Preston & Fylde 43

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PRESTON & THE FYLDE COAST

MAY - AUGUST 2015

EDITION 43

Jane McDonald The No-Messing Yorkshire Lass

Cook with the Stars!

Delicious recipes from John Torode, Paul Hollywood & James Martin at Synergy Dental See pages 46-47 THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50s

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CONTENTS

6-7

INSIDE...

6-7

Northern Greece...

City Breaks in Thessaloniki

8-9

Robinsons Holidays...

Save up to £100 on your holiday.

12-13

Jane McDonald ...

The no-messing Yorkshire lass with a powerful singing voice.

12-13

21-23

32-33

18-20 Out & About...

What's happening in your area and beyond.

21-23

Cook with the Stars!

Recipes from your favourite celebrity chefs: John Torode, Paul Hollywood & James Martin.

32-33

Interior Design...

New looks for your home this Spring.

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

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PRESTON & THE FYLDE COAST

JUNE SEPTE MBER 2014 EDITIO N 41

EDITION 43

& PRESTON THE FYLDE COAST EDIT ION

PRE STO THE FYL N & DE COA

MAY - AUGUST 2015

se ta

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42

Torvill Dean & Life On Ice...

Cheryl Baker

Our

From Buc k's Fizz to Happy Day s

Healthy Recipes

e Turn your hous e with into a hom Beautiful Soft at furnishings tacts RB Con L MAG AZIN THE LOCA

Rick Stei n's Indian

Jane McDonald

Bikersie Hairy Low Calor

Odyssey

Still Following Her Dreams

at Synergy Dental See inside...

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THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50s

THE LOC AL MAG AZIN E FOR THE OVE R 50s

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TWITTERING ON She told television stations WFLA and WFTS that after she rapidly gained weight last autumn, doctors confirmed she was pregnant.

Ms Ford said she thought she was having twins at first.

Debbie Moore, a registered nurse at the hospital, said they would "definitely not" have recommended a natural birth if they had known how much Avery weighed, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Graham Smith

Keeping abreast of the times Celebrity culture is big business. To join this band of elite, dysfunctional people you need certain qualities. You should preferably be verbally challenged to the point where you cannot string a sentence together, tattoos over most inches of exposed flesh are a necessity, metal objects inserted in each bodily orifice add to the attraction, oh, and you must be vulgar.

My 2015 award for vulgarity has to go to Leeds lass, I think, Josie Cunningham who hit the headlines after having a boob job on the NHS and then employing an agent of dubious origin to publicise the episode and subsequent miscreant meanderings of a sexual connotation which included offering to have an abortion so she could take part in Big Brother. Worrying isn’t it?

In a “fly on the wall” TV documentary this fearsome looking specimen came over as a complete half wit whose antics are capable of extracting large amounts of money from today’s downmarket tabloid media. Her baseball capped agent was shown ferrying her around in a taxi to various photo shoots and locations in his quest to make a financial killing. He’s an oddball who has a grasp of how to manipulate social media so the femme fatale thinks she is rising to iconic proportions in the popularity stakes while, truth is, he is lining his own pocket.

There’s enough collagen in her lips to keep a small trawler afloat in heavy seas and her so far untended teeth would mean most sane men would need an anaesthetic and several strong men to drag them under the mistletoe with her. Her dulcet Leeds accent makes a Billingsgate fish wife sound like an elocution expert and she uses enough profanities and vernacular to keep Gordon Ramsay going for six months.

Barely a sentence goes by without use

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Avery's father, Allen Denton, told the newspaper: "I got a linebacker now instead of a fullback." of the procreation verb or adjective and coming out of that falsely constructed generous gob it sounds like fingernails down the side of a ship.

In a scene of blissful domesticity she was shown with her mother painting skirting boards at the family home and holding a tasteful discourse about how much they ******* love each other and anyone who doesn’t like it can go forth and multiply.

Their application of the gloss paint was as thick as their awful accents and the result was very similar to their sordid way of life, runny, lacking in finesse and full of drips.

Josie describes herself as a model, for what I’m not quite sure. She sets out to shock and invariably succeeds. If your son brought her home you’d leave it. she is surely an ambassador for the cause of celibacy if ever I saw one.

In one of her outbursts, proudly sticking out her prosthetically enhanced chest, she said fat people did not deserve a gastric band on the NHS. She deserves two. One around her vile, over inflated gob and the other strategically placed and tightened about six inches lower.

Stone me!

A woman in the US has given birth to a baby weighing 14.1 pounds (6.4kg) - and he is already eating double the amount of an average-sized newborn.

Maxxzandra Ford's son Avery is the heaviest ever baby to be born at St Joseph's Women's Hospital in Tampa, Florida.

Avery, who was delivered in a natural birth lasting 18 hours, is one of the largest-ever born in the state.

Ms Ford did not know she was pregnant until about 35 weeks in, according to media reports in the US.

Ms Ford, who already has a one-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter, said she "just melted" when she finally held Avery.

Bear necessity Passengers on the London Underground were stunned to see an eight foot polar bear climb aboard a train.

The giant bear, created by Hollywood special effects experts FX, was spotted at Charing Cross tube station, as well as Hampstead Heath and the South Bank of the Thames.

The huge puppet was made by a team of 19 prop specialists and made from more than 60 different materials including 90 sq ft of white fur.

It was controlled by two puppeteers who spent weeks studying footage of real polar bears in the wild before spending five days rehearsing with the device.

The bear was created to promote new Sky Atlantic drama Fortitude.

Sky Atlantic director Zai Bennett said: "To launch our new Arctic-noir thriller we wanted to bring a realistic polar bear to the streets of London to give people an up close experience of what it must be like to come face to face with one of the biggest, but uncredited stars of our new show."

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5

50 Plus Travel

sponsored by

City Breaks to Thessaloniki

By Jacqueline Jeynes from Silver Travel Advisor Despite a cool evening breeze, though still very warm to us, the bars and cafĂŠs along the promenade are packed with locals enjoying the balmy evening, chatting and drinking with friends. There is a lively buzz, a friendly, vibrant atmosphere and definitely a feeling of being relaxed and safe in the city.

It is the same every evening of the week as the newly-finished 7 kmlong promenade is the focal point for people to walk, jog, cycle or simply stroll along by the sea, a live band is playing as a stage is set up for a concert next to the White Tower. This is the emblem of the city, its name referring to a prisoner there painting it white in exchange for his freedom, covering up the walls blood-stained from executions. On a brighter note, there are some impressive public sculptures and gardens along this seafront, especially the metal umbrellas in the late sunshine. There are boat trips around the port and across the bay to Agia Triada (more of

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that later), and a little boat regularly goes along the edges clearing any debris.

Thessaloniki in northern Greece is a city not always associated with art, food and wine, or as a cultural centre yet it is steeped in history as a geographically strategic point for this region. It is an ideal base to explore the area, particularly for those interested in the culture of Ancient Greece, as well as the superb fine dining.

We visited in the first week of September, with temperatures around 25° and bright sunshine.

Flight time is just over 3 hours from Manchester airport and it takes around half an hour to get to the city from Macedonia Airport. The first impressions as you drive into the city are of old buildings, not architecturally beautiful as many are 20th century structures and everywhere covered in graffiti, which relates to social comment on the severe financial

troubles Greece suffered a few years ago. Since then, a new Mayor has allocated large surfaces at the sides of specific buildings for graffiti artists to work on so eventually much of this will be removed.

However, this first impression should be ignored! Walk around narrow, cobbled streets down to the sea, the old port having been revived with new museums, a photography gallery, cinema and various cultural centres for different exhibitions, events and celebrations throughout the year.

This is also the favourite spot for dreamy-eyed young (and old?) lovers to stretch out and talk into the night.

Sounds good to me.

We had the privilege of being shown a room at the 5* Excelsior Hotel – what a beautiful, stylish place. It is a splendid old building where original, ornate architectural features have been retained during its recent renovation. If you have an opportunity to stay there, you must.

TRAVEL Take a half-day city tour and you will really get a feel for the history of Thessaloniki and Greece from ancient times. Located in a strategic position in the Aegian sea, there were three distinct ages of occupation from Romans, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Given this history, there are fantastic churches, synagogues and mosques that contain preserved sections of frescoes and finelydetailed mosaics. A lot has changed over the centuries due to fires and earthquakes, exposing many new archaeological sites.

A real must is the history related to the Jewish communities in this city, particularly the devastating impact of their treatment by the Nazi troops during WWII. It is well worth having a guided tour – our guide Konstantinos was so knowledgeable – although you can explore on your own using the hop on-hop off bus number 50 that costs 2 Euros for the day. Their leaflet also suggests short walks you can do from the bus stops, see www.expertguides.gr.

Remember to visit the daily market selling all kinds of fresh fruit and vegetables plus an array of olives, of course. There is also fresh meat and fish, though I declined the invitation to take a sheep’s head home with me.

And the three famous pastry/sweet shops are truly divine! We tried a small sample shot of luscious, rich chocolate and a silver-wrapped chocolate cigar.

For lunch, try the fish and chips at Bakaliarakia (a small restaurant in the Ladadika area), large flat slices of fried potato and crispy batter around tasty white cod, served with thick creamy garlic sauce. An afternoon nap is then recommended.

This is a big, bustling city full of life and with plenty to see. The traffic is a bit hectic so you have to have your wits about you, but it is fine if you keep to the proper crossing places. It is not ideal for anyone with mobility issues or wheelchair-users, although across the Bay it is quieter and easier to get around. However, if you love to explore during city breaks, this is a great place to visit.

For city breaks to Thessaloniki Silver Travel Advisor recommends Kirker Holidays who offer a range of short breaks and tailor-made holidays throughout Greece and the rest of Europe. Prices start from £598 per person for a three night holiday to Thessaloniki, including return flights, private car transfers and accommodation with breakfast sharing a double room. Kirker clients also receive the exclusive Kirker Guide Notes to restaurants and sightseeing and the services of the Kirker Concierge to arrange private guides, book excursions or museum tickets and to reserve a table at a recommended restaurant.

For more information or reservations, contact Kirker Holidays on 020 7593 2283 or visit www.kirkerholidays.com

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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7

MYSTERY TOURS

5 DAYS from ONLY

£159

Robinsons Own Hotels

includes 2 excursions

2015

Sunny Sussex Eastbourne

The Garden Isle Isle of Wight

Eastbourne is an “all year round” holiday destination with one of the best sunshine records in the UK.

The Isle of Wight offers stunning landscapes, award winning beaches, breath taking seascapes and not forgetting its extensive history.

The Imperial Hotel 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.

The Ocean View Hotel is 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.

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

8

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

Freephone: 0800 083 9900 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Delightful Devon Torquay

With its mild climate and trademark Palm Trees, Torquay is one of the UK’s premier seaside resorts and has been fashionable since the 19th Century.

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

Groups: 0800 785 1025

The Robinsons Difference

PRICES NOT TO BE MISSED -

SAVE UP TO £100*

PER COUPLE AT THESE 3 FEATUR

ED RESORTS

Mystery Tours* DATE DURATION MYSTERY PRICE 25 May 5 days £189 01 June 5 days £209 08 June 5 days £209 15 June 5 days £209 22 June 5 days £209 29 June 5 days £209 06 July 5 days £209 13 July 5 days £209 20 July 5 days £209 27 July 5 days £209 03 August 5 days £219 10 August 5 days £219 17 August 5 days £219 24 August 5 days £219 31 August 5 days £209 07 September 5 days £209 14 September 5 days £209 21 September 5 days £209 28 September

5 days

£209

Once your booking is made, you will be allocated at one of the three resorts featured. Your destination and seat numbers will be advised on receipt of your final travel document which is issued approx. 2 weeks before travel. Terms and conditions of the Trading Charter in the main 2015 brochure apply.

Includes excursions Friendly staff l Own hotels in great locations l Peace of mind security l Payment in instalments * Robinsons own hotels l

Local joining points l No single supplements* l High standard of accommodation l Great choice of menus l Executive coaches with extra legroom

l

l

7 Day Tours

8 Day Tours

6 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast

7 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast

Date 24 May 31 May 07 June 14 June 21 June 28 June 05 July 12 July 19 July 26 July 02 Aug 09 Aug 16 Aug 23 Aug 30 Aug 06 Sept 13 Sept 20 Sept 27 Sept 04 Oct 11 Oct 18 Oct 25 Oct

Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn £359 £359 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £359 £359 £359 £329 £329 £329 £289 £289 £289 £279 £279 £279 £269 £269 £269 £269 £269 £269

Supplements per person 7 Days: Imperial: Premier Room £30 Ocean View: Premier Room £45 -Sea View Room £13 Abbey Lawn: Premier Room £40 - Front Facing Room £13

!

Win A Robinsons Holiday Win a holiday for two people with Robinsons Holidays to either the Abbey Lawn Hotel in Torquay, the Imperial Hotel in Eastbourne or the Ocean View Hotel on the Isle of Wight.

Name:-----------------------------------------------

This is your chance to win a holiday for two people for five days. Prize is valid between 1st July 2015 and 30th September 2015.

------------------------------------------------------

Simply choose one of the dates from our 2015 main brochure, a copy of which will be sent to you upon publication. Prize includes half board accommodation and coach travel from any pick-up point in our main brochure. Holiday itinerary is as per relevant brochure tour for chosen date.

Postcode:-------------------------------------------

Address:--------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------

Tel:-------------------------------------------------Email:-----------------------------------------------

Prize is subject to availability and is non-transferable, non- refundable and has no cash redemption value. Prize can not be auctioned on any web-site or used or offered as a prize for any other competition or as a gift or incentive. Prize is not for re-sale. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Closing date for all entries is 31st May 2015.

Post your entry to McGrath Media, 6th Floor, 120 Bark Street, Bolton BL1 2AX ROBINSONS HOLIDAYS may wish to contact you about special offers, products or services by post.

Please tick this box if you do not wish to receive these details 

Date Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn 23/24 May £389 £389 £389 30/31 May £399 £399 £399 06/07 June £399 £399 £399 13/14 June £399 £399 £399 20/21 June £409 £409 £409 27/28 June £409 £409 £409 04/05 July £409 £409 £409 11/12 July £409 £409 £409 18/19 July £409 £409 £409 25/26 July £409 £409 £409 01/02 Aug £409 £409 £409 08/09 Aug £409 £409 £409 15/16 Aug £409 £409 £409 22/23 Aug £409 £409 £409 29/30 Aug £409 £409 £409 05/06 Sept £399 £399 £399 12/13 Sept £399 £399 £399 19/20 Sept £389 £389 £389 26/27 Sept £359 £359 £359 03/04 Oct £319 £319 £319 10/11 Oct £309 £309 £309 17/18 Oct £299 £299 £299 24/25 Oct £299 £299 £299 Supplements per person 8 Days: Imperial: Premier Room £35 Ocean View: Premier Room £50 -Sea View Room £15 Abbey Lawn: Premier Room £50 - Front Facing Room £15

9 Day Tours 8 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast Date 23 May 30 May 06 June 13 June 20 June 27 June 04 July 11 July 18 July 25 July 01 Aug 08 Aug 15 Aug 22 Aug 29 Aug 05 Sept 12 Sept 19 Sept 26 Sept

Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn £419 £419 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £419 £419 £419 £389 £389 £389

9 DAYS ~ ONLY STANDARD ROOMS AVAILABLE

Visit us online at www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk and book a great deal today!

Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP.

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REEVES COACH HOLIDAYS Wye Valley and

TEL: 01254The 830545 Forest of Dean

25th - 29th May www.reevescoachholidays.com St Pierre Hotel info@reevescoachholidays.com and Country Club

De Vere Village, Newcastle

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.

£339.00

Shoulder surfers: one of the most common ways for fraudsters

£359.00

Turkey and Banbury and the Cotswolds Tinsel Break 16th -Trouville 19th June Hotel, Mercure Whately Hall, Bournemouth Banbury Cross 17th-21st November

£299.00 £259.00

Catherine Cookson Country 19th - 23rd July

Worcester ISLE OFVictorian WIGHT Christmas Fair and - 30th July the26th Good Food Show Bourne Hall Hotel, Shanklin at the NEC

£399.00

29th-30th November

£139.00 The Very Best of Suffolk

DOWNTON ABBEY - Jane Austen's and more!

9th - 13th August

28th Aug - 1st Sept

More Holidays...

RELAXING SCOTLAND Holiday Inn, Ipswich

Hampshire Court Hotel, 2nd-6th February 2015, Crieff Hydro Hotel ..............................£299 Basingstoke

£299.00 NEWQUAY SPECIAL

£379.00

9th-13th February 2015, Fistral Beach Hotel ...........................£289

The Heartland Shires CYCLAMEN AND SNOWDROPS of Old England 20th-23rd February 2015, Cheltenham Park Hotel .................£279

KENT (SINGLES SPECIAL)

7th - 11th September

2nd-6th March 2015, Mercury Hythe Imperial Hotel ..............£339 Walton Hotel, Wellesbourne

European Escapes...£389.00 APRIL IN ITALY...LAKE GARDA

10th-19th April 2015, Liberty Hotel ..........................................£699

European Escapes

SPRINGTIME ON THE RHINE 25th-30th May 2015, Killarney andRhine Hotel .............................................£559 The Little Trains of the the Ring of Kerry Tyrol--Austria All Inclusive

2015 R EHOLIDAY E V EDEALS

16th - 20th August 2015 Killarney Towers Hotel

Scam Watch

21st - 30th August 2015 The Bergland Hotel, Seefeld

COACH HOLIDAYS

£10£459.00 off UK holidays and £20 off £948.00 European and Irish holidays...

Tel: Freephone 0800 9172862 TEL:or01254 830545 01254 830545 www.reevescoachholidays.com www.reevescoachholidays.com info@reevescoachholidays.com info@reevescoachholidays.com

When you book and pay your deposit before 24 December 2014 Visit www.reevescoachholidays.com for more information

10 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK Turkey and

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

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.

GREAT VALUE

Torquay ALL INCLUSIVE holiday to Torquay affectionately known as the English Riviera due to it's pleasant, warm climate.

12th Oct | 5 days | £319 Great Malvern & The Cotswolds Including The Royal Worcester Porcelain Museum & Spetchley Park Gardens.

29th June | 5 days | £335

Llandudno

Tenby

Costa Verdi - Northern Spain

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.

Including a stop at Chester or Cheshire Oaks en route and an optional steam train journey Snowdonia National Park.

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.

A return visit to one of our favourite destinations. Cantabria in Northern Spain is known as 'green Spain' because of it's stunning countryside and spectacular Coastline.

5th June | 3rd Aug | 18th Sept | 23rd Nov |

4 days 5 days 4 days 5 days

| | | |

£279 £369 £299 £315

15th Aug | 6 days | £399 The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo The annual Edinburgh Tattoo is the highlight of Edinburgh's festival season.

17th Aug | 3 days | £275

The Hotel Milagros Golf at Mogro 5 nights bed breakfast and evening dinner with a choice of menu.

Spacious fully equipped rooms.

Large bar area with outside terrace.

Beautiful dining room with stunning view.

15th Sept | 8 days | £750

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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| 11

Jane

McDonald IT’S amazing to think that it’s 17 years since Jane McDonald first captivated viewers in the BBC documentary-soap “The Cruise.”

12 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

The no-messing Yorkshire lass, a singer on the cruise ship, immediately fascinated everyone with her broad Yorkshire accent, warm heart and undoubtedly powerful singing voice.

Right from the first sight of her, we knew she was a straightforward type of person, and she became the enduring image of that first series. The programme also provided a very useful springboard to success for Ms McDonald. But by then she had more than earned the right to it.

Jane grew up in Wakefield. Her father, Peter, was a miner who doubled as a chimney sweep and Jane’s mother, Jean, and Jane’s grandmother ran a boarding house.

Singing was what Jane was destined for, however, and for 12 years, she sang in the clubs throughout the North, honing her singing skills and learning to handle every kind of audience.

She also entertained on cruise ships and in 1995 she met her future husband, Henrik, onboard The Century. They married in May, 1998, and in January, 1998, the BBC began broadcasting its fly-on-the-wall documentary.

The programme was watched regularly by 14 million viewers and her wedding to Henrik, also televised, was watched by a large audience although the couple later divorced.

Such was her instant fame that in July, 1998, Jane released her first, self-titled album which spent three weeks at No.1 and went platinum.

In November the following year, she released her concert video, followed in 2000 by her second album, “Inspiration.”

TV proved to the nation that here was a girl who could not only sing but who was funny and could present. She became a guest presenter on BBC’s “National Lottery” before being given her own show, “Star for a Night”, which helped launch the career of singer Joss Stone.

Because of the way the public first got to know Jane, it’s always been difficult for her to shake off the image, as she says herself, of “‘er off the cruise ship.”

But, in fact, not only has she carved out a very successful TV career but she has regularly toured all over the country, and all over the world including America, bringing her own brand of glamorous glitz and powerful, entrancing singing to her legions of fans.

And she appreciates those fans. “To me, twenty fans are equally as important as twenty thousand fans,” she states.

“When I look out, I don’t see a sea of people but individual faces.”

She also has very loyal fans. “They travel around the country to see me,” she explains, “write to me, send me things and

are all so supportive. I always make sure when I do a concert or a TV show that I meet the fans afterwards.

“There’s been a time when the signing session after the show has lasted longer than the show itself! But I wouldn’t miss that for the world. Without them …. well … I woudn’t know what to do.”

Jane especially appreciates her fans since she became wellknown and started touring because of her tough years in the clubs. “When I sang before I’d have to compete with the bingo callers and people chatting at the bar,” she says. “I thought I’d gone deaf on this tour because the audience was so quiet. It took a while to realise they were quiet because they were listening to me.”

As well as her touring, Jane became a regular presenter on ITV daytime programme “Loose Women” where her forthright opinions were always loved by viewers. She finally left the series last year after 10 years to concentrate on her music career and toured the country at the same time as her latest album, “Singer of Your Song”, came out.

She’s made numerous guest appearances on mainstream TV - from “Ready, Steady Cook” to “All Star Family Fortunes” and “Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway”. She’s reviewed newspapers and had her own autobiography, “Follow Your Dreams” which was published in 2000.

Her shows are unashamedly showbizzy and fun with eye-catching sets and costumes, and Jane belts out all the favourite standards to please her fans. Indeed, she always seems to enjoy herself as much as her audience does.

She’s 51 now, divorced twice but happy finally with musician Eddie Rothe. They first dated at 18 when he was in the band Liquid Gold, but split up and Jane met him again on the set of “Loose Women”.

Her fans are a cross-section of ages, including her own age-group. “I see the same three rows wherever I go,” she states. “I’ve seen them grow up and go through marriages and losses.” And it’s to these loyal fans that she dedicated last year’s album and tour.

She’s just finished a stint in panto at Birmingham Hippodrome, in “Jack and the Beanstalk” playing The Enchantress, before going off on another series of sell-out appearances around the UK. But to all those fans who were first enchanted by her in “The Cruise” and who have remained keen to follow her career ever since, it’s plain that – while life may not have been all plain-sailing for Jane McDonald – she’s determined to continue putting a smile on other people’s faces.

Jane McDonald is appearing in Cats at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool between 9th July to 6th September 2015.

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| 13

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.

About Lilly...

Poor old Lilly is feeling a bit sad and confused at the moment. She is looking for a new family that will love her forever. Lilly has come from the dog pound so we dont have much history on her but she will make a wonderful companion to an older person who is looking for a new best friend.

Lilly th e Lab/ Co 10 year llie Cross s old

Lilly has a few lumps and bumps on her which due to old age we feel are best left alone she can also be a bit wobbly on her feet. She is very good with other dogs and would be fine to live with another dog. Lilly is hoping for a special someone to take her home.

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

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| 15

A packed season at Wyre’s theatres If you’re looking for great entertainment, then look no further than Wyre’s two theatres - Marine Hall, Fleetwood and Thornton Little Theatre. With a packed season of music, comedy and performance there’s something for everyone.

Enjoy a night of your favourite hits at Marine Hall as top acts including The Dreamers, Ray Quinn and The Bay City Rollers take to the stage. Or why not have a hilarious Friday night out with the best of live stand-up comedy

by Jongleurs. Plus in summer there’s the Fylde Coast Food and Drink Festival - a must for all foodies!

Meanwhile over at Thornton Little Theatre there’s two great stage shows. First up is Doppel Dietrich by Manchester based company Gloves Off on 25 September. Award-winning solo performer, Patricia Hartshorne,

doubles as Marlene Dietrich in this haunting and humorous look at the life, loves and songs of this legend of the twentieth century.

Then later in the season, Hi-de-Hi’s Jeffrey Holland takes to the stage in his new one-man show And This is My Friend Mr Laurel on 15 October.

Fulfilling a long held desire to pay tribute to his hero Stan Laurel, Jeffrey Holland tells this intriguing, funny and often poignant tale of friendship, love and dedication about one of Hollywood’s great film comedians.

marinehall.co.uk marine hall

My Friend Mr Laurel

For full details of what’s on visit

www.wyretheatres.co.uk or call the box office on

01253 887693.

01253 887693

The Esplanade, Fleetwood FY7 6HF

@marinehallwyre

Friday 26 June & Friday 16 October, 8pm Jongleurs – On the Road £12 (Over 18s only)

Saturday 17 October, 7.30pm Ray Quinn in Concert £17

Saturday 24 October, 7.30pm Abbamania £18.50

Friday 3 July, 7.30pm The Dreamers £15

Sunday 18 October, 7.30pm The Lindisfarne Story £16

Saturday 14 November, 7.30pm Buddy Holly and the Cricketers £14

Sunday 16 August, 10am – 4pm The Fylde Coast Food and Drink Festival Free entry

Tuesday 20 October, 7.30pm Wyre on Film £6

Sunday 15 November, 7.30pm The Bay City Rollers £17

Thursday 17 September, 7.30pm The Rag Dolls £15

Friday 23 October, 7.30pm The Dressing Room £15/£13

Friday 27 November, 7.30pm The Mersey Beatles £15

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The Mystery Of Who Will Appear In The Mousetrap Is Revealed!

A diamond cast has been announced for the recordbreaking 60th anniversary UK tour of Agatha Christie’s smash hit whodunnit – The Mousetrap.

On 25 November 2002, The Mousetrap celebrated its golden jubilee with a Birthday Gala performance attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

Lord Attenborough gave the famous curtain speech exactly 50 years since he first delivered it in London: “Now you have seen The Mousetrap you are our partners in crime, and we ask you to preserve the tradition by keeping the secret of whodunit locked in your hearts.”

Therefore would-be sleuths will need to see the show to uncover the truth – but they will have to have their wits about them as Dame Agatha Christie’s suspense story features a brilliantly intricate plot where murder lurks around every corner.

The mystery begins with group of people gathered in a country house cut off by the snow who discover, to their horror, that there is a murderer in their midst.

Who can it be? One by one the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts until at the last, nerve-shredding moment the identity and the motive are finally revealed.

These four hugely talented school friends have taken their love of traditional Irish music and reinvigorated it, enabling them to tour the world and present it to a whole new generation.

TUE 12 MAY

The line-up includes a host of actors and actresses well-known to the theatre and the world of TV soaps: Hester Arden (Macbeth, Orange Tree Theatre) will appear as Miss Casewell, Edward Elgood as Christopher Wren, Mark Homer (Eastenders’ Tony Hill) as Giles Ralston, Esther McAuley (I Promise You Sex and Violence, Northern Stage) as Mollie Ralston and Jonathan Sidgwick (Hollyoaks; Coronation Street) as Mr Paravicini. William Ilkley joins from the West End production of The Mousetrap as Major Metcalf alongside Luke Jenkins and Anne Kavanagh who will reprise their roles from the 2014 tour as Sgt Trotter and Mrs Boyle respectively.

The Mousetrap, which originally opened in 1952 starring the late Lord Richard Attenborough and his wife Sheila Sim, is famous around the world for being the longest running show of any kind in the history of British theatre, with over 25,000 performances.

Coming up at Preston Guild Hall

The Carpenters Story brings the show bang up to date.Phil Aldridge’s lavish arrangements, stunning vocal harmonies and Claire Furley’s uncanny representation of Karen Carpenter

FRI 15 MAY

Billy Pearce Funny Guy

With over 4 Decades in the entertainment business, Billy Pearce is back to being a Funny Guy with his brand new tour!

Sat 16 May & support

Rick Astley will perform favourites such as “Never Gonna Give You up” as well as brand new material.

Productions shots of the previous cast in action Theatre-goers will not be disappointed with this production as The Mousetrap tour has had some rave reviews so far: “The cleverest murder mystery of British Theatre” The Telegraph; “A truly entertaining classic thriller” The Sunday Times; “Deservedly a classic among murder thrillers” The Observer.

There have been productions of The Mousetrap in 50 languages, and there is rarely a night without a performance somewhere in the world.

SAT 30 MAY Guild Promotions Ltd in association with The Katy Holmes Trust, The Guild Foundation & Preston Guild Hall

DAN HADFIELD GARY BARLOW TRIBUTE

SAT 4 JULY Emma Brunjes Productions presents

Don’t miss this once in a life-time opportunity to find out whodunnit at the Preston Charter Theatre.

The Mousetrap plays Preston Charter Theatre on Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th May at 7.30pm (Wed & Sat matinee 2.30pm) Tickets start from £22 and are available at

www.prestonguildhall.com or 01772 80 44 44.

TUE 7 JULY

Featuring a little bit of Elvis and couple of googles, it’s unscripted, unedited, unguarded & unleashed ….buckle in.

JOOLS HOLLAND

& HIS RYTHYM & BLUES ORCHESTRA

FRI 24 JULY Box Office 01772 80 44 44 www.prestonguildhall.com

17

OUT & ABOUT

Music on the Lawn Vintage Style!

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.

17th May at Hoghton Tower, Hoghton, Nr Preston PR5 0SH TEL: 01254 852986 Join in for the first of their music on the lawn series. Dani Gallagher is singing in the beautiful Wilderness Garden.

This stunning mezzo-soprano brings a touch of class and elegance with her firstclass vocals, stunning vintage costumes and sparkling personality.

So bring a picnic, a rug and maybe your dancing shoes too for a great afternoon at Hoghton Tower!

This event is in aid of the Hoghton Tower Preservation Trust Email mail@hoghtontower.co.uk for more information.

Chorley Carnival 5-7 June 2015

This year the carnival parade will start at 11.30am making its way from Botany Brow to the park, along Eaves Lane, Lyons lane, George Street, into Market Street and Park Road. There are two mystery TV Celebrities visiting the event this year along with Zippos Festival Circus, The Jez Avery Stunt Show, Tricks 4 Treads Dog Show and Van Buren’s Magic & Illusion Show recently seen on ‘Get Your Act Together’ teaching Sherrie Hewson how to spin plates.

The Festival Circus will present 4 circus shows each day in the Big Top along with hours if fun with Circus Workshops.

Zippos Circus run the Circus Academy in London training tomorrows stars of the circus ring.

Jez Avery stunt show, an amazing show on 4 wheels, 2 wheels, 1 wheel and even on No wheels!!

Bury Market Hall: Open every day except Sunday Full Markets Open: Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays “Winner National Coach Tourism Awards” Coach Friendly Shopping Destination of the Year “Winner NABMA’s” Best Market Attraction

Bury Market Management: Tel: 0161 253 6520 Email: burymarkets@bury.gov.uk Web: www.burymarket.com : @BuryMarket

Goosnargh & Whittingham Whitsuntide Festival 30 May 2015 12:30pm - 5:00pm At The Grapes Inn, Church Lane, Preston, PR3 2BN The Festival is well over 150 years old traditional family annual event. The event will include a procession, bands, may pole dancing, entertainment, decorated floats, festival queens, fancy dress and so much more.

There will be a great atmosphere around the area, so come along and bring the family.

The fun begins outside "The Grapes Inn" PR3 2BN and is free.

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The show includes wheelies, stopies, drifting, doughnuts, precision driving, two wheel driving and the all new roll over quad. Jez performs all his own stunts while delivering his famous commentary keeping the whole family on the edge of their seats and laughing along. So get your camera's ready! A superb Family show with audience participation.

Tricks 4 Treats, Founded in 2008, Tricks 4 Treats Dog Display Team have performed at many events across the North West.

As the name indicates, they use rewardbased training and their dogs are happy to perform and wow audiences for their favourite treats.

As well as being a successful display team they also offer pet owners the chance to learn agility through their Foundation Course which can lead to becoming part of their display team.

There will also be numerous displays by local community organisations.

For more information please visit www.chorleycarnival.org or call 01257 498666.

OUT & ABOUT ence

ri g expe n i p p o h

side s

A sea

A traditional market with over 150 stalls.

A shopper’s paradise for gifts, clothing and household goods.

Bag a bargain today!

Fleetwood Market There’s a market to be experienced six days a week in Wyre, so we really are a shopper’s paradise.

The Alabaster Jar

Paint Your Own Pottery!

The Alabaster Jar, 180 Pall Mall Chorley, Lancashire PR7 2LH The Alabaster Jar is an independently run 'paint your own pottery' studio in Chorley, Lancashire.

They provide a large selection of pottery blanks for you to choose from. When you’ve chosen an item, whether a decorative figurine or a piece of tableware, the friendly staff will be happy to advise you on how best to paint it in order to get the finished look you’re after.

After you decorate it, all of the pottery is dipped in glaze and fired in a kiln, which makes it waterproof and fully useable.

A relaxing and friendly atmosphere is provided where you can come and spend some quality time making bespoke pottery products for your home or loved ones. All ages are welcome and there’s no need to book, so just pop along whenever you fancy.

Prices start from 50p and go up to £70 and they provide a 10% discount for the over fifties on Wednesday afternoons.

Find them on Facebook or visit the website www.thealabasterjar.co.uk for more details.

/wyremarkets

From the coastal shopping experience of Fleetwood Market dating back to the 1800’s to the recently established Poulton street market, we’ve two great rural markets too at Garstang and Great Eccleston. You’ll find 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, simply log onto www.wyremarkets.co.uk.

Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday all year round from 9am - 4.30pm

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.

You’ll find sections on farmers markets and farm shops in the area too.

There’s an exciting opportunity for those wanting to try their hand at market trading at Fleetwood Market. Love Your Local Market is national market fortnight and from 13-27 May pitches at Fleetwood Market will be on offer for just £10 per day! Plus there is a massively discounted rental period of 6 months thereafter for those who continue trading.

Pitches will be offered free to any school or college for the period 13-27 May. Anyone interested should apply to the market manager Julian Brent by calling 01253 887651 or email him at:Julian.brent@wyre.gov.uk

Find information on all the markets in Wyre online:www.wyremarkets.co.uk and www.facebook.com/WyreMarkets

Also open all Bank Holidays and Tram Sunday

markets.co.uk Victoria Street / Adelaide Street, Fleetwood, Lancashire FY7 6AB Tel: 01253 887651

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OUT & ABOUT

Your perfect recipe needs top quality ingredients...

BBC Good Food Show

NEC Birmingham - 11-14 June 2015 As we prepare to welcome the summer season, we also count down the days to this years BBC Good Food Summer Show.

This lifestyle event showcases the best of what summer cuisine has to offer, as well as some of Britains most impressive talent.

Learn more about summer’s most scrumptious seasonal produce, snacks and recipes as you explore, tatse and shop Good Food. Enjoy live entertainment in the form of fascinating displays by your favourite chefs on stage, interviews in which they spill their top secrets, as well as general inspriartion from the Summer Kitchen.

The BBC Good Food Show Summer 2015 will take place at the NEC, Birmingham From Thursday 11 – Sunday 14 June. Doors will be open from 9am – 6pm every day.

Be Entertained Bury Market, winner of BBC Radio 4’s Food and Farming Awards (Best Food Market) really has it all.

With over 350 stalls open every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday you will find our friendly traders sell everything you need for making delicious home-cooked meals.

Great quality produce at great value prices, brought fresh to market every day!

Bury Market Tel: 0161 253 6520

: @BuryMarket

Email: burymarkets@bury.gov.uk Web: www.burymarket.com

Take a seat infront of a host of Britains most popular chefs, whilst soaking up the exciting Supertheatre environment.

Learn top tips and prized recipes straight from the mouths of experts. Mary Berry, James Martin, Michel Roux and John Torode are just a few of the experts wwho wil be commanding audience attention in this 1800 seater Supertheatre. An interactive interview stage also promises to draw crowds and create highly entertaining conversation, particularly amongst the more curious, budding chefs.

Be Inspired

Over 100 culinary exhibitors will be present in the BBC Good Food Summer Show exhition space. Here, visitors have a chance to shop for local produce, enjoy taste testing, and learn tricks and tips courtesy of live demonstrations by the exiborters themselves.

Be Treated

Opt for the VIP Package and experience the entire event as only royalty would. Receive pime seating in a Supertheatre session of your choice, access to the VIP lounge hosting talks, demos and tastings , warm drinks, snacks, VIP bathrooms and parking, recipe book, goody bag and more!

Standard ticket prices start at £21. Book your tickets online today.

For more information please visit www.bbcgoodfoodshowsummer.com

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FOOD & DRINK

Cook with the stars!

John Torode, Paul Hollywood and James Martin JERK CHICKEN SERVES 6 To get a more authentic jerk experience, add some wood chips to your barbecue and cook your chicken thighs or legs over slow indirect heat for the best flavour. Alternatively enjoy a beautiful jerk chicken breast cooked over a high heat – it should be ready in 10 minutes or less.

12 chicken thighs, bone in, or 8 large chicken breasts

MARINADE

1 large bunch spring onions, or 2 smaller bunches 2 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tbsp salt juice of 1 lime 1 /2 tsp dried thyme, or 1 tbsp fresh thyme 1 tbsp allspice berries 1-10 scotch bonnets (start with a small amount and add more later if you think it needs it) 1 thumb-sized piece ginger 3 garlic cloves 1 /2 small onion 2-3 tbsp of brown sugar

rode John To

To make the marinade, put all the ingredients in a blender and process until you have a purée. Don’t add more water if you’re having trouble getting it all blended, just keep turning off the blender, stirring it up with a spatula, and trying again. Eventually it will start to blend up nicely. Now taste it. It should taste pretty salty, but not unpleasantly puckeringly salty. You can also now throw in more chillies if it’s not spicy enough for you. If you think it tastes too salty and sour, try adding a bit more brown sugar until things seem good and balanced.

Put the chicken pieces in a bowl, cover with the marinade and leave overnight.

Next day, cook the chicken over a smoky fire for 15 to 20 minutes, turning about six times during cooking.

CHICKEN WITH COCONUT DRESSING SERVES 6

50g palm sugar 50ml fish sauce 400g can coconut milk 6 chicken thigh fillets

2 red Thai shallots 1 /2 red pepper, cut into julienne 2 small red chillies, cut into julienne 50g cucumber, cut into julienne 10g roasted peanuts 4 lime leaves, cut into very fine julienne 30 coriander leaves 6 squares banana leaf, to serve

Bring the palm sugar, fish sauce and coconut milk to the boil in a large saucepan, add the chicken and poach until the chicken is cooked through. Leave to cool.

Mix the other ingredients (except the banana leaves) together in a bowl. When the chicken is cool, cut it into 1cm thick strips and toss into the salad.

Lay a banana leaf at the centre of each plate and pile on the salad. Drizzle with some of the poaching liquid and serve.

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| 21

FOOD & DRINK 2. For the filling, slice the onion finely; cut the swede and potato into small, thin strips; keep each separate. Cut the beef into small, thin pieces and divide into 5 portions.

CORNISH PASTIES

3. Heat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Divide the pastry into 5 equal pieces. Roll each out on a lightly floured surface to a 3mm thickness and cut out a 24cm circle, using a plate as a guide.

4. Scatter a scant layer of swede on the pastry semi-circle, leaving a 1cm border.

Add a similar layer of potato, season lightly and top with some onion. Repeat the swede and potato layers, seasoning as you go. Check the pasty will close, then add the beef. Add a final layer of onion, season and dot with butter.

5. Brush the pastry border with a little beaten egg, then close the lid of the pasty, making sure that the edges meet.

Press together firmly and then crimp the edges together by pinching all the way round between your thumb and forefinger.

6. Fill and seal the remaining circles of pastry in the same way. Place the pasties on 2 baking trays and cut 2 small slits in the middle of each one. Brush the pastry with beaten egg. Bake for 20 minutes, then lower the oven setting to 160°C/ Gas 3 and bake for 30 minutes longer.

Best eaten hot from the oven.

SERVES 5 This is the original portable meal, eaten

by Cornish tin miners and farm labourers.

The pastry had to be robust to make it portable, and it was quite common to have a savoury filling at one end, sweet at the other. It now has protected status and must be made in Cornwall. The vegetables need to be cut thinly so they almost melt into the meat on cooking, and the crimping is all-important. I was told that you need 21 crimps to make a proper pasty.

Pastry

450g plain flour ½ tsp salt 115g cold lard, diced 75g cold unsalted butter, diced About 90ml ice-cold water 1 egg, lightly beaten, to glaze

Filling

1 large onion 120g swede 1 large floury potato, such as King Edward or Maris Piper 400g beef skirt 50g butter Salt and pepper

EQUIPMENT

A 24cm plate (to use as a guide) 1. To make the pastry, mix the flour and salt in a large bowl, add the lard and butter and rub in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in enough water to make a fairly firm dough, then knead briefly until smooth. Shape into a ball, wrap in cling film and chill for at least 30 minutes.

Paul Hollywo od

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POLLO ALLA CACCIATORA HUNTER’S CHICKEN SERVES 4 This classic Italian dish is renowned all over the world and often seen on the menus of Italian restaurants. The title alla cacciatora (‘in the style of the hunter’) suggests it was probably first made with game birds or rabbit.

750g/1lb 10oz chicken thighs and drumsticks salt and freshly ground black pepper 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 large onion, finely sliced 1 garlic clove, crushed and left whole 1 small red chilli, sliced 2 sprigs of rosemary 2 sprigs of thyme a handful of parsley, roughly chopped 2 bay leaves 4 sage leaves 125ml/4fl oz/½ cup dry white wine 1½ tbsp tomato purée (paste), dissolved in 3 tbsp lukewarm water 175g/6oz cherry tomatoes, halved Project1_Layout 1 11/05/2015 13:09 Page 1

However, as with many Italian dishes, it also has roots in the cucina povera, when people used whatever meagre ingredients they had to hand; in this case, a chicken or, more likely, an old hen, was slaughtered for a special occasion and, to make it go further, enriched with whatever vegetables and herbs were available in the garden as well as a splash of homemade wine. It is made all over Italy and here I have recreated it in the way it is normally made in my region of Campania, using lots of herbs and fresh tomatoes. I like to serve this rustic dish with slices of toasted country bread drizzled with extra virgin olive oil.

Rub the chicken pieces all over with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, add the chicken and seal well all over.

Add the onion, garlic, chilli and herbs and cook for a James Martin couple of minutes on a medium heat. Add the wine, increase the heat and allow the wine to evaporate slightly. Add the diluted tomato purée, then stir in the cherry tomatoes. Reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid and cook gently for 1¼ hours, until the chicken is cooked through; the flesh should come away from the bone and there should be no sign of pink when you pierce the thickest part. Serve hot.

For a slow cooker

Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan and cook the chicken as above. Continue as above, add the tomatoes, plus 300ml/10fl oz/1¼ cups chicken stock.

Bring to the boil, then transfer to a large slow cooker pot. Cover and cook on Low for 7–8 hours or until there are no pink juices when the chicken is pierced with a small knife.

20% DISCOUNT ON FOOD MONDAY-THURSDAY BOOK AHEAD QUOTING LIFESTYLE50 PUB / DINING / FUNCTIONS / BEDROOMS

Chipping Road Thornley Longridge PR3 2NB t. 01772 782370 www.derbyarmslongridge.co.uk

Available Sunday to Thursday until July 2nd 2015 - excludes bank holidays, special events or against any other offer.

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| 23

Implanting

confidence

Ann Knight was so impressed with her husband’s new dental implants that she turned to the same expert team – and the retired business duo from Cheshire are delighted with the results!

Leading the way in UK implant technology is Lancashire-based Douglas Lee, who was one of the first dentists in the country to adopt the highly successful pioneering ‘Fast and Fixed’ technique.

Highly experienced in this same-day implant procedure, Douglas Lee Dental Associates, have a team of professionals, including in-house dental technicians, to replace teeth permanently – omitting the need for dentures.

It was Douglas Lee’s national reputation for excellence that originally led Barry and Ann Knight to the practice two years ago.

Barry was referred to Douglas Lee by another implant dentist who had attempted to replace Barry’s top

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teeth, which had been damaged by a serious car accident, with implants.

Barry explains: “The original implants were loose, they weren’t right so the dentist said he could not go any further with it and referred me to Douglas Lee. “I travelled over from our home in Cheshire to see Dougie and he immediately said he would be able to help but he was totally honest and said it would take some time.

In the lead up to the ‘Fast and Fixed’ day Dougie and the team were fantastic. It’s not like going to the dentist, it’s like visiting a friend.

They explained everything so I wasn’t at all nervous about the procedure.

I had got to know them and it is obvious that they are experts in their field,” adds Barry, who is now retired from his manufacturing business.

Implant expert Douglas Lee explained what would be necessary and reassured Barry that the problem could be fixed.

On the day of the procedure Barry arrived at Douglas Lee Dental Associates early in the morning.

Sedated, Barry was painlessly fitted with a completely new set of upper implants in a procedure that has made Douglas Lee Dental Associates a flagship practice and a teaching surgery for the German pioneered ‘Fast and Fixed’ technique.

“To become a teaching surgery for ‘Fast and Fixed’ is a real compliment.

It is a massive boost to us and it gives us the chance to show other dentists what can be achieved,” says Dougie.

Testament to their high level of skills, Douglas Lee Dental Associates were the first team in the UK to carry out a full set of upper and lower jaw implants within a day.

During their years of experience, the team has refined the procedure and have state-of-the-art in-house technology including a Cone beam CT scanner, a Helbo laser that eradicates over 99 per cent of harmful bacteria and an on-site dental lab with a technician who custom makes the teeth implants so patients can benefit from this amazing same-day procedure.

Preparation is key to the success and the team of dental nurses, cosmetic dentist Usman Riaz, dental technicians and Dougie himself, all play their part on the day.

Sedation ensures that no pain is felt and the patient remains relaxed.

“I didn’t feel a thing,” says Barry. “It was a long day and I was a bit tired but it was completely painless. I had slight bruising afterwards but that soon disappeared – and the implants are fantastic!

“They feel like my own teeth, the sensitivity is still there when you are biting and chewing. I am thrilled with them and I can’t thank Dougie and the team enough.”

Barry’s wife Ann underwent major dental work around 30 years ago, however her teeth were beginning to fail and she was too nervous to consult her dentist.

“Barry told me I had to go and see Dougie, so I plucked up the courage and went. I was adamant that I wanted a good set of dentures as there was no way I was going to undergo any pain with implants,” recalls Ann. When she went to see the team at Douglas Lee Dental Associates, Ann was told, following an x-ray, that the news was not good. Her gums were in bad shape and she had several failing teeth.

I have always looked after myself and losing my teeth was my idea of hell. It was a terrible shock.

Dougie said I wouldn’t like dentures but left the decision totally to me.

“He explained the procedure and reassured me it would be pain free so I eventually made the decision and said ‘yes’.”

In Ann’s case, she was so delighted with the results in her upper jaw that shortly before Christmas, she had her lower set of implants done under the same ‘Fast and Fixed’ procedure.

“When I looked in the mirror and smiled it was unbelievable!” recalls an emotional Ann. “I have always covered my mouth when I smiled because of my teeth, but now I smile all the time as it has given me so much confidence.

“They don’t look fake, or overly white, they just look totally natural and I am thrilled! I am 110 per cent happy with them – and I told Dougie and the team that I don’t take this for granted, I am very grateful to them all.”

FINALIST

2014

Douglas Lee A S S O C I A T E S

Douglas Lee Dental Associates 115 Whalley Road Accrington BB5 1BX 01254 237517 hello@douglasleedental.co.uk

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| 25

ARE YOU READY TO BECOME A GRANDPARENT? The role and demands on grandparents are changing because of new socioeconomic pressures, so whilst you’re immersed in the anticipation and excitement of the new arrival, unexpected friction and conflict can often occur if you’re not prepared, according to cognitive psychologist Dr Lynda Shaw.

“The role of the grandparents is ever changing. Baby boomer grandparents may take on a huge chunk of the childcare responsibilities whilst mums return to work, whether it’s doing the school run, helping when the children are ill or stepping in to lend a hand during the school holidays. This is not new in society. But now and in the near future the sandwich generation will find themselves still working well into their sixties, both because they can and financially they have to, as well as looking after elderly parents.

Therefore, like never before they can’t or will struggle to take on the caregiver grandparent role too.”

Although today’s society plays huge part in the role of the grandparent, psychology theory of grand-parenting is important too. German-born American psychologist, Erik Erikson developed the Generativity versus Stagnation theory, which is typically associated with people who have reached midlife but who instinctively long to create a nurturing environment to support the development and growth of the next generation. For grandparents, they may view this time as a second chance to create a positive impact, a living legacy in the lives of their grandchildren through love and guidance with a hope that they can

make a difference. Stagnation refers to those who find it difficult to contribute positively and who perhaps lack the ability to be involved and connect with others.

There are different sorts of grandparenting personalities. Leading gerontologist Bernice Neugarten identified the core five patterns of grand-parenting as:1. Formal grandparent: follows what are believed to be the appropriate guidelines for the grand-parenting role including occasional services and maintaining an interest, but not being overly involved.

2. Fun seeker: primarily provides entertainment for the grandchild.

3. Surrogate parent: takes over the caretaking role for the child.

4. Reservoir of family wisdom: the head of the family who dispenses advice but also controls the parent generation.

5. Distant figure: has infrequent contact with the grandchildren, perhaps appearing on special occasions.

Ultimately having a baby is not just one of the greatest milestones for the parents themselves, but it is of huge significance for grandparents.

Shaw says: “Having had many years raising their own children, adjusting to ‘grandparent’ status can take a little while and unfortunately, it’s not always a bed of roses. Having already raised children of their own, grandparents are keen to pass on their knowledge and wisdom, but persistent advice and opinion are not always well received.

New parents ultimately want the time and space to figure things out for themselves and to be the key decision

makers and not be told how it should or shouldn’t be done.

“By contrast, less confident parents can also become too dependent with help at hand and rely entirely on the grandparents for support, leaving them feeling unappreciated and taken for granted. Situations such as these can become awkward for both parties and if the ground rules are not set from the word go, this can lead to a fractured and unhappy relationship in the long run. A huge number of factors are involved in successful grandparenting.” www.drlyndashaw.com 5 Top Tips for Expecting Grandparents: 1. Spoiling Them The job of a grandparent is all about the really good bits - shower them with as much love as possible, fun and enduring memories instead of mountains of gifts.

2. Two Hands Are Better Than One Looking after a new baby is all consuming and needs round the clock care and attention. Make yourself useful by offering to cook, do some household chores or run some errands.

Your contribution is guaranteed to bring much relief and will be appreciate.

3. Give Them Space As exciting as it is that you want to be a hands-on grandparent, it’s really important to be led by the parents and not to assume that they are always going to want your help. More often than not, new parents like to work things out for themselves and will ask for help when needed.

4. Don’t Be Judgmental It’s easy to voice your opinion especially when it’s something you disagree with such as an obscure name you dislike or sleeping arrangements with their baby. Whatever the circumstance may be, he or she is after all their child and not yours. Go with the flow and best to keep your feelings to yourself.

5. The Perfect Bond We’ve all heard funny stories of babies crying uncontrollably when being held by certain people. If you’re a grandparent and this happens to you, do not fret! Persevere with it – it takes time for babies to get used to people other than mum and dad.

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BEAUTY

Having The Face You want

After 50...

WHEN so many celebrities – and ordinary people – just don’t look their age these days we are all keen to look the best we possibly can.

And simply being over 50 is nothing to do with not having the face you’d like.

After all, an 80 year-old recently hit the headlines for having £12,000 worth of procedures including a facelift – and she just wanted to look in her 70s again!

As in everything to do with the way we look, diet and exercise can make a big difference. Smoking and overindulging in alcohol definitely show up in your face, as well as other parts of your body. And too much exposure to the sun is definitely bad for your skin, especially your face – it ages skin prematurely and adds lines.

Smoking in particular leaves a legacy of extra lines that no woman – or man – really wants. And too much alcohol swiftly leads to a puffy look around the eyes and an unhealthy pallor in the cheeks that no amount of make-up will effectively hide.

A healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, drinking plenty of water, taking daily exercise and getting enough sleep will give you a healthy glow that you definitely can’t buy in a bottle.

However, even if you’re following all the “rules” and doing your best to look after yourself, Nature may not be very

kind to you and your face. It’s very hard to escape ageing completely – and, let’s be honest, we don’t want to lose that individual personality reflected in our face, either.

A long-term routine of caring properly for your skin always pays dividends.

There’s no substitute for a really good skincare routine. Moisturise each morning and, if you wear make-up, cleanse properly each night and use an enriching cream.

Try not to screw up your eyes. If you’re doing this, it’s worth checking whether your sight is OK or whether you need stronger glasses or contact lenses.

Lines come naturally without you adding a few more by contracting the muscles around your eyes!

– a non-surgical way to lift, tone and tighten skin.

But, we do need to be clear what we really want from these procedures.

Explained Mark: “It’s really important for anyone considering surgery or nonsurgical procedures to be aware that, with any treatment, the key objective is to improve and enhance the patient’s current features – not to make them look like someone else or 20 years younger.”

In other words, the best results will make you look really well so that people ask “Have you been away?” or remark that you look particularly good. It’s unrealistic to think we can just scythe away the years by investing money in surgery or other procedures.

Lines and wrinkles, lack of muscle tone and skin elasticity are all signs of ageing that can make someone feel older than

The same applies to frowning: try not to do this, or purse your lips too much.

All these activities encourage those annoying lines and furrows.

If you’re really unhappy with what you see in the mirror each morning, you may be considering facial improvement procedures. Mark Norfolk, Clinical Director at Transform Cosmetic Surgery explained that the five most popular procedures in the UK are blepharoplasty or eye-lift, facelift, Botox, dermal fillers and ultherapy

27

FACIAL TREATMENT: BEFORE

advised to have repeat treatments every four to five months to maintain results.”

a few hours,” he explained. There is a recovery period of three months afterwards but results are very effective.

A facelift will work best on someone who has loose skin on their face. It tightens the facial muscles to restore definition and works to smooth out deep lines. Facelifts can also be combined with a neck lift, and the surgeon will advise accordingly. Added Mark: “We see amazing results here for this particular procedure – an overall more youthful and fresher appearance that is natural and long-lasting.”

Eyebrows are another important facial feature that can make a difference. If you have very pale eyebrows or have badly overplucked them in the past, it’s worth thinking about having permanent eyebrows tattooed on.

This is a simple procedure and, in the hands of experts, can swiftly lead to beautiful brows that really frame your face. It’s not painful – certainly no more than plucking your brows – and lasts for quite a time before the colour fades and they have to be re-done. A faded lip-line can also be enhanced this way to improve the shape of your lips and suggest fullness.

It’s vital to select your surgeon carefully, opting for a clinic with an established reputation and where consultations are carried out carefully. Unrealistic expectations on the part of the patient may be one reason conscientious surgeons will refuse to perform a procedure on a patient.

Your smile is another vitally important area of your face, and not having a nice smile may have a dramatically negative effect on your looks and confidence.

FACIAL TREATMENT: AFTER their years and possibly self-conscious.

Depending on the condition of your skin, though, added Mark, non-surgical injectable procedures like Botox and dermal fillers allow lines to be softened and areas filled out where volume has been lost.

Results from these types of procedures can be seen a week after the treatment “and are very effective,” he stated. “Patients will see significant improvement to their skin and are

Fortunately, modern dentistry means that lost or rotten natural teeth can be replaced in various ways. Dentures can restore the features of the face or having a bridge fitted.

Dr Zuber Bagasi from Synergy Dental clinics suggests dental implants for single or full mouth restoration work really well. “ Once the dentist has established that the patient is a suitable candidate for implants, taking into account any prior gum or bone loss, implant placement can take just

Don’t forget, too, that sensible and clever use of make-up can always enhance your looks. The key is to use the right textures and a couple of colours. Everything should be brightening and enhancing, making skin tone and texture look their best.

A concealer around the eyes and nose work well to disguise dark circles or any redness. A light base, with blusher used higher on the cheeks as you grow older, and very light powder all add up to an attractive facial appearance.

Brown eyeshadow is always better than grey or black, which are instantly ageing, and keep to warmer colours for all your make-up. Best of all, radiate confidence and inner glow to help combat the years!

For more information visit www.transforminglives.co.uk and synergydental.org.uk

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Don't worry if you are overweight or unfit. There are no mirrors or men at Gymophobics and no lycra either.

Come along in loose clothing and enjoy the relaxed environment. Gymophobics attract women of all ages. Most lose a dress size in the first few weeks and go on to achieve their ideal weight and figure for their height and bone structure. Of course results don't happen by accident and our concept is unique. We use 'air resistance' machines and these are a joy to use. The 30 minute workout is over in a flash because of the great social atmosphere and being able to laugh and chat the whole way around the circuit.

The Gymophobics Experience On your first visit you will be shown around and we will answer all of your questions. We can even tell you what results you can expect to achieve and how long it will take to achieve your ideal figure. If you decide to enrol we will book You in for an induction. This usually takes about an hour and is a one to one session with a qualified instructor. Thereafter, each time you come along an instructor will ensure you know exactly what you are doing and will gradually upgrade your programme as you gain in fitness and confidence.

Amazing benefits Every ten weeks, you will be booked in for a re-assessment which will show the results you have achieved.

Expect to be amazed! Not only will Gymophobics sculpt your figure and banish unwanted inches from all the right places but it will also improve your health. 30 minutes exercise, three times per week, has been proven to lower blood pressure and BMI (Body Mass Index), maintain and strengthen joints and bones, increase joint mobility, increase metabolism AND improve sleep.

Benefits For The Over 50s Keep on top of your weight loss whilst speeding up your metabolism. We can help you avoid muscle atrophy and reduce risk of cardio-vascular disease. Our workouts also have antiaging benefits and increase your energy levels. You will find your mobility improves and you regain better sleep patterns.

You will become less susceptible to Osteoporosis and of course avoid weight gain too.

Stay Beautiful We also offer a wide range of beauty treatments here at the Preston gym in our unique 'Nu-Yu @ Room 44' with treatments to suit everyone.

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Whatever your figure needs, shaping up and slimming down is now easier than you ever thought possible.

Following a consultation we will design a 30 minute programme to help you achieve positive fast results. Week by week we will monitor your weight and inch loss to ensure that you achieve your goals! We are much more than just a gym, we encourage and support on every visit.

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| 29

The King and I An extract from Tom Jones’ biography

by Sean Smith - Tom Jones: The Life Courtesy of HarperCollins. Available through all good book stores and online at Amazon.co.uk.

Tom couldn’t believe it when he was told Elvis and his wife Priscilla had been seen in the foyer of the Flamingo.

He thought it was a wind-up but it was true – The King and his entourage, the ‘Memphis Mafia’, had driven from Los Angeles just to see the show. They had been invited by Chris Hutchins, who knew both Colonel Tom Parker and Joe Esposito, Elvis’s road manager, and suggested they come over.

Elvis was curious to see how a performer like Tom would be received in Las Vegas, because he was seriously thinking of making a live comeback there himself.

His recording career was in the middle of a slump and he needed something to reinvigorate his career – a problem Tom would also face at a later date.

The lighting in the audience was quite dark, so Tom had to peer into the gloom to see if Elvis was really there. He had been primed by Chris, so he knew what to say if he caught sight of the man.

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Eventually, he realised The King was in the very front row. Halfway through the show, he introduced Elvis, who stood up to take a bow, and the place erupted.

It went on for ages and ages, until Tom managed to calm everyone down. Elvis eventually sat back down and Tom said, ‘Don’t forget I’m the star here tonight.’

It was a tongue-in-cheek comment, but took some nerve: Tom was just starting his Vegas adventure, whereas Elvis was the biggest star in the world.

After the concert, Elvis and his gang went backstage to congratulate Tom in his dressing room. The ‘Mafia’ usually numbered about half a dozen or so of Elvis’s oldest friends and yes-men. If Elvis told them at breakfast that scarlet was the new colour, they would all have their cars resprayed by lunch.

Linda was at the Flamingo that evening and she sat and chatted with Priscilla.

Tom remembers Elvis saying he wanted to watch him in concert to see how he put together his act. Tom and Elvis talked about music, something they both never tired of doing.

Priscilla Presley believes that Elvis took to Tom because he was a real person – ‘someone who was down to earth that

you could talk to, that was not on an ego trip’. Tom’s show also reminded Elvis how it used to be for him: the adulation of the girls, the applause and the fantastic music. He missed it. He also liked the way Tom didn’t take it too seriously.

For his part,Tom thought the Presleys were ‘a great couple’. He gave Priscilla an autographed photograph for their daughter Lisa-Marie, who was six months old.

The first meeting went so well that Elvis invited Tom to stay at his holiday villa in Hawaii.When he arrived, Priscilla told him that her husband had popped out to buy a couple of guitars so the two of them would have something to goof around with later.After dinner, the two men enjoyed a sing-song, like a couple of enthusiastic schoolboys, belting out ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Jailhouse Rock’, as well as ‘It’s Not Unusual’ and Elvis’s favourite, ‘Green, Green Grass of Home’. They jammed together through the night. Tom said simply, ‘I’ll never forget it as long as I live.’

The two men became genuine friends. .

Tom spoke graciously of Elvis to the Daily Express: ‘I never sat at his feet looking up to him, because we regarded each other as equals. He was much too modest to be comfortable with someone who fawned around him and was never afraid to admit his own vulnerability – always the mark of the truly great.’

They were rivals, as well as friends, when Elvis began a season at the newly opened International Hotel in July 1969, which two years later was renamed the Las Vegas Hilton. Both shows were ruthlessly

CELEBRITIES advertised. On one side of the strip the huge billboards read, ‘Elvis Presley is at the International’. On the other side, the hoardings declared,‘Tom Jones is in Town!’

Tom moved briefly to the International too, because its show- room was three times the size of the Flamingo’s. In 1971, he finally settled at Caesars Palace.

Elvis, meanwhile, stayed loyal to the Hilton, where he lived in the impressive penthouse, which became known as ‘Party Central’. The two friends would take it in turns to visit each other’s suites.

Elvis was a reality check for Tom – a stark example of a road he would go down if he didn’t look after himself. Tom tried to keep in shape. At home in the UK, it was relatively easy, thanks to his fitness complex. On the road or in Vegas, it was more difficult, but he swam and took up squash. In the eighteen months before he opened at the Flamingo, he slimmed down from fifteen to eleven and a half stone. He said goodbye to chips for ever.

He never stuffed himself with burgers or other junk food and avoided puddings, preferring a chateaubriand steak for dinner with the finest wines.

Tom didn’t drink before a concert, which was particularly important where the desert air was so dry and put a strain on his voice. His shows were a workout in themselves, because Tom finished dripping with sweat and as much as six pounds lighter. After a show, he took a long, thirty-minute shower and then enjoyed a vodka martini or opened a bottle or two of Dom Pérignon while he socialised. His friend and backing singer Darlene Love became so sick of the constant supply of vintage champagne that she loathes bubbly to this day and only has a glass if it is mixed with orange juice.

Elvis, however, struggled with his weight yo-yoing up and down. Early on, he told Tom that he took pills to stop the pounds piling on. The two men would have many discussions about the merits of drink and drugs.

During one conversation, Elvis told him that he had taken every kind of drug imaginable just to keep his ‘head together’. Elvis asked him what he took to keep sane and Tom replied simply,

‘Nothing, that’s why I feel I am sane.’

Tom’s aversion to drugs is very well known. He told Sylvie Simmons of MOJO magazine a funny story of the evening he went to a party in London thrown by Lulu.

A rock star sidled up to him and said, ‘You want to see what’s going on in the kitchen!’ Tom, being Tom, immediately thought it might be something involving one or hopefully two women. He was disappointed to see that the great excitement was a pile of white powder on the kitchen table.‘See you later,’ he said.

Elvis never took any drugs in front of Tom – he had too much respect for him.

Instead, they would be sitting down, listening to records, when Elvis would suddenly disappear into the bedroom and come out a new man. They would listen to a few more records and then the same thing would happen again.

They may have had differing opinions on drugs, but both Elvis and Tom had similar views on gambling. Although they were the bait to draw thousands of punters into the hotel casinos, they never indulged themselves. That example was not followed by their respective managers, who lost fortunes at the gaming tables. Gordon incurred heavy losses playing blackjack. He was rumoured, in one disastrous night, to have lost the whole of Engelbert’s fee for a year.

Tom just didn’t get the attraction. Why give away so easily what you had worked so hard to earn? One evening at Caesars Palace, Linda came bounding up to him and asked for some money so she and a friend could spend some time at the tables. Tom reached in his pocket and gave her $5. He advised her, ‘Don’t lose it all at once.’

Tom was intrinsically more sociable than Elvis, who preferred quiet evenings in his suite. He loved gospel music and was prepared to stay up even later than Tom, just singing. Tom would say goodnight and be halfway out the door, when Elvis would start something else and Tom would be obliged to go back in and sing another song.

For the most part, they kept their friendship low-key. Elvis would slip into Caesars Palace with a baseball cap over his distinctive black hair and sit at

the back of the room. Disappointingly, Elvis and Tom never sang together in public. Elvis might walk on stage when Tom was performing, but he was under strict contract to another hotel, so he would never join in with a quick chorus of ‘Delilah’. Their duets were private moments and Elvis made it clear that they must never be recorded. His manager, Colonel Parker, had told him that he must ensure there were no bootleg recordings, an instruction he followed religiously. Tom was the same where Gordon was concerned: he never forgot what Gordon said.

When they weren’t singing, they would talk about music. Elvis once suggested they could do a concert together, with The Beatles as their backing group. They could do their own songs, followed by a few duets and the Fab Four could play all the instruments. Elvis asked, ‘Do you think there is a chance we could get them to do it?’ Tom, who still laughs about that conversation, responded:‘It would be fantastic.’

The pair were such good friends, they exchanged rings. Elvis gave Tom a splendid black sapphire ring, which annoyingly disappeared from his hotel bathroom one night on tour – along with the young lady who was using it. Tom, in turn, presented Elvis with a tiger’s eye ring that he knew he liked.

Elvis, for whom death threats were a way of life, was obsessed with firearms and would make sure he was armed even when he used the toilet. He gave Tom a gun with ‘Tom Jones’ engraved on the barrel. Tom has never had to fire his gun, although he made sure he knew how to use it. Perversely, Elvis also gave him a book that he’d enjoyed, entitled The Impersonal Life, a famous text about selfdiscovery and leading a spiritual life. 

Tom Jones: The Life by Sean Smith (HarperCollins)

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| 31

Soothing, stylish dining is on the menu with the help of Colours at B&Q

New Looks For Your Home This Spring IF there’s one thing the freshness of Spring brings it’s the chance to take a new look at our homes.

Winter-time tends to make us close the curtains, keep cosy and just enjoy being indoors, but Springtime is all about renewal – and our homes are at the frontline of these plans.

This may be the year, for example, when you finally add that much-needed EXTENSION, SUNROOM or ORANGERIE to your home. Or you can make your living room and kitchen into a major open-plan space that could quickly become the heart of family living.

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You may want to add the light and space of a CONSERVATORY. The key here is to ensure that it doesn’t look “tacked on” to your property. It’s important to give the appearance of flowing from the main house with the same flooring and décor.

Be careful not to over-extend your property, though, at the expense of your garden. Most of us value that bit of green space especially in the Spring and, if you’ve got the time and the interest, your garden can become a pleasing feature of both your home and your lifestyle.

Converting your garage into an extra bedroom or a kitchen extension works well in many homes. Most of us don’t use our garages properly anyway. They can easily become cluttered and many are never employed for their prime use as somewhere to keep the car, so using what your property already has available makes sense.

HOME Changing your old FRONT-DOOR to a more modern design, preferably with glass to allow in plenty of light, is a simple way to freshen up both the outside and the inside of your home.

This can help update the HALLWAY which, after all, is the first opportunity you have to make an impression on any visitor. Bold wallpaper in bright colours on a white background is a great modernising option here. Hallways need light so look at your lighting and consider updating and add a mirror or two to maximise this.

Before you start buying items or investing in paint and wallpaper, a simple way to brighten up your home and give it a fresh feel is to undertake some serious de-cluttering.

Take an honest look at every room and see what you can take out to allow clearer surfaces, cleaner lines and a general feeling of space. It can be hard breaking the emotional link to many of the items we insist on hoarding but try to be objective about possessions.

Most of us happily take the same items through each house move as though they had a right to be in the new place when, in fact, they’re of no real use to daily life.

Chuck out what you can’t give to the local charity shops. The same applies to dated pieces of furniture – especially those surplus to requirements. Some charities, like the British Heart Foundation and homeless charity Emmaus, sell second-hand furniture to boost their funds and are often glad to collect saleable items in good condition.

Changing your home doesn’t need to be all about costly major changes, though.

light greys and other pleasing shades so that you can eat in a pretty area that makes the whole experience a pleasure.

You don’t need to change everything in your BATHROOM – although if you’ve still got an avocado suite that might prove the exception! The most enduring contemporary look for bathrooms these days is still a white suite.

Brighten up that home office space with a lively blind from Direct Blinds at www.directblinds.co.uk Going for a new COLOUR SCHEME or using WALLPAPER cleverly on a feature wall in an otherwise plain room can transform your property.

Steam-clean your KITCHEN area – you’ll be amazed how this lightens the place and update white electrical sockets with chrome. Kitchens are a central area in most homes these days so it’s worth investing in new cupboard doors or work surfaces for a more modern look.

Go for inexpensive plain tiles in toning colours to highlight smart units and one of the new textured floor coverings or rustic tiles. Even treating yourself to a set of brightly coloured kettle, toaster and coffee-maker can make your kitchen look chic.

Your DINING ROOM or dining area needs to be a place where you enjoy spending time so, even if this is a small space, create something special here.

Buy a lovely chandelier and choose cool

SHOWERS are quite futuristic now, as well as being very lifestyle-friendly, so changing your old shower is a practical improvement that won’t break the family budget. Going for natural colours on the walls, whether in tiles or emulsion, can be off-set by jewel-coloured towels and other accessories that can be picked up relatively cheaply.

If you’re wanting a major change here and want to invest in your home, having a WET ROOM has become popular. Even smaller bathrooms can be adjusted with concealed shower trays that give the appearance of a wet room which can prove very practical.

Get clever with STORAGE in the bathroom in particular. Ditch the laundry basket for a start – you really don’t need to keep laundry here. Replace it instead with a pop-up laundry caddy for each bedroom.

Invest in an over-door towel rail, which is great for hanging up your damp towels. And go through all those lotions and potions that everyone has in their bathroom. They take up a lot of space and it’s a safe bet that you’ll never use most of them!

New BEDDING can alter a tired-looking bedroom, especially if you complement the shades in the rest of the décor.

Jarring colours don’t work well here as this room is all about relaxing and winding down, so go for soothing neutrals with restrained colours.

Now so many people work from home, many of us have a HOME OFFICE but the temptation is just to hive off a space and stick a fitted desk in there. Instead, how about creating a work area that really does promote positive thinking with a fresh lick of white paint and a feature blind on the window with a splash of colour?

Turn your bedroom into a contemporary and relaxing place with Somers bedding from LUMA

Don’t forget the WALLS throughout your home, either. An eye-catching painting, much-loved family photo or just a print that you like can come to life with a beautiful frame that adds interest to your home, and helps promotes the feelgood factor of Spring.

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more scope for increased flowers and foliage, as well as clothing those plain brown screens with colour.

The range of climbing plants is enormous and roses are a first choice for many, with a huge range of colours and varieties, from the old fashioned moss rose, to modern patio roses and standards. For the purpose of covering fences and arbors, climbers and rambling roses are the ones to choose.

IS YOUR GARDEN READY FOR SUMMER? At last, the winter’s almost over and it’s time to drag on the wellies, collect the secateurs and get the garden ready for the coming year.

First, prune shrubs including hardy fuschias, and take back buddleia by at least a third, to encourage plenty of new growth. You can also cut back winter flowering ones such as bush honeysuckle and winter flowering jasmine, once their flowers have dropped. And although a lot has been said about the best time to prune the roses, watch out for the first blooms on the forsythia and you can be sure it’s safe to set to work on them.

Pruning roses encourages new growth and is a good opportunity to shape the bush or climber. Use sharp tools which will allow a clean cut. Prune at a 45 degree angle, about a quarter of an inch above an outward facing bud. Remove dead wood, weak spindly branches, and any sucker growth. If you have climbers,

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tie in long branches horizontally, to encourage more flowers. Mulch well.

Next some light and careful hoeing to rid the beds of those tiny weed seedlings sprouting between the shoots of perennials such as delphiniums. If you do it now, you’ll save yourself a lot of work later, and at the same time, you’re letting air into the soil and improving drainage. Snails and slugs are reemerging, so watch your hostas as the first leaves appear, and spread handfuls of sharp grit around them. Do the same if you’ve planted tulips. Slugs love those first leaves.

Is your patio area covered with moss? Clean it off and check your garden furniture to make sure it’s ready for use on the first warm day. Check out your pots to make sure they’re ready for planting up, and clean up the greenhouse.

Are you making the most of your fences?

Gardens get smaller with every new home that’s built, and fences provide

The climbing rose, the double pink Gertrude Jekyll, has everything.

Deliciously scented and repeat flowering, every garden should have one. For sheer exuberance, the tiny, scented white flowers of Rambling Rector is also top of the favourites and Iceberg is another white rose, repeat flowering, semi double, lightly scented and almost thornless. So good, it achieved the RHS Garden of Merit Award. The difference between climbers and ramblers is simple.

Rambling roses bloom spectacularly once a year, and climbers bloom constantly throughout the summer.

Planting Your Roses If possible, attach trellis to your fences leaving a gap between the fence and trellis work of about three inches. This will allow air circulation and an easy structure for tying in. It also shows off the flowers to their best advantage.

Dig a hole at least twelve to eighteen inches away from the fence, add a good amount of well rotted manure or compost to the soil, then plant, making sure the roots are gently spread out, before lightly firming in and watering well.

Another very popular climbing plant is the clematis, and different varieties of this species can be obtained which flower almost every month of the year, and some, such as clematis armandii, are evergreen. This particular variety is a wonderful plant, keeping your fence covered in winter with its dark green glossy foliage, followed by white flowers in spring.

GARDEN Pics as supplied by Barton Grange, Preston.

Planting Your Clematis All clematis like a cool root run. Dig a decent sized hole about eighteen inches away from the fence, and add plenty of compost. Position the plant, making sure the roots are at least 6 inches below soil level and well supported by a cane until it can twine around your trellis. Water in well, top up the hole, then mulch the surface, and add gravel or small stones to keep the surface cool.

Other perennial climbers include Golden Hop and sweetly scented summer jasmine. The pink flowered perennial sweet pea is also an old favourite, and for the price of a packet of seeds, annual climbers could include nasturtiums, sweet peas and the delightful yellow canary creeper. I find that sweet pea seeds are best planted two or three to a pot. This causes less disturbance to the roots when they’re ready for planting out. Sweet peas need plenty of feeding,

but the scent and colour of their flowers are more than reward for their early care with the added bonus of plenty of cut flowers for the house.

The days are getting longer and the birdsong is louder. If you put in the spadework now, you’ll be ready for those long hot days of summer when you can relax and enjoy your perfect garden. Iced drink anyone?

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YO A SMILE TO PETS L L UR FREE W I

Some of the best solicitors in this area are waiting to write your Will for free To find out more:

0808 168 1587 pdsa.org.uk/freewill DON’T DELAY OFFER ENDS 31 MAY 2015

E E FR ILL W

FER F O G N SA I T D I P WR ROM F

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© The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals. Registered charity nos. 208217 & SC037585

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

No matter how carefully we plan our future, life has a habit of springing surprises on us. But if you have an up-to-date Will, you can rest assured that your final wishes will be carried out exactly as you intended. PDSA, the UK’s leading vet charity is offering a free Will writing service. Many of us put off writing our Will or overlook the need to renew an existing one from time to time.

WHY MAKE A WILL?

WHERE DO I START?

In the eyes of the law, unwritten intentions and promises count for nothing. Quite simply, no Will means no choice, so if there are people you love, causes you care about and possessions that mean a lot to you, a Will is the best way to protect them and ensure your wishes are carried out.

Local residents now have the chance to make or amend their Will for free – and it’s all thanks to the UK’s leading veterinary charity, PDSA. The charity has teamed up with a host of local solicitors to offer a free Will-writing service. This is available to anyone over 50.

WHY UPDATE MY WILL? As our lives change, Wills can often be left unaltered, meaning that your Will doesn’t reflect your current wishes. We all know how quickly our lives change. New priorities and major life events may alter who you wish to remember in your Will so it’s vital that it reflects your current situation.

WHO SHOULD MAKE OR UPDATE MY WILL? A solicitor can provide expert advice to make sure that every aspect of your estate is protected. Appointing a solicitor ensures that your wishes are legally recorded, giving you the peace of mind of knowing that your wishes will be carried out exactly as you intended, without misinterpretation.

Chamaine Cartwright, a Wills and Probate Solicitor at participating Blackpool-based firm, Inghams, says, “It’s vital to have a Will but just as important to review it from time to time. Things change, life is ever evolving, relationships change; people marry, people divorce and some remarry. Minor beneficiaries grow up; assets change. It just causes so much upset and distress to families if a Will has not been updated. It’s almost worse than not having a Will at all”.

PDSA’s Free Will offer is a chance to do the right thing by your loved ones, so the people and causes close to your heart can have a secure future.

I was completely satisfied with the process as it was simple and easy.

HOW CAN I HELP PDSA? Gifts in Wills fund two-thirds of PDSA’s work which is how the charity is able to treat more than 470,000 pets each year, including over 8,849 pets at it’s Pet Hospital on Hawes Side Lane in Blackpool.

You don’t need to pledge a gift to PDSA in order to take up the offer, but if you did decide to include PDSA in your Will, your solicitor will help you work out the best way to support the cause.

A popular option for people wishing to remember a charity in their Will is to divide their estate into shares.

This is a good way of ensuring that your wishes are reflected when the time comes, regardless of your financial position. Your solicitor will be able to give you further help and advice on residual and other types of gifts.

Now is the time to make or update your Will.

Visit pdsa.org.uk/freewill to find participating solicitors or call 0808 168 1587 PDSA’s Free Wills offer is available until 31 May 2015.

© The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals. Registered charity nos. 208217 & SC037585

PET CHARITY MAKES WILL-WRITING EASY

Quality dentures mean a quality lifestyle The Importance of Dentures The eyes, nose and teeth are the focal points of every face; they give the first impressions of your personality.

Natural teeth grow in proportion and in harmony with your facial features and your dentures should be made accordingly.

Your teeth, or your dentures, have many important functions: to support your facial muscles, to help formulate your speech, and most importantly to chew your food and start the digestive process.

It is very important to chew food properly, as poorly chewed food will take longer to digest, especially for the elderly who could risk problems in the digestive system.

Choice of Dentures There are four main quality standards in denture materials.

The denture base (gum coloured on which the denture teeth sit).

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• • • • •

Standard Quality High Impact Acrylics (much stronger) Injection Pressure Formed (Premium Denture Base) Flexible (Partial Dentures) Metal Denture

The Denture Teeth • • • •

2 Layer Acrylic (economy) 3 Layer Acrylic (harder wearing) 4 Layer Reinforced (hard wearing, natural look) N.F.C. (Nano filled composite) premium teeth.

Of course, the materials alone will not make a good denture. In the hands of a skillful and experienced Clinical Dental Technician the best results are achieved.

Dentures Need Regular Servicing Dentures are in constant use almost 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They are also in a pretty hostile environment in the mouth, being attacked by strong acid, bacteria, hot, cold and spicy food.

Denture material absorbs liquids and food odour.

Daily cleaning is essential as well as professional ultrasonic cleaning in a dental laboratory at least once a year. Due to constant bone resorbtion dentures will become loose sooner or later.

Loose dentures will increase damage to the gums and bone structure, and increase the risk of breakage. Have them re-lined as soon as possible to get a good fit. It only takes a day or two.

Have your dentures inspected by a Clinical Dental Technician at least every two years, or more frequently if necessary.

Your Dentures need Attention 1. When they become loose.

2. When teeth or denture base discolours.

3. When tooth surfaces become flat.

4. When denture base does not fit around natural teeth (in partial dentures).

HEALTH 5. When you develop deep lines around your mouth.

6. When your chin sticks out, and the corners of your lips are constantly wet, developing sores.

7. When you stop smiling and feel embarrassed.

Major improvements in Facial Features

My Dentures have become loose!

Should I have a spare set of Dentures made?

This is easily remedied by a procedure know as Re-lining. A new layer of Denture base is added to your existing Denture, improving the fit and restoring confidence.

Dentures with worn down teeth Teeth excessively worn, require a new set of dentures.

Dentures on Implants

This type of Denture is constructed in conjunction with the Dental Implant Surgeon. This is a very good procedure when the patient has limited control and retention of their Dentures. The finished Dentures ‘click’ into position offering the ultimate in Denture Retention.

Padding dentures to reduce lines and fill up sunken cheeks will require a new set of dentures. It is advisable to have a new set of dentures made every 5 to 10 years.

Yes, it is very important to have a spare set of dentures for emergencies in case of breakage.

Difficulties in Constructing a Good Set of Dentures Constructing a functional and aesthetically pleasing set of dentures is one of the most difficult task in dentistry. We are not only replacing lost teeth, but also lost tissue matter and bone. In other words, we have to recreate your facial features as they were before the loss of your natural teeth.

In most cases we do not know what your teeth looked like, what size they were or what position they were in originally. We have a few indications but mostly we have to rely on our visual and artistic judgement.

At the same time we have to use our technical expertise in order to make the denture stable and functional. Denture construction is more art than science.

What is a Clinical Dental Technician?

Professional Clinical Dental Technicians are members of the Dental Health Care Team. They have undergone specific training and education in the skills and knowledge necessary to provide a removable appliance service directly to the community.

Equipped with solid technical training as a Dental Technician - plus posttechnician training in sciences, clinical skills, and interpersonal skills - the Clinical Dental Technician can design, create, construct and modify (repair and rebase) removable appliances to ensure optimal fit, maximum comfort and general well-being of patients.

These skills enable the Clinical Dental Technician, whilst remaining a member of the Dental Health Care Team, to work independently of other Dental Health Care providers.

LEYLAND DENTURE CENTRE for your next quality denture

• Qualified Clinical Dental Technicians • New Dentures and Relines • Dental Repairs • Free Consultations

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ensure that care home residents are receiving the care they require?

Answer: Today all care providers have a responsibility to care for and support all older people including those living in residential, nursing, respite and rehabilitation care homes. This includes a commitment to treat everyone with dignity and respect and to provide them with choice and control over their own care. Specific individual requirements should be provided as far as possible in well-equipped facilities with specially trained, caring staff on duty 24 hours a day.

Dr Hilary Jones

Q & A: Choosing the right care If you have ever had to consider care home provision for yourself, or a loved one, you will no doubt understand that it can be a difficult time. There are a myriad of questions to consider in order to ensure you select the care home that is right for you, meeting your individual requirements, and most of all, placing your wellbeing at its heart.

So whether you, or a loved one, are considering entering sheltered living accommodation, residential care, or a care home environment, it is important to research thoroughly beforehand to ensure the care environment you select is right for you.

Resident Doctor, and Expert Healthcare Advisor with Repose Furniture, Dr Hilary Jones recently took part in a question and answer session to uncover how The Care Quality Commission together with healthcare professionals, care home providers, and specialist furniture manufacturers, can work together to ensure an integrated, person centred approach to care, keeping

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best practice at the forefront for care home residents.

During the discussion, Dr Hilary explained that by offering existing, and future, care home residents an integrated approach to care which focuses on their individual needs and requirements, healthcare professionals and care home managers can really engage with their residents, creating meaningful relationships which can really work towards offering a best practice model of care.

Question: Elderly people in care homes often suffer from a variety of long term healthcare problems, which require specialist care and support. With this in mind how could The Care Quality Commission (CQC)

The CQC can oversee this. They can ensure that people retain as much independence as possible in comfort and privacy. They can encourage providers to provide personalised accommodation for individual taste together with pleasant communal dining and lounge areas. Specialist furniture designed specifically for the needs of the elderly, such as comfortable bespoke armchairs and seating makes a huge difference.

Specialised seating, such as that manufactured by Repose Furniture, can correctly support residents who may spend a large proportion of their day seated; such seats can also form the basis of a number of exercise routines for those residents with limited mobility.

Care home residents should be encouraged to engage in varied activity programmes to keep their minds busy and prevent isolation. By employing an activities co-ordinator to engage residents in the things they are most interested, care homes can actively promote physical and mental wellbeing.

Q: Who needs to be involved in order to effectively achieve a personcentred, integrated approach to patient care?

A: One important aspect of this kind of integrated approach is liaison between care home managers, GPs, and other healthcare professionals who should be working together to co-ordinate patients’ needs in a singular approach. The CQC clearly have a responsibility to make sure

CARE that all medications for example are handled in the safest way but these high standards should reach out into other areas and this holds true for specialist dementia and end-oflife care providers also. Care Home Managers are in an excellent position to co-ordinate these approaches and to ensure that residents obtain the very best care tailored to their personal needs.

Q: Can you outline some of the benefits as a result of offering a person-centred, integrated care plan as opposed to a more generalised approach?

A: The traditional generalised approach to care for the elderly left people feeling disempowered and rather helpless. Benefits of offering residents a person- centred, integrated approach to care would include putting residents and their families at the heart of all decisions.

The collaborative team philosophy should ensure that the residents enjoy as much independence as possible with as little conflict and as much compassion, dignity, and respect as possible. This personalised approach is seen to be beneficial to everyone and its incorporation into health and social care is now being adopted as a priority in the UK and part of the Government’s Putting People First programme for social care.

Q: Would an integrated approach to care home healthcare give rise to better understanding of a patient’s healthcare needs?

A: All patients and residents of care homes come from different backgrounds and upbringings and maintain their own beliefs and interests. Each in turn will have their own particular set of social circumstances and medical care needs. With integrated care, patients and residents are seen as equal parties in planning, developing, and assessing their care to ensure that it is appropriate to their needs. It relies on the personal qualities of each person in care and the staff to build non-judgemental and empathetic relationships.

is delivered as well as being able to continue the interests and hobbies that they have always enjoyed throughout their lives where at all possible.

Q: Do you believe that there are steps managers at care homes can take to facilitate an integrated approach to patient care?

A: Managers at care homes can take many steps to facilitate an integrated approach to patient care. By speaking to the patients themselves and to their families they can build a picture of that person’s past and present, and of their medical and social care needs and preferences. The resident themselves can help decide which activities they wish to be involved in and to what extent. Their medical and nursing requirements can be tailored to their individual needs and each healthcare professional informed in turn as to what role is expected of them in the context of which other services are being delivered.

This may not always be easy to accomplish and requires constant development, especially in today’s economic climate with much reduced local authority funding. Despite such constraints we often find that consultation from our residents and families we can often find ways to achieve a content and happy new chapter in life.

If you want to know more about Spindrift then please arrange a visit, we are always happy to hear from you and share our experience with no obligation.

Depersonalisation, lack of control, and the removal of all individuality was once the greatest fear for somebody entering residential care. With an integrated approach to person centred care there is no reason why these fears and apprehensions should not become a thing of the past.

Spindrift Care Home The article by Dr Hilary Jones identifies some important areas that modern care establishments should be addressing, particularly around the concept of person centred and integrated approaches to care.

At Spindrift in Lytham we identified a need to abandon the traditional generalised approach over a decade ago. The traditional approach tended to be centred around getting the job done in the most efficient and uniform manner often with little concern for Dignity and Choice, this is not to say that no one cared, or everyone suffered as a result, just outcomes were often lacking the small but significant things that make for a more valued lifestyle. The person centred approach is an often over claimed and catchy concept for homes to claim, but what does it really mean?

Our answer is simply that all residents and families should feel entirely able to pursue and express their own opinions on how & when their care

• • • •

Dementia Trained Staff Family Run Business Homely Atmosphere Home Cooked Meals

Spindrift Care Home 36-39 Cleveland Road, Lytham FY8 5JH

Tel: 01253 737014 www.spindriftcarehome.co.uk

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Advertorial feature

Getting to know your elderly care options A guide to help you plan for your needs in later life.

If you’re concerned about the care of a loved one, it can be difficult to know where to turn. It’s not always easy to talk about elderly care and you may go through a range of emotions, or feel that you’re on your own.

Aside from the emotional strain, families also have to get to grips with the implications of paying for care, which can be complex. There’s also the decision about which care to choose, which will depend on a number of factors, including the level of care required.

Many care homes provide a range of care types at one location giving the home the ability to meet individuals’ changing care needs within a single setting. This means that residents may not need to relocate to another care home should their care needs change in the future.

There are several types of care that homes can provide, such as short-stay, residential, nursing and dementia, each of which offers a specific kind of support to meet individual needs.

Choosing the right care home is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. For this reason, it is important that you research and fully understand all the different options available to you, including the likely costs, to ensure you make the right choice.

It’s common for someone needing a care home to feel a burden and for relatives to feel guilty about not being able to provide the care themselves. However, life in a care home can bring great benefits; helping people to stay independent for longer in a safe and homely environment, while ensuring help is at hand when needed.

Care homes can also offer a real community spirit, where people can interact with their fellow residents, families and friends and enjoy a more active social life based on their interests and hobbies.

If you would like advice based on your personal circumstances, or you are just not sure where to start, whether it’s queries about funding, getting help to look after someone at home, or just starting the conversation with a loved one about care, Bupa offers a free advice service run by experts.

To discover what care could mean for you in Preston and Fylde, talk to an expert today.

Call 0333 331 5394†

READER OFFER For your free ‘A Guide to Making Choices for the Years Ahead’, send this coupon to: Care Journey Experts, Bupa Care Services, Bridge House, Outwood Lane, Leeds, LS18 4UP Name: ........................................................

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274 Blackburn Road, Bolton BL1 8DT www.synergydental.org.uk Tel:01204 522090 Clinics also at: 48 Higher Swan Lane, Bolton BL3 3AT 10 Tenterden Street, Bury BL9 0EG

A Patient Journey with Synergy Dental Group ‘A patient journey allows us to personify the efficiency of the service that we deliver within Synergy Dental Group. This journey encapsulates and amalgamates the experience each patient has with us – I expect highest standards of customer service, professionalism, presentation of information and finally the quality treatments’ says Dr Zuber Bagasi CEO of Synergy Dental Group.

‘We want to make our patients feel extra special when visiting our clinics and to make their visit as pleasant and comfortable as we possibly can. I like the service to be professional and personable and we are always striving to be the best, it is about going the extra mile.’

Synergy Dental are a multi-award winning group that have received numerous accolades for their clinical and team work as well as work within the community.

his own journey in 2007 he wanted to create an environment for his patients offering very best level of care and clinical ability.

Since 2007 he has duplicated this philosophy to the 3 other Synergy Clinics in the North-west – Each of the clinics offer a multi disciplined service list and

BEFORE

AFTER

Over the past 8 years Synergy have created an infrastructure which has enabled them to expand and provide the same level of care and treatment options at each of their clinics. ‘all of this would not be possible without the work done behind the scenes that allows us as dentists to be at the cutting edge of our industry, without team work we would not be as effective as we are..’

The basis of Dr Zuber Bagasi’s philosophy are the standards at which each of the clinics operate. When Dr Bagasi started

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BEFORE

AFTER

patients can be referred to the relative clinician dependent on the treatment required. The clinics have also developed such a reputation that they have external referrals from other dentists highlighting the quality of their work.

The clinics provide a variety of treatment ranging from routine dental care to the complexities of dental implants and bespoke dentures; they also pride a non surgical suite which can accommodate patients for treatments such as anti wrinkle injections, dermal fillers and direct hair implantation.

‘The driving factor to all our development is a comprehensive training programme and team work. When joining our team all of our staff are integrated with the Synergy values, how we operate and how we conduct ourselves, without our thorough training programme that is consistently monitored we could not express our quality of service.’

Dr Zuber Bagasi is truly an inspiration to his peers and local community – he has embraced the health care service, participates with the NHS committees, regularly attends local schools to teach children the importance of oral hygiene, gives career advice to school leavers, provides work experience to any aspiring dentists, lectures at local study circles for dentists and provides continual professional development programmes for all of his staff – the exhausting time and dedication he gives to his profession is remarkable.

The combination of the clinical excellence and service factors Dr Bagasi has implemented within all of his clinics ensures you have the very best ‘patient journey’ with Synergy Dental Group.

DHI has over 45 years experience with hair transplantation and has a track record of providing the treatment to over 100,000 clients worldwide.

Its phenomenal success defines DHI as the masters and the worlds leading provider of hair transplantation. It uses the most advance technique to provide a safe treatment with the most natural results – this is a achieved by using its own highly trained surgeons and a patented technique that eliminates the use of scalpels.

Direct Hair Implantation can offer bespoke treatments to treat hair loss such as: •

Directed Hair Implantation for genetic hair loss in both Men and Women

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Body hair restoration

•

Platelet rich plasma (scalp stimulation)

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Anagen shampoos and lotions

For more information please visit www.regainyourhair.com or email hairtransplants@synergydental.org.uk Facial Aesthetics are a fantastic non Surgical solution to smooth lines and wrinkles whilst maintaining a natural looking appearance.

If you are tired of unwanted frown lines or facial folds we offer bespoke tailor made anti-wrinkle packages to moderate the facial ageing process and to restore features giving you a fresh beautiful smile. All of our clinicians at Synergy dental group have been expertly trained as head and neck surgeons ensuring that their skill and clinical ability is of the highest standard. Our exceptional knowledge of facial aesthetics, use of quality products, state of the art treatment rooms and quality customer service establish us as a market leader.

If you would like to book a free consultation or to discuss treatment options please call any of clinics and our Treatment Coordinators will readily assist you.

Enjoy being wrinkle free with Synergy Facial Aesthetics and we look forward to seeing you soon.

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