Living
WIRRAL LIFESTYLE
MAG AZINE Winter 2016 Edition
BUY LOCAL
SUPPORT
LOCAL WIRRAL #blslwirral
THIS MAGAZINE IS FREE WITH OUR COMPLIMENTS
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Christmas has arrived! Browse at your leisure over two floors. A warm welcome awaits.
Christmas decorations Christmas cards Christmas wrap candles greetings cards wrapping paper gifts for him wedding gifts baby gifts christening gifts soft furnishings lamps and art jewellery scarves and bags toiletries ladies clothes hats, scarves and gloves
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50 Christchurch Road, Oxton, CH43 5SF | Tel: 0151 652 8452 www.drawingroom-oxton.co.uk
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EDITOR DI TREMARCO
Can you believe it’s nearly Christmas?! Where has the year gone? Christmas for me, is a wonderful time of year; a time that evokes happy memories, good food, laughter and family time. For many, it is not a time for celebration. A lot of people will spend Christmas alone, cold, sad and hungry. This year in particular we, as a team, would like to raise awareness of how you can help, even in the smallest way.
Telephone: 0151 558 1007 Mobile: 07772475445 Email: diane@livingwirral.com Website: livingwirral.com Facebook: Living Wirral Twitter: @LivingWirral Instagram: Living Wirral THE TEAM Sales Director: Sammy Peddie Email: sammy@livingwirral.com Media Sales Manager: Rob Thunder Email: rob@livingwirral.com Online Manager: Jade Thunder Email: jade@livingwirral.com Publisher: Mouse Media Website: mousemediastudio.com
Page 28 highlights three great projects already helping those who need it most. Make sure you check them out and see if there is anything you can do to add to their great work. On the same double spread, there is an excellent piece written by Jeanette Roberts, I hope everyone reads it. This issue is unlike any other because it’s accompanied by an interactive, online edition and a phone app. This will allow readers better access to the products we showcase and provide valuable information to events and business links throughout the area. The development of both platforms will continue over the coming months. CONTRIBUTORS Pauline Daniels Mandy Molby Carolyn Hughes Anne Roberts Jo Anna Nik Ellis RobThunder
Living Wirral has firmly established itself as the champion of independent businesses. Through our campaign Buy Local, Support Local Wirral (#blslwirral), we will showcase as many independents as possible, providing details of where to buy, in a bid to encourage you to spend your hard earned cash locally. Our New Years wish is for the communities of Wirral to thrive once again with a low carbon footprint, quality produce and a booming economy. We hope you will join us in our mission. It is down to me, on behalf of the team, to wish you health and happiness for the festive season and we wish for you all that you would wish for yourselves in the New Year. Ciao, Di
Karen Dawson Samantha Peddie Barry Humphreys Jeanette Roberts A Film Podessey Dave Peddie Lyn Holmes-Kelly
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Magdalena Haener Pride Road Liverpool 0788 414 7810 magda@prideroad.co.uk www.prideroad.co.uk
Pride Road: the best address in Liverpool
Make your house into your dream home.
There is a new road in Liverpool and it’s fast becoming the best address in town. This is the place where homeowners come to when they want to turn their houses into dream homes.
Sometimes the cheapest way to create your dream home is to improve the one you have.
Pride Roadis a new spot on the map of architectural services. Our highly experienced architects specialise exclusively in the domestic residential market, treating every extension, refurbishment or conversion as an exciting project. There is no job too big or too small – we make sure that we are the architects your home deserves. It also helps that we are women so we know how a home works!
What sets Pride Road apart from other architectural practices? Professionals. Pride Road architects are fully qualified, with minimum 5 years of professional experience of working with clients across all sectors. Reputation. We have a proven track record of completed projects, happy clients and a reputation for excellent relationships with our customers. We also pride ourselves on being affordable. Ideas. We are a creative bunch. We plough all sources for inspiration and combine them with the reality of your budget. In short: we make your dreams come true. Design. We meet you at your home for our signature creative design workshop. The architect draws all the plans and ideas with you, explaining every step, and helping you with making decisions. And you will actually have fun doing it. Empathy. Forget about paternalistic figures that tell you how to live your life in your own house. We listen and understand your needs. Don’t roll your eyes – we really do! This is your home and we are your guests.
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Whether you choose to extend your house or rebuild it completely to suit your needs, an understanding and creative architect will be essential in bringing your vision to life.
At Pride Road we do things differently to most architects. We come to your house and undertake a concept design workshop with you. We want to know all about your everyday life and needs. We sit, listen and ensure we engage you fully in the design process. We measure your property and produce a range of design options in your presence. We are right there, ready to answer every question and address any concerns you may have. We want to hear your dreams, ideas and suggestions. This way we can help you make crucial decisions about the future of your home and how it’s going to help with the way you want to live. We ensure our clients are aware of the approximate costs of the planned building work, time frames and permissions needed. Pride Road design workshops are competitively priced: from £300 - £500 for a single or two storey extension or reconfiguration, up to a £1000 for large houses. Our workshops will take from 3.5 hours to perhaps a whole day, depending on the size of your property. At the end of this busy day our clients will be left with detailed drawings of their dream home, ready to be shown to a builder. We can also recommend a range of trusted professionals who can look after your project all the way up to completion.
Living
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CONTENTS
PAGE
CONTENTS
6.
OXTON ART FAIR
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A VERY BRITISH CHRISTMAS
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PRETTY LITTLE CUPCAKES
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PAULINE DANIELS
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BUY LOCAL, SUPPORT LOCAL WIRRAL
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CARE HOME REUNION
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FABULOUS FROST FAIR
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CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS
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BRIMSTAGE HALL & COURTYARD
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HESWALL ICE FESTIVAL
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WIRRAL RADIO
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WONDROUS WIRRAL CONTINUED..
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WHAT WILL YOU GIVE THIS CHRISTMAS?
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FILM REVIEWS
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STRENGTHEN YOUR RUN
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PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
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CANCER DOESN’T CARE WHO IT TAKES…
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GUSTO - REVIEWED BY THE EDITOR
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FREE FROM…
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OBSERVING ARTISTIC REINVENTION
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FROM THE HEART
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LOGOS AND BRANDING
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NIK ELLIS
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HAIR BY KAREN DAWSON
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JINNY LASHES - REVIEWED BY SAM PEDDIE
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BEAUTY WITH ANNE ROBERTS
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FESTIVE FANY
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OUT AND ABOUT WITH LIVING WIRRAL
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MANDY MOLBY
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CAROLYN HUGHES
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FESTIVE EVENT SCHEDULE
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SPOTLIGHT ON… THE EDITOR
Living
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INFO
Tel: 0151 558 1007
Email: hello@livingwirral.com
www.livingwirral.com Disclaimer
Whilst precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the contents of our magazine, neither the editors, publishers or its agents can accept responsibility for damages or injury which may arise there from. Living Wirral reserves the right to edit comments or choose not to publish selected comments, whether in printed, mobile or digital format. No part of any of our publication, whether in print or digital may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, photocopying, electronic, mechanical or otherwise without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
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Oxton ArtFair
“A lovely event that punches above its weight when it comes to talent, creativity and originality.”
The 13th annual Oxton Art Fair is a wonderful showcase of art, craft and design from local artists within four of galleries of the Williamson Art Gallery in Birkenhead on Saturday 26 November 2016, 10am 4pm. The number 13 may be unlucky for some, but not for Oxton Art Fair, which this year is even bigger and better with 21 professional and semi-professional artists showcasing their work. Exhibiting across three rooms of the Williamson Art Gallery, established members, new members and annual guests will showcase a diverse mix of interesting and innovative quality art to suit every pocket. Visitors can expect to see; striking contemporary art, delicate handcrafted jewellery, beautifully created ceramics, sculpture, textiles, printmaking, photography and everything in between.
Viewed as Wirral’s must visit pre-Christmas event, it gives both gift buyers and browsers a chance to chat to the artists about their work and if they choose, buy a truly individual piece. This year the fair will be opened by former Oxton Artist and Honorary Fellow at JMU, ceramic sculptor, Emma Rodgers. Last year’s event was opened by children’s author, and illustrator, Cathy Cassidy, who says: ‘Oxton Art Fair is a lovely event that punches above its weight when it comes to talent, creativity and originality. I was thrilled to be asked along to speak at the opening night, and even more thrilled to meet the makers. The bonus was that I managed to do a good chunk of my Christmas shopping without even trying.” Living Wirral introduces three of the artists showcased this year...
williamsonartgallery.org Laura Weston I am an inquisitive artist who likes to explore processes, I like to work across applied art and design techniques. For my original prints I use Exquisite papers which are populated by trees, foxes, birds, rabbits & hares. I make relief, intaglio & silkscreen prints inspired by long walks along the Wirral Estuary and St Ives. In August 2015 I was commissioned by Big Picture Press to illustrate my first children’s book: “The Butterfly Garden.” In recent months I have been working on a new collection applied art including: ceramic chargers & design items that use digital laser cutting techniques. I tweet about my creative adventures @laurawestonart
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Pam Pauling I create colourful pieces of work using an eclectic mix of materials including fabrics, vintage maps, postcards and other recycled items that people may ordinarily throw away. Whether I am creating a piece of artwork or recycled brooch, every little scrap or corner of postage stamp, fabric, ribbon or paper is kept for a project, nothing is wasted. Once selected, each piece is carefully and painstakingly positioned to create intricate and delicate artworks. My work is characterised by small bursts of bright colours, clean lines and crisp neutral backgrounds. My love of repetition, order and symmetry is highlighted in my signature Travelling Butterfly pieces where every butterfly and piece of raw silk is hand cut. These pieces, which at first glance, appear to the viewer as one single piece per butterfly, www.buriboo.co.uk Follow me on twitter: @pamdas are actually made up of hundreds of different postage stamps. Blog: www.buriboo.blogspot.com In this latest exhibition: Patterns In Nature, I am exploring the use of Pinterest: Pam Pauling. handmade textured papers embedded with leaves and petals and experimenting with East African wax fabrics, the patterns of which are reminiscent of the striking colours found on tropical butterflies.
oxtonartfair.co.uk Lisa Waldman LWSilver is a silver jewellery business based in the Wirral where all silver and gold pieces are designed and lovingly handcrafted in the workshop. LWSilver has a fabulous new selection of ‘ready to wear’ contemporary pieces now available to buy - anything from simple daisy earrings or gemstone rings to gorgeous vintage pearl necklaces or the stunning dragonfly range. Owner, Lisa Waldman says: ‘My inspiration comes mainly from nature and the people around me. I am fortunate enough to do what I love. Jewellery to me is one that symbolises celebration, sharing, giving and remembrance. It’s great feeling when I see someone enjoying a piece that I have made. I have a motto that each silver daisy I produce by hand represents the free spirit that is in everyone - the more I make, the more freedom there is!’ ‘I studied in Glasgow in Jewellery and Silversmithing, which helped me set up LWSilver. I’m based in the Wirral and have been in business since 2001. Every year, the aim is to produce new and unique pieces of jewellery - trying to push myself as much as I can.’ https://lwsilver.com
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GIFTS FOR ME AND YOU THIS CHRISTMAS ALL AVAILABLE FROM GFMY.CO.UK
1. Woof Wear from £5 | 2. Statement Ring £20 felicitygaylefineart.co.uk | 3. Handmade and hand finished Artisan Candles from £10 www. cheshirecandlecompanyltd.com | 4. Baby Milestone Postcards - Set of 24 designs £14 www.facebook.com/emilykateatherton | 5. House Map Picture Mbellish £20 www.facebook.com/mbellish.ltd | 6. Personalised prints for all occasions £15 www.facebook.com/craftybs1 | 7. Family trees from £20 www.facebook.com/Houseoflloyddesigns/ | 8. Fabrics from www.calicolaine.co.uk
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A VERY BRITISH CHRISTMAS BARRY HUMPHREYS IS A LOCAL WRITER AND HISTORIAN WHO DELIVERS HERITAGE TALKS AND WALKS AS ‘THE TIMELINES’, CONTACT HIM DIRECT FOR DETAILS AT TIMELINES@TALKTALK.NET Since the 19th Century the Pantomime has become a British institution (“Oh yes it has !!” ). Amongst the eccentricities of the performance is that the principal boy is a young woman and the dame and evil sisters are men dressed in women’s clothing. Perfectly innocent phrases are regularly turned into innuendo and in theory at least this amuses the adults and goes over the heads of the children. Generally there’s an animal that the main characters are especially fond of. This animal is usually a horse or a cow and has two actors in a single costume… one as head and front legs, the other as body and back legs. For some strange reason it remains unknown how many actors have put “played back half of Pantomime Cow” on their CV…. Pantomime audiences are required to leave shyness at home and should sing and shout as instructed. When the lights go up and they’re told to get up and dance, then they must dance. The main characters will at some point sing a cheerful song, but during this the thing they fear most of all appears. They are oblivious to the children’s repeated screams of…. “Its behind you…!!” And of course around the country the pantomime gives performers whose careers are past their peak an opportunity to once more burn brightly for their adoring audiences….. or alternatively their adoring audiences leave the theatre tut tutting at what has happened to their once favourite star. On the Wirral, the Chrysanths’ amateur production at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton can always be highly recommended. They’ve been going since 1918 and this time around its Robin Hood and Babes In The Wood. Last year at Christmas we ate around ten million turkeys and it’s the centre piece of the Christmas meal. But it’s a relatively recent arrival to the proceedings. Turkey’s were only brought to Britain in the 16th Century. Henry VIII was the first monarch - and probably the very first British person altogether - to enjoy turkey on Christmas Day. It was a luxury though until the 1950’s. Only then did it became much more widely available with an increase of refrigerators in shops and homes and a substantial drop in the price of the birds as breeding techniques improved. Buying a big bird suddenly became value for money - meat to feed a whole family with guaranteed leftovers for those turkey sandwiches in the days to follow ! To the point now then that it really is true that for most of us we wouldn’t really be having Christmas if we didn’t have turkey. Despite the growing plethora of ways that we can contact people these days, we still send around 700 million cards at Christmas time. It all started here too, in 1843 when Sir Henry Cole pondered how the newly instituted Public Post Office that he’d helped to create might be used more by ordinary people. Discussing this with his artist friend John Horsley, they settled on the idea of the Christmas Card. Horsley designed a card and 2050 copies were made, selling at one shilling each. They’d inadvertently kick-started an industry that has gripped the world ever since and is a multi national/multi billion earner. And incidentally the last original Cole/Horsley card that appeared on the open market - in 2001 - sold at auction for just under £22,250, making it the most expensive greetings card of all time. Before he decided to go and live in Lapland Father Christmas had slowly evolved over many hundreds of years. He can be traced back to our pagan ancestors who called him “King Winter”. With the passage of time he was also known as Captain Christmas, Father Time, Saint Nicholas, King Frost, Sinter Classe, Lord Christmas… until in the late 19th Century it was agreed that all these characters rolled together were in fact the one and only “Father Christmas”. And it’s an urban legend that it was a Coca Cola advertisement that gave him his red robes for the first time. Coke merely portrayed him as he already was, but the colour advert of a character more commonly only seen by most people in black and white depictions had the unintended effect of making it appear that they had dreamt up the colour scheme.
In 1877 David Lewis, a shop owner from Liverpool who’d opened his first premises there twenty years earlier, went to Paris to see the first Department Store - the Bon Marche. On his return he set about a similar store and called it “Lewis’s Bon Marche”. In 1879 he established the world’s first Christmas Grotto - “Christmas Fairyland”. It was at the Lewis’s Grotto that generations of people from across Britain experienced their first visit to Father Christmas and it was always a firm favourite for Liverpool’s festive season. By the late 19th Century the idea had been copied not just across Britain but throughout the world and by the mid 20th century there would also be the opportunity for children to have a photo taken with the man himself. Grottos became more sophisticated too, with mechanically animated figures - elves, pantomime characters, princes and princesses, cartoon characters - and elaborate themed sets that told a story as the journey through them progressed.
My brother and I in the 60’s with a rather jolly looking Santa! Back in Liverpool in 2009 the oldest Christmas Grotto in the world at Lewis’s celebrated its 130th anniversary. Then on Monday 22nd February 2010… disaster!! It was announced that the Lewis’s store would cease trading and close its doors. Lewis’s final Christmas Grotto had come and gone and was lost forever….. But not quite ! In the knowledge of the popularity of their Christmas Grotto and the affection with which it was held not only locally but by people far and wide, in April 2010 Lewis’s threw open the doors of its Christmas Grotto complete with sets, figures and Father Christmas himself there to greet all-comers. One final Christmas Grotto just in time for Spring !. The church carol service itself - a staple part of worldwide Christian church activity - also originated in Great Britain, the first being an informal event on Christmas Eve at Truro Cathedral in 1878. Then two years later the Bishop of Truro presented a formal carol service “Nine Lessons and Carols” which is acknowledged as the first proper carol service ever. The 10.00pm start time of the service was said to have been an attempt by the Bishop to keep the local male population out of the Truro pubs. And for those of you who have cast an eye over this piece with the thought “Bah humbug…!” not far from mind, then you would have perhaps been happier in the 17th Century. In 1647 an Act of Parliament made celebrating Christmas illegal. The Puritans of the Reformation, led by Oliver Cromwell, were convinced that the religious significance of Christmas had become overshadowed with vulgar and pagan-style celebrations. As a result they decided that if they couldn’t “Christianise” Christmas then they would ban it altogether. Until Charles II began the revival of Christmas, for many it was an underground and secret celebration…. in the full-on commercial whirlwind of what we know today that’s very very hard to imagine. Have a very Happy Christmas !!
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PRETTY LITTLE CUP CAKE
Rachel Tyrer-Lyons started Pretty Little Cup Cake in 2011 and has since gone from strength to strength. Below Rachel shares a recipe for brownies and then tells us how we can get our hands on some of her tasty treats.
www.prettylittlecupcake.co.uk
Festive Frosted Brownies Christmas is the time of year when we can ease up on the diet and indulge a little. My festive twist on a year round favourite is sure to be loved by everyone. The addition of winter spices and a generous topping of chocolate ganache transform the brownie into a gooey, chocolatey, indulgent Christmas treat, which will have you reaching for a second slice! Go on. It IS Christmas after all! What you will need For the brownie: 250g Butter 200g Dark chocolate 120g Self-raising flour 330g Caster sugar 40g Cocoa 1tsp Mixed spice 2tsp Orange extract 50g Candied peel (optional) 4 Eggs For the topping and decoration: 150ml Double cream 300g Milk chocolate Christmas sprinkles to decorate Equipment 30cm x 23cm tray bake tin lined with baking parchment Oven temp 180’c preheated
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Method 1. Add butter and broken chocolate to a microwave proof bowl and heat on full power for 30 seconds then take it out and stir. Heat for a further 30 seconds and stir again. Repeat this heating and stirring cycle until both the butter and chocolate are fully melted. Set aside to cool. 2. Into a separate bowl, put the sugar and the mixed spice. Sift into this the flour and cocoa and stir until all dry ingredients are mixed thoroughly. 3. Add the dry ingredients to the melted chocolate and butter mixture and stir well to combine the ingredients. 4. Add eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition 5. Add orange extract and candied peel and stir in 6. Pour into prepared tray, spreading and levelling out the mixture 7. Bake in the centre of the oven for 30 minutes until a knife inserted into the centre comes out slightly sticky 8. Allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before removing and allowing to cool completely on a wire rack For the ganache 1. Break the chocolate into small pieces and put into a heat proof bowl 2. Pour cream into a microwave safe jug and heat on full power in 30 second bursts until hot. Be careful to monitor closely as, if it begins to boil, the cream will rapidly rise up the sides of the jug 3. Pour heated cream over the chocolate and allow it to sit for 1 minute. 4. Stir with a wooden spoon until free flowing and glossy without any lumps 5. Once cooled, spread across the brownie and decorate. Cut into squares and serve.
Give the gift of cake this Christmas...
Hand delivered by elves* on 23rd December, our delightful hampers are full of handmade, freshly baked Christmas goodies, all wrapped up into a pretty Christmas gift. Treat yourself, or someone you love, to a Goodie Box by Pretty Little Cupcake. Different sizes and contents are available. So, whether you want to get a ‘Christmas Fairy’ box for two or go the Ho-Ho-wHole hog and get a ‘Jolly Santa’ to treat the whole family, there’s sure to be a gift to suit you. Contents include Christmas cake, Christmas cupcakes, festive frosted brownies, Baileys chocolate truffle cups, rich butter shortbread, special recipe gingerbread and most importantly Pretty Little Cupcakes much coveted mince pies, made to a secret recipe! *May be delivered by human if no elves available For more information check out the website at www.prettylittlecupcake.co.uk
10% discount on all orders quoting reference LIVING WIRRAL
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PAULINE DANIELS LIFE AFTER BREAST CANCER WITH THE FIRST LADY OF COMEDY
Hello there and welcome to winter (brrrr!..). I suppose I should start with the outcome of my breast surgery and I’ll be honest with you, it was a bit painful. In fact, I did think for a day or two that I wouldn’t choose to have that lypo stuff done purely on a cosmetic basis, however, when the bruises go and the pain subsides and you see a result, it’s all very different! Next time, I’m going to take a few buckets with me and ask him to extract enough fat from my hips to fill the buckets and get me into a size 10 pair of jeans! I’ve got no chance. In all seriousness though, I can tell you that I will have to have another one at least, but the result so far is really good. I’m on my way to feeling like a woman again and you really can’t buy that feeling. It means that my confidence will come back; I know a lot of people would find that hard to believe of me, but it is true, I lost my confidence. I was a lucky one! I only had two lumpectomy operations - I can’t begin to imagine how hard it is for some women who have had a mastectomy, but I take my hat off to them. I’ll be feeling good enough soon to go and see Morgan Dowler, the lovely girl who started her own bra business because her mum had gone through the same as me and she needed pretty bras and now, so do I. If you need help in this field maybe you should go and see Morgan, her business is called Love Me and My Secret, you can find her on Facebook. My next health worry is my “womb with a view” which I’ll know more about next week and I’ll be honest, it’s a bit scary. When I was first told that I’d have to have it all out, I felt pretty low. Well picture it, I’m a woman who used to have a fabulous set of headlamps, now I’m sat here with one if my bulbs gone and I’m now being told that anything else that made me a woman has got to go too. I’m pretty good at turning lemons into lemonade but even I was struggling. Then it hit me...Great! I won’t have a womb, a cervix or ovaries, you know what that means? It means that’s three places that I CANNOT GET CANCER! Fantastic! You see there’s always a positive. My only worry now is, it’s been so long waiting to see a surgeon
that I really am frightened about throwing my legs over the side of the bed too quickly in case it ends up in my slippers. I’ve also been to the dentist recently. Now, I will be honest with you, I didn’t go to the dentist for years and then I had a bit of bother about seven years ago and didn’t have a dentist; it’s very hard to get a dentist on the NHS and it’s going to get worse as the cuts cause even more havoc. Anyway, I was lucky to find one and he’s a dentist I can trust. I have always thought of a dentist like a hairdresser as you have to trust them with your appearance. Anyway, I sadly had to have teeth removed and bridge work done and I started to lose teeth. I hate preaching to people but I was a smoker from the age of 14 till 2011 which was when I was erm, well, quite a bit older, anyway I was told by the dentist that smoking was probably the reason why my gums weren’t looking good and my teeth were loose and falling out. Of course, as a smoker you don’t really believe all the bad stuff you’re told, because there is so much of it, but after I gave up smoking, my gums got stronger my teeth steadied and I haven’t had much trouble since, so I think that probably my dentist was right, so if you are still a smoker, maybe think on about it. When I went to the dentist this time, guess what? I’ve got a wisdom tooth growing, so hopefully wisdom will arrive with the tooth, because that’s something that seems to have alluded me for a lifetime. My advice, give up the fags and find a trustworthy dentist, it’s worth it. My pink party dinner totals haven’t been added yet so I’ll let you know next month what happened and I know it’s for the Royal over in Liverpool but remember Clatterbridge is going to have a section of the cancer unit which will help it to become a hospital of excellence. Have a wonderful Christmas, keep warm and remember if you’ve got any elderly people close by who are on their own then just knock, check they’re ok and when you’re going to the shops, see if you can pick something up for them. Look after each other see you in 2017. I will know when the next stage of my new boobs will be by then xx
Join us if you can for a great cause... Dave twentyman, Keith Carter, Adam Staunton, Sam Avery and me!
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BUY LOCAL
SUPPORT
LOCAL WIRRAL #blslwirral
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BUY LOCAL SUPPORT LOCAL WIRRAL
LIVINGWIRRAL.COM
1. Apple Juice £3 Ollies Orchard www.olliesorchard.co.uk | 2. Mere Brook Honey | 3. 16 piece chocolate collection £25 www.eponine.co.uk | 4. Honey and Sea Salt Peanut Butter £4 funkynutco.com | 5. Miniture Wirral Gin £5 | 6. Jamaican Jerk 120ml bottle £2.95 from Chilli Gourmet | 7. Fruit Liqueurs 200ml bottle £14.50 www.windsorsfruitliqueurs.uk | 8. Truly Scrumptious Pate £4 truleyscrummy@btinternet.com
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CARE HOME INVITES FORMER HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES FOR REUNION EVENING
A care home in Heswall has invited all former employees of the Cleaver Hospital to come and attend a special cheese and wine reunion evening on Thursday, November 24 (from 7pm) more than 30 years after it closed. The Hazelwell, a new ‘all inclusive’, care home in Oldfield Road, opened earlier this summer following a £5.5million investment into the old nurses’ accommodation building.
Now under ownership of Heswall Care Limited, a family-run business, The Hazelwell, is a residential, nursing, palliative and respite care home, built to an exceptionally high standard. Its 55 elegantly appointed bedrooms all have en-suite bathrooms and its leisure facilities include a cinema, salon and nail bar, gym, library and a stunning rooftop terrace with views over the River Dee.
The Cleaver Hospital, on the west coast of the Wirral Peninsula, is remembered with great fondness as a hospital which treated local patients for more than 80 years.
The new facility is managed by Wirral-born Liza Millington, a fully qualified nurse with more than 30 years of experience, who said: “The site The Hazelwell now sits on obviously used to be home to the nurses’ home of the Cleaver Hospital, and having lived in the Wirral my whole life, I know how well thought of the hospital was. I remember it being a big part of the town’s heritage and it was very sad when it closed.
Originally called the West Derby, Liverpool and Toxteth Park Hospital and opening in 1902, it became known as the Cleaver Sanatorium - named after Mr HP Cleaver who was the inspiration behind the hospital’s construction. For 17 years, between 1913 and 1930, it was a children’s hospital until they were forced to evacuate to North Wales, due to the outbreak of the Second World War, at which point adults were then admitted. In 1950, the hospital was re-named Cleaver Hospital and in the 1960s a chapel was attached to it and a hospital school was also based there for some years. As the Cleaver Hospital was a sanatorium - a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically tuberculosis – its location on the edge of the River Dee where the air was reputed to be pure, is said to have helped to restore the health of the TB patients. The Cleaver Hospital continued to service the local community for more than 30 years before its closure in 1983, following the opening of Arrowe Park Hospital in Upton. It remained without purpose for five years before the land was sold in 1988 for £2.5million.
“I believe there are many nurses that used to work at the Cleaver Hospital still based in the Wirral so we thought it would be a great idea to get all former employees together under one roof for a lovely reunion evening with cheese and wine to swap old stories and catch up. It would be the first time they have all met up in 33 years. “The Hazelwell has had millions of pounds spent on it and has been turned into a truly magnificent and beautiful care home. I’m sure the nurses that used to work here would find it fascinating to see what the building looks like inside now so it would be fantastic to show them around. I’m sure they will love the incredible rooftop terrace!” Any former employees of the Cleaver Hospital who would like to register their interest in the reunion evening can call: Liza or Karen on 0151 342 9654 or email info@thehazelwell.com
The hospital was demolished and the Oldfield Gardens estate was built on the site, however, the remaining nurses’ accommodation was opened as Cleaver Residential Home in 1989, before it also closed, sometime in the Noughties.
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Fabulous Frost Fair Urges Wirral to Keep Christmas Local Fabulous Frost Fair, the award winning festive event, is calling on the local community to keep Christmas local by buying gifts from independent businesses at this year’s fair. Taking place at the nostalgic Pacific Road Business Hub from November 18 - 20, Fabulous Frost Fair brings over 60 independent retailers under one roof for an exciting shopping experience. With live music, fashion shows, fine foods, fizz, family entertainment and festive cheer there is something for everyone looking for the perfect local Christmas extravaganza. Organisers of the fair, Tanya Leary, Soraya Corbett and Ali Marshall from Wirral, are concerned at the lack of community when it comes to supporting local retailers. Tanya Leary said: “At Fabulous Frost Fair we are passionate about encouraging people to spend within the local business economy and buying from the real people, face to face, whose businesses are part of the local community.
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“At Fabulous Frost Fair we have acted as a shop window and a showcase for many local business owners that were not in a position to get retail premises; we gave them a shop front; we gave them that start. I am really proud of that.” Sue Jones from Thingwall, owner of The Cheshire Candle Company, started her business after being made redundant after 17 years working as a manager in the travel industry. She now makes quirky high quality candles from skilfully cut wine bottles, optic bottles and other glass alongside a luxury scented candle range to rival luxury brands. Sue said: “Last year’s Fabulous Frost Fair was my first and it was incredible for The Cheshire Candle Company. With no actual shop of my own, events like Fabulous Frost Fair put me in front of shoppers I wouldn’t ordinarily engage with. Not only has the fair given me confidence in my own business and product range, but I’ve now got a loyal returning customer base which I’m very excited to add to after this year’s event.” Supported by Wirral Chamber of Commerce and Birkenhead First, this year’s Fabulous Frost Fair has moved to the new Pacific Road Hub in Birkenhead to accommodate even more local suppliers. Independent businesses from across the North West will gather along the cobbled internal tramway and mezzanine floor to sell their unique, hand selected and often handmade toys, clothing, accessories, art, fine food and drink, giftware and festive items.
Ticket Prices £20 for Friday 18 November, which includes unlimited canapes, fizz and special VIP discounts. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are priced at £5 per day for adults, £3.50 for children aged 6 and over and under 5s free. Adult weekend passes are priced at £8 with children over 6 £5. A one day family pass for two adults and two children aged 6 and over is priced at £12.50.
In addition to the retail offer, Fabulous Frost Fair also boasts a full programme of entertainment and activities for all ages. Friday 18 November, sponsored Progress to Excellence, acts as the over 18s VIP preview shopping evening which is a chance for friends to come together for an evening of indulgence. Fine foods and fizz will be flowing with celebrity caterers Cheeky Chilli supplying the decadent array of canapés for the crowd to enjoy. A fashion show hosted by Thingwall based independents, Gifts for Me and You, will be the highlight of the evening, with a highly anticipated performance from the Pop Vox choir to truly set the Christmas ambience. Free return transport from the Devon Doorway in Heswall can be secured upon purchasing tickets online at www.FabulousFrostFair.co.uk. Friday 18th November Special VIP evening with official opening by the Mayor of Wirral. This luxury evening of decadence will see visitors dress to impress, indulge in champagne and catch the high-paced action of the professional fashion show whilst enjoying the ambient entertainment. With free tram transport available right to the door of Pacific Road Business Hub, this is an evening to gather the girls and enjoy a night of indulgence. Saturday 19th November A bustling day to shop until you drop. With over 60 independent businesses showcasing handcrafted jewellery, personalised gifts, clothing, children’s toys and thoughtful festive presents. All available to purchase at the fair, or order in time for Christmas. Enjoy a variety of demonstrations including cake making, cookery demonstrations, gin tasting and wreath making.
Santa will also be on hand to entertain the children with his special story time slots which can be pre-booked in advance, with all proceeds going to local Children’s hospice, Claire House. Sunday 20th November Earmarked as the day for families, expect magic and mystery from a full programme of events for visitors of all ages. Be captivated by a visit from Santa and his real reindeers, giggle with the cheeky elves and sing along to the special Frozen show with a visit from the Frozen characters. Make sure you stop off at the craft station and free story telling workshops for both children and adults. Parking is available around Pacific Road Business Hub, with an additional 500 free spaces secured by Wirral Chamber of Commerce at car parks located at local business premises including The Contact Company, cabfind.com and Wirral Met College. A return circular shuttle service from car parks to the fair will be in operation for visitors all weekend. On Sunday, November 20, free rail transport courtesy of Merseyrail is available for families. Families of up to 5 people (which must include 1 adult) can travel for free to Hamilton Square across the Merseyrail network, excluding the City Line. Free rail tickets must be claimed via www.Merseyrail.org and will be redeemable on production of a valid Fabulous Frost Fair ticket. For more information regarding travel and to purchase tickets, Santa slots and workshops, please visit www.FabulousFrostFair.co.uk.
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LET’S WRITE A WILL
This November, The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity is holding its annual ‘Write a Will Month’ with support from solicitors from across the region.
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0151 556 5566 www.clatterbridgecc.org.uk
Donna is the owner of this business and principal consultant with all clients. Trained in London, Donna has developed a brand based upon the highest levels of quality, service and orginality of design. Christmas is one of Team Pure’s busiest periods and this year is no different. For corporates, they supply fresh and artificial Christmas trees as well as a decoration service; this is available from mid November.
Candlelight Christmas
Pre-orders for fresh floral designs are taken from the beginning of December, for example, Christmas Door Wreaths from £35, festive centrepieces from £45 and gift bouquets. They also provide a service of home dressing for the festive period. The shop is full of Christmas decorations and gifts for the discerning/ curious customer and a visit is definitely recommended. Call: 07880982440 / 01513426000 Email: donna@purefloraldesign.com facebook.com/purefloralbrimstage www.purefloraldesign.com
Pure Floral Design 1-2 Brimstage Hall Brimstage Road Brimstage CH63 6JA
Vase with rose petals and floating candle £12.50
Espresso cup £6.50
Santa £15.00 | Candle t-light holder £8.00
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Shoebeedoo Beautiful Children’s Shoes. Shoebedoo is a fun, child friendly and unique shop, stocking a range of traditional, beautiful shoes not available on the high street. T: 0151 345 0524 E: info@shoebedoo.net W: www.shoebedoo.net Fb: shoebedoowirral Tw: @shoebedoowirral
Cherub Charms specialises in handmade sterling silver keepsake jewellery and personalised gifts, made to order right here at our studio and shop at Brimstage Courtyard. Follow us online to find out about new products and special offers! T: 0151 792 5611 E: hello@cherubcharms.com W: www.cherubcharms.com Fb: cherubcharmssilver
The Olive Tree Founded in 2009 our wide range of beautiful ladies & children’s clothing, home furnishings, gifts, cards, Christening, Communion and special occasion wear have been carefully selected for that special purchase or a unique gift for friends and relatives. T: 0151 342 9393
enquiries@flowersbytheolivetree.co.uk
Bellissima Brides Beautiful bridal dresses, as well as bridesmaids, accessories and lots of wedding related chat! T: 0151 342 4440 Facebook: bellisima.brides
Bluebell Aesthetics Bluebell Aesthetics provides the very best techniques in Semi Permanent Makeup to help enhance your features and look the best at all times. T: 0151 306 2953 W: bluebellaestheticswirral.co.uk Fb: Bluebell-Aesthetics
Deborah Alfa Hair Wig and Scalp Sepcialist We are a hair and beauty salon who specialise in colour and hair extensions. We also have a scalp specialist who helps diagnose and treat scalp conditions. Deborah specialises in wig fitting and styling. W: www.deborahalfa.co.uk T: 0151 3425903 Facebook: DeborahAlfa Twitter: DebsAlfa
Recollections Beautiful antiques and vintage inspired gifts, English bone china and timeless furniture from yesteryear. English country style furniture, painted in a fresh elegant way. Stockist of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.
Brimstag
Maizy’s Parlou and Maizy Mo
T: 07709 Twitter: @Brim Facebook: m
T: 0151 342 9080 W: recollectionsbrimstage
Brimstage Hall & Courtyar Although the exact date of construction is as yet unknown, Brimstage Hall is believed to have been built between 1175 and 1350, though nobody is quite sure why, or for whom. The original house was compact and fortified, enclosed in a moat and high embankment. The first recorded occupant of the Hall was Sir Hugh Hulse and his wife Marjory, who were granted license to build a chapel on the site on 11 February 1398. This private chapel is traditionally thought to be the vaulted room at the base of the mediaeval tower. This interpretation arises from the supposition that because a room is vaulted it was used for religious purposes. There is no real evidence that
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The Other Uniform Store Supplying school uniform, workwear, sports kits, Guides, Brownies, Rainbows, Scouts, Cubs Beavers, and personalised clothing from the beautiful surrounding of Brimstage Hall Courtyard. E: myorder@schoolstuff.direct Facebook: SchoolUniform T: 0151 348 4041
ge Maze
ur (Ice cream) oo’s madhouse
9 339 490 mstagemaze maizemaze
WarGameStore is the best tabletop gaming shop in the UK, with over 10,000 models in stock all the time including Warhammer, Warmachine, Malifaux and many others, together with a massive selection of board games, paint and modelling accessories www.wargamestore.com Fb: wargamestore Tw: wargamestore
The Mouse@Brimstage BAR | BISTRO | EVENTS OPENING SOON Afternoon Tea Homemade Food Fresh Local Produce English Country Garden T: 0151 342 5382 themouseatbrimstage.co.uk
Pure Floral Design Corporate/Wedding Florist, Floristry School, Interiors and Gifts T: 0151 342 6000 M: 07880 982440 E: donna@purefloraldesign.com W: www.purefloraldesign.com Instagram: purefloralwirral Fb: Wirral/Liverpool
Above & Beyond Travel As independent agents, we’re able to offer a fantastic selection of holidays at really competitive prices. With our extensive personal experience, we can advise you on creating your perfect holiday. T: 0151 342 0642 M: 07780 740604 F: 0151 342 0648 enquiries@above-beyondtravel.co.uk
The Stables Gallery The gallery sells a wide variety of original artworks, ceramics and sculptures, handcrafted jewellery and unique gifts. Art, craft and textile workshops are also held throughout the year. The gallery also offers freshly ground coffee in our comfortable seating area. T: 0151-342-5999 E: thestablesgallery@msn.com Fb: stablesgallery
Manor house Interiors and Tearoom Beautiful Cakes, Coffee and Teas. At Manor House Interiors we specialise in Bespoke handmade curtains and blinds, We also supply poles, tracks, tiebacks to order and wooden flooring. We have a beautiful gift range Fb: manorhouseinteriorsandtearooms
T: 0151 3425123
rd...Not just for Christmas! this was the case at Brimstage as the vaulted tower storey is typical of the medieval tower house. In the south-east corner of this room at Brimstage is a roughly cut corbel, said to be an early representation of the ‘Cheshire Cat’ - Lewis Carrol’s character in ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ Today Brimstage Hall & Courtyard is a collection of independents sharing their products, knowledge and passion with the general public. There is plenty to see and do for all the family, even somewhere to have your lunch.
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2016 has seen some of our favourite cultural icons pass on, numerous terror attacks & to top it off the Brexit turbulence, but the Heswall Business Association (HBA) are on a mission to make Christmas very special for the families of Wirral this year. So rather than a few sad stalls in the rain, this year we’re pulling the stops out for Christmas with our ICE Festival. I.C.E. stands for Interactive, Creative & Educational, so we have interactive events throughout the week, with the icing on the christmas cake being the ICE Factor where singers & groups compete for a £1000 cash prize. Wirral Radio will be hosting the event and have some very special live performances lined up. There are creative workshops for young & young at heart. For example, children can learn how to make all sorts of things from fairy wings & wands to candles & decorations, whilst grown-ups can make festive wreaths or beautiful floral table centre pieces to enjoy with their turkey & sprouts. We have heard that Santa will be visiting and has a very special treat in store for the children of Wirral; he will be inviting a dozen children at a time, with their parents into his grotto for some Christmas stories followed by some interactive fun where the children can ask all sorts of questions to the big man and his elf.
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Four legged friends are not only welcome but encouraged to visit their very own doggy grotto & say hello to the sleigh dogs. Of course there are plenty of other things to do & buy, with stalls offering everything from the important stuff like mulled wine and champers to hot, fresh food & treats along with plenty of stalls offering all manner of ideas for gifts. We secured funding for christmas lights to add to Heswall’s existing ones & thanks to the amazing generosity of some Heswall Businesses & families, we have been able to get our hands on wooden huts for some of the stalls, children’s rides, a live nativity and many other extras that will go towards making this an amazing event for young & old. The event starts on Thursday 1st December at 4pm, with a synchronised light switch on across all of the areas involved which will be on after the Christingle service at the Church of the Good Shepherd at 6pm and followed by a LIVE performance and culminates in the closing party on Sunday 4th evening. It will be running from the temporarily renamed Puddingdale through Heswall Library areas to the Devon Doorway roundabout. We’re really looking forward to making this Christmas a magical event for all Wirral families.
Take a Tour... Wirral Radio is your local radio station. Broadcasting for the Wirral from the Wirral on 92.1FM, DAB digital, via a free app or online from anywhere in the world. We have been broadcasting as Wirral Radio since June 2014. We are now a recognised brand across Wirral and beyond. Our clients include both local and national brands. We offer a wide range of musical output including specialist shows weeknights between 7 – 10pm. Visit our website for the full schedule.
We have a range of impressive facilities here at the Wirral Media Centre located in Leasowe. These include six studios, incorporating a 32 track digital recording facility. We also have a large training suite which is used for both internal and external training. Within Wirral Radio we also have the Wirral Radio Academy. This gives local youngsters the chance to learn about radio and help build confidence. Some of our current presenters started with the academy. Members of the academy even have their own show on a Saturday evening ‘Teen Team’. As well as being a broadcaster we are also home to Wirral WRAP, who offer alternative provision education. If you would like to come along and visit us we have an open door policy. Call us and arrange a tour, you can find out more about us and what we do here at the Wirral Media Centre.
Contact: Wirral Media Centre Twickenham Drive Leasowe. CH46 1PF Call 0151 637 3790 www.wirralradio.co.uk Facebook: Wirral Radio Twitter: @wirralradio921 @wirralbreaky
Wirral Kids making a big difference to children across the Peninsula. Wirral Kids is our charity campaign. Wirral Kids raises money for local children in crisis. There are children and young people in our area who suffer abuse or neglect, who are disabled and have special needs and some need extra care and guidance. Wirral Kids works to provide solutions for those most in need. We fund vital work with children and young people and the money raised stays right here and is distributed by a panel of Trustees. • Grants are distributed twice a year. • The money raised will go to children who need that extra support. • They will go towards buying specialist equipment. • They will be given to children’s charities and organisations to support the work they do. • Money raised will also support the youth work undertaken by Wirral Radio Academy.
Have you booked your Christmas party yet? Why don’t you join us at the Hollins Hey Hotel in New Brighton on the 2nd December. A five course meal with a drink on arrival, wine with your meal, live entertainment and a disco. This is one of our twice yearly fundraisers for Wirral Kids. Everything is donated from the venue, food, drink, entertainment and room dressing. Our summer ball was a great success and helped raise much needed funds for children on the Wirral who need it most.
Remember to join John, Bev and Ian on the Wirral Radio Breakfast Show weekdays from 7 – 10am
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We can’t guarantee snow this Christmas but we can guarantee your rent! Recent research undertaken by the National Landlord Association suggested that four out of ten landlords earn such slim margins from their rental income that just one missed payment by a tenant can cause serious difficulties. This is now going to be compounded by the fact that we are fast approaching the peak season of rental arrears... Christmas! Tenants often struggle to balance the cost of paying for the festivities with paying their rent, and this can often lead to arrears over the festive season and into the New Year. For landlords who are also struggling themselves or who are operating on tight margins, rental arrears over Christmas can have a devastating impact and ruin a time of year when most people want to relax and enjoy time with family and friends.
Northwood Wirral 0151 348 4527 northwooduk.com
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JOANNA DIAMOND, DIRECTOR AT NORTHWOOD WIRRAL LIMITED, COMMENTED:
Christmas is an expensive time of year “and tenants may struggle to prioritise paying the rent or paying for a big Christmas celebration. There is huge social pressure to buy the latest “must have” children’s toys or latest gadget. This is why rental arrears traditionally rise at this time of year and often carry over into January and February. However, landlords on our Guaranteed Rent Scheme do not have to worry about this seasonal problem, and can enjoy Christmas knowing that their rent is going to be paid on time, regardless if the tenant pays or not. Our Guaranteed Rent Scheme was designed to deliver complete landlord peace of mind year round – but our landlords particularly appreciate it when they see headlines about rental arrears as they know their rental income is guaranteed, meaning that they can sleep soundly .
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Merry Christmas from the whole team at Northwood Wirral Limited
WONDROUS WIRRAL CONTINUED BARRY HUMPHREYS IS A LOCAL WRITER AND HISTORIAN WHO DELIVERS HERITAGE TALKS AND WALKS AS ‘THE TIMELINES’, CONTACT HIM DIRECT FOR DETAILS AT TIMELINES@TALKTALK.NET The hovercraft was a 1950’s invention and inventor Sir Christopher Cockerell was the man most associated with it. The British Government tried and failed to put it to practical military use and Cockerel later noted that:- “…. the navy said it was a plane not a boat, the airforce said it was a boat and not a plane and the army was just plain disinterested…”. So it was that Cockerell finally secured private funding and a prototype hovercraft crossed the Channel from Calais to Dover on 25th July 1959. Three years then passed, and it was the Wirral that then hosted one stage of the first ever commercial hovercraft service in the world.
It was planned that between July and September 1962 the service would run between Rhyl and Hoylake. But misgivings about the noise of a hovercraft and also the number of people who might as a result be drawn into the town to see this spectacle, produced a disquiet amongst Hoylake residents that the tranquility of their lives might be shattered. A public enquiry followed and the local council reversed its decision to welcome it to their town. (How different to current times when all manner of events are deliberately pursued to draw people into places !!). In the event, it was Leasowe that finally threw open its beach to the Vickers VA-3 hovercraft which made its first journey from the sea onto the vast foreshore there, on Friday 20th July 1962 at two minutes past ten in the morning. A full complement of 24 passengers were on board, as were sacks of Royal Mail from North Wales. Poor weather and technical problems throughout the summer though meant that the service only operated on 19 of the scheduled 51 days, meaning that it was far from a tremendous success, but for a while at least, the Wirral was at the cutting edge of what Prime Minister Harold Wilson later referred to as “the white heat of technological revolution”. In 1824 William Laird - a 44 year old shipbuilder of Scottish origins bought a piece of land in Birkenhead just less than a mile away from his newly opened shipyard on the Mersey. He contacted an acquaintance - the esteemed Edinburgh architect James Gillespie Graham - and commissioned him to lay out a square with surrounding streets which would be in a copied style to the Edinburgh New Town in Scotland. Gillespie-Graham’s vision was that the Square itself would have large elegant houses and branching out from it would be vistas of long, wide, straight avenues lined by further magnificent accommodations. In naming the square, Laird took his wife’s family name and so “Hamilton” Square was the result. Work began in 1826 and the piecemeal building that then took place over the next twenty years bears the responsibility for the fact that no two sides of Hamilton Square are identical. High quality individualised buildings were also the result, with an outcome that in the 21st century Hamilton Square, Birkenhead, is second only to Trafalgar Square for having the most Grade 1 listed buildings in one place in England. Fittingly, William Laird’s home itself at number 63 carries a Grade 1 listed status.
Hill Bark Hotel and Spa at Royden Park in Frankby, became the first and only AA rated five star hotel on Merseyside in June 2012. Strangely enough its lucky to still be on the Wirral at all……. Robert William Hudson was a soap manufacturer whose father had started the family business in West Bromwich in the 1830’s. In 1875 he moved his concern to a factory at Bank Hall in Liverpool. At its height over 1000 staff were employed there and the famous soap names of Rinso and Omo originated with the company. In 1891 Hudson decided to move away from the ever increasing and unhealthy urban sprawl of Liverpool and like so many Liverpool business owners of the time, decided to take advantage of the vastly improved transport connections and move to the Wirral to live. He engaged a local architect and set about having himself a house built here. And in fact, in his case it was a black and white half timbered Tudor style mansion up on the summit of Bidston Hill, which cost him £150,000. He called it Bidston Court. Twenty years later the house was bought by shipowner Ernest Royden, but when Royden’s mother died in 1928 he decided to sell the house and move back to the family estate, where he would live in their original family home, a house called Hill Bark not far away in Frankby. Bidston Court was duly placed on the market and an offer was put forward by an American who made it known that his intention was to carefully deconstruct the house and ship it back to America to be rebuilt. Royden was so impressed with this idea and in truth actually so very attached to the house, that he decided that this was exactly what he himself would do. In his case though he would be moving the property over a much shorter distance - to Frankby where it would replace the existing Hill Bark House on the family estate. Bidston Court was meticulously photographed and recorded…. every single piece of the house was numbered and then the whole thing was dismantled and bit by bit transported by road the four miles or so to its new location. Ernest Royden was one of the first people in Britain to give meaning to having a mobile home………. The existing Hill Bark House was unceremoniously demolished and in its place over a two year period - like a giant construction kit - Bidston Court was painstakingly put back together at the location that it remains in today - becoming the new Hill Bark House in the process. Ernest Royden died in 1960 and his son, whose business interests lay elsewhere, sold the house and the grounds to Hoylake Urban District Council who then reopened it as a home for the elderly and the surrounding estate as a public park. The house closed again in the 1990’s, was sold into private hands and then completely refurbished, becoming what is now the Hill Bark Hotel and Spa Grade II listed building. In early August 1914 a territorial army officer - Major Charles Luya - was in command of 120 territorial troops at Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton. They were due to depart for their annual camp but with the anticipation of war had been ordered to remain and be prepared to mobilise as part of the regular army. When war was declared at 11.00pm on August 4th 1914 Luya opened orders which instructed him that he must ensure that the fort and the beach surrounding it was now a no-go area for the general public and that they must monitor that all passing vessels should be seen to use designated shipping lanes. At 7.00am the following morning a Norwegian vessel proceeding into the Mersey and paying no heed to the path it should have been following in the river, then compounded its mistake by failing to respond to the clear signals being made from the fort. Major Luya ordered warning shots to be fired. The first hit and damaged the bow of an Allen liner moored mid river and the second shell landed on Crosby beach from where it was removed, taken to Formby barracks in a bucket and was displayed in a glass cabinet there for many years with a note below it which stated:- “A present from New Brighton”. A comedy of errors, but with a short lived humour as these were the first shells fired by British guns at the outbreak of the First World War.
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Exclusively yours for your Christmas Party Book your Christmas party at Mere Brook House and enjoy an exclusive Festive Dinner including; three different canapés, a choice of two starters, a selection of festive mains with all the trimmings & a choice of three sweets for £26.00 per person or upgrade and include a glass of Prosecco upon arrival and two glasses of wine per person with your meal for only £36.00 per person. Why not make a night of it? Book in advance to stay in one of our beautiful rooms on the night of your Christmas party and you can stay for only £85 including breakfast! Usually, up to £130! We very much look forward to welcoming you to Mere Brook soon... Festive hats'n'all!!!
www.merebrookhouse.co.uk
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PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER - NATURAL LIGHT AND STUDIO
Elevator Studios, 23-27 Cheapside, Liverpool, L2 2DY Tel: 07968 273 140 kate@katemcdonaldphotography.co.uk www.katemcdonaldphotography.co.uk
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What will you give this Christmas? Wirral Street Pastors are highly trained volunteers from local churches who care about their community. They have been operating in Birkenhead since December 11th 2011 every Friday night. They patrol in teams of men and women, of at least four to care, listen and help people who are out on the streets during the night time economy between 10:30pm and 4:00am. This project supports the prevention of crime for public place violent crime, serious sexual offences and domestic abuse. It supports efforts to reduce antisocial behaviour, opportunistic crime, vandalism and reduce the chance of reoffending. It addresses specific crime issues effecting young and vulnerable people frequenting the night time economy often under the influence of drink and drugs. Wirral Street Pastor Coordinator Mark Latham said; “Through our early intervention and creation of our ‘Safe Zone’ within the town centre we reduce the risk of many becoming the victim of crime, sexual assault or indeed an offender. Our Street Pastors are trained to provide a wide range of assistance in many scenarios, in addition provide education on how to stay safe and can be used to push out key messages to members of the public, businesses and stakeholders that use the night time economy. Our introduction of the
‘ICE’ (In Case of Emergency) card means we are able to give vulnerable women these cards which allow them to keep a number of someone they could call if they find themselves alone and vulnerable. They would keep these on their person allowing one of my Street Pastors to ring and arrange safe collection. These are freely given in addition to the spikey’s we provide to stop drinks being spiked, flip flops, bottled water, space blankets, sick bags and offering first aid to victims of violence’ This ‘Safe Zone’, helps demonstrate to our partners the commitment to the service we provide week in, week out, during unsocial hours and weather conditions. All the above services are free and we work with anyone in need of help no matter their age, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexuality or alcohol/drug induced state. Donations are gladly welcome to keep the above services operating text PSTR15 £4 to 70070. Sadly, our financial resources are getting dangerously low and we need sponsorship to maintain these services. To find out more about Wirral Street Pastors email coordinator@ wirralstreetpastors.co.uk or call Mark Latham on 07729 001 331.
CHARLES THOMPSON MISSION The work of Charles Thompson’s Mission was founded in the late 19th Century by Charles Thompson. In helping anyone he could who was in need, he would seek to tell them of the Saviour. On the 9th January 1892 he opened Charles Thompson’s Mission in Birkenhead. Kind people from all over the Wirral, including different shops, businesses and individuals contributed to the work either by monetary gifts or by donating food, clothes and toys. This would be distributed to the poor and needy. The work continues today with the Centre Manager being Mr Bernie Frost. The need is still there even in these days of plenty although not as great as it was. Yet in it all the aim is the same, to help anyone in need and tell the of the love of God. “Monday – Friday we are a drop in center for the homeless and needy, we provide food, clothing, blankets, toiletries, pots and pans and everything plus the kitchen sink, if you need it, we will do our best to get it. We have shower facilities on site that are available for use during our opening hours. We are also here if you need advice or just someone to talk to. Besides this, we also have a number of other services that we offer during the week” Charles Thompson’s Mission, Hemingford Street, Birkenhead CH41 4AP Tel: 0151 647 7303 www.ctmission.org www.facebook.com/ctmission Registered charity number : 223366
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WIRRAL ARK CENTRE We support people who are homeless. These include isolated people with mental health or drug problems, current and ex-offenders, former rough sleepers and people who are begging or street drinking. Through our work, we have become experts at working with, and supportively housing, people with very complex problems – for example, people with severe mental health problems, a lifelong alcohol addiction, very challenging behaviour, or a combination of these and other issues. Our pathway and support accommodation for people with particularly complex needs, to ensure they do not become homeless again, or better still to house them before they’re ever forced to sleep rough. Wirral Churches’ Ark Project aims to help homeless men and women on an individual level, working together to identify the support they need for their particular journey to recovery. Mary Cole House 6 Sandford Street, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 1BN Tel: 0151 649 0111 Email: enquiries@wirralark.org.uk wirralark.org.uk www.facebook.com/wirralark Registered charity number: 1079070
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“WE CAN’T HELP EVERYONE BUT EVERYONE CAN HELP SOMEONE” RONALD REAGAN
“Maybe Christmas he thought, doesn’t have to come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more….. so said Dr Seuss.
You can make a reverse Advent Calendar. Add an item of nonperishable food to a box each day and on Christmas Eve donate it to your local homeless centre or foodbank.
To me, Christmas is about memories of family, of pillowcases full of presents, of Dad cooking the turkey but Mum being the one in the kitchen heat flushed and frazzled. It’s sneaking chocolates from the Christmas tree, the round, gold wrapped, penny toffee’s left in the tin of Quality Street, leaving carrots for Rudolph and sherry and a mince pie for the man in the red suit.
Donate your time, volunteer at a charity shop, have a look on www. volounteeringmatters.org.uk for local projects.
It’s nativity plays, over excited kids, family traditions, walks on Boxing Day, The Sound of Music, A Wonderful Life and The Great Escape. It is sparkly! You can’t buy it and you can’t wrap it up. As the festive season approaches our thoughts are of those who won’t be spending it with us. It may be we have lost someone close to us, family members may be estranged or living on a different continent.
Have a “dry” January and donate the money you save on your favourite tipple to your favourite charity. Many coffee shops run a “suspended coffee” scheme were you buy a coffee for someone who can’t afford to pay for their own. Imagine, how lovely that must be for someone who finds themselves on the streets knowing they can get a hot drink. It was Ronald Reagan who said: “We can’t help everyone but everyone can help someone” I think this is truly a “Christmas message” for every day of the year.
Whatever the reason it hurts and it can be difficult to find a positive or a reason to be happy. Research suggests that there is no happiness like the happiness that comes from doing something good for someone without expecting anything in return. For as long as psychologists have been studying human behaviour there has been scepticism about the idea that we are capable of really doing something without expecting any personal benefit in return. Dr Michael Babula, in his book, Motivation, Altruism, Personality and Social Psychology, (not the catchiest title to have on your book shelf) challenges these negative ideas. He claims that those that live for others actually lead incredibly successful lives, show lower rates of depression and stress and have an increase of positive feelings towards themselves. Kindness to others should never be a currency. It should be “out of the goodness of one’s heart” and should be used as a means to inspire others to act similarly. Your act of kindness begins a ripple effect of kindness extending far beyond your social circle, out into the universe. What you give comes back in abundance and warms your very soul. To put it simply, Pay it Forward. Do you know someone who will be alone on Christmas Day? Set an extra place at your table and share your day with them. A single mum and her children with no screwdriver to build that longed for scooter, offer to help. An elderly neighbour who wants to visit the grave of the only man she has ever loved, could you take her? Your simple act of kindness can bring so much happiness.
Written by Civil Celebrant Jeanette Roberts
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FILM REVIEWS WITH A FILM PODESSEY Life in Pieces - Amazon Prime
The Big Short - Netflix
So my other half said “Hey look here’s a comedy series about a big, happy American family”…..PLEASE DON’T STOP READING HERE…I know what you’re thinking, I thought exactly the same - in fact it’s safe to say I was feeling about as enthusiastic about watching Life in Pieces (LIP) as I would be going for a prostate examination. You see to me most American comedies of this genre are either plain silly or manically exhausting, so it goes without saying how pleasantly surprised I was right from the off.
To avoid you reading another comic book review (that being mainly what I have seen worth reporting this last three months) I decided to step outside the norm and review a film which is actually out there for free right now!
The story follows the trials and tribulations of a middle aged couple and their 3 adult offspring. Still not feeling inspired? No, I was much the same at this point - what makes LIP different from the usual drivel is that each episode is made up of 10 minute short stories which tentatively interlink. This makes all the difference, 10 minutes being long enough to become invested in the storyline but not long enough for the jokes to become tired or silly. The easy link into each new section means the writers did not have to stretch to ridiculous lengths to work something in, leaving well paced episodes which are most importantly funny. I found myself binging on it’s 22 episodes (much to the annoyance of the aforementioned better half) and with Season 2 having just been released I am looking forward to once again testing our relationship with another relentless session of me time with my newly adopted American family.
The Get Down - Netflix
In 2010 the world economy crashed. Everyone has suffered in some way and there is little doubt the main culprit was the banks playing Russian Roulette with our money - but does anyone actually know what that means? What they were actually doing and why it went wrong? The Big Short is a very entertaining two hour economics lesson which fills in those gaps in a way that even the least talented or enthusiastic economists amongst us will understand. Quite simply you should watch this film, firstly because it’s a good film, but more importantly because you should know exactly how catastrophically corrupt the system was to have caused this cataclysmic outcome. Our lead characters are real people who did exactly what is depicted in the story - that is to say bet against the housing market, having worked out that the banks figures were built on a false perception of ‘nowt more solid than bricks and mortar’. The fact that there is nothing unreal about this chain of events makes everything all the more horrifying and as things are explained in layman terms and the full scale of greed is unveiled, you are left feeling shocked and appalled.
Coming soon... Arrival (10 Nov) - Don’t let the fact that this is a science fiction movie put you off. Arrival promises to be the surprise package this winter ticking the boxes for a lot of people who may have otherwise written it off as another space alien rehash. Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them (18 Nov) - The Harry Potter universe is expanded which means I’m excited & only good things ahead
Set in 1970’s New York City, we hang with teenage Ezekiel, his cronies and his impressive Afro as they all stumble across the birth of hip hop in the impoverished and crime riddled streets of the Bronx.
Beauty & the Beast (6 Nov) - With an incredible cast this re-adaptation of the classic tale holds plenty of potential to be as much a classic as Disney’s previous version.
This is an unusually styled adventure that leaps between being like ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and a Bruce Lee Kung-Fu movie and whilst I must admit there were times when this odd mix required a little persistence to push through its more abstract moments, it was definitely worth staying put.
Bad Santa 2 (23 Nov) - Not for the faint hearted as we get another dose of Willie’s wholly inappropriate Santa antics. If this is even a shade as good as the original I’m in.
Our hero has a talent for rhyming and is quickly enlisted into DJ wannabe Shaolin Fantastic’s team as his ‘Wordsmith rapper’. Their mission - to cause an anti-disco musical revolution. Whilst each character’s storyline is relatively basic and their strifes told countless times before, the unique way these unfold makes the whole thing as fresh and funky as John Travolta’s famous white suit. For me the icing on the cake is the series’ soundtrack which is a plethora of modern twists on ‘Disco’ and ‘Old Skool’ hip hop tunes which literally take you to church baby!
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Ballerina (19 Dec) - Mmmm let me see, an animation film about a little girl who wants to become a ballerina which is being released at Christmas. I have a sneaky suspicion this might be a winner no matter how go it might be. Star Wars Rogue One (15 Dec) - Does it matter what this is about?! It’s a Star Wars movie so of course you have to go! LaLa Land (13 Jan) - This is a modern ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ style film staring Ryan Gosling. See how he never seems to make a bad movie, could Hollywood be about to release an increasingly rare original gold nugget?!
STRENGTHEN YOUR RUN!
Most runners run, that’s what we enjoy and that’s what the majority of us will do to improve our running. Should we be thinking of complementing our running with other training though? Well the simple answer is yes. All top runners, no matter what their distance will complement their running with some form of resistance or accessory exercise. This time of year when the nights are drawing in and we spend less time on the roads and trails is the ideal time to strengthen our run. By increasing strength and muscular endurance throughout your legs, torso and upper body you will be more efficiently able to run faster, for longer. You will also provide protection from running niggles or chronic injury. What type of resistance training should you be doing then? Whatever you decide to do, try and make it specific as possible to you as an individual. Generic running strength programmes are abundant on the internet and in magazines and the majority will be of some benefit to anyone that follows them. However the best case scenario for anyone serious about improving their running would be to find out what they require specifically as an individual. Quite often as runners we are not completely in sync from a physiological stand point. Common discrepancies include Quadriceps dominance over Hamstrings, a lack of firing Glute (butt) muscles and a lack of adductor strength. These common physiological issues can result in decreased performance and start problems such as runners Knee, Lower back pain and Iliotibial band syndrome. By getting a comprehensive physiological assessment or gait analysis you should be able to establish what’s good or bad about your individual movement patterns and implement the correct resistance programme. Once you have established what you need to focus on then you can put some programming into practice. Start simple, especially if you haven’t done any resistance exercise previously. You will want to begin on focusing on any muscle imbalances you may have and make these a priority. Using your own body weight is a great way to begin and you don’t necessarily need lots of equipment or access to a gym to implement an effective resistance programme. Make sure what you do is both progressive and goal orientated. Think about how you can manipulate the programme going forward making sure it is going to require ongoing physiological adaption from yourself in order to get results. When it comes to exercise selection stick to these simple steps. Try and make them multi directional, especially when working the legs. Running is linear but we need to challenge the legs and more specifically the stabilisers of the ankle, knee and hips in more ways than just a straight line. The best way to do this is to make sure we train through varying planes of movement. Make sure to include some torso stabilising work also (more commonly referred to as ‘core’ work). Having stability and strength through your midsection and a good solid link from the top to the bottom of your kinetic chain is important for efficiency of movement and performance. Try and include mainly ‘compound’ exercises. These are exercises that work through more than one joint and involve a range of muscle groups. Try to include run specific exercises in your programme, look to do unilateral exercises too that make you spend time on one leg. This is essentially all running is, bounding from one leg to another, efficiently as we can. Finally look to make the routine interesting and enjoyable. It shouldn’t feel like a chore. If it does, change it! As you develop into a resistance programme alongside your running routine you should notice that your running becomes stronger and more efficient. You will develop strength and force through your legs that should make running feel more fluid and easier. Alongside this you will be less likely to get niggles or injuries as you will hopefully be in a greater state of physiological balance. You should be able to run for longer periods and also have increased longevity in your running overall. There are great benefits to adding some resistance in your weekly routine…if you don’t already, get cracking! Here at Creation Studio, Heswall we are able to help you implement a resistance programme that is specific to both you and your running. Want some expert advice and guidance on how to perform better? Think you could benefit from a physiological assessment or gait analysis? Contact us on 0151-342-0035 or visit www.creationpt.com for more details. We also have a weekly running club from our Heswall studio which provides both support and development for all levels of running ability.
Planning for the future and facing your financial fears. Mae West once said; “You only live once...But if you do it right, once is enough.”
Living ‘right’ as Mae put it, means different things to different people. For some it means good food and wine, for others it is about long holidays and leisure pursuits and, for almost everyone it is about quality relationships and the luxury of time with those you love. All of these things sound marvellous and are definitely things I want more of in my life but, all come at a cost whether that be monetary or time wise and as such require some planning. In todays time poor society we can be so focused on our short term ‘to do lists’ that the all important task of planning for the future (where we’ll no doubt be thinner, richer and happier) is never quite realised, but setting aside a few hours now could make all the difference to your long term health, wealth and happiness. Here’s how: 1. Face the Fear. Grab a calculator a cuppa and your last three months’ worth of bank statements and work out your fixed monthly outgoings and income. The two need to match or, better still, you need to be left with a surplus at the end of each month- if not, look at areas where you can cut back but be realistic and don’t forget to factor in annual expenses like Christmas and birthdays. 2. Look forward- with your eyes wide open. Work, aside from helping us pay the bills, gives us focus and purpose but few people come to the end of their life wish they’d spent more time in the office. More often people regret not travelling more, spending more time doing things they enjoy with people they love- how about you? Do you have life goals or a ‘bucket list’? Do you have an idea of when you’d like to retire and how you’d like to fill your time when you do? Travelling, hobbies and spending time with loved ones all have some cost associated with them, are you confident you’ll be able to afford this lifestyle? What have you got in place to get you there? Saving, even a small amount monthly can make a huge difference and is a great habit to get into so set up a rainy day fund and encourage your children to do the same. 3. Ask an Expert. Financial planning can be complex but it doesn’t need to be scary. Taking time to talk honestly about your financial hopes and fears with an expert is an investment in your future and can be surprisingly cathartic. Recommendation is a great place to begin, ask friends and family if they have an advisor they like and trust and arrange a no obligation chat. See more than one; if they’re worth their salt they’ll understand. A good advisor will take the time to get to know you; find out about your long term financial goals and your attitude to risk and will create a plan specific to you based on your current needs and future goals. Follow those top tips and you’ll have a major task ticked off the to do list and the Good Life will be one step closer...now where’s that holiday brochure? KER Consulting Limited helps businesses meet their auto enrolment obligations and individuals plan for their retirement. KER Consulting can introduce you to a qualified financial planning expert who can arrange a obligation chat. Contact us at info@kerconsultingltd.co.uk or 0151 735 0754. Visit us at www.kerconsultingltd.co.uk
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Cancer doesn’t care who it takes... 32
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Hair by Karen Dawson
PLEASE HELP US RAISE £10,000 BEFORE CHRISTMAS Sadly, one in every two of us will develop cancer at some point in our lives, frightening isn’t it? That doesn’t mean that one in every two will die, far from it. More and more people are surviving cancer due to research and early detection. Early detection can save lives.
How can you help? •
Buy a raffle ticket
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Possibly win double glazing for your home
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Help to raise awareness of early detection
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Help to buy a piece of vital equipment
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Every single penny of your money goes to the cause
Where to buy a ticket •
You can purchase a ticket using our Just Giving page: www. justgiving.com/lookoutforcancerraffle - Send the amount you wish to donate and for every pound you donate, we will photograph the ticket and send the photograph to you as your proof of purchase.
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By at any shops/outlets listed on clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk or everitewindows.com
Early Detection of Cancer
Finding and treating cancer at an early stage can save lives Cancer that’s diagnosed at an early stage, before it’s had the chance to get too big or spread is more likely to be treated successfully. If the cancer has spread, treatment becomes more difficult, and generally a person’s chances of surviving are much lower. How early diagnosis can improve survival Below are some examples of how spotting cancer early can make a real difference: Bowel cancer More than 9 in 10 bowel cancer patients will survive the disease for more than 5 years if diagnosed at the earliest stage. Breast cancer More than 90% of women diagnosed with breast cancer at the earliest stage survive their disease for at least 5 years compared to around 15% for women diagnosed with the most advanced stage of disease. Ovarian cancer More than 90% of women diagnosed with the earliest stage ovarian cancer survive their disease for at least 5 years compared to around 5% for women diagnosed with the most advanced stage of disease. Lung cancer Around 70% of lung cancer patients will survive for at least a year if diagnosed at the earliest stage compared to around 14% for people diagnosed with the most advanced stage of disease. The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre If you are living in Merseyside and Cheshire and are unfortunately diagnosed with cancer then you will be treated at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, a UK leader in the delivery of cancer care. From ten operating sites across Merseyside and Cheshire, Clatterbridge makes almost 221,000 contacts to around 30,000 individual patients a year, offering pioneering chemotherapy, radiotherapy and proton therapy treatments via the National Centre for Eye Proton Therapy, the first and only proton therapy facility in the UK. Clatterbridge is transforming cancer care across the region and expanding its services into the heart of Liverpool, by building a specialist cancer hospital in the centre of the city, as well as making significant investments in its Wirral site. This investment, which is supported by a charity appeal, is huge news for cancer care in Merseyside and Cheshire. The need to transform cancer care is more vital in this region than anywhere else in the country so Clatterbridge is building the best facilities it can for the people who need it. This is a once in a generation opportunity to do the very best we can right now, for cancer patients of the future. Let’s Transform Cancer Care. Find out more about these exciting plans at www.clatterbridgecc.org.uk
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Gusto reviewed by the Editor... One would expect making a reservation at a local restaurant on a cold, Tuesday night in October, to be a fairly simple task. Not so, if the said restaurant is Gusto in Heswall.
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This was a 7pm booking so children were still dinning with their parents and simply added to the eclecticism of the diners. Business personnel eating to save time at home; couples eating early doors so they can get back in time for a film before bed; friends having a catch-up and families having a treat, it was buzzing. No one in our party felt particularly festive although the Christmas menu looked enticing and reasonably priced, we went instead for the new Winter menu. pate, houmous, and tiger prawns were duly selected for starters and delivered in amazing time considering how packed it was. Sam, our trainee waiter was polite, efficient and permanently in Emma’s shadow, watching her every move. The A la Carte menu presented a difficult choice for the four of us, but we settled for white crab spaghetti, saltimbocca pork and two lots of lobster and prawn spaghetti. Our order was scribbled on Emma’s pad and passed to the chef to work his magic. Magic it was. Generous pieces of succulent lobster nestled amongst the spaghetti was coated in a rich, garlicy, tomato based sauce. The chilli emitted a gentle heat that stayed on the pallet but didn’t spoil the flavour of the prawns. Freshly grated parmesan cheese evoked memories of my Dad’s cooking and transported me back, momentarily to my younger days passing up Sunday dinner in favour of his speciality. Authentic Italian flavours combined with luxurious ingredients, Gusto had it just right. My fellow dinners were equally happy with their choice. Full to capacity, time was needed to allow room for dessert. An opportunity to nip to the ladies me thinks. These days it is the disabled rest room for me, a daunting journey as one never knows what to expect on arrival. Fortunately, this restaurant takes pride in everything on offer, including the loo. I was greeted by an extremely clean, fresh smelling room that didn’t prompt an angry discussion back at the table as was all too familiar in other restaurants. Dessert menus were presented and everyone buried their heads in it. Discussions ensued as to who could taste each other’s dishes and finally the selection was made. Two baked cheesecakes, a sticky toffee pudding and an affogato. The cheesecake was rich, thick and complimented beautifully by liquor soaked cherries. The texture was a little unusual as it crumbled when the fork touched it, but it took nothing away from the taste. I am told by a connoisseur that the sticky toffee pudding was in a league of its own, by far the lightest and tastiest, ever. Coffee gave chance to digest and reflect on a great meal. Looking around the restaurant, in amongst the laughter and chatter, a 200 year olive tree stood, dressed in twinkling lights, coveting secrets never to be repeated. Stories that penetrated the bark from a whisper or lighthearted discussion. Good conversation whilst enjoying good food, as it should be.
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FREE FROM... JO ANNA FROM BLACKBERRY GROVE GIVES US FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Why would someone choose a meat free diet and live a vegetarian lifestyle? Animal lovers are often vegetarians, but there are also many health reasons behind a vegetarian diet. Eating just 100g of red meat, or 50g of processed meat a day can drastically increase your risk of early death and chronic disease. Researchers warn that eating red meat increases a person’s likelihood of being diagnosed with diabetes, coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke and various forms of cancer. They also found eating just 100g of unprocessed red meat increases the risk of stroke and breast cancer by 11 per cent, fatal heart attack by 15 per cent, bowel cancer by 17 per cent and prostate cancer by 19 per cent. Why would someone choose vegan diet whereby people seek to exclude all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to animals for food, clothing or any other purpose? Well, aside from the obvious, feeling good about yourself and knowing you haven’t contributed to killing or had any harm inflicted on another living creature, there are a large number of health reasons. Milk for example is a huge topic of contention. Calcium from animal milk is not absorbed as well as that from plant-based sources, and it can be accompanied by a number of dangerous health problems, including a wide range of different cancers. Also mind boggling is how we are the only animals on the planet who take another animals milk and drink it for consumption. We are biologically designed to drink our own mother’s milk. As cows are. The more people that read into these health stats and research, the more
they become aware of the benefits of a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. The number of vegans in U.K has risen by 350% in past five years. A more recent poll estimated that 12% of the UK population are vegetarian – rising to 20 per cent of those aged between 16 and 24, said analysts Mintel. Why would someone choose a gluten free diet? Gluten is the protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, but it’s also found in foods like ice cream and ketchup. Gluten-free diets are typically followed by people suffering from a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, a condition that causes a negative reaction to gluten and results in damage to the intestines. This damage makes it difficult for the body to absorb necessary nutrients and leads to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. In recent years, gluten-free diets have become part of the weight loss fad. However, a gluten-free diet isn’t necessarily healthier and often leads to weight gain. Many gluten-free products are high in processed carbs and sugar. A person not dealing with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease would be better off shopping for a variety of high-fibre carbs, lean proteins, colourful fruits and veggies, and healthy fats. One hundred percent whole-wheat barley, wheat, and rye are also packed with fibre, which can help lower cholesterol and improve digestive health. Personally, I think ‘moderation’ is key. Jo Anna owns Blackberry Grove in New Brighton www.blackberry-grove.co.uk | Facebook: Blackberrygrove Twitter: @Blackberrygrove | Instagram: @Blackberrygrove
GLUTEN FREE Homemade Banana Cake
Gluten free fish and chips from The Village Friar, Arrowe Park Road, Upton
Ingredients 2 eggs 40z gluten free flour 4oz butter 3oz sugar 2 over ripe bananas Method Pop everything into a bowl and make sure it is well mixed together. Then using a 7 inch tin or 12 muffin cases, dispense the mixture and bake on 170°C for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Ruby Poland, aged eleven, is a coeliac diagnosed when she was just six years old. Each edition, Ruby shares some valuable information to help other coeliac children and lead them to find better tasting food.
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68 Telegraph Road, Heswall, Wirral, CH60 0AG
Offers over £1,700,000 | Kings Drive, Caldy, Wirral, CH48 2JE
Hunters are delighted to offer this superbly presented substantial family home, situated occupying one of the finer Caldy locations benefiting from open aspects towards the Dee Estuary with the Welsh Hills forming a distant backdrop. This aspect affords the property total privacy, without being shrouded in woodland. The property was built in 1935 and such was the quality and construction that many of the original craftsman features are eminently preserved. The design of the property affords an
air of light and spaciousness throughout, particularly so with the relationship of the front reception rooms and patio terrace which together make the most of this sylvan setting. The history of the house has resulted in only four families being in occupation since it was built, which speaks volumes for the lifestyle that this superb home offers.
T: 0151 342 2444 | E: heswall@hunters.com | W: hunters.com/offices/heswall
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savills
22 Lower Bridge Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1RS T: 01244 323 232 | W: savills.co.uk
Asking price: £1,450,000 | Stable House, Puddington Lane, Puddington, CH64 5ST
Stable House is a located in the village of Puddington to the north west of Chester in pretty countryside close to the Dee Estuary. The city of Chester is about 6 miles away and offers an excellent range of retail, commercial and leisure services and a 2 hour rail service to London Euston. Chester Racecourse is the oldest in the country and the city is know for its Roman heritage and medieval architecture. The Wirral Peninsula offers outstanding golfing at Wallasey, Heswall and Hoylake and sailing at West Kirby and Wallasey.
Stable House is an outstanding property. Situated within a local Conservation Area, it was originally the stable block to the nearby Puddington Hall. With the help of Donald Insall architects, who specialise in historic buildings, the property has been extended to provide a well proportioned family house. It has also undergone a scheme of meticulous renovation and modernisation culminating in a magnificent interior with classical wooden panelling and joinery using the finest materials and techniques.
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9.00am - 5.30pm Sat: 9.00am - 1.00pm | Sun: 11:00am - 3:00pm
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savills
22 Lower Bridge Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1RS T: 01244 323 232 | W: savills.co.uk
Price on asking | Tyneham House, Kings Drive, Caldy, Wirral CH48 2JF
Tyneham House represents a triumph of contemporary design and construction, occupying a stunning private and secure site in extensive gardens and grounds. Short listed for the Northern Design Architectural Awards in 2014, the design is based upon the work of the renowned American architect, Hugh Newell Jacobsen, best known for his modern pavilions of light. Tyneham is located in a Conservation Area on a sloping woodland site, maximizing the distant views, whilst affording total privacy. The property is formed by a series of linked
pavilions each constructed with Bethesda slate roof, flush zinc gutters and fascias, extensive glazing and a white render finish. House consists of: Entrance Hall, Great Room, Family Room, Extensive Kitchen with Dining Hall, Study, Utility, Large Studio, Master Bedroom suite with dressing room, shower room, and mezzanine with bath, Guest suite with en suite shower room 3 further bedrooms, one with en suite, Family bathroom, Two stairways, Double Garage with upper level games room, Gardens and grounds extending to one acre.
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9.00am - 5.30pm Sat: 9.00am - 1.00pm | Sun: 11:00am - 3:00pm
www.livingwirral.com
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The Sugar House, Sugar Lane, Manley, Cheshire, WA6 9HW
Asking price £550,000 | Lodgebury Court, Shocklach Road, Threapwood SY14 7AZ
Lodgebury Barn is a delightful four bedroom barn conversion with excellent equestrian facilities, outbuildings and approximately 6.3 acres. It forms one part of a four barn development within Lodgebury Court completed in the late 1980’s. The current vendors have undertaken a comprehensive programme of improvements both internally and externally. The house has been refurbished to a high specification incorporating many exposed ceiling timbers & provides deceptively spacious
family accommodation, with glorious rural views to the rear westerly aspect, across the garden, patio areas and land, towards the Welsh hills. The equestrian facilities, outbuildings and land provide the fabulous opportunity for the lifestyle equestrian user or those who wish to utilise the considerable external accommodation and space.
T: 01928 740555 | W: www.jacksonequestrian.com
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When it comes to sorting clutter, ask yourself... • • •
A Home…Sorted is a Home…Loved
In the run up to Christmas, Santa has his Elves for help. In the Wirral we have Home Sorted, to help sort your clutter and get your house ready for the festive season. Sorting your home ready for Christmas can be daunting. Christmas presents to buy, food menus to plan, the dreaded supermarket shop, office parties to attend, decorations to hang, school shows to watch and much more…Christmas is a very busy time. Can you find your Christmas Decorations boxes in your stuffed loft? Do you have family and friends staying over the Christmas period and your spare room is heaving with clutter?
Do I use it? Do I love It? Can I find what I’m looking for?!
Do you… • • •
Avoid making decisions? Feel overwhelmed and stressed? Struggle to know where to begin?
Are you… • • • • •
Moving home Recently Bereaved Preparing for home improvements Making space for a new baby Unable to find one item to wear in your wardrobe.
Call Louise for help on 07557056009
Next minute it will be 2017 with all those new year resolutions to de-clutter and sort your home. Don’t worry, Louise at Home…Sorted will help. Home…Sorted provides a professional and friendly De-cluttering and Organising service across Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. Services include de-cluttering all aspects of your home, home staging ready for house selling and home styling. All services are tailored to meet your individual needs. Louise will work with you to achieve your goals through practical advice and hands on help. If you need support to sort, Home…Sorted can help. So, have yourself a very tidy Christmas, let your heart be light, from now on your clutter will be out of sight.
For a free consultation, get in touch today. M - 0755 705 6009 Email – louise@home-sorted.com Website - www.home-sorted.com FB – homesorteduk
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Observing artistic reinvention
How the Bidston Observatory has fallen into the right hands It’s roughly one year since I wrote the article ‘Tides, guns and guardians, the fascinating history and current dilemma of the Bidston Observatory’, and it seems fitting that that I now return to the topic of this local landmark with a much more optimistic viewpoint. At the time, there was a relatively bleak outlook for the building, as it had been bought by developers with plans to abandon the cultural significance of this historic site and simply turn it into flats. Fortunately, that is now not the case and it seems that good things are happening there. Stephen Pickles, owner and resident at the neighbouring Bidston Lighthouse (bidstonlighthouse.org.uk), recently hosted a garden party celebrating the Observatory’s 150th anniversary. It was there that my wife met the new owners of the Observatory, Edward Clive and Fiona James. Along with Kym Ward they intend to turn the building into an artistic research centre, cultural forum and museum space open to visitors at set times. Also at the garden party were representatives of several local organisations including Friends of Bidston Hill, the Bidston Preservation Trust, Tam O’Shanter Urban Farm, the Wirral History and Heritage Association, and the Wirral Society. I think it is safe to say that all the groups involved share a common concern for the future of the Observatory and are pleased that it has finally been bought by individuals with not only a social conscience, but also with the energy, connections and skills to realise their intentions. When I met with Ed, Fi and Kym they were unanimously animated about not only the building and its fascinating history, but also about their plans for artistic collaboration within the space. From a press release in September, they stated; “Our intention is to set up a not-for-profit study centre focused on providing artists, writers, academics, performers etc. with a cheap, temporary place to dictate their own methods of work, allowing them to stay and come together to develop projects that are of social value and require time and space in an unpressured environment in order to be realized.” Ed, Fi and Kym all come from a fine arts background but are by no means limiting their plans to a single field of study or thought, quite the opposite in fact. They intend to include artists from a wide range of fields such as performing and musical arts, visual arts and craft-based practices as well as being open to academic discourse from politics and social science to philosophy and theory. They intend to focus on using the site as a space of research and non-commercial creative production and hope to work with university departments and think tanks in the future. Edward and Fiona have taken inspiration for the project from a former convent in France, known today as the Performing Arts Forum or PAF (www.pa-f.net). According to the website, PAF “is a place for the professional and not-yet professional practitioners and activists in the field of performing arts, visual art, literature, music, new media and internet,
Written by Rob Thunder
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theory and cultural production, and scientists who seek to research and determine their own conditions of work. PAF is for people who can motorize their own artistic production and knowledge production not only responding to the opportunities given by the institutional market.” So basically it’s a research centre for open and artistically minded individuals to collaborate and work together. And what better place to do a similar project than a building such as the Bidston Observatory? They also plan to work with a friend and past collaborator from HKD (www. hkd.uk.com), a research led design studio that work in science centres and museums creating engaging visitor experiences and world class exhibits. The quality of their work has been showcased at many high profile venues including (among others) The British Library, Historic Royal Palaces, Hong Kong Space Museum and Birmingham Science Museum. An ideal collaboration it seems, given that the Bidston Observatory has such a rich history in scientific research. HKD are passionate about art and science and their work usually involves a mix of science, social history and art. The building is ideal for the multi-disciplinary approach the new team have in mind for the future. A quick look at its history tells us that the Bidston Observatory was always a place used in a flexible way. From it’s original purpose of the rating of ships chronometers, observing and preserving accurate Greenwich mean time to charting the movements of asteroids and comets, seismological study and becoming (in it’s hey day) the World’s leading institute on oceanographic research, the Bidston Observatory seems to be able to lend it’s hand to anything. The design of the building is paramount to its success as a scientific research centre. A trench, for instance was dug to completely surround the building, down to the level of the first basement. This helped to ensure that the building wouldn’t suffer any surface vibrations from the surrounding land, ideal for the transit and equatorial telescopes that had to be operated under the most stable conditions in order to maintain their accuracy. So far, Ed and Fiona have only been resident in the Observatory a few weeks, and their main concern at the outset is the maintenance and renovation of the building. There are concerns with damp, not only in the roof but also in the basements. The trench surrounding the building has a build up of leaves and debris that must be cleared before they can utilize the underground spaces. With so much ahead of them, we wholeheartedly wish them the best of luck for the future and will aim to keep you up to date with the realisation of their goals via our website, www.livingwirral.com.
You can contact Fiona and Ed by email: enquiries@bidstonobservatory.org.uk
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Shore Cottage Studio Family run and friendly, we offer time and space to be creative from our multi-award winning ‘Amazing Space’. We welcome groups and individuals for taster workshops to 2 day courses. Search our online calendar and discover your perfect creative experience, or get in touch and let us make a bespoke course for you, your family, or group. Treat yourself or someone you love by booking a course or giving a gift voucher.
Contact Laura, Sue or Kris - 0151 648 6581 studio@ShoreCottageStudio.com
Book securely online at www.ShoreCottageStudio.com
Thurstaston Beach, Station Road, Thurstaston, CH61 0HN 44 www.livingwirral.com
FROM THE HEART LOCAL WRITERS PUT PEN TO PAPER If you are a poet and would like your work featured in our Poet’s Corner, please email hello@livingwirral.com - those that don’t make the printed edition will be published online.
Autumn
In Search of Happiness
In My Minds Eye
Enrich the earth, you leaves Where now you fall. You leaves, once life Now dry and torn. Where once your face Did greet the morn You lie amidst the mud And stone and thorn
Driving to a Happiness Workshop Out in Wrexham, one day Had me wondering where “it” was As I went on my way
Whispers in the morning as the sunrays kiss my lips
by David A. W. Peddie
Enrich the earth, you leaves Where now you fall You leaves, though dead Shall live again Within the earth Your selves shall give. To renew the Oak To help it live. Enrich the earth, you leaves Where now you fall. And ere two seasons Do pass by New life shall spring upon the branch Where now is bare The winter Oak And again the sun Of morning bright Shall be greeted By your children.
by Lynda Holmes-Kelly
The stress and pressure of A frantic and busy life, Had left me subdued On the edge of a knife But the journey itself Brought a smile to my face The low winter sun Beamed with beauty and grace Quaint village and the greenery Glistened in the sunlight And each meandering road travelled Brought its own special delight The venue located And a vision to behold The most wonderful cottage and manor house Where you would love to grow old But that memorable driveway That brought down my defence Was seeing the doe-eyed cows Smiling from over the fence The day had started well And I have to confess That a location near Wrexham Was where I found “happiness”.
by Jade Thunder
Warmth spreads dearly to my heart and helps with each beat So close yet so far away I can almost hear you breathing Holding my gaze in your minds eye I’m lost in time Breeze runs through my hair just like your fingers would Wrapped up in bed linen that is gentle, soft and warm like you The leaves have fallen to the ground Our favourite time of year You’d like this pathway The buildings are so you... The smell of coffee freshly ground hugs me as I walk along Drops of distant bass lines trickle down my throat like whiskey The crackling of the fire warms me from within just as your touch Stone and wood sit well together Just as man and woman So you see my darling...
Lynda was born in Wallasey on the Wirral, just across the River Mersey rom Liverpool in 1957. She was the only child of Ray and Agnes but has an older half-brother Allen, whom she adores to this day. Lynda was encouraged over the years by friends to put a collection of her poems together.
No matter what I do No matter where I go No matter who I am You’ll always be in my minds eye
Lynda explains “I am donating 60% proceeds of sales of my book to The Alzheimer’s Society. The reason behind this is many but my poems are my thoughts and memories and to lose that ability or for them to become terribly muddled is heartbreaking. If you decide to purchase a copy, I hope you enjoy the poems and illustrations but remember you are also helping a very good cause!” Twitter: @LynHolmesKelly Facebook: /LynHolmesKelly
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LOGOS & BRANDING Whitfield Business
Logos have developed from the likes of coins, cylinder seals, coats of arms into the forefront of brands today. A logo is the strongest symbol of a brand which arguably assist consumers to make buying decisions and is instrumental in the trustworthiness of products. Being purely visual, a logo plays a big part in the psychology of purchasing judgements, with the most successful brands ensuring that their logo is featured on as many products & places as possible. A logo can transcend languages; important in today’s shrinking world. Take the Mercedes Star, the Nike tick or the McDonalds golden arches. These are symbols known throughout the world irrespective of language. Over the last few years, logos have started to play an important role in the world of social media, being an ideal icon or profile picture for a company - names often look squashed or cut short which is very unprofessional, whereas a logo stands out from the crowd. When we make a logo, it’s vital that we understand the ethos of the company to ensure that the logo portrays the right image, style and message. The shape is important,
/WhitfieldBusinessSupport
with circular logos suggesting an emotional image, community and often implies partnership with a more obvious example in marriage rings, whilst an angular logo is more practical highlighting stability and efficiency; such as Mitsubishi, or Dominos. Colours play an important part too, for example red is seen as an exciting, energetic, passionate brand such as Red Bull, Coca Cola & Virgin. Whilst blue is calm, trustworthy, honest & strong such as Barclays, Visa and Facebook. Colours lead us into the branding of the product, typically one or two main colours carried through from the logo. The font is important & can depict many different messages, olde worlde, modern, techy, futuristic, trustworthy, fun; whatever the company wishes to portray. So the most important thing for a creative design agency is to understand the company it is branding & designing a logo for, so that it can extend the message to the clients & in some cases the rest of the world. 0151 342 6365 grow@whitfieldbusiness.co.uk www.whitfieldbusiness.co.uk
@WhitfieldBizHub
/WhitfieldBusiness
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NIK ELLIS A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TESLA MODEL S Elon Musk co-founded a company that would become PayPal in 1995 & sold his stake in 1999. From the money raised he set up SpaceX in 2001, an ambitious program designed to produce inexpensive rockets. After a turbulent first few years, they were the first company to dock with the International Space Station last month and Musk’s primary goal is to reach Mars. In 2003 he became involved in a small startup and soon became a dominant force in Tesla, a company making electric vehicles. These are not hybrids with a petrol engine supporting a token electric motor, but fully electric. Their first car was imaginatively called the ‘Roadster’ - it was a lengthened Lotus Elise which had the engine removed and an electric motor and battery fitted. Their first fully built vehicle, the Model S was launched in 2012 to phenomenal acclaim. I recall going to the Los Angeles Motor Show that year & already there were Tesla buzzing around the Californian roads. It’s the end of 2016 in the UK and we’re just starting to see a few Tesla Model S hit our roads. We’ve been a little reluctant to trust electric cars as some of the early hybrids had short ranges and let’s face it the Toyota Prius, Nissan Leaf et al hardly set any motorists’ pulses racing. The Model S has changed all of that; for a start it’s looks pretty good - a sort of cross between a Mondeo, Aston Martin & Jaguar XF.
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Inside is minimal with a 17” iPad style screen providing 98% of the controls, including Autopilot (it’ll drive itself). It updates regularly via the web, a bit like an iPhone, getting better, more economical and more features with each evolution of the software. The range from a full charge can be over 300 miles depending on how it’s driven. There are hundreds of ‘supercharger’ stations dotted around Europe, where Tesla owners can charge up for free whilst they sup a coffee, meaning you could go from the Wirral to Rome, Slovakia or Finland for free. You can even plug it into a normal 240v plug to charge it, although it does take longer. Then there’s the speed; the P100D version (no they can’t think of good names) does 0-60 in 2.5 seconds - faster than most Ferrari & Lamborghini. The downside? Although there are significantly cheaper versions, the one we tested was £120k; however there are some incredible tax incentives & of course no fuel, road tax or even servicing to pay for. It’s also silent which is odd for such a quick car, but I guess we better get used to it, as this exactly the sort of vehicle our kids will be driving very soon.
Y B R I A HREN DAWSON KA
round hair xton Village) and all p Session Salon (O ssi Go ng with of alo r ge are na ks Ma I’m Karen, the key seasonal loo vising you on what bye to the old, ad od go be y I’ll Sa . st. cts sia du thu en have pro inspiration and must colour pallets, celeb dernise!” mo ts “Le d an ne zo ort get out of that comf
Look after your locks for winter
It’s not only the summer months that takes its toll on our hair. Winter weather can just as easily damage the hard work we have put in battling the holiday sun. With the weather being unstable it’s a shock to our hair.
REPAIR.ME is a new range by KEVIN. MURPHY, which uses naturally-derived super-food proteins and fruit enzymes to strengthen and repair weak, damaged hair.
The cold weather can cause your hair to freeze at the cuticle which leads to breakage. When using heat appliances along with colour damage, then you must always use a great quality, nourishing shampoo and conditioner with repairing benefits.
It uses breakthrough skincare research and technology to encapsulate the protein within an enzyme, keeping the protein in a lipid state. The benefit of this is that the protein strengthens and nourishes, without the brittle finish traditionally associated with high protein products, and leaves the hair soft and shiny.
My recommended product to save your hair this season is Repair Me by Kevin Murphy.
Repair.Me.Wash £20.00 250 ml Repair.Me.Rinse £20.00 250 ml Re.Store £28.00 200 ml
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hairbykarendawson
Karen Dawson
Karen, pictured above (top, centre), has done lots of demo work and entered many competitions in her life. She adores stage work and has recently, through her dad, become involved in photography. It is that combination of fashion and media that she particulaly loves and Karen hopes one day to feature in the pages of Vogue Magazine. “I have 11 years in the industry and extensive experience in the hair fashion world working on photoshoots and fashion shows. I spent 3 years working in Unilever R&D where I was highly involved in the development of hair products and gained scientific knowledge and understanding of products, how unique!! Alongside Gossip I’m an educator for a private college and to top it off a hair consultant. I’ll never be bored of hair and with this I feel I have the most exciting career.”
Trending shape for the season The “lob” is trending and we love it. We’re chopping everyone’s hair off and its fab, very satisfying. With the jaw line being the shortest length and collar bone being the longest, we are creating many variations of the lob. This seasons lob consists of a square shape; meaning no layering towards the face and a slight bevelled finish towards the neck. The length is cut blunt which has many benefits for fine hair. This visually gives a fuller, thicker finish and is perfect for those who want to add density to the hair.
PARTY
SEASON!
, oto shoot look below I created my own ph weeks n hio fas m fro taking inspiration my ding brooches as effortless updo. Ad l. fee ue tiq an an e jewel gave the imag
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Let’s face it Christmas is not far away and we know it’s such a busy time for all of us. Luckily for us the key element to this year’s party hair up is fly away texture. Those unruly strands that have a rebellious nature are a key part to creating the look. Right is an image captured from Fashion week AW16 for designer Rodarte showcasing this undone feature. Notice the antique jewel element and how it adds to the casual styling.
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A ceremony to celebrate every stage of life
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Need a Second Income?
REVIEW OF JINNY LASHES AT ANNE ROBERTS HAIR & BEAUTY SAM PEDDIE GIVES US THE LOW DOWN “I need your eyelashes!” I announce to Helena whilst I am getting my nails done at Anne Roberts salon in Oxton in readiness for my holiday to Tuscany. I had thought she had been blessed with long naturally thick lashes but she tells me that they are in fact 100% synthetic but much finer and softer than traditional false lashes. I subsequently find out that they are called Jinny Lashes and promptly book myself in for a set. I am eager to see if I can achieve the same full, natural look, whilst remaining somewhat skeptical that my sparse lashes will achieve anything close to Helena’s. The day arrives and I am feeling excited at the prospect of a holiday without mascara for a whole week! I am shown into a quiet room and settle myself on the comfortable bed. Emma provided me with an under leg cushion to support my spine and covered me in warm blankets. I am feeling very snug and relaxed. I am asked whether I would like natural or fuller lashes and I opt for natural but with added thickness. “Because they are so fine, I can attach two to four individual lashes to each natural lash (as opposed to a 1:1 ratio for regular extensions) without weighing your eyelids down,” said Emma. “As a result, lashes will look much fuller, not just longer and darker.” Set aside at least an hour for a full set of lashes, although Emma doesn’t need that long due to her experience; mine took around 45 minutes. Not that relaxing on the treatment bed is that much of an ordeal in honesty.
eye, (I know she is being kind and means pretty much non-existent), so she has created lashes where, ordinarily, none would be visible. The result? Well, I’ve had single lash extensions before, but these are a whole different ball game. I’m fluttering a full and thick, but still very natural-looking set of lashes. Amazing! However, I’m ever so slightly concerned that this can lead to an expensive addiction! I can’t feel them on my eyes at all. I have with other lashes that have weighed my lids down and make me constantly aware of their presence but this isn’t the case with the Jinny Lashes. The aftercare advice is give out by Emma, and I pay close attention wanting to make the most of my lushious lashes. The most important part informed me not to get them wet for 24 hours whilst they settle. I also found out that I can get a top up every two to three weeks which is just the same as getting a regular manicure so no great hardship to accommodate. Because there are about 50-75 lashes on each eye, the results last up to around three weeks. The price tag? Can we put a price on beauty ladies? Jinny Lashes cost £70 and ‘maintenance’ appointments, recommended every two or three weeks, are pretty reasonable at £20. Thanks to my new lashes, I spend the week in Italy without a scrap of mascara - How very liberating!
Emma tells me that my lashes were sparse towards the inner part of the
3D Skinmed Offer 1 x chin ‘Cryo’ freeze 6 x Radio Frequency skin tightening session
Usual price £395
NOW ONLY £225 CALL US NOW TO BOOK ON 0151 653 7979 Submental area only. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers or discounts. A complimentary consultation and health history must be carried out before treatment. Offer finishes 17th March 2017.
80 Birch Road, Oxton, Birkenhead CH43 5UE
www.annerobertsaesthetics.com 51
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Beauty... with Anne Roberts
Anne Roberts, as the name would suggest, is the owner of Anne Roberts Hair and Beauty and Anne Roberts Aesthetics, Birch Road, Oxton. For 27 years, her salon have been at the forefront of Wirral beauty and her industry knowledge is well respected. We are delighted to welcome her to Living Wirral Magazine as a regular columnist.
DROP BY DROP TAN... I love to look lightly tanned all year round and as I wear SPF30 every day I need a self-tanning product that won’t make me look orange or streaky and is easy to use. With Radiance-Plus you simply mix the self-tanner with any face care product to add an extra self-tanning benefit to your usual day and night creams. It can be tailored to your desired level of self-tan by adding 1, 2 or 3 drops. £19 from www.annerobertsoxton.com
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y u b n i a barg
Imface Nail Mask Twinkle Star helps strengthen damaged, weak & fragile nails leaving them glossy & cuticles nourished. Imface Nail Mask is the world’s first nail care mask with an intensive natural and nourishing solution inside each flexible thimble-like masks which are made of a highly elastic waterproof fabric ensuring there is no leakage. These thimble-like masks should be worn over nails and are convenient as you can go about your normal activities. With concentrated essential oils, milk protein, beeswax and other actives, Imface Nail Mask help to strengthen nails, softens cuticles and leaves nails buffed and shiny. £3.50 from www.victoriahealth.com
Hydrated and
silky smooth I use this all over daily after my shower and love how light & refreshing it is – and very easily absorbed so no greasy residue. My skin is softer and a lot more hydrated, particularly after too much summer sun. Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Body Mist hydrates below and on the surface of the skin with lowmolecular-weight hyaluronic acid in a base of purified mushroom, tamarind and corn derivatives. £17 from www.chemistrybrand. com
Reduce puffiness
Sarah Chapman FACIALIFT Unique massager mimics the fast tapping, pinching & knuckling of facial massage. The Facialift helps to lift and drain toxins and reduce puffiness, giving you the immediate glow of a facial. Suitable for all skin types. £25 from www.victoriahealth.com
Colour me...going in! I’m
These beautiful Marc Jacobs Colour correctors are fabulous to use and can be blended all-over or targeted to create a unified-looking, radiant complexion, while velvety blurring pigments filter light for a beautiful, soft-focus effect. Cover(t) Stick Color Corrector comes in three specially formulated shade filters in marbleised dual hues: Bright Now eliminates dullness, Co(vert) Affairs neutralises redness, and Getting Warmer offsets dark spots and cancels out dark circles. £28 from www.harrods.com
Everyday Fragrance I wear this beautiful fragrance each and every day of my life. Clarins’ first fragrance and body treatment in one formula. It invigorates, moisturises, firms and tones with essential oils of Lemon, Patchouli, Petit Grain, Ginseng and White Tea. It never overpowers but is always fresh and revitalising. £33 from www.annerobertsoxton.com
LUXURY BUY Introducing the Marc Jacobs Beauty Kiss Pop Collectors’ Edition, an ultra-luxurious, limited edition box containing the full array of Marc’s irresistible Kiss Pop Color Sticks. Featuring 9 long-wearing demi-matte shades, ranging from first-date rose to take-me-home red, this covetable keepsake ensures that you’ll give the perfect kiss for every occasion - and never leave a Marc. £250 from www.harrods.com
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F e s t i v e
F a n y www.livingwirral.com
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FANY BOUTIQUE GET FESTIVE
ALL FROM FANYBOUTIQUE.COM
1. FURCOAT NEFIR £140 | 2. COAT MATRIX £170 | 3. PUSSY BOW SHIRT OMIGNANO £49 | 4. SWEATER GROTTEIANA £75 | 5. SWEATER MURGEMA £56 | 6. FANY PANTS £45 | 7. LONG ICELANDIC SOCKS £14.99 | 8. SUEDE CLAUDETTE GLOVES – BERRY & CHARCOAL £45
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OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE LIVING WIRRAL TEAM AT ANNE ROBERTS AESTHETICS, OXTON AND BLACKBERRY GROVE Anne Roberts Aesthetics Launch Night Thursday 13th October The salon was bursting at the seams with ladies supporting the longest standing hair and beauty business the Wirral has seen. 3D Lipo and 3D SkinMed were just two of the demonstrations on the night alongside hair by Alan Henry. Pictured clockwise from top left: Charlotte Eugeni, Patsy Crocker, Anne Roberts / Therapist applying Jinny Lashes / Kate Eugeni, Patsy Crocker, Anne Roberts and Gemma Stewart / Lisa Simon, Sally Forster, Laura Hardman / Aesthetician demonstrating HIFU
Blackberry Grove’s First Birthday Food and fire was on the menu at Blackberry Grove to celebrate it’s first birthday. Celebrities turned out in force to support Jo Anna and the team. Pictured clockwise from top left: Marc Kenny and Jade Tremarco / Fraser John, Mark Waldron, Robert Thunder / Kerry Martin-Hannah, Suzanne Collins, Jade Tremarco / Actor Ray Quinn / Jamie Lomas with Jo Anna
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OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE LIVING WIRRAL TEAM AT PARADOX, HESWALL AND CHUTNEY STREET FOOD, OXTON
Paradox 1st Birthday Paradox celebrated it’s 1st birthday in style. The packed retro bar drank champagne and greeted a VERY long Burmese Python.
Chutney Street Food The long awaited launch of Chutney in Oxton was greeted by rave reviews on Facebook. The copper trimmed interior, lights up the centre of the village. Pictured bottom centre: Kelly Troake, Jo Tune (Owner), Amy Foster (Fany Boutique).
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MANDY MOLBY TELLS US ABOUT THE FUNDRAISING THE AMBASSADORS DO FOR CASH FOR KIDS WIRRAL. Can I begin with saying the biggest thank you ever to everyone that helped us raise the incredible £104,000 at this years Ambassadors Ball. It began with Trudy, Clare and myself, thinking that we couldn’t possibly top last years total - boy were we in for a shock! Just as I began eating my starter, a wonderful man (who wants to remain anonymous) whispered in my ear that he would take care of the wish list. We post the wish list up so everyone knows how much we would like to raise. I imediatley said thank you and asked which item he would like to sponsor, he replied “All of them”. It is fair to say I cried like a baby. I was so grateful, so thankful, it was just incredible! The night continued and the figures just went up and up. We have the longest auction in the world - everyone knows and expects that to be the case, but we are always thankful for their patience. Here are some of the things the money will be spent on this year: James Bannon Tough Furniture £1,030.40 James is non verbal, can be violent against others and can damage property/items both internally and externally. He needs 2:1 care at home and in school and is unable to take any normal day to day living. He does like music, spinning inaminate objects and likes to be left to his own devices within a safe environment. This furniture would reduce the risk of James injuring himself and withstand his weight and large physical appearance. Claire House Hospice Spa Shower Trolley £4,854 The children suffer from various disabilities, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy and Brain Tumours, they suffer from life limiting and life shortening conditions. The children go to Claire House for Respite care, this gives the families much needed break to recharge . The Spa trolley would enable the children to be safe.
Claire House Two Christmas Parties £7,000 Claire House has two Christmas celebrations, one for the younger children and their brothers and sisters usually for about 180 people and the other for the older teenagers and their friends and family which is usually over 120 people. It is a magical time of year which sadly for some of these children maybe their last so it is really important for Claire House to help create these special memories. Jonathon Bates: Wheelchair £15,364 Jonathon has 1a, episodic ataxia, asthma, dislocated hips and elbows. His present chair is not fit for his needs and doesn’t allow him to enjoy the environment and travel across a variety of different terrains. He is totally dependent on his wheelchair both indoor and outdoor. A new chair would have a huge impact on his life. Northern Lights £1,500 per child Set up in memory of Christopher Johnson who died from a brain tumour in 1987. The charity raises money to send seriously ill children on a very special holiday that they will never forget to Lap Land to meet Father Christmas. Children are nominated by the medical staff at Alder Hey and Arrowe Park Hospitals. The charities wish is to take between 16 to 20 children this year. Radio City Cash for Kids is a grant giving charity who fundraise all year round to help needy children from Wirral, Liverpool, Merseyside and across North Wales where our help is needed most. Cash for Kids supports children who are suffering abuse or neglect, who are disabled, or have special needs, to live life to the full and achieve their individual potential. Around 40% of Mission Christmas applications come from Wirral and our Mission Christmas Warehouse is actually based in Wirral this year in Birkenhead. We also provided Christmas parties to young carers and took children to watch pantomimes and to the circus.
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OUT AND ABOUT WITH CAROLYN HUGHES THE CITY’S PREMIER PR RADIO CITY’S CASH FOR KIDS AMBASSADORS RAISE OVER £104,000 AT GLITZY BALL Fundraising supremo’s Mandy Molby, Claire Gallagher and Trudi Brook hosted their annual charity Ball on Saturday night in aid of Radio City’s Cash for Kids. The fun-packed evening, held at Thornton Hall Hotel left guests stunned and thrilled when the grand total of £104,000 was announced. Radio City Presenter and comedian, Peter Price hosted the glamorous affair which was sponsored by Durastic Flooring and Decking, Hallmark Jewellers, Barclays and Barclaycard. Comedian John Martin entertained the guests, before DJ Charlie C spun some dancefloor fillers to round the night off. The new Milk Tray Man, local Firefighter Patrick McBride was also on hand with chocolates for the ladies. Liverpool Legend Jan Molby and Radio City’s Claire Simmo assisted with Pete Price with the auction and prizes included:- a seven night holiday in the Maldives, Champions League final tickets, tickets and ‘meet and greet’ for Rebecca Ferguson’s sold out concert at the Philharmonic Hall, an
Emmerdale Tour organised by Gillian Kearney, and as always the football memorabilia once again proved very popular. Cash for Kids Ambassador, Mandy Molby said “Claire, Trudi and I are completely overwhelmed by the generosity of the guests who came to our Ball. Never in our wildest dreams, in the current economic climate did we dare to dream we would raise in excess of £100,000. This money will literally change lives for so many disadvantaged children in our area and we cannot thank all those who came along, sponsored the event, donated prizes or bought raffle tickets enough for their support” Fundraising Manager for Radio City’s Cash for Kids, Carole Clare said “This achievement by our Ambassadors is a remarkable testament to their commitment to help others less fortunate than themselves. They work tirelessly all year round to support Cash for Kids and we would not be in a position to help so many disadvantaged children without their phenomenal support”
Mandy Molby, Claire Gallagher, Trudi Brook - Radio City’s Cash for Kids Ambassadors
Kingsley, Jan and Karina Molby
Trudi Brook, Patrick McBride (New Milk Tray Man), Claire Gallagher, Mandy Molby
John and Claire Gallgher with Peter Price
Lauren and Kim Elliot
Ian Clare and Carole Clare (Radio City’s Cash for Kids)
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1 in 3 children are living in poverty. Last year we raised over £1 million in gifts and cash and supported over 28,300 local children. In partnership with our sponsors B&M and Foresters, and our media partner The Echo, we want to do even more this year. We’re asking you to buy an extra present that we can give to a disadvantaged local child to make their Christmas morning special. We need new and unwrapped gifts suitable for children and young people aged 0-18 years, and you can donate at our drop-off points across the region from the 14th November. We’re also looking for local organisations to sign up and collect gifts during the appeal, and anyone who’d like to fundraise! If you’d like to be part of Mission Christmas please visit our website to find out more.
To make a £5* donation just text CITY to 70808!
radiocity.co.uk/mission In partnership with
Media partner
Bauer Radio’s Cash for Kids charities registered in England (1122062), East Scotland (SC041421) and West Scotland (SC003334). UK-wide child poverty statistics, source: End Child Poverty. Texts are charged at your standard message rate and 100% of the donation will come to Cash for Kids. Please obtain the bill payers permission. Call customer care on 01642 605681 and view full T&Cs at cashforkids.uk.com/textline.
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FESTIVE EVENT SCHEDULE www.livingwirral.com
Event: Allergy & ‘Free From’ Show Date/Time: 5-6th November Venue: Exhibition Centre, Liverpool Cost: FREE About: 200+ exhibitors offering ‘free from’ goodies ranging from food, drink, cosmetics, skin, lifestyle & more Event: Red Fox Fabulous Fizz night Date/Time: 15th November / 7-10pm Venue: Red Fox, Neston , CH64 7TL Cost: £20/head About: Enjoy a glass of one of 5 tipples from a selection of sparkling whites, reds and rose’s. Event: Fabulous Frost Fair VIP night Date/Time: 18th November 6pm - 10pm Venue: Pacific Road Cost: £20/head About: ‘Fun, Fizz & canapés’. Free transport from the Devon Doorway, so leave the children at home & do the Christmas gift shopping from a huge selection of local talent. Event: Pop up indoor market/taster event Date/Time: 24th November / 6.30pm-8.30pm Venue: Woodcote, 3 Hooton Rd, CH66 1QH Cost: FREE About: An opportunity to taste & sample seasonal food from local producers Event: Oxton Art Fair Date/Time: 26-27th November / 10-4pm Venue: Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, CH64 1TH Cost: FREE About: 21 professional & semi-professional artists showcasing their work. An opportunity to chat to the artist & but a truly individual piece
Event: A night of Swing with Dominic Halpin & The Honey B’s Date/Time: 30th November Venue: Gusto, 146-148 Telegraph Rd, Heswall, CH60 0AH Cost: £35pp includes festive three course meal About: If you like Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra & Elvis, you’ll love Dominic! Event: Muma Leary’s Christmas Extravaganza Date/Time: 1st December Venue: Devon doorway pick up/drop off Cost: £27.14 via Eventbrite About: Bucks Fizz breakfast 8am followed by a coach trip to the Trafford Centre (leaves 9.30am) and return to the Devon Doorway (4pm) Event: Heswall ICE festival Date/Time: 1st-4th December Venue: Heswall, CH60 Cost: FREE About: An interactive, creative & educational Christmas event for all the family. Workshops, grotto, live music, food, stalls & more besides! Event: Gloriumptious Christmas Mansion Date/Time: 16-18th December / 11-4pm Venue: Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN Cost: Adult £9.50, Child £5.50 About: Step into Roald Dahl’s magical world as his extraordinary storytelling weaves its way through the grand staterooms and bustling servants quarters. Music, kitchen demonstrations and a mince pie treat! Event: Christmas centre table work shop Date/Time: 23rd December /10.30-12.30 Venue: Pure Floral, Brimstage Craft Centre, Brimstage Cost: £55/head About: Create your own bespoke table centrepiece or garland. All materials provided.
Did you know?
You can list your events FREE on www.livingwirral.com Details to include: Event name, location, time of event, map, poster or image, additional Information / description of event. We’re promoting all events based on Wirral so please make sure your event is based on Merseyside and no further afield.
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SPOTLIGHT ON THE EDITOR Our Editor Di Tremarco has the spotlight on her this Christmas and is the first to answer the new set of questions we will present to the chosen few in 2017.
Most prized possession? I love my pen and my Moleskine books. I know, sad, but true. Top of your bucket list? That would be to visit Rome.
You have one wish, make it a good one. An end to cruelty. I can’t bear cruelty to any living creature.
What’s your poison? Don’t tell anyone but I love a Cinzano Bianco and lemonade and have one most nights in a tall glass with ice and a slice of lime.
What was the first record you bought? That’s easy. Bohemian Rhapsody single on the EMI label from Woolworths. I think it was 75p.
Past or present, name three people you would like to spend an hour with. Adolf Hitler, Elvis Presley (not sure we would talk much), Nelson Mandela.
What was the last book you read? I don’t read fiction so it would have been a reference book of some sort, possibly design. Dream job if you couldn’t do your present one? I would love to have studied the physcology of crime. I am really interested in the mind of criminals and why they are different, or if indeed they are...?
Di Tremarco Editor - Living Wirral Owner - Mouse Media
One thing you would change about yourself? There are many! I think I would like to be more tolerant of people. I seem to be getting worse the older I become! What is guaranteed to make you laugh? A baby with the giggles. I find children’s laughter totally infectious.
Guilty pleasure: The Housewives of Cheshire - not that you can tell anyone! I absolutely LOVE the program; I love the houses, and I love the bitchiness! What did you want to be (as a child) when you were grown up? From a very early age, up until I was 14, I wanted to be a Vet. Father Christmas brought me a Treasury of Natural History one year and I read it from cover to cover 100 times or more. At some point, during a lengthy illness, my dreams went out of the window and my creative brain took over. Favourite quote? “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. Leonardo da Vinci
The best piece of advice you have ever been given? Don’t be a busy fool.
Rome
Elvis
Baby laughing
Bohemian Rhapsody
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LAW...
But not as we know it!
SERVICE CHARGE RECOVERY EVICTIONS & ARREARS CONVEYANCING COMMERCIAL DEBT WILLS & PROBATE
Call: 0333 7000 200
Vantage Law Solicitors Limited: 188 - 200 Pensby Road, Heswall, Wirral CH60 7RJ E: enquiries@vantagelaw.co.uk | W: www.vantagelaw.co.uk www.livingwirral.com
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You can purchase a ticket using our Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/lookoutforcancerraffle - Send the amount you wish to donate and for every pound you donate, we will photograph the ticket and send the photograph to you as your proof of purchase. You can also purchase a ticket in person at chosen outlets across Wirral. All details and terms and conditions can be found on www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk or www.everitewindows.com
www.justgiving.com/lookoutforcancerraffle
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