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100 Articles

Although we have had a few staycation days over the past couple of years we were looking forward to our first proper holiday since Covid, a week’s cruise to Scandinavia. Maybe we were looking back through rose-tinted glasses, but cruising now seemed a bit different to before. All the crew were wearing masks; although passengers didn’t have to wear them, some did. Perhaps that was one of the reasons why many of the staff in the bars and buffet seemed more distant and not so warm - with some exceptions. Below decks cabin stewards all seemed their friendly and helpful pre-pandemic selves. It seemed that there were fewer patrolling drinks waiters and it was sometimes hard to catch their eye. The ordering system on the boat was computerised and was slower than the previous…

Although we have had a few staycation days over the past couple of years we were looking forward to our first proper holiday since Covid, a week’s cruise to Scandinavia. Maybe we were looking back through rose-tinted glasses, but cruising now seemed a bit different to before. All the crew were wearing masks; although passengers didn’t have to wear them, some did. Perhaps that was one of the reasons why many of the staff in the bars and buffet seemed more distant and not so warm - with some exceptions. Below decks cabin stewards all seemed their friendly and helpful pre-pandemic selves. It seemed that there were fewer patrolling drinks waiters and it was sometimes hard to catch their eye. The ordering system on the boat was computerised and was…

Luxury park life in Cornwall

THE SOUTH-east corner is the easiest part of Cornwall to get to but can be forgotten by visitors heading west for the best-known tourist places. But the coast, beaches and fishing villages here live up to expectations of this, our most popular holiday county. Having said that, there are still plenty of tourists thronging the streets of Looe, Polperro and Portwrinkle or enjoying the beauty of the peninsular out to Torpoint and Rame Head. That’s why taking a luxury static caravan at Tregoad Park gave us a chance to relax on the days we didn’t explore by car. The park is self-contained with an indoor pool, an excellent bar and grill and lots of facilities for children’s activities, so good for a holiday with grandchildren. The caravans are luxurious, and the fact that the…

Luxury park life in Cornwall

November Days out

East Midlands 5th CHATSWORTH Visitors to Chatsworth House this Christmas will be taken on a journey into the forests, traditions and folklore of the Nordic region, including a gingerbread house, a wall of ice and an illuminated walk. November 5 to January 8. Tickets for Christmas at Chatsworth are priced at £29.50 for adults, £18 for children, and £78 for a family (two adults and up to three children), and include access to the house, garden and farmyard, as well as car parking and access to the Christmas market from November 5 to 23. Advanced booking is reguired at: (www.chatsworth.org/Christmas). 24th STAMFORD Soak up the festive atmosphere at the Burghley Christmas Fair, at Burghley House, which features more than 100 exhibitors offering decorations, seasonal gifts, and artisan food and drink. November 24 to 27.…

November Days out

Luxury park life in Cornwall

Enjoy Britain THE SOUTH-east corner is the easiest part of Cornwall to get to but can be forgotten by visitors heading west for the best-known tourist places. But the coast, beaches and fishing villages here live up to expectations of this, our most popular holiday county. Having said that, there are still plenty of tourists thronging the streets of Looe, Polperro and Portwrinkle or enjoying the beauty of the peninsular out to Torpoint and Rame Head. That’s why taking a luxury static caravan at Tregoad Park gave us a chance to relax on the days we didn’t explore by car. The park is self-contained with an indoor pool, an excellent bar and grill and lots of facilities for children’s activities, so good for a holiday with grandchildren. The caravans are…

Luxury park life in Cornwall

King’s Cliffe: A hidden slice of Middle England

IF YOU’RE looking for of England’s best destinations for a country break, North Northamptonshire probably wouldn’t feature in your thinking when you could choose the Cotswolds, the Peak District or any of a list of many beautiful spots. But it should do. For this area in the very heart of England has so much going for it, not least that it is relatively undiscovered. So, if you are looking for somewhere you might not have been before, look no further. Stone-built in soft shades of Lincolnshire limestone, the village of King’s Cliffe is at its centre, where Northamptonshire meets Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Rutland, with Leicestershire only a little further away. The village itself would hold its own against any in the land judged on charm, heritage and Englishness. Just off the A43, halfway between…

King’s Cliffe: A hidden slice of Middle England

Stroll back in time in Shrewsbury

THERE WAS fevered activity in the historic narrow streets leading down into the town - huge lights were being positioned, modern signs and fittings covered up and cinder and sand spread on the roads. The TV team was taking over this ancient part of Shrewsbury. It was nothing new for the locals as, with hundreds of listed buildings, the town is a mecca for location-hunting directors. For us, walking up the steep Swan Hill from the market hall, it was interesting to speculate what was going on. There looked to be a carriage waiting at the top but no horses yet. The film crew were keeping quiet but one of the council officials keeping cars away gave us the low down. Filming was due that night for a new BBC drama, Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations,…

Stroll back in time in Shrewsbury

November Days out

Enjoy Britain East Midlands 5th CHATSWORTH Visitors to Chatsworth House this Christmas will be taken on a journey into the forests, traditions and folklore of the Nordic region, including a gingerbread house, a wall of ice and an illuminated walk. November 5 to January 8. Tickets for Christmas at Chatsworth are priced at £29.50 for adults, £18 for children, and £78 for a family (two adults and up to three children), and include access to the house, garden and farmyard, as well as car parking and access to the Christmas market from November 5 to 23. Advanced booking is reguired at: (www.chatsworth.org/Christmas). 24th STAMFORD Soak up the festive atmosphere at the Burghley Christmas Fair, at Burghley House, which features more than 100 exhibitors offering decorations, seasonal gifts, and artisan food and drink.…

November Days out

King’s Cliffe: A hidden slice of Middle England

Enjoy Britain IF YOU’RE looking for of England’s best destinations for a country break, North Northamptonshire probably wouldn’t feature in your thinking when you could choose the Cotswolds, the Peak District or any of a list of many beautiful spots. But it should do. For this area in the very heart of England has so much going for it, not least that it is relatively undiscovered. So, if you are looking for somewhere you might not have been before, look no further. Stone-built in soft shades of Lincolnshire limestone, the village of King’s Cliffe is at its centre, where Northamptonshire meets Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Rutland, with Leicestershire only a little further away. The village itself would hold its own against any in the land judged on charm, heritage and Englishness.…

King’s Cliffe: A hidden slice of Middle England

“People find things if they are good enough”

IF THE dice had rolled slightly differently Richard Osman could have been a policeman or a spy - but instead he has hosted one of the most unassumingly successful quiz shows of the last ten years and become a best-selling author. When he was growing up in Cuckfield, in West Sussex, it was becoming a policeman that most appealed to Richard. His father had left the family home when Richard was nine, leaving mum Brenda to bring up two boys on her own (Richard’s brother Matt, later of the band Suede, was three years older than him). Brenda’s father, who had been a policeman, was an important influence on Richard. “Policing was in my DNA, and I have always loved crime novels. If I hadn’t gone into television I would love to…

“People find things if they are good enough”

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) The comfort of an old friend Dear Friends, I regard you as such, for all the years I have absorbed your words… enjoyed all the articles and advice given. I have certainly agreed with Patrick’s Pages, in reminiscing times gone by… his down to earth way of seeing things. Also, the letters from readers relating to all the changes that are happening and affecting our lives, some good but some hard to accept or comprehend, especially these past few years: too much, too soon! We are in a state of Microsoft, machines are taking life bit by bit. Soon there will…

Stroll back in time in Shrewsbury

Treasures of Britain special THERE WAS fevered activity in the historic narrow streets leading down into the town - huge lights were being positioned, modern signs and fittings covered up and cinder and sand spread on the roads. The TV team was taking over this ancient part of Shrewsbury. It was nothing new for the locals as, with hundreds of listed buildings, the town is a mecca for location-hunting directors. For us, walking up the steep Swan Hill from the market hall, it was interesting to speculate what was going on. There looked to be a carriage waiting at the top but no horses yet. The film crew were keeping quiet but one of the council officials keeping cars away gave us the low down. Filming was due that night…

Stroll back in time in Shrewsbury

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 Star Letter Prize: £20 and a selection of five reflective music CDs from GAP MuSic worth £54.75 and a Pen from GAP MuSic goes to the writer of our Star Letter each month 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…

“People find things if they are good enough”

Profile Richard Osman IF THE dice had rolled slightly differently Richard Osman could have been a policeman or a spy - but instead he has hosted one of the most unassumingly successful quiz shows of the last ten years and become a best-selling author. When he was growing up in Cuckfield, in West Sussex, it was becoming a policeman that most appealed to Richard. His father had left the family home when Richard was nine, leaving mum Brenda to bring up two boys on her own (Richard’s brother Matt, later of the band Suede, was three years older than him). Brenda’s father, who had been a policeman, was an important influence on Richard. “Policing was in my DNA, and I have always loved crime novels. If I hadn’t gone into television…

“People find things if they are good enough”

Coronation Day memories

Since our much-loved Queen Elizabeth II passed away and the crowning of our new King Charles III is on the horizon, my memory turns back to 1953 and another Coronation. I was just a schoolgirl of 13 and vividly remember the Coronation of our dear Queen and the first time I saw a television. Only the wealthy could afford such a luxury but my uncle bought a set especially for that unique occasion and our two families huddled round the tiny TV with a 12in screen to watch the magnificent ceremony at Westminster Abbey in black and white. What a day! What a sight! Such history in the making! I was so inspired as we watched in wonderment the crowning of our young Queen and the procession that followed in the ‘golden’…

Coronation Day memories

The Best Of Queens She will not walk die wilds of Scotland Nor see the sun setting over the hills She will not paddle in the clear blue river Or hear the song of birds in the dawn But unlike us she will live for all eternity In history she will thrive and be remembered as the best of Queens… Sue Moxley, by email On The Death Of Our Queen It was the greatest outpouring of sincere emotion I have ever seen Such a moving tribute to our late beloved queen Surging crowds in a state of sudden shock Almost besieged palace gates with flowers like a flock Of lemmings drawn unwittingly to an inevitable cliff face Our lives were abnormal and temporarily out of place For older people their immortality draws near They…

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) The comfort of an old friend Dear Friends, I regard you as such, for all the years I have absorbed your words… enjoyed all the articles and advice given. I have certainly agreed with Patrick’s Pages, in reminiscing times gone by… his down to earth way of seeing things. Also, the letters from readers relating to all the changes that are happening and affecting our lives, some good but some hard to accept or comprehend, especially these past few years: too much, too soon! We are in a state of Microsoft, machines are taking life bit by…

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 Star Letter Prize: £20 and a selection of five reflective music CDs from GAP MuSic worth £54.75 and a Pen from GAP MuSic goes to the writer of our Star Letter each month 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…

Winter getaways

Recreate your favourite Christmas movie in New York The star of countless Christmas films, New York City is every bit as magical during the festive season as the silver screen makes it appear. From ice skating at The Rink at Rockefeller Center, home of New York City’s giant Christmas tree, to warming up in any one of the City’s museums and finding trinkets from more than 160 vendors at the Union Square Holiday Market, travellers can find plenty of Christmas spirit as they explore the decked streets of NYC. British Airways offers a four-night stay at the three-star Yotel New York at Times Square from £839 per person, based on travel on selected dates between December 1 and December 31. Price includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London Heathrow Airport, 23kg…

Winter getaways

Switzerland: Train, food and wine

IT HAS been said that Swiss trains run like clockwork and that Swiss cheese and chocolate both melt in your mouth; not only that, the scenery is drop-dead gorgeous and that the food is to die for and it’s all true. Take the Golden Pass Panoramic train from Interlaken down to Montreux, then change for Lausanne and you’re in for a treat. The train’s panoramic coaches have huge windows and you can even sit at the front for a driver’s eye view as the scenery unfolds before you. It really is rather splendid. Stop off along the way and it gets even better. I was on a food and wine extravaganza and had suspended my diet for a couple of days to make the most of the trip. Cheese is my failing -…

Switzerland: Train, food and wine

Coronation Day memories

Since our much-loved Queen Elizabeth II passed away and the crowning of our new King Charles III is on the horizon, my memory turns back to 1953 and another Coronation. I was just a schoolgirl of 13 and vividly remember the Coronation of our dear Queen and the first time I saw a television. Only the wealthy could afford such a luxury but my uncle bought a set especially for that unique occasion and our two families huddled round the tiny TV with a 12in screen to watch the magnificent ceremony at Westminster Abbey in black and white. What a day! What a sight! Such history in the making! I was so inspired as we watched in wonderment the crowning of our young Queen and the procession that followed in…

Coronation Day memories

The Best Of Queens She will not walk die wilds of Scotland Nor see the sun setting over the hills She will not paddle in the clear blue river Or hear the song of birds in the dawn But unlike us she will live for all eternity In history she will thrive and be remembered as the best of Queens… Sue Moxley, by email On The Death Of Our Queen It was the greatest outpouring of sincere emotion I have ever seen Such a moving tribute to our late beloved queen Surging crowds in a state of sudden shock Almost besieged palace gates with flowers like a flock Of lemmings drawn unwittingly to an inevitable cliff face Our lives were abnormal and temporarily out of place For older people their…

Cholesterol - what you need to know

KNOWING AND managing your cholesterol levels is vital to a heart-healthy life, particularly if you have a family history of heart disease or if you have already had a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke. This is because almost half of those who suffer a cardiovascular event experience a second one, on average within 114 days But a recent survey from Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK found that one in five people in the UK aged 55 and over did not know, or could not correctly identify, how cholesterol levels are checked. What’s more, one in five had not spoken to, or had a cholesterol check with, their GP or nurse. Here, GP and President of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society, Dr Jim Moore, answers some of the most asked questions…

Taking the fear out of cancer

The UK’s first institute dedicated to detecting and studying cancers at the earliest stage has been launched. Scientists at the University of Cambridge’s Early Cancer Institute (ECI) will focus on hard-to-treat cancers, such as lung and pancreas. Institute director Rebecca Fitzgerald said the research was essential to improve survival rates in patients. “Outcomes can be transformed if the cancer is diagnosed early enough and we have the right treatments,” she said. The ECI is based at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, alongside academic, medical and pharmaceutical specialists. The campus is home to two world-renowned research hospitals, Addenbrooke’s and Royal Papworth, as well as the Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Work could also start next year on the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, meaning that the institute’s discoveries and new treatments will be vital to its work. A dedicated space…

Winter getaways

Recreate your favourite Christmas movie in New York The star of countless Christmas films, New York City is every bit as magical during the festive season as the silver screen makes it appear. From ice skating at The Rink at Rockefeller Center, home of New York City’s giant Christmas tree, to warming up in any one of the City’s museums and finding trinkets from more than 160 vendors at the Union Square Holiday Market, travellers can find plenty of Christmas spirit as they explore the decked streets of NYC. British Airways offers a four-night stay at the three-star Yotel New York at Times Square from £839 per person, based on travel on selected dates between December 1 and December 31. Price includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London Heathrow…

Winter getaways

Prostate test pilot scheme launched

A service run by Surrey and Sussex Cancer Alliance, offering a simple prostate test to eligible males, is being piloted across the region. By using a method called case finding, which is a search of GP records, the service aims to find males with risk factors for prostate cancer and aid the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. The initial pilot project is being rolled out in the Guildford East area of Surrey. It will then be offered to a further 12,000 men throughout the Surrey and Sussex Cancer Alliance region. Diagnosing prostate cancer early means there is a much greater chance of being able to treat it successfully. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men with one in eight being diagnosed with it during their lifetime. Of men diagnosed with…

Gail Willis is an exponent and teacher of Hatha Yoga. She brings Choice readers a new exercise every month. Gail 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 the easiest will be good for you and make you feel good,” said Gail…

Switzerland: Train, food and wine

Discoveries IT HAS been said that Swiss trains run like clockwork and that Swiss cheese and chocolate both melt in your mouth; not only that, the scenery is drop-dead gorgeous and that the food is to die for and it’s all true. Take the Golden Pass Panoramic train from Interlaken down to Montreux, then change for Lausanne and you’re in for a treat. The train’s panoramic coaches have huge windows and you can even sit at the front for a driver’s eye view as the scenery unfolds before you. It really is rather splendid. Stop off along the way and it gets even better. I was on a food and wine extravaganza and had suspended my diet for a couple of days to make the most of the trip. Cheese…

Switzerland: Train, food and wine

Seated Roll-down

The benefits of this exercise are to lengthen your neck and upper back muscles and to release tension from your neck area. If you do have neck issues make sure you keep looking forward. How to do it Gail and Janet both sit for this pose. Janet starts the pose by placing her fingertips behind her ears and has her elbows pulled back to a comfortable position. Slowly feel like you are lifting your chest and ribs up and look slightly up if it is comfortable to do so. Gail then shows the roll-down by tucking her chin in, looking down to her legs and allowing her elbows to come forward and her back rounding - do not pull head down using hands. It is a natural drop of elbows - no force at…

Seated Roll-down

Cholesterol - what you need to know

KNOWING AND managing your cholesterol levels is vital to a heart-healthy life, particularly if you have a family history of heart disease or if you have already had a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke. This is because almost half of those who suffer a cardiovascular event experience a second one, on average within 114 days But a recent survey from Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK found that one in five people in the UK aged 55 and over did not know, or could not correctly identify, how cholesterol levels are checked. What’s more, one in five had not spoken to, or had a cholesterol check with, their GP or nurse. Here, GP and President of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society, Dr Jim Moore, answers some of the most…

Christmas all wrapped up

WHETHER YOU like a last minute rush to the high street or get Christmas gifting organised from home, my top ten guide is full of inspiration. Coining up roses The Bloom Skin Care Gift Set is full of floral scented goodies to hydrate winter skin. It is packed with organic ingredients that are gentle to use, including the Face Mist you can use to spritz over festive make-up to help it stay fresher for longer. £32 at: (boostology.co.uk). Time for tea Perfect for sharing with loved ones, the Bird & Blend Tea Co advent calendar contains 48 beauty and health boosting blends including Cold Weather Warrior and Morning Kick, with a festive Gingerbread Chai, too. £38 available at: (birdandblendtea.com). Boost your festive beauty sleep The Fresh Face Pillow is specially shaped to help…

Christmas all wrapped up

Symptoms of SAD may include:

Feeling listless, sad or down most of the day, nearly every day Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed Having low energy and feeling sluggish Having problems with sleeping too much Experiencing carbohydrate cravings, overeating and weight gain Having difficulty concentrating Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty Having thoughts of not wanting to live. It’s normal to have some days when you feel down. But if you feel down for days at a time and you can’t get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your GP. This is especially important if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed, you turn to alcohol for comfort or relaxation, or you feel hopeless. Source: The Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.org).…

Let there be light

ACCORDING TO the NHS, around two million people in the UK suffer each winter from Seasonal Affective Disorder, a condition characterised by feelings of depression, lethargy, listlessness and lack of energy. It is sometimes known as the ‘winter blues’, although a small number of people actually experience the condition in reverse, feeling worse in summer and more energised in winter. SAD was first identified by a particularly astute psychiatrist, Dr Norman Rosenthal, who led a team to study the phenomenon in the early Eighties. Elaving noticed that many of his patients were ‘under the weather’ in winter, he polled hundreds of physicians throughout the USA and found that the experience was a common one, potentially linked to a deficiency of sunlight. He proposed the use of light therapy as a treatment. Although initially…

Let there be light

Taking the fear out of cancer

The UK’s first institute dedicated to detecting and studying cancers at the earliest stage has been launched. Scientists at the University of Cambridge’s Early Cancer Institute (ECI) will focus on hard-to-treat cancers, such as lung and pancreas. Institute director Rebecca Fitzgerald said the research was essential to improve survival rates in patients. “Outcomes can be transformed if the cancer is diagnosed early enough and we have the right treatments,” she said. The ECI is based at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, alongside academic, medical and pharmaceutical specialists. The campus is home to two world-renowned research hospitals, Addenbrooke’s and Royal Papworth, as well as the Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Work could also start next year on the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, meaning that the institute’s discoveries and new treatments will be…

Light thoughts…

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light” - JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome” - Anne Bradstreet“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home” - Edith Sitwell“Winter blues are cured every time with a potato gratin paired with a roast chicken” - Alex Guarnaschelli“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face” - Victor Hugo“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” - Percy Bysshe…

Prostate test pilot scheme launched

A service run by Surrey and Sussex Cancer Alliance, offering a simple prostate test to eligible males, is being piloted across the region. By using a method called case finding, which is a search of GP records, the service aims to find males with risk factors for prostate cancer and aid the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. The initial pilot project is being rolled out in the Guildford East area of Surrey. It will then be offered to a further 12,000 men throughout the Surrey and Sussex Cancer Alliance region. Diagnosing prostate cancer early means there is a much greater chance of being able to treat it successfully. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men with one in eight being diagnosed with it during their lifetime. Of men…

Gail Willis is an exponent and teacher of Hatha Yoga. She brings Choice readers a new exercise every month. Gail 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 the easiest will be good for you and make you…

Return of the ‘Jolly Green Giant’

ONE OF motor racing’s most legendary classic sports-racing cars, Bruce McLaren’s 1964 Cooper-Zerex-Oldsmobile ‘Jolly Green Giant’, has been unearthed and returned to British soil for the first time in 57 years. The first sports car to carry the Kiwi team badge of the late Grand Prix and Le Mans-winning driver and constructor, Bruce McLaren, was offered for sale at the Goodwood Revival Sale on September 17, realising a price of £911,000. The machine achieved top level success in the hands of a trio of mid-century motor sport legends, Bruce McLaren, Roger Penske and, previously, Briggs Cunningham’s team driver Walt Hansgen. Not only did the Cooper-Zerex-Oldsmobile have three celebrated owners but it also had several different guises, being continually adapted, from Formula 1 single-seater to three different sports car forms to match developing race…

Return of the ‘Jolly Green Giant’

Seated Roll-down

The benefits of this exercise are to lengthen your neck and upper back muscles and to release tension from your neck area. If you do have neck issues make sure you keep looking forward. How to do it Gail and Janet both sit for this pose. Janet starts the pose by placing her fingertips behind her ears and has her elbows pulled back to a comfortable position. Slowly feel like you are lifting your chest and ribs up and look slightly up if it is comfortable to do so. Gail then shows the roll-down by tucking her chin in, looking down to her legs and allowing her elbows to come forward and her back rounding - do not pull head down using hands. It is a natural drop of elbows…

Seated Roll-down

YOUR MONEY and your rights

I ’M SURE, like me, that lots of readers had an old-style green paper driving licence. Mine dated from 1984 when I moved to my current home and was valid until my 70th birthday, but a few years ago, after being kept in my wallet, it was torn and the address was illegible. When my Post Office rejected it as ID because of that, I had to get a new photocard licence. These are only valid for ten years (three for over-70s). Reminiscing about my late father-in-law recently, my husband mentioned that he had driven for months not realising his licence had expired; I checked mine at that point, luckily discovering that it would soon need renewing. The DVLA website says it sends reminders, but I’d advise readers to make a note of…

YOUR MONEY and your rights

The return of annuities

IN ITS simplest form, an annuity is an insurance product, which, in return for a lump sum payment, buys you a regular income for the rest of your life. It is one of the world’s oldest financial products, and examples can be found in Roman times. Up until April 2011, anyone with a defined contribution (DC) pension had to use their fund to purchase an annuity by age 75. This law was controversial and campaigners long sought its abolition, citing annuities’ inflexibility, not least the fact that the decision to buy, once made, was irrevocable and in many cases when you died, the annuity died with you. The abolition of compulsory annuity purchase in 2011 was followed by pension freedoms legislation from April 2015, which allowed savers to flexibly access their DC pension…

Christmas all wrapped up

WHETHER YOU like a last minute rush to the high street or get Christmas gifting organised from home, my top ten guide is full of inspiration. Coining up roses The Bloom Skin Care Gift Set is full of floral scented goodies to hydrate winter skin. It is packed with organic ingredients that are gentle to use, including the Face Mist you can use to spritz over festive make-up to help it stay fresher for longer. £32 at: (boostology.co.uk). Time for tea Perfect for sharing with loved ones, the Bird & Blend Tea Co advent calendar contains 48 beauty and health boosting blends including Cold Weather Warrior and Morning Kick, with a festive Gingerbread Chai, too. £38 available at: (birdandblendtea.com). Boost your festive beauty sleep The Fresh Face Pillow is specially…

Christmas all wrapped up

Words to the wise

Drawdown Income drawdown can be an expensive option. You may need to transfer your pension fund to a company that offers drawdown (for which there will be a cost). There will also be ongoing charges for managing your investments. Rules set by HMRC mean that the amount of income you take out of your pension fund has to be reviewed regularly, and there are charges for this as well. For these reasons many experts suggest that drawdown is only suitable for those with a large pension fund (£100,000-plus). If you decide on drawdown, make sure you are fully aware of the costs and are confident your investments will grow enough to cover the extra costs. Tax Pension savers can generally withdraw up to 25 per cent of their fund tax-free on retirement,…

Let there be light

Health ACCORDING TO the NHS, around two million people in the UK suffer each winter from Seasonal Affective Disorder, a condition characterised by feelings of depression, lethargy, listlessness and lack of energy. It is sometimes known as the ‘winter blues’, although a small number of people actually experience the condition in reverse, feeling worse in summer and more energised in winter. SAD was first identified by a particularly astute psychiatrist, Dr Norman Rosenthal, who led a team to study the phenomenon in the early Eighties. Elaving noticed that many of his patients were ‘under the weather’ in winter, he polled hundreds of physicians throughout the USA and found that the experience was a common one, potentially linked to a deficiency of sunlight. He proposed the use of light therapy as…

Let there be light

Most-asked investment questions and answers

GETTING STARTED with investments can seem like a daunting prospect. Figuring out how much money you need to begin, what to invest in, when to buy and when to sell - many of us end up thinking it’s better left to the professionals. That’s not true, though. Investing isn’t nearly as scary as you think and there are simple steps you can follow to get stuck in. How do I get started? First, there are a few important questions you need to ask yourself about your current financial goals. What are you investing for? Is it to help a family member with a house deposit perhaps? How about your grandchild’s tuition fees, or even just a big holiday and a new car? Figuring out your investing goal is vital, as it leads into the…

Light thoughts…

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light” - JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome” - Anne Bradstreet “Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home” - Edith Sitwell “Winter blues are cured every time with a potato gratin paired with a roast chicken” - Alex Guarnaschelli “Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face” - Victor Hugo “If Winter comes, can Spring be…

Ask The Experts is a free service exclusively for readers of Choice. Write to: Ask The Experts, Choice, 4 Milnyard Square, Crton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6GX OR you can e-mail: (editorials@choicemag.co.uk). If you do not want your name publishing with your letter, please state this in your correspondence. All materials and advice contained in these replies are specific to facts surrounding the questions posed. Neither Choice nor the expert contributor accept liability for any direct or indirect loss which may arise from any reliance placed on the advice contained in these replies. If any reader would like to resolve any matter arising out of anything contained in these articles then specific advice should be sought from a suitable adviser or professional body. All letters will be answered and you will receive a…

Return of the ‘Jolly Green Giant’

ONE OF motor racing’s most legendary classic sports-racing cars, Bruce McLaren’s 1964 Cooper-Zerex-Oldsmobile ‘Jolly Green Giant’, has been unearthed and returned to British soil for the first time in 57 years. The first sports car to carry the Kiwi team badge of the late Grand Prix and Le Mans-winning driver and constructor, Bruce McLaren, was offered for sale at the Goodwood Revival Sale on September 17, realising a price of £911,000. The machine achieved top level success in the hands of a trio of mid-century motor sport legends, Bruce McLaren, Roger Penske and, previously, Briggs Cunningham’s team driver Walt Hansgen. Not only did the Cooper-Zerex-Oldsmobile have three celebrated owners but it also had several different guises, being continually adapted, from Formula 1 single-seater to three different sports car forms to…

Return of the ‘Jolly Green Giant’

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Can you advise on funeral plans? Q You recently answered a question about funeral plans and mentioned registration of companies with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), A couple I know used a company I suggested was a bit dodgy for their Wills, Power of Attorney and funeral plans. I have looked on the FCA register and they are not there. They have already been closed down once and reopened with a slightly different name. What happens if they cease to exist? This couple cannot afford to lose out. Name and email supplied Teri Harman, editor YM&YR replies: A It is difficult to comment without knowing the name of the firm, but I can offer the following general observations. From July 29, 2022, all firms selling funeral plans had to be regulated by the Financial Conduct…

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

When toy cars went to war

FOR CHILDREN (or more particularly, boys) who grew up in the Sixties the decade was not just about The Beatles, Bond and man on the moon, it was also the time when Dinky, Corgi and Matchbox, the holy trinity of toy cars, were at their peak. In those days the weekly visit to the local toy shop was something to be looked forward to and cherished, a chance to dream about one day owning a luxurious Billy Smart’s Circus Corgi gift set, check out the latest models, often locked in a display cabinet at the front of the shop, gaze in wonder at the stacks of yellow and blue or yellow and red boxes containing Corgi and Dinky cars, and, more often than not, walk out with a more pocketmoney friendly…

When toy cars went to war

YOUR MONEY and your rights

I ’M SURE, like me, that lots of readers had an old-style green paper driving licence. Mine dated from 1984 when I moved to my current home and was valid until my 70th birthday, but a few years ago, after being kept in my wallet, it was torn and the address was illegible. When my Post Office rejected it as ID because of that, I had to get a new photocard licence. These are only valid for ten years (three for over-70s). Reminiscing about my late father-in-law recently, my husband mentioned that he had driven for months not realising his licence had expired; I checked mine at that point, luckily discovering that it would soon need renewing. The DVLA website says it sends reminders, but I’d advise readers to make…

YOUR MONEY and your rights

Heroes of our time: Field Marshall Montgomery

WHEN THE Second Battle of El Alamein began on October 23, 1942, a huge burden rested on the shoulders of British Eighth Army commander General Bernard Montgomery. High command means balancing the quest for victory against sending potentially thousands of your men to their deaths or to be wounded. Monty, as he was known to his army and to the British public, had that unfathomable responsibility as well as the burden of helping to preserve the government of Winston Churchill and his strategy for conducting the war and protecting the Empire. America had entered the conflict and were now our Allies in North Africa. It meant that the war overall was almost certain to be won but not that Churchill would retain the confidence of Parliament and keep the keys of Number…

Heroes of our time: Field Marshall Montgomery

The return of annuities

IN ITS simplest form, an annuity is an insurance product, which, in return for a lump sum payment, buys you a regular income for the rest of your life. It is one of the world’s oldest financial products, and examples can be found in Roman times. Up until April 2011, anyone with a defined contribution (DC) pension had to use their fund to purchase an annuity by age 75. This law was controversial and campaigners long sought its abolition, citing annuities’ inflexibility, not least the fact that the decision to buy, once made, was irrevocable and in many cases when you died, the annuity died with you. The abolition of compulsory annuity purchase in 2011 was followed by pension freedoms legislation from April 2015, which allowed savers to flexibly access…

Do you remember? The Persuaders!

IF THERE is one show that captures that strange hinterland between the permissive Sixties and the decadent Seventies it has to be The Persuaders!, which only lasted one series but is still fondly remembered for its extravagant fashions, fast cars, high-end locations, A-list stars and one of the most memorable theme tunes ever written. It was certainly the most ambitious adventure show to emerge from Sir Lew Grade’s television company, ITC - also responsible for the likes of The Saint, Department S, The Champions and Man In A Suitcase - not least in persuading a genuine Hollywood star, Tony Curtis, to join the cast. Not only that, he was teamed him up with one of the biggest British TV stars of the Sixties, Roger Moore, and so well-known were the two leads…

Do you remember? The Persuaders!

Words to the wise

Drawdown Income drawdown can be an expensive option. You may need to transfer your pension fund to a company that offers drawdown (for which there will be a cost). There will also be ongoing charges for managing your investments. Rules set by HMRC mean that the amount of income you take out of your pension fund has to be reviewed regularly, and there are charges for this as well. For these reasons many experts suggest that drawdown is only suitable for those with a large pension fund (£100,000-plus). If you decide on drawdown, make sure you are fully aware of the costs and are confident your investments will grow enough to cover the extra costs. Tax Pension savers can generally withdraw up to 25 per cent of their fund tax-free…

Most-asked investment questions and answers

GETTING STARTED with investments can seem like a daunting prospect. Figuring out how much money you need to begin, what to invest in, when to buy and when to sell - many of us end up thinking it’s better left to the professionals. That’s not true, though. Investing isn’t nearly as scary as you think and there are simple steps you can follow to get stuck in. How do I get started? First, there are a few important questions you need to ask yourself about your current financial goals. What are you investing for? Is it to help a family member with a house deposit perhaps? How about your grandchild’s tuition fees, or even just a big holiday and a new car? Figuring out your investing goal is vital, as…

CRAFT CORNER Pumpkin treat box

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 products for a…

CRAFT CORNER Pumpkin treat box

Get Sewing Gift bags for stocking fillers

Get Sewing Gift bags for stocking fillers

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Can you advise on funeral plans? Q You recently answered a question about funeral plans and mentioned registration of companies with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), A couple I know used a company I suggested was a bit dodgy for their Wills, Power of Attorney and funeral plans. I have looked on the FCA register and they are not there. They have already been closed down once and reopened with a slightly different name. What happens if they cease to exist? This couple cannot afford to lose out. Name and email supplied Teri Harman, editor YM&YR replies: A It is difficult to comment without knowing the name of the firm, but I can offer the following general observations. From July 29, 2022, all firms selling funeral plans had to be…

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Ask The Experts is a free service exclusively for readers of Choice. Write to: Ask The Experts, Choice, 4 Milnyard Square, Crton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6GX OR you can e-mail: (editorials@choicemag.co.uk). If you do not want your name publishing with your letter, please state this in your correspondence. All materials and advice contained in these replies are specific to facts surrounding the questions posed. Neither Choice nor the expert contributor accept liability for any direct or indirect loss which may arise from any reliance placed on the advice contained in these replies. If any reader would like to resolve any matter arising out of anything contained in these articles then specific advice should be sought from a suitable adviser or professional body. All letters will be answered and you will…

Flavours of Asia

SERVES FOUR Vietnamese-Inspired Caramelised Pork Bowls Ready in under 30 minutes, this is a great alternative to those over-used spag bol or chilli con carne recipes YOU WILL NEED Wok or large frying pan 2 tbsp neutral oil 6 spring onions, sliced, white and green parts separately 2 carrots, grated or finely chopped (I like to use a mandoline but be careful) Pinch of salt 2.5cm piece of ginger, minced 4 garlic cloves, minced 4-8 bird’s eye or Thai chillies, finely sliced 5G0g pork, minced 5 tbsp/60g brown sugar 3 tbsp fish sauce 3 tbsp soy sauce 1 tsp chilli flakes 3 tbsp roasted peanuts, crushed 1 lime, wedged Handful of coriander, chopped Handful of mint, chopped 1 If you’re serving with rice, get your rice on the go first 2 Heat a wok over a…

Flavours of Asia

E’VE ALL done it: discovered a really enticing menu, either in a lavish magazine or on one of the myriad celebrity chef culinary journeys around the globe, and then gone out in search of the ingredients in our local supermarket. To be fair, the range on offer is very impressive indeed but, once in front of the display, spotting the actual spice required isn’t easy, whether they are displayed in alphabetical order or not. As Charlemagne was famed for saying: “Spices are the friend of physicians and the pride of cooks.” In general, there are ten spices that it seems should be in every kitchen, and they fit a great number of cooking eventualities. Here’s our Choice Top Ten. Black pepper: While it might seem obvious, freshly ground black pepper is such a…

Beaujolais vs Burgundy

FOR MANY years - certainly as long as I have been interested in wine - the prestigious French region of Burgundy has always carried with it an air of superiority over all its neighbouring wine regions, notably those of Macon and Beaujolais, being always keen to differentiate itself on the global stage. It would be wrong to term Macon and Beaujolais ‘poor man’s white and red Burgundy’ respectively* although for many years that has been the unmentionable view. Now, because of an accumulation of several factors, things are beginning to change. First, Burgundy vineyards are very, very small and do not change hands or come up for sale very often; they usually remain among members of the families who currently own them, even after inheritance. Secondly, due to the scarcity of such…

Beaujolais vs Burgundy

When toy cars went to war

Looking back FOR CHILDREN (or more particularly, boys) who grew up in the Sixties the decade was not just about The Beatles, Bond and man on the moon, it was also the time when Dinky, Corgi and Matchbox, the holy trinity of toy cars, were at their peak. In those days the weekly visit to the local toy shop was something to be looked forward to and cherished, a chance to dream about one day owning a luxurious Billy Smart’s Circus Corgi gift set, check out the latest models, often locked in a display cabinet at the front of the shop, gaze in wonder at the stacks of yellow and blue or yellow and red boxes containing Corgi and Dinky cars, and, more often than not, walk out with a…

When toy cars went to war

Desirable graters The slick new Microplane® BLACK SHEEP Series, with matt black stainless steel handle, frame and blade, is inspired by Microplane’s heritage and expertise in ultra-sharp woodworking tools. It combines a dramatic and extravagant look with the soft curves of the robust matt black stainless-steel handle, frame and blade, coated in functional PVD for extrascratch resistance. Equipped with a non-slip rubber base for stability, the graters remain stable on the work surface regardless of the angle of use. There are five blade styles for specific, superior, grating and slicing results and the range includes a Zester and the paddle-shaped graters include Fine, Coarse and Extra Coarse. The Microplane® BLACK SHEEP Series is available from Borough Kitchen priced at £49.95, (www.boroughkitchen.com). HEINZ VEGAN MAYO Heinz [Seriously Good] Vegan Mayos are now made using 100 per cent…

Heroes of our time: Field Marshall Montgomery

Looking back WHEN THE Second Battle of El Alamein began on October 23, 1942, a huge burden rested on the shoulders of British Eighth Army commander General Bernard Montgomery. High command means balancing the quest for victory against sending potentially thousands of your men to their deaths or to be wounded. Monty, as he was known to his army and to the British public, had that unfathomable responsibility as well as the burden of helping to preserve the government of Winston Churchill and his strategy for conducting the war and protecting the Empire. America had entered the conflict and were now our Allies in North Africa. It meant that the war overall was almost certain to be won but not that Churchill would retain the confidence of Parliament and keep…

Heroes of our time: Field Marshall Montgomery

Advent Calendars

For whisky lovers… These 24 rare and aged single cask and blended expressions from the five Scotch whisky regions are presented in a handmade wooden cabinet, the perfect place to keep and store miniatures long after Christmas. Available from Harvey Nichols, RRP: £160.00. For candy floss lovers… Each of the 25 windows reveals a sweet message and a different flavour of candyfloss for each day. Included are such Christmas flavours as Christmas Pudding, Irish Cream, Chocolate Orange and AppleS Cinnamon. The Candy Floss advent calendar is priced from £39.99 and is available from (www.jbtreatcarts.com). For jam lovers… Behind the 24 doors of this Bonne Maman Advent Calendar are 23 mini jars of exclusive seasonal flavours of jam - each one different - along with two special surprise gifts on day one and day 24. The empty jars…

Advent Calendars

Do you remember? The Persuaders!

IF THERE is one show that captures that strange hinterland between the permissive Sixties and the decadent Seventies it has to be The Persuaders!, which only lasted one series but is still fondly remembered for its extravagant fashions, fast cars, high-end locations, A-list stars and one of the most memorable theme tunes ever written. It was certainly the most ambitious adventure show to emerge from Sir Lew Grade’s television company, ITC - also responsible for the likes of The Saint, Department S, The Champions and Man In A Suitcase - not least in persuading a genuine Hollywood star, Tony Curtis, to join the cast. Not only that, he was teamed him up with one of the biggest British TV stars of the Sixties, Roger Moore, and so well-known were the…

Do you remember? The Persuaders!

Get your lawn ready for winter

WINTER IS coming, so now is the time to make sure you give your lawn all the protection it needs to survive the cold weather. David Truby, Managing Director of Greensleeves - a lawn care business with 108 locations across the UK, gives his advice on how to ensure your lawn survives the cold this winter. Keep mowing Grass growth slows and becomes increasingly dormant during winter, but its growth certainly does not stop completely, and neither should mowing your lawn. The trick is to continue mowing your lawn as needed, never allowing it to become too long as this can significantly reduce the quality and potentially increase the severity of moss invasion. It is important that you ensure the mower blades are sharp, so as not to cause damage to the…

Get your lawn ready for winter

CRAFT CORNER Pumpkin treat box

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…

CRAFT CORNER Pumpkin treat box

Get Sewing Gift bags for stocking fillers

Get Sewing Gift bags for stocking fillers

Shed that makes the most of your space

The Posh Shed Company has launched a new range specifically designed for homes where garden space is limited. The ‘Back To The Wall’ range is purpose designed for smaller gardens, backyards or courtyard areas with perimeter fencing. The sheds are effectively half the depth of conventional products so sit directly up to a fence with a forward facing roof. They are designed to be modular, so customers can configure according to their space and layout preferences; for example, they might like a door in the middle unit, maybe flanked by left and right modules with windows; or perhaps the door to the left and just one module to the right with no window. There are numerous permutations. Kay Frost, co-founder of The Posh Shed Company, says: “The ‘Back To The Wall’ sheds are…

Shed that makes the most of your space

THE OFFICIAL start of winter may still be a month away, but November can feel distinctly winter-y. And it’s an unfortunate accident of timing that this cold often triggers hedgehogs to start hibernating at the same time as people are preparing to set warm, inviting piles of sticks on fire for Guy Fawkes night. Hedgehog numbers have plummeted from 30 million to an estimated one million since the Fifties across England, Wales and Scotland - there are many reasons for this, including loss of habitat and food - but every year hedgehogs are also badly injured or unable to escape a lit bonfire. There are a few steps you can take to try and keep your bonfire safe from hedgehogs: Build your bonfire on the day you’re going to light it, and as…

Flavours of Asia

SERVES FOUR Vietnamese-Inspired Caramelised Pork Bowls Ready in under 30 minutes, this is a great alternative to those over-used spag bol or chilli con carne recipes YOU WILL NEED Wok or large frying pan 1 If you’re serving with rice, get your rice on the go first 2 Heat a wok over a medium-high heat with the oil, then add the spring onions (white parts only), half the carrots and the salt. Cook for three to four minutes, stirring constantly. You’re looking for the carrot to turn slightly limp. Add the ginger, garlic and chillies and cook for a further minute until aromatic 3 Add the pork mince to the wok and turn up to…

Flavours of Asia

The day I met Princess Anne

Clive Nicholls My first royal encounter came at Gatcombe Park, the home of Princess Anne and her husband at the time, Captain Mark Phillips. I was taking pictures of Mark for an equestrian magazine in their drawing room. In pops Anne, herself one of the best (and bravest) event riders in the world. “Has he asked if you want a cup of tea?” I’m stuck. If I say “No” I drop Mark in it, or do I say “yes, but I declined”? Instead all I could manage was to stare back blankly, which told Anne everything she needed to know. “Oh Mark!” she chided, and I thought that was the end of it. Not a bit of it. The Princess returned five minutes later with a tray of tea and biscuits for me. How good…

The day I met Princess Anne

Home and garden E’VE ALL done it: discovered a really enticing menu, either in a lavish magazine or on one of the myriad celebrity chef culinary journeys around the globe, and then gone out in search of the ingredients in our local supermarket. To be fair, the range on offer is very impressive indeed but, once in front of the display, spotting the actual spice required isn’t easy, whether they are displayed in alphabetical order or not. As Charlemagne was famed for saying: “Spices are the friend of physicians and the pride of cooks.” In general, there are ten spices that it seems should be in every kitchen, and they fit a great number of cooking eventualities. Here’s our Choice Top Ten. Black pepper: While it might seem obvious, freshly…

As someone who was still in the sixth form when the nation celebrated the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, in the summer of 1977, my initial thoughts about this outpouring of royal sentiment was boredom verging on hostility. I’d bought my copy of the Sex Pistols’ God Save The Queen, and gone along with the feeling amongst some of my contemporaries at school that the whole thing was an embarrassing waste of time and money. “She had a remarkable ability to bring people together” But when it came to the day itself (we’d been given the day off school) there was something about the coming together of neighbours for street parties - people you wouldn’t normally pass the time of day with - that warmed even my stony heart. And that’s what I personally…

Beaujolais vs Burgundy

FOR MANY years - certainly as long as I have been interested in wine - the prestigious French region of Burgundy has always carried with it an air of superiority over all its neighbouring wine regions, notably those of Macon and Beaujolais, being always keen to differentiate itself on the global stage. It would be wrong to term Macon and Beaujolais ‘poor man’s white and red Burgundy’ respectively* although for many years that has been the unmentionable view. Now, because of an accumulation of several factors, things are beginning to change. First, Burgundy vineyards are very, very small and do not change hands or come up for sale very often; they usually remain among members of the families who currently own them, even after inheritance. Secondly, due to the scarcity…

Beaujolais vs Burgundy

Desirable graters The slick new Microplane® BLACK SHEEP Series, with matt black stainless steel handle, frame and blade, is inspired by Microplane’s heritage and expertise in ultra-sharp woodworking tools. It combines a dramatic and extravagant look with the soft curves of the robust matt black stainless-steel handle, frame and blade, coated in functional PVD for extrascratch resistance. Equipped with a non-slip rubber base for stability, the graters remain stable on the work surface regardless of the angle of use. There are five blade styles for specific, superior, grating and slicing results and the range includes a Zester and the paddle-shaped graters include Fine, Coarse and Extra Coarse. The Microplane® BLACK SHEEP Series is available from Borough Kitchen priced at £49.95, (www.boroughkitchen.com). HEINZ VEGAN MAYO Heinz [Seriously Good] Vegan Mayos are…

The Secrets She Keeps: Series Two

(Acorn Media International) One of the mysteries of this Australian crime series is how can a show be so full of essentially unlikable, self-regarding sociopaths and yet still be so compelling? The story certainly rattles along, picking off from the end of the first series, with baby snatcher/killer Agatha (Downtown’s excellent Laura Carmichael - one of the best things about the show) facing the many challenges of a life behind bars while still craving a child, as the family whose baby she stole still struggle to rebuild their lives. The ending is a little pat and rushed, but also feels right, with a final episode cliffhanger bringing viewers up with a start and presumably setting the scene for a third series. Now available on DVD, there is also a box set featuring…

The Secrets She Keeps: Series Two

Doctor Who: The Abominable Snowmen

(BBC, Blu-ray and DVD) Originally screened in the autumn of 1967, during Patrick Troughton’s second series as the Time Lord, this is one of the most fondly remembered stories from the Second Doctor era, possibly because no one has seen the serial in its entirety since that original broadcast (only episode two has survived). This new release features newly commissioned animation for all the episodes, in black and white and colour, using the original soundtrack to give an approximation of what it was like to view this story in grainy black and white all those years ago. There’s also a restored version of the surviving episode along with a making-of documentary. And the story? It’s charming, very much of its time, and a soothing wallow in nostalgia.…

Doctor Who: The Abominable Snowmen

Advent Calendars

For whisky lovers… These 24 rare and aged single cask and blended expressions from the five Scotch whisky regions are presented in a handmade wooden cabinet, the perfect place to keep and store miniatures long after Christmas. Available from Harvey Nichols, RRP: £160.00. For candy floss lovers… Each of the 25 windows reveals a sweet message and a different flavour of candyfloss for each day. Included are such Christmas flavours as Christmas Pudding, Irish Cream, Chocolate Orange and AppleS Cinnamon. The Candy Floss advent calendar is priced from £39.99 and is available from (www.jbtreatcarts.com). For jam lovers… Behind the 24 doors of this Bonne Maman Advent Calendar are 23 mini jars of exclusive seasonal flavours of jam - each one different - along with two special surprise gifts on day…

Advent Calendars

The Owl Service Tales of Unease The Intruder Come Back Lucy

(Network) These spooky gems from the golden age of television have resurfaced on DVD and Blu-ray, and what a treat they are. It’s remarkable to think that something as strange and disturbing as The Owl Service, a multi-layered tale of the supernatural first screened by Granada in 1969, was deemed suitable for children, and it’s a remarkable piece of work that still stands up more than 50 years on. Available for the first time since its original broadcast in 1970, Tales of Unease was an anthology series that featured seven scary stories that relied for their effect on atmosphere and a sense of menace. Contributing writers included Andrew Newman, of Bouquet of Barbed Wire fame and John Burke, on whose trilogy of horror anthologies the series was based. The Intruder, originally…

The Owl Service Tales of Unease The Intruder Come Back Lucy

Get your lawn ready for winter

WINTER IS coming, so now is the time to make sure you give your lawn all the protection it needs to survive the cold weather. David Truby, Managing Director of Greensleeves - a lawn care business with 108 locations across the UK, gives his advice on how to ensure your lawn survives the cold this winter. Keep mowing Grass growth slows and becomes increasingly dormant during winter, but its growth certainly does not stop completely, and neither should mowing your lawn. The trick is to continue mowing your lawn as needed, never allowing it to become too long as this can significantly reduce the quality and potentially increase the severity of moss invasion. It is important that you ensure the mower blades are sharp, so as not to cause damage…

Get your lawn ready for winter

Shed that makes the most of your space

The Posh Shed Company has launched a new range specifically designed for homes where garden space is limited. The ‘Back To The Wall’ range is purpose designed for smaller gardens, backyards or courtyard areas with perimeter fencing. The sheds are effectively half the depth of conventional products so sit directly up to a fence with a forward facing roof. They are designed to be modular, so customers can configure according to their space and layout preferences; for example, they might like a door in the middle unit, maybe flanked by left and right modules with windows; or perhaps the door to the left and just one module to the right with no window. There are numerous permutations. Kay Frost, co-founder of The Posh Shed Company, says: “The ‘Back To The…

Shed that makes the most of your space

New to Blu-ray, The Ballad of Tam Lin, a new addition to the BFI’s Flipside range of cult films, dates from 1971 and was Planet of the Apes actor Roddy McDowall’s sole directing credit. It stars Ava Gardner and Ian McShane in a delicious piece of folk horror, based on the traditional Scottish ballad. Perhaps the grandest of Universal’s silent films, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, dating from 1923 and released on Blu-ray for the first time as part of Eureka Entertainment’s Masters of Cinema series, stars Lon Chaney as Quasimodo, the vilified cathedral bellringer who selflessly protects starcrossed street performer Esmerelda. Lucy Lawless returns for the second series of Australian crime drama My Life is Murder (Acorn Media International), and the team investigate a family feud and a murder at a…

Revolver (Universal) Despite being recorded at a time when the band was still touring heavily, Revolver marks the point at which The Beatles started to exercise their creativity in the studio. Although, unlike Sgt Pepper, released less than a year after Revolver, most of the tracks would have been easily replicable live, there were several t6hat wouldn’t have been, including two of the album’s strongest recordings, Eleanor Rigby, with its elegant string guartet accompaniment, and the effects-laden Tomorrow Never Knows. Now reissued in multiple formats, the inclusion of multiple takes from the sessions for Revolver reveal just how much care went into making the album. This was no throwaway, recorded on a couple of days in between concert dates for the Christmas market, as the For Sale album had been two years earlier,…

Garden birdwatch THE OFFICIAL start of winter may still be a month away, but November can feel distinctly winter-y. And it’s an unfortunate accident of timing that this cold often triggers hedgehogs to start hibernating at the same time as people are preparing to set warm, inviting piles of sticks on fire for Guy Fawkes night. Hedgehog numbers have plummeted from 30 million to an estimated one million since the Fifties across England, Wales and Scotland - there are many reasons for this, including loss of habitat and food - but every year hedgehogs are also badly injured or unable to escape a lit bonfire. There are a few steps you can take to try and keep your bonfire safe from hedgehogs: Build your bonfire on the day you’re going…

Various Artists

Tubular Bells: 50th Anniversary Celebration (Cleopatra Records) Next year is the 50th anniversary of Mike Oldfield’s magnum opus, Tubular Bells, the extended composition that launched the young musician’s career - not to mention Virgin Records - and expanded the parameters of what was possible across two sides of an LP. That fast approaching milestone has been marked by a tour devoted to reimagining the album with top-notch session musicians and a symphony orchestra, the results of which are captured on this double-CD set. There have been several versions of Tubular Bells over the years, most notably David Bedford’s orchestral arrangement, released in 1974. The new arrangement, captured here, is by Simon Dobson and it successfully fuses the folk and rock elements of the original with the rich symphonic sweep of Bedford’s version to create…

Various Artists

The day I met Princess Anne

Clive Nicholls My first royal encounter came at Gatcombe Park, the home of Princess Anne and her husband at the time, Captain Mark Phillips. I was taking pictures of Mark for an equestrian magazine in their drawing room. In pops Anne, herself one of the best (and bravest) event riders in the world. “Has he asked if you want a cup of tea?” I’m stuck. If I say “No” I drop Mark in it, or do I say “yes, but I declined”? Instead all I could manage was to stare back blankly, which told Anne everything she needed to know. “Oh Mark!” she chided, and I thought that was the end of it. Not a bit of it. The Princess returned five minutes later with a tray of tea and…

The day I met Princess Anne

Playlist of the month

Classical Christmas Apple Music Classical, 50 tracks, 2 hours 39 minutes This is the antidote to Noddy Holder, Bob Geldof and Bing Crosby if you want a calm signature of the Christmas season rather than a party. It is an innovative mix of traditional choices with a sprinkling of the unexpected, a combination of orchestral and choral pieces and individual instrumentals. The Nutcracker is one of the expected works, Tchaikovsky interpreted by the Berlin Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle and the Russian State Symphony Orchestra with four pieces - The Miniature Overture, March of the Toy Soldiers, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Waltz of the Flowers. Jess Gillam’s extraordinary saxophone on Carol of the Bells and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is a stunning contrast. As you would expect the choir of King’s…

As someone who was still in the sixth form when the nation celebrated the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, in the summer of 1977, my initial thoughts about this outpouring of royal sentiment was boredom verging on hostility. I’d bought my copy of the Sex Pistols’ God Save The Queen, and gone along with the feeling amongst some of my contemporaries at school that the whole thing was an embarrassing waste of time and money. “She had a remarkable ability to bring people together” But when it came to the day itself (we’d been given the day off school) there was something about the coming together of neighbours for street parties - people you wouldn’t normally pass the time of day with - that warmed even my stony heart. And that’s what…

Christmas gift books

INEVITABLY THERE has been a rush of books celebrating the life and reign of our late Queen and two of the best are the richly illustrated Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022, by Brian Hoey (Pitkin, £9.99) and Queen Elizabeth II, by David Souden (BBC, £22), which features many never seen before black and white colour photographs, drawn largely from the BBC archives. And The Reign, by Matthew Engel (Atlantic, £25), is the first of two books reflecting the transformation of life during the 70 years of the Queen’s remarkable reign. This first volume looks at the years from 1952 to 1979. Love and Let Die, by John Higgs (W&N, £22), interweaves the stories of The Beatles and James Bond over the past 60 years, looking at how they represented diverse ideas…

Christmas gift books

The Secrets She Keeps: Series Two

(Acorn Media International) One of the mysteries of this Australian crime series is how can a show be so full of essentially unlikable, self-regarding sociopaths and yet still be so compelling? The story certainly rattles along, picking off from the end of the first series, with baby snatcher/killer Agatha (Downtown’s excellent Laura Carmichael - one of the best things about the show) facing the many challenges of a life behind bars while still craving a child, as the family whose baby she stole still struggle to rebuild their lives. The ending is a little pat and rushed, but also feels right, with a final episode cliffhanger bringing viewers up with a start and presumably setting the scene for a third series. Now available on DVD, there is also a box…

The Secrets She Keeps: Series Two

Doctor Who: The Abominable Snowmen

(BBC, Blu-ray and DVD) Originally screened in the autumn of 1967, during Patrick Troughton’s second series as the Time Lord, this is one of the most fondly remembered stories from the Second Doctor era, possibly because no one has seen the serial in its entirety since that original broadcast (only episode two has survived). This new release features newly commissioned animation for all the episodes, in black and white and colour, using the original soundtrack to give an approximation of what it was like to view this story in grainy black and white all those years ago. There’s also a restored version of the surviving episode along with a making-of documentary. And the story? It’s charming, very much of its time, and a soothing wallow in nostalgia.…

Doctor Who: The Abominable Snowmen

ON THE BOOKSHELF

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph Published by Dialogue Books Price £16.99 Pages 432 ISBN 9780349702391 It’s fiction, but the story springs from documented history - and an extraordinary story it is. Charles Ignatius Sancho was born on a slave ship crossing the Atlantic in 1729, where his parents both died. Brought to London, he suffered danger and hardship, found kindness, hope and love, became an acclaimed writer and composer, met the King, and was the first Black person in Britain to vote. With a multicultural cast of larger-than-life characters, Georgian London comes vividly alive in this cleverly constructed novel, written in the form of a memoir and movingly told by a talented writer. HARDBACK BOOK OF THE MONTH…

ON THE BOOKSHELF

Pick of the paperbacks

Beyond A Fringe by Andrew Mitchell From prep school, the army, Cambridge and the City on to Parliament, Andrew Mitchell had the ultimate establishment career trajectory, until an altercation at the gates of Downing Street one night ended his career and left him facing financial ruin. Now an outsider looking in, Mitchell’s story is selfdeprecating, humorous and very revealing about the world he left behind. Published by Biteback Price £12.99 Pages 384 ISBN 9781785907616 The Winter Rose by Katie Flynn Katie Flynn was the pen name of the late Judy Turner, whose work was inspired by family accounts of life in Liverpool in the early 20th century. Her daughter Holly is continuing her legacy, and this is a festive-themed follow-up to The Rose Queen, following young Cadi as she makes a new life for herself in wartime Liverpool. Published by…

Pick of the paperbacks

The Owl Service Tales of Unease The Intruder Come Back Lucy

(Network) These spooky gems from the golden age of television have resurfaced on DVD and Blu-ray, and what a treat they are. It’s remarkable to think that something as strange and disturbing as The Owl Service, a multi-layered tale of the supernatural first screened by Granada in 1969, was deemed suitable for children, and it’s a remarkable piece of work that still stands up more than 50 years on. Available for the first time since its original broadcast in 1970, Tales of Unease was an anthology series that featured seven scary stories that relied for their effect on atmosphere and a sense of menace. Contributing writers included Andrew Newman, of Bouquet of Barbed Wire fame and John Burke, on whose trilogy of horror anthologies the series was based. The Intruder,…

The Owl Service Tales of Unease The Intruder Come Back Lucy

CRIME FICTION Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths They called themselves ‘The Group’, the high achievers at Manor Park, an elite comprehensive school in Chelsea. After their final exams, their plan to scare one of their members ended in tragedy. Ever since, Cassie, now happily married and in the Metropolitan Police, has believed she was responsible. At their 21st-year school reunion, politician Garfield Rice is found dead, possibly from a drug overdose. Cassie’s new boss, DI Harbinder Kaur, takes charge of the investigation. A good, character-driven, classic whodunnit, with enough red herrings to keep armchair detectives entertained. Published by Quercus Price £22 Pages 368 ISBN 9781529409956 FICTION All The Broken Places by John Boyne A widow in her 90s, Gretel Fernsby lives quietly in her exclusive Mayfair apartment. Privacy means she can keep her disturbing history a secret. Then nine-year old…

New to Blu-ray, The Ballad of Tam Lin, a new addition to the BFI’s Flipside range of cult films, dates from 1971 and was Planet of the Apes actor Roddy McDowall’s sole directing credit. It stars Ava Gardner and Ian McShane in a delicious piece of folk horror, based on the traditional Scottish ballad. Perhaps the grandest of Universal’s silent films, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, dating from 1923 and released on Blu-ray for the first time as part of Eureka Entertainment’s Masters of Cinema series, stars Lon Chaney as Quasimodo, the vilified cathedral bellringer who selflessly protects starcrossed street performer Esmerelda. Lucy Lawless returns for the second series of Australian crime drama My Life is Murder (Acorn Media International), and the team investigate a family feud and a murder…

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