its wonderful scenery, with cormorant fishing taking place here, much as it has done for centuries. This is traditional China, with green fields, mountain cliff faces,

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remarkable limestone caves and the city of Guilin.

The Irrawaddy River, Myanmar Since the late 20th century tourism in Myanmar has been encouraged by the

country’s ruling powers and whilst the number of tourists visiting is increasing, the country has retained its values and beliefs. It is as yet an unspoilt destination with a serious abundance of Buddhist temples.

The Irrawaddy is the main river in Myanmar, running through the middle of the country, from north to south, naturally being hugely important for cargo. It is also known as the ‘Road to Mandalay’ after Rudyard Kipling’s poem. It, too, flows through stunning gorges, above Mandalay, with fabulous rock faces, reaching to the sky. Below this busy city, the river joins with the Chindwin River, gets wider and flows southwest through the most populated area, down to the delta. Rangoon (Yangon), the former capital, is located here; it’s the largest city in Myanmar, with many interesting colonial buildings still remaining.

The Irrawaddy has three distinct regions: in the north forests of oak and pine, in the central lowlands there is

TRAVEL The Ships In Asia, these tend to be far smaller than on European rivers, with maybe just 70 passengers or less, staying in truly beautiful staterooms, often in a colonial style, reminding you of times gone by. Picture yourself relaxing in comfortable rattan chairs or on teak loungers, beneath a gently whirring ceiling fan, watching the lush greenery pass you by. Travel on these vessels is luxurious and very comfortable, affording you a sanctuary after a busy day experiencing totally different and fascinating places.

Factbox A number of different river cruise companies offer trips on these wonderful and exotic rivers. The following are recommended by Silver Travel Advisor.

relatively little rainfall, so the forest are of teak and much agriculture takes place here. Finally in the delta region, the mangroves are a haven for birds, the river itself being home to crocodiles, turtles and the Irrawaddy dolphin, and land wildlife includes elephants, leopards, wild boar and dogs as well as macaque monkeys.

rapids, mirror-like lakes and vast fertile floodplains, its banks are home to over 60 million people who rely on it for food, water and transport. A little known fact is that the carp of the Mekong can grow to be nine feet long!

And not surprisingly, this fish forms the basis of many dishes eaten close to the river.

The Mekong River, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand

More well-known is Angkor Wat and the temples around Siem Reap, which are a real wonder of the world especially at sunrise. The beauty of Phnom Penh is found in the Khmer architecture and the Silver Palace is a prime example of this. The Vietnamese delta beyond and around Ho Chi Minh City is known as the ‘Rice Bowl’ due to the fertile soil and ease of irrigation.

The city itself has markets, French colonial architecture, the spectacular Jade Emperor Pagoda and great opportunities for karaoke!

This is a river that touches on many Asian countries and has played its part in conflict and co-operation. The most popular river cruises often start in Siem Reap in Cambodia and finish in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in Vietnam, passing through Phnom Penh. These names conjure up images of beautiful palaces, monks in saffron robes and golden statues of Buddha.

The river flows through gorges, swift

Viking River Cruises www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk Call 0208 780 7900 Our thanks to Viking for the photographs for this article Ama Waterways www.amawaterways.com.

Call 0808 250 7047 Avalon Waterways www.avalonwaterways.com Call 0800 440 2798 Emerald Waterways www.emeraldwaterways.co.uk Call 0800 270 7017 Noble Caledonia www.noblecaledonia.co.uk Call 0207 752 0000 Riviera Travel www.rivieratravel.co.uk Call 01283 742354 Scenic www.scenic.co.uk Call 0808 102 1335 Uniworld www.uniworld.com/gb/ Call 0808 168 9231

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

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9

Great south south Great coast holidays coast holidays Coach SELF-DRIVE & & COACH COACH INCLUSIVE INCLUSIVE BREAKS BREAKS SELF-DRIVE

89 nclusive ££189 holidays GREAT GREAT VALUE VALUE55DAY DAY BREAKS HALF BOARD HALF BOARD BREAKS

from from

per per person person

When itit comes comes to to inviting, inviting, relaxing relaxing When breaks in the south, we have the breaks in the south, we have the ideal holiday for you. ideal holiday for you.

Whether you’re after family-friendly holidays, a romantic getaway Whether you’re after holidays,our a romantic getaway or a group break withfamily-friendly like-minded people, seven hotels cover or a group break with like-minded people, our seven hotels cover the south’s finest locations. From the popular beaches of Cornwall the south’s finest locations.

From the popular beaches of Cornwall to the cosy Isle of Wight, there’s something for everyone. to the cosy Isle of Wight, there’s something for everyone.

Our coach inclusive option allows guests across the UK to travel in Our coach inclusive option allows guests the UK of to having travel in comfort, while our self-drive holidays offer across the freedom comfort, while our self-drive holidays offer the freedom of having your own car. your own car.

have our own fleet of executive ches that enables us to offer el from a selection of pick up Every break includes: Every break nts across theincludes: UK. • Return coach travel (self-drive option available)

• Return coach travel (self-drive option available) • Comfy en suite accommodation vehicle features conditioning and on board • Comfy en suiteair accommodation • Breakfast & 3-course evening meal o make your &journey as comfortable as possible.

• Breakfast 3-course evening meal • Live nightly entertainment also boast friendly drivers who will warmly greet • Live nightly entertainment

elp you settle into your pre-allotted seat and let now of any planned comfort breaks. We aim to Trio awarded Certificate of Excellence ou to your hotel between on We are proud to3-5pm, announce thatdepending three of our group – the Barrowfield, Devonshire and Daish’s hotels – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. ngth of the journey.

Six fabulous locations, seven great hotels

Seven locations,weymouth eight greatweymouth hotels. newquayfabuloustorquay Every break includes: Isle of Wight

Torquay

Bournemouth

Eastbourne

• Return coach travel (self-drive option • Comfy en suite accommodation

Request your new 2016 brochure now!

Barrowfield Hotel Daish’s Hotel

Devonshire Hotel Devonshire Hotel

Hotel Prince Regent

Russell Hotel

Bournemouth Sands Claremont Hotel • Breakfast & 3-courseTheevening meal

Don’t miss

Request your new 2015 these coach brochure now!

inclusive breaks!

Local pick up points from make it easy to get away.

DATE

HOTEL

DAYS

PRICE

Don’t miss these coach inclusive breaks!

MAY Local Gloucester, 02 pick up points Hotelfrom, PrinceBristol, Regent Cheltenham, – Weymouth 8 Stroud, £299 Tewkesbury and Worcester make it easy to get away.

DATE

07

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

5

10 DESTINATION HOTEL

Daish’s HotelCOACH - Isle of DATE WightDESTINATION HOTEL DAYS BOARD INCLUSIVE

5

13

January 08 12

PRICE

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne March 5

Half

£104

09

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

16

15 Russell Half Hotel£109 – Weymouth 8 Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne 5 11 Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

17

Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay 5 Half Hotel £89 – Newquay 12 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth5 28 Barrowfield

23 23

Russell Hotel – Weymouth

4

Half

£89

02 04 05 11 17 22 25 27

Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

29 Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne 5 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth 5 Half £104 24 Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

JUNE

30

February 01

14

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

5

Half

£124

April

Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

5

Half

£99

02

03

£189

COACH DAYS BOARD INCLUSIVE PRICE

5

Devonshire Hotel – Torquay Devonshire 5 Half Hotel £89 - Torquay 01 Devonshire Hotel – Torquay6 13 Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

£189

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

Devonshire Hotel - Torquay

5

Devonshire Hotel – Torquay

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth Half –£119 06 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth5 08 Sands5 Hotel Bournemouth

£224 5

Half£209 £124

5

Half

£164

5

£289 Half £129

5

Half£189 £139

5

Half

£129

6

£244 Half £174

5

Half

£169

7

Half

5

Half£214 £154

£199

£214

Devonshire Hotel – Torquay

5

Half

£109

09

Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

5

Half

£144

Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

5

Half

£109

22

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

5

Half

£179

6

Half£319 £184

4

Half

5

Half£204 £154

5

Half

£184

6

Half

£244

10

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne 5 Hotel Half £139 10 Daish’s - Isle

of 23 WightDaish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight8

Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

5

Half

£109

24

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

5

Half

£139

May

13

5

Russell Hotel – Weymouth

Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth

5

Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight Devonshire 5 Half Hotel £124 - Torquay 05 Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay 15 5 20

Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

21

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

22

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

5

25

June Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

5

£254

£114

£244

£259 £204

Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/double rooms 04 Devonshire Hotel – Torquay 5 Half £174 with sole occupancy. Optional local excursions can be booked Price includes return coach travel from: at the hotel.

Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates 09 Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight 6 Half £244 available in 2015.

If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct(Denby Dale Road), Sheffield, Chesterfield.

Halifax, Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield £20 per person from prices shown.

27 Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne 7 Half £334

All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s). Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room.

bournemouth Llandudno

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 2016. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown.

isle of wight Newquay

eastbourne

Weymouth

n available)

Call 01803 201 432 or visit daishs.com Weymouth Call 01202 638840 or visit daishs.com quote 50PLUSCHE quote 50PlusWY

facebook.com/daishs facebook.com/daishs Bournemouth Sands Hotel Somerset Hotel

Daish’s Hotel

Barrowfield Hotel

Claremont Hotel

Hotel Prince Regent

@daishs_holidays

@daishs

Russell Hotel

To Cruise or not to Cruise?

BY DERE K CU R Z ON

My first thought of cruising was made by my Father 10 years ago when discussing possible Honeymoon destinations for my fiancée and I. The upshot was we embarked on a 13-night cruise to the Canary Islands and have not looked back since.

We were slightly nervous with the whole experience but after the first day at sea we really became settled into our 'moving home' for a fortnight. We were rather sceptical over the thought of dressing up, but after a day of relaxing at sea or doing shore excursions in wonderful destinations, we actually looked forward to coming back to the ship and adhering to the ship’s dress code each evening.

The cruise industry has changed wholeheartedly even since our first cruise. It is no longer just for the elderly and/or wealthy, in fact the cruise companies have reached out towards the young couples and family market.

Nowadays there is a cruise out there for everyone.

There are also several cruise companies to choose from with some having recently celebrated 175 years of cruising like P&O and Cunard. Some companies have

12 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

brought out ‘monster sized’ ships able to carry in excess of 5,000 passengers; Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line. There are also the more exclusive companies like Oceania and Regent Seven Seas.

Although every cruise company will try and tempt you to sail with them, they are all offering much the same … beautiful ships, five-star service, excellent value for money, fantastic food prepared by culinary chefs, West End style shows and entertainment, activities for children … the list goes on.

Meeting up with fellow passengers at evening dinner is also a delight, exchanging stories about what we had all been doing that day or just simply finding out about each other. We tended to find (or certainly the wife did) that it could become a little emotional on the last evening, when you had shared so much together over the holiday period and no one else, no matter how you described it would ever understand it like your evening dinner passengers had.

Needless to say since our first cruise, we have embarked on a further 4 cruises taking us all over North and West Europe and even venturing as far as Greenland where we experienced very rough seas together with hurricane strength winds!

In a scene that wouldn’t have looked out of place on Titanic, the band did play on despite their instruments and certain items of furniture, rolling across the floor!

One thing is certain though; cruising aboard your floating hotel is like no other holiday you’ll ever experience. There is no other environment where you can wake up in a different country every single day, having only packed once. There is normally no luggage allowance (unless you fly cruise) and on arriving to check in, the next time you see your luggage is in your cabin. Once you step on board, you really are treated like royalty with the crew doing all they can to assist you and make your cruise the most enjoyable experience possible.

For anyone considering a cruise I would strongly recommend trying one for yourself, even if it is just for 2 nights.

Most cruises out of the UK sail from Southampton and in our experience, it is an efficiently run military operation from the time you leave your car to embarking on your ship for the first time then meeting up with your luggage again in your cabin.

Inspired by our experiences on board these amazing ships, I have written my first fictional book. ‘Surprise Sailaway’ tells the story of 2 sisters who embark on their first cruise together and the adventures that await them. It is the first of a trilogy and is a celebration of the cruise industry.

You can also follow my blogs all about cruising at www.sailaway.voyage

PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEP AND DISCOVER THE JOYS OF CARAVANNING Days are getting longer and Spring is just around the corner - so it's the perfect time to discover the fun, freedom and flexibility a caravan can offer.

Whether you're planning family holidays with children and grandchildren, aim to spend quality time together as a couple or have a retirement nest egg you're keen to invest, a mobile 'home from home' could be your affordable passport to countless weekends and holidays away.

More and more people are finding it's the perfect way to spend their precious leisure time - enjoying fresh air, fantastic scenery and special experiences with the people they love.

Whatever your ambitions or budget - and whether you're a first-time buyer looking for a bargain or seasoned caravanner seeking to trade in your current model for a newer option, there are a wealth of options on the market just waiting for you.

First of all, think about how many people will be staying in or visiting your caravan, and how you plan to use it.

Reputable dealers will help you work out the maximum weight your car can tow, and will steer you towards models that best suit your budget, both new and second hand.

If you're looking to treat yourself to extra touches of luxury at an affordable price, some dealers have annual 'special edition' models with unique features, made to a high specification and offering exceptional value for money.

When you've narrowed down the options and found the ideal caravan for you, it's time to turn your attention to other key aspects of caravan ownership - especially if you're a first-timer - such as:

Are there just two of you, or do you have family and friends to take into account?

Are you looking forward to quiet times in each others' company, or do you want plenty of space where other people can sleep and you have lots of room to relax and entertain?

Do you want the convenience of fixed beds, or a more flexible arrangement giving you more living space? Would you prefer a larger bathroom where you can wash and dress in comfort, or would you be happy with a smaller 'wet room'?

All these questions will help you decide whether you're looking for a two-berth, four-berth or up to six-berth option.

Other main considerations are the towing capacity of your car, closely followed by the amount of money you are able and willing to spend.

•

Where can I get a towbar fitted?

•

Where can I store my caravan?

•

Do I need a motor mover to help me manoeuvre?

•

Do I need an awning to add extra space?

•

What finance deals are available?

Whatever questions you may have as you invest in your first caravan or prepare to trade in your existing model for another one, don't hesitate to seek the advice of your dealer's experienced and expert staff, or consult their website. Rest assured they're ready and willing to help, whatever your query - leaving you to focus on all the good times ahead.

Happy holidays!

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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VolunteeringWatWKirkwoodWisWopenWtoWpeopleWofWallWagesWandWbackgrounds.WIfWyouWareW lookingWforWregularWvolunteeringJWworkWexperienceJWaWdayWplacementWawayWfromWtheWnormalW dayWjobJWorWjustWwantWtoWknowWhowWtoWgetWinvolvedWwithWyourWlocalWKirkwoodWSupportW GroupJWtheWHospiceWwouldWloveWtoWhearWfromWyouOWW ------------ECC-volunteers;-----------D---------M-D---;--------D-----------;----D-----------M---------------L-; GreenWfingered?WW --------------------(-T!; OneWforWtheWroad?W ----L-D--------;--------------------------; NotWoneWforWtheWspotlight?W --L--------------FundraisingD-D---D----; HealingWhands?W ---------------M-------D-----------;---

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-------D--------L---------------------orD----L----D-L----------;PreferWsomethingWlocal?W ItL---------help;--L-----------;----D---------------events; HoweverWyouWchooseWtoWdonateWitJWaWlittleWofWyourW timeWcanWmakeWaWmassiveWdifferenceWtoWwhatW KirkwoodWHospiceWcanWachieveO ---------D--WJohnW JohnsonJWVolunteer Services Manager:

-S08@8W5599SSW Email:Wjohn.johnson@kirkwoodhospice.co.ukWW -Wwww.kirkwoodhospice.co.ukW

CAN YOU HELP

BY SPONSORING A KIRKWOOD NURSE TODAY?

£5 A MONTH OR £60 A YEAR

£10 A MONTH OR £120 A YEAR

£15 A MONTH OR £180 A YEAR Kindly supported by:

Kirkwood Hospice is a Registered Charity (No. 512987)

James Martin

Plates, Mates and Automobiles: The Tour!

JAMES Martin – the chef who has made Saturday morning TV a must for millions of viewers – was just about to embark on a 25-venue nationwide tour when we chatted and had made a vow: this would be his first, and last, tour.

16 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

“I’ve always said I wouldn’t tour because I’ve always felt I didn’t have the right support team in place, but I have now,” he explains. “I’m not doing another, though – there won’t be a second tour!”

the Castle Howard estate where his father was a catering manager. Plainly, this influenced him because at 16 he started formal catering training in college which resulted in him being Student of the Year three years running.

The friendly but very decided Yorkshireman had spoken, and that was that. So his fans – of which there are many up and down the country as pre-ticket sales of 30,000 and sold-out venues happily proved– will just have to accept that.

After catering college, he worked for a variety of top chefs in leading restaurants including for famous names Antony Worrall Thompson and Marco Pierre White.

They have, though, accepted the 44 year-old Martin and how he wanted to structure his career from the first moment he stepped onto our screens in November, 1996.

The pleasant and obviously talented young chef immediately impressed, but insisted on doing things his way. And that’s how it has been ever since.

Fortunately – both for James and for us viewers – his cookery skills and onscreen charisma have created exactly the right recipe for enduring success.

It would have been hard to forecast the level of success, however, when he was a young lad growing up on

He toured France, working in chateaux kitchens and gaining toplevel experience before coming back to England and kickstarting his own career. He was plainly ambitious and in 1994, just before his 22nd birthday, he opened his own hotel and bistro in Winchester. Since, he has opened other hotels including one in Manchester.

From his first TV appearance, James quickly engaged with a public which both appreciated his sociable approach to cookery and also his no-nonsense way with food. Youth and natural charm did the rest and when Saturday Kitchen launched in 2006, he was first choice to front the enjoyable and informative programme.

CELEBRITY NEWS The formula paid off as it became hugely popular, regularly attracting more than 3.5 million viewers and remains part of the staple weekend entertainment diet. James also became a regular on Ready Steady Cook on BBC2 and for a variety of other cookery shows across the channels.

mates who have restaurants around the country have already told me to come and see them when I’m touring so I’ll probably get to eat there.”

In 2013, James was honoured with The Craft Guild of Chefs Special Award for outstanding contribution to the industry. In March, 2014, his series Food Map of Britain was voted Best Daytime and Early Peak Programme by the Royal Televison Society, and in 2015 he was named TV Personality of the Year at the Fortnum & Mason Awards.

What you won’t find James Martin doing work-wise is Celebrity Big Brother or any other reality TV show.

True, he did take part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 but you get the impression he just fancied the challenge.

He also makes regular appearances around the world including the BBC Good Food Show and Good Food and Wine Show South Africa and Gourmet Abu Dhabi to name just a few.

He has his own range of small electricals with Wahl Cookware, knives and kitchen textiles with Stellar/ Horwoods and serverware with Denby.

James has also launched his own range of bread and cake mixes and hampers, was a consultant with P & O Cruises on the restaurants and menus for their Ocean Village cruise ships for many years and is also consultant to Thomas Cook, creating in-flight meals for the airline.

Somehow in between all his achievements and a work schedule that would make a hummingbird dizzy, he has written 15 best-selling and awardwinning cookery books as well as his autobiography, Driven.

The title doesn’t only refer to his ambitions but also to his love of cars and speed; he also has a pilot’s licence.

The tour – entitled Plates, Mates and Automobiles – provided a unique challenge for the chef who takes most things in his stride because he wanted to get the formula just right.

“I didn’t just want to have two ovens on stage, give a bit of chat and have questions planted with the audience,” he states. “So we made it more interesting with interactive elements and various surprises.”

So, importantly, what will he eat on this tour? “Good question,” he ruminates.

“Probably the usual chef’s diet of takeaways! Actually, several of my

All of which sounds like a possible theme for a further TV series, I suggest.

“Yes,” he laughs. “You might be right.”

He’s a genuine advocate of the best of British food, but then he says he believes in the best of food wherever it comes from – “whether that means Spanish ham or British produce.

Personally, his favourite meal is a Sunday roast round at his mum’s house – although he did hint that he would be looking for the best region for fish and chips when touring, which is bound to prove controversial.

He’s very proud of Saturday Kitchen’s success over the past 10 years, he has strived to get the programme balance just right, but has “thoroughly enjoyed it all.”

However James recently announced that he will leave the programme at the end of March, saying he was looking forward to working on new projects - and having a lie-in on Saturday mornings.

James quoted “it’s been an amazing journey. I would like to personally thank all the viewers for turning Saturday kitchen into a three million-plus smash hit.”

“I could not have done it without them.

I would also like to thank the BBC and Saturday Kitchen for the great opportunity they gave me.”

“It has been an amazing journey and I have been privileged to work with some of the world’s greatest chefs and some of the greatest names in showbiz.

I wish the new chefs every success.

As for his career in 2016, as well as working on his house in the New Forest for which he’s now got planning

permission, he’s going to be looking at a variety of options “but the main thing is just working hard.”

He doesn’t have any special TV ambitions, doesn’t embrace the celebrity lifestyle with red carpet events and insists that “if it all finished tomorrow I’d be happy just cooking.”

And being James Martin, you know that this is exactly what he feels, like it or lump it.

For more information go to www.jamesmartinchef.co.uk

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 17

CHANGING THE MOOD OF YOUR HOME B Y AN G ELA K ELLY

CHANGING the mood of your home is a definite way to alter and improve your lifestyle in 2016.

The wonderful thing about this positive decision is that it can cost as much – or as little – as you want it to, involving differences to your home that are radical or merely minor.

“It really all depends on your budget and how much change you want, your circumstances and your surrounding space,” explains interior designer Allyson Houghton from Ideas Interior.

She has noticed that a major trend in improving homes today involves glass and letting in plenty of natural light through glass walls and roofs. “This is a natural improver of your mood and helps bring the outside in,” she adds.

“Conservatories and orangeries are also very popular these days,” says Allyson, ”and you can often finally achieve the lifestyle you dreamed of by having this improvement in light and space.”

“In bathrooms and kitchens you generally want brighter lights, with softer lighting in the lounge and bedrooms,”

Take a look at your existing frontdoor: does it need sprucing up with a lick of paint or do you need a new one? A modern front-door, often with smart glass panels, can make quite a difference to your hallway – “and this area is the gateway to your home as it’s the first thing visitors see so it really needs to give a good impression,” says Allyson.

Try panels on the walls that reflect light. “LED lighting is so far advanced now that you can change the mood whenever you want.”

If you are planning major changes to alter the whole mood and atmosphere of your property and way of living, it may well be worth investing in an extension to provide more rooms or an extra bathroom.

Select your builder carefully, preferably on recommendation, and see for yourself the kind of work he has already carried out. Look at the planning permission or building control approval you might need first by checking on the Government website www.planningportal.gov.uk

There are many varying styles of both available and, again, choose your supplier carefully. Go online and study the styles that would both complement your own home and will provide the changes you want or visit local showrooms.

Allyson Houghton Ideas Interiors is an established Interior Design Studio based in the heart of Lancashire, and their client geographic stretches from The Highlands to London and further afield in Europe.

Lighting around your home is a major improver of mood and feelings. Allyson advises investing in dimmer switches to change the lighting as your own mood changes, and use good-quality candles around the home. “These not only give out a lovely light but can also scent your home – and the senses need soothing in this way so they are a definite mood-changer.”

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| 19

HOME

Sometimes, just painting your home, improving the garden or patio and adding colourful pots of plants and flowers can change the whole look of your home and lift your mood, too, states Allyson.

If you’re buying new light fittings, while it’s useful to see what is available by going online, it’s always best to go into shops and stores and see light fittings for yourself and the effect they have on an area.

Be careful about choosing wall colours and décor throughout your property. Bold colours like reds and greens can be harsh but if you want a more relaxing ambience, neutral shades and gentler colours like blues and lilacs can soothe and improve how you feel as soon as you step through the door.

Colour is vital in your home. Introducing colour will change a room, and different rooms need different colours which send out different messages, so it’s important to get it right.

If you’ve definitely got a generous budget for changes, investing in a new lounge suite that offers a more comfortable way to relax is worth the effort.

Derek Delaney from Granite Transformations, which specialises in kitchen and bedroom makeovers among a raft of work to dramatically alter properties, emphasises that colour is vital in your home. “Introducing colour will change a room, and different rooms need different colours which send out different messages,” he states. “So it’s important to get it right.”

If you’ve definitely got a generous budget for changes, investing in a new lounge suite that offers a more comfortable way to relax is worth the effort.

But, Allyson advises that if you have a really good suite or sofa that’s more than 15 years-old but looking the worse for wear these days, consider having it re-upholstered instead. “Older

20 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

furniture can be particularly well-made and some good suites are certainly worth keeping – I never advise throwing away one like that,” she says. “Find a good upholsterer to give your suite or sofa a more modern look and you’ll be amazed at the difference this makes. And if you can’t afford re-upholstering, invest in a couple of attractive throws to alter the way they look.”

Changing a room’s colourscheme by getting the help of a recommended painter and decorator – or simply doing it yourself – can bring a main room like a lounge into the 21st century. Use a central colour, adds Allyson, and accentuate this with toning cushions and other soft furnishings and you’ll be surprised at how fresh your home is starting to look.

New curtains and drapes that frame windows beautifully can also open up a room, adding to that lovely new décor.

This new style can be repeated around the home in varying ways. Having a new kitchen is a welcome, major addition to your property and certainly worth the investment if yours is looking jaded and old-fashioned.

“Or adding new unit doors and work surfaces can also revamp a kitchen,” states Allyson. “Smart new flooring, a new sink and taps can really cheer up your kitchen and make it look modern.”

Floor coverings generally can alter the look and mood of your home – and you don’t need to spend a fortune to make rooms smarter and feel so much more comfortable, which improves your quality of living.

A new bathroom might be your dream – and a great place for relaxing. Baths are a real style item today and it’s worth having a look around for just the right shape and style.

The same goes for your bathroom tiling and décor – “but sometimes just having candles lit in your bathroom can make a difference,” insists Allyson.

Your bedroom is definitely a place that needs to reflect a relaxing mood, so does it need a revamp? New units completely change this room, and improve your lifestyle by having a place for everything.

On a simpler level, new bedding, cushions and a new carpet can make this room into a wonderfully restive place – and investing in a new bed is definitely an ongoing mood-changer that gives you the right level of sleep, every night.

• For more information go to: www.ideasinterior.co.uk

WE CAN MATCH ANY

PRICE WE STOCK A HUGE RANGE OF PREMIER BRANDS INCLUDING WELL WORTH A TRIP TO THE HEART OF THE HOLME VALLEY Junction 25 M62 37 Minutes Junction 38 M1 30 Minutes The Old Corn Mill, Westgate, Honley, Holmfirth, HD9 6AA

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Top Quality Bathrooms FOR OVER 38 YEARS

Dale bathrooms has now been supplying top quality bathrooms for over 38 years, under the same family ownership.

Originally Established in Manchester city centre on Dale St car park in the heart of the city.

We specialize in supply quality problem free bathroom equipment. All our Bathroom products are covered by good quality manufactures guarantees.

We have over 150 bathroom settings on display with a massive choice to suit every budget.

Dale bathroom relocated to Stockfield mill in Chadderton in 2005 due to the major redevelopment of Manchester city centre.

We deal with many top European factories for bathroom furniture and tiles and have our own dedicated bathroom furniture in Spain that produce quality bathroom furniture in a choice of over 50 different colours exclusively for Dale bathrooms.

Dale Bathrooms are one of the largest if not the largest bathroom and tile showroom in the country.

We have large displays of many top brands such as, Crosswater shower equipment and taps, Bauhaus

22 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

bathroom furniture and mirrors, Simpsons shower enclosures and shower tray, Pelipal German bathroom furniture, Phoenix Baths, showers, mirrors, radiators and much more.

Within the showroom we have dedicated areas for wetroom walk in showers with many options and ideas for you to view. We also have a range of bespoke shower trays which can be made to measure so allowing any configuration you may wish to create.

Why not visit our Mirror showroom where we have over 50 illuminated mirrors all of which are connected so that you can get a real feel for the mirror when installed in your bathroom, many of these mirrors are

Over 150 displays Open 7 days Large free car park Knowledgeable staff

Planning service Full installation service available

whirlpool and spa baths. Although we currently are now selling more shower enclosures then baths we still have a good range for you to choose from.

Within our mirror department we also have a large range of bathroom cabinets and shaving mirrors.

not only illuminated but also come with demister pads so that they will not steam up in your bathroom and many also have charging points for shavers/ toothbrush. If you are looking for music in your bathroom we also have mirrors that will connect via Bluetooth to your mobile phone allowing you to play your own choice of music.

Dale bathrooms have realized that over the years people don’t just want basic bathroom they much prefer to have a bathroom solution with plenty of storage space to enable you hide all those spare cleaning products,tooth paste etc out of sight. Storage today is one of the most important things that we get asked for today and we are able to assist with this by providing a massive range of modular freestanding furniture and a large range of Fitted bathroom furniture from major UK manufacturers.

We also have a large dedicated tile showroom with the most up to date wall and floor tiles available from many top European factories, as we import the tiles ourselves we miss the middle man out so we are able to supply tiles at unbelievably competitive prices, if tiles are not for you then we also carry a very large range of wetroom pvc panelling which is ideal for those people who want avoid grout issues and is perfect for just wiping down All of these products are available to view within the showroom.

Within the showroom we have baths of every shape and size from freestanding baths, to double sized baths to

Dale Bathrooms Stockfield Mill, Melbourne St , Chadderton,Oldham Ol9 9EW

Tel. 0161 6333427 www.dalebathrooms.com

TAKE A SHOWROOM TOUR AT

www.shackletonsltd.co.uk

GARDEN If your garden overlooks your neighbours consider hedges and trees for privacy, but if it’s bordered by open rural space and lovely views think about lowering fences so it blends in seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. All this helps you to enjoy your garden more.

PATHS can create an illusion of space and areas of greater interest; a winding path makes a more fluid design than a straight one and you can make individual areas for sitting or just admiring the greenery.

Use path materials to complement those used on the house, matching the tones but varying the layout, perhaps adding a secondary, smaller material to give the path a more distinctive look. Do you want to stride boldly around your paths or are they a more subtle way of enticing people through the garden? In a narrow garden, a fan effect of paths can help the space look wider, or just lay wide rectangular slabs in a less formal way.

A PATIO can prove to be a real sun-trap and a place where you can enjoy al fresco dining and entertaining. You can make your own decked area relatively easily, but don’t forget to treat it with stain and preserver products that will protect it from sunlight, water damage and mould.

As a nation we love our countryside and in particular we love our own special piece of greenery attached to our homes.

POTS and PLANTERS placed distinctively around your garden can look great on a patio with a large shrub, can screen areas or make small areas of fascination throughout

Taking your lifestyle outside with the help of an awning. Pic by Luxaflex

Spring IS IN THE AIR! It may be anything from a tiny patch of grass to a paved garden or something lush that stretches over a large area. Whatever the size of your garden, this time of year is when we really appreciate getting outside on fine days and enjoying that private piece of England. And more and more we are now making the very best of our gardens.

If you’re planning a garden or improving one, it’s worth deciding first of all how you want to use it. Is it purely a place to grow flowers and vegs? Is it for relaxing, for cooking and entertaining or as a children’s playspace? Is it a “working” garden that has additional storage or even a garden studio?

Once you have decided on its main purpose, come up with a wish-list of things you would like in it – and prune this to fit your budget. Some garden experts suggest, as a rule of green thumb, living with your garden for a year to experience every season and what this means to your garden.

Each garden has its own subtle annual patterns and styles – and it needs to suit the property it adjoins to complement it properly. Make the garden that fits the right location: if you’ve got a city garden your space will probably be overlooked by buildings creating shade so use plants that have a chance of blooming.

A greenhouse offers a lovely place to allow the generations to enjoy gardening together. Pic

by DJ Archer Photography.

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GARDEN a fortune – you can create a small pond on quite a modest budget, install a pump and put in suitable plants plus fish for a reasonable amount. And water features can be as big or small as you want, all involving that lovely sound of trickling water that calms the soul.

If you really want to, literally, push the boat out you could invest in a SWIMMING POOL. You could have a small one in the open air or something larger in its own purpose-built home. Choose carefully and this could provide luxury swimming on site all the months of the year.

Store your wine in the garden with this clever garden cellar by Spiral Cellars

your garden. Ensure, however, that they are portable enough to move around – if you get tired of them in one place then you can move them to another.

Highlight all this with subtle LIGHTING. Invest in beautiful lanterns or LED lights in styles to complement your garden and spotlight your hard work.

To take your lifestyle out into the fresh air, AWNINGS are a welcome all-yearround home accessory. They allow for outdoor dining and entertainment and can easily extend living areas outside day or night. They offer shade when it’s hot and protection when it’s not and these days come in beautiful shades and with smooth mechanisms that make using them a pleasure.

PERGOLAS, GAZEBOS and ARBOURS come in all shapes and sizes, too, offering a quirky and interesting attraction or simply as a way to enhance your garden walks.

The wood used blends in beautifully with the surroundings yet they offer a talkingpoint and bring a different element to your garden.

Everyone loves a BARBECUE in the garden and gas or charcoal-burning mobile models are available in various styles and prices to suit all pockets. There are even brazierlike barbecues that heat the area on chilly evenings.

You can, of course, build your own barbecue from brick, ensuring beforehand that it’s at the most practical and comfortable height for the people using it and that it doesn’t pose a fire-risk.

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Gardens are also wonderful for their relaxing qualities, so finding ways to get nearer to it – and even work within it – make sense for many of us. GARDEN STUDIOS are one clever way of doing this – individually built rooms with plenty of glass and airiness that allow us another handy room outside the house.

One company, Sanctum Garden Studios, explained that their clients use their studios as games’ rooms, recording studios, gyms, artist studios, sewing rooms or even as a Man Cave or Quilt Hut! We all know the healing and relaxing power of water which is why PONDS and WATER FEATURES are all so popular in our gardens today. They don’t have to cost

HOT TUBS have also become very popular in this country over the last decade. Again, these can be used all year round and provide a relaxing and healthy way to chill out at home. Find out more at the British and Irish Spa Hot Tub Association (BISHTA) on www.bishta.co.uk Gardens are great places in which children and grandchildren can play and there’s a wealth of PLAY EQUIPMENT available – everything from climbing frames, slides and swings to exotic treehouses.

And if all you really want to do in your home outdoor space is garden, you can make your life easier with every kind of GARDEN EQUIPMENT. Choose from the latest labour-saving lawnmowers, trimmers and strimmers to all manner of small tools to create the garden of your dreams – and even be kind to your knees with the latest comfy kneeler!

GARDEN

Gardening Tips Spring can be a hectic time in the garden, as before you can even think about planning the year’s new growth, you’ll have to repair the damage your garden has suffered from winter. Here are the most important jobs you should take care of as the weather starts to pick up.

Repair any damage Winter can be harsh on your garden, so make sure to repair any damage that’s been caused over the previous months before your plants start to spring back to life. If you have raised borders, the soggy winter soil can put a strain on them and cause the sides to be displaced or even rot, so make sure to check them for any damage before planting them up with the year’s fresh growth. Check fences and sheds for any sign of weather damage, and consider giving them a fresh coat of paint or varnish if they’re looking run down. B&Q stocks a wide range of outdoor paints and varnishes which you can buy online here.

Tidy up The first step in getting your garden ready for the year ahead is tidying up the dead leaves and other garden debris that has accumulated over the winter. By tidying your borders up now, it will give them ample drainage for the spring rain, and neglecting to do so could leave your

plants without an adequate water supply.

A leaf rake is the perfect tool for quickly clearing up the leaves, twigs, and rubbish which has accumulated in your garden over the winter, and there’s a vast selection available.

If you don’t already own a tiller, Mantis sells a range of lightweight and efficient models which you can purchase on their online store.

You should also take the chance in early spring to clear your drains of any leaves that may have accumulated to keep them from becoming blocked. The plant life which you clear from your borders and drains can be added to your compost bin, which will be running short on carbon-rich materials after the winter and really benefit from this addition.

Rare moss combating climate change

Make sure to follow these gardening tips this spring to get your garden in the best condition possible for the year’s growth.

A rare type of moss that could help prevent flooding in cities such as Manchester and Sheffield has been painstakingly

Till your soil Spring is the perfect time to till your soil, as you can get borders in tip-top condition just before planting them with fresh growth, providing them with the conditions to thrive in. Before you can till it, your soil needs to be warm and dry enough.

It’s warm enough when you can stick your hand a few inches into the soil and keep it there for a full minute, and it’s dry enough when it crumbles after being rolled into a ball in your hands. If both of these conditions are met, mark out the area of soil you’d like to till and go over it one row at a time, making sure not to go back over any rows, as this will compact the soil rather than break it up.

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replanted across specific moors as part of a pioneering project.

Sphagnum moss is important for wildlife but also plays a vital role in carbon storage and flood prevention. The plant is crucial for improving conditions for moorland peat bogs - helping to hold water on the hills for longer.

Studies suggest improving such environments can improve water storage and reduce runoff within the ecosystem; some species of sphagnum can hold over eight times their own weight in water.

Wildscapes, an environmental consultancy affiliated to Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, has been working alongside the RSPB to help re-establish large amounts of sphagnum across Rakes Moss on the Dovestones Nature Reserve.

Helicopter drop To undertake such an operation, the moss must first be delicately removed before being flown by helicopter to the planting sites, where it is laboriously hand-planted into the moorland.

Alex Davies, Site Supervisor from Wildscapes, said: “The project has been

hard work, but very rewarding. The species require specific conditions to establish successfully and need to be treated with the upmost care when they are being translocated. We hope that this project will make a big difference to the surrounding area and really help improve the quality of this moorland.”

Global Warming The moss acts as a type of ‘eco engineer’ in a number of ways. It strengthens bogs by improving the distribution of water on moors and uplands, with some species even forming peat. Peat bogs are known to soak vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the air – it is estimated that about 455 billion tonnes of carbon is held in peat worldwide.

It also improves conditions for threatened moorland birds such as the Eurasian Curlew, the Dunlin and the European Golden Plover, which experienced a 25% decline between 1995 and 2013 in its main UK nesting site in Scotland, according to the latest Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) report. The RSPB hopes that the work will bring more than 50 new breeding pairs of Golden Plover to the Peak District.

Wetroom & Walk-in Shower Specialists

Unfortunately, atmospheric pollution from Manchester and Sheffield during the industrial revolution, along with overgrazing and wildfires, has nearly wiped out sphagnum completely from the Peak District.

Wildscapes worked alongside another environmental contractor and the RSPB to translocate well over 12,500 handfuls of specific species of sphagnum moss from a healthy donor site. A local airlifting company, Pennine Helicopters, also supported the operation by flying the moss on to the moors at Dovestones.

Once in position on the moors, they were planted by hand by the Wildscapes land management team.

Kate Hanley at the RSPB said: “We have been working with volunteers to re-establish sphagnum moss across this moorland for a number of years now.

This is the first time we have worked with contractors to do this conservation work on such a large scale.”

This pioneering project, alongside a number of other projects involving local partners, will help to re-establish this important moss across the Peak District.

Great choices for the smallest room Thinking of updating your bathroom? Then take a look at the extensive showroom at Huddersfield’s Atlas Bathrooms of Lockwood.

With now even more choice in store, Atlas has invested heavily in the extensive showroom and now has even more displays of bath suites, showers and wet rooms to choose from. It now has one of the biggest displays of bathrooms and accessories in the Huddersfield area. Spread over two floors it has ranges from top manufacturers including Jacuzzi, Heritage, Roca and Ideal Standard. There is also plenty to suit all budgets with bathrooms and showers ranging in price from affordable to the luxurious end of the market.

There is also a wide choice of bathroom furniture and accessories along with a new display of Christy Towels, one of the UK’s longest established iconic brands. Atlas Bathrooms has recently been appointed an official stockist. He said: “We have something for all tastes and to suit all sizes of bathroom, from the very traditional to the very modern. Wet rooms are growing in popularity along with larger walk-in showers.” Atlas also has a great range of accessories which are sure to add the finishing touch.

Victoria Mill, Albert Street, Lockwood, Huddersfield Tel: 01484 547110 Fax: 01484 432037

For more information, look at the website www.atlasbathrooms.co.uk or ring 01484 547110.

Open:

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Saturday, 9am to 4pm

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Enjoy a visit to... ...Kirklees Museums and Galleries new perspectives

evoke

explore

discover

remember

inspire

Bagshaw Museum • Dewsbury Museum • Huddersfield Art Gallery Tolson Museum • Oakwell Hall & Country Park • Red House Web: kirklees.gov.uk/museums Kirklees Museums & Galleries @KirkleesMuseums

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OUT & ABOUT contest makes for an exhilarating (though exhausting) evening. See the comments in the guest book. This is a major event in the brass band calendar and bands travel the length of the country to participate, some even turning up from overseas.

Contests typically start at about 4.30pm.

Bands play two pieces (marches), one on the march and then their well-rehearsed show-piece on whatever passes for a rostrum. Each performance is scored 'blind' by an adjudicator, hidden in some adjacent darkened room or caravan.

Each contest offers prizes for the best band, best youth band, best soloists etc.

At one of the busier venues, you could expect to hear over 50 bands, before the winners are announced shortly after close (10.30 pm or 11.30pm, though the most popular contests can go on well into the early hours).

Holmfirth Festival of Folk

6th, 7th, & 8th May 2016.

Holmfirth comes to life during the Festival of Folk. There has been a folk festival in Holmfirth for about 30 years. The Festival committee has been responsible for the last nine years and the festival has gone from strength to strength.They produce a community based festival involving schools, local talent, most businesses in the town and, of course, a small army of volunteers.

There will be a wide array of music in a variety of venues in Holmfirth from the traditional to the not so traditional in formal concerts, folk clubs, sessions and pub venues offering a variety of atmospheres. There is a mix of established and up and coming acts, as well as local talent and there is something for everyone.

There will be a wide variety of workshops and opportunities to get involved for children and adults alike. Come and try your hand at something new or get the opportunity to develop skills you already have. Join in with everything from ukuleles to morris dancing or come and join in one of our folk clubs and have a sing around.

Tickets available during the Festival weekend at the Festival Box Office open Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Old Bridge Hotel. Most events for Holmfirth Festival of Folk are free and unticketed.

For more information please visit www.holmfirthfestivaloffolk.co.uk or email enquiries@holmfirthfestivaloffolk. co.uk

It is possible to look in at several contests during the evening. But with over 100 bus-loads of bandsmen about, with many of the roads closed to traffic and the inevitable parking problems, it pays not to be over-ambitious. (See one way restrictions.)

THE WHIT FRIDAY BRASS BAND CONTESTS Often described as 'the greatest free show on Earth', the Saddleworth & District Whit Friday Brass Band Contests take place every year on the afternoon and evening of Whit Friday - 20th May in 2016.

Each contest is organised by local volunteers. All the running costs and prize money are raised by local donations and through fund-raising events. Most provide refreshments. Helpers are always needed on the night. If you can spare a couple of hours at any of the contests, please email.

From the earliest recorded contest in 1884, the event has grown in popularity.

Last year well over a hundred brass bands participated in some twenty different contests at venues scattered around the moorland villages and towns on the western edge of the Pennines. All of the contests are open-air, many in delightful surroundings. The area has a very strong tradition of brass band music. In the weeks before Whit Friday, the sounds of rehearsals echo across the hillsides from the various band rooms and village halls.

There are thriving bands in some of the tiniest villages. And the best bands are world class.

Each contest sets its own rules. Bands are required to play a published march, an unmarked copy of which should be handed to the Contest Steward on arrival at the signing-on point. Normally, no more than 25 players may play the contest piece, plus the conductor.

The contests are open to all-comers. So the local youth bands get to match their skills against the top bands of the country.

For bandsmen, the dash from contest to

WIN A ÂŁ25 M&S GIFT CARD!

On the morning of Whit Friday, the traditional Whit Walks take place.

Dobcross contest have introduced a Henry Livings memorial prize, open to bands who have played on any of the morning's walks. Sadly the very enjoyable Beer Walk, which was organised by the local Round Table, no longer takes place on the day following the band contests.

SIMPLY VISIT OUR COMPETITIONS SECTION ON WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK TO ENTER

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OUT & ABOUT

Concert on the Hill

Huddersfield Petanque

Concert on the Hill, is is an outdoor event where the great traditions of Yorkshire are brought together an award winning brass band, Lindley Brass Band and two great male voice choirs, Honley and Colne Valley plus the award winning Lindley Junior School Choir. The format is similar to the last night of the proms, complete with a firework spectacular finale.

Petanque is a game where players throw steel boules towards a wooden coche to be the nearest or sometimes to knock out the opponents boules.

The best game you've never heard of!

2nd July 2016. Laund Hill Sports Ground

Every year families from all over Huddersfield and Yorkshire converge on this idyllic sports arena to watch top quality local musicians perform the true British classics of years past, Land of hope and glory, Rule Britannia, God save the Queen. They bring picnics, tables and chairs, gazeboes, even candelabra.

The atmosphere is informal and epitomises Yorkshire friendliness, every one wandering about marvelling at the efforts that people have gone to for an evening of classical entertainment.

Visit www.huddersfieldymca.co.uk/ concert-on-the-hill for more info.

Annual Great Pendragon Duck Race & Gala 3rd July 2016

Since 1983, Holmfirth Duck Race has raised almost £300,000 for a wide variety of local good causes and charities.

Organised by Huddersfield Pendragon Round Table, the Duck Race is a familyoriented day out that takes over the famous Yorkshire town of Holmfirth on the first Sunday of July every year.

And this year, it’s even bigger, with the Duck Stock musical festival, where a variety of great bands will provide a full day’s family-friendly entertainment.

First Prize: £2000 Second Prize: £750 Third Prize: £250 For more information please visit www.virtualhuddersfield.com/duck.htm

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It’s a game that’s sociable, slightly energetic and easy to learn.

Players of all ages and abilities can compete together and you can be as sociable or as competitive as you want.

Equipment is not expensive and most clubs will lend you some boules and teach you the rules to get you started.

Once you get the bug you can buy your own boules and start getting better. One day you might even win a game!

The game starts when a player draws a circle and then stands in the circle to throw a coche (also called a cochonnet or le petit) a distance or 6m to 10m. Then they throw the first boule of the game.

The opposing team plays their first boule and whoever is not winning throws again until they are winning then the other team attempts to do the same.

In pairs each player has 3 boules, in triples each player has 2 boules. It is possible to play singles as well. The game continues until each team has used all their boules and then scores are decided.

It usually takes 30 to 45 minutes for a game, depending on how strategy & tactics are used.

This sounds quite sedate but there are different styles of shot. Pointers try to place their boules near the coche, shooters try to knock opponents boules out of the way by hitting them hard.

There’s the chance for deep strategy and clever tactics and often the end isn’t decided until the very last boule is thrown.

For more information, please visit huddersfieldpetanque.wordpress.com

OUT & ABOUT

MOTABILITY - THE BIG EVENT EventCity Limited, Phoenix Way, off Barton Dock Road, Urmston, Manchester M41 7TB T: 0843 487 5555

The Big Event is the perfect way to find out everything you need to know about leasing a car, scooter or powered wheelchair through the Motability Scheme, the leading Scheme for disabled people. It’s the largest ever display of Motability vehicles in the UK. We bring everything together in one place to make finding out about Motability as easy as possible. The event is free to attend and is a great day out for the whole family.

There’s loads to see: • The UK’s largest display of cars, scooters, adaptations and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles • Free test drives in adapted and non-adapted cars and scooters • Motability advisors available to chat to • Free entry and parking • A free tea, coffee or soft drink • Children’s play area including face painting and a chance to meet the Motability mascot, Billy the Bear • The event is open from 9am to 4pm on both days.

Motability enables disabled people to use their governmentfunded mobility allowance to lease a new car, scooter or powered wheelchair. Since the Scheme was set up in 1978, Motability has helped over 3 million people get mobile.

There are currently over 600,000 people enjoying the benefits of Motability. The following items are included in our worryfree package: •

• • • • • • •

A brand new car, scooter or powered wheelchair every three years, or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) every five years Insurance, servicing and maintenance Full breakdown assistance Annual tax disc sent to you in the post Replacement tyres (and batteries for scooters and wheelchairs) Windscreen repair or replacement 60,000 mileage allowance over three years for cars; 100,000 for WAVs Many adaptations at no extra cost

Lindley Carnival 2016 This year on Saturday 25th June 2016 will mark nine years of the Lindley Carnival.

As in the past there will be games, rides, food stalls and much more. There is also a musical treat this year with the Lindley Junior School choir performing as well as Lindley Infant School Choir.

The carnival is always well attended by the local community and a good family fun day is enjoyed by all. There is good representation from the local schools and churches and they provide stalls, refreshments and entertainment. Local businesses are also in good attendance with many supporting the prize draws and having their own stalls on the day.

There has often been a theme to the carnival, this year it's celebrating musical talent in Lindley and Armed Forces Day. This year the carnival will again be on the same day as Armed Forces Day and this will be celebrated at the carnival. Always at the heart of it is providing entertainment for families and children and young people.

Once again it should be a great day for the carnival and people can come and enjoy the day as part of a weekend of activities taking place in Lindley.

For more information visit www.lindleycarnival.org.uk or email info@lindleygroup.org.uk.

For more information visit www.motability.co.uk/ thebigevent or call 0800 953 7000

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OUT & ABOUT

Todmorden Boundary Walk & Pike Hike 1st May 2016

Follow the Todmorden boundary, passing over moorland, farmland and country roads (22 miles) or take the pike hike; following the canal towpath and up and over moorland passing the Stoodley Pike monument (12 miles).

The routes are waymarked with both marshalls and supervisors on hand to assist.

For more information go to www.visitcalderdale.com/todmordenboundary-walk-pike-hike

Fame! The Musical - Cleckheaton Youth Theatre Friday 6 and Saturday 7 May, 7.30pm In the Main Auditorium Grab your leg warmers and leotards as Cleckheaton Youth Theatre takes you back to the 80s with Fame! The Musical.

Join the students of New York's High School for Performing Arts in their efforts to 'live forever'. With a little hard work and determination the students of dance, music and drama overcome insecurities, rivalries and relationship troubles in their struggles for stardom.

With everything from ballet to street dance and ballads to rap, this cast of fifty talented 8 to 18 year olds bring the varied styles of this show to life!

Tickets: £13 - £14.10* & £12 £13.10*(Discounts Available) * Prices inclusive of a £1 Theatre Support Fee when booking via the box office and an additional £1.10 booking fee if booking online For more information visit www.calderdale.gov.uk/victoria/

Calderdale Heritage Walk: Hebden Bridge 1750 - 1900 Sunday 15th May

2-3 hour guided walk exploring the heritage of this rather special area with our experienced guides. Meet David Nortcliffe at 2.15 p.m. outside the Tourist Information Centre on New Road. £3 for all ages. Just turn up and pay on the day.

For enquiries, please email us at : CdaleHeritageWks@aol.com

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Pennine Spring Music Festival

Starting 30th May 2016 Set in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside that inspired the Bronte sisters and Ted Hughes, the Pennine Spring Music Festival brings together instrumentalists and singers from all over Britain for a week of convivial music-making and performing.

Call 01422 843995 or visit www.penninespringmusic.co.uk

Have you reported your changes?

Council tax reduction or housing benefit Report a change of circumstances If you receive council tax reduction and/ or housing benefit you must tell us straight away if your circumstances change.

If you do not tell us within 21 days depending on the circumstances you may be fined £70, or your benefit amount could be affected.

Changes we need to know about include:

• changes to your income or capital • someone moving into, or out of your household • changes to income or capital belonging to anyone in your household • moving home, or into a different room if you live in a shared property • changes to the amount of rent you pay

You can report your change online at: www.kirklees.gov.uk/changecircumstance

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FOOD & DRINK

JAMES MARTIN’S

SWEET TREATS

Sweet by James Martin (Quadrille £20) Photography: Peter Cassidy

The secret to a perfect panna cotta lies in having a slight sharpness – here from buttermilk – to balance the sweetness. The consistency is also important: too much gelatine will give you something you could bounce off the kitchen wall; you want to use just enough for the panna cotta to hold its shape when unmoulded. Combined with raspberry jelly, raspberries and warm, sugar-dusted doughnuts, this is a really delicious dessert on the plate. The remaining doughnuts are great with coffee.

B U T T E R M I L K PA N N A C O T TA W I T H D O U G H N U T S A N D R A S P B E R RY J E L LY For the doughnuts 1 quantity enriched yeast dough, made to the end of the first prove vegetable oil, for deep-frying caster sugar, for dusting For the mascarpone cream 100g mascarpone cheese 25g caster sugar 50ml double cream 1 vanilla pod, split and seeds scraped First make the panna cotta. Place the double cream in a small pan with the vanilla pod and seeds, bring to the boil, then remove from the heat. Add the drained, squeezed gelatine and whisk through until dissolved.

Set aside to cool, then add the buttermilk and whisk gently to combine.

Carefully pour into 8 small pudding basins or ramekins, making sure you distribute the vanilla seeds equally.

Refrigerate for 4 hours, or until set.

Serves 8 250g raspberries, plus 100g for garnish 1 tbsp water 1–2 tsp icing sugar 6 mint sprigs For the panna cotta 300ml double cream 1 vanilla pod, split and seeds scraped 5 gelatine leaves, soaked in cold water for 5 minutes 450ml buttermilk For the raspberry jelly 50g caster sugar 100ml water 300g raspberries 4 gelatine leaves, soaked in cold water for 5 minutes

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For the sauce, place the 250g raspberries, the water and icing sugar in a blender and blitz to a purée. Pass through a fine sieve into a bowl and add more icing sugar if necessary. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve.

For the jelly, bring the sugar and water to a boil in a pan. Add the raspberries and heat until they just start to break down. Remove from the heat and pass through a fine sieve. Don’t press, just let the juice drip through.

Measure 300ml juice and return to the saucepan to warm through. Add the drained, squeezed gelatine and stir until completely dissolved. Remove from the

heat. Line a shallow baking tray (20cm x 15cm) with clingfilm and pour the jelly over it to a depth of about 3mm. Chill in the fridge until set.

For the doughnuts, divide the dough into 40 equal portions and roll into balls. Line a tray with silicone paper and space the balls evenly across it. Cover with a tea towel. Set aside at room temperature to prove for 20 minutes.

When the dough has proved, heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer to 150°C/320°F. Alternatively, heat the oil in a deep, heavy-based saucepan until a breadcrumb sizzles and turns brown immediately when dropped in.

CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous.

Never leave unattended.

Carefully lower the dough balls into the hot oil in batches and deep-fry for 3–4 minutes, until golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on kitchen paper to drain. Transfer to a plate and dust generously with the sugar.

For the mascarpone cream, whisk the mascarpone, sugar, cream and vanilla seeds together in a bowl until smooth.

To serve, cut the jelly into squares (about 2.5cm). Briefly dip each panna cotta mould in hot water, then turn out onto a large plate. Place two spoonfuls of the cream on each plate and top with a jelly square. Place two doughnuts on each plate and scatter the remaining raspberries and the mint around. Finish with a drizzle of raspberry sauce.

FOOD & DRINK I first came across really good palmiers when I was working on the pastry section in a restaurant in the south of France. The trick is to get an even dusting of sugar, so that as the palmiers cook it caramelises to a nice glaze. Palmiers are often offered as a petit four to end a meal, but sandwiched with raspberries and cream, they’re hard to beat for afternoon tea. These are best served at room temperature – once they go into the fridge, the butter in the pastry solidifies, making them less pleasant to eat.

BUTTERFLY PALMIERS WITH RASPBERRIES AND CREAM Serves 6 650g puff pastry or good-quality, bought all-butter puff pastry flour, for dusting 60g caster sugar 100ml stock syrup glaze (optional)

Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface to a rectangle 25cm x 40cm and about 3mm thick, with the long side facing you, like a landscape picture.

Dust the pastry rectangle with 20g of the caster sugar then fold one long side of the pastry into the centre. Repeat with the other long side to meet it, so you now have a piece half the width. Dust with another 20g of the caster sugar, then repeat, folding each side into the centre, leaving a 5mm gap in the centre. Dust once more with the remaining sugar and repeat – you should now have three folds on each side with plenty of sugar sandwiched in between. Fold both sides together gently as you would close an open book, then transfer to a tray and place in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm up.

Remove the roll and cut into 12 x 1cm-thick slices. Lay on a lined baking tray, spacing them so that they are at least 6cm apart. Bake for 12–15 minutes until golden and crispy.

Remove the palmiers from the oven, turn them straight over, place back on the tray and brush them with a little stock syrup glaze, if liked. The palmiers are best eaten on the day you make them.

When cold, spoon the whipped cream into a piping bag fitted with a 1cm nozzle and pipe the cream over half the palmiers.

Top with some lightly crushed raspberries and another palmier.

Serve immediately.

For the filling 300ml double cream, softly whipped 200g raspberries Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4. Line 2 large baking sheets with silicone paper.

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FOOD & DRINK

I love this simple little dessert that one of my chefs came up with – cherries and chocolate are a great combination.

As with any tart, it’s vital to make sure the pastry is nice and thin, so you get plenty of filling and not too much pastry. Otherwise it can be more like eating a biscuit!

C H O C O L AT E A N D C H E R R Y TA R T WITH CRÈME FRAÎCHE SORBET Serves 8–10 butter, for greasing 1 quantity pâte sucrée 1 egg yolk, for blind-baking flour, for dusting 400g tin cherries in syrup 400g dark chocolate (minimum 60% cocoa solids), roughly chopped 250ml double cream 100g caster sugar 2 tbsp crushed Hazelnut Praline and edible flowers 1 quantity Crème Fraîche Sorbet Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6. Butter a 23cm x 4cm loose-bottomed tart tin.

Roll the pâte sucrée out on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 3mm and use to line the tin. Blind bake the pastry.

While the pastry case is baking, drain the cherries through a sieve into a saucepan and place the syrup over a medium heat. Cook the syrup until thick and sticky, and reduced by half. Chop the cherries in half, then add to the pan with the reduced syrup and allow to cool.

Put the chocolate into a large, heatproof bowl. Heat the double cream and sugar together in a saucepan until just simmering then pour over the chocolate and whisk continuously until smooth.

Spread the cherries and their syrup over the base of the tart case, then pour the chocolate filling over the top. Glaze with a blow torch or place under a hot grill until bubbling, then chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to set. Remove and leave at room temperature until ready to serve. Place a line of the crushed praline and edible flowers on each plate, then slice the tart and serve with a scoop of Crème Fraîche Sorbet.

38 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Unregulated Will Writing Did you know that anybody can call themselves a “Will Writer”?

This is a deeply concerning issue for the Private Client Team here at Ramsdens as thousands of people are putting themselves at risk of being cheated by unscrupulous salespeople who offer to write their wills but who are not adequately qualified, trained nor insured.

A recent survey showed that 67% of clients wrongly believed that all Will writers are solicitors and 82% of the 1000 people polled thought that training and qualifications are required before someone can become a Will Writer.

David Sinclair, a Director of Solicitors for the Elderly said “Will writers need no training and they aren’t regulated so if you choose a Will writing company to do your Will you are taking a huge risk.”

Rachael Sykes from Ramsdens Private Client Team and also a full member of Solicitors for the Elderly comments “The number of horror stories from clients who have used a Will Writer is on the rise. It can be very costly to sort out after you have gone and your family are left to pick up the pieces”.

Will writers often claim that they are cheaper than solicitors but research carried out by Which? Magazine found that the average price of a Will from a Solicitor is £130 and from a will writer is £107. Professionals such as Solicitors and Legal Executives are regulated, have relevant qualifications, undergo continual training and must be insured and provide redress if things go wrong. Given the protection you get by making a Will with a regulated professional, the small difference in price is well worth it.

Rachael Sykes further comments “People are all too easily fooled by the advertisements of Wills from £50. Once they actually get in front a Will Writer this cost will dramatically rise. Many people make Wills in their senior years and are targeted by Will writing companies

who often apply high-pressure selling techniques, offering wills for a low fee then selling other services such as transferring a home into a trust to avoid care fees.”.

Ramsdens Solicitors have ten offices throughout West Yorkshire and our Private Client team are an accredited member of the Law Society’s Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS).

This shows that we follow best practice procedures to meet the highest standards of technical expertise and client service in providing tailored wills and probate advice to consumers.

We are highly recommended by the Legal 500 and we have members of our team who are members of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE). We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your needs and we are also happy to review any existing will you may have to ensure that it still meets with your requirements.

For more information please call Rachael Sykes on 01484 848987 or email rachael.sykes@ramsdens.co.uk

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W H E N YO U ' R E N OT T H E R E We know that pet owners worry about leaving their pets behind when they die and so it is important to think about future provision for your pet.

Charity No. 225575

Halifax, Huddersfield & District Branch

The RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield and District Branch can help look after your pets once you are no longer there.

The Willing to Care Scheme...

...is for any persons over the age of 18 who are concerned about the welfare of their dog or cat after their death and requires the peace of mind that their pet will be rehomed with loving new owners.

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•

•

You must specify in your Will that you are leaving your pet to the RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield and District Branch under the 'Willing to Care' scheme.

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•

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WILLING TO CARE APPLICATION FORM Title:..........................................................................................

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