TIPSS Catalogue January 2014 by Tania Houston

Content Catalogue January 2014

Content Articles Special 1: Anniversaties 10 January 2014 Special 2: Socialising Online The Better Life: Car Boot Capers Beauty: Break Your Bad Beauty Habits The Life List: Lessons Learned Cake & Bake: Protein Packed Greek Yoghurt Brownie Bites Book Reviews: Tying the Knot Finance: How To Complain and Make Money Gardening Feature: Sowing Time Health: Detoxing & Fasting History: What Happened in...January 1962 Home & Interiors: Six Ways To Make Money From Your Home Trivia: Around Britain - 5 Chemical Elements Motoring Feature: Bentley Flying Spur Life Begins: Reclaim Your Living Space for 2014 Recipe: Red Onion Soup with Melting Gruyere Croutons Short Story: Scrabble With The Drabbles Tech Review: Fit For Purpose Travel Feature: The Lot Secret Garden

Puzzles

Cartoon 1 Cartoon 2 Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Page Cryptic Crossword Codeword General Knowledge Crossword Mini Cryptic Crossword Sudoku - Easy & Hard Super Duper Science Facts Hidato Pictogram Quiz 1: Review Of The Year Quiz 2: Movie Occupations Simple Crossword Spot the Difference Two Minute Trial Word Ladder Wordsearch: Musical Instrument

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Articles Special 1

Anniversaries 10 January 2014 1st January 1785: launch of the Daily Universal Register in a letter to Russell, called it the greatest newspaper in the world.

New Year’s Day may, for many of us, mean a king-size hangover and a brisk walk in a vain attempt to shake it off. But it’s also the anniversary of the greatest revolution in human history, the day in 1983 when the internet was launched. This counts as an anniversary in British history because, of course, the person responsible was Sir Tim Berners-Lee. What he actually did, though, I haven’t the foggiest. To me the internet is like a car – I can drive one, but lift the bonnet and I’m clueless. Instead, let’s go back to 1st January 1785 and another anniversary from the world of mass media, not quite so revolutionary but just as much a landmark: the launch of the Daily Universal Register, to become The Times exactly three years later. The Universal Register was founded by John Walter, a near-bankrupt insurance broker who decided the media was a better bet. Declaring he would favour no political party, he promptly accepted a £300a-year bribe to support the government and then started the world’s first celebrity gossip column, actually serving a stretch in Newgate for libelling the Prince of Wales.

His more high-minded son, John Walter II, led the fledgling Times out of the mire of sleaze and corruption and patronised brilliant young journalists and the man who in 1817 became perhaps its greatest editor, the radical Thomas Barnes. Under his 24-year reign the paper was more like the Guardian than The Times we know today. Barnes repeatedly attacked the government over the 1819 Peterloo Massacre in Manchester, consistently supported the Chartists, called the 1832 Reform Act “the greatest event of modern history”, and in 1834 loudly campaigned in support of those seminal trade unionists, the Tolpuddle Martyrs. The Tories loathed him. When John Delane succeeded Barnes, The Times switched its support to the newly-instituted Conservative Party, but it could still spring some nasty surprises. During the Crimean War WH Russell became the first journalist to actually base himself at the battlefront, whence he continuously lambasted the government for its miserable failure to provide for its troops, earning The Times its nickname, The Thunderer. By this time The Times was at the zenith of its power and influence – Abraham Lincoln,

But it wasn’t to last. Growing competition and some very unfortunate editorial judgements brought the paper to its knees, and in 1908 the Walter family sold it to Lord Northcliffe of Daily Mail fame, who restored its fortunes but did nothing to improve its reputation. He sold out to the Astor family in 1922 and The Times became more and more entrenched as the establishment’s newspaper. The grand old Thunderer changed hands again in 1967 when the Canadian press baron Roy Thompson bought it, then in 1981 to Rupert Murdoch. The Sun and The Times in the same stable! The ruling class held its collective breath but it needn’t have worried. Murdoch sought and won his battle with the print unions with the move to Wapping in 1986; but editorially, he has made surprisingly few changes. The paper is still undeniably Conservative, but backed Tony Blair in 2001 and 2005; many of its columnists are not what you’d call right-wing: Paul Dacre of the Mail calls it “pinkish” – and it’s not afraid to fall out with the Tories. So happy 229th birthday, The Times. What will you do next? Support Ed Miliband in 2015? Stranger things have happened! By Ted Bruning

Special 2

Socialising Online: The virtual world of friends, groups, and lovers by James Smith http://jamessmithwriter.wordpress.com The popularity of social networking has exploded over the last decade and is now used by many as a way to meet people for business, to share a special interest, for friendship, or even love. The ability to connect with other people via the Internet, started to go beyond email when Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) or ‘forums’ started appearing in the 1980s and 90s. Although rudimentary, these systems allowed people to connect and exchange interests and ideas in the same way that one would by posting messages on a community notice board or placing notices in periodicals and newsletters. These early, and rather limited, systems were the forerunners to the social networking giants of today, such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The unique feature of these ‘virtual meeting places’ is their ability to make geographical distance insignificant. So, if you’re a dressmaker based in Fairbanks, Alaska, you can hook up with someone with similar interests in Tasmania and exchange ideas with little expense, and without taking a

flight around the globe. The hugely successful social network, LinkedIn, is aimed at business and forges relationships between professionals worldwide. This means that face-to-face meetings are often redundant, even when significant business decisions and transactions are at stake. Yes, it’s a less personal way of doing business, but no one can deny that it’s quicker and more efficient: use of technology for business relationships is here to stay. But what about today’s way of connecting with likeminded people to share a common interest? Websites such as Facebook enable you not only to connect with friends and family, but also to join and create ‘groups’. This has resulted in a mass of specialist groups being formed, representing the most diverse interests and tastes imaginable. Everything from movies and book clubs to political activists and heavy rock bands are catered for. Drawing benefit from these groups and networks, however, requires real effort

to engage and develop anything that could be considered a relationship. Indeed, you may find that you have gathered many virtual friends, but little tangible evidence to show for it. In this sense, it is like any club or society: the more effort and commitment you put in, the benefits you will reap. In social networking terms, this may translate into uploading interesting photographs, writing blogs, providing advice, or news snippets. In this way, you become known as an active contributor, people find your input of value, and relationships develop amongst the virtual community with the common shared interest. But it’s not all virtual. The site meetup.com brings together people with common interests who live in the same area. Singles clubs, dog walkers, motorbiking and coffee lovers are amongst thousands of groups available to join – or launch one of your own. In these cases, the real benefits are often realised after the event, when users return to their homes or places of work and upload photos

The Better Life

The Better Life Car Boot Capers by Derek Thompson If Chinese philosophers ever need new pearls of wisdom, I’d like to suggest one of mine: When your garage is so full of tat that you can’t fit the car in, it’s time to do a car boot. I do have a tat filing system, of sorts, so it’s not difficult to find anything (if you can clamber over everything else). On one side, opposite the firewood pallet that we found dumped in a lay-by, is a salvaged cupboard unit, held together with an assortment of odd screws. In there live the boxes of books relegated from our shelves, an old beer tray from a charity shop and two binbags full of Anne’s castoffs - mainly shoes. We’ve always loved car boots. They’re really another form of recycling - turning unwanted goods into cash (and then buying other people’s flotsam). Car boots can also be a great place to pick up old and perfectly serviceable tools. For example, my much-loved £1 wrench was the only thing that could undo the old water pump so that we could replace the gasket and shaft head. When we parked up on site, people swarmed around our car as if we were in a zombie film (and I scare easily). Anne stepped out to force them back, but she was already doing deals before I’d lifted

the last box of books from the boot. As car boot trader novices, we were surprised at how quickly some of our best stuff went, and even more surprised at how quickly it reappeared on other stalls at twice the price. Also, I lost count of how many times a cheery conversation ended up being steered towards the phrase: ‘Any chance of a discount?’ And this was often for books going for £1 apiece. I’m not a massive fan of haggling, although I did manage some furtive bartering for veg. After a couple of bursts of brisk trade, business really tailed off. And when the same faces went past for a third time we decided to call it a day. Ironically, packing up brought all the hardcore bargain hunters out from the shadows. A new phrase became the norm: “How much for this - save you taking it home?” Frankly, I felt embarrassed for the books.

a beeline for one of the plant stalls. By the time I caught up with her, she was hunting for specimens on some invisible list I’d not been privy to. Once she’d checked what was available and asked about growing conditions, I watched, in astonishment, as she ceased swapping pleasantries to ask, “Is there any discount for buying in bulk?” She always was a fast learner. Anything we didn’t sell on the day went to a charity shop. It turned out that the ceramic foot warmer leaked (don’t ask...), so it now sits in ignominy in the garden. The DVD was excellent. I’ve moved it to the garage, in the empty cupboard, just in case.

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

Once we’d finally closed the boot, we did a circuit together. Now, by some strange alchemy, random objects acquired unexpected allure. How had I ever got by without a ceramic foot warmer or a DVD of Yes Minister? Anne left me to it and made

Beauty

Beauty Break Your Bad Beauty Habits

Image: Lisa Shepherd Hair

Bad Beauty Habit 1 Sleeping with your make-up on Never - no matter how tired you are - go to bed with any trace of make-up still on your face. Mascara that hasn’t been removed will quickly dry-out your eyelashes, making them brittle and weak. Last night’s foundation will clog your pores, leaving you prone to nasty break-outs. The Solution - Establish a cleansing routine Make cleansing your face a top priority. Dedicate 15 minutes in the evening to your skin: cleanse, tone, moisturise and apply your face and eye creams. Always keep a pack of

By Helen Taylor

It’s the start of another new year, which means that there has never been a better time to leave your bad beauty habits in the past. If you are guilty of any of our top 5, then you will need to act fast to break them in time for 2014.

Longer 1½ page format also available Bad Beauty Habit 2 - Using

cleansing wipes next to your bed, so that if you do return home after a big night out and skip the routine, you can still attempt to remove some of your make-up. heat stylers on your hair everyday If you straighten, curl or blow dry your hair every day you will be causing damage to your tresses that could result in split ends, dried-out lengths and tired, dull-looking locks. The Solution - Try something new Try a new style - maybe sweep your hair up, or use hair accessories to attain a different look. Find the right products to cater to your needs; if you want straight

lengths then use a specially formulated straightening shampoo and conditioner. You don’t have to say goodbye to your much-loved heat styler altogether. Instead, you should ensure that you use it more sparingly and don’t forget to spritz your hair with a good quality heat protecting product first. Bad Beauty Habit 3 - Using make-up that is past its best Some plead ignorance, others say they can’t let go, but whatever excuse you have for not throwing that ancient mascara away won’t cut it when you hear the truth about out-of-date make-up. Although your cosmetics look innocent enough, after being opened they offer a perfect

breeding ground for bacteria. And over time, if you don’t keep a careful eye on your products, you can end up suffering from some seriously nasty eye infections, skin irritations and blemishes. The Solution - Regularly clear-out your make-up bag Mascaras, liquid eyeliners and lip glosses should be thrown away every 3 or 4 months. Foundation is ok for around 12 months, as are lipsticks and eyeshadows. Bad Beauty Habit 4 - Stuck in a make-up rut You’ve been applying your make-up in the same way for as long as you can remember. You haven’t updated the colour of your cosmetics for many years and you’ll only ever buy certain products. It sounds like you’re stuck in a make-up rut.

The Solution - Seek a professional opinion The easiest way to break this bad beauty habit is to seek some professional help. Visit any one of the top beauty counters in your favourite department store and ask for a make-over. Most consultants will be more than happy to help you find a new look and often this service is completely free, although you will most likely be encouraged to try some of their latest products. Bad Beauty Habit 5 Overlooking your eyebrows Over-plucked brows are as bad as over-grown brows; many women make mistakes when it comes to one of their most important facial features. Eyebrows serve as a frame for your eyes and by creating the right shape you can instantly lift your face, draw attention to

your eyes and look altogether younger and more beautiful. The Solution - Pay a visit to the salon You can’t beat professionally sculpted brows. Whether you choose to have them waxed, tweezed or plucked, your beautician will assess your needs and leave them looking perfect. January is filled with New Year resolutions, so make 2014 the year you dump your beauty bad habits for good.

The Life List

The Life List Lessons Learned With age, so they say, comes wisdom. You see patterns and cycles - what was once old-hat eventually becomes retro chic (and that goes for hats too, if you wait long enough). However, looking back at the child you once were, there are sometimes lessons you wish you hadn’t learned. 1.

Portrait Half Page VersioClaus n aand Both Santa the tooth fairy lsoand were really your mum dad. Worse, availabdone you’d felt hard le by, compared

to some of your friends, until you discovered the truth. 2. Ailing animals don’t really go to a lovely farm in the country. Goldfish couldn’t live that long either, or change colour while you were at school. 3. Your uncle Bob - the one you really look like - wasn’t really your uncle after all.

4. Pickled onions won’t put hair on your chest, no matter how many you eat. Similarly, eating crusts won’t give you curly hair, and a combination of excessive cycling and putting horse manure in your wellies won’t make you grow any taller. 5. Grandparents weren’t always in dire need of soap and hankies when it came to presents, even though they were appreciative. 6. Grown-ups got scared and sad too. 7. Even teachers didn’t know the answer to everything. (And nor will Wikipedia.) 8. There was never a situation where long division or trignometry saved your life. 9. No one would ever love you as unconditionally as your mum and dad. 10. However hard you try, you can’t make weekends, summer holidays, or childhood itself last forever.

Cake & Bake

Cake and Bake Protein Packed Greek Yoghurt Brownie Bites Deciding to embrace healthy eating is a pretty big step – so if you’ve got that far, well done. The tricky part is figuring out what to eat. Sure, you can stock up on diet shakes and steamed veggies, but you can only go so far before the binge cravings break through! So we have a deliciously tempting recipe, packed with protein to keep you feeling fuller for longer – and bursting with chewy, chocolatey, nutty goodness. Made with Greek yoghurt, you can leave out the fat but still get a rich and beautifully textured brownie.

Preheat the oven to 175°C. Line a medium sized shallow baking tray with baking paper.

In a large bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients until evenly blended.

• 100g dark chocolate, broken into small chunks

Melt dark chocolate by placing in a glass bowl, over hot water. Stir regularly until evenly melted. It should be smooth and glossy.

• 100g dates, presoaked, pitted and chopped

Allow chocolate to cool slightly, and then blend in Greek yoghurt. Whip through until a light, fluffy texture is achieved.

Combine chocolate mixture with flour, and add dates. Mix everything together gently until even.

• 70g cocoa powder

• 200g Greek yoghurt (either full fat or low fat)

Pour into baking tray, and decorate with chopped nuts if using them. As a nut-free alternative, you can add dried fruit or chocolate chips.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, and check with a knife. The brownie cake should be soft and slightly sticky, but firm to the touch.

Allow to cool, before cutting into portions.

Ingredients: • 130g self-raising flour • � teaspoon baking powder • � teaspoon salt

• 75g chopped nuts (optional) Makes 12 - 16 brownies

Book Reviews

Tying the Knot

The Wife’s Tale, Lori Lansens It’s fair to say that fortysomething Mary Gooch is a comfort eater. She’s eaten her way through heartbreak and, on the eve of her 25th wedding anniversary, it looks like she’s going straight for the cookie dough once again. When she receives a note from Jim to say he’s come into some money and is off to find what he wants, that’s when Mary Gooch becomes motivated. She sets off cross country to find her wayward husband, but more importantly, to recover what remains of the girl who’s buried within those acres of rolling flesh. You will love Mary Gooch and you will never want to leave her. The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver The wife and daughters of evangelical Baptist Nathan Price tell the story of how the family is uprooted and moved from America, deep into the Belgian Congo at the end of the 1950s. This is not just the unravelling of a marriage but of a family and though it might sound all doom and gloom, it’s also a bit of a comedy of errors as they struggle to cope with life in Africa.

It’s widely reported that divorce rates sky-rocket in January, with more people citing irreconcilable differences in the first four weeks of the year than at any other time. We’ve put together some funny, tragic and heart-warming tales that focus on matrimony: how to get into a marriage, how to get out of one, or even, controversially, how to stay in one.

The Kitchen God’s Wife, Amy Tan Pearl Louie Brandt has a secret she wants to keep from her mother, Winnie. But Winnie has secrets of her own and to retell her story we must travel back to Shanghai in the 1920s, unravelling the story of how Winnie came to live in America. The Kitchen God’s Wife is called ‘Lady Sorrowfree’, who has endured many things without credit or praise, but who remains strong. Here lies the message for all the generations of the family; how we live our lives and how we build our relationships affects those around us.

The Mayor of Casterbridge, Thomas Hardy Nothing will end a marriage faster than getting drunk on rum and selling your wife. In fact, why not throw in your daughter too, for the fair price of five guineas. The trouble with wives, unless you’re a widower, is the fact that they then come back to find you some years later, and their presence threatens to sully the good name you’ve built up in their absence. Michael Henchard, hay trusser, has become the Mayor of Casterbridge, and gone teetotal in the process. Can Henchard escape the mistakes made in youth?

On Chesil Beach, Ian McEwan It’s 1962 and newlyweds Edward and Florence are honeymooning at Chesil Beach in Dorset. They reflect on their differing backgrounds and upbringing and reveal insecurities, repression and regret ahead of their ill-fated wedding night. It’s so painfully English in a stiff-upper-lip kind of way and beautifully and tragically portrays this doomed couple at the beginning of their married life.

Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn They say there are two sides to every story but we begin with a single narrator, Nick Dunne and his version of events after his wife suddenly disappears. The fact that his beautiful wife Amy vanishes on their fifth wedding anniversary is even more poetic. And then the questions begin. Can Nick Dunne’s version of events be trusted? Was his wife afraid of him? This is a clever thriller that not only asks ‘whodunit?’ but also, ‘who done what?’

Finance

Finance How to complain and make money

By Jasmine Birtles, moneymagpie.com

in writing to the head office. Ask for compensation for your time and effort (suggest an amount of money) as well as having your item mended or replaced. Send letters by recorded delivery. Step 3: If you still aren’t satisfied, write again and be persistent. Those who write a third time usually receive at least some of what they want.

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When you purchase something, whether it’s a holiday or a hat, you’re entering into a contract of exchange. This means that the seller has agreed to meet your ‘statutory rights’. If these are not met or you’re not happy with the service, you can make a complaint and ask for compensation, either in the form of money or goods.

Complain about goods and services

Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979, shops must provide goods which are of satisfactory quality, as described, fit for purpose and last a reasonable length of time. They must provide services which are carried out with reasonable care and skill within a reasonable time and at a decent cost. The way to complain about substandard goods or services is: Step 1: Make a complaint in person or over the phone as soon as possible. Inform them that you know your statutory rights as a consumer. Step 2: If you don’t receive a satisfactory response, complain

You can be compensated between half and your entire ticket price if a train is delayed for more than half an hour (depending on the cause of the delay). How to do it: Step 1: Write to the train operator. Forms are available from the ticket office, their website or from www.traindelays.co.uk. Step 2: Take your complaint further. If you’re unhappy with the response from National Rail, you can seek independent passenger representation from www.passengerfocus.org.uk for journeys outside of London or www.londontravelwatch.org. uk for journeys in and around London. Claims will need to be made within 28 days and the original ticket must be sent with your complaint. Compensation is usually paid in rail vouchers.

Complain about insurance companies and financial services If you’re unhappy about the service you have received from a financial company, it’s easier to complain than it used to be: Step 1: Complain directly to the

company in writing, explaining why you’re not happy and what you want the business to do in return. Send copies of paperwork and keep a record of your correspondence. Make sure you complain as soon as things go wrong. They will look at your complaint and see if it’s appropriate to compensate you. However in most cases they will try and avoid this so be persistent. You might have to be patient though as a business is allowed to take up to eight weeks to reach a resolution. Step 2: If you disagree, you can ask the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) www.financial-ombudsman.org. uk to look at your complaint for free.

Claim back PPI

Millions of people across the country have been mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) and have claimed back thousands of pounds in compensation. Step 1: Gather your paperwork and details and make a formal complaint to your bank or lender. You can download the forms from the Citizens Advice Bureau, www.adviceguide.org.uk. Step 2: If the complaint isn’t resolved, you can refer it for free to the FOS via their website or by calling 0800 0234 567 (or 0300 123 9123 from a mobile).

Fun FaCt: About 34m PPI policies have been sold since 2001, with almost £14bn so far set aside by the banks and building societies in compensation.

Gardening

Sowing Time Now that January is here it’s a perfect time to start sowing seeds in trays and pots. But how do you make sure that yours germinate and produce seedlings and then plants which thrive and grow well? A shopping list for first time sowers should be: • Good quality seed and cuttings compost. • Some seed half-trays, which are about 5” x 8”. • A heated propagator, a clear propagator lid to go over the trays or a small unheated propagator. • A dibber to make it easy to transplant the seedlings into a new home. • Some small pots into which you can transplant the seedlings. If you buy seed and cuttings compost it’s rarely necessary to sieve it as it has a very fine and even texture. However, if you’re using multi-purpose compost, you’ll need to either break up any lumps carefully with your hands or sieve it. Depending on the types of seeds you have chosen, you will need to sow them at different depths. Some seeds are tiny and are best scattered over the surface. Other seeds are best sown in drills. Once they are in place, in most cases you need to cover them with compost to the required depth. However others germinate best if allowed access to daylight and should be sown on the surface. With these it’s advisable to cover the surface

longer of the tray with cling film to stop ½tooprapidly. it drying1 out ageI likethento put the seeds in place and forthemcompost. moisten at aPlace the seed trays in a sinkls oro tray avaabout containing 1cm of water ilableto soak and allow the compost

up the water. Once the compost is just moist you should stand the trays in a position where any excess water can drain off. Then, if necessary, put the trays in a heated propagator. When it comes to watering the seeds, use mains water as water butts may harbour some of the disease-causing organisms which cause damping off, the fatal condition where the seedlings appear to suddenly flop and keel over. Always watch the seed trays carefully and check them regularly to ensure that the compost is adequately moist. Once the majority of the seedlings have appeared, it’s usually not long before you need to prick them out. Generally this is carried out when the first true leaves appear. When the seedling first comes above ground you will see the ‘seed leaves’ which are relatively sturdy looking and rounded in shape. Then above this come the first true leaves which are

by Pippa Greenwood typical of that particular plant. When pricking out, handle the seedlings very carefully, never by their stems or true leaves, but always by the seed leaves. Before you start to ease them out, make sure that the compost is adequately moist, so that the roots move readily without damage and that you have already prepared pots for transfer. To avoid rotting, always transplant seedlings so that they are at the same depth as they were in the seed tray. If you find that your seedlings have become rather leggy and drawn, this is usually because they’re not receiving enough natural light; move the trays onto a south or west facing windowsill. Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for a great range of gardening items including ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’. Choose the veg you’d like to grow and they’re sent to you ready to plant, accompanied by weekly advice emails from Pippa.

Health

Detoxing & Fasting The Facts behind the Fads January. Dark days plus lots of ‘fancy food’ and alcohol have made us feel fat and sludgy. So, bombarded with more dietary information than ever we rush out to spend our gift vouchers on books about ultimate diets and detox plans. But will they really make us healthier or slimmer?

Detoxing

There are numerous ‘detox diets’ that either tell you to restrict or eliminate certain foods, or advocate eating just one type of super food to flush you clean. But many experts say that your body already has the tools it needs to detoxify itself. The kidneys, liver, colon and skin all work together to remove unwanted substances from our body. Much of the detox hype sounds seductively plausible. When we’re told that our bodies are full of undesirable substances that reduce our immunity, slow our metabolism and make us retain water and weight. But the British Dietetic Association has pronounced the concept ‘irrational and unscientific’. The headaches, fatigue and other symptoms you may experience after a few days on a detox diet are not caused by toxins now released into your bloodstream. In reality, these symptoms are usually caused by your body reacting to sudden deprivation of a substance your body is a little too used

longer to – such1 as½ caffeine, pasugar geor alcohol. format also Fasting Intentionally food avagoing ilawithout blbeen is not new. People have e fasting for religious purposes for thousands of years and there are long held beliefs that it can improve various medical conditions and general health.

Many of the recent trendy fasting schemes don’t really ask you to fast at all, just to restrict your food intake on certain days or for a short period of time. Does it work? You may lose a lot of weight at first, but it can be hard to maintain as you are not fundamentally changing the way you eat. There does seem to be a connection between calorie consumption and lifespan but whether fasting gives the same results as daily moderation has yet to be proved. However if having a couple of semi-fasting days a week doesn’t make you feel ill and you don’t compensate by eating unhealthily on the other days, there’s no harm doing it.

So what should I do?

Eat a healthy and varied diet • Choose natural foods not manufactured ones. Eat plenty of vegetables of different colours, moderate amounts of fruit and lean protein. • Avoid sugar as it disrupts your natural appetite control

By Alison Runham and is known to be highly addictive. Artificial sweeteners may have no calories, but it doesn’t help you to break the habit. • Watch your carbohydrates. Potatoes, bread and cereal are pretty tasteless without added fat or sugar and that alone can cause you to take in more calories than you intended. • Cut out or reduce alcohol. Most experts agree that a little does no harm, but stick to the unit limits of 2 per day for women and 3 per day for men. Remember these are limits, not targets! • Drink water. Hopefully we all now know this doesn’t mean drinking 8 glasses per day, but ensure your intake is not all caffeinated (if you usually drink lots of caffeine, reduce slowly). Lose weight safely Most of us eat too much and there is evidence linking over-consumption of calories with reduced life-span and premature ageing, although the mechanism isn’t clear yet. Eat healthy ‘real’ foods, eat only when you are genuinely hungry and don’t eat too much.

History

What happened in... ...January 1962 7th: The UK was blanketed in snow, with temperatures in Oxfordshire plummeting to minus 18° centigrade.

On 1st January 1962 The Beatles, comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Pete Best and George Harrison, arrived at Decca’s London office for an audition. They were a day late after their road manager, Neil Aspinall, lost his way. They performed fifteen songs in just under an hour, starting with a Lennon/McCartney composition – Like Dreamers Do. Decca eventually rejected the group, commenting: ‘The Beatles have no future in show business.’

8th: An express train heading for Amsterdam collided with a commuter train from Rotterdam in thick fog, killing 91 people. 10th: An avalanche on Mount Huascaran in Peru killed 4,000 people. 11th: The Soviet submarine B-37 was moored at Polyarny naval base, undergoing maintenance, just nine days before it was due to be sent to Cuba. At 8:20am a fire in the torpedo compartment detonated all twelve torpedoes, destroying the vessel. Captain Begeba,

The average price of a house was £2,900 Petrol was about 23p a gallon.

Three of the bestselling singles this year were: I’ll Never Find Another You Billy Fury The Young Ones - Cliff Richard Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen Neil Sedaka

who was making an external inspection of the submarine at the time, survived but the rest of the crew drowned as it sank to the bottom of the Borents Sea. The blast also killed men on nearby ships and docksides; 122 people perished. The explosion hurled the submarine’s anchor over a mile. Nelson Mandela secretly left South Africa for the first time, touring Europe for six months. On his return, the future president was arrested and charged with leaving the country illegally. He was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison. 15th: The Meteorological Office started giving the temperature in centigrade after mentioning Fahrenheit temperatures. By October it was the other way round. 26th: The US launched Ranger 3 with the aim of sending back images of the lunar surface. Unfortunately it missed the moon by 22,000 miles and went into orbit around the sun (and you thought your satnav was bad). It did, however, provide the first measurements of interplanetary gamma-ray flux.

Patrick D Cousins is the author of Rainbows, Dreams and Angels, available from Amazon at £6.99. This a double novella with both stories set in London’s East End, mostly during the Fifties and Sixties. Copyright TIPSS 2011

Home & Interiors

Six Ways To Make Money From Your Home Shorter 1 page agreement about rent, bills forthemhouse and how at ais shared. lsisoa www.landlordzone.co.uk good source avaofilinformation. able You may need permission

By Katherine Sorrell

Turn a spare room into a money-making space by taking in a lodger. Shown here is the Eva Sofa Bed in Egret, £1,045, from sofa.com.

Forget cash in the attic – there’s money in every brick, stone or tile of your house, and even in the garden and garage. Katherine Sorrell explains how to make pounds from your property 1. Rent A Room One in ten homeowners now earns extra cash by letting a spare room to a lodger, according to Santander. You can also rent to commuters, Mondays to Fridays. How much can I make? Average weekly rent from a lodger is around £90, says spareroom.co.uk. Pros - You can make up to £4,250 a year tax-free under the Government’s Rent a Room scheme. A good lodger can be a friend, share the housework and keep an eye on the place when you’re away. Cons - A bad lodger can be a nightmare – in your space, may not pay the rent and hard to remove. Home insurance may go up. Need to know - Obtain references, and have a written

from your mortgage lender and, if you have one, your leaseholder. Tenants should obtain permission to rent a spare room from the landlord. 2. Be A Host For Language Students Many English language schools, and some universities, need ‘host’ families for their students, to provide a bedroom and meals and make them feel at home. It’s often just for a week or so, but sometimes longer. How much can I make? From around £100 per -From student per week, before expenses. Pros - A great way to learn about other cultures and meet interesting people, and they’re not with you for long. Cons - Not a reliable, yearround income. Need to know - Tell your home contents insurer. Obtain a written contract with the

language school. 3. Run A B&B Worth considering if you have a spare room or two and live in a desirable area. How much can I make? Depends on location, number of rooms, quality of accommodation and food. About £35 per room per night is a minimum. Pros - Meet interesting people. Open for guests when it suits you. Cons - Early starts and lots of cooking and cleaning. Upfront costs to convert your home. Then there’s marketing, insurance and book-keeping. Need to know - You may need planning permission, or alterations to meet building regulations. Tell your mortgage lender. Don’t be overly optimistic: start by aiming for a 35-40% occupancy rate. 4. Rent Your Parking Space Rent your drive or garage to a commuter people attending the theatre or a sports event. Advertise in the local paper or online.

How much can I make? You could earn more than £200 a month, depending on your proximity to offices, train/ tube stations, stadiums and so on, and what local parking and restrictions there are. Pros - Extra money for very little effort. Cons - Getting rid of someone who stops paying but continues to park could be tricky. Need to know - You can’t rent out a resident permit holder space, and tenants with a parking space can’t rent it out. Draw up a simple contract, tell your home insurer, and check that the parker has insurance in case he damages your property while behind the wheel. 5 Rent Out The Whole House You could move out of your

property (live with family or friends, or rent somewhere cheap) and turn it into a holiday home in the summer. If you live near a venue for sporting events or festivals you could rent it out to visitors. Or you could even rent it to long-term tenants. How much can I make? Depends on the size and location of your house: a two-bed Cornish cottage, for example, should make more than £500 a week in the summer. Pros - Good money. Cons - Cost of decorating and maintenance. Lots of organisation, from clearing out the house and marketing, to dealing with changeovers. Need to know - Obtain public liability insurance and comply with fire regulations (Visit England’s Pink Book is

helpful, at www.visitengland. org). Tell your insurer and declare your income to the taxman. 6 Be A Movie Location Your home could be a star. All sorts of properties are used, from council flats to country estates. How much can I make? From about £500 per day for stills photography to £2,500 for a big-budget movie. Pros - Interesting and excellent money. Cons - Not a reliable source of income. Could be lots of disruption, and neighbours may object. Need to know - Most demand is for large houses with good parking within the M25. Signing up with an agency is free, but you’ll pay a commission.

Trivia

Around Britain 5 Chemical Elements 1. Calne, Wiltshire - Oxygen Wiltshire - Oxygen was first isolated by the scientist Joseph Priestly at Bowood House near Calne in 1774. By concentrating sunlight on a glass tube containing mercuric oxide, Priestley noted that the gas it emitted, which he called ‘dephlogisticated air’, made candles burn brighter and his chest feel ‘peculiarly light’. 2. London - When - When a forgotten sample of the mineral columbite that had been sent from America to London’s British Museum in the mid-1700s was re-examined by the physicist Charles Hatchett in 1801, it was found to contain a metal that had never been identified before. Hatchett’s discovery was eventually recognized as a new chemical element and officially named niobium in 1950. 3. Edinburgh - The 3. Edinburgh - The Scottish scientist Daniel Rutherford isolated nitrogen – which he called ‘noxious air’ – while still a student at Edinburgh University in 1772. Rutherford, who was also the uncle of the writer Sir Walter Scott, now has a building named after him at the University. 4. Low Mill, Cumbria - Platinum Cumbria Platinum was discovered by the Spanish explorer Antonio de Ulloa in 1735, but the first true investigative experiments on the metal were carried out at a forge at Low Mill owned by the English metallurgist Charles Wood. Wood had previously been in charge of a lead mine in Jamaica and on his return to England in 1749 brought with him some smuggled platinum on which he performed his groundbreaking experiments. 5. Strontian, Highland - The Highland - The Highland town of Strontian is the only place in Britain to have given its name to a chemical element, strontium, which was first isolated from the local mineral strontianite by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1808. © Taken from The British Isles: A Trivia Gazetteer by Paul Anthony Jones, out now.

Motoring

Bentley Flying Spur By James Baggott, MD of BlackballMedia.co.uk

Individuals of high net worth are currently spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a luxurious four-door saloon to transport them to important business meetings and the occasional cruise to Monaco. But two British marques remain the go-to guys when it comes to exquisite craftsmanship and superlative drives... One is a certain Rolls-Royce and the other is Bentley, which just so happens to have a brand new Flying Spur in showrooms. What is it? An updated version of the luxurious Flying Spur that was first unveiled to the world in 2005. Many hours have been spent working on a new identity for the model that doesn’t shy too far away from the iconic yet understated lines of a Bentley but adds a modern edge to keep it abreast with rivals from the UK and Germany. The levels of sumptuous, handcrafted detail remain amongst some of the best in the world but an injection of new technology aims to appease the slightly younger, more gadget-savvy buyer. What’s under the bonnet? The same almighty 6-litre twinturbocharged W12 unit that can be found in the outgoing model but with a few technological tweaks that reduce fuel

consumption by 13.5 per cent and boost performance figures. Top speed is now 200mph, with Bentley marketing the monster as ‘the world’s fastest saloon’. That claim becomes quite apparent when the right pedal is pinned to the carpet as, despite weighing nearly three tonnes, it can despatch the 0-60mph sprint in just 4.3 seconds. After listening to feedback from customers, Bentley has slaved tirelessly to decrease the encroaching grumble of the mighty W12, so noise in the cabin has decreased by an impressive 40 per cent. What’s the spec like? A basic Flying Spur will set you back £140,900 so naturally specification is going to be on the generous side but, if one goes wild with the options list, prices can easily tickle the £170,000 mark. Basic W12 models come with opulent, 14-way adjustable seats, multi-zone climate control, rear-seat entertainment units and swathes of handstitched leather and natural wood veneers. A W12 Mulliner version, that includes bespoke interior hide colours, diamond quilting on the seats, embroidered Bentley logos on the seats and sporty drilled alloy pedals and knurled gear lever, is available at a premium. To give an indication

of the extent of possible luxurious specifications, the options list includes a lamb’s wool boot carpet at the cost of £600. Any rivals? The Flying Spur will always face fierce competition from the Rolls-Royce Ghost, a car whose badge arguably carries more gravitas amongst discerning customers, but also an equally eye-watering price tag. Bentley also cites the likes of BMW and Mercedes as key rivals as well as the sportier luxury saloons such as the Maserati Gran Turismo and the Aston Martin Rapide. Land Rover is also making waves in the luxury market with the Range Rover - a vehicle that is just as comfortable as the Spur but can also tackle a mountainside if the mood takes. What’s it like to drive? Effortless power is the name of the game here, the big Bentley whisking its occupants to high speeds without those inside the leathery cocoon knowing any different. The suspension does a great job of wafting over cracks and bumps through town and manages to steam roller any imperfections in motorway surfaces - it’s an absolute joy to be driven in. But the real surprise comes when you actually slide behind the

wheel and take control of the Spur. It feels big and heavy but not in a negative way, the car encourages a sensible driving style around town but the welljudged steering lightens up at slow speeds, making tight roads and tricky roundabouts a breeze to navigate. Firm up the suspension, slip the gear lever into sport mode and the twisting A-road becomes a fairground ride. It’s in no way a Lamborghini but the threetonne cruiser handles with little body roll through corners and blistering pace on the straights. According to those who sell these machines, 90 per cent of Bentley owners drive themselves and we can see why. The verdict It is very difficult to find fault with such an expensive vehicle that is lavished with Bentley levels of attention to detail and there is no denying

this is one very beautiful, very accomplished machine. Slight niggles would surround the additional tech elements with many of the menu screens proving fiddly and unintuitive. The Bluetooth phone connection requires too many stages to operate fully and we struggled with the on-board Wi-Fi. Eagle-eyed customers may also notice that a large amount of technology is carried over from other models in the Volkswagen group and those parting with £160,000 probably don’t want the Sat Nav from a Skoda. Tech aside, it is classic Bentley, boasting understated yet elegant looks, impressive power and interior comfort that is hard to find anywhere else.

The Knowledge Model: Bentley Flying Spur W12 Price: £140,900 Engine: 6-litre, twinturbocharged W12 Power: 616bhp, 800Nm Max speed: 200mph 0-62mph: 4.3 seconds MPG: 19.2mpg combined Emissions: 343 g/km

Life Begins

Life Begins Reclaim your living space for 2014

We all love the festive season, but it can’t be denied that Christmas celebrations are a magnet for mess and clutter. For a short period of time our living space seems to shrink under the sheer volume of seasonal items, including gifts (yours and theirs), food and drink, countless decorations – and of course, that huge pile of washing up that never seems to diminish from morning to night. No wonder, then, that at New Year we take a certain pleasure in clearing out the festive junk we have accumulated in order to restore some domestic equilibrium. But why stop there? Traditionally the beginning of the year is a period when we want to embrace change, eliminating what has become outworn and unnecessary, so it makes sense to tap into that New Year energy by using the first weeks of January to reclaim your living space. The psychological benefits are obvious: most of us feel better, calmer and more able to deal

by Kate McLelland

Longer 1½ page format also with daily stress when our home environment is well ordered, a v a ilaseem bleso so why does it always difficult to make a start when clearing out the things we no longer need?

If it’s been a while since you sorted through your stuff, then contemplating a proper clearout may seem like a terrifying prospect. Here’s an easy, step-by-step guide to getting the job done: 1. One step at a time. Don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the prospect of reorganising your home; give yourself a set of different tasks and don’t start the next task until the last one is complete. For example, Task 1 could involve going through your kitchen cupboards, throwing away everything that’s past its sell-by date, Task 2 could be a thorough clear-out of your clothes drawers and wardrobes while Task 3 might call for a purge on your home filing system. Make a list and tick off the items one by one to give yourself a real sense of

achievement. 2. Use the ‘three pile’ system. One pile to keep, one pile to donate or give to friends, one pile to throw away. If some of the items in your ‘keep’ pile have previously been hanging around, gathering dust, this is the ideal time to buy some attractive boxes or baskets that will keep them all out of sight. 3. Make an audit of potential storage areas in your house. Are there any alcoves that could be filled with shelves? Is your loft being used to its full capacity? Do you have an under-used garden shed? 4. Cultivate a minimalist style. If your rooms are full of pictures and ornaments it becomes hard to appreciate the merits of any single object, so identify a few items that you really cherish and make sure they are properly displayed. If you love all your decorative pieces equally, you can always rotate them throughout the year. If you don’t want to put up shelves or buy more storage options, sometimes it’s just a matter of rethinking the way your house is organised. Moving a large item of furniture just a few inches can sometimes give a much more spacious feel to a room, so be creative and experiment. However you choose to reclaim your space, you’ll have a whole year to enjoy the results.

Recipe Red Onion Soup with Melting Gruyere Croutons Serves 4

Ready in 1 hour 30 minutes

After all the indulgence and expense of Christmas and the New Year, this hearty soup is the perfect antidote. Ideal for a warming winter lunch or supper it’s simple to make, tastes delicious and doesn’t cost a fortune.

Ingredients: • 2 tbsp olive oil • 15g butter • 650g small red onions, peeled and thinly sliced • 2 tsp brown sugar • 1 tbsp flour • 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard • 1.2litres beef or vegetable stock • Few sprigs fresh thyme, plus extra to garnish • Salt and freshly ground black pepper • 8 thin slices day old French bread • 75g Gruyere cheese, grated

Tip If you use stock made up from stock cubes taste the soup before adding any seasoning as some can be quite highly seasoned.

Heat the oil and butter in a large, deep heavy-based saucepan until the butter is sizzling. Add all the sliced onions and cook very gently over a low heat for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Sprinkle over the sugar and cover and cook for a further 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are very soft and golden. Stir in the flour and half the mustard and cook for 1 minute, then gradually stir in the stock. Add the thyme sprigs, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper (see Tip) and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 3540 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust the seasoning to taste. Lightly toast the slices of French bread on one side. Spread the untoasted sides with the rest of the mustard and top with the grated Gruyere cheese. Pop under a hot grill for 1-2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and top each with two hot Gruyere croutons. Serve immediately garnished with thyme sprigs.

Short Story

Short Story Scrabble with the Drabbles Melanie had arrived at the hotel in Lanzarote exhausted but excited, then received a glowing welcome from a handsome young Receptionist, with the name ‘Angel’ on his badge. Her family had thought her decision to holiday alone was crazy, but Melanie wanted, just once in her life, to do something reckless. If the hotel guests are as nice as Angel, she’d thought, this holiday is going to be perfect. After exploring the hotel complex, however, she’d slumped into a state of dismay. She discovered the island was having its wettest January for thirty years, and she had booked herself into an out-ofseason resort with a crowd of Bingo-loving pensioners. This was not going to be the big adventure she’d hoped it would be. It was dull, but bearable, until she met Dennis and June Drabble. Dennis swooped upon her like a clammy vulture declaring his intention to take her under his wing. He had a fondness for his own awful opinions. And June was kidding herself that wearing massive sunglasses concealed the fact that she was constantly lusting after Fario, the overweight lifeguard with one eyebrow. The Drabbles wouldn’t leave her alone. So far Melanie had shared an evening of Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit and Cluedo with them in the hotel lounge. Dennis was the type of person who sulked whenever it looked like he might not win. June glugged back all-inclusive gin until her

sunglasses steamed up. All day Melanie had been dreading their threat of Scrabble, so tonight she decided to rebel. When the coast was clear she tiptoed into the lobby and asked Angel to call her a taxi. “Where are you going, Miss?” he asked politely as he picked up the phone. Melanie shrugged. “A bar? Somewhere lively? I need to get out of here.” He glanced towards the lounge, looked back at her sympathetically and winked. “I know the perfect place: good food, great music, young people.” Melanie smiled with gratitude. “That sounds absolutely perfect.” Across the lobby Melanie caught sight of the Drabbles parading through to the lounge. She ducked down behind a potted palm but was too late; they had spotted her. “Ready for Scrabble, Missy?” Dennis rattled the scrabble box in her face just as Angel announced, “Your taxi will arrive in five minutes.” A look of supreme offence crossed Dennis’s face. “You’re not going out?” It sounded more like a statement than a question. “I am actually,” Melanie gulped. “I’m going to a bar”. “On your own? Surely that isn’t safe?” “No,” Melanie lied. ”I’m meeting someone.” “Not Fario?” croaked June.

“He’s a terrible gigolo I hear.” “We should come with you,” Dennis said glancing at his watch as though this was all very inconvenient. “I’ll need to find my wallet”. “Oh no,” Melanie said quickly. The last thing she wanted was the Drabbles chaperoning her on an imaginary date. “I would hate to spoil your evening.” “It would seem it is already spoilt,” Dennis said tossing the scrabble box onto the desk. “What the young lady means,” Angel intervened, “is that she will be in perfectly safe hands and delivered back to the hotel in one piece - by me.” With authority, he ushered them towards the lounge. “Thank you,” Melanie said, once the Drabbles had gone. “Honestly though, you didn’t have to lie on my behalf.” “My shift has just finished and I would love to show you my beautiful island,” he smiled shyly. “Unless you’d prefer Scrabble.” The taxi pulled up outside. The rain had stopped and a warm breeze blew in that smelled of sea mist, adventure and, possibly, romance.

By Jackie Brewster

Technology Review

Fit For Purpose The gadgets that give you a handle on your health

A gadget a day keeps the doctor away: according to a recent survey, one-third of people believe that using health and fitness gadgets have made them healthier and reduced the number of times they’ve needed to visit the doctor. Health and fitness gadgets are big business, whether it’s trendy fitness trackers such as the Nike FuelBand (£129) and the Fitbit Force (pricing tbc, but likely to be similar) or more serious devices such as blood glucose meters and body composition analysers. As tech becomes smarter, smaller and cheaper, DIY health monitoring has never been easier or more affordable. Diabetics need to monitor their glucose levels regularly, and there are lots of gadgets designed to help, such as the Lifescan One Touch UltraMini (around £33) and the Bayer Contour NEXT USB (£29.99). Both devices enable you to analyse your blood glucose levels and can store the results - 50 in the case of the UltraMini and 2,000 with the Contour NEXT. The latter device can also plug into your computer to create easy-to-understand charts and tables to help you spot patterns. That’s not all you can monitor.

A trip to Maplin or Amazon uncovers all kinds of health monitoring gadgets, including blood pressure monitors that can upload data to your PC (around £39), finger pulse oximeters (£27) and fully digital heart rate monitors (around £29), and you can also buy bathroom scales that analyse your body composition: for around £30 you can pick up scales that can tell you not just how heavy or light you are, but what your BMI (Body Mass Index) is and what percentage of your body is made of fat. Scales such as the Omron BF508 also have a guest mode, so visitors won’t see your vital statistics. Using health monitors has become something of a craze, and it even has a name: Quantified Self, or QS for short. Devotees use gadgets to monitor pretty much everything, so they’ll invest in Wi-Fi scales such as the Withings Smart Body Analyzer (£129), which monitors weight, fat, heart rate and even air quality, and which automatically uploads that data to your personal health website. They’ll also wear devices such as the Jawbone Up (£99), a bracelet that’s designed to be worn 24/7 and which records the steps you take,

the activity you undertake and even your sleeping patterns. The accompanying software enables you to add additional information such as your food and drink intake, and it translates all of that data into graphs and charts so you can see how well you’re doing and track your progress towards goals, such as losing weight, running faster or just being out and about more. Many such gadgets also enable you to share your progress on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Devices such as the Jawbone Up, Nike FuelBand and Fitbit Force are designed to work with smartphones, using low-power radio signals to share data with compatible apps. That’s a growing market, and stacks of firms are jumping on the bandwagon: 60beat offers the £29 BLUE heart rate monitor for iPhone and iPad users, AliveCore has a £170 heart monitor for iPhone 5 users and there are various connected blood glucose monitors, pulse monitors and fitness trackers for both iOS and Android. While the various devices differ, they all have the same idea in common: by recording the data, they enable you (or your doctor) to have a much better picture of your health.

Travel

The Lot Secret Garden By Solange Hando Deep in South West France, the bucolic Lot valley runs almost parallel to the Dordogne, just as pretty, quieter and home to a unique garden. Few people have heard of Temple sur Lot yet in this humble village, the ‘Jardin des Nénuphars’ is the birthplace of the French water lilies which inspired Claude Monet in his Giverny garden, hundreds of miles away in Normandy. In this lush valley, in the 1870s, local horticulturist Bory Latour-Marliac discovered a mysterious hybridising process to create new varieties of hardy water lilies, exhibited for the first time at the Paris World Fair in 1889. There, in the shadow of the newly-built Eiffel Tower, visitors gazed in wonder at this floating display of colours for until then, only white lilies were known in Europe. Crossed with blooms from the Americas and beyond, the new water lilies were awarded first prize in their category. Among the many visitors was the impressionist painter Claude Monet. Long captivated by colour, Monet was quick to recognise new opportunities for his art and when he designed his own water garden in Giverny,

he decided to stock his lily pond with blooms from the nursery of Latour-Marliac. The result is the celebrated series of paintings known as Nymphéas, or water lilies, with eight panels displayed in especially-designed rooms in the Orangerie Museum in Paris. Others have found their way into museums worldwide, some reaching £40 million at auction; without Monsieur Latour –Marliac, the art world would have been a poorer place. Monet inspired new generations of artists and the nursery continued trading, under the auspices of successive owners, the latest in line American entrepreneur Rob Sheldon, passionate about water lilies and all things French. Much work has been done to restore and maintain the lily ponds and myriad varieties of plants are grown in 65 cultivation pools, each one divided into ten sections where frogs hop, luminous green, to everyone’s delight. The original Art Nouveau pools contain the French National Collection with close to 300 varieties. Once used for propagation, the old terra cotta pots still stand at the water’s edge, a glowing reminder of the past

as visitors enjoy lunch with a view on the nearby terrace. Meanwhile in a former plumdrying oven, the museum documents the development of Latour-Marliac water lilies, said to account for around 70% of varieties on the market, all descendants from the original hybrids. Among the archives are several order forms signed by Claude Monet, the most important requesting 77 plants in 1894. But French collection aside, the landscaped grounds are a lovely place to wander around, here a cluster of tropical water lilies, including the lovely Egyptian Blue, there elegant lotus in pastel colours or Amazonian lilies with leaves up to a metre across, said to withstand the weight of a child. Down by the stream, the bamboo grove, once the largest in Europe, adds its own exotic touch and in a quiet corner, a statue of Latour-Marliac shows him closely studying a water lily. The lofty church spire of Temple sur Lot looks down on a quaint Japanese bridge, the mirror image of the famous bridge in the Giverny garden where Monet found inspiration among the colourful lilies from the Lot Valley.

Puzzles, Quizzes & Cartoons Cartoon 1

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Cartoon 2 Sample ch eck dowloads for current car toon

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Page

Cryptic Crossword Cryptic Crossword 1

10 11

13 14

16 17 20

Across 1 Cares about a hundred in short supply (6) 4 Latin fog swirls about, drifting aimlessly (8) 9 Give up work and go to bed (6) 10 Swindle and dish up jam (8) 12 Ultimatum ruins ideal end (8) 13 Ripest sort of clergyman (6) 15 Chaps to and fro for Christmas (4) 16 Ted able to come round after the expected time (7) 20 Endlessly desiring a pain-killer (7) 21 New idea for an assistant (4) 25 Unprincipled spoken test in the morning? (6) 26 Ready money on simple material (8) 28 Dual need for a type of petrol (8) 29 Silent move to join the military (6) 30 Liberality when less rage is stirred up (8) 31 Seal we exchanged for another creature (6)

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Down 1 Unpleasantly loud explosion of tridents (8) 2 Entreat a worried beast (8) 3 Ring a cleric modelled (6) 5 Weaving machine seen in Bloomsbury (4) 6 Trades so badly varied (8) 7 Serial about a country (6) 8 Got the change for a run-down district (6) 11 Like a cherub in orange lichen (7) 14 Upper-case main city (7) 17 Exciting adventure when a seed cap explodes (8) 18 Roman emperor buries it badly (8) 19 Leap around Tedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plinth (8) 22 Instruction book relating to the hands (6) 23 Hat worn by a cricket player? (6) 24 Part of a church cut for luck (6) 27 Tidings from all points of the compass (4)

Solution Copyright TIPSS 2011 Across: 1 Scarce, 4 Floating, 9 Retire, 10 Conserve, 12 Deadline, 13 Priest, 15 Noel, 16 Belated, 20 Aspirin, 21 Aide, 25 Amoral, 26 Cashmere, 28 Unleaded, 29 Enlist, 30 Largesse, 31 Weasel.

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.

1 13

21 26

26 12

22 10

25 1

4 25 24 5

16 16

25 10

2 25 20 8

2 2

8 6

4 6

6 25

6 13

25 25

5 26

13 5

3 25

General Knowledge Crossword Across 3. Onyx marble (9) 8. Crack in a lip caused usually by cold (4) 9. Pretending one set of feelings and acting under the inﬂuence of another (3-5) 10. Glacial period in Earth’s history (3,3) 13. Greek muse of love poetry (5) 14. Painfully desirous of another’s advantages (7) 15. Ugly, evil-looking old woman (3) 16. Citizen who has a legal right to vote (7) 17. Devoutly religious (5) 21. Breathe out (6) 22. Early Christian church (8)

General Knowledge Crossword 23. Bake in a kiln so as to harden (4) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 24. Apiarist (9) 8 Down 1. Copyist, scribe (9) 9 2. Implanted device 10 that controls heartbeat (9) 12 11 4. Milky plant 13 14 substance that coagulates on 15 exposure to air (5) 16 17 5. Sell illicit products such as drugs or 18 alcohol (7) 19 20 21 6. Unwanted email (4) 22 7. Fencing sword (4) 23 11. Mental illness in which the mind is 24 dominated by a single thought or fruit, etc (3) 19. Strong, forceful wind idea (9) (4) 15. Facility caring for the 12. Of a triangle, terminally ill (7) 20. Mammal having having two sides partially webbed of equal length (9) 18. Make cloth by feet; valued for its fur interlacing threads 14. Container used to (4) (5) store jam, dried

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Mini Cryptic Mini Cryptic Crossword

Sudoku - Easy

7 8 9 10

17 18

19 20

13. Traded round delta (5) 14. Joins a golf course by the sea (5) 15. Severe form of rents (5)

Across 3. Mad earl became agitated with sudden fear (7) 7. Mistaken belief held by terrorists (5) 8. Cameron’s kind of love story (7) 9. Proportion from a riot (5) 10. News; it’s not right, see (7) 13. Lags behind and waddles about (7) 17. Teach a locomotive? (5) 18. Alternative bees can lack (7) 20. Location detector that goes back and forth (5) 21. Senator beaten for betrayal (7) Down 1. Rips aster apart (5) 2. Far West forged into cutting tool (7) 3. Missile in narrow escape (5) 4. Own up and allow to enter (5) 5. Adult male found back in Vietnam (3) 6. Eats sparingly when the tide’s turned (5) 11. Frozen water obtained from atomic explosion (3) 12. Becomes larger in volume or size, as Spandex might do (7)

16. Saner form of animal trap (5) 19. Girl to institute legal proceedings against? (3)

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 46

28 35

5 words

20 16

14 11

JENNINGS EHT

38 29

4 words

44 26

DON P_THO_ PAN_SA_

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3 words

USER MANAGER MANAGER USER MANAGER USER USER MANAGER MANAGER USER

CUSTOMER CUSTOMER CUSTOMER CUSTOMER CUSTOMER

Quiz 1 Review Of The Year 1. In March 2013, who famously said “may God forgive you for what you have done”? 2. In 2013, who left his career in politics to become President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee in New York? 3. In April 2013, what became the first song with a running time of less than a minute to reach the top ten of the UK singles charts? 4. In August 2013, it was announced that actor Peter Capaldi will take over the leading role in which long running TV series? 5. UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom caused controversy in July 2013 when referring to countries that receive overseas aid from the UK by what name? 6. In which competition did Gaynor Hopkins finish in 15th position when representing the UK in 2013? 7. Mad About The Boy was the sub-title of a 2013 novel centred around which character? 8. With a main building that was affectionately known by staff as “the doughnut”, what officially closed on March 31st 2013? 9. What was the final score in the 2013 Ashes series? 10. Which two singers won two awards each at the 2013 BRIT Awards?

Quiz 2 Movie Occupations Choosing from the list on the right, can you work out the occupations of the movie characters on the left?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Eliza Doolittle Gaylord Focker Only Jean Brodie for subsc ribers paying Sarah Connor for tw o or more p Molly Jensen ostcod es Adrian Cronauer exclus ivity Vivian Ward Travis Bickle Frank Farmer Vinny Gambini

also available as a Bodyguard quarter page Disc Jockey

Flower Seller Lawyer Nurse Potter Prostitute Taxi Driver Teacher Waitress

Simple Crossword QUICK CROSSWORD

Across

1 King's title (7)

5 Herb (5) 8 Sprays water (9)

9 Curved line (3) 13

10 Sword (5) 12 Remote military camp (7)

13 Incendiary guns (13) 15 Highest noble rank (7)

17 Tests (5) 19 Concerned with the environment (3) 20 Raised area (9) 22 Give up (5) 23 Wandered (7) Down 1 Disguises (5)

2 Glass container (3)

11 Region in space (5,4)

3 4 5 6 7

13 14 16 18 21

Genuine, honest (7) Colourful small birds (13) Hat (5) E.g.EastEnders (4,5) Finds (7)

Spot the Difference

Nervous (7) Outside (4-3) fear (5) Church council (5) Climbing plant (3)

Two Minute Trial

Word Ladder Word Ladder

I H R E S V

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.

C O A L

3 letters: 11 4 letters: 12 5 letters: 7 6 letters: 1

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M I N E

Wordsearch Musical Instrument

Banjo Bass Bodhran Castanet Cello Chimes Cittern Clarinet Cornet Cymbal

Didgeridoo Drum Flute Guitar Harp Mandolin Oboe Pennywhistle

Piano Sitar Tambourine Trumpet Viola Violin

Find the names of musical instruments in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase