Stockport & Trafford 47

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W W W. 5 0 P L U S M A G A Z I N E . C O . U K MARCH - MAY 2016

STOCKPORT & TRAFFORD EDITION 47

James Martin THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

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CONTENTS

8 WEEKS TO WELLNESS More and more people are suffering with high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

INSIDE...

6-7

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8-9

18-19

14-15

33-35

Along with this, the amount of medication being prescribed is on the rise to control these issues and also for pain management. Did you know that by changing your diet and lifestyle, having chiropractic care and adopting new behaviours, weight and blood pressure may be reduced, and type 2 diabetes may be better controlled and pain levels reduced? At the Chiropractic Wellness Centre, we have a new program (8 Weeks to Wellness) which tackles these issues with the aim of improving health and function, losing weight, and then maintaining these changes. Along with chiropractic treatments and massages, we offer a blood screen (to show deficiencies and fat levels in the blood), a pre and post 'wellness score' (to monitor progress), dietary advice, personal trainer sessions and lifestyle advice to achieve these goals.

Give the clinic a call today for more information on the 8 Weeks to Wellness program and kick start your health today.

“I'm in pain”

4

TWITTERING ON With Graham Smith.

6-7

ROBINSONS HOLIDAYS Affordable peace of mind.

8-9

AMBLE RATHER THAN RAMBLE

14-15

JAMES MARTIN Plates, Mates & Automobiles The Tour!

18-19

CHANGING THE MOOD OF YOUR HOME

25-27

SPRING IS IN THE AIR Sprucing up your outdoor areas.

33-35

SWEET TREATS Desserts to delight.

CAN CHIROPRACTIC HELP ME?

OFFER PRICE

£39 Expirydate date30th 30th April June 2013 Expiry 2016.

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 MARPLE CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC

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

6th Floor | 120 Bark Street | Bolton | BL1 2AX T: (01204) 860 194 | F: (01204) 860 213

STOCKPORT CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC

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

e: admin@mcgrathmedia.co.uk

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Twittering On with Graham Smith Love a duck A bow-tie wearing duck has been injured in a drunken pub brawl with a local dog in Chulmleigh, Devon.

Hayman has cared for Star ever since he was a chick, carrying him around in his pocket. Once the duckling grew up, he developed a taste for real ale and started following his owner to the pub.

The booze-loving bird, affectionately named Star, was enjoying a pint in The Old Courthouse Inn with his handler, Barrie Hayman, when Hayman’s canine Meggie sparked a bar brawl.

“He just won’t leave me and so we go everywhere together,” Hayman said. “I’ve not trained him to follow me. He just seems to like it and he is one fantastic duck.

Star was left with injuries to his beak after the fight.

“He loves to come to the pub, where everyone loves him. He is such a personality and attracts so much attention.”

“Star pushed his luck too far and Meggie snapped - splitting Star’s bottom beak right down the middle,” Hayman, 69, told the Cheddar Valley Gazette.

“He gave her a stare, then promptly stood on her back. It was not pretty and not nice. We were so scared we would lose Star.

“He had to be rushed to the vets and go under anaesthetic, which is always risky and could go either way with ducks and other small animals.

“Thankfully our Star is a tough cookie and it looks like he came out okay.”

Chicken feed An Australian Thai restaurant has trained a live chicken to run its Twitter account.

Apparently the chicken pecks out the messages on the keyboard with its beak.

Woe betide it if anything untoward appears there or I see a whole new meaning to chicken fried twice!

Mighty pens!

A Zimbabwean pastor has reportedly convinced his congregates his holy pens

Graham Smith

can make students pass their exams and the more you pay for one, the better grades you’ll get.

Prophet Sham Hungwe of House of Grace International Church in Harare is selling the pens, which cost from $1 up to $20.

According to News24Zim, the prophet told his congregation those sitting exams only needed faith and one of the special pens to pass.

“They are anointed and I declare passes when your children sit for exams. They are said to work for anyone who is sitting for any test,” he said.

According to Nigerian Watch, one parishioner testified: “My son is not very bright and I think this will help him. With the knowledge he has acquired and this pen from the man of God, I think it is going to work.”

One student said he scored highly in his A-levels last year after using the pen he was given by the prophet.

Note the pastor’s Christian name…. they’re not all locked up are they?

He’s waiting for someone he can look up to.

What are you waiting for?

Been thinking about fostering? Now is the time to do it.

And you really can, with support and training from the UK’s largest independent fostering agency.

0800 023 4561 fosterwithfca.co.uk

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5

Offering Great Value Holidays For Over 90 Years

from only

£129 Sunny Sussex Eastbourne

Located on the south coast within the historic county of Sussex, lies the elegant seaside resort of Eastbourne. Renowned for its top sunshine records and award winning beaches, Eastbourne is understandably a popular holiday destination for all.

With a sprinkling of high street shops, centrally located, a Victorian pier and a rich history boasting a variety of castles, museums and galleries, Eastbourne is sure to cater for your every need.

Imperial Hotel Located just a stone’s throw away from the promenade and band stand, this grand Victorian hotel is full of character and home to a number of spacious, comfortable bedrooms, all accessible via lifts.

Guests are able to unwind in the relaxing lounge area before an evening meal in the Majestic Restaurant, offering hearty, home cooked food.

Hotel facilities l All rooms are en-suite with telephone, television and hairdryer l Free WiFi in Public areas l Premier rooms available* l Complimentary tea and coffee in all rooms l Waiter service l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Table d’hôte menu l Optional a la carte menu available l Live entertainment most evenings l Ballroom/Dance floor l Two lifts serving all floors l Porterage.

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The Garden Isle Isle of Wight

Take a short boat ride across the Solent and discover the Isle of Wight, an island of astounding natural beauty with a variety of attractions to suit all ages.

Located on the south east coast of the island, the traditional seaside resort of Shanklin is home to golden sandy beaches and a quaint collection of shops housed in traditional thatched cottages. It is understandably one of the most popular resorts on the island with plenty to entertain.

Ocean View Hotel Situated in a premier location with an idyllic seaside position, the charming, well-appointed Ocean View Hotel boasts uninterrupted panoramic views across Sandown Bay. The hotel also offers a large sprung dance floor and provides live entertainment most evenings.

Hotel facilities l All rooms are en-suite with telephone, television and hairdryer l Free WiFi in Public areas l Premier and sea views rooms available* l Complimentary tea and coffee in all rooms l Waiter service l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Licensed bar l Table d’hôte menu l Optional a la carte menu available l Live entertainment most evenings l Ballroom/Dance floor l Heated indoor swimming pool l Indoor bowling green, table tennis and snooker room l Lift serving all floors l Porterage.

Please note that on each floor of the hotel, some steps may need to be negotiated.

Delightful Devon Torquay

Located in the heart of the English Riviera, Torquay is renowned for its mild climate, award winning sandy beaches and secluded coves and has been a popular holiday destination since the early 19th century.

With its distinctive European atmosphere, sophisticated environment and beautifully varied scenery, Torquay remains a popular holiday destination.

Abbey Lawn Hotel If you’re looking to unwind in style, this elegant Georgian hotel is the place to stay. Located in the grounds of the former Torre Abbey with stunning views of the bay, the Abbey Lawn hotel offers an exceptional standard of comfort throughout.

The hotel comprises superb facilities, including a heated indoor swimming pool and a conservatory lounge overlooking the bay, where guests can relax and enjoy a drink.

Hotel facilities l All rooms are en-suite with telephone, television and hairdryer l Free WiFi in Public areas l Premier and front facing rooms available* l Complimentary tea and coffee in all rooms l Waiter service l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Licensed bar l Table d’hôte menu l Optional a la carte menu available l Live entertainment most evenings l Ballroom/Dance floor l Heated indoor pool l Lift serving all floors l Porterage.

The Robinsons Difference Local joining points l No single supplements* l High standard of accommodation l Great choice of menus l Executive coaches with extra legroom l Includes excursions l Friendly staff l Own hotels in great locations l Peace of mind security l Payment in instalments * Robinsons own hotels l

9 Day Tours 2016

8 nts dinner, bed & breakfast IMPERIAL OCEAN VIEW 30 Apr 07 May 14 May 21 May 28 May 04 Jun 11 Jun 18 Jun 25 Jun 02 Jul 09 Jul 16 Jul 23 Jul 30 Jul 06 Aug 13 Aug 20 Aug 27 Aug 03 Sept 10 Sept 17 Sept 24 Sept 01 Oct 15 Oct 29 Oct 06 Nov 26 Nov

£395 £409 £419 £429 £429 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £419 £409 £399 £389 £309 £299 £289 £309 £309

£395 £409 £419 £429 £429 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £419 £409 £399 £389 £309 £299 £289 £309 £309

ABBEY LAWN £395 £409 £419 £429 £429 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £419 £409 £399 £389 £309 £299 £289 £309 £309

Only standard rooms available on 9 Day Tours

8 Day Tours 2016

7 nts dinner, bed & breakfast IMPERIAL OCEAN VIEW 30 Apr 01 May 07 May 08 May 14 May 15 May 21 May 22 May 28 May 29 May 04 Jun 05 Jun 11 Jun 12 Jun 18 Jun 19 Jun 25 Jun 26 Jun 02 Jul 03 Jul 09 Jul 10 Jul 16 Jul 17 Jul 23 Jul 24 Jul 30 Jul 31 Jul 06 Aug 07 Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 27 Aug 28 Aug 03 Sept 04 Sept 10 Sept 11 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 24 Sept 25 Sept

£349 £349 £359 £359 £369 £369 £379 £379 £389 £389 £399 £399 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £389 £389 £379 £379 £369 £369 £359 £359

£349 £349 £359 £359 £369 £369 £379 £379 £389 £389 £399 £399 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £389 £389 £379 £379 £369 £369 £359 £359

7 Day Tours 2016

6 nts dinner, bed & breakfast

ABBEY LAWN £349 £349 £359 £359 £369 £369 £379 £379 £389 £389 £399 £399 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £409 £389 £389 £379 £379 £369 £369 £359 £359

Imperial Hotel Supplements per person: Premier Room - £35 Abbey Lawn Hotel Supplements per person: Premier Room - £50 Front Facing Room - £15 Ocean View Hotel Supplements per person: Premier Room - £50 Sea View Room - £15

IMPERIAL OCEAN VIEW 27 Mar 03 Apr 10 Apr 17 Apr 24 Apr 01 May 08 May 15 May 22 May 29 May 05 Jun 12 Jun 19 Jun 26 Jun 03 Jul 10 Jul 17 Jul 24 Jul 31 Jul 07 Aug 14 Aug 21 Aug 28 Aug 04 Sept 11 Sept 18 Sept 25 Sept 09 Oct 23 Oct 06 Nov 20 Nov

£219 £229 £249 £259 £269 £299 £315 £325 £335 £345 £355 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £369 £369 £359 £329 £249 £239 £259 £259

£219 £229 £249 £259 £269 £299 £315 £325 £335 £345 £355 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £369 £369 £359 £329 £249 £239 £259 £259

ABBEY LAWN £219 £229 £249 £259 £269 £299 £315 £325 £335 £345 £355 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £369 £369 £359 £329 £249 £239 £259 £259

Only standard rooms available on 7 Day Tours

We offer you ...

3 4/6/7/8 nights dinner, bed & breakfast 3 2 included excursions 3 Local pick-up points 3 Service of driver courier

Your Groups’ Specialist for coach holidays in the UK and Europe

We can tailor make tours to your specific requirements, if you want more information then contact our groups department on 0800 7851025 or email groups@robinsons-holidays.co.uk

With over 90 years of experience in tailor making holidays, we at Robinsons offer a personal service. Whether you need help with part or all of your groups holidays we can lend a hand in organising, booking and everything in-between.

We are flexible in our approach and can offer destinations found in this brochure or we can tailor make to your specification, whether in the UK or Europe. We offer all of our group’s excellent benefits: • 1 FREE place for every 10 paying passengers • Special interest and activity groups catered for • Complete financial security-BCH Bonded

5 Day Tours 2016

4 nts dinner, bed & breakfast IMPERIAL OCEAN VIEW 29 Feb £139 07 Mar £155 14 Mar £159 21 Mar £165 25 Mar £175 30 Mar £169 04 Apr £175 11 Apr £179 18 Apr £185 25 Apr £189 02 May £199 06 May £205 10 May £209 16 May £215 20 May £219 24 May £225 30 May £229 03 Jun £239 07 Jun £239 13 Jun £239 17 Jun £239 21 Jun £239 27 Jun £239 01 Jul £239 05 Jul £239 11 Jul £239 15 Jul £239 19 Jul £239 25 Jul £239 29 Jul £239 02 Aug £239 08 Aug £239 12 Aug £239 16 Aug £239 22 Aug £239 26 Aug £239 30 Aug £239 05 Sept £239 09 Sept £235 13 Sept £229 19 Sept £225 23 Sept £219 27 Sept £215 01 Oct £209 05 Oct £205 09 Oct £199 15 Oct £195 19 Oct £189 23 Oct £185 29 Oct £179 02 Nov £189 06 Nov £189 12 Nov £185 16 Nov £185 20 Nov £179 26 Nov £179 30 Nov £179 * 05 Dec £169 * 12 Dec £159 † 23 Dec £399  29 Dec £349

£139 £155 £159 £165 £175 £169 £175 £179 £185 £189 £199 £205 £209 £215 £219 £225 £229 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £239 £235 £229 £225 £219 £215 £209 £205 £199 £195 £189 £185 £179 £189 £189 £185 £185 £179 £179 £179 £169 £159 £399 £349

ABBEY LAWN £139 £155 £159 £165 £175 £169 £175 £179 £185 £189 £209 £205 £199 £195 £189 £185 £179 £189 £189 £185 £185 £179 £179 £179 £169 £159 £399 £349

Imperial Hotel: Supplements per person: Premier Room £20 Ocean View: Supplements per person: Premier Room £30 Front Facing Room: £10 Abbey Lawn : Supplements per person: Premier Room £30 Front Facing Room: £10 Turkey & Tinsel; * Unlimited single rooms; † Christmas Tour includes 3 resort lunches & 1 mystery excursion -  New Year Tour includes 3 resort lunches & 1 mystery excursion

Robinsons Holidays, Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP

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50 Plus Travel

sponsored by

Because of Inspector Montalbano.

The stories by Andrea Camilleri were adapted for television in Italy, found their way to BBC Four and recently enjoyed considerable popularity in that channel’s Saturday evening “Subtitle Slot”. So much so that a holiday dedicated to the Sicilian hero appears in the latest Adagio brochure.

I have a soft spot for Adagio as I was in at the birth of the idea. It comes to all of us as the years take their toll - the stiffening of the joints, the thickening of the waist and the realisation that, though the spirit is more than willing to tackle the roughest of rambling trails, the flesh is weaker.

Let’s Amble rather than Ramble

By John Carter

John Carter, patron of Silver Travel Advisor and long-time presenter of TV’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ and “The Holiday Programme” and seasoned globetrotter now enjoys a little ambling rather than rambling to various tantalising destinations.

We encountered no British holidaymakers when, in 1972, we went to Aghios Nikolaos on the north coast of Crete. Two years later, the resort was packed with them.

A BBC television drama “The Lotus Eaters”, had been filmed there, and fans were eager to follow the footsteps of their heroes and heroines. The harbour cafes sported handwritten notices - in that style of bad English the Greeks do so well - informing us that this or that place was the very establishment where the stars had eaten (“Shrims in Clay Pot” being a favoured dish).

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Why recall that ancient memory?

The ideal solution is to take holidays with folk with whom we can share our memories, knowing that those memories are likely to be mutual. And also knowing that the holidays will enable us to take a little gentle exercise - if only to prove that we can still do it.

Adagio is a collection of holidays from Ramblers Worldwide aimed at those who nowadays prefer to amble rather than ramble. And “Montalbano’s Sicily” fits the bill as perfectly as the inspector’s sharp suits fit the frame of actor Luca Zingaretti.

TRAVEL of us old enough to remember when it was not “former” will know all too well how limited in scope and style its cuisine used to be. Nowadays, in restaurants throughout Istria, you can discuss with the waiter the merits of the various olive oils on offer before going on to discuss the wine list.

I’m pleased to see that the ancient town of Rovinj features in this holiday. I think it is a gem. It still shows evidence (specifically carvings of the winged lion of St. Mark) of its link with the Venetian empire, but before the Venetians, there was Illyria, the Roman and the Byzantine eras.

France, Portugal and the Azores are also in this latest programme, along with holidays to Estonia and Latvia as well as the island of Jersey. A winning mixture of comfortable hotels, leisurely (and, of course, optional) walking, the pleasant company of like-minded folk, and some first class food and wine. Switzerland is featured, too. One holiday to Zermatt and the Matterhorn features the cable cars and alpine railways of the region, which are used to carry you to fine walking country.

There is much of interest in that somewhat neglected south eastern region of Sicily - the world heritage site of Ragusa, Syracuse, the Baroque town of Noto and the cave systems of the Cava Ispica gorge. Including locations featured in the television programmes adds a little fun to the mix. As does a three-course lunch and wine-tasting at Noto.

be seen, I found myself thinking of the food - mortadella, parma ham, parmesan cheese and the like. I ate and drank very well indeed when I was last in Bologna.

I even did some sightseeing, but not much. The city’s nickname “la grassa” (the fat one) is well earned, and this holiday enables you to visit, in addition, historic locations such as Ravenna and Modena.

As I mentioned earlier, I have a soft spot for Adagio and think it provides an ideal holiday for anyone who has enjoyed more active breaks in the past but who - for all sorts of reasons - prefers to take life at a slightly slower pace. You’ll find yourself with like-minded folk who will, more often than not, share memories of past holidays and destinations with which you are already familiar.

Another destination which recently surprised me by the range and high quality of its cuisine is the Istrian peninsula of Croatia. My far more knowledgeable companion took me to several restaurants and small hotels during the course of a week, where we ate extremely well. I was introduced to the “slow food” movement - which began as a protest against American-style fast food, but which took on a wonderful life of its own.

In this context, I was a little concerned to see they’ve introduced something called Adagio Plus to the 2016 programme - offering “more challenging walking opportunities”. From what I gather, it is a way of combining the occasional morning on the hoof with some afternoon sightseeing - which doesn’t seem to be too taxing. Just as long as they don’t get carried away.

Some of these holidays are, literally, mouthwatering. One is based in Bologna, Italy’s gastronomic capital.

Instead of dwelling on the sights to

But, as I said, the walking has to be regarded as the cherry on the cake with these holidays, aimed as they are at people who have chosen to take holidays, and life, at a slower pace.

It is quite remarkable how well one can now eat in Croatia, and for that matter in other parts of former Yugoslavia. Those

Factbox: Silver Travel Advisor recommends Adagio Holidays. For more information, visit adagio.co.uk or contact info@adagio.co.uk or call 01707 386700

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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.

Some of this research has shown not only a positive association between high lycopene intake and a reduced risk of prostate cancer, but also benefits for those who already have the disease.

Professor Ed Giovannucci from Harvard Medical School has been following the progression of 50,000 men since 1986, investigating the relationship between prostate cancer and lycopene consumption. In his latest 2014 report he notes: ‘Dietary intake of lycopene was associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer, especially lethal prostate cancer’.

A smaller trial at King’s College Hospital, London concluded: ‘Our clinical study lends weight to the probability that dietary supplementation from lycopene slows disease progression in men with prostate cancer.’

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

In all likelihood, several mechanisms are at work.

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

Staying Informed Professor George Truscott and two internationally renowned colleagues formed George & Partners back in 2000. The company provides readable, up-todate, scientifically robust information about lycopene research, particularly that related to prostate cancer, breast cancer, heart disease and skin health. The company also develops food supplements based on the latest research.

To sign up for a free newsletter, please call 08000 234 235 or visit www.lycoplus.co.uk.

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

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George & Partners Limited, Keele University Science Park, Staffordshire ST5 5NL

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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!

On your return date the reverse of the first day happens. Your 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 Steaming Through The Dutch Bulbfields; The Treasures of Tuscany & Florence; Cantabria & The Picos De Europa; Alpine Brass Music Festival and Valkenburg, Maastrict & Aachen Christmas Markets.

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.

Want to know more?

Call us on 01706 648126

for a copy of our 2016 brochure – you’ll wonder why you ever went away in your car!

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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 pre-arranged 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.

Included in every tour... l

Good Standard 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!

A SELECTION OF OUR 2016 COACH TOURS DATE

TOUR

HOTEL

INFO

DAYS

PRICE

7th Mar

Paignton

Palace Hotel

Cosy Break

5

£229

7th Mar

Blackpool

Doric Hotel

Ever popular

5

£159

10th Mar

Bristol

Aztec Hotel

Coast & Country

4

£229

11th Mar

York

Holiday Inn

Winter Warmer

3

£159

14th Mar

Newquay

Esplanade Hotel

All inclusive

5

£299

25th Mar

Thames Valley, Oxford and Windsor

BW Reading Moat House

Easter

4

£259

25th Mar

Surprising Shires of Middle England

Rockingham Forest

Easter

4

£279

25th Mar

Norfolk Coast & Country

BW Brook, Norwich

Easter

4

£279

28th Mar

Torquay

Headland Hotel

Cosy Break

5

£279

4th April

Llandudno

Merrion Hotel

One of our favourites

5

£369

INTERESTED?

Call our reservations office on 01706 648126 and request a copy of our 2016 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 (searchwww.50plusmagazine.co.uk for ellensmithtours)

James Martin

Plates, Mates and Automobiles: The Tour!

JAMES Martin – the chef who has made Saturday morning TV a must for millions of viewers – was about to embark on a 25-venue nationwide tour when we chatted and had made a vow: this would be his first, and last, tour.

“I’ve always said I wouldn’t tour because I’ve always felt I didn’t have the right support team in place, but I have now,” he explains. “I’m not doing another, though – there won’t be a second tour!”

Castle Howard estate where his father was a catering manager. Plainly, this influenced him because at 16 he started formal catering training in college which resulted in him being Student of the Year three years running.

The friendly but very decided Yorkshireman had spoken, and that was that. So his fans – of which there are many up and down the country as pre-ticket sales of 30,000 and sold-out venues happily proved– will just have to accept that.

After catering college, he worked for a variety of top chefs in leading restaurants including for famous names Antony Worrall Thompson and Marco Pierre White.

They have, though, accepted the 44 year-old Martin and how he wanted to structure his career from the first moment he stepped onto our screens in November, 1996.

The pleasant and obviously talented young chef immediately impressed, but insisted on doing things his way. And that’s how it has been ever since.

He toured France, working in chateaux kitchens and gaining top-level experience before coming back to England and kickstarting his own career. He was plainly ambitious and in 1994, just before his 22nd birthday, he opened his own hotel and bistro in Winchester. Since, he has opened other hotels including one in Manchester.

Fortunately – both for James and for us viewers – his cookery skills and onscreen charisma have created exactly the right recipe for enduring success.

From his first TV appearance, James quickly engaged with a public which both appreciated his sociable approach to cookery and also his no-nonsense way with food. Youth and natural charm did the rest and when Saturday Kitchen launched in 2006, he was first choice to front the enjoyable and informative programme.

It would have been hard to forecast the level of success, however, when he was a young lad growing up on the

The formula paid off as it became hugely popular, regularly attracting more than 3.5 million viewers and remains part of

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the staple weekend entertainment diet. James also became a regular on Ready Steady Cook on BBC2 and for a variety of other cookery shows across the channels.

In 2013, James was honoured with The Craft Guild of Chefs Special Award for outstanding contribution to the industry.

In March, 2014, his series Food Map of Britain was voted Best Daytime and Early Peak Programme by the Royal Televison Society, and in 2015 he was named TV Personality of the Year at the Fortnum & Mason Awards.

He also makes regular appearances around the world including the BBC Good Food Show and Good Food and Wine Show South Africa and Gourmet Abu Dhabi to name just a few.

Personally, his favourite meal is a Sunday roast round at his mum’s house – although he did hint that he would be looking for the best region for fish and chips when touring, which is bound to prove controversial.

He’s very proud of Saturday Kitchen’s success over the past 10 years, strives to get the programme balance just right, but “thoroughly enjoys it all.”

As for his career in 2016, as well as working on his house in the New Forest for which he’s now got planning permission, he’s going to be looking at a variety of options “but the main thing is just working hard.”

He has his own range of small electricals with Wahl Cookware, knives and kitchen textiles with Stellar/ Horwoods and serverware with Denby. James has also launched his own range of bread and cake mixes and hampers, was a consultant with P & O Cruises on the restaurants and menus for their Ocean Village cruise ships for many years and is also consultant to Thomas Cook, creating in-flight meals for the airline.

Somehow in between all his achievements and a work schedule that would make a hummingbird dizzy, he has written 15 best-selling and award-winning cookery books as well as his autobiography, Driven.

The title doesn’t only refer to his ambitions but also to his love of cars and speed; he also has a pilot’s licence.

The tour – entitled Plates, Mates and Automobiles – provided a unique challenge for the chef who takes most things in his stride because he wanted to get the formula just right.

“I didn’t just want to have two ovens on stage, give a bit of chat and have questions planted with the audience,” he states. “So we made it more interesting with interactive elements and various surprises.”

So, importantly, what will he eat on this tour? “Good question,” he ruminates. “Probably the usual chef’s diet of takeaways! Actually, several of my mates who have restaurants around the country have already told me to come and see them when I’m touring so I’ll probably get to eat there.”

All of which sounds like a possible theme for a further TV series, I suggest. “Yes,” he laughs. “You might be right.”

What you won’t find James Martin doing work-wise is Celebrity Big Brother or any other reality TV show. True, he did take part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 but you get the impression he just fancied the challenge.

He’s a genuine advocate of the best of British food, but then he says he believes in the best of food wherever it comes from – “whether that means Spanish ham or British produce.

He doesn’t have any special TV ambitions, doesn’t embrace the celebrity lifestyle with red carpet events and insists that “if it all finished tomorrow I’d be happy just cooking.”

And being James Martin, you know that this is exactly what he feels, like it or lump it.

For more information go to www.jamesmartinchef.co.uk

Tickets for James Matin’s tour, ‘Plates, Mates and Automobiles’ are on sale now. Visit Livenation.co.uk’ WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 15

Top Quality Bathrooms FOR OVER 38 YEARS

Dale bathrooms has now been supplying top quality bathrooms for over 38 years, under the same family ownership.

Originally Established in Manchester city centre on Dale St car park in the heart of the city.

We specialize in supply quality problem free bathroom equipment. All our Bathroom products are covered by good quality manufactures guarantees.

We have over 150 bathroom settings on display with a massive choice to suit every budget.

Dale bathroom relocated to Stockfield mill in Chadderton in 2005 due to the major redevelopment of Manchester city centre.

We deal with many top European factories for bathroom furniture and tiles and have our own dedicated bathroom furniture in Spain that produce quality bathroom furniture in a choice of over 50 different colours exclusively for Dale bathrooms.

Dale Bathrooms are one of the largest if not the largest bathroom and tile showroom in the country.

We have large displays of many top brands such as, Crosswater shower equipment and taps, Bauhaus

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bathroom furniture and mirrors, Simpsons shower enclosures and shower tray, Pelipal German bathroom furniture, Phoenix Baths, showers, mirrors, radiators and much more.

Within the showroom we have dedicated areas for wetroom walk in showers with many options and ideas for you to view. We also have a range of bespoke shower trays which can be made to measure so allowing any configuration you may wish to create.

Why not visit our Mirror showroom where we have over 50 illuminated mirrors all of which are connected so that you can get a real feel for the mirror when installed in your bathroom, many of these mirrors are

Over 150 displays Open 7 days Large free car park Knowledgeable staff

Planning service Full installation service available

whirlpool and spa baths. Although we currently are now selling more shower enclosures then baths we still have a good range for you to choose from.

Within our mirror department we also have a large range of bathroom cabinets and shaving mirrors.

not only illuminated but also come with demister pads so that they will not steam up in your bathroom and many also have charging points for shavers/ toothbrush. If you are looking for music in your bathroom we also have mirrors that will connect via Bluetooth to your mobile phone allowing you to play your own choice of music.

Dale bathrooms have realized that over the years people don’t just want basic bathroom they much prefer to have a bathroom solution with plenty of storage space to enable you hide all those spare cleaning products,tooth paste etc out of sight. Storage today is one of the most important things that we get asked for today and we are able to assist with this by providing a massive range of modular freestanding furniture and a large range of Fitted bathroom furniture from major UK manufacturers.

We also have a large dedicated tile showroom with the most up to date wall and floor tiles available from many top European factories, as we import the tiles ourselves we miss the middle man out so we are able to supply tiles at unbelievably competitive prices, if tiles are not for you then we also carry a very large range of wetroom pvc panelling which is ideal for those people who want avoid grout issues and is perfect for just wiping down All of these products are available to view within the showroom.

Within the showroom we have baths of every shape and size from freestanding baths, to double sized baths to

Dale Bathrooms Stockfield Mill, Melbourne St , Chadderton,Oldham Ol9 9EW

Tel. 0161 6333427 www.dalebathrooms.com

HOME

CHANGING THE MOOD OF YOUR HOME

BY A N G E L A K E L LY

CHANGING the mood of your home is a definite way to alter and improve your lifestyle in 2016.

The wonderful thing about this positive decision is that it can cost as much – or as little – as you want it to, involving differences to your home that are radical or merely minor.

“It really all depends on your budget and how much change you want, your circumstances and your surrounding space,” explains interior designer Allyson Houghton from Ideas Interior.

She has noticed that a major trend in improving homes today involves glass and letting in plenty of natural light through glass walls and roofs. “This is a natural improver of your mood and helps bring the outside in,” she adds.

“Conservatories and orangeries are also very popular these days,” says Allyson, ”and you can often finally achieve the lifestyle you dreamed of by having this improvement in light and space.”

“In bathrooms and kitchens you generally want brighter lights, with softer lighting in the lounge and bedrooms,”

Take a look at your existing frontdoor: does it need sprucing up with a lick of paint or do you need a new one? A modern front-door, often with smart glass panels, can make quite a difference to your hallway – “and this area is the gateway to your home as it’s the first thing visitors see so it really needs to give a good impression,” says Allyson.

Try panels on the walls that reflect light. “LED lighting is so far advanced now that you can change the mood whenever you want.”

If you are planning major changes to alter the whole mood and atmosphere of your property and way of living, it may well be worth investing in an extension to provide more rooms or an extra bathroom.

Select your builder carefully, preferably on recommendation, and see for yourself the kind of work he has already carried out. Look at the planning permission or building control approval you might need first by checking on the Government website www.planningportal.gov.uk

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There are many varying styles of both available and, again, choose your supplier carefully. Go online and study the styles that would both complement your own home and will provide the changes you want or visit local showrooms.

Allyson Houghton Ideas Interiors is an established Interior Design Studio based in the heart of Lancashire, and their client geographic stretches from The Highlands to London and further afield in Europe.

Lighting around your home is a major improver of mood and feelings. Allyson advises investing in dimmer switches to change the lighting as your own mood changes, and use good-quality candles around the home. “These not only give out a lovely light but can also scent your home – and the senses need soothing in this way so they are a definite mood-changer.”

Sometimes, just painting your home, improving the garden or patio and adding colourful pots of plants and flowers can change the whole look of your home and lift your mood, too, states Allyson.

If you’re buying new light fittings, while it’s useful to see what is available by going online, it’s always best to go into shops and stores and see light fittings for yourself and the effect they have on an area.

Be careful about choosing wall colours and décor throughout your property. Bold colours like reds and greens can be harsh but if you want a more relaxing ambience, neutral shades and gentler colours like blues and lilacs can soothe and improve how you feel as soon as you step through the door.

Colour is vital in your home. Introducing colour will change a room, and different rooms need different colours which send out different messages, so it’s important to get it right.

If you’ve definitely got a generous budget for changes, investing in a new lounge suite that offers a more comfortable way to relax is worth the effort.

Derek Delaney from Granite Transformations, which specialises in kitchen and bedroom makeovers among a raft of work to dramatically alter properties, emphasises that colour is vital in your home.

“Introducing colour will change a room, and different rooms need different colours which send out different messages,” he states. “So it’s important to get it right.”

If you’ve definitely got a generous budget for changes, investing in a new lounge suite that offers a more comfortable way to relax is worth the effort.

But, Allyson advises that if you have a really good suite or sofa that’s more than 15 years-old but looking the worse for wear these days, consider

having it re-upholstered instead. “Older furniture can be particularly well-made and some good suites are certainly worth keeping – I never advise throwing away one like that,” she says. “Find a good upholsterer to give your suite or sofa a more modern look and you’ll be amazed at the difference this makes. And if you can’t afford re-upholstering, invest in a couple of attractive throws to alter the way they look.”

Changing a room’s colourscheme by getting the help of a recommended painter and decorator – or simply doing it yourself – can bring a main room like a lounge into the 21st century. Use a central colour, adds Allyson, and accentuate this with toning cushions and other soft furnishings and you’ll be surprised at how fresh your home is starting to look.

New curtains and drapes that frame windows beautifully can also open up a room, adding to that lovely new décor.

This new style can be repeated around the home in varying ways. Having a new kitchen is a welcome, major addition to your property and certainly worth the investment if yours is looking jaded and old-fashioned.

“Or adding new unit doors and work surfaces can also revamp a kitchen,” states Allyson. “Smart new flooring, a new sink and taps can really cheer up your kitchen and make it look modern.”

Floor coverings generally can alter the look and mood of your home – and you don’t need to spend a fortune to make rooms smarter and feel so much more comfortable, which improves your quality of living.

A new bathroom might be your dream – and a great place for relaxing. Baths are a real style item today and it’s worth having a look around for just the right shape and style.

The same goes for your bathroom tiling and décor – “but sometimes just having candles lit in your bathroom can make a difference,” insists Allyson.

Your bedroom is definitely a place that needs to reflect a relaxing mood, so does it need a revamp? New units completely change this room, and improve your lifestyle by having a place for everything.

On a simpler level, new bedding, cushions and a new carpet can make this room into a wonderfully restive place – and investing in a new bed is definitely an ongoing mood-changer that gives you the right level of sleep, every night.

• For more information go to: www.ideasinterior.co.uk

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Thinner’s A Winner In Worktops Agglomerate is the fancy-sounding name Granite Transformations applies to its kitchen worktop and bathroom surfaces. It’s beautiful, tough, durable and much thinner than other materials like granite, marble, engineered stone or solid synthetics, but equals or exceeds them in technical performance terms. To prove it, Granite Transformations offers an unrivalled lifetime material warranty. So, with the millionth agglomerate about to be installed worldwide, what makes this distinctive material a winner in the kitchen and bathroom? l Lightweight – agglomerate is at least twothirds lighter than other materials, so needs less reinforcement and can be installed vertically and horizontally. l Slimline – produced and fully-sealed only a quarter of an inch thick, it fits right on top of existing surfaces without adding depth or substance. l Tougher – the slimline profile doesn’t compromise strength and, unlike granite slab, agglomerate survives the dropped bowling ball test without breaking. (Watch the video on www.gt-bolton.co.uk) l Lasting – Granite Transformations’ agglomerate retains its luxurious good looks for so long, it is guaranteed against a lifetime of wear and tear.

our innovative ‘top that fits on top’ is

Easycare – unlike granite, marble and engineered stone, which need regular sealing and maintenance, our agglomerate just requires a wipe over with a damp cloth. l

Filming Channel 5’s Half Built House

much favoured by TV makeover programmes

We’re well connected

...............................................

Resistant – agglomerate is certificated to be highly But perhaps the biggest appeal of Granite resistant to liquids, chemicals, scratches, impact and Like the discreet joins and edging pieces on our fitted work surfaces, we are very well Transformations agglomerate is that it will be burns and is harder than natural materials. connected elsewhere. Our innovative ‘top that fits on top’ is much favoured by TV measured-up, made off-site and installed in just one makeover programmes like DIY SOS, 60 Minute Makeover, You Deserve This House, Half day. What’s more, the expert, factory-trained fitters Built House and Double Your House For Half The Money, because the luxurious finish and l Greener – made using a high percentage of recycled ensure aschedules consistently standard of workmanship our fitters’ ability to comply with tight filming make it perfecthigh for the ‘instant content like post-consumer glass and recovered granite and finalguru, proof that a winner. transformations’ that characterise theseprovide shows. TV property Sarah Beeny is a thinner’s big and quartz, agglomerate is green by design. fan of our product, using it extensively on her Rise Hall renovation project. Whilst over l

in Australia, where Granite Transformations originated, our brand ambassador is

Visit their beautiful studio’s in Bolton Affordable – agglomerate is fitted over existing Australian of the Year, Ita Buttrose, who was actually a highly satisfied customer and is now most happy to endorse Knutsford our product. If, like these shows and celebrities,visit you’re or simply worktops and other surfaces, making it cheaper, easier Ita Buttrose looking for a first class makeover, you can trust our name. and less disruptive to install, with less waste. www.gt-bolton.couk l

“The best kitchen renovation I ever had was with Granite

Versatile – fit it on top of worktops, vanities or wash Transformations. Ten years later and they’re still my stands, on floors, stairways and pool surrounds, as first choice.”

Ita Buttrose splashbacks, shower liners and panels. l

“We‘ve worked with Granite Transformations and I have to say

Beautiful – made with Italian granite, quartz or they’re brilliant. It’s a really great product... it’s very thin and you get that granite look without the cost.” recycled glass, it’s beautiful in black, refined in earthen Sarah Beeny tones, brilliant in white and bold in primary colours. l

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Sarah Beeny

&

BRAND NEW SHOWROOM at High Legh Garden Centre, Knutsford

01925Â 755199 01204 526652

Local Showrooms at:

Knutsford

High Legh Garden Centre, High Legh, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 0QW

Bolton

7 Marsden House, Bolton BL1 2AY

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It’s unlawful to claim more housing benefit than you are entitled to.

If you don’t tell us about any changes, it could lead to prosecution.

Examples of changes within your home could be some of the following: • A change to your income • You have a new job • If you have a baby • You move house

How you can inform your council of any changes: Stockport

Visit: www.stockport.gov.uk/contacts/contactthecouncil/ contact_housingbenefit/ Call: 0161 217 6015

Trafford

Visit: www.trafford.gov.uk/benefit-changes Call: 0161 912 2000

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One stop shop, tiles and flooring available, everything under one roof • Massive choice of traditional or modern • Fabulous showroom with 60 displays open 7 days

See our ns installatio r u o n o site

• Owned by JJO Furniture Manufacturers offering very keen prices and a quick turnaround.

Financially solid.

• Project-managed installation. All aspects covered • Established over 150 years with four experienced designers plus CAD designer for outstanding visual aids.

• 'Buy Now, Pay Later' subject to status

Bacup - 352-358 Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, Bacup. OL13 OLD Tel: 01706 252122 Oswaldtwistle - Oswaldtwistle Mills, Colliers Street, Oswaldtwistle. BB5 3DE Tel: 01254 304068 Ulverston - Kitchen House, Brogden/Market Street, Ulverston. LA12 7AH Tel: 01229 581028 Pendle Village Mill - Hollin Bank, Brierfield, Nelson. Lancashire BB9 5NG Tel: 01282 442424

www.rossendaleinteriors.com

The North West’s Leading Independent Builders Merchant Tel: 0161 337 8555 www.benchmarkbuildingsupplies.co.uk

Porcelain Paving Vitripiazza - Italian Virtified Porcelain Paving Vitripiazza is a new and exclusive range of Italian vitrified porcelain paving. Vitripiazza offers nine different colours across three beautiful ranges, with a wide selection of accessories to create the perfect finishing touches.

‘High quality, long lasting and strong paving’

p The vitrification process that our porcelain undergoes makes it a robust, high quality, long lasting and strong paving option. Not only do the Vitripiazza flagstones offer a varied colour blend that reflects natural stone, but they also provide home owners with the ultimate choice durability, longevity and style as they are: - High durable - Resistant to attack from moss, mold and pesticides - Resistant to salt - Non absorbent (<0.1%) - Front proof - Easy to clean in Bringing the outside in: The Vitripiazza range is available in 20mm thick flagstones, designed for external use. In order to bring the outdoors in and create a flush finish from your garden into your home, we can also offer Vitripiazza 10mm thick floor tiles in single sizes for internal use.

Get your garden ready for Summer!

Get inspired: Branch Addresses: Ashton - Plantation Street, Off Whitelands Rd, Ashton Under Lyne, OL6 6UQ Bolton - Loxham St, Farnworth, Bolton, BL3 2PZ Marple - Dooley Lane, Marple, SK6 7HE

Colour selection:

Mossley - Unit 1, Warmco Industrial Estate, Manchester Rd, Mossley, OL5 9AY Irlam - Unit B, Fairhills Industrial Estate, Woodrow Way, Irlam, M44 6ZQ Romiley - Green Lane, Romiley, SK6 3JG

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GARDEN through the garden? In a narrow garden, a fan effect of paths can help the space look wider, or just lay wide rectangular slabs in a less formal way.

A PATIO can prove to be a real sun-trap and a place where you can enjoy al fresco dining and entertaining. You can make your own decked area relatively easily, but don’t forget to treat it with stain and preserver products that will protect it from sunlight, water damage and mould.

If you’re thinking of transforming your garden ready for Summer, Benchmark with several branches in the North-West have dedicated Patio Centre Experts who are on hand to help advise you every step of the way.

Their experts can show you around the display areas to introduce you to the various ranges of paving available to choose from, before assisting you in designing your perfect outdoor space.

Taking your lifestyle outside with the help of an awning. Pic by Luxaflex

Spring IS IN THE AIR! As a nation we love our countryside and in particular we love our own special piece of greenery attached to our homes.

It may be anything from a tiny patch of grass to a paved garden or something lush that stretches over a large area. Whatever the size of your garden, this time of year is when we really appreciate getting outside on fine days and enjoying that private piece of England. And more and more we are now making the very best of our gardens.

If you’re planning a garden or improving one, it’s worth deciding first of all how you want to use it. Is it purely a place to grow flowers and vegs? Is it for relaxing, for cooking and entertaining or as a children’s playspace? Is it a “working” garden that has additional storage or even a garden studio?

Once you have decided on its main purpose, come up with a wish-list of things you would like in it – and prune this to fit your budget. Some garden experts suggest, as a rule of green thumb, living with your garden for a year to experience every season and what this means to your garden.

Each garden has its own subtle annual patterns and styles – and it needs to suit the property it adjoins to complement it properly. Make the garden that fits the right location: if you’ve got a city garden your space will probably be overlooked by buildings creating shade so use plants that have a chance of blooming.

If your garden overlooks your neighbours consider hedges and trees for privacy, but if it’s bordered by open rural space and lovely views think about lowering fences so it blends in seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. All this helps you to enjoy your garden more.

PATHS can create an illusion of space and areas of greater interest; a winding path makes a more fluid design than a straight one and you can make individual areas for sitting or just admiring the greenery.

Use path materials to complement those used on the house, matching the tones but varying the layout, perhaps adding a secondary, smaller material to give the path a more distinctive look. Do you want to stride boldly around your paths or are they a more subtle way of enticing people

They can also recommend Benchmark Approved pavers that are local, trustworthy and amazing at what they do, so that you can rest assured that from start to finish – your new patio is perfect. See page 24 for more details.

POTS and PLANTERS placed distinctively around your garden can look great on a patio with a large shrub, can screen areas or make small areas of fascination throughout your garden. Ensure, however, that they are portable enough to move around – if you get tired of them in one place then you can move them to another.

Highlight all this with subtle LIGHTING. Invest in beautiful lanterns or LED lights in styles to complement your garden and spotlight your hard work.

To take your lifestyle out into the fresh air, AWNINGS are a welcome all-yearround home accessory. They allow for outdoor dining and entertainment and can easily extend living areas outside day or night. They offer shade when it’s hot and protection when it’s not and these days come in beautiful shades and with smooth mechanisms that make using them a pleasure.

PERGOLAS, GAZEBOS and ARBOURS come in all shapes and sizes, too, offering a quirky and interesting attraction or simply as a way to enhance your garden walks.

The wood used blends in beautifully with the surroundings yet they offer a talkingpoint and bring a different element to your garden.

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GARDEN before your plants start to spring back to life. If you have raised borders, the soggy winter soil can put a strain on them and cause the sides to be displaced or even rot, so make sure to check them for any damage before planting them up with the year’s fresh growth. Check fences and sheds for any sign of weather damage, and consider giving them a fresh coat of paint or varnish if they’re looking run down. B&Q stocks a wide range of outdoor paints and varnishes which you can buy online here.

Tidy up

Store your wine in the garden with this clever garden cellar by Spiral Cellars

Everyone loves a BARBECUE in the garden and gas or charcoal-burning mobile models are available in various styles and prices to suit all pockets. There are even brazierlike barbecues that heat the area on chilly evenings.

You can, of course, build your own barbecue from brick, ensuring beforehand that it’s at the most practical and comfortable height for the people using it and that it doesn’t pose a fire-risk.

Gardens are also wonderful for their relaxing qualities, so finding ways to get nearer to it – and even work within it – make sense for many of us. GARDEN STUDIOS are one clever way of doing this – individually built rooms with plenty of glass and airiness that allow us another handy room outside the house.

One company, Sanctum Garden Studios, explained that their clients use their studios as games’ rooms, recording studios, gyms, artist studios, sewing rooms or even as a Man Cave or Quilt Hut! We all know the healing and relaxing power of water which is why PONDS and WATER FEATURES are all so popular in our gardens today. They don’t have to cost a fortune – you can create a small pond on quite a modest budget, install a pump and put in suitable plants plus fish for a reasonable amount. And water features can be as big or small as you want, all involving that lovely sound of trickling water that calms the soul.

If you really want to, literally, push the boat out you could invest in a SWIMMING POOL. You could have a small one in the

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open air or something larger in its own purpose-built home. Choose carefully and this could provide luxury swimming on site all the months of the year.

HOT TUBS have also become very popular in this country over the last decade. Again, these can be used all year round and provide a relaxing and healthy way to chill out at home. Find out more at the British and Irish Spa Hot Tub Association (BISHTA) on www.bishta.co.uk Gardens are great places in which children and grandchildren can play and there’s a wealth of PLAY EQUIPMENT available – everything from climbing frames, slides and swings to exotic treehouses.

And if all you really want to do in your home outdoor space is garden, you can make your life easier with every kind of GARDEN EQUIPMENT. Choose from the latest labour-saving lawnmowers, trimmers and strimmers to all manner of small tools to create the garden of your dreams – and even be kind to your knees with the latest comfy kneeler!

Gardening Tips Spring can be a hectic time in the garden, as before you can even think about planning the year’s new growth, you’ll have to repair the damage your garden has suffered from winter. Here are the most important jobs you should take care of as the weather starts to pick up.

Repair any damage Winter can be harsh on your garden, so make sure to repair any damage that’s been caused over the previous months

The first step in getting your garden ready for the year ahead is tidying up the dead leaves and other garden debris that has accumulated over the winter. By tidying your borders up now, it will give them ample drainage for the spring rain, and neglecting to do so could leave your plants without an adequate water supply.

A leaf rake is the perfect tool for quickly clearing up the leaves, twigs, and rubbish which has accumulated in your garden over the winter, and there’s a vast selection available.

You should also take the chance in early spring to clear your drains of any leaves that may have accumulated to keep them from becoming blocked. The plant life which you clear from your borders and drains can be added to your compost bin, which will be running short on carbon-rich materials after the winter and really benefit from this addition.

Till your soil Spring is the perfect time to till your soil, as you can get borders in tip-top condition just before planting them with fresh growth, providing them with the conditions to thrive in. Before you can till it, your soil needs to be warm and dry enough.

It’s warm enough when you can stick your hand a few inches into the soil and keep it there for a full minute, and it’s dry enough when it crumbles after being rolled into a ball in your hands. If both of these conditions are met, mark out the area of soil you’d like to till and go over it one row at a time, making sure not to go back over any rows, as this will compact the soil rather than break it up.

If you don’t already own a tiller, Mantis sells a range of lightweight and efficient models which you can purchase on their online store.

Make sure to follow these gardening tips this spring to get your garden in the best condition possible for the year’s growth.

GARDEN Rare moss combating climate change

A rare type of moss that could help prevent flooding in cities such as Manchester and Sheffield has been painstakingly replanted across specific moors as part of a pioneering project.

Sphagnum moss is important for wildlife but also plays a vital role in carbon storage and flood prevention. The plant is crucial for improving conditions for moorland peat bogs - helping to hold water on the hills for longer.

Studies suggest improving such environments can improve water storage and reduce runoff within the ecosystem; some species of sphagnum can hold over eight times their own weight in water.

Wildscapes, an environmental consultancy affiliated to Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, has been working alongside the RSPB to help re-establish large amounts of sphagnum across Rakes Moss on the Dovestones Nature Reserve.

Helicopter drop To undertake such an operation, the moss must first be delicately removed before

being flown by helicopter to the planting sites, where it is laboriously hand-planted into the moorland.

report. The RSPB hopes that the work will bring more than 50 new breeding pairs of Golden Plover to the Peak District.

Alex Davies, Site Supervisor from Wildscapes, said: “The project has been hard work, but very rewarding. The species require specific conditions to establish successfully and need to be treated with the upmost care when they are being translocated. We hope that this project will make a big difference to the surrounding area and really help improve the quality of this moorland.”

Unfortunately, atmospheric pollution from Manchester and Sheffield during the industrial revolution, along with overgrazing and wildfires, has nearly wiped out sphagnum completely from the Peak District.

Global warming The moss acts as a type of ‘eco engineer’ in a number of ways. It strengthens bogs by improving the distribution of water on moors and uplands, with some species even forming peat. Peat bogs are known to soak vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the air – it is estimated that about 455 billion tonnes of carbon is held in peat worldwide.

It also improves conditions for threatened moorland birds such as the Eurasian Curlew, the Dunlin and the European Golden Plover, which experienced a 25% decline between 1995 and 2013 in its main UK nesting site in Scotland, according to the latest Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)

Wildscapes worked alongside another environmental contractor and the RSPB to translocate well over 12,500 handfuls of specific species of sphagnum moss from a healthy donor site. A local airlifting company, Pennine Helicopters, also supported the operation by flying the moss on to the moors at Dovestones.

Once in position on the moors, they were planted by hand by the Wildscapes land management team.

Kate Hanley at the RSPB said: “We have been working with volunteers to re-establish sphagnum moss across this moorland for a number of years now.

This is the first time we have worked with contractors to do this conservation work on such a large scale.”

This pioneering project, alongside a number of other projects involving local partners, will help to re-establish this important moss across the Peak District.

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Julie Botham is running the only firm which offers Colourfence in the South Manchester area.

This is great news for homeowners who have become tired of the costly, timeconsuming and never-ending upkeep involved in timber fencing. Colourfence is the smart choice for long-lasting, low-maintenance fencing which comes with a 25 year guarantee and the builtin strength to withstand harsh climates including wind gusts of up to 130 miles per hour.

Over the past 10 years, Colourfence has altered the way in which gardens can be fenced, and it is now available locally.

Just imagine, for the price of a comparable quality timber fence, you could have a fence that’s professionally installed, will stay in place no matter what, and requires no more work than the occasional hose down with water to keep it looking as good as new.

Creosote, fence paint, wood stain — all things of the past with Colourfence, so it’s time for the fence brush to be consigned to the dustbin.

All surveys and installations are handled by Julie and her team, who promise an honest and friendly evaluation of your fences, and a noobligation, no-strings attached quote.

Not only will a Colourfence product provide the perfect backdrop to your garden all year round and perfect privacy from prying neighbours’ eyes, it will also give the peace of mind of having a most secure boundary to your property. With 80% of burglaries taking place after access through garden fences, according to Julie this has to be an added bonus which can’t be ignored.

Timber fences need annual upkeep and painting, and yet they will age, spoil and need replacing within a matter of years.

Colourfence, on the other hand, is made of a strong Colorbond steel, with a special anti-corrosion layer that won’t scratch or rust, topped with a special coating, primer and a beautiful finish coat in four colours to choose from.

Matching railings and gates are also available, which are guaranteed not to rust of flake for 10 years.

A good-looking & well maintained fence enhances the appearance of your garden as well as improving security & safety for your family

Julie said:“This is great news for the people of South Manchester and the surrounding areas as Colourfence is a premium fencing solution at affordable prices, choosing the product line is a no-brainer.

“There’s virtually no maintenance, and it offers so much more strength and durability than timber fences,” she said.

“We offer a no-nonsense, all-in price which includes installation by ourselves. “Combined with the cost and guarantees, this means that Colourfence is much better value than timber in the long term.”

Colourfence built its business model on ethical trading, and promises that it will never use hard-sell methods.

Julie said: “We just arrange a friendly meeting to see how we can help customers make a great choice in fencing.

“This includes an honest and straightforward survey of the garden and fences. We show the customer a range of photographs and samples, and offer a no-obligation, no-pressure quotation.

“The benefits of the products are such that we just don’t need to ‘sell’ them.”

For more information, visit colourfence.co.uk, or contact Julie Botham on info@colourfencesouthmanchester.co.uk or 0800 6444 113.

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Downsizing & Decluttering THERE comes a time for many of us when we look around at our previously much-loved home and decide the time has come to downsize to something smaller.

This may be because your family has left to become independent and the property that once seemed to be bursting at the seams is just too big. It may be that you need to move to more convenient housing because health or financial necessities demand it, or because you would just prefer to look after and maintain a smaller place.

the initial 12 month's term, the tenant can choose to give notice and leave should they wish to. “This seems to work very well all round and we are getting more and more phone calls reserving properties,” added Caroline. Girlings is also part of the Places for People Group, which offers tenants even more assurance.

There are more options than ever for retirement living these days and, while property can help fund your care home should you need it, another route is to rent a retirement property.

Whatever you do next, you may well be faced with having to sell a property that reflects years of a happy home life. And that can mean a mass of possessions that may not fit into your downsized new home.

In order to sell a property, it needs to be as clear as possible of the life of the previous owner so that a potential-buyer can see where he or she might fit their lifestyle into it.

This is a very popular choice, explained one company, Girlings Retirement Rentals which has around 2,500 properties in more than 600 retirement developments throughout the UK. “It is an easy option for retirement living,” explained Caroline Hull, head of marketing at Girlings.

The company has been in business for 25 years, backed by Norwich Union which is now Aviva. The assured tenancies offer peace of mind, security of tenure and flexibility. Under the assured tenancy the landlord cannot give notice, however, after

Decluttering your home takes a particular mind-set and genuine determination. In fact, as professional declutterer Amanda Manson of Orderly Office and Home points out: “The thought of what you’re going to do with everything might fill you with utter dread!”

Amanda Manson

Orderly Office and Home

She recommends a simple plan of action:

START NOW

Beginning decluttering well in advance of putting your property on the market assists in a quick sale and spreads the load over time. “Try 10 minutes a day,” she advises, “little and often. Don’t try a whole room in one go – you’ll end up exhausted and disheartened. Keep in the forefront of your mind your goal of moving into a new home and you’ll be spurred on to continue each day.”

MAKE A LIST

Keep track of where everything is. “If your new home has been agreed, assign a number to each room, and pack your belongings in a box numbered accordingly,” says Amanda. “If your new home hasn’t been decided yet, start grouping like items with like. Pack Winter/ Summer clothing together, pictures and ornaments, books and bedding (always spread books across several boxes – your removal men will thank you!). Remember to label everything.”

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REALITY CHECK

Look at what’s in your home and ask yourself “Do I use it, love it or need it?”

If the answer is “no”, is it time to say goodbye? Amanda suggests that clothing you haven’t worn in over a year you might never wear again so out it goes, along with gifts that you’ll never use. Give them to relatives or friends, a local charity, sell them in the local paper or on an auction site or list them online for free collection. Adds Amanda: “Recycle unwanted items where possible, but if unsuitable then it’s a trip to your local rubbish tip or a call to your local council for removal.”

SIZE MATTERS

If you have no garden, garage or guest room in your new home be realistic about whether you’ll use certain items like, for example, a lawnmower if you’re going somewhere with a serviced garden or no garden. Is your furniture too big for your new property? Try to imagine the bare minimum you could manage living with, and take it from there. “Often the additional ‘stuff’ we keep with us becomes an emotional weight around our necks,” states Amanda.

A GIFT TO YOUR CHILDREN

If your loft has been home to items belonging to children like their earliest artwork, toys and other memories, now is the time to give them back. Explain your reasons, keep what you really can’t bear to part with and ask them to collect what’s left, with a deadline.

VISIBLE SPACES

All open surfaces and room space should be as clear as possible ready for estate agents’ photographs. “Buyers can be easily put off by what appears to be a cramped or cluttered space,” observes Amanda.

HIDDEN SPACES

Don’t just wonder if prospective buyers will look inside your cupboards. They will. If you have fitted wardrobes and sleek kitchen cupboards, buyers will want to know what they can fit into them.

STORE UNTIL YOU MOVE

If you have a move date, this makes deciding what to keep out and what to pack away and what can go much easier.

Without one, you’ll have to get organised.

Box up seasonal items and store them away in a loft, garage or in a storage facility until you move and keep your cupboards, wardrobes and kitchen space for things you use often.

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STOP BUYING MORE!

If you’re really set on making the move, start paring down any consumables right now, insists Amanda. “Sort through kitchen cupboards and freezer to see what meals you can make with what you already have.

Discard out of date items, meal plan and make amends to your shopping list so you’re only buying the item you really need each week. Repeat the process with your bathroom cupboards and toiletries – and avoid the BOGOF temptations as it’s just more stuff to move.”

PAPERWORK AND READING MATERIAL

As the years go by, it’s easy to let papers build up. “Sort through your paperwork piles and discard or shred anything that you really don’t need like outdated bills, manuals for items you don’t now have and old magazines,” says Amanda.

* For more information go to: www.girlings.co.uk www.orderlyofficeandhome.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

JAMES MARTIN’S

SWEET TREATS

Sweet by James Martin (Quadrille £20) Photography: Peter Cassidy

The secret to a perfect panna cotta lies in having a slight sharpness – here from buttermilk – to balance the sweetness. The consistency is also important: too much gelatine will give you something you could bounce off the kitchen wall; you want to use just enough for the panna cotta to hold its shape when unmoulded. Combined with raspberry jelly, raspberries and warm, sugar-dusted doughnuts, this is a really delicious dessert on the plate. The remaining doughnuts are great with coffee.

B U T T E R M I L K PA N N A C O T TA W I T H D O U G H N U T S A N D R A S P B E R RY J E L LY For the doughnuts 1 quantity enriched yeast dough, made to the end of the first prove vegetable oil, for deep-frying caster sugar, for dusting For the mascarpone cream 100g mascarpone cheese 25g caster sugar 50ml double cream 1 vanilla pod, split and seeds scraped First make the panna cotta. Place the double cream in a small pan with the vanilla pod and seeds, bring to the boil, then remove from the heat. Add the drained, squeezed gelatine and whisk through until dissolved.

Set aside to cool, then add the buttermilk and whisk gently to combine.

Carefully pour into 8 small pudding basins or ramekins, making sure you distribute the vanilla seeds equally.

Refrigerate for 4 hours, or until set.

Serves 8 250g raspberries, plus 100g for garnish 1 tbsp water 1–2 tsp icing sugar 6 mint sprigs For the panna cotta 300ml double cream 1 vanilla pod, split and seeds scraped 5 gelatine leaves, soaked in cold water for 5 minutes 450ml buttermilk For the raspberry jelly 50g caster sugar 100ml water 300g raspberries 4 gelatine leaves, soaked in cold water for 5 minutes

For the sauce, place the 250g raspberries, the water and icing sugar in a blender and blitz to a purée. Pass through a fine sieve into a bowl and add more icing sugar if necessary. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve.

For the jelly, bring the sugar and water to a boil in a pan. Add the raspberries and heat until they just start to break down. Remove from the heat and pass through a fine sieve. Don’t press, just let the juice drip through.

Measure 300ml juice and return to the saucepan to warm through. Add the drained, squeezed gelatine and stir until completely dissolved. Remove from the

heat. Line a shallow baking tray (20cm x 15cm) with clingfilm and pour the jelly over it to a depth of about 3mm. Chill in the fridge until set.

For the doughnuts, divide the dough into 40 equal portions and roll into balls. Line a tray with silicone paper and space the balls evenly across it. Cover with a tea towel. Set aside at room temperature to prove for 20 minutes.

When the dough has proved, heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer to 150°C/320°F. Alternatively, heat the oil in a deep, heavy-based saucepan until a breadcrumb sizzles and turns brown immediately when dropped in.

CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous.

Never leave unattended.

Carefully lower the dough balls into the hot oil in batches and deep-fry for 3–4 minutes, until golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on kitchen paper to drain. Transfer to a plate and dust generously with the sugar.

For the mascarpone cream, whisk the mascarpone, sugar, cream and vanilla seeds together in a bowl until smooth.

To serve, cut the jelly into squares (about 2.5cm). Briefly dip each panna cotta mould in hot water, then turn out onto a large plate. Place two spoonfuls of the cream on each plate and top with a jelly square. Place two doughnuts on each plate and scatter the remaining raspberries and the mint around. Finish with a drizzle of raspberry sauce.

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FOOD & DRINK I love this simple little dessert that one of my chefs came up with – cherries and chocolate are a great combination.

As with any tart, it’s vital to make sure the pastry is nice and thin, so you get plenty of filling and not too much pastry. Otherwise it can be more like eating a biscuit!

C H O C O L AT E A N D C H E R R Y TA R T WITH CRÈME FRAÎCHE SORBET Serves 8–10 butter, for greasing 1 quantity pâte sucrée 1 egg yolk, for blind-baking flour, for dusting 400g tin cherries in syrup 400g dark chocolate (minimum 60% cocoa solids), roughly chopped 250ml double cream 100g caster sugar 2 tbsp crushed Hazelnut Praline and edible flowers 1 quantity Crème Fraîche Sorbet Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6. Butter a 23cm x 4cm loosebottomed tart tin.

Roll the pâte sucrée out on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 3mm and use to line the tin. Blind bake the pastry.

While the pastry case is baking, drain the cherries through a sieve into a saucepan and place the syrup over a medium heat.

Cook the syrup until thick and sticky, and reduced by half. Chop the cherries in half, then add to the pan with the reduced syrup and allow to cool.

Put the chocolate into a large, heatproof bowl. Heat the double cream and sugar together in a saucepan until just simmering then pour over the chocolate and whisk continuously until smooth.

Spread the cherries and their syrup over the base of the tart case, then pour the chocolate filling over the top. Glaze with a blow torch or place under a hot grill until bubbling, then chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to set. Remove and leave at room temperature until ready to serve. Place a line of the crushed praline and edible flowers on each plate, then slice the tart and serve with a scoop of Crème Fraîche Sorbet.

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FOOD & DRINK I first came across really good palmiers when I was working on the pastry section in a restaurant in the south of France. The trick is to get an even dusting of sugar, so that as the palmiers cook it caramelises to a nice glaze.

Palmiers are often offered as a petit four to end a meal, but sandwiched with raspberries and cream, they’re hard to beat for afternoon tea. These are best served at room temperature – once they go into the fridge, the butter in the pastry solidifies, making them less pleasant to eat.

BUTTERFLY PALMIERS WITH RASPBERRIES AND CREAM

Your perfect recipe needs top quality ingredients...

Serves 6 650g puff pastry or good-quality, bought all-butter puff pastry flour, for dusting 60g caster sugar 100ml stock syrup glaze (optional) For the filling 300ml double cream, softly whipped 200g raspberries Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4.

Line 2 large baking sheets with silicone paper.

Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface to a rectangle 25cm x 40cm and about 3mm thick, with the long side facing you, like a landscape picture.

Dust the pastry rectangle with 20g of the caster sugar then fold one long side of the pastry into the centre.

Repeat with the other long side to meet it, so you now have a piece half the width.

Dust with another 20g of the caster sugar, then repeat, folding each side into the centre, leaving a 5mm gap in the centre. Dust once more with the remaining sugar and repeat – you should now have three folds on each side with plenty of sugar sandwiched in between. Fold both sides together gently as you would close an open book, then transfer to a tray and place in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm up.

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

Remove the roll and cut into 12 x 1cm-thick slices. Lay on a lined baking tray, spacing them so that they are at least 6cm apart.

Bake for 12–15 minutes until golden and crispy.

Bury Market

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

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

Remove the palmiers from the oven, turn them straight over, place back on the tray and brush them with a little stock syrup glaze, if liked. The palmiers are best eaten on the day you make them.

Tel: 0161 253 6520

When cold, spoon the whipped cream into a piping bag fitted with a 1cm nozzle and pipe the cream over half the palmiers.

Top with some lightly crushed raspberries and another palmier.

Serve immediately.

Web: www.burymarket.com

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Email: burymarkets@bury.gov.uk

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OUT & ABOUT filled with incredible musicians – who themselves have played with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Nik Kershaw and Fats Domino – to a truly electrifying frontman, whose performances have been wowing audiences all over the world for over 15 years.

Emerald City where the great Wizard of Oz lives.

On their way they meet a Scarecrow who needs a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a Cowardly Lion

This is a show not to be missed, packed with all of your favourite Garth Brooks hits, as well as all the magic and the mayhem you’d expect from the real thing. Garth Brooks UK is the ULTIMATE Garth Brooks experience and we ain’t going down ‘til the sun comes up!

Tickets (£10 each no concessions) are available from Tomlinson Parbans or from Bobby Grant 07850 646958.

Garth Brooks UK Carver Theatre Marple, Cheshire Friday 1st April 2016

The Wizard Of Oz Easter Panto at Stockport Plaza

In a career spanning four decades, Garth Brooks has become a global superstar; breaking down barriers, incorporating the traditions of country and bluegrass music, with elements of honky tonk, blues and rock, selling over 100 million albums in the process. He has truly redefined what it means to be a country artist. Now the Garth Brooks phenomenon is being brought one step closer to you, in this groundbreaking tribute spectacular – GARTH BROOKS UK!

Tuesday 12th April 2016 A spectacular professional Easter pantomime version of the classic story starring comedy legend Bobby Davro as Scarecrow and Dani Harmer 'CBBC's Tracy Beaker and Strictly Come Dancing' as Dorothy.

Follow Kansas farm-girl Dorothy and her pet dog Toto on this magical adventure suitable for all ages. Watch in amazement as they are picked up by a tornado and carried off to the magical Land of Oz. With help from their new friends the Munchkins, they travel to the

The incredible, high-energy show features some of the best musical talent from across the UK country music scene and beyond. From a band

who desperately needs courage. Will the wonderful Wizard of Oz be able to help them before the Wicked Witch of the West captures them in her dungeon??!!……

Come and join in the fun spring 2016 as Enchanted Entertainment present this amazing Easter pantomime version of L. Frank Baum’s much-loved fairy tale.

Packed with great songs, brilliant dance routines and plenty of laughter for all the family!!!!

“This playful, entertaining and interactive pantomime provided an afternoon of laughter, enjoyment and over-excitement for kids and parents” – The Press York

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Closing date for competition is 30th April 2016.

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36 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

OUT & ABOUT

Tatton Park Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN

Going Digital Saturday 12 March 2016 Using the Palm House and Conservatory at Tatton Park, we'll show you how to capture the secrets of the tiny world around you, in stunning images from abstracts to detailed shots. You'll have lots of hands-on photography throughout the day to perfect your skills.

10.00am - 4.00pm Cost £90 For more information please contact Graham Nobles at: graham-nobles@ goingdigital.co.uk or 07958007004 Telephone 01625 374428 www.goingdigital.co.uk

The Magic Beanstalk Waterside Arts Centre 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale M33 7ZF

Bury Market has a well deserved reputation for friendly service, fantastic produce and great value.

Saturday 19th March 2016 Price:£8.50 / £6.50 Schools £6 per pupil Jack, his mum and their cow Daisy are in trouble. Their house is leaking, the phones cut off, there’s no food in the fridge - and they’ve got NITS! Something’s got to change and what happens next is an exciting adventure for all girls and boys who believe in magic.

A brand new show for primary school children, their teachers, carers and families. Set in present day Cornwall, beautiful hand carved puppets, illusion and amazing experiments are used to retell the classic story of Jack and the Giant who lives through the clouds and over the rainbow.

Located off J2 of the M66 and with over 350 stalls open every Full Market Day it’s easy to find and even easier to enjoy!

Bury Town Centre is also home to the Fusilier Museum, East Lancashire Railway, Bury Transport Museum and Bury Art Gallery.

Age recommendation 5+ School performances Friday 18th March - 10:30am & 1:30pm - call box office on 0161 912 5616

An Evening Of Genesis Music By Mama Waterside Arts Centre 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale M33 7ZF

Shakespeare Week Saturday 19 March 2016 to Sunday 20 March 2016 Join in the national celebration this weekend at Tatton Park and see Shakespeare's world and works brought to life! Sword fighting, performances, crafts, music, storytelling and more.

A fun filled weekend for all the family with lots of activities each day for all ages. Check back soon for more details!

Call 01625 374428 or visit the website; here is a varied timetable to be published on the website at events.tattonpark.org.uk

Saturday 26th March Price:£14 ADV/ £16 Door

Bury Market Hall: Open every day except Sunday

Mama faithfully reproduce the sights and sounds of the high octane, contemporary Genesis rock concert with fantastic musicianship from well acclaimed musicians.

British Supergroup Genesis are among the highest selling recording artists, with over 130 million albums sold worldwide inducting them into the 'Rock and Roll Hall of Fame' in 2010. Mama will take you on a journey from Genesis' early Peter Gabriel years, through the Phil Collins' era of the 70s and 80s and right up to their final studio album with Phil Collins, We Can't Dance.

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

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

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OUT & ABOUT

EventCity Limited, Phoenix Way, off Barton Dock Road, Urmston, Manchester M41 7TB T: 0843 487 5555 Snooker’s Players Championship will be staged at EventCity in Manchester for the first time in March.

The world ranking tournament will run from March 22 to 27 and will feature many of the sport's top players.

It was previously staged in Ireland and Preston, and last season took place in Thailand, where Joe Perry claimed the title by beating Mark Williams in the final.

The Players Championship is the culmination of the season's Kreativ Dental Clinic European Tour and Asian Tour, with 32 players to qualify for the showpiece conclusion and chase a top prize of £100,000.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: "We are thrilled to bring this tournament to Manchester for the first time. It is a major event on the calendar and deserves to be staged in a major city. Manchester has a fantastic reputation for staging top class sporting events and I'm sure the fans will be out in force to see the leading green baize giants competing for this coveted title."

The final line-up for the tournament will be confirmed after the Gdynia Open which finishes on February 28.

Tickets prices start from just £6 (Concession price) and are on sale now.

Motability - The Big Event EventCity Limited, Phoenix Way, off Barton Dock Road, Urmston, Manchester M41 7TB T: 0843 487 5555 The Big Event is the perfect way to find out everything you need to know about leasing a car, scooter or powered wheelchair through the Motability Scheme, the leading Scheme for disabled people. It’s the largest ever display of Motability vehicles in the UK. We bring everything together in one place to make finding out about Motability as easy as possible. The event is free to attend and is a great day out for the whole family.

Motability enables disabled people to use their government-funded mobility allowance to lease a new car, scooter or powered wheelchair. Since the Scheme was set up in 1978, Motability has helped over 3 million people get mobile.

There are currently over 600,000 people enjoying the benefits of Motability. The following items are included in our worryfree package: •

A brand new car, scooter or powered wheelchair every three years, or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) every five years

•

Insurance, servicing and maintenance

The UK’s largest display of cars, scooters, adaptations and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

•

Full breakdown assistance

•

Annual tax disc sent to you in the post

•

Free test drives in adapted and nonadapted cars and scooters

•

Replacement tyres (and batteries for scooters and wheelchairs)

•

Motability advisors available to chat to

•

Windscreen repair or replacement

•

•

Free entry and parking

60,000 mileage allowance over three years for cars; 100,000 for WAVs

•

A free tea, coffee or soft drink

•

Many adaptations at no extra cost

•

Children’s play area including face painting and a chance to meet the Motability mascot, Billy the Bear

There’s loads to see: •

To book visit Visit ticketline.co.uk

WIN A £25 M&S GIFT CARD! 38 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

The event is open from 9am to 4pm on both days.

For more information visit www.motability.co.uk/thebigevent or call 0800 953 7000

SIMPLY VISIT OUR COMPETITIONS SECTION ON WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK OR CALL 01204 860 194 TO ENTER

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Planning For The Future Questions & Answers with Gorvins Solicitors Planning for the Future and ensuring our families are protected should anything happen to us is something we all think about but often put off because of our busy lives.

Q: My wife and I made our Wills over 20 years ago after the

We invited our Wills, Trusts at Probate expert, Tasoula Addison, from Gorvins Solicitors to answer some of our readers’ questions on lifetime planning and making a Will.

five years or whenever your circumstances change e.g. on marriage, divorce/separation, having children, or purchasing a house.

Q: I need to make a Will but how do I choose my beneficiaries?

I’m not sure who I should include or if I should just leave everything to my husband. Mrs Hunter, 69 from Romiley

A: Everyone who has children, property, and financial assets, and who cares about what will happen to them on his or her death should make a will. If you die without one, your money and possessions may be distributed to people you do not believe should inherit them.

By making a will, the testator (the person who makes a will) will be able to determine the way in which his or her assets will be dealt with after death. It will also be possible to ensure that the people he or she wishes to benefit will do so, and in the manner intended. It’s really important to choose your beneficiaries because you will be providing them with support and security when you are no longer able to.

It’s fine to leave everything to your husband but we recommend making “mirror Wills” so that you both agree on how your estate should be distributed, for example to cover the situation where you both die together.

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birth of our 1st child. We have since had more children and now have grandchildren in the family. Do we need to update our Wills or not? Mr & Mrs Fawcett, 52/53 from Hale

A: It is usually recommended to review your Will at least every

I would strongly recommend you and your wife update your Wills. This will ensure your estate is distributed to the people you want it go to and also will allow you to make provisions for any children or grandchildren should you and your wife pass away.

Q: My elderly mother has been diagnosed with Dementia

and has sadly started to lose some of her abilities. What can I do to help protect her and also make sure she is looked after correctly? Mrs Kite, 61 from Altrincham

A: Your mother may still be able to make a Lasting Power of Attorney (assuming she has not done so already). Whether she is able to do this will depend on whether she can understand what a power of attorney is, and whether she is able weigh up who she wants to be her attorney. As she has been diagnosed with dementia, her doctor should be involved in deciding whether she can make a power of attorney or not. If your mother is not able to make a Lasting Power of Attorney, you will need to make an application for what is called a “deputyship order”. This will enable you to manage your mother’s finances on her behalf, to ensure her finances are protected and dealt with for her benefit.

Q: Will Inheritance Tax be payable on my estate? I am not

too clear on the rules surrounding this? Mr Davies, 69 from Bramhall

A: This can be a very complicated area, as there are a huge

number of rules surrounding inheritance tax. However, as a basic starting point, if your estate is worth under £325,000 then no inheritance tax will be payable. If you are a married couple then you have a joint allowance of £650,000.. New rules are set to be introduced from 2017, however these are not yet in operation so should not be relied on. If you think your estate may be taxable then you should take individual advice based on your own circumstances.

Q: My father passed away in January 2016 and I don’t agree with how his estate has been distributed. Can I do anything about this? Mrs Taylor, 55 from Reddish

Tasoula Addison | Wills, Trusts & Probate Solicitor

Gorvins Solictors

A: You may be able to make a claim against your father’s

Q: I have made a Will jointly with my partner and am happy

with how my assets will be distributed so do I need a Power of Attorney? Mr & Mrs Gregory, 78/77 from Edgeley

A: Yes! Your Will only comes into effect when you pass away.

It does not give anyone any authority to deal with things in the event that you are still alive, but unable to deal with things yourself (for example if you were in a coma). It is vitally important to put both a Will and a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, so the people you want to be in control are in control no matter what happens.

estate, or challenge the validity of his Will (if he had one).

The first step is to get as much information as you can about the terms of his Will, who is dealing with his estate, and the circumstances surrounding the signing of his Will. If there are any doubts about whether your father understood what he was doing when he made the Will then obtaining copies of his medical records could be helpful. It is important to take legal advice as soon as possible, as the earlier concerns are raised the easier it is for a successful claim to be made.

If you need some advice concerning Lifetime Planning or would like to ask a question to Tasoula, send your questions to 50questions@gorvins.com and she will respond with some expert advice to help you and your family.

The Experts in Wills, Trusts & Probate Give you and your family total peace of mind

Making a Will

Lasting Power of Attorney

Court of Protection

Trusts

Deputyships

Inheritance Tax

Estate Administration

Elderly Care

Probate

Planning for your future and ensuring your family are protected in the way you want is simple and hassle free with our specialist team of qualified solicitors.

Chat with us to discuss your needs; whether it’s here at our offices or in the comfort of your own home, we can help you with:

•P

L ANNING F

FUTURE

•

O

UR

• OR

•Y

ACT O N

IT

Act On It Today and contact us on 0161 930 5117 or e-mail actonit@gorvins.com www.gorvins.com/act-on-it

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HEALTH

Quality dentures mean a quality lifestyle The Importance of Dentures

Choice of Dentures

The eyes, nose and teeth are the focal points of every face; they give the first impressions of your personality.

There are three main quality standards in denture materials:

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.

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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 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.

HEALTH 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 relined 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).

Dentures with worn down teeth Teeth can be replaced with a new set.

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)

www.thedenturepeople.com HILLSIDE DENTURE CENTRE, THE ARCHWAYS private medical & health clinic, 86 stockport road, romiley, stockport SK6 3AA Tel: 0161 406 0400 THE didsbury denture centre, the dental health centre, 1b school lane, didsbury m20 6rd Tel: 0161 445 5459 WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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CARE

DEMENTIA EXPLAINED die, leading to strokes. Dementia with Lewy bodies are abnormal collections of protein deposits, found in the nerve cells of the brain. Fronto-temporal dementia is relatively rare and affects people at a younger age when damage to brain cells usually begins in the frontal lobe of the brain.

HOW DO WE DIAGNOSE DEMENTIA?

Dementia is an age-related syndrome that affects 850,000 people in the UK. It is estimated that there will be one million people with dementia in the UK by 2025 and that two thirds are women. Dementia is becoming increasingly important because we are living longer and it is now the most common disease in the elderly with one in six people aged 80 and over with dementia.

Currently it’s difficult for doctors to make a clear diagnosis for dementia because in the early stages the clinical symptoms can be quite ambiguous as cognitive impairment needs to be distinguished from brain changes during normal ageing. Dementia usually first appears as forgetfulness.

Other symptoms may include difficulty with many areas of mental function, including language, memory, perception, emotional behaviour such as anxiety or agitation, and cognitive skills such as abstract thinking, judgment and disorientation.

Most types of dementia are nonreversible (degenerative) but some causes of dementia can be prevented if identified soon enough, including after brain injury or chronic alcohol abuse.

WHAT IS DEMENTIA?

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But who cares for those suffering with dementia? According to the Alzheimer’s Society:• There are 670,000 carers of people with dementia in the UK. • Family carers of people with dementia save the UK £11 billion a year.

• 80 per cent of people living in care homes have a form of dementia or severe memory problems.

• Two thirds of people with dementia live in the community while one third live in a care home.

PREVENTION Most causes of dementia are not preventable but there are many things you can do to best protect yourself or slow down the rate of dementia including:1. Regular physical exercise 2. Quitting smoking 3. Controlling high blood pressure and diabetes 4. Eating a low-fat balanced diet may reduce the risk of Vascular Dementia.

5. Sleeping well

The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease and there is currently no cure but many believe we can help ourselves prevent or at least slow down a decline into dementia, so that we can enjoy those precious later years. Alzheimer’s Disease destroys brain cells and nerves disrupting the neuro transmitters which carry messages in the brain, particularly those responsible for storing memories affecting memory, understanding, judgment, emotions and even personality and can be both frightening and exhausting for those with Alzheimer’s Disease as well as their loved ones.

Vascular Dementia affects men more than women and is due to cerebrovascular disease, which occurs where oxygen supply fails or is no longer efficient in the brain, brain cells

CARING FOR THOSE WITH DEMENTIA

6. Managing stress 7. There is also treatment with vitamin B which has had notable effects.

Folic Acid, B6 and B12 seem to help reduce the rate of brain atrophy.

8.

Cognitive Psychologist and Neuroscientist, Dr Lynda Shaw www.drlyndashaw.com

Early identification of dementia In recent years, however, treatments that can improve the symptoms of dementia are becoming available, as well as treatments that may slow down the progression of the disease.

CARE HELPING THOSE WITH DEMENTIA •

Understand and respect the person with dementia - help them feel valued – be tolerant; listen properly and slow down; be affectionate; address them with the name they prefer e.g. Mr or Mrs … be courteous, kind and non-judgemental

• Respect cultural values and privacy • Regardless of how bad the dementia is people still have feelings, so help the person feel good about themselves • Help them express their feelings.

• Choice is confusing – so keep it simple and easy • Remember each person with dementia is still a person with unique and valuable experiences • Isolation as a direct result of dementia is rife. Help those with dementia still be sociable and connect with their loved ones and people of all ages.

HELPING CARERS & THE FAMILY • Understand that caring for a person with AD can have physical, emotional and financial costs.

•

The demands of day to day care, changing family roles, and difficult decisions about placement in a care facility can be hard to handle. Offer support, information and a listening ear.

• Becoming well informed is really important.

• Help them develop their own coping strategy with a strong network of family and friends • Staying physically active helps us cope emotionally with being a carer • Encourage them to join support groups for respite

and expression of concerns Visit www.drlyndashaw.com

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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 individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 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.

Contact our friendly team on:

0161 406 6468

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

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Make a Fresh Start with Sunrise Sunrise is a place unlike any other. We take the time to truly understand your needs, creating a personalised care programme completely focused on you.

Your independence, dignity and freedom always come first. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s round-the-clock care, our groundbreaking Reminiscence Neighbourhood offering safe, supportive dementia care, or just the comfort of knowing someone is always on hand, our unique communities are changing the way people think about senior living.

Against the backdrop of our beautiful, homelike setting, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find everything you need to live the lifestyle you want - including five inspiring daily activities all designed to help you keep active and make new friends.

Show suites now available to view Drop in for a tour today, or call us on 0161 394 0563 to find out more.

Sunrise of Bramhall, 1 Dairyground Road, Bramhall, Stockport SK7 2HW

SunriseBramhall.co.uk 48 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK