The Northern Echo

The lifestyle magazine for the North-East MARCH 2005

ME AND MY WARDROBE Kate Atkinson

SHOOT! Fashion for the footie foursome

TRAVEL Rome from home

SHOPPING FASHION GADGETS MOTORING GARDENING 2 March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk

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SHARON GRIFFITHS LIFE COACH 3 The agony and 17 Put a spring ecstasy of homemaking in your step magazine INTERIORS GADGET MAN is produced by 4 Beautiful 18 Surround yourself The bathrooms with sound Northern INTERIORS WINE OFFER Echo/ Newsquest 6 Small and 19 12 bottles for the Ltd., beautiful price of 11 a Gannett GARDENING MOTORING Company, Priestgate, 10 The meadow 20 A brush with Darlington in a bag the new Picasso DL1 1NF FASHION NE CONNECTIONS (01325) 381313 12 A shoot for 21 Rome direct the footballers from home ADVERTISING ME AND MY Neil Simpson (01325) 505 173 14 WARDROBE neil.simpson The fashion student NEXT MONTH @nne.co.uk Chris Kay OUT ON THE TOWN ECO- (0191) 374 0298 15 with McCourt CLOTHES chris.kay @nne.co.uk and McKay FOR SHOPPING

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R LITTLE

l l lley EDITORIAL e Tulip Hill a Gates m V head w Hotel ea The green t T Town Cent l re a 16 Jenny Needham Bensh S ONES am Bank (01325) 505082 baby scene EMBER S Peugeo t Machine Mart South jenny.needham WE ARE HERE rth No Consett @nne.co.uk Whickham IN ASSOCIATION WITH March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 3

FOR BABIES WHO LUNCH sharon griffiths HIGHCHAIRS are great. Except when you don’t have one. That’s where Totseat comes in. It’s washable. It’s squashable. It’s highly portable. Suitable for children between the ages of eight months and two years, Totseat anchors the child in safety and comfort in an adult chair. It’s easy to use, fits most adult chairs and is highly portable – fitting into a pocket or handbag. It adjusts, using two buttons, to suit chairs of varying back heights and a fully aBy the time adjustable cummerbund even provides a back support on chairs with big gaps. The Totseat costs £29.99 and comes with a compact, it got to matching pocket bag to carry it around in. Contact Beverley Kirk for further information: 0131 225-4646 choosing [email protected] bathroom BAGS OF STYLE IF you want to be truly individual, these beautiful bags from The Damson Tree on Barnard Castle’s high tiles, I was street might be worth picking up. They are limited edition bags, worried for her all handmade in suede and fabric. The European company that makes them, Mety sanity... window shopping Dornali, comes up with completely new de- signs each season. They cost from £120. TAPS!” sobbed my friend Mary down all of bi-fold doors, enclosures and cubicles. the phone. “Now he wants me to We’ll pass over the time she was choosing achoose taps!” Which led me to my the- radiators. You wouldn’t think that something ory that doing up a house is a bit like as simple as warming a room and drying a having a baby… towel could cause so much angst. Last year Mary, single and childless, inher- It did. ited a house in Durham. The timing was per- By the time it got to choosing bathroom fect – just when she was thinking of moving tiles, I was worried for her sanity. Kitchen out of her flat for something with a garden. tiles had been no problem, but it took at least Of course the house – 1930s and formerly a month and countless expeditions before she the home of an elderly aunt who’d done very chose the bathroom tiles. She took samples little to it for the last 20 years – needed a lit- home, took them back again, took more, took tle attention. Well, quite a lot actually. But the same ones again, brought them back… Mary was lucky. She could carry on living in Kindly men in tile showrooms began to hide her flat while the work was done. She em- when she came in. barked on the project with relish and delight. But finally she had regained her equilibri- There were basics like rewiring, new win- um. The end was in sight. The rest of the dows, central heating, a wall down here, a house was coming together beautifully – doorway knocked through there. But all of it wooden floors, light fittings. Swatches and – with the help of a wonderful supervising paint samples lay scattered on window sills, architect and amazingly nice builders – went the choices easy, the decorators booked. through fairly easily. Then the plumber asked her about taps… There were a few agonies over the kitchen. It was unfortunate, perhaps, that I’d rung Hi tech? Farmhouse? Shaker? But then she just a few minutes after the plumber. I was saw exactly the kitchen she wanted in a show- right in line. I made soothing noises, sug- room – limed oak, very simple, classic, she gested she asked the plumber to choose. She even liked the handles, perfect – and being a calmed down – but only slightly. decisive person bought it. Just like that. She’s Not long after that, she moved in. I sent good at making decisions. flowers and presumed that she had solved the Until it came to the bathrooms… tap problem. Not to mention the tiles, radia- The original bathroom was bleak, basic and tors, shower, bath, loo and basin… tiny. Next to it was a boxroom, which would, Then finally, there was a housewarming the architect agreed make an ideal shower lunch party for a few select friends. At least room. So far, so good. we would see this house which had taken so And then maybe because she’d had months much work, so much effort, so many deci- of making decisions, her confidence sudden- sions, ly crumbled. It was, is, wonderfully done. We had the First of all it was the bath. A bath is a bath, guided tour, oohed over the kitchen, aahed you’d think. But no, there were coloured over the sitting room, envied the study. We baths, thin baths, thick baths, long baths, trooped upstairs, adored the bedrooms. Then short baths, slopey baths, baths with handles, it came to the bathroom and shower. roll-top baths with panels… They were perfection. The bathroom was Basins. Victorian? Edwardian? Ultramod- small, stylish and classy, very minimalist – ern? Japanese style? On a stand, in a unit, on even the taps; the shower room fun and exu- a bench? Big, small? She wandered, bemused berant with jolly mermaids and fishes. The round showrooms. Even loos are more varied rest of us – all no doubt thinking of our chaot- then you’d ever believe possible. ic family bathrooms – were very envious. The decisions began to wear her down. “All that time and agony was worth it,” I HOLIWAYS GARAGE WHINBANK Doing up the house, once a source of delight, said admiringly. ROAD DURHAM WAY SOUTH KITCHEN CREATION started to get to her. “Agony?” said Mary, puzzled, “what agony? AYCLIFFE VILLAGE

TO P. W. S . Then for a while, showers and shower cu- It’s been really fun.” HEIGHINGTON 3M

FACTORY A

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6 bicles took over her life. The woman who As I said, doing a house is just like having TETLEYS 7

INCINERATOR JUNCTION could not bear to walk past a shoe shop had a baby. Hellish to go through, but once it’s all 59 A167 suddenly abandoned the High Street for out over, you instantly forget the pain – and just Mc DONALDS DARLINGTON FILTRONIC SOUTH NORTH of town DIY stores and her talk was love the result. A1 A1 4 March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk

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DECORATIVE INTERIOR CLADDING The family bathroom used to be just that – the family bathroom. I I S S H H & & I I N A L L T T E E R R N N A T But home buyers today expect an ensuite and a shower too. Y Y L L E X P E A T I V JENNY NEEDHAM reports on the rise and rise of clean living S S T T P E V V E E A A E E N N S S I I S the pressures of children, rela- SELECTING THE RIGHT SHOWER tionships and work combine to CHOOSING the right look for your bath- make us all busier than ever, the room is all important as any of your living one place we can escape to is the areas. An up-to-date, clean and modern bathroom. bathroom will add thousands on to the AWhether it is lathering up in the shower value of your home and, more importantly, or soaking in the bath, the bathroom is the will make your daily ablutions all the more place to have uninterrupted personal think- enjoyable. ing time. Find out which type of hot water system Discount Personal hygiene is an important part of you have, as this will guide your choice of on March everyone’s agenda today and, on average, shower – combi boiler, gravity-fed or high Orders with around 18 per cent of domestic water con- this Advert! pressure system. Some showers cannot op- sumption in the UK is devoted to bathing erate with certain water systems. and showering. Decide where you would like to put the Showers have increased in popularity shower. Showers can be squeezed into all A HUGE RANGE @ GREAT PRICES throughout the ages and now showering is sorts of places and many properties now as popular as bathing. There is already evi- have more than one. Do you want it to go A new range with a variety of BATHROOM BEDROOM dence that people in the UK are showering above a bath or do you need an enclosure colours that match all more than ever before and that they are KITCHEN LOUNGE HALL (cubicle)? What have you got space for? An types of rooms and ceilings. using more ever more powerful showers. electric shower is perfect for places where It looks great, quick to install, FOR WALLS & CEILINGS Wet rooms are also being designed into the running hot water pipes might be difficult reduces condensation, modern home. or when you have limited hot water and O PENING H OURS Only a few decades ago, a bath a week was want a guaranteed supply. insulates your room and considered to be enough to maintain per- best of all it’s M ON -F RI 8 AM - 5 PM Choose what sort of performance level S AT 8 AM - 1 PM sonal hygiene. Today, our attitudes towards you would like. Do you need a power show- MAINTENANCE FREE! personal hygiene have changed. Showers er or if you have a shower with a large head tend to be preferred over baths for conve- you may need a pump to increase your nience, but also as a more hygienic way to water pressure. T.A. Plastic Ltd wash. If in doubt consult a professional. In- Tudhoe Industrial Estate, Spennymoor A Mira survey revealed that, on average, stallers will advise you on the most suitable more than half of us, some 56 per cent, take models for your bathroom. PPHONEHONE NOW a shower each day. The Scottish come top in the cleanliness stakes with 85 per cent WET ROOMS TA taking a shower each day, while top shower AT the opposite end of the scale from the 25 years 01388 814858 shirkers are people from East Anglia, of Service traditionally luxurious bathrooms yet which only 48 per cent take a shower each www.taplastics.co.uk equally popular today is the minimalistic, PLASTICS day. March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 5

From top: Distinction Fina bathroom suite; egg bath and cubic bathtub in Cadaquez, both by Limestone Gallery (020 7735 8555) www.limestonegallery.com; Roto basin and fluorescent wet light illuminated bathtub from Alternative Plans (020 7243 9747) www.alternativeplans.com ...and for the bath brigade

uber-trendy wet room. Inspired by conti- nental interiors, these rooms are totally wa- terproof with their own floor drain. Recently wet rooms have become very popular with many top designers using them in bathroom makeovers. The concept of the wet room is that the entire room is dedicated to your showering pleasure... you can get as wet as you want in the shower without being restricted to a shower tray or door. Take advice from an expert if you are thinking of doing this as the tiles on the floor and walls and the drainage will need to be taken into consideration to avoid puddles.

What do you think about in the shower? HEN asked for the Mira survey Wwhat they think about in the shower, many people said their partners, emotional issues or the practicalities of what they need to achieve in the day ahead. A smaller number of people admitted to thinking about famous people and perhaps worryingly, a few even claimed to think about work colleagues. Unsurprisingly, Kylie Minogue was the most popular showertime babe, whereas the top men were rugby world cup hero Jonny Wilkinson and the character Dennis Rickman from EastEnders. 6 March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk

In a time of outsize sofas, dressers and sideboards the owners of a small but perfectly formed Dales cottage have used all their ingenuity to find furniture that fits. SARAH FRENCH reports BRIDE & GROOM AT PRINCIPIA ITS YOUR WEDDING Small is

Why Hire? beautiful ITS YOUR WEDDING ITS YOUR When You Can Buy!

ITS YOUR WEDDING FTER braving many winter So to find him holed up in the cottage weekends searching remote kitchen reading the paper and ready to parts of the Yorkshire Dales make cappuccinos for guests is something Bridesmaid Dresses from £85 for their dream cottage, Pat of a rarity. “I’ve never been like this be- Rocket and her husband fore,” he says, “but when I come here I to- Wedding Dresses from £145 Phil were on the verge of giv- tally relax.” Aing up. “We were always that little bit too It’s a relief for Pat too, who was keen to late, or we got gazumped on price, or the see him put his feet up at least for a little property wasn’t quite right. It just wasn’t while. Let one of our working out,” says Pat. Not that it’s been all rest. With his build- Then on virtually their final day of look- ing skills, Phil has done most of the work experienced bridal ing, while they explored a little further in on the house, from lifting the stone flags in Upper Wensleydale, a man came out of a the kitchen to lay a water repellent mem- advisors tiny terraced cottage to speak to them. brane – the 220-year-old cottage has no “He asked if we were looking for a house, foundations – to reinstating a tongue and

ITS YOUR WEDDING ITS YOUR help you choose your we said we were and he said his was about groove wall between the kitchen and living ITS YOUR WEDDING dress for your Big Day to go on the market. We had a look inside, room. thought it was great, went to the pub to “It was a building site for a while. We’d talk about it, made him an offer and that come at weekends to work on it and sleep was it. The house found us,” says Pat. first on the floor, then we progressed to 20 Dundas That was last May and from then until mattresses on the floor,” says Pat. before Christmas they worked on the cot- They moved a window, installed electric Street, tage, turning it into a cosy hideaway that central heating, had the place rewired and they use at weekends and holidays. replastered and gave stone shelving from Middlesbrough Phil has run his own landscape garden- the old pantry new life in the living room. ing business, Rocket Landscaping, in Dar- “We love the old features like the beams, lington for the last 23 years and is equally the floors and the stone stairs so we’ve tried Tel: well known as the gardening expert on to make more of them,” she adds. Alpha Radio. The only thing Phil hasn’t done yet is the 01642 224554 “I’m up at six every morning to do two garden, though it’s on the list for the sum- hours in the office at home before going out mer, which will involve building a wall and ITS YOUR WEDDING ITS YOUR

to work. I suppose I am a workaholic,” he seating area at the front of the cottage. The

FLOWER GIRLS & PAGE BOYS AT PRINCIPIA admits. rear of the house backs onto a graveyard. March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 7

Labour of love: now that all the hard work is done, Phil and Pat Rocket love to sit and relax at their bijoux cottage in the Yorkshire Dales

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“There’s nothing to do there, and the neigh- almost have to think in miniature. bours don’t give us any trouble,” laughs “I’ve learned to measure every space and Phil. not buy anything impulsively but it’s still With all the building work complete, Pat been a case of trial and error, buying things began to turn the two up-two down into a for one place then deciding they look much comfortable and inviting bolthole. “I spent better somewhere else,” she explains. months at Thomas Watson’s saleroom and In spite of the dimensions, everything fits the man who runs the antiques shop in perfectly in its place. The rooms contain a Gladstone Street was great at keeping an lot of furniture yet, due to the carefully cho- eye out for things for me,” she explains. sen size of each piece, they don’t look clut- She very quickly learned though that fur- tered. nishing this house was going to be very dif- In the living room, there are two two- ferent from her pre-war home in the west seater sofas each with narrow side tables, end of Darlington. there’s an extra chair and a small Victori- “There were a couple of pieces I bought an console table, while recessed shelving at the beginning that, looking back, I don’t provides some extra space for books, acces- know where I thought I was going to sories and the TV and DVD. put them. With a house this size you Continued on page 8 8 March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk interiors

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Continued from page 7 fect place to choose items to complement the furniture and finish off the house. The focal point of the living room though Owned by sisters Sam Mackenzie and is the fireplace, whose overmantle is also Debbie Westgarth, the shop fills a gap in the multi-purpose with its mirror and shelf. region for vintage-look furniture, home ac- The kitchen miraculously contains a cessories and gifts. It stocks Fired Earth table to seat four, a Belfast sink and work- paints, pottery ranges from Cath Kidston tops, fridge freezer, sideboard, washing ma- and Susie Watson, Crucial Trading carpets chine and even a dishwasher. and rugs, pewterware, Gardenalla lamps, Upstairs, at one end of the landing is the candles by Melt and English enamelware, toilet with basin and while another cup- with many pieces fitting perfectly into the board door at the other end reveals a bath. cosy country cottage look. Both bedrooms contain double beds, For those less handy than Pat, House In- wardrobes, dressing tables and cabinets. Pat digo also provides a made-to-measure de- has kept the colours light, buying dark wood sign consultancy for curtains and blinds. furniture stripping it and painting it cream. Now the cottage is almost finished – they The rest of the house is decorated with the plan to turn the bedrooms into en-suites latest muted, natural tones of times past. eventually – Pat and Phil are able to do what Pat studied textiles and design at Teesside they bought it for in the first place. Sit back University and has always done needlework and relax. so it’s no surprise that she made all the cur- Says Pat: “I’ve always liked the cosy coun- tains, cushions and other soft furnishings try cottage look and when we come here we herself and reupholstered some of the old just sit and read, maybe watch television furniture she bought. which I never do at home, go for walks and When it came to accessories, her job as just take things easy. We love it.” visual merchandiser at House Indigo in House Indigo is at 16 Grange Road, Grange Road, Darlington, put her in the per- Darlington, tel: (01325) 381806. March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 9

The kitchen and upstairs: Pat studied textiles and design and has done all the soft furnishing in the house

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Modern farming methods have seen the end of the days when fields and meadows were awash with the colours of a hundred different flowers and grasses. A trip down the dales this springtime could revive all those memories, says SARAH FRENCH

Right: Robert Tiplady with three-year-old son William and rosettes won for the quality of their hay. In the middle of May all the sheep are taken off to the higher pastures, leaving the meadows to flourish

Pictures: RICHARD DOUGHTY

A Great Day Out One man went to mow

AUGHT in a squally February basis. His farm is considered to be a “superb shower of howling winds and bit- site” by Floral Locale, a national charity ing rain, blue skies and butter- charged with promoting the use of native flies seem a very long way away. seeds in conservation projects. Its Northern But for the sheep on Robert England project officer, Jenny Dicker, says Tiplady’sC farm the hay they munch through it’s vital that a strict code of practice is fol- at this time of year serves up a taste of sum- lowed to ensure seeds are harvested in a sus- mer. tainable way. Wintering on lowland pasture in a valley Norfolk seed merchant, Emorsgate, which that’s one of the Yorkshire Dales’s best kept harvests at Robert’s farm prides itself on Free admission with every full paying adult secrets, the sheep get to graze on the grass supplying top quality seed that is genuinely that grew there seven months earlier. wild, which is why it prefers to collect and is delighted to team up with the The Waterside Cafe has an excellent reputation But this is no ordinary hay. Bursting with supply the seed itself. Wildfowl & Centre in for home cooked food. Relax and learn on a the sweet smells of native flowers and dried Late winter into spring is the end and the Washington to offer readers an great family day out. by summer sun, it’s a special treat from the beginning of the seed cycle. By the time opportunity to have a great day out for For a fantastic day out just cut out this advert rye grass and clover they’re used to. lambing kicks in around March 20, the ewes all the family. and take it along to the Washington Wildfowl & Of the 550 acres he farms at Walden near will be joined by their lambs in grazing the Wetlands Centre. West Burton, Robert keeps 25 acres for seed early sprouting grass. By May 15 all the stock WWT Washington is home to hundreds of ducks, will be moved out and taken up to the high- Offer is valid until June 30th, 2005. Excludes harvesting. Originally part of a 200 acre geese, swans and flamingos. Situated on the north Bank Holidays. One voucher per customer. farm, the three fields have, for over a centu- er pastures, leaving the meadows to flourish. bank of the , the centre boasts the ry of traditional, chemical-free farming, The grasses and flowers peak at about a Normal NNE Reader Offer rules apply. largest colony of Grey Heron in the region and a been hay meadows, where small Timothy foot high at mid-summer which is when the Washington Wildfowl & Centre developing colony of Common Tern. Highlights and yellow rattle vie for space with York- seed harvest begins, with the cutting of Pattinson, Washington NE38 8LE include a visit to the Waterfowl Nursery where you shire fog and crested dogstail. It’s estimated every third field delayed each year until mid- T 0191 4165454 August to allow different varieties to mature. can watch day-old ducklings take their first wobbly that two dozen different flowers, grasses and E [email protected] Emorsgate brings specialist equipment steps (May to July), the Hawthorn Wood Feeding sedges grow there. In the summer they provide a gloriously from King’s Lynn for the harvest. Nylon Station (October to March) and the Glaxo Wellcome The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust colourful display reminiscent of times past. Wetland Discovery Centre (all year). Registered Charity No. 1030884 But their value isn’t only aesthetic or re- warding for the sheep. Five years ago the land’s owner Julian Val- lance won approval from English Nature to harvest the rare meadows and create a seed

bank to repopulate other less lush meadows.

Since it’s technically illegal to sell native Reader Offer wildflower seeds, tenant farmer Robert still has to apply for permission on an annual March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 11 Be Beautiful Let us treat you how you deserve with a range of treatments to choose from including:

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brushes rotate over the top of the seed heads, from these special fields isn’t of the quality teasing off the seeds and sweeping them into to fatten lambs and increase milk yields, it a collection bin at the side of the harvester. does give the animals some variety. Using the “We only collect a small percentage of the hay as fodder also has another purpose – to seed,” says Robert. “A lot drops off before we scatter the seeds within back onto the land to get to it and a lot more gets thrown off dur- replenish the meadows. Feel the Reef Experience with a superb ing the process.” Meanwhile, the seed is sold commercially The seed is raked out onto sheets in the by Emorsgate to customers ranging from Back, Neck &Shoulder Massage 10% field to allow insects to crawl out or fly away. home gardeners to the Environment Agency.

FOR OFF The machine has insect repellent guards but But giving over a patch of garden to meadow 3 2 they still get caught; apart from the obvious grasses is not that straightforward, says wish to be kind to them, keeping the insects Robert. on the land is also important to the pollina- “The soil condition has to be so right for it tion process. to grow,” he explains. “You need reasonably Eden Terrace, Belmont, Durham The seed is then moved to the farm, put acidic soil and very little in the way of nutri- Tel: 0191 386 3055 through a riddler to remove the chaff and left tion. Nitrogen and compound fertilisers will to dry for a couple of days before it’s taken kill it.” away. The seed harvest is a bonus to Robert since It’s a fairly labour intensive process but it means protected fields generate some in- If you are serious about garden Robert is helped by his brother Steven and come. But it’s more than that. “These mead- dad Bert, both farmers, and his mum Eliza- ows are so rare they’re categorised in a simi- machinery, talk to us beth. “We all muck in and do what we can, it’s lar distinction as the Great Barrier Reef,” he the only way to keep these Dales farms says. Sam Turner’s is a family business established since 1931 and we pride going,” says Robert. “We are privileged to live here, to see these ourselves in being a unique store to the North of England With the seed preserved, the grass is cut, meadows grow, harvested and to be putting baled and stored separately to the rest of the the seed back into the system. And when win- farm’s hay, but not until Robert’s sons Ed- ning a prize at the local show puts smiles on Ride on ward, who’s six and William, aged three, have the kids’ faces that gives me a lot of job sat- Lawn proudly entered a sample into Wensleydale isfaction.” Show. Mowers “Anyone who doesn’t know anything about Emorsgate Wild Seeds (01553) 829028 from hay can pick it out straightaway,” says www.flower-seed.co.uk £999 Robert. “You could put it in a pillow and sleep Yorkshire Dales wild harvested meadow on it.” mixture (code EM19) costs £5.20 per 100g up inc vat After cutting, the meadows are left for a to £4,048 for 100kg – recommended sowing FREE DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME couple of weeks until the grass starts grow- rate is 4g per square metre or 40kg per ing again, then Robert returns his hectare. 100’s of Pedestrian Friendly experienced staff Swaledales, Dales bred and mules back onto Floral Locale’s website lists approved sup- Mowers in stock the land to graze the autumn grass. pliers of native flora at www.floralocale.org. Superb range of garden That year’s lambs are sold and the in-lamb Its Northern England office is at Pickering, machinery, furniture, clothing, fencing, gates, ornaments, ewes come back down to the meadows for North Yorkshire, tel: (01751) 474888 greenhouses and much more. meals of the tasty winter hay. While the grass Come along and see. Sam Turner & Sons Ltd Darlington Road, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL6 2XB Tel.( 01609) 772422 Fax (01609) 770653 Ellerbeck Way, Stokesley Industrial Park, Stokesley (01642) 713794 (Closed Sat pm & Sun) Agricultural & Horticultural Merchants Open: Mon-Sat 8am-5pm • Sun 10am-4pm 12 March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk

Stunning Collections SPECIALISTS IN PICTURE FRAMING & FINE ART DEALERS WITH OVER 100 YEARS EXPERIENCE Framing, Paintings, Prints, Tapestry, Embroidery, Certificates, Stamp Medals, Cigarette Cards, Maps & Engravings etc. In our gallery we have on display a large selection of Original Paintings & Limited Edition Prints by David Shepherd David Farrant John Lowrie Morrison Russell Flint Gordon King and many others We also have a large selection of Posters & Prints, Antiquarian Maps & Engravings & Sporting Prints, Expert Cleaning & Restoration of Oil Paintings & Water Colours WILLIAM DODDS 34 Tubwell Row, Darlington DL1 1NU Tel. 01325 462599 www.fineartdodds.co.uk

K ATE S AINT

S PECIALISTS IN M OTHER OF THE B RIDE O UTFITS Stylist Steven Buchan offers player Matt Clarke some style advice; below, the lads before the makeover • Over 600 hats to hire or buy • Hats made to order • Matching handbags and shoes also made to order • Shoe dyeing service Fashion • Accessories • Eveningwear Football players are www.katesaint.co.uk renowned for their love of designer 37 G RANGE ROAD , D ARLINGTON clothes, but 01325 480181 Darlington Football Club’s Matt Clarke, shoot Adrian Webster and Adolfo Gregorio also like their casual, KITCHENS urban gear. BBC magazine What to Wear came to Darlington to give 70% OFF them and Darlo FC fan Chris Penman a make-over. Women’s WITH INTEREST FREE CREDIT Editor LINDSAY JENNINGS reports Britain’s largest independent kitchen retailer/manufacturer has its first ever clearance sale - Thousands of kitchens to clear. Examples: T may be a freezing, winter afternoon, but the These guys have got such a strong, style image any- Kitchens with solid oak or birch cabinets and doors three Darlington Football Club players have way, it was interesting seeing them have their clothes complete with worktops, sink, tap, appliances and all extras. managed to turn on the smiles as they’re pho- chosen for them. A lot of the time it’s not about mak- SHOULD COST £6000 tographed for a BBC magazine in their summer ing someone look from bad to good but it’s about giv- ON OFFER FOR £1495 wear. ing them a look they would not normally go for.” IPlayers Matt Clarke, Adrian Webster and Adolfo What to Wear stylist Steven Buchan adds: “We’re Kitchens in shaker beech style complete with worktops, sink, tap, Gregorio and Darlo FC fan Chris Penman are at the going to be seeing a lot of layering this summer – T- stainless steel appliances and all extras. Williamson Motors Stadium in Darlington, getting a shirts mixed with cardigans – and colours too, so SHOULD COST £4000 make-over as part of feature for the magazine What we’ve gone for that. It’s a smart/casual look which to Wear – a spin-off from the hit show What not to covers all bases.” ON OFFER FOR £895 Wear. Fortunately for them, there are no signs of But what would the lads think of their new looks? Hundreds of other kitchen styles to choose from including, hard-nosed pair Trinny Woodall and Susannah Con- white, pine, limed oak, maple and much more. Limited stock available. stantine – nor any embarrassing clothes or flaws to Adrian Webster, 24, is from Sydney, Australia and For a free design and plan or for further details... highlight. has recently signed for Darlington FC as a midfield But the four all admit they usually prefer to dress player casually and are enjoying sporting a different look – He says: “I like urban wear – combats, trainers, etc., FREEPHONE: even if is in freezing conditions. but I like this look too. I’d definitely take the coat 08000 324 111 KITCHENS Says Darlington-based Allison McKay, who has co- and probably the jeans. I go shopping a lot anyway ordinated the shoot: “When a friend said she wanted but I might look at different things now Official sponsors of the Century FM Legends Show Lines open 9am-8pm 7 days Licensed Credit Broker. Written details on request. to do sports casual wear I thought the stadium would be great for it and there are so many good-looking Adolfo Gregorio, 22, is from California and has also A Legend in Home Improvements lads in our Darlington squad recently signed for Darlington as a midfielder. March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 13

THE TOP Whitworth Hall 3 Wedding Fayre STYLISH 1-4.30pm, Sun. March 2005 FOOTBALL PLAYERS David Beckham David Ginola Jamie Rednapp

Free Free EntryEntry && ParkingParking 30+ 30+ Exhibitors Exhibitors Show Show ratedrated ‘excellent’‘excellent’ oror ‘very‘very good’good’ byby 95% 95% ofof visitorsvisitors Whi tworth Hall Country Park Hotel Nr. Spennymoor, County Durham DL16 7QZ Tel: 01388 811 772 www.whitworthhall.co.uk Photo: Mr & Mrs Griffiths: www.alan-mason.co.uk

MATT CLARKE

ADOLFO GREGORIO

CHRIS PENMAN ADRIAN WEBSTER Lunch Drop in and enjoy a superb 2 course light lunch Only £4.95 Early Bird Dinner Fantastic value between 5 & 6.30pm 3 courses only £8.95

“I’m not used to wearing stylish clothes like this,” Bar & Lounge Menu jokes Adolfo. “I’m from California so I usually end up Served all day wearing shorts and a tank top. But I like the different colours and the layers – I would never normally put A la Carte Menu two tops on together but I like it. I do like the English Fine contemporary dishes cooked to perfection style here, men tend to be pretty in-style and trendy Dine in style from as little as £17.95 for 3 courses whereas in the states they can’t be bothered.” Served every evening Matt Clarke, 24, is a defender for Darlington FC “I probably wouldn’t put some of these things to- gether because when I normally leave the house the lights seem to be off,” laughs Matt. “I’m quite eccen- tric with my clothes and I love Vivienne Westwood. But I like the trainers and the jumper.”

Chris Penman is a Darlington FC fan, studying out- door education at Darlington College. As well as the clothing, he has also had his hair cut and highlighted. “It’s not my usual wear,” he admits. “I’m into to reserve a table 01325 365859 skatewear and I’m usually in baggy jeans. I do like Make-up artist Allison McKay helps to give the jeans and would probably wear the jacket but the the lads a new look for the fashion shoot Southend Avenue cardigan’s not really my sort of thing.” Pictures: CHRIS BOOTH Less than 5 minutes walk from Darlington town centre 14 March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk me and my wardrobe

Clockwise from above: Mulberry Roxanne bag from Chestnut, Grange Road, Darlington; chiffon top from Debenhams; dog-tooth belted coat from H&M, Levi jeans, boots, £20, from eBay; Miss Selfridge brown T-shirt, £30 belt from eBay, £50 skirt from Zara, necklace from Accessorise

Kate’s jewellery, below, is available from [email protected]. Rings from £8

Kate Atkinson is 21. She lives in an impulse buy, I’m not really a big skirt North Yorkshire with her parents, two wearer. brothers and two dogs. Kate’s What’s your favourite item of clothing? enthusiasm for fashion and textiles My Roxanne bag. It was a 21st birthday led her to study fashion design at present from my dad. The more I use it the Northumbria University, where she’s better it looks. I just love it! now in her second year. In her spare What are your favourite shops? time she designs and hand-makes Topshop for catwalk trends; Zara is excellent beautiful accessories including for unusual pieces of knitwear; H&M because beaded jewellery and hand-stitched I can’t resist a bargain! leather covered stationery. CAROLINE Which celebrity’s style do you admire TURNER speaks to Kate to find out and why? the secrets of her style Beyonce because she’s ghetto fabulous and

Magnet EA S always looks effortlessly sexy. TM O U N WE T T I love all that bling! E ARE How would you describe your E HERE R R T O look? S

A

D Reg Y D A E Vardy

L O Casual, but not scruffy. Jeans L Renault R

A

H V

T with everything, attempting

R

O D a R N CHESNUT boho chic! I like N O ST T H es G n U y RUSSELL RUSSELL A at ST ST H nn R a What was your worst ever IN B G R O jeans with A D buy? A pair of lime green hipsters – need I say more? everything, What’s the most you’ve ever spent on an item attempting of clothing? I once spent £80 on a chocolate brown knitted boho chic! and velvet skirt. It was a bit of March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 15 out on the town

NE Magazine’s style experts scour the social honeypots of the region in search of style and individuality

EM ILY P RICE

LAN C AL McCourt MAR

CARO ARD LYN F AVY W & McKay ERRIES D

OE Rigatoni’s have four restaurants particular shop he prefers but does believe EMILY PRIOR – in Hartlepool, Middlesborough, in buying good quality clothes and, like the EMILY Prior, 18, is studying PR at Leeds. She was at Joe’s with friends and said she liked Sunderland and Darlington. Recent- rest of us, loves a bargain. Davy was wear- it there as it has a nice vibe and you could talk without having to shout. Emily looked ly, the Darlington branch extended ing a jacket by St Martins of York. To work fab in a jacket by Diesel, a vest by H&M, trousers from Top Shop and a rather nice scarf its restaurant from 80 to 145-seating off stress, he goes to the gym and his perfect by Per Una from M&S. Her favourite shops are Top Shop in Leeds and Leggs in Darling- Jcapacity by taking over the basement as well relaxing tonic is seeing his baby smile first ton and, as she likes vintage outfits, she can always find something at The Corn Exchange as providing a cool and sassy bar area. thing on a morning and the gentle rhythmic in Leeds. Emily’s hair looked great. She has gone to the same hairdresser for years and Experience the Flavour of Fun is the breathing when sleeping. really trusts her, which she believes is vital. motto and we did… as well as a few lovely glasses of Prosecco. Outside it was a cold, MARC ALLAN dark Thursday evening, but inside Joe’s bar MARC, 23, is a recruitment officer. He looked the staff greet you with a smile and the at- well groomed and slick in trousers by Top mosphere is light and friendly, with a classy Man’s London range, shoes by Bertie and a mix of people of all age groups. shirt from River Island. He likes the afford- able fashion at Topshop but also likes to CAROLYN FERRIES shop at Psyche and Triads, as well as snap- CAROLYN is an amazingly young looking ping up the odd unusual bargains at charity 50. She is a lecturer on childcare at Middles- shops. Marc attributes his slim figure and borough College. Carolyn was wearing a looking good to a high protein diet of fish sal- dress by Joulani. Her favourite shopping ads and veg and he keeps a healthy glow by place for something a bit different is Leggs using a sun bed twice a week. in Darlington and she likes jewellery by Monet and Liz Claiborne. Her ultimate treat RACHEL BAXTER would be an outfit by her favourite design- RACHEL, 29, has a er, Vivienne Westwood. Carolyn says she radiant personality, QUALITY QUALITY LIVINGLIVING doesn’t have any particular diet or beauty which must be an regime to keep her looking good, although asset in her job as an HEALTH HEALTH CLUBCLUB she believes a positive attitude helps, as well assistant manager at as Yves Saint Laurent make-up. the Kensington THE SCOTCH CORNER HOTEL Hotel in Willington. BOND MA She enjoys Junction A1-A66 N. Yorkshire OL10 6NR BOND Ma, 20, is a studying media and mar- socialising at Joe’s. Tel. 01325 500 555 Website www.quality-living com. keting at Leeds. He enjoys Rachel has a passion E-mail: [email protected] shopping at Triads and for fashion and Psyche as they stock shopping and is good quality brands but inspired by Victorian he also loves a charity clothing. Her Coates Couture shop bargain. Bond favourite shops are looked very cool and Topshop, Joseph M comfortable in his and River Island. She Bespoke Tailors outfit, and although was XTER EL BA he likes outfits that wearing a RACH At Coates Couture we are bringing tailoring into the look a bit different, top and 21st Century by offering a design and consultation he believes they only jeans from service which is modern in approach. The very best cut look good if you feel River Island, boots and the very best cloths are used to produce garments of the highest quality. good. He was wear- by Dune and a belt ing a hat from a char- from New Look. On For the Ladies : We also For the Gents : ity shop a scarf by the beauty front, she Suits have a Suits Paul Smith from Psy- uses baby wipes to cleanse, Toni & Guy Coats selection Coats che, a jacket by H&M hair products, Nivea Moisturiser and Baby Dresses of quality Blazers Skirts ready to wear Trousers and jeans by Levi. Oil as an eye make-up remover. garments Trousers Shirts Blouses HOME VISITS Jackets DAVY WARD AVAILABLE DAVY, 31, is a proud Evening Wear Evening Wear Judie McCourt, of TV and radio fame, and Mother of the Bride Mother of the Groom new dad. He runs a BOND MA make-up and hair artist Allison McKay, run AM car sales and property Creative Productions, which specialises in Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Tailoring business. He enjoys creative event management and the Modern, Traditional or High Fashion the food and atmos- production of photographic images for 225/226 High Street, Northallerton phere at Joe’s. He advertising doesn’t have any amcreativeproductions.com (01609) 761967 16 March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk Putting us in the picture

Displaying the family snaps has suddenly lost its cringe factor with the new trend for personalised pictures. SARAH FOSTER meets Kersty Garrett, a woman who’s definitely in the frame

HILE decorating your home and relatives began asking if she would with photographs was once make pictures for them. Before long, she sneered at, marking you out was trading on the Internet site eBay. “The as over-sentimental or self- first time, I think I put about six on that I obsessed, these days, it hadn’t actually made. Four sold in the first Wseems, it’s chic. Not for you the mass-pro- week so I thought, ‘Oh I’ll put some more duced images sold as art – rather a true re- on’,” says Kersty. flection of what’s beautiful in your life. And She already had a computer but had to if that’s your ageing mongrel, well, who is invest in a special printer for the canvas. En- anyone to criticise? tirely self-sufficient, she even makes the The latest technology means that, far frames in an out-building at her parents’ from being restricted to -standard house. Otherwise, all the work is carried out prints, you can have them transferred onto in her office, upstairs at her Richmond virtually anything. From blinds to cushions home. “I use a scanner to get images onto – even tiles and wallpaper – you can literal- the computer. Some are hand-painted, some ly make your stamp. are computer-generated and a lot are a mix- Remember those much-copied Anya ture of the two,” she says. Hindmarsh bags bearing snaps of every- “The printing side of it is quite straight- thing from people to pets? Now forward – the most work goes home furnishing stores are hot Turn tiles into into creating the image, which on the trend, with the likes of talking points by is quite time-consuming.” Ikea and Habitat stocking photo- interspersing plain Kersty’s pictures fall into two graphic prints. Even Past Times ones with with main categories – those pro- has got in on the act, catering for hand-made tiles duced from clients’ pho- its niche market by reproducing incorporating tographs and those from other photo memories on canvas and photographic images, such as flowers or ab- cushions. memories. stract shapes. She currently One woman who is at the fore- Ceramist Alison has a gallery of around 85 such front of the fashion is Kersty Trinder transfers designs from which people can Garrett. Kersty, 33, set up Art colour or black choose, although she’s avoiding Kage after her son Joe, now 18 and white images mass production. “I’m limiting months, was born. Coming from on to ceramic the gallery prints to 50. I’m aim- a background in design, she was tiles. Each tile ing to get up to a couple of hun- looking for a way to use her cre- made to order dred images,” she says. ative talents without the de- from £30. Examples of her work adorn mands of a full-time job. She (01273) 506664 her home, with one of the most stumbled on making canvass pic- striking a montage of her son’s tures by chance. body parts. She shows me how “I’ve always done pictures for photographs can be altered to myself and I’ve always designed birthday favour the subject, or even transformed as cards and things like that. We moved house pop art or oil paintings. Every customer gets last August and I wanted a picture of a cer- a paper printout of their picture, with the tain colour for a room. I thought that rather option to have it altered before it goes to can- than go out and buy it, I would make it my- vas. self,” says Kersty. With the development of her website, Ker- “I think canvas pictures are quite popu- sty hopes to reach an even wider market. lar at the moment and I looked at some in “As I was getting quite a few hits on eBay, I shops and thought, ‘I’m sure I’ll be able to thought I’d have my own website,” she ex- make one of those’ and just had a go.” plains. “It’s an e-commerce website, so peo- The result was so successful that friends ple can buy online.” As well as browsing the gallery and buy- ing pictures, clients can upload their pho- tographs – meaning they never have to part with them. The less technologically ad- vanced can simply post their snaps. Kersty hopes that with a growth in busi- ness, she might one day have her own work- shop and studio, but doesn’t envisage huge expansion. “I would never want to get to the stage of employing dozens of people. I enjoy the creation of something from scratch right through to the finished product, and I don’t think I would enjoy it as much if I had someone doing that for me,” she says.

Pictures start from £35 and can be ordered via the website at www.artkage.com or by calling 0870 766 7476. March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 17

LIFE COACH

HIS month sees both T Mother’s day and International Woman’s Day so I’ve unashamedly chosen to focus this column on women. Hopefully, chaps, you’ll also find something here for you too. The 21st century is a time of great change for all of us. The balance of traditional male and female roles is shifting. Women, in particular, are transforming and looking for much more out of life. Many women who come to me for life coaching have sacrificed their creativity and passions to fit into a role they feel society created for them. And our world is much poorer for it. Feminine energy with all its gifts of intuition, sensitivity and creativity is sorely needed in our homes and workplaces. So all you fabulous women out there, it is time to awaken to your gifts; to follow your heart and let some of the wilder side of your nature come through. Take those horse riding lessons, get painting, speak up when you feel passionate about something. And if you feel nervous about letting some energy loose, remember: “Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be.” Clementine Paddleford (1900-1968) Juliette Lee www.juliettelee.co.uk or telephone Juliette opn (01748) 823010 Creative: Kersty Garrett with the montage of photographs of her son Joe Picture: SARAH NICHOLSON

Above: Canvas, 5 Flowerheads, from £195, and opposite page, cushion with Cracks design, from £5 www.clothuk.com. The company can apply virtually any image to any product – furniture, cushions, ceramics and tiles. Why not have grandad’s football team emblazoned onto a pouffe, or your mother-in-law printed onto a cushion? The possibilities are endless...

GET THE PICTURE Wallcandy. Call: 07768 614686 or visit www.wallcandy.com. Photo-Furnishings. Call: 020 7575 3030 or visit www.photo-furnish- .com The Bigger Picture. Call: 020 7636 9000 or visit www.mybiggerpicture.com Past Times. Call: 0870 125 0125 or visit www.past- time.com www.take-two.co.uk or call: 020 8422 7070 Donotbend. Call: 01423 705500 or visit www.donotbend.ltd.uk Snappy Snaps, will also put images on to Tote bag, from £69.99, from The Bigger canvas, placemats, pillowcases and mugs. Picture and Michael Banks digitally enhanced Call: 020 8741 7474 or visit www.snappys- picture, £300 upwards, from Donotbend. Also naps.com available as wallpaper and fabric 18 March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk gadget man For sounds all around

Don’t miss The dream of enjoying your Burton’s Bytes – game games and DVD movies in reviews in The surround sound without Northern Echo every Friday disturbing the neighbours is (NORTH EAST) LTD already a reality. NIGEL MENS DESIGNERWEAR BURTON reports 17 Westdyke Road Redcar 01642 488606 AST month we discussed forthcom- cessing system that enables your stereo head- ing technology that would recreate phones to portray the sound of a five-speaker, the sound of the cinema with a set of surround-sound playback system. headphones. The good news is that With Dolby Headphone, sound that is sup- this technology already exists and posed to be in front of you is in front of you. itL works very well indeed. Sound that is supposed to be all around you is The technology is called Dolby Headphone all around you. It no longer sounds like it’s all and, despite the name, it isn’t actually a set of happening inside your head. cans for your ears. It’s a processing technology The big question is: how well does it work? that works with any set of headphones. Of I tried a set of Dolby Headphone equipped course, the audio quality improves if you use cans made by Thrustmaster. On sale now for a better headphones, but even inexpensive head- shade over £100, the outfit consists of a set of phones can provide excellent Dolby Headphone headphones and a tiny decoder box that plugs imaging. Here’s how it works. into your DVD player, games console or TV. As the sound from each speaker in a stereo The decoder looks so small and feels so light system reaches your inner ears, it is modified I must admit to being sceptical that it could per- depending on the size and shape of the room as form the trick of fooling my brain into hearing well as the physical properties of your head and sounds from different parts of the room. Boy, outer ears. was I surprised. The manner in which the soundwaves A quick spin of a blockbuster movie like Ar- bounce around enables your brain to localise mageddon and I was convinced. At the start of the sounds and integrate them into a sound- the film a giant rock moves slowly towards the field that appears in front and around you as earth. they would be at a concert. Wearing the Thrustmaster earphones I felt Headphones, on the other hand, feed the the rock behind me before it appeared on sound directly to your eardrums. screen. The sound then travelled past my head Using powerful digital signal processing and into the screen before the whole lot ex- technology, Dolby Headphone electronically ploded in a cacophony of deep bass as the me- imparts to each audio channel-two on stereo teor hits the earth. programs and up to five on surround programs- Listening to the beach scene in Saving Pri- the sonic signature of a corresponding speak- vate Ryan, I flinched each time a bullet whis- er properly placed in a carefully defined tled past my ear. Likewise, plugged into an X acoustic environment. In other words, Dolby Box for a bit of first person perspective shoot- Headphone creates up to five virtual loud- ing action, I could tell where my enemies were speakers. As a result, the listening sensation is before I saw them based entirely on the direc- much more natural, with sounds appearing tion of the sound. “out-of-head”. Dolby Headphone is currently available on Dolby Headphone works with any stereo pro- the Thrustmaster products and some software gram source, from CDs to MP3 files, and with DVD players used on laptops and PCs. Sony and any multichannel program source, whether Pioneer also sell surround sound headphones Dolby Surround, Dolby Digital, PCM, or MPEG that decode a Dolby signal. encoded. If you live in a small house and enjoy the It can be included in almost any product that thrill of being at the cinema, I can’t recommend normally provides a stereo headphone jack, this technology enough. such as PCs and laptops; A/V receivers and processors; DVD-Video and DVD-Audio players; For more details of the Thrustmaster auto-entertainment systems; MP3 players; T510s log on to www.etectera.co.uk . We game consoles, portable stereos; TV receivers; also have a set to give away. To be in cable and satellite receivers; VCRs; and multi- with a chance of winning just tell the media speaker systems. name of the technology used in Dolby It’s also available as part of DVD playback Headphone. Send your entries to Gadget software for computers, and is used for in-flight Man Comp, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 entertainment programs on several airlines. 1NF. Entries should arrive no later than Dolby Headphone is a unique signal-pro- the end of March. March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 19

food OMEN – particularly the enjoying a mugful to aid sweet dreams. ‘Bridget Jones’ generation of Sales of the soothing liquid are going Wsingle, working women – are through the roof (up 13% on last year sending wine sales soaring. and highest point ever in the brands More than a billion litres were drunk in history) and the company believes it the UK last year, a record according to a may be because in our stressful times 12 bottles Mintel survey, with seven in 10 naming restful sleep is more elusive. it as their favourite tipple. Horlicks is available in two formats – Between 1999 and 2004 wine sales in Original Malt, priced from £1.23, and the UK rocketed by more than 30% from Instant, available in three flavours: of wine for £5.8 billion to £7.6 billion. Malt, Malted Chocolate and Hot Mintel spokesman James McCoy says Chocolate, priced from 40p per double working women with time and money to sachet. spare for luxuries like wine played a For more information about how to aid the price significant part in boosting sales. restful sleep, visit the Horlicks website at www.sleepbetter.co.uk Fed up with those fizzy drinks and filling of 11 smoothies for lunchtime refreshment? A new drink may tickle the taste buds and RULES FOR RISOTTO also help boost energy and resistance to 1 Do all the preparation before you start winter ills. cooking the rice. Vitsmart, from Boots and Waitrose, comes 2 Have stock ready, make a little more than (PLUS free delivery) in a choice of different flavours and aims to you need, and keep hot over a gentle heat target different health needs. They’re while you make the risotto. named Defence, Regenerate, Relax and 3: Almost anything can be cooked into a Calorie Controller, and drinks, £1.29 a risotto. Add right at the beginning if it needs E have teamed up with local “It is a delicious, round, generous, bottle, are available at selected Boots cooking for more than 12-20 minutes, wine merchant, Wrightson & Provencal red for drinking within two to stores and Waitrose supermarkets. otherwise stir in at the end. Company, to bring you 12 three years. Praise indeed for a North-East 4 Always use Italian risotto rice. bottles of wine for the price of lad. W Horlicks is becoming the ultimate 5 Today it is fashionable to stir in precooked 11 and free delivery to your door in time Both the whites are made from the trendy nightcap, with stars like Gwyneth vegetables to give a contrast between mild for Easter. What’s more you’ll even Sauvignon Blanc grape which, Paltrow and Colin Farrell reportedly creamy rice and the added ingredient. receive tasting notes and food pairing Chardonnay apart, is probably the most ideas so you can get the most out of the famous of all white varieties. This is the GUILTY chip lovers everywhere, including Davina McCall and Kate Winslet, will be wines. And all this for £58. grape, which makes both Sancerre and delighted to know that a portion of chips (175g) contains fewer calories than a Our featured red in this case is the Cloudy Bay. doughnut and five times more Vitamin C than a bunch of grapes. Domaine de L’Ameillaud 2003 from the The former, from the Loire, is typically These cheering facts were revealed as part of National Chip Week. If you want to Rhone Valley. The Domaine de reminiscent of grass, gooseberries and know how to make the perfect oven chip – or find other comforting information–- L’Ameillaud (pronounced Am-ay-oh) is minerals whilst New Zealand and Chile you can visit www.lovechips.com made by Nick Thompson, who used to live produce Sauvignons with tropical fruit in Middleton St George. He worked in the aromas. steel trade but upped sticks to France in Wherever you find Sauvignon, the high 1982 where he bought this vineyard in acid level in the grape will make your Cairanne. mouth water and even the top examples Robert Parker, perhaps the most famous are meant to be drunk young, not aged in wine critic in the world, said of the wine: a cellar. DINNER FOR TWO Knights Restaurant Waddington Street 3 Course Dinner Monday to Friday Durham City £39 .95 per couple 0191 3709977 Order Form Northern Echo Easter Wine Offer including a Bottle of House Wine Wrightson & Company, Manfield Garage, Manfield Nr. Darlington, North Yorkshire, DL2 2RE Tel: 01325 374134 Fax: 01325 374135 email: [email protected] www.wrightsonwines.co.uk

I would like to order.... mixed cases(s) at £58.00 per case including vat and delivery G. W. Holmes & Son Vintage & Classic Wedding Car Hire Payment should be made by cheque with the order, payable to Wrightson & Company, or by Visa, Mastercard or Switch Orders should be sent to Wrightson & Company by Post, Fax or email * Mandatory information Name* ...... Address* ...... Postcode* ...... Daytime Telephone Number* ...... Mobile Telephone Number ...... Email...... DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS* If you are not home when we call please provide specific delivery instructions where or with whom we should leave your wines: ...... Brookside Garage, Evenwood, Bishop Auckland Please debit my Credit / Debit card for £ ...... Ask for Graham or Michelle Credit / Debit Card Number ...... Valid from: ..... / ..... Expires ..... / ..... 01388 603417 / 01388 834420 Issue No (if paying by Switch) ...... Visit our showroom by appointment or log onto www.yourweddingcar.com to see the full range of beautiful cars available 20 March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk motoring

Citroen Picasso: good interior space, practicality and visibility Painting an impressive picture

IAN LAMMING has a brush with the new Picasso and likes what he sees

HE digital display for fuel reads low. torque. What that equates to on the road is Just one shaded section remains more than enough power to accelerate then it’s into the red and borrowed briskly, overtake in perfect safety and cruise time before the necessary fuel stop. all day along the motorway, for huge dis- In situations like this, most cars tances between fill-ups. Twould only be able to travel 30 to 50 miles be- It doesn’t need to rev hard as the power is fore running dry so this test drive is going to available from low down the range. In fact, have to be short. Then I realise the Citroen maximum torque comes in at a lowly Picasso has a trip computer that will tell me 1,750rpm. If this is painting an impressive exactly how many miles there are to go be- picture then that’s as it should be as the Pi- fore I splutter to a halt. casso is a truly excellent drive. It is relaxed Scroll through the computer by pressing in nature, stress-free and the sort of car you the end of the wiper stalk and the readout could drive all day long on a variety of roads offers a variety of information before coming without the merest hint of fatigue. to rest on DTE (distance to empty). At first I The dash mounted gearbox is well-weight- wonder whether it is in kilometres as it ap- ed and slick, the brakes are powerful and the pears far too high – 174. ride is the perfect balance for comfort and ac- But no, that is the miles to empty figure complished handling. The Picasso rounds and scrolling back through the trip comput- bends with aplomb, with perfect body control er to reach the average miles per gallon set- and bags of grip. It is as happy on the twisty ting I realise why – this reads over the 50mpg stuff as the straights and loves towns too. mark. The other major factors in its favour are in- This particular face-lifted Picasso boasts terior space, practicality and visibility. From Citroen’s new 1.6 HDi diesel engine. I won’t anywhere in the cabin the Citroen is more of bore anybody with the technical ins and outs an observatory than a car offering lofty seat- of this direct injection diesel, mainly because ing positions and acres of glass. The view is I don’t understand them myself. It is more superb, high above the traffic, hedges and than enough to say that it works very well in- walls that normally spoil the vista. deed. There’s plenty of room to stretch your legs Not only is it frugal – officials figures put and a big boot for the luggage. The seats fold economy at 68.9mpg on the extra urban cycle and tilt and there’s even a little fold-away and 57.6mpg on the more realistic combined shopping trolley in the boot and aircraft-style – it is powerful and refined. The four cylin- fold out tables on the back of the front seats. der unit turns out 110bhp and 177lbft of Plump for the options list and you can even have a fridge. The Picasso has been popular since it was launched thanks to its value for money com- bination of keen pricing and abilities. Add in the fantastic fuel economy of the HDi and it has just become a grand master. GTest car provided by Croxdale Citroen, of Croxdale, Co Durham. There’s plenty aof room to stretch your legs and a big boot for the luggage March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 21

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Main picture: early evening in the Piazza della Rotunda. Above: the view from St Peter’s Rome from The film Oceans Twelve, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, has sent British tourists scurrying off in their thousands to Rome. And with direct flights from Teesside, it’s never been easier. JANE HARPER reports home

SHORT break to Rome is now eas- granted by free ticket, available from tour ier than ever with the launch of a groups or some hotels. new flight service from the North- Visitors to the Vatican are reminded of the THE ART OF HAIR... East. Daily flights from Teesside dress-code which requires arms and legs to be Daily Living Aids For Lots of new and to the Ciampino airport started in covered, and is enforced on even the hottest exciting tile ranges now The Elderly in stock lateA January, so Rome is an attractive option summer day. And Less Mobile for anyone looking for a city-break. St Peter’s is an architectural marvel. The 10% DISCOUNT biggest cathedral in the world, it also houses • Scooters • Chairs Steeped in ancient history, the Eternal City • Electric Recliners ON PRODUCTION OF has a modern twist with a wealth of shops and fascinating items such as a Michelangelo’s • Wheelchairs THIS COUPON restaurants designed to cater to visitors on Pieta sculpture of Mary and Jesus, and the per- • House & Home any budget. fectly preserved body of a former Pope, who is • Kitchen & Dining U nit 2G, D rum I nd E state , • Bathing & Toileting C hester-le- S treet Ciampino airport is 12 miles out of the city soon be made a saint. ( opp B atleys ) The inside of the cathedral is immense – it Unit 1B, Drum Ind Est centre, but central locations are easily reached Chester-le-Street tel ephone: by catching the Cotral bus outside of the ter- is big enough to house a 20-storey building – (Opp. Batleys Cash & Carry) (0191) 4920073 minal and connecting with a subway to but its size has been purposely disguised Open Mon-Fri 10-5 pm 0191 492 2301 Stazione Termini. through clever optical illusions. Sculptures 8 New Elvet Sat 10-4 pm The city operates two Metro underground and wall designs closer to the ceiling are much Durham City lines, both of which run through the Termini. bigger than ones at ground level, reducing the DH1 1AQ Tickets on the Metro cost just one euro each, sense of height. Tel. 0191 386 8768 and those intending to make a lot of journeys The Vatican museum is a mecca for art www.enzo.co.uk can take advantage of daily passes. lovers, with lengths of corridors filled with Furniture & Carpets Founded in around 750BC, Rome is a par- priceless treasures, leading towards the awe- Established 1930 adise for history enthusiasts. some Sistene Chapel, with Michelangelo’s in- The Colosseum is an essential stop, but with tricately painted ceiling and imposing Last The George Hotel a lack of information or signs inside the actu- Judgement taking up the entire back wall. PIERCEBRIDGE-ON-TEES The Vatican is extremely busy during the al structure, visitors are recommended to take Forthcoming Events Book Early Make sure you call and don’t miss out advantage of one of the guided tour companies summer months, and visitors are advised to on our carpets, beds and furniture which can be found outside the attraction, in set aside a whole day to make it through the Salsa Crazy order to make the most of the experience. crowded museum. The crowd can move quite Saturday 12th March, 2005 - 7.30pm - 12am swiftly in the off-season, but even then it will A fabulous evening of Salsa Music and Dancing The Roman Forum is another fascinating at- Tuition (for those who need it) from a top instructor. S ‘Woolrich’ Joy Bedroom Carpet traction, made all the more accessible by a de- still take several hours to navigate the corri- Delicious Duban Buffet SAVE 50% NRP £13.99 sq.yd cent guide. Built over a period of 900 years, the dors. Only £10 per ticket A OUR PRICE £6.99 sq yd Forum was the commercial, political and reli- For visitors who have had enough of histo- Skool Disco L £8.36 sq.mtr gious centre of the city from the Republican ry and art, designer fashion stores can be Saturday 25th March 2005 - 7.30pm - 1am E 2 ROLLS ONLY era until the fourth century AD. found around piazza di Spagna, while via Adults Only Easter Skool Disco ‘Witham Twist’ 100% New Zealand With the decline of the Roman Empire, the Nazionale and via del Corso has many mid- Hosted by our very own Strict! Headmistress Wool Luxury Twist Pile 2 Top Alpha Radio D.J.’s - S NRP £14.99 sq.yd Forum fell into disrepair during medieval range high-street shops. The market at via Shaun Harrington and Chris Hakin A OUR PRICE £7.99 sq yd times, but its classical beauty provided the in- Sannio, near San Giovanni metro is good for Anything could happen! - Plus Top 70’s Band £9.55 sq.mtr spiration for hundreds of Renaissance artists second-hand clothes, while traditional market School uniform compulsory, or face the cane! L Re-live your youth at this crazy night 70 oz Natural Look Berber and architects. produce can be found at the Campo de’ Fiori, Top prizes for the best fancy dress. Finger buffet E Extra Heavy Wear piazza San Cosimato in Trastevere or piazza Only £10 per ticket Visitors can see the bathroom of the leg- NRP £13.99 sq.yd 50% OFF TO CLEAR endary Vestal Virgins, the only example of a dell’Unità, near the Vatican. A Tribute to Fawlty Towers S OUR PRICE £6.99 sq yd Christian church built inside a pagan temple, The neighbourhoods of San Lorenzo and Saturday 2nd April, 2005 - 7.30pm - 1am A £8.36 sq.mtr carvings of the mythical Nike figures, and Trastevere are well-known for reasonably- Laughlines and its team of professional Actors present an evening of crazy slapstick comedy with Basil, L Many other bargains instore be quick... Julius Caesar’s tomb, which still has flowers priced restaurants, while those in search of Manuel, Sybil, Polly and other popular characters in Laminate Flooring up to 60% off laid on it each day. nightlife should head towards the Testaccio this timeless classic series. E 4 Course Hot Buffet Dinner Rhino floor vinyl up to 40% off Stepping out of Rome for a day can also be area. NRP = Normal Retail Price Dancing into the night with Manuel’s Disco an enjoyable experience with a visit to the Vat- Until July, flights depart daily from Only £15 per ticket DurhamTeesValley Airport at 8pm, arriv- Forget the rest this is the best! ican City with its breathtaking architecture Ticket Hotline 01325 374576 and priceless artwork. Tourists can also enjoy ing in Rome just before midnight. Internet All major credit / debit cards accepted Look for us at 44-46 Front Street and at Blands an audience with the Pope on one of his regu- prices start from £14.99 one-way. Please phone for a copy of our full calendar lar visits to St Peter’s Basilica. Admission is www.ryanair.com 0871-246 0000 of Events for 2005 Openings, Chester-le-Street 0191 3882159 22 March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk

HOROSCOPES are always giving us hints about our personal and working lives, about money or emotions. But our star signs, and the personality attributes that come with them, also have a bearing on how we like to are likely to be favourite colours. Romantic and earthy, the Taurean a warm, comfortable environment outdoors in with a great conservatory decorate our homes. Leading window colour palette is likely to feature suitable for all the family to enjoy. and lots of green and blue in the blind supplies Cosiflor have provided PISCES greens, creams and ultramarine. They colour scheme. this quick guide to our design SENTIMENTAL Pisceans often need to like rich fabrics such as silk and LEO preferences, according to our star be uplifted and encouraged, one leather and also small, delicate items LEOS love to make a big show of SCORPIO sign. (their flower is a daisy). So more reason why they go for white, lilac or things so window treatments are INTENSE and passionate, Scorpios decorative chintzy fabrics might be sea green. They’re also quite materi- going to be a focal point. Attracted to love lots of mystery and secrets, so right up their street. CAPRICORN alistic so they’ll love telling friends all golds as well as reds, oranges and the more nooks and crannies about PRACTICAL, industrious Capricorns about the tremendous value for bright yellows, our Leo is going to the house, the better. Maroon, like things that are sturdy and made money their blinds are. GEMINI make sure his conservatory is the talk crimson and dark reds are likely to to last (so they’ll appreciate non-fade, FUNNY, but mercurial by nature, of the neighbourhood. get a look in alongside blues and washable fabrics). Not surprisingly, ARIES Geminis need their space so conser- greens. Scorpios do have a penchant they’re drawn to quite sombre and vatories or loft rooms with lots of for nautical themes. safe colours, indigo, dark brown or NOT surprisingly red is the favourite windows are ideal for them. Silver is a VIRGO black will satisfy their cravings for a colour of those born under the fire favourite shade, along with yellow and VIRGOS have a meticulous attention SAGITTARIUS sign. They also like metal objects. to detail. Blue, dark brown and beige lasting value. orange. FRIENDLY Sagittarians love Being quite arty, they also appreciate are going to feature prominently in a entertaining so you’ll find their sleek, well designed objects. Virgo colour scheme. AQUARIUS CANCER conservatory extensions are often AQUARIANS love anything weird or HOME-LOVING Cancerians will also be dining rooms and their choice of new unusual and they’ll go into raptures TAURUS drawn to bright, sunny yellow and LIBRA windows often the more exotically- over high tech gadgets, so they’re WHEN it comes to decorating orange. Needing constant LIBRANS are quite old-fashioned by shaped. With indigo and purple their bound to be enthused by electrically- Taureans are likely to go for mix and reassurance, lots of affection and inclination and with a penchant for colours of preference, the results will operated blinds. Violet or light blue match and co-ordination in a big way. fuss, the average Cancerian will want gardening, they will love bringing the be stunning.

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Southholme L L AGGANMORE AGGANMORE Scarborough A dventure T oys H H OTEL OTEL Scotland Scotland North Bay NE Holidays Southholme Farm 3 NIGHT DEAL Licensed 12 Bedroom NE Homes Sale Starts Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Hotel th Enjoy a break in the Lakes M arch 5 £130 pp Sea Views B owness on W indermere 01609 881302 Last minute From £19 pppn Midweek availability En-Suite L ONSDALE H OTEL £23.50 pppn GALLOWAY 01776 UK Accommodation of the Year 2004 NON-SMOKING Award Winner S OUTH W EST 810 499 L ic , all E n S uite , C ar P ark , F amily R ooms S COTLAND www.lagganmorehotel.co.uk (015394) 43348 3 Lochs Unlimited Golf 01723 361495 www.lonsdale-hotel.co.uk Holiday • Divorce • Separation • Children • Financial Park Wateredge Inn Cherry Garth Hotel Repairs and Restoration Luxury 6-Berth Caravans Ambleside Tel 015394 33128 Replica Existing Stonework for hire on one of on Lake Windermere Call the ‘caring’ Solicitors Galloway’s finest holiday Luxury B&B in the heart of the Lake District Traditional Lime Pointing parks. 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Flooring DoorsSkirtings built Care Home, W E G UARANTEE Y OU E XCELLENT Architraves FencingDecking For a no obligation quotation please offering the best in contact your local Stairlift nursing care C USTOMER S ERVICE North Yorkshire Timber have a great range of timber Manufacturer on products for internal and external use Freephone 0800 7839551 for the elderly 2 Southfield Road, Middlesbrough 24 hour care Tel: (01642) 247863 These high quality products are all at competitive Dual Registered prices and offer great value for money Regular Activities Call the timber experts for a price and advice on any BLINDS UK Long / Short Term Care / of these products or visit any of our showrooms £ £ 2 Vertical Blinds 60 3 Vertical Blinds 89 Respite Care 4 Vertical Blinds £ 111 5 Vertical Blinds £ 129 Single En-Suite Northallerton RiponRichmond Any size - FREE Measure - FREE Fitting Rooms 01609 78077701765 60596301748 825225 (Lovely choice of fabrics) L ow H all L ane , All blinds Also fabulous range of M iddlesbroughSunderland & samples S cotton Established 1840 brought to Wood Venetians 01642 4603930191 5144663 your home C atterick G arrison Auctioneers of Distinction and Roller Blinds (Joseph Thompson Timber) Telephone The Gallery Saleroom (01325) 320666 01748 Northumberland Street www.nytimber.co.uk For a FREE No Obligation Estimate Darlington DL3 7HJ Visit our website www.blinds.uk.com 8131000 [email protected] Bettercare TelephoneFax (01325) 462559 (01325) 284587 Step back in time Polly’s is not just a shop . . . it’s an experience Site Visits & Home Visits • Baby & Christening Wear & Gifts • Fun Rainwear 2 Day Fittings • Major stockists of Knitting Yarns & Patterns • Cross Stitch & Childrens Crafts • Card Making Discover Polly’s - well worth a visit “QUICK AS A WINK” Polly’s 24 Hours a Day... 7 Days a Week ... 365 Days a Year CHILDREN’S EMPORIUM All Emergency Plumbing Work A1 Choice Experience our Enchanting World of Make Believe National Company - Local Service 20 Front Street East, Wingate A1 Quality Tel: 01429 838700 Pre-fixed Prices with No Hidden Extras One Hour Service Normally Available A1 Value Work Guaranteed Beauty is within the eye A1 Blinds Beauty is within the eye Pressure Jetting of the Beholder CCTV Surveys Made to measure in many styles Quality and Value from MIDDLESBROUGH and colours 01642 701888 E XPRESS B LINDS Quality workmanship from a family DARLINGTON WHITBY Vertical • Roller • Venetian 01325 354900 01947 601200 business established 1980 Pleated • Solar Film HARTLEPOOL FREEPHONE Freephone 0800 78 38 548 0800 0745724 01429 278100 0800 0371796 Head Office: Franchise House, Adam Court, FITTED FREE www.expressblinds.co.uk Newark Road, Peterborough. 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March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 3

FOR BABIES WHO LUNCH sharon griffiths HIGHCHAIRS are great. Except when you don’t have one. That’s where Totseat comes in. It’s washable. It’s squashable. It’s highly portable. Suitable for children between the ages of eight months and two years, Totseat anchors the child in safety and comfort in an adult chair. It’s easy to use, fits most adult chairs and is highly portable – fitting into a pocket or handbag. It adjusts, using two buttons, to suit chairs of varying back heights and a fully aBy the time adjustable cummerbund even provides a back support on chairs with big gaps. The Totseat costs £29.99 and comes with a compact, it got to matching pocket bag to carry it around in. Contact Beverley Kirk for further information: 0131 225-4646 choosing [email protected] bathroom BAGS OF STYLE IF you want to be truly individual, these beautiful bags from The Damson Tree on Barnard Castle’s high tiles, I was street might be worth picking up. They are limited edition bags, worried for her all handmade in suede and fabric. The European company that makes them, Mety sanity... window shopping Dornali, comes up with completely new de- signs each season. They cost from £120. TAPS!” sobbed my friend Mary down all of bi-fold doors, enclosures and cubicles. the phone. “Now he wants me to We’ll pass over the time she was choosing achoose taps!” Which led me to my the- radiators. You wouldn’t think that something ory that doing up a house is a bit like as simple as warming a room and drying a having a baby… towel could cause so much angst. Last year Mary, single and childless, inher- It did. ited a house in Durham. The timing was per- By the time it got to choosing bathroom fect – just when she was thinking of moving tiles, I was worried for her sanity. Kitchen out of her flat for something with a garden. tiles had been no problem, but it took at least Of course the house – 1930s and formerly a month and countless expeditions before she the home of an elderly aunt who’d done very chose the bathroom tiles. She took samples little to it for the last 20 years – needed a lit- home, took them back again, took more, took tle attention. Well, quite a lot actually. But the same ones again, brought them back… Mary was lucky. She could carry on living in Kindly men in tile showrooms began to hide her flat while the work was done. She em- when she came in. barked on the project with relish and delight. But finally she had regained her equilibri- There were basics like rewiring, new win- um. The end was in sight. The rest of the dows, central heating, a wall down here, a house was coming together beautifully – doorway knocked through there. But all of it wooden floors, light fittings. Swatches and – with the help of a wonderful supervising paint samples lay scattered on window sills, architect and amazingly nice builders – went the choices easy, the decorators booked. through fairly easily. Then the plumber asked her about taps… There were a few agonies over the kitchen. It was unfortunate, perhaps, that I’d rung Hi tech? Farmhouse? Shaker? But then she just a few minutes after the plumber. I was saw exactly the kitchen she wanted in a show- right in line. I made soothing noises, sug- room – limed oak, very simple, classic, she gested she asked the plumber to choose. She even liked the handles, perfect – and being a calmed down – but only slightly. decisive person bought it. Just like that. She’s Not long after that, she moved in. I sent good at making decisions. flowers and presumed that she had solved the Until it came to the bathrooms… tap problem. Not to mention the tiles, radia- The original bathroom was bleak, basic and tors, shower, bath, loo and basin… tiny. Next to it was a boxroom, which would, Then finally, there was a housewarming the architect agreed make an ideal shower lunch party for a few select friends. At least room. So far, so good. we would see this house which had taken so And then maybe because she’d had months much work, so much effort, so many deci- of making decisions, her confidence sudden- sions, ly crumbled. It was, is, wonderfully done. We had the First of all it was the bath. A bath is a bath, guided tour, oohed over the kitchen, aahed you’d think. But no, there were coloured over the sitting room, envied the study. We baths, thin baths, thick baths, long baths, trooped upstairs, adored the bedrooms. Then short baths, slopey baths, baths with handles, it came to the bathroom and shower. roll-top baths with panels… They were perfection. The bathroom was Basins. Victorian? Edwardian? Ultramod- small, stylish and classy, very minimalist – ern? Japanese style? On a stand, in a unit, on even the taps; the shower room fun and exu- a bench? Big, small? She wandered, bemused berant with jolly mermaids and fishes. The round showrooms. Even loos are more varied rest of us – all no doubt thinking of our chaot- then you’d ever believe possible. ic family bathrooms – were very envious. The decisions began to wear her down. “All that time and agony was worth it,” I HOLIWAYS GARAGE WHINBANK Doing up the house, once a source of delight, said admiringly. ROAD DURHAM WAY SOUTH KITCHEN CREATION started to get to her. “Agony?” said Mary, puzzled, “what agony? AYCLIFFE VILLAGE

TO P. W. S . Then for a while, showers and shower cu- It’s been really fun.” HEIGHINGTON 3M

FACTORY A

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6 bicles took over her life. The woman who As I said, doing a house is just like having TETLEYS 7

INCINERATOR JUNCTION could not bear to walk past a shoe shop had a baby. Hellish to go through, but once it’s all 59 A167 suddenly abandoned the High Street for out over, you instantly forget the pain – and just Mc DONALDS DARLINGTON FILTRONIC SOUTH NORTH of town DIY stores and her talk was love the result. A1 A1 2 March 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk

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SHARON GRIFFITHS LIFE COACH 3 The agony and 17 Put a spring ecstasy of homemaking in your step magazine INTERIORS GADGET MAN is produced by 4 Beautiful 18 Surround yourself The bathrooms with sound Northern INTERIORS WINE OFFER Echo/ Newsquest 6 Small and 19 12 bottles for the Ltd., beautiful price of 11 a Gannett GARDENING MOTORING Company, Priestgate, 10 The meadow 20 A brush with Darlington in a bag the new Picasso DL1 1NF FASHION NE CONNECTIONS (01325) 381313 12 A shoot for 21 Rome direct the footballers from home ADVERTISING ME AND MY Neil Simpson (01325) 505 173 14 WARDROBE neil.simpson The fashion student NEXT MONTH @nne.co.uk Chris Kay OUT ON THE TOWN ECO- (0191) 374 0298 15 with McCourt CLOTHES chris.kay @nne.co.uk and McKay FOR SHOPPING

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l l lley EDITORIAL e Tulip Hill a Gates m V head w Hotel ea The green t T Town Cent l re a 16 Jenny Needham Bensh S ONES am Bank (01325) 505082 baby scene EMBER S Peugeo t Machine Mart South jenny.needham WE ARE HERE rth No Consett @nne.co.uk Whickham IN ASSOCIATION WITH