Retirement Today Nov/Dec 2013

The magazine for pre and post retirement

www.retirement-today.co.uk

Issue 73 Nov/Dec £2.90

R E T I R E M E N T

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

Age isn’t a barrier, but funding can be

We all want to be free to do the things we love, whatever our age.

At Bield we have over 40 years experience in helping older people lead fulfilling, independent lives, whatever services they require.

For us this means helping the people in our care make the most of life – from learning how to Skype to getting back in the local pool’s fast lane. But we receive no government funding for any of this and it’s down to generous donations and fundraising that we are able to provide the people we care for with life-enhancing little extras.

If you believe age should never be a barrier to making the most of life, perhaps you’ll consider making a donation or fundraising for Bield.

To find out more visit www.bield.co.uk/Fundraising or contact Kevin Rowe on 0131 273 4005

BIeld HouSIng & CARe · Registered office: 79 Hopetoun Street · edinburgh · eH7 4QF · Scottish Charity SC006878

CONTENTS

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

4 Dream Wheeler

WELCOME TO RETIREMENT TODAY MAGAZINE

An extract from ‘Dream Wheeler, a remarkable and inspirational true story of Jane Lambert’s adventures in France.

4

6 Footloose in Rocamodour Continuing our Footloose series, read about Debra Rixon’s experiences as she visits Rocamodour in the Dordogne, plus a chance to win a copy of the DVD.

10 Sweet Paris Some delicious desert recipes to try from Michael Paul inspired by the magical city of Paris.

13 Amazing Ageing Ageing is inevitable, unavoidable and inescapable, but have you noticed that some people are appreciably better at it than others? David Buswell offers advice on how to cope.

6

16 Out and About Read about events taking place nationally.

Image top left: From Sweet Paris

by Michael Paul (Hardie Grant)

10

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

21 Update Visit Retirement Today at the 50+ Show; Historic Dorset Town is UK’s Retirement Capital; Dreaming of moving abroad? Plan for the unexpected; Life starts at 60 for almost 1 million.

13

22 The Gift that keeps on giving This year let’s do our best to give the high street a miss and look at animal adoption as an alternative Christmas present for family and friends.

22

27 Best Books Nothing beats an exquisite carefully chosen book as the perfect Christmas gift, here we review some of the best to help you make a choice.

28 Dentistry and Wellness

We visit a town in Hungary called Mosonmagyaróvár, fared for its dentistry and spa.

WIN

PAGE 31

31 Competitions • 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.

Your chance to win some great prizes for your grandchildren. CBeebies Live tickets/DVD Box Set; Drawing/Colouring Books

34 Charity begins at Christmas Charities work tirelessly all year round providing help and support to the less fortunate and more vulnerable.

Read about some of the many ways you can help this Christmas.

SUBSCRIBE

TODAY

Have Retirement Today posted direct to your door so you never miss an issue Send you name and address together with a cheque for £14.99 to: Subscriptions Department, Amra Media Solutions, The Old Lavender Mill, 46a Brook Street, Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, HP22 5ES

Name

34 Special Offer

£14.99 12 iss ues

inc p&p)

Address

Post code email RETIREMENT

today

3

Ever since Peter Mayle’s book ‘ A year in Provence’ there has been no shortage of titles featuring the plucky Brit who relocates to France, living amongst the quirky French with all their idiosyncratic habits.

What makes Dream Wheeler different is that Jane Lambert has to overcome what would for most people seem like impossible odds, since contracting polio in her twenties, Jane has been confined to a wheelchair.

Author Deb Hunt first met Jane when she bought her London flat in 1993. Thus began a unique friendship as Deb watched Jane battle to fulfil her dream. At 63 Jane bought a near derelict cottage, speaking virtually no French with no friends or family in France, the omens were not good. Would she cope?

An inspirational read not only for those looking to retire overseas but for anyone with a dream to change their life.’ In the following extract Deb pays Jane a visit not long after her initial move……

Jane as a child at East Hills, where she grew up

Dream Wheeler

She had a dream …and she made it happen

I was shocked at how basic Jane’s house was.

At first glance it had only the bare essentials she would need to survive.

Dream Wheeler

Listening to Handel’s Messiah, rugged up against the cold.

4

RETIREMENT

today

T

he trip to France had seemed like a great idea when we left London but the drive from St Malo had dispelled our enthusiasm. High winds and heavy rain, now turned to sleet, kept us company all the way and road works had diverted us around Jane’s village. We had been forced to approach her house from an unknown direction, and now we felt hopelessly lost.

‘We have to turn right somewhere, hers is the house on the corner,’ I said, searching in the blackness for clues.

‘What number is it?’

‘It doesn’t have a number. She said we had to turn left at a recycling bin.

Is that a recycling bin?’

I squinted at a dark shape in the distance and spotted Jane’s car with its distinctive top box, jutting out of a back garden. ‘There! This is it!’

We parked, grabbed the bags and braved the sleet, picking our way across the mud towards the back

door. Jane’s smiling face was visible through the glass, a welcoming beacon of light, and she pushed open the door as we approached.

‘Come in, come in! Bonjoor!

Whisky anyone? Or would you prefer champagne?’

My image of ‘authentic’ French interiors was based on magazine features extolling the beauty of dove grey walls, zinc topped tables, oak panelling, puddled curtains, finials, swags, sparkling chandeliers and kitchens full of Le Creuset. I was shocked at how basic Jane’s house was. At first glance it had only the bare essentials she would need to survive.

The kitchen consisted of a small bar fridge, a sink, a kettle, a toaster and a microwave on top of the newly built half-height wall that separated the kitchen from the living/dining area. The low wall had open shelves on one side and drawers on the other. The only other furniture in the kitchen was a wooden shelving unit housing pots, pans and the ubiquitous Tupperware.

The chilly bathroom at the back of the house was no different. It had a sink, a loo and a wall-mounted showerhead above a tiled bench.

A small electric heater in the tiled bathroom struggled to combat the cold that seeped through a metalframed, single glazed window.

Jane’s love of colour gave the simple house its character. In the bathroom, aquatic green tiles shimmered below walls painted powder blue. The kitchen walls were rich terracotta, the bedroom was blancmange pink and the woodwork was typically French

grey-green.

Brightly coloured posters of fish, birds, insects, fruit and vegetables—saved from the Guardian newspaper years before— decorated the walls in the kitchen and in the bathroom.

In the dining area mismatched cushions covered the chairs and family photographs lined the shelves.

Neat and tidy are two words that could never be used to describe Jane. Very little gets put away, largely because of the effort involved in getting it back out again. Anyway, that’s how Jane liked it.

The dining table was covered in a cheery plastic tablecloth and it was home to a growing collection of essentials; correspondence waiting to be dealt with, bottles of wine and water, photographs, boxes of pills, magazines, bowls of nuts and a basket of bread.

A compost bin tucked into the open gap under the sink overflowed with waste and there were piles of paper, cardboard and plastic stacked in the veranda. Jane argued that it wasn’t worth driving to the nearest recycling point unless there was enough to fill the boot of the car, so recycling gradually accumulated in available corners.

The main problem was the lack of heating. It was bitterly cold outside—

and went back to bed.

The next day a watery sun struggled to break through the lowlying cloud. The field at the back of Jane’s house was white with frost and the cold seemed to seep through the walls. It was hard to see the appeal of France on such a bleak day.

‘Let’s go out,’ Jane said, determined to make the most of our visit. We bundled into thick coats, boots, gloves and scarves and drove to the walled city of Guerande, where Handel’s Messiah was being performed in the medieval church of St Aubins. Jane parked her car in a side street and we waited while she unloaded her chair and shifted across.

‘Want a push?’

‘Yes please.’

Our breath billowed in the sub zero temperatures as we trundled across the cobbled street towards the church. If anything it seemed colder inside than it was outside. Jane parked her wheelchair at the end of a pew and I wondered if it was worth it. In spite of her coat, scarf and gloves she looked frozen. What were we doing, sitting in a freezing church when we could have been at home, listening to a recording of Handel’s Messiah?

I leant across and suggested as much Jane in her garden

through the night to provide hot water for the next day.

That night Alan found out more about French plumbing than he ever wanted to know. In the middle of the night he discovered the bathroom flooded and the toilet full. Flushing wasn’t an option. The only thing he could find to try and shift the blockage was a misshapen courgette in the compost bin under the sink.

After several attempts the impromptu plunger did the trick and Alan rinsed it off, returned it to the compost bin

to Jane, who just smiled and tied her scarf around her head.

‘Don’t worry, it will be worth it,’ she said.

Alan nipped out to a café across the square and came back with three plastic cups of hot chocolate and we huddled together, sipping our steaming cups of chocolate, waiting for the performance to start.

As the opening bars of Handel’s Messiah filled the church, Jane’s face lit up. It was as if the music had found a way straight through to her

soul. When the singers joined in the chorus she was transported to a place of beauty that seemed to shut out the cold and I realised then that Jane would have put up with any amount of discomfort to access that kind of beauty.

I helped prepare dinner when we got back while Alan wandered through the village, taking photographs before the light faded.

‘Jane, are you glad you’ve made the move?’

‘Yes.’ ‘In spite of the cold, the damp, the flooding and all the work that needs to be done?’

Jane smiled and nodded.

‘This is exactly where I want to be. I spent 20 years living in that flat on Little Ealing Lane, and I never once slept through the night. I’ve got the ears of a bat. If it wasn’t buses or cars it was planes, or drunks on the way home from the pub, or the milkman at four o’clock in the morning.’

She laughed. ‘For the first time in years I can sleep through the night.

There’s no traffic to wake me up and no mortgage to pay. I know there’s a lot of work to be done, but I’ll get there.’ n

We huddled around the stove and filled what was left of the evening with champagne, pate, cheese, whisky and talk of Jane’s new life in France

Jane and Deb

An extract from Dream Wheeler by Deb Hunt.

Dream Wheeler is available in paperback with a RRP of £8.99 through www.amazon. co.uk. Also available in large print format with a RRP of 12.99.

Or through bookdepository.com (free delivery) and as a kindle download.

Dream Wheeler

the kind of Dickensian cold that pinches your skin, compresses your skull and makes your bones ache— and not much warmer inside. The stone floors were covered in linoleum and, apart from Jane’s bedroom and the new bathroom, the whole of the ground floor was open plan. The wall between the veranda and the kitchen had been knocked through so nothing stopped the bitter cold from seeping through the metal back door and plunging through the plastic corrugated roof, as if it were nothing more substantial than a layer of cling film.

‘I might have to put doors between the kitchen and the veranda,’ said Jane, as if reading my thoughts. ‘It depends how cold it gets.’

I wondered how much colder it could get. One of the reasons Jane had wanted to move to France was to escape the brutal British winter.

This part of France didn’t seem any warmer, and the only heating for the whole of the downstairs area was a portable gas stove.

We huddled around the stove and filled what was left of the evening with champagne, pate, cheese, whisky and talk of Jane’s new life in France.

Alan kept us entertained with his accordion and at one o’clock in the morning, warmed by food and wine we went to bed. I curled up on a mattress on the floor of Jane’s bedroom and Alan slept on a camp bed in the dining room, beneath a noisy control box that rattled its way

RETIREMENT

today

5

Footloose in Rocamadour, France

by Debra Rixon

Footloose in Rocamadour, France

F

6

rance is huge, so it was difficult to choose fit the hill it was built on, but very a destination that we thought might appeal interesting in its history. From the to viewers, but so many people suggested original Barons of Castelnau who the Dordogne that we eventually decided dominated the valley, it ended up that the countryside and the history were in the hands of a Comique Opèra probably quite a popular choice, so we flew tenor and his wife who devoted to Bordeaux and hired a car to get to our base in the Lot themselves to preserving the castle.

Department of southern France.

You can tour the interior, which is I have spent very little time in France, and despite doing fascinating with relics of this wouldthe obligatory seven years of French at school, have retained be baron abounding. This region is hardly any of the language, so I was a bit more dependent Quercy, the original name for the on Dave this trip, and I had to bow (reluctantly) to his Department, and the castle gives you superior knowledge. We did struggle a bit, a feel for the times English wasn’t widely spoken - despite the The atmosphere is it lived through Brit enclave in the nearby Dordogne - but cheerful, but deeply - the religious with hand signals, Franglais and German wars between the reverent and it is we managed to arrange taxis to pick us up Huguenot and impossible not to be the Catholics; the from the end of our daily walks and eat. affected by it.

We had lovely weather, and the walking Hundred Years War was a real pleasure. As usual, we saw very when the English few other people on our rambles and the villages and and the French fought and died in countryside were sleepy in the hazy sunshine. Armed with the quiet fields that surround the good maps, we found the trails very well marked and the elevated castle. going was pretty easy in the main.

We walked on across the valley, and We started at the bastide town of Bretenoux, which I was amused to note that tobacco is is a town with a medieval heart on the busy D803 and grown and dried here; somehow I soon struck off up the hill in the direction of Château de always think of tobacco as growing Castelnau. It really was perfect walking weather - no wind on far off plantations. Although we at all and no humidity. We meandered across the Bave always carry water with us, I will valley which is very rural; most of the farms and houses never pass up the chance to purchase had at least a few rows of grapes tucked away somewhere. an ice-cold beer (and you can usually The Château was a quirky place; triangular in shape to use the loo then as well), and we RETIREMENT

today

stopped in immaculate Autoire for a rest. This village is one of the plus belle villages in France, and is terribly picturesque and very traditional with typical Quercynois architecture. I love the slightly run-down aspect of France; they will let a building fall to bits, but by placing a vibrant geranium or other plant artistically, somehow it all looks rather meantto-be and you forgive them. Autoire is not very big and we set off again, refreshed, towards the steep climb we knew we had to reach the top of the Circque de Autoire and walk on the Causse de Gramat. It’s a limestone cliff and there is no way round it you go up. I just pace myself, and our pace is pretty slow given that we are filming, so I don’t get out of breath, despite being asthmatic. I was grateful for the wooden ladders though; I didn’t fancy scrambling up the cliff and the views from the top were well worth it.

We were walking on the Causse now, and the lanes in dappled sunlight, flanked with moss covered limestone walls are very pleasant. We passed the first of the stone wayside crosses, which reminds you that you are walking on ancient paths of

towards the river Dordogne, which has been pretty elusive in our vistas, before going up again to Carennac - this I found rather pointless, but I have to say it’s all very pleasant and unhurried. There was a crossroads where we could go down to the Gouffre de Padirac, the system of caves and underground river, before going on to Carennac, but the day was getting late and we decided we would drive to the Gouffre on a separate day.

I liked Carennac very much; in fact, I think I liked it the best of the plus belle villages. I like honey coloured stone; it gives the impression of warmth, and the Benedictine Priory was really rather special, particularly the church of St. Pierre. There is an absolutely stunning fresco above the main doorway that begs to be photographed from every angle.

Carennac is larger than the other villages, has a few artisans and also accommodation. I did actually wish

we had stayed there instead. But we caught a taxi back to our accommodation, and started from Carennac again in the morning. The walk through the valley around Floirac is lovely, and full of plums.

There is a festival ‘des prunes’ every year, and you can learn all you want to know about plums - and some things you didn’t.

Montvalent is up on the cliffs, but the climb up is gentle, and it’s a pretty little settlement on the bend of a road.

There is even a town hall in this little place and a roadside vendor plying passing trade with the key products of this region - pate de foie gras and the famous goats’ cheese.

After Montvalent, we walked past a white cross and then followed grassy lanes which were more open towards the Alzou gorge where the religious city lies. Lots of butterflies in this open area, even a Praying Mantis, which we spotted in the long grass. There is more evidence of a pilgrim trail as we draw nearer to the gorge; water filled stone baths for weary travellers, and carved stone crosses along the way.

The last part of the walk to L’Hospitalet, the sanctuary village before Rocamadour was a disappointing road walk which did, however, give us a chance to pick up the pace and stride out a little better than we had done.

L’Hospitalet is a funny place; rather strewn along the edge of the limestone cliff of the gorge, with plenty of accommodation and eateries, and the glass and chrome Tourist office is located there, as well as some caves. There is the original ruined hospital that gives the town its name, and the lovely church that is the starting point for the procession of the Black Madonna to the religious city that we witnessed. The views over the gorge are spectacular, but really only one place that gives you the most sought after view of all – the sight of Rocamadour cascading down the rock.We finished our walk there, and came back the next day to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site Rocamadour, which clings spectacularly to the side of the gorge.

Yes, there are lots of tourists, but these are a different kind of tourist, I think.This is primarily a religious site, and there is a lack of shouting, talking loudly or bad behaviour.

People don’t walk about in hushed mode, but it seemed to me that it was generally accepted that misbehaving was definitely ‘out’. We talked to the Abbé of Rocamadour, a youthful, enthusiastic young priest called Ronan, who is determined to bring people back to his city on the rock.

A delightful, energetic cleric whose cheerful absolute faith is a joy to behold, and inevitably brings a smile to your face.

He wants to encourage people of all denominations to RETIREMENT

today

Footloose in Rocamadour, France

The caves at Padirac are well worth a visit; I always like to go underground (no, I am not a potholer!) and the journey in the flat bottomed boats on the underground river is a delight. The guides are very well informed and keep up a seamless stream of information. I recommend taking a waterproof with a hood, though; the guides like to take their boats underneath what amounts to an indoor shower for fun.

s

pilgrimmage. At Loubressac, which is another pretty village overlooking the valley, you can look back and see the crenellated outline of the Château de Castelnau silhouetted on its little triangular hill in the distance, shining redly in the warm sun. Loubressac, another of the Lords of Castelnau strongholds, is built on a spur of rock and you descend through woods to the valley floor, before climbing back up. Then it’s another descent

7

Footloose in Rocamadour, France

come to Rocamadour and visit the Chapel of the Black Madonna; he believes fervently that it is difficult not to believe in God at Rocamadour.

The Sanctuary is gained up the pilgrims’ steps, and fascinating they are to behold. If you look closely, you will find fossils embedded in the stone, which may have been a comfort for the faithful, who more often than not, climbed the staircase on their knees.

The Benedictine, 12th century church of St Michel hangs above the pilgrimmage church of Notre Dame which holds the statue of the Black Madonna, and is dimly lit as you might imagine. On the terrace that is the Plateau of St Michel where the pilgrims can gather is the adjacent church of St Sauveur, whose interior walls contain paintings and inscriptions recalling the pilgrimmages of celebrated persons. All the different languages surround you as coach parties ebb and flow in such a small space. The subterranean church of St Amadour extends beneath St Sauveur and contains relics of the saint. Yes, there are shops on the lower road, but not very many and you don’t begrudge

them. There are also a small number of cafes and restaurants. A twisty path follows the 14 Stations of the Cross up to the chateau that stands on the cliff ledge high above, but there is a lift for those no longer able to make the journey. There are also several of those little motorised trains that ply between the car and coach park and the lower street leading to the pilgrims’ steps.

The atmosphere is cheerful, but deeply reverent and it is impossible not to be affected by it. Rocamadour is a small place, but you want to spend time there. That night, we followed the candlelit procession from L’Hospitalet down the Voie Sainte to Rocamadour, along the ancient holy road, mindful that this sight would have been almost heavenly to those pilgrims of long ago n

Debra and David flew to Bordeaux and hired a car to combine with taxis to be able to get to and from a day’s hike.

The route they walked to Rocamadour is the GR652 and GR46 and is well way-marked but a map clarifies the odd confusion. There is plenty of accommodation at L’Hospitalet, but very little in the Plus Belle villages, although Carennac does boast a guest house or two. The caves at Padirac have a spectacular meshed staircase down to the cavern floor, but there is a lift. The visitor then has to walk to the edge of the underground river to embark on the shallow bottomed boats.

There is a huge car park there with restaurant and museum.

Chateau de Castelnau at Bretenoux has a small car park at the foot of the chateau and you walk up to the gates.

Guided tours are available.

WIN

We have 10 copies of the DVD ‘Footloose in Rocamadour’ to give away.

For a chance to win send in your name and address, quoting FIR to: Amra Media Solutions, 46a Brook Street, Aston Clinton,Bucks, HP22 5ES. Closing date: 15 December 2013.

Retirement Today travelled from Portsmouth to St Malo with Brittany Ferries.

T

he whole ethos of the company is that your holiday starts from the moment you arrive on board, with the ship offering everything the modern day traveller would require from in-house entertainment to fine dining in a relaxing and luxurious setting.

Ideal for overseas property owners and regular travellers, Brittany Ferries’ Club Voyage Travel Club offers generous savings of up to 30% on crossings from the UK to France and Spain. Other benefits include, but are not limited to, 10% reduction on meals and wine in their on-board restaurants, up to 10% discount for friends and family and free or half price day cabins on some crossings.

Brittany Ferries also offer a great property rental service. To alleviate some of the pressure faced when letting your overseas property in France or Spain, Brittany Ferries have two efficient services on offer. Brittany Ferries provides a managed service where everything from advertising to taking bookings to taking payments for ferry inclusive holidays, is included. For those who prefer to be more hands on, Holiday France Direct offers great advertising for your property, with no restrictions on how you manage it.With both of the above, as the property owner, you are entitled to 20% discount on all ferry crossings you make and Holiday France Direct also offers your guests 20% discount on their Brittany Ferries passenger and vehicle fare n

For the Club Voyage travel club: www.brittanyferries.com/clubvoyage For more information visit www.brittanyferries.com/letyourproperty 8

RETIREMENT

today

Ref no. NE6031 (St Simeon)- 2 bedroom property in Normandy, near Pont Audemer. Ferry inclusive price starts from £435 (for one week)

Ref no. VI6066 (Loché Sur Indrois) - 3/4 bedroom property in Loire Valley near Loches. Ferry inclusive price starts from £530 (for one week)

RETIREMENT

today

9

The city of light and love, where chic is everything, and the pastries, chocolates and desserts on offer are life’s simple yet necessary pleasures. In ‘Sweet Paris’ photographer and food writer Michael Paul saunters the street and alleys of this magical city with his camera and taste buds, uncovering some mouth-watering recipes.

Here are some of our favourites for you to try.

Paris Sweet

Traditional Tarte au Citron Old-Fashioned French Chocolat Chaud This authentic French recipe for traditional chocolat chaud à l’ancienne is for those on a mission to discover the ultimate rich hot choccy. If you are one of them, be prepared to have your socks blown off – you’ll probably have to loosen your belt, too, as it is thick, creamy, concentrated and utterly indulgent. But, hey, there are times when we just have to let go. Frequent whisking is mandatory, as is the addition of brown sugar and a pinch of sea salt. I go all the way and serve it with whipped cream and, occasionally, a sprinkle of cocoa powder. Extreme hedonists might want to finish with a dash of rum or Kahlua.

SERVES 4 1 vanilla pod 600 ml (20 fl oz) whole milk 250 ml (9fl oz/1 cup) single (pouring) cream 2 tablespoons brown sugar pinch of sea salt 150 g (5½ oz) bittersweet dark chocolate, finely chopped 100 g (3½ oz) milk chocolate, finely chopped 300 ml (10½ fl oz) double (heavy) cream, whipped, to serve

Sweet Paris

Take the vanilla pod and slit it lengthwise with a small sharp knife. Scrape out the seeds and add them, along with the rest of the pod, to the milk in a large saucepan. Add the cream, brown sugar and a soupçon of salt, then warm over a low heat to bring to a simmer, but don’t boil.

10

Take off the heat and fish out the vanilla pod, then add the two types of chopped chocolate, stirring until they melt and the mixture becomes smooth.

At this point you need to use a whisk and some elbow power for a couple of minutes until the chocolate is smooth and a little frothy Reheat again – being careful not to boil – then pour into suitable cups or bowls and serve with whipped cream.

RETIREMENT

today

Nearly every pâtissier in France has a different recipe for this masterpiece, often a closely guarded secret handed down through the generations. This is my version of this proverbial French family favourite. A sinfully rich recipe, it uses double cream and six egg yolks, which is the secret of its succulence; the lemon juice and zest give it that tangy oomph. It evokes memories of al fresco feasts on summer nights in Provence, sipping sticky Muscat de Beaumes de Venise with the heady smell of lavender on the warm night air.

SERVES 6–8 300 g (10½ oz) ready-made

6 eggs yolks

shortcrust pastry

160 g (5 oz) caster (superfine) sugar

75 g (2¾ oz) unsalted butter

200 ml (7 fl oz) fresh lemon juice

150 ml (5 fl oz) double (heavy) cream

zest of 2 lemons, finely grated

2 eggs

whipped cream, to serve

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4.

Roll out the pastry to about 3 mm ( inch) thick and line a 24 cm (9½ inch) round, 4 cm (1½ inch) deep tart or quiche dish. Place a sheet of greaseproof paper over the pastry case and fill with baking beans. Bake blind in the oven for about 10–15 minutes, or until the case is lightly golden brown and slightly crisp but not completely cooked. In a medium-size saucepan, gently melt the butter, then slowly add the cream keeping on a low heat. Once this mixture is thoroughly combined, set it aside.

In a separate heatproof bowl placed over a large pan of simmering water, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks and sugar, continuing until the sugar dissolves. Add the lemon juice, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Add the lemon zest and then the butter and cream mixture, and continue to simmer, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes.

Lower the oven temperature to 150°C/300°F/gas mark 2. Now pour the lemon filling into the prepared pastry case and bake for 30–35 minutes, until it turns a deep golden yellow and the filling is still just a bit wobbly in the middle.

If the top shows signs of browning, lay a sheet of foil over to protect it.

Remove from the oven and leave to cool slowly. Serve with whipped cream.

Recipes from Sweet Paris

by Michael Paul (£14.99, Hardie Grant) Photography: Michael Paul

Classic Parisian Bistro Crème Brûlée

Many traditional French chocolate mousse recipes are very heavy, using cream and butter, and are time-consuming to make. This is a straightforward version that calls for only three ingredients but results in a rich, intense chocolate flavour. It requires a bit of vigorous beating but it’s well worth the effort. When making anything that uses uncooked eggs be sure to choose the freshest organic ones.

MAKES 4 120 g (4¼ oz) bittersweet dark chocolate 4 large eggs 25 g (1 oz) caster (superfine) sugar Finely chop the chocolate with a sharp knife. Slowly melt it in a heatproof bowl set over a large pan of simmering water without allowing the bowl to touch the water. Stir gently until smooth and then remove from the heat.

Separate the egg yolks and whites into two clean bowls.

Whisk the egg whites with an electric beater, slowly folding in the sugar until the mixture forms soft peaks.

Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate, beating vigorously with a wooden spoon until smooth. Be sure to allow the chocolate to cool just a few minutes before adding the yolks. If it’s too hot the yolks will cook, and if it’s too cold the mixture won’t blend well.

Using a spatula, slowly fold one-quarter of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture at a time, until completely incorporated – but don’t overdo it or the mousse will lose volume.

Transfer the mousse to individual parfait glasses and refrigerate for at least 3 hours until set. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

SERVES 6 600 ml (20 fl oz) double (heavy) cream

30 g (1 oz) caster (superfine) sugar

2 fat vanilla pods

6 tablespoons soft brown sugar

8 egg yolks Preheat the oven to 160°C/325°F/gas mark 3. Pour the cream into a saucepan with a lid. Split the vanilla pods lengthways and scrape the seeds into the cream and then add the pods. Bring just to the boil and simmer for a few minutes, then turn off the heat and pop on the lid. Leave to infuse for 15 minutes.

Beat the egg yolks with the sugar in a large heatproof bowl until pale and creamy. Bring the cream back to boiling point, fish out the vanilla pods, then add the egg mixture. Turn down the heat and constantly whisk until the mixture starts to thicken and you have a smooth, custard-like consistency.

It mustn’t boil otherwise the eggs will curdle.

Pour into six 150 ml (5 fl oz) ovenproof ramekins until two-thirds full.

Sit the ramekins in a bain-marie - a large roasting tray at least 8 cm (3 inches) deep – and pour in enough hot water to come three-quarters of the way up the sides of the ramekins. Place on the middle shelf of the oven and cook for 35–40 minutes until the crèmes brûlées are set but a bit wobbly in the middle.

Remove from the water and allow to cool before placing them in the fridge.

An hour before you’re ready to serve, sprinkle one level tablespoon of brown sugar over the surface of each one, then caramelise either with a blowtorch or under a very fierce preheated grill until golden and bubbling. Leave to cool for a few minutes, and then pop back in the fridge until dessert time.

RETIREMENT

today

Sweet Paris

Rich Chocolate Mousse

Back in the seventeenth century François Massialot, chef de cuisine to various illustrious personages, was credited with inventing the crème brûlée, in which the ‘burnt’ sugar topping was melted with a red-hot fire shovel. This classic creamy, Parisian bistro dessert is another firm favourite, providing it’s not adulterated with things like fruit or chocolate. To me, it’s all about thick, vanilla-infused custard and glossy shards of crunchy sugar. The easiest way to caramelize the sugar topping is with a chef’s blowtorch but, if you don’t have one, the alternative is to place the ramekins as near to the heat as possible under a very hot grill – but keep your eye on them. And do remember to leave them to sit for a while in order to let the top harden and the ramekins cool down.

11

CCLASP • Vital Transport • Holidays - 2 caravans and 1 cottage • Fun events all year round • 24hr Telephone Helpline • Regular Newsletters • Dreams come True outings • Clown entertainment in ward • Surprise parcels

perfectprofiles Healing, Health & Happiness.

Go ahead

7 North Leith Sands, Edinburgh EH6 4ER 0131 467 7420/1 website www.cclasp.net email cclasp@hotmail.com Managing Director/Founder - Valerie Simpson

Take a bite!

UK’s leading dental implant centres Dental Implants £680

Please call on 01582 518100 185x135 Retire 10-13_Brotherwood 17/10/2013 11:01 Page 1

www.perfectdental.eu.com

ARE YOU OVER 65? RELIANT ON A WHEELCHAIR? NEEDING HELP AND ADVICE ABOUT TRANSPORT? From the 28th October 2013 only those disabled persons between the ages of 16 and 64 (inclusive) who apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) may be awarded a Mobility Allowance.

Those who qualify are entitled to lease a vehicle for their transport requirement under the Motability Contract Hire Scheme, whilst pensioners who do not receive the Mobility Allowance have to make their own arrangements.

For 30 years Brotherwood ® has been converting cars that accommodate a person seated in their wheelchair, to travel within the family group or beside the driver.

Investing in the correct car is a very important decision as a pensioner and our advice is based on experience of virtually all forms of disability. We can offer a range of new and refurbished Brotherwood converted cars, or may suggest the short or long term hire of a particular model.

Please ring us on 01935 872603 or visit brotherwood.com and tell us what you feel you need for transport. We can then send you a brochure prior to you visiting the factory or requesting a home demonstration.

We are here to help you.

Ron Heaton, Sales Consultant ®

BROTHERWOOD Lambert House, Pillar Box Lane, Beer Hackett, Sherborne, Dorset, England DT9 6QP

12

RETIREMENT

today

REGISTERED FIRM ISO 9001:2008

How To Age Amazingly

by David Buswell

The four cornerstones are: Choice.

We always have a choice. We can choose how we will live, how to respond to our changing circumstances; whether to live amazingly, or to stay right where we are.

Letting go.

We can choose to let go of what keeps us stuck and free up space for the new to emerge.

Buddhism talks of how attachment brings sorrow; the antidote, which will release the suffering, is non-attachment or letting go.

Acceptance.

Faced with uncomfortable or painful situations, we have three choices – to fight and resist; to give up; or to accept things exactly as they are. At times fighting or giving up is an appropriate response; in others, particularly where we are powerless to control events, acceptance is a potent option.

Gratitude.

The ability to notice, appreciate and savour all parts of life is crucial to wellbeing as confirmed by a study showing that people who count their blessings and are thankful for them tend to be healthier and happier .

The four cornerstones are the critical components of Amazing Ageing; the six pillars are the icing on the cake. They are: Be positive. We can choose to be grumpy or happy. People who are positive have more energy, better physical health and live longer.

s

about the physical; and that there are almost no books about how to age well which don’t have a physical focus, so I decided to write one: Amazing Ageing - The Psychological Survival Manual For Those Approaching Older Age (MX Publishing / available from Amazon).

Amazing Ageing scarce mentions the physical aspects of getting older. Sure, our body will deteriorate and decay, but we are more, much more, than our body. We have a mind, what I call the ‘inner you’ – the part of us which includes our conscious and unconscious minds and acts as our central controller. It is the ‘inner you’ that makes the difference because it can change and grow even while the physical body is deteriorating. We can choose, if we wish, to take control and be master of what we think, what we feel and how we behave.

Working on the ‘inner you’ is important because, as we age, the challenges mount up.

We begin to suffer because we hang on to the past, the losses proliferate and the regrets multiply.We cling on to outdated values and beliefs, become more isolated and lonely, less visible and more marginalised. We can find ourselves living in the past while dreading the future, we can become rigid in our thinking. Sexual potency wanes. It is easy to slip into intolerance and ingratitude.

What makes a significant difference to the way we age are the four cornerstones and the six pillars of Amazing Ageing.

RETIREMENT

today

How To Age Amazingly

A

geing is inevitable, unavoidable and inescapable, but have you noticed that some people are appreciably better at it than others?

There are those who enjoy a relatively happy, active old age and some who don’t.

There is no shortage of advice on how to age well - there is a plethora of information on diet, exercise, how to maintain a vigorous sex life while perfecting your golf swing, looking younger, the invigorating properties of seaweed. There are alternative therapists, yoga or Pilates classes, health spas, Botox, beauty treatments galore. But ... and it is a very big but ... the attention is principally on the physical aspects of getting older. This is partly because ageing attracts huge costs (think of the NHS) and in part because there are mega bucks to be had from marketing anti-ageing products.

The experience of older people is that few of the diets, creams, or pills live up to their promise in the long term; they may not make things worse, but can be expensive and the benefits short-lived.

I was so curious about what are the significant differences between the hippy, happy oldsters and the Victor Meldrews that I researched the subject by reading, talking to older people individually and in groups, and by observation. I concluded two things: that successful ageing is not

13

Be realistic. It is one of the givens of ageing that it is more difficult to keep things in proportion. Fears and anxieties can spiral downwards into depression and hopelessness. To develop realism, we should make the issues as concrete and real as we can.

Take action. Taking action reduces anxiety and helps us stay grounded. Doing something is better than worrying about it.

Taking action boosts confidence.

Be flexible. Inflexibility narrows our field of choice. To achieve greater flexibility, we can avoid the temptation to think in the way we always think, to react in the same well worn pattern, and to do things as we always do them.

No rules. Rules place limits on possibility and restrictions on freedom. If we chuck out the rules, new opportunities can surface. Thomas Edison said, “There are no rules here. We’re trying to accomplish something.”

Be resilient. Humpty Dumpty fell off a wall and could not be put back together again.Whoever he was, one thing is for sure, he lacked resilience; otherwise he would have picked himself up, put himself together again and climbed back onto the wall. To have resilience is to have emotional bounce!

The pillars and cornerstones describe what we can do to age amazingly, but far more important is “How to do it?” In Amazing Ageing, I have addressed this by describing what you can do and providing exercises to help you do it. Below are some (abbreviated) examples of exercises relating to two of the cornerstones:

How To Age Amazingly

Choice: How To Make Choices

14

Even your everyday actions are a choice; you either do it or you don’t. Start by making simple choices which have no far-reaching consequences. You do this by bringing into conscious awareness the fact that a choice is being made and by silently saying to yourself: I consciously choose to......

- turn off the alarm clock - get out of bed - go into the bathroom, etc.

When you have mastered this, move on to the next step of consciously choosing between alternatives. Keep it light and fun, making sure that you are not making choices between things with heavy consequences (such as adopting a Yak or getting married).

RETIREMENT

today

Again, be aware that a choice is being made and silently say to yourself: I consciously choose to ....rather than ...

- brush my teeth with my left hand, rather than my right - drink tea, rather than coffee - have fish and chips, rather than lamb shanks, etc.

The final step is to make conscious choices between alternatives of increasing importance where you are choosing something which has greater value for you than the other possibilities. This is a form of trade-off and now that you have mastered trading-off simple things such as menu choices, you can up the ante (but beware the Yaks or wedding bells). As before, say silently to yourself: I consciously choose to ..... in preference to .....

- book tickets for a week at the Edinburgh Festival in preference to renting a villa in Tuscany - buy a new washing machine in preference to a new greenhouse - spend the day with my daughter in preference to gardening, etc.

Gratitude: How To Develop Gratitude

In Amazing Ageing I suggest a number of ways to strengthen your gratitude muscles: make a list of all the things in your life for which you are grateful; appreciate yourself by writing down personal qualities which you feel to have (the book makes this easy by suggesting a list of 260 such qualities from which you can choose, so you’ll be able to find at least a couple that might be applicable!) do an Evening Review: Before you go to sleep at night nothing could be more restful than reviewing the agreeable things that have happened during your day. It certainly beats worrying about tomorrow! Go through the events of your day and notice the ones you are

grateful for. They can be momentous: invented anti-cancer drug, finished 9th Symphony, collected Nobel Prize; or they can be more commonplace: went for a walk with the dog, dug up potatoes, bought a new dishcloth, etc. Keep it positive and be grateful.

Conclude by saying Thank You. The publication of Amazing Ageing is timely: the UK 2011 Census shows that 9.2 million people in England & Wales are aged over 65 (an increase of more than 10 per cent since 2001); the number of people aged over 90 rose by more than a quarter over the same period; and the number over 100 rose by two thirds. Getting older may be a voyage into uncharted waters, but a lot more of us are doing it, and some of us are doing it amazingly! n

Author Bio

David Buswell’s chief credential for writing Amazing Ageing is that he is in his 60s and wondering how to make the very best of the life that remains. He says he has written the book he needs to read!

He is a qualified Psychosynthesis counsellor, and a NLP Practitioner, Master Practitioner, and NLP Coach.

David’s curiosity about ‘what makes the difference’ propelled him into exploring and working with performers to understand the factors which lead to peak performance and those which contribute to performance anxiety and stage fright. One outcome of this is Performance Strategies for Musicians a self-help manual for those who suffer from stage-fright and/or wish to perform at their very best.

Outside of his working life (otherwise known as retirement), David loves walking in the Northamptonshire countryside with his dog Charlie, is a pianist, organist and choir trainer, and has cycled from St Malo to Montpellier, and round the coast of Scotland from Glasgow to Inverness. Once.

RETIREMENT

today

15

Out&About...

Looking for something to do ?

Don’t miss an opportunity to visit the Historic silver collection and library at the Birmingham assay office.

The Birmingham assay office was formed in 1773 as a result of a successful lobbying campaign led by Birmingham industrialist, entrepreneur and silversmith Matthew Boulton. Since then it has grown to become the largest assay office in the world and still continues to carry out its statutory duty of hallmarking articles manufactured in platinum, gold, silver and palladium.

Housed in an impressive grade II listed, late Victorian building, located on the edge of Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter, the Birmingham assay office organises, by prior arrangement, visits from recognised groups and associations.

These unique visits are designed to be both enjoyable and informative and provide the only opportunity for the public to see inside the assay office.

The Collection features over 1400 objects, many of them spectacular examples of the work of some of Birmingham’s most celebrated silversmiths including Matthew Boulton, Nathaniel Mills and Elkington and Co. Bespoke tours can be arranged. For details contact Tel: 0871 871 6020 email silver@theassayoffice.co.uk They also hold General Public silver visits throughout the year the dates for the first half of 2014 are Monday 24th February, Monday 28th April & Thursday 26th June2014 Places are £12 each.

William Dent, The Return to the Political Ark, hand-coloured etching, 1790 © The Trustees of the British Museum

Curious Beasts:

Out & About

Animal Prints from the British Museum Compton Verney, Warwickshire Until 15 December

16

This exhibition organised in collaboration with the British Museum explores our enduring curiosity about the animal world through the beautiful and bizarre imagery found in the rich print collections of the British Museum.

The prints show the importance of artistic thoughts and human perspective, as well as scientific knowledge, in shaping our understanding of the natural world.

The role of printmaking and visual culture in the understanding of the natural world in this important period in a number of entertaining, complex and stimulating artworks.

The exhibition features artists including Albrecht Dürer, Francisco Goya and George Stubbs.

RETIREMENT

today

Edinburgh Art Fair Corn Exchange, Edinburgh 15 – 17 November 2013

The Edinburgh Art Fair returns for its ninth edition to the Edinburgh Corn Exchange this November.

Bringing together 60 galleries from around the world to Scotlands capital city and showcasing the work of thousands of professional artists, the Edinburgh Art Fair is an art buyers dream and an opportunity not to be missed.

With original art starting from as little as £75, starting your own collection or adding to your existing art collection needn’t break the bank but those with slightly more expensive tastes and a larger budget will also find new work from the many established and highly collected artists regularly shown at the event.

Each year the fair attracts upwards of 10,000 enthusiastic art lovers and over the last 8 years has seen more than 5,000 artworks sold with a combined value in excess of £5m.

With thousands of paintings, sculpture, glass, ceramics and original prints, all shown in a friendly and relaxed environment the Edinburgh Art Fair really does have something for everyone. www.artedinburgh.com Masterpieces of Chinese Painting - QiuYing Saying Farewell at Xunyang-detail

DOLLS, BEARS AND ROBOTS

A new permanent display for children at The Bowes Museum

Looking for something to entertain the family during the holidays? Then why not pop along to The Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle where a new exhibition – Dolls, Bears & Robots, now showing.

The child-friendly display offers an entertaining, informative and often nostalgic look at the history of toys and games, from the 19th century to the present day.

Organised in collaboration with their partner museum, Beamish, the show provides a fascinating insight into the ways in which children’s interests, aspirations and preferences were influenced by the objects they played with, especially in days gone by.

The contrast between the sexes is clearly defined in the way early toys were marketed; the girls’ focusing on domesticity, with dolls, houses, cookers, prams and ironing boards, while those aimed at boys reveal a very different destiny: lead soldiers, fire engines, and board games. www.bowesmuseum.org.uk

Masterpieces of Chinese Painting 700-1900 Until 19 January 2014 V&A Gathering together the finest examples of Chinese painting created over a 1200 year period.

The exhibition includes more than 70 works. From small scale intimate works by monks and literati to a 14 metre-long scroll painting. Many of the paintings are being shown in Europe for the first time, including some of the earliest surviving Chinese paintings. Also on display are other exceptional rare works loaned from the greatest international collections.

Tel. 0207 942 2000 www.vam.ac.uk

Short Courses 2013–2014 Central Saint Martins

Animation Architecture Bespoke training Business skills Ceramics Courses for under 19s Creative process Daytimes Digital design Digital film and video Dual city Drawing Evenings Fashion Fine art Graphic design Interior design Jewellery Journalism Online learning Painting Performance Photography Portfolio preparation Printmaking Product design Saturdays Sculpture Study abroad Textiles Theatre design Weekends Writing

www.arts.ac.uk /csm/shortcourses Short Course Office, Central Saint Martins, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, King’s Cross, London N1C 4AA, UK. Email: shortcourse@csm.arts.ac.uk Sign up for special offers and updates by email: www.arts.ac.uk/csm/subscribe.

Telephone enquiries and Customer service: 020 7514 7015 (From overseas dial +44 20 7514 7015)

KINGDONS COURT Later Living in South Molton

KINGDONS COURT

Making a Difference…

Later Living in South Molton

An exclusive gated development of An exclusive gatedand development 3 bedroom bungalows apartmentsofin the 3 bedroom bungalows and apartments in the heart heart of of aa charming charming North North Devon Devon market market town town

KINGDONS COURT Later Living Living in in South South Molton Molton Later

An exclusive exclusive gated gated development development of of An 3 bedroom bedroom bungalows bungalows and and apartments apartments in in the the 3 heart of of aa charming charming North North Devon Devon market market town town heart

£249,950

£249,950

Invest In your Future Contact Webbers Estate Agents 01769 573181 £249,950

www.sunnybankshomes.co.uk £249,950 £195,000

Invest Invest In In your your Future Future

Contact Contact Webbers Estate Agents 01769 573181 Contact Webbers Webbers Estate Estate Agents Agents 01769 01769 573181 573181

www.sunnybankshomes.co.uk www.sunnybankshomes.co.uk

www.sunnybankshomes.co.uk

With supported housing, nursing and dementia care, the Church of England Pensions Board provides security and peace of mind in retirement to those who have given their lives towards helping others in the name of Christ, including Clergy Widows and Licensed Lay Workers.

We rely on donations and legacies to continue this much needed work.

PLEASE HELP US IN ANY WAY YOU CAN The Church of England Pensions Board (RT) FREEPOST 898, LONDON SW1P 3YS Tel: 0207 898 1808

Web: www.cepb.org.uk/appeals Email: cepbappeals@churchofengland.org Registered Charity Number: 236627

Self-catering on the Settle - Carlisle Line with the Settle & Carlisle Railway Trust

The Settle & Carlisle Railway Trust now has three self-catering holiday lets at two stations.

So why not have your breakfast and watch trains go by the window, or enjoy the sunrise over the fells at the Station Master’s House, Ribblehead or the station at Kirkby Stephen.

The Station Master’s House at Ribblehead

Kirkby Stephen Station Two holiday lets, each sleeping 4

Sleeps up to 4

Booking Office Cottage Platform Cottage

Both locations are open all through the year, they are available for full weeks, long weekends and mid-week breaks.

For rates and availability call 01768 800 208 or visit

www.sandctrust.org.uk/stayatastation/ 18

RETIREMENT

today

Charity N E W S

Dementia Care within a Christian community Help and support for Clergy Pensioners from the Church of England Pensions Board The work of the Pensions Board means much more than a pension at retirement. One in four of those retiring from the service of the Church of England seek their assistance and one area where the Board’s Charitable Funds can support those in need is the provision of dementia care.

Jonathan Dimbleby leads charity debate Top broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby recently gave his time and talents to help Alzheimer’s research charity BRACE stage a major debate.

BRACE, based at Frenchay Hospital in South Gloucestershire, is one of the very few charities which fund medical research into the causes, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

The Pensions Board’s nursing care home in Surrey has a specialist unit caring for dementia patients. Recently expanded, the unit provides a safe, secure and stimulating environment for those who are unable to care for themselves. Their pensioners and their dependants are benefitting from the specialised environment and trained staff this unit offers.

The charity organised an Any Questions? style debate at the University of the West of England, chaired by Jonathan Dimbleby. The expert panel included Pensions Minister Steve Webb, leading scientists from Bristol University and UWE, a care home manager and dementia campaigner Beth Britton (D4Dementia).

Many of us have, or have had, experience of dementia. We will be all too aware of the strain and responsibility placed upon the family members and carers of those suffering from this difficult illness.

In order to meet the growing need for this type of care, more places are needed.

Continued support for the Board’s Charitable Funds from kind and generous individuals is therefore essential if they are to continue to help the growing numbers of those in need, and provide an environment where people can live with their dementia, not just exist.

Topics discussed included whether older people should be routinely screened for dementia, how we can make communities more ‘dementia friendly’ and whether it is realistic to talk of a cure.

BRACE’s Chief Executive Mark Poarch said afterwards, “We were trying to prompt a debate both wider and deeper than is usually possible in such a public forum. By bringing together such a range of perspectives we hope to encourage new thinking and help us all achieve a greater understanding of the issues.”

The debate was webcast and the recording is available online www.alzheimers-brace.org

For further information visit www.cepb.org.uk

The Royal Star & Garter Homes’ WW1 Centenary Battlefields Trek The Royal Star & Garter Homes is proud to announce its WW1 Battlefields Trek to commemorate the Centenary of the start of the First World War.

At this time of the year the farmers round up their ponies which they have had grazing on Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor. Once they have been sorted out into the ones they want to keep and those they wish to sell, they are then sent off to a local market. This entire experience can be quite a distressing one for the ponies and many of them are either too unfit or too young to even make it through the drifts. SWEP’s Welfare Department are there to ensure any ponies requiring help will receive it and if necessary they will come into their care. SWEP have attended Hallworthy, Exeter, Newton Abbot, Tavistock, Chagford and Hatherliegh markets. Although the sales are well run and there are other welfare societies who attend them along with SWEP, they often find the ponies are badly handled and foals are being sold which are too young to even be there. This year they have had four young foals come into their care as a result of their Welfare Department attending one of the local sales, they will join their own foals who are due to be weaned soon.

The Charity’s Regional Fundraising Manager, Mia Patterson, who will be taking part, said: “The Trek will be a poignant experience as well as physically demanding – and provides a memorable and meaningful way to raise funds to help disabled exService men and women to live full, active lives.”

The Trek participants will be supporting The Royal Star & Garter Homes in its mission to continue caring for those who bravely served, in their own time of need.

This bespoke trip is organised for The Royal Star & Garter Homes by Discover Adventure Ltd and will be led by an experienced guide.

For further information contact: Michelle Danks e: michelle.danks@starandgarter.org t: 020 8439 8120

Charity News

2013 Pony Drifts and Markets

The three-day sponsored trek takes place in September 2014, walking through Northern France and Belgium. It is a physical challenge and also provides participants with a unique perspective of prominent battle-sites of the Ypres Salient, often tracing the line of the Western Front itself.

or Cally Madden e: cally.madden@starandgarter.org t: 020 8439 8119

www.swep.org RETIREMENT

today

19

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

20

RETIREMENT

today

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.

UPDATE

Visit Retirement Today at the 50+ Show

SECC, Glasgow 7-9 Novemb er Stand C9

The 50+ Show is Britain’s biggest show for the active over 50s and is all about making the most out of life. It makes a fantastic day out for everyone who loves life and wants to make the most of it.

Why not come and see us on stand C9, and enter our fantastic competition.

Relax away from the piped carols and the bustle of the shops to this wonderful Lochside setting in Perthshire. Be extra merry this Christmas with the chance to win an overnight stay for two at The Four Seasons Hotel with dinner in their award winning fine dining restaurant. Have a silent night and enjoy waking up to a hearty Scottish Breakfast fit for a King. Alternatively explore the snow tip peaks of the surrounding munros and rural tracks of Perthshire. Where else in the world to enjoy Hogmanay if not in the Scottish Highlands with a warm log fire and a wee dram for Auld Lang Syne! (terms and conditions apply) Amazing Christmas and Hogmanay packages available for more info, visit www. thefourseasonshotel.co.uk

Life starts at 60 for almost 1 million

‘GRANDTREPRENEURS’

Dreaming of moving abroad?

Plan for the unexpected Retired British Expats experiencing financial loss The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued a warning to British nationals who are considering a move abroad, advising them to plan for the unexpected before they move to a new destination.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Mark Simmonds says “The appeal of warmer climates and experiencing different countries and cultures is strong for many British citizens. We want to pave the way for our expatriates to have the best experience possible when they move abroad”. He adds “It’s important to do your homework so that you are well informed about your new environment before you travel. We have put together a checklist to help people prepare fully before travelling abroad.

Take a look at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for country-specific information.”

A new study published today has revealed the UK is a nation of budding ‘grandtrepreneurs’ with almost one million1 people having started a business or pursued their dream job since turning 60.

Setting up a business can be risky and costly, but one in five (21%) ‘grandtrepreneurs’ say they were in a better position financially aged 60+ to take on the challenge than they were when they were younger. For more than a quarter (27%), pursuing their dream job is more about the mental stimulus and personal reward than making money. However, the study finds that financial stability is far from true for everyone, and 18 per cent of this group have continued working into their later years because they needed to supplement their income but, interestingly, decided that if they were going to have to work they would at least do something they’re passionate about.

Historic Dorset Town is UK’s Retirement Capital New analysis from Prudential reveals South West England as the most popular place to live in the UK for retirees, with more pensioners per head in Christchurch, Dorset than anywhere else in the country.* Prudential’s analysis of the latest UK census data shows that three in every ten people (30 per cent) living in Christchurch are retired. The figures show that the proportion of pensioners in the town is over 80 per cent higher than the UK average of 16 per cent. Christchurch – also the home of the most expensive beach hut in the UK** - has a total population of nearly 50,000, of which more than 14,000 are pensioners. * Based on Prudential Analysis of the 2011 Census, as published by the ONS in July 2013 ** UK’s most expensive beach hut sells for £170,000 in Dorset RETIREMENT

today

Update

The report by Retirement Assured, the new online annuity comparison site, found life for this group certainly isn’t slowing down, and with people living longer over a quarter (28%) are choosing to work into their later years to fulfil a life ambition and do something they’ve always wanted to do. A third (31%) have simply spotted a good opportunity and felt they had to go for it, demonstrating that winding down in the run up to or even in - retirement is certainly not on everyone’s agenda.

21

The gift that keeps on giving Christmas is the season for giving but sometimes it feels like the huge commercialisation of the season is not in keeping with the original spirit.

Presents received can become quickly discarded or put to the back of a drawer and forgotten about, or even re-sold on auction sites. So this year when thinking of what to buy friends and family for Christmas why not give the high street a miss and look at finding a way to give that will help animals.

Animal adoption or sponsorship is a fantastic way of giving someone a truly memorable gift but at the same time making a wonderful contribution to animal welfare. It really is the gift that keeps on giving. It works like this; an animal is adopted for a period of time and in return the adoptee gets the opportunity to follow the development of their chosen animal or perhaps where possible visit.There are also a range of goodies that often come with the adoption, everything from cuddly toys to day passes to wildlife parks.

It can be a great alternative for children and adults alike who for whatever reason are unable to keep an additional pet or larger animals such as a horse and can also encourage them to develop an interest in wildlife conservation. No other gift can teach a child love and compassion, the qualities most important in a child’s development.

Animal adoption is a very important method of fund raising, and an ideal option for any animal lover.The details vary but the essentials remain the same.

The person receives a certificate, pictures of their animal and in some cases a cuddly toy, all helping to create that special bond.

Here, we provide a great choice for potential adoptees, take a look and make this year a truly giving Christmas. Give the gift that keeps on giving.

The gift that keeps on giving

St Tiggywinkles

22

Every year in Britain over five million wild animals and birds are injured as a direct result of their encounters with man’s world.

St Tiggywinkles are a specialist hospital, dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating all species of British wildlife using all available veterinary expertise, and all animals are treated free of charge.

Their aim is to return all their recovered patients back to the wild. However, sadly, some are left disabled by their injuries and would not be able to cope if returned to the wild.

One of their residents available for adoption is Abby, a female hedgehog, who got herself stuck in a tin can, and because of the way her spines lie, getting out was impossible! The cuts on her head and upper body healed into a lot of scar tissue, which resulted in Abby being unable to curl up fully.

Hedgehogs unable to curl up in the wild would be at risk from predators and the cold, so unfortunately she would not be able to be released and now resides at their Visitors Centre. Why not consider adopting a wild animal such as Abby and help give these animals the chance to live as natural a life as possible in a protected environment, for which they deserve.

RETIREMENT

today

At a glance What you get: Certificate of Adoption Detailed history and photo of adopted animal Fact sheet Badge One free entry to Visitor Centre – for every £40 spent www.tiggywinkles.com

www.tiggywinkles.com

Mountains Animal Sanctuary Mountains Animal Sanctuary is Scotland’s largest equine rescue centre, caring for over 100 horses, ponies and donkeys. They provide food, shelter and medical care as well as unconditional love and patience to help the recovery and rehabilitation of many abused and neglected equines.

Adoption can be a popular solution for horse lovers generally, who don’t have the facilities themselves to create a home for the horse. One of the horses available for adoption at the sanctuary is Dayzee (pictured) an Argentinean Miniature Horse who came to the Sanctuary in September 2010 at just 11 weeks old, an orphan. With round the clock care and first class veterinary treatment she now enjoys life to the full with her field companions. Funds are crucial for horses like Dayzee for them to continue to receive the care, love and attention they deserve and by adopting one of these equines, it’s a perfect way to give a gift and support them at the same time.

Adoption is also a unique way of giving a present to a friend or a loved one for birthdays, at Christmas time or just to say a big ‘thank you’ they will know that your donation has gone to a worthwhile cause and they get the adoption pack for a horse or donkey that you have selected for them. www.mountainsanimalsanctuary.org.uk

At a glance Adopt today and get: Adoption certificate Photo of your chosen horse, pony or donkey An information sheet about your animal A Rosette

Redwings Horse Sanctuary

Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre

Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset is set in 65 acres of woodland, offering a safe haven for over 240 primates who have been rescued from all over the world. The sanctuary works in conjunction with foreign governments worldwide to stop the illegal smuggling of apes out of Africa and Asia. At the Centre refugees of this illegal trade, as well as those that have suffered abuse or neglect, are rehabilitated into natural living groups. If you decide to adopt with Monkey World you can be assured that every penny goes directly to the rescue centre’s beneficiaries. From £20, just choose your monkey or ape such as Silvestre, a male Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) born 31/12/09 at Santillana Zoo in Spain. Sadly his mother abandoned him so keepers at the zoo cared for him for the first 11 months of his life. On 02/12/10 he was brought to Monkey World to join their orang-utan creche so that he could grow up with other orang-utans.

Adopting a primate makes a superb present for both adult and children, especially at Christmas but also anytime of the year. www.monkeyworld.org

At a glance Adopt today and get Free entry pass to the park for one year Adoption certificate Photo of your chosen primate or group Newsletter 3 times a year

www.redwings.org.uk

At a glance Adopt today and get Standard ‘Nosebag’: Photograph and adoption certificate Your adopted animals story and how you can visit your new friend Update and new photo just before their birthday Invite to your adopted animals party!

Online ‘Nosebag’: A year’s worth of access to your chosen horse’s website A chance to help take care of your new friend yourself

Or Online ‘Nosebag’ A year’s worth of access to your chosen horse’s Nosebag, featuring exclusive diary, photos, videos and wallpaper to download.

Canine Partners With just one purchase of a very special Christmas gift thoughtful shoppers could help change a life. And for once the message is, this puppy IS for Christmas.

National assistance dog charity Canine Partners’ Adopt A Puppy scheme is perfect for anyone considering an unusual gift this festive season.

Canine Partners trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities to enjoy greater independence and a better quality of life, providing practical day to day assistance with tasks that may be difficult, painful or impossible to perform. Every disabled person has a unique story to tell, has varied levels of ability, different needs, different things that are preventing them from getting the most out of life, and each dog is tailor-made for each individual to make the maximum impact. They also provide that special companionship, unconditional love and affection which is so unique to dogs.

You can sponsor a Canine Partners puppy like Calvin, a yellow Labrador golden retriever cross (pictured) for £52 a year, which can be spread over monthly or weekly payments. This is a co-sponsorship scheme where you help to fund the training of a future canine partner that will subsequently be matched to a person with disabilities to give them independence and a better quality of life. www.caninepartners.org.uk

At a glance Adopt today and get: Introductory letter about your puppy A personal certificate A photograph and a toy puppy Four updates per year complete with news of your puppy’s progress

RETIREMENT

today

The gift that keeps on giving

Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre

Redwings Horse Sanctuary, cares for over 1,100 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules every day. They have eight centres around the UK, including three visitor centres in Essex, Norfolk and Warwickshire. The charity aims to re-home as many of their equines as possible and prefers to use adoption as the means to provide help for residents while they are in their care. The Redwings Adoption Club is the fun way to support the charity and at the same time make a new friend in the process. It’s a great way to give help towards the daily care of the many residents such as Rumpel, who was rescued from Spindle Farm in Buckinghamshire in 2008 where he had been living in squalid conditions along with almost 100 other horses and donkeys, many of which were so weak they were barely able to stand. Once at Redwings Rumpel recovered well from his terrible ordeal, however during his training, Rumpel showed them that being ridden simply wasn’t for him and so he will stay happily within the Sanctuary for the rest of his days.

23

A charity registered in Scotland No SC 037536 and in England and Wales No 290356

E M I T T X NE T F I G A E GIV E H T H T I W ’ H H H H ‘AHHH .

R O .

T Y E C K N A O F A HORSE OR D ADOPT

ual k of an unus in th to g in y our head tr iend?

Scratching y key ed one or fr v lo a r orse or don fo h t n a f o n o prese ti p o ting one e a gift of ad ary. By adop tu c Why not giv n a S l a elping to ins Anim you will be h from Mounta s re tu a re c nue to utiful onkeys conti d d n of these bea a s e ve. s r at our ho t they deser make sure th , love and attention tha e care care ue centre w c s re receive the e in u q ’s largest e nkeys.

As Scotland nies and do o p , s e s r o h funds. for over 100 help to raise r u o y d e e n tely We despera on the number below.

To adopt a horse or donkey call us ure future to look forward to.

With your help can give them a sec

TO ADOPT call us or to donate text: now on FREEPHONE 0300 999 99 PONY33 followed 9 by the amount in 3 £’s to 70070

Mountains Animal Sanctuary, Milton of Ogil, Glen Ogil, Forfar DD8 3SQ. TO FIND OUT MORE CALL US: 01356 650258.

YOU CAN ALSO DONATE AT: mount ainsanimalsanctuary.org.uk SEE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

JEANNIE

NELLIE .

S, 2 PM. TO 4.30 PM WE ARE OPEN 7 DAY A90 SITUATED CLOSE TO N) SIGNPOSTED (DUNDEE/ABERDEE (B957).

FROM TANNADICE

www.monkeyworld.org

Adopt a Puppy

Join our family & adopt a primate at:

like me for £1 a week and help us transform the lives of disabled people

Great gift Near Wool, Dorset BH20 6HH FREE Info Line: 0800 456600 E: apes@monkeyworld.org With over 250 primates of more than 20 different species, Monkey World is the largest ape and monkey rescue centre in the world!

Your Adopt a Puppy pack includes:

From just £20 a year, adoptive parents receive a FREE admission pass to the park for one year, year a photograph, certificate and three editions of the ‘Ape Rescue Chronicle’ newsletter magazine!

Buy online, by phone or at the park!

• Photos • A cuddly jacketed toy dog • A personalised certificate • Regular updates

Canine Partners T: 01730 716026 E: adoptapuppy@caninepartners.org.uk For further details visit: caninepartners.org.uk Call 01929 401012 or visit www.monkeyworld.org/primate-adoptions

Registered address: Canine Partners, Mill Lane, Heyshott, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 0ED Canine Partners for Independence. A charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No. 2516146.

Commission Reg. No. 803680 Scottish Reg. Charity No. SC039050 RetirementCharity Today Adoption 135x90 :All About Animals 135 x 90

O

D E E N L WE AL ENDS! I R F R U

I O N C LU T P O D A S REDWING IEND! E H T N I JO FR S PE C IAL Y R E V A AN D B E

B

Do something different and be a friend by adopting Victoria for just £12.50 and we will use your donation to feed and care for her and all her friends.

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

Registered Charity No 1068911

Call 01508 481010 or visit www.redwings.org.uk to take REDWINGS out your adoption today!

Adoption Club Redwings Horse Sanctuary is a Registered Charity Number 1068911 RETIREMENT

today

25

Faith and Sonny

Faith was among many ponies marked to be shot in the Bodmin crisis but when they went back the next day they found she had given birth. SWEP were called to take her and her foal in as they were already emaciated and would not survive on the moor. Sonny gave his mum a second chance in life and they are both now happy and well.

Josh and Taz

Josh and Taz were abandoned at the side of the road in Somerset. The lady that found them could not take them in permanently so they came to SWEP. No-one else would help these ponies and we have now re-homed them on our pony loan scheme

Specialising in helping and rescuing wild moorland ponies on Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor.

Ponies that are in an emaciated condition, mares having trouble giving birth and injured ponies hit by cars.

All ponies receive veterinary treatment.

Please help Sonny, Faith, Josh and Taz by making a donation and Gift Aid or leaving SWEP a legacy.

You can ensure their future is in SWEP’s care.

Unit B5, Torland Court, Yelverton Business Park, Crapstone, Devon, PL20 7PE Tel/Fax: 01822 854 823 - Email: contact@swep.org.uk Website: www.swep.org.uk

26

RETIREMENT

today

Christmas Gift Books

By Steve Dobson Travel titles are always a welcome distraction with the gloomy post Christmas months looming. The author chooses some unique hotels throughout the world, most with very little in common other than that they are places to sleep.

Hardback £29.99 JonGlez Publishing

Daffodil

The remarkable story of the world’s most popular spring flower

By Noel Kingsbury No other flower defines the end of winter than a field of bright yellow daffodils. The author relates a narrative history with photographs by Jo Whitworth, highlighting more than 200 varieties.

A perfect gift for any gardener this Christmas.

Hardback, £17.99 Timber Press

Remembering Tommy

The British Soldier in the First World War

By Peter Doyle and Chris Foster There are many books depicting the British Soldier in the First World War. The book reaches the parts that many other books don’t. A vivid picture is painted through letters, pictures, objects of what it was really like for the ordinary British Soldier.

Hardback, £25.00 The History Press

STOCKING FILLERS

A trio of travel guides…..

Secret Paris, Thomas Jonglez,

Secret Prague,

Martin Stejskal and

Secret Dublin,

Pól Ó Conghaile Want to avoid the crowds and discover places that mostly only locals get to see. Offering a fascinating insight for the curious traveller the guide books written by locals offering the tourist a unique take on their cities. £13.99 JonGlez Publishing

The essential companion for running any busy home Britain’s favourite diary is back for a 33rd year and the latest edition of the Dairy Diary is the most comprehensive yet, featuring handy hints, tips and recipes, making it the ultimate reference book for running a busy home.

The 2014 Diary Diary Are We Live?

The Funniest Bloopers (Eaglemoss Consumer Publications) from TV and Radio is priced at £7.25.

By Marion Appleby To order a copy visit Some of the most www.dairydiary.co.uk hilarious calamities from or call 0845 0948 128.

TV and Radio.

Or if you have a £7.99 milkman, put a note out with your empties.

Michael O’Mara Books

Farewell to Trains

A Lifetime’s Journey along Britain’s Changing Railways

By David St John Thomas This book is a summary of a lifetime’s passion by a writer who has spent 65 years documenting the subject. The author laments the passing of sleeping carriages, liveried staff, great steam engines and much more. Beautifully illustrated throughout.

Hardback £20.00 Frances Lincoln

Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armour

A lifetime’s Passion Robert Hales The author Robert Hales bought his first antique weapon in Kabul in 1966, at the age of 21 travelling overland to Nepal. This first purchase was to prove a life defining moment. Hales became a highly respected antique arms dealer with a London gallery for 27 years. A unique book being the first to document the authors forty years of experience, and passion in this field.

Contains 400 pages, with 850 colour illustrations and 150 black and white, a great book for the collector, and enthusiast alike. www.roberthales.co.uk Hardback £85.00 (deluxe leather bound edition £595, limited to 50 copies)

Design Masterclass How to Achieve the Home of Your Dreams

By Kelly Hoppen MBE The definitive home decorating guide by Kelly Hoppen, sharing her expert knowledge and trade secrets with the reader. Each inspiring photograph will have you itching to discard your old décor.

Beautifully illustrated throughout, a must for any lover of interior design.

Hardback, £40 Jacqui Small

Colette’s France

Her life and loves

By Jane Gilmour A beautiful visual biography and a wonderful Christmas gift for any Francophile, who yearns for a deeper understanding of France and her culture.

Hardback £20.00 Hardie Grant RETIREMENT

today

Best Books

Unusual Hotels of the World

Anne Cummings chooses some of the best

27

W

hen I learnt that I was going to visit a town in Hungary called Mosonmagyaróvár, that attracts visitors from all over the world, I was intrigued. Mosonmagyaróvár is a small town, with a unique selling point, in that it has over 400 dentists! Everywhere you look there is a bewildering array of dentists, on street corners, over shops, they are just everywhere! Germans and Austrians have been coming to the area since communist times but now the secret is out people travel from as far as a field as the USA and beyond, looking for the very best of dental treatment at prices well below what is available in the UK and elsewhere. The town also makes a great holiday destination but more of that later.

Chris Hall of Hungarian Dental Travel has been working with patients from Britain and America for the past 10 years. Chris works with the best dentists Hungary has to offer and feels passionately about the excellence of dentistry available and the unique position of Mosonmagyaróvár as a spa town and gateway to two great cities, Vienna and Bratislava.

Chris is extremely hands on with his clients, available 24/7 should the need arise, he is there to answer any queries, offer reassurance during a

Dentistry The remarkable town of Mosonmagyaróvár in Hungary, home to 400 dental clinics and a luxury thermal spa, certainly offers a unique experience, we take a look

difficult procedure, or even act as a the emphasis on putting patients at tour guide having lived in Hungary ease from the moment they arrive. for many years. His knowledge The full spectrum of dental treatment of the area is extensive and his is available with a focus on implants, recommendations from restaurants dentures, amalgam restoration and to local shops is invaluable. However, holistic treatments. Frank speaks four it is Chris’s patience, understanding languages one of which is fluent and calm manner that patients (many English! He is passionate about who are going through major dental providing the very best of dental care procedures) value most. to his patients, and at a considerably With a choice of 400 dentists to lower price (on average 70%) choose from, would it be a good than the UK. Treatments such as idea to hop on a amalgam fillings plane and check Everywhere you look there which are still a few out? Well, is a bewildering array of common place maybe not, as in the UK have Chris explains, dentists, on street corners, been banned over shops, they are just in “With so many Hungary everywhere! to choose from for some time.

Hungarian Frank has taken Dental are keen to work with only the time to visit and work in the UK the best” One such dentist is Dr Frank making sure that the service he offers Kannmann, a German dentist who is excels what’s on offer there. also a qualified medical Doctor. Frank Mosonmagyaróvár itself makes and his team work from a surgery a superb holiday experience for that is both inviting and stylish with those having treatment. The main

Spa

Fort-yard

Fort of Ovar ©Sue Thomas

Dentistry and Wellness

bratislava

28

RETIREMENT

today

& Wellness tourist attraction is its thermal water The thermal spa (Flexum-Thermal Spa) fed by this thermal water is open all year round. The water is acknowledged for its medicinal quality and brings a perfect sense of wellbeing and rejuvenation. The chemical composition of the healing water makes it perfect for bathing and drinking cures, and in an atomized form for inhalation cures for the following:

Even closer is the Slovakian capital Bratislava, a mixture of modernity and historic old town but with no Locomotor diseases, respiratory diseases, gastric and pubic transport so you would need intestine. to hire a car.

The town itself is picture postcard A perfect Hungary really is pretty, dotted with houses and buildings. location offering It is also a town to feel comfortable and a place where the pound the very best of safe in. Hungary still uses the florin so in your pocket will go health tourism prices are extremely low especially if along with a very far indeed you are prepared to use places where fantastic holiday locals frequent where the food is wholesome and hearty there is much to recommend and the Hungarian Wine really excellent. International Mosonmagyaróvár. As yet, the town cuisine is also available again at prices substantially lower remains largely undiscovered by the than the UK, Hungary really is a place where the pound British but this can’t last. Things have in your pocket will go very far indeed. Nature loving changed, now as we age we will no visitors wouldn’t be disappointed. Szigetköz is an island longer accept ugly and unsightly just a few kilometres from the town, know as ‘the gift from teeth. At prices 70% cheaper than the the Danube’ as it was built by the alluvial deposit of the UK it is unsurprising that Hungary river, close to the Slovakian border.The area is fantastic for has raised the bar in dental travel and walkers and rich in fauna and flora. For those who wish more and more Brits are deciding to to travel further a field there is a station in the town with make the journey n frequent trains running to the centre of Vienna which is only www.hungariandentaltravel.co.uk an hour away, email giving visitors info@hungariandentaltravel.co.uk the chance to explore one of tel 0207 193 1385 the most stunning Visitors to Mosonmagyaróvár can fly and historical to either Brataslava for low cost flights Vienna cities in Europe.

FACTBOX

Deák Square.

with Ryan Air, 30 minutes from town or to Vienna, 1 hour from town, serviced by a number of international airlines.

• Consultation and aftercare available in the UK

Retirement Today stayed at the 4-star hotel Lajta Park – see page 31 for review.

Photos by Balázs Horváth

CASE STUDY

Dennis Williams, a retired psychologist was a heavy drinker of cola and ate a lot of fruit whilst driving to prevent him falling asleep at the wheel, unfortunately as there is a lot of sugar in both, his teeth were eroded. Apart from damaged, worn down and heavily discoloured teeth amazingly he did not need any extractions or treatment for infection of any kind.

Each tooth needed to be prepared to accept the bridge. This meant that some of the teeth needed to be shaved away.

Dentistry and Wellness

Like a lot of older people Dennis still was unwilling to accept an unattractive and ugly smile. As he wanted a ‘Hollywood smile’ for better function and aesthetics it was recommended that he had a full circle bridge on the upper and lower jawbone. Dennis had a new tooth bonded on top of the existing 28 teeth.

Dennis - teeth before treatment

This needed to be done on every tooth. The dentist used a series of bridges instead of giving a new separate crown to each tooth. A bridge is 2 or more crowns joined together. The patient had 1 x 14 unit bridge (a bridge with 14 teeth on it) but the dentist made 2 or 3 bridges on each arch just in case a tooth in the future needs to be extracted.

This way the patient does not lose the whole bridge.

Although his treatment only lasted a day he needed to stay in Hungary for 7 days, for further checkups.

The treatment cost £5,600, in the UK it would cost £19,600. Dennis was over the moon with the result!

NB. Prices do not include flights and accommodation

Dennis - teeth after treatment

RETIREMENT

today

29

CHRISTMAS CARD APPEAL

Every year the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society pays over £1m in grants to the dependants of those lost at sea, as well as sick, disabled and retired seafarers struggling to make ends meet.

Please help us to continue this important work.

• Quality Christmas Cards • Correspondence Cards • Heroism at Sea E-Book • Nautical Heritage Calendar • Birthday Cards • Gift Items To receive a copy of our new 2013 brochure and order form please contact: Dept RET, 1 North Pallant, Chichester PO19 1TL Tel: 01243 789329 • Fax: 01243 530853

e-mail: general@shipwreckedmariners.org.uk

www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk

Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society

Reg Charity No 212034 Inst. 1839

Supporting the seafaring community for 174 years

SAF 3810 SafeGuard Consumer Advert (Half page - Retirement Magazine) Artwork_Layout 1 01/08/2013 20:32 Page 1

INDEPENDENT JEWELLERY VALUATION SERVICE

MONTHLY VALUATION EVENT DAYS AT THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE HOME JEWELLERY VALUATION VISITS FOR LARGER COLLECTIONS

SAME-DAY SERVICE DROP OFF/ COLLECTION SERVICE EASY TO USE POSTAL VALUATION SERVICE

EXPERTLY VALUED

SAFEGUARD INDEPENDENT JEWELLERY, WATCH & SILVERWARE EXPERTISE IS AVAILABLE IF YOU REQUIRE...

Insurance Replacement Valuations Family Division Valuations Second Hand Replacement Valuations BIRMINGHAM

FACEBOOK: FACEBOOK.COM/ASSAYOFFICE

Home Jewellery Valuation Visits Specialist Reports Probate Valuations TWITTER: @THEASSAYOFFICE

Sale Between Parties Expert Opinion Fees from £60.00 Contact us today...

BLOG

NEWS BLOG: WWW.ASSAYNEWS.CO.UK

PO BOX 8706, NEWHALL STREET BIRMINGHAM B3 1FH TEL: 0871 423 7922 EMAIL: SAFEGUARD@THEASSAYOFFICE.CO.UK WWW.SAFEGUARDVALUATIONS.CO.UK

30

RETIREMENT

today

from home for anyone who is in the town for dental treatment or just a welcome break.

There is also a wellness centre on site offering massage, sauna, steam bath, salt chamber and fitness room. We met a range of nationalities staying at the hotel, many who return year after year, for dental checkups and a chance to rejuvenate. A hotel that does everything it says on the brochure and more.

PERFECT STAY

Single rooms start at 68 euros per night inc breakfast www.hotellajtapark.hu tel 00 36 96 207 088

Although there is a huge variety of accommodation available in the Hungarian town of Mosonmagyaróvár we think there is one hotel which puts the rest in the shade.

H

COMPETITIONS

Perfect Stay

otel Lajta Park is a four star hotel in the heart of the town. There is a wide selection of accommodation to suit all, ranging from apartments, suites and standard rooms. All the rooms are spacious, air conditioned and tastefully furnished in a boutique style. The hotel has a great restaurant serving both delicious international and Hungarian Cuisine.

The Manager, Sylvia Hus, and her excellent staff make a great team,They are warm and friendly, ready to go the extra mile to make sure that guests enjoy their stay to the maximum. Nearly all speak excellent English and perhaps it is the welcome you receive more than anything that stays with you on your return. A perfect home

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

Christmas is a wonderful time for everyone, but for children it is especially fantastic. Why not enter our great competitions and really make your grandchildren’s Christmas even more thrilling!

CBeebies Live!

The Big Band is the brand new live arena extravaganza that is bound to have pre-schoolers rocking in the aisles when the show sets out on tour over Easter 2014. .

Warming up their vocal chords for this spectacular show are some of CBeebies’ best-loved characters including Justin Fletcher MBE, Mr Tumble, Mister Maker and Rastamouse!

Justin Fletcher said: “I am so pleased… this is going to be a fantastic show. It’ll be great to share the stage with my CBeebies friends and see the audience join in the fun!”.

We have three family tickets up for grabs as well as a DVD box set of the award-winning Something Special. To be in with a chance of winning just answer this simple question: which of the following characters appears in Something Special:

A: Mr Tumble B: Mr Grumble C: Mr Mumble

We have 5 sets of all 3 books to give away Learn step-by-step how to create great pictures of your cute pet with How to Draw Your Pet, published by Buster Books, whether you have a goldfish or a parrot, a kitten or a tortoise! The Kitten Colouring Book and The Puppy Colouring Book are full of adorable illustrations of pooches and pussies, guaranteed to keep any animal-mad child busy for hours.

For a chance to win send in your details, quoting ref. BB Closing date for both competions is the 12 December RETIREMENT

today

Competitions

Tickets are on sale now and full details can be found at www.CBeebieslive.com

31

freedom

Your car gives you the

to go wherever you want

And you are free to choose where it is serviced

Find a garage you can trust to keep your car feeling young at heart - www.trustmygarage.co.uk Find TRUST MY GARAGE on...

32

RETIREMENT

today

When When his country needed his country neededhim, him, MartinMartin was there. was there.

The Royal Star & Garter Homes is a charity that provides The Royal Star & Garter Homes is a charity that provides brilliant care to disabled members of the nation’s military brilliant care to disabled members of the nation’s military amily with high care familyneeds. with high care needs.

are there peoplewho like Martin, We are there for We people like for Martin, servedwho in served in the Border Regiment. is now almost completely he Border Regiment.

Martin is nowMartin almost completely paralysed from theWe neck down. him We enable paralysed from the neck down. enable to behim as to be as independent as possible and live life to the full. ndependent as possible and live life to the full.

As a charity, we do not receive any direct government

As a charity, we do not receive any direct government funding and rely on the generosity of our supporters to unding and rely on the our supporters fund thegenerosity high level of of specialist care that we to provide. und the high level of specialist care that we provide.

You can show your appreciation for Martin and

others like him, by for making a donation You can show your appreciation Martin and to Royal Star & Garter to Homes today. others like him, byThe making a donation The Royal Star & Call Garter today.

0845Homes 370 7500 or email donations@starandgarter.org

Call 0845 370 7500 or email or visit www.starandgarter.org donations@starandgarter.org or visit www.starandgarter.org Registered Charity No 210119

egistered Charity No 210119

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.

LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR

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

They

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

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

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

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

The Little Sisters of the Poor is a Congregation of religious sisters dedicated to the service of the elderly of modest means, regardless of nationality or creed. Founded in France in 1839 by Jeanne Jugan, established in Britain in 1851, our work is today carried out among the elderly in thirty-one countries on five continents, with 17 Homes throughout England, Ireland and Scotland.

In providing total care we believe in enabling Residents to fulfil their physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs. We have at heart to recognise their dignity, desire of being respected, esteemed and loved and their longing to feel themselves useful.

With your help we wish to respond to their need for companionship, security in health as in sickness, until death, in a family atmosphere.

We really do count on you for support to enable us to continue our care of the elderly.

We greatly appreciate DONATIONS – GIFT AID – LEGACIES

Thank you

LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR

Superior Provincial, 2a Meadow Road, London SW8 1QH Tel: 020 7735 0788 Fax: 020 7582 0973 Email: mp.lond@lsplondon.co.uk www.lsplondon.co.uk Online donation gratefully accepted Registered Charity No. 234434 RETIREMENT

today

33

Charity begins at

Charity begins at Christmas

Christmas

34

Christmas is the season of good will and a time to give gifts to our loved ones. However, this year, let’s not just think about giving to friends and family.

Charities work tirelessly all year round providing help and support to many in need, but do we spare a thought at this festive time as to how they manage to survive. This year why not add your favourite charity to your list. There are many ways in which you can help; it’s easier than you think. Most of the charities have websites which have a fantastic range of gifts available, suitable for children to pensioners. As well as gifts, why not order your Christmas cards or next years calendar.

Here follows some suggestions:

Brace, a reg istered c h a r i t y that funds research into Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, sells a number of Christmas gifts and cards as well as a beautiful calendar incorporating 13 photographs of the South West from Cornwall to Gloucestershire, all taken and donated by BRACE supporters.

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society offers a range of quality hand-picked greetings cards, including some great Christmas designs. Their calendars and books make great gifts too, highlighting the rich and fascinating maritime heritage created by generations of seafarers.

All proceeds go towards offering practical help, assistance and advice to fisherman, mariners and their dependents who have suffered hardship, misfortune or poverty as a result of being at sea or in retirement.

Apart from cards and calendars there is a vast array of gifts available online from many charities. Whatever the time of year, it’s always a pleasure to give and receive flowers, so why not brighten someone’s day by sending them a long lasting bouquet direct from the grower. Flowers Direct are the UK’s only flowers by post service wholly owned by a charity, so every time you send flowers you are giving pleasure to a loved one and at the same time supporting the important work of Age UK, the leading national authority on older people, age and ageing.

Alzheimer Scotland, the leading dementia organisation in Scotland helps people suffering live as well as possible with dementia.

Whether you want information and advice, personalised support services, or activities in your community, they are there to help.

They offer an array of gifts including some marvelous multi-coloured quilts from across Scotland and around the world, created for the Hampden Park Quilt Challenge, many with delightful Christmas designs.

RETIREMENT

today

At this time of year many charities have Fetes and Christmas Fairs and you can often pick up that unusual gift for a friend or family member, whilst at the same time contributing to raising much needed additional funds.

Although Christmas is a great time to remember to help others, the best giving is regular giving; setting up a monthly direct debit for just a few pounds a month allows charities to plan their long-term development.

Ask yourself, would you really miss a few pounds a month?

Around £10 a month would help charities in dire need which is just equivalent to a couple of glasses of wine in the pub.

Finally, do remember charities when making a will. It’s an excellent way of leaving a donation to a charity you have supported in your lifetime and an easy method of providing longterm support.

A legacy, no matter how small can make a huge difference.

For further information visit: Shipwrecked Mariners Society – www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk Age UK – www.ageuk.org.uk BRACE – www.alzheimers-brace.org Alzheimer Scotland – www.alzscot.org

RETIREMENT

today

35

Britain’s BIGGEST exhibition for the active over-50s!

GLASGOW SECC Thursday-Saturday 7-9 NOV 2013

BIRMINGHAM NEC Friday-Saturday 6-7 DEC 2013

LONDON OLYMPIA Thursday-Saturday 10-12 JULY 2014

MANCHESTER CENTRAL Friday-Saturday 28-29 MAR 2014

EXETER WESTPOINT Friday-Saturday 19-20 SEPT 2014

Music and entertainment • Crafts • Seminars & information • Financial tips & advice • Health checks • Gardening • Park & holidays homes • Keep fit sessions • Dance floor • Prize quiz • Fashion show • Cookery demonstrations • Holidays & travel • Have-a-go dancing and a wide range of exhibition stands!

Register online or call the free ticket hotline on 01372 840963

www.50plusShow.com For exhibiting enquiries, please call 01372 743 837