Swindon 50 Plus Magazine

SWINDON FEBRUARY - APRIL 2013 EDITION 20

David Hasselhoff THE HOFF’S GOT TALENT

The Hairy Bikers

DELICIOUS & HEALTHY RECIPES

Brendan Cole TALKS TO ANGELA KELLY

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A winning natural smile from Cotswolds leading dental studios ICC Implant & Ceramic Dental Studios are an award-winning dental company based in the heart of the Cotswolds, renowned for handling even the most complex cases with bespoke natural results.

Following a £300,000 investment in its cutting-edge dental practice and training facility, the Cotswolds based Studio has set new standards for advanced dental care, offering the very latest dental procedures for beautiful, long-lasting results in the same day.

Thanks to their excellence in technical dental work for dentists and outstanding results for patients, the facility has already won the Dental Awards 4 times. They are the first in the country to be voted Best Implant Clinic, Best New Practice and Best Laboratory on the same site. They are the first and only Vita Masterlab in the United Kingdom, one of 30 in Europe.

This dental studio offers an impressive facility that is relaxing and comfortable with a highly qualified team of dental surgeons, cosmetic dentists and a master-technician, all with a special interest in the patient’s journey.

Having the dentist and the technician chair side allows us to work to a much higher degree of accuracy than is otherwise possible in a normal dental practice. This unique approach allows for very exact finishing detail on colour, profile and shape on ceramic work that we manufacture. We are also able to carry out laboratory adjustments chair side. The finished result therefore blends perfectly to your natural teeth.

With close attention paid by this team to shade matching

and shape and smile selection. They will feel entirely natural and comfortable. Attention is also given to restoring the pink tissues in the gums for a complete restoration result.

Patients can actually sit with the master technician while they make and match your new teeth as well as missing gum and dentures.

The patient is fully involved in the process and in control of the decisions that will affect the finished result.

TJ Nicolas is a speaker and trains other dentists on the unique team approach and how to deliver the best aesthetic result to the patient. Daria Szymiczek is also a trainer in the subject and Torjus Baalack runs courses on Cad Cam dentistry using the Serona Cerec system.

For a unique approach to very complex cases we are the team for you. Much of our work can also be manufactured and fitted in one day eliminating the inconvenience of having temporary work and a second visit. For example, a high quality bespoke front tooth can be made and fitted within an hour; a missing tooth replaced with a titanium dental implant and immediate-loading crown can be completed within a morning and complex all on four implant fixed bridges can replace an ill-fitting denture with fixed teeth in a day.

Exactly as they were before if need be, the ultimate challenge and we can do it with confidence.

What are dental implants?

Crowns, bridges or dentures are essentially replacements for missing teeth and behave in much the same way as natural teeth. Where a replacement tooth (crown) or bridge is required and there are no existing teeth to support it, or they are not strong enough, then the dental surgeon will use a dental implant.

A dental implant is very simply a fixing which is inserted into the jawbone, similar to the root of a tooth. A stump is left above the jawbone and this provides the support for a false tooth or crown.

The implant itself is a slender but strong metal rod. It looks like a small screw or cylinder.

ICC Dental only use high quality titanium dental implants.

These actually fuse with the bone of the patient’s jaw via a healing process called ‘osseointegration’, which provides an incredibly firm fixing.

Before

No temporary plastic dentures It is important to understand the process your dentist uses.

At ICC Dental, our state of the art crowns are high quality ceramic. Pre-fitting them onto your dental implant means that you can leave with your new ceramic tooth on the fitting day.

No need to put up with poor quality temporary dentures.

After

Tops tips when you choose between NHS or Private dentistry

NHS dentistry offers the public a state subsidised affordable alternative to private dentistry for basic treatment with an emphasis on function. It offers dentistry under 3 categories.

Band 1: £17.50 - check-ups and x-rays etc with little or no treatment.

Band 2: £48 - offers unlimited fillings; extractions or root canal treatments.

The most advanced dental technology at its best: l l l l

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Custom-made porcelain crowns in an hour Smile design for natural, beautiful results All-on-four implant supported bridge in-a-day Veneers and professional, pain-free tooth whitening Continuous, essential aftercare included General dentistry Specialist hygienist service Sedation available Finance packages 20 minute complimentary consultation to address any questions you may have.

Band 3: will cover laboratory based work.

Many dentists struggle to deliver treatment to the patient at this price level without compromising on materials or choice of laboratory without paying for this out of their own pocket.

High quality laboratory work such as crowns can often cost 2-3 times as much as the NHS fee and this will mean that cheaper crowns will have to be sourced by the prescribing dentist. This will ultimately influence how closely matched the colour will be to your teeth as you cannot see the person who makes them, how well they fit, what they are made from and how long they will last. Professor Steele, who oversaw the new Dental NHS “Crowns should last no longer than 3 years”. A good crown set on a titanium implant can last a lifetime, but this would not be available on the NHS...

Many dentists have left the NHS as they got fed up with volume dentistry and valued more spending time with their patients and having a greater choice of treatments, materials and laboratory work to offer.

A private practice can offer a greater range of treatments and more alternatives giving you better control and choice what is done to your teeth and mouth. Dentistry is about choicesyou have to choose what is important to you and how much you value the added choice that private dentistry can give.

To have an idea of how much this can affect patients please look at www.allaboutteeth.co.uk for free dental advice.

Call us on 01254 237517 Tel: 01285 821220/386

Call now to book your complimentary initial 20 minute consultation e: info@ceramiccentre.com or visit www.ceramiccentre.com ICC Implant & Ceramic Dental Studios The Clubroom | Miserden | Gloucestershire

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HAVING A TWITTER with Graham Smith Born to be King or Queen Well didn’t that cause a media kerfuffle? No sooner had the ink dried on Lord Justice Leveson’s pen to give the British press a kick in the rear when all hell breaks loose as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced that Kate is expecting. No doubt as the new year wears on there will be many more scramblings and in summer expect carnage as the race is on for the first picture of the newborn.

Cameramen and reporters were almost killed in the media scrum to take up pole position outside King Edward VII hospital where the Duchess had been admitted with morning sickness in the early stages of her pregnancy. Why do they do it? All they are going to see is a hospital door for goodness sake.

Kate’s hardly likely to come tripping down in her nightie to pose for pictures in between retching, is she?

Some of the words which come out of media mouths on such occasions can make you equally sick. Charged with filling three minutes on the main news they come out with all manner of tripe. Under new laws, even if this baby is a girl, it will be third in line of succession to the throne. Bearing in mind the longevity of the Royal Family I reckon she could be around 87 before she comes to the throne and I certainly don’t think I’ll be at the street party to celebrate.

Swindon Foster Carers Needed . . .

Did you know . . . .

Over two-thirds of our foster carers are over 50!

DO YOU HAVE A SPARE ROOM? We are looking for people to consider fostering and to encourage a diverse range of people to come forward to meet the needs of children and young people in care.

Foster Carers come from all kinds of backgrounds. The only common denominator is that they are people who are committed to helping children and young people by offering to share their homes and their lives for a period of time.

Fostering with Swindon Borough Council offers a range of fostering options Temporary: Providing care for children with the goal of returning them to their family.

Permanent: Where the plan is for children to remain in care until moving to independence.

Crisis/Emergency: Very short-term care provided for families in crisis. This includes “crash pads” in a range of circumstances.

Home & Away: Overnight short breaks for children with disabilities.

Supported Lodgings: Providing support within a family setting to young people aged 16 – 21 transitioning from foster care to independent living.

“My husband Paul and I both love to see the children grow and flourish and enjoy their time while they are living with us and helping them move on whether that be to their families or to adoption.” Sue S age 63 Foster Carers receive ongoing training and an allowance. There is someone available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to call and talk with. For more information contact the Family Placement Team on 01793 465700.

Foster for Swindon e - Providing a Hom People Like You

One conversation between media types discussed what would happen if she had twins. Eventually the concensus was that the first child to emerge would be third in line to the throne. Fascinating, they go to college for this you know.

It’s been over 2,000 years since we had such fervour over an impending birth, and look at the trouble that caused.

Every guest house was closed and the poor beggar ended up in a stable jostling for position with cows, sheep, singing shepherds, camels, a donkey and a confused surrogate father who claimed he hadn’t done anything to Mary anyway! (Oh dear, there will be letters).

Joking apart, good luck to the Royal couple, they were one of the few bright spots in the year 2012 and let’s hope the chastised media minds its manners with them and their future family as we go into 2013.

4

Make a big difference to children and young people in Swindon. Foster.

01793 465700 familyplacement@swindon.gov.uk fosteringswindon.org.uk

Blunsdon Abbey Park A New Lifestyle for the over 50s 8-9

6-7 15-19

12-13

30-31

inside...

TRAVEL & LEISURE 8-9

Travels around Tuscany...

Fabulous scenery and breathtaking drives

10-11 Holidays and Short Breaks by Coach...

From Barnes Coaches

INTERVIEW 12-13 The Hoff’s Got Talent...

From Britain’s Got Talent to Peter Pan 24-25 Licence to Thrill...

Brendan Cole talks to Angela Kelly

HEALTH 2-3

A Winning Natural Smile ...

From Cotswolds Leading Dental Studios

21-23 Keeping Warm and Well in Winter ...

Plus Getting Fit and so much more

HOME 15-19 Changing Rooms ...

Tips to get the latest looks.

Are you retiring, or looking to downsize yet do not wish to compromise on your high standard of living? A park home lifestyle could be your solution, 50 Plus finds out.

P

ine View Parks is a family run business with over four decades experience in operating residential parks.

Prestigious Blunsdon Abbey to the north of Swindon is an exclusive development in the tranquil grounds of Blunsdon Abbey House. Set within their own private cul-de-sac, the new park homes benefit from brand new utilities infrastructure and on-site management.

Our residents are very friendly and more than happy to talk to prospective buyers about park home life at Blunsdon Abbey and how the lifestyle change worked for them.

A typical new park home comes with 2 double bedrooms, fully fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, garage with electric door, block paved drive and turfed and hedged garden from £159,950.

We would be very proud to show anyone around our current development and answer any questions about the park or the home options that can be chosen.

TWO OTHER PARKS IN THE SURROUNDING

AREA WITH HOMES FOR SALE WILDWOOD PARK, AT CIRENCESTER.

McGrath Media.

Unit 6 | Moses Gate Workshops Gladys Street | Bolton | BL3 2QG. T: (01204) 796 494 | F: (01204) 791594 e: mcgrathadmin@btconnect.com

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

ORCHARD PARK, NEAR NEWBURY.

For further information telephone:

01793 722100

www.pineview.co.uk 5

panels 4k 1616panels 4kW

BLACK panel & European Inve at NO extra Co *subject to availability

online for a free estimate www. 2020solarpv. com

01386 80 2020

** In In optimal optimal conditions conditions

* In optimal conditions

WkW What return do your Savings give you now?

The benefits of SolarPV panels for generating your own electricity are still dramatic and a clear winner for anyone wishing to safeguard against future energy prices, while generating themselves a predictable income stream over the next 20 years. Although the Feed-in-Tariff for generating your own electricity has reduced to 15.5p per unit the overall cost of installing Solar Panels has come down by 60%, making it more affordable than ever for homeowners.

ls erters ost!*

The average age of a typical domestic solar-panel customer is 60 plus, which may not be so surprising when one considers this as one of the highest disposable income groups. With mortgages paid off any retirement savings are earning a pittance in ISAs and other traditional forms of investments. The advent of SolarPV and the Government Feed-in-Tariff scheme has offered a safe investment vehicle that now yields far more than can be currently earned elsewhere, as well as a way of making fuel savings and doing your bit for the environment.

In

Of course the basic premise is that those looking for the benefits from generating their own electricity have capital to invest. The cost of installing SolarPV panels will vary according to the size of system but an optimum domestic size of 4kW (16 panels) will now cost around £6000 or £5000 for 2.5kW (10 panels). Investing in SolarPV should be considered a medium term investment that is tied to the value of. your property rather like buying a new kitchen or a conservatory. But unlike other home improvements SolarPV will earn you money from the outset; generating electricity and a tax free income day after day, year after year.

East or West facing,in excess In the right conditions an installation can net savings and income you only have a flatper roof,year, space on a garage or barn sums can in stillaround stack up. of £900 effectively paying off thethe initial cost six to seven years, which stacks up to a very attractive 16% return on investment. Even if your roof is East or West facing, you only have a flat roof, space on a garage or barn then the sums can still stack up.

Phone to book your survey or ‘Click your Roof’

y n a c s u T

Travels around

veladvisor.com)

ver Travel Advisor (silvertra

By Maria Meredith from Sil

Italy is one of my favourite places not only because I have family there (Parma) but also I love the many different areas- the Puglian trullis, the fabulous scenery and breath taking drives around the Amalfi coast, the Sicilian culture- not forgetting the fabulous food and wine! We had never been to Tuscany and decided it was time to go and see what all the fuss was about!

My Week in Tuscany Our Easyjet plane landed on time at Pisa, it’s much cheaper to fly here than to Florence and we picked up our hire car from Budget, which was a bargain £99 for the week. The car hire collection point is accessed via a 2 minute free bus ride and was one of the easiest car hire pick up/returns 8

we have had along with the bonus of being given a free upgrade. This was a very positive start.

Il Castelle, Certaldo Alta We set out for our first stop, La Fonte in Certaldo, where we were staying for four nights. Our first visit was to San Gimignano, which we did like but we found it very touristy and much preferred the old town of Certaldo. Here we were lucky enough to witness an Italian wedding which provided a great opportunity to experience a true Italian event and watch all the characters enjoy themselves. Sadly, we did not discover the relevance of the various metal life-sized men placed around the town, one of which was perched on top of a high tower, an art installation perhaps?

Certaldo Alto was accessed via a funicular railway which stays open until late (costs 1 euro each way).

It was far less touristy than San Gimignano and therefore was not as crowded. We enjoyed two excellent meals in Certaldo Alto– at Il Castello

and L’Antica Fonte - both with lovely views.

The owner of La Fonte strongly recommended taking the train to Florence (about 10 euros for a return ticket, the journey takes just under an hour to Santa Maria station, where you get off). It’s vital to check and double check train times as these can change at the last minute somewhat unpredictably.

Siena Siena was next on the agenda and this was the only place where we hadn’t pre-booked accommodation.

We found a brilliant hotel within 10 minutes’ walking distance of the Duomo, main square, restaurants & bars etc. It is the Hotel Villa Liberty and cost only 133 euros for B&B in a very good location. The only downside of our stay in Siena was that minutes after getting seated “al fresco” in our chosen restaurant that evening, the heavens opened!

En route to Lucca the following day we decided to take a detour to

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Volterra which I had read about in the tour guide. Volterra is another walled city and most definitely worth the journey. The countryside views en route were stunning and sadly I conceded that many were better than in the UK! And it wasn’t raining……

Our arrival at Albergo Villa Casanova was far later than we planned so we did not really have that much time to relax – this 5 star boutique hotel certainly had the “Wow” factor but at a price! Leaving the luxury of Casanova behind we set out for a morning sightseeing in Lucca before making our way to our last destination of Pisa.

We wished we had allowed more time for Lucca - we noticed many people cycling around the city walls and would have liked to have done the same. We did manage to get lost in the maze of streets but fortunately the lady I asked understood my Italian…. and more importantly. I understood her directions!

We had decided to return the car a day early as the cost of parking the car in the hotel garage was around the same price as taxis to/from the airport. We also felt it would be less stressful than the usual car hire return palaver, but I must say it was one of the easiest car hire returns ever!

The Royal Victoria Hotel in Pisa cost only £99 for B&B. Described as a very old antique hotel we appreciated it was going to be vastly different to the luxury we had experienced at Casanova but it was perfect for a short stay.

The Fields of Miracles was within 1015 minutes walking distance from our hotel with many bars & restaurants en route - obviously the closer to The Tower the more you pay. We chose a bar on the corner directly opposite the Tower and were pleasantly surprised to receive four delicious mini paninis along with our Peronis!

Leaning Tower of Pisa I had wanted to see the Leaning Tower for as long as I could remember and l was not disappointed. It has benefited from a “wash & brush up” and looked

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marvellous. We could not believe the extent that tourists were going to get wacky photos - what a laugh! And … yes…we got a few of our own too-it must be infectious. We will definitely return …in Spring or Autumn maybe.

That evening we chose La Buca restaurant near the Tower – the meal was nice but sadly the service did not match the quality of the food.

After a few more hours in The Fields of Miracles the following morning we returned to our hotel for the taxi to the airport to catch our late afternoon flight.

Our only regret is that we hadn’t booked a further two or three days in this beautiful part of the world with the ever present scent of Jasmine.

We returned feeling like we could do with another more relaxing holiday to totally “chill out”! We hardly had time to read more than a few pages of our books as the sightseeing, travelling and staying at four different accommodations was quite wearing - not to mention that I was suffering from “photography fatigue” after taking over 800 photos! In future I will bear this in mind or make a point of sightseeing only until mid pm returning to our accommodation for a spot of sunbathing, swimming and to read a few chapters.

Maria Meredith

writes for the over 50’s travel review and information website silvertraveladvisor. com. Maria is an active Silver Traveller; when her husband retired two years ago, she decided to join him at the age of 54 (one benefit of marrying an older man!). She has worked in banking, catering and for the last 28 years for M&S at a variety of stores.

She has many hobbies, entering competitions and photography being two of them. Travel has always been a big part of her life - visiting many places in Europe and also destinations further afield such as New Zealand, India & Mauritius. Her first ever cruise was last year to see the Northern Lights. She particularly enjoys reading about different customs and traditions and has many funny stories to share, hence Maria is delighted to be able to contribute to Silver Travel Advisor.

For more details see silvertraveladvisor.com

9

barnes 2013 Holidays & Short Breaks by Coach FREE Home Pick Up on all tours 4 Days and Over Cosy Break in Torquay We have been operating this tour for many years now and it is always popular and often sells out. Entertainment every night.

Headland Hotel HHH

Sitting majestically on the headland l

LIFT

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BAR

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SAUNA

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GYM

Friday 22nd February 4 Days £174

Cornish Riviera, Falmouth Falmouth has a beautiful position and our hotel is well located on the seafront, with far reaching views. Having such a mild climate, sub tropical plants bloom here. The magnificent natural harbour and interesting town add to the charm of this excellent resort.

Membly Hall Hotel

The hotel is situated on the sea front with panoramic views. l LIFT l BAR l SATELLITE TV l SAUNA l SPA

Monday 25th Feb 5 Days £219

Thursday 11th April 5 Days £279

BARGAIN Mystery Tour These are always popular. This year we have numerous short holidays in February and March with extras for example a 4 day break over Easter has entertainment galore.

Hotel ... obviously a secret ...

There will also be interesting towns visited on the way to and back from the destination and on the 3 and 4 day tours there will be an included excursion from the hotel.

Mystery Tour

3 Days 2nd Mar £149.95 4 Days 29th Mar £249 2 Days 28th April £124.95

Cosy Break in Paignton We have been operating this tour for many years now and it is always popular and often sells out. Entertainment every night.

Queens Hotel HHH

Situated near to the front and shops. l

LIFT

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BAR

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POOL

Friday 8th March 4 Days £179

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

Burlington Hotel

One of our favourite hotels located minutes from the seafront. l BAR l POOL l SPA l GROUND FLOOR ROOMS

Good Friday 29th March 5 Days £299 Friday 26th April 5 Days £269

Call: 01793 821303 for your 2013 brochure

Llandudno & Snowdonia including Chester Llandudno lies on a curving bay flanked by Great Orme, a 700 ft high limestone headland, and Little Orme. The town retains considerable character through its wide promenade and main streets.

Somerset Hotel

Ideally situated on the promenade with panoramic views of the bay. The main shopping area is directly behind. l LIFT l BAR

Good Friday 29th March 5 Days £299

The Jurassic Coast & Devon, Sidmouth Sidmouth has a unique charm with its beautiful gardens, leisurely walks, regency history, clean beaches and friendly shops. The town nestles beneath majestic red cliffs and green hills.

The Kingswood & Devoran Hotel HHH

An elegant relaxing retreat at the centre of Sidmouth’s delightful historic esplanade, and backed by 60 years of renowned family service and hospitality. l

LIFT

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BAR

Thursday 18th April 4 Days £259

Norfolk Coast & Broads

inc. Boat Ride on Broads & The Thursford Collection - Great Yarmouth Norfolk is a unique area of Britain with the Broads, open expanses of water often linked to rivers. Great Yarmouth is our base and is one of Britain’s premier resorts.

Raynscourt Hotel

Family run hotel near beach and town. l

BAR l LIFT

Monday 15th April 5 Days £279

‘Little Switzerland’ & Springtime in Vianden Luxembourg

One of Europe’s best kept secrets is the picturesque town of Vianden, found amid magnificent scenery on the banks of the River Our. The town has much to offer, but we also include a tour of the capital city, a visit to Trier and a wine tasting along the Moselle Valley.

Our base is Vianden with its impeccably restored mediaeval castle framed by forests.

Grand Hotel de Vianden HHH

Ideally located just a few minutes from the centre of Vainden. l LIFT l BAR

Monday 22nd April 5 Days £399

Eastbourne Eastbourne is one of England’s premier seaside resorts. There is a magnificent Victorian seafront and there are beautiful parks and gardens to enjoy.

Alexandra Hotel HH

Hotel with excellent sea views and cuisine. l

LIFT l BAR

Monday 29th April 5 Days £259

Venice & The Adriatic Lido di Jesolo is on the Adriatic Sea close to Venice and has miles of sandy beaches. This tour gives us two free days to enjoy the beach whilst at resort and there are 3 differing yet fantastic days out. We take a different route to and from Italy both offering great scenery.

Harry’s Hotel, Lido di Jesolo HHH

Hotel set directly adjacent to the ocean with sun terrace. l BAR l OUTDOOR POOL

Monday 29th April 9 Days £599

PLUS MANY, MANY MORE!

For full details visit www.barnescoaches.co.uk

The Hoff ’s GOT TALENT For a man who hit 60 not long ago David Hasselhoff – better known as simply The Hoff – has continued the swashbuckling ways he began as a young actor.

Known to millions across the world as good guy Michael Knight, the man with the talking car in iconic science fiction series “Knight Rider” which was the most watched TV show in history, the actor became a hero.

He compounded the image with another blockbuster of the small screen, “Baywatch”, where he played lifeguard Mitch Buchannon and saved even more lives.

The pirate with the interesting hand ornament and overdose of self-confidence, however, is a million miles from the young David Hasselhoff.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, David first got the theatrical bug at the age of seven and took acting, singing and dancing lessons. He was, however, very shy off stage in front of girls because he was tall and thin. On stage, though, he was in his element.

Unsurprisingly, acting became his career and, while in California, he became successful on the hugely popular US TV series “The Young and the Restless” in 1973 as Dr William “Snapper” Foster Jr. By then, he’d developed heartthrob looks and a physique to match.

In 1982 he moved from daytime soap to prime time programming with “Knight Rider” which captured the public’s imagination not only in the States but across the world.

His swashbuckling action is on the side of the baddies rather than the goodies as he became the notorious Captain Hook in perennial panto favourite “Peter Pan” for an extended run at Manchester’s Opera House.

When that show ended, Hasselhoff launched a successful recording career in Europe. In 1989 “Looking for Freedom” remained in the No.1 spot in the German charts for eight consecutive weeks. He has continued to perform regularly in concert ever since and has released nine albums to date, scoring a UK single hit in 2006 with “Jump In My Car”.

He returned to episodic TV in 1989 in “Baywatch” – the series about California lifeguards which launched Pamela Anderson to superstardom and made red one-piece swimming costumes the coolest beachwear on the planet.

Although the programme enjoyed good ratings, the network cancelled it after only one series. Undeterred, Hasselhoff and his partners acquired the rights to the 12

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INTERVIEW

show and, based on his popularity overseas, secured funding and revived “Baywatch” in 1991.

The programme is still running and is now a piece of American culture, seen in 140 countries by more than one billon viewers each week.

David Hasselhoff has always been prepared to try new challenges and his lengthy acting career has included film and stage roles. He made his Broadway debut in 2000 in the title role of “Jekyll and Hyde” and played the lead role in London performances of “Chicago.”

He’s sufficiently down-to-earth to parody himself – even taking a major role in the children’s blockbuster film “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie” in 2004 where he meets SpongeBob and Patrick very much in his “Baywatch” persona.

He had a short appearance in the movie “DodgeBall”, was in “EuroTrip” and played Adam Sandler’s despicable boss in the 2006 film “Click”.

The same year, he portrayed Roger DeBris in the Las Vegas production of Mel Brooks’ famous show “The Producers”.

His star was certainly in the ascendancy during this time as he also became a judge on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”, taking a judging role in the second, third and fourth seasons alongside Sharon Osburne and Piers Morgan.

Hasselhoff also has an uncanny knack of spotting trends and opportunities. In 2008, “The Hoff” became the first celebrity downloadable character for the PlayStation Network’s video game “Pain”.

And the following year, he began a TV love affair with the British public through two-part special “The Hoff: When Scott Came To Stay” which chronicled how radio presenter Scott Mills lived for four days with Hasselhoff at his Californian mansion.

The star and his two daughters, Taylor and Hayley, took part in another British TV reality show when they went ghost-hunting at Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire.

And in 2011, The Hoff – always a big favourite in the UK - returned to British TV as a judge on “Britain’s Got Talent”.

He’s been a contestant on America’s “Dancing with the Stars” and, to demonstrate his theatrical diversity, in 2011 took on the dastardly pirate role in “Peter Pan” for the first time.

Hasselhoff is a true Anglophile, has often brought his daughters here and his 32 year-old girlfriend, Hayley Roberts, is Welsh. At 6ft 4ins and with one of the most recognisable faces in the world that appears to be defeating the ravages of time, he’s still hugely popular wherever he goes.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

He’s a big fan of Manchester, and has been reported as saying he wants to enjoy shopping in the city and see a play during his stay. “I love the Manchester accent and I can’t believe how beautiful and hip the city is,” he said.

“When I was in town for ‘Britain’s ~Got Talent’, Louis Walsh said to me ‘you’ll love Manchester’ and I did. The city is very, very cool and European.”

He describes his panto role as “The Hook gone Hoff” and there’s no doubt audiences will enjoy what is bound to be an entertaining stint by this enthusiastic performer.

As for where his career takes him next, David Hasselhoff appears to be accepting of where the theatrical fates send him. Likeable and larger than life, he is pragmatic about his work and was once reported as saying: “I may not be a big movie star who gets to be James Bond, but who cares? I am happy. I’ll leave it in God’s hands.”

Photos: Shutterstock.com

13

7+ Drop IN Centre at Thameswood Even before you get a new puppy you read and research all there is to know about how to look after your new bundle of fur.

During the first year you come to the vets attend puppy parties and youth clubs, go to training classes and learn everything from how to groom, feed, train, first aid, preventative healthcare …. the list goes on.

Hopefully your puppy and/or your kitten grows to be a healthy, happy pet, loved by all members of the family with few reasons to come to the vet unless it is for minor problems or preventative healthcare such as vaccines, worming etc. Then middle age looms as your pets turn seven [in cats its 10 years] and we just carry on happily paying only minor attention to lumps, dental care, nutrition etc and come to the vets only when our pet is ill.

As vets we often see pets in their more senior years suffering from not just one problem but several chronic issues that have crept up over several years but have not been addressed because they were not serious enough to be `seen by the vet` or owners have been scared of coming to the vets as it`may be something serious` or may `cost a lot `consequently the pet is in need of quite a bit of care.

We have tried to address this, we hope, by opening our unique 7+ centres that allow you to come in with [or without] your pet to both ask for advice and to learn how to be the best carer for your pet in his or her later years • It costs nothing • It allows you access to all the practical advice we have in caring for your pet at home • Our specially trained nurses can show you how you can carry out checks at home to reassure you that your pets good health continues.

• It helps you to learn how to detect signs of discomfort, pain, arthritis, loss of sight or hearing and even cognitive function and allows you to make decisions with your nurse as to whether a vets consultation is required • You are able to come in as often as you wish and allows you to both discuss treatment options and prices with a familiar and caring professional.

• Allows us to get to know what your pet means to you and what is normal for them and what makes them happy • Gives you an opportunity to discuss treatment plans whether it is simply giving tablets, nutritional or skin problems or more complicated issues

•

•

•

•

•

•

such as chemotherapy, diabetes hip replacements or cognitive dysfunction We can show you how to massage, groom, exercise, clean ears/eyes etc We can talk you through treatment options for conditions like arthritis such as our wonderful new heat lazer treatment or excercise plans customised specifically by our physio Nutrition is incredibly important in older age and correct nutritional advice can help to both enhance and prolong the health of your pet Loss of hearing and sight are often difficult to notice but can manifest in changes of behaviour and temperament but there are ways of addressing this to cause less distress in your pet .

Cognitive dysfunction is now more common and as a full time carer the pet owner has to be aware of treatment options available and also the level of distress it may be causing At the end of our pets life we will all have to make a very hard decision, so although we cannot take away your pain we can help by knowing your wishes and by allowing you to be informed of what could happen and making the best choice for your pet at the right time.

When we become pet owners not only do we have to take into consideration that they will become an addition to our family and be brought up well and loved but that we will ultimately be their full time carer and must therefore learn how to provide them with the quality of care they deserve.

Thameswood Vets

"Making life better for you and your pet" We are a family run practice providing a caring and professional service within hospital standard facilities.

Come meet our staff.

62-64 Purton Road, Swindon SN2 2LZ. Tel: 01793 526780 1A Oppenheimer, Greenbridge Road, Swindon SN3 3LH. Tel: 01793 511267

www.thameswoodvets.co.uk

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CHANGING ROOMS IN THE HOME IS SOMETHING MANY OF US LONG TO DO BUT ARE HAMPERED BY THOSE TWIN PROBLEMS: LACK OF MONEY AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.

Writes Angela Kelly

We may know what we DON’T want around us, but probably have only a vague idea of what we do. The way we proceed next tends to relate either to the structure of the house – knocking through to give bigger rooms, adding a conservatory or building an extension – or the interior décor which includes everything from light fittings and wallpaper to furniture and paintings.

For the first, often more sweeping, approach, architectural consultant Gary Willis from Novensus says always remember the importance of light. “Daylight directly affects our wellbeing and living in dark conditions can add to our lethargy,” he states.

Deep rooms can appear dark as natural daylight can’t penetrate to the furthest reaches, so Gary suggests perhaps adding more windows. If privacy is an issue, consider use opaque window film, opaque glass or even glass blocks. “High level strip windows can also be used to provide natural light without sacrificing privacy,” he adds.

A pitched roof with a flat internal ceiling could be opened up to a more interesting space, enhanced by exposed roof structure and effective roof lights.

“Remove a wall to create an open plan dining/ kitchen and a more adaptable space,” says Gary.

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“Even the removal of a load-bearing wall – one that has a structural purpose – is a relatively straightforward task to a competent builder.”

For bigger projects, consider a garage or loft conversion.

“Only around half of us really utilise our garage,” insists Gary. “Put this space to good use. Rather than just turning the garage into a room, how about thinking more laterally? Could you use part of the garage to extend an adjacent room to create a larger kitchen, whilst still reserving part of the garage for garden storage, a utility area or a study?”

A conservatory can add both light and space to a home.

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

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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.

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, 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.

Can a Conservatory be energy efficient?

Stephen Wright site manager of The Conservatory Centre explains: “A conservatory which is cold and expensive to heat in winter and unbearably hot in summer would represent poor value whatever the price paid. We all would like a room that we can enjoy in the cold winter months and hot summer days. So how do we achieve this?

How do we compare what’s on offer? Quite simply the term ‘U-value’ is used as a measure of heat transfer through a given material. The huge area of glass, and

maybe polycarbonate in the roof of a conservatory, if not in line with the very latest technology can reduce your investment to little more than a glorified greenhouse! The higher the U-value figure, the greater the heat loss will be; conversely, the lower the U-value figure, the lower the heat loss. Remember! for an energy efficient conservatory, compare U-values and GO FOR LOW. Wall Glass: Total 1.1-1.2 U-Value crystal clear ‘planitherm’, argon gas filled cavity double glazed units. Europe’s top selling solar controlled ‘Low E’ glass made in Britain.

This glass really does make a difference to the all year round comfort of the conservatory. Our customers who have experienced the difference tell us this! Ordinary Pilkington double glazed units have a U value of 1.9 and will lose 2 times more heat through the glass. Another type of heat retaining glass, sometimes called low e glass or Pilkington K has a U-value of 1.6 which, although better will still let in 50% more heat than ‘Planitherm’. Furthermore, crystal clear Planitherm Total 1.1-1.2 does not suffer the hazy sheen often associated with Pilkington K glass. As an added bonus, Planitherm Total 1.1-1.2 glass reduces 70% of harmful radiation passing through the glass, protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful effects, and reducing

Buy a conservatory and get an eco-friendly room with up to £2,000 Free* Why move when you can improve?

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fabric fading. In summer this amazing glass technology with a .74% solar factor and a .85 shading coefficient keeps your conservatory comfortably cool. (g ISO905 M1)

whole project from initial design to completion usually takes only six to eight weeks.

“Another alternative is a pre-built garden room which can be brought onto site in one piece, or built quickly in a modular format with limited disturbance.”

Maximise garden views “and minimise rubbish ones!” advises Gary. “Create a cosy oasis of space with a smaller patio. Dress it up with flower boxes and a beautiful chair or swing to provide visual interest throughout all seasons.”

The Conservatory Centre’s Large Showroom at Cheney Manor

The Conservatory Centre based at Cheney Manor have a large showroom displaying a wide range of styles and finishes. They provide a full conservatory package including tiling and furniture all under one roof, using specialist professional teams of surveyors and fitters. The

Indoors, bring in the light with brighter, lighter colours on walls, floors and ceilings to maximise available light.

Gloss and satin finishes will reflect more light than dull, dark colours and mirrors can be used imaginatively to bring much-needed light into a room or brighten a dark hallway also giving the illusion of space.

When cash is short, home stylist and project manager Jill Brimley from Changing Spaces advises looking carefully at what you’ve already got and adapting where you can.

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17

“Dark walls can be painted a light, neutral shade like Dulux Natural Calico,” she says.

Take a close look at doors as these can give a dated feel to a room, and invest in new, white ones to add to light. For the Living Room makeover (pictured), Jill also had new panelled cupboard doors made for the meter cupboard. The electrical socket was removed and re-sited to get rid of ugly trailing wires and storage added within the cupboard.

A “gorgeous little chair” was bought from TK Maxx, the dark legs painted in white satin wood. The original curtains were dry cleaned and a new complimentary fabric panel was added to lengthen them to the floor. “Additional fabric was bought to cover existing cushion pads to co-ordinate the look,” says Jill.

BEFORE

She recycled accessories from around the home - “We also decluttered, removed the old carpet and put in new oak wood-style laminate flooring and painted the dark mahogany fireplace, mirror and cupboard in white satin wood to provide a brighter and nicer co-ordinated room.”

For this Kitchen makeover on a budget, Jill kept the original units, unifying them to a cream satin wood and then adding freestanding furniture with doors almost identical to the existing units and bought at a clearance shop to add to the fitted look.

David Dukes of Nuimage adds “often the carcasses of the original units are in good condition by adding new modern doors, a new worktop and sink the whole kitchen can be transformer at a fraction of the cost of new”.

Modern inexpensive cream brick tiles were used around the necessary areas, the walls were painted lighter with Dulux’s Javan Dawn, and the original back door was replaced with small French windows to bring in extra light and a view of the garden.

Jill also replaced the original work top with a solid oak butcher’s block.

JILL’S TIPS FOR UPDATING ANY EXISTING KITCHEN ARE: • declutter work surfaces, tops of cupboards and walls • Steam clean kitchen area • Update white electrical sockets with chrome • Replace worktops with new, more modern items and/or change cupboard doors

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AFTER

• Inexpensive plain tiles can make the look fresher and more modern • Chrome tile trims give a more upmarket look • Emulsion the walls to compliment the décor • Invest in new floor covering • Change the colour of your kettle, toaster etc for instant impact In the Bedroom, use relaxing light neutral colours. If space is limited, go for sliding wardrobe mirror doors to reflect light back into the room. Shop carefully for complementary bargain soft furnishings – go online, visit mill and clearance shops or use sale curtains to make Roman blinds or a bed throw.

“For a contemporary look, change the door handle and light switch to chrome,” adds Jill. “Inset halogen lights in the front and inside of the wardrobe, and upgrade the radiator and radiator cabinet.”

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

BEFORE

Keep cosy this winter with our beautiful fires.

Visit our showroom for some amazing deals

AFTER Use old pillows that have flattened as cushion pads or cut up old duvets, and plump up curtains with crumpled tissue paper.

Full installation of wood burning/multi-fuel stoves, flue-liners, chimney pots cowls, removal of existing fireplaces, up to 85% efficiency.

St one, The Bathroom can improve if you knock through an old Ce ntra l bathroom and separate toilet into one modern area. Add Ma inte a heated towel radiator to save on space and for a more stylish look.

It’s worth investing in a combi boiler which gets rid of the old water tank and is more efficient. Try bricking up the original toilet widow externally and reduced it in size internally to give a useful shelf/recess.

Investment in a white modern suite is really worthwhile.

Use floor and wall tiles in the same neutral colour but different sizes - bigger tiles with smaller grout lines also give the illusion of space.

sp

Yo u

l

Stone, Marble & Wood Surrounds

l

Central Heating Surveying, Maintenance & Installation St one,

sp

Bespoke Fireplaces Created for Ce ntra l St l one, sp You Ma Ce ntra l Installed by Gas Safe Technicians &inte Ma inte l Stove & Solid Fuel - Electric Fans

And if you struggle to see new potential in your home – call in the experts!

THE EXPERTS GARY WILLIS Architectural Consultant Novensus JILL BRIMLEY Home Stylist Changing Spaces

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

100 Cricklade Road

|

Gorse Hill

|

Swindon

T: 01793 640485 Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm.

Saturday 10am - 4pm.

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Coffee Break Puzzles ARIZONA

S C A N Y O N E M T S N N O B BANDIT P P Q R R H R Q U D O R O S O BOOTS J

H U E R

Sudoku Place the numbers from 1 to 9 in each empty cell so that each row, each column and each 3 x 3 block contains all the numbers from 1 to 9 to solve this tricky Sudoku puzzle.

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Kriss Kross 3 letters Cow Eve Nip Orb Wan 4 letters Eddy Lest 5 letters Dodgy 6 letters Esprit Papaya 7 letters Arbiter

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GOLD RUSH GRINGO V I L E A GUNFIGHT LASSO H A P S W LIQUOR A J P X Z MUSTANG OUTLAW G T A R Q PISTOL W W T S I POKER POSTER Q Y A L J RAWHIDE R D W M E REWARD RODEO D T P Y K SADDLE U I V O F SALOON SHERIFF S D O B D SPURS D N U W D STETSON STIRRUPS S A L O J TUMBLEWEED G B H C V WAGON WIGWAM

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See how quickly you can fit the listed words into the interlocking grid.

Naivety Unicorn 8 letters Envelope Reusable 9 letters Persecute Repayable 10 letters Elliptical Pharmacist 11 letters Restrictive Thunderclap

2 4 1 3 2 1 5 8 9

7

9 5 8

1 3 5 8 2

9 6 3 4

PhraseFaze Look closely at these two word pictures.

Can you work out what they mean?

1.

2.

TOUGH better better better better

worse worse worse worse

Add Up If the number in each circle is the sum of the two below it, how quickly can you figure out the top number? Try this one in your head, before writing anything down.

11 8 5 10 www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

All puzzles copyright Puzzler Media Ltd. www.puzzler.com

Can you find the 34 Wild West terms listed in the grid below?

Words can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal, backwards or forwards.

Wordsearch

Keeping Warm and Well in Winter ...

KEEPING well is more important than ever in Winter because it’s a time of nasty bugs that can lay you low and cold weather than can depress your immune system.

There are, though, plenty of easy things you can do to ensure that this Winter is a healthier and happier one for you.

First of all, do ensure that you keep well and flu-free.

Injections that prevent flu are given free right across the country to people over a certain age or with particular pre-existing conditions. So it’s definitely worth checking with your GP about availability.

Failing that, branches of Boots and supermarkets including Tesco provide a flu jabs’ service in their pharmacy departments for a very reasonable fee. Flu is a major seasonal killer in this country so it’s definitely worth taking this easy preventive step. Find out more about this year’s flu strains and other relevant details at NHS choices on www.nhs.uk Keeping in good health during chilly months also means ensuring, for example, your eyesight is good so book an eye test if you’ve not had one for a while. Poor eyesight can lead to falls, especially outside the home, which can result in major injuries and mobility problems.

Eat and drink well, whatever your household finances.

It’s also vital to keep hydrated properly with six to eight

glasses of liquid like water, juice, milk or fruit squash each day. Avoid fizzy drinks as they contain a lot of sugar and calories, but do have plenty of hot drinks.

Ensure you maintain a balanced diet by eating from the five main food groups: fruit and vegetables; starchy foods; meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans lentils and nuts; milk and dairy foods and fat, sugar and salt.

Fruit and vegetables are particularly important as they’re full of minerals, fibre and antioxidant vitamins to help bodies work efficiently and support our immune systems.

They can be fresh or frozen, dried, canned or juiced and should make up around a third of our diet – aim for five portions a day.

Do have valuable protein in meat or fish. You don’t need to buy expensive cuts to eat well – invest in a slow cooker, or pop a dish in the oven early and cook it slowly to make the most of cheap cuts of meat. Add plenty of vegetables for an easy, cheap dish that makes a warming, nutritious meal.

And if you don’t think your diet is giving you all the vitamins you need, start taking a supplement.

Supermarkets have their own good-value ranges and taking one or two well-chosen supplements can make a real difference to your wellbeing.

Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the weather, dress in layers so you can take them off as you warm up, and wear a hat and gloves to reduce heat loss from extremities.

Exercise is one of the best ways to maintain our health and independence and help keep muscles strong.

Walking, gardening, Tai Chi and dancing are great examples of exercise for any age and state of health but check with your GP first.

Exercising in daylight also increases production of Vitamin D, you get a boost to your immune system - the good news is that you also burn more calories by exercising in the cold, around 12 per cent.

Older peoples fitness expert, personal trainer and sports science lecturer at Middlesex University, Anne Elliott, is using the new year to remind older people that it’s never too late to take up exercise.

Anne said: “from my experience of working with older people, many tend to think they are too old to exercise or that a medical condition they have stops them. A common pitfall is they just stop moving and as a result their muscles and joints weaken meaning they are more prone to injury or further musculoskeletal problems.”

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Here are her top three tips to get and stay healthy:

1. It’s never too late to start. It doesn’t matter what age you are, where you are or what conditions you may have, following an exercise regime will improve your health. 21

Walking is ideal exercise in winter and it can help lift your mood. Joining a walking group is also great way to make new friends. Swindon Health Walks are free, weekly groups, which are guided by trained volunteers.

They walk for about 45 minutes (2 – 3 miles) at a fairly brisk pace (not power walking), then socialise with tea and coffee afterwards. Call 01793 465413 for more information, or find one to suit you:

2. If you haven’t done any exercise for a while a little bit every day is the winning way. If you do too much too quickly you will invariably hurt yourself and put yourself off exercise for another few years. Little and often!

3. Stick with it. Whether you are starting a diet or exercise regime keep with it for at least three weeks.

Most people give up in this period when it starts to get hard, but by week four you will start to notice a difference – enough to keep you going a bit longer and longer and Monday longer. Write a list of your reasons Tuesday for starting and reread it when you feel like giving up.

Wednesday Biography: Thursday Anne Elliott is an expert in exercise and fitness for middle age/older people and groups who don’t Friday traditionally exercise. She’s passionate about getting people fit and can talk from personal experience after dropping from a size 26 down to a size 12 and maintaining this size for more than 10 years.

2.00pm

Lower Shaw Farm

10.00am 10.00am

Toothill Community Centre Broadgreen Community Centre

10.00am

Walcot Dome Community Centre

10.00am 10.00am 3.45pm

Haydon Wick Community Centre Ellendune Centre, Wroughton St. John’s Church, Parks

10.00am 10.30am

Pinetrees Community Centre, Pinehurst Derryck Evans House, Liden

Exercising in a gym can also be a sensible part of your regular routine. Many local councils run sessions in gyms so go on your local authority website to see about available sessions, and about free swimming sessions in your local pool.

She is also a qualified boxing referee and Olympic standard weightlifting instructor. Anne has written a diet and exercise book called ‘It’s not Rocket Science’ which focused on getting the general public fitter and has been endorsed by the Minister of State for Health and numerous health professionals.

Private gyms often have advantageous rates for people attending at off-peak times, and they usually run special sessions, too, often with the emphasis on overall health.

The Village Hotel at Shaw Ridge Leisure Park offer an

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Why Walk?

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Top Tips: • Walk briskly, but not so that you’re breathless (you should still be able to hold a conversation)

Pinehurst Health Walk

• Walk regularly – it’s better to walk for 30 mins a day than for 2 1⁄2 hours at the weekend • Count your steps with a pedometer to help motivate you

Starts Friday 11th January 2013

Walking is Ideal Exercise and can:

Free and every Friday at 10.00am from Pinetrees Community Centre

• Help you manage your weight – walking at least one mile (1.6km) can burn around 100 calories (420kj) • Help reduce your risk of developing serious conditions, like heart disease, strokes and Type 2 diabetes • Lift your mood, reduce anxiety and help you sleep • Improve your flexibility and the strength of your joints, muscles and bones, and reduce the risk of osteoporosis for women • Save you money on fuel – you should be able to walk a mile in 20 minutes at ‘an unhurried pace’

Guided by a trained Volunteer Walk Leader Walk for 40 - 45 minutes (2 – 3 miles) at your own pace, followed by socialising and refreshments

• • • •

For more information phone (01793) 465413 or email: arothwell@swindon.gov.uk

Swindon

22

Where shall I Walk?

Visit www.getwalking.org/swindon to find an easy walking route near you See www.swindontravelchoices.org.uk Visit www.walkit.com/swindon Go to www.walk4life/info to find or add your own walking route

D14827/12

D14801/12

Open to all ages and abilities

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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.

Warmth is also vital in the Winter months so, as well as ensuring you’ve got good clothing and footwear when you go out, don’t stint on home heating in spite of concerns about energy bills.

Draw your curtains as soon as it gets dark to stop heat escaping and draughts coming in. Keep any windows and internal doors closed when it’s cold to keep heat inside and if you’re sitting for any length of time, pop on a shawl or blanket for extra warmth. Have a look around the stores

currently and you’ll see that “onesies” or all-in-one fleecy garments are everywhere and offer real cosiness at home.

Ensure your heating system has been serviced, that your water stopcock is working properly, and invest in a keyhole cover – it’s amazing how this can keep out draughts! Fit thermal linings to your curtains if you can, and check out all the benefits and grants available to help with insulation and energy efficiency like cavity wall insulation.

Turn your thermostat down, reducing your room temperature by 1oC could cut your heating bills by up to 10% and save you around £50 per year.

If you have a timer, set your heating and hot water to come on when you need it rather than all the time.

Also, if you have radiators with valves you can control individually (thermostatic valves) it is worthwhile doing, as this helps you to direct warmth in the places you need it, can save money and be more energy efficient. Put thermal reflectors behind your radiators to reflect heat back into your room.

Getting Fit & So Much MORE!!!

At The VILLAGE LEISURE CLUB, SWINDON Are you over 55 and looking to get some of that old sparkle back. We can help!!!

If it's just building on your own activities or taking a fresh look at getting healthier we can offer you the perfect environment.

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Full air-conditioned GYMNASIUM Extensive Group Fitness Timetable - Plus Aqua Aerobics Heated indoor leisure pool with spa facilities 60+ group exercise classes Spacious changing facilities Free Parking Reciprocal use of all other Village Leisure Clubs Discount in all Hotel facilities.

All this is yours for just £34 a Month Come Try Our Exclusive VILLAGE LIFE Membership FIVE DAY FREE TRIAL Village Leisure Club, Swindon. Telephone: 01793 889305 Village Hotel, Shaw Ridge Leisure Park, Whitehill Way, Swindon SN5 7DW.

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Birmingham issue BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL 30.indd 16 ISSUE 30.indd 19

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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.

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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.

Licence to thrill Brendan Cole talks to Angela Kelly

When I met BRENDAN Cole he had just gone out of the most recent series of TV’s “Strictly Come Dancing” after partnering Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton for eight weeks so – obviously – it seemed he might have time on his hands to relax.

“Relax? What’s that?!” he asked in those pleasantly abrasive Kiwi tones that viewers have come to love and judges to fear. “We’re straight into rehearsals for the Christmas special and there’s no rest, but I’m partnering Kelly Brook so that’s great.”

Brendan and Kelly danced together in the popular programme’s fifth series and were favourites to win. Sadly, Kelly’s father died suddenly and, although she had wanted to carry on dancing in his memory, she found she just couldn’t and left the series.

“It’s lovely being back with Kells again,” he added, warmly. “But with that and a few other things at the moment as well as planning for my theatre tour, it’s pretty hectic.”

One of the “few other things” currently occupying the 36 year-old’s time and mind is the birth of his first child. Wife, former model Zoe, was pictured just days before at a starry event looking beautiful and very pregnant. “Yes, we’re really looking forward to the baby coming,” said Brendan. “It’s due in about a month and, no, we don’t know whether it’s a boy or a girl – we’re happy to wait.”

Brendan describes himself as “very family orientated” and it’s plain when he talks about growing up in Christchurch, New Zealand, that he enjoys family life and can’t wait to be a Dad. All of which, if we are to believe the media hype that has sprung up around the dancer as Strictly ‘bad boy’ is out of character, surely?

“No, I’m quite a relaxed sort of guy, really,” he assured me. “I’m just passionate about what I do.”

Certainly, Brendan’s love of dancing and genuine talent for it shine through. In fact, you suspect that’s always been the case since he started dancing at the age of six. He worked as a builder and danced as an amateur with Camilla Dallerup from 1996, then 24

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

INTERVIEW from 2002-2004 the couple danced as professionals and achieved success.

“James Bond – The Musical”? “I’m a Kiwi – I don’t think they’d let me,” he laughed again. “Mind you, I’ve got some Scottish ancestry, so you never know.”

The pair joined “Strictly” when it began in 2004 and since then Brendan has been partnered with a variety of celebrities with varying degrees of success. In the first season, he famously partnered newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky and won. After that he danced with “Casualty” star Sarah Manners, then with GMTV’s Fiona Phillips and then actress Claire King.

Ask the lanky Kiwi who his dream partner would be and he immediately says “Natalie Portman – but don’t tell my wife!” When I point out that she’s rather a petite dancer to partner, he stated “that would be ideal – then I could throw her about!”

Supermodel Lisa Snowdon was his partner for the sixth series and Ronnie Wood’s estranged wife, Jo, danced with him in series seven. “I say ‘danced’ but most of the time all we did was have lunch!’ recalled Brendan, laughing happily at the memory.

Brendan’s genuine love of dancing is evident in everything he does, and he believes that “Strictly” has made the general public much more knowledgeable about dancing, too.

However, he insists that he’s really “an entertainer – that’s what I do” and maybe when all the dancing stops he’d still like to continue entertaining audiences. As to Cole junior, if it’s a boy, would he be happy if he were a dancer?

Brendan is kinder about some of his partners than others, but plainly enjoyed dancing with Victoria Pendleton who blossomed under his tutelage. He had predicted that they would last around eight weeks and did just that, but the athlete was generous in her praise of her professional partner and the friendly partnership appears mutual.

“I’d rather he was a golfer – then he could keep his old man!” he says. And with another chuckle at the thought, and a very polite “thank you” for our pleasant interview, Brendan Cole – former bad boy of ballroom and now entertainer extraordinaire – returned to his busy day and yet more dazzling dance routines to plan.

He had a definite departure from the “Strictly” format in January, 2010, however, when the debut of his own theatre tour – “Live and Unjudged” - written and directed by him went on tour. “It suited me,” he stated. “I loved the format and being so close to the audience.”

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Audiences obviously loved him as well as this was a great success. Now, he’s followed it up with another tour, starting in January, 2013, and called “Licence To Thrill” which promises to be as fascinating as its title.

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“That came from it being 50 years of James Bond and from one of the big songs we’re doing, Gladys Knight’s ‘Licence To Kill’ from the Bond film, so we thought that would set the tone for the show,” added Brendan.

The 32-date tour takes in everywhere from Cornwall to Carlisle and Blackpool to Basingstoke, involving 14 musicians and six world-class dancers. “We haven’t started rehearsals yet,” he stated, “because we’ve got people coming from all over the world.”

This includes leading lady Fauve Hauto from France – “Audiences will love her because she’s fabulous,” insisted Brendan. “The first time I saw her I was mesmerised and so will they be.”

There’s also Australian dancer Melanie Hooper and Germany’s Patrick Helm not to mention Brendan’s brother, Scott, in the two-hour dance and big band extravaganza. “It’s unlike ‘Strictly’ in that it’s a very intimate experience for the audience,” said Brendan. “If people go out from it not having enjoyed it all, I’ll be very disappointed.”

The Bond theme resonates with Mr Cole because he’s a lover of fast cars. So would he like to take the lead if they made

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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. 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 follow of thepeople highway who use electric mobility safety code whether ridesafety on scooters andyou the of other road users the pavement, footpath and pedestrians.

If you ride a scooter, you or on the road.

must follow the highway code whether you ride on the pavement, footpath or on theofroad.

For a free copy the publication please

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 25

Swindon Safe & Warm have you benefited yet?

Feeling safe in the home and being able to keep warm in the home are two things that are becoming more and more important in our lives. However, with gas and electricity bills rising, keeping warm is becoming more of a stretch financially for many households. This can result in heating being turned down or off to save money, which can impact on the healthiness of the household. For example, certain respiratory or cardio-vascular conditions can be exacerbated by lower temperatures. Also, if someone has mobility problems, then these are often made worse by the cold so could increase the risk of a fall in the home, which can then have a negative effect on that person’s long term health.

Swindon Safe & Warm is a Swindon Borough Council led initiative that aims to make homes warmer and cheaper to heat and reduce the risk to people from falls and fire in the home. It works with a number of partners to provide services and practical advice to householders to meet these aims, and targets areas of the borough where the need is greatest.

Interesting stats about the scheme: Safe & Warm has engaged with over 14,000 households. l It has installed nearly 1,800 insulation measures in homes. l One in four of the households referred to the income maximisation service were able to increase their household. income by on average £3,500 per year, and £2 million worth of additional income has been identified for Swindon residents since the start of the scheme. l The estimated savings for householders on their fuel bills from energy saving measures and advice is over £650,000 a year. l One in five of the households engaged with had someone at risk of a fall in the home. l

David Miles, the Affordable Warmth Coordinator and Manager of the Safe & Warm scheme said “We have been able to insulate homes, fix broken heating systems and improve personal finances through our free income maximisation service, all of which will help households to combat rising heating bills.”

“We also provide advice and support to reduce the risk of falling in the home and work closely with Wiltshire Fire Service to deliver a fire safety service. Having a warm, safe home is something that every person should have and we are doing our best to make this possible for people in Swindon.”

“We want the message about this scheme to reach the people who really need this support, so if you or someone you know could benefit from the Safe & Warm programme, please contact us for more information.”

The scheme is open to anyone in the borough, so if you would like more information on any of the services and support available, please complete the included reply slip.

Are you worried about falling in the home?

Name:.............................................................

The Falls Prevention Service has recently been expanded to provide support and funding for people needing small measures carried out within their homes to reduce the risk of a fall.

These could include grab rails, ramps, securing loose carpets, repositioning of furniture and other such measures that can make a big difference in getting around the home safely. Safe & Warm has produced a free advice booklet on reducing the risk of falling in the home which combines useful information on diet, exercise, and risk factors as well as a home hazard checklist to help identify potential hazards that could result in a fall. If you, or someone you know could benefit from this service, request your free copy using the reply slip.

Address:......................................................... ........................................................................

Postcode:........................................................

Telephone:......................................................

Email:..............................................................

I would like further information on the following services available through Safe & Warm:

Home Insulation

Help with heating improvements

Help with reducing the risk of falling in my home

Fire Safety within my home

Free income maximisation service for those whose finances are becoming stretched

Independent fuel guide to help me save money on my fuel bills

Energy saving guide to help me reduce my energy use at home

Free water saving measures to reduce my water bills

Guide to help reduce damp and mould problems in the home

Help with home insulation In previous years, loft and cavity wall insulation have been heavily subsidised and even free at times to encourage households to take up these measures. The situation has now changed and there is a move away from such subsidised schemes, with households now being offered something called a “Green Deal� to help with energy saving measures. There should not be any upfront cost to installing energy saving measures to a property, but the cost of the measures is paid back through fuel bill savings over a number of years. Swindon Borough Council is currently looking at how to incorporate this in the Safe & Warm programme, and as such is unable to offer a home insulation scheme at present. However, if you would like to be kept informed of developments to the Safe & Warm home insulation programme please let us know on the reply slip and you will be sent information when it is up and running.

Using your Personal Information This form will be processed by Swindon Borough Council (SBC) for the purpose of making homes safe and warm. SBC may share your details with one or more of our partnering organisations who provide energy saving measures, benefits advice, health related services, home repair and adaptation services, and water saving measures, and they may contact you if you have indicated that you would like more information from another organisation on this form.

Signature:.....................................................

Date:.............................................................

Return to David Miles Affordable Warmth Coordinator, 5th Floor Wat Tyler West, Beckhampton Street Swindon SN1 2JH.

Sorrento & Pompeii 21st Sept 10 Days £849

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Day Trips 2013

Mon Feb 11

BBC Television Centre Tour & Westfield London Warner Bros. Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter West Midland Safari Park: Special Price!

Tue Feb 12

Brooklands Museum (Birthplace of British Motorsport & home of Concorde) Kingston upon Thames Salisbury (Market Day) Wilton Shopping Village & Salisbury Milestones: Hampshire’s Living History Museum Basingstoke (Festival Place Shopping Centre)

Wed Feb 13

Cable Car Capital Tour Inc. Lunch & Perimeter of Olympic Park Bristol Zoo Cribbs Causeway Shopping Centre, Bristol Avon Valley Railway & Bath

Thu Feb 14

London (shopping) Kensington (museums) Westfield London Shopping Centre S C A N Y O N E M T S British Museum, London P P Q R R H R Q U D O Gloucester Quays J H U E R I S Z S S Z Slimbridge G B K R F P T R T L S Snowdrops at Welford Park & Newbury (Market Day)

Fri Feb 15

Sun Feb 17

Wed Feb 20 Sat Feb 23

Thu Feb 28 Sat Mar 9 Fri Mar 15

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Sat Mar 16

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Sun Mar 17

Knitting & Stitching Show, Olympia London

Tue Mar 19

Ideal Home Show ‘Early Bird’ Rate* (Earl’s Court)

Wed Mar 20 Thu Mar 21 Sun Mar 24 Mon Mar 25 Wed Mar 27

B A B D C I T H B O R L H T S X

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P HA R M Drive AC Wye Valley Cruise, Tintern & Scenic

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N R C T C O Y P R K M E A N O O BBC Television Centre Westfield P Tour J M& O L I TLondon X N W R S Gunwharf Quay Shopping Centre, Portsmouth L A Y S L S T M G B H U Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth C A K T U B A S E A M I Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth I P R E E E B C V B P J Southsea H S U R D L O G L D V I London (shopping) A R I Z O N A E W C H A Kensington (museums) Z X Z O T C W G M I A J Westfield London Shopping C Y GCentre S I E T N N T G T London Transport Museum V A U W E G H F X H W W D D Meal C D F E G F V B Q Y Mystery Drive & 2 Course W R A Farnham T F L Maltings I Q U O R D Unravel: All Things Woollen!

O T A C I B F N Y R D T Downton Abbey (private tour of Highclere...

F C K W R CE A NN YO O LN L E MU T IS ... Castle inc. tea and coffee) & SPNewbury Q USD D O F K E O E PF Q UR RG HER H J H U E R I S Z S S Z Crufts 2013 - GundogN(NEC, A DBirmingham) W H R G A Q T D N G B K R F P T R T L S Y TP W R Court) KOM S E ASN A O S EBird’ K R SC OM(Earl’s Ideal Home Show ‘Early Rate* X N W R O G N I RP JG M UO LL I MT X G B

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Smile! Get your Smile! yourteeth teethfixed xedinin in xed Budapest and Budapest and save save£1000s £1000s £1000s

InIn2013 the dental tourism industry is is set 2013 thethe dental tourism industry In 2013 dental tourism industry totocontinue totogrow continue grow with more more and more set to continue to with grow with and more and people traveling toBudapest Budapest in Hungary Hungary people to in moretraveling people travelling to Budapest in have theirto teeth xed. teeth fixed. totohave their teeth Hungary havexed. their In 2012 Treatment Abroad Medical 2012 thethe Treatment Abroad Medical InIn2012 the Treatment Abroad Medical Tourism Survey revealed that 20,000 Tourism Survey revealed that 20,000 Tourism Survey revealed that 20,000 people from UK travelled overseas people from thethe UK travelled overseas people from the UK travelled overseas for dental treatment. for dental treatment. for dental treatment.

Budapest has long been established as Budapest has longbeen been established as Budapest has long established as the most popular destination in Europe the most popular dental destination in the because most popular destination in of the dental high standards of dental Europe because ofthe the high standards standards Europe of high care,because the rigorous training and education dental care,the the rigorous training and ofofdental care, rigorous training and of Hungarian dentists, and the huge education of Hungarian dentists, and the education dentists, savingsofonHungarian offer to UK patients.and the huge savings on offer to UK patients. huge savings on offer to UK patients.

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HOW TO LOVE FOOD AND LOSE WEIGHT 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 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.

LEAN LAMB HOTPOT We’ve always loved this simple old-fashioned dish and this is our new-wave version - who’d have thought it? By trimming the meat well and reducing the amount of potatoes, we’ve made this lower in calories than the trad recipe. Makes a cracking supper on a cold day, served with lots of green veg.

SERVES 4 700g well-trimmed lamb leg meat (or leg steaks) 2 tsp sunflower oil 2 medium onions, peeled and thinly sliced 5 medium carrots, peeled and thickly sliced (about 300g prepared weight) 3 tbsp plain flour 600ml lamb stock, made with 1 lamb stock cube 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 tsp dried thyme 1 rosemary stalk or 1/2 tsp dried rosemary 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce flaked sea salt freshly ground black pepper Potato topping 3 medium potatoes (about 500g)

Trim any visible fat off the lamb and cut the meat into rough 3cm chunks. Season generously all over with salt and pepper.

Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and fry the lamb in 2 batches over a medium-high heat until nicely browned on all sides.

Transfer the browned meat to a medium casserole dish - it will need to hold about 2.5 litres.

Tip the onions and carrots into the pan with the lamb and sprinkle with the flour. Toss everything together well, then pour over the stock and add the thyme leaves, rosemary and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well.

438 calories per portion

Preheat the oven to 170oC/Fan 150oC/Gas 31/2. Peel the potatoes and cut them into slices about 5mm thick. Arrange the slices on top of the lamb, overlapping and layering them as you go. Season with ground black pepper and cover with a tight-fitting lid.

Bake the hotpot for 1 hour, then remove the lid and bake for a further 45 minutes or until the potatoes are nicely browned and the lamb is tender. Check by poking with the point of a knife into the centre of the lamb filling - if the meat is done the knife should slide in easily. Serve with freshly cooked greens.

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SALMON WITH CHILLI GINGER SAUCE Oily fish such as salmon, is a great choice when you’re watching your weight, but bear in mind that it contains more calories than white fish. It’s a highquality protein, so fills you up, and it is delicious especially when teamed with this sticky, tangy sauce. You need to allow time for the fish to marinate for 30 minutes but once that is done, this is quick and easy to prepare.

SERVES 4 2 balls of stem ginger in syrup (and 2 tablespoons of the syrup) 3 garlic cloves 3 tbsp dark soy sauce finely grated zest of 1/2 well-scrubbed orange freshly squeezed juice of 1 orange (about 125ml) 1/2 long red chilli, thinly sliced 4 x 125 -150g salmon fillets, skin on freshly ground black pepper Put the ginger balls on a board and slice them thinly. Pile up the slices from each ball and cut through them to make thin matchstick strips. Put these in a bowl that’s large enough to hold the salmon and add 2 tablespoons of the stem ginger syrup from the jar. Peel the garlic cloves and slice them thinly, then add them to the bowl with the ginger. Stir in the soy sauce, orange zest, orange juice and red chilli.

254 calories per portion

Put the salmon in the bowl with the marinade. Season with lots of ground black pepper and turn a couple of times, ending with the fish skin side up. Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 220oC/Fan 200oC/Gas 7. Line a small baking tray with baking parchment. Take the salmon fillets out of the marinade scraping off any bits and pieces, and place them on the tray, skin side down. Season with more ground black pepper.

Bake for 12-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the salmon.

While the salmon is cooking, prepare the sauce. Pour the marinade into a small non-stick saucepan and bring to the boil. Cook for 6 minutes or until the liquid has reduced and the garlic is softened. You need enough of the marinade to pour over the salmon but not swamp it completely.

Put the salmon fillets on warmed plates, carefully lifting off the skin as you go. Spoon the hot sauce over the salmon and serve with a small portion of rice or new potatoes and some steamed or stir-fried vegetables.

PLUM RICE PUDDING Those little pots of rice pudding you can buy in supermarkets make a nice sweet treat, but they are expensive and they contain lots of sugar. It’s so much cheaper to make your own and really easy. Eat the rice pudding on its own or topped with a fruity compote. We like plums, but use any lightly stewed fruit you like - apples, pears and summer berries all work well.

SERVES 4 100g pudding rice 400ml semi-skimmed milk 200ml cold water 1/4 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp caster sugar (preferably golden) Compote 3 ripe plums, stoned and quartered 6 tbsp cold water 1 tsp caster sugar (preferably golden)

134 calories per portion Put the rice, milk, water and vanilla extract in a medium non-stick saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over a medium heat. Cook for 16-18 minutes or until the rice is tender (with compote) and the sauce is creamy, stirring regularly. Don’t forget that it will continue to thicken as it cools, so add a little extra water if serving cold. Stir frequently towards the end of the cooking time as the mixture will be thickening up. Sweeten with a little caster sugar and serve warm or chilled with or without the topping.

To make the compote topping, put the plums, water and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring gently, until the plums are softened but still holding their shape. Add a little extra water if you need.

Spoon the rice pudding into tumblers or dessert dishes and top with the plum compote. Delicious warm or cold.

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Planning for your future Whether you are already retired or are approaching retirement there are certain things you might want to consider as part of your retirement plan. With a plan in place and your financial affairs in order you can relax and enjoy your retirement years. After all you’ve earned it!

Wills

Inheritance Tax Planning

If you don’t have a Will then now is the time to consider writing one as leaving a Will means you can be sure that everything will be dealt with in the way you would wish following your death.

You should also start to think about Inheritance Tax (IHT).

IHT is a tax payable on death at the rate of 40% on the value of your net assets over £325,000. The first £325,000 is called the Nil Rate Band because although it attracts Inheritance Tax, it is taxed at 0%. If you are married, the best way to pay less inheritance tax (or even none at all) is by making a Tax efficient Will.

If you don’t make a Will, the “Intestacy Rules” will govern how your estate is divided up when you die. The government will determine which of your relatives receives how much, but beware, they don’t provide at all for your friends or even for a partner who you may have lived with for years. Under the Intestacy Rules, even your step-children are not counted as your children unless you have formally adopted them.

If you do have a Will it is important to review it, say every five years. Family circumstances and relationships change with family members sometimes becoming estranged, so ask yourself, does your Will still provide for the people you want it to? If you do want to make a change we can do this for you even if your Will was not written by Pooleys Solicitors.

Many people believe that giving away money or valuable assets whilst you are alive avoids IHT. This can be the case if the total of the gifts made in any one year does not exceed your annual exemption of £3000, but for gifts over that level you must survive the following 7 years otherwise you will be taxed as though you still owned the asset.

There are ways to gift money that are free from Inheritance Tax. You can make a gift to your spouse (provided you both live in England and Wales) although you should seek legal advice before doing so as this could affect other tax planning possibilities, such as the gifting of agricultural assets or business property. You can also make a tax-free gift

to your children or grandchildren of up to £5000 or £2,500 respectively on their marriage/civil partnership. If you decide to give a larger amount to your children now, you can reduce the tax they pay by insuring the Inheritance Tax liability which would arise if you were to die within 7 years of the gift and we would be happy to advise on the right policy for you.

Planning for Long Term Care As people live longer, more and more of us face the possibility of going into residential care. This currently costs around £575 per week which means that the money you worked so hard for all your life can soon be eaten away.

There are however ways to preserve your assets and that’s where we can help.

If your total assets (usually including the value of your home) exceed £23,250 then you will have to pay the care fees yourself, until your assets fall below that level (when the local authority will step in and contribute some of the cost).

Certain assets are disregarded (such as jewellery or cars) but the best way to prevent all your assets being used up by long term care fees is to come and see us and take advice at an early stage.

As the need to go into residential care approaches, many people are tempted to transfer their home into the names of their children, or to give away large amounts of money. If you do give assets away and one of your reasons for doing so is to avoid care fees, the “notional capital” rules mean that you will be assessed as still owning that asset even after you give it away. Please seek advice before giving away any assets.

Looking After Someone Else’s Affairs Managing your own financial affairs is often difficult enough but sometimes as your parents get older they may also wish for you to help them with theirs. If this has been discussed, the key thing here is to act before your loved one loses mental capacity.

If their mental capacity is still sound they can give you a “Power of Attorney” which allows you to look after things for up to a year for them or it might be more suitable to have a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) which will last indefinitely.

At Pooleys Solicitors we can tailor-make a Power of Attorney to suit their individual needs and circumstances and we can discuss their options with them at the initial appointment.

If mental capacity is unfortunately lost before an LPA is put in place then we can apply to the Court for a Deputyship order. This would mean that you would be appointed by the Court to be their Deputy and be able to manage their affairs for them under Court guidance.

We know that much of this might sound quite daunting but the key is to deal with it sooner rather than later. We’re here to guide you every step of the way and we’ll make sure that your retirement plan is tailor made and as individual as you are.

As people live longer, more and more of us face the possibility of going into residential care. This currently costs around £575 per week which means that the money you worked so hard for all your life can soon be eaten away.

Pooleys Solicitors LLP will be pleased to help you with Conveyancing & Energy Performance Certificates l Wills l Probate & Trusts l Tax Planning l Matrimonial & Family Law l Lasting Power of Attorney l

10-15 Regent Circus, Swindon SN1 1PP.

Tel: 01793 488848 Fax: 01793 511209 email: mail@pooleyssolicitors.co.uk

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‘I’d urge any woman who feels the sorts of symptoms I had to go to their doctor quickly’

Some 4,750 women aged 50-plus contract ovarian cancer across England each year, and more than 3,350 die from the disease.

Tracey Toop, from Swindon, is currently undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March 2012.

I started getting a weird feeling in my stomach, like feeling full up when I’d only just started eating. I also had a pain in my leg, which later turned out to have been the tumour pressing on the nerves. This was all probably a year before I was diagnosed, because I ignored the symptoms.

“I even collapsed at work and they wanted to call an ambulance, but being me I just went home and then went to see my doctor. At first they thought it was an infection, and I felt okay for a while after the antibiotics because the symptoms would come and go.

“But then they got worse again and we thought it was irritable bowel syndrome.

Watch out for the signs of ovarian cancer...

Women in this age group are far more likely than those who are younger to contract cancer of the ovaries. They account for eight out of 10 cases overall.

Tracey Toop Photo courtesy of the Swindon Advertiser

The mystery wasn’t solved until my aunt was sitting next to me when my leg was playing up, and she said, ‘That’s a cyst’, because she’d had one.

“In fact there were three tumours on my ovaries, and I ended up having a full hysterectomy. Then, when I’d recovered, there were five months of chemotherapy.

Now I’m on avastin [a drug to stop tumour growth] and

I’ve been given two years to live – but I don’t take any notice of that.

“Thinking back, it was a year or more – maybe two years – between first noticing the symptoms and being diagnosed.

“So I’d urge any woman who feels the sorts of symptoms I had to go to their doctor quickly, even if it’s only to put their mind at rest. It could make all the difference.

“Since being diagnosed, I’ve also come across several women who weren’t concerned because they thought any cancer would be picked up by the regular cervical smear tests. That’s what I’d thought as well, but in fact smear tests don’t detect ovarian cancer. So please look out for the key symptom – the persistent bloating.

That’s why a campaign in Swindon is urging women in their fifties and older to see their GP if they show potential symptoms.

The aim is to detect the cancer earlier, which increases the chances of survival and can significantly reduce the intensity of treatment, making recovery quicker.

The key sign to look out for is an unexplained bloated feeling that occurs most days for three weeks or more. If this happens, you should see your doctor and get it checked out.

The chances are that there’s nothing to worry about, in which case the visit will put your mind at rest. But it could be a sign of something that needs treatment.

The campaign is being run for the Department of Health by the Thames Valley Cancer Network.

The Importance of Dentures quite often a dental technician must combine their technical expertise and anatomical understanding with a pinch of artistic judgement.

Choice of Removable Dentures Acrylic, Chrome and Implant Retained Acrylic dentures are typically the most affordable type of denture, being constructed entirely from rigid acrylic. There are two types of acrylic used for dentures: Standard and high impact. The standard acrylic has good strength and wear resistance with its tightly packed polymetric chains and the high impact acrylic has thinner, longer polymetric strands that knit tightly together giving a higher tensile strength.

Problems associated with acrylic-only dentures are their size and thickness. Another type of denture is that of flexible plastic. These tend to be very strong and are much thinner than acrylic, but they are not suitable for all applications and can also be problematic with tooth bonding, meaning that the acrylic teeth may not always connect properly to the acrylic. The flexible denture needs to rely on a mechanical bond to the acrylic teeth and if this fails the denture cannot be repaired and needs to be remade.

The eyes, nose and teeth are the focal points of the face; they give the first impressions of our personalities and also enable us to express ourselves. Natural teeth grow in proportion and in harmony with other facial features, and any set of dentures should be made accordingly to represent this natural process.

Of course, aesthetics are not the only consideration. Our teeth - and, by extension, our dentures - have numerous important functions: To support your facial features, to help you to formulate speech, and most importantly to chew food and start the digestive process. This is imperative: poorly chewed food can take longer to digest, which can be particularly problematic for the elderly who could risk problems in the digestive system.

Difficulties in Constructing a Good Set of Dentures Our mouths are not designed to wear dentures, so dentures have to be designed for each and every mouth that requires them. Our mouths are as different as our faces and while some people have anatomy that is conducive to wearing dentures, some regrettably do not, so it is absolutely mandatory that great care and attention is taken during the construction process. Constructing a functional, aesthetically pleasing set of dentures is one of the most difficult tasks in the field of dentistry. Not only should the acrylic teeth be of the correct size, colour and position, but they should also be in perfect balance with opposing dentures and any natural teeth. They should be comfortable when resting on soft gum tissues and need to be retentive so that they stay in place. They need to be strong enough to withstand the huge amount of force that is put upon them whilst eating and they need to be made of safe dental materials.

Our teeth and dental tissues are constantly changing shape as we grow, and the way our dentures look on the surface or the way they uphold our facial structure is also going to change. To that end, it is not always possible to translate the appearance of our natural teeth onto a dental appliance, so

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Chrome dentures still employ the use of acrylic teeth and gums, but the functioning areas of the denture that are concealed are cast as either a thin frame that hugs the contour of the teeth and gums, or is simply the plate section or an integral strengthening structure. This is determined by the shape of the mouth and the position of any remaining natural teeth. A chrome denture is usually the most suitable type of denture for most people by far, but they do tend to be a little more expensive than acrylic-only dentures.

Not only are chrome dentures strong but they are thin too, and it can take a moment or two to get used to not having a mouth full of acrylic. Due to the nature of a chrome denture many people also find that food tastes better, and this is because of the chrome’s ability to conduct heat and stimulate the saliva glands and taste buds. This is even more evident in some partial dentures as the palate can be completely free of any material as the retention is reliant only on the existing natural teeth. Implants are another very good alternative to an acrylic denture and they give much better retention than any other method, but implants also have their draw backs. Not everyone can have implants due to bone density or thickness and they cost considerably more than a denture without implants. The benefits of implants can be huge and in some cases, life changing. An implant retained denture works on the principle of a small metal implant (about one third the size of a natural tooth) which sits just above gum level. The corresponding denture has the attachment part embedded into it and this then clicks in to place to hold the denture firmly, but still allows it to be removed from the mouth at will.

How long should dentures last?

Dentures can last for twenty years or more, but many lose their function to some extent after about five years. This doesn’t always necessitate a new set, and there are processes that can assist the fit and functionality. You should have your dentures checked at least once every twelve months to make sure they are functioning correctly. A denture that is not fitting or functioning correctly can be damaging to any natural teeth or the underlying bone structure. This particularly applies to dentures that rock back and forth in the mouth.

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Cleaning and denture servicing

Dentures need attention

Being in almost constant use, the average denture is in a somewhat hostile environment. Strong acids and bacteria, either from food or simply produced by the mouth, can apply themselves to a set of dentures and seriously affect their functionality, strength and appearance. Care must be taken to properly clean and maintain a dental appliance to ensure longevity and efficiency.

A loose partial denture poses a risk to the dental health of its wearer. Loose partial dentures move around in the mouth, irritating the delicate gum tissues to the point of ulceration and pushing against the teeth, the latter of which can even cause tooth loss and denture breakage. In the event of a fracture in the dental prosthetic, your local clinical technician can remove the acrylic where the fracture has occurred and replace it with new acrylic.

Daily cleaning is imperative for a healthy denture and mouth.

There are a wide range of denture creams available, and these are preferred over regular toothpaste as they are less abrasive and will not scratch the denture. A medium bristled tooth brush should be used, and preferably an electric one due to its highly enhanced ability to clean thoroughly between the teeth and other awkward areas on the denture. Even if you have no teeth you should also be brushing the denture-bearing gum tissues, and a soft bristled brush is ideal for this task. This will stimulate the blood flow and remove any dead cells. Your gums, natural teeth and dentures should be brushed twice a day. Disinfecting your denture should be done at least twice a week to keep your dentures clean and healthy, but overuse of some bleach based disinfection tablets can damage your denture so care should be taken.

Clinical dental technicians also advise the frequent use of ultrasonic units as these can clean on a level that is unachievable with brushing alone. The more often an ultra sonic unit is used, the cleaner your denture will remain. You can test the effectiveness of an ultrasonic unit by placing a strip of aluminium foil into the water for a few seconds: A good quality unit will make micro perforations in the foil. This is called cavitation, and it is an excellent cleaning method. For this reason it is a legal requirement for all dental care professionals to use ultrasonic units as part of their decontamination process for instruments and devices.

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Full denture wearers experiencing looseness can also be detrimental to dental health. The facial features and muscles supported by the presence of a denture can suffer by becoming strained and tense, which can cause headaches.

Rocking motion of the denture can cause bone loss and beyond this, loose full dentures are often accompanied by difficulties chewing food and eating.

Treating an ill-fitting set of loose dentures is typically done by re-lining the fitting surface with brand new acrylic. The fitting surface is lined adequately with soft impression material and placed back inside the mouth, whereupon the correct bite and tooth position is confirmed by the clinical technician. The denture is then removed bearing an exact impression of the surface of the mouth, from which a new dental model can be made.

The Clinical Dental Technician Clinical Dental Technicians are dental technicians that have been clinically trained so that they can provide dentures directly to the public, rather than having them provided by a dentist who may send the dental impressions to a denture technician outside of the practice. Many people prefer this method as it removes communication issues between the patient and a remote dental technician. You may need a prescription from a dentist before dentures can be supplied and you local clinical dental technician can advise you on this. For the best denture advice, contact your local Clinical Dental Technician.

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DEMENTIA EXPLAINED

By Cognitive Neuroscientist and Business Improvement Strategist, Dr Lynda Shaw.

Dementia is an age-related syndrome that affects nearly 600,000 people in the UK and that number is rising.

Dementia is becoming more and more important because we are living longer and Dementia is now the most common disease in the elderly.

for storing memories. Alzheimer’s can affect memory, understanding, judgment, emotions and even personality and can be both frightening and exhausting for those with Alzheimer’s Disease as well as their loved ones.

Vascular Dementia

The most common cause of Dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease and there is currently no cure but many believe we can help ourselves prevent or at least slow down a decline into Dementia, so that we can enjoy those precious later years.

During the course of the disease the chemistry and structure of the brain changes, leading to the death of brain cells. Currently it’s difficult for doctors to make a clear diagnosis for Dementia.

In the early stages the clinical symptoms can be quite ambiguous because cognitive impairment needs to be distinguished from brain changes during normal ageing.

Dementia usually first appears as forgetfulness.

WHAT IS DEMENTIA? Most types of Dementia are non-reversible (degenerative) but some causes of Dementia may be stopped or reversed if they are found soon enough, including after brain injury or chronic alcohol abuse Dementia is rare in people under age 60. The risk for Dementia increases as a person gets older.

Four main types of Dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common cause of Dementia and accounts for 50% - 60% of all cases. It destroys brain cells and nerves disrupting the neuro transmitters which carry messages in the brain, particularly those responsible

Vascular Dementia is the second most common form of Dementia and accounts for about 20% of all cases. It affects men more than women and is due to cerebrovascular disease, which occurs where oxygen supply fails or is no longer efficient in the brain and brain cells are likely to die. This can lead to strokes or infarcts (mini strokes) and there is an increased possibility of vascular dementia.

Dementia with Lewy bodies Dementia with Lewy bodies is the third most common cause of Dementia and may occur in up to 20% of cases. Dementia with Lewy bodies is similar to Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s Disease in that it is caused by the degeneration and death of nerve cells in the brain. Lewy bodies are abnormal collections of protein deposits, found in the nerve cells of the brain.

Fronto-temporal dementia Fronto-temporal dementia is relatively rare and affects people at a younger age. It takes its name from the fact that damage to brain cells usually begins in the frontal lobe of the brain.

Symptoms Dementia affects people differently but symptoms may include difficulty with many areas of mental function, including in language, memory, perception, emotional behaviour such as anxiety or agitation and cognitive skills such as abstract thinking, or judgment and disorientation.

Mild cognitive impairment is somewhere between normal forgetfulness due to ageing and the development of Dementia.

People with MCI have mild problems with thinking and memory that do not interfere with everyday activities and are often aware of the forgetfulness. Not everyone with MCI develops Dementia.

Prevention Most causes of Dementia are not preventable but there are many things you can do to best protect yourself or slow down the rate of Dementia.

1.

2.

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Mental Exercise Quitting smoking and controlling high blood pressure and diabetes can help us reduce our risk of vascular Dementia.

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3. Eating a low-fat balanced diet may reduce the risk of Vascular Dementia.

4. Regular physical exercise may reduce the risk of Vascular Dementia.

5. Sleep Well 6. Managing Stress 7. There is also treatment with vitamin B this has had notable effects. Folic Acid, B6 and B12 seem to do something to the reduction in the rate of brain atrophy.

8. Identify MCI as quickly as possible. In studies carried out in memory clinics, 10-15 per cent of people with MCI went on to develop Dementia in each year that the research results were followed up. It is therefore very important to identify people with MCI, as they may be in the very early stages of the disease and more likely to benefit from early treatment in the future. However, many people with MCI improve or remain stable, and do not develop Dementia.

In recent years, however, treatments that can improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are becoming available.

Other treatments that may slow down the progression of the disease in the brain are also being developed. It is important that people with Alzheimer’s disease are identified as early as possible, so that they can benefit from these treatments in the future. Identifying people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is one way to try to achieve this but so far, none of the techniques available are sufficiently developed to provide a definitive diagnosis in patients with MCI.

Helping those with Dementia • Understanding and respecting the person with Dementia

• Helping the person feel valued – be tolerant; listen properly and slow down; be affectionate; address them with the name they prefer e.g. Mr or Mrs … be courteous, kind and non-judgemental • Respecting cultural values and privacy • Regardless of how bad the Dementia is people still have feelings, so help the person feel good about themselves • Help them express their feelings.

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

Helping Families of those with Dementia 1. Caring for a person with AD can have physical, emotional and financial costs. The demands of day to day care, changing family roles, and difficult decisions about placement in a care facility can be hard to handle.

2. Becoming well informed is really important.

3. Developing good coping skills 4. Having a strong network of family and friends also are important 5. Staying physically active helps us cope emotionally to being a carer 6. Getting support groups for respite and expression of concerns DR LYNDA SHAW RUNS AN ADVISORY SERVICE FOR LOVED ONES OF THOSE SUFFERING WITH DEMENTIA. www.drlyndashaw.com

Call our professional team on 01793 698033 Our staff

Contact us

Our staff are caring, trained to give medication and police checked.

Visit us online at www.bluebirdcare.co.uk Call our professional team on 01452 414952

Alternative

What we offer

Bluebird Care offers a realistic cost effective alternative to residential care. With familiar friends, relatives and possessions around, Bluebird Care ‘just happens’

We offer everything from personal care to shopping, cleaning or social visits. In fact everything you need to stay in the comfort of your own home.

www.bluebirdcare.co.uk qrf ree.kay wa.com (312×312)

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