Your Lifestyle Magazine Jan/Feb 16 by Our Lifestyle Magazine

January / February 2016

Chinese Inspired Interiors

Chinese inspired furniture and accessories for your home

Weddings Top tips at Wedding Fairs

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Your Lifestyle Magazine

Happy New Year

Contents Home Style

4 - 26

Property

27 - 33

Music

34 - 35

Rising Stars

36 - 37

Food & Drink

38 - 44

Hair & Beauty

45 - 53

Fashion

54 - 55

What’s On

56 - 67

Weddings

68 - 73

Diary of a Country Lady

74 - 76

Horoscopes

Health

78 - 83

Why I Love My Job

84 - 85

Pets & Gardens

86 - 91

Congratulations to Jeremy Ireland-Jones for winning a bespoke makeover at Ashley Gable.

Funerals

Finance & Legal

93 - 94

Don’t forget if you would like us to feature your social event, or maybe you know a rising star we should write about the please do get in touch at info@yourlifestylemagazine.co.uk.

Classified

95 - 96

Motoring

97 - 99

2016 Welcome to your first edition of 2016 We hope you have had a lovely Christmas and all at Your Lifestyle Magazine would like to wish you all a healthy, happy and prosperous 2016. Now is the time when you are taking down your Christmas decorations and your homes feel a little bare. Let our interior feature help bring an oriental feel into your home Enjoy trying out our Chinese New Year recipes and Win a meal for four at the Cowshed in Pattingham. Valentine’s Day is around the corner, lots of wedding proposals so let our Wedding section help with the planning of your special day.

Linda Farren

Christine Arnold

Marketing Director

Sales Director

07841 431446

07970 681004

linda@yourlifestylemagazine.co.uk

christine@yourlifestylemagazine.co.uk

Danielle Farren Design & Production Manager info@yourlifestylemagazine.co.uk

Feature Writers and Editor; Victoria Stanton, Emma Russel, Scott Ford, Kate Oliver & Jayne Howarth info@yourlifestylemagazine.co.uk

www.yourlifestylemagazine.co.uk Competition Terms & Conditions There is no cash alternative to the prize. The competition is free to enter. Entrants must supply their contact details and in doing so agree that Your Lifestyle Magazine can use them for their own marketing purposes. Details supplied by entrants will not be passed on to any third party. All applications will be entered into a prize draw and the winner will be selected at random by the prize supplier. Winner will selected and notified by telephone and/or e-mail by the 15th of the second month in the issue date e.g. issue March/April 2014 the winner will be notified by 15th April 2014. Entry will assume acceptance of these terms and conditions. Competition start date is the start of the month of the magazine issue and will run until 10th of the second month in the issue date e.g. issue March/April 2014 the competition will run until 10th April 2014 Details of the winner available on request by writing to: Your Lifestyle Magazine Limited, Dominique House 1 Church Road, Netherton. DY2 0LY. Every care is taken to ensure accuracy but Your Lifestyle Magazine cannot accept responsibility for any loss, damage, or omission in an advert. Your Lifestyle Magazine does not officially endorse advertising material which is printed on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. All rights are reserved.

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Your Home

Looking to the East The long awaited Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations are fading into a memory but party season isn’t quite over yet as the Chinese New Year festivities will soon be upon us. In this issue, Your Lifestyle Magazine looks to the East for inspiration. Victoria Stanton will guide you through the best Chinese inspired furniture and accessories and will explore how we can use the ancient Chinese principles of Feng Shui in our homes.

Oriental furniture and accessories from Orchid furniture, 01264 811111 Living in the Midlands, we are lucky to have Birmingham’s Chinese Quarter on our doorstep. There’s no better time to go than around Chinese New Year when Hurst Street and The Arcadian Centre on Birmingham’s South Side are full of colourful celebrations. I love popping to the Chinese supermarket there and often leave with a few pretty little rice bowls along with my exciting groceries.

are currently seeing another wave of popularity. From highly decorative hand painted cabinets covered in flowers and butterflies, to the beautiful symmetry of the geometric motifs to the perfection of simple ‘everyday objects’ there is something special and satisfying about Chinese design. It’s also amazingly easy to purchase genuine Chinese antiques online, at surprisingly reasonable prices. For a intriguing mix of both old and new, check out www.orchidfurniture.co.uk and www.shimu.co.uk.

Chinese furniture and accessories have been fashionable in the West since the 1800’s and

colours, such as grey and magenta, Marsala is more down to earth. This velvety hue works so well in a spicy, autumnal scheme as it blends beautifully with all the colours of the season and provides an amazing backdrop to ethnic patterns, distressed leather, dark

Pantoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s colour experts have convinced you that this is the shade for your walls then The Little Green Paint Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bronze Red, Ashes of Roses or Baked Cherry may be good choices, alternatively Farrow and Ballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your Home Radiccio is stunning.

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I love this console table. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great contemporary reimagining of a classic Chinese design. TheseĎĎŽ tables, and a range of coordinating furniture by â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Nine Schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are available in traditional

black, but also a range of great contemporary colours including this fabulous purple, white, oyster grey and green. ÂŁ295.00 available from www.furnish.co.uk

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Chinese drum stools are gaining popularity in interiors as side tables, and the lidded ones also are great for storage. A good place to look for these is Orchid Furniture, as it has an amazing range of both reproduction and antique chinese furniture. This particular drum stool dates back to 1890 and originates from the province of Zhejiang situated on the east coast of China. £290, www.orchidfurniture.co.uk

This is beautiful small cupboard with two drawers is finished in a distressed finish and will give any space a little oriental character. £450 from www.alexanderandpearl.co.uk

These genuine antique chinese rice buckets originate from the rice fields of China and are thought to be almost 100 years old. Add a touch of the East to your interiors and use this unique bucket as a planter, a magazine rack or a simple storage solution, £105 from www. musthavebins.co.uk

This antique window panel, c1900, has carved flowers within the squares. Originally these decorative panels were used to cover windows to provide privacy. They would

Your

Home

Feng Shui

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little clutter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether it is a box room crammed with boxes that havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been touched for years â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or just a drawer where things that have no obvious home get stashed. You will have heard it many times before, but if you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t needed something in the last 12 months, you probably donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need it. A home that is cluttered can signify and cluttered life and can be very emotionally draining. Feng Shui says that clutter can negatively affect your energy levels as it will affect the flow of Chi. Having so much stuff around you can make you feel overwhelmed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as if there is too much going on in your life. Decluttering can be a wonderfully cathartic exercise.

January is a great time of year to get organised, declutter and to contemplate how we can improve our living spaces. Our homes, and how we live in them, have a huge influence on the way we feel. A cluttered environment can make us feel disorganised and anxious whereas a well organised, comfortable and well designed space can make us feel at ease. But maybe there is more to it than just decluttering. The ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui (pronounced Fung Shway) is based on the idea that your living space reflects your life and strives to create a balance between the two by manipulating the flow of positive energy, Chi. Here are some ideas on how you could refresh your home with a little ancient Eastern wisdom.

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Your Home you, but also all of your opportunities enter your home. The hallway should be clear of obstacles and clutter, particularly shoes. You should make the entrance as welcoming and inspiring as possible. Fix any creaks and squeaks, clean off dust and cobwebs and clean the step. Adding a fresh door mat, pots of flowering plants and giving the door a fresh coat of paint will make

it look like you are proud to live there. This is the first impression others get of who you are and what you have to offer, make sure you are sending the right message. If you would like to attract luck to your home, Feng Shui considers red to be the colour of energy, luck and good fortune, so red would be a great choice for a front door colour or a flowering shrub.

This front door is painted with a bright attractive red paint. Red is considered to be a lucky colour in Feng Shui.

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Mirror, mirror on the wall Mirrors are believed to be powerful items in Fung Shui and their placement is very important. There are many do’s and don’ts but the basic rule is that whatever they reflect is doubled. There are certain things that mirrors should never reflect, such as doors and windows, the bed, the toilet seat, clutter, unpleasant views, sharp corners or another mirror. A mirror outside the bathroom door is considered good as the mirror reflects the Chi away from the bathroom, therefore it is prevented from going down the drain. Mirrors placed so that they reflect views of nature are encouraged. Large mirrors are considered good and it is best if you can see your whole self, just make sure that they are not hung too high or low. However, mirrors that are distorted or broken up by bars are a big no-no as they disturb your view of yourself. One really tricky problem is that Feng Shui suggests mirrors should be avoided in the bedroom, especially opposite or to the side of the bed this is because, it is believed

that when you sleep, unwanted thoughts and

Ϯϱemotions leave your body, but if there is a mirror

in front of you, it sends them straight back which could result in disturbed sleep. Feng Shui encourages the use of mirrors in dining areas. Food on the table symbolises abundance and wealth and reflecting this doubles the effect. Feng Shui also encourages the use of mirrors in dark areas of your home as it creates the illusion of a window and that stimulates the chi energy. Another Feng Shui tip with mirrors is to stagger them on either side of long corridors or narrow hallways to create a wider, brighter area as well as slowing down the Chi energy. And one final word on the subject of mirrors – just remember to keep them clean! The dining room is a perfect place for a mirror in Feng Shui practice. This particular mirror placement also reflects the beautiful view from outside the room, bringing the beauty of the natural world outside in to the home is also considered fortuitous.

Your Home

Water, water everywhere …? Water is one of the five Feng Shui elements and represents the sense of movement and flow and financial prosperity. Placing a water feature outside your front door, preferably with the flow directed towards your house, is considered to encourage good fortune and will keep life moving in the right direction. Indoor water features are popular with Feng Shui practitioners because in addition toéattracting wealth, a working fountain is believed to diffuse healthy negative ions into the air. It’s calming qualities can also be enhanced with the addition of essential oils and crystals. However, it is not advised to place a water feature in the South area of the house as the South area is related to the fire element, which causes a conflict. Equally, it is believed that the water features should not be placed in a bedroom. An outdoor water feature from ………… would work well in front of your house to encourage good fortune, but make sure the water flows towards your door rather than away from it!

Your

Home

Be at one with nature Nature creates a sense of peace and wellbeing and can reduce feelings of anxiety, so flood your home with natural light, open windows and doors and let fresh air inside. Use natural materials such as wood, bamboo, wicker and stone in your interior furnishings. Artwork with images of nature will work equally well to lift your spirits. Using plants in your home will also bring a nature indoors. Bamboo represents upright and honest growth, as well as flexibility and adaptability. It doesn’t flower or fruit, so it’s lifespan is long and simple. In Feng Shui, lucky bamboo is ideal when it’s straight, rather than the spiralled stems we often find today. Orchids are another popular plant used for Feng Shui purposes. The flowers are long lasting and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. They can bloom all year round, even in the coldest winter. Orchids not only absorb carbon dioxide but they release oxygen at night, which make them ideal for bedrooms as they can also help us sleep better.

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Open the windows Stale air is bad for your health and mental state. Open your windows when you can and try to get a cross breeze, even if it is January, it’s still a good idea to freshen the air in a room for a while, particularly the bedroom. Movement is really important in Feng Shui, so hanging a mobile in a room where there might be a pleasant breeze would be a great idea.

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Restful slumbers According to Feng Shui, the bedroom is one of the most important rooms in the home, because it’s where we seek restoration, balance, and peace. It’s also the place of dreams. In Feng Shui, the items you place between your mattresses have an energetic association with your intentions. Use sensual fabrics and fluffy pillows to promote relaxation and don’t store books and clutter under your bed. There are so many thoughts concerning good Feng Shui practice with regard to the bedroom. Televisions are also a big problem, as most of us have them in our bedrooms these days. The advice is that if we do have to have a television in our bedroom, then it is best if it can be covered, in a cabinet for example. Bed placement is another key issue, generally, placing a bed beneath a window should be avoided if possible. Ideally, the bed should be placed in the Commanding Position of the room. This spot is the one farthest from the door but where you’re still able to see.

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Your Home the doorway and anyone approaching while you’re lying in the bed. Placing your bed in the Commanding Position allows you to be stronger, calmer, and in charge.

Buddha to be at least eye level. Looking down at a deity is considered disrespectful. Avoid placing near electrical outlets or equipment with moving parts and motors. This type of activity disturbs the surrounding energy. Many feng shui consultants recommend placing the Buddha opposite the main front door of a home on a table that is about thirty inches high. This location allows Buddha to interact with the chi energy entering your home. From this position, the statue can neutralize any negative chi, and transform it from damaging to very lucky energy. Buddha is also quite comfortable in the living room and again, the best position for Buddha in the living room is facing the front door.

Unfriendly furniture? Our home is our sanctuary and we need to feel protected. Anything that you can bump your head on, stub your toe on or bruise your shins on is unsafe. Replace sharp-edged furniture with those that have rounded edges and remove from sight anything that looks sharp, dangerous or pointy, such as wall-mounted knife racks, sharp edged glass tables and pointed curtain finials.

The five elements So now we’ve painted our front doors, carefully positioned our mirrors, opened our windows and moved our beds, lets look at how we can decorate to incorporate Feng Shui’s five elements – water, wood, fire, earth and metal. To create balance, in each room you should try and have something representing the five elements, for example a wooden bowl containing stone pebbles, a candle and a vase of flowers. Colours can represent the elements too. Black and blues represent water, which is the element connected to ease and abundance. Incorporating a water element into your space will result in a positive sense of calm, purity, and freshness and will enable us to concentrate, contemplate, and create. Green and khaki hues represent wood, which signifies growth and vitality. Bringing the healing wood element into your space will bring about and vitality in health and growth, decisiveness and action. The wood element, including the use of plants, also motivates internal change and resonates with wealth and prosperity. Reds, oranges and purples represent fire, which is all about energy, love and passion. These colours are invigorating and bold and can make a big impact in a space so should be used strategically and sparingly. Browns, golds and yellows are the earth colours and are believed to bring peace, stability and protection. Finally, the metal colours, whites and greys, represent purity, clarity and precision.

Treat your Buddha with respect OK, to be honest, it’s not really a Feng Shui thing as such – but I feel that it deserves a mention because a question I get asked frequently is “how do I place a Buddha in my home?” It’s a tricky thing really, because over the past decade they have become very fashionable in interior design, but essentially, they are statues of deities, so it seems disrespectful to treat them as an accessory. The first thing you want to do when placing a Buddha statue or any statue of a deity is to make sure the location is one of reverence. This means you should never place one in a bathroom or kitchen. Also, you want the height of the

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This room is characterised by water element blue, but it is also balanced by the wooden floor and metallic tables.

Your Home

This living room is characterised by the wood element, but the black vase on the table represents water and the pendant light and table legs bring the metal element into the scheme to create balance.

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Applying the principles of feng shui to your home is a fascinating project, but we’ve only just skimmed the surface. If you’d like to find out more about feng shui, I can recommend the following books, “Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui” by Karen Kingston, “Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life: How to Use Feng Shui to Get Love, Money, Respect and Happiness” by Karen Rauch Carter.

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AFTER

BEFORE

The Solution When Peta arranged to meet the customer, Peta had discussed the requirements and was able to provide images of work done previously on a Mackintosh sideboard, dining room table and chairs Orla Kiely style which helped the customer visualise the transformation. Using their 7 coat paint system, Paint It painted the sideboard in White to continue the theme of a Sea Side cottage. Peta has provided pictures of before and after in its new surroundings, and the customer was so pleased with her new look sideboard, and commented “As you can see, we have finally installed my beautiful sideboard at Treasure Cottage in Wales. I am thrilled to bits and it is EXACTLY what I wanted, thank you so much.”

Your

Home

Flowers to Banish the Winter Blues. a contemporary spring bulb arrangement for your home. We also have Valentine’s Day themed classes and we will be running more of the popular gift wrapping sessions where you can learn how to wrap professionally, enjoy being creative and make the simplest of gifts look spectacular.

Now that the festive decorations have been put away we are looking to spring for inspiration for our late winter workshops .One of our favourite flowers is the buttercup bloom ranunculus with its paper-like texture that comes in soft pastel shades as well as vibrant yellows and oranges. Other flowers for this time of the year include muscari, tulips, pussy willow, hellebores, anemones and snowdrops. All bringing light in to the winter home.

Whether you are coming on your own to relax and meet other people or planning a few hours out with friends you will be assured a warm welcome from us.

We have a range of inspiring floristry workshops to meet everyone’s needs with whole and half day sessions designed to give you the opportunity to develop a new skill without the need to commit to a whole course.

Prices start from £45.00, which includes delicious homemade cakes and refreshments and everything you need is provided including all tools, materials and flowers fresh from the market. Full details available on our website www.hagleyflowerschool.co.uk

Discover how to create a floral gift for a friend, a design for a dinner party table or make

FLORISTRY WORKSHOPS Learn the skills of floral art and meet new people in a relaxed and friendly environment Half and whole day workshops: l l l l l

Hand Tied Bouquets Party Flowers Flowers for Gifts Seasonal Arrangements Wedding Flowers

5 week evening course commencing February- book now to secure your place!

W FLO ER S

T: 07542 567020 / 07984 379192 E: hagleyflowerschool@gmail.com

OOL CH

HAGLE

Small groups, friendly, experienced teachers.

www.hagleyflowerschool.co.uk Hagley-Flower-School

Your Home

In the PINK for 2016

If you’re looking to update your home or your wardrobe, you’ll notice the predominance for two colours this year: pink quartz and serenity.

gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure”, while serenity is a “transcendent blue” that will comfort, calm and “provide us with a naturally connected sense of space”.

For the first time, the Pantone colour of the year is, in fact, the blending of two shades – rose quartz and serenity, what the company calls “a harmonious pairing of inviting shades that embody a mind-set of tranquillity and inner peace”.

Like the colour? This lovely Rose Geometric Bud Vase – perfect for a single bloom – is absolutely on trend for this year’s coolest colours. Available from Mia Fleur, it costs £12.95, and measures 15cm in height and 9.5cm depth. For details, visit www.miafleur. com.

Rose quartz is said to be a “persuasive yet

Your

Property

‘INSURE’ you have a Happy

New Year

As 2015 ends and decorations come down and 2016 begins, we all make decisions to make the New Year a more enjoyable one. Some of us will give up something, some will try to loose weight and some will try to spend more time with family/friends.

buildings or contents, maybe you have expensive jewellery or art, whether you are a landlord and need cover for your let buildings, or maybe you have a property that is unoccupied. To arrange a free no obligation quotation you may either telephone us, or meet our experienced friendly staff in our office in Kidderminster, or arrange for one of us to visit your home.

Whatever you choose to help make your 2016 better for you, choose PlesterGroup for your home insurance. We will work with you to find a policy that is tailored for your specific requirements, as opposed to telling you what is not covered.

Whatever your household insurance requirements are this year make PlesterGroup the one resolution you stick with this year and contact us now on 01562 829898. Even if your insurance is not due until later in the year we will call you nearer the time of your renewal date.

We can arrange cover for all your property requirements, whether it be for your own

For All Your Insurance Needs

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Telephone: 01562 829898 or Visit: www.plestergroup.co.uk Cover House, Stourport Road, Kidderminster, Worcs, DY10 1HE 27

FAIRWOOD ASH HILL, COMPTON

Offers Around ÂŁ1,450,000 FAIRWOOD

A fine property with stylish accommodation over three storeys admirably blending authentic features with contemporary living spaces and appointments in a large plot within a small, exclusive and much sought after address. Fairwood is typical of its period but an extensive scheme of improvement has been carried out and the whole property has been brought up to date to a very high standard. There are four excellent reception ess which comprises a selection properties in rooms plusof substantial, a snug,high-end a magnificent living kitchen, laundry, cloakroom, three bedroom suites, y reach of the City Centre. three further double bedrooms and luxurious house bathroom. Integral garage and an hin Compton and Tettenhall village, there is easy travelling to cellent with mainline rail services running from Wolverhampton station excellent, matured and landscaped garden. (EPC: D).

ss to Birmingham and the entire national motorway infrastructure.

oling in both sectors with The Wolverhampton Grammar School and y accessible together with St Peters and St Edmunds Schools standing

y with a fine elevation typical of its period. The house is built of brick ed roof with decorative chimneys.

tensive scheme of improvement to the property and have created a loor which is the focal point of the house and which is ideal for an extensive range of reception rooms to the ground floor, all of which mple sleeping provision to the upper storeys. 13/15 High Street, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, WV6 8QS

Tel: 01902 747744

Email: tettenhall@berrimaneaton.co.uk

22/23 Whitburn Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 4QN

Tel: 01902 326366 Tel: 01746 766499

Email: wombourne@berrimaneaton.co.uk Email: bridgnorth@berrimaneaton.co.uk

ating system has been installed, the windows have been replaced with ts, the house has been rewired, a new ADT system fitted. Wolverhampton, WV5 9DP Highalarm Street, Wombourne,

hout with the drawing room and dining room having been designed by the bedrooms and wiring for surround sound to many of the ground

www.berrimaneaton.co.uk www.berrimaneaton.tv

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Every care has been taken with the preparation of these Particulars but they are for general guidance only and complete accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Areas, measurements and distances are approximate and the text, photographs and plans are for guidance only. If there is any point which is of particular importance please contact us to discuss the matter and seek professional

WHISTON GRANGE BONINGALE, SHROPSHIRE

Offers Around ÂŁ1,350,000 LOCATION

WHISTON GRANGE

Whiston Grange stands in an elevated situation enjoying magnificent views over beautiful, rolling Shropshire countryside towards The Wrekin, Wenlock Edge and The Clees. The property is close to the borders of Shropshire and South Staffordshire and within easy reach of Albrighton where there is a comprehensive range of shops and local facilities. It lies to the west of Wolverhampton which is conveniently reached via the A41 and the motorway network can be reached within approximately five minutes via the M54 (J3). There are local rail stations not only in Wolverhampton but also in Codsall, Albrighton and Shifnal. There is a wide range of convenient schools in both sectors with Birchfield Preparatory School being particularly convenient and Wolverhampton Grammar School, Wolverhampton Girls High School, St Dominics High School for Girls in Brewood, Adams Grammar and The Girls High School in Newport and all of the Shrewsbury Schools being within easy access.

A delightful Queen Anne country residence of style and character in an elevated situation in a prime location enjoying magnificent views over Shropshire countryside standing in approximately 14 acres and convenient all amenities including road and rail links. withsituation fiveand reception rooms, breakfast kitchen, laundry, WhistonSplendid Grange thereforeaccommodation benefits from both a rural Shropshire convenient access to all of theDayrooms usual amenities and facilities. cloakroom, cellars, five bedrooms, two en-suites and two family bathrooms over three storeys. Garages and workshop, mature gardens, lake and paddock. (EPC: F). DESCRIPTION Whiston Grange is a typical Queen Anne residence of considerable significance which offers splendid accommodation. It retains many of the original period features with alterations and improvements carried out by the present owners to a high specification and with considerable flair and imagination. The kitchen was installed by Dayrooms and the fitted furniture in the study and several of the other internal features were by Hallidays. The lovely garden and the extensive field which borders two of its sides are a considerable asset. 4.43 hectares are included in the rural land register under a CPH 35/175/0068. This is a distinguished country house with a comfortable feel and ideal for family use.

WHISTON GRANGE

13/15 High Street, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, WV6 8QS

Tel: 01902 747744

Email: tettenhall@berrimaneaton.co.uk

High Street, Wombourne, Wolverhampton, WV5 9DP 22/23 Whitburn Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 4QN

Tel: 01902 326366 Tel: 01746 766499

Email: wombourne@berrimaneaton.co.uk Email: bridgnorth@berrimaneaton.co.uk

www.berrimaneaton.co.uk www.berrimaneaton.tv

E BL 16 A AIL G 20 V A IN

R SP

LOWER L ANES MEADOW FOX ROAD, SEISDON WV5 7HD

A UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH QUALITY 2, 3, 4 AND 5 BEDROOM HOUSES

A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY A HIGH QUALITY HOME WITHIN THE MUCH SOUGHT AFTER VILLAGE LOCATION OF SEISDON

01902 894141 www.lowerlanesmeadow.co.uk A DEVELOPMENT BY

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

Lounge 16’1” (min) x 13’4” having inglenookdesign. Completed by his craftsmen post-war style recess framed in old oak beams and and subsequently extended in more recent clad in rustic brickwork incorporating beehive years with similarly meticulous attention to Your Property fireplace, dado rail, central heating radiator, detail, the property is an absolutely captivating two double glazed windows to side, French residence of very considerable merit doors opening onto conservatory. combining the charm of its period ambience with a luxurious modern specification to create exquisite accommodation which is ideally suited to a comfortable family lifestyle. Wolverhampton Road, Pattingham,

Featured Property “Grey Timbers”

Price Guide: OA £1,195,000

Wolverhampton, 7AF, to an The house is presented WV6 and appointed extremely high standard, spacious in layout with three principal Reception Rooms plus stylish Conservatory and Study, a stunning “Dayrooms” Breakfast Kitchen, superb Master Bedroom Suite incorporating large Dressing Room with quality fittings and deluxe Bathroom, three further Bedrooms all with ranges of fitted furniture, two en-suite Shower Rooms and House Bathroom. Oil-fired central heating is installed to radiators and complemented by double glazed windows as detailed. Beautifully landscaped gardens provide an idyllic setting for the house including a lovely private patio area and swimming pool with the formal plot area extending to about 1.3 acres and including a detached outbuilding which presently provides a versatile Garage/Stable/ Office/Storage facility and has the benefit of planning permission for conversion to domestic annexe accommodation. Wrapped protectively around the formal gardens is Situated on thearea outskirts of Pattingham village an additional of fields and paddocks some six miles to the west of Wolverhampton extending to a little in excess of eight acres. city centre, “GreyisTimbers” occupies majestic “Grey Timbers” a particularly finea property setting within picturesque South Staffordshire with many appealing features, an enviable countryside over which itviews. enjoys magnificent location and outstanding panoramic views from its slightly elevated position and FLOOR has the benefit of its own grounds GROUND extending in total to about 9½ acres. Entrance Porch The location a degree of privacy and Entrance Hallcombines having dado rail, central heating seclusion in an exclusive semi-rural environment radiator. whilst remaining particularly conveniently placed for commuting into the West Midlands Cloakroom having white suite comprising conurbation access hand basin andgenerally low flushand W.C.toDado rail. major Walltrunk routes and Double the motorway network for mounted radiator. glazed window. Inner Hall having dado rail, door to rear garden.

Sitting Room 18’8” x 14’0” having central heating radiator, dado rail, full width double glazed rear bay window with fitted seating and double glazed doors opening onto garden. Conservatory 13’6” x 13’8” formed in double glazed windows on low brick base and having terracotta tiled floor, central heating radiator, double glazed doors opening onto rear garden.

travelling further afield. A good selection of local amenities is available in Pattingham and the nearby villages of Codsall and Albrighton, together with shopping centres at Perton and Tettenhall Green. The area is well served by schooling with a number of highly Dining Room 14’2”regarded x 11’3” establishments having double within convenient proximity and including an glazed window to front, dado rail, Minster excellent primary school in Pattingham itself. stone fireplace incorporating stove-style ‘living flame’ gas fire, central heating radiator. Exceptionally attractive in appearance, “Grey Timbers” its origins in the 1930sproviding when BreakfasthasKitchen 29ft overall, instigated as one the distinguished 18’3” (max) x of 15’7” and 11’0” examples x 10’10” of the work of the renowned having magnificent rangearchitect/ of fittings in a French oak finish comprising extensive floor-

31 27

Your Property Featured Property

“Grey Timbers” Wolverhampton Road, Pattingham,

Wolverhampton, WV6 7AF Price Guide: OA £1,250,000

builder Major Kenneth Hutchinson Smith who specialised in the creation of outstandingly characterful dwellings utilising reclaimed materials and distinctive elements of Tudor design. Completed by his craftsmen post-war and subsequently extended in more recent years with similarly meticulous attention to detail, the property is an absolutely captivating residence of very considerable merit combining the charm of its period ambience with a luxurious modern specification to create exquisite accommodation which is ideally suited to a comfortable family lifestyle. Situated on the outskirts of Pattingham village some six miles to the west of Wolverhampton city centre, “Grey Timbers” occupies a majestic setting within picturesque South Staffordshire countryside over which it enjoys magnificent panoramic views from its slightly elevated position and has the benefit of its own grounds extending in total to about 9½ acres.

The location combines a degree of privacy and seclusion in an exclusive semi-rural environment whilst remaining particularly conveniently placed for commuting into the West Midlands conurbation generally and to access major trunk routes and the motorway network for travelling further afield.

A good selection of local amenities is available in Pattingham and the nearby villages of Codsall and Albrighton, together with shopping centres at Perton and Tettenhall Green. The area is well served by schooling with a number of highly regarded establishments within convenient proximity and including an excellent primary school in Pattingham itself. Exceptionally attractive in appearance, “Grey Timbers” has its origins in the 1930s when instigated as one of the distinguished examples of the work of the renowned architect/builder Major Kenneth Hutchinson Smith who specialised in the creation of outstandingly characterful dwellings utilising reclaimed materials and distinctive elements of Tudor

24 High Street, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton WV6 8QT Tel: (01902) 759888 26 32

design. Completed by his craftsmen post-war and subsequently extended in more recent years with similarly meticulous attention to detail, the property is an absolutely captivating The house is of presented appointed tomerit an residence very and considerable extremely high standard, spacious in layout with combining the charm of its period ambience three Rooms plusto stylish with a principal luxurious Reception modern specification create Conservatory and Study, a stunning exquisite accommodation which“Dayrooms” is ideally Breakfast superb family Masterlifestyle. Bedroom Suite suited to Kitchen, a comfortable incorporating large Dressing Room with quality The house presented and appointed to an fittings and isdeluxe Bathroom, three further extremely all high spacious in layout Bedrooms withstandard, ranges of fitted furniture, two with three principal Reception Rooms plus en-suite Shower Rooms and House Bathroom. stylish Conservatory Study, to a radiators stunning Oil-fired central heatingand is installed “Dayrooms” Breakfast Kitchen, superb and complemented by double glazed windows Master Bedroom Suite incorporating large as detailed. Dressing Room with quality fittings and deluxe Bathroom, three further Bedrooms all with ranges of fitted furniture, two en-suite Shower Rooms and House Bathroom. Oil-fired central heating is installed to radiators and complemented by double glazed windows as detailed. Beautifully landscaped gardens provide an idyllic setting for the house including a lovely private patio area and swimming pool with the formal plot area extending to about 1.3 acres and including a detached outbuilding which presently provides a versatile Garage/Stable/ Office/Storage facility and has the benefit of planning permission for conversion to domestic annexe accommodation. Wrapped protectively around the formal gardens is an additional area of fields and paddocks extending to a little in excess of eight acres. “Grey Timbers” is a particularly fine property with many appealing features, an enviable location and outstanding views.

GROUND FLOOR

Lounge 16’1” (min) x 13’4” having inglenookstyle recess framed in old oak beams and clad in rustic brickworkYour incorporating beehive Property fireplace, dado rail, central heating radiator, two double glazed windows to side, French doors opening onto conservatory.

Beautifully landscaped gardens provide an Sitting Room x 14’0” havinga lovely central idyllic setting for 18’8” the house including heatingpatio radiator, dado rail, full pool width double private area and swimming with the glazedplot reararea bay window with and formal extending to fitted aboutseating 1.3 acres double glazed doors opening onto garden. and including a detached outbuilding which presently provides a versatile Garage/Stable/ Conservatory 13’6” x 13’8” formed in double Office/Storage facility and has the benefit of glazed windows on low brick base and having planning permission for conversion to domestic terracotta tiled floor, central heating radiator, annexe accommodation. Wrapped protectively double glazed doors opening onto rear around the formal gardens is an additional area garden. of fields and paddocks extending to a little in excess of eight acres. “Grey Timbers” is a particularly fine property with many appealing features, an enviable location and outstanding views.

Entrance Hall having dado rail, central heating radiator.

Dining Room 14’2” x 11’3” having double glazed window to front, dado rail, Minster stone fireplace incorporating stove-style ‘living flame’ gas fire, central heating radiator.

Cloakroom having white suite comprising hand basin and low flush W.C. Dado rail. Wallmounted radiator. Double glazed window. Inner Hall having dado rail, door to rear garden.

Breakfast Kitchen 29ft overall, providing 18’3” (max) x 15’7” and 11’0” x 10’10” having magnificent range of fittings in a French oak finish comprising extensive floor-

Entrance Porch

33 27

<RXU Your0XVLF Music

beautiful... Treasured Vinyl Lps

Small Your can be

and sound terrďŹ c! By Mike Norton of Midland Hi-Fi

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone is in love with Oliveâ&#x20AC;&#x153; With a great many people adopting the minimalist approach in their homes it as lead us to scour the world marketplace for true high ďŹ delity a small footprint. Wantproducts to play with those treasured vinyl LPs again? These are true masterpieces of minaturisation offering BUT an amazing array of facilities,giving each home a truly remarkable choice of music sources. Your turntable is not working? In this issue I thought it appropriate to show Youthe no longer record player? you varietyown of acompact audio devices available due the current increasing demand. You want better sound from your existing turntable? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just because its small it does not

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This gorgeous round unit with a large touch screen offers:

Bring Vinyl to any audio system One of the latest innovations in vinyl replay is the Project Essential II Digital Turntable allowing you to bring vinyl sound to any audio system. â&#x20AC;˘ On board hard drive capable for storing Combining an award winning design3000 with cds an the equivalent of approximately unrivalled feature set, the essential II Digitalor In bit perfect quality i.e No compression turntable to degrading. bring the joys of vinyl back sound aims quality to any home entertainment â&#x20AC;˘ Bluetooth connection forsystem. replaying music from phone or tablet By incorporating both a high grade phono Internet radio giving a choice of thousands pre-amplifier and a Analogue to Digital of worldwide stations covering every converter into the output stage, the Essential musical genre imaginable. II can be easily connected to almost any hifi system. The unit also can be remotely controlled from â&#x20AC;˘

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Your

Music

Via standard socketry you can connect to your existing amplifier while the digital optical output can connect to an outboard dac (digital to analogue converter), TV soundbar, or an AV amplifier. All this for the remarkable price of ÂŁ309.00 For those looking to improve or replace an existing record player We can offer many various Turntable Options:One such turntable is again a project model The Expression Carbon. Available in gloss BLACK; MIDNIGHT BLUE; BORDEAUX;

Variety of colour and wood finishes choices to match dĂŠcor and furniture.

Also offering an improved pickup cartridge for superior sound. New and improved pickup arm made from Carbon fibre for greater rigidity and again superior sonic performance. Finally the plinth possesses much better isolation for greater resistance to feedback.

Your Rising Stars

Bromsgrove interiors expert has designs on future success

When Hannah Cockburn set up her interior design company in 2013, she never dreamed that just two years on she would pick up two awards on the same night. She tells Your Lifestyle magazine about the wins.

This young Worcestershire-based designer, founder and director of Cream & Black Interior Design, won the Interior Designer of the Year award and Best Conversion at the Northern Design Awards – and it is a dream, come true.

“It was the first competition we have ever entered; it’s amazing for our small business to have won these awards.”

“We were over the moon to win not one but two awards,” said 32-year-old Hannah, “We are a small design studio, constantly learning and developing our skill set, so to be recognised by such experienced industry professionals is an honour.”

So says Hannah Cockburn, who is beaming proudly after scooping two prestigious awards for the quality of her company’s work.

Your Rising Stars Hannah and her team of designers, who are based in Bromsgrove, were presented with their prizes by Wayne Hemmingway from the fashion brand Red or Dead and by George Clarke, presenter of the Channel 4 design show George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, at the awards ceremony at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool.

design and build process, using the building’s history to inspire the design scheme. It was keen to recycle materials wherever possible, which led to an inspirational idea of setting the panels from a dismantled, old water into the external walls. Painted petrol blue, they add a distinctive feature to the building. The bricks from the demolished on-site stables were also used to create internal exposed brick walls.

“I couldn’t quite believe it after winning best conversion of the year but the excitement after my name was called out for best residential interior designer of the year – it was a very surreal but amazing night,” said Hannah, who took the Best Residential Interior Designer of the Year award after submitting a portfolio of her most recent projects.

Local craftsmen and builders were used in the conversion and much of the bespoke lighting and furniture designs were made by small companies in and around Birmingham. The award is a big accolade for Hannah, who graduated with a BA (Hons) in Textile Design from Central Saint Martins College, London, before going on to found Cream & Black Interior Design in 2013.

“We met some well-known architects and designers on the night, including Wayne Hemmingway, Lynda Barker and George Clarke, who were very complimentary about our work.” The prize for Best Conversion demonstrated that the design company isn’t afraid to take on big projects. It won the award for its Diesel House project, a large, old garage near Malvern in

Now the team comprises three other members – Mia Matharu, aged 29; 26-year-old Nahla Hawash; and Laura Cund, who is 27 – who offer a combination of design and industry experience and specialise in creating personalised interiors for both residential and commercial clients.

Worcestershire, which was converted into a stylish three-bedroom home that overlooks the picturesque Malvern Hills.

For more information about Cream & Black, visit creamandblack.co.uk. And to discover the work Hannah and her team did to win the awards, go to, www.northerndesignawards.com/winners

The company, which was instructed to manage all aspects of the project, led each stage of the

Your Food & Drink

Cowshed’s British farmed food

The festive season may have come to an end… but don’t let that dampen your festive spirit just yet. Join us at The Cowshed Restaurant and together let’s beat those winter blues. We pride ourselves on serving the very best of traditional British-farmed food, ranging from beetroot and goat’s cheese filo parcel with celeriac puree, to crispy ginger beer braised pork belly, served with creamed savoy cabbage and seasonal vegetables. Whatever your culinary persuasion, our menu promises a taste sensation that will delight even the most discerning of palates.

As we move forward into what is sure to be a bright new year, we’re pleased to offer our customers a variety of new and exciting offers. With our brand new fish and steak nights, you’re promised a meal to remember that won’t break the bank. One evening, why not defy the postChristmas diet by taking advantage of our free £10 gift voucher? Last but not least, we invite you to take part in our winter competition. Every reader that answers the following question correctly will be entered into a prize draw for a meal for four and a bottle of wine… Mint sauce is traditionally served with what meat? Email your answers to Lifestyle magazine at info@yourlifestylemagazine.co.uk. Good luck.

£10 OFF Gift Voucher

Evenings Only Only one voucher per booking Subject to a minimum of either 2 starters and 2 mains or 2 mains and 2 puddings Valid January and February - Excluding 12th, 13th 14th February

Lunch Wed-Sat 2 Courses £11.99, 3 Courses £16.99 Evening A la Carte Menu Sunday Lunch 12-5pm 2 Courses £15.95, 3 Courses £20.95 Steak Night - Wednesdays Fish Night - Thursdays Valentines Menu 4 Courses £37.50

01902 701 888 thecowshedrestaurant.co.uk info@thecowshedrestaurant.co.uk Clive Farm, Pattingham, Wolverhampton, 39 WV6 7EN

Cowshed Pattingham @TheCowshed1 Cowshed Pattingham

Your Food & Drink

Chinese New Year Your Lifestyle’s food fanatic, Scott Ford’s suggestions to see in the Year of the Monkey. the perfect way to cook without fat but make sure you use lots of aromatics to add flavour. Try ginger, spring onions, garlic and chilli, if you like some heat, with a little soy to season. Scallops in their shells, or a thin fillet of sea bass, steamed for 5 or 6 minutes until opaque, are ideal for a sophisticated, healthy starter. For a lunch I’d add some pak choi or sliced broccoli with a sprinkle of five spice, cooked at the same time in the bottom of the steamer, saving on the washing up.

Cheats Crispy Duck Happy New Year to you all! I’m guessing that like me, after an over-indulgent festive season, many of you are looking forward to starting 2016 with some healthy eating. Chinese New Year celebrations are about to begin, but this doesn’t have to mean ramping up the calories. In this issue, I’ve looked for some traditional healthy Chinese feasting foods for everyone to enjoy.

The first night feast for New Year often centres around a chicken or duck, always served whole for people to share. Most people I know love a Chinese crispy duck but to prepare one authentically takes considerable effort and can involve pumping the duck full of air, marinating, drying, blanching, deep frying, hanging and probably some other steps I don’t have time for! Ducks can be surprisingly good value and are often on offer in supermarkets, so here is my super simple method to recreate a healthier version of that takeaway favourite:

Steamed Scallops A steamer is a great accessory for healthy cooking - bamboo is more attractive but stainless steel will last longer. Place it in a wok, or on a stand in a suitable pan, with enough boiling water to prevent the pan drying out, but keep the water level below the steamer. Steaming is

•

1 duck, fresh or completely defrosted, usually around 2kg

•

Rub all over with lots of five spice (maybe as much as 2 tbsp) and plenty of salt

•

Put a few slices of roughly-chopped ginger in the cavity (no need to peel)

•

Roast on a rack for about 3 hours at 170° C, basting occasionally.

•

The duck will look dark but will be just the right texture for shredding with two forks. Watch out for thin bones.

Your

Food & Drink

Start cooking these in a hot wok with 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil. As they soften add: • • •

A thumb size piece of ginger, finely chopped (ginger is easy to peel with a teaspoon) 1 clove of garlic, thinly sliced Half a red chilli, finely chopped

After a minute add: • • The best place to buy pancakes for your duck is a Chinese supermarket (Birmingham’s Chinatown is a great place to spend a while browsing). We buy frozen pancakes in bulk and they’re quick to defrost. Finely sliced spring onion and cucumber are essential and I find that Hoi Sin sauce, not plum sauce, is what I expect with my duck. If you’re looking to cut the carbs, how about serving duck in lettuce wraps? The Cantonese word for lettuce sounds like rising fortune so it’s common to serve other lucky foods wrapped in lettuce. Although you may see duck as a fatty meat, it is a great source of protein, vitamins and minerals. In this recipe, there is no fat added to the meat, and your fat consumption can be drastically reduced if you avoid the skin.

•

A handful of beansprouts 2 chopped spring onions, green part included A good shake of dark soy sauce (taste near the end to see if you need more)

Then just cook for another 2 minutes to soften all the vegetables slightly and sprinkle with a handful of sesame seeds just before you serve the dish. If at any point you think things may burn, add a good splash of cold water. This will bring down the temperature, help to cook the ingredients with steam and create a little sauce, all without adding additional calories. This stir-fry is great served with noodles, which should not be cut but left long as they symbolise long life.

Low-Fat Veggie Stir Fry The second night feast for Chinese New Year tends to be vegetarian. I think we should all try to eat vegetarian from time to time, so here’s a great opportunity to make use of that spiraliser you got for Christmas, fire up the wok and whizz up a healthy low-fat stir-fry… (serves 2) Use your favourite vegetables but cut them thinly in similar-sized pieces so they cook quickly and evenly. Be sure to prepare all your ingredients beforehand. I like to use: • • • •

Midnight at New Year in China sees the most fireworks exploding at any time in any place in the world. The bangs and flashes are thought to scare away evil ghosts and demons. If we’re lucky we’ll also get to see some impressive displays here. Enjoy!

1 medium carrot, thinly sliced or spiralised 1 green pepper, thinly sliced 1 medium white onion, thinly sliced A handful of mangetouts, sugarsnap peas, sliced broccoli or baby sweetcorn

Your Food & Drink

Black Country Brewer Aims for

Overseas Success

A thriving Black Country craft brewery is hoping to raise a glass to future exporting success after taking part in a Governmentbacked exploratory trip to Latvia.

2016 and aims to appoint a sales distributor and establish sales across the Baltic states and Scandinavia following a three-day Export Insight Visit (EIV) with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).

Award-winning Sadlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ales is setting its sights firmly on the overseas market for

The company joined a group of 21 small

Your

Food & Drink

and micro companies on a delegation to Riga, Latvia, to see what opportunity there was to grow their business overseas. Ian King, sales director of the Lye-based brewer, said he hoped the visit would be the catalyst for the company to become a proactive exporter. The decision to look at the overseas market comes just eight months after it was asked by the Polish Chamber of Commerce to sell some of its ales in Poland. As part of the Latvia visit, he and Sadler’s Ales’ managing director Christopher Sadler were able to exhibit their wares to Baltic supermarket chain Rimi and to high-end Finnish department store Stockmann, including giving buyers a sample taste of their local ales. Ian said:

illustrate just what can be achieved on Export Insight Visits.

“Next year we hope to start exporting and we used this UKTI visit as a fact-finding mission to see what help we could get, make contact with distributors and use what we learned as a basis for overseas trading in 2016.

“These visits offer companies the opportunity to get in front of the right people in a new market and start the ball rolling when it comes to start exporting.” The next Export Insight Visits to take place are: January 18-20 in Lisbon and Madrid; and The Hague on February 16-18.

“We’ve made some excellent trade contacts and we are following these up now. I couldn’t recommend an Export Insight Visit enough; it’s a must for anyone exporting or thinking of export.” Christine Hamilton, acting regional director of UK Trade and Investment West Midlands (UKTI) said that this was the third year West Midlands companies had been able to explore the possibilities of exporting on such a trip, which is vital to help small organisations see the huge opportunity and support available to them.

For more information on how an Export Insight Visit could help your business attract a new market, contact the West Midlands International Trade Hotline on enquiries@ uktiwm.co.uk or +44(0) 345 222 0159

She said: “The early indications that Sadler’s Ales is already gaining interest from Latvia and Scandinavia is very encouraging and

Your Food & Drink

The Good Life Do you want to look great and feel fabulous? Have a better lifestyle? Perhaps even handle the stresses and challenges of life easier? Then this event is for you.

2016 is just around the corner which means you might be starting to think about what that New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Resolution might be. Well, if you are looking to get fitter and healthier, look no further than the Good Life - a website designed just for you with a whole host of information on local events, services and places to visit that can contribute to improving your health and wellbeing.

Through a range of health and wellbeing taster activities, classes and therapies, individual consultations and information sessions, we will help you access what you need in South Staffordshire to help you start 2016 with a bang.

Not only that, but together with the South Staffordshire Partnership, the council and the South Staffordshire Business Hub, we are putting on a special event to help unlock the NEW YOU.

Join us on Friday, January 15th 2016 from 10am until 3pm at South Staffordshire Council Offices, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall. The more the merrier.

Based in the village of Shifnal, Shropshire, you will find the gorgeous 5-Star Boutique Hair and Beauty Salon, ASHLEY GAMBLE.

SARAH As one of our newest colourists, Sarah has taken Ashley Gamble by storm. We wanted our third colourist to complete a trio of excellence, welcoming her to the UK’s hottest colouring team shows how special we think she is. We can’t wait for her to get her hands on you.

#NewGambleColourTechnician 45

Your Hair & Beauty

Beauty clinic is a new

chapter for Lynn Lynn Hawkins has put her heart and soul into her newly expanded beauty clinic – for a very good reason. She tells Jayne Howarth why this new chapter is so important to her. When you visit Lynn Hawkins’ new beauty and aesthetics clinic in Halesowen, you may spot a few butterflies in the reception and treatment rooms, adding a colourful decorative touch.

Before

After

applied topically. The wrap “bandage” is then activated by heat, which trigger the active ingredients to destroy fat cells.

It’s a tribute to her father Leslie, who died in February this year from oesophageal cancer. It was then Lynn decided that the time was right to open a new salon that he would be proud of.

“I’m really very proud of the Lipoform Plus system and wraps that we offer because they offer amazing results for our clients, and has had 7 years clinical medical studies

It’s the beginning of a new chapter for Ageless Beauty. Lynn has been operating treatments for the past 20 years.

Ageless Beauty is open at 10a Halesowen Road, Halesowen, Tuesday to Saturday. For details, telephone 0121 421 1928.

As well offering high quality manicures, pedicures, waxing, tanning, and a range of massages, Ageless Beauty also offers unrivalled specialist treatments.

Enjoy 25% off a course of Lipform Plus and enjoy the benefits of fat reduction, contouring and skin-tightening. You can now book the course of eight treatments for just £600 – that’s £200 off the usual cost!

In addition to Elite semi-permanent makeup, Ageless Beauty also offers Lipoform Plus, an award-winning treatment that uses ultrasound cavitation and radio frequency to promote inch loss, body contouring, and skin tightening. It’s also superb for facials.

Both offers are available until Easter 2016.

To complement the non-invasive treatment, Lynn has also added the Lipoform Wrap to its portfolio of treatments to huge success. The wrap, a fat cell reduction treatment, works by breaking down fat cells, which are then eliminated through the body’s natural waste processes.

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Ageless Beauty Clinic Limited 10a Halesowen Road, Halesowen, West Midlands B62 9AA

Tel: 07814 487 867 Clinic: 0121 421 1928

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3D-RF Focus Fractional Radio Frequency is the 3rd generation of RF technology. It utilises three or more pole/electrodes to deliver the RF energy under the skin providing more superficial skin tightening to compliment the deeper results achieved by HIFU.

Brand New and Exclusive to The Body Clinic; we are introducing the most advanced nonsurgical treatments for Anti-Ageing and Skin Rejuvenation with 3D Skinmed and 3D Skintech Discover the secrets of youthful skin with the new revolutionary 3D Skinmed and 3D Skintech treatment systems. The treatment is a favourite with celebrities such as Dawn Ward from The Real Housewives of Cheshire. Launching in January 2016, we are very excited to be the ONLY clinic in the Midlands to offer the very latest and innovative non-surgical cosmetic treatment, 3D Skinmed also known as Ultherapy. This treatment has been given the seal of approval by one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading cosmetic surgeons Mr Paul Banwell and cosmetics specialist and Apprentice star, Dr Leah Totton. 3D Skinmed or Ultherapy is the only technology that is FDA approved to non-invasively lift and

3D-Impact 3D-Impact creates an intensive delivery of cosmetic ingredients to help fight the visible signs of aging and maximising the skins hydration.

tighten the jaw line, neck and brow without surgery. Along with 3D Skinmed we are introducing 3D Skintech to provide a complete approach to skin rejuvenation. Treatments can focus on improving fine lines, enlarged pores, acne, acne scarring, uneven skin tone or pigmentation and stretch marks. Its 3-step approach to these problems ensures that nothing else offers such a complete and effective solution. These treatments can include diamond Micro-Dermabraision, Micro-Needling, Mesotherapy and LED Phototherapy. In conjunction with our treatments we offer a dedicated range of skin peels and cosmeceutical skincare products that ensures a comprehensive and prescriptive approach to your skincare. For more information contact the body clinic on: 01562 887743 or info@thebodyclinic.uk.com.

questions about

i-Lipo Answers to the most common Your Hair

Your Hair & Beauty

Your Hair

& Beauty

What areas can be treated with Answers i-Lipo?

to the most common questions about The treatment works well on the abdomen,

questions about i-Lipo How many treatments are needed? thighs, back, hips and chin.

i-Lipo

What areas can be treated with

i-Lipo? Two-three treatments per week for a total The treatment works well on the abdomen, of 8 treatments are needed for thighs, maximum back, hips and chin. results. How many treatments are needed? Two-three treatments per week for a total

of 8 treatments are needed for maximum What areas can be treated with results. I have seen similar treatments, are i-Lipo? I have seen similar treatments, are they the same? the same? The treatment works well on the they abdomen,

No, i-Lipo is different from other treatments. No, i-Lipo is different from other treatments. Some companies have tried to copy i-Lipo thighs, back, hips and chin. Is the treatment painful? but do not offer the same powerIs or treatment Some companies have tried to copy i-Lipo No, a slight warmpainful? sensation is often felt. the treatment of 36 diode lasers. but do not offer the same power or treatment No, a slightWhat warm sensation isper often felt. is the average inch loss How manylasers. treatments are needed? Do I need to be on a diet for i-Lipo treatment? of 36 diode This will depend on a few factors. Your Two-three treatments per week to forwork? a total No, there is no need to restrict calories measurements will be taken several times What is the inchwillloss per during the treatments, however, to during average your series. Most patients see of 8 treatments are needed for maximize maximum your results, you could decrease an immediate loss after just one treatment. Do I need to be on a diet for i-Lipo your caloric intake by 300-400 calories a treatment? We have had some patients lose as much results. day, which is simple to do. as 5 inches (over 3 measurements) in just to work? This will depend a 1-2 few factors. Your one treatment, on however, inches (over 3 measurements) is typical. Obviously, I need to come in for No, there is no need to restrictDo calories measurements will be taken several times the more committed you are to a healthy I have seen similar treatments, are maintenance treatments? lifestyle, the betterMost results youpatients will have. during the treatments, however, to treatmentsduring No, maintenance are not your series. will see as long as you maintain a they the same? maximize your results, you couldnecessary decrease healthy lifestyle that includes eating an healthy immediate loss just one treatment. Is i-Lipo safe after for everyone? No, i-Lipo is different from other treatments. and exercise i-Lipo is safe for both men and women. your caloric intake by 300-400 calories a We have had some for patients lose as much Contraindications the i-Lipo treatment Some companies have tried to copy i-Lipo Is the treatment include: Pregnancy, cancer or past history How long is the treatment? day, which is simple to do. as 5 inches (overmetabolic 3painful? measurements) in just of cancer, disorders, liver or The actual treatment time will be 20 but do not offer the same power orminutes. treatment No, atreatment, slightkidney warm sensation often felt. problems, epilepsy, 1-2 autois immune Plus time for exercise following one however, inches (over disease and cardiovascular issues. the treatment. of 36 diode lasers. 3 measurements) is typical. Obviously, Do I need to come in for What is 33the average loss per the more committed youinch are to a healthy maintenance treatments? Do I need to be on a diet for i-Lipo lifestyle, the better results you will have. treatment? No, maintenance treatments are not to work? as long as you maintain a This will depend on a few factors. Your necessary No, there is nothat need to restrict measurements taken several times healthy lifestyle includes eating calories healthy Is i-Lipo safe will for be everyone? during the treatments, however, to during your series. Most patients will see and exercise i-Lipo is safe for both men and women. maximize your results, you could decrease an immediate loss after just one treatment. Contraindications for the i-Lipo treatment your caloric intake by 300-400 calories a We havePregnancy, had some cancer patientsorlose much include: pastashistory How long is the treatment? day, which is simple to do. as 5 inches (over 3 measurements) in of cancer, metabolic disorders, liver just or The actual treatment time will be 20 one treatment, however, 1-2auto inches (over kidney problems, epilepsy, immune minutes. Plus time for exercise following 3 measurements) is typical. Obviously, Do treatment. I need to come in for disease and cardiovascular issues. the the more committed you are to a healthy maintenance treatments? lifestyle, the better results you will have. No, maintenance treatments are not 33 necessary as long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes eating healthy Is i-Lipo safe for everyone? and exercise i-Lipo is safe for both men and women. Contraindications for the i-Lipo treatment include: Pregnancy, cancer or past history How long is the treatment? of cancer, metabolic disorders, liver or The actual treatment time will be 20 kidney problems, epilepsy, auto immune minutes. Plus time for exercise following disease and cardiovascular issues. the treatment.

50 33

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Your Hair & Beauty

Health & Beauty Tips Rejuvenate in Kidderminster have brought home awards from the most prestigious aesthetic industry awards body in the UK. To be nationally recognised from the best doctors, dentists and aesthetic clinics by My Face My Body, for the Best Non Surgical Makeover and the Best Body Reshaping Procedure with their HYPOXI®-Method is a real achievement.

are great for your skin—as well as minerals, including calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium and zinc. Do you know your skin type? You’d be surprised how many people are simply using the wrong products for their skin type. Everyone should have at least one professional skin-care consultation to get assessed and establish a Skin Care plan. Try Environs Skin Care analysis treatment.

Rejuvenate Directors Dianne Malanaphy and Emily Leach have put together some great tips so we can feel great in 2016 and onwards! A perfect start to everyday Award winning HYPOXI® Coach Dianne recommends you start your day with a good breakfast! Porridge oats have a very low Glycaemic Index, this means they are slowly absorbed into the body’s blood stream. This not only gives a long gradual release of energy and helps keep your blood sugar levels stable but it also keeps you full much longer than other breakfasts. Add fresh berries for extra flavour and goodness.

Do you have tired, dull skin? Get that glow by exfoliating your skin and applying a moisturising mask. For best results do this twice a week before you go to bed. Award winning Facialist, Emily loves BeautyLabs Micropolish Face Rejuvenator, followed by their Re-energizing Ceramide Mask. Get 7-9 hours sleep every night and stay well hydrated

Eat like a caveman!

Sleep can’t magically erase deep wrinkles, but it can slow down your skin’s aging process. The deepest stages of sleep are when your body produces the most growth hormone, which aids in cell and tissue repair. Whilst you sleep your body also makes new collagen, the protein that keeps skin strong and elastic.

Foods that come straight from the field and straight from the animal will always provide the body with the nutrition it needs. It is the processed food, sugars and saturated fats that are the enemy and should be avoided at all costs, as these foods will increase visceral fats that cause heart disease, type II diabetes, and strokes to name but a few conditions.

Water is also as essential as sleep. It flushes toxins out of vital organs, and carries nutrients to your cells, which will help your overall vitality, as well as appearance.

Butter, lard, pastries, cream, pies and cheese can increase your blood cholesterol levels. Replace with unsaturated fats found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, oily fish and avocados. These fats will keep skin and hair healthy.

Everybody is different, but as a rough guide, women should be drinking about 2 litres of water a day, and men more like 3. Dianne finds a water bottle with a sports cap makes it easier to drink such quantities!

Many greens, such as broccoli, kale and spinach are loaded with vitamins A, C, E and K—which

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has been hailed the facelift of the future, yet it’s completely non invasive. No needles or knives, just the relaxing warmth of the thermal magnetic rejuvenation. Using 3rd generation radio frequency and magnetic pulse technology the state of the art Venus Freeze can rival the results of surgery with no downtime or risk of infection. Rejuvenate have treated many Clients and have lots of amazing before and after photos. The Venus Freeze is typically a soothing 30 minute treatment (a course is recommended for long term results): skin tightening, wrinkle reduction and contouring, for the face, neck and body. The Venus Freeze is FDA approved, and used extensively by surgeons and dermatologists in the US. It’s completely safe and loved by many celebrities worldwide.

SOME OF OUR REJUVENATE CLIENTS BEFORE & AFTER VENUS FREEZE

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Eyes: After 7 Venus Freeze Treatments

Rejuvenate, who specialise in non invasive anti ageing treatments first bought Venus Freeze to the West Midlands and Worcestershire in September 2013 and offer a haven of internationally acclaimed, beauty treatments using premium brands from their luxuriously converted Flour Mill on the river Stour, discreetly tucked away in the heart of Kidderminster. All Rejuvenate’s beauty treatments are explained on their comprehensive website: www.rejuvenateathypoxi.co.uk.

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Your Fashion

SALE Staples by Emma Russell –Stylissimo Image Consultancy www.stylissimo.co.uk

My suggestion on classic pieces include:

Sale season is upon us and its so easy to be dazzled by the discounts and savings you can make but ladies I need you to remain calm and to become ruthless with your shopping.

A good quality Coat which suits your body shape is a great investment piece. A trench coat is an absolute must for ladies with shape to their hips as the belt draws in your narrow waist. Also a good quality pea coat which is double breasted, is another style option for curvy ladies or a leather biker jacket never dates.

Sale shopping shouldn’t be a free for all, it should be a stealth shopping operation where you only buy what you need and what will compliment your current wardrobe. I’ve put together the Stylissimo Guide to Sale Shopping to ensure you shop like a pro, follow my rules and you’ll not go wrong.

Rule 1 You should be able to style any sale pieces into at least three looks with your current wardrobe. The idea is that you don’t need to buy something else to complete the outfit.

Rule 2 Don’t buy trend led pieces as they are unlikely to return as a trend next year thus minimising the length of time you can wear it as a ‘current look’. Some trends do return of course but best to steer clear during sale shopping.

Rule 3 Look for classic pieces that won’t date, these items should add too, or replace a worn out piece, from your wardrobe. I would aim for good quality brands, maybe a step up from your usual places to shop. You’re saving money after all so why not aim higher and buy a good quality piece that will be used over and over again.

Nude Court Shoes which are good quality and well fitting can be styled in many ways and will see you right through the year, including your summer outfits.

Your Fashion A good quality White /Denim shirt is a piece you can work into your wardrobe and style up or down. My denim shirt is THE most worn item in my wardrobe as you can layer them under jumpers to create contrast or style over dress’s or worn simply with jeans and a statement necklace.

Boots are a great investment, the Flat knee high boots are now a modern classic and if bought in black I’m sure they will return season after season.

A Little Black Dress is always a great investment buy. Stick to shapes that flatter your silhouette though, this is not a time to ‘try something new’ stick to what you know suits you, don’t be dazzled by the level of discount you can get. If you wouldn’t buy it at full price don’t buy it now!

Finally a good quality pair of Jeans which suit your shape are something you’ll wear all year long. If you have little or no shape to your hips skinnies and straight cut are great for you, with boot leg being the best style for those with small waists and wider hips.

Your Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on January / February

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The finest, most authentic rhythm & blues band ever to come from outside the USA.

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As anyone who has followed their astonishing career knows, the band carries a guarantee of great swinging music and high entertainment value. This year the highoctane jump and jive band have, as always, been spreading their message throughout Europe promoting their 11th Big Bear CD Live at Last!

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Superb, a stunning range of instrumental abilityâ&#x20AC;Śclassy stuff in the style of Louis Jordan and Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, with nowt taken out Dave Clarke, Now Dig This For more information visit www.kingpleasure. co.uk

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Your Strictly Come Dancing The Live Tour 2016

With her father the Duke banished and in exile, Rosalind and her cousin Celia leave their lives in the court behind them and journey into the Forest of Arden.

Saturday 23rd January -Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, West Midlands B1 2AA For more information wherecanwego.com

visit

What’s On

There, released from convention, Rosalind experiences the liberating rush of transformation. Disguising herself as a boy, she embraces a different way of living and falls spectacularly in love.

www.

For more information visit www.dudley.gov. uk

FEBRUARY The Soul Survivors

Out of the Box Juniors

Saturday 6th February 2016 - Dudley Town Hall

Tuesday 5th January - Tuesday 15th March 2016

The Soul Survivors are one of the country’s top exponents of classic soul music and good old British Rhythm & Blues. Taking their inspiration and material from such greats like: Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, The O’Jays, The Detroit Spinners, Isley Bro’s & Marvin Gaye and delivered it with great authenticity and enthusiasm.

Led by Mel Dykes This term our junior youth theatre is looking at how to create different characters using our faces, movements, voices and props. We’ll be using some of our favourite characters and the scenes we devise for them in our end of term show.

For more information visit www.dudley.gov. uk

Everyone is welcome, no experience needed, just plenty of energy.

Broadcast by National Theatre Live: As You Like It

Try a taster session before you book!

25 February 2016 - Stourbridge Town Hall

See more at: www.artrix.co.uk/whats-on/ workshops/out-of-the-box-juniors-jan-mar2016/#sthash.rNvloNDj.dpuf

Broadcast live to the cinema screen at Stourbridge Town Hall.

Your Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On

Shipley Campus Open Evening

The Shipley Campus of North Shropshire College is situated on Bridgnorth Road (next to Gardenlands). The Campus offers two main full-time courses within Childcare and Animal Care.

To find out more or to apply now, visit the website at www.nsc.ac.uk/shipley-campus You can also arrange a tour by calling 01902 709840 or email shipley@nsc.ac.uk

The Childcare course has been established for many years at the Campus and offers a discreet learning environment to students who prefer a smaller and friendlier atmosphere to that of a larger institution. The College has excellent links with local childcare providers where students undertake placements and often go on to secure employment.

SHIPLEY CAMPUS OPEN EVENING

(NEXT TO GARDENLANDS, BRIDGNORTH RD) Wednesday 10th February 5pm-8pm

The Animal Care course has a dedicated centre within the Campus and its surrounding grounds which houses over 50 species of animal. The unit houses alpacas, goats, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and exotics such as snakes and tarantulas, to name but a few.

Full-time: choose from Childcare or Animal Care - with over 50 species in our animal centre Part-time: choose from Floristry or Bridge For a tour, or more info call Kathryn on 01902 709840 or email shipley@nsc.ac.uk

On a part-time basis the Campus offers Seasonal Flower Arranging and Bridge for Beginners.

Shape Your Future at NSC!

01691 688080 WWW.NSC.AC.UK

There is an Open Evening on Wednesday 10th February 5pm-8pm so come and meet the tutors and tour the facilities.

Your

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On

01562 883701 www.hagleygolfandcountryclub.co.uk Hagley Golf & Country Club Wassell Grove Lane, Hagley, West Midlands, DY9 9JW 59

2016 START AS YOU MEAN TO GO ON

• • • • • •

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Gym Classes Swimming Toning Suite* Badminton Squash*

ALL THIS FOR LESS Affordable prices THAN 70p PER DAY No joining fees No long term commitment Free inductions Open 7 days a week Use 4 leisure centres for 1 great price Free health checks and fitness programmes

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What’s On

Sixth Form at The Royal

extras. The Royal School has leadership education, competitive sports, artistic and cultural opportunities as well as travel and a broad range of activities outside of the classroom.

Selecting a Sixth Form is a very important decision. There are many choices available and students need to consider not only which subjects to take but also which school or college’s programme and ethos are most suitable to them. The Royal School achieves excellent A-Level Results in the most rigorous facilitating subjects with a specialism in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects. However, results are not the only criteria on which to judge a Sixth Form. Universities and employers want to see well rounded young people. Students need to show they have extras to offer and this is evidenced by activities during non-study time. So it is important the Sixth Form provides opportunities gainx 106 these Royal Open the Day 144 x 106_Royal to Ad 140 19/11/2015

Our Sixth Formers are expected to play an integral part in the school community through the house system, mentoring, and community service opportunities. They are the role models for our younger students across the school. Personal development opportunities include work experience, university style seminars, a Wednesday afternoon games session, speaker programmes, internships. As a Free School, the Royal will offer the Extended Project Qualification to reinforce skills in independent learning and study.

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The Royal School Wolver hamp ton

OPEN DAY Reception to Year 12 Friday, 8 January 10 am – 3 pm Sixth Form Options Evening Thursday, 28 January 5:30 – 7:30 pm Provisional Free School Opening 2016

Penn Road, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV3 OEG Tel: 01902 349 109 mo@royal.wolverhampton.sch.uk www.theroyalschool.co.uk

Your What’s On

LET US BRING GLAMOUR TO YOUR OCCASION Prices start from £199 Latest technology in photo booths Discounted rates for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday All areas covered nationwide Corporate hire , weddings, birthdays , festivals , night clubs and promotional events Professional themed host throughout

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Showbizbooths

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Showbiz Booths

We are up and running! If you want something different and fun at your next event – give your guests the VIP Hollywood treatment and hire a Showbiz Booth.

Magic Photo brings wedding photos to life. “It’s the new must-have feature for any wedding,” says Leesa.

Jam-packed with the latest technology, the Showbiz Booth features a range of entertainment that gives your guests the chance to take home their very own mementoes of their evening.

Guests head into the photo booth, record a personalised message and have your photograph taken, which will be included in a wedding album.

Enter the red and black booth – with optional red carpet and roped railing area for that true Hollywood red carpet feel – and you’ll find a whole host of entertainment inside, including the social media uploads, Marryoke software, flip book option, different photo print sizes, unlimited backgrounds, voucher prints and much more.

But here’s the special bit: when the bride and groom look through the album, using our special app,, they can hover their phone over your photograph and it plays the full video message! Want to see how this incredible technology works? Download the app by holding your phone over the Magic Photo image on this page. Wait until it goes green – then see for yourself how this fantastic app works.

It’s a simple and affordable way to add something very special to your birthday party, corporate event, festival or wedding celebrations: get a bunch of mates, choose your background, add filters for special effects, and even add a recorded message.

Leesa and Michelle are looking to boost their Showbiz Booth further – and are planning to add a moving robot that will take and print photographs, record video and even take orders. Interested in finding out more? Call Leesa and Michelle today on 01384 288 003.

Within minutes you’ll have a fantastic reminder of your time. Showbiz Booth is managed by Leesa and Michelle, who have worked together for more than seven years. Ever the perfectionists, they are proud that their booth features the latest technology and for the ultimate personalisation can even tailor the outside of the booth so that it matches your event’s theme. Getting married? Then Showbiz Booth will provide the ultimate keepsake for the bride and groom – a photo album that brings their happy day to life.

Your What’s On

Grand Theatre unites with ZooNation dance company to

launch educational arts programme. Alongside the performance activities, Business Studies students from the schools and colleges will have the opportunity to gain real-life, professional marketing experience from the Marketing & Sales staff at the Grand Theatre. Students will be given a brief by ZooNation, to design a targeted, creative marketing campaign to promote and publicise the School Showcase and INTO THE HOODS: REMIXED at the Grand Theatre.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre today announces a long-term, ground-breaking collaboration with internationally acclaimed Hip Hop dance company ZooNation. Together the two companies will offer a professional arts experience to local schools ahead of opening the national tour of INTO THE HOODS: REMIXED at the Grand Theatre from 25 - 27 February 2016. With significant support from Arts Connect, the Grand Theatre and ZooNation have created an outreach scheme that will provide opportunities for Key Stage 4 dance students across twelve schools to work with professional choreographers. The schools will develop and present their own School Showcase at the Grand Theatre in January 2016.

The project significantly extends and builds upon the Grand Theatre’s 2012 pilot scheme with ZooNation which saw 22 dancers from local secondary schools perform in 3 curtain raiser performances prior to Some Like It Hip Hop. A total of 4,516 participants, including schools audience members were involved in the project in 2012, three quarters of whom were young people.

Following the showcase, chosen dancers will then create a ‘curtain raiser’ routine, choreographed by ZooNation to be performed on the Grand Theatre stage before the opening performance of INTO THE HOODS: REMIXED.

The original production, INTO THE HOODS, first premiered at the Peacock Theatre in 2006,

Your

later opening at the Novello Theatre in 2008. It became both the first ever hip hop dance show to open in the West End and the longest running dance show in the West End’s history. The show won the Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Ensemble Performance, and founder of ZooNation, Kate Prince was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer. She also choreographed So You Think You Can Dance for the BBC and the movie Streetdance3D. Activity Supported by Arts Connect West Midlands as part of their Partnership Investment Programme.

What’s On

rapper Rap-on-Zel, budding music producer Jaxx and embark upon a storybook adventure into the heart of a pulsating community.

WIN 2 TICKETS to see ‘INTO THE HOODS: REMIXED’ Thursday 15th February 2015 7.30 pm

Into the Hoods: Remixed is the newly revamped version of the award-winning production that stormed the West End in 2008. Under the direction of Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Kate Prince, the much-loved show returns to the stage with all the wit and charm of the original, updated for 2015 with new choreography, a remixed soundtrack and fresh designs.

To Enter Email your answer to the question below to info@yourlifestylemagazine.co.uk In what year did the original production of Into The Hoods storm the West End?

Set in the ‘Ruff Endz Estate’, the story follows two lost school children who have been tasked to find an iPhone as white as milk, trainers as pure as gold, a hoodie as red as blood and some weave as yellow as corn. Along the way, they meet DJ Spinderella, aspiring singer Lil Red, vivacious

1) 2) 3) 4)

2004 2008 2010 2012

Your What’s On

Fizzog - Black Country comedy at its best! After the success of their SELL OUT TOUR ‘Fifty Shades of Fizzog’ Fizzog Productions take you back in time to 1910.

Lizzie is so excited about her fantastic new idea and totally believes it is unique, well in some respects it is, however as you can tell by the title it’s been done before, don’t tell Lizzie though, you wouldn’t like her when she gets upset.

Lizzie Cotterill had a dream one night about an amazing story of a girl with a special Freezing power, when she awoke she told all the family members that she had another idea for a play. The family is used to Lizzie and her creative flow, however this usually means that she will force them all to perform AGAIN in her new creation. Unfortunately in true fashion things never go to plan with a Froggatt and Cotterill performance, things aren’t always as they seem.

This performance promises you a fantastic night out and you will never see a version quite like this one, dance, song and overall true Black Country humour at its finest. If you haven’t seen a Fizzog show before, it’s quite an experience and not to be missed. For more information and tickets go to www.thefizzogs.com or call us on 07757 424618.

Your

What’s On

Royston and Nick’s Christmas Diary Harry`s Bar, although, they were far from being impressed! The quiet life in this romantic city only suits these busy two for a few days and it recharged the batteries, to get back to a busier lifestyle. Resort World The winter brought the launch of Resort World Birmingham. This new £150 million leisure complex is full of designer shops, a luxury hotel and spa, stylish bars and an 11 screen cinema. Nick and Royston were among celebrities and VIP`s that were invited to a red carpet viewing of the Latest James Bond film Spectre. Champagne reception gave them chance to chat with friends including Danielle Lloyd and Debbie Mitchell and after the show was everyone enjoyed cocktails and canapes in the High Line bar.

Evening at Checkers. With the success of getting through to the finals of the British Hairdressing Awards again this year, Nick and Royston decided to treat the nominees to an evening at The Michelin star Restaurant Checkers in Montgomery. The Team indulged in their seven course taster menu, where each course was more delicious than the last. Royston entertained not just his guests but the whole restaurant with his funny anecdotes and everyone enjoyed an amazing evening. Trip to Venice. Last chance for a break before the busy holiday season, Nick and Royston took the opportunity to relax for a few days in the beautiful city of Venice.

Phillip Armstrong Christmas Lunch Held at Rosso Restaurant in Manchester, Phillip showcased his Haute Couture Christmas Lunch for clients and friends . 150 guests including Cheshire`s royalty were out in force! Collen Rooney, the wags from Manchester united, the stars of the real house wives of Cheshire joined Nick and Royston and their friends in this fabulous charity event. A champagne reception kicked off the lunch followed by a delicious three course lunch and an amazing fashion show of Phillip`s latest collection. The show stopper was Manchester Unitied`s Goal keeper`s David de Gea`s girlfriend Edurne Garcia, who wowed the guests with her amazing voice. It was a fabulous event and kicked off the Christmas season.

Staying at the famous Cipriani Hotel (where all the stars stay), set on the Giudecca Island, it offers its guests the most stunning views of the Venice lagoon and Doge`s Palace. The weather was glorious, so they could enjoy all the sights of Venice from the hotel`s private boat service. Fabulous food is always on the agenda with Royston and he loves to find the most amazing restaurants, so dinner at the Gritti Palace was a must. As they had never been to Venice before they also wanted to have cocktails at the renown

Your Wedding

Wedding Fairs So, he has finally popped the question and you have agreed to marry him! Congratulations, but soon it dawns on you that actually there is so much to do and very little time to do it. There are so many options these days that the chances are that you will have so much spinning around in your head that you won’t know where to start. A dress for you, a suit for him, venue, food and drink. Table plans, invitations, flowers, cakes not to forget outfits and gifts for bridesmaids and ushers. There really is so much to think about that half way through the preparations, it wouldn’t be surprising if you wished you had hired a wedding planner! Thank heavens for the wedding fair, everything you could possibly think of to do with wedding all in one place. Many couples planning a wedding visit at least one wedding fair as it is an event where different companies in the business of supplying goods for weddings come together to showcase their products and services. Everything that you can think of that is concerned with the wedding day will be available to see and sample and most importantly the providers themselves will be there. If you are short of inspiration or looking to make your budget stretch that little bit further then wedding fairs are great for viewing many different styles and designs from cakes to confetti and favours to flowers.

Some fairs are better than others and it would be worthwhile asking around to see if others have found the fair you are thinking of attending worthwhile. Look on FaceBook or the fairs website to check out the number of suppliers that are showcasing. In turn see if you can find the showcasing companies’ websites as this will give you an indication of the quality of the businesses attending. It may be that you have something very specific in mind say a certain style of floral display or a unique table favour. At a good wedding fair there should be plenty of options available that will give you ideas and options and also an idea of cost. Some fairs can be more expensive than others, for example The National Wedding show is £15 a ticket in advance with ‘on-the-door-tickets’ starting at £20 per person. This can add up especially if you are taking your bridesmaids along too. However, this is a large and impressive show and if you simply want to gather as many ideas as possible then it is well worth a trip even if you come away only know what you don’t want!

Your Wedding Local or regional wedding fairs tend to be less expensive but will be smaller in comparison. Don’t let this put you off though as the local wedding fair will have suppliers that are based nearer to you. For some things it is sensible to use a company that is close by so that if you have a few meetings (or tastings is the case of cake or catering suppliers) then you don’t want to have a long journey which will take up half of your precious day off. Likewise think of the delivery of the goods to your home or venue. A local supplier is more likely to deliver free if charge if it is a short trip and they are less likely to get snarled up in traffic on the big day if the journey isn’t too far. The great thing about attending the wedding fair is that you have a great deal of experienced and professional wedding specialists all under one roof. Take time to speak to as many suppliers as you can. Take samples, get brochures and have a chat about some of the ideas you have. They will be able to help you develop your ideas, suggests different ideas and options around your particular theme or plan. You will be able to see samples of work such as wedding stationary or floristry and get a rapport with the professional that will be working with you to fulfil your design. Weddings are such

emotive events that it is important to like your supplier or at least feel that you are on the same wave length. Of course you will want to speak to the professionals in more depth, so simply take the company’s contact details and make an appointment to visit them. It is also good to see their shop or outfit so you can be assured of the quality.

Your Wedding

be altered or shortened if you find a good seamstress so don’t think it has to be a perfect fit. It is worth asking the particular company if in fact they do alterations.

Venues are also now offering showcase days where they exhibit suppliers that they use on a regular basis. This can be really useful as the companies that work there frequently, will know exactly how things works and will be able to offer you a service that they know will suit the venue. Take photography for example, the photographer who has worked at a particular place on many occasions will know the best locations and hidden places to enhance your wedding portfolio. If they know the venue and have a good relationship with them then they may even be able to offer you things that might be unavailable to companies that haven’t worked with the venue before. Added to which if the venue is recommending them then you have the added security that the supplier is reputable and will do a good job as they wouldn’t in any way want to risk that relationship. And of course there is the bargain hunting side of wedding fairs. The larger supplier may have deals or discounts that can be snapped up on the day. Many companies exhibiting wedding and bridesmaid dresses and accessories will have a sale and sample rails and you can pick up a real bargain. Don’t forget that things can

All in all the wedding fair can be a great source of inspiration and for those short of time a one stop hit of everything you can think of to do with weddings and probably things that you haven’t thought of too!

there is now a large selection of card, paper to choose from. You can and embellishments and embellishments to choose from. cansets and kits which contain actually buyYou box actually buy box sets andeverything kits which you contain need to create personalised everything you need to create personalised wedding invitations from home. But if you wedding invitations from are home. Your Wedding confiBut dentif inyou your crafting skills then you are confident in your crafting skills then you can buy packs of blank cards and envelops can buy packs of blank cards and envelops

Jantino Jantino

Your first choice for mother of the Your first choice for mother of the bride and groom, cruise and evening wear. Stocking s cruise and evening wear. Stocking stunning outfits and matching accessories from British matching accessories from British and International designers. Jan and her team are a designers. Jan and her team are always on hand to you look your best for a ensure you look your best for anyensure occasion.

Ladies Designer Wear Ladies Designer Wear

Boutique shopping its finest, since 1 Boutique shopping at its finest, sinceat1988 Main shop open:

Main shop open:

Mon - Sat 9.45am - 4.45pm Monfirst - Sat 9.45am - 4.45pm Your choice for Hawkswood mother ofLodge, the bride and groom, cruise and evening wear. Old High Street, Quarry Hawkswood Lodge, Old High Street, Quarry Stocking stunning outfits and matching accessories from British and InterBank, West Midlands. DY5 2JR Bank, West Midlands. DY5 2JR national designers. Jan and her team are always on hand to ensure you look Tel: 01384 565443 Tel: your01384 best for565443 any occasion. www.jantino.co.uk www.jantino.co.uk Our sale shop has moved to Quarry Bank Our saleHigh shop has moved to Quarry Bank High St, opposite the main shop and is open: St, opposite the main shop and is open: Tues - Thurs, 10 - 4.30pm, Friday 10-2pm Tues - Thurs, 10 - 4.30pm, Friday 10-2pm and Sat- 10 - 4.30pm and Sat 10 - 4.30pm Mon Sat 9.45am - 4.45pm Huge savings on a stunning rangeHuge savings on a stunning range Hawkswood Lodge, Old High of designer wear of designer wear 22b HighStreet, Street, Quarry Bank, Bank, Quarry 22b High Street, Quarry Bank, West Midlands DY52JW West Midlands DY52JW West Midlands. DY5 2JR Tel: 07914 687630 Tel: 07914 687630

Main shop open:

Tel: 01384 565443 www.jantino.co.uk

Our sale shop has moved to: Quarry Bank High St, opposite the main shop and is open: Mon - Thurs, 10 - 4.30pm, Friday 10-2pm Sat 10 - 4.30pm Huge savings on a stunning range of designer wear 22b High Street, Quarry Bank, West Midlands DY5 2JW

Tel: 07914 687630 72

Your Wedding

An audience with

Deborah Mitchell Last month on 13th October was a very special occasion! We witnessed the arrival of non other than Deborah Mitchell to an evening locally hosted by Jantino’s and Turn Back Time.   Deborah Mitchell is the founder of heaven organic skincare and the results driven “abeetoxin” was also the invention of Deborah, the creator of the Bee Venom Mask, the natural alternative to botox.

Mitchell”.  Wow, and what a lucky audience we were… After mingling with everyone with champagne and nibbles, we could ask Deb any of our skin care questions and she ended up giving everyone a personalized evaluation of their skin! If you have never experienced the Bee Sting facial you don’t know what you are missing out on! You really feel like you are in heaven! There was £5 given off during the evening and this has been extended to Your Lifestyle Magazine Readers, just call 01384 823855 and speak to Donna to arrange.   I am also very pleased that Jan from Jantino’s has an amazing offer of 25% off all evening wear! Just in time to get your outfit sorted for that special occasion. You must go and see the largest stock of stunning outfits in the Midlands. Jantino’s 212 Old High St, Quarry Bank, Brierley Hill, West Midlands DY5 2JR.

Deborah Mitchell is also the expert beautician to the stars and royalty! Loved by celebrity users who include; Danni Minogue, Emilia Fox, Katie Price, Victoria Beckham, Simon Cowell, Gwyneth Paltrow and many more. Deborah also pays many visits to the palace to treat The Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge. So it was a real honour and pleasure to meet her. Deborah never does such personalized visits however due to her connection with Jan and Donna she was very pleased to do this one off event “An audience with Deborah

http://jantino.co.uk  http://turnbackthetime.co.uk http://heavenskincare.com

Your Diary of a County Lady

Just us Chickens

in the height of long summer days, we reach ‘glut status’, it is a pleasure to give them away to friends - Luna’s blue ones always being the most popular, particularly with a neighbour’s little boy who reliably declares that they’ve been laid by dragons. On opening the nesting box door, it is a delight to see the eggs cosily nestled, so daintily hued and often warm. With an element of guilt, I remove them with a “thank you very much’ to any fowl that happens to be strutting past. On too many occasions, I have opened the door on a hen embroiled in the process of laying. It is as much of a shock as accidentally opening a toilet door on a squatting stranger and one’s natural response is to look away quickly, apologising profusely fro the intrusion.

One would think that January wasn’t the most sensible time of year in which to moult but that is exactly what our hens: Petunia, Piper, Penelope and Luna have decided to do. Stepping into the garden, I’m greeted by a duvet-ful of feathers. One could believe that Fantastic Mr Fox had visited and scooped the lot but infact they are simply engaged in a communal moult and looking all the shabbier for it. Their similarity to chickens in supermarket refrigerators is striking. Granted, ready -to-eat chickens have more cellophane and less in the head department but other than that, there really isn’t much in it. What’s more, the combs of these scraggy creatures, usually vivid red and so tall that gravity jauntily flops them over, have turned to a pale, chalky pink and shrunk to a paltry ridge. Friends who usually comment; “Oh aren’t they handsome?” now emit a slightly repulsed: “eeeaauuuw”.

There is something magical about the perfect form of the eggs. The hens gobble scraps from the kitchen - spaghetti and rice being favourites, tomatoes and carrots being low down on the list - and then, twelve hours later, out pops a delicious meal in a shell. And sometimes this meal is double-yolked and sizeable. Our heaviest egg recorded being 102g laid by Henrietta in 2014. We expected her to adopt a cautious gait

Of course, the main disadvantage of the brood having lost their pizzazz is the fact that they are no longer laying. One becomes accustomed to collecting a clutch of eggs ranging from chestnut brown, to pink to white to blue. When,

Your Diary of a County Lady in subsequent days but she never did. Henrietta was one of those rare creatures that deserves an obituary. Gloriously golden, her appetite for life matched her appetite for kitchen titbits - particularly hummus, cucumber and cake. As a pullet (hen of 15-22 months), she abandoned her feathered friends and flew over the garden wall with a great deal of ‘Jeronimo”type noise. Once in the courtyard, she promptly strutted through the open kitchen door whereupon she set about gobbling copious crumbs and chasing tiny silver balls across the floor which had scattered during an episode of cake decorating. If it wasn’t for the fact that she left her calling card, Henrietta’s role as assistant vacuum-cleaner would have been most welcome. As Henrietta grew, she would often be found on roofs of outbuildings - leaving the other hens on the ground, marvelling at her ‘pluck’. A favourite pastime was jumping into cars in the search of a bite to eat (often a rewarding search when the car is regularly used for ferrying prawn cocktail crisp-eating children.) Last summer, as I set out on a trip to ballet lessons, I turned my head, in the act of reversing, to find Henrietta on the back seat looking perfectly at home as if to say “So where are we off to?” I calculated that she

must have been there for over two hours - we’d swung onto the drive after school and in that short time of opening and closing doors, she’d hopped aboard for an opportunistic snack and was unwittingly imprisoned. In the 25 degree heat, it is surprising that she didn’t cook. Dear Henrietta squeezed every fragment of joy and adventure from her two year existence. Had she starred in ‘Chicken Run”, there is no doubt that she would have bagged the part of ‘Rocky”. She died just before Christmas from a rather unfortunate prolapse of her derriere. We buried her amongst the hellebores. My son, who had cuddled her every day of her life, cried bitterly and placed a cross of twigs on her grave: my daughter played “In the Bleak Midwinter” on her flute - a fitting send-ff for such a spirited and well-loved hen.

Your Diary of a County Lady

Christmas Past Here’s hoping that readers of Your Lifestyle Magazine had a happy and peaceful Christmas. Hereabouts, it disappeared with a fitting amount of raucousness and haphazardness. The Christmas meal went down a storm courtesy of culinary-adept husband. There was the usual debate over beef vs turkey for the main meal. Many in the family favour turkey for its once-a -year appeal and its natural lending of itself to trimmings of stuffings and sauces. However, there is the staunch ‘beef brigade’ who claim that beef is a tradition much more deep-set than ‘new-fangled’ turkey which has landed plum in the centre of our Christmas tables from our neighbours across the pond. For my part, I like the festiveness of turkey: it arrives magically in the laundry amongst the family’s ‘smalls’ just before Christmas, courtesy of mail-order, replete with thermometer and the evidence of a few, remaining bronze feathers. Just the size of the bird impresses, leading to the ritualistic discussion of whether it will actually fit in the oven and number my son’s early claim for ‘ the parson’s nose’, or his preferred way of putting it; ‘the last bit over the fence.’

So, you guessed it - we had a beautiful trussedup turkey. This was followed by my mother-inlaw’s steamed Christmas pudding. For the first 28 years of my life, I believed that Christmas pud had to be diabolically black and bitter. I took solace in large helpings of the rum and brandy butters that accompanied it. I’m not sure that I would countenance feeding my children alcoholic tubs of butter today but this was the 1970s and their piped starlets in clear glass bowls were consumed by children and adults alike by the dessert spoonful. Anyway, it was a revelation to me that it is not a pre-requisite of Christmas pudding to be solid of stature and blackened of tone. My mother-in-law’s Sri Lankan pudding is golden, rich and airy with no congealment whatsoever. It rattles in a rice cooker for one and a half hours, being topped up with water (when I remember) and emerging from its basin amidst a warm, spicy aroma ready to be topped with holly, doused in brandy and set alight. My mother-in-law is so wonderfully reliable in pressing a bowl of her mixture into my hands several months before Christmas that I have never pursued the recipe. Yet, I feel that I must and I shall - it is an heirloom nonetheless and one I could share with you next winter, should you so wish.

Your Horoscopes

Horoscopes with John Starkey Capricorn 21/12 - 9/01

T: 01902334224 W: www.john-starkey.co.uk E: johnstarkey123@outlook.com

Cancer 21/06 - 21/07

You should be enjoying yourself at the moment. As you discover new places and walk on strange ground you could be meeting many new friends and acquaintances along the way. It’s a time for getting out and about and socialising.

As you regain your strength and energy you may feel like taking on lots of new challenges. As your competitive spirit becomes uppermost hold back for a week of two before you get in to top gear, then give it all you have got.

Leo 22/07 - 21/08

Aquarius 20/01 - 18/02

A great constellation is influencing your sign right now and this could bring untold treats just at the right time for you to enjoy them to. Don’t be afraid to capitalise on a fantastic business opportunity that is about to present itself

As the planet mercury energises your sign you could be running round like a headless chicken for a while. However as things settle down the light of success should certainly shine in your direction.

Pisces 19/02 - 20/03 Try not to be judgemental about the people closest to you. There could be a lot of changes in family life that should make things a lot more positive as everyone begins to understand the feelings expressed by others.

Virgo 22/08 - 22/09 Others may try and persuade you to the contrary but it is important that you act upon your own innovative ideas. Nobody knows your desires better than you so why are you bothering to listen to the negative opinions of those who should know better.

Aries 21/03 - 20/04 Put all those important dates in your diary. As trying to remember things right now, just will not do. As your popularity grows you could become the flavour of the month, and have a full diary of events.

Libra 23/09 - 22/10 Let your imagination run wild as you approach one of the most artistic and creative periods of your life. You will probably end up being a proper little show off and entertain everyone, as your inner talent comes to the surface.

Taurus 21/04 - 20/05 Though you may be feeling bored and frustrated at the moment you can be assured that new and exciting projects are on their way. Be prepared to be open minded and adventurous and you might find yourself very much in demand.

Scorpio 23/10 - 22/11 Make sure you are clear about your intentions. This is no time for confusion, keep it simple and you can’t go wrong. Your positive attitude should go down well with all those indecisive souls surrounding you.

Gemini 21/06 - 20/06

Sagittarius 23/11 - 20/12

They say that “twos company and threes a crowd”. It is important not to put yourself in the roll of gooseberry as this is the time when you could meet a lot of new friends that could lead you to a positive time in your life. Contacts are all important now.

Try to avoid those people who spin tall tales, perhaps they need to draw the line by not bending the truth so much or putting their own twist on things. Straight talking is definitely the best policy.

<RXU Your+HDOWK Health

It’sHygienists never too early startyou taking and to what care of your child’s didn’t know… Very few could have failed to notice the amount of coverage across all media about Many things are taken for granted the state of children’s oral health and there and our regular hygiene visits may are some fairly shocking statistics on be the among them. Not everyone realises the subject. It’s estimated that over 46,000 vital role the hygienist plays in the bid children are admitted to hospital every year for keep teeth healthy. tooth to extraction withand thisgums number rising yearly. Something like three in ten children do not see Kelly is onesets of four a dentist which can mean disease in from hygienists working a very early age, often resulting in the need for at anaesthetic. Treetops Dental treatment under general Surgery; this is what she said burden about her This is creating an increasing on role an the service practice.with already over-stretchedwithin health some children having to wait up to a year for “We anaesthetic. are an essential part of thethe dental a general All this despite fact teamdecay and are trainedentirely to provide that tooth is almost preventable professional advice with through education,cleaning positiveand behaviours and thevisits aimtoofthe improving regular dentist. the oral health of our patients. Obesity is a primary focus for Public Health Ourand maina goal to prevent treat in England mainisdriver of theand disease disease and tooth decay which is sugargum consumption. This is also contributing to tooth decay per cent of substance three year caused by inthe12sticky plaque olds (up to 30 cent in gums, some parts the left on theper teeth and whichofover country). Snacks aimed at children often time can harden, turning into tartar. have the highest levels of sugar and sugary drinksWe can still bethe found in vending machines remove plaque and tartar in schools. Manythe believe that special legislation is by cleaning teeth with urgently needed toalso reduce sugar instruments known asconsumption ‘scaling’ in order to curb obesity, diabetes and tooth as well as any staining, known decay. as ‘polishing’.

teeth

Another, and very important aspect of our role is talking to patients about the importance of keeping dentally fit.

Many patients recognise the affect their oral health can have on their general wellbeing and we will spend the time talking about dietary and lifestyle habits to help drive home the message. We’ll also show them the most effective way to brush and floss their teeth and advise on which products theyenough should that the therefore, cannot be stressed use. Educating and motivating sooner children come and seeour us the better patients maintain and look after their we are to able to educate, prevent and set them teeth is apath big part what of wehealthy do. teeth. Not on the for a of lifetime only that, the sooner a child gets used to the We wantenvironment all our patients leaving, not dental the better able they will be just with cleaner, brighter teeth, but to cope, and not feel fear of these visits, as anthey understanding get older. of how best to keep them in optimum dental health.” Pain is an obvious association with visits to the dentist but there are welcomes now many new Treetops Dental Surgery all dental techniques which will, hopefully, reduce the new patient enquiries. occasions when the drill is used. Gentler and less invasive ways of treating caries are being introduced in many dental practices as well as effective preventive treatments.

As dental professionals we take great care to ensure that our younger patients’ visits are as positive as possible. And this is made a good deal easier if our ﬁrst meeting with a child does not involve a ﬁlling or extraction. It,

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Dentists recognise the absolute need for children to learn at an early age how best to take care for their teeth and gums. Private dentists can take the time to demonstrate to children and their parents the correct brushing techniques as well as talk to them about what foods and drinks should be avoided to maintain healthy teeth. WINNER

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Your Health

Time to let go Throughout our life time, no matter how old we are, various things happens to us. Some are happy, some are sad and some are not really important. Those of us who are very sensitive, with all the senses fully open, tend to bury these events deep within in order to get on with life. Remember the old-fashioned deep freezers?

and we begin to close down to the outside world. If we go to the Doctor, they try to help us with the antidepressants and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy( CBT). It seems to help for a short period but the roots of our problems remain deeply buried in the deep freezer. Our symptoms may get worse and we find ourself unable to sleep, losing our appetite, and unable to switch our mind off. Eventually the sadness becomes overwhelming, physical symptoms get worse, and family and friends begin to lose patience.

We just keep dumping things into the freezer and forget to empty the freezer. Eventually, the freezer is completely over flowing with old stuff. We then get scared of opening the freezer as its full of old things and we can’t bear clear and thaw it out. It feels like hard work. So we keep shutting ourselves down even more. We begin to feel unwell. Old anxieties start to creep in. Daily life becomes overwhelming. Light can’t get through, the feeling of heaviness takes over

There is a way out. Call me to arrange an appointment and we will work together to create a customised program to “empty your freezer” and set you free again.

Your Health

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Looking after your feet in 2016 The perfect sterile It’s the start of a new year. We have all indulged in theallfestive end up with a new We love tofood be and pampered, whether it’syear’s for a resolution to try and but usually special occasion or lose just weight, a feel good treat. fail to. However, do we really know the strain our feet ankles arepopular under toforms carryofmore weight Oneand of the most pampering than is a intended? pedicure. There’s no better feeling than having your feet look and feel good and here Feet areTherapy, one of the most at Foot that’s ourignored aim. parts of the body. The average foot is designed to absorb Aside fromfrom the 30 minute Chiropody, we also any shock slow walking to running. But provide ifa you service Steri-Pedi imagine havecalled excessthe body weight. (short Every for sterile pedicure) which givestoallabsorb the joymore of a step you take, the foot will have pedicure few added extras. due to thewith extraapressure being placed on them. It will have an impact on your feet as it can As a medical practice it’shaving important us that change the structure and extratopressure, we avoid any risk to our patients, such as as the interaction of the joints, disrupt the way the spread of infection. This can happen by the foot aligns. using polish that has previously been used on someone with fungal nail. There is also Being overweight, the foot is more likely to a risk of damaging the nail plates if you go pronate, which means the foot will slightly for a treatment with someone who has had lengthen andtraining. collapse causing the arch to fall. inadequate

pedicure

The body is unable to stabilise itself meaning the shock absorbency is inefficient. This is likely to cause pain in the knees, hips and lower back because your body is using muscles Nearly everything Foot Therapy use is used and ligaments that are notthe meant to be used. only on you (apart from cuticle pusher and cuticle which are issterilised Exercise andnipper healthy diet essentialabove and 130 degrees Celsius to kill germs). We orthotics can be beneficial byany holding the foot use disposable nail brushes and a small in the right position. separate dish for base and top coat to avoid There are a number of treatments that can contaminating the bottle. help relieve heel pain. These include: Resting youralso heel: walking long and We let avoid you take the mini nail distances varnish home standing long Regular stretching: so it is notfor used on periods. anyone else and it’s perfect stretching calfup. muscles and plantar fascia. for the oddyour touch Pain relief: using an icepack on the affected heel and taking such Steri-Pedi as non-steroidal What makespainkillers, a Foot Therapy stand out: anti-inflammatory drugs. Wearing good-fitting and cushion your foot; •Shoes: No that crosssupport contamination trainers are particularly useful. Use Supportive • Your feet look and feel great devices: such as orthotics or strapping. • You get to take the nail polish ﬁle and Remember, prevention is better than cure. buffer home!

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Your Health

It’ll be all white on the day! When it comes to planning a wedding, no matter what it costs, one thing’s for sure – the bride wants to look perfect on the day! As do her bridesmaids, family and friends. And with increased consciousness about having that whiter, brighter smile the bride and those around her may start to think about having whitening treatment. Stourcote Dental has a special package which is not just for the bride but for her immediate friends and family.

to be in the best of health! So before you embark on any aesthetic treatments do speak to your dentist first.

And, if you’ve been a bit remiss about having regular dental check-ups, now is the time to resolve to change as the New Year kicks in. To achieve that allimportant, whiter smile your teeth need

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Essentially, please remember that your dentist is probably the best person to carry out these procedures, particularly as it is vital that your teeth are in sufficiently good condition before anything is done. Stourcote Dental will be happy to see you – ring us on to book your first appointment in the New Year!

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Your Health

Mind your posture Mind Your Posture - Sleep well computer sense Research carried out earlier this year by the British Chiropractic (BCA) orand At home, at school orAssociation college, at work on Sealy bedsmore found 55% of are us wait until the move, andthat more of us spending their bed firmness changing it, large partsloses of ourallday using before a computer. When sitting concentrating screen for but an and astonishing 16 per on centthe wait until we long periods, we may not bebefore awaredoing that our experience aches and pains so. position be harmful to our your spine.mattress Experts could recommend changing every 7–10 years.

Essential Adjustments

Always takefive timesteps to adjust chair, particularly The BCA’s to a your better night’s sleep: if you share your computer with others. •1. Recognise Adjust your so that yourthat feetit’s aretime ﬂat theseat warning signs on the your ground, your knees are bent, and to change mattress; you wake up feeling a slope your from your hips to knees. stiff with or aching, mattress is your misshapen, Your eyes should be level with the sagging or you can feel individual springs.top of the computer screen. You may need to raiseyour your back screenuponslowly: a stand. 2. Wake don’t leap out • Relax when sitting in the chair, making of bed first thing in the morning. Instead, gently sure you have your bottom against the get out of bed and avoid bending or doing seat back and with your shoulder blades touching the back of the chair.

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• Forearms should be ﬂat and your elbows level with the or desk. anything sudden strenuous until your back •loosens Takeup.regular breaks, walk around and stretch a little. Never sit at the computer for more than 40 minutes.position: Lie on 3. Adopt a good sleeping your side rather than lying on your front with The portability of Laptops makes them very your neck twisted to one side. convenient and ﬂexible to use, but it is tempting to use them in situations where you might be in 4. Try before youorbuy: If you pain are inducing lying on an uncomfortable potentially your side, your spine should be parallel to the position. and sag (bed •mattress When onyour thespine moveshould with anot laptop, usetoo a soft)rucksack or bow (bed too hard). you arecarry sharing design laptopIf case, it ona shoulders and adjust the straps so bed both then take your partner with you. that the bag is held close to your back •5. Banish If youtech mustinuse a laptop ondown your at lap, don’t bed: Looking screens sit for long periods doing this, as you in bed leaves your neck unsupported and are the looking down at the screenforward with your weight of your head leaning willhead put unsupported. pressure on your back, which may cause back If you have neck, back or shoulder pain, or neck pain. consult your GCC Registered Chiropractor at Tettenhall Road Chiropractic Clinic.

Your Jobs

Why I Love My Job “Do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”. This adage could have been written with Ben Sorrill and Josh Waldron in mind. The pair recently took over the running of Hagley Pro-Shop at Hagley Golf Course – they tell Jayne Howarth about how they are getting into the swing of things.

individuals and groups; a custom-fitted golf clubs service; plus it sells a huge range of golf equipment, from waterproofs to electric trolleys. Crucially for the new managers, the shop offers a price-match promise on all its equipment.

As golf fanatics, Ben Sorrill and Josh Waldron live and breathe their sport.

But its pièce de résistance is the state-of-the-art custom fitting studio where you can actually see the ball flight, complete with GC2 launch monitor, which gathers all the facts and figures on a golfer’s swing and ball flight, plus a beautiful driving range setting with Srixon 2-piece range balls.

Both have been playing the sport of kings for years and met when they were junior members of the same club. What they don’t know about birdies, irons and handicaps isn’t worth knowing and their knowledge – coupled with their retail expertise – meant that they jumped at the chance when they were asked if they wanted to take over the pro-shop at Hagley Golf Course. “We don’t feel like we are working. We love it!” laughs Ben, aged 22, who has worked at the shop for three years. “We are in a very fortunate position where by we have the knowledge and tools to help people improve their golf, which I can assure you is very important to every golfer. Everybody would love to improve, even the players who only play socially; deep down would love to get better.”

“We simply love talking to people, interacting with them and by far the most rewarding part is helping them improve their golf,” explains Ben, who has PGA Foundation Degree in professional golf studies from the University of Birmingham. “It’s a great feeling when a customer comes back and says that the lesson the previous week has helped them to reduce their handicap or that their new custom-fitted set of irons is helping them beat their friends.”

Ben and 24-year-old Josh, who has also worked at the shop for three years, are hoping their passion and expertise will ensure they are the go-to retailer for golf equipment and advice. The shop, which opened in October 2015, employs five PGA professionals, which means customers are assured of the best advice possible when it comes to tips and hints on how to improve their game.

“We provide professional, unbiased advice,” continues Josh, who first took to the greens at the age of 13. “We teach people how to improve their golf, which is extremely rewarding, and we help to look after the driving range. Our job is to provide an excellent service to everyone who comes through the door, both shop and driving range customers.”

It also offers golf club repairs, including reshafting and re-gripping; golf lessons for

Your Jobs which is the best club for a player, while the Mizuno swing DNA shaft optimiser syncs up to its computer and tells the teachers which shaft a customer needs, taking into consideration the clubhead speed, tempo, and release factor. “We still get impressed by it all and how it all works,” says Ben. The opportunity to run the shop was a dream come true for the golfers, who met when they were junior members of a local golf club.

While the pair still love to get on the greens themselves, they get a big kick out of improving their students’ games.

“We started up the business because we wanted to put our own stamp on the place and do things our way,” says Josh, who is in his third year at the University of Birmingham, where he is studying for the same degree at Ben.

“My favourite story has to be Damon, who I started teaching two years ago when he was off 23,” says Ben. “He is now playing off 7 and absolutely loves the game! Or Luke who six months ago was hitting a 5 iron short of 130 yards. He is now carrying the ball 175 yards through the air after a new set of Callaway XR irons and regular coaching. He too can’t get enough of the game!”

“We built the shop from scratch; it was literally just four walls when we started. After a few days, it started to take shape and after a couple of weeks we also got the custom fitting studio up and running.

Knowing their advice has also paid off is immensely satisfying, adds Josh.

“Business has been good so far and we like to think that the newly refurbished shop, together with our price match policy, will make customers ask why they need to go anywhere else for their equipment or for professional advice.”

“While looking through the competition results for the month – as we always do – we noticed that one of our members had won back-toback competitions immediately after he had bought a custom-fitted Ping G30 Driver with the correct shaft and loft. That is very satisfying and rewarding,” he said.

For both of them, one of the most satisfying parts of their job is teaching golfers to improve their game.

“Although we can’t offer one tip for improving, we would say that the best way to get better is to have lessons with a PGA professional and listen to them. Professionals are very well trained in fixing your game, whether it be new equipment that fits you, new drills and techniques to improve consistency of strike, or new ways of looking at the game from a mental aspect.”

“We have a simple approach to teaching that seems to be very effective,” explains Ben, who began playing at the age of 12. “For a beginner it might be understanding that they’ve got to hit the ground when they swing to get underneath the ball and get it airborne. Or using the latest technology to help us determine which clubs are better suited to a particular individual.”

•

The GC2 launch Monitor, which provides the professionals with the distance, spin rates and launch angles, enables them to determine

The Hagley Pro-Shop runs regular demo days for Callaway, Nike, Titleist, Ping and Mizuno – these are popular and must be booked in advance. To find out more about the demo days, telephone 01562 883852.

Your Pets & Garden

New Year, New Drive

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Your Pets & Garden

Time to look forward to the

coming year As we leave Christmas behind and begin a new year it’s time to get the catalogues out and start to plan for the coming season.

and also some more unusual varieties. Once you get them home, put them to chit (allow shoots to form), egg trays are ideal for this, place them in a light, cool and frost free environment. Remember you can start seed potatoes growing in pots inside as early as you like, so long as they are protected from any frosts we may have.

Many of the seed companies are highlighting different ranges of vegetables for 2016. Thompson and Morgan have a great range of pepper and chilli seeds available in garden centres – there’s something for all tastes. Mr Fothergills have a range of tomatoes – from the small vine type to the large beefsteak. One variety that won’t be available for the foreseeable future is the Kelsea Onion, unfortunately a hail storm when the plants where in flower ruined the crop.

If the weathers fine and frost free, get out into the garden to burn off those extra pounds gained over Christmas by finishing any clearing up jobs that weren’t done at the end of 2015, especially tidying up leaves and debris. This will help to prevent disease from spreading and removes hiding places for slugs and snails.

Come and buy seed potatoes in January if possible, as the most popular varieties soon sell. We stock over 45 different varieties, including several of the Albert Bartlett range

If you haven’t used winter wash on your fruit trees yet, do so on a mild day before the buds

Your Pets & Garden start to burst, this will clear up any pests and their eggs left overwintering on your trees. Make sure you have a grease band wrapped round the stems, this can be kept on all year round to catch any pests climbing up the tree. If you want to start something off early in the greenhouse try sowing some sweet pea seeds in a cool environment. Use a seed compost and sow them into peat pots 2 to 3 seeds per pot. When they’re ready for planting out the roots will have grown through the pot and its then very easy to just pop the plant into the ground or a container. Don’t forget our feathered friends, especially if the weather is bad – we’ve always got peanuts, seeds, mealworms, fat balls and feeders in stock. Clean off bird tables regularly and remember to put out fresh water daily.

If we do get snow in January and February, pop along to the garden centre and pick up sledges, snow shovels and rock salt – all essential in the worst of the winter weather.

Seed potatoes and onions available from mid-January onwards. Pansies and primroses ready now

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Your Pets & Garden

TLC ClubVet Group Clent

At Clent Hills Vetsclinic Group we Hills understand that Local veterinary Clent Vet Group your pets are very close to your heart and that has achieved accreditation as a Cat Friendly as a responsible and loving owner you wish to Clinic (CFC). The CFC programme has been ensure that they receive the best possible care developed by the International Society of at all times. We offer an exclusively designed Feline Medicine, the veterinary division of the package that will enable you to provide your leading feline charity International Cat Care, pet with a range of benefits that will help to and accreditation has been made available protect them. Ifwith youPurina. join theIt TLC your in partnership aimsscheme, to promote pet will enjoy level of of quality well-being anda first highclass standards carecare. for Whether you haveora being new puppy or kitteninor aa all cats visiting hospitalised veterinary clinic. more mature animal, the scheme gives them a premium service and you as their owner Under the programme, clinic your has to prove reassurance that you area doing absolute rigorous adherence to a set of criteria best for them. which includes provision of facilities and An ongoing programme of preventative care is demonstration of staff activities and attitudes important to make stress sure that your pet aimed at reducing in cats, bothremains as inpatients and out-patients. criteria includes free from parasites, shiny,The glossy happy and having dog cat waiting areas, healthy!separate Within the TLCand package your pet will feline-friendly hospitalisation cages, and receive their regular flea and worm protection, veterinary equipment speciďŹ cally for treating health checks and booster vaccinations, whilst cats. Most importantly, trainedthat in you will have peace of staff mind are knowing approaching and handling catseverything sensitively they and you are providing them with respectfully, in maintaining highWe standards need at theand appropriate times. all lead of veterinary care, including continuing such hectic lives and it is so easy to forget to or update knowledge of feline tasks. medicine overlooktheir appointments or important As a as new treatments andyou information become member of the TLC club, will receive regular available. reminders about when to collect treatments or attend health checks, enabling you to carry on Becky Delli-Bovi, the clinicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cat Advocate, with your busy life, safe in the knowledge that was proud to receive Gold accreditation,

your pet will never miss out on the care they deserve.

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We all want to do the very best for our pets; they are members of the family and give us â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wanted to make sure that a trip to see so much love and companionship. The TLC our vets was as stress-free an experience as scheme enables owners to return this love by possible for our cat patients and their owners. providing theirvery animals with a gold standard Cats can get anxious when taken out of of care and attention, helping them to enjoy ita their usual environment, and this can make long, comfortable happy life. owners reluctant and to seek veterinary attention when their cat needs it. By undertaking Cat The costs per month areFriendly Clinic accreditation, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve committed to delivering high standards of cat Dogs care, 25kg with Dogs 0 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 25kg = ÂŁ11.00 per month, compassion and expertise.â&#x20AC;? to giant = ÂŁ13.00 per month, Cats = ÂŁ10 per month The International Society of Feline Medicine â&#x20AC;˘ Initial the fee Cat for joiners ÂŁ25.00 then launched Friendly ofClinic initiative 11 payments (year 1), 12 payments in three years ago, to encourage veterinary subsequent years practices everywhere to make best efforts to â&#x20AC;˘ The plan includesof Kennel improve the welfare cats Cough in theirvaccination care. The for Dogs and Feline Leukaemia for Cats programme advises practices on how to make â&#x20AC;˘ Include initial Puppy or Kitten vaccinations their environment as welcoming to cats as possible, as well as providing support in staff Additional benefits include and cat-speciďŹ c training, handling techniques client care. â&#x20AC;˘ 10% off consultation fees â&#x20AC;˘ 10% off neutering Cat owners can ďŹ nd out more about â&#x20AC;˘ 10% off food International Cat Carevaccinations and the Cat Friendly â&#x20AC;˘ 10% off additional Clinic initiative at www.catfriendlyclinic.org. â&#x20AC;˘ 6 month check with the nurse Clent HillsoffVet Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;swormers website can be found â&#x20AC;˘ 10% additional at www.clenthillsvetgroup.co.uk

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J.T. Brookes & Co. is part of the N.E. Downing (Blackheath) Ltd. The family business has been conducting funerals for over 100 years and is now run on a daily basis by brother and sister, William and Lucy Downing, supported by their father Stephen. Backed by many long standing and loyal staff, the company continues to pride itsself on serving the local community by offering a caring and personal service, ensuring the highest of standards are maintained. This is overseen by their membership of the trading body, SAIF (National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors). J.T. Brookes & Co. Hagley was opened in April 2006. In 2015 it moved to bigger premises,

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Your Finance & Legal

‘The best investors are dead

investors!’

Anita Gatehouse Your Lifestyle’s Financial Expert

Yes, you read that correctly. A surprising study from Fidelity analysed the performance of investment portfolios to determine which type of investors received the best returns.

markets fall, followed by a period of remorse as the markets recover (sells low). This fear of loss can lead to the withdrawal of capital at the worst possible time. Often the investor eventually re-enters the market when their confidence is restored (buys high). This is one of the main reasons this study shows, year after year, that the average private investors’ portfolios underperform the US stock market by a very large margin.

Over a ten-year period, the clients that did the best were the ones who were dead and the second-best group were clients who had forgotten they had investments! Why is this the case? It seems that often, investors are their own worst enemies. I believe there are many reasons for this, one being a lack of patience. Successful investing for most people is a marathon not a sprint, time in the market, not timing the market is the key.

Back to Fidelity, the dead are not watching the news or reading the newspapers and both have a tendency to be focused on doom and gloom. I often suggest to my clients not to watch the news doggedly and to sometimes give themselves a break from it, it can at times be terribly depressing.

What about those people who carry out huge amounts of research? I’ve met investors who never made a decision because they couldn’t see the wood for the trees, they were so caught up in the minutia of investing that they missed the bigger picture.

So what’s the secret for the living? I help my clients understand that the keys to successful investing are diversification, i.e. not all eggs in one basket, be a long-term steady investor and once we have a good tax efficient strategy in place, leave it to do it’s thing.

Perhaps dead people beat everyone else as there is no temptation to panic if prices go down? There’s no one thinking that any experience of poor economic conditions is a permanent destruction of wealth, so no discipline is needed to stay the course in their case.

Keep calm and don’t panic Mr Mainwaring! Our clients have rated us one of the top advisers in the UK, telephone or email us and we will send you a copy of the testimonials that put us there. If you would like to find out how we might help you, why not arrange a free initial meeting? Get in touch on 01562 745730 and mention Lifestyle magazine.

Another well-known annual study by Dalbar also looks at how private investors fare in the US. This shows that a “cycle of loss” starts when the investors abandon their investments if the

Your Finance & Legal

Filing your self-assessment

Tax Return

If you haven’t already completed it you will shortly be filing your self-assessment tax return and paying any tax due, that’s if you want to avoid tax penalties and interest charges. So, you can forget about accounts and tax for another year…right? ensure that you talk to your financial adviser and accountant to decide what the best option might be for you and your business.

Alternatively you may now want to turn your attention to carrying out a health check on your business structure, accounting, employment and tax records to ensure everything is in the best shape.

Also, most employers are aware of the new duties placed on UK employers with regard to pensions. All UK employers have to automatically enrol their staff into a workplace pension if they meet certain criteria. Employers will have to comply with their obligations from a designated staging date which varies by size of employer and PAYE reference. Make sure you know your staging date and are on schedule to meet your obligations.

In his summer Budget earlier this year George Osborne announced changes to the way dividend income will be taxed. The impeding changes may benefit small investors seeking income from their shareholdings but may not be such good news for the directors of owner managed businesses. Going forward all tax payers will have a tax-free dividend allowance of £5,000 per annum. It is probably an opportune time to look at your dividend planning prior to the end of the current tax year of 5 April 2016.

HMRC issue tool kits on various tax topics to help taxpayers and their agents comply with tax law. One of the main areas of noncompliance identified by HMRC is poor record keeping. This applies to all types of business. It is important to ensure that your records comply with HMRC requirements and that they give you a true picture of how your business is doing at any given time. Speak to your accountant to help ensure that your financial records are appropriate and reliable for your business.

In most small companies the directors and shareholders are one and the same and so they can choose the most tax efficient way to pay themselves. A mix of salary and dividends is usually effective, but you may also consider the tax advantages of pension contributions. This requires detailed planning and you should

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Your Motoring

Why We All Love the

There’s a good chance you already drive a Ford Fiesta – or have owned one at some point – for incredibly, this four-wheeled wonder accounts for one in 20 cars on the roads in the UK today.

Ford Fiesta

In truth, since it was introduced to the UK market, the Fiesta has always been a popular car – from the first car ownership market to those who need a reliable family car and drivers who need a an economical runaround – despite the tough competition it faced.

The not-so-humble Ford Fiesta has been a stalwart of Britain’s roads since the first generation Fiesta L was introduced here in 1976 – as a companion to the Escort – and was one of the first mass-produced Fords with front wheel drive.

The beauty of the Fiesta is that it offers highlevel trims, good standard equipment, plus offers solid performance and reliability. And for drivers who want a bit of poke, a sporty engine is an option, too.

Since then, it has been beloved of drivers across the country, with the millionth vehicle rolling off the production line just three years after the first one arrived. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that the model, in all its various guises, has been named the UK’s best-selling vehicle in 1990, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, and each year from 2009 to 2015.

Comfort, space, excellent pricing and economical to run – there’s much to love when it comes to this supermini, but its true strength is the chassis. Without doubt, the Fiesta’s chassis is among the best in the business, providing a solid drive on less-thanperfect roads. With so much going for it, it’s no surprise that the Fiesta has picked up awards, including Top Gear’s Car of the Year in 2013 for the ST, the Daily Telegraph’s Car of the Year in 2014, and Auto Express’s Supermini of the Year 2014.

In fact, in July 2014, the Ford Fiesta was declared the UK’s best-selling car of all time, with a total of 4,115,000 cars sold. So what is it about this small car that has produced seven generations over the past 40 years that keeps it at the top of tables, remains a favourite of the driving public and is also highly acclaimed by pundits alike?

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Official Fuel Consumption figures in mpg (1/100km) for the Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec: Urban 41.5 (6.8), Extra Urban 65.7 (4.3) Combined 54.3 (5.2) – Combined official CO2 Emissions figures 122g/km All information is correct at time of print and is subject to change without notice. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer ends 31st December 2015. Image shown for illustration purposes only. Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreement for Ford Fiesta Zetec 3dr 1.25 82PS registered from 01/10/2015. Contract mileage of 6,000 per annum and an excess mileage charge of 6.0p (per mile) excluding VAT. Further charges may apply subject to vehicle condition and mileage if you return the vehicle at the end of the agreement. †Payable with first monthly payment. ††Payable with Option to Purchase Payment. Vehicles available whilst stock lasts. Finance is subject to status. Credit provided by Ford Credit/ FCE Eagle Way, Brentwood, Essex CM13 3AR. Deposit Allowance only available when financed with Ford Credit. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. Charges apply, please ask for details. All figures include VAT unless otherwise stated. For full details on this offer, please visit Evans Halshaw Ford Wolverhampton. Retail customers only. Some far reaching exclusions may apply. Stripestar Limited, Loxley House, 2 Oakwood Court, Little Oak Drive, Annesley, Nottingham, NG15 0DR. Company Number 3786959. Stripestar Ltd is a credit broker / intermediary that can introduce you to a limited number of lenders to provide funding for your vehicle. They may incentivise us for introducing you to them.

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