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CHESTER & WIRRAL MARCH - MAY 2012

EDITION 35

Ruth

Madoc

TALKS ABOUT LIFE AFTER GLADYS PUGH

Inside LEISURE DISCOVER DUBROVNIK A TIMELESS BEAUTY

Rick Stein

SHARES HIS FAVOURITE DISHES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

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THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50s

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chester electrical & plumbing supplies Here at Chester Electrical & Plumbing Supplies we are an independent company who pride ourselves on our customer service. Choosing a new bathroom can be a potentially daunting task. With so many products available it can also be difficult to get value for money in a market filled with hundreds of white ceramic clones. In our showroom we display over 45 bathroom ranges from quality brands the likes of Twyford, Imperial, Lakes, Siadaw, Matrix, Eco kitchen and bathrooms and Vitra. These are some of the best manufacturers & suppliers in the business offering quality products backed up with the reassurance of superior after sales support. Whether itâ€™s a new toilet seat or a full designer bathroom we aim to ensure you get exactly what you want to suit you and your budget. We spend time with each customer right from the start of your bathroom search CHESTER ELECTRICAL BATHROOM.pdf

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which is vital to ensure that what you require will be not only suitable, but fit perfectly and hopefully exceed your specific needs. Our friendly staff have together over 25 years combined experience in the trade which also includes bathroom and kitchen fitting. This coupled with a number of preferred local installers, plumbers & electricians on hand ensure you can have the bathroom of your dreams without necessarily needing a dream budget. So feel free to drop in and browse our showroom & experience our unique customer service. We are also a plumbing / heating and electrical & lighting wholesaler and have a new kitchen and bedroom showroom so all your needs can be met at one location.

Our customer service is second to none

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We have now opened a bespoke kitchen / bedroom furniture department and offer over 40 different kitchen and 20 bedroom styles, 6 of which are on display. There are ranges to suit all budgets whether if itâ€™s for your first home or something you have been planning to do for years, you will get the same easy to understand guidance. We offer clear no nonsense advice from the planning stage as you will be talking to our sales staff who have over 10 years experience of installing kitchens. We conduct an onsite consultation to ensure you get the kitchen or bedroom that suits you, your home and your budget. After this is done we issue a clear and concise quote with a detailed auto cad drawing so you can see the layout of your new kitchen or bedroom. Once you have chosen your kitchen we can assist you in choosing your work surfaces be it laminate, composite, or granite, as well as appliances, tiles, sockets and lighting.

We have a large number of each on display as it is our intention to make the choosing of your new kitchen or bedroom a pleasurable stress free experience. We are main dealers for Neff appliances and in 90% of cases can beat internet prices so you can purchase with no risk. We also are very competitive on all the best ranges of kitchen appliances and taps, such as Abode, Franke, Gorenge, Caple, Luxair, Bosch, Belling, Stoves, Rangemaster and Smeg to name just a few of the better market brands. Once you have chosen your kitchen we can assist you with your kitchen fitter, electrician and plumber and tiler. Then deliver it for free within a 20 mile radius at a time that suits you, so no more waiting in all day! Is it possible to have all your needs professionally dealt with in just one place? It is now!

So call into our showroom now and let your new kitchen or bedroom become a reality.

Visit our showroom at: Bumpers Lane, Sealand Industrial Estate, Chester CH1 4LT. t: 01244 383323 e: saleschesterweb@hotmail.co.uk w: www.cepsonline.co.uk

BILL KENWRIGHT

BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH AGATHA CHRISTIE LTD PRESENTS

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Graham Smith has a Tweet But what is he twittering about?

Inside this issue ... 10-11

14-15

When is it Christmas? If it’s June when you read this don’t worry Christmas isn’t coming any time soon. Astronomers have calculated that Christmas should be in June by charting the “Christmas Star” which the Bible says led the Three Wise Men to Jesus. The have decided that the bright star pinpoints Jesus’ birthday as June 17th rather than December 25th. Well that’s just going to upset a few turkey farmers and artificial snow manufacturers isn’t it?

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24-25

And what a mess they’ve made of the carol service. How can “snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even”, and what about the poor old beggar bringing in his winter fuel? There’s no holly and ivy, the shepherds can’t be watching their flocks because it’s still day light and I just cannot listen to Bing Crosby in June!

Welcome to the latest local 50 Plus magazine which we hope you will sit back and enjoy at your leisure. Our journalists Angela Kelly, Graham Smith and Sheila Alcock are continuing to keep you well informed with their celebrity interviews and up to date everyday tips.

Which silly old goat with a white beard and a red suit is going to traipse reindeer and a sleigh about in 20 degrees of heat? I don’t eat sprouts in December so I’m surely not about to in June. “All is calm, all is bright”, well it will be in June, new legislation could mean it’s daylight until four in the morning so the poor little beggar will be throwing his swaddling clothes off and tipping the sheepdog out of the manger.

We know you will also be left with a smile on your face after reading Graham’s observations on life!

Why can’t they leave things as they are? I’m dreaming of a White Easter.

Dear Reader,

TRAVEL & LEISURE 4

Murder on The Nile Book NOW!

6-7

Dubrovnik A Timeless Beauty

8-9

Coach Tours 2012 From Robinsons Holidays.

He should have ducked! An American duck hunter had to be taken to hospital after being shot in the buttocks by his dog!

FOOD & DRINK 24-25 Rick Stein Mediterranean Escapes Recipes.

FINANCE 36

Planning for the future Hillyer McKeown Solicitors serving the local community for over 35 years.

McGrath Regional Media. Unit 6 | Moses Gate Workshops Gladys Street | Bolton | BL3 2QG. T: (01204) 796 494 | F: (01204) 791594

The hunter was climbing out of his boat to place decoys in nearby marsh when his “excited” dog trod on a shotgun firing 27 pellets into his backside from ten feet. The man managed to walk to a nearby road and call an ambulance and was not seriously injured. He should have ducked.

e: mcgrathadmin@btconnect.com

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Dubrovnik

Timeless

Beauty

Sitting proudly on the calm blue waters of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik is one of the world’s most magnificent fortified cities. Today a UNESCO world heritage site and Croatia’s most upmarket destination, it was once the capital of the wealthy seafaring Republic of Ragusa (1358-1808). During its Golden Age in the 16th century, it had one of the largest merchant naval fleets in the world. Dubrovnik is clearly special. Lord Byron was not overstating the matter when he proclaimed Dubrovnik ‘the pearl of the Adriatic’. Magnificent curtains of walls surround marble streets and baroque buildings that exude a pearly light in the Adriatic sun. The main pedestrian thoroughfare, Placa, is a melange of cafés and shops with outstanding monuments at either end. Churches, monasteries and museums ornamented with finely carved stone recall an eventful history and a vibrant artistic tradition. As the sun rises over the terracotta roofs the square awakens to the sound of barrow loads of fruit and vegetables bouncing over the stone cobbles. The ‘green market‘, as the locals call it, offers freshly picked produce as well as jars of homemade jams, pickles and spices. However, Dubrovnik shows her true magnificent colours during the winter months as well as the city looks wonderful “out of season.” True beauty is ageless and timeless. Beyond the city is a heavenly landscape of beaches, wooded peninsulas and a sea strewn with lush islands. Rector’s Palace: Right off Luza Square is the Rector’s Palace. It was the seat of the Ragusan government, where the Rector lived and worked. After Napoleon’s army dissolved the Dubrovnik Republic the Rector’s position was reduced. The original palace was modelled after the Roman imperial palace, with some influences from Venetian palaces. In 1435 there was a gunpowder explosion that demolished the structure. It was rebuilt in a late-gothic style. There was another explosion in 1463, and a an earthquake in 1667 that severally damaged the city. What you see now is the final redo that took place 6

at the end of the 17 century. The central portico features beautiful archways and a second story mezzanine. Pile Gate: This is the north gate into the city. It features a stone bridge with two gothic arches. If you exit towards the outside you can get to Tower Loverjenac. On entering, the outer draw bridge is met by an internal bridge that leads into the city. Some great shots are to be had with your camera from Pile Gate. War Photo Limited: Dubrovnik’s sturdy fortifications have been put to the test several times during the centuries, most recently during the bloody break-up of Yugoslavia. This modern gallery is dedicated to stunning photojournalism from war zones around the world, and attempts to offer unbiased reporting with a human element. Antuninska 6. www.warphotoltd.com. Daily 9am-9pm (JunSep); Tue-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 10am-2pm (May and Oct); closed (Nov-Apr). Entry is 30Kn. Dubrovnik Cable Car: The best views of Dubrovnik and the surrounding area are seen from the top of the Srd Hill where the Dubrovnik Cable Car was built back in 1969 and boasts the most beautiful panoramic view. On a clear day, you can see up to 60 km (37 miles)! For this reason the neighbouring Fort Imperial was strategically built on this privileged spot way back in the early 19th century. http://dubrovnikcablecar.com. The Dubrovnik Summer Festival (www.dubrovnik-festival.hr) runs from mid-Jul to mid-Aug, staging concerts, theatre and opera at various open-air venues in the old town. Pat line-ups have included the Warsaw Symphony Orchestra, Mexican tenor Ramon Vargas, and Australian-born British classical guitarist John Williams. Nearby places worth visiting include the Renaissance gardens of Trsteno arboretum, the vineyards of Peljeac peninsular,

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the seaside resort of Cavtat, the tiny car-free Elafiti islands , the island of Mljet (one-third of which is a national park), and neighbouring Montenegro. EATING/DRINKING There is a wide range of restaurants in the Old Town, mostly offering a very similar menu of local seafood and some meat dishes. The cuisine may not be very imaginative, but it is usually of good quality and very fresh. Restaurants can be crudely separated into (slightly) cheaper tourist-trap haunts, and more expensive but first class gastronomic restaurants. There are a few pizzerias, mostly wood-fired and acceptable. The Kraš chocolate sold at stores is delicious too! Note that in the off peak season of November to March nearly all the top-end restaurants close, leaving only a handful of desperate tourist trap enterprises operating and still charging high prices. You can however still eat well and best of all, discounts can be negotiated. Dubrovnik cuisine is characteristically not very spicy and is famous for traditionalism. Many popular meals are characteristic of Dubrovnik such as zelena menestra (it is the name for many sorts of cabbages and other vegetables with meat), pasticada and the famous delicacy dubrovacka rozata. The most popular alcohol in Croatia is homemade rakija. This is a very strong distilled tipple made from a variety of fruits. Examples include sljivovica, made from plums, loza, made from grapes, and orahovica, made with walnuts. There are many excellent local wines from both the Peljesac Peninsula and Konavle and it is often less expensive than soft drinks. However, be careful when purchasing wine from unlicensed dealers as it can sometimes be of low quality! SLEEPING Hotels in Dubrovnik include two, three, four and five-star hotels. Private rooms are a good option for those on a budget; the downside is that they may be far from the Old Town, so make sure to check the location. Owners letting out these rooms accost buses at the bus station, so you can ask around and even bargain a little. DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT VISITING… Cafe Buza: This place is little known but definitely the find in Dubrovnik. Indeed, you will have to wander down an alleyway along the main western wall where you’ll find a nondescript door. Enter it to find the most amazing bar you might ever enjoy a beer in. The cafe is built on the side of the rocky cliffs, hiding inside the Dubrovnik wall. Relax and enjoy the view as the dramatic wall rises above your head; or, as you are so near the small beach why not dip your toes in the water! Fact file: Dubrovnik has an international airport, located approximately 20 km (12 miles) from Dubrovnik city centre. There is no train to Dubrovnik. A narrow gauge line used to link Dubrovnik to Sarajevo but was closed in 1976; however, buses connect the airport with the Dubrovnik old main bus station in Gruž and Croatia Airlines even operates buses between the airport and the main bus station in Kantafig (takes approx. 45 minutes), which is 2.5 km northwest of the Old Town. Taxis from the airport to the centre will cost 220 kn. The bus passes close to the Old Town en-route to the airport; you can board the bus at the stop on Petra Kresimira 4 just above the Old Town, by the lower cable car station. Make sure

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you wave furiously otherwise the driver may not stop! The main bus station is in Kantafig, near Port Gruz and the Tudjman Bridge, 2.5 km northwest of the Old Town. Local bus 7 operates between this station and Babin kuk, and bus 1 serves the Old Town. On buses you pay a separate fee of 10 Kn to the driver for luggage, so keep some change handy. Taxis in Dubrovnik are available around the clock and you can easily pick one up at one of the many taxi stops. The good news is that a taxi service will never cost you more than 100 Kn (approx. £11) in any direction within Dubrovnik city limits! If you are planning to drive a car in Dubrovnik, be aware that lots of streets are one way. If in doubt, passersby will gladly direct you. Dubrovnik is easy to cover on foot; in fact it will take the averagely fit person less than 1.5 hours to walk from the historical centre to the very end of Lapad peninsula. Climate: The climate along the Dubrovnik Region is a typical Mediterranean one, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. However, it is perhaps distinct from other Mediterranean climates because of the unusual winds and frequency of thunderstorms. The Bura wind blows cold gusts down the Adriatic coast between October and April. The air temperatures can slightly vary, depending on the area or region. Typically, in July and August daytime maximum temperatures reach 29°C (84°F), and at night drop to around 21°C (70°F). More comfortable perhaps, is the climate in Spring and Autumn when maximum temperatures are typically between 20°C (68°F) and 28°C (82°F). Language: Croatian is the official language spoken in Dubrovnik. English is taught as a second language in schools however, and other international languages are also fluently spoken. Currency: Kuna (Kn.) £1 British pound is worth approx. 8 Kuna. The word “Kuna” means “marten” in Croatian since it is based on the use of marten pelts as units of value in medieval trading. 7

Est.1923

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Imperial Hotel, Eastbourne Robinsons HHH Eastbourne is an ideal holiday destination, it has one of the top sunshine records in the UK and has been awarded the Seaside Award for its clean safe beaches for the past eight years. An impressive Victorian hotel, situated at the seaward end of Devonshire place, less than a hundred yards from the seafront, on a delightful tree-lined boulevard less than five minutes walk from the main facilities and town centre amenities. A night porter ensures 24 hour reception service.

Ocean View Hotel, Shanklin Robinsons HHH Take a short boat ride across the Solent and discover the Isle of Wight, an island of great natural beauty and superb weather, with a wealth of attractions for visitors of all ages. Shanklin, on the south coast of the island, is home to a variety of safe, golden beaches and a quaint collection of shops housed in traditional thatched cottages. An elegant hotel commanding magnificent views across Sandown Bay, the balconies provide the perfect place to enjoy the sunset on summer evenings. Guests can unwind in the piano lounge before enjoying an evning meal in the spacious restaurant. A night porter ensures 24 hour reception service.

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Calendar Girl RUTH Madoc had just been having lunch with her five year-old grand-daughter in St Albans when she broke off from encouraging her to eat pizza for a chat with Angela Kelly about the theatre and life after Gladys Pugh. “I’m in the South for two weeks with ‘Calendar Girls’,” she explains in those familiar warm, now-muted Welsh tones. “So I’m staying with the family here and love being out for lunch with Seren (Welsh for “star”) because this little girl and I have a real connection.”

After she graduated, Ruth – a talented singer and performer as well as an actress – spent three years with the “Black and White Minstrel Show” and various summer seasons with Lesley Crowther, Max Wall and Bruch Forsyth in the final days of provincial variety.

Ruth, now 68, has five grandchildren under the age of five (“hard work sometimes, although lovely”). Three of them live in Gibraltar and it’s plain that Ruth thoroughly enjoys being a grandma.

She became a theatrical favourite appearing in leading roles in musicals like “West Side Story and “Man of La Mancha” and appeared in both the stage and screen versions of “Under Milk Wood.”

It may be hard to see her in this role as, for many TV viewers, she remains fondly in the memory as the manhungry Maplins’ Yellowcoat and the mere mention of her name has usually restrained people shouting out “Hi-De-Hi!”.

After her high-profile success in “Hi-De-Hi!”, Ruth was in the stage version of the show which enjoyed

This wonderful portrayal in the enduringly popular BBC 1 comedy series revealed her comic talents to thousands at home. But her career, even by then, had already covered a startling variety of theatre. Although Ruth is well known for her Welsh roots she was, in fact, born in Norwich because her parents consistently travelled around Britain. However, she spent much of her childhood with her maternal grandmother in Llansamlet in Swansea. From the little mining village she made the unlikely but determined leap to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, guided in this by the man who became an early mentor, Sir Harry Secombe. “I was in East Yorkshire with my parents and the head of drama at school sent a tape of me to Harry Secombe’s agent with the intention of interesting Huw Weldon who used to have a BBC children’s talent programme called ‘All Your Own,’ she states. Instead, the agent showed it to the famous singer and comedian, and he began helping the young Ruth, offering practical advice on her career.

I N T E RV I E W huge success in Bournemouth, Blackpool and at the Victoria Palace in London.

career on programmes like “Some of these Days,” “Woman’s Hour” and “This Family Business.”

“I never felt, though, that I was going to be typecast by Gladys,” she says. “I’d already done so much in the theatre I knew that I would go on to do many other, different roles.”

Other TV roles over the years have included guest appearances with Morecambe and Wise, Bob Monkhouse and Les Dawson. And, more recently, she was the mother of the infamous Daffyd (the only gay in the village) in the Bafta award-winning comedy series “Little Britain.”.

And indeed she did. She has been in a large number of stage productions including “A Taste of Honey” and “A Murder is Announced”, and in West End musicals like “Niteclub Confidential” and “Bless the Bride.” Ruth had great personal success with her portrayal of the indomitable Mama Rose in the musical “Gypsy”, toured Japan and the Far East as Madame Giry in “Phantom of the Opera” and was a wonderful Mrs Bardell to Harry Secombe’s “Pickwick” at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Sadlers Wells Theatre and on an extended national tour. She was also Dorothy Brock in the hit musical “42nd Street”, Miss Hannigan in “Annie”, and Maria in “Twelfth Night” at Regent’s Park Theatre in London. Her film appearances vary from “Fiddler on the Roof” to “The Prince and the Pauper” and “Very Annie Mary”, and she has also enjoyed an extensive radio

Ruth has appeared in more than 30 pantomimes in every major city in the UK – as everything from principal boy in “Robin Hood” and “Dick Whittington” to Cinderella’s fairy godmother and the Wicked Queen in “Snow White.” For the past 18 months, she has been touring in “Calendar Girls” as Marie – the WI protagonist who tries to stop the nude calendar – “and I love it!” she declares with a throaty laugh. “I think I enjoy playing not so nice people because it’s more interesting. But I really love this play and Tim Firth (the writer) is so clever. While the humour is Northern it works on so many levels and is a great piece of writing.” Ruth will remain in the production until May, 2012, when, she says, she and her manager husband John will go to Spain to visit their grandchildren. She states that she “won’t do theatre after I’m 75” because she doesn’t want to spend time learning lines. “I think when you get older there is a great pressure in learning lines. I’ve seen this happen to many other people, and I don’t want that,” she insists. “I keep my mind sharp now by doing crosswords each day and, although I’ve got lines in ‘Calendar Girls’, I still learn pieces of poetry.” Her only career regret is that she didn’t take the “Under Milk Wood” role she was offered at the National Theatre “because I was with Harry in ‘Pickwick’ and didn’t want to let him down.” Ruth would, though, still love to play the part of Madam Horrible in the hit musical “Wicked!” which re-imagines the Land of Oz. And that inquiring, lively mind, she suspects, will continue until her deathbed. “I think my final words will probably be ‘Eureka!,” she laughs again.

Then it’s back to life as grandma, and that perennial dilemma of how to get small children to eat their lunch.

Keep active – keep healthy! As we get older and certainly when we retire, some of us will lead a more sedentary lifestyle than we have done up until now. For a start, if you do not take up another full-time job in retirement, you will not have to get out of bed in the morning and rush around getting ready for work and then travelling. If you have little to do, many of us eat and drink out of boredom, so there is a danger that we shall eat and drink more than we should, especially if it is combined with a more sedentary life. You might have a drink at lunchtime as you do, perhaps, on holiday. So it is worth keeping an eye on our exercise levels and our diet. Putting on extra weight as we get older can be harmful because we naturally get less supple anyway, so if we can take a bit of care it will do us good and help us to maintain an active lifestyle.

Why Keep Physically Active? We naturally want to enjoy our later life and, in order to do this, we need to be moderately fit; fit so that we can do all those things that we want to do such as play with the grandchildren, walk around those tourist attractions on holiday, go for country walks and so on.

Recent guidance from the Chief Medical Officer confirms that older adults who participate in any amount of physical activity gain some health benefits, including the maintenance of good physical and mental health. Some physical activity is better than none and more physical activity provides greater health benefits.

The benefits of being active include: helping to maintain an active and alert mind reducing the risk of heart disease l helping to maintain the ability to carry out daily living activities l improving mood and self‑confidence l reducing the risk of falls l increasing sociability when undertaken with other people l l

Older adults should aim to be active every day, adding up to at least 150 minutes (2½ hours) a week of moderate intensity activity. A good way to approach this is to do thirty minutes activity on at least five days a week. For those who are already regularly physically active at moderate intensity, similar benefits can be achieved through 75 additional minutes of more vigorous intensity activity spread across the week or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. It is also advised that older adults undertake physical activity to improve muscle strength on at least two days a week and that those older adults at risk of falls should incorporate physical activity to improve balance and co‑ordination on at least two days a week, every week. Nobody is too old to benefit from physical activity. The range of classes and activity sessions at the Spirit Health Club are numerous. Our instructors are fully qualified and have experience of working with older adults to ensure maximum benefits for health and well being.

50 Plus Magazine Reader Offer FREE 3 DAY SPIRIT HEALTH CLUB MEMBERSHIP Offer to all 50 Plus Magazine readers – Come and find out for yourself how the Spirit Health Club membership can help you achieve your health and fitness goals as well as improve your health and well-being with a complimentary 3 day membership. Offer on for limited time, so get in touch today. Name .............................................................................................. Tel No .................................................. Address .......................................................................................................................................................

Present this voucher at either Spirit Health Club Chester or Runcorn to take advantage of this offer.

Spirit Life … Keeping fit at the Spirit Health Club in Chester or Runcorn is a very social way of staying healthy, the club is extremely popular with the 50 plus age group. If you’re looking for a health club with a personal touch then you’ve come to the right place. Our Lifestyle Consultants provide the kind of one-to-one guidance that has already helped thousands of members achieve their goals – and are ready now to help you reach yours. From dietary advice that’s calculated to boost your energy and inner health, to a unique personal exercise plan that’s designed to help you look your best, we’re ready to make sure you get even more out of life.

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15m swimming pool. Air conditioned Gymnasium. Saunas. Exercise classes. Personal training. Free lifestyle consultation and personalised programme. Complimentary towel and toiletries. Up to 35% discount at participating hotel. 25% discount on food and beverage at any participating hotels. 10% discount off sports retail clothing. 10% discount off treatments at any Spirit Health & Beauty Club. Use of Spirit Health Clubs nationwide.

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INTERIOR DESIGNER? By Sheila Alcock

Sometimes, itâ€™s a raw new house which needs a designer touch. Or a beautiful old home which needs interior remodelling and modernising. Sometimes, a change of lifestyle has created the need for a new look for your home, or maybe your home is looking tired and old fashioned and could do with a serious update. But you have a busy lifestyle, and very little time. The thought of sourcing builders, plumbers and decorators is overwhelming. So where do you start? Simple. Bring in an expert. Bring in an Interior Designer/Project Manager who can lead you through the intricacies of finding reliable tradesmen, and leave you free to consider ways in which your home can reďŹ‚ect your personality and lifestyle.

Not Just About Cushions and Curtains The title Interior Designer can be misleading, and in fact, anyone can give themselves the title of Interior Designer by taking a six week study course on how to build a samples board. This does not cover the skills acquired from undergoing a degree course in Interior Design and Furniture. Louise Putman BA (Hons), MCSD, is a graduate from Middlesex University, having completed a four year degree course in Interior Design and Furniture. This covers the full design process from concept to completion, and she also provides project management, which includes liaison with electricians, builders, furniture manufacturers/ suppliers, fabric and lighting. This is followed by costings, quote comparisons, a programme detailing time scales and completion dates. After graduating, Louise worked on a number of large corporate Headquarters and hospitality projects, including hospitality areas for All England Lawn Tennis and

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HOME

MY WORK BEGINS WITH THE CREATION OF A MOOD BOARD, WHICH SHOWS A VARIETY OF INTERIORS OF DIFFERENT STYLES AND COLOUR SCHEMES. THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY SAMPLES BOARDS SHOWING FABRIC SWATCHES, WALLPAPER SAMPLES,

oards

b Mood and sample

Croquet Club at Wimbledon, and Executive areas at the London Headquarters of Royal Bank of Scotland. In 2009 Louise set up her own design consultancy, Recreate Interiors.

Eureka Moment “My first priority is to understand my client’s taste and vision for the style they want to achieve. Recently, I had a client who wasn’t sure of the sort of interior she wanted,” Louise told me. “The Eureka moment arrived when she studied my mood boards, beamed, and said, “ I didn’t know what I wanted, until you showed me.” That was the moment when I could really focus on the work in hand, and establish rough guidelines on general style, budget and timescale.

CARPETS, FINISHES AND OPTIONS.

We’ve all heard horror stories of missed completion dates, shoddy workmanship and nerves at screaming point over incorrect fittings and soaring costs. A qualified Interior Designer will ensure this never happens. From the update of a single room, to the remodelling of a complete house, an Interior Designer will take the drudgery out of your project, inject flair and creativity to produce the wow factor you’re looking for, and ensure that it’s completed on time, on budget, and exactly how you imagined it.

My work begins with the creation of a mood board, which shows a variety of interiors of different styles and colour schemes. This is accompanied by samples boards showing fabric swatches, wallpaper samples, carpets, finishes and options. These are discussed, the client makes a choice and at that point, I can set up a detailed summary of costings for each room to be treated by providing a detailed schedule of works to obtain ‘like for like’ quotes from tradesmen, followed by a cost plan including furniture, window treatments, finishes, fixtures and fittings, and my designer’s fees.” “So there’s a lot more to interior design than sourcing fabrics and carpets,” I said. Louise smiled. “We’re the ones who plod across the site with the builders. We produce detailed space plans to indicate now the space can be better utilised. We’re the ones to sort any problems with decorators and plumbers or the electricians. We discuss their problems and resolve them quickly, so that everyone knows exactly where they are, and completion dates are as stipulated.” www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

We are furniture and carpet/ Karndean specialists, situated in Chirk drawing customers from Oswestry, Wrexham, Llangollen, Shrewsbury, Chester the Wirral and beyond.

Dining & Occasional furniture, mirrors, pictures & lamps

Classic & Contemporary Suites

Large Selection of bedroom furniture, beds & new nursery department

Fully fitted carpet, vinyl & Karndean flooring

VAT FREE Traditional Sofas & fireside chairs

SHANNON SALES

Lift/Rise Recliners

Chirk, Wrexham LL14 5NA | Tel. 01691 773257 | www.shannonsales.co.uk 24 16 www.50plusmagazine.co.uk OPEN MON - SAT

CREATE THE PERFECT HOME With Shannon Sales If you are finding your old sofa or chair has seen better days, you’ll be amazed at our choice of new ones. Again whether your prefer to laze on a large soft sofa or require a bit more support from your chair, we have everything you might need, three seaters, two seaters, sofa beds, chairs, recliners, swivel chairs and a large selection of electric lift/rise recliners, we will even bring a couple of lift/rise reclining chairs out to your home for you to try if you are unable to visit the shop.

If you’ve never been to Shannon Sales, it’s well worth a visit. We are an established, over 40 years, furniture and carpet store, situated in the pretty village of Chirk (winners of Wales in bloom 2011) The showroom is delightful to walk around, being set as it is in a Victorian school, the building itself is grade ll listed, designed by A.W. Pugin and built in the mid 1800’s.

If it’s your bedroom that needs a makeover, we sell a selection of beds to fit all price brackets, and Debbie and Cindy are on hand to advise you on your choice of bed, it is an important choice - you spend, on average a third of your life in bed! Also how long have you had your bed? Most bed manufacturers recommend changing your bed every 10 years. We have at least a dozen bedroom furniture displays in store and if you require Fred, Mark or Colin can come out and measure up to make sure you maximise your space. Any assembling required is also free of charge.

The business was started in 1970 by a local couple, Sonny and Ann Jones and is now run by their daughter Debbie, assisted by a very helpful and capable team of staff. Debbie and Cindy are on hand to give you any help you require with making your purchases. We are happy to lend out both fabric and carpet samples so you can make your choice in your own home. We also happily lend out mirrors, pictures, lamps, coffee tables, nests, even small chests of drawers so you can see them in situ and thus reducing the chances of buying a white elephant! Enough about our lovely female staff, what about the men!!? Fred, Mark and Colin have a combined experience with the company of at least 40 years, nothing is too much trouble for them. When fitting your carpet, they will empty your room, take your old carpet up and dispose of it, trim any doors that need trimming, and then replace your furniture back on to your brand new carpet. One thing to remember though is they’ll never say no to a cup of tea! When ordering a sofa or bedroom furniture, our lads are on hand to come out and check it will go in, again avoiding an expensive mistake. These days a lot of furniture on sale needs self assembly of some degree, but no need to rush for the screwdriver because our prices include any assembly required, so you can sit back and look forward to your new purchase, hassle free. Enough about our wonderful service, what about the goods we sell. We

Whether you have a separate dining room or just a kitchen we stock tables and chairs to fit, and if you haven’t got space for a dining set we even sell a supper table. have an extensive range of carpets on sale from hardwearing, stain resistant berbers to the best quality axminsters and wiltons, many at special promotional prices. We also have several different underlays and will advise you on which is best to use on your floor. If you want to avoid carpet we also stock a vast range of vinyl flooring which is especially suitable for both kitchens and bathrooms, and comes in small widths, thus minimising any waste. If your budget will stretch a little further, we are also recommended Karndean stockists. Karndean is a vinyl product, which is not only cleaner, warmer and quieter but is a realistic copy of either wood boards or natural stone tiles. It can even be designed by yourself, thus making your new floor totally unique to you!

What about an attractive display cabinet to hold all those precious family mementoes and photographs, we have a substantial selection of woods and wood effects to choose from, ranging from light oak, teak, cherry, mahogany and dark oak. And to finish the new look we also sell lamps, mirrors, pictures, rugs, coffee tables, and nests of tables, bookcases and pouffes. Last but not least we have recently opened a nursery department, selling cots, chests of drawers, children’s robes, children’s beds, and beautiful bedding.

So as you can see we have everything you’ll need to create the perfect home, and remember our delivery is free within a 40-mile radius.

Should I Make a Lifetime Gift Of My Home? Recent research reveals that overall parents leave 78% of their assets to their children, with 9% going to other family members and 6% to their grandchildren. Only 7% of the estate is left to charities, friends and religious organisations. For most of the home owning population, their home is their greatest asset and their desire to pass their property or the value in their property to their children is paramount. Concerns over funding nursing care are leading to increasing numbers considering the option of a lifetime gift.

If you make an outright gift of your home to your children, it will become an asset of theirs, and in the event one or more of your children divorce, it may be treated as part of their assets in a financial settlement. A lifetime gift of your home may also give rise to a capital gain for your children in the future, if they already own their own home. You should also consider the position if one of your children where to file for bankruptcy. It is important to be aware that a lifetime gift of your home, if you intend to continue to live in it, will not work to reduce the value of your estate for Inheritance tax purposes, as it is a gift with a reservation of benefit. If you are not concerned about Inheritance Tax, but wish to avoid paying for nursing care in the future, the value of your home may still be taken into account for funding purposes as there are anti-avoidance measures in place. It is possible your Local Authority may, if required to fund your care, seek to have the value of your home added back into your assets. Lifetime gifts raise a whole host of issues, not least how you should protect your right to reside in the property, in the event it is your intention to continue to live in it. It is not unknown for a child to die before a parent, and you should consider what would happen in that situation.

Your property is a valuable asset, and you may need to use the capital in the property for your own benefit at some stage in the future. If you have made a gift of your property, you will not be able to release capital from it, should you need to do so. 18

It is vitally important to carefully consider all your options and take appropriate advice from your legal advisor as to how you may best protect yourself in your plans for the future. For further information contact Canter Levin and Berg Solicitors Dawn Joughin â€“ 0844 335 2905.

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CARE HOME NHS REFUNDS! It is estimated that about two thirds of the 150,000 in nursing homes who pay for their own care should be funded by the NHS that's around 100,000 paying unnecessarily

Claims backdated to 2004 Review current assessment Save £1000’s on care home fees We ﬁght your case for you Stress free consultation Specialists in care home refunds We can also help you save on inheritance tax by guiding you through the most tax eﬃcient methods of estate planning and the writing of a will which ensures that your estate passes to those you intend to receive it.

Recent cases include backdated payments of up to £165,000 where the family home was sold to help pay for care. Others included a refund of £130,000 because the NHS deemed the problems ‘social’ rather than ‘health’ related. If you feel that you have been incorrectly charged, speak to one of our specialists on:

0844 875 6200

You could claim a refund for fees paid for care that should have been provided free!

Our experience makes yours better www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Exhibitions at the

WILLIAMSON ART GALLERY & MUSEUM, BIRKENHEAD 10 March – 20 May RMS Titanic & Other Voyages: Marine Paintings by Edward D Walker

As the official painter for the RMS Titanic Artefacts Exhibition currently touring the world, Ted Walker’s 15 scenes capture the life and end of that disastrous vessel in 1912. Merseyside has always boasted some outstanding maritime artists and Ted is very widely respected by those in the know. His work covers historic and contemporary shipping of all sorts and this exhibition represents a life’s work. He also documents the career of the CSS Alabama, launched in Birkenhead 150 years ago.

2 June – 17 June Wirral Art School

The Final Show for Degree Students at Wirral Metropolitan College, always an exciting and unpredictable event. (Illustratedwork from 2011 Degree Show).

30 June – 9 September Wirral Spring Exhibition of Art & Photography

For 2012 we are springing into summer for our annual celebration of local talent, open to all artists with Wirral connections to submit work. Each year prize-winners are chosen by the selectors for adding to the gallery collection, as well as the Kriterion Award that is voted on by visitors. (Illustrated 2011 prizewinners) (Handing in dates 25, 26, 27 May). Throughout 2012 we will be doing our best to stay open, but building work will require some room closures and may close the building completely for short periods. The dates given are subject to alteration, possibly at short notice, and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

Williamson Art Gallery & Museum Slatey Road, Birkenhead CH43 4UE 20 0151 652 4177 williamsonartgallery@wirral.gov.uk

Open Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm Closed Monday (Except Bank Holidays)

Have you visited Birkenhead Priory?

WIRRAL

site now wholly enclosed by modern Birkenhead, the Priory has the oldest standing buildings in Merseyside and is usually a haven of tranquillity.

The Undercroft Museum tells the story of the Priory and the Chapter House dates back to 1150, in use as church since St Mary’s parish church closed forty years ago. Upstairs is the chapel dedicated to HMS Conway, the training ship stationed on the River Mersey off Rock Ferry for many years. The chapel is open by arrangement. Work on the refurbishment of some of buildings has started and will carry on through much of 2012. St Mary’s church tower is not available to visitors but while the rest of the site will be open most of the time, there may be parts that are inaccessible. Please telephone before a visit if you are hoping to see something specific.

Open Wednesday – Friday pm, Saturday & Sunday all day. Telephone (0151) 666 1249 or 652 4177 to check times, which vary with the season.

The vivid blue of cornfl owers goes well with marigolds for a later summer display.

What will you grow this year? The beginning of the gardener’s year is always a challenge. There are decisions to make. More vegetables or a new planting scheme? Minimum maintenance or a whole new layout? And what about the lawn?

sometimes helps, as does spiking and incorporating sand, but if the moss persists, then you may need to get more professional advice.

Vegetables Even the smallest plot can provide a plentiful supply of salads. A newcomer on the scene includes Suttons multigreen lettuce, which has a short crown and no wastage. Sow seeds little and often at fortnightly intervals from March to July, and you’re guaranteed a regular supply, and while you’re sowing your lettuce, find a space for a succession of plantings of radishes from March to September. Sew these in a cool position, and thin early. Water well in dry weather.

The Lawn Nothing sets off a well tended garden as effectively as a lush green lawn, or detracts from the effect if it’s patchy and sparse. Particularly at the start of the year, the lawn needs a lot of attention and unfortunately, it’s not always enough to mow regularly and feed correctly. Shaggy edges should be kept neatly clipped. Worn areas lightly forked over and re-seeded, then covered with a fine layer of compost. Creeping buttercup and field daisies may need the use of a selective weed killer. Moss is another problem, and generally means the drainage is poor. Raking out the moss by hand, or with an electric scarifyer

No salad is complete without the sharp refreshing taste of radishes

For variety in your salads, a welcome addition is spinach. Sow from March to mid April, thin early, and use these baby leaves in your mix. Rocket is another easily grown plant, to add that wonderful peppery taste to a green leaf mixture, spring onions give salad rolls an extra zing, and

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chives are a must with scrambled eggs. 2011 was a bad year for tomatoes, so this year, take extra precautions by siting French marigolds in pots around them. Planting basil nearby also helps, as it’s natural repellent to flies.

Soft Fruit in pots We all love soft fruit, and I’ve just discovered a new range which have a more upright habit, so gooseberries and blackcurrants can be potted up and sited on the patio. Try blackcurrant Noiroma, which is a very sweet, large fruited variety, and gooseberry Lady Sun, an almost thornless yellow variety, both available from Suttons Seeds.

The Flower Garden Dahlias are making a big comeback. Grown as part of the general planting scheme, the canny gardener knows that when perennials such as delphiniums and lupins are past their best, dahlias will be coming into their own, continuing to flower at full pitch until the first frost. The tall varieties can provide dramatic accents of colour at the back of the flower beds, and the smaller varieties add interest throughout the garden, and provide plenty of cut flowers for the house. Taller dahlias need to be staked, so position these before planting the tubers, to avoid any accidental damage. I’ve found that although the large flowered pompom varieties look sensational,

in a wet summer the flower heads retain too much rain and become too heavy for the stems, which bend under the weight. I generally go for the single flowering varieties, which also look more at home in a mixed herbaceous planting. Dahlias grow in almost any location, and on any soil, although, for best results, good drainage is essential. They can be obtained in almost any colour and any height, as singles, doubles, cactus or dwarf, and at the end of the year, the tubers can be lifted and stored for next year so they’re very economical to grow. And finally, don’t forget the pleasure of growing flowers from seed. As soon as the soil has warmed up, rake over odd bare patches and scatter a mixture of marigolds and cornflowers. Surround the sown area with a drizzle of sand, to remind yourself of where they were planted, and be rewarded with a wonderful splash of colour later in the summer. This works in pots as well. Love in the Mist seeds scattered amongst the geraniums, candytuft in troughs, and nasturtiums amongst the tomatoes. All you need is a packet of seeds and a little imagination, and sometimes, the results are spectacular. Gardening can be hard work, but consider the rewards. All those seeds producing food to eat, and beauty to enjoy. Is there anything that comes close? Happy gardening.

www.resindrives.co.uk !

THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50s

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F O OD

D RI NK

Rick Stein's Mediterranean Escapes Recipes Rick Stein’s passion for fresh well-sourced food has taken him from continent to continent, across magnificent shorelines and to the very best produce the coast has to offer. Rick remarks “My greatest enthusiasm in life has been finding dishes that change my perception of cooking, that reveal a whole new vista of flavour combination. I think we all enjoy that. I’m just someone with an enthusiasm for food and a curiosity that’s sent me sniffing around all over the place looking for lovely dishes in all corners of the globe” Taken from his book ‘Mediterranean Escapes’ (BBC Books, £20) here are three of Rick’s favourite recipes inspired by flavours of the Med.

SERVES 8-10 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for serving 1 large onion, chopped 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1 large leek, cleaned and cut into similar-sized pieces 250g dried borlotti beans, soaked overnight 450g waxy potatoes, such as Charlotte, peeled and cut into 1- cm dice 250g peeled carrots, cut into 1-cm dice 2 celery sticks, cut into 1- cm dice 1 ripe beef tomato, skinned and chopped Leaves from 1 small rosemary sprig, finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1.2kg smoked ham hock 250g green beans, trimmed and cut into 1- cm pieces 2 medium-sized courgettes, topped and tailed and cut into 1- cm dice 1/2 small cabbage (about 500g), core removed, thinly sliced 75g dried tagliatelle, broken into 5-cm pieces 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano A small handful of flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped Salt and freshly ground black pepper 24

Minestra: Corsican Vegetable Soup with Smoked Ham, Cabbage and Borlotti Beans Heat the oil in a really large pan, add the onion, garlic and leek, and cook gently for 3-4 minutes. Drain the soaked beans and add to the pan with the potatoes, carrots, celery, tomato, rosemary, dried oregano and 2 litres of water. Cut the ham hock in half lengthways to one side of the bone, add to the pan and press the pieces down well into the soup so they are totally submerged. Bring everything to a simmer and leave to cook, uncovered, for 1 hour. Then add the green beans, courgettes, cabbage, tagliatelle pieces and fresh oregano and simmer for a further 15-20 minutes until the soup is thick. Remove the pieces of ham hock, pull the meat off the bone, and pull it into small chunks. Discard the skin and bone. Stir the ham back into the soup with the parsley and approximately 500 ml more hot water to loosen it slightly and season with salt and pepper. Service in large warmed soup bowls, drizzled with a little more olive oil.

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SERVES 4 400g dried spaghetti 175-g piece smoked pancetta, rind removed 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped A handful of flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped 3 large eggs, beaten 50g finely grated pecorino sardo maturo Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Spaghetti Alla Carbonara: Pasta with Pecorino Sardo, Pancetta, Parsley and Eggs Bring 4.5 litres water to the boil in a large saucepan with 8 teaspoons salt. Add the spaghetti and cook for 9 minutes or until al dente. Meanwhile, cut the pancetta into lardons (short little strips), about 6mm wide. Heat a large, deep frying pan over a mediumhigh heat, add the oil and the pancetta and allow it to fry until lightly golden. Add the garlic and parsley and cook for a few seconds, then remove from the heat and set to one side. Drain the spaghetti well, tip into the frying pan with the pancetta, garlic and parsley, add the beaten eggs and half the grated pecorino cheese and toss together well. Season to taste with a little salt and black pepper. The heat from the spaghetti will be sufficient to partly cook the egg but still leave it moist and creamy. Take to the table and serve in warmed pasta bowls, sprinkled with the rest of the cheese.

SERVES 6-8 2 x 1-kg shoulders of lamb, each one cut into 3 large chunks through the bone (get your butcher to do this) 2kg waxy maincrop potatoes, such as Desiree, peeled and cut into 5-6cm chunks 1 head of garlic, outside papery skins removed, cut in half through the middle 1 tablespoon dried oregano, Greek if possible 3-6 fresh bay leaves 2 tablespoons fresh oregano or marjoram leaves 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling Juice of 2 large lemons Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Kleftiko: Slow-cooked Lamb with Garlic, Oregano, Lemon and Potatoes Preheat the oven to 1900C/Gas Mark 5. Combine the meat, potatoes and garlic in a large ovenproof casserole dish. Sprinkle with the dried and fresh herbs, olive oil, lemon juice, 100ml water, 2 teaspoons of salt and plenty of black pepper and mix together well, then nestle the pieces of meat down in among the potatoes. Drizzle with a little more oil. Cover the casserole tightly with foil and a well-fitting lid and bake for 3 hours until the meat is falling off the bone. However, check after a couple of hours to make sure it doesnâ€™t need a little more water.

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First Impressions to the Finish Touch + quality decorating + + co-ordinated accessories + + the complete service +

Successors to Home Action Wirral

the organisation formed to give certainty when having work carried out The problems caused by untrained (and worse) workman can be devastating and the potential for this to increase may become greater as unemployment rises and bogus claims made. This new service is ‘re-introduced’ to again offer the safer alternative’’ declared Colin Slater Founder of Home Action Wirral & former Head of Liverpool City Council Estates Department. “Home Action Wirral was formed as an organisation to combat ‘cowboy builders and decorators’ and ‘callers at your door’. It is out of retirement solely and exclusively to recommend its successor First Impressions’’ It is available to all residents of Wirral and the immediate surrounding areas of Cheshire and North Wales and it concentrates its entire efforts on all aspects of decorating and associated work thus providing a specialised focused service. • Home Action Wirral ethos and principals remain firmly in place. • The same highest standards of skill and quality workmanship apply

• No payment is requested until the work is satisfactorily completed • Passwords are used on initial visits • Free written specifications detailing the work to be carried out are provided • Charges are competitive for the services and protections provided • Every endeavour is made to ensure agreed start and completion dates are met Additionally, a new and demand-led feature called Finishing Touch is incorporated. This service offers: making, fitting, and altering, curtains, covers, cushions and accessories etc. to meet changes of colours and style resulting from new decorations. ‘First Impression to the Finishing Touch’ is recommended by the founder of Home Action Wirral as not only conveniently and economically combining quality decorating with matching accessories, but also combining skill with trust and integrity,, “It can he said be truly called the new- safer concept and the Complete Decorating Service.’’

Decorators are highly skilled, courteous, time-served, long experienced, tidy, who treat your home with respect Complimented with a new service: making, fitting, altering, curtains, cushions, drapes, throws etc. co-ordinated accessories to meet style and colours of new decorations

Specialising in all Domestic Property

plus retirement homes, nurseries, schools, care comes, play groups, residential homes, health centres, public buildings etc. where Trust Expertise and Integrity are paramount

Phone First Impressions Husband and Wife team Mark & Debbie 07742 691 048 or 07906 768 822 Building on the principles of Home Action Wirral

Receive FREE written estimate and, if acceptable, book now through to December 2012 (Prices fixed as at November 2011) Please note all previous Home Action Clients will receive a discount of 7.5% from labour costs on all work ordered until August 2013. Please retain this advert and quote PS49

Local firm helps recoup financial loss

Financial claims company has recovered over £300,000 of mis-sold investment for clients - and it’s just the tip of the iceberg... Financial claims company Credit Claims in Bolton which has already reclaimed millions of pounds for its clients for mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) is now turning its attention to the mis-selling of Investments. The company first established in 2008 has recovered over £300,000 for clients in only 6 months. Joint owner and Director Ajaz Khan and Senior Financial Claims Specialist Mike Jordan, who has worked in senior banking positions for 20 years, head the team of fully qualified professionals. Mike said “We look at the advice given to clients when they first invested their money and assess whether the financial loss they have suffered was in fact based upon this advice being inappropriate. “A claim may come in if the investment has been sold without a prior full investigation of the client’s circumstances, leading to significant financial loss for the investor.” One successful claim was for 64 year-old William Thornley of Bolton.

Proactive investigation When Mr Thornley received a cash windfall from his late mother’s estate he wanted to invest it wisely and safely. At the time he was working as a driver and his wife Frances, then 54, was unable to work due to ongoing and severe health problems. Mr Thornley contacted his bank and a financial adviser they suggested he invest a lump sum over five years. Mr Thornley said: “I explained to him that we definitely didn’t want to gamble with this money as it was very important to us, being from my mother’s estate. It was meant to secure our future.’ The financial adviser assured Mr Thornley that it was not a gamble, and not in stocks and shares, but in ‘commercial lettings.’ He also promised interest every quarter and that the capital would grow. As Mr Thornley was approaching retirement he felt this was a safe move and invested £50,000. However, when the couple got their statement 12 months later, they realised that their investment

had fallen in value by £4,000. When he went back to see the financial adviser. Mr Thornley was reassured that the investment would ‘come back up again’, so he left it for another 12 months. He said: “After a further 12 months we were shocked to discover that the value had now fallen to just over £31,000. We just couldn’t believe it.” Unable to get hold of the financial adviser for a further fortnight, SATISFIED the couple who were extremely William Th ornley upset decided to cut their losses happy he fo und CreditC was and cash in their investment rather laims than lose more money. By chance, Mrs Thornley spotted CreditClaims’ Business Development Director Ajaz advert in a local magazine and Mr Khan concluded: “It really is the tip Thornley rang the office. Mike Jordan of the iceberg, there are thousands explained that the couple have a of bank customers who have lost claim and started investigations. The money through bad investment result was that the company was advice. HSBC was recently fined able to arrange a refund of £21,624. £10.5m for failings in this area and that follows on from fines for “Needless to say, we were Barclays & RBS. The banks need to absolutely overjoyed,” said Mr look more closely at the risk profiling Thornley. “Without CreditClaims we of clients and cross-check the advice would have had to just write of the being given by its advisers.” money for good.”

HAVE YOU LOST MONEY ON AN INVESTMENT PRODUCT? Was it sold to you by Abbey, Barclays, Alliance & Leicester, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, RBS or any other bank? Investments sold by major banks can be very risky, if you’ve lost money and the risks were not properly explained, you could be due £000s in compensation even if you no longer have the investment. FOR A FREE ASSESSMENT CONTACT US NOW ON

01204 363979

We’re already helping many people claim back an average payout of £15,000

308 Manchester Road, Bolton BL3 2QS www.creditclaimsonline.co.uk Credit Claims Limited is regulated by the Ministry of Justice in respect of regulated claims management activities. It’s registration is recorded on the website www.claimsregulation.gov.uk l

No Upfront Fees

No Win No Fee

Advisers with specialist experience in Investment Advice

Need a New Hip or Knee? A return to mobility ... IF there’s one thing that has helped keep us fit and on our feet in the last 50 years it’s the increase in the technology and availability of hip and knee replacements. Hip replacements began to be performed commonly in the 1960s, with knee and ankle replacements since the 1970s. In England and Wales each year, around 160,000 of us are able to enjoy a new lease of life and mobility thanks to our new hip and knee joints and, if you’ll forgive the pun, ankles are quickly catching up. For many people, hip or knee surgery not only signals a return to mobility but usually leaves behind grinding daily pain. If hip pain is so severe it interferes with quality of life including sleep, medication is not working and everyday tasks are difficult, it might well be the right time for a hip replacement. Most adults having them are over 65, and women tend to need them more than men. The most common reasons for hip replacement are: osteoarthritis (when the connecting tissue between the joint is damaged, causing the bones to rub together painfully), rheumatoid arthritis (when the immune system attacks the

lining of the joint resulting in pain and stiffness), septic arthritis (when the joint becomes infected), Paget’s disease (affecting bone growth), bone tumours and other joint injuries.

raised toilet seat (the latter two can be loaned by your occupational therapist). Equipment to help you get dressed safely and without bending too much is also available.

Osteoporosis can sometimes cause hip joint fractures which need a replacement, as can late developmental dysplasia (which prevents the ball and socket hip joint from developing properly).

Before your surgery, you’ll visit the hospital’s Pre-operative Assessment Clinic to ensure you’re fit for surgery and that you understand the nature of the operation. There will be medical checks like blood and urine tests and you’ll be screened for MRSA as well as possibly having further x-rays.

Always speak to your GP about hip problems because they will know your history and examine you, and may want to have an x-ray to confirm their diagnosis. Your overall health is important before any major surgery, so your GP will want you to be as fit as possible beforehand. Breathing exercises will help to prevent chest complications, foot and ankle exercises maintain circulation and leg exercises aid maintenance of muscle strength. Before surgery, a physiotherapist will also discuss your rehabilitation programme and how to use walking aids like crutches and sticks. After surgery, you’ll need some help at home for up to six weeks and you won’t be allowed to bend down to your feet so you’ll need some assistance with washing. You’ll also need help with the shopping for a while. You’ll need a suitable armchair to sit in, a high stool for use in the kitchen and a

This is also an opportunity to discuss your surgery and what happens afterwards and talk about the aids you’ll need to help recovery. At some stage, your written consent for the surgery will also be taken. Patients are usually admitted either on the day of surgery or the day before. Your leg will be prepared for surgery with the correct side marked, and you’ll be seen by the anesthetist who will discuss the different types of anaesthesia. The most common are: a general anaesthetic when you are unconscious, a spinal anaesthetic where you go numb from the waist downwards, or an epidural anaesthetic which reduces all feeling in the lower body. The surgery replaces both the natural socket and the rounded ball at the top of the thigh bone with artificial parts. The surgeon will remove the upper part of the thigh bone (femur) and the natural socket for the head of the femur is hollowed out. A plastic or ceramic socket is fitted into the hollow in the pelvis and a short, angled metal shaft with a smooth ball on its upper end is placed in to the hollow of the thigh bone. The plastic cup and the artificial bone head may be pressed into place or fixed with acrylic cement. Hip resurfacing is an alternative to replacement and involves replacing the diseased or damaged surfaces in the

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

H E A LT H joint with metal parts. It involves less bone being removed, so less implant is needed.

Most candidates are over 65, and just over half are women.

On the day of the hip operation, you’ll be given a pair of surgical stockings to be worn day and night, to help prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis. You return to the ward, or recovery room, lying on your back probably with a triangular pillow between your legs to keep your legs apart and protect the new joint.

The process is very like hip surgery - starting with your GP and his assessment of you, and continuing through x-rays, the Preoperative Assessment Clinic, admission to the hospital and anaesthesia.

For both hip and knee replacement surgery, you may have a catheter inserted into your bladder to help drain urine You will possibly have an intravenous line in your arm, and probably be given oxygen – all of which are normal for major operations like these. Some Surgeons use wound drains but not always. You may be started on an anticoagulant; some consultants use mechanical devices called calf compressors which wrap around the legs and blow up with air intermittently to encourage blood circulation in the leg. Expect to begin mobilising on the day of surgery or the next day once the wound drains have been removed. The physiotherapist will help with mobility and teach you how to get in and out of bed correctly to prevent any damage to your new hip. You’ll be prescribed medication to control the pain and it’s important to take it regularly initially as progress is better if your pain is under control. As your confidence and leg control improve, you’ll progress to walking with crutches or sticks – all with physio help – and probably be in hospital three to five days. You may need to use your walking aids for up to six weeks but this varies from person to person. Hip replacements may last 20 to 30 years, sometimes longer. A damaged, worn or diseased knee – arthritis is again the chief culprit - is an ideal candidate for knee replacement surgery. There are two major types of surgery involved – total knee replacement and partial knee replacement depending on the amount of damage. And, as for hip surgery, candidates need to be well enough for both a major operation and rehabilitation afterwards.

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Surgery involves removing the worn ends of the bones in your knee joint and replacing them with metal and plastic parts. In total knee replacement, both sides of the knee joint are replaced in a procedure lasting one to two hours. You’ll begin moving about either the same day or the next day, once the wound drains have been removed, and the physio will help with mobility. Like hip surgery, you’ll be discharged once you are able to get up and down the stairs safely and have regular physio afterwards. With proper care, the replacement knee can last over to 20 years. Unlike hip or knee arthritis, most ankle arthritis is post traumatic. The commonest causes for ankle replacement is following severe ankle fractures or recurrent severe ankle sprains. The worn out joint surfaces of the ankle are replaced with shaped metal and plastic components to allow continued movement of the ankle. There are several different types of ankle replacement available.

Awaiting Orthopaedic Treatment? Are you suffering from joint pain, fed up with being on a waiting list or concerned about the standards of care and cleanliness in hospital? Nuffield Health The Grosvenor Hospital in Chester has an orthopaedic service which features a team of specialist Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons, highly trained nursing staff, experienced physiotherapists and consultant radiologists.

consultant believes MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), X-ray or ultrasound would be most appropriate to support your diagnosis; you will be able to take advantage of highly sophisticated technology within a comprehensive hospital setting. Treatment at Nuffield Health The Grosvenor Hospital, Chester is available to all, whether you have private medical Insurance or are looking to self pay for your treatment.

The hospital offers all of our patients: • • • • • • •

Flexibility of appointment times and priority referral to treatment Choice of Consultant Consultant-led clinics Diagnostic Imaging Refurbished Physiotherapy and fitness facilities Excellent Nursing Care Safe and clean surroundings and low infection rates

If you have any questions or would like to enquire about any of our services please call our Customer Services Advisor on 01244 684305 or e -mail chester.enquiries@ nuffieldhealth.com www.nuffieldhealth.com Nuffield Health The Grosvenor Hospital, Wrexham Road, Chester, CH4 7QP.

The hospital can provide rapid access to diagnostic imaging, so whether your 29

Why wait? Rapid access to Orthopaedic Surgery.

You don’t need to stay in pain. Ask your GP to refer you to one of our Consultants in Hip & Knee Surgery at your local Nuffield Health The Grosvenor Hospital in Chester. In most cases we will be able to arrange an appointment within 2 weeks and if surgery is required this will usually be within 2 weeks. • Mr R Banim • Mr V Bobic (Knee Surgeon only) • Mr M Chawda

• Mr A Phillipson • Mr J Rao

• Mr R Thonse • Mr JP Whittaker

Don’t just go private, go personal. We welcome insured and self pay patients. Finance options are available.* For more information on orthopaedic surgery, call Nuffield Health Chester Hospital on 01244 684343.

We have a range of expert Physiotherapy Services to meet your specific needs. Standard Services: Joint pains l Muscle strains l Ligament sprains l Joint replacements l Back pain l Neck pain l Acute and chronic sports injury management l Post operative orthopaedic rehabilitation l

Specialist Services: Women’s & Men’s Health Services l Vestibular rehabilitation (dizziness) l Acupuncture for pain relief l Jaw & Facial Pain service l Pilates: APPI registered Pilates instructors l Back Class rehabilitation l

Clinic’s open Monday-Friday 8.00am-7.30pm & Saturday 9.00am-12pm Should you require any further information or wish to book an appointment, please contact the department and we will be happy to assist.

01244 684314. !

10% Discount on Physiotherapy* 10% Discount on self pay physiotherapy treatments. (Voucher valid March 2012 - July 2012).

*Voucher needs to be produced at initial appointment.

OUT & ABOUT Just One Look .... at 1960s Chester 2 April 2012 to 29 June 2012 HERITAGE CENTRE BRIDGE STREET CHESTER CH1 1NW

88 acres of gardens, 400ft Camellia Walk, Carriage Museum, Katie the Steam Train, Falconry Displays, Gun dog displays, family history room and Easter egg trail. App proceeds to various charities. Entrance via Eccleston/Aldford/Belgrave gates.

Contact Elaine Pierce Jones 01244 972210 elaine.pierce-jones@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Timings 10.30am - 5pm Cost Adults £6, Children £1.50

Cost free. Welcome to Chester 50 years ago, a time of destruction and construction in the city, of youth culture, teenagers and pop music. Many older people were alarmed by these changing days, but the young embraced the Swinging 60s as exciting and innovative times. This photographic exhibition looks at the changing face of the city, of what we have lost and gained, and how people enjoyed the new freedoms the age brought. It was a time that many of us remember with affection and nostalgia.

Easter Boat Gathering and Sea Shanty Festival

6 April 2012 to 9 April 2012 Boat Museum, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 4FW. Contact Boat Museum 01513734373 www.nwm.org.uk Our traditional gathering of canal boats and sea shanty musicians returns for another year. It’s a colourful weekend of traditional canal crafts, music, boats, demonstrations and more - look out for full details on our website.

Eaton Hall Garden Open Day

Local History Fair at Greasby Library 22 April 2012 - 10:00am Friends of Greasby Library presents A Local History Fair Greasby Library, Greasby Road, Greasby, CH49 3AT. Contact (0151) 677 5714 greasby@wirral-libraries.net Cost: FREE Lots of local history stalls, local history walks by Jim O’Neill,local history information from Wirral Libraries, demonstrations of the “19th Century newspaper” and “Cheshire Tithe map” websites and Family history information.

Wirral Flower and Vegetable Show Birkenhead Park 11 August 2012 - 12:00pm - 12 August 2012 - 5:00pm Birkenhead Park, Park Drive, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 4HY Contact 0151 652 5197 birkenheadpark@wirral.gov.uk Cost: Free The fifth annual show for all who grow flowers, fruit and vegetables on the Wirral to show their wares. Classes also for children.

8 April 2012 Eaton Hall Gardens, Eccleston, Chester CH4 9ET Contact Eaton Estate Office 01244 684400

Dogs allowed on a lead.

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A new smile is just a day away! Problems with dentures or loose teeth? Our “New Day New Smile” replaces those troublesome dentures and loose teeth in just 1 day! A “New Day New Smile” is created by placing just 4-6 dental implants into the jaw and a fixed bridge attached, so you can leave our surgery with a smile on your face!

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For more information on other treatments we can help with, please visit our website at www.buckleadc.com Buckle Advanced Dental Care Hilltop Court, Thornton Common Road, Thornton Hough, Wirral, CH63 4JT Tel: 0151 353 8943 Email: info@buckleadc.com

The Secret Gardens of Oxton Oxton Conservation Area, Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside Sunday, 13th May 2012 10.00am to 5.00pm This is the 12th annual opportunity to view more than twenty-five private gardens in the pleasant conservation village of Oxton. We know you’ll be charmed by the range of gardens on display all in walking distance of each other. From tiny courtyards and front garden plots to spacious borders and landscaped lawns, these are the creations of local gardeners who generously open their gates to raise funds for charity. Secret Gardens is organised by The Oxton Society with help from local charities who all benefit from the profits. The event has become as much

associated with the splendid gardens as with the enticing range of refreshments from local pubs, restaurants and street stalls; the live music, strolling actors and musicians and the arts & crafts and plants for sale. Children’s activities include Punch & Judy, fairground organ, pony rides and face painting. A great day out for everyone. Cost: £6.00 in advance or £8.00 on the day includes free car parking and an eight page programme with map of the gardens, facilities and events. Accompanied under-18s free. Tickets: How to get event passports: Advance purchase information (see Further Information below). Purchase on the day at the free car park

National Waterways Museum South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 4FW Open; daily April to Oct, 10am to 5pm. Nov to March, Weekends only, 10am to 5pm weekends and school holidays, other days museum partially open. Closed Dec 25 to Jan 1. Shop and Café open all year, daily 10am to 4pm.

Further information: www.oxtonsociety.org.uk see “Secret Gardens”. Information Line: 07963 248 268 .

• North West Classic Car and Craft Fair - June 16th and 17th 2012 • Manchester Ship Canal Cruises July 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th 2012 • Horses at Work – Sunday 5th August 2012 • Beer Festival October 12th -14th 2012

www.nwm.org.uk

Prices: Adult £6, conc £5, child (5-16) £4, under 5s and Season Ticket holders free With its delightful waterside setting, flotillas of historic boats and fascinating displays housed in a fine collection of Victorian buildings, the National Waterways Museum is a great day out whatever the weather.

UNLOCK THE WONDERS

OF OUR WATERWAYS

Walk across towering locks, watch swans and wagtails beside the canal basin and explore a world of warehouses, docks, stables and pump houses. Our collection of narrow boats, barges, ice breakers and more is the best in the world. Find out about the entrepreneurs, engineers and navvies who created the world’s first great man-made transport network and uncover Ellesmere Port’s pivotal role in the North West’s great industrial revolution Take a boat trip, pay a visit to our blacksmith, watch a narrow boat come in to moor and swop stories later in the Waterside Café. There’s lots for all the family to enjoy at National Waterways Museum, plus check our website for details of special events and school holiday family fun activities. Highlight of the spring is the Easter Boat Gathering. The Easter event takes place from April 6-9 and sees a gathering of canal boats and sea shanty musicians across the museum. It’s a colourful weekend of traditional canal crafts, music, boats, demonstrations, children’s activities and more – look out for full details on our website. • Warriors and Washerwomen: History Fair - May 12th and 13th 2012 • Saturday 2nd June 2012 – Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Street Party

www.nwm.org.uk

Flotillas of boats, historic canal docks and fascinating collections and displays. PLUS waterside café, boat trips and loads for all the family to do.

Call. 0151 355 5017 South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 4FW 2 mins from M53, Jnct 9. Chester 15 mins & Liverpool 25 mins

Angela Close - Be autician and Alternative Thera pist

Open your mind to alternative therapies WHEN it comes to treating our ailments these days most people have a more open mind about what can help them and may combine traditional medicine and alternative therapies with great success. Sensible care, as always, needs to be employed in anything health-related and sometimes your GP’s opinion may be needed to check if any particular therapies are not recommended for you or your condition. However, there are plenty of therapy options available across the UK and, reassuringly, governing bodies to ensure standards of practice. There are also millions of satisfied customers of alternative – or complementary – therapies who insist these have been successful in dealing with health problems ranging from asthma and migraine to digestive problems and muscle strains. Even though for many of us in the Western world this is a relatively new approach - and there are certainly sceptics about their effectiveness - there is evidence that many of these alternative therapies have been successfully in use around the world for centuries. Acupuncture, for example, is an ancient Chinese medical procedure involving the insertion and manipulation

of needles at more than 1,000 points in the human body. It’s used to relieve pain during surgery or in rheumatic conditions and also to treat conditions varying from anxiety and depression, to arthritis, asthma, eczema, sports’ injuries, migraine and even gastro-intestinal problems. The word “acupuncture” means “needle piercing” and the skin is penetrated by special needles in a painless process which is meant to allow the body to transmit energy or qi (pronounced chee) through pathways or meridians to heal and promote wellbeing. A common alternative therapy for which you don’t necessarily have to have an ailment but which certainly helps combat stress and makes you feel better is Aromatherapy. This is a relaxing treatment using massage techniques together with blended essential oils. Usually, explained beautician and alternative therapist Angela Close, there is a consultation prior to treatment “to try and build a picture of which oils would be beneficial to the individual – some have anti-bacterial effects, anti-fungal and anti-viral. With the use of massage, the oils penetrate the skin usually after about 20 minutes and have a very calming effect, soothing the mind, body and spirit.” Aromatherapy can be used for a range of physiological and psychological conditions including anxiety, stress

For more information, go to the Complementary Therapists Association 34 www.50plusmagazine.co.uk at www.ctha.com or the Association of Natural Medicine at www.associationnaturalmedicine.co.uk

and insomnia, muscular aches and pains, headaches, digestive ailments and menstrual problems. It’s also gentle enough to be used on people of all ages. Added Angela: “Aromatherapy is not a cure for disease; its most potent effect helps relax the mind and body, relieves pain and restores the body’s systems to a state of balance in which healing can best take place.” Some people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease have found relief and help from a holistic method of healing called Bowen Therapy which is a hands-on technique exponents say prompts the body to re-set and heal itself. Marie Hurst is a qualified Bowen therapist, and she explains: “It’s like acupuncture without any needles – it can be very relaxing although it may not suit everyone. However, I’ve treated several people with Parkinson’s over the years and they have become very relaxed because Bowen helps the body release stress at a very deep level. Some have also reported a reduction in their tremors during treatment and a sound night’s sleep afterwards.” Some alternative therapies seem unconnected to the ailments they may treat. Reflexology, for instance, involves application of pressure to the feet and hands using specific thumb, finger and hand techniques to try to effect physical changes elsewhere in the body. The technique dates back as far as the Egyptians and is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that are said to reflect an image of the body on the hands and feet. The purpose is to create relaxation, reduce pain, improve blood flow and postoperative recovery and aid mental health by interrupting stress signals and re-setting the body’s balance.

a feeling of wellbeing. You lie on your side on a heated bed in a peaceful environment, and the hollow candle is placed in the ear with the other end lit. “Certainly, some of my clients have found it very soothing and pain-relieving,” said Angela Close, who has been using the therapy for more than 20 years. Another ancient healing method is Reiki, a Japanese word meaning Universal Life Energy which relates to a system of natural healing. Its ideology is that natural healing flows in a powerful and concentrated form through the hands of the Reiki-giver. The recipient simply lies on a couch or bed and relaxes comfortably. There is no need to remove any clothing, and the practitioner gently places his or her hands in a sequence of positions which cover the whole of the body. Each position is held for several minutes and, in some of them, the hand is held closely to the body rather than actually on it. “It involves your body, mind and soul,” added Angela. “Reiki balances the energy in the body, heals holistically, relieves pain and relaxes and reduces stress, among many other things.”

Some businesses now bring exponents of Indian Head Massage into the workplace to help stressed out staff to relax and ultimately perform better. Certainly, it’s a safe, simple yet effective therapy that provides relief from aches and pains and stress – and promotes hair growth! The head, neck and shoulders are important energy centres within the body. “If you’re feeling stressed or angry, tension tends to accumulate in these areas,” stated Angela. “The tension can with your me later show up as a stiff neck and shoulders, eyestrain and to the h even hair-loss.” (selected stores) Indian head massage involves working with a firm and with your medicines gentle rhythm to help unknot blockages and relieve the uncomfortable build-up of tension. Fans say it also works on an(selected emotional level, calming the spirit, promoting relaxation stores) (sel and banishing stress.

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Making life Making life a little easier! a little easier! Our Pharmacies offer aoffer wide of services including: Vittoria Healthcare Limited a range wide range of services including: Vittoria Healthcare Limited offer a wide range of services including:

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Manor Pharmacy - Hoylake/Meols Making life Greasby Pharmacy - Greasby Friendly Advice & Support • Help with Stopping Smoking • Help with Stopping Smoking Healthcare in your Community Irby Pharmacy - Irby aContraception little easier!• Emergency ContraceptionWillaston Pharmacy - Willaston • Emergency Weight Management

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Manor Pharmacy Hoylake/Meols ........................... 632 0070 Manor -Pharmacy - Hoylake/Meols - 632 0070 Vittoria - Birkenhead - 647 8679 Greasby Pharmacy - Pharmacy Greasby .................................. 678 3350 Greasby Pharmacy - Greasby - 678 3350 Irby Pharmacy Irby ................................................ 648 1498 Irby Pharmacy - Irby - 648 1498 Birkenhead Pharmacy - Birkenhead - 653 7720 Willaston Pharmacy - Willaston ............................... 327 5110 Willaston Pharmacy Willaston 327 5110 Victoria Central Pharmacy - Wallasey - 639339 0732 Westminster Park Pharmacy - Little Sutton .................... 3382 Westminster Park Pharmacy - Little Sutton - 339 3382 Westminster Park Pharmacy - Westminster Park...01244 Wallasey Village Pharmacy - Wallasey - 638 677000 2392 Owens Chemist - Saltney .........................................01244 680410

Egremont Pharmacy - Wallasey - 639 5016 Blackheath Pharmacy - Leasowe - 604 1600

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Manor Pharmacy - Hoylake/Meols - 632 0070 Greasby Pharmacy - Greasby - 678 3350 Irby Pharmacy - Irby - 648 1498 Willaston Pharmacy - Willaston - 327 5110 www.50plusmagazine.co.uk Westminster Park Pharmacy - Little Sutton - 339 3382

Manor Pharmacy - Hoylake/Meols - 632 0070 Greasby Pharmacy - Greasby - 678 3350 Irby Pharmacy - Irby - 648 1498

If you’re planning for the future it can seem confusing at times. Perhaps you wish to pass on your wealth to the next generation, or maybe you want to ensure you retain as much control as possible over your financial affairs in your later years. Local law firm Hillyer McKeown understand the practical and personal approach to handling these matters. Here, Mark Brown, Head of Wills Trusts and Estates at Hillyer McKeown answers a question asked by many:

Can I give my house away to my children? On many occasions I get asked for advice on how you can give away your home to your children or other relatives. In many of these cases the homeowner asking the question is hoping to avoid their house being taken into account when they enter nursing or residential care. So I thought it would be useful to give some advice for those of you planning for your future. The law states that a person cannot give away property (whether a house, investments, or cash) in order to deprive themselves of assets which could otherwise be used to fund their own care. When a person enters into nursing or residential care they are subject to a detailed medical and financial assessment of their circumstances. This will reveal whether the person being assessed has given away their home, when that happened and to whom the house was transferred. Depending on when the transfer took place and what caused the transfer to happen, Social Services may be able to challenge the transfer. There is no fixed time period for this, instead it will be up to Social Services to determine whether the transfer was made

at a time when the individual realistically expected that they may need residential care in the future. Nursing care can in some circumstances be exempt from such rules in that in serious cases the individual has a right to nursing care free at the point of delivery. However, this is a complex area and whether a person requires free nursing care is often a point of dispute with Social Services. There may also be inheritance Tax consequences for individuals who have transferred their house while retaining the right to live in it (caught under HM Revenue and Customs rules as either a “gift with reservation” or a “pre-owned asset”). Whether the rules apply is dependent on the particular circumstances but in all circumstances I would recommend that independent legal and financial advice be taken.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your specific circumstances with Mark please contact him on: 01244 318131 or visit our website www.hillyermckeown.co.uk

Hillyer McKeown Solicitors Serving the local community for over 35 years For all your personal legal or business needs Here to help when you need us most

Conveyancing and Residential Property / Family and Divorce / Wills, Probate and Trust advice / Care home funding advice / Commercial Legal support Wirral 0151 645 4255

Chester 01244 345 551

2 Church Rd, Bebington, Wirral CH63 7PH

Murlain House, Union Street, Chester CH1 1QP

Wrexham 01978 229 346

www.hillyermckeown.co.uk

The Racecourse, Wrexham Football Club, Mold Road, Wrexham LL11 2AH

WIRRAL

Financial Help with Rent and Council Tax Payments Housing Benefit This is financial help towards paying your rent. Working, unemployed, disabled or retired people who have savings of less than £16,000 can claim it. If you are receiving Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit) you can have more than £16,000 and still qualify for maximum help. We will ignore the first £10,000 of your capital if you have reached pensionable age, and £6,000 if you are of working age.

Council Tax Benefit This is financial help towards paying your Council Tax bill. Retired, working, unemployed and disabled people who are liable to pay Council Tax can apply. Couples make one claim based on both their incomes.

Each year in Wirral thousands of ££££’s go unclaimed! Did you know: • You don’t have to receive any other state benefits to claim it. • You may still be entitled even if you already receive a discount on your Council Tax. • If you have over £16,000, but have an adult living with you, (other than your partner) who is on a low income, you may still qualify for help. This is called Second Adult Rebate. • If you decide to take a lump sum as your pension, you may still be able to get help • If you are working, self employed or receive a pension you may also get help.

If you think you might qualify please telephone our Call Centre on 0151‑606 2002 or see a member of staff in any of our One Stop Shops. If you are a pensioner your claim may be treated as being made earlier, up to a maximum of 3 months. You can find out if you qualify by trying the Benefit Calculator on our website @ www.wirral.gov.uk Or email us at housingbenefits@wirral.gov.uk

E- Citizen If you have access to the internet from your home or local library, you can view your Council Tax account details for instalments, payments and any Council Tax Benefit you are receiving. See our website at www.wirral.gov.uk

If you are in any doubt – apply! It won’t cost you anything and it could save you money

Thomas McMullan Serving the Community Since 1981

Family Funeral Services “Providing Service Beyond Expectations with Integrity, Honour and Respect” ~ Personal Attention Valley Lodge Funeral Home

f icult time. years, Families have trusted Thomas McMullan’s to serve and care for of theFor service their loved ones, we promise to provide excellence in service and compassion y and during ex actly this most difficult time of loss. Our experience can guide you in determining which service suits your family’s needs. We are committed to arranging a funeral that is most befitting to your loved one, and we strive to celebrate their life in a meaningful way.

Our telephone is always answered personally and we are available 24 hours a day, every day. Appointed contract Funeral Director for Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Wirral Borough Council Social Services

Tel: 0151 653 4173

The Valley Lodge Funeral Home Borough Road, Birkenhead CH42 9JE. www.thomasmcmullanfuneralservices.co.uk

Funeral Plans from Thomas McMullan Funeral Services

Peace of mind for you and your loved ones A funeral plan provides peace of mind for you and those you care about. You make the arrangements in advance, specify your wishes and take care of the costs. We recommend funeral plans from Golden Charter, the UK’s largest independent plan provider. With a Golden Charter plan you’ll benefit from: • • • •

Paying at today’s prices for a service you may not require for many years A guarantee of nothing more to pay for our services A choice of a range of plans – with the option to personalise your own The reassurance that your wishes will be carried out, sparing your loved ones uncertainty and distress

Taking out a funeral plan is one of the most thoughtful decisions you could make. To find out more about Golden Charter funeral plans from Thomas McMullan Funeral Services, please return the coupon below, phone us, or call in. Mr/Mrs/Ms

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Send to: Thomas McMullan Funeral Services, Valley Lodge, Borough Road, BIRKENHEAD, Merseyside CH42 9JE

(0151) 653 4173

Transform your driveway For almost 8 years, resindrives.co.uk have been installing bespoke resin driveways, patios and paths across the UK, they are a team of consummate professionals who pride themselves on quality at a fair price.

Achieve Stunning Results In the last 12 months they have grown considerably in staff and premises, moving to a bigger warehouse in which they are constructing a state of the art external show room to give the public an understanding of what resindrives. co.uk are all about. We believe in looking after our environment and are taking every step we can to lower our carbon footprint, all our resin drives are made up of natural stone and 100% organic resin, which not only look fantastic, but it’s as strong and durable as concrete without the heavy cost to the planet. Mr Richards, Director said “We welcome anybody to get in touch with us if they would like to find out more about this amazing product”

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Tel: 0800 007 5733 Unit 1, South Bradford Trading Estate, Brighouse Road, Low Moor, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD12 0NQ

www.resindrives.co.uk

...your workmen were all brilliant, and made a lovely job for us, and everybody admires it... Mr & Mrs Hawksworth

Why Resin over concrete, block paving or tarmac? That’s simple, our product naturally drains water through the finished surface which means no more puddles, it is also resistant to weeds, hence giving it all round better traction for tyres and for walking on and last but not least, it’s up to 10 times more eco friendly than concrete.

• INSTANT KERB APPEAL • FULLY GUARANTEED • ULTIMATE STRENGTH & DURABILITY