Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2021 i Choice

Come Autumn our seaside towns are transformed. With the crowds gone back to their everyday lives, the waves, sands and promenades are left to locals and people like us (seniors, I mean) with freedom to travel midweek and offseason. It doesn’t have to be an Indian Summer either. Blustery weather or scattered showers just mean you have to wrap up warm to walk the seafront. There are usually a few shelters and some cafes open all year if a shower arrives. Photographer Clive Nicholls and I were on the Fylde coast of Lancashire the other day and it was glorious with a bit of a chop on the sea, a dramatic sky and a double dose of sea air. While Clive took his pictures, I had a go with my…

IT IS April 17, 1961, the night of the 33rd Oscar ceremony, and Shirley Temple takes to the stage at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium clutching the mini Oscar statuette for Best Juvenile Performance. She proceeds to announce that “the Academy tonight presents an Oscar to a young actress who has brought grace and talent to the screen; the star of Pollyanna – Miss Hayley Mills.” Cue music and loud applause from the assembled gathering, but the 14-year-old recipient – who would turn 15 the next day – wasn’t there to receive her honour, or bask in the applause of Hollywood’s leading lights. Instead she was thousands of miles away in England, “fast asleep in a freezing cold boarding school dormitory, totally unaware of the honour being bestowed”. A pattern…

I Have Been I have been to the heights far away,I have danced and sang till night is day,I have been to see a newborn childI have been to see my old friend – she died,I have been wild and sometimes bad,I have been happy and many times sad,I have been in the throes of despair,I ask myself is there a light anywhere?I have been walking down by the sea,I have been everywhere, but never to me. J Fortune, Cumbria Spiders (please note no spiders were attacked during this poem) Just around September groups arrive there in my bathThey terrify me once a year and never make me laughJust the mention of their name can chill me to the boneWhy do they have to visit me – because I’m on…

With the latest Bond film in the cinemas, Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park has shared footage of its in-house octopus watching the No Time To Die trailer in fascination. The octopus, named Gamora, is now being called ‘Octopussy’ by staff at the park after the Bond girl originally played by Maud Adams. She is such a huge 007 devotee that the Animal Care Team has added replica merchandise from the film franchise into her tank, so she is regularly seen playing with Bond’s Aston Martin, and a martini glass – shaken, not stirred, of course. ■ To visit ‘Octopussy’, and all the other creatures at the park, book online: (www.visitsealife.com/weymouth).…

FLU JABS are available every year on the NHS to help protect anyone at risk of flu and its complications, and it is especially important to be properly protected this winter. Dr Ivan Aloysius, GP at the Ringmead Medical Practice, and Joint Clinical Director, The Health Triangle PCN, says: “Around September, I start my flu clinics. That is because I know each year flu could present a new and different challenge to all my patients. However, the risk of complications, hospitalisations and death are significantly higher for adults aged 65 years and older. “This year in addition to the over-65s and those who suffer the worst effects of flu, the government has confirmed that the over-50s will once again be eligible for a free flu jab for the 2021/22 flu…

“DEMENTIAIS not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with doing everyday activities,” according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). From this, we can gauge that dementia has a significant emotional, psychological, practical and social impact on both those living with the condition and their loved ones. Making day-to-day decisions can be challenging. Therefore, lifestyle adjustments are encouraged to minimise the various challenges associated with the condition. If the person with dementia is able to continue living independently with the necessary support, there are steps loved ones can take to maximise their wellbeing and standard of living. If the person is fit to live at home, the local council will ordinarily conduct a…

Supplies: ■ Fat-quarters of Threaders Gingerbread Lane fabric ■ Medium weight fusible interfacing ■ Basic sewing kit, including scissors, pins, cotton thread and a needle ■ Quilting clips To create one cutlery holder: 1 Cut two 16in x 5in strips of co-ordinating Threaders Gingerbread Lane fabric 2 Cut strips of interfacing to the same size and fuse on to the reverse side of both fabric strips 3 Place them patterned sides together and sew down both long sides and the bottom edge using a ¼ in seam allowance. Clip the corners to avoid bulk 4 Using the open top edge, turn out to reveal the patterned side. Push out the corners carefully and press 5 Fold the raw top edges to the inside by ¼in. Hold in place using clips…

IN TIME for Christmas Notes From An Island (Sort Of, £12.99) is a heart-warming collaboration between Moomins creator Tove Jansson and her life partner, Tuulikki Pietila, celebrating in words and art their beloved home on the barren island of Klovharun, and Moominland Midwinter (Sort Of, £14.99) is a special Italian edition of Jansson’s much-loved story, featuring seven pages of unique colour illustrations. Miriam Margolyes’ memoir This Much Is True (John Murray, £20) is full off wonderful stories and is as compelling, forthright and irrepressible as its author, Julian Clary celebrates the vital role dogs have always played in his life in The Lick of Love (Quercus, £20), and Bob Mortimer’s enjoyable autobiography And Away (Simon & Schuster, £20) tells of a childhood blighted by tragedy, of how Bob ended up…

Isn’t it time we all slowed down? “THIS COMPUTER of yours is so slow!” someone said to me recently, having turfed me out of my chair and taken over. Strange. I’d always thought my machine was pretty nifty. Slow was a word you could have applied to the first machine I pecked at on my first day at work (a battered Underwood typewriter that sounded like a malfunctioning machine gun). By slow, our visitor meant that they’d had to wait an absolute eternity – perhaps all of 20 seconds -for my pride and joy to flicker into action. This particular someone was much younger than me, and so could be forgiven for not knowing what slow really is – or to be unaware that my generation had once enjoyed life…

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) 24-hour (late) news... Janet Lang’s memories of Sixties Ireland (Choice, September) reminded me of going into a newsagent’s shop in Carndonagh, on the Inishowen peninsula of Donegal, to buy the morning paper. The shopkeeper told me that if I wanted today’s paper, I would have to come back tomorrow. (Newspapers, printed in Dublin, took 24 hours to reach Donegal.) Did Janet try to make a telephone call? Public phone boxes had a small handle which was turned quickly, thus ringing a bell in the manual exchange. In country districts, the caller had to be careful what was…

AS TRAVEL possibilities open up for 2022, Great Rail Journeys has announced new European trips as part of its programme of small group tours. Highlights include ‘The Wonders of Sardinia and Corsica’ and ‘Vineyards and Chateaux of the Loire Valley’. Great Rail Journeys promises guests will be taken beyond the well-trodden path to enjoy unforgettable experiences. As numbers are capped at 25, they will stay in more characterful hotels, move around the sights more easily and enjoy excursions only suitable for small groups. Returning tours include a gondola ride through Venice, dinner overlooking Alpine peaks at sunset or a Moroccan cooking class in the Atlas Mountains. The firm’s complimentary luggage service is included on all European holidays as standard. ■ For more information or to book, tel: 01904 527180, website:(www.greatrail.com).…

After the announcement that Turkey has moved onto England’s amber list, low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines has expanded its schedule and its number of direct flights from London Stansted and Manchester to Turkey and beyond. They feature low and flexible fares, and a health and safety-first approach. Pegasus has reinstated direct flights to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport from Stansted, with twice-daily flights each way. Flights are now on sale from £49.99 one-way. Five-times weekly direct flights are now also operating from Manchester Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen. Oneway fares from Manchester are on sale from £74.99. Both routes offer onward connections across Pegasus’ network of 36 destinations in Turkey, including the popular coastal resorts of Bodrum, Dalaman and Antalya – as well its 83 other international destinations. The expanded schedule includes…

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…

IN HIS first speech after becoming Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed: “We will fix the crisis in social care once and for all with a clear plan we have prepared.” We now know that plan is to increase employer and employee National Insurance by 1.25 per cent to pay for the State’s share of care costs, which has inevitably and understandably led to accusations of younger often lower paid workers paying a disproportionate amount. This is mitigated by the decision to extend this “additional care premium” to those working beyond State pension age, and the 1.25 per cent tax on dividends to ensure those with investment income will also contribute. The PM has promised, “no one in England will have to pay more than £86,000 to fund their care”. This…

What rights do I have to my partner’s house? Q I am living with my 84-year-old partner in his house. I pay half the Council Tax, utility bills and food expenses. This month it will be seven years since, on his invitation, I moved in with him. Is it true that in case of his death I have rights to inherit part of the house? Name and address supplied Michele Wightman, partner at solicitors Knights plc, replies: A You raise an interesting question about the rights of unmarried partners on death. In the absence of marriage or a civil partnership, they have very limited rights to an estate if not provided for in a Will. The only arguments you could try are: 1 to make a claim under the Inheritance…

It is the 1977 Easter holidays, the year before I am due to take my ‘A’ Levels, and a group of 20 or so Sixth Formers from my school board a plane bound for the other side of the Iron Curtain. This is the height of the Cold War so flying to Moscow feels like entering enemy territory, a real adventure. We spend five days touring the sights, including Lenin’s tomb and the Kremlin, then take a train across the Soviet Union to stay for five days in what was then called Leningrad where we have our breath taken away by the sheer opulence of the old Tsarist buildings, in particular the Winter Palace. The real fascination of the trip, however, is getting a true taste of life under communism…

The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield Published by Quercus Price £20 Pages 480 ISBN 9781529406856 In 1973 the space race is at its height and while the Soviets are launching their spy station, Almaz, NASA has a top-secret agenda for its Apollo 18 journey to the moon. Set between Houston, Moscow and outer space, this Cold War action thriller is former astronaut Chris Hadfield’s first foray into fiction and he brings his considerable knowledge of what space flights really entail to every page. Although heavy with technical detail (and more acronyms man an episode of Line of Duty), he keeps the tension high and the characters vivid. ‘Fiction tightly overlaid on fact’ is how he describes it. HARDBACK BOOK OF THE MONTH Hardbacks NON-FICTION England’s Villages by Ben Robinson Taking…

Bentley Motors is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its design department at Crewe. The first Crewe-designed Bentley was the R-Type Continental in 1951, and was the responsibility of John Blatchley, the head of styling. When it was founded in 1951, the design department’s key responsibility was to communicate ideas and design proposals and share its vision with other areas of the business. This was achieved by capturing design sketches as watercolour artworks, painted by hand – beautifully crafted yet with no opportunity to click an ‘undo’ button if a mistake was made. The watercolour renders were then reproduced in scale or full-size technical drawings depicting side, front, rear, plan elevations and sectional views along the body to describe to the model makers the form of the new car. Model makers…

Mankind has spent lots of energy and ingenuity over centuries in finding ways of talking about you-know-what (to use one of the expressions that avoids the coining of that three-letter word that begins with s and ends with x). This kind of coyness about sex is not new, as anyone who as a nipper had a chance to get a furtive glance through the old News of the World will testify; the paper famously skated round the detail when reporting seedy events. I’ve always thought that when describing sex as ‘having relations’ was a cop-out, as it smacked of family visits. And another euphemism, the semi-medical word ‘congress’, brought to my mind the old trades union organisation. Throughout the centuries people have been coming up with words that, when spoken…

Hey-up, what’s ‘appening t’ Yorkshire accent? By ‘eck, it’s slowly being flattened by the way southerners say things… Anyway, that’s the prediction from some boffins who weigh up what’s happening to our popular parlance. They believe that within half a century, southern pronunciation will have smoothed out the colourful everyday Yorkshire tones I heard, and used, for most of my life. Not only that, some of those peculiarly northern expressions will soon have disappeared, terms like ‘back end’ which for some means a posterior but in Barnsley and Bradford it can only mean autumn. The scientists expect that there might be northern survivors of the southern phonetic invasion. They say that the word ‘bath’ and the word ‘grass’ might continue to be spoken as God intended, the northern way –…

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 another…

Peterborough Cathedral’s popular Christmas Craft and Gift Market takes place on November 19 and 20. The market is open on the Friday from 10am to 5pm and then from 6.30 to 9pm. On the Saturday it is open from 10am to 5pm. Items on sale will include glassware, wooden items, painted silk scarves, vegan soaps, candles, soft toys, Christmas cards and homeware. The stalls will be spread over a wide area in the cathedral to allow plenty of room to shop. There will also be a one-way system in place and entry times will be staggered to avoid overcrowding. The cathedral has good level access, so is ideal for anyone shopping with a pushchair or a wheelchair. Shoppers are asked to book a timed entry ticket in advance. Customers can…

Outdoor exercise is another great way to keep active, improving your fitness and releasing endorphins that help to relieve stress, increase self-esteem and boost energy. However, many of those inspired to take up exercise may be hesitant due to concerns regarding the impact on their joints. Over time, wear and tear of joints can cause inflammation, a natural process which, when sustained over long periods, can damage the joint’s protective cartilage. But according to consultant rheumatologist Dr Rod Hughes: “Regular exercise is a great way to keep muscles strong and helps to maintain a stable weight. “Any worries that the joints might wear out more quickly with exercise is untrue and strong muscles protect adjacent joints. It is important to stretch before you exercise though, particularly if you are unaccustomed…

Red alert Hot flushes and night sweats can lead to tiny blood vessels breaking, making the skin look permanently red or flushed. Try to keep your body temperature regulated during the day; take lukewarm – not hot – showers or baths and use a nourishing gel or soak such as Dove’s new Relaxing Care Bath Salts with lavender (£6.99 at Boots). The Kalme Chameleon Concealer contains caper extract that helps reduce sensitivity and redness. Smooth it on under make-up or moisturiser (£19.95 from kalme.co.uk). Hair works Hair texture can change drastically during menopause but, according to celebrity trichologist Glen Kingsley, any hair loss or thinning is not just down to ageing but hormonal changes during menopause. Nutrition is important to build hair strength so increase your intake of lean protein…

THERE ARE a staggering 38.6 million licensed vehicles in Great Britain, 82 per cent of which are cars, and 65 per cent of households own at least one, according to figures from the Department for Transport. Among older people there has been a big increase in the numbers holding a full driving licence, with the proportion of over-70s still happily motoring rising from 39 per cent in 1997 to 67 per cent in 2019. Women are partly responsible for this increase, and in 2020 the oldest person in Britain to hold a full driving licence was a 108-year-old female... Being able to drive prolongs independence for older people, but there are caveats. After the age of 70 motorists need to renew their licences every three years, as opposed to every…

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 Ican 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 products…

Advent calendars Free-from calendars Moo Free has been making free-from, vegan chocolate for more than ten years and has perfected its recipes for ‘milk’ and white chocolate, making them ideal for those who may be suffering with allergies or following a vegan diet. The company has launched three fun Advent calendars. ■ Organic Cocoa ‘Milk’ (RRP £4.50) is a calendar made using the finest, single-origin organic cocoa from plantations in the Dominican Republic; it has a delicious fruity note. ■ ‘Milk’ Chocolate (RRP £3.99) has been made using cocoa that is Rainforest Alliance/UTZ certified. ■ White Chocolate (RRP £3.99) is made using free-from and vegan white chocolate. Each piece of chocolate is made in Moo Free’s UK factories that do not use milk, gluten or soya, and it is 100…

DVDs Неlр (Acorn Media International) Help was one of those socially awaredramas the BBC used to do so well but seems to have abandoned in favour of ludicrous, box-ticking ‘thrillers’ set on submarines. It starred Jodie Comer as a young Liverpool care home worker, Sarah, who is thrust onto the frontline of the Covid crisis, that point in the pandemic where Matt Hancock’s ‘protective ring’ resulted in some 17,000 care home deaths. In the midst of one particularly harrowing night on duty Sarah, left to cope on her own, calls on her friend Tony, a middle-aged in-mate with early onset Alzheimer’s, to help her with a resident who has Covid and is struggling to breathe. It is a powerful sequence, shot in real time, and Comer and Stephen Graham, who…

Bridge BY HEATHER DHONDY Before reading on, coverthe East and West hands on the deal below. GAME ALL; DEALER SOUTH Playing pairs, South opens three diamonds, and this is passed out. West leads the ace of clubs, and continues with a second club, covered by East’s king, and you ruff. The king of diamonds is taken with West’s ace and a spade switch is won by East with the king. Now the ten of spades is returned and your jack is covered by West’s queen and dummy’s ace. How do you plan the play? You can play safely for your contract now by discarding a heart on the queen of clubs, however there is a chance to play for an overtrick. Cash the queen of clubs discarding your master spade…

Half of the UK save their leftover takeaway food for another meal, according to new national research. The study by Foodhub, one of the UK’s food ordering apps, was carried out to investigate the nation’s attitude to food in the lead-up to the recent International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste. The study also showed a post-lockdown increase in the number of UK households ordering takeaway meals to share. However, although half of the nation salvage their leftovers for another time, 17 per cent admitted to throwing away any uneaten food. Chinese meals came out on top with 58 per cent of foodie fans voting the cuisine as their favourite takeaway to share with others, with Italian coming in second (50 per cent) and Indian rounding off the…

This month’s challenge is to identify as many famous figures as possible from the nicknames they were given. The answers are over the page. 1 Name the English cricketing hero who became known in the media as Guy The Gorilla. 2 Which Lancashire-born footballer was given the nickname Lion of Vienna after bravely scoring a goal for England against Austria, despite being persistently fouled? 3 Name the golfer renowned as The Golden Bear. 4 Which renowned jazzman was known simply as Bird? 5 Who was the Little Sparrow? 6 Name the soldier who was infamous as The Desert Fox. 7 Which British sportsman earned the ironic title Eddie the Eagle? 8 What was Buffalo Bill’s real name? 9 Which comedian billed himself as Parrot Face? 10 Name the singer who…

Just a reminder… … that in this month in 1975, an arsonist, a young man, threw a firebomb into the music room of the Royal Pavilion Brighton, one of Britain’s most popular attractions. Firemen managed to contain the blaze … in November of the same year, the Sex Pistols held their first concert, at St Martin’s School of Art in London, introducing the country to punk … and in the same week, Ross McWhirter, co-founder of the Guinness Book of Records, was killed by the Provisional IRA when two men broke into his London home. He had offered a reward for information leading to the prosecution of the perpetrators of an earlier IRA house bombing that had killed eight people I’m in denial about going ‘Mutt and Jeff’ “Did they…