Life!

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THEMOVIES

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC (12A)

Based on Sophie Kinsella’s novels. Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) is a 25 year old who lives cheap with her best friend Suze (Krysten Ritter) in a trendy part of town.

Rebecca has low paid job with a financial magazine but an expensive shopping addiction. Her bills are piling up when she discovers a story that she is truly invested in.

Exposing the story gets the attention of a colleague that she hasn't quite figured out yet. Drama ensues as she snags the guy, and she attempts to pay off her evergrowing debt.

Rating: Overdrawn

THE INTERNATIONAL (15)

Clive Owen continues his quest to be the toughest man on the big screen – but comes closer to heading straight to DVD. When a fellow agent is murdered, Euro cop Louis Salinger (Owen) and New York district attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) ignore the fact they are both named after American literary giants and join forces to entrap one of the world’s largest banks. Crossing the globe they learn the full extent of its corruption. These days they’d only need to buy a morning newspaper to find out much the same! Rating: Clive’s credit’s crunched

HOTEL FOR DOGS (U)

In a canine comedy aimed squarely at youngsters, Nancy Drew’s Emma Roberts turns her talents to dog sitting. She is a supposedly errant foster child Andi who shares a secret pet with her younger brother Bruce. When they discover a disused hotel they turn into a refuge for the city’s unwanted stray hounds. There a parade of cute pooches play with Bruce’s elaborate inventions and, well, that’s about it. Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillon seem strangely miscast as the under used deluded rocker foster parents.

Rating: Cold dogs

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GRAN TORINO (15)

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BOLT (U)

In probably his final appearance in front of a camera, Clint Eastwood choice delivers one of his finest performances as a xenophobic war veteran in this timely humanist drama, which he also directs. Haunted by his experiences in the Korean War and consumed by grief over his wife’s death, Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) has become bitter. But when a gang scraps with his neighbour’s son, Walt intervenes and soon warms to them in typical Dirty Harry style.

Rating: Grand swansong

Man’s best friend learns to stand on his own four paws in this computer animated comedy, which pokes fun at our obsession with celebrity. Since he was a pup, Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) has been the star of a popular TV series, in which he plays a genetically engineered canine with superpowers who saves plucky owner Penny (Miley Cyrus) from dastardly Dr Calico (Malcolm McDowell). But once thrust into the real world he embarks on a series of misadventures.

Rating: Hot dog

PUSH (12A)

HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU (TBC)

life!

A relatively exciting British action-thriller set in the modernday world of psychic espionage. Nick (Chris Evans) and Cassie (Dakota Fanning) are among a group of unique individuals who have inherited and developed special psychic abilities that originated from human experiments conducted by the Nazi regime during World War II. Unfortunately all previous experiments have ended in tragedy and they find themselves on the run from Carver (Djimon Hounsou) and his troops, part of a clandestine government agency determined to harness their powers for evil. Rating: Some pull

THE UNBORN (15)

We all know that children can quite a handful but the cinema has the notion off to a fine art. From The Children of the Corn to Village of the Damned and Lord of the Flies – beware. So when Casey Beldon (Odette Yustman) starts dreaming of a terrifying young child you just know there may be trouble ahead. Her investigations reveal that the twin brother she absorbed when they were in the womb is now a restless demon named a dybbuk and has taken repossession of its mind.

Rating: Omen revisited

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A Baltimore that fans of The Wire won’t recognise sees this big screen adaptation of Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo’s best-selling book concerning the everwidening gap between genders and the misunderstandings that often arise between couples. In the film, a woman who can’t seem to get a grip on the men in her life pursues an advice columnist who never quite knew what he wanted in a relationship. Stellar cast included Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston and Ben Affleck.

Rating: Chick flic A-lister

NEW IN TOWN (12A)

Lucy Hill (Renee Zellweger) is a high achiever who takes an assignment to restructure one of her company’s small manufacturing plants in Minnesota.

From Miami’s warm highlife to bitter cold, snow, and icy roads which must be endured to succeed. Lucy is treated as an outsider when she arrives but is a fighter and wants to win. Meeting union representative Ted Mitchell (Harry Connick, Jr.) helps, so when told to close the plant she comes up with an idea to save everybody's job – and, of course, falls in love.

Rating: Renee for President?

STARINTERVIEW

5MINUTES WITH

Piers Morgan

Rising British star Sam Riley talks about coping with his new-found stardom and living in Berlin

Piers was born in 1965, and began his journalistic career at the South London Press, and was editor of The News of the World at just 28. In 1995, he became editor of The Mirror and stayed until 2004.

He has written books and acted as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent, as well as the American version, and hosted the BBC1 series The Dark Side of Fame. He has three sons, aged seven, 11 and 15.

W

hile most of Britain is still shivering, our latest rising star Sam Riley is taking a wellearned break in Dubai.

“I don’t want to rub it in but yes, it is nice, I’ve just been on the water slides,’’ the 29year-old gloats in a strong Yorkshire accent.

“My girl’s doing a job here and I’ve just finished working, so I’m relaxing while she’s working hard earning the money.’’

Sam deserves a rest. He’s just finished shooting a film with Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham and Ray Winstone in New York, where he insists, it “was minus 14 last week’’ and he’s still reeling from the success of his debut film Control.

His portrayal of Ian Curtis, the troubled lead singer of Joy Division, won Sam the British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer as well as a nomination for the Orange Rising Star Award at last year’s Baftas.

The “girl’’ in Dubai is his Control co-star Alexandra Maria Lara, who he lives with in Berlin and proposed to on Christmas Eve. Sam’s speedy transformation from warehouse-worker in Leeds, to screen icon has been well-documented, but the man himself remains firmly grounded.

He is eloquent and self-effacing – he even apologises for some of his answers (“that was very long-winded’’).

Despite the accolades for Control, he puts his latest role in quirky drama Franklyn, alongside Ryan Phillippe and Eva Green, down to nothing more than good luck.

“Working with Ryan and Eva was a pretty crazy thing to do for your second movie.

They’re both really nice. Most of the people I seem to have met since I’ve occasionally started bumping into famous people, have been very likeable.’’

Sam admits that after blazing such a trail in Control, his choice of follow-up film would always have been tough.

“It was kind of a part that most actors wait their whole life to get if they’re lucky,’’ he says of Ian Curtis. “I wasn’t the lead in Franklyn, I’m playing a support to these cool young actors, so the pressure’s not really on in the same way.’’

Franklyn’s unusual premise hooked Sam. He plays Milo, a young Londoner, who’s dumped by his fiance just before his wedding day and copes by reconnecting with a mysterious childhood friend.

In the fantasy universe of Meanwhile City, Ryan Phillippe is John Preest, a mask-clad vigilante tracking down his latest victim.

Back in London, art student Emilia (Eva

CRAZY THING: Sam Riley as Milo in Franklyn

Sam unspoilt by stardom Green) arranges her own suicide as part of an ongoing art project, while Peter Esser (Bernard Hill) is searching for his estranged and mentally ill son.

The characters’ lives are all deeply interconnected as the two different worlds slowly become one.

Leeds-born Sam was always meant to be famous - in some way. He acted with the National Youth Theatre as a teenager and had a couple of small TV roles. But he turned to music, becoming the lead singer of Leeds band 10,000.

In 2005, the group were dropped by their label Polydor and Sam went to work in a warehouse folding T-shirts.

He called an old agent from the National Youth Theatre, who told him about the auditions for Control and on January 8, 2006 - Sam’s birthday - he won the part.

FACTFILE ● Born in Leeds and went to school in Rutland, where he was drawn to drama. ● He’s due to turn the big 3-0 next year, but says there aren’t many things he wants to do before he’s 30. “Being able to grow a beard might be nice.” ● Sam met his actress girlfriend Alexandra Maria Lara (right) on the set of Control - she played Ian Curtis’ lover, Belgian journalist Annik Honore. ● Next year he’ll be back on screen in 13 playing an electrician, who accidentally gets involved with gamblers playing Russian roulette.

YOURVIEW e-mail life@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

After Control made such an impact, you’d expect Sam was inundated with offers from Hollywood producers, but he admits it wasn’t quite that easy.

“I was offered lovely things, but it wasn’t like Scorsese was calling me up next day or anything. I jumped up the food chain, but I’m a fair way down the pecking order.

“It was quite an unlucky time as well, because the very year Control broke and I could have followed it up with something, there was a big strike and a lot of the American industry stopped making movies.’’

Now Hollywood is open for business and Sam has just wrapped dark thriller, 13, with Mickey Rourke in New York.

“Getting picked up with Ray Winstone in the car every morning, driving to New York to work, where Mickey’s sat in the make-up trailer next to me telling me what he’d got up to the night before, and then going outside to smoke a cigarette with Jason Statham. I mean it’s nuts!’’

The biggest change for Sam over the past couple of years, has been meeting his fiance, Romanian actress Alexandra, and moving to Berlin to live with her.

He speaks enough German to get by – “I can order a currywurst and a beer, what more does a young man need?’’ – and Berlin offers a bolthole from the UK media.

“I do like being incognito there,’’ he admits.

“You do want people to recognise you, but at the same time, I don’t want everyone to know everything about me, because that makes me feel weird.’’ ● Franklyn was released at cinemas nationwide this weekend

If you had to be stuck in a lift with someone, who would it be?

Eva Mendes. As long as it was 20 or 30 floors going up - I reckon by the 20th I could probably persuade her that I was the man of her dreams.

What is your biggest fear?

Being fired by Simon Cowell. That could be very damaging to my bank balance, it could be worse than the current economic crisis.

If you could have only one song on your iPod, what would it be?

It would be the Rocky theme tune, Eye of the Tiger. It gets everybody going, as soon as you hear that music you want to go and kill people.

What’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought, not including property?

Probably my four Arsenal season tickets, because I reckon over the next 30 years they’re going to cost me about a million quid. With the way they’re playing at the moment, I’m trying to give them back but they won’t take them!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Probably from Simon Cowell, who said “Don’t take yourself too seriously.’’ Also, when I took over as editor of the News of the World when I was 28, Kelvin MacKenzie said: “Don’t ever try and edit the paper on hangover, and if you get into trouble, get out of it as fast as is humanly possible.’’

When was the last time you cried?

The only thing that really makes me well up was when I saw my youngest son performing as an angel at a nativity play, because at the previous four nativity plays he’d refused to come on stage and just shouted abuse from the corner. To see him finally as a sweet, well-behaved little angel with his hands clasped was quite a moment.

What’s your indulgence?

Where do you want to start? I like watching Newsnight in my Jacuzzi with a nice glass of Cristal. I told Emily Maitlis, who presents it: “I like watching you completely naked, drinking champagne.’’ She’s not quite sure how to take it.

How many texts do you send in a day?

On my last phone bill, it was 1,200 text messages in a month. Probably double that with emails, it’s the only way I communicate with people.

Who’s the most famous person in your mobile?

Simon Cowell would claim he is, but I don’t want to give him that satisfaction. There’s quite a few including Sharon Osbourneand Kevin Pietersen.

YOURVIEW CLAIM TO FAME

We once accidentally gatecrashed an audience with the Pope (the one before this one) in the Vatican. We are not Roman Catholic but I found it a most moving experience. He shook hands with my husband and younger son and the look on their faces was wonderful - chairman of Blackpool Civic Trust Elaine smith Have you ever got up close to someone famous. If so who and where? Let us have your claim to fame. e-mail life@ blackpoolgazette.co.uk

Saturday, February 28, 2009

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WHAT’SON Music’s ‘first lady’ performs her hits TO mark 40 years since her West End debut Elaine Paige, the UK’s “First Lady of Musical Theatre”, has embarked on a concert tour of the UK which sees her performing some of her best known and most loved musical memories alongside a full scale orchestra.

Since making her West End debut in Hair in 1968, Elaine has gone on to become a household name and International star. She has released 21 gold and platinum selling albums, and performed around the world for royalty and world leaders.

Winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Performance of the

Year in a Musical after creating the role of Eva Peron in the original production of Evita, Elaine has played all of the great female roles in productions of Grease, The Boyfriend, The King And I, Cats, Sunset Boulevard, Chess winning major awards along the way.

In 2008 she performed dates in Europe, China and the USA all the while entertaining over two million listeners every Sunday with her own BBC Radio 2 show.

■ The Lowry, Salford Quays.

Sunday and Monday. Box office: (0870) 1112 000 or online at www.thelowry.com

LEFT: Stage superstar Elaine Paige

Kite Club takes flight T

he Kite Club flies again – and this time it is spreading its wings to new and sometimes overlooked venues.Today sees the Fylde Coast debut of The Joscho Stephan Trio who will be performing in The Rowan Suite at Ribby Hall Village in Wrea Green, admission £12.50.

“I am taking the Kite Club around the parishes of the Fylde instead of staying in one location,” says organiser Stuart Walmsley. “However the bigger gigs will still be held at the Tower Lounge.

Joscho Stephan’s roots lie in Gipsy Swing music, the style pioneered in the 1930s by the legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.

Despite his youth, after four highly acclaimed CDs and a DVD he has played his way into the illustrious circle of the finest Gipsy Swing musicians in the world. Great jazz musicians

such as Paquito de Rivera, James Carter, Charlie Mariano and Grady Tate enthusiastically praised the talented newcomer after performing together.

Just 20 years old when he released his first CD on the Acoustic Music Records, his name was already known to insiders as a force to be reckoned with on the acoustic guitar.

His debut was named CD of the month by the American magazine Guitar Player and critics waxed eloquent about this virtuoso young musician.

On his fourth album Acoustic Live, Stephan showcases his mastery of Gipsy Jazz, accompanied by varying line-ups from trio to sextet, and simultaneously stretches the boundaries of the genre.

Tickets for tonight’s show can be bought on the door or reserved from stugt@hotmail.com or go to www.thekiteclub.co.uk for further booking details.

ROUND&ABOUT ●

Kneehigh, one of Britain’s most innovative theatre companies bring their renowned brand of physical and visually stunning storytelling to The Lowry from Tuesday to Saturday.

Brought to life is the seductive tale of the dangerous and irresistible Don John whose claim to fame is that he has slept with over 2,000 women. Set in 1970s England during the winter of discontent, the production is a radical re-working of Don Giovanni, Casanova and Don Juan.

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■ Tuesday to Saturday: The Lowry, Salford Quays, Greater Manchester. Times: 8pm, plus Wednesday and Saturday matinee, 2pm. Box office: 0870 787 5793 or www.thelowry.com Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo bring glitz, glamour and comedy to The Lowry at Salford Quays from Friday.

Founded in 1974 by a group of ballet enthusiasts for the purpose of presenting a playful view of traditional ballet in parody form, the company’s 16 professional male dancers display startling

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DUKE’S DIARY

Treasured memories of Yates’s

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H

orrible Histories returns to Blackpool’s Grand Theatre from Tuesday with two new family productions illustrating the gruesome reality of war.

Do you and your family really know what happened in the two World Wars? These are the horrible bits of history your teacher never tells you.

The amazing and educational Horrible Histories from Birmingham Stage Company with The Frightful First World War and The Woeful Second World War are live on stage at the Grand using actors and groundbreaking 3D special effects.

The new adaptation of Terry Deary’s famous books make historical figures and events from the two World Wars come alive on stage.

Discover how wars make people tell lies, how the enemies in the trenches stopped fighting to play friendly football matches and how the war brought foul food and worse water. Find out how soldiers dealt with fierce flies, loathsome lice, gruesome gas, sickness and sores. And see how war affects everyone from peace-loving protestors to suffering soldiers and civilians.

Frightful First World War Experience the front line of the worst war ever. Relive the terror of the trenches and

technique when bringing to life some of the greatest moments of classical ballet.

■ Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm: The Lowry, Salford Quays, Greater Manchester.

Box office: (0870) 787 5793 or www.thelowry.com One of the UK’s finest soul singers, Ruby Turner, will be performing at The Platform in Morecambe tonight.

Blessed with a voice that has been likened to Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin, Ruby’s

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Grim reality of wartime deal with dreadful new weapons. Join the soldiers as they go over the top and prepare yourself for battle!

Woeful Second World War From the brutal Blitz to the soggy shelters, join young Alf and Sally as they are evacuated to darkest Wales where they deal with rotten rations, scary schools and new parents.

Frightful First World War: Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday at 10.30am, Thursday at 1.30pm, Friday at 10.30am, Saturday at 7pm.

Woeful Second World War: Wednesday at 1.30pm, Thursday at 10.30am, Friday at

7pm, Saturday at 2.30pm.

Tickets – Adults £11, Children £9, Family of 3 £24, Family of 4 £32.

Special linked ticket available for both shows – Adult £17.50, Children £14, Family of 3 £38, Family of 4 £51.

Schools Special – One show £6.50, both shows £10. Free teachers’ places and FREE education pack available.

Book by calling the Grand Theatre box office on (01253) 290190, online at www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk or at the new Grand Theatre information sales point in the Houndshill Shopping Centre.

show will start at 8pm. Tickets cost £15 from the box office on (01524) 582803.

Loci Productions return to DT3 at The Dukes in Lancaster with their surreal and dark comedy Mind The Gap tonight at 7.30pm – and young people under the age of 26 can attend absolutely free.

A limited number of free tickets are available for this show as part of the Arts Council England scheme, A Night Less Ordinary.

The play is set on a tube train late at night as it grinds to a halt deep in the London underground. Lost in the dark, its two occupants fall prey to fears and fantasies.

Loci Productions is a new Manchesterbased touring theatre company dedicated to developing, producing and touring original work.

Tickets cost £9 and £6 or free to young people as part of A Night Less Ordinary and are available from The Dukes Box Office on (01524) 598500 or www.dukes-

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YOURVIEW e-mail life@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

IP Yates’s Wine Lodge. Everyone has their memories of the magnificent Talbot Square hostelry which burned down earlier this month. Mine are no better or worse, no more important or less significant than anyone else’s but even two weeks after the event which tore the centre of town apart I can’t go anywhere near what is left of the place without an enormous wave of sadness coming over me.

It was one of the first two pubs I ever drank in whilst on holiday in the resort with schoolfriends.

Oops, yes, we were all under 18 but it was back in the days before hoodies and baseball caps, before it was assumed anyone who looked like a teenager was clearly out to get staggeringly drunk before taking a cocktail of drugs and hitting anything in sight. What boring kids we must have been – dressed in our hipster trousers and madras shirts, too shy to talk to girls (except for John Binns who was devilishly handsome and had no problems attracting the opposite sex) and with only enough money to drink very slowly. The other pub, in case you are interested, was The Manchester – its top floor then a part disco part bar.

But Yates’s was the place. We had one back in Leeds but you took your life – and your liver – in your hands going in there. Dark, dank and subterranean, it was the kind of place you knew you’d end your drinking days in rather than start in. Blackpool’s Yates’s was in a different league.

“Meet me at Yates’s” was the national catchphrase – as famous in its way as any London landmark. If you couldn’t find Yates’s you couldn’t find Blackpool.

When we moved to Blackpool some 36 years ago Yates’s was again the first pub I called in on.

Right up to the fire I’d still meet people there before heading on elsewhere. Downstairs the Bosley Grill had been an institution. When it transformed into the Italianesque Carriages the initial furore soon died down and it became the place for Blackpool’s movers and shakers, wheelers, dealers and spielers to congregate.

Friday afternoons were legendary.

The same could be said when the former cinema and theatre area was finally converted into what at the time was Blackpool’s trendiest nightclub – Addisons. Many was the beauty contest I helped judge there and I don’t think I ever got the winner “right” – but then those were the days when such things were decided well in advance and certainly not by the judges.

And the old Music Hall Tavern on the top floor – so full of atmosphere and genuine characters.

Whilst Yates’s kept itself fresh with a refurb every couple of year Addisons just changed names and style. Wasn’t it Fuzion for a disastrous while? And as the now tragically ironically named Too Hot To Handle it was one of the plushest lap dance clubs in the country. Still, it’s one less of those pernicious dens (or tourist attractions as some would call them?) for the council to worry about and – for a couple of years or so – one fewer pub for them to get hot (no pun intended) under the collar about.

As the much used expression runs – Be Careful What You Wish For. robin.duke@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

Saturday, February 28, 2009

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FOOD&DRINK LIQUIDNEWS

Juice drinks to entice you IF you’re congratulating yourself on managing to have a dry January, look away now.

Wednesday marked the start of the preEaster period of Lent, which is traditionally six weeks of abstinence and denial.

For some it means giving up that after-work G&T, and those bottles of wine with dinner.

If the economic doom and gloom combined with the appalling weather made you reach for the bottle throughout January, consider Lent your chance to atone.

The juice business is built on people like us getting the guilts about what we drink, and leading us to pick up a bottle or two of Naked Juice Smoothies.

The ingredients of the cutely named ‘Green Machine’ – broccoli, spinach, bluegreen algae, spirulina seaweed, wheatgrass and echinacea – might sound terrifying, but rest assured that this is actually pretty tasty thanks to the apple, kiwi and pineapple base.

Naked also offer more conventional smoothie flavours like blueberry and blackberry or orange and mango if the thought of knocking back broccoli juice is too much to bear, even during Lent. The 450ml bottles, RRP £2.30, are available nationwide.

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T

his is a rich and tasty winter warmer of a dish, perfect fodder for the chilly weather we’ve been having.

INGREDIENTS Serves 2

For the duck 2 duck breasts salt ground black pepper 2-3 tbsp honey For the red cabbage ½ red cabbage, finely shredded 2 tsp thyme leaves 2 tbsp soft brown sugar gulp of red wine 1 tbsp honey splash of red wine

METHOD

1. Pre-heat the oven to 220c/425f/gas 7

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EATINGIN with John Kirk McNish of the Big Blue Hotel, Blackpool

DUCKBREASTWITH BRAISEDREDCABBAGE 2. Season the duck on both sides. Heat a non-stick frying pan until hot and sear the duck, skin side for 4-5 minutes, until golden. Drizzle with honey, turn over and

cook for 10-15 minutes, or according to personal taste.

3. For the cabbage, heat a medium saucepan. Heat the cabbage with the thyme leaves for 2-3 minutes. Add the sugar, vinegar, honey and splash of red wine. Allow to simmer for 18-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Remove the duck from the oven and allow to rest.

5. To serve, transfer the duck to a serving plate and spoon the red cabbage alongside.

To start: Morecambe Bay potted shrimps To finish: Warm chocolate fudge brownie To drink: Soft red Burgundy To book: 0871 222 4000

FOOD&DRINK EATINGOUT

WINECORNER

Siam Oriental, Knott End

O

N the surface Bangkok and Knott End don’t have too much in common so it might come as a surprise then that in this sleepy Over Wyre outpost they have been whipping up Asian delights for the past four years.

The Siam Oriental on the Esplanade promises authentic Thai cuisine and that is precisely what you get at this hidden gem.

Located on the seafront, in the summer the restaurant commands some of the finest views in the Fylde, across Morecambe Bay to the Lakeland fells.

There’s no such vista on a wet and wild winter evening, but there is a bustling dining room, packed with locals enjoying the fine food on offer.

If image is everything, this probably isn’t the place for you. The décor manages, only just, to stay on the right side of kitsch, the walls adorned with various images of Thailand, while two large gold statues guard the route to the toilet.

It’s all wonderfully cheap and cheerful and, as the menu says, authentically Thai.

Even though we’ve arrived 45 minutes early we are quickly found a table and before the menus have arrived we’re presented with a basket of prawn crackers.

I’m driving so I ordered a Coke, reasonably priced at £1.30 while my better half, rather than choosing from the extensive wine list, opted for a glass of house rose at £2.70, which was so agreeable, she was soon ordering a second.

On the menu, there’s plenty of choice, with all the Thai classics you would expect.

Starters include Tod Man Pla (fish cakes to you and me), Hoi Aib Mohdin (Steamed mussels) and a range of aromatic soups.

We opted to share a combination platter, containing a selection of delicious nibbles, including Deep Fried Prawn Toast, Popia Tod (Spring Rolls) and Peek Gai Tod (Chicken wings with chilli) £5.10 per person.

The selection came with two delicious piquant dips and Mee Grob, a crispy noodle dish with sweet and sour sauce.

As far as main courses go, the menu is packed with curries, meat dishes and vegetarian specials Options include Pork with ginger and Black Bean sauce, Chicken with Oyster Sauce and Mushrooms and Beef with Cashew Nuts or with spicy chilli oil.

I opted for Moo Pad Kra Proaw, stir fried pork with fresh chillies and basil leaves £6.90 accompanied by a bottle of Chang beer at £2.60.

The portion size was just right and there was plenty of meat in the dish.

The salty flavour of sauce mixed well with the sweetness of the fresh peppers and while the dish definitely had a kick, no doubt helped by the liberal serving of fresh chillies, it was not overpoweringly hot.

My other half opted for a fish dish, choosing Pad Ped Talay, which translates as stir fried seafood in curry paste at £7.70.

The dish contained plenty of meaty chunks of fresh fish as well as prawns and squid, along with some more difficult to identify residents of the deep blue.

The curry sauce was spicy and packed with flavour, although the dish was let down by the substitution of the advertised crab claws for rather less exotic crab sticks.

To accompany the main courses we shared

FACTFILE Address: 3 The Esplanade, Knott End Telephone: (01253) 811651 Booking: Recommended Cards: Yes Vegetarian: Yes Extras: Set menu deals, takeaway available Value for money: 9/10 Life!

Rating: 8/10

a portion of sticky fragrant rice (£3.30) which, for a table of two, came served in a china pot.

For those with a smaller appetite, or in search of a lighter bite, the menu also includes reasonably priced thai salads.

Not quite bursting at the seams it was time to move on to the sweets.

I’ve never been the greatest fan of desserts at oriental restaurants. Usually the menu arrives and you’re faced with the same rather depressing selection of off the shelf (or should that be out of the freezer) puds.

Coconut ice cream served in a hollowed out coconut, that kind of thing.

Praise, therefore, must go to the Siam Oriental for a range of impressive, if not necessarily authentically Thai sweets.

YOURVIEW e-mail life@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

There’s fresh fruit salad, sticky toffee pudding, two different types of meringue, all of it promising to be home made.

I plumped for a reasonably priced sorbet of the day (£3.25) and was pleasantly surprised when a fantastic, and very fresh, blackcurrant example arrived at the table.

My partner chose a lemon cream pie with a tasty ginger nut biscuit base and raspberry sauce, served up with a generous dollop of locally produced ice cream. So pleased was she that it was the sole topic of conversation for much of the journey home.

The bill for the meal, including drinks came to a meagre £48.40 – fantastic value, particularly given the friendly and attentive service.

Rob Stocks

by Jacqueline Morley

A

rgentina’s innovative Zuccardi family have a record for “firsts”: first to produce varietals from Bonarda and Sangiovese among others, first late harvest wine from Torrentes grapes, first fortified wine with Malbec, the wonderful Malamado, and more.

Now it’s moved into organic wine, without costing the earth.

Santa Julia Oganica – Julia named after Jose Zuccardi’s only daughter – is £6.99. Shop around for the range online.

The Organica shows how irrigated desert can bear fruit thanks to snow melt from the Andes providing vines with pure mountain water. And what fruit! The Italianate Bonarda Sangiovese ’08 blend is big on soft fruited charm, bold, yet subtle. developing flavours, one to linger over. It’s from Mendoza, which makes the bulk of Argentina’s wine and produces reds with attitude as well as altitude.

The sister Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich ripe fruited red, which I’d rate on a par with with the more raisiny, oaked blackcurrant charm of Soluna Premier Organic Malbec ’05, from Fairtrade certified grapes, harvested by small family owned vineyards via the Vina de la Solidaridad association in Mendoza.

Santa Julia’s Sparkling Organica, made with grapes picked this time last year, is delicate yet persistent, golden yellow with green hues, aromas of apples and pears, bursting onto the palate. The Chardonnay ’08 is off-dry, medium bodied, and with a touch of honey and citrus to offset semi tropical flavours, and there’s a lovely aromatic Torrentes, also harvested in March, which comes up roses, herbs, with a zesty floral tropically fruited flavour and hints of spice. The latter’s decidedly and, TOP TIPPLE indeed, delightfully Now’s the time to try different , one of the another Argentinian, very few that can Vinalba Reserva stand alone, as an Malbec ’06, which aperitif. won best international IN THE PINK: red single varietal for Frizzante Pinot Grigio under a tenner in last Blush is the definitive year’s Decanter World girly wine, pale pink, Wine Awards. It’s an soft bubbles, great intensely spicy dark value, light, at 11.5 redcurrant fruited per cent, and Italian wine with hints of (Veneto) so who vanilla and chocolate, could ask for more?

It’s not to be taken at a soft structure, and lingering finish. The all seriously, as usual price is £9.99 indeed the Italians but you can bag it at don’t, so a perfect £7.49 at Majestic if party wine, one for Mother’s Day, perfect you buy two bottles – saving a fiver. as an aperitif, and holds it own with pasta.

Exclusively at Morrisons at £4.99.

TAKE OUT: Ever struggled to find a red, rather than one of the more aromatic whites, to match Chinese food? We reckon we’ve hit just the spot with the luscious Torres Sangre de Toro (blood of the bull) – which Spain’s Catalans enjoy with paella. Fish, fowl, even seaweed, it complements the Ole! lot, spicy and warm, but with a robust edge offsetting richer flavours. If that doesn’t float your boat do as I do – and stick with green or jasmine tea. Makes it easier to handle chopsticks...!

Don’t forget to send your booze news, clubs, favourite finds, swigs and tips to jacqui.morley@blackpoolgazette. co.uk

Saturday, February 28, 2009

life!

9

TIMEOUT NEW FICTION GREENFLY Tom Lee

In this mesmerising collection of tales, Lee explores the human psyche.

Greenfly, the first short story, describes a woman who has quit work and spends her days playing computer games and fretting about a greenfly infestation, while her husband becomes infatuated with a glamourous new work colleague.

Final story Island 21 marks the meticulous routine of a marine stranded on a desert island, whose letters to his beloved reveal a state of mind which contrasts sharply with his organised behaviour.

The border between reality and imagination, sanity and insanity, fidelity and betrayal, and genius and obsession is blurred. While each tale might be formulaic, every one is daring in setting and fsubject.

Harvill Secker, £10

THE OTHER HALF LIVES Sophie Hannah

Ruth Bussey is a vulnerable, introverted, woman who works for framer, Aidan Seed.

But Aiden is also her lover and reveals to besotted Ruth that he once strangled anacquaintance called Mary.

Yet while Ruth knows Aidan couldn’t possibly have killed this women, whom she saw just a few months ago, Aidan refuses to listen to Ruth and goes to the police who unravel a web of death, lies and murky pasts.

Sophie Hannah’s latest thriller echoes her former books with its twisted, dark characters. The outcome is so unpredictable that it leaves the reader squirming with curiosity. A must read.

Hodder and Stoughton, £12.99

NEW NON-FICTION HITLER’S PRIVATE LIBRARY – THE BOOKS THAT SHAPED HIS LIFE Timothy W Ryback

They provide a fascinating and often chilling insight into his mind.

He was also a voracious reader. His library covered a wide range of subjects from cowboy pulp novels to art, architecture and military history.

He favoured those that backed up his prejudices and he undoubtedly acquired nasty ideas in this way.

The Bodley Head, £18.99

CHILDREN’S CHOICE LOVE, SPLAT Rob Scotton

Splat the cat has got a crush on a cute little kitten at school, but doesn’t know how to tell her. He plucks up the courage to write her a Valentine’s Day card, but it looks like he’s got competition from another suitor, superconfident Spike. Will Splat lose his nerve, or will love save the day? This is a very sweet story, beautifully illustrated and written by award-winning Leicester author Rob Scotton.Lots of gentle fun for adults and older kids.

HarperCollins, £5.99. Book and audio CD, £7.99

PAPERBACK CHOICE THE DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES Carole Matthews

When William Ashurst collapses on his way to work, he decides the rat race is not for him.

Within three months he’s moved wife Amy and two kids to the Yorkshire moors and replaced the f Audi with a Land Rover. But how long will urbanite Amy, survive?

Headline, £12.99

NEWDVDs GHOST TOWN

D

uring a routine colonoscopy, middle-aged British dentist Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais) reacts badly to the anaesthetic and his heart stops beating.

Thankfully, hospital staff revive him on the operating table but Bertram wakes with a strange gift. He can now see and hear the spirits of the recently departed, including Frank Herlihy (Greg Kinnear), who entreats Bertram to speak to his widow, Gwen (Tea Leoni).

The misanthropic dentist unexpectedly feels an emotional connection to another human being and he wrestles with his growing attraction to Gwen.

Alas, she is engaged to human rights lawyer Richard (Billy Campbell), who works with homeless prostitutes in Bengal.

With a different leading man, Ghost Town could have been a quirky and charming romantic comedy.

Regrettably, with Gervais on board, the project becomes a limp one-man show and the award-winning star of The Office and Extras simply doesn’t have the charisma to carry an entire film, falling back on his usual repertoire of comic tics and mumbled asides. Sexual chemistry between Gervais and Leoni is completely inert, rendering Bertram’s romantic overtures horribly pathetic. He’s certainly no credible match for Campbell’s suave, charming dogooder.

(Cert 12, 98 mins, Paramount Home Entertainment, Comedy/Romance, DVD £19.99/Blu-ray £24.99)

MUSIC

Ricky’s talking to the dead

SPECIAL GIFT: Ricky Gervais as Bertram Pincus

BOOKCLUB CHOICE EAST OF THE SUN

A neglected, but highly significant, aspect of Hitler’s life is brilliantly explored in this book.

Its source material is the1,600 surviving volumes - many bearing the German dictator’s book-plate and sometimes scribbled marginal notes - from his private library of 16,000 books.

Ryback has focused on those which possessed either emotional or intellectual significance for Hitler.

YOURVIEW

BOOKS

Julia Gregson

This story about love, friendship and adventure won the Romantic Novel of the Year 2009, which recognises the best of the year’s novels which explore the deep mysteries of the human heart. See if you agree with the judges about this rich and colourful love story, set in India.

Orion, £7.99

THE LAST DVD I SAW

The Dark Knight. Heath Ledger really is brilliant as The Joker. To me it was a better portrayal of the character than Jack Nicholson’s Joker in the Tim Burton Batman film – science graduate Kate Whatmough, from South Shore Tell us about your favourite book or DVD. e-mail life@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

10 life! LOGON www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk

FIRST LOVE

Emmy The Great

Parents and friends know her choice better as Emma LeeMoss but surprisingly she lives up to the soubriquet with an album which is worth the purchase price for the title track alone – a semi-autobiographical song incorporating the rhythm and some of the words of Leonard Cohen’s now famous Hallelujah but with a real bite. A writer and singer of huge potential.

Close Harbour

✔

life!

MASSIVE R&B SPRING COLLECTION 2009 Various

It’s another one to tick the seasons away with. There are eight exclusives tucked away within the 38 tracks on the double volume – and for the first time the cover features a Face of Massive R&B rather than an established model. The Rihanna/Timberlake track Rehab opens proceedings and DMT’s Touch You closes them.

Includes newer names such as Taio Cruz and N-Dubz.

UMTV

EXPATRIATE The Coast

The most surprising thing about this hotly tipped Toronto band is that they are, well, Canadian actually. Their big sounding approach sounds like they’ve raided their local record mart and not left until they’d taken on every Brit influence going.

Throw in a bit of their fellow countrymen Arcade Fire and set the volume control as high as you can to let opening track Tightrope rip. They’ve been together since high school eight years ago and it shows in a confident approach.

Aporia

TIMEOUT

GAMESGEAR

THE DVD RENTAL TOP 10

LOVE RIVALS: Ricky Gervais as Bertram and Billy Campbell as Richard

1 (7) Taken 2 (10) You Don’t Mess With The Zohan 3 (5) Tropic Thunder 4 (6) Death Race 5 (1) RocknRolla 6 (-) Pride And Glory 7 (4) Pineapple Express 8 (-) Burn After Reading 9 (8) The Dark Knight 10 (-) High School Musical 3 – Senior Year ■ Chart supplied by www.block buster.co.uk

OTHERDVDS PRIDE AND GLORY When four men from NYPD are ambushed and slain during a drug bust, Chief of Manhattan Detectives Francis Tierney Sr (Jon Voight) assembles a crack task force to identify and capture the shooter.

He implores his son, Detective Ray Tierney (Edward Norton), to lead the investigation, working alongside brother Francis Jr (Emmerich), and brother-in-law Jimmy Egan (Colin Farrell).

STREET FIGHTER IV PS3

The Street Fighter series will always have its roots firmly planted in the world of coin-op arcades, but it’s been phenomenally successful on home consoles, and this fourth installment is a long overdue dose of frenetic ‘2D’ fighting, next-gen style. Featuring a mix of returning favourites such as Ryu, Ken and Chun-Li, as well as new characters such as Crimson Viper, Abel and Rufus, everything now takes on a stylised 3D appearance, squeezing every drop of power from the PS3 to produce an incredible gaming experience that will have fans of spinning bird kicks and the like salivating. New game mechanics and a raft of special new moves ensure the series is moving on rather than reliving the same old razzmatazz on a different console and this is arguably the best blow dealt yet. 5/5 £39.99

X-BLADES Gavin O’Connor’s gritty thriller is shot predominantly on handheld cameras to maintain uncomfortable, close proximity to the action.

(Cert 15, 124 mins, Entertainment In Video, Thriller/Action, DVD £19.99/Bluray £24.99)

THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN

Ryuhei Kitamura directs this adaptation of horror writer Clive

Barker’s short story from his celebrated Books Of Blood collection. Photographer Leon Kaufman (Bradley Cooper) chronicles the seedier side of city life, which leads him into the path of notorious killer Mahogany (Vinnie Jones), who stalks his victims on the underground then butchers them.

(Cert 18, 94 mins, Lionsgate Home Entertainment UK Ltd, DVD £15.99/Blu-ray £22.99, Horror/Thriller)

Xbox 360

And you thought Lara Croft was the character to have stolen all gamers’ hearts. In X-Blades, Ayumi proves that a lack of clothing needn’t be a barrier to unearthing a host of ancient artefacts in this hack’n’slash action frenzy. For the most part, XBlades proves to be a fairly entertaining action adventure that you’ll have probably played a dozen times before, but without as much flesh on show. Magical powers expand upon the core combat to make disposing of the host of horrible baddies you’ll encounter all the more enjoyable, and the cel-shaded style of proceedings goes down pretty well on the 360. This is a pretty solid adventure. 3/5 £39.99

LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES BASEBALL Wii

DRUNKEN TREES

MISSING YOU

Is Appalachian country the new rock and roll? Well, in the hands of Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Soderberg it’s certainly heading in that direction. This is a re-release of their seven track mini album plus their You-Tubed cover of Fleet Foxes’ Tiger Mountain Peasant Song plus a three song DVD recorded live in a Swedish forest. Although still in their teens they’ve got old heads on their shoulders – try the bittersweet Tangerine (no, it’s not about Blac kpool FC!) or opener Little Moon.

Wichita Recordings

If it all went pear shaped rather than heart shaped on February 14 then stock up on tissues, order pizza for one and open that single glass bottle of wine. Tear jerkers include John Waites’ title track and there’ll be sobs before bedtime with Sinead O’Connor’s Nothing Compares 2 U. Everyone’s a whinger – with Chicago (Hard To Say I’m Sorry) and Julie London (Cry Me A River) just the tip of the iceberg.

Thankfully there’s also Plain White T’s and Hey There Delilah.

EMI TV

First Aid Kit

Various

YOURVIEW e-mail life@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

FUNDAMENTAL DARKNESS Nico’s Alchemy

As lead guitarist, songwriter, driving force and the bloke who gave the band half its name, the London-based Italian Nico Tamburella is probably doing too much – though if he’s got a minute or two to spare maybe he should encourage vocalist Candido to work a bit harder too. While Nico’s guitar work will have axe fans salivating (try the instrumental title track and No Time For Sadness) when there’s vocals involved things go a little downhill.

Dirty Dog Records

Little League World Series forms one sixth of the recent Fun4all series of Wii games, designed to get the whole family involved in gaming. You don’t need to be a gamer with any record of console conquests to guess what this is all about, but it’s incredibly good fun, using the Wii’s remote motion sensing to the max, from spinning your pitch to hitting a home run.

Almost every area of playing a match is enjoyable and it’s all presented in that saccharine cartoon style that you can’t help but

FIGHT FUN: Street Fighter IV beam back at towards your TV. While targeted primarily at youngsters, there are enough difficulty levels to keep you coming back for more.

4/5 £19.99

RACE PRO Xbox 360

Swedish development outfit Simbin and their founder Henrik Roos who used to be a professional GT Championship driver - have built a solid reputation for unforgiving yet hugely entertaining racing simulations on PC. This first foray into the world of console racing proves to be perfect timing as the under-the-bonnet effects slipstream seamlessly from desktop PC to living room TV, offering a considered learning curve before really unleashing the racing beast when you finally come to removing whatever stabilisers have kept you going so far. Every car handles wonderfully differently, from the brilliant Mini that marks the beginning of your career mode, right through to the BMW and Caterham offerings.

4/5 £44.99

ETERNAL SONATA Xbox 360

It’s probably a first for a figure from musical history to be holding shelf space alongside the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog and the Grand Theft Auto crew. But Eternal Sonata thrusts Frederic Chopin into the gaming limelight as, on his deathbed, the famous composer dreams of a young girl facing a terrible destiny and the boy who will fight to save her, leading him to the discovery of the light that shines in each of us in this enduring tale of good and evil, love and betrayal.

Epic in scale and unique enough to stand out in a heavy crowd.

4/5 £39.99

WEBSITE Most web pages are intended to stay online for the long term, but what if you just want to create something temporary? The Disposable Web Page site (www.disposablewebpage.com) is the answer for you. There’s no need to sign up or log in – just click “Create temporary page’’ and follow the instructions. Your page can be edited by you (or anyone else you invite to it) for a maximum of 90 days, after which it gets summarily trashed.

BROWSING AROUND

■ Live a greener life bit.ly/c0ro ■How to play marbles uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ewqFhNw9k7g

Saturday, February 28, 2009

life! 11

WELLBEING Boost your wellbeing with Gabrielle Fagan’s guide to getting the most out of life

C

elebrities, particularly Hollywood A-listers, take the state of their minds as well as their bodies uberseriously – regular pampering and destressing are essential parts of their routine.

And I’ve just visited one of their favourite but well-hidden temples of calm, which they’d prefer to keep a closely guarded secret.

Ojai Valley Inn and Spa,nestles in a secluded spot in the beautiful Ojai Valley which is around a two mile car ride from Los Angeles.

It prides itself on protecting VIP guests from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.

My mission: to find glamour and karma and follow in the footsteps of stars like Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Douglas and Jessica Simpson, who are just a few of the regular visitors from the “red carpet” gang.

Daubing myself in mud and hanging upside down for a pedicure were just part of a surprising celebrity-style journey to spirituality and beauty.

Just exhale and breathe “one... two... three... four... five... and relax and feel the warmth travel up your body’’ intoned the leader of our group as we gathered for one particularly soothing session.

The fragrance of lemongrass scented the steamy air of the exquisitely tiled room, the lights were dim and the temperature soared to over 100F. As I sat there daubed in mud from head to toe I was transported back to childhood memories of making mud pies (and personally relieved Michael Douglas couldn’t see me in that state!).

After 45 minutes of literally being “baked”, I was spritzed with a gentle lavender water mist before heading off to the showers. It wasn blissful and my skin felt like silk afterwards.

The days spun by as I sampled guided meditation, yoga and Pilates, all tailored to my personal taste and pace.

One of the most requested treatments by the stars is for the “upside down” pedicure, which may sound bizarre but is unbelievably relaxing.

First, my feet were soaked in a warm concoction of Moroccan spices, then, wrapped in a robe, I was popped into a zero gravity chair and turned upside down so a pedicurist could massage and groom every inch of my feet.

Classes in aromatherapy, where you learn to blend your own oils, or others such as keeping a diary, crafts, and painting, are also on offer.

If you can drag yourself away from the white washed spa “village” it’s worth visiting the 18,000 acre Ojai valley for a spot of starspotting.

The area is blessed with almost constant sunshine, and boasts glitterati residents including Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhall, and former Dallas star, Larry Hagman.

Perhaps it’s the unusual west-east alignment of the valley, which is believed to make it a special channel for spiritual hyperactivity, or perhaps it was simply the spa’s powers, but I found my stay not only holistic and healing but relaxing and fun.

■ Room prices start from £278 per night for a standard double room, and treatments start from around £35 each. Virgin Atlantic flies from London Heathrow to Los Angeles, and fares start from £339 including taxes.

Hideaway where stars beat stress BEING WELL

CALM COUPLE: Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas, two of the stars who use the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa (above left) 08705 747 747/www.virginatlantic.com

EATING WELL

Professional chef Jose van Mil can still remember the heart-stopping moment she realised her husband had cancer.

“All of a sudden the penny dropped – there was something terribly wrong with him. Not just a common cold, not a backache, or a spell of tiredness. No, it was something much more serious. The word sent shivers up my spine – cancer.’’

But realising that the treatment – radiotherapy and chemotherapy – could severely affect his appetite and weaken him at a time when he needed all his strength to fight the illnes,s inspired Jose to help not just her husband but other sufferers.

With the help of research psychologist and radiologist, Christine Archer-Mackenzie, she’s devised a cookbook, Healthy Eating During Chemotherapy (Kyle Cathie, £12.99), filled with 100 recipes for tempting, nutritious meals that could appeal not just to the patient but the whole family (useful if you don’t want to cook special meals for one).

Jose, 50, explains: “During treatment eating became a huge burden to my husband and I realised so many cancer patients had the

12 life! LOGON www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk

same problem. “Both radiotherapy and chemotherapy can cause side effects such as changes in sense of smell and taste, nausea, vomiting, mouth sores and difficulty swallowing.

“All of those can result in weight loss and hinder recovery at a time when it’s vital to maintain body strength to fight fatigue and infection.’’

As well as helping her husband, now fully recovered, Jose’s had excellent feed back from other patients who’ve tried the meals.

“Hopefully the book will help cancer patients to keep eating and by doing so, aid recovery from their treatment.’’

And while this practical book could be a boon, those preparing to undergo chemotherapy might also be interested in a product, Life Mel Honey, a honey produced by bees in Israel, which are fed a special diet of immune-boosting herbs such as Siberian ginseng, echinacea and cat’s claw.

Research published in the journal Medical Oncology, showed that two teaspoons of the honey taken daily could boost the level of infection-fighting white blood cells (neutrophils) in the blood.

Life Mel is £37.50 for 120g and available from pharmacies and healthfood shops such as NutriCentre: 0845 602 6744/www.nutricentre.com.

Arlene Phillips, choreographer, Strictly Come Dancing judge and Lottery Good Causes ambassador, has a relentless schedule and lust for life. Arlene (below), 64, refuses to act her age. She says: “I do tend to live my life at an incredible pace. I’m always on the move, juggling my work and my family, and I don’t intend to slow down.

“I think that helps to keep me happy and I do have insurmountable energy.’’

She’s disciplined about watching her weight, although she admits that she’s probably a stone over her dream goal of 8st 7lbs.

“My temptations are chocolate, roast potatoes and cheese which I try and avoid, but I do allow myself loads of Espresso coffee.

“To help myself stay on track dietwise I always have a good supply of grapes, tangerines, chicory, small tomatoes, organic turkey and oat cakes. They’re great for snacking on during the day.’’

Arlene’s looks belie her age but she’s never had cosmetic surgery, and credits a new alternative treatment, Indiba, for helping to keep her skin wrinkle free.

“It’s like an instant lift. The treatment uses metal plates to put deep heat into skin, and it’s very soothing and pain-free.’’

She believes her family life is at the heart of her wellbeing – she has two daughters, 29 and 18, and has been with her partner, Angus Ion, 54, for 20 years.

Arlene says: “I have a happy, loving family and a job I love, and I don’t really have time to feel down.

“If I have problems worrying me I write them down which I find really helpful. And I think looking outward is key. I tell my daughters to be kind to others, and before they judge someone consider the circumstances they might be in, and to be generous natured.’’

HEALTH&BEAUTY SHAPINGUP

HAIR WE GO: A nifty little gadget which takes the pain out of hair removal! The Beauty Trimmer from JML is a pencil sized shaver available at £7.49 from www.jmldirect.com and Boots

Emma Harris, Gazette health writer and qualified gym instructor, with her weekly look at staying healthy THE BIG QUESTION NOW the weather is getting nicer, I want to get out the gym and get outside exercising. Any suggestions?

Face lifters Face up to spring by giving your beauty routine a bit of a lift with these fab buys.

Facelift: The unisex hairdressing brand, Fudge, gets a facelift for 2009 with funky new packaging and bang-on trend products. The new look starts with Fudge Pots. Fudge Hair Shaper (£11.95) is a strong hold, semi-matte moulding creme; Fudge Fat Hed (£9.95) is a firm hold texture paste; Fudge Hair Putty (£9.95) is the perfect sculpting tool for maximum moulding and Fudge Hair Varnish (£9.95) a light-medium hold definition. For the nearest Fudge salon, call 01282 683100 www.fudge.com Lash on: Jennifer Lopez and Lucy Liu have found the secret of Blinc - a mascara which needs only one application a day, doesn't smudge, smear, run, clump, or flake. You apply it just like other mascaras but removal is so easy and you save on removers, simply use water and a little pressure - easy! £16.50 (www.hqhair.com Beauty must-have: With the consistency of an oil you might feel wary applying Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum to your face but it’s absorbed immediately and leaves your skin feel supercharged overnight.

Professionals swear by it and it’s a permanent fixture in many a celeb’s beauty cabinet. £34.26 for 30ml

YOURVIEW e-mail life@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

A whopping two million Britons suffer from Season Affective Disorder, or SAD, where they feel lethargic, depressed and crave carbohydrates during the winter months. Studies have shown that dawn simulators can be helpful. A good diet and regular exercise also helps: shun carbohydrates and eat low-fat, protein-rich foods. Supplements of vitamin D may also help. Nothing, though, beats a bright day for cheering you up so make the most of any winter sunshine.

An official license has been granted to a cold and flu remedy made from the common geranium. It is one of the first herbal treatments to be recognised as a drug-free way to treat common ailments. Recent research has shown that a derivative from geranium is effective at treating all cold and flu symptoms.

BEAUTY TIP

Let us have your beauty tip. e-mail life@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

SAD TIMES

HERBAL REMEDY

EXPERTVIEW Dry brushing the feet (as well as the whole body) in the morning. This will help remove dead skin and increase circulation – Blackpool-based beauty expert Sue Simpson

Training outdoors can be great, especially as the weather starts to improve. There are a whole range of different activities you can do.

We are lucky on the Fylde coast that surrounding us, we have a whole range of different types of surfaces and environments for training.

Running and walking are both fantastic forms of exercise and you can run or go walking on the road, on the beach, in the park, cross-country and even up and down the sand dunes.

With walking and running, you can perform interval training or fartlek training. You could do short sprints or a fast walk, say for example between two lampposts, then jog or slow walk, then sprint again. Or sprint uphill and jog downhill, or sprint down the length of a field or pitch, then log around.

You can get out on a bike on one of the many cycle routes in the local area.

If you’re not afraid to get dirty, you could go to your local park and so some resistance work such as squats, lunges, press-ups, sit-ups, squat thrusts, star jumps – you could create yourself a circuit.

Or perhaps do some gardening or take up an outdoor sport such as netball, hockey, football or tennis.

ARTHRITIS HELP

Red alert: Vamp it up with sexy red nails with Marks and Spencer Flame Red, £2.50 (marksandspencer.com).

Scientists have discovered a protein that protects against inflammation in cases of arthritis and other bone diseases. The discovery of the protein is a potentially major breakthrough in the treatment of the erosion of bones and the pain it causes, which could mean relief for the millions of sufferers.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

life! 13

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FASHION&STYLE FLORAL FUN: Florals are in for spring – worn on the catwalk head-to-toe for maximum flowerpower impact.

Wear now with dark layers such as black overcoats and thick opaques to tone down the sprightly summer vibe. Try Dorothy Perkins floral print dress £30 with grey knit cardigan £25

A new look

STYLE BOXED: From young and quirky to classical and sophisticated, there’s a design for everyone with the new Collection tissue range from Kleenex.

The three different styles were inspired by well known personalities: Peaches Geldof’s flair for bold colours and cheekiness; Nigella Lawson’s understated chic and Judy Dench’s unfaltering grace. The cubed boxes feature a fun sheep motif, a vibrant clematis flower and a deep pink magnolia against a bright blue sky. £1.71 per cube.

F

ashion fairies have sprinkled their new season magic dust on the high street. Sale rails have vanished, gloves and scarves are extinct and the ‘09 spring/summer deliveries have officially landed.

Don’t panic if bikinis, nautical chic and short jumpsuits aren’t on your agenda just yet. You can still cling on to your winter warmers for dear life while taking some tentative steps into new season territory.

Necklace news: Statement necklaces are making fashion headlines. Keep your outfits pared down and hang your fashion credentials from your neck. Use now to give a new lease of life to drab winter dresses or jumpers. Take a look at this fab Navajo embellished collar, £40, from freedom at Topshop Spring in step: Balmain eat your heart out. These bling-fabulous Latin Lover sandals are a must for spring through to summer, £80, Office (www.office.co.uk).

GOODBUYS

Enjoy window shopping with life! in our weekly guide to tempting offers

IN THE PINK: Pink is just for girls but you may well be tempted to borrow this gorgeous pink cashmere jumper from your man. It’s £49.50 from Marks & Spencer.

Go graphic: Graphic print dresses are a new season must.

Bright psychedelic swirls or geometric patterns that make your eyes water. You can wear now with plain layers like longsleeve polonecks, tuxedo jackets and black opaques. Try Freemans graphic print dress £30 with leather jacket £120 and scarf £25 for two (www.freemans.com)

Lace up: While traditional lace is so last year Broderie Anglaise is making a catwalk comeback.Forget the romance, this season has an edgier vibe with bolder statement cutouts on stiff cotton. For now, contrast colour layers like long-sleeve tops and tights to really showcase those bold cut-out styles. Try Therapy at House of Fraser White Broderie Anglaise dress £30 with cream military jacket £40 and striped scarf, £10 (www.houseoffraser.co.uk)

YOURVIEW e-mail life@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

STAR BID: Pop princess Kylie Minogue is supporting a breast cancer charity auction by customising a lovethemed Filofax organiser to be auctioned on www.buyoncegivetwice.co.uk to help the Breast cancer Campaign continue funding vital research.

Kylie’s simple but stylish design will join the other celebrity customised Filofax organisers already on the auction site, decorated by the likes of Lily Allen, Holly Willoughby, Roxanne Pallett, Alex Kingston, Louisa Lytton, June Sarpong, Sue Cleaver, Liz McClarnon and Natasha Kaplinsky.

Each celebrity has been busy customising the pink organisers in the theme of ‘love’ with pink feathers and glitter to support the one in nine women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime and you can help too by placing a bid!

Filofax has been supporting Breast Cancer Campaign since 2004, raising more than £450,000, and hopes that bidding on the auction lots will help reach its £500,000 fundraising target. To bid visit www.buyoncegivetwice.co.uk The auction will run until Easter.

SKIN DEEP: High Definition TV has celebrities quaking in their Jimmy Choos. Flaws, spots and wrinkles will be even more visible. But it seems we’re more in favour of viewing classic screen sirens in High Definition, according to a recent survey by Sky+HD. Audrey Hepburn clinched the most enduring screen stunner, followed by Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren. Only modern-day Angelina Jolie made the top five in second place.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

life! 15

FAMILIES TRIPTIPS

Walkers’ guide for Peak District festival

LAVISH costumes worn by Keira Knightley in a major film are to go on display at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.The stately home will exhibit the wedding clothes worn by Knightley (below) and co-star Ralph Fiennes in The Duchess, a film based on the life of the Duchess of Devonshire who scandalised Georgian society.

Chatsworth was used as a set location for the film and will feature five other costumes created by Hollywood designer Michael O'Connor. Personal belongings of the real Duchess will be on display including a letter in her own blood written to her six-year-old son, and a lock of her hair. The exhibition is a curtain-raiser when the house re-opens in March.

THE definitive guide to the 2009 Peak District Walking Festival has been launched.

More than 100 walks, talks, outdoor activities and special events are on offer during the Festival, which will run from Saturday April 25, to Monday May 4.

All are now featured in the 32-page booklet - as well as at www.visitpeakdistrict.com/pdwf.

Walkers, hikers, strollers and ramblers are also being advised to book early this year, as interest in what is widely recognised as one of the best events of its kind in the UK is expected to be high.

For your week ahead

An eco-festival takes place at the Martin ● Mere nature reserve in Burscough, near Ormskirk, today and tomorrow. Visitors can have a

a go at den building, plant seeds to create a wildflower area, tour the eco-garden and watch the swans feed at 3pm. The Life! competition winner of a family pass to Martin Mere, who will be given exclusive access o the beaver enclosure, is Kerry Fenton of Bispham Road, Bispham.

Get your skates on for Superfunk Roller ● Disco in Preston next Saturday. Under-18s can have fun at 53 Degress, Brook Street, 4.30pm

to 7pm. Tickets £5, call (01772) 893000 for details.

A self-taught artist whose work was praised ●

by LS Lowry is staging his first exhibition - at the age of 84. Syd Haslam caught Lowry's eye

when the Salford legend picked one of his works for an exhibition back in 1966. But it is only recently that Syd from Bolton has built up a following. Syd's exhibition, That's Life, is at the Taurus bar, Canal Street, Manchester, from March 1 for a month.

FREEFUN

THE popular UEFA football exhibition Only a Game? is extending its run at World Museum Liverpool by over a month.

Now on display until April 26, the exhibition which explores Europe’s love affair with the beautiful game, features prestigious artefacts, trophies and memorabilia from over the last 50 years.

Although the Champions League Trophy left the exhibition in December, visitors will still be able to see the UEFA Cup until March 9, and the UEFA European Championship (EURO) Trophy, and UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup will be on display.

An extensive collection of memorabilia from the National Football Museum including shirts, medals, trophies and mementos from great players and historic matches are also on display.

The museum is in William Brown Street. Admission free. Open 10am-5pm. Ring 0151 478 4393 or www.onlyagame.info

YOURVIEW

MY FAVOURITE DAY OUT A shopping day out, be it London, Liverpool, Manchester, Dublin or Paris - all are accessible for a great trip - spend, spend, spend!!

Image consultant Judith Davitt from St Annes Let us have your top day out destination. e-mail life@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

The festival itself draws on the diverse landscapes of the dramatic moorland peaks, as well as gently rolling limestone valleys, and a host of historic towns and villages.

While the self-guided walks have been designed to meet the needs of all abilities and interests, the guided walks will once again be led by Peak District National Park Rangers, Blue Badge Guides, local historians and experienced walk leaders.

The walks themselves – which follow themes such as food & drink, ghosts, heritage and geology – range from a gentle meander around town, to an all-

day hike across open moorland. In addition, there are evening talks, as well as navigation courses and family activities.

Another of the 2009 festival's aims is to encourage as many people as possible to use public transport.

Most of the walks listed in the programme are accessible by bus or local trains.

Free copies of the 2009 Peak District Walking Festival booklet can be obtained by telephoning 0845 833 0970 ext 4863; For full details visit www.visitpeakdistrict.com/pdwf.

T

he superb gardens at Ness on the Wirral Peninsular, overlooking the Dee Estuary, were founded in 1898 by Arthur Kilpin Bulley, a Liverpool cotton merchant with a passion for gardens and plant collecting.

From their earliest days, the gardens were open to the public and this tradition has continued since Ness was donated to the University of Liverpool in 1948

by Lois Bulley, daughter of the founder.

Ness Botanic Gardens, which won six prestigious awards during 2008, cover some 64 acres, and have a distinctly maritime feel.

The gardens house a living collection of plants, many of which were early introductions from China, the Himalayas, Tibet and Burma known by both amateur and professional gardeners alike.

The gardens have been nationally recognised by the National Council for the Conservation of Plants & Gardens for the national collection of Sorbus Mountain Ash trees, with over 60 of the 80 worldwide species on display.

Ness is truly a garden for all seasons. From the snowdrops in early January through the vibrant colours of rhododendrons, azaleas and herbaceous border of the spring and summer to the autumn tints of the Sorbus,- there is always something to see and enjoy.

The Horsfall Rushby Visitor Centre provides a warm welcome to the gardens incorporating the Four Seasons Café, gift shop and plant sales area.

An extensive events programme runs throughout the year including guided walks, Sunday lectures, courses, children’s half term activities, and exploring backpacks for our young ‘plant hunters’!

It’s a must-see destination for all the family. Why not consider a joint visit with one of their partnership attractions for a great day out on the Wirral or Cheshire?

Much of the garden is accessible for those with limited mobility. Courtesy wheelchairs and motorised buggies are available by advanced booking.

Admission prices have not increased for 2009. Prices are: Adult £5.75, Concessions £5.25, Children 5-16yrs £2.75 Children under 5 free. Family

16 life! LOGON www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk

A garden of delights

RELAXING: The summer house in Ness Gardens

DAYOUT

ticket (2+3) £15. For more information Tel: 0151 353 0123 or visit www.nessgardens.org.uk

WINWINWIN

We have SIX family passes for Ness Gardens which must be won. For your

chance to win, simply answer this question: Who was the founder of the gardens?

To enter send your answer, along with your name, address and telephone number to: Ness Gardens competition, Life! magazine, The Gazette, Avroe House, Avroe Crescent, South Shore, Blackpool, FY4 2DP. Closing date Friday, March 6. The winner will be picked at random from postal entries

Poulton’s elk to come back to life

FAMILIES

PLAYTIME

A High School Musical treat

HIGH School Musical fans who love Troy, Gabriella and the rest of the talented Wildcats will be desperate to get their hands on these fab figures (above).

They are part of a new collection, from Disney, inspired by the launch of High School Musical 3, which is just out on DVD, and which includes collectables, dolls, dress-up outfits, home, stationery and cool electronic accessories Fans can keep the East High Spirit alive with this set figures. The 15cm figurines show an incredibly detailed likeness to the High School Musical stars who are proudly sporting their school’s renowned red, white and black strip.

Recapture the magic of Senior Prom with the Senior Year Prom Date Gift Sets - choose from Gabriella and Troy, Sharpay and Zeke, Taylor and Chad, and Kelsi and Ryan, each couple is dressed in their stunning prom outfits. Suitable from age 6+. £24.99 from Argos

C

omputer technology is to be used to bring the Poulton elk, the skeleton of a giant deer from the Ice Age, to life.

They are part of plans unveiled for a £2.5m revamp of Preston’s Harris Museum in time for the 2012 Guild.

Museum bosses want to completely make over a gallery about Preston’s history, to tie in with the Guild celebrations and to create a new “flagship” attraction.

New exhibitions could feature film, audio and animations showing visitors what it was like to work in mills and would focus more on Preston’s place in the Industrial Revolution, in a bid to attract tourists.

Around £2.5m needs to be raised to fund the scheme – £1.5m more than originally

DAYOUT estimated. Museum bosses hope to raise most of the money from sources such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and North West Development Agency.

Alex Walker, head of arts and heritage at the museum, said the new history gallery would leave a legacy which would outlast the 2012 Guild.

“The gallery as we have it was opened in the 1980s and this would be a complete overhaul.

“We want to have a gallery that local people can be proud of, but will also be an

attraction for visitors from outside the city, who may be coming for the Guild or who may be interested in the history of the Industrial Revolution in the North West.

“We also want to bring it up-to-date, to use interactive displays and talk about how the city developed in the 20th century.”

Plans include computer-animated “flythroughs” of the old Horrockses factory complex to recreate the sights and sounds of a mill, and an interactive demonstration, reconstructing the faces of people based on skulls found in a 19th century dig.

Changes would also be made to the building itself, with plans to remove a mezzanine floor installed in the 1980s, which is considered out-of-keeping with the listed museum.

Leonardo Da Vinci drawings on display PRICELESS drawings by Leonardo da Vinci have gone on display in Manchester for the first time.

The works – including inventions centuries ahead of their time and detailed studies of human anatomy – give a glimpse into the great artist's incredible mind.

Da Vinci excelled in sculpture, architecture, and painting as well as displaying amazing insights in virtually

every field of science. Some sketches reveal incredibly advanced designs for tanks, helicopter, and solar power.

The drawings also feature the original da Vinci code – backward writing used to shield his observations from prying eyes.

The drawings are normally stored in Windsor Castle. Around 200 drawings and sketches by the Renaissance master are among the most highly prized items in the Royal Collection.

YOURVIEW e-mail life@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

The works are on display at Manchester Art Gallery until May 4.

Andrew Loukes, a curator at Manchester Art Gallery, said very few people have see the pictures up close.

He said: "These drawings are 600 years old but are in incredible condition, so you can tell they have not been viewed often. They are extremely valuable because you can see Leonardo's mind at work."

CHANGING TIMES: This stylish Samsonite bucket shaped changing bag is perfect for fashion conscious new mums with its elegant hinged frame opening, large padded changing mat, internal organiser pockets and insulated bottle pocket. Available in monochrome, pretty in pink and Olivia, £41.99.

For stockists: www.samsonite.com PLAY TIME: The Win Green Company has created a range of beautifully appliquéd and embroidered playhouses, toys and accessories for children.

They make a special gift and a great alternative to the usual plastic toys.

The company was set up to bring back some of the qualities of old fashioned toys, where detail was the key ingredient, moving away from mass-produced plastic toys.

The enchanting collection includes a hand woven 100 per cent cotton rose pink gingerbread cottage, a fun bright garage, a sheriff's office with cactus and wagon wheels, a wonderful old-fashioned toyshop and a stunning pavilion. They also produce co-ordinating floor quilts, beanbags, cushions, organisers, toy bags and other accessories.Available from the end of March from www.wingreen.co.uk or 01622 746 516

Saturday, February 28, 2009

life! 17

OUTDOORS WEEKEND CHORES ● Sow slow-maturing bedding plants such as antirrhinums and African marigolds. ● Order, or buy summerflowering bulbs, corns and tubers, especially if you are planning to grow any that need starting off indoors. ● Pot autumn-rooted fuchsia cuttings into individual pots. ● Make sure winter protection around plants of borderline hardiness is kept in place. ● Hold off buying shrubs of borderline hardiness if the weather is still cold or ground frozen. Buy in March or April when the worst weather is over. ● Start pruning the trees, roses, climbers and shrubs that should be cut back in late winter and early spring. Finish winter pruning before spring growth really gets under way. ● Test your soil to see if the pH needs adjusting and make any necessary corrections before the main growing season. ● Begin sowing Chilean glory flower, cup-and-saucer vine and morning glory

GOODENOUGH TOEAT Onion sets BUY bags of onion sets from garden centres – they are among the easiest vegetables to grow. Sets are immature onions raised from seed the previous summer, planted in spring to harvest in summer.

Onions are biennial, producing a bulb in the first year and flowering in the second, so sets cut out the seedling stage.

When the soil is workable, sets can be planted, but if you live in a cold area with heavy soil, wait until next month or April.

Take them out of the bag, spread them on a tray and store them in a cool place until planting time. Trim the tops with scissors to just above the neck of the bulb before planting. They prefer wellprepared, fertile soil (manured in previous years but not recently) raked to a fine tilth, in a sunny spot. Each set should be pushed gently into the soil leaving the bulb tip showing above the ground, around 15cm apart in rows 20cm apart, but don’t leave long strands of the bulbs’ outer skin above soil level or the birds may pull the sets out. Or cover with garden fleece or cloche.

Onions don’t take much room, so if you space them further apart grow early carrots and radishes between them, making more use of the space and giving onions more room to grow later on in the season.

By August or September, the foliage will start to yellow and fall over and bulbs then be lifted with a fork and left on the surface to ripen in the sun.

Store in a cool, airy place.

in association with The Alpine Centre

T

he announcement of a £1.3 million cull of grey squirrels in Scotland to preserve the population of red squirrels has provoked strong reaction from animal protection groups and conservationists alike.

Since the larger, more aggressive grey squirrel was introduced to Britain from the US in the 19th century, competition has caused red squirrel populations to die out in most parts of England and Wales. In areas where both species are found, greys are able to win the battle for food. They also carry the squirrel-pox virus, which they are immune to, but which kills reds.

There are now estimated to be just 160,000 reds across Britain – with 75 per cent of those in Scotland – compared with roughly 3.3m greys.

Whatever your feelings towards the grey squirrel, there is no doubt that they can be a major nuisance to the domestic gardener, destroying tree bark, stealing bird food, eating bulbs, burying and digging up their winter food in your lawn and patio containers.

Particularly at risk are tulip bulbs, crocus corms, maize/sweet corn, strawberries, apples, pears, nuts, sunflower seed heads and flower buds of camellias and magnolias.

Trees, including sycamore, maples and beech, can be badly damaged by bark stripping.

They will also raid bird nests, taking eggs and even young birds, and polishing off all the bird food from feeders and bird tables.

Some gardeners are happy to see these cute furry creatures venture into their plot, as for many people the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) may be the only wild mammal they see.

However, that will be of little comfort to those whose lawns, bulbs and trees have been decimated.

So, is there any way to become squirrelproof?

In short, the answer is no. However, there are ways to reduce the damage they do in your garden.

Place chicken wire securely over your pots and where bulbs are planted in your borders, under a layer of compost, to stop them digging them up. Some gardeners ring-fence newly planted tulip bulbs with sprigs of holly.

Try planting crocuses deeply to deter squirrels. I have also heard of gardeners dunking their bulbs in paraffin before planting, as the smell puts them off.

Other animal repellent substances include chilli powder, Cayenne pepper and Tabasco sauce, which can be dusted on to bird foods.

It won’t bother the birds but will bother the squirrels, who should then leave the bird feeders alone.

Grate soap over patio pots or rub it on trees or fencing the squirrels are using to gain access to your garden, to put them off, but remember that all these repellents need to be re-applied frequently to have any long term effect.

There are scaring devices out there, but I’ve never found one that works. Grey squirrels

DIARYDATES

The scourge of squirrels INTHEGARDEN are pretty bold creatures and will soon cotton on to the lack of danger with any such device.

Some gardeners use catapults, others smear Vaseline or other grease on a smooth pole to stop them climbing up their bird feeder.

If you have a greenhouse, you may have to resort to leaving your bulbs in pots inside until they are ready to flower, but even then they may be partial to crocus and tulip flowers.

If you don’t have a greenhouse, when planting bulbs put a 2cm-deep layer of horticultural grit or sharp sand on the surface of the compost.

The grit becomes stuck in their claws which they find uncomfortable.

There are many bird feeders on the market

Send dates to life! magazine, The Gazette, Avroe Crescent, Blackpool, FY4 4AU or e-mail life@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

Thursday, March 5 Kirkham and District Horticultural Society. Frank Hoyle, Growing Alpine Plants, Kirkham Grammar School (6th Form Lounge), Ribby Road, Kirkham, 7.30pm.

Saturday, March 7 The Alpine Garden Society Southport Group. John Page, 250 Years of Rock and Alpine Gardens. Emmanuel Church Hall, Cambridge Road, Southport, 2pm.

Tuesday, March 10 Carleton Garden Club. Ann

18 life! LOGON www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk

McCarthy, “Madeira - the Island Garden”. Carleton Scout Hall, Poulton Road, Carleton, 7.30pm.

Thursday, March 12 The Alpine Garden Society. Julia Corden - The Explorers’ Garden.

Methodist Church, Greaves, Lancaster, 7.30pm Thornton Cleveleys Horticultural Society. Richard Hodson “Clematis - Viticella & offspring”.

Thornton Little Theatre, Four Lane Ends, Thornton, 7.30pm.

with Hannah Stephenson which claim to be squirrel-proof, but most cannot out-wit these clever creatures.

The more effective types tend to be weightactivated, so that when the squirrel climbs on, the feeding ports close.

Gardeners who love squirrels may try making a feeding post for them at the end of the garden, in the hope they won’t invade the rest of their plot. Squirrel feeders resembling a bird box with a glass front and a lid can be put on trees and filled with peanuts, in the hope they will then leave the bird feeders alone.

However, wherever there are nuts and seeds on offer, there are likely to be squirrels

BESTOFTHEBUNCH SNOW won’t stop these pretty little treasures from emerging to brighten up late winter and spring in shades of purple, yellow, pink, white, flowering after the snowdrops but before the tulips. Winterflowering species are small, only 7-10cm (3-4in) tall, which are well-suited to the rockery or can be planted in drifts. Try pale lilac-blue C. tommasinianus with the stronger purple C. tommasinianus ‘Whitewell Purple’ under trees. It will survive happily in poor, free-draining soil. Among favourites are C. chrysanthus ‘E.A.

Crocus Bowles’, with deep lemon-yellow, goblet-shaped flowers, with purple feathering on the outer petals, and C. chrysanthus ‘Cream Beauty’, a compact type with rich creamcoloured flowers which darken at the base to a greenish gold.

Larger-flowered Dutch crocus tend to bloom a little later, in March and April, and also work well naturalised in grass or gravel. Plant corms in groups in autumn in well-drained, gritty soil, at a depth of around 7cm (3in), or a little deeper if you have squirrels. They thrive in sun or light shade.

OUTDOORS

THEWALK

T

he more east you travel in Lancashire you will become aware of “the Lancashire Beyond” phenomenon. You reach what you think is the furthest point of the county only to be told there is another bit over the hill.

Rossendale Valley is a case in point.

Here is a different geography; akin more to West Yorkshire than the rest of Lancashire and part of an area known as the South Pennines. Wild moors cut by deep valleys provide a fascinating place to explore – especially on foot. This walk completes a circuit of Clowbridge Reservoir by way of Hameldon Hill.

Start: Limy Lane near Clowbridge Reservoir. From junction 9 M65 turn left onto A679 towards Burnley. At traffic lights turn right onto A646 to Halifax and then right at the next traffic lights on to A682 to Manchester. In a little over a mile the Waggoners will come into view. Limy Lane is a few hundred yards further on left.

1. Car park to Hameldon Hill 3k 2miles Return to Manchester Road and turn right towards Burnley. At 300m the Burnley Way crosses the road. Your way is left onto a track. After 300m the track crosses a stile and becomes a footpath.

Passing through a pasture, the footpath enters a walled lane which leads down to a yard. Here the route doglegs first right, then left. A waymarked post indicates the way. Cross a stile to reach a grassy track going along the fellside. Continue straight. On reaching a tarmac lane turn right. This is a service road for the paraphernalia of masts on the hill top, which soon comes into view. As the road bends to the left, continue straight through two boulders onto a stony track.

This track is reunited with the road 300m ahead. On reaching the edge of the summit plateau, turn right in front of the wall to reach the radar weather station.

The trig point is to its left across a broken wall. The views are extensive.

2. Hameldon Hill to Loveclough 2½k 1½ miles Go back to the Burnley Way, and turn right along it across a cattle grid. Where the service road turns right carry straight on passing a mast enclosed by a metal fence. At 700m/11minutes, pass through a wooden gate, next to a metal one. This next section of the walk needs concentration. Turning left with wall on left, descend through marsh grass to reach stone stile. Cross it and then bear to right to reach a furrowed track. Follow it down the fell. Soon it turns to the left.

Your way is to cross the wall in front by a stone stile. Ahead you will just about see the line of the path crossing boggy ground. Next you reach a broken wall with barbed wire fence, crossed by a wooden stile. By the ruin of Heights Farm cross a stile to drop towards a small reservoir. Skirting the water on the left side, the lower path will bring you to a metal gate adjoined to a wooden stile.

Follow the track down to a fairly new development and the Rossendale Way. Turn left and follow lane through Loveclough to Manchester Road.

WINTER BIRDLIFE

GREAT VIEWS: The summit of Hameldon Hill

Walk on the E wild side

with Stuart Meredith

FACTFILE Summary: Distance: 10k 6m Time: 2 ½ - 3 ½ hours Terrain: Though not difficult the route incorporates some serious moorland walking so that stout boots and waterproofs are a must, especially in winter.

Map: OL 21 South Pennines

3. Loveclough to car park 4½k 2½m Cross Manchester Road taking path directly opposite to the right of National School building. In a little under 200m reach Swinshaw Lane and turn right. In 500m look for footpath sign on left (opposite a housing estate). Turn left and follow path beside a wooded gully.

Beyond as wall on right ends, cross a wooden stile into a pasture, with wire fence on left and walk up to a metal gate.

Cross stile with wall now on right.

Clowbridge Reservoir comes into sight. A further 350m/5mins along you come to a junction of paths. Go through the metal

gate and bear right. At the next wall keep to left (not ahead over stone stile) and go forward through a gap. The wall is now on your right. This section is a superb upland yomp. On reaching the point where two sets of pylons traverse the route, turn left onto a solid track. (A stone cross will be seen on the right.) Follow track and descend to car park across the end of Clowbridge Reservoir. ● Walk by John Griffiths and Bob Clare.

Hit www.lancashirewalks.com for more walks exploring the diversity of the Lancashire countryside.

grets I’ve had a few... One of the most intriguing aspects of Fylde birding over the past decade or so has been the incredible explosion in the local Little Egret population. This is a species that up to quite recently you had to take a holiday to the Mediterranean to see.

During the 1980s there were only two Fylde records of Little Egret (only the fourth and fifth ever) and in the 1990s there was a steady increase in sightings with a total of 17 throughout the whole decade.

Things started to ‘hot up’ in the ‘Noughties’ with year on year population increases until the annual total in 2006 was a minimum of 38 birds – double the total recorded during the 1980s and 1990s combined!

The invasion has continued and last autumn a Lancashire record count of a staggering 81+ Little Egrets was counted flying into a roost site on the Ribble Estuary.

The species has expanded its range throughout the UK and is now nesting in numerous locations and it is only a matter of time before this small, persil white heron is a regular local breeding species.

It’s far too easy to attribute its success to the global warming phenomenon. It’s certainly true that winters are generally getting milder in the UK thus making it easier for an essentially Mediterranean bird to colonise Britain but the habitat must also be available and of good quality for feeding and eventually breeding.

Over the past few years, some excellent management work has been carried out on the Ribble by the local wildfowlers to benefit the wintering birds on the estuary. This has had a positive knock on effect for Egrets as you can see if you take a stroll along Warton Bank. Good duck habitat is also good Egret habitat.

The Little Egret isn’t the only egret on the march. Cattle Egret has recently nested in the UK for the first time and has also been seen in the Fylde for the first time and there has also been a recent 2008 report of Great White Egret locally.

I’ve been watching egrets on a birding tour of Florida over the last few weeks and in Florida an even more impressive Egret can be found, the gorgeous Reddish Egret.

Now one of those of the Ribble Estuary would be very nice thank you!

life! 19

YOURVIEW e-mail life@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

Saturday, February 28, 2009

TRAVEL&HOLIDAYS

Here’s a selection of Gazette Travel offers... in association with Liverpool John Lennon Airport

B BEAUTIFUL BAVARIA & THE DANUBE VALLEY CRUISE May 17, 12 days from £999

Meandering past traditional Bavarian towns, elegant riverside cities and scenic rural landscapes, along some of Germany and Austria’s most impressive waterways, this incredible 12 day cruise has it all. Includes stays in Ascaffenburg, Werteim, Wurzburg, Schweinfurt, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Riedenburg, Regensburg, Passau and Linz. The price includes coach travel, Channel crossings, ten nights accommodation in a twin bedded en suite grade 1 cabin and full board.

Organised by Phoenix Holidays.

COCKNEY LONDON May 9 or Oct 17, two days from £129.95

Capture the real spirit of London on this great two day weekend break with a cockney night in an east end pub.

This traditional evening will be held in an authentic London pub and will feature lots of Cockney songs and banter, by costumed actors and performers, including a pearly King or Queen. Includes coach travel, one night’s hotel stay in a twin/double bedded room with private facilities, a full English breakfast on Sunday, a Cockney evening with a 3 course meal and entertainment and the services of a tour manager/driver.

Organised by Omega Holidays ABTA V4782.

LONGLEAT SAFARI PARK

May 29 or August 9, two days from £99.95

Experience incredibly close encounters with some of the fiercest, cutest and magnificent animals from around the world when you visit the fabulous Longleat Safari Park. There’s no need to journey to Africa to view wild animals grazing in beautiful surroundings.

Your Longleat visit takes place on the second day of the break. The outward journey includes a visit to the elegant Georgian city of Bath. One night bed, breakfast and evening meal accommodation in a quality three star hotel is also included, with reduced prices for children.

Organised by Diamond Holidays ABTA W0552.

erlin, Poznan and lakeside Potsdam; three cities on the old borders between east and west, three cities with incredible historical significance and three cities just waiting to be discovered.

This holiday gives you the opportunity to marvel at the sights of Germany’s vibrant and rapidly changing city, see the beautiful Brandenburg Lakes, castles and scenery of Potsdam and enjoy a small taste of what Poland has to offer, too.

Berlin, on he banks of the Spree River, has a varied and turbulent past, which has impacted both on the architecture and flavour of this exciting city. Its mix of old and new can be discovered with the included walking tour of the city. Seeing the Brandenburg Gate, recognised as a symbol of both Berlin and the unified Germany will undoubtedly be a highlight. It was both the physical and symbolic manifestation of the separation between East and West.

Berlin’s museums are located on the UNESCO world heritage site of Museum Island, in the middle of the Spree River.

This is one of the most important collections of museums in the world, a collection which includes the Museum of Antiquities, providing a look at European art up to the 19th century such as the Pergamon Altar, and the Ishtar Gate of Babylon.

During the Golden Twenties, Berlin flourished with film, theatre and cabaret shows transforming it into a world leader for entertainment as shown in the film Cabaret. You can explore the quarter where the story of Cabaret was set, or take in some more modern nightlife, there is a lot to do.

Reminders of the more recent history of Berlin are still prominent, despite the rapid change the city, especially the East, is undergoing. From 1945 to 1989 the city was divided into East and West, occupied by Soviet and Western forces respectively. The sight if the Berlin Wall and the famous Checkpoint Charlie have been featured in numerous spy movies and novels, although the reality was incredibly dramatic in itself, with families left divided and crossing the border often meant risking your life.

The town hall, Rathaus Schoeneberg, is the site of one of the most famous speeches President Kennedy made.

Here, he accidently described himself as ein Berliner – or, a jelly doughnut.

However the USA’s serious commitment to the island of West Berlin, which had found itself in the midst of a Soviet controlled sea cannot be disputed.

After two nights in Berlin, you head to Poznan, located in the region of Wielkopolska, which does not translate as Great Poland for nothing. Great in terms of its scenery, history and culture, the Poznan adventure begins in a unique way. A ride upon the only scheduled steam train in Europe awaits.

The two hour journey through the pleasant countryside from Wolsztyn to Poznan is used by commuters travelling to work. The train has been featured in films, including the Oscar winning The

22 life! LOGON www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk

LANDMARK: Berlin’s Brandeburg gate

Cities big on history CONTACTNUMBERS Call our 24-hour brochure hotline: 01772 838080 Other inquiries: Telephone as above or www.gazettetravel.co.uk Pianist and has been driven by Michael Palin in his New Europe series.

After a taste of what Poland has to offer, it is back to Germany and the city of Potsdam. It may only be half an hour south west of Berlin but it is a million miles away in atmosphere. It is the

destination of choice for thousands of German holiday makers every year due to its beautiful tranquil setting.

Includes return flights from Liverpool, return airport to hotel transfers, two nights at the 4 star Best Western Queens Hotel in Berlin, two nights at the 4 star Mercure Hotel in the centre of Poznan and three nights at the 3 star Mecure Hotel in Potsdam, a steam train ride between Wolstzyn and Poznan, an included walking tour of Poznan with free time to explore one of Poland’s oldest cities and free time in Potsdam.

This eight-day break departs on August 26, 2009 and costs from £649. For a brochure please telephone our brochureline.

Organised by Preferred Travel Services ABTA 5537.

YOURVIEW e-mail life@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

Saturday, February 28, 2009

life! 23

SOCIETYDIARY YOUR STARS

With Cassandra Nye

For the week starting March 2 PISCES (20 Feb-20 Mar) Many of the tensions from the last month have now gone and an air of peace should now be surrounding you. You are given the chance this week to thank those who have helped you during a frantic patch. Please do it, for it is important that they feel appreciated.

ARIES (21 Mar-20 Apr) This is a week of contradictions and illusion. With both Mars and Mercury pushing you forward, energy may surpass the capacity to think clearly or to give yourself time to form firm conclusions.

TAURUS (21 Apr-21 May) Being in control of your life takes on a special meaning this week as you see others falling about in a confused and unplanned way. This is not a road that you wish to travel. It will, therefore, be necessary to say ‘no’ quite firmly to things that are not in your best interest.

GEMINI (22 May-21 June) Speaking your mind seems essential to you this week, as both Mars and Mercury urge a forward pace. This verbal energy can come as a surprise to others who are used to you taking more of a middle line. Have regard to their feelings, avoiding directly upsetting remarks.

CANCER (22 June-23 July) It would appear that going back to an old idea or way of doing things will bring more success than pushing forward with a new idea or attitude. This will be due more to circumstances than any failure on your part. In being flexible you are taking the best possible action at a possibly tricky time.

LEO (24 July-23 Aug) The strong planetary influences that have been pushing rather than guiding you ease off now. You still have more energy than you know what to do with, but feel much more in overall control. A feeling of contentment can quickly lead to one of boredom if social life is not kept on the boil.

VIRGO (24 Aug-23 Sept) An emotionally strong week and one, thanks to the presence of Mars and Mercury, in which you will make your point of view felt. Concentrate most of this in the direction of business, where being forthright and ‘pushy’ is acceptable. Approaches at home should, of course, be quite different.

LIBRA (24 Sept-23 Oct) A few sentimental days may affect your ability to concentrate. However, letting your mind flow freely is a sure way to get a balanced outlook. Listen to both your heart and your mind, not following one more than the other. With Mercury back in the game, letters, emails and phone calls go smoothly.

SCORPIO (24 Oct-22 Nov) Feeling bright as a button? That would be the influence of Mars and Mercury. Mars brings abundant energy and Mercury the ability to communicate with great effectiveness.

You are being urged in the direction of innovation and discovery.

SAGITTARIUS (23 Nov-21 Dec) With more than one chance of happiness in prospect at the moment, it would be a shame to rush into anything just because it is on offer. Make this a week of exploring your own feelings and opportunities to discover what others really want from you.

CAPRICORN (22 Dec-20 Jan) As all around you can see, you have the gift of being able to talk anyone onto your side. Does it matter if that is not to their advantage? Probably not, as far as you are concerned.

AQUARIUS (21 Jan-19 Feb) Use the strong influence of Mercury to build on relationships and friendships alike as this week begins. The Messenger allows you a chance to get ahead and heal any rifts before the weekend. That is important for, at that time, Venus turns retrograde.

Patricia Quinn and Lynda Musgrave

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snowdrop tea with floral entertainment at historic Lytham Hall sold out so quickly that a second event was held the same week.

The event, to showcase the charms of the magnificent hall, featured floral demonstrations by Jane Thompson of Flower Design UK, St Annes, and traditional afternoon tea from Rowley’s Catering. Two more afternoons of tea and flowers at the hall are planned for April 2 and 3.

Pennie Holt, Jackie Hewitson, Jackie Eltoft, Celia McDermott, Edith Willacy and Elaine Houghton.

Marjorie Stainton, Christine Williams, Joan Blake and Margaret Greenfield

Ann Scott, Joan Pickering, Chris Parker and Anne McCandlish

■ To order any of the photographs on this page, please contact our photo sales department on 01253 361867

Gill Marquis, Lorraine Wareing and Anne Wallis

Sarah Walton, Leanne Spooner and Nicola Scott

Sarah McPhee of Cancer Research UK, Ann-Marie Boyd, Area Chairman Sally Yelland, Valerie Robinson MC, Chairman Deborah Horsfield, Vice Chairman Denise Dockerty, Communities Officer Nicky Morris, Samantha Tinsley and Heather Leman

24 life! LOGON www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk

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ytham Ladies Circle’s Evening with Stephen Bayliss at the Grand Hotel, St Annes, proved another sell-out success. Chairman Deborah Horsfield welcomed 200 ladies, members and guests to the event which gave a fundraising boost to Cancer Research UK.

Sally Nicholson and Sammy Melling from Stringers with Jade Horsfield

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