news & book reviews - sixty plus surfers

Sixtyplusurfers has teamed up with Contender Films to offer four lucky readers the chance to win The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency DVD, a box of Redbush Tea Bags and a Bar of Luxury Handmade Redbush Soap.

The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (cert 12) is the charming story of a female detective agency based in Botswana. This stunning film directed by Anthony Minghella and scripted by Richard Curtis is currently available on DVD.

Precious Ramotswe (played by Grammy award-winning singer Jill Scott), sells her late father’s cows and moves to the city to become Botswana’s finest – and only – female private detective. Her methods may be unconventional but she's got warmth, wit and canny intuition on her side, not to mention the support of her friends Mr JLB Matekoni (Lucian Msanati), proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors and Mma Makutsi (Anika Noni Rose, Dreamgirls), the fastest-typing secretary in Gaborone.

Precious is going to need as much help as she can get to solve the mysteries of a missing finger, a dubious daddy, and a cheating husband as she heads into dark and dangerous territory on the trail of a missing child…

This uplifting and enchanting tale is produced by Academy Award winning filmmaker Sydney Pollack and Timothy Bricknell (Cold Mountain) for Mirage Productions along with Amy Moore.

Redbush Tea and Soap

Four lucky winners will receive a copy of the film on DVD, and a gorgeous package from Redbush including tea and a luxury handmade soap.

Find out more about Redbush by clicking on www.redbushtea.com

For more information about the film and to join the Facebook Group just click on www.new.facebook.com/group

To view a short trailer click here

To Enter the Competition

Tell us who wrote the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency Books?

The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency DVD

a) Charles Dickens
b) Alexander McCall Smith
c) Kingsley Amis
d) Agatha Christie

Then Send in Your Answer

When you have decided who wrote The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency Books, just send in your answer together with your name and address to the Sixtyplusurfers inbox by clicking on the link below:
sixtyplusurfers@hotmail.co.uk

* This competition is open to our
UK visitors only

Fern Britton will Join Professor Robert Winston for his Next Challenge in Jordan

Fern Britton cycles to improve the health
of women and babies

This Morning television presenter Fern Britton has pledged to get on her bike for a fourth time to raise money for Professor Robert Winston’s appeal to improve the health of women and babies.

Britain’s favourite daytime television presenter has already completed women-only cycle challenges in Egypt and India for Women for Women, the fundraising arm of the Institute of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Trust. In six weeks time she will fly to Cuba for her third ride with 85 other women, including two This Morning viewers. Fern has inspired hundreds of other women across the UK to take up the challenge of cycling to raise funds for research work.

To date more than 1,200 women from all walks of life and from across the UK have raised more than £2 million to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a range of devastating conditions which cause miscarriage, genetic diseases, infertility, cancer and brain damage by taking part in women-only cycle rides in Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Cuba, Turkey and India. Women for Women is administered by the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Trust, a registered charity. Professor Lord Winston is Chairman of the Trust (IOGT) and Women for Women.

The next challenge, Cycle Jordan, is a 300kms ride in Jordan through the Dead Sea valley. The group will cycle through amazing scenery, sleeping in a Bedouin camp one night and in hotels on the other five nights, sharing the challenges and the experience of a special journey. Highlights will include floating in the Dead Sea, camping in the desert and visiting the magnificent red rock city of Petra. Jordan is a small country that forms part of the land bridge linking Europe, Africa and Asia. The country is mainly desert with the plunging rift of the Jordan Valley running into the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth.

Funds raised by the Women for Women rides are used to train women scientists and clinicians of the highest calibre to work on major research projects to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a range of devastating conditions that cause miscarriage, genetic diseases, infertility and cancer. The aim is to safeguard our future generations by improving women’s health and ensuring more women have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. Professor Winston is asking women to join Cycle Jordan to raise funds to continue ground-breaking medical research.

Robert Winston asks women to join Cycle Jordan to raise funds for medical research

Calling on women from across the UK to join him for Cycle Jordan, Professor Winston says, "Women have raised more than £2 million to improve, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a range of devastating conditions that cause brain injury, miscarriage, genetic diseases, infertility and cancer by taking part in our rides. Come and join this fantastic team of special women.”

And Fern Britton adds, “Women for Women challenges are amazing. Not only do you get fit and have an adventure of a lifetime, you make lots of wonderful new friends along the way. I have personally got so much out of doing the rides myself and highly recommend them.”

To take part in Cycle Jordan women need to pay a registration fee of £250 and pledge to raise minimum funds of £2,500 for Women for Women. There are two event dates: 3-10 October 2009 or 11 – 18 October 2009. The personal challenge for women is to train and get fit enough to take part; to raise at least the minimum sponsorship funds and to accomplish the cycle ride in Jordan.

For more information and to book a place click on www.actionforcharity.co.uk or Telephone 0845 408 2698.

For details about Women for Women visit the Institute of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Trust website by clicking on www.iogt.org.uk or www.women-for-women.org

Visit The Christmas Adventure in Yorkshire

Visit The Christmas Aventure in Yorkshire

Set in the beautiful grounds of Stockeld Park, near Wetherby in Yorkshire, The Christmas Adventure is Winter fun at its nostalgic best. Visitors to the estate can enjoy a host of rosy-cheek inducing outdoor activities and, from dusk, illuminations add to the magic.

The Enchanted Wood: with its mythical creatures, artistic sculptures and stunning tableaux, a stroll along the mile long trail is a bewitching experience, especially after dusk when the wonderful illuminations come on.

The Nordic Ski Trail

Nordic Ski Trail: Hugely popular in Europe, cross country skiing is easier than it looks as it uses the body’s natural movements. The Christmas Adventure uses a synthetic surface, so there’s no reliance on the white stuff.

The Massive Maze: Enter the stunning snowflake-shaped maze made from over 2,500 yew trees and embark on over a mile of gently lit pathways with 12 Days of Christmas themed gates.

Skating Rink: Glide across the eco-friendly rink beneath the stars. The artificial surface gives the same experience as ice, without the cold and un-environmentally friendly downsides.

There’s also a Woodland Café offering warming drinks and snacks, a beautiful Santa’s Grotto and a shop offering tasteful gifts, decorations and Stockeld-grown non-drop trees.

Buy tasteful gifts, Christmas decorations and trees

Entry to Stockeld Park is free, simply pay by activity.

For details about the Christmas Adventure click on www.thechristmasadventure.com

News & Book Reviews

Thrill-Seeker Barbara Harnesses up with Stannah

Thrill-Seeker Barbara Harnesses up with Stannah

Barbara Cairns, (aged 58), from Leyland, Lancashire, has fulfilled a life-long ambition by abseiling down nail-biting cliffs in the stunning setting of Cumbria, courtesy of the Stannah Think Again Fund as a result of entering the competition featured in the August issue of Sixtyplusurfers.

Barbara’s interest in abseiling began when she met her partner John – an abseiler in his earlier days, she was enthralled with his thrilling experiences.

Despite living in Lancashire, surrounded by some of the UK’s most exciting terrain, with the mountains of Cumbria on one side and the beautiful scenery of the Pennines on the other, Barbara never pursued her secret ambition. She dampened her dreams with thoughts of being too old to learn and not confident enough with outdoor pursuits, but then she read about the Think Again Fund.

Two months on Barbara has had the experience of a lifetime by harnessing up at Cathedral Quarry in Coniston. With John at her side, Barbara took to the precipices of one of the most beautiful mountain-scapes the UK has to offer. Five hours of one-to-one instruction has given her the confidence to recognise her ambition and pursue it further in the future.

Barbara Cairns

Barbara said of her adventure, "It was such a thrilling day that I will remember forever, and I think I ended up surprising everybody! I will definitely be ready for more challenges in the future. I feel a new person. When it was all over we climbed back into the car and Tim, our instructor, gave us a cup of very welcome hot chocolate.

"I owe the Think Again Fund a big thank you for giving me the opportunity to abseil. I would have ended up missing this experience the fund’s help.”

The Think Again Fund was launched by Stannah Stairlifts in response to a poll conducted amongst the over 50's that revealed only 13% feel they are achieving their life goals and two thirds regret not having pursued their dreams when they were younger.

The Fund has been gathering pace and reputation over the last 18 months and has seen Derek, (80), skydiving; Richard, (74), rock climbing; and Mary, (69), racing a Lotus Esprit.

Managing Director of Stannah Lift Services, Jon Stannah, said, “It’s Stannah's pleasure and privilege to give Barbara this opportunity, and all Think Again Fund winners who embark on adventures they’ve only ever dreamt about. We created the fund to make people’s unresolved dreams a reality and winner’s like Barbara go to show that no matter whether your rock climbing or jumping out of a plane, it’s never too late to recognise a life-long ambition.

Over 50's can apply to the Think Again Fund and one person is selected at random each month for Stannah to help make a life-long dream come true.

For more information about the Think Again Fund click on www.stannahstairlifts.co.uk

Barbara Cairns was taught how to abseil with River Deep Mountain High.

Pack up your Troubles and Head for the 2008 Classic Motor Show
From 14th to 16th November at Birmingham's NEC

Jaguar

The credit crunch, falling house prices, rocketing gas and electric prices. Enough’s enough! Hit the rewind button to a time when the average mortgage was thruppence ha'penny, petrol cost less than ginger beer and cream eggs were definitely much bigger! Give yourself a weekend off by escaping to the Classic Motor Show, held from 14th to 16th November at Birmingham’s NEC.

Over a thousand thoroughbred and popular classic, vintage, veteran and retro cars will be packed into five halls to wave farewell to the end of the car show season. The first car you ever owned. The car your dad took you to the seaside in or the car you always wanted to own. They will all be on display and then some. So in order for you to make the most of this massively popular event, make sure that you’ve got enough time and shoe-leather to spend.

The Classic Motor Show promises to be a fantastic experience – and not just because of its impressive array of displays from national and regional clubs (many celebrating important model anniversaries) traders and classic car dealers.

Ford Escort

The Association of Rootes Car Clubs will be marking the diamond anniversary of Rootes Competition Department with a range of famous ex-Works cars and personalities on their stand. Meanwhile, the Seventies rally icon, the Ford Escort, will have its 40th marked by both the AVO Owners’ Club and the Ford RS Owners’ Club.

Fans of more leftfield classics will also get the chance to see an impressive line-up of Honda S800s (the Honda S800 Sports Car Club is 30). The Ford 100E Owners Club is showing a Squire drag-racer for the first time and Mazdarotaryclub.com is planning to give visitors an opportunity to see an incredibly rare Mazda 110S Cosmo – the world’s first twin-rotor rotary-engined car.

In addition to the clubs, there will also be a flood of other great activities to experience as well as the vast array of cars, services, parts and products.

The Restoration Theatre is hosted by a team of restoration experts from the Leeds College of Technology. The team isn’t just there to demonstrate a wide range of techniques – but they can actually physically show you what’s involved and how best to tackle a project. You can even ask them about specific jobs and, if you say please, they’ll even show you how to do it!

Bugatti Royale

The Dream Rides roll back into the NEC, offering visitors a ten-mile ride as a passenger in a classic legend – so if you’re really lucky perhaps your dream car might be on hand to give you a taste of the real thing. All you have to do is make a donation to charity. We raised over £35,000 at last year’s show so that tells you how popular this is with the punters.

Meanwhile Mike Brewer will return to the Live Stage will all provide visitors with plenty of fun and entertainment. And the tallest man in motoring, (he even looks down on Clarkson!) Edd China is back to get covered in even more oil, blood, sweat and tears, as he takes on a new challenge.

And if you still want more, well, this year’s show also has an exciting first – an area solely dedicated to classic machinery of the two-wheeled variety. Adjoining the main display halls, the Pavilion is a 5000 square metre shrine to motorcycles and scooters which will be predominantly occupied by club displays. You name it and you’ll probably see it at the show - from the humble Vespa to the mighty Vincent HRD.

See, you’re feeling happier already!

The Classic Motor Show is open from 10am until 6.30pm on Friday, 9.30am until 6.30pm on Saturday, and 9.30am until 5.30pm on Sunday. Ticket prices range from £15 when purchased in advance.

For the latest updates or to book tickets for the show click on www.necclassicmotorshow.com or call Telephone: 0870 060 3776.

Visit The Last
Post Exhibition

Writing from the front

A new exhibition ‘Last Post: Remembering the First World War’ celebrating the vital role the Post Office played during the First World War 1914-1918 delivering letters to and from the front line trenches opens on 6 November 2008 at the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms and runs until 28th February 2008.

This new temporary exhibition, jointly organised by The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) and the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms (CM&CWR), will display artefacts, posters and images from both the Imperial War Museum’s and the BPMA’s collections.

Highlights include a rare opportunity to see the Victoria Cross awarded to Sergeant Alfred J. Knight, a member of the Post Office Rifles, whose brave and selfless acts included single-handedly taking on twelve German soldiers – killing three and leaving the rest to flee.

Winston and Clementine Churchill

It will also feature the very first showing of a facsimile of Winston Churchill’s tender letter to his Wife Clementine to be opened in the event of his death, sent from the Western Front where Churchill fought from November 1915 – May 1916.

The tens of thousands of women who joined the Post Office during the war years to fill the job gaps left by over 75,000 men sent to fight are also celebrated. Visitors will learn how, for the first time in Britain, women were allowed to carry out duties such as delivering mail in urban areas and opening packets in the Returned Letter Office. These women became indispensable, sorting 12 million letters and one million parcels a week to be delivered to the front line trenches and around the world.

Tens of thousands of women joined the Post Office during the war years

Tony Conder, Chief Executive at the BPMA commented: "The role of the Post Office in the First World War is an exciting story of bravery, spies and resilience against all odds told through this fascinating exhibition."

Phil Reed, Director of the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms says, “This revealing new exhibition shows how the Post Office coped with the huge increased volumes of mail and looks at the social impact of women joining the Post Office. Also, for the first time visitors will be able to view a private letter written by Winston Churchill to his wife to be opened only in the event of his death.”

Recordings of personal stories from wartime, including an account of a 13 year old telegraph girl, Eileen Johnston, will bring the era to life for Visitors. Eileen Johnston’s father, a docker, was killed in 1915 meaning Eileen had to leave school at the age of 13.

She became a telegraph girl for the Post Office at Whitechapel. Visitors will learn how she was punished for dossing, as well as her experiences of delivering harrowing news to people that their son or husband had been killed – ‘really awful. So hard for a child to have to tell them that’ and what became of her family after her Mother’s death.

The Post Office played a vital role during the First World War

'Last Post: Remembering the First World War' demonstrates how letters were delivered to the front, how the Post Office dealt with dramatic increases in volumes of mail and the vital part that censorship played in the war effort.

The Exhibition opens on 6 November 2008 in time to mark the ninetieth anniversary of the armistice on 11 November 2008 which bought the First World War to an end.

For more information about the Cabinet War Rooms click on www.cwr.iwm.org.uk

Sixtyplusurfers Book Reviews

Twiggy
By Twiggy Lawson
Review by Jenny Itzcovitz

Twiggy: A Guide to Looking and Feeling Fabulous over Forty
Twiggy - photograph by Brian Aris

When we reach our forties, something changes. Suddenly nothing - hair, skin, body shape - looks quite the way it used to. And it's a myth to think that by using Botox, working out religiously and wearing skinny jeans you're going to fool people into thinking you're thirty.

Nothing can stop the ageing process, but that doesn't mean that you have to start wearing a twin set, cutting your hair and donning sensible shoes! You can find a new kind of beauty and a new way of being confident - why shouldn't forty, fifty, sixty or seventy be as beautiful as twenty or thirty in a different way?

Twiggy is as beautiful a woman in her fifties as she was in her twenties and has maintained her style and fabulousness without the aid of plastic surgery. Women everywhere look at her as a role model and think 'maybe I could look like that. And now, with this practical guide, containing hundreds of tips, you can ...

Twiggy: A Guide to Looking and Feeling Fabulous over Forty is a beautifully designed book filled with useful hints and tips about fashion and beauty, specifically aimed at 'grown up' women. Having been a model since she was a teenager, Twiggy has plenty of insider secrets to reveal.

Twiggy Lawson

Twiggy Lawson - photograph by Sarah Maingot

"This book will, hopefully, be a reference and offer some help to take the fear or uncertainty away, and change things around on how you go about looking good, feeling good and dressing with style," says Twiggy.

"I am not going to pretend that I am an oracle on all things. What I can do is share with you some of the things I've learned over the years about clothes, make up, looking after myself, attitude and, most important of all, shopping!"

As the world's first supermodel, Twiggy Lawson changed the face of modelling. Still gracing the covers of magazines, she's also a successful actress, singer, television presenter and fashion designer. Twiggy also spearheaded the successful Marks & Spencer advertisements which are credited with turning the stores' fortunes around.

I really enjoyed this uplifting book by Twiggy. At the age of 59, she looks fabulous and her positive outlook on life is extremely refreshing. The book is packed with helpful fashion and beauty tips to help you look good and feel confident. This is a lovely book, full of warmth and good advice to help you look great too!

Twiggy: A Guide to Looking and Feeling Fabulous over Forty is published by Penguin. Price is £20 for the hardback.

For more details click on www.penguin.co.uk

Bake

By Rachel Allen
Review by Jenny Itzcovitz

Bake by Rachel Allen

What could be better than the smell of freshly baked bread or the joy of eating warm cookies straight from the oven? From gingerbread houses and holiday delights to the warming goodness of a home baked casserole, best friend in the kitchen Rachel Allen is bring baking back with her new book, Bake.

According to Rachel, baking makes you stop and really enjoy your time in the kitchen. It's warming, comforting and nurturing, filling the house with wonderful welcoming smells, whether it's cheese straws or calzone coming hot out of the oven. In Bake Rachel has devised a collection of delicious and easy recipes including cakes and bakes, tarts and pies, quiches and casseroles, all from her brand new TV series.

Baking is not just about cakes and cookies, and Bake offers a wide range of yummy treats, both sweet and savoury. From beef and stout pie and lentil dahl to red velvet cake and Valentine's Day honey buns, the book includes ideas for all occasions from kitchen table suppers to those special celebrations. If you can master a set of weighing scales, then you have all the skills you need to bake ... so get that pinny on and start baking!

Bake is a great book to dip into and enjoy with easy to make recipes and home baked treats. Packed with large colourful photographs showing the finished foods and step-by-step instructions, there's a great variety of ideas for you to make.

Mouthwatering favourites include Rhubarb Crema Catalana, Chocolate Lava Cakes, Cornish Saffron Bread, Baked Cheesecake with Blueberries, Easy Soda Focaccia, and best of all - Christmas Pudding with Boozy Toffee Sauce. Wonderful.

"Baking has always been one of my greatest joys," says Rachel. "I have such happy memories of my sister and I when we were little, standing on kitchen chairs so that we could help Mum make biscuits or buns for the family. Even today, the wonderful, warm aromas of baking bread, cakes or cookies always transport me back to those times."

Rachel Allen was brought up in Dublin and studied at the world-famous Ballymaloe Cookery School. She is now a best-selling author and busy TV chef. Her new TV series will air on BBC1 on Saturday mornings and be on RTE prime time. You can also see her on UK TV Food.

Rachel lives in County Cork with her husband Isaac, sons Luke and Joshua and their dog Buddy.

Bake is published by HarperCollins. Price is £20 for the hardback.

For more information about Bake click on www.collins.co.uk

And to take a look at Rachel Allen's website click on www.rachelallen.co.uk

The Gardener's Book
By Diana Craig
Review by Jenny Itzcovitz

The Gardeners' Book

Thanks to a glut of celebrity chefs promoting home grown organic produce, gardening is becoming increasingly popular. Waiting lists for some inner city allotments are now in their thousands.

So, it's a perfect time to brush up on your gardening knowledge and get your hands dirty!

The Gardeners' Book is the essential handbook that every novice gardener needs when embarking on a new project, or use it just for inspiration for ideas about how to rejuvenate or improve an existing garden.

The book contains practical tips, advice, quotes sayings, gardening history and some old fashioned gardening recipes for keeping the pests at bay and your flowers blooming!

You will also find fascinating facts on gardening lore and history, garden games, ideas for making your garden the most impressive in your street, how to make and nurture a compost heap, when to sow a lawn, how to keep tools in pristine condition, and advice on planning your garden to maximum effect.

From allotment gardening to topiary there's something for everyone - whether you have a sprawling country garden or small inner city plot.

As a bit of a haphazard gardener and someone who is always asking friends for advice, I found this book very useful. I particularly liked the section on how to propagate geraniums, something which I've always wanted to do. And the chapter about sewing seeds was also very helpful. This is a handy book for all gardeners and a must have for beginners who are looking for easy-to-follow down to earth gardening advice.

The Gardeners' Book - For the Gardener Who's Best at Everything is published by Michael O'Mara Books on 6th November. Price is £9.99 for the hardback.

For more information about The Gardeners' Book click on www.mombooks.com

Tracing Your
Family History
By Anthony Adolph
Review by Jenny Itzcovitz

Tracing Your Family History

Some of the extraordinary stories that Anthony Adolph has unearthed in his years of researching family histories include a hero of British-Zulu wars who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery, a pioneering Indian Prime Minister of the province of Bhavnagar, Princess Anne's husband's descent from a Jewish Merchant of Venice, and a 16th Century peasant woman executed for bewitching a man and his pigs.

This new edition of Collins Tracing Your Family History recognises the important shift in modern genealogical research to internet resources, and tells you how to combine the latest technology with the most proven research techniques as you delve deeper into your heritage.

Let it guide you through the process of getting started and working back through the different types of records which should, given time and patience, enable you to trace your family tree back for hundreds of years. Or, if you are already a genealogist, you can use it as a reference book to identify and learn more about the vast array of different types of source that may be available for your research.

Family history is about finding out about the ancestors themselves, exploring their lives and working out how they came to do what they did and be who they were. From parish records to marriage certificates, from wills to military service records, coupled with remembered stories, there is a vast amount of information about your ancestors waiting to be discovered.

This is the perfect book for anyone looking to trace their family background and create a family tree. Well set out and easy to follow, this is packed with all the information you will need to help you on your way. Beautifully illustrated with old photographs, documents and paintings, this book will also make a lovely gift for Christmas.

Author Anthony Adolph is a professional genealogist, writer and broadcaster, and has been tracing family histories for 20 years. He was Research Director of the supporting company of the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies and now has his own genealogy practice.

Anthony has written numerous articles for the genealogy press and has appeared frequently on Channel 4's Extraordinary Ancestors, Living TV's Antiques Ghostshow and the Discovery Channel's Ancestor Hunters.

Anthony can be found on the internet at www.anthonyadolph.co.uk

Tracing Your Family History is published by Collins in hardback. Price is £20.

For more information click on www.collins.co.uk