Tabla de contenidos para September 2022 en Choice

I wish my musical tastes could follow the John Peel model, where I listened to every new track and encompassed all the new artists, but I just can’t. I do listen to hip-hop and rap, but only when it radiates from some other car when I’m sitting at traffic lights. At least I think that’s what it is; I’m no expert. Modern pop is another mystery to me. There was a time when I was up to date. Twenty odd years ago, when my daughters were into the boy bands, Take That, Boyzone, Westlife etc played constantly at home and I heard a lot of their music also from a distance – sitting outside the NEC or Wembley Arena waiting to pick them up after a concert. My neighbour took…

FOR MANY years Stephen Sondheim’s I’m Still Here was the song that routinely ended Dame Shirley Bassey’s concerts, and for the girl from Tiger Bay, who has known grinding poverty, marriage break-ups, career setbacks and, most terrible of all, the loss of a child, it’s a statement of pure defiance. And baring her soul in front of an audience is where Shirley has always felt most at home. On stage she gives herself completely to the emotion of the moment, but away from the spotlight the shutters go up. Her private life remains just that, private. And during those times of difficulty in her life and career Shirley’s attitude has always been ‘the show must go on’. Only once, when confronted with the news no parent should ever hear, did…

Email your poems to: (editorial@choicemag.co.uk) or post to Your Poetry, Choice, 4 Milnyard Square, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6GX Every day is a sunny day,It’s only clouds that get in the wayWhen clouds of gloom fog our minds and we think of dark, dark, dark timesLet’s cast them aside thoughts of despair, for there is a helping hand of god who caresThoughts of sunnier days ahead far from my mind as I lay in my bedWhen dawn arrives, doom disappearsRays of light allay my fearsSongs of birds fill my headNow brighter happy days are aheadSo everyday is a sunny day and all those clouds are far, far, far away Thomas Willmott, by email Houdini Mouse Supermouse is in our house, he’s quite a clever chapFinding out a clever way to…

Gail Willis is an exponent and teacher of Hatha Yoga. She brings Choice readers a new exercise every month. Gail has recruited her mother, Janet Rogers, to help demonstrate the exercises. In each picture Janet, now in her 80s, illustrates the basic position for each exercise – the easiest one for the beginner. Gail illustrates the maximum position for each exercise. You should start following Janet’s position and try to increase gradually towards Gail’s advanced level. “Only build up to a level that you are comfortable with,” says Gail. “Some exercises you will be able to do the maximum level of stretch, others you will achieve only the basic move or just a little more. It doesn’t matter, because even the easiest will be good for you and make you…

A CLASSIC example of how modern technology is sometimes bonkers: my husband bought anew Fitbit online. He had a text from Royal Mail to say it would be delivered Monday but, thinking we’d be out, he opted to change it to Tuesday. However, it arrived on the Monday and we were at home, BUT the postman wouldn’t hand it over because his device for scanning the parcel’s barcode wouldn’t work, as Mr Harman had changed the delivery date. Standing on our doorstep, parcel in hand, he declared “I’ll have to come back tomorrow”, which indeed he did. Readers will notice that this month we have no ‘Ask the experts’ page, so I hope you will enjoy instead ‘Matters to You’, which used to be a regular column in the YM&YR…

AT A time when energy bills are soaring, and likely to go higher still in October when the price cap increases, Ofgem, Britain’s energy regulator, has told multiple suppliers they must take urgent action after finding “severe weaknesses” in handling customers’ direct debits. Ofgem found a series of failings which it says could lead to direct debits being set incorrectly, or not being reviewed regularly. This leads in many cases to either large credit balances or debt, depending on whether the customer is under or overpaying. Its review found that debit levels for customers on standard variable tariffs increased by 62 per cent on average between February and April, largely because of the increase in the cost of gas. Ofgem said it has asked suppliers to review the accounts of…

Hello and welcome to my Craft Corner! Every month I share two new projects with Choice readers – one for those who enjoy hobbies such as papercrafting, upcycling and decoupage, and one for those who are fond of sewing and needlecraft, where I focus on simple, everyday stitched fabric accessories. I’ve lived and breathed crafting for as long as I can remember. I have very fond memories of cake decorating, cross-stitching and candle-making with my mum, and in my late teens I discovered the joy of cardmaking. I was fortunate enough to turn my favourite pastimes into my career by setting up Crafter’s Companion out of my university bedroom, and it’s been an amazing journey seeing my business develop into what it is today. I love experimenting and using our…

GRANDPARENTS KNOW the physical and mental benefits of horticulture if you’re cultivating your own garden. Many of these also cross over to children – and there are even some added advantages for youngsters. Cath Kidston (www.cathkidston.com/en-gb/) explains why gardening is the best activity for your primary school-age little ones. Spending time outdoors Being outdoors benefits us in so many ways. Fresh, clean air is good for our lungs, and just being outside can boost our mood and lower stress levels. According to environmental psychologist Lee Chambers, this is because being outdoors offers “a full sensory experience, which anchors us in the present moment and helps us feel connected and grounded”. Our children are spending a lot of time staring at screens at the moment. Three- and four-year-olds spend three hours…

Witness Number 3 (Acorn Media International) Originally screened across four nights during that scorching week back in July this excellent crime drama would have done nothing for those already suffering from sleepless nights. It’s the story of Jodie (Nina Toussaint-White), who, while working in her hairdressing salon, spots aman being frogmarched away against his will. The man is later found dead and the police persuade community-spirited Jodie to provide a witness statement. Jodie is the third witness to the crime, hence the title, and the gang involved is determined that she will be the last, setting the scene for the deadly game of cat and mouse that ensues over the four episodes. There are some especially chilling moments, notably when young gang members, bedecked in masks and hoodies, gather outside…

A DRIVING school that normally caters for under-17s has welcomed its oldest pupil to date – 92-year-old Terry Collier. Born in 1929, Terry, who lives in Devizes, gave up driving two years ago due to health reasons. He originally passed his test in 1947 and had 72 years of driving without a single accident. Seeing how much he missed driving, his daughter Julia Connolly decided to book a driving lesson for him on private property. A quick online search found Young Driver, which – although it primarily provides driving lessons for ten- to 17-year-olds at 70 venues across the UK – has no upper age limit and is open to anyone who wishes to have a go behind the wheel in a safe environment and with a fully qualified instructor.…

AS THE world locked down in the spring of 2020, academic Lara Feigel vowed to use the months of isolation to delve deep into the work of DH Lawrence, and perhaps discover hidden aspects of herself into the bargain. The result is Look! We Have Come Through (Bloomsbury, £20), a fascinating blend of memoir, literary criticism and philosophy. In Scoops (Oneworld, 16.99), Newsnight’s one-time interviews producer Sam McAlister reveals all about her time at the corporation, why she felt compelled to leave, and, most fascinating of all, her role in the now-notorious Prince Andrew interview, while Tom Bower pulls no punches in Revenge (Blink, £22), an excoriating biography of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that forensically unpicks what he sees as the arrogance and pretentions of the Royal couple.…

WORLD CUP legend Sir Geoff Hurst and choreographer Arlene Phillips are among the celebrities who have shared a treasured memory in support of Alzheimer’s Society’s Forget Me Not Appeal. The appeal calls on the public to donate and wear a Forget Me Not badge to show those affected by dementia that they are supported, understood and not forgotten about. It has raised more than £450,000 so far. The forget-me-not is a small blue flower that represents remembrance, so the charity asked people to share a memory they would never want to forget. Casting his mind back to England’s World Cup victory in 1966, Sir Geoff Hurst said: “Naturally, my treasured memory is related to the World Cup. I remember going to the ground in the coach and people had a…

How’s your memory? See how many of the following questions you can answer. The answers are over the page. 1 Name the group that the Rev Richard Coles was a member of before he became a clergyman. 2 Which sitcom involved Rick, Vyvyan, Neil and Mike? 3 Who married Barbara Bach in 1981? 4 What did Johnny Logan win twice during the Eighties? 5 Which massive event took place in London on July 29, 1981? 6 Which brand of sunglasses became popular after the showing of the film Top Gun? 7 Name the three Tony-winning musicals that were staged by Andrew Lloyd-Webber. 8 Which actor appeared as James Bond in a 1987 film? 9 Which piece of warm clothing was made hot by the film Flashdance? 10 Which film was…

Just a reminder… …that in September 1977, Freddie Laker launched his cut-price Skytrain service from Gatwick to New York. Passengers had queued for more than 24 hours to pay £59 for a flight. For an extra £1.75 they got a meal of paté, beef in wine, cheese and biscuits and a drink …in this month in 1985, a joint American-French expedition located the Titanic, 560 miles of the Newfoundland coast …and in September 1973, Billie Jean King accepted the challenge to play Bobby Riggs, who had said that women’s tennis was so inferior he could beat them. Fifty million people tuned in to watch him eat his words when King beat him in the match, staged in Texas. Welcome to Titty Ho, Boggy Bottom and Spanker Lane… I’ve come across…

HAVE YOU ever found yourself accusing a friend or relative of having ‘selective hearing’ when they seem to purposefully tune out when you’re speaking to them? If you have done so recently – and on more than one occasion – it could be time to explore whether there is actually something more serious at play, and whether they might benefit from some assistance with their hearing. Here, Bev Carter RHAD, Senior Hearing Aid Audiologist at Hearing Direct, explains how age-related hearing loss can be confused with selective hearing and what to do if you suspect a loved one could require some support. “Some research shows selective hearing is a true capability in which a person is able to tune into a single source of noise and block out others,” she…

IT CAN now cost an eye-watering £100 to fill up a family car. At the time of writing (the beginning of July) the average price of a litre of petrol is £1.91 and diesel averages £1.99 per litre. By comparison, the highest average prices last year were just over £1.47 for petrol and just under £1.51 for diesel. Moreover, the average annual cost of insuring the 10 most popular cars in the UK has risen by £100 in the past 12 months, to £675, according to price comparison website Compare the Market. For anyone wanting to buy a new car, there are shortages of many models, leading to long waiting lists. The industry says reasons include problems in the supply chain, as many components are manufactured in Ukraine, and indeed…

THE UNION flags waved; the Centre Court crowd sang Land of Hope and Glory; in her silver jubilee year the Queen took her place in the royal box and in the centenary year of the Wimbledon All England Championships a British ladies singles finalist walked onto the hallowed turf. It was Virginia Wade’s 16th Wimbledon and, a few days short of her 32nd birthday, along with her racquets she carried the hopes of the country and also of women’s sport. That 1977 match certainly has a correlation with England’s football Lionesses winning through to the final of the Euros just over a month ago. The match captured the imagination of the public, millions watching on the BBC with the unmistakeable tones of commentator Dan Maskell. Wimbledon ten years earlier had…

Supplies: ■ 0.5 m of fabric for the outside ■ 0.5 m of fabric for the lining ■ 0.5 m of medium interfacing ■ 1 metre of co-ordinating ribbon ■ Threaders Heat Erasable Pen ■ Basic sewing kit To create: 1 Cut 22in x 14in rectangles from each of the fabrics. Adhere the interfacing to the wrong side of the outer fabric 2 Cut two lengths of ribbon for the ties, one at 15in and one at 8in 3 Place the ribbon centrally along one of the short sides of the outer fabric, matching up the raw edges 4 Place the lining piece on top of the outer piece with right sides together. Sew all round the edge using a 1/4in seam allowance, leaving a 3in gap for turning through…

Sir Edward Elgar Essentials Apple Music Classical, 41 tracks, 7 hrs, 26 mins My introduction to Elgar was at my village primary school’s May Day celebrations. It started with a procession around the school playground with a guard of honour preceding the May Queen and her attendants. The music every year was Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 and for me as captain of the guard carrying a pike staff (silver painted card blade topping a long garden cane) it captured the occasion perfectly. After the march came Maypole dancing – the less said about that the better. But Elgar’s sweeping, stirring work has remained with me. This playlist gives a full insight into all of his varied musical forms, from marches and concertos to sonatas and symphonies. Two…

Beaulieu will be bringing together a bumper display of BMWs for the third ‘Simply BMW’ rally on September 18, with all cars and bikes made by the German manufacturer invited to take part in the show. From powerful bikes and sports cars, performance saloons and family estates, to more modest machines from the marque’s early years, every shape and size of BMW is welcome to join the line-up in the grounds of the National Motor Museum. Last year’s inaugural ‘Simply BMW’ saw a wide variety of ‘Beemers’ take part, from the Z3, Z4 and Z5 sports cars, through 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series and X1, to M3s and M5s, and even examples of the classic E24 M6 and E31 8 Series. This year’s display promises to be…

Bridge Before reading on, cover the East and West hands on the deal below. LOVE ALL; DEALER EAST Playing teams, East opens one diamond, South overcalls one spade and West makes a negative double. What call do you make with the North cards? You can call three diamonds. Known as a “mixed” raise, this shows about seven to ten points and four card support. It is so-called because it is partly pre-emptive and partly constructive. Here partner will sign off in three spades and this ends the auction. West leads the six of diamonds, you cover with the queen and East wins the ace. He now cashes the ace of hearts and switches to a club. How do you plan the play? The heart ace must be a singleton from…

Star Letter Prize: £20 and a selection of five reflective music CDs from GAP MuSic worth £54.75 and a pen from GAP MuSic goes to the writer of our Star Letter each month The CDs are: Moments of the Heart music for the soul - Various Artists. From the soothing melodies of Peaceful Lament and Confidence of Hope to the haunting ambiance of Natural Elements and Awakenings, Moments of the Heart music for the soul is the perfect ‘friend’ to have by your side, to help ease away the hustle, bustle, and stresses of the day. Spiritual Incantations – Stephen Rhodes. Stephen Rhodes is a genius of his craft returning with an outstanding new album, the best part of an hour of serene and relaxing music. With tracks such as Peaceful…

NHS ENGLAND patients with Type 1 diabetes will now be eligible for life-changing continuous glucose monitors. The wearable arm gadget sends information to a mobile app and allows diabetes patients to keep track of their glucose levels at all times without having to scan or take a finger prick test. Traditionally, continuous glucose monitors are more expensive than their flash monitor counterparts – which record glucose levels by scanning a sensor – but after the NHS agreed a deal with manufacturers DEXCOM, they will now be available for NHS patients on prescription. The monitor, called Dexcom ONE Real Time-Continuous Glucose Monitoring, uses a sensor no bigger than a bottle cap that attaches to the arm for up to ten days and measures glucose levels from just under the skin. Patients…

IT’S NO secret that the task of writing a Will is one many people struggle to scratch off their to-do list. Other priorities get in the way – whether it is unexpected bills, the everchanging wardrobe for growing children and grandchildren, or anything else life throws our way. Often people find themselves avoiding it due to costs, or because they assume a lot of effort is involved. As we live through the cost of living crisis, while recovering from the pandemic, it would be natural to expect writing a Will to slip further down people’s priorities. But it must not – having a Will is incredibly important for ourselves and the loved ones we leave behind. After all, the last two years have taught us we never know what is…

ALTHOUGH THEY weren’t the group to fuse traditional folk music and rock – Fairport Convention’s Liege and Lief is widely regarded as the key breakthrough album in that regard – Steeleye Span were by far the most successful. By focussing on rhythm, the production values of pop, and the more theatrical aspects of folk music, such as Mummers plays – colourful mini-dramas that date back to medieval times – the band was able to embark on successful stadium tours of the United States, supporting the likes of Jethro Tull, while also enjoying chart success at home. They were able to persuade both Peter Sellers and David Bowie to guest on their albums – no mean feat – and the big-selling LP Now We Are Six was produced by Tull’s Ian…

BOWIE AT 75, by Martin Popoff (Motorbooks, £60), is a lavishly illustrated celebration of one of the most influential musicians of the modern era, detailing 75 key moments in Bowie’s life and career (he would have been 75 this year) including potted reviews of all his albums. And Living On A Thin Line (Headline, £20), is the updated autobiography of Kinks guitarist Dave Davies, detailing his turbulent private life, rocky relationship with brother Ray, the recovery from a stroke that led to him learning to play the guitar all over again, as well as his interest in alternative religion. Fred Goodman explores the close relationship between rock and cinema over the past 65 years in the entertaining and lavishly illustrated Rock on Film (Running Press/TCM £29.99), and if you fancy…

HARDBACK BOOK OF THE MONTH Alias Emma by Ava Glass Published by Century Price £14.99 Pages 400 ISBN 9781529135886 Russia never forgives or forgets, and 20 years after several high-profile scientists defected, they are murdered in London by a group of highly trained assassins. Emma Makepeace is a young recruit to The Agency, a secretive branch of the intelligence service, released from undercover work among eco-warriors to bring a reluctant Dr Michael Primalov, whose physicist parents are primary targets, to safety. And so begins a nail-biting, action-packed cat and mouse race across London. The Russians have hacked the city’s CCTV system, their every move is being watched and there seems to be no-one she can trust. High octane, complex and twisty. Hardbacks CRIME FICTION Dark Music by David Lagercrantz When…

Fish inflation batters Britain’s chip shops QUESTION: HOW do you put a ravenous Yorkshireman off his Friday night fish and chips? Answer: Break some bad news just as the warmed plates are coming out of the oven, and the ceremonial unwrapping has begun. I know. I’ve lived through it. When, on a recent never-to-be-forgotten evening, my wife came home having made the weekly chippy trip, she didn’t beat about the bush. As I sat there with my eating irons poised for action, vinegar bottle at the ready, she confessed: “Your large fish has gone up with a bump. It was £9 this time!” Surely a mishearing. Nine pounds? I thought of coming back flippantly with “You must be codding”, but I could tell from my wife’s face that the grave…