Reader's Digest UK Oct 2014 by rduk_archive

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R E A D E R ’ S D I G E S T

OCTOBER 2014

| S M A L L

‘YOU’RE ONE OF MY EARLIEST MEMORIES!’

A N D

SINGER HOLLY JOHNSON REVEALS HIS FAVOURITE MAGAZINE PAGE 22

P E R F E C T L Y

BEST OF BRITISH: HAUNTED PLACES

DOCTORS ON TOUR

PAGE 56

PAGE 28

I N F O R M E D

GAP YEARS FOR GROWN-UPS PAGE 78

MINUTES FROM DEATH: ONE COUPLE’S STORY PAGE 36

| O C T O B E R

LAUGH! ............................................................140 BOOKS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE .................127 WORD POWER .................................................131 IF I RULED THE WORLD ..................................76 BEAT THE CARTOONIST ................................144

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readersdigest.co.uk

OCTOBER 2014

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EXCLUSIVE POLL: WHICH COUNTRIES DO WE TRUST? PAGE 68

29/08/2014 16:09

Contents october 2014

features

Reasons To be Cheerful James Brown’s bundle of joy is ruling the roost Entertainment

22 Holly Johnson: “i remember” The former Frankie Goes To Hollywood frontman on his music career, fitting in and meeting Andy Warhol

COver Ph oto: © Nils Jorgensen/Rex

Health

Feel like you’re being watched? We investigate some of the spookiest places in the UK

do i trust you?

Travel & Adventure

grown-up gappers It’s never too late to take your gap year. Meet the adults who are proving the point

Inspire

56 Best of British: Haunted places

100-word story competition

Our exclusive poll reveals what us Europeans really think of each other. You may be surprised…

minutes from death One ordinary evening, Ron Maclean gets a phone call he’ll never forget

It’s back! Enter your trim tale into our popular short-story contest and win £500

medical pros on the road We meet the doctors and therapists keeping our favourite touring performers in rude health

The Heart of Arabia Uncovering the culture and traditions at the core of ultramodern Abu Dhabi 10•2014

editor’s letter

IN EVERY ISSUE 4 12

See the World Differently Over to You Entertainment

What’s On in October Health

46 52

Advice: Susannah Hickling Column: Dr Max Pemberton

If I Ruled the World: Caroline Casey

Inspire

Column: Catherine Cole

104

Column: Jasmine Birtles

110

30-minute recipe and ideas from Rachel Walker

114

Tips for your outside space

116

Olly Mann’s gadgets

118

Georgina Yates on how to look your best

122

October Fiction: James Walton’s recommended reads Books That Changed My Life: Andrew Roberts

Travel & Adventure Money

Food & Drink

Home & Garden Technology

Fashion & Beauty

Books

127

Fun & Games

128 131 134 140 144

You Couldn’t Make It Up Word Power Brain Teasers Laugh! Beat the Cartoonist

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as summer draws to a close and everyone

slopes home from their holidays, I usually find myself thinking about all the exotic travelling I’d do if pesky things such as work didn’t intrude. But if, like me, you never took a gap year as a teenager, there’s no need to despair. As our “Grown-Up Gappers” makes clear, it’s never too late to ditch the day-to-day routine and set off on an adventure. Read about the people who did just that on p78. On the subject of teenage interests, I was delighted to learn—as a die-hard Frankie Goes to Hollywood fan—that former lead singer Holly Johnson cites Reader’s Digest as one of his earliest influences! Of course, he says lots of other interesting things on p22, but that’s the most important… Elsewhere, “Medical Pros on the Road” on p28 describes the pressures endured by some of our favourite performers, and get ready to be spooked by our selection of haunted places on p56. Happy Halloween!

Tom Browne theeditor@readersdigest.co.uk facebook.com/readersdigestuk twitter.com/readersdigestuk pinterest.com/rdigestuk google.com/+ReadersDigestUK1

Reader’s Digest is published in 29 editions in 17 languages

SEE THE WORLD Turn the page

...DIFFERENTLY Using a plastic bottle filled with salt, Japanese artist Motoi Yamamoto painstakingly draws massive, lacy labyrinths on museum floors. Salt, symbolising the transience of life, is used in Japanese funeral rituals. Yamamoto was moved to make his saltscapes in honour of his sister, who died at a young age. After each creation is displayed, the salt is thrown into the ocean. C O U R T E S Y O F M A KO T O M O R I S AWA / T H E H A KO N E O P E N - A I R M U S E U M

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Haunted happenings online To coincide with this month’s spooky “Best of British” feature, at the beginning of October we’ll be revealing some of our favourite scares, from creepy literature to the spooky films. But it won’t all be doom and gloom—we’re bound to raise a smile with our gallery of some of the weirdest and most wonderful halloween costumes. Keep your eyes peeled!

Over to You LETTERS ON THE AUGUST ISSUE

✯ letter of the Month... “Reasons to Be Cheerful” reminded me that a parent’s knowledge of their child’s whole nature is very precious, especially when even the best of teachers can have only a partial understanding. When I was at school, the teachers decided to send end-of-term reports just to the parents of “failing” students. My heart sank at the sight of my report lying open on the breakfast table one morning, but my mother told me that she considered it to be the best report I’d ever had, and I didn’t have the courage to tell her why she’d received it. So the following day she went off to a parents’ evening unaware of the new rule. How I dreaded her return! But although I was in big trouble when she got home—and got a well-deserved telling-off for my omission—she nevertheless stood by her original opinion that I was succeeding in trying and achieving my best. Wisdom indeed! beV lewis, Suffolk

trash to treasure I was interested to learn in “The Battle of Scrap” of the independent chain of shops that’s taking recycling to a whole new level. Scrapstores is a fantastic idea, and one that’s so helpful to the environment. 12

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I’m doing a textiles degree, and I’ve become increasingly aware of how materials are wasted. This scheme’s aim to turn “rubbish” into something worth keeping—and at the same time get more people of all ages discovering the fun of

being creative—is a breath of fresh air to the industry. I welcome their objectives with open arms. abby harden, C a r l i s l e

self-worth over sales I enjoyed Leon McCarron’s opinions in “If I Ruled the World”, especially his views about banning advertising. But what I’m most concerned about is the adverts we see that are targeted at young children. Even before kids have developed a sense of their own identity, or learned how to handle money, they’re encouraged to associate status and self-worth with material belongings and to look to external things such as fame and wealth for validation. We’re turning out legions of little consumers, rather than young citizens who’ll value themselves for what they contribute to society. kym yessen, C a m b r i d g e s h i r e

treading carefully Your article “The Lion Whisperer” made for interesting reading. The plight of the African lion is truly heartbreaking, but I totally disagree with the way Kevin Richardson is behaving around these animals. While it can be argued that he’s raising awareness of their problems

through his so-called celebrity, it’s more likely that the way Kevin interacts with them will probably end up in disaster. If his life is taken by one of his lions, it will only lead to negative publicity for these wonderful creatures. Owen hollifield, C a e r p h i l l y

there’s a word for that As an avid reader, I’ve often thought our language is missing some useful words associated with books. Why, for example, is there not a word to describe the relief of knowing a book will be good after reading the first few pages? Or that terrible feeling when you’ve finished a brilliant book and fear the next one you pick could never be as good? Or the rush of excitement when you spot a muchwanted title in a charity shop? Or the nosy thrill of finding a handwritten dedication or forgotten bookmark in a secondhand book? I wonder if your readers have any more suggestions or ideas? Amanda Quinn, Ne w c a s t l e

RD: Do you have any definitions in desperate need of a word? Or perhaps you’ve already come up with some? We’d love to hear from you! Please email us at the address below.

We Want to Hear From You! Send letters to readersletters@readersdigest.co.uk We pay £50 for Letter of the Month and £30 for every other published letter Please include your full name, address, email and daytime phone number. We may edit letters and use them in all print and electronic media.

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reasons to be cheerful

There’s a new ruler in James Brown’s household— and he’s thrown his food on the floor to prove it

The King And His Loyal Subjects

James, founder of Loaded magazine, now edits Sabotage Times—an online magazine with the motto: “We can’t concentrate, why should you?”

my son bILLY IS a year old next month, which pretty much makes him the king of all he surveys. When he’s angry about something—a special person leaving the room, a settee that won’t move, an emerging tooth that hurts—hands rush to help him. When he wakes in the night, someone’s there to give him a bottle of milk. When he wakes in the morning, there are two adults already lying either side of him, and all he has to do is put his fingers in their mouths or grab their noses and they’ll smile and play with him. When his nappy feels uncomfortable, someone will change it. When he decides he doesn’t fancy riding in the pram, he can go stiff-bodied enough to be transferred to the chest carrier. When he does decide to go in the pram, he’ll end the struggle with a knowing grin that tells the adults he’s ready to go outside now, as if there hasn’t been a stand-off at all. From an early age, billy has refused to lie down in his pram and instead insists on sitting up in it, pillows stuffed around him to give him a regal view of the pond, the tree, the sky and the park. The position is appropriate, as Billy is the King Baby and the world rightfully moves around him.

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Illustrat ion by Lee Hodges

He has of late decided that the photographic books on the lowest book shelf are in the wrong order, and they would be better if he pulled them out one by one and left them in a pile for the adults to reposition in a more pleasing arrangement.

Having proven he’s capable of climbing all the stairs in the house on hand and knee while an adult courtier stands patiently behind him to prevent a fall, he’s now discovered his own special room in the palace— one with his name on the door, many 10•2014

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R e as o n s to b e c h e e r f u l

cuddly animal subjects and a whole elders to sit with him and do his eating array of nice things to play with. He’s for him, as they pretend to put small also, much to his delight, discovered plastic spoons full of warm food into that he’s capable of opening a drawer, their mouths. if only to bring his wisdom to the Regardless of whether or not he inaccurate piling of his clothes (which liked the food the previous time he he can help the adults address by ate it, it’s up to Billy to decide if he pulling them out and dropping them puts it in his mouth. If it’s a “no”, he all over the floor). chillingly picks it up, At the end of every holds it out to the side day, Billy’s servants run and drops it to the floor. He’s ruthless, Ruthless, merciless him a bubble bath and he sits happily amidst merciless and and thorough. it all, moving an array Once his arm has thorough, not been of brightly coloured outstretched the happy until floating objects around once, it’s highly likely as he sees fit. And everything has this action will be slapping the water until repeated until the bowls been swiped it hits everyone. are empty and have to the floor also been dispatched to the floor, so the adults There is, of course, know who’s in charge. one forum in which He’s not happy until everything’s Billy likes to put on a display of his been swiped to the ground with a omnipotence and that’s when he’s smile. For pudding, he’ll do his best lowered into his special eating throne to reach across the table to grab car and pushed against the table. To keys, sunglasses or an inhaler. the now-traditional accompaniment Should the adults persevere with of The Jungle Book, Billy is proud to a new round of food or even pick up display his dictatorial state through the debris from the mat beneath his the process of not eating. throne, he’s now inclined to shake his While he’s served with bowl after head with a delightful smile on his bowl of toast fingers, strawberries, face, communicating his intolerance omelette and specially puréed Billyof their misguided ambitions. food, squeezed from handy-sized sachets, he makes sure to lay down the law in the style to which he’s all this royal duty is carried become accustomed. The young out with an expression that wins King will only eat when he feels it’s him followers among all the people appropriate, and he’s trained his who arrive to bow beneath him. 16

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Reader’s Digest

When he’s not being presented to gift-bearing dignitaries, he also has the benefit of being shown endless photographs and videos of himself —sometimes soundtracked to a pleasant song. His immediate attendants have shown no sign of reducing their attentions, despite not having slept properly for a year, and he’s now also receiving extra time with grandma, which has allowed him to move into

the utterance of new sounds beyond the simple “daa-dee”—which seems to amuse them so much. The talk around the court is that his Royal Highness will soon be moving to a new wing of the palace called “his own room”, and that the senior courtiers will soon be allowed to “sleep all night again”. The latest royal notices in Reader’s Digest suggest King Billy’s parents are indeed “cheerful”.

budding authors, take a bow! This witty tale was one of thousands submitted to last year’s 100-Word-Story Competition. For details of how to enter this year’s competition go to p65.

surplus to requirements Eileen was under the dryer and wasn’t sure if she’d heard the hairdresser right. “What’s that, love?” “Simply place a rubber band around the lid and hey presto.” Once home, Eileen headed straight for the kitchen. She took out the new jar of elderberry jam, the same jar she had raged against that morning when its lid stuck fast. She applied an elastic band. One turn was all it took. The lid was off. She needed to be certain so she tried again, this time with the unopened pickled onions. Same result. She phoned her husband: “I want a divorce.” Lizzie Hall, Hertfordshire Lizzie says: “A customer came into the library where I work and told me about the elastic-band trick. When I got home I tried it, and to my delight it worked—I would no longer need to rely on a man to open my jam!” Lizzie will receive a cheque for £50

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entertainment

What’s On in October

Prime suspect? Ben Affleck as Nick Dunne

In Cinemas

■■thriller: Gone girl

Ben Affleck stars in this highly anticipated adaptation of the suspenseful best-seller that’s had readers hooked. Gone Girl follows married couple—and out-of-work writers—Nick and Amy Dunne, who relocate from Amy’s beloved New York to a small town in the country. When Amy (Rosamund Pike) disappears, Nick becomes the subject of intense scrutiny and speculation. But as he protests his innocence, the police find Amy’s secret diary, which starts to paint a different story of their seemingly happy marriage. ■■biopic: mr turner Timothy Spall

■■war: fury

picked up the Best Actor award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival for his sparkling turn as J M W Turner in Mike Leigh’s latest biopic. Focusing on the last 25 years of the great British painter’s life—switching between his evolving public profile and his eccentric private affairs—it’s a movie that demands your patience but rewards it handsomely.

The final few months of the Second World War are told through the eyes of a battlehardened American soldier, played by Brad Pitt, and his tank crew as they embark on a deadly mission through Nazi Germany. Based on years of research and gathered testimonials, director David Ayer said that he intended to set the “pop cultural record” straight with an authentic portrayal of the brutalities of war. 10•2014

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W h at ’ s o n i n o c t o b e r

Our Pick of the DVDs ■■A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane plays a cowardly farmer who falls for the wife of a notorious gunslinger in this comedy Western. ■■mr peabody & sherman ■■DRAMA: serena This depression-

era drama marks the Hollywood debut of Oscar-winning Danish director Susanne Bier. With favourites Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence at the helm, Serena follows a couple starting out in business. As their relationship unravels, Serena reveals just how deep and dark her ambitions run.

TV Highlights

The zombie apocalypse is still raging as The Walking Dead (Fox UK) returns for its chilling fifth series.

Based on the characters from a 1960s cartoon, a doggy genius takes his adopted son on a series of time-travelling adventures. ■■jersey Boys

The rags-to-riches story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Christopher Walken.

On Your Radar Vivien McLaren, midday assistant Watching: The Great British Bake Off (BBC1) I’m not

remotely interested in baking, but the mix of characters in this enthrals me. I howl with laughter at the baking disasters! Listening: Food, Sex & Paranoia by Furniture A male introspection

of love—I never tire of it. 20

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Reading: Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson

A child’s bleak upbringing and her pursuit of happiness. Online: Helen Yendall’s Blog About Writing Helen is a charming

lady with a passion for the written word who lives a fascinating life.

entertainment

Holly Johnson …READER’S DIGEST. One of my earliest memories is seeing Reader’s Digest on the dining-room table. It always seemed like such a mysterious, enigmatic magazine. Then I discovered this cache of albums that Dad must have got from Reader’s Digest—lots of exotic, easy-listening music. Somehow, these strange, beautiful sounds didn’t fit with the image I had of my dad, this ordinary bloke from Liverpool. Reader’s Digest was his gateway to culture. And here I am being interviewed for that same magazine! …WATCHING ALL THE WOMEN WALKING TO WORK. We used to live at 206 Rathbone Road, Wavertree, in Liverpool, a house that doesn’t even exist any more. We were surrounded 22

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by factories such as Meccano, Huntley & Palmers, Plessey and this big place that made metal tins, and I’ll never forget these enormous groups of women walking to work in the mornings, chatting, smoking and laughing in their check overalls. Whenever I think about my childhood, I have this vision—very black-and-white and rather dishevelled, almost like Coronation Street or a Terence Davies movie.

…CATCHING THE SCHOOL BUS FROM THE PENNY L ANE BUS TERMINUs. The Beatles seemed to reverberate through everything we did in the 1960s. Their records were constantly on the record player, my sister had Beatles wallpaper and my mum even grew up on the same street as

©Ro ry gilder/rEX / Op p osi te: ©Nils Jorgensen/Rex

“I Remember”

i ReMeMBeR

…SEEING DAVID BOWIE IN 1973. Me and a couple of mates were in love with David and Marc Bolan. Absolutely obsessed! So, when I got to see Bowie at the Liverpool Empire, it felt like a special moment. I realised there were loads of others just like me— kids who wanted to dress up and be different. By hook or by crook, I managed to get …REALISING I myself a guitar, DIDN’T FIT IN. started to learn a I was a bit of a few chords and weird-looking joined a band in kid, with broken Liverpool called NHS specs, a Big In Japan. It patch over one wasn’t a question eye, freckles and of, “One day, I’ll curly red hair. I be famous”; in always got a lot my head, I was of jip from the Holly performing “Yankee Rose” on already up there other boys, so I Granada TV’s Celebration in 1980 with Bowie and tended to hang Bolan! It sounds around with girls. Even before I knew I was gay, I realised so silly now, but life’s like that when there was a camp other-worldliness you’re young, isn’t it? You believe your about me, which didn’t go down well own fairy tales. in working-class Liverpool. I teamed up with another boy who was much …BEING TOLD THAT ART WASN’T camper than I was, and that provoked ACADEMIC ENOUGH. Even though a lot of name-calling. There was a time Liverpool has a fantastic art scene— when life at school became rather John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe both traumatic. It’s amazing to think that, went to the Liverpool College of Art— for the first seven years of my life, I was never really encouraged to paint same-sex activity was actually illegal. at school. Art was seen as being less 24

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All BlAC K & WHite p Hotos HeRe AN d oN pReVi oUs pAge tAKeN FRoM tHe BooK ‘A BoN e iN My F lUte’. ColoUR p Hoto op p osi te: ©Nils JoRgeNseN/ReX

George Harrison. She used to tell me stories about seeing John Lennon’s mum Julia swanning down the road, looking like Lucille Ball. The fact that The Beatles came from just round the corner from where I lived fired my imagination. “If they can do it, so can I. Yes, I’m going to be on the telly!”

i ReMeMBeR

I bought a house in west London and I’m still there now. Despite all the hustle and bustle, I feel at peace in London.

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WA RHol piCtURe CoURtesy oF s peN CeR BRi gHt

A close encounter

…T H E C R A Z Y with Andy Warhol YEARS. The band in 1984; (below) Holly with Wolfgang was selling mil(right), his partner lions and millions of 30 years of records—it was the kind of success I could never have dreamed about. When you get that big, life changes and people change. Suddenly, everything’s available and everybody wants to be your friend. One minute I was living in a housing-association flat in Toxteth, and the next I was being whisked around in my own limousine. But if you’re not careful, you start believing your own hype. You couples who’d been together for more think, Being successful is my divine than a few months. It was our 30th right and this is going to last for ever. anniversary this year! Sadly, it doesn’t. …BEING PHOTO GRAPHED BY …FIRST MEETING MY PARTNER ANDY WARHOL. New York had WOLFGANG. Where? Same as where loomed large ever since I discovered everybody used to meet their partners the work of Andy Warhol when I was a back then, through parties and pubs teenager. In 1984, I was offered a seat and mutual friends. It’s very different on Virgin’s maiden flight, alongside today with all this internet stuff. I find Gary Numan, Anita Harris and Phil that a bit bizarre. Don’t you want to Lynott from Thin Lizzy. We played in have a proper chat with somebody be- New York and Madonna came to one fore you go on a date? I knew Wolfgang of our shows. I kept asking about Andy was special, but I never thought it Warhol and suddenly the word came would last—I didn’t know any gay through that he wanted to meet me.

reaDer’S DiGeSt

I was a bit nervous, but he was dead funny and very normal. Well, normal for Warhol! He asked if he could take a photo of me. I managed to buy the original a couple of years ago, and it remains one of my greatest treasures.

…LIVING WITH HIV. I was diagnosed in 1991, but I’d been ill a long time before that. A lot of the people who were diagnosed in that era eventually died, and for a long time I was frightened the same thing was going to happen to me. That’s what the doctors said. It was Wolfgang who looked after me; I don’t know what I’d have done without him. I still take medication every day, but the fear has gone. Being frightened doesn’t help anyway—you just have to get on with life. …DECIDING IT WAS TIME TO BE A POP STAR AGAIN. My years with Frankie ended up in court and it all got messy. I’d been through the mill, I was dealing with illness and I sort of stepped back. I went to art college and travelled, but my love of music never

Holly back on tour in 2011

went away. I started performing live again in 2011 and I thought, Why not make an album too? A lot has changed since “Relax” was released in 1983, but the most important thing is that I’m happy. What more can you ask for? As told to Danny Scott Europa, Holly’s first album for 15 years, is out now. His UK tour starts this month— visit hollyjohnson.com for details.

iCe BUCKet CHaLLenGeD the ice Bucket Challenge, which saw celebrities and social networkers dousing themselves in ice-cold water in aid of charity, took the world by storm last month. But for one wanted criminal, it led police to his door. After ﬁlming and uploading himself doing the challenge in front of his home, police recognised where he lived and promptly paid him a visit to arrest him. mirrOr.CO.UK

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HEALTH

Medical

Prosthe

Road

Meet the doctors and therapists who keep some of our best-loved performers on their toes

By Jo C arlowe

medical pros on the road

hen Dr Bill Tamkin, a general practitioner, accompanied Manchester’s famous Hallé Orchestra on tour to South America, he crammed his doctor’s bag with diarrhoea treatment—only for his first patient to complain of constipation. So his first night in Chile was spent searching the streets of Santiago for a late-night pharmacy selling laxatives.

Bill, the orchestra’s honorary medical adviser, is one of a band of dedicated health professionals caring for the well-being of Britain’s top performers. And as the Hallé rehearses for its first major concert of the month (Violin Concerto No1 by Shostakovich), the Royal Ballet prepares for Manon (one of its signature shows) and the Cirque Du Soleil tours Japan, a raft of doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists and more are working behind the scenes to ensure the show goes on. it’s 22 years since dr bill tamkin

took up his position with the Hallé, a voluntary post that marries his love of music and medicine. It’s Bill’s way of saying, “Thank you for the music.” As a child, Bill would fall asleep to the strains of Brahms and Bruckner.

As an adult he took up the clarinet, and he now performs duets with his wife, who plays the piano. But this is just a hobby; for professional musicians, however, it’s their livelihood, and even minor health issues can spell disaster. A cold sore, for example, can prevent a trumpeter from shaping his lips correctly, while a sore thumb can stop a saxophonist from supporting his instrument. Even a bloody nose can be critical—when a guest conductor suffered one, Bill was called in. “It was all over his shirt with an hour to go before a major performance,” he explains. “But I cauterised his nose in time for the show.” Other ailments are mus-culoskeletal (back problems, aching limbs), hearing loss (due to repeated exposure to noise) and performance anxiety. If a

“There’s a lot of pressure. They need to perform at a top level all the time” dr bill tamkin, honorary medical adviser, Hallé Orchestra

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Reader’s Digest

Manchester’s “He’d been on tour often. show is imminent, Bill might Hallé Orchestra I had antibiotics and tummyprescribe medication. “Beta-blockers deal with in top form and bug medication, but Forbes full health suggested I take a stitching kit. the physical consequences of anxiety such as tremor, which you I said, ‘These are musicians, not rugby really don’t need when playing an players. I’m not going to need that.’ ” In Buenos Aires, however, the stitchinstrument,” he says. Bill attends the Hallé once or twice a ing kit came into its own. After a late month. The players, whom he describes performance, one young player went as “bright, articulate and perfectionist out clubbing—and Bill found himself to a scary degree”, tick an anonymous pressed into action at 3am. “The player got drunk, was thrown list if they want an appointment. “There’s a lot of competition and out of a cab and banged his head on pressure,” claims Bill. “They have to the hotel steps,” he explains. “I put 13 stitches into his forehead and three in perform at a top level all the time.” Caring for their well-being is impor- the bridge of his nose. Had I not been tant, so Bill joined the orchestra when there, he may have needed hospital.” Bill, who had previously overheard they toured South America. Before leaving, he consulted the late Forbes players questioning why a doctor was Mackenzie, doctor to the British Lions needed on tour, said, “I had to dress the man’s face. He played in the orchestra Rugby League. 10•2014

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medical pros on the road

looking like Tutankhamun, so for the rest of the tour I had my physical proof that I was actually pretty useful.” Britt Tajet-Foxell In fact, during the three-week tour, Bill was consulted over 100 times. when it comes to injuries, Britt Tajet-Foxell, physiotherapist to the Royal Ballet, once made an interesting observation. “I could have two dancers: the same age, rank and sex, injured in the same ballet, with the same injuries. One dancer gets better straightaway and the other never dances again. I was curious —what was the difference?” Britt concluded that it had to be psychological. Years later, she retrained as a psychologist and returned to the Royal Ballet to help dancers with emotional issues such as depression and low selfesteem. Her appointment was the first of its kind in the ballet industry, and Britt is just one of a multidisciplinary team, including a dietician, a sports medicine doctor, sports scientists,

physiotherapists, soft-tissue therapists and pilates instructors. The Royal Ballet’s holistic approach to healthcare is unique. “You won’t see this in any other dance company,” says its clinical director Greg Retter. In their modern healthcare suite, a petite ballerina lifts a huge weight— proof that dancers require Olympian strength. If anything, their workload is generally more demanding than that of elite athletes. A typical day involves classes, 6–8 hours of rehearsals, makeup, costume fittings, strength training, conditioning, pilates, physiotherapy, and often a show too. Sometimes the dancers are so busy they forget to eat or rely on high-sugar drinks, putting them at risk of fatigue and injury. To combat this, Greg has employed the registered dietician Jacqueline Birtwisle. She advises them on their nutritional and energy needs, and all injured dancers are required to see her. There’s a “big body of knowledge”, showing a relationship between

The Royal Ballet performs Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House

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Reader’s Digest

energy availability and bone health, says Jacqueline, adding that an injury can be “a big wake-up call”. “They have got away with it for months or years and they think, Now I am going to have to address this.” Fortunately, Greg describes a shift away from the historic view that “injuries are best kept secret”. “Nowadays, dancers understand that they’re in a profession where they will be injured. It’s about managing those injuries in an effective way.” Evidence from the sports world shows that athletes return quicker from injury if they’re cared for by a multidisciplinary health team, and the same likely applies to dancers. “It’s two sides of the same coin,” says Britt. “It’s about translating passion, drive, talent and motivation into physical performance—whether Swan Lake or single sculling.” At the Royal Ballet, the health team is there for all 96 performers, quite literally helping to keep the company on its feet. the same can be said

f o r p hy s i o t h e ra p i s t Megan Edwards, who waits in the wings during live performances of Cirque du Soleil. “I’m on standby, as some of the acts are so physically dangerous. An awkward fall into the net from a height could

Psychologist Britt TajetFoxell, who works with the Royal Ballet

mean serious injury, so I do regular emergency training.” “These artists risk their lives entertaining people,” adds Megan. Although accidents are rare at Cirque, a dancer died last year at a performance in Las Vegas (the tragedy predates Megan, who started in December 2013). Megan’s job is a far cry from her days as an NHS physiotherapist at Aberystwyth’s general hospital. Her patients now include gymnasts, aerial artists, contortionists and hand-balancing acts. These artists have a demanding schedule, as does Megan. She works six days a week and the shows are “intense”. At 29, she considers herself lucky to have just her “tour family” to worry about, rather than children of her own. “I’m amazed by the people who have family living away from them. It’s not 10•2014

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Performers with the Cirque du Soleil: “They have higher pain thresholds than football or rugby players,” says physiotherapist Megan Edwards

Megan, who’s also worked in sports rehabilitation, “They have higher pain thresholds than all the football and rugby players I’ve ever worked with.”

an easy lifestyle to maintain, and longing for family and friends is part of this. Your tour family quickly becomes your social life, especially when in culturally different cities such as Tokyo, where the language is another barrier.” As someone who’s in close physical proximity with the performers, she’s become a confidante to many. But convincing them to take time out for recovery isn’t easy. “I almost always face a fight, as they don’t want to ‘let the team down’. ” On the flip side, this means the performers will do whatever it takes to get back on stage. “They’re a tough bunch,” points out 34

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ers is rare, which makes the existence of the British Association of Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) particularly important. BAPAM provides performers with free, specialist medical advice. Ian MacDonald, BAPAM’s clinical voice assessor, doesn’t have an easy job. Every singer who enters his consulting room presents in the same way. “My voice feels different,” they say, or, “It’s a bit croaky, I can’t get that note.” “A handful of words come up for the hundreds of vocal problems you can get,” says Ian. “It’s a nightmare.” His solution is two separate forms for clients to fill out—one focuses on the physical (“Describe your discomfort. Is it sore, tight, dry?”), while the second ranks their responses to psychosocial questions (“My voice makes me feel bad in public,” or, “My voice is making me lose income”). From this, Ian can determine whether the problem is emotional or physical. “High numbers on the psychological questions might point to a depressed

despite this, designated healthcare for perform-

Reader’s Digest

or anxious state,” says Ian, whereas if the physical form describes a “raging lump feeling in the throat”, this might suggest muscle strain. Ian also listens to his patients—a break in the voice might indicate a polyp requiring referral to an ENT specialist. Around 75 per cent of the time, a problem is physical; the remaining issues are psychological, sometimes driven by the demands of the industry. For example, Ian might see a patient who smokes 40 a day because he wants to sound like Tom Waits (famous for his gravely voice). The patient might claim, “But that’s the only way I can get the sound I want.” “Health-wise, this is a bad scenario,” says Ian. “The patient is damaging his body and voice.” So Ian will say, “Let’s look at why you want to sound like Tom Waits and not yourself. Is it your manager telling you to do that?” Other singers damage their voices because their agents sign them up for too many varying roles: a pantomime

one week, a classical role the next and musical theatre the week after. “Their agent has booked them for these low-, high- or middle-voice roles because they look great and we’re obsessed with looks. But their voices won’t respond.” Performance anxiety and low confidence are other common complaints. Ian recalls helping a man regain his self-belief following recovery from throat cancer. “The operation was 100 per cent successful, but his confidence was shattered. I had to get him to revisit points of confidence—to look at what was easy. A lot of therapy goes on disguised as voice therapy.” The conditions Ian sees vary hugely, as do his clients, who range from opera singers to rock stars. But regardless of background, nearly all are good at sticking to the programme. “Performers understand the importance of their roles. When I say, ‘Your role now is to get an Oscar in rehab,’ they can get into that mindset.”

a bad sign? In a laundrette: Automatic washing machines: please remove all your clothes when the light goes out. In an office kitchen: After tea break staff should empty the teapot and stand upside down on the draining board. In a restaurant: Customers who find our waiting staff rude should see the manager. from etni.org

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HEALTH

Minutes from

Death Cari had been in the hospital for 40 minutes. She and her husband understood that this might be the last time they saw each other... By N ic h o l as H un e - B row n

Ron had been smitten by Cari in secondary school, and for 28 years they’d only had each other

M i n u t e s f r o m d e at h

Ron wheeled out of the car park, nearly smashing into a vehicle backing out of its spot. He knew Cari hadn’t been feeling well and he was trying to stay calm. The couple live in Oakville, an affluent suburb west of Toronto, Canada. They have been together since 1978, when Ron, aged 17, became smitten by the 15-year-old basketball player who, he later realised, looked like Jennifer Beals from Flashdance. He began seeking Cari out at school and at parties, and he timed his trips to a local ice-cream shop so he’d run into her on her way home from basketball practice. Eventually, he won her over. When Cari went to university in Edmonton, Alberta, and Ron started his broadcasting career 90 miles away in Red Deer, he’d drive over to see her at weekends. Ron had rushed to this hospital once before. In 1990, before the first game 38

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of a new ice-hockey series, his threemonth-pregnant wife called him in Missouri to say she was having serious abdominal pain. Ron jumped on a plane but got stuck overnight in Pittsburgh. When he finally arrived, Cari had lost the child. They were devastated. They tried again, and then again, but at a certain point it became clear they weren’t meant to be parents. For 28 years, they’d only had each other. Now Ron feared the worst. Cari isn’t used to lagging behind. She plays hockey and runs marathons. When she couldn’t keep up with her running group last autumn, she put it down to age and lack of conditioning. She’d turned 50 and had spent a leisurely summer neglecting to train. Perhaps she had a cold. Any of these things could explain the shortness of breath, the unfamiliar weakness.

photogra ph s by raina +wi l s on

on MacLean was out on the ice when the firefighters entered the arena. It was a Tuesday evening in October 2012, and the TV presenter was wrapping up an adult hockey league game. The moment he spotted the firefighters, Ron’s mind flashed to teammates who’d had health problems in the past. But then he noticed players pointing in his direction. The firefighters—who’d just answered an emergency call at Ron’s home—told him that his wife Cari had been taken by ambulance to the local hospital. She’d instructed them to find him. “It’s OK, you have time to get dressed,” they said. “But you should get there immediately.”

Reader’s Digest

One Monday in November, Cari felt a cramp in her calf—the same sensation she’d had the previous April, after a flight to Vietnam. Tuesday evening, with the cramp no better, she texted a friend to say she was going to miss hockey. After Ron left to play in his own game, she went upstairs and ran a bath to try to loosen her calf. That’s when, overcome by nausea, she started vomiting. She managed to pull herself out of the tub and looked in the mirror. She was shocked: her face, drenched in sweat, was white as soap. From her ensuite bathroom, Cari looked over at her bed, a few feet away.

she reached the phone and called the emergency services, the operator asked if the patient was still breathing. “I’m the patient,” Cari answered weakly. “I’m in trouble.” Mangesh Inamdar was in the middle of his eight-hour shift when the nurses called him to the ER. A youthful 42-year-old, Inamdar possesses the love of adrenalin that marks out so many emergency doctors. When he graduated from medical school, his plan was to become a radiologist, someone who pored over X-rays and MRIs in a quiet room. During his residency, however, he found himself

Her face was drained of colour, pulse almost nonexistent and blood pressure frighteningly low She couldn’t imagine summoning the strength to make it that far. She gathered some towels and made a makeshift bed on the floor. She lay down and curled into the foetal position. Then she heard a voice. “No,” it said. “Get up, get dressed, call an ambulance.” She felt hypnotised. Everything in her body wanted to lie down, but the voice kept insisting, “Get up, get up.” Although the MacLean’s had a landline, all Cari could picture was her mobile phone down in the kitchen. She pulled on what clothing she could and crawled on all fours, taking the stairs step by agonising step. When

drifting over to the intensive care unit, moonlighting there despite a full workload. Maybe it was the variety of cases he got to work on or the satisfaction of seeing swift results or the immediacy of life-or-death situations, but he kept coming back. When the paramedics wheeled in Cari, Inamdar knew something was wrong. Her face was drained of colour and her pulse was almost non-existent. Most worrying was her blood pressure. For a woman her age, it should have been 120 systolic. Cari’s was 60— frighteningly low. The blood pressure suggested a few possibilities: ruptured 10•2014

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aorta, internal bleeding, fluid around the heart, septic shock or a major heart attack. The possibility that Inamdar kept coming back to, however, was a massive pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot, generally in the calf, works its way up the circulation system and blocks the blood vessels in the lung. It isn’t pretty and death comes quickly. Many never make it to the ER—they die at home or in the ambulance. In fact, in his 14 years as an emergency doctor, Inamdar had never seen anyone survive. But as Inamdar continued to investigate, he began to have doubts. A pulmonary embolism starts as a clot in the leg, so a patient will usually have a swollen calf. Cari’s calves, however, were perfectly symmetrical. Another telltale sign is troubled breathing, but Cari told him she didn’t feel any pain in her lungs. She had felt shortness of breath, but she’d also had sniffles and had been vomiting—symptoms that pointed towards a virus. Inamdar was confused. A CT scan could reveal the truth, but Cari was so unstable that he couldn’t risk bringing her out of the ER. Low oxygen levels were another sign of huge pulmonary embolism. The most accurate reading is done with a small oxygen monitor attached to a patient’s fingertip, but Cari was wearing gel nails that were impossible to remove without soaking them in acetone for 15 minutes. Because she had no perceptible pulse,

Reader’s Digest

they couldn’t draw blood from her wrist to test for oxygen, so Inamdar went with Plan C, attaching an oxygen monitor to her earlobe. The results were astonishing. While oxygen levels for someone as physically fit as Cari could exceed 99 per cent, the earlobe monitor was telling Inamdar that Cari was at just 30 per cent. The result was basically incompatible with life. Inamdar didn’t know what to think. Cari had been there ten minutes and was conscious as the nurses rushed around, adjusting her IVs and checking her vitals. The reading was so low it could have been an error—earlobe monitors are notoriously unreliable for gauging oxygen levels. But if it wasn’t an error, then Cari would suffer respiratory arrest at any moment. “I remember thinking, I don’t have a diagnosis and this lady is going to die,” Inamdar says. “I think all the nurses in that room felt the same thing. Because we’ve all seen the look of death.” When Ron arrived in the ER, Cari was surrounded by medical staff. His wife appeared weak and seemed to have countless needles in both arms connected to the IV lines. When she leaned over to vomit in a bedpan, the needles came out and Ron could only watch helplessly as the nurses reinserted them. But despite all this, Ron was oddly heartened. Cari looked pale, yes, but she wasn’t showing obvious signs of trauma. Standing in his baseball cap 10•2014

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M i n u t e s f r o m d e at h

Then things started to get worse. Cari had now been in the hospital 20 minutes and began to shake wildly. Inamdar knew that 70 per cent of patients who die from pulmonary embolisms die within the first hour. If that was what she was fighting, he needed to act. The treatment for a pulmonary embolism is a thrombolytic, a drug that dissolves blood clots and would, with a bit of luck, clear the pathway to the lungs. But if Cari didn’t have a pulmonary embolism and was suffering from some sort of internal bleeding, she would bleed out, and Inamdar and the nurses would be helpless to stop it. If his hunch was right, the thrombolytic could save her. If he was wrong, it would kill her. Inamdar conducted an ultrasound, desperately searching for new information. Cari didn’t have any blood in her belly, which ruled out internal bleeding. He looked more closely at her heart. Cari’s right ventricle seemed to be larger than her left ventricle, a sign of pulmonary embolism. It was the nudge he needed. “We’re giving her the thrombolytic,” he said. While the nurses rushed to prepare, he hustled to the computer. Treating pulmonary embolism is rare enough that the protocol is still somewhat

The couple still talk about that evening and the doctor who was their star

and jeans, among the machines and the bustling nurses, he felt a sense of calm. “It seemed to me that everything we needed was right there,” he says. When Inamdar fired off questions, he answered as quickly and accurately as possible. It was like doing a live hockey broadcast, he thought. Do your part and then get out of the way to let the experts do their jobs. Every once in a while, he would reach out and touch his wife’s arm. “You’re doing great,” he told her. “Things are going great.” 42

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Reader’s Digest

experimental. So while Cari lay dying on the bed, Inamdar took the unusual step of typing “thrombolytic, massive pulmonary embolism” into Google. He scanned some medical studies and came up with a plan: rather than give her the medication in small doses, as some studies suggested, he would give it to her all at once. The small-doses method meant administering the medication over a period of two hours. “I didn’t have two hours,” says Inamdar.

he and Cari locked gazes. Both understood that this might be the last time they would stare into each other’s eyes. The machines beeped and Cari’s vital signs flashed in waves across the screen. Finally, one of the nurses smiled. “This is good,” the nurse said, encouraging her. Cari’s blood pressure was moving up. Her oxygen levels were rising. She was coming back. Later that evening, when Cari was stable and Inamdar was certain she’d

“I remember thinking, I don’t have a diagnosis and this lady is going to die,” says Dr Inamdar Once he started the treatment, there was no turning back. Ron didn’t know what a pulmonary embolism was and had no idea what it did to a healthy body. But as Inamdar gave the order, Ron realised the situation was far graver than he’d imagined. He watched Inamdar bring his nurses together. “It was like a huddle when the game is tied and the teams are about to head into overtime,” Ron says. “He said, ‘Sheila, what’s your drug, what’s your dosage and what order are you administering in?’ Then he did it to the next nurse, and then the next.” The nurses gave Cari the drugs through her IVs. She’d now been in the ER for 40 minutes and everyone waited, watching her bedside monitor. Ron didn’t know what to look for, so

escaped the worst, she finally got her CT scan. It showed a big clot in her artery and many smaller clots in her lungs. It was enough to piece together a theory about what had happened. Inamdar explained that blood had clotted inside a vein in her calf during her flight to Vietnam in April 2012 (because of altitude, dehydration and cramped conditions, up to five per cent of air travellers end up with clots). It broke off and worked its way into her lungs, causing her fatigue and breathing troubles. As Ron and Cari studied the scan, Inamdar didn’t need to say what all of them now knew: she had been minutes away from death. For the next few months, Cari slowly came to terms with the enormity of what had happened to her. As she 10•2014

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Reader’s Digest

recovered, a certain anxiety remained. She found herself reluctant to return to running. The idea of feeling that way again—constricted chest, lungs aching for breath—was too frightening, and so she put it aside. But finally, with much encouragement from Ron, she laced up her shoes again. It was spring, after a winter that seemed like it would never end, and the crab-apple trees were in bloom. As Cari jogged through her neighbourhood, past the tidy lawns and old brick houses she’d seen for years, everything suddenly looked new. “The clichés about near-death experiences are true,” she says. “I look at things differently now. I feel like I’ve become very small and big at the same time. Small in the sense that this is

what life’s all about—right now, right at this moment. But at the same time, I have this appreciation for how much bigger everything is. Our lives are just specks. You hear that all the time, but I have a better appreciation of that.” The couple still talk about that evening, going over the details. Cari likes retelling how she overheard the cardiologist on the morning shift looking at her chart. “He did what?” he said, incredulous, when he learned about Inamdar’s decision. Ron prefers to describe the moment Inamdar made the gutsy call: “His arms were folded and his feet were at nine o’clock and noon. It was a stance of desperate resignation. He knew he was taking a risk, but felt he had no options. He was the first star of the night.”

Add one word, change a whole movie The Awkward Silence of the Lambs Men In Black Lingerie The Lord of the Onion Rings Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Kidney Stone Iron Deficiency Man Pillow Fight Club The Tax Return of the Jedi The Italian Job Centre The Magnificent Seven Eleven When Harry Met Aunt Sally as seen on the internet

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HEALTH

Getting The Better Of Breast Cancer By s usa n nah h i c k li ng

While there’s still a lot to be done before doctors win the fight against the most common cancer in women, there’s been some exciting advances in prevention, detection and treatment. Here’s a selection that could bring big changes.

Susannah is twice winner of the Guild of Health Writers Best Consumer Magazine Health Feature

■ Prevention A promising breakthrough came last year, when scientists discovered why some people’s cancers don’t spread. In those individuals, two key proteins “generate a micro-environment that blocks cancer cells from settling and growing in distant organs”. It’s believed that a drug made of these proteins could block cancer’s spread. Meanwhile, a study of 1,200 healthy women showed that those with low vitamin D levels during a three-month period before diagnosis had three times the breast-cancer risk as

X marks the spot Want to cut down on salt?

Salt is an acquired taste, so the key is to “unlearn” your habit. It takes about six weeks, so put a big X on your calendar six weeks from today and then gradually reduce your salt intake, focusing on food categories where you’ll miss it the least, such as bread, cereals and dessert items. 46

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If you need some tips to help you reach the big day painlessly, try these: ■ Use freshly ground pepper instead of salt. ■ Mix unsalted and salted foods, for example, peanuts—then introduce more of the salt-free version. ■ Choose canned veg and beans with no added salt.

women with the highest levels of vitamin D. That three-month window is when the tumour is most actively recruiting blood vessels required for tumour growth, the researchers found. ■ Detection Last year, researchers discovered clear indicators of epigenetic “on” switches for several different cancers, including breast, which can be spotted with a simple blood test. This offers scope to tailor prevention strategies for women based on their personal risk. The test could be available in the next few years. Mammography catches only 60% of cancers in women with dense breasts (more tissue than fat), but two new technologies could change that. Breast tomosynthesis (BT) takes 3D thin-sliced X-ray images, which are combined to create a more detailed

view, while breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) tracks how an injected radiopharmaceutical is taken up in the breast (higher amounts are found in tumours). In one study, BSGI had a 100% detection rate. Scientists are now working on ways to reduce radiation exposure and cost. ■ Treatment Imagine if you could

rev up the body’s immune system to kill breast cancer cells before they really got to work. Interleukin-24, or IL-24, promises to do just that based on preliminary studies. The IL-24 gene shoots straight to the tumour, bypassing healthy cells by riding on a manipulated adenovirus—in animal studies this inhibited tumour growth. It’s hoped it might one day eradicate early and advanced breast cancer, and even cut the risk of recurrence. 10•2014

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H e a lt h

Use it or lose it. The brain functions like a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it gets. Learning new things, varying your routine, having heated debates, going on trips and playing an instrument all help your brain to make new connections and function better.

Eat to boost brain cells. Make sure you’re getting your carbs from fruits, veg and wholegrains, as one Canadian study found that those whose diets contained the greatest percentage of calories as carbs did best on memory and task tests. Eating oil-rich fish once a week will help the grey matter, as will going meat-free at least once a week—this will help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

Develop strategies. Counter senior moments by doing one thing at a time—research finds that multitasking hinders memory and concentration. Stop for a second after an introduction and repeat the person’s name out loud. Read or work in a quiet room—noise exposure can slow your ability to rehearse things in your mind, a way of building memory.

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men’s health Your health highway code Did you know that driving can have implications for your health? Follow these rules to minimise problems. Back out of trouble. Sitting in the wrong position to drive can strain your spine. Use a small cushion to protect your back and make sure you sit upright—with just 30cms between you and the wheel. Don’t drink and drive—the next day. One Dutch study found that people who drove the day after downing ten drinks did less well on a course, even though they registered zero in a breath test. Don’t drive until your hangover’s gone. Be aware of what’s around you. That doesn’t just apply to other traffic or hazards, but to the pollution in your car. Air pollution inside cars in heavy traffic is about twice as high as levels outside. Wind your window down, take the back roads or, better still, walk.

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7 Ten Tips To Stave Off Osteoporosis 8 1

Say hello to sunshine. Turning your face up to the sun for 15 minutes a day—without sunscreen— is the best way for your body to make vitamin D, which it needs to help it absorb calcium.

Eat two to three dairy products every day. Even low-fat versions contain the levels of calcium you need to maintain bone density.

Give a fig. Adults need 700g of calcium a day, and four dried figs can provide almost a fifth of that.

Go nuts for nuts. Almonds are packed with calcium. Just 25g provides you with 60mg of the bonestrengthening mineral.

Get enough sleep. New bone replaces old while you’re asleep, so it’s vital to get your zzzz.

Veer away from vices. Heavy drinking and smoking are risk factors for osteoporosis. Enough said!

Get active. But make sure it’s a weight-bearing activity— brisk walking, cycling and even gardening are great for your bones.

Eat your greens. Green vegetables are rich in calcium. Hate cooked cabbage? Eat coleslaw once a week instead.

5 © D. Hurst/Ala my

Drink mineral water—but forget fizzy drinks. Mineral water contains calcium, and a study in Osteoporosis International found that your body absorbs it just as well from water as from milk.

Anyone for a cuppa? A Chinese study found that those who drank tea (mainly green) regularly had denser bones than people who didn’t. 50

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HEALTH

Why Doctors Never Leave Work On Time By max p e m b e r to n

Max is a hospital doctor and author. He’s also the resident doctor on ITV’s This Morning

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I’m leaving…Well, that’s the plan. It’s a friend’s birthday, and if I can get away I might make it. But there’s something about hospitals that makes them hard to leave. In all my time as a doctor, I could count on one hand the number of times I’ve managed to escape on time. Regardless of how hard and fast I work during the day, I can guarantee that as soon as I think about going home, something will happen. It always does. This is because, even once the mountain of jobs are done, there’s the gauntlet of nurses, patients and family to run. They’ve had all day, but it’s always just as I’m out the door that they decide they want me. As I stride confidently, eyes fixed on the glowing EXIT sign above the main doors, I’m bombarded with calls for help: “Will you just sign this?” “Can you have a quick look at this patient?” “Doctor, can I ask you how my mother’s doing?” But even if I manage to negotiate my way through this, they know my pager number—and they aren’t afraid to use it. To leave the building requires more cunning than simply walking out the door. I’ve considered digging an escape tunnel with a kidney dish, but my ward is three floors up. To leave

the hospital successfully, one must remove any identifying features of being a doctor: a stethoscope left around the neck guarantees you may never see the light of day again. I’ve even found that adopting a limp from the ward to the car park helps confuse people into thinking you might be a patient long enough for you to make your escape. But today I catch Mrs Marshall’s eye as I’m about to leave. She calls out to me and I turn round and go back to her bed. She’s been on the ward for a month recovering from an operation. “I was just wondering, doctor… they’re sending me home tomorrow,” she looks down at her feet and then back up at me, “and I don’t want to go. Am I allowed to stay a bit longer?’ “Why?” I ask. “Everyone’s been

saying how well you’ve recovered.” “Because I’m on my own at home and it’s so much nicer here with all the people around.” I know that her husband died last year and she misses the company. “It’s so quiet at home without him,” she tells me. Although this isn’t a surgical problem, there are plenty of things that can be done to make going home easier for her. But eventually she’ll have to leave the hospital, so I sit and talk to her for a while and write in her notes. “I’m sure you’ve got somewhere else to be,” she says eventually and, seeing the time and remembering the party, I say goodbye. Finally, I’ve left the building and I limp across the car park, my stethoscope carefully concealed in my bag. 10•2014

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HEALTH

medical myths—busted!

Childhood Vaccinations Cause Autism

furore caused many parents to assume there was a link. What’s the truth?

The concern that vaccines might in some way be linked to autism was first suggested in 1998 by a paper published in The Lancet, a wellrespected medical journal. It looked at 12 children with developmental problems, some of whom had autism and who had been vaccinated with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. It wasn’t a proper clinical study, merely a report of the cases. However, this was picked up by the media and the subsequent 54

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So, there’s nothing to worry about?

The risks of complications from childhood infections are very real and should be of far more concern to a parent than the entirely false association between vaccines and autism. The simple truth of the matter is that vaccines save lives, while fear of vaccines results in children developing crippling or even fatal conditions.

Illustrat ion By Dav id Humph r ies

Where did the myth come from?

Since the paper was published, extensive further research has been done and absolutely no link has been found. Studies involving hundreds of thousands of children have now been conducted—and have discredited the link. Most of the doctors involved in the original Lancet publication have retracted it. The lead author has been discredited and struck off the medical register.

INSPIRE

Places

Haunted

As the nights grow longer and colder, gather round and hear the bloodchilling stories of some of our most spooky locations

By L au r a D e a n - Os good

Culzean Castle Ayrshire

This postcard-perfect castle has dominated the cliff ’s top at the Firth of Clyde since the 16th century—though a castle of some form has existed here since the 1100s. Culzean (pronounced Cul-ane) casts its dramatic silhouette over a 150-feet drop to the sea—a strong defensive position chosen during times of battle—and its turrets, secret passageways and cliff-side caves are the perfect backdrop for ghost stories. Beneath the castle, a vast network of caves, known as the Culzean Coves, tunnel into the rocks and run underneath the fortress itself. These were inhabited during Mediaeval times and then were used by smugglers peddling goods from Ireland and the Isle of Man, in waters made treacherous by roaming pirates. It’s in the tunnels ➸ © Peter Ribbeck/www.peterribbeck.com

best of british

that the ghost of a young piper is believed to linger—having failed to return from an exploration of the caves, legend states that his lone piping can still be heard in the area now known as Piper’s Brae. In the castle itself, which sits within 600 acres of country park, there are said to be up to seven ghosts. A mysterious woman in a ball gown has been

seen as well as a grey swirling mist in the grand oval staircase, thought to be the spirit of one of the Kennedy clan (who have been associated with Culzean since it was built). The castle and its grounds are open year round, so visitors can make up their own minds about these mysterious happenings… ■ Visit nts.org.uk for details

Bodmin Jail Built in 1779 on the edge of Cornish moorland, Bodmin Jail quickly grew overcrowded with men, women and juveniles who had committed crimes, ranging from petty theft to murder. Many met a grizzly end at the hands of the wardens and violent prisioners, and hundreds were executed in front of huge baying crowds who came from far and wide. Lots of prisoners would have spent their final hours here, awaiting the footsteps of the warden who would walk them to the execution pit—which remains the only working one of its kind in the UK. The jail, which is said to be haunted by several tortured spirits, opens its doors 364 days a year and runs overnight ghost tours. Spooked visitors have reported a strong sense of being stared at, and feelings of depression in certain areas. Fortunately, there’s also a restaurant and a bar on site for those in need of some Dutch courage. ■ Visit bodminjail.org for details 58

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Cornwall

R e a der ’ s D i g es t

Hampton Court Palace Surrey

This plush, 500-year-old royal palace on the outskirts of London has become synonymous with Henry VIII and the lives (and deaths) of his wives. Many believe that the scandal, unrest and pain related to these gruesome events has left a few souls unsettled. “Although all of Henry VIII’s wives stayed here,” says palace warder David Packer, “it seems that three never quite left.” One of these is thought to be Catherine Howard, Henry’s fifth wife, who was dragged screaming to her imprisonment and beheading in 1542 for adultery. “Staff and visitors have reported hearing screams, feeling chills and even fainting,” says David. Tourists can stroll through the great hall, get lost in the palace maze or visit the largest of all Tudor kitchens—as well as indulge in some ghost-spotting. ■ Visit hrp.org.uk for details 10•2014

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best of british

Pendle Hill Lancashire

In the autumn of 1612, Pendle sat at the centre of one of the country’s most notorious trials, when many men and women stood accused of murder by witchcraft—12 of whom had lived on Pendle Hill. The accused were marched through the Ribble Valley to Lancashire Castle, where they were tried and mostly hanged. Many believe their spirits now haunt the hill. Locals reportedly refuse to go on to the hill after dark because of stories of apparitions, footsteps and pleading voices. If this doesn’t sound appealing, opt instead for a daytime walk along the signposted Witches Trail through the valley to the castle—even in the absence of spooks, this is an area of outstanding natural beauty. ■ Visit visitpendle.com for details

Fort Borstal It’s said that only the bravest people will descend into the dark corridors of this once-abandoned military fort in Rochester, Kent. Fort Borstal, which shares its name with the infamous youth institute less than a mile away, was built by convict labour between 1875 and 1885, and was used in both world wars as a stopoff point for troops. It then stood untouched for many years. Although the land is now in private hands, Steve Moyle, a medium who runs ghost hunts in the local area, has 60

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Kent

Reader’s Digest

The Golden Fleece York

Fleeting apparitions, flying glasses and a dark figure all add to the Golden Fleece’s reputation as the most haunted pub in the area. Residents and staff have reported many incidents, but Stephanie Macklewain-Yates, landlady at the 16th-century coach house, recalls one spine-tingling moment when she’d gone upstairs to get change. “The room was dark and I could feel the most unwelcome presence,” she says. “I turned to leave and heard a distinct long sigh in my ear. Outside, when I tried to work out what I’d heard, there was another low snarl to my side.” The pub has four guest rooms, so those brave enough to stay the night can judge for themselves. ■ Visit thegoldenfleeceyork.co.uk for details

access to the buildings. “This is one of the best haunted locations I know,” he says. “The prisoners who built the fort were violent offenders, and many would’ve died during the build.” This could explain the strange experiences at the fort. “People have had things thrown at them, or have been moved against their will,” claims Steve. “Ghostly voices have also been heard.” His hunts attract people interested in the paranormal—as well as those simply hoping for a good scare—at locations throughout Kent. ■ Visit ghosthuntevents.co.uk for details p h otos cou rtesy o f fort bo rstal & t he golden fl eece

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best of british

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Grand Opera Hall belfast

This magnificent concert hall, which boasts a beautiful oriental-style auditorium, is said to host several entertainers not of this world. Opened in 1895, the hall has played an important role in the city’s history and runs an impressive schedule of shows—from opera and dance to comedy and drama—all year round. But it also has its share of creepy tales. “I was working late one night, carrying out maintenance in the downstairs

R e a der ’ s D i g es t

auditorium, when I heard the sound of seats flipping up,” says facilities manager John Campbell. “I dismissed it at first, but as it continued, I must admit I got out of there pretty quickly.” A paranormal-research team has investigated the grand hall, and several members of staff have spotted black shadowy figures. An apparition has even been seen—and photographed —in the stage-right box. So if you’re taking in a show, just ask yourself: are the performers the only ones on stage? ■ Visit goh.co.uk for details

Old Hall

p h otos cou rtesy o f gra nd opera ha ll a nd tatton park ha ll

Tatton Park, Chester

The Old Hall was built at the turn of the 15th century, and once sat at the heart of a grand country estate. With centuries of inhabitants and the disappeared village of Tatton close by, visitors have been known to stop in their tracks, sensing something out of place. “There have been many sightings and sensings of past lives and deaths,” claims supervisor Mick Ricketts. “Although I’ve heard noises and smelled things that are difficult to explain, I generally find it an intriguing and friendly place. But would I sleep there overnight? Perhaps not.” There are lots of ghost tours you can take through the lovely National Trust grounds—famous spooks include the spirit of a young girl and an elegant lady known as The Matriarch. ■ Visit tattonpark.org.uk for details

If you know a scary location that we haven’t mentioned here, tell us about it by emailing readersletters@readers digest.co.uk 10•2014

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Great Books

FOR EVERY READER

Principium

The Stone Prophecy Series Alexandra Lamarre www.iuniverse.com Hardback | Paperback | E-book $23.95 | $13.95 | $3.99

For many years, Kiarra has lived across the lake from Kasy Sheridan, a girl who has led a life vastly different from her own. They both have been accepted to attend the magical Hollow Institute for Gifted Young Women. During this time, their lives become intertwined as they study magical theory and learn rituals that will change their view of magic and give them insight into the mystery of dying familiars.

Cost of Truth Julie K. Parrott www.xlibris.com.au Hardback | Paperback | E-book $46.72 | $28.03 | $3.99

The human spirit is fascinating. It lets people weather storms and overcome overwhelming odds. A triumphant testament of the human spirit, Cost of Truth tells the story of Donna Gordon, a woman who struggles to fi nd acceptance, love and herself.

My Mother’s Way of Dying Well Reflections by the Author on Her Parents’ Deaths Dianne Porter www.xlibris.com.au Hardback | Paperback | E-book $49.99 | $29.99 | $2.67 Tragedies are hard to accept. But these events can be defi ning moments that reveal unexpected sources of light and strength. In her memoir, Dianne Porter looks back to a family tragedy and how she found the courage to overcome it.

Peter and the Snow White Dove John Stephens www.xlibrispublishing.co.uk Paperback | E-book $22.38 | $6.38 Peter Williams was still a young man when he first met and enjoyed the company of the Great King. But not everyone shared the same sentiments. Many were ungrateful and did not need the King’s help. Will they ever change?

The Ins and Outs of Breathing How We Learnt about the Body’s Most Vital Function Dr. Norman L. Jones www.iuniverse.com Paperback | E-book $26.95 | $9.99 This book, a treasure trove of practical insights and amazing facts, is the result of Dr. Norman Jones’s fifty-year odyssey to understand how the lung works and the science of breathing. It offers an authoritative account of breathing from its historical roots to present-day concepts of its function in health and disease.

REMARKABLE BOOKS TO ENJOY AGAIN AND AGAIN. ORDER YOURS TODAY!

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INSPIRE

Word Story competition

Our ultra-short-story competition is back for a fifth year! Turn the page for entry details—and three inspirational stories

Q A

P L

1 0 0 -wo r d - sto ry co m p e t i t i o n

Terms and Conditions ■ Please send your stories—which should be original, unpublished and exactly 100 words long—to 100word story@readersdigest.co.uk by January 31, 2015. ■ There are three categories—one for adults, and two categories for schools: one for children aged 12–18, and one for children under 12. ■ In the adult category, the entry voted best by the editorial team will receive £500, and two runners-up will each receive £75. ■ In each of the school categories, the prize for the winner is £250 of high-street vouchers of their choice, and £250 for their school, and two runners-up will each receive £50. ■ Mark each entry either “Adults”, “Schools 12–18 category” or “Schools under-12 category”. Winning entries will be published in a future issue.

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Alexandra Brown I love knitting, the comforting clickclack of the needles as I wind the wool around my index finger, ready for another row of knit one, purl one. But this project is different. It’s big. Huge. In glorious canary yellow chunky weight wool. I finishing stitching together and turn to my co-conspirator Sybil, or Sybs, as she prefers. “What do you reckon?” “Magnificent! Our best one yet,” she grins furtively, “but we must go.” “A picture first,” I say, lifting my phone and stepping back to admire our handiwork. A giant woolly chicken tea cosy cuddled around the bus shelter. Yarnbomb! ■ Alexandra Brown is an author and columnist. Her latest book The Great Christmas Knit Off (£6.99) is out next month.

Reader’s Digest

Nick Harkaway

Frances Hardinge

In the Gentleman’s Library, Edie spikes the port. She has nothing against the members of the Reprobates’ Club—though that they require a Gentleman’s Library in a society that admits no women is an annoying redundancy in support of an already annoying decision—but she cannot have the bishops returning to moot while she is a-burgling. The Church of England may not be militant any longer, but she’s reasonably sure the bishops will extend themselves if they catch a British secret agent filching documents. The one from the Diocese of Shrimpton, in particular, looks like a tough egg.

The neighbours worry about old Ellen, and offer to move the unsightly rubbish from her garden. The grubby toys, rusty slide and climbing frame... Ellen says she needs them. She alone sees the small, pale shapes that come each night, leaving barefoot prints in her flowerbeds. They are ragged as starlings, orphaned of everything, their names forgotten and fading in parish registers. At last they have found a place where they are welcome. They swarm translucent around Ellen and her plate of cakes. They had lost their chance of a happy childhood, but lost things can be found.

■ Nick Harkaway is a novelist and commentator. His latest book Tigerman (£16.99) is out now.

■ Frances Hardinge is an author and winner of the Branford Boase Award. Her latest book Cuckoo Song (£7.99) is out now.

Rules: Please ensure that submissions are original, not previously published, and are exactly 100 words long. Don’t forget to include your full name, address, email and daytime phone number with all correspondence. We may use entries in all print and electronic media. We cannot acknowledge or return your story. Do not send SAEs. Contributions become world copyright of Reader’s Digest.

Entry is open only to residents of the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland. It is not open to employees of Vivat Direct Ltd (t/a Reader’s Digest), its subsidiary companies and all other persons associated with this competition, their immediate families, and relatives living in an employee’s household. The judges’ decision is final.

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INSPIRE

Do I trust You? What we Europeans think of one another—and why we think it. Prepare for a few surprises…

For the past 14 years, Reader’s Digest has been asking consumers all over the world to name their most trusted commercial brands. This year, for the first time since 2008, we also asked our readers across Europe to tell us about the countries and peoples that they trust and distrust too. After all, one might say that a nation is the ultimate form of brand. For 68

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Illustrat ion by dan woodger

By Dav i d T h o m as

d o i t r u s t yo u ?

just as people all over the world have their own idea of what a company such as Porsche or McDonald’s means to them, so there are certain characteristics, both positive and negative, that are commonly associated with particular nationalities. SO who do we trust, or distrust, surveys as one of the world’s least the most? And what do our opinions corrupt countries and its most comsay about us and the strong, even con- petitive economy. Sweden, for its part, has been ranked tradictory feelings about one another that have built up over centuries of as the second most democratic country on earth (behind only its neighbour conflict and co-existence? Let’s start with the basics. Respon- Norway), with the fourth most comdents were asked whether they trusted petitive economy and one of the most the people in 20 European countries even distributions of income. There’s one other factor that both (including Russia), plus China, India, countries have in comIran and the US. mon: neutrality. SwitThe two nations zerland and Sweden whose people seemed Most Europeans stayed out of both World most trustworthy to regard us Brits Wars and belonged to their fellow Europeans are Sweden and Switas trustworthy, neither the Soviet Bloc nor Nato during the zerland, and when one but only 28 Cold War. looks at the characterisper cent of the As Mikael Hjerm, a tics that these countries French trust professor of sociology at embody, it’s very easy to the University of Umeå, see why others admire the British Sweden, whose focus is them so much. European nationalism Both nations score highly in surveys of the most pleasant and identity explains, “People who are countries and cities in which to live. exposed to threat are less keen to trust They have relatively small popula- others because trust decreases towards tions with fewer issues of racial and the perceived aggressor. So neutrality religious integration than larger mul- is, in this sense, positive.” ticultural societies. They are both among the richest on the other hand, Germany was nations in the world. Switzerland has right at the heart of the 20th century’s the highest wealth per capita in the greatest conflicts and even now cannot world and is ranked by international entirely escape the shadow of its Nazi 70

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Reader’s Digest

past. Yet, in spite of that, its people’s qualities are very clearly understood all over the world. Germans are perceived as highly educated, disciplined, hardworking and honest. But our feelings of trust aren’t as simple as they seem. In a separate 2013 report from the US-based Pew Research Centre’s Global Attitudes Survey, the Germans come out as the most widely trusted people in the EU, as they are in our survey too. But they were also seen as the most arrogant and least compassionate people. So the fact that one trusts someone doesn’t necessarily mean that you have tremendous affection for them. Nor is

trust always as reasonable an emotion as it may at first appear. some of the most intriguing results in this year’s survey come

from respondents in France. The first surprise is their attitude towards their neighbours in the UK. In the survey, most Europeans regard us Brits as trustworthy. But the French take a very different view. Only 28 per cent of them trust the British. And, in the Pew survey, they also declared that the people of Britain were the least compassionate nation in Europe. Yet both of these findings seem to fly in the face of strong evidence.

the READER’S DIGEST trust poll Who we trust most—and least Most trusted 1. Switzerland 2. Sweden 3. Germany 4. Finland 5. Austria 6. Netherlands 7. Belgium 8. UK 9. France 10. US

68% 68% 65% 62% 60% 59% 54% 53% 47% 40%

Least trusted 1. Romania 2. Iran 3. Russia 4. Greece 5. Turkey 6. China 7. India 8. Poland 9. Italy 10. Czech Republic

74% 72% 70% 68% 65% 64% 62% 56% 56% 51%

The Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands survey 2014 is based on a weighted sample of 17,676 respondents from Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia and Switzerland. The top tens are drawn from a list of 24 countries—comprising those polled, plus Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK and US.

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d o i t r u s t yo u ?

For example, though the French say they don’t trust the British, they’re actually emigrating to Britain, especially London, in record numbers. The French consulate in London estimates that there are at least 270,000 French men and women living there. The French emigrants to Britain tend to be young, ambitious professionals who appear to trust it more than their own native land as a place to get ahead in life. Similarly, the notion that the British lack compassion for others isn’t borne out by the facts. According to the World Giving Index, more than three-quarters of all Britons give money to charity every month, a higher proportion than in any other country in Europe. The French, meanwhile, are actually rated

citizens who trust their own country 1. Switzerland 2. Austria 3. Finland 4. Germany 5. Portugal 6. Slovenia 7. Poland 8. Russia 9. Romania 10. France The Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands survey 2014

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90% 90% 88% 79% 63% 52% 45% 44% 40% 27%

the least charitable nation in Europe in that same index. French attitudes may say as much about themselves as they do about Britain, says Nadège Alezine, a French journalist who works on a website for French people living in London. “The French probably perceive the British to be least compassionate because the UK always distances itself from Europe. Threats from David Cameron to leave Europe make the French nervous as they are so used to being pampered and protected by their government.” although the french may not

think much of the British, they are just as self-critical, awarding themselves a trust rating of just 27 per cent. “I’m not surprised by these results,” says Professor Dominique Bouchet, a French academic, resident in Denmark, who’s an expert in social change and cultural differences. “There’s always been a tradition of self-criticism [that] is ingrained in the French psyche. At present, the French don’t trust their own systems and they know that reforms need to be made. People outside of France still see an efficient, artistic and internationallooking country but there’s discontent from within.” And nor are the French alone in their self-criticism. Romanians were named as the least trusted people in our survey, and more than half of Romanians themselves agreed that they aren’t trustworthy.

Reader’s Digest

On the other hand, those people the answers can be found who are the most trusted, the Swiss, in the news headlines across Europe Swedes, Germans and Austrians, were over the past few years. Italy, Spain and themselves trusting of others. They all, Portugal are three countries closely for example, trusted the French more— associated with economic decline and nearly twice as much—than the French increased dependence on financial trusted themselves. support from the European Central This all makes sense to Professor Bank and other Eurozone nations and Hjerm: “In a high-trust country, people institutions. Meanwhile Greece is dishave had positive experiences and see trusted by 68 per cent of our responno reason not to trust people in other dents: only Russia and Romania were countries. But if you take a low-trusting less trusted by others. country, where people don’t even trust “The economy is a good predictor people that live close to them, why of trust,” says Tim Reeskens, a Dutch should they trust strangers?” behavioural scientist who studies soChanging circumstances also affect cial cohesion in Europe. “It’s logical the way we feel about that Greece is ranked ourselves and others, low given its economic and that can be seen in climate. They have reGreece is the way our trust ratings ceived a lot of help from distrusted by 68 Europe and perhaps have changed since per cent of our 2008. During that time, other countries believe four nations have sufthat some of that money respondents: fered declines of 20 per only Russia and has been misused.” cent or more: Portugal But economic woes Romania were (-21 per cent), Romania don’t tell the whole less trusted (-29 per cent), Spain story. Slovenia, for ex(-30 per cent) and Italy ample, has been hit hard (-33 per cent). economically in recent It’s unlikely that the populations of years, yet more than half its citizens those countries have changed signifi- still trust one another. So what other cantly in just a few years. And 63 per factors might be at play in nations cent of Portuguese still trust them- where trust is declining? selves “a great deal, or quite a lot”, In addition, both Italy and Spain which is well above average for our have suffered from political corruption survey, suggesting that theirs isn’t a scandals—in Italy, involving former society in which people lie to or cheat President Silvio Berlusconi, and in one another. So why have the percep- Spain even reaching members of the tions of them changed so markedly? royal family. Again, Reeskens suggests, 10•2014

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d o i t r u s t yo u ?

that’s bound to have had an effect: establishment. In 2012, the research “Perceptions of corruption have a part company YouGov conducted a poll on to play. Trust comes from good govern- “Cross-Country Attitudes Towards Eument and transparent institutions. If rope” among people in the UK, France, you look at global corruption indexes Germany and Italy. and rankings, you’ll see that these The poll found that the British were results correlate with a more dissatisfied than perceived lack of corever with the UK’s posiruption. Transparency tion in Europe. Some 60 People across breeds trust.” per cent wanted a looser These shifts in trust Europe are losing political and economic can happen very fast. In relationship with Europe faith in their the years between 2008 with 14 per cent wanting institutions. and 2013, trust in Russia closer integration. among Reader’s Digest’s They feel ignored But attitudes among and deceived European readers rose other Europeans were from a rock-bottom 11 different. Across Italy, per cent to 16 per cent. Germany and France, But events in Ukraine since the survey more people supported than opposed was conducted are likely to make a US-style elected President of the EU many Europeans more frightened and and a single EU military. More than 60 thus even more mistrustful. per cent of Italians wanted an integrated United States of Europe, as did does trust, or the lack of it, 40 per cent of the French and more really matter? The answer is an than a third of Germans. And there unequivocal “yes”. Many surveys show were majorities for continued EU a growing fear of inexorable economic membership and ever-closer ties. YouGov conducted a similar poll this decline, leading to a continent-wide lack of faith in the current political year among British, German, French

what do you think? We’d like to know which country and its citizens you most trust—or distrust. Tell us in 50 words or less, explaining why you hold that view. Send your contribution to readersletters@readersdigest.co.uk

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and Swedish respondents. The British are no more Euro-friendly than before —just five per cent want closer EU integration and only 19 per cent favour retaining the EU as it was, making a pro-EU proportion of just 24 per cent of the electorate. The startling finding, however, was that the other three countries have become almost as Eurosceptical as the British. Those in favour of either more EU integration or the current status quo amounted to just 26 per cent in Sweden, 32 per cent in France and 40 per cent in Germany. The European Union now finds itself facing a devastating crisis of trust. But then so is everything else. People across Europe are losing faith in their

Reader’s Digest

political, religious, financial and media institutions. They feel ignored, impoverished, deceived. In this atmosphere of mistrust, siren voices arise providing enemies to hate, targets to attack and destructive, simplistic solutions to the people’s problems. “Trust is often claimed to be a prerequisite of liberal democracy. Without trust there can be no society,” says Professor Hjerm. “So it’ll be very difficult to have not only political co-operation but also business transactions and dayto-day meetings within the EU unless people trust each other.” So Europe needs to rediscover its trust in itself and in others. Perhaps we should ask the people of Switzerland and Sweden how to get it back.

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INSPIRE

Caroline Casey has helped reshape attitudes towards disability in business and wider society. In 2005, she set up the O2 Ability Awards

If I Ruled the World Caroline Casey I’d educate our children differently. Every single child should have a creative, enquiring education, not one that’s rigid. Learning comes from making mistakes, from play and asking questions. It would be wonderful if children did more of their learning outside. Intelligence isn’t just about being good at maths or English—it’s about emotional intelligence too. Also, I’d like all our children to have a civic education so they understand how our political system works and how being able to vote gives you power to contribute to the way our society works. I’d dump the concept of “disability”. Some people are bad at golf, some people are bad at seeing. Everyone is different. I’m much more interested in focusing on 76

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illustrated by sa m falconer

I’d get everyone dancing for five minutes a day. Stress makes us hold our bodies tightly, but when you dance you shake your worries away. I can’t think of a better way to lift our hearts than to boogie uninhibited around our kitchens or bedrooms.

the things people can do, the values they hold dear and what they’re able to contribute rather than the things they’re not so good at. I’d make sure that everything we create is done with the principle of universal design in mind. Buildings and the things we use every day need to be accessible to all. I’d insist that travel was a whole lot easier. I’d like to say, “Beam me up, Scotty,” and find myself in the place I need to go. But until that’s a reality, let’s sort out the queues at security, improve airline food and speed up production of the driverless car. I’m visually impaired, but I dream of rolling down the windows of my car, turning up the stereo and driving from the East to West Coast of the US (ideally in an E-Type Jaguar, but I appreciate that’s asking a lot). I’d redefine success. We measure success in terms of money, power and beauty. But genuine success isn’t about running a huge company or being famous—it’s about being happy with who you are. If you’re reaching your potential, connecting with people and have empathy and compassion for others, then count yourself a success. I’d insist all companies were good corporate citizens. They should be measured as much on the positive

impact they’re having in their communities, the value they place on their employees and their philanthropic endeavours as on their balance sheets. Every kid would kiss an elephant’s trunk. In 2000, I went on a lifechanging 600-mile journey across India on an elephant called Kanchi. It was a dream come true. Elephants are majestic—they represent the magic of nature. To stand in front of such a beautiful creature is pure wonder, and every child should have wonder in their lives. You wouldn’t need to be able to see to use a public toilet. Why do the signs need to be so similar? Once I’ve backed out of the gents and found the right place, I can’t work out how to clean my hands—are we supposed to touch or not touch the soap dispenser and taps, go under or over? Would it be the worst thing in the world to have unisex toilets? It would put an end to the huge queues outside the ladies, while the men are in and out in a minute. I’d encourage more hugging. It makes people feel loved. Hugging is one thing I’m really good at. As told to Caroline Hutton Caroline is CEO of the not-for-profit disability organisation Kanchi. Visit kanchi.org for more details. 10•2014 •2014

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travel & adventure

Grown-

up Gappers Why should youngsters have all the fun? After all, more and more over-50s in Britain are taking time out from their everyday lives

By A m anda R ile y- Jo nes

➸ “It’s so liberating to

have everything we own on a 55-foot boat!” Allison Willcocks, 51, moved from a four-bedroom house onto a 55-foot canal boat with her husband Dave “Everything became horribly clear in February 2008,” says Allison. “I found myself trying to do a conference call from the oncology department, where my mum was being treated for pancreatic cancer. Suddenly, our materialist life seemed crazy—all the pressure of working long hours to earn more money, and all the juggling to try and fit everything in.” Allison and husband Dave were living in a four-bedroom house in

“Almost every day on the boat is a happy day,” says Allison, pictured with husband Dave

| 10•2014

Lympne, Kent, with two of her three daughters from a previous marriage. They were IT architects at the same company, working 50-hour weeks and on call through the night. Despite good salaries, they worried about cash and Dave, now 47, suffered from Crohn’s Disease, a bowel condition worsened by stress. Most weekends and holidays, they found sanctuary drifting along rivers and canals in their beloved narrow boat, the Free Spirit, “Dad was a boater, so I grew up having holidays on the water,” explains Allison. “Dave and I longed to take time out to live on the boat permanently, but we had families who needed us.” Sadly, Allison’s mother died in October 2011, aged 63. “Mum’s sisters had also died young. Working all hours, only to die before I reached retirement, seemed a real possibility,” says Allison. “By early 2012, my 19- and 23-year-old daughters were leaving home, and Dave and I were free to make our dream happen.” Better still, when they tried to resign from the jobs they’d had for over 15 years, their boss begged them to stay on one day a week, working from the boat. “We sold or gave away our furniture, books, TVs, DVD players, kitchen gadgets and nearly all our clothes, and

photos courtesy of Alison a nd Dave Wi lLcoc ks

grown-up gappers

Reader’s Digest

let the house for a year. We finished full-time work on June 26, 2012, and set sail four days later. As we left the marina, it was like a massive weight being lifted. With a houseful of stuff, there are always bills to pay and things to worry about. It was so liberating to have everything we owned in our 55-foot boat.” “Almost every day on the boat is a happy day—unless it breaks down!” laughs Allison. “It’s the simple life: travelling, exploring new Villagers Rufino and Marcelino were places, shopping for food, a great inspiration to Shaun (centre) chatting to people along the way, listening to our iPods and reading our Kindles. Although “I’d reached the stage our income has reduced by about where I wanted to give two thirds, we don’t worry about something back” money as much as we used to. We sleep much better, and Dave’s Shaun Casey, 54, took a year off health has improved.” to retrain and help people living Their “gap year” has already in poverty in Central America stretched to two, and they’re now hoping to stay on the boat as long “I always wanted to take a year out as possible. “We’ll probably have to do something dramatic!” says to go back to Kent eventually as Shaun, from Bournemouth, Dorset. Dave’s parents get older and need After 25 years as a business event help,” adds Allison. organiser, he retrained in TEFL But the couple will never go back (teaching English as a foreign to their old life. “We’d like to sell the language) and cross-cultural big house and become self-sufficient communications and volunteered with a small, off-grid house, veggie with Raleigh International, a patch, chickens—and, of course, a sustainable-development charity. mooring at the bottom of the garden!” This January, Shaun flew to Costa 10•2014

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grown-up gappers

Rica for training and then on to a remote community in Nicaragua, where children and young women had a four-hour daily trek to fetch water. “As Project Manager, I was to lead three consecutive groups of 17- to 24-year-old volunteers,” he explains. “Our mission was to install six miles of water pipes to bring safe drinking water from a remote source up in the mountains into villagers’ homes.” Faced with such a Herculean task, Shaun stood up in church and asked, in Spanish, if any of the villagers would help. “Next morning, there were 50 men gathered around the village well, ready to work,” he enthuses. “And they stuck with us for three months. It was like a 82

| 10•2014

Hollywood movie, the way the whole village came together. It restored my faith in people.” Shaun, an avid swimmer, worked up to seven hours a day in 40-degree heat. “I felt invigorated,” he says, “like someone had pressed my reset button. It was a profound exercise in the power of teamwork and what can be achieved with positive energy —even though we were from such different cultures.” He lived with Don Antonio, his wife and some of their 13 children in a wooden shack with a communal latrine for a toilet, dogs, pigs and chickens running through the house, and a rather annoying cockerel that crowed at 2am. The family were full of questions

p hotos courtesy of sh aun c as ey

Shaun with Marcelo (left), for whom the project was particularly emotional, after his nephew became ill from drinking contaminated water

and couldn’t understand how Shaun could live alone. “I was moved by their simple way of life and pure values. They were untouched by the greed and materialism of the West. We ate rice and beans three times a day, and sometimes eggs. It was a revelation that I could survive on such a limited diet,” says Shaun, who went home a stone lighter. “We laughed a lot too,” he recalls. “When I was painting the school, I asked if they had a ladder. They didn’t, but the caretaker said I could stand on her mule! Another time we organised a swimming lesson, not knowing that the river was full of miniature sardines with sharp teeth. And when we were having a meeting of the Water and Sanitation Committee, a dog mooched up and peed on my leg!” After three months, 44 families had clean drinking water and there were tears at the farewell fiesta. “They were so happy that people on the other side of the world cared,” remembers Shaun. “Before leaving Central America, I called Blas, the schoolteacher (one of the few people to have a mobile phone) and he passed it round the entire village as everyone wanted to speak to me! “Returning home was a huge culture shock. I’m from a very small family and it’s sometimes difficult to stay connected with friends who live all over the place. But since the trip, I’m making more effort to stay

Reader’s Digest

in touch. And if I’m in a potentially stressful situation, I keep things in perspective by asking, What would my friends in Santa Cruz do now?” Shaun is now teaching English and planning to move into international development full time. “Taking time off to help other people was the most satisfying thing I’ve done,” he says. Raleigh International needs volunteers for diverse roles including accountancy and administration in five different countries. Visit raleighinternational.org for more details.

Shaun at the beginning of the project, which saw them trench over six miles of land with manual tools

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“It felt like the right time to do something for ourselves” Trevor Sullivan, 61, took a career break to fly round the world with his wife Glynis Trevor, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was 56 when he opted to take a break from his 24-year career as a town planner for Sheffield Council. “Glynis and I always planned to travel when we retired,” he explains. “But after three friends became very ill, we realised we weren’t as young as we felt. We decided to take a big

Trevor and Glynis at Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia

| 10•2014

trip while we were in good health. Glynis had already retired from her job as a public transport advisor, and it felt like the right time to do something for ourselves.” Trevor’s grown-up children from his previous marriage gave their blessing and his supportive employers agreed to keep his job open for three months. So, in November 2010, the Sullivans boarded a London to San Francisco flight for the first leg of their round-the-world odyssey. Although their trip was packed with world-famous sights, including San Franscisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and Cambodia’s “awesome” temples, the couple soon discovered that some of the best moments come out of the blue—literally. “I had a condor tattooed on my right shoulder four years ago because they’re an endangered species,” Trevor remembers. “I never thought I’d see one, but when we were driving down Big Sur in California we spotted not one but three of them, soaring on the up currents!” In his photos, though, the magnificent birds are mere dots. “There were many times when no photograph could capture what we were experiencing,” he says. “It was the same when we saw the fireworks at Sydney Harbour Bridge on New Year’s Eve. I practised really absorbing what was around me, taking

photos courtesy of trevor an d glyni s s ulliva n

grown-up gappers

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Visting the Moeraki Boulders at Koekohe Beach, New Zealand

things in with my eyes and living in the moment instead.” From America, the Sullivans moved on to New Zealand, Australia, Thailand and Cambodia. “It was so liberating to live out of a suitcase and leave responsibilities and possessions behind,” says Trevor. “And sharing so many experiences made Glynis and I even closer.” Of course, things didn’t always go to plan. Flooding in Brisbane bought such chaos that they had to fly straight out without seeing their old friends. And Trevor had terrible seasickness when they went whale watching one windy evening in New Zealand. But his abiding memory? “It was absolutely magical to see the whales and albatrosses,” he beams.

Time out helped them appreciate their lives more too. “Travelling opens your eyes,” explains Trevor. “We saw people in Cambodia living in abject poverty. Some had lost limbs to landmines. If we feel like complaining now, we remind ourselves how lucky we are.” Back at work, Trevor found his priorities had changed for good. Last summer, he cut his job down to three days a week and the couple have since travelled to Brazil, Jerusalem, New England and cruised the Rhine. While some people float through life, waiting for something to happen, Glynis and Trevor are big believers in being proactive. “Life is very short,” says Glynis. “So if there’s something you want to do, do it now!” 10•2014

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travel & adventure

By C ath e r i n e Co l e

My Great Escape: Viva Las Vegas

Marg Turner (below) enjoyed the sights of Nevada’s “sin city”

Reader Marg Turner from Warrington experienced the bright lights of Vegas

Catherine has danced in Rio, been microlighting in South Africa and hiked the mountains of Oman Tell us about your favourite holiday (send a photo too) and if we include it on this page we’ll pay you £50. Go to readersdigest. co.uk/contact-us 88

10•2014

Hollywood hotel, which dazzled our sleep-deprived eyes in the late-afternoon sun. There wasn’t much of an American welcome though—it was rather different to what I expected. Our bedroom overlooked the famous strip, which is a surreal experience, as some of the replica buildings along the street (Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty) aren’t built to scale, making you feel like you haven’t woken up from a dream. It was an amazing sight to see Caesars Palace, the Donald Trump skyscraper hotel and the Paris Hotel hot-air balloon all glowing down below, with glossy, movie-style advertising on their buildings. Soon, we were itching to go down to one of the bars in the casino. Planet Hollywood is a big hotel and we had to use a bright-red bauble hanging from the ceiling as a marker in case we got lost. There was no way I was venturing off on my own in this place—it was huge! We settled for a bar where a DJ was spinning his turntables, and there was a burlesque dancer wearing fishnet tights and heavy biker boots. Yes,

After the nine-hour flight from london to last vegas, my husband and I arrived at the glitzy Planet

we were two pensioners out of our comfort zone, but that’s what gives you a buzz—nobody cares when you are incognito on holiday! Las Vegas was definitely a mustsee city, and if we go back we’ll try to see one of the spectacular shows. But it wasn’t long before we left the bright lights of the city for the Grand Canyon. We only had time for a 30-minute helicopter ride over it, but that was enough to give you a real taste of the experience. We also travelled to Utah’s Monument Valley, and it thrilled me to think that John Wayne had made some of his most famous films there. But nothing came close to that helicopter ride over the Canyon—it was simply mind-blowing!

photo cou rtesy of marg turner

■ Titan Travel (0800 988 5823; titantravel.co.uk) offers a 12-day National Parks Explorer trip from £2,345pp, taking in Las Vegas as well as Lake Powell, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon among others.

postcard from… Marrakech

It’s hard to believe that Morocco is only three hours’ flight from the UK, as its charms feel a whole world away. It’s only during the autumn months that the heat cools off enough to enjoy walks around the tight alleys of Marrakech medina’s labyrinthine souks, smelling oils as exotic as frankincense and myrrh, and buying spices you’ve never heard of. Marrakech is more than merely a city escape, though: just outside hover the dramatic Atlas Mountains. Clamber up to a rooftop in the medina on a clear day and you’ll see how they manage to frame this bustling city beautifully. ■ A four-night stay in Marrakech costs from £445pp

based on two sharing with Voyages Jules Verne, including return British Airways flights, transfers, four-star hotel accommodation and guides. (0845 166 7035; vjv.com). 10•2014

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t rav e l & a d v e n t u r e

Things to Do This Month Short vs long haul trips

in Tokyo towards the end of October, when the changing leaves are best seen in the beautiful landscaped garden of Koishikawa Korakuen. ■ Where to stay: The Park Hyatt Tokyo is one of the city’s most iconic and luxurious hotels. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a view of the towering Mount Fuji. Double rooms start from £327pn (0081 35322 1234; tokyo.park.hyatt.com). ■ Where to eat: The Buddhist Senso-ji temple is Tokyo’s oldest. The temple grounds contain a long shopping street selling traditional Japanese dishes and wares, as well as a quiet garden and a pagoda. ■ How to get there: Return flights to Tokyo start from around £600 with British Airways (0844 493 0787; britishairways.com). 90

10•2014

Long: Whistler in Canada is one of the greatest destinations for skiing. Crystal Ski Holidays offers seven nights from £887pp, based on four sharing, with accommodation, flights and transfers (020 8939 0726; crystalski.co.uk).

Travel app of the month AudioTrip (free) provides audio guides to global destinations, with interactive maps, photos and videos to allow you to explore an area at your own pace (audiotrip.org).

for more, go to readersdigest.co.uk/travel-adventure

Tokyo in two minutes

■ What to do: Autumn arrives

Short: Inghams offer a “learn to ski” package in Oberperfuss, a quiet resort in Austria. Seven nights from £699pp, including flights, transfers, accommodation, halfboard, lift pass, ski school and gear rental (01483 345641; inghams.co.uk).

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travel & adventure

The

Heart ofArabia Centuries-old traditions of the desert nomads endure in oil-rich Abu Dhabi

photo: david yoder

By C a rl H o f f m a n

An Emirati makes his way to a camel race near the Liwa oasis in the Rub al Khali desert

“Y

T h e h e a r t o f a r a b ia

Al Fendi, his voice gravelly, as if there’s sand between his tonsils. The patriarch of the Al Mazrouei clan sits in a chair; the rest of us recline on carpets in an ocean of Arabian sand. The moon is big, bright and almost full. “Drink,” one of his sons says, handing me a stainless-steel bowl filled with warm camel’s milk, foamy and thick. “It will make you strong!” Al Fendi and his caravan are returning from three months of grazing his camels in Saudi Arabia. We’re enjoying a feast of rice and freshly killed sheep, which we eat with fingers. Some of the men, in white dishdashas and head coverings called gitras, smoke pipes. “You should come in winter,” one says. “It’s cold and you need the fire.” “In winter,” Al Fendi remembers, “we always were hungry and cold. Then the oil companies came.”

As a teenager I read Arabian Sands, Wilfred Thesiger’s tale of crossing the Rub al Khali, or Empty Quarter, in the 1940s. His words and black-and-white photos seduced me with glimpses of Bedouin lives that seemed difficult, austere and noble. Their moral code was born from surviving in one of the harshest climates on Earth. “All that is best in the Arabs,” Thesiger wrote, “has come to them from the desert.” Decades later, I wondered where one could still find real Arabian Bedouin. The Arabian countries where oil had been found were rich, modern. Many Arab nations, including Egypt, Syria, Yemen and Sudan, were experiencing political unrest. Then I heard about Abu Dhabi. Largest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, this land bordering Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Persian Gulf rests atop nearly ten per cent of the world’s known oil reserves. In the capital city, also named Abu Dhabi, building cranes dot the sky, photo: M AISA N T Ludov ic /agefotostock

ou’ve no idea how many nights i remember,” says Khamis

photo: davi d yoder

Bedouin are urged to preserve their culture despite their country’s modern development; (opposite) Emiratis and tourists in Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi city

Porsches and Cadillac Escalades are everywhere. In the gleaming Marina Mall, Emiratis sip caramel macchiatos from Starbucks and stock up on 60-inch flat screens. The idea of a nomadic Emirati tending to his camels out in the desert these days seems absurd. Still, the official UAE line reminds everyone of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s directive to blend old and new, to preserve Bedouin culture even as the country continues to tap into its colossal wealth. I look at Khamis Al Fendi, sitting under the stars barefoot, and try to grasp that he’s wealthier than I can fathom. His caravan has a kitchen on wheels, tankers for water and fuel, and numerous SUVs. Then there are his

160 black-coloured camels—a breed originally from Saudi Arabia prized for its beauty—that are worth millions. Abu Dhabi may be increasingly educated, affluent and cosmopolitan, but beneath lies a culture of the desert and the tent—and I want to find it. A friend of a friend connects me to Salem Al Mazrouei, director of operations and logistics for the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority. He’s in his thirties, bearded, once lived in the US and speaks English with an American accent. I tell him I want to find some real Bedouin. “We are all Bedouin,” he says. “As a child I lived in a tent.” Salem has caught wind of Al Fendi 10•2014

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coming in, so in the late afternoon we head into the western desert in his 4x4. I don’t know how he finds the caravan: the dunes roll east, west, north, south with little distinction. When we arrive, I enter an older world. As long as I’m in the desert, the women are somewhere else. What there’s plenty of is talk, wherever we go. It’s how I learn that neither Salem’s father nor his grandfather, both the heads of large companies, can read. They were born in a different world. Until the 1950s, Abu Dhabi was essentially a small coastal village of pearlers, fishermen and warring tribesmen who wandered the deserts. Sheikh Zayed consolidated power, and then came the oil. Salem’s grandfather figured out a way to transport oil-drilling rigs with96

10•2014

out dismantling them, and soon he too was rich. Growing up, Salem lived at his grandparents’s house during the hot summers and moved to a tent from September through April. We enjoy more coffee and tea and dates in the dunes. This is followed by dinner: meat surrounded by rice, with plastic packages of yogurt. Next, it’s time to pray. The men kneel shoulder to shoulder, then press their foreheads to the still warm sand, giving thanks to a God who let them survive another day in the harsh environment. At that moment I see it: the deep bond between faith and landscape. I spend the next night in the four-star Tilal Liwa resort hotel in the middle of the desert, overlooking

photo: davi d yoder

Members of the Bedouin Al Mazrouei tribe with their prized black camels

Reader’s Digest

dunes that roll to the horizon. At dawn I make my way to the camel racetrack in Salem’s hometown, Madinat Zayed. The paddocks are crowded with hundreds of sleek, tan camels in racing bridles. Each is mounted with a twofoot-high, remote-controlled robot jockey brandishing a riding crop. This race isn’t like horse racing. There’s no grandstand, betting and alcohol are banned, and the oval track is up to nine miles long. In fact, it’s hard to tell what’s going on. I find an English speaker among the owners, Khamis, who explains that camels race in age groups. Handlers line them up behind a net: when the net rises, the handlers

camel!” he shouts. “Fast! Fast! Fast! Yella yella yella!” Midway, his camel flags and drops back. Khamis turns quiet. By 9.30am the racing winds down as the sun begins to burn. Long lines of camels and their handlers lope back towards stables. Khamis’s stable has several hundred camels kept in pens around a concrete house with a majlis —an open living area with a table laid with cups, dates and other fruit and surrounded by floor cushions. We sit, drink tea and coffee, talk. Men come and go in this older form of connectivity that makes Facebook and email seem as ethereal as smoke.

Khamis whistles into a walkie talkie, which signals his camel’s robot jockey to whip the animal on let go and the camels take off, all surging necks and stampeding hooves. Race camels traditionally had been ridden by children from poor countries, but child jockeys were prohibited in 2002 and replaced by mechanical jockeys. We leap into Khamis’s pick-up truck and blast off with other spectators in a cloud of dust. A flowing cacophony of horns and shouts races after the galloping camels. Khamis whistles into a walkietalkie, which signals his camel’s robot jockey to whip the animal on. “Good

Three German tourists join us; Khamis saw them taking photos on the side of the road and invited them back to the stables. Suddenly they’re as much family as I. “People call us rigid-minded,” says Musallam Al Ameri, who speaks perfect English after four years at an American university. “But we’re nomads. We maintain certain principles and values that cannot be broken. Integrity. Honesty. Hospitality. Visiting our relations, our neighbours, our elders is important. Our religion commands it.” 10•2014

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Hunting in Abu Dhabi is no longer permitted, but falconing remains a passion

10•2014

it soars. The Saker falcon is one of the fastest birds of prey on the planet. Al Mazrouei releases a pigeon in the falling light. It rises and heads away, a dark speck. But the falcon knows its business—it’s the F-22 fighter jet of the bird world. Now both birds wheel and circle, and the falcon strikes from the rear. The deed is done. The raptor stands atop its kill, eyes as big as marbles. It bites and feeds. “Shh, shh,” whispers Al Mazrouei as he cleans the blood from the falcon’s beak, reflecting centuries of man and bird together in the desert. I spend a few nights in Abu Dhabi city. Backstreets are crowded with people from around the world. Mosque muezzins call the faithful to prayer as six-table masala joints dish out cheap meals. At the wharf on the Persian Gulf

photo: davi d yoder

Bedouin love falconry. Food was traditionally scarce for desert nomads and protein in their diet important, so the Bedouin found the ultimate hunting machine. Hunting is no longer permitted in Abu Dhabi, to preserve its fauna, but falconry remains a passion. Nearly every Emirati with a camel stable also has birds. In late afternoon, Salem hands me over to Mubarak Al Mazrouei, who’s taking two of his five Saker falcons out for evening training. They’re big and beautiful, with enormous talons and pouffy chests. Their eyes are covered by a leather hood, their legs tied loosely to wooden stands. We load them into the car and drive into the desert, stopping on a plateau. “I fly them every morning and evening,” Al Mazrouei says. He takes the hood off one, unties its leash and off

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at dawn, hundreds of wooden dhows disgorge their catches of silvery fish. A boat crew from Gujarat, India, invites me to join them for rice with pickled mango, curried crab and a few shots of Scotch. It’s all so international—a mix of everyone in a certain place that isn’t really anywhere. But the desert calls. I grab snacks, water and a sleeping bag and drive out to Tal Mireb, which, I’ve heard, is the tallest dune reachable by road. I don’t want just to see the Empty Quarter— I want to experience it, to understand what Thesiger meant when he wrote: “It was very still, with the silence which we have driven from our world.” Two hours out of the city, the dunes

are huge tidal waves of orange and yellow under watercolour blue. It’s nearly twilight when I find Tal Mireb. I settle the vehicle into a level nook of sand from which I can see no road and climb on foot as high as I can. The sun is an orange ball dipping behind the dunes. There is silence. The slightest of breezes blows, and it feels as if the whole world is alive, quietly, here. This surely is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. I lie on the warm sand as still as I can be. There’s no movement but the stars. I want to write about them. But the Empty Quarter is so empty that it’s full, and the sound of my pen scratching on my notepad is much too loud.

the papers say the funniest things Irish police are being handicapped in a search for a stolen van, because they cannot issue a description. It’s a special-branch vehicle, and they don’t want the public to know what it looks like. the guardian

A young girl who was blown out to sea on a set of inflatable teeth was rescued by a man on an inflatable lobster. A coastguard spokesman commented, “This sort of thing is all too common.” the Times

Mrs Irene Graham of Thorpe Avenue, Boscombe, delighted the audience with her reminiscence of the German prisoner of war who was sent each week to do her garden. He was repatriated at the end of 1945, she recalled. “He’d always seemed a nice friendly chap, but when the crocuses came up in the middle of our lawn in February 1946, they spelt out ‘Heil Hitler’.” Bournemouth Evening Echo

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

The average funeral cost is expected to reach more than £5,800 by 2020 Paying for your funeral now at today’s prices could save your loved ones a great deal of money

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Average funeral cost Projected funeral cost

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*Mintel: Funerals – UK – January 2007. **Funeral costs research carried out by Matter Communications. †2020 forecast based on the average compound increase of 7.09% each year between 2006 and 2013.

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immense relief I felt “ The after taking out the plan was great. I have been worrying about it for a while and I would certainly encourage anyone to do it. To take the worry off my children was a relief and although they told me I didn’t need to do it, they were grateful that I had made the decision and I have control over what kind of funeral I want.

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MONEY

An Alternative Route To Home Ownership Buying your own home could be easier than you think with the help of government schemes By jas m i ne b i r t le s

It may feel as though a home of your own is out of reach, but there are some great government schemes that

could give you a financial leg-up onto the home-buying ladder, which are available right now. Help to Buy

This scheme supports people who have at least a 5% deposit, enabling them to purchase a home worth up to £600,000. Help

“Perfect for students…we’ll take it” 104 |

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cartoon by steve way

Jasmine is a personal finance writer and the founder of moneymagpie. com

to Buy offers two options for first-time buyers and existing owners—the equity loan and the mortgage guarantee. Option 1: Equity loan This is for new-build properties only. On top of your deposit of at least 5%, the government will lend you up to 20% of the value of your property through an equity loan, which can be repaid at any time or on the sale of your home. You will only need to secure up to a 75% mortgage from a bank or building society. This is available until 2016. Option 2: Mortgage guarantee This is for both new-build and existing properties. You’ll need a deposit of as little as 5%, and can be a a first-time buyer or existing homeowner. Under this scheme, the government offers banks and other mortgage lenders the option to purchase a guarantee on their mortgage loans. Do remember, though, that you’re still fully responsible for your mortgage repayments. So if you have a 5% deposit, you’ll need to take out and pay back a 95% mortgage, which isn’t always easy. This is available until January 2017. Shared ownership

This is where you buy a share of your home and pay rent on the rest—usually sharing ownership of the property with a housing association or local authority. You pay rent to your landlord for part of the property and you get a mortgage on the rest. You’ll be able to buy further

shares in the property at a later date. To qualify for the scheme, you’ll have to be a first-time buyer and be able to prove you can cover a mortgage for part of the property. Priority is usually given to housing association or local-authority tenants, but other people in housing need may also be considered for the scheme. You’ll have to sign up to a housing association to qualify, which may have an extremely long waiting list. You can find a list of landlords who provide accommodation through shared ownership by visiting shared-ownership.org.uk If you’re 55 or over, you can get help from another scheme called Older People’s Shared Ownership. This works in the same way, but you can only buy up to 75% of your home. Once you own 75%, though, you won’t have to pay rent on the remaining share. Buying your Council house with “Right to Buy”

If you’re a tenant of a council property then you may well be entitled to become the owner of your home. What’s more, you could find your home is offered to you at a friendly discount. The size of the discount will vary according to how much the house is worth, where you live and how long you’ve been a tenant. But before you jump in, speak to local estate agents about the saleability —or rentability—of your home. Find out more on how you could buy your council house at gov.uk 10•2014

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money

Make Money From Driving Your Car Your car needn’t be a constant drain on your purse—here are three ways you can make it pay for itself. Ads on your car

Not everyone can do this, but if you drive the right car (usually under eight years old) and you drive a lot, you could make up to £1,500 a year by allowing adverts on your car. Sign up to money4space.co.uk or comm-motion.com, which look for people who fit the bill. They “wrap” ads onto your vehicle without harming the paintwork, which can earn you between £60 and £1,500 a year depending on the size of the advert you agree to display. You may even get some freebies thrown in by the company you advertise. And with such a uniquelooking car, there’s much less chance of it being stolen! Be a courier

Courier jobs involve carrying parcels in your vehicle to their destination—on time and with minimum hassle. Couriers are self-employed, but they contract out to various courier companies. 106 |

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All the jobs are recorded by you and the company, and you invoice the company at the end of the week. It’s something you can do on the side for as many days or hours as you want. You can be contracted to one courier company or several. There are over 60 courier companies in London alone, and more than 1,300 across the whole of the UK. Most companies have offices all over the country. It’s possible to make decent money from couriering—the average per day seems to be about £140. Depending on where you are and how many jobs you do, you could earn upwards of £300 a day, which could mean £1,500 a week—and even £70,000 a year full time.

Re a d e r ’ s D i g e s t

School-run nanny (or manny!)

Working parents around the country need someone to pick up and care for their children between the end of school and the time they get back from work. Many of these jobs demand someone who can drive and who can use their own car. Essentially, you just have to pick the children up after school and look after them for a few hours until their parents come home. The work involves going to the school (usually around 3–5pm), taking the children home, feeding them, supervising their homework or playing with them and keeping them occupied. You should make a minimum of £10 an hour, although in London and the Home Counties it’s more likely to be up to £12 per hour. The pay will also vary depending on how many children you have to look after and how old they are. Younger children need more care, so you might be able to negotiate higher pay for them. If you use your car to drive the children about, you should charge mileage—around 40p per mile. But you’ll also need to change your car insurance cover, as you’ll be using your car for business. It would be worth negotiating with the parents to get them to cover your extra insurance costs. And also bear in mind that anyone who works with children needs a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check—visit gov.uk for details.

One thing you must do this month ...is get your Christmas list sorted before the prices go up. If you’re on a tight budget, trawl the charity shops—they often have untouched gifts that make great presents. Make use of our extra bargain this month: 15% off Delimann’s range of hampers and their Christmas selection of foodie gifts. Visit delimann.co.uk and enter the code DMXMAS15 at the checkout (offer ends November 20).

This month’s bargain Get 10% off of home security and crime-prevention products, courtesy of Redline Security. Visit redlinesecurity.co.uk and enter ghU78k at the checkout (offer ends October 31).

Fascinating fact Nearly half (47%) of UK adults would drive if they had to make a journey of just one mile, according to insurancecomparison site gocompare.com.

Jargonbuster Basis point: 100 basis points make up one percentage point, so an interest rate cut of 25 basis points would be, effectively, 0.25 taken off the rate. This would mean, for example, that 3% would be brought down to 2.75%.

for more, go to readersdigest.co.uk/money

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food & DRink

Easy recipes you can cook in 30 minutes

Pork chops go extremely well with plum jam, soy sauce

and hot cayenne pepper, while the crisp cabbage served alongside the dish gets its own spicy boost from the chilli and garlic. SERVES 4 • 700g crisp green cabbage, such as savoy • 1 large, fresh red chilli • 2 cloves garlic • 3 tablespoons good plum jam • 1½ tablespoons soy sauce • ½ teaspoon ground allspice • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper • 4 pork loin chops, about 175g each • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar • Salt and black pepper • 3 tablespoons olive oil 1. Preheat the grill to high. Halve the cabbage and discard the centre. Coarsely chop the leaves, rinse them 110

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well, then drain them in a colander. 2. Rinse, halve and deseed the chilli, and slice it finely. Peel and roughly chop the garlic. Set them both aside. 3. Gently warm the plum jam and soy sauce in a small pan, season with the allspice and cayenne, then sieve if necessary. 4. Arrange the chops on the grill rack and cook for 5–7 minutes each side, brushing the plum glaze over them halfway through cooking each side. 5. Meanwhile, mix the cider vinegar with three tablespoons of water and some salt and pepper. 6. Heat the oil in a large pan, add the chilli and garlic and fry them for 30– 40 seconds. Add the cabbage and toss it in the oil. Stir in the diluted vinegar, cover and cook for 4 minutes. 7. Uncover the pan, raise the heat and continue to cook the cabbage until all the liquid has evaporated. Serve the spicy cabbage with the plum-glazed chops.

Turn the page for further tips and accompaniments

photographed by fabfoodp i x

Plum-Glazed Pork with Spicy Cabbage

Food & Drink

To Pair With The Pork By R ac h e l wa l k e r

Rachel is a food writer and blogs at thefoodieat.org

Getting a different type of spice If you don’t like eye-wateringly hot chillies, try swapping them for Szechuan (pronounced “si-chew-un”) peppercorns in this spicy cabbage side. They’re known for having a cold, tongue-tingling spice. Simply fry the cabbage with the garlic and stir a big pinch of ground Szechuan peppercorns through it before serving. Schwartz and Bart brands of Szechuan peppercorns are now stocked in major supermarkets, and Jamie Oliver also includes it in his spice range—in a Szechuan pepper, chilli and ginger salt grinder.

Ideal wines for the dish ■■ Taste the Difference Alsace Gewürztraminer, Sainsburys, £8 ■■Viñas del Vero Gewürztraminer 2013 Somontano, Majestic, £9.99 (buy two bottles and save 15%) ■■ Zarcillo Bío-Bío Gewürztraminer 2013, The Wine Society, £6.50 French wine is best known for big Bordeaux and crisp Burgundies, and

less so for the sweet, fragrant Gewürztraminer wine produced in the Alsace region, on the French-German border. While contemplating what to drink 112

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R e a d e r ’ s D i g e st

White Port

Gewürztraminer with, also think about what bottle to serve with a Chinese dish such as plum-glazed pork. In August, I recommended a Czech pilsner to partner with the oriental lamb medallions. Beer is a good fallback when you’re struggling to match drink with Chinese or Indian food, but Gewürztraminer offers a very elegant solution. Though the name Gewürz means spicy, it’s actually perfumed and sweet, with exotic lychee, rose-petal notes. Seldom oaked but musky and expressive, Gewürztraminer is the perfect oddball to solve the winepairing problem thrown up by a chillisoy-garlic-plum glaze. Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Gewürztraminer has rich honeysuckle notes that work beautifully with the jammy, plummy pork. The Wine Society also stock a Chilean Gewürztraminer, made from grapes grown on the cool banks of the BíoBío River, which is excellent value at just £6.50 a bottle.

The clocks go back at the end of the month, and as the nights get longer and the evenings get chillier, we start reaching for comforting reds over chilled whites. But don’t hurtle straight to the ruby ports consumed at Christmas—instead, try breaking the rules by making a pit-stop via white port. Sure, it’s a drink associated with summer, but there’s no reason that you can’t break with convention and enjoy a glass of white port as a delicious alternative to a pudding wine. If serving a sweet French white with plum-glazed pork, it’s fitting to finish on a topsyturvy note and enjoy a glass of white port with pudding. TOP TIP: Make a white-port cocktail by putting one shot in a highball glass. Fill with ice cubes and top up with tonic water. Garnish with a slice of lemon, a sprig of mint or lemon thyme. ■■ Sandeman Apitiv White Port, Ocado, £11.49 ■■ Dow’s Fine White Port, Masters of Malt, £11.10 ■■ Taylor’s Chip Dry White Port, Ocado, £12.99

for more, go to readersdigest.co.uk/food-drink

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home & Garden

Protect Your Pond

The goldfish in our pond keep being eaten by herons—how can we stop these birds targeting our garden? Herons become more of a problem from autumn to spring when there’s less plant cover to protect fish. Give the fish some secure hiding places, such as short lengths of drainpipe, Fish in ponds are more visible to herons over the then put in place some form of autumn months heron deterrent. The safest means of protection is to cover the pond with a net. You can also on lawns, especially this time of year, stretch a wire at a height of six inches when they come up to pull fallen just back from the pond’s edge. This leaves and grass clippings into the will trip and frighten a heron when soil. If you don’t disperse the casts on it lands and tries to walk to the edge. lawns, the mower or your feet will Another option is to buy a movement- flatten them, smothering the underlydetecting bird-scaring device. ing grass. Worm casts also contain weed seeds brought up from below ground level, and these will germinate Is there anything I can do to when they’re exposed to daylight. deter worms from burrowing These worms tend to prefer in my lawn? alkaline, or limy, soil, so by using an Worms are very useful in the acidic fertiliser such as sulphate or garden, recycling dead plant ammonia in spring and summer, the material, aerating the soil and number of worms will gradually improving its structure, but they do reduce as the soil turns more acidic. unfortunately make disfiguring casts

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The worms will move to surrounding borders to carry on their useful work.

Q A

I often have apples left on the trees at the end of autumn, how can I prevent wasting them? Although ideally apples and pears are left on the tree until ripe enough to pick, late maturing varieties are best cleared by the end of this month or early November, and stored indoors to continue ripening before the weather deteriorates.

I’d like to take cuttings from my blackberry bush to give to my son, when and how should I go about doing this? Take hardwood cuttings from gooseberry and currant bushes as soon as the leaves have fallen. Select strong, straight stems of this year’s growth on healthy plants. Cut the base just below a leaf joint and remove the thin growing tip to leave a cutting about 12-inches long. Dig a long slit trench in a sheltered area of weed-free ground. Push in the cuttings about four inches deep and six inches apart, and firm with your foot. On heavy soil, cover the bottom of the slit with two inches of sharp sand before inserting the cuttings. These should be left undisturbed until next autumn when they can be moved to their final positions.

Submit your gardening questions at readersdigest.co.uk/contact-us

checklist october Tidy beds for winter when roses have lost their leaves. Gather and remove or burn fallen leaves, clear away all weeds and lightly fork or hoe in surface mulches. Plant hardy climbers and wall shrubs in well-prepared ground Move frost-tender perennials and shrubs under cover before the first frost. Keep them in a greenhouse or conservatory that is heated sufficiently to remain frost-free. Protect new plants, especially young evergreens, from cold winds.

reader’s tip To keep snails at bay, put growbags on a garden table with each of the legs in a bowl of water—snails will not cross the water. Many thanks to Elizabeth Moore of Devon for sending this in. Send us your gardening tips—with photos, if possible. Go to readers digest.co.uk/contact-us. We’ll pay £50 if we use them on this page.

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Technology

Handing Over The Housework By olly mann

Olly is a technology expert, LBC presenter and Answer Me This! podcaster

iRobot Roomba 880, £649.99

Unlike my previous smiley-faced Henry vacuum cleaner, who followed me around like a dustsucking Thomas the Tank Engine, the Roomba 880 is more like Robocop: an entirely autonomous robot with no endearing human features, on a mission to terminate cat hair from the carpet. It’s smart enough to return to its docking station when it needs a charge and aware enough not to fall down the stairs—the convenience justifies the cost.

Android app of the month: Echo 112, free

When an emergency happens in Britain, we all know the number to call: it’s been drummed into us through countless primaryschool presentations and, erm, Michael Buerk. But if

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you’re stuck up a mountain abroad, you’ll appreciate that 999 isn’t universal. This app provides a giant red SOS button with which to contact immediately the local emergency services, wherever you are in the world, and will even text them your location.

Doona car seat and stroller, £299

Parents these days equip themselves for a trip to the supermarket with more luggage than Elizabeth Taylor. One solution to cut back on the bulk is this novel car seat, which converts to a buggy at the touch of a button. So no need to wake a sleeping baby to transfer them from stroller to car. However, soon enough you’ll need to buy a separate car seat, as the Doona is only for kids up to 18 months. Plantronics Backbeat FIT headphones, £85

The Backbeat FIT in-ear headphones are designed specifically for sports: covered in a nanocoating to repel sweat and rain, and entirely wireless (they connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth, so you can’t accidentally cut off your music with an athletic thrust of your arm). They take calls too—controls for which are located on the earpieces—and sound quality is strong.

APPLE app of the month Hanx Writer, free

As well as winning Oscars and being regarded as Hollywood’s nice guy, Tom Hanks develops apps in his spare time. This one went straight to the top of the App Store chart and has one simple, yet essentially pointless, purpose: to transform your iPad keyboard into an old-fashioned typewriter, complete with clicketyclack sound effects. Yes, it’s just a gimmick, but it’s a good gimmick.

for more, go to readersdigest.co.uk/technology

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Fashion & beauty

By G e or g i n a yate s

Love Your Lashes Our lashes go through a lot of wear and tear. We rub

Georgina is a fashion and beauty editor for numerous travel titles and a blogger at cargocollective. com/withgeorgia

our eyes, lather them in mascara, clamp them with curlers and forget to remove our make-up. It’s no wonder our delicate lashes begin to weaken and shed—but there are a number of products that will help to abate the damaging effects of this daily onslaught. Physician’s Formula’s Organic Wear Lash Boosting black mascara

In Good Taste Australian Designer and selfconfessed foodie Lucy Folk has

turned her two main passions into an extremely palatable jewellery enterprise. Her debut collection hit the shelves in 2007 and enticed a cult following that includes the likes of Elle McPherson, Jessica Biel and even Snoop Dogg! For her most recent collection, Appetiser, Folk serves a lavish selection of 22-carat gold oysters with freshwater pearls, sapphire-and diamond-encrusted caviar rings, and anchovy cuff bracelets. This delightful range is every bit as indulgent as the foods that inspire it. Her quirky pieces are available to buy online at lucyfolk.com 118

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(£25.89, amazon.co.uk) is gluten-free and hypoallergenic, with 70% of its ingredients produced with organic farming. You can also consider wearing a primer to act as a protective barrier. Clinque’s Lash Building Primer (£13, clinique. com) is a white basecoat that really does the trick. It acts like a mascara, lifting and lengthening the lashes, and you only need a small amount of your mascara on top for a full-lash look. Lastly, it’s hard to find an effective make-up remover that gently wipes away mascara. I’d recommend using a botanical or 100% organic make-up remover. Cosmetic company Fresh specialises in enhancing the power of natural ingredients. Their Soy Conditioning Eye Makeup Remover (£15, fresh.com) is incredibly gentle on the eye and removes even waterproof mascara with ease. This product is also packed with all kinds of active natural ingredients that serve to soothe and soften the skin.

autumn in bloom I love the dark floral trend—it adds a touch of mystery to the feminine motif. There are some great examples of the moody bloom trend sprouting up on the high street, in ensembles for the day and for the night. ■■By Day This Floral Print Wrap Dress (top) by Laura Ashley (£70, lauraashley.com) is made from draped jersey that’s designed to hang and not cling—perfect for a stylish, yet comfortable daytime look. ■■By Night Phase Eight’s Camille Floral Dress (£99, phaseeight.co.uk) is fantastic for parties. The jersey-silk fabric and wrap cut help to create a sleek silhouette, while the stand-out print grabs attention.

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fa s h i o n & b e a u t y

Bags Of Inspiration British fashion designer Alison Lloyd marked 30 years in the

fashion industry in 2010. Her name may be unfamiliar to you, but her label Ally Capellino is one of the stars of independent British design. After 20 years as a clothing brand, Lloyd produced her first collection of bags—a decision that proved incredibly fruitful. Ally Capellino’s accessories quickly garnered a cult following, with fans from around the world taking pilgrimages to her flagship store in east London’s trendy Shoreditch. Alison Lloyd’s work is highly distinct. With her beautiful handbags for women she succeeds in unifying several contrasting design aesthetics; they are rustic, harsh and utilitarian, while their soft leather and muted colours convey a quiet elegance. The bags’ clasps are heavy—almost industrial—and so too are the dull-metal chains that form the handles. “I suppose you could call it butch feminism,” she says. Miracle Buy: Cleanser The multi awardwinning Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser from Liz Earle (£19.75, uk. lizearle.com) is a daily dirt remover that’s worthy of its laurels. Its cream-like formula is massaged onto dry skin then “polished” 120 |

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off using the muslin cloths provided. These wipe away grime and exfoliate dead skin cells. It’s like a face wash, cleanser and exfoliator all in one, making it a perfect product for those who like to keep their beauty regime to a fuss-free minimum.

Reader’s Digest

Her knack for unifying the often polar opposite worlds of practicality and luxury fashion has directly contributed to one of her most notable collaborations. In 2008 she was appointed by the technology giant Apple to create a series of bags designed to carry their products. In her AW14 collection, comprising leather, waxed cotton and canvas bags for men and women, Ally Capellino takes inspiration from the architecture that surrounds the second London-based store in Portobello Road. Again drawing on industrial sources, the brand transforms these seemingly bleak notions of urban life into desirable luxury items. Aside from being pleasing on the eye, I also love their durability. The metal framework is unyielding, the clasps are strong and the leather is of a quality that’s not marred by age.

Miracle Buy: Nails I love a nail polish that gives a vibrant, plump and shiny finish, and the Nails Inc Gel Effect Polishes range (£15, nailsinc. com) really does the trick. Formulated with plasticiser technology, the highly-pigmented polish goes on smoothly and there’s no need to apply a second coat. Their Mayfair Lane colour is very much in keeping with the nude nails trend. Style It Dark flora and fauna is an AW14 trend that’s not just confined to clothing. Shimmering greens and earthy browns comprise this season’s smoky-eye make-up look. I love the Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in Forest from Clarins (£32 clarins.co.uk). The shadow can also be applied with a damp brush for extra impact.

for more, go to readersdigest.co.uk/fashion-beauty

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books

A bittersweet novel about marriage and parenthood, and the tale of an extraordinary friendship

October Fiction By James Walton

James writes and presents the BBC Radio 4 literary quiz The Write Stuff

by David Nicholls (Hodder, £20; ebook, £10) David Nicholls follows up his 2011 best-selling tale of a protracted courtship with an equally irresistible novel about marriage and parenthood. The narrator is Douglas Petersen, a well-meaning but distinctly unheroic 54-year-old whose rather racier wife of 20 years announces that she’s thinking of leaving him. Nonetheless, she agrees to continue with their plan for one last family holiday, travelling round Europe with their son Albie before he leaves for college. Over the course of the trip, Douglas reflects on the course of the marriage— and of his awkward relationship with Albie. Happily, it’s soon clear that the literary gifts that made One Day such a deserved success are still in place: the pin-sharp observations about human behaviour that regularly provoke a painful wince of recognition; the awareness that social fashions shape our lives a lot more than we like to think; and, above all, the ability to combine a hugely readable and often very funny style with genuine emotional depth.

NAME THE AUTHOR

(Answer on p126) Can you guess the writer from these clues (and, of course, the fewer you need the better)? 1. One of his works was the first ever

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Penguin Classic—and for many years Penguin’s best-selling book. 2. He shares a name with “the greatest character in TV history”, as voted by Channel 4 viewers. 3. He might not have existed.

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy

by Rachel Joyce (Doubleday, £14.99; ebook, £6.49) Rachel Joyce’s The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, a huge word-of-mouth hit two years ago, began when Harold received a postcard from an old work colleague Queenie Hennessy saying she had terminal cancer. He responded by walking the 627 miles from his Devon home to her Northumberland hospice. In this book, while she waits for his arrival, Queenie turns from a slightly shadowy plot device into a fully-fledged character with her own story to tell. The result not only stands alone, but becomes an extraordinarily touching portrait both of what it’s like in a hospice—not as bleak as you might expect—and of Queenie’s determination to explain herself before it’s too late. Her contemplation of the past also adds up to an almost defiant celebration of ordinary life as most of us live it. (One of the book’s central themes, in fact, is how hard it is “to learn to be ordinary”.) Now and again, Joyce feels perhaps too fond of Queenie for the novel’s own good—but all dangers of sentimentality are banished by a final twist that makes you realise that what you’ve been reading is even sadder, and far tougher, than it seemed.

Paperbacks ■■ Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett (Corgi, £9.99) The

40th Discworld book—and as inventive and funny as ever. ■■ I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Christine Lamb (Phoenix, £7.99) Astonishing

autobiography by the teenage girl who was shot by the Taliban for fighting for female education. ■■ The Winter Garden by Jane Thynne (Simon & Schuster, £7.99) A British female spy

investigates a murder among the Nazi wives of 1937 Berlin. Both historically fascinating and a proper thriller. ■■Does My Goldfish Know Who I Am? by Gemma Elwin Harris (Faber, £8.99) Experts from

David Attenborough to Brian Cox answer some big questions from real primary school children. Quite useful for adults too. ■■ Black Sabbath by Mick Wall (Orion, £8.99)

The full story— not for the faint-hearted— of the heavymetal band that featured Ozzy Osbourne on lead vocals.

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BOOKS

RD’s Recommended Read

What does the evolution of humanity have to do with the contents of your pencil case?

A Staple Read

Adventures In Stationery: A Journey Through Your Pencil Case by James Ward is published by Profile Books at £12.99; ebook, £12.99 124 |

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as exactly what are the “1000s of uses” that Blu-Tack boasts about on its packaging (“I can think of maybe four,” Ward writes). As he goes through each item in turn, it’s surprising how long ago and how recently many of them were invented. Pens that store their own ink, for example, didn’t fully arrive until well into the 20th century. But perhaps best of all are the eureka moments that inspired some of the inventions. The Pritt Stick, for instance, was conceived in 1967 when a German adhesives researcher saw a woman putting on lipstick and realised the same design could be used for glue. However, not all the breakthroughs have been made by professionals…

‘‘

After leaving school at 17, Bette McMurray applied for a job as a secretary at a Texas law firm, even though she couldn’t type. Luckily, she

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PROFILE BOOKS

According to James Ward, “It’s only a slight exaggeration to say that the history of stationery is the history of human civilisation”. This claim might sound extravagant, yet, coming in the concluding chapter of this fascinating book, it seems impossible to deny. By then, we’re shown how developments in stationery have revolutionised life over the centuries, and just how much human endeavour and ingenuity have gone into producing the stuff we use every day without a thought. By his own admission, Ward takes stationery pretty seriously. But, while his book is clearly the result of serious research, it’s written in an engagingly conversational style—and packed with the kind of entertaining facts you immediately want to tell other people. Not that he avoids the big issues, such

got it—and the company even paid for her to attend a secretarial school. In 1942, she married Warren Nesmith and they had a son, Michael. The marriage didn’t last, but through hard work and determination, by 1951, Bette had become executive secretary at the Texas Bank & Trust in Dallas. But still she couldn’t type properly. For a long time, this wasn’t a problem; she’d just rub out the mistake. But as the company switched to IBM electric typewriters, she found standard typewriter erasers left smear marks on the page. However, Bette found a solution when she volunteered to work overtime one Christmas to help pay the bills. While decorating the window for the bank, she watched the artists painting the signboards. ‘With lettering, an artist never corrects by erasing but always paints over the error,’ she later wrote, ‘so I decided to use what artists use. I put some tempura waterbase paint in a bottle

R eader ’ s D i ge s t

More from Adventures in Stationery: Mankind’s Age-Old Dream of a Fountain Pen “In the 10th century, caliph Al-Mu’izz li-Din Allah (in north Africa) commissioned the construction of a metal pen, considered by some to be a prototype of the modern fountain pen. Recorded by historian Qadi al-Nu’man al Tamimi in his 962 work Book of Homiletic Sessions, Accompaniments on Journeys, Halting Places and Administrative Decrees, the caliph described his desire to create ‘a pen which can be used for writing without having recourse to an ink holder and whose ink will be contained inside it’. The pen would be filled with ink, and when the user has finished writing with it ‘and the ink has become dry, the writer can then put it in his sleeve or anywhere he wishes and it will not stain it at all, nor will any drop of ink leak out of it. The ink will only flow when he expressly desires it to do so and when there is an intention to write it’. When asked by Qadi al-Nu’man if such a thing was possible, Al-Mu’izz replied, ‘It is possible, if God so wills’…” Sadly, no details of the pen’s construction have been found.”

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BOOKS

and took my watercolour brush to the office. And I used that to correct my mistakes.’ After a while, her colleagues began to ask Bette if they could have some

continued to work at the bank, until she was suddenly fired. Ironically, the reason was down to a typing error. In a letter for her boss to sign, she accidentally typed ‘The Liquid Paper

Bette concentrated on Liquid Paper full time, but it wasn’t easy—especially as Michael was no longer around to help. He was now one quarter of The Monkees too, and she realised there might be some commercial potential in this new product, which she called ‘Mistake Out’. Getting advice from one of Michael’s chemistry teachers and a local paint manufacturer, Bette made some improvements and paid a chemist $200 to develop a solventbased formula that would dry quicker. After changing the name to ‘Liquid Paper’ and patenting the formula, she began to market it. She set up a miniature production line from her garage, with Michael helping to fill hundreds of bottles. In 1957, a magazine article boosted sales to more than a thousand a month. Despite the increased demand, Bette and the NAME of THE AUTHOR is… Homer (The TV character is Homer Simpson, and the book was The Odyssey).

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Company’ instead of the bank’s name. The game was up. Bette now concentrated on Liquid Paper full time, but success wasn’t easy—especially as Michael was no longer around to help (in 1965, he’d replied to an advert for ‘Folk & Roll [sic] Musicians-Singers for acting roles in new TV series’ and was now one quarter of The Monkees). In 1968, the company was producing 10,000 bottles a day and grossed over $1m. Over the next few years, it grew even more—producing 25m bottles a year by 1975. Four years later, the company was bought by the Gillette Corporation for $47.5m. After Bette died in 1980, Michael inherited $25m—which helped him realise his concept of a TV show playing music videos and which inadvertently paved the way for MTV. If video killed the radio star, then it was funded by correction fluid.

’’

Books

that changed my life

Andrew Roberts is the author of many prizewinning history books, including The Holy Fox, Masters and Commanders and The Storm of War. His latest book Napoleon is published this month

In the First Circle By Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Like most adolescents, I became interested in politics in my teens and read this novel when still at school. Set over three days in post-war Soviet Russia, it’s the story of a brilliant mathematician and his fellow inmates in a Moscow prison. It’s a searing indictment of communism and Stalinism—I was left with a profound moral horror of totalitarianism.

Reflections on the Revolution in France

By Edmund Burke

While In the First Circle showed the evils of collectivism, this book taught me there was much good to be found in the alternatives. I read it during my year off, when I had a job deep-sea diving for Spanish treasure in the Caribbean. We spent three

months living on a boat and reading matter was limited, so, along with the complete works of Joseph Conrad, I read this over and over again. I’ll never forget watching the professional divers getting the equipment ready while I sat on the deck reflecting on French revolutionary politics in the 1790s. I own a first edition now and it’s my most prized possession.

Talleyrand

By Alfred Duff Cooper

This biography of Napoleon’s foreign secretary is one of the great works of history and literature. It reads like a page-turning novel, and it was a revelation to me—an undergraduate studying history—that history writing can be just as exciting as fiction. If history is to ignite interest, it needs to engage with the heart as well as the brain, and Duff Cooper shows how to do that to perfection. As told to Caroline Hutton

for more, go to readersdigest.co.uk/books

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FUn & Games

You Couldn’t Make It Up Win £50 for your true, funny stories! Go to readersdigest. co.uk/contact-us or facebook.com/readersdigestuk

for my mum written on pieces of scrap paper, in case I see one for sale. While out one day, I bumped into our local builder. I was eager to get him to do some work for me, so I wrote my name and mobile number on a piece of paper from my handbag. Just as I was handing it over, I saw one of the book titles written on the other side. It read Night Time Is My Time, followed by a “xx” from my mum, who’d written out the suggestion for me. What would he have thought if he’d taken that home? Joanne Campbell, County Antrim

My neighbour was attempting to give her dog worming tablets.

Despite trying several different methods, including inserting them into fairy cakes, she still couldn’t get the tablets down the dog’s throat. 128

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Deciding that she needed her husband’s help, she left the buns on the table until he came home from work. Unfortunately, he got back earlier than expected and ate some of the buns—and subsequently went through several rolls of toilet paper quite quickly. From then on, he’s always asked before eating any food he’s found lying around. Ann Wilson, Yorkshire At the funeral of a family friend, I was chatting to June,

an elderly lady who I hadn’t seen

cartoon by steve way

I’ve been carrying around book titles

R e a d e r ’ s Dig e s t

since I was a teenager. I was thrilled when she told me what a beautiful young woman I’d become. On the journey home, I remarked to my mother how lovely it had been to see June again. “Yes, it’s such a shame that she’s gone blind,” said my mum sadly. rEBECCA RIDGWAY, Bedfordshire

When i worked in the post office, a lady barged in and started

complaining that she’d got home to find a note from the postman— he’d tried to deliver a package but nobody was in. “My husband was home all day,” she fumed. After I gave her the package, I heard her say, “Oh, I’m so excited—it’s my husband’s new hearing aids!” Lucy Bryn, Merseyside

I recently banged my elbow,

and it hurt so much I really wanted to swear. But with my daughter close by, I just jumped up and down crying, “Sugar, sugar, sugar!” After about 30 seconds or so, my daughter shrugged and said, “I really thought you were going to say ‘s***’ then, mummy!” Vanessa SMITH, Flintshire, Wales spotting an enormous snail

feasting on one of my plants, I “accidentally” lobbed it towards my neighbour’s garden. It sailed through the air—closely followed

by my pretty bracelet that became detached from my wrist. I ran down the garden and searched for it, but found nothing— it must have gone over into their garden. With my tail between my legs, I was forced to go and confess all to the neighbours, stressing that I’d only thrown the snail “towards”, not “at”, their garden. We went into their garden to have a look, but had no success. However, two days later, my neighbour called over the fence. “Guess what?” he said, “We didn’t find your bracelet, but we found your snail—so we’ve thrown that back!” Diane Turner, Essex

On holiday recently in Spain,

my wife asked me to get her a whiskey and ice. So I headed over to the bar. “A whiskey and ice, please,” I said to the barman. “Si Señor,” came his reply. Then deciding that I’d have one as well, I said, “Oh, would you make that twice, please.” “Si Señor,” said the barman. When he returned, he placed just one glass of whiskey and ice on the bar and went off to serve another customer. “Excuse me, I did ask for this twice,” I said to him. “Si Señor,” he said, pointing into the glass. “There’s one ice and there, look, is two ice.” P Swift, Devon 10•2014

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it pays to increase your

Word Power The confidence you project hugely affects how others perceive you. Test yourself on these words about proof, opinion and even doubt. Then check the next page for answers. By E m ily Cox & H enry Rat h von

1. waffle (‘wah-ful) v— A: flip-flop in opinion. B: press a point firmly. C: invent a wild story.

8. intuition (in-too-'ih-shun) n—

2. conjecture (con-’jek-cher) n— A: group agreement. B: guess. C: optimistic outlook.

9. indubitably (in-'du-beh-teh-blee)

3. equivocal (ih-’kwi-veh-kel) adj—

A: open to interpretations. B: firmly settled. C: in the form of a question.

10. bona fide ('boh-neh fiyd) adj— A: with high hopes. B: genuine. C: in contention.

4. corroborate (kuh-’rah-beh-rayt)

11. nebulous ('neh-byeh-les) adj—

v—A: support with evidence. B: steal another’s ideas. C: pretend to be sure.

12. surmise (sir-'miyz) v—

5. allegation (a-lih-’gay-shun) n—

A: proof. B: suspicion. C: claim. 6. precarious (pri-’kar-ee-us)

adj—A: false. B: depending on uncertain circumstances. C: having foreknowledge. 7. apocryphal (uh-’pah-kreh-ful)

adj—A: mathematical or scientific. B: not fully developed, as an idea. C: of doubtful authenticity.

A: instinctive knowledge. B: formal teaching. C: logical paradox. adv—A: certainly. B: doubtfully. C: deceitfully.

A: vague. B: all-knowing. C: making a breakthrough. A: sum up. B: suppose on limited evidence. C: apply logic. 13. spurious ('spyur-ee-us) adj— A: sharply worded. B: false or deceitful. C: impossible to refute. 14. expound (ik-’spownd) v— A: take back. B: carefully state. C: contradict. 15. tentative ('ten-teh-tiv) adj— A: forceful. B: all-inclusive. C: hesitant. 10•2014

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Word power

Answers 1. waffle—[A] flip-flop in opinion. “Stop waffling: do you prefer the green tie or the blue tie?” 2. conjecture—[B] guess. “Whether this ladder can reach that roof’s gutter is anyone’s conjecture.”

9. indubitably—[A] certainly. “ ‘These footprints, Watson,’ said Sherlock Holmes, ‘indubitably belong to the butler!’ ” 10. bona fide—[B] genuine.

“Now she’s won an Oscar, this young actress is a bone fide A-lister.”

3. equivocal—[A] open to interpretations. “The umpire may have gestured, but his meaning was equivocal.”

of practising seemed nebulous to Jill until the recital started.”

4. corroborate—[A] support with evidence. “ ‘I can corroborate Amy’s excuse,’ her mum said. ‘Rover ate her homework.’ ”

12. surmise—[B] suppose on limited evidence. “From your white moustache, I surmise that you’ve been drinking my milk.”

5. allegation—[C] claim. “Please don’t believe the wild allegations that Adrienne is making about me.”

13. spurious—[B] false or deceitful. “Tom skived off school using a spurious note from the doctor.”

11. nebulous—[A] vague. “The point

6. precarious—[B] depending

14. expound—[B] carefully state. “On the first day of school, Alex’s teacher expounded on the basics of physics to a befuddled Do you imply classroom.” or infer?

on uncertain circumstances. “Everyone’s job is precarious in this economy.” 7. apocryphal—

[C] of doubtful authenticity. “Jake gave an apocryphal story about having to tough it out at Scout camp.” 8. intuition—

[A] instinctive knowledge. “A good private eye has to trust her intuition.” 132

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When you’re the speaker and you suggest something indirectly, you imply it. When you’re the listener and you draw a conclusion from what someone else says, you infer it. Example: If you say, “Everyone needs a good diet,” a friend might infer that you mean her. She might say, “What are you implying?”

15. tentative— [C] hesitant. “A small child’s first steps are always tentative and awkward.” Vocabulary Ratings

9 & below: Economy 10–12: Business class 13–15: First class

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FUn & Games

BrainTeasers Challenge yourself by solving these puzzles and mind stretchers, then check your answers on page 137

perfect match

Which are the only two pieces that will fit together perfectly to form a complete triangle? a

squares and circles

is to is to:

AS b

a c

d b

134 |

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gone fishing

At first glance these fish may look the same, but one is slightly different. Which is the odd one out? a

do the maths

Replace the question marks with three different mathematical symbols (+, -, ÷ or x) to get the right answer

28 ? 7 ? 3 ? 5 = roll of the dice

What’s the sum total of the dots on the eleven hidden sides of these three dice?

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bra i n t e as e rs

Concise Crossword

Can you complete the crossword? If you do it correctly, the coloured squares will reveal the name of a well-known actor.

10 11

16 18

Down

1 Beach cover (4) 3 Territory (4) 5 In existence (5) 6 Public garden (4) 8 Type of beer (6) 10 Contented (9) 13 Fabric (6) 15 Phobia (4) 16 More recent (5) 17 Unit of length (4) 18 Lacklustre (4)

1 Gradient (5) 2 Murky (4) 3 Abandoned (4) 4 Milk depot (5) 7 Swelter (5) 8 Bowl (5) 9 Topic (5) 11 Rugby formation (5) 12 Sadistic (5) 14 Yarn (4) 15 River crossing (4)

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Answers Across: 1 Sand 3 Land 5 Alive 6 Park 8 Bitter 10 Satisfied 13 Cotton 15 Fear 16 Latter 17 Mile 18 Dull Down: 1 Slope 2 Dark 3 Left 4 Dairy 7 Roast 8 Basin 9 Them 11 Scrum 12 Cruel 14 Tale 15 Ford

Across

The actor is Ben Affleck

Reader’s Digest

BrainTeasers: Answers perfect match

D and G, thus:

£50 prize question Answer published in the November issue

* Entry is open only to residents of the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland aged 18 or over. It is not open to employees of Vivat Direct Limited (t/a Reader’s Digest), its subsidiary companies and all other persons associated with the competition.

Find the odd number out

squares and circles

143

A. The square in the middle goes to the top of the pyramid. The remaining two squares remain at the bottom but switch places.

169

gone fishing

256

D is the correct answer.

225

The first correct answer we pick on September 25 wins £50!* Email excerpts@readersdigest.co.uk

do the maths

28 ÷ 7 x 3 + 5 = 17 roll of the dice

41. There are 21 dots on each die, thus a total of 63 dots on the three dice. Since 22 dots are visible, the total number of dots on the sides that aren’t visible amounts to 41.

Answer to September’s prize question

All the others are odd numbers. And the £50 goes to… John Samson from Edinburgh

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