Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2021 i Choice

We were just putting the finishing touches to this edition when the news of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s death was announced. By the time you read this, millions of words will have been written and spoken in tribute by many people of all ages, nations and backgrounds – surely the epitome of diversity. To our generation Prince Philip was an important figure. First, as a representative of what is often called the greatest generation, those who fought and endured the Second World War, a reminder of our parents and grandparents and their strength of purpose and sense of duty. Secondly, he was an example to all that vigour, determination and contribution to society can, and often does, continue into later life offering wisdom and support to those who…

■ In 1762 Queen Charlotte established a menagerie in the garden. It included an elephant, monkeys and one of the first zebras ever seen in England. ■ Since 2000 the garden has held the National Collection of Mulberries. Mulberry trees were first planted in the garden by James I in 1608. ■ Traditionally, the Queen hosts three Garden Parties a year at Buckingham Palace. Each is attended by 8000 guests, who consume around 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake. ■ Since 2008 the island in the lake has been home to five beehives, which produce around 160 jars of honey a year for use in the royal kitchens. ■ There are more than 1000 trees in the garden, including 98 plane trees, 85 species of…

The CDs are: Moments of the Heart music for the soul - Various Artists. From the soothing melodies of Peaceful Lament and Confidence of Hope to the haunting ambiance of Natural Elements and Awakenings, Moments of the Heart music for the soul is the perfect ‘friend’ to have by your side, to help ease away the hustle, bustle, and stresses of the day. Spiritual Incantations -Stephen Rhodes. Stephen Rhodes is a genius of his craft returning with an outstanding new album, the best part of an hour of serene and relaxing music. With tracks such as Peaceful Lament, Seeds of Empathy, Eternal Compassion and Softly Speak, Spiritual Incantations is an album full of hope, charm, and sensitivity. selection two – Terra del Sol. Alberto Hauss, the master of Chill-out, has created…

YOGA INSTRUCTOR Gail Willis has recruited her mother Janet Rogers to help demonstrate yoga exercises in Choice every month. In each picture Janet, who is in her 80s, illustrates the basic position for each exercise – the easiest one for the beginner. Gail illustrates the maximum position for each exercise. You should start following Janet’s position and try to increase gradually towards Gail’s advanced level. “Only build up to a level that you are comfortable with,” says Gail, who is a full-time yoga instructor in Kettering. “With some exercises you will be able to do the maximum level of stretch, but with others you will achieve only the basic move. It doesn’t matter – even the easiest will be good for you and make you feel good.” ■ If you…

MANY PEOPLE approach retirement without saving the money they need to pay everyday bills, plus a bit left over to enjoy themselves. Worse, growing numbers still haven’t cleared mortgages, credit cards and personal loans, but it gets hard to service monthly debt repayments once you stop work. There are all sorts of reasons why people fall short. Divorce, illness and redundancy can destroy the best-laid plans. So can sudden shocks, such as the pandemic. Many over-50s now face the prospect of early retirement, after losing their jobs in the lockdowns. Homeowners are in a stronger position as there are ways of generating money from their property, such as taking out an equity release scheme or retirement interest-only mortgage. Downsizing to a smaller property is another option. Equity release Millions of…

Do married couples each have IHT exemptions? Q I understand that a person can give away £3000 in any one year exempt from Inheritance Tax (IHT). Regarding a married couple, does this mean that each of the couple can give away £3000 (ie a total of £6000) or would the £3000 limit apply to the couple as a whole? Also, if the couple have a joint bank account and make a gift of £3000 to one of their children by a transfer of money from this account, would the tax authorities regard this gift as having been made by both of the joint account holders, (ie each gifting £1500), thus leaving them free to gift a further £1500 each during the tax year exempt from IHT? Name and address supplied…

Throughout the last nine months nearly 170 videos have been released on the Silverfit YouTube channel receiving more than 36,000 views and approximately 4000 hours of watched time. “All the stuff Silverfit has put up there has been a lifeline as I cannot go out,” reveals Lee Kempster, 64. “I am on the high-risk list so it has been my salvation.” Like many other older people, Lee didn’t have an internet connection when the first lockdown started: “I had no interest in it,” she says laughing. “I was out every day with different clubs I belong to, different activities I used to do each day. So, when the first lockdown arrived in March, I thought what I am going to do now? I am never in. I thought I would…

Chicken liver pâté of dreams Makes enough for six to eight servings on toast ■ 100g cold unsalted butter ■ 1 small red onion (or half a larger one), very finely diced ■ 1 garlic clove, grated ■ ½ tsp salt ■ 2 tbsp brandy ■ 200g chicken livers removed from the milk and dried, sinewy bits removed ■ 6 grinds of black pepperr 1 This one moves fast, so have all your ingredients weighed out and ready before embarking on the cooking 2 Melt 30g of the butter in a non-stick frying pan (skillet) over a medium high flame. When it is frothing, add the onion and garlic and ¼ teaspoon of the salt and fry quite hard in the foaming butter for two minutes, or until soft and…

VIRTUAL GP services have been a lifesaver during the last long year of lockdown, and pet ownership has soared as UK households seek a lockdown companion. Now a new virtual vet service has been launched. Pet insurer petGuard, part of Thistle Insurance Services, has teamed up with Swedish virtual vet service FirstVet to offer the same round-the-clock virtual video consultation service for pets, free to pet-owning policyholders. Already a market leader in Scandinavia, and fast-growing in the US, Germany and the UK, FirstVet’s fast, simple app enables pet owners to describe their pet’s problem and upload any relevant photos before the video consultation with an experienced vet. And with nationwide coverage, referral to a local veterinary clinic or treatment recommendation is straightforward for anxious pet owners. Based in Gloucester, petGuard…

We Learnt About Hitler at the Mickey Mouse Club by Enid Elliott Linder The author, an artist, was the daughter of a butler and a lady’s maid who worked ‘below stairs’ in some of England’s grandest country houses in the years leading up to the Second World War. It’s a fascinating, unflinching portrait of the brutal realities of pre-war Britain and the pain of separation from loved ones. Published by Icon Price £9.99 Pages 288 ISBN 978-1785786099 An Act of Love by Carol Drinkwater The latest from the actress turned author is a change from her novels based on her experiences running an olive farm; this time she tells the story of a young girl and her family forced to flee war-torn Poland and find refuge in the French Alps,…

This month the challenge is to name nursery rhymes we all knew as children using information about their origins. The answers are over the page. 1 This rhyme refers to King Edward I who fell off his horse into a large puddle while he was travelling to Gloucester. 2 The title of this rhyme is the nickname given to a large cannon placed against a wall in the English Civil War. 3 In the Middle Ages starving orphans sang for food – hence this rhyme about a little boy. 4 A rhyme referring to Elizabeth I, a fine lady, travelling to somewhere in Oxfordshire to see a large new cross that had been erected. 5 The death of Robin Hood inspired this rhyme, which has a question as its title.…

Just a reminder... ... that in May 1988, the leading figure in medicine in America, the Surgeon General, declared that nicotine was addictive in similar ways to heroin and cocaine ... in this month in 1982, Sophia Loren started her 30-day jail sentence in Naples for tax evasion (she was freed after 18 days) ... and in May 1990, a French TGV train reached a record speed of 320mph. Apologies if you’ve heard this before... Sorry if you’ve already heard this but there’s some fascinating news about the compulsion among British people to keep apologising. It seems we do it much more than other nations, and very often when we’ve nothing to say sorry for... Forgive me saying but we really are over-polite. It seems more than half the population…

Ode to our 200-year-old Chestnut Tree I once was a chestnut, I hung from a tree,Like all of the young, I longed to be free.One day I landed, it felt like a mile.I need not have worried, I was in Hutton soil.My work had just started, ‘twas about 1803.That’s when I knew, I’d become a tree.I grew into a sapling, strong and tall.There for you, one and all.You sheltered beneath me, when it did rain,When it was sunny, you did the same.Some have kissed beneath me too,I will not tell, Oh! Was it you?I saw your fashions and such,Some I liked, some not so much.Your vehicle’s changed, from carriage to car.That really was going a step too far,Now is the time, for me to go,Another stage, I cannot say No!It’s…

MINIATURE CAMERAS which patients can swallow to get checked for cancer are being trialled across the NHS. The imaging technology, in a capsule no bigger than a pill, can provide a diagnosis within hours. Known as a colon capsule endoscopy, the cameras are the latest NHS innovation to help patients access cancer checks at home. Traditional endoscopies mean patients need to attend hospital and have a tube inserted whereas the new technology means that people can go about their normal day. An initial group of 11,000 NHS patients in England will receive the capsule cameras in more than 40 parts of the country. NHS Chief Executive Sir Simon Stevens said: “As we come out of ‘peak COVID’ and the disruption of the pandemic, the NHS is now pushing ahead with…

Sally Cable from Harrogate took out equity release because her occupational pension wasn’t enough to see her through until her State pension kicked in. Her mother had previously taken out an equity release scheme with Age Partnership, so Sally gave it a go, too. She says the tax-free money allowed her to fulfil her dream of buying a motor home and travelling around. “I had seen my children take gap years and wanted one of my own. I laugh so much when I use it, it’s fantastic.” Although Sally hasn’t been able to travel due to lockdown, it still gives her a sense of purpose. “I have decorated it, painted it and made new cushions.”…

Hello and welcome to my Craft Corner! Every month I share two new projects with Choice readers – one for those who enjoy hobbies such as papercrafting, upcycling and decoupage, and one for those who are fond of sewing and needlecraft, where I focus on simple, everyday stitched fabric accessories. I’ve lived and breathed crafting for as long as I can remember. I have very fond memories of cake decorating, cross-stitching and candle-making with my mum, and in my late teens I discovered the joy of cardmaking. I was fortunate enough to turn my favourite pastimes into my career by setting up Crafter’s Companion out of my university bedroom, and it’s been an amazing journey seeing my business develop into what it is today. I love experimenting and using our…

SEED MARKETING organisation Fleuroselect is promoting 2021 as the year of calendulas and courgettes. Calendulas provide masses of colour and interest for very little cost or effort. There’s been a lot of plant breeding in the world of calendulas that has resulted in a fabulous array of colours and forms, all available to grow really easily from seed. That makes them an extremely cost-effective way to fill your garden with vibrant and beautiful zingy colours. Look out for seed mixes of fiery oranges and yellow, in single, semi-double and double forms. Or why not choose to grow the more subtle but beautiful varieties with flowers in soft cream with green or yellow tinges that will soften the colour palette and make lovely cut flowers? There are peachy forms and dusky…

DVDS Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime (Dazzler Media) Blu-ray and DVD One of the few compensations of last year’s lockdown was the chance to enjoy once again the ex-Python reminiscing about some of his most memorable expeditions for this hugely enjoyable series. Featured are the documentaries on Palin’s Around The World In 80 Days, Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Sahara and the Christmas Special, which focussed on his journey through the Himalayas and it is fascinating to learn of the privations involved in making them, Michael’s own memories of the various expeditions as well enlightening comments from the likes of Sir David Attenborough and travel broadcaster Simon Reeves, who was himself hugely inspired by Palin’s adventures. It is hard to imagine who else could have carried off these often…

With more than £100m sales in the UK last year and over 15 million jigsaws sold, people are enjoying the puzzle revival more than ever. Jigsaws are great for the mind, real brain food which helps people unwind. While sometimes it’s stressful looking for that missing piece or finding the one that fits, it’s rewarding when finished. Creating a real masterpiece is enjoyable and helps people escape from the stressful world around us. Kikkerland has created a range of unique jigsaws for the whole family, all costing £15. ■ The eye-catching Kikkerland Farm Puzzle (1000 pieces) is full of animals and a cute beagle. ■ The Zany Zoo Puzzle: Nearly 800 young artists submitted work to celebrate Earth Day and the ten best ones were made into this stunning 1000-piece…

TWO MYSTERIOUS deaths 70 years apart, both linked by the Mona Lisa, are the centrepiece of Peter May’s absorbing new thriller The Night Gate (Quercus, £20), Blackout (Headline, £20) is a crime story set in 1939 Berlin, the first of a new series from Simon Scarrow, and The Ends of the Earth, by Abbie Greaves (Century, £12.99) is the intriguing tale of a woman keeping vigil for her first love, missing for seven years. And Not Dark Yet, by Peter Robinson (Hodder, £20) is the 27th in the DCI Banks series, and it’s as gripping as ever. Failures of State, by Jonathan Calvert and George Arbuthnott (HarperCollins, £20), follows the science in detailing the progress of the coronavirus epidemic in its early months, and the errors that were made tackling…

Did first impressions hide mimics’ misery? THE SCENE: A country cottage, back in the old days, where the only entertainment within miles is the wireless on a shelf beside a log fire. The adults are listening to a variety show and there’s lots of audience laughter as various characters come over the airwaves. I’m a nipper, in my favourite spot on the peg rug at the hearth. It’s here that I amuse myself while the grown-ups listen to things like Saturday Night Theatre, The Brains Trust, the Shipping Forecast and Mrs Dale’s Diary. I am aware that the people on tonight’s show are famous – Winston Churchill (who Granddad disliked for some reason), Field Marshall Montgomery, Henry Hall (who was always saying “This is Henry Hall speaking”) and a grumpy…

Being beside the seaside is an essential ingredient of holidays for many of us and Britain can rival anywhere for coastal places to visit. As part of the traditional British holiday, dating back to the early 19th century, piers have been a seaside success story since the Victorian era. There are more than 50 to choose from. Clevedon Pier, Somerset Built in 1869, Clevedon Pier is the only Grade I listed pier still standing in the UK; it was described by poet John Betjeman as ‘the most beautiful pier in England’. Located on the eastern shore of the Severn Estuary in the charming seaside town of Clevedon, it was originally constructed to attract tourists and to provide a ferry port for rail passengers to South Wales. It also served as…

LONDON’S RIVER bus service, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, is partnering with The London Pass, the city’s digital multi-attraction pass. The five-year partnership will give sightseers with The London Pass the option of travelling through the city in comfort, taking in the most scenic views of famous landmarks from the River Thames. The London Pass ticket holders can board Uber Boat by Thames Clippers services by heading to one of four piers – Westminster, Embankment, Tower or London Bridge City – where they present their pass in exchange for a River Roamer ticket. The River Roamer ticket can then be used all day for hop-on, hop-off travel across the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers network of 23 piers, from east to west. The London Pass starts from £69 (adult), available…

AS BENJAMIN Franklin is once purported to have said, there are only two things that are certain in life: death and taxes. It’s a famous saying commonly used in a light-hearted sense to parody the realities of modern society. There is an inherent truth to the statement, and it might explain why Inheritance Tax (IHT) is considered the most hated form of taxation in Britain. A survey carried out in 2015 revealed that three-fifths (59 per cent) of UK taxpayers opposed IHT. Delving into this finding, the Fabian Society revealed there were two reasons for society’s general objection of the tax. The first has to do with IHT being imposed at a time when people are grieving for the loss of a loved one. Financial issues are not something people…

The Silverfit 10 Challenge was another popular initiative that ran throughout August and September. It promoted getting active with an intergenerational theme, hoping that partnerships would encourage greater physical activity and improved familial interaction resulting in better mental health. Hilary Rowlands, 69, took part in the activity with her grandson Ben Dibley, 19, a triathlete, who was very excited about getting his grandmother active after his COVID-19 infection. The two were walking and running separately, as they live in two different areas, but linked regularly on the kilometres done. “The most positive memory about the challenge was seeing how well we were doing as a team,” Ben reveals. “To be honest I didn’t log every single one of my runs, a lot of kilometres that we put in were my…

THE HOUSE on Third Avenue, halfway up the steep hill out of Duluth, Minnesota, still looks much as it did on that spring day when Beatty and Abe Zimmerman came home from the city hospital, cradling their newborn son. Perhaps in the future there will be a plaque by the front door. Some fitting commemoration, a reminder of how the extraordinary and gifted can emerge out of the most ordinary of backgrounds: “Bob Dylan. Songwriter, poet, musician, Nobel Laureate. Born May 25 1941”. The child who uttered his first words in the nursery there was to become a voice for his generation in the Sixties and perhaps the greatest single force in modern culture in every decade since. Truly an all-American luminary you might think…but that would not be entirely…

Supplies: ■ Mesh fruit bag ■ Scrap pieces of fabric ■ Scrap pieces of cotton wadding ■ Basic sewing kit To create: 1 Cut two pieces of cotton fabric measuring 4.5in x 6in. You can make them larger if required 2 Cut three or four pieces of cotton wadding to the same size as your cotton fabric 3 Cut two pieces of fruit bag mesh but make them a little bigger than the size of your fabric. The mesh can be tricky to manipulate and allowing for extra mesh ensures you manage to catch it all in the seams 4 Place one piece of cotton with the right side up, place the two pieces of mesh next, then place the other piece of cotton with the right side down on…

SPRING IS in full swing by the time May comes around, bringing with it a whole new group of wildlife eager to join the party. Read on to see what you might be able to see in your garden or locality.… Flies take to the skies This is a great time of year to keep an eye out for the St Mark’s Fly, an important pollinator for fruit trees and other plants. When they fly, their legs dangle lazily below their bodies, and they’ll take the opportunity to rest on pretty much whatever surface is available – even people. It’s called the St Mark’s Fly because it emerges around April 25 – the saint’s feast day – so by May there are plenty of them buzzing about. Another kind of…

TWO NEW books mark Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday in very different ways. A Restless Hungry Feeling, by Clinton Heylin (Bodley Head, £30), draws on Dylan’s personal archive for what is essentially a complete rewrite of Heylin’s previous biography Behind the Shades. This first volume (the second and final volume is promised late next year) takes the story up to 1967 and the motorcycle accident that decisively changed Dylan’s life and career. Paul Morley’s You Lose Yourself, You Reappear (Simon & Schuster, £20) is a rather more personal and opaque, but no less fascinating, look at how Dylan’s voice and art have mutated over the past 60 years. In 1974 Los Angeles was at the epicentre of major changes in film, television and rock music, driven by the major social and…

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams Published by Chatto & Windus Price £14.99 Pages 432 ISBN 9781784743864 In a garden shed, known as the Scriptorium, lexicographers are compiling the first Oxford English Dictionary. Young Esme, endlessly curious, sits on her widowed father’s lap as he sorts through words and their meanings, then takes her place under his table, where she secretly collects discarded words. Over time Esme realises that some words are considered more important than others, that words and their meanings relating to women’s experiences often go unrecorded, and so begins to collect material for her own Dictionary of Lost Words. Seamlessly blending fact and fiction, this is a beautifully crafted book, filled with memorable characters. Hardbacks THRILLER The Old Enemy by Henry Porter Former MI6 officer…

Bridge BY HEATHER DHONDY Before reading on, cover the East and West hands on the deal below. NORTH-SOUTH GAME; DEALER SOUTH Playing pairs, South opens one heart. What do you respond with the North cards? You are too strong for one notrump playing Acol, so must respond two diamonds. South rebids two notrumps, showing 15-17, North rebids three hearts to offer a choice of games and South opts for four hearts. The lead is the six of clubs, to East’s nine. How do you plan the play? You appear to have four losers, and must hope that the opponents will be unable to cash them all. Begin by ducking this trick, and win the club continuation. You will notice that West has petered, showing a doubleton. When you start drawing…

In years to come, today’s youngsters will be telling their offspring stories about the Covid crisis and how it changed the world and shook our confidence in our power to govern every eventuality. Meanwhile, I’m still fascinated – and staggered – by first-hand accounts of life during the Second World War, eighty years after the worldwide conflict and the death of more than 70 million (yes, 70 million) people. Choice reader Margaret Purdy of Catford was a child caught up in the mayhem; she was a casualty of the bombing of a school, and in the confusion after the bombing, her sister was sent to one hospital and she to another. Luckily neither was seriously hurt but she recalls how stressful it was for their mother being reunited with them.…