Retired
Manchester Retirement Show 2011
ESTHER RANTZEN Broadcaster, Charity Campaigner and Strictly Come Dancing star now 70 shows little sign of slowing down
INSIDE GARDEN YEAR ROUND COLOUR IN CONTAINERS
LEISURE THE BEAUTY IN THE BALEARICS
READER OFFERS HOLIDAY DISCOUNT VOUCHER FROM ROBINSONS HOLIDAYS WIN ONE OF TEN GLORIA HUNNIFORD'S GLORIOUS GRANDPARENTING BOOKS
RICK STEIN
SHARES HIS FAVOURITE DISHES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 55S | WWW.RETIREDMAGAZINES.CO.UK
Communities with a difference There is a groundswell of opinion that a person’s choice of housing should not label the person or their abilities. Indeed, this was the belief underpinning the creation of Belong villages; an ambitious project launched by CLS Care Services, specialists in dementia care and one of the largest providers of care homes in the North West. Just over a year down the line and Belong villages in Macclesfield and Wigan are beginning to attract national attention for their success in delivering a radically different model of both housing and care. For one, they have been designed around the needs of the very frail 85 plus sector of the population.
A Home For Life Chief Executive, Nick Dykes, explains: “There are plenty of retirement villages out there for people over 55 who are able to lead reasonably active lives, but far fewer services designed for the growing population of very frail people over 85. We had successfully pioneered a new ‘household’ model of care in our traditional care homes, but could not take this as far as we wanted because of the limitations of older buildings. In Belong, we were given a blank sheet of paper and were able to create mixed village communities that, for the first time, are able to accommodate the full spectrum of people’s needs.” Customers can choose to live independently in village apartments, or enjoy a high level of support in the households. Even then, the level of support varies according to customers’ needs, from residential through nursing to high dependency dementia care. The idea behind this is that villages should offer a home for life, with flexibility for customers to access different services should their needs change.
Belong Atherton preview days will take place on 24th, 25th and 26th March. Book early to reserve your place.
Bringing people in Beyond this, strong links to other organisations have seen the village bring together a wide cross-section of the community, from toddler and baby groups through school teachers to memory clinics, creating a true sense of village life and, with it, opportunities for interaction with people of different ages and backgrounds. Nick Dykes affirms the importance of this aspect. “One of the criticisms commonly levelled at retirement village type communities is that they are very insular. What we have been able to achieve in Belong is a more outward looking facility that has succeeded in bringing people in from the local community, whether just for a coffee or to join in activities on offer. Residents are equally flexible in the extent they choose to join in village life. Indeed, privacy and dignity are frequently cited amongst the best aspects of life in one of our villages.” Along with the ethos of Belong villages, the design of the building itself takes the lead from the needs of older people who live in them. Smaller households of around a dozen residents means a family atmosphere is achievable, and that residents are well understood and known to their carers. In particular, the design and layout of these households supports easy orientation and ‘visibility’, as well as secure access to the outdoors. It was developed by architects, Pozzoni, world leaders in the creation of spaces for older people around a concept of ‘personal architecture’. More than a nice building and more than a luxurious retirement village, for the first time Belong has successfully created a village able to support an increasingly diverse population.
New village opens in Atherton in spring 2011, and modern apartments to be completed at Belong Wigan.
Belong Crewe, Brookhouse Drive, Crewe, Cheshire CW2 6NA • Belong Macclesfield, Kennedy Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 3DE
New developments coming soon to Wigan and Atherton Belong villages break the mould in creating environments actively chosen by older people. From stylish apartments to modern suites in family-sized households with 24-hour care, our award-winning villages have an option to suit your needs and preferences. We even provide a home care service for people who wish to remain at home - but need that extra bit of help. This spring, more people will have the opportunity to choose Belong as we open a new village in Atherton and a complex of modern apartments at Belong Wigan. Our team of dedicated, enthusiastic and empathetic individuals are highly trained in person-centred approaches to care; and we are leaders in supporting people with dementia.
Belong Wigan show apartment available from 1st March
All customers, as well as members of the community, have access to our village facilities including a bistro, hair and beauty salon, exercise studio and community centre with licensed bar.
Your life, your pace, your way. To arrange a personal tour of a Belong village or to find out more about our domiciliary service, Belong at Home, call:
0800 032 2266 or visit www.belong.org.uk
Belong Wigan, Millers Lane, Platt Bridge, Wigan WN2 5DD • Belong Atherton, Mealhouse Lane, Atherton, Greater Manchester M46 0EW
Welcome to the second edition of Retired magazine which we have published specially for the North West Retirement show 2011.
in this issue
9-10
In this issue we are proud to include an interview with the ever busy Esther Rantzen who surprised us all last year when she stood for election in Luton South. We also have recipes from Rick Stein’s Coast To Coast cookery book for you to try out at home so please sit back and enjoy a good read, perhaps with a cup of tea and a slice of Rick’s treacle tart! Graham Smith’s Twittering On is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud and brighten your day, he’s our regular columnist so don’t forget to pick up your local copy of Retired from a supermarket near you every 6 months to keep up to date with his accurate and hilarious observations on life.
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To ensure that you obtain a copy why not subscribe yearly at a cost of only £3.40 - see details below.
Travel & Leisure
Food & Drink
9-10 The Beauty in the Balearics 16-17 Adventurous Gap Years for the Older Generation 24-25 Peace of Mind Motoring with Motability
47-48 Rick Stein's Coast to Coast Recipes
Health 50
Regulars 8
Graham Smith Twittering on. 20-21 Celebrity Interview That's Esther's life
A Free Service to Help you live with a healthy heart
Home 26
Quality Windows and Doors with massive savings
16-17
28-29 Reduce your fuel bills with Thermseal
Finance 55
Ensure that you and your family enjoy a trouble free retirement
To subscribe to your local Retired Magazine visit us on-line at www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
Living life to the full At Homecare Support our mission is to make life a little easier by extending that helping hand when life does not run just quite to plan; being there for you for something as simple as helping you get over an operation, to being your companion and carer on a more sustained basis. With our wide experience and local knowledge we can help carers and the cared-for with the vital advice and guidance on getting access to this much needed support. We know our way around the care system, what financial support and information is available and how to make it work for you.
We can tailor-make a care package for you or your loved one that delivers what you want, when you want it. We cover all areas of personal and domestic care, specialist care and support following an operation or illness, urgent support at short notice and companionship and assistance during a vacation. Our team of experienced care professionals will be glad to adapt and tailor the support to suit you and your needs. We operate throughout the North West region, including Trafford, Manchester, Stockport, Cheshire, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Tameside, Liverpool and surrounding areas, Runcorn and Widnes.
Here for you because...
We care
Call us now FREE on 0800 1244150 for further information as to how Homecare Support can help you or your loved one or alternatively go to www.homecaresupport.co.uk 4
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
CARE HOME NHS REFUNDS! It is estimated that about two thirds of the 150,000 in nursing homes who pay for their own care should be funded by the NHS that's around 100,000 paying unnecessarily
Claims backdated to 2004 Review current assessment Save £1000’s on care home fees We fight your case for you Stress free consultation Specialists in care home refunds We can also help you save on inheritance tax by guiding you through the most tax efficient methods of estate planning and the writing of a will which ensures that your estate passes to those you intend to receive it.
Recent cases include backdated payments of up to £165,000 where the family home was sold to help pay for care. Others included a refund of £130,000 because the NHS deemed the problems ‘social’ rather than ‘health’ related. If you feel that you have been incorrectly charged, speak to one of our specialists on:
0844 875 6200
You could claim a refund for fees paid for care that should have been provided free!
Our experience makes yours better Manchester Retirement Show Visit us on stand A9
Far from the madding crowd! As soon as you turn off the lane that winds gently from Garstang towards Nateby, and head into Woodlands Country Park, you begin to experience the almost tangible sense of peace and tranquillity that has put this remarkable rural retreat into a class of its own.
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Quietly situated amid 40 acres of rolling Lancashire countryside, yet within easy reach of local amenities, it’s easy to see why Woodlands has become one of the most sought-after locations in the county – as well as one of its best-kept secrets! While it’s fair to say that Woodlands definitely started out with a natural advantage - occupying a truly idyllic setting with a beautiful rural outlook and scenic vistas in every direction - the park’s success is largely down to a well-thought-out design that cleverly makes the most of its best features. The landscape provides the ideal backdrop for the lodges that populate it, the level grassland punctuated here and there by shady wooded copses, and criss-crossed by a meandering network of lakes and waterways – all of which, incidentally, make the perfect habitat for countless species of indigenous birds, animals and fish. Woodlands is home to an established community of luxury lodges that have been chosen to perfectly complement their stunning environment. And, because the park is open throughout the year, lodge owners have plenty of opportunity to enjoy the pleasures of each season.
Imagine sunny summer days relaxing in the garden or cosying up in front of the fire after a brisk winter walk with friends and family! The lodges are customised to suit purchasers’ individual requirements and purpose-built for comfortable occupancy, whatever the weather. Classic timber-clad exteriors are matched by imaginatively designed contemporary interiors, fully furnished and featuring elegant kitchens and bathrooms. Parking is plentiful and landscaping completely bespoke. Each lodge has its own appeal – some include large gardens, others boast a magnificent waterfront position with expansive decking running right to the water’s edge – but all enjoy the yearround delights of Woodlands’ unique setting. And, with nature all around and the delights of the Lake District and ancient Forest of Bowland within easy reach - not to mention the many quaint local market towns that offer unique shopping and dining experiences - it also makes the perfect base for exploring this wonderfully diverse region.
Woodlands Country Park Skitham Lane, Pilling, Lancashire PR3 6BD T 01995 601100 W www.woodlandscountrypark.com E natalie@woodlandscountrypark.com
The only way to get a real feel for life here at Woodlands is by visiting and experiencing the environment in person. If you ring and let us know you’re coming, we can arrange a tour of the park, take you round one of our show homes and give you information on any available plots.
Twittering on by Graham Smith The drain brain
Rough deal for Afghans
I should probably be grateful to have a house with a water feature but I don’t think mine is going to make the Sunday newspaper Ideal Home pages.
A flagship Tory Council referred a group of refugees from Afghanistan to a local club for advice. Trouble was the Southern Afghan Club in London turned out to be a dog club which ran shows for Afghan Hound enthusiasts!
For some years now, when it rains, we have a beautiful fountain which cascades up from the pavement outside and then gushes musically down the grate. Trouble is half of it then gushes into our cellar before being chucked out again by the pump we had to install. Bradford Council are perplexed. They once sent along a very senior officer for land drainage who produced form his pocket two modern, state of the art divining rods. After walking up and down the street like a demented American witch doctor he proudly announced that the water turned left at our house. We knew that! They put coloured dye down the drains outside the chip shop 100 yards away and convinced us that the pavement fountain would turn yellow within the day. This would prove that the water was coming off the nearby moor’s water course. Four years later we’re still waiting for the dye to come through and plan to keep piranhas in the cellar before calling the official back. Recently our water feature became perfumed. A definite scent of eau de canal pervaded the living room at various times of day. Even the dog looked at us suspiciously from behind her gas mask so we decided it was time for the council again. They sent a very pleasant man who thought next door’s waste pipe could be leaking into our cellar. Well why not, everything else was? He introduced himself to the neighbours and put yellow dye down their loo and then red dye down ours. There was a firm promise that we would see the dye come up via the cellar pump within 24 hours. If it was yellow it was their smell, red and it was ours. Of course none appeared. The smell comes and goes now and the highly qualified officials have decided it must be “ingressing” through the walls.
A spokesman for Hammersmith and Fulham Council apologised for the gaffe. I bet he was in the dog house.
One in the eye for the idiots Binge drinking on cheap supermarket booze has become one of the scourges of our society. Now a brain dead minority has decided that pouring vodka into your eyes gets you drunk more quickly. If that isn’t enough a local BBC radio station insulted the majority of its listeners’ intelligence by bringing on an optician to explain why this was dangerous. Do me a favour. “Here’s mud in your eye”, used to be a drinking salutation. Have these mentally challenged youths misunderstood? Just how daft can they get in dreaming up new ways of doing damage to themselves and others?
If you’re in Bradford and see a man walking down the street covered in yellow and red dye with a divining rod sticking out of his head you know the problem is ongoing. 8
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
TR AVE L
The Beauty in the Balearics The island of Majorca (or Mallorca) is the largest in Spain, and is one of the Balearic Islands located in the warm Mediterranean Sea. Since the package tourism boom of the 1950’s Majorca has been at the forefront of Spanish travel destinations and it’s easy to see why, with wonderful scenery and attractions and being a relatively small island, hiring a car is the perfect way to get around! I stayed for part of my stay in Cala d’Or (meaning Golden Cove) located on the southern half of Majorca’s east coast. It has evolved from a relatively unknown local fishing village into one of the prettiest tourist resorts on the island. It boasts unmistakable charm and is the perfect place for a relaxing seaside holiday (or to invest in a holiday home). The small village and harbour are located in one of the many rocky coves with sandy beaches (calas) that you’ll find all over the pretty east coast. You’ll find many smaller resorts and quaint little villages spread all along this coastline and there’s a very good bus service connecting them. Some places well worth a visit include; Cala Egos, Cala Santanyi, Cala Figuera, Cala Figuera, Cala Llombarts, Puerto Petro, Sa Colonia de Sant Jordi or the isle of Cabrera. Also the Cala d’Or marina is located in the heart of the town with some fine dining restaurants and wonderful yachts.
Alcudia: The remainder of my time was spent on the north coast in Alcudia; a destination to be treasured. With its old town, quaint harbour and wonderful beach (Alcudia boasts one of the longest beaches in Majorca) it’s the ideal place for a calming break in the sun. You’ve got the wonderful Roman ruins and enclosed streets lined with shops and markets. One of Alcudia’s other attractions is the port area. It has an array of restaurants, with traditional Spanish fare, or international, like Indian or Chinese. There are also a few restaurants that serve a taste of back home, like sausage and mash, or fish and chips. Whilst the main resorts are vibrant and colourful with an amazing array of nightclubs, bars and restaurants, the capital Palma still retains some of its historical flavour, with grand mansions and a
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
magnificent Gothic cathedral in its bustling centre. Spectacular rocky mountains and cliffs are the boast of the northwest of the island and I can concur that they do not disappoint!
Sóller: One of the most impressive sights in Sóller is the church designed by a student of the world famous Spanish architect Gaudí, located at the central plaza of the town. The church is open for the public but it is closed during the siesta hours in the afternoon. The central plaza of Sóller is a beautiful backdrop for having a break and enjoying some tapas. There are many nice restaurants and cafes around the plaza. Walking around the old and narrow streets of Sóller is also a great way to explore and experience the beauty of the town. There are lovely small gardens with lemon trees and flowers along the streets and the traffic is so quiet that you can just relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere for a while. If you enjoy longer walks in the nature, you can go for a hiking excursion to the Tramuntana mountains. At the train station of Ferrocarril de Sóller there are free art exhibitions. Recently displaying art works of Joan Miro and Picasso. The fastest driving route from Palma to Sóller is to drive through a tunnel!! Driving through the tunnel costs 6.50 Euro one way, and 11 Euro both ways but it saves a lot of time. The option I chose was to drive though the tunnel one way north from Palma and then to enjoy the scenic mountain coast roads on the way back, which are slower but have some stunning views!
Valldemossa: Sits on the slopes of the Tramuntana mountains. With its olive and almond trees lining cobbled streets it exudes genuine charm. Its popularity however comes from an unusual source. In 1838, the pianist Frederic Chopin and his lover, the writer George Sand, rented a former monk’s cell at the Royal Carthusian Monastery. The couple and their illicit affair were the subject of intense gossip in Paris, so they decided to take refuge in Valldemossa to escape the 19th century equivalent of today’s
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paparazzi! Have your camera close to hand as many A-list stars still have homes here today; Catherine Zeta-Jones has bought a house near the village with husband Michael Douglas so keep your eyes peeled! (Douglas opened the village’s Costa Nord centre where you can hear his narration of an audiovisual history of Majorca).
Best for… EATING The local Majorcan dishes make full use of delicious local almonds, olives, walnuts, and the local tomato called Ramallet, which is native to the island. Breakfast often includes an ensaimada, a delicious spiral yeast bun dusted with icing sugar, yum! For lunch I can recommend the local grimalt cheeses, trampos - vegetable pizza slices, pa’amb oli majorcan bread with garlic, tomato, olive oil and cured ham or cheese. Any real meat lovers may like to try sobrassada! Another great Majorcan dish is obviously tapas, which are combinations of meats and vegetables in sauces, such as meatballs in a delicious spicy sauce, garlic mushrooms, battered squid rings known as Calamares, or if you would like a mixture of different Tapas, then just ask for a Tapas Variadas!!
SLEEPING Majorca resorts are plenty, with a choice of superb family holiday resorts and favourite outdoor leisure resorts. Majorca has a long history of catering for visitors, especially British holidaymakers, and it does it well. High energy nightlife is to be found in Palma de Mallorca, Magaluf and Palma Nova whilst more laid back resorts with a family friendly approach move north to Port de Pollenca, Port de Soller and Port d’Alcudia or along the east coast to the many beautiful Cala’s!
Don’t leave without Taking a ride on the Sóller Tram! A trip into the past is found on the Palma to Sóller railway on the wonderful wooden trams. The tram leaves from the Placa d’Espanya railway station in the centre of Palma and slowly winds its way through 28km of beautiful countryside into the town of Soller. The journey takes about 1 hour 20 minutes and is truly stunning! www.sollertrain.com
Fact file: Driving in Majorca Car hire agencies are easy to find and car hire rates are by no means very expensive. Renting a car will allow you the freedom to witness the beauty of the island at your leisure.
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Some Driving Rules in Majorca: Drive on the right-hand side of the road. It is obligatory for every passenger in the car, not only the driver to wear seat belts.
Helpful tip: I have noticed that the Spanish have been taught to drive on the outside of the roundabout even when they are taking the last turn off so take care!
Flights: Direct flights to Palma from London, Birmingham and Manchester and all the large airports operate several times a day. Palma, although a very large airport, is relatively central, and very flat so will suit the elderly, children and wheelchair users easily.
Climate: The climate is typical of much of the Mediterranean. The summers are very hot, yet in the winter temperatures remain mild and considerably warmer than in Northern Europe. Rainfall is generally fairly low especially during the summer. With fewer tourists the winter is still a good time to visit with reduced rental rates on accommodation. Currency: Euro (EUR)
Language: The visitor will face no language problems in Majorca as most people speak English (of course, your attempts at a little Spanish will be most appreciated). • Hello – Hola! • Goodbye – Adiós! • Please - Por favor • Thank you - Gracias Time zone: GMT + 1 hour
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
More reasons to book with us: Guaranteed 10% off
up to 28/02/2011*
Up to 15% off selected cruise holidays* Double membership points on selected cruise holidays valid until 28/02/2011* holidays*
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We search thousands of travel options for you. Be a tourist. Not a travel agent. Pop into your local branch Bolton Superstore, Burnden Retail Park, Manchester Road, Bolton Call 01204
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*Full terms and conditions apply, please ask for full details. We reserve the right to withdraw these offers without notice. A 2.5% surcharge applies to all credit card transactions. Agents for ATOL protected tour operators.
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TOWNELEY HALL
WIN An 8 day coach holiday for 2 people to a Robinsons Holidays own Hotel
Towneley Hall in Burnley was the home of the Towneley family for over 600 years. Set in over 42 acres of historic parkland and gardens, this stunning house tells the story of a powerful catholic family.
Choose either Eastbourne, Torquay or the Isle of Wight. Prize includes 7 nights half board accommodation at chosen hotel in either a standard twin or double room, excursions as per tour itinerary, coach travel to/from standard pickup point, and entertainment as per itinerary and FREE INSURANCE.
The hall is now the towns museum and art gallery and contains furnished period rooms, a fine art collection of 19th century oil and watercolours, Lancashire made oak furniture and ceramics.The family chapel containing the rare whalley abbey vestments is one of the highlights of any visit.
Name:... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ...
A varied program of exhibitions and events throughout the year.
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Pre booked groups are welcome and refreshments can be organised in the Hall or at the stables cafe/restaurant situated within the formal gardens.
Postcode: .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Address:.... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... .
Telephone:.... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . Prize must be redeemed before 5th December 2011 and excludes Easter. Non-transferrale and non cash redeemable.
For further information or to book please ring - 01282 424213 www.towneleyhall.org.uk
Send the completed for to: Robinsons Holidays Competition McGrath Media, Unit 6 Moses Gate Workshops, Gladys Street, Farnworth, Bolton BL3 2QG.
Luxury holiday homes in the English Lake District Owning a timber lodge or caravan at Old Park Wood means enjoying a haven of tranquility in beautiful surroundings. The quiet, spacious Park nestles in delightful woodland where you really feel ‘far from the madding crowd’, and facilities such as our indoor pool and sauna add an unmistakable touch of luxury. Perfectly placed to explore a stunning local area of beauty, you’ll soon discover, there’s no place like a home at Old Park Wood ...
Local Life At Old Park Wood you become part of a rich rural experience. There’s so much to see and do right on your doorstep, whether your idea of heaven is outdoor adventures, gentle strolls, Lakeland hospitality or taking in a glorious view. The Park is part of Lord and Lady Cavendish’s Holker Estate. Their home at Holker Hall and its award-winning gardens warmly welcomes visitors, and the famous Garden Festival is a defi nite ‘mustsee’. Old Park Wood owners also enjoy discounted prices at Holker Hall and Cartmel Racecourse. In addition to horseracing on the Bank Holidays at the end of May and August, the medieval village of Cartmel boasts an ancient priory, fabulous shopping and fi ne dining.
Quad biking, the Eskdale cycle trail, parachuting, water sports, fairs and festivals, hot air ballooning, fi shing - the options are nothing if not varied! There are also an array of special events in the nearby area from local producer fairs to the Westmorland County Show.
The Lake District Lakeland has been delighting visitors for generations. The natural beauty and its many attractions are still as compelling today, and owning your own Lakeland home means it’s all yours to enjoy, time and again.
“In the Lakes you find your own kind of time. It’s quite simply a magical place.” Beautiful Eskdale, unspoilt villages like Broughton, the market town of Kendal, and Windermere are all nearby. Walking - wise it’s not all challenging peaks;
Please quote Retired Magazine when calling...
Old Park Wood Holiday Park, Holker Estate, Holker, Cark-in-Cartmel, Cumbria, LA11 7PP. T: 01539 558266 E: opw@holker.co.uk
Grizedale Forest for instance is perfect for a gentle family ramble. WINDERMER E
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Millo m A595
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A509 2 HOLKER OLD HALL PARK WOOD
36 A6 5
Cartmel Grange-over-Sands B527 8 Cark-in-Cartme l F lookburgh
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Duddon Sands
5 A6
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KENDAL
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Shopaholics will fi nd a host of independent shops offering everything from gourmet cheeses to haute couture. You’ll quickly discover marvelous local food and drink too, in cosy village pubs, bistros and fi ne restaurants.
A595
A6
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And it’s not just about the great outdoors, there are plenty of ways to indulge yourself too.
Perhaps your fi rst stop should be golakes.co.uk, a great place to learn about Lakeland events and attractions.
Morecambe Bay LANCASTER
M6
BARROW-IN-FURNESS
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Your Park At Old Park Wood, the accommodation you can choose from is of the very highest standard. Our luxury timber lodges are superbly designed and equipped, and the spacious static caravans offer everything you could want in a holiday home, from as little as £10,000. Unlike many parks, we insist on plenty of space between each caravan, and superb facilities also help to make every stay a joy. Kids love the chance to play and make friends in the Park, and don’t be surprised if they come back with tales of meeting the deer that roam the surrounding Park and woodland. If you want to feel more than a passing visitor to the heart of the English countryside. Old Park Wood is precisely what you’re seeking. l l l l l l l l l l l
Park Shop Laundrette Table Tennis Room Indoor Heated Pool Sauna Facility Playgrounds & Football Wi- Fi Fishing Permits Holker Privileges Pass Barrier Site Dogs Welcome
How to Find Us Old Park Wood is very easy to reach - we’re only a few minutes’ drive from the M6, and the main centres of South Lakeland such as Kendal and Windermere are equally close by.
By Road Follow brown signs on A590 from J36, M6 (Lake District Peninsulas). Only a 20 minute drive from Lakeside and Lake Windermere.
Further Lovely Locations We also have two further superbly presented parks: Longlands in the Furness Peninsula and Three Lochs in border Scotland’s Galloway Forest.
By Rail Nearest station Cark-in-Cartmel (1 mile) with direct trains to Carnforth. Lancaster and Preston for connections to major cities and airports.
www.oldparkwood.co.uk
Torquay
Eastbourne
Isle of Wight
Saturday/Sunday Departures - 8 Day Tours - 7 Nights Half Board
ABBEY
LAWN
OCEAN
VIEW
IMPERIAL
HOTEL
2/3 April £279
23/24 April £325
14/15 May £365
4/5 Jun £389
9/10 April £289 30 Apr/1 May £345
21/22 May £375
11/12 Jun £399
16/17 April £299
7/8 May £355
28/29 May £385
18/19 Jun £399
2/3 April £279
23/24 April £325
14/15 May £365
4/5 Jun £389
9/10 April £289 30 Apr/1 May £345
21/22 May £375
11/12 Jun £399
16/17 April £299
7/8 May £355
28/29 May £385
18/19 Jun £399
2/3 April £279
23/24 April £325
14/15 May £365
4/5 Jun £389
9/10 April £289 30 Apr/1 May £345
21/22 May £375
11/12 Jun £399
28/29 May £385
18/19 Jun £399
16/17 April £299
7/8 May £355
Robinsons Own Hotels 2011 Torquay
Eastbourne
The Abbey Lawn Hotel, Torquay 3
The Imperial Hotel, Eastbourne 3
Stylish hotel located in the grounds of the former Torre Abbey. Facilities at the Abbey Lawn Hotel include Indoor Heated Pool/Outdoor Pool, Solarium, Sauna, Steam Room, Lounge, Gym, Large Conservatory & Sea View Rooms.
£20
DISCOUNT
V0UCHER
Simply attach to your Robinsons Holidays booking request to claim your £20 discount. Only one voucher per holiday booking.
Name: ..................................................................................................................... Address:.................................................................................................................. ................................................... Poscode: ........................................................ Tel: ........................................................................................................................... Discount is only valid on new bookings. Discount voucher can not be redeemed against any existing bookings. Can not be used in conjunction with any other special offer or promotion.
An impressive Victorian building set amidst a beautiful tree lined boulevard. Facilities at the Imperial Hotel include Two Residents’ Bars, Ballroom, TV & Complimentary Tea & Coffee in all Bedrooms, 2 x Lifts.
Isle Of Wight The Ocean View Hotel, Shanklin 3
An elegant hotel commanding magnificent views across Sandown Bay, Golden Beaches and a quaint collection of shops. Facilities at the Ocean View Hotel include Indoor Heated Pool, Spa, Indoor Bowling Green, Table Tennis, Snooker Room, Lifts, Porterage.
To Book Or For More Details Call Freephone
Est.1923
Coach Holidays
0800 0839900
Includes 3 excursions and FREE insurance. See main 2011 brochure for full itinerary and applicable departure points. Prices taken from main 2011 brochure and do not apply to the Midlands. See Midlands’ brochure for relevant departures and prices.
25/26 Jun £399
16/17 July £409
6/7 Aug £409
27/28 Aug £399
17/18 Sept £379
8/9 Oct £309
2/3 July £409
23/24 July £409
13/14 Aug £409
3/4 Sept £399
24/25 Sept £359
15/16 Oct £299
9/10 July £409
30/31 July £409
20/21 Aug £409
10/11 Sept £389
1/2 Oct £319
22/23 Oct £279
25/26 Jun £399
16/17 July £409
6/7 Aug £409
27/28 Aug £399
17/18 Sept £379
8/9 Oct £309
2/3 July £409
23/24 July £409
13/14 Aug £409
3/4 Sept £399
24/25 Sept £359
15/16 Oct £299
9/10 July £409
30/31 July £409
20/21 Aug £409
10/11 Sept £389
1/2 Oct £319
22/23 Oct £279
25/26 Jun £399
16/17 July £409
6/7 Aug £409
27/28 Aug £399
17/18 Sept £379
8/9 Oct £309
2/3 July £409
23/24 July £409
13/14 Aug £409
3/4 Sept £399
24/25 Sept £359
15/16 Oct £299
9/10 July £409
30/31 July £409
20/21 Aug £409
10/11 Sept £389
1/2 Oct £319
22/23 Oct £279
Our European Tours Date
Tour & No
07 May AUSTRIA & SWITZERLAND (76) Swiss Lakes, Feldkirch and St Moritz 28 May GERMANY (65) The Rhine Valley and Moselle 29 May SWITZERLAND, FRANCE & ITALY (84) Lakes and Mountains 4 June GERMANY (71) The Hartz Mountains and Berlin 11 June AUSTRIAN TYROL (80)
Hotel
Duration Price
Single Room Supplement
Weisses Kreuz Hotel Feldkirch
9 Days
£682
£130
Hotel Traube Aumuller Rudesheim
8 Days
£515
£105
Hotel Forclaz Touring Martingy
9 Days
£645
£189
Berghotel Wolfshagen Langelsheim
8 Days
£599
£98
Hotel Zur Post Pfunds
9 Days
£645
£141
Hotel Tannenhof Steeg
9 Days
£651
£141
Pfunds, the Bernina Express & the Brenner Pass
25 June AUSTRIA (77) Tyrol and Bavaria
Adventurous gap years for the older generation are on the rise
Dr. Peter Slowe, founder and director at leading international volunteering company Projects Abroad, explains how the elder generation are getting more clued-up on gap year opportunities… At Projects Abroad, we have noticed a steady increase in the number of retired volunteers taking part in our projects overseas. Not just the recently retired but all ages. From care work to teaching and conservation, they’re really getting involved. It’s great for the projects because they bring lots of life experience and often more time too. The older generation are wellplaced to offer a meaningful contribution to developing countries. For many older gappers, the decision to travel and experience new cultures often stems from a need to take a break from the norm and see the world from a different perspective. For some it is more deep-rooted; they might be looking for a complete life-changing experience, and an adventure like this may help them to focus on what it is they really want to change. Visiting a developing country has the effect of making one forget about the routine of day-to-day life, and 16
can be very rewarding and volunteers are able to see instant impact from direct actions, such as making a very sad child smile just by being there and comforting them. This wonderful sense of achievement also forges a more positive outlook, a sense that there is still a lot that they can contribute to society as a whole.
events at home will start to seem quite distant. The responsibilities that most of us have at home will be temporarily lost in translation, and feedback from older volunteers tends to centre on feelings of freedom and youth. If you are retired and interested in travelling overseas, care work is a relatively straightforward option for most volunteers because the only attributes needed are a good heart and a willingness to help. Working with needy children in poorly equipped facilities and orphanages
If care work isn’t something you’re interested in, then there is a whole host of other exciting and adventurous projects that you could get involved in. It might be teaching teachers or children, animal or plant conservation, sports coaching, community-based projects like archaeology, building, medicine and healthcare (such as nursing or midwifery), journalism, law or even veterinary medicine. The list is endless and the project opportunities vast. Living with a host-family is another important aspect for gap year volunteer placements. Based on NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
feedback, this unique situation of being welcomed into another family from a different country and being made to feel at home tends to touch the heart of the older volunteer. They are made to feel secure and are offered kindness from people who are essentially strangers to them. Staying with a host-family and experiencing their way of life means volunteers also get into a routine that is unimaginable back at home; they almost lead a ‘second life’. Older volunteers will often
find themselves working within a group of younger volunteers (gap year or university students) and this mix of generation forms part of the overall cultural experience. The volunteering experience may also trigger a life-style changing effect when gappers return home to normality. Voluntary projects for the older generation are particularly useful for people who might have high levels of stress or worry because the pace
in a developing country tends to be very relaxed, (although in some cases it can be so relaxed that you might go crazy thinking that nothing ever gets done). The point is that things which have importance at home often have little significance in the developing world. Volunteers will soon adapt to this way of life and it can have a very positive impact on their outlook and even their future lives.
Angela Pitt age 65 from Somerset is a great example of how a voluntary project can change your life; she explains, “Last year I volunteered in the Amazon Rainforest at Projects Abroad’s Taricaya Centre to help specially with an animal rescue and release project. I was the oldest woman they had ever had but my age really didn’t matter. The dense jungle, the Taricaya Centre and the nearest town, three hours up-river, Puerto Maldonado, were amazing places to see. I experienced so many amazing things, such as the colourful fruit markets, vast jungle and beautiful wildlife such as toucans, caimans and the incredibly rare striped owl. I hope that people of all ages will be inspired to take on an adventure just as I did”.
If you are interested in taking a gap year or going on a voluntary project overseas, even if it’s only for a few weeks, there are a few things you should do first: • Think carefully about what you want to achieve by volunteering abroad. • Take advice and research different organisations and look at the variety of projects to make sure you understand the opportunity and that it suits what you are looking for; Projects Abroad has its own directly employed and trained staff overseas, and this is a really important feature – it’s a matter of having people around you who understand what it is you want to achieve. • If you’re going on your own, make sure that you’ve got all the right visas and permits and that you really know what you’re letting yourself in for – spend plenty of time on the Internet and then make sure you speak to the people in your chosen destination on the telephone directly. • Research the countries you are interested in going to. Preconceptions can be misguided and it’s vital that you get the facts early on. The culture shock affects some people more strongly than others and it is important to be as prepared for this as you can be. If you’re going with an organisation, make sure they give you plenty of information.
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
• • • • •
Investigate the best times to go on your trip. The weather can make a difference. New Year (not always the same as ours) and other celebrations can be frustrating if you’ve got a rather short time and want to do things. Talk to those who have volunteered abroad and ask them to share their experiences with you. If you’re with an organisation, they should be able to give you some names and contact details. Consult your doctor about your physical condition and find out what countries should be avoided. Get professional advice about vaccinations and what medicine you need to take. On the other hand, don’t over-worry; chances are the worst you’ll get will be a slight upset tummy! Make sure you have appropriate travel insurance. With Project Abroad it’s included, but not with every organisation. Keep an open mind – volunteering can be very rewarding if you are accepting of new cultures and willing to adapt to different lifestyles. This doesn’t mean you can’t take some English teabags, which I do, and it doesn’t mean that you have to eat guinea-pigs in Peru, which I don’t. I suppose it really means not being judgemental.
For more information on volunteering overseas, please visit: www.projects-abroad.co.uk 17
HOLIDAYS
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All tours are door to door, and include Dinner Bed & Breakfast plus two day excursions on all 5 day breaks. Destination .........................Date ................. Days ........Hotel/Theme .................................................................. Price Blackpool .............................25 March ......... 4HB .........Park House Hotel .......................................................... £169 Northumberland ................03 April ............ 6HB .........Victoria Hotel ................................................................ £299 Hereford ..............................04 April ............ 5HB .........Warners: Holmes Lacy House ..................................... £359 Snowdonia Llanberis .........11 April ............ 5HB .........Victoria Hotel ................................................................ £299 Tenby ....................................11 April ............ 5HB .........Park Hotel ........................................................................ £299 Bude .....................................21 April ............ 6HB .........Hartland Hotel ............................................................... £399 Isle of Wight .......................26 April ............ 5HB .........Burlington Hotel............................................................. £249 Llandudno ...........................29 April ............ 4HB .........Queens Hotel .................................................................. £195
18
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Looe ......................................01 May ............. 6HB .........Hannafore Point ............................................................. £395 Germany ..............................04 May .............. 7HB .........Hotel Carl Mullar............................................................ £535 Market Bosworth ................09 May ............. 5HB .........Bosworth Hall Hotel ...................................................... £259 Ireland Bantry Bay ..............11 May .............. 8HB .........Westlodge Hotel ............................................................ £499 Oxford & Berkshire ...........16 May ............. 5HB .........Warners Littlecote House ............................................ £399 Jersey By Air .......................18 May ............. 7HB .........Mayfair Hotel .................................................................. £485 Dunoon .................................22 May .............. 6HB ..........Esplanade Hotel.............................................................. £319 Ostend at Anchor ...............22 May .............. 7HB ..........Royal Astor ...................................................................... £355 Torquay .................................23 May .............. 5HB ..........Kistor Hotel ..................................................................... £249 Torquay .................................29 May .............. 6HB ..........Corbyn Head Hotel ........................................................ £389 Torquay .................................29 May .............. 6HB ..........Livermead Cliff Hotel .................................................... £389 Bournemouth ......................05 June ............. 6HB ..........Hinton Firs Hotel ............................................................ £350 Criccieth ...............................06 June ............. 5HB ..........Lion Hotel ........................................................................ £299 Arran & Ayrshire .................10 June ............. 7HB ..........Kinloch Hotel & Seamill Hydro ................................... £499 Cumbria ................................12 June ............. 7HB ..........Gilsland Spa Hotel ......................................................... £399 Sidmouth ..............................16 June ............. 6HB ..........Bedford Hotel.................................................................. £369 Llandudno ............................25 June ............. 8HB ..........Queens Hotel .................................................................. £395 Paignton ...............................25 June ............. 8HB ..........Marine Hotel ................................................................... £429 Tenby.....................................25 June ............. 7HB ..........Park Hotel ........................................................................ £429 Isle of Mann .........................02 July............... 5HB ..........Rutland Hotel.................................................................. £369 Hayling Island......................11 July............... 5HB ..........Warner: Sinah Hotel ...................................................... £365 Switzerland ..........................13 July............... 8HB ..........Hotel Freienhof Thun..................................................... £739 Torquay .................................16 July............... 8HB ..........Kistor Hotel ..................................................................... £399 Northumberland.................17 July............... 6HB ..........Victoria Hotel Bamburgh.............................................. £389 Isle of Scilly..........................27 July............... 8HB ..........Bell Rock Hotel ............................................................... £795 The Highlands .....................28 July............... 5HB ..........Carrbridge Hotel ............................................................ £319 Edinburgh Tattoo ................05 Aug ............... 3HB ..........Kings Manor .................................................................... £249 St Agnes ................................26 Aug ............... 7HB ..........Rosemundy House ......................................................... £439 Llandrindrod Wells .............26 Aug ............... 4HB ..........Metropole Hotel ............................................................. £249 Glens of Perthshire ............28 Aug ............... 6HB ..........Angus Hotel Blairgowrie ............................................... £379 Lake Garda Italy ..................07 Sept ............. 10HB ........Hotel De Lac Pu Pac ....................................................... £869 Leuchars Air Show ..............09 Sept ............. 3HB ..........Landmark Hotel .............................................................. £199 Eastbourne ...........................10 Sept ............. 8HB ..........Haddon Hall Hotel ......................................................... £399 Bournemouth ......................11 Sept ............. 6HB ..........Hinton Firs Hotel ............................................................ £359 Isle of Wight ........................17 Sept ............. 8HB ..........Burlington Hotel............................................................. £409 Mountains of Mourne ........25 Sept ............. 5HB ..........Four Seasons Hotel ........................................................ £325 Looe .......................................25 Sept ............. 6HB ..........Hannafore Point Hotel .................................................. £435 Blackpool..............................26 Sept ............. 5HB ..........Park House Hotel ........................................................... £249 Jersey By Air.........................27 Sept ............. 7HB ..........Mayfair Hotel .................................................................. £465 Bude ......................................30 Sept ............. 6HB ..........Hartland Hotel................................................................ £369 Devon & Dorset ..................03 Oct ............... 5HB ..........Warner: Cricket St Thomas........................................... £395 Blackpool..............................07 Oct ............... 4HB ..........Park House Hotel ........................................................... £189 Torquay .................................11 Oct ............... 6HB ..........Livermead Cliff Hotel .................................................... £409
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19
That’s Esther’s life Broadcaster, charity campaigner and Strictly Come Dancing star Esther Rantzen turned 70 last June, but she shows little sign of slowing down, as James Pringle reports Last year’s General Election was full of surprises, not the least of which was the Luton South candidates including Esther Rantzen CBE. Labour’s Gavin Shuker won the seat and Esther lost her deposit, but she has no regrets about entering the fray. “I stood because I got so angry at the excesses of Margaret Moran, who was the MP at the time. It seemed to me that Luton deserved a choice, but when I started the campaign, I met the Conservative and Labour candidates and they were both really able, committed, hard-working, bright young men and that cheered me up. “I had a fascinating time. Eighty people came to see me and asked if I could help them during the campaign and I was able to do some good. I shall always go to hustings in future. They’re the only way you can tell which candidates are the loonies. It’s really important if you’re not a tribal voter. I’ve always been a floating voter, making up my mind on issues and manifestoes in each election.” Esther began her broadcasting career after Oxford University, as a studio manager in BBC radio, creating sound effects for dramas. “My father had worked in engineering for Lord Reith at the BBC and I was fascinated by broadcasting. Being a studio manager was one of the few entry points one could find. In the end, though, I realised that any creative work I’d done was getting further and further into the past. I wasn’t being asked for ideas. Besides which, I was made to fall down eight times to produce the sound of a distant skating accident. So I was bruised physically and psychologically! “I stayed in that job for two and half years, then resigned and spent about six months on the dole, which I absolutely hated. But no experience is wasted and to have experienced unemployment is quite important. When I talk about it affecting others, I know what it feels like.” 20
TV documentary maker Desmond Wilcox hired Esther for a month’s work on Man Alive – and ended up marrying her. As they became a well-known media couple, there was never any professional jealousy. “I’ve read Ann Robinson saying it’s difficult, particularly if the wife earns more than the husband – which at certain stages in our careers, I did – but we didn’t find it difficult,” Esther recalls. “There was a lot of mutual respect between Desmond and me. He always used to say I had fame and he had reputation, and that’s right. He won every award going and I always knew he was a superb television journalist. I learnt a huge amount from him.” A big break for Esther was joining the team on consumer programme Braden’s Week. When Bernard Braden returned to his native Canada, Esther anchored the show’s British successor, That’s Life. She is proud of its achievements, such as successful campaigns for safer surfaces in children’s playgrounds and legislation for children to wear seatbelts in the backs of cars. “We were the first television programme to talk about DNA testing. We did a major campaign about transplants, with the story of Ben Hardwick, and we famously launched ChildLine and continued the campaign for better treatment of abused children.”
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
E XC LU SI VE Nearly 25 years later, ChildLine now has 14 bases around the UK. Esther is its president and a trustee of the NSPCC, with which it has merged. “We launched a survey on That’s Life among adults who’d experienced cruelty as children, to see if there were patterns we could pick out that would make us better at detecting problems. We opened a children’s helpline because so many watched the show and loved seeing our talented pets and so on. For 48 hours the lines were jammed with children reporting abuse nobody else knew about. That made me realise we could do something about saving and protecting children, by creating a children’s helpline that would be open 24/7.”
70th Birthday Picnic
Such dynamic over-60s epitomise the attitude Esther describes in her book on growing old gracefully, If Not Now, When? (Headline Springboard, 2008).
Esther in the meadow behind here cottage in The New Forest
Esther has worked with other charities and organisations, from hospices to special needs schools, helping prisoners’ families and providing accommodation for parents of children in hospital. In the best That’s Life tradition, Esther introduced some light relief in 2004 when she partnered Anton du Beke in Strictly Come Dancing. “I’m very frustrated that it never occurred to me to do the ambitious sort of things that Ann Widdecombe has been doing!” she says. “Anton never suggested that I could fly. “It’s interesting how dragon politicians become national treasures when they leave. Look what happened to Tony Benn and Michael Portillo. And who could have predicted it when Ann Widdecombe was at the Home Office? “Watching Strictly now, I’m lost in awe. The standards are amazingly high. I tipped Pamela Stephenson to win last time, because not only is she a wonderful dancer but she’s a fascinating woman – and I love the fact that’s she’s over 60. You expected Scott and Matt to be good, but muscular young men being able to turn cartwheels is not a surprise. But you don’t necessarily expect Felicity Kendall to be able to do the splits or Ann Widdecome to fly with such wonderful grace – and you certainly don’t
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
expect Pamela Stephenson to be such a brilliant dancer.”
“If you’re lucky enough to keep your health and mental and physical strength, for once in your life you can be the person you would like to be,” she says. “One goes through life being a parent or breadwinner, and not since being a teenager can you be you and just follow your dreams. “My tips would be to retain your sense of adventure and to stay in touch with people of every age – because it’s stimulating.”
Retirement doesn’t seem to be on Esther’s agenda. “I don’t suppose work was on my agenda! What was on my agenda was the particular challenge at any moment – be it That’s Life, a talk show or whatever. Today I was able to have lunch with my daughter Rebecca, which was a wonderful luxury. So, to that extent, I’m retired, but I was working all over last weekend and I’m working all week and working this evening. Anybody who thinks retirement is the same as inactivity has never tried it. “The great advantage is that you can pick and choose. You can decide what causes you to want to help. The voluntary sector would grind to a standstill if it weren’t for people of 60-plus.” Daughter Rebecca Wilcox is a TV reporter, while son Joshua is studying for a degree in medicine and other daughter ‘Em’ is taking a psychology degree. Meanwhile, after a holiday relief stint on BBC Radio Berkshire at the beginning of November, “just for fun”, Esther is booked to give lectures and to appear in a celebrity version of TV’s Cash in the Attic, raising money for ChildLine. So she’s busy, but does her workload allow some breathing space for leisure?
“Every now and then,” she replies.
21
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Knife & Fork Gardening Year Round Colour in Containers When recently celebrating my 70th birthday I was presented with a very different set of cutlery – this reminded me of a phrase I often use – ‘Knife & Fork Gardening’ when referred to the use of containers. As I now find it difficult to bend and anything at floor level is out of bounds, I now use containers extensively and I thought I would pass on a few tips which you may find useful.
1. Seasonal Use In order to have colour throughout the year, it is better to divide the containers into seasonal groups – Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter. If an area of the garden can be screened off, it can be very useful to store the dormant containers. Ideally, some kind of bench or old table could be used when doing the actual knife & fork gardening – this saves you getting back ache! If some of the containers are heavy, grandchildren can be very useful! Spring containers can be planted with many types of bulbs which should be assembled in the Autumn. Summer containers are usually planted with annuals, Autumn & Winter containers can be planted successionally with heathers and pansies giving a spread of flowering periods. To give structure, dwarf conifers, cordylines and many other shrubs can be permanently planted and the seasonal plants changed appropriately. These may have to be changed every few years so that they don’t get too big.
2. Making up a Container There is a vast range of containers available – some of these are extremely cheap whilst others vary tremendously in price with some disappearing beyond my budget! It is best to ensure that there is adequate drainage both inside and outside the container. A few handfuls of gravel will suffice inside and it is better to stand the container on gravel, not on a flat surface where the drainage holes could become sealed. If the container is relatively small (20 litres or less), a general purpose compost can be used to fill almost to the top. If the container is larger, than this a 50/50 mixture of soil and compost can be used to fill half to two-thirds, the remaining portion being all compost. In all containers, there should be sufficient space for NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
watering. There are many brands of controlled release fertilizers that can be incorporated at this time which, dependent on type, will feed the plants for up to 12 months. The manufacturer’s instructions will indicate the amounts needed.
3. Moving A 2-wheel sack truck will move heavy containers fairly easily over most surfaces. Wheelbarrows are not very suitable as the containers need lifting in and out and are liable to fall over as the barrow is tilted. For larger plants, a range of wheeled saucers are available and are very useful.
4. Watering This is best done by a long spout watering can or a hose pipe with a lance fitted to enable the water to be poured directly onto the compost and not onto the flowers or leaves. Containers should be checked regularly and watered as needed even after showers which may not penetrate the foliage. If regular watering proves difficult, additives can be incorporated into the compost which helps to hold moisture and reduces watering needs. It may be found advantageous to install a drip feed automatic watering system – this can be done simply and relatively cheaply and is very effective.
5. Cost Container growing can be done within a limited budget by using the cheaper containers. The container of annuals illustrated cost no more than £3.00 – container £1.50, compost & fertilizer £1.00, plants £0.50! In addition to the above where the intention is mainly for year round colour, many other plants can be grown in containers on a permanent basis. We grow Hostas, heucheras, acer & cotinus trees and even a variety of vegetables. For the vegetable growing, I use garden trugs, 30 – 40 litre size, which I find ideal as they have handles which assist in moving.
I hope you find this information useful and if you haven’t already used containers in this context, why not give it a try! I would suggest starting with 12 cheap identical containers – 3 for each season. By rotating these, you will amaze your friends when they see different flowers outside your door every few months and I am sure you will get pleasure from this ‘Knife & Fork Gardening’. Good Luck! Tom Atherton 27
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Having the time on your life with your Grandchildren Following Gloria’s interview in the last edition of ‘RETIRED’ we are delighted to have 10 Glorious Grandparenting books to give away in our prize draw. Gloria comments I wrote Glorious Grandparenting for two reasons. Firstly, as I wanted to share the joy and happiness I have had from having grandchildren. But I realise that I have been extremely lucky at having such a close relationship with all my 9 grandchildren. I was at a reception last year in Downing Street for the Grandparents Association when I discovered that grandparents in the UK have absolutely no legal rights what so ever to see their grandchildren. As someone who sees hers all the time and is bereft when I don’t have them around, I wanted to pick up the gauntlet for the tens of thousands of grandparents who don’t get to see their grandchildren. And so the book addresses both sides – the pleasures of grandparenting, but also making people aware of the pitfalls. When asked: If you had one piece of advice for grandparents, what would it be?
I think it is impossible to give just one piece of advice, but one of my top tips would be simply to enjoy and relish having your grandkids. It really is a wonderful time of life to appreciate your growing family. But I would say that you also need to be honest with your children or in-laws. In the current climate there are increasing numbers of children who are reliant on their parents to provide childcare so they can go back to work. Whilst you may love having your grandchildren around, you need to be frank about how much childcare you can realistically take on without being exhausted or losing the enjoyment of being a grandparent. And finally, and as one whole chapter of my books says, sometimes you need to learn to ‘zip your lip’ as it is difficult to give advice about parenting to your children. And definitely avoid saying ‘We didn’t do it like that in my day”!
Gloria Hunniford - Glorious Grandparenting Prize Draw Simply complete your details to be entered into our prize draw for a chance to win 1 of 10 Glorious Grandparenting books. Name: ........................................................................................................................... Address:........................................................................................................................ ................................... Poscode: ............................................................................... Tel: .................................................................................................................................
Please send to: McGrath Media: Unit 6, Moses Gate Workshops, Manchester Road, Bolton BL3 2QG.
The draw will take place on 31.3.11 and the winner will be notified by post.
Do you live in Trafford, are over 60 or have disability, and need repairs to your home? We are here to provide practical support and advice. Support services. l
Assistance planning major repair work
or adaptations - drawings, specifications, sourcing quotations, building regulations etc l
Advice and assistance with grant
applications (as available) l
l
Help finding reliable contractors Advice and help with benefits applications
We can visit you at home to discuss your needs in private. Advice is free. If you need to pay for technical support we will tell you in advance.
Here is what some of our clients say: ‘ A service like yours is a LIFELINE’ ‘ A first class service for elderly and disabled pensioners at a very reasonable cost’.
Handy Help Service for most small jobs around the
home. You pay £15, plus the cost of materials. Examples of work undertaken:
Minor repairs: broken gates, fixing curtain rails, small plumbing jobs, fitting shelving. Home Safety: re-fixing carpets, changing light bulbs, making phone wires safe, moving furniture, installing smoke alarms, grab rails and extra stair rails. Home security: locks, bolts, doorbells, door viewers and safety chains. We don’t do any electrical or gas work, gardening or decorating but we can give you details of contractors.
Would you like to know more? We are open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm
‘We were very impressed with the help that we received and would like to thank you all.’
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Tel: 0161 873 8666 Fax: 0161 874 1696
Email: Trafford@careandrepair-manchester.org.uk Web: www.careandrepair-manchester.org.uk
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
Efficient, economical, clean, green solar-energy for the home is no longer just a pipe-dream. Successive governments, with overwhelming support from all areas across the political spectrum, have been falling over themselves to endorse the spread of solar panels on our roofs. The bright sparks with solar panels are the new band of smarter energy consumers. Why is solar energy in the home creating such a stir? It’s simple. It now makes total sense from a financial point of view and not just to those who want to live a greener lifestyle. Last year, the government introduced what are known as FEED IN TARIFFS, a financial gift horse sent to rescue consumers from ever-increasing fuel bills. Essentially, households producing electricity from their own solar panels will get paid for every Watt they produce. If their panels produce more electricity than they need, these homeowners will receive a further payment from
the government in return for the excess power being fed into the national grid. It’s that simple. And it’s tax free. What’s more, these financial incentives are guaranteed to last for the next 25 years, with the Retail Price Index. So is the UK the fi rst to adopt this reward scheme for homeowners with Solar PV? Not at all! The idea and a hugely popular and successful idea it’s been - was introduced in Germany almost a decade ago, and is currently benefitting enlightened energy consumers in about 40 other countries worldwide. And it’s a policy which is rapidly gaining momentum. Solar Choice, the Bury company which has made it so easy for the people of Lancashire (and many other parks of the UK) to take advantage of the huge benefits of
Solar PV, predicts that the next couple of years will see exponential growth in its uptake. The cost of installation, which, over the lifetime of the equipment, will be recovered many times over, can be spread over a number of years. The company offers a number of highly attractive financial packages which means there is no large initial investment required. Does your roof face south? Or south west or south east? Then, more than likely, your home will be suitable for a Solar PV makeover! The next step is easy. Call Solar Choice on 0800 028 3241 and arrange for a free no-obligation consultation. Find out the real facts on Solar Electricity and find out just how much you could benefit.
H E ALTH
Yoga for Lower Back Pain by Carolyn Jones
Is yoga for you? That's something for you and your doctor to decide together. More and more doctors, however, are recommending yoga for a wide range of complaints and conditions. As you reach the age when the high-impact sports you may once have enjoyed are no longer the best option, and you look for alternatives to keep you fit and strong (and out of the GP's surgery), why not give yoga a go? A number of yoga positions are gentle on the back, and work to strengthen the abdominal muscles as well as the back muscles. We often over-rely on our back muscles and on momentum to lift things or make certain movements; improving your core body strength will help prevent strain and injury.
Cat/Cow Pose 1
Good posture and proper alignment, which practically every yoga position emphasises, also helps prevent pain in the back, shoulders and neck. Many of us habitually carry our heads too far forward rather than centring them over the shoulders. Compensating for this balancing act leads to lack of alignment and bad posture throughout the body. Yoga helps to undo this bad habit. Yogic breathing exercises help you to breathe more deeply and efficiently. Many people breathe too shallowly, into their chests only, or too quickly. This means the body is not getting the oxygen it needs to perform movements easily and the brain is not receiving enough oxygen to function efficiently either. Quick and shallow breathing can also make you feel chronically anxious, whereas slow regular breathing helps you to maintain mental control and stay calm.
Cat/Cow Pose 2
Here are three introductory exercises to give you a taste of what yoga is all about. Depending on your level of activity and fitness they may feel difficult at first. If a position causes you actual pain, stop. You may be aggravating an existing injury or condition (such as a herniated disc). But if it's just out-of-shape muscles complaining, keep at it. You will soon see an improvement in your strength, flexibility and general sense of well-being.
Cat/Cow Pose Get down on all fours on a non-skid mat or carpet or, if you have a firm mattress, on top of your bed. Arms and thighs should be vertical. The arms should be extended directly down from the shoulders, with the fingers spread wide like stars. Separate the knees a little so that they are under the hips and place the tops of the feet on the mat. If your knees hurt, put a folded blanket under them.
Little Boat Pose Disclaimer: As with any physical activity, yoga carries the risk of injury. Yoga is not a substitute for medical attention, examination, diagnosis or treatment, and is not recommended or safe for people with certain medical conditions. Seek your doctor's advice before you practise yoga. Photos by Meic Haines.
Exhale deeply, arching your back like an angry cat. Tuck the chin to the chest and round the tailbone down towards the floor. As you inhale, allow the belly to fill with air and sag down, like a cow's. Tilt the head and the bottom up. Continue this movement, alternately arching your back up and curving it down, to the rhythm of your own breath. Repeat two to ten times. Cat/Cow Pose helps to keep your spine supple.
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NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
Leg Lifts Begin lying on your back on a mat or carpet. Bend the left knee and plant the left foot firmly on the mat. This will protect the lower back. Bring your arms down by your sides, palms down, for additional support. Point the toes of the right foot and, on an inhale, raise the right leg up to 90 degrees, or as close as you can. Keep the knee straight. When you've reached the top, push the heel up towards the ceiling and flex the toes down towards your face. Exhaling, slowly lower the leg back down, leaving the heel pushed out. When your leg and foot touch the floor, point the toes again and repeat the movement, following your breath as you inhale up and exhale down. After you've done two to ten repetitions on the right leg, switch and do the same number of lifts on the left leg, remembering to plant your right foot on the mat first for support. Be careful not to rely on momentum to swing your legs up or down. Instead, use the abdominal muscles, which you are working to strengthen. Breathe smoothly and deeply to help yourself do the movements slowly and with control.
Little Boat Pose Sit on a mat or carpet with your knees bent and the soles of the feet on the mat. Place the palms of the hands on the mat beside your hips, fingers pointed forward. Keeping your back straight and your shoulders down, tilt the torso back to a 45-degree angle. Balance on the sitting bones and keep the back long. Keep the chest open and expanded. On an inhale, bring the legs and feet up so that the calves are parallel to the floor. You can keep your hands on the floor or clasp them under your thighs to support this pose. (If this feels too easy, you can make the position more challenging by extending your arms in front of you, parallel to the floor, palms down.) Keep the abdomen very firm and breathe regularly while holding the position. Don't hold Little Boat Pose for a long time, just for a few breaths. Then release the feet to the floor and rest. Try it again and see if it's easier the second time. Yoga is everywhere these days: you can get books and DVDs from your local library and try it at home or join a class at your local leisure centre or community hall. Most yoga positions can be modified to suit your body's needs. Whatever your level of flexibility and strength and however long it's been since you exercised regularly, yoga can benefit you. With lower back problems, we're often reluctant to do any type of exercise because the pain is so debilitating. We now know, though, that not moving doesn't help back pain improve. Yoga is a tried and tested ancient technology designed to help your body be comfortable in stillness and in motion. Try it for yourself.
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
Live with a healthy heart We all know that we should enjoy healthy eating, be more active and avoid tobacco if we want to live with a healthy heart. Try these top tips and live a heart healthy lifestyle: l Cut down on saturated fat by using semi- skimmed or skimmed milk rather than full fat. l For healthier fats, try cooking with olive, sunflower, corn or rapeseed oil instead of butter or ghee. But remember to use it sparingly! l Aim to do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on five days or more a week. l Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day; in curries, salad or as a snack.
If you’d like some help sticking to a heart healthy lifestyle why not join Heart Matters? This FREE service from the British Heart Foundation offers a package of support and information for people with a heart condition or who are simply looking to improve their heart health. You will receive a welcome pack including a quick guide to heart health, a ‘heart risk’ tape measure and a 5 a day food diary when you register. You can then choose to sign up for further supportive materials, including free copies of heart health, their free lifestyle magazine. You’ll also have access to a helpline staffed by friendly heart health advisers and cardiac nurses. Sign up to receive access to this free service
Visit: www.bhf.org.uk/retiredhearts Or call: 0300 330 3300 (Local rate. Lines open Monday–Friday 9 am–6 pm)
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We are all aware of the benefits of private medical insurance: No waiting times to see a specialist, have diagnostic test, scans and then treatment.
l
l
Stay with same specialist all the way through your treatment.
Quality single rooms, normally with an en-suite.
l l
Drugs and medical treatment that may not be available on the NHS.
l
Clean hospitals with no MRSA problems.
However we may all also be aware of the escalating cost of private medical insurance as we get older and make a claim. Medical insurance increases in three ways: Age, Medical Inflation and Claims History. Increasingly people turning 65 find just when they could do with private medical insurance to maintain their quality of life, it becomes unaffordable. RJD Health are a specialist medical insurance broker dealing with all the major providers.
However we do not work for any one insurer, WE WORK FOR YOU! If you are aged 55 or over and either have private medical insurance or are considering it, please contact us. If you already have medical insurance we can check the level of cover is suitable for your needs and we could also see if we could reduce your renewal premium. We could also recommend a more competitive arrangement if this was available.
Considering private medical insurance? Give us a call, you may be pleasantly surprised what we offer you. Either way there will be absolutely no obligation on your part. 38
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
Private Medical Insurance that will not increase for 5 years regardless of age or claims! As we are all too aware, the cost of private medical insurance increases significantly as you get older. In many cases just when we really need the benefits of medical insurance, the cost becomes prohibitive. However, what if we could advise you of a scheme where premiums will not increase, regardless of your age or how many claims you make, for 5 years? Comprehensive cover for Out-patient, In-patient and Day-patient care. CT, MRI, PET etc. scans. Access to every private hospital in the country. Specialist consultations. Diagnostic tests.
Premiums Monthly 59 year old ... £38
64 year old ... £48 70 year old ... £67.50 79 year old ... £72.50
Over 80? We can still offer you excellent rates and cover. Frequently asked questions: Q. If I already have private medical insurance, can I transfer cover? A. Yes. Apart from any heart or cancer claims in the last 3 years. Q. If I do not have medical insurance, will any medical complaints I have had be excluded? A. No. Any medical complaints that happened 5 or more years ago would be covered. For any complaints that you have had in the last 5 years, you would have to go for a further 2 years free of treatment, advice, symptoms or medication, then they too be covered. Q. Do I have to pay any excess? A. A maximum of £100 in any year. Q. Is there a qualifying period? A. No, cover is immediate.
Sounds too good to be true? We can assure it is not and there are no catches. Further details, totally without obligation, we can be contacted at: rjdhealth@hotmail.co.uk Office Phone 01253 779268 Mobile 07714 285143 or 0740 7459073 Fax 0844 800 7708
RJD Independent Healthcare Specialist is a trading style of Caprica Healthcare Limited. Caprica Healthcare Ltd is an appointed representative of Sage Financial Services Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
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Screening Bowel can save Cancer Screening your life. can save your life.
If you are 60+ don’t leave your health to chance. Bowel Cancer is the third most + don’t leave If you are 60 common cancer in the UK. The earlier chance. it’syour found,health the moreto effectively it can be Bowel treated. If you are aged 60-69 Cancer is the third most and registered with a GP, youearlier will common cancer in the UK. The it’s found, thebe more effectively it can automatically sent a free kit be treated. If you are aged 60-69 that can detect early signs of and registered with a GP, you will bowel cancer. If 70kit or automatically beyou sentare a free thatyou cancan detect early signs over, request a kitofby bowel0800 cancer. If you are 70 calling 707 6060 or or email over, you can request a kit by bowel.screening@uhcw.nhs.uk calling 0800 707 6060 or email bowel.screening@uhcw.nhs.uk
0800 707 6060 0800 707 6060
Bowel Cancer Screening Programme
Why choose Dentures from a Clinical Dental Technician? What is a Clinical Dental Technician?
l
A Clinical Dental Technician or CDT is a registered
l
Surgeons
l
Is registered with the General Dental Council as a Dental Technician and CDT
were previously only available through your Dentist. l
What qualifies a CDT to work on my Dentures?
Holds a Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology
Dental Care Professional who is trained and qualified to offer a range of Denture Services – services that
Graduated from the Royal College of
Has appropriate insurance to work with patients
Never seek Denture advice or treatment from
With many years experience working as Dental
someone who is not trained or qualified to practice
Technicians, CDTs have the advanced technical and
as a Clinical Dental Technician or Dentist in the UK.
clinical skills needed to carefully design and handcraft every denture to the individual requirements of
Complete Dentures
the patient. If you are experiencing the total loss of all your natural Every Clinical Dental Technician has following
teeth, a Clinical Dental Technician can help you.
credentials:
www.thedenturepeople.com AT BOLTON & LEYL AND DENTURE CENTRE
for your next quality denture
• Qualified Clinical Dental Technicians • New Dentures and Relines • Dental Repairs • Home Visits Catered For • Free Consultations
Contact us at: BOLTON: 01204 382244 | LEYLAND: 01204 382244 44 Higher Bridge Street Bolton BL1 2HA.
Independence House, Golden Hill Lane, Leyland PR25 3NP.
Registered with the GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
www.thedenturepeople.com 41
No More Loose Dentures DENTURE STABILITY If your current dentures are loose and move, mini implants could be a way of solving your problems. Marcus Massey Clinical Dental Technician at Pendle Denture Centre, Nelson is now working in Partnership with Dr. Phil Broughton at The Mall Advanced Dental Care to provide an excellent Denture Service.
As well as taking its toll on daily activities like eating, talking and even laughing, total tooth loss can impact heavily on self-esteem and quality of life. A CDT will create and fit the Complete Denture that replaces your missing teeth and adjacent tissue in your lower and upper jaws. A CDT can help you find the Complete Dentures that will: l
Help you to form sounds and bring new clarity to your speech
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Call now for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Feel more secure about eating the food you want
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Countering sagging facial muscles and sunken features that can make you appear older (especially around your mouth, lips and cheeks)
Pendle Denture Centre, 6 Market Square, Nelson BB9 7LP Tel: 01282 692225
Partial Dentures If one or several of your teeth are lost or missing, a CDT can help you restore your smile with a Partial Denture. By replacing your individual missing teeth,
The Denture Studios Milnthorpe
The Old Hall, Beetham Road, Milnthorpe, Cumbria LA7 7QR
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Blackpool
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40 Liverpool Road Formby L37 6BZ
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All dentures made by an Experienced Denturist whose attention to detail creates outstanding natural results • Complete dentures are made direct to patients which ensures that patients are consulted throughout the manufacturing process and offers confidence of complete satisfaction. • • • •
Quality dentures at affordable prices Denture repairs Friendly and informal atmosphere Latest techniques & materials available (Inc.Valplast flexi dentures, BPS)
• Fully insured - GDC registered
Partial Dentures can give you back the look and function of a full set of healthy, natural teeth. As well as replacing any missing teeth, Partial Dentures also look after the future health of your mouth by preventing your remaining teeth from rotating, tilting and moving into positions that prove unsightly and awkward for eating and talking. Depending
upon
your
individual
needs
and
preferences, your CDT may recommend Chrome Cobalt dentures. Following your initial consultation, a Clinical Dental Technician will assess your mouth and develop a personal treatment plan. Working with a Dentist, they will identify any possible problems. In this way, your Denture will be designed correctly and for the long-term, and ensure that you receive the highest standards of care and the right treatment for you and your teeth.
www.thedenturestudios.co.uk | e:info@thedenturestudios.co.uk
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NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
Denture Relines If your dentures tilt, wobble or rub, a Clinical Dental
How Good Are Your Dentures?
Technician can reline your denture, making the small alterations that make a big difference to the way they fit and feel. Please be aware that a Denture Reline will normally require that you leave your dentures with your Clinical Dental Technician so be prepared to be without them for a short period of time.
Denture Repairs
★ All denture problems solved ★ Quality emergency dental repairs
If your Denture fractures or breaks, the CDT can mend
★ Copy dentures
your dentures as follows, making them wearable
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once more.
The work is guaranteed and conforms with the MHRA.
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Repairing cracks or multiple fractures
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Repairing chipped false teeth
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Repairing your Denture base
Rossford Dental Laboratory
☎ 0161 794 9924 78 Chorley Road, Swinton, Manchester.
Over time, the shape of your mouth can change as part of the natural ageing process, as a result of the under use and lack of stimulus for your jawbone. If your Dentures break while you are wearing them, it is probably for one of the following reasons: l
Poor fit as a result of bone resorbtion
(shrinkage) l
Excessive force possibly due to tooth
grinding
A service that will make you smile! Offering Denture Perfection Emergency Denture Repairs l Free Consultations l Friendly Personal Service l Open Late l Ample Parking l
GDC (REG) T.W. ELLWOOD Dip CDT RCS (ENG)
Tel: 0161 406 0400 www.thedenturepeople.com
HILLSIDE DENTURE CENTRE, 2 DYE LANE, ROMILEY, STOCKPORT SK6 3AN. NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
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Smile and the world smiles with you!
If you are embarrassed by your smile, or the lines and wrinkles on your face, it can severely affect your confidence. We can help. Whether your teeth are discoloured, unsightly, stained, crooked or missing, let us discuss the latest techniques to give you a beaming smile. Please don’t let being nervous put you off as we can help with that too. In addition we have treatments to help smooth wrinkles and decrease lines around your mouth and face to help you look younger and feel more confident. Call us for a consultation on
01706 632661
Dr Pamela Coates is recognised as one of the country’s leading dental practitioners and has featured in “Harpers and Queen” magazine as one of 12 “A1” dentists in the country. She is a member of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentists, The International Academy of Advanced Facial Aesthetics and the British Dental Bleaching Society and has achieved a masters diploma in cosmetic dentistry after studying in New York.
Gentle Dental Care to Help You Smile with Confidence WAT E R S I D E D E N TA L C A R E
Dr Pamela Coates BDS VU (Manc), LDSRCS (Eng), MGFGDP (UK) 330 Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, Gtr Manchester OL16 2DS T 01706 632661 F 01706 869488 E practice@waterside-dentalcare.co.uk
www.waterside-dentalcare.co.uk
FACIA TREATME L NTS OPEN EVEN
ING Come & Le arn More! Thu rsday 14 th April
6pm -9pm
F O OD
The New Spring/Summer 2011 menu from Wiltshire Farm Foods Celebrating 20 years of great service As we head into the warmer months, Wiltshire Farm Foods has been busy developing a range of delicious recipes, including many exciting new dishes to tempt your taste buds. We’re also delighted to be celebrating our 20th anniversary, and proud of the fact that we’ve been delivering quality meals to happy customers up and down the country for all that time. We could never have achieved this milestone without our superb staff and loyal customers, who remain at the heart of what we do. We know that the work we do makes a real difference to the lives of all our customers. We’re dedicated to providing a caring, considerate service, and do our very best to deliver above and beyond what’s expected of us. From filling our customers’ freezers by hand, to offering round-the-clock phone support, we always go the extra mile.
We also have a range of meals designed for special dietary needs – offering lower fat, higher fibre, moderate salt, diabetic and gluten free as well as other ‘free-from’ options. There’s no commitment, so order as often or as little as you like, the choice is yours. Meals are delivered free of charge and direct to your door by our friendly CRB police-checked drivers and if you wish, they will even pop the meals in the freezer for you.
Delicious meals, friendly delivery
Whenever you’re ready, you simply heat your meal from frozen in an oven or microwave and enjoy!
So, what’s on the menu this Spring & Summer? Our FREE for everyone, from seasonal selection has something traditional classics like Chicken in Red Wine Gravy and Nationwide Gammon with Pineapple to some exciting new recipes Delivery too. Our popular Hearty range – for those with bigger appetites – has been expanded to include some tasty new additions like Hearty Pork with Sage Stuffing and the sublime Hearty Lamb Grill Steaks in Mint Gravy.
Ben Haynes, Wiltshire Farm Foods Director comments: “We’re delighted to have such a great range of tasty meals and desserts for Spring & Summer 2011. If you can’t decide which of our delicious meals to choose, why not try one of our great value menu packs, offering a range of our most popular meals and desserts – it’s the perfect introduction to our range. Ordering is easy on the phone or online, and Wiltshire our Foods will deliver TryFarm to your door free of charge. Take a look our website www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com only for us or give a call on 0800 773 Meals Main-Cwe’re 773 ou rs es : happy to take your from only Chi ckenor order answer any questions Brea st C hicken & Vehave.” you may getable Pie
taster pack
£19.95
£1.95
Our Head Chef, Phil Rimmer says: I’m really excited about the dishes we’ve created forWe you deliver so much more than meals this season. We have some • Fantastic range of dishes, easily cooked in the oven or microwave fantastic new Mini and Hearty • Convenient service from our friendly delivery drivers meals to try, and some great • Quality and variety of delicious frozen meals vegetarian meals too. We • Helping you maintain a balanced diet and independent lifestyle always strive to make our meals the best, continually improving them so that you For receive theFREE tastiest food at call us on your brochure, great value for money!
0800 773 773
And of course, there’s nothing better to round-off the shop online visit How perfect meal than one of ourTo tantalising desserts! www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com about our delicious Clotted Cream Ice Cream or zesty Lemon Meringue Pie? Please tick
Please send me a FREE brochure
NAME
Roast Beef & York Sausage Hotpo shire Pudding t With 20 years experience, Shepherds Pi eFarm Foods has Wiltshire Fish Mornay M ini Meal earned a reputation for Desserts: delivering a fi rst-class range Apple Pie & C us tard outstanding of meals and Lemon Sponge , Lemon Sauc e you service, so & Ccustomer ustard Stracan wberr be dent in y Flconfi avoured Ice C enjoying ream delicious, great value meals
throughout the year.
Rick Stein's Coast to Coast Recipes Rick Stein’s passion for fresh wellsourced food has taken him from continent to continent, across magnificent shorelines and to the very best produce the coast has to offer. Rick remarks “My greatest enthusiasm in life has been finding dishes that change my perception of cooking, that reveal a whole new vista of flavour combination. I think we all enjoy that. I’m just someone with an enthusiasm for food and a curiosity that’s sent me sniffing around all over the place looking for lovely dishes in all corners of the globe” Taken from his book ‘Coast to Coast’ (BBC Books, £20) here are two of Rick’s favourite recipes inspired by travels across the world.
Crisp Chinese roast pork S E R V E S
4
-
6
1 ½kg (3-lb) piece of thick belly pork with skin, bones removed 1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns 1 teaspoon black peppercorns 2 tablespoons sea-salt flakes 2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder 2 teaspoons caster sugar 1 quanity of steamed rice, to serve
Spike the skin of the pork with a fine skewer or a larding needle as many times as you can, going through into the fat but not so deep that you go into the flesh. Then pour a kettle full of hot water over the skin, leave it to drain and then dry it off well. Heat a dry, heavy-based frying pan over a high heat. Add the Sichuan and black peppercorns and shake them around for a few seconds until they darken slightly and start to smell aromatic. Transfer them to a spice grinder and grind to a fine powder. Tip them into a bowl and stir in the sea salt, five-spice powder and sugar. Turn the pork flesh side up on a tray and rub the flesh all over with the spice mixture. Set it aside somewhere cool for 8 hours or overnight. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/ Gas Mark 6. Turn the pork skin side up and place it on a rack resting on top of a roasting tin of water. Roast the pork for 15 minutes. Then lower the oven temperature to 180°C/350°F/ Gas Mark 4 and roast it for a further 2 hours, topping up the water in the roasting tin now and then when necessary. Increase the oven temperature once more to 230°C/450°F/ Gas Mark 8 and continue to roast the pork for a further 15 minutes. Then remove it from the oven and leave it to cool. It is best served warm. Cut the pork into bite-sized pieces and arrange them on a warmed platter. Serve with steamed Chinese greens in oyster sauce and steamed rice.
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
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Treacle tart with clotted cream ice cream
For the ice cream, put the milk and clotted cream into a pan. Scrape out the seeds from the vanilla pod, add the pod and seeds to the milk and cream and almost bring to the boil. Set aside for 20 minutes. Cream the egg yolks and sugar together in a bowl. Bring the milk and cream back to the boil, strain on to the egg yolks and whisk in. Strain the mixture once more back into a clean pan and cook over a gentle heat, stirring consistently, until the mixture has thickened and lightly coats the back of a spoon. Pour into a bowl and leave to cool; then chill in the fridge until quite cold (overnight if possible).Churn the mixture in an ice cream maker until smooth. Transfer to a plastic box, cover and freeze for 6 hours or until needed. For the pastry, sift the flour and salt into a food processor or a mixing bowl. Add the pieces of butter and lard and work together, either in the food processor or with your fingertips, until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the water with a round-bladed knife (or process very briefly) until it comes together into a ball, then turn out on to a lightly floured surface and knead briefly until smooth. Roll out and use to line a loose-bottomed flan tin that measures 23cm (9 inches) across the base and is 4cm (1¾ inches) deep. Chill for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/ Gas Mark 6. Line the pastry case with a crumpled sheet of greaseproof paper and a thin layer of baking beans and bake blind for 15 minutes. Remove the paper and beans and return to the oven for 5-6 minutes or until the edges are biscuit-coloured. Remove and lower the oven temperature to 180°C/350°F/ Gas Mark 4. Stand the tin of golden syrup in a pan of hot water until it has gone liquid and then measure out your required amount into the dried-out pan.Stir in the lemon juice. Tip the breadcrumbs into the pastry case and spread them out evenly. Carefully spoon over the warm syrup and allow it to sink in and saturate the bread. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until set and golden brown. Leave to cool in the tin for 15 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate and serve, cut into wedges, with scoops of the clotted cream ice cream.
S E R V E S
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725g (1½ lb) golden syrup Juice of ½ lemon 175g (6 oz) coarse fresh white breadcumbs FOR THE PASTRY CASE:
225g (8oz) plain flour ½ teaspoon salt 65g (2½ oz) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces 65g (2½ oz) chilled lard, cut into pieces 1½ - 2 tablespoons cold water FOR THE CLOTTED CREAM ICE CREAM:
600ml (1 pint) full-cream milk 225g (8 oz) clotted cream 1 vanilla pod, split open lengthways 6 egg yolks 75g (3 oz) caster sugar
Enjoy a free bottle of Wine Courtesy of Costco see page 23. 48
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
a FREE service to help you live with a healthy heart Are you, or is someone you know, worried about heart health? If so, help is at hand. Heart Matters is a pioneering service from the British Heart Foundation, for people who live with, or are at risk from, a heart condition and for those who care for them. This free service provides invaluable information to help you live a healthier lifestyle and gives you access to a HelpLine staffed by cardiac nurses. It costs absolutely nothing to join and you and your family will benefit from:
• A Quick Guide to Heart Health and the facts you need • A FREE online lifestyle check to help you improve your health • Regular issues of heart matters magazine • A Heart Matters ‘risk’ tape measure alerts to help you towards • Email a healthier lifestyle 5-A-Day Food Diary so you can • Acheck you’re eating well • A HelpLine dedicated to heart matters
Join today! bhf.org.uk/retiredhearts
0300 330 3300 Local rate call. Lines open: 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
British Heart Foundation 2010, is a registered charity in England and Wales (225971) and in Scotland (SC039426).
F IN A NC E
Should I Make a Lifetime Gift Of My Home? Recent research reveals that overall parents leave 78% of their assets to their children, with 9% going to other family members and 6% to their grandchildren. Only 7% of the estate is left to charities, friends and religious organisations. For most of the home owning population, their home is their greatest asset and their desire to pass their property or the value in their property to their children is paramount. Concerns over funding nursing care are leading to increasing numbers considering the option of a lifetime gift.
If you make an outright gift of your home to your children, it will become an asset of theirs, and in the event one or more of your children divorce, it may be treated as part of their assets in a financial settlement. A lifetime gift of your home may also give rise to a capital gain for your children in the future, if they already own their own home. You should also consider the position if one of your children where to file for bankruptcy. It is important to be aware that a lifetime gift of your home, if you intend to continue to live in it, will not work to reduce the value of your estate for Inheritance tax purposes, as it is a gift with a reservation of benefit. If you are not concerned about Inheritance Tax, but wish to avoid paying for nursing care in the future, the value of your home may still be taken into account for funding purposes as there are anti-avoidance measures in place. It is possible your Local Authority may, if required to fund your care, seek to have the value of your home added back into your assets. Lifetime gifts raise a whole host of issues, not least how you should protect your right to reside in the property, in the event it is your intention to continue to live in it. It is not unknown for a child to die before a parent, and you should consider what would happen in that situation.
Your property is a valuable asset, and you may need to use the capital in the property for your own benefit at some stage in the future. If you have made a gift of your property, you will not be able to release capital from it, should you need to do so. NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
It is vitally important to carefully consider all your options and take appropriate advice from your legal advisor as to how you may best protect yourself in your plans for the future. For further information contact Canter Levin and Berg Solicitors Dawn Joughin – 0844 335 2905. Any questions and a chance to win a weekend for 2 to the Lake District, visit us at the Manchester Retirement Show, 11th and 12th March at stand A9. 51
Travel Insurance designed especially for people with preexisting medical conditions
We provide cover for many pre-existing medical conditions and have made it easy for you to get a quick and comprehensive quote; you can get an easy, instant online quote.
www.cancercaretravelinsurance.co.uk
Do you have Breast Cancer? Bromley Insurance Services Ltd, an insurance intermediary in Lancashire, has launched an affordable holiday travel insurance policy for ladies who have breast cancer – something which has not been widely available until now. It is a cruel twist of fate that ladies who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and undergone subsequent treatment have found it is almost impossible to get insurance for a holiday which would help in their recovery. In the past insurance costs would have been restrictive – it has been known for some companies to charge over £2,000 just for insurance! That is until now. Phil Hall, who has worked tirelessly to formulate a practical working scheme for ladies who have undergone surgery and other treatments for breast cancer has been trialling the scheme for the past year. Phil explains: “It is terrible that these ladies, after everything they have gone through, cannot get insurance when they want to go on holiday for a break. There are 46,000 cases of breast cancer diagnosed every year – some in ladies as young as 24.” Under the new scheme Bromley’s have been able to arrange competitive insurance rates for ladies who have had, or are being treated for breast cancer and for every policy issued under this scheme, Bromley’s will give a donation to a breast cancer charity. In the past policies aimed at insuring ladies with breast cancer have involved complex
procedures but the new Bromley’s scheme is simple and straightforward. Cover is available within six months of departure so you can book your holiday six months or less in advance and be confident you have insurance in place.
Other Medical Conditions? Bromley's travel insurance covers almost any pre-existing medical condition including; Diabetes, angina, arthritis, asthma, cancer, heart attack conditions, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, epilepsy and stroke. We understand that not everyone has a perfect medical record and that shouldn't prevent you from enjoying travel as much as anyone else. If you do fall into that category, you will doubtless need some fair priced travel insurance and some straight forward help in setting it up.
General Insurance Bromley Insurance Services Ltd offer all general insurance products for car, home, business, RAC breakdown, pets, boats, caravans.
Our experienced staff pursue the highest quality service in dealing with all its clients and we are focused on providing comprehensive insurance programmes at competitive premium levels with safe and trusted insurance providers.
Wherever you choose to go on your much-needed holiday, you can be sure Bromley’s will be with you every step of the way. Just pick up the phone and speak to one of the team who will be able to give you all the advice you need.
For further details call 01282 416050 Bromley Insurance Services Ltd is authorised and regualted by the Financial Services Authority No : 307055
HELP GIVE LADY THE BEST FINISH OF HER LIFE
Greyhounds love to run and, while they’re young enough to race, that’s great. Unfortunately their careers only last until they’re about three years old. With the help of dog lovers everywhere, we re-home many greyhounds ever y year. They’re ideal pets for all age groups, as they surprisingly need little exercise. What they are though is very affectionate. The Retired Greyhound Trust is devoted to re-homing retired greyhounds and we need your help. Could you share your life with one of these adorable dogs? Could you spare a small donation? No matter how big or small your donation may be, every little bit helps.
0844 826 8424
Call us on with your donation, donate online at: greyhounds@retiredgreyhounds.co.uk or fill in the coupon and send it to: Retired Greyhound Trust, 2nd Floor, Park House, 1–4 Park Terrace, Worcester Park, Surrey, KT4 7JZ
YES I WANT TO HELP RETIRED GREYHOUNDS I enclose a donation of £10
£20
£50
£..................... (Cheques payable to: RETIRED GREYHOUND TRUST)
I would like to know more about adopting a greyhound.
Name (Block capitals please) ................................................................................................................................................... Address ................................................................................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................... Post code ...................................... Retired Greyhound Trust, 2nd Floor, Park House, 1–4 Park Terrace, Worcester Park, Surrey, KT4 7JZ We value your support and would like to keep you informed about our welfare work and fundraising activities. If you’re not interested in receiving further information tick this box.
Registered charity No. 269668
Please send me an information pack about leaving a legacy to the RETIRED GREYHOUND TRUST.
CHRONNELL HIBBERT S
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LADIES WOULD YOU LET YOUR MAN CHOOSE YOUR LIPSTICK? There are many reasons to make or update your Will. For instance:• do either or both of you have children from a previous marriage or relationship? If you do and you wish to ensure that both families ultimately receive a fair share of your joint assets then a properly and professionally drawn Will should be able to achieve this.
He may be able to offer informed comments upon global warming and world peace and possibly even put up the odd shelf, if you can drag him away from the television, but can you rely upon him to ensure that you and your family enjoy a secure and trouble free retirement. Probably not! You have now reached an age when you should both be able to enjoy your retirement but eventually we all have to take responsibility for ensuring that we have done as much as we can to make life as easy as possible both for our spouse, partner and children. It is hard enough getting him to write a birthday card or a christmas card what chance is there that he will ever get round to making or revising his Will! In order to ensure as trouble free retirement as possible every person, and particularly every person over the retirement age should consider the following:
MAKING A WILL.
If you do not have a Will why not? If you do have a Will did you make it years ago when family and financial circumstances were totally different and is it still relevant to your circumstances today?
• do either of you suffer from a disability or chronic health condition that may mean at some time in the future there is a real possibility of one of you having to go into long term retirement care. If so, a properly drawn Will should enable you to ensure that a significant part of your assets go to your children or other family members and are not tied up funding retirement home fees indefinitely. • do you have a son/daughter who is presently undergoing a divorce or is thinking of getting a divorce. If they are presently named as a beneficiary under your Will would you wish to take the risk of you dying and your childs inheritance from you being taken into account in any matrimonial financial settlement - again steps can be taken to avoid this in your Will.
wish to move house without first applying to the Court of Protection to be appointed as your spouse’s Deputy. This process can be both expensive and time consuming and it is highly advisable that every person considers making a Power of Attorney and you may wish to consider appointing your spouse/partner and/ or one or more of your children to act jointly as your Attorney under a Lasting Power of Attorney rather than relying on the Court to make such an appointment.
EQUITY RELEASE
Many people whether as a couple or alone find themselves in a situation where they do own a house which has no mortgage on it but have little or no savings and only a modest income to live on. No one has an obligation to leave their family an inheritance, you can obtain an Equity Release Loan which releases part of the capital value of the house for you to spend on yourself whether it is to be able to afford holidays or just to make the house a more comfortable place for you to live and occupy for as long as possible during your retirement. Equity Release is not appropriate to everybody’s family/ financial circumstances but we can ensure you receive independent professional financial advice on the suitability of Equity Release to your particular needs without any further obligation.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Were a husband or wife to lose the capacity to be able to deal with their own affairs for instance having suffered a stroke or dementia, the spouse has no automatic rights to be able to deal with and manage their affairs. You would not be able to access any funds in any Bank account in your spouse’s sole name nor to sell any jointly owned property if you
For further information please call Anna Perry or David Williams 0161 368 3434 Or email anna.perry@hydesolicitors.co.uk OR david.williams@hydesolicitors.co.uk
Ashton View / Regency Gardens Highly respected developers Jones Homes are proud to invite you to visit their two lovely seaside developments for the over 55’s. Ashton View in Lytham St. Annes (pictured above) and Regency Gardens in Southport (pictured below). Each managed development boasts beautifully planned 1 & 2 bedroomed apartments completed to the highest specification. All of the apartments provide fully fitted kitchens with integrated appliances, a comfortable lounge, beautifully fitted tiled bathroom and many other exclusive features such as the security of a speak and see video entry system and a 24 hour emergency call system. Both developments have the great advantage of carefully selected House Managers, laundry rooms, passenger lifts and guest suites for those occasions when friends and family visit, and if that wasn’t enough residents can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of an elegantly decorated communal lounge and kitchen where new friends and acquaintances await. Ashton View is in the perfect location on St. Georges Road, in Lytham St. Annes, allowing residents the independence of being only a moments walk away from all local shops, the train station with links to Preston and Blackpool and the promenade with all that has to offer. Residents also have the luxury of being surrounded by the peace and tranquillity of Ashton Gardens and overlooking the Bowling Green. Alternatively Regency Gardens is located at the corner of Park Road West just a few minutes’ walk from
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Southport’s famous Lord Street, giving residents the freedom of being within walking distance of all local shops, Southport Links Golf Course and of course the sea front. Residents also benefit from the money saving aspects of living in a maintenance free environment, all gardens and exterior maintenance is taken care of by professional service teams and with the many other benefits and facilities on offer at these developments you could be saving a lot more money than you think. Initiatives are available to make purchasing your brand new home easier and more affordable with the shared ownership scheme and all apartments are now available to buy this way. This means that you could purchase a 1 bedroom home from as little as £106,250 and a 2 bedroom home from as little as £150,407. Please see our sales negotiators for full details of this exciting new way to buy. To find out more about these splendid developments come and visit the sales negotiators who will be pleased to show you around. There is no doubt that you will be pleasantly surprised about everything that Ashton View & Regency Gardens have to offer. The show apartments are open 7 days a week from 11am – 5:30pm (closed Tuesday & Wednesday) or alternatively for more information please telephone the developments directly - Ashton View 01253 721272 / Regency Gardens 01704 530505 or visit the website www. Jones-homes.co.uk .
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
HOUSING
Come and see us right now and get a great deal more!
ST ANNES - ON - SEA St Georges Road FY8 2AW
“Make savings if you’re downsizing and enjoy a whole new lease of life. Ashton View is more than just a superb new home, it’s a way of life... Come and find out why.”
Ashton View
1 bedroom apartments from £106,250† 2 bedroom apartments from £150,407† (Shared ownership prices. 85% of full price)
ASHTON VIEW IS IDEALLY LOCATED IN THE CENTRE OF ST. ANNE’S, CLOSE TO LOCAL SHOPS AND THE TRAIN STATION, WITH THE BENEFIT OF OVERLOOKING THE SUPERBLY REFURBISHED ASHTON GARDENS AND BOWLING GREENS.
• Resident House Manager •Elegantly furnished residents lounge • Laundry facilities available • Visitors guest suite • 2 passenger lifts • Video entry systems • 24 hour emergency call system • Landscaped maintained gardens Show apartment open 7 days a week, 11am – 5.30pm
01253 721272
CORNER OF PARK RD WEST & ALBERT ROAD SOUTHPORT – PR9 0JU
“Regency Gardens has proved to be so popular because of its superb location and luxurious amenities that only 3 apartments now remain for sale”
Regency Gardens
1 bedroom apartments from £120,657† 2 bedroom apartments from £157,632† (Shared ownership prices. 85% of full price)
• Resident House Manager •Elegantly furnished residents lounge • Laundry facilities available • Visitors guest suite • 2 passenger lifts • Video entry systems • 24 hour emergency call system • Landscaped maintained gardens ENJOY SEA AIR, SHOPPING AND LEISURE ON YOUR DOORSTEP AS REGENCY GARDENS IS JUST A SHORT DISTANCE FROM LORD STREET IN SOUTHPORT.
Show apartment open 7 days a week, 11am – 5.30pm
01704 530505
†Only available as part of the shared ownership scheme. *Terms and conditions apply and full details will be provided on request from participating developments. This offer is subject to status and only available on selected developments and properties. This offer is only available in conjunction with other promotions at the discretion of the participating development. **15% is to be repaid on sale or transfer of the apartment. Please remember that the value of your home can go down as well as up.
Prices correct at time of going to press.
Village Life at Middleton Towers I first visited the old holiday site Middleton Towers for the Press Launch of a new retirement complex in the Summer of 2006. The disused Pontins building still loomed large on the horizon and despite the glossy brochures and the carnival atmosphere, it required a vivid imagination to envisage the end result. Four years on a village has emerged, - neat , substantial stone and rendered bungalows mingle with well planned apartment blocks. Further on to the bottom of Natterjack Lane right beside the sea is a luxurious swimming pool and gym complex built in the original barn. Next door, still in the barn conversion, is the plush cafe bar, with an outdoor seating area overlooking the beach. I met Geoff and Jean Ellis who moved to Middleton just over two years ago, a short illness meant that the family home in Arnside was no longer fit for purpose. After looking at many local bungalows Geoff came across Middleton Towers and realised the potential and value for money. Looking back Jean felt the sense of adventure moving into their first new build and being involved in the colour planning and design of the interior. Their apartment is stylish and spacious with two bedrooms and a guest bathroom making it ideal for visitors, a regular I found out is their granddaughter. Enough about the bricks and mortar, what is it like to live at Middleton Towers? Well the residents have formed their own residents association, with the Ellis’s very much involved. Regular snooker and bowling competitions and coffee mornings together with a monthly dining club and quiz nights are some of the events on offer.
Geoff adds, “We are able to live life to the full, here mornings usually start with us both enjoying a swim followed by a visit to the gym or stroll along the beach. The near proximity of Lancaster with it's shops, restaurants and theatres, and the beauty spot of Sunderland Point just along the beach make the location of the village ideal” Asked if they had any regrets, both replied with a smile, “absolutely not.”
On leaving Middleton Towers I sensed the holiday atmosphere that has made the area famous for so many years hadn’t quite left. article written by John McGrath 58
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
Stunning properties never atYou’re affordable prices too young...
to experienceAND APARTMENTS FROM £135,000 BUNGALOWS a new lifestyle!
• Pool & Spa • Health Club • Bowling Green • Library • Private Lounge • Function Room • Restaurant • On-site Management • Bus Service
ASK ASK ABOUT ABOUT OUR OUR ‘TRY ‘TRY BEFORE BEFORE YOU YOU BUY’ BUY’ OFFER OFFER Come and see what retirement should be at Middleton Towers Retirement Village
Fantastic Coastal Location Overlooking Morecambe Bay, Middleton Towers is close to the Lake District and the Lune Valley, boasting an enviable position in an area of outstanding natural beauty. This stunning new development overlooking the Lancashire Coast is designed specifically for the over 55’s. Enjoy an active, independent lifestyle being safe in the knowledge that first class care is available if required. x 7HQQLV &RXUW x 3RRO 6SD x +HDOWK &OXE x %RZOLQJ *UHHQ x /LEUDU\ x 3ULYDWH /RXQJH x )XQFWLRQ 5RRP x 5HVWDXUDQW x 9LOODJH 6KRS x 2Q VLWH 0DQDJHPHQW x %XV 6HUYLFH
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A New Option For Retirement..
For those over the age of 55 and considering semi-retirement or even full retirement, Campbell’s Park Homes offer an idyllic alternative to conventional home ownership. With properties on their award-winning parks starting from £52,950, a comfortable and secure lifestyle need not cost the earth. Campbell’s Park Homes have two award-winning locations near Leyland and Preston. Cuerden Park benefits from its rural location. It is a place in the country, scenic and pleasant, that has easy access to the local amenities and the region’s motorways and towns. It also boasts its own Post Office and Social Centre. Penwortham Park is located about a mile outside Preston. It is within easy commuting distance of the city centre and all amenities. The park is quiet and secluded, shielded by trees on all sides.
The detached bungalow-style homes are high quality, fully-furnished residential properties, with everything needed for a secure and convenient way of life . The park home lifestyle is pleasant and relaxed and very much aimed at independent living. The homes can be purchased new, or pre-owned, with a choice of plots all offering garden areas and off-road parking. The Cuerden and Penwortham Park show homes are available to view by appointment.
For further information on both parks and current properties for sale, please visit the Campbell’s Park Homes website at www.campbellsparkhomes.co.uk or call the sales office on 01772 624491.
ARK HOMES P 'S L L E B P M A C
d n e k e e W n e p O pril
Sat/Sun 09/10 A
11am - 5pTSm, PRIZE DRAW
REFRESHMEN SHOW HOMES,
Are you thinking?
"We're nearing retirement"
"The house is far too large now there's just the two of us" "We would prefer not to move too far" "We would like a move to somewhere quiet with a friendly community spirit" Well...Campbell's Park Homes have the answer...
• Quiet and secure • Fully furnished homes • Low running costs
Cuerden Park has 180 homes and is on the outskirts of Leyland in a rural position, but with easy access to all motorway connections and local towns. Penwortham Park has 80 homes and is located just outside the city of Preston within easy commuting distance of all amenities associated with a vibrant new city. Both parks carry quality awards from the National Park Homes Council and also David Bellamy Awards for Conservation.
Cuerden Residential Park Wigan Road, Leyland, Preston PR25 5PB | Tel: 01772 624491 Penwortham Residential Park off Stricklands Lane, Penwortham, Preston PR1 9YD | Tel:01772 742698
All properties for sale are on view at www.campbellsparkhomes.co.uk
A focus on renting in retirement in the North West Choosing the ideal retirement location can be challenging, particularly when trying to find that perfect property in an interesting location, which also offers long-term security, comfortable living and friendly neighbours. Girlings Retirement Rentals, which currently has properties available in Oxton, Kendal, Northenden, Blackpool, Blundellsands, Lancaster and Southport, is the leading private sector renting in retirement specialists. For the most part, tenancies are assured, which means you stay as long as you want and this provides great security and peace of mind. The added flexibility of renting means residents don’t have the burdens of home ownership and are free to move wherever they like, whether it’s closer to family and friends or to another part of the country. Mr & Mrs Carter, Girlings’ residents say:
We feel very safe and secure here. The support services in place such as Careline are fantastic and we feel confident because we know we speak to someone in seconds and get help if we need it. We feel secure also because we have a lifelong tenancy so we know we can stay here for as long as we choose...We live close to all the local amenities and have made many great friends - at least once a month we all get together - whether it is fish and chip suppers or a Barbecue in the Summer in the beautiful gardens. It was a great move for us. Renting also allows homeowners to sell their property outright in order to release capital. Sellers are able to avoid equity release schemes and sell on the open market, to ensure they receive the best price. Whilst the credit crunch has seen a dramatic slump in house sales, savvy retirees may consider letting out their larger, high-maintenance homes, either privately or through a social housing provider, to create an income which allows them to rent a manageable, purpose-built, maintenance-free and energy-efficient retirement property, so they can get on and enjoy their lives.
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Girlings co-owner and CEO, Peter Girling said: “A Life long (assured) tenancy offers great security and long-term peace of mind. In the private rental sector, it is common for properties to be let on an assured shorthold tenancy basis which enables the landlord to regain possession of the property after the initial agreed fixed term. “Renting on a life long tenancy basis offers the same security of tenure as most social housing providers, only without the associated waiting lists. What’s more, service charges and maintenance are included in the monthly payments.” From the undeniable natural beauty of the Lake District to the bustling streets of Manchester city centre, the North West has something to offer everyone. Its beautiful landscapes have inspired authors and artists, such as Wordsworth and Turner, for generations. Steeped in sporting history, the North West plays host to the Grand National and is home to five stunning race courses. Some of the country’s most challenging and naturally beautiful golf courses can also be found in the area; including three that regularly host the renowned Open Championship. Boasting England’s largest National Park, three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and miles of outstanding coastline, the North West is not only an attractive location for property buyers, it’s also a hotspot for a growing number of retired people who have decided to leave the burdens of home ownership behind and enjoy the freedom of renting in retirement. Girlings Retirement Rentals has purpose built retirement developments across the North West region, all within easy walking distance of local amenities. Girlings has a range of one and two bedroom apartments which can be rented on life long tenancies. Rents are reviewed annually in line with the RPI (Retail Price Index) and capped at 6%, enabling easy financial planning for residents, without the responsibility of home ownership. A typical apartment features a fitted kitchen, a bathroom, a lounge/dining room, and a utility cupboard. Most Developments also feature a laundry room, communal lounge area, guest suite and a lift to all floors. All apartments benefit from advanced security systems, including a 24-hour Careline Did you know you can rent private service. A service team is responsible for window retirement property on life long tenancies which gives you the right to remain living in cleaning, gardening and all external maintenance, and the property for as long as you wish? a house-manager is present during weekdays to look Service charges and maintenance are after the running of the development.
Are you 55+?
included in the rent
Residents renting on an assured tenancy agree that it’s easier to budget according to their monthly payments, giving great peace of mind during their precious years of retirement. It is also comforting to know that should the property require any maintenance, from an unexpected leak to a broken shelf, a service team is on hand and this is all included in the monthly rental payments.
For more information, please visit www.girlings.co.uk or contact the lettings team on 0800 52 51 84.
Visit us at stand B1
0800 52 51 84
www.girlings.co.uk Offering a wider choice in retirement housing
NORTH WEST RETIREMENT SHOW 2011
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St Vincent’s Retirement Livin St Vincent’s Retirement Livin Creating Independence w Creating Independence w All of St vincent’s Sheltered All of St vincent’s Sheltered Schemes are happy and Schemes are happyoffering and safe environments, safe environments, accommodation for offering people accommodation people of retirement agefor who want of retirement living age who independent andwant support. independent living and support. People under the age of 60 and People under the age Living of 60 and in receipt of Disability in receipt ofcan Disability Living Allowance also apply. Allowance can also apply. So, what’s on offer? So, what’s on offer? • • • • • •
Resident Scheme Managers Resident Scheme Managers 24 hour Central Control Service 24 hour Central Control Service Constant Heating and Hot Constant Heating and Hot Water Water
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Door Entry System Door Entry System Communal Gardens Communal Communal Gardens Lounge Communal Repairs andLounge Maintenance Repairs Service and Maintenance Service Laundry Laundry Lift Lift Social Events Social Events
What our Scheme Managers What offer our Scheme Managers offer General support and advice General support and advice to residents regarding to residents regarding benefit entitlement, property benefit entitlement, property maintenance, rents and maintenance, rentsagencies. and accessing outside accessing outside agencies. The Scheme Manager The Manager givesScheme a morning call the 5 gives a morning the 5 days they are oncall duty. days they are on duty.
ng ng with Support with Support Weekend calls are Weekend calls are provided by County provided County Care-line by Response, Care-line Response, who also provide outwho alsoemergency provide outof-hours of-hours emergency cover during the week cover the week and atduring weekends. and at weekends. Where are St Where areSchemes? St Vincent’s Vincent’s Schemes? Located across the Located across North West, we the have retirement North West, we have retirement schemes in Manchester, schemes Manchester, Rochdale,inBolton, Salford and Rochdale, Longridge. Bolton, Salford and Longridge.
Give us a ring today to get Give a ring today to get moreus information about more information about St Vincent’s Retirement St Vincent’s Retirement Living Schemes, or Living Schemes, discuss you own or discuss you own circumstances. circumstances. Call 0845 606 6565 Call 0845 606 6565 or email or email jane.sutton@svha.co.uk jane.sutton@svha.co.uk
www.svha.co.uk www.svha.co.uk
Established in Leeds in 1996, Maria Mallaband Care Group was named after the grandmother of Chairman and founder Philip Burgan. The independent company has expanded organically and through acquisition, thanks to an outstanding reputation for providing quality care homes and services.
We aim to: •
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With over 27 elderly care homes across the UK, Maria Mallaband has the knowledge and insight to provide exceptional standards of care and expertise. We understand the needs and concerns of people looking into care homes for themselves or for their loved ones.
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The group has more than 50 properties in its portfolio, offering a wide range of services from residential and nursing care for elderly people, to those with physical disabilities and adults with autism and learning disabilities.
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provide exceptional standards of care to all of our residents, whether they require respite or permanent care provide reassuring help for our residents and bring peace of mind to their relatives maintain an ongoing commitment to train and develop all of our staff to meet the individual needs of our residents, as we have always done and will continue to do as Investors in People ensure all residents have freedom of choice and their rights and dignity are respected at all times build confidence and promote independence to enable residents to lead a fulfilling life respect that the privacy and needs of our residents come first and foremost provide a safe, warm, clean and friendly environment.
MISSION STATEMENT: to be the best quality, most highly regarded care provider in the United Kingdom.
Clarendon Court Care Home
The Belvedere Nursing Home
Services available: Nursing - Nursing Dementia Additional services (subject to vacancies): Day Care – Residential/Personal Care – Respite Care
Services available: Dementia Nursing Additional services (subject to vacancies): Day Care – Palliative Care - Residential/Personal Care – Respite Care
Beechwood Close, Stapeley, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 7FY
Horseshoe Lane, Alderley Edge, Stockport, Cheshire, SK9 7QP
clarendon@mmcg.co.uk
belvedere@mmcg.co.uk
Promo code:CLARM0311
Promo code:BELRM0311
Tel: 01270 621500
Tel: 01625 865020
Hope Green Residential Home
Bowerfield Court Care Home
Services available: Residential/Personal Care Additional services (subject to vacancies): Day Care – Respite Care
Services available: Care for the Physically Disabled Additional services (subject to vacancies): Day Care – Nursing – Palliative Care Residential/Personal Care – Respite Care
London Road, Poynton, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 4NJ hopegreen@mmcg.co.uk
Tel: 01625 871210
Promo code:HOPRM0311
3 Broadwood Close, Disley, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 2NJ bowerfield.court@mmcg.co.uk
Tel: 01663 761430
Promo code:BOWCRM0311
Bowerfield House Care Home
Cavendish Court Care Home
Services available: Dementia Nursing Additional services (subject to vacancies):
Services available: Nursing – Residential/Personal Care Additional services (subject to vacancies):
Day Care – Respite Care
Day Care – Palliative Care – Respite Care
1 Broadwood Close, Disley, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 2NJ
Horseshoe Lane, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK9 7QP
Tel: 01663 764291
Tel: 01625 592830
bowerfield.house@mmcg.co.uk
cavendishcourt@mmcg.co.uk
Promo code:BOWHRM0311
Promo code:CAVCRM0311
Carmel Lodge Care Home
Birch Heath Lodge
Services available: Dementia Residential Additional services (subject to vacancies): Day Care – Respite Care
Services available: Nursing Additional services (subject to vacancies): Residential/Personal Care - Palliative Respite Care - Day Care
London Road, Poynton, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 4NJ
Birch Heath Lane Christleton, Cheshire, CH3 7AP.
Tel: 01625 856790
Tel: 01244 335503
carmellodge@mmcg.co.uk
birchheath@mmcg.co.uk
Promo code: CARRM0311
Promo code:BIRRM0311
Please call to discuss your care needs or come along to view our high quality, luxury care facilities.
The Westbourne Care Home & Apartments - NOW TAKING ENQUIRIES The Westbourne, our superior care home development in Holmes Chapel will provide luxurious accommodation for 50 elderly people upon its completion in 2011. The home will offer a combination of nursing, residential and dementia care. For further information please email viewings@mmcg.co.uk. Adjacent to The Westbourne will be Westbourne Villas, a select development of 12 close-care 2 bedroom luxurious apartments. These will be available for private sale through the Holmes Chapel branch of Reeds Rains (telephone 01477 533575).
Visit our website ...www.mmcgcaregroup.co.uk for further details and to view our latest short movie. We are very proud of our luxurious facilities and welcome a visit at any time.
FIRST WEEK’S STAY FREE*
*Subject to a minimum stay of four weeks and on production of this advert.
Promotional code must be quoted when making a booking to qualify for the offer.
Delicious meals, friendly delivery
FREE Nationwide Delivery
Try our
taster pack Meals from only
£1.95
We deliver so much more than meals • Fantastic range of dishes, easily cooked in the oven or microwave • Convenient service from our friendly delivery drivers • Quality and variety of delicious frozen meals • Helping you maintain a balanced diet and independent lifestyle
for only
£19.95
Main Course s: Chicken Breas t Chicken & Ve getable Pie Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pud ding Sausage Hotp ot Shepherds Pie Fish Mornay M ini Meal Desserts: Apple Pie & C ustard Lemon Spong e, Lemon Sau ce & Custard Strawberry Fl avoured Ice C ream
For your FREE brochure, call us on
0800 773 773 To shop online visit
www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com Please tick
Please send me a FREE brochure Please send me a Taster Pack (£19.95) Post to: Wiltshire Farm Foods, FREEPOST Admail 3619, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8ZY. (No stamp required)
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