re:new magazine issue 3 by renew magazine

re:new It’s your time. Use it.

April 2010 £3.95

EXCLUSIVE

Bob Dylan on canvas UK exhibition of his new work

Plan your dream trip to America’s music cities

10 great days out for FREE

Go trekking in the Isle of Skye

Michael Eavis: 40 years of Glastonbury Crisis in care: Use your vote Treat yourself: Burgh Island Skincare: Moisturisers tried & tested

on the cover

Editor’s letter So many people in our society need help and care, and it often falls to a family member or friend to provide it for them. These individuals make up the six million untrained carers who sacrifice so much to be there for their loved one. Here at re:new, we’ve committed ourselves to making sure that party leaders make positive changes in policy for carers, and see them through after the election. Join our campaign and petition our leaders to follow through on their promises (p.6). Songs can tell a story, and listening to the glorious trumpeting of Louis Armstrong or the resonant voice of Johnny Cash transports you to their old stomping grounds of New Orleans and Memphis. But if this doesn’t satisfy you, why not plan that dream trip to the musical cities of the USA and walk the streets steeped in history (p.30)? If you want something closer to home, why not take up the challenge and go on one of re:new’s top 10 days out for free in the UK (p.8)? We’d love to hear what you end up doing. It’s your time. Use it.

Angharad Jones Editor

PS. Try your hand at a gourmet

recipe from rising star Charles Lakin and let us know how you get on in the re:new Gourmet Club forum at www.journalism.cf.ac.uk/renew.

A closer look at celebrity art p19

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News and current affairs that impact your life p4-7 Join re:new’s campaign to support unpaid carers p6-7

re:lease New things to try now you have time p8-11 Easter is upon us and we explore the best 10 days out for free p8

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Expert advice on your relationship and sex issues p12-15 Dealing with divorce: readers’ personal stories p13-15

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Contemporary fashion and beauty for you p16-17 Be style confident with our ‘dos and don’ts’ fashion guide p16

re:view 18 Virginia Ironside

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The best and brightest from the world of the arts p18-21 Sex, depression and getting old – author Virginia Ironside reveals all p18

Opposite page - bottom photo: Catherine Shakespeare Lane. This apge - a selection @ Flickr

contents

The great British escape: Burgh Island

re:vitalise

Addressing your health fears and offering guidance p22-25 Living with Alzheimer’s: the stories behind the sufferers p22-24

re:discover

Travel to dream destinations at home and abroad p26-31 Read our insider’s tour of America’s musical cities p30-31

re:fuel

Recipes and ideas to tempt your taste buds p32-33 Flex your green fingers with our guide to growing your own herbs p33

re:flect

Iconic moments from the past worth revisiting p34 Michael Eavis dishes the dirt on 40 years of Glastonbury p34

re:spond

9 A glorious view on the Isle of Skye

Share your views on this month’s issue p35 Send us your letters on the topics we’ve covered p35

Editor Angharad Jones Deputy Editor Ruth Harrison Production Editor Mia Valimaki Features Editors Bethan John Lisa Blake Picture Editor Heather Steele Chief Sub Editor Emma Davies Design Editor Claire Packer Designers Vincent Forrester Ella Walker Online Content Editor Josie Allchin Blogging Editor Jac Bond Online Design Editor Aimee Steen Social Media Editor Monica Horridge Want to get in touch with the re:new team? Contact us: www.journalism.cf.ac.uk/renew enquiries.renew@googlemail.com www.twitter.com/renewmag

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news and current affairs that impact your life

One for your diary: April April Fool’s Day

Good Friday

Keep an extra-close eye on what the papers say today, as there should be one or two hoaxes flying about. That’s if you’re not too busy pulling pranks of your own, of course.

Go down to The Widow’s Son, a pub in Bow, east London, to take part in their annual Good Friday event and tuck into a hot cross bun. The story behind the name is that the widow’s only son, a sailor, asked his mother to make hot cross buns for his return on Good Friday. Sadly he never returned. 2

Edinburgh Science Festival

National Pet Month

Why not take your grandkids to marvel at the wonders of science? This year, the Festival promises to shed light on everything from outer space to the inner workings of the mind. Go to www.sciencefestival.co.uk or call 0131 5530322 for full listings.

Animal welfare charities and professional bodies come together to improve the welfare of your pets. If you want to give a home to an abandoned animal or help by volunteering, check the RSPCA’s website at www.rspca.co.uk

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3 April - 3 May

Easter Monday Catch the Easter Parade in London’s Battersea Park, which holds a variety of events during Easter. If you don’t fancy trimming an Easter bonnet yourself, head to Manchester’s Hat Works museum to celebrate their 10th Anniversary. www.hatworks.org.uk 5

Communicating Science

US Masters Golf Tournament Golf enthusiasts will be glued to the television as the tournament, as per tradition, tees off in the first week of April. For those wanting to get involved, St Andrews Golf Week starts April 10.

London Zoo’s Communicating Science series continues with an evening entitled “Conservation with Shifting Goalposts”, providing an in-depth look at the threats of climate change. Go to www.zsl.org to book your place.

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13 Earth Day

Shakespeare’s birthday

Marking the birth of the modern environmental movement, Earth Day celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Log on to re:new online to find events around the country.

Celebrate the Bard’s birthday with a bit of pomp this year at the spectacular procession through his native Stratfordupon-Avon or at his annual birthday party at the Globe Theatre, London.

22 London Marathon

Badminton Horse Trials

Runners take over London. Last year, 36,000 runners raised £47.2 million for charitable causes. Now’s the time to start your training routine for next year’s racedownload re:new’s training tips from our website and get going.

The highlight of the eventing calendar, the Badminton cross country day alone attracts crowds of up to a quarter of a million. Book your tickets at www.badminton-horse.co.uk

30 April - 3 May

The empty nest egg? Would you top up your pension by renting out your child’s old bedroom? Ruth Harrison investigates why more and more people are taking in lodgers

Photo: www.designmom.com

ancy earning £5,000 tax-free? Yes, Prime Minister. But surely there’s a catch? Well, there is – to obtain this freebie, you have to open up your lovely home to wayward travellers. After only recently having packed the bags of your youngest child, why on earth would you want to do that? For the first time in over 30 years, you have the house to yourself; the Rioja is where it should be and there’s no queue for the bathroom. So, why are more and more retired people deciding to rent out their spare rooms? The Rent a Room scheme, launched by the government in 1997, encourages people to rent out their spare rooms. Provided the room is furnished, part of your main property and you don’t already fill out a tax return, you are eligible for a £4,250 tax exemption. And with 40 MPs backing a campaign to almost double the tax-free income to a generous £9,000, we could see more homeowners avoiding arrears and repossession. Matt Hutchinson, director of spareroom.co.uk, thinks it is important the exemption is increased. “As the threshold of the scheme hasn’t been increased since 1997, its value has been eroded and it no longer provides the incentive it was originally intended to. As more retirees turn to lodgers as a means of topping up their pensions a more realistic threshold would send a clear message that renting out a room is a positive option all round.”

Homeowners and retirees are turning to websites such as crashpadder.com to boost their earnings and gain some company. According to founder Stephen Rapoport, “The website has taken off largely due to the recession. People are looking for extra money and to save money when they travel, and I think we answer both of these things.” Crashpadder allows users to Rapoport got the idea search for suitable for a homestay website accommodation while living in Sydney and to contact the host via a private message. The host is then able to check the guest’s profile and decide whether they will accept the booking. “When I first launched the website, I expected young professionals to sign up, but we actually found that a lot of ‘empty nesters’ were eager to join. People of that age are far more likely to have a spare room,” Rapoport explains. “There are a lot of retirees who have always liked the idea of running a B&B, but who wouldn’t like to do it full-time. Our service allows them to have a flow of young people through their house and also to make a little bit of extra cash – I think it really appeals.”

Would you rent out your spare room to a stranger?

YES

Carole Field, 58, Cardiff “I think it is a great idea and one that I am really considering. My children have all left home and we have three spare rooms; I find myself, quite frankly, pretty bored. It would be lovely to have a flow of young people through the house – but I am not sure whether my husband would agree.”

David Robinson, 59, Bristol “I would struggle having strangers in my house. When you get to the ‘empty nest’ stage, you do become a little more set in your ways – I enjoy having people here to stay, but people that we know and love. Also, I think there are a lot of legal issues that you need to be aware of. If something goes wrong – if someone collapses or you give your guest food poisoning – would you be liable? At this time of your life, you certainly don’t want to be involved in litigation.”

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crisis

It’s time to use our power to make the party leaders work together to support unpaid carers, says Bethan John while more than one in five people aged between 50 and 59 provides unpaid care. So, the party that commits to a policy to comprehensively improve the situation for unpaid carers could gain strong and substantial support. Despite the urgent need for reform, recent attempts by the three main parties to work together on an effective health care policy have broken down in to inter-party bickering. The re:new team are outraged by this and want you to join our online campaign to put healthcare at the top of the political agenda and to change the lives of unpaid carers across the country. They give so much to society yet, as a consequence

Mary Pearson dedicated seven years of her life to provide 24-hour care for her mother, Lily

of caring, they are twice as likely to suffer from ill-health – as well as facing isolation, poverty and discrimination. Read on to discover how joining our campaign could make a difference to so many people’s lives. Ways to improve care Hameed Mohamed owned a residential home for 10 years and is about to set up a new care agency. He believes carers don’t get enough help from government resources, and stresses the importance of providing carers with practical skills accrued on training courses. “People often find that they’ve taken on a role of carer with no training in handling, bathing and that sort

Photo: Mary Pearson

ike never before, the re:new generation has the decisive power to influence politicians and make change happen. The majority of voters at the forthcoming general election are likely to be over 55, so politicians have to address the issues that affect you. Of the 14 million people aged over 55 in Britain, 63 per cent have said they are certain to vote in the next election. This means that over-55s cast more than four in every 10 votes. One of the key issues that affects this generation is the access to quality healthcare. Two-and-a-half million people aged 65 and over need some level of care and support,

Photo: Angharad Jones

of thing,” he says. “They’re just expected to know, but really they need support.” Hameed also expresses his concern that there aren’t enough quality care agencies available for those who need them. “Social services contract agencies based on price rather than quality,” he says. “I don’t feel that they investigate care agencies thoroughly enough. They often wait for something to happen before they act. But it’s not social services’ fault; they themselves are limited and suffer under government cutbacks.” Hameed would like to see the three major parties working together to decide on one policy to support unpaid carers. “Every time there’s a new party elected, there’s a whole set of new policies,” he says. “If they worked together, it would benefit everyone: carers, older people and social services.” My life as a carer Mary Pearson, 66, was an unpaid carer for seven years. Her mother, Lily, broke both her legs and was left unable to walk; she became completely dependent on her daughter, who provided her with 24-hour care. The strain of caring meant that Mary’s health seriously suffered; the day eventually came when Mary couldn’t cope any more and had to put her mother into a nursing home. That evening, Mary was admitted to hospital with a leaking heart valve. “The situation for carers at the moment is very difficult,” says Mary. “We simply don’t get the back-up or support. When my mother came home from hospital, they promised me all the help I could get, but when I tried to find it, it simply wasn’t there.” Mary stresses the importance of providing respite for families, so that they can have

Recent attempts by the three main parties to work together on health care have broken down in to inter-party bickering a complete break, secure in the knowledge that their loved ones are being looked after properly. “This is really, really necessary,” says Mary. “I used to have to get up two or three times a night to take my mother to the bathroom. It was a 24-hour caring situation. I don’t think the government realises how much carers take on.” Having struggled to find any respite care for her mother, Mary welcomes the government policy to give carers a break, but

wonders where the extra beds and paid carers are going to come from. “They need to put the money in the right place,” says Mary. “Unless they provide people to sit with your

JOIN THE RE:NEW CAMPAIGN re:new believes it is essential that the three main party leaders come to an agreement over which policies will offer the best care system. The views of unpaid carer Mary Pearson, professional carer Hameed Mohamed and palliative care expert Baroness Finlay make it clear that there are many issues with our current care system that must be addressed in order to give people the support they urgently need. Join our online campaign at www.journalism.cf.ac.uk/renew, read the main parties’ proposals, vote on your preferred policies and help us petition the government to ensure your views are heard. It’s time to remind politicians you have the power of the vote, and that you will use it.

Care work in figures Baroness Finlay is a crossbench member of the House of Lords

mother when you need to leave her, then just throwing money at the problem isn’t going to help.” The expert advice to politicians Baroness Ilora Finlay is a leading professor in palliative care in the UK and a consultant at Velindre cancer centre in Cardiff. She argues that, in the run-up to the election, Westminster politicians could learn a lot from what the Welsh Assembly Government has achieved in the management of Wales’ health service. There have been various strategies introduced in Wales that nowhere else in the UK has put in place, such as the seven-day nursing care service. “By June, we’ll have specialist nurses across the whole of Wales available seven days a week,” says Baroness Finlay, “as well as consultancy advice available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the whole year.” She explains that the organisation of the health service in Wales is now very different to England: “We’re working with very different processes and we have a lot less policy change. Because of this, we have a much more stable NHS.” Baroness Finlay believes that the dramatic improvement in Wales’ healthcare system proves that comprehensive reform across the UK can be achieved, but only if politicians commit to a single, substantial policy.

87,000,000,000 The number of pounds unpaid carers save our economy every year

6,000,000

One in eight adults in Britain – six million people – are unpaid carers

2,500,000

Two-and-a-half million people aged 65 or over will need some level of care

850,000

Ten per cent of over-65s – 850,000 people – will need high levels of care

6,000

Six thousand people over 65 with high support needs receive no services and have no informal care

Seventy per cent of those cared for are aged 65 years or over

Less than one per cent of the UK’s population receives Carer’s Allowance Source: Age Concern, 2008. Figures relate to England only.

Join the re:new campaign online at www.journalism.cf.ac.uk/renew and help change these figures.

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new things to try now you have time

Ten of the best free days out Looking for something to do that doesn’t involve an entrance fee? Jac Bond compiles a list of ten great days out across the UK at a price that everyone loves Further info: www.coddingtonvineyard.com Contact: 01531 640 668

6. Belfast Castle, Belfast, Northern

Ireland This striking sandstone building offers one of the most panoramic views of Belfast Lough and features an adventure playground that the grandchildren will enjoy. Further info: www.belfastcastle.co.uk Contact: email bcr@belfastcastle.co.uk or call 028 90776925

7. Museum of Science & Industry,

Castlefield, Manchester Located in the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station, the museum has free galleries and collections. Highlights include From Gunpowder to Space Rockets: The China Space Programme, which charts China’s space race from ancient times to the present day. Further info: www.mosi.org.uk Contact: 0161 8331471

8. Norfolk Lavender, Kings Lynn

1. Royal Observatory, London

Greenwich Park is the oldest enclosed Royal Park in London. This April, the Observatory is offering a chance to look at the sun through a specially-adapted solar telescope, in Solar Story: understanding the Sun, which runs until May 9. Further info: www.nmm.ac.uk/places/ royal-observatory Contact: email bookings@nmm.ac.uk or call 0208 312 6608

2. Free National Trust entry, Nationwide

Offering free entry to most of its properties, coastal car parks and national parks between March 20-21. Vouchers are valid per person but make sure you print enough out before hopping in the car. Further info: www.nationaltrust.org.uk Contact: 0844 800 1895

3. Arbroath to Auchmithie,

Angus & Dundee, Scotland If you love beautiful beaches, hidden coves and stunning wildlife, why not take a twoand-a-half-hour cliff-top and coastal walk

along the Angus coast? Further info: www.walking.visitscotland. com/perfect-walks/arbroath-toauchmithie Contact: email walking@visitscotland.com or call 0845 2255121

4. St Fagan’s National History Museum,

Cardiff, Wales Centuries of Welsh history are captured in one of Europe’s largest open-air museum. Situated within 100 acres of beautiful countryside, it is Wales’ most popular heritage attraction. Don’t miss free Tudor painting workshops in April. Further info: www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/ stfagans Contact: email post@museumwales.ac.uk or call 029 2057 3500

5. Coddington Vineyard, Herefordshire

Situated west of Malvern Hills, this vineyard has been described as one of the most beautiful that Britain has to offer. Including a woodland grove and a wild meadow, the gardens are free to stroll through.

National Railway Museum, York York’s the National Railway Museum is the world’s largest railway station. Discover over 300 years of history and over a million interesting objects. This April, explore The Duchess of Hamilton – a locomotive of Art Deco design built in 1938. Further info: www.nrm.org.uk Contact: 08448 153139

10. Free tennis lessons, Nationwide

Thousands of tennis courts are free to use across the country through a scheme from charity, Tennis For Free. Coaching sessions run during the weekends and are suitable for all ages, with equipment also provided for free. Check online if there are participating courts near you. Further info: www.tennisforfree.com

Photos: Andrew D Hurley and Flickr @FastFreddie42

Above: Norfolk Lavender and Belfast Castle are both free days out

England’s oldest lavender farm offers a lovely, migraine-free day out in 100 acres of land, filled with fragrant meadow gardens and more than 55 individual beds of herbs set out in the style of an old monastery garden. Grounds and distillery tours are avialbel from May to August 31. Open from April-October 9-5pm Further info: www.norfolk-lavender.co.uk Contact: 01485 570384

Reach for the Skye

Explore the Scottish highlands in their most breathtaking form on the Isle of Skye

Photos: Flickr @davidianroberts, @urbisnauta and @kalense_kid

espite jetting off to all corners of the world, many people have not explored the uppermost reaches of the United Kingdom. The Isle of Skye is etched into the national consciousness by Bonnie Prince Charlie and the folk song he inspired, but very few have visited, preferring the buzzing city life of Edinburgh or Glasgow. However, Skye offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the Scottish Highlands, with the snow-capped peaks of the Cuillin ridge visible from every corner of the island. A trek up these mountains is incredibly rewarding, with views across all of the ‘Misty Isle’, but the weather can be unpredictable and all walks must be taken very seriously. Experienced walkers Sgurr na Banachdich is the easiest of the Cuillin mountains, but is still a vigorous rocky walk and should not be attempted if there is snow on the hills. A path begins near the Glen Brittle Youth Hostel, passing a series of waterfalls before ascending to breathtaking views. As the path finishes, follow the sheep path and head to the grassier slope on the left towards An Diallaid. Bear right at the top to take the path from Coir’ an Eich, avoiding steeper sections. You will reach the main Cuillin ridge. Head right for the main summit and enjoy your well-earned views. The whole walk should take about six hours.

Gentle strollers Start in Glen Brittle and follow the path to the stream Allt Coir a Mhadaidh. Follow the path next to the stream. Passing the fairy pools towards the Sgurr an Fheadain, the path will become slightly steeper and boggier. Take a sharp left turn onto a small path – it is directly opposite a small cairn on the other side of the stream. It will curve to the right and rise gently towards Bealach a Mhaim. From here, you can turn right to head to the Sligachan Hotel, or left along the forestry back to Glen Brittle. Either route takes about three hours in total. Keep safe •Travel with a partner. •Take an OS map, a compass, a flashlight and basic first-aid provisions. •Make sure that you take enough food and water to last the trip. •Wrap up warm and be prepared in case the weather suddenly changes. re:new recommends Sleep: Situated between Loch Sligachan and the bottom of the Black Cuillins, the Sligachan Hotel is the perfect base for walks. The Seamus bar offers real ale produced at the microbrewery onsite, as well as over 200 varieties of whisky. Bed and breakfast from £49 per person. Sligachan Hotel, Sligachan, Isle of Skye IV47 8SW 01478 6502042 Eat: The Three Chimneys offers the best

gourmet experience on the Isle of Skye. Remotely located in Colbost, the romantic atmosphere and locally-sourced food is worth the trip. Three courses typically cost £55 per head. The Three Chimneys, Colbost, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye IV55 8ZT 01470 511258 MH Don’t fancy trekking? There’s plenty more to do on the Isle of Skye Whisky tasting: A trip to Scotland isn’t complete without whisky. Talisker Distillery, the only one situated on the Isle of Skye, produces award-winning single malts. Tours run throughout the day, with a special whisky tasting tour on selected weekdays at 1.45pm, which offers five different samples to nose and taste for £15. Talisker Distillery, Carbost, Isle of Skye IV47 8SR 01478 614308 Boat trips: Bella Jane Boat Trips run daily between April and October from Elgol to Loch Coruisk – a tranquil spot in the heart of the Black Cuillins. The trip also includes a visit to the famous seal colony. For a wilder experience, AquaXplore run exhilarating offshore trips to try to spot dolphins, basking sharks and whales. Bella Jane Boat Trips / AquaXplore, Elgol, Isle of Skye IV49 9BJ

Left: Reach the spectacular views and you’ll forget the gruelling hike. Top right: Hop aboard and join the basking seals. Bottom right: Escape the city and enjoy the tranquility of Skye

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Setting the record st

The BBC programme Who Do You Think You Are? made genealog most popular pastimes. Vincent Forrester went along to the live e

ntil recently, genealogy was a subject reserved for professional historians and amateur history anoraks. Researching family histories meant trawling through dusty files and folders in dark, fusty libraries and council record offices – the sort of thankless and timeconsuming task that only the most dedicated and diligent pursuers of genealogical records could be bothered with. Then, in 2003, the BBC commissioned a pilot for a show following Jeremy Clarkson as he filled out his family tree. It became the first episode of Who Do You Think You Are? (WDYTYA?), the genealogy programme which has become a phenomenon beyond the wildest expectations of Nick Barratt, the archivist and historian who has helped run the programme since those nascent days. “[The success of the show] was a compete shock,” he says. “We thought it might have had one or two series, but it’s just seized the public imagination; it’s become a worldwide

brand. My company’s done two series in Ireland, three series in Australia; there are South African connections, and the US series launches next week. The eighth series is coming out here this year, and now there’s a live show to go with it. I think it just shows the connectivity of human interest in human stories.” But Barratt insists that the biggest factor behind the series’ huge popularity is, in fact, luck. “It coincided with a time when the internet was popularising records and data sets. The 1901 census had come out, and people like ancestry.co.uk and findmypast. co.uk started to realise the potential of a mass market for family history. They had been there for a while, feeding the needs of the family history community, but they were in their very early stages.” Barratt was speaking to me at the fourth annual WDYTYA? live event, held at Kensington Olympia in London last month. The event hosts hundreds of stalls from

various societies, associations and companies who provide advice and services relating to the ever-growing world of genealogical research, from the British Deaf History Society and the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies to Tourism Ireland and the Royal Air Force Museum. All in all, there were more than 1,200 stands at the event, covering pretty much every area of the country and every subject matter that you could possibly imagine. There was also a series of talks from genealogy experts and celebrities, including Esther Ranzten. But what unites the many stalls that cover so many disparate themes and interest is, as Barratt suggests, the human interest in personalities and family. “It’s very easy for commentators to say it’s self-indulgent and navel-gazing,” he says, “but actually, when you look at the number of people around who are researching and enjoying it but also reinterpreting their roles in their communities and their families, it isn’t

Photos: Vincent Forrester

Above: National Hall at the Olympia accommodates 5,000 people and this year’s attendance figures were the best yet

traight

Who do you think you are? re:new spoke to four visitors at last month’s live event to learn from their genealogical tips and travails

gy one of the country’s event to find out why fatuous to say that it really does make a difference.” Genealogy is now one of the fastestgrowing pastimes in the UK. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of websites, forums and online communities where people share their stories, experience and advice. According to www.ancestry.co.uk, 80 per cent of British people consider their family history to be important. It can also be a profitable industry for publishers, as the explosion of family and genealogy-related magazines and books has shown. The result is that what used to be an arduous, frustrating and time-consuming task has been transformed in to a well-resourced, interesting and fun pastime that anyone can take up. “The fact that the journeys people have gone on are emotional and inspirational shows you that it’s something that you can actually equate to,” says Barratt. “It also touches upon everyday lives and stories. It may well be celebrities delivering it, but it’s a story that all of us can follow because it’s bottom-up history, rather than top-down. That is the most fundamental thing – it’s something we can all do. People have suddenly realised that there’s an incredible world out there that they can tap in to.” The problem with there being such a vast amount of information on the subject available online, in magazines and in books is that knowing who to trust to give the best advice can be difficult. Barratt admits that it can be

confusing for people who are just starting, but says it is important to start with what you know and work outwards. “If you’re beginning, do not go online,” he warns. “It’s a myth that you go online and find your family tree in a couple of hours. You need to start with the basics and write down what you know about yourself and your parents and grandparents, and if there’s anyone you can talk to within the family, get their recollections and stories as well. Focus on the facts, the dates, the names – names can quite often be pet names rather than real names – and also where events happened. “Once you’ve done that, and looked for ephemeral clues such as heirlooms, family bibles and documentation relating to warfare, then you can build your family tree: structure it so that you can see what you know and what you don’t know, then go back online and start using the main data sets of civil registration, censuses, parish records and probate material. Then you can see the clues which will then lead you to the social history such as the house history, the local history and, of course, the occupation history that gives you that social connection with the past.” So if you’ve got some spare time and want to learn more about your family, follow Barratt’s advice and you might discover the same hidden passion that’s gripping an evergrowing number of people in Britain today. Let us know how you get on by logging onto www.journalism.cf.ac.uk/renew.

Left: Esther Rantzen, Rory Bremner and Kate Humble appeared across the weekend. Right: Nick Barratt has written several books on genealogy

Esther Rantzen, 69, London: “I think it’s quite illuminating. You can discover all sorts of things, but you have to be quite careful, because I think every family has a whole lot of skeletons in a lot of cupboards, so you’ve got to be tolerant. It’s sometimes quite shocking what you uncover, but you shouldn’t let that put you off.” Alison McCann, 63, West Sussex: “Events like this show people all the different things that are available. People doing their family tree tend to think they can do it all on the internet, and then you come to something like this and you realise that there are lots of other ways they can go about it. Some people think their forebears were wonderful people who had the foresight and strength of character to go out to the New World. Then you find out that, actually, the parish turfed them out because they couldn’t stand them.” Miriam Johnson, 70, Bedford: “Through the internet I had traced a relative and I knew they were working on one of the stalls here today and I came to meet them, which was very nice. It started because I was curious to find out about my family. If they were mass murderers, so what? It wouldn’t affect me, would it?” Grafton Edwards, 67, West Sussex: “Many years ago, my mother wrote a lot of letters and notes, but sadly computers hadn’t got to the stage they are at now, with the ease of the internet, and all her information was kept largely through hearsay, so I just wanted to carry it on. Now, I am accused of being more interested in the dead members of the family than the live ones.”

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expert advice on your relationship and sex issues

At home with the doctor: A sex and relationships special Dr Gordon Lewis has been a GP for 28 years. He’s a keen sportsman and has always led a very active lifestyle, from alpine skiing to crosscountry cycling. Recently, however, a serious back injury has forced him to slow down, so he understands first-hand how devastating it is to have a health problem that hampers your enjoyment of life, and is passionate about giving his patients the knowledge to deal with any problems they face.

There are two aspects to your question that need looking into. The first is the fact that your sex life is making you very breathless by exacerbating your angina. Therefore, I suspect that any vigorous exercise will do the same thing, and you need to discuss this with your doctor. He may be able to change your treatment to get your condition under better control, thus improving more than

“Sex is good for the heart, and need not be avoided by people with angina” just your sex life. Secondly, many people who suffer from angina get very anxious about sex. Some worry that sex puts a great strain on the heart and they often abandon sex completely. This can be made worse by a very caring spouse who would not want to risk sexual activity in the fear that it would bring on a heart attack. These factors tend to build up and increase anxiety, and definitely do not lead to a satisfactory sex life. Perhaps some of your breathlessness is actually a reflection of your anxiety? This is something worth considering if sex is the only thing that brings it on. Understanding the condition is half way to improving it, as you can rest assured that sex is actually good for the heart, and need not be avoided by people with angina.

Finding a voice I recently had a hysterectomy and have been left feeling a very deep sense of loss. I wasn’t expecting to feel like this at all, and I’m struggling to explain my feelings to my husband. What should I do? Your feelings are entirely natural and are shared by lots of people who are getting over major surgery like yours. Like a lot of women recovering from a mastectomy, however, the operation you have just undergone has resulted in a significant change to your self-image. You may feel less of a woman now that you have lost your womb and the ability to have children. Even if having more children was not something you had contemplated or was in any way an option for you, having a hysterectomy may feel like an end to a stage of your life; it is such a final action. Don’t forget, emotions are more powerful than thoughts; you may think that it was just another operation, but you may feel as though something important has been taken away from you. What should you do? As in all cases, it is better to talk. I know this can be an extremely difficult thing for you to do, but the more you talk to your husband, or someone close to you, and verbalise your feelings, the more they will understand them. And, most importantly, the more you talk about your feelings, the more you will understand them.

Intimacy issues Since the menopause, I’ve found sex very painful and I’m worried that it’s affecting the intimacy in my marriage. Why has this happened to me and is there anything I can do? The lining of the vagina is sensitive to circulating female hormones. These keep the lining soft, flexible, responsive and moist. After the menopause, the ovaries stop producing these hormones and the levels in the blood decline. One result of the lining losing its softness and moisture can be, as you have found, painful sex. This can be alleviated by using lubricant gels, but the most important thing is to explain to your husband how the problem affects you. A loving, gentle and understanding approach may be all you need. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) may help, but, as your GP will discuss with you, certain side effects can outweigh the advantages, especially if taken for a prolonged period. Topical hormone preparations such as hormone based vaginal gels can restore some of the properties of the vaginal lining; again, your GP will be able to advise you. Certain other problems can also be related to painful sex. This can include fibroids (swellings of the uterus) or cysts on the ovaries. It is important, therefore, for you to see your GP to discuss your problems, as help may well be available. Do not just accept this as inevitable.

If you have any problems that you would like our resident doctor to answer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at enquiries.renew@googlemail.com. Everyone who gets in touch will remain completely anonymous. Visit re:new online at www.journalism.cf.ac.uk/renew to see more of your health problems answered.

Photo: Bethan John

Leaving me breathless My angina is really affecting my sex life, as I often become very breathless. What can I do?

Until divorce do us part? The UK divorce rate is at its lowest in 31 years, but divorce in the over-60s continues to rise. Lisa Blake reveals how failing marriages are affecting our generation

The combination of an empty home and lots of free time is driving a wedge between couples in their 60s

Photo: kaiteyfersuree@Flickr

hen John Cleese announced he was filing for divorce from his wife of 15 years, Alyce Eichelberger, in January 2008, he became part of a fast-growing group of over-60s who have, quite simply, had enough of marriage. Recent figures released by National Statistics Online show that although UK divorces are at their lowest since 1979, the number of over-60s divorcing is at its highest, from less than 9,000 in 2006 to over 14,000 in 2009. So, what is spurring our generation to turn their backs on marriage? One of Britain’s best-known divorce lawyers, Marilyn Stowe, has seen a notable increase in clients over 60 at her practice, Stowe Family Law, based in Harrogate. “Divorce has become more socially acceptable in older people; the stigma has more or less gone,” she says. “People have greater longevity; they suffer from boredom with their spouse and cannot bear the thought of another 20 years of the same. There is also greater financial ability to fund a divorce since pension sharing came into force 10 years ago and, as retirement ages have gone up, people are working longer and earning and saving longer.”

Whatever the reason for ending a marriage, there is no doubt that there are huge lifestyle changes to deal with. re:new speaks to three readers who have experienced divorce in their sixties and finds out how their lives have changed. John Dennis, 61, London “I’ve been going through divorce procedures for the past two years and all I can say is, after 30 years of marriage, I never thought it would happen to me. “I married in 1979 and, up until two years ago, I thought I had a very stable and happy marriage. One day in August 2008, my wife got up and told me she was leaving me – no explanation was given; she just walked out of our marital home and I haven’t seen her since. It came as a complete shock and I am still coming to terms with it now. “I had an inkling something wasn’t right in the last year of our marriage as she became quite moody, but I had no idea that she wanted to leave me. Two weeks after she walked out of our home, a solicitor’s letter came telling me that my wife had filed for divorce. Suddenly a door was shut on a big part of my life.

“A lot of people who divorce remain close friends and have amicable relationships, but there is no chance of that with us; my wife doesn’t want to listen. “This whole thing has taken a big dent out of me. Friends have suggested that I join a dating site to meet new people but I say to them, ‘I’d rather not’. I am feeling very bitter about the marriage and don’t particularly want to get tied up with another woman. I think I will spend more of my time travelling instead. “For years during the marriage, I’d wanted to travel to India; my father was in the Indian army and I’d heard wonderful tales from the family and wanted to visit the place, but never had a chance before. I finally went there last Christmas. It was the first holiday I’d had in years, because we had my mother living with us for eight years and she suffered from dementia. The only good thing that has come out of the divorce so far is that I finally had the chance to go on a proper holiday. “I would never get married again. If I was to meet someone, I would just live with them, so that if we did part, there isn’t all this hassle to deal with.”

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re:late

“Up until two years ago, I thought I h One day in August 2008, my wife got

Lucy Gordon, 64, Somerset “I was married to David for 29 years, but our marriage started to deteriorate about six years ago and, two years later, we divorced. I can’t put my finger on exactly what went wrong in the relationship; we just started to drift apart. “We found ourselves in an empty home for the first time in 29 years as our youngest daughter, Alice, had moved out. David and I have three children together, aged between 24 and 28, so it had been a long time since it was just the two of us in the house. “I felt lonely and realised that my life had completely revolved around the children. David had recently retired and was enjoying his time, reading the papers and doing odd jobs, but I wanted to go out and walk, go cycling, just be active, really – I’d been a housewife for 29 years and was ready to get away from that. “We didn’t seem to have anything in common any more. When I told him I didn’t feel close to him, he told me it was a result of missing Alice. He suggested we should do more things together and have weekends away, but neither of us ever made the effort to arrange anything. “We began arguing. I criticised him for being lazy; he would say I was nagging at him. It went on for about two years until we had family over for dinner one Christmas. My sister-in-law noticed tension between us and asked me what was going on. I burst into tears; it was the first time I’d cried about the situation. I’m not an emotional person so for me, it was a realisation that our marriage had hit rock-bottom and there was no way of getting it back.

“I spoke with David that night and he told me he would make more of an effort with things around the house and pay more attention to me, but we just weren’t compatible anymore; we’d lost the spark. “One of the hardest things about the separation was telling our children. We told them together and, although there were tears, they all said they had noticed us growing apart. “David and I are friends; we speak to each other whenever there’s news with the children and I recently met his new partner. I am single and enjoying it. I keep myself busy looking after my three beautiful grandchildren three days a week, and I am a member of a local walking club. I hope to meet someone in the future and wouldn’t be embarrassed about using online dating – my son met his partner on the internet and they have two children together, so it can work.” Divorce in the family Eric Barnes, 63, has been married to his wife, Kate for 44 years. Three years ago, his only daughter, Julie, separated from her husband, Rob, after just 10 months of marriage. Here, he opens up to re:new about his helplessness in reconciling his daughter’s relationship and how the situation has made him feel about marriage. “When my daughter, Julie told me she was to be married to her long-term partner, Rob, I was very happy, for both her and myself. I had great hopes for their future – from the onset of their relationship, they had seemed very suited. “I first saw the signs of the relationship breaking down about six months after the

wedding. They started to argue in front of other people quite frequently. At first, I thought they were both tired. But as the arguing continued, it made me feel nervous that perhaps things weren’t as they should have been. “I spoke to Julie about the arguing briefly, but I hope not in a pushy way. I don’t believe that either of them wanted me getting involved with the situation and I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to have brought pressure. I couldn’t offer any advice; in fact, it left me feeling rather useless. I just tried subtly to point out how hard it would probably be for her and the difficulties she would face.

Divorce lawyer Marilyn Stowe frequently appears on T

had a very stable and happy marriage. t up and told me she was leaving me” Nicholas Taylor

TV for both the BBC and Sky to offer legal advice

You’re not alone

The dating game

Going through a divorce can make you feel lonely, isolated and anxious. There are lots of support groups throughout the UK that can help you through this difficult time.

The prospect of dating for the first time in years can be daunting, and it can be hard to know where to go. re:new has put together a list of ways to meet single people of a similar age.

Divorce Support Group London, Buckinghamshire, Manchester, Oldham and Winchester 0207 483 1378 www.divorcesupportgroup.co.uk

Online dating websites UK Mature Dating www.ukmaturedating.com My Single Friend www.mysinglefriend.com Over 60 Dating www.over60dating.com Dating Online UK www.singlesover60.co.uk Love Generations www.lovegenerations.co.uk

Divorce Recovery Workshop London, Torquay, Gloucestershire 07000 781 889 www.drw.org.uk King’s Road Church Hertfordshire 01442 863 150 www.divorcecare.org Strandtown Baptist Church Belfast 02890 808 380 www.divorcecare.org Divorce and Separation Recovery Course Leicester and Warwickshire 01455 612 167 www.divorce-leicestershire.co.uk

Wikivorce Free online support www.wikivorce.com/divorce

Single holiday clubs Just You www.justyou.co.uk Holiday Directory www.holidaydirectory.co.uk British Tours www.britishtours.com Social networking and forums Age Concern www.ageconcern.co.uk Friends Reunited www.friendsreunited.co.uk Finer Day www.finerday.co.uk Over Fifties Friends www.overfiftiesfriends.co.uk

re:new

Photo: Stowe Family Law

“Initially there was a short separation, followed by a permanent one. I realised there wasn’t much chance of a reconciliation when Rob didn’t seem particularly bothered about giving it another go and just returned home to his parents. “The hardest thing for me to cope with during the separation was my wife’s terrible disappointment and hurt for Julie and her desperate belief, in the face of all the evidence, that they were going to get back together again. “In terms of my view on marriage, I now realise that a cheap marriage does the same job as an expensive one: you still need luck to make it work.”

contemporary fashion and beauty for you

Sartorially Speaking:

April showers Waterproofs are meant to be practical, not pretty No one ever looks attractive in a rain mac: fact. Wet weather gear is meant to be functional, not fashionable and sadly, we live in the British Isles; the cagoule is an essential item that really doesn’t need to be anything other than painfully drab. Functional need not translate directly into dreary but, boring as it is, grey, brown and green don’t show up the dirt. The outdoor clothing companies-that-be could put a bit more design flair into their macs and plastic trousers but it is difficult enough as it is to wear wellies with any semblance of panache, so covering them in saccharine prints really isn’t going to help. If anything, when you’re trudging about windswept beaches and through mud-clogged woods, why draw attention to yourself by wearing what is essentially an oversized bin-bag, masquerading as a coat, in paisley print and stick-of-rock colours? Charles Macintosh is to thank for the original “Mackintosh”, after inventing a way to spread rubber onto cotton, thereby making it waterproof, in 1823. Unfortunately, the likes of Cath Kidston and Hunter are now wrangling their waterproof ranges through pointless beautification, and both have independently just made a huge mistake by developing flowery waterproof clogs for spring. You can’t go wrong with a classic pair of dark olive farming Hunters – for men or women – so why try? The only safe wet weather accessory to slather with gaudy patterns is the umbrella. However, the very phrase “cag-in-a-bag” will always be disturbing. And those couples who wear matching “mac-in-a-sacs” take this to a whole new level of perversity. You do basically get “cack-in-a-sac” if you combine the two, so if you really want to match, can you please stick with “his ‘n’ hers” dressing gowns, for all our sakes?

Skincare Tried and Tested

We challenged two of our readers to move out of their skincare regime comfort zones: here are the results Gareth Jones, 55, has never tried moisturising before. We asked him to try: Moisture Balm Clarins Men, £25 for 50ml “Like a lot of men, I never worried about the signs of aging until, suddenly, they were there one day. I’m not sure a face cream can turn back the clock, but it smells nice and it wasn’t too thick. My skin used to feel a bit tight after showering and shaving, and the moisturiser sorted that out. I would definitely consider using the product from now on; I ski and sail quite a bit, so I suppose I should have been using it for years.” 8/10

Jo Henderson, 62, has stuck with the same moisturiser for decades. We asked her to try something new “My skin has always been quite dry and sensitive, so I’ve been using Nivea for 20 years ago and it did not irritate my skin, I haven’t stopped since. I religiously cover my skin in anti-wrinkle cream every night; I’m sure it doesn’t make a bit of difference. But you can always hope, can’t you?” Studio Moisture Cream, MAC Cosmetics, £20.50 for 50ml “My favourite. The best price and it was very thick and creamy. It left my skin feeling lovely and soft, and wasn’t overly perfumed. I may even swap it for my Nivea.” 9/10 Re-Nutriv Intensive Lifting Crème, Estee Lauder, £115 for 50ml “This one is going on my Christmas list every year. It had a lovely delicate scent and my skin felt soft and highly moisturised. It’s too expensive, though.” 8/10 Renergie Anti-Wrinkle Firming Treatment, Lancome, £57 for 50ml “This cream was quite runny, and the strong scent of roses made it seem a bit oldfashioned. The overall effect was very greasy, and the perfume irritated my skin.” 3/10 Precision Ultra Correction Lift SPF15, Chanel, £49.50 for 50ml “This one smelt gorgeous, but the perfume irritated my skin and it was too thick to rub in. The SPF 15 is fantastic, but it’s definitely not one for sensitive skin types.” 7/10

Photos: Umbrella: Beyond Retro, products all courtesy of individual press offices

re:fined

Dress the part Dos and Don’ts for men and women Heidi Hockaday, 62 Coat: Reiss Bag: Lanvin Shirt: Ralph Lauren Boots: Jones Bootmaker

Dune Clutch bag £45

DO choose items from the same

colour palette rather than matching shades exactly. The Dylondipped look is very much out.

DO build outfits around a

statement accessory. A beautiful bag or pair of designer boots deserve showcasing.

DON’T rely on the adage “black is

the new black”. Bright colours lift dull, wintry complexions and not to mention dull, wintry moods.

DON’T forget to balance your outfit. If you are wearing loose layers on your top half, pare down the bottom with more tailored pieces, and vice versa.

Hobbs Marine skirt £89

John Sullivan, 61

Glasses: The Eye Company Jacket: Howells Trousers: Diesel Bag: Kenneth Cole

Photos: Street style shots :Angharad Jones, PR shots from respective stores

Marks & Spencers Leather satchel £99

DO try mod-style slim-fit trousers for a classic look, even if you don’t have the Mick Jagger hips to match.

DO choose a striking pair of specs. It’s easy to forget that glasses are the one thing you wear every day.

DON’T neglect your footwear. Many a dashing specimen has been let down by a pair of scruffy trainers. French Connection Brown brogue £85

DON’T ever succumb to the tracksuit. The Six Nations may have been on, but wearing the gear won’t get you a place on the team. It is a hop, skip and jump from a shellsuit. AJ

re:new

re:view

the best and brightest from the world of the arts

Why I love being old How I grew out of sex and depression Virginia Ironside, 66, has been the Independent’s agony aunt for 15 years. She is currently touring with the stage adaptation of her current book, The Virginia Monologues: 20 Reasons why Growing Old is Great. She shares her feelings on getting older, leaving her Sixties rock chick lifestyle behind her and dealing with depression.

not everybody would agree with. But, I mean, I’ve had enough of it. I had masses of sex – I was a Sixties rock chick – and, frankly, there’s a limit and I’ve reached that, I think. “It doesn’t matter if I fail at anything I do, Virginia celebrates the aging process and that’s extremely comforting. I couldn’t “I don’t really understand my friends who have done this when I was young because I moan about being old and how horrible it would have been terrified that I would have is. They say ‘Oh, I’m invisible’. Although I failed. Had I failed when I was young, it say ‘poor old you, that you think that,’ and would have been awful. You know, ‘Agony ‘have a cup of tea dear,’ I secretly think ‘oh, Aunt makes total chump of herself on stage.’ you bloody idiot, wear a lime green hat and “I suffered from depression a lot and was in put a pigeon on it! Don’t be invisible! It’s The Priory, in fact – a couple of times – with your fault you’re invisible!’ severe depression. It’s possibly the worst thing “I love having more of my life behind that anyone can suffer from in the world, me than in front of me. I’m not frightened I think. Growing older has coincided with by death and I think that whole idea of being less depressed. It feels like growing life stretching out in front of you is rather older is the reason. daunting. I like being calmer and wiser, being “I’m quite happy to be rooted out by able to put things into more perspective and the gardener to make way for a whole bed see that the things that mattered so much of new jolly blooms. It’s madness to go when you were young don’t really matter. into a nursing home and spend the kids’ “There’s always this intense desire to keep inheritance on endlessly caring for you as young and I don’t think there is much for a vegetable. You want the money to go to old people that actually says ‘Why don’t I your children and grandchildren, rather than enjoy being old? It’s different.’ It’s like going be maintained as a kind of housecat in a to Thailand and pretending you’re back in wheelchair. That’s not fun for anybody,. England and taking your teabags and your “I used to wish I had masses of knowledge kettle and everything. and now I just think ‘Virginia, you’re just not “A plus of growing old is that you don’t that sort of person.’ There’s no point in me have to have so much sex, which, of course, trying to be a portrait painter if actually I’m

rather good at ice-skating: it’s silly. I’m lucky to be able to do one thing, which is to write, and if I can do a bit of performing as well, that’s the icing on the cake.” The Virginia Monologues April 7 Ustinov Theatre, Bath www.theatreroyal.org.uk 01225 448844 April 9 Norden Farm Centre for Arts, Maidenhead www.nordenfarm.org 01628 788997 April 11-12 Jermyn Street Theatre, London www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk 0207 287 2875 April 14 Blackfriars Theatre and Arts Centre, Lincolnshire www.blackfriarsartscentre.co.uk 01205 363108 April 18 The Plough Arts Centre, Devon www.plough-arts.org 01805 624624 April 20-25 New End Theatre, London www.newendtheatre.co.uk 0870 0332733

Tune in to five of the best digital radio stations 1 – Absolute Radio Offering a variety of classic rock, from Led Zeppelin to The Rolling Stones, as well as chart acts such as Duffy. Tip: Catch Frank Skinner on Saturday mornings from 8am, or check if you can pause and rewind your digital radio so that you can have a lie-in.

2 – Jazz FM The clue’s in the name: this station brings you the best from the world of jazz, from Miles Davis to Michael Bublé. Tip: Helen Mayhew’s Dinner Jazz – Wednesday to Friday, 7pm until 10pm – brings you interviews with big names like the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.

3 – Gold Gold combines the greats, from Elvis to Abba, with the best new music – no sign of Britney’s latest track here. Tip: Neil Diamond’s smooth tunes and Simon Bates’ even smoother voice are the perfect way to start a leisurely Sunday morning. Relaxing: what Sundays were made for.

4 - Birdsong Radio Birdsong radio will bring the outdoors, indoors. Different birds will be tweeting away on your digital radio, though we doubt you’ll ever hear a crow or seagull. Tip: Birdsong is particularly good as calming background music and will make you feel chipper.

5 – Planet Rock If classic rock is what you’re after, look no further. Planet Rock brings you music from back when Ozzy Osbourne was biting the heads from bats. Tip: For a spot of afternoon air-guitar action, listen to Darren Redick from 2pm until 6pm every weekday. MV

Top photo: Catherine Shakespeare Lane

Everyone’s talking digital so it’s time to discover what’s on offer

Dylan’s recent art exhibition unveils his first paintings on canvas

The times they are a-changing

Although best known as a folk legend, Bob Dylan’s latest art exhibition highlights his extended talents as an artist. Heather Steele explores the origins of his latest paintings and the other celebrities turning their hand to art

Photos: courtesy of Halcyon Gallery, London

ased on drawings and sketches made while on the road during The Never-ending Tour between 1989 and 1992, Bob Dylan’s latest art exhibition, Bob Dylan On Canvas, is an exclusive look at his first canvas paintings. A symbolic representation of life on the road, the paintings visually echo the stylistic hallmarks of Dylan’s prose, poetry and music, and are the final part of his The Drawn Blank Series, a series mapping out the journey of his artistic progression from paper to canvas. Yet Dylan is not the only celebrity to have shown artistic flair in recent years. Although famous for his grisly film roles as Hannibal Lecter, Adolf Hitler and Othello, Anthony Hopkins can also add artist to his extensive CV. The 72-year-old recently exhibited his collection of 38 landscape and abstract paintings at London’s Gallery 27.

Likewise, Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood is as likely to be found sketching a charcoal portrait as working on a new track with guitar in hand. Wood received formal art training at Ealing College of Art, and has continued to draw and paint for over 35 years. His numerous self-portraits and paintings of his bandmates and other rock icons such as Rod Stewart and Paul McCartney have attracted large audiences to his worldwide exhibitions. Some of his paintings have sold for as much as £1.2 million, and this is not just due to his fame as a rock star; Wood is a hugely talented painter in his own right,. Just as Dylan’s songs are constantly being reinvigorated and rediscovered through his live performances, so these new paintings revisit images and scenes which were captured in all their immediacy in both his songs and original sketches.

“I just draw what’s interesting to me, and then I paint it,” says Dylan. “I’m not trying to make social comment or fulfil somebody’s vision, and I can find subject matter anywhere. I guess in some way that comes out of the folk world that I came up in.” Dylan’s canvas paintings will be exhibited until April 10, before moving to the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. “These paintings are the culmination of everything Dylan has done with The Drawn Blank Series so far, signalling a new phase in the artist’s career,” says Paul Green, president of the Halcyon Gallery. “The evolution of medium, from paper to canvas, has been an important development resulting in a creative explosion which has given greater meaning to the paintings.” Halcyon Gallery, 24 Bruton Street, London February 13 – April 10

re:new

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And the award goes to...

Now the red carpet’s been rolled up, re:new shines a spotligh Language film nominees and uncovers their unique take on t The coverage in the news of events from around the world may be informative, concise and comprehensive, but facts and statistics do not incite empathy in quite the same way as one person’s story. The films nominated at this year’s Academy Awards for Best Film in a Foreign Language tackle devastating situations or unstable environments, using the personal experience of a small number of individuals to represent wider implications. The settings for each film may have had a few minutes devoted to them in the news yet much of the humanity will not have been captured. We take a look at their evocative and insightful premises.

The winner

El Secreto de Sus Ojos

Director: Juan Jose Campanella. Country: Argentina Using flashbacks to 1974, the film follows a federal court judge, Benjamin, who becomes obsessed with the murder of a young woman. Benjamin is repeatedly thwarted in his efforts to bring the murderer to justice, in part due to Argentina’s justice system. Parallels can be drawn throughout to the flaws in the current Argentine political and legal system, and Benjamin’s frustration resonates palpably. Campanella guides the strong cast admirably through this moody and intense narrative. The overwhelmed director said afterwards of his win, “It shows an open-mindedness from the Academy that is very powerful.”

The fellow nominees La Teta Asustada Director: Claudia Llosa Country: Peru The film depicts the social effects of Peru’s brutal war on terror through the story of Fausta. The protagonist suffers from ‘teta asustada’, a disease passed through the breast milk of women raped or abused during the civil war in Peru. The director uses uncanny images and concepts to represent the confusion of the aftermath of this bloody and turbulent part of the country’s history in this haunting film.

Das Weisse Band Director: Michael Haneke Country: Germany Set in a small German village in 1913, Austrian director Michael Haneke plots a strange and inexplicable series of attacks. At the centre of the story are the children of the village, who seem both at risk and strangely malevolent. Haneke’s skill for exposing society’s hidden shame is evident, as he suggests the chilling link between children raised in repression during the early 19th Century and the events of World War II.

Ajami Director: Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani Country: Israel Five stories are interwoven in this film about the mixed religious community of Tel Aviv. The strength of this film lies in the debut performances of the cast. Such is the authenticity they bring to the portrayal of their volatile environment, it enables the directors to use it as an allegory for the social rupture affecting Israel as a whole.

Un Prophète Director: Juan Jacques Audiard Country: France The eponymous prophet is a young Arab man, Malik, who has been sentenced to six years in prison for assault. The film charts his rise through the Mafia system within the prison, punctuated with dream-like fantasies and scenes of violence and brutality. The tension in the film is relentless, filled with the heightened emotion that characterises the French thriller as a genre.

ht on the Foreign the world’s situation

Did you know?

Israel has never received the award for Best Foreign Language film, despite having been nominated eight times.

An intense scene from the Oscar winner El Secreto de Sus Ojos

So as to promote the inclusion of smaller countries, the Academy has introduced a ‘one country, one film’ rule to prevent the category from being filled with submissions from cinematic heavyweights such as France. France is the most represented country in the history of the Academy Awards, having received nine awards and 35 nominations. Michael Haneke’s film Caché (2005) was placed first in the Times ‘100 best films of the decade’ list.

The children from Das Weisse Band

Only three Hispanic actresses have ever been nominated for the Best Actress award: Penelope Cruz (Volver, 2006), Salma Hayek (Frida, 2002) and Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace, 2004). Eight foreign language films have been nominated in the Best Picture category: Grand Illusion (1938), Z (1969), The Emigrants (1972), Cries and Whispers (1973), The Postman (1995), Life Is Beautiful (1998), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and Letters from Iwo Jima (2006).

Tensions rise in Tel Aviv in Ajami

re:new recommends

Maria Full of Grace (2004) Director Joshua Marston’s shocking and beautiful portrayal of Maria’s entry into the world of drug trafficking exposes this dangerous environment through the eyes of an overwhelmed innocent.

The spoils of war in La Teta Asustada

8 Femmes (2002) François Ozon's stylish murder mystery film combines a perceptive comment on the representation of women in film with charming songs, great performances and beautiful design.

Photos: courtesy of the Academy Awards press office

No Man’s Land (2001) Focusing on the 1993 Bosnia-Herzegovina conflict, director Danis Tanovic tells the story of two soldiers in order to show the real damage caused by civil war.

The prophet and his mentor in Un Prophete

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;It feels as if my soul is being sucked out, little bit by little bit.â&#x20AC;? - Kate Swaffer

Dementia affects one in 14 people over 65 and the numbers are rising rapidly. Aimee Steen hears from the people suffering from the disease, and the scientist providing hope for the future

re:vitalise

addressing your health fears and offering guidance

ate Swaffer’s poignant words are strikingly personal but, sadly, reflect the feelings of thousands of dementia sufferers worldwide. With 417,000 people in the UK living with Alzheimer’s and no cure available, the disease is something that many people will either develop or experience in a loved one during their lifetime. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a term used to describe the symptoms that occur when the brain becomes affected by particular conditions and diseases. With Alzheimer’s, ‘tangles’ occur in the brain structure, leading to the death of brain cells. Sufferers also have a shortage of some important chemicals within the brain, leading to difficulties in transmitting messages internally. As it is a progressive disease, symptoms get worse over time and sufferers will eventually need help with all of their day-to-day activities. There is no single cause, but age is the greatest risk factor when it comes to dementia. One in 14 people over 65 have the disease, rising to one in six for those over 80. Early onset dementia also occurs, however – at least 15,000 people under 65 in the UK are estimated to suffer from this, including Kate, who developed the disease when she was just 50 years old. Before getting the condition, she worked full-time as a manager in a medical sales company, volunteered for The Big Issue and studied for two degrees simultaneously. Now, however, she has found her life has changed significantly. “I lived a very interesting, busy and full life which has been ripped away from me,” she says. “My day-to-day life has changed in that I require 24-hour-a-day care. Socialising has been greatly impacted, as I no longer cope well with bigger groups as I can’t keep up with conversations and get easily confused.” Though Kate has also lost her driving licence, she has, with great effort, managed to complete both of her degrees.

A lack of understanding is something that often isolates people with dementia, and this is something that Kate has experienced firsthand. “The stigma of having dementia is significant, as many friendships dropped off,” she says. “It does seem that people think dementia is a mental illness rather than a physical one.” Harold Cameron, 63, has been living with dementia for five years and has had slightly different experiences. Though he finds that

Spotting the signs People with early stage Alzheimer’s often have problems finding the right words and have memory lapses. As the disease progresses, symptoms include: • Becoming confused and forgetting the names of people, places, things that happened recently and appointments. • Experiencing mood swings, and becoming angry, sad, scared or frustrated with what is happening. • Becoming more withdrawn, either as a result of loss of confidence or due to

difficulties in communicating. Memory loss doesn’t always indicate dementia, though, as re:new resident doctor Gordon Lewis explains. “Forgetfulness is a very common anxiety. It is absolutely normal to lose some of your memory power as you get older. Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia seem to be forever in the news, and seem to be getting more common. The truth, of course, is that people on average are living much longer than they used to and, as the population ages, the illnesses of

“It feels as if my soul is being sucked out, little bit by little bit, and I am watching myself slowly die. The tears continue to run down my cheeks, the tang of salt a permanent fixture on the taste buds of my lips. The only solace here is I occasionally forget why I’ve been crying.” people don’t necessarily understand the condition, their awareness of it helps the communication process. “I have learned to communicate with people about my condition, as well as what my needs are, so that appropriate expectations and boundaries can be established with others,” he says. “This way, there are no frustrations or disappointments with people regarding how they are expected to treat me or respond to me.” Harold also had to give up his job in marketing and sales when he was

Above: Harold Cameron shares how he is managing to deal with dementia; Britt Ekland and Lawrie McMenemy support Bupa in raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society

diagnosed, but has developed coping strategies to help deal with day-to-day life. “I pray, meditate and practice deep breathing to reduce stress, as stress makes my condition worse,” he says. “I make lists of old age become more common. It is true that memory loss is one of the features of dementia, but very few people with some memory loss will in fact have the condition. Gradual loss of memory is normal, especially for recent events. In dementia, often the decline is step-wise, with intermittent sudden small reductions in memory. Your doctor may be able to refer you to a special clinic for a simple assessment test that will, in most people, reassure you that there is nothing more serious going on.”

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“Have hope. Know that you can and will survive your experience. Yes, maybe eventually your mind might be totally gone and you will not know who or what you are or remember anything and maybe you will not be able to take care of yourself, but for as long as you can, live in the present moment with as much positivity and hope as you can.” find out what causes Alzheimer’s, how to prevent and treat it and how to care for those who have it. Scientists and professionals investigate incredibly diverse fields within the topic, from genetic links in dementia to how to assess a sufferer’s ability to continue driving a car. Having dementia has also had a marked effect on his family, as Harold explains. “The people around me and in my life have been very much affected because I can no longer do the things I used to do,” he says. “I am more dependent on others for helping me with some of my daily needs, which puts pressure and stress on them as they have to help me. I have difficulty in doing ordinary daily tasks such as cooking or shopping because I cannot remember what I need to do or get at the store. My family and friends have to check on me and watch what I am doing. When I take public transportation I always need someone to go with me to make sure I get on the right bus and off at the proper place.” Professor Julie Williams of Cardiff University

is researching the genetic causes of Alzheimer’s and has had a number of recent breakthroughs. Following a study involving 17,000 people from the UK, Europe and the US, they have now identified six risk genes linked to Alzheimer’s. “We’re getting a number of possible clues as to what mechanisms may be important in triggering the disease, and some of them are things that we had thought of already but some are relatively new in this context,” she says. Given that dementia is predicted to double by the year 2050, she says that more funding would significantly help to take strides forward in dementia research. “The amount of money spent on dementia research in the UK is about £50m a year, which is a lot less than other diseases that have been very successful in finding causes,” Professor Williams explains. She cannot, however, predict whether there will ever be a cure. “We always aim for a cure but I suspect that as we learn more about the causes, we may have some success in reducing the risk of some of the elements and some of the risk factors,” she says. “You could be looking at giving people an extra 10 years of healthy life.” The Alzheimer’s Society funds research into all aspects of the disease and, for the second consecutive year, the Bupa Great Run has signed up to raise money for them. High-profile figures are supporting the cause including actor and comedian Hugh Dennis and John Altman, better known as nasty Nick Cotton from EastEnders. He has his own personal reasons for supporting the charity. “My father died with dementia, so I know what a cruel disease it is and the devastating impact it has on families, which is why I’m running for the Alzheimer’s Society,” John says. “Within 20 years, almost one million of us will have dementia, so it’s vital to raise funds now.” Other famous faces involved are Britt Ekland and Lawrie McMenemy, who recently launched the Bupa run in the south. The society also provides invaluable support and information to sufferers and their carers. Alzheimer’s is undoubtedly a life-altering disease, and though research breakthroughs are happening, a possible cure looks a fair way off for the time being. Despite this, Harold, for one, has found ways to live with his condition, and shares these thoughts with others who have it. “Help others,” he says. “Keep active. Laugh every day. Do things that make you feel happy and positive. Keep mentally active. Do not stop doing crossword puzzles or reading or whatever you like to do. Even

if you cannot do it as well as you once did, keep your mind active and keep busy. Finally, have hope. Know that you can and will survive your experience. Yes, maybe eventually your mind might be totally gone and you will not know who or what you are or remember anything and maybe you will not be able to take care of yourself, but for as long as you can, live in the present moment with as much positivity and hope as you possibly can.” The Alzheimer’s Society has hundreds of support groups throughout the UK. Visit www.alzheimers.org.uk or contact their helpline on 0845 300 0336.

Slipping away Alzhemier’s sufferer Kate Swaffer uses poetry as an outlet to express her feelings about the disease. Here, her evocative poem captures her despair. Life slipping away Terrified one day soon I won’t know my children Life slipping away Mortified one day soon I won’t know my husband Life slipping away Disbelief one day soon I won’t know my family Life slipping away Angry one day soon I won’t know my friends Life slipping away Humiliated one day soon I won’t know how to drive Life slipping away Despairing one day soon I won’t know who I am

Photos: Cardiff University, Kate Swaffer

things to do, write things down as reminders. I also use my computer to keep track of and remember appointments. I read and do other activities that stimulate my mind. I keep active mentally, believing that if I do not use it, I will lose it.” Current treatments are limited, but research is constantly being done to try to

10 tips for a healthier heart Try out these small changes to make a big difference to your heart lower your cholesterol. Try heart-happier seasonings such as basil, pepper or oregano.

Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. On average, people in the UK only eat three portions of fruit and vegetables each day. You should aim for five, and if you can make it six, even better. Fruit and vegetables increase your intake of antioxidants, which minimise the damaging effects of cholesterol. Emily Attwood from the British Heart Foundation says, “Vitamin supplements do not compare to the naturally-occurring vitamins found in fruit and vegetables.”

Eat food high in soluble fibre. Diets high in carbohydrates help to reduce the amount of cholesterol absorbed into the bloodstream and reduce your risk of heart disease. Swap your takeaways for pasta or rice, which will keep you feeling fuller for longer and help to maintain a stable weight.

Increase your intake of oily fish. Rich in omega-3, oily fish such as mackerel or herring can help to prevent your blood from clotting and help to regulate heart rhythm.

Reduce your salt intake. We know you know this, but cutting out the salt in your diet can reduce your blood pressure and help to

Keep calm. Stress, anger and anxiety can raise your body’s adrenaline levels, which may lead to your cholesterol levels rising.

can help to bring your cholesterol down. Sandy Smith, a cardiac nurse, explains how important it is to cut down on the bad fats by replacing them with good fats. “Saturated fats are commonly found in fatty meat products and dairy products such as full-fat milk,” she says. “If we eat too much bad fat, we can damage our heart in the long-term.”

Try soy. Swapping meat products for Quorn is great for your heart and full of vitamins and minerals. Turning vegetarian for one day a week can help not just your heart, but the world, too, by cutting down on global emissions.

Smile! Research recently published in the European Heart Journal has found that happier people are less likely to suffer a heart attack. It can’t hurt to try. RH

Vary your alcohol consumption. Keeping your alcohol consumption light and varied helps to keep cholesterol low. “Men and women over 40 may benefit from drinking 1-2 units a day,” says Attwood. “The more range you have, the better.” Drinking small amounts of alcohol each day offers some protection against heart disease, and it doesn’t have to be just red wine.

Keep fit and active. Walk to the shops and take the stairs rather than the lift. Every little bit of exercise helps, but you should aim to be exercising for 30 minutes at least three times a week in order to notice a difference in cholesterol levels.

Replace saturated fats with monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. Cutting down on the amount of saturated fat in your diet

Photos: from a selection @ Flickr

Cholesterol: it’s a killer. Heart disease causes more than one in three of all deaths in the United Kingdom, accounting for around 200,000 each year. Too much cholesterol in your blood can increase the risk of a heart attack and lead to subsequent heart disease. Be kind to your heart and follow these 10 simple steps to a healthier, happier heart.

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Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal offers some spectacular rural views

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travel to dream destinations at home and abroad

Drifting through the beauty of Brecon

Cruising gently down the Brecon and Monmouthshire canal provides the peaceful respite you’ve been looking for, as Lisa Blake discovers the joy of a canal holiday

Photos: All ABC Leisure Group

icture the scene – the spring sun dazzling upon acres of lush, green landscape, with a quaint historic town that oozes with centuries of rich culture and heritage sitting behind you. Sounds like heaven? It’s not far off – so why not try a narrowboat holiday on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal? Set entirely within the glorious views of the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is arguably the most beautiful of the UK waterways. Its 22 miles of lock-free stretches make it an ideal route for beginners, and its wide choice of canal-side pubs, restaurants, cultural attractions and spectacular rural scenery make it a popular destination for new and returning visitors. The main visitor centre and boat hire is at the picturesque Goytre Wharf. From March 21, you can rent a longboat for a weekend break, seven nights or 14 nights. Prices are around £545 for a weekend and £645 for a week (boats sleep up to five). There are 14 places to moor along the canal, all offering a wide range of

attractions. At the beginning of the route is Abergavenny, a pretty market town with unusual shops and the ruins of an 11th Century castle. It’s about a 40-minute walk from the canal to the town centre, but buses are available every half-hour between 10am and 5pm. Tuesdays and Fridays are market days, with over 200 stalls selling local fresh food, crafts and antiques. Sugarloaf Vineyard is also worth a visit, offering some of the finest wines made from Abergavenny's very own Sugarloaf Slopes grapes. Two stops along is Gilwern, a charming village that offers impressive views across the Usk Valley to the Black Mountains. Hire a bike at Govilion’s PedalAway (a 15-minute walk from the lock) and ride on the National Cycle Network that runs alongside the Usk. If you’re into wildlife, keep an eye out for swans, kingfishers, herons and buzzards, which are a common sight along the river. Next on the route is Crickhowell, another pleasant town with a good selection of shops, crafts and pubs. The Gallery on the Usk sells small gifts, such as contemporary glass, fine art prints, jewellery and traditional toys and

gifts. After shopping, pop into Mynydd Ddu Tea Rooms and treat yourself to a piece of their delicious home-made carrot cake. Two stops further is Llangynidr – better known as ‘Five Locks’ – which offers breathtaking views of the Usk Valley. If you are interested in photography, be sure not to miss this stop on a sunny day. At the third lock, The Coach and Horses pub sits alongside the canal and serves great food between 12pm and 8pm. Prices range between £8 and £10 for lunch and between £10 and £14 for dinner. On Sundays,

Seven other canal trips, as recommended by UK Boat Hire

1. Stratford-upon-Avon

Experience a mixture of culture, history and shopping as you cruise through this idyllic town. 2. Llangollen This route combines Shropshire’s gentle countryside and the dramatic landscape of the Welsh border. 3. The Black Country Ring This route is packed with options for family activities including Dudley Zoo and Drayton Manor Park. 4. The Grand Ring Starting at Gayton, Northamptonshire, this route takes two weeks to complete. Visit places such as Hampton Court Palace and Little Venice. 5. Edinburgh This cruise starts via the Falkirk Wheel and the new Rough Castle Tunnel. The rock-hewn section of Falkirk Tunnel is a treat for the budding geologist. 6. The South Pennine Ring The recently restored Huddersfield Narrow Canal crosses the Pennines and completes the south Pennine Ring. 7. Shropshire Union Canal If this is your first canal boat outing or you are looking for a relaxing trip, this route is ideal.

Experience 22 miles of lock-free cruising, one of the longest distances in the UK waterways

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re:discover the Llangynidr Farmers’ Market offers fresh local and organic produce between 10.30am and 1.30pm. Mark Doe, manager at Goytre Wharf Boat Hire and Marina Services says, “I would encourage people to spend at least a few days at Five Locks. The walk routes are great and the views are absolutely spectacular. There are also a couple of nice family-run pubs within easy walking distance from the canal.” To finish, a visit to Brecon, the last mooring on the route, is essential on your narrowboat holiday. This route offers some of the best views of the Brecon Beacons and Pen-Y-Fan, the highest point in the southern part of Britain. It’s a great place to explore the National Park, with walking routes and cycle hire available. Bikes and Hikes offers mountain bikes for adults and children for between £15 and £20 per day. Hayley Shurmer, marketing and sales manager at ABC Leisure Group, which operates hire fleets such as the one in Goytre Wharf, says, “Last year, my partner and I hired a boat from Goytre Wharf at Easter and cruised the amazing Monmouthshire and Brecon canal: it was truly breathtaking. I’d recommend our customers to go.” For more information on the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal or to book a holiday, visit www.goytrewharf.com.

Top 20 canal boat essentials

Trudi Hawes, who works at Waterways Holidays, which offers UK canal boat trips, has listed the top 20 essentials for a beginner’s canal boat holiday:

1. Torches for darkened towpaths during the evening 2. Big umbrella for any rain 3. Trainers/non-slip shoes 4. Baseball cap to shield your eyes from the sunlight 5. Camera 6. Binoculars 7. A map of your canal route 8. Air freshener for the bathroom 9. Raincoat 10. Extra towels 11. Dried or tinned foods 12. Sunglasses 13. Bottled water (if preferred) 14. Extra toilet rolls 15. Name, address and telephone number for the boat yard 16. Cushions for interior comfort 17. Bread, butter, snacks, drinks and breakfast items 18. Long-sleeved top (wind-factor) 19. Hand cream 20. A sense of humour

Helen and Paul Garfield have lived on their canal boat, Barrogill, for four years:

“We downsized from a six-bedroom house with one-and-three-quarter acres of land because we own Clifton Cruisers, a boat hire company, and it’s easier to live on the job. The best thing about living on a narrowboat is how cosy it is. “It may be small, but it’s very comfortable and homely. We had it built specially for us so the rooms are the sizes we wanted,” says Helen. “The worst thing about living on a canal boat is that it gets dirty quickly because there are no doors. “We moor at Rugby where there is a cement factory nearby, so living in a confined boat it can get very dusty, but the good thing is it’s not difficult to clean as there’s not a lot of space. It’s also frustrating that you are limited in what you can buy. I often see pretty things but think, ‘that won’t fit in the boat’. But I enjoy living on a boat; it’s definitely an experience. I’d advise anyone who is planning a canal boat holiday to take warm clothes – whatever time of year. We all know how temperamental the British weather can be.”

The Monmouthshire and Brecon canal is set entirely in the glorious views of the Brecon Beacons National Park

Half a world away

Secluded bathing at the Mermaid Pool; Art Deco elegance in the Shrimp Room; Lunchtime drinks overlooking the sea, at the Pilchard Inn

Take a closer look at the peace and luxury of Burgh Island with Emma Davies

Photos: This page (top) Burgh Island Hotel, Mustique Jason Pratt@Flickr, Opposite page (bottom) ABC Leisure Group, (top) Helen Garfield

espite the fact that it’s located just 250 metres from the south Devon mainland, arriving at Burgh Island is somewhat akin to tumbling through the rabbit hole to Wonderland. This tiny island is isolated from the mainland at high tide, so getting there involves a trip on the hotel’s unique ‘sea tractor’ – a fascinating, amphibious vehicle which makes its bouncy way across the causeway. Once you do arrive, expect to find luxury. “We went in May last year. We were really lucky, the whole weekend we were there was really good weather,” explains 58-yearold Jan Green. “We just stayed the one night; it was a birthday treat. I would really recommend it for something special.” A trip to Burgh Island undoubtedly feels like a proper event; this is not your average luxury hotel. Once you ascend the craggy path, you happily step out of the real world for a day or two. The hotel only receives limited mobile reception and has no television sets in its rooms, so it’s ideal for those wanting a complete getaway from the outside world. This sense of being a world away is also present in the hotel’s décor. Burgh Island Hotel is renowned for its 1920s Art Deco stylings, including the beautiful stained glass ceiling of the Peacock Bar. Agatha Christie used to frequent the island in the Thirties and even wrote some of her novels

in the hotel’s beach house – the hotel has since been used as the filming locations for numerous Christie adaptations. But this opulent experience comes at a price – rooms start at £360 per night for a double room – including breakfast and dinner. Eighty per cent of the ingredients used in Burgh Island’s kitchen are sourced from within a 20 mile radius of the island. “The dinner was absolutely splendid; it was really lovely,” says Jan. “Because it’s locally-sourced, you know it's very fresh, and it's brilliantly presented.” The island also has more to offer; a games lounge, croquet lawn and spa, as well a separate pub, The Pilchard Inn. Originally a smugglers’ inn, built in 1336, the Pilchard serves casual lunches and dinners, with gorgeous views of the coastline. “It's right next to a sandy beach, and the views of the sea are wonderful,” says Jan’s husband, 62-year-old Peter. “We had some wonderful seafood baguettes – we went at lunchtime – and they do a nice pint there.” If you’re looking to book a special weekend away, be it for a birthday, an anniversary or just to give yourself the treat you deserve, Burgh Island may be the lavish Wonderland you’ve been looking for. “They do everything to make sure you have the perfect stay,” concludes Jan. “It really makes you feel like you've been spoilt.” For sample menus, room information and full tariffs, visit www.burghisland.com

Looking for somewhere further afield? Mustique offers the ultimate in island luxury

A 1,400-acre private island in the South Caribbean with just 65 villas, Mustique isn’t a cheap getaway. Villas start at around $5,000 per week, even in low season, but it does promise extreme seclusion and relaxation. Hire a ‘Mustique mule’ – a heavy-duty golf cart which is the favoured means of getting about – and head to Basil’s Bar for a laid-back dinner of fresh seafood. For more information on the accommodation that Mustique offers, visit www.mustique-island.com. Book flights between Gatwick and Barbados at www.britishairways.com and cost around £600 return per person. Flights to Mustique from Barbados can be booked with accommodation, and are priced at $495 return per person.

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re:discover The Funky Pirate, New Orleans, hosts nightly jazz

Walk the line New Orleans, the Big Easy It’s difficult to know where to start when talking about New Orleans (or “Nu Awlins”). On the one hand, it’s a city of 24hour partying, hedonism and never-ending nights; on the other, it’s a careworn mix of beautiful but crumbling old Spanish colonial buildings and cobbled streets. But who can forget August 2005, when Hurricane Katrina tore through the city, leaving it stripped and vulnerable? Even now, some neighbourhoods still lie flat on the ground, and watermarks can be seen on the buildings that withstood the force. But in the good humour that comes easily in this city, you can buy a “hurricane” cocktail for a couple of dollars on Bourbon Street. The city: New Orleans has a reputation for being a dangerous place, and for certain parts, that’s true. While the French Quarter

is the most touristy, and probably the most safe, walking even a few blocks outside of it is considered putting your personal safety at risk. Taking a guide with you when visiting other neighbourhoods is recommended, and always use a taxi when travelling at night. But don’t let this put you off: the French Quarter is a truly beautiful part of town and where most of the action lies. The area is only 13 blocks wide, but packs in much between each stuccoed wall and cast iron balcony. It’s shambolic but charming, and very hard not to fall in love with. On the south edge lies the Mississippi, the Big Muddy. On warm, damp days, it steams and in crisp sunshine, it glistens, shimmering off the densely-lined streets for an absolutely majestic view. The music: No trip to the French Quarter is possible without acknowledging the music. Sounds pour out of every doorway in this city, which was the birth place of jazz.

Louis Armstrong was born in the Uptown district of New Orleans, a few miles from the French Quarter, and achieved extraordinary status as a trumpet player in the 1920s. His early style was influenced by Creole music – a type of folk music native to southwest Louisiana, played by descendents of the French and Spanish settlers. Nowadays, you’ll find brass bands playing on street corners and too many jazz clubs to ever discover in one visit. Preservation Hall is a must-see venue: even though it has no bar or toilets, it’s by far the best place to watch traditional jazz. Eat: New Orleans is the place to eat. Make sure you try gumbo and jambalaya, two traditional Creole dishes. Also order the deep fried crocodile in corn flour at Bayona on Dauphine Street. Stay: The French Quarter is your best bet; Hotel Monteleone on Royal Street is one of its oldest, most handsome landmarks.

Photos: All Josie Allchin

Music might just be the one thing that binds the United States together. Josie Allchin invites you back to the days of jazz, blues and country music with a trip to the Deep South

Memphis, home of the blues Memphis is a modest city compared to most. Parts of downtown could easily be mistaken for anywhere else in the States – and on a grey day, this pillar of the Deep South looks anything but magical. But it’s a place you have to get a feel for – and, once you find its rhythm, Memphis is steeped in both history and atmosphere – again, not just musical. Martin Luther King was born and assassinated here, and the city played a major part in the civil rights movement. Beale Street is the main thoroughfare running through the centre, and was once the city’s musical and multicultural hub, oozing with the Blues, bars and theatres in its 1920s glory days. The music: Memphis isn’t all about Elvis, but his presence in the city is unavoidable. 10 miles from downtown is Graceland, which, despite being an obvious tourist trap, is worth the $30 entry fee. For something a lot more intimate, head back to downtown and visit Sun Studios on Union Avenue. Started by music producer Sam Phillips in 1950 as a way to capture the sounds of Beale Street, this unassuming brick building was host to Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, all of whom recorded demos here. The tours don’t last long because it’s so small, but the sense of history is truly awe-inspiring. Beale Street is still lined with blues bars and there’s live music every night – you’ll almost certainly stumble across something special, whether it’s someone playing slide guitar with a beer bottle or an impromptu duet. Go to BB King’s Blues Club on Beale Street for authentic blues and dancing.

Downtown Nashville

Beale Street, Memphis

Eat: Memphis is the self-proclaimed “barbeque capital of the world”, so eating ribs at one of the city’s grills is a must. Try The Rendezvous, tucked away down General Washburn Alley downtown. Portions are big and so is the atmosphere. Stay: The Peabody Hotel on Union Avenue is an iconic landmark famed for its mascot ducks, who are marched to and from the foyer’s fountain every morning and evening.

Nashville, country music capital of the world Nashville gives the impression of being a lot less nostalgic about its history. The city is now one of the South’s biggest financial and manufacturing centres, but that’s not to say that the musical heritage isn’t there, quite the opposite, the city just seems to have an air of acceptance which allows it to carry on, giving it a more suburban feel than others. All along Broadway, the street running through the middle of downtown, stand bright, flickery neon lights advertising honky-tonk bars, country music bars and live music venues. Remember to order a Jack Daniels and Coke (the distillery is just 70 miles south of the city, in Lynchburg), where your glass will be more Jack than Coke. The music: Nashville’s musical legacy begins with The Grand Ole Oprey – one of the world’s longest running

radio shows, first broadcast from the city on the WSM radio station in 1925. To this day, it showcases the best in country music and bluegrass, and was so popular that it had to move through a succession of venues to accommodate the growing number of people who came to see sets from Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Elvis Presley. The Grand Ole Oprey is now broadcast from a $15 million studio in Oprey Land USA (an amusement park opened in the show’s honour), which seats 4,400 people. It was on this show that radio personality David Cobb announced Nashville to be “Music City, USA.” The Country Music Hall of Fame is a spectacular museum housing everything a country music lover would want to see, plus a neverending wall of country music records plated in gold. Back on Broadway is the Earnest Tubb Record Store, where they sell vintage and rare country music on vinyl, as well as displaying original costumes from Grand Ole Oprey shows. The Hatch Show Print, a short walk away, is a small, historic printing press that used to, and still continues to, make concert posters for touring musicians. Now the city is home to the offices of several major record companies, and RCA (the label that bought Elvis from Sun Studios in 1955) still chooses to keep Nashville as its headquarters for its country music division’s headquarters. Eat: Many country music venues also double up at restaurants, so try Sulter’s on Franklin Pike for the beer and cheese soup, and Robert’s Western World on Broadway for rockabilly in a venue that’s a cowboy boot shop during the day. Stay: Sadly, Nashville is full of chain hotels, so leave individuality up to the music venues. Best Western, Days Inn and Holiday Inn all have places near downtown.

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recipes and ideas to tempt your taste buds

Fine dining at The Marquis The Marquis at Alkham is a rising star among British restaurants

Charles Lakin’s gorse flower crème brulée with Earl Grey sorbet and roast strawberries Serves 4; Preparation time: 3-4 hours; Cooking time: 2 hours

For the brulée 250ml double cream 150ml full-fat milk 8g gorse flowers 4 egg yolks 50g caster sugar, plus a little to caramelise For the sorbet 500ml boiling water 80g caster sugar 1/5g loose Earl Grey tea leaves 125ml lemon juice 35g honey For the roast strawberries 50g sugar 100ml water 12 large strawberries 15g butter

Reader’s review

Nina Stick, 55, Ipswich: “The sorbet had a lovely fresh taste that went perfectly with the brulée and strawberries. I improvised a bit by freezing the sorbet without an ice-cream machine and didn’t flame the strawberries because I didn’t have a blowtorch. I prepared the sorbet and the brulée in advance so that on the day all I had to do was prepare the strawberries. The dish tasted absolutely delightful; I can only imagine how good it would have been if I had used the proper equipment.”

To find how you to get your hands on a £10 voucher for The Marquis at Alkham, visit re:new’s website at www.journalism.cf.ac.uk/renew 32

The Marquis at Alkham has two AA rosettes

Major renovations were completed in 2008

1. Gorse flowers can be picked in spring; dry them out in a warm cupboard and they will keep for a couple of months if stored properly. 2. For the sorbet, mix all of the ingredients together, leave to infuse for five minutes, pass through a fine sieve and leave to cool. When cooled, churn in an ice cream machine until frozen. 3. For the brulée, heat the cream, milk and gorse flowers together and leave to infuse for two hours. Mix the egg yolks and sugar, warm the cream and add to the yolk mixture. Pour the mixture into prepared moulds and place in a water bath in a preheated oven at 150°C for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. 4. For the strawberries, boil the sugar and water together to form a syrup. Remove the stalks and cook eight strawberries for one minute with the syrup. Remove and leave to cool. Add the remaining four strawberries, bring back to the boil and puree to make a coulis for the plate. 5. To serve, cut the strawberries in half and place in a small dish with the butter in a hot oven. Remove after one and a half minutes, turn over and repeat the cooking process. Dust the tops of the brulee with caster sugar and lightly blowtorch to form a caramel crust. Drizzle a little coulis on the plate, arrange the strawberry halves on the plate and pop a scoop of the sorbet on the side. Serve with the brulee immediately. MV

Photos: Top three: The Marquis at Alkham; Bottom two: Mia Valimaki

Yorkshireman Lakin was formerly head chef at the Feversham Arms at Helmsley

This month’s guest chef is Charles Lakin, head chef at The Marquis at Alkham, a critically-acclaimed restaurant near Dover. Lakin previously worked as a sous chef at The Star Inn in Harome, one of the few Michelin-starred pubs in Britain. It is little wonder, then, that The Marquis was recently named a rising star in the latest edition of the prestigious Michelin guide. It is also a boutique hotel with five ensuite bedrooms. Prices start at £65 per night, including breakfast. Be sure to sample the delights of The Marquis and its beautiful countryside surroundings before the crowds beat you to it. But if you can’t it make down to the garden of England, Lakin has provided re:new with a delicious dessert recipe that you can make at home. www.themarquisatalkham.co.uk

Photo: Angharad Jones

Pot your greens Flex your green fingers and have a go at growing delicious ingredients without being a slave to your garden

other Nature can be a cruel mistress, and never more so than in your own back garden, mocking you as she blights your poor little patch of earth with frost, arid soil, moles, slugs and various other mischeivous creatures of all shapes and sizes. And, of course, next door have 20 square feet of perfectly pH-balanced and abundantly fertile earth that yields prize-winning turnips, olives and strawberries, regardless of geography or weather. Oh, the injustice. That’s why it’s time to stand up to Mother Nature, pick up a trowel and start planting some pots. Garden pots are no longer for pansies and primroses; with a little bit of perseverance and some love, a pot can provide the ingredients for anything from a spring salad to a Sunday roast. Rob Underwood, manager of Pugh’s Garden Village in Cardiff, promises that any vegetables or herbs can be grown in a pot, if you care for them properly. “Anything you can grow in the ground, you can grow in a pot, but remember, in a pot, the veg only has what you give it, so look after them.” Here are Rob’s tips on how to get started: Vegetables are fussy eaters Vegetables need food that is high in phosphorus and potash to promote root growth, and some added nitrates to regulate leafy growth. Adjust the food depending on what you’re growing, as salad leaves need more nitrates, whereas root vegetables like a bit more phosphorus in their diet.

Choose the deepest pots you can find If you want to give your crops the best chance to thrive, they need space to grow roots to get all the goodness out of the compost you give them. For anything to grow properly, pots need to be at least a foot deep. If you are using terracotta pots, soak them overnight before filling with compost, so they do not soak up all the water meant for your new crops. Set up a drainage system Just as you would with flowers, you need to put in a layer of old pottery pieces, stones or bits of polystyrene underneath the compost so that you don’t end up with a boggy, waterlogged mess. Beware herb bullies Herbs of all descriptions can be grown in and amongst your vegetables in their pots, as they usually grow in a fairly manageable way and won’t overcrowd their pot-fellows. Not so with mint, however. Mint is notorious for its vigour and will spread over the surface area of any pot it is planted in. To solve this, pot the mint in its own, smaller, plastic pot to contain the roots before burying it in amongst your other crops. Seasonal planting The middle of April is the ideal time to plant potatoes. About now they should be chitting; little green shoots should be sprouting out of the eyes. They can then be planted when the ground softens later

on this month. If you want to try growing out of season, you will need to create some shelter for your pots, so think about buying either a tree-shelter or some windbreak netting from your local garden centre. One compost suits all There are special veg-growing and pot composts available, but any multi-purpose compost will do the job. The food in the compost will only last six weeks, so you will need to start adding your own after that. Water, water everywhere According to experts, even a heavy downpour isn’t enough to fully water a deep pot, so make sure that you water them with a watering can or hose pipe at least every other day. Start planting Salad leaves are a good starting point, as you’ll see results fairly quickly. Carrots, swedes and parsnips are tougher to get going, but once they do, they’re resilient and easy to maintain. Get a babysitter If you’re going away, make sure you ask a neighbour to water your pots for you or, alternatively, you can install a watering system. Usually involving timed taps and sprinkler systems, these can end up being extremely expensive and, as this is all about simplicity, it’s probably time to call in that favour from next door. AJ

re:new

re:flect

iconic moments from the past worth revisiting

Down on the farm

This year, Glastonbury Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary. Ruth Harrison catches up with the dairy farmer who started it all

“I’ve never actually slept in a tent before. Can you believe it?” laughs Michael Eavis, the man behind Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts. Having nearly 180,000 people descend on your land, laden with two-man tents, crates of foreign beer and multi-coloured flags,

away at it for 40 years now. The people that are involved pour their heart and soul into it and it just works. People go about it as though it’s a way of life for them. It’s not just a job and that’s what makes it different.” Things have changed since the Seventies: licensing laws have been introduced to

and, when we started Glastonbury, we decided to support the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. It was a passion, but after 10 years, we moved to Greenpeace as that seemed a little bit less political,” recalls Eavis. One of the world’s most influential people, according to Time magazine, Eavis has been responsible for staging some of the best live music in Britain, including David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Blur and Oasis. But, for Eavis, the most exciting line-up lies in the future, with the next challenge. “The best line-up is always the one that’s coming up for me. You move on, you see; last year’s festival is over. The Smiths in the Eighties were terrific, but they didn’t last long, did they?” This year’s festival will see a mosaic of performers headline, including U2, Stevie Wonder and Muse. Does Eavis have any plans to retire? “Who told you that? No, there is no truth in that at all.” Forget King Arthur: Avalon has a new king.

restrict performing hours and metal gates have been constructed to deter the gatecrashers who flooded the festival during the late Nineties. But the spirit of Glastonbury survives. It differs from other music festivals in the UK by retaining its sense of community rather than commercialism. Part of this has sprung from Eavis’ insistence on donating most of the profits to charity. “In the Sixties, we felt that nuclear war was imminent and dangerous and wanted to do something about it. So, we started going to demonstrations in London The home of the UK’s biggest festival

Photos: HS

40 years on, Eavis is still on top of his game

is not every 74-year-old’s idea of a good weekend, but for Eavis it is the climax of a year of preparation and expectation. Glastonbury Festival is situated in the rolling hills of mythical Avalon. Embedded in the Somerset countryside are tales of epic battles, regal kings and legendary fairytales. And, for one weekend in June, the village of Pilton is transformed into something magical. Tens of thousands of people, young and old, friends and families, make the pilgrimage to Glastonbury in search of escapism and good music. Heavily influenced by hippy ethics, Glastonbury laid down its roots the day after Jimi Hendrix died in 1970. About 1,500 people turned up at Worthy Farm, paid a fee of £1 and were given free milk straight from Eavis’ herd of Friesians. Forty years on, the eccentric dairy farmer still cannot put his finger on why the festival is such a huge success. “I just have no idea,” Eavis murmurs. “We have just been churning

re:spond

share your views on last month’s issue

Readers’ letters Star Letter

A GREAT NEW MAGAZINE I really enjoyed the second issue of re:new. Being of a certain age, which fits your demographic, it was great to find a magazine that didn’t think I should be sat in a rocking chair knitting, but one that was full of positive, interesting and sometimes thought-provoking articles. Having decided to grow old disgracefully, I’m now going to run a marathon naked while listening to Mumford & Sons on my iPod or, conversely try my hand at Twitter. Thank you for a most enjoyable read – roll on the next issue. ANNE HAYES

Thank you for your letter, Anne. A Molton Brown gift pack is on its way to you.

SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT I was very impressed with what I read in the last issue of re:new. It has the makings of a magazine that is a little bit different from the competition, but still mainstream enough to attract a wide audience. It doesn’t dwell too much on the antics of celebrities, but looks at the things its readers get up to, might get up to or aspire to. This is not a heavyweight magazine one feels you have to read from cover to cover, but there is sufficient interest to justify buying it. Well done. CHRIS BRYDONE

THE WORLD IS OUR OYSTER I’m writing to say how much I enjoyed the second edition of re:new. It’s visually stunning and the variety of content guarantees that there’s something there for every reader. Many congratulations to all the team. It’s great that you’ve put together a magazine for us. Don’t forget that many of us have been planning for retirement for some time and for us, the lucky ones who have our health and a pension, the world is our oyster. Where shall we go this year? New Zealand? Botswana? I didn’t have a Gap Year but I’m making up for it now. Good luck with the next edition – I look forward to reading it. VIVIEN MCCOUBREY

MORE ON MONEY ISSUES? The magazine looks great: professional and appealing. But what about investments – making our money go further? With the state of pensions, the recession and saving, it is really worrying. How about covering people continuing to work even though they’re retired? You know, what options are available and whether it’s worth it financially and emotionally. ROBERT BENTLEY

WE’RE NOT A GENERATION OF HALF-WITS At last, a magazine aimed at my generation which doesn’t patronise. The articles are concise, clearly-written and ask the questions the reader would like answered. I particularly liked the article ‘The Ups and Downs of Viagra’. It was very informative and, by covering the subject through the alphabet, it was easy to read and answered a lot of questions on its use and possible side-effects. Too many magazines aimed at the older generation fall into the trap of treating their readers as a decaying and decrepit bunch of half-wits, who are only interested in shuffling around just waiting to die. Well done, re:new: you realise we have a lot more to offer and that we are enjoying our retirement. LYNDA JOHNSON

A BRIEF “WELL-DONE” What stands out about re:new is the journalism – the subjects covered are wide-ranging and topical, and the pictures are of a very high standard. LIZ AND CHRIS SLOANE

RE: THE LIFELINE OF LANGUAGE I found this article interesting, and understand the concerns regarding the loss of languages. However, the advent of the internet has doubtlessly hastened the demise of some of these, due to English becoming the global language. Unfortunately, many more will become extinct in the coming years. The success of reviving the Welsh language must be attributed to diehard Welsh Nationalists, primarily Plaid Cymru, backed by the retention of cultural events such as St David’s Day. This is embraced by the majority of the nation, not forgetting a willingness of successive UK governments to financially back various Welsh Language Acts. All in all, the article was well-written and thought-provoking, as were many in this edition of re:new. Good luck for future issues. IAN BLAKE

Let us know what you think. The star letter next issue will recieve this sleek and stylish Samsung ES17 Digital Camera. Submit your letters online to our website at www.journalism.cf.ac.uk/renew or email us at enquiries.renew@googlemail.com

re:new

A year to remember Guess the year the following events took place and enter our online competition to be in with a chance to win a crate of 12 handcrafted chocolate wheat beers (4.9 per cent) courtesy of Artisan Brewing Co. in Cardiff. Enter at www.journalism.cf.ac.uk/renew

Lead vocalist for the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, was charged £200 for possession of cannabis; he claimed a police Detective Sergeant Constable offered an escape if he paid £1,000.

2 Photos: courtesy of Maly LOLek and Yurry Cortes @ Flickr

A feral child named Genie was taken into care by social workers in Los Angeles, California after being kept in solitary confinement since birth.

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The British-built Concorde took its first supersonic flight, reaching speeds of 700 mph.

Black Sabbath released their eponymous debut album, which was panned by critics but became a great commercial success. It’s now highly regarded by many and seen as the first heavy metal album.

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Mungo Jerry hit the top spot of the charts with single ‘In the Summertime’ and stayed there for seven weeks. In the United States, President Richard Nixon reduced the voting age from 21 to 18.

Odd electronic musical Janis Joplin was found dead instrument the Stylophone was from an overdose of heroin in introduced to the masses thanks the Landmark Motor Hotel by to endorsement from Rolf Harris. her road manager John Cooke. Monty Python’s Flying Circus came to our television screens. It was so poorly received by the British public that it was replaced by a farming show in the Midlands.

The Universal Product Code (UPC) design for the barcode was agreed on as industry standard, and is used to this day.