Kirklees & Calderdale issue 38

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KIRKLEES & CALDERDALE OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2012 EDITION 38

The

Hairy

Bikers

HOW TO LOVE FOOD & LOSE WEIGHT

Jean Christophe -

Novelli

THE NATION’S FAVOURITE FRENCH CHEF

Festive Entertainment WIN £100’s WORTH OF TICKETS TO SEE SHOWS FOR ALL THE FAMILY AT LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE AND HUDDERSFIELD & CLECKHEATON TOWN HALLS

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FOR THE OVER 50s

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Getting your finances into shape Did you know that according to recent studies the average 50 year old is now often fitter and healthier than the average 25 year old? Whether you keep in shape by cycling, walking the dog or running around after the grandkids – it pays to take the time to get your finances fit too.

inside...

TRAVEL & LEISURE 6-7

Malta A touch of England in the Med

50 Plus Magazine asked the Financial Ombudsman Service – the free service with the power to sort out financial problems – for some handy tips to help you get your finances healthy.

8-9 Robinsons Holidays Affordable peace of mind

INTERVIEW

Five steps to getting financially fit

10-11 Russell Grant...

The Comeback Kid!

1. Check your account regularly so you know exactly how much money you have coming in and going out. Keep a date of when payments are due to make sure you have funds available. Some payments, for example to catalogue companies debit your account every 28 days so your payment date will change each month. If you spot a payment that you don’t recognise talk to your bank - if you don’t need it, cancel it!

FOOD & DRINK 16-17 Jean-Christophe Novelli The Nation’s Favourite French Chef 18-19 The Hairy Dieters...

How to love food and lose weight

CARE 42-43 Kirkwood Hospice Our Capital Appeal update

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2. Shopping around can ensure you get the best rate for your car, home or travel insurance. But be careful to read the small print and check any exclusions that apply. Remember the cheaper policy may not be the best one for your needs. Check that you have given the business all the relevant details – like a list of vehicle modifications for your motor insurance or information on any pre-existing medical conditions for travel insurance.

3. Interest free deals on credit cards or loan agreements can be a great way to spread the cost if you’re thinking of treating yourself to a new three piece suit or car. But make sure you know when the interest free period ends as repayments after this date can be expensive. Remember – the interest free period may be conditional on you maintaining the minimum repayments so keep a date of how much you need to pay and when.

6-7 16-17

18-19 McGrath Media.

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

4. If you’re considering putting your money into some investments, take some time to think about how much risk you’re willing to take. While riskier investments could bring bigger rewards, these aren’t guaranteed. Don’t take a chance if you can’t afford to risk your capital.

5. Most importantly, don’t bury your head in the sand!

If you have a money related problem let your bank or insurer know as soon as possible – they should be able to help. If you’re still unhappy, contact the ombudsman on 0300 123 9 123 or www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

e: mcgrathadmin@btconnect.com www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

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HAVING A TWITTER with Graham Smith Things ain’t what they used to be

You must be joking

The size of Waggon Wheels says a lot about the state of this country in my opinion. I was chatting, tweeting even, to a friend the other day and he set me thinking because he was dreadfully upset about his Penguin bar, almost in tears he was.

What passes for humour today often leaves me cold.

Winner of the top joke at the Edinburgh Fringe was Stewart Francis with the offering, “Know who gives kids a bad name? Posh and Becks.”

They’re just not the same any more, and when I mentioned Waggon Wheels he almost had apoplexy.

“They’re like tiddlywinks compared to when I was a lad,” he sobbed. I had to agree.

I don’t have a sweet tooth often but I have noticed that since we joined the Common Market, or whatever we’re supposed to call it now, things have not been the same.

Jelly babies have become positively embryonic, wine gums have become a third of the size they were when I was at school and when did you last see a whopping great tomato in a supermarket? You won’t, because the supermarkets now employ people to make sure all fruit and veg is of virtual uniformity and colour. The tomatoes have to stand to attention every morning while some sergeant major of an attendant inspects them and anything over a centimetre bigger than its neighbour is probably splatted with a swagger stick.

Oh come on you can do better than that! What happened to the golden age which produced real comics such as Morecambe and Wise, Les Dawson and Dave Allen? They could not only deliver the stuff with immaculate timing but write it as well. Their actions and expressions were funny and they didn’t have to resort to the vernacular vulgarity so often seen at televised fringe events where the laughter is canned and the comic probably should be.

Stewart Francis by the way is Canadian, which, if you’ve had a drink or two, sounds like comedian.

If a banana curves at more than the prescribed EU definition it is fed to the local zoo, gooseberries have been ordered to the barbers if they are too hairy, the list is endless.

I recall that Rileys toffee rolls were twice their size in my youth. We bought them in loose “quarters” then, that was sensible measurement, but now they’re shrunk wrapped in at least three layers of cellophane which is more designed to keep the flavour out than in. Mars bars are in serious danger of extinction if they get any smaller and gobstoppers simply can’t compete.

So why are we a nation of increasingly obese people if everything is getting smaller? That’s easy. Every café now seems to be serving “mega all day breakfasts” with enormous helpings of greasy spoon material, pizzas are getting bigger and it seems to be the norm now to walk down the street eating large pastries, spitting crumbs everywhere and heeding no one because there is a piece of electrical equipment plugged into every bodily orifice. Give it five years and some of these kids won’t know what birdsong and traffic sound like.

There is one saving grace to it all though, if they are run over by a Waggon Wheel it won’t do much damage.

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The Swansea tribe I have a fondness for quirky people and had to smile at the Swansea man who lives as an Apache Indian and was almost prosecuted for wanting to turn badger paws and eagle wings into a headress.

Mangas Colaradas, 60, was due to stand trial for keeping protected wild animal parts but the Crown Prosecution dropped the case. He brought the bits back from Spain, where he lived in a tepee, to his three-bed semi in Swansea.

He refused to reveal his real name and appeared in court wearing a ceremonial headdress, tassled suede jacket, moccasins and a snake’s head necklace.

He said, “I wear this all the time, I’m not just some weekend Indian. I don’t put it on to show off, I put it on because I want to wear it.”

Geronimo! You tell ‘em Mangas.

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50 Plus Travel

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MALTA Travel to a touch of England in the Med

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Est.1923

Affordable peace of mind ..... Holidays

l

All tours include half board accommodation with 2 excursions l Local Joining Points l Free Insurance

ABBEY LAWN HOTEL, TORQUAY

IMPERIAL HOTEL, EASTBOURNE

OCEAN VIEW HOTEL, ISLE OF WIGHT

ROBINSONS OWN HOTELS The Abbey Lawn Hotel, Torquay AA3M

Stylish hotel located in the grounds of the former Torre Abbey.

Facilities at the Abbey Lawn Hotel include: Indoor Heated Pool/Outdoor Pool, Solarium, Sauna, Steam Room, Lounge, Gym, Large Conservatory, Sea View Rooms available*, Lift, Porterage.

The Imperial Hotel, Eastbourne, Robinsons 3M

An impressive Victorian building set amidst a beautiful tree lined boulevard.

Facilities at the Imperial Hotel include: Two Residents’ Bars, Ballroom, TV & Complimentary Tea & Coffee in all Bedrooms, 2 x Lifts, Porterage.

The Ocean View Hotel, Shanklin, Robinsons 3M

An elegant hotel commanding magnificent views across Sandown Bay, Golden Beaches and a quaint collection of shops.

Facilities at the Ocean View Hotel include: Indoor Heated Pool, Spa, Indoor Bowling Green, Table Tennis, Snooker Room, Sea View Rooms available* Lift, Porterage.

FREEPHONE 0800 0839086 BOOK ONLINE www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP.

All Robinsons own hotels to Torquay, Shanklin and Eastbourne include the following itinerary with ‘Christmas Day’ and ‘New Years Eve’ style celebrations.

Christmas Day l Sherry and canapé reception served 15 minutes prior to your dinner sitting l Traditional 5 course dinner l Evening of music and dancing with our resident entertainer l Bingo and hot mince pies, served during the evening.

New Years Eve New Years Eve dinner l Evening of music and dancing with our resident entertainer l Party games with spot prizes to be won l Bingo and hot sausage rolls, served during the evening.

Turkey & Tinsel l

5 Days/ 4 Nights accomodation includes 2 excursions

Abbey Lawn Imperial

05 Nov 12 Nov 19 Nov 26 Nov 03 Dec 10 Dec 17 Dec 23 Dec 29 Dec

Ocean View

£199 £199 £195 £195 £189 £189 £185 - - £179 £175 £175 £169 £169 - - £375 £375

Mystery Tour

£199 £165 £159 £185 £155 £175 £169 £395 £375

£179 £175 £169 £165 £165 £165 £165 £355

7 Days/ 6 Nights accomodation includes 2 excursions

Abbey Lawn Imperial Ocean View Mystery Tour 05 Nov £249 £249 £249 £225 12 Nov £245 £245 £245 £219 19 Nov £239 £239 £239 £215 26 Nov £235 £235 £235 £209 03 Dec £229 £229 £199 £205 10 Dec £225 £225 £225 £199 23rd and 29th December tours include 1 excursion.

Abbey Lawn Hotel: Front View 7 days £13, 5 days £10 Premier Room 7 days £45, Ocean View Hotel: Sea View 7 days £13, 8 days £15, 5 days £10 Premier Room 7 days £45, 8 days £50, 5 days £30.

Imperial Hotel: Premier Room 7 days £30, 5 days £20.

Your stay will also include: l Guess the Weight of the Cake l Big Prize Crossword (Terms and Conditions apply) l One afternoon Cream Tea with background music, served in the Ballroom between 3 and 4pm l Two Movie Matinee’s at 2pm, see the hotel information board for more details

Festive Breaks ‘12

Christmas ‘12

All 5 day tours. Include 4 nights dinner,bed and breakfast with festive entertainment and 2 excursions

All 5 day tours. Include 4/6 nights dinner,bed and breakfast with full Christmas Fayre and 1 excursion

04 November Tenby.................... Cliffe Norton Hotel.............. £222 05 November Tenby.................... Belgrave Hotel..................... £240 19 November Llandudno............ Kensington Hotel................. £304 26 November Llandudno............ Esplanade Hotel.................. £237 26 November Hereford............... Green Dragon Hotel............. £215 03 December Llandudno............ Kensington Hotel................. £292 03 December Torquay................. Barcelo Imperial Hotel........ £319 10 December Llandudno............ Kensignton Hotel................. £292 17 December Bournemouth....... Mayfair Hotel....................... £196

22 December Spain................. Evenia Olympic ( 7days)....................£509 23 December Hereford............ Green Dragon Hotel (5 days)............ £450 23 December Llandudno......... Kensington Hotel (5 days).................£449 23 December Ribble Valley...... Mercure Foxfields Hotel (5 days) .....£329 *For 7 day departures in November and December 2012, to Eastbourne the Battle and Rye excursion will be replaced by a day trip to France and a passport is required.

Single Room Supplement may be applicable on the above tours

FREEPHONE 0800 0839086 BOOK ONLINE www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Wetroom & Walk-in Shower Specialists

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

www.atlasbathrooms.co.uk

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IS IT TIME TO DOWNSIZE? THE children have all left home for lives of their own or you suddenly realise one day that the house you’re in is simply too big for your needs. Whatever the reason, it’s time to DOWNSIZE! Once, downsizing carried a bit of a stigma, almost as if you couldn’t afford the home you had so you had to go for something less. But, in today’s cost-conscious, energy-efficient and finance-orientated world, many more people are downsizing for all the right reasons.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A wetroom is also a great idea if you have less room. Wetrooms open up your bathroom and create a more attractive space and can offer a contemporary look. Some are compatible with under floor heating systems and you can choose your flooring. Atlas Bathrooms based in Lockwood, Huddersfield are Wetroom and Walk-in Shower specialists and can offer something to suit all tastes and sizes of bathroom. Why not give them a call?

Atlas Bathrooms 01484 547 110. www.atlasbathrooms.co.uk Whatever style of décor you choose for your new home, it’s worth trying to avoid clutter and opt for today’s cleaner lines and minimalist approach – if only to cut down on housework!

Take a look at current interior styles and how these can be easily achieved. Open up a dark room or small bathroom with a roof window or skylight, for example.

BATHROOM BRIGHT – Ensure your new bathroom has plenty of light with the help of a clever skylight window

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

JG Harrison & Sons offer lighting to illuminate rooms of any size. From contemporary to traditional they will have something to suit. Small rooms can sometimes feel a little dark so adding a new light feature will give the room a focal point and the added brightness will open up the room. They also offer a range of outdoor lighting so you can add your personal touch to the outside of your new home too. JG Harrison

has locations in Halifax, Rochdale, Bradford and Dewsbury J.G. Harrison & Sons Halifax - 01422 363 525 www.jgharrison.co.uk Take advantage of the wealth of modern flooring including natural woods that can make a room warm and homely in Winter and cool and calming in Summer. You might like to team this type of flooring with a handsome rug in a shade or pattern that tones with your room’s chosen colour scheme.

To make a room even more homely, add a focal point. A fireplace is a cosy option. There are many fireplace and stove options available and most of them are energy efficient thus saving you money on your heating bills. Easy Fireplace based in Milnsbridge, Huddersfield offers exceptional value and quality products at their new showroom with over 80 fire and fireplaces on display. Easy Fireplace Director Chris says “We can make your fireplace around your space, which eliminates the need for new carpet or flooring. It is a truly bespoke service at an affordable price. Call into our showroom to chat about how we can make a bespoke fireplace for you.”

Easy Fireplace 01484 644 464. www.easyfireplace.co.uk Plain walls matched with attractive fabrics in curtains or blinds give a room a modern look and allow smart furniture and impressive pictures or photographs to really come into their own.

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

Again, ebay can be a boon here.

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

For more information on Innerspace Interior Design go to www.innerspaceinteriordesign.co.uk www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

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15

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. Place in an oven proof serving dish.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Place on four plates or a serving dish.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14. Garnish with some snipped chives and serve.

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

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

THE HAIRY DIETERS HOW TO LOVE FOOD AND LOSE WEIGHT THE HAIRY DIETERS

HOW TO LOVE FOOD AND LOSE WEIGHT

by Dave Myers and Si King Published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on 2 August 2012 in trade paperback at £14.99, eBook £7.99 The Hairy Bikers are back this summer with a new book to accompany an exciting new 4 x 60 minute food odyssey on BBC Two starting on Thursday 2 August. Si King and Dave Myers have made their names cooking real food for real people, creating mouth-watering dishes big on flavour and calories - and it’s taken its toll on their bodies. Now all of that has to stop, as they return to our screens with The Hairy Dieters: How To Love Food And Lose Weight. The problem is they’re not prepared to live on salads and compromise on taste.

Loving the food they eat is a cornerstone of Si and Dave’s lives and they know they won’t succeed in shedding the pounds if the food they eat is dull and repetitive. The Hairy plan: to create some delicious healthy recipes to help them on their way and so persuade Britain to lose weight with them.

On their journey the boys join forces with the men and women of Britain to find ways of creating food that satisfies their lust for tasty cooking and answers the demands of the doctors and nutritionists who want them to make less of themselves. The boys hope that what starts with a mighty weigh-in will end in triumph, lessons learned and trousers taken in.

The Bikers set out to discover how to enjoy the best great British food at home, creating new dishes and adapting some culinary treasures to make them and us fitter for life.

THE HAIRY DIETERS: How to Love Food and Lose Weight includes a healthy eating plan with mouth-watering recipes for eating at home, eating out, and of course, entertaining.

It is filled with all of the dishes that have made Si King and Dave Myers two of the nation’s favourite cooks. From perfect pies, curries, roast dinners and delicious desserts, the Hairy Dieters prove that cooking without the calories doesn’t have to compromise on taste.

Now for an excerpt from their best selling book.

FOOD ISN’T JUST FUEL FOR US — IT’S OUR LIFE. WE SPEND MOST OF EVERY DAY COOKING, THINKING ABOUT FOOD AND COMING UP WITH RECIPE IDEAS, NOT TO MENTION EATING! GREAT-TASTING FOOD IS OUR PASSION AND WE’RE NOT ABOUT TO GIVE THAT UP. But we have to admit that we’ve overdone it a bit. Years of enjoying endless gorgeous meals has taken its toll and we’ve piled on the pounds. Like many middle-aged blokes — and ladies — we found that we’d got too hefty and our health was suffering. It was time to face facts and take a good hard look at ourselves so we took a deep breath and got on the scales.

Ouch! It was a long time since we’d weighed anything except

THE HAIRY BIKERS’ BIG BOOK OF BAKING, published in March 2012 is currently this year’s biggest selling hardback non-fiction book. Other cookery books by the Hairy Bikers include: THE HAIRY BIKERS’ FOOD TOUR OF BRITAIN, MUMS KNOW BEST, THE HAIRY BIKERS’ 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, MUMS STILL KNOW BEST, THE HAIRY BIKERS’ PERFECT PIES

COUNTING THE CALORIES

IT’S WORKED FOR US AND IT CAN WORK FOR YOU We’ve found a way of eating ourselves slimmer and we want to share our discoveries with you. The secret is to make better choices and use little tricks to reduce your daily calorie count. Calorie counting might have fallen out of favour somewhat over recent years, replaced by all sorts of wacky dieting ideas, but it does work. We’re the living proof. We’ve lost pounds and inches!

We’ve made all the recipes in this book as low in calories as possible while not compromising on the taste. And we’ve had a nutritionist check them out and do calorie counts for each one so you know exactly where you are. If you eat these, without cheating, you will lose weight — and you’ll love us for it.

ingredients and it was a shock. We were both a couple of stone or more overweight and over 40% of our body mass was fat. It was time to diet.

Now we have to be honest, we’re never going to be skinny minnies and we don’t want to be. It’s just not us. But we’ve made the effort to lose weight to stay healthy and enjoy life to the full. We want to be walking up hills and down dales without getting out of breath, and to be riding our big bikes when we’re 70 so we need to keep mobile and trim. And that means every now and again watching what we eat and reining it in a bit.

Okay, we’re not going to diet for ever — we’re still greedy and we’ll always love our pies and curries — but our weighin was a wake-up call to act before we got dangerously big.

Losing weight has been quite a journey for us but we’ve done it and we’re proud of ourselves. Now we know we can drop the pounds when we need to and this will help us keep a check on things in the future. If we can do it so can you.

Look at losing weight as an investment in yourself and the people you love. The benefits far outweigh the sacrifices.

SO THIS IS WHAT WE DID...

We didn’t want to sacrifice the pleasure of cooking and feel deprived or hungry so we knew we had to come up with meals that we would enjoy making and eating if we were to stick with the diet.

With the advice of healthy eating experts, we discovered that by making small changes in our cooking habits we could still enjoy big flavours and the food we loved while dropping the pounds. And it’s true. We’ve shed weight and we feel the better for it. Our blood pressure and cholesterol levels are down, our waistlines have shrunk, we have more energy and we look HOT — but not as sweaty as we used to!

And even more importantly, we’ve done all this while still eating some of our favourite, great-tasting dishes that we now cook with less fat and sugar, but bags of flavour. We think our recipes are fantastic. Yes, they’re lower in fat and sugar but they still taste amazing and we’re still just as enthusiastic and creative about our cooking as ever.

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We have to confess we’ve never really thought too much about calories and the amount of food we were taking in but we know a lot more now. As many as a quarter of us Brits are obese and it’s not good for us, so it seems that many of us are taking in much more than we’re putting out.

Our experts explained to us that in order to lose weight, you have to take in fewer calories so the body has to use its stores — makes sense so far doesn’t it?

Lobster & prawn cocktail (Serves 8)

If like lots of other people, Christmas day means its time to eat your one prawn cocktail of the year, then make sure its a good un, like this turbo charged version that I picked up somewhere along the way. Make the sauce in advance, then its just an assembly job leaving you with time to spare to catch the queens speech!

Little Gem Lettuce 4 cooked small prawns 200g cooked crayfish 200g cooked lobster 1. claw & tail meat removed and chopped cooked tiger prawns 16 small bunch of soft herbs, chervil, taragon, dill, parsley or a combination, after all it is Christmas

COCKTAIL SAUCE good quality mayonnaise 200ml tomoato ketchup 3 tbsp Tabasco sauce 5 drops Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp Spanish paprika 1/2 tsp lemons 3. 1 juiced 2 cut into wedges

Mix together, mayonnaise, ketchup. Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, paprika and lemon juice, gently stir in the cream. Chill until needed, then treat yourself to a glass of fizz.

Wash the lettuce, discard any damaged leaves, then remove and retain two layers of good leaves to use as a base. Cut the remaining lettuce into quarters.

Mix the small prawns, crayfish and lobster with half the sauce, put the retained leaves on 8 plates and a lettuce quarter on each. Spoon the small prawns and sauce over each one, then another quarter of lettuce and then top with two tiger prawns, garnish with a wedge of lemon and sprinkling of chopped herbs.

Recipe courtesy of The Clough House Restaurant. 129 Clough Lane, Rastrick, Huddersfield HD6 3QL Tel: 01484 512 120 19

Enjoy Christmas at the Clough House. Martin, Lauren and the team invite you to join them, to celebrate the festive period with our festive menus and events, sticking to our seasonal, local roots but with added Ho-Ho-Ho-ing MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Christmas Fayre Lunch Menu 1st - 22nd December

Get into the Christmas spirit! 2 or 3 courses from just £12.45 per head. Group bookings welcome. A’la carte and Clough Classics menu also available .

Christmas Fayre Dinner Menu 1st - 23rd December A Clough House, Christmas treat, with added mulled wine, coffee, mince pies and ho-ho ho-ing. 2 or 3 courses from just £14.95 per head. Group bookings welcome A’la carte and Clough Classics menu also available

Christmas Eve

FOOD: 3:00pm — 8:00pm

Special Seasonal Menu of the day, 2 or 3 courses from £19.95 Clough Classics menu available and the bar is open all day.

Boxing Day

FOOD 12:00pm — 6:00pm

Special Seasonal Menu of the day, 2 or 3 courses from £19.95 Clough Classics menu available and the bar is open all day.

Dec 27th - 30th

New Years Eve Dinner Single sitting: 7:30pm

Canapes and bubbly on arrival, followed by a luxury 3 course meal, topped off with live music to help you dance in the new year £39.95 per head. The bar is open from 12:00pm - 2013

Christmas Day

Six course menu £54.95 per head (children up to

12 years old £24.95) Two sittings 12.00pm & 3.30pm

MENU

Christmas Canapes and Fizz on arrival Roast Turnip and Cannellini Bean Soup, Roast Chestnuts and Truffle Oil or Smoked Salmon & Prawn Gateaux, Softly Boiled Quails Egg, lemon & Cracked Black Pepper Mayonnaise, Watercress & Soft Herb Salad Butter Roast Bronze Turkey Breast, Stuffed Leg, Bacon Wrapped Chipolata’s, Cranberry Sauce, Bread Sauce & Roast Gravy or Slow Braised Feather Blade of Bolster Moor Beef, Bourguignon Sauce, Celeriac Mash, Smoked Stilton Dumplings, glazed carrots and pearl onions

Usual service times...

Served with roast potatoes, honey roast parsnips, glazed sprouts with smoked bacon, and a selection of fresh seasonal vegetables

Tues - Sat 12pm- 14.30pm Mon - Thurs 17.30- 21.00pm Fri - Sat 17.30pm- 21.30pm Sunday 12pm- 19.00pm

Christmas Pudding with Boozy Custard, Sherry Trifle, Christmas Panna Cotta, White Chocolate & Cranberry Ice Cream

New Years Eve Lunch

Poached Pear, Hawes Farmhouse Wensleydale Cheese & Honeycombe

FOOD: 12:00 - 2.30

Coffee, Martins Mums Fruit Cake & Mince pies

Tel: 01484 512 120

129 Clough Lane, Rastrick, Huddersfield HD6 3QL

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Why not call and visit our store?

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Antiques Farm & Coffee Shop Open 7 Days A Week � � � � �

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Celebrate Your Christmas With Us...

Variety of Locally Sourced Jams, Chutneys, Pickles & Sauces Fresh Bread & Eggs For Sale Every Day Full Range of Winter Bedding & Bulbs in Stock

Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm | Sat 9am-4pm | Sun 10am-3pm

Tel: 01484 608096

For details of advertising CALL 01204 796 494 or email mcgrathartwork@btconnect.com today.

Traditional Home Made Food served with a Friendly Welcome On a cold Winter’s morning there is nothing better than a traditional English breakfast at the Antiques Farm and Coffee Shop. You can have a breakfast throughout the day served from 9am3pm, 7 days a week for just £3.95.

Moving on to lunch time you can choose from a weekly selection of fresh, local produce from the specials board. Choose from Soup of the Day, Gammon Steak with pineapple or egg with home made chunky chips and peas, delicious Cottage Pie or for a lighter bite choose one of the favourites like a hot beef and fried onion baguette served with homemade chunky chips.

For those of you with a sweet tooth, homemade Apple Pie with traditional custard or fresh cream is available amongst the extensive sweet menu.

Everything is prepared fresh on site by a fully qualified chef.

Quality and value is the key to their success offering you a warm and friendly atmosphere by a family run business.

291 Wakefield Road, Lepton, Huddersfield HD8 0EL

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21

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT HOME CARE AGENCY Whether you’re choosing a home care agency for a family member or starting to plan for your own future, there are several important things that you should consider. Here are a few useful pointers to help you along the way.

Your chosen home care provider is there to look after you.

It should help you to make your own decisions and support you in maintaining your own independence. That also means treating you with respect, valuing you as a person and respecting your privacy. If you need assistance with tasks such as dressing, bathing and toileting, you have the right to choose your carer, whenever possible. Remember, it’s your care and you have the right to be involved in every aspect of your care. Don’t ever be afraid to ask for a family member or friend to be kept informed about your home care too.

Home care agency standards All agencies have a ‘Statement of Purpose’ that sets out their aims and objectives and the type of the services they offer. If you’re employing an agency, they should give you a contract explaining all terms and conditions.

This will include things such as their confidentiality policy – for example, how they will hold and use personal data.

All home care agency employees should also have clear written guidelines and follow robust procedures on how to administer and assist with any medication needs.

Before your home care starts It’s important to always make sure that the home care agency you choose visits you at home, before care starts.

This will give you the chance to discuss your requirements in detail to ensure that you’re happy with your choice of provider. A good home care agency will answer any questions you may have during this visit. The visit will also give the agency the opportunity to see the environment in which they will be working. If possible, arrange for a family member or friend to be there when the home care agency visits.

All staff should be fully trained on using equipment such as a hoist, to help bear your weight safely, if needed.

Keeping you safe and secure in your own home It’s the job of the home care agency staff to make sure that you are safe and secure in your own home when they are working with you. Every home care agency must have procedures in place to protect those using home care services, to reduce the risk of accidents, and protect people from any form of abuse including physical, emotional and financial abuse. This will also include an agreement about gaining access to your home. Care workers should have ID cards to show their photograph, their name, the agency’s name and agency contact details. Home care agencies must also have a policy in place that sets out how staff should handle money, if you ask them to buy things, or to pay a bill for you.

Top 10 key questions to ask when choosing a Home Care agency •

Can the agency provide the care needed, and have they provided care before for someone with similar needs?

•

Are you confident the agency and staff will respect your privacy and dignity?

•

Have they taken the time to understand your personal likes and dislikes?

•

How do they match the most suitable care worker to your needs? Will you always have the same person caring for you, and what happens if they are sick or go on holiday?

So you’re thinking about using an agency to provide home care? But how can you make sure that the home care provider you choose treats and cares for you in the right way?

•

What charges will you be expected to pay (Is there a minimum charge)? And how you will be invoiced?

•

Is the agency insured to protect your safety and interests?

•

Do all care workers undergo a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check before being employed? And what ongoing training do they receive?

Initial home visit by a home care agency

•

Does the agency have a copy of its latest inspection report available for you to look at?

During the initial home visit by the home care agency, they will carry out a detailed risk assessment of your home, as well as a manual handling assessment. This is important, as it will identify how the agency staff will move you safely around your home, if assistance is required.

•

Can your agency be contacted outside office hours or in an emergency?

•

Will the agency give you a copy of the agency’s standard contract to read before signing?

•

Caring about your protection

THE CROFT CARE GROUP IS A FAMILY OWNED GROUP OF COMPANIES, ESTABLISHED IN 1991 AND SPEICALISING IN THE CARE OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

news...

We provide nursing, residential and community based care services in the North of England and currently have five care homes and home care services based in the following locations: •

The Croft Residential Home – Normanton, West Yorkshire

•

Laughton Croft Care Home with Nursing – Nr Gainsborough, Lincolnshire

•

Croft House Residential Home – Shotton Colliery, County Durham

•

Croftlands Care Home with Nursing – Nr Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

•

Holme House Care Home with Nursing – Nr Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire

The company has been providing nursing, residential and community based care since 1991. The company is owned by Matthew Creegan, Managing Director and is run in conjunction with his two sons: James Creegan MA STB, Director of Care Martin Creegan NEBS, Director of Finance

Latest Care Home Opens in Durham Croft House is a registered care home specialising in providing full time residential care nursing and Emi and support for 58 older people. The care home is situated in the village of Shotton Colliery with local amenities close by, including shops and a post office. Peterlee town centre is about two miles away.

We are able to offer full time permanent residential care, respite and short term residential care.

For more information please visit

www.croftcarehomes.co.uk

OUR CARE HOMES

DOMICILIARY CARE SERVICES

In our care homes we specialise in providing quality care for people in need of:

Our domiciliary care services specialise in providing quality care for people in their own homes, which includes:

• • • • • •

Residential and Nursing Care EMI Care Dementia Care Social Care Intermediate and Respite Care Palliative and End of Life Care

• • • • • •

Personal Care Medication Calls Shopping Services Laundry/Cleaning Services Social Support Carer Support

www.croftcarehomes.co.uk www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Domiciliary Care in Kirklees Croft Care Group is also delighted to have won a contract with Kirklees Council to provide Domiciliary Care Services (Homecare) in 3 Areas: Dalton, Denby Dale and Holme Valley. These services are provided under the name of Croft Care Services. This compliments the company’s business in Wakefield, where we are the largest independent provider of Homecare.

Please visit our website for the latest job vacancies

NOW OFFERING DAY CARE SERVICES FROM ÂŁ25 PER DAY

Holme House Care Home with Nursing

Oxford Road, Gomersal, Cleckheaton BD19 4LA Holme House is a modernised care home in a stunning stone building which will be home to 68 residents both residential, nursing and EMI. All bedrooms are single rooms with en-suite shower facilities. Each room has beautiful fitted furniture with an integrated fridge and a television/dvd with freeview as standard. Sky Television is also available if required by the resident. Each bedroom has its own telephone and residents can make and receive outside calls from the privacy of their own room.

Each nursing bedroom has a ceiling hoist for safe and easy moving of residents and also has a profiling nursing bed as standard as well as all the above facilities.

Our premium ground floor bedrooms have their own front door access for more independent residents to live in.

The home offers a hairdressing salon and lots of activities space with a dedicated computer room with internet access for use by residents. Each floor has a beautifully decorated and furnished lounge and dining room. All the communal bathrooms have tracking hoists which adds to the ease and comfort of the people who live in the care home.

The superb kitchen has the most up to date equipment and is managed by a head chef and his team. An extensive menu of the highest quality food is offered to our residents. Choice is available at every meal. In addition to the main kitchen, each floor of the home has its own dedicated kitchen area with drinks and light snacks available all day and night if required.

All in all this is a attractively designed care home which offers the highest quality accommodation which is matched by high quality nursing and residential care for a dedicated and well trained staff team.

Treat yourself or your loved one to a five star care experience, you deserve it and we want to help you enjoy it.

For information, to view our beautiful home, please contact the Manager or her team on 01274 862021.

www.croftcarehomes.co.uk

Croftlands Care Home with Nursing Kirkburton, Huddersfield HD8 0TH Croftlands is a care home just over 2 years old, in a stunning stone building which will be home to 55 residents both residential, nursing and people with dementia related needs.

All bedrooms are single rooms with en-suite shower facilities. Each room has beautiful fitted furniture with an integrated fridge and a television/dvd with freeview as standard. Sky Television is also available if required by the resident. Each bedroom has its own telephone and residents can make and receive outside calls from the privacy of their own room.

Each nursing bedroom has a ceiling hoist for safe and easy moving of residents and also has a profiling nursing bed as standard as well as all the above facilities.

All the communal bathrooms have tracking hoists which adds to the ease and comfort of the people who live in the care home.

An extensive menu of the highest quality food is offered to our residents. Choice is available at every meal. In addition to the main kitchen, each floor of the home has its own dedicated kitchen area with drinks and light snacks available all day and night if required.

All in all this is an attractively designed care home which offers the highest quality accommodation which is matched by high quality nursing and residential care for a dedicated and well trained staff team.

Treat yourself or your loved one to a five star care experience, you deserve it and we want to help you enjoy it.

The home offers a hairdressing salon and lots of activities space. Each floor has a beautifully decorated and furnished lounge and dining room. There are also a number of quiet lounges. For people with EMI needs there is a reminiscence room and a sensory room.

Couple with extensive grounds and well maintained gardens this is a wonderful environment to live in.

For information, to view our beautiful home, please contact the Manager or any of the team on 01484 604864.

www.croftcarehomes.co.uk

ROM PRICES F 0 £135,00

The Manor House Apartments T U R N S H AW

R O A D ,

K I R K B U R T O N

H D 8

0 T H

The Manor House is a fine period property which has just been carefully restored and adapted into 11 luxury apartments exclusively for those aged 55 and over.

Enjoying a majestic setting in its own grounds extending to over 5 acres with a mixture of private woodland, a meadow as well as a landscaped garden area allowing outdoors to be enjoyed without any maintenance.

The highly regarded village centre of Kirkburton is only a short walk away with a great variety of amenities.

Appointed to a high standard each self contained apartment benefits from spacious rooms and modern fittings throughout with the option of picking from a choice of 5 kitchens for most apartments. Each floor benefits from a newly installed lift and on site numerous care and domestic services will be made available to the residents of the Manor House.

The charming semi rural village of Kirkburton is located in a conservation area which enjoys varied amenities including butchers, bakers and a mini supermarket.

Surrounded by rolling countryside providing access to a network of public footpaths to explore the great outdoors.

• • • • • • • • • •

NEWLY CONVERTED MANOR HOUSE LUXURY APARTMENTS DELIGHTFUL GROUNDS CLOSE TO VILLAGE CENTRE PARKING SWEEPING TREE LINED DRIVEWAY PRIVATE SECURE LIVING A CHOICE OF KITCHENS TO SELECT EXCLUSIVELY FOR 55s AND OVER PRIVATE CARE HOME ON SITE

For more information or to arrange a viewing appointment call 01924 220163 26

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

50 Plus Health

sponsored by

CATARACT Know the warning signs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“

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

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

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

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

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

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

“

If your vision has declined or become blurry in recent years, don’t assume that a stronger prescription is all you need for a quick fix.

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

Enjoy life without glasses, contacts or cataracts

Stephanie & Bill Yemc, IOL Treatment

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

trea

ted

2012 31/07/2012 10:41:35

27

Many people today are looking to replace missing teeth with Dental Implants but are unsure of what the procedure entails and the costs involved.

Here at the Centre for Advanced Dentistry our team look after people like this every day, making sure they have all the correct information to make that important informed decision. Our friendly welcoming staff, help you relax with a coffee or herbal tea in comfortable, beautiful surroundings

Introducing our dentist Dr. Mike Ainsworth Dr Mike Ainsworth has been placing implants for over ten years, having completed extensive training both in the UK and throughout Europe, and has had the benefit of working with some of the world leaders in the field of cosmetic dentistry and dental implantology.

Mike has treated patients from all walks of life and has a good understanding of patient’s needs. He is also able to provide nervous patients with sedation to ensure a stress free experience thoughout.

Mike is known to his patients and colleagues as an outstanding clinician, gentle and kind, who always takes the time to listen and address your dental needs with the highest level of clinical excellence.

Mike has an extensive portfolio of photographs and testimonials from happy patients for you to look through and see examples of his work.

Cost effective treatment that won’t cost the earth Many people are under the illusion that Implant treatments are expensive and only for the rich and famous and it’s not within their budget. This is no longer the case, with our flexible finance options you can have the perfect set of teeth from as little as £40 per week.

Implants start from as little as £1,295 for a single tooth, this includes the implant fully restored with a crown – roughly half the price of most clinics.

We can offer you 12 months interest free credit or you can spread the cost over a longer term.

So why wait? Book a consultation today and allow our experienced team of dentists to give you a free consultation, in return we promise to provide you with a treatment plan you thoroughly understand, can afford and that could reinvent and rejuvenate your smile.

Loose dentures?

The Centre for Advanced Dentistry can Help Implant Dentures

Implants

Here at the Centre for Advanced Dentistry we understand just what impact tooth loss can have on your life and how it can diminish your confidence. It can alter your facial appearance and adversely affect your social life – simple things such as having photographs taken, or dining out with friends can turn into an embarrassing and uncomfortable experience.

Dental Implants are now routinely provided to replace their missing teeth. Implants are a lifelong solution that help maintain your features, inspire you with confidence and allow you to eat and speak with complete confidence. They also help prevent bone loss in the jaw which happens when teeth are no longer present, thus preventing your face from getting that “sunken-in” look that we all associate with getting old.

Implant retained dentures give you the confidence to eat, speak and laugh without the worry of your dentures slipping.

This gives you back the ability to eat apples, steak and all your favourite foods knowing your denture won’t move..

So whether you have missing teeth or are just not happy with your current denture Why not book a free consultation and come along and find out how implants can help you.

Here at the Centre for Advanced Dentistry we pride ourselves on having all the latest techniques to provide the best treatments for our patients. Dental Implants are the most thoroughly researched, bespoke treatment option available for missing teeth, improving your quality of life as they transform your mouth rebuilding the confidence behind a beautiful, functional smile.

So why not come for a free consultation let us answer all your implant questions and end your doubts, in return we promise to provide you with a treatment plan you thoroughly understand, can afford and could reinvent and your smile.

Dental Implants from as little as £40/month and with 0% finance *

Tel: 0845 201 1515 www.yorkshiredentistry.co.uk 13 Navigation Court, Calder Park, Wakefield £40/month based on 1 single tooth implant. 0% finance for 1 year available on all treatments upon application, extended finance periods available, up to 5 years. Finance subject to status.

Is HRT safe?

There has been a lot of media attention about the safety of HRT in the recent years. This has resulted in a great deal of worry amongst women considering HRT, or already taking it. HRT does have risks but most experts agree that: If you are suffering from menopausal symptoms and are in your 50s, taking HRT is a reasonable thing to do, especially if you take it for up to five years. The risks are small and serious side effects are rare. HRT is very effective in relieving your menopausal symptoms and also offers other health benefits such as reducing the risk of osteoporosis.* You can ask your GP or your Gynaecologist to help you understand the risks and benefits and to discuss whether HRT is right for you.

What is menopause?

When ovaries stop producing eggs, they also stop producing hormones. The average age of menopause is around 51. Women go through menopause a few years earlier or few years later than this.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

• • • • • • • • • •

Hot flushes Night sweats Mood disturbance Vaginal dryness Loss of sex drive (libido) Constant tiredness Headaches Sleep disturbance Anxiety Depression

What is HRT? Hormone Replacement Therapy is replacing the female hormones that your body lacks. It usually consists of the combination of two hormones, estrogen and progesterone. If you have had a hysterectomy, you will only need one hormone (estrogen). HRT is available in many forms, including tablets, skin patches and gels. Your doctor will help you choose the most suitable form.

Do I need HRT? Many women will have an “easy” menopause with mild symptoms and won’t need HRT. If menopause symptoms are affecting the quality of your life and you are suffering because of them, please talk to your doctor. There are many treatments available. HRT is only one of them but probably the most effective one.

What are the benefits of HRT? HRT can make a big difference to the quality of life: • It usually treats all menopausal symptoms very effectively • It reduces the risk of bone fracture (especially hip

fracture) and osteoporosis • It also reduces the risk of bowel cancer.*

What are the risks of HRT? One of the most well-known risks is an increased risk of breast cancer: • Of 1000 women in their 50s, not taking HRT, approximately ten will develop breast cancer over the period of five years.

•

Of 1000 women in their 50s taking oestrogen only HRT, approximately twelve will develop breast cancer over the period of five years.

•

Of 1000 women in their 50s taking oestrogen and progesterone HRT, approximately sixteen will develop breast cancer over the period of five years.*

This is a small risk and once you stop taking HRT the risks return to the level they were before taking HRT. Other risks include developing clots in the lungs and legs, stroke and cancer of the ovaries. As with the risk of breast cancer, these risks are small and your GP will discuss all risks with you.

For more information, visit www.gynaecology.me or www.patient.co.uk and search for menopause or go to the website of British menopause society, www.thebms.org.uk *Stats and data sourced from www.patient.co.uk/health/ Menopause-and-HRT.htm

30

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

It Isn't Just The Prescription Unlike other shops, pharmacies have something quite unique, a pharmacist.

A pharmacist is a specialist, a university graduate who has completed a degree course, followed by a further year of postgraduate education, to become a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Only then is he or she allowed to practice. A pharmacist is an expert on medicines, and is probably the only professional person you can freely access without making an appointment.

Only when a pharmacist is present may prescriptions be dispensed or the sale of many medicines take place.

There have been many changes since the start of the National Health Service, but one thing has never changed, the professional service offered by pharmacists. Gone are the handmade preparations, no longer is the pharmacist tied to the dispensary bench compounding exotic potions. More time is now available to advise patients and doctors about the new and increasingly potent medicines of today, and to check for potential drug interactions and side effects.

If you regularly use the same pharmacy for your prescriptions, their patient medication record system will be building up a profile of your medicines to highlight any potential problems.

There is much more to dispensing than just counting the tablets and handing out the bottle.

In addition to dosage directions the label on your medicine will bear cautionary warnings about avoiding

alcohol or not taking the medicine at the same time as certain other medicines, or foods. Your pharmacist is available to advise if you have any queries, and will make a point of clarifying instructions to ensure that you use your medication effectively.

For minor ailments, your pharmacist may advise on the purchase of a suitable medicine; pharmacies have a wide range of potent medicines that are restricted to sale under a pharmacist's supervision. Alternatively, you may be advised to seek further medical advice.

We are here in the community to offer a service for patients using ostomy and incontinence equipment. It is not necessary to send away to mail order companies to receive these goods. Only pharmacy can offer the flexibility and personal service that health care demands.

Remember, make full use of your local pharmacy, it is an invaluable resource, working with the National Health Service, to provide health care in the community.

Repeat Prescriptions Repeat Repeat Branches:

For our FREE COLLECTION & DELIVERY SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY & THE HOUSEBOUND

Marsh...................... Tel: 533731 Salendine Nook ...... Tel: 657633 Holmfirth.................. Tel: 683945 Elmwood H.C.......... Tel: 681069 Lockwood................ Tel: 532169 Honley..................... Tel: 661818 Bradley ................... Tel: 428646 Head Office ............ Tel: 300444

FREEPHONE

0800 019 0700

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Medicare House, 1 Meltham Road, Lockwood, Huddersfield HD1 3TJ.

31

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Halifax, Huddersfield & District Branch

E.A.R.S

• Emergency cover if an owner is hospitalised • Access to our Animal Centre vet during routine clinic times at £5.00 per consultation

Elderly Animal Rehoming Scheme The RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield and District Branch have developed the EARS Scheme to assist with the re homing of elderly dogs and cats (10 years +.)

These animals enter our centre often due to their owner’s ill health or death, but few prospective adopters want to take on such an animal, mainly because of the possible financial implications.

The Scheme

• Euthanasia at RSPCA Animal Centre • Discount cremation service • Bereavement service.

• 20% discount for surgical procedures and emergencies(at participating vets) • Immediate return for re homing via the scheme should an owner be unable to continue looking after an animal.

All dogs and cats will be fully vaccinated, de flea, wormed, microchip, neutered, vet checked and fully temperament assessed before re homing.

Adopters will pay £5.00 per month to the Halifax, Huddersfield and District Branch which will entitle them to the following benefits: • A Booster vaccination and health check once a year

• 24 hour emergency phone in case the adopter has a personal emergency

• Routine worming tablets and flea treatment • All current and future medication will be offered at a discounted price • Prescription diets and senior food will be offered at a discounted price • Discount grooming from Lara at Warilda Grooming Salon • Transport to our Clinic where necessary • Grants for emergency treatment/elective surgery dependant on the buoyancy of the Scheme

WINNER OF THE MARINA ARNSBY AWARD Presented to the branch for the most innovative re homing scheme

If you are interested in this Scheme and would like to know more please contact: JULIE COCKROFT or ALEX DARWELL at the Animal Centre on Tel: 01422 365628

RSPCA Animal Centre Wade Street, Halifax HX1 1SN.

Tel: (01422) 365628

www.rspca-halifaxandhuddersfield.org.uk Registered Charity No. 225575

RSPCA CHRISTMAS FAIR Sunday 9th December 11.00Am Til 3.00Pm

Come along to our christmas fair, which is always a great day out for all the family. There will be lots of games stalls and animals to see with advice and information on your pets.

Refreshments and snacks will be available, here at the animal centre.

T:01422 365628

enquiries@rspca-halifax.org.uk

Halifax, Huddersfield and District RSPCA Wade Street, Halifax

OUT & ABOUT

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN HALL WELCOMES STARS OF THE OPERA Friday November 30th

Featuring stars from the world of opera, musical theatre and pop in their own right – from France, Spain, Australia and the UK – Stars of The Opera is a truly international concert experience.

Beautiful and touching one moment, rousing and powerful the next, astounding solos and sublime harmonies deliver the truly wonderful score with an incredible cast. Tickets: £22

Book online at www.kirklees.gov.uk/townhalls or call 01484 223200 / 01484 222444 / 01924 324501

SHOWSTOPPERS PRESENT SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS

Sat 15th to Sun 23rd December Cleckheaton Town Hall

Once again Showstoppers present one of the most popular pantomimes of them all. With spectacular effects and glittering songs and dances, a must for all the family!

Adults: £9, Concessions: £7. Matinee & Evening.

LETS MAKE YOUR XMAS GREAT! 50 Plus Magazine along with Huddersfield and Cleckheaton Town Halls want to give you the chance to win tickets for the above shows. To enter simply fill in the details below and send back to us and you could be in with a chance of winning!

Name:______________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ Tel:_________________________________________________ Email:_______________________________________________ q Stars of the Opera q Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs Preferred date:_______________________________________ Send to Unit 6 Moses Gate Workshops, Gladys Street, Bolton BL3 2QG. Closing date for entries 20th Nov 2012.

34

HOLMFIRTH MARKET AND FARMERS’ MARKET Take a trip to the farmers market and you can buy fresh, nutritious, good quality food direct from the person who produces it.

Thursday General Market, 9am to 5pm.

A busy local market bursting with fresh produce including fruit and vegetables, local meats, cheese, eggs, breads, cakes, plants, plus a huge selection of essential household items.

Saturday Craft and Food Market, 9am to 5pm

A wonderful combination of essential fresh foods and superb hand-made crafts which varies through the year but includes basketry, jewellery, cards and stationery, embroidery, clothing, glassware and photography, flowers, soaps, paintings, sculpture and much more.

Holmfirth Farmers Market - held on the 3rd Sunday of each month, 8am to 2pm.

One of the oldest farmers markets in the country and runnerup for Farmers Market of the Year 2010, this nationally accredited farmers market is full of the hustle and bustle of local farmers and local shoppers filling their bags with the very best of local produce.

For more information please call 01484 223730 or visit www.kirklees.gov.uk/events

FREE DROP-IN DRAWING WORKSHOP To tie in with October’s Big Draw festival and the ‘Marking Time’ exhibition which is on show at Batley Art Gallery until 20th October, Batley Art Gallery have been offering FREE open-access drawing workshops.The final FREE openaccess drawing workshop will run from 1pm to 4pm on 20th October

Drawing in Space

Create a sculptural drawing using wire, straws, sticks and other materials. This session will focus on modelling a 3D figure using line alone.

Contact Mark Milnes at the gallery on 01924 326021, or at mark.milnes@kirklees.gov.uk for further details.

Alternatively visit www.campaignfordrawing.org/ bigdraw

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

50 PLUS MAGAZINE

Don’t wear baggy clothes in the mistaken idea that they make you look thin – they don’t

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

Don’t assume you can wear an outfit just because it looks good on a six-foot tall 17 year-old model – the mirror doesn’t lie!

FASHION DO’S & DONT’S

Do be realistic about your shape, height and colouring Do go for good-fitting clothes that flatter your shape

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

Do look at your daily lifestyle and what sort of clothes suit it Do look at multi-buys in the same range if you like them and they look flattering – this is cost-effective shopping and gives you a better “capsule wardrobe” of complementing outfits Do factor in comfort – if you’re uncomfortable or uneasy in your clothes it shows Do de-clutter your wardrobe and see what you’ve got that you want to keep and will definitely wear – if you’ve not worn any item for 12 months, will you ever again?

For a stylish selection of brands such as JOHN CHARLES, ZELIA, CONDICI, JOSEPH RIBKOFF, OUI, FRAN & JANE, MADO, LA FEE MARABOUTEE and more visit...

First Impressions by Gail 3 Princes Place, Armentieres Square, Stalybridge, Cheshire SK15 2BR.

www.firstimpressionsbygail.com

Tel: 0161 338 4621

ALL SOULS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY PRESENT ACCENT ON SONG 27 October 2012

Musical Director, Colin Akers, leads this local Society in a variety of music for all ages and tastes - the first half featuring music from musicals to operetta, music halls to sacred - something for everybody, inculding a preview of the Society’s 2013 show Offenbach’s “La Vie Parisienne” followed by a complete performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Trial by Jury”.

This event starts at 7.30 pm at St. Anns-in-the-Grove Church, Church Lane, Southowram, Halifax.

For more information please visit www.calderdale. gov.uk/leisure/activities www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

CALDERDALE HERITAGE WALKS Walks every week from April to October, plus extras on Bank Holiday weekends and some evenings from May to July. During the winter there are normally two walks per month from November to March, inclusive.

The walks take place throughout Calderdale and are aimed at anyone with an interest in the area’s past. The walks are relatively short and fairly easy walking. The walks are suitable for accompanied children over the age of thirteen.

There is a charge of £3 for the walks, but there is no need to book as a rule.

Contact Mr David Nortcliffe, Organising Secretary Address: c/o 3 Cobden Terrace Hipperholme Email: CdaleHeritageWks@aol.com Web site: www.calderdaleheritagewalks.org.uk 35

The Word is Out:

Greyhounds make great pets You may have heard the latest news that greyhounds make great pets, but what is all the fuss about? Can the fastest dog breed alive fit in with the lifestyle of Britain’s families? We’ve answered a few of the most common questions from those thinking about adopting a retired greyhound.

Q. Are greyhounds highly strung?

A. No. They are naturally calm and rather self-possessed. As a breed they have been around for a very long time and they are genuine thoroughbreds.

Q. Are greyhounds good with children?

A. They are as good as any dog and better than most, because of their characteristic gentleness. Most greyhounds never get their fill of fuss and are happy to be hugged and loved by children.

Q. Are there character differences between males and females?

A. The differences between greyhound genders tends to be less pronounced than in many other breeds. Spaying or castrating can normally relieve most behavioural problems and is recommended.

Q. How much exercise do they need?

A. Surprisingly, they need very little. Twenty minutes, twice a day is usually more than enough. While greyhounds are sprinters, they use up their energy in short bursts so short, slower walks are preferred.

Q. Will I need a special bed for the dog?

A. No. An old quilt folded in two is perfect. But they are used to sleeping off the ground and will need no encouragement to take over your bed as well as your settee. They do like to stretch out and get into all sorts of unique sleeping positions.

Q. How do greyhounds get on with other dogs?

A. They are normally ok. There will be an initial wariness, but familiarity and common sense is the order of the day.

Q. I have a cat, so can I have a greyhound?

A. Just like any breed of dogs, some greyhounds get along great with small animals and cats. When enquiring about a greyhound, make sure you mention that your house has a cat, so you can be matched up with the ideal greyhound.

Q. Are greyhounds easy to train and do they come back when you call?

A. Yes, but it needs patience and understanding. Like any dog, a greyhound loves to please and tasty rewards are highly appreciated after the racing regime.

Do you want to find out more? Visit www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk.

Find Your Perfect Pet The Retired Greyhound Trust has just made is easier to search their 72 branch network for your closest greyhound contact. Simply visit www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/Branch-Locations/ to use the interactive mapping service.

36

DO YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR TRANSPORT? ARE YOU ISOLATED IN YOUR OWN HOME? Community Transport Calderdale (CTC) is an independent local charity operating in the Calderdale area. We aim to provide transport to those residents of Calderdale who cannot access existing forms of transport provision for reasons of ill health, disability, isolation, poverty or social exclusion.

To use our services you must be a member which costs £2 per year for an individual and £20 per year for a group.

CTC also operates a Community Car Service (CCS) with a large group of volunteers all across Calderdale who drive their own cars to help people get to health appointments and social activities. Your driver will wait for you during your appointment and return you home again. You just pay the driver’s travel expenses from their home and back there again at 45p per mile.

If you go to the supermarket with this service, the volunteer will help you with loading and unloading your shopping and even help you carry it to your door.

This service operates in the following communities:

CCS: UPPER VALLEY Todmorden – Hebden Bridge – Sowerby Bridge – Ripponden – Rishworth – Barkisland – Walsden

MINIBUS SERVICE

CTC operates a fleet of fully accessible minibuses and people carriers and moves over 300 people a week to shopping centres, health appointments, schools and on community activities and even to the airport too!

All drivers are qualified, trained and security checked.

Community groups or individuals may hire these vehicles with or without a driver.

CCS: LOWER VALLEY Brighouse – Rastrick – Elland – Shelf– Stainland – Greetland – Northowram – Southowram – Sowood – Lightcliffe

CCS: NORTH HALIFAX Mixenden – Illingworth – Ovenden – Mount Tabor – Claremount – Pellon – Bradshaw – Boothtown – Saville Park

COMMUNITY CAR SERVICE

Luddenden Foot

Upper Valley

Lower Valley

North Halifax

01422 881154

01706 813366

01484 768094

01422 881154

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE? There are many great VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES with CTC – see below for several roles available.

We commit to support our volunteers in the great work they do, making a difference to our community. If you would like more information, please contact CTC on:

01422 881154

ctcalderdale@yahoo.co.uk Volunteering is a rewarding way to stay active or add diversity to your CV ready for your next job.

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES WITH COMMUNITY TRANSPORT CALDERDALE POSITION: CAR DRIVER OVERVIEW: To collect client in own car to take to health or social appointments in or beyond Calderdale. You must have your own car and some spare time with a willingness to help people.

TRAINING: PATS course available to all car drivers.

LOCATION: All Calderdale.

CONTACT: 01422 881154

POSITION: MINIBUS DRIVER OVERVIEW: To drive minibuses or people carriers for individuals and groups in or beyond Calderdale.

Great opportunity for career change.

TRAINING: MIDAS & PATS courses must be completed for all minibus and people carrier drivers.

LOCATION: All Calderdale.

CONTACT: 01422 881154

POSITION: MINIBUS PASSENGER ASSISTANT OVERVIEW: To assist the driver and clients on board minibuses during trips and with shopping and wheelchairs.

TRAINING: Passenger Assistant Training course must be completed.

LOCATION: All Calderdale.

CONTACT: 01422 881154

POSITION: OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR OVERVIEW: To assist staff in one of four offices with general office duties – great opportunity for someone training for career change.

TRAINING: On the job training in specific duties.

LOCATION: Luddenden Foot, Todmorden, Mixenden and Brighouse.

CONTACT: 01422 881154

Community Transport Calderdale Ltd is registered in England and limited by guarantee. Company registration number 4392505. Charity registration number 1093919.

CTC is funded by:

Top tips on saving energy and money...

Turn your thermostat down Reducing your room temperature by 1oC could cut your heating bills by up to 10% and save you around £50 per year.

If you have a timer, set your heating and hot water to come on when you need it rather than all the time.

Also, if you have radiators with valves you can control individually (thermostatic valves) it is worthwhile doing, as this helps you to direct warmth in the places you need it, can save money and be more energy efficient. Put thermal reflectors behind your radiators to reflect heat back into your room.

Washing machines use a surprising amount of energy Always fill the drum with laundry to get the most value from the water and energy you're using. l Avoid using the extra rinse as this is a water waster. o o l Switch to a 30 C wash instead of 40 C which can save you around £9 a year. l

Switch to low energy or LED bulbs

Using water wisely

These are a great and easy way to save energy. They plug straight into any lighting unit and use less energy. Some are even brighter than standard light bulbs but consume a lot less energy.

If you have a water cylinder you should turn it to 60oC. This is hot enough to kill any harmful bacteria, and heat your water sufficiently for household use.

Low energy bulbs last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs and using one can save you around £45 over the lifetime of the bulb.

If the temperature is any higher it is a waste of energy and there is an increased risk of scalding.

If you have a garden, consider buying some solar lights which use the natural energy of the sun. As the lighting is mainly for decorative purposes, all the more reason to use this renewable source of energy.

When you are cooking, always use the right size pan for the job, and the right sized hob ring for each pan. Remember to use a lid.

Consider taking a shower instead of a bath.

Top tips on water Use less hot water with a lower temperature setting for the washing machine, dishwasher and shower.

Don't overfill the kettle, boil only as much water as you need.

If you boil your kettle with only a cupful of water it will cost you about 1/3p, but make sure you cover the element Over a full year this will cost you £5.61 If you boil a full kettle it will cost you 11/2p Over a full year this will cost you £29.08.

Turn off electronic equipment on stand by Don't leave appliances or equipment, such as televisions and DVD players on standby, and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.

This could save you £40 a year.

Top tips on light bulbs Turn off any lights you don't need, but do make sure you have enough lighting on the stairs and hallway.

Avoid switching lights on and off regularly. The bulb will use more energy when first switched on.

Leave your curtains open during the day to make the most of any natural light, but close them as soon as it goes dark, to keep the room warm.

Top tips on energy use Home energy monitoring meters measure energy as you use it. This way you can see quite clearly just how much any of your household appliances and equipment is costing you.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, the average household could save around £250 through energy efficiency measures, such as closing the curtains once it has gone dark, or closing windows if it's cold outside.

Using the sunshine to power your home

You can buy a remote control extension lead which will help you to turn off all of your electronic equipment with the minimum of fuss, before you go to bed, or leave the house.

If you are lucky enough to have a photo-volatic system fitted to your roof, you will be able to make the most of the green electricity generated.

Remember, it is a fire risk if you leave equipment plugged in on stand by.

Things to remember:l The low cost energy is generated during daylight hours, and must be used during the same day, as it cannot be stored overnight l Use your washing machine and other fuel hungry appliances during the day l Think differently, using your washing-line, if you have one, instead of your tumble dryer.

Top tips on appliances If you are buying new, always chose A rated or A+ rated equipment which use less energy and reduces emissions.

Defrost your freezer regularly, an iced-up freezer costs more to run.

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Did you know that Yorkshire Water offers a range of free services for consumers with additional needs?

Consumers with sight or hearing difficulties, illness or disability can find out more and register for free.

Just call freephone 0800 1 38 78 78 or go to www.yorkshirewater.com and search for ‘Helping Hands’ to email us.

How can we help you?

If you are blind, partially sighted or have difficulty reading your bill:

• We can provide bills and other information in large print, Braille, on audio cassette/CD or we can call you and read your bill to you • We can visit you in advance if we plan to interrupt your water supply • We can send bills to a nominated person on your behalf • If you have a meter, we can arrange for more frequent readings if it’s difficult for you to get a reading yourself

If you are deaf or hard of hearing:

• We can put a card through your door to warn you in advance if we plan to interrupt your water supply • We can visit you in advance if we plan to interrupt your water supply • If we need to get in touch, we can contact you using text telephone/minicom

If you have mobility problems:

• We can visit you in advance if we plan interrupt your water supply • If you have a meter, we can arrange for more frequent readings if it’s difficult for you to get a reading yourself

If you’re a dialysis patient:

• We can visit you in advance if we plan to interrupt your water supply • We can provide bottled water if we do have to interrupt your water supply

If you have a serious illness:

• We can visit you in advance if we plan to interrupt your water supply • We can provide bottled water if we do have to interrupt your water supply A simple free call is all that is needed for you to register for any of these free services. Call freephone 0800 1 38 78 78 and ask about Yorkshire Water’s Helping Hands. www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Unexpected visitor?

Thieves and conmen sometimes trick their way into customers’ homes to steal money or valuables by claiming to be from Yorkshire Water or one of its contractors.

Every customer is entitled to register a password of their choice, free of charge with Yorkshire Water.

This password will be used by our staff so you can identify a genuine caller.

Call freephone 0800 1 38 78 78 and register your chosen password today.

When our staff visit customers, they all show identity cards displaying their photograph. If you’re in any doubt about the identity of a caller, please call us on 0800 1 38 78 78.

Remember:

• It’s very unusual for Yorkshire Water or its contractors to visit your home without a previously agreed appointment.

• Genuine Yorkshire Water representatives won’t mind if you check their identity before allowing them into your home.

• Yorkshire Water and its contractors representatives will NOT request access to an upper floor of your home to check the water supply.

• Yorkshire Water doesn’t sell any products or services on the doorstep.

Don’t let anyone into your home until you’re satisfied with who they are and why they’re visiting.

‘em out!

If in doubt, keep 41

KIRKWOOD HOSPICE CAPITAL APPEAL UPDATE Fundraising target - £3million Raised to date - £850,000

The Capital Appeal needs to raise £3million to cover the cost of refurbishment and extension of the in-patient unit at Kirkwood Hospice; this work is vital in ensuring they can continue to provide specialist end of life care, free of charge, for the Kirklees community. Can you help?

Visit www.capitalappeal.org or call Marie on 01484 557911 to find out more.

BRICK APPEAL Kirkwood is building a future of care for Kirklees. Help them take the first steps by laying a new path in the grounds of the Hospice.

To coincide with the completion of the refurbished in-patient unit next year a specially designed labyrinth will enhance the gardens at Kirkwood, sitting in harmony with the new building. A new path will lead to this labyrinth feature and you have the opportunity to support the Kirkwood Hospice Capital Appeal by sponsoring a brick.

You can have your very own inscription on a brick.

This could be your own name, the name of someone special to you or your group/company name. You might want to use your brick to send a special message of support to families that use the Hospice such as “every best wish”. The footpath is intended to be a happy place, at the heart of the hospice, so all messages needs to be positive and uplifting.

There are three choices of brick: a single paver for £50 with two lines of wording, a double brick for £100 with four lines of wording or a large granite stone which includes the Hospice logo and 2 lines of wording for £1000.

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To buy a brick visit www.kirkwoodhospice.co.uk/ fundraising/capital-appeal/sponsor-a-brick-appeal/ and click on the link or contact Marie Peacock at Kirkwood Hospice.

Once the bricks have been laid Kirkwood will invite you to walk along the footpath to see the inscription for yourself.

For those of you who prefer the online world they are also building a virtual wall at www.capitalappeal.org/ wall.php You are able to add your own message by following the instructions on screen.

FESTIVE SHOPPING Kirkwood has an excellent range of traditional and contemporary Christmas Cards and perfect Christmas Gifts available via its brand new online shop. To view and purchase the full range visit www.kirkwoodhospice.co.uk/shop/ Alternatively, the full range of cards is also available in every one of the Hospice’s 17 shops located throughout Kirklees. The profit from every sale will help Kirkwood care for its patients this Christmas.

For details of your nearest shop visit www.kirkwoodhospice.co.uk/fundraising/shops/

Book of Lights will be available to view at the Town Hall on the night.

On Saturday 15th December, a service will take place at the United Reformed and Methodist Church, Long Causeway, Dewsbury at 12noon where there will also be an Evergreen Tree of Lights.

LIGHT UP A LIFE Christmas is traditionally a happy time when families and friends join together for parties and celebrations. However, it can also be a very poignant time of year as we remember our loved ones who are no longer with us.

If you would like to dedicate a light on our Tree to celebrate the life of someone very special to you, visit www.kirkwoodhospice.co.uk and click on the Light Up A Life link on the front page.

Alternatively, please contact Jane Dutton on: 01484 557911 or email: janed@kirkwoodhospice.co.uk.

Kirkwood cares for people from many different faiths and cultures. One of the things that we all have in common is the desire to remember a loved one. For many, a light is a symbolic way to do this.

Light Up A Life is a very special appeal where people are invited to dedicate a light on the Hospice’s Evergreen Tree of Lights in memory of a loved one. Everyone who dedicates a light will receive a commemorative card to say that a light will be shining on the tree for their special person whose name is entered in a Book of Lights, which remains on constant display at the Hospice.

On Saturday 8th December a Service of Celebration will be held at 6.30pm in Huddersfield Town Hall for everyone who has taken part in the appeal. There will be two Evergreen Trees of Lights; one in the grounds of the Hospice and one in the Town Hall. The lights on both trees will be turned on simultaneously and the

Kindly supported by: Registered Charity No.512987

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43

ENABLING THE DISABLED

I

magine if every one of us had been born with no strength in our fingers. It’s possible we’d hardly notice we had a problem, because commonplace items like screw top jars or scissors and cutlery would be designed to be used without the need for strength in the hands.

Unfortunately, because the majority of us have strong hands and the ability to open cans and use cutlery, the ones who can’t have a major problem getting the lid off a jar of instant coffee, and have to ask for help, until now. To most problems there are answers, and fortunately, there are talented designers out there who can put themselves in the place of people with disabilities, and come up with a way of improving their lives.

There’s still a long way to go, but it should be said that people with disabilities have an easier time of it than if they’d lived one hundred years ago, when there were virtually no significant aids for the disabled. When Stefan Farffler invented the wheelchair in the 17th century, it must have been a wonderful thing for the housebound to have the ability to move around independently at last, and almost impossible for the physically fit to understand how much it meant to have that precious independence.

It’s really all about recognising a need and coming up with a solution, and these days, the problems of the disabled are being studied, and solutions are being designed.

For outdoor use, wheelchairs are fast being replaced by electric buggies, and now, a trip to the shops and a wander around a super store is possible without the need to ask for help. And how wonderful, at last, to be able to browse the food ranges in M & S, or take the time to really check on the latest fashions, without feeling that you’re taking too long, and your helper needs to get home.

Sometimes, even the smallest aid can make a difference, and I’ve been going from room to room in my house, and wondering how I’d manage if I were sitting in a wheelchair. I tried turning on the lights from a sitting position, and couldn’t reach the switch. My oven is at eye level, so I couldn’t turn it on. I could only just reach my back door handle, and my worktops were all too high to use for chopping vegetables or making a cup of tea.

It was a revelation, and I began to realise the difficulties encountered on a daily basis by people in wheelchairs.

I started looking more closely at the ways available to make living easier for the handicapped, and was pleasantly surprised at the number of ingenious solutions available.

For the kitchen, I found a nifty gadget for pouring boiling water from the kettle without needing to lift it, a one handled grater, and a one touch jar opener. For the 44

bathroom, I found a swivel seat which clamps on to the edge of the bath. It has a grab rail for extra security, and works by allowing you to sit, then swivel around for easier access to the bath. Getting out of the bath is just as easy in reverse.

Fancy taking a bike ride? Well, you can, there are trikes out there with a mounting step of just 6”, making it easier to get on and off.

Like playing cards, but find the shuffling difficult? No worries, there’s an automatic card shuffler available.

There are tap turners and key turners, long handled brushes and combs, and even elastic shoe laces. It seems that the problems of the disabled are being addressed very closely these days, and maybe, with a little shopping around, the answer to individual problems can be solved.

From power chairs and walking aids, to magnifiers and weighted pens, there’s help out there to enable the disabled to be happier, more independent and free to get the very best out of their lives.

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WORRIED ABOUT FUNERAL COSTS? The cost of funerals continues to rise, and a survey in 2010 showed the average cost of a funeral in the UK increased from £1965 in 2005 to £2857 in 2010, an increase of over 45% in just five years. (AXA Mintel Funeral Costs Survey 2010) Perhaps we can help? By purchasing a Peace of Mind Funeral Plan, you can rest assured that there will be no hidden extras to pay in the future provided the details of your funeral remain unaltered. You pay at today’s pre-payment prices and the plan covers the cost of our charges as Funeral Directors and the cost of your specified disbursements no matter how far in the future the funeral takes place. Other funeral plans may not cover the full cost of disbursements, but we believe you should pay once and once only. (Please note that if a new grave is required, this will need to be purchased separately at the time of taking out the Funeral Plan, as the Trust cannot purchase graves in its own name) All monies paid to the Peace of Mind Funeral Trust are directed to a legally independent trust fund until such time as they are needed to meet your funeral expenses.

For further details, please contact, without obligation:Lee Power - Manager/Funeral Director Robert Liley - Funeral Director Darren Illingworth - Funeral Director James Martin - Funeral Director

S & W Riding Funerals Ltd, Halifax Chapel of Repose, 25 Clare Road, Halifax HX1 2JP Tel : (01422) 353970.

A privately owned funeral business.

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45

Affordable Funeral Service

Losing a loved one can be one of life's most upsetting and distressing times. We go out of our way to help ease the worries where funeral arrangements are concerned.

Not only involved with losing a loved one is the emotional upset, but it can also be a time of financial worry and strain and we not only lend a sympathetic ear but also an affordable funeral service too.

Or maybe you see not the need for an elaborate funeral and want only a simple, low key occasion without all the fuss.

Personal Family Touches We strongly believe that a funeral service for a loved one should be as personal and unique as they were and we will do everything possible to ensure that all wishes are carried out to make things easier on the day.

Be it that family members would like to carry the coffin or perhaps certain members would like to speak within the funeral service. We encourage family involvement and are more than happy to discuss all options possible.

T H E S I M P L E L OW F U S S F U N E R A L - £ 16 5 0 . 0 0

Includes:• The payment of the Cremation Fee, • The payment of the Doctor's Fees, • The payment of the Minister's Fees, • The provision of an Oak effect coffin and interior of your colour choice, • The bringing in of your loved one into our Chapel of Rest, their care, dressing and repose, • Our professional fees for the arranging and conducting of the funeral, • The hearse and necessary staff on the day of the funeral to meet family and friends at the Crematorium.

We offer a caring, personal and professional Funeral Service tailored to your needs, without compromising on care.

IF WE CAN BE OF HELP TO YOU AND FOR AN INFORMAL CHAT,

P LEASE CAL L L EE ON 0777 9 7 0 4 10 0