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PRESTON & THE FYLDE COAST JUNE - SEPTEMBER 2014 EDITION 41
Cheryl Baker
From Buck's Fizz to Happy Days
Rick Stein's Indian Odyssey
THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50s
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Scam Watch What’s your favourite prank to play? Whether it’s with unsuspecting friends or the grand-kids, we’ve probably all pulled – and been on the receiving end of – a trick or two in our time. But what about those tricks that aren’t quite as innocent – the ones that are designed to part you with your cash. Well, you’ll be glad we “made you look” as we go through some of the more common pranks you should be on the look-out for. Shoulder surfers: one of the most common ways for fraudsters
to acquire your PIN is not through sophisticated techniques of card cloning, but simply by watching over your shoulder as you enter it. Always be wary of people standing behind you at cash points and when entering your PIN in a shop.
Phishing: have you won a lottery you didn’t enter? Had a
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request from “your bank” to confirm your details? These are all phishing scams and you will end up losing money. Look out for the email originating from an unusual address, or failing to address you by name. Some can be more convincing and even look like they have been sent to you by friends. If in doubt, don’t give your details out.
Hang-up, no you hang-up: imagine it – you receive a call from
your bank telling you your account had been compromised and you need to act fast to save your cash! You’d do exactly as you were told right? But stop, this is a scam. Your bank would take its own steps to prevent fraud on your account, it would never require you to give out your full account number, password, PIN or hand over your card to a courier – ever. Even if you’re convinced you’re on the phone to your bank – never give out this information.
Payment protection insurance (PPI) refunds: you receive a text or call from someone claiming to be your bank, the Ministry of Justice, or a PPI company telling you that you’re owed money from mis-sold PPI. But, you must pay an administration fee before the refund can be processed. Don’t give away any money! If you have a PPI complaint, you can come to the ombudsman for free and save yourself giving your cash to claims managers unnecessarily. Online shopping scams: many of us are beating the queues
by shopping online these days – and the good news is that the majority of transactions are completed with no problem. But always be wary of a seller (or buyer) who asks you to complete transactions outside of the official payment channels like PayPal – as you may find you’re not protected if the item you’re buying, or the money for the goods you’ve sold, doesn’t show up.
We hope these tips help you get ahead of the game. But if you’ve lost out to a fraudster, don’t panic. Tell your bank what’s gone wrong but if you’re still not able to get things sorted out, the ombudsman may be able to help on 0300 123 9 123 or www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.
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Venice from the Water... Spectacular from any angle.
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Robinsons Coach Holidays... Affordable peace of mind.
12-13 Cheryl's Happy Days ... The bubbly Cockney who helped bring Eurovision alight. 16-17 Douglas Lee Associates ... Groundbreaking dental technology. 18-19 Home & Garden ... Tips on how to improve your garden. 22-23 Interiors... Room colour and how it affects your mood. 26-27 Rick Stein ... In search of the perfect curry. McGrath Media. Unit 6 | Moses Gate Workshops Gladys Street | Bolton | BL3 2QG. T: (01204) 796 494 | F: (01204) 791594 e: mcgrathadmin@btconnect.com
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It’s no yak An enterprising farming couple believe they are first to introduce the Himalayan yak to Britain. Helen and Matthew Worth have imported the fearsome looking bovid, usually found on the Tibetan plateau, to the rolling fields of rural Cheshire. Unlike domestic cattle yaks can be left out in all weathers happily dealing with temperatures as low as minus 40C. They also sport four foot wide horns, are very nimble on their feet and are quite capable of jumping a five barred gate if spooked. Don’t call me if they need rounding up. Mr and Mrs Worth imported a bull and three female yaks from Germany and Holland. They have already produced two pure-bred calves and hope to produce another bull. They plan to visit local gastro pubs and farmers’ markets to promote the meat- said to be incredibly lean and low in cholesterol and saturated fat.
This really takes the biscuit After the most comprehensive study of its kind, scientists say they have proved that Rich Tea biscuits are the best for dunking.
“Given the danger of a hot biscuit falling onto a clean shirt, there should be a ‘dunk-o-meter’ traffic light advisory system for all packets of cookies and biscuits,” he said. “A red circle would indicate short dunk of under five seconds, amber would advise a five to ten second dip and green for longer.” Isn’t it heartening to know that science is being applied to such important matters?
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Boffins carried out extensive dunk-o-meter tests on Britain’s five best loved biscuits and found Rich Tea were still going strong after 20 seconds. Hobnobs, by comparison, began to crumble after just four seconds immersed in a cup of tea, followed a split second later by Ginger Nuts. Digestives held on for five seconds and Chocolate Digestives took 11 seconds to collapse, but Rich Tea was the clear winner. The research, led by Dr Stuart Farrimond for biscuit giant McVitie’s, also established the best dunking time for each variety and the best biscuit dunking angle. Dr Farrimond also called for a traffic light system on biscuit packets warning dunkers which varieties were high risk and likely to collapse.
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Venice from the Water Gillian Thornton has been a freelance journalist for more than 30 years, writing everything from parenting features to celebrity interviews, corporate copy to heritage articles. A member of the British Guild of Travel Writers, she has been concentrating on travel writing since 1998 ‘I never mind where I go,’ she says. ‘There’s always something new to discover.’ On this trip, Gillian stayed in Venice on a river cruiser with Voyages Jules Verne Eager for my first daylight view of the Venetian lagoon, I jumped out of bed, pulled back the curtains and quickly 6
shut them again as a water bus packed with commuters chugged past the window. Fortunately I was half decent, but when you book a lagoon-view cabin on board the MS Michelangelo, it pays to pack your pyjamas. Venice is spectacular from any angle, but it’s hard to imagine a more atmospheric or romantic place to stay than on board the river cruise boat MS Michelangelo on the waters of the lagoon. We booked the Venice from the Water package with Voyages Jules Verne, flying to Venice Marco Polo, where a coach collected the group for the half-hour drive to join our vessel at the Maritime Station. Once everyone was settled, the Michelangelo cruised down the broad
Giudecca Canal, past St Mark’s Square and the Doges’ Palace to the Riva Sette Martiri where it moored for three nights. Given the unique location, we felt it worth paying the small supplements for a lagoon view cabin on the upper deck – you simply can’t put a price on drawing those curtains (carefully!) and watching the flotilla of water vessels from the comfort of your holiday bed. VJV run ‘Venice from the Water’ on selected dates from spring to Autumn. We travelled in early November when you obviously take a gamble with the weather, but the chance to see the city without the crowds more than made up for the grey skies.
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TRAVEL- LEISURE Expect to walk if you want to see Venice properly. Hills are obviously not a problem, but there are many small footbridges up and over the canals so flat shoes are a must. From the Michelangelo’s mooring, it’s a delightful 15-minute stroll to St Mark’s Square, and I’d recommend going back at least once after dinner to enjoy the illuminated square and quiet canals at their most tranquil. By day, the cruise-boat tourists who flock to St Mark’s rarely walked up as far as our floating hotel. The MS Michelangelo is operated by French company Croisi’Europe and we shared it with French and German travellers. Cabins are compact but very comfortable with big picture windows to take advantage of that view, and if you don’t want to pay the lagoon view supplement, the quay option showcases some elegant buildings. The vessel is immaculately maintained and crew were forever cleaning and polishing, inside and out. We found the multinational staff friendly and efficient, and a lot of effort had clearly gone into the crew entertainment on the final evening in the lounge bar – music, comedy and a modest degree of good-natured audience participation. There was also dancing on two nights to international hits performed by a local singer. Or you can just sit back and watch the others strut their stuff over a drink. Venice from the Water offers full board with wine, beer and soft drinks included with lunch and dinner. Our party of six had a table to ourselves, but couples and foursomes have to share, so intimate dinners are a nogo. We found the food consistently good rather than great, mostly safe international favourites, but always
well cooked and attractively presented with three courses at lunch and four at dinner. Special dietary requirements need advance notice though as there is no menu choice, which may not suit fussy eaters.
evening in a historic palazzo on their big day, simply through lack of other interest from other passengers. But they were offered – and much enjoyed – an alternative opera concert in a church.
The package includes a morning cruise of the northern lagoon, past the island of Burano to Torcello. On Day 4, the Michelangelo left its mooring before dawn, gliding silently down the lagoon side of the Lido to the working fishing port of Chioggia where we disembarked to experience a couple of hours in a very different kind of town.
But the real star of the show is the city itself. You can’t beat just walking the canals, turning off down tempting backstreets, and soaking up all those glorious buildings and iconic views from the deck of a water bus up the Grand Canal. And at the end of each atmospheric day, we carried on watching the water traffic of the Venice lagoon through the windows of the Michelangelo, right up until the very last moment when we closed the curtains on one of Europe’s most compelling views. Fabulous.
On top of that, there are optional excursions that include the Doges’ Palace, the craft workshops on Murano and Burano, Padua, and a gondola ride. Be aware though that minimum numbers are generally required. One wedding anniversary couple was disappointed to miss the musical
For further information visit www.vjv.com or call 0845 166 7034
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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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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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 08 Jun 14 Jun 15 Jun 21 Jun 22 Jun 28 Jun 29 Jun 05 July 06 July 12 July 13 July 19 July 20 July 26 July 27 July 02 Aug 03 Aug 09 Aug 10 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 30 Aug 31 Aug 06 Sep 07 Sep 13 Sep 14 Sep 20 Sep 21 Sep 27 Sep 28 Sep
Date 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 01 Nov 05 Nov 09 Nov 15 Nov 19 Nov 23 Nov 29 Nov 03 Dec 07 Dec 13 Dec*
Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £389 £389 £389 £389 £389 £389 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369
SUPPLEMENTS - PER PERSON ABBEY LAWN HOTEL 8 DAYS Front View £15 Premier Room £50
5 DAYS £10 £30
IMPERIAL HOTEL Premier Room
8 DAYS £35
5 DAYS £20
OCEAN VIEW HOTEL Sea View Premier Room
8 DAYS £15 £50
5 DAYS £10 £30
Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn £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 £199 £199 £199 £199 £199 £199 £199 £199 £199 £195 £195 £195 £195 £195 £195 £195 £195 £195 £189 £189 £189 £189 £189 £189 £189 £189 £189 £169 £169 £169
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GROUPS 0800 785 1025 www.50plusmagazine.co.uk 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.
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Support your local market Information on the very of best of Wyre’s markets can now be found in one place and at the click of a button. There’s a market to be experienced six days a week in Wyre and a new website has been launched to promote the markets offer. From the traditional historic market at Fleetwood dating back to the 1800’s to the recently established Poulton street market - you’ll find information on opening times, the kind of stalls you can expect to find when you visit and for those interested in having their own market stall there’s information on how to apply. The latest news area is kept up to date with forthcoming events and industry related matters and there’s also information for coach operators interested in bringing groups to Wyre.
businesses. Market day still holds a special place in the hearts of many people from all walks of life, as a place to shop but also socialise.
You’ll find sections on farmers markets and farm shops in the area too. Why support your local market? We are turning once more to our butchers, bakers and other more traditional outlets keen to show our support for local
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Traditional market in the coastal town of Fleetwood, north west Lancashire with over 150 stalls. A shopper’s paradise for food, clothing and household goods. Bag a bargain today! Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday all year round 9am - 4.30pm Also open all Bank Holidays and Tram Sunday
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/wyremarkets www.50plusmagazine.co.uk
Tenby
6th July | 7 days | £415 (inc excursions)
Cliffe Norton Hotel | Bed, Breakfast & eve meal. Entertainment. Tenby, South Wales is in the Pembrokeshire National Park. It is a traditional seaside family resort with 2 fabulous sandy beaches and picturesque harbour. Pretty narrow streets are lined with individual shops, cafes and pubs.
Llandudno
29th Sept | 5 days | £349 (inc excursions)
Merrion Hotel | Bed, Breakfast & eve meal. Entertainment. This very popular seaside resort in North Wales is situated on a sandy bay looked over by The Little and Great Orme. The town centre runs parallel to the seafront with many shops, restaurants and cafes.
Highclere Castle
Devon Delights
Explore Highclere Castle, the venue of the popular TV series drama, Downton Abbey. Follow in the footsteps of the Crawley family and the servants that work for them. The house has a fascinating connection with ancient Egypt, as the 5th Earl discovered the tomb of Tutankahmun.
Best Western Tiverton Hotel | Bed, Breakfast & eve meal. This tour is based in mid-Devon, an ideal location for exploring the unspoilt area of North and East Devon. Please note: The hotel does not have a lift but there are plenty of ground rooms available.
Northern Portugal
ps On Request Door to Door Pick U ings Organised Group Out Private Hire
23rd July | 3 days | £195 (inc excursions)
5th Oct | 10 days | £799 (inc excursions)
22nd Aug | 6 days | £419 (inc excursions)
Hotel Bosque Mar | Bed, Breakfast & eve meal. This Grand Tour based on the border of Portugal and Spain packs in a complete range of the best to see and experience in the North West of the Iberian Peninsula, offering some of the richest cultural attractions in Europe, from the great pilgrim City of Santiago de Compopstela to the wonderful coastal towns.
01772 460748 www.cosgrovetours.co.uk 133 Woodplumpton Rd, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire PR2 3LF
Call for up-to-date excursion lists
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CHERYL’S HAPPY DAYS When it comes to making your mind up about careers to take talented young Cheryl Baker must have had plenty of choices. The bubbly Cockney who helped bring Eurovision alight in Buck’s Fizz when she and fellow group member Jay Aston had their skirts whipped off did, however, just have one goal in mind. “I always wanted to sing,” she explains. We are chatting half-way through a six-month tour of “Happy Days – The Musical” – the show based on the famous American TV sitcom first broadcast in the 1970s which gave a snapshot of family life in the mid-50s and ‘60s. It spawned the character of The Fonz, a hip youngster who caught the imagination of fans across the world and definitely proved a big hit in England. “In fact, the series was actually bigger in this country than in America itself,” informs Cheryl. In the show, she takes the part of Mrs Marion Cunningham, Fonz’s ditzy Mrs C who unintentionally is extremely funny. Cheryl loves the role, and the whole show. “It really is wonderful,” she enthuses. “The music by Paul Williams is just fantastic and the show is written by the same person who wrote the original TV series so the characters really come to life.” Cheryl herself is a larger-than-life character who has endeared herself to the public, at home and abroad, since the Eurovision Song Contest and the group’s first hit record Making Your Mind Up. She had actually been in Eurovision before that, with Co-Co in 1978, but their song, The Bad Old Days, could only manage 11th place. When Cheryl was contacted by Nichola Martin, who was setting up a new group under the name Buck’s Fizz with a view to entering another song, she joined up. The rest, as they say, is musical history: Making Your Mind Up was a global hit, and Buck’s Fizz went on to five years of success and more hit singles. Perhaps, though, it was always meant to be that Cheryl with all her personality and likeability was
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destined for a variety of other things. And that has certainly been the case. A quick look at her c.v. reads like an agent’s dream: she’s appeared in and hosted TV programmes from Record Breakers to Walking the Dog, from baking series to slimming challenges and regularly presented programmes live. She’s done panto, radio and appeared in drama like Dial M For Murder and musicals like Footloose, so her latest incarnation should really be no surprise. “I’m not the kind of person who could ever sit at home and do nothing anyway,” states Cheryl, now 60. “I’ve got a mortgage and bills to pay like everyone else so I’ve got to work. But I think I like doing something creative, and always will. “Mind you, I still get the heeby-jeebies about going on stage in something new. I’m used to the music and lines in this show now, but I think I’m the kind of person to always get those nerves and that adrenaline and you do use that. I come off stage and I feel like I’ve done something really worthwhile.” As well as stage and TV work – she’s due to appear in an edition of TV favourite Pointless in Eurovision week this year – she, Jay Aston and Mike Nolan are still making appearances as Buck’s Fizz. “Yes, I’m still getting that skirt whipped off!” she laughs. “We love it all and people still seem to love the group and that period. We often appear in retro shows and they stand at the front and sing the songs and they know all the words. They even scream when the skirts go off!” When she’s not being Cheryl Baker, entertainer, she lives at home in Kent with her husband of 21 years, Steve Stroud, and their 19 year-old twin daughters Kyla and Natalie. So have the girls seen the show and are they familiar with Happy Days? “They’ve been a couple of times and love it, although they didn’t know the show at all,” says Cheryl.
She believes that Happy Days was a big success originally because it showed us all an idyllic view of what American life seemed to be. In spite of being a real-life Eastender born in Bethnal Green with an accent she’s never lost, she doesn’t find it hard to adopt an American accent for the show. “It’s easy,” she instructs. “You just have to roll your r’s and soften your t’s. Just try it.” Cheryl has never been shy about the weight problem that sometimes shows itself. “I can put on a stone either way anytime,” she asserts. “I’m not the kind of person to be huge, because my parents weren’t, but I’m always on a diet and it’s something I have to watch.” The travelling and unpredictable lifestyle of touring is not ideal for keeping to a healthy regime and this is something that Cheryl addresses. “I started running marathons a few years ago and I still go out for four or five miles when I’m on tour,” she adds. “Running burns the calories and does help to keep you fit. I’ve got little legs like a footballer – just like Bobby Moore’s – but they’ve definitely gone leaner with running.” People warm to Cheryl, they probably always have but her high profile on TV mean that they often feel they know her. “Yes, I’ve always liked that really,” she states. “Our audiences now are great - even though the songs are new, because they’re good and catchy people are enjoying the whole experience.” As for what happens after the tour – which goes all around the country from Sunderland to The Lowry in Salford – one thing is absolutely certain. Cheryl Baker won’t be retiring any day soon. “When you’re doing something you love, and you’re still able to do that, why on earth would you retire?” And then for Cheryl Baker, performer for all seasons, it was back to preparing for that day’s performance in Cambridge - and the warm glow that comes from an audience enjoying their own happy days.
See Happy Days - The Musical at the Lowry, 23rd to 28th June, to find out more about the show go to happydaysthemusical.com www.50plusmagazine.co.uk
* To visit the Cash in the Attic website, go to CashInTheAttic.com
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PLANNING FOR
THE FUTURE Everyone should consider some basic legal planning to make sure that their families and loved ones are protected in case of future events which can affect anyone. Here we consider the “essentials” of making a Will, Lasting Power of Attorney and Gift of Property into Trust.
REASONS TO MAKE A WILL Making a Will is important, particularly when you realise that without a Will the Government will decide who will receive your money and possessions after you die. Unfortunately this can cause many difficulties for your surviving family and relatives at an already distressing time. By making a Will you can help alleviate additional pressures on your family. The myth that ‘my wife will receive everything anyway’ is not true. Your estate would be shared out in accordance with the ‘Statutory Legacy’ rules and your wife would receive the first £250,000 with the rest going into trust. This might not be enough to enable your wife to keep the matrimonial home. When it comes to ‘common law husband or wife’, there is no such thing. Only people who are legally married or have formed a civil partnership will be classed as husband, wife or civil partner and only they can enjoy the benefits of automatically inheriting part of their spouse’s estate. You would have to go to Court to claim part of the estate which will come with the usual costs and expenses. Children are another reason why it is important to make a Will. If something was to happen to you and your children were still minors or disabled, you can appoint Guardians to look after them. It is also important if you are married for a second time and have children from a previous relationship. If you were to die first and your estate was below the ‘Statutory Legacy’ your whole estate would pass to your second spouse and your children would have no absolute right to anything. If you are legally separated the ‘Statutory Legacy’ will still apply until the divorce is finalised so if you want your estate to pass to someone else then you must make a Will. 14
You should have your Will prepared by an experienced Lawyer who will make sure all the relevant points are covered especially if your Will is complicated and Tax Planning Advice may be required.
LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY Most people know they should have a Will, but have you considered what would happen if you were to become unable to manage your own affairs during your lifetime? Who would make difficult financial and personal decisions on your behalf? You can protect yourself by making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). The LPA is a legal document in which you can appoint another person or persons as Attorney(s) to act on your behalf in relation to your financial affairs and/or personal welfare if you become unable to do so for yourself. The LPA was introduced under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and must be registered with the Court of Protection before it can be used. It is useful if you are ill or in hospital or residential care when it is difficult for you to look after your personal finances or welfare. There is one type of LPA dealing with your financial affairs i.e. managing your Bank Accounts and Investments and also selling your property if required. There is also an LPA dealing with your personal welfare i.e. issues relating to your personal care and where you should live and also giving or refusing consent to certain medical treatment. It is important to note that you can only make an LPA if you have sufficient mental capacity and this has to be confirmed by a Certificate Provider. In some cases it may be necessary to obtain a Doctor’s opinion if there is any doubt. It is also important to note that it does not take away your independence as one of the main principles of the Act is that capacity is decision specific and Attorneys should assist people to make their own decisions wherever possible. If you should lose capacity without having an LPA in place then it will be necessary for someone to apply to the Court of Protection for authority to deal with your affairs which can be a very slow and expensive process. An LPA is an important legal document which should be properly prepared and explained to you by an experienced Lawyer. www.50plusmagazine.co.uk
GIFT OF PROPERTY INTO TRUST Most people are concerned about the costs of long term residential care. Currently if your assets exceed £23,250 including the value of your property then you will be self funding and have to pay for the cost of your care yourself. The biggest concern for most people is that you may have to sell your property to pay for the care. However it is possible to avoid this by giving your property away during your lifetime, usually to your children. The gift however must be made in good time and not simply with the intention of avoiding future care fees otherwise it may be caught by the Local Authority’s anti-avoidance measures. You could simply make an outright gift to your children but as you will probably wish to continue to live in your property this could cause problems if you were to fall out with them or if they were to experience matrimonial problems or bankruptcy it could lead to someone else making a claim against their share of your property. Additionally, it could also cause problems for your children in owning a share of a second property and could give rise to possible Capital Gains Tax implications on the eventual sale of the property. We would therefore always recommend that a gift of property should be a gift into Trust which would protect you and your children from most of these potential difficulties. The Trust would provide for you to remain living in the property for as long as you wish on the basis that you continue to be responsible for all the outgoings as at present. The Trust can also provide for the property to be sold and a replacement property purchased for you to live in if you so wished. When you no longer live in the property for whatever reason, the trust would come to an end and the property could be sold with the proceeds divided between your children. In this way you would no longer be treated as the legal owner of the property if you were to be assessed for long-term care fees and also as you are occupying the property which is held in trust, this usually means that main residence exemption from Capital Gains Tax can be claimed although this is decided by the Revenue on a case by case basis.
Established 1937 We have been advising elderly clients and those approaching retirement for over 70 years.
For advice on: • • • • • •
Wills Lasting Powers of Attorney Deputies/Court of Protection Inheritance Tax Planning Probate/Letters of Administration Divorce, Children & Family Accidents
as well as Property Sales and Purchases; Contact one of our offices at: FLEETWOOD Mr Peter J Isaacs 32-38 North Albert Street, Fleetwood FY7 6AW Tel: 01253 873481 | Fax: 01253 772322 Email: p.j.isaacs@inghams-law.co.uk
CLEVELEYS
Mr Nick Williams
8 The Crescent, Cleveleys FY5 3LW Tel: 01253 824111 | Fax: 01253 827747 Email: nwilliams@inghams-law.co.uk
BISPHAM
Mr Richard J Statham
37 Red Bank Road, Bispham, BLACKPOOL FY2 9HX Tel: 01253 353308 | Fax: 01253 356380 Email: richard.statham@inghams-law.co.uk
POULTON
Mrs Helen Jackson
12 Queens Square, Poulton-le-Fylde FY6 7BN Tel: 01253 890545 | Fax: 01253 893171 Email: hjackson@inghams-law.co.uk
Obviously giving away your property is a major irrevocable decision which requires specialist legal advice.
Make sure you carry out your legal planning in good time with the benefit of specialist legal advice from a Lawyer who is experienced in such matters. www.inghams-law.co.uk
few D
tE
health&beauty Dougie has all the latest technology, equipment and skills required to carry out ‘Fast and Fixed’ same day implant tooth replacement. Patients scheduled for ‘Fast and Fixed’ treatment are settled into their private en-suite day room, complete with a day-bed and sofa. A Cone Beam CT scan is taken if
implant placements, impression taking and finally fitting the new teeth. It can take over 12 months, and all through that people are stuck wearing a temporary denture or nothing to replace there teeth at all. “We have tried it that way and it works, but it’s a long hard slog for everyone involved, time consuming and very expensive. The ‘Fast and Fixed’ method solves most if not all, of these not done so already. Generally, patients opt problems in one stroke.”to be sedated so the procedure is anxiety
upper and four in the lower jaw. Generally in less than three hours the surgery is complete – the patient has felt no pain and more or less dozed through all of it. The new teeth are then custom-made by Mark Roach, the practice’s expert dental technician, while throughout the rest of the
The highly skilled team at Douglas Lee will share their expertise with their new training academy... Douglas Lee Associates in Accrington is set to become the country’s centre of excellence for the ‘Fast and Fixed’ same-day implant procedure.
out there who are disheartened – through no fault of their own they are in danger of losing their teeth and they are not aware of what is available. “Even if these patients had the very best dentures, the negative psychology of losing their teeth is pronounced, they feel they’ve
With the patient completely relaxed the damaged and infected teeth are removed as gently as possible. The implant sites need to be free of germs so a ‘Helbo’ (revolutionary and completely painless laser) is used to eradicate over 99 per cent of all dangerous bacteria, with the help of a marker dye to identify problem areas. This allows implants day, the patient relaxes in their day-suite. lost some of their dignity. to are beready placed immediately, By about 6pm the new teeth and “So when they leaveusually the surgery six in the
Groundbreaking Technology free and absolutely painless.
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the happy patient can go home and enjoy their brand new smile! Besides minor swelling and bruising similar to that from simple tooth extractions, Dougie’s patients recover quickly and with few problems. Douglas Lee Dental Associates were the
with implants they have a totally different mentality, they feel their teeth are part of them – they are so positive.” This creates a massive increase in confidence.” n
WE ArE vEry much At thE ForEFront oF tEchnology, WhIch gIvEs up in the surgery, communicating ‘Being chosen as the bEttEr rEsults and participating from an on-site In lEss tImE surgery for ‘Fast and
flagship Fixed’ is a real tutorial room as the procedures compliment; it is a massive boost first teamare in the UK to complete a full set of upper and lower jaw implants within undergone. to us and it will show other dentists a day – testament to their experience and high level of skill. what can be achieved with this “With experience we have reduced the time ‘There will be live streamingit takes. to It is an extremelytechnique.’ choreographed implant placements, impression taking where each professional plays their part. and finally fitting the new teeth. Itwas can the tutorial room which willday,also The ‘Fast and Fixed’ technique We are very much ahead of the game in this – take over 12 months, and all through enableWith ustheto conduct internet developed by athatworld class Douglas patient completely relaxed the it is a multi-skilled procedure and we have allLee Associates was one of people are stuck wearingGerman a temporary damaged and infected teeth are removed as the right professionals on our team.” denture company, or nothing to replace there teeth based tutorials, which can be dental technology the first gently as possible. The implant sites need to The majority of Dougie’s patients, who dentists in the country to at all. be free offrom germs so aanywhere ‘Helbo’ (revolutionaryin travel this specialised the knowledge and skills for “We have tried that way and it watched thefrom far and wide foracquire and you have access toit this and completely painless laser) is used to service, are what he calls ‘younger-older’ works, but it’s a long hard slog for Douglas Lee Dental Associates world. Surgeons live revolutionary technique right here the patient-friendly ‘Fast and Fixed’ eradicate over 99 per centwatching of all dangerous people – middle aged men and women who everyone involved, time consuming and 115 Whalley Road bacteria, with the help of a marker dye to are fit and able – and who don’t want to lose Accrington BB5 1BX very expensive. The ‘Fast and Fixed’ on your doorstep! can interact with us and see what technique. Dougie has become identify problem areas. This allows implants their teeth. method solves most if not all, of these 01254 237517 to be placed immediately, usually six in the “I think there is a big pool of people onewww.douglasleedental.co.uk problems in one stroke.” of the country’s most Douglas Lee Associates is experienced practitioners “Being chosen as the flagship surgery for a leading dental implant of the same-day tooth practice and is currently ‘Fast and Fixed’ is a real compliment; it is a replacement system. ‘Nodeveloping modern training one wants to lose their massive boost to us and it will show other facilities to give other UK teeth, but often through based and international nobody’s fault, teeth fail dentists what can be achieved with this dentists expertise in implant and previously we have technique.” - Dougie Lee surgery. Dougie Lee with had to resort to removable the help of his experienced dentures. Dental implants team will pass on their skills have always seemed and knowledge through a wonderful, but until recently specifically designed and equipped we do. They will also be able to there has been no affordable or training academy and fully functional watch as Mark Roach, the expert convenient way of using them to dental laboratory. technician in our on-site laboratory, support a whole jaw, but with Fast creates the teeth to be fitted to the and Fixed, there is’ says Dougie. Dental trainees will be able to watch implants’, Dougie explains. through audio-visual systems set 16
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first of up a day high “W it tak day, We a it is the r Th trave serv peop are f their “I
BEFORE
‘It was thought that when implants are used to restore a full jaw, surgery must be staged. Typically, separate appointments are needed for X-rays and CT scans, tooth extractions, bone grafts, implant placements, impression taking and finally fitting the new teeth — it can take over 12 months and cost a small fortune.’ This is no longer the case thankfully, at Douglas Lee they have the latest ground-breaking technology and can now implant a set of teeth within a day, completing in a few hours instead of months. Organisation is the key to make a typical day run as smoothly as possible. Patients scheduled for the treatment are settled into their private en-suite day room, complete with a day-bed and sofa. If not done so already, a Cone Beam CT scan is taken. Usually, patients choose to be sedated so the procedure is anxiety free and absolutely painless. The damaged and infected teeth are removed as gently as possible all while the patient is completely relaxed. Getting rid of germs is very important around the implant sites so a ‘Helbo’ (revolutionary and completely painless laser) is used to eradicate over 99 per cent of all dangerous bacteria, with the help of a marker dye to identify problem areas. The implants can then be placed immediately, usually six in the upper and four in the lower jaws. Normally in under three hours the surgery is www.50plusmagazine.co.uk
complete, with the patient feeling no pain. The new teeth are then custom-made by Mark Roach, the practice’s on-site dental technician. The patient can now relax throughout the rest of the day in their day-suite. At around 6pm the new teeth are ready and the patient can go home and start enjoying their new smiley look! The recovery time is quick, with few problems, besides minor swelling and bruising, typically associated with simple tooth extractions.
AFTER
BEFORE
Douglas Lee Dental Associates were the first team in the UK to complete a full set of upper and lower jaw implants within a day which just goes to show their experience and high level of skill. ‘It is an extremely choreographed day, where each professional plays their part. We are very much ahead of the game in this — it is a multi-skilled procedure and we have all the right professionals on our team.’ Most of Dougie’s patients are what he calls ‘younger-older’ people - middle aged men and women who are fit and able and who don’t want to lose their teeth. ‘Even if these patients had the very best dentures, the negative psychology of losing their teeth is pronounced, they feel they’ve lost some of their dignity. So when they leave the surgery with implants they have a totally different mentality, they feel their teeth are part of them — they are so positive, pleased as punch!’
AFTER
Douglas Lee A S S O C I A T E S Douglas Lee Dental Associates,
115 Whalley Road, Accrington BB5 1BX www.adsk.co.uk/dldp Tel: 01254 237517
HOME & GARDEN
A greenhouse offers a lovely place to allow the generations to enjoy gardening together. Pic by DJ Archer Photography.
for privacy, but if it’s bordered by open rural space and lovely views think about lowering fences so it blends in seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. All this helps you to enjoy your garden more.
Taking your lifestyle outside with the help of an awning. Pic by Luxaflex
As a nation we love our countryside and in particular we love our own special piece of greenery attached to our homes. It may be anything from a tiny patch of grass to a paved garden or something lush that stretches over a large area. Whatever the size of your garden, this time of year is when we really appreciate getting outside on fine days and enjoying that private piece of England. And more and more we are now making the very best of our gardens. If you’re planning a garden or improving one, it’s worth deciding first of all how you want to use it. Is it purely a place to grow flowers and vegs? Is it for relaxing, for cooking and entertaining or as a children’s playspace? Is it a “working” garden that has additional storage or even a garden studio?
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Once you have decided on its main purpose, come up with a wish-list of things you would like in it – and prune this to fit your budget. Some garden experts suggest, as a rule of green thumb, living with your garden for a year to experience every season and what this means to your garden. Each garden has its own subtle annual patterns and styles – and it needs to suit the property it adjoins to complement it properly. Make the garden that fits the right location: if you’ve got a city garden your space will probably be overlooked by buildings creating shade so use plants that have a chance of blooming. If your garden overlooks your neighbours consider hedges and trees
PATHS can create an illusion of space and areas of greater interest; a winding path makes a more fluid design than a straight one and you can make individual areas for sitting or just admiring the greenery. Use path materials to complement those used on the house, matching the tones but varying the layout, perhaps adding a secondary, smaller material to give the path a more distinctive look. Do you want to stride boldly around your paths or are they a more subtle way of enticing people through the garden? In a narrow garden, a fan effect of paths can help the space look wider, or just lay wide rectangular slabs in a less formal way. A PATIO can prove to be a real sun-trap and a place where you can enjoy al fresco dining and entertaining. You can make your own decked area relatively easily, but don’t forget to treat it with stain and preserver products that will protect it from sunlight, water damage and mould. POTS and PLANTERS placed distinctively around your garden can look great on a patio with a large shrub, can screen areas or make small areas
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There are even brazier-like barbecues that heat the area on chilly evenings. You can, of course, build your own barbecue from brick, ensuring beforehand that it’s at the most practical and comfortable height for the people using it and that it doesn’t pose a firerisk. Gardens are also wonderful for their relaxing qualities, so finding ways to get nearer to it – and even work within it – make sense for many of us. GARDEN STUDIOS are one clever way of doing this – individually built rooms with plenty of glass and airiness that allow us another handy room outside the house. Store your wine in the garden with this clever garden cellar by Spiral Cellars
of fascination throughout your garden. Ensure, however, that they are portable enough to move around – if you get tired of them in one place then you can move them to another. Highlight all this with subtle LIGHTING. Invest in beautiful lanterns or LED lights in styles to complement your garden and spotlight your hard work. To take your lifestyle out into the fresh air, AWNINGS are a welcome all-yearround home accessory. They allow for outdoor dining and entertainment and can easily extend living areas outside day or night. They offer shade when it’s hot and protection when it’s not and
these days come in beautiful shades and with smooth mechanisms that make using them a pleasure. PERGOLAS, GAZEBOS and ARBOURS come in all shapes and sizes, too, offering a quirky and interesting attraction or simply as a way to enhance your garden walks. The wood used blends in beautifully with the surroundings yet they offer a talkingpoint and bring a different element to your garden. Everyone loves a BARBECUE in the garden and gas or charcoal-burning mobile models are available in various styles and prices to suit all pockets.
One company, Sanctum Garden Studios, explained that their clients use their studios as games’ rooms, recording studios, gyms, artist studios, sewing rooms or even as a Man Cave or Quilt Hut! We all know the healing and relaxing power of water which is why PONDS and WATER FEATURES are all so popular in our gardens today. They don’t have to cost a fortune – you can create a small pond on quite a modest budget, install a pump and put in suitable plants plus fish for a reasonable amount. And water features can be as big or small as you want, all involving that lovely sound of trickling water that calms the soul. If you really want to, literally, push the boat out you could invest in a SWIMMING POOL. You could have a small one in the open air or something larger in its own purpose-built home. Choose carefully and this could provide luxury swimming on site all the months of the year. HOT TUBS have also become very popular in this country over the last decade. Again, these can be used all year round and provide a relaxing and healthy way to chill out at home. Find out more at the British and Irish Spa Hot Tub Association (BISHTA) on www.bishta.co.uk Gardens are great places in which children and grandchildren can play and there’s a wealth of PLAY EQUIPMENT available – everything from climbing frames, slides and swings to exotic treehouses.
Dine al fresco anytime with the latest garden furniture like the Burford Willow Green foldaway bistro table and chair set.
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And if all you really want to do in your home outdoor space is garden, you can make your life easier with every kind of GARDEN EQUIPMENT. Choose from the latest labour-saving lawnmowers, trimmers and strimmers to all manner of small tools to create the garden of your dreams – and even be kind to your knees with the latest comfy kneeler! 19
Mon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm Sat 10am-3:00pm Sun 11:00am-1:00pm
Aug 2014, applies to made to measure orders only, lining quality Ivory, Pro-Solar Valid until 31st July
Over 50 bathroom suites and shower enclosures on display in our luxury showroom.
Everything you will need for your new bathroom project... • • • • • • • • •
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At Preston Plumbing Supplies you can be assured of top quality brands and a great service. Some of our top brands include Imperial, Vitra, Roca, Ideal Standard, Aqualisa, Crosswater, Dansani, Bisque, Mereway, Kudos, Aquata and Simpsons. So come along to our showroom today and see for yourself!
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Unit A Dryden Mill, Manchester Road, Preston, Lancashire PR1 3YH Telephone: 01772 203 202 Fax: 01772 203 573 www.prestonplumbingsupplies.co.uk
HOME first and then decide on your paint colour. Once you find something you like, limit the number of colours in a room to no more than three or four. Too many colours can make a room look busy or cluttered. Paint is fairly inexpensive and transforms a room more quickly than anything else, so you can afford to experiment a little.
Room Colour and How it Affects Your Mood The colours of the rooms within your home need to bring out your personality. While most of us may not spend a lot of time thinking about room colour, it affects every day of our lives. Room colour can influence our mood and our thoughts. Colour affects people in many ways, depending upon one’s age, gender, ethnic background or local climate. Certain colours or groups of colours tend to get a similar reaction from most people – the overall difference being in the shade or tones used. So when it comes to decorating, it is important to choose wisely. In order to have a beautiful home, you do not have to worry about trends. Colour trends will come and go. The people who live in a home make it beautiful by choosing colours that reflect their likes and their personalities. The trick is to blend those colours you like into a pleasing combination. Choosing colour combinations is one of the most intimidating steps for beginners. Colour has the power to change the shape and size of furnishings as well as the shape and size of the room itself. Selecting colours is not
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difficult if you equip yourself with some basic information about colour and its effects, so let’s find out more about room colours, and how these influence your mood. Choose Wisely! Keep in mind that each colour has a psychological value. Think about how those colours make you feel- they can influence any feeling from tranquility to rage. So when trying to create peace and harmony in your home, choose your colours wisely. Some colours in large amounts will have just the opposite affect on you and your loved ones’ moods. What mood do you want to create? Which colours will help you achieve that mood? Find clear answers to these questions. If you find this task difficult try to look at magazines, decorating books, blogs and websites for ideas, or let your fabric be your guide. In fact, this is a good approach to take even if you’re starting from scratch. Fabric, carpeting, furniture and tile are available in a more limited range of colours than paint, so choose them
Room Colors and Their Effects Understand that colours behave in three basic ways : active, passive, and neutral. You can easily match every room’s colours to your personal desires, to your taste taste and to the room’s purpose. Light colours are expansive and airy, making rooms seem larger and brighter. Dark colours are sophisticated and warm; they give large rooms a more intimate appearance. Now let’s find out more about colours and what they can do to a room: Red raises a room’s energy level. It is a good choice when you want to stir up excitement, particularly at night. In the living room or dining room, red draws people together and stimulates conversation. In an entryway, it creates a strong first impression. Red has been shown to raise blood pressure, speed respiration and heart rate. It is usually considered too stimulating for bedrooms, but if you’re only in the room after dark, you’ll be seeing it mostly by lamplight, when the colour will appear muted, rich, and elegant. Red, the most intense, pumps the adrenaline like no other hue. Yellow captures the joy of sunshine and communicates happiness. It is perfect for kitchens, dining rooms, and bathrooms, where happy colours are energising and uplifting. In halls, entries, and small spaces, yellow can feel expansive and welcoming. Even though yellow although is a cheery colour, it is not a good choice to use in main colour schemes when it comes to designing a room. Studies show that people are more likely to lose their temper in a yellow interior. Babies also seem to cry more in a yellow room. In large amounts, this colour tends to create feelings of frustration and anger in people. In chromotherapy, yellow is believed to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.
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out of fashion, but their virtue lies in their flexibility: Add colour to liven things up; subtract it to calm things down. Black is best used in small doses as an accent. Indeed, some experts maintain that every room needs a touch of black to ground the colour scheme and give it depth. To make the job easier, you can rely on the interior designer’s most important colour tool: the colour wheel.
Purple is rich, dramatic, and sophisticated.
Blue is said to bring down blood pressure and slow respiration and heart rate. That is why it is considered calming, relaxing and serene, and it is often recommended for bedrooms and bathrooms. Be careful, however: a pastel blue that looks pretty on the paint chip can come across as unpleasantly chilly when it is on the walls and furnishings, especially in a room that receives little natural light. If you opt for a light blue as the primary colour in a room, balance it with warm hues for the furnishings and fabrics. To encourage relaxation in the social areas (family rooms, living rooms, large kitchens) consider warmer blues, such as periwinkle, or bright blues, such as cerulean or turquoise. Blue is known to have a calming effect when used as the main colour of a room. Go for softer shades of blue. Dark blue has the opposite effect, evoking feelings of sadness. So refrain from using darker blues in your main colour scheme. Stay with the lighter shades of blue to give you and your loved ones a calm effect. Green is considered the most restful colour for the eye. Combining the refreshing quality of blue and the cheerfulness of yellow, green is suited for almost any room in the house. In the kitchen, green cools things down; in a family room or living room,
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it encourages unwinding but has enough warmth to promote comfort and togetherness. Green also has a calming effect when used as a main colour for decorating. It is believed to relieve stress by helping people relax. Also believed to help with fertility, making it a great choice for the bedroom. Purple in its darkest values (eggplant, for example) is rich, dramatic, and sophisticated. It is associated with luxury as well as creativity, and as an accent or secondary colour, it gives a scheme depth. Lighter versions of purple, such as lavender and lilac, bring the same restful quality to bedrooms as blue does, but without the risk of feeling chilly. Orange evokes excitement, enthusiasm and is an energetic colour. While not a good idea for a living room or for bedrooms, this colour is great for an exercise room. It will bring out all the emotions that you need released during your fitness routine. In ancient cultures orange was believed to heal the lungs and increase energy levels.
Crimson can make some people feel irritable. Invoking feelings of rage and hostility, this is a colour that should be avoided as the main colour of a room. Sitting for long periods of time in a room painted in this colour will likely affect the peace and harmony you are striving to create in your home. Colour Effects on Walls and Ceiling The ceiling represents one-sixth of the space in a room, but too often it gets nothing more than a coat of white paint. In fact, for decades, white has been considered not only the safest but also the best choice for ceilings. As a general rule, ceilings that are lighter than the walls feel higher, while those that are darker feel lower. Lower need not mean claustrophobic: visually lowered ceilings can evoke cosy intimacy. As a general rule, dark walls make a room seem smaller, and light walls make a room seem larger. Conclusion These general guidelines are a good starting point in your search for a paint colour. But remember that colour choice is a very personal matter. You are the one who has to live with your new paint colour, so choose a hue that suits you, your family and your lifestyle.
Neutrals (black, grey, white, and brown) are basic to the decorator’s tool kit. All-neutral schemes fall in and 23
TheTILE GALLERY Units 1 & 2 progress business park, Orders Lane, Kirkham PR4 2TZ
Tel: 01772 672 696
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T R E V D A S R I E H V T WWIITTHH THIS AD T
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Redscar Kitchens is delighted to announce it’s the North West’s only stockist of the prestigious Xey Kitchens.
The beautiful Xey Kitchens are manufactured in Northern Spain and truly lend themselves to today’s trends which encompasses open plan living. The units with their smooth lines and beautiful craftsmanship work well in a traditional kitchen, dining room or living area. The design led Xey Kitchens offer a real alternative to the German kitchens which are renowned for their functionality.
Each kitchen is ergonomically designed and the base units can be adjusted to take into consideration the height of the person who uses them. The units come in a range of finishes and each door is offered in both a handle and handless option. A Xey Kitchen is a fantastic piece of manufacturing. Each kitchen is designed to the highest quality and specification incorporating current trends, aesthetics, design and functionality.
To view the range of Xey Kitchens available then visit the newly established Redscar Kitchens, on the business park of the same name, just off the M6 junction 31a Preston. Sharon Shahsvar and Les Holderness are on hand to share their wealth of expertise in kitchen design and fit out to ensure you find a kitchen that will become the heart of your home.
Tel: 01772 700012
A24 Redscar Business Park, Preston PR2 5NE www.redscarkitchens.co.uk
YESTERDAY’S FISH CURRY
SERVES 4 – 6 60ml vegetable oil 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 15g/3cm piece ginger, finely grated 50g/10 cloves garlic, half crushed to a paste, half thinly sliced 8 fresh curry leaves 1 tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder 1/2 tsp ground tumeric 1 tbsp ground coriander 1/2 tsp toasted ground fenugreek 1 tbsp rice flour or plain flour 2 tomatoes sliced 2 tbsp sliced smoked kokum, washed and soaked in 100ml boiling water for 15 minutes 500ml water 11/2 tsp salt 1 tsp sugar 500g salmon fillet, cut into 3cm chunks 1 tsp coconut oil, warmed to its liquid state, to finish.
Method
This recipe comes from a book called The Suriani Kitchen. The author, Lathika George, who took me on a fascinating trip round a frenetic market just outside Cochin, is an authority on Keralan cooking. She explained that it’s called ‘yesterday’s curry’ because everybody thinks it’s much better the next day. I came across the same curry all over the place - in a kitchen so smoky I couldn’t stay in there for more than a minute at a time, where it featured a giant kingfish head; at the house where I was filmed cooking lots of the recipes in the book, where the cook Mallika had one on every day; and in the hotel where we all stayed for about two weeks. The hotel was the sort of place of air-conditioned comfort where you go quietly mad for want of the warp and weft of everyday Indian life; we had to leave at six o’clock every morning to work a twelve-hour day in enervating humidity. As a matter of interest, I first tasted this dish years ago in a restaurant in central London called Rasa Samudra, and then as now, was taken by its spicy redness and the smoky flavour and souring effect of kokum. As if it wasn’t hard enough to get hold of kokum anyway, now you need to make sure it’s the smoky sort - but don’t worry, tamarind is nearly as good. 26
Heat the oil in a heavy-based pan or karahi over a medium heat, add the onion and fry for 5 minutes until softened. Add the ginger, crushed and sliced garlic and curry leaves and fry for 2 minutes. Stir in the chilli powder, ground spices and flour and a splash of water, and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, kokum (plus soaking water) or tamarind, water, salt and sugar and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the salmon and cook for a further 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, drizzle with coconut oil and serve.
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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.
PARATHAS
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.
The paratha is a flaky version of the chapati. Made with the same dough, it is the rolling out to create a few layers that gives it the flaky texture. In a mixing bowl, mix the flour with the salt, then add the melted ghee or oil and 120ml of the water. Mix together, adding a little more water if needed, until you have a soft but not sticky dough. Knead in the bowl for a minute or two then cover and leave to rest for 15 minutes.
Makes 8 250g chapati, flour or half wholemeal, half plain white flour, plus extra for dusting 1/2 tsp salt 2 tbsp melted ghee or butter, plus extra 5 tbsp for brushing 120-150ml warm water
Divide the dough into 8 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a ball then use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll out into a circle about 13cm in diameter. Brush the top with melted ghee or butter and dust with a little flour. Fold in half to form a half moon (enclosing the butter), then brush the top with more ghee or butter and dust with a little more flour. Fold in half again to form a triangle. Lightly dust the dough with flour and roll out into a larger triangle, so that each side is about 13cm long. Repeat with the remaining dough. Heat a heavy-based frying pan or griddle over a medium heat. When hot, place one of the triangles of dough in the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until bubbles appear on the surface and it puffs up. Brush the top with melted ghee or butter then flip the bread over, press down with a spatula so that it cooks evenly, and cook for a further minute, or until the bread is golden-brown. Brush the top with more ghee or butter, flip it over for a final few seconds, then remove from the pan and put on a warm plate covered by a tea towel while you cook the rest. Serve warm.
Extracted from Rick Stein’s India by Rick Stein, BBC Books hardback £25 Photography: James Murphy
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LEYLAND DENTURE CENTRE Leyland Denture Centre is an existing clinic focusing on providing dentures directly to the public. As a result they are able to concentrate on providing exceptional quality of private dentures to their patients. Their success is attributed to the investments that they have made in terms of latest technology laboratory equipment, using the best materials and the most natural, life like and realistic denture teeth that are available. Not to mention their biggest investment; in there own training and qualifications as Clinical Dental Technicians.
What is a Clinical Dental Technician? A Clinical Dental Technician (CDT) is a qualified dental technician that has under gone further Education and Training in areas such as Medical Emergencies Cross Infection Control and Oral Pathology (cancers and anomalies) to name just a few sections that make up the Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology as Awarded by the Royal Collage of Surgeons (RCS). It is this qualification that allows the clinicians at Leyland Denture Centure to be able to be registered and regulated with the General Dental Council (the official body for protecting the public with regards to dentistry) and carry indemnity insurance. It is this qualification, which means that only Dentists and Clinical Dental Technicians are the only Dental Professionals permitted to supply dentures direst to the public. A dental technician is not qualified to supply a denture directly to the
public. However, despite this being an act of Mal practice many technicians will still practice illegally without informing the patient that they are not qualified. If you are unsure if your denture provider is qualified; ask them for their GDC registration number, then contact the GDC to see if they are registered not just as a dental technician but as a CDT. Dentures, like most things, have a limited lifespan; usually around 5-7 years. After this period of time the denture can start to offer inadequate facial support, which can leave cheeks looking sunken and withered as well as lips appearing excessively wrinkled. New dentures can reduce these age related features by supporting the facial tissues without making the teeth looking large and protruded. Leyland Denture Centre offer FREE consultation so that they can assess what services or treatment you might require as well as showing you the various standards of dentures that they can produce. After this free consultation you are under no obligation to go ahead and have new dentures made, the door is open for you to go away and reflect upon the information that you have been presented.
Meet the Clinicians: Jonathan and Steve
They also offer an intensive denture cleaning service. This denture cleaning machine uses strong detergents and mild chemicals to breakdown the plaque and debris that builds up on a denture over prolonged periods of time. Despite the best efforts of a denture wearer to clean their dentures thoroughly, plaque can still build up and impair the functionality of the
www.leylanddenturecentre.co.uk denture and produce an unpleasant taste or odour. One thing that many patients are amazed at is the amount of time that the clinician spends with the patient to ensure that the dentures are just how that patient wants them to look. As well as the after service, NEW DENTURES MADE AT THE CLINIC because as many dentures PREVIOUS DENTURES wearers know, getting used to new dentures can take a little bit of time and perseverance as well as having someone Leyland Denture Centre only offers Private denture treatment, to help ease the little sore spots that comes with having new however, they are able to construct a good quality private dentures. denture for less than most people would imagine but because of their position within the industry they have been able to source Advances in technology now means that there are new ways materials and teeth, as well as techniques that even some top to hold a denture in place. The most significant one of these is London dentists are not familiar with and they are more than though the use of implants. There any many different types of happy to show their patients example of the different qualities implants but on whole the main idea of implants is something that they can offer to the public. that is able to offer the lower denture stability and support to stop it from moving around the mouth. Although these are not a Other services that are offer by Leyland Denture Centre are; cheap solution they are by far the most effective, offering total denture naming service, denture refurbishment, relines and soft lower denture security in any environment. relines as well as advice and tips for cleaning and maintaining your dentures.
If you are interested in a FREE, no obligation consultation then call 01772 623 623 to book your new patient consultation.
LEYLAND DENTURE CENTRE for your next quality denture • Qualified Clinical Dental Technicians • New Dentures and Relines • Dental Repairs • Denture Cleaning Services • Free Consultations
Contact us at:
01772 623 623 Independence House | Golden Hill Lane | Leyland | PR25 3NP
Registered with the GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL www.50plusmagazine.co.uk
www.leylanddenturecentre.co.uk
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.
www.phagenesis.com
What will youryour legacy be? What will legacy be? 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.
Cleo is a female 12 year old, staffie cross. Cleo joins us as her owners have been taken ill and can no longer look after her! Cleo needs a SUPER HERO to take her on as she is massively over weight and needs to lose at least half her body weight, weighing a massive 45kg!!! She is an older girl who needs someone to help her look and feel a lot better! Her owners have told us she is good with children but doesn’t like cats or other dogs, she is very friendly and covers the staff in kisses every day!!
Cleo t he Sta ffie Cr oss! ANIMAL CARE is a small rehoming centre helping stray, unwanted and ill treated animals until caring new homes can be found for them. Registered Charity No. 508819
Animal Care
(Lancaster, Morecambe and District)
Blea Tarn Road, Scotforth, Lancaster, LA2 ORD | Telephone: 01524 65495 | Fax: 01524 841819 Email: rehoming@animalcare-lancaster.co.uk | www.animalcare-lancaster.co.uk
ONLY 2 REMAINING FROM
luxury 1-bed apartments
£99,950
WAS £145,000
Where else can you buy a luxury one bed apartment in award-winning surroundings with excellent on-site facilities… for that price?
Each property includes: • Own entrance • Open plan lounge • Fitted kitchen • Spacious shower room • Hall with storage cupboard • Large double bedroom • Convenience, comfort, security Other fantastic benefits: • Estate agent fees paid • Free financial healthcheck • Like-minded neighbours • No external maintenance • A whole new way of life
*Subject to status, terms and conditions apply.
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0845 094 5050
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or visit: www.buckshawretirementvillage.co.uk Buckshaw Retirement village, oakbridge drive, Buckshaw village, Chorley, lancashire PR7 7eP