EDITION 22
Retired DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011/12
& living in West Surrey
Inside ...
MICHAEL ASPEL On how he stepped up to the mike
RICK STEIN
Shares his favourite dishes inspired by Flavours of the Med Get your dentures direct from a qualified clinical dental technician
Get your dentures direct from a qualified clinical dental technician
Our Clinical Dental Technicians can now work DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC making: l l l l
FREE Please t
ake one
Full Complete Dentures Relines Copy Dentures Denture Repairs
FRIENDLY, EXPERIENCED AND PERSONAL SERVICE At AD Laboratories we have the advantage of being able to offer flexible appointment times to suit the individual. We often get told how nice it is to receive the old fashioned service ... why not book yourself in for a FREE CONSULTATION? simply call:
THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 55s Guildford Road, Woking,
WOKING
WWW.RETIREDMAGAZINES.CO.UK
2012 Summer Brochure out Now
Call 01372 731705 for your free copy
finest escorted holidays Cruising with Fred.Olsen: We have a selection of cruises with Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines. Sailing aboard world-class vessels, these are excellent quality traditional cruises.
Wednesday 5th September 2012 29 Days
Canada’s Eastern Seaboard
We cross the Atlantic Ocean to explore the eastern seaborad of Canada. We visit the great cities of Quebec and Montreal. We explore the coastlines of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. Cruising aboard the Balmoral. Your Holiday Itinerary l Southampton l Cobh l Halifax l Nova Scotia l Charlottetown l Prince Edward Island l Port Sagunenay l Quebec l Trois l Rivieres l Montreal l Baie Commeau l Havre St Pierre l Gaspe l St John’s l Return to Southampton
Other Great Cruises for 2012
Coastal Spain and Algiers
Islands of the British Isles
Madeira, Lisborn and the Canaries
Belguim and France
The Baltic with Norway
The Western Mediterranean
Titanic Mini Cruise
France and Spain
The North Cape and the Lofoten Islands
You pay the same price as advertised by Fred.Olsen, but have the added benefit of a home pick up included
For a free brochure on all our fantastic cruises or further details call Anna our dedicated cruise advisor on 01372 731705
We offer a door to door service on all our holidays
Warner Hotel Breaks We are delighted to include Warner Breaks in our programme. We have chosen five of their premium hotels. Warner Breaks Hotels are historic properties, with fine period features and grand public areas. Most have a rich fascinating history to be discovered. Take time to enjoy your surroundings and relax. Each hotel has a number of optional activities, such as bowling, archery and indoor games to enjoy; as well as indoor pools and spa facilities. Eating is a pleasure at Warner Hotels, with some of their restaurants achieving coveted AA rosettes for fine food. Entertainment every night. Please note that standard bedrooms are housed in comfortable purpose - built extensions to the main house.
Choose between Cricket St Thomas - Littlecote House - Bodelwyddan Castle - Holme Lacy and even a drinks inclusive at Bembridge Coast Hotel - on the Isle of Wight.
Highland Safari A fantastic new tour with an excursion on a four wheel drive vehicle, discovering awe-inspiring mountain scenery and maybe some elusive animals and birds. Staying at an historic hotel, we also visit two great animal parks.
Hilton Dunkeld House Hotel, Country house hotel set in a 280 acres estate, originally built for the 7th Duke of Atholl for his summer residence. The hotel enjoys a wealth of leisure facilities and a private stretch of the River Tay.
Sunday 3rd June 7 Days
Fairytale Castles and the ‘Romantic Road’ A magical tour with a wonderful combination of the majestic Fairytale Castles of King Ludwig II, the Romantic Road, the stunning scenery of the Bavarian Alps and a visit to the Bavarian capital, Munich.
Staying at the Luitpoldpark Hotel, Fussen Elegant luxury hotel with spa facilities, located in the heart of Fussen, overlooking the central park.
Saturday 1st September 8 Days
Epsom Coaches, Roy Richmond Way, Epsom, Surrey KT19 9AF t: 01372 731705 or visit us online www.epsomcoaches.com
GET IN THE KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Winter weather affects travel and services
11.11.ST.CS2104
Get informed, get prepared More information including details of services affected by bad weather, the county’s priority gritting routes, salt/grit bin locations and advice on clearing pathways of snow and ice, can be found at www.surreycc.gov.uk/winter or call 03456 009 009.
www.surreycc.gov.uk Making Surrey a better place
Graham Smith has a Twitter But is he right or wrong? Health and Safety and Hot Air! Reading the entire collection of Health and Safety rules which dictate our lives today would be a suitable prison sentence for murder. New ones are added daily by some overpaid barmpot in Whitehall and two I came across recently are worthy of mention. In the beautiful Bronte village of Haworth there is an annual event in June to celebrate the 1940s. Everyone and their granny descends on the village, some villagers have been known to move out for the weekend to avoid the crush, and many dress in period costume singing “We’ll Meet Again” increasingly loudly as the local brew takes effect. Until three years ago part of the spectacle was a fly past by retired World War Two aeroplanes, usually a Spitfire, a Hurricane or a Lancaster Bomber. Now these planes are still air worthy after seventy years but some clown in Bradford Council’s Health and Safety asylum decided there was a problem. The Spitfire won the Battle of Britain. Hitler and his army eventually chucked the towel in because they couldn’t down enough of the planes to win. It’s a good job Bradford Council wasn’t on his side or he’d have won. The organisers of the Forties Weekend had to conduct a Health and Safety and feasibility study and here was one of the questions:“What was the likelihood of one of the planes crashing onto the village during the flypast?” Now we don’t see many Fokkers or Messerschmitts over Haworth these days and the Home Guard was disbanded some years ago. The only aerial threat we have is from rooks and the occasional duck with a dicky tummy, which might necessitate wearing a tin helmet on windy days. I think we had the greatest confidence that the pilots would have successfully cleared the village without a mass slaughter of the population, but, no, we couldn’t have a fly past. 10,000 people squeezed onto our tiny cobbled streets that weekend. Traffic management had a pink fit as the hordes parked their cars anywhere and everywhere. Hermann Goerring was spotted having a pint in The Fleece but we couldn’t have aeroplanes using the only empty space in the valley…the sky. Were all flights from Leeds-Bradford airport suspended for the day in case the lunch time Ireland plane crashed in Central Park? They were not. There was a famous wartime phrase which said, “Your country needs you”. I suggest the same does not apply to the Health and Safety nitwits of today. www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
Inside... 6-7
28-29
12-13
34-35
TRAVEL & LEISURE 6-7
Under The Tuscan Sun
8-9
Cruise for the First Time Cruise Holidays continue to be in great demand.
FOOD & DRINK 28-29 Rick Stein Mediterranean Escapes Recipes
INTERVIEW 12-13 Michael Aspel On how he stepped up to the mike.
HEALTH 34-35 Open Your Mind To Alternative Therapies 38-39 Coping with the Winter Months Information from NHS Choices. Dear Reader, 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 everyday tips. 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.
McGrath Media. Unit 6 | Moses Gate Workshops Gladys Street | Bolton | BL3 2QG. T: (01204) 796 494 | F: (01204) 791594 e: mcgrathadmin@btconnect.com
5
Under the Tuscan Sun
S
trung along 18km of serrated cliffs between Levanto and La Spezia, the Cinque Terre is one of Italy’s treasures. These five higgledy-piggledy villages Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are cut off by mountains, choked with olive groves and dry-stone-walled vineyards, where farmers have eked out a living over the centuries. The Cinque Terre became a Unesco World Heritage site in 1997, which includes a protected marine area, and became a national park (Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre) in 1999. Wine growers still use monorail mechanisms to ferry themselves up and the grapes down these unique lands, and in some cases have to harvest by boat as access is restricted. If the terraced hillsides are not worked, they will quite literally slide into the sea. National park status has spared the area from a propagation of tourism and the tacky souvenir stands that come with it and saved it from environmental destruction. Cars and motorbikes are not allowed in the villages, instead they are connected by train. In the villages, electric buses scale the sheer streets. Park authorities close walking paths when numbers become too great, so it s best to arrive in the cool and relative calm of the early morning.
EATING/DRINKING Grapevines and olive trees cover the hillsides, so wine and oil are a must on the restaurant tables. They prove excellent companions for the salted anchovies of Monterosso served in olive oil as well as the many specialty fish dishes and authentic gastronomic delights.
6
The cuisine of the Cinque Terre almost perfectly conserves the characteristics of yesteryear; the respect for the flavours and fragrances of the primary ingredients. Trofie is a kind of pasta made from chestnut or wheat flour, It’s condiment is still pesto sauce, an original Ligurian sauce made from basil leaves, extra virgin olive oil, grated parmesan cheese and pine nuts. Torte di verdura - vegetable pies -are prepared with a stuffing containing parsley, marjoram, wild local herbs, artichokes, zucchini, potatoes and leeks, combined with egg and ricotta cheese or with stale bread soaked in milk or béchamel sauce and parmesan cheese. The pie crust is very thin, because flour was a very precious commodity. Torta di riso - rice pie - is a specialty of every Italian grandma in the region. Frittate - flat omelettes - are popular today as the ‘frittata’ has been rediscovered as a tasty antipasto. Another important dish on the tables of the Cinque Terre population was cotoletta di acciuga, anchovies stuffed with a breadcrumb based filling and then fried. The fritelle di bianchetti, fritters made from tiny newborn anchovies or sardines, were also highly appreciated. Following the seamen’s gastronomic traditions, other dishes included stewed cuttlefish, stuffed calamari and spiced octopus.
SLEEPING Numerous villagers have rooms to rent: look for signs reading camere (rooms) or affittacamere (rooms for rent). Accommodation booking offices in Riomaggiore are really helpful and can help you organise a room ahead of time. The town of Levanto is bigger and has a lot of accommodation including hotels, bed & breakfasts
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
T R AV E L and even camping areas where you can rent a tent with two beds and linens for very low prices! Note: Breakfast in an Italian hotel or B&B will be some slices of bread and a croissant, butter, jam and coffee with orange juice if you are lucky. This is a typical Italian breakfast so if you can get a room without breakfast and head down to the nearest cafe where there is a larger choice.
GETTING AROUND Take the train to La Spezia and change onto the regional (“Regionale”) train that makes all the local stops in the Cinque Terre mostly through tunnels. All the Cinque Terre towns have their own train station. Almost all the trains from La Spezia stop in Levanto. The train represents the best way to visit all the villages of the Cinque Terre. Until the end of the 19th Century these towns were completely isolated and reachable just on foot or by sea. In 1860 (works ended in 1874) the first tunnel of this track was built connecting Genoa with La Spezia and crossing almost entirely all this territory through tunnels (32 tunnels were built here!). This means of transportation gives you the possibility to visit the villages in a discreet and easy way and as the train emerges from another tunnel you are treated to another stunning view of one of the best secrets in Italy.
DONT LEAVE WITHOUT The Cinque Terre boasts some of the best coastline hiking trails in the world. The path from Riomaggiore to Manarola is called the Via Dell’Amore - or Lovers Walk. The beautiful trail along the shore is very easy to hike. Along the way, you’ll witness where lovers have written their names on the rocks and trees surrounding the walk. In the middle of Riomaggiore and Manarola you will come across ‘The Lover’s Lock’ which is a place to seal your eternal love. At this point there is a concrete throne in the shape of a male and female locked in a kiss, where many people duplicate this creating a lovely photographic opportunity. The next hike from Manarola to Corniglia is also easy. However, there is an up hill hike and a large zigzag shaped staircase with 385 steps which can be quite a mission in the midday sun! The trail from Corniglia to Vernazza offers incredible views of shore and is only steep at certain places. The trail from Vernazza to Monterosso is the steepest (you need a reasonably good level of fitness - there is over 250m of climbing over very uneven rocks, totalling approx. 750 ‘steps’ - not easy!), winding through olive orchards and vineyards and offering dramatic ocean views. The paths are narrow, with a very real danger of falling 12 to 15 feet if you lose your footing. If you attempt this hike, take some water, and be prepared to build up a sweat.
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
Monarola at Sunset
The walk between all the villages takes the better part of a day. For those that would rather not walk (or not walk the entire trail), a pedestrian ferry service runs seasonally to all five villages, plus Lerici. The price is reasonable, and gives a nice view of the villages from the water. The milk train that connect all the villages is also a quick way to hop among towns. It is advised that you attempt the walk as early as possible to avoid the hottest part of the day during the summer period. Sneakers or suitable walking shoes are essential. You must purchase a pass for the hike. It is also possible to purchase a hiking and train pass in one if you wish to catch a train to the next town. Hiking Times around the Cinque Terre: Monterosso - Vernazza: 90 minutes. Vernazza - Corniglia: 90 minutes. Corniglia - Manarola: 45 minutes. Manarola - Riomaggiore: 20 minutes. Manarola also has its own beautiful vineyard walk.
Language:
Italian and although English is spoken widely, the locals always appreciate your small efforts to communicate in their language. Currency: Euro (EUR) Time zone: GMT + 2
7
Cruise For the First Time
Cruise holidays continue to be in great demand. An estimated 2m people will take a cruise holiday from the UK this year. If you're new to cruising, looking for cruise tips or cruise advice then read on. A cruise holiday is a unique way to escape from the rigours of everyday life and to explore many different destinations in one of the most relaxing ways imaginable. It offers you an extraordinary variety of activities and entertainment, plus an exceptional quality of dining. And of course, if you simply want to escape, there’s plenty of opportunity to do absolutely nothing at all. Booking a cruise can be like ordering a salad in the States, lot's of choices to make, from dining time to bed configuration, to choice of table size. But by far the most important choice of all is getting the right ship and cruise for your requirements. When booking your first cruise the choices can be daunting and getting it wrong could lead to a disastrous holiday. Make sure you seek out a cruise professional for the best advice!
What type of people go on cruises? The great myth about cruise holidays is that it's just for the older generation. More and more families, couples singles are setting sail on ships that offer a holiday for everyone. Cruising appeals to a wide range of people so there’s a good mix of age groups, families, couples and singles on board. Once again the best advice from the outset is imperative. There are adult only ships, family orientated ships, different classes of ships and the size of ship can matter!
How much luggage can I take? On cruises sailing from and returning to Southampton you can take as many bags as you can fit into your cabin. On fly-cruises you’ll be restricted to the airline’s baggage allowance.
What do I wear? During the day casual wear is ideal with comfortable shoes for exploring ashore. Although cruising isn’t as formal as it once was, passengers still love to dress up in the evening. There are three types of evening wear; smart casual, semi-formal and formal, however it greatly depends on the cruise line you travel with, the dress codes are usually relative to the type of meal arrangements on board, for example NCL Cruises are Freestyle and have no formal evenings and provide buffet meals.
Is the port at the main destination? Usually yes, but in some countries the ships dock in alternative locations. In these cases, the itinerary lists the port in brackets alongside the destination, e.g Rome (from Civitavecchia). Shore excursions are offered from your ship to your destination, with public transport and taxis available for those wishing to explore independently.
How long do I get at each port? Again this can vary by Cruise line and ship. However, in the majority of destinations you will be able to enjoy a full day ashore. Your ship will usually arrive between 7am and 10 am, departing between 4pm and 6.30pm. A cruise line such as Hurtigruten, operates as a working ship taking Norwegians from port to port thus spends less time at each port. However as the ships are smaller you get the best possible access and cruise to see the wonderful Norwegian Fjords.
Will I be sea sick? For those who haven't cruised before this seems to be the biggest single fear. The vast majority of those customers on their return state most of the time they couldn't even tell they were on a ship. Sea sickness is rare. The shear size of many of these ships makes them stable in all weather conditions. However if you are worried, you can buy tablets that will help. Additionally, ships also contain well-equipped Medical Centres staffed by qualified doctors and nurses 24 hours a day.
So what you waiting for set sail now! 8
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
Style Cruises, a travel agency specialising in cruising, are simply experts in their field. Experience and service are at the heart of what they do. You can be assured of an unrivalled personal service and friendly, knowledgeable advice to guide you through choosing and booking your cruise holiday. The personal service is complemented by an extensive knowledge of cruising - you will be in no doubt you are booking with fellow cruisers! When you cruise you can count on superb dining choices, spacious, comfortable accommodation, onboard activities, shore excursion programmes in each port of call, Broadway calibre nightly entertainment, the list goes on and on. Whether it is a classic transatlantic crossing, a river cruise in Russia or some Caribbean sunshine to brighten a dull British winter you can count on an experience that will delight in every way. Avoid torturous airport queues by sailing direct from the UK. Cruise on small, intimate, ultra luxury ships or choose a large spectacular resort style cruise liner. Cruising is perfect for members of a group or single travellers alike. There is truly a cruise for everyone & Style Cruises will help you find the right one for you with helpful advice for both first time & seasoned cruisers.
Get some winter warmth with a Canary Islands cruise 13 nights from £849pp onboard Fred.Olsen’s Boudicca departing from Southampton.
20 March 2012
Visit picturesque Norway 9 nights from £919pp onboard Fred.Olsen’s Black Watch departing from Dover PLUS £90 onboard spend and FREE car parking.
10 May 2012
Cruise the historic Baltic with an overnight in St Petersburg 14 nights from £1399pp onboard Fred.Olsen’s Balmoral departing from Southampton PLUS £140 onboard spend and FREE car parking.
28 June 2012
Cruise with Fred.Olsen and enjoy the difference: • Small intimate ships with a ‘Home from Home’ atmosphere onboard • Ex UK departures – no flying & queuing at airports • Special interest programmes and everything you need to make your cruise unforgettable.
‘Surrey’s Leading Cruise Agent’
Telephone: 01372 271754 www.stylecruises.co.uk info@stylecruises.co.uk 5 Craddocks Parade, Ashtead, Surrey KT21 1QL.
Prices shown are based on two people sharing an inside cabin, subject to availability & correct at time of printing. Onboard spend is per cabin. Some ports may be at anchor. Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines terms & conditions apply.
A there Walk through Is there an an art art Sunrise ofthe in creating creating the Virginia best senior best senior Water - Some living & care? living & care? Observations
Activities and hobbies Activities and hobbies
“Walking in to Sunrise is different to walking into most homes. Right in the centre of the village, next to the train station with the bustle of life nearby, it is open and very welcoming to visitors. As you approach the doors swing open and you walk straight in to be welcomed by the concierge. To the right is a bistro, music quietly playing, three ladies sitting chatting round a table enjoying tea, another going off to get tea from the bar and bring it back; a teenager with an older person at another table and staff members getting themselves a drink. A coach arrives back from a trip out to some town and the residents come in ones and twos and some come in to the bistro for a warming drink and afternoon cake. There is a sense of sociability, connectedness and independence. Over the other side of the hall way I see a carer kneeling next to a lady listening attentively to what she is saying. On a sofa nearby an older man is sitting quietly. There is an air of calm and yet a hum of activity and life.
Beautiful surroundings Beautiful surroundings
Highly trained care staff
On another floor an instructor is gently leading a circle of residents in exercises to keep them flexible. Down the corridor I glimpse a dog basket – one of the residents has brought Sunrise: setting a new standard her dog with her. I bump into a resident who asks me the way to the poetry group that is Sunrise: setting•aExpert new standard • Beautiful landscaped care 24 hours a day about to meet ininteriors a lounge&downstairs. •gardens Beautiful interiors & landscaped • Private • Expert careat24affordable hours a day suites Back to theentertainments, bistro – just past activities it is the light, attractive restaurant with a menu of delicious gardens • Daily daily rates • Private suites at affordable homeand food. I sampled some – it was first class and clearly food and the environment hobbies • made Daily entertainments, activities • Separate, daily rates specialised dementia for•eating ishobbies given much consideration. are welcome to come and eat there too. Aand positive attitude promoting Familiescare • Separate, specialised dementia independence Growing olderand can presentpromoting many enormous• challenges. ones own home to Even value for senior •wellness A positive attitude carebetterLeaving go•toRestaurant awellness Care Home is a3big decision. in Even Virginia Water is working with skill, dining times a daySunrise couples! and independence • better value for senior imagination and commitment to support families and older people as they face aging.” • Restaurant dining 3 times a day couples!
Highly trained care staff
Sunrise celebrates its 30th Birthday on the 5th December, join us for a glass of champagne to celebrate from 14.30pm (RSVP) Sunrise of Virginia Water Christchurch Road, Virginia Sunrise of Virginia Water Water, Surrey GU25 4BE
Christchurch Road, Virginia Water, Surrey GU25 4BE
10
01344 843777 01344 843777
www.sunrise-care.co.uk www.sunrise-care.co.uk
The high quality senior care alternative The high quality senior care alternative
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
Better than care at home! Come in and find out why.
Senior care in a place you would love to live. There aren’t many places where you can experience expert senior care and assistance - and you would be proud to call it “home”.
Highly trained care staff
Sunrise offers something different from traditional care homes. Our award-winning residences are beautiful inside and out. They are active, sociable and vibrant places with caring compassionate staff on hand to provide assistance as required. Sunrise care is so different that it is often described as revolutionary. Don’t take our word for it. Just pay Sunrise Senior Living a visit and experience this new, uplifting senior care option for yourself. Contact us today and we’ll arrange it with you.
Hobbies and entertainment
Sunrise: setting a new standard in senior living and care Daily entertainments, activities and hobbies
A positive attitude promoting wellness and independence
Beautiful interiors and landscaped gardens
Expert care 24 hrs a day
Restaurant-style dining 3 times a day
Separate, specialised dementia care
Private suites at affordable rates
Landscaped gardens
Sunrise of Virginia Water Christchurch Road, Virginia Water, Surrey GU25 4BE
01344 843777 www.sunrise-care.co.uk Quality dining experience
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
of Virginia Water
The high quality senior care alternative
11
How Michael stepped up to the mike When the young Michael Aspel headed for Cardiff, his father thought it was to develop his career with a bedding company, but Michael had other ideas, as James Pringle discovered Who would expect a highly experienced broadcaster like Michael Aspel to be dogged by moments of doubt?
“There was just this one gigantic dinner suit between all of us. We wore whatever we liked below – it could be tennis shorts or whatever, because the picture never cut below the waist.
“For some years I was very cocky and full of myself, yet I’ve always been very nervous,” he tells Retired. “Luckily I was able to handle awkward situations, but you get less and less confident as you grow older.” Such feelings are not helped by television’s fondness for young faces, and Michael is now a wellpreserved 78. But when the 100 Years of Us series earlier this year highlighted changes in society during the first century of the National Census, he was “well qualified to be the front man, having been around for most of that time”. Indeed, for many of us, Michael has always been on the airwaves, but he was a teaboy for a London publisher before National Service in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in the early 1950s. “When I came out of the Army, I wanted to be an actor,” he recalls. “My father was very sympathetic. He said: “Get a job or get out’. I took a job with a bedding firm that had contacts in Cardiff with a big store there. I went down there ostensibly to learn the bedding trade and the sales business, but that wasn’t my intention at all. I auditioned for radio drama at the BBC in Cardiff, and they gave me occasional work while I waited for a place to come up on the BBC drama repertory company. I did all sorts of jobs – including drainpipelayer and gardener – that I could drop at a moment’s notice when they required me for a freelance broadcast. I would rush straight from the building site and be in things like the Children’s Hour serial.
“That was a wonderfully happy time. It was quite different from Lime Grove or the later Television Centre – partly because it was news only and partly because it was such a historic place, where television began, and physically cut off from the rest of the BBC, and you could not get a better bunch of workmates.” Michael remembers a time he made news himself. “I went on one night with a black eye. I’d been playing in a charity cricket match the day before and got the ball in my eye. The response was incredible – it was even in the papers in France and America.” Michael never did become an actor – except that “occasionally theatres let people from the telly do plays, to put bums on seats, and I’ve done a few”. He hosted Ask Aspel, Crackerjack, Aspel and Company, Miss World, Come Dancing, Give Us a Clue, The Six o’Clock Show, This is Your Life and Antiques Roadshow and his mellow tones were also heard on the radio.
Michael joins Lance England in the studio of community station Brooklands Radio
“I intended to pursue acting and in the mid-50s I was on the radio in London, but then someone told me they were looking for continuity announcers at the BBC TV’s Lime Grove Studios. 12
Lime Grove was the BBC TV’s main London base, but the news department was at Alexandra Palace. When Richard Baker was indisposed, Michael was drafted in to read one weekend’s bulletins and ended up staying for eight years.
On the Light Programme’s Family Favourites sound engineers were at the controls, but Michael learnt to self-operate a studio as part of the launch team of London commercial station Capital Radio.
“When I did something for the BBC after that, they asked if I’d like to self-op and I said I would – but their controls worked the other way round and I said www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
I N T E RV I E W ‘Good morning’ and switched myself off. “Capital was exciting and I did things I never dreamt I would do. There was a brilliant young producer called Simon Booker and the station’s chairman was Richard Attenborough, who would get us tremendous guests with his contacts. “That kept going with the television chat show, although, to be honest, that was a great disappointment to me. It didn’t compare with the shows I did on Capital, because there were various restrictions and I wasn’t as confident.
to the researcher, who would type it out and give it back to the person as a script. “They would then try to learn it, and come stumbling on, trying to remember the script of their own story. That didn’t always work, so you would have to gently nudge them, hopefully without giving away the joke.” Michael lives near Weybridge, Surrey, with his partner Irene Clark. Retirement has never figured in his plans. He will be among the stars at this year’s Parkinson’s UK charity Christmas Concert at Central Hall, Westminster.
“At the radio station my researcher – a woman who had a PhD in mediaeval French – provided me with information on people and I would then prepare the interview. When I started the chat show on Thames, I found there was an agreement between representatives of the guest and our people as to what line the interview would take.”
Recent years have seen him guest hosting Have I Got News for You and making a documentary about his wartime evacuee experiences. He has taken to the stage in a Rocky Horror Show tour, as well as appearing in several pantomimes.
Who were the most difficult people to interview? “Actors like Elliott Gould – he was utterly impossible – and others just weren’t very good at it.
“Because of some kind of imaginary gravitas that you bring to the stage, the thing works and you can still have the time of your life while being this old codger.”
“Tony Curtis was every interviewer’s gift most of the time, but occasionally he would lose interest and he did that on one of my shows. When I said: ‘Did this make you the happy man you are today?’ his reply was: “Who said I was happy?’ Then he said: ‘And with that, I bid you goodnight’ when we’d only had about three minutes. He walked off and we had to fill in.” Another live show guest was an inebriated Oliver Reed. “I wasn’t as horrified as I was reported to be,” Michael points out. Always at the back of your mind, in a situation like that, is that ‘This is good telly’.
Feeling festive in a good cause The Parkinson’s UK Christmas Concert is at 7pm on December 9 at Central Hall, Westminster, with music, poetry and celebrity guests including Michael Aspel, Jane Asher and singer Paul Potts, first winner of Britain’s Got Talent.
“The worst experience was the very last chat show we did. It was taken over by Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis, who’d put money into opening a restaurant in the West End. The whole thing became an advert for that and it was just ghastly. I lost control of it and felt very low by the end.” When Michael hosted Crackerjack and This is Your Life, his laid-back style contrasted the anxious manner of his predecessor, Eamonn Andrews. “For a big burly man and an ex-boxer, he was amazingly sensitive and easily embarrassed,” says Michael. “When This Your Life and guests wandered from the point, I tried to laugh it off. But it was the most silly, unnatural arrangement. Someone would originally come in with a good anecdote and tell it
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
Tickets available from September, via www.parkinsons.org.uk/carolconcert or by calling 020 7963 9319.
13
Pioneering a new concept in senior lifestyle living January 2011 sees the opening of Moorlands Lodge, a luxurious new Care Community in Hindhead and the fourth community within the Signature group of companies. Signature Senior Living is an organisation dedicated to providing a model of UK senior care provision that establishes new standards of quality and adaptability to individual need. Moorlands Lodge is a beautiful, purpose built building offering spacious accommodation in the form of superbly appointed studio, one bedroom or two bedroom apartments. However, the physical accommodation is only one aspect of this unique approach to senior living. Moorlands Lodge will offer a truly person-centred approach to each of its residents. For some this will simply be the knowledge that all forms of support are available 24 hours a day should they be required. For others, perhaps with more complex needs, it could mean a specific care plan that allows them to live their lives with dignity whilst receiving assistance to maintain whatever personal level of independence they desire. Each resident joining the community will meet members of a highly experienced team in order to consider individual needs and preferences such that a unique care plan can be developed to ensure a comfortable and fulfilling lifestyle. This innovative approach means that, whatever the future may hold,
all our residents are assured that the care that they need will always be available and delivered within their own apartments by appropriately trained and dedicated staff, ultimately with the aim of avoiding the need to ever move again.
fresh fruit, etc 24 hours a day. Our Beauty Emporium offers residents hairdressing and a range of beauty therapist treatments without needing to leave the building.
Within the Moorlands Lodge community residents will enjoy fine dining in a licensed restaurant whilst a coffee shop and a cafe will provide tea, coffee, cakes, pastries,
In addition to 24 hour access to care and support, the surprisingly affordable monthly rental charges include all housekeeping and utility costs, meals, snacks and activities.
Superbly landscaped gardens offer further enjoyment and, for those Moorlands Lodge will also provide a residents who enjoy gardening specialist Dementia Unit comprising pursuits, the Gardening Club will enable residents to maintain their 20 en-suite apartments where residents will receive an unparalleled horticultural interests. An extensive and vibrant activities programme standard of care. Our forward thinking approach will be pioneering offers something for everyone to enjoy from musical events, clubs a new future for people living with / societies and outings to places Dementia also supporting their and events of interest using the families through the journey that communities own transport facilities. their loved ones are experiencing.
In summary, Moorlands Lodge represents a completely new approach to Senior Living in the Surrey / Hampshire / West Sussex borders region and we would welcome any interested parties to come and see for themselves. Our show suites are open 7 days a week and we are regularly hosting events, details of which can be found on our website or by phoning us on 0845 6808 648. We await your call! 14
Moorlands Lodge Hindhead, Surrey
Where lifestyle and care go hand in hand
Moorlands Lodge is a new concept in care homes. We provide person centred care to suit your lifestyle in a friendly and luxurious environment. Our skilled and friendly team of professionals are on hand 24 hours a day to provide whatever care you need; however the emphasis remains on wellbeing, independence and enjoyment.
Get in touch
01428 605 396 or call in today
Moorlands Lodge, Portsmouth Road, Hindhead, Surrey GU26 6TJ
Please call Gerry Barker for more information about the surprisingly affordable lifestyle here at Moorlands Lodge.
signature-care-homes.co.uk
Could it be time to take to the floor? Dancing can be wonderful to watch, but joining in really does you good, Strictly legends Ann Widdecombe and Anton du Beke tell James Pringle
S
trictly Come Dancing stars Ann Widdecombe and Anton du Beke are leading the way in helping thousands of older people to dance their way to better health. Less than 10 per cent of over-75s get enough exercise, according to a new report by care home provider Bupa. Even in the 65-74 age group, that figure is under 20 per cent. The report concludes that dancing, no matter how gentle, is beneficial to the health, fitness and emotional wellbeing of older people. It improves co-ordination, reaction times, muscle endurance, flexibility, gait and strength – which all reduce the risk of falls. It can also play a part in the prevention or treatment of conditions as diverse as dementia, arthritis and Parkinson’s disease. Bupa’s Shall We Dance? campaign is urging policy-makers to pay special attention to dance when looking at ways to promote fitness in older people. It’s also encouraging dancers, dance troupes and dance teachers – of any style – to contact their local Bupa care home to share their passion for dance by performing for residents or offering dance classes to people who have a range of mobility issues. Residents and staff from three of company’s Kent homes – The Sidcup Nursing & Residential Centre and Abbotsleigh Mews Residential & Nursing Home, both in Sidcup, and Elmstead Residential Home in Chislehurst – attended the campaign launch in London at the National Theatre. They were welcomed by Bupa Care Services medical director Dr Clive Bowman and took to the floor with the Strictly stars after the former government minister and her professional dance partner had given a demonstration. Anton told Retired: “This campaign is a great initiative. When you get to a certain age it’s easy to do nothing, but the thing about dance is that it’s very social. It gets you involved with lots of different people of a similar age and you can dance at your own pace – you don’t have to do it 16
too fast. It’s great for the mind and body, but to me it’s the social interaction that’s important. “I love to dance socially. I enjoy the whole element of taking hold of a girl and having a bit of a dance around, whether she can dance or not. It’s terrific fun. “Often I hear stories like: ‘Fifteen years ago my wife passed away and last year I went on a cruise and met Doris, we had a dance and PIC CAPTION: Elmstead Home’s Kathleen we’re together now. We’re getting McIlroy and Clifford Morgan from the Sidcup married next year, and I’m 84.’ Centre partner up with Anton du Beke and Ann That’s brilliant!” Widdecombe. Nobody should worry that they are not as agile as they once were, Anton believes. You can do as much or as little as you like, at any speed, and if you have a partner, you can hold onto them. “Don’t feel you’ve got to do it wonderfully,” he stressed. “Just do it for your own enjoyment.” Anne Widdecombe added: “When you’re my age [63] you do quite a lot. I walk, I swim and a lot of people my age still play quite active sports. In 20 years’ time that’s not going to be quite so feasible, but you still need to keep all the bits and pieces moving – and that includes the brain. “With dancing you can move at your own pace, whatever suits you. Because you have to remember a routine and know which step comes after what, it keeps the brain active – and it keeps you sociable, because you can’t really dance on your own. “It’s a great way for the elderly to keep a little bit in trim. I don’t think anybody’s going to worry about making fools of themselves – they’re not going to do what I did on television in front of eight million people! Anyway, most people are quite confident, they’ve seen it all before. “While I was doing Strictly, people kept coming up to me and saying ‘You’ve
inspired me to take up dancing’, and some of them were well beyond my age.” Kathleen McIlroy is a sprightly 86-yearold who could pass for 20 years younger. The Elmstead Home resident is a fine advertisement for the benefits of dancing and yoga. Her fitness helped her survive an extremely serious setback. “Mum was marching to the Cenotaph with the last year when she had a major heart attack,” her daughter, Kathy Avery, explained. “The hospital told me she wouldn’t pull through. She was in intensive care for three and half weeks, but she made it. The doctors couldn’t believe it, and I think it was purely down to the fitness of her body with the dancing and yoga she did.” Kathleen told Retired: “I’ve been dancing since I was about 15 – ballroom and Latin – and I thoroughly enjoy it. I’m coming up against arthritis now, but I just work round it. “It’s a good thing for old people to get out and go dancing. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know a lot – it’s amazing how you pick it up, and it brings people together. It’s just a matter of getting over your inhibitions.” Perpetual motion for dancing stars After last year’s Strictly series, Anton and
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
his regular partner, Erin Boag, went on their third national tour and they are now planning a show for mid-January to late March 2012. Tour titles to date, Cheek to Cheek, Stepping Out and Putting on the Ritz, identify Fred Astaire as a major inspiration. “I love him,” said Anton. “Everything we do is a nod in his direction.” These days he and Erin cannot find time for ballroom dancing competitions. “I miss them. I miss that level of dancing, that intensity and that drive to meet the next man. I enjoyed the competitive side of things.”
Widdecombe joined the 2010 line-up. “All the time I was a politician, it would not have been appropriate,” she said, “and that is why I turned down Strictly every year from 2004 to 2009.
can see is quite a small studio audience. But when you’re playing Wembley and the O2, you’re stacking up tens of thousands and the reaction is just overwhelming.
“I wouldn’t have had time and, in terms of dignity, I couldn’t have done it as an MP. My constituents would not have expected it and I wouldn’t have done it to them. But once I retired there was no obligation to conduct myself as if I was still a Member of Parliament. I can do anything now!”
“I danced every day for five weeks, and twice a day when we were doing matinees.”
Ann’s harshest critic during the TV series was judge Craig Revel Horwood. For the live national tour of the show, someone came up with the masterstroke of making Craig and Ann dance partners.
Anton’s Strictly success has seen him branch out into TV presenting, with the shows Step Up to the Plate and Hole in the Wall.
“Oh it was such fun!” said Ann. “We both enjoyed it so much that we’re doing pantomime together in December.”
“Hole in the Wall was just hysterical. I don’t think we’ll see it any more, sadly. I wish they’d bring it back, because it’s fun. Half an hour of nonsense and we loved doing it.”
For a moment, your reporter thought she was joking, but it’s true. The unlikely pair will be appearing at Dartford’s Orchard Theatre in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Ann will be lady-in-waiting to the Wicked Queen, played by Craig.
Other programmes are in discussion and Anton hopes there will be more opportunities. Meanwhile, he looks forward to this year’s series of Strictly. Many viewers were surprised when former Westminster big hitter Ann
“We enjoyed the tour so much,” Ann added. “We were getting a huge reaction from huge audiences. Sure, when you do it on television you’ve got millions of viewers, but you can’t see ’em. All you
Ann confessed that she was never a serious competitive dancer on Strictly. “I was doing a pantomime act. On day one, Anton said to me: ‘The less time you spend with your feet on the floor, the better’. Hence all the lifting, spinning, dragging, flying – anything to avoid actually doing the steps! “The flying was Anton’s bright idea. I said to him: ‘We’ve got to do something, because I’m never going to win on dancing. He said: ‘Fly off the balcony’. I’ve got terrible height phobia, but I did understand the potential, so I flew off the balcony.” Once Snow White is over, Ann will be ensconced in her study. “My agent is very keen that I reapply myself to my writing. I haven’t had a novel out since 2005 and I need to get one out next year. And I’ve got an autobiography to write. So I really do need to apply myself to my word processor.”
Surrey’s premier centre for sport, health and fitness There’s something for everyone Gym, swimming, group fitness and aqua classes, Back to Basics Aerobics, badminton, tennis, pilates, yoga and more.
FREE 5 DAY OFF-PEAK* GUEST PASS Contact 01483 689112 quoting ‘Retired Magazine’ to book your initial appointment and bring this voucher with you on your first visit. www.surreysportspark.co.uk NAME: PHONE: EMAIL: * Off-peak hours 08.00-16.00 Monday-Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Terms and Conditions apply. See surreysportspark.co.uk for more details.
4610-1111 SSP Retired Magazine Advert Half Page ver2.indd 1
16/11/2011 11:35
Curves in Woking opened just over four years ago and in that time the Curves Team have been busy providing both fitness and nutrition advice to women of all shapes and sizes, ages and abilities. The Curves circuit takes just 30 minutes and there is no need to rush to a class or worry about a schedule – when you show up your workout begins. Just jump in and move around the circuit at the same time as everyone else. Experienced instructors are always on hand to offer one-on-one training and provide a fun convenient comfortable environment for you to workout in. The Curves fitness program can help manage or prevent many healthcare conditions, including Cardiovascular disease, Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis and Type 2 Diabetes One of the innovations Curves have introduced is the Curves circuit with Zumba which involves one minute of strength training, using the machines, and one minute of Zumba. It has proved a favourite with many members regardless of their age or natural rhythm and guarantees fat burning, all over toning and definitely leaves a smile on the face. As a women-only gym, Curves understand the importance of supporting the work carried out by Breast Cancer Care in the UK and this year Alexis, Manager at the Woking club decided to support the charity by completing a 24 hour Curvathon. Our members embraced the event wholeheartedly from 12 noon Friday 28th October until 12 noon on Saturday 29th October. In addition to the members raising sponsorship for Breast Cancer Care a number of local businesses supported the event by providing much needed neck and back massages, Reflexology, Zumba and Belly Dancing displays. The prize raffle was an amazing event and has helped raise a substantial amount with the total now standing at £2,175. Last year Curves clubs across England and Wales raised over an amazing £50,000 for Breast Cancer Care through Pink Fridays activities and the bra recycling initiative. Alexis and her team are passionate about helping members reach their fitness goals and if you have something you are aiming to achieve or just want to take advantage of the free guest pass, come in and speak to one of the team and you will find the power to amaze yourself!
Frances quote: Zumba is great fun! I’ve really enjoyed it! And I didn’t think I would even be able to do it as I am usually so uncoordinated! But I’ve now got the hang of it and I’ve had a wonderful time doing it.
18
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
• Increase joint stability • Lower blood pressure • Increase metabolism • Help you lose inches Call free on
Let 30 minute fitness help you acquire the habit of exercise 0800 1300 544 No set class times, come and go as you like No Men No Make-up No Mirrors l
0800 1300 544
l
l
www.curves.com
www.curves.com
Why will Curves work when nothing else has? l l l l l l l l
It’s fun, fast and effective Just 30 minutes, 3 times a week will bring results It works for women of all ages and fitness abilities It is designed just for women Our workout combines strength training and cardio for proven results Welcoming supportive staff are on hand to help and motivate We will help you get the results you have always wanted We offer a unique weight management programme that will eliminate the need for permanent dieting.
To find out if Curves is right for you, ask yourself these questions: Can you spend 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week, to improve your quality of life? l Would you rather exercise in an environment designed especially for women? l Would encouragement from other women help you reach your fitness goals? l Have you tried or considered other fitness clubs and just never found one that felt right for you? l Have you ever wished for a fitness programme that was enjoyable and fun? l
If the answer is yes, call us now to find out more.
( 01483 71 55 99 1st Floor front Owen House Heathside Crescent, Woking, Surrey GU22 7AG.
www.curveswoking.com
Curves can: l Increase fitness levels l Tone major muscle groups l Increase bone density l Reduce symptoms of arthritis l Increase flexibility l Help combat osteoporosis l Increase joint stability l Lower blood pressure l Increase metabolism l Help you lose inches
!
Guest Pass 1 Week Free
or exchange for exciting first visit discount Not valid with any other offer. New members only
RL Surrey
Rainbow Leisure Centre Club Wellness at Rainbow Leisure Centre Club Wellness provides a wide range of activities for 55 years plus members, from badminton to bowls. If you’re looking to shape up & socialise, we have something for everyone. All under the guidance of our dedicated Club Wellness Lead and with a host of like minded people! Call the centre now for a free day trial for you and a friend! Call our Customer Service Team on 01372 727 277 to book a visit today The following activities are included in our Club Wellness Membership: • • • • • •
Inclusive access to the fitness centre during off peak times Inclusive personalised Fitness Induction Inclusive access to Group Exercise Classes at off peak times Inclusive access to Swimming at off peak times Inclusive access to 55+ badminton & bowls sessions No minimum contract
Off peak times: Monday-Friday 9:00am-17:00pm Saturday & Sunday 13:00pm-20:00pm Pop in or give us a call today 01372 727 277 *Terms and conditions apply, please speak to a Customer Service Advisor Registered Address: GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited), Middlegate House, The Royal Arsenal, London SE18 6SX I.P.S. Registration No: 27793R Inland Revenue Charity No: XR43398
Working in Partnership
Activity 55+ Programming
Days / Times
T
PR OS PE CT
Friday 12.00noon-12.30pm
S
Bowls Monday & Friday Your Club Wellness day could be as flexible as you want it to be, for example; 8.30am-9.30am Water Aerobics 9.30am - 10.30am Easyline Circuit MultipleFitness Activities Monday 11.00am & Friday - 11.30am 9.30am-12.30pm Line Dancing or Pilates 11.30am - 12.30pm Table Tennis - 2.00pm Swimming Monday 12.00noon 9.00am-9.25am Friday 9.15am-9.55am Bowls/Badminton/Short Tennis Programmed times
Rainbow The above sessions are payable onThe a sessional basis.Leisure Centre East Street, Epsom, Surrey KT17 1BN 1
AVENUE
CHURCH ST
LD RICHFIE
M HA
TR EE T
VA ST ER N
RGE S
ROAD
AD RO
ANE COW L
KR O AD
RS
RD CREMYLL
MILLFORD RD
TESSA RD
CARDIF F
ROO
VE CA
Tel: 01372 727277 Fax: 01372 840350 Bus: 293, 406, 408, 467, K10 Tel: 0118 901 5000 / 5001 / 5002 Train: Epsom Bus: 9, 24 Train: Reading Station Parking: Pay & Display, discounted Parking: 600 Pay & Display car parking prices for customers, bays, bicycle racks available Bicycle racks available.
GOSB
RO AD
GEO
C OW LANE
Rivermead Leisure Complex Richfield Avenue, Caversham Reading RG1 8EQ
RCH RD
BRIANT’S AVE
CHU
READING
TU DOR R OAD
FORBURY
BURY ROA D
RBURY THE FO
REET ST
READING
ROAD
M
ST
IN
ST
D KINGS ROA
ER ST
HAMMERSMITH
QUEENS
T ON S
OXFORD ROAD
CA ST LE
OXFOR D
FOR
INGT WATL
CHATHAM
ROAD
ROAD
LON
ON R LOND
D ON
ILL LE H
ST
T CAS
ST
ROYAL BERKSHIRE HOSPITAL
S ND AD
ST
RD
RO
PELL
VEN CR A
REDLA
www.gll.org
CROWN
E AVENU BERKELEY
I ADD
O NGT
Planning for your future Wills If you don’t have a Will then now is the time to consider writing one as leaving a Will means you can be sure that everything will be dealt with in the way you would wish following your death.
If you do have a Will it is important to review it, say every five years. Family circumstances and relationships change with family members sometimes becoming estranged, so ask yourself, does your Will still provide for the people you want it to? If you do want to make a change we can do this for you even if your Will was not written by Southern Legal Services.
Planning for long term care
If you don’t make a Will, the “Intestacy Rules” will govern how your estate is divided up when you die. The government will determine which of your relatives receives how much, but beware, they don’t provide at all for your friends or even for a partner who you may have lived with for years. Under the Intestacy Rules, even your stepchildren are not counted as your children unless you have formally adopted them.
As people live longer, more and more of us face the possibility of going into residential care. This currently costs around £450 per week which means that the money you worked so hard for all your life can soon be eaten away. There are however ways to preserve your assets and that’s where we can help.
If your total assets (usually including the value of your home) exceed £23,250 then you will have to pay the care fees yourself, until your assets fall below that level (when the local authority will step in and contribute some of the cost). Certain assets are disregarded (such as jewellery or cars) but the best way to prevent all your assets being used up by long term care fees is to call us and take advice at an early stage. As the need to go into residential care approaches, many people are tempted to transfer their home into the names of their children, or to give away large amounts of money. If you do give assets away and one of your reasons for doing so is to avoid care fees, the “notional capital” rules mean that you will be assessed as still owning that asset even after you give it away. Please seek advice before giving away any assets.
Looking after Someone Else’s Affairs Managing your own financial affairs is often difficult enough but sometimes as your parents get older they may also wish for you to help them with theirs. If this has been discussed, the key thing here is to act before your loved one loses mental capacity. If their mental capacity is still sound they can give you a “Power of Attorney” which allows you to look after things for up to a year for them or it might be more suitable to have a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) which will last indefinitely. At Southern Legal we can tailor-make a Power of Attorney to suit their individual needs and circumstances and we can discuss their options with them at the initial appointment. If mental capacity is unfortunately lost before an LPA is put in place then we can apply to the Court for a Deputyship order. This would mean that you would be appointed by the Court to be their Deputy and be able to manage their affairs for them under Court guidance.
We know that much of this might sound quite daunting but the key is to deal with it sooner rather than later. We’re here to guide you every step of the way and we’ll make sure that your retirement plan is tailor made and as individual as you are.
22
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
Does your Will protect against these seven ways your family can be disinherited? If you’re in the minority of people who have made a Will, you probably believe that it is enough to ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death. Not necessarily. Your Will may contain loopholes that result in your chosen heirs being effectively disinherited. Don’t take that risk. Check below to see if your family’s inheritance is as safe as you think. COSTS OF CARE If you need to go into a retirement care home, and have assets of more than £23,250, you’ll have to fund your own care, which can typically cost up to £1,000 a week. If you’ve made no provision for this, your home may be sold off and thus lost to your family. REMARRIAGE If a spouse dies and the surviving partner remarries, a Will may not be enough to protect the inheritance of children of the first marriage. If a child marries and predeceases their spouse who then remarries but dies first, your family’s wealth can pass to a total stranger.
FAMILY
FIRST
ESTATE TAXES Despite the changes of 2007, Inheritance Tax is still a serious worry for many whose house and assets are worth more than £325k. A Will can’t protect your family, but estate planning can.
SPECIAL NEEDS If you leave money to someone who has special needs their entitlement to benefits could be lost unless you’ve made full and careful provision for them. An ordinary Will is not able to do this.
DIVORCE Can you be sure that your children will never be involved in a divorce? If they are, your Will may not be able to protect your legacy to them.
YOUR BUSINESS How do you protect your share of a business and what’s the most tax efficient way of leaving it to your heirs? An effective way to meet both goals is to make a Will linked to a cross option agreement and trust.
CREDITORS If a surviving partner or children are in debt, or face bankruptcy their inheritance may vanish. You can guard against this but it’s unlikely that a Will would suffice.
‘Robert’s mother died when he was ten. After a while his father remarried and when he died, everything passed to his second wife. Provision for Robert was left to her discretion - he got nothing at all. When he asked if he could at least have his dad’s war medals she said ‘No. they’re mine to keep or sell as I like and there’s nothing you can do.’
With some elementary estate planning – a Will linked to a family trust – your wealth can be made secure for your family. It’s not hard to arrange but, given that everyone’s circumstances and needs are unique, takes some thoughtful planning. Happily, the costs are modest compared to the value of what is at stake. If you’d like to discuss ways of protecting your family’s inheritance, we are happy to offer you a free consultation without any obligation, either at our offices or in the comfort and privacy of your own home. We do our best to explain things simply and clearly with no jargon. Please do give us a call. We’re here to help.
Estate Planning Experts For Wills, Trusts, Tax & Probate Lasting Powers of Attorney www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
Call now: 01273 236036 www.southernlegalservices.co.uk mdoctors@southernlegalservices.co.uk 23
You’re unique. So are we. At Queen Elizabeth Park Care Home, we make sure we put personal relationships first. You’re one of a kind and we want it to stay that way.
We believe a care home should be a home first and foremost. Queen Elizabeth Park offers exceptional care and support, in beautiful and comfortable surroundings. So you can feel well and truly at home. Quality care at the heart of your community
Queen Elizabeth Park Care Home, in Guildford is a purpose built home offering nursing, residential and dementia care. It has been furnished throughout by our professional team to exceptionally high standards, providing elegance and comfort but above all a warm, homely and welcoming environment. You decide what you do and when you want to do it and friends and family can visit any time. At Queen Elizabeth Park our highly trained staff are leading the way in nursing and dementia care and making a real
C W of are inn th Em er eY p ea loy r 2 er 01 0
“We have been extremely impressed by the care and kindness shown to my aunt, and have seen a remarkable improvement to her health since she moved to Queen Elizabeth Park. Your staff are always welcoming, and take time to talk to us, showing a genuine concern not only to my aunt but to us too.” difference to the lives of our residents and their families. It’s through understanding each individual, their likes and dislikes and their life story that our specialist teams can provide personal care with a real difference. Our staff are trained to make every moment count.
Queen Elizabeth Park Care Home offers a range of services for long and short stays. To find out more information or to arrange a visit please contact the home manager on 01483 531 133 or email QEPGM@carebase.org.uk
Nursing, Residential & Dementia Care 1-72 Hallows Close, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 9LL
www.qepprivatecarehome.co.uk
Tis’ the season to be freezing!
The temperature is dropping, time to switch the heating on. The last thing anyone wants is this most important of creature comforts breaking down and, with the ever expensive Christmas day creeping closer, saving money on fuel bills is also very important – especially with energy prices creeping up year on year. Mark Krull, eco-expert from Logic4training - which trains gas fitters, plumbers and electricians – gives his top tips for preventing heating disasters and keeping warm for less. Frozen pipes: We suffered a particularly cold winter last year with frozen condensate pipes (the black, white or grey pipe coming from the bottom of the boiler to the outside) a common complaint. Frozen pipes means the boiler will stop working completely. To stop this happening again, ideally, you should call a Gas Safe Registered Installer to help thaw the pipe, plus find a solution to the problem. If it’s an emergency and you can’t get anyone to help, use a hot water bottle or heat wrap (like the ones used to ease muscle pain) and hold round the pipe until thawed. Only attempt to thaw a pipe at ground level, which is easily accessible – don’t scale walls or climb on the roof! Once thawed the boiler must be reset. Prevention is better than cure; insulate your pipes with waterproof lagging. Bleed radiators: If your radiators are cold at the top and hot at the bottom this means there’s an air lock and they need bleeding. Unscrew the ‘bleed screw’ at the top, using a radiator key and let the air out until water comes through. If you have a sealed system, make sure you 26
replace air let out with water, using the filling loop (this should have been shown to you when the boiler was installed.) If you’re a landlord, show your tenants how to do this when they move in, it will stop unnecessary maintenance calls. If you keep having to bleed your radiators it probably means there’s a water leak, so you should call a trained installer to take a look. Service: Whether you’ve got a gas, oil or solid fuel boiler an annual service will ensure your heating systems in working to optimum efficiency, plus highlight any problems before they arise. Landlords, this is your responsibility, tenants, make sure you ask for a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate when you move in. New gas safety rules: If you have a boiler where all, or part of, the flue cannot be seen then inspection hatches need to be fitted. You’ve got until January 2013 to sort this out. If you don’t, by law your boiler could be switched-off. Keep safe: Install a Carbon Monoxide tester to warn if there’s a leak. If you do have a leak call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately, on 0800 111 999. Keep warm (and spend less) Understand your boiler: Learn how to use your boiler properly and save on your heating. If you’re a landlord (especially one with bills included in the rent) go through how the boiler works with your tenants and explain how to use the heating most efficiently.
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
· Don’t switch your heating off in the winter; keep it a low base temperature over-night. It costs more to heat up a freezing cold room. · Do turn your thermostat down. Reducing the temperature by just one degree, will save 8% on your heating bill. · Do make sure all radiators have thermostatic valves (TRV’s); then you can set the temperature in each room. Draught proof: Stop your home leaking heat like a sieve; invest in some thick curtains, draught proof round doors and windows and cover the attic hatch with blankets. Make sure your radiators aren’t covered by furniture. Insulate: Up to 35% of the heat in your home is lost through the walls, and up to 25% through your roof. Not
all houses can have cavity wall insulation, but every roof should. According to the energy saving trust, insulating your loft could save £180 a year. The Governments ‘Green Deal’ is offering free insulation for some homes, paid back through utility bills. For more information visit the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s website: www.decc.gov.uk Call in the experts: If you have any work relating to your gas heating, you must check that the installer you choose is Gas Safe Registered. They should present you with an I.D card. If they don’t have this, then walk away – badly installed or maintained gas equipment could result in death. To find your nearest Gas Safe Registered installer, visitwww.gassaferegister.co.uk.
Modular – Control Your Heating Costs
In the era of cheap gas and oil nobody questioned central heating systems. Does it make sense now? If you want to heat your bathroom up for half an hour in the morning, firing up a full central heating system seems a wasteful option. Given recent fuel price hikes, watching a dvd in the lounge with the heat blasting away round the entire house seems crazy. With wet central heating systems we also tend to ignore the high maintenance, replacement costs and servicing.
German and Scandinavian households are turning to long life modular electric heating. Using specialist German radiators, one hundred per cent of the heat can be placed in the room or rooms that are being used, allowing unused rooms to be unheated or placed on very low heat. This means that you have much better control of your heating costs.
www.germanelectricheaters.com
At Last! A NEW FORM OF HEATING FROM GERMANY Simple to install, Powerful, and no more servicing - EVER!
In Germany and Austria it can get as low as -20, even -30ºC and a single snowfall can be as much as 3ft or more overnight. To deal with this severe cold they need powerful heating able to cope with sub zero temperatures and sudden climate change. They need excellent control and above all - low running costs without the need for constant servicing and replacement parts. The solution, incredibly... is electric!
Bus to town this winter! This incredible heating could be the answer to help beat ever increasing energy costs and amazingly, it is not gas or oil, or solid fuel - but clean electric! All you need is standard supply and NO
special tariff like economy 7. All over Europe more people are choosing to heat their homes and offices with this very special form of electric heating in preference to oil gas or E7. In our area, more and more of our customers are making that same decision and when you see this incredible heating for yourself you could be next! The heating looks just like conventional radiators, but STOP! it is very different! Put simply, that clunky central heating boiler needing constant servicing and replacement parts isn’t the only choice anymore! Now you can heat your homes, offices, extensions or conservatories with these incredible heaters providing individual control over every room without the need for a central control or wasted boiler space. This incredible German heating simply plugs in! Job Done! You can do just one room or the whole house! This heating, whilst quite NEW in the UK has been mainstream for a very long time in
Germany and Austria. Sunflow Ltd. offer a complete solution which can include disposing of your old central heating system, even oil tanks! Discover for yourself this incredible German heating.
Get your FREE brochure by calling our 24hr Brochure Line on: 0800 158 8270 or email: info@sunflowltd.co.uk Replacement Service Sunflow can take the worry out of disposing of old central heating systems. We have a package price that includes the safe and certificated removal of oil, lpg and gas systems, even old oil tanks! Questions? Call Suzanne on 0800 158 8272
A ReAl AlteRnAtive to oil/GAs HeAtinG - Ask About ouR ReplAcement seRvice www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
27
FO O D
&
DRI NK
Rick Stein's Mediterranean Escapes Recipes Rick Stein’s passion for fresh well-sourced 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 ‘Mediterranean Escapes’ (BBC Books, £20) here are two of Rick’s favourite recipes inspired by flavours of the Med.
SERVES 4 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1/4 teaspoon crushed dried chillies 1 mild green chilli, stalk removed and thinly sliced 225g fresh porcini mushrooms, cleaned and thickly sliced 2 large, ripe vine tomatoes, skinned, seeded and sliced 400 g dried spaghetti 1 kg small clams, such as carpet-shell, washed 60 ml dry white wine A large handful flat-leaf parsley, leaves finely chopped Salt 28
Vittorio’s Pasta with Clams and Porcini Bring 4.5 litres water to the boil in a large saucepan with 8 teaspoon salt. Meanwhile, put the oil and garlic into a deep sauté or frying pan and place it over a medium heat. As soon as the garlic begins to sizzle round the edges, add the crushed chillies, green chilli and sliced porcini and cook briskly for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook for another minute or two. Set to one side and keep hot. Add the pasta to the pan of boiling water and cook for 9 minutes or until al dente. Heat another large pan over a high heat. Add the clams and the wine, cover and cook over a high heat for 2-3 minutes until they have all just opened. (Discard any that stay closed.) Tip them into a colander set over a bowl to collect the clam juices. Add all but the last tablespoon or two of the clam cooking liquor (which might be gritty) to the porcini sauce, return to the heat and simmer rapidly until it has reduced by half to a well-flavoured sauce. Drain the pasta and return to the pan with the cooked clams, the porcini sauce and parsley and toss together well. Serve immediately. www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
SERVES 8-10 500 g tubular pasta, such as rigatoni, tubetti or tortiglioni 2 eggs, lightly beaten 50 g finely grated Greek kefalotiri cheese or parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons melted butter 10 g fresh white breadcrumbs For the white sauce 115 g butter 115 g plain flour 1.2 litres full-cream milk, plus a little extra 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg For the meat sauce 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 celery sticks, finely chopped 1kg lean minced beef 200 ml red wine 400-g can chopped tomatoes 2 tablespoons tomato purée 10-cm piece cinnamon stick 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1 tablespoon dried oregano, Greek if possible 2 tablespoons fresh copped oregano 3 fresh bay leaves Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Pastitsio: Beef and Macaroni Pie with Cinnamon, Red Wine and Kefalotiri Cheese warm over a low heat, stirring now and then and adding more milk if it begins to get a little thick. Use the melted butter to grease a large, shallow ovenproof dish that measures about 23 x 33 cm across and 7cm deep. Spread onethird of the pasta over the base of the dish and cover with half the meat sauce. Add another third of the pasta and then the rest of the meat sauce, then cover with a final layer of pasta. Spoon over the remaining white sauce. Mix the remaining grated cheese with the breadcrumbs and sprinkle them over the top. Bake for 40 minutes until bubbling and golden brown.
F
or the meat sauce, heat the olive oil in a medium-sized pan, add the onion, garlic and celery and fry until just beginning to brown. Add the minced beef and fry over a high heat for 3-4 minutes, breaking up any lumps with the wooden spoon as it browns. Add the red wine, tomatoes, tomato purée, cinnamon stick, ground cloves, dried cloves, dried and fresh oregano, bay leaves, 100ml water, 11/2 teaspoons salt and some black pepper, and simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring now and then, until the sauce has thickened but is still nicely moist. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and bay leaves.
CASA NOVA RESTAURANT
Our goal is simple - to provide exceptional Italian Cuisine, in a relaxed atmosphere with service that is second to none - making your visit a lovely experience and outstanding value for money.
Bring 4.5 litres water to boil in a large saucepan with 8 teaspoons salt. Add the pasta and cook until a al dente - about 13 mins, but take care not to overcook as it will cook a little further in the oven. Drain well, transfer to a large bowl and leave to cool slightly. For the white sauce, melt the butter in a medium-sized non-stick saucepan, add the flour and cook, stirring, over a medium heat, for 1 minute. Gradually beat in the milk, then bring to the boil, stirring, lower the heat and leave to simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with the nutmeg and some salt and pepper to taste. Preheat the over to 1800C/Gas Mark 4. Stir 250ml (about onefifth) of the white sauce into the warm pasta with the beaten eggs and half the grated cheese. Keep the remaining sauce
CHRISTMAS PARTIES PRE CHRISTMAS LUNCH MENU £21.95/DINNER £25.95 CHRISTMAS DAY MENU £80 BOXING DAY LUNCH MENU £37
AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT BOOK NOW!
tel: 01344 843407
10 Station Approach, Virginia Water Surrey GU25 4DW.
WHETHER we are aware of it or not many local services that underpin daily life in the country’s communities keep going thanks to volunteers. Prime Minister David Cameron is conscious of this huge and valuable regular input and it is one of the central props of his Big Society. In fact, volunteers generally are now so vital, and held in such high esteem in many organisations, that they are often encouraged to take vocational training and enhance their c.v. as a stepping stone to permanent work. As we become older, we may not only be reliant on volunteers at different times and for a variety of help, but also may discover that becoming a volunteer ourselves is a simple way to enrich our own lives and make us valuable once more.
“It doesn’t matter whether people have only a couple of hours a week to spare,” she stresses. “They can offer extremely valuable help to the services we deliver.” Kate adds that the “other side of the coin” is that the organisation recognises the benefits to individuals of volunteering. “There is a feelgood factor, people get out and about, are part of a largescale network. This can be particularly important during retirement when we are used to having this network provided, and need to start again to create a new one,” states Kate.
“We have younger volunteers as Charities large and small both benefit well as older ones but the latter tell from and encourage volunteering. You us that they love the friendship and may well find that your local hospice, companionship that they get when for example, can gratefully use even DIGGING FOR FUN: Volunteer Elizathey meet up with other volunteers. a small amount of your spare time in beth Black gets to work in the ApprenParticularly if your own family network some practical way. tice House garden at the Quarry Bank of people are getting on with their This may be with fundraising, making Mill and Styal estate in Cheshire (Pic: lives, it’s easy to get isolated in your small items to sell, driving, donating NTPL/Andrew Butler) home so it’s very important to get out your time in charity shops or even and meet people” arranging flowers for the wards. Special skills may also be very welcome to organisations One newer area for Age UK which has been proving which have little spare cash and look to donated help to particularly effective concerns digital champions – older improve their services and aid patients in practical ways. people willing to share their skills with others who may And schools regularly welcome in volunteers to help not be online but would like to learn. “Even if people have youngsters with reading skills. very basic skills, their willingness to spend some time with a person with none, helping them make a start with One organisation that relies on its valuable volunteers digital skills, is really very useful,” said Kate. and encourages the practice is Age UK – created by the merging of Age Concern and Help the Aged. It has The National Trust has around 62,000 volunteers across around 70,000 volunteers in its central hub and in local the country with half aged over 65. As Mark Crosby, head Age UK centres which act as its partners. of volunteering there, explains: “We just couldn’t function without them. And when you consider that the organisation has 170 centres across the country and more than 500 shops, that “They bring a vast array of skills, talents and enthusiasm involves an awful lot of volunteers! to the organisation and do a variety of different tasks. These days, we find our volunteers are more flexible and Kate Adams, head of engagement and focused than ever.” volunteering at Age UK, explained that they run a wide variety of vital This voluntary work ranges from the traditional guides at services with volunteer help. These historic properties to gardening, conservation, research, include befriending services going education and involvement as trustees. “They run to see older, isolated individuals in gardens as rangers and project manage various things their homes, driving vehicles from as leaders of a team,” adds Mark. “Older volunteers communities to local centres, helping regularly work alongside younger ones. and running its charity shops including “We’re also particularly keen to involve our older sorting, pricing and serving, delivering volunteers in a variety of activities, including getting information to older people and acting closer to nature with country projects which offer health, as trustees to give strategic governance in individual friendship and a sense of value.” areas. 30 www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
Getting involved in volunteering can certainly enrich this part of our lives, perhaps make it golden. Psychotherapist Josephine Cropper believes that retirement offers special volunteering opportunities. “It might be that an area of interest that you didn’t follow when employed you are now able to follow in retirement,” she says.
Certainly, volunteering brings its individual pleasures, as 69 year-old Peter Herriman well knows. He has been volunteering at a National Trust historic property for 15 years. “I’m in three days a week and work as a volunteer room guide, education guide and Victorian costumed guide,” he said.
“Often, people have gained skills in many different areas of life. These skills may either have been hobbies during a busy working life, or a continuation of skills gained from work. These can now be drawn together, not only to enhance the voluntary role but also to maintain selfesteem. We all need to feel valued and appreciated.”
“I love the variety of the job and meeting so many different people. I also get a huge amount of satisfaction from volunteering and would thoroughly recommend it if you’ve got some time to spare.”
“This is still much-needed for our general wellbeing. The benefits of keeping active mentally and physically are just as important at this time of life as any other. The structure voluntary work can bring can keep isolation and depression – sometimes an issue in retirement – at bay.”
• Animal welfare – PDSA, www.pdsa.org.uk tel 0800 854 194 email volunteers@pdsa.org.uk RSPB, www.rspb.org.uk, tel 01767 680551
Everyday First Aid is a great way to learn basic first aid – simplified skills that are easy to remember, ensuring if something does happen… you will know what to do!
Photo © Lloyd Sturdy/BRC
Josephine stresses the importance of how new friendships can also bring new outlooks on life and offer opportunities for new conversations. “Although many of us may have dreamed of winning the lottery and doing nothing for the rest of our lives but sitting in the sun with a cocktail, in fact, work gives structure to our lives.
VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES • Health and social care – Age UK, www.ageuk.org.uk tel 0800 169 8787, The British Red Cross, www.redcross.org.uk tel 020 7201 5164
• Arts and Heritage – The National Trust, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/volunteering tel 01793 817632, email volunteers@ nationaltrust.org.uk , The Voluntary Arts Network, www.voluntaryarts.org tel 02920 395395, email info@voluntaryarts.org •
Environment and conservation – BTCV, www.btcv.org tel 01302 388883, email information@btcv.org.uk, Friends of the Earth, www.foe.co.uk tel 020 7490 1555
What would you do to help?
For morE inFormAtion contAct
redcross.org.uk/everydayfirstaid
To book a course near you call the first aid training team on 01483 749066
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
00mm x H63mm_Landscape_Colour & Mono_Proof 6_Amended AW.indd 1
31
02/09/2011 1
Are you paying too much Council Tax? Would you like to know if you can get help to pay for your rent?
Are you paying too much Rent? Could you be one of 35% of people who are entitled to money off their Council Tax Bill but haven’t claimed it? If you are worried about paying your Council Tax Bill, we can reduce your bill in the following situations: • If you live alone • If you are disabled and your property has been adapted because of this • If you are being cared for somewhere other than your main home • If the property we billed you for is a second home or is empty • There is also a 25% discount if the other residents aged over 18 or over are severely mentally impaired.
32
Housing and Council Tax Benefits For many people the benefits system is a daunting subject full of complicated rules and regulations, long claim forms and even longer lists of documents you might have to provide before your entitlement can be worked out. As a result, every year millions of pounds worth of benefit is unclaimed by people who are entitled to it. According to the Government the retired are among the most likely not to make these claims, particularly those in their own home who may be able to get some help towards their Council Tax. Remember - welfare benefits such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are legal rights - if you meet the rules you are entitled to them just the same as you are entitled to your retirement pension itself and other public services such as help with travel passes and having your dustbins emptied. Many people do not know about these benefits, some others may think they will not be entitled because they have a retirement pension and a few savings. If you are one of these people why not check it out - maybe you will not qualify for anything, but then again maybe you will.
What is Housing Benefit? This is financial help towards paying your rent. A claim can me made by people who are paying rent and have savings of less than £16,000.
What is Council Tax Benefit/ Second Adult Rebate? These are similar to Housing Benefit and can be claimed by most retired people who are responsible for paying Council Tax on the property where they live. Couples make one claim based on their joint income and savings.
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
Second Adult Rebate can be claimed where you may not qualify for benefit based on your own circumstances and you do not live with a partner, but may have someone else living in your home who is on a low income, for example a grown up son or daughter.
•
Mobility Allowance
•
Some other items of income may be fully
Who can claim these benefits?
The first £10,000 of savings is ignored. If you have savings over £16,000 you will not be able to claim benefit unless you are in receipt of guaranteed Pension Credit.
You can claim Housing Benefit if you are a private tenant (that is, you pay rent to a private landlord, housing association, or you live in lodgings) or if you are a council tenant paying rent to the Council. However, you cannot normally claim if you are living with a member of your immediate family and paying them rent. Anyone who has to pay Council Tax can claim Council Tax Benefit.
How are these Benefits calculated? The amount of help you can get depends on: •
Your income and that of any partner
•
Your savings and that of any partner
•
The amount of rent and Council Tax you pay
•
Who else lives in your home
•
Your “needs allowance” (the amount the Government says you need to live on)
Is any income ignored? •
War Disablement /War Widows Pension
•
Attendance Allowance
•
Disability Living Allowance
or partially ignored
What about savings?
Other people in your home? If you have grown up children or other relatives living with you then in most cases the amount of benefit you get will be reduced by a fixed sum, depending on how much income the other people living in your home have. These are called non-dependant deductions.
How can you claim? A claim must be made on the correct form. You can get this form by directly contacting the council that sends to you your Council Tax bill or by downloading one from their website. You can telephone 01737 276497 between the hours of 8:45am to 5:00pm and we will take your name and address and send you a form. Please mention Retired Magazine when you call.
Benefits Departments - working in partnership
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
33
Open your mind to alternative therapies WHEN it comes to treating our ailments these days most people have a more open mind about what can help them and may combine traditional medicine and alternative therapies with great success. Sensible care, as always, needs to be employed in anything health-related and sometimes your GP’s opinion may be needed to check if any particular therapies are not recommended for you or your condition. However, there are plenty of therapy options available across the UK and, reassuringly, governing bodies to ensure standards of practice. There are also millions of satisfied customers of alternative – or complementary – therapies who insist these have been successful in dealing with health problems ranging from asthma and migraine to digestive problems and muscle strains. Even though for many of us in the Western world this is a relatively new approach - and there are certainly sceptics 34
about their effectiveness - there is evidence that many of these alternative therapies have been successfully in use around the world for centuries. Acupuncture, for example, is an ancient Chinese medical procedure involving the insertion and manipulation of needles at more than 1,000 points in the human body. It’s used to relieve pain during surgery or in rheumatic conditions and also to treat conditions varying from anxiety and depression, to arthritis, asthma, eczema, sports’ injuries, migraine and even gastro-intestinal problems. The word “acupuncture” means “needle piercing” and the skin is penetrated by special needles in a painless process which is meant to allow the body to transmit energy or qi (pronounced chee) through pathways or meridians to heal and promote wellbeing. A common alternative therapy for which you don’t necessarily have to have an ailment but which certainly helps combat stress and makes you feel better is Aromatherapy. This is a relaxing treatment using massage techniques together with blended essential oils. Usually, explained beautician and alternative therapist Angela Close, there is a consultation prior www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
THRE A LVTEHL to treatment “to try and build a picture of which oils would be beneficial to the individual – some have antibacterial effects, anti-fungal and anti-viral. With the use of massage, the oils penetrate the skin usually after about 20 minutes and have a very calming effect, soothing the mind, body and spirit.” Aromatherapy can be used for a range of physiological and psychological conditions including anxiety, stress and insomnia, muscular aches and pains, headaches, digestive ailments and menstrual problems. It’s also gentle enough to be used on people of all ages. Added Angela: “Aromatherapy is not a cure for disease; its most potent effect helps relax the mind and body, relieves pain and restores the body’s systems to a state of balance in which healing can best take place.” Some people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease have found relief and help from a holistic method of healing called Bowen Therapy which is a hands-on technique exponents say prompts the body to re-set and heal itself. Marie Hurst is a qualified Bowen therapist, and she explains: “It’s like acupuncture without any needles – it can be very relaxing although it may not suit everyone. However, I’ve treated several people with Parkinson’s over the years and they have become very relaxed because Bowen helps the body release stress at a very deep level. Some have also reported a reduction in their tremors during treatment and a sound night’s sleep afterwards.”
healing flows in a powerful and concentrated form through the hands of the Reiki-giver. The recipient simply lies on a couch or bed and relaxes comfortably. There is no need to remove any clothing, and the practitioner gently places his or her hands in a sequence of positions which cover the whole of the body. Each position is held for several minutes and, in some of them, the hand is held closely to the body rather than actually on it. “It involves your body, mind and soul,” added Angela. “Reiki balances the energy in the body, heals holistically, relieves pain and relaxes and reduces stress, among many other things.” Some businesses now bring exponents of Indian Head Massage into the workplace to help stressed out staff to relax and ultimately perform better. Certainly, it’s a safe, simple yet effective therapy that provides relief from aches and pains and stress – and promotes hair growth! The head, neck and shoulders are important energy centres within the body. “If you’re feeling stressed or angry, tension tends to accumulate in these areas,” stated Angela. “The tension can later show up as a stiff neck and shoulders, eyestrain and even hair-loss.” Indian head massage involves working with a firm and gentle rhythm to help unknot blockages and relieve the uncomfortable build-up of tension. Fans say it also works on an emotional level, calming the spirit, promoting relaxation and banishing stress.
Some alternative therapies seem unconnected to the ailments they may treat. Reflexology, for instance, involves application of pressure to the feet and hands using specific thumb, finger and hand techniques to try to effect physical changes elsewhere in the body. The technique dates back as far as the Egyptians and is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that are said to reflect an image of the body on the hands and feet. The purpose is to create relaxation, reduce pain, improve blood flow and post-operative recovery and aid mental health by interrupting stress signals and re-setting the body’s balance. People with nasal problems or with head pains have found relief in an unusual therapy called Hopi Ear Candling. At the very least, this is a relaxing treatment which promotes a feeling of wellbeing. You lie on your side on a heated bed in a peaceful environment, and the hollow candle is placed in the ear with the other end lit. “Certainly, some of my clients have found it very soothing and pain-relieving,” said Angela Close, who has been using the therapy for more than 20 years. Another ancient healing method is Reiki, a Japanese word meaning Universal Life Energy which relates to a system of natural healing. Its ideology is that natural
Angela Close - Bea utician and Alternative Therap ist
For more information, go to the Complementary Therapists Association at www.ctha.com or the Association of Natural Medicine at 35 www.associationnaturalmedicine.co.uk
Why choose Dentures from a Clinical Dental Technician? What is a Clinical Dental Technician? A Clinical Dental Technician or CDT is a registered Dental Care Professional who is trained and qualified to offer a range of Denture Services – services that were previously only available through your Dentist.
As well as replacing any missing teeth, Partial Dentures also look after the future health of your mouth by preventing your remaining teeth from rotating, tilting and moving into positions that prove unsightly and awkward for eating and talking.
What qualifies a CDT to work on my Dentures?
Depending upon your individual needs and preferences, your CDT may recommend Chrome Cobalt dentures.
With many years experience working as Dental Technicians, CDTs have the advanced technical and clinical skills needed to carefully design and hand-craft every denture to the individual requirements of the patient. Every Clinical credentials: l l l l
Dental
Technician
has
following
Graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons Holds a Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology Is registered with the General Dental Council as a Dental Technician and CDT Has appropriate insurance to work with patients
Never seek Denture advice or treatment from someone who is not trained or qualified to practice as a Clinical Dental Technician or Dentist in the UK.
Complete Dentures If you are experiencing the total loss of all your natural teeth, a Clinical Dental Technician can help you. As well as taking its toll on daily activities like eating, talking and even laughing, total tooth loss can impact heavily on self-esteem and quality of life. A CDT will create and fit the Complete Denture that replaces your missing teeth and adjacent tissue in your lower and upper jaws. A CDT can help you find the Complete Dentures that will: l Help you to form sounds and bring new clarity to your speech l Feel more secure about eating the food you want l Countering sagging facial muscles and sunken features that can make you appear older (especially around your mouth, lips and cheeks)
Partial Dentures If one or several of your teeth are lost or missing, a CDT can help you restore your smile with a Partial Denture. By replacing your individual missing teeth, Partial Dentures can give you back the look and function of a full set of healthy, natural teeth.
36
Following your initial consultation, a Clinical Dental Technician will assess your mouth and develop a personal treatment plan. Working with a Dentist, they will identify any possible problems. In this way, your Denture will be designed correctly and for the longterm, and ensure that you receive the highest standards of care and the right treatment for you and your teeth.
Denture Relines If your dentures tilt, wobble or rub, a Clinical Dental Technician can reline your denture, making the small alterations that make a big difference to the way they fit and feel. Please be aware that a Denture Reline will normally require that you leave your dentures with your Clinical Dental Technician so be prepared to be without them for a short period of time.
Denture Repairs If your Denture fractures or breaks, the CDT can mend your dentures as follows, making them wearable once more. Repairing cracks or multiple fractures Repairing chipped false teeth l Repairing your Denture base l l
Over time, the shape of your mouth can change as part of the natural ageing process, as a result of the under use and lack of stimulus for your jawbone. If your Dentures break while you are wearing them, it is probably for one of the following reasons: l l
Poor fit as a result of bone resorbtion (shrinkage) Excessive force possibly due to tooth grinding
If you would like your new dentures to replicate all the favourable aspects of your existing Dentures, then a Clinical Dental Technician can help you. From copying exact tooth position and shape, to improving the way they fit with your mouth and gums – your Copy Dentures will be just like the Dentures you have now, only better.
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
Get your dentures direct from a qualified clinical dental technician AD Laboratories is an established, homely prosthetics clinic, based in Woking, Surrey. Roland Jones has, after already 20 years working as a dental technician graduated from the George Brown College in Canada and the UK’s Royal College of Surgeons and has become a Clinical Dental Technician. At AD Laboratories we take referrals from local dentists as well as working direct with the public. By coming to AD Laboratories direct the patient is often able to get their dentures much faster and we are often able to help out in emergency denture requirements. At AD Laboratories we listen to our customers and together create the denture that would best suit you. All our staff are dedicated to make you really feel at home! You only have to read our visitor’s book to see how grateful our customers have been so far; achieving results that people did not think where possible. We often get told how nice it is to receive the old fashioned service...
Get your dentures direct from a qualified clinical dental technician Our Clinical Dental Technicians can now work DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC making: l
Full Complete Dentures Relines Copy Dentures Denture Repairs
... to book for a FREE consultation, please call us on 01483 722994 l l l
FRIENDLY, EXPERIENCED AND PERSONAL SERVICE At AD Laboratories we have the advantage of being able to offer Get your dentures direct from a flexible appointment times to suit the individual. We often get of toldWoking how nice it istown to receive the old fashioned qualified clinicalon dental technician We are located the outskirts centre on the service ... why not book yourself in for a FREE CONSULTATION? Guildford Roadcan (atnow the pedestrian crossing between OurA320 Clinical/ Dental Technicians work simply call: DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC making: Hillview Road and York Road) l l l l
Guildford Road, Woking, WOKING Full Complete Dentures Surrey GU22 7QU. Relines Copy Dentures Denture Repairs We are located on the outskirts of Woking town centre and provide AMPLE CAR PARKING
01483 722994
Coping with the
Winter Months Cold or Flu?
Colds and flu share some of the same symptoms (sneezing, coughing, sore throat), but are caused by different viruses. Flu can be much more serious than a cold. If you’re generally fit and healthy, you can usually manage the symptoms of a cold or flu yourself without seeing a doctor. Look after yourself by resting, drinking non-alcoholic fluids to avoid dehydration and avoiding strenuous activity. Painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol can relieve aches and pains. Some people need to take extra care as they’re more at risk of serious chest complications, such as pneumonia and bronchitis. People over 65 are more at risk of complications. People under 65, including children, are more at risk of complications if they have serious heart or chest complaints, including asthma, serious kidney disease or liver disease, diabetes, lowered immunity due to disease or treatment or have had a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
Flu Flu usually comes on much more quickly than a cold, and symptoms include sudden fever of 38-40°C (100104°F), muscle aches and pains, sweating, feeling exhausted and needing to lie down, dry & chesty cough and sneezing.
Symptoms
Flu symptoms appear one to three days after infection and most people recover within a week, although you may feel tired for longer. A severe cold can also cause muscle aches and fever, so it can be hard to tell the difference.
There are around 200 viruses that cause colds and three that cause flu. There are many strains of these flu viruses, and the vaccine changes every year to protect against the most common ones.
Whether it’s a cold or flu, get medical help if you have a chronic condition (such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease), or if you have a very high fever as well as an unusually severe headache or abdominal or chest pain.
Colds
Stop the viruses spreading
Everyone in an at-risk group is eligible for a free flu vaccination. This is the best protection against the virus.
Symptoms of a cold include a runny nose, beginning with clear mucus that develops into thicker, green mucus as the cold progresses, blocked nose, sore throat, sneezing and a cough. People with a cold may also suffer with a mild fever, earache, tiredness and headache. Symptoms develop over one or two days and gradually get better after a few days. Some colds can last for up to two weeks. Help prevent colds and flu from spreading by sneezing or coughing into a tissue, throwing the tissue away, washing your hands and getting the flu jab if you’re eligible. According to the Common Cold Centre in Cardiff, a cold is most contagious during the early stages when the person has a runny nose and sore throat.
Information provided courtesy of
Cold and flu viruses are spread by droplets that are sneezed or coughed out by an infected person. Other people can breathe in these droplets or transfer the droplets to their eyes or nose on their fingers. Again protect yourself and others against colds and flu by coughing or sneezing into a tissue, throwing a used tissue away as soon as possible, washing your hands as soon as possible and having a flu jab every year if you’re in an at-risk group.
Please visit www.nhs.uk for further details.
Five Ways To Stay Healthy This Winter It may be cold outside but winter needn't be the unhealthiest time of year for you and your family. Here are five ways to make sure that even when your body is telling you to hibernate you can keep healthy and fit, no matter what the weather's like:
Eliminate your sleep debt
"On average we sleep six-and-a-half hours a night, much less than the seven to nine hours recommended," says Jessica Alexander, spokesperson at the Sleep Council, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of a good night's sleep to health and wellbeing. But in winter, we naturally sleep more, due to the longer nights. "It’s perfectly natural to adopt hibernating habits when the weather turns cold," says Jessica. "Use the time to catch up."
Drink more milk
You are 80% more likely to get a cold in winter so making sure your immune system is in tip-top condition is important. Milk and dairy products such as cheese, yoghurt and fromage frais are great sources of protein and vitamins A and B12. They're also an important source of calcium, which helps keep our bones strong. Try to go for semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, rather than full fat, and low-fat yoghurts.
Eat more fruit and vegetables
When it’s cold and dark outside it can be tempting to fill up on unhealthy comfort food, but it’s important to ensure that you still keep your diet healthy and include five portions of fruit and veg a day. If you find yourself craving a sugary treat, try a juicy clementine or satsuma instead, or sweet dried fruits such as dates or raisins. Winter vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, swede and turnips can be roasted, mashed or made into soup for a comforting winter meal for the whole family.
Try new activities for the whole family
Don’t use the cold winter months as an excuse to stay in and lounge around. Instead, get out with the whole family to try out a new activity, maybe ice-skating or taking a bracing winter walk on the beach. Regular exercise helps to control your weight, boost your immune system and is a good way to break the tension that can build if the family is constantly cooped up inside the house.
Have a hearty breakfast
Winter is the perfect season for porridge. Eating a warm bowlful on a cold morning isn’t just a delicious way to start your day, it also helps you to boost your intake of starchy foods and fibre, which give you energy and help you to feel fuller for longer, stopping the temptation to snack mid-morning. Oats also contain lots of vital vitamins and minerals. www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
Asthma In The Cold Cold weather can have a serious impact on the 5.4 million people with asthma in the UK. According to Asthma UK, three quarters of people with asthma say that cold air is a trigger for their symptoms and 90% reckon that having a cold or flu makes their asthma considerably worse. Cher Piddock, a nurse for Asthma UK says: “Hospital admissions for asthma traditionally peak during periods of particularly cold weather. This can be due to breathing cold air into the lungs which can in turn trigger asthma, as well as picking up colds and flu. “People whose asthma is well-controlled are more likely to be able to withstand the risks of winter months and you can help keep your asthma under control by making sure you have a regular asthma review with your doctor or asthma nurse and that you have a personal asthma action plan.”
Five tips for preventing cold weather asthma symptoms... Asthma UK has this advice on how to control your asthma symptoms during the cold weather: 1. Keep taking your regular preventer medicines as prescribed by your doctor. 2. If you know that cold air triggers your asthma, take one or two puffs of your reliever inhaler before going outside. 3. Keep your blue reliever inhaler with you at all times. 4. Wrap up well and wear a scarf over your nose and mouth – this will help to warm up the air before you breathe it in. 5. Take extra care when exercising in cold weather. Warm up for 10–15 minutes and take one or two puffs of your reliever inhaler before you start.
Asthma attacks With the onset of very cold weather, it’s a good idea to make sure you and your friends and family know what to do if you have an asthma attack. The key signs are - coughing more than usual, getting short of breath, wheezing, feeling a tightness in your chest and having difficulty speaking in full sentences. You can find more information by visiting www.nhs.uk/ livewell or calling Asthma UK on 0800 121 6244.
39
“Soni is Proud to Introduce Affordable Soni istoProud Missing Teeth Solutions the UK”to I
“ Affordable Missin
social recluses. The things that they may have taken for granted before losing their teeth, for example, kissing, eating, smiling and laughing, suddenly become obstacles because they are conscious of opening their mouth. What many people don't realise is that losing teeth affects the shape of their face. Cheeks become sunken and the lips lose their fullness. Once we have placed dental implants, the face is restored to its original shape. The joy on the face of your patient when they see themselves in the mirror is a sight to behold.
for a diploma in dental implantology at the Royal College of Surgeons. In the last 14 years alone I have placed over 3000 dental implants.
“ Affordable Missing Teeth 1450 Book Your F Solutions to the UK ” ance) Implant Consul
s Soni is Proud toSolutions Introduce to the U UK
(with Crown)
Up to 3 FAQs Years Dental Implant
Q: How permanent are dental implants?
They need looking after in exactly the same way as your own teeth. They can last as long as 30 years but at least 15 years. It depends on the skill and experience of the dentist.
Q: Who benefits from dental implants?
I treat people in their 40s right through to their 80s. People who don't want to wear dentures because they feel that they are missing out on fully enjoying the taste and texture of food. I also treat many people of all ages who have had a sporting accident or suffered another trauma resulting in the loss of teeth.
Q: How long does it take to place an implant?
Because I have been placing implants for 15 years, I can place them on the same day. People expect quick results and thankfully that is often possible. However, there are also cases where several treatments will be necessary. Dental implants enable y I always discuss this with a patient teeth replaced with perm before embarking on any treatment.
lim i pe About Dent rioted d
Soni1Your At Soni You Always Book Free Come First. Implant Consultation E We Thrive on Great Did You Know that Dental Implants are Proven to Make You look Years Younger?
Offer Code:
Bid Those Gaps Farewell
Today, losing a tooth or indeed several doesn't mean that you have to either live with the gap or wear dentures. Advancements within the field of dentistry are giving patients more choice. Dental implants offer a safe, permanent and aesthetically pleasing alternative to simply putting up with second best when it comes to one of your very best assets, your smile. In this interview, leading dental implantologist Mukesh Soni explains more.
R t SoniO You Always M ome First. e Thrive onG Great N I S ervice and Making S ental Implants to All. Evailable ETH e Pride Ourselves n our Personalised, EtoROne ne ! Service.
Q: What are dental implants? Dental implants enable you to have one or more of your missing teeth replaced with permanent teeth that both look and feel like your own teeth. They are attached to small titanium screws that when placed in the jaw, act as anchors. With dental implants it's possible to replace every single one of your teeth or just one. That's generally good news for people who have suffered a physical trauma where their teeth have borne the brunt of their injuries. It's not a painful process because 90% of our patients are sedated whilst we are placing their implants.
oni’s Unique Approach ach as Helped 1000’s of eople to Overcome heir Fears to Begin heir Q: Journey s affect How does Towards missing teeth le. le Newpeople? Confident mplant Info> Smile.
950 464 276
What I have found is that when people have dentures or when they lose some of their teeth, they can become
ted r Soni is an Accredited ants.co.uk DI Mentor for
40 y Offers
ental Implants.
Association of Dental Implantology
Q: How qualified must you be to place dental implants?
l At
your own teeth. They are
Soni you always firstin the jaw, a whencome placed
Legally, any dentist can place implants or restore teeth. However the General l We thrive on GREAT SERVICE and every possible to replace Dentistry Council and the Royal College making Dental g Implants yavailable to for p g generally good news of Surgeons frowns upon the weekend all. trauma where their teeth Dental implantscourses enable you have one or more of your missing and one-day thatto currently l Welook pride ourselves our not process bec teeth replaced with permanent teeth that both and feel like aonpainful enable any dentist to start placing Personalised One to One Service. your own teeth. They are attached to small titanium screws that we are placing their impl implants. As for me, I am grateful to l dental Soni’s implants Unique Approach has helped when placed in the jaw, anchors. it’s have been mentored by act the as UK's leadingWith 1000’s of people overcome their possible to replace every single one of your teeth or just one. That’s implant luminary, Ashok Sethi and the fears to begin their journey towards g y g p p generally good news for people who have suffered a physical grandfather of implant technology, Dr a new confident smile. trauma where their teeth have borne the brunt of their injuries. It’s Hill Tatum. Because dental implants is not painful o our patients 90% of areissedated whilst ADI Mentor the aarea thatprocess I focus because on, I have studied l Dr Soni an Accredited we are placing their implants. for Dental Implants.
Service and Making About Dental Implants Dental Implants Available to All.
We Pride Ourselves on our Personalised, One to One Service.
Michele Sheikh (PA & Implant Coordinator) Miche
Michele (PA & Implant "Hello.Sheikh Many M people comeCoordinator) to Soni who “Hello. Many people Soni who are very are very embarrassedcome about to their smile. embarrassed We can really r about helptheir you.smile. PleaseWe docan not really help you. Please do not hesitate to talk to me”,Michele. Regards Michele. to talk to me”, Regards, hestitate Michelehas hasworked worked with Soniforforover 22 years. In Michele with DRDr Soni 2004 finalist for thewas ‘Practice Manager of overMichele 22 years. y was In a2004 Michele a the Year Award’ presented by the British Dental Practice finalist fo for the ‘Practice Manager of the Managers Association. Michele has attended many Year Awa Award’ presented by the British courses over the years.
Soni’s Unique Approach ach Has Helped 1000’s of People to Overcome Their Fears to Begin Their Journey Towards s Association. Dental P Practice Managers Michele has attended many courses le. le a New Confident Smile. over the years.
Dr Mukesh Soni BDS Manc Drover Mukesh Muk Soniimplants.” BDS Manc “Dr Mukesh Soni has place 3,000 dental Mukesh Muke options Soni has placed Soni is well versed in all“Dr treatment from simple single tooth cases to advanced bone 3,000cases dentalneeding implants” . over 3,00 grafting. Dr Soni is an Expert on dentalimplant. Soni isAdvisor well w versed in all treatment co.uk options ffrom simple single tooth cases
ted Dr Soni is an Accredited ADI Mentor for Dental Implants.
to advanced advan cases needing bone ADI: Association of Dental Implantology
grafting. Dr Soni is an Expert Advisor on denta dentalimplant.co.uk
n)
rs
ni1
6
k
”
lim pe ite rio d d
Book Your Free Implant Consultation SONI TEMPdf.pdf
1
15/11/2011
At Soni You Always Come First. We Thrive on Great Service and Making Dental Implants Available to All.
11:50
About Dental Implants
Dental implants enable you to have one or more of your missing teeth replaced with permanent teeth that both look and feel like your own teeth. They are attached to small titanium screws that when placed in the jaw, act as anchors. With dental implants it’s possible to replace every single one of your teeth or just one. That’s g p p who have suffered a physical generallyy g good news for people trauma where their teeth have borne the brunt of their injuries. It’s not a painful process because 90% of o our patients are sedated whilst we are placing their implants.
Michele Miche Dental Implants s Sheikh De nta lImplants Dental Impla nts Implants
(PA & Implant Coordinator)
We Pride Ourselves "Hello. Many M people come to Soni who SONI Part of Dental Implant Referral Centres UK SONI Part of Dental Implant Referral Centres UK are very embarrassed about their smile. on our Personalised, We can really r help you. Please do not hestitate to talk to me”, Regards, Michele. One to One Service.
Dental Implant From £1450 See Website for Special Offers
Michele has worked with Dr Soni for over 22 years. y In 2004 Michele was a finalist fo for the ‘Practice Manager of the Year Awa Award’ presented by the British Dental P Practice Managers Association. Up tocourses 3 Years Michele has attended many over the years.
(with Crown) Soni’s Unique Approach ach *Additional Supporting Treatments May be Required Subject to the Difficulty of the Case. Has Helped 1000’s of Or Just £50 Per Month (0% Finance) People to Overcome Their Fears to Begin Their Journey Towardss Dr Mukesh Muk Code: Soni BDS MancSoni1 Quote Offer Code: Quote Offer Soni1 AA “Dr Mukesh Muke Soni has placed le. le a New Confident Smile. CC 3,000 dental implants”. over 3,00
ted Dr Soni is an Accredited ADI Mentor for Dental Implants. ADI: Association of Dental Implantology
E E R O M NO IN G G N I S M MIISS TTE EET ETHH EVEERR! !
Soni is well w versed in all treatment options ffrom simple single tooth cases to advanced advan cases needing bone grafting. Dr Soni is an Expert Advisor on denta dentalimplant.co.uk
Call0800 0800328 3281933 1933oror07950 07950464 464 276 Call 276 See Our New All Dental DentalImplant ImplantInfo Info>> See Our New Website Website For For All
www.sonidentalimplants.co.uk www.sonidentalimplants.co.uk Register Onlinefor forExclusive Exclusive Email-Only Offers Register Online Email-Only Offers
W W SS DD AA
W W oo OO
SS HH PP TT TT a
DD AA DD AD
A
LIFETIME PLANNING – WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE A WILL Any major transaction such as buying or selling a house usually involves considerable thought about our general financial situation e.g. what funds we have, how much we can afford to borrow/pay, etc. However, we tend not to think too much about what happens if we die so we put off making a Will but it should be part of the lifetime planning process because it is about protecting loved ones. If you do not have a Will the law determines who gets your money, property and all your personal effects. You would have no say over what happens when you die and this can cause difficulties for those you care about most. This is particularly important if you own property, are married or have entered into a civil partnership, are getting divorced, have a long-term partner, children or other dependants, or if you wish to benefit someone who is not a close family member. Having a correctly written and legally valid Will ensures your estate is distributed as you wish. It can also help reduce the burden of Inheritance Tax and provide significant protection for your home from long term care costs.
attorney(s) must follow the key principles set out in the Act. If they don’t always act in your best interests then the OPG can intervene and your attorney(s) may be held accountable. So what happens when you die? It will be the responsibility of the Executor(s) of your Will, or your next of kin if there is no Will, to apply for probate. Probate is a formal legal process which is usually required where you leave assets over £5000 and is necessary before those assets can be accessed and distributed, except to pay funeral bills and inheritance tax. However, the process of administering an estate can be very complex and confusing which is why many people appoint a Solicitor to handle this on their behalf. A Solicitor will obtain a grant of representation, deal with tax affairs, distribution of the estate, advise on the preparation of estate accounts, tax mitigation and on deeds of variation.
If you have a Will you should ensure it is up to date as both the law and your circumstances will change. You can only make a Will while you have the ability to understand what is involved but are you aware of the need to consider what might happen if you are no longer able to manage your affairs due to, for example, dementia? The Mental Capacity Act 2005 protects people who may not be able to make some decisions for themselves and provides a legal basis for how other people (attorney(s)) can make decisions on their behalf. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document where you give your attorney(s) authority to make certain decisions on your behalf when you may lack the capacity to make those decisions yourself. There are two types of LPA: (1) Property and finance: this allows your attorney(s) authority to deal with your property and finances, as you specify, including paying your bills, collecting income or benefits, buying and selling your property. (2) Health and Welfare: this deals with decisions on where you live, your treatment, care, medication, etc. This could also extend, if you wish, to giving or refusing consent to the continuation of life sustaining treatment. An LPA is, therefore, an effective way of maintaining control over decisions made for you because it has to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) before it can be used and your 42
How we can Help you Family law / resiDential property / wills & proBate private wealtH / powers oF attorney anD lonG-term care Dispute resolution / employment / notarial services
Dorking: 01306 880110 • Godalming: 01483 861848 • enquiries@downslaw.co.uk • www.downslaw.co.uk Dorking: 01306 880110 l Godalming: 01483 861848 l enquiries@downslaw.co.uk l www.downslaw.co.uk
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
SPECIALIST LEGAL ADVICE FOR THE CARE HOME SECTOR Our team of specialist care home lawyers and support staff are experienced in assisting and advising those in the care home sector in all legal matters relevant to the purchase, operation and sale of care homes. We recognise that no two clients' requirements are the same and offer a personal service specifically tailored to each individual client. We offer full commercial support through the business cycle of your care home, whether it relates to acquisition or disposal, financing and development of new-build projects, dealing with staffing issues or the regulatory minefield. Our service goes one step further - helping you with the on-going care and welfare of your residents. Our private client lawyers are highly respected for their work in this area and have strong links with the various service providers who work with the elderly to ensure that you and your residents have access to the best possible advice and support. Whatever your needs, with our care home team you will always receive a sympathetic, patient and caring approach to guide you through any difficult and challenging issues that may arise. Our Services Include: l Employment l Corporate, Commercial & Finance l Regulation l Property & Planning l Client Matters Dorking: 01306 880110
l
Godalming: 01483 861848
Solicitors & Notaries l
enquiries@downslaw.co.uk
l
www.downslaw.co.uk
Woking Homes Residential Care with a Railway Heritage Started as a Children’s Home (for fatherless children) in 1885 in Clapham, London. It was founded by the Canon Allen Edwards who was the Railway Chaplain and Vicar of All Saint’s Church Lambeth. In 1907 a plot of land was purchased in the country and the building was completed for the children to move into in 1909. At that time it was known as the London and South Western Servants Orphanage. We have changed our name several times and finally became “Woking Homes” in 1982. As time went on needs changed and children were being admitted from broken homes. However it always remained a Railway Charity.
All our rooms have ensuite facilities, a conservatory was added to our bar area in 1999, a swimming pool was built in 2000 providing hydrotheraphy for our residents, and we have continued to keep the buildings and grounds maintained to a very high standard.
In 1947 the Board of Management opened a home across the road caring for retired railway employees and their spouses. From that date until 1990 (when the children’s home closed) we continued caring for children and older people.
However, with all of these changes we have not lost sight of our roots and still remain a charity caring primarily for people with railway and other transport backgrounds. The residents' accommodation charges are subsidised from our investment income, which unfortunately has been effected by the drop in the stock market, but our high standards of care, catering and accommodation remain the same.
A major development took place from 1987 when the old Children’s Home was demolished and a new home for the elderly was built, and an existing building was totally refurbished. Since that time we have continued to maintain and improve the standards.
At the beginning of August 2009 a redevelopment project commenced. Two wings of Grace Groom were demolished and rebuilt. The rooms are larger than average, once again with ensuite facilities and plenty of light. The garden areas have been re-landscaped with accessibility for wheelchairs and plenty of seated areas.
Our staff are trained to the highest standards of care and we received an "Excellent" from the Care Quality Commission.
Watch this space for our next venture .... or send for our brochure
44
www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
Where the warmth of our welcome is matched only by the highest standards of care • Caring, professional staff • Excellent menu choices • Superb accommodation • All rooms en-suite • Indoor swimming pool, sauna and spa • Residents’ bar • Full programme of activities • Frequent outings We are a railway charity providing residential and respite care for former railway employees and their spouses.
You can find out more about our happy caring community and wonderful facilities on our website www.woking-homes.co.uk For a brochure or to arrange a visit please telephone: 01483 763558 Or write to: Woking Homes, Oriental Road, Woking, Surrey, GU22 7BE. Email: administration@woking-homes.co.uk
wPrivacy
Community w Independence w Choice w Fulfillment www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
wDignity
w
45
OUT T R& A ABOUT V E L Tickets from £15 (unreserved seating) £20 (Limited reserved seating). To book your tickets contact events@pah.org.uk or 01372 461869.
Victorian Christmas at RHS Garden Wisley Victorian entertainment on the terrace. 8 December 2011 @ 15:00
Enjoy carol singers, fire-juggling and other entertainers, festive food and drink stalls and spot Father Christmas. The Shop and Plant Centre will also be open for late-night shopping. From 8 - 10 December until 8pm www.rhs.org.uk/wisley
Candlelight Christmas 10 December 2011 Holy Trinity Church, Claygate, KT10 0JP. Event Organiser 01372 461869 7.30pm start Feast of music, carols, mince pies and wine Candlelight Christmas. Our annual Christmas carol concert with a feast of music, carols, mince pies and wine returns to the beautiful Holy Trinity Church, Claygate. We are joined by London’s leading chamber choir Pegasus and guests will enjoy musical entertainment from talented guitarist Tom Ellis and readings from celebrity guest and long term Hospice supporter and Patron Michael Aspel O.B.E.
Tell Us Once
Camberley Christmas Carol Concert 15 December 2011 Park Street, Camberley, GU15 3NU. 19:00 - 21:00. Don’t miss this festive treat! Starring the renowned Charles Church Band and the Surrey Heath Choral Society.
Healthy Cycle Ride- Arbrook Common and Thames Ditton 19 December 2011 Arbrook Common Car Park Arbrook Lane Claygate, KT10 9EJ Tel: 01372 474574 10:30 to 12:30 Rating: Moderate / Flat Healthy Cycle Ride - Arbrook Common and Thames Ditton 2 hills - Pace to suit Similar to Healthy Walks bikes rides are held monthly and participants are led on a pre-planned route by leaders. Everyone can go at their own pace, focusing on getting fit whilst cycling through the countryside. The rides are aimed at people who want to improve their fitness through cycling but would like company whilst doing it, or maybe they need to regain their confidence on a bike. So what are you waiting for, here is a golden opportunity to get faster, fitter and greener with the Elmbridge Healthy Cycle Rides. There is a bike available for loan, please phone 01372 474574 to book. Also please phone the same number if the weather is doubtful
because your time matters
Tell Us Once makes it simpler for you to tell central and local government about a death.
Sleeping Beauty Fri 6th & Fri 13th 7:30pm Sat 7th & Sat 14th January 2:30pm & 6:30pm Sun 8th 1:30pm & 4:30pm Box office: 01428 642 161
Visit www.surreycc.gov.uk/registeringadeath or phone 0300 200 1002.
The Haslemere Hall, Bridge Road, Haslemere Surrey GU27 2AS email:boxoffice@haslemerehall.com
The Tell Us Once service is a partnership project between Surrey County Council, Surrey’s District and Borough Councils and departments across government.
www.surreycc.gov.uk Making Surrey a better place
46
tell us once advert.indd 1
02/06/2011 17:19
Yes, it’s that time of year again – Oh no it isn’t! Oh yes it most certainly is! when once again the Haslemere Thespians invite you to join them for their traditional family pantomime. January 2012 will be the turn of Sleeping Beauty – a fairytale story with a Prince and Princess; where good fights evil and prevails; and spreading happiness over the land. All the glitz, glamour and spectacle which have come to be expected from Haslemere’s greatest pantomime will be present, not forgetting fun, jokes and audience participation. www.retiredmagazines.co.uk
Live life your way
Online The Surrey Information Point (www. surreyinformationpoint.org.uk) is a free directory packed with information on services, activities, and organisations to support you, tips on benefit entitlement, help at home, health conditions and much more.
Telephone By dialling 0300 200 1005, callers can speak to an advisor who can help them find the information they need or provide contacts of people or organisations who can help. Michael* contacted Adult Social
live life r u o y way
Care in June 2010 after picking up a leaflet in his local GP surgery. He needed advice and support to help him care for his frail 98 year-old mother. “The call I made to the helpline literally transformed mine and my mother’s life,” said Michael*. “Ever since they became involved everything has been so much easier for us. “They provided us with occupational therapy equipment, which gave my mother greater mobility and helped her spend less time in her bed. I was also able to use vouchers I’d been
given to pay for someone to care for my mother whilst I went to the supermarket. This lifted an enormous weight from my mind; that mum was cared for and safe.”
In Person Run by disabled people for disabled people and carers, the Hubs in Epsom and Redhill high streets are a great source of information, advocacy and advice. Recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease Lisa* was feeling distressed and lonely. She didn’t know what type of help or support she was entitled to, then one of her friends told her about the Epsom Hub. “I didn’t know what to expect, but when I got there everyone was so helpful,” said Lisa* “I knew I was entitled to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) but didn’t know how to apply for it. The volunteers at the Hub were amazing. They helped me fill in the DLA form and put me in touch with other agencies, including the Adult Social Care Team.”
Make sure you know how you can find the help you need, when you need it and make the right choices for you or your family. For more information about the Live Life Your Way campaign visit www.surreycc.gov.uk/livelifeyourway
helping you make the right choices
www.surreycc.gov.uk Making Surrey a better place
*Names changed to protect contributors identities.
I
f you found yourself, or a relative or friend, needing some advice and support at home or to help you get around, would you know where to go for help? If the answer’s no, you’re not alone. A survey commissioned by Surrey County Council in January 2011, found that 72% of people asked were not aware that free information and advice on care related issues is available through the council and partner organisations*(Conducted by ICM on a sample of 1001 adults aged 18+). Live Life Your Way is a campaign to raise awareness and advise residents of the different ways they can access reliable care, community and health information.
Surrey’s premier centre for sport, health and fitness
There’s something for everyone Gym, swimming, group fitness and aqua classes, Back to Basics Aerobics, badminton, tennis, pilates, yoga and more. Concession (Aged 60+) and attractive off-peak memberships available. Claim your free 5 day off-peak guest pass inside or contact us: T: 01483 689112 E: memberships@surreysportspark.co.uk surreysportspark.co.uk * Off-peak hours 08.00-16.00 Monday-Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Terms and Conditions apply. See surreysportspark.co.uk for more details.