Preston & Fylde Issue 69 by 50 Plus Magazine

PRESTON & FYLDE COAST EDITION 69

JANUARY - MARCH 2024

Peter Kay

Ribble Valley-Based Renovo Dental

BORN TO BE FUNNY

CROWNED BEST PRACTICE IN THE NORTH AT NATIONAL DENTISTRY AWARDS

James Martin’s

SPANISH ADVENTURE

Reeves Coach Holidays NEW BROCHURE OUT NOW

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Refreshments available whilst travelling on our coaches, our door to door service makes it a relaxing holiday from start to end, two staff are with you on the journey, to ensure that we are….”Taking you There, with Staff that Really Care”

Burns night – a Wee poem & Gin

Monday 22nd to Friday 26th January 2024 £464.00 pp... SRS £85.00 Based At: The Hydro Hotel, Peebles Located within it’s own landscaped gardens and walks, within the Border Town of Peebles, near the River Tweed.

What’s included:

4 night’s hotel accommodation with half-board, (full Scottish Breakfasts and 3 course evening meals) l Hotel’s Burn’s entertainment l All coach transportation l Porterage l Door-to-door service l

Entrance and excursions to: l Edinburgh l 1881 Distillery

That Flowery Feeling

Saturday 16th to Tuesday 19th March 2024 £386.00 pp... SRS £102.00 Based At: The Mercure Bedford Centre Hotel, Bedfordshire On the banks of the River Great Ouse, this straightforward hotel is a 4-minute walk from The Higgins Bedford art gallery and museum and a mile from Bedford train station.

What’s included:

3 night’s hotel accommodation with half-board (breakfasts and evening meals) l All coach transportation l Porterage l Door-to-door service l

Entrance and excursions to: l Thriplow l Trentham l Bicester

Reeves Coach Holidays Limited, Unit 9, Stancliffe Street Industrial Estate, Blackburn, Lancashire BB2 2QR

B-E-a-utiful Babbacombe

lovely llandudno

Friday 8th to Friday 15th March 2024 £575.00 pp... SRS £40.00

Monday 25th to Saturday 30th March 2024 £495.00 pp... SRS £50.00

Based At: The Babbacombe Hotel, Babbacombe Situated overlooking the Babbacombe Downs with far reaching beautiful views across the English Riviera. Babbacombe is in the locality of Torquay just over 2 miles from it’s town/harbour.

Based At: The Baytree, Llandudno Located on the seafront, overlooking the Grand Promenade as well as the town’s pier. All Rooms have en suite bathrooms, flat-screen TV, Tea/coffee making facilities. Guests can relax in the elegant bar and lounge and terrace. 2 minutes walk from the central shopping area.

What’s included:

7 hight’s hotel accommodation with half-board (breakfasts and 3 course evening meals) l Hotel’s own entertainment most nights l 50% discount on all bar purchases for our guests between 7.30-10.30pm each evening l All coach transportation l Porterage l Door-to-door service l

Entrance and excursions to: l ALL entrances & excursions to Teignmouth, Dawlish, Plymouth, Buckfast Abbey

What’s included:

5 night’s hotel accommodation with Half-Board (breakfasts & evening meals) l All coach transportation l Porterage l Door-to-door service l

Entrance and excursions to: l ALL entrances & excursions to Llandudno Tramway, Cable Car, Steam train return journey, Caernarfon Castle

Other holidays available, kindly contact our office for our new 2024 brochure and have a happy new year! Door-to-door collections service please note that restrictions may apply, please check your postcode with our office to ensure you are within our free collection area.

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CONTENTS | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

IN THIS ISSUE

Celebrity Feature PETER KAY, BORN TO BE FUNNY

8-9

TWITTERING ON By Angela Kelly

10-11

TRAVEL A weekend in Frankfurt

14-15

CELEBRITY FEATURE Peter Kay, born to be funny

18-21

FOOD James Martin’s Spanish Adventure

23-25

HOME 24 ways to improve your home

STEVE HOWARTH’S TEST DRIVE The Qashqai Tekna E-Power

Bridgeman House 77 Bridgeman Street | Bolton | BL3 6BY. Sales Enquiries : T: (01204) 238180

Travel

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When it comes to inviting, relaxing breaks, we have the ideal holiday for you.. Whether you’re looking for a romantic break for two, a family holiday or getting away with friends, Daish’s Holidays offers 12 hotels in 10 of the most popular UK destinations. Our fleet of 35 luxury coaches provide return travel in comfort and style from your pick up point and will take you directly to your hotel, aiming to arrive between 3 – 5pm. If you’d like to get out and about to explore the local area on your holiday, then all of our breaks can also be booked on a self-drive basis so you’ve got the freedom of having your own car.

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Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice We are proud to announce that six of our group – County, Devonshire, Abbey Lawn, Bournemouth Sands, Daish’s, Imperial – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award for 2023.

Isle of Wight

Torquay

Bournemouth Llandudno

Newquay

Blackpool

Lake District Scarborough Eastbourne

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Don’t miss these coach inclusive breaks! Local pick up points from make it easy to get away. Price includes return coach travel from:

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All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s). DATE

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DATE

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JANUARY

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Russell Hotel – Weymouth

£129

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

£184

Abbey Lawn Hotel – Torquay

£144

Somerset Hotel – Llandudno

£229

Imperial Hotel – Eastbourne

£154

Imperial Hotel – Eastbourne

£219

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

£144

Esplanade Hotel – Scarborough

£224

Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

£139

Russell Hotel – Weymouth

£209

Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth

£169

Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

£199

FEBRUARY 01

Devonshire Hotel – Torquay

£139

Somerset Hotel – Llandudno

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Imperial Hotel – Eastbourne

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10 fabulous locations, 12 great hotels. Bournemouth

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Daish’s Blackpool Hotel

County Hotel

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TWITTERING ON | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

TWITTERING ON By Angela Kelly -

sound quite the same

because x’ing on doesn’t

This includes a police commitment to prioritise urgently attending incidents of shoplifting involving violence against a shop worker, where security staff have detained an offender or where they need to secure evidence. Police will assess such incidents based on risk with prolific or juvenile offenders being “treated with elevated priority.” A new specialist police team is also being created to build a comprehensive intelligence picture of the organised crime gangs behind many shoplifting incidents across the country.

Tackling shoplifting is a major priority in 2024

CCTV now plays a large part in both capture and prosecution of offenders and it’s hoped that improvements in the way police and businesses share information will also start to reduce incidents.

ONE thing most of us would probably like to see less of in 2024 is shoplifting.

Chris Philp called the new initiative “a zero tolerance approach” to this “blight on our high streets.”

During 2023, this already worrying trend mushroomed into a regular, frightening and costly occurrence, often involving violence towards staff and anyone else brave enough to intervene.

Let’s hope this latest initiative really works. We simply cannot allow shoplifting to escalate even further than it already has. It’s turning high streets and corner shops into battlegrounds and customers are paying the price.

It is now costing retailers in the UK more than £1 billion a year – yes, that does read £1 billion – and it would be naïve to think that it is a victimless crime that multi-million pound businesses can easily absorb.

Sir Cliff is still a top entertainer after 60-plus years WHAT a remarkable entertainer Sir Cliff Richard is!

The reality, of course, is that the cost of shoplifting is passed on to the retailer: you and me.

At 83, he’s just come to the end of his highly successful Blue Sapphire Tour and, in true superstar mode, is also releasing a concert film of the tour.

Goods of all kinds automatically cost more on the shelves to make up the shortfall caused by these thefts which has to be paid by someone (us) along with the added cost of any new initiatives retailers bring in to try to combat shoplifting.

No doubt he is trying to emulate the success of pop stars like Taylor Swift and Beyonce with his tour film but it does show how savvy he is as well.

Footage widely circulated on social media and elsewhere shows how even shoplifting has changed dramatically recently. Once it was simply devious folk quietly stealing items, hiding them in their coat and then sidling out of the shop.

He still looks good for a man who has been entertaining fans around the world for over six decades and has notched up more than 21.5million singles’ sales in the UK. He is the third topselling artist in UK singles’ chart history behind the Beatles and Elvis Presley.

Now, while this no doubt still goes on, a large number of shoplifters barge into all kinds of shops and stores in organised groups and brazenly steal items. Security staff may make valiant attempts to stop them but they often end up on the receiving end of mindless violence. In October, Policing Minister Chris Philp chaired a meeting of senior police leaders and 13 of the UK’s biggest retailers to launch the Retail Crime Action Plan. 8

Interestingly, he was originally marketed as a rebellious rock ‘n roll singer in the style of Elvis. He actually looked a bit like him then with his quiffed hair and developed a bit of a sneer like Elvis which made him look tougher. He soon fell into his own style, though and, as talent will out, he and his band the Shadows started making hit records. Cliff simply never stopped.

He’s always been the poster boy for clean living and still has a dedicated fan base across the country that ensures every concert is a sell-out and every song release a hit. Sir Cliff has seen them all come and go when it comes to pop entertainers. He survived through Punk, New Wave, New Romantics, Grunge and Rap and he’s still here. Long may his larynx last and his voice and star quality continue to delight. Drones may become first responders to aid police DRONES have long had a mixed press and seemed – like lasers originally were – to be a solution looking for a problem. True, people have bought them in their thousands on the high street and on the net and they do offer an affordable and fun way for remote flying. They are popular with businesses like photographers. Estate agents use them and they provide a safe way to gain pictorial information at height without someone putting themselves at risk. Survey companies use them and large parcel delivery companies have aspirations of employing them for deliveries. Unfortunately, not everyone who operates them since drones hit the market has been sensible and there have been near-misses when using them near airfields. The potential for a terrifying disaster still looms although there are now more guidelines and, hopefully, commonsense around drones.

So it was good to see that drones could now also be used as first responders for police emergencies and will be trialled during 2024. The innovative scheme, called Project Eagle X, will be tested in Norfolk which has limited access to National Police Air Service helicopters. If this is successful, drones could be stationed on buildings and operated remotely which allows police to send the devices to crime scenes swiftly and gather potentially vital information. Similar trials have apparently been carried out already in San Diego and police in England and Wales are working with US officers on this. Trials are also going to take place in Belgium and the Netherlands. Let’s hope the British trials are successful and that drones can find their place in helping the emergency services. Technology today is a wondrous thing – more so when it finds a positive place in the world and contributes so practically to our everyday lives.

or email: help@aamail.org 9

TRAVEL | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

A weekend in Frankfurt By Rebecca Underwood, BA Hons | Travel Journalist

Courtesy of Visit Frankfurt

I embarked on my explorations with the utmost zeal and headed for St Bartholomew’s cathedral with its imposing Gothic tower, which soars 95 metres into the sky and visitors who climb the 328 steps up to the viewing platform are richly rewarded with a fabulous panoramic view. The cathedral, known as the Kaiserdom, dates back to 1315 and although severely damaged by fire in 1867 and bombed in 1944 it has been restored with much care and attention to detail. The cathedral’s many treasures include Antonius van Dyck’s fabulous painting of the Lamentation of Christ, which dates back to 1627 and was bequeathed to the cathedral in 1852.

Frankfurt is located on the Main River in the German state of Hesse and known as Frankfurt am Main. Named after the Franks, who dwelled near the Lower Rhine in the 3rd century, the Free City of Frankfurt was a city state for nearly five hundred years and a prominent municipality of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1562, kings and emperors were crowned in the city’s Bartholomäus Cathedral. In 1806 the city’s sovereignty was lost due to the collapse of the empire. Nine years later Frankfurt regained its prominence and then in 1866 it was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia and in 1945 it was declared part of the state of Hesse. Today, Frankfurt, also known as ‘Mainhattan’, is a global centre for commerce, technology, media and creative industries with shimmering glass, concrete and steel skyscrapers including the head office of the European Central Bank. The city’s cultural venues attract the crowds and with 30 museums to choose from there is clearly a wide range of exhibitions to keep the most discerning visitor’s attention.

With my insatiable thirst for art awakened I made my way to the Städel Museum, which was founded in 1815 and is crammed with more than 3,000 paintings focusing on Renaissance, Baroque and early Modern pieces. The collection includes inspiring works by Rembrandt, Picasso, Monet, Botticelli, Vermeer and Degas. Each piece demands the admiration of the viewer and I was utterly enchanted and enthralled.

Applewine © visitfrankfurt_Holger-Ullmann

Alas, pressed for time, I forced myself to leave and took a leisurely stroll along the banks of the River Main and headed for the Historisches Museum, which features art and artefacts from the medieval era to the present day. Exhibitions include Frankfurt Once and Frankfurt Now, which is spread out over five galleries and explores how the citizens of Staedel Museum the city lived in the past and how they live today. It is a fascinating example of how events impact every detail of the lives of the residents. As I emerged from the museum into the sunlight I made my way to the Röemerberg, the city’s old central square, which was reconstructed, according to the original plans, and completed in 1986. I was spellbound by the gorgeous gabled half-timbered properties and in the centre of the square, by the imposing town hall, stands a fabulous bronze fountain of the goddess Justitia holding the scales of justice and a sword. As I strolled around the square the enticing aromas of coffee and pastries swirled around my nostrils and awakened my appetite. I selected a table outside the buzzing Schwarzer Stern restaurant, directly opposite the magnificent Römer, the old town hall. I ordered the delicious braised beef dumplings with red cabbage and apples accompanied by a glass of house red and followed by an unforgettable slice of apple pie, which were served with aplomb.

Kaiserdom

To work off those calories I took a brisk walk along to the pedestrianonly zone of Zeil, the city’s main shopping area and the location of MyZeil, a shopping mall, which Historisches Museum features an enormous curved glass façade and covers 52,000 square metres with brand-name shops, international labels and regional retailers keen to assist me in reaching my credit card limit. Weighed down with bags, feeling rather weary, and in need of a spot of pampering, I headed for the JW Marriott, located on Thurn-und-Taxis – Platz 2, a short walk away. A swift check-in

was completed and I was escorted to my grand deluxe suite measuring 60 sqm. With floor to ceiling windows and a separate living room with a comfy couch I made myself at home with ease. I then went in search of the hotel’s spa to indulge in a 30-minute ‘De-stress’ massage, which included essential oils with the most delightful and soothing scents. Back in my suite I retreated to my king size bed, swathed with cool, white linens, and succumbed to a deep slumber. Up with the larks and I headed for Goethe House, located on Großer Hirschgraben. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a German poet, novelist, playwright, theatre director, critic, scientist and statesman was born in 1749 and the exquisitely furnished Goethe House, built on the site of his childhood home, provides the opportunity to take a glimpse into his life and Frankfurt in the 18th century. Exhibits include a presentation of the Goethe family, a history of the property and details of Frankfurt. One room is dedicated to Goethe as a young man, his legal studies and his writings and drawings. His novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther resulted in enormous fame and is thought to be highly influential in the beginning of Romanticism and Faust, his tragic play, which is in two parts, is considered to be the greatest work of German literature. In 1821 Goethe was introduced to the 12 year old Felix Mendelssohn who later set a number of Goethe’s poems to music. As my visit to Frankfurt was drawing to a close I made my way to the Haus Wertheym, a German restaurant and inn, located on Fahrtor, opposite the Historisches Museum. The origins of the Haus Wertheym date back to 1479 and it was the ideal setting to enjoy a real taste of Frankfurt. I ordered the traditional meaty sauerbraten, served with potato dumplings and a chilled glass of cider and I held my glass aloft to make a toast to Frankfurt as I reflected on Johann Goethe’s wise words ‘Plunge boldly into the thick of life, and seize it where you will, it is always interesting’.

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CELEBRITY FEATURE | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

PETER KAY BORN TO BE FUNNY PETER Kay was born to be funny. He is a natural comedian who uses observations on everyday life to tickle the nation’s funnybone. His humour transcends age, culture and geography and, as the thousands who queue to see his latest ongoing tour know, it’s the ideal antidote for everything from recession to piles. Born in Farnworth, Bolton and unashamedly Northern, Peter, now 50, knew he wanted to be in comedy from an early age. He studied media performance at the University of Salford and began working as a part-time comedian in North-west comedy clubs. His day jobs, however, ranged from a factory worker packing toilet rolls, in a supermarket, a video shop, a cash and carry and a bingo hall as well as a mobile disc jockey. He worked in a garage for six years in between all the other jobs. “Being a comedian is the only job I’ve ever managed to keep for a long period of time,” he once confessed. “In all my other jobs, after a while it got to the point where it was like I wasn’t there.

“Hey …. I bet my former bosses are sat right now saying ‘You’re damn right you wasn’t there, that’s why you’re not there now!’ but I guess I wasn’t meant to pack toilet rolls or stack shelves. I was destined to make people laugh.” However, he does admit that his “best job before being a stand-up comedian would have to be when I was usher at my local cinema in Bolton.

“I got to see all the movies for free, got free sweets and I told people endings of films as they were going in, like ‘I didn’t know Al Pacino was in ‘Ghost’.” Peter was also an usher at the huge Manchester O2 Arena – the venue he now packs out night after night to thousands of adoring fans. Such is karma. As a stand-up comedian, Peter won the North West Comedian of the Year award in 1997 and the following year Channel 4’s So You

Think You’re Funny contest. He was also nominated for a Perrier Award for his show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

months of release. It’s still a popular buy and ranks as the biggest selling British hardback autobiography of all time.

As his profile started to rise, Peter wrote, directed and starred in That Peter Kay Thing for Channel 4 which resulted in spin-off sitcom Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights.

His second book TV: Big Adventures on the Small Screen was published last September and greeted with the same sort of acclaim.

This was a turning point for the young comedian. Phoenix Nights, filmed in a Farnworth social club, ran for two series from 2001 to 2002 to become iconic comedy.

Peter is currently in the middle of a lengthy tour – his first for 12 years - which when it ends will also prove to be a record-breaker with a lengthy stint at London’s O2 Arena.

It also generated another successful spin-off with friend and fellow Boltonian Paddy McGuinness - Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere – in 2004.

Previously, Peter wrote and starred in comedy tour Mum Wants A Bungalow which turned into the Guinness World Records’ most successful ever tour selling more than 1.2 million tickets

In 2005, Peter recorded a promotional video in which he mimed to Tony Christie’s 1971 hit Is This The Way to Amarillo. This was re-issued as a fundraiser for Comic Relief, raising more than £2 million for charity. It also reached No.1 in the UK singles’ chart to become the year’s best-seller.

He is notoriously private about his life away from performing and still lives in Bolton. He is married to Susan and they have a teenage son, Charlie.

He followed this up two years later when he created a star-studded video to (I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles. In 2007, he moved into theatre to play director Roger DeBris in the Mel Brooks’ musical The Producers at Manchester’s Palace Theatre. Then, always keen to try fresh projects and experience fresh challenges, in 2008 Peter co-wrote and starred in Britain’s Got the Pop Factor ….and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice. In this parody of several British reality TV shows , Peter was the series’ fictional protagonist Geraldine McQueen. He even released a single from this The Winner’s Song which, ironically, reached No.2 in the UK singles’ charts.

He has spawned a variety of catchphrases during his comedy career including his disbelieving “Garlic bread?” and “Put big light on”. In a series of hilarious TV adverts for beer (he’s actually teetotal) he coined “’Ave it!” Peter is quite an unstarry person and often seen around Bolton but he is also extremely generous and has supported a variety of local charities including Bolton Hospice. In fact, local people are generally very protective of this famous son and proud of his ongoing achievements. It’s not everyday a working class lad becomes a superstar and still lives in his home town but then Peter Kay is definitely not your average superstar – and his fans are very grateful for that!

In 2015 he brought back Phoenix Nights for a series of live performances for Comid Relief and in 2016 he toured the UK with Peter Kay’s Dance For Life in aid of Cancer Research. From 2015 to 2018 he captured the attention of TV audiences once more with his series Car Share and in 2016 won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Male comedy Performance, the BAFTA TV Award for Best Scripted Comedy and the National Television Award for Best Comedy for Car Share. He also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Salford. He has made several guest TV appearances over the years – on Coronation Street, The Catherine Tate Show, Mrs Brown’s Boys and even Doctor Who to name just a few. In between all this, Peter wrote his autobiography The Sound of Laughter which sold more than one million copies in the first three

BEST OF THE BEST Ribble Valley-based Renovo Dental has been crowned the best practice in the region at the esteemed Dentistry Awards 2023

The specialist team at private dental clinic Renovo Dental are celebrating after having been awarded two prestigious dentistry awards. Firstly, they were named Best Practice of the Year North West at the national Dentistry Awards 2023 at a glittering, black-tie dinner held at the Athena in Leicester. Renovo's clinical director, Dr Usman Riaz, said: 'We were up against some of the best practices in cities such as Manchester and Liverpool, so to become a finalist and then to win is just fantastic. 'This award is for the team and patients. We are all extremely proud as it's a great achievement,' says Usman, who is joined by six dental clinicians at Renovo as well as a team of support staff and dental nurses. 'It is testament to the dedication and passion of our super-talented team members, who consistently go above and beyond, ensuring every patient experience is exceptional. 'It was a wonderful evening celebrating success with some of the best dental clinics that the country has to offer. Congratulations to all the finalists and award winners.' The Dentistry Awards are among the largest in the UK and the occasion has become well respected in terms of recognising excellence in dentistry across the whole of the UK. The strict criteria that judges use includes the individual skillset of all the team, patient case presentation, the innovative technology available at each individual practice and, of course, patient experience.

'The judges look at the facilities and the quality of the work carried out across the board,' says Usman. 'The panel of judges are from the dental industry - our peers, who are all experts. It's a very vigorous process but at Renovo we all work hard and to a very high standard, so to be recognised as the best of the best means a lot to us. 'It's a dream to achieve this accolade so early in our journey. A heartfelt thank you to our amazing patients who have been with us since opening less than three years ago -your support and motivation drives us to be the best. This achievement would not have been possible without all of you. We are only as good as our patients. We'll continue pushing our limits to make you proud.' More recently Renovo Dental was also awarded the title of Best Referral Practice 2023 North at the Private Dentistry awards. Held at Grosvenor House in London's Mayfair, there were only two winners on the evening in north and south categories, with Renovo walking away with the northern accolade. Renovo Dental is one of the few practices in the North West to offer such a high level of in house specialist dentistry and being independent gives them the freedom to offer each patient the very best personalised treatment. The state-of-the-art surgery at Pendle House in Chatburn, features world-leading, digital technology: 'We have invested in a skilled team and support them with the latest dental technology that means patients not only receive the highest standard of care, but

treatments are faster, more comfortable and more pain free than ever,' adds Usman. Receiving referrals from other dentists throughout the region, Renovo also takes self referred patients, who feel they may benefit from a consultation with one of the in-house specialists. From gum disease to preventing tooth loss, dental implants and bone regeneration to first class cosmetic dentistry, the team at Renovo Dental are committed to offering gold-standard, minimally invasive treatments

to patients: 'This is bespoke dentistry,' says Usman. 'Everybody here has a specialism that they have worked very hard to achieve. 'We are all passionate about what we do and we are all very dedicated. Renovo is much bigger than a group of individual specialists, it's about our patients, changing mindsets and attitudes surrounding dentistry. 'We love what we do and we have come together with a vision to achieve excellence and we feel this latest award reflects this.'

Renovo Dental, Pendle House, Clitheroe Road Chatburn B87 4JY 01200 441000 hello@renovodental.co.uk I renovodental.co.uk 17

FOOD | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE Well-travelled chef James Martin gets underneath the skin of Spain - a country he hardly knows but is excited to explore - as he discovers its history and culture. Here we share 4 recipes from his new book.

CASTILE BEANS AND MEATBALLS Castile and León is a region rich in pulses, and the largest producer in Spain. This recipe uses white beans from La Bañeza, which have a soft and buttery texture and hold their shape well when cooked, making them the perfect choice for a tomatoey stew to accompany beefy meatballs.

Serves 6-8 Ingredients • 100g dried alubias de La Bañeza (white beans) • 1kg beef mince • small bunch of flat-leaf parsley, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, chopped • 100ml olive oil • 100g lardo, sliced • 5 tomatoes, diced • 1 onion, sliced • 500ml passata • 1 teaspoon dried oregano • 300ml red wine • 200g roasted red peppers in a jar, sliced • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method Soak the beans in cold water overnight, then drain. Pop in a pan, cover with cold water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 1 hour. Drain and set aside. Mix together the beef, half the parsley, 1 teaspoon of salt and one-third of the garlic. When evenly combined, shape into 12 large meatballs. 18

Heat a large pan over a medium–high heat until hot, then add half the oil and pop in the meatballs. Once the meatballs have coloured, turn them over, then add the lardo, rest of the garlic, the tomatoes, onion, passata, oregano and wine. Season, bring to the boil, then pop in the peppers and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the beans and cook for a further 10 minutes, sprinkle over the remaining parsley, then drizzle over the remaining oil and serve.

BAKED ARTICHOKES AND EGGS This dish is my personal celebration of locally grown Spanish vegetables. Perfect for brunch or lunch served with crusty bread for dipping. Delicious.

Serves 4 Ingredients • 5 purple artichokes • 100ml olive oil • 1 bay leaf • 4 eggs • crusty bread, to serve For the sauce • 3 large tomatoes • 50ml olive oil • 1 onion, diced • 3 garlic cloves, diced • 1 charred red pepper, cored, deseeded and sliced • 1 teaspoon pimentón ahumado (smoked paprika) • 1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt

Method Heat a BBQ until hot and the coals are white. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/400°F/gas 6 or heat a pizza oven to 300°C (570°F). Start by prepping the artichokes. Peel away the bottom leaves and then, using a potato peeler, trim the stems back. Remove the top third of each artichoke with a knife and then cut into sixths. Pop the artichokes into a pan with 100ml water, the oil and bay leaf and cook for 15 minutes until all the liquid has gone. Grate the tomatoes over a sieve with a box grater. Chop the skins finely and mix up with the pulp and juice. Heat the olive oil in a pan over a medium heat, then add the onion and garlic and cook for 2–3 minutes to soften. Add the tomatoes, pepper and pimentón and bring to the boil. Reduce by half and season with the salt. Put the artichokes into an ovenproof dish, spoon over the sauce and crack the eggs on top. Place into the oven and bake for 10 minutes, or the pizza oven for 6–8 minutes. Serve with crusty bread.

FOOD | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

ROASTED SEA BASS WITH TOMATOES AND OLIVES An impressive dish of whole sea bass, roasted on a bed of tomatoes and olives and drizzled in oil and sherry for extra Spanish flavour. I’ve complemented it with some grilled asparagus coated in a tomato and parsley dressing served alongside.

Serves 2 Ingredients • 1 x 700g whole sea bass, gutted and fins removed • 1 lemon, sliced • a few flat-leaf parsley stalks • bunch of asparagus • 25ml olive oil • pinch of salt For the sauce • 150g tomato pulp • 2 large tomatoes, cut into chunks • 50ml olive oil • 1 tablespoon sherry • 100g olives of your choice, stoned For the dressing • 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar • 3 tablespoons tomato pulp • 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley • 1 tablespoon sherry • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 50ml olive oil

Method If you want to use a BBQ, heat a BBQ until hot and the coals are white. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/400°F/gas 6 or heat a pizza oven to 400°C (750°F). Start with the fish. Cut 3 or 4 deep slashes on each side, fill the cavity with the lemon slices and parsley stalks. Spoon the tomato pulp for the sauce into the base of a paella pan, sprinkle over the chopped tomatoes and sit the fish on top. Drizzle over the oil and sherry, then roast in the oven for 12–15 minutes, or in the pizza

oven for 10 minutes, adding the olives for the last minute of cooking. Whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing. Pop the asparagus onto a tray, roll in the oil and season with the salt. Place onto the BBQ grill and char for 2–3 minutes, turning during cooking. Alternatively, you can cook in a griddle or frying pan on the hob. Pop the asparagus onto a plate, spoon over the dressing and serve alongside the fish.

SPICED SEVILLE ORANGES WITH CRÈME CARAMEL

A pudding which makes the most of Seville’s famous citrus export. The crème caramels are flavoured with orange as well as the vanilla and served alongside sticky caramelised slices of orange.

Serves 8 Ingredients For the caramel

• 150g caster sugar • squeeze of orange juice

For the filling

• 500ml full-fat milk • zest of 1 Seville orange • 1 vanilla pod, seeds removed • 3 large eggs, plus 2 egg yolks • 100g caster sugar

For the orange

• 1 Seville orange, peeled • 2 star anise • 1 cinnamon stick • 3 cloves • 2 bay leaves • 100g caster sugar • 100ml water

Method Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and, when hot, add the sugar, 2 tablespoons of water and the orange juice. Do not stir but carefully swirl in the pan until the sugar is brown and caramelised. This should take about 3–4 minutes. Once the sugar has caramelised, spoon into four ramekins and set aside. Preheat the oven to 130°C (110°C fan)/265°F/gas 3/4. Heat the milk, orange zest and the vanilla in a medium saucepan over a medium heat. In a bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar until combined. Pour over the warm milk mixture and whisk again. Then ladle the mixture onto the caramel. Place the ramekins into a bain-marie and bake for 45 minutes. Transfer to the fridge to chill overnight. For the orange, pop all the ingredients into the caramel pan and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and leave to cool and infuse. To turn the caramels out, loosen the edges with a sharp knife onto plates, then spoon the oranges on the side.

What will be? What will youryour legacylegacy 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 Paddy...

Paddy has come to us as a retired racing greyhound. He had been used for racing for about 6 months but due to a small injury on his Greyho pad he was retired. He has since had a small 4 year und, Male, operation and is now fully recovered. He is a very s 3 mo nths o happy, friendly boy who is always ready to go on ld adventures. He has quickly become a favourite with most of our dog walking volunteers and is always very excited to see them all. He has a high prey drive and can initially be quite strong on the lead but soon settles and after 5 minutes walks very well, He would not be suitable in a home with small animals due to his racing history. We don’t think Paddy has ever been around young children but is walked by volunteers with young children and has always been fine. We would advise children over 10 years who have lived with dogs before. Paddy has never lived with another dog before; we do mix with other lurchers, and he enjoys chasing them but he always has his muzzle on so he can be protective over his toys and food so he would be best as the only dog in his new home. Paddy is a happy bouncy boy who loves tennis balls, squeaky balls, treats and cuddles. He can’t wait to find a new 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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24 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR HOME Contact organisations like the National Association of Building Contractors (NABC) for large projects on https://nabc.org.uk or Trusted Traders which is run by consumer experts Which? at trustedtraders. which.co.uk No.2 – Is your fence in good condition? Nothing says shabby and uncared for in a garden like a tatty fence - which is bad news for your home’s value. Winter is a great time to replace your fence because plants aren’t growing and all that pruning back of bushes and hedges means a more straightforward job for fence erectors, explained Steve Beaumont of Colourfence. He works around the North-west supplying and fixing Colourfence’s main product - a metal garden fence made from zinc, aluminium and magnesium which is powder-coated.

Spending money on our homes is not just an investment in the building around us but in enhancing our lifestyle.

It comes with a 25-year guarantee and there is no maintenance needed. Colours are brown, green, blue/grey cream. These all blend in with garden colours and/or windows and doors for a smart overall look that also offers privacy and security. The company also supplies and fits aluminium railing gates with various top designs.

The key, though, is to first do your homework on big projects especially if it involves structural changes, create a budget and keep to it.

“During the pandemic people got used to more of an outdoor life and valuing their space and Colourfence has become really popular with many people because of it,” added Steve.

Factor in all the likely costs you’ll need – any fees for building regulations, professional help like architects, labour, materials and skips for rubbish.

No.3 – Planning a new look for your garden – or even streamlining the old one – is a good investment. For plenty of garden ideas, go to the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) website at httpl://www.rhs.org.uk

If it is a big project, make a schedule of the work involved which will also help you plan the money needed. Compare quotes from different local suppliers and services to get the best deal.

No.4 – Consider installing a hot-tub to give you all-year-round enjoyment of life outside. Find out all about available makes and installers at BISHTA, the British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association’s website at bishta.co.uk

To keep costs down, where possible minimize structural changes and avoid moving existing plumbing unless you really have to.

No.5 – If your windows need replacing, you’ve got choices to make and need expert help. On offer are uPVC casement and sash windows, wood casement windows and aluminium casement windows. Seeing local tradesmen’s work beforehand is helpful and a new front-door to match completes the smart exterior look.

A NEW Year often forces us to look around and plan a fresh start quite often for our home.

Don’t forget that small businesses and sole traders may cost you less as they don’t have the same overheads as big high street companies. To help make your life easier, we’ve narrowed it all down to just 24 suggestions for 2024.

No.6 – De-clutter your hallway and install hooks for coats and a cupboard for shoes.Your hallway needs to be a bright, welcoming place so install better lighting and a large mirror.

No.1 – What does your home look like from the outside? Does it need painting or the soffits replacing? Again, get quotes, preferably from people who have been recommended.

No.7 – If your house is short on space or has dark areas, take a good look at your lighting and upgrade it to LED lights. Mirrors are also useful throughout the house to maximise available light. 23

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No.8 – If you’re a pensioner and your boiler is on the blink, you may be eligible for a new one free with a Government grant. Find out more at heatingforce.co.uk No.9 – New flooring can completely change the look of any room. In 2024, laminate flooring will continue its stylish ways while engineered wood flooring keeps its authentic luxury looks. White, grey, black and oak will be the year’s dominant colours with more eco-friendly options available. No.10 – Fresh furnishings throughout the home offer a new style to any room. Cushions and throws brighten up older sofas and an investment in plants brings the outside inside even in the coldest weather. No.16 – Re-decorating rooms is always a good way to brighten up everyday living. Experts say that 2024 will feature radiant red, elemental blue, nutshell brown, cyber lime and fondant pink as its colours and that style will be fun – still with the emphasis on saving money.

No.11 – If you enjoy watching TV in an evening, treat yourself to the latest model. They’ve never been more hi-tech or the choice of channels broader. No.12 – If you can’t afford new kitchen units currently, how about new unit doors? Or, have the existing doors spray-painted or dipped. There are plenty of companies doing this across the UK. No.13 – Invest in the latest fridge or fridge-freezer to give your kitchen an ultra-modern shot in the arm. The latest American fridges in particular offer spacious storage – cool in more ways than one! No.14 – If you need to buy a new sofa or easy chairs but cash is tight, it’s definitely worth a look around charity shops like the British Heart Foundation and homeless charity Emmaus which both sell good-quality furniture. Prices are much more realistic and you’re helping others at the same time. No.15 – Nothing creates a handsome centre-piece to a room better than an impressive fireplace. There are currently dozens of styles available, from traditional wooden to plaster and gas fires to woodburners.

No.17 – More home working has meant the rise of the homeoffice and this should continue in 2024. So if you want to turn some unwanted area into your office, plan space carefully to fit in equipment and storage. No.18 – Post-pandemic, we all value our home-life far more and are determined to make leisure and relaxing areas as comfortable as possible. Certainly, bedroom furniture expert Sam Cooper from Sam Cooper’s Rightstyle, based in Whitefield, Greater Manchester, has found clients willing to invest in bespoke styling that enhances a better lifestyle. The company was established more than 30 years ago , providing high quality, bespoke fitted furniture teamed with exceptional customer service. Whilst the company’s roots initially lay in fitted bedroom furniture, they are now seeing an increased demand for home offices and media walls, fitting at least one bespoke media wall a week.

Explained Sam: “People are investing in their homes more now because they know it not only makes it a better place to live but will also be easier to sell in the future. Every client has individual requirements and styles and everything is bespoke.”

No.20 – New bedding can turn even the simplest bedroom into a luxury setting and we spend so much of our lives there that enjoying a good mattress, beautiful duvet and matching sheets and pillowcases makes sense.

He predicts that bedroom furniture colour favourites for 2024 will include cashmere grey, blues and greens and concrete shades. Configurations are flexible but with an emphasis on storage.

No.21 – According to experts, bathrooms come into their own in 2024 as not just practical places but aesthetically pleasing. As a result, trends are moving towards neutral and warmer colours like warm white, cream and even wood tones for a relaxing place that’s balm to the soul.

Sam added that tongue and groove wood is coming back in “and traditional oaks are back and here to stay.” No.19 – New curtains or blinds can transform a room and, as Elizabeth Kay-Jones from Haslingden-based Millennium Blinds pointed out, many people now opt for both. “They often keep the curtains open and use the blinds for security to stop people seeing in. It’s also a contemporary choice,” she stated. While there are hundreds of colours, styles and varieties of blinds available, she finds that shutters and Venetian blinds in toning colours to complement décor remain popular. “People now like to use them with a remote control connected to Alexa or an iphone,” she added. “Because of the number of newbuild properties now, people want a contemporary look to their blinds and this should continue in 2024. “All blinds keep the heat in during Winter and are cool in the Summer and people like the way they enhance comfortable living.”

Steam showers, towel heaters and tubs remain popular and – good news – the medicine cabinet is making a comeback with its handy shelves and vanity mirrors, all streamlined for a new and stylish year. No.22 – A colourful modern shower curtain and towels which pick up the colour accents can liven up any bathroom and plants come into their own in a bathroom. Custom-made items also make their way here now with hand-crafted tiles likely to be popular in 2024. No.23 – Have you got enough general storage space in your home? Rather than rely on bulky furniture, consider getting in an expert to create storage space or shelves in those oddly-shaped extra spaces dotted around your home. Bespoke units streamline the whole room and serve a genuine purpose in finding places for clothes, bedding and everything else you need to store. No.24 – The pictures and photos you put on your walls personalize it for you so buying original artwork, limited copies or just pictures you really love can enhance any room. And group framed photos together on a shelf or surface to tell the story of your family and your life.

Unit 5D, Springvale Mill, Waterside Rd, Haslingden, Rossendale BB4 5EZ Rossendale 01706 228 424 Bury 0161 272 0382 Blackburn 01254 301212 Burnley 01282 423983 visit us online - www.millennium-blinds.co.uk 25

KITCHEN SALE

ASHTON

INTERIORS

Family Run Business

Kitchens direct from the manufacturer. We can supply & fit cheaper than Wickes, Wren, Magnet etc! We won’t be beaten on quality or price. All building work carried out. 25 years experience.

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Some of our reviews...

“Stuart helped create our dream kitchen. The service was friendly and professional, and we were kept upto date along the way. The kitchen itself is great quality and the fitters did a fantastic job. Would definitely recommend.” “Love my new kitchen, good quality units fitted perfectly by Ashton Interiors. Stuart and his team were excellent, no problems, a great service from start to finish.” Thank you. “Really pleased with the kitchen. Excellent workmanship completed to a high standard.”

Call: 0800 093 0924 | www.kitchenspreston.com | 429 Blackpool Road, Ashton-on-Ribble, PR2 2DU

Areas covered

26 20

• Preston • Bamber Bridge • Fulwood • Penwortham • Chorley • Leyland • Lytham • St Annes • Ashton-on-Ribble • Lancaster • South Lakes • Blackpool • Wigan • Liverpool • Manchester

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We are one of Lancashire’s leading independent flooring retailers, serving the needs of residential and commercial customers throughout the North West. A true family business led by mum and dad Sue and Steve and son and daughter Michael and Michelle, supported by an experienced and passionate sales team and team of highly skilled fitters. Spread over 4 units, all at Bamber Bridge, there is a huge range of products, to give customers an insight into the full range of flooring options available to them. Whether you are looking for a kitchen floor, bedroom carpet or complete house refurbishment, we have all products to suit all tastes and budgets- from carpets to luxury vinyl tiles, laminates, vinyls, hardwood or alternative natural floors- we have it all. From the moment you step into our showroom, you will be welcomed by one of our friendly faces, offered a cup of coffee and a tour through our products, as well as plenty of solid advice. We have design tables in store that are the perfect place to start with. With your ideas and our expertise together we will create something unique which fits perfectly with your requirements. We offer an evening and weekend measuring service where we will come and measure up and assess suitability, all completley free of charge.

When it comes to installing your new floor, our team of expert fitters are the best at what they do and one of the most experienced teams in the area. We manage the process from start to finish with a full fitting service, from clearing furniture to removing existing floors, through to hoovering up and removing all product waste.You will get the best results throughout and our attention to detail will exceed expectations.

Interest free credit available.

What we offer: u Carpets u Vinyls u Luxury Vinyl Tiles - Karndean, Invictus and Amtico u Laminate Floors u Engineered Wood - Ted Todd and Woodpecker u Natural Alternative Floors u Roll Stock and Room Size Remnants

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(not to be used in conjunction with any other offer)

The Flooring Centre (NW) Ltd. Open: Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm Saturday 9am until 4pm Closed Sundays

FREE, AMPLE PARKING AND DISABLED ACCESS

Bamber Bridge, Unit 1, 3 & 4, Club Court, Club St. Bamber Bridge, Preston, PR5 6FN T: 01772 627309 www.theflooringcentrenw.co.uk

MOTORING | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

STEVE HOWARTH’S TEST DRIVE QASHQAI TEKNA E-POWER energy regeneration when the driver lifts off but can be switched off if preferred. As the e-Power spends more than half its time with the engine switched off that means healthy official figures of 53.3mpg and 119g/km of CO2 – although over a week’s driving with some long journeys and lots of city motoring I only managed to use half a tank of fuel! This included a 200-mile round trip to the Lake District for a motoring event when the Qashqai proved to be a comfortable motorway cruiser that was also right at home on twisty Cumbrian lanes. There are five driving modes (sport, normal, eco, snow and off-road) an in the former the Qashqai feels quite brisk. Inside there is a premium feel in our Tekna version which comes with plenty of equipment including a comprehensive head-up display, the larger 12.3-inch ‘Nissan Connect’ touchscreen infotainment and sat-nav system, a hands free powered rear tailgate and a whole raft of safety systems. TO stand out in a crowded SUV market any new model needs to have a USP and the latest Nissan Qashqai certainly has just that. The e-Power version does things differently to many of its rivals with an electric motor that drives the compact crossover and a three cylinder petrol engine set up only to charge its batteries. Limited electric only driving is available with the 1.5 turbo petrol engine only needed if the car detects low battery levels. Most of the time you can hear the petrol engine cutting in and out as required and there is an EV only setting when enough charge is available. This gives the smooth driving of a true EV without the spectre of range anxiety. Another advantage is no need for external charging so no lead or plugging in as with most other hybrid cars.

Also on the standard kit list are wireless phone connectivity and charging, front and rear USB ports, electric driver’s seat, rear privacy glass and auto climate control. Practicality is unchanged from other models in the range which means you get 505 litres of boot space and amply room for five adults with plenty of head space. The e-Power in Tekna form is £38,140 but the £35,120 N-Connecta keeps the key tech items of the Tekna including the larger infotainment screen and is expected to be the best seller in the UK. More info at www.nissan.co.uk

The battery is bigger than usual at 2.1kWh while the combustion engine never directly powers the wheels and is only running for around half of the time. Nissan calls it a Variable Compression unit which can adopt a high compression state for more performance or low compression to improve fuel economy. Progress along the road is via a single front-mounted 187bhp motor meaning a respectable 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds and top speed of 105mph. Nissan says the car is a stepping stone for those not quite ready to go fully electric and it does feel more like a full EV rather than a hybrid. This is further boosted by the ‘I-Pedal’ feature, which increases the

For all the latest car tests see the motoring section of our website at www.50plusmagazine.co.uk/motors/ 30

BREAST SCREENING Saves lives through detecting cancer early

The National Breast Screening Programme invites all women aged between 50 – 70 every 3 years for a mammogram. Each GP Practice is screened in turn and all women registered with a GP will receive an invitation.

What happens when I reach 71?

Women over the age of 71 will not be sent an appointment automatically but they can self-refer for a mammogram every 3 years by contacting us.

Why do I need to be screened? 1 in 7 women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during their lives. Breast cancer is now the most common cause of cancer in women in this country.

What is breast screening?

Breast screening (or mammography) is an x-ray of the breast that is used to find any changes in the breast tissue that could be cancer, so they can be investigated early.

South Lancashire Breast Screening is your local service, covering Wigan, West Lancs and Chorley and South Ribble 01942 774713 bsuappointments@wwl.nhs.uk www.wwl.nhs.uk/specialities/breast_screening

South Lancashire Breast Screening Unit

Early detection saves lives

Most breast changes will not be cancer, but if cancer is found, the treatment needed will often be less intense and the chance of making a full recovery is The earlier breast cancer much higher.

is found, the better the chances of survival

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