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READING & WEST BERKS MAY - JULY 2014 EDITION 33

Rick Stein In search of the perfect curry...

Robert Lindsay

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

Invest in your Will and make it really work for you THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50s

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2014 UK & European Coach Holidays Trains & Boats of the Austrian Tyrol & Ziller Valley

NEW BROCHURE OUT 1ST JUNE 2014

Our base for this holiday is bustling Mayrhofen, in the heart of the Ziller Valley. Our hotel has great facilities including a luxury spa and an indoor pool and on one evening we enjoy a Farmer’s Buffet. This tour includes a ride on the Achensee Steam Railway and also a boat trip on Lake Achensee.

We know that a break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life is important to you, and Warners are here to help you make the most of it. The hotels have stunning locations, quality entertainment and sports, swimming and activities designed to help you have fun and indulge. You can choose to do as little or as much as you like.

Hotel Information HOTEL NEUE POST, MAYRHOFEN 4 star hotel in the heart of the village

Hotel Information CORTON COASTAL VILLAGE Accommodation is in luxury chalets DAY TRIP 1 - Norwich and the Broads DAY TRIP 2 - Southwold and Aldeburgh

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Hotel Information IMPERIAL HOTEL An impressive Victorian Hotel on a tree lined boulevard running off the seafront. n

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POOL

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Price Includes: 3 Return Coach Travel 3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal 3 Tours

8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS HALF BOARD

5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS HALF BOARD

Date

Price

07 June

£699 NIL

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Date

Price

09 June

£349 NIL

West Country Rail & Sail plus Exmoor & Coast!

Eastbourne is one of England’s premier seaside resorts. There is a magnificent Victorian seafront and there are beautiful parks and gardens to enjoy. This year we offer a new hotel in Eastbourne, the Imperial.

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Price Includes: 3 Return Coach Travel 3 Channel crossings 3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal 3 Tours

Eastbourne

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Warners Corton Coastal Village

Includes West Somerset Railway and Great Western Canal.

A midweek tour combining a relaxing cruise along the Great Western Canal, a railway journey, scenic journeys over Exmoor and time in the coastal resorts of Devon.

Hotel Information BEST WESTERN TIVERTON HOTEL 3 star hotel set on 2 acres on the outskirts of the Exmoor National Park.

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Price Includes: 3 Return Coach Travel 3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal 3 Tours

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Price Includes: 3 Return Coach Travel 3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal 3 Tours

8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS HALF BOARD

Best of Olde England You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the delightful towns, villages and places to visit in Leicestershire.

From our base at a luxurious 4 star hotel we’ll explore ancient battlefields, see how pork pies are made, and enjoy nostalgia at a former pumping station and ride on a beautiful old railway. Operated successfully for the first time in 2013!

Hotel Information HINKLEY ISLAND HOTEL 4 star hotel with spacious, comfortable rooms and great facilities. n n

BAR n LIFT n POOL n GYM n SPA n SAUNA STEAM ROOM n SATELLITE TV Price Includes: 3 Return Coach Travel 3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal 3 Tours

5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS HALF BOARD SS

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Date

Price

Date

Price

14 June

£499 NIL

23 June

£419 77

02 Aug

£499 NIL

Date

Price

18 Aug

£419 77

03 July

£339 NIL

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5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS HALF BOARD

Book online or call: 01793 821303

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FREE HOME PICKUP on tours 4 days and over Tenby

Hotel Information CLARENCE HOUSE HOTEL 2 star hotel superbly situated on the Esplanade with panoramic views. n BAR n LIFT

As well as Monet’s Garden we include a private garden, the formal grounds of a restored chateau and new for this year we visit Chateau de Vendeuvre, a magical castle near Caen with 7 different gardens. This tour is based in Lisieux, the second town of pilgrimage in France with many tokens of its rich past and home to the largest church built in the 20th century in France.

Almost half of the island is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty with a variety of landscapes, including high chalk downland and lovely coastline. Sandown is a beautifully positioned resort with the seafront just metres from the shops and cafes.

Hotel Information MERCURE LISIEUX 3 star hotel located on the outskirts of Lisieux.

Price Includes: 3 Return Coach Travel 3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal 3 Tours

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04 July

£269 NIL

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5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS HALF BOARD £329 NIL

7 DAYS/6 NIGHTS HALF BOARD £449 NIL

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Hotel Information BURLINGTON HOTEL, SANDOWN One of our favourite hotels located minutes from the seafront. n n

BAR n POOL n SPA GROUND FLOOR ROOMS

OUTDOOR POOL

Price Includes:

4 DAYS/3 NIGHTS HALF BOARD

10 Aug

Complete Isle of Wight Sandown

inc. Monet’s Garden plus 3 more gardens

Tenby is an attractive resort with two bays, a harbour, great shops and cafes. The coastline in this area is so spectacular that almost all of it is designated a National Park.

22 Sept

Gardens of Normandy

Return Coach Travel Channel crossings Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast . & Evening Meal Tours (inc. entry to four gardens)

5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS HALF BOARD

Price Includes: 3 Return Coach Travel 3 Ferry crossing 3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal 3 Tours

8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS HALF BOARD Date

Price

Date

Price

SS

19 July

£539 NIL

07 July

£489 99

06 Sept

£469 NIL

River Rhine & Heidelberg

WW1 Centenary Remembrance

Isle of Scilly

Our charming 3 star hotel is situated just a few steps from the Rhine and the famous Drosselgasse, a narrow, cobblestone street which is a hive of activity day and night. Whilst at the hotel we will have a Rhine Themed Dinner on one night and a Wine Growers Themed night on another occasion. We spend a free day in Ruedesheim, to enjoy this charming town, and also visit the Rhine towns of Boppard, Koblenz and Wiesbaden. We also enjoy Heidelsberg, widely regarded as the jewel among Germany’s many destinations.

The Isles of Scilly is an archipelago of five inhabited islands and numerous other small rocky islets 28 miles off Lands End. With a total population of just over two thousand, an exceptionally mild climate, and countless golden sandy beaches, Scilly is a beautiful haven of peace and tranquillity. Our base is St Mary’s where you can chill out watching the tide change, the flowers open and the sun shine.

There is also plenty to do such as nature trails, bird and wildlife trips, local pottery, craft shops etc.

Hotel Information HOTEL LINDENWIRT, RUDESHEIM Traditionally decorated 3 star hotel with an abundance of character built around a courtyard. There is a traditional dark wood bar and also a terrace to enjoy summer evenings. n BAR n LIFT

Hotel Information THE ATLANTIC HOTEL A delightful old inn which adjoins the harbour from which boats make daily trips to Tresco and other delightful islands.

Price Includes: 3 Return Coach Travel 3 Ferry crossings 3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal 3 Tours

Price Includes: 3 Return Coach Travel 3 Channel crossings 3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal 3 Tours

8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS HALF BOARD

5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS HALF BOARD

Date

Price

25 July

£875 115

Date

Price

SS

20 July

£349 58

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2014 marks 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War. And as the world prepares to commemorate, workers in Flander are busy restoring the headstones of those who fell. Our hotel is in the centre of Ypres, close to the Market Square and the Menin Gate. We also enjoy a visit to the lovely Belgian Towns of Bruges and Kortrijk, where we enjoy a gourmet tour.

Hotel Information NOVOTEL YPRES CENTRUM 3 star central hotel. n BAR n LIFT Price Includes: 3 Return Coach Travel 3 Channel crossings 3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed & Breakfast 3 Tours

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SEAVIEW 60

5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS HALF BOARD Date

Price

01 Aug

£359 119

For full details visit www.barnescoaches.co.uk

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CONTENTS 10-11

16-17 20-21

22-23

inside...

2-3

2014 UK & European Coach Holidays...

From Barnes Travel

6-7

Invest in your Will ... and make it really work for you

9

Get away more this year ... with Just Go Holidays

10-11 Portugal ...

Two of the most traditional and interesting

regions of the country 12-14 Out and About ...

Places to visit and things to do 15 Dental Implant & Cosmetic Dentistry Centre...

In London & Budapest 16-17 Companion Planting ...

Top tips for your garden 18-19 Serious about health. Passionate about care...

The Princess Margaret Hospital 20-21 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels ...

Robert Lindsay talks about his latest show 22-23 Rick Stein ...

In search of the perfect curry 26-27 Colours for every room ...

Colour guide to decorating your home 29

Struggling to get upstairs? ...

Free no obligation survey

30-31 Planning for your future security ...

Free half hour consultation.

McGrath Media. Unit 6 | Moses Gate Workshops | Gladys Street | Bolton | BL3 2QG. T: (01204) 796 494 | F: (01204) 791594 | e: mcgrathadmin@btconnect.com www.50plusmagazine.co.uk 4

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TWITTER

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To lick or not to lick?

Do you seal your envelopes? Apparently whether you should or not has been the subject of a major and no doubt costly operation. Many older people labour under the misapprehension that you can send an unsealed

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envelope with a second class stamp on and it will be delivered first class. Err, no.

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

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

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

Our village church clock was stopped for several months recently because the Health and Safety ogres decreed that the ladder used to reach the mechanism was too short.

This was despite it having been used for years by a six-foot plus ex-policeman.

Consequently it was twenty past three in Haworth for eight months until a grant was raised to provide a longer ladder!

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

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

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

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

These chaps would have been a riot in Bethlehem.

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

5

marriages. That leads to the next option.

2. Life interest wills to protect one’s children where there is a second marriage or relationship.

In these circumstances each party will want to provide for the other but will most likely wish to give preference thereafter to their own children rather than their stepchildren or the survivor’s wider family.

INVEST IN YOUR WILL and make it really work for you.

A well crafted Will can pay for itself hundreds if not thousands of times over. Consider carefully what works best for you.

First set it in context of all your other retirement planning.

The recent freeing up of people’s means of pension encashment and drawdown emphasises the need for careful planning of all your financial and material affairs as you enter the retirement years, or prepare to do so.

Many questions arise.

How best do you protect your assets?

How best can you then pass them on in a responsibly tax efficient and effective manner?

How can you combine lifetime gifts with the provisions of your Will so as to achieve the best effect?

These questions in turn lead to related issues such as protecting yourself from some of the adverse effects of deterioration of mental capacity in later years. This can be achieved through Lasting Powers of Attorney and through family discretionary trusts.

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It all suggests the wisdom of having a comprehensive check up. Especially as there as there are so many pitfalls as well as opportunities.

Then consider the will itself Few documents are more personal than your will. No one person’s circumstances are quite like another’s.

And now that family structures are becoming more varied and complex that is even more so. Fewer people are marrying and of the many who still do, its often not the first marriage and they already have children by the earlier marriage. How can you provide safely for both your new spouse and for your children?

The options are many – no one size fits all. So here are a few, starting with the simpler ones.

1. Standard family mirror wills.

These are appropriate for normal first marriage families with relatively modest assets. The whole estate is left to the surviving spouse or partner, whose estate is then divided equally between their children. Both spouses (or civil partners if that is the case) make mirror Wills in precisely the same terms. I say ‘first marriage families’ as matters are not so simple where there are stepchildren involved, which is most often the case in second

This conflict of priorities can be overcome by giving a life interest to the survivor This gives a right to the income and the Will can also provide a discretion at the Executors to make the underlying capital available if needed.

Subject to meeting those ongoing needs of the survivor, then when the survivor dies the underlying capital will pass to the children of the first spouse or otherwise as the Will directs.

You thereby retain control and are not dependent on the survivor’s Will to meet your own children’s needs.

3. Similar wills aimed to protect at least half your joint assets from ever rising care costs. These ring fence your half share of those assets for your children, so that they can’t be assessed for the cost of your survivor’s care.

These can also protect the survivor at a time of general financial vulnerability in their twilight years – especially as doorstep and telephone scams are becoming an ever increasing menace.

4. Wills incorporating wide ranging discretionary trusts for the benefit of the family as a whole. These are perhaps the biggest antidote to intergenerational conflict and tension that there can be. They encourage sharing and mutual support and are generally family bonding. They allow the Deceased’s estate to be distributed as the family decides in the future.

It is very important though to have the right trustees who can either be wise family members or family friends or professionals or a combination. It allows the family to “wait and see” and to make family beneficial decisions in the light of circumstances and tax legislation prevailing at the time.

Discretionary trusts are often useful where testators are worried about beneficiaries with financial problems, or other unproven ability to handle money wisely. It can also provide useful protection within the family where there is a risk of divorce and a division of assets outside the family.

Provided the amount of the particular discretionary trust fund is below

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the nil rate band, and not therefore liable to periodic tax charges, family discretionary trusts can provide a very useful means of providing top up financial assistance to meet the needs of a disabled family member. This is particularly useful where that person’s care relies on state benefits and where outright ownership of property would prejudice those very valuable benefits.

Very often it is best to create a separate discretionary trust during the testator’s lifetime and then to feed that trust or top it up from the provision made in the Will.

are a good idea where the assets may exceed the Inheritance Tax threshold and where periodic tax charges would otherwise arise on the underlying fund.

Disabled trusts generally avoid this and also can secure other tax advantages in terms of capital gains tax and income tax.

Lifetime discretionary trusts fed in this way by a Will can also be a good way of minimising inheritance tax which can arise as a result of the testator’s pension benefits that would otherwise pass directly to the surviving spouse.

7. Wills that make tailored provision for children from differing previous relationships over and above the kind of arrangements dealt with in paragraph 2 above.

So, as mentioned, these kind of trusts are a wonderful way of enabling different members of the family to help one another and can be very unifying and bonding.

5. Wills that incorporate especially favourable tax treatment of funds held on trust for family members suffering from disability. These kind of Wills

6. Wills that deal with foreign assets or which need to be linked with other wills relating to other foreign assets or which raise other issues relating to competing and usually conflicting legal jurisdictions.

8. Wills aimed in flexibly drafted terms to provide for charitable gifts, which are themselves exempt from

Inheritance tax, but so as also to make the rest of your taxable estate to enjoy a 10% reduction on Inheritance Tax. 9. And finally, the ultimate in creativity and imagination is the will of a single person without family obligations being able to make provision for all sorts and manners of enterprises with which they have become absorbed through their lives.

All in all, it is harder to think of a more useful document than a well drawn will with accompanying trusts where appropriate. Everyone should have one and you owe it to yourself to put this in place.

We at Hewetts can steer you through all your options and tailor a document that should suit you exactly. We would be very happy to do so.

Please contact Robin Gambles (r.gambles@hewetts.co.uk) or Tim Butcher (t.butcher@hewetts.co.uk) or by telephone as shown below.

Hewetts are an old established firm with a modern and progressive outlook, whose private client department sees an ever growing need to channel their legal energy to identifying and looking after the needs of the retired and elderly.

Anyone over 50 should be anticipating both the opportunities and the problems, and plan accordingly by: • • • • • • • • •

wills to benefit your family in the most tax efficient way wills to protect your children where you may have remarried planning inheritance tax savings and protection of assets benefiting your family in your lifetime lasting powers of attorney both for property and affairs and personal welfare long term care arrangements ascertaining whether the NHS should pay for your care instead of being self funded co-ownership and "live-in" care arrangements with family equity release arrangements

55-57 Lo ndon S Reading treet, RG1 4PS

For further information contact Robin Gambles on 0118 955 9617

Email r.gambles@hewetts.co.uk Website www.hewetts.co.uk www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

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

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

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

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

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

The Alentejo was known as the bread basket of Portugal and it boasts some of the country’s tastiest dishes. The countryside is made up of wide, sweeping plains interspersed with medieval hilltop villages topped by dramatic castles. In spring the region is awash with colour - the fields are full of flowers of red, yellow, white 10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Silver Travel Advisor is a travel review, information and advice website exclusively for over 50’s, packed with articles, suggestions, tips and ideas. For free and independent travel advice as well as reviews about holidays, hotels, restaurants and days out, please visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com or email service@silvertraveladvisor.com. It’s free to register as a member of Silver Travel Advisor, and you could win a fabulous holiday prize.

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11

OUT & ABOUT

EMBRACE THE BRITISH SUMMER Become a Bumblebee Walker!

Dame Angela Lansbury to star in cinema screening of ‘Driving Miss Daisy - The Play’ A country walk on a summer day is pretty unbeatable. With the scent of flowers and the sound of the birds and bees it is the perfect time to be outside. But this year the Bumblebee Conservation Trust is asking people not just to walk and enjoy the countryside instead they are inviting everyone to help them by monitoring the bumblebee population in a national census across the whole of the UK. Bumblebees are an essential part of the countryside, responsible as they are for pollinating our crops and wildflowers and ensuring the food we need, can grow and be harvested. It is a little known fact that without bumblebees, fruits such as tomatoes, apples and strawberries would simply cease to exist.

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

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

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The career of Dame Angela Lansbury, who was awarded her DBE by the Queen at Windsor Castle earlier this year, continues to go from strength to strength. The legendary screen and stage actress, aged 88, is to star in a special screening of ‘Driving Miss Daisy – The Play’, which will be broadcast to over 300 cinemas across the UK on Sunday 25th May, starting at 5.30 p.m..

A live 45 minute Question and Answer session with Dame Angela will follow the screening, which is broadcast live from BFI Southbank in London.

Subjects to be discussed include her role in Driving Miss Daisy and her 70+ year career on stage and screen.

To see a trailer for the film, visit http:// www.cinestage.co.uk/daisy , where you will also be able to find the nearest cinema to you and book tickets.

This special cinema event will feature a production of the comedy-drama play, Driving Miss Daisy. The criticallyacclaimed production, which was filmed at The Comedy Theatre, Melbourne in 2013, is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning play and an Academy Award winning film.

The play stars two of the world’s greatest living actors. Dame Angela Lansbury herself has won many awards in a career which started in the 1940s and has included films, musicals and of course the long-running television series, ‘Murder, She Wrote’. Her co-star, James Earl Jones, is also an accomplished and versatile actor,

whose award-winning career spans more than 60 years.

The Play tells the story of the relationship over several decades between a Southern matriarch and her chauffeur. The play has been seen by millions theatregoers worldwide, who have warmed to its story of pride, changing times and friendship.

From: 26 May to 1 June 8 June 14 June to 18 June 26 June to 28 June

Ascot Carriages: Carriage rides through The Royal Landscape The Savill Garden, Windsor and Maidenhead Explore one of England’s most beautiful areas by horse-drawn carriage. We operate all year round, travel at a leisurely pace, allowing visitors to relax and enjoy lakes, woodlands and gardens in The Royal Landscape.

7th June 11:00 am - 3:00pm

Summer Fete Victoria recreation ground, Tilehurst, Berkshire League of Friends of the Royal Berkshire Hospital Annual Summer fete. Normally attracts around 100 stalls, businesses, craft and charities.

Arena events, hot and cold food and ice cream.

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The London Festival of Architecture announces over 150 activities in 2014 programme of events The London Festival of Architecture (LFA) is 10 years old and its role within the UK architectural scene is growing. The annual, city-wide festival features over 150 activities taking place throughout June 2014.This year’s theme CAPITAL provides the framework for the festival to explore London in its role as a major architectural capital, covering culture, people, the economy and the environment.

Rainforest installation. © GUN Architects

The LFA is delivered through a programme of events organised by London’s leading cultural and academic institutions – including the Royal Academy of Arts, Design Museum, Serpentine Galleries and National Trust – as well as associated projects by architects, artists, designers and curators.

7th June 12:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Twyford Beer Festival Loddon Hall, Twyford, Berkshire Twyford beer festival held under cover at Loddon Hall. We will have had great selection of beers, ciders and food together with live music. Families and dogs are always welcome. Come along and enjoy some lovely beer and help raise funds for the Orchid Mens Cancer Charity. If you wish to volunteer, play or support the Twyford Beer Festival, please send us an email with your contact details.

7th - 15th June 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Donna White’s Imaginarium South Hill Park, Bracknell, Berkshire Visual Artist Donna White invites you to explore her imagination. Discover a side to art you may never have considered: from long-extinct Dodos to the cutting edge of virtual reality. Explore the geometry of crop circles, the lyricism of string theory, and get lost in the 3D spaces of her 2D abstracts.

14th -15th June 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

West Woodhay House Garden Show West Woodhay House, Newbury, Berkshire We had a great selection of trade stalls in 2013 and hope that they will all return, and there will be new events. One of our new Events is “A Night at the Opera” This is brand new for 2014 and will appeal both to Opera Fans and to those of you who like a gentle introduction. The weekend starts with a Gala Preview Evening for around 900 Guests on Friday Night 14th June from 6pm-9pm. Visitors will have the opportunity of visiting the Gardens and seeing all parts of the show during a relaxed evening when wine and canapés will be served. The Rifle Brigade Band will march and play. All are invited to attend, so please contact the show office for your invitation.

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13

OUT & ABOUT 14th June 12:00 pm - 4:15 pm

Warfield Fete 2014 Memorial Ground Bracknell Berkshire The Warfield Fete is the best Village Fete in the area, offering free entry and parking plus with teas and bar available. hog roast, ferrets, morris dancing, tug of war, jazz band, animals and much more.

14th - 15th June 7:00pm - 1:00 am

1940s Wartime Party Liberty Newbury Greenham Business Park Berkshire For the 70th Anniversay of D-Day Liberty Newbury are having a 1940s Wartime party in commemoration of WW1. Live band Apollo Big Band and soloist Jamie Sinatra.

15th June 9:00 am - 4:00pm

Newbury Radio Rally Newbury Showground, Hermitage, Berkshire Popular annual event for people who like radio communications, electronics or computing. Themed around a boot sale but with much more, including a live Ham Radio station on-air plus many demonstrations, displays and interesting national clubs and societies providing you with the ideal opportunity to find out about the hobby of Amateur Radio.

15th June 12:00 pm - 5:00pm

Charvil Village Fete Charvil Village Hall, Charvil, Berkshire Charvil is being relocated to the coast for “Charvil by the Sea!”. The theme of the 2014 fete is the seaside and we are going to bring as much of the seaside as possible to Charvil.

Lots of Clubs and Associations taking part with activities as well as stalls to tempt you and lots of acts to entertain you throughout the day. BBQ, Beer Tent and entertainment.

20th June 8:00 pm - 11:00pm

Blue Touch Wokingham Music Club, Wokingham, Berkshire Blue Touch Live playing Blues and Rock music with an edge at Wokingham Music Club with support from Support All Things Considered.

28th - 29th June 9:00 am - 5:45 pm

Hurst Show & Country Fayre Hurst Show Ground Hurst Berkshire Formerly Hurst Horse Show, Hurst Show & Country Fayre will have all the usual attractions , stalls, displays, BBQ and beer tent. We will still have non competitive horse displays and demonstrations.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Maidenhead Town Centre Show

Enjoy Maidenhead, in cooperation with Craft Coop, is working to put together Maidenhead's first "Town Centre Show," to be held on July 12th on the High Street and in the Nicholsons Centre. Our vision is to create a vibrant, exciting community event bringing together Maidenhead's organisations and individuals in a town centre version of the traditional country show.

13th July

Concert by Army Reserve bands.

Kneller Hall, Twickenham

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Part of a series of concerts in the grounds of the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, Twickenham.

Doors: 3:00pm til 6:00pm (last entry 2:00pm).

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15

HOME - GARDEN

“Planting flowers among the vegetables will attract pollinators.”

Companion PLANTING The idea is to grow two or more plants close together for the benefit of at least one and usually all. As well as being a form of natural pest control, judicial companion planting can be used to provide support and shade, and is a great way to make the most of limited space. Planting flowers among the vegetables will attract pollinators that may not otherwise venture among the greenery - cosmos, larkspur, zinnia, cornflowers and sweetpeas are good choices.

Besides the practical advantage, the mix-and-match approach to a planting scheme is an opportunity to turn your garden into an unusual and colourful place. Experiment to see what works in the soil and conditions in your area, and bear in mind that not all plants are happy in each other’s company.

PEST CONTROL If you would rather not use pesticides in your garden, one simple way to avoid your flowers and vegetables 16

being subject to pest attack is to plant some deterrents among them. A few garlic bulbs among the roses should keep your blooms aphid-free, and also discourage blackspot. Sage among your cabbages and carrots keeps cabbage and carrot fly at bay. However, don’t be tempted to include garlic or chives among the peas or beans stunted growth may be the result.

Some plants may compete for habitat, or have chemical components that don’t mix. Fennel, for instance, is a favourite of ladybirds and deters aphids, but it has a harmful effect on many plants, inhibiting growth and causing them to bolt. One of the few plants that can tolerate growing in close proximity to fennel is dill.

French marigolds protect against pest nematodes. A chemical produced by the flowers’ roots kills the harmful varieties of these worms. Turn in the marigolds at the end of season so the roots decay in the soil to prevent further infestation. Do it several years running

and pest nematodes should vacate the territory forthwith. Tomatoes, potatoes, roses and strawberries are among vulnerable plants.

SCENT Strong smells can confuse or repel insect pests. It seems that aphids don’t like the odour of onions, or of any other plants belonging to the allium family.

Plant your chives among tomatoes and chrysanthemums to deter greenfly and blackfly, and attract hoverflies, those greedy aphid eaters. Siting onions between rows of brassicas, such as cabbages and broccoli, is said to be effective because the onions’ aroma confuses insects intent on eating up their greens. Onions also mask the smell of carrots, as do leeks, and so reduce the threat of carrot fly; and returning the favour, carrots tend to repel onion fly and leek moth.

Tansy’s strong scent puts off ants, and the lovely smell of French marigolds is anathema to whitefly, greenfly and blackfly. Lavender confuses insect pests while attracting pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, and it looks wonderful, but don’t plant any strong-

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smelling herbs near cucumbers because they will make the cucumbers taste bitter.

“Onions’ aromas confuses insects intent on eating up their greens.”

CAUTION: Some combinations are best avoided, including the following: Alliums (including chives, garlic, leeks, onions, shallots) with peas, beans, parsley or asparagus.

l

l Brassicas (including broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, cauliflower) with tomatoes or peppers. l Carrots with dill, parsnips, radishes or tomatoes l Runner beans with alliums, beetroot, chillies, tomatoes, sunflowers or French marigolds. l Potatoes with cucumber, squashes, tomatoes, sunflowers or asparagus.

INSECT ALLIES Many insects are beneficial, of course, and another way to control those that aren’t is to include plants that attract hoverflies, ladybirds, lacewings and predatory and parasitic wasps, all of which positively feast on aphids, as well as taking mites, mealybugs and other plant damagers. Daisies, for example, are favourites of hoverflies, ladybirds love coriander and yarrow and dill are beloved by them all.

It may not be usual to preserve nettles among your vegetable and flowers, but if you can, keep a small patch of them because they will attract ladybirds to lay the eggs, and ladybird larvae eat huge numbers of aphids.

DECOYS Nettles are also favourites of cabbage white butterflies, attracting them away from your brassicas. In fact, planting one species right next to another one with the specific intention of decoying pests is a recognised ploy.

Nasturtiums keep aphids off runner beans, for instance, and planting nasturiums and French marigolds among cabbages and lettuces protects

the vegetables from caterpillars and slugs - caterpillars find nasturtiums hard to resist whilst slugs prefer marigolds. Various mints have the same effect on slugs.

However, you do need to keep a careful watch - if too many caterpillars and slugs flock to your decoy plants, you may have to remove the creatures to stop them wandering over to the main crop that you are trying to protect.

Sunflowers can act as decoy in a rather different way - ants herd aphids on to them, away from neighbouring plants. The aphids seem to do little damage to the sunflowers, and as an added advantage the seedheads attract birds to the garden.

SHADY BENEFITS

one can provide support or shade for another. Sunflowers and sweetcorn are ideal tall plants.

Cucumber, all sorts of peas and beans and parsley benefit from the shade.

Some say parsley makes sweetcorn grow bigger and produce more. In another combination, runner beans provide shade for spinach.

This is far from being a new idea.

Native Americans, apparently, used to employ a system known as ‘three sisters’, which involved sweetcorn or sunflowers, runner beans and a squash, such as pumpkin or courgette.

The corn is sturdy enough for the beans to climb up; the beans fix nitrogen in the soil for the squash and corn; the squash’s big leaves provide shade for the roots, suppress weeds and keep the soil moist.

Another strategy is to grow plants of different heights together, so that

GARDENER’S FRIENDS Some plants are said to improve yield and resistance to disease and even enhance the flavour or their neighbours. For instance, parsley increases the vigour of tomatoes and asparagus, horseradish does it for potatoes, and cabbage and broccoli love the company of rhubarb. Some also fulfil pestcontrol duties. These are among the best all rounders.

Basil Borage Chamomile

Chervil Coriander Garlic

Geraniums Lavender Lovage

Marigolds Nasturtiums Yarrow

Feature taken from the 2014 Dairy Diary, Britain’s favourite home diary. This fabulous week-to-view diary is packed with useful information and delicious recipes, and is available to buy for £7.25 (plus P&P) at www.dairydiary.co.uk, by calling 0845 0948 128 or from your local milkman.

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17

ORTHOPaEDIcS

OUR JOB ONLY ENDS WHEN THE PRUNING BEGINS THINkING Of HavING a HIP REPLacEmENT?

mr Gian Singer mB, fRcS, fRcS Orth, consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at BmI The Princess margaret Hospital in Windsor, provides some helpful guidance about total hip replacements.

What can I do to avoid it?

If you have pain in your hip that is interfering with your lifestyle and normal activities of daily living and you have tried nonoperative measures, then you could be a good candidate for a total hip replacement.

In the UK, over 60,000 total hip replacements were performed last year.

You should try non-operative measures as above. In addition, Glucosamine tablets and a fish oil supplement may be helpful.

Seeing the Surgeon

Who needs surgery?

Surgery is generally for patients over the age of 65 who suffer from osteoarthritis of the hip. There are other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or even a fracture of the neck of the femur which may lead to a hip replacement.

What are the symptoms?

Patients will generally notice pain which is located in the front of the hip or the groin down to the thigh and the knee on occasions. This is worse with ambulation.

Stiffness and difficulty with walking can also occur. The pain that is located mainly in the lower back or the buttock area is not generally due to the hip and is more pain referred from the lumbar spine.

Who should I see first?

You should seek advice from your general practitioner or a physiotherapist.

These are the usual primary care first

ports of call. At this stage, non-operative measures such as taking simple analgesia or anti-inflammatories by mouth or using topical anti-inflammatory gel may be useful. You are also encouraged to lose weight if appropriate and to alter your activities or lifestyle if at all possible.

Aerobic exercise that does not involve impact on the hip such as swimming, cycling, yoga or Pilates are useful.

At your consultation, your surgeon will enquire as to the history and duration of your symptoms. Your surgeon will assess the movement of your hip and the length of your leg compared with the normal side. X-rays will be examined to check for the degree of arthritis, the type of arthritis and the structure of the bones around the pelvis and the hips. Once the decision has been made that non-operative measures have been tried then the procedure is discussed in more detail.

Your surgeon will explain the run up to the surgery including the pre-operative tests, the procedure itself and after care. The possible complications will also be explained to you in detail.

Your surgeon will explain the different types of artificial hips. These suit varying types of individual and different types of bone quality. The total hip replacement involves removing the head and the top part of the neck of the femur and

inserting a stem into the marrow cavity onto which fits a ball. The acetabulum is replaced with a cup and lining. It is generally manufactured from high grade medical polyethylene material articulating with cobalt chrome metal heads. A ceramic articulation is also possible. The Birmingham hip resurfacing method is also available to young active male patients who wish to remain active.Your surgeon will explain which of these procedures is best for you based on your age and lifestyle.

Your hospital stay  You are generally admitted early on the morning of your planned surgery.

Prior to this you will have visited the pre-admission clinic for appropriate tests and advice  On the day of surgery your surgeon will visit you and obtain informed consent and mark the appropriate side with an ink marker pen  The surgery generally takes between 1–1 ½ hours and following this you will spend a further hour in the recovery room

 Post-operative physiotherapy exercises and mobilisation are key to early and rapid discharge. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis with the TED stocking, (calf compression device) and relevant medication to help reduce the risk of blood clots are routinely prescribed.

Patients generally stay for 3 days, depending on their mobility.

Your recovery  You will go home when passed fit by the physiotherapists  You will have an exercise sheet to follow and you will normally be free of walking aids at the 3–4 week stage  Help will be needed at home for the first 2 weeks  Driving is not allowed until 6 weeks following surgery  Air travel is permitted after the 6 week post-op stage for short haul and 12 weeks for long haul on account of the increased risk of DVT  You can generally return to work after 6 weeks

Hip replacements generally last for 10–15 years depending on the activity level of the patient.

Waiting for a hip replacement?

If you’re not moving as freely as you would like, or pain is preventing you from doing what you love, or you are facing a long wait on the NHS for what you need, we are here to help. At BMI The Princess Margaret Hospital, our orthopaedic surgeons can offer you specialist advice and tailored treatment for your condition.

We want you back doing what you love best.

Treatment at BMI The Princess Margaret Hospital is available to all, whether you have Private Medical Insurance or are looking to pay for your treatment yourself.

If you would like to know more or would like to make an appointment with mr Singer, please phone 0808 101 0381 or visit www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/pmh BmI The Princess margaret Hospital Osborne Road Windsor Berkshire SL4 3SJ

 You can return to play golf and most sporting activities at 6 weeks

Serious about health. Passionate about care.

031153 © BMI 2014

INTERVIEW: ROBERT LINDSAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“But I’ve just done a cameo role in Atlantis as the father of Icarus – that was good fun. It’s a very well made series and the boys there were great. My children were also very impressed!”

* Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is at the Savoy Theatre, London from 6th May - 29th November.

To find out more go to www.scoundrelswestend.com

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

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

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

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

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

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21

FOOD & DRINK

RICK STEIN - IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT CURRY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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MADRAS FISH CURRY OF SNAPPER, TOMATO AND TAMARIND I have written at some length in the main introduction about finding this curry, which I have nominated as my favourite.

I’ve used the same fish it was cooked with on that day in Mamalla puram – snapper – but in the UK I recommend using any of the following: monkfish fillet, because you get firm slices of white, meaty fish; filleted bass, preferably a large fish, because although you’ll get softer flesh it has plenty of flavour; or gurnard. I think more than anything else that this dish typifies what I was saying about really fresh fish not being ruined by a spicy curry. I can still remember the slightly oily flavour of the exquisite snapper in that dish because fish oil, when it’s perfectly fresh, is very nice to eat. I always think oily fish goes well with curry anyway, particularly with the flavours of tomatoes, tamarind and curry leaves.

SERVES 4 – 6

Method Heat the oil in a heavy-based saucepan or karahi over a medium heat. When hot, add the mustard seeds and fry for 30 seconds, then stir in the onion and garlic and fry gently for about 10 minutes until softened and lightly golden.

Add the curry leaves, chilli powder, coriander and turmeric and fry for 2 minutes, then stir in the tomatoes, tamarind liquid, green chillies and salt and simmer for about 10 minutes until rich and reduced. Add the fish, cook for a further 5 minutes or until just cooked through, and serve with plain rice.

60ml vegetable oil 1 tbsp yellow mustard seeds 1 large onion, finely chopped 15g/3 cloves garlic, finely crushed 30 fresh curry leaves 2 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder 2 tsp ground coriander 2 tsp turmeric 400g can chopped tomatoes 100ml Tamarind liquid 2 green chillies, each sliced lengthways into 6 pieces, with seeds 1 tsp salt 700g snapper fillets, cut into 5cm chunks Boiled basmati rice to serve

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

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HOME more quickly than anything else, so you can afford to experiment a little.

Room Colors and Their Effects Understand that colours behave in three basic ways : active, passive, and neutral. You can easily match every room’s colours to your personal desires, to your taste taste and to the room’s purpose. Light colours are expansive and airy, making rooms seem larger and brighter. Dark colours are sophisticated and warm; they give large rooms a more intimate appearance. Now let’s find out more about colours and what they can do to a room:

Room Colour and How it Affects Your Mood The colours of the rooms within your home need to bring out your personality. While most of us may not spend a lot of time thinking about room colour, it affects every day of our lives. Room colour can influence our mood and our thoughts. Colour affects people in many ways, depending upon one’s age, gender, ethnic background or local climate. Certain colours or groups of colours tend to get a similar reaction from most people – the overall difference being in the shade or tones used. So when it comes to decorating, it is important to choose wisely.

In order to have a beautiful home, you do not have to worry about trends. Colour trends will come and go. The people who live in a home make it beautiful by choosing colours that reflect their likes and their personalities. The trick is to blend those colours you like into a pleasing combination. Choosing colour combinations is one of the most intimidating steps for beginners.

Colour has the power to change the shape and size of furnishings as well as the shape and size of the room itself. Selecting colours is not difficult if you equip yourself with some basic information about colour and its effects, so let’s find out more

26

about room colours, and how these influence your mood.

Choose Wisely!

Keep in mind that each colour has a psychological value. Think about how those colours make you feel- they can influence any feeling from tranquility to rage. So when trying to create peace and harmony in your home, choose your colours wisely. Some colours in large amounts will have just the opposite affect on you and your loved ones’ moods.

What mood do you want to create? Which colours will help you achieve that mood?

Find clear answers to these questions.

If you find this task difficult try to look at magazines, decorating books, blogs and websites for ideas, or let your fabric be your guide. In fact, this is a good approach to take even if you’re starting from scratch. Fabric, carpeting, furniture and tile are available in a more limited range of colours than paint, so choose them first and then decide on your paint colour. Once you find something you like, limit the number of colours in a room to no more than three or four.

Too many colours can make a room look busy or cluttered. Paint is fairly inexpensive and transforms a room

Red raises a room’s energy level. It is a good choice when you want to stir up excitement, particularly at night.

In the living room or dining room, red draws people together and stimulates conversation. In an entryway, it creates a strong first impression.

Red has been shown to raise blood pressure, speed respiration and heart rate. It is usually considered too stimulating for bedrooms, but if you’re only in the room after dark, you’ll be seeing it mostly by lamplight, when the colour will appear muted, rich, and elegant. Red, the most intense, pumps the adrenaline like no other hue.

Yellow captures the joy of sunshine and communicates happiness. It is perfect for kitchens, dining rooms, and bathrooms, where happy colours are energising and uplifting. In halls, entries, and small spaces, yellow can feel expansive and welcoming. Even though yellow although is a cheery colour, it is not a good choice to use in main colour schemes when it comes to designing a room. Studies show that people are more likely to lose their temper in a yellow interior.

Babies also seem to cry more in a yellow room. In large amounts, this colour tends to create feelings of frustration and anger in people. In chromotherapy, yellow is believed to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.

Blue is said to bring down blood pressure and slow respiration and heart rate. That is why it is considered calming, relaxing and serene, and it is often recommended for bedrooms and bathrooms. Be careful, however: a pastel blue that looks pretty on the paint chip can come across as unpleasantly chilly when it is on the walls and furnishings, especially in

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a room that receives little natural light. If you opt for a light blue as the primary colour in a room, balance it with warm hues for the furnishings and fabrics. To encourage relaxation in the social areas (family rooms, living rooms, large kitchens) consider warmer blues, such as periwinkle, or bright blues, such as cerulean or turquoise. Blue is known to have a calming effect when used as the main colour of a room. Go for softer shades of blue. Dark blue has the opposite effect, evoking feelings of sadness. So refrain from using darker blues in your main colour scheme. Stay with the lighter shades of blue to give you and your loved ones a calm effect.

Purple is rich, dramatic, and sophisticated.

Green is considered the most restful colour for the eye.

Combining the refreshing quality of blue and the cheerfulness of yellow, green is suited for almost any room in the house. In the kitchen, green cools things down; in a family room or living room, it encourages unwinding but has enough warmth to promote comfort and togetherness. Green also has a calming effect when used as a main colour for decorating. It is believed to relieve stress by helping people relax. Also believed to help with fertility, making it a great choice for the bedroom.

Colour Effects on Walls and Ceiling

Purple in its darkest values (eggplant, for example) is rich, dramatic, and sophisticated. It is associated with luxury as well as creativity, and as an accent or secondary colour, it gives a scheme depth. Lighter versions of purple, such as lavender and lilac, bring the same restful quality to bedrooms as blue does, but without the risk of feeling chilly.

The ceiling represents one-sixth of the space in a room, but too often it gets nothing more than a coat of white paint. In fact, for decades, white has been considered not only the safest but also the best choice for ceilings. As a general rule, ceilings that are lighter than the walls feel higher, while those that are darker feel lower. Lower need not mean claustrophobic: visually lowered ceilings can evoke cosy intimacy. As a general rule, dark walls make a room seem smaller, and light walls make a room seem larger.

Orange evokes excitement, enthusiasm and is an energetic colour. While not a good idea for a living room or for bedrooms, this colour is great for an exercise room. It will bring out all the emotions that you need released during your fitness routine. In ancient cultures orange was believed to heal the lungs and increase energy levels.

Conclusion These general guidelines are a good starting point in your search for a paint colour. But remember that colour choice is a very personal matter. You are the one who has to live with your new paint colour, so choose a hue that suits you, your family and your lifestyle.

Neutrals (black, gray, white, and brown) are basic to the decorator’s tool kit. All-neutral schemes fall in and out of fashion, but their virtue lies in their flexibility: Add colour to liven things up; subtract it to calm things down. Black is best used in small doses as an accent. Indeed, some experts maintain that every room needs a touch of black to ground the colour scheme and give it depth. To make the job easier, you can rely on the interior designer’s most important colour tool: the colour wheel.

Crimson can make some people feel irritable. Invoking feelings of rage and hostility, this is a colour that should be avoided as the main colour of a room. Sitting for long periods of time in a room painted in this colour will likely affect the peace and harmony you are striving to create in your home.

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As we get older, we have an increasing risk of prostate cancer.

Researchers have shown that Lycopene (the red colour in tomatoes and one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants) is beneficial for those at risk as well as those who already have the disease.

For example, the following studies all point towards positive benefits: Harvard Medical School, USA A study of 50,000 men showed a significant reduction in the incidence of prostate cancer for men on high (tomato) Lycopene diets.

“Frequent consumption of tomato products is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer.”

Kings College Hospital, London A 12 month trial involving men with confirmed prostate cancer found that about 70% of those consuming Lycoplus, a dietary supplement containing Lycopene, benefited from a much reduced rate of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) increase or an actual reduction in their PSA. “Our clinical study lends weight to the probability that dietary supplementation with Lycopene [from Lycoplus] slows disease progression in men with prostate cancer.”

Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, USA Amongst a group of men with prostate cancer who were to have radical prostatectomy, some took a Lycopene supplement, some not. Following surgery it was found in the Lycopene group that more than two-thirds had the cancer confined to the prostate whereas in the other group more than half found the cancer had spread. Similarly, in the Lycopene group less than 20% had tumours larger than 4cc but in the other group the equivalent number was approximately 50%.

“Lycopene as tomato extract may not only help prevent prostate cancer but also may be useful to treat prostate cancer.”

Although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, it is known that Lycopene accumulates in the prostate gland. Many researchers think that Lycopene’s antioxidant properties help to protect the body’s DNA from damaging free radicals. Others believe that Lycopene improves cell-to-cell communication, reducing the risk of the uninhibited growth seen in cancer cells.

In all likelihood, several mechanisms are at work simultaneously and there is much research currently being conducted across the globe to understand these interactions.

In the meantime, many men are not waiting for full scientific explanations but are turning to Lycopene to reduce the risk of prostate disease. Humans possess no mechanism to make Lycopene; instead we accumulate it from our diet. Furthermore, natural Lycopene is hardly taken up at all from the consumption of raw tomatoes and only becomes “bioavailable” if the fruit is cooked and/or processed prior to eating. Consequently, supplements such as Lycoplus EXTRA are an increasingly attractive option.

Reactivating Lycopene with Vitamin C Every time a damaging free radical is removed by a Lycopene molecule, the antioxidant becomes “spent” – in essence, the Lycopene sacrifices itself to protect the body’s DNA. However, research has shown that the presence of plenty of vitamin C allows the “spent” Lycopene molecules to be reactivated, rejuvenating them and preparing them to quench another poisonous free radical.

Thus, vitamin C is believed to prolong the antioxidising effects of Lycopene.

STOP PRESS Diet rich in tomatoes may lower breast cancer risk In work to be published in 2014 in the Journal of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Dr Adana Llanos from Rutgers University, USA shows that a tomato-rich diet could help to protect at-risk post-menopausal women from breast cancer because Lycopene affects the level of hormones that play a role in metabolism and cancer risk. The risk reduction was clear for older (50+) women after only 10 weeks of 25mg Lycopene per day – approximately 2 capsules of Lycoplus Extra daily.

Staying Informed George & Partners is committed to providing readable, up-to-date, scientifically robust information about lycopene research, particularly that related to prostate cancer, breast cancer, heart disease and skin health. To sign up for our free newsletter, please call 08000 234 235 or visit www.lycoplus.co.uk.

Based at Keele University Science Park, George & Partners is the collective brainchild of three internationally renowned professors who have published more than 800 scientific papers over the last 30 years.

Natural Lycopene Supplement Each Lycoplus EXTRA one-a-day capsule contains 15mg of natural Lycopene plus 60mg of vitamin C which reactivates “spent” Lycopene, enhancing and prolonging the effect of the supplement.

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STRUGGLING TO GET UPSTAIRS?

Mobility .... helping you to keep going Mobility is one of the most prized faculties of every age group, but particularly to those of advancing years, and maintaining it in all its forms has become big business.

Causes of immobility can be many and varied but the range of equipment on the market today is amazing. A problem that may have caused a life-changing situation years ago may now be solved by an appliance or equipment from the vast array on offer.

Loss of mobility can be just as much of a mental shock as a physical one, so good advice for anyone suffering such a situation is to speak to someone who has experienced it for some time.

This can alleviate some of the potential trauma and help the gradual change in lifestyle which may have been caused by accident, illness or simply advancing years.

You will all have seen the automated shopping trolleys available at many supermarkets and the motorised scooter type vehicles. Correctly supplied these are a boon to the disabled, and many have been cleverly designed to fold easily into vehicles. Automatic vehicle lifts often come with them and there is now even a person lift for helping someone into a car seat. The clever design usually has three pivotal points to get you into the car and can often be operated by the disabled person themself without third party assistance.

length. Today there is a whole range of appliances, each designed for a particular kind of mobility loss.

A simple fold up walking stick can be a boon to those who only feel the need of occasional support and reassurance.

Taking things a step further, if you need a permanent walking stick, make sure you are shown which one is best for you.

The wooden one with the brass handle and metal ferrule may look attractive but is probably totally impractical for most needs. A stick rubber is usually a necessity for safety and if you are particularly infirm you might be advised Bathing is often a problem for disabled people but there are numerous aids to go for a three-legged end to a stick available to assist.

Fromashower stools days which gives additional mind. on the Wepeace haveofpeople phone, 24 hours day, seven to walk in baths, you should be able to Wheelchairs are a subject by plus overnight a week weekend engineering support findand something that makes life easier. themselves. If you need one I would Again, take advice on what is best for strongly recommend that you take the you, and don’t forget that you may be advice of a physiotherapist, doctor or eligible for grants to help with purchase good mobility supplier before making a and installation. decision. Will you always have someone The greatest gift to a disabled person to push your chair, remember the strain (subject tobeing availability) is that of able to get around as of propelling yourself is considerable much as possible. and may exacerbate your problems.

by Graham Smith.

There are many electrically propelled ones on the market so choose wisely.

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Planning for Your Future Security Introduction

Deputy Orders

As one approaches ones elderly years it is important not to shy away from putting ones estate planning affairs into order.

Careful planning ahead of time can help ensure you and your loved ones are taken care of should anything happen to you or your spouse. Effective planning now can also provide greater flexibility and certainty for your family with regards to such things as mitigation of inheritance tax and, to the decree possible, the limitation of the effects of care home fees, means testing.

If there is no Lasting Power of Attorney in place and your affairs need to be looked after if you have insufficient mental capacity to look after them yourself, then someone, usually your next of kin, will need to apply for a Deputies Order from the Office of the Public Guardian. This can be a time consuming and expensive procedure at a time when you or those around you are least likely to be in a position to have the time to wait. We recommend that a Lasting Power of Attorney be put in place as a matter of good practice.

Updating Wills

Asset protection using Trusts

It is important to review your Wills on a regular basis to ensure that you have Executors and Trustees who are capable of looking after your estate and to ensure those members of your family you wish to benefit, will benefit in the way you would like. Often this may involve consideration of the appropriate use of trusts to help achieve your objective. It can also be a perfect opportunity to review out of date trusts which may not work as effectively as they would do if your Wills had been made some time ago.

There are a range of Trusts on the market which are appropriate for the protection of your assets as well as the protection of various beneficiaries you may wish to benefit.

Lasting Powers of Attorney Lasting Powers of Attorney for your property and financial affairs is an important first step to ensure that should something happen to you or your spouse whilst you are still living, that people you know and trust can step in and look after your finances for your care and benefit as well as that of any dependents you may have.

Lasting Powers of Attorney for health and welfare (sometimes referred to as personal welfare) can also be an important instrument to have in place to ensure someone you know and trust can make decisions about how you are clothed, how you are fed, where you live, what mediation you receive and whether you want to give them power to switch off life sustaining treatment. This may be particularly important to consider where you have no close next of kin or the next of kin you do have are likely to be in conflict with one another or in conflict with your own interests.

Putting in place Lasting Powers of Attorney can be somewhat time consuming and does require a minimum level of mental capacity to understand what a Lasting Power of Attorney is and what its implications are for you and the Attorneys. This is not something that should be left to the last minute even if you believe that you are never likely to lose mental capacity.

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Flexible Life Interest Trusts (FLITS) FLITS are commonly used as a way for each spouse to protect their half of their assets and yet benefit their surviving spouse over the long term whilst also providing flexibility in terms of inheritance tax mitigation for the remaining family members.

This last aspect is of particular advantage, particularly over standard forms of life interest trusts although it depends on the particular circumstances of you and your beneficiaries as to which Trust is the most appropriate to choose.

Nil Rate Band Discretionary Trusts Nil Rate Band Discretionary Trusts were very popular when saving the Nil Rate Band of the first to die prior to the transferrable Nil Rate Band coming in effect in late 2007. If you have one of these in your Wills it can still be useful in future estate planning though many of the technical aspects could well do with updating given changes to the law over recent years. Whilst a Transferrable Nil Rate Band has come in, Nil Rate Band Discretionary Trusts can still be of particular use for longer term planning down the generations.

Trusts can also be set up in your lifetime to allow for lifetime gifting and protection of assets before you die though this needs to be considered as part of an overall picture with regard to your estate planning and the particular requirements of you and your beneficiaries. Trusts can also be used to protect vulnerable beneficiaries such as those who are very young or who are disabled.

We recommend that you sit down with an appropriate legal or independent financial advisor to talk through those requirements and consider these and other options available to you to help ensure this achieves the best results in terms of establishing security for you and your family into the future.

For a free half hour consultation please telephone Christopher Lawn on

07857 981 595 And Quote Ref: CGL/A-Reading.

Call Chris Lawn on

07857 981 595

www.setfords.co.uk or phone 0118 402 0637 www.setfords.co.uk

www.setfords.co.uk Helping to secure your future for you and your loved ones!

Free BASIC Wills available Under the Marie Curie Free Will Scheme for the month of May only (you must be aged 55 and above).

Call Chris Lawn on 07857 981 595 and quote ‘CGL/A-Reading’ for a FREE 30 minute no obligation consultation.

Alternatively email: clawn@setfords.co.uk First Floor, 76 School Road, Tilehurst, Reading, RG31 5AW (Easy Parking Available).

Or telephone: 0118 402 0637 and ask for Chris Lawn.

Do You Need Help With: Making a Will Making a Power of Attorney Obtaining Probate Intestate Administration Estate Administration Trust Administration Inheritance Tax Compliance IHT Mitigation for Beneficiaries Deeds of Variation International Estate Administration

Contested Estates Contested Trusts Disputed Wills Dealing with Disgruntled Beneficiaries Elderly Abuse Issues Asset Protection Power of Attorney and Deputy Issues Equity Release Arrangements Long Term Care Arrangements Care Funding Issues Live In Care Arrangments

Christopher Lawn is a Senior Consultant Solicitor in the Private Client Department at Setfords Solicitors. He has extensive experience from dealing with simple estates through to complex estate planning involving difficult tax issues, to trust administration and intestacies. He knows that the process of dealing with estate planning requires understanding and patience to help clients through in a timely manner. Chris is a full member of STEP and Solicitors for the Elderly and an Associate Member of the Association of Trust and Probate Specialists. He and the rest of our specialist legal team at Setfords Solicitors are ready to help.