Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2021 i Choice

Remember when motorists had to have those little parking lights that you hung on the offside front window then wound your window up? In a built up area you had to have the lights on if you were within 30ft of a junction. The night patrol sergeant kindly wrote on the fixed penalty notice he issued me that I was 29 1/4ft away. I didn’t know this at the time, as some helpful local swiped the ticket from under the windscreen wiper before I emerged from my digs for my last day of a block release journalism course at Harlow College. So, I remained unaware of my transgression. A few weeks later a reminder arrived in the post at home with the crest of Essex Constabulary on the back. “What…

HER LIFE followed the trajectory of the Sixties, from wide-eyed innocence to dead-eyed decadence, but somehow Marianne Faithfull came through it all. Now this one-time Sixties golden girl, who managed to turn her life around after more than a decade of drug addiction is living with anew challenge – long covid. Marianne went down with the disease in March last year, and was so ill at one point that her doctors recommended palliative care only. “One of my doctors didn’t think my lungs would ever recover,” she told the Guardian, “and where I finally ended up is OK. Maybe they won’t, but maybe, by a miracle, they will. “I don’t know why I believe in miracles. I just do. Maybe I have to, the journey I’ve been on, the things…

Neil Patrick’s features always take me back in time... How well I remember the summer of 1976 (Choice, June). My husband and I spent a week with friends on a canal boat along the Norfolk Broads, and it was glorious being on the water. However back at home we sweltered, not daring to open the windows for letting in the plague of ladybirds. A few days later we went to Stratford-upon-Avon with the same friends and joy of joys it poured with rain – well, it was August Bank Holiday. The winter of 1962/63 gave us a very heavy covering of snow and deadly ice. I worked on a farm at the weekend aged 15 and I slipped and slid my way round the fields and farmyard to feed the…

A souvenir publication Prince Philip 1921-2021: A Celebration is now available. The book explores the major events in Prince Philip’s life, from his birth in Corfu, his education and wartime service, to his marriage to The Queen and his patronage of more than 750 organisations. Featuring more than 150 images of His Royal Highness, the book draws on private archives as well as official records and includes a foreword by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. An official commemorative retail range has been also produced by Royal Collection Trust to celebrate Prince Philip’s life and pay tribute to his wide-ranging interests. The range includes a fine bone china coffee mug and limited edition tankard, featuring a design bearing His Royal Highness’s personal Cypher and Coronet. A leather bookmark reflects…

Gail Willis is an exponent and teacher of Hatha Yoga. She brings Choice readers a new exercise every month. Gail, who is now a full-time yoga instructor in Kettering, Northamptonshire, has recruited her mother Janet Rogers to help demonstrate the exercises. In each picture Janet now 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. “Some exercises you will be able to do the maximum level of stretch. Others you will achieve only the basic move or just a little more. It doesn’t matter because even…

DID YOU know that blackcurrants are one of the most beneficial of superfoods? Probably not, especially as one survey appeared to show that one third of us do not even know what they look like, confusing them, instead, with blackberries or blueberries. But blackcurrants have been around in the British countryside since the 17th century, and have long been revered for their medicinal qualities. It wasn’t untitl the Thirties, however, that we Brits really took to blackcurrants, when blackcurrant syrup was given free to children as a vitamin C supplement And recent research has shown that the blackcurrant is good for us in many other ways; providing a high amount of calcium that helps strengthen bones and teeth for instance. And there are plenty of ways to sample this delicious,…

WRITING A Will can provide you with peace of mind – but can also be a source of anxiety if you are unsure about what should be included. Our legal experts at Clough & Willis Solicitors have this advice on how to ensure you have included everything you need when writing your Will. Personal details Naturally, you need to include up-to-date personal details: your name, date of birth, current address and relationship status, as well as the names and birth dates of your children, spouse and anyone else who might be listed as your next of kin. This means your solicitor will be able to verify your identity and those of your loved ones in order to write and legally validate the Will. Details of your assets The main purpose…

SERVES FOUR Orange, Red Onion And Watercress Salad I don’t like raw onion in salads generally, but here I love the combination of the tangy orange, gentle raw fennel and sweet onion. It can be eaten on its own or as a lovely accompaniment. In midwinter, blood oranges are a must and work just as beautifully. ■ 4 medium oranges ■ 2red onions ■ 1 fennel bulb ■ 200g watercress ■ few sprigs of mint, finely sliced ■ juice of 1 lime ■ 3 tbsp olive oil ■ Cornish sea salt 1 Peel and slice the oranges crossways into rounds and try to save as much of the juice as possible for the dressing. Slice the red onions and fennel thinly 2 Combine the onions and fennel with the orange…

ONCE UPON a time, wines were known predominantly by their place of origin, most notably Bordeaux (claret), Bourgogne (Burgundy) Beaujolais and Chateauneuf-du-Pape – toname a few from our French neighbours – Chianti, Valpolicella, Brunello di Montalcino from Italy and Rioja from Spain. With the advent of the emerging southern hemisphere ‘New World’ wine producing countries like Australia, New Zealand, South America, South Africa and the growing importance of Californian wines over the past 30 years or so, the identity of the grapes from which the wines have been made began to make a prominent appearance on wine labels. Grape varieties such as cabernet sauvignon, syrah, pinot noir, merlot and many others for red wine – and sauvignon blanc, and pinot gris for white wines – are now all immediately identifiable…

Most people’s most memorable sporting moment would probably commemorate a significant sporting victory. Mine however ends in heroic defeat. On June 18, 1963, our champion boxer Henry Cooper finally got his shot at Cassius Clay (eventually to be known as Muhammad Ali) the most famous boxer of all time. Prior to the fight Ali engaged in plenty of his typical opponent baiting, to which Cooper replied “Let him carry on, he’s selling tickets and earning me good money.” Some 35,000 spectators paid to see the first open-air fight at Wembley Stadium for 28 years. Cooper weighed in about 20 pounds lighter than Ali and had a five-inch shorter reach. In round one, Henry surprised Ali with offensive tactics, firing jabs left right and centre, although many of Cooper’s stronger punches,…

TOP CRIME thrillers perfect for lazy summer days include I Know What I Saw (Raven, £12.99), the follow-up to barrister Imran Mahmood’s excellent You Don’t Know Me; Running out of Road (Constable, £20.99) the latest gripping thriller from Scott and Bailey creator Cath Staincliffe, and A Cursed Place (Two Roads, £14.99), which finds intrepid reporter William Carver taking on a sinister international big tech corporation. Psycho by the Sea (Raven, £14.99) is the fourth instalment of Lynne Truss’s quirky Fifties crime series set in Brighton and Nothing, by Daniel O’Connor (W&N, £14.99) is a darkly humorous portrait of a mind at the end its tether, a man possessed of a terrifying power. Also worth checking out are The Disappearing Act, by Catherine Steadman (Simon & Schuster, £14.99), Lisa Jewell’s The Night…

Bridge Before reading on, cover the East and West hands on the deal below. LOVE ALL; DEALER SOUTH Playing teams, South opens one notrump and North bids two clubs, Stayman. South responds two hearts and North rebids two notrumps. What call do you make? You are in the middle of the range, but with a couple of tens it is not unreasonable to have a go at three notrumps. West leads the five of diamonds, which you run round to East’s queen, and your king. You try a heart to the queen, but it loses to the king. A diamond is returned, and covered all round. Now you try ducking a spade, which West wins and continues a third round of diamonds, East discarding a club. Two more rounds of spades…

This month we test your knowledge of Cockney rhyming slang, the London lingo first used by costermongers in the 1840s. See if you can work out the slang terms from the clues provided. (The answers are over the page.) 1 What activity does a Ball and Chalk refer to? 2 Which royal personage is rhymed with a canned food often eaten on toast? 3 What sort of transport is a Sherbet Dab? 4 What’s a Tommy Trinder? 5 What sort of social occasion is a Kick and Prance? 6 Which branch of the police would be referred to as the Sweeney Todd? 7 Which now-unfashionable items of clothing were called Lionel Blairs? 8 Name the item of crockery that described a special friend, or a tradesman’s help. 9 What were…

Just a reminder... ... that in August 1972, there was trouble at sea as the Cod War involving Icelandic and British fishermen escalated with the sinking of two UK trawlers by gunboats ... in this month in 1973, the new football season kicked off on the wrong foot - 180 fans were arrested after incidents involving crowd violence ... and in August, Moira Stuart was appointed the BBC’s first black woman newsreader. Lights go out for night school It won’t be long before autumn is here, a season when (once upon a time) thousands of people started making inquiries at their local colleges and other education centres about the courses on offer. Enrolment evenings were big and busy events in every town. That was when night school was a major…

Write to Your views, Choice, 4 Milnyard Square, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6GX, or email us at: (editorial@choicemag.co.uk). (Views expressed are those of the individual correspondent and not necessarily those of the magazine) Golden slumbers In the July issue Neil Patrick asks what lullaby we fell asleep to as youngsters and I have very fond memories of a number of songs sung to me by my father. One of my favourites was Ellan Vannin – Dear Isle of Man as Dad was a Manxman and we also had many happy visits to the island. I was very surprised to hear the song sung by The Bee Gees on a televised programme some years ago as I had never heard it recorded commercially. My maiden name was Burns and so many…

For my love This earth is wonderful indeed, With warmth and love and beauty here A comfort for our every need, A word from those we hold most dear The sun, the moon, the stars that shine The poppies in the field of corn, The birds that sing – they’re yours and mine The beauty of the early dawn. All these are sent by God above To make our lives on earth complete. The tiny, newborn lambs of Spring, The scent of honeysuckle sweet But far more beautiful than them all Is my deep love for you, my dear Its light outshines the brightest star in a midnight sky – so bright, so clear. Its depth can reach the ocean’s bed Its height outspans the moon above. I’d rather wish…

With the full release of its 2022/23 North and Central America Voyages and Land Journeys programme, Scenic has unveiled new discovery experiences for guests travelling on board the ultra-luxury discovery yacht, Scenic Eclipse. Across four new sailings and five new land journeys, guests can explore the Cerro Negro volcano (Central America) on a guided walk or delight in the warm, azure waters the region has to offer on kayaking, snorkelling or stand-up paddleboarding excursions. Scenic Eclipse offers an unrivalled exploration of the region. The on-board helicopters offer incredible views of the stunning tropical mountain vistas while the on-board submarine, Scenic Neptune, provides a front-row seat to incredible wildlife encounters in the waters of ‘the world’s aquarium’ – the Sea of Cortez. ■ For more information and to book, tel: 0808…

Sue Moxley is one of the UK’s leading beauty experts; her career as a successful makeup artist took her around the world and she was the trusted artist for many celebrities. Sue branched into beauty journalism and was beauty editor of a national newspaper as well as other publications. She has also hosted several makeover shows on national television. She currently has a brand of beauty accessories and cosmetics in Tesco Extra stores and online: (www.suemoxleybeauty.co.uk). Hair to go You might have been lucky enough to go back to your stylist, but if your hair is lacking volume and shine then use a pre shampoo treatment like Philip Kingsley’s Elasticizer, £19.50, (philipkingsley.co.uk), originally formulated to tame the locks of Audrey Hepburn, to help strengthen its texture and make it easier…

Your guide to the best financial advice MY SON and daughter-in-law visited from New York in June, the first time we’d seen them in almost 18 months. Their visit highlighted for me the insanity of the Government’s Covid policy. Their visit required FIVE PCR tests; firstly, on leaving the US (free), then on arrival at Heathrow, after which they quarantined with us, during which NHS Track and Trace phoned both of them regularly. Five days into their visit they had a third in order to be ‘released’ early, for which they paid extra to get same day results (which didn’t arrive until 10 pm). Day eight required another mandatory test, and then a final one before departure back to the US. The four tests here are done by private companies…

How much State pension would my wife get? Q Can you please give me some idea as to what amount of State pension my wife would receive if I predecease her.Iam92years old and worked for the Royal Bank of Scotland for43years prior to my retirement in December 1988. My wife is 85 and only worked full-time for two years(1956-58) after which she stayed at home to look after our family. At present she receives a State pension of £83.70 per week. Name and address supplied Teri Harman, Editor,YM&YR, replies: A As both you and your wife reached State pension age some years ago, you come under the old system. This is good news. It means that, if widowed, your wife should be able to receive an increase to her State…

A Choice reader for 35 years, Dr Adrian Greaves was a young army officer when, in 1961,he guarded Nazi war criminal Albert Speer in Berlin’s Spandau Prison. He managed to arrange interviews with Speer over a period of three years and kept a written record of their conversations. Speer also honed Adrian’s German language,so on leaving the armyin1964, he became an interpreter working in Germany In 1970 he joined Kent Police, reaching the rank of superintendent. after retirement he qualified as a clinical psychologist. He was a regular public speaker on a range of subjects including ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, ‘Climbing the Eiger’ and ‘The Zulu wars’.His most popular talk was‘ Guarding Spandau Prison’ about his conversations with Speer. Adrian Greaves’s full account of Speer’s rise to power, and his unique…

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 paper crafting, 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…

Just the one pan Cooking with one pan not only saves time, it saves on washing up as well! Jane Lovett provides more than 100 recipes for a vast array of one-pan recipes in her clever book. There’s even a one-pan recipe for a Full-English-Breakfast-in-the-Oven, and the Creamy Leek, Potato & Parmesan Chicken Thigh Tray Bake is delicious. The book includes some useful store cupboard and ingredient tips as well as advice on which pants, pots, tins trays and dishes to use. Like its subject, this book has everything in one place. ■ Just One Pan by Jane Lovette (Hachette, £25, ISBN 978-1472277879). Mortar & Pestle ‘Tardis’… Make the most of your mortar and pestle with this handy book, a treasure-trove of recipes for sauces, rubs and marinades as well…

DVDs Bob Dylan: Odds and Ends (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) Digital download Marking the great man’s 80th birthday, and available on digital download platforms, including Amazon, this two hour film gathers up various interviews, promotional films and documentary shorts largely focussing on the first ten years of Bob Dylan’s career, from early demos to the Self Portrait and New Morning recording sessions. There’s some wonderful footage of the traumatic 1966 tour, during which Dylan was constantly booed by audiences, his collaboration with Johnny Cash, bucolic scenes from the making of the Basement Tapesand fascinating insights into the divisive Self Portrait double album. There’s curios, too, in particular a rather self-congratulatory 1974 in-house Columbia Records film celebrating Dylan’s return to the label for the Blood On The Tracks album. The lack…

Woodston Doubleday Price £20 Pages 352 ISBN 9870857525796 The author is an historian and farmer with an eye for vivid detail who creates evocative images as he shares his knowledge and love of the countryside. His family has worked the land for centuries and this is a lyrical biography of Woodston, a quintessential English farm bordering three counties and the River Teme, where his grandfather was a master grower of hops. Its story spans the Earth’s earliest days and the first farmers, Neolithic man, through Saxons, Tudors and the Land Girls of wartime, with personal recollections, family memories, poetry and the moment that changed his attitude to farming. HARDBACK BOOK OF THE MONTH Hardbacks THRILLER The Murder Box It’s Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan’s birthday and when a murder mystery…

MANY YEARS ago, when scraping together a crust as a local newspaper journalist, a colleague who had a wife with a prosperous business enjoyed a more affluent life than the rest of us. So we were not surprised when one day he announced that he was taking the plunge and buying a house he’d always admired, a rather special place on the edge of town. We were slightly in awe when it turned out to be a landmark building brimming with style, a home beyond the wildest dreams of his fellow hacks – a white-washed Georgian home, encircled by tall walls enclosing fruit- filled gardens and even an old icehouse where, in pre-fridge days, family provisions had been stored. Any envy on my part was tempered by our workmate’s humble…

Anyone who has reached middle age, or the next stage in life, will have daily reminders of physical decline. As you might have discovered, sometimes they’re particularly striking – such as when the idea of running for abus smacks of a death wish or taking to the dance floor has the connotations of the Olympics. This nostalgia over lost youthful vigour hit me recently when, having huffed and puffed my way back into the car seat and caught my breath after a mere stroll, a young boy flashed past on his bike. He careered ahead effortlessly, not looking where he was going, and pecking away at his mobile, with the careless arrogance of youth (irritatingly, he also had a full head of flowing hair!). Talk about the daring young man…

Soothing, relaxing and stress reducing, these CDs from GAP MuSic and it’s sister label Tantajo Records are a great addition to any music collection. Checkout the GAP website: (www.gapmusic.co.uk) for more wonderful music for relaxation and wellbeing. 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.…

AROUND THE time of David Dawson’s 80th birthday, in January last year, he received an e-mail from the disaster relief charity ShelterBox. David had long been a supporter of the charity, and the e-mail was inviting people to take up the 20 for 20 challenge - 20 miles walking or cycling to celebrate the years that ShelterBox has existed. David said: “I have been aware of ShelterBox and loved the concept of the box where everything within it is designed to help disaster victims in their hour of need. It encourages people to help themselves and start the process of recovery through tools and provisions, until aid arrives.” David lives in Scotland, where the winters can be tough, but despite this, and COVID-19 having an impact on activity, he thought…

OVER THE past 18 months the Covid-19 pandemic has affected everyone across the globe, causing many people to re-evaluate their lives and their hopes and plans. It has had a detrimental effect on many people’s finances (others have saved more) and research suggests it has changed attitudes towards many aspects of life, particularly among older people Work The impact of the pandemic on employment of younger people has been well publicised, especially as so many work in the leisure industry, but a report by the independent charitable trust, the Nuffield Foundation, found the fall in employment among 50 to 69-year-olds was double those aged 25 to 49. It also found that once out of work, over-50s struggle significantly more than their younger counterparts to return to work, meaning large numbers…

A Introductory rate for a limited period B Protected by a non-UK compensation scheme C Provider operates under Islamic finance principles, rate shown is expected profit rate F Fixed rate. Methods of opening and operating accounts will vary.All rates are shown as AER variable unless otherwise stated. All rates and terms subject to change without notice and should be checked before finalising any arrangement. No liability can be accepted for any direct or consequential loss arising from the use of, or reliance upon, this information. Readers who are not financial professionals should seek expert advice. Visit (Moneyfacts.co.uk) for full details. National Savings& Investments Enquiry tel:0808 5007007.…

MUCH PARODIED, of which many versions are unprintable, Felicia Hemans’ famous poem was inspired by a tragic moment during the Battle of the Nile as our greatest admiral, Horatio Nelson, struck the first of his mighty blows to destroy Napoleon’s French navy. This battle was one of two hugely significant victories won in the month of August by two English military heroes whose strategic gains and tactics influenced world affairs and conflicts into modern times. The Battle of Blenheim on August 13, 1704, propelled John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough, to revered status and a magnificent palace funded by the nation. The Battle of the Nile on August 1, 1798 scuppered Napoleon’s plans to defeat Britain by transferring India from British to French rule and led to his ultimate demise…

Supplies: ■ Free Crafter’s Companion Confetti Download Papers, Sentiments and Toppers from: (www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/choice-magazine-papercrafting) ■ 12in x12in White Crafter’s Companion Texture Card ■ 12in x 12in Bright Pink Crafter’s Companion Texture Card ■ Printable white card ■ Fingerlift tape ■ Foam pads ■ 3D Glue Gel ■ Gems To create: 1 Print out a selection of papers, toppers and sentiment on to Printable White Card 2 Cut a piece of White Texture Card to 11 ¾in x 11 ¾in. Cut a piece of Bright Pink Texture Card to 11 ½in x11½in and layer on top. Cut two pieces of Confetti paper to 11 ¼in x 4 in and adhere these to the top and bottom of your scrapbook page, leaving a border as shown 3 Cut a piece of Pink Dotty…

ONE OF the highlights of summer is spending warm evenings in the garden and relaxing as dusk turns into night, perhaps experiencing a beautiful sunset as it does. Night-blooming plants can make those evenings even more memorable as their scents enhance the tranquillity. Night-blooming plants or night-scented plants release their fragrance when dusk sets in. They’re known to not only create an ambient mood and some special moments but also attract nocturnal pollinators such as moths. To take full advantage of the perfumes, you can also plant them around patios or terraces, a well-worn path, or an open window as well as in traditional borders. Shannen Godwin, spokesperson for one of the leading plant and bulb companies in the UK, J Parker’s, says: “Flowers don’t just make a beautiful place.…

It is September 7, 1976 and the occasion, acup replay at Peterborough United’s London Road ground against Fulham. On the face of it Peterborough, the Posh, were expected to lose, but a couple of factors spiced up the tie. Firstly Peterborough had a giant-killing reputation. Two: George Best had recently signed for Fulham and, even in the twilight of his career, he was still abig draw and 16,500 fans were packed into London Road. I was taking pictures for the Daily Express and covering the London Road end goal. Now, I’m not a football photographer and, truth be told, at the time I wasn’t even a football fan but I couldn’t help but be intoxicated by the atmosphere. It was an evening game and, even with floodlights, photography was more…

Elgar 50 The Very Best of Classical Music Apple iTunes, 50 excerpts, 5h 39m Right through my village primary school years I was always taken by the music delivered, somewhat tinnily, by the mono speaker on wheels as the May Queen, her attendants and party of guards paraded around the playground in front of parents and a collection of the parish grannies. It was years before I realised it was Pomp and Circumstance March No 4by Sir Edward Elgar and it never fails to take me back to those days. This collection highlights Elgar’s soaring, swirling, romantic, solemn and uplifting range. It conjures images of the English landscape inspired by the gentle scenery of Worcestershire where he grew up in view of the Malvern Hills. Elgar with his magnificent moustache epitomises…

WHO CAN forget those images of RAF pilot John Nichol and his fellow Tornado crew member John Peters being paraded on Iraqi TV after being shot down during the first Gulf War. John eventually made it back home and lived to tell the tale, other Tornado crew members were not so lucky, and in Tornado (Simon and Schuster, £20) Nichol tells their stories, powerfully and unflinchingly. In his thought-provoking book The New Snobbery (Biteback £16.99), David Skelton explores the marginalisation and stigmatisation of the ‘left-behinds’ and how Brexit and recent elections have seen the rise of this powerful force, and Stonehouse, by Julian Hayes (Robinson, £25), is the remarkable and compelling true story of the Labour politician – and inspiration for Reggie Perrin – who faked his own death and…

The official-looking letter that came just before the birthday cards for my 80th birthday gave no hint of the wonderful news it contained. Thankfully, it was not a tax demand, although it looked menacing. And it was not a bill. No – it was glad tidings about my government pension. I was getting a rise… The delirium over the good news soon turned to dilemma. People who win on the lottery must get this sort of mental torture – a big new car, a change of house… that sort of thing. A mug of tea helped to settle the nerves and slowly a spending plan emerged. If I didn’t go mad and be a squander-bug, in two weeks I’d have almost (almost) enough in extra pension to buy a second-class…

As you might recall, there was a time when pubs were regarded as forbidden territory for kids. Then things changed – food became almost as important as drink in profit terms, and family groups, including the nippers, were shown the welcome mat rather than the door. In the bad old days, a couple of times when holidaying as a young dad I took umbrage when pub landlords were grudging about children being anywhere on the premises but the pub lawn or in a draughty yard. One, I remember, was quite surprised that I’d had the temerity to request a table for the whole family to be fed and watered. His frown and intake of breath spoke volumes. “They’ll behave,” I said in a grovelling tone but the assurance buttered no…