TIPSS Content Catalogue November 2013 by Tania Houston

Content Catalogue November 2013

Content Articles Special 1: 17 November 1558 Accession of Elizabeth 1 Special 2: November’s Big Bang Fireworks Night The Better Life: Shedding A Tear Beauty: All About Hair Extensions Book Reviews: What’s It Worth? Finance: How To Make An Extra £100 A Week From Home Gardening Feature: Ground Cover Health: Hypnotise Yourself To A Less Painful Labour? Yes Please! Humour: Nest-Building For Beginners Home & Interiors: Textures For Interiors The Life List: Clues You’re Not Really Over Your Ex Motoring Feature: Aston Martin Rapide S Recipe: Twice Baked Cheese Souffles Life Begins: What Kind Of Christmas Shopper Are You? Trivia: Around Britain - 5 Raids & Invasions Short Story: The Amazing Mister MIttens Tech Review: The Heat Is On Travel Feature: Essaouira Morocco

Puzzles

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Cartoon 1 21 Cartoon 2 21 Children’s Page 22 Cryptic Crossword 23 Codeword 24 General Knowledge Crossword 24 Mini Cryptic Crossword 25 Sudoku - Easy & Hard 25 Super Duper Science Facts 26 Hidato 26 Pictogram 26 Quiz 1: Fairy Tales 27 Quiz 2: Caroon Animals 27 Simple Crossword 28 Spot the Difference 28 Two Minute Trial 29 Word Ladder 29 Wordsearch: Family 29

Articles Special 1

17 November 1558 Accession of Elizabeth 1

Princess Elizabeth at the age of 13 years

Guy Fawkes Day and Armistice Day are November’s highlights these days; but long ago it had another and, to some, even more important holiday – November 17th, the day in 1558 when Elizabeth I became England’s second Queen Regnant. The omens were not good. In the 11 years since Henry VIII died England had been through a Protestant revolution under Edward VI and then a Catholic counter-revolution under Bloody Mary, in which 300 Protestants went to the stake and thousands more fled to Calvinist Switzerland. England was bitterly divided; and on Mary’s death the return of the refugees, thoroughly radicalised by their exposure to Calvin, created an extremist wing (later called Puritan) to make the split even deeper. To make matters worse the government had been bankrupted by Mary’s involvement in Spain’s war against France, whose

By Ted Bruning

only fruit was the loss of Calais. The war was still going on, and public opinion was strongly in favour of abandoning Spain and allying with France.

had to live with the threat of execution: under Mary, she was the natural focus of Protestant hopes and spent a year in the Tower in constant fear for her life.

Then there was the question of a husband. No English monarch had remained unwed since William Rufus, and the prospect of another succession crisis was a constant dread. Elizabeth had to have an heir, so she needed a husband. But who? Philip of Spain was keen, but he had already been married to Mary and we’d been here before – Henry VIII marrying his brother’s widow hadn’t turned out well. France managed to lose two kings – Henry II and Francis II – within 18 months and there was no candidate there. Marry an English noble? Elizabeth fancied the fiery Robert Dudley, but he was already married. Fortuitously his wife died falling down the stairs, but everyone believed he’d pushed her, which made him ineligible.

The woman who emerged from all these experiences on November 17th 1558 remains perhaps the most formidable of England’s 40 post-Conquest monarchs. Her intellect, education, and the survival skills she had learnt as prisoner of an abuser and in the Tower combined in a special way; she had seen too much violence, and instead of becoming harsh and vengeful she learnt compassion, understanding, and the value of compromise.

With crises bearing down on her, Elizabeth, who had only just turned 25, needed special qualities to survive. Luckily, she had them. Orphaned and declared illegitimate at 2� when her mother Anne Boleyn went to the block, she had spent her early years more or less locked away receiving an astonishing education. Fluent in French, Spanish, Flemish, Italian, Latin, and Greek, she also studied philosophy under the greatest thinker of the day, Roger Ascham. She

Within six months of her accession she had made peace with France; she quickly reversed the Catholic counterrevolution without triggering a rebellion; and in her 45-year reign she made only 40 Catholic martyrs compared to the 300 Protestant martyrs during the five years of the Marian persecution. She could be ruthless when she had to be, albeit unwillingly – the execution of Mary Queen of Scots was postponed much longer than was wise – and she was a determined and courageous war-leader. She was also a gifted economist. You could plausibly argue that she was the country’s greatest political leader of all time: perhaps November 17th should be reinstated as the public holiday it once was.

Special 2

November’s Big Bang Fireworks Night By James Smith, www.jamessmithwriter.wordpress.com the House of Lords as part of an audacious plan hatched by Fawkes and his fellow Catholic conspirators. News of the plan, however, was leaked to King James and Fawkes was captured and arrested. After some unsavoury interrogation and torture, Fawkes confessed to the crime and was banished to be hung, drawn and quartered. Not keen on facing the gallows, he leapt from the supporting scaffolding and met his end by way of a broken neck. Thus, the tale of conspiracy from 1605 became folklore in Britain and spawned generations who collected wood for bonfires and roamed from house-to-house seeking ‘a penny for the guy’, after which the effigy was placed on the blaze to meet its doom. Some of these traditions remain, but the modern commemoration is a more commercial operation with safety and litigation as primary concerns, alongside enjoyment of the events. Notwithstanding this gloomy state of affairs, surfing the Internet reveals some fascinating information on the subject of fireworks as well as the do’s and don’ts of safety. The website Bonfire Night Safety, for example, states that in a recent year there were 990 injuries caused by fireworks in October and November, and alarmingly, that 285 of them were eye injuries. There are also some interesting snippets on the site; prior to 1959, it was illegal not to celebrate bonfire night in the UK and apparently, some fireworks can travel up to speeds of 150 mph.

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This year’s Bonfire Night will see Britain’s population stocking up on pyrotechnics and hoping for a starry night into which they will launch their rockets and colourful array of exploding projectiles. Guy Fawkes’ commemoration by no means holds a monopoly on the format. An increasing number of dates outside the 5th of November fill Britain’s calendar with spectacular displays at many events. People from all backgrounds, old and young, come together to marvel at the displays and join in the chorus of ooohs and aaahs. It’s an age-old, simple pleasure that makes no distinction between culture, politics, or language. Quite simply, fireworks are just fun to watch.

Britain’s Pyrotechnic History

As an English Catholic, Guy Fawkes’ gunpowder plot of 1605 was born of a desire to rid Parliament of Protestant King James I and replace him with third in line, Princess Elizabeth. Gunpowder was placed in a room (an ‘undercroft’) beneath

Despite the hazards of pyrotechnics, a few precautions will see you enjoying the action in safety. There is plenty of information online and from local authorities to make for a safe and enjoyable night, so be sure to seek it out before lighting the touch paper or joining an organised event.

The Business of Pyrotechnics

The history of fireworks dates back to China in the 7th century where displays accompanied festivities, a trend that spread to many other cultures around the world. The popularity of these displays created a firework manufacturing industry and the much-respected profession of the pyrotechnician. It seems, however, that the mainstay of the industry is harking back to its Chinese roots as the majority of fireworks are now made in China and imported. The squeeze on materials and labour costs, plus fierce competition in the business, has caused the UK’s industry to downsize and concentrate on specialist markets and displays, rather than manufacture. Our love affair with the spectacle continues. And for Britain, Guy Fawkes Night provides enough history and national enthusiasm to step out into the cold November air to indulge just one more time. The British Pyrotechnists Association (BPA) www.pyro.org.uk Bonfire Night - Your Guide To A Safer Event www.bonfire-night-safety.co.uk The Firefighters Charity www.firefighterscharity.org.uk

The Better Life

The Better Life Shedding a Tear

It looked pretty, but there was more plant than building!

It’s funny how attached you can become to inanimate objects. It was only a summerhouse, after all - a glorified, double-doored, glass-fronted shed. And in its time it has mainly housed folding chairs, the lawnmower, chicken bedding and the cat. Even so, I was sorry to be parting company with it. Summerhouse still sounded so bright and optimistic, even this late in the year, despite its current appearance. The roof had become open plan in places and the Russian Vine (not for nothing is it sometimes known as mile-a-minute) had infiltrated and exploited the guttering, several joints and three places along one side panel. So, all things considered, it was time to make a difficult decision. Or rather, it was time for Anne to make a difficult decision. Demolition was a straightforward affair, once I’d taken on board Anne’s advice not to stand in the middle of it and pull. Nothing salvageable

by Derek Thompson

was wasted. The doors went to a neighbour to become elongated cold frames; likewise the bigger windows. We kept the smaller ones to bring on beans and butternut squash plants in the future. Plus, there was enough kindling - or rather, there will be - to fill our wood store. The next stage in my summerhouse grieving process occurred when Anne took me shed shopping, since we clearly didn’t need another summerhouse and our actual shed was also on its last legs. When you run out of spaces on the doors to fit replacement hinges, it’s time to call it a day. I wandered around the shed yard, surly and unimpressed, like a schoolboy having to buy new shoes for next term. And then I saw it, framed in golden sunlight: a wonder shed. With glass along one side to let in light for propagation and so that we can watch the birds, and enough space for my tools, my bike and the cat, it ticked all the boxes. Delivery was assured in four weeks’ time and no money down - an allround winner. However, now that we’d prepared the ground, it was

time to really prepare the ground by levelling it and adding a layer of sand. As the shed needs to sit on blocks and these have to be aligned and spaced perfectly, Anne waited until I’d gone out to work. A neighbour popped over to help; the same one who corrected my comedy coat rack (now you see it, now you pick it - and a pile of coats - up off the floor). By the time I returned home, all I needed to do was position some plastic sheeting, so that the cat didn’t feel tempted to leave an organic time capsule in the sand. The shed people delivered on time and put the shed up on site. The block work was, thanks to my noninvolvement, perfect. Even the cat flap seemed to meet with Porsha’s approval. She is a pre-named, rescue cat, so I take no responsibility. In the evening, a deputation of neighbours came up to take a look around the shed (with torches). Like I say, it’s a small village and not much happens here. One person asked, with genuine concern, if we planned to rent it out to holidaymakers. I quickly shed some light on the matter.

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 All About Hair Extensions If you dream of long, luscious locks but are stuck with limp and lifeless tresses, you might be tempted to turn to hair extensions for a quick and easy fix. But there is a lot to consider before you take the plunge and invest in extensions, and that’s why we have compiled a guide to which ones are right for you. Human Hair or Synthetic Hair? Extensions can be made from either real human hair, synthetic hair or a mixture of both. The more expensive the extensions are, the more likely they are to be made from 100% human hair. This is because using the real thing makes for a head of manageable, naturallooking locks that can be styled, coloured and cared for just like your own hair. If you’re planning on having a lot of extensions added to your hair and want to wear them for a long time, it’s essential that you invest in the best you can afford and have them professionally applied in a good salon. Always make sure that the extensions you buy are ethically sourced. If you want to wear just a few extensions, and only for special occasions, then synthetic hair should be ok for you. It’s a lot cheaper than real hair, but remember that in most cases it can’t be heat styled, so you’ll have to decide on what look you want and stick to it. It also

can be a lot more difficult to manage and does become easily tangled and matted. The Right Hue for You What look do you want to achieve when you’re wearing extensions? If you prefer a very natural look that blends seamlessly with your own hair, it’s essential to find extensions in a shade that matches it perfectly. Generally many brands organise their colours in the same way as hair dyes, so that it’s easy to determine the correct hue for you. Colours range from the lightest shade of blonde to the deepest shade of black and incorporate all warm and cool variations.

Image: Racoon International

comfortable, gentle and affordable than others. Clip-in/Tie-in - Ideal for occasional use and can be taken out and applied easily to achieve a variety of different looks. Because of the way they are joined to the hair, they don’t always look natural and can be obvious to the touch.

Heat Fusion – Provide long lasting results, with a natural looking finish. However, And, if you fancy a few sections because heat is used, this of bold colour, then your method can damage your own options are limitless. You can hair. easily pick up extensions in a Cold Fusion - Unlike heat range of vibrant shades, and fusion, cold fusion doesn’t what’s more they are usually use any heat for application, cheaper and are perfect for meaning that your natural hair occasional use. won’t be damaged. The results are very natural looking, as well Texture and Style as long lasting. Extensions come in a vast range of textures, so that they Weft – Can look very natural will blend with your own locks. when applied correctly, There are straight lengths, although to the touch a weft spiral curls and everything can feel chunky if not applied in between. It’s important to with skill. match the texture to your own Microbead – No need for glue hair for the extensions to lie or heat to be applied, which and fall properly. limits damage to your own Application natural hair. Extensions are There are many ways to fixed in place using a small apply extensions to your bead. hair and some can be more By Helen Taylor

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Book Reviews

What’s It Worth?

Bonfire of the Vanities By Tom Wolfe Here’s written proof that life can turn on a dime. Bond trader Sherman McCoy thinks he has life pretty sussed, with a swanky Park Avenue apartment, trophy wife and even a bit on the side. Then he’s involved in a hit and run and his life starts to come undone. Wolfe’s novel exudes money, and all the excesses of the 1980s come spilling out of the pages. The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald The very embodiment of the excesses of the so-called Jazz Age, The Great Gatsby himself is the millionaire Jay Gatsby who resides at West Egg, Long Island. For years he’s been in love with Daisy Buchanan, who now lives across the water at East Egg and remains as elusive and just out of his grasp as ever. Determined to win back Daisy’s affections, Gatsby holds lavish party after lavish party in the hope that someday, she will walk back into his opulent hallway, and his life. This cautionary tale reveals what happens when American Dreams turn out to be anything but, and Gatsby learns, to his detriment, that all that glitters may not be gold.

It’s said that money makes the world go round and it’s certainly provided adequate fodder for fiction writers over the years. Here’s our pick of the best books on bucks… and how to spend them.

Money By Martin Amis Greedy chops personified, John Self loves everything to excess: spending money, sex, alcohol, tobacco, but then, equally, who doesn’t love a genuine glutton for all that they are? A director of TV adverts, with wild spending habits, Self is trying to produce his first major picture and is doing it with his usual excess and aplomb. This is a story of a man who lives without restraints; of excess and exuberance, all done in an incredibly comic way. You will be shocked and appalled, but in a good way. The Way We Live Now By Anthony Trollope If you thought financial scandal was limited to modern day bankers and politicians then think again. This is Trollope’s great satire of the financial wheeler-dealings of the 1870s. Augustus Melmotte is a financier with a dubious past who relocates to London and sets the city alight with gossip and intrigue. Like Jay Gatsby, he holds lavish parties in order to extract what he wants from people, in this case investors, and so begins an intricatelywoven tale of greed and dishonesty.

Confessions of a Shopaholic By Sophie Kinsella You write about solving financial problems for a living, but your own bank account is firmly cemented in the red. Journalist Rebecca Bloomwood is a selfconfessed shopaholic, who becomes increasingly entangled in her own intricate web of credit card debts and unpaid bills, all the while dispensing advice to other poor financial flops. Can she ever see her way clear to a debt-free but romance-full life? Vanity Fair By William Makepeace Thackeray Becky Sharp knows what she wants and how to get it. Thackeray’s single-minded heroine has just graduated from Miss Pinkerton’s Academy for Young Ladies and now has her sights set firmly on wealth and worldly possessions. Amelia, her somewhat more loveable and kind- hearted companion, is a bit soppier and only has eyes for her soldier, George who it has to be said, is a bit of a cad and a bounder. Vanity Fair is an epic satire of love, loss, fortunes and fighting, all done with more than a smattering of Regency style.

Finance

How To Make An Extra £100 A Week From Home Stuck at home and need to make some extra cash? There are lots of ways you can do it. Here are just a few of them.

Be a Virtual Assistant

A Virtual Assistant (VA) is someone who works as a secretary outside the office from their computer at home. It can involve a wide range of tasks, however the more specialised your skills are, the more you’ll be able to charge. To be a successful VA, you’ll definitely need to be computersavvy and have experience of admin work already. Agencies like VA4U.com charge up to £150 per client per day, but typically you would charge between £15 – £25 per hour for routine admin work done by phone or email.

Giving your opinions

Make £50-100 a time in cash for giving your opinions in focus groups. Companies like Sarosresearch.com need people of all ages and in various parts of the country to join a focus group every now and then to give opinions on anything from shampoo to highend cars. If you have the time and don’t mind answering questions you could do online surveys. The work is fairly sporadic but it requires minimal effort and you have nothing to lose, not

By Jasmine Birtles Longer 1½ pit’saallge Of course you can make money to mention the fact that online purely by selling your done from the comfort of your fo on a regular basis. own home. rmat als o junk In fact, once you are used to You can earn up to £50 a avasuchilaasbwww. you can sell on behalf of month. Websites le that other people. Take a 30% cut of opinionoutpost.co.uk, www. uk.mysurvey.co.uk and www. valuedopinions.co.uk offer free paid surveys (N.B. you should never pay to join up or hand over your credit card details). Then there are online competitions. For example, Freepostcodelottery.com is free to enter and gives away £20 every day at noon to one of the postcodes on their list. There’s no catch, but you will have to check each day to see if your number has come up. Check our competitions page on Moneymagpie.com.

Set up an online buying and selling business

Do you collect dolls or electronic gadgets or some other lowpriced collectible? If you’re a little knowledgeable about a particular niche area you could make money by buying and selling items online. Scour car boot sales, charity shops and jumble sales for cheap items that you could sell for a profit. Then set up a seller’s account on eBay or eBid and start selling. Make sure you keep a squeakyclean rating as buyers are much more likely to buy from you if you have 100% approval.

the profit (once you have taken out your advertising, postage and packing costs). Propagate seedlings If you have green fingers and a decent-sized greenhouse (or somewhere else to place plant pots) you could make around £600 a week between February and October by propagating seedlings. Grow plants that you then sell at car boot sales and at local garages and shops or to friends and neighbours. To make a profit you need to choose carefully the type of plants you are going to grow. Some seeds cost £2.99 for six and some cost £2.99 for 1,500. You do the maths. Try to do a deal with your local garden centre to buy the pots that you’ll need and they would usually throw away. Also go online and bulk-buy compost. FUN FACT: More than two thirds of people in the UK have sold something second-hand. The average amount raised per person in the last 12 months is £106.15. CDs and DVDs are the most popular second-hand item, followed by books and clothes.

Gardening

Ground Cover Ground cover plantings are a wonderful way to create gorgeous carpets of colour in your garden, whatever its size and wherever it’s located. But what’s so special about groundcover growing, when is it most useful and when should you start? by Pippa Greenwood The initial few months will take some effort, but once growing well, most ground cover planting needs little if any maintenance except perhaps a very occasional trim, some food and water in drier weather. It has a superbly smothering effect on the weeds, killing weedlings and deterring further weeds from appearing. The denser the groundcover planting, the better the effect. Autumn is a great time for planting. Trees, shrubs, climbers and herbaceous plants that go in to the ground at this time of year often establish extremely well as they have the luxury of enjoying the relatively warm and yet moist soil, a perfect place for new roots to grow out and establish rapidly. Make sure you invest a bit of time and effort in to the preparation. Clear the area of weeds, digging out all tough weeds completely if you can. Fork the soil over, removing debris such as large stones or buried rubbish and then fork in plenty of well-rotted manure or garden compost, and perhaps a little slow-release feed too. If you’re planting up a slope, it’s worth trying to secure the soil a little too, as all that preparation and weed clearing will have loosened the surface and made it prone to erosion. Once growing well the roots of the plants will help to secure the slope brilliantly, but in the

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meantime, use landscape fabric pinned down onto the surface of the slope. Don’t be tempted to cram the plants in too closely. Given time they will form the desired effect if planted at the correct spacing. But if you fall in to the trap of planting them elbow to elbow, then they are more likely to become stressed and miserable, more prone to disease and will need thinning out. Make sure the plants are kept just moist at the roots until they’re well established and feed occasionally. By choosing varieties of plants which are recommended for use as groundcover you’ll be unlikely to have to do much if any pruning. So what should you choose to grow? Foliage that is attractive and interesting makes a wonderful groundcover planting and if you wish you can add a few more flamboyant flowering plants to the mixture too. By using plants with interestingly shaped leaves or variegated leaves your leafy planting will look even better. If you want a reasonable effect all year around, then select at least some of the plants you use from the evergreens. These may lose their leaves, but they do so gradually so you’ll never be left with totally bare soil. Great Shrubby Groundcover Ideas Heaths and Heathers, Cotoneaster horizontalis and

Cotoneaster microphyllus, Stephandra incise ‘Crispa’, groundcover roses eg the ‘Flower Carpet’ roses. Great Shade-Tolerant groundcover Ideas Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis, Mahonia repens, Gaultheria procumbens, Hypericum calycinum, many hebes including Hebe pinguifolia, Euonymus fortune cultivars such as ‘Emerald n’Gold’, ‘Emerald Gaiety’ Herbaceous Ground Cover in Shadier Spots Sweet violets, pulmonaria (lungworts) eg the whiteflowered ‘Sissinghurst’, Bugle (the ajugas eg Ajuga reptans ‘Burgundy Glow’), Lysimachia nummularia (Creeping Jenny), Lily-of-the-valley, Lamium ‘White Nancy’ and Lamium ‘Silver Beacon’, Bergenia Sunnier Groundcover Snow-in-summer, thymes, oregano, many of the sedums, chamomile. Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for a great range of gardeningrelated Christmas gifts including stylish ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ gift card, handmade pottery herb planters, recycled metal sculptures, Pippa’s favourite weeding tool, signed books and lots of seriously useful garden items.

Health

Hypnotise yourself to a less painful labour? Yes please! With Kate Middleton reportedly using hypnobirthing to achieve a natural and less painful birth and many other women swearing by it for a more enjoyable labour, is this going to become the latest craze in childbirth? With her second child due imminently, Julia Faulks is certainly keen to give it a go… What is hypnobirthing? Hypnobirthing is a form of selfhypnosis used during labour, in the lead-up to labour, or even during a caesarean as a way of coping with pain, anxiety, fear and tension. With self-hypnosis being used for centuries to ease pain, what woman wouldn’t want to try something to help her body release as many endorphins (happy hormones) as possible in order to help with pain management? Just to be clear, hypnobirthing won’t take away all the pain, but it will help you remain calm and relaxed. It is said to work by easing the ‘fight or flight’ syndrome that can occur during labour where hormones are released that raise blood pressure and heart rate, meaning that labour can be less productive and more painful. Letting go With the birth of my first child,

ignorance was, quite simply, bliss - there were nerves, but as I didn’t have any idea how it was going to feel, there was less focus on the actual birth than I’m feeling as a second time mum-to-be. In other words, no, I didn’t quite forget the pain. I now realise I need to accept that I actually don’t have any control over my birth and labour, but at the same time, I can have control over the pain by using the techniques I’ve learnt from reading books, taking regular yoga classes and listening to my hypnobirthing CD. So whether it’s for your first birth or a subsequent birth, you have nothing to lose by trying it out. It’s also important to make sure that your birth partner is briefed on how you will be using the techniques you have learnt in order to remind you if you lose focus. Choosing the right method for you You can start learning hypnobirthing at any time, but experts recommend that it’s most beneficial from 18 to 30 weeks. It’s also a good idea to step things up as you reach your due date by attending a refresher class, listening to CDs or reading your notes on a

daily basis. The self-disciplined mumto-be: If you have the time and can be organised, there’s nothing to say that you can’t teach yourself hypnobirthing skills in the comfort of your own home or by mixing things up with a regular yoga or hypnobirthing class. This is just what I am doing by downloading a hypnobirthing CD and attending a weekly yoga session where we do regular meditation and breathing exercises. The busy mum-to-be: If you’re too busy to find the time to read, then an intensive course will probably be the best option for you. You can find a list of courses in your local area by visiting the hypnobirthing.co.uk website or by searching your local directory. You may also prefer a private lesson with one-onone attention. The sociable mum-tobe: Meet other mums and dads who want to learn this technique together and support each other as the big day approaches. Weekly classes will give you focus and help keep you on track as well as make sure that everything you learn is fresh in your mind. By Julia Faulks

Humour

Nest-Building For Beginners I recently moved in with my girlfriend. I’ve never lived with just a girl before, which I guess means I am now officially a grown-up.

by Chris Russell

This is all very exciting, and so far it’s proving to be completely lovely. We have a great little place in London with a garden and a breakfast bar, and we’re cultivating our own private scene of domestic bliss. But I will say this - things change when you progress from the world of house-sharing to the world of co-habitation. We had friends round to the new place for the first time last night, and while I was giving them the official tour, one asked: “So how have things changed now you’re living with your girlfriend?” I didn’t need to say anything - I just pointed to the bottle of Lemon Blossom & White Rose luxury handwash by the sink. Until I moved in with my girlfriend, I hadn’t been especially aware of a nascent nesting instinct in her. But it turns out said instinct was merely lying dormant, like a volcano, or a snoozing puma, because the minute we set foot through the door, the beast was unleashed. The house began to fill up with knick-knacks and candles and posh crisps and carafes. We have glass vases full of champagne corks, and our pasta is all in jars. There are four hundred different types of oil by the hob, from truffle and ground-nut to extra virgin and garlic-infused. A few

days into our tenancy I found my girlfriend in the kitchen, scrolling through an iPhone app with a wild look in her eyes. ‘Are you OK?’ I think her hands might actually have been shaking. ‘I can’t... stop... buying... tea towels.’ And this was true. We now have an army of those novelty tea towels with London place names written on them, and she is also threatening to invest in a set of matching cushions. Last weekend I found out how much cushions cost, and let’s just say that you shouldn’t spend that amount of a money on a single item for your house unless it’s your ACTUAL HOUSE. The other thing is slate coasters. We have slate coasters now. And although I worry that slate coasters will look to future generations the way orange and brown furniture looked to mine, I am rather fond of them. I like to imagine that viking warriors - were they the sort to worry about leaving rings on their antique tables - would have used slate coasters for their flagons of beer, although of course they’d probably have made them themselves by biting chunks off cliff-edges, as opposed to buying them from Oliver Bonas like we did. But anyway,

I digress. My girlfriend bought the coasters in question, and positioned them neatly on the faux-country wooden tray with the French writing on it, next to the whisky tumblers. They were wrapped up in brown string, which looked rather fetching, but when I made a move to unwrap them I was instructed that now was not the time for unwrapping the slate coasters. I was then informed that while the point at which it was okay to untie the coasters would one day be upon us, advance knowledge of this date would not be provided to me. It would just suddenly happen, much like the second coming of Christ. The coasters have, incidentally, now been set free, so you really must come over for a cuppa sometime. We’re working on a medley of tartan cushions that’ll blow your mind... Chris is a freelance writer and musician with internationallyrenowned rock band The Lightyears. The Lightyears, voted the UK’s BEST POP/ ROCK ACT at the Indy Awards, have played Wembley Stadium, toured across four continents and released a record with Sting’s producer. Chris has recently completed his first book, “Mockstars”, based on The Lightyears’ tour diaries. Find out more at www. MockstarsTheNovel.com.

Home & Interiors

Textures For Interiors The way a space feels is just as important as the way it looks. Interiors expert Katherine Sorrell reveals how an imaginative use of different surfaces can make an impact in your home.

Colours and patterns may be the first things you notice when you walk into a room, but spend any time in it and the textures become increasingly important. From the polish of smooth ceramic to the soft give of cashmere, the nubbly weave of wicker to the homely warmth of felted wool, not only is the right surface in the right area a functional necessity, but an appreciation of texture also enables us to relate to our surroundings in a direct and sensual way, making us feel comfortably and securely at home. Textures, in short, bring a room to life and make a house a home. Underpinning every design scheme, textures relate to just about every aspect of a room, from size and lighting to colour schemes and style. Consider this aspect of room design as layering one texture with another (floor, walls, upholstery

Shorter 1 treatments and window page are the basics), then adding forofmoneator atwolsmore touches o (cushions, lamps, vases, a v a i laAtbfirst rugs and so on). le the concept may sound challenging, but it will soon come entirely naturally.

Start with key areas – upholstery or loose covers in a fabric that’s neither so shiny and slippery that you slide off it the moment you sit down, nor so rough that it’s uncomfortable and snags instantly. Curtains that draw easily, worktops that are tough and durable, floorboards that can be cleaned easily. A ‘quiet’, fairly smooth texture is likely to be the backbone of most schemes, but the interest is all in how it is combined and contrasted with other elements. If you wanted to bring out the cosiness of a small bedroom, say, you could combine a fluffy rug, matt-painted walls, velvet Copyright TIPSS 2013

By Katherine Sorrell

curtains and chintzy quilts. Or, to emphasise a bright and airy living room, the main features might be varnished floorboards, glossy white woodwork, sheer curtains and glass or chrome lamp bases. The aim is to achieve pleasing contrasts rather than clashes, so avoid too many unusual, eyecatching textures in one space – think trims and accents such as a woollen throw with an edging of silk satin, or a plain cotton sofa piled with embroidered and appliquéd cushions, for example. Texture has an important part to play in the overall style of a room. Modern rooms tend to be feature harder, shinier surfaces, whereas a vintage or ethnic look is more rustic and varied in texture. You only have to think of the contrast between a contemporary room that

features lots of stainless steel, chrome and mirror, with a more nostalgic room that contains quilts, knitting, embroidery and lace, to understand how important texture is in setting a scene. Using understated colour schemes and simple patterns allows textures to speak for themselves. This is where a palette of neutrals comes to the fore – just think of the beautiful, natural hues of sisal, shell, stone or wicker. A dash of brightness may add a focal point, but the subtlety is in the surfaces themselves. The contrasting finishes of different types of paint can add to your textural

scheme, from ultra-matt emulsion to the shiniest gloss – even if they are all exactly the same shade. Lastly, remember that good lighting shows off textures to their best advantage. Try to pick out interesting features and highlight them with uplighters, spotlights or angled lamps placed appropriately. Once you have grasped the basic principles of using texture, you can incorporate all sorts of different elements: distressed or varnished wood, woven willow, worn stone, foxed mirror, distressed leather, fake fur, buttons, raffia and crochet, to name but a few. Look for

interesting combinations and there are even more exciting and delightful opportunities – a feather trim around a plain fabric lampshade, perhaps, or something as simple as a set of monogrammed napkins contrasted with pearl-handled cutlery. Textural possibilities are endless and, with just a little effort, you can achieve a look that is individual, intriguing and truly remarkable. Image: Woven wicker and the grain of a timber-effect floor make an elegant combination with soft upholstery. Classic collection laminate planks, £16.49 per square metre, Quick-Step (www.quick-step. co.uk).

The Life List

• You’ve bought the same pet and given it the same name. That way you’re covered when theirs mysteriously disappears.

Clues You’re Not Really Over Your Ex

• You have a recent photo of them that you’ve blown up and stapled to a pillow. Through the forehead.

Neil Sedaka was right about the difficulties of breaking up, but sometimes that’s only the beginning...

Portrait Haoutlfof Pa department • You rush age store, in floods of tears, because someone is wearing a V rsioskirt,n scent, similareshirt, pair of shoes or also face (and, by similar, it’s the same ratio of vaand ilamouth) eyes,a nose bleto your ex. • You keep their old messages on your mobile, including those that say, “never call me again or it’ll be a police matter” – these you refer to privately as ‘the treasures’.

• You still write to their relatives, friends, and neighbours, hoping someone will invite you round to visit, once the restraining order has expired.

• You’ve taken out a subscription to Expert Stalker magazine, which is why you know their route to work and all the best accidental meeting points. • You haven’t told your family or friends that you’ve split up – you figure you’ll do that on the two-year anniversary. • You keep a jar containing their hair, hermetically sealed, on your bedside table. • You do a weekly search for them on the Internet and you’ve tried to join their Facebook friends under a fake identity at least twice.

Motoring

Aston Martin Rapide S By James Baggott, MD of BlackballMedia.co.uk What is it? Meet Aston Martin’s slightly awkward-looking four-door saloon, but now with added adrenaline. Not that the standard car really needed an additional dose of go-go juice, but that’s never stopped the Gaydon massive from administering aid before. As part of a mid-life refresh the S has more power and even more refinement, and is the only model in the maker’s range that comes with two rear seats. What’s under the bonnet? An almighty lump, that’s what. The ageing 6.0-litre V12 is still in situ – a last hurrah before AMG work their black magic under the hoods of Britain’s finest – but for now it has even more grunt. Power is up 80bhp to 550bhp and this helps the 60mph dash time tumble under that all-important five second barrier, but only by a tenth of a second. Top speed is a heady 190mph and with those sorts of figures fuel economy and emissions suffer. The former is a rather woeful 19.9mpg and CO2 is puffed out at a rate of 332g/km. What’s the spec like? In a word: glorious. The leather is soft, the carpets thick and the wood burnished. Several cows were sacrificed to coat most surfaces inside and the instruments are as beautiful

as one of the finest Swiss watches. Standard kit includes Bluetooth, sat nav, front and rear parking sensors (you need them, this thing is Ark Royal long), tracking device and a stunning 1000W Bang & Olufsen stereo. Some of the controls are a little small and fiddly, particularly the buttons in the centre console. Those rear seats have the option of TV screens (£2,495) and you can go mad on the other options too. Even the paint of our test car was an additional £3,495, but it’s worth it for the name alone: Skyfall Silver. Any rivals? A few. The biggest is the Porsche Panamera. An ugly car from some angles, stunning from others, it’s a super-sized sports car that’s superb to drive, especially in GTS form. The new Mercedes S-Class will be a potent rival too as will Audi’s luxurious A8. Even BMW’s 7 Series will have a sniff in this category, where price matters far less than the badge that’s on the bonnet. What’s it like to drive? It’s not the most dynamic of Aston Martin’s range, that’s for sure, but this is a GT car to transport you and the family with ease. It’s relaxed and sedate when you want it to be, but can still pick up its skirt and go when you put your foot down. As the revs rise

the butterflies in the exhaust containing the cacophony of noise open, releasing a guttural V12 groan. The rear seats are comfy too, even for adults, but that said, headroom can be a little cramped. Our Verdict The Aston Martin Rapide S is a stunning way to travel. It’s luxurious, looks sharp and is caked in cool. You can’t drive an Aston anywhere without gaining nods of appreciation and that very rarely happens in ostentatious equivalents from the likes of Ferrari or Lamborghini. There’s a certain respect for Aston Martin, and I like that. The Rapide S is a big car – and it feels it on the road – and that engine really is starting to feel dated in terms of economy, but the power is impressive and if you need those extra rear seats it’s worth considering… if you have the cash, of course.

The Knowledge Model: Aston Martin Rapide S Price: £165,580 (as tested) Engine: 6.0-litre, V12, petrol Power: 550bhp 620NM Max speed: 190mph 0-62mph: 4.9 seconds MPG: 19.9mpg (combined) Emissions: 332g/km CO2

Recipe

Twice Baked Cheese Souffles Makes 4

Ready in 1 hour 20 minutes

If the thought of baking a fragile cheese soufflé for a special dinner seems a little too ambitious, then think again. Baked once in advance then baked again just before serving, these delicious individual soufflés work every time. Ingredients: • 40g butter, plus extra for greasing • 40g plain flour • 225ml milk, warmed • 4 large eggs, separated • 3 tbsp fresh chopped parsley • 75g mature Cheddar cheese, grated • 75g Stilton cheese, crumbled • Salt and freshly ground black pepper • 150ml double cream • Green salad, to serve • Cayenne pepper, to sprinkle (optional)

Tip To prepare ahead, leave the soufflés to cool after the initial baking, then turn them out into the baking dish and cover with cling film. Chill in the fridge for a few hours or overnight and top with the cheese and bake for the second time just before serving.

Melt the butter in a saucepan then stir in the flour and mix with a wooden spoon to make a smooth paste. Cook over a low heat for 1 minute. Gradually whisk the milk a little at a time. Once all the milk has been added, cook over a low heat for a further 2-3 minutes, whisking continuously, until you have a smooth and thick sauce. Remove from the heat and cool for 5 minutes. Beat in the egg yolks, parsley and two-thirds of the Cheddar and Stilton. Season lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Butter four large ramekin dishes and line the bases with circles of baking parchment. Place the egg whites in a clean, grease-free bowl and whisk until stiff. Beat one spoonful of the egg whites into the cheese sauce to loosen it slightly then gently fold the sauce into the remaining egg whites. Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared dishes. Place the dishes in a roasting tin and pour in boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the dishes. Bake for 20-25 minutes until risen and golden. Transfer the dishes to a cooling rack (the soufflés will sink a little but don’t worry). Increase the oven temperature to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6. Turn the soufflés out into a shallow baking dish and remove the lining papers. Sprinkle over the remaining cheese and return to the oven for 15-20 minutes until piping hot and puffy. Spoon the cream over the top and bake for a further 2-3 minutes until heated through. Serve immediately with salad, sprinkled lightly with cayenne pepper, if liked.

Life Begins

Life Begins What kind of Christmas Shopper are you?

It’s that time of year again: the month when you start making lists of the Christmas presents you need to buy for your nearest and dearest. We all approach Christmas shopping in a different way but some of us display a more creative edge than others when shopping for that perfect gift. See if you can spot the shopping technique that most resembles yours in the list below: 1. The Very, Very Early Bird You are the shopper who can be found cramming your basket full of cut-price wrapping paper, Christmas cards and toiletry gift sets in the January sales. No matter that those beautifully boxed hot toddy mixing kits failed to interest shoppers in the pre-Christmas rush. Now they’re reduced to half price you can think of at least three relatives who would just LOVE to receive them next Christmas.

Shorter 1 page format a Well done, Very Early Bird.lso avsave You might aiyourself labl a good deal of money, bute will you remember where you’ve hidden all those cut-price goodies by next December? 2. The Last Minute Man You are the antithesis of the Very Early Bird: someone who just can’t find the motivation to buy presents until three hours before the shops are due to close on Christmas Eve. Then you dash round the streets with a look of sheer panic on your face, desperately hoping that the items on your list are not out of stock. If you shop online, then it’s likely that you delay your search until the day when the free delivery option is no longer available and end up spending as much on postage as you do on the presents themselves. Come on, Last Minute

By Kate McLelland

Shopper – you know you can do better, but deep inside you crave the adrenaline rush that comes from holding back till the very last moment. 3. The Smugly Organised Shopper It’s mid September and not only have you already compiled your gift list, you’ve probably placed your first online order, for that ‘must-have’ new gadget that will be all the rage this Christmas. By the 1st December all your presents will be immaculately wrapped, labelled and stored in boxes under the bed. Similarly your Christmas food shopping will be a breeze, as you already have most of the things you will need, stored away in your cupboard or freezer. Organised Shopper, you are the envy of all your chaotically disorganised peers. But watch out - are you ready to face the bitter resentment of friends who shopped too late to get that ‘must-have’ gadget? 4. The Wishlister Do you remember the “Good Old Days” when Christmas presents were a surprise? Of course, some of them might not have been such a good surprise (especially Auntie Beryl’s knitted tank tops) but the mystery surrounding Christmas gifts led to a

well-intentioned, communal impulse to pretend everything was lovely on the day: “Oooh, a hot water bottle cover - just what I needed!” Nowadays the element of surprise is completely missing, and all recipients seem to do is mentally tick off gifts that, three months earlier, they entered on their Amazon wishlist. This habit leads to lazy present buying: there’s no need to spend time thinking about what your nearest and dearest would like when all you need to do is follow an on-screen link and click a button. Dear Wishlister, while we understand your desire to buy something your friend or relative really wants, we’d like to see you use a

little more imagination and effort this Christmas. 5. The Crafty Maker You’ve been watching too many Kirstie Allsopp shows on TV and you now believe that the way to show real love at Christmas is to give friends and family a gift that you have made yourself. You’ve already made your own Christmas bunting and tree decorations. You’ve knitted a festive cushion for the cat’s basket and hung a wreath made out of recycled yoghourt pots on the front door. Now you are preparing to stay up until midnight each night, stitching felt animals and painting small items of second hand furniture with Farrow and Ball tester pots. I know, Crafty Maker: you can’t wait for the look of

surprise on your family’s faces when they open their presents to find something that you have carefully crafted out of papier mache and driftwood, but please don’t be disappointed if their wan smiles of appreciation suggest that they would have preferred the latest video game. Do you recognise yourself in any of these descriptions? If so, don’t panic. It would be a very dull world if we all shopped and celebrated in the same way. Christmas a unique time of the year when the effort we make for family and friends is all-important. However you approach your Christmas shopping, it’s always the thought that counts.

Trivia

Around Britain 5 Raids & Invasions 1. The Channel Islands - The Channel Islands were the only part of the Commonwealth occupied by Germany during the Second World War. On June 30 1940, two weeks after the government demilitarised the islands, Germany invaded and took control of Guernsey, then Jersey, Alderney (where they built four concentration camps), and lastly Sark on July 4. The occupation lasted five years. 2. Deal, Kent - In 1495, a pretender to the throne named Perkin Warbeck landed at Deal to summon up support for his claim to the throne by alleging that he was one of the Princes in the Tower, whose disappearance led to the accession of Richard III. Warbeck’s invasion, however, was scuppered and after a second attempt in 1497 he was imprisoned and executed. 3. The Isle of Wight - In 1377, at the height of the Hundred Years’ War, the French launched a series of attacks along the English Channel and invaded the Isle of Wight, seizing town after town en route to Carisbrooke Castle. The castle remained impenetrable, however, and after a lengthy siege the French eventually abandoned the island. 4. Lindisfarne, Northumberland - Lindisfarne was attacked in what is considered to be the first Viking raid on the English coast in 793. Not as rampageous as later attacks, it nevertheless left much of the island’s 7th century priory desecrated. Viking raids continued for more than two centuries. 5. Pevensey, East Sussex - It was at Pevensey that William the Conqueror – then William, Duke of Normandy – first landed in England in 1066, one month before the Battle of Hastings. The Battle lasted more than nine hours, William eventually overcoming Harold’s exhausted army, killing Harold and taking the throne. © Taken from The British Isles: A Trivia Gazetteer by Paul Anthony Jones, out now.

Short Story

Short Story The Amazing Mister Mittens Toby Daniels thought it was extremely unfair that he had to go next door and feed Mrs Withershaw’s cat. His neighbour would be in hospital for a whole week having a hip replacement. The boring chore would make him late home from school, and that meant ten minutes less computer game playing while his Mother made dinner. It simply was asking too much. He’d never paid much attention to Mrs Withershaw’s pet before. It had always seemed like the usual sort of cat, but by the third day of caring for it Toby wasn’t so sure. Yesterday he had left a dirty bowl next to the sink and today when he let himself in, the bowl had been washed and placed on the draining board. He watched as Mister Mittens hungrily ate his dinner. When he was sure the cat had finished Toby gently picked him up and placed him on the counter. “Show me how you turned on the tap, Mister Mittens,” Toby whispered in the cat’s ear. Mister Mittens began licking his paws enigmatically, clearly in no mood for performing. This was not the first time something unusual had happened. On the first day, in his rush to get home, Toby had knocked over a pile of newspapers, causing them to cascade across the kitchen floor. When he returned the next day Mister Mitten

had piled the newspapers up neatly again. In fact as Toby walked in, the cat was curled up asleep on top of them. Toby wondered if all cats were as amazing as Mister Mittens, or whether this was a very special cat. He decided to ask his Mother. Mrs Daniels seemed genuinely surprised about how clever Mister Mittens was. “What a very considerate cat,” she agreed. Over the following days Mister Mittens, while being left home alone, somehow put the empty tins of cat food into the recycling, swept up scattered cat litter and mopped up a puddle of milk next to the fridge. Toby knew that the milk had been mopped, not licked up, because the mop and bucket had moved, and the mop was damp. It began to rain the day before Mrs Withershaw was due to come home from hospital, and the rain continued into the evening. Mrs Daniels noticed that Toby kept glancing nervously out of the living room window. “Something wrong Toby dear?” she asked finally. “I’m worried about next door,” Toby said. “I noticed a leak in Mrs Withershaw’s back porch, and if this rain carries on she’s going to have a big puddle

there when she gets home. She could slip over and ruin that brand new hip.” “Oh dear.” Mrs Daniels pretended to read her magazine while watching her son out of the corner of her eye. “What is there to be done about it?” It amazed and amused her that Toby still hadn’t realised that she had been going round to Mrs Withershaw’s every morning to tidy up the mess he’d made. She was seeing another side to Toby emerging as he cared for that old cat, so she was more than happy for Mister Mittens to take all the credit. Toby made up his mind and went into the hall for his coat. “I’m going back there now to put a bucket under it,” he said decisively. “That’s very thoughtful of you,” Mrs Daniels said, delighted that her son was finally learning to be considerate. Then, unable to resist, she added, “But won’t Mister Mittens do it?” “Honestly Mum!” Toby sighed, zipping up his coat. “You can’t expect a cat to think of everything.” By Jackie Brewster

Technology Review

The Heat Is On Image: SoundlightUK.com

Cool gadgets to keep you warm this winter

Every year, heating our homes becomes ever more expensive, and as a result we do all kinds of things to cut our bills: we make sure our homes are properly insulated, turn the thermostat down a notch and do our best to save energy. But no matter what kind of heating system you have, there’s a very good chance you’re heating your entire home rather than the room you’re using. Wouldn’t it be great if you could heat just the bit you’re in - and do it quickly so you don’t have to sit shivering? That’s the thinking behind Dyson’s fan heaters, which use the firm’s “air multiplier” technology to send a steady stream of hot air without the buffeting you get from normal fan heaters. They aren’t cheap expect to pay £249 for a heater, or £349 for one that can cool air in the summer - but they’re safe, effective and extremely efficient. If you’d rather not spend quite so much on a heater, halogen heaters are worth considering: instead of heating the air, they heat whatever you point them at - and they do so instantly, which is a real boon if you’ve just come home from a typically cold November day. Prices start at

around £15 for a basic model, and you can also buy models designed for heating outside areas. For larger rooms, it’s worth looking for heaters that can rotate: that enables them to heat a wider area than immobile heaters can reach. Make sure they have anti-tilt shut-offs too, so that they automatically switch themselves off if they’re accidentally toppled. The cheapest heaters around are fan heaters, which as the name suggests use a fan to blow air over a heating element. According to the Energy Saving Trust they aren’t less efficient than other kinds of heating, but the less powerful the fan the longer it’ll take them to heat a room: we wouldn’t recommend trying to heat a high-ceilinged room with an £8 fan heater from the local supermarket. If you spend a lot of time using a computer you’ll know that your fingers are often the first things to feel the cold. Technology has the answer to that too: V8 Tools’ heated computer keyboard is exactly what it sounds like, although for the time being you’ll need to import one from the US. Avoid USB-powered heating devices: products such as USB-powered Monkey Hand Warmers are

novelty gifts, not practical products. If you often suffer from frozen feet there’s a gadget for that too: the AccuLux foot warming mat, a flexible heating mat that’s designed to make your tootsies toasty. Expect to pay £39.99. Humans aren’t the only creatures to benefit from heating pads: they’re available for pets too. A quick search on eBay uncovers all kinds of electric pad heaters for dog and cat beds, with prices as low as £19.99. If you’d rather not leave anything electrical near your pets, microwaveable heat pads do much the same job for slightly less money. While you’re microwaving things for your pets, why not warm up some pads for yourself? You can try a pair of microwaveable slippers, a microwaveable hand warmer or a microwaveable neck wrap, and if you’re suffering from sports injuries or arthritis you might find they help ease your symptoms too. Alternatively you might like to try the Heat In A Click Muscle Warm Pad, which quickly heats up to 54 degrees celsius and last for 20 minutes to two hours depending on the size of pad you buy.

Travel

Essaouira Morocco By Solange Hando In the vast luminous bay of Mogador, a quaint blue and white town looks down on fine tingling sands, its ancient gates and minarets nestling inside the ramparts like a pearl in an oyster shell. Lapped by the Atlantic Ocean on the sunny Moroccan coast, Essaouira is an enticing alternative to the modern resort of Agadir. Yet you never know whom you might meet on your way to the beach. Film producers and stars have long discovered the secret, following the likes of Jimmy Hendrix, Orson Welles and Hitchcock. Both exotic and unspoilt, this has proved the perfect spot to shoot box office hits, Alexander the Great to name just one. Most visitors are day trippers from Marrakech, keen to chill out on the beach, though there is plenty of scope for the active sort, surfing, exploring the dunes on a camel, cruising to the Purple Islands, home to thousands of birds, or horse riding along the sugar cane river. Others head for the former hippie village of Diabat to gaze at the old sultan’s palace half buried in the sand or just walk for miles along the beach where the scent of white broom fills the air.

Briefly settled by the Portuguese in the early 1500s, coveted at times by various western powers, Essaouira came into its own in the 18th century when a French architect was directed to build the fortress and redesign the medina. Further improvements followed and before long, this was Morocco’s most important port, the place where goods from the caravan trade could have access to the rest of the world. It became known as the ‘port of Timbuktu’. Trade dwindled over time but today, bastions and crenellations still mingle their golden reflections in the harbour where trawlers unload their catch and nets dry on the quay among screaming gulls, crates full of fish, shipwrights and a whole flotilla of little blue boats bobbing in the dazzling sun. From there it’s only a few steps to the al fresco restaurants serving royal mint tea and grilled sardines, couscous, lentil and tomato soup flavoured with ginger, cinnamon and pepper, or the ubiquitous tagine, a fragrant fish, meat or vegetable stew which simply melts in your mouth. Meanwhile, beyond the Sea gate, the old town beckons

with bustling alleyways, mosques and holy shrines, stalls brimming with spices and fruit, rooftop restaurants and shaded squares and courtyards where cool fountains gurgle among potted plants. It’s a World Heritage Site and a feast for all the senses, echoing with the tapping and chiselling of artisans who carve ornaments from precious thuya wood. It’s also a great place to bargain for carpets and rugs, silver jewellery, brightlypainted pottery and Argan beauty products. Protected by UNESCO in south west Morocco, Argan trees yield the world’s rarest oil and the women’s cooperatives around Essaouira produce some of the most sought after natural cosmetics. Late afternoon is a lovely time to stroll along the bastions, still lined with 200 year old cannons. Enjoy the breeze, the glorious views over the town and harbour, the great sweep of the beach, the islands, the dramatic rocks to the north, battered by the waves, and the fabulous sunset, all red and gold, over the ocean. But hurry before the crowds arrive and just like the stars, you might see this little gem at its best, colourful, pristine and truly authentic.

Puzzles, Quizzes & Cartoons Cartoon 1

Cartoon 2

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Page

Cryptic Crossword Cryptic Crossword 1

10 11

13 14

18 19

22 23

Across 1 Panics short man with limbs (6) 4 Rich faun left shaken (8) 9 Rattle off point in a trice, reeling (6) 10 Sad charge descending (8) 12 Former spoken test that’s rustic (8) 13 First British game; it’s wrecked! (6) 15 Nary over thread (4) 16 Eve or Bob, for example (10) 19 Trivial nonsense when bars had led badly (10) 20 Bird docked, so stylish (4) 23 Tax return? (6) 25 Essential triangle redesigned (8) 27 Peer keen on research (4,4) 28 Heard name – a girl’s name (6) 29 Leavings around a manipulator (8) 30 I depend on only (6)

©puzzlepress.co.uk

Down 1 Prize by a degenerate (7) 2 Wild Lancaster family (9) 3 Dog attached to sheep (6) 5 Sweet or stupid person (4) 6 Countrywoman – a property owner (8) 7 Old deed, totally correct (5) 8 Little European swimmer (7) 11 Garments of military poets (7) 14 Cops driven to disagree (7) 17 Wet hosier treated differently (9) 18 Very cross court article (8) 19 Town little Leslie steals from! (7) 21 Racy gal rushes round city (7) 22 Need to change to indicate (6) 24 Dealer nearly penniless (5) 26 The tallest bit, and others (2,2)

Solution Copyright TIPSS 2013 23 Across: 1 Alarms, 4 Affluent, 9 Recite, 10 Downward, 12 Pastoral, 13 Blotto, 15 Yarn, 16 Palindrome, 19 Balderdash, 20 Chic, 23 Rebate, 25 Integral, 27 Look into, 28 Monica, 29 Svengali, 30 Merely.

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.

General Knowledge Crossword

17. Port city in northern General Knowledge Crossword France (2,5) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 19. Military chaplain (5) 22. Corrode, as with acid (4) 8 9 23. Flavoured with herbs and spices (8) 10 11 24. Rotating part of an engine (8) 12 25. Oil reservoir in an 13 14 15 16 engine (4) Down 2. Arab country 17 18 19 20 which achieved independence from 21 the UK in 1971 (5) 23 3. Fruit resembling a 22 small peach (7) 4. Largest and most southerly island in 24 25 the Marianas (4) 5. One who runs another (2-3) 16. Goat-like antelope (7) away from service 7. Siren of German 18. Throbs dully (5) in the armed forces legend (7) 20. Watery discharge (8) 12. The food of the gods from the eyes or nose 6. In snooker, to (8) (5) pocket the cue 14. Popular chilled 21. Support for sails (4) ball after hitting beverage (4,3)

Only f or sub scriber paying s for tw o or more p ostcod es exclus ivity

Across 1. Shade of blue tinged with green (4) 4. Japanese movie monster (8) 8. George Lucas film of 1977 (4,4) 9. Vegetable known as lady’s fingers (4) 10. Spencer ___, actor who appeared in many films with Katharine Hepburn (5) 11. Highlyprized edible subterranean fungus (7) 13. Person who is tricked or swindled (6) 15. Greek mathematician (the ‘Father of Geometry’) who wrote The Elements (6)

Mini Cryptic Mini Cryptic Crossword

Sudoku - Easy

ÂŠpuzzlepress.co.uk

Across 1 2 3 1. Learn by repetition to bore a hole (5) 4. Fine by church, grand, when reptile 7 turns up (5) 7. Stubborn set in boat somehow (9) 8. Periods to multiply? (5) 11. Arctic people from unit I changed (5) 8 9 10 12. Small bird that goes back and forth 12 (3) 13. Big lager brew (5) 14. Two points state written composition 13 (5) 17. City built by Basil and Adam (9) 18. Woman to have trust or confidence 17 in (5) 19. Tie round little lady unable to see (5) Down 2. Jumper trimmed for a holy man (5) 18 3. Ignited regarding short liquid measure (5) 8. Reprimanded and 4. Tangier form of rock (7) informed not on (4,3) 5. Her cubs turn into little angels (7) 9. I follow this man for a 6. Lot very shaken in an open manner cocktail (7) (7) 10. Furtiveness found in

the salt mix (7) 15. Play for time and stand in a market (5) 16. First letter to acquire once more (5)

Sudoku - Hard

Super Science Facts

Only f or sub scriber paying s for tw o or more p ostcod es exclus ivity

Hidato

Pictograms

HIDATO Starting at 1 and finishing at 34, track your way from one hexagon to another (touching) hexagon, placing consecutive numbers into the empty shapes as you go. Some numbers are already given.

Pictograms 2 words

BOY

YOB

4 words

WET EAREAREAR 4 words

Quiz 1 Fairy Tales 1. What type of creature threatens to eat the title characters in the fairy tale called Three Billy Goats Gruff? 2. In the original version of the fairy tale Snow White, the Queen attempts to kill Snow White by tricking her into eating a poisoned apple, but what else does the Queen poison in a previous attempt to kill Snow White? 3. Which song opens with the line "I thought love was only true in fairy tales"? 4. What was the surname of the German brothers Jacob and Wilhelm, who were famous for publishing collections of fairy tales in the 19th century? 5. Which fairy tale character is killed by a spider bite? 6. Which 2010 Disney film is loosely based on the fairy tale Rapunzel? 7. Famous for writing a number of fairy tales, what nationality was Hans Christian Andersen? 8. "Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin" is a line that features repeatedly in which fairy tale? 9. According to the lyrics of the song Fairytale Of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, what song were the "boys of the NYPD choir singing"? 10. Which fairy tale character said he would take the Queen's child away from her if she didn't guess his name within three days?

Quiz 2 Cartoon Animals Choosing from the list on the right, can you work out what type of animals the characters on the left are?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Baron Silas Greenback (Danger Mouse) Bullwinkle (The Rocky And Bullwinkle Show) Only f or sub Hobbes (Calvin and Hobbes) s p aying Dad)cribers Klaus Heissler (American for tw o Draw or McGraw Show) more (The Quick Draw McGraw postQuick des Sandy Cheeks (SpongeBobco exclus SquarePants) Sawtooth (Wacky Races)ivity Splinter (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) Stimpy (The Ren And Stimpy Show) Wordsworth (Jamie And The Magic Torch)

also available as a quarte Beaver r page Cat Dog Goldfish Horse Moose Rat Squirrel Tiger Toad

Simple Crossword QUICK CROSSWORD

Across

1 Nearest (7)

5 Inexpensive (5) 10

8 Type of cattle (7)

9 A slight fever (5) 12

10 Sweet, thick liquid (5)

11 Flat area of high land (7) 17

12 Form of dance (6)

14 In good condition (6) 17 Family member (7)

19 Trimmed (5) 22 Enclosed within (5) 23 Non-professional (7) 24 Dizzy (5) 25 Painters (7) Down 1 3D squares (5) 2 To give or volunteer (5)

3 Prototype (7)

13 Highly intelligent (7)

4 Soldiers (6)

15 Graceful (7)

5 Bedtime drink (5)

16 Type of fruit (6)

6 Obvious (7)

18 Unclean (5)

7 Contaminate (7)

20 Conjecture (5)

12 Imploring (7)

Spot the Difference

21 Risks (5)

Two Minute Trial

Word Ladder Word Ladder

O T R YF S

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.

P E A R

3 letters: 13 4 letters: 11 5 letters: 6 6 letters: 1

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P L U M

Wordsearch Family Ancestor Aunt Bond Children Clan Cousins Dad Daughter Father

Genealogy Half Brother Husband Kin Marriage Mum Nephew Niece

Parents Progeny Sibling Sisters Son Spouse Twins Uncle Wife

Find the names associated with family in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase