Retirement Today Sept/Oct 2013

The magazine for pre and post retirement

www.retirement-today.co.uk

Issue 72 Sept/Oct £2.90

R E T I R E M E N T

• Charity • Lifestyle • Travel • Culture • Competitions • Health • Recipes •

Every year thousands of people put their faith and trust in Cats Protection when looking for a new addition to the family.

Behind each volunteer and member of staff is a wealth of experience and expertise which means when you adopt one of our cats, you can feel safe in the knowledge that he has been given the best possible care.

When he leaves Cats Protection, your cat will have been treated to a top-to-tail medical.

This means he will have been: • Fully examined by a veterinary surgeon • Vaccinated at least once against flu and enteritis • Treated against fleas, roundworm and tapeworm • Neutered if old enough • Microchipped We also provide four weeks’ free insurance (terms and conditions apply) giving invaluable peace of mind and reassurance as you and your cat embark upon this lifelong friendship.

All he needs now is a loving home to make his dreams come true – over to you!

Find a Cats Protection cat looking for a home in your area.

Simply scan the QR code with your smart-phone to use our new find-a-cat search tool, or get in touch on the details below.

T: 03000 12 12 12 E: helpline@cats.org.uk W: www.cats.org.uk Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

CONTENTS

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5 Volunteering to make a change Frank Anslow writes about the tireless work of volunteers which has a major impact on the least fortunate of people, both in our own country, and in other countries around the world.

WELCOME TO RETIREMENT TODAY MAGAZINE

10 Wild Food Recipes Many wonderful things can be made by scouring the hedgerows, the wood and the lanes. So go on – take a walk and see what you can find growing near where you live and try some of these recipes.

12 Cheese Course While the humble piece of Cheddar can be a taste of heaven, there is a world of cheese out there just waiting to be discovered.

Here are a couple of our faviourite cheese recipes.

14 Footloose in Holland Continuing our Footloose series, read about Debra Rixon’s experiences as she visits the scenic and coastal areas of Holland.

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17 Out and About Read about events taking place nationally.

Image top left: Taken from The Hedgerow Cookbook

by Wild at Heart (Pavillion) Image bottom right: Taken from Happy Home by Charlotte Hedeman Guéniau (Jacqui Small)

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18 Mixy Matchy

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Some tips on how to mix and match in the home, whilst following your instinct, stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something crazy just for the fun of it.

20 Competitions Your chance to win some great prizes, including tickets to the Good Food Show in London and Glasgow.

Image of woman bottom left: By kind permission of Laetitia Knight

WIEN20 PAG

21 Perfect Stay Thinking of visting Cornwall?

Why not avoid the crowds and venture a bit further towards the edge of Bodmin Moor where contemporary luxury accommodation awaits at the ever so stylish The Green.

23 Update

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Neighbours survey reveals surprising results; Male menopause needs to be talked about; Renting can ease financial woes but for many it is a lifestyle choice.

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

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

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

24 After the love has gone in that sunny paradise Thousands of couples retirement and move overseas. But what happens if they go their separate ways? Clare Renton highlights the legal consequences of separation.

26 In Pursuit of the Perfect Home and Space Whether your house feels empty now the children have flown the nest, or you have retired and you want to make some changes to your home, interior designer Niki Schäfer gives some advice on how to create our perfect home.

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28 Unbelievable! The Bizarre World of Coincidences Have you ever found yourself in a sticky situation and traced it back to a spectacularly bad decision you needn’t have made? You are not alone. As these often cringeworthy coincidences show, history is full of really rather bad ideas.

30 Re-invent Yourself in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Laetitia Knight writes about why San Miguel de Allende, a colonial Mexican gem has attracted thousands of retired people over the last four decades

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

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

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YOUR TIME SAVES LIVES Use it to help us raise money. Money our researchers will use to find answers.

That will stop heart disease in its tracks.

Our local team is waiting to talk to you about ways that volunteering for the BHF will suit your lifestyle.

Visit bhf.org.uk/volunteer or call 0300 456 8353 for an informal chat.

Angela and Charlie Green BHF Volunteers ©British Heart Foundation 2013, a registered charity in England & Wales (225971) and Scotland (SC039426)

Make a difference to the lives of older people – volunteer Independent Age is a growing charity empowering thousands of older people to live more fulfilling lives.

Many of the older people we support say they feel lonely and isolated – so we provide a volunteer visitor to these people – to pop in for a cup of tea and a chat now and again.

However, we do not have enough volunteers to offer our help to all those who need it and are urgently looking for new volunteer visitors and volunteers to help to coordinate local activities.

To find out about volunteering opportunities in your area contact our head office on 020 7605 4286 or retirement@independentage.org.

If you or some one you know could benefit from the help and support of Independent Age we are also keen to hear from you. Our services include a national information and advice service as well as one-to-one befriending and, of course, all the help we offer is free. To find out more about how we can help please contact 020 7605 4200. www.independentage.org 4

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Registered charity number 210729

Volunteering to Make a Change

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into providing millions of people with up to date information about heart disease, to keep the public better informed.

A family of volunteers who has been involved with BHF for 33 years are Angela and Charlie Green and their two sons James and Stuart, and this is their story: Angela and Charlie have been married for 42 years and were inspired to start volunteering with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) after their son James was born with a heart condition. James had to have lifesaving open-heart surgery at just 5 months old.

Angela has now been volunteering for 33 years and she has started to do even more since retiring earlier this year. Her husband Charlie has also started to volunteer with the BHF since retiring.

Angela explains: In the beginning I started just selling cards for the BHF to help raise money. I was still working as a Teaching Assistant then, so I would do what I could to help out.

I enjoyed doing this so much that I wanted to do more, so along with my two sons James and Stuart, I joined a local heart support group. We began doing sponsored events, collections, and other things to help out.

I decided to get more involved in the work of the BHF following my first attempt at retiring some 10 years ago. I began

to work in the local BHF shop as often as I could.

Through working in the shop I soon met Joanne Howe, the local Fundraising Volunteer Manager in our area and I realised I could get involved in the work the BHF do in schools. I really wanted to do this as it was a perfect fit for my background as a Teaching Assistant.

I found that my role as Schools Volunteer for the BHF helped to give me a focus on something after retiring. I was able to keep using my skills. I have always loved talking to people and this gave me the opportunity to do that.

Following his retirement in March this year my husband Charlie has worked as an In Memoriam Volunteer for the BHF. Charlie has found that working with undertakers to organise funeral collections and taking on the accounting side of the role has really helped him to use his background in accountancy and finance.

Alongside our roles as Schools and In Memorial volunteers we try and do anything we can to help in the local area when needed. We are also involved in helping to organize a BHF Ball to be held in October. Last year this event raised in excess of £8000 and we hope to get more this year.

If it hadn’t been for the work of the BHF we wouldn’t have seen our son grow up

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he tireless work of volunteers has a major impact on the least fortunate of people, both in our own country, and in other countries around the world.

Much of the good work is not publicised, but this does not detract from the substantial effort and commitment of the people involved.

Many of those who work as volunteers do not seek publicity, they simply enjoy a fulfilment and self-satisfaction from working with the needy and underprivileged, and doing whatever they can to help.

There are numerous charities and other support organisations in the UK, whose very existence depends on the work of these caring people through many spheres of activities.

Three of the most well-known, which are operating from a work base in the UK, are the British Heart Foundation (BHF), Independent Age, and Projects Abroad.

To get an appreciation of the good work of the volunteers we have considered the work of one volunteer from each.

The British Heart Foundation needs little introduction as their work is well publicised. Over a period of some 50 years BHF have been at the cutting edge of heart research and this has had a major impact on people’s lives. Also much effort is now put

Volunteering to Make a Change

By Frank Anslow

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into the healthy man he is now. We are so grateful for that, so we do all we can to give something back.

I would really recommend anyone approaching retirement, or already retired to look into volunteering opportunities.

With the BHF there are so many ways you can get involved and you can give as much or as little time as you like, and it’s a great way to meet fantastic people and keep using your skills.

Independent Age provides advice, help and support for older people, their families and Sean Adamson carers. The focus is on social care, welfare benefits and befriending services. This is integrated with local support including one-toone and group befriending schemes. Independent Age can trace its beginnings back 150 years in caring for older people.

A volunteer, who achieves much self-fulfilment from his befriending arrangements, and work with Independent Age, is Sean Adamson.

Sean is a 43 year old telecommunications manager living in London who has been extensively involved with voluntary charity work, mainly involving the elderly for the last three years.

Sean moved to England from Australia four years ago, and during the first year his time was taken up travelling in Europe and the UK and settling into a new home and exploring London.

After moving to a new home in West London, Sean joined Independent Age. Sean first recognised the need to help the elderly when his grandmother a lady who lived to the grand age of 101, was left without any friends in her later years. She had during her life been an active sociable lady with a wide circle of friends. However, following the death of her husband and as the years went by, her friends gradually passed away and this sadly led to a very lonely situation which she was not at all familiar RETIREMENT

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with. Regrettably she Many of those who work before her, during his had mobility problems three year involvement as volunteers do not and this meant that she Independent Age. seek publicity, they simply with was less able to go out He now also coenjoy a fulfilment and and make new friends. ordinates and organises self-satisfaction from Sean was greatly a team of 10 volunteers moved by his grandwho all provide working with the needy mother’s situation and and underprivileged, and friendship and support felt that he would like to doing whatever they can to the elderly. Sean vets help ease the loneliness and interviews new to help. and isolation for older volunteers and helps people in his local community. with any issues that may arise.

Sean is now providing Projects Abroad has been in existence companionship and friendfor more than twenty years. It is a family ship to a lady named Marian run business with over 500 trained staff who is in her eighties, operating throughout various destinations and lives in Kensington throughout the world. The volunteers Olympia. Marian is not in combine travel and work experience to help particularly good health and a wide range of people and organisations, in has only limited mobility mainly under developed countries. which is helped by the use One of the Projects Abroad volunteers is of a walking frame and a Dr Robert Graham: mobility scooter. Sean visits Robert is in his seventies and he has Marian for two hours or worked as a Doctor in private practice so on a Saturday morning, for over 40 years. He is fully qualified and and in addition to having a has a degree in Osteopathy, Naturopathy good old chat to discuss such things as local and Acupuncture. history, music, current affairs, the royals, Robert wanted to return to Ghana where matters of times gone by, and a look through he had helped to provide medical treatment photographs etc., Sean helps Marian with and healthcare on a previous visit. the planting in her small garden. Sean When he did return, he worked for one shares some plants from his own garden month helping staff and outpatients at a to fill Marian’s window boxes and small local hospital. flower beds.

Robert spent a lot of time with local staff Sean is quick to point out that he gets a in Ghana and his host family. He said that lot of satisfaction and fulfilment from these despite some of the problems still faced by visits as of course does Marian.

Ghanaians, they are still most remarkable Marian had initially said that she didn’t and welcoming people. want a visitor when Sean visited the This is what he had to say about the residents at the sheltered accommodation people he met. where she is living, but now they are both ‘The Ghanaian people are some of the good friends. most friendly you could wish to meet’ Marian recently said ‘I didn’t realise how Robert worked at the Tetteh Quarshie enjoyable it would be to have someone like Memorial Hospital in Ghana’s Eastern you visiting me’. She didn’t realise that it Region. His main involvement was was a social interaction and thought that working in an outpatients department. He it would be more of a process than just a worked alongside local doctors in order to feeling of friendship. treat patients. He also spent time each week Sean has helped to provide friendship and with a local nurse visiting local orphanages support for Marian, and other elderly people and schools. This was an excellent way to

s

Volunteering to Make a Change

Dr Robert Graham

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12/08/2013 12:00:26 RETIREMENT today

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Volunteering to Make a Change

provide much-needed healthcare such as vaccinations and first aid.

This being Roberts second visit as a volunteer meant that he was able to settlein quickly and he already understood the key cultural issues and social customs that he would face.The staff in Ghana were very pleased to receive the services of a volunteer with Robert’s experience and qualifications.

They were able to share ideas and also learn about different treatment methods.

Robert’s role at the hospital included the following: • Working as a consultant in the outpatients department.

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• Providing treatment for circa 30 patients per day.

• Observing patients with conditions such as hypertension, typhoid, malaria and joint problems.

• Paying weekly visits to local schools and orphanages to provide basic medical care.

Robert had previous experience of working in Ghana so he was able to play an important role at the hospital. He was able to assist the local staff and really make a difference in the community. The clearest example of this is in the work that Robert took part in at local schools and orphanages. He was

able to provide basic medical treatment but also get involved in health education.

It is this educational and preventative work that has the greatest positive impact on the local community.

After his trip to Ghana, Robert went on to volunteer with Projects Abroad PRO in India and he is also involved with plans for further visits to Ghana. This shows that volunteers who work hard and make an effort to immerse themselves in local culture make long-lasting ties that keep them coming back for years to come.

People like the Green family, Sean Adamson and Dr Robert Graham are a credit to our society. However, the job is only partly done and many new volunteers are still required to bring prospective helpers and the needy and under privileged together n

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T Wild Food Recipes he Hedgerow Cookbook celebrates many of the wonderful things that can be made by scouring the hedgerows, the wood and the lanes. So go on – take a walk and see what you can find growing near where you live, whether in the town or the countryside. We hope that you will be inspired to come home and cook up a real treat to share with your nearest and dearest. We have chosen four of our favourites.

Bramble Fool

Bramble & Apple Jam with Cinnamon

A very pretty pud for when the sun’s shining. You can make the bramble purée when the blackberries are plentiful (to the end of stage 1) and stick it in the freezer. Then it is the work of moments to turn the purée into a beautiful pudding at any time of the year.

This is for those of you who must have jam with proper pieces of fruit in it, rather than jelly, and it’s practically foolproof – a good introduction to jam-making. The apple reduces the proportion of bramble seeds and adds a lovely texture, while the spices make it really special, though you can omit them if you wish. The jam is good as a filling for a Victoria sponge, along with a generous quantity of whipped cream. It adds a fabulous purple gash to the middle of the cake – not to mention a delicious flavour!

Serves 4 400 g/14 oz blackberries 125 g/4½ oz/½ cups granulated sugar Juice of ½ lemon

Makes 5–6 large jars

300 ml/10 fl oz/1¼ cups double (heavy) cream

1 kg/2¼ lb mix of dessert and baking apples, peeled, cored and chopped into dice

few drops of vanilla extract

1 kg/2¼ lb blackberries, washed

250 g/9 oz/1 cup Greek yogurt – 0% fat is fine

1.5 kg/3 lb 5 oz/7½ cups white granulated sugar

Wild Food Recipes

1–2 cinnamon sticks, depending on size

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Pick out 12 pretty blackberries and set aside. Put the remaining blackberries in a saucepan with the sugar and 1 tablespoon water. Slowly bring to the boil over a low heat, until they are juicy. Push the mixture through a fine sieve or a food mill to remove the seeds. Add the lemon juice and leave to cool completely.

Whip the cream with the vanilla extract until soft peaks form.

Fold in the yogurt and two-thirds of the purée, until just combined. Spoon the mixture into glasses and drizzle over the remaining blackberry purée.

Decorate with the reserved berries and serve straightaway.

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1 tsp grated nutmeg Put all the ingredients into a heavy-bottomed pan. Cook gently and stir until all the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has become juicy. (Add a few drops of water if you’re worried it’s going to catch). Increase the heat and boil rapidly, stirring to ensure it is not sticking, until setting point is reached.

Spoon into warm, sterilized jars and seal.

Buy a copy of The Hedgerow Cookbook for only £14.00 including free UK p&p.

Call 0844 576 8122 quoting reference CH1749.

Recipes taken from The Hedgerow Cookbook by Wild at Heart, published by Pavilion. Recipe photography by Cristian Barnett.

Elderflower Fairy Cakes These little elderflower cakes are a delightful and delicate teatime treat.

An English antidote to the craze for cupcakes weighed down under a mountain of buttercream!

Makes 12 cakes Cakes: 125 g/4½ oz/1 cup self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 125 g/4½ oz/generous ½ cup butter, softened 125 g/4½ oz generous ½ cup caster (superfine) sugar 2 large eggs Quinces benefit from a relatively long, slow cooking; they also really need lemon and something sweet to bring out their full flavour. We have found roasting them an easy way to make a light and unusual pudding. If the skins are unblemished you can leave them on; you can also leave the cores for your guests to remove if you prefer. This will reduce the preparation time to almost nothing and is very easily done once the quinces are cooked.

Serves 4 4 quinces, peeled, cored and cut into quarters lengthways Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon 4 tbsp Marsala or other sweet wine 4 tbsp light muscovado sugar 4 tbsp caster (superfine) sugar Preheat the oven to 150°C/300°F/gas mark 2. Lay the quinces in an ovenproof dish, scatter over the remaining ingredients and cover with foil.

Roast for about 2 hours, basting after 1 hour.

The quinces are ready when they are soft and have darkened edges; gently remove them to a serving dish. The liquid should be syrupy; if it is not, boil it in a saucepan for a few minutes before pouring it over the quinces.

Serve at room temperature, with crème fraîche or good vanilla ice cream.

7 tbsp elderflower cordial To Decorate: 100 g/3½ oz/¾ cup icing (confectioners’) sugar 2 tbsp elderflower cordial 12 sugar flowers (optional) 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases: silver ones will be most beautiful.

2 Stir the flour and baking powder together and set aside. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until they are pale and fluffy.

Then add the eggs, one at a time, alternating with a spoonful of the flour mixture and whisking thoroughly after each addition. Finally stir in the remaining flour mixture and the elderflower cordial. Divide the cake mixture among the 12 paper cases. Bake for 15–20 minutes until the cakes are golden and spring back when pressed lightly. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack and leave until completely cool.

3 To decorate, put the icing sugar in a bowl, add the elderflower cordial and stir thoroughly to make a thick paste. Gently spread the icing over the cakes, using a knife or the back of a spoon; dip the knife or spoon into a cup of very hot water after each cake. You can add a flower to the middle of each cake if you like.

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Wild Food Recipes

Roasted Quinces

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Cheese course

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ne of the simplest pleasures in life is a plate of cheese, a chuck of bread and a glass of wine.

And while the humblest piece of Cheddar can be a taste of heaven, it’s such a pleasure to know that there is a world of cheese out there to be discovered.

Try these recipes from cheese and wine expert Fiona Beckett

Recipes taken from Fiona Beckett’s Cheese Course, published by Ryland Peters & Small.

Photography by Richard Jung.

Fiona Beckett’s Cheese Course is available to readers for the special price of £13.99 including postage & packaging (rrp£19.99) by telephoning Macmillan Direct on 01256 302 699 and quoting the reference GLR 9EQ

Tartiflette Tartiflette is a wickedly rich, sensationally good cheese and potato dish from the Savoie region of France. Perfect après-ski/cold weather fare.

2 tablespoons sunflower or other light cooking oil 200 g smoked bacon lardons or diced smoked streaky bacon 2 large onions, thinly sliced (about 400 g)

Goats’ cheese omelette with wild garlic and chervil

This is a recipe prompted by a spring visit to the farmers’ market. If you haven’t had goats’ cheese in an omelette before, do try it – it has a surprising affinity with eggs. a small handful of fresh chervil or parsley 2 large or 3 medium eggs 2 wild garlic leaves, finely shredded, or some finely snipped fresh chives 15 g butter 40 g goats’ cheese, crumbled sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cheese course

Serves 1

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Pick over the chervil, cutting away the tougher stems, and chop finely.

Beat the eggs in a bowl with a splash of water (about 1 tablespoon), add the chopped chervil and wild garlic leaves and beat again.

Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Heat a medium-sized frying pan or omelette pan until hot, add the butter, swirl it round and pour in the beaten eggs and herbs, swirling them around the pan. Lift the edge of the omelette as it begins to cook, letting the liquid egg run from the centre to the edge. Scatter over the goats’ cheese and leave for a minute to allow the omelette to brown. Add more pepper if you like.

Fold one side of the omelette over and tip it onto a plate. You could serve this with some lightly dressed mixed salad leaves.

What to drink: A glass of smooth, dry white wine, such as an Alsace Pinot Blanc or an unoaked Chardonnay would pair well with this.

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2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced 700 g waxy potatoes, e.g. Desirée, well scrubbed a sprig of fresh rosemary (optional) 1 small or 1⁄2 large Reblochon (about 275 g) 150 ml double cream freshly ground black pepper a large ovenproof dish, buttered Serves 6 Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the lardons until beginning to brown.

Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon. Tip in the onions, stir and fry over low heat for about 20–25 minutes until they have collapsed right down and are beginning to brown. Add the garlic about 5 minutes before the end of the cooking time. Meanwhile, cut the potatoes, unpeeled, into slices about 1⁄2 cm thick, place in a saucepan with the sprig of rosemary, if using, and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil and boil for 2 minutes, then remove the rosemary, drain the water and set the potatoes aside.

Preheat the oven to 200˚C (400˚F) Gas 6.

Cut the Reblochon into thin slices, removing the rind if you prefer.

(If you have a very mature cheese with a sticky rind, you may prefer to remove it. I prefer to use a slightly younger cheese and keep the rind, which adds colour and texture.)

Tip half the potatoes into the baking dish, cover with half the onions and bacon and season with pepper. Repeat with the remaining potatoes, onions and bacon and pour over the cream. Distribute the Reblochon over the top of the dish, then bake in the preheated oven for 15–20 minutes until the cheese is brown and bubbling. Serve with a green salad.

What to drink: A crisp dry wine from Savoie or Switzerland would be ideal with this – the same sort of wine you would drink with a fondue.

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Footloose in

Footloose in Holland

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Holland

hen we decided to walk part of the eating their dinners – always men, Dutch coastal path, Kustpad, from the Hook of Holland I might add. The Dutch are a very to Haarlem, I was sure we had pretty much accounted for laid back nation it seems, or at least the wind factor. When we actually set foot on the sand, the men are. coming out of the ferry port and a short dune walk, I Both Katwijk and Nordwijk are realised we had seriously erred in not taking the blast factor into account.

As we two plucky Brits set off along the sand with Goretex jackets tightly zipped and snapped down; cuffs so tight they could cut off circulation; hoods up and drawstring pulled to a small ‘O’ for vision we were watched by the hardy Dutch...sunbathing. The beach resembled an Arctic plain, the

By Debra Rixon sand blowing across it in never ending stinging curtains as we trudged, heads down, into the blast. resort towns, with plenty of bars and Not the most auspicious start to an 80 km trail, you might restaurants fronting or permanently think, but it was bracing and raised the determination built on the beach. I tried eating raw level, although when the trail did veer off the hard packed herring, having missed the National sand into the dunes and we turned our back on the wind, Herring Festival earlier, and found we did heave a sigh of relief. it more palatable than I had dared I found the dunes fascinating, and the idea of intentionally to hope for, between two slabs of creating new ones was novel, but we learned as we walked, bread. Whilst I nibbled delicately how absolutely vital the new ones were. Rows and rows at mine, Dave did the Dutch thing of uniform planting of the grass whose roots form the and turning his head up like a seal, webbing to retain the sand were almost an art form of dangled the herring fillet from his their own, and the difference between the old dunes and hand and ate it all in one go. It tastes them was startling. The old ones didn’t look like dunes – better than it sounds. they were completely green with trees, shrubs and bushes The Kustpad continues north, in growing – until you scratched the surface and found the and out of the dunes, and a second sand beneath. There were unbroken seas of glass houses water company has its production containing Holland’s lucrative market garden produce to ‘facility’ buried under another nature walk past before we reached The Hague and its seaside reserve. The landscape is familiar resort of Scheveningen. We didn’t spend a lot of time in now, and we made good progress The Hague, preferring the old fashioned, faded seaside. towards Haarlem, the walk into town The old pier has gone, but the town’s former glory can becoming a trail through the suburbs. still be seen in the imposing edifice that is the KurHaus.

The town is lovely with wonderful The dunes beyond Scheveningen are known for Hanseatic architecture, hearing the their pure drinking water – the Dutch are past masters carillon in the square play well worth at reclaiming both land and water. We interviewed Ans waiting for. This marked the end of Groenewegen from the Dutch water company Dunea, our trail, and at the old railway station, who explained to us how they supply a huge area of we caught the train into Amsterdam.

Holland with pure drinking water and manage the dune I found Amsterdam utterly catchment area as a nature reserve. We shared the Kustpad absorbing. Two very personable and with cyclists, walkers, horse riders and Aberdeen Angus knowledgeable ladies gave us both cows as we walked on, towards Katwijk. Hidden in the history and insight into the Dutch dunes at Zandvoort is the old Formula One circuit, and and their culture, and from the huge the muffled revving and racing sounds from the still used Central Station we set off to walk race track can be heard as you walk out of the resort. the compact, planned city with a real I liked Katwijk and its sister town Nordwijk very sense of anticipation. I had to change much. Strolling through the streets, I couldn’t stop myself my ways in Amsterdam – often I from glancing in the large windows fronting the houses – am so lost in examining buildings the Dutch don’t seem to like curtains or blinds, and it was and observing people that I relax intriguing to see the displays that were clearly placed in completely and that’s a dangerous the windows for passersby to appreciate – the best china, thing to do in a city that has six best floral arrangement, best pictures and ornaments. million bicycles. I narrowly missed I was so enamoured of staring at these intentional displays being mown down on a regular that I more than once got more than I bargained for basis, and crossing the street on the – half naked men lounging on chairs, watching tv or pedestrian crossing won’t necessarily RETIREMENT

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save you either. I quickly learned to look at both sets of traffic lights – the one for the bicycles as well as the one for the cars! We walked out from the magnificent Central Station down the Damrak, with fascinating shop windows and old buildings on either side of the street; the infamous Red Light district and Chinatown lead off to the left. We were restricted in what we could film in the Red Light district, which is a shame as it contains some of the oldest houses in Amsterdam, as well as the old fisherman’s church, and the smallest church in the city, hidden inside a normal looking house. The huge Dam square holds the national Freedom monument, stately royal palace and the magnificent Nieue Kerk church.

We crossed the canals, admiring the wonderful multi-storeyed and –windowed canal houses till we reached Westerkerk, which has a stunning ‘burning bush’ metal artwork inside and possesses terrific views of Amsterdam from the top of its tower – which Dave climbed as usual, vertigo forcing me to mind the equipment at the base. It also has the most amazing view over the Anne Frank house, where if you know what to look for, you can see the actual windows that Anne

entertaining time interviewing one of the diamond polishers, Theo, and admiring all the bling you could possibly desire in one place.

Back on the trail again, empty handed, we crossed several unremarkable streets to find the Amstel that gives the city its name, and followed it back towards the port, passing the massive Hermitage before crossing and heading into the old Jewish quarter. Rembrandt’s house and the flea market are tourist draws on this side of Amsterdam, as is the world famous Artis Zoo with its wonderful Art Deco touches. I felt this quarter had suffered more from lack of ‘city hall largesse’; it looked more run down and less well heeled than the western part of the city. There is also an excellent Dutch Resistance Museum, appropriately tucked away down the street that leads to the zoo.

We wanted to finish our city trail back at Oosterdok, in front of the huge jutting prow of the science centre, NEMO, to remind ourselves that Amsterdam is still a city that is under constant threat: the delicate balance between air, water and wood is all that stands between life and death for the city.

There is a companion DVD, the Keukenhof Gardens and Dutch

Flower Parade – a Footloose special, which includes an in-depth look at the spectacular seven and a half million flower bulbs in the stunning Spring gardens, an exclusive interview with the park’s young designer and tours of all the pavilions. We finish up with a look at the floats for the Flower Parade being made, and watch the procession on its route to Haarlem n Debra and David took the ferry to Hook of Holland and walked out of the terminal directly onto the Kustpad. They made a base at Zandvoort, and made use of the excellent bus service to take them to and from a day’s hike. The Kustpad is well way-marked and maintained, and is also popular with cyclists. The train from Haarlem into Amsterdam takes around 15 minutes.

After David took early retirement from the BBC, they have focussed on their own productions, and for over ten years have been renowned for their walking films in Europe. For information on all the Footloose films, take a look at www. footloose.tv or watch previews of the walks on YouTube.

WIN

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

For a chance to win a copy send in your name and address, quoting FIH to: Amra Media Solutions, 46a Brook Street, Aston Clinton, Bucks, HP22 5ES. Closing date 20 October 2013.

Footloose in Holland

herself gazed out of when it was safe to do so. The Anne Frank House museum is somewhere that has to be experienced more than visited.

To go behind the false book case and through the secret door into their cramped sanctuary is an unforgettable experience and eerily brings Anne and her family and friends back into the rooms. Annemarie Bekker from the Anne Frank Trust re-tells Anne’s tragic story with quiet warmth and empathy that is truly memorable.

I loved walking the canal streets, and not having learned my lesson, loved peering into windows again.

Windows in Amsterdam had a very different role to play in the past, as city guide Muriel Hoetjes explained, and hiding your own ‘richdom’ became the most important rule.

You can wander in every direction enjoying the streets, but we did keep to a loose trail to ensure we saw as many of the sights as we wanted to.

Spui Street seemed to offer the best route for us, and we managed to take in the hidden gem of Begijn Court refuge as well as the famous floating flower market before we reached Museumplein. Completely bypassing the magnificent Rijksmuseum, I made a beeline for Coster Diamonds, Dave trailing apprehensively in my wake. Inside, we had a very

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Out&About...

Head of the Emperor Claudius or Nero Unknown maker 1st century, Romano-British Copper alloy; 31.5 x 24.5 x 25 cm Loaned by the British Museum ©The Trustees of The British Museum

Masterpieces: Art and East Anglia 14 September 2013 to 24 February 2014

Colnaghi Art of the Curious-Kunstkammer Georg Laue JBM 7067 Ceramics & Glass

Art of the Curious

An exhibition of the rare, the bizarre and the beautiful 2- 25 October

Art of the Curious, an intriguing collaborative exhibition of curiosities of nature and art, will be staged at Colnaghi, 15 Old Bond Street, London. Colnaghi’s paintings and drawings departments will join forces with Kunstkammer Georg Laue of Munich, the leading gallery specialising in Kunst- and Wunderkammer objects of the Renaissance and Baroque, to show a selection of extraordinary natural and artistic marvels celebrating the rare, the bizarre and the beautiful.

Exhibits will range from anatomical models of beetles, natural history studies, elaborate silver-mounted coconuts to an uncannily life-like wax head of an Indian and other wonderful man-made artefacts. www.colnaghi.co.uk

The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, a world-class art gallery at the University of East Anglia (UEA) is featuring a major exhibition displaying the best art of Norfolk and Suffolk throughout history. Masterpieces: Art and East Anglia will celebrate the rich and distinctive artistic heritage of the region, with works ranging from archaeological finds to contemporary design. Comprising some 250 objects loaned from over fifty major public and private collections including the Royal Collection, the exhibition will showcase the array of masterworks the region has inspired, produced and collected, as well as treasures that have been long associated with the area, and demonstrate its importance in a national and international context. www.scva.org.uk

Bob Dylan Display National Portrait Gallery Until 5 January 2014 Pastel portraits by Bob Dylan will be shown for the first time at the National Portrait Gallery, London, in September - the first time his work will have been seen in a museum in a Britain.

The 12 new works to be displayed represent the latest portrait studies from an artist who has sketched and drawn since childhood and painted since the late 1960s, © Bob Dylan. Nina Felix by Bob Dylan, 2013 but only began to exhibit his art works six years ago.

Bob Dylan: Face Value is a side-step for the Gallery in that Dylan’s portraits are not of subjects from British public life, past or present, nor are they made by a working portrait artist. The portraits represent characters, with an amalgamation of features Dylan has collected from life, memory and his imagination and fashioned into people, some real and some fictitious. www.npg.org.uk

Prahlad Bubbar Presents The Jack Vettriano Retrospective Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum Surreal September in Indian 21st 2013 – 23rd Painting February 2014 Indra Rides His Elephant Airavata Punjab Hills, India, c. 1825.

Opaque watercolour, gold and silver on paper Folio: 26.5 x 20.5 cm; miniature: 19.5 x 14.5 cm

33 Cork Street, London, W1S 3NQ 4 Oct – 15 Nov

The Surreal in Indian Painting: Select Works from the Arturo Schwarz and other private collections, is an exhibition of twenty-four paintings dating from the 17th to the 19th century, staged by Prahlad Bubbar, to co-incide with Islamic Art Week and Asian Art in London.

The central idea of ‘Surrealism’ movement was to realise the creative powers of the unconscious mind and surrealist works are characterised by fantastic imagery and incongruous juxtaposition of subject matter.

Indian art regularly inhabits realms of the ‘unconscious’ exploring fantasy, myth and mystical themes. The exhibition also features significant works from the Tantric traditions of India and Nepal. www.prahladbubbar.com

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum is staging the most comprehensive exhibition ever devoted to the Scottish artist, Jack Vettriano. This is the first major Vettriano retrospective, bringing together more than 100 of the artist’s paintings, including his most definitive and best-loved works, for the first time from private collections around the world.

This retrospective exhibition showcases such key paintings as Dance me to the end of Love (1998), Mad Dogs (1992), Long Time Gone (2006), Bluebird at Bonneville (1996) and The Billy Boys (1994). Alongside these classic, romantically themed paintings for which Vettriano is perhaps best known, also featured are extensive examples of his powerfully erotic works. All the paintings featured in this exhibition are on loan from private collections and many are going on public display for the first time in close to 20 years. www.glasgowlife.org.uk RETIREMENT

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Out & About

Bluebird at Bonneville

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Mixing old and new Functional and decorative items, with candles and a lamp, work well in their own small universe on a defined surface.

Rock my world A rocking chair has something therapeutic about it. I’m not sure what it is, but it does work wonders. It brings the child out in even the most serious of people and the feel of a plantation porch to this romantic corner. The bright swirl of the patchwork stops it tipping over into twee.

Mixy matchy Mixy matchy

A neon-coloured flower printed skirt worn with a blue and white T-shirt will rock my world and put a smile on my face. Try it! Follow your instinct and step out of your comfort zone and do something crazy just for the fun of it. I love the mix of old furniture and family heirlooms with modern funky and humorous items.

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How to give a recipe for mixing and matching in your living room?

I suppose for me the easiest way to explain it is with reference to cooking, as that is my great love and passion. I met my husband when aged only eighteen in Paris, where we lived for fifteen years, and I was by no means a master chef, but married to a French guy you are bound to improve. Over time I developed a confidence in cooking – trying ingredients, matching tastes, textures, colours and just experimenting. Following my intuition, going to the local food markets and just letting my eyes, ears and nose guide me was pure meditation for my mind. I would end up by buying too much and often had to invite friends for dinner.

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In the same way I experiment with and explore food I like to live with colours and lots of different stuff for the home. I mix and match and mix and don’t match. I follow my instinct, am not scared to try something new and crazy. I move stuff around – sometimes it works and if not, I just change it again. I try to stay playful – and a small everyday magic moment for me can be looking at an avocado and a lemon curling up on a printed plate, perhaps with pink flamingos all over. I have inherited a beautiful chest of drawers from my grandmother. I know she would find my way of styling it a bit much, but I enjoy placing modern quirky items on it– and every time I open a drawer I can still really feel her and almost smell her.

CLEVER COMBINATIONS A mix of old and new can create a very personal touch in any room.

Go for a fun and unexpected item to send things a little off balance.

Don’t banish family heirlooms to dusty corners or hide them in the spare room. Celebrate them and make them part of your home.

‘The straight and strict lines of the cupboard get interesting counterplay from the curvy lines of the chair, softening the seriousness. Using the same colour but different materials gives things a subtle twist.’

• If you have an old piece of furniture place some quirky funky items on it so it does not look too classic and oldfashioned, and vice versa on a very modern piece of furniture.

• Mix materials to keep things interesting. Use wood, plastic, ceramic, glass – everything.

• Pick your favourite items and group them in little displays that tell a story.

• Choose one dominant piece of furniture per room and let that take centre stage.

• Step back and take a look.

Is what you see pleasing to your eye? Does it give you that happy feeling? Then you’ve got it right.

• Don’t think you have to fill the whole room with this style or it can feel a little hectic. Mixy matchy is best enjoyed in parts of a room or selected areas rather than en masse.

Formally informal A classically styled lampshade and base sit happily next to a comfortable cane chair. Black is a smart colour to use for definition. The cabinet could be seen as serious but is filled with interesting things and topped with swirly vases to add height and movement. The high chairs create a natural partition in the room, giving this little corner an ounce of privacy.

Past perfect Mixing classic French furniture and rattan chairs could become a bit old-fashioned and classic as a look, but when you add colourful cushions with embroidery and funky details plus a modern lamp, you build a nice bridge into the fusion of old and new.

• Create the feel of a rural homestead by adding crocheted throws and patterned cushions to a rustic table, bench and chairs for some mismatched comfort.

An extract from Happy Home

by Charlotte Hedeman Guéniau, published by Jacqui Small.

RSP £25.00 RETIREMENT

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Mixy matchy

• Provide unexpected elements such as oversized lampshades, homely rugs or faux antlers. They make for visual interest and always become a talking point.

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COMPETITIONS

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

Win FIRE WITH FIRE DVD

Fire with Fire available on Blu-ray and DVD on 16 September from Warner Home Video.

An action packed Hollywood thriller that really turns up the heat. Directed

by David Barrett, who leads an all star cast of Hollywood sizzlers including Josh Duhamel, Bruce Willis, Rosario Dawson and Vinnie Jones.

Firefighter Jeremy Colton (Duhamel) ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time as he witnesses a cold-blooded murder committed by a Long Beach gang leader in a local convenience store one night.

For your chance to win one of three DVD’s we have to giveaway, send in your details quoting ref FWF Closing date 20 October 2013.

Win THE RETURNED DVD Robin Campillo’s darkly original The Returned, is now available on DVD. The life of a French town is changed forever when thousands of the recently dead inexplicably come back to life - they seem content merely to go back to their former lives, but their return causes a myriad of complications! Now a major Channel 4 series.

For your chance to win one of three DVD’s we have to giveaway, send in your details quoting ref TR Closing date 20 October 2013.

Win tickets to the BBC Good Food Show

Olympia London 15-17 November. SECC Glasgow 18-20 October

up with the organisers to offer you To celebrate the BBC Good Food Show in London and Glasgow, we have teamed tre, sponsored by Tesco, will 5 pairs of general admission tickets as a fantastic prize to both shows. The superthea TV Shows bought to life favourite your of host an array of some of the nation’s much-loved TV chef’s. See some John Torode and Greg with ef Masterch Berry, Mary and d such as The Great British Bake Off with Paul Hollywoo more. and Martin, James featuring Wallace, plus Saturday Kitchen Live and the Great British Bake Off In Olympia, your chance to shop from hundreds of exhibitors in the Producers Village Toffee pudding from Burtree Sticky from producers Scottish top 100 over from buy or Village. At the SECC sample Puddings to seriously good venison. visit Not a winner? To book tickets and for more information for either show www.bbcgoodfoodshowlondon.com or call 0844 581 1364 and non-exchangeable.

All tickets are general admission excluding Saturday. Tickets are non refundable Tickets do not include a seat in the supertheatre. Ticket terms and conditions apply. for London show, For a chance to win a pair of tickets, send in your details, quoting GFSL or GFSG for Glasgow show.

8 October 2013 Closing date for London – 20 October 2013. Closing date for Glasgow –

Competitions

WIN A SET OF 6 MICHELIN I-SPY BOOKS

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Are you taking your grandchildren away for the weekend and looking for ways to keep them entertained?

Michelin I-Spy books are the perfect travel companion for kids as they are fun and most importantly, keep boredom at bay on long journeys. Plus, you will feel satisfied in the knowledge that the books are educational and bring to life traditional values of getting the children outdoors.

There are five sets up for grabs, each containing six titles*.

With the use of illustrations and rewards, the I-Spy books inject a sense of excitement and curiosity into every reader. Children are encouraged to appreciate the world around them and discover new things.

Each pocket sized I-Spy book contains up to 200 themed colour photographs, which readers have to spot as they go.

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The aim is to tick them off and collect points; having reached 1,000 points children can join the I-Spy Club and send off for a certificate.

For more information, visit: www.ispymichelin.com.

For a chance to win – send in your details quoting ISB Closing date 20 October 2013 *Please note the books shown may not be the books that you receive.

Scottish History by Distance Learning Medieval and Early Modern Scotland: 1100-1707 Modern Scottish History: 1707 to the Present The Dundee-Open University programme in Scottish History offers you the chance to study Scotland’s history from 1100 until the twenty-first century. Each course is accompanied by five volumes of specially commissioned essays by leading Scottish historians, readings and original documentary sources to make these honours level courses the most consolidated route to the study of Scotland’s past.

The courses run from October to June and can count towards an OU degree (60 level 3 points each) but are also open to anyone interested in studying Scottish history.

For further information contact the Programme Administrator at the address below: Distance Learning in Scottish History School of Humanities • University of Dundee Dundee • DD1 4HN • Scotland t: 01382 384763 e: scottish-history@dundee.ac.uk www.dundee.ac.uk/history/distancelearning The University of Dundee is a registered Scottish Charity, No: SC015096

Perfect Stay

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stayed at Number One The Green. Power showers, under floor heating and wi fi ensure that every comfort and convenience is taken care of.The Green ticks all the boxes for a perfect holiday, furnished in contemporary boutique style, in a private setting with plenty of outside space with a sense of exclusivity and intimacy. Friendly and hospitable staff are willing and waiting to do whatever it takes to make your stay perfect. Don’t miss the chance to explore the landscape of Bodmin Moor with its unique mining heritage and stunning landscape, making The Green the perfect base to explore all Cornwall has to offer n

Premier Cottages’ collection features almost 1,000 four and five-star self-catering cottages across the UK. Properties range from small, romantic boltholes to large family-friendly country estates.

The collection includes pet-friendly accommodation.

It also offers the widest range of accessible properties in the UK and many properties have onsite facilities like swimming pools, gyms, spas, indoor games rooms and children’s play areas.

A week’s stay in Number One at The Green for up to 2 people costs from £384 to £864 and a three night stay from £232 to £520.

To book a stay consult www.premiercottages.co.uk or call 01579 362253 http://www.premiercottages.co.uk/Cottages/The-Green.aspx RETIREMENT

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Perfect Stay

hether you’re a regular visitor to Cornwall or planning a first trip, chances are that you are opting for a stay in one of the numerous seaside towns dotted along the coast. However, why not avoid the crowds and venture a bit further inland where luxury accommodation awaits at the ever so stylish The Green. A unique development of cottages along with a large house located at the edge of Bodmin Moor, part of Premier Cottages independent luxury self catering properties located throughout the British Isles.

The setting for The Green is truly romantic, set within a 14 acre estate, overlooking orchards and grazed fields. However, despite the remote location the cottages are within easy reach of the coastline and beyond. There are five cottages in total along with a house suitable for a large group. Being a party of just two we

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www.hawthornsretirement.co.uk

Life begins at Call us today to arrange a visit

0800 077 4656

A variety of spacious modern apartments in Braintree, Clevedon and Eastbourne Three freshly cooked meals every single day All-inclusive rent - no bills Well maintained and secured Hotel style living at an affordable price

Life Begins at The Hawthorns

H The Hawthorns

awthorns Retirement brought its highly successful American formula for retirement living to the UK almost 20 years ago and having fine-tuned it for the UK, now has three ideal locations in Somerset, Essex and Sussex. These facilities, in a nutshell, offer you continued independent living, none of the worries of home ownership and total flexibility to change your lifestyle at a month’s notice should circumstances dictate. This tailormade retirement lifestyle is affordably packaged in an all-inclusive monthly rent.

Many have found out about this practical solution that offers quality retirement living with freedom from domestic chores, more free time to enjoy hobbies and time with friends and family. Whilst renting may not automatically spring

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to the top of your list of possible solutions, renting your choice of retirement apartment offers many advantages and means it isn’t necessary to have your capital tied to just one area or, alternatively, some choose to rent their present property to gain additional income.

At The Hawthorns the calendar monthly rental includes all household bills including three delicious, freshly prepared meals each day with a choice of menu together with utility bills, housekeeping services, maintenance, a choice of activities and use of the private mini-coach and more. This can be very comparable with equivalent outgoings in most properties.

As well as the financial argument, life at The Hawthorns offers the added benefits of the security of a live-in management team, companionship with like-minded neighbours and plenty of things to do and enjoy. Don’t just retire – start living now n For further information, go to www.hawthornsretirement.co.uk or telephone 0800 077 4656.

Renting can ease financial woes but for many it is a lifestyle choice

UPDATE

writes Peter Girling, Chairman of Girlings Retirement Rentals Two fifths of retired renters are former homeowners who have sold their property to pay off debts or boost their income according to new research published by insurer Prudential.

The report found that 42% of retired renters are former homeowners who decided to sell their homes and rent for financial reasons, one in ten did so to boost their retirement income and some 40% apparently were ‘forced’ to do so to pay off their debts.

The majority of our residents haven’t been ‘forced to rent’. They have simply recognised that renting a property when you are in your 80s is a better decision than going on to purchase. In this way they can release all of their capital, give some to children, invest and finally sort out their affairs whilst living the life they want to live. www.girlings.co.uk

MALE MENOPAUSE NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT

There is a common misconception that male menopause is just a derogatory term used by women (colloquially sometimes called “man-opause) to explain irritable moods and lack of energy, but cognitive neuroscientist and ageing specialist Dr Lynda Shaw believes that it is an issue that many 40 to 60 year old men may suffer from and isn’t to be taken lightly.

Dr Shaw explains: “Women are not the only ones who suffer the effects of changing hormones. Doctors are noticing that men are reporting some of the same symptoms that women experience in menopause but it may not be as well defined. Men do experience a decline in the production of the male hormone testosterone with ageing. Unlike menopause in women, when hormone production stops completely, testosterone decline in men is a slower process.

A healthy man may be able to make sperm well into his 80s.”

Other symptoms associated with male menopause may include mood swings, lack of concentration, lack of energy with tiredness, loss of libido and perhaps impotence.

Dr Shaw recommends that men should seek advice from their GP if symptoms become too much. GP’s may suggest antidepressants, cognitive behavioural therapy or a hormone test for levels of testosterone. Dr Shaw also suggests that there are actions men can take to help themselves, such as exercise, eating well and replacing alcohol and caffeine with plenty of water where possible. www.drlyndashaw.com

Neighbours survey reveals surprising results

One in six Brits are currently not talking to at least one neighbour a study conducted by Swinton has revealed.

Of those, the average person is not talking to two neighbours and 46 per cent of those said they look the other way if they bump in to them.

A more antagonising 10 per cent said they simply give their neighbour a ‘frosty look’ if their paths cross.

Researchers found that feuds over noisy kids, overflowing wheelie bins, parking spaces and out of control trees and shrubs are just some of the reasons for feuding families. While other grumbles included overhearing neighbours swearing and rowing when out in the garden and barking dogs. Although the most common reason to fall out with neighbours was due to them blocking their drive.

But nearly one in ten simply said they ‘don’t like the look’ of their neighbours so never stop and chat to them.

However, Jim Maddan, the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Networks Chairman commented: “There are still lots of examples of neighbours getting along and working together for the benefit of their community.

One such example is Neighbourhood Watch. People join Neighborhood Watch to make the areas where they live safe, friendly and pleasant places to be – and it works.”

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Update

This last statistic is worrying. Many of our residents who come to us to rent in retirement are driven by the financial benefits renting can offer, however, for most, it is also a lifestyle choice. We tend not to hear from people who have been ‘forced’ to sell their homes and I would stress that if people find themselves in this situation they need to seek professional financial advice or contact Citizen’s Advice Bureau. I would also add that if greater numbers are considering renting in later life, there is a need for more landlords to offer properties on assured tenancies that will give these people much needed long term security in their homes.

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After the Love has Gone in that Sunny Paradise

After the Love has Gone in that Sunny Paradise

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By Clare Renton

he legal consequences of moving abroad cannot be underestimated. The lure of better weather, cheaper housing, better food, and budget airlines, tempts thousands of couples approaching retirement to move overseas. But what happens if they go their separate ways?

Recent statistics show that silver haired divorces are on the increase. The thought of another 25 years may be miserable, or one might miss England too much. No one moves away saying “What if it goes wrong between us?” Each overseas State addresses divorce, matrimonial property, and maintenance according to its own very different traditions. In Greece there is no transfer of property owned by one alone although the matrimonial home is sacrosanct. In Italy adult children may be entitled to support. In Italy and France maintenance is generous, in Spain not. Each state has a different style of matrimonial property regime. Spouses in the Netherlands are liable for the other’s debts if they have not elected a separation of property regime. It is important to decide whether to buy a home jointly or separately. In England on divorce the Court will do what is considered fair. Elsewhere the Courts’ hands are more tied.

Since English Courts are both more flexible and generous to the less rich, usually wives, the question which State hears the divorce can be critical. If under E.U. law two states are allowed to deal with the divorce, as for example when the wife lives in England and the husband in Spain the party who starts the Court divorce process first in time in their preferred state wins the race for Court jurisdiction.

If both parties are living outside England, EU law decrees that the English Court cannot deal with the divorce and finances unless the couple are both what are known as “domiciled” in England and Wales.

Domicile is an ancient concept.

Everyone has a domicile. “Home state” or “Final resting place” may sum up the idea.

In Empire days, expatriates might live in Africa but retained their “domicile of origin” in England.To help prove domicile a person would point out that they had purchased a burial plot in England. This “Domicile of Origin” is hard to shake off, but the High Court scrutinizes all the

Clare Renton is a lawyer specialising in international family law. crenton@29br.co.uk

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After the Love has Gone in that Sunny Paradise

evidence and may conclude that one or both have indeed acquired a domicile of choice having moved permanently from England.

Recently in a well-publicised battle, Mrs. Seward lost her battle to have her divorce tried in England where she would have done much better financially than in Spain.The Court of Appeal accepted that Mr. Seward would never come back not least because of the English weather.

In the modern world a party may suceed in showing he has abandoned his English domicile in favour of, say, France, despite poor understanding of French , avidly tuning in to the BBC news, an on-line betting account with Ladbrokes, a habit of cornflakes, Tetley’s tea bags, roast beef, warm beer and an English pension.

Lack of property in England is relevant. Family and close friends in England are taken into account.Ties in the new state are scrutinized.

“My life revolves around the Toulouse golf club now. My friends are here. I’ve nothing to go back for. I might visit for the odd week but that’s it.”

The Court may find that the evidence has the ring of truth and that domicile has moved away from English shores.

In non E.U. States the “first in time” rule when two states might take jurisdiction is not rigid. That can result in even more expensive uncertainty because even if English domicile or residence is established the Court may decide that the more “Convenient Forum” is the other state. That the financial deal is unkind to one party is irrelevant.

Jurisdiction disputes are notoriously expensive and lawyers strongly discourage litigation unless the amount at stake justifies it. Lawyers in each state must act very quickly to get their clients petition for divorce where their client will come off best if there are two options The Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 can be invoked to help the beleaguered English spouse divorced overseas, if a party is domiciled or resident in England. First leave to proceed has to be obtained from the High Court on the ground. The Claimant ex spouse must show that there are substantial grounds for making the application, usually hardship and need and that there are assets in England, whether a pension or capital.

It is not always easy to predict what the Court will allow nor is it easy to predict outcome at Court.

Forearmed is forewarned! If there is any risk of a split, the unhappy spouse needs to know which Court will give them a better deal and plan how to get there n RETIREMENT

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In pursuit of the perfect home and space

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Retirement Today Magazine

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

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

They

wanted a happy retirement together

In pursuit of the perfect home and space

but Leah became crippled with

26

arthritis and cannot walk. David is dedicated to his wife and cares for her full time. But, the loss of earned income has been devastating, and they are poverty-stricken.

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

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

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

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hether your house feels empty now the children have flown the nest, or now you have retired and you want to make some changes to your home, or you feel your home no longer reflects your personality, Niki Schäfer, founder of interior design company Dwell-Being says we psychologically need different spaces to create our perfect home.

Schäfer explains: “Understanding and appreciating space in a home is essential. We need space to think clearly, we need space to cook a meal, we need space to breathe and get away from it all, we need head space, me space and we certainly need space for our shoes/ power tools! If the children have left home, the house which has been dominated by the family way of life for probably more than two decades can all of a sudden feel like a quiet shell particularly if the mother has been a ‘stay at home mum’. It can feel liberating but can also often feel lonely and empty and can involve quite a process of reflection and style rediscovery, before they can look at the house that will be with them for the next exciting chapter in their lives.

“Some of us plan on living beyond our 100th year and therefore 50 is really only half way through life so it can be a wonderful time for change! The house does perhaps in time need to reflect changes in current and forthcoming lifestyle though especially if it is a large investment such as a new home build or complete refurbishment. I have a client who is designing a lift into their home despite being very agile and healthy, but they know there will come a time for the Nicki Schäfer - founder of Dwell-Being lift rather than the stairs. Getting this balance right is key. Understanding what your future holds is exciting but it needs to be practical too.

“Generally the plus 50’s know how much money they have.

University fees are coming to an end and hopefully the children are earning their own income so the household finances start to look in much better shape if future investments have been catered for. Their experience in life also means they know where to invest in longer term pieces like furniture to be inherited and where to have some short term fun such as with accessories.”

Schäfer stresses our homes have an impact on our health: “Your home environment is more than just four walls and a lick of paint. It can dictate how you feel. It can boost your self-esteem; it can calm you down, or make you more productive. Our environment is so much more than the latest wallpaper or a stunning pair of curtains.

How is your home space working for you - does it give you the breathing space you so desperately crave? Does it feel organised and

efficient and equally comforting and secure? Does it reflect your personality and who you really are? If the answer is no to any of these questions, your home could be affecting your well-being.”

This subtle blend of psychology and interior design is what underpins Schäfer’s company, Dwell-Being, and has helped countless families and individuals to make their dream space a reality. Schäfer’s eclectic experience of living in over 100 homes, including the most unlikely of places such as a cheese cake factory in New York and a railway station in Scotland, makes her well qualified in creating space.

The Dwell-Being System comprises seven steps, which together create the three foundations to a home – the act of personal style, the science of family thinking and the discipline of house rules: 1. Outer Space - Understanding what home really means to you is important. Where do you want to live? What neighbourhood is right for you? What do you want your home to look like? What facilities and local resources do you need close by? All of this has to be thought through very carefully as you make those vital decisions about buying (or whether to stay in) your home.

2. Me Space - A home is a blank canvas for you to express your personality, your aspirations and also a safe place for your memories. Figuring out your own personal style isn’t as difficult as you might think and once you’ve worked it out it’s such a pleasure to shop for your home.

3. Head Space - Finding the time to design and decorate a home can be one of the most difficult hurdles to pass. We have so much to do and we juggle so much. Working out why we are doing all the things we are doing (so much on autopilot!) and getting rid of what’s not really helping us can save a huge amount of time.

4. Thinking Space - We all think differently in the home, even our children who we mould and love turn out to have very different ways of thinking. Thinking space is a space in the house that really needs to be understood if the home is to be harmonious.

6. Breathing Space - We are spending so much time consumed by technology and screen time that we forget about the simple pleasures. Finding somewhere to sit quietly in our home and simply breathe is an invaluable space. Creating the habit of stopping for a moment or two with a drink, or maybe just to drink up the view, does our wellbeing the world of good. Have a space to stop rushing.

7. Heart Space - Designing a space in the heart of the home – the kitchen, dining and family room is a way to ensure that our family communicates well. Creating a place where the family comes together every day, where they can share stories and feel supported is an undeniably important space in the house. This is more than physical space; this is the space we need to give to others, to hear what’s truly going on in their lives, not to simply pay lip-service to it.

Schäfer concludes: “Harnessing the importance of each of our seven spaces and learning how to make them beautiful and appealing to everyone who uses them is an art and a science. After all, our environment is so much more than the colour of the walls and what furniture we choose. It’s only when we’re in an environment that’s perfectly suited to us, that we can truly be ourselves.” n www.dwell-being.co.uk RETIREMENT

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In pursuit of the perfect home and space

5. Dream Space - Bedrooms have become such busy spaces, places where we work, sleep and keep entertained. This isn’t helping us in our stressful lives. A bedroom is a place to relax in and to recuperate at the end of the day; not to feel more stressed by.

Design a space to dream in.

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A MOMENT OF MADNESS

Have you ever found yourself in a sticky situation and traced it back to a spectacularly bad decision you needn’t have made? You are not alone. As these often cringeworthy coincidences show, history is full of really rather bad ideas.

Mamma Mia!

Police in Bari, Italy, were able to apprehend a thief who had grabbed a woman’s handbag as he sped past on his motorbike, after she gave them an exceptionally detailed description of him. It turned out she was his mother.

World’s Worst Sandwich

In a bizarre tale that is ‘right place at the right time’ for one of the protagonists and very much ‘wrong place at the wrong time’ for the other, a humble sandwich unwittingly sparked World War I. Sarajevo, 28 June 1914: as Archduke Franz Ferdinand was driven through the streets to apparent popular jubilation, six young anti-Empire activists lay in wait with grenades. The first bottled out at the last minute; the second threw his grenade but it exploded under the wrong car, wounding both dignitaries and spectators. In the ensuing chaos, the remaining would-be assassins fled and dispersed, their patriotic plot a failure. One of them, Gavrilo Princip, wandered off to get a sandwich.

Once out of danger, the Archduke asked his driver to take him to the hospital where the injured bystanders were being treated. The driver, perhaps operating on autopilot, started along a road that would take them back through the centre of town before realizing his mistake and making an abrupt stop to turn around – right outside the café where Princip was eating his sandwich. As the driver struggled to find reverse gear and ultimately stalled the car, the young nationalist approached the vehicle and shot the Archduke at point-blank range.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Unbelievable!

The Bizarre World of Coincidences apparent that the clothes were in fact somebody else’s Sunday best – specifically, the prosecutor’s. Marc Florens immediately recognized the jacket that had been stolen from his house months earlier along with cash and other valuables.

Delayed Karma

When Texan Henry Ziegland jilted his girlfriend in 1883 and was shot at in revenge by her brother, he must have counted himself incredibly lucky to have survived. The bullet merely grazed his cheek and embedded itself in a tree. Meanwhile, the would-be assassin had turned the gun on himself.

Years later, the doomed romance all but forgotten, Ziegland was trying in vain to chop down the same tree.

Deciding the only thing for it was dynamite, he created an explosion that did the trick, although it also dislodged the bullet, which shot out into his head and killed him.

Unbelievable!

A Cunning Plan

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Nice Outfit

A burglar brought before a court in Bruges was surprised to have an impromptu new accusation levelled at him before his trial had even begun. He had donned his Sunday best for the court appearance but it soon became RETIREMENT

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Two burglars broke into a house in Austin, Texas in March 1977 while its owners, David Conner and Nancy Hart, were at work. Among other things, they stole the couple’s chequebooks. Thinking they’d make a quick profit before the police had time to catch them, they went into a bank to cash one of Mr Conner’s cheques, which they’d cunningly made out to Ms Hart.

Unfortunately for them, the cashier at said bank was in fact Nancy Hart.

She made sure they were detained by security until the police arrived

Fancy Meeting You Here

Sometimes news of somebody else’s stroke of spectacularly bad luck brings with it a guilty little morsel of schadenfreude – as in this story of unfaithfulness uncovered.

In 1994, two Bulgarian couples on holiday by the Black Sea got to talking and quickly became firm friends. So firm, in fact, that the husband of one couple and the wife of the other were soon embroiled in a torrid affair. Swept up in their own illicit romance, the cheaters were blissfully unaware that their other halves had also embarked upon an affair. None of this might ever have emerged had Couple A not escaped for a secret weekend away the following summer, only to find themselves in the cottage next door to Couple B. According to Bulgarian newspaper 24 Chasa, the husbands watched helplessly as their wives physically attacked one another, but had to step in when the women began brandishing hoes as makeshift weapons.

Lesson learned, each man left with his own wife in tow n

An extract from Unbelievable!

The Bizarre World of Coincidences

by Jenny Crompton (Michael O’Mara Books, £12.99).

‘One likes people much better when they’re battered down by a prodigious siege of misfortune than when they triumph.’

VIRGINIA WOOLF, A WRITER’S DIARY

Change gear Start a new career Become a Driving Instructor Learner Driving Centres (LDC) can provide a new challenge to retirees. You can train to become a Driving Instructor with LDC and utilise all the skills you have acquired to start on a new career path. This may seem daunting when you’re over 50, but your maturity, life skills and experience that you have gained throughout your working life make you an excellent candidate to become a successful Driving Instructor.

As a Driving Instructor you can operate on a full or part time basis, work the hours you choose to, and best of all be your own boss!

LDC was established over 20 years ago and is one of the largest and most successful national driving schools in the UK. We are one of the founding members of ORDIT (Official Register of Driving Instructor Training) which is supported by the Government’s Driving Standards Agency. During this time we have helped many men and women of all different ages and backgrounds become successful driving instructors.

To become a driving instructor you will need to have held your licence for over 3 and a half years, have no more than 5 points and be able to read a number plate at 27.5 metres (90 feet) with or without glasses and complete a training course to qualify.

Each LDC trainee is allocated a personal tutor as well as being fully supported by our dedicated team at Head Office. Each person will follow a training plan specific to their needs – not a “one size fits all” approach.

Ref: 836 *Course fees apply

Guaranteed job opportunity Become a driving instructor with LDC and you can potentially earn between £20,000 and £30,000 per year. You have a choice of car, work the hours you choose and enjoy great job satisfaction after you see your pupils pass their test. Few careers offer such flexibility, earnings potential or job satisfaction! It is not compulsory for each of our trainees to join our franchise upon qualification.

when I was going through my 'wobbly' phases, with the result that I passed on my first attempt – phew!

David McDougall” “Having taken early retirement from a lengthy career in the Civil Service, I wanted a new challenge, something I might enjoy but not easy to achieve and training to be an ADI seemed to fit the bill.

Looking around, the LDC training approach appealed, it was structured and yet allowed you to set your own pace and the support looked about right for my needs; I was not disappointed. The package of DVDs, written guidance and one to one instruction was of the highest quality, and if I needed support from the training team, it was always there and quickly.“

If you want to find out more please visit our website www.learnerdriving.com or call 01977 691800 to order a free no obligation information pack. We promise there will be no hard sell, we want to make sure that our potential trainees are 100% sure this is the career for them.

Gill Chisholm “When I first thought about training to be a driving instructor, I spoke to an acquaintance who recommended LDC. I was a bit daunted at first as a 'mature student' who had never been to college or done any home study before, but once I got into the course work it was fine. The training was very thorough and completely enjoyable, with a superb system of training, with lots of back up from my tutor

The franchise is really well set up, with lots of backup there from a great team when I need it, but still with complete independence over how I run my business, and after just over a year, I can honestly say I can't think of a better way to earn my living.”

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Call: 0800 197 0010 Visit: www.learnerdriving.com RETIREMENT

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Betse and Jim Davies

Re-invent Yourself in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

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an Miguel de Allende, a colonial Mexican gem in central Mexico has attracted thousands of retired people over the last four decades. It was an important town on the Spanish silver trail and it became the cradle of the Mexican revolution against the Spanish rulers in 1810.

The municipality is proud to have been the first to declare itself independent in 1826. In the 20th century, foreign artists began to show interest for the town’s Baroque and Neoclassical structures. Many settled here and created the famous Art Institute and School of Fine Arts. After WW2, former U.S. soldiers had the opportunity to study art for free on the G.I. Bill. From then on, San Miguel attracted a growing number of artists, writers, tourists but above all, a large community of foreign retirees.

Today the town hosts a community of 8 000 to 12 000 foreign residents, depending on the season. That amounts to approximately 10% of the population. Americans and Canadians form 70% of the retiree community but more than 60 nationalities are represented. Many have purchased elegant homes and spend most of the year in Mexico, others escape the winter at home and head to Mexico from October to March and rent inexpensive apartments. San Miguel’s clement climate, a relatively lower cost of living, its vibrant artistic community and the congeniality of Mexican people seduce more retired people every year.

Betse Davies is from the United States and she has been a resident of San Miguel for 24 years. When we asked her what was so magical about San Miguel, she explained: “Magical is sort of a corny word but I tell you that everyone who comes to town can experience it. From a smile from one of the beautiful Mexican children or a Mariachi band striking up in a churchyard as the wedding party emerges from the church and you happen to be strolling by, how about a sunset full of all shades of pinks - truly this town is full of Magic!”

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Strolling down the cobbled streets around 6pm every night, you can experience the tradition of the paseo, when residents go out on the streets, hang out on the square of “El Jardin”, meet and talk to each other whilst enjoying the social activity and buzz all around. When you sit on a bench, you find yourself talking to another foreign resident, who could have been a caretaker or the CEO of a leading bank. All come here for another phase of their life and happiness is the

international Literary Festival and Writers’ Conference every February.

Events and talks about books, social trends, artworks or presentations of compelling personal stories are organised regularly throughout the year. An International Chamber Music Festival runs every August, a Jazz Festival every November and traditional Mexican colourful festivities take place all year long.

Patricia and Joe Miller are an artist couple who would not swap their

Re-invent Yourself in Writer Laetitia Knight takes a look at San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, a mecca for thousands of retirees.

prevailing sentiment. San Miguel is the place to “re-invent yourself ”.

Art attracts the vast majority of retirees who tend to be art lovers and enjoy taking art courses offered in historic venues around town.Whether you are interested in painting, sculpting, mosaic, jewelry, photography or just about any art form you can think of, it will be available in San Miguel.

The town also hosts a renowned

home in San Miguel for anywhere in the world: “We have been coming to San Miguel for almost 30 years.

San Miguel has a multitude of artists and craftsmen offering art that carries a feeling of love to all the city visitors. The real asset, other than its physical beauty, is the feeling of spiritual and mental well-being afforded by this city.”

The nearly perfect weather of San

restaurants are mushrooming around town. Therapists and masseuses are recommended on social network groups where residents willingly share information about the experiences that made them feel like new. San Miguel has become an upmarket town with specialty bakeries, cheese and meat shops and caterers making life pleasant.Walking up and down the steep hills helps to keep in shape and many retirees do not have cars but use cheap buses and taxis and mostly walk in this safe environment.The town has no traffic lights and one gets used to just catching the eye of the driver and be waved through.

Miguel is a life improvement for many foreign residents. The sun shines most days and temperatures are never too cold or too humid, although the sun can be strong in the summer.The town is set at an altitude of 6400 feet and the sky is amazingly blue in the clear and crisp unpolluted air. Even in the cooler months of January and February, the sunshine warms its inhabitants and homes do not have central heating or air conditioning. The altitude of San Miguel is nothing like the torrid heat

ask you “What do you do?” … and they didn’t mean your occupation, it meant what do you do creatively.”

“Give and Take” is what best describes the relationship between the expatriate community, the town of San Miguel and its local residents. If San Miguel is such an active and dynamic place to live, it is largely thanks to the involvement of its retiree community who constantly show their love for the town and willingness to help the local community.

Here’s Betse again: “Living in San Miguel gives one the chance to give back to society in a personal way, not just shelling out in response to some request you receive in the mail. I got into being a walking tour guide that benefited Patronato Pro Ninos, a group that gives medical and dental care to the needy children in San Miguel and also in the many surrounding villages.That was 22 years ago and giving our historical tour is the most fun thing I do in San Miguel.

San Miguel’s history is unique in that the revolution against Spain started here in 1810 and all the buildings involved in that event are still standing!

I was able to “give back” in many other ways too. I was in on the founding of a group, which gives college scholarship to poor but bright and ambitious young Mexicans. The first year we raised enough money to support five young people and today we have 92 youngsters in Jovenes Adelante - each has a computer, access to

of the beach communities in Mexico during the summer.

Wellness is an area that has been developing quickly to answer the needs of the retiree community who now enjoy the benefits of thermal and spa treatments, alternative medicines, sports, fitness, yoga or meditation retreats. Locally grown products are for sale at the organic Saturday market and healthy cafés and

Spanish language schools thrive in San Miguel as most foreign residents make an effort to learn some Spanish.

They find that a little effort opens many doors in this welcoming country.

Most surprising is the dynamism of the retirees of San Miguel and it makes you wonder if San Miguel is the fountain of youth. It is common to see white hair ponytailed artists, smiley retiree couples on Quad bikes and gracefully dressed oldsters with large sombreros strolling down the paved streets. Residents tell you how art or yoga classes have changed their life and how they would not live anywhere else in the world. Perhaps there is something special about this community. Betse Davies puts it down to talent: “Oh yes, this town attracts people who are not average at all; not just Americans and Canadians but people from all over the world. And the talent is amazing. When we first came people would

English lessons and, best of all, a mentor.”

Several institutions were established by the foreign community such as the Biblioteca Publica now boasting the second largest English language book collection in Mexico.

Its mission is primarily to support Mexican youth and be the heart of culture in San Miguel. Anyone can attend book presentations, concerts and other events whilst classes and workshops for children and adults are offered throughout the year for Mexicans and foreigners. An English-language tour of the most impressive private homes and gardens every Sunday is led by volunteers and the proceeds support the library’s enterprises.

Atención is a widely read bilingual English-Spanish weekly newspaper published at the Library. Nowadays, the Biblioteca is a well-attended community centre for most of the retiree community.Various other interest groups involved in education, the environment and animal welfare exist and all tend to become social circles for foreign residents.

Most older folks who live in San Miguel end up being busy working, learning or volunteering. San Miguel is perhaps not the place to strictly speaking retire but rather to re-invent yourself n RETIREMENT

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Re-invent Yourself in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

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RETIREMENT

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Charity N E W S Cancer Research UK Launches New Website To Reveal Local Cancer Statistics CANCER RESEARCH UK has unveiled a new website* that reveals a comprehensive breakdown of cancer statistics, which allows everyone to get the latest figures for their area.

The ‘Local Cancer Statistics’ website can be searched by post-code, constituency, local authority or healthcare area and contains information on cancer incidence, survival and mortality, early diagnosis, screening and smoking statistics for individual areas**.

The local figures are compared to the national average and two locations can also be compared directly with each other.

Cancer Research UK hopes the site will be a useful resource for MPs, policymakers, health professionals, journalists and anyone who has an interest in the state of cancer where they live. The site will be regularly updated as more information becomes available. * http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/local-cancerstatistics/, or, http://bit.ly/17tobrc * *The data comes from a number of publicly available sources in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They have provided links to the original sources for further information. Despite recent changes to the NHS in England most cancer data is still published at Primary Care Trust (PCT) or Local Authority level. Where possible, they have mapped the data to other popular geographic levels including Clinical Commissioning group, Constituency and post code.

Bird Baby Boom

At Tiggywinkles the bird nursery is still ‘brimming at the seams’. There is still that cacophony of incessantly gaping beaks clamouring for their next meal.

Their four full-time baby feeders meet these ever-demanding mouths, head-on, from dawn till dusk. It is their version of ‘painting the Forth Bridge’ as they start feeding at one end of the nursery and work their way to the other and then start all over again. However all the dedication is worth it as 80% of these destitute avian orphans are grown to full maturity and released.

It is quite different at the beginning of the year. Both nurseries are empty, scrubbed and spotless with their cupboards stocked with baby bird goodies such as dried insects, maggots, wax worms and frozen bowls of ‘Glop’, Tiggys own recipe food for babies. They love it.

All the Hospital is at action stations, waiting with baited breath for that first baby bird of the year. It eventually came on April 6th in the form of a blackbird.

It was not long before many more followed closely behind.

Coming back to the present. Relief is on the horizon. The nursery is answering to swallows, martins and swifts heralding the end of the baby season. Mind you there are still over 30 tawny owl babies growing up as well as all those red kites to bring to release. And baby hedgehogs are starting to pour in.

They do love to see the babies. Dare I say it, “We are all like Old Mother Hens”.

Just one little nagging – if you do spot a baby bird on the ground watch to see if it is still feeding from its parents, if not ‘leaving it alone’ is not an option – it will die. Pick it up. Do not offer it food or drink. Bring it to Tiggywinkles.

They will look after it - That’s what they do. www.tiggywinkles.com

Moggies remain a mystery to many, suggests survey A new survey by leading feline welfare charity Cats Protection shows that many people are failing to understand the ‘language’ of cats, with a distinct lack of Dr Dolittles amongst British owners.

The research, which surveyed over 1,100 adult cat owners, found a worrying lack of knowledge in certain areas which has prompted the charity to launch an initiative to educate the nation about cat behaviour.

In particular, the survey revealed that: • Two thirds (65 per cent) of us think a cat only purrs when happy whereas it sometimes can occur when it is in pain.

• The majority of people (76 per cent) failed to understand a cat’s upright tail is a greeting.

“These findings show that we need to help people gain a better understanding of their cats which are sometimes misunderstood because they are complex creatures,” said Nicky Trevorrow, Cats Protection’s Behaviour Manager. “Cats are often considered to be independent and able to look after themselves whereas dogs are usually perceived to ‘need’ their owners. The reality is that while cats are pretty good at surviving without us, they do of course have needs. If these aren’t met, it can lead to stress and behavioural problems.”

To help cat owners enjoy a more meaningful relationship with their pet, Cats Protection has posted a free education tool on its website called Understanding Feline Origins designed to help owners recognise their cats’ basic needs: www.cats.org.uk/learn/e-learning-ufo along with a video explaining different cat behaviours at www.cats.org.uk/news/behaviour-survey RETIREMENT

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• One in 20 concludes that a cat rubs its cheeks on surfaces because it has an ‘itchy face’ rather than actually marking a territory.

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A secluded and tranquil holiday park

E

astham Hall Caravan Park has been owned and managed by the Kirkham family for nearly 50 years.

Whether you buy a holiday home on the park or visit with your touring caravan, you can share their lovely rural retreat in a highly sought after location.

Lytham town centre is only a mile and a half away – five minutes by car or a pleasant 20 minute walk The centre of St Annes is only a couple of miles further up the coast. There is something for everyone nearby – stylish shops, cafes and bars, golf clubs galore (including Royal Lytham, a regular host of The Open ) and golden sands. If you want to step up the pace, the ever popular resort of Blackpool is only six miles up the coast.

Blackpool offers everything from the exhilaration of the world famous Pleasure Beach to the beautifully restored Grand Theatre.

The park’s secluded, level grounds are protected by shelter belts of mixed deciduous trees and hedges which are a haven for wildlife including barn owls, little owls, woodpeckers and brown hares. They are also lucky enough to be serenaded by skylarks in high summer. The low, flat landscape opens up to big skies which are often blushed with the rich red and crimson of the setting sun.

The park grounds maintenance policy includes planting indigenous species and they source most of their supplies locally.

The bread, milk and eggs on sale in the park shop are from local producers. They re-use or re-cycle as much as possible and they ask their customers to do the same.

New and pre-owned holiday homes can be purchased via the park office. All their holiday homes are privately owned and they do not permit sub-letting n For further information tel. 01253 737907 or visit www.easthamhall.co.uk

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NEC BIRMINGHAM, HALL 3A Britain’s BIGGEST

Fri-Sat 6-7 December 2013 EXHIBITION 9.30am to 4.30pm

for the ACTIVE

over-50s!

Features: • Cookery demonstrations GLASGOW SECC, HALL 4 •Thurs-Sat Seminars & information 7-9 November 2013 to 4.30pm •9.30am Financial tips & advice • Park & holiday homes NEC BIRMINGHAM, HALL 3A •Fri-Sat Have-a-go 6-7dancing December 2013 •9.30am Health checks to 4.30pm • Craft zone Features: •• Climbing wall Cookery demonstrations Seminars & information •• Beauty zone • Financial tips & advice •• Gardening Park & holiday homes •• Fashion shows Have-a-go dancing Health checks •• Keep fit sessions • Craft zone •• Prize quizwall Climbing Beauty&zone •• Music entertainment • Gardening •• FREE 50+ Show Magazine Fashion shows •and Keep fit sessions visitor bag while stocks last!

• Prize quiz • Music & entertainment • FREE 50+ Show Magazine and visitor bag while stocks last!

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3 ways to register: 1. Register online via www.50plusShow.com 2. Call the3 freeways ticket hotline on 01372 8409 63 or 68 to register: 3. On-site 1. Register online via Registration* www.50plusShow.com 2. Call the free ticketis hotline onon-site 01372 8409 63 or 68 (*On-the-door £10 without registration) 3. On-site Registration*

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(*On-the-door is £10 without on-site registration)

For exhibiting exhibiting enquiries, enquiries, call call 01372 01372 743 743 837 837 For