Shirley Ballas
QUEEN OF STRICTLY
James Martin
SHARES RECIPES FROM HIS NEW BOOK ‘POTATO’
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO OPEN UP YOUR HEART AND HOME?
HOLIDAYS BY COACH
Wed 29th March 2023
10 Days: From £1,999pp 5-star boat with all excursions included and full board! Cruise along the Rhône and Saône Rivers over 8 days on the luxury 5-star MS Amadeus Provence for the sights, sounds and tastes of the vineyards of Burgundy all the way to the lavender fields of Provence. Food, wine, art, architecture, scenery and history — it all comes together in glorious harmony in the South of France.
Jersey by Sea
Thu 6th April 2023
6 Days: From £539pp
Including full-day island coastal tour! Jersey is an island shaped by the sea where some of the most astonishing tides in the world circle the coast and feed the land. It’s an island that’s small on size, but big on personality, where country lanes open to cliff top views and the sea is never more than ten minutes away. We used the Monterey Hotel for the first time in 2022 and it was great success.
The Jurassic Coast, Devon and The English Riviera, Sidmouth
Tue 11th April 2023
5 Days: From £469pp
Sidmouth is a beautiful coastal town with a regency feel which is ideal for visitors of all ages. Set in the middle of spectacular countryside Sidmouth is home to beautiful beaches, stylish eating places and great shopping, with everything from unusual gifts to lifestyle goods available.
Sat 6th May 2023
7 Days: From £589pp
Includes half day familiarisation tour! Guernsey is a place where you can escape the ordinary and discover an island bursting with local charm and inspiring nature. We travel with Condor on one of their high-speed vessels so the journey time to Guernsey is just three hours and ten minutes.
Sun 7th May 2023
7 Days: From £849pp
Includes VIP Visits to Kylemore Abbey and Westport House, Local Guide for Achill Island, Knock Shrine and National Museum of Ireland!
Discover one of the most beautiful and unspoilt corners of Ireland, the far west is renowned as much for its Gaelic heritage and hospitality as for the allure of its stunning scenery.
Fri 12th May 2023
4 Days: From £359pp
Ilfracombe has a picturesque harbour along with narrow streets and the North Devon coast is renowned for its unique character and spectacular scenery.
Scarborough, Coast and The Yorkshire Moors
Mon 17th April 2023
5 Days: From £489pp
Includes North York Moors Railway & Private Tour of Burton Agnes Hall
Visit Scarborough, the famous resort on the stunning Yorkshire coast! We’re also close to some stunning inland scenery and this tour ensures we see the best of both, including on board a heritage railway for a sixty-minute ride through the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Plus, we enjoy a private tour of Burton Agnes Hall, full of immense charm and character.
The Best of Cornwall, Looe
Fri 21st April 2023
4 Days: From £339pp
Includes visits to Fowey, Padstow, Polperro, Mevagissey, Falmouth & Truro! Explore Cornwall’s Harbour Towns and Villages from the historic fishing port of Looe, where two rivers create a tidal harbour. The bustling harbour is the hub of the town and home to fishing vessels as well as pleasure craft.
Boats and Trains of Norfolk and the Broads
Sun 30th April 2023
5 Days: From £499pp
Includes the North Norfolk
Railway, Bure Valley Railway & Norfolk Broads boat cruise! Based in the historic city of Norwich, this tour shows you all the best that Norfolk has to offer including the North Norfolk Railway, known as the Poppy Line, the Bure Valley Railway and a cruise on the Broads. Sandringham House is a friendly place to visit with guides in every room of the house and acres of beautiful gardens to explore.
Pennine Pleasures and the Vales & Dales of Durham
Mon 22nd May 2023
5 Days: From £599pp
Includes Raby Castle, South Tynedale Railway, Teesdale Cheese Makers and local guided tour on coach! Escape into the North East’s utterly wild, starkly beautiful countryside and uncover hidden treasures.
Legendary Locomotives
Thu 27th July 2023
3 Days: From £369pp
Including Great Central Railway and a pork pie experience!
Experience the golden-age magic of steam heritage aboard a British Pullman train on the Great Central Railway we travel First Class on a British Pullman train. This is the only heritage train in the UK that is double track so you can experience the unique thrill of steam trains passing. We also visit Brockleby’s porkpie workshop for a tour and tasting!
Food & Drink
6-7 TWITTERING ON
By Angela Kelly8-9 TRAVEL FROM SILVER TRAVEL ADVISOR Secrets of the Douro
14-15 LEISURE
Why we should consider a caravan holiday this year
Travel SECRETS OF THE DOURO
Manor Garden Centre Cheney Manor, Swindon SN2 2QJ
16-17 CELEBRITY INTERVIEW
Shirley Ballas, Queen of Strictly
18-19 HOME
A new year, a new you
20-23 FOOD
Recipes from James Martin’s new book ‘POTATO’
28-30 GARDENING
How to create a dog friendly garden
31 HEALTH
Returning home after a stay in hospital
LARGE SELECTION ON DISPLAY
Free local delivery-OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Tel: 01793 526691
www.conservatorycentres.co.uk
Bridgeman House
77 Bridgeman Street | Bolton | BL3 6BY. Sales Enquiries : T: (01204) 238180
E: artwork@mcgrathmedia.co.uk
Are you a natural leader with a compassionate heart? Are you tired of the way current organizations are run and looking to make a positive impact in your community? Have you considered starting your own business but don’t know where to begin? Helping Old Friends might be the answer you’re looking for.
Founded during the pandemic by Katrina Simms and her business partner Ben Curtis, Helping Old Friends is a company that provides companionship services for people of all ages who wish to stay independent in their own home. Katarina and Ben, who collectively have over 25 years of experience in the care profession, created Helping Old Friends in response to the over-regulated and increasingly unaffordable traditional care system in the UK.
At Helping Old Friends, our ethos is to provide companionship that our customers require in a way that is both fulfilling for the companions and beneficial for the customers. Helping Old Friends can provide a stable environment for its companions and offer a continuity of service that their customers deserve.
Helping Old Friends has already established itself with a successful network of companions in Swindon and Cirencester areas and is now looking to expand its geographical reach through a franchise model. They are particularly interested in developing and empowering young women in the business.
Franchising with Helping Old Friends is a unique opportunity to enter a relatively untapped market with a growing need. The franchise offers a simple and affordable business model, with the support, knowledge, and experience to ensure that franchisees will succeed in starting their own business. Helping Old Friends provides comprehensive training, ongoing support, and a proven system for success. Franchisees can benefit from the established brand and business model, profitable business opportunity, and the opportunity to make a positive difference in their community.
If you are interested in franchising with Helping Old Friends, visit our website https://www.helpingoldfriends. co.uk/franchise-with-us.html, register your interest and we will contact you to start a conversation.
With Helping Old Friends, you can make a difference in the lives of people in your community while building a fulfilling and successful business. Contact us today to learn more about this unique franchise opportunity
With over 25 years of experience, we recognise that there is a necessity for a service that provides, more than anything, companionship to people who, for whatever reason find themselves living alone and isolated.
We can provide a check in call when required or a longer visit which could include;
l Light housework
l Putting home deliveries away
l Shopping calls
l Preparing and cooking meals
l Assistance in attending doctors appointments
l Hairdresser appointments
l Attending hospital appointments
l Social calls
l Assistance with writing memoirs
l Gardening and home maintenance
l Accompanying to social events
l Or just somebody to have a chat and cup of tea with. (We do not provide any Personal Care or assist with medication administering).
All our staff have an enhanced police check and relevant training annually. They are Covid Vaccinated and use full PPE following Government Guidelines.
Sometimes you need to have a person just to talk to, someone to replace that lightbulb, someone to help navigate around the internet to fill in a form, Mow the lawn or find a handy man to do the job that has been left undone for ages.
That is where Helping Old Friends comes in… We can set up regular visits to suit your requirements with well matched companions who will listen, help do the odd jobs or just be there for you. Through our advanced scheduling software, we can ensure that you will get the visit when and where you want them with a companion best suited to your character. Having a caring companion by the side of a family loved one can make all the difference to the family as well as to the persons themselves. We aim to change people’s lives for the better. 01793
If you have any questions about our services, please get it touch
Katrinasimms@helpingoldfriends.co.uk
By Angela Kelly
COLLINS of dictionary fame chose as their Word of the Year for 2022 “permacrisis.”
I don’t think it’s a word that many of us have ever actually uttered out loud but it was probably an apt one for the year as it is the feeling of living through an extended period of instability and insecurity.
And 2022 with the war in Ukraine, climate change, inflation and the cost of living crisis certainly prompted permacrisis. I suspect that many of us have been changed by all this.
British author Penny Mallory – obviously someone who knows how to tackle any kind of crisis as she’s taking part in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Rowing Challenge in 2023 – told the Daily Mail about ways to deal with modern life’s crises.
She insists that “mental toughness isn’t about being aggressive, strong and macho. Some of the quietest, gentlest people are mentally tough.”
Penny says that resilient people don’t “wallow or dwell on failure. They acknowledge the situation, learn lessons from mistakes and move forward. They are mentally tough and they are more likely to thrive.”
She advises thinking of failure as learning. Be prepared to leave your comfort zone – “Playing it safe and refusing to leave your comfort zone may be a recipe for failure but risk is scary.
“Champions learn to open their minds to possibilities, managing risk and leveraging it to their advantage.”
Penny adds that life is not all about academic success and that qualifications are “not the biggest factor in success. Only 30 per cent of any achievement you make will be down to your skill, talent and intelligence, but 70 per cent of your achievement will be down to your mental toughness, focus, resilience and determination.”
Now that should be enough to allow us to tackle any permacrisis.
SHOULD the accent you use really influence the way that people treat you?
Plainly, today it really shouldn’t but, of course, being humans with all the prejudices that this entails for many, it does.
This thorny subject came to light again recently when a man from Stockport in Greater Manchester revealed that he had changed the way he spoke to fit in at university.
This happened right from Freshers’ Week when he realised he spoke differently to his fellow students.
At university, he was once asked if his home town was “one of those desolate wastelands where the factories used to be.” Now, even allowing for both snobbery and a major misunderstanding of UK environments, this is nasty stuff.
His experiences, and many others, were being gathered for The Sutton Trust’s Speaking Up report which examines the
impact that someone’s accent has on their life journey, especially in education and the workplace.
The report shows that public attitudes to the various accents across the country have remained largely the same over time. Standard received pronunciation, French-accented English and classic varieties like Scottish, American and Southern Irish all ranked highly with people.
While this latter finding is not really a surprise because our national ear does seem to be attuned to appreciating, for example, the Scottish lilt, what is odd is the negative attitude towards some regional accents.
Katie Zacharczuk, a solicitor born and raised in Liverpool, said it was a “culture shock” when she went to university as previously she had only been around people who talked like her.
She was worried about being judged “less intelligent” or “not as valuable to an organisation.” To her credit, she never changed her accent and has a successful career.
Sir Ian McKellen was mocked for his Northern vowels when he went to Cambridge University. His accent was the butt of public school boys and he feared it would affect his ultimate ambition to become an actor.
Interestingly, Sir Ian says that he has noticed that original accent “coming back” to him recently – a situation he doesn’t regret “because it is part of me.”
That feeling was echoed by a friend of mine who worked in Government in London in a very good job but found her accent was the cause of much negative comment from colleagues in particular. She didn’t change it but she did eventually move back to her home town. She realised that the way she spoke was, like Sir Ian, all part of who she really was – and she was proud of that.
AS a new series of blockbuster Netflix series The Crown returns to TV screens it’s no surprise that so does the controversy.
Is it or is it not “largely” based on truth or are whole chunks of it made up?
While it’s unlikely that the current Royal Family would helpfully clear up the salient points about whether Princess Diana courted the media herself or about the real relationship between then Prince Charles and the Queen, there are those in the know who can come up with some guidance.
The general impression given is that, yes, parts of The Crown are fiction and sometimes not even based on actual events.
As an avid viewer, it’s hard not to be seduced into thinking you are watching something factual because we easily recall media headlines backing up the feeling that this is genuine.
The real danger, though, is that The Crown is presented as a documentary, complete with unassailable “truths”, when it isn’t.
Young viewers and those who have not followed the Royal Family’s comings and goings over the years are tempted to accept what they see and not question it.
TV is a great medium for explaining situations, especially in hindsight, and can assemble large amounts of information and experts to provide a helpful overview.
Unfortunately, when you chuck entertainment into the pot you may get a different outcome and the temptation to “expand” on fact and “manipulate reality” can skew truth.
Perhaps more could be done by the programme-makers to emphasise that the series is based on fact but is still fiction.
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Our holidays together seem doomed. My increasingly-less-mobile husband prefers to ’fly, flop and read’ (his novels need their own suitcase!) whilst I long to venture off the beaten track. Close proximity to fine dining is key to our holiday enjoyment, further limiting our options.
Solution: a river cruise with Emerald.
Why Choose Emerald Cruises?
I could envisage husband relaxing on deck, occasionally glancing up from his book to enjoy passing scenery: me joining onboard EmeraldPLUS activities – from early morning yoga to cookery demos and cocktail mixing – and onshore adventures in new and different places. Emerald’s additional EmeraldACTIVE and DiscoverMORE excursions are perfect for guests like me who strangely prefer discovering a destination’s hidden delights on foot, by jeep or kayak rather than the comfort of an air-conditioned coach.
Eagerly surveying Emerald Cruises’ brochure, we chose ‘Secrets of the Douro’ – 8 days sailing from the lively metropolis of Porto through sun-drenched terraced vineyards to visit iconic landmarks. Mateus Manor House (familiar to all 1970’s Rosé fans), the baroque village of Lamego with its picturesque shrine, and the beautiful university city of Salamanca beckoned. Visits to local Quintas along the route promised wine and port tastings and DiscoverMORE offered enticing, hand-picked experiences delving deeper into the region.
We’d already enjoyed cruises on the Nile, Rhine and Danube when my husband was more active and the Douro has been on my wish list for several years. Relatively unknown to many, the Douro was wild and unnavigable in places until relatively recently and was only tamed by the construction of dams and locks between 1965 and 1985. I was looking forward to an exciting combination of adventures off the beaten track, visits to vibrant cities and great food and drink. Starved of travel for a couple of years, our expectations were high. But would Emerald deliver?
Not only did they deliver – they exceeded both our expectations. Highlights for me included a visit to the fairy tale gardens of Quinta da Aveleda near Porto. As we followed our guide through lush gardens, past the goat tower (I kid you not) and across a rickety bridge, we discovered an enchanting summer house. Here – concealed behind a fountain - the ladies of the manor escaped the heat of the day to take ‘afternoon tea’ – smuggling flasks of the estate’s cool, crisp Vinho Verde wine in their picnic hampers. I wonder how many toppled into the lake after their secret sessions. Another highlight, not for the faint-hearted, was a hike to see Côa’s truly awesome ancient rock art discovered recently during the building of a new dam. Local school children had successfully mounted a nationwide campaign to preserve the area and halt the building work. Joining a small group of hardy Australian guests, I bounced off in a 4x4 through steep tracks before trekking in 36 degrees heat to view rock carvings. “There’s a reason why this area’s called Canada do Inferno,” observed our guide cheerily. Meanwhile, our less adventurous/more sensible compatriots studied replicas in an air-conditioned museum and enjoyed an entertaining workshop on stone-age toolmaking.
One of the included excursions was a trip to Salamanca. Such an amazing city – I was awestruck to see the actual crucifix that El Cid carried into battle, during our tour of the Cathedral. After our guided walking tour in fierce heat my companions mostly wanted to shop and sit in shaded cafes during our free time so I set off to explore, crossing the river via a Roman bridge to view the city skyline reflected in the water. Our group came back together for the
Tuna Band performance – cheerful young medical students dressed in medieval student robes playing traditional songs and performing energetic dances.
Similarly in Porto, a guided walking tour was followed by plenty of free time to explore. I hiked across the iconic Dom Louis bridge and took the cable car across rooftops to enjoy differing views of the city and to take photos of the rabelo – traditional Portuguese cargo boats used to transport port barrels upstream.
What a pleasure to return each evening to our home for the week, the Star-Ship Emerald Radiance. Holding no more than 112 guests and 37 crew, she is Emerald’s smallest ship, purpose-built to navigate the narrow locks that have tamed the Douro in recent years. The friendly, all-Portuguese crew provided exceptional levels of customer service. Handrails gleamed, mirrors and windows sparkled. Drinks were served promptly in the bar. A memorable moment saw the entire crew (minus the captain who was busy steering the ship) downing tools and serenading us on the sundeck with a traditional song as we feasted on a barbecue of fresh sardines, juicy spatchcock chicken and salads. Another special moment occurred early morning when my yoga stretching on deck was interrupted by the crew busily cleaning the ships windows and moving in time to Queen’s “I want to break free.”
Our Panorama Balcony Suite held all our belongings with ease thanks to under-bed storage for suitcases, deep drawers and, yippee, a shelf to store John’s library! In addition to a high-powered hairdryer, mini-bar, safe and a full range of good quality toiletries, there were robes, slippers, an umbrella and two walking poles. Preholiday, Emerald had posted us rucksacks and also water bottles that we could fill with ice-cold water or tea/coffee available 24/7 from machines in the lounge. These guys think of everything!
As cruise ships may only sail the Douro during daytime, my FOMO (fear of missing out) new vistas and lock experiences whist sleeping was allayed. Emerald also seemed to have bagged the best mooring spots and rarely tied up alongside other ships, allowing us uninterrupted views through our cabin’s floor-to-ceiling windows. (I’ll never forget on my first ever river cruise standing stark naked and flinging open our curtains to greet dawn on the river Nile, only to find a startled man sitting in his cabin inches away from ours. A ship had quietly docked beside us overnight).
The sheer convenience of having Radiance’s fine-dining restaurant within easy reach of our room was a real bonus. Carefully planned menus and accompanying wines reflected local or national produce wherever possible. Chef positively beamed when he tempted this vegetarian to taste slow-roasted pork sourced from a local piggery bred to produce the sweetest most tender meat. Melt-in-the mouth butterfish from the Azores starred in another memorable meal. Our charming and most attentive waiter, Daniel, remembered our drink preferences and gracefully met our cheeky requests for extra cheese and biscuits with a glass of tawny port.
Fellow guests helped make the whole experience even more special. We soon found our ‘tribe’ amongst the mixed group of Australian, Canadian, American and British guests. Our competitive gang of 60-something boomers outdanced and out-sang the competition during a music quiz. We all agreed we hadn’t laughed so much in ages. Many were returning customers with one couple enjoying their 8th cruise with Emerald – I can certainly see why.
Next steps:
To take an Emerald Cruise like Carole’s or to find out about their worldwide voyages and to book your Cruise, call our Silver Travel Advisors on 0800 412 5678 or visit silvertraveladvisor.com
The Pacific Coast Highway hugs the California coast for more than 650 miles. Peter Ellegard suggests some of his favourite things to do along the way.
1. Get your kicks at the end of Route 66
Stroll 110-year-old Santa Monica Pier to the marker signalling the end of Route 66. The so-called Mother Road runs for 2,400 miles across eight states from Chicago to Los Angeles satellite city Santa Monica and celebrates its centenary in 2026. Buy souvenirs of it at end-of-the-pier shop 66 to Cali.
View surfers riding Pacific rollers and wide Santa Monica State Beach from on high on the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel at the pier’s Pacific Park amusement park and get a nostalgia rush on its historic Looff Hippodrome carousel.
The original Muscle Beach, next to the pier and alongside the Ocean Front Walk path, is where America’s physical fitness boom began in the 1930s.
Less than an hour’s walk, or 15-minute cycle ride, on the path is bohemian Venice Beach, where bodybuilders pump iron at presentday Muscle Beach and where its famous boardwalk pulsates with performers, artists and eclectic stalls.
Stay: New boutique hotel Venice V occupies a refurbished building right on the Venice Beach boardwalk that was once a glitzy hotel attracting early Hollywood stars.
The calm, protected waters are a perfect refuge for marine wildlife. Sea lions congregate on a purpose-built raft to bask, bicker and bark at each other, while sea otters wrap themselves in kelp and lay on their backs to feed, nap and care for their pups.
They can be seen from restaurants, bars and vantage points along the waterfront Embarcadero thoroughfare, but the best way to get a close-up view is on a guided kayak trip. Not too close to disturb them, though.
Whale-watching tours head offshore to see humpback whales, grey whales and dolphins, while migrating monarch butterflies cluster on eucalyptus trees in Morro Bay State Park from October to March.
Stay: Wake up to the sound of roosting herons and cormorants in an adjacent natural preserve overlooking the water at the Inn at Morro Bay.
3. Wonder at the opulence of Hearst Castle
Open for tours since mid-May after being closed for two years because of the Covid pandemic, the grandiose hilltop mansion built by publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst near San Simeon
2. Paddle with sea otters and sea lions at Morro Bay
A delightful, laid-back stop missed by many driving California’s Highway 1, nature is a key attraction at Morro Bay.
The bay from which this fishing port turned holiday, boating and water sports haven gets its name is actually an estuary all but enclosed from Pacific waves by a long sand bar and dominated by a towering rock often capped by a fog hat.
is a California State Park and a must-visit on the Central California coast.
Casa Grande, as he called the ornate 38-bedroom main house, was inspired by a historic Spanish church and incorporates architectural features taken from many old buildings across Europe into its fabric as well as being filled with a wealth of antique treasures, art and textiles.
It was originally a family home but became known for the lavish costume parties thrown by Hearst and his mistress Marion Davies for the rich and famous, among them Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, Bob Hope and Winston Churchill.
Perhaps its most opulent feature is the Neptune Pool, with its Romanesque temple, colonnade and classical statues.
Stop off to see magnificent elephant seals nearby at Piedras Blancas. Stay: San Simeon is the gateway to the dramatic Big Sur coastline and the Post Ranch Inn offers luxury and grandstand ocean views atop 1,200-foot cliffs at Big Sur.
4. Explore charming and sophisticated Carmel
More than 30 years since Clint Eastwood was mayor of Carmelby-the-Sea, as it is officially called, this one-square-mile village is as quirky as it is quaint.
A permit is required to wear high heels, available free from City Hall. Carmel’s pretty cottages and houses only have names and no street addresses. There are no streetlights, nor parking meters, making it very visitor-friendly. It also has no pavements beyond the commercial downtown area. You won’t find any chain restaurants, either. Instead, dine at welcoming independent eateries such as Casanova, set in a house once owned by Charlie Chaplin’s personal cook, and people watch from cafes tucked between boutique stores and high-end fashion shops.
Visit Carmel Mission, one of California’s 21 historic Spanish missions, relax on Carmel’s sandy beach and enjoy a slow ride on the Monterey Peninsula’s picturesque 17 Mile Drive.
Stay: Find your Zen in boutique hotel Tradewinds Carmel, an Asian-Californian fusion with a lush meditation garden.
5. Ride the cable cars and streetcars of San Francisco
Unless you prefer hiking up and down its hilly streets, the most enjoyable way to get around San
Francisco is by riding its venerable streetcars and cable cars. There is a difference. The sleek F Line streetcars are enclosed and are powered by trolley poles connected to overhead wires, whereas cable cars on the three lines use an underground cable system and allow passengers to stand on outside footplates. Watching cable car operators manually turn them on the turntables at the ends of each line is fascinating.
Hop off for cheesecake and bubbles or coffee at the Cheese Cake Factory’s open-air patio on Macy’s rooftop overlooking Union Square. You can also use them to get to Fisherman’s Wharf, the city’s main tourist area, and Pier 39 from where you can take a cruise to Alcatraz island and sail under the Golden Gate Bridge. A metro system and rapid buses also allow easy, car-free travel around the city.
Stay: Stylish and contemporary Hotel Zoe is just steps from the Fisherman’s Wharf waterfront while sister property Argonaut is housed in a historic warehouse next to the wharf. Both offer free rental bikes.
To book your trip to California and the Pacific Highway, call our Silver Travel Advisors on 0800 412 5678 or visit silvertraveladvisor.com
£174
Whether you’re looking for a romantic break for two, a family holiday or getting away with friends, Daish’s Holidays offers 12 hotels in 10 of the most popular UK destinations. Our fleet of luxury Mercedes and Volvo coaches provide return travel in comfort and style from your pick up point and will take you directly to your hotel, aiming to arrive between 3 – 5pm.
If you’d like to get out and about to explore the local area on your holiday, then all of our breaks can also be booked on a self-drive basis so you’ve got the freedom of having your own car.
Every break includes:
from Return coach travel (self-drive option available)
Breakfast & 3-course evening meal
Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice
Coach & Self-Drive Holidays January 2023 – December 2023
Request your brochure now!
Self-drive & coach inclusive breaks Comfy en suite accommodation
Live nightly entertainment*
We are proud to announce that five of our group – Bournemouth Sands, Daish’s, Devonshire, Imperial, County – have been awarded the coveted Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice award for 2022.
When it comes to inviting, relaxing breaks, we have the ideal holiday for you...
Local pick up points from make it easy to get away.
Price includes return coach travel from: Swindon, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Calne, Chippenham, Bristol.
All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s).
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Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/double rooms with sole occupancy. Optional local excursions can be booked at the hotel. Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates available in 2023. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown. Offer ends 15th March 2023
10 fabulous locations, 12 great hotels.
Many of us look to the summer as an exciting time to escape our everyday norm and embark on our summer holidays. We all look forward to that time away from the 9-5, meeting new people, trying new foods and experiencing new cultures.
However, with the cost of living rising and some still feeling uneasy about travel abroad, a caravan holiday, whether with a touring caravan, motorhome or campervan, could be the perfect solution. Rob Debenham, Show Manager, at The Caravan Motorhome & Holiday Show explains why we should consider a caravan holiday for our next getaway.
A caravan holiday has many great benefits and provides us with the opportunity to experience the many wonders that lie on our own doorstep. Having that sense of home comforts wherever you decide to travel, one of the many great benefits of a caravan holiday is that you have complete freedom in your destinations, when you go and how long you go for.
By being mobile you are free to take your road trip all over the UK (and beyond), exploring places and towns you may never have considered before and discovering hidden gems. Many caravan sites in the UK are often located near beaches, woodlands, forests and areas of natural beauty, all of which are perfect for enjoying the British countryside, seaside strolls and even toasted marshmallows around the fire in the evening.
What makes caravanning even better is that you are travelling with your home comforts. You can travel at your own pace and for however long you want, without the worry of rushing to the airport or missing a train. This means you can fully relax and enjoy this laidback break away from normality.
An escape in your ‘van doesn’t also have to be limited to just the UK. Destinations such a Spain and France are easily accessible by ferry and lead to countries, landscapes, sites and experiences you may have missed if travelling via plane or train.
Furthermore, by travelling this way, you get to avoid busy airports and train stations. Long wait times and cancelled flights can become a distant memory and even if you do need to queue to board your ferry, at least you can wait in comfort with a cup of your favourite tea in hand. Airport activity such as baggage reclaim is replaced with the freedom of the open road, and even the odd traffic jam can be made bearable, if not enjoyable, when surrounded by beautiful rolling countryside.
The traditional holiday abroad can often come with a lot of added baggage, especially if you have kids to entertain on flights, around the pool or at the beach. Colouring books, swimming noodles, toys and additional paraphernalia can all add up to a heavy suitcase that’s difficult to pack. With a ‘van holiday, you have more room to pack
exactly what you heart desires and if you have a furry friend that you don’t want to leave behind, you don’t have too.
A ‘van holiday makes a wonderful – and practical - family trip and if you are concerned about having enough to do with children and teenagers when parked up, you can check sites and their onsite activities or nearby attractions with ease with the Caravan and Motorhome Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club websites, show partners to Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Show.
The best places in the UK for a caravan holiday
Caravanning has never been more popular. Now more than ever, people are appreciating the immense freedom it gives, as well as the opportunity to stay at some of the most stunning places across the UK, at a very affordable rate.
To help those first time caravanners, or indeed those regulars looking for some fresh inspiration for where to stay in 2023, we’ve called on the Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Show, Show Manager, Rob Debenham to share some of his favourite sites across the UK.
Glen Nevis Caravan & Camping Park in Scotland – This award-winning caravan and camping park is set in the midst of the Highlands, at the foot of the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. The park gives you easy access to the many footpaths of Glen Nevis that take you through forests or alongside the beautiful River Nevis. Glen Nevis Holidays enjoys its own Highland Estate with grounds extending over 1,000 acres and is also home to a herd of Pedigree Highland cattle! Prices for caravans start at £27.50.
Fishguard Bay Resort in Wales – This intimate and secluded resort provides breath-taking views in an amazing setting. Nearly all the pitches offer dramatic views of the stunning Pembrokeshire coastline, perched on the unspoilt western coast of Wales. Prices for caravans start at £22 per night.
The Sutton-on-Sea Club Campsite – The Midlands aren’t often remembered for their many coastal retreats but Sutton-on-Sea is a well-kept secret. With buckets of traditional seaside charm, the area is home to sandy shores, coastal walks and plenty of fun local activities like bowling, tennis and mini golf. Prices for caravans start at £20.30. Find out more details here.
Summer Valley Touring Park in Truro – Deep in the heart of Cornwall, close to the popular holiday destination of Truro, this family-run park has great facilities set in stunning parkland countryside. Just 10 minutes to the nearby beaches of Perranporth and St Agnes, it offers picturesque views and countless things to do – from visiting one of the 36 National Trust properties nearby, to swimming in the sea, to visiting one of the many Poldark filming locations! Prices for caravans start at £25 per night.
Kloofs Holiday Resort in Bexhill – Set in 22 acres of tranquil and peaceful countryside in East Sussex, with incredible views over the South Downs, Kloofs is a perfect spot for you to explore the countryside, or visit the nearby beach at Cooden, just two miles away. With popular towns such as Bexhill and Eastbourne, and even Brighton, not too far a drive, you will have plenty to see and do while its facilities have received rave reviews. From £27 per night.
Ebikes sales are catching up with standard bicycles and fast becoming mainstream due to the practicality of the humble bicycle with the addition of an electric motor and battery. It’s not surprising with no road tax to pay, no insurance, ease of parking, exercise, health benefits, I could go on…
This year could be the year to buy one. It seems the supply issues of the past two years have now largely disappeared, and if anything there could be an oversupply of some models. With manufacturers needing to clear the decks for model year 2023 bikes arriving soon, we are likely to see some good deals around!
Join e-motion evc at our shop in Swindon on Thursday 23rd March from 6.30 to 8.30pm to see the new ebike “Smart System” from Bosch. The smart system points the way to the digital future for ebikes. In conjunction with the new “ebike Flow App” there is a whole host of new features; ebike alarm, ebike lock, navigation, over the air updates, activity tracking, you name it… We’ll also have some of the latest ebikes from KTM and Focus which incorporate this new system. And you’ll also be able to mooch around our new workshop/ showroom facility and ask any questions.
Open Tuesday to Saturday
01793 251200
www.e-motionevc.co.uk 01793 251200
SHE was the Queen of Latin American Dance and now she’s the Queen of Strictly but for Shirley Ballas the journey has been as tricky as any complex samba routine.
In spite of attracting a worrying cache of trolls as Head Judge of the mega popular weekly dance competition, Shirley has waltzed straight into the hearts of viewers.
How else could we tell a heel lead from a flick ball change or appreciate the techniques of a fleckle without Shirley’s help? When she took over the role from fellow judge and much-loved dance icon Len Goodman six years ago, Shirley definitely had a tough act to follow.
But she was no newcomer to the world of either dance competition or judging. Shirley was already a well-respected figure in the dance world and a former Latin American champion with all the right moves. In fact, she was the ideal person for the Strictly top job.
She could never have known, however, just how far up the dance ladder she would climb when she was a seven year-old in Wallasey, Cheshire, taking up dancing for the very first time.
Her childhood had not been easy up until then. Her father had left the family when Shirley was just two and she and her Mum and brother David had very little money.
Shirley proved to be a promising young dancer and at 15 she moved to North Yorkshire to partner British ballroom champion Nigel Tiffany. They moved to London two years later but their partnership ended after Shirley was convinced to audition to partner dancer Sammy Stopford.
They married when Shirley was 18 to be partners both on the dance floor and in life. In the former, they were successful; one highlight was winning the Professional Latin title at the Blackpool Dance Festival in 1983.
Sadly, away from the ballroom, the pairing was less successful and the relationship ended five years later.
In 1985, she married dancer Corky Ballas and took the Professional Latin title in Blackpool in 1995 and 1996 with him. The couple then moved to Houston, Texas, to compete in America.
By then, she was already an established dancing coach and judge and she decided to give up competitive dancing. She worked with top US TV show Dancing with the Stars, commentating and giving master classes. The couple later divorced.
She came to widespread prominence in the UK when in May, 2017, it was announced that she would be joining the judging panel of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One, replacing head judge Len Goodman when series 15 was aired in September that year.
Although Shirley was plainly well-known in the dance world, both in the UK and internationally, she was new to many viewers of the perennially popular programme. Fortunately, her warm personality, straightforward approach to contestants and phenomenal dance knowledge quickly made her a judging favourite.
She tries to be honest and positive with contestants, highlighting their strengths and offering useful advice on their weaknesses. She follows not only her own mind on this but also, like Len Goodman, upholds the strict rules of the world of dance and refuses to gloss over flaws.
Her no-nonsense approach and critiques have inevitably attracted some negative comments and, sadly, some of these have turned into serious online trolling.
So much so that Shirly recently reported a genuine loss of confidence, forcing her – in a career spanning five decades – to consult a doctor for the first time about her low moods and anxiety.
For, even though Shirley states that she has “always tried to do the best job for people watching at home” and understands that viewers don’t always agree with the judges’ scoring, she has found the trolling very upsetting.
She told OK magazine: “When it gets personal, that’s cruel.”
Shirley’s life has generally been far from plain-sailing and Christmas is a particularly difficult time. On December 5, 2003, her brother took his own life, making this normally festive time a painful one for her for a long time.
In 2019, amid general concerns about cancer, she had breast implants removed. In typical Shirley fashion, she was very open about the situation, discussing her decision on the Lorraine show and returning to the Strictly screen a short time after surgery, thus winning praise from fans.
It is largely thanks to the amazing knowledge of Shirley, now 62, that so many more viewers now understand the intricacies of dances from the American Smooth to the Argentine Tango.
She breaks down the technicalities to explain – and often demonstrate – technical moves that few viewers would otherwise appreciate without her helpful approach.
She is generous with her scoring, but only if a dancer deserves it, and will fight her corner even if her decision is unpopular. She is, however, always encouraging. She told young contestant Molly Rainford in the latest series: “I have not seen a rhumba walk like that in a long, long time”, much to the dancer’s delight
And she tempers even tough criticism with praise like “your musicality was amazing” and “this partnership is truly outstanding.” She will be with fellow judges and dancers when the Strictly Live Tour kicks off in January for two months, with Shirley a popular part of this interactive arena experience.
What is certain is that Shirley will always offers an expert’s wisdom along with kindness – and there’s nothing strict about that.
Dance has plainly been Shirley’s life and her son, Mark Ballas, is also a professional ballroom dancer.
Part of that determination may be about your own health, wellbeing, work/life balance or your domestic situation. And a large part of it may be to do with your home environment and what you want to change to improve your life.
Improving your weight and fitness are relatively easy to plan – if not quite as easy to achieve! Healthy eating and more exercise are achievable, as you gaze into the slimmer, trimmer months ahead, via more discipline around mealtimes and more visits to the gym.
Altering your home may not be quite as easy to plan this year as the higher cost of living bites into all our finances and future plans. It is not, however, the end of the story.
It may be sensible to look at the levels of change in your home that you’d like to achieve. Do you want quite dramatic, slightly cosmetic or something in between?
Quite dramatic can involve moving house, downsizing or alternatively finding somewhere with more space to accommodate the daily needs of you and your family. This is certainly all under-pinned by personal finances and just what you can afford as this New Year unfolds its money merry-go-round.
It’s probably quite likely that the majority of us want something perhaps not as dramatic as moving home but well above new cushion covers.
This all requires a realistic look at your finances. If you’re not sure you can afford big changes visit debt charity StepChange at https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/your-financialsituation/making-a-budget.aspx about budgeting or Citizens Advice on https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-andmoney/budgeting
If you decide to make structural changes to your home like an EXTENSION, an ORANGERY or CONSERVATORY check first whether you need planning permission from your local planning authority through your local council.
You’ll probably need planning permission if you want to build something new, make a major change to your building like an
extension or change the use of your building.
Experts like architects and builders can help you here. If you need an architect, try to go on recommendation from someone you know who can tell you about their experiences. If you need a builder, the same applies or find a trusted builder and reviews about their work by going to https://www. checkatrade.com/Search/ Builder/in/Uk
As well as the cost of building, don’t forget that you will also have to RE-DECORATE and re-think FURNISHINGS in adjacent areas. It’s important to factor in all the potential costs before you start. Fortunately, you can still make noticeable changes to your home without it necessarily meaning a building project.
A new, modern FRONT DOOR can also give it a more contemporary look as can new WINDOWS
The great thing about both these is they have a direct impact on your energy bills. So new windows in particular - if you have old ones which let in drafts –could make your home much cosier and ultimately more cost-efficient.
PAINTING the outside of your house can make a real difference to the look of your home because that kerb appeal is just as important to you as residents as it is to visitors.
Even investing in new CURTAINS can help to make your home warmer throughout. Long, lined curtains help keep expensive warmth in, and they can also help change the colour scheme in a lounge with matching cushion covers or a throw.
Picking up that new shade in a few ornaments or a picture will also brighten up a room and plants in coloured pots help bring the outside inside at a time of year when we’re happy to be indoors.
There is also nothing like the look – and smell - of new CARPETS. Choose a contemporary shade to brighten up current furniture and add to that vital warmth. Or you may prefer to have a wooden floor with modern rugs to offer that different décor.
NEW Years are always a time for change when you promise yourself that life will be better then and you WILL make it happen.
LIGHTING can also really change how a room looks. There are so many choices of modern lighting now, especially with economical LED lights available, that you’ll be amazed at what’s on offer. Opting for a modern central light, and possibly add matching wall lights, can give a room such a fresh, bright look. It banishes those dark corners forever and makes rooms look larger.
If your KITCHEN is the heart of your home, giving it a makeover could really impact on the quality of daily life. If new kitchen units could prove too much of an expense this year, new unit handles and doors could be worth the money in giving this important room a new image.Local company nuimage can help with this.
23 years ago David designed and installed our new kitchen Now we have been back for a refurbishment “The kitchen that David fitted 23 years ago is still in good condition,” says Mike & Tracy Mason of Wroughton
“We just wanted a new look, so David suggested replacing the doors.”
The existing kitchen had non standard doors, but we can supply made to measure replacement doors and door fronts.
“It has made the room look brighter and refreshed,” says Tracy.
“David`s son Oliver did the fitting, he was still at school when the original kitchen was fitted. I would recommend nuimage to anyone, they are a friendly family business who care about their customers.”
New blinds and kitchen accessories in complementary shades can add to that “new kitchen” look.
The same is true of the BATHROOM where a change of shower curtain, towels, blinds and bathroom accessories can really change the whole look.
BEDROOMS can benefit from new curtains, matching duvet sets and cushions and changing the walls and headboard to a soothing shade may guarantee restful nights.
Don’t forget the outside, either. Give your GARDEN a chance to be centre-stage in 2023. You may feel that you finally want to afford a new hot tub or spa in the back garden.
The British and Irish Hot Tub and Exercise Spa Industry (BISHTA) is very helpful if you’re looking for either of these or need to find companies which provide maintenance and water treatment products and accessories. Go to www.bishta.co.uk for information
Re-designing your garden can offer fresh delights. Decking is ideal for lounging with the family or it’s worth considering swapping grass for simple pebbled spaces with large plant pots and a few shaded areas for quiet rest or reading. This all gives a fresh way to enjoy the Great Outdoors when the weather allows.
If you’re looking for ways to transform your garden currently, the Royal Horticultural Society’s website is a mine of useful information and ideas. Go to www.rhs.org.uk to find out new ways with your garden.
Host of ITV’s flagship cookery show, James Martin’s Saturday Morning, James Martin is one of the UK’s most popular TV chefs, whose enthusiasm and passion for food have won him countless fans. His accessible approach to cooking has been showcased across bestselling books including Islands to Highlands (2020), James Martin’s Great British Adventure (2019), James Martin’s French Adventure (2017), Home Comforts (2014) and More Home Comforts (2016). He regularly appears on the BBC, ITV and Food Network, as well as demonstrating live at the BBC Good Food Show and touring the UK with his own one-man show. Potato is the natural companion to James’s smash hit book Butter (2021).
Potato shows why the spud is a staple in so many cuisines, from rustic country kitchens to Michelin-starred restaurant tables. The embodiment of field-to-fork cooking, this superstar of the food world is showcased by James in a wealth of imaginative recipes that you’ll want to cook again and again.
Serves 6
I used to take the mick out of French chefs saying this is their fancy fish pie, but it does taste bloody amazing! And just look at it… super indulgent, yes, but a classic that should never be forgotten.
Ingredients
50g butter
50g plain flour
500ml full-fat milk
1 small bunch of parsley, chopped
12 scallops
300g prawns
600g potatoes, peeled and diced
50g butter
2 egg yolks
Method
Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/400°F/gas 6. To make the white sauce, melt the butter in a pan, then whisk in the flour and cook out for 2 minutes. Add the milk and whisk to combine, then simmer until bubbling. Stir in the parsley. Put the scallops and prawns into scallop shells and pour over the sauce. Set aside to cool. Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water for 20 minutes until soft, drain and then pass through a ricer into a bowl. Mix with the butter and egg yolks. Pipe the potato mixture around the edges of the scallop shells then sit on a baking tray and bake for 15–20 minutes.
Serves 6
This was simply the most popular dish in the book when this photograph was taken. The cooked potatoes wrapped in pancetta work brilliantly hot or cold and dunked in the fondue – what could be nicer? For vegetarians, just use goodquality potatoes and veg like fresh radishes, which taste amazing.
Ingredients FOR THE FONDUE
100ml white wine
3 tsp cornflour
500g Cheddar, grated 500g Gruyère, grated 100ml crème fraîche sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/400°F/gas 6. Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water for 12–15 minutes until just soft. Drain and leave to cool.
Wrap each potato in a slice of pancetta, pop onto a roasting tray and roast for 15 minutes.
TO SERVE
24 baby potatoes (about 400g)
12 slices of pancetta, halved lengthways
400g chorizo chunks
18 baby carrots
2 small bags of radishes
1 jar of cornichons and pickled onions, drained
1 endive, leaves separated
Pop the chorizo into a small roasting tray and roast for 15 minutes alongside the potatoes.
To make the fondue, whisk all the ingredients together in a non-stick pan, gently whisking continuously until warmed through. Pour into a fondue dish and keep warm.
Serve with the carrots, radishes, chorizo, baby potatoes, cornichons and onions, and endive for dipping.
Think of a cottage pie on steroids and this is what you get. The Welsh rarebit can be made in advance, and either use it in this dish or on toast or smoked haddock.
Serves 6-8
Ingredients
1 onion, sliced
25g butter
700g minced beef
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
500ml beef stock
1 large bunch of parsley, chopped sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
FOR THE RAREBIT
400g Cheddar, grated
50ml Welsh beer
a few drops of Tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon English mustard
1 tablespoon plain flour
1 egg yolk
FOR THE MASHED POTATO
50g butter
100ml double cream
1kg mashed potato
frozen peas
Method
In a frying pan over a medium heat, fry the onion in the butter for 10 minutes, then add the beef. Cook until coloured, then add the Worcestershire sauce and beef stock and cook over a high heat for 20 minutes. Add the parsley and season. To make the rarebit, put the cheese in a large pan, add the beer, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce and mustard. Warm through gently until all the cheese has melted.
When all the cheese is melted, stir in the flour and gently cook it for another minute or two. Season, add the egg yolk and beat together. Remove from the heat and set aside.
For the mashed potato, melt the butter and cream in a large pan, season and add the mashed potato. Beat together and warm through gently.
Preheat the grill to high.
Spoon the beef into a 20 x 15cm ovenproof dish and top with the mashed potato, then the rarebit. Pop under the grill for 5 minutes until golden and bubbling.
Meanwhile, cook the peas in boiling water, then drain and serve with the pie.
This recipe came about due to the massive lovage plant I had in the garden. We first used it to make a crust for lamb, then by adding a bit of cream cheese we turned it into a great crust for fish. We use plaice or brill in the restaurant, but it’s good with any non-oily fish, although salmon works too. Lovage is a fascinating herb, which has got a sort of celery taste and smell and works brilliantly in a lot of dishes with potatoes – even soup.
Serves 4
150g butter
4 x 200g brill fillets, skinned
300g new potatoes, sliced
12 asparagus spears, sliced a few chives, chopped sea salt and freshly ground black pepper lemon wedges, to serve
30g lovage
50g Parmesan
1 thick slice of bread
1 small bunch of parsley
3 borage leaves
50g full-fat cream cheese
To make the crust, place all the ingredients in a food processor and blitz until smooth. Put between 2 layers of greaseproof paper and, using a rolling pin, roll out to 3mm thick. Chill in the fridge until needed.
Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/400°F/gas 6. Heat a non-stick ovenproof pan, add the oil and 50g of the butter, then put in the fish. Season, then cook for 2 minutes. Flip over and cook for another 2 minutes.
Cut 4 pieces of crust to the same size as each piece of fish and sit on top of the fish. Place the pan in the oven and roast the fish for 5 minutes. Put the pan back on the hob, add 25g of the butter and cook for another minute.
Meanwhile, in a separate pan, cover the potato slices in water and the remaining 75g butter and cook for 10 minutes, adding the asparagus for the last 2 minutes of cooking time. Sprinkle with chives and season.
To serve, spoon the potato and asparagus onto plates and place the fish alongside with a lemon wedge for squeezing.
Council tax bills are based on the assumption that two adults occupy the property as their main home. If it’s occupied by only one adult, and the property is their main home, the bill is reduced by a single person’s discount of 25%.
In addition, there are certain groups of people who we do not count for Council Tax purposes when counting the number of adults in the household. These groups are known as ‘disregarded persons’. If there is an adult from one of these groups living in your property, they may not be counted for Council Tax purposes and you may be entitled to a discount.
Examples of disregarded persons are:
• people on some apprentice schemes
• 18 and 19-year-olds in full-time education
• full-time college and university students
• student nurses
• foreign language assistants registered with the British Council
• people with a severe mental impairment
• live-in carers who look after someone who isn’t their partner, spouse or child
• diplomats
Fraud within the Council Tax system costs each lawful Council tax payer. Fraud can get into the system a number of ways but the most common issues are:
• Making a false statement at the outset, i.e. misleading the Council into accepting information which at the time was not true.
• Failure to report relevant changes to circumstances to the Council Tax service, for example; someone over 18 has moved into your address and you receive a Single person’s discount.
If you suspect that someone may be defrauding the Council Tax system in any way you can help by reporting you concern’s in confidence to:
CALL 0118 937 2143
Email antifraud@reading.gov.uk
Report via web pages
http://www.reading.gov.uk/ internalaudit
If you are disabled, you may be able to park in restricted areas under the blue badge scheme. The scheme is for drivers and passengers.
Some people can get a blue badge automatically. This is called being eligible without further assessment. You fit into this group if one or more of the following applies to you:
• you are registered as blind/severely sight impaired
• you receive the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• you receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and you scored at least 8 points in relation to the ‘moving around’ activity in the PIP assessment, or least 12 points in the mobility activity for planning and following journeys
• you have been awarded a lump sum benefit from the Armed Forces Compensation scheme (tariffs 1 to 8). You have also been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which means you can’t walk or find walking very difficult
• you receive a government grant towards your own vehicle.
If you were on higher rate mobility component of DLA, but you had to claim PIP instead and didn’t get enough points to be eligible for a blue badge, you can continue to use your badge until it expires.
If none of these apply to you, you may still be eligible. This is called being eligible subject to further assessment, and will apply to you if you meet one of these criteria:
• you have a permanent or substantial disability which means you can’t walk or find walking very difficult
• you are a driver and have severe upper limb disabilities
• as a result of a mental disorder you are unable to follow the route of a familiar journey without the assistance
of another person. Anyone aged over two years can be eligible under this condition, including people over 65.
• you are applying on behalf of a child under three with a medical condition that requires them to be close to a vehicle for emergency medical treatment or transporting bulky medical equipment.
If you have any queries about whether you’re eligible for a blue badge, you can contact the national blue badge helpline on 0844 463 0215
How are you assessed?
If you are eligible subject to further assessment, your local authority will look at the evidence of your disability to decide whether you can have a blue badge.
You may need to have an independent mobility assessment. If you have applied for or held a blue badge previously, your GP may have carried this out. Assessments may now be carried out by an independent mobility assessor. This is usually a medical professional such as an occupational therapist or physiotherapist, who has never treated you before.
If your local authority wants you to have a mobility assessment, it will refer you to the assessor. You will not be charged for the assessment.
You may not be required to undergo an assessment if your council says it is very obvious that you are eligible or ineligible.
Blue Badge (disabled parking permits) Fraud:
Disabled Parking Permits or Blue Badges are issued by your Local Authority to persons with a genuine need to access facilities and park within easy reach of these. However there are some people who are prepared to misuse or fraudulently acquire these badges. The Investigation Team are committed to fighting fraudulent activity but need your help to do so!
If you suspect someone of committing Blue Badge fraud please contact us in confidence.
CALL 0118 937 2143
CALL: 0118 937 2143
Email: antifraud@reading.gov.uk
Report via web pages: http://www.reading.gov.uk/fraud
Our glass roof conservatories could be at least £10,000 cheaper than an extension.
Our skilled and experienced team are always on hand to help and answer your questions, so call us today to find out more.
With the very latest changes in the building regulations where now all solid or non-translucent roof buildings should now go through the process of acquiring building regulation approval.
Customers who are just looking for a quicker solution to having an extra room on their property using the new glass technology so they can use the room all year round. With reasonable lead times you could be using the extra room by Autumn. They would do no better than look at a conservatory which is by far the most cost effective way forward while they are still exempt from planning and building regulations.
Here at The Conservatory Centre in Swindon, we offer the best quality roofs, frames and climate glass, available on the market at the best possible value.
All our conservatories are built on traditionally constructed bases and with the quality of our glass and frames, you are essentially buying another room for your home. Our conservatories really are all year-round rooms, staying comfortable during the summer, and warm during the winter.
We work most often with Ultraframe – a world-leading supplier of high-performance roofs perfect for a wide range of homes.
With a range of innovative features and modern, sleek designs, Ultraframe conservatories represent the very cutting-edge. Don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out more about our product range.
Our collection includes Performance, Designer and Classic conservatories, so there’s an option for every style preference.
Our Performance range includes the most cutting-edge technology, while Designer conservatories are all about the aesthetic appeal. A Classic conservatory will offer
traditional, timeless style for a vintage feel.
We work closely with every client to ensure the finished conservatory matches your vision. We’ll take the time to discuss your requirements and collaborate with you in drawing up a design that you’ll love.
Apart from the climate controlled roof glass with a U value of 1 they can have insulated internal pelmets with plastered surrounds and downlighters to add ambience and make it look like a proper room without making the room you are covering any darker.
Stephen Wright site manager of The Conservatory Centre explains: “A conservatory which is cold and expensive to heat in winter and unbearably hot in summer would represent poor value whatever the price paid. We all would like a room that we can enjoy in the cold winter months and hot summer days. So how do we achieve this? How do we compare what’s on offer? Quite simply the term ‘U-value’ is used as a measure of heat transfer through a given material. The huge area of glass, and maybe polycarbonate in the roof of a conservatory, if not in line with the very latest technology can reduce your investment to little
more than a glorified greenhouse!
The higher the U-value figure, the greater the heat loss will be; conversely, the lower the U-value figure, the lower the heat loss. Remember! for an energy efficient conservatory, compare U-values and GO FOR LOW.
With our latest range of intelligent Climate Control Glass for roofs in active blue, aqua, neutral or bronze tints and our Wall Glass: Total 1.1-1.2 U-Value crystal clear ‘planitherm’, argon gas filled cavity double glazed units. Europe’s top selling solar controlled ‘Low E’ glass made in Britain.
This glass really does make a difference to the all year round comfort of the conservatory. Our customers who have experienced the difference tell us this!
Ordinary Pilkington double glazed units have a U value of 1.9 and will lose 2 times more heat through the glass. Another type of heat retaining glass, sometimes called low e glass or Pilkington K has a U-value of 1.6 which, although better will still let in 50% more heat than ‘Planitherm’. Furthermore, crystal clear
Planitherm Total 1.1-1.2 does not suffer the hazy sheen often associated with Pilkington K glass. As an added bonus, Planitherm
Total 1.1-1.2 glass reduces 70% of harmful radiation passing through the glass, protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful effects, and reducing fabric fading. In summer this amazing glass technology with a .74% solar factor and a .85 shading coefficient keeps your conservatory comfortably cool. (g ISO905 M1)
We believe in giving customers the time to make their decision. All our conservatories are tailor-made to your requirements and we quote based on the exact measurements of your space.
We have the largest dedicated conservatory show site in the area - providing our customers with a realistic and homely setting to view our range, from standard conservatories to orangeries and lightweight, tiled roof extensions.
Due to our honesty, value for money, no-pressure sales and customer service we have achieved the honour of being named a Which? Trusted Trader. Which? scrutinised our working practices and spoke to some of our customers and were pleased to welcome us into the Which? Trusted Trader Scheme.
F Cane - Rattan - Laminated Wood Furniture
F Tiled Floors F Ceiling Fans
Experts in home improvement. With over 50 years experience we can project manage your new conservatory from start to finish, creating an additional room - tailor made to suit your needs - all year round.
Has the patter of tiny paws taken its toll on your outdoor space? Garden writer and dog lover, Julia Heaton, has some top tips to rectify that.
Man’s best friend has really proved its worth during the pandemic with more people than ever becoming dog owners. That’s because sharing your life with a dog is such a rewarding experience. Sadly, sharing your garden can be another matter entirely – one where it feels like you and your pooch are vying to be top dog. Fortunately this is easily rectified. Whether a new or long-time owner, all it takes is a little bit of thought to create a stylish, colourful and fun haven that you can both enjoy in harmony.
It goes without saying that safe, secure boundaries are vital in ensuring your dog can’t escape. The dream scenario is a brick wall but this can be expensive so wooden fence panels are the next best thing. A fence that’s high enough to prevent any canine thoughts of jumping it and is a solid construction is best. Those that still allow a view of what lies beyond are lovely but best avoided to deter the dog from hanging around the area in the hope of seeing something or someone. The same goes for any garden gate.
If you already have a fence but your pet is trying to dig its way out then erect some chicken wire at the base, burying it at least 6in (15cm) below the surface. Make sure the sharp edges are facing away from your garden. Think also about burying some large rocks along the base of the fence and adding another layer in front of that in the
form of a dense hedge or shrub border that can withstand being trampled. This will also soften attention grabbing outside sounds too.
Before laying a path consider the route your dog takes around the garden.
Sadly, it’s a fact that dogs don’t keep to pathways. You can’t stop them from romping through borders but you can go with the flow just by sitting back and watching them create their own routes. These can then be turned into proper paths in a style of your choosing and even laid through borders if that’s where you pet likes to go. Use a low box hedge or willow hurdles as edging around borders to form more of a barrier. The latter can be simply pushed into the ground. All you need to do is choose a hurdle appropriate to the size of your pet.
Dogs are such energetic creatures and the lawn can also come in for its fair share of wear and tear, so it’s worth sowing hard wearing grass seed mix in areas that see a lot of activity. If needs be you could consider giving your pet a dedicated fenced area to let off steam in and pave it so its easily swept clean.
Bitches urinating on the lawn can also leave brown circles behind and plants that come in for a regular dose of urine will suffer and eventually die. The easiest way to deal with this is to hose down the area to dilute the effects. You could also use Dog Rocks (www.dogrocks.co.uk) a natural product that’s added to drinking water to stop grass burn.
Dog excrement is also a problem that needs to be addressed as it can carry worms (Toxocara canis) whose eggs can be passed in faeces into the soil. Handling infected soil can, in some circumstances, lead to stomach ache, coughing and in extreme cases loss of vision. So cleaning up after your pet and regular worming are really important.
Just like humans dogs appreciate a stimulating environment. And by making your garden fun for them you’re more likely to keep your pet out of the beds and borders. They love to sit on an elevated platform to get a better view of what’s going on around them. Steps,
benches or a row of logs, set at varying heights, all provide vantage points.
A tunnel can be a fun feature too. This needn’t be complicated to construct. Just a large plastic barrel with the base cut off, then laid on its side and covered in soil. Grasses and wildflowers can then be sown on top to create a natural looking feature that will soon look like it’s always been there.
For pathways give them different textures to explore like patches of wood chippings, gravel and non-toxic sand. Avoid cocoa bean shell mulch though as this can be potentially harmful if eaten.
If your pet is a digger then a sandpit digging box could be a great distraction. Lay a porous membrane and cover in roundgrained coarse garden sand that doesn’t form clumps when urinated on. Bury some dog toys or edible treats for them to discover. After all that running around and exploring your pet needs a place to retreat to for some much-needed time out. A kennel in a quiet spot where a dog can come and go as it pleases is ideal and will also offer some shade on a sunny day. Don’t forget to put a drinking bowl inside.
Choose plants that can withstand the rough and tumble of your four- footed friend. Annuals like nasturtiums and grasses such as miscanthus are just the job. Then shrubs that will see you through a few years like viburnums and escallonia. Where space and budget allow, go for the largest specimens you can find. Consider the following:
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As autumn takes hold, we hear from customers who choose ColourFence because their old fences have blown down or rotted through, causing anxiety about pets escaping or even unwanted intruders. This, paired with the fact that there is no need for ongoing maintenance allows them to break the expensive, monotonous cycle of painting, repairs and replacement. ColourFence is guaranteed not to warp, crack, shrink, rot or peel for 25 years†. Making it one of the world’s best maintenance-free fences. And, unlike other fences, ColourFence can withstand gusts of wind up to 130mph. There’s a choice of colours to harmonise and enhance your garden’s design. You’ll find our prices surprisingly competitive too. Why wait until an urgent replacement is needed? To see the full product range, call us today and find out why it makes sense to choose ColourFence.
Despite many coats of preservative, the structure of the wooden fence in our front garden rotted, and a recent storm sent it off down the road, thankfully missing the neighbour’s car. However, every cloud has a silver lining,
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Heather – A low growing evergreen with a dense, bushy habit. The strong, twiggy base of the plant supports a soft green top featuring pink, white or purple flowers.
Astilbe – Ideal for shady and damp areas, this perennial is relatively trouble free, comes in a variety of heights and can withstand being trampled on.
Lavender – Thrives in full sun, is fragrant and looks great planted along pathways, where it can take the knocks of passing pets.
Thyme – Great for ground cover, this low growing plant forms a dense mat with pretty flowers and fragrant foliage.
Day Lily – A low maintenance perennial with trumpet shaped
painting or repairs for 25 years!†
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flowers. It has a deep root system that will ensure it recovers from any damage.
Shasta Daisy – This clump-forming perennial will bloom from early summer to early autumn despite any damage.
Six plants that are toxic to dogs
Azalea and Rhododendrons – Can cause vomiting and breathing difficulties. When eaten in large enough quantities it can be fatal to dogs.
Tulips – Many spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils are poisonous to dogs, causing skin allergy, vomiting and diarrhoea and can be fatal. These are best avoided if your pet likes digging.
Larkspur – Can cause digestive problems and even be fatal if the dog eats young plants and seeds.
Yew – Berries and particularly the foliage are highly poisonous. Always dispose of any pruned branches as these will still retain poison.
Oleander – Any part of this plant can cause dermatitis, digestive or heart problems when eaten and in some cases can lead to death.
Euphorbia – Has a milky sap that’s highly toxic when eaten. It can also irritate the eyes and skin.
MAKE PONDS safe by covering the water with a metal grill or mesh to restrict access.
REGULAR RISK assessments of your garden are worth doing when you have a dog as different problems may arise according to the season and jobs you are doing.
LOCK YOUR SHED, or at least firmly shut it while you’re working on the garden to keep harmful chemicals and any sharp tools away from nosy canine visitors.
SECURE COMPOST HEAPS. The contents can contain choking hazards and moulds ingested from compost can lead to vomiting and tremors requiring veterinary treatment.
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AFTER USING CHEMICALS limit your dog’s contact with the treated area for the following few days.
STRIM LONG perennial rye grass before it produces its seeds. These are sharp and can easily pierce skin or get wedged in ears or eyes.
WATCH OUT for dangers at eye level. Thorny and pointed leaved plants like holly and yucca are best avoided. And short garden stakes, acting as plant supports, can cause eye injuries. Make sure the latter always has a cane topper.
For people who are recently discharged from hospital changes in ability can arise that make yesterday’s straightforward tasks today’s challenges. From bathing and toileting, to making a cup of tea, to getting out of the house and maintaining independence, it can be a challenge for recently discharged patients to adjust to life with limited mobility even down to finding shoes and slippers that fit swollen feet.
As we discovered on our recent visit to the Wroughton branch, The Mobility Store has a surprisingly wide and varied range of products, from simple grabbers to fully automated bath lifts, making life easier if you suddenly find yourself less sprightly on
Our
your feet and they can even arrange for short term stairlift hire and hospital beds if needed.
If it’s just a temporary injury all the stores have wheelchairs, knee walkers and mobility scooters available for immediate hire or purchase, as well as things you might not consider such as waterproof bandage/cast protectors and stools for when you bathe or shower, overbed/chair tables, special cutlery as well as crutches, walking sticks and rollators.
All The Mobility Store’s four branches have level access parking right outside for easy access, and their staff have the experience to advise on any future needs that may arise should your mobility continue to be an issue.
THE MOBILITY STORE SWINDON
7 Clive Parade Cricklade Road, Swindon SN2 1AJ 01793 701313 swindon@thehearingandmobilitystore.co.uk
THE MOBILITY STORE MARLBOROUGH
56 George Lane, Marlborough SN8 4BY 01672 511550 wiltshiremobility@mail.com
THE MOBILITY STORE WROUGHTON
6 Devizes Road Wroughton SN4 0RZ 01793 815083
wroughtonmobility@mail.com
THE MOBILITY STORE BOURTON ON THE WATER Lansdowne
Bourton on the Water GL54 2AR 01451 810088 bourtonmobility@mail.com
