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SWINDON SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2012 EDITION 19
The
Hairy
Bikers
TAKE A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO FOOD
Jean Christophe -
Novelli
THE NATION’S FAVOURITE FRENCH CHEF
Russell Grant THE COMEBACK KID
THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50s
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Enjoy a more luxurious travel experience. High-specification buses are calling at a bus stop near you up to every 30 minutes, Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sunday. Complete with stylish, comfortable Lazzarini Transito Italian-designed, high-back leather seats and a cleaner, greener engine. To find out more, visit: www.stagecoachgold.com or call: 0800 917 7103 (lines open 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri)
Blunsdon Abbey Park A New Lifestyle for the over 50s 6-7
16-17 26-28
18-19
inside... TRAVEL & LEISURE 6-7
Malta... Travel to a touch of England in the Med
12-14 New Sporting Activities... improve your fitness 24-25 30-31
Places to Visit and How to Get There... and maybe the Grandkids too Safer Driving this Winter... tips from Swindon Road Safety.
INTERVIEW 16-17 The Hairy Bikers... take a scientific approach to food 10-11 Russell Grant... the comeback kid
FOOD & DRINK 18-19 The Nation’s Favourite French Chef... two recipes from Jean-Christophe Novelli.
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Graham Smith has a Twitter Life is just a tweet! Do you tweet? Twitter seems to have become all the rage but don’t some people make themselves look twits by what they say? Even David Cameron is tweeting, and for once it’s not about Nick Clegg. As I write he’s just popped up to announce that Prime Minister’s Question Time is about to start. A sure cue for everyone to switch off their computers and phones and hide in a darkened corner before this adult version of Children’s Playtime starts. Does the Queen tweet? Well not officially but someone assuming her name, @Queen_UK, and claiming to be Elizabeth Windsor, gives me many a chuckle with irreverent comments and quips at various member of the Royal Family and the government.
Waiting for a Princess! Joining a small crowd waiting to see the Princess Royal in Keighley I had to laugh at some of the comments as time ticked by and she did not emerge from the Civic Centre she was opening. “I suppose she’s had her dinner, I’m on the wrong side of mine,” growled one elderly lady. “Who does she think she is being so late, royalty?”, from one man. I was curious to see this much travelled, often criticised member of the Royal Family whose dog has a penchant for eating geese and who can be a bit nippy behind a steering wheel.
Her catchphrase is “gin o’clock” and he or she has an astonishing 646,553 followers and counting. The latest tweet,“ Camilla on the phone, worried that “the interweb has gone”. The DoE (Prince Philip) thinks she’s trying to find Ceefax”. Then there was this little gem, “Alvin and the Chipmunks (Mr Cameron and Co) are back from their Burma holiday. The poor Burmese still have no idea who they are”. Or “Bungle (Boris Johnson) on the phone. Not really sure what he’s saying, partly due to one having hung up”. She creases me! The “gin o’clock” bit comes in when our supposed monarch announces at 5pm each day that it’s home time and “gin o’clock”. And one of my favourites, “Just been out with the dogs. The DoE is trying to dry Linnet the corgi off with a hairdryer”. To me this is great humour and I am an avid follower. Others make me laugh for other reasons. They tweet before they’re out of bed and I even know the flavour of one southern lady’s toothpaste thanks to her being retweeted by one of my followers. Then there are the dodgy ones. I sat at my machine one morning and discovered I was being followed by three brothels in San Diego and a dispensing chemist for some very suspect stuff in India, duly deleted. Be very careful if you click any links to these kind of people or you will find your computer or mobile phone infected with something which spreads like mumps and ruins any social standing you ever had. Last word with the Queen after the budget, “Text from Nick Clegg: “I didn’t agree with the tax on fruit machines. People shouldn’t pay tax on their apples and bananas”.
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Security was tight for the only royal to have been close to being kidnapped some years ago. On the centre door were two local security people who collectively must have weighed 50 stone but when Anne’s exit was signalled they were dwarfed by her own security men, and women, one of whom could have been seven feet tall with a tell-tale bulge under his immaculately tailored suit jacket. Then there she was, initially wearing that so serious look she is known for but she kindly broke into a half grin and her eyes lit up as a lady beside me made a light hearted comment about how long she had been inside before leaping nimbly into the back of a Range Rover. She certainly has the “royal” look and for a woman slightly older than me, in her early 60s, she is still youthful. “I’ve immensely enjoyed my trip to Yorkshire,” she said to us all. We enjoyed having you Ma’am, but next time could you save us a sandwich if we have to wait so long?
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50 Plus Travel
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MALTA Travel to a touch of England in the Med
By Peter Lynch Journalist, rail and wildlife specialist, contributor to Great Train Journeys of the World and Silver Travel Advisor
Malta is a fabulous Mediterranean destination especially if you dislike the hassle of foreign languages. Everyone speaks good to perfect English yet Malta retains all the charm of the Mediterranean.
bureaucrats have forced the withdrawal of the famous orange vintage Leyland and Bedford buses.
The universality of English is down to Malta being part of the British Empire from 1814 until 1964 but strangely it was not one of the Empires conquests. In the Napoleonic era Malta was between a rock and a hard place - at risk of being invaded by the French and the Russians. It opted for the protection of the British Empire and subsequently played a crucial role in defeating Rommel’s Afrika Korps in North Africa during WWII.
The Upper Barrakka Gardens provide a must-see harbour and city view and the Grand Master’s palace and armoury is a must. Don’t be put off by the plain exterior of St John cathedral; it belies a fabulous Baroque interior and a famous painting by Caravaggio.
It’s a tiny place, significantly smaller than the Isle of Wight, with a familiar yet foreign ambience. They have the highest density of catholic priests outside the Vatican City, produce and explode more fireworks per head than anywhere else on earth and eat an unbelievable number of rabbits. Of course, they drive on the left and something I love is how it’s kept some of the classic images from my childhood – old red telephone boxes, red post boxes and blue lights outside police stations. Sadly EU
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The World Heritage listed capital of Valletta is Europe’s first planned city, laid out in a grid system of streets and alleyways. The Knights of St John built it on a peninsula as a defence against the Turks during the sixteenth century.
Valletta’s real charm is its ambience, so it’s important to sit in an outdoor cafe and soak up the palpable sense of history rather than just rushing around the sites –the perfect excuse for loafing. But all this is just recent history; Malta’s prehistoric megalithic temples are older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids. It’s a dream destination for historians and reads like a textbook of western civilisation, probably with more human history packed into its122 sq miles than anywhere else on earth. There are 23 prehistoric sites dating back 6,000 years including the impressive megalithic temples of Taraxien and Hagar Qim but the subterranean
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Valletta’s real charm is its ambience, so it’s important to sit in an outdoor cafe and soak up the palpable sense of history... on Malta en-route to Rome and his indelible legacy of Christianity is still evident in the islands 360 churches. The marks of Norman and Arab conflicts are everywhere on the island, culminating with the spectacular city of Valletta built by the Knights of St John in 1566. Malta’s history rolls on involving the Spanish Empire; Napoleon predictably turned up and of course the British. But its not history that makes Malta one of the UK’s favourite holiday destinations - it’s the glorious weather, the friendly people, the Mediterranean lifestyle and the convenience of English speakers. When Malta’s history, shopping and nightlife pall the 20-minute ferry across to Gozo is like moving to another country. It is Malta’s exclusive hideaway island with a pastoral ambience compared to Malta’s brasher tourist developments. Everything runs at a slower pace on Gozo.
hypogeum of Hal Saflieni is perhaps the most breathtaking. It is the only known underground prehistoric temple. Not much is known about these ancient temple builders or their mysterious parallel ‘cart tracts’ gouged into the limestone. They’ve been likened to a complex railway junction (Clapham Junction) because they criss-cross the landscape and some even disappear off the edge of the cliff - creating an endless source of myths and legends. Homer’s Odyssey tells of Ulysses being shipwrecked on the nearby island of Gozo where Calypso captivated him on his journey back from Troy to Ithaca in Greece. Then there are the Phoenicians from the Biblical cities of Tyre and Sidon who traded and settled Malta until ousted by the Roman’s. St Paul was also shipwrecked
The islands capital of Rabat was renamed Victoria in 1897 to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond jubilee but its still the beautiful quant town of alleyways, cafes and little shops it always was. The imposing walled citadel sheltered people from the marauding corsairs who plagued island communities throughout the Mediterranean. Gozo has its share of prehistoric monuments such as the Ggantija temple - supposedly built by giantesses and more mysterious ‘cart ruts’. The impressive Romanesque Basilica of Ta Pinu dominates the Gozitan skyline and has become a local shrine with a Lourdes-like status for miracle cures. Inside the walls are adorned with artificial limbs and other relics left by grateful pilgrims.
So don’t bother with a history book in Malta, just stroll around and let it all seep in, and between momentous historical events you’ll be able to find a perfect pasta and a decent pint of beer.
Silver Travel Advisor is a travel review, information and advice website exclusively for over 50’s, packed with articles, suggestions, tips and ideas. For free and independent travel advice as well as reviews about holidays, hotels, restaurants and days out, please visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com or email service@silvertraveladvisor.com. It’s free to register as a member of Silver Travel Advisor, and you could win a fabulous holiday prize.
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RUSSELL GRANT: THE COMEBACK KID When Russell Grant first danced into the hearts of the viewing millions on “Strictly Come Dancing” last year his stars might well have predicted great success and a comeback of cosmic proportions. For arguably Britain’s favourite astrologer may not have won the series – well, let’s face it, his dancing was more entertainment than excellence – but the live audiences and those at home loved him. And for Russell this TV appearance provided a passport back to fame. Born in Middlesex, Russell was brought up in a council house by his set designer father Frank and secretary mother Joan who both worked at Pinewood Studios. His parents separated when he was 11 and he moved in with his maternal grandmother but, in spite of the upheaval, Russell has always said he had a happy childhood. He worked as a Butlins’ Redcoat and trained as an actor, appearing in a variety of shows. While working in Blackpool, Russell met his partner Doug Beaumont and the two have been together for almost 40 years. Although Russell first came to prominence in 1978 after he held an astrological reading for the Queen Mother which led to him being dubbed “Astrologer Royal”, his theatre, TV and film career was surprisingly comprehensive and successful.
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It spanned more than 30 musicals and comedies, including work as varied as touring with “The King and I” to TV’s “On The Buses”, “Please Sir!” and “The Fenn Street Gang”. He’s been in “Tom Brown’s Schooldays” in the West End and was an effective panto dame in shows all over the country. However, TV beckoned and it was Russell’s fascination with astrology and his exuberant personality that brought him before the nation, first on Yorkshire TV and then on Granada TV where he was a regular onscreen explaining the daily horoscopes. From there he moved to breakfast TV with BBC’s “Breakfast Time” and later to TV-am as resident astrologer on “Good Morning.” A broadcasting natural and popular presenter, this role soon broadened to presenting other shows including celebrity quiz “Star Choice”. He later had his own six-episode series “Russell Grant’s All Star Show.” He worked for Channel 5 just after it was launched and directed and starred in “Russell Grant’s Postcards”, a collection of more than 100 five-minute travelogues produced by his own company Russell Grant World Productions. Russell worked solidly on a number of TV projects, with his astrology skills ever present, and he wrote a number of popular newspaper columns and horoscopes in regional newspapers throughout the country as well as in various magazines. Like many TV personalities, however, his star waned for a while. In 2006, he took part in the fourth series of “Celebrity Fit Club” and lost over three stone, but he later suffered from depression and his weight rocketed, this time to 26 stone.
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INTERVIEW He became something of a recluse at the 30-acre Snowdonia estate that he shares with Doug but, being Russell Grant and a trouper, determined that the show must go on, he began losing weight – around 10 stone in two and a half years by disco dancing each day for half an hour! In 2011, an online group called “Get Russell on Strictly” finally persuaded TV executives to have him as a contestant on the show. In September last year, he burst onto our screens with his lovely professional dancing partner Flavia Cacace. Surprisingly light on his feet and with genuine rhythm, Russell sported a number of colourful and outrageous costumes and certainly won the day with viewers. In fact, they kept him in the knock-out programme until late November – in spite of much criticism from the judges, in particular the often acerbic Craig Revel Horwood. The abiding memory of Russell from the series, however, is of him being shot from a cannon as part of one particularly fun number! This great revival by the “comeback kid” caught the attention of the famous musical writer and producer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. He invited Russell to return to the West End stage – and the Palladium Theatre where he’d last performed 34 years before – and take part in a three-month stint replacing Michael Crawford as the “Wizard of Oz” in a new production. “I was worried as I was due to have an operation on my knee,” commented Russell. “I’m 61 now. At this age you know your limitations. But you also sense your mortality. So there was a two-way thing going on. I was trying to talk myself out of it, thinking ‘Can’t I just go back to Wales?’”
Fortunately, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Russell’s close friend Lulu convinced him the part was right for him, and a highly successful run followed which enhanced and revived Russell’s theatrical reputation once more. The production also brought him under the dancing wing of choreographer and dance teacher Arlene Phillips – “She even had me dancing the Charleston”, said Russell. Following his memorable appearance in the hit musical, Russell has been brought in as a guest star for a new tour of the show “Grease”, taking the role of Teen Angel at various venues including Newcastle, Llandudno, Southseas, Wimbledon, Dartford and for a one-week run in Manchester in October. He’s back working with Arlene Phillips, whom Russell insists is his “dance sister.” “Arlene brought out the very best in me working on ‘The Wizard of Oz’,” he stated. “So when she said I was right for Teen Angel and, if I took the part, she’d create the choreography, how could I resist!” The sparkly suit and no doubt mesmerising performances are bound to leave the audience hopelessly devoted to Mr Grant’s special charms again. And it’s one more dancing role which he now loves, as he explained: “Teen Angel has a Strictly twist and shimmy which captures the joy of dance I’ve been lucky enough to have discovered.”
As for the future, who knows? Russell hasn’t set himself any special showbiz boundaries and his fans are never surprised – just happy to see their favourite star once more ascending.
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The London Olympics this year has made many of us think about taking up a new sporting activity or improving our fitness and age should certainly provide no barrier. A new interest introduces us to new people, and offers us the chance to feel well both physically and mentally. Physiotherapist Karen Willcock points out that, while we can’t turn back the clock, we can slow down or even reverse the symptoms of ageing with the help of exercise. “The risks of back pain, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, the possibility of having a fall, dementia and some cancers can all be lessened by regular exercising no matter what age we start,” she explained. Strength, balance, stretching and endurance exercises are all recommended and found in a variety of sports and activities - “but always talk to your doctor first, warm up beforehand, don’t just be a ‘weekend warrior’ – and listen to your body,” added Karen. But what to take up? While being over 50 may be a little late to suddenly excel in rigorously physical sports like gymnastics, there are still many activities that offer an enjoyable challenge - and fun. If walking appeals to you, this is one of the easiest activities to enjoy. You just need a good, strong pair of shoes or walking boots, waterproofs and light, breathable clothing.
You can start with a shorter walk and build up or just find your favourite distance. Elizabeth Oakes, aged 59, began walking as a past-time 14 years ago because she was involved in organising treks and other sporting events for charity Children Today. “I started taking regular walks of two and a half miles around the estate where I live because I could do that anytime, and then built up at the weekends,” she said. These days, she will typically go out on a Saturday afternoon for a three-hour walk and has trekked in exotic spots like Borneo – all with her trusty walking boots that cost £130 when she first began. “That’s one expense that’s been very worthwhile!” she added. “Walking is great! You enjoy the fresh air, the surrounding countryside and feel loads better afterwards.” There are often local walking groups, councils may organise walks or go the website of the Ramblers Association www.ramblers.org.uk or the British Walking Federation www.bwf-ivv.org.uk Swindon is a great place to walk – there are lots of lovely parks and green spaces to choose from on your
New Weekly Health Walk in Wroughton
Free and every Thursday at 10.00am from Ellendune Community Centre. Starts Thursday 18th October. Walk for 45 minutes (2 - 3 miles) with a trained Volunteer Walk Leader, followed by refreshments. The overall pace will be brisk to be beneficial for health, but walkers should not be too breathless and should still be able to hold a conversation.
For more information, phone 01793 465413 or visit www.challengeswindon.org.uk
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doorstep. If you fancy exploring the borough on foot, you can find tried and tested short walking routes of less than five miles by visiting www.getwalking.org/ swindon If you’d like to walk socially, there a number of walking groups in the borough which always welcome new walkers. Why not try one of Swindon’s free weekly Health Walks? The groups are led by trained volunteer walk leaders and walk for 40 mins (about 2.5 miles) once a week, followed by refreshments. You’ll walk at a pace that will increase your heart rate slightly for fitness, but you shouldn’t be breathless and should still be able to hold a conversation. If you fancy power walking, the Link Centre offers daytime and evening WalkFit classes, and if you’re looking something more gentle, try one of our monthly sociable strolls. For more information on walking in Swindon, call Amanda on 01793 465413 or visit www. challengeswindon.org.uk One sport anyone can try at a local sports centre quite cheaply is badminton. It’s a fast sport that involves hitting a shuttlecock across a net and trying to prevent your opponent from getting it back, improving hand-eye co-ordination and movement. Racquets start at around £8 for a basic type and go up to £150 for top-of-the-range carbon fibre models. You need a tube of shuttlecocks, light trainers suitable for indoor wear and t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms or shorts. There are probably badminton clubs in your area; find out more from Badminton England at www. badmintonengland.co.uk
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All ages love the social inter-action and exercise available in tennis either at a local club, sports centre or courts in the park. Like badminton, you need a racquet, starting from £15 up to £150, outdoor trainers or sports shoes and light clothing. Find out about local clubs and facilities from the Lawn Tennis Association at www.lta.org.uk Like tennis and badminton, table tennis is a sport for all levels of fitness and also for those with disabilities or just restricted movement. Clubs and sports centres often have table tennis tables set up and informal games are great fun. Light clothing and indoor trainers are ideal and bats cost from around £3 to £100. Play informally with friends or grandchildren, or find out about clubs in your area from the English Table Tennis Association at www.elta. co.uk A fast-growing sport that people who’ve enjoyed squash may really like is racketball. It’s played on a squash court with similar rules but with a bigger ball, which means you don’t have to warm it up before play, and a shorter racket - all of which makes the game easier than squash. Doug Tobutt, a 62 year-old sports retailer who was a keen squash player before he gave it up for running, has recently taken up the sport. He reports that it’s become very popular especially in Nottingham and parts of Yorkshire. “It’s great fun,” he said, “and several players who had to give up squash through injuries are making their comeback at racketball – me included!”
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For more details go to the British Squash and Racketball Association at www.uk-racketball.com Many older people currently play bowls, whether crown green or flat depending on where you live around the country. It’s a sociable, fresh air activity that demands good handeye co-ordination and discerning judgement and can often be seen on greens around our parks and at private bowling clubs during the warmer months. Comfortable clothing is a must for this. The bowls are expensive to buy – from around £53 to £100 – but you can pick up second-hand bowls on ebay and elsewhere at a fraction of that price. Find out about local facilities on crown green bowling from the British Crown Green Bowling Associatin at www.bowls.org or flat bowling at Bowl England’s website www. bowlsengland.com You don’t have to have a costly bike or be Bradley Wiggins to enjoy cycling around country lanes, roads or dedicated tracks. While a new bike might cost a couple of hundred pounds it’s possible to pick one up secondhand on ebay or via newspaper advertising columns. There are many cycling clubs around the country, local councils often arrange rides for beginners around areas and Sky Rides are organised community rides for all the family. Find out about them at www.goskyride.com or about other cycling events from British Cycling at http://roadcyclinguk.com If there is one sport that’s bound up in England’s history it’s archery. It’s not necessary to live in Sherwod Forest to try it in 2012, though, as it’s a very accessible sport and the most popular type of archery is at a stationary circular target. Again, this is a sport for all ages and all levels of fitness including people in wheelchairs, and there are clubs all over the country many of which have their own bows for beginners to try. Contact Archery GB via www. archerygb.org
Older people find yoga and Pilates especially beneficial and enjoyable. Explained teacher Linda ObertelliRoden: “As we get older our flexibility reduces, muscles may shorten and tighten. Yoga can help get people flexible again.” Yoga is a spiritual, mental and physical discipline which goes back thousands of years. “It concentrates on posture and breathing and is very helpful for stiff joints as well as being a great destresser”, added Linda. “You can join a class or buy a DVD and practise at home.” Pilates is also about mind and body working together. Its movements help create a strong core, abdominals and spine – “which is also very useful as we get older,” said Linda. Light loose clothing is best, and you can buy a mat from supermarkets or stores from around £5. Classes for both are widespread but check for accredited teachers via governing bodies including the British Wheel of Yoga at www.bwy.org. uk and for Pilates, the Register of Exercise Professionals at http://www.reps.netxtra.net
Nobody is too old to benefit from physical activity. The Village Hotel at Shaw Ridge Leisure Park offer an extensive health and fitness club, with a large heated indoor pool and fully air conditioned gym. Over 50s are well catered for with group exercise classes specific for the age group and aqua aerobics feature in the timetable everyday.
It is a very sociable Hotel with a Starbucks Coffee Shop and Village Pub both inviting after a leisurely swim or more energetic hour in the gym. The Village are offering readers of 50 Plus Magazine a complimentary five day membership, just present the voucher to the leisure reception on arrival.
!
50 Plus Magazine Reader Offer FREE 5 DAY VILLAGE LIFE MEMBERSHIP
Offer to all 50 Plus Magazine readers – Come and find out for yourself how the Village Life membership can help you achieve your health and fitness goals as well as improve your health and well-being with a complimentary 5 day membership. Offer on for limited time, so get in touch today. Name .............................................................................................. Tel No .................................................. Address .......................................................................................................................................................
Send your details to the address oppostite, or alternatively call and reserve your place on 01793 889305, or just simply come in and see us today.
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THE
HAIRY BIKERS
take a scientific approach to food
Dave Myers and Simon King alias The Hairy Bikers were in the middle of a regime of diet and exercise when we chatted. Yes, sorry, I know you’ll probably have to read that sentence again. Those two well-covered foodies? Diet? Exercise? Fear not. It’s all in the cause of a new cookery book about dieting and Dave and Simon had thrown themselves into both food and exercise regimes with the kind of enthusiasm they normally reserve for a piece of garlic-dripping Italian foccaccia bread or a couple of their favourite beers. “Yes, I know,” explains Simon, the blonde Geordie member of the famous chef duo. “It doesn’t sound like us, but obesity is a real problem in this country at the moment, hen, and we’re just trying to help.” As a result, Simon, aged 45, had been hitting the gym regularly – “and it’s working. I’m not sure how much weight I’ve lost because I’ve got some dodgy scales that say 20 stone 5lb one minute and 14 stone 8lb the next, but I know I can get into some jeans I couldn’t before. Mind you, I’m still a fat lad!” he roars familiarly.
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Dave, at 55, sounds like he’s taken a more scientific approach to the subject. He’s lost a stone and a half, has taken up boxing but still manages to sound incredulous when he says :”Do y’know, I’m actually enjoying the sessions.” You might be forgiven for not putting “weight-loss” and “The Hairy Bikers” in the same sentence because the likeable lads have spent the past eight years showing us what fun food can be – both making it and eating it. They’ve travelled around the UK and across the globe gathering culinary experiences and footage for their TV series, astride some seriously large motorbikes. Their trademark has been making new friends via food, cooking in people’s homes and generally acting as brilliant ambassadors for the best dishes that people can make for themselves. “The new cookery book will still be about food, though,” states Dave, the darker, bespectacled one. “It’s just that we’ll be showing good food that you can easily make with fewer calories in it so it won’t put too much weight on.” The two are speaking ahead of their new country-wide tour that starts in September and takes in 41 venues over the next three months, from Barrow in Furness to Bolton and Lowestoft to Liverpool. It’s their first live tour since their last sell-out tour two years ago, and it sounds like their usual eclectic mix of fun, socialising and, er, some cooking.
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INTERVIEW “It’s definitely not going to be two blokes on a sofa talking about food,” laughs Dave. “There’s loads going on. We’re having strip tombola and an escapologist – oh, and we’ll be doing the tango. We’ll also have a couple of people from the audience having a meal with wine and beer on the stage with us. We love that, and so do they!”
They’ve also sold millions of cookery books linked to the series, and now earned themselves a BAFTA nomination for their Meals on Wheels programmes. These highlighted the vital visiting service to the elderly, and they also tried – successfully - to put the emphasis back on regular freshly-cooked meals for them.
In fact, Dave and Simon love most things about their lives currently, although it wasn’t always as easy or straightforward. Both grew up with ailing parents: Dave’s mum had Multiple Sclerosis and Simon’s Dad was on kidney dialysis.
They’re both delighted about the nomination and, Simon insists, they hope the subject will continue to catch the public imagination because it’s an important one. “In the series, it wasn’t Dave and I who were the stars of the show but all these marvellous older people,” he insists.
For Dave, who was born when his father was 55, his earliest memory of cooking is when he was around eight helping his mum bake bread, simple fruit scones and a Victoria sponge. As an older dad, his father was able to spend plenty of time with Dave, although from around the age of 13 it was Dave who did the bulk of the cooking at home. He later went to art school “but I was a better cook than an artist,” he recalls. It was when he became a make-up artist specialising in prosthetics and was working on the set of a Catherine Cookson TV drama that he met Simon, then a first assistant director and locations’ manager. The two shared a love of bikes and food, began cooking together – and a legend was born. Simon’s first foodie memory is of making sandwiches, strangely enough “with the crusts taken off and cut into little triangles”, when he was about six and helping in the kitchen. “But most of the time I was just off out scrambling about, no time to cook!” he says, with that gentle rumbling roar of laughter bubbling up. Their first programmes for the BBC eight years ago were more travelogue than cookery show, but the emphasis gradually changed to the enjoyable format that has attracted so many viewers today.
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“They’ve got the most wonderful cookery knowledge themselves. It’s so important for older people to keep on cooking good food like they always did, and share their skills with their grandchildren to keep these going and become a real legacy.” The two Northerners and their easygoing style has already been credited with tickling taste-buds at home and abroad, whether that’s sampling breads in Poland or guzzling nougat in the French town of Montelimar. But it’s plain they are genuinely passionate about all that’s best in food and sharing the enthusiasm to create it. Although the new cookery book has a dietary theme, food enjoyment as always comes first. “We’ll be doing dishes like a really tasty cassoulet and a great Masala Spatchcock Chicken,” states Dave.
As for the problematic weight-loss, they’re both confident they can lead this new campaign trimly from the front. “Well,” adds Simon, “If God is good and he keeps me off the brown ale!”
For details of tour dates and venues go to www.hairybikers.com 17
THE NATION’S FAVOURITE FRENCH CHEF Jean-Christophe Novelli is a 5 out of 5 AA Rosette and Michelin award winning chef and he has been dubbed the “the nation’s favourite French chef ”. Exclusively for Port Salut, Jean-Christophe has created two French themed recipes and a series of tips for creating the perfect cheeseboard. “Port Salut is a classic French cheese which I have always enjoyed, so I was delighted to be asked to work with the brand. For the recipes I have used Port Salut to give traditional French dishes a new twist and I hope my cheeseboard tips will give your cheese course a whole new lease of life.”
CHAR GRILLED CHICKEN, LEEK, PORT SALUT AND BUTTON MUSHROOM FRICASSEE, WHOLE MEAL CROUTON INGREDIENTS 4 x skinned and boneless chicken supreme’s (cut into thin strips) 2 leeks, trimmed, washed and cut into thin slices 2 x spring onions (trimmed and chopped into thin roundels) 1 clove of garlic (peeled and crushed) 100g chestnut or button mushrooms (sliced) 100g grated Port Salut 50g breadcrumbs 50g grated Port Salut 75ml double cream 25g butter 1 bunch of chives (chopped) 4 slices of wholemeal bread (cut into fingers) 25ml olive oil 1/2 tsp dried herbs 1/2 glass white wine
METHOD 1. Heat a char grill skillet until very hot, brush the chicken strips with some of the oil and season with salt and pepper and your favourite spice, paprika is good as is cumin or garam marsala. 2. Quickly char grill the chicken pieces until well coloured and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and keep warm. 3. In a large saucepan melt the butter over a low heat. 4. Add the leek and spring onion and sweat until tender. 5. Add the garlic and the mushrooms and continue to cook until the mushrooms are tender and softened. 6. Add the white wine and the cream and allow to boil 7. Add the 100g of Port Salut and continue to simmer until the cheese is melted and the sauce is thick. Add the chives. 8. Add the strips of chicken and stir in to coat with the sauce. 9. Place in an oven proof serving dish. 10. In a small mixing bowl combine the 50g of Port Salut with the breadcrumbs and scatter this over the top. 11. Bake in a pre heated oven until the crumbs are crisp and golden and the cheese has melted.
FOR THE WHOLEMEAL CROUTONS METHOD 1. Place the bread fingers on a baking tray. 2. Brush with olive oil & dried herbs and season with cracked pepper 3. Bake in a hot oven until crisp and golden brown. Serve on a side plate with the chicken and leek fricassee.
Jean-Christophe Novelli has produced these tips exclusively for Port Salut. Visit www.portsalut.co.uk for more info.
CRISPY GRANARY BRUSCHETTA, POACHED EGG, SPINACH AND A PORT SALUT GLAZE. INGREDIENTS 4 eggs (free range, large) 2-3 tablespoons of white wine vinegar 4 thick slices of ciabattas bread 25ml olive oil 1/2 tsp dried herbs 400g washed baby spinach leaves 100ml double cream 4 egg yolks 100g Port Salut (grated) 50g butter (optional) Sprinkle of ground nutmeg
METHOD 1. Place the slices of ciabattas on a baking sheet and brush with olive oil and season with dried herbs, salt and pepper. 2. Place in a hot oven and bake until crisp and golden brown. 3. Place on four plates or a serving dish. 4. In a large sauce pan heat plenty of water to boiling point. 5. Add a couple of tablespoons of white wine vinegar and season to taste with salt. 6. Once boiling stir with a whisk to start a circular motion in the water and crack in the eggs one at a time, bring to the boil and immediately turn down to a simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes if a soft egg is required, a little longer for a firmer egg and 5-7 minutes for a hard poached egg. 7. Keep the eggs warm in the water until needed. 8. In a sauce pan bring the cheese to the boil, reduce for a few minutes to thicken. Remove from the heat. 9. Stir in the Port Salut and the eggs, allow the cheese to melt 10. In a frying pan add half the butter if used and add the spinach cover with a tight fitting lid and bring to the boil allow the water from the spinach to cook the leaves and when soft and wilted strain to remove any excess water remaining. 11. Season with salt and pepper and spoon an equal amount onto each ciabatta bruschetta. 12. Top with an egg and mask with the cheese and cream mix. 13. Place under a hot grill until bubbling and golden brown. 14. Garnish with some snipped chives and serve.
CHEESEBOARD THEATRE TIPS 1. Add some flavoured texture to your cheeseboard by dropping plain bread in favour of a fruit & nut bread such as apricot & walnut or prune & hazelnut and serve it slightly stale, cut into thin wafer slices 2. Fruit and cheese are a classic combination but give your grapes some extra character by serving them frozen – simply wash a bunch of grapes and shake off any excess water, place on a plate and pop in the freezer, serve directly once frozen onto the cheeseboard giving a more interesting texture with extra bite 3. Add a simple twist on the traditional by pairing your cheese with fruit that has a sharp acidity such as: cherries, raspberries, gooseberries, redcurrants, nectarines and tangy plums – these work well frozen too 4. Turn your cheeseboard into a visual feast by serving long celery stems in a vase of ice water. Team with a small bowl of rock salt too for dipping 5. Radishes are a tasty substitute to celery providing a peppery bite, leave a little stem on each on to hold on to and these can also be dipped in the rock salt 6. A fashionable alternative to the classic chutney is quince jelly – its sweet flavour will add a different dimension to your cheeseboard 7. Spice up your cheeseboard with a handful of sliced chillies or jalapenos, to give a flavoursome punch. This works particularly well with hard cheeses – these will complement the quince jelly too 8. Tantalise tastebuds with a rollercoaster ride of textures and flavours by adding olives and nuts to your cheeseboard 9. For an unexpected flavour, add some ground coffee beans to your board. A little sprinkle will give your cheeseboard a delicious edge 10. Use dried vine leaves, herb sprigs and edible flowers to add more drama, aroma and taste to your cheeseboard
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THE HAIRY DIETERS HOW TO LOVE FOOD AND LOSE WEIGHT by Dave Myers and Si King Published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on 2 August 2012 in trade paperback at £14.99, eBook £7.99 The Hairy Bikers are back this summer with a new book to accompany an exciting new 4 x 60 minute food odyssey on BBC Two starting on Thursday 2 August. Si King and Dave Myers have made their names cooking real food for real people, creating mouth-watering dishes big on flavour and calories - and it’s taken its toll on their bodies. Now all of that has to stop, as they return to our screens with The Hairy Dieters: How To Love Food And Lose Weight. The problem is they’re not prepared to live on salads and compromise on taste. Loving the food they eat is a cornerstone of Si and Dave’s lives and they know they won’t succeed in shedding the pounds if the food they eat is dull and repetitive. The Hairy plan: to create some delicious healthy recipes to help them on their way and so persuade Britain to lose weight with them.
On their journey the boys join forces with the men and women of Britain to find ways of creating food that satisfies their lust for tasty cooking and answers the demands of the doctors and nutritionists who want them to make less of themselves. The boys hope that what starts with a mighty weigh-in will end in triumph, lessons learned and trousers taken in. The Bikers set out to discover how to enjoy the best great British food at home, creating new dishes and adapting some culinary treasures to make them and us fitter for life. THE HAIRY DIETERS: How to Love Food and Lose Weight includes a healthy eating plan with mouth-watering recipes for eating at home, eating out, and of course, entertaining. It is filled with all of the dishes that have made Si King and Dave Myers two of the nation’s favourite cooks. From perfect pies, curries, roast dinners and delicious desserts, the Hairy Dieters prove that cooking without the calories doesn’t have to compromise on taste.
THE HAIRY BIKERS’ BIG BOOK OF BAKING, published in March 2012 is currently this year’s biggest selling hardback non-fiction book. Other cookery books by the Hairy Bikers include: THE HAIRY BIKERS’ FOOD TOUR OF BRITAIN, MUMS KNOW BEST, THE HAIRY BIKERS’ 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, MUMS STILL KNOW BEST, THE HAIRY BIKERS’ PERFECT PIES
Spanish-style chicken bake This is a brilliant recipe and you’ll notice that there’s no additional fat needed – all the fat comes from the chorizo, and the tomatoes make it lovely and juicy. A low-fat fiesta of a dish. Serves 4 1 medium onion, cut into 8 wedges 1 medium red onion, cut into 8 wedges 500g new potatoes, quartered lengthways 8 whole garlic cloves, unpeeled 8 medium tomatoes, quartered 75g chorizo (preferably picante) 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs ½ tsp sweet smoked paprika ½ tsp dried oregano 1 green pepper, deseeded and cut into strips flaked sea salt freshly ground black pepper
370 calories per portion 20
Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Put the onions, potatoes, garlic and tomatoes in a large roasting tin and season with sea salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Toss everything together lightly and roast for 20 minutes. While the vegetables are roasting, skin the chorizo and cut the meat into thin slices – 5mm is about right. Put the chicken thighs on a board and carefully slash each one 2 or 3 times with a knife. Season all over with black pepper. Mix the paprika and oregano together and set aside. Take the roasting tin out of the oven, scatter the chorizo over the veg and turn everything a couple of times. Place the chicken on top of the vegetables and chorizo and sprinkle with the paprika and oregano. Season with a little salt and return to the oven for 20 minutes. Take the tin out of the oven. Holding one corner carefully with an oven cloth, lift the tin a little so all the juices run to the opposite end, then spoon and drizzle the juices back over the chicken. Tuck the pepper strips loosely around the chicken and vegetables. Turn the oven up to 220°C/Fan 200°C/Gas 7. Put the tin back in the oven for another 20 minutes or until the peppers are just softened and the chicken is golden and crisp. As you eat, squeeze the garlic out of the skins and enjoy the deliciously soft and fragrant flesh. Just don’t kiss anyone afterwards! www.50plusmagazine.co.uk
Celebrating a local trade unionist who campaigned for the rights we take for granted today The Autumn/Winter exhibition at Chippenham Museum & Heritage Centre is a look at the life and times of one of our more notable local personalities, Dame Florence Hancock. Dame Florence’s parents were both weavers at a local cloth factory and she was one of 15 children in their little 2 room cottage on Factory Lane. Leaving school at 12 to work in a local café for 5s per week, she made a career in the union movement becoming in 1948 only the second female president of the TUC Congress. Dame Florence was involved in many significant areas of society; she was involved locally in the First World War and nationally in the Second; she played an important role in the development of the Labour Party in the 1920’s and its policies in the 1940’s and 1950’s, campaigned for equal rights in the workplace; juvenile education and training; old age pensions and many more areas of life that we take for granted today. The exhibition will coincide with the centenary of the event which brought Dame Florence into campaigning for the labour movement, the strike at the Nestlé Milk Factory to gain a living wage of £1 a week, the very first factory strike in the town.
Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre, 10 Market Place, Chippenham, SN15 3HF. Tel 01249 705020 Email:heritage@chippenham.gov.uk www.chippenham.gov.uk/museum
Open Monday - Saturday 10am - 4pm Bank Holidays except Christmas Admission Free. Disabled Access/toilets. Chippenham Museum tells the story of this historic town. The ground floor includes displays on Saxon Chippenham, Alfred the Great and Brunel’s railway. The first floor galleries feature a working model of a flourmill, temporary exhibition area, historic street panoramas, costumes and a children’s activity table.
The Yelde Hall The grade I listed Yelde Hall and historic tableaux will be open daily 10.30 am – 3.30 pm Monday – Saturday throughout the exhibition. Please contact the museum for details of special talks and events .
FASHION
First, a few Do’s and Don’ts:
and style for women aged over 50 doesn’t necessarily come in a neat package labelled for each day of the week or each different occasion.
Do give today’s fashions a chance – you don’t have to follow trends slavishly but there might be a look or style worth trying, especially when the catwalk is translated into high street lines
Unfortunately, it can come with a big list of questions which start with “Will that suit me?” and go on to “Is that too young for me?”
Do factor in comfort – if you’re uncomfortable or uneasy in your clothes it shows
Most women do know pretty well about their general style by the time they hit middle-age. And what they don’t automatically want is a plethora of elasticated waistbands, dowdy long cardigans and unflattering brogues – nor are they likely to opt for figure-hugging leggings and bottomskimming mini-skirts. Dressing well these days is really all about developing a sense of your own style .... and having confidence in what you wear. That alone lets you lift your head up, walk taller and look better! It’s very easy to be put off by nubile young figures in the Topshop changing rooms when you’ve got an expanding waist, a less-than-pert bosom and thighs that you’ve studiously ignored for the past five years. But, the key really is not to rule out anything, new or vintage, because fashions can often be adapted to suit you as an individual. Again, we’re back to that confidence in yourself, and acknowledging what does and doesn’t flatter you.
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Do be realistic about your shape, height and colouring Do go for good-fitting clothes that flatter your shape Do look at your daily lifestyle and what sort of clothes suit it Do ensure that any “special occasion” buys are fairly versatile – why spend a large amount on something you can only wear once? Do look at multi-buys in the same range if you like them and they look flattering – this is cost-effective shopping and gives you a better “capsule wardrobe” of complementing outfits
Do de-clutter your wardrobe and see what you’ve got that you want to keep and will definitely wear – if you’ve not worn any item for 12 months, will you ever again? Don’t wear baggy clothes in the mistaken idea that they make you look thin – they don’t Don’t assume you can wear an outfit just because it looks good on a six-foot tall 17 year-old model – the mirror doesn’t lie! Don’t dismiss high street brands because you’re not a tiny size – many stores now stock 16-plus in their season’s ranges Don’t forget the value of accessories, especially the latest ideas that can make a plain outfit look sensational
There really has never been a better time to be an older woman wanting to look fashionably fabulous. Think Lulu, the Duchess of Cornwall, Jane Asher, Twiggy or Lynda Bellingham. In fact, the last two are actually fronting wellknown fashion labels. Twiggy who, after 40 years in the fashion business, now has her own Marks & Spencer range and has become a fashion icon for older women. And actress Lynda Bellingham long ago shrugged off her homely Oxo mum persona to emerge, chrysalis-like, as a Calendar Girl happy to strip down to just her pearls and her comely shape – all in the cause of theatre, of course! Lynda is now the public face of online fashion shopping range isme, with regular TV adverts keeping both her and them high-profile. Her chic looks are being copied by many women who previously might have thought particular styles were not for them. She believes that we shouldn’t dress “differently” as we age, but realistically. “Look for shape-enhancing details like cap sleeves, stretch in the right places, different trouser cuts, and built-in panels to make you look and feel great,” she states. Lynda suggests embracing colour rather than shying away from it. “Wear colours that compliment your skin tone and hair colour,” she says. And try substituting black for purple or deep berry tones for a welcome change. Control your wardrobe properly and have attractive, staple items that look good. These could include a classy mac, a pair of wide-legged trousers, a glamorous top or a classic shift dress which you can dress up or down with suitable accessories as the occasion demands. However, Lynda is a member of the “less is more” school of fashion when it comes to accessories and advises against overdoing it. Instead, it’s better to opt for one or two statement pieces of jewellery like a necklace or earrings that can look simply sophisticated and very stylish.
She knows that sometimes you need to try something new to develop your own personal style, “So don’t be scared to try different looks,” she advises. Do you ever wear prints, for example? There are plenty around to choose from this year, and if you’re still a little wary you could pair plain trousers or a tailored skirt with a printed top. In general, investing in, for example, a smart, well-cut jacket that can go anywhere makes sense. In a block colour, it can be teamed with a plain shift dress underneath or something printed. That kind of jacket can take you to a meeting or informal social occasion or can be worn with something more dressy for an evening out. Look at your accessories in the same way. Many older women seldom buy belts, but these can make a plain outfit look terrific and don’t need to emphasise waists not quite as trim as they used to be. View the outfit overall, perhaps employ that smart jacket with toning shoes and a bag plus a colourful scarf. It’s also worth keeping in mind the impact of neutralcoloured shoes like the fashionable Duchess of Cambridge often wears; teamed with flesh-coloured tight these are real leg-lengtheners. You don’t need to wear a very short hemline to pull off this kind of look or very high heels if you don’t want to. A knee-length or just-below-the-knee dress length with kitten or other low heels can be equally flattering. And pretty flatties like the current crop of ballerina pumps can also look exactly right with some outfits, especially the more informal and fluid. • www.alexon.co.uk www.pingush.com
As Twiggy insists, don’t forget, you’re meant to ENJOY fashion – just make it “stylish and fun”, and forget which birthday it is. 23
Places to Visit How to Get There and maybe take the Grandkids too! Hundreds of Bargains for all the Family at Blunsdon Indoor Market, Abbey Stadium, Lady Lane, Swindon. Bus Route 24 Market OPENS FROM 9AM TILL 3PM WED, SAT, SUN CAR BOOT OPEN FROM 6AM TILL 2PM WED, SAT, SUN info@blunsdonmarket.co.uk
Coate Water Country Park Marlborough Road, Swindon. Bus Routes 13, 14, 18, 24, 30 Coate Water is a fantastic community resource providing a perfect setting for a simple and enjoyable family day out. Facilities include a café, children’s play area, barbeque and picnic areas, cycle hire, children’s paddling pool, pitch & putt golf, mini golf, model railway and bird hides. The park also provides a peaceful oasis for walking and cycling and can be enjoyed by everyone.
SWINDON DESIGNER OUTLET. Bus Routes 1, 1A, 19, 19A The Designer Outlet is housed in the beautifully renovated Grade II listed buildings of the former Great Western Railway Works. Shoppers will find their favourite High Street and designer labels with big price reductions, as well as a large food court, information desk and children’s play area.
Hungerford is a small historic town located in the midst of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Bus Routes 46, 46A The town’s historic market status is retained by the significant number of small independent retail and commercial businesses providing visitors and residents alike with personal service across a wide range of products. Hungerford has an excellent variety of eating places. The town today is surrounded by open common land, five minutes walk from its centre where visitors may enjoy a relaxed walk and an abundance of flora and fauna. The Town hosts a number of unique annual events, including Tutti Day, a 3 week Arts Festival (including Carnival Day) and a late night Victorian Extravaganza in December.
Lambourn - Valley of the Race Horse. Bus Route 47 Lambourn Church was a Saxon Minster, and Lambourn Minster is still its official title. It is first mentioned as such in 1032, but is known from documentary evidence dated 1017. It is thought it dates from the reign of King Alfred who mentions the village in his will. The present building is mostly Norman in origin. In fact the street plan around the church is circular and shows the line of the old enclosure around the building. Circular enclosures, called Llans, are associated with early Celtic churches and possibly former Pagan Celtic Shrines.
The Link Centre Whitehill Way Westlea Swindon. Bus Routes 1, 1A, 19, 19A, 22. The Link Centre houses an ice rink, swimming pool, climbing facility, 5-a-side outdoor football pitches, gym, multi-purpose sports hall, health suite and much more to keep you active.
Lydiard House and Park Lydiard Park, Lydiard Tregoze Swindon. Bus Routes 1, 1A Lydiard House and Park is a Swindon treasure. Lots to see, lots to do Lydiard House has a wealth of history beautifully restored state rooms, original furnishings and family portraits. Take a stroll around the walled garden and parkland, calling into the nearby St. Mary’s Church or the children’s play area - there’s something for all members of the family.
The STEAM Story - Museum of the Great Western Railway Kemble Drive Swindon. Bus Routes 1, 1A, 19, 19A Experience the sights and sounds of the GWR works at Swindon and hear the stories of the men and women who worked there. Steam brings to life the exploits of Isambard Kingdom Brunel - the flamboyant engineer, and acknowledged genius, behind the creation of the GWR.
Town Gardens Quarry Road Old Town Swindon. Bus Route 22 Picturesque town park, with formal gardens, aviary, play area, tennis courts and café. Concerts take place in the bowl and bandstand during the Summer, as well as the annual Asian Mela Festival. The Town Gardens are open dawn to dusk daily.
Other places of interest are Aldbourne: Bus Routes 46, 46A, 48, 48A Marlborough: Bus Routes 48, 48A Oasis Leisure Centre: Bus Routes 15, 15A
For details of bus times contact Traveline on 0871 200 22 33.
IS IT TIME TO DOWNSIZE?
THE children have all left home for lives of their own or you suddenly realise one day that the house you’re in is simply too big for your needs. Whatever the reason, it’s time to DOWNSIZE! Once, downsizing carried a bit of a stigma, almost as if you couldn’t afford the home you had so you had to go for something less. But, in today’s cost-conscious, energyefficient and finance-orientated world, many more people are downsizing for all the right reasons. Along with finding a smaller property to live in, however, comes some unusual dilemmas – along with the usual dilemmas of how to furnish the new home and what is surplus to requirements.
Manor Garden Centre Cheney Manor, Swindon SN2 2QJ. 01793 526691 Open 7 Days a week
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www.conservatorycentres.co.uk 26
Interior Designer Chrissy Halton Interior designer Chrissy Halton from Innerspace offers some simple advice: “When downsizing, don’t try and replicate the house you had – go for a new look. “And only take with you items that really mean something to you. Off-white walls look great with more antique furniture items, for example. Less is more!” The advantages of moving to a smaller property can be that your bills are likely to be smaller and there will be less housework needed. The first big minus, though, is that you’ve probably got far too many possessions to fit into your new home. “You can’t take everything with you,” says Chrissy, “so start by having a really good de-clutter so that you can really see what you have that you love. That way you can more easily make the decision about what to take – and you don’t have to pay the removal company too much!” Ask your relatives and friends if they would like to have particular items that you don’t want to take with you. There’s a growing trend for mixing old and new furniture currently so they may be glad to be offered a piece they’ve coveted or that may fit in their home. Or look to sell items on ebay and start afresh in your new home with some new furniture. The National Association of Estate Agents says that downsizing offers a chance to have “a thorough springclean and focus on exactly what you want in your new home, and what you don’t.” “You may have furniture which isn’t suitable for your new home, or that could do with replacing. So think ahead and make sure you have taken proper measurements of your new property so you don’t struggle on moving day with items that you probably shouldn’t have brought with you.” For many of us, the pull of our old home is all about the memories that we’ve shared as a family within those bricks
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LOVELY LOUNGE – Relaxing toning, muted shades, a lack of clutter and plenty of light can be the hallmark of your new lounge when you downsize.
BEDROOM BEAUTY – Go for pretty fabrics in blinds and warm shades that can be picked up in bedding to create this attractive smaller bedroom.
and mortar. Our children may have grown up here, and every room can be associated with personal milestones or events that matter to our own family history. “If you’re worried about losing all the history behind your old home, think about using photos to show your life,” adds Chrissy. “It’s easy to make them into beautiful collages, and that way you can ‘take’ the items with you without having the real thing.” When it actually comes to chucking out much-loved – and possibly worn – furniture or other items, contact a local FUTURE SWINDON.pdf 1 17/07/2012 09:15 and charity whichFISHER might beHEAT glad of household goods
especially furniture in good condition. The national homeless charity Emmaus, for example, may have a local collection service for unwanted furniture, or another charitable organisation may be willing to pick up your item to sell for funds or to give it a good home with someone else who really needs it. It’s important to plan ahead with your new space. “Think about how you’re going to use the space you are moving to,” says Chrissy. “What is the purpose of each room? How many people will you need to fit in to sit? Will you really need a dining room specifically?”
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BATHROOM BRIGHT – Ensure your new bathroom has plenty of light with the help of a clever skylight window
be very surprised at how little space you actually use on a regular basis. Take this – and what items you use – as a gauge for what you need to take with you.” For example, she points out, if your new bathroom is smaller than you’ve been used to, is it worth removing the bath and having a larger shower? This may not only make more sense for your daily living but can help with any current or future mobility issues. An additional room to enjoy all year round One of the fundamental requirements and first requests made by people contemplating a conservatory or glazed garden room is that they wish to us it THROUGH THE YEAR, not solely a glazed room for grey Summer days. Those familiar with well designed glazed sun rooms, may suggest they are not really suitable for that purpose. However, the many thousands of people who have such buildings and find them to be by far their most popular and well used room, thoroughly wish to disagree! Many enjoyable evenings are spent well into the early hours, comfortably enjoying the unique opportunity of dining and being entertained in a conservatory. The temperature outside was well below freezing and often snow on the ground. Heating was of course required - but not much more than will be required within your home if the conservatory is designed and constructed to a suitably high specification.
“Situations change and what you once needed you may no longer require. If you actually look at how much time you spend in each room of your current home now, you may
If you’re pushed for space, and have considered moving to a larger home, think again. For a fraction of the cost of moving, you could install a conservatory. You’ve acquired a new room,
Buy a conservatory and get up towards any combination of:
Why move when you can improve?
to £2000
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Cane - Rattan - Hardwood Furniture
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Tiled Floors
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With over 50 years experience we can project manage your new conservatory from start to finish creating an additional room for you to enjoy all year round. Tailor made to suit your needs.
Don't Forget! We also sell cane furniture, timber garden buildings, doors & windows.
Electric Heaters Visit our show site at:
Manor Garden Centre Cheney Manor Swindon SN2 2QJ. Open 7 Days Market leaders in conservatory technology Finance available, subject to status.
Terms & conditions apply
Tel: 01793 526691 www.conservatorycentres.co.uk 28
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full of light. A fabulous place to have your morning coffee and enjoy views into the garden. You can also reflect on the cheering thought that you’ve added around 15% to the value of your house.
The focal point of a sitting room is the fire and there are a huge variety of fireplaces to choose from. Traditional marble, stone or wood, there’s a style and price to suit every taste.
Fireplace Solutions have a range of fires and fireplaces displayed in room settings at their spacious showroom at The Conservatory Centre based at Cheney Manor have Gorse Hill, Swindon. a large showroom displaying a wide range of styles and finishes. They provide a full conservatory package including Jason Liffen is happy to advise on choosing the perfect tiling and furniture all under one roof, using specialist fireplace solution for each customer including high efficiency professional teams of surveyors and fitters. The whole fuel saving fires. project from initial design to completion usually takes only Fireplace Solutions presents an extensive range of traditional and contemporary six to eight weeks. If the downsizing fireplaces that combine craftsmanship, quality materials and elegance in design also applies to your pocket, then you don’t have to spend a fortune on your new place. In fact, there’s Whatever style of décor you choose for your new home, it’s often an enjoyable challenge in keeping within a tight budget worth trying to avoid clutter and opt for today’s cleaner lines yet coming up with something fresh, new and comfortable and minimalist approach – if only to cut down on housework! even if the items are cut-price or second-hand. Again, ebay can be a boon here. Take a look at current interior styles and how these can be easily achieved. Open up a dark room or small bathroom with a roof window or skylight, for example. The key to successfully moving at this
Light your fire
Take advantage of the wealth of modern flooring including crucial stage is to take a fresh look at natural woods that can make a room warm and homely in your lifestyle, and decide to make a new Winter and cool and calming in Summer. You might like to team this type of flooring with a handsome rug in a shade or start. That way you can downsize the pattern that tones with your room’s chosen colour scheme. costs – but Our aim is to provide you with a superb choice of fireplaces skillfully made with upsize your enjoyment of Plain walls matched with attractive fabrics in curtains or high quality materials, fitted in your home by qualified fitters so you can enjoy your newthe home! blindsexperience give a roomofa buying modernand lookowning and allow smart your newfurniture individual fireplace and impressive pictures or photographs to really come into their own. & Wood Surrounds • Stone, Marble • Bespoke Fireplaces Created for You
• Electric Fires - Multifuel Stoves - Gas Fires
& Installed by Gas Safe Technicians
For more information on Innerspace Interior Design go to www.innerspaceinteriordesign.co.uk
Visit our showroom or give us a call to find out about your many options
Light your fire OVER 30 FIREPLACES ON DISPLAY Over 30 Fireplaces on display
Fireplace Solutions presents an extensive range of traditional and contemporary fireplaces
100 Cricklade Road Gorse Hillcraftsmanship, | Swindon that| combine quality materials and elegance in design
Telephone 01793 640485
Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm. Saturday 10am - 4pm.
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Stone, Marble & Wood Surrounds l Electric Fire - Multifuel Stoves - Gas Fire Bespoke l Fireplaces Created for You & Installed by Gas Safe Technicians
Our aim is to provide you with a superb choice of fireplaces skillfully made with high quality materials, fitted in your home by qualified fitters so you can enjoy the experience of buying and owning your new individual fireplace. Visit our showroom or give us a call to find out about your many options
01793 640485 www.50plusmagazine.co.uk
100 Cricklade Road | Gorse Hill | Swindon Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm. Saturday 10am - 4pm.
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With snow and ice affecting many parts of the Borough the Road Safety Team has issued advice for safe Winter driving to ensure that you keep safe when driving this Winter. Follow these tips and safety advice in order to make your Winter driving incident free...
Avoiding a Skid Skidding on ice is the main concern for those driving in freezing conditions. Quite often drivers do not anticipate the impact that snow and ice can have on the handling to your vehicle. The main tip is to keep your speed right - not too fast so that you risk losing control, but not so slow that you risk losing momentum when you need it – and brake, steer and accelerate as smoothly as possible. 30
Always start gently from a stationary position and avoid high engine revs. If you get yourself into a skid the main thing to remember is to take your foot off the accelerator and steer, never use the brake as this may lock up your wheels resulting in total loss of control.
Protecting Your Car for the Winter • Engine/cooling system - Check antifreeze levels. A 50/50 mix of antifreeze to water will protect the engine down to –34ºC. • Handbrake - Check for damage to handbrake cable covering. Cables should be changed if water has penetrated. • Washers and wipers - A 50/50 mix of additive to water is needed in very cold weather. Switch off wipers when parked in frost - doing so prevents damaging blades or overheating the wiper motor when the car is started. • Locks - Oil door and boot locks and spray with water repellent to prevent freezing. Similarly for bonnet and fuel cap. • Diesel - Can become waxy and unusable below –15ºC. Some additives can lower this temperature. If possible, garage your vehicle in extreme cold. • General - Check oil level, battery, lights, and tyre tread and pressures www.50plusmagazine.co.uk
Quick Check - Top 10 Winter Driving Tips 1. Always carry a survival pack in the car, including food, water and a blanket. This should include extra warm clothes. 2. Ensure your phone battery is fully charged and you have an in-car charger. 3. Put a shovel in your boot – in case you need to dig yourself out of trouble.
More advice for Winter driving • Double or even triple your normal stopping distance from the vehicle in front. • Plan your journey around busier roads as they are more likely to have been gritted. • On motorways stay in the clearest lane where possible, away from slush and ice. Keep within the clear tyre tracks if you can. • Stay in a higher gear for better control. • As conditions improve make sure your foglights are only on if necessary – they can dazzle other drivers. • In falling snow use dipped headlights to make yourself visible to others (especially pedestrians)
Preparation • Check the weather in advance – don’t ignore police warnings about closed roads. • Make sure you have an emergency kit so you are prepared in the event of a breakdown. This should include a torch, food for energy, water and a blanket. On longer journeys always let someone know you have set off and tell them your planned route. • Ensure your mobile is charged up so you can make a call in an emergency – but don’t use it when driving! • Do a proper Winter check of your vehicle, looking at washer fluid, de-icer/scraper and tyres.
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4. Consider fitting Winter tyres, but even if you don’t, have your summer tyres checked. Winter driving means that tyres should have no less than 3mm remaining tread. 5. Have your battery checked. Batteries have to work extra hard in the cold and are more likely to fail. 6. Make sure your windscreen washer fluid is topped up with the correct concentration of screenwash. Windscreens get particularly dirty in the Winter months and screenwash will help prevent the liquid from freezing. 7. Have your coolant checked – the antifreeze needs to protect your engine against the lowest of temperatures. 8. Have your air-con system serviced. It’s not just for summer – an effective air-con system will demist windscreens much more quickly, helping visibility. 9. Adjust your driving style to the conditions – be sensible in the rain, snow and ice. 10. Above all, in bad conditions consider whether your journey is really necessary.
For further information, advice and guidance on Winter driving and all other Road Safety related matters, please contact us on
01793 466399
stars@swindon.gov.uk
For your information the types of vehicle licence plates attached to vehicles are shown below:
A rear fixed Private Hire Plate:
You’ve been out for the evening. It’s cold, it’s wet, you’re tired and you just want to get home. But have you ever stopped to think whether the driver that you have flagged down will get you to your destination? No matter how keen you are to get home at the end of the evening, you should never be tempted to get into an unlicensed taxi.
Private Hire Drivers Badge:
Swindon Borough Council licence two types of vehicles: l
Taxis (Hackney Carriage/Black Cabs)
- are London-style cabs, and are all wheelchair accessible can be flagged down on the street or at an authorised rank, or pre-booked
- display white rear taxi licence plates and a smaller plate in the passenger compartment visible to the passenger - charge metered fares that are regulated by the Council. l
Private Hire Vehicles (saloon type vehicle)
A rear fixed Hackney Carriage Plate:
- display yellow rear taxi licence plates and a small vehicle plate positioned on the passenger side of the front window screen - display stickers with the name of the private hire company - charge fares set by the private hire companies - can only be pre-booked through a private hire company. All operators, who control firms (taxi bases) where private hire bookings are accepted or invited, must also be licensed by Swindon Borough Council. In order to obtain an Operators licence, the prospective operator must satisfy the Council criteria, making sure she/he is aware of his/her responsibilities. All drivers must have the appropriate licence to drive licensed vehicles i.e. a driver of a Hackney Carriage (black cab) must hold a hackney carriage driver licence and a driver of a private hire vehicle, must hold a private driver licence as shown opposite.
Hackney Carriage Drivers Badge:
All drivers must wear their licence badge. For your safety, ONLY use a licensed vehicle. Licensed drivers have been fully vetted and are passed as medically fit. You must always ensure you travel in a licensed taxi and private hire vehicle by checking the vehicle’s signage or plate and the driver’s badge. NEVER get into a private hire vehicle you haven’t pre-booked – it WON’T be insured to carry you and may not even be licensed. 32
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know they are breaking the law. If the vehicle is involved in an accident you will experience difficulty in claiming for any injuries sustained. Have respect for the driver and his vehicle – do not eat, drink or smoke in the vehicle. And finally – do not forget to pay the driver. He has rendered a service and is entitled to the fare. If you do not pay you may end up in court Hackney Carriage fares are set by the Council and a Fare Chart should be carried in each licensed Hackney Carriage. Fares are based on three elements: l
The time of day The time taken to complete the journey l The length of journey l
Fares charged by Private Hire vehicles are not controlled by the Council and you are advised to agree a fare with the Operator when booking your journey. Please remember a Hackney Carriage can be flagged down and booked in the street or at a taxi rank. Private Hire Vehicles must be pre-booked through an Operators base. If the journey is not prebooked, the insurance cover on the vehicle will be invalid.
If you wish to make a complaint about your journey in a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire vehicle please try to obtain the following information: Here are our top tips for staying safe when travelling by taxi: 1. Don’t go alone. Travel with a friend and leave the vehicle together. 2. Call home (or pretend) on the way. Give the registration number and driver description or badge number. If the driver is legitimate, they won’t mind. 3. Ask the name of the driver when you book and make sure it’s that driver that picks you up. 4. If you chat with the driver, don’t give out personal details. Sit in the back of the taxi. 5. Carry a personal safety alarm and know how to use it.
Other Useful Advice
Please do not phone several companies and take the first car to arrive. This only makes the situation worse for everyone, including the drivers who have made a wasted journey. Most operators now have caller-ID and you may have difficulty in the future in getting a booking accepted. Do not take a car booked by someone else – they want to get home safely too! If you get into a private hire vehicle without pre-booking it (i.e. if you stop it or find it in the street) you may not be insured. Private hire drivers call this ‘flying’ and they
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Driver’s badge details Vehicle Plate number l Vehicle registration number l Details of journey (from and to) l The name of the Operator you booked the journey through l Your contact details l l
PLEASE CONTACT US TO OBTAIN A COMPLAINT FORM In writing: Taxi Licensing & Contracts Team Leader Passenger Transport Services Swindon Borough Council Wat Tyler House, Beckhampton Street, Swindon SN1 2JH.
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By Email: l
Passengertransport@swindon.gov.uk
By Phone: l
01793 466208
WHEN WE RECEIVE YOUR FORM Your complaint will be allocated to an Enforcement Officer who will make contact with you. The Enforcement Officer will fully investigate your complaint and consider all evidence available before making a decision on the action that needs to be taken. You will be kept informed of the progress of the enquiry and any subsequent action taken and the reasons for that action.
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Pooleys Solicitors answer your questions on
Wills, Probate and Powers of Attorney Q. If I make a Will, does this make things easier because probate will not be needed when I pass away? A. Wills and Probate are not the same thing: A common misconception is that if you make a Will, your executors “will not need to take out probate” on your death. This is not usually the case. Your Will is the legal document that states how you would like your estate to be dealt with on your death: who is to deal with your affairs (your executors) and who is to inherit your assets (your beneficiaries). Probate is the court’s authority, given to a person or persons to administer a deceased person’s estate and the document issued by the Probate Service is called a Grant of Representation. This document is usually required by the asset holders as proof to show that the correct person or persons have the Probate Service’s authority to administer the estate. If you have left a Will appointing executors, it is these people who will administer your estate and the document will be called a Grant of Probate. Any other person who may end up dealing with your estate
would be called an administrator, and the document issued by the court would be called a Grant of Letters of Administration, which may or may not have your Will annexed to it. Whether or not a Grant of Representation will be required on your death depends entirely on your individual circumstances. You do not need a grant for jointly owned property that will pass to the surviving owner or owners, nor may you need a grant if the value of the estate is particularly small. Each bank and building society has their own different procedure and each one has a different limit to the funds they will release without a grant being required. If however your estate falls below a certain level, sometimes the accounts can be closed and paid to your executors or your beneficiaries, without a grant needing to be obtained. If a deceased person owns a house on their own, or ISAs or shareholdings, by way of examples, then it is more than likely that the a Grant of Representation will be required to deal with those assets. So why make a Will if you will need to get a grant anyway? If you do not make a Will, then the way your estate must be distributed is governed by law, known as the Intestacy Rules. You do not get a say in who inherits what. Also those same people will usually be the ones who administer your estate. Because there is no Will to refer to, more caution is taken in dealing with administrators as there may be other people with higher priority in inheriting and dealing with the estate. It is therefore best to incorporate all your wishes within a Will, naming specific executors to deal with matters on your behalf. By confirming this in a legal document, rather than leaving it to chance, your affairs will be able to be dealt with more quickly and in a more orderly way, making life much easier for those you have left behind.
Q. I have a power of attorney in place, so does this mean I do not need a Will A. People can sometimes get confused with the arrangements they have in place, with a common mix up being between Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney. Clients may think that because they have one document or the other in place, that their affairs will always be dealt with and taken care of as they would like, no matter what, however this is not the case.
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FINANCE A Lasting Power of Attorney (in its previous form called an Enduring Power of Attorney) is a document that you (known as the donor) can put in place to appoint a person or persons to act on your behalf (known as the attorney or attorneys). The document usually relates to your property and financial affairs, although there is a separate Lasting Power of Attorney to deal with your health and personal welfare issues. The powers allow your attorney or attorneys to make decisions relating to the matters covered by the specific document on your behalf, in particular when you no longer have the mental capacity to make those decisions on your own. Those decisions however must be made in your best interests and, with the exception of small seasonal gifts or similar transactions, your assets are still yours and to be used for your benefit. The Lasting Power of Attorney, if not brought to an end beforehand, will end on your death. A Will on the other hand, speaks from death, so your executors are the people you appoint to deal with your affairs and the beneficiaries are the people you have chosen to inherit either particular items, cash gifts, or receiving the whole of or a share of the residue of your estate. Your executors may well be the same people as you have appointed as your attorneys, but this does not have to be the case. Therefore on the date of your death, the attorneys should stop acting, and your executors should start. All the people you appoint, as either attorneys or executors, should be your choice, and must be people that you trust. Both Lasting Powers of Attorney and Wills are important documents and are worth having in place, to ensure that your affairs, during your lifetime and after your death, can be dealt with properly and in the way that you want. Not having a Lasting Power of Attorney in place may mean that your family or another person may have to apply to the Court of Protection to be appointed as your deputy. They will then take over dealing with your affairs if you have lost mental capacity without putting alternative arrangements in place. Not having a Will means that your estate will need to be dealt with under “the Rules of Intestacy� which is the law set down by statute as to who is able to administer your affairs and who will inherit your estate. Depending on your family circumstances, this may be distant or estranged family members, or ultimately may be the Crown.
For more information on any of the above issues or to make an appointment call Pooleys Solicitors on 01793 488848. www.50plusmagazine.co.uk
Pooleys Solicitors LLP will be pleased to help you with l
Conveyancing & Energy Performance Certificates
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Wills
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Probate & Trusts
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Tax Planning
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Matrimonial & Family Law
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Lasting Power of Attorney
10-15 Regent Circus Swindon SN1 1PP.
Tel: 01793 488848 Fax: 01793 511209 email: mail@pooleyssolicitors.co.uk www. pooleyssolicitors.co.uk
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O UT
&
ABOUT
Prospect Hospice’s Firewalk and Halloween Party It all takes place on Sunday 28 October, location to be confirmed. Will you take on the ultimate challenge and walk over hot coals for Prospect Hospice. After the red hot success of last year’s Firewalk, we’re hoping for more people to take on the ultimate challenge and walk over hot coals for Prospect Hospice this year. We are looking for brave people to put mind over matter for this event and for your friends and family to come along to our spooky Halloween party to watch you walk over hot coals of up to 800 degrees. We are looking for brave people to put mind over matter and take part in our second fire walking event. Take on the challenge, and get your friends and family to buy a ticket to our Halloween Party to see how brave you are and take part in some spooky Halloween fun. Registration for the Firewalk costs just £25, and we hope you can aim to raise a suggested sponsorship amount of £150. If you would like to register please contact us. Or, for further information, please call the fundraising team on 01793 816161.
Prospect Hospice Night Golf Malborough Golf Club Nine Holes in the Dark 8th November Have you ever fancied playing golf in the dark? Why not take part in one of Prospect Hospice’s new events for 2012, Night Golf! Taking place at Marlborough Golf Club, the competition will be played as a shotgun start in teams of 4, over 9 holes. Players will use glowin-the-dark golf balls and the course will be marked out with glow sticks. All players are required to supply their own clubs, torch and golf shoes. Participants are expected to follow standard golfing etiquette on the course and abide by the dress code imposed both on and off the course by Marlborough Golf Club.
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Registration costs £20 per player (£80 per team) and we ask that you try to raise a suggested amount of £60 sponsorship per person. The registration fee includes; all Night Golf equipment, Golf course green fees, course set up fees and dinner. Once you have registered, we will be in contact with your further information and your sign-up pack. For further information please contact the fundraising team on fundraising&events@prospect-hospice.net or call the fundraising team on 01793 816161 Prospect Hospice Moormead Road, Wroughton, Swindon, SN4 9BY. T: 01793 813355 F: 01793 815432 info@prospect-hospice.net
Made in Swindon Saturday 06 October 2012 Central Library, Regent Circus, Swindon SN1 1QG 9.30am - 4.00pm Reading Room Arkell’s, GWR, British Rail, Garrard’s, Pressed Steel, Rover, Vickers, Will’s: Swindon Central Library hosts a day-long event celebrating Swindon’s history of manufacturing and industry. With stands and displays from many local history societies and organisations. Salubritas et Industria! Telephone: 01793 463238 Email: Central.library@swindon.gov.uk
The Cabinet Makers Daughter Friday 19 October 2012 7.30pm The Arts Centre Devizes Road, Old Town, Swindon SN1 4BJ. Tel: 01793 614837 Dorset’s award winning, AsOne Theatre Company tells another special story out of its Jurassic Coast base. It is said that struck by lightning as a baby, 19th Century fossil hunter, Mary Anning was destined to be special; she went onto rock the world of men, science & belief. It is 1846, and the little town of Lyme Regis, Dorset is battered by howling winter-gales. Dying and increasingly dependent on Laudanum, Mary Anning embarks on a strange dream journey through a life where she challenged the world of men and shook their beliefs to the core. She is haunted by hallucinations of old friends, enemies and even the dinosaurs she spent her life hacking out of the living rock. Into this world of dreams walks a man she never thought she would see again and attempts to find a resolution to their enigmatic relationship. A play about life and death; frustration and achievement; dreams and memories; of long, long ago. Ticket Prices: £12.00, Concession £10, Student £7 Opening times: Monday to Friday: 12noon - 5.00pm Saturday: 10.00am - 1.00pm On nights when there are shows the Box Office will remain open until the start of the performance.
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Sep Sep Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct
25 27 27 27 1 1 1 2 2 3 6 8
Oct 6 Oct 8
Pennine Explorer Boats & Trains of Norfolk Eastbourne & the Sussex Coast Irvine, Singles in Scotland Blackpool Illuminations Eastbourne & the Sussex Coast Patterdale, Lake District & Pennines Killarney, The Kingdom of Kerry Tuscan Riviera, Forte dei Marmi Gwbert, Cardigan Bay & West Wales Tenby Blackpool Illuminations
barnes
Sorrento & Pompeii 21st Sept 10 Days £849
Tenby Blackpool Illuminations
barnes
Ring for your copy!
01793 821303
www.barnescoaches.co.uk
Theatre Trips 2012
Thurs 20 Sept
Les Miserables
Thurs 20 Sept
The Phantom of the Opera
Olympic Dreams
Fri 21 Sept
The Lion King
Fri 21 Sept
Top Hat
Until Saturday 20th October Chippenham Museum & Heritage Centre, 9-10 Market Place, Chippenham, SN15 3HF
Sat 22 Sept
Mamma Mia
Sat 22 Sept
Rock of Ages
Sat 22 Sept
Thriller!
Sat 22 Sept
We Will Rock You
A celebration of the Grand and Wonderful Sporting Deeds of the people of Chippenham and the locality.
Thurs 27 Sept Senior Citizen Special: River Thames Cruise, 2 Course Carvery and Blood
Also a brief and illuminating history of the festivities called THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Fri 28 Sept
Billy Elliot
Fri 28 Sept
Wicked
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National Champions Astonishing Aquatic Feats l Olympic Torches l Gentlemen and Ladies l Greatest Athletes.
Tues 02 Oct
Jesus Christ Superstar - Arena Tour
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Wed 03 Oct
Jesus Christ Superstar - Arena Tour
Sat 06 Oct
Top Hat
Sat 13 Oct
Singin’ in the Rain
Sat 20 Oct
Ice Age Live! - A Mammoth Adventure
Free admission for all. Open during the hours of 10am - 4pm Monday to Saturday. Further information call 01249 705020 heritage@chippenham.gov.uk www.chippenham.gov.uk
Sat 03 Nov
Daddy Cool - UK Tour
Sat 03 Nov
Disney on Ice - Passport to Adventure
Sat 10 Nov
The Lion King - UK Tour
Wed 14 Nov
Senior Citizen Special: The Lion King & 2 Course Meal
Sat 17 Nov
Jersey Boys
Sat 17 Nov
The Lion King
Sun 18 Nov
Spanish Riding School of Vienna
Thurs 22 Nov
The Bodyguard - A New Musical
Sat 24 Nov
Billy Elliot
Sat 24 Nov
Wicked
The Arts Centre, Devizes Road, Old Town, Swindon SN1 4BJ. Tel: 01793 614837
Sun 25 Nov
Classical Spectacular
Sun 25 Nov
The 2012 Birmingham International Tattoo
A haunting new play by John Goodrum based on the chilling tale by the author of The Woman In White Widower Stephen Rayburn’s young daughter Lucy runs back to him from the woods in Kensington Gardens. He can see that she’s frightened. ‘Is it the dog?’ he asks. ‘It’s not the dog,’ she answers. ‘It’s the lady ... I think she might be mad!’ The ghostly woman Stephen meets leads him into a web of lust and revenge that reaches out from beyond the grave.
Tues 27 Nov
War Horse
Sat 01 Dec
Les Miserables
Sat 01 Dec
The Phantom of the Opera
Thurs Dec 06
Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds The New Generation!
Fri Dec 07
Mamma Mia
Fri Dec 07
Shrek the Musical
Sat 08 Dec
9 To 5
Sun 09 Dec
British Military Tournament
Ticket Prices: £12, Concession £10, Student £7
Fri 14 Dec
Scrooge
Sun 16 Dec
Carols by Candlelight
Wilkie Collins’ The Ghost’s Touch Saturday 10 November 2012 7 .30pm
Opening times: Monday to Friday: 12noon - 5.00pm Saturday: 10.00am - 1.00pm On nights when there are shows the Box Office will remain open until the start of the performance.
Call: 01793 821303
or visit www.barnescoaches.co.uk
Aging Pet Care Awareness When Is My Dog a “Senior?” Thanks to advances in nutrition and veterinary medicine, dogs are living longer than ever before. Still, like humans, older dogs are more likely to have health problems than are younger pets. Generally speaking, a dog 7 years of age or older qualifies as a senior. Size of the dog and other physical characteristics also affect how fast a dog ages.
Signs of Aging Some signs of aging like a gray muzzle or slowed activity are easy to identify. Other signs are more subtle and hard to spot. Remember that being old is not a disease, but that there are common changes and certain age-related diseases that can compromise your dog’s health. These can include: l Decreased activity l Less interaction with family l Increased sleeping l Disorientation or confusion l Less responsive when spoken to l Weight gain or loss muscles l Changes in appetite or thirst l Loss of housetraining l Increased urination hearing loss l Dental problems l Digestive problems l Recurrent infections
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Changes in skin or Stiffness or lameness
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Vision or
It is important to remember that changes you may be noticing in appearance or behavior can often be a sign that something is medically wrong, so please don’t just assume that your dog is suffering from “old age” and cannot be helped. Modern advances in veterinary medicine offer many exciting options to enhance the lives of senior and geriatric dogs. An Ounce of Prevention Most veterinarians believe that older dogs have different medical needs and will benefit from specialized services, testing and dietary changes. This is why it is a good idea and important to establish a baseline that can be used as a benchmark for measuring changes before medical problems even begin to arise. Veterinarians have specific recommendations and a doggie evaluation test on the other side of this handout to help you make the best decisions for your older companions. Screening Procedures for Senior Dogs Just as certain health screenings become necessary for people as they age, veterinarians advise specific tests to ensure that your dog is healthy—or to catch problems in their earliest stages when they are most easily treatable. Please note that not every test or procedure may be appropriate or necessary for your pet. A physical examination to check your dog’s general appearance, vital signs, weight, heart, lungs, eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, internal organs and skin. Usually advised twice yearly for senior dogs, more often if specific problems are identified.
Common Health Problems of Older Dogs l Periodontal disease is the most common problem of senior dogs and can lead to kidney, liver and heart problems. l Obesity increases your dog’s risk of diabetes and liver disease and can lead to serious arthritis and back problems. l Endocrine diseases including diabetes and low thyroid can have very profound affects on all major body systems. l Kidney and liver disease can lead to serious chemical imbalances, anemia, poor immunity, bleeding and altered mental function. l Heart disease can lead to weakness, difficulty breathing, fatigue and an inability to exercise. l Arthritis and spinal diseases are very common and cause pain, lameness and altered bowel and bladder function. l Loss of vision and hearing are quite common l Behavioral changes from Cognitive Dysfunction may cause disorientation, “accidents”, and sleep disturbances. l Cancers and tumors are very common but over 80% may be curable if caught and treated early.
New rules mean it will be easier and cheaper to travel abroad with pets It has become cheaper and easier to travel abroad with pets now that new rules have been introduced The UK harmonised its pet movement rules with the rest of the European Union in January 2012, bringing the UK’s Pet Travel Scheme into line with the most recent science. The UK will maintain its high level of protection against animal diseases after these changes, which have the potential to save pet owners around £7 million in fees. Forcing pets to spend six months in quarantine, a practice dating from the 1800s, is no longer necessary because of vastly improved rabies vaccines and treatments. All pets will still need to be vaccinated against rabies. Pets from the EU and listed non-EU countries such as the USA and Australia will no longer need a blood test and will only have to wait 21 days before they travel. Pets from unlisted non-EU countries such as India, Brazil and South Africa will be able to enter the UK if they meet certain strict criteria to ensure they are protected against rabies, including a blood test and a three-month wait before they enter the UK. The changes will ensure the risk of rabies coming to the UK remains extremely low. It’s estimated that the new rules mean there would be one case of rabies in a pet in the UK once every 211 years, with the possibility of a person dying from rabies obtained from a pet once in every 21,000 years.
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Keeping your pets safe on fireworks night Fireworks night can be a frightening time for animals but there are things you can do to help them. Birds and small pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice and ferrets are easily frightened by fireworks. Here are some tips:
Prepare a den for your pet where they can feel safe – perhaps under a bed with some of your old clothes. They may want to hide when the fireworks start.
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Bring their hutches/cages indoors – into a quiet room, garage or shed
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If you can’t bring them inside, turn their enclosure around so it faces a wall or fence instead of the open garden
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Give them extra bedding to burrow into so they feel safe
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Cover any aviaries/hutches with thick blankets or a duvet to block out the sound of the bangs and the sight of the fireworks but make sure there’s enough ventilation
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If you have dogs or cats, here are some top tips: Always keep them inside when fireworks are being let off
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Make sure your dog is walked earlier in the day before the fireworks start
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Close all windows and doors and block off catflaps to stop pets escaping and keep noise to a minimum
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Draw the curtains
Let them pace around, whine, miaow and hide in a corner if they want to. Don’t try to coax them out or cuddle/ comfort them.
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If they think you’re worried too this can make them feel even worse so stay relaxed, act normally and praise calm behaviour
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Try not to leave your pet alone and if you do have to go out, don’t be angry if you find they’ve been destructive when you get back
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Don’t tie your dog up outside, leave them in the garden or in your car during the fireworks
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Don’t take your dog with you to a fireworks display.
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If your animals are used to the sounds of TV or radio switch them on to block out some of the noise (not too loudly though)
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Make sure your pet is wearing some form of easily readable identification
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CATARACT Know the warning signs
Cataract is one of the most common causes of sight loss in the UK, but it needn’t be. Leading sight loss charity RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) warns that 50 per cent of sight loss could be avoided and that people should be more aware of what to look out for. A cataract is a clouding of the part of the eye called the lens. It causes vision to become blurred because the cataract is like frosted glass, interfering with a person’s sight. The lens is a clear tissue found behind the iris, the coloured part of the eye. The lens helps to focus light on the back of the eye – the retina – forming an image.
What to look out for: If you experience any of the following symptoms make an appointment for an eye examination:Blurry Sight: This is very common. You may notice that your sight has become blurred or misty, or that your glasses seem dirty or appear scratched. Dazzled By Light: You may be dazzled by lights, such as a car headlamps, and sunlight. Change of Colour Vision: Your colours may become washed out or faded. If your doctor or optician has told you that you have a cataract, don’t be alarmed. Cataracts are very common with one in three people over 65 being diagnosed in the UK. Many people over 60 have some cataract and the vast majority can be treated successfully. Cataract surgery, where the cloudy lens is removed during
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Is HRT safe? There has been a lot of media attention about the safety of HRT in the recent years. This has resulted in a great deal of worry amongst women considering HRT, or already taking it. HRT does have risks but most experts agree that:
If you are suffering from menopausal symptoms and are in your 50s, taking HRT is a reasonable thing to do, especially if you take it for up to five years. The risks are small and serious side effects are rare. HRT is very effective in relieving your menopausal symptoms and also offers other health benefits such as reducing the risk of osteoporosis.*
What are the benefits of HRT? HRT can make a big difference to the quality of life: • It usually treats all menopausal symptoms very effectively •
It reduces the risk of bone fracture (especially hip fracture) and osteoporosis
•
It also reduces the risk of bowel cancer.*
What are the risks of HRT? One of the most well-known risks is an increased risk of breast cancer: •
Of 1000 women in their 50s, not taking HRT, approximately ten will develop breast cancer over the period of five years.
You can ask your GP or your Gynaecologist to help you understand the risks and benefits and to discuss whether HRT is right for you.
•
Of 1000 women in their 50s taking oestrogen only HRT, approximately twelve will develop breast cancer over the period of five years.
What is menopause?
•
Of 1000 women in their 50s taking oestrogen and progesterone HRT, approximately sixteen will develop breast cancer over the period of five years.*
When ovaries stop producing eggs, they also stop producing hormones. The average age of menopause is around 51. Women go through menopause a few years earlier or few years later than this.
What are the symptoms of menopause? • • • • • • • • • •
Hot flushes Night sweats Mood disturbance Vaginal dryness Loss of sex drive (libido) Constant tiredness Headaches Sleep disturbance Anxiety Depression
This is a small risk and once you stop taking HRT the risks return to the level they were before taking HRT. Other risks include developing clots in the lungs and legs, stroke and cancer of the ovaries. As with the risk of breast cancer, these risks are small and your GP will discuss all risks with you.
For more information, visit www.gynaecology.me or www.patient.co.uk and search for menopause or go to the website of British menopause society, www.thebms.org.uk
What is HRT? Hormone Replacement Therapy is replacing the female hormones that your body lacks. It usually consists of the combination of two hormones, estrogen and progesterone. If you have had a hysterectomy, you will only need one hormone (estrogen). HRT is available in many forms, including tablets, skin patches and gels. Your doctor will help you choose the most suitable form.
Do I need HRT? Many women will have an “easy” menopause with mild symptoms and won’t need HRT. If menopause symptoms are affecting the quality of your life and you are suffering because of them, please talk to your doctor. There are many treatments available. HRT is only one of them but probably the most effective one. *Stats and data sourced from www.patient.co.uk/health/Menopause-and-HRT.htm
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41
A Guide to Dentures .... 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
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.
Removal Partial Dentures It was long thought that removable partial dentures had to be rigid to be effective. The innovation of the Valpast flexible partial denture allows the appliance to adapt to the constant movement and flexibility in your mouth.
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.
The preparation is relatively simple as your natural teeth don’t need to be altered. The Valpast flexible partial denture is virtually invisible, no telltale metal clasps and the material itself blends with the tissue in your mouth so that the only thing that shows is your beautiful smile.
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.
How Long Should Dentures Last?
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.
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. 2. 3. 4.
Quality of dentures. Age of Patient. General health of patient. 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. Daily cleaning is essential as well as professional ultrasonic cleaning in a dental laboratory at least once a year. Due to constant bone resorbtion dentures will become loose sooner or later. Loose dentures will increase damage to the gums and bone structure, and increase the risk of breakage. Have them re-lined as soon as possible to get a good fit. It only takes a day or two. Have your dentures inspected by a dentist or denturist at least every two years, or more frequently if necessary.
Your Dentures need Attention 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
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). When you develop deep lines around your mouth. When your chin sticks out, and the corners of your lips are constantly wet, developing sores. When you stop smiling and feel embarrassed.
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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.
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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. Clean your dentures daily with a denture brush and denture cream. 2. Have your dentures inspected every two years, and re-lined or ultra-sonically cleaned. 3. Have a new set made every 5 years if possible. 4. Keep a spare set for emergencies. 5. Remember, dentures do not have to hurt and do not need to be uncomfortable. 6. 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. 7. Dentures so life-like you’d think they were real.
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How to choose the right Home Care Agency Whether you’re choosing a home care agency for a family member or starting to plan for your own future, there are several important things that you should consider. Here are a few useful pointers to help you along the way.
Top 10 key questions to ask when choosing a Home Care agency • Can the agency provide the care needed, and have they provided care before for someone with similar needs? • Are you confident the agency and staff will respect your privacy and dignity? • Have they taken the time to understand your personal likes and dislikes? •
Your right to quality home care Your chosen home care provider is there to look after you. It should help you to make your own decisions and support you in maintaining your own independence. That also means treating you with respect, valuing you as a person and respecting your privacy. If you need assistance with tasks such as dressing, bathing and toileting, you have the right to choose your carer, whenever possible. Remember, it’s your care and you have the right to be involved in every aspect of your care. Don’t ever be afraid to ask for a family member or friend to be kept informed about your home care too.
Home care agency standards All agencies have a ‘Statement of Purpose’ that sets out their aims and objectives and the type of the services they offer. If you’re employing an agency, they should give you a contract explaining all terms and conditions. This will include things such as their confidentiality policy – for example, how they will hold and use personal data. All home care agency employees should also have clear written guidelines and follow robust procedures on how to administer and assist with any medication needs.
Before your home care starts It’s important to always make sure that the home care agency you choose visits you at home, before care starts. This will give you the chance to discuss your requirements in detail to ensure that you’re happy with your choice of provider. A good home care agency will answer any questions you may have during this visit. The visit will also give the agency the opportunity to see the environment in which they will be working. If possible, arrange for a family member or friend to be there when the home care agency visits.
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How do they match the most suitable care worker to your needs? Will you always have the same person caring for you, and what happens if they are sick or go on holiday?
• What charges will you be expected to pay (Is there a minimum charge)? And how you will be invoiced? • Is the agency insured to protect your safety and interests? • Do all care workers undergo a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check before being employed? And what ongoing training do they receive? • Does the agency have a copy of its latest inspection report available for you to look at?
• Can your agency be contacted outside office hours or in an emergency?
• Will the agency give you a copy of the agency’s standard contract to read before signing? • Caring about your protection
So you’re thinking about using an agency to provide home care? But how can you make sure that the home care provider you choose treats and cares for you in the right way? Initial home visit by a home care agency During the initial home visit by the home care agency, they will carry out a detailed risk assessment of your home, as well as a manual handling assessment. This is important, as it will identify how the agency staff will move you safely around your home, if assistance is required. All staff should be fully trained on using equipment such as a hoist, to help bear your weight safely, if needed.
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Keeping you safe and secure in your own home It’s the job of the home care agency staff to make sure that you are safe and secure in your own home when they are working with you. Every home care agency must have procedures in place to protect those using home care services, to reduce the risk of accidents, and protect people from any form of abuse including physical, emotional and financial abuse. This will also include an agreement about gaining access to your home. Care workers should have ID cards to show their photograph, their name, the agency’s name and agency contact details. Home care agencies must also have a policy in place that sets out how staff should handle money, if you ask them to buy things, or to pay a bill for you.
Keeping records of home care Home care agency staff will keep a written record of the care that has been given to you, with notes made about any changes in your health, as well as any incidents that have happened.
Paying for a home care agency It’s important to know the cost of home care and you should always be provided with a clear idea of costs for home care agency services. In most cases, agencies will charge different rates for home care on weekday, evenings and weekends. There is also often a higher rate on Bank Holidays. Remember to ask if there will be any additional costs that you need to know about. Direct Payments can also be used for employing a ‘personal assistant’ or arranging care from a private agency. Your local Social Services team will be able to advise you further.
There are many benefits to Direct Payments – they allow a greater level of flexibility and freedom for the person who needs the care and support. Darren Fowler director of Carewatch, Swindon comments: “Direct Payments allow such a variety of choice that in some cases the chosen personal assistant may even be someone that the person already knows, or a relative who does not live with them. Greater choice, however, may come with greater employment responsibility. Social Services departments provide care managers or advocates to help someone recruit a personal assistant. Carewatch can assist people who receive a Direct Payment, either by using it to purchase your care and support directly from Carewatch or by employing a personal assistant on your behalf.”
Check what you are being charged All costs should be written into the contract between you and the agency and you should be invoiced at regular intervals for the previous months’ service. In most cases, the home care agency will keep timesheets that you will need to sign. Always check that they have logged the correct length of visits. It may seem easier to sign only once a week but if you do this you may be charged the incorrect amount and it will prove difficult to prove otherwise.
Automated care worker monitoring Some home care agencies have electronic monitoring so care workers can ‘check in’ using their mobile phone or put a pin number into your landline phone. There is no cost to you when they use this system and it records the exact length of time that your care provider has been with you. This system also helps the home care agency to highlight any missed calls by the care worker, reducing the risk of you not getting a call.
Y ou r Home, Y ou r Choice Getting older doesn’t have to mean becoming less active, less involved within the community, or with friends and family; if you need a little help and support to do what you want, Carewatch has the answer. We are here to understand and provide you with the type of support you want, when you want it. With bespoke solutions to help people remain independent within the comfort of their own home, Carewatch can give you the support you need so that you can get the best out of life. Carewatch Swindon can provide you or a loved one with: • Light domestic duties such as shopping and cleaning • Providing friendship, reassurance and companionship • Personal support • Respite care • Help and advice with direct payments and personal budgets
For more information please call:
01793 432666 www.50plusmagazine.co.uk
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You are responsible for your own, and other people’s safety. A mobility scooter could cause considerable A mobility scooter damage to the user or other people if it collided considerable damage to with someone or something.
could cause the user or other people if it collided with someone or We have written a highway code to protect the something.
Studio, one and two bedroom flats for rent to people over 60, in Freshbrook and Stratton St Margaret
safety of people who use electric mobility scooters A highway has been written to protect and the safety of other road users and code pedestrians. If you ride a scooter, youthe must safety follow the of highway people who use electric code whether you ride on the safety of other road mobility scooters and the pavement, footpath users and pedestrians. If you ride a scooter, or on the road.
Live independently in a safe and secure community l Rent includes heating, electricity, water and repairs l
24-hour careline, laundry and lovely gardens
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you must follow the highway code whether you ride on the pavement, or on For footpath a free copy ofthe the road. publication please
To find out more, call the Lettings Team on 0118 931 7272
contact the Road Safety Unit For a free copy of the publication please contact the Road Safety Unit 01793 466399
01793 466399 email mtester@swindon.gov.uk email: mtester@swindon.gov.uk
Southern Housing Group Limited is a charitable housing association
Fostering
More Carers Are Needed! The Swindon Home & Away Scheme provides short breaks to children and young people with disabilities. According to government statistics there are 3,690 disabled children living in Swindon. Home & Away is a family based care scheme which was set up to enable children with disabilities to enjoy short breaks away from home on a regular basis. Short break carers give parents a much needed rest from caring for their child and an opportunity for the child to gain independence and widen their horizons.
Swindon y Scheme a w A & e m o H Improving Outcomes for Disabled Children
Overnight Short Breaks for Children with Disabilities
Home & Away short breaks allows carers to forge long term relationships with not only the child but his or her family. Disabilities can range from learning difficulties and autism to physical impairments. We are particularly in need of carers who can look after children on the autistic spectrum and also children who use wheelchairs. “Being a Short Break Carer fits in really well with my working week. Sarah comes to us once a month for two nights. She enjoys watching Saturday Kitchen and the Grand Prix, as well as helping feed the animals. As a professional who works five days a week it is nice to know my family is doing something so valuable for another family and enjoying it”. Donna, Short Break Carer. Overnight breaks are typically one weekend a month, but may start out with just a few hours a day or an overnight stay. Regular support is ongoing and carers are allocated their own Linkworkers. Carers do not need to have experience working with disabilities as a comprehensive training programme is available. All Home & Away Carers receive an allowance.
More Carers Needed!
Home & Away is our family-based scheme designed to support parents of children with disabilities by providing children with the opportunity to enjoy different experiences and develop new friendships.
For more information please contact Swindon’s Family Placement Team on 01793 465700 or visit the website at www.swindon.gov.uk/homeandaway
Other ways of providing care and making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and young people in Swindon include becoming a Foster Carer or a Supported Lodgings Carer.
T: 01793 465700
E: familyplacement@swindon.gov.uk
www.swindon.gov.uk/homeandaway
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