TIPSS Content Catalogue February 2014 by Tania Houston

Content Catalogue February 2014

Content Articles Special 1: 16 February 1923 - Howard Carter enters the tomb of.... Special 2: What Is Love, Anyway The Better Life: Cutting It Fine Beauty: Professional Beauty Secrets: Revealed The Life List: Car Classics Cake & Bake: Bakewell Tart Book Reviews: True (But Unlikely) Romance Finance: All Change Gardening Feature: A Pet Project Health: Vanish Those Winter Blues History: What Happened in...February 1972? Home & Interiors: Be Your Own Interior Designer Trivia: Around Britain - 5 British Islands Life Begins: Are You REALLY Ready For Romance? Motoring Feature: First Drive: Kia Ray EV Recipe: Sausages and Puy Lentils Short Story: The Secret Admirer Tech Review: Love Food, Love Gadgets Travel Feature: South Africa - The Garden Route

Puzzles

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Cartoon 1 23 Cartoon 2 23 Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Page 24 Cryptic Crossword 25 Codeword 26 General Knowledge Crossword 26 Mini Cryptic Crossword 27 Sudoku - Easy & Hard 27 Super Duper Science Facts 28 Hidato 28 Pictogram 28 Quiz 1: Say It With Flowers 29 Quiz 2: Fictional Movie Settings 29 Simple Crossword 30 Spot the Difference 30 Two Minute Trial 31 Word Ladder 31 Wordsearch: Dog 31

Articles Special 1

16 February 1923 Howard Carter enters the tomb of King Tutankhamun

What a gem of an anniversary this is - curses from beyond the grave, ancient magic, strange deaths, Boris Karloff staggering around wrapped in bandages... it has the lot. The true story of the discovery of the tomb of King Tutankhamun, Pharoah of Egypt in the 1330s BC, does actually have some vaguely mysterious deaths, but there’s no curse, no magic, no Boris Karloff and sadly not even a pyramid. By the time King Tut came along, the Egyptians hadn’t built a pyramid for nigh on 1,000 years, which is why his tomb – built underground, covered with silt by floods, and with a village on top – was so hard to find and so wellpreserved. Howard Carter, the man who found it, was an artist by trade whose speciality was carefully and methodically recording and copying tomb art and inscriptions. When he swapped paintbrush for spade in 1907 and went to work for the fabulously wealthy Egyptophile

Lord Carnarvon (whose house you will know as Downton Abbey) he took those virtues with him. Unlike Heinrich Schliemann, who vandalised centuries of history when uncovering what he thought was Troy in the 1870s (he even used dynamite), Carter took his time. He found the steps leading to the tomb on 22 November 1922, and four days later bored a little hole through the door dividing the antechamber from the tomb and peered through. “What can you see?” enquired Lord Carnarvon. “Wonderful things!” Carter famously replied. But he still spent nearly three months patiently excavating the antechamber and recording its contents before finally breaking into the tomb itself. And that, of course, was when it all kicked off. As he entered the tomb, Carnarvon was bitten on the neck by a mosquito. A few days later, he cut the swelling while shaving. It turned septic, and he died on 5 April of a disease, common at the time, called “letting a wound go septic before anyone had invented antibiotics”. But the mummy’s curse had already become a familiar theme in gothic and fantasy literature. The first mummy’s-curse novel came out in 1827 five years after the second, and popular, edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was published. Written by Jane Loudon, The Mummy! was the forerunner of a minor literary sub-genre that

ran throughout the 19th century and created an atmosphere of grisly expectation around the excavations. The official opening of the tomb had been attended by 58 VIP guests and diggers – who would be next to feel the disturbed Pharoah’s wrath? Well, it was an American railway magnate, actually: George Jay Gould I, who died of pneumonia – possibly contracted in Egypt – on the French Riviera in May. He was the second of 11 of the 58 to meet untimely deaths: three were murdered, one by his wife, one by a blackmailer, one (Sir Lee Stack, Governor of the Sudan) in a political assassination; one died in September that year following minor surgery; the radiographer who x-rayed the mummies in the tomb died in January 1924, probably the result of being a 1920s radiographer; one of the archaeologists died of arsenic poisoning in 1928 and another of malaria in 1929; Carter’s secretary, Richard Bethell, was found dead in bed of unknown causes, also in 1929; Bethell’s distraught father killed himself in February 1930. And that’s your lot. Carter himself died in 1939 of cancer at the age of 64. So if there was a curse, it wasn’t a very potent one. But was there a curse? Ancient Egyptian health warnings were fairly common in private tombs of a much earlier period; but among all the tomb’s hieroglyphs so faithfully copied by Carter’s team, there was nary a trace of one. Oh well...

By Ted Bruning

Special 2

What Is Love, Anyway? “Love”. It is one of the most frequently spoken words in the English language but often the word is used to express a general enjoyment as in “I love going to the cinema”. But, if asked to define what the word means, most people would think of romantic love – the one that attracts you to another human being. But what is that love and why do we feel it? In reality what we think of as love has three distinct phases: • Lust, or erotic passion • Attraction, or romantic passion • Attachment, or commitment

Phase 1: Lust This really needs no explanation. It’s the one that starts as we hit puberty and it evolved for the purpose of mating and reproduction. It’s a rush of hormones that occurs less frequently as we age, along with the ability to reproduce. Lust drives us to find a partner and in doing so may develop into phase 2 and 3. It is exciting and addictive. The serial philander may genuinely love their partner, but is so hooked on the high that comes from phase 1 they are unable to give it up. Phase 2: Attraction or romantic passion When ‘love’ moves from lust into passion, we lose our

ability to think rationally and can develop an obsession with the object of our desire. The phrase ‘love is blind’ is true in this phase, and we may be oblivious to our partner’s faults, even if they are obvious to all around. Researchers at University College London found that people in love have lower levels of serotonin. These lower levels are the same as those found in people with obsessivecompulsive disorders, possibly explaining why those in love can think of little else than their partner. Couples in this stage spend many hours together – they really can’t get enough of each other. If this attraction remains strong and is mutual, then they usually enter the third stage: attachment.

Phase 3: Attachment This is the commitment phase, the one that creates a relationship which will last. Typically the passion will be fading and although not as exciting as lust and attraction, attachment is a deeper more contented feeling. Studies have shown that the more someone idealises their partner, and turns a blind eye to their faults and less endearing personality traits, the longer the relationship will last. If however the behaviour is unforgiveable such as being

unfaithful, or one person simply cannot learn to live with the other’s ‘little ways’. the foundations of the relationship are undermined. Then every difference is highlighted and the couple may reach the conclusion that they are incompatible where they were perfectly happy in the attraction phase. Of course no relationship will endure unless both parties put in the effort and Valentine’s Day is your opportunity to confirm your lust, attraction or attachment to your other half.

Professor Arthur Aron, of the State University of New York at Stonybrook, has studied what happens when people fall in love and has found that simply staring into each other’s eyes has tremendous impact. Professor Aron conducted an experiment where he put strangers of the opposite sex together for 90 minutes and had them discuss intimate details about themselves. He then had them stare into each other’s eyes for four minutes without talking. The results? Many of the subjects felt a deep attraction for their partner after the experiment, and two even ended up getting married six months later.

The Better Life

The Better Life Cutting It Fine by Derek Thompson The crisp and sometimes frosty mornings now don’t deter nature. It whispers, ‘spring is coming - honest - it’s just stuck in traffic.’ There’s work to be done, and plenty of it. To begin with, Anne decided more snowdrops would be just the thing, so she carefully lifted the clumps and divided them before replanting. My contribution was to go and put the kettle on. This is a time of year for taking stock in the garden and for preparing to restock. Inevitably, there are casualties; even perennials have their limitations and our perpetual chard has finally reached the end. We’ll definitely plant out more though, as perpetual chard is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s also time to start onions and spring salad leaves under cover. The tail end of winter - fingers crossed at time of writing - also marks that point where firewood stocks are running low and it’s time to bring out Charlie the Chainsaw. When I first acquired the saw it spent a long time in the shed with its blade pristine, despite Anne constructing a sawhorse that looked like something out of The Krypton Factor. I’m afraid my reputation where pointy things, electricity, heat

or water are concerned is well deserved. My initial worry with the chainsaw was that I’d be all fingers and thumbs. Fortunately, it’s a small, electric model, so no risk of anything involving the words whirring and ladder. Even so, the first time I used it I somehow managed to slip the chain from the mechanism. It’s all in the preparation: read the booklet first and then watch the clips on the Internet. Cutting up firewood can be immensely satisfying when you’ve lugged it up from the woods or rescued it from a lay-by. Okay, it might not be up there with building an igloo or trekking through the Amazon but it’s still working in harmony with the environment. The whole garden gets a bit of a spruce up now, although we leave the anti-frost fleece around the vulnerable plants until warmer weather is assured. Our tools receive some much-needed attention as well, and I generally clean out the dried grass from the lawn mower that I promised myself I’d do before Christmas. Indoors, the Vietnamese coriander is thriving, as are the cuttings we took of icing sugar, penstemon and heather (it was discarded on a footpath and I thought waste not, want not).

Our seeds are labelled up and ready - the usual vegetable suspects, plus agapanthus, last year’s chillies, a lemon seed or two and a ginger bud. (I’m ever hopeful of producing a completely homegrown curry sauce one day.) There are also repairs to consider. The roof of the coalbunker is more plastic sheeting than wood now, so every storm is followed by my own version of rooftop Russian roulette. Similarly, the shed door is surviving by a single, ailing hinge. It will all require time, effort and skill - luckily, I know just the neighbour. Speaking of which, we had a visitor recently - a former neighbour who moved away a year ago. He said he was just passing and asked if he could borrow our wheelbarrow. Unfortunately for him, we don’t have one. As it almost says in Hamlet, “Neither a lender nor a barrower be.” Derek Thompson is a writer and humourist based in the West Country. His writing blog can be found at www. alongthewritelines.blogspot.com and he is also a regular at www. strictlywriting.blogspot.com

Beauty

Beauty Professional Beauty Secrets: Revealed

By Helen Taylor

Apply the lighter foundation to the centre of your forehead, then bring it down onto the middle of your nose, in a straight line - this will make your nose appear straighter and slimmer. Then, apply under your eyes and to the tops of your cheekbones, then lastly to the centre of your chin.

Ever wondered how models and actresses manage to look so gorgeous all of the time? Well, we have the answers.

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Keep reading for the low-down on those all important tips and tricks that are used by professionals all over the world. Why not take notes and try out an A-list makeover yourself? Clever Contouring

Kim Kardashian is known for her flawless make-up look which perfectly accentuates her features and draws attention to her razor-sharp cheekbones. Skilled in the art of contouring, her make-up artist cleverly uses cosmetics to emphasis particular parts of her face, which creates her striking trademark look. Here’s how you can get cheekbones which rival Kim’s:

your skin. Choose the primer that’s right for you - green toned versions neutralise redness in the skin and mattifying primers eradicate shine. Firstly, smooth the product over your entire face, after applying a light moisturiser. Next, select two foundations in two different shades; the first should be one shade lighter than your natural skin tone and the other should be one shade darker.

Sweep the darker shade under your cheekbones, along the outer sides of your nose - either side of the lighter colour - and on your temples and jaw line. Blend down onto your neck so that you don’t end up with a visible foundation line. Use a light-reflecting - not a glittery or overly shimmery - highlighter to make certain areas of your face really stand out. Apply the product under the arch of your eyebrows, then along the tops of your cheekbones, down the centre of your nose and onto your cupid’s bow, just above your top lip. To finish, and to bring the entire look together, dust translucent powder over your entire face and add a touch of colour to the apples of your cheeks using a pink blusher. Don’t forget to check your make-up in natural light – this will help you make sure that everything is well blended and you don’t have any

unsightly patches.

Perfect Pout

We’re used to seeing perfectly shaped, kissable lips on every celebrity we can think of. Here are our secrets unsightly on how topatches. achieve that gorgeous red carpet look. Perfect Pout

We’reaused to seeing lip Grab neutral-coloured perfectly shaped, kissable liner and begin lining just lips on every celebritypart weof can outside the coloured thinklips of. Here are our secrets your to create a full effect. on how to achieve that Define your cupid’s bow by gorgeous red carpet look. drawing a ‘V’ in the centre Grab aofneutral-coloured lip curve your top lip - bring linerline andround beginand lining just the down outside thefeathery coloured part of using soft strokes. your the lipscurve to create a full effect. Line of the bottom lip with your the same light Define cupid’s bow by movements, soften by drawing a ‘V’and in the centre lightly blending with curve of your top lip your - bring finger. the line round and down using soft featheryshade strokes. Choose a striking Line curveand of the bottom of redthe lipstick carefully lip with the same light movements, and soften by lightly blending with your finger. Choose a striking shade of red lipstick and carefully

apply the colour within the line using a lip brush. Finally add a touch of your favourite shimmery clear lipgloss to the centre of your lips to add instant fullness. apply the colour within the Lovely line usingLashes a lip brush. Long, luscious eyelashes Finally add for a touch of your are a must anyone in the favourite shimmery clear lipspotlight. Most celebrities will gloss to thehigh centre of your lips be sporting quality lash to add instant fullness. extensions, but you can still achieve impressive look Lovelyan Lashes with just a few tools. Long, luscious basic eyelashes are a must for anyone in the Eyelash curlers are a must spotlight. Most celebrities will for every woman - no matter be sporting highFavoured quality lash what your age. by extensions, but you can still professional make-up artists achieve an impressive lookto everywhere, curlers serve with just a few basic tools. immediately open-up eyes and add shape lashes. Eyelash curlersto are a must

for every woman - no matter Liquid liner is essential too what your age.it Favoured by not only does add definition, professional artists but it helps tomake-up create the look everywhere, curlers serve to immediately open-up eyes and add shape to lashes.

of a thick lash line, so always apply to your upper lashes before your mascara. Choose a quality mascara to lengthen and colour your lashes. Wipe the applicator of a thick so always before uselash - to line, remove apply toproduct your upper lashes excess which can beforeclumps your mascara. cause -Choose and work a quality mascara the brush and colour your to lengthen through your the applicator lashes. Wipe lashes a remove before using use - to quick side to side excess product which can motion, ensuring cause clumps that - andevery workarea is covered. the brush through So, now your you have the lashes using atop tips professionals’ quick to side at yourside fingertips, motion,no ensuring there’s reason that every arealook is why you can’t covered. as glamorous as So,your nowfamous you have the celebrity. professionals’ top tips at your fingertips, there’s no reason why you can’t look as glamorous as your famous celebrity.

The Life List

Liquid liner is essential too not only does it add definition, but it helps to create the look

The Life List Car Classics In times gone by, cars had individual character and not that ‘designed in a wind tunnel’ look so beloved of modern vehicle design. And, while motoring TV programmes and magazines like to praise the classics, let’s not forget the joys of the old family car.

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than a few minutes at a time, but they were classics in their own way. However, remember that objects in the rear-view mirror may sometimes appear rosier than they were in real life. Let’s not forget... 1. That lingering smell of petrol (although at least you could afford it). 2. Cold starts - if you were lucky - on a full

choke. It was like a smoker’s cough on four wheels. 3. Your legs sticking to the vinyl seats in summer because you were wearing shorts, followed by that unmistakeable ripping sound when you freed your skin. 4. Window handles that would tax Charles Atlas. 5. The faint smell of dog, even if you didn’t have one. 6. A seemingly endless supply of barley sugars or cough candy from the glove compartment, often fluff-free. 7. Adjustable wing-mirrors, if you stretched your arm out the window. 8. A car horn you could barely hear yourself, something like a congested duck who didn’t want to create a fuss. 9. A canopy coolant system, otherwise known as a leak in the roof. 10. “Are we there yet?”

Cake & Bake

Cake and Bake Bakewell Tart Modern commercial versions of the Bakewell Tart are easily found in most supermarket cake departments, but they are generally oversweet with a stodgy texture. This home-made Bakewell Tart is well worth the effort then, being light, crumbly and full of flavour.

Ingredients: • 1 packet shortcrust pastry • 200g raspberry jam • 175g butter, room temperature • 175g caster sugar • 4 large eggs • 2 dessertspoons lemon juice • 1 teaspoon lemon zest • 1 dessertspoon almond extract • 250g ground almonds • 60g flaked almonds

Preheat the oven to 190°C/170°C (fan)/Gas mark 5. Grease either a round dish (28cm diameter) or an oblong tin (20 by 30cm) with soft butter. You can also put some greaseproof paper in the bottom of the dish, to help the finished tart come out if you want to serve onto a plate before cutting. 3. Roll out the pastry until it’s fairly thin and then put into the dish or tin, trimming off the excess pastry. 4. Cover the base of the pastry case with greaseproof paper and then blind bake for 15 minutes by covering the paper with ceramic beans or dried pulses. 5. Remove the paper and beans from the baked pastry, then return to the oven for a further 5 minutes until the pastry is golden. When the pastry case has cooled, spread the jam evenly over the base. 6. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Whisk the eggs in a jug then gradually add to the mixing bowl, beating as you go. 7. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest and the almond extract, then gently fold in the ground almonds. 8. Spoon the mixture evenly into the case and gently spread to the sides of the dish. 9. Sprinkle the flaked almonds over the top and bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until the filling is golden on top and feels firm in the middle. 10. Remove and allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving. 1. 2.

Book Reviews

True (But Unlikely)Romance From the deepest, darkest depths of mid-winter comes a heart-warming glow: Valentines’ Day. But not every pairing is a match made in heaven; some love stories are short stories, and others fail to spark at all. We’ve put together a selection of more unorthodox teenage love stories. The Fault in Our Stars, John Green Terminally-ill Hazel is living on borrowed time thanks to the wonders of modern medicine, but just when she thinks her own story is already written in the stars, into the Cancer Kid Support Group walks Augustus. Tragically heart-breaking and yet funny to boot, this is a brilliantly-written story of two individuals, coming together in the most unlikely of places and finding that life is often full of the most exquisite pain. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky Always being on the periphery and one of life’s observers certainly may seem to have its advantages. Fifteen year old Charlie is the ‘wallflower’ in question and through a series of letters, reveals his fears about starting high school. Unusually for him, he is quickly befriended by a Senior called Patrick and becomes ingratiated into his group. Far from being another lighthearted high-school novel, the book tackles issues such as homophobia and incest. Charlie has a tough road ahead of him as he tries to come to terms with his past and learn to embrace his future.

Midwinterblood, Marcus Sedgewick Eric and Merle love each other but are separated by time and space. If you’ve ever thought that you lived another life, in another time, then spare a thought for this pair. The novel has seven stories which span the centuries, from ancient civilisations to the not-toodistant future and find Eric and Merle trying desperately to return to one another. Reincarnated as lovers, siblings, and even mother and son, they are repeatedly drawn back to each other. In this, the most unusual of gothic romances, the pair will eventually have to make the ultimate sacrifice. Ketchup Clouds, Annabel Pitcher It’s not just desperate women who start penning letters to people who are in penitentiaries. 15 year old Zoe decides to unburden herself of her story to a prisoner on Death Row. So terrible is her secret that she feels she can’t reveal what happened to anyone else and so Zoe writes to Stuart Harris in Texas. Zoe’s tale is packed with teenage angst, with the right smattering of humour

thrown in. Her letters of betrayal and the most terrible of love triangles will have you hooked right up until the last page. Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli Millions of readers have fallen in love with Stargirl, as does Leo, whose heart this kooky, alternative girl wins when she turns up at his high school. Jerry Maguire had his girl at ‘hello’; Stargirl only needs to smile for Leo to fall for her. She’s quirky and imaginative; a mysterious being with a celestial name and no one quite knows where she’s from or where she’s going. Whatever your age, Stargirl will stay with you, like a brand new friend. Every Day, David Levithan Whenever you think you’re not quite feeling yourself, spare a thought for ‘A’. Every morning, A wakes up in a different body, and it’s been that way since A was born. The instability and uncertainty has become the only constant in A’s life. That is, until A meets Rhiannon. On that fateful morning, A wakes up as none other than Rhiannon’s good for nothing boyfriend, Justin. From 24 wonderful hours grows a longing to be near someone and with someone, no matter what it takes.

Finance

Finance All Change By Jasmine Birtles, moneymagpie.com These days, many of us are unfaithful – to our service providers, at least; happily flitting between mobile service providers, internet providers, energy companies and insurers to get the best deal. Yet according to the Independent Commission on Banking, on average we only change bank accounts every 26 years. So why aren’t we all browsing comparison sites, checking out the best current accounts? Because we hate the hassle. How could we switch over all those outgoings and incomings? Say a direct debit gets ‘lost’ and we default on a bill? The Current Account Switch Guarantee Relax. Banks know it’s in their best interests to make it easy for you to swap your account to them; some even offer financial incentives. In September, seventeen banks joined the new Current Account Switch Guarantee scheme which should see your bank account transferred within seven days.

It means once you’ve chosen a new bank, they take responsibility for the switch (including settling missed direct debits, incurred charges etc and informing everyone concerned). Just chose a switch date (allowing seven working days), then relax as your new bank transfers your incoming payments, outgoing payments and balance, and then closes your old account. Payments

via your old account are automatically re-directed for 13 months to cover once-a-year payments. You don’t need to do a thing. www.simplerworld.co.uk has full details of the Switch Guarantee and the banks and building societies signed up so far. What it doesn’t have is information or comparisons on available accounts. So where can you find them? www.moneysupermarket. com/current-accounts/ Use their handy dropdown filter menu or sidebar categories to search for accounts including ones with interest, overdrafts, cashback, or rewards - or from banks signed up to the 7 day Switch Guarantee. http://www. moneysavingexpert.com/ banking/compare-best-bankaccounts This site has detailed discussions and comparisons of the best buys in a number of categories, including the best ethical banks. http://www.which.co.uk/ money/bank-accounts/ reviews-ns/bank-accounts/ Which? also advises on best bank accounts if you’re always in credit or need overdrafts. Fee-charging accounts are listed separately, so it’s worth considering them alongside other options. Sometimes paying a fee can be the best option, so before you search always: THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT FROM YOUR CURRENT ACCOUNT There’s a bewildering array

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of account types these days. Some modern current accounts (often described as ‘Offset Mortgages’ rather than current accounts) work in tandem with your savings or mortgage, allowing you to shift money from one to the other – reducing interest payments on your mortgage in good times, and providing a cheap ‘loan’ to cover unexpected calamities like boiler breakdowns. Then there’s cashback, airmiles, points, rewards, special deals on savings and mortgages from the same provider, breakdown cover, travel insurance... so think about which deal saves you the most in real terms, and how you want to operate your account (online, post, branch or all three?). Some great deals can be found outside the Big Four (Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC), so keep an open mind. Clydesdale Bank and Nationwide both offer good interest rates if you pay in a minimum of £1000 per month. First Direct isn’t currently offering in-credit interest, but does offer financial incentives for switching and a high interest linked savings account, plus a small free overdraft facility. It’s also won both Money Saving Expert and Which? customer service polls. So why not take a look? These deals probably won’t be around in 26 years...

Gardening

A Pet Project There’s always a lot to say about small pests such as greenfly, caterpillars, vineweevil and so forth, but early in the year it’s some of the bigger ‘residents’ which can really drive you around the bend. I’m talking about cats and dogs. What can you do to ensure that you continue to garden happily, successfully and safely, despite the fact the garden is visited by cats and dogs… and without harming these lovely creatures either? You may need to consider actively fencing off one part of the garden for your dog, and trying to keep another area completely dog free. If you have problems with dogs coming in from next door, then it’s essential that you make repairs to fences. Now is a good time because there’s relatively little plant foliage to hide holes, gaps or loose panels in fencing. Remember that the dog is also likely to be able to squeeze underneath or around many types of fence, so you may need to use chicken netting or similar. Don’t forget that gates as well as fences need to be dog-proofed, and never left open for the dog to wander through. If you really have a serious problem that this won’t resolve then you can try a fox deterrent such as ‘Fox-Watch’. Sometimes a few strategically planted dense and prickly

longer shrubs such as pyracantha may 1½digging pagpaws. help to deter e Obviously you don’t want to f rm causeo the animal actual at alsharm, o or but something sharp, prickly simplyavery dense can act v a ilable as a good deterrent. Next door’s cat or others in the neighbourhood are trickier to deal with as unfortunately they do tend to try and do their ‘toileting’ along the edges of their own territory, making your garden a prime target area. If your cat or a neighbour’s cat is a problem, bear in mind that the more bare soil there is, the more likely that a cat will start to use it as its loo. Ground cover planting is essential and you could always use temporary annual flowers to fill in gaps between longer term planting. If you find that these too are scuffed up shortly after you have planted them, then the best thing to do is cover newly planted areas of bedding with an arch of chicken mesh or with sticks with taut string tied between them. Obviously this will look a mess but can be removed promptly once the plants have rooted well and started to establish. I have found that the electronic cat deterrent ‘Cat-Watch’ works very well too. Mulching materials can sometimes cause problems and despite what the label says, many gardeners have told me

by Pippa Greenwood that they found that the cocoa shell mulches seem to attract cats. Generally speaking soggy mulches like this or anything with a strong smell do tend to deter cats, as they hate digging in moist material. Take extreme care if dogs use the garden as cocoshell mulches can prove fatal to them. Mulches made of large pebbles or stones also tend to keep them at bay, but smaller diameter gravel or shingle seems to be quite attractive to some cats. Areas of freshly sown seed look very attractive to a cat or dog and again are best protected either by chicken mesh or sticks and string. Remember to keep the string taut at all times, as there’s a slight risk that birds could become entangled in it. Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for a great range of gardeningrelated items including ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ veg growing system, electronic cat and fox deterrents, lots of slug controls, Pippa’s favourite weeding tool, and many other useful garden items.

Health

Vanish Those Winter Blues Often, you can cope with the start of winter. It may be dark, cold and wet, but the early months are full of celebrations to lift your spirits until the New Year and its ‘fresh start’. A few weeks later, your resolutions are in tatters. The days are still dark, meaning you drag yourself out of bed and then feel like the day is over by dinner time. You may be just fed up, but you could be suffering from ‘Winter Blues’. So here’s how to survive the winter.

• Let There Be Light! Lack of sunlight can increase melatonin levels (making you sleepy and lethargic) and reduce serotonin levels (affecting mood and appetite). It’s also thought to influence your ‘body clock’ (your circadian rhythm that controls body functions). So spend time outside. When indoors, try to work or relax near a window. A sunrise clock may help you wake up; they aim to bring your body out of sleep gently, by gradually increasing the light they emit. • Stay Warm If your body is fighting to keep you warm, you’ll feel sluggish and struggle to concentrate. Keep yourself as warm as possible; wear layers and heat your home adequately. What about spending time somewhere else warm and cosy - a pub or library? • Eat and Drink Healthily Warm, stodgy food and extra tea and coffee seem tempting when we’re chilly and low, but resist – think hot but healthy. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables of different colours and choose low sugar, low fat alternatives to stodgy puddings. Healthy soups are a great winter warmer, as are fruit teas, orange juice with cinnamon, honey and lemon, or malted drinks made with skimmed milk or hot water (but beware versions loaded with fat and sugar). • Socialise There’s scientific proof that the company of others, particularly if laughing and hugging is involved, is great for our wellbeing. So invite friends

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round, go visiting and attend sociable gatherings wherever possible. • Exercise - Exercise will warm you up, increase your immunity and alertness and make you feel good too. So bundle yourself up for a walk outdoors on brighter days, and find an indoor activity you enjoy – perhaps an exercise or dance DVD or video game. Whatever you do, your mind and body will feel better for it. When you’re not just blue, but SAD Over 2 million people in the UK suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), a more severe form of Winter Blues. SAD is at its worst from December to February when days are shortest, and causes either depression, or mood swings between depression and hyper-energy. Sometimes stress or trauma such as bereavement or a new baby seems to be a trigger, and it’s most prevalent in 18-30 year olds. If you are a sufferer, you can help yourself by: • Following the Winter Blues advice above • Trying a light box Therapeutic light boxes, available to buy or rent, produce light that’s at least ten times as intense as normal daylight. Rent one first to see if it works for you. • Seeing your GP They may suggest counselling or CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) or in some circumstances, antidepressants or a structured course of light therapy. For support and information, visit http://www.sada.org. uk/ (The Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (SADA)) or http:// www.sad.org.uk/ By Alison Runham

History

What happened in... ...February 1972? by Patrick D Cousins

On 3rd February 1972 the Curse of Tutankhamen claimed another victim - allegedly. As the boy king’s mask was being placed on a plane in Cairo, to be flown to Paris, the museum’s Director of Antiquities died – surely proof of a curse many said. It reminds me of another true story, of a man who proposed to his girlfriend, saying “If you won’t marry me, I’ll die.” She turned him down and sure enough, sixty years later, he died. Let that be a lesson to all who scoff. 1st: France requested the extradition of Klaus Barbie after Nazi hunter Beate Klarsfeld found him living in Bolivia. He was convicted in 1983 and died in prison four years later at the age of 77. 4th: The Iran Blizzard, the worst blizzard in history, began. Over the next few weeks it killed more than 4,000 people, burying villages under as much as 26 feet of snow.

15th: A US patent was granted to Willem J Kolff for the invention of the world’s first artificial heart. 17th: Prime Minister Ted Heath narrowly won a vote in the House of Commons on whether or not to join the ‘Common Market’, after throwing all his toys out of the pram and ‘threatening’ to resign. Why didn’t they let him? The VW Beetle became the most popular car in history on production of the 15,007,034th model. The previous record, 15,007,033, had been held by the Ford Model T. 21st: Richard Nixon became the first US president to visit Communist China.

23rd: Elvis and Priscilla Presley separated. They had married on 1 May 1967 at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. 24th: Twenty eight men on board a Russian submarine were killed when fire broke out while it was submerged. Twelve survivors were trapped inside the vessel for three weeks as it was towed from the Arctic Ocean to the Kola Peninsula. 25th: Members of the National Union of Mineworkers voted to end their strike in return for a twenty per cent pay increase.

The average cost of a house was £7,300 Petrol was about 35p a gallon

Three of the bestselling singles this year were: Telegram Sam - T Rex

8th: A state of emergency was declared throughout the UK due to the coalminers’ strike and dwindling stocks of coal.

I’d Like to Teach The World To Sing - The New Seekers Have You Seen Her - The Chi-Lites

Patrick D Cousins is the author of Rainbows, Dreams and Angels, available from Amazon. This is a double novella with both stories set in London’s East End, mostly during the Fifties and Sixties. Copyright TIPSS 2011

Home & Interiors Be Your Own Interior Designer

r 1 pag all, timetable and, abovee ormatmistakes. avoidfexpensive a so So before you rush inlwith availaspend your paintbrush, blea little time with some graph

Fired Earth offers a design service for bathrooms and kitchens (0845 293 8798; firedearth.com).

It can be a tricky business, interior designing. There’s much more to it than pretty colours and nice cushions. Creating a successful space involves a complex blend of practical and aesthetic considerations, from flooring that’s hard-wearing and looks great to lighting that illuminates the right areas and helps create an appropriate mood. As well as the nitty gritty of wiring and plumbing, there’s wallpaper, paint colours and fabric to select, window treatments to decide on, storage to incorporate, furniture to choose and finishing touches to arrange. How can you ensure that you do it correctly? Never fear: it’s simply a question of taking things step by step, using a straightforward, logical approach. As all professional interior designers know, careful planning is invaluable in helping firm up your ideas, work out your budget and

Whether you’re planning a room from scratch or freshening up an existing scheme, it can be hard to know where to start. The answer is to think like a professional, says Katherine ShoSorrell rte

paper, a sharp pencil, scissors and swatches. They really are the secret to successful interior design. First comes space planning. Measure your room accurately and draw a plan to scale on graph paper, marking in windows, doors, fireplaces, fitted cupboards, pipes, radiators, plug sockets, light fittings and so on. Consider the room’s size and shape, and its architectural style. Will they affect the way in which you decorate? Are there special considerations, such as lack of space or light, or an important original feature? At this stage, consider whether it would be helpful to move a wall, pipe or radiator, enlarge a window, hang the door the other way around or add extra plug sockets or light switches. Perhaps you can

conceal wiring or pipework, or build in some extra storage? Once you have gone through all the options – consulting a structural engineer if your changes are major ones – you can draw up a final plan. Next, plan the positions of major items of furniture. On a separate sheet of graph paper, sketch the approximate shapes of your furnishings, as if you were looking at them from above, using the same scale as your room plan. Then simply cut them out, place them on your master plan and assess how well they fit in to the space, ensuring that you allow enough activity room between and around them. Think about who uses the room, when and how. On a practical level, is it going to work? Move your ‘furniture’ around as necessary and, eventually, the optimum arrangement will become apparent. You should now have the basics

of a functional, comfortable room. To complement the floorplan and ensure that all the decorative elements of a room work together, professional designers create a ‘sample board’: a visual memo of all the different pieces that go towards making up the room. Before you start, you’ll need to find some images – printed off websites, cut out of magazines or brochures, or your own photographs or sketches – of your proposed furniture, flooring, lighting and accessories, as well as swatches of fabric, wallpaper and paint. Try to keep the samples in proportion to the size they’ll be in real life, so

that a curtain fabric swatch is much larger than, say, one representing a cushion. You can also include small real items (or parts of them) such as tie-backs and trims, rope or timber. Your sample board can be highly representative or, perhaps, more of a suggestion of general colours and styles – it’s up to you. Then, take a large piece of neutral-coloured card as a base, and arrange the images or swatches on it. It helps if you place the samples roughly in accordance with where they will be in the room – flooring at the bottom, pendant lights near the top and furniture in the middle, for example. With all the ingredients together, you’ll have a really

effective overview of how colours, patterns, shapes and textures work together, and can easily move things around, take them away or add to them. Are there too many smooth textures or is there too much of one colour? Do your patterns clash or your furniture styles jar? With a well thought-out sample board you can easily assess the overall effect. Paint swatches to the right show colours by Mylands (020 8670 9161; coloursoflondon.co.uk). Top to bottom: Burlington Arcade no 216, Eaton Square no 232 and Bloomsbury no 267, £28.12 for 2.5l traditional emulsion. By Katherine Sorrell

Trivia Additional images are available from the TIPSS downloads, please ensure the appropriate 5 British Islands captions (from the word 1. Piel - Piel is the smallest of the four inhabited Islands of Furness that document) lie off the coast of Cumbria. Whilst the are largestused of thesewith islands,them. Walney,

Around Britain

is England’s eighth biggest and has a population of over 10,000, Piel is just 8 hectares in size and has a permanent population comprising the landlord – known as the ‘King of Piel’ – of the island’s Grade II listed Ship Inn. 2. Gairsay - Gairsay has a population of just 3, making it one of the least populated of all of Scotland’s offshore islands. Nevertheless, it is officially permitted by the Royal Mail to produce its own stamps. 3. Lundy - A little over one square mile in size, Lundy lies 12 miles off the north coast of Devon in the centre of the Bristol Channel. Despite its relative isolation and small size, Lundy has its own pub, shops and church, produces its own stamps, and has a resident population of 28. 4. The Calf of Man - Aside from the Isle of Man itself, the only other inhabited island in the Man group is the Calf of Man, a square-mile islet lying just off its southernmost tip. A census in 2006 recorded a population here of just 2 – namely the wardens of an RSPB bird observatory opened in 1962. 5. Brownsea - Brownsea is the largest of the dozen or so islands found in Poole Harbour in Dorset. It is also arguably the most well known, having been the location of Robert BadenPowell’s inaugural Boy Scout camp in August 1907. © Taken from The British Isles: A Trivia Gazetteer by Paul Anthony Jones, out now.

Life Begins

Life Begins Are you REALLY ready for romance? by Kate McLelland

It’s that time of the year when we just can’t avoid the subject of romance, from the heart shaped decorations fluttering in shop windows to those indulgent dinnerfor-two recipes that appear in your local paper. Even search engines are in on the act: the minute you log on to your computer on 14th February, you know that a love-themed Google Doodle will pop up in your browser window.

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This annual overdose of hearts and flowers can provoke a range of different reactions, depending on your age, situation or mindset.

those two extremes – generally that means couples in long-term relationships – there may be mixed feelings about St. Valentine’s Day. Depending on whether you are a ‘glass half full’ or a ‘glass half empty’ kind of person, you will either see the 14th February as the perfect opportunity to show your other half how much they mean to you, or as an occasion that merely serves to highlight the lack of romance in your relationship for the remaining 364 days of the year.

If you’re a teenager expecting your first Valentine card, or a loved-up newlywed couple, the 14th February can be a time of high excitement. Alternatively if you’re a singleton marooned at home with a ready meal for one, the day can turn out to be a thoroughly depressing

Of course, there are a lucky few who don’t need St Valentine’s Day to kick-start their romantic feelings: take David and Lauren Blair, who earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records for renewing their wedding vows over 100 times, or Ravi Viswanathan, who paid

over £25,000 at auction for a (still drinkable) 170 year old bottle of champagne to celebrate his 10th wedding anniversary. If you must, even take American farmer Dick Kleis, who flew his wife over farmland in a plane to show her a loving birthday message he’d written out – you guessed it – in cow dung. We all love a love story. If those tales of romantic dedication aren’t enough, you can go online to find thousands of videos of people getting married in quirky but endearing ways: wing-walking on a biplane, abseiling down a building or clad in wetsuits, under water. It would seem that we can’t get enough of other people’s romantic experiences: one particular wedding dance video has enjoyed over 83,000,000 hits (which might suggest it’s not just the couple’s immediate family who are watching). With Mills and Boon romantic novels published in 26 different languages and sold in 109 countries world-wide, we don’t need a social anthropologist to tell us that a desire for romance is hardwired into the human psyche. However, while it may be great to fantasise about other people’s love-inspired exploits, we are sometimes a little less comfortable about experiencing them ourselves, in real life.

When football fan James Miller stripped down to his underwear and did a Cupid-style streak across the pitch, firing roses from a bow and arrowfan in tribute When football Jamesto his girlfriend, didn’tto have Miller strippeditdown the effect he anticipated: his underwear and did a she was so embarrassed that she Cupid-style streak across dumped the pitch,him. firing roses from a bow andall arrow in tributewith to We can sympathise his girlfriend, didn’t have James’ plight:itone person’s the he anticipated: she ideaeffect of romance is not always was so embarrassed that she the same as another’s. When dumped him. a friend of mine discovered that can her all husband had booked We sympathise with a Mexican Mariachi band James’ plight: one person’s to play hotel idea of outside romancetheir is not always window she When hid in the sameonasholiday, another’s. the toiletofuntil thediscovered song had a friend mine ended. that her husband had booked a Mexican Mariachi band Last year on February 14th to outside their hotel myplay partner of fifteen years window holiday, she hid in rang meon from work to say the untilathe song he’dtoilet booked table at ahad new ended. restaurant I’d spotted in town. Last year on February 14th my partner of fifteen years rang me from work to say he’d booked a table at a new restaurant I’d spotted in town.

“It’ll be like a proper date,” he promised. Although it was exciting to dress up and go out on the spur of the moment, I’m “It’ll bethe likewhole a proper date,” afraid thing ran he promised. out of steam pretty quickly: within halfit an hour we were Although was exciting to discussing whether dress up and go outwe on the should a plumberI’m to fix a spur of hire the moment, leaky tap the bathroom. afraid the in whole thing ran out steam quickly: Ourof night outpretty may not have within halfheight an hour we were been the of romance, discussing whether we but on reflection it summed should hire a plumber to fix up the comfortable place wea leaky tap in the bathroom. have reached in our Our night out may not have relationship. been the height of romance, In fact, if but on reflection it summed he’d hired a up the comfortable place we choir reached to sing have “Love in our Is All Around” relationship. and In fact, if showered he’d hired a me with choir to sing “Love Is All Around” and showered me with

rose petals I’m pretty sure I would have run for the loo, just like my friend in Mexico. It’s sad that St Valentine’s Day has lost its excitement rose petals sure I for many of I’m us, pretty but I still would run for the loo, believehave it’s worth celebrating. just like mysome friendpeople in Mexico. Of course, condemn theSt14th February It’s sad that Valentine’s for its overt commercialism, Day has lost its excitement butmany you don’t have spend for of us, but to I still a fortune showcelebrating. that you believe it’stoworth care. Remember farmer Dick Of course, some people Kleis and the make theFebruary best condemn 14th of the resources you have for its overt commercialism, to hand … however, but you don’t have toDear spend Reader, a fortune to show that you if you Dick care. Remember farmer Kleis and make thewant bestyour relationship of the resources you have to last, to hand … however, Dear I Reader, would advise if you you not to take want your his example relationship too literally. to last, I would advise you not to take his example too literally.

Motoring

First Drive: Kia Ray EV By James Baggott, MD of BlackballMedia.co.uk

Kia is entering the electric vehicle market in 2014 with an EV version of its Soul mini SUV. We headed to South Korea to try that car’s forerunner, the Ray EV, which is leading the charge for the brand’s electric future. We took it for a spin around the heaving city to see what we could learn about the Soul that will use an enhanced version of its tech. What is it? Let’s clear this up from the start – the Ray is not, and will never be, available in the UK. But this car is pioneering the technology that will appear in the Soul EV in the UK in the winter of 2014. The Ray is a micro city car for the Korean market where some 67,000 have been sold. The EV version, though, is only available on a pilot car sharing scheme in Seoul where 180 of the tiny cars are available to 15,000 members for as little as £3 an hour. Kia has been using the scheme to gain data on its EV models that it has used to refine the mass production Soul version. What’s under the bonnet? What’s more important is what’s under the seats. Hidden in the floor pan is a battery pack that’s coupled to an electric motor situated in the more traditional location under the bonnet. We won’t concentrate too much on what the Ray features, as much

of this has been enhanced for the Soul. The Soul EV has a range of 125 miles, can be fully charged in five hours or topped up in just 25 minutes with a fast charger. Top speed is 90mph and it will hit 60mph in around 14 seconds.

the battery powered model a boon. The silent running makes for a relaxing drive and the added weight from the batteries was hard to spot. Regenerative braking was also impressive, if a little aggressive at slamming on the anchors at times.

What’s the spec like? That’s unclear at this point, but what we do know is that when the Soul EV arrives it will be the most expensive model in the range. That will mean it’s likely to have Kia’s top spec with a clever sat nav system that will point out recharging locations and range, just like our Ray EV test car did. Kia did tell us the Soul will come with heated and cooling front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel. Slightly different bumpers and headlamps, and a charge point in the grille, will mark out the EV model from the rest of the Soul range.

The verdict We’re impressed with Kia’s first entry into the EV market. There’s currently no word on pricing for the Soul or whether buyers will be offered the car complete with batteries to buy outright, like Nissan, or rented the batteries and sold the car, like Renault. What was clear from our test drive, though, is that Kia has EV technology pretty much nailed and it’s ready to go. Fact in the likelihood the manufacturer’s competitive pricing will be brought into the equation, the Soul EV could be the shake up the segment needs.

Any rivals? BMW are the latest entrants to this market with the i3, but electric car buyers can also choose from more established offerings from Nissan like the Leaf, or Renault’s Zoe. If you’re looking for something even more outrageous, then you could consider a Renault Twizy.

The Knowledge

What’s it like to drive? On clogged streets in South Korea’s capital, we found the brisk, smooth acceleration of

Model: Kia Ray EV Price: N/A (car share scheme only) Engine: 50kw electric motor Power: 68bhp, 167Nm Max speed: 90mph 0-60mph: 15.9s Range: 125 miles Emissions: 0g/km

Recipe

Sausages and Puy Lentils Serves 4

Ready in 40 minutes

If you fancy a change from the usual sausage and mash why not go Continental? Tasty Toulouse sausages wrapped in pancetta and served on a bed of flavoursome puy lentils make the perfect mid-week meal. Ingredients: • 225g puy lentils • 225g shallots, peeled and halved • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tsp brown sugar • 150ml vegetable stock • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard • 8 Toulouse or chunky pork sausages • 8 rashers pancetta or smoked streaky bacon, stretched with the back of a knife • 2 tsp clear honey • 3 tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

Tip Try your local butcher or deli or visit a farmers’ market to find the best quality Continental-style sausages. If you can’t find Toulouse sausages, Lincolnshire, Cumberland or pork and leek varieties will work just as well.

Place the lentils in a pan and cover with water. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a deep frying pan and fry the shallots for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until just starting to soften. Sprinkle over the brown sugar and cook for a further 8-10 minutes until the shallots are golden and caramelised. Drain the lentils and add to the frying pan with the stock, vinegar and 2 tsp of the mustard. Simmer for about 15 minutes until the lentils are just tender. Stir occasionally and add a little more stock, if necessary. While the lentils are cooking, wrap each sausage with a pancetta rasher. Cook under a medium-hot grill for 8-10 minutes, turning frequently until the sausages are almost cooked through. Mix together the rest of the mustard with the honey and brush over the sausages. Cook for a further 3-4 minutes until the pancetta is crisp and browned. Stir half the parsley into the lentils and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve the lentils and sausages on warmed plates garnished with the remaining parsley.

Short Story

Short Story The Secret Admirer “Someone has a secret admirer.” The delivery man winked as he handed Adeline Coles a huge bouquet of flowers. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Love.” Her nosey neighbours, the Peggs, had also opened their front door, and she distinctly heard Mr Pegg whisper to his wife, “Bet she’s sent them to herself.” Embarrassed, Adeline hurried inside. The flowers were beautiful, lots of lilies which weren’t her cup of tea, but expertly arranged. They were probably from her niece, but you never know, thought Adeline, they might be from Mr Wellbrook. He occasionally offered her a lift in his Jaguar when he saw her struggling with groceries. She could always dream. Adeline sighed, put on her reading glasses, and read the little card which accompanied the flowers. It said, ‘From a Secret Admirer’. Adeline gasped. The delivery man was right, she did have a secret admirer. But who could it be? There was only one florist in town, Blossom’s, run rather fittingly by Brian and Daisy Blossom. She’d ordered flowers from them for her niece’s wedding. She would walk into town, and ask them who’d sent the flowers. The mystery would be solved. On her way she kept her eyes peeled for the Jag, but her potential secret admirer was keeping a low profile. Once at Blossom’s she was perturbed to

find Brian stood at the counter. She was fond of Brian, but she would have rather discussed the matter with his wife, woman to woman. “Good morning Miss Coles, lovely to see you,” Brian smiled as she entered. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” “It’s a delicate matter.” Adeline placed the little card on the counter. “I’d like to know who sent me these?” “Ahh.” Brian looked uncomfortable. “I’m afraid we have a policy of client confidentiality.” Adeline blushed.

Brian leaned in closer, “How would you feel if I said your secret admirer is in this shop right now?” Adeline looked around her. “But there’s nobody here.” And then she realised,

“I don’t want to get you into trouble. Perhaps if I suggested a few names you could nod or shake your head?”

“Mr Blossom!” She declared, “How would your wife feel?”

The shop was empty, yet Brian performed a theatrical glance to check the coast was clear.

“Have you told that to Daisy?” Adeline arched her eyebrow.

“Go ahead,” he said. Heeding the words of Mr Pegg, Adeline asked, “Did I send them to myself in a senior moment?” Brian laughed, “I can reassure you that you didn’t.” “Remember to nod or shake, Brian,” Adeline smiled. “Was it my niece?” Brian slowly and deliberately shook his head. Adeline felt a glow of relief. She adored her niece, but would much rather have a proper secret admirer. She decided to go for broke. “Was it Mr Wellbrook?” “That chap who flashes about in his Jag?” Brian frowned. “Certainly not.” Adeline was stumped, and a little disappointed. “Could you give me a clue?”

Brian looked shocked, “I don’t have a wife.”

“Daisy’s not my wife, she’s my sister,” Brian said crossly. “Why does everyone think that?” Oh dear, thought Adeline, I’ve only just got a secret admirer and we’re already having our first row. “In that case,” she said, “I apologise, and thank you for the flowers”. Flattered and embarrassed, Adeline decided now was a good time to leave. As she opened the door, Brian called, “Would you be amenable to receiving Valentine flowers from me again?” She paused, then threw a look over her shoulder which she hoped was smouldering, “Possibly. Though less of the lilies, I’m a roses kind of girl”.

By Jackie Brewster

Technology Review

Love Food, Love Gadgets A helping hand to prepare a romantic meal

Valentine’s Day is like Christmas for restaurants, but all too often their love-struck customers end up fobbed off with overpriced set menus and a distinct lack of atmosphere. If it’s true that the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, wouldn’t it be better to wow your partner with something you’ve cooked up yourself? Best of all, you can use it as an excuse to splash out on some new kitchen gadgets too. We’re big fans of Joseph Joseph’s brightly coloured (and quite expensive) cooking gadgets, such as its foldable TriScale (£30), its Elevate raised utensils and its very useful Chop2Pot foldable chopping boards. If the price is a little high you’ll find shopping around online can save you a packet, and there are plenty of more affordable imitations too. Grating, chopping, blending, pureeing, julienning, mixing, do-everything Food processors are fantastic things, and while they can be pricey there are plenty of deals around: a quick bit of online research uncovers Kenwood’s FP736 for £89.99 instead of the £120 RRP, and multi-function blenders such as the Shef Collection for £17.99 instead of £49.99. If that’s still

too much or you just don’t have room for all the attachments, electric choppers can be picked up for around £12. Some of our favourite gadgets are the simplest ones: Microplane graters were originally designed for woodworking but are fantastic for parmesan and can be found for as little as £10, while mandoline slicers take the effort out of preparing fruit and veg. Expect to pay around £10 to £20 for a good one. If your partner’s a barbecue fan, don’t let the fact it’s still winter deter you: Philips’ Avance Table Grill promises all the taste of a smoky barbecue without having to leave the house. It looks like a chunky George Foreman grill and at £95 costs quite a bit more than one, but unlike some of George’s grills the plate is detachable and dishwasher safe and you can use its unique infusers to add smoke flavours (from real wood chips) or liquids such as marinades. Just make sure you put it near a cooker hood if you’re using it to smoke your food, or your romantic evening could end up involving the local fire brigade. We’re keen on celebrity chefs here in Britain, and one of the biggest is Jamie Oliver - and

he hasn’t been shy when it comes to lending his name to everything from tea towels to salad servers. He’s also put his name on Philips’ Homecooker, which promises “a completely fresh approach to cooking”. It’s a cross between a slow cooker and a food processor, and it chops, slices, shreds, grates, cooks, stirs, steams and keeps cooked food warm. The HomeCooker is a fairly frightening £250, and if you want one you’ll have to go to John Lewis. No romantic dinner would be complete without a nice bottle of wine, but if you’re worried about wrestling with a traditional corkscrew there are plenty of alternatives. Le Creuset’s Screwpulls make opening wine particularly easy, and while the larger models cost around £30 you can pick up plastic ones for around £11. They’re much easier to use than traditional corkscrews and less likely to damage the cork, although if you’d rather keep things old-school you can pick up a waiter’s friend corkscrew for as little as £2.45. Even good ones won’t cost much more than £10. Images left to right: Joseph Joseph TriScale; Screwpull Corkscrew; Jamie Oliver Homecooker; Philips Avance Table Grill

Travel

South Africa The Garden Route By Solange Hando Such a lovely name seems far too humble for the magnificent southern coast of the Western Cape. Stretching for some 200 km along the Indian Ocean, from Mossel Bay to the Tsitsikamma National Park, this is a largely untamed African Garden of rugged shores and virgin beaches, lagoons and lakes, mountains, gorges, flowers and forests of conifer and red and yellow wood. Heather and fynbos bloom purple and gold along the paths and myriads of birds weave their nests in lush greenery. Half way between the Cape and Port Elizabeth, ‘Route 62’ reaches George, the main town, where pride of place goes to the superb transport museum gleaming with steam engines and vintage trains, including the royal carriage of George VI. The last steam train recently ceased operations though Friends hope it may reopen. At the moment, a ‘powervan’, a bus running on rail, carries excited visitors on the same scenic line laced with tunnels, viaducts and bridges, and up the dramatic Outeniqua mountains, named after the honey bees once buzzing on flower-covered slopes. The range follows the coast, dropping steeply on the northern side where the arid

lands of Little Karoo beckon with ostrich farms and a meagre shade. On this legendary Garden Route, luxuriant nature reserves flourish alongside a sprinkling of coastal resorts haunted by surf and sun seekers. Popular Plettenberg is a great place to watch dolphins and whales, especially in the southern winter, while at the heart of the National Lake Area, Knysna is famed for its festivals, oysters and colonies of seabirds. It’s an attractive place festooned in bottle brush and bougainvillea and down in the bay, honeycoloured rocks are battered by the waves. Along the coast, Mossel Bay hugs a fine crescent of white sands where Bartolomeu Dias, the first navigator to sail around the tip of Africa, landed in 1488. This little gem also claims the oldest ‘post office’, a tree, still standing, they say, where sailors of yore left messages before returning to sea. Created in 2009, the Garden Route National Park covers an amazing range of ecosystems from the Knysna Lake Area to the Tsitsikamma and Wilderness national parks. Framed by mountains and forests, fringed by pristine beaches, lakes and

waterways, Wilderness has wetlands of international importance, meadows bursting with spring flowers and nature trails where you might spot myriad kingfishers and vervet monkeys. On the eastern edge of the Garden Route, you reach Tsitsikamma, a true paradise for nature lovers, both on land and sea where you can snorkel along underwater trails and explore the reefs. Meanwhile in the forest, baboons forage around as a dappled light filters through the lofty cathedral-like canopy. Yellowwoods draped in lichen reach up to 50 metres, mosses and ferns carpet the valley floor and crystal clear streams babble in the undergrowth. The woody scent of fynbos lingers in the air and there are sparkling waterfalls and lots of trails stretching across cliffs and rivers to Nature’s Valley. Hikes range from a short walk to the mouth of the Storms River and its vertiginous suspension bridge, to the 42 km long Otter trail along the coast, with a chance to swim and ford a river or two. But most exciting of all is a sudden flash of olive green in a nearby tree as a beautiful Knysna Lourie, one of the most elusive birds in the park, takes off in the canopy.

Puzzles, Quizzes & Cartoons Cartoon 1

Cartoon 2

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Page

Cryptic Crossword Cryptic Crossword 1

10 11

13 14

16 17 20

Across 1 Respected and impressive month (6) 4 Sparsest type of transgression (8) 9 Holy woman is also a relative (6) 10 Funny set I clear up (8) 12 Task I saw fashioned into Nazi emblem (8) 13 Ten years sounds rotten! (6) 15 Thing a mite gets upset about (4) 16 Legion’s cocktail drink (4,3) 20 Tell a story about rare ant (7) 21 Middle of the day, whichever way it’s viewed (4) 25 Time periods little Edward rubbed out (6) 26 Dregs formed when time ends badly (8) 28 Carpenter’s tool has worse construction (8) 29 River cut to a point (6) 30 Einstein wasted a decade (8) 31 Dog set about heavy food (6)

©puzzlepress.co.uk

Down 1 Two donkeys at home for a killer (8) 2 Rag Moses spun into cobweb material (8) 3 Afternoon nap in Rosie’s tavern (6) 5 Plant a deer could turn to (4) 6 Memento from our veins (8) 7 Beast concealed in Manila (6) 8 Highway setter broke up (6) 11 Bird to indulge in horseplay (7) 14 Found on a bird it changes her fate (7) 17 Naked measure without shoes (8) 18 Flat expanse near temples (8) 19 Popular posture, for example (8) 22 For each boy child, a human being (6) 23 Inward turning evolutionist (6) 24 Most sensible stew is cooked (6) 27 Lies about a little piece of land (4)

Solution Copyright TIPSS 2011 25 Across: 1 August, 4 Trespass, 9 Sister, 10 Peculiar, 12 Swastika, 13 Decade, 15 Item, 16 Sloe gin, 20 Narrate, 21 Noon, 25 Erased, 26 Sediment, 28 Sawhorse, 29 Severn, 30 Nineties, 31 Stodge.

Codeword CODEWORD Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.

26 14

25 22

1 21

8 1

18 25

25 8

1 12

24 16

16 16

25 5

16 1

3 9

3 23

20 1

21 21

Across 1. Cultural rebirth from the 14th to the middle of the 17th centuries (11) 9. Circus performer (7) 10. Military dictators (5) 11. Peer of the realm (4) 12. String of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language (8) 14. Native of Muscat, for example (5) 15. Legendary creature resembling a tiny old man (5) 20. Curved down like an eagle’s beak (8) 22. Waste product useful as a fertiliser (4) 24. Farewell remark (5) 25. Opening, especially the mouth of a bodily organ (7) 26. Woman employed to clean bedrooms

in hotels, etc (11) General Knowledge Crossword Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 2. Tympanic membrane (7) 7 8 3. Yob deterrent (inits) (4) 10 4. Cotton fabric with a 9 shiny finish (6) 5. Military officer who assists a more 11 12 senior officer (8) 13 6. Priest who is a member of a 14 15 16 cathedral chapter (5) 17 18 19 7. Heavy wooden pole tossed as a 20 21 22 test of strength (5) 23 8. Printer’s mark, indicating an 24 25 insertion (5) 13. Personification of the US government (5,3) 26 16. Cocktail made of gin or vodka with 18. Detachable piece of Muslim household (5) dry vermouth (7) material worn inside 21. Dickens character in 17. Artificial a shoe or boot for David Copperfield, watercourse warmth, etc (6) ___ Heep (5) constructed for 19. Living quarters for 23. Former name of inland navigation female relatives in a Thailand (4) (5)

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General Knowledge Crossword

Mini Cryptic Mini Cryptic Crossword

Sudoku - Easy

7 8

9 10

16 17 18

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Across 1. Wardrobe shut on first Tuesday (6) 5. Head back for a cooking vessel (3) 7. Vary each kind of pain (4) 8. Girl in one grand jacket (6) 9. War changed unrefined state (3) 10. Cheese made in reverse (4) 11. Corroded and out of practice (5) 13. Despises as the fashion (5) 17. Sharp side found in hedges (4) 18. Possesses in Lhasa (3) 19. Learnt about amount paid for hire (6) 20. Neat way to make a poker stake (4) 21. Hog to scatter seeds over (3) 22. Decorative bunch of cords made from slates (6) Down 2. Come down on gold carriage (6) 3. Sweet or best variety (6) 4. Removes from stake-out (5) 5. Make your hair curl or pass (6) 6. Drying cloths we lost somehow (6) 11. Hastens to plants in wet places (6)

20 21

12. Look first and looked in the past for a toy (6) 14. Makes amends when a stone is put in place (6)

15. Madden with anger to a point (6) 16. Wager the Queen made for a hat (5)

Sudoku - Hard

Super Science Facts

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Hidato

Pictograms

Hidato

Pictograms

Starting at 1 and finishing at 49, track your way from one square to another, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally, placing consecutive numbers into the empty squares as you go. Some numbers are already given.

3 words 2p 5p 10p 20p 50p 1p

1 30

4 words

13 22

iii

CARRIER SATCHEL HOLDALL 8

34 36

40 38

43 42

45 49

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3 words

THE P

Quiz 1 Say It With Flowers 1. Famous for it’s slogan “say it with flowers”, what is the world’s largest flower delivery network? 2. Which literary hero took his nickname from the drawing of a small red flower he used to sign his messages? 3. What name is given to the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower? 4. Better known as a singer, who wrote the 2003 best-selling children’s book The English Roses? 5. In the film Bambi, what type of animal is Flower? 6. What spice is obtained from the crocus? 7. Mrs Cobbitt was the flower seller on which children’s TV show? 8. In 2001, the Flower Pot Men were revived in a stop-motion animation show for Children’s BBC called Bill And Ben, but what type of flower was Weed replaced with? 9. Also the name of a brand of margarine, who was the Roman goddess of flowers? 10. According to legend, which flowering plant was the last to be named by God and had to remind God that it needed a name?

Quiz 2 Fictional Movie Settings Choosing from the list on the right, can you work out the films in which the settings on the left feature?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Amity Island Castle Rock Only f or sub Pepperland scriber p s Hill Valley aying fo r two o r Isla Nublarmore postco d es Bedford Falls exclus ivity Emerald City Genovia Zion Skull Island

also available as a Back To The Futurequarter pag It's A Wonderful Life e Jaws Jurassic Park King Kong Stand By Me The Matrix The Princess Diaries The Wizard Of Oz Yellow Submarine

Simple Crossword QUICK CROSSWORD

Across

1 European country (7)

5 Scour (5) 8 Inflamed (7)

9 Precise (5) 10 Strict (5)

11 Operating room (7)

12 Painter (6) 17

14 Lethal (6)

17 Non professional (7) 19 Likeness (5)

22 Edgy, anxious (5) 23 Revised (7) 24 Father (5) 25 Harnessed to ride (7) Down 1 Types of transport (5) 2 Not tight (5) 3 E.g. Crete, Rhodes (7) 4 Tiny (6)

5 Stage set (5)

15 Once lived (7)

6 Oven cooked (7)

16 Destroys (6)

7 Torch power cell (7)

18 Including all (5)

12 Made suitable (7)

20 Fourth month (5)

13 Coached (7)

21 Finished (5)

Spot the Difference

Two Minute Trial

Word Ladder Word Ladder

W R F E O L

Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.

You have two minutes to find all the words of three or more letters that can be made from the letters above. Plurals are allowed, proper nouns are not. The 6 letter word will always be just a normal everyday word.

G O A T

3 letters: 12 4 letters: 9 5 letters: 2 6 letters: 1

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P I G S

Wordsearch Dog

Basset hound Beagle Boxer Collie Corgi Deerhound Dingo Greyhound Husky Mastiff Pointer Poodle Pug Retreiver Saint Bernard Setter

Shar-Pei Sheepdog Spitz Terrier Westie Whippet

Find the names of the different breeds of dogs in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase