Oldham, rochdale & tameside 44

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OLDHAM, ROCHDALE & TAMESIDE MAY - JULY 2014 EDITION 44

Robert Lindsay

Talks about the Northwest Premier of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels...

Rick Stein In search of the perfect curry...

Same Day Smile available at waters edge dental care

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Designer Summer Collection ...

At First Impressions

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Robinsons Holidays...

Affordable peace of mind Coach Holidays

8-9

Portugal ..

Two of the most traditional and interesting regions in the country

13

Escape, have fun and live a little ...

With Yelloway Coaches

14-15 Robert Lindsay...

Talks about the new show Dirty Rotten Scoundrels 16-18 Rick Stein ...

In search of the perfect curry 22

Time for a Spring Clean ...

Don’t forget the curtains

28-29 Keep your Garden Beautiful this Summer...

Flowers to give that colour.

30-31 Out and About..

Explore, experience and enjoy.

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3

GRAHAM SMITH - TWITTERING ON

To lick or not to lick?

Social media shrinks the world When I began my career it was with a three-ton Remington typewriter that deafened the street, now I can find friends in Louisiana with the flick of a finger.

Graham Smith Twitter Column

Social media has shrunk the world, technology is advancing at such a pace that it is difficult to keep pace with the latest developments and new inventions that were once the stuff of science fiction are an everyday occurrence.

But at what cost is all this in terms of progress? Sales of printed books have plummeted as the world spends an increasing portion of its life on computers, tablets and mobile phones and I worry sometimes that there is a danger of losing the power of joined up thought. Recently I was reading a piece sent to me on the Internet and half a dozen of the sentences written didn’t even begin with the standard capital letter. Worrying.

I know people who are closing their Facebook accounts now because they have almost taken over their lives, and I have to say that on Twitter some of the most inane facts and comments are creeping in now. Do you really need to say, "Goodnight tweeps”? Just turn the thing off!

Neither is the net and social media the province of the young, as it was. Increasing numbers of older people are using the social interaction on offer and in many cases it can provide a relief for loneliness and replace a social life lost due to immobility or loss of a partner, so no bad thing there.

Drives you mad Motorists are often an easy target but I notice that recently some have been getting away with blue murder.

Did you read about the idiot who was caught driving with his hands behind his head? The clot was doing 62mph on a major road in a large four-wheel drive and argues in court that he was in full control of the car. Fortunately the court didn’t agree and banned him for a year and imposed a hefty fine and community service order. But what possesses these people?

There are also cases of motorists still driving with over 30 and sometimes 40 points on their licences because magistrates have shown leniency towards their circumstances. Why? If you’ve clocked up that amount of points you’re quite simply not fit to drive a vehicle and I have serious doubts whether you should be using a wheelbarrow without stabilisers.

4

Do you seal your envelopes? Apparently whether you should or not has been the subject of a major and no doubt costly operation. Many older people labour under the misapprehension that you can send an unsealed envelope with a second class stamp on and it will be delivered first class. Err, no.

The younger generation have other ideas. One Internet observation reads, “ Whilst I do seal my envelopes the first thing that came to mind when I saw the headline was the story that went round when I was at school and later repeated on a viral email about cockroach eggs being laid on the glue and when you lick it if you get a paper cut they can hatch in your lip.”

A quick Google showed this story is still on the urban legends websites but it wouldn’t surprise me if that was the reason for people around early 30s.

Health and Safety nonsense Yes I know I’ve twittered about this before but here goes again.

Our village church clock was stopped for several months recently because the Health and Safety ogres decreed that the ladder used to reach the mechanism was too short. This was despite it having been used for years by a six-foot plus expoliceman. Consequently it was twenty past three in Haworth for eight months until a grant was raised to provide a longer ladder!

You couldn’t make it up could you? The bell ringers swung on ropes every Monday night during that period but the poor chap couldn’t wind the clock up because some mentally challenged twerp had nothing better to do than condemn the ladder.

Have these people nothing better to do? How come one of them was lurking in Haworth Church clock tower to see the ladder in the first place?

And he was back at Christmas to chuck Santa Claus out of the boiler room because there might have been asbestos!

Poor chap had to cuddle customers in a gazebo outside the building. Talk about no room at the inn, and the donkey had to wear a coat.

These chaps would have been a riot in Bethlehem.

There’s have been no stable accommodation, too draughty and get those sheep of the bedclothes. You cannot bring your camel in here and stop swinging that foul smelling stuff under the baby’s nose….and has that chap with the wings got a Civil Aviation licence? The mind boggles.

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An elegant hotel commanding magnificent views across Sandown Bay, the balconies provide the perfect place to enjoy the sunset on summer evenings. Guests can unwind in the piano lounge before enjoying an evening meal in the spacious restaurant. A night porter ensures 24 hour reception service.

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All rooms have private facilities,telephone, television and complimentary tea/coffee and hairdryers Traditional English breakfast Lunch snacks available daily Table d’hote evening meal with choice of menu, plus tea or coffee Live entertainment most evenings Indoor heated pool Indoor bowling green, table tennis and snooker room Lift serving all floors Porterage.

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THE IMPERIAL HOTEL, EASTBOURNE ROBINSONS 3M

The Imperial is an impressive Victorian hotel situated at the seaward end of Devonshire Place, an imposing tree-lined boulevard, less than fifteen minutes walk from the facilities and amenities in the town centre and across the road from the promenade and the bandstand. The hotel offers the guest a good standard of accommodation, spacious lounge areas and a majestic restaurant all in a dignified and tranquil ambience for the discerning holidaymaker.

Hotel amenities l

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All rooms have private facilities, telephone, television and complimentary tea/coffee and hairdryers Traditional English breakfast Lunch snacks available daily Table d’hote evening meal with choice of menu, plus tea or coffee Live entertainment most evenings Lift serving all floors Porterage.

THE ABBEY LAWN HOTEL, TORQUAY AA3M This elegant Georgian hotel, in the grounds of the former Torre Abbey, with it’s newly refurbished conservatory / lounge offers the discerning holidaymaker an exceptional standard of comfort throughout.

Many of the bedrooms offer panoramic views of the bay.

Hotel amenities l

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All rooms have private facilities,telephone, television and complimentary tea/coffee and hairdryers Traditional English breakfast Lunch snacks available daily Table d’hote evening meal with choice of menu, plus tea or coffee Live entertainment most evenings Indoor and seasonal outdoor pool Lift serving all floors Porterage

8 Day Tour ~ 7 Nights Half Board

5 Day Tour ~ 4 Nights Half Board

Date Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn 17 May £379 £379 £379 18 May £379 £379 24 May £389 £389 £389 25 May £389 £389 £389 31 May £399 £399 £399 01 Jun £399 £399 £399 07 Jun £399 £399 £399 08 Jun £399 £399 £399 14 Jun £399 £399 £399 15 Jun £399 £399 £399 21 Jun £399 £399 £399 22 Jun £399 £399 £399 28 Jun £399 £399 £399 29 Jun £399 £399 £399 05 July £399 £399 £399 06 July £399 £399 £399 12 July £399 £399 £399 13 July £399 £399 £399 19 July £399 £399 £399 20 July £399 £399 £399 26 July £399 £399 £399 27 July £399 £399 £399 02 Aug £399 £399 £399 03 Aug £399 £399 £399 09 Aug £399 £399 £399 10 Aug £399 £399 £399 16 Aug £399 £399 £399 17 Aug £399 £399 £399 23 Aug £399 £399 £399 24 Aug £399 £399 £399 30 Aug £399 £399 £399 31 Aug £399 £399 £399 06 Sep £399 £399 £399 07 Sep £399 £399 £399 13 Sep £389 £389 £389 14 Sep £389 £389 £389 20 Sep £379 £379 £379 21 Sep £379 £379 £379

Date 17 May 21 May 25 May 31 May 04 Jun 08 Jun 14 Jun 18 Jun 22 Jun 28 Jun 02 July 06 July 12 July 16 July 20 July 26 July 30 July 03 Aug 09 Aug 13 Aug 17 Aug 23 Aug 27 Aug 31 Aug 06 Sept 10 Sept 14 Sept 20 Sept 24 Sept 28 Sept 04 Oct 08 Oct 12 Oct 18 Oct 22 Oct 26 Oct

SUPPLEMENTS - PER PERSON ABBEY LAWN HOTEL 8 DAYS Front View £15 Premier Room £50

5 DAYS £10 £30

IMPERIAL HOTEL Premier Room

Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn £199 £199 £199 £205 £205 £205 £209 £209 £219 £219 £225 £225 £229 £229 £235 £235 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £235 £235 £229 £229 £225 £225 £219 £219 £215 £215 £215 £209 £209 £209 £205 £205 £205 £199 £199 £199 £195 £195 £195 £189 £189 £189

8 DAYS £35

5 DAYS £20

OCEAN VIEW HOTEL Sea View Premier Room

8 DAYS £15 £50

5 DAYS £10 £30

FREEPHONE 0800 0839900

GROUPS 0800 785 1025 BOOK ONLINE www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk * To visit the Cash in the Attic website, go to CashInTheAttic.com Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP.

7

50 Plus Travel

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By Noel Josephides, Managing Director of Sunvil www.sunvil.co.uk

to a considerable degree upon this wonderful natural product. Portugal is the largest cork exporter in the world.

NASA uses Alentejo cork to insulate the cones of its space capsules and to protect them from heat damage on reentry to the earth’s atmosphere. And cork is not only for wine bottles – you can buy cork jewellery, cork umbrellas, cork i-Pad covers - in fact, just about anything and everything can these days be manufactured from cork.

The Alentejo and the Centro Region of Portugal Visitors to Portugal who fly into Lisbon Airport tend either to head south to the Algarve or north to Estoril, Cascais, the city of Porto and the Douro Region.

In doing so, they inadvertently miss out on two of the most traditional and interesting regions of the country. Both the Centro region - immediately north of Lisbon - and the Alentejo region - between Lisbon and the Algarve - are areas that tend to be driven through quickly yet, together, they make up half of Portugal, and both deserve to be visited in their own right.

The Alentejo was known as the bread basket of Portugal and it boasts some of the country’s tastiest dishes. The countryside is made up of wide, sweeping plains interspersed with medieval hilltop villages topped by dramatic castles. In spring the region is awash with colour - the fields are full of flowers of red, yellow, white 8

Evora, just a 75-minute drive inland from Lisbon on uncrowded roads, is the capital of the Alentejo (which means below the Tejo, or Tagus, river).

It is steeped in history, yet really alive and buzzing courtesy of the university within its ancient walls. It was the seat of the Kings of Portugal in the 15th and 16th centuries and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety.

The Atlantic coastline, south of Lisbon, is like that of the Algarve 50 years ago and much of it is protected by law. Coastal villages like Porto Covo and Vila Nova de Milfontes are firm favourites yet have escaped mass development and still have great character; they are ideal for a lazy summer holiday and perhaps a little gentle coastal walking on a wellmarked pathway, the Rota Vicentina, if that appeals. The coast is a few degrees cooler than inland, often with a pleasant breeze in the height of summer. Beaches are many and seldom crowded, even in the peak of the season.

and purple or blue hues. The Alentejo produces 46% of Portugal’s excellent wine but has a mere 6% of its population. It is quiet, it is uncrowded and it is beautiful.

In the summer it’s very hot - in fact, the hottest place in Portugal. Around May/June, depending on the weather, they harvest the cork trees; this is the region of the cork oak tree and the economy of the Alentejo still depends

So why have so few people heard of this region? It’s a very rural area with some excellent accommodation of character but local politics has meant an initial lack of interest in tourism, making it a latecomer to the travel game. This very fact will stand it in good stead – it has been able to learn from mistakes made elsewhere.

The north of the Alentejo region is next-door to Centro, the central region of Portugal or, as I prefer to call it, the

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That permission can be refused because, within the ancient walls, the Dean wields as much power as the President of the Republic.

Needless to say, Coimbra is a must but there are also other interesting ancient cities to explore, like Aveiro on the coast and Viseu, the gateway to the Estrela National Park. Each area has its own local cuisine and specialities.

Some of the most famous and delicious Portuguese cheeses come from the Estrela region.

Heart of Portugal. This is an area that stretches from its Atlantic coastline, with long beaches stretching for miles, into a mountainous region with some historic fortified villages and castles along the border with Spain that defended Portugal from invasion in the Middle Ages. The most impressive are Almeida, Castelo Rodrigo, Monsanto, Sortelha, Piodao and Idanha-A-Velha.

These castles and villages conjure up images of knights in armour, of damsels in distress and heroic deeds.

Legends abound in this area which, in turn, was overrun by the Romans, Moors and Spanish. Tales are recounted of epic battles and ancient rituals, and religious festivals are still very much part of daily life. The Serra da Estrela national park is snow bound in winter and, in the summer, ideal for walks with breathtaking views across forested landscapes.

The capital of the area is Coimbra, recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. This is a thriving, vibrant city, with a population of

2.3 million, and it is the seat of the oldest university in Portugal, dating from 1290. Since then, it’s been at the centre of Portuguese intellectual life. A visit to the university is a must and the 18th century Baroque library is one of many priceless historical monuments. There are three exquisite gilded chambers housing 300,000 leather-bound texts behind imposing wooden doors, probably some 30 feet tall. The precious books in this library are safeguarded from insect damage by resident bats, which sleep behind the serried rows of ancient tomes by day and eat insects by night; the mahogany reading tables are covered in cloth overnight to protect them from bat excrement. I would visit Portugal simply to re-visit the library - it is so fascinating and so totally extravagant.

The university is nicknamed the ‘Little Vatican’ as it is protected by ancient charter and even the police have to request permission from the Dean before they enter the campus.

These two provinces, the Centro/ Heart of Portugal and the Alentejo, together make ideal fly-drive holiday combinations. There is some stunning accommodation, too, with two of my personal favourite hotels found in the adjacent regions. The Casa da Insua is a wonderful 18th century Baroque confection, located on the outskirts of Viseu in Centro, where you can try your hand at making cheese in the dairy if you wish, afterwards exploring an excellent in-house museum and art gallery. In the Alentejo, just outside Evora, is the Covento do Espinheiro, a historic monument once lived in by the Kings of Portugal - a superlative hotel that manages to be friendly while offering the best of cuisine and comfort. The manager’s tour of the hotel and a wine tasting in the former monastery’s water cistern is not to be missed.

The true character of Portugal lies very much within these two regions and yet so many of us simply drive through on our way south or north. I urge you to spend a little time exploring them; you’ll enjoy a relaxing and inspiring taste of the real Portugal.

Vist www.sunvil.co.uk for further information about holidays to this region or call 0208 568 4499.

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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Why not join one of our Quality Door to Door Coach Tours?

We pick- up at your door in most of the Greater Manchester area.

We visit every part of the UK from the Shetland Islands to Cornwall.

Our drivers are very experienced mature individuals with a wealth of knowledge about our wonderful country. We do city breaks, historic adventures, scenic tours, train rides, boat rides, canal trips, not forgetting our numerous costal resorts.

On your first day of travel we pick you up at your front door at a prearranged time in a minibus or taxi.

You are then transferred to a central meeting point, either Birch Services or Poplar Services dependant upon where you live, where the coach is waiting for you. Within 15 to 30 minutes you’re on your way aboard our luxury coach travelling directly to your holiday destination, making suitable stops en-route. The hotels that we use are of a 3 or 4 star standard or occasionally a good quality family run 2 star hotel. Upon your return to either Birch Services or Poplar your taxi or minibus is waiting to whisk you home.

OL14

OL13 Bacup

BB4

Haslingden

BL0

Todmorden

OL12

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Ramsbottom M66

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BL1

OL11

OL16

BURY BL2 BOLTON

Heywood OL10

M26

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M41 Urmston

M32

Partington

M33

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SALE M23

WA14 M56

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SK16 M67

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SK14

SK4 SK5 M60

SK3 M22 ALTRINCHAM SK8 WA15 WYTHENSHAWE

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OL8

M35

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M25

M60

M28

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M24 Middleton

M45

Walkden

OL2 Shaw

BIRCH SERVICES

BL3

M6

M62

ROCHDALE

BL9

STOCKPORT SK1 SK2

SK6 Marple

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Included in every tour l

Luxury Hotel l Half Board l All Excursions l Door to Door Service

Ellen Smith Price Promise

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1. Everything is included in the final price – no hidden charges 2. If we reduce a tour all customers previously booked receive same refund 3. No currency surcharges 4. Any supplement imposed by the hotel will be the exact amount we charge 5. If you find a similar holiday cheaper we’ll refund twice the difference!

15/5

5 Days

Isle of Man

Rutland Hotel

£349

16/5

5 Days

Sidmouth

Royal York and Faulkner

£399

18/5

6 Days

Scarborough

Esplanade

£349

19/5

5 Days

Dunoon & Western Isles

Argyll Hotel

£269

21/5

5 Days

Llandudno

Tynedale Hotel

£329

24/5

8 Days

Eastbourne

Haddon Hall Hotel

£459

30/5

5 Days

Tenby

Cliffe Norton Hotel

£269

1/6

6 Days

English Riviera

Derwent Hotel

£349

1/6

5 Days

Cardigan & Cambrian Mountains

Metropole Hotel

£359

2/6

5 Days

Beautiful South Wales

Cardiff Angel Hotel

£289

06/6

4 Days

Battlefields of WW1

Novotel Centrum, Ypres

£399

12/6

5 Days

Titanic Story, Portsmouth and IOW

Holiday Inn Fareham

£309

16/6

5 Days

Bournemouth

Hinton Firs

£329

21/6

8 Days

Austria

Hotel Forsterhof, St Wolfgang

£649

28/6

6 Days

Cornish Delights

Rosemundy House

£399

06/7

5 Days

Mature Singles, Scottish Borders

Peebles Hydro

£369

07/7

5 Days

London Highlights

Mecure Watford

£359

13/7

6 Days

Blackpool

Doric

£289

17/7

5 Days

Hampshire Delights

Holiday Inn Basingstoke

£299

28/7

5 Days

Trains of Snowdonia

Celtic Royal, Caernarfon

£389

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Call our reservations office on 01706 648126 and request a copy of our 2014 brochure. You’ll be surprised at the variations of tours we operate.

Visit our website at www.ellensmith.co.uk Find us on facebook & twitter (search for ellensmithtours)

Travel in first class luxury

Safety & comfort For your safety and comfort our vehicles are fitted with seat belts and for greater comfort and ease on selected coaches a floor mounted toilet.

YeIloway take pride in our coaches and do our utmost to ensure your excursion or tour journey is comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Our coaches are kept in tip top condition and you’ll find them spotlessly clean. You’ll feel like you are travelling first class, with air conditioning, reclining seats and plenty of legroom.

Win with Yelloway!

With our fantastic new onboard FREE Raffle Every 2014 Excursion and Tour will now hold a free raffle where you could win yourself Yelloway voucher towards an excursion or tour of your choice!

Reserved seating And just as you would take your seat in first class with an airline, you can with Yelloway - because our luxury seats are reserved. So you can relax and experience the finest way to travel with YeIloway.

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For your ease and convenience, leave the car at home.

Take the strain out of driving, no more trying to find a parking spot & expensive car parks. Now you have more reason than ever to relax & journey with Yelloway. We’ve introduced two new routes which include more local pick up points than ever before. Just call for details.

The warmest and friendliest welcome awaits you!

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Touring Park

111/2 months holiday season

Primrose Bank is a small quiet park in the village of Weeton, close to Blackpool in Lancashire: Lying between the ancient villages of Weeton and Singleton, in the Fylde countryside, Primrose Bank is a hidden gem, with abundant wildlife, trees and bucket loads of peace and quiet. You’d be surprised that it’s on the bus routes to the bustling towns of Preston and Blackpool so it’s an ideal base for local attractions and facilities.

Primrose Bank has been awarded the David Bellamy GOLD award for conservation for the past five years and our standards are continuously being improved every year that goes by.

Primrose Bank Is The Perfect Park For You: If you are looking to rent one of our wonderful newly built cottages or lodges, buy a holiday home or caravan in a peaceful and idyllic setting within easy reach of Blackpool then look no further. We are close to all kinds of fishing; fly, sea, river, canal and lake are all within easy reach.

Several golf courses, good restaurants and of course many leisure pursuits are all not far away.

Call us on (01253) 836 273 12

High Moor Farm, Singleton Road, Weeton, PRESTON PR4 3JJ e: enquiries@primrosecaravanpark.co.uk www.primrosecaravanpark.co.uk

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Escape, have fun and live a little!

Fancy a day away ys? or maybe a few da way Why not take a Yello have a we , Excursion or tour seaside m varied selection fro vals fun, shopping, festi and more!!

Below is just a selection of our tours. For further details of our day trips and tours, please contact us for your FREE brochure.

Destination

Date

Days

Price From

Southport

21/7/14

5

£285

Maritime Greenwich & The Cutty Sark

25/7/14

3

£195

Edinburgh Tattoo

8/8/14

3

Blackpool Illuminating Experience

19/9/14

Alvaston Hall Cheshire

10/10/14

Destination

Date

Days

Price From

London Weekend

24/10/14

3

£199

Llandudno Turkey & Tinsel

21/11/14

4

£199

£205

Blackpool Turkey & Tinsel

5/12/14

4

£145

4

£155

Christmas Carols, The Royal Albert Hall, London

13/12/14

2

£160

4

£299

St Annes on Sea

20/2/15

2

£139

Pickup Locations

Uppermill, Greenfield, Mossley, Ashton, Oldham, Royton, Shaw, Newhey, Milnrow, Rochdale.

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INTERVIEW: ROBERT LINDSAY

DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS Robert Lindsay had been out walking his dogs and taking the opportunity to learn his lines for his latest show.

The fact that it’s the musical version of the 1988 hit film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, set to premier in Manchester before going into the West End, was exciting for the 63 year-old actor. But not because he was reprising the role Michael Caine took onscreen as the suave Riviera conman Lawrence Jameson whose life is suddenly disrupted by Steve Martin’s character, the anarchic Freddy Benson.

“I’ve never seen the film,” he admits, “but it’s a wonderful show. The script is incredibly funny and the score by Yazbek (award-winner David Yazbek) is amazing – the man’s a genius.”

The show did run for a time on Broadway where it won awards, “but it seemed to fade away,” adds Lindsay. “This is a totally different show, and there’s a fantastic buzz about it already. I think the plan long-term may be for it to go back to Broadway.”

All of this is a long way from the very first time the Great British Public became aware of young Robert Lindsay when he played a Cockney layabout in the ITV series Get Some In! However, it was when he headed up the Tooting Popular Front as likeable but inept urban guerrilla Wolfie Smith in the hit comedy TV series Citizen Smith that the public really noticed him.

This ran for three years, from 1977 to 1980, and established the actor firmly in viewers’ consciousness. He felt pretty comfortable in the role as he’d come from a council estate in Ilkeston, Derbyshire before graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), and had admittedly leftwing views.

An early flexibility and desire to take on other, different roles – “as well as wanting to play posh people,” he quickly points out – steered him towards more serious productions.

He played Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing in the BBC’s

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Shakespeare series, and then moved up to Manchester to play Edmund in a Granada TV version of King Lear alongside Sir Laurence Olivier.

He happily admits that his first love, though, is musicals and he famously played the role of Bill Snibson in the acclaimed 1984 London revival of Me and My Girl. This role not only won him an Olivier Award but, when it later transferred to Broadway, a Tony Award as well.

“I find musicals easier because you’ve always got the music, it’s familiar,” states Lindsay.

He has, however, also enjoyed plenty of film roles.

Interestingly, he was at the same place making a different film (Strike It Rich with Mollie Ringwald and Sir John Gielgud) where Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was being filmed.

“I met Steve Martin one day – we’d met previously when I’d been in the States and had dinner together – and he told me about the film he was making,” explains Lindsay. “He seemed to have some reservations about the script and I got the impression that they were adding to it quite a bit themselves.”

Television has proved a remarkable showcase for Lindsay’s talents over the years. Although he believes that he wanted to get away from his roots for a long time – “I lost my way

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The Generation Game with Bruce Forsyth – have three sons and he also has a daughter from his relationship with actress Diana Weston.

It’s plain he doesn’t like being away from his home and family. “But sometimes they have to understand that you have to be, you’re doing it for them,” he states.

For the most part, his children don’t like roles that take him away from them, or his being acknowledged as an actor rather than “just Dad” when he’s with them. “When I was in Hornblower and picking them up from school it was different. Normally, they don’t want me to walk with them and disown me, but suddenly I was cool!”

Ask about the highlights of his career and he swiftly points to the work with Alan Bleasdale and Me and My Girl. “I suppose Citizen Smith, The Entertainer at the Old Vic and Cyrano de Bergerac at the Haymarket were also special,” he adds.

He’s still regularly on TV and had just recorded Have I Got News For You as programme presenter. “You have to watch Mr Hislop and Mr Merton, though,” he says light-heartedly.

“They’re very quick but I think they like actors because they understand timing and not hogging the lines.”

“I find musicals easier because you’ve always got the music, it’s familiar,”

Is there any TV he’d like to do, like Downton Abbey? “No,” he states, “that’s not my bag.

“But I’ve just done a cameo role in Atlantis as the father of Icarus – that was good fun. It’s a very well made series and the boys there were great. My children were also very impressed!” * Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is at Manchester Opera House from February 12 to 22, 2014, in Aylesbury Waterside Theatre from February 26 to March 1 and then at the Savoy Theatre, London from March 10. To find out more go to www.scoundrelswestend.com

a bit in my 30s,” he says – he particularly enjoyed working with gritty Northern writer Alan Bleasdale. Lindsay was in his dark comedy serial G.B.H. (for which Lindsay won a BAFTA) as well as another Bleasdale play, Jake’s Progress with Julie Walters, and recalls both experiences with genuine affection.

He played another posh character when he took on the role of Captain Pellew in the long-running and very successful series of Hornblower with Ioan Gruffudd as the young midshipman of the title.

Was this largely sea-going adventure a fairly physical experience for Lindsay? “Not so much for me, but definitely for Ioan,” he laughs. “What was interesting was that it was the first time I had played a father character.”

His longest running role was also as a father: as dentist Ben Harper in the popular BBC sitcom My Family – this ran for 11 years and still surfaces on Sky channels. “Zoe (Wannamaker) and I had a great time making that,” he states.

Lindsay himself is very much a family man. He and second wife Rosemarie Ford – she was a dancer and a presenter on

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15

FOOD & DRINK

RICK STEIN - IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT CURRY

PRAWN FRITTERS WITH CHUTNEY AND KACHUMBER FROM THE ALLEN KITCHEN, KOLKATA I couldn’t work out why these prawn cutlets were so delicious; there seemed to be nothing to them, just a simple batter, a bit of lemon, some onion rings and a bottle of mustard sauce.

But the very enthusiastic blogger from Calcutta called Kaniska was keen to point out that this tiny little hole in the wall was one of the most popular foodie spots in the city. They may have put a secret ingredient in the batter, but I expect the success lies in using chickpea flour and frying the battered prawns in pure ghee. I consumed a few plates of them while having a thoroughly enjoyable conversation about the almost infinite possibilities of street food in that city. Later I woke up in the middle of the night in my hotel with my head spinning, thinking the pace of life was so frenetic that I was surely locked into a madhouse, albeit with some of the tastiest food I’ve ever found. This makes a quite soft batter, not a thick, crisp batter like you’d get with fish and chips.

METHOD To prepare the prawns, pull off the head and peel away the shell, leaving the tail intact. Use a small, sharp knife to run down the back of the prawns and pull out the black intestinal tracts, if visible. Then use the knife to cut almost all the way through the prawns and butterfly them open. Flatten them out a little with the palm of your hand. Pat dry with kitchen towel.

For the batter, mix the flours and salt together, whisk in the egg and enough of the water to give a smooth batter the consistency of single cream.

Serves 4 12 extra large unpeeled Raw prawns For the batter 60g plain flour 60g chickpea flour ¼tsp salt 1 free-range egg 150–225ml water 70g ghee, for frying To serve Lemon wedges, Mustard chutney Tomato chutney or Chilli garlic relish and Kachumber salad

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Heat the ghee in a heavy-based saucepan or karahi over a medium heat. Once hot, dip 2 or 3 prawns in the batter and carefully lower into the ghee. Fry for 2–3 minutes, turning once, until crisp and golden and cooked through. Drain on kitchen paper. Repeat with the remaining prawns. Serve with lemon wedges to squeeze over and chutney and kachumber salad on the side.

KACHUMBER SALAD - SERVES 8 -10 300g vine-ripened tomatoes, thinly sliced 1/2 cucumber, sliced 100g red onions, halved and thinly sliced 1 fresh green chilli, finely chopped 1/2 tsp toasted ground cumin seeds 1/4 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder Large handful of fresh coriander leaves, roughly chopped Freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice or white wine vinegar Lime wedges (optional), to finish Layer the ingredients, or gently toss together, just before serving. Serve with lime wedges, if desired.

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SWEET AND TANGY POTATO SHREDS Lilo chevda This is a snack beloved by Gujaratis, a sweet and sour shredded spiced potato dish. The shredded potatoes are deep fried until crisp, as are the lentils, cashew nuts and peanuts, but plenty of lime juice is sprinkled on just before you start eating so you get this tantalizing mix of crisp bits and soft bits. There’s plenty of chilli in it, sweetness from the raisins and sugar, sharpness from the lime juice, and a good sprinkling of salt too. Perfect balance in street food.

Serves 8 150g chana dal (Bengal gram or split yellowpeas), soaked overnight in coldwater 1kg potatoes, such as Maris Piper, peeled, coarsely grated Vegetable oil, for deep frying Salt 3 tbsp unsalted cashew nuts or peanuts (skinned) 1 tbsp sesame seeds 1 tbsp fennel seeds ½tsp turmeric 1½tbsp caster sugar, plus extra to taste 2 fresh green chillies, finely chopped with seeds 2 tbsp raisins Juice of 1–2 limes

METHOD Drain the chana dal and pat dry with kitchen paper. Spread out on a tray lined with a clean tea towel (or more kitchen paper) and leave on one side. Soak the prepared potatoes in salted water for 20 minutes.

Drain, use your hands to squeeze out any excess moisture, then pat dry with kitchen paper.

Two-thirds fill a large, deep-sided sturdy pan with vegetable oil and place over a medium heat. Test it’s hot enough by dropping in a piece of potato; it should sizzle and turn golden in about 20 seconds. (Or use a deep-fat fryer heated to 180°C.) Deep-fry the potatoes in batches until crisp and golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Season with half a teaspoon of salt and set aside. Using the same oil, fry the chana dal in batches for about 3–4 minutes, or until they rise to the surface and turn a shade darker. Drain on kitchen paper, and add to the fried potatoes.

Heat a heavy-based frying pan over a low-medium heat. Add the cashew nuts or peanuts and fry for 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly toasted. Add the sesame seeds and fennel seeds and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring all the time.

Remove from the heat and stir in the turmeric, followed by the sugar, half a teaspoon of salt, the chillies and the raisins, then mix with the potatoes and lentils. Add plenty of lime juice to give a sweet-sour flavour (you may need to add more sugar and salt at this stage to balance the flavour). Serve at room temperature in small bowls as a snack.

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17

FOOD & DRINK

SPICY SCRAMBLED EGGS

Ande bhujia In India this makes a great snack with a stack of parathas (see next page) and a dab of chilli garlic relish. But, more importantly, it’s fabulous for breakfast, and since not many people will have gone for breakfast to an Indian restaurant in the UK, it might come as a very pleasant surprise.

SERVES 2-3 2 tbsp vegetable oil 2 large red onions, diced 2-3 fresh green chillies, chopped, with seeds 1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper 3 tomatoes, diced

6 free-range eggs, lightly beaten with 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp toasted ground cumin seeds 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander Parathas to serve.

Method Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and fry the onions for 10 minutes until golden brown. Add the chillies and black pepper and fry for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and cook, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes until the tomatoes have softened and reduced to a jammy consistency.

Lower the heat slightly and add the beaten eggs to the pan.

Cook for 2-3 minutes without stirring, then gently lift and turn them in the pan. Continue cooking, folding once or twice more, until almost set, then sprinkle over the cumin and fold through. Finish with the chopped coriander and serve with warm parathas.

Extracted from Rick Stein’s India by Rick Stein, BBC Books hardback £25 Photography: James Murphy

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IN THE HOME Colours in the living area are so important and have a big impact on the feel of the room and the mood of the people within it. Painting a room is a much quicker and cheaper way of decorating because it is then easier to change and redecorate in the future, without the hassle of removing and replacing wallpaper.

If you are looking for a warm and energetic environment, try a red or orange tone. This may not be suitable for those wanting to relax with the family as they are loud colours, but if you are the type of person who likes entertaining, then the warmth will brighten up the vibe of the room.

Yellow is the perfect warm colour for livening up your space, but try to keep it to a feature or accent wall. Too much of it can be overpowering.

For those folk who want to feel laid back and relaxed, a cooler blue or green room might be more suitable.

Do be careful of the shades you pick however. An icy blue may make visitors feel unwelcome. A warmer shade, such as turquoise, may give the desired effect you want, but make others feel more welcome as well.

For a more sophisticated feel, stick to neutral tones, whites and creams. Not only do these provide a blank canvas to incorporate furniture and patterns, but allow the room to become a peaceful setting, which looks elegant and refined.

HOW COLOURS CAN CHANGE A ROOM It’s surprising how much the colours and fabrics in a room can vastly improve and change the look of it. Picking a new colour for the walls, or buying a new rug or carpet can mix up the style of your home and make it look brand new.

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Combinations of fabrics and patterns are also hugely inspiring when it comes to decorating and can create a theme for your house that you may wish to follow; from a cosy cottage to a Tuscan villa. If your tastes cater to soft pastels, floral fabrics and rustic wood furnishings, then a cottage style home may be your cup of tea, where as finding wallpapers with an old plaster texture, tapestry style rugs and cushions with gold, coppers and greens infused can give the feel of Tuscany in your home.

Carpets are a highly important part of a room. Many people prefer plain, block colour materials on their floors, which are great for flexibility when designing and changing styles.

However they can make a large room look empty. Going for a patterned carpet might seem a bit risky, but

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of paint, to fit whatever mood you are going for in the room, and you have a brand new piece of furniture.

The same can be done with tables, cupboards, and fireplaces.

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FINAL TIPS...

• Fabrics can easily change up a room, don’t be afraid to experiment. if the right one is selected, it can make a big difference. Patterns can create a focal point in a big room if you feel like keeping the furniture quite simple, but try and avoid busy patterns in a small room as this can make the space seem closed in and cluttered.

Fabric texture is also important.

Kristen Schmitt says on Better Homes and Gardens that: “Texture adds dimension to a room. It appeals to our senses, both visual and tactile, which makes the room interesting.”

Add some pillows and cushions to your bed and sofa; fluffy, ruffled, floral,tartan, anything that takes your fancy. Even a textured throw for the end of the bed can provide a contrast in a room. Bring in a patterned rug to create a focal point and make small rooms look larger. Round shapes in

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a square room can also soften the space. Don’t be afraid of contrasting patterns and colours either, but try not to go beyond three and use samples to decide on the best combinations.

You may think that adding a splash of colour to your home will get expensive but that isn’t the case.

Paint is a much cheaper option than wallpaper, but how about just repainting and wallpapering one wall in a vibrant colour or pattern to add some variation. If you can’t afford a new sofa or lounge chair, find some new fabric you like and get the existing furniture reupholstered.

Wooden furniture is easy to transform too. Take an old chair that needs a make over, or buy a cheap one from a second hand shop. All it needs is sanding down and a coat

• Be aware of light and colours.

Warmer light coming into your house allows for cooler colours.

With colder light, try a warmer colour.

• Something as simple as adding a mirror can instantly make a room look bigger.

• Patterns are good, but don’t go overboard.

• Buy a signature piece of furniture or rug you like and base the colour scheme around that.

• Bright ornaments and furniture can look great in an otherwise plain, white room.

• You don’t need a massive income to completely change your style.

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By Niki Schäfer, MD of Dwell-Being

TOP TIPS: ART DECO Niki Schäfer shares her tips on creating an Art Deco look: 1. The incredibly glamorous Art Deco period spans from 1920 – 1939 and epitomises the opulence of inter-war Britain. The period was characterised by modern, sleek designs with a luxurious use of materials. The New York’s Chrysler building, The Savoy and Sybil Colefax were icons of this era, look to them for inspiration on a smaller scale!

2. The luxury and decadence was increasingly noticeable in contrast to the austerity of the First World War. The use of rare and exotic woods and materials such as ivory, shagreen (imitation shark skin) and mother of pearl was familiar to this era. Decorate using an excess of mirrors, satins and pale leathers.

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Interior Designer, Speaker and Author of ‘Creating Space’ www.dwell-being.co.uk

3. The Art Deco period was heavily influenced by international style, so perhaps use lacquer as a finish on furniture, a design style developed from China. The period also admired enormously style icons of the era such as Eileen Gray.

4. The era was nicknamed the ‘Cocktail Age’ so for true Art Deco style track down walnut cocktail cabinets in a stepped shape, symbolic of the Aztec pyramids that were also hugely popular at the time.

5. Advances in technology moved towards a more ‘streamlined’ look.

Every day objects such as radios became streamlined, swayed by the aerodynamic shapes cut from ocean liners and Zeppelins.

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skins are widely available as fabrics nowadays, and if you’re feeling extra brave use some flocked wallpaper in the same design.

6. Choose fringed lighting and fitted furniture to incorporate an Art Deco look into your home without creating an overwhelming look. Try Tiger Moth Lighting for some wonderful fringed metal lamps and pendants.

7. Search for cantilevered chairs made popular by Marcel Breuer and Miles van Der Rohhe, who made the most of technology advances fashioning original and modern styles from new materials. The Barcelona Chair is another popular design choice, still contemporary today and found in many modern homes and offices.

8. To truly emulate the ‘elite’ style you need to find the original pieces.

The technology advances spurred the creation of imitation products made from cheap materials, which led to the eventual end of the era.

10. If you live and breathe for Art Deco inspired design then take a visit to La Maison de Verre in Paris, or slightly closer to home stay at The Park Lane Hotel and dine in Claridges

Illuminate your world J.G. Harrison & Sons Ltd are an established electrical distributor with over 60 years experience.

One of their biggest strengths is their fantastic lighting department.

They dare to dazzle you at each of their 4 branches with an incredible choice of domestic lighting, from traditional chandeliers, to superb crystal fittings and exciting modern ranges, to suit every taste and room. They have added lots of new ranges for their customers

9. Rugs were hugely popular throughout this period. Search for wild geometrical shapes in a spectrum of bold colours to liven up any room.

Imitation zebra and other wild animal

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KEEP YOUR GARDEN

BEAUTIFUL ALL SUMMER The early summer flowers such as foxgloves, aquilegia and lupins are going over now. These are the plants which gave the garden that first amazing flush of colour during June. This month, amongst the taller plants to take the stage, phlox and Japanese anemones provide good background colour , but to keep your garden looking fresh and colourful, its important to keep a regular routine going, to make sure the annuals you’ve planted out don’t stop flowering.

BEDDING PLANTS Make deadheading of bedding plants a regular routine.

If plants make seed, their work is done and they stop flowering.

In a prolonged dry spell, young plants will need to be watered at night occasionally. Never water in hot sun, and avoid getting water on the flowers. Keep a look out for snails and slugs, as these will munch their way through a bed of petunias in no time.

ROSES Deadhead your roses. To dead head Floribundas and Hybrid Teas, prune back the flower stem to the first pair of five leafleted leaves. Use a sharp pruning tool to make sure you don’t bruise the stem unnecessarily. On standard roses, watch out for suckers. As standard roses are 28

grafted on to a wild rose specie, any growth which come from below the point at which the rose was grafted on to the main root stock is a sucker, and should be removed, as if it is left, it will weaken the named rose and eventually the plant will revert to the wild.

Look out for black spot, which will denude your rose bush of leaves, and if left unchecked, can kill the plant. Pick off and burn all infected leaves, to prevent re-infection. Spray with a systemic fungicide -, e.g. Rose Clear.

LILIES Look for the lily beetle, which is bright red with black spots. Knock these off and kill them before they lay their eggs. If you see black deposits on the stems or leaves, these are the grubs, and will strip your beautiful lilies in a couple of days. It’s a messy business removing these, and the easiest way is to wipe them off the plant with a damp tissue.

DAHLIAS Dahlias are greedy feeders. A liquid plant food applied around the roots will keep them healthy, strong growing, and free flowering all summer. Check stakes, and as the plant grows, tie in the stems regularly.

TAKE CUTTINGS This is the best time of year to take cuttings of a large variety of plants, from pinks to hydrangeas. To do this, first fill a clay pot with dampened potting compost, and

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make a series of holes in the compost around the inside edge of the pot. Choose a healthy plant and sever the stem just below a leaf node (a point on the stem with two developed leaves). Pull off these leaves, dip your stem into rooting hormone, tap off excess, and put into the prepared holes, gently firming the compost around the stems. (It’s very important to be sure of having your cutting with leaf nodes, as the roots will spring from here). Make a mini greenhouse by putting two canes into the middle of the pot, and placing the whole into a plastic bag. Within two weeks or so, you should be able to test for roots by levering one of the cuttings away from the pot.

FLOWERING SHRUBS Weigelias, Deutzias and Mock Orange (Philadelphus), have finished flowering by now, and should be pruned back. Next year’s flowers will appear on ripened wood, and so you need to take out all flowering stems to allow for new growth to ripen for next year. Once your lavender shrubs have flowered and gone to seed, remove flowers and prune flowering stems back to just below the first leaves. This will ensure that the bush keeps its shape and produces plenty of flowers next summer.

HANGING BASKETS Check you baskets daily. Remove all dead heads, and keep well watered, with a weekly feed. Take cuttings of pelargoniums for next year.

GENERAL Keep hedges clipped. Pick sweet peas regularly to ensure a constant supply. Fill any bare spaces in your herbaceous border with spare plants you’ve potted up and kept growing. Plant crocus and daffodil bulbs by late August.

Pinch out centre shoot of tomato plants to concentrate the plant’s energy on existing tomatoes. In hot weather, raise your mower blades so that you don’t cut your grass too short. Repair any bare patches in your lawn by reseeding. Rake over the bare patch, lightly prod with a fork, then spread the seed. Cover with compost, and spray with water. Keep the compost moist by spraying every evening, and within a week or so, new grass will appear. Keep up with the weeding, and trim back any straggly perennials which have finished flowering.

And if all this seems too much like hard work, remember the words of Jerry Baker. ‘Successful gardening is doing what has to be done when it has to be done the way it ought to be done whether you want to do it or not’.

GOING FURTHER If you want to really add a touch of class to your garden, why not think about paving, fencing or creating a feature within your garden?

Benchmark, with three locations in the North-West, has everything you need to create the ideal spot to sit and appreciate your garden. See the advert below for more details.

Where do you go to relax and make the most of your garden?

Benchmark has everything you need to create the ideal spot to sit and appreciate your garden.

Natural Stone Paving, Flags, Blocks, Setts, Bricks, Walling, Edging, Fencing, Timber, New & Used Railway Sleepers, Decorative Chippings, Rocks & Pebbles including large monoliths/water features, Pergolas & Arbours as well as all the building materials required to create it.

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Why not visit our fabulous display gardens for ideas for your personal paradise?

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OUT and ABOUT Royton Real Food Market First Sunday of each month 11.00am -3pm Royton Precinct

EMBRACE THE BRITISH SUMMER Become a Bumblebee Walker!

A country walk on a summer day is pretty unbeatable. With the scent of flowers and the sound of the birds and bees it is the perfect time to be outside. But this year the Bumblebee Conservation Trust is asking people not just to walk and enjoy the countryside instead they are inviting everyone to help them by monitoring the bumblebee population in a national census across the whole of the UK.

New stalls include Mexican Street food and a service which will deliver organic products to your door.

All our familiar faces will be there, Lily pickles who have a new line of individual pies as well as all the fabulous jams and pickles. Award winning sausages, artisan bread, lovely cakes and scones, biscuits and sweet pies, fresh fish, homemade pate, cheese, olives, and lots more.

If you feel peckish whilst you shop, there are lots to choose from, hog roast, burgers and pitta wraps, and pancakes.

Why not enter our free competition, Give your entry to a trader on the Royton Real Food market. You could win a Real Food hamper.

Bury Market has a well deserved reputation for friendly service, fantastic produce and great value.

Located off J2 of the M66 and with over 350 stalls open every Full Market Day it’s easy to find and even easier to enjoy!

Bury Town Centre is also home to the Fusilier Museum, East Lancashire Railway, Bury Transport Museum and Bury Art Gallery.

The competition is open until the market on 3 August , and a winner will be notified in September.

Let us know what food you’d like to see in the market and how you think we could improve it . Contact the market office 0161 770 4515 or e-mail market@oldham.gov.uk Bumblebees are an essential part of the countryside, responsible as they are for pollinating our crops and wildflowers and ensuring the food we need, can grow and be harvested. It is a little known fact that without bumblebees, fruits such as tomatoes, apples and strawberries would simply cease to exist.

BeeWalks are simple and fun, and offer an education experience for all the family to get involved in. By either attending a guided walk or by creating your own route and recording the bumblebees seen in your area, you can help the Bumblebee Conservation Trust monitor how the bumblebee population is changing.

To find out how to get involved in creating your own Bumblebee walk route or where you can join in on one of the many guided trips set up for families across the country, please visit www.bumblebeeconservation.org. Full information on what to look out for when launching your own walk is also available online.

Hyde Walk Back in Time 3rd June Lower Higham Visitor Centre.

Higham Lane Gee Cross, Hyde.

SK14 5LR A gentle two mile ramble around Werneth Low visiting its sites of historical interest.

Call 0161 330 9613 www.tameside.gov.uk/countryside

Bury Market Hall: Open every day except Sunday Full Markets Open: Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays “Winner BBC Radio 4’s Food & Farming Awards Best Food Market “Winner NABMA’s” Best Market Attraction

Bury Market Management: Tel: 0161 253 6520 Email: burymarkets@bury.gov.uk Web: www.burymarket.com : @BuryMarket Daisy Nook Garden Centre - Gary’s Feathered Friends 21 Jun 2014

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Daisy Nook Garden Centre Stannybrook Road, Failsworth Manchester M35 9WJ. 11am – 4pm.

Gary’s Feathered friends are back by popular demand!

Come along and meet the Owls and birds of prey This is a free event and for a small charge you can even have your photograph taken with the birds.

T: 0161 681 4245

Oldham Carnival & Rootz Festival 22 June 2014 Alexandra Park, Kings Road, Oldham OL8 2BH. Oldham Carnival and RootZ Festival Its Oldham 114thCarnival and as usual there is so much going on.

The first RootZ Festival will be taking place on the RootZ stage between 11am and 8pm. There will be headline bands to be announced at a later date. Mixed with the very best of local performers Enjoy the fun of the fair rides and fairground or some of our family

freebie activities thruoghout the day in the Freebie Zone.

Watch our splendid Parade in the Park.

The Parade in the Park looks set to be the biggest since the event was moved from the roads in 2011. Unike the old parades on the streets, the Parade in the Park offers the opportunity to express colour dance and costume.

There’s charity stalls, food stalls, craft stalls, so much to do and see.

The UK Dance troupe championships Every year Oldham plays host to the United Kingdom Dance Troupe Championship organised

by M.A.N.E.C.C.O. This year, once again, the teams will be performing early doors in all competitions and continuing throughout the day until the finals. Competition timetimes are 9am to 6pm.

T: 0161 284 3826

RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 23-27 July 2014 Tatton Park, Mereheath Lane Knutsford, Cheshire.

The North’s greatest garden party has lots of fresh ideas for visitors who enjoy growing their own fruit and veg.

Taking care of mealtimes How Wiltshire Farm Foods’ carefully prepared frozen meals are helping people stay independent For those who’ve worked hard all their lives, maintaining independence is particularly important - especially when it comes to mealtimes. Established for 22 years, Wiltshire Farm Foods are here to make life easier for those who can’t get out and about as much, so they can eat well and look after themselves.

Ingredients are selected from carefully approved suppliers and are then prepared by a team of nutritionists and award-winning chefs in our Wiltshire kitchens. Once cooked, the meals are placed into handy trays that fit easily into the freezer, then frozen as soon as they’re prepared to lock in the freshness.

Main meals come as a complete, individually-portioned serving with vegetables, and we have a wide variety of over 260 tasty recipes offering nutrition, value, and lots of flavour. From breakfast through to lunch, afternoon tea and an evening meal there are options available for any appetite at any time of day.

Convenience is a key part of the Wiltshire Farm Foods offering.

All meals can be ordered over the phone, online or by post.

They’re then delivered for free by a friendly, local delivery driver, who is always happy to put meals away in the freezer if preferred. Our service is commitment-free, which means customers can order regularly, or whenever they need us.

For more information about Wiltshire Farm Foods in Haslingden, you can contact 01706 221759 or visit wiltshirefarmfoods.com for a free brochure.

If you’re looking for something to liven up your garden you’ll find flowers galore in the floral marquees, the perfect place to choose something special to take home.

BOOK TICKETS: www.theticketfactory.com/rhs/online/

Oldham 10K Milltown to Moors 17 Aug 2014 From: Lord Street , Oldham.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A BIGGER CHALLENGE? Take part in Oldham’s 10K run as part of the Milltown to Moors event series.

Oldham Community Leisure are once again organising the 10k race in to take place in August this year, following on from the success of last year’s inaugural Mill Town to Moors Oldham Half Marathon and 10K run.

Enter online www.milltownraces. co.uk or postal entries to Alan Keane, Oldham Community Leisure, Oldham Sports Centre, Lord Street, Oldham, OL1 3HA Closing date 8th August 2014.

Race Starts at 9.30am T: 0161 207 7000

SPECIAL OFFER

Enjoy a FREE meal on us.

At Wiltshire Farm Foods, we think you’ll love our food. That’s why we’re offering you the chance to try one of our delicious meals for free.

We’ll deliver your meal to your door and tell you a little more about our service. Then you can enjoy your free meal whenever you like.

Which meal will you enjoy free?

Choose one option from three of our customer favourites.

259 Chicken & Vegetable Casserole

314 Fish in Parsley Sauce

591 Vegetable Lasagne

Love your meal?

If you enjoy your free meal, you can order again whenever you wish.

Of course, if you try our free meal and decide you’d like to carry on cooking as you do now, we’ll understand that too. It’s completely up to you.

Select your free meal and call now on

01706 221759 01282 437 630

to arrange a delivery time and date.

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NO WORRIES! Bath out - Shower in

FITTED IN JUST ONE DAY!* NO MESS! NO FUSS! NO RE-TILING!

STRUGGLE TO GET IN & OUT OF YOUR OLD BATH? Designed to fit in the same space as your old bath, the Shower Module’s unique construction enables it to be FITTED IN JUST ONE DAY* with NO MESS, NO FUSS and NO RE-TILING either! ● ● ● ● ● ●

Fits in same space as your old bath!

GLASS PROTECTION

Protects against the build-up of grime, lime scale and stains.

Easy clean tile effect - no re-tiling or mouldy grout!

Easy access NEW lower step Optional seat and grab rail Assistance pole Slip resistant floor Built-in shelving

OVER 20,000

INSTALLATIONS IN THE UK Available with full height sliding doors or half height hinged door and panel

Half height hinged door and panel option

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FOR MORE DETAILS AND FREE BROCHURE

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Ask for Ext. 53456

Please contact me to arrange a FREE no-obligation Home Survey Please send me a FREE brochure on the Aquability Low Access Shower Module

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53456

Tel Address EASY, SAFE BATHING

Postcode Lines open 24 hours 7 days a week. Or return coupon to FREEPOST RRGY-AHAX-AHSX, Aquability UK Ltd, Farnborough, GU14 0NR. Or visit - www.aquability.com Send to: FREEPOST RRGY-AHAX-AHSX, Aquability UK Ltd, Farnborough, GU14 0NR.

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Yo u r L o c a l S p e c i a l i s t S o l i c i t o r s

0161 368 3434 0161 494 6085

Chronnell Hibbert is a well-established practice providing legal services to individuals, families and small businesses from its offices in Hyde and Woodley, local to Denton.

Divorce & Family Law

Conveyancing

Wills & Probate

At Chronnell Hibbert, our dedicated family department consists of a team of understanding and sympathetic solicitors who are highly qualified in all aspects of family law and specialise in divorce.

We at Chronnell Hibbert understand that buying or moving home is a big investment.

Oftentimes the process is stressful and time-consuming. Our property conveyancing solicitors are here to help. We are committed to providing all the support and legal advice you need.

We give specialist advice to the elderly in planning their affairs including Powers of Attorney and minimising their exposure to the local authority taking their assets if they have to go into an elderly persons home. Early advice is recommended in these situations which need to be planned for some time ahead.

Whether you need to resolve financial disputes or have issues regarding childcare or domestic violence, we can be of assistance.

For further information please call Anna Perry or David Williams on 0161 368 3434 or email anna.perry@hydesolicitors.co.uk or david.williams@hydesolicitors.co.uk We also cover other areas of law, to find out more visit www.chronnells-denton.co.uk

01457 829 241

Embarr a ssed By Your Sm ile?

Free Consultations • Cosmetic & General Dentistry • Teeth Whitening • Dental Implants • Dentures • Same Day Denture Repairs • Same Day Smile • Dental Hygiene • Interest Free Credit* • Clinical Dental Technicians • On Site Laboratory •

1-3 Mossley Road, Grasscroft, Oldham, OL4 4HH

info@watersedgedentalcare.co.uk

01457 829 241

www.watersedgedentalcare.co.uk

Same Day Smile A “Teeth in One Day” is created by placing just 4-6 dental implants into the jaw and a fixed bridge is attached, so you can leave our surgery with a smile on your face!

With having our dental laboratory on site life couldn’t be made much easier for us to provide our patients with the service they deserve. With dental implants there are many different stages that require the dental technician and dentist to work together with various techniques to get the end result for the patient. We have 19 registered dental technicians on site that can only enhance our service to you.

“I am delighted with my implants. I was unaware that such technology was available. I am no longer the shy person, afraid of going out in public. Instead I am confident and happy with my smile all the time. Implants have changed my life.”

Tony, 63

Dentures At Waters Edge Dental Care, we pride ourselves on creating natural looking and comfortably fitting Dentures. It is our goal to provide our patients with not just mere replacements for teeth, but with the most natural looking and functional Dentures they can be proud to wear.

Whether you wish to improve denture function and/or appearance, our Clinical Dental Technicians (Denturists) combine years of experience with pain free techniques to provide you with dentures that almost perfectly mimic natural teeth and gums.

Dentists: Robert McLelland BDS (Dund), 69775 & Andrew Legg BDS (Man) 79203 Dental Technicians: John Wibberley 116736 & Christian Wibberley 182605

CARE

How to choose a Home Care provider Home care is the best option of support to enable your loved one to stay within the comfort of home, living independently. It is an affordable alternative to a care home and without the stress of moving and leaving familiar surroundings.

Choosing a home care provider can be difficult as there are so many, but how do you choose the right one that will provide the quality of care that your loved one deserves.

How to choose a home care provider without worrying if you are making the right decision is to have the right questions to ask or to know what to look for.

Regulatory bodies for home care Always ensure that the home care provider is registered with the relevant care regulator for their country and in the UK, this is the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Care regulators will audit the provision of care regularly to ensure that each provider is meeting their statutory requirements.

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Memberships and associations Look for membership with United Kingdom Home Care Association (UKHCA), this is the professional association of home care providers. They promote higher standards of care, and act as one voice for care providers to bring about changes in legislation and policy. A good care provider will be actively involved in contributing to the betterment of the social care system.

Experience and continuity of care When looking at home care providers, it is good to have an understanding of what experience they have, how long have they been operating for in the area. Also check how long the company itself has been operating and that is robust so able to provide care for the foreseeable future.

Valuing home care workers A good home care provider will value their home care workers, providing them with adequate training and regular refresher training. Investment in care staff is important to ensure that they are happy and confident in their role. Care staff should have regular supervision and be supported to gain health and social care qualifications.

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Free home care assessment A free home care assessment should always be provided, this includes a risk assessment. Care planning should also be, ideally person centred which means that they listen to the needs and wishes of the customer, putting them at the heart of what they do.

Community involvement A Home Care provider that is active in its local community will be able to offer more than just care in the home. It will a good awareness of local services and help the cared for not be isolated within his/her home.

The provider will also assist with the integration of care through having good relationships with other care and medical professionals in the area.

It’s Your Choice Living independently is about having choice and control over your life. If you or someone you care for get help from social services, you can apply for direct payments.

These let you choose and buy the services you need yourself, instead of getting them from your council. You can decide how to spend the money you receive to arrange for care provision that best suits your lifestyle.

If you have a social worker or care manager then contact them.

It is also worth noting that if your needs change then you may be able to change your Direct Payment, and if you feel this method is not right for you after all you can switch to having Social Services take care of your care needs.

Further independent and free advice is available from any Local Council.

Absolute Care & Support specialise in Home Care support services for Adults with Physical Disabilities, Learning Difficulties, Sensory Impairment and Mental Health Conditions and those in need of short or longterm assistance with activities of daily life.

PERSONALISED SERVICE Our services are person centred and tailored to the specific needs and preferences of each individual, treating you with respect and maintaining your dignity in order to help you maintain your independence, enabling you to live your life as you choose.

HOME VISITS Before your service starts you will be visited by one of our managers. They will discuss with you the type of service you need, what goals you wish to achieve and how your care worker can support you to achieve these goals.

The manager will discuss what day the service will start and the times you want the care worker to visit.

The manager will listen to you and discuss what you want in order to ensure we can provide the care and support you need, in a way that you prefer. We will be as flexible as possible.

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People with Dysphagia needed to participate in a Swallowing Treatment Study

We are currently recruiting adults with dysphagia post stroke or with Parkinson’s Disease for clinical studies assessing the effects of a swallowing treatment that uses pharyngeal electrical stimulation. Studies will involve visits to a clinical research facility for the electrical stimulation treatment and assessments of swallowing function.

If you want more information about being part of this study please contact us.

Call 0161 820 95 69 Visit www.phagenesis.com Email chronic@phagenesis.com This study has been approved by the MHRA and an NREC.

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