Issue 102 - WE2

West End 2

Issue 102 Feb-Mar ‘16 Free Magazine

Hazlehead | Queens Cross | Mannofield

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Is Buy-to-Let Still a Good Investment?

With no sign of improved interest rates for savers, and pension changes that offer more freedom, is buy-to-let still a good option for those wanting to invest? At first glance, the increase in stamp duty and reduction in some tax reliefs for landlords may cast doubt on whether investing in bricks-andmortar is a good idea, but success depends on many factors, not least of which is your commitment to maximising returns.

We take a look at what you need to consider when thinking about property investment.

One of the first items on the list should be to clarify your motivation for this type of investment, as it will directly impact on the areas and type of property that you choose.

Do you want rental yield or long-term capital growth?

Are you considering a long-term investment to take advantage of capital growth, or focusing on the potential rental yield of a property? Between 15 and 20 years is a

common timescale for property ownership with capital growth in mind, which might fit in nicely with your plans for retirement.

On the other hand, investing in a multipleoccupancy student let, for example, could bring in much-needed monthly income.

You may be able to make a rental yield of between 5% and 10% if you find a suitable property in a good location, and buy it for the right price.

Focusing on the figures

Buy-to-let can still be a good investment if you’re prepared to put in the time and effort to make it work. This begins with meticulous research to make sure you get the best mortgage deal, find suitable locations and the right style of property for your target market. In other words, you need to make sure as far as possible that the numbers add up.

Lending restrictions have made it difficult to find a good mortgage deal in recent years, when compared with the pre-credit crunch era, but even when you’ve got a mortgage offer that you’re happy with, you should be constantly looking for ways to improve returns by switching suppliers and cutting costs.

Will you manage the property yourself?

Many professional landlords concentrate purely on managing their business.

They don’t get involved in the month-to-month management

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of the property, or dealing with tenant issues – in fact, many landlords never even meet their tenants.

It’s purely a numbers game, and taking this approach means abandoning any personal preferences with regard to choosing your property.

If you decide to hire a letting agent, they will take a percentage of the rent by way of payment. This may seem like a needless expense when you’re willing to do the work yourself, but when you consider how much time and energy is saved in not having to deal with tenant issues it may be money well spent, particularly if you have more than one property.

Financial benefits of buy-to-let The beneficial tax reliefs enjoyed on buyto-let mortgage interest payments are now being limited to the basic rate of income tax. This was previously an attractive part of buy-to-let investing, but they can still be enjoyed if you form a limited company for your property investments.

As rates of corporation tax are being reduced to 18% by 2020, for owners of multiple properties at least, this could help to reduce costs. But as always, you need to seek the advice of a professional advisor to maximise the investment returns and minimise your tax bill.

http://moneyfacts.co.uk/guides/buy-to-let/btl-have-youconsidered-the-investment-risks/

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independent publisher : Sue Simpson All enquiries :

Disclaimer : Whilst we’d be flattered if you would like to borrow something from the gazette be polite and ask first!

Thank you. We try our hardest to ensure accuracy of editorial content but no responsibility can be taken for any errors and/or omissions. The views expressed within the gazette are not necessarily those of the publisher or advertisers. When replying to offers, competitions and other correspondence, we would strongly recommend that you check published information with each organisation beforehand. All artwork is accepted on strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication. We thank you for taking the time to read the small print.

Spring Well I think we got blown into February this year, but the day’s are definitely getting longer, which for me, is fabulous.

It is a jam packed issue yet again this time. A voucher for Ferryhill/Fourmile is good til the end of February so you’ll need to be quick to use it.

There is a fab offer on hair at West with Style and some money off a second nail appointment with Beautex, the new nail salon within Kumiko.

The Rowett are looking for males to take part in a wholegrain study so I hope a few of you will manage to step forward and take part.

Future Choices, the charity I’m passionate about, are trying to help Kaimhill Primary School raise some

much needed funds to help the children enjoy a residential school trip.

They have already donated £100 and the school are most grateful, Future Choices are keen to help more as there is a timescale on raising the full amount. If you would like to donate then either get in touch with Future Choices (www.futurechoices.org.uk) direct or via myself.

Thanks again for reading, have a good couple of months and see you again in April. Don’t eat too many Easter eggs.

Grab that cuppa and enjoy the magazine. Until the next time…

Sue Our next deadlines are 27 Feb | West End 1 | Deeside 27 Mar | West End 2 | Kingswells 27 Apr | West End 1 | Deeside | ab41 27 May | West End 2 | Kingswells

...in Little Belmont Street

We have been serving fine italian cuisine since 1977.

Extensive à la carte menu for lunch and dinner.

5 minutes walk from His Majesty’s Theatre and Music Hall – special lunch and pre-theatre menus.

Hazlehead Queens Cross Mannofield

A little bit of Italy...

Freshly baked home mode home made pizzas with lashings of toppings.

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Open Monday to Saturday: 12 noon to 2.30pm & 5.30pm to 10.15pm

7 Little Belmont Street | Aberdeen | AB10 1JG

of Italy...

A little bit A little Abitlittle of bit Italy...

www.poldinos.co.uk

...

in Little Belmont Street

...in Little Belmon

We have been serving fine italian cuisine since 1977.

Extensive à la carte menu for lunch and dinner.

...in Little Belmont Street

We Hall have been serving fine italian cui 5 minutes walk from His Majesty’s Theatre and Music Extensive à la carte menu for lunch a

We have been serving fine italian cuisine since - special lunch and 1977. pre-theatre menus.

Extensive à la carte menu for lunch and dinner.

minutes walk from His Majesty’s Th Freshly baked home-made pizzas with lashings of 5 toppings.

– special lunch Tender pasta dishes full of tasty ingredients and luscious creamand pre-theatre menu

5 minutes walk from His Majesty’s Theatre and Music Hall sauces. Seafood, prime steaks, chicken dishes, all with that extra – special lunch and pre-theatre menus.

Freshly baked home mode home ma touch of genius which is true italian cooking!

Tender pasta dishes full of tasty ingre

steaks, chicken dishes, all with that ex Open made Monday to Saturday 12 noon 2.30pm and 5.30pm to 10.15pm Freshly baked home mode home pizzas with lashings of to toppings.

Tender pasta dishes full of tasty ingredients and luscious cream sauces. Seafood, primeGift Open Monday to Saturday: 12 no Littleextra Belmont Street | Aberdeen | AB10 1JGcooking! steaks, chicken dishes, all with7 that touch of genius which is true Italian Vouchers

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Open Monday to Saturday: 12 noon to 2.30pm & 5.30pm to 10.15pm

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Available 7 Little Belmont Street | Ab

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Why you should book your seat at the table

A Message from Catherine Robertson Ross MBE

“I have known Catherine Robertson Ross MBE for many years. During this time I have seen her in action on a number of occasions raising funds for various Service charities and more generally, supporting current or retired Servicemen and women in many different ways.

Thank you for taking the time to read the information on this wonderful dinner onboard HMY Britannia on Saturday, 5th March 2016.

When it comes to supporting the Armed Forces, Catherine is the most committed individual I have met in my 30 years of service. Helping disadvantaged Servicemen and Servicewomen is her passion, it is her life.

For Catherine it is not merely about raising funds, it is far more. She gives up her home so that Service people and their families might enjoy holidays; she travels the length and breadth of the United Kingdom just to be with Servicemen who need a helping hand; she takes Servicemen to and from medical appointments; she networks feverishly with influential people and organisations, never for herself but always for those who have served their country.

One story perhaps best describes what Catherine stands for. She made a promise to a very badly injured Royal Marine that she would help him climb Ben Nevis if his injuries ever stabilised enough to allow him to have a go. Sure enough, three years later and in foul weather, Catherine and a group of Royal Marines made the climb up and down Ben Nevis, allowing this injured gentleman to fulfil his ambition in spite of significant physical difficulties. When Catherine makes a promise, she sees it through.

Catherine is also very impartial in her attitude towards the Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal Air Force. She will support anyone in difficulty no matter what his or her background.

Catherine is relentless in her pursuit of offering kindness and material assistance to Servicemen, especially those who have fallen on hard times. She is fiercely proud of the United Kingdom’s Armed Forces and all that they have done for our nation. She is equally determined that they rightfully receive the support and respect that she feels they deserve and she has dedicated her whole life to this cause. We are very lucky to have benefited from her boundless and unceasing energy, compassion and commitment.”

Air Commodore Andy Hine OBE MA RAF

It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to have been made to feel part of the family that is the Royal Marines. Those who serve do so with great courage and commitment. Along the way I have gained many sons who have continued our relationship long after they have left the Corps.

I also have a close relationship with 45 Commando RM, where a few years ago a garden of remembrance and reflection was built, I was delighted to help with this project. This garden is a place where the marines can spend time, as well as remember those who have fallen in the service of our Nation. Many of those who’s names are on the memorial I knew well. Recently I stood there with Colour Sgt Paul Barrett who was profoundly wounded in Afghanistan. As we looked at the names on the memorial whom we both knew Paul said, “Catherine, my name should be on there” Paul then said, “I owe it to those marines who did not come home to live the very best life that I can” and he does, Paul Barrett is a credit to the Corps, his family and those of us who care deeply about him. If you ask Paul Barrett who has helped him through his recovery plan, he will quickly say the Corps, family, friends and the RMCTF. Ladies and Gentleman by attending this special dinner, you will be helping Royal Marines like Paul Barrett to move forward onto the life they so richly deserve. I believe they were and in some cases have sacrificed much in our country’s name, I also believe they have earned the right to our help.

Thank You.

Catherine

Ticket Price is £1000 Includes overnight accommodation in a 5* Edinburgh Hotel. Travel to and from your hotel to the Ship.

The enviable experience of dining on the Royal Yacht Britannia

Catherine R. Ross MBE

To book your ticket/table Tel: 07879 854 927 Email: cylross@aol.com

A donation will be made to the Royal Marine Charitable Trust Fund. A silent auction will also be conducted to help raise valuable funds.

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5

Planning for the time when independence ends

By Kate McLelland

It’s one of those life-changing moments. You’ve just received a phone call telling you that an elderly relative has been admitted to hospital with a fall injury or an illness from which they are unlikely to fully recover.

You may have been anticipating this day for a number of years as you watched your loved one become less and less able to cope. But it can still come as a shock to realise that the normal things you did to help, such as popping round to do some housework or shopping, will no longer be enough.

There are two options available to families facing this crucial moment. Either arrange for your relative to be admitted to a residential care home, where they can receive round-the-clock attention, or make space in your own house so they can live with you.

Where a parent is concerned, there’s often a strong feeling of guilt associated with these decisions. It’s highly likely that you’ve never discussed what will happen when your mum or dad become unable to look after themselves, and there may have been an unspoken assumption that when the time comes, they will move in with you. But is your home actually suitable to shelter and care for a vulnerable older person with medical problems and/or limited mobility?

Few houses are designed with disability in mind, so adapting your home needs careful thought. It’s also sensible to plan ahead, as someone who is reasonably mobile at the moment may not be able to move so freely in a couple of years.

first thing you’ll need to consider is whether or not your loved one will be able to use the stairs.

Last year, Age UK commissioned research into the cost of installing a stair lift and found that the price varied between £4,940 and £5,469 for a straight staircase, with approximately £500 added for a curved stair lift.

The alternative to a stair lift is to reconfigure the ground floor of your house, although this can prove costly as you will not only need to find suitable space for a bedroom, but create toilet and bathing facilities as well.

Sleeping arrangements If mobility is a problem it’s essential that you provide a bedroom with an en-suite toilet (and preferably a shower, too). Most elderly people need to go to the bathroom several times in the night and the further they have to walk, the greater the chance they will trip or fall.

Alternatively, you could consider providing a commode for night-time use, with various models costing between £25 and £180.

Will the stairs be a problem?

A reasonably-sized bedroom is essential: at the very least you’ll need space for a single bed, a stable armchair with good back support and a small table, as well as storage for any equipment that might be required.

Unless you happen to live in a bungalow, the

Make sure there are no rugs or other obstacles

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on the floor that could cause trip hazards. It’s particularly important that the area between the toilet and the bed is kept clear, and best to position any objects with sharp edges away from this route in case of falls. The use of bedrails is not recommended, as in recent cases they have caused injury and even death. If you have concerns about your relative’s welfare at night, install a baby alarm so you will hear if they need help.

Adapting your furniture A seat at normal height may be too low for somebody who has mobility issues, so you might want to consider buying raisers (around £40 for a pack of four) for the items of furniture they will use. As the name suggests, raisers simply fit onto the feet of beds and chairs to add height.

A wing chair with arms – such as a classic Queen Anne fireside chair - is ideal for the lounge. Alternatively you can buy a specialist model, made with anti-bacterial fabric. This chair, available from

www.nationalofficefurnituresupplies.co.uk, is waterproof and stain-resistant with adjustable handrails and costs around £250.

If your relative is a wheelchair user you’ll also need to think about widening doorways and installing ramps. Don’t forget that some mobility devices may be available through the NHS, either free or at a reduced cost (although you may have to wait to obtain them).

If all of this sounds daunting, you’ll find there are many agencies and voluntary organisations who can help. Go online to sites such as www. myagingparent.com, get in touch with Age UK (www.ageuk.org or call 0800 169 2081) or speak to your GP or local authority.

Finally, if you sense that your relative is approaching the time when they will need constant support, don’t wait until things reach a crisis point. By putting sensible plans in place now you can ease the transition, saving you both a lot of worry and stress later on.

ana is committed to delivering professional, personalised care in the comfort of your own home. ana has been supplying highly trained healthcare staff for over 18 years. Our

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With 4 hour blocks of care offered as minimum, ana is dedicated to providing a personalised service to each and every client.

– to find out more about our services and bespoke care packages.

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7

Cruising on the Douro River

Portugal

The Douro has its source in northern Spain but Portugal claims the only navigable section, stretching just over 130 km from the estuary in Porto to the Spanish border. It might take a day or two to sail upstream but most ships plan a leisurely return journey, stopping at various mooring spots and including a number of on-shore excursions. Either way, there is plenty of excitement: low bridges when the sundeck roof and even the captain’s cabin may have to be lowered, and locks, all five of them, including the Carrapatelo, one of the deepest in Europe. Passers-by look down in awe from the top, water thunders on the roof then at last the gate opens, a mere 12 metres wide, and the boat gently slips out into the sunlight.

Cruising the Douro is about scenery and wine with ample opportunities to taste the latter, be it the light golden ‘Vinho Verde’ and other sparkling wines or the ubiquitous Port, red or white, which is produced at no higher than 500 metres. As for the scenery, it’s simply magic as ships sail in slow motion along the ever meandering river, now spreading out like a lake, now peeping into a fjord with myriad reflections or squeezing through a narrow gorge between towering cliffs and ochre-coloured rocks. The river depth ranges form 70 metres to 40 cm and it takes all the captain’s skills to dock and navigate the shallows. Wooded slopes frame the lower reaches, dotted with red-roofed villages and chapels, but before long, settlements thin out and vineyards take over, draping every rolling hill in luminous

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green or autumn colours under the watchful eye of remote wineries. Some vineyards plunge straight down to the water in neat vertical lines, others cling to horizontal terraces retained by stone walls. They say that if you put all the stones end to end, you could build two Great Walls of China.

It’s a quiet land with few people around, except at harvest time, and little to disturb the peace but the occasional greeting of ships passing each other. Sometimes a train races along the bank, a heron lands on a tree or a vulture hovers high above the cliffs. Fish pop out of the water, leaving silvery rings on the surface, and in Barca d’Alva, martins nesting under the bridge perform a brilliant aerial dance to catch insects in the sunset.

Barca d’Alva is the last place in Portugal, looking across to the border and Terra de Vegon, the final mooring and a convenient stop for a day trip into Spain and the world heritage city of Salamanca. Others drive up to the lovely medieval village of Castelo Rodrigo, basking in the sun among olive and almond groves. Then there’s Regua downstream, just a 30 minute drive from the pilgrimage shrine of Lamego, and Pinhao with its riverside promenade lined with palms and oleander, its steep cobbled lanes, its Roman bridge and railway station glistening with blue and white tiles depicting scenes of local life. Not so far away, the Mateus Palace sits among gardens of fragrant box and flowering trees while up in the hills, traditional inns serve Portuguese fare and local wine. Vineyards, river and hills, it’s all part of the enticing Douro landscape protected by UNESCO, and the International Nature Park shared with neighbouring Spain.

Would you like to help us find out why wholegrain food is good for you?

We require

Contact

• Healthy men • Aged 40-65 years 2 • Normal to overweight (BMI 19-30 kg/m ) • Not taking hypotensive or antidepressant drugs

Dr Frank Thies 01224 437954/8634 f.thies@abdn.ac.uk

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The Age of Plenty Grown-up skincare, fragrance and emergency fixes.

Kate Duggan: www.kateduggan.co.uk Inspired by the 1920s, Deco London fragrances are glamourous and grown-up, with a fun side; they’re aimed at women, rather than girls, but these are women who know how to play. Choose from the floral bohemian Loretta, the sultry Millicent, or the oriental Constance. I love all three, but if I had to choose one it would be Millicent.

It’s floral, but not too sweet, with scents of bergamot, mandarin, jasmine and musk combining to create a sensual, head turning fragrance. If you’re looking for a new signature scent, head to www.decolondon.com.

A massage is a pretty sure fire way to get in someone’s good books. There are a lot of massage oils on the market to choose from, but personally I like the Therapy Massage Candle from Janjira. Once lit, the oils start to melt. Blow the candle out, pour the warm oil into your hand, and start the massage. It’s £30, but smells gorgeous, and the soybean and coconut oil feels lovely on your skin. Thai brand Janjira is quite new to the UK, and specialises in spa quality products to indulge in at home. See www. janjira.co.uk.

Another new skincare range to recently reach our shores is Swiss brand ananné.

Natural skincare at its finest, ananné is organic, vegan and free from synthetic ingredients. Each product is the result of months (if not years) of scientific research, and is designed to nourish and energise the skin, improving its health rather than just providing a temporary fix. That being said, it doesn’t take long to see a visible improvement. Hero products include the

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Solacium Repair Serum, £130, and the Oculissiumum Eye Balm, £90. See www. ananne.co.uk.

The night you’ve been looking forward to for ages finally arrives. You have the perfect outfit. Your makeup is pristine. Then you look in the mirror and realise that your roots are startlingly obvious and there are grey hairs standing to attention all over the place. If this scenario sounds familiar, you might want to add the Kazumi Root Vanish to your emergency cupboard. Just brush it on and blow dry. The effect is temporary, but effective, and it stays put until you wash it out, so you don’t need to panic if you get caught in the rain. There are five shades to choose from and it’s pretty good at covering grey hairs. What’s more, it’s packed with botanical extracts, and is very gentle, so is great if your hair needs a bit of a break from bleaching. Root Vanish costs from £30 and can be bought from Boots.

Who wouldn’t wish for a fairy godmother on hand to wave her wand at times? Well, The English Mineral Makeup Company’s Fairy Godmother powder may not be able to turn your H&M jeans into a Stella McCartney gown, but it can help to soften the appearance of lines and leave skin feeling smoother and brighter.

It also provides a powerful boost of antioxidants to nourish skin and leave it glowing. Visit http:// englishmineralmakeup.co.uk to order.

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4/30/2014 5:28:58 PM

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Beauty Gifts for Mother’s Day Treat mum this Mother’s Day, with a luxurious beauty gift that she’d probably never dream of buying for herself.

Kate Duggan: www.kateduggan.co.uk Clarins’ make-up palettes are some of the best on the market in my opinion, and their latest offering is no exception. The Natural Glow Eye Shadow Palette, £33, features five very wearable shades, from light beige to warm brown, all housed in an attractive rose-gold coloured compact. They’re easy to apply, and the palette is perfect for keeping in a handbag to transform a natural day time look into night time glam.

Get it quick though; it’s a limited edition, and if previous incarnations are anything to

Beautex Manicure,

UV Gel Enhancements 89 Gray Street, Aberdeen AB10 6JD T: 07512 762 431

go by, it’s likely to sell out pretty fast.

If you’re looking to earn some serious brownie points, perfume is the way to go.

Connock London‘s Kukui is brimming with floral notes, including gardenia, Moroccan rose, white jasmine and calla lily, but it’s given a grown-up, oriental twist with notes of sandalwood, vetiver, white amber and warm vanilla. The result is a truly gorgeous fragrance, and the bottle looks rather lovely sat out on display as well. There’s a very good chance this could become her new favourite scent. At £75 for 100ml, it’s not cheap, but consider it part-payment for all that teenage angst she had to deal with.

Buying a treat for a mum-to-be? Neal’s Yard Remedies Mothers range has been specially formulated to nurture women during pregnancy. The range includes a balm, massage oil and bath oil. The balm and massage oil can help to prevent stretch

We use Catherine products to support the quick regeneration of damaged nails and protect them effectively.

Book your first gel nail/or uv gel enhancement and receive £5 off you next appointment Quote : BTEX2

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marks, while the bath oil aids relaxation and a restful night’s sleep, as well as softening skin. (It also smells rather lovely too.) Prices start from £15, so the range is great value, as a little goes a long way and each bottle is packed with high quality, natural ingredients, such as lavender oil, neroli and mandarin essential oils.

The Eco Chic Body Lotion and Shower Gel gift set by Green Energy Organics is ideal if you’re on a budget this Mother’s Day. Priced at £14.95, this is luxury on a shoestring. Not only are the shower gel and lotion packed with skin friendly oils, such as avocado and jojoba, but they smell divine, with notes of blackcurrant, rose, myrrh, jasmine, tonka bean, vanilla, and white musk. They’re also very gentle, as they don’t contain any dyes, sodium lauryl sulphate or parabens. Available from millabaci. com Dashing out last minute to buy a gift? Head to Marks and Spencer and check out their Pure Relaxing range. Team the body wash, body lotion and hand & nail cream with either the candle or diffuser to create an athome spa experience. Products are scented with lavender, geranium and other oils to help mum relax, unwind and de-stress. Throw in a glass of prosecco and some music, and there’s little doubt you’ll be seen as the favourite child. Prices start from £6.

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13

Iced Orange Bundt Cake This delicious citrus flavoured sponge is made in a classic ring-shaped bundt tin. You’ll find them in most good cook shops and larger supermarkets, or you can use an ordinary 1.5L capacity ring mould tin instead.

Serves 10 Ready in 1 hour 30 minutes, plus cooling and setting times Ingredients 200g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 300g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting 200g caster sugar 3 large eggs, beaten 1/2 tsp baking powder Finely grated zest of 1 large orange 100ml fresh orange juice 100-150ml milk For the Icing 100g icing sugar Approx 2 tbsp fresh orange juice

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Method Preheat the oven to 170C, 325F, Gas 3. Thoroughly grease a 22-23cm Bundt tin (measured across the top) with butter then lightly dust with flour, tipping out the excess.

Put the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat together until pale and creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs, then sift over the flour and baking powder and fold in along with the orange zest and juice. Fold in enough of the milk to give a soft dropping consistency.

Spoon the cake mixture into the prepared tin and gently level the surface. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes, or until the cake is risen and golden and a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes then carefully turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

For the icing, sift the icing sugar into a bowl then beat in the orange juice to make a smooth and thick icing. Drizzle the icing over the top of the cake, letting it drizzle down the sides. Leave in a cool place until set.

Tip : Make sure to grease and flour the bundt tin thoroughly or you may find it tricky to turn the cake out. Use the tip of a small palette knife or silicon spatula to gently loosen the edges of the cake first.

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15

Weight Loss: A different perspective...

The new year always brings the promise of weight loss and more exercise after a festive period of enjoyment. This thought always gives an air of reduced enjoyment with little to look forward to on the bleak winter days. But does it really have to be like this? Maybe if we thought of it from a different view point then it may be more interesting and achievable.

There are 3500 calories in 1lb of body fat. So to lose 1lb a week, which is considered a healthy way of reducing body fat, that is a reduction of 500 daily calories to be able to lose 1lb. 500 calories is the equivalent of a bar of chocolate, a muffin with your coffee, 2 glasses of wine (depending on your measure it could be one large glass). So by cutting out 1 thing in a day the weight loss of 1lb a week is achieved and over the year it’s a little more than 3.5 stone.

We always want the weight loss too happen yesterday, but that isn’t healthy but more importantly quick weight loss is not sustainable.

Why do we want weight loss at this time of year?

Is it simply because of a beautiful indulgence at Christmas or do you really need to lose weight?

There are two simple measures to identify if weight loss would be good for our HEALTH. The first is our BMI. This is an easy calculation of height squared, in centimeters, divided by weight in kilograms.

So for example, I’m 5’6”, but in centimeters its 168 cm. My weight is approximately (I have no idea really) 11 stone which is about 69 kilos.

1.68 x 1.68 = 2.82 69 / 2.82 = 24.4 My BMI is 24.4 which is very much borderline.

Given that I exercise a lot and that I would have more lean tissue than body fat, on the surface

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it would seem I’m healthy enough and would not need to lose any weight.

The second measure I suggest taking is the waistline measurement. To reduce health risks the waistline measurement for women needs to be less than 80cm (men<94cm) Between 89-90cm you are at risk of developing a health condition. 90cm+ and you are at high risk of developing a health condition. This might be diabetes, gallstones, arthritis, coronary disease.

Etc. My waistline measure 83cm. So despite the BMI not showing a desperate need to lose weight, if I lost 7-10lbs or 3-5 kilos it would reduce my chances of developing health conditions.

So this January, instead of changing my whole diet, to something that is not sustainable my intention is to CHANGE 1 THING. So what is it I could possibly change to help me with my waistline?

Breakfast is always raw porridge and berries with mixed seeds - good slow release of energy, I need during class and is low in calories. High in nutrients.

Lunch is usually a milky coffee or a lentil soup.

Not so healthy but light in my stomach for an afternoon of activity.

Evening meal is one of: Fish & vegetables, or chicken & backed potato, Bolognese, stir fry chicken, vegetable curry. On the surface. It looks healthy and shows little needing to change.

If I’m honest with myself my ‘bad’ time of day is

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between 3-5pm. I could eat anything under the sun at this point, and usually do, well anything to hand that is! So if I ate a better lunch, I wouldn’t feel like that between 3-5pm. I’d be ready for my evening meal and feel fuller all evening. As it is, I allow my blood glucose to drop SO low, that I don’t know when it’s back up so I keep eating until I’ve over eaten.

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Carrying body fat around the waistline is more dangerous than carrying it around the hips (not that any excess body fat is good) as its closer to the vital organs and inhibits good function of the organs. So, in fact for me I have to eat more, at a meal, rather than less to lose weight, and be healthier in my diet.

My New Years resolution is to EAT MORE at lunch and be healthier all year.

Would you like to join me?

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17

MAKE THE MOST OF A SMALL KITCHEN Tiny kitchen spaces are often extremely efficient – you can wash, slice and cook almost without moving at all. And you can create a practical and attractive galley kitchen for very little money, writes Katherine Sorrell.

PLANNING THE ROOM In a small kitchen every centimetre counts, and the first principle of design is the ‘work triangle’ – the movement between the cooker, sink and fridge. Each zone should be selfcontained, with its own storage and worktop space, but it should also be easy to move between each one. Ensure this by drawing a floor plan with lines connecting each point on the triangle, and avoid placing obstructions between them. In theory the most efficient length for each side of the triangle is about two metres, but in practice the three work centres should not be uncomfortably close or too far apart. In a double galley, keep the sink and cooker on the same side, with the fridge opposite. You can’t create a triangle in a single galley, but its linear shape makes it easy to use as long as the line is not too long. Aim for tall cupboards at one end, then the hob, and the maximum amount of worktop between the hob and the sink, with the dishwasher next to the sink at the other end. Add a rubbish bin under the sink and, if you have room, a pull-out larder.

EATING AND ENTERTAINING It’s always a good idea to fit in somewhere to eat and drink – perhaps a fold-down table, or a small dining table which extends for extra guests. Or, add a breakfast bar by forming an ‘L’ shape at the end of a worktop and tuck a couple of high stools underneath it.

CHOOSING UNITS & WORKTOPS The trend is for mixing textures and colours in the kitchen, including metallics, marble and rough, tough industrial accents. Deep worktops and open shelving will update any sized kitchen but quality matters most. Cheaper carcasses are made from chipboard, sometimes with just hardboard backs, which is fine for a budget option. But for a well-used, long-lasting kitchen, opt for plywood or MDF veneer, the thicker the better. Laminate worktops are the budget choice – choose high-pressure rather than low-pressure ones, as they’re more durable. Wooden worktops can be inexpensive, but avoid ones that are too cheap or too thin, especially next to a sink as they’ll just warp and buckle. Splashbacks are often made from the worktop material, though cheaper alternatives are ceramic tiles, tongue and groove painted with tough gloss, or a fashionable sheet of clear or coloured acrylic.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SPACE WITH THESE IDEAS • Fit wall cupboards that go right up to the ceiling • Sliding doors are ideal as they don’t intrude into the room • ‘Magic’ corner cupboards (with mechanisms that let you access the back) let you fit more in • Wall-hung racking systems provide organisation but let you see what you’ve got • Pull-out shelving and slim drawers (e.g. in the plinth) add extra storage space • Internal fittings help organise cupboards • For appliances, choose multi-functional, compact, slimline, built-in and stacking versions

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• Reflective and/or transparent surfaces and pale colours make the room seem bigger • Base cabinets on legs or recessed plinths let you see more floor • Avoid visual confusion by sticking to ultra-plain cabinet fronts with either no handles or very discreet ones • Larger-than-average floor tiles make the floor seem larger Pictures explained...

Make use of wall space, drawers, slim appliances and freestanding storage such as trolleys.

Metod Grevsta kitchen, £47 for a 40x60cm base cabinet with shelves, Ikea, tel 020 3645 0000; www.ikea.co.uk.

Efficient internal storage can make all the difference in a small kitchen. Storage options, Rational, tel 01543 459459; www.rational.de/en.

A simple table at right angles to the kitchen, with stools tucked beneath, creates a handy eating area. Cooke & Lewis Raffello high gloss white kitchen, B&Q, tel 0333 014 3098; www.diy.com.

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Wiltshire Farm Foods

launches new campaign led

by Fern Britton Wiltshire Farm Foods, the UK’s leading provider of home-delivered frozen ready meals, is launching a new national advertising campaign starring TV personality, Fern Britton.

Richard Speak runs the Ellon office for Wiltshire Farm Foods, and said “It’s fantastic to have Fern Britton starring in our advertising. She joined us all at our conference last year, and I was delighted to meet her. Fern has a real passion for our business, and is genuinely interested in the meals themselves, and the outstanding service we provide.”

“She has a busy lifestyle, and I was interested to hear

20

she has placed an order herself and tried a number of meals from the range.”

As Fern herself says “Wiltshire Farm Foods provides an outstanding service that means everyone can enjoy the convenience of a tasty meal, every day.”

That range now includes “Nutritious and Delicious”, meals which are less than 400 calories and low in salt and saturated fat, as well as more than 150 gluten free meals. There are also hearty and mini meals, to provide options for a range of appetites, and a broad selection of desserts and cakes.

In total, there are now more than 300 delicious meals available, all cooked fresh then quick frozen to lock the goodness in. What’s more, there is free delivery by friendly local drivers from Wiltshire Farm Foods.

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Richard and Morag have been running Wiltshire Farm Foods now for three years out at their base at Balmacassie Commercial Centre (behind Tesco).

They currently employ 13 staff who are from Ellon, Peterhead and Aberdeen.

Customers can purchase direct from them as they are open 8am-4pm MonFri, but the bulk of the customers have their meals delivered direct to their door. There is a daily drop off to Aberdeen city and other parts of the shire are weekly.

The new Delicious and Nutritious range is for the more health conscious, but there is a fab range of foods.

Catering for small appetites, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, in fact something for everyone old and young.

For information about Wiltshire Farm Foods, contact 01358 725 200 or visit: wiltshirefarmfoods. com and ask for a free brochure.

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21

Golden Years –

Memories of 50 years ago British, and born in the 1950s or earlier?

Congratulations! You’re a genius at mental arithmetic! There are no studies, surveys or statistics to prove this, but it stands to reason: you needed a brain from IBM just to work out your change!

Here’s a simple test for anyone under 50. On Friday you go out with £1.17.4. You buy a pint of mild for Alf at 1s 2d, a bottle of sweet stout for Alf’s missus Mabel (no white wine for the ladies in those days!) at 10 and 1/2d, a pint of bitter for yourself at 1s 5d, a packet of crisps at 3d, and a dark rum for old Harry at 1s 8d. Later, it’s your round again – same again but no crisps, and Harry has a double (which he never does when it’s his round!). Later still the fish man comes and you have a poke of shrimps, 4d; then you give the lass from the Sally Army 2d for a War Cry which you never actually read. At chucking out time you buy a bottle of Guinness to take home, 1s 9d (1d back on the bottle). So: have you got enough left over to see Rovers at home tomorrow and buy a pie and a Bovril at the ground?

And that’s why we had decimalisation.

People think, wrongly, that Britain got decimalised on April 15th 1971, or D-Day as the press dubbed it. The real D-Day was March 1st 1966 when the Chancellor, Jim Callaghan, officially announced that the Government had accepted the report of a committee of enquiry (now more than two years old) and that a currency that was, in essence, more than 1,200 years old would be scrapped in five years’ time.

The announcement marked the end of a long, slow march towards decimalisation. When the Decimal Association was founded in 1841 many people saw it as another manifestation of that extreme rationalism that demanded a 13-month

year and one universal language. But it at least succeeded in getting a new coin minted from 1849 onwards: the florin, worth two shillings – or 10 to the pound! The florin, though, failed to our perception of the pound and shilling as the base units of currency. We were used to working with bases 12 and 20, and that’s why Britain was so good at arithmetic. (The above example is simple subtraction: imagine you were a wages clerk making up weekly pay-packets for 100-odd workers all of whom worked different hours at different rates!)

Another reason why the old money had to go was that it was so damned BIG! Have you ever seen it? You needed a gusset sewn into your change pocket or all those farthings, halfpennies, cartwheel pennies, 12-sided threepenny bits, tanners, bobs, florins and half-crowns would wear a hole in it in days.

Still, there was a lot of resistance; and only when South Africa and Australia took the lead did Harold McMillan authorise the committee of enquiry in 1961. Once Mr Callaghan had made the formal announcement, though, things moved fast. The Decimal Coinage Act and the Decimal Currency Board came in 1969 along with the 50p piece. The new 5p and 10p came in 1970 and were the same size as the shilling and florin they eventually replaced. The only real change on D-Day itself was the introduction of the new 1/2p, 1p and 2p, although even then the old coppers remained in circulation until August.

Was it worth it? A lot of old folk got fooled into thinking that 6p was the same as 6d when of course it was closer to 1s 2 and 1/2d; but my 23-year-old daughter is astonished and appalled that we put up with a system that mixed not only base 12 and base 20 but also fractions of the basic unit for so long. Still, we were brilliant at mental arithmetic!

Happy 50th birthdays to Alan Davies (6th), Nigel Clough (19th), and Michael Imperioli (26th). Cake and botox to you all!

A New Year Brings

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That’s Mans Work, That Is Iain Betson dreams that many TLAs make light work.

Men! Ever washed your car? Vacuumed the inside? Waxed the paintwork or shampooed the upholstery? Of course you have, ever since the dawn of the motorcar, that’s what Sundays have been for. Now the same question to the ladies? I bet the answer is mostly in the negative.

I was contemplating this question the other weekend as I gave one of our cars a bit of TLC. It usually goes through the local auto-wash but on occasion, as it’s not a big car, I give it a good manual clean, apply some elbow grease and spend time with a bucket, sponge and wax, on the drive.

And when it comes to the interior it’s always me, bi-weekly, with the upright and the duster.

To diverge slightly, we have moved around a fair bit, at the last count about 8 moves in 10 years; the tax man isn’t chasing us or anything, but I do sometimes think we would be better off in a motor-home. Anyhow, as a result my wife and I have made a fair number of house viewings.

Sometimes I would leave a property saying, “That’s the one for us” only to evoke a response of “No way, did you see the colour of the bathroom”.

On the surface, to a man, this seems quite baffling. I mean, in time, bathrooms can be replaced, so why the negative answer? Women, by nature I think, are more house proud, for some reason - genes, conditioning, peer pressure or whatever - they just are.

Remember the stereotypical image of a single chap, happy to live on beer and a take-away, consumed in a chair in front of the telly, never cleaning the house and quite happy about it too?

I’m pretty sure single woman just won’t do this – an ordered house and home is a must.

Yet this is in stark contrast to the state of the cars the sexes drive. My wife will gladly drive around in a motor, the interior of which has more pebbles in the footwell than Brighton beach and wheels so soot blackened that they rival the cast of Oliver. Me, I look at the state of both inside and outside and think, “That’s a job for Sunday”. So why this clean car, clean house role reversal? Sorry to be so blunt but, in short, I don’t know, haven’t a clue, I’m a bloke you see.

From my side I can see why cars should be clean, and if the toilet is in need of a makeover well that’s fine, but I’m darned if I can see it from a woman’s perspective; unless, of course, I suddenly develop a liking for chintz curtains and opera then, maybe, I will.

Which brings me, via a hyper-jump, on to car press releases. The other day I had a test of the new VW Golf GTi and the accompanying press information contained well over ten TLAs (for the bewildered that’s Three Letter Abbreviations) for the features and functions this car boasts. HBA, ABS, ESP, TCS… I could go on.

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Anyway, most of the TLAs referred to the way these systems affected the going, the handling and the stopping. All well and good: a better responding car leads to a more enjoyable and safer ride, all good points well made. But, you know, I doubt whether the vast majority of drivers know or care about these features, or even realise that their car has them. They simply want to own and run a car that will get them safely from A to B with very little fuss or effort, and that’s about it.

Now the way I look at it is this. If the manufacturers want to sell bucket loads of cars, here is one TLA feature I think they should pour millions into developing and immediately fit to their entire range. A sort of “killer app” as the phone industry would call it. A TLA that would be so close to all of our hearts I think the first manufacturer to provide it would clean up for good, forever, end of.

In fact, as I thought of it, I may patent it myself. My TLA car feature would be called SCC - Self Cleaning Car… I’ll leave you dreaming, I’m off to the Patent Office!

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Vertical Cover With Climbers Take a look at the boundaries of your garden; are they rather uninteresting, drab or perhaps even downright boring? It is time to start thinking about doing some vertical gardening - don’t just concentrate on beds, borders and beautiful containers, but think about all those upright surfaces just itching to be clothed in glorious climbers or wall shrubs. If you have several vertical surfaces then so much the better.

A visit to your local garden centre will reveal a plentiful supply of suitable plants. Start by taking a look at the surface you have to offer, get a rough idea of the size of the area to be covered, the direction it faces and the amount of sun or shade the plants growing on the wall or fence are likely to receive.

Check your soil type too – discover whether it is sandy and free-draining, sticky and full of clay or somewhere in between - as the plant you choose must be suited to the site.

Some climbers are quite quick growing and will look good later this year, and then go from strength to strength as the years pass. Many provide strong colour and others will be a useful backdrop for the garden as a whole. Don’t forget that most buildings can have climbers grown against them, so if you have an unsightly shed, garage or even a fairly uninteresting looking back to your house, then consider erecting some sort of support system on which you can grow your climbers.

If you have a long stretch of wall you can break up its monotony by planting up with several different

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plants. If you grow a wide range of plants and only allow them to reach the height of the first floor, it will make a tall, narrow building seem somewhat broader. A climbing hydrangea, Hydrangea petiolaris, or self-clinging plants such as ivies are ideal for this situation, but make sure the mortar on your wall is in good shape before planting.

Climbers are best planted in open ground, as they tend to have sizeable root systems. However, you can grow them in containers if you get really stuck, but make sure that you re-pot regularly and that you have enough space to ultimately use a really good sized container such as a half barrel. You will need to use a loam-based potting compost and add extra grit to ensure that the compost continues to drain freely. It is also essential to place a really deep layer of crocks at the base of the container so that the drainage holes are loosely covered and will not become clogged by the compost. I always add some controlled release fertilizer granules to the compost, as this will help to ensure that plants get adequately fed at least for the first few months. If you plant the container up using a triangular or V-shaped trellis panel inserted at the back surface, this will give the plant an initial support and it can then climb up this before moving on to your wall or fence. You will, of course, need to tie the top section of the trellis into the wall or fence, so that it does not rock about.

Once you have decided where to plant the climber, dig a really good sized planting hole, making sure that it is at least 18 inches (45 cm) away from the wall or fence. This may sound like a long way, but it ensures that the plant receives adequate moisture and does not suffer any adverse effects from the proximity of the nearby wall. Incorporate plenty of planting compost, well rotted manure or garden compost, and then once you have soaked the root ball of the plant you can place it in the hole. Ideally

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27

you should position it at a 45 degree angle, so that it is already leaning towards the wall. Once you have checked that the levels are right you can spread the root system out and plant in the normal way. If your climber is already attached to some sort of support system, such as bamboo canes, it helps if you gently untie the stems from any central stake and then choose the best looking shoots and train these towards your new support system. You can use the existing bamboo canes to help it on its way. It is essential to keep climbers really well watered, particularly if they are on or near a sunny wall.

Any good garden centre will have a range of plants available, but here are some suggestions for some of those tricky sites: Vigorous climbers for a quick effect: Actinidia chinensis Akebia quinata Clematis montana Clematis montana ‘Rubens’ Vitis coignetiae

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Climbers for clay soils: Campsis Celastrus scandens Clematis Ivies Golden hop Climbing hydrangea Honeysuckles (most) Vitis coignetiae Climbers for an alkaline or chalky soil: Actinidia kolomikta Akebia quinata Clematis Ivies Climbing hydrangea Jasminum officinale Honeysuckles Trachelospermum jasminoides Wisteria Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ - fantastic UK grown vegetable plants of your choice plus weekly advice and tips emails from Pippa, Nemaslug, biological controls, pop-up crop covers, signed books and lots more besides.

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His Majesty’s Theatre, Music Hall and Lemon Tree, Aberdeen What’s On February Saturday, February 20: Glorious Conference, aiming to give women time and space to grow in their relationship with God and with other Christian women in the North East, with guest speaker Rachel Gardner, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, 11am to 9.30pm.

Saturday, February 20: Brand new show from the UK’s favourite Canadian resident Tom Stade: You’re Welcome, in The Lemon Tree Lounge (seated), West North Street, Aberdeen, at 8pm.

Saturday, February 20: Starring Welsh superstar Katherine Jenkins and featuring the Aberdeen choir Con Anima, the Lord Provost’s Charitable Trust Concert, supported by BP and in aid of Scottish social care charity Cornerstone, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, 7.30pm. Tickets to £57 Sunday, February 21: Double BAFTA nominated Iain Stirling is back following

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four successive sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with Touchy Feely, in The Lemon Tree Studio, at 7pm.

Sunday, February 21: With conductor Garry Walker and violinist Gina McCormack, Aberdeen Sinfonietta perform a programme including works

by Malcolm Arnold, Tchaikovsky and Borodin, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Tickets (U16s free) Tuesday, February 23: Tron Theatre Company presents Cock, by Mike Bartlett, when the main character is increasingly wracked with indecision about who he is and what he wants, in The Lemon Tree Studio, at 7pm.

Wednesday, February 24: The ultimate tribute to one of rock and roll’s most remarkable groups, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, world tour, in the Music Hall, at 7.30pm.

Wed to Sat, February 24 to 27: On their 25th anniversary, Aberdeen’s own Phoenix Theatre presents the North-east Amateur Premier of the award-winning musical comedy Legally Blonde, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm, 2.30pm Saturday matinee.

Thursday, February 25: Sister of the international superstar Dolly Parton, hit recording singer-songwriter and actress

Stella Parton in Parton Sings Parton, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm.

Thursday, February 25: Members of the BBC acclaimed Transatlantic Sessions, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and John Doyle, in The Lemon Tree Lounge (seated), West North Street, doors at 7.30pm.

Friday, February 26: Well-known from his frequent television appearances, Irish stand-up comedian Ed Byrne, with his new show Outside, Looking In, in the Music Hall, at 8pm.

Friday, February 26: The original rudeboy and former member of The Specials, Neville Staple now tours with his own band, appearing The Lemon Tree Lounge (standing), West North Street, at 7.30pm.

Saturday, February 27: Founding member of pioneering post-rock band Fridge alongside Four Tet’s Kieran Hebden and one half of Silver Columns with Johnny Lynch aka The Pictish Trail, Adem celebrates his first solo album of original material for nine years, seconds are acorns, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, at 8.30pm.

Saturday, February 27: Scottish Ensemble present Quintets, a programme of works by Mozart,

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Brahams and Martin Suckling, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Tickets (U16s free) Saturday, February 27: Known for not following the rules of stand-up comedy, Ed Aczel with his news show The Random Flapping of a Butterfly’s Wings, in The Lemon Tree Studio, at 7pm.

Sunday, February 28: Strictly Come Dancing’s Brendan Cole with his latest show A Night to Remember, in the Music Hall, at 7.30.

Mon, February 29 to Sat, March 5: Based on the smash-hit movie, the feelgood intn’l hit sensation, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, starring Duncan James as Tick, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm, with 2pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday matinees.

Monday, February 29: One of the foremost pianists of her age and now heralded as today’s leading exponent

of the works of J S Bach, Canadian Angela Hewitt presents Bach Masterworks: The Art of Fugue, in the Music Hall, at 7.30pm.

What’s On March Tues to Sat March 1 to 5: As part of the spring A Play, a Pie and a Pint season, Aberdeen Performing Arts and Glasgow Lunchtime Theatre present Angel and the Manse, by George Docherty, in The Lemon Tree Lounge (seated), at 6pm Tues to Fri and 1pm on Thurs and Sat. Wednesday, March 2: Swedish band Sabaton, and Scotland’s own Alestorm, with guests Bloodhound, in the Music Hall, at 6.30pm.

Thursday, March 3: Triple G Music present hard rock band The Cult, who gained a dedicated following in the UK in the mid-1980s with singles such as She Sells Sanctuary, before breaking mainstream

in the US in the late 1980s, in the Music Hall, doors at 7pm.

Friday, March 4: Heat up a chilly wintry night with an evening of traditional Scottish dancing with Shindig, in the Music Hall, at 8pm.

Fri and Sat March 4 and 5: Tortoise in a Nutshell presents The Lost Things, a dark fairytale set in a fantastical world where nothing is quite what it seems, for ages nine plus, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 11am and 1.30pm on Friday and 11.30am and 2.30pm on Saturday.

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Enjoy hands-on history with the Detectorists

By Kate McLelland Last year the BBC TV series “Detectorists” (starring MacKenzie Crook and Toby Jones) not only won a BAFTA, but attracted thousands of fans. The series seems to have sparked a fresh interest in metal detecting, despite the fact that its main characters seldom find anything more valuable than the odd bottle top or metal button.

Some detectorists, however, seem to have the magic touch. 1n 2012, 86-year-old Cliff Massey dug up a stash of old coins in a field in Wrexham, North Wales and last summer he returned to the same field to discover a 15th century gold ring together with a 500 year old hoard of gold and silver coins.

If your appetite has been whetted by the many similar stories that have appeared in the media in recent years, here’s some advice to help you get started as a detectorist:

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What you need How much time will you spend on your new hobby? If it’s just the odd weekend you may not want to invest too much in your detector.

A starter model can be purchased from around £140 but a top of the range detector can cost upwards of £1,000.

A reputable dealer can offer expert knowledge on the range and depth of the device’s detecting capabilities, battery life, weight and ease of handling. But be warned: the more expensive detectors are often quite complex to use, so unless you are comfortable using new technology, your new gadget may end up unused in the cupboard under the stairs.

As well as a detector, your basic kit should include good quality digging tools such as a strong trowel or spade, waterproof clothing, sturdy boots or Wellingtons, gloves, a water bottle, First Aid equipment, a notepad and pencil, insect repellent and a Finds Bag, to protect those freshly-dug artefacts.

For your own safety, be sure to tell somebody where you are going on every outing and take along a fully charged mobile phone.

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Where to search Try gardens, riverbanks, beaches and common land (subject to by-laws) but get permission from the landowner first if you want to dig on private land. Establish a finds sharing agreement (signed by both parties) before you dig to avoid disagreements in the event of a valuable discovery.

Scheduled sites are protected areas of special historic interest (you will find lists in local museums or by going to Historic Scotland site www.historic-scotland.gov. uk) and you will need local authority permission to dig in those areas.

Dealing with finds

The website www.finds.org.uk gives a full definition of the rules surrounding ‘Treasure Trove’. All items classed as treasure must be handed over to the state: a committee then decides on the size of the reward to be given to the finder and landowner.

The idea of discovering hidden treasure may be exciting, but metal detecting isn’t just about the money. It’s a popular hobby that is open to all age groups and can be particularly beneficial to older participants as it keeps you physically and mentally fit.

Metal detecting is also a pastime that offers an unrivalled, hands-on approach to history that will expand your knowledge and appreciation of this country’s rich heritage.

If you are fortunate enough to find something of value, you will be expected to share any money received from a sale 50%50% with the owner of the land.

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Acupuncture Awareness Week 7th-13th March 2016 New statistics from the British Acupuncture Council reveal that when it comes to pain, 44% of the UK population remains untreated, 56% take oral painkillers , 32% turn to ice and heat packs and just 11% opt for Traditional Acupuncture

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