Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2024 i Saga Magazine

By the time you read this the country will be in the grip of election fever – or maybe election fatigue for some of us! I was fascinated to read our election special (p27) and discover how the leaders of the UK's three main parties are planning to help the Saga generation – the voters who consistently turn out at the ballot box and whose X the politicians rely on to win power. How to enhance the lives of older people is also, of course, at the front and centre of my mind as Saga CEO and not just when an election is due. One of the best things about my job has been meeting customers – not turning up on your doorstep like the politicians, you may be relieved…

Malcolm Goodman owns a B&B in County Durham. The occupants of his guest rooms have flown in from all over the world, but they have no need for pillows, sheets, or a hearty fry-up. They are kites, in their hundreds, strung up across five rooms and spilling into the corridors. Kites shaped like butterflies and turtles, trains and castles, snakes and tigers. Kites smaller than a penny, and as large as his prized dragon from Indonesia, which is 100 metres long when in the sky. Malcolm, known as ‘the Kiteman’, purchased the B&B to house his collection. He estimates he has well over 1,000 kites and is confident that his is the largest collection in the Western world. A retired electronics engineer, he has spent 50 years growing his hoard,…

Towards the end of 1981 I received a phone call. ‘'Allo, this is ‘Arvey,’ growled the voice at the other end. ‘Would you be interested in taking on the PR for the Stones?’ There was only one ‘Arvey: Harvey Goldsmith, the legendary promoter who practically invented stadium rock in the UK. And, of course, there was only one Stones. My answer, obviously, was yes. About a week later, I was summoned to a meeting with Mick Jagger in New York. Mick fired off a volley of questions about the UK music press and nationals, what their circulations were and who owned them. Next, he started quizzing me on the European media. Fortunately, I had a decent sense of the wider continental press from looking after punk acts. I swiftly realised…

Q I suspect my best friend's wife is having an affair. We've been friends since university and I've grown close to his wife too, but the other day I saw her in a restaurant holding hands and stroking the cheek of a much younger man. They looked blissfully happy. Do I tell my friend and risk being responsible for destroying their marriage? a I'd like you to imagine you are standing on the central reservation of the M25 at rush hour and contemplating crossing the northbound carriageway on foot. In emotional terms this, roughly speaking, is the possible catastrophic outcome of being helpful to your friend by telling him what you have seen. Let us count the facts you do not know. You do not know if his wife is…

Grow… your own soil improver Garden soil left bare after a harvest, or where you're renovating a border, is vulnerable to drying out and losing nutrients, plus weeds and even local cats! Keep soil productive and healthy by covering it – grass clippings or homemade compost are cheap, quick options. Or sow green manures that lock in nutrients, block weeds and boost soil structure. Mustards, red clover, phacelia or trefoil can be sown now and grown for at least ten weeks to be effective. When you need the ground, chop up and dig in the plants; leave for a fortnight before replanting. Keep… ponds healthy Ponds in July are a mini nature reserve in your back garden, full of life, with newts, dragonflies and skaters at play. The warmth of…

I was scrolling through Instagram recently when I came across a post suggesting various summer activities to try after the age of 50. The list told me to ‘Give skinny dipping a go!’ ‘Try scuba diving!’ ‘Go to a roller-skating rink!’ I've never met the person who compiled this list but, quite honestly, they struck me as a little exhausting to be around. The scuba diving lost me at ‘please get into this hideously unforgiving wetsuit’; roller skating seems a little unwise given how long it took me to get up last time I fell over; and trust me, no one is mourning the idea of never seeing me skinny dipping. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for seizing the summer months to live my best life. All I ask…

It's not a myth: getting angry really is bad for your heart attack risk, according to a novel study at Columbia University in New York. Volunteers had to spend eight minutes recalling experiences that made them either angry, anxious or sad. Those recalling angry memories ended up with blood vessels that couldn't dilate fully, peaking 40 minutes after the task. ‘What if you get angry 10,000 times over a lifetime? This chronic insult to your arteries may lead to permanent damage,’ said lead researcher Professor Daichi Shimbo. By Rachel Carlyle…

HEALTH Prostate problems aren't exactly fun at the best of times, but if you volunteer at music festivals and your nearest loo is a long trudge across a muddy field, they become even harder to cope with. Until recently, Mark Squire, 61, woke almost hourly through the night to pee and had to urinate four or five times before lunch the next day. ‘I rarely had a refreshing night's sleep,’ says Mark, a retired marketing manager from Hampshire, who owns a campervan and volunteers with Oxfam at summer festivals. These lower urinary tract symptoms (Luts) also include problems starting the urine flow, a weak urine stream, stopping and starting urination, dribbling at the end of urination and an inability to fully empty the bladder. They are often caused by benign…

going places PARIS / CRETE / LETTER FROM AMERICA TRAVEL Paris famously shrugs its shoulders at its visitors: it's been hosting sightseers from around the world for centuries, and there's a take us or leave us – ‘we don't need you but you definitely need us’ – air about the city. And yet for 2024 there's a new frisson. With tout le monde on its way for the Olympics, the facelifts and renovations are being feverishly finished, and you get the sense that, post Covid and a tough few years, the French capital is pulling out all the stops for its next chapter. The Olympics and Paralympics will dominate from 26 July until 8 September, but many of the attractions Paris is laying on to woo its visitors are already in…

what's on EVENTS / THEATRE / DANCE / FILM / RADIO / PODCAST / TV Balmoral Castle rises from the mist of the Cairngorms, a riot of turrets and ivy-clad granite. You wouldn't come here for the weather (though if you're lucky enough to coincide with warm sunshine, there's nowhere better); and you wouldn't come because it's Scotland's most beautiful castle (that would arguably be Eilean Donan). Nor is it the most historic (try Dunnottar, where the Scottish crown jewels were hidden from Oliver Cromwell, or Edinburgh, the most besieged castle in British history). But if what you're after is an insight into the British Royal Family, you'd be in precisely the right place: Balmoral has been their favourite location to relax for generations. It's the place, according to the…

WHAT'S ON / STAYING IN Paris 2024 Olympic Games BBC TV AND iPLAYER, our pick The world's biggest sporting spectacle descends on Paris – and the BBC – this month, with 10,500 athletes from 206 nations competing in 329 events across 32 sports. A strong Team GB will be hoping to at least equal its fourth spot in the medals table from Tokyo, with high-profile hopes including swimmer Adam Peaty, Alex Yee and Beth Potter in the triathlon, gymnast Jake Jarman, Molly Caudery in the pole vault, skateboarder Sky Brown (right), and the evergreen Tom Daley, appearing in his fifth Olympics. The opening ceremony, featuring a boat parade along the Seine, takes place on 26 July (6.30pm), although the Games start two days earlier, with preliminary matches in football, rugby…

More puzzles! There are loads more puzzles on the Saga Magazine app. Download from your app store today! £250 prize PRIZE CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 First novel by writer Iain Banks (3,4,7) 8 Mountain range of which Narodnaya is the highest peak (5) 9 Addictive substance harmful to smokers (8) 11 Theme song from Charlie Chaplin's 1952 film Limelight (9) 12 Ancient enemies of the Jedi in the Star Wars series (4) 15 German-derived word meaning ‘fake’ or ‘substitute’ (6) 17 Games event for wounded servicemen and women founded in 2014 (8) 19 Italian naval port 49 miles north-west of Pisa (2,6) 20 Group of lines in a long poem (6) 22 Oscar-winning actress in the 1987 film Moonstruck (4) 23 US slang for ‘jail’, from the Spanish word for dungeon…

The other day, a friend provided me with a much-needed giggle when she related the name of the doctor who had seen her husband for a routine testicular examination, a Dr Pullum. Our conversation turned immediately to the subject of ‘nominative determinism’, a slightly off-putting label for a rather delightful subject: the names of individuals that seem uniquely suited to their occupation. The topic was such a welcome diversion from the state of the world that I put out a request on social media for other examples, kicking off with one of my favourites, the eminent urologist Mr Burns-Cox. Given that nominative determinism has proved a rich hunting ground for comedians and journalists, I was never going to be disappointed by the response. The answers – all 4,000 of them…

EDITOR'S LETTER I had to smile when our village WhatsApp pinged with the news that my neighbour had to miss choir practice as she would be busy ‘shaking my 70-year-old body’ at a Take That concert. I, too, was looking forward to watching what my daughter calls the ultimate middle-aged mum band – and was glad I wouldn't be the eldest there. As it turned out, the Saga generation was out in force at Stadium MK, Milton Keynes, both in the audience and on the stage. There were lots of knowing jokes from Gary Barlow about his fiftysomething knees struggling with the elaborate staircase set, but also a great deal of clearly genuine gratitude that the band was still doing what they love after 35 years. That's pretty much how…

VIEW POINT Aha! An election is called to be held on 4 July. A familiar jolt of excitement runs through my body. I'm reminded that we're now in the ‘pre-election period of sensitivity’, known officially as purdah. It's knowledge that's been hammered into me since I was 24 years old. The BBC demands impartiality at all times, but great care must be taken to show equal fairness to all candidates and no hint of favouritism that might reveal your own political leanings. But what does it matter now? This is the first election in 40 years that I won't have to worry about covering. What a relief. I can simply look back on memories of terrifying encounters with the great and frequently not so good of political stardom and long,…

INTERVIEW Recently, Sir Trevor McDonald attended a function at Buckingham Palace where he had a chat with the King. ‘He said, “How old are you?”’ Sir Trevor recalls with a broad grin. ‘What a cheeky question! Well, I think he meant to say, “You look great”,’ Sir Trevor explains, appearing a little embarrassed. ‘Anyway, I replied, “Much older than you, sir!”’ If the King had said Sir Trevor looked great, he would have been quite right. At 84, the veteran newscaster – regularly voted the most trusted on British television – couldn't be on finer form. A regular tennis player (‘though after a couple of hours my back aches’), he is impressively trim in a suit and pinstripe shirt (but no tie), although he's bereft of his trademark black-rimmed specs.…

BAD TOURISTS Caro Carver Ah, the Maldives! A crystalclear Indian Ocean, white sand, all the cocktails you can drink… Super-fit Camilla and writer Kate have come with Darcy to celebrate her midlife divorce. The friends were brought together more than 20 years ago by unimaginable trauma. Surely a break in this island paradise will be healing? But here's the problem with paradise: there's always a serpent. And girly jaunts can be murder. THE WILD SWIMMERS William Shaw Kent's ‘desert’, the remote landscape around Dungeness, provides the evocative backdrop for another DS Alexandra Cupidi investigation. The body of wild swimmer Mimi Greene has washed up on the beach – and her death was no accident. Meanwhile, Alex's good friend Jill Ferriter has a convicted murderer claiming to be her father. This…

home & style INTERIORS / RECIPES / GARDENS / TECH / BEAUTY / WINE What do you do when you have lived in France long enough to develop a serious brocante habit then come back to Britain with so many antiques that they won't all fit in your house? Attach price tags to your precious finds then invite your friends (and all their friends) over for a glass of wine – or at least, that was Cathy Bullen's answer. She sold the lot, and it led to the birth of a highly successful business, selling French brocante and flea market treasures at fairs in the garden and outbuildings of her home in Suffolk. Each now attracts upwards of 3,000 visitors. ‘I was so inspired by the French lifestyle we'd been…

Modern wine rules number 42: if in doubt in a restaurant, choose the Hungarian dry Furmint. There are two reasons for this. Number one, it tastes delicious. Number two, it makes you look like an expert. The Hungarian Furmint grape is a half-sibling of Chardonnay, and a half-sibling of Riesling. It has the rounded structure of Chardonnay, and the food-matching perfume of Riesling, making it the most versatile white grape on a restaurant list. Which gives us the second reason for ordering it. Who on earth goes to a restaurant and orders the Hungarian white? Well, you do, actually. Because you ‘know about wine’. Hungary only exports its best wines, so they're always good. For a restaurant-style dry Furmint, go for Chateau Dereszla Tokaji Dry Furmint 2021 (12.5%, £14.49, virginwines.co.uk).…

Don't miss your chance to join the Saga Magazine team for a wonderful day of luxury and fun on 14 August at the highly acclaimed Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons hotel. You'll be treated to a seed-sowing experience and a private tour of the gardens, before enjoying a Champagne reception followed by a two-Michelin-star lunch. Nestled in the heart of rural Oxfordshire, the celebrated Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons – a Belmond Hotel – is inspired by the plants that surround it. As pioneers of a sustainable approach, celebrated chef Raymond Blanc and his team are renowned for bringing the outside in – the gardens and orchards inform not only the restaurant menus but every element of the Le Manoir experience. During this special day, you will explore Le Manoir's world-class gardens…

Steer clear of fizzy drinks, caffeine, alcohol and artificial sweeteners. They can aggravate symptoms. Set the clock Hydrate well during the day – aim for eight glasses – but avoid fluids two hours before bed to cut night-time loo visits. Fill up on fibre Constipation can make symptoms worse. We need 30g of fibre a day. Try ‘double voiding’ Wait 20-30 seconds after a pee then try to go again. It can help empty your bladder fully. Check with your doctor first that you don't have a urinary infection. Check your meds Some medications, such as antidepressants and decongestants, can make lower urinary tract symptoms worse. Train your bladder This can help cut down trips to the toilet and involves learning how to hold more urine. See bladdermatters.co.uk…

Many moons ago, during the long summer break from university, I visited the Greek islands for the first time. With my head full of stories from my classical civilisation studies, I marvelled at the Parthenon in Athens, was in awe of the little villages perched on the top of the huge crater in Santorini, but it was in Crete, the largest of the Greek islands, that the past really came to life for me. The Minoan city of Knossos, near Heraklion, is dominated by the Palace of Minos, and with its colourful frescoes of animals, snake goddess figurines and rooms inlaid with beautiful mosaic floors, it truly is a magical place. And in this impressive ancient city, it seems the Minoans lived a very good life. The giant pithoi used…

The grounds and ballroom at Balmoral Castle are open to visitors until 11 August, costing £17.50 for adults and £9 for children. The new tours of the interior – limited to 40 people per day – run from 1 July-4 August and are priced at £100 (or £150 including afternoon tea). For more details and to book, see balmoralcastle.com For overnight stays, the Balmoral Arms in nearby Ballater has rooms from around £200, including breakfast, in July. Lunch and dinner are served in the 1852 brasserie (named after the year Victoria purchased the estate); rooms include the luxurious Birkhall and Balmoral suites, where you'll feel like a royal. See crerarhotels.com…

TURNING 50 David Mitchell comedian, actor and writer Emilia Fox actor, right Hilary Swank actor Jason Robinson rugby player TURNING 60 Bonnie Langford entertainer, below Courtney Love singer/songwriter Craig Charles comedian, actor and presenter, right Gaby Roslin presenter, below left Matt Pritchett cartoonist Ross Kemp actor Sandra Bullock actor TURNING 70 Angela Merkel politician, right Neil Tennant singer/songwriter (The Pet Shop Boys), below TURNING 80 Frances de la Tour actor Jonathan Dimbleby broadcaster, right Tony Jacklin golfer TURNING 90 Giorgio Armani fashion designer Jamie Farr actor Jean Marsh actor TURNING 100 Eva Marie Saint actor, above…

Each number in the grid represents a different letter. We've given you two letters to start you off, which show that 3=R and 24=O. Write these letters wherever their corresponding numbers appear in the grid and then begin to work out the identity of the other letters. All 26 letters of the alphabet will appear in the finished puzzle. FUTOSHIKI Fill the blank squares so that each row and column contains all the numbers 1-5. Use any given numbers and the symbols that tell you if the number in the square is larger (>) or smaller (<) than the number next to it. ADD A LETTER Rearrange the letters and add one to these words to make five-letter words that fit the clues. The added letters will spell a word.…

James Martin The Spain attraction, p56 Chef James first appeared on TV in 1996. Since then, he has become a fixture on BBC and ITV, fronting programmes such as Saturday Morning with James Martin. Celia lmrie World according to…, p129 Known for roles in Calendar Girls and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Celia has just been cast as Joyce in the adaptation of Richard Osman's book The Thursday Murder Club. Alan Edwards I was there, p38 Known as the ‘godfather of British music PR’, Alan has represented a string of megastars, including David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, the Spice Girls, Prince and Blondie. Sophia Spring Cover From Hilary Clinton to Bill Nighy, London-based photographer Sophia Spring is known for her intimate portraits. Her clients include magazines and global brands.…

ELECTION SPECIAL: THE LEADERS It is a general truth that the older you are, the more likely you are to vote. Politicians know that very well, which is why all three party leaders have contributed these exclusive articles to Saga Magazine. Each is written in the hope that you will agree that his party offers the best deal for older people. There is an unspoken assumption here that what brings older voters out on polling day is the promise of security and dignity in old age. Many older people worry more about their children or grandchildren than about themselves, but that is a thought that politicians do not seem to have grasped. That would soon change if the young were as conscientious as their grandparents about voting. But for now,…

RECIPES Valencia Beans and Red Prawns Located on the east coast, the 2,000-year-old city of Valencia boasts wide sandy beaches, striking architecture, a buzzing food scene and culture. It has its own language (a dialect of Catalan) and unique cuisine, with a focus on rice, seafood and meat. This dish showcases red prawns on a bed of white beans and vegetables. Serves 2 YOU WILL NEED • 75ml olive oil, plus extra for drizzling • 2 garlic cloves, chopped • 1 onion, diced • ¼ leek, diced • ½ carrot, peeled and diced • ¼ green pepper, cored, deseeded and diced • 3 bay leaves • 2 whole smoked chilli peppers (or a pinch of chilli flakes) • 300g cooked butter beans…

Picture a butterfly and, if you're over 50, you're likely to conjure up one of our most common garden visitors, the small tortoiseshell – a flutter of rich orange wings, tipped in blue and striped yellow and brown. On nettle patches, buddleia and scabious, this distinctive butterfly is on the wing most of the year, from Cornwall to the Shetlands, yet it has suffered rapid decline since 1976, its numbers down by 82%. Experts fear those born in the 70s could be the last generation to enjoy the familiar sight of its mercurial flit through our gardens. As a species, it's not alone in suffering a seismic drop in population, with half of all our butterflies at risk. Devastating habitat losses from intensive farming and development, along with pollution and…

Breads to eat as a treat Baguettes Ever noticed what a short shelf life baguettes have? That's because they contain simple ingredients and no preservatives. However, they are refined carb-heavy, leading to blood sugar spikes. Ciabatta Another bread made with just a few ingredients and no preservatives (even in most supermarket versions). It also contains heart-healthy olive oil. But it's low in fibre and high in carbs, so not an everyday bread. Breads to avoid Bagels Dense in sugar, calories and gluten, these can really spike blood sugar levels. ‘They're also highly processed and contain flavourings and preservatives,’ says Stansbie. Pitta bread One supermarket white pitta has more calories than a slice of white bread (approx 160 kcals vs 98 kcals), and they're full of additives.…

REZŪM What is it? A 10-15 minute minimally invasive procedure done under local anaesthetic. It involves injecting steam to shrink the prostate. Best for… moderate to severe Luts caused by BPH and moderately enlarged prostate (30-80ml). Advantages Avoids invasive surgery, lower risk of incontinence, sexual dysfunction and bleeding. Linked with improved quality of life and with no effect on sexual function. Need to know You will go home with a catheter for a few days. NICE approved. NHS and private (£7,000-£9,000). UROLIFT What is it? A minimally invasive procedure that takes less than 15 minutes, involving inserting tiny implants that hold the enlarged prostate out of the way, alleviating blockage of the urethra and restoring urine flow. Best for… men with moderately enlarged prostate (30-80ml). Advantages Avoids need for invasive…

FINANCE Credit card caution A change by Barclaycard, the UK's biggest credit card provider, could mean many customers pay more interest and are in debt for longer. Later this month it will slash the minimum monthly amount its customers pay from their debt. Currently those with a balance must pay up to 3.75% of what they owe. But soon that will be cut to just 1%, the lowest amount allowed by the regulator and half the average fixed by its competitors. It means paying off a card at the minimum will take more than twice as long to clear, with double the interest paid to the bank. If you have a debt on a Barclaycard, you should amend your monthly payments to keep paying the amount you do now. That…

Every time I cast my gaze across the Atlantic, I recall the catchphrase of comedian Tommy Trinder. ‘You Lucky People!’ he'd roar at audiences attending his variety act. And lucky you are – not just because you're in the midst of a general election, with a chance to decide who will form the next government. But mostly lucky because it will all be over so quickly. To American observers, the notion that you will see a new government formed in London right after 4 July (our Independence Day) is remarkable, given that we are still slogging our way towards Guy Fawkes Night (or, as we call it here this year, election day). By the time you read this, six weeks of campaigning will be almost over in the UK. Here…

PODCAST Rosebud Broadcaster, author and novelty-jumper connoisseur Gyles Brandreth can now add ace interviewer to his lengthy CV. His podcast series is called Rosebud and – as the Citizen Kane reference suggests – it takes Brandreth's guests back to their beginnings, from their first memory to first love and so on. Brandreth tackles each episode with his trademark intelligence and considerable charm and his guests respond with some surprising revelations. Nicola Sturgeon discusses rumours about her marriage; Rupert Everett discloses his childhood penchant for cross-dressing; Charles Dance reveals his marriage ended after ‘succumbing to temptations’; Keir Starmer's voice chokes as he recalls the saddest time of his life. The guests are top dollar, helped by the fact Brandreth has always been a celebrity magnet from childhood encounters with TS Eliot…

Protect children Jenni Murray's column (June) brought back shameful memories for me. As a child I was slapped across the face and head by my father, and by teachers with a leather belt, so it is no surprise that I used corporal punishment on my children. It was never to the extent that I experienced, but I am full of regret for my actions. Smacking causes humiliation in the child who feels the pain being doled out from someone they love. How confusing for them. And it is passed on from generation to generation. We must stop it right now. Jane, Scotland Hitting back When our boys were small (over 45 years ago) it did not seem inappropriate to smack them on the back of their leg if they had…

1 Who created the fictional Botswanan detective Precious Ramotswe? 2 ‘The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall, the major lift’ describes part of the melody, in C major, of which much-covered song, originally recorded by its writer in 1984? 3 In the Hebrides, it's said an island is defined by the ability of the land to support at least one what? 4 Which sportsman died in October 1915, aged 67, after a stroke reportedly brought on by furiously shaking a fist at a German Zeppelin flying over his south London garden? 5 There are thought to be about four million leaplings in the world. Who or what is a leapling? 6 What stands 13.5in high, weighs 8.5lb, is made from bronze coated with 24ct gold, was designed by a man…

My son Angus was born when I was 42, which might be regarded as a bit late. But as any mother will tell you, there are no rules for motherhood. I'd always wanted a child and I felt blessed when it happened. Like me and his father [the late Benjamin Whitrow], Angus is an actor. I'm proud of what he's achieved – he was in Fleabag, played Prince Edward in The Crown, and he's been in Richard II at The Globe. Some people probably know him from The Archers, where he plays Josh Archer. Please don't ask me if I listen every week. Have I really got to answer that? [She grins with embarrassment and shakes her head.] Isn't that awful? Don't tell him! Body matters I'm 72 this month…