When it comes to inviting, relaxing breaks, we have the ideal holiday for you...
Whether you’re looking for a romantic break for two, a family holiday or getting away with friends, Daish’s Holidays offers 12 hotels in 10 of the most popular UK destinations. Our fleet of 35 luxury coaches provide return travel in comfort and style from your pick up point and will take you directly to your hotel, aiming to arrive between 3 – 5pm.
If you’d like to get out and about to explore the local area on your holiday, then all of our breaks can also be booked on a self-drive basis so you’ve got the freedom of having your own car.
Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice
We are proud to announce that five of our group – Somerset, Imperial, Daish’s, Devonshire, County – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award for 2024.
Local pick up points make it easy to get away.
Price includes return coach travel from:
BB: Clitheroe, Whalley, Great Harwood, Rishton, Blackburn, Darwen Services
BB: Clitheroe, Whalley, Great Harwood, Rishton, Blackburn, Darwen Services
BB: Clitheroe, Whalley, Great Harwood, Rishton, Blackburn, Darwen Services
All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or
All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s).
All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s).
and Turkey
Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates available in 2024. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown. Offer ends 30th December 2024
Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/double rooms with sole occupancy. Optional local excursions can be booked at the hotel. Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates available in 2024. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown. Offer ends 30th December 2024
available in 2024. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown. Offer ends 30th December 2024
Daish’s
IN THIS ISSUE
6-7
8-9
TWITTERING ON
By Angela Kelly
TRAVEL
Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic 12-13
14-15
16-17
CELEBRITY FEATURE Judi Dench, British Superstar
ADLINGTON RETIREMENT LIVING Life without compromise
“We care about our customers’ comfort and cannot wait to help you find your new bed or home furnishing.”
Contact us 01772 622509
Mill, Leyland Lane, Leyland PR26 8PH (Bottom of Golden Hill Lane) email:info@leylandbedsandfurniture.co.uk www.leylandbedsandfurniture.co.uk
TWITTERING ON
By Angela Kelly - because x’ing
on doesn’t sound quite the same
Music Prompts Happy Memories
WE all know that dementia is a modern curse, robbing us of loved ones many years before their bodies finally succumb.
Seeing someone you care about gradually disappearing is a special kind of cruelty. It really is heartbreaking to see those you know diminishing in this horrible way.
One small light in the gloom, though, is the role that music can play here. In fact, it can be a powerful trigger in re-awakening feelings and connections and, just for a time, revealing the real person still within.
I thought of this when I visited my friend and former neighbour Anne in a local care home recently. Always a vibrant, chatty person, Anne’s personality seems to have retreated over time and, though not unhappy, she is a very different soul these days to the lady I once knew.
Memories are still there, hidden away, but something of who she is resurfaced on my last visit when a music therapist was holding a great singsong in the home.
This is a regular occurrence and is something that Anne, and the majority of the older people there, really enjoy. It was truly heartwarming singing the old songs like She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountains and We’ll Meet Again and we all joined in. Amazingly, the residents knew all the words and enjoyed adding musically to the fun with tambourines and other simple musical Even the most unresponsive found the pull of these evocative songs very strong and, you would like to think, they also prompted personal memories of other times with family and friends.
Music can often heal, soothe and calm but it can also, as here, become an important memory-prompt that opens long-shut mental doors and reminds the brain of the happy occasions before dementia struck.
There is no doubt that research is now making positive strides against this awful illness that has claimed so many lives before their time. But, for now, there is still the magic of music to occasionally offer a simple route back to the core of individuals and make them smile.
Jamie’s Cooking Up Life Lessons
TOP chef Jamie Oliver is at it again – trying to promote food and nutrition among school children.
After his successful campaign to get Turkey Twizzlers taken off the menu in school canteens, Jamie is back.
This time, he wants to hugely expand his mission to teach schoolchildren about food and nutrition by getting the Government to restore an A level in the subject, scrapped by ex-Prime Minister David Cameron.
Jamie has set up a Ministry of Food Foundation to offer lessons for students aged between 11 and 14 on cooking from scratch. This involves a 10-week programme offered at 320 schools across the UK and already taken up by around 80,000 pupils.
Those taking part are given practical advice on necessary food skills like chopping and frying plus nutritional information, along with lesson plans, recipes and worksheets.
They are accompanied by videos featuring Jamie and his 13 year-old son Buddy.
The restaurateur has plainly not lost his passion for improving both school dinners and the basic knowledge that youngsters need to help them towards healthy independent living as they grow older.
These are wonderfully practical skills for all young people to have and a natural antidote to fast-food diets that may not be as healthy as parents want for their offspring.
These sorts of skills for life are immediately useful but also offer greater knowledge of an area that can provide potential career choices.
At a time when obesity rates and levels of tooth decay are rising among the young, these lessons sound eminently sensible. Definitely food for thought by both schools and parents.
To
From October 1 this year the whole subject was made slightly clearer as new rules came in that ensure service workers in the UK are now legally entitled to keep 100 per cent of the money earned through tips. Experts reckon this means an extra £200 million for workers.
The rules insist that any tips left in cash or paid by card as well as any service charges applied by restaurants, cafes, hotels, hairdressers or taxis, have to be passed on to staff.
This is good news because we are often talking about workers in some of the lowest paid industries, many of whom are young people working part-time while they study or in their first jobs.
When my daughters were younger and working in cafes, restaurants, hotels or bars, tips were really important to boost their wages.
Unfortunately, some mean employers have not always ensured that staff get their tips although many do “divvy up” the whole lot and then share it out equally in what sounds a fair system.
It is often difficult to know just how much to tip although some areas are easier.You can ask a taxi driver, for example, to keep the change or add a pound or two to what you’re giving them.
is the question
tip or not to tip –that
TIPPING can be a very thorny subject. Do you tip at all and how much? Or is there a service charge meant to include that?
But the conundrum for me has always been: do the right people actually get the tips?
When you’ve had particularly good service from, say, a restaurant waitress and you pop a couple of extra pounds on your bill, does she receive any of that?
I’ve got a lovely hairdresser and nail lady and I always add on a couple of quid to their charges because I really appreciate what they do.
Not everyone believes in tipping. I know people who refuse to tip on principle as they feel that those providing a service are already being paid for the work. It is a personal thing.
However, when money is so tight for so many and there seems to be a whole raft of individuals totally unprepared to work at all, getting good service I reckon deserves some appreciation.
Bolton Market Food Hall
Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic
By Rebecca Underwood, BA Hons | Travel Journalist
Dubrovnik, in the southern region of Croatia and the Dalmatian province, borders the Federation of Bosnia Herzegovina and the Republic of Montenegro and is encircled by the Elaphite archipelago. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, this enchanting medieval city offers visitors a tantalising opportunity to take a glimpse into its rich and colourful tapestry of culture and history.
As a consequence of the break- up of Yugoslavia, Dubrovnik was besieged by Serbian and Montenegrin forces in 1991 and the city endured substantial damage caused by continuous shelling. Restoration and repairs projects, carried out under the direction of UNESCO, were sympathetic to the original styles and successful in preserving the character. To learn more I made my way up Srd, a low mountain at a height of 1,352 feet, and headed for the Museum of the Croatian War of Independence located within Fort Imperial, which was built in 1810 during the Napoleonic Wars. Exhibits
include a wide range of documents, photographs, weapons, explosive devices, maps, military equipment and video recordings including international news reports.
For brave souls keen to experience a new perspective of the city and beyond, the nearby cable car station is popular. Soaring high in the air you are sure to spot Lokrum, the 180 acres of wooded island where, it is said, Richard the Lionheart was shipwrecked and cast ashore in 1192.
I prefer to remain on terra firma and after appreciating the view of the Lawrence Fortress, which was built in the 11th century, and known as Dubrovnik’s Gibraltar, I headed back down the Srd towards the Sponza Palace. Constructed between 1516 and 1522 the palace houses the national archives and one of the many striking features of the property is the ornate atrium, which was once a gathering place for traders. Luža Square, in front of the palace, is the site of the opening ceremony of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, which began in 1950 and is held from July 10th until the 25th August. More than 70 open-air theatre, opera and dance performances are held on the city’s squares and terraces and in fortresses, churches and palaces. One of the most popular events is the performance of Hamlet at the Lawrence Fortress and of course it sells out fast!
Whilst strolling around the meandering streets of the city I constantly admired the imposing walls, which are 1,940 metres high. During the 14th century, the walls were strengthened by 15 forts and again in the 15th century, to deter the Turks, additional forts were built until the entire town was encased. For an outstanding panoramic view of the city and eager to view the
Old Town Photographer Luka-Esenko
Sheritan Hotel pool area
Sheritan Hotel executive suite
bright Croatian sunlight flooding over the terracotta roofs I made my way to the top terrace of Fort Mincenta, located on the highest point of the city walls. This fort, which was once square, was built in 1319 and in 1464 it was modified to form a circular shape. Fort Mincenta recently featured in the popular HBO series Game of Thrones and it is quite simply mesmerising.
Making my way to the Church of St. Blaze, another popular site, I stopped to admire Orlando’s Column, which features the armoured knight bearing a sword and shield. Carved in 1418 by Antun Dubrovcanin, a local master, the statue is a symbol of Dubrovnik’s freedom and the celebration of the raising of the flag takes place here to mark the opening of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.
The Church of St. Blaise is an outstanding example of the Baroque architectural style. St. Blaise, is the patron saint of the city and this dazzling church, was built in 1715 by Mario Gropelli, the Venetian sculptor and architect. The elaborate features on the façade include four magnificent Corinthian columns and a free standing statue of Saint Blaise and the interior of the church is ornately decorated and very detailed to enrapture the viewer.
Wandering around the cobbled stoned streets outside I decided to visit the 360 Restaurant, which is a short stroll away on Ul. Svetog
Dominika. Recipient of a Michelin Star, this restaurant features a lovely terrace, which stretches along the medieval walls and the fortress of St John. The dining room, which features a kitchen encased with glass, allows diners to view a bevy of chefs creating two five course tasting and a la carte menus. The cuisine is inspired by local and Mediterranean flavours and ingredients and this is an exceptional dining experience. I opted for the succulent octopus and the flavours of the lime ravioli and fish soup were sublime and accompanied by a glass of the fresh and smooth Malavazia Istriana the flavours were enhanced perfectly.
Following my arduous explorations and feeling rather guilty after indulging in too many delicacies throughout my visit I hailed a local taxi and headed for the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel for a leisurely lap or two in the gorgeous outdoor pool followed by a snooze on a comfortable sun lounger. Later in the evening I wondered around the verdant gardens leading down to the beach and after the hustle and bustle of the city this calm and relaxing retreat was just the ticket.
Accommodations include spacious and contemporary furnished one bedroom executive suites measuring 45sqm, which are located on the higher floors of the property. The separate lounge and bedroom both feature spacious balconies; the perfect spot for a pre or post dining tipple, and the floor to ceiling windows ensure that the areas are flooded with natural light.
In-house dining options include the Leut Restaurant, which serves a wide range of international and local dishes with an impressive wine menu. The extravagant buffet breakfast is first class and as I devoured a juicy slice of water melon and gazed upon the twinkling waters of the Adriatic I reflected on the words of George Bernard Shaw who visited the city in 1929 …. ‘If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik’.
Images (excluding accommodation) provided courtesy of The Croatian National Tourist Board
The Church of St Blaise Photographer Zoran-Jelaca
Lawrence Fortress Photographer Ivo-Biocina
Minceta Fortress Photographer Ivo-Biocina
Established in 2016 we offer fantastic holidays in the UK and across Europe. With fabulous excursions, quality hotel accommodation, executive coaches and top class tour drivers, a trip with AVA Travel is one to remember! We also have a huge selection of UK day trips to suit every traveller. AVA are committed to making the whole process of taking a holiday with us as easy and pain free as possible.
OVER 200 HOLIDAYS AND SHORT BREAKS TO CHOOSE FROM!
VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR CALL OUR FRIENDLY TEAM TO ORDER YOUR FREE BROCHURE TODAY!
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& DROP OFF INCLUDED ON ALL OUR HOLIDAYS
Join us as we head to Harrogate for our Yorkshire Twixmas Tour. Stay at a wonderful 4-star hotel indulgently filling those days between the Christmas and New Year period.
Tour Details: Enjoy one of the UK’s prettiest and most affluent towns, shop until you drop in the vast array of high-end shops, wrap up and wander exquisite gardens, beautiful parks, and tree-lined boulevards, perhaps treat yourself and book an afternoon tea at Betty’s or one of the towns many delightful tea
NEW YEAR IN SHROPSHIRE
Join us as we celebrate in style on our New Year in Shropshire
Tour Details:
Put on your glad rags and dance the night away as we bring in 2025 with a wonderful New Years Gala Dinner, a celebratory glass of fizz, with music and dancing into the small hours. Take time to relax before the celebrations and enjoy our hotels wonderful leisure facilities including indoor pool. On New Years Day hit the sales and grab yourself a don’t delay, book today!
A TASTE OF CORNWALL
JUDI DENCH BRITISH SUPERSTAR
ASK a large cross-section of the British public who is the country’s greatest living actress and it’s a safe bet that a majority will name Dame Judi Dench.
At the age of 89 she has won accolades and awards in the UK and in America and has tackled every kind of role from Shakespeare’ s best-known heroines to M in the Bond films.
Yet, at her first film audition, the 5’ 1” aspiring actress was told “Miss Dench, you have every single thing wrong with your face.”
This unlikely superstar was born in York where her father was a doctor and her first brush with any kind of theatre was playing an angel in one of the York Mystery Plays.
She studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London but has admitted that she didn’t take her studies too seriously initially. She was, however, caught out during an improvisational scene when she realized what acting was actually all about and so studied harder than she had ever done before.
Judi went the classic route of “serious” actors, performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and at the Old Vic Theatre.
Her first Shakespearean role was as Ophelia in Hamlet in 1957 at the age of 23, straight from drama school. Unfortunately, this was also memorable for some of the wrong reasons: on her debut, she tripped as she stepped into the spotlight and fell flat on her face!
Since then, in an acting career that has spanned seven decades, she has played virtually all of Shakespeare’s leading ladies with some of her performances being hailed as the greatest of all time.
The theatre has always been her first love and she once pointed out that she prefers stage first, television second and film third.
It was TV, though, which initially brought her to the attention of a much wider audience when she starred in the comedy series A Fine Romance (1981 – 1984) with husband Michael Williams.
In fact, she won a BAFTA for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for this very popular role as well as demonstrating her versatility to those who had pegged her only as a classical actress.
She later added to her TV repertoire with the BBC 1 romantic series As Time Goes By (1992 – 2005). Then period drama series Cranford (2007) helped cement her popularity with TV audiences, playing gentle Miss Matty Jenkyns in a star-studded cast.
Judi made her film debut, winning a BAFTA for Most Promising Newcomer in 1968 for her leading role as Sally Bowles in Cabaret.
Her film appearances during this time, though, were generally infrequent and included supporting roles in major films like James Ivory’s A Room with a View (1985).
In 1995, however she rose to international fame as M in Bond film GoldenEye and went on to reprise this role in eight further James Bond films until her final cameo appearance in Spectre in 2015.
In fact, it wasn’t until the film Mrs Brown in 1997, starring Judi as Queen Victoria with Billy Connolly as faithful attendant John Brown, that Hollywood really acknowledged Judi’s potential.
Even though she had performed regularly on stage in the US in Old Vic productions almost 40 years earlier, her first Oscar nomination for Mrs Brown suddenly made her favourite choice for more film roles.
Since then, she has specialized in playing dignified, strong-willed women.
In 1998, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Queen Elizabeth 1 in Shakespeare in Love – even though she only appeared in four scenes and gave a performance of six minutes in total.
Other nominations for Academy Awards came subsequently from films Chocolat (2000), Iris (2001), Mrs Henderson Presents (2005), Notes on a Scandal (2006), Philomena (2013) and Belfast (2021).
She is also the recipient of several honorary awards including the BAFTA Fellowship Award, the Society of London Theatre Special Award and the British Film Institute Fellowship Award.
After Shakespeare in Love, the producers of the Bond franchise gave her character M a far larger role and one central to the film’s plot.
More recently, Judi has beens the narrator of Spaceship Earth, the dark ride at famous American theme park EPCOT, replacing Jeremy Irons.
She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1970, a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1988 and a Member of the Order of Companions of Honour (CH) in 2005.
She had a long marriage to the late Michael Williams and they had one daughter, Finty, who made Judi a grandmother at 62 when Sam Michael Williams was born.
Her own view of acting as a career is pragmatic. She once said: “I don’t think anybody can be told how to act. I think you can give advice. But you have to find your own way through it.”
She also stated: “I don’t like reading scripts very much. I like it better for someone to just explain to me what the story is about.” Judi also has strong views on ageing. “I don’t like it all,” she has stated. “Suddenly I get up out of a chair and can’t rush across the room.
“But there’s nothing I can do about that, alas. My energy levels are OK but I can’t see very well. People have to come up and wave at me. If a restaurant is too dark I can end up talking to the backs of chairs.”
She also doesn’t take her acknowledged status as a national treasure too seriously, either. “I hate that,” she stated. “It’s not just tedious, it’s some old rock in a cupboard that the glass is shut on and nobody gets it out to dust it.
“I loathe it. I just want to be called a joker. A jobbing actor. Somebody who has a laugh.”
All Dame Judi’s fans know is just how lucky they have been to have her considerable talents on offer for so many years.
The secret to a happy retirement
The positive difference that moving to a retirement living community can make to your quality of life, might just be one of life’s best kept secrets.
Homeowners seeking a supported, yet independent lifestyle can experience the best of coastal retirement living in our community, The Sidings, in Lytham, situated on Wharf Street.
What a difference having your own on-site team makes
Having a supportive network around you can make a world of difference to your well-being.
Adlington Retirement Living homeowners have access to their own on-site management team, available 24-7, 365 days a year. Like a good neighbour, they’re the first port of call for any problems, large or small, and will always go the extra mile to help out.
Pat and Michael, Adlington homeowners, said: “The whole set up here is so well run. If I could have handpicked all the people who work here, they would be this team.”
Having somebody on hand 24-7 was an important part of Margaret’s decision to move to an Adlington community, The Folds in Romiley.
“If there wasn’t 24-hour support on hand, I wouldn’t have come. My decision to move was the result of a mini stroke. I woke up and didn’t feel very well. When I realised that I was having a stroke, I had a phone by the bed, but I couldn’t remember anybody’s telephone number or how to dial. After my recovery, I decided to visit The Folds, and I just fell in love with it. My first impressions were that it was like an exclusive hotel. I thought I was happy where I was, but I’m so much happier here.”
Value for money
Pam and Mike, other Adlington homeowners said: “I think one of the perceptions of retirement living communities is that the service charge is expensive. There’s a tendency to look at it in isolation as a charge that you didn’t pay before, but when you sit down and work out all the different services that you paid for at home, it’s actually not bad.”
Angela and Tim, other Adlington homeowners, worked out how much they were already paying to employ a gardener, a cleaner and to carry out various maintenance jobs around their previous home.
“We totted up, and the expenses we were paying at our previous home for those things were pretty-well equal to the maintenance we pay here. All the outside work and ongoing maintenance here is covered. And now if anything were to happen, we can just press a button, and the duty manager would rush to help. That sort of facility at our age is ideal. Especially when you haven’t got any family nearby.”
Imagine living amongst like-minded neighbours in a thoughtfully designed apartment, purposebuilt for comfort and easy living. With amenities such as a restaurant *, hair salon*, coffee lounge and fully maintained landscaped gardens, plus an on-site team available 24-7, 365 days a year, you could start to enjoy more quality time this autumn doing the things you love.
COSYING UP TO WINTER
COSY up to Winter this year and weather-proof your home and your lifestyle.
Even though energy bills are a worry and money is tight for many people currently, there are still ways to improve your home and the way you live to keep warm when temperatures drop.
You need to keep your home warm as low indoor temperatures can have a serious impact on health, especially if you have medical conditions or are older.
Try to heat rooms you spend a lot of time in, like the living room or bedroom, to at least 18 deg C.
One way to lose heat is through DRAUGHTS that can come from gaps under doors or windows not as well-insulated as you’d really like them to be.
You can buy draught blockers relatively cheaply and they really help to insulate a room. Insulation tape is also a cheap but effective buy used around those draughty areas.
Even cat flaps can lead to lost heat so try to fit one that cuts down on draughts as it’s worth the upgrade.
If your WINDOWS really do need replacing, look at affording one or two main ones if you can. You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes to your heating bills and is an investment worth making.
Invest in thicker CURTAINS or thermal curtains. When darkness comes, they not only make a room cosier but they really do help keep in the heat.
Even if you’re a fresh-air fan in the bedroom, during the Winter keep your bedroom windows closed at night to retain heat and keep out the chill, especially as night temperatures dip.
British Gas advises “heat your home, not your walls.” They suggest covering a thin sheet of card with tinfoil and placing it behind your RADIATORS. If you’re feeling particularly crafty, make it t-shaped so that it sits on your radiator brackets.
This will reflect the heat back into your rooms which means they warm up faster and retain more heat. If DIY isn’t your thing you can also buy readymade foil insulation.
Now that many of us like freeflowing areas in the home, closing doors everywhere doesn’t fit in with this open environment. But, shutting DOORS can limit the effectiveness of draughts and keep warm air contained within a space for longer.
Before the worst of Winter hits, take a look at your front and back doors and ensure that they fit well and are in the right condition to insulate your home well. Cold weather often pushes through ill-fitting doors.
Have you lagged your PIPES? Insulating hot water pipes with foam tubes keeps the water inside your pipes hotter for longer and prevents pipes freezing.
It also makes your heating and hot water much more efficient. You can buy pipe lagging from any DIY store and fit it in seconds, no tools required.
Make sure your BOILER is serviced each year to make it last longer and work more efficiently otherwise it could cost you money. Always use a Gas Safe Registered Engineer; go to www.gassaferegister. co.uk to check if someone is registered or to find one near you.
RADIATORS are the best source of heat in the average home but we very often make a room’s layout our priority rather than considering our heating.
Take a look at each room in your home and check whether there are sofas, sideboards, wardrobes or cupboards blocking heat from radiators. Just rearranging a room can help you get the full benefit from your radiators’ warmth.
Another clever tip from British Gas is to use your OVEN to help heat the house. Once you have used the oven and got the food out, don’t just close the door.
Leave the oven door open and let the heat transfer slowly into your kitchen. It will help keep your house warm while you eat. Naturally, keep the kids and pets away from the door!
If you have a cold FIREPLACE that you don’t normally use, think about getting a new fire installed. Stoves and woodburners in particular are not only effective in heating a room but actually look cosier.
LIGHTING can also play a role in making a room appear warmer during cold weather. Dimmers are useful for toning down lighting to a pleasant glow and dimming your lights an average of 50 per cent can cut your electric use by a whopping 40 per cent over time and make your light bulbs last 20 times longer.
Even though we all know that energy bills can be a problem, there are lots of free or low-cost ways to save money on them. Phone the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234.
For example, you could set your heating to come on just before you get up and switch off after you’ve gone to bed. If it’s very cold,
set your heating to come on earlier and turn off later rather than turning up the thermostat.
If you can’t afford to heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room throughout the day and your bedroom just before you go to bed. If your system uses storage heaters, make sure that they are set up in the most efficient way possible.
ELECTRIC BLANKETS are a cosy way to stay warm in bed but it’s important to unplug blankets before you go to bed, unless they have thermostat control for safe all-night use.
Never use a hot water bottle with an electric blanket – even if the blanket is switched off.
If you have wood or laminate FLOORING, consider putting rugs down to better insulate your home. It may be that you’ve been thinking about new carpets and Winter is a great time to improve home insulation provided by good flooring.
Buy woollen THROWS to pop on furniture to make a room even cosier – you can also put them round your legs if you want to be even warmer!
Age Concern also suggests wearing warm nightwear, thick socks and slippers to combat cold temperatures that can disrupt sleep.
BRING WALLS TO LIFE
Settle down and shop in peace at Vine Mill Furniture’s showroom
ACCRINGTON’S VINE MILL FURNITURE GIVES THE BIG RETAILERS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY WITH ITS HUGE COLLECTION, TOP DISCOUNTS AND RELAXED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.
And so far, this ‘no pressure’ approach to customer service has proved successful for the family-run company. Instead of an intimidating sales presence, when you pop into the Brookside Street store in Accrington, you’ll find a friendly and relaxed service and will be left alone to browse the extensive collection.
to the owner’s jet-setting ways, the store regularly stocks unusual pieces, from glasswork to woodwork, that have been inspired by trips abroad.
“We’re not like the standard stores you see on retail parks,” said Mark.
“There’s lots of unusual pieces and carved antiquities mixed in with the more contemporary displays and this is what really sets us apart.”
HUGE SAVINGS
And the best bit? As a wholesaler to the big retailers Vine Mill Furniture can pass on these discounted prices to its customersmeaning buyers can save an impressive 30 to 40 percent off the retail price.
TOP QUALITY SERVICE
The store also offers a 24-hour delivery service, which has been know to exceed expectations.
“We’ve had situations where customers have bought a suite in the morning and had it in their home by the afternoon,” explained Mark.
“Whatever you see in store,Vine Mill will deliver within 24 hours.”
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• Massive choice of traditional or modern
• Fabulous showroom with 60 displays open 7 days
• Owned by JJO Furniture Manufacturers offering very keen prices with a quality product
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CHRISTMAS SPICED ORANGE ROAST DUCK
Method
180C oven. Pat the skin of the duck dry and rub 1tsp of the smoked salt into the skin. Place the bird breast side down in a roasting tin with the shallots and roast for 1 hour.
While this is roasting, peel and halve any large potatoes. Place them in a pan of water and boil them for 8 minutes, or until a knife can be inserted. Then tip the potatoes into a colander in the sink and allow them to steam. Shake the colander a little to fluff up the potatoes and then set aside.
After 1 hour, drain off all the fat reserving it to cook your potatoes in! Then carefully lift and turn the duck in the tray. Surround it
Serves: 6 people Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Ingredients
• 1x whole duck (roughly 2.2kg)
• Maldon Smoked Sea Salt
• 500g Maris piper potatoes
• 5x banana shallots, peeled and halved
• 6x clementines
• 2x bay leaves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tbsp honey
• 50g Seville orange marmalade
with 3 clementines, halved, the cinnamon and bay and return to the oven for a further one hour (keep watching and basting).
Meanwhile, roast the potatoes in the duck fat adding a good pinch of Maldon Smoked Sea Salt.
Before the end of the cooking, add the juice of the 3 remaining clementines to a small pan and simmer until reduced by half, then add the honey and marmalade. Brush the duck with the sticky glaze and return to the oven for the final 10 minutes.
Serve the duck with the roast potatoes, braised red cabbage and sprouts.
CHARRED BRUSSEL SPROUTS ON TOAST WITH RICOTTA AND PARMESAN
Method
Preheat the oven to 180c.
Place the Brussel sprouts onto a large baking tray and drizzle with the olive oil, then season with Maldon Sea Salt and black pepper. Place into the oven and roast for 15 – 20 minutes until charred in places.
Serves: 2 people Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
• 2x slices of sourdough bread
• 200g Brussel sprouts, halved
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 100g ricotta
• ½ lemon, zested
• 30g blanched hazelnuts, toasted
• 50g parmesan, finely grated
• Pinch of Maldon Sea Salt
• Cracked black pepper
Toast the two pieces of sourdough bread. In a small bowl mix together the ricotta and lemon zest along with some Maldon Sea Salt and black pepper. Then spread the ricotta mixture on top of each toast. Roughly chop the toasted hazelnuts.
Top each toast with the charred Brussel sprouts, a scattering of toasted hazelnuts and some grated parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
MUSHROOM, BUTTERNUT SQUASH, CHESTNUT AND CARAMELIZED ONION WREATH
Method
Preheat the oven to 200c.
Start by making the caramelized onions. To a frying pan add 1 tbsp of olive olive plus a knob of butter and allow it to melt. When foaming, add the sliced onions and a pinch of Maldon Sea Salt. Fry these on a low heat for at least 10 minutes until they are soft and translucent. Then add the soft brown sugar and continue to cook for another 5 minutes until the onions have gone sticky, soft and caramelized. Set aside to cool.
Place all the mushrooms onto a baking tray along with the diced butternut squash. Then drizzle with the remaining olive oil and some salt and pepper. Place into the hot oven and roast for 25 minutes until the squash is tender and the mushrooms are golden. Set the tray aside to cool.
Serves: 6 people
Prep time: 25 minutes, plus chilling
Cook time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients
For the pastry
• 2 red onions, finely sliced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 knob of butter
• Pinch of Maldon Sea Salt
• 1 tsp soft brown sugar
• 450g mixed mushrooms (chestnut, shittake, oyster), torn into pieces
• ½ small butternut squash, peeled and diced into 2cm cubes
• 50g chestnuts, crumbled
• Small handful sage leaves, shredded
• A little grated nutmeg
• 30g dried cranberries
• Pinch of Maldon Garlic Sea Salt
• 1x 320g sheet of puff pastry
• Milk or egg to glaze
Once the vegetables have cooled you can make the filling. Simply mix in a bowl with the caramelized onions, chestnuts, sage, nutmeg, dried cranberries and Maldon Garlic Sea Salt.
Unroll the pastry onto a baking tray and then pile the filling down the middle in a line. Then roll the pastry over to seal it, as though making a large sausage roll. Use the egg wash to seal it down, and then take the two open ends and join them together, sealing them as well. Any excess pastry can be cut off and used to decorate the wreath, if desired. Egg wash the whole outside of the wreath and then place into the fridge for 30 minutes.
Once the wreath has chilled, place it into the preheated oven and bake for 35 – 40 minutes until it is golden and crisp on the outside. Cool slightly before serving – can be served warm or cold.
SALTED CARAMEL POACHED PEARS WITH FLAKED ALMONDS & CRÈME FRAICHE
Serves: 4 people
Prep time: 5 minute
Cook time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
• 1x vanilla pod, halved lengthways
• 1x cinnamon stick
• 1x star anise
• 3 strips of orange peel
• 250g caster sugar
• 4 firm pears, left whole but peeled
• 150g caster sugar
• 90g unsalted butter
• 225ml double cream
• 1 tsp Maldon Sea Salt
• Crème fraiche, to serve
• Toasted flaked almonds, to serve
Method
Half fill a pan with water and add the vanilla pod, cinnamon stick, star anise, caster sugar and orange peel. Bring up to the boil and allow the sugar to dissolve before lowering the heat and adding the pears. Simmer gently for 15 minutes until the pear is tender. Remove from the heat and leave the pears to cool in the poaching liquid.
To make the salted caramel sauce start by melting the sugar in a pan. Gently melt in the pan and swirl around but avoid vigorous stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved and it has gone a deep golden-brown colour. Then immediately take off the heat and add the butter and half of the cream – it will bubble a lot –whisk this in before adding the remaining cream and a generous pinch of Maldon Sea Salt, whisking to a smooth caramel sauce.
Serve the pears with some crème fraiche, the salted caramel sauce and some toasted almonds.
CLEMENTINE PISCO SOUR
Serves: makes one
Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
10ml sugar syrup
15ml lemon juice
50ml pisco
Pinch of Maldon Sea Salt
15ml egg white
30ml freshly squeeze clementine juice
Ice cubes
Wheel of clementine
A few fresh cranberries / or pomegranate seeds
1 sprig of rosemary
Method
Place the sugar syrup in a cocktail shaker along with the lemon juice, pisco, Maldon Sea Salt, egg white and clementine juice. Add some ice to the cocktail shaker, close firmly and shake well for 30 seconds.
Strain this into your martini or nick & nora glass. Then garnish with a wheel of clementine, a sprig of rosemary and some pomegranate seeds, if you like.
Leaving a gift in your Will ensures we can continue our work giving shelter to over 1,000 animals each year. We depend totally on the generosity of our supporters.
ANIMAL CARE has a long history in the Lancaster & Morecambe area so by remembering us in your Will you are supporting a local charity in a lasting way.
Oscar is a sweet young man who enjoys a good long walk and has played well with other dogs while with us, He is bossy and protective over his bed, toys etc, so would be much better in a new home as the only dog. For a small dog Oscar can be a handful and has already been returned to us twice as he can be grumpy and snappy if he feels uncomfortable in a situation.
Frise, Male, 5 years old
Oscar is looking for a new home with an owner who understands he likes his own space and may need time to settle in with a new owner and feel comfortable. Oscar is looking for a new home with no children and with someone who can read his body language. He has had past issues with his anal glands which can become infected and sore so we do feel is a big reason behind his grumpy behaviour he is currently on pain medication to control these issues.
Oscar loves to play ball and has lots of energy. He enjoys a good long walk and enjoys greeting everyone he meets.
Blea Tarn Road, Scotforth, Lancaster, LA2 ORD |
ANIMAL CARE is a small rehoming centre helping stray, unwanted and ill treated animals until caring new homes can be found for them.
Bichon
BREAST SCREENING
Saves lives through detecting cancer early
The National Breast Screening Programme invites all women aged between 50 – 70 every 3 years for a mammogram. Each GP Practice is screened in turn and all women registered with a GP will receive an invitation
What happens when I reach 71?
Women over the age of 71 will not be sent an appointment automatically but they can self-refer for a mammogram every 3 years by contacting us.
What is breast screening?
Breast screening (or mammography) is an x-ray of the breast that is used to find any changes in the breast tissue that could be cancer, so they can be investigated early
South Lancashire Breast
Screening is your local service , covering Wigan, West Lancs and Chorley and South Ribble
0300 707 5899
bsuappointments@wwl.nhs.uk
www.wwl.nhs.uk/specialities/breast_screening
South Lancashire Breast Screening Unit
Why do I need to be screened?
1 in 7 women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during their lives. Breast cancer is now the most common cause of cancer in women in this country.
Early detection saves lives
Most breast changes will not be cancer, but if cancer is found, the treatment needed will often be less intense and the chance of making a full recovery is much higher.
The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chances of survival
When it comes to inviting, relaxing breaks, we have the ideal holiday for you...
Whether you’re looking for a romantic break for two, a family holiday or getting away with friends, Daish’s Holidays offers 12 hotels in 10 of the most popular UK destinations. Our fleet of 35 luxury coaches provide return travel in comfort and style from your pick up point and will take you directly to your hotel, aiming to arrive between 3 – 5pm.
If you’d like to get out and about to explore the local area on your holiday, then all of our breaks can also be booked on a self-drive basis so you’ve got the freedom of having your own car.
Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice
We are proud to announce that five of our group – Somerset, Imperial, Daish’s, Devonshire, County – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award for 2024.
Don’t
coach
Don’t miss these coach inclusive breaks!
Local pick up points make it easy to get away.
Local pick up points make it easy to get away.
Price includes return coach travel from:
Price includes return coach travel from:
BB: Clitheroe, Whalley, Great Harwood, Rishton, Blackburn, Darwen Services
Poulton Le Fylde, Fleetwood, Cleveleys, Bispham, Blackpool, St Annes, Lytham, Freckleton, Preston, Bamber Bridge, Charnock Richard Services
Price includes return coach travel from: Poulton Le Fylde, Fleetwood, Cleveleys, Bispham, Blackpool, St Annes, Lytham, Freckleton, Preston, Bamber Bridge, Charnock Richard Services All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s).
All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s).
All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s).
Tinsel and Turkey Break 3,2,1 Bar Promotion
Tinsel and Turkey Break 3,2,1 Bar Promotion
Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/double rooms with sole occupancy. Optional local excursions can be booked at the hotel. Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates available in 2024. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown. Offer ends 30th December 2024
Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/double rooms with sole occupancy. Optional local excursions can be booked at the hotel. Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates available in 2024. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown. Offer ends 30th December 2024
Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/double rooms with sole occupancy. Optional local excursions can be booked at the hotel. Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates available in 2024. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown. Offer ends 30th December 2024
