Retirement Today, April/May

The magazine for pre and post retirement

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• Pets • Lifestyle • Travel • Culture • Competitions • Health • Recipes •

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R E T I R E M E N T

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CONTENTS

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4 Rediscover our Wildlife Read how John Crabb, a former university physicist who took early retirement in 2005, combines his technical ability in electronics with his love of birds to pursue a hobby in wildlife photography.

WELCOME TO RETIREMENT TODAY MAGAZINE

9 Update Goalposts shifting for overseas pensioners; The Elms Calendar raises £806 to support St Peter’s Church, Torksey; A surprise view of Nottinghamshire - A peaceful retirement park in the heart of the East Midlands.

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11 The benefits of getting a pet when you retire For those of you who love animals, read about the benefits and how getting a pet could be a worthwhile consideration when you retire.

13 Animals for re-homing A selection of animals currently looking for homes.

15 Retirement Boltholes Mike Francis takes a look at where to live when you retire, the options available and things to take into consideration.

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18 Later in Life According to medical science, on the physical side it’s downhill for us from our midtwenties onwards. Read about how men can put off the effects of ageing until the last possible moment.

22 Footloose in Ireland In their Footloose series, Debra Rixon and her husband visit Ireland. Read about Debra’s experiences, plus your chance to win a copy of her DVD

25 British Asparagus The asparagus season is a relatively short one, so make the most of it with TV chef Marcus Bean’s delicious recipes.

26 Unexpected items in the baggage area

Driven crazy by the modern world?

A hilarious call-to-arms for everyone frustrated with twenty-first-century living.

• Published by: Amra Media Solutions Ltd The Old Lavender Mill 46a Brook Street Aston Clinton Buckinghamshire HP22 5ES • Tel: 01296 632700 • Fax: 01296 632720 • Email: info@amramedia.co.uk • www.retirement-today.co.uk • Designed by: Tom Evans Design All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher.

The opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Although every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information and the advertisements contained within the magazine, the publishers cannot accept any liability.

Retirement Today would be pleased to receive your articles and photographs for possible publication. Although all reasonable care will be taken the magazine can assume no responsibility and contributors are advised to retain a copy.

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29 Out and About Read about events taking place nationally.

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WIN

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30 Competitions Fantastic prizes including tickets to Cliff Richard’s Midsummer concerts.

31 Competitions Your chance to win Books, Dvds, Gardening Scotland tickets, BBC Good Food Show tickets

32 Why we need charities even more today

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Mike Francis looks at how the economic recession is affecting charities and how they need our help now more than ever.

WIEN31 PAG

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34 Charity News Read what’s happening within the world of charity.

35 Subscription Subscribe and have Retirement Today delivered direct to your door.

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Biography of John Crabb

Rediscover Our Wildlife

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ohn Crabb is a former university physicist and is married with two grownup sons. He took early retirement in 2005 at the age of fifty seven, since then his time has been filled pursuing his several hobbies. He has been a keen morris dancer for nearly forty years and he also plays in a steel band. Reluctant to give up working entirely, he runs a small business repairing aviation headsets and aircraft electrical systems; up until last year he owned a small aeroplane and was an enthusiastic pilot.

John’s wildlife photography grew out of his lifelong interest in bird watching. He acquired a suitable camera just over three years ago and has been busy with it ever since. This activity has given him the opportunity to combine his technical ability in electronics with his love of birds. He has developed novel techniques for photographing garden birds in flight; many of the best photos can be seen on John’s website at www.johncrabb.co.uk.

As well as taking the photographs, he exhibits at art shows and craft fairs and gives illustrated talks on his work. He produces framed and mounted prints and greetings cards bearing his images.

John lives in Somerset and, when he is not photographing birds in his country garden, spends much time on the Somerset Levels in search of dramatic shots of the plentiful wildlife. He also makes annual trips to France with his camera in search of more exotic subjects. As his expertise has grown, he has become more and more interested in maximising the artistic potential of his wildlife photos. This, and further technical innovations he is developing , offer the prospect of an interesting and absorbing pastime for many years to come. Along with so many other retired people, he wonders how he ever found time for work.

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Brown Hare in the winter sunlight.

Rediscover Our Wildlife

By John Crabb

D

o you watch those natural history documentar ies on the box? The ones which must cost millions to make and which send celebrity presenters around the world to stand alongside strange and wonderful creatures? If you have marvelled at all this, perhaps you will have also occasionally lamented the woeful lack of dramatic wildlife in this country.

Certainly, we do not have lions, tigers or mountain gorillas, bower birds or toucans, and our insects might be considered more

pestiferous than photogenic, but what we do have is actually well worth seeking out. It might be time to take a more careful look.

To do that you will want to pull on your boots and get outside, and you may not have to go very far – your garden might do for a start.

It is a common notion that all British birds are small, brown and non-descript – in short, not worth a second look. But the camera tells a different story, especially if, as I have been trying to do, you can capture them in flight. The common Blue Tit, for example, is a work of art in

All photographs are copyright John Crabb 2011,2012 and 2013. All rights are reserved.

Shy and elusive country fox.

to take those binoculars (and the boots!) with you. If you live in a city, you may be fed up with the sight of the urban Fox, but in the countryside, the Fox is still a shy and elusive creature. It is a great thrill to come across one stalking cautiously along a hedgerow, sniffing and listening for rabbits and mice. If you stand quietly and the wind direction is in your favour, it could well come quite close before noticing you.

Spring is a good time to see Hares, happiest in large, flat open fields. Often, if it senses your presence, it will choose to hide rather than run, only making

a break for it when it you get so close that it is sure the game is up.

As for birds, in my book, the most spine-tingling and dramatic are the owls, and there are species that habitually fly during the day.

A winter treat in some parts of the country is the Short Eared Owl. You may be lucky enough to see them hunting at low level across rough pasture in search of voles. They do not really pay much attention to humans so, again, a close approach is quite likely. It will be an unforgettable encounter! Likewise for the Barn Owl, that ghostly and elegant

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blue and yellow. Its tiny wing feathers, when caught flexing in a tight turn, have all the majesty of an eagle’s. That goes for most small garden birds too, the Chaffinch looks positively exotic and the Goldfinch surely cannot easily be beaten for dramatic colour. These birds can readily be attracted to the garden with feeders and bird tables and you can really enjoy them if you have a pair of binoculars to hand.

If you are looking for even more drama, then we have to go a little further afield and plunge into the great British countryside. It will certainly pay

Rediscover Our Wildlife

The large and charismatic Short Eared Owl, a visual treat on a winter’s day.

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A colourful Goldfinch feeding on thistle seeds.

presence most likely to be met at dawn and dusk but, if prey is hard to find, you may find one hunting in broad daylight.

Another bird that could be easily overlooked and dismissed as just another swan is the Whooper Swan. Superficially similar to our Mute Swan, but with a yellow rather than an orange bill, these birds are winter visitors from the arctic tundra. Somehow they bring a whiff of the frozen wastes with them. A good way to find out which birds are about is to seek out the website of your local ornithological or birding society, they will be sure to have a page of bird sightings to give you the where and when.

So, rather than just sitting through yet another TV wildlife blockbuster, with its wide views of foreign hills, surging cinematic music and extraordinary cast, why not huff on your binocular lenses, give them a good wipe, and go out and see what there is to be found closer to home? You may not always be lucky enough to see anything, that is how the real world is, but if you spend time in the fresh air and wild places, you will certainly eventually be rewarded with unforgettable sights. As someone once said, the more time I spend at it the luckier I get. Don’t forget your boots n

Blue tit – more colourful and dramatic than might be imagined.

Rediscover Our Wildlife

The wood mouse is a cheeky little character.

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All photographs are copyright John Crabb 2011,2012 and 2013. All rights are reserved.

Legacy quarter page ad.pdf

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20/04/2012

15:22

Last year we helped over 80,000 wild birds and animals like Rudolph

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Please help me get better

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Not only do we treat more hedgehogs than any other wildlife hospital, but our caring teams save lives every day.

Our aim is simple, to treat injured British wildlife, then return them to the wild. Like Rudolph, who arrived badly injured at just five days old. Our specialist care saved this little deer and he is now facing a brighter future. But it is only with your support we can help casualties like Rudolph; please remember Tiggywinkles in your Will.

Our late friend Dame Thora Hird actively encouraged others to help us secure funding for our lifesaving work. In her words "All the little wild creatures and I thank you so very much".

For more information please contact: Jenny Babb, Tiggywinkles, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP17 8AF

01844 292 292 mail@sttiggywinkles.org.uk www.tiggywinkles.com Registered Charity No. 286447

Come and have a look around our Visitor Centre.

Opening times can be found on our website www.tiggywinkles.com.

is the busiest wildlife hospital in the world.

The event where 31st May gardens to 2nd June 2013 come to Royal Highland life Centre, Edinburgh BOOK EARLY

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Food Fayre

Floral Displays

Plant Village

Gardening Advice

Cookery Demos

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Over 400 Exhibitors

www.gardeningscotland.com Tel: 0131 333 0965 RETIREMENT

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Speak Up! Are you looking for a new challenge?

Are you a confident public speaker?

Could you become a Volunteer Speaker for World Child Cancer and be a voice for children with cancer around the world?

Registered UK charity no. 1120321

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Interested?

For more information contact Lydia at lydia.spencer@worldchildcancer.org or on 020 3176 7892 or visit www.worldchildcancer.org

UPDATE

The Elms Calendar raises £806 to support St Peter’s Church, Torksey Throughout 2012 residents of The Elms have been providing them with photographs of and on The Elms for them to put together a calendar to raise funds. They are delighted to be able to confirm that the money raised from the sale of calendars and donations from sponsors, less the cost of printing, is £806. They would like to say a big thank you to all the sponsors and to everyone who supported this charity raising exercise, including the supply of all the amazing photographs.

Goalposts shifting for overseas pensioners Anyone intending to retire abroad or split their retirement equally between the UK and overseas might need to amend their plans, following recent changes to UK regulation.

The first change could affect your state pension entitlement and when you qualify to receive it, the second concerns your tax status in the UK. CHANGES TO STATE PENSION From April 2016, changes to the state pension means that UK pensioners will need to have made 35 years’ worth of National Insurance Contributions to be entitled to an increased full rate pension of £144 a week, five years more than the 30 years currently required to claim a basic state pension.

Anyone who would have reached state pension age after April 2016 under the existing rules and intended to retire abroad then, may have to work longer and re-consider their retirement plans, if they intend to receive the full pension.

Those who plan to split their retirement between homes in the UK and abroad should be aware of new rules when classed as tax resident in the UK, which came into force in April 2013.

NEW STATUTORY RESIDENCY TEST The new Statutory Residency Test is more clear-cut than existing rules.

If you currently tread a thin line with your tax status, you may need to take action to legally maintain your non-residency tax status in the UK, or vice versa.

CONSULTING SPECIALISTS These changes reinforce why consulting a financial and tax advisor that specialises in helping expats or retirees makes sense.

New rules now require financial and tax advisors to explain their charges; this could be a set fee paid upfront, an hourly fee or the client may agree that they can take a fee from any sum invested.

When consulting a financial advisor always check they are able to provide a Statement of Professional Standing (SPS).

Richard Way, Editor, Overseas Guides Company (OGC) www.OverseasGuidesCompany.com +44 207 898 0549 The Overseas Guides Company works with a financial advisory firm that specialises in assisting British expats or people moving abroad.

A SURPRISE VIEW OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE A peaceful retirement park in the the heart of the East Midlands

Killarney Park, the company’s premier park, is a well-established gated community located in over 35 acres of idyllic woodland. Originally named “Surprise View”, Killarney Park truly is a hidden gem set within the beautiful county of Nottinghamshire. Conveniently located just 6 miles from the city of Nottingham, Killarney Park offers residents the serenity of the countryside with all the conveniences of modern day life nearby. For those wanting to stay closer to home there is a clubhouse on site with a bar and lounge where residents are able to relax and chat with friends and neighbours. With soaring views of Nottinghamshire

and Derbyshire it offers quiet and affordable park homes set on spacious sites.

The latest addition to the group is Willow Park nestled in a beautiful sheltered valley on the outskirts of the village of Calverton in the north east of Nottinghamshire. Set within a private gated park, Willow Park aims to provide an exclusive, tranquil and modern lifestyle for over 45’s. Offering eco-friendly park home lodges for the environmentally conscious, these homes have been specifically designed to ensure low carbon footprint lifestyles, with build details such as double the insulation of a standard home and triple glazing. These benefits are not just environmental, but economical as they lead to a reduction in heating and energy bills of up to 50%.

Whether you are looking for something already available or wish to design your own bespoke home, Killarney Homes gives you the opportunity to have your dream park home.

For further information visit www.killarneyhomes.co.uk

Update

Established over 40 years ago, Nottinghamshire based Killarney Homes has a vast amount of experience when it comes to developing a new home. Each property is carefully designed to make the most of the surroundings, ensuring each home has their own private garden and driveway.

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Have you left anyone out of your Will?

We’ve been dedicated to the health and happiness of pets since 1897. Abandoned or unwanted, ill or injured, we do what’s needed to give every pet a healthy life in a happy home. We’re a charity, so the more help you give us, the more help we can give pets.

A gift in your Will can help secure the future for thousands of pets. If you need us, we can also be there for your special friend.

If pets have a place in your heart, please find a place for them in your Will.

Retirement Today (135x90):Layout 1

20/3/13

14:59

D E E N L L A E W !

S D N E I R F R OU

B TION CLU P O D A S G REDWIN JOIN THE PECIAL FRIEND! VERY S A E B D N A

www.bluecross.org.uk

✃ Please send me your FREE advice & information pack on making or amending a Will and leaving a gift to Blue Cross.

Return the coupon or write to the address below.

Name (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms) Address

Postcode

Do something different by adopting Gulliver as a gift for a loved one or family member for just £12.50 we will use your donation to feed and care for him and all his friends.

There are 20 horses and donkeys you can adopt Adoptions cost just £12.50 ‘Standard’ or ‘Online’ Adoption available Makes a wonderful gift for absolutely everyone.

Registered Charity No 1068911

Telephone No. Send to: Carole Bankes, Blue Cross, Freepost OF224, Room L540, Shilton Road, Burford, Oxon OX18 4BR Or please call 0300 777 1757 and quote L540 Email: legacy@bluecross.org.uk Blue Cross is a charity registered in England and Wales (224392) and in Scotland (SC040154).

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Call 01508 481010 or visit www.redwings.co.uk to take REDWINGS Adoption Club out yourRedwings adoption today!

Horse Sanctuary is a Registered Charity Number 1068911

Page 1

The Benefits of getting a pet when you retire The following case study highlights the advantage of using charities like Blue Cross to rehome a pet, as they have animal behaviourists who are able to step in if a problem arises.

Blue Cross

When Teresa and Jim Foley adopted their new dog Jack they couldn’t wait for their grandchildren to meet him. But the introduction didn’t go as well as they’d hoped when Jack continually jumped up at them, flashing his teeth. Fearing for the children’s safety the Foleys were concerned and, after discussions with Blue Cross staff, returned him to them. Heartbroken, they quickly regretted their decision and asked them for help.

First a Blue Cross animal behaviourist had to get to the bottom of what Jack was trying to tell them. He discovered that he was simply overjoyed to see the children and overwhelmed by the excitement of the situation. This exuberance had been misinterpreted as aggression.

The Blue Cross gave them advice on how to manage Jack in these situations and they were delighted to take him home again. Teresa says: “Now he’s perfect and we wouldn’t be without him for anything.”

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the world, however animal rescue charities are struggling more than ever before with the vast amount of unwanted or abandoned animals, so please bear them in mind if you were to consider giving a pet a home. All pets, whether is a dog, cat or rabbit have a few basic needs, but rather than seem a burden, they can be a pleasurable responsibility if the benefits are welcomed by the owner.

Many people think getting a rescue dog will be more difficult than starting from scratch with a puppy. However, with the right care and patience from new owners a vast number of rescued dogs can be transformed into great companions, with the added benefit of routine exercise. If the thought of owning a dog is not for you, perhaps you would be more suited to giving a home to a cat. Older people seem to have a particular affinity with cats – those who have suffered bereavement or illness or who simply want a presence to welcome them home can benefit from a rescue cat.

Many animal charities, such as The Blue Cross who have been dedicated to the welfare of pets since 1897, do whatever is needed to give every unwanted, injured or abandoned animal a healthy life in a happy home. They have 12 rehoming

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The Benefits of getting a pet when you retire

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hether you have been planning retirement for many years or are suddenly faced with having to give up work, it can be a very difficult time for many people to accept and at the same time a life changing experience. Perhaps you have had a stressful, demanding job and while it may seem ideal not having to get up early for work and commute in the rush hour, you may on the other hand find a huge void in your life as you are suddenly faced with the prospect of what to do with all your spare time.

For those of you who love animals, getting a pet could be worthwhile consideration as research has shown that owning an animal really does improve the quality of life, making you feel and act younger. It is widely acknowledged that pets can positively benefit older people. They can be constant companions, giving unconditional love, with the added benefit of providing many people with a daily routine and a very clear purpose to life, especially those living on their own.

The UK is considered one of the most animal-loving nations in

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The UK is considered one of the most animal-loving nations in the world,

Courtesy of NAWT

The Benefits of getting a pet when you retire

Courtesy of NAWT

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centres and 4 hospitals, along with pet welfare clinics. They find homes across the UK for unwanted cats, dogs, smaller animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs and even larger animals such as horses and donkeys.

With their tailor made rehoming scheme they look at each case individually to make certain they help find you the right pet for you and your lifestyle, ensuring a happy future together for both animal and owner. All the animals at the Blue Cross are given a full check-up and vaccinated before they are rehomed, as well as, microchipped, wormed and neutered. When you take your pet home, that’s not where it finishes as they offer ongoing advice and support.

The National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT), founded in 1971

is one of the largest animal welfare charities in the UK, providing care and shelter for stray, neglected and unwanted animals. They give homes to a surprisingly wide variety of animals primarily dogs and cats but farm animals, horses and donkeys, ducks, poultry and small domestic pets too. Their London and Home Counties Rescue Centre is just outside Watford in Hertfordshire and they also have centres in Berkshire, Somerset, Cornwall and Essex.

As the NAWT never puts a healthy animal to sleep, this makes caring for elderly animals even more important as they are often overlooked by animal lovers looking to adopt a pet. NAWT find older cats and dogs have a lot to offer as they are already used to family life and demand little in return. Older dogs, for example, ask just to be loved, fed and talked to, needing much less exercise than a younger animal, happy to sleep the day away in a warm comfortable bed. Healthy cats can live on into their twenties but some can have conditions that require a slower pace of life or have special needs which mean they have to remain indoors and therefore benefit greatly from having company around the house during the day with retired owners, rather than the hustle and bustle of noisy family life.

Help and advice is always available on the welfare of a new pet and owners are

encouraged to keep in touch with the Trust.

It’s not just small animals that are in need of re-homing. Do you currently have a horse or pony that may need companionship? South West Equine (SWEP), a small charity based in Devon, rescue moorland equines on Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor who are abandoned or suffering from neglect and cruelty. Once fit and well, their horses are rehomed within their local counties rather than being sold on. Obviously there are many more things to consider when rehoming this kind of animal and a lot more regulations to be met too. SWEP run a scheme of six monthly inspections to keep a check on the equine, offering any advice or support needed.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary based in Norfolk, provides permanent specialised sanctuary care to horses, ponies, donkeys and mules that no longer have a working life but retain a quality of life, offering them a safe and secure home for the rest of their days.

However, they do have some horses and ponies that are ready for a life outside the sanctuary and they offer a guardianship scheme, whereby they find the right guardian home for the rescued horse or pony, whilst staying in contact with the guardian to ensure the equines needs are being met.

All animal charities ask for a donation when adopting one of their animals to enable them to continue their work and help with funding, but regardless of which type of animal you chose you can be certain you will help provide a safe and secure home, and at the same time gain a new friend n

Courtesty of SWEP

Courtesty of Redwings RETIREMENT

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Animals for re-homing South West Equine Protection Romany

11.3hh, grey gelding with the quietest nature. He does get sweet itch which needs controlling with a rug but he is very easy to handle and is a great companion or pet.

Blue Cross

National Animal Welfare Trust

Cosmo

Charlie Watford 7 years old, a handsome chap who loves a fuss. A long haired cat who needs regular grooming.

Can live with adults or families with children aged 16 and above.

Would be best suited to a home with no other cats or dogs and will require access to the outside.

Danny

Jack Somerset A lovely, 10 year old, polite older lab looking for a home with owners that perhaps can’t walk far any more but enjoy the companionship of a dog.

Jack has a problem with his larynx which means when it is very hot or he is over excited he can struggle to breathe properly, however he enjoys a short walk a few times a day without a problem and has no problems when he is resting.

Good with children, but visiting grandchildren rather than resident children would be best as he needs to stay calm. He could live with a calm dog or cat also.

A very friendly cat, outgoing and sweet natured and loves a fuss. At 10-years-old he still has plenty of life in him and lots of love to give. He could potentially live with sensible children, must be the only pet and needs access to a garden.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary Daisy

13.3hh 4 year old New Forest pony. A sweet natured mare, very affectionate and loves having a fuss. Good to groom, well behaved with the farrier. Due to her conformation Daisy is only for re-homing as a companion not as a ridden pony. She is looking for a Guardian who will give her the attention she needs, and a companion who doesn’t mind if she is the boss.

Phanta

11hh, bay lead rein mare. She is 5 years old, adores being fussed by kids and is happy for the smallest of jockeys to sit on. She does get sweet itch but this is easily managed.

Handsome 9-month-old Collie/ Jack Russell Terrier cross. An active, bright young chap. Quick learner, loves going for walks and playing. He will need owners who are active and willing to keep up his training. Best suited as the only dog in his new home, although could potentially live with an older female who would be a good role model.

No cats and would prefer an older family environment.

Acacia

Geronimo

11.3hh, 4 year old skewbald gelding. He is partially sighted so needs a confident handler and once he knows you he is very affectionate, making a good companion or pet.

www.redwings.co.uk/rehoming

Ice

A sweet natured 10-year-old girl. Very affectionate and loves fuss. Can be a little shy initially in new situations; however as long as she is given some time and patience during her settling in period she quickly turns into the affectionate girl that she has become here at the centre. Best suited to a home with slightly older children that will be nice and calm around her. Best suited as the only pet in the home.

Wally Cornwall A 2 year old male black and white DSH. Loves being fussed when in the mood. Enjoys exploring outside so would prefer a rural home if possible.

Used to living with other cats and a dog but not young children. Litter trained and used to a cat flap.

www.swep.org.uk

www.bluecross.org.uk

www.nawt.org.uk RETIREMENT today

Animals for re-homing

14.3 TB cross horse. She is a strong willed horse who enjoys her work and loves attention. Acacia is looking for a very experienced rider with knowledge of youngsters.

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Lloyds Caravans

Pensarn, Abergele, North Wales LL22 7PW - 01745 832 050 Also at: Main Coast Road, Talacre, CH8 9JZ - 01745 560 224

www.lloydscaravans.co.uk

Roy Kellett Caravans

Towyn Road, Towyn, North Wales LL22 9NW - 01745 350043

www.roykellettcaravans.com

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London Waterbus Trips

] LITTLE VENICE ] LONDON ZOO ] CAMDEN LOCK

Cruises along the peaceful Regents Canal, through Regents Park, the Maida Hill tunnel and London Zoo. Trips on traditional canal boats, one way or return, with a stopover to shop in the lively bustle of Camden Lock or a picnic in the tranquil elegance of Little Venice, or trips with entry to London Zoo. Daily service April to September, weekends in winter.

Discount fares for booked groups.

Tel: 020 7482 2550 www.londonwaterbus.com

RETIREMENT BOLTHOLES

by Mike Francis

Where will you live? In town with the shops and transport, in a village or in the heart of the countryside with peace and quiet and beauty? In an apartment or retirement village? Near your children, the grandchildren, your friends? When you have decided where your bolthole will be you have the headache of attending to all the minutiae of the moving arrangements and making sure they all dovetail sweetly together. The electricity man, the gas man, the removal van and so on. 50 plus relocation is a company that can take all the stress and emotion out of moving home by looking after the raft of tiny details for you. They can organise a complete package which could embrace looking after the solicitors, the estate agents,the packing and decluttering,picture hanging,right down to arranging a welcome in your new home.

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The St Monica Trust have been providing accommodation for older people in Bristol and the surrounding counties for over 85 years. They look after award- winning retirement villages and care homes and place great value on promoting independence and dignity for their residents in vibrant and innovative ways. A not for profit organisation they specialise in pioneering accommodation solutions. Meanwhile in Worthing, Guildcare who were established in the great depression of the 30’s and founded their first residential home in the 40’s offer a range of residential and care homes in a secure, professional and caring environment with wellbeing therapies, community help and 24 hour nursing care.

MOVING

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Retirement Boltholes

O

ne of the really exciting things about retiring from the rat race is that it opens up the prospect of a new ‘career’ totally different from the one you’ve just left.

However you need to have a positive frame of mind to seize the opportunities when they come your way or even make them happen yourself. A primary question might very well be is the roof over your head and the floor under your feet right for you now you will be spending more time at home. You don’t need to be near work any more, the family have flown the nest so you might decide that a change of location, by the sea,or in a downsized unit near to relatives or friends may be the perfect spot for easing up. You may have an elderly parent living with you or an older partner to consider.

The good news is that there are plenty of homes on the market specially suitable for your situation.

RETIREMENT VILLAGES AND CARE HOMES

15

BUDDING PICASSOS Once you retire you can discover latent talents you didn’t know you had. I have a couple of friends who retired to Sicily and have landed part-time teaching jobs at a local school. Jobs they had never done before. An aunt of mine in a care home in the midlands has been encouraged to draw and paint and recently had a painting exhibition organised which members of the public could be admitted to. Retirement also gives you the opportunity of realising an ambition you’ve been secretly harbouring all those years at work. Now you have the freedom and time to do it. Someone I used to work with had a long held ambition to ride a motorbike from the west coast to the east coast of the USA. Your ambitions may be a bit more modest in comparison but perhaps this is the chance to write your memoirs, the unique book that only you can write.

8 HOUR KNIT-INS

CHECK LIST

Keeping in contact with others stimulates the little grey cells as Hercule Poirot would say. Most retirement centres encourage activities. One lady did an 8 hour knit-in as a fund raiser for charity.

There are art classes,day trips,poetry and craft groups,croquet,computer lessons and ten pin bowling. Boules anyone? At least one centre has latched onto the rapidly rising popularity in this country of the game that 17 million frenchmen across the channel play on dusty provincial squares. Sport is particularly good for concentration and timing especially the gentle exercise of swimming and tennis. So no one has time to be bored. Only to be fit. Singers, dancers, musicians, and entertainers are frequent visitors to centres and care homes. I myself pay monthly singalong visits to a care home in London and have performed old time music hall in retirement centres strategically sited near shops and transport. Speaking as an outsider I have always found them to be clean, relaxing and well-run with helpful staff.

It’s always a good idea before you start weighing the pros and cons to make a check list of the items you need to consider before deciding where your home should be and to rate them in order of importance. Will you have to consider others when you make the choice such as an older partner or elderly relative? Will steps and stairs be a problem?

Are non-slip floors important? Are you looking for an apartment in a town, retirement village or do you relish the great outdoors of the countryside where you can wake up to birdsong. Are you a shopaholic who needs shops just round the corner or a doctor and dentist within easy reach? Are you an inveterate traveller who needs a railway station or bus stop on the doorstep?

DO IT NOW When you have reached your decision don’t leave doing something about it until later or postpone it indefinitely. Do it while you still have the strength and fortitude. Otherwise you may never do it and live to regret it.Think back to when you went out to work on those cold dark winter mornings, when the buses stopped running and you had to trudge through the snow only to have to do it all over again in the evening.You earned your retirement. Now go out and embrace it with both hands n

135x185 Alpha 3-13_Brotherwood 15/03/2013 18:53 Page 1

phone: 01935

872603

Sorry Pet, I’ve seen a good solution that will make travelling easier

Les this is Miserable! always having to struggle

Pensioners No Mobility Allowance

Retirement Boltholes

getting wet

16

The Peugeot Partner GOLD LION

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If you need transport that will make life easier, just ring for details of our remarkable converted cars phone: 01935 872603

wheelchair passenger transport specialists RETIREMENT

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Is exploring your retirement living options on your to-do list?

The St Monica Trust holds regular open days at our award-winning Sandford Station retirement village where you will be escorted on a guided tour by one of our residents.

restaurant, pool and gym, indoor and all-weather outdoor bowls, as well as a variety of leisure activities and social events. For those with care needs, 24-hour care and support is available, as well as specialist nursing and dementia care.

Alternatively, if you have a more immediate desire to move sooner, we do have retirement properties currently available for sale, for rent, or that can be purchased on a part rent, part buy basis.

Call 0117 949 4004 for more information. Why not join our re-sales mailing list and we will keep you informed when re-sale properties become available.

Sandford Station offers a range of facilities including the Pullman

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RETIREMENT RETIREMENTtoday today

Side heads

• • • • •

9 17

In

New Prostate Quarter Page:Prostate Quarter Page 22/05/2012 19:55 Page 1

TREATING PROSTATE CANCER QUESTIONS & ANSWERS For a FREE copy of this booklet please contact us at the address below.

This booklet has two aims: â&#x20AC;˘ to help you become better informed about prostate cancer and its treatment.

atting ea Tre Tr

e t te prosta cancer d answers and Questions an

â&#x20AC;˘ to guide you in the decisions you will make about your care with your doctor.

It cannot replace talking to your GP or hospital doctor.

Your support is vital!

Prostate Cancer Research Centre â&#x20AC;˘ 67 Riding House Street â&#x20AC;˘ London â&#x20AC;˘ W1W 7EJ Tel: 020 7679 9366 â&#x20AC;˘ email info@prostate-cancer-research.org.uk â&#x20AC;˘ www.prostate-cancer-research.org.uk

The Psychiatry Research Trust Mental illness and brain disease affects everyone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one in four of us directly.

The sole objective of The Psychiatry Research Trust is to raise funds for research into these devastating conditions, at the Institute of Psychiatry (part of Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College London) and its associated Maudsley and Bethlem Royal Hospitals.

The research is aimed at prevention and informed detection as well as new and better treatments throughout the whole range of mental health topics, including Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Motor Neurone Disease, Eating Disorders, Psychotic Illness, Addictions and Childhood Problems. We especially help young researchers with new ideas, to obtain their first support grants.

For further information, or to make a donation, contact The Psychiatry Research Trust. All donations are of necessity subject to a small annual charge to cover the cost of administration, including fundraising.

In Later Life

The Psychiatry Research Trust

PO 87, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF Tel: 0207 703 6217 Email: psychiatry_research_trust@kcl.ac.uk Donate on line at www.justgiving.com/psychiatryresearchtrust Registered Charity Number 284286

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As the years pass by your body will unfortunately start to wear out, much like most things in life. Alarmingly, if you are a man living in the developed world you are liable to reach your peak physical condition a full fifty years before you finally shuffle off this mortal coil.

Which means, because you are likely to live for seventy years or more, for at least two-thirds of your life it will never get any better than it is right now. This is a great shame because with age comes experience and increased mental power.

Structural alterations

If you can help us by raising funds for our research or to make a donation please contact us at the address below.

18

Youth is wasted on the young

From the moment you are born your body is a constant state of regeneration, with cells dying all the time and getting replaced by new ones. As you get older, the rate at which you can manufacture new cells slows and eventually they begin to die out faster than they can be restored. This rate of steady cell degeneration increases with each passing summer, and will affect different aspects of your body in different ways.

Osteoporosis, as the result of From the moment you a reduction in bone density, is are born your body probably the most common effect is a constant state of of ageing, and affects as many as one regeneration in ten men over the age of sixty. It occurs gradually, and comes about when the bones are not getting enough calcium and phosphate to keep rebuilding themselves. This means they are brittle and increasingly prone to fracture. Dietary intake of these minerals may need to be stepped up, because, as you age, your body will actually start reabsorbing them from your bones back into your system. It may be necessary to take calcium supplements, especially if you are lactose intolerant and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t drink milk. Regular exercise â&#x20AC;&#x201C; running and walking, in particular â&#x20AC;&#x201C; will also help preserve bone density, as the system adapts to cope with the rigours of impact and retains more minerals in the bones.

The tissues connecting the bones will suffer too, as the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cell production starts to slow down. Joints become less flexible, and this can result in a painful stiffening. Time-induced wear and tear is also a big factor, and the cartilage that sits in between the jointsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; moving parts will wear thin over time, meaning it provides less protection from friction and impact.This can lead to inflammation and stiffness and can be further aggravated by a reduction in synovial fluid â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the jointâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s internal lubrication. Stretching exercises will help keep joints mobile, while you can also help maintain fluid levels by taking fish oil supplements. Due to changes in posture, compression of vertebrae and shrinkage of connective tissue, a man can lose up to two inches in height between the ages of forty and seventy.

Loss of muscle tissue can start occurring naturally as early as your thirties, and exercise will become increasingly important to maintain bodily mass and strength. Muscles may also lose density as their regeneration slows and the body deposits fat within them.

They might also stiffen as the regenerated tissue is tough and stringy due to larger cells. Maintaining muscles to provide support and protection as bones degenerate is essential, just as strength will be needed for balance, mobility and coordination.

As you age your body gets worse at regulating its internal temperature, thus you need to be much more careful about exposure to extreme temperatures.

Later Life According to medical science, on the physical side it’s downhill for us from our mid-twenties onwards.

Worst of all, although we get smarter, we get progressively less able to do anything about all these good ideas we might have. While this won’t make you live forever, it can help you put off the effects of ageing until the last possible moment.

Age and the organs The vital organs start to decrease in efficiency as they get older, but this is gradual and in the cases of a healthy liver and kidneys, not really dangerous. They are rarely used to maximum capacity, thus any decline will be taken up by their natural reserves.

Ageing affects the heart in a number of ways. The muscles within it decline and the walls become less elastic, meaning it beats slower, with a shorter pumping stroke, and calcification can occur in heart values, as the body absorbs calcium from the bones. These factors restrict blood flow, as does the hardening of artery walls in and outside the heart. This increases the chances of congestive heart failure, heart attacks or strokes, and raises blood pressure to put more strain on your pump. Reduced blood flow will slow the response to stress or danger and impede healing abilities, while decreased oxygen to the muscles adds to fatigue.

This reduced oxygen delivery will not be helped by your lung capacity getting smaller as you get older, because the muscles that control breathing are weaker and the ribcage becomes stiffer and less able to expand and contract. This means more air remains in the lungs after exhaling, leaving less space for what the next breath ought to be bringing in.

Men who have exercised throughout their lives will reach their senior years with much stronger cardiovascular systems, but those taking up exercise in later life will need to It is the obesity start slowly because of these limitations.

Premature ageing

aspect that the World Health Organisation is finding particularly worrying

s

In Later Life

Tests have shown that men with casual smoking habits – fewer than ten per day – had a bodily age of, on average, 4.6 years older than their non-smoking counterparts. After a forty-year twenty-aday smoking habit a man’s body would be 7.6 years older than his actual age.

However, although smoker’s skin will make you look much older than you are, it is obesity that will actually age you quicker. A man who has been obese for over ten years will have a bodily age of 8.8 years older than a slim fellow who was born in the same year. Put smoking and obesity together and it adds up to over ten years of additional ageing.

It is the obesity aspect that the World Health Organisation is finding particularly worrying as, while smoking figures have gone up and down over the years, obesity is increasing relentlessly, especially among young people.

There is a growing number of overweight children and adolescents who are experiencing adult-related conditions such a heart disease and type 2 diabetes

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19

much earlier than previous generations. This is being perceived in medical circles as a dangerous “advanced ageing”, leading to fears that, as their conditions put greater strains on their systems for longer, their life spans will be reduced.

It is accepted that while advances in modern medicine are already reducing the impact of obesity and associated conditions, nobody is yet sure what knock-on effect such childhood ill health will have in later life.

Middle-aged spread

Eating late Because very little will change as regards your digestive system as you get older, other than a slowing down of your metabolism, dietary requirements for a healthy later life aren’t actually that much different from what you’ve always been eating. To achieve the necessary nutrition you’ll need to maintain a good balance of fresh fruit and carbohydrate, but there will be certain things you should avoid. Foods high in cholesterol should be given the swerve, no more than 25 percent of your calorific intake should come from fats and as little of that as possible should be saturated; and sugar needs to be limited because of the increased risk of diabetes.

It will benefit you to eat less more often – five or six small meals a day – and to make sure you keep up your water intake, even if it does mean visiting the gents more often than unusual for you might like.

How did that get there? That spare tyre suddenly appearing around the midriff seems almost inescapable to most men in their forties and comes about as the result of an unfortunate double-whammy. Because they are less active, older men need less food than It is far from they used to, but habit probably means they are the people of the islands of still eating the same amounts, thus they are taking Okinawa in Japan to live on surplus calories which will be stored as fat.

How long can you go on?

A slowed-down metabolism means what is past one hundred years old It is believed that the upper age limit for the being used will be burned less efficiently, so more human body is around 120 years, and to get of that will be converted to fat too.Then, as you are a man, this fat will there you will need an ongoing lifestyle that promotes health, be distributed attractively around your waist. The muscles that might fitness, low levels of stress and strong emotional support. It is far hold it a bit more upright once it gets there are staring to lose density from unusual for the people of the islands of Okinawa in Japan and strength, and are therefore more likely to let it sag. Perhaps the to live past one hundred years old, and their lifestyle couldn’t be worst thing about middle-aged spread is that it has no respect for further removed from so much of the Western world. Their diet age – it can start to show itself as soon as your lifestyle becomes less is low in fat, refined sugar and processed energetic, which might be as early as your twenties. foods, yet high in fibre through fresh The only failsafe way to keep it at bay is to eat healthily and make sure fruit and vegetables. Everybody exercises, you continue exercising, so as to burn off as many regardless of age, and a strong sense of calories as you take in. A combined schedule spirituality, family and community eases of strength and aerobic training should see stress levels. The rates of prostate and some reduction, but don’t be fooled into colon cancer in that region are eighty thinking endless repetitions of sit-ups or percent lower than in the US n crunches will get rid of it. Although firmer abs will help your posture as your gut will An extract from The Rough Guide to be less able to drag you down, and that will Men’s Health (2nd Edition), by Rough save your lower back, you can’t spot reduce Guides, £14.99, roughguides.com through targeted exercise. If you start to lose weight all over, eventually that spare tyre will start to deflate.

The eyes have it … or perhaps not Sight generally begins to worsen after the age of forty because the cornea and the lens of the eye start to become opaque and the pupil gets smaller, contracting the field of vision. The most obvious effect is an almost universal problem with reading: a need for either magnification or more light to cope with small text. (This is one of the reasons that electronic reading devices are proving so popular among older generations: the option of altering text-size being a distinct plus.) Also, shifting focus from one object to another will take longer and some green/blue colour blindness may occur.

As far as your ears go, it’s not great news either. Although your hearing will worsen, your ears will keep getting bigger – men’s ears continue to grow at approximately 0.22mm per year for their entire lives.

In Later Life

Snow on the roof but a fire in the hearth

20

Although the numbers of living sperm per emission go down with the passing of time, there will be very little change in a man’s fertility as he gets older; indeed it is not uncommon for men above the age of sixty to father children. Sex drive can decrease slightly, as some testicular mass may be lost, meaning testosterone levels can decline, and it might take more to get you aroused, as responses will be slower.

Repeat performances could be confined to memory too, as it will take longer to replenish seminal fluid reservoirs and to get another erection.

In spite of erectile dysfunction being more common among older men, this is not inevitable. It comes about because of other medical conditions that are more prevalent among this age group, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Older men get fewer erections than their youthful counterparts though, and that’s just a fact of life.

RETIREMENT

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A

s spring has sprung and the new tax year starts, many of us will be looking at the best ways to free up and save any spare cash we have.

Whether you’re saving for a rainy day, or that dream holiday – even in these difficult economic times there are steps you can take to ramp up your savings and reach your goals earlier.

We spoke to the Financial Ombudsman Service – the free service with the power to sort out problems between customers and their bank or insurer – for some of their top tips to help you spring clean your finances and speed up your savings: Insurance – shopping around for the best insurance deals rather than automatically renewing the same policy can save you money on your monthly premiums. It also pays to review what insurance you actually have, and to make sure you’re not duplicating cover. For example, you may be able to cover your mobile phone on your contents insurance at a cheaper cost. Check a policy is suitable for your needs and read any exclusions that may apply to you and prevent you from making a claim.

Invest in an ISA – with the new tax year comes a new tax-free savings allowance. The government allows individuals to save up to £11,280 in a tax-free ISA.While interest rates are still quite low at the moment, there are some good deals to be had so it pays to do some research. Different ISA’s from different banks vary considerably, so think about whether you can afford to lock your money away or if you would prefer to have instant access.

Clear your cards – while it’s nice to have a savings nest egg, it may actually be costing you money if you are saving money away instead of paying it off a credit card or loan debt. Generally, the interest you pay on your borrowing will be higher than the interest you are earning on your savings. So it pays to use any spare cash to overpay on your debt before saving some away.

Protect your purchases – if you are buying an item that is more than £100 you can protect yourself and your money by using a credit card to make this purchase. A piece of law called section 75 means that you can claim against the credit provider if you fulfil certain requirements and the goods you purchase are not as described or you don’t receive them n With a bit of planning and savvy shopping, you could be a super saver in no time. But if you hit a financial hurdle – the ombudsman may be able to help you overcome it – 0300 123 9 123 or www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.

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Savvy savings

Savvy savings

Perfect pensions – pensions can be confusing and the offer of unlocking your pension early may be tempting.

Be sure that you take professional advice before making any changes to your pension plan – particularly if you are planning to retire early.

Any change can significantly reduce the amount you may receive from your pension make sure you fully understand the implications of them.

21

Footloose

I

reland, for me, is a tragically romantic island, so when we decided to film a ‘Footloose’ there, I was looking forward to our trip with excitement and anticipation of fun. I have never been, but have always appreciated the Irish for their humour and character. We flew to Kerry on the west coast of Ireland, intending to catch the airport bus to Tralee, the county town and then on to Dingle.

It all worked and we arrived at Dingle to be met by our guesthouse lady, Maggie. The buses work, and we certainly used them, but they are not cheap.

Dingle is a colourful, cheerful and thriving town.

Strand Street parallels the harbour, and the sounds and cooking smells that emanate from the waterfront pubs are inviting. Dingle has about 37 pubs - it once had 52 - and it’s easy to see how life revolved around them.

In several of the preserved old ones, you could do your shopping on one side and then rest your weary self on the other with a pint. Mark you; the shopping would be more of a male nature - a bag of nails, a hammer or screwdriver, a pair of work boots. We sat in Foxy John’s and just listened to the locals, immersing ourselves in a culture that carries on regardless.

Our walks were some of the most enjoyable we’ve done, even though there was a lot of road walking. It has its compensations: you get on faster on even ground and don’t get muddy boots, and most of the ‘roads’ were little more than cart tracks, so little traffic. I could not

believe the hedgerows - the majority compromised on both Irish and of them were made up of fuchsia English signs. But the government are trees and personally, I’ve never seen slow to put Dingle back on the signs, such rampant growth - my fuchsia we noticed.The people were friendly, is puny compared to these. There is with that direct way of speaking that abundant archaeology on these hills denotes an openness you don’t always - it’s an ancient land – and peppered find in other countries, but the Irish with faerie legend. Part of the Dingle sense of humour always seems to be Way is joined by the Pilgrims’ Way, there - whether you know it or not. near to Slea Head, with magnificent We broke one of our walks at views of the coast and the Blasket Anascaul to go into the South Pole Islands. It’s a view you drink in time Inn - we’d heard about it being the and time again, and the long ‘strands’ home of an Antarctic explorer. The of beach are a pleasure to walk on - pub is a shrine to Tom Crean, a little no wonder David Lean chose it for known Irish hero who went to the location shots for Ryan’s Daughter.

South Pole with both Scott and It’s an IrishShackleton, and The people were speaking area, and it has become there is an old- friendly, with that direct the life’s work of way of speaking that world courtesy Eileen Percival extended to (whose family denotes an openness those of us who you don’t always find in now runs the haven’t mastered pub) to make other countries Gaelic. You are Crean’s name a never made to feel inadequate for household word not just in Ireland not managing to curl your tongue but worldwide. Her passion for the around their language, and it is a subject is endearing, and you are delight to hear it spoken. The road soon drawn into hearing the story signs are mostly dual language, but of this local lad who left home at the publican John Benny Moriarty 15 to join the British Royal Navy; that we met explained the ‘storm in a treasonous act for the Irish of the a teacup’ as he described it regarding time.We couldn’t resist - I’m a sucker the change of name of Dingle. The for heroes - so we included the story government decided to revert to in our film. It is inspiring. one of its Gaelic names, and the We walked in rain and drizzle, townspeople objected. They hadn’t wind and sunshine, for you’ll get been consulted and they weren’t all of them on any given day so having anything foisted on them. you just have to get on with it. It They were up in arms and it made is essential to have an accurate map, a bit of a splash in Ireland until they however. With all our preparation,

Footloose in Ireland

There is abundant archaeology on these hills - it’s an ancient land – and peppered with faerie legend

22

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in Ireland

by Debra Rixon

harbour to look for Fungie the tame dolphin. Sure enough, he showed and it was lovely to watch him, but they will refund your money if you don’t see him.

The food in the pubs and restaurants is good, but the music is what the Irish really do best, and it comes from the heart. To listen to a musician like Eilis Kennedy sing unaccompanied

in Irish is a pleasure that stays with you a long time and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end! The talent of these musicians is phenomenal, and considering you are hearing first-class entertainers for the price of a pint (or two...) and a meal, you’d have to travel a long way to beat that.

After Dingle, we felt we were comfortable with Ireland, but Dublin was vastly different. The Tourism

s

Office is an old Anglican church, which is unusual - possibly unique in the world. The CEO of Dublin Tourism, Frank Magee, was a delight to meet and his knowledge of his business was phenomenal - he loves his work that much is certain, and comes across in his interview. Another delightful person we met was Pat Liddy, a well-known Irish historian, author and accomplished artist, who also clearly puts his heart and soul into informing anyone about his beloved Dublin.

He also conducts walking tours, which gave us a mutual interest right from the start.

The weather was not really with us; it spluttered with sunshine at intervals, but in general, it was grey skies and often rain - which makes filming hard. And it was too expensive to just while away the afternoon in the pub, waiting for the weather to break! The good thing about Dublin is it’s a capital city but compact enough to walk through most of it. There’s a lot of traffic, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many municipal buses in a town before. There were thousands of the blue and yellow double-deckers; everywhere and every day.

The River Liffey runs through the town, but I didn’t get the impression that Dubliners were ‘water’ people the river and the canals aren’t really celebrated. But the Irish sense of humour is legendary, and no-where was it more apparent than with their statues. Every one has an irreverent nickname, with witty and often rude plays on words, and there are a lot of them, all over the city. They laugh at themselves, and will poke fun at the visitor, but it never seems malicious.

I learned to pull a perfect pint of Guiness when we toured the brewery but unfortunately we couldn’t fit in two tours in one day, so I missed out on the Jameson distillery. Pat Liddy explains rather poignantly the role of these two powerful families and their products in Dublin’s past – good works based on a guilty conscience?

I wondered.

I thoroughly enjoyed the WW2 amphibious vehicle (DUKW) tour - it was such fun, and although my throat hurt at the end of it from make Viking roars, it was worth

The food in the pubs and restaurants is good, but the music is what the Irish really do best

Footloose in Ireland

we still managed to lose one of the trails which, to be fair to us, are not always well way marked. There are no street names out of the towns and villages, and a house name in Gaelic is not mentioned on the map. It was getting late and becoming clear that we would miss the last bus to Dingle from the village we were heading for.

There was nothing for it but an SOS call to our guesthouse landlady – but it was sheer luck that she found us, as recognisable landmarks were thin on the ground! We also had to be rescued from Dun Chaoin, the very end of the peninsula. We took too long to walk to it from Dingle and again missed the last bus. Luckily we caught the taxi driver before he’d settled down with his beverage and he cheerfully interrupted his evening to come and get us.

There are some wonderful drives too, if you base yourself in Dingle.

The town is fun, but it is really the pubs - with their food, music and craic - that are the life of the town and on a rainy day, there isn’t a lot else to do. It is a good base from which to explore the area, and to carry on to the Iveragh peninsula too. There are boat trips to the Blaskets, and we took a trip out to the mouth of the

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the atmosphere of the house, and the wooden panelling was spectacular but then I love dark wood, and you had the feeling it had darkened to such a rich hue over the centuries from studious polishing with beeswax perhaps. It made you want to touch it - an impulse I have to strenuously control in museums and places that are strictly hands-off. I also enjoyed the model railway - I have a secret longing to have my own.The seafood at Howth was unbelievably good, and any stroll along the promenade of a seaside resort can always make me smile. It was all so close, and I think it. Lynn ‘The Red’ was awesome and we could have made a separate programme about just witty and really made the tour fun Dublin Bay. with interesting tit-bits and irreverent Debra and David flew to Kerry Airport and took buses asides, and I liked being a Viking. to Tralee and Dingle. They stayed in a guesthouse in Dingle (Does this say something about me, town and took buses to the start of each walk and were I wonder?) rescued twice by taxi and their landlady, so I also enjoyed our timing of walks has to be accurate if using I learned to side-trips to Malahide, public transport. There is a casual attitude pull a perfect Howth and Dun pint of Guiness to way marking, some may have been lost Laohaire – all very or hidden by foliage, so an accurate map is easy to get to on the when we toured also essential. All weather clothing in layers the brewery railway. It was a very is recommended and there is very little of pleasant walk through the Dingle Way that is rough underfoot; parkland to the lovely pocket castle easy ability for the most part, with some stiles to cross. As at Malahide. This fortified house is the popular pubs with entertainment get very crowded it packed with antiques and artefacts is advisable to book a table or get there early. There are of daily life and had been in the weekly concerts in the converted church in the town that are Talbot family for 800 years. I loved advertised. The couple flew to Dublin from Kerry and caught

the airport shuttle bus service to the capital, which is frequent and fast.

After David took early retirement from the BBC, they have focussed on their own productions, and for over nine years have been renowned for their walking films in Europe.

For information on all the Footloose films, take a look at www.footloose.tv or watch previews of the walks on Youtube n

WIN

We have 5 copies of the DVD ‘Footloose in Ireland to give away.

For your chance to win a copy, send in your name and address to: Amra Media Solutions, The Old Lavender Mill, 46a Brook Street, Aston Clinton, Bucks, HP22 5ES or email info@amramedia.co.uk quoting ref. FIR Closing date 17 May 2013

Footloose in Ireland

PERFECT STAY

24

T

his issue our writer travels to Belfast to see how the city has improved over the last few years and check out Jurys Inn Group, a fast growing hotel group with hotels in most major UK cities If location is the primary consideration when choosing a hotel then Jurys Inn achieves a perfect score. Located in Great Victoria Street, within walking distance to all the sights, shops, pubs and restaurants that Belfast has to offer. Our bedroom ticked all the boxes, a classic boutique styled room, with a large comfortable bed, crisp linen sheets and a bathroom

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with both bath and shower. We also had a room with a view overlooking a college with adjacent gardens. We decided not to eat in the hotel, as we wanted to sample the local bars and restaurants but for those that do the hotel has plenty to offer, an all day coffee shop and a contemporary bar and restaurant.

Breakfast was buffet style for cooked as well as cold fare which was uninspiring but adequate and what could be expected at the price. With rooms starting at £49 per night Jurys offers great value with a comfortable stay assured, a good choice for the budget conscious traveller. www.jurysinns.com

British E Asparagus Growing, growing …. Gone!

very year the short but sweet British asparagus season surprises us; either arriving early in April with a glut of green tender spears, or making us wait with anticipation until well into May. Either way, when it arrives we all want to make the most of it. Marcus Bean, TV chef and award-winning gastro-pub owner inspires us with a new collection of British asparagus recipes.

Here are a couple of our favourites, courtesy of www.british-asparagus.co.uk

Marcus Bean’s Asparagus, pancetta and parmesan linguine with chive cream

“I really like spaghetti carbonara, so this is the perfect dish to combine two things I love, creamy pancetta, good quality linguine, the crunch of the asparagus all finished with a good grating of parmesan. Great for a quick meal for family and friends!”

Serves 2 Preparation Time: 8 minutes

Cooking Time: 5 minutes

You’ll need: 8 stems of asparagus

150g linguine

50g of thick cut pancetta (diced)

2 tbsp chopped chives

50ml of double cream

2 tbsp grated parmesan

50ml of vegetable stock

Salt and pepper

What to do: Start by cooking the pasta in a pan of slightly salted boiling water until cooked, make sure the pasta is still slightly al dente, drain and drizzle with a little olive oil to stop from sticking together.

Once cooked serve with a grating of fresh parmesan and a little seasoning.

Asparagus with peppered soft boiled quails’ eggs, watercress and British wasabi dressing

“I love this as it’s one of the first asparagus dishes I put on the menu at the pub. We use wild asparagus from a local stream across the field from the pub, soft poached Shropshire quails’ eggs and some punchy wasabi.

It’s a firm favourite on our menu during the season because it’s a great combination of flavours.”

Serves 2 Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 5 minutes

You’ll need: 8 stems of asparagus (4 per person)

50ml of olive oil

2 quail’s eggs

1 tsp white wine vinegar

2 tbsp of freshly cracked black pepper

A½ tsp of Dijon mustard

1 tsp of freshly grated British wasabi

100g fresh watercress

1 tsp honey What to do: To cook the asparagus place in a steamer until just cooked then place in ice water to stop cooking and allow the asparagus to keep that lovely green colour. Put a small pan of water on the hob, bring to the boil then add your quails’ eggs and cook for 2 minutes 15 seconds then put into ice water for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes peel the eggs in the water for ease.

For the dressing mix the olive oil, white wine vinegar, honey, mustard and fresh wasabi until combined, then set aside.

Once the quail eggs are peeled, grab your freshly cracked black pepper and roll the eggs in it until the white is covered. Put your watercress in a bowl, slice your asparagus into 3 pieces per stem, now drizzle the watercress and asparagus with the wasabi dressing and then lightly season. Very carefully slice your quail eggs in half, then add them to the plate with the asparagus and watercress.

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British Asparagus

Put a medium sized frying pan on the heat add a drizzle of oil, finely slice six stems of asparagus, with the other two stems cut into four pieces. Put them all in the pan and sauté on a medium heat, now add the diced pancetta and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the cream, vegetable stock and parmesan, then add the cooked pasta and the chopped chives, cook on a medium heat for 2-3 minutes, if the sauce gets a little thick add a touch of water.

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Unexpected Item in the Bagging Area A hilarious call-to-arms for everyone frustrated with twenty-first-century living.

Unexpected item in the bagging area

KINDLE

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You love to read so it comes as something of a surprise that you don’t do it anymore. The only time you buy books in a bookshop is at Christmas and even then it is usually a last-minute purchase for a difficultto-buy-for nephew.

Determined to get back on the literary ladder, you pay a visit to your local bookshop. It has closed down, so you get back in the car and finally find a bookshop buried in a nearby mall. Stepping across the threshold you are quite surprised to find that half the shop floor is taken up with gifts, novelty ‘If you change lines, bookmarks, CDs, the one you just left children’s toys and a coffee shop. There will start to move iPAD are a couple of faster than the one books at the back In the final quarter of 2011 Apple you are now in’. sold 15.4 million iPads, doubling the so you accept this – O’Brian’s Law company’s profits from the same period diversification in in the previous year to a cool £8.54 retail bookselling as billion. While these booming sales figures are impressive, another sign of the times. to you they only confirm one thing you simply must buy As you browse this meagre offering an iPad. you realise that, despite seeing yourself as a keen reader, most of your Go West discussions Like everyone else in Western society, you are a tech- a b o u t addicted consumer who believes that buying anything books at square and shiny with an onmious screen will vastly d i n n e r improve your standing among your friends, make you more p a r t i e s efficient at work and generally give a sense of meaning and are based purpose to the hollow farce that is your life. It might even contribute to educating your kids because God knows you have neither the time nor the inclination to do so.

But one question lingers at the back of your mind as you stride into the Apple store with your credit card held aloft; what does an iPad do?

Is the iPad really a big iPhone? Or is it just a computer without a keyboard? Is it for watching films or reading books? It’s clearly too big to replace your mobile yet, it’s much too small to replace your TV. You can’t really type on it, nor can you make phone calls, so it’s no good for business. It doesn’t have a joystick or a keypad so it’s really no good for games.

Cool Stuff While it would clearly be great for chopping vegetables on or as a drinks tray, they never seem to be used for that in the adverts.

Of course, these doubts don’t stop you handing over the cash and scuttling home like a squirrel that’s burgled a nut factory. When you get home it soon becomes clear that all the iPad is really good for is looking at cool stuff – by which you mean looking at your own house from above on Google Maps. Is that really worth four hundred quid?

Of course it is.

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entirely on reviews you read in the Sunday supplement. If you are honest, ninety per cent of your actual reading takes the form of celebrity gossip in free newspapers on the way home from work, recipes and idly flipping through twenty-year-old paperbacks while sitting on the loo.

You resolve to rectify this situation immediately by buying a new Kindle.

Read all about it

Superficially, the kindle is pretty exciting. It comes in a nice box and looks a bit like an iPad. The manufacturer claims it is really easy to search for and download books and you duly install twenty free classic titles from Jane Eyre to Dracula that you’ve always wanted to read but never did. But you soon discover that the Kindle successfully recreates what you didn’t like about books in the first instance; they take ages to read. In a time when you can play basic games on the colour display on your fridge, this situation is too boring to be tolerated. Admittedly, you can do some clever things like add bookmarks and make a note on the text but you never did that with real books so what’s the point? To add insult to injury, when you download new digital titles they’re barely any cheaper than the heavily discounted hard copies in the shop.

In the end, rather than saving you money, the Kindle turns out to be a more expensive way to read because, two weeks later, you leave it on the train.

‘Why does the internet always seem way more interesting when you have work to do?’

– Author unknown

SOCIAL MEDIA

It’s hard to know which faceless technocrat decided it was a good idea to password protect everything that you might reasonably want to access in the course of your day. But nowadays your laptop, mobile phone, office network, gas bill and your spouse are held behind militarygrade, 256-bit encryption. While it is reassuring that hackers can’t access tour overdraft, it is absolutely infuriating that you can’t either.

Random characters Most of us struggle to recall our own postcode so it seems crazy that we’re expected to deal with baffling combinations issued by everyone from our car insurers to the supermarket.

As a result we’ve all stopped caring. According to Mark Burnett’s book Perfect Passwords: Selection, Protection, Authentication, the world’ most used password is ‘123456’. Number two on the list is simply ‘password’.

Remember you’re a Womble The solution is surely to give us just one password that works for everything. In fact your parents should select this for you at birth and insist it be tattooed – backwards so it can be read in a mirror – on your forehead. And if walking around with ‘womblefiend123’ on your face in Gothic script seems a high price to pay, remember that at least you’ll be able to check your bank balance.

through the prism of other people’s opinion, are wildly improved. A night which you remember as being defined by someone spilling red wine down your front, awful food and your best friend confiding in you that they were thinking of getting divorced, looks like a kaleidoscope joyfest on Facebook. Furious minute-by-minute reporting of key points at conferences by tweeting colleagues seem like a much better version of events than you sitting at the back of the conference hall wondering when the next coffee break is.

An informal survey posted by Forrester in 2012 revealed that fifty-six per cent of people felt that the time they spent on social media was wasted.You would beg to differ. Unless things start getting more interesting in your life soon, social media may be all that stands between you and suicide n An extract from Unexpected Item in the Bagging Area

by Chris Martin (Michael O’Mara Books, £9.99).

Win a copy of this amusing book!

We have three copies to give away to readers.

For a chance to win a copy send in your name and address to: Amra Media Solutions, The Old Lavender Mill, 46a Brook Street, Aston Clinton, Bucks, HP22 5ES, or email info@amramedia.co.uk.

Quoting ref. UIB Closing date 17 May 2013

Strictly old school Luckily, your new best friends seem happy to supply the solution to this problem. Despite the fact that they’re always in when you call and are usually watching the same TV shows as you are, on social media they have managed to post the evidence of a glittering existence of weddings, gigs, old school reunions and laughterfilled family outings. It isn’t long before you stop trying to post the embarrassing truth about your own life and devote yourself to living vicariously through their online adventures.

On social media, everything looks more vital and exciting than it actually is. Even the events that you attended in person, when reflected

Unexpected item in the bagging area

PASSWORD PROTECTION

In 2009, Nielsen reported that the internet had seen a seven hundred per cent increase in the use of social media. What was really surprising about the report was that this growth was fuelled not by tech-obsessed youngsters but by two groups that really should know better; thirtyfive to forty-five-year olds and those over sixty.

The basic offering of social media is keep in touch and sharing your experiences. This makes some sense when applied to those under thirtyfive who are getting out to bars and clubs, dating new people and going on exciting backpacking holidays but how does it work for you? You spend the majority of your time at work and the rest slumped in from of the telly.You never go out and when you do it’s only to attend a dinner party with people you’ve spent so much time with you could draw a map detailing every line on their ageing faces.

This lack of activity hasn’t stopped you getting heavily involved in social media. You dutifully signed up for accounts with Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and Instagram; installed the apps on your phone and spend a heady evening making connections with friends, friends of friends, family members and, in some cases, people’s children and pets.

You are tremendously excited by the sense of purpose setting up these accounts has given to your humdrum existence, but you find that you hit a block when it comes to actually sharing information because a life in which the highlight of the week is ordering a Chinese takeaway from the Golden Panda on a Friday night is hardly worth reporting.

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Step Back To 1485 Discover the story of how Richard III fought for his crown and lost his life at the Battle of Bosworth.

Visit Leicestershire’s award-winning...

See the

boar badge of Richard III

NEW Exhibition for 2013!

Richard iii – The Making of a Myth Special Events • Living History • Guided Walks Falconry • Gift Shop • Tithe Barn Restaurant Facebook.com/BosworthBattlefield

@LeicsMuseums

www.bosworthbattlefield.com Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, Sutton Cheney, CV13 0AD • 01455 290429 bosworth@leics.gov.uk • Open 10am-5pm 28

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Richard III Ad 90mm W x 135mm H_RETIREMENT TODAY.indd 1

13/03/2013 08:58

Out&About...

Fishguard International Music Festival

19th – 27th July 2013 Fishguard International Music Festival goes from strength to strength with increased Arts Council of Wales and other support enabling the Artistic Director to provide a diverse range of orchestral, choral and chamber music with artists from all over the world.

This year Fishguard makes its contribution to composer anniversaries with music by Benjamin Britten and Francis Poulenc.

The 44th Fishguard International Music Festival will bring the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, Owain Arwel Hughes, Peter Donohoe (60th Birthday concerts especially for Fishguard!) The Dante Quartet, The Frith Piano Quartet, The Graffitti Quartet, Richard Jenkinson, Innovation Chamber ensemble (CBSO strings), Fishguard’s own Tony Jacobs, Tim Kliphuis and many more….

Concerts take place in venues in Fishguard and Goodwick as well as St. Davids Cathedral and Rhos-y-Gilwen Mansion near Cardigan. Great music, coast, countryside, dining, and convivial atmosphere are all available at the Fishguard Festival in 2013.

Enquiries 01348 891345. Brochure late May. Box Office mid June. 01348 875538

Celebrate summer with Scotland’s unmissable celebration of gardening and outdoor living.

For three days every summer, the grounds of the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh undergo a transformation in an explosion of scent and colour.

This is Gardening Scotland - the national gardening and outdoor living Show.

Gardening Scotland brings together top nurseries and growers from across the UK with the cream of garden design talent to provide gardeners with inspiration, information and top quality plants.

More than 400 exhibitors take part selling everything from seeds to sunrooms while celebrity gardeners Alys Fowler (‘The Edible Garden’ BBC) and ‘Queen of Spades’ Katie Rushworth (‘Love Your Garden’ ITV) will join the line-up of experts who will be giving practical advice on everything from growing fruit crops for making jam to how to create a family-friendly garden.

There is also a Craft Marquee, Food Fayre, Cookery Theatre featuring top chefs, inspirational Show Gardens, family fun in the Big Back Garden and a packed programme of musical entertainment including performances by Scots rock piping group The Red Hot Chilli Pipers on Saturday 1st June!

Gardening Scotland 2013 will take place from Friday 31st May until Sunday 2nd June at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh. Advance tickets cost just £14 for Friday and £12 for Saturday/Sunday. Book online at www.gardeningscotland.com where you can also enter the GreenThumb prize draw. Group offers and VIP ticket packages are also available, call 0131 333 0965 for more information.

Gardens Open for Charity The National Gardening Scheme (NGS) publishes it guide to nearly 4,000 gardens which are featured in the Yellow Book 2013, just waiting to be discovered. Most of the gardens that open for the NGS are privately owned and offer visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy the garden owners’ individual creations, from chic urban gardens to allotments, small cottage gardens and rolling country estates. The gardens are excellent value for money – average adult admission is approx. £3, plus you will be making vital contributions towards the charities supported by the NGS. Book priced at £9.99 and available online from www.ngs.org.uk or from all good bookshops.

Sacred Stitches

Ecclesiastical Textiles in the Rothschild Collection, Waddeson Manor, Bicester.

Until 27 October 2013 Magnificent textiles take centre stage at Waddesdon in a special exhibition for the 2013 season.

Surprising though it may seem for a Jewish family, several members of the Rothschild dynasty collected medieval and later embroideries and textiles made for use in the cathedrals, churches and monasteries of Europe. But they were not acquired for their original purpose. Attracted by the rich textures and sumptuous patterns, Baron Ferdinand, Miss Alice and Baroness Edmond de Rothschild used their textiles to furnish interiors. For example a bishop’s vestment might be transformed into a chair covering or part of a draft-excluding screen. As so often at Waddesdon, a closer look at the collections reveals that things are sometimes not what they seem. www.waddesdon.org.uk

Poster Art 150 – London Underground’s Greatest Until October 2013 London Transport Museum is celebrating 150 years of the world’s oldest underground railway, showcasing 150 of the greatest underground posters ever produced.

Posters featured are by many famous artists including Edward McKnight Kauffer and Paul Nash and designs from each decade over the last 100 years. The exhibition also offers a rare opportunity to view letter-press posters from the late nineteenth century. www.ltmuseum.co.uk London Transport Museum © Transport for London Brightest London is best reached by Underground

by Horace Taylor, 1924 RETIREMENT

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Out & About

Embroidered cushion depicting St Paul, late 1500s; Waddesdon, The Rothschild Collection (Rothschild Family Trust). Photography: Mike Fear © The National Trust, Waddesdon Manor, acc. no.

767.1995.1

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COMPETITIONS

IN W TICKETS

Tickets to see Cliff Richard and The Military Wives perform live in the UK in 2013

Superstar rocker Cliff Richard returns to the UK this June with his Midsummer Night’s series of shows and here is your chance to see him rocking and reeling live, supported by The Military Wives Choirs He’s Britain’s most successful artist with over 250 million record sales worldwide and over 120 top 40 hits. He’s a star of the screen with films such as The Young Ones and Summer Holiday. He’s gained millions of loyal fans, and has a place in the UK Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding contribution to British music.

And now, Sir Cliff Richard O.B.E. is returning to the UK in June 2013 for a spectacular Midsummer Night’s series of shows, Still Reelin’ and A-Rockin’, in some of the most stunning venues in England.

Saturday June 1 Harewood House (West Yorkshire) Sunday June 2 Old Trafford Cricket Ground (Lancashire) Thursday June 6 Blickling Estate (East Anglia) Saturday June 8 Warwick Castle (Warwickshire) Sunday June 9 Hatfield House (Hertfordshire) Saturday June 15 The County Ground, Hove (Sussex) Sunday June 16 Powderham Castle (Devon)

IN W TICKETS

For a chance to win any of the prizes, send your name and address (quoting reference code) to: Amra Media Solutions, The Old Lavender Mill, 46a Brook Street, Aston Clinton, Bucks, HP22 5ES or email: info@amramedia.co.uk

We are giving away 10 pairs of tickets to see Sir Cliff perform.

To win a pair of tickets simply answer the following question, and send your answer, together with your details.

Please also quote ref. CR. What was Cliff Richards 1st UK number one single?

1.) Living Doll 2.) Summer Holiday 3.) Congratulations Closing date 17 May 2013.

Tickets are also available to purchase via see tickets and a charitable donation made by the promoter of the concert will go to the Military Wives Choirs Foundation which brings women in the military community closer together through singing.

Terms and conditions Competition entries to be received by 17 May 2013.

Entries have to be made by completing (1) steps: (i) Answering the following question correctly ‘What was Cliff Richards 1st UK number one single?’

Any entries made after the closing date or through a different method will not be counted. Winners will be selected and notified via Retirement today.

The prize offering is 10 pairs of tickets to Sir Cliff Richard’s 2013 ‘’Midsummer Night’s – Still Reelin’ and a-Rockin’’ series of outdoor concerts, for venue closest to the winners local area.

The prize is not exchangeable for cash or any other item. This competition is not open to any persons directly or indirectly involved with the running of the competition, or their direct family members.

Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions and to have agreed to be bound by them when entering this competition.

©

Macmonagle photo

Mike Oldfield’s TUBULAR BELLS ‘FOR TWO’ 40th Anniversary Concert

Two talented Australian musicians playing over twenty instruments bring to life Mike Oldfield’s seminal album Tubular Bells in a unique theatrical performance.

Multi-instrumentalists Daniel Holdsworth and Aidan Roberts have arranged the entire score of Tubular Bells to be played by just two blokes, its subtle beauty and richly layered madness intact. This herculean feat leaves the musicians drenched in sweat and audiences on the edge of their seats, as they race from instrument to instrument.

Join us, for a memorable night as these ambitious musicians undertake the challenge of recreating the original album as faithfully as possible with just four hands and four feet.

Prize is valid for all tour venues and is subject to availability. There is no cash alternative to the prizes, they are non-refundable and non-transferable and not for resale. www.tubularbellsfortwo.co.uk We have two pairs of tickets to give away, for a chance to win a pair send in your details, quoting ref TB. Closing date: 17 May 2013

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Five DVDs to be won Two Greedy Italians – Complete Series 2: Still Hungry Nowhere is food as much a part of everyday life as Italy, a country whose unique topography has resulted in distinct regional differences that are vibrantly alive and passionately celebrated. In this second series, the kings of Italian cuisine Two Greedy Italians Complete Series 2 DVD is released on Antonio Carluccio and Gennaro Contaldo, Fremantle Home Entertainment return to Italy to remember their pasts and on 22nd April. Order on www.amazon.co.uk discover how the culinary capital of the world is changing the way it cooks and eats. Creating dishes using recipes, ingredients and influences they discover along their journeys as well as some of their own favourite traditional meals.

For a chance to win, send in your details, quoting ref. TGI Closing date: 17 May 2013

Win a set of ten Michael O’Mara Books To celebrate publication of six elegant new books in the paperback I Before E series, we have a set of all ten to give away. The series provides a shortcut to knowledge on history, classics, philosophy, folk proverbs, poetry and more, and together they form a gorgeous rainbow reference library packed with all the things you feel you ought to know.

Win tickets to Gardening Scotland 2013 Gardening Scotland 2013 is a great day out for expert gardeners and complete beginners too.

More than 400 exhibitors take part selling everything for the garden and there are plenty of experts on hand to give advice on anything from roses to radishes.

This year celebrity gardeners Alys Fowler (‘The Thrifty Gardener’ BBC) and ‘Queen of Spades’ Katie Rushworth (‘Love Your Garden’ ITV) will join the line-up of experts who will be giving practical advice at the event which takes place from Friday, 31 May until Sunday, 2 June at The Royal Highland Centre Edinburgh. A packed programme of events and entertainment.

Advance tickets cost £14/£12. www.gardeningscotland.com We have five pairs of tickets to give away.

For a chance to win send in your details, quoting ref. GS. Closing date: 17 May 2013

Win a copy of Glasgow’s Grand Central HotelGlasgow’s most loved hotel Jill Scott and Bill Hicks began their historical research on this book when Bill, who was working for the Sunday Post, first wrote an article on the refurbishment of the hotel, who then went on to write a book on its history. Read about the rich and famous who have stayed and dined at the hotel, life above and below stairs, as well as parties, chandeliers, and much, much more. Many illustrations in the book include pictures of people’s personal mementoes as well as wonderful images, old and new, documenting the development of the hotel from its beginnings in 1883.

We have 3 books to giveaway.

For a chance to win send in your details, quoting ref. GGCH. Closing date: 17 May 2013 These books are published beginning of April. For further information visit www.mombooks.com For your chance to win all ten books, send in your details, quoting ref. MOMB. Closing date: 17 May 2013

5 pairs of tickets to giveaway for The BBC Good Food Summer Show The BBC Good Food Show Summer is running from 12–16 June at the NEC in Birmingham and to celebrate we have teamed up with the organisers to offer you this fantastic prize!

Win a pair of general admission tickets to enjoy a day at the Show, packed full of celebrity chefs Plus see your favourite TV programmes brought to life.

Shop till you drop from over 200 food stands. Don’t forget your ticket also gets you free entry to BBC Gardeners’ World Live where you can learn how to grow your own from some of the nation’s top gardening experts!

Not a winner? To book tickets and for more information visit www.bbcgoodfoodshowsummer.com or call 0844 581 1341 For a chance to win a pair of tickets send in your details, quoting ref. BBCGF. Closing date: 17 May 2013 RETIREMENT

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Competitions

COMPETITIONS

For a chance to win any of the prizes, send your name and address (quoting reference code) to: Amra Media Solutions, The Old Lavender Mill, 46a Brook Street, Aston Clinton, Bucks, HP22 5ES or email: info@amramedia.co.uk

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WHY WE NEED CHARITIES EVEN MORE TODAY

By Mike Francis

W

e don’t have the workhouses or the grime of hard labour that the victorians had but the worst economic recession for decades in our country will leave a legacy of an altogether different kind for the future.

The grey clouds of economic blight that have been hanging over us for so long now will at some point blow away but the people who have lost jobs, become impoverished, depressed and ill because of it will not find recovery so easy. One reason why there is a greater need for charities to be around to pick up the pieces and to give support to those invalided by the crisis.

Why we need charities even more today

EXAMPLES OF CHARITIES SUFFERING

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One of the oldest,The National Benevolent Charity, has an aim tailor-made for the fallout of recession. To give financial assistance to people who through no fault of their own have fallen victim on hard times and have nowhere else to turn, like the 60 year old ex- telecommunications engineer living on £56.63p a week. The recession has made funding for the charity more difficult at the very time that there has been a marked increase in the number of applications arising from the hard economic times we live in. Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland was formed when TB was killing 7,000 people in 1899. Now they fund chest, heart and stroke research and patient and carer support and have funded a ground breaking early warning check trial potentially saving 120 lives, but they have experienced increased demand for financial help when the volume of individual donations has fallen off. One of the newer charities is World Cancer Care RETIREMENT

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improving treatment and care for children in developing countries who have achieved dramatic improvements in the most common childhood cancer in Malawi by working with a hospital over there. However, because they are one of the smaller charities they have to work harder to recruit participants and supporters.

WHERE DOES IT HURT? Some charities have their own specific experiences of fallout from the recession.

More people are requesting financial help for home heating bills which have escalated and for higher petrol costs for urgent hospital appointments. Local authority cutbacks have left financial gaps which need to be plugged.

At the same time, companies are trimming their marketing costs and cutting donations.

Individual gifts are falling off because the dip in property prices has affected the value of will legacies. A look at the leaflet drops through your door will show you how urgently the charities are touting their existence, organising collections of unwanted clothes for their shops, and sending envelope pleas for individual donations. They have smartened up their act in the shops on the high street and these have proliferated as former businesses have been killed off by the recession but even these outlets have had to become streetwise.

There is a marketing theory than when times are hard you should not cut back on publicity but instead redouble your efforts. Find new donors and keep in touch with lapsed ones.

No matter how hard a donor may have been hurt by the recession the disadvantaged will be damaged far more and have less opportunity to recover. Sadly, philanthropy is directly linked to the vigour of the economy which still looks pretty listless.

COMPETITION AND CUTBACKS We live in an increasingly competitive world.

Inevitable government cutbacks can directly affect the funding of the charities themselves but can also have indirect knock-on consequences for others as everyone tightens their belts at the expense of something or someone else. At the last count there were 170,000 charities in the UK, some new, many others well established fighting for attention.

All competing for a contribution from the public’s tightly stretched purse. Even this precarious balance can suddenly be jolted by an event that happens on the other side of the world like a disaster, an earthquake, or a tsunami.

Costs are rising for what the charities in turn are funding. Complex medical research, extra care homes, holiday breaks for patients and carers, all come with rising price tags attached. So the money from fund raising trusts, will legacies, generous donors, corporate financing, events and so on are critical to their ability to continue meeting their principal aims.

40 years ago I walked into a children’s hospital ward of month old babies dying of leukaemia. Subsequently I have grown to appreciate the value of research and charitable work. At this recessionary time we need charities more than ever. They need our support more than ever, and in this high pressured world a little more charity between ourselves would not come amiss either.

After all charity begins at home n

For 200 years , The National Benevolent Charity has been a lifeline to people who have fallen into poverty and distress and who have nowhere else to turn.

People like nurse Leah, 58, and her artist husband David, 63.

They

wanted a happy retirement together but Leah became crippled with arthritis and cannot walk. David is dedicated to his wife and cares for her full time. But, the loss of earned income has been devastating, and they are poverty-stricken.

Despite state benefits, sickness, disability and old age can still mean a life of awful hardship. For Leah and David and hundreds like them, The National Benevolent Charity can help.

Please support the 1812-2012 Bi-Centenary Appeal Donations should be sent to:

The National Benevolent Charity Peter Hervé House, Eccles Court, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8EH For more info visit www. t h e n b c . o r g . u k or telephone 01666 505500 Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales Registered Charity Number 212450

A life worth living Your legacy gift to Vitalise

Vitalise is a national charity offering a lifeline to people with severe disabilities and carers. Our purpose-built, accessible UK Centres offer our guests the opportunity to experience the kind of freedom that most of us take for granted. That’s why many thousands of disabled people and carers come to us for desperately-needed respite breaks each year. For them, their time with Vitalise means so much more than a mere change of scene - it means the difference between coping and despair.

We simply couldn’t provide this service without the generosity of our supporters. If you remember Vitalise in your Will, or make a donation, you will be helping us make a difference to the lives of disabled people and carers for years to come.

To discuss your legacy gift to Vitalise, please call our Legacy Manager, Tony Parker, on 0303 303 0147 or email tparker@vitalise.org.uk

www.vitalise.org.uk Registered charity number 295072

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Charity N E W S

A Voice for World Child Cancer World Child Cancer is excited to launch their new Volunteer Speakers Network and are seeking retired people who want to use their skills and take on a new challenge to become Volunteer Speakers . Could you give a voice to children with cancer around the world?

Whilst in the UK survival rates for children with cancer are around 80%, in low income countries, survival rates can be as low as 10%. World Child Cancer is the only UK based charity working to improve the chances for these children. By facilitating and funding medical twinning partnerships, World Child Cancer has already been able to improve cancer diagnosis, treatment and care for children in 8 countries around the world.

Sadly it is still estimated that over 100,000 children will die each year from curable cancers due to a lack of diagnosis and treatment, and worse still, many of these children will die without effective pain relief.

The South West Equine Protection (SWEP) SWEP is a registered charity that rescues and rehabilitates wild moorland ponies from both Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor.

In the spring many foals are born on the moor which brings problems such as mares having difficulty giving birth and foals that end up abandoned or orphaned. It is essential for these ponies that the SWEP team are available to help day or night.

Are you interested in becoming a Volunteer Speaker? The role is great opportunity for anybody looking to re-invest their skills, undergo a new challenge and make a difference.

Fudge was one of those foals several years ago, found wandering along a moorland road, starving and with a large abscess. Fudge was only a few weeks old and had been abandoned by the mare and left to die. Fortunately for Fudge she was brought into SWEP where she received veterinary treatment as well as specialist 24 hour care, including 2 hourly feeds. When she was old enough she was taught all the skills she needed to become the perfect pet. She is now in the most fantastic loan home where she will hopefully stay for the rest of her life, but if their circumstances change she will always be protected under the umbrella of SWEP.

For more information contact Lydia on 020 3176 7892 or on Lydia.spencer@worldchildcancer.org or visit www. worldchildcancer.org.

They rely solely on donations from the general public to support the ponies in their care.

If you would like to know more about their work visit www.swep.org.uk or call 01822 854823.

By recruiting Volunteer Speakers, whose role will be to deliver informative talks to local groups in their own communities, they will be able to raise awareness and generate more support for their work. Full training will be provided to all volunteers.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE UNEXPECTED? If something unexpected happened, do you know who would look after your dog? Would your chosen carer know how much to feed your cat, what medication to give your guinea pig or whether your furry friend likes to be tickled behind the ears?

Charity News

Only half of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pet owners have an idea about who would look after their pet should something unexpected happen to them. And just 6% of them have actually written it down and notified those concerned.

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At the National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) they are asked on a regular basis to help in situations where an owner is unexpectedly required to be away from home and has no one to care for their pets. Unfortunately they are unable to help as their centres are already full of animals looking for new owners, plus they are not licensed for, nor do they have the capacity for Private Boarding Facilities. However, they have put together a helpful guide to make it easier for you to spend a little time thinking about care arrangements if you were suddenly and unexpectedly called away from home.

For further information visit www.nawt.org.uk/tailsoftheunexpected RETIREMENT

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Footloose in London

Footloose in London Along the west highland way

As we neared the approach to cotland is such a reserve at Inversnaid, there were no Hill, there were gentle fields romantic place, full of actual birds to admire as the racket Conic paths following an old myths and legends; so from the exhaust had disbursed any and straight line to pass along, but then deciding to walk the unsuspecting fowl for probably miles railway plunged into the great West Highland Way and around. This ‘preview’ trip gave me we were that block the skyline until film it was, for me, an a chance to see some of the terrain woods my we emerged onto the windswept opportunity to connect with those we were going to cross, and summit to survey Loch Lomond in fables not by getting out of a car anticipation really began to mount a fabulous view, and It’s glory. its all I and taking a picture, but by actually that the walk would be everything hoped for. As it turned out, it was so we could see clearly the boundary walking the landscape. fault line that runs roughly through T h e much more. ...and It didn’t take W e s t Starting from Milngavie in the middle of the loch that separates On more than a dram at the Highland Glasgow, we were soon out of the the lowlands from the highlands. the island of Inchcailloch, I began to atmospheric Drovers’ Inn to W a y suburb and walking through pleasant and legends starting myths those feel Wood Mugdock of part and parkland a in imagine these warrior bands, starts of and in May, the park was ablaze with to swirl – buried here are the ancient armed to the teeth... suburb ancestors of Scotland’s flowering gorse, which to me, smells clansmen and women Rob Roy McGregor, beside the largest city, follows one side of like suntan lotion.There is a particular the remains of a church, and the fable of of end the at scale to stonewall skirts and loch, largest Scotland’s St Kentigerna, the Irish mother of St the bottom of Scotland’s largest park, which affords an unexpected the Fillan, is told by one of the Rangers mountain, and provides stunning glimpse of what is to come – Loch in the film. contrasts of scenery the whole of its stubby peak of Conic Hill and Scrambling along the sides of the Lomond in the distance. The change 96 mile length. is loch was the most difficult part of the We had to make a separate trip in landscape is as dramatic as it We whole trip for me and also the slowest, before we began the walk to be sudden – this is volcanic terrain. shooing the pungent wild goats out able to interview the Rangers at made a stop at Glengoyne Distillery, on of my path, but legend wafted up the southern end, and it was in leafy which isn’t strictly speaking an here too: Robert the Bruce sheltered Mugdock Park that I managed to the trail, but it was too good say in a cave at the waterline with the punch a hole into the exhaust of opportunity to miss and I can a ancestors of these smelly goats for my car. Which in turn meant that with total conviction that it made warmth. Once through the Queen when we chugged into the RSPB whisky drinker out of me.

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barbecued fish bathed in oregano and lemon

Summer Days & Balmy Nights

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All images taken from the book ©Ryland Peters & Small

souvlaki with bulgur wheat salad

Name

Serves 6

Address

Trim the excess fat off the lamb and then cutRETIREMENT today the meat into 2.5-cm23 cubes. Put into a shallow, non-metal dish. Add the rosemary, oregano, onion, garlic, wine, lemon juice, olive oil, and some salt and pepper.

Toss well, cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for 4 hours.

Return to room temperature for 1 hour before cooking.

To make the salad, soak the bulgur wheat in warm water for 30 minutes until the water has been absorbed and the grains have softened. Strain well to extract any excess water and transfer to a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients, season to taste and set aside for 30 minutes to develop the flavours.

Thread the lamb onto large rosemary stalks or metal skewers. Preheat the barbecue to hot and cook over hot coals for 10 minutes, turning and basting from time to time. Let rest for 5 minutes, then serve with the salad.

summer vegetable skewers with home-made pesto Full of sunshine flavours, these kebabs/kabobs can be served with pasta tossed in some of the pesto sauce. Home-made pesto is very personal – some people like it very garlicky, others prefer lots of basil or Parmesan – so simply adjust the quantities to suit your taste.

olive-infused chicken with charred lemons

Summer Days and Balmy Nights

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where Robert the Bruce was ambushed, and beside a lone lochan, a simple commemorative stone sits.

The history rises up from the ground in the Highlands.

The spectacular scenery draws the eye and we stumbled more than once through not looking where we were going.Vestiges of ancient Caledonian forest rise majestically and sparsely from the shores of Loch Tulla on the Black Mount, as we trod ever closer to that mystical moor of Rannoch whose reputation for bleakness is me, the gentle walk For Rixon Bylegend.

Debra down from the moor to Kingshouse was magical, for set out below you is a barren plain, bisected by just one road, with the magnificent bulk of Buchaille Etive Mor towering at the entrance to Glen Coe – truly the Shepherd of the Glen and breathtaking to behold.

Who could not be moved by the tragic story of the massacre at Glen Greece is known for its simple and delicious cuisine made from fresh Coe, and as we shivered in a gust ingredients with seafood often being the highlight of any menu. suddenly cold air, were we being This is a typical Greek dish of char-grilled of bream with oil, oregano fanciful in imagining an echo from and garlic, but you could use other small fish such as red mullet, that awful, snowy night? snapper or even trout.

Leaving the mournful wraiths grated zest of 1 and freshly squeezed behind us, the snow capped glory juice of 2 lemons of Ben Nevis beckons, and we 250 ml extra virgin olive oil began the last part of our journey, climbing the Devil’s Staircase with its 1 tablespoon dried oregano RETIREMENT today magnificent view of Ben Nevis, then 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped down to Kinlochleven, struggling to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley come to terms with its own decline.

6 snapper or bream, about 350 g. each, well The walk out of the town is steep cleaned and scaled but heralds the approach of the last 14 miles of the Way, sea salt and freshly ground the Ben brooding me, the gentle walk down from withthe For black pepper distance. On in to Kingshouse was magical, Lairigmor, we met moor the Serves 6 plain, barren a is you below forPutset Rangers two the out zest and juice of 1 lemon in a small bowl. Add the the olive oil, reserving 4 tablespoons, the oregano, garlic, parsley, with the based onetoroad, justLeave in Fort William, andbisected some salt andby pepper. infuse for at least 1 hour. bulk of Buc out surveying the magnificent Wash and dry the fish inside and out. Using a sharp knife, cut several slashes under roads into each side. Squeeze the juice from the remaining lemon into a bowl, add the remaining 4 tablespoons of oil, military surpassed any some passed salt and pepper we had scenery the the mixture all over thethrough. fish. This had forest you are walking their care, and they explained that asand rub HeatElizabeth a stove-top griddle pan or barbecue, we had walked with its dramatic history thatcharred trail other the fishmonuments, theyon each and cook forwhenever 3–4 minutes side until roads. At the top addnational and cooked through.

Put on the ancient fish on adrove large, warmed serving of We would reflect for days on the sheer majesty beauty. platter, pour overany therepairs an archaeologist dressing and let rest for 5and undertook minutes before serving. of the loch as you pass a couple of it all, and in putting the film of our walk together, bothies and reach the narrowest part was required to be present to ensure we would relive the achievement again and again. What reinforced It of the water at Ardlui, wild tales of nothing was changed. had begun as a journey had finished an odyssey n the ruffian drovers abound, and It the connection to the land and the me; for inhabitants didn’t take more than a dram at the its former Debra and David walked the West Highland Way in May of the countryside and atmospheric Drovers’ Inn to imagine harshness This 2005 in unprecedented good weather. Fit people and charity delicious the hardiestof olives, lemons, fresh do the trail in 4 days, Debra and David even concoction these warrior bands, armed to the climate forcing usually marjoram and succulent chickenchallengers makes an ideal their claims, to abandon teeth, driving their black cattle across of croftersmain took 9 walking days as filming is slow work, and what’s the course ruins of party. Serve with a thea barbecue only for the countryside and demanding leaving behind anyway? They used a ‘sherpa’ service that ferried their selection of salads, such as tomatohurry, and basil. the payment of mail from local their lifestyle. luggage to and from each accommodation, and where provided, 1.5 kgchicken is a very popular, busy The Way landowners; the Gaelic equivalent of took packed lunches for convenience. Accommodation is not we stopped it struck trail and 75 g pitted me blackasolives ‘protection’ racketeering! cheap, although there are tents, wigwams and bunkhouses or raised a greeting to We were now passing through and chatted available close to the trail.They returned to Glasgow from 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil the Highlands, walking on the old fellow travellers, that the tales were Fort William on the West Highland Line.You can learn 1 teaspoon sea salt military roads in the footsteps of still being told. Modern tales of the more about the film, made in conjunction with the Scottish along experiences tablespoons chopped fresh the marjoramNational Parks, from Debra and David’s website: www. those hapless soldiers sent to quell the journey 2and the stuff of but stilljuice sure, freshly squeezed untamed clans that inhabited these Way to be of 1 lemon grindelwald.co.uk. After David took early retirement from the and legends maybe? untamed lands. After Crianlarich, future myths BBC, they have focussed on their own productions, and for plus 2 halved lemons The last couple of miles of the we passed St Fillan’s Pool, beside over eight years have been renowned for their walking films in freshly ground black pepper a road the ruined chapel at Kirkton Farm. West Highland Way are Europe. For information on all the Footloose films, take a look Serveswe 4 hardly noticed, so Further up the trail, beyond Tyndrum walk, which at www.footloose.tv or watch previews of the walks on Youtube. were we by mesmerised To prepare is the site of the Battle of Dalrigh, completely the chicken, put it onto a board with the back facing upwards and, using kitchen scissors, cut along each side ofRETIREMENT today the backbone and remove it completely. Using your fingers, gently ease the skin away from the flesh, then put the chicken into a large, shallow dish. Put the olives, olive oil, salt, marjoram and lemon juice into a separate bowl and mix well, then pour over the chicken and push as many of the olives as possible up between the skin and flesh of the chicken. Let marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Preheat the barbecue, then cook cut-side down over medium-hot coals for 15 minutes. Using tongs, turn the chicken over and cook for a further 10 minutes or until the skin is golden, the flesh is cooked through and the juices run clear when the thickest part of the meat is pierced with a skewer. If any bloody juices appear, cook for a little longer. While the chicken is cooking, add the halved lemons to the grill and cook for about 10–15 minutes until charred and tender on all sides.

Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before serving with the charred lemons.

A selection of recipes taken from Summer Days & Balmy Nights, published

by Ryland Peters & Small.

by Debra Rixon

of your sandwich to throw to any attendant bird doesn’t seem to dim with the passing of years. We met the Director of London Walks at Hyde Park Corner to talk about their amazing array of guided walking trails throughout London. We both agreed that walking is by far the best way to see this and any other capital, and she had little tips to pass on, such as the view of the Queen’s private gardens at Buckingham Palace from the top of the Wellington Arch. The Duke of Wellington is a personal hero of mine, so actually going up the Arch and looking at the splendid tile paintings in the underpass was a ‘first’ for me.

The Commonwealth war memorials are mostly situated here, which seems fitting somehow, and the walk down Constitution Hill towards the Palace affords you a chance to see the relatively new memorial to the Commonwealth war dead from India, Africa and

Subscriptions Department, Amra Media Solutions, The Old Lavender Mill, 46a Brook Street, Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, HP22 5ES

friendly chat with the landlord about dance to the music of a performing band. This walking the bare-knuckle fights that took trail wasn’t about striding out, it was about strolling, place in the back room – the Bucket meandering and savouring the richness of our nation’s of Blood! – and the infamous attack capital – and the breathtaking views from a capsule on the on author John Dryden that took London Eye can put it all into perspective. place in the adjacent alleyway.

Reaching Westminster Bridge and leaning on the I love the Thames, and strolling parapet just to drink in the magnificent sight of the along the Embankment is a particular Houses of Parliament and Big Ben is a satisfying finish to pleasure, but I had never walked into our trail, which is unashamedly celebratory. Our capital the City of London that way, and is world famous and rightly so – London is one of the never having had the need, I’ve never greatest cities of all time, and has been so for a large part gone into the intriguing Temple and of its chequered history, so why not be proud?

Inns of Court before.There is so much Walking this trail through London had made me see to see in London that is not obvious; it as never before: almost like a foreign city, London I would never have wandered to the corner of Giltspur Street to look for the Caribbean, and the ornate and the golden chubby cherub that marks gilded ironwork of Canada Gate the end of the Fire of London’s path signals the exit into the bottom of the had we not been walking a trail Mall and Buckingham Palace itself. through London. Walking is always a joy, but this was even more so because Walking this film gave me the chance to see the Changing of the Guard in I was re-learning and re-discovering all it’s splendour – how many decades a city that I thought I knew.

Strolling along to Ludgate Hill – has it been since I came up to London not much of one, it must be said – specifically for that purpose?

We strolled through St James’ Park, and stunning St. Paul’s is a pleasure I perhaps the loveliest of the Royal don’t take very often – I mean, I’ve Parks, to Horseguards, which hosts a seen St. Paul’s, so what else is there? mini display of changing the guards Well, Paternoster Square for one, and then there you are in Whitehall. with the original Temple Bar and the had recognisable landmarks, but now also with some Not perhaps a pretty street, but full of memorial to the Great Fire for two marvellous terrain in between that, by shunning public important and grand buildings from more. Would I have been looking for transport, I was coming to look upon with fresh eyes. My another age and time, although No them, had I not been researching this twelve-mile trail over several days through the best known 10 behind the barriers in Downing film? Visiting the Museum of London areas had left me with the exciting prospect that ahead in the Barbican meant of me lay years of discovering the uniqueness of London.

Walking is always a joy, but this walking through streets Debra and David met in their forties, both widowed, with have never known, two teenaged daughters and a son between them. Second was even more so because I was Itheir names retaining families are always a challenge, but as they excitedly re-learning and re-discovering a their medieval origin welcome the birth of their first grandchild, it seems to city that I thought I knew. just as their foundations have worked. After 36 years, David took early retirement are built on the old city. from the BBC to focus on their filmmaking exploits, and Street is terribly unassuming, despite The sense of history was strongest for two years later Debra also left her job.Walking provided me here and as I wandered down to a low cost and spontaneous past time that provided much the armed but friendly police.

As a general rule, I’ve found that the Tower and the river. needed privacy for a middle-aged newly married couple Gazing on that amazing fortress with teenagers at home.Turning it into a new career trips up to London have been for a specific purpose; to a particular never fails to stir the imagination, was another challenge, but with the help of local Oxford place or venue, so walking this trail and walking across Tower Bridge SIXTV and a broadcast agency contract, it evolved into took me to parts of the city I have on the Jubilee Walkway, you can’t just that.They have a 22-part Footloose television series never been to or spent much time help gazing up at the gantries above that is broadcast in Europe and beyond, and all their films in. It’s a short distance to Trafalgar and wondering if the bascules (not are available on amazon.co.uk – find out more about their Square – should one be nostalgic a word I’d learned before!) will travels on www.footloose.tv.You can also watch previews for the hordes of pigeons that are no suddenly start to rise. Once across, of their films on Youtube n longer there? A simply wonderful it’s all the non-stop square, packed with interesting things alternative entertainment Souvlaki is the classic Greek kebab, a delicious combination of cubed Footloose in London DVD to see, including the old Imperial of the South Bank – the lamb marinated in red wineThe with herbs and lemon The meat is is a glorious walking trailjuice. through weights and measures, almost hidden Golden Hind replica tenderized by the wine, resulting in a juicy and succulent dish. the heart of the capital and a on some steps below the National ship, and Southwark’s 1 kg lamb neck fillets Bulgur perfect souvenir of all the best wheat salad Gallery. From here, only a short step tiny cathedral is a little 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary sights in summer.

350 g bulgur wheat to Piccadilly and then we plunge undiscovered jewel and 1 tablespoon dried oregano The DVD normally retails at flat-leaf into Theatreland and reach Leicester Borough Market is a real 25 g chopped fresh parsley £11.99 and we have five to give Square, which is a great deal tidier treat for all the senses – 1 onion, chopped 15 g For freshyour mintchance leaves, to chopped away to readers. try some of the mixes than I remember from years ago!

4 garlic cloves, chopped 2 garlic win a copy, just sendcloves, in your name crushed aromatically Walking gives you an appetite, and bubbling 300 ml red wine and address,150 quoting FL virgin to: olive oil if like me, you love the old London in the huge frying ml extra freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon Amra Mediafreshly Solutions, character pubs, then resting the feet pans! So much to see: squeezed juice of 2 lemons 46a Brook Street, Aston Clinton, inside (or outside) one is a welcome beachcombers and sand 75 ml olive oil a pinch sugar Bucks, HP22 5ES of– caster or email stop. We chose the Lamb and Flag, sculptures whilst the tide sea salt and freshly ground blackinfo@amramedia.co.uk pepper close to Covent Garden and had a is out, people moved to

Along the west highland way

Along the west highland way

S

We also wanted to include an air of celebration too; with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, it made sense to take another look at the existing Silver Jubilee Walkway for inspiration.

To our delight, it came very close to what we had envisaged, and where possible we have kept true to it.

There have been detours because for the section from Trafalgar Square to St Paul’s, we missed glimpses of the river, so we wandered off the Walkway to stroll onto Waterloo Bridge to get the fantastic views back to Westminster, and forward to Tower Bridge.

We talked to Eileen Geibig of VisitLondon for some suggestions on how to visit our capital on a budget, and then started our trail at Oxford Street and the Marble Arch, walking into lovely Hyde Park. All of the Royal Parks are vital green spaces in London, with histories almost as long as the city, and featured heavily in my childhood. The Serpentine is still a draw, and it’s funny that the urge to break off little chunks

Footloose in London

ondon is so well known to the British that we all feel as though we know it well, but I suspect it would take many lifetimes to truly come to feel familiar with all its nuances and complexities. So planning a walking trail through our capital was a daunting but not impossible task. My husband and I have been making walking films for over ten years, both in the UK and abroad, and living outside the capital, we tackled London just as we would a foreign city. I have adored London since I was a child, and for me, no walking trail would be complete without involving the Thames, so plotting the most popular sights and tourist spots had to include our world famous river.

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2 aubergines, cut into chunks

For the marinade 4 tablespoons olive oil

2 courgettes, cut into chunks 2–3peppers, cut into chunks 12–16 cherry tomatoes 4 red onions, quartered

freshly squeezed juice of 1⁄2 a lemon 2 garlic cloves, crushed

Serves 4–6

To make the pesto, use a mortar and pestle to pound the garlic with the basil leaves and salt.

Add the pine nuts and pound them to a paste. Slowly drizzle in some olive oil and bind with the grated Parmesan. Continue to pound and grind with the pestle, adding in enough oil to make a smooth sauce. Set aside.

1 teaspoon sea salt For the pesto 3–4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped leaves from a large bunch of fresh basil (at least 30–40 leaves) 1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt 2–3 tablespoons pine nuts extra virgin olive oil, as required 60 g/2⁄3 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

Summer Days and Balmy Nights

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Put all the prepared vegetables in a bowl. Mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt and pour it over the vegetables. Using your hands, toss the vegetables gently in the marinade, then thread them onto skewers.

Preheat the barbecue to medium-hot. Cook the kebabs for 2–3 minutes on each side, until the vegetables are nicely browned.

Serve the kebabs with the pesto on the side for drizzling.

Summer Days & Balmy Nights is available to our readers for the special price of £17.99 including postage & packaging (rrp£19.99) by telephoning Macmillan Direct on 01256 302 699 and quoting the reference GLR.6LO RETIREMENT

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