Stockport & Trafford 44

FREE Please

STOCKPORT & TRAFFORD

take on

e

APRIL - JUNE 2015

EDITION 44

Jane McDonald Still Following Her Dreams

Hairy Bikers

Healthy Low Calorie Recipes

New Looks for your Home this Spring

Experts in Family Law

The Benefits Of Investing In Property with Progressive Property Network THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50s

Visit our new & improved website!

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CHIROPRACTIC + DETOX = HAPPY NERVOUS SYSTEM Many people don't realise that fatigue, foggy thinking, poor sleep, bloating, excess weight (especially around the stomach, hips and thighs) and even ageing skin indicate nutritional deficiencies and toxicity that can be reversed.

INSIDE...

10-11

12-13

Adopting a healthier lifestyle needn’t be hard work. A detox plan will help you to make small significant changes and is simple to follow. Toxins stress out our Nervous System and can cause pain and ill health, things that chiropractic can help with.

A GOOD CLEAN DETOX FOCUSES ON: 1. Eat clean, real and whole foods 2. Alkalise your body and reduce inflammation 3. Eliminate allergenic and addictive foods 4. Balance blood sugar 5. Reduce toxin exposure and support elimination organs Chiropractic works on restoring nervous system function.

Coupled with a clean detox, it can speed up healing and reduce pain. Make an appointment with your chiropractor today.

14-15

26-28

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Twittering On...

By Graham Smith.

10-11

Great British Holiday...

Closer to home holiday ideas.

12-13

Robinsons Holidays...

Affordable peace of mind.

14-15

Jane McDonald...

Still following her dreams.

18-19

Interior Design...

New looks for your home this Spring.

24-25

Slater Heelis Solicitors...

Divorce in over 60s on the rise.

26-28

The Hairy Dieters...

‘Eat For Life’ recipes.

A BALANCED BODY WILL MAINTAIN HEALTH AT ITS OPTIMUM LEVEL.

“I'm in pain”

CAN CHIROPRACTIC HELP ME?

OFFER PRICE

£39 Expirydate date30th 30th June June 2013 Expiry 2015.

Your initial visit will include: • A private consultation with chiropractor • X rays if necessary (normally £60) • Spinal examination, orthopaedic and neurological tests • A confidential report of our findings • An explanation of our treatments procedure if we determine Chiropractic can help you • A referral to the appropriate specialist if we determine Chiropractic cannot help you

For a limited period we will complete a full consultation, examination, Neuro Scan, X ray, full report of findings and one treatment all for

£39.00

(Normally £130.00) (Normally £142.00) Expiry date 30th June 2013

WE TREAT THESE CONDITIONS...

• HEADACHES, BACK PAIN, NECK PAIN • PREVENTION OF MIGRAINES • MUSCLE SPASMS, JOINT PAIN • TIRED ALL THE TIME, TENSION

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS PLEASE CALL OUR CLINIC TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Andrew Jackson BA MSc Kerry Labuschagne MTech Chiro Fay Sidebottom M Chiro

6th Floor | 120 Bark Street | Bolton | BL1 2AX T: (01204) 860 194 | F: (01204) 860 213 e: mcgrathadmin@btconnect.com

MARPLE CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC

8-10 Derby Way, Marple SK6 7AH 0161 449 5006 www.chiropractichealthsolutions.co.uk

STOCKPORT CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC

466 Didsbury Rd, Heaton Mersey, SK4 3BS 0161 432 6708

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3

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

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

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

Graham Smith

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

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

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

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

Barely a sentence goes by without use

4

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

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

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

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

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

Stone me!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

holidays

made to

remember

In the heart of the Lancashire countryside you will find the beautiful Ribby Hall Holiday Village.

Over 100 acres of luxury accommodation, restaurants, cafés and bars, leisure facilities and an award winning Spa. Just a short distance away you’ll find the charming seaside town of Lytham St Annes and the bright lights of Blackpool. With something to keep every age entertained, Ribby Hall Village is the perfect place to enjoy a holiday with family or friends.

hol£id2a7y9s

from

*

e! for six peopl

Our fabulous cottages, with all the luxuries of home, start from just £279 for six people.

To book or request a brochure call us FREE on 0800 107 1931 or visit www.ribbyhall.co.uk *Terms and conditions apply. £279 lead in price applies to four night break between 20 Nov – 20 Dec 15 in a Poppy Cottage.

6821 RHV Over 50s A4 Ad 2015.indd 1

03/02/2015 15:10

002142 Robinsons Holidays A5 Mailer.qxp_Layout 1 29/08/2014 14:34 Page 1

Est. 1923

Affordable peace of mind…

Holidays

Mystery Tours

Est. 1923

Affordable peace of mind…

Holidays

£100

PER PRICES NOT TO BE MISSED - SAVE UP TO COUPLE AT THESE 3 FEATURED RESORTS

Sunny Sussex and Eastbourne

The Garden Isle The Isle of Wight

Imperial Hotel 4 Nights, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Eastbourne Tour Code: 12M

Eastbourne is an “all year round” holiday destination with one of the best sunshine records in the UK. Includes 2 Excursions

Ocean View Hotel 4 Nights, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Isle of Wight Tour Code: 12M

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

Includes 2 Excursions

CALL FREEPHONE: 0800 0839900

includes 2 excursions

Breaks Your destination and seat numbers will be advised *Unlimited on receiptSingles of your final travel Festive document which is issued approx. 2 weeks before travel. www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk Terms and conditions of the Trading Charter in the main 2015 brochure apply.

looking to celebrate that special anniversary? ring your favourite restaurant

looking to sort out that pension problem? ring the ombudsman 0300 123 9 123 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

£159

4th October £185 DATE DURATION MYSTERY PRICE 8th October £179 26 April 5 days £159 04 May 5 days £169 12th October £175 4th October £185 11 May 5 days £169 18th October £169 18 May 5 days £179 8th October £179 25 May October 5 days £189 22nd £165 12th October £175 01 June* 5 days £209 26th October £159 18th £169 08 June*October 5 days £209 1st November £169 15 June 5 days £209 22nd October £165 22 June* 5 days £209 5th November £169 26th £159 29 June*October 5 days £209 9th November £169 06 July* 5 days £209 1st November £169 13 July November 5 days £209 Delightful Devon 15th £169 5th November £169 20 July* 5 days £209 and Torquay 19th November £165 27 July* 5 days £209 9th November £169 03 August* 5 days £219 23rd November £165 Abbey Lawn Hotel 15th November £169 10 August* 5 days £219 4 Nights, Dinner Bed & Breakfast 29th November £159 17 August 5 days £219 19th November £165 Torquay Tour Code: 12M 24 August* 5 days £219 3rd December £159 23rd November £165 31 August* 5 days £209 With its mild climate and 7th December £159 07 September* 5 days £209 29th November £159 trademark Palm Trees, Torquay is 14 September 5 days £209 13th December *£139 one of the UK’s premier seaside 3rd December £159 21 September* 5 days £209 resorts and has been fashionable 17th December £129 28 September* 5 days £209 7th December £159 since the 19th century *Unlimited Singles Festive Breaks * NEW Five Day Departures 13th December *£139 Includes 2 Excursions www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk 17th December £129 Once your booking is made, you will be allocated at one of the three resorts featured.

802_50Plus_half-page_Jan14

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5 DAY from ONLY

Door to Door Coach Tours with Ellen Smith Membership No: 10228

Coach Holidays with a difference.

We all know that often coach holidays get a bad press – waiting in bus stations for the coach to arrive, long arduous pickup routes to an interchange, waiting around there for your holiday coach all before you’re destination bound!

Once you’re there too often poor quality hotels with mass catering, an extra charge for outings and then to top it all off the same gruelling journey home – no chance of the six o’clock news!

If that all sounds too familiar why not give us a try?

We are Manchester based and offer the only true ‘Door to Door’ coach holiday service in the area.

Established as far back as 1900 in Rochdale we have a long and distinguished history as a good quality, value for money coach holiday operator.

What’s so different about us?

Firstly our ‘Door to Door’ service. This is a true door to door service. We pick you up from your home address at a pre-arranged time in a taxi or small minibus and take you straight to one of our two meeting points, Birch Services near Heywood or Poplar Services near Lymm. There you meet up with your driver and coach who will take you on your holiday.

There’s no hanging around, you’re usually on your way within 15 to 20 minutes. We don’t leave anyone behind!

taxi is waiting for you at one of the two service stations and you’re usually home with a cup of tea in time to watch the news!

What else can we tell you?

All our holidays are fully bonded by the Confederation Of Passenger Transport Bonding Scheme, which is a government approved consumer protection scheme ensuring your money is protected. We offer very popular ‘Mature Singles’ holidays where all bedrooms at the hotel are used for sole occupancy – great for the single traveller.

Oh and we offer continental coach holidays, this year Lake Como, Lake Garda, Swiss Chocolate Train & A Taste of the Alpine and Normandy for the D Day landing beaches.

We have a regular news letter the ‘Tiger Talk’, (our logo is a tiger) that offers new tours during the year and several of our popular ‘Mystery Tours’ during each year.

We have a website www.ellensmith.co.uk that has all the details of our holidays – and you can book on-line too.

If you wish to call us our staff are very experienced individuals who know lots about our range of holidays.

Finally we offer Fred Olsen cruises from Liverpool at prices you won’t believe and a variety of Air, Cruise & Worldwide holidays - all with our ‘Door to Door’ service included.

Your Driver is an experienced individual and the coach will be of an executive standard with toilet, air conditioning and reclining seats. On the journey to the hotel we tend to avoid motorway services and visit a village, town, city or other suitable location instead. Because of our timely departure we plan to arrive at our destinations at about 4:30pm giving you plenty of time for a quick snooze prior to dinner.

All the hotels we use are normally 3 or 4 star with the odd family run 2 star hotel, that we have used for many years. We use a range of different hotels to suit a particular tour. Many of our tours are themed – ‘Royal Sandringham & the Sport of Kings’ and ‘An Irish Country House Experience’ to name just two. All our tours include day excursions (no extra charge – ever!), which can include canal journeys, train journeys, castles, country estates and so much more.

The vast majority of our hotels offer a porterage service, so you rarely have to touch your case.

On your return date the reverse of the first day happens. Your

Want to know more?

Call us on 01706 648126

for a copy of our 2015 brochure – you’ll wonder why you ever went away in your car!

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7

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

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

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

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

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

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

OL14

OL13 Bacup

BB4

Haslingden

BL0

Todmorden

OL12

OL15

Ramsbottom M66

BL8

BL1

OL11

OL16

BURY BL2 BOLTON

Heywood OL10

M26

BL4

Pendlebury M27 M7 M6

M41 Urmston

M32

Partington

M33

STRETFORD

SALE M23

WA14 M56

OL5 Mossley

OL6 OL7

M43

M34

SK15 ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE

SK16 M67

M19

M20

SK14

SK4 SK5 M60

SK3 M22 ALTRINCHAM SK8 WA15 WYTHENSHAWE

POPLAR/LYMM SERVICES

OL8

M35

M18

M21

OL4 OLDHAM

M40

M50 M17

M31

WA13 Lymm

M8

OL1

OL9

M9

M11

M30

M44

M25

M60

M28

OL3

M24 Middleton

M45

Walkden

OL2 Shaw

BIRCH SERVICES

BL3

M6

M62

ROCHDALE

BL9

STOCKPORT SK1 SK2

SK6 Marple

SK7

Included in every tour l

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

Ellen Smith Price Promise

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

DATE

TOUR

HOTEL

INCLUDES

DAYS

PRICE

20th April Brief Encounters in the Lakes

Headway Hotel

Train journey & lots of entertainment

5

£329

26th April An Irish Jig

Seven Oaks, Carlow

Kilkenny, Kildaire & entertainment

5

£329

27th April Northumbrian Highlights

Copthorne, Newcastle

4 Star Hotel - lots to do & see

5

£329

4th May

Landscapes of Norfolk

BW Brook, Norwich

Boat trip, Stately home & Cromer

5

£349

8th May

Llandudno

Tynedale

Our customers' favourite destination

5

£339

9th May

Swiss Chocolate Train

Central-Residence, Leysin

Too much to mention, please call us

8

£589

10th May Bournemouth

Trouville

Central hotel, includes admissions

5

£339

11th May Heart of England

Abbey, Great Malvern

Boat trip, vineyard tour + more

5

£369

16th May Eastbourne

Haddon Hall

Worthing, Lewes & Beachy Head

8

£479

16th May It's all about the Thames

Legacy Farnham Hogs Back New tour for 2015, boat trip + more

4

£259

18th May Beautiful Argyll and Bute

BW Argyll, Dunoon

5

£309

25th May Titanic Story

Wessex Hotel, Bournemouth Maritime Portsmouth & Isle of Wight

5

£329

Inveraray Castle + Mount Stuart

Please ask about our regular Jersey & Guernsey Saturday flight holidays

2015 BROCHURE OUT NOW! INTERESTED?

Call our reservations office on 01706 648126 and request a copy of our 2015 brochure. You’ll be surprised at the variations of tours we operate.

Visit our website at www.ellensmith.co.uk Find us on facebook & twitter (search for ellensmithtours) www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

TRAVEL

The Great British Holiday IF there is one thing that the recession has taught us it’s about getting value for money. And it’s not just being pro-British to say that you can now get the best holidays here at home.

10 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

The great thing about holidaying in the UK with your family is the wonderfully broad spread of activities on offer. Youngsters can run about, take part in planned activity programmes, go swimming or even take their bikes along when you’re having a staycation.

They don’t have to endure tiresome flights, hanging around in airports or not liking the food abroad. Children can make themselves understood to everyone, and discover for themselves just how beautiful is their own country.

ABTA – the well-respected Association of British Travel Agents – says that their recent research shows that 20 per cent of

people surveyed would be spending more on holidays in 2015.

They also discovered that nearly seven in 10 people, that’s 68 per cent, took at least one UK holiday last year. Mark Tanzer, ABTA’s chief executive, believes that good weather in the UK in June and July helped. He says that “the research shows there are reasons to be optimistic for 2015.”

All of which is no surprise to the thousands of tourists who flock into Great Britain each year from other countries around the world. They come determined to discover the many attractions here. Perhaps we Brits are simply slower to pick up on noticing the wonders around us, but we are getting better at it.

Andy Kinnaird from Robinsons Holidays knows that the Great British Holiday is very attractive to the homegrown market. His business, based near Blackburn in Lancashire, was established in 1923 and today has 23 coaches with more than 160 staff kept busy dealing with this burgeoning travel market.

He finds that more people than ever are opting to stay in the UK for their annual holidays, citing “the hassle of going through customs and airports etc” as well as the constant discovery of new places without ever leaving these shores.

Couples can quietly discover the real Downton Abbey – Highclere Castle in Hampshire – where fact meets fiction in fascinating English history. Our country has plenty of history, with stunning landmarks in Norwich spanning the Norman, Medieval, Georgian, Victorian and modern eras to Bath with its fascinating Roman baths. Visit York, where history leaps out at you around every corner. Travel to the capital and see the magnet of attractions that draw the constant crowds to its major art galleries, packed with masterpieces, the British Museum exhibiting the works of man from historic to modern times or the London Eye where the best views over the city are available to fascinate.

A holiday in the UK can turn into the kind of voyage of discovery that used to be reserved for early travellers setting foot in ancient lands for the first time. The sense of wonder is on offer in cities, towns and in tiny hamlets boasting a village church and a history recorded in the Domesday Book.

Our coastlines are among some of the world’s most stunning.

Just walk along the rugged cliffs of Boscastle in Cornwall and you’ll be treading on rocks first laid down 300 million years ago. Mind you, it’s also got some of the best beaches, too, and the longest: 476 km of luscious coastline.

You can cycle through the wilds of Yorkshire or take a more sedate luxury barge along the Lancaster Canal – or just please yourself and do both!

The Great British Holiday is the one that you like the best. And it’s completely achievable, even with one eye on the weather.

Favourite destinations for the many people he takes on their holidays around the country include the Isle of Wight, Eastbourne and Torquay. More unusual destinations are the Hebrides, the Isle of Man and the Scilly Isles, although he does transport some foreign visitors like the Australian couple who wanted to tour Scotland.

Andy and his family shunned the charms of the Costas and the Balearics last year for the delights of Camarthen in Wales and Loch Lomond in Scotland. “Yes,” he insists, “like everyone, we appreciate going to beautiful places in the UK.” If we can stand back a little from the whole subject of holidays and try to take a dispassionate look at what the UK has to offer, there really is something for every traveller and taste.

You can take the whole family – including the dog – to a luxury cabin in ancient woodland in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, or wake each day on the banks of an ancient millpond in a beautiful dwelling in Deerpark in Cornwall, deep in a peaceful wooded valley.

If you like walking, you can see the ruggedly beautiful hills of Wales or the sleepy villages set in rural Yorkshire. Stay in a YHA hostel in the South-east and take a gentle family chauffeur punt down the river in Cambridge or experience the thrill of the rides at Chessington World of Adventures.

The Best of British Holidays at Ribby Hall Village Imagine your own idyllic pine lodge with outdoor hot tub or a luxurious five-star cottage, exploring 100 acres of beautiful Lancashire countryside. With plenty to enjoy - bars and restaurants, an award-winning spa, tennis, fishing, golf, swimming, cycling or simply chilling poolside with a book – do as much or as little as you like, and at a pace to suit you.

Holidays start from £279 for six people. Call 0800 107 0336 or visit ribbyhall.co.uk.

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| 11

Holidays from

£169

Robinsons Own Hotels

2015

Sunny Sussex Eastbourne

The Garden Isle Isle of Wight

Delightful Devon Torquay

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

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

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

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

The Abbey Lawn Hotel is an elegant Georgian hotel, in the grounds of the former Torre Abbey, with it’s newly refurbished conservatory / lounge offers the discerning holidaymaker an exceptional standard of comfort throughout.

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

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

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

Freephone: 0800 083 9900 12 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Many of the bedrooms offer panoramic views of the bay.

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

Groups: 0800 785 1025

The Robinsons Difference

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

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

l

*NEW Five Day Departures

*price reductions on brochure

5 Day Tours

7 Day Tours

8 Day Tours

4 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast

6 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast

7 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast

Date Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn 13 Apr* £189 £189 £189 20 Apr* £199 £199 £199 26 Apr* £199 £199 £199 04 May* £219 £219 £219 11 May* £219 £219 £219 18 May* £229 £229 £229 25 May* £239 £239 £239 01 June* £249 £249 £249 08 June* £249 £249 15 June* £249 £249 22 June* £249 £249 29 June* £249 £249 06 July* £249 £249 13 July* £249 £249 20 July* £249 £249 27 July* £249 £249 03 Aug* £249 £249 10 Aug* £249 £249 17 Aug* £249 £249 24 Aug* £249 £249 31 Aug* £249 £249 07 Sept* £249 £249 14 Sept* £249 £249 21 Sept* £249 £249 28 Sept* £249 £249 05 Oct £229 £229 £229 12 Oct £229 £229 £229 19 Oct £219 £219 £219 26 Oct £219 £219 £219 02 Nov £209 £209 £209 09 Nov £209 £209 £209 16 Nov £199 £199 £199 23 Nov £189 £189 £189 30 Nov £179 £179 £179 07 Dec £169 £169 £169 14 Dec £169 £169 £169 * Reduced

Date 12 Apr 19 Apr 26 Apr 03 May 10 May 17 May 24 May 31 May 07 June 14 June 21 June 28 June 05 July 12 July 19 July 26 July 02 Aug 09 Aug 16 Aug 23 Aug 30 Aug 06 Sept 13 Sept 20 Sept 27 Sept 04 Oct 11 Oct 18 Oct 25 Oct

Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn £249 £249 £249 £259 £259 £259 £279 £279 £279 £319 £319 £319 £339 £339 £349 £349 £359 £359 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £359 £359 £359 £329 £329 £329 £289 £289 £289 £279 £279 £279 £269 £269 £269 £269 £269 £269

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

* New Tour

Supplements per person 5 Days: Imperial: Premier Room £20 Ocean View: Premier Room £30 -Sea View Room £10 Abbey Lawn: Premier Room £30 - Front Facing Room £10

Loyalty Bonus Here at Robinsons, we are committed to ensuring that our customers are rewarded for their loyalty to us. For 2015, we are pleased to offer all our passengers the opportunity to take advantage.

A voucher will be given to all passengers by the tour driver whilst on holiday. This can either be redeemed on the next holiday booking, or can be saved in multiples towards a future holiday.

We offer you ...

4 4 4 4

Accommodation of dinner, bed & breakfast 2 included excursions Local pick-ups Service of driver/courier

price

Date Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn 02/03 May £369 £369 £369 09/10 May £369 £369 £369 16/17 May £379 £379 £379 23/24 May £389 £389 £389 30/31 May £399 £399 £399 06/07 June £399 £399 £399 13/14 June £399 £399 £399 20/21 June £409 £409 £409 27/28 June £409 £409 £409 04/05 July £409 £409 £409 11/12 July £409 £409 £409 18/19 July £409 £409 £409 25/26 July £409 £409 £409 01/02 Aug £409 £409 £409 08/09 Aug £409 £409 £409 15/16 Aug £409 £409 £409 22/23 Aug £409 £409 £409 29/30 Aug £409 £409 £409 05/06 Sept £399 £399 £399 12/13 Sept £399 £399 £399 19/20 Sept £389 £389 £389 26/27 Sept £359 £359 £359 03/04 Oct £319 £319 £319 10/11 Oct £309 £309 £309 17/18 Oct £299 £299 £299 24/25 Oct £299 £299 £299 Supplements per person 8 Days: Imperial: Premier Room £35 Ocean View: Premier Room £50 -Sea View Room £15 Abbey Lawn: Premier Room £50 - Front Facing Room £15

9 Day Tours 8 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast Date 02 May 09 May 16 May 23 May 30 May 06 June 13 June 20 June 27 June 04 July 11 July 18 July 25 July 01 Aug 08 Aug 15 Aug 22 Aug 29 Aug 05 Sept 12 Sept 19 Sept 26 Sept

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| 13

Jane

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For details of her latest appearances go to www.jane-mcdonald.com

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| 15

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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We also employ a sound deadening insulation which unlike rigid insulation completely silences the weather.

This use of insulation technologies means that the British thermal slate conservatory roof achieves a u-value of 0.09 meaning the British Thermal Slate conservatory roof is one of the best performing in the industry.

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

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

18 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buy a lovely chandelier and choose cool

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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| 19

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Barrie established The Smile Centre UK in 1989 to provide skillful, personalised partial and complete denture production service to clients within the Greater Manchester community. Due to evergrowing popularity and word-of-mouth testimonials, denture clients now travel from all over the UK to take advantage of the initial free consultations, advice and recommendations.

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Should I invest in property?

Do you want more time, more money, a better pension or more freedom to do the things you want to do? Property investing may help you achieve it!

With the recent changes to rules on annuities and greater flexibility on the use of pensions, whether or not to invest in property has become a question millions of older people are now asking themselves. This corresponds with an overall increase in Buy to Let lending as the underlying conditions that make property a great investment have strengthened even more. This article explains why property might be a good investment either instead of, or as well as, other investment types*.

The benefits of investing in property There are many reasons why property may be a better investment than some other investment types at the moment.

First of all, property is a tangible asset that lenders can easily value and are happy to lend against; in which other investment class could you have a £100,000 investment with a bank or building society lending you three quarters of the investment fund (i.e. a 75% mortgage)? With the regulations on Buy to Let Lending not as difficult as for residential mortgages it is also easier for some people to get a Buy to Let mortgage than one for their own home!

The second reason why property may be a good investment is because interest rates are currently very low. The Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney, has said that whilst interest rates will rise eventually as the economy (gradually) recovers, he does not expect rates to return to the high levels of previous years in the future. This means that the cost of money is cheap, so investing in assets that can generate income for you has never been easier.

The third reason why property may be a better investment than some others, is that if you have cash, because interest rates are so low you will only get a meagre return on your cash. Look at any best buy list for savings or bank current accounts and you will see very low interest rates being offered. Whilst banks are happy to lend your money out at rates of 7%, 15% or even more on credit card products, they will only offer you below 4% on your cash – of course the

difference makes them their huge profits and bonuses. With property it is possible to achieve significantly better returns than this.

The fourth reason why property might be a good investment is that due to limited supply prices have continued to rise. This means, that for example, if you buy a house for £100,000 pounds now, with a mortgage of £75,000, in 25 years it is highly likely that it’s price may have doubled once or twice. Not only that, but the real value of what you owe is eaten away by annual inflation because the mortgage you owe is not index linked – plus you will have rental income too. So in 25 years that same house may be worth £400,000 but your mortgage will still only be £75,000, leaving you a healthy profit or an asset to pass on to your children or grand children to protect them from the uncertain times ahead.

The risks of investing in property It would be silly to consider investing in property without considering some of the risks. These might include making sure the property has tenants in, managing the property’s upkeep, a possible fall in house prices, not being able to sell the property if you wish to, and the tax implications of owning property. Of course, with the right kind of help, all of these risks can be carefully managed so that your money, in property, works for you, and you don’t have to spend your time working for money. So whether it is more time or money you want, a better pension or more freedom to choose what you do every day, we can help. And by the way, many of the new investors coming through now are already in their 50s, 60s and 70s, so it is never ‘too late’ to start!

Mike Chadwick

is the host of your local Progressive Property Network meeting in Wilmslow and East Cheshire. As well as running several businesses he also works for a major UK company where he leads their business development. Prior to this he worked for the UK government’s Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, in the private sector in London as an economic development consultant, and at the University of Cambridge in the Department of Applied Economics where he undertook teaching and research.

Want to know more?

Help is at hand!

You would not expect to do a job without learning about it and learning how to do it, and investing in property is no different. Fortunately you can learn about it through books, courses and through attending your local Progressive Property Network meeting in Wilmslow and East Cheshire. We are here to help.

Each month, we have experts in different areas of property investing who can share with you how they have done it, what works, what doesn’t and how you can do it too in a relaxed, supportive and fun environment. Our meeting is every fourth Monday of the month at the Stanneylands Hotel, Wilmslow. Why not find out more on our website at www.progressivepropertynetwork.co.uk/ wilmslow Or call me, Mike Chadwick, on 07957 858726, for a chat, free of charge.

SPECIAL 2 FOR 1 OFFER FOR APRIL, MAY AND JUNE MEETINGS

BUY 1 TICKET GET 1 FREE! To take this offer up email mikechadwick@ progressivepropertynetwork.co.uk Tickets must be booked in advance as places are limited.

*This article makes general points only and does not constitute financial advice; before making any investments you should seek appropriate advice from qualified financial advisers.

22 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Financial Freedom

There has never been a better time to be thinking about your pension. The freedoms that came into force on 6th April 2015 will afford savers more flexibility than ever, so it’s important to understand the options available to you to ensure your savings work as hard for you as you have for them.

What you do with your pension pot is up to you but the significance of your decisions should not be underestimated.

That’s why we suggest you seek advice to make sure you are making full use of the options and using them to your advantage.

Your options...

Once you reach the minimum pension age, currently 55, you will be able to...

• • • • • •

leave your pension fund invested; enter drawdown, thereby taking some of your money whilst leaving the rest where it is; withdraw cash in one or a number of lump sums; purchase an annuity; go with a combination of all of the above; or take your entire pension pot in one go.

The new death benefit rules have also transformed Pensions into Inheritance Tax Planning Friendly assets. They are therefore becoming vitally important 'Family Wealth' transfer vehicles and we hope people will be encouraged to seek advice before doing something they may later regret.

We are Chartered Financial Planners who have been working with clients for over five decades because we understand just how important decisions and life events like retirement and long-term investments are to you.

With the aim of providing expert financial advice with a personal touch and a clear understanding of how we could help our clients to achieve their life goals.

If you would like to consider your options and would like to talk to someone about them in more detail please call us on 0161 4567890 or email us at info@prestfinancial.co.uk

Graham Prest,

Managing Director

When taking an income from your pension in any way, the first 25% will normally be tax free with the remainder being taxed as income. Pension taxation can be complicated, so it is very important that you seek professional advice for clarification of how it affects you and your particular set of circumstances.

www.prestfinancial.co.uk | 0161 4567890 | info@prestfinancial.co.uk James House, Station View (off Bramhall Moor Lane), Hazel Grove, Stockport SK7 5ER WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 23

Divorces in Over 60’s on the rise…

Factors cited include a loss of stigma over being divorced, and more financial independence for women As a family lawyer I see my share of the “average” and sometimes

One area that many of our clients are concerned about and that

not so average marital breakdowns but one of the trends that

we are happy to work through and discuss is any latent resentment

we have noticed over the last few years has been the increase

from the family, particularly if the divorce is not a joint decision and

in couples who are slightly older deciding to call it a day on their

if either party choose to marry again.Often there are many financial

marriage.

and estate issues to consider when new step-families come into

“ In general, women are

now more able to support themselves outside of marriage than in the past ” My team and I at Slater Heelis LLP have recognised there are slightly

the picture. Nevertheless, the decision to separate needn’t be filled with anxiety and unknowns and the main focus of our service for all our clients (regardless of age) is to shed light on the process and potential outcomes for all parties concerned.

Key Statistics 1

In 2009, more than 13,700 over-60s were granted a divorce, the Office for National Statistics revealed.

2

The number of divorces for older people was stable in the 1980s and early 1990s, but has risen since in contrast to falling divorce rates in the rest of the population.

different concerns for our older clients, they anxiety tends to be less about access to children (most of whom are often grown up) and more often than not about fair division of assets and managing financial independence – sometimes for the first time. Therefore we have launched a new divorce division called Silver Separation Suite aimed at the over-60s. It has been designed to meet the changing

3

needs of our ageing population, to ensure we focus on the things that matter to our clients, things like the desire to achieve a clean break and an independent future.

In 2011, the total number of divorces was 118,000. Of these, 9,500 were granted to men aged 60 - a 73% rise from 1991. Although husbands tend to be older than their wives, officials noted, the trend was similar for women: 5,800 women over 60 divorced in 2011, up from 3,200 in 1991.

If you’d like to consider your options and want to talk to someone about next steps please give us a call on: 0844 967 6830 or email us at family@slaterheelis.co.uk Mark Heptinstall, Partner and Head of Family Law

24 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

A fresh start?

Our expert family lawyers are here to help you nurture the green shoots of your recovery.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

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| 25

FOOD AND DRINK THE HAIRY DIETERS EAT FOR LIFE "We've cooked the recipes in our first book over and over, and they've become much loved standards in our kitchens, along with our other favourite dishes. We enjoy them so much that, like you, we wanted, more so now we've come up with some new ones that we hope you're going to like just as much."

ALL-IN-ONE SPICY PORK AND RICE 395 calories per portion Lean, tender pork with spicy rice and lots of veggies - what more could you want? This is a scrumptiously simple family supper with big flavours that fulfils all your needs. Only problem is stopping yourself eating too much of it!

Heat the oil in a large, non-stick deep frying pan or sautÊ pan. Fry the onion wedges over a medium heat for 3 minutes until they’re softened and lightly browned, stirring regularly.

Season the pork with salt and black pepper, then add it to the pan and stir-fry with the onion for 2 minutes until lightly browned. Add the chorizo, garlic, peppers and beans and stir-fry together for 2 minutes more. Sprinkle with the spices and stir in the rice, then pour over the stock and bring to the boil.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring regularly, until the liquid has been absorbed and the rice and pork are both lovely and tender.

Serves 4 Prep: 15 minutes Cooking time: about 30 minutes 2 tsp olive oil 1 medium onion, sliced into thin wedges 500g pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut into 1 cm slices 50g chorizo sausage, skinned and cut into 5mm slices 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1 red and 1 orange pepper, deseeded and sliced 100g green beans, trimmed and cut into short lengths 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 1/2 tsp hot chilli powder 150g easy-cook long-grain rice 750ml chicken stock, made with 1 stock cube flaked sea salt freshly ground black pepper.

26 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

FOOD AND DRINK

THAI BEEF SALAD 239 calories per person (if serving 2); 159 calories per portion (if serving 3) The Kingy and I both love this salad. It’s full of fresh, soaring flavours and plenty of heat, but if you don’t like your food too spicy, leave out the chilli or deseed it before slicing. Make sure you wash your hands really well after handling the chilli! You can make this with chicken or fish too.

Trim off any visible fat from the steak and season it with salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Heat the oil in a small non- stick frying pan and fry the steak over a high heat for 11/2 minutes on each side until nicely browned. Leave it to rest on a board while you prepare the veg.

Use a vegetable peeler to peel the carrots into thin ribbons, turning regularly. Cut the cucumber in half lengthways and scoop out the seeds with a teaspoon, then cut the cucumber into slices of about 5mm. Finely slice the shallot. Trim the pepper at both ends and cut it into thin strips. Put all the vegetables in a bowl, then strip the leaves off the herbs, tearing any large leaves in half, and scatter them on top.

To make the dressing, put all the ingredients in a small blow and whisk until well combined. Cut the steak into slices about 4mm thick and add them to the salad. Pour the dressing over the salad, toss lightly and serve.

Serves 2-3 Prep: 20 minutes Cooking time: 3 minutes 1 lean sirloin or rump steak (1.5cm thick) 1 tsp sunflower oil 2 medium carrots, peeled

1/2 small cucumber

1 long shallot or 2 small shallots, trimmed 1 small red pepper, deseeded 25g bunch of fresh coriander 25g bunch of fresh mint flaked sea salt freshly ground black pepper

Dressing 1 tbsp nam pla (Thai fish sauce) 1 tbsp light brown soft sugar 1 tbsp fresh lime juice 1 red or green bird’s eye chilli, trimmed and very finely sliced.

FOR MORE ARTICLES ON HEALTHY EATING VISIT WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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| 27

FOOD AND DRINK

A BIG SOUP 157 calories per portion A big soup to make you smaller, this is a tasty wholesome lunch on a cold day.

Add a tablespoon of half-fat crème fraiche and a sprinkling of paprika for a guilt-free garnish that adds only 25 calories more per portion.

Heat the oil in a large non-stick saucepan or a big flameporof casserole dish.

Add the onion and garlic and fry gently for 5 minutes until softened but not coloured, stirring often. While the onion is frying, peel the carrots and slice them into rough 1.5cm chunks. Trim the green beans and cut them into pieces about 3cm long.

Add the chorizo, paprika and carrots to the pan with the sliced onion and cook over a low heat for 2 minutes, stirring until the chorizo begins to release its fat. Season with salt and lots of black pepper. Tip the tomatoes into the same pan, add the stock and sugar, then turn the heat up to medium.

Bring the liquid to the boil. Reduce the heat slightly and leave the soup to simmer for 12 minutes. Add the canned and fresh beans and the kale and bring it back to a gentle simmer. Cook for 10 minutes until all the vegetables are just tender, adding a little extra water if the soup is looking too thick. Season the soup with salt and black pepper and serve in deep bowls.

Serves 6 Prep: 15 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes 1 tbsp sunflower oil 1 medium onion, finely sliced 3 garlic cloves, finely sliced 3 medium carrots 150g green beans 75g chorizo sausage, skinned and cut into 1cm slices 1 tsp hot smoked paprika 1/2 tsp flaked sea salt, plus extra to season 400g can of chopped tomatoes 1.4 litres chicken stock, fresh or made with 1 stock cube 1 tsp caster sugar 400g can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained 150g curly kale, thickly shredded freshly ground black pepper.

28 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

FIVE-MINUTE PIZZA 250 calories per pizza Our super-quick pizza is based on a tortilla wrap instead of pizza dough, which makes it lower in calories and fast to prepare - a pizz-a genius! We like to add some pitted olives to our pizza before grilling but don't forget that every 15 grams of olives ups the calorie count by 15.

Preheat the grill to its hottest setting. Place the tortilla on a baking sheet and spread with the passata, leaving a 2cm gap around the edge.

Tear the ham into strips and arrange them on top of the tortilla. Sprinkle with the oregano and then the grated Cheddar. Season with black pepper.

Toss the rocket or salad leaves with olive oil and a dribble of balsamic vinegar if you like. Put to one side.

Place the pizza under the grill and cook for about 11/2 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the edges of the pizza are beginning to brown. Watch carefully so it doesn't burn! Slide the pizza on to a board or a warmed plate, top with the salad and serve immediately.

Makes 1 pizza (serves 1) Prep: 31/2 minutes Cooking time: 11/2 minutes 1 large flour tortilla wrap 3 tbsp passata with basil 20g wafer-thin ham (a couple of slices) 2 good pinches of dried oregano 20g half-fat Cheddar cheese, finely grated small handful of rocket or baby salad leaves 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil 1/2 tsp good balsamic vinegar (optional) olives in brine (optional) freshly ground black pepper.

FITNESS

THAT WORKS for you

Get fit and meet new people at our 50+ fitness classes

O e e f N j

g n i oin

ible hip x e fl bers m s me term

T: 0161 428 0404 vurmanchestercheadle

@vurcheadle

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What’s Phoenix DanceTheatre | 22 April

APRIL Phoenix DanceTheatre

Mixed Programme 2015 Wednesday 22 April 7.30pm Tickets: £13-£16

Jamie Allan: iMagician

The Evolution of Magic Thursday 23 April 7.30pm Tickets: £15-£18

The Simon & Garfunkel Story Friday 24 April 7.30pm Tickets: £17.50-£19.50

Ash Dykes

Breaking Mongolia: The Lonely Snow Leopard Friday 24 April 7.30pm Tickets: £13

The Searchers

Sunday 26 April 7.30pm Tickets: £17-£20

Bella Hardy 19-23 May 2015 Sell A Door Theatre Company presents...

The History Boys

By Alan Bennett | Directed by Kate Saxon | Designed by Libby Watson Since it first opened in 2004, Alan Bennett’s comedy masterpiece has gone on to become one of the nation’s favourite plays. Set in the 1980's, The History Boys is the story of a group of bright, funny and unruly sixth-formers in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university.

Bursting with witty one-liners and thought provoking questions, a vibrant ensemble cast bring Bennett’s Oxbridge hopefuls brilliantly to life. This brand new production of The History Boys fizzes with infectious energy and humour. Down to earth, relatable and incredibly funny this is a classic entertaining night at the theatre.

‘Blissfully funny… In short, a superb, life-enhancing play’ – **** Guardian

www.historyboysuk.com | @HistoryBoysTour Tickets for The History Boys start at £16 and discounts are available, including group and student rates. To book, call our Box Office on 0845 127 2190 or visit our website.

With the Dawn Tour 2015 Sunday 26 April 7.30pm Tickets: £16.50 Talking Scarlet presents

The End of the Affair

Tuesday 28 & Wednesday 29 April 7.30pm, matinee Wednesday 2.30pm Tickets: £16-£19

FaultyTowersThe Dining Experience

Wednesday 29 April to Sunday 3 May Wednesday to Friday 7.30pm Saturday & Sunday: 1pm & 7.30pm Tickets: £36-£39.50

MAY Buxton Folk in May

FRIGG

Friday 1 May 7.30pm Tickets: £20 Buxton Folk in May

Oysterband and JuneTabor Saturday 2 May 7.30pm Tickets: £23.50-£29

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk To book call the Box Office on 0845 127 2190 or 01298 72190 30 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 30

On...

Buxton Folk in May | 1-28 May

EnglishTouring Opera | 14-16 May

Calamity Jane |26-30 May

Buxton Folk in May

Sell A Door Theatre Company presents

Elite Productions presents

Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 May Tickets: FREE to main show ticket holders

Tuesday 19 to Saturday 23 May 7.30pm Matinees: Wednesday & Saturday 2.30pm Tickets: £16-£23

Tueday 9 to Saturday 12 June 8pm Matinee: Thursday 2.30pm) Tickets: TBC

The Big Session in Buxton

The Ken Dodd Happiness Show Sunday 3 May Tickets: £22

Voca People

Wednesday 6 May 7.30pm Tickets: £24.50

Stewart Lee

The History Boys

Buxton Folk in May

Merrymouth

Friday 22 May 7.30pm Tickets: £13.50

Andy Parsons

Saturday 23 May 7.30pm Tickets: £16

Friday 8 May 8pm Tickets: £22

European Arts Company presents

Buxton Folk in May

Sunday 24 May 7.30pm Tickets: £12.50-£15

Altan

Saturday 9 May 7.30pm Tickets: £21.50

Doc Brown

Saturday 9 May 7.30pm Tickets: £15

The Picture Of Dorian Gray

SimonYates – My Mountain Life Wednesday 27 May 7.30pm Tickets: £14

Calamity Jane

Sunday 10 May 7.30pm Tickets: £22.50-£24.50

Starring Jodie Prenger Tuesday 26 to Saturday 30 May 7.30pm Matinees: Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday 2.30pm Tickets: £16-£38

Buxton Folk in May

Alan Burke and Emma SweeneyTrio Double Bill

The Illegal Eagles

Celtic Fiddle Festival

Sunday 10 May 7.30pm Tickets: £17.50

Jack Jones

Tuesday 12 May 7.30pm Tickets: £30.50

The Carpenters Story

Sunday 17 May 7.30pm Tickets: £23 English Touring Opera presents

La Bohème

Thursday 14 & Saturday 16 May 7.30pm Tickets: £18-£34 English Touring Opera presents

The Wild Man of the West Indies Friday 15 May 7.30pm Tickets: £18-£34

Thursday 28 May 7.30pm Tickets: £13

The Dietrich Letters

Friday 29 May 7.30pm Tickets: £19.50

JUNE NT Live presents

Man and Superman

The Last FiveYears

Warsaw Village Band

Saturday 13 June 7.30pm Tickets: £17.50

Pierre Bensusan

Saturday 13 June 7.30pm Tickets: £15

Paul Merton's Impro Chums Sunday 14 June 8pm Tickets: £22

The Woman in Black

Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 June 7.30pm Matinee: Wednesday & Saturday 2.30pm Tickets: £21-£24 The Performance Academy presents

DancingThrough Life

Sunday 21 June 6.30pm Tickets: £8.50-£13.50 Organised Chaos Productions presents

Lightspeed

Thursday 25 June 7.30pm Tickets: £10

Kinder Choir Summer Concert Saturday 27 June 7.30pm Tickets: £14.50-£18

Jo Caulfield – Uninformed Opinions Saturday 27 June 7.30pm Tickets: £16

JULY

Monday 1 June 7pm Tickets: £15 (£10 Under 26s)

Young Company present

The HundredYears’War

Thursday 2 to Saturday 4 July 7pm Matinee: Saturday 3pm Tickets: £10 & £12

The Somme to Afghanistan Wednesday 3 June 7.30pm Tickets: £12-£14

Michael Chapman and Bridget St John Saturday 6 June 7.30pm Tickets: £14

Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies

Buxton Festival

Friday 10 - Sunday 12 July Visit www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk for more details.

Or book online at www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 31 www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

31

+ 50PLUS

FREE

EVENT Saturday

TO VI

SIT

27th JUNE 2015 10am - 3.30pm

50+ North West is one of the largest exhibitions for the over 50`s in the UK and is an ideal platform for you to meet and interact with this important sector of the population. We offer exhibitors a truly cost-effective means of doing business with, collecting contacts in, and reaching out to this large and growing group. If your organisation has customers who are 50+, then you need to be at 50+ North West!

WHY EXHIBIT? • The Over 50`s control 80% of the UK`s wealth • No other event gives such targeted access to this prosperous sector • Largely a recession proof market • Exhibitors play a major part in the Event offering visitors a huge

range of products, services and information

Some of the companies already booked to exhibit include: Haydock Park Racecourse Age UK SKILS. Wigan Harrison Holidays WLCT (Wigan Council) Argus Fire & Security 50 Plus Magazine

We will be making this a family day out to remember, it is free for visitors to come, so I hope you will be a part of it.

Castlefield Print

DON`T MISS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY, BOOK YOUR STAND TODAY.

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Costco, Haydock

006 5822

email: enquiries@kamaevents.co.uk www.50plusnorthwest.co.uk

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Activities planned include: Sponsored by l Fashion Shows l Face Painting l Beauticians Sponsored by Haydock Racecourse, Newton-le-willows, l Fun Speed Dating Seminars Merseyside, WA12l0HQ and so much more.

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✚ FUN SPEED DATING ✚ FASHION SHOW YOUR PLACE ✚ FACEBOOK PAINTING ✚ BEAUTICIAN A Family Day Out Full name........................................................................ Email........................................ ...............................

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Kama Events, 685 Ormskirk Road, Pemberton, Wigan, WN5 8AQ

OUT & ABOUT ideas to take away with them to try at home. What’s more, fans of Gok Wan and Paul Hollywood will get the opportunity to have books signed by the chefs at set times during the weekend.

Monday 4th May is all about the children, with the free Kids Cookery Zone hosting food-themed activities, giant games and Cbeebies stars Mr Bloom and ‘I can Cook’ presenter Katy Ashworth will be performing live and meeting and greeting fans.

Lowry Outlet’s Third Annual Food Festival The Food Festival at Lowry Outlet, MediaCityUK is back this May with a star-studded line up and extensive programme of entertainment. Taking place from 2nd-4th May, the Food Festival 2015 will deliver the perfect weekend to wannabe chefs, food lovers and families alike.

Household favourite, Gok Wan will make his debut appearance at the Lowry Outlet Food Festival on Saturday 2nd May, and visitors are invited to watch live demonstrations of Gok cooking his favourite healthy Chinese dishes in The Cookery Theatre.

On Sunday 3rd May, Celebrity chef Paul Hollywood will host a series of hands-on cookery demonstrations also in The Cookery Theatre. Visitors can pick up insider tips and recipe

During the three days, the Plaza will be transformed into foodie heaven and will become home to 120 tempting food and drink producers selling everything from artisan cheese to handmade jewellery to entice visitors, with cookery masterclasses and street food vendors boasting the finest regional food and drink, as well as award-winning national and global cuisine, cookware, crafts and accessories. The Lowry Outlet Food Festival 2015 has something for everyone and offers exclusive products that cannot be found on the high street.

Visitors can enjoy family-friendly live-music whilst strolling around the markets, eating, drinking and enjoying the atmosphere. What’s more, The Bus Stop, an authentic 1967 Routemaster bus which has been converted into a double decker bar, will be the perfect watering hole as families relax on the lawn seating.

The Lowry Outlet Food Festival 2015 is the perfect place for foodies, for families to enjoy day out, or for those looking to grab a bargain, with stores in the centre offering savings of up to 70% off RRP. There is a huge selection of fashion, gifts and homeware plus an on-site multi-screen Vue Cinema, a food court seating 400, and seven Plaza restaurants!

To find out more visit www.lowryoutlet.co.uk

Vintage Retro and Artisan Extravaganza 25th April 2015

Nantwich Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5DG

Twelve Angry Men 20-25th April 2015

Venue Cymru, The Promenade, Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, LL30 1BB BILL KENWRIGHT PRESENTS Twelve Angry Men Written by Reginald Rose Directed by Christopher Haydon Tom Conti is one of the most respected and celebrated actors of his generation.

Unforgettable as the leading man in Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence and Shirley Valentine, he has also appeared as myriad characters on screen and stage. He was recently voted Most Popular Actor in the West End alongside Dame Judi Dench.

For more details call 01492 872000.

34 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Keep The Home Fires Burning 24 Feb-25th Nov 2015

Stockport Story Museum, 30 Market Place, Stockport SK1 1ES A free exhibition exploring the impact of World War 1 on Stockport and the remarkable stories of courage, bravery and sacrifice.

Every family in Stockport was touched by the war in some way. Diaries, letters and personal objects, collected specially for this exhibition and displayed for the first time, reveal remarkable stories of courage, bravery and sacrifice.

Enjoy a family fun day out in Nantwich where you can help revive the 40's and 50's with live music, a pop up vintage tea room, free games corner, coconut shy, tin alley and up to 50 stalls of vintage/ retro clothing & accessories, vintage/retro homeware's and artisan & handmade gifts.

The extravaganza will be held at Nantwich Civic Hall CW5 5DG on Saturday the 25th of April from 10am 4pm.

The pop up vintage tea room will be popping up and serving lunch, hot and cold drinks, afternoon tea and cakes by vintage tea ladies on vintage china.

There will be plenty for children to enjoy with a free games corner as well as a traditional fayre side games including the coconut shy and tin alley.

OUT & ABOUT

Scam Watch

RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2015 22nd – 26th July 2015 From 22 to 26 July the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Flower Show Tatton Park will return to Cheshire’s spectacular 1,000-acre deer park. Innovative and inspiring gardens will combine with edible exhibits, floral displays, and a variety of shopping opportunities to ensure the perfect summer day out.

Three zoned areas will unite to form the show this year, Grow, Inspire and Feast, highlights of which will include: In Grow, the ever popular Back to Back Gardens will make a long-awaited return with clever designs ideal for small spaces.

Alongside these will be the brand new Blooming Beds, featuring beautiful displays based on the adventures of plant hunters, as well as the much-loved RHS National Flower Bed Competition, bursting with colour and fun. Grow also encourages gardeners of all levels to enjoy the horticultural haven of the Plant Village and the RHS Floral Marquee, which will once again include the top growers and finest plants in the country.

Inspire acts as a fitting platform for the RHS Young Designer of the Year 2015, in which three young designers will be building their first Show Garden. Here, too, will be a variety of high-quality floristry, gardening and talks in the Floral Design Studio. The RHS Hub also features the much-loved Cheshire Gardens of Distinction, while the World Skills Landscaping Competition demonstrates the art of landscaping at its roots.

The Inspire zone will also debut the Year of Light Garden, where the International Year of Light will be celebrated with an assortment of conceptual designs.

Taste buds at the ready: Feast is sure to engage the senses with live demonstrations and tips from some familiar faces in the Feast Theatre, along with creations in the Edible School Gardens and Great British Allotments, both of which present home gardening at its best. The Summer Fruit and Vegetable Pavilion and ‘Have a Go’ Allotment Plot will encourage visitors to get in on the action, while a new attraction Garden Hideaways will feature gorgeous custom-made sheds in which to relax and unwind.

On top of all this, the Carnival spirit will make a welcome return, bringing with it a Flowery Ferris Wheel, Colourful Carousel and vibrant Great Garden Carnival Parade. The everpopular Ladies Day will also be hosted at the show on Friday 24 July, offering a range of rousing talks from inspiring women in horticulture and a botanically influenced fashion show.

The RHS Flower Show Tatton Park will run from 22 to 26 July – for further information on the show, please visit: www.rhs.org.uk/tatton

What’s your favourite prank to play? Whether it’s with unsuspecting friends or the grand-kids, we’ve probably all pulled – and been on the receiving end of – a trick or two in our time. But what about those tricks that aren’t quite as innocent – the ones that are designed to part you with your cash. Well, you’ll be glad we “made you look” as we go through some of the more common pranks you should be on the look-out for.

Shoulder surfers: one of the most common ways for fraudsters to acquire your PIN is not through sophisticated techniques of card cloning, but simply by watching over your shoulder as you enter it. Always be wary of people standing behind you at cash points and when entering your PIN in a shop.

Phishing: have you won a lottery you didn’t enter? Had a

request from “your bank” to confirm your details? These are all phishing scams and you will end up losing money. Look out for the email originating from an unusual address, or failing to address you by name. Some can be more convincing and even look like they have been sent to you by friends. If in doubt, don’t give your details out.

Hang-up, no you hang-up: imagine it – you receive a call from

your bank telling you your account had been compromised and you need to act fast to save your cash! You’d do exactly as you were told right? But stop, this is a scam. Your bank would take its own steps to prevent fraud on your account, it would never require you to give out your full account number, password, PIN or hand over your card to a courier – ever. Even if you’re convinced you’re on the phone to your bank – never give out this information.

Payment protection insurance (PPI) refunds: you receive a text or call from someone claiming to be your bank, the Ministry of Justice, or a PPI company telling you that you’re owed money from mis-sold PPI. But, you must pay an administration fee before the refund can be processed. Don’t give away any money! If you have a PPI complaint, you can come to the ombudsman for free and save yourself giving your cash to claims managers unnecessarily.

Online shopping scams: many of us are beating the queues

by shopping online these days – and the good news is that the majority of transactions are completed with no problem. But always be wary of a seller (or buyer) who asks you to complete transactions outside of the official payment channels like PayPal – as you may find you’re not protected if the item you’re buying, or the money for the goods you’ve sold, doesn’t show up.

We hope these tips help you get ahead of the game. But if you’ve lost out to a fraudster, don’t panic. Tell your bank what’s gone wrong but if you’re still not able to get things sorted out, the ombudsman may be able to help on 0300 123 9 123 or www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.

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| 35

HEALTH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Choice of Dentures There are three main quality standards in denture materials: Denture Base Acrylics: standard quality, high impact much stronger non brittle and the latest thermoplastic.

Denture Teeth: 2-layer acrylic very basic and cheap, 3-layer acrylic re-enforced much harder, 4-layer composite extra hard and natural looking.

However, good materials on their own will not make good dentures. A skilful and experienced clinician and technician are required. The best results are achieved when the whole job is done by the same person.

How Long Should Dentures Last?

The question we should ask is, how long will my dentures be functional for? Dentures can last twenty or more years, but will lose their function (chewing ability, proper fit etc.) probably after two years. This will depend on many factors:

1. Quality of dentures.

2. Age of Patient.

3. General health of patient.

4. Any drastic change in weight.

Dentures Need Regular Servicing

Dentures with worn down teeth

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

Teeth can be replaced with a new set.

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

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

Have your dentures inspected by a dentist or denturist at least every two years, or more frequently if necessary.

Your Dentures need Attention 1.

2.

3.

4.

When they become loose.

When teeth or denture base discolours.

When tooth surfaces become flat.

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

5. When you develop deep lines around your mouth.

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

7. When you stop smiling and feel embarrassed.

Loose Dentures Can be re-lined by adding a thin layer of the new acrylic to fit the surface of the dentures, making them fit better (takes one or two days).

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

Should I have a spare set of Dentures made?

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

Where do I go to have a good set of Dentures made?

Every dentist can make dentures, but not all of them will specialise in denture making.

Denturists will take the greatest care to make your dentures look natural and fit properly. They can give you and your dentures the time and attention you deserve.

Summary 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Clean your dentures daily with a denture brush and denture cream.

Have your dentures inspected every two years, and relined or ultra-sonically cleaned.

Have a new set made every 5 years if possible.

Keep a spare set for emergencies.

Remember, dentures do not have to hurt and do not need to be uncomfortable.

With a new set of dentures, you should receive a written guarantee, a detailed prescription of the materials used in your dentures, cleaning and servicing instructions, and a cleaning kit.

Dentures so life-like you'd think they were real.

A service that will make you smile!

Offering Denture Perfection l l l l l

Emergency Denture Repairs Free Consultations Friendly Personal Service Open Late Ample Parking

GDC (REG) T.W. ELLWOOD Dip CDT RCS (ENG)

Tel: 0161 406 0400 www.thedenturepeople.com

HILLSIDE DENTURE CENTRE, THE ARCHWAYS private medical & health clinic, 86 stockport road, romiley, stockport SK6 3AA

The King and I

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An extract from Tom Jones’ biography

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The two men became genuine friends. .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tom Jones: The Life by Sean Smith (HarperCollins)

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Tomatoes, Prostate Health and the Mediterranean Diet The Mediterranean diet is often associated with healthy living. Research suggests that the humble tomato is a key constituent of this diet and may play a significant role in human health, especially of the prostate.

The belief that tomatoes have health benefits can be traced back to South American Indians, ideas that were brought to Europe by Columbus in the 15th century. Tomatoes were also thought to be aphrodisiacs, sometimes being referred to as Pommes d’Amour or “love apples”.

The key ingredient of tomatoes is lycopene, one of the world’s most powerful, naturally occurring antioxidants.

Responsible for tomatoes’ distinctive red colour, it is a member of a large family of coloured compounds called “carotenoids” that are found throughout the natural world.

Humans possess no mechanism to make carotenoids, instead we accumulate them from our diet. Some, such as betacarotene, are easily accumulated whereas others are much less easily absorbed.

Our bodies are hardly able to take up lycopene from raw tomatoes and need the fruit to be cooked or processed prior to eating. Alternatively, “bioavailable” lycopene supplements are becoming increasingly popular.

Lycopene is sometimes presented in the National media as a panacea, a miraclefood that cures almost everything. Whilst many claims are exaggerated, there

is a large and credible research base that reports lycopene health benefits, particularly in relation to prostate cancer, heart disease, breast cancer and skin health.

The most extensive research has been conducted in the area of prostate cancer.

Lycopene is known to accumulate in the prostate gland and this has driven scientists to try to investigate its impact on the disease.

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Elder Abuse

by QualitySolicitors Abney Garsden Elder abuse

When we reach our later years we deserve to be treated with kindness, dignity and respect by the people responsible for our health and wellbeing. And whilst most care providers deliver a high level of care, sometimes systems fail and sadly, elderly people can become victims of abuse.

Abuselaw

Peter Garsden is the Principal of QualitySolicitors Abney Garsden in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport. He has been working for victims of abuse since he set up the abuse department over 20 years ago. Abuselaw, a website dedicated to abuse, was developed to help abuse victims and their families seek legal remedies.

The dedicated abuse solicitors at QualitySolicitors Abney Garsden are experienced in dealing with many different cases - from physical or sexual abuse to psychological abuse, financial abuse or neglect. The abuse may have taken place in a nursing home but could have occurred in an individual’s own home, care home, or hospital. However and wherever an elderly person has suffered, our job is to take the necessary legal steps to ensure that elder abuse doesn’t remain hidden.

Compensation

In a recent case Peter Garsden acted on behalf of 93 year old Mr Bennett, a former distinguished veteran of World War II. He was the victim of theft by three separate carers employed by a company to provide care in his home. All three carers stole money off him, they were caught on CCTV by his son and prosecuted successfully by the Police. Although it was difficult to calculate exactly how much cash and belongings went missing best calculations estimated it to be least £6,500. By the time the case came to be settled (just before Mr. Bennett’s death at the age of 96) the effect of the thefts had become quite severe in that it ruined Mr Bennett’s confidence, and affected

his health. After much prevarication over various issues his solicitor, Peter Garsden, was able to arrive at a settlement of £10,000, some of which was put towards one final holiday on the South coast.

When we reach our later years we deserve to be treated with kindness, dignity and respect by the people responsible for our health and wellbeing.

Helping you seek justice

Finding out that a relative’s standard of care has dropped below acceptable levels can be shocking and upsetting. If you believe an elderly relative has suffered abuse from those meant to be caring for them, or if you, yourself, have experienced this type of abuse, QS Abney Garsden are here to help seek the justice you, or your relative, deserve.

ELDER ABUSE

We provide the very highest levels of advice and support but also understand that talking about the abuse you or your relative has suffered can be extremely stressful and upsetting. That’s why we take the time to listen to your story and will treat you with compassion and empathy at all times.

Helping abuse victims claim their legal rights for over 20 years.

If you or a member of your family has been the victim of neglect or abuse at the hands of those in whom you entrusted their care we can help.

Our dedicated team of specialist, legal experts have a proven track record in handling elder abuse claims and can help if you or a member of your family have been the victim of:

Contact

If you would like to discuss a case of elder abuse you can talk to us in complete confidence. From making an initial complaint to seeking compensation, we are here to handle every aspect of your case.

We will begin by asking some simple questions so that we can assess your case and plan the next steps.

• Sexual abuse • Physical abuse • Domestic violence • Psychological abuse • Financial abuse • Neglect Speak to one of our specialist male or female solicitors in complete confidence.

For a confidential chat with an elder abuse solicitor, contact QS Abney Garsden today on their dedicated phone line 0845 604 7075 or email us at abuse@abneys. co.uk. A specialised solicitor will listen to what you say, talk you through the process and answer any questions you may have.

QualitySolicitors Abney Garsden Changing the way you see lawyers.

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There's no charge for this initial chat so if you'd like to talk about your experiences, or those of a loved one, please give us a call. You can also visit our dedicated abuse site at www.abuselaw.co.uk.

There are a range of statutory organisations involved in providing various levels of protection to older people, such as Action on Elder Abuse and Age UK.

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Bankfield House Care Home

Helping you enjoy life

Bankfield House aims to provide residents with a secure, relaxed and homely environment in which their care, well being and comfort is of prime importance.

Our highly trained staff are dedicated carers who value the concept of person centred care.

• Up to 30 residents, 24 single and 3 Twin Rooms • 3 Lounges / 2 Dining Rooms / Large Conservatory • Permanent / Short Term / Respite Stay • Day Care Service • Home Made Cooked Food • Social Activities on a Daily Basis • Beautifully Appointed Formal Gardens

CORE VALUES OF CARE

Privacy Dignity Rights Independence Choice Fulfillment Security Respect Equality 46 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

• Visiting Practicioners • Regular Outings • Weekly Hairdressing • CCTV/ 24hr Security

OUR HOME IS YOUR HOME

PHILOSOPHY OF CARE

Bankfield House is an independent, privately owned Care Home situated in a quiet corner of Woodley in the tranquility of its own attractive landscaped gardens consisting of ponds, bar-be-cue and pergolas.

We aim to provide Residents with a secure, relaxed and homely environment in which their care, well being and comfort is of prime importance.

The Home accommodates 30 Residents requiring High Dependency and Standard Residential Care in 24 single and 3 twin rooms (8 shower en-suite facilities and 7 ensuite toilet, 2 bathrooms and 1 shower room) situated on the ground and first floor, serviced by a passenger lift. Our ethos is to assist our Residents in continuing to live their lives as independently as their specific needs determine by providing holistic care and support conducive to those needs and meeting the needs of those Residents whose conditions have had an impact on the ageing process.

The Home offers dedicated care for Permanent/Short term/Respite stay, Day Care (tailored to your needs) providing each individual Resident with security, dignity and peace of mind in a homely, comfortable and happy family environment.

There are three lounges, a large conservatory and two dining rooms. We operate a NO SMOKING policy within the Home.

We encourage personal choice, with stimulation and freedom to live ones life as far as the individual’s physical ability and/or mental capacity allows.

Carers will strive to preserve and maintain the dignity, individuality and privacy of all our Residents within a warm, caring and happy atmosphere, and in doing so will be sensitive to each Residents’ ever changing needs.

This will be achieved through programmes of activities designed to encourage mental stimulation, self-esteem, and social interaction with other Residents and with recognition of the following core values of care, which are fundamental to the philosophy of our home.

All care staff within the home appropriately qualified to deliver the highest standards of care. A continuous staff training programme is implemented to ensure that these high standards are maintained in line with the latest initiatives and developments in care practices as may be laid down in appropriate legislation, and registration authority guidelines.

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Email: admin@bankfieldcare.co.uk Bankfield House Care Home, Bankfield Road, Woodley, Stockport SK6 1RQ

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