Retired & Living in Birmingham magazine issue 30 by John McGrath

EDITION 30

Retired SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

& living in Birmingham, Black Country & Solihull

LYNDA BELLINGHAM

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET WITH THIS CALENDAR GIRL

INSIDE HOME CHANGING ROOMS SIMPLE TIPS TO TRANSFORM ANY ROOM £10 MARKS & SPENCER VOUCHER FROM CHURCHILL RETIREMENT LIVING

TRAVEL MADRID CHARMING, CULTURAL & THRILLING HOME TO HOTEL PICK UP SERVICE FROM ROBINSONS HOLIDAYS PLUS MONEY OFF VOUCHER

HEALTH HEART MATTERS A FREE SERVICE TO HELP YOU LIVE WITH A HEALTHY HEART

RICK STEIN

SHARES HIS FAVOURITE DISHES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 55s

FREE Please t

ake one

WWW.RETIREDMAGAZINES.CO.UK

Churchill Retirement Living Mr and Mrs Allen were amazed at how fast they could move, thanks to Churchill’s Selling Made Easy Scheme

“The whole idea of moving is a daunting thought at any age,” Mary Allen says. She and her husband Derek, who is 86, have lived in a Churchill Retirement Living apartment since June 2010 and they are extremely happy. However, when they first thought about downsizing from their four bedroom detached house, one of the aspects that didn’t appeal was the upheaval of the move. “My husband wasn’t keen on moving at all.” Mary recalls. “However, we went to have a look and he just fell in love with the feel of the development– Safe, Secure, private, and a communal garden where he could see himself sunbathing.”

Sales Consultant Jill Smith explains how straight forward moving could be with Churchill’s Selling Made Easy Scheme. She says, “Churchill is unique in that customers can reserve the apartment they want while we help to sell their old home.” Basically Churchill Retirement Living obtain valuations from three estate agents, agrees a selling price with the vendors, and then arranges all the viewings and the chasing-up down the chain, making it as hassle free as possible for our Customers. Churchill also pays £2000 towards the agent’s fees. The Allens were astounded at how well Selling Made Easy worked for them. “The amazing thing was, we put the house on the market on Tuesday and we had a firm offer by Saturday,” says Mary. “We went from thinking about moving to actually moving in a couple of months. It was marvellous!” As part of the Selling Made Easy package, the Allens also used a Churchill-approved solicitor to deal with their conveyancing, to which Churchill contributed £500. “That’s another stage you have to deal with,” says Mary, “the solicitor Churchill appointed was marvellous and really helpful.” Now they

are safely settled in their brand new apartment, and agree that it’s one of the best decisions they’ve ever made. Derek feels it’s like being on holiday all the time, and Mary says, “It’s such a nice place, and very spacious, we’ve not regretted it for one moment!.” Mary is extremely positive about the Churchill Retirement Living lifestyle. “It’s hard to put into words, it’s wonderful not having to worry about anything. We absolutely love it.”

Most Churchill Retirement Living developments, offer one and two bedroom self-contained apartments set in managed landscaped grounds, with the services of a Lodge Manager and a 24-hour Careline facility. There is an Owners’ Lounge, guest suite and laundry room in all developments with the exception of The Spires in Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield whereby this is an exclusive development of just 15 large two bedroom apartments with fitted washer dryers. All Lodge’s are conveniently close to shops, services and public transport.

Show Complexes at all developments in the Midlands are open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. For more information on Churchill Retirement Living and the Selling made Easy Scheme, please call 0800 458 1852 or visit www.churchillretirement.co.uk

RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

RETIREMENT APARTMENTS FOR SALE

Make the most of Summer! Sit back and relax with Churchill Retirement Living’s Selling Made Easy Scheme, and let us remove all the stress of moving house. To find out how we can help you, visit us at one of the Show Complexes listed below before 5th August 2011 and we’ll treat you to a £10 Marks & Spencer Voucher*. We want you to experience the best in Retirement Living, so arrange your visit today. * Only one voucher can be claimed per party / Customer throughout this promotion. To qualify for the offer, you must take a tour of the Show Complex at The Spires with our Sales Consultant before 05/08/2011. As this is a retirement development those qualifying for the visitor incentive of a £10 Marks and Spencer voucher must be aged 60 years or over.

Currently selling at: Tudor Lodge,Warwick Road, Solihull Last 2 remaining New Hall Lodge, Reddicapp Heath Road, Sutton Coldfield Spicer Lodge, Enville Street, Stourbridge The Spires, Church Road, Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield

Development Features Lodge Manager Lift 24hr support & help Video entry

For a FREE colour brochure call today

0800 458 1852 Proud to be managed by…

St Francis Lodge, Cornyx Lane, Solihull churchillretirement.co.uk

Guest Suite Owners’ Lounge Landscaped Gardens Parking

Welcome to Retired Magazine 20-21 8-9 19-20

Live with a healthy heart

42-44

Dear Reader

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.

For healthier fats, try cooking with olive, sunflower, corn or rapeseed oil instead of butter or ghee. But remember to use it sparingly!

TRAVEL & LEISURE 8-9

Aim to do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on five days or more a week. l

REGULARS

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. receive

access

this

Visit: www.bhf.org.uk/retiredhearts Or call: 0300 330 3300 (Local rate. Lines open 4

Madrid Charming, cultural & thrilling.

10-11 Affordable peace of mind ... Holidays Plus money off voucher from Robinsons.

l Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day; in curries, salad or as a snack.

We know you will also be left with a smile on your face after reading Graham’s observations on life! If you know of an event which would benefit from free publicity please feel free to let us know and we can consider including it in our next issue.

Welcome to the latest local Retired magazine which we hope you will sit back and enjoy at your leisure. Our journalists Angela Kelly, Graham Smith and Sheila Alcock are continuing to keep you well informed with their celebrity interviews and up to date household tips.

free

7 Graham Smith Twittering on. 20-21 Interview Lynda Bellingham talks to Retired.

HOME 28 Changing Rooms Simple Tips to Transform any Room. 32 From Replacement Doors to complete Kitchens From Dream Doors

FOOD & DRINK 42-44 Rick Stein's Coast to Coast Recipes

McGrath Media. Unit 6 | Moses Gate Workshops Gladys Street | Bolton | BL3 2QG. T: (01204) 796 494 | F: (01204) 791594 e: mcgrathadmin@btconnect.com

RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Peaceful Park Home Living

Redlands Park, St. Mary’s Park & Heathcote Park Rural residential park homes for the retired or semi-retired in the heart of the Midlands. Image for illustration purposes only

THE NEW DEVELOPMENT at

Image for illustration purposes only

PRESTIGE SPECIAL EDITION 2011

OMAR OULTON EXCEL 2011

This residential park home must be seen! Looks out over stunning rural views!

The Oulton Excel is in a class of its own. With it's exceptional Omar build quality and interior design. Two large bay windows to the lounge add depth to the rooms to create extra space to an already spacious home, and allow the wonderful views to be enjoyed.

40ft x 12ft

REDLANDS PARK Has Started!

All Plots Have Amazing Views!

The Prestige Special Edition is a unique home. From the moment you enter the front door you will appreciate the colours and stylish touches. This home offers excellent value for money with the most amazing rural views bringing the countryside right into your home.

NEW & USED HOMES AVAILABLE

Our Designers have paid particular attention to creating storage space by incorporating ample cupboards.

£110,000

Prices starting from only

44ft x 20ft X 2 BED

The stylish designed kitchen is fitted with every major appliance as standard with a breakfast bar leading through to the spacious dining area. The rear door leads into a spacious utility room with space for washing machine, tumble dryer and plenty of room to clean off the dog! Two spacious double bedrooms with an en-suite and luxury shower further enhances this highly individual home.

£165,000

New Development Plots available for you to plan and design your own home. Choose your own room layouts, light fittings, wallpaper schemes, bathroom fittings and much more.

Our Residential Park have the attraction of being perfect for those wanting a quiet and idyllic lifestyle. Redlands Residential Park,

St.Mary’s Residential Park,

Heathcote Residential Park,

Lighthorne, Warwick CV35 0AQ.

Chapel Lane, Wythall B47 6JU

Heathcote, Warwick CV34 6SE.

For Sales Enquiries Call: 01789 293438 email: sales@stratfordcaravans.co.uk www.stratfordcaravans.co.uk Family owned and run parks, for that personal touch.

Twittering. Everybody’s doing it says Graham Smith

When I was young I kept a diary, now I’m told I have to Twitter and tweet. I’ve cracked Facebook, where two third of the world puts its life in the public domain, so I thought I’d have a Twitter. Why not? Stephen Fry is a mega hero on there, politicians do it, celebrities do it, footballers do it, often while on the pitch, and world shattering news, once the province of the BBC is regularly posted on there….if you can read it. You see you have to get your message across in 140 letters. That’s 140 characters, not three pads of your granny’s best notepaper and a first class stamp, and it’s not easy. I’ve barely begun to impart my pearls of wisdom to the world when I’ve run out of space so I invariably leave a half finished tweet or delete the whole thing in disgust. Daft isn’t it? I’ve just written about 1,000 characters and barely begun this piece and a tweet is a tenth of that! When you tweet you attract followers. I have 19 including a newspaper group in Utah, Texas. I have no idea why Utah Newspapers wants to follow my tweets and I have no intention of following theirs. A large, muscular looking lady from Holland started following me but her tweets were in Dutch so I daren’t follow her in case I’m arrested for something unspeakable. If I’m honest I don’t really get it. I’m a closet tweeter, can I say that? If something in the news gets up my nose, and it invariably does, I’ll tweet and put a link on to the offending piece. That’s fun, but why do I want to read the tweets of John from Halifax who twitters on about everything including what his wife has put in that day’s sandwiches which he’s eating on the train travelling to London? Actor and comedian Stephen Fry is a Twitter celebrity. He has more followers than the lead pigeon on Nelson’s column and tweets incessantly. Riots were threatened when he said he was leaving the site, but who are all these followers? I’m perplexed in the morning when I see Rhondda from the Valleys peeking at me before I’ve had my second coffee. Maeser Morgan the washing machine repair man could be very useful but it will be a heck of a call out charge from Washington, and

how Mary Beth Bass, romantic author, Keats idolater, butter vegetarian, wife and mother came my way I don’t know, but she twitters incessantly. I’m also very worried about Erskine Howcroft, whose symbol is a large white egg and has yet to utter a tweet. Does this mean he/she has not hatched yet? I recall those minute diaries which you got at Christmas with a pencil stuck down the spine. I used to set off with good intentions of chronicling my life on a daily basis to leave for posterity, but invariably the pencil had broken by January 5th and you’d lost interest anyway. How times have changed. I’ve just written the equivalent of 16.26 tweets. I need to go to my blog.

It’s enough to give you a phobia In this mad politically correct world of ours there are many phobias but pogonophobia was a new one to me. Fear of pogo sticks I thought, but no I was educated by a former seafaring man with whom I worked recently. He has a full beard which is long enough to keep his knees warm in winter and he told me the story of how he lost his job as a trawler coxon because his boss had a bad case of pogonophobia. I questioned him and he explained how he had been summoned to the office and ordered to shave and eventually sacked because he refused. Apparently the boss had a pogonophobia…..fear of beards!

bad

case

Do you have a language issue? What is BBC radio doing to the English language? Why are half the travel and news presenters now over enunciating and simpering as though they have blocked adenoids? The buzz words getting up my nose at the moment are “issues”, “awesome”, “iconic” and my most hated, “absolutely”, but it’s the pronunciation which is worst. There is only one “a” in way, it is not waay, as in over emphasising the middle syllable. The word is road not rowd, and there is no “y” in station! Do I have an issue with this? I do, absolutely, it’s an awesome insult to the English language.

I feel a Twitter coming on. RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Madrid

The European Capital Of Art

Madrid possesses a wealth of cultural attractions and is a thrilling city with theatre shows, opera, dancing and countless other forms of nightlife. You will also find other exciting places to go for a night to remember. Madrid has long laid claim to the title of “European Capital of Art”. It has a number of museums and galleries housing some of the finest classics from Goya, Velásquez, El Greco and many more. 8

Museo del Prado is a fine museum of paintings set in a stunning 18th century neoclassical building. Worth visiting even if you have only a passing interest in art and must see works include Velásquez’s Las Meninas, widely considered to be the finest painting in the world and Goyas Majas and Pinturas Negras (dark paintings). There are usually a number of local artists outside selling interesting pieces. Centro Nacional de Arte Reina Sofía is second in size only to the Pompidou in Europe, this modern art museum showcases 20th century Spanish creations, including Picasso’s famous anti-war masterpiece – Guernica. I started on the top floor which has pencil drawings and sketches for Guernica before going downstairs to appreciate the magnificence of it for real. Casa de Campo, known as the “lungs of Madrid”, has plenty of space to get lost in its 4,000 acre park, which was only opened to the public in 1931 after previously serving as a royal hunting estate. As well as countless walks, it boasts a boating lake, an open air pool (mid June - September, 10.30am-8pm), a zoo and a theme park. RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

TRAVEL

DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT… ...visiting the Parque del Oeste, one of the city’s lesser known spaces, this park offers the perfect spot for a tranquil shady walk beneath mature trees. Overlooked in the summer by the lively terrazas on Paseo del Pintor Rosales, it is also an ideal way of connecting to Casa de Campo by cable car which runs high over the river and offers stunning views of the city. Madrid airport is 9km from the centre and Exprés Aeropuerto (Airport Express) is a 24-hour service which has only 3 stops after the airport: O’Donell, Plaza de Cibeles and Atocha. The buses run every 15 minutes during the day and every 35 minutes at night, and the journey takes approximately 40 minutes. Tickets can be bought on board. There are taxi ranks in front of the arrivals lounges of all three terminals at Madrid airport. A taxi to/from the airport to/from central Madrid should cost around e20 though taxi drivers are notorious for overcharging recent arrivals! Check that the meter is set at zero when you get in and that it begins the journey at the official minimum fare - currently €2.05.

Climate: The climate of Madrid is dry, warm and pleasant. It’s high altitude and proximity to mountains causes some wide variations in winter and summer temperatures. In summer the heat at midday can be intense, with pleasantly cool evenings. Winters, by contrast, bring temperatures dropping to just below freezing. Rain in Madrid is a rarity, with a short rainy season in late October and some showers in spring. Plaza de Santa Ana, a small central square has strong literary connections and is the recommended spot for sundowners and tapas at the end of a day’s sightseeing. Madrid has a rich football history and the Madrileños live and breathe it. It is home to two 1st division sides, Real Madrid and Athlético Madrid. The main draw is Real who play at the 75,000 capacity Santiago Bernabeau stadium. A tour is available on non-match days between Tue-Sun, 10.30am-8.30pm. Getting to see matches is difficult if they are playing their great rivals Barcelona or one of the Madrid teams but otherwise tickets are generally available, although be prepared to queue!

Language:

Spanish and although English is spoken widely, the locals always appreciate your small efforts to communicate in their language.

Currency: Euro (EUR) €

Madrid is not without its romantic side. As the new home of Flamenco, Madrid is alive with music and passion. The many stunning parks and gardens provide tranquil spots to stroll and the numerous quaint little tapas bars offer a warming ambience all year round. 9

Est.1923

11/12 Apr £239 18/19 Apr £245 25/26 Apr £265 02/03 May £295 09/10 May £305 16/17 May £315 23/24 May £325 30/31 May £329 06/07 Jun £335 13/14 Jun £345 20/21 Jun £349 27/28 Jun £349 04/05 Jul £349 11/12 Jul £349 18/19 Jul £349 25/26 Jul £349 01/02 Aug £349 08/09 Aug £349 15/16 Aug £349 22/23 Aug £349 29/30 Aug £349 Torquay most certainly one of the UK’s Finest resorts and the heart 05/06 is Sep £349 12/13English Sep of the Riviera. £335 19/20 Sep £325 26/27 Sep £305 If you are looking to unwind in style, this elegant Georgian hotel 03/04 Oct £290 is the place to stay. Located in the grounds of the former Torre 10/11 Oct £280 Abbey, overlooking Torbay, there are superb facilities. These include 17/18 Oct £270 indoor and pools, gym, steam room, sauna and 24/25 Oct outdoor swimming £245 a spacious As with all our own hotels a night porter 31 Oct/01conservatory. Nov £250 07/0824 Novhour reception £240service. ensures 14/15 Nov £230 21/22 Nov £220 28/29 Nov £210 05/06 Dec £200

2011

Affordable peace of mind ..... Holidays

COACH HOLIDAYS

Abbey Lawn Hotel

s_09_pp12-13.qxd:Layout 1

26/9/08

14:11

Page 12

Mystery Tours

hy not take a holiday to one of Robinsons own hotels nd at the same time benefit from a lower price? This is ossible if you travel on one of our Mystery Tours.

ide on which date you wish to travel and contact our reservations department to

ke your booking. All the dates and prices are shown in the adjacent price panel. will be notified of your destination approximately four weeks before

parture.

days subject to availability

Ocean View Hotel

Mystery Tours 5 Day Tours Take a4 nights short boat ride across the Solent and discover the Isle of 7 Nights Half Board Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Wight, an island of great natural beauty and superb weather, with a 13 Dec Departure Code A £135* wealth of attractions for£135* visitors of all ages. Shanklin, on the south 17 Dec Tour 12A Saturday Departures coast the island, is home to a variety of safe, golden beaches and a 23 of Dec Tour 12B Sunday Departures£335 quaint collection of shops 29 Dec £325housed in traditional thatched cottages. Departures

8 days

Christmas New Year 28 Feb/01 Mar and £209 An elegant hotel commanding magnificent views across Sandown includes 3 resort lunches 07/08 Mar £215the perfect place to enjoy the sunset on Bay, the balconies provide and 1 mystery excursion 14/15 Mar £219 summer evenings. Guests can unwind in the piano lounge before 21/22 Mar £225 Turkey & Tinsel enjoying an evning meal in the spacious restaurant. A night porter 28/29 Mar £229 ensures 24 hour reception service. *Unlimited Single Rooms 04/05 Apr £235

11/12 Apr £239 18/19 Apr £245 25/26 Apr £265 02/03 May £295 09/10 May £305 Eastbourne destination, it has one of the top 16/17 May is an ideal holiday £315 23/24 May £325 and has been awarded the Seaside Award sunshine records in the UK 30/31 May safe beaches £329 for its clean for the past eight years. 06/07 Jun £335 13/14 Jun £345 An impressive Victorian hotel, situated at the seaward end of 20/21 Jun £349 Devonshire place, less than a hundred yards from the seafront, on a 27/28 Jun £349 delightful tree-lined boulevard less than five minutes walk from the 04/05 Jul £349 main facilities and town£349 centre amenities. A night porter ensures 24 11/12 Jul Jul hour18/19 reception service. £349 25/26 Jul £349 01/02 Aug £349 08/09 Aug £349 15/16 Aug £349 22/23 Aug £349 29/30 Aug £349 05/06 Sep £349 12/13 Sep £335 19/20 Sep £325 26/27 Sep £305 03/04 Oct £290 10/11 Oct £280 17/18 Oct £270 24/25 Oct £245 Name: ........................................................................................................................................................ 31 Oct/01 Nov £250 Address:..................................................................................................................................................... 07/08 Nov £240 ..................................................................Poscode: ............................................................................ 14/15 Nov £230 21/22 Nov £220 Tel: .............................................................................................................................................................. 28/29 Nov £210 05/06 Dec £200

FREEPHONE 0800 0839900 or contact your local Travel Agent

Imperial Hotel

For a full colour brochure FREEPHONE 0800 0839900 for details

Reader Offer Save £20 per booking with Robinsons Holidays Simply attach to your Robinsons Holidays booking request to claim your £20 discount. Only one voucher per holiday booking. Discount is only valid on new bookings. Discount voucher can not be redeemed against any existing bookings.

All holidays on this page are inclusive of a pick up from your home, provided you live within the area shown on the map. You will be taken to an appropriate point to join your main tour coach. Tour coaches will depart late morning and you will be advised of the pick up time one week prior to the date of travel. On the homeward journey, you will arrive back in the West Midlands early afternoon with transport provided to your home.

8 Day Tours 7 Nights Half Board Departures

Abbey Lawn Hotel

Imperial Hotel

Saturday/Sunday Departures Ocean View Hotel

25/26 June £429 £429 £429 02/03 July £439 £439 £439 09/10 July £439 £439 £439 16/17 July £439 £439 £439 23/24 July £439 £439 £439 30/31 July £439 £439 £439 06/07 Aug £439 £439 £439 13/14 Aug £439 £439 £439 20/21 Aug £439 £439 £439 27/28 Aug £429 £429 £429 03/04 Sep £429 £429 £429 10/11 Sep £419 £419 £419 17/18 Sep £409 £409 £409 24/25 Sep £389 £389 £389 01/02 Oct £349 £349 £349 08/09 Oct £339 £339 £339 15/16 Oct £329 £329 £329 22/23 Oct £309 £309 £309 30 Oct £309 £309 £309 6 Nov £299 £299 £299 13 Nov £289 £289 £289 20 Nov £279 £279 £279 27 Nov £269 £269 £269 04 Dec £259 £259 £259 Turkey and Tinsel Supplements Sea View Room, (pp) : 8 days £15.00

ALL TOURS INCLUDE FREE INSURANCE

OUR EUROPEAN TOURS Date Tour & No Duration Price Single Room Supplement 09 July AUSTRIAN LAKES, EBENSEE, SALZBURG & ST. WOLFGANG (81)

9 Days

£601

£102

03 Sept ITALIAN LAKES, MAGGIORE, ORTA AND COMO (72)

9 Days

£689

£240

11 Sept SWITZERLAND LAKES AND MOUNTAINS (84)

9 Days

£675

£106

25 Sept AUSTRIAN LAKES, EBENSEE, SALZBURG & ST. WOLFGANG (81) 08 Oct ITALY, THE ITALIAN AND FRENCH RIVIERAS (73)

9 Days

£601

£102

9 Days

£651

£240

Getting the most WIN from your holiday ...

Eastbourne & Sussex Coast

• Admire the Sussex Coast • Explore the wonderful South Downs • Visit charming Arundel 5 DAYS Dep: Jun 14 • Jul 19 • Aug 16

WAS

£299

NOW

£229

Take a look at our full range of 2010/2011 brochures…

a Weekend Break for 2!

Weston-super-Mare & Longleat

For your chance to WIN a Weekend Break for 2, staying in a Shearings hotel, simply answer the question below and ﬁll in the entry form below:

• Visit majestic Longleat House • Explore the awe-inspiring Cheddar Gorge 5 DAYS Dep: Jul 19 • Aug 9

HOLIDAYS provide that get-away-from-it-all feeling that we all need at some time of the year simply as a change from normal routine. How many hotels do Shearings own? WAS £329 NOW £279 Name: Address:

Order your copies Holidays £359 in the UK can vary from popular seaside today! resorts to sleepy villages, and from hotels bristling

Great Yarmouth & Norfolk Broads

Today, the holiday market, at home or further afield, • Enjoy the Norfolk Broads • East Anglia’s transport museumof choices and plenty of potential offers a mass • Explore historic Norwich value. So the best way to start your planning is to 8 DAYS Dep: Jul decide 3 • Aug 7, 21 • Sep 4 whether you want to stay in the UK or not. WAS

£439

NOW

rogramme and sightseeing excursions.

with activities to remote country cottages with only the wildlife for company.

Postcode: Telephone: If you would like to receive emails about future special offers and news from Shearings - please supply your email address below:

Email: We may occasionally pass your details onto selected 3rd parties, if you do not want this to happen please tick here If you do not want to receive any future brochures or special offers from Shearings Holidays please tick here

“And if you want a bit of peace and quiet on your holiday, don’t choose a hotel that’s geared up for families. Fortunately, there are plenty of adult-only properties now on offer throughout the world.”

Holidays are operated by Shearings Holidays Ltd and are subject to availability, amendment charges and terms and conditions of Shearings Holidays Trading Charter. 2.5% handling fee applies to credit card transactions. Prices are per person, per stay based on two people sharing a standard room. Insurance is not included. Additional supplements may apply. All prices are valid on new bookings only made between 24/05/2010 – 30/06/2010 and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Details are correct at time of going to press. Prices will be conﬁrmed at the time of booking. Shearings Holidays reserve the right to withdraw any offers and prices at any time and without prior notice.

om quoting NRL022 And if you want to go outside the UK, well, as Arthur Daley graphically put it “the world is your lobster!” quoting NRL022 ent Decide first of all exactly what you want from your holiday because that will influence both the destination and the type of accommodation you choose. Carol Allenby-Carr from Travel Counsellors advises being careful about when you travel, too. “For example, if you want to go to a Mediterranean country and you don’t like it too hot, then don’t go in July and August,” she states 12

Selecting exactly the right destination and accommodation becomes even more important if you have health and/or mobility problems. “Is the resort flat or is it going to be hilly?” adds Carol. “Some hotels may not have easy access for someone with walking difficulties and you need to know about this beforehand.”

RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Send your completed form back to: Retired and Living in… Competition, Marketing Department, Shearings Holidays, Miry Lane, Wigan, WN3 4AG

A: 48 B: 49 C: 50

They rejuvenate us and re-charge the “body that create the spark that keeps us going • Journey on the West Highland Line year. But making the right choices for the rest of the • Take in the views of Loch Lomond for your • Visit bustling Glasgowholiday – and following some simple rules 5 DAYS beforehand - becomes far more important when Dep: Jul 12, 26 • Aug 2 we get older and are less prepared to go on largely WAS £299 NOW £249 unplanned trips which seemed so exciting when we were younger. Loch Lomond & batteries” The Highland Line

Escorted coach tours are popular with older people who prefer everything arranged for them. “There are plenty available,” says Carol, “from a tour around the Scottish Highlands to going through the Canadian Rockies. Cruises have also become very popular with older travellers, with adult-only ships if that’s what you prefer.” “Plan your holiday right from leaving home to reaching your destination at the other end of your journey,“ advises Carol. “There are lots of services on offer that are aimed at making your travelling experience more comfortable, but one basic is to check luggage allowances beforehand as these vary with airlines.” “If you’re flying and are worried about struggling with bags at the airport, most UK airports now offer a Fast Track service for a small cost where you will be met on arrival at the airport, escorted to the check-in desk and fast-tracked through the queuing process and security.” All airlines also offer airport assistance, like use of a wheelchair or help boarding the aircraft, and if you dislike crowded places you could check in at the executive lounge where for a small fee you can relax with refreshments in a quieter area before boarding your plane. Age UK, formerly Age Concern, which runs its own comprehensive holiday service in the UK and Europe offers plenty of useful advice about early planning to make the most from your break, especially if it’s abroad. • Check if there are cultural, language or local laws about alcohol or drugs and keep the local dress code in mind. • The cost of living may be higher in some places than the UK so allow for this, especially if you’re self-catering. • If the holiday involves a different type of activity, prepare ahead. For example, for a sporting holiday you may need to build up your physical fitness. • Decide whether you want to arrange it all yourself or use a travel agent. An independent holiday may be time-consuming to arrange but it may provide exactly what you want. • One helpful way to find holiday information about accessible accommodation and other tourism services for older people and those with disabilities is to contact Tourism For All, a national registered charity. Go to www. tourismforall.org.uk write to: Tourism For All (UK) Holiday Care, c/o Vitalise, Shap Road Industrial Estate, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 6NZ or tel 0845 124 9971. • To find out about the political stability, health risks etc of a particular country (although not for visa-related inquiries), try the Foreign and

RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Commonwealth Office’s travel advice helpline tel 0845 850 2829 or go to www.fco.gov.uk • Whichever organisation you book your holiday with, ensure they’re members of ABTA The Travel Association or the Association of Independent Travel Operators (AITO). • Any UK company selling package holidays must comply with the Package Travel Regulations 1992 which cover areas like the brochure description and what the contract must contain. • If you’re buying over the internet, or flight and accommodation separately elsewhere, ensure that each is covered otherwise you could lose your money. Credit card payment offers some protection. Holiday insurance is vital. • Make sure your passport is up to date – some countries insist on there being at least six months remaining. If you’re a British citizen and were born on or before September 2, 1929, you are now entitled to a free 10-year passport. Contact the Passport Agency tel 0300 222 0000 or go to www.ips.gov.uk If mobility problems prevent you from actually getting to a travel agent, incidentally, there are some – like Travel Counsellors – who come to your home. If you’ve got a medical condition and need medication, it’s worth sorting this out at least six weeks before you go. Your GP may also have advice on managing your condition while you’re away, and don’t forget to have any vaccinations you need in good time before you go. A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) means you’ll be able to receive necessary healthcare during a visit to a European Economic Area country or Switzerland. And these are individual so you and your partner – or all members of a travelling group – need one each. Get application forms from main post offices, apply online at www.ehic.org.uk or call 0845 606 2030. Leave travel, destination and contact details with someone at home, and ensure you’ve got enough money for your trip. If you have a mobile phone, check with your network provider that it’s enabled for international roaming. Check that your handset will work in the country you’re travelling to, and look at the costs to use it abroad for phone and text messages. Make sure your home is safe and secure by cancelling any milk or newspaper deliveries, that your building and contents’ insurance are up to date and that valuable items like computers and TVs are out of sight. Ask a neighbour to collect your mail, mow your lawn, open and close your curtains and switch lights on and off. If the latter isn’t possible, invest in time switches on your lights. Lock and secure your windows, doors and garden sheds; don’t leave spare keys near the house. Check that the house is free of hazards and blockages in case of bad weather – and have a great holiday! 13

T H E AT R E

Solihull Arts Complex Autumn Highlights Thurs 8th & Fri 9th Sept

Tickets £11-£13 A Timeless Collection - Musical Nostalgia

Magical Extravaganza on Ice

Sat 10th Sept

Tickets £17.50 Malcolm Stent - Its not a proper job!

Tue 18th Oct

Weds 14th Sept

Tickets £17.50 Queen Rocks Gospel - Live in Concert!

Weds 26th Oct Tickets £17.50 (£16, £12.50 ch.) The Snow Queen by Ballet Theatre UK

Thurs 15th Sept

Tickets £16 (£14) Johnny Cash Roadshow with Clive John

Sat 12th Nov

Weds 21st Sept Tickets £17.50 Barb Jungr - Sings Bob Dylan’s best work

Thurs 24th Nov Tickets £20 Peter Alliss - Evening with ‘The Voice of Golf’

Mon 28th Sept

Solihull’s much-loved traditional family pantomime

Tickets £12 + £10 lunch

Midday Variety Show with The Bachelors

27th, 29th 30th Sept & 1st Oct Tickets £10-£12 The Panto Girls - Comedy drama in Studio

Library Sq, Homer Rd, Touchwood, B91 3RG

Mon 10th Oct

Tickets £12 (£11) Tickets £12

The Humour of Bob Newhart & Tom Lehrer

Tickets £15.50 (£14.50) A Night of Musicals with Michael Courtney

ROBIN NHOOD OW! ON SALE

Starring

Malcolm Stent

Sponsored by

Includes three extra new co-located shows:

Health Tourism

The

Show

www.HealthTourismShow.com

Cookery demonstrations Seminars & information Financial tips & advice Park & holiday homes Have-a-go dancing Climbing wall Holidays and travel Health checks Gardening Arts and crafts Fashion shows T’ai chi and yoga Health & fitness zones Prize quiz Free show guide magazine & visitor bag

www.50plusShow.com Register for free tickets online or call (0)1372 8409 63 before 30 June 2011 (Admission on the door is £10)

RETIREMENT LIMITED

The Perfect Retirement Solution Aspen’s new retirement development at Grange Court on Warwick Road in Solihull has been created to appeal to today’s active retired generation, and tailored to meet the needs of both individuals and couples who want more time to fulfil their lifelong dreams, or, who wish to downsize to something more manageable for a stress free life without all the worries and expense of property maintenance. A brand new apartment at Grange Court offers the perfect solution. Grange Court is a small and friendly retirement development with 21 one, two and three bedroom apartments, and delightful hotel-style communal areas to enjoy. Apartments are ideally located opposite the popular Dovehouse shopping parade on Warwick Road which offers a wealth of interesting shops plus easy access to public transport; and Solihull town centre is only a few minutes ride away. Grange Court provides a range of facilities for owners to enjoy either on their own or in the

company of others. The residents’ lounge provides a charming and relaxed informal meeting place for planning daily activities and social events, or simply for a coffee and chat with new found friends and neighbours. There is a library area where you can relax with a book, or, there are the beautiful landscaped gardens to enjoy – without all the hard work! The lounge is ideal for private parties and social gatherings so it is easy for residents to get together with loved ones. Friends and family are always welcome and there is a guest suite available for overnight stays.

Mrs Murch was the first resident to move into Grange Court. She says “The location is great and whilst I’m in good health, I don’t want the burden of looking after an older property or having to do my own gardening. This brand new apartment means that all that is taken care of, but I still have my independence and a worry free life.” Apartments

Family owned company

Classic elegance and practicality have been incorporated into every aspect of design and most apartments have either a patio or Juliet balcony. Apartments are spacious and stylish with delightful décor and are fully carpeted throughout. Kitchens are fully fitted with washer/ dryer and integrated fridge freezer, oven and hob. There are fitted wardrobes in the main bedroom, and bathrooms are fully tiled with bath and separate shower. Add to all of this your own personal touches for your comfort and easy living.

Aspen Retirement Ltd. is part of the Stepnell Group, a family owned building company which was started 140 years ago by the current directors’ great great grandfather. Their pride in their work and caring approach ensures that customers are well looked after and that properties are finished to a high standard.

Peace of mind At Grange Court, your security and peace of mind is a priority and all ground floor apartments have an alarm system installed. The Court manager is on site Monday to Friday to ensure the smooth running of the Court and, in the event of an emergency, there is a call system located in every apartment which connects to a 24 hour helpline.

The fully furnished show apartment is available for viewing Tuesday to Saturday, 10am until 4pm. To experience the Aspen way of living for yourself, contact Carol on 0121 708 0586 to arrange a personal viewing.

Need a Recommended Local Company for your New Kitchen or Bedroom? We at RETIRED MAGAZINE realise how important it is to find the right business to provide improvements to your home, especially for larger projects like a new bedroom or kitchen. When asked by The Fitted Furniture Company of Tyseley if we would be prepared to contact some of their customers to ask their opinions of work carried out with our readers in mind we agreed to their challenge.

Their product range extends to: Designed and fitted bedrooms Designed and fitted home studies l Designed and fitted robes for loft conversions l Designed and fitted kitchens including worktops in laminate, corian, mistral, smartstone, granite l Kitchen refurbishments l l

Appliances and sinks can also be supplied at competitive prices.

Mr & Mrs James of Solihull have used The Fitted Furniture Company company on numerous occasions and after three successful bedroom installations their next project was a new kitchen. Mr James comments " from the initial ideas to the quality of materials used and everything going without a hitch including the tidiness of the fitters, I would definitely use this company again and recommend them to anyone." A second Solihull resident had his kitchen refurbished by FFC, he remarked "friends have commented on the tremendous difference it has made, everything happened just as promised from the delivery time to the quality of finish, together with the fact that this looks like a brand new kitchen at a fraction of the price".

They have a choice of doors PVC edged, framed, vinyl wrapped, painted.

The Fitted Furniture Company is a leading furniture manufacturing company with a shopfitting background based in Tyseley Birmingham and have been established for over 25 years.

All their melamine board is ABS PVC edged unlike some suppliers, who use paper edging which can peel off over a period of time. All installations are guaranteed for 5 years as they pride themselves in the quality of their products and workmanship.

FOR YOUR FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTATION TEL: 0121 773 6868

FFC BIRMINGHAM LTD, 64 Redhill Road, Tyseley, Birmingham B25 8EX. Email: info@ffcinteriors.co.uk

www.ffcinteriors.co.uk

RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Changing Rooms sform any room Simple tips to tran

Using Colour That is Best for your Room Size Paint is the easiest way to make a dramatic change in the way a room looks. You can even change the perception of the size of the room with the right wall colour. By using the right combinations of colours; dark or light, warm or cool, you can create the illusion of expanding or reducing the size a space. Painting a room white can create a bright and airy impression, but white can also feel uninspired or sterile. Adding colour to a room can give the space personality. Sticking with lighter colours will still make the space feel larger, but a darker colour can make a room feel cozy and welcoming. When thinking of paint colours, in addition to considering light and dark, think of warm or cool tones. Warm colours are reds, yellows, browns and oranges. Cool colours are blues and greens. Whites and greys can be cool or warm depending on the tint. If you want your room to look larger, use cool shades in lighter tones. Cool colours give the impression of the walls being further away and opening up your space. Painting the trim and moldings around a room can also have an effect on the room’s apparent size. Painting the trim a lighter colour than the wall can also push the wall out visually. Simply doing the opposite, darker colours in warm tones with dark trim, visually pulls the walls in closer to create a more intimate feeling space. This works well in very large rooms giving them a more intimate atmosphere and less like a cathedral. The shape of a room can be visually altered with a simple wall colour change by using accent colours. Just as painting a whole room in a light, cool colour can enlarge the feel of the room; the same idea can be applied to seemingly move the walls. If you have a long narrow room, painting the furthest walls in a dark colour and the long walls and ceiling in a light colour, the room will feel more square than narrow. This technique works great in hallways that can sometimes feel like a tunnel. With a little paint and creativity you can change the look and even size of any room in your house. Keeping in mind how the space will be used and the overall feel you want to create there is almost no limit to what can be achieved. 28

Make a Small Room Appear Larger Keep in mind that cool colours, such as blues and green, recede, which make a room look bigger. Warm colours, such as red and orange, make a room appear smaller. Opt for a cool or pastel colour or white paint when attempting to visually expand a room. Light colours reflect light and make a room appear more expansive than it actually is. Use a light colour on your ceiling, perhaps even lighter than the wall colour, to make thea ceiling appear higher. The room will appear larger as a result. Consider using light coloured carpeting. A dark floor covering will make the room appear smaller. Mix pale colours with cool colours to enlarge a room. The less differentiation in colours (the walls versus the window frames, molding and baseboard) the bigger the room will seem. A chopped up room will feel and appear smaller. Widen a narrow room by using white or pale colours on the walls.

Opt for a cool or pastel colour or white paint when attempting to visually expand a room. Light colours reflect light and make a room appear more expansive than it actually is.

Make a Large Room Appear Smaller Use warm colours, reds orange, yellow, to make a large room appear quaint and cozy. Lower the ceiling (albeit not literally) by painting it a darker shade than the walls. If that still doesn’t do the trick, use the ceiling colour and apply the paint to the top 12 inches or so of your walls and then add molding underneath. The molding breaks up space, which you want to do when you’re trying to make a room appear smaller. Bringing the darker ceiling colour down the top of the wall will make the room look less vast. Think of the ceiling as a hat and the top of the walls, also painted in the ceiling colour, as the brim of the hat. Use a dark coloured carpet, which will make the room appear smaller. Shorten the length of a room by painting the farthest wall a darker colour than the other walls.

RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

The Basic Role of Pictures Wall art plays an important role in interior design as it helps create the ambience of a room. By cleverly placing wall pictures in certain ways, you can change and create a new look and feel in a room. The role wall pictures play in interior design are:• pictures, mirrors or other ornamental accessories on walls help make the room look ‘lived in’ and they also inject your personality into the room • colour pictures and prints help connect with the rooms accent • pictures help absorb noise in a room, otherwise a room with totally bare walls will sound empty and will have an echo • pictures and prints can help enhance or change a room’s ‘look and feel’.

How to Lengthen a Room If you have a small room in your house, you can easily achieve the illusion of length. This can be done in two ways. If you like bold statements then simply paint a couple of horizontal lines in a bold colour across the middle of the wall in which you want to lengthen. These lines then naturally create the illusion of increased length in the room. An alternative way to do this, and a more subtle way, is to use pictures. By strategically placing art pictures or photographs with any kind of strong horizontal line in the print, can accomplish the illusion of length. For example, if you chose two or three long rectangular pictures with horizontal panoramic prints such as ocean & beach pictures, fields, or scenic mountain pictures, then this will help extend the length of the room naturally. Two, three or more of these horizontal landscape pictures will give the maximum impact you are looking for to help lengthen a small room. Also bear in mind not to overdo the room with furniture. Too much clutter makes a room appear smaller.

How to Broaden a Narrow Room If you have a room which is a bit on the narrow side, there is a simple strategy to make the room appear broader. All you need is a tin of paint, a wall mirror and RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011 a large colourful wall picture.

Get your tin of paint, which should preferably be a darker contrasting colour to your other walls, and paint one of the walls with this darker paint. Find a colourful and lively large painting and hang it on the wall you have just painted - colourful flower pictures are ideal for this. On the wall adjacent to your picture, hang a decorative large mirror. What has happened here is that the mirror reflects on the large picture, and the additional darker colour on the wall has immediately given the room some much-needed depth. This combination will then make the room appear wider. By adding these simple additions to your narrow room, you have instantly created a balance in the room’s dimensions giving the sensation of additional space.

How to Heighten a Low Ceiling Rooms with low ceilings give an oppressive feeling, whereas rooms with a high ceiling give a light and airy feel with a large amount of space. To overcome the problem of a low ceiling, there are a couple of interior design strategies to use. 29

First of all put down a darker floor covering, whether it be a wooden floor, carpet or lino. Paint the walls with a lighter colour than the floor, or use light coloured wallpaper. If you can, use white paint for the ceiling as this always gives the room maximum light and instantly draws the eyes upwards. Hang up wall pictures with strong vertical lines as this then gives the impression of height. Use portrait prints such as vertical landscapes, i.e. lighthouses, trees, cityscapes, or floral prints such as flowers in a vertical vase or tall long stem roses. Therefore, by combining the dark floor, light walls and ceiling and portraits prints, all adds to the sense of height in a room. Art pictures and prints play an important role in home decorating for several reasons. They do not only reflect and put your own personality into the room, but they can also help as a solution to change the look and feel of a room by giving the illusion of height, width and length. This can easily be achieved by combining wall pictures, contrasting colours and decorative mirrors.

How to Create a Monochromatic Colour Scheme in a Room In a monochromatic colour scheme, one colour completely dominates a room. Here are some ways to carry it off with high style. Go with a neutral such as white, off-white, taupe, grey or beige for a sophisticated, versatile, serene scheme. Add contrast by varying the colour values - for instance, use toast, wheat and buff in a beige scheme. Vary the textures and sheens in the room to add subtle 30 shifts in shading. A beige room could include a matte

bleached-oak floor, a sisal rug, orange-peel-texture semigloss walls, a chenille sofa, a suede recliner and unstained maple tables. Use ultra-strong textures - a springy shag rug, wide-wale corduroy or a chenille throw - to add a cozy counterpoint where the colour might seem overly cold, as in a grey or blue-white room. Put tiny sparks of colour in multiple places in the room to add vitality. For example, use a painting with a bold splash of red paint, a bowl of red apples, a vase of red tulips, a red telephone and/or a red velvet pillow in a white living room. Never use the accent colour just once; multiple uses ensure unity and cohesiveness in your scheme. Link your monochromatic-scheme room to adjoining spaces by continuing the main colour and accent colour, although you can introduce another colour or two. For example, a white living room with forest-green accents could segue into an entryway with pale sage-green walls, evergreen and buttercream-yellow accents, and a white floor and white moldings. When it comes to windows, it is now possible to have interior and exterior UPVC frames in virtually any colour to match the mood of the room. Local company Oasis Windows a member of Solihull's Council Approved Trader Scheme are one of a small amount of window and conservatory companies who specialise in this. Sales Manager Steve Ward commented. â&#x20AC;&#x153;More and more people are choosing colours rather than going for the standard white or woodgrain effects. Speciality spray paints are used that are very robust and will endure over and above the full guarantee period. There are many different colours and shades to choose from and although it attracts a premium it is not as costly as you would think. It also adds individuality to your doors and windows.â&#x20AC;?

RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out on your FREE Quote from your local premier window company.

Call NOW: 0121 733 7557 employed NOT contracted We are Solihull Installers employed NOT contracted. We areaalocal, local, Solihulln Installers based, family business Windows - energy- efficient calibratedcalibrated based, family business n A- Rated A-Rated Windows energy efficient will help to minimise YOUR heating. dedicated toto providing dedicated providing windows, windows, will help to minimise YOUR heating. the very service quality materials for each bespoke project. the verybest best service n Highest Highest quality materials for each bespoke project. for you! aim to to n No pressure sales techniques. for you!Its Itsour our aim No pressure sales techniques. make buying windows a make buying windows n FENSA accredited company pleasureable experience n Member FENSA accredited company. of Solihull's Council a pleasurable experience from beginning to end. approved trader scheme 'SHIPSHAPE'. Call us now on 0121 733 7557 from beginning to end.

If you are considering having windows or doors, get a FREE QUOTATION from OASIS now!

Oasis Windows Limited, Unit 2, Thornhill Rd, Solihull, B91 2HB

www.oasis-windows.co.uk Call 0121 733 7557 RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Dream Doors Kitchens new stunning showroom at Robin Hood Island, Hall Green. Tony Smyth owner and manager of Dream Doors Kitchens Solihull says “why buy a whole new kitchen when you can get that new look you want by just changing the doors, work tops etc.” With Dream Doors Kitchens you can choose from their massive range of doors and work tops, their skilled craftsmen will do the rest. New cabinets, work tops, appliances and sinks can also be incorporated and it is this total flexibility that makes a Dream Doors facelift compelling when watching the pennies. Whatever you need for a stunning kitchen make-over. Complete kitchens are also available. A Dream Doors facelift involves transforming a kitchen or bedroom by swapping the doors with made to measure replacements. All doors are made to a high quality in the UK and can be made to any size.

Dream Doors Kitchens owner and manager Tony Smyth states, “I visit prospective customers in their own home and provide a free, no-obligation quotation, this means they can view samples of doors in the comfort of their own home to see which colour, style etc. will look stunning in their own kitchen, customers are also welcome to visit our stunning new showroom”. Customers are also given a free brochure and DVD (featuring June Whitfield) to help them decide their requirements. Tony points out that it is important that customers understand there is absolutely no obligation or high pressure sales techniques, “ I provide a free quotation so the customer knows there and then what the quotation is, and as one of our previous customers stated, “Tony was very professional, but not pushy which is what made up my mind to use this company.”

As a member of “Checkatrade.com”. Tony says, “It is important that potential customers have the opportunity to view previous customer comments so they can trust that they are dealing with an honest, reliable locally run company who invites all customers to comment on work carried out after each job is finished.” All Dream Doors Kitchen customers have the re-assurance of knowing that they are dealing with the owner of the business and that Dream Doors have their own team of quality craftsmen and do not employ casual subcontractor fitters. A full planning and design service is available. Why not ring today for a free noobligation quotation or visit the showroom for inspiration! A Dream Doors Kitchens make-over – “up to half the hassle, half the cost, half the time.”

breakfast in your old kitchen, dinner in your new AF

From replacement doors to complete kitchens l l

Senior Citizens discount Made to measure custom-built doors and units

Trusted reputation

Worktops, Appliances, Sinks & Taps

Visit our showroom: 1502 Stratford Road, Hall Green, Solihull B28 9ET.

Call today for a FREE estimate: 0121 733 3304 www.dreamdoors.co.uk

View our credentials at A national network of local showrooms

RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Be as individual as you want to be... There are many embelishments on our jewellery including semi-precious stones, Austrian crystals, Swarovski crystals, Cubic Zirconium and Pearls. The bespoke range lets you be as individual as you want to be. From the simplest designs to the most extravagant, you make the decisions. There is a wide variety of different stone colours to choose from as well as several finishes that are available such as Bronze plating, Rhodium and Gold plating. All the bespoke range is crystallised with Swarovski crystals. Superior craftsmanship provides high quality, individual pieces.

• • • •

The men’s range includes rings, cufflinks and bracelets.

•

Friendly service and advice.

All our products are nickel free for your comfort. The Sterling Silver range is guaranteed not to tarnish. All our items are gift boxed.

www.hotcoutureuk.com | info@hotcoutureuk.com | sales@hotcoutureuk.com

Phone Kami on 07817 003858 for more details.

New Scams and Old Tricks Last week I got a knock at the door. I put the chain on and opened the door, a man was standing there. “Your fence is about to fall down,” he said, “support posts rotten. You’re lucky I was passing, I can sort that out for you” “Thank you,” I said, “I’ll get some one in to look at that” and I closed the door. “You’ll be sorry” he said. He waited a few moments and when he realised I wasn’t going to open the door he pushed a card though my letter box and stomped off. The card just had a name and mobile phone number on it. Of course, I didn’t get my fence fixed by that caller. Next time my son was over I asked him to have a look at it and it was fine. Even if it had needed some work I certainly wouldn’t use someone who just turned up out of the blue. It is a sad fact that there are many rogue traders around who will offer to do fencing, roofing, driveways, home maintenance and so on for what seems to be a reasonable amount. However the quality of the work, if any is done at all, will be extremely poor and it will end up costing a great deal more than you were first told. These people appear trustworthy and genuine but they do their homework and target elderly people, often living alone. Often the householder is panicked into having the work done immediately, or are persuaded that having the work done will reduce heating costs or help with global warming.

The truth is once they have your money you may not see them again and they could well be impossible to trace. Any trader who gives just a mobile number should be regarded with caution because a mobile number can easily be discarded, and then there’s no way of getting in touch if the repairs are faulty, or badly done.

Every one of us is vulnerable to scams. We need to take note of warnings from the police and trading standards and refuse to deal with doorstep callers. Use your chain on your front door, don’t deal with strangers, don’t let them into your home and remember, it’s okay to say “no”.

Trading standards has dealt with cases where residents have lost thousands of pounds because they have agreed to have work done by someone who turned up on the doorstep. The advice from trading standards, supported by the police, is that you should never agree to have work done by a stranger who turns up at your doorstep no matter how good a deal it looks. Only use traders that you know or who have been recommended to you.

Living In Solihull Solihull Council runs its own approved trader scheme SHIPSHAPE. Shipshape is a Trading Standards Scheme for Home Improvement Professionals to demonstrate their commitment to fair, professional and honest trade.

Reputable, professional traders do not go door to door. Another scam to watch out for is known as distraction burglary. This is when you get a knock at the door and a complete stranger distracts you whilst an accomplice gets into your house to look for money or valuable. The caller could be a couple saying that they have seen some loose tiles on your roof, and while one of them keeps you occupied by showing you the problem the other one gets into your house. It could be someone claiming to be from the council or a legitimate company doing some routine checks. Once they have your attention someone else might be getting into your home.

Solihull Council’s Trading Standards Service operates the register. The aim of the register is to give consumers a list of traders they can rely on. It also gives legitimate businesses the opportunity to show they are committed to providing a good service to their customers. To join the scheme, businesses must agree to meet minimum standards, these are assessed by Trading Standards. Please note that inclusion on the register does not mean the business is ‘approved’ by the Council, neither is the Council responsible for work carried out by scheme members.

Remember, reputable traders don’t need to go cold calling. Doorstep trading is the hunting ground for opportunists and scammers. Don’t even give them the time of day. 34

RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Are you looking for a reliable trader? The Shipshape register now has over 100 members. Shipshape is the register of Solihull Home Improvement Professionals. It is operated by Solihull Council Trading Standards. The aim of the register is to give consumers a list of traders they can rely on. It also gives reliable and legitimate businesses the opportunity to show they are committed to providing a good service to their customers. So if you need a plumber, a roofer, a builder or an electrician give Solihull Council Trading Standards a call and ask for the “Shipshape” list on:

08454 04 05 06 Don’t use rogue traders; use “Shipshape” from Solihull Trading Standards.

Events CBSO Film Music Festival From 19 - 23 July 2011, the CBSO gives you the Soundtrack to your Summer and is bringing Hollywood to the Midlands. As the UK’s only major film music festival, Soundtrack to your Summer incorporates live music from blockbuster soundtracks to John William themes. A special highlight is the concert on 23 July featuring Oscar winner Sir Anthony Hopkins. JOHN WILLIAMS BLOCKBUSTERS Friday 22 July 2011 at 7.30pm Symphony Hall, Birmingham (0)121-780 3333 Book Now: Tickets £12.50, £19, £25, £32, £39.50 Michael Seal - conductor Including music from: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark • Close Encounters of the Third Kind • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban • Schindler’s List • Munich • Star Wars • The Witches of Eastwick • JFK • Jaws • Saving Private Ryan • E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial • The Lost World: Jurassic Park • Superman No-one writes a big film theme like John Williams – no wonder he’s today’s most popular living composer. And if you think his music is thrilling on the big screen, just wait until you hear it live at Symphony Hall – as the CBSO plays a blockbuster concert of John Williams’ very greatest themes. SIR ANTHONY HOPKINS - IN CONCERT Saturday 23 July 2011 at 7.30pm Symphony Hall, Birmingham (0)121-780 3333 Book Now: Tickets £12.50, £19, £25, £32, £39.50 Sir Anthony Hopkins CBE Michael Seal conductor.

piano. This concert will feature some of his beautiful original music for orchestra, including his scores for his own films Slipstream and August, and music written especially for this evening. You’ll also be treated to music from some of Hopkins’s best known films, such as Shadowlands, Silence of the Lambs and Remains of the Day. Throughout the concert Hopkins will talk about his music and his film roles, in conversation with concert producer Tommy Pearson. Don’t miss this unique experience going beyond the screen to find out more about the man and his music. Warwick Folk Festival 28-31st July 2011 Warwick School, Myton Road, Warwick CV34 6PP A weekend folk festival of the very best in traditional and contemporary folk arts featuring: Show of Hands Peatbog Faeries Salsa Celtica Spooky Men’s Chorale Spiers & Boden and many more! Concerts – Ceilidhs – Dance – Song – Workshops – Sessions – Theatre – Street Festival - Crafts THREE Action-Packed Days For The Whole Family! Warwick Folk Festival: Tradition in the heart of England... BLACK COUNTRY BOATING FESTIVAL 9th, 10th, 11th September The Black Country Boating Festival is a boat gathering and community festival held during September each year in the Bumble Hole Nature Reserve, Windmill End, Netherton. The event, which is now in its 26th year, is organised and run totally by volunteers. Last year we had over 18,000 visitors from all around the country and over the years the festival has helped raise over £100,000 for local and national charities. With more than 200 boat, trade and charity stalls to browse, canal side entertainment, boaters’ competitions, a funfair, real ale bar and regular boat trips along the Dudley No 2 canal, there is always something for everyone in the family. The festival is open to the public from 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday, admission to the site is free and there is ample onsite car parking available. Contact: BCBF 0844 800 5076 info@bcbf.com

Spend an evening with one of the world’s greatest living screen actors as Sir Anthony Hopkins joins the CBSO on stage for a very special performance of music and conversation. In recent years, the Oscar-winning actor has returned to his first love – music – and regularly composes at the 36

The East Midlands Food & Drink Festival 2011, held in the heart of Melton Mowbray, the Rural Capital of Food Saturday 1st October 10am to 5pm Sunday 2nd October 10am to 4pm The Cattle Market, Scalford Road, Melton Mowbray, LE13 1JY

RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

H E A LT H

Need a New Hip or Knee? A return to mobility ....

IF there’s one thing that has helped keep us fit and on our feet in the last 50 years it’s the increase in the technology and availability of hip and knee replacements. Hip replacements were first performed in this country in the 1960s, with knee and ankle replacements since the 1970s. In England and Wales each year, around 160,000 of us are able to enjoy a new lease of life and mobility thanks to our new hip and knee joints and, if you’ll forgive the pun, ankles are quickly catching up. For many people, hip or knee surgery not only signals a return to mobility but usually leaves behind grinding daily pain. If hip pain is so severe it interferes with quality of life including sleep, medication is not working and everyday tasks are difficult, it might well be the right time for a hip replacement. Most adults having them are over 65, and women tend to need them more than men. The most common reasons for hip replacement are: osteoarthritis (when the connecting tissue between the joint is damaged, causing the bones to run together painfully), rheumatoid arthritis (when the immune system attacks the lining of the joint resulting in pain and stiffness), septic arthritis (when the joint becomes infected), Paget’s disease (affecting bone growth), bone tumours and other joint injuries. Osteoporosis can sometimes cause hip joint fractures which need a replacement, as can late developmental dysplasia (which prevents the ball and socket hip joint from developing properly).

Always speak to your GP about hip problems because they will know your history and examine you, and may want to have an x-ray to confirm their diagnosis. Your overall health is important before any major surgery, so your GP will want you to be as fit as possible beforehand. Breathing exercises will help to prevent chest complications, foot and ankle exercises maintain circulation and leg exercises aid maintenance of muscle strength. Before surgery, a physiotherapist will also discuss your rehabilitation programme and how to use walking aids like crutches and sticks. After surgery, you’ll need some help at home for up to six weeks and you won’t be allowed to bend down to your feet so you’ll need some assistance with washing. You’ll also need help with the shopping for a while. You’ll need a suitable armchair to sit in, a high stool for use in the kitchen and a raised toilet seat (the latter two can be loaned by your occupational therapist). Equipment to help you

RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

get dressed safely and without bending too much is also available. Before your surgery, you’ll visit the hospital’s Pre-operative Assessment Clinic to ensure you’re fit for surgery and that you understand the nature of the operation. There will be medical checks like blood and urine tests and you’ll be screened for MRSA as well as possibly having further x-rays. This is also an opportunity to discuss your surgery and what happens afterwards and talk about the aids you’ll need to help recovery. At some stage, your written consent for the surgery will also be taken. Patients are usually admitted either on the day of surgery or the day before. Your leg will be prepared for surgery with the correct side marked, and you’ll be seen by the anaesthetist who will discuss the different types of anaesthesia. The most common are: a general anaesthetic when you are unconscious, a spinal anaesthetic where you go numb from the waist downwards, or an epidural 37

anaesthetic which reduces all feeling in the lower body. The surgery replaces both the natural socket and the rounded ball at the top of the thigh bone with artificial parts. The surgeon will remove the upper part of the thigh bone (femur) and the natural socket for the head of the femur is hollowed out. A plastic or ceramic socket is fitted into the hollow in the pelvis and a short, angled metal shaft with a smooth ball on its upper end is placed in to the hollow of the thigh bone. The plastic cup and the artificial bone head may be pressed into place or fixed with acrylic cement. Hip resurfacing is an alternative to replacement and involves replacing the diseased or damaged surfaces in the joint with metal parts. It involves less bone being removed, so less implant is needed. The day after the hip operation, you’ll be given a pair of surgical stockings to be worn day and night, to prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis. You return to the ward, or recovery room, lying on your back probably with a triangular pillow between your legs to keep your legs apart and protect the new joint.

You’ll be prescribed medication to control the pain and it’s important to take it regularly initially as progress is better if your pain is under control. As your confidence and leg control improve, you’ll progress to walking with crutches or sticks – all with physio help – and probably be in hospital around five days. You may need to use your walking aids for up to six weeks but this varies from person to person.

And, as for hip surgery, candidates need to be well enough for both a major operation and rehabilitation afterwards. Most candidates are over 65, and just over half are women. The process is very like hip surgery - starting with your GP and his assessment of you, and continuing through x-rays, the Pre-operative Assessment Clinic, admission to the hospital and anaesthesia.

For both hip and knee replacement surgery, you may have a catheter inserted into your bladder to help drain urine You may have an intravenous line in your arm, and probably be given oxygen – all of which are normal for major operations like these.

Surgery involves removing the worn ends of the bones in your knee joint and replacing them with metal and plastic parts. In total knee replacement, both sides of the knee joint are replaced in a procedure lasting one to three hours.

You’ll be started on an anticoagulant; some consultants also use mechanical devices called calf compressors which wrap around the legs and blow up with air intermittently to encourage blood circulation in the leg.

You’ll begin moving about the next day, once the wound drains have been removed, and the physio will help with mobility. Like hip surgery, you’ll be discharged once you are able to get up and down the stairs safely and have regular physio afterwards.

Expect to begin mobilising the first day after your operation once the wound drains have been removed. The physiotherapist will help with mobility and teach you how to get in and out of bed correctly to prevent any damage to your new hip.

The worn out joint surfaces of the ankle are replaced with shaped metal and plastic components to allow continued movement of the ankle. There are several different types of ankle replacement available.

Hip replacements currently last 20 to 30 years. A damaged, worn or diseased knee – arthritis is again the chief culprit - is an ideal candidate for knee replacement surgery. There are two major types of surgery involved – total knee replacement and partial (half) knee replacement depending on the amount of damage.

With proper care, the replacement knee should last 15 to 20 years.

Unlike hip or knee arthritis, most ankle arthritis is post traumatic. The commonest causes for ankle replacement is following severe ankle fractures or recurrent severe ankle sprains.

Awaiting Orthopaedic treatment? Are you suffering with joint pain, fed up with being on a waiting list or concerned about the standards of care and cleanliness in hospital? Spire Parkway Hospital, Solihull, has a regionally acclaimed orthopaedic service which features a team of specialist orthopaedic consultant surgeons, highly trained nursing staff, first class physiotherapists and consultant radiologists. The hospital can provide rapid access to state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging, so whether your clinician believes MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), X-ray or ultrasound would be most appropriate to support diagnosis; you will be able to take advantage of highly sophisticated technology within a comprehensive hospital setting. Treatment at Spire Parkway Hospital is available to all, whether you have private medical insurance or are looking to pay for your own treatment. The hospital offers all its patients: • Rapid-access appointments • Consultant-led clinics • State-of-the-art diagnostic imaging • Specialist physiotherapists • Excellent nursing care • Safe and clean surroundings with very low infection rates Spire Parkway Hospital is a full service facility with 4 main theatres, a dedicated Critical Care Unit, on-site MRI and CT scanning.

If you would like to discuss the options available to you at Spire Parkway Hospital, please call 0845 850 1451 or visit www.spireparkway.com RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

At the heart of your community

It is good to know that Spire Parkway Hospital has been providing the highest quality private medical care to the residents of Solihull for almost 30 years. Clean, private rooms, specialist consultants and first rate technical facilities go without saying. What sets Spire Parkway Hospital apart is our team. Local people who genuinely care about you and work hard to ensure your stay is warm, comfortable and friendly. Whether you’re insured or want to pay for your own treatment, we’re open to everyone. After all, we are at the heart of your community.

For further information, please call

0845 850 1451 www.spireparkway.com

1 Damson Parkway, Solihull, West Midlands B91 2PP Physiotherapy • Critical Care • Cardiology • Cancer Care • Cosmetic Surgery • Varicose Veins Weight Loss Surgery • Eye Clinic • Orthopaedic Services• Diagnostic Imaging

A new Shopmobility service for Chelmsley Wood Chelmsley Wood now has its own Shopmobility service, based at the Connect Office. People with mobility problems can hire electric scooters, powerchairs and manual wheelchairs to get round the shops and businesses they want to visit. Annual membership costs £10 and then it is £1 a day to use our equipment. Rates are also available for one-off hire to non members. To book a scooter, powerchair or wheelchair you can just come to the Shopmobility desk next to the Connect Office entrance or give us a ring. The Shopmobility service is available Monday to Friday between 10.00am and 4.00pm.

Ring us on (0121) 704 6017 and talk to one of the staff, or leave a message. Shopmobility staff will come out to you with the equipment if you are unable to get from the car or bus stop to the Connect Office. The service has been funded with support from the Fair Share Trust (administered by the Birmingham Community Foundation) and Solihull Council. Solihull Shopmobility Charity Number 1064688.

Mobility & Less Able Bathing Bathing is often a problem for older, less able or disabled people but there are numerous aids available to assist. From shower stools to walk in baths, you should be able to find something that makes life easier. Again, take advice on what is best for you, and don’t forget that you may be eligible for grants to help with purchase and installation. There is an alternative to putting your loved ones in a retirement home, with costs of over £600 per week and many cannot afford and don't want to risk having their home sold and pay care fees. A simple cost effective adaptation, can make more independence and continued home comforts for the less able, elderly or disabled. No need to transform your home into a “clinic or hospital”. Simple jobs like removing a bath and fitting a walk-in shower with non slip base, support rails and a seat - or even a level floor entry wet room area will make life easier for all, and also add to the appearance of the bathroom. Adaptation to toilet with a higher pan, fitting a much lower bath, widening of doorways for wheel chair access, stair lift or a downstairs toilet. Most of this work can be undertaken free of VAT. Bathing Care, a local company in Kings Heath will take the hassle out of modifications, prepare detailed estimates and drawings. Managing Director John Petford has over 30 years experience, his dedicated team of tradesmen take care of everything.

For further details call: FREEPHONE: 0800 088 4163 or visit their website at: www.bathingcare.co.uk

RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Make bathing a pleasure again With our NEW LOW LOW BATH Only just over 12" High EASY TO GET IN - EASY TO GET OUT BIG ENOUGH FOR A GOOD SOAK!

N INSTALLATIO & SERVICE UT THE THROUGHO MIDLANDS 6 DAYS A WEEK

A bathingCare walk-in bath or shower for complete independence We provide easy access showers, walk in baths, wet rooms and grabrails for the less able ...

FREE Home VISITS Our installation Manager can: l Visit Daytime/Evenings l Offer a Choice of walk-in-baths or showers l Offer VAT free installation in qualifying cases l Offer a down to earth price in most cases at least 50% less than Dolphin, Aquability or any other nationally advertised company.

WHERE QUALITY & SERVICE COSTS LESS 44 Warstock Road, Kings Heath B14 4SN. Open: Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm.

FREEPHONE 0800 088 4163 or 07850 833 400

Visit our website at www.bathingcare.co.uk

FO OD

D RI NK

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 four of Rick’s favourite recipes inspired by travels across the world.

M A K E S

4 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for drizzling 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped, 1½ kg (3½ lb) vine-ripened tomatoes, skinned, seeded and roughly chopped 1 tablespoon chopped oregano 350g (12oz) buffalo mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced A large handful of basil leaves, torn into pieces Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper FOR THE BASE:

550g (1¼ lb) strong white flour 4 teaspoons easy-blend yeast 2 teaspoons salt 325-350ml (11-12 fl oz) hand-hot water 4 teaspoons olive oil 4 tablespoons polenta or semolina 42

Pizza Margherita For the base, sift the flour, yeast and salt into a bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the warm water and olive oil and mix together into a soft dough. Tip the dough out on to a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Then return it to the bowl, cover with cling film and leave in a warm place for approximately 1 hour, or until doubled in size. Meanwhile, for the topping, heat the oil and garlic in a large, shallow pan. As soon as the garlic starts to sizzle, add the tomatoes and some salt and pepper and simmer quite vigorously for 7-10 minutes, until reduced to a thickish sauce. Adjust the seasoning if necessary. Put 2 large baking sheets or quarry tiles into the oven and heat it to its highest setting. Knock the air out of the dough and knead it briefly once more on a lightly floured surface. Divide into 4 pieces and keep the spare ones covered with cling film while you shape the first pizza. Sprinkle a spare baking sheet or a pizza peel with some of the polenta or semolina. Roll the dough out into a disc approximately 25cm (10 inches) in diameter, lift it on to the baking sheet and reshape it with your fingers into a round. Spread over one quarter of the tomato sauce to within about 2½ cm (1 inch) of the edge. Sprinkle with some of the oregano and then cover with a quarter of the mozzarella cheese slices. Drizzle with a little olive oil, then open the oven door and quickly slide the pizza off the tray on to the hot baking sheet on the top shelf. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the crust is crisp and golden. Meanwhile, prepare another pizza and slide it on to the second hot baking sheet. Take the first pizza out of the oven and move the second one on to the top shelf to continue cooking. Slide the cooked pizza directly on to wooden chopping boards placed in the centre of the table, scatter with the torn basil leaves and cut into wedges with a pizza wheel. Make sure everybody starts while you make and cook the other 2 pizzas.

S E R V E S

450g (1 lb) dried linguine or spaghetti 3 vine-ripened tomatoes, skinned, seeded and chopped 300g (10 oz) fresh white crab meat 1 tablespoon chopped parsley 1Â˝ tablespoons lemon juice 50ml (2 fl oz) extra virgin olive oil A pinch of dried chilli flakes 1 garlic clove, finely chopped

Crab Linguine with parsley & chilli

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling, well-salted water (1 teaspoon per 600ml/1 pint) for 7-8 minutes or until al dente. Meanwhile, put the tomatoes, crab meat, parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, chilli flakes and garlic into another pan and warm through over a gentle heat. Drain the pasta, return to the pan with the sauce and briefly toss together. Season to taste. Divide between 4 warmed plates and serve immediately.

S E R V E S

1 small green (under-ripe) papaya 1 teaspoon palm sugar or light muscovado sugar A pinch of chopped garlic A pinch of chopped red birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye chilli 5 x 10cm (4-inch) pieces of snake bean or 5 french beans, halved lengthways A few roasted, unsalted peanuts A pinch of chopped dried shrimps 1 tablespoon Thai fish sauce (nam pla) 1 tablespoon water 4 cherry plum tomatoes, halved Juice of 1 lime

Green Papaya Salad Peel the papaya and finely shred it on a mandolin into long, thin shreds. Work your way around the fruit until you get to the core and seeds, which you discard. Moisten the palm sugar (which is always very hard) with a little cold water. Put the garlic, red chilli and green beans into a mortar or mixing bowl and lightly bruise with the pestle or the end of a rolling pin. Add the sugar, peanuts, dried shrimps, fish sauce, water, tomatoes and lime juice and bruise everything once more, turning the mixture over with a fork as you do so. Add a good handful of the shredded papaya (about 43 50g/ 2 oz) and turn over and bruise one last time. Serve straight away.

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

1 0

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

RETIRED MAGAZINE | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Sandwell Community Alarms – help at the touch of a button

The Community Alarm Service is for anyone living in Sandwell who feels vulnerable at home. This may be due to a fear of domestic violence or harassment, for medical reasons, because of your age or a disability, or for many other reasons. Run by Sandwell Homes, the service is operational 24hours a day, providing peace of mind for carers and family members and enabling you to feel safer and to continue to live independently in your own home. Calling for help couldn’t be easier. You are given a push button pendant to wear around your neck or wrist which you can press whenever you need help. This automatically links you to a 24hour control centre.

An operator will speak to you through your telephone to find out what type of help you need. And if you are unable to speak, the team at the control centre will have your details on their screen and get help for you.

No matter what your difficulty, someone will always help. This could be getting in touch with family, friends, your doctor or contacting the emergency services for you, or simply listening to you and putting your mind at rest.

Barbara Maye had a Community Alarm installed after she suffered a stroke. She says she finds having the alarm very reassuring. She’s been able to maintain her independence knowing that if anything was to happen to her, she can access help at any time of the day or night. “I would urge others in my position to get in touch to see if they can have an alarm fitted too,” she says.

If you would like to find out more, including the cost of the service, contact Community Alarms using the details below. We will visit you at home to carry out an assessment and arrange for the necessary equipment to be fitted by a fully trained team member. No wiring work is needed and you will still be able to use your own telephone. Smoke detector and bogus caller buttons are also available – ask for details.

Stay independent and be safe with a Community Alarm Are you elderly, disabled or feeling vulnerable and living in Sandwell? Is it difficult to get help in an emergency? To find out more:Call us: 24-hours a day on: 0121 500 5500 Write to us at: Sandwell Community Alarms, Flat 1, Greenford House, Maria Street, West Bromwich, B70 6DX Or email: community_alarms@sandwellhomes.org.uk You can also call in to any Sandwell Homes office and pick up a leaflet.

Do you know anyone this applies to? If so, we're at the touch of a button… get a community alarm, be independent and be safe. The Community Alarm Service is available 24-hours a day to anyone who lives in Sandwell regardless of tenure.

Are superheroes invincible? Love is a mystical, magical and powerful emotion. It can influence people’s thoughts to such a degree that they feel as light as a feather, actually delirious they are so happy; It can also affect their decision making, to the point where common sense and logical thought have no place at all, especially when dealing with a love lost or a broken heart! Even more powerful than this form of romantic love, is the love that exists between a parent and their child.This special bond has absolutely no equal.

hilst growing up, I had a happy childhood, youngest of five children and the smallest of three boys, we lived in the family home in Croydon, South London and everything was really quite wonderful. I absolutely adored my parents. In fact they really were a little like Superheroes to me, I don’t actually mean the ones that can jump a building in a single bound, see through steel and fly faster than a speeding bullet, wearing a brightly coloured outfit and having a fluttering red cape, but pretty damn close. They looked after me, put me first in everything, I knew that I was loved and when my father put his arm around me and gave me a hug, I felt that nothing on this planet could harm us, he wouldn’t let it. He was always there to protect us from any kind of upset and would

Making your own plan couldn’t be easier

move heaven and earth to keep us out of harm’s way. I never thought of the possibility of either of them dying, in fact - I refused to even contemplate those kinds of thoughts, I convinced myself that they would live forever and always be with me, I assured myself that they would always be at the end of the phone if I had a problem or be bouncing around

✓ Plans tailored to your needs ✓ Guaranteed acceptance ✓ No financial burden on your loved ones ✓ No health checks ✓ Independent trust ✓ Security of all funds ✓ Easy pay instalments

Your exclusive READER discount

Buy before 30th September 2011 & claim your discount. Call one of our brances and quote RLM01

£100

my garden playing with their grand children. I never considered it was possible for my “Superheroes” to leave me ... but they both did, in time. I remember the day I lost my father William, like it was yesterday and it will remain with me for the rest of my life. At 2am in the morning, I was woken from a deep sleep by my brother (I had forgotten that he had a key to my flat) who told me that our father had died. He was only 54 years of age. The devastation that followed is impossible to explain fully and even more difficult to put into words. The whole family walked around in something resembling a dream like state over the coming days and weeks. I had my eyes open and yet couldn’t

Pre-planning your funeral saves you money and saves your family extra worry and distress. It gives you the freedom to plan things exactly how you would want them and spares your loved ones the considerable expense of a funeral. Funeral costs have risen dramatically in recent years and look set to continue rocketing. There’s no guarantee that a savings plan or insurance policy will pay out what you need when the time comes. Bought now at today’s prices, the Funeral Director’s costs are guaranteed no matter when they are needed or how much the costs of a funeral have risen in the future, regardless how long you live. It makes perfect sense to buy now and not wait until it’s too late.

Please contact one of our branches listed opposite

that can fly at the speed of a bullet, but pretty damn close) and there is no way that they would entertain any form of conversation or idea intimating that I am not immortal, that my time will come one day, no matter how much they persuade themselves it will never happen. They think as I did about my parents all those years ago, when I believed that they would always be there to look after and love me. I know that it will devastate them too, when my day comes - so I am going to do all I can to try to make it as easy as possible for them to deal with. I’ll protect them from as much of the arrangement making process as I can and certainly will not leave them to panic over how to pay for it either. I do have a secret weapon though, whilst my father was alive, most people had no idea what a “funeral plan” was, even though the product existed - it wasn’t widely known about at all. Had he been

see anything, people spoke to me and yet I didn’t hear anything and I ate but certainly didn’t taste anything - it was like a grey and completely numb existence. I was totally devastated and couldn’t quite understand or believe that this had happened. My mother was a complete wreck as were my sisters, so the three boys decided that we would attempt to arrange all the essential steps and also pay for it. As my father was a secretive type of man, although everyone knew he had insurances and investments, no one could actually find them. So we stumbled through the next two weeks, in a state of numbed confusion and when it finally came to paying for the funeral, it cleared all of my savings and hit my brothers financially hard too. Twenty years on, I look at my children and see that same kind of love in their eyes. They both look at me as though I am some kind of Superhero (not one

aware that this type of product existed, he would have definitely bought one, that’s for certain. In this day and age though the clear benefits are widely publicised and having a plan would protect my family from a huge amount of emotional stress and would clear up the payment issue. So if owning a funeral plan means that I can live out the remainder of my days, happily knowing that my family and children will be protected from as much of this as possible, shielded from a large part of the emotional stress and financial worry, I will buy a funeral plan and feel that I have done my best to protect them. And as some Superheroes are not invincible, I will finally fold up my cloak for the very last time ... contented. This article is a true story written by Barry Floyd, Croydon.

For further details about funeral planning speak to one of our branches listed below ...

Fu n eral D irec tors a n d Mem orial Mas on s

Over 160 years of service to the community

www.jenningsfunerals.co.uk ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Professional qualified funeral directors Serving all sections of the community Private chapels of rest ■ Prestige fleet Floral tributes and mourning stationery Pre-paid funeral plans ■ Memorial masonry service Horse-drawn hearse and other specialist vehicles available

24 hour service

YARDLEY

HEAD OFFICE:

Dovehouse Parade 343 Warwick Road, Solihull B91 1BQ

Tel: 01902 352251

Tel: 0121 706 1291

Tel: 0121 707 9900

KNOWLE

CASTLE BROMWICH

Tel: 01564 778177

Tel: 0121 747 0700

St. James’ House, Horseley Fields, Wolverhampton, WV1 3DN

BILSTON

CODSALL

OXLEY

55-57 Church Street, Bilston WV14 0AX

Tel: 01902 497101

6/7 The Square, Wolverhampton WV8 1PT

Tel: 01902 845770

484 Stafford Road, Wolverhampton WV10 6AN

SEDGLEY

WEDNESFIELD

WILLENHALL

11 High Street, Wednesfield, WV11 1SU

12 The Woodlands Centre, Willenhall WV12 5ND

3 High Street, Sedgley, Dudley, DY3 1RP

Tel: 01902 661137

SOLIHULL

398 Yardley Road, South Yardley, Birmingham B25 8LT

Tel: 01902 723237 WOMBOURNE Church Road, Wombourne, Wolverhampton, WV5 9EZ

Tel: 01902 898103

Tel: 01902 786795

Tel: 01922 712153

1592 High Street, Knowle, Solihull B93 OLF

CHELMSLEY WOOD

150 Green Lane, Castle Bromwich, Birmingham B36 OBX

KINGS HEATH

St. Andrew’s Church Centre, Pike Drive, Birmingham B37 7US

55 The Parade, High Street, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7BH

Tel: 0121 788 1123

Tel: 0121 444 7999

www.williamhpainter.co.uk

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

Three Great Caravan Parks, One Great Location.

HOLIDAY HOMES TO HIRE ALONG THE BANKS OF THE RIVER AVON Have ever tho you buying y ught of own holi our very day hom e?

OUR SAL OFFICE ES OPEN 7 IS D A WEEKAYS day for li o h r u o y e v r e To res ide Park s r e iv R t a 1 1 0 2

2 1 3 2 9 2 9 8 7 1 0 : Call ! W O N K O O B D AN s now being taken for 2012!

tay ire, Why S Holiday H s ve ge si d lu Lo xc E en For Our Wood in One of

Booking

N CARAVA HOLIDAY HIRonEly

Bridge Millennium e parks re th r ou linking

From

ÂŁ355.00 k per wee

www.stratfordcaravans.co.uk Riverside Park, Tiddington Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7AB. Tel: 01789 292312 Email: riverside@stratfordcaravans.co.uk

Family owned and run parks, for that personal touch.

Luxury Caravans to Hire at Riverside Park