2 December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk

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SHARON GRIFFITHS McCOURT & McKAY 3 The Christmas 21 Out on card dilemma the town magazine BEAUTY is produced by 4 Gifts for him and 22 Presents for The gifts for her pampering Northern SHOPPING Echo/ Newsquest 6 Something 24 Duke Street and Ltd., for everyone Post House Wynd a Gannett GADGET MAN Company, Priestgate, 10 Dreaming of a 26 10 of the best Darlington black Christmas Yuletide gizmos DL1 1NF INTERIORS (01325) 381313 12 Breathing new life 27 The sloe into old rooms must go on ADVERTISING MOTORING Trish Taylor (01325) 505 233 16 Caring for your 28 The latest offering trish.taylor Christmas plants from Hyundai @nne.co.uk EDITORIAL 18 The stars at 29 Pick of the coffee Jenny Needham (01325) 505082 Christmas table gift books jenny.needham ME AND MY PLUS the chance to @nne.co.uk 20 WARDROBE win £200 worth of Caroline Turner fantastic books December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 3

ANGELIC sharon griffiths ABUNDANCE An abundance of angels has descended upon County Durham. They all feature in the new exhibition at scissors paper stone: wooden angels in all shapes and sizes Ken and Su Cook; cast metal angels and fairies from Northern Ireland by Karen Shannon; ceramic angels by There comes Nicky Stone and lino printed angels by Melanie Wickham. Prices range from a a time when heavenly £3 up to £30. Gallery owner Angela Forsyth says the you have to angelic theme was not actually planned. “ I didn’t realise until I was finalising deliveries, just how many angels were decide What comings,” she says. “My plan was just to source exclusive and unusual items for the exhibition, but with affordability To Do with the in mind.” The exhibition, which runs until Christmas Eve, features many Christmas gift ideas, as well as affordable artworks and items for the Christmas home. scissors paper stone, Summerhill, Cards window shopping Hutton Henry, Hartlepool Tel: (01429) 836010 www.scissors-paper-stone.co.uk

BET the Queen never has this problem. gardening twine. A nice sort of homespun Top: ceramic angel by Nicky Stone When she speaks to her loyal subjects effect, I tried to tell myself… Right: paper angel by Hilary Mee on Christmas Day it’s invariably at a We’ve popped them over the top of picture desk, or in front of a splendid frames, which is quite pleasing – until a boy mantelpiece, or alongside a table that slams the door and the cards magically lift up hasI just one or two large, glossy and and flutter, sadly, onto the floor. tastefully arranged Christmas cards. Other people use those sort of Christmas Magically, the cards have not wilted, tree-shaped cardholders which seem to work collapsed, slid into the fruit bowl or fallen well for them. But not, alas, for us. Nor do into the fire. How unlike our own home. pegs, pins or any of the other gadgets. There comes a time – it used to be about The trouble is that once you’ve pinned your the middle of the month but can now start at cards to the wall or wherever, you can’t read the end of November – when you have to them any more. And because so many come decide What To Do with the Christmas Cards. at once you don’t really get the chance to read It’s one of those minor puzzles of life that has them properly before they’re put on display. baffled me for years. One of those small pleasures of Christmas My mother managed it wonderfully. She is wandering round the house – maybe late at would pick a few – the glossiest and most night with drink in hand, of course – and impressive, plus those from her favourite studying the cards, trying to guess who sent people – to have pride of place on the highly which one, reading the messages thinking polished sideboard. So the huge charity about the people who sent them. For isn’t offerings from rich friends would be slightly that, after all, part of the point of Christmas? obscured by those home made efforts from It’s why I rarely strike anyone off my grandchildren and great grandchildren with Christmas card list. Even if it’s the only their fat crayoned Santas and scattering of contact we have with some friends from long home-sprayed glitter. A nice mixture. ago, the link is still there. Keeping up with Others she would pin neatly and them, if only once a year, is like another attractively to coloured ribbons on the walls. episode in the soap opera of life. One day Very festive. From the day she put them up maybe if circumstances change, we might until the day she took them down again – meet up. And a card and a stamp seem a Twelfth Night, of course – they remained small enough price to pay for that chance. cheering and appealing. In the meantime, there’s the problem of Even when she tried to do the same in our how best to display all those robins, trees, house, it never worked. Boys hurtling Rudolphs and the tasteful reproductions of through, real fire blowing back smoke, old masters. clumsy guests… spilt drinks… misplaced bits And I think I’ve found it. Last year, just of disembowelled toys, always somehow before Christmas, I visited a stately home conspired to spoil the effect. where I was interviewing the Lady. We have bookcases, mantelpieces and She was waiting for me in the entrance hall dressers galore on which to display cards. – a huge stone-flagged room with a Unfortunately, all these places – as well as welcoming log fire blazing. In the centre was featuring some of my vast collection of an enormous oak table complete with Christmas snow scenes – are also used as splendid Christmassy arrangement of dumping grounds for all the other detritus of branches and berries. a family festival. Also on the table was a huge gleaming Even enormous posh cards from silver salver. It was piled high with Christmas millionaires lose a bit of their cachet, when cards and her Ladyship was looking through they’re surrounded by the crumpled Quality them. Street wrappers or the dusty foil from yet “So much easier to leave them here, “ she another wine bottle. Not to mention the said, “Otherwise I spend all Christmas magic fart putty. picking them up and reorganising them.” With a couple of hundred cards every year, Exactly. Forget the string, the ribbon and we resorted to stringing them across the the Santa card holder. How much easier it is beams. Sometimes we used jolly coloured when one has the silver salver, the oak table ribbons. Other times we had only hairy and the ancestral hall… 4 December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk christmas

The countdown to Christmas is The Ultimate on lads... and the search for GIFTS that elusive special something FOR HER... Christmas Gift for the ladies in your lives. BELINDA SZONERT helps out Looking for that creative gift? Have you ever Each can be used wet or dry to highlight Scrapbook kits and junior craft kits are now in stock eyes, or simply sprinkle a little sparkle Christmas Wish List dreamt of T’S so easy to simply play it safe and anywhere you want! Perfume is always a Works like a wedding list - you tell us, we’ll tell just give her the seasonal favourite welcome treat – and Virgin Vie’s Seduction your friends and family that she expects each year, but this is no exception with its opulent oriental Christmas Card Making Classes learning to fly? Yuletide why not let your fragrance (eau de parfum, 50ml, £20). For Every Wednesday and Thursday - BOOK NOW where to buy, contact the call centre on 0845 Now you can at Durham Tees imagination run riot and present her Gift Vouchers withI something which will add an extra 3008022 or visit www.virgin.com\cosmetics. Valley Airport in one of our element of surprise to the festive season Visit our website for modern Cessna 152s inspirational ideas and show her that you really care? DISCERNING youngsters will just adore the chance to dress up in style in the 6 Beech Road, Gift Vouchers start at just £69 Christmas Belle dress up kit (£20) from Framwellgate Moor Marks and Spencer. Available in sizes two (just past the Fire Station next to Blockbuster Video) 01325 332752 / to eight years, she’ll be the belle of the ball Telephone at any Christmas party in this nifty 0191 375 7515 number. www.scrapbookshop.co.uk 01325 332855 IT’S often easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas, but several charitable organi- sations make it easier to help others who are less fortunate when shopping for Christmas treats. Oxfam, with 750 shops in the UK, has some novel gift ideas. These include the belly dancing kit (£3.99) that HOUSE of Fraser – with stores throughout includes miniature cymbals, jewellery and the country – has some super gift ideas with instructions on how to master belly dancing prices to suit all pockets. The J-Lo heart in your front room. The Oxfam gift range pendant bracelet in a box (£20) is sure to set also includes a cute heart-shaped fairy her pulse racing, or treat her to the Shirley pillbox (£2.99) and heart and flower-shaped Geek black Cadillac T-shirt (£60) and hot photo frame magnets (£2.99). pants (£30), which are ideal for relaxing in after the Christmas rush.

EVERY woman appreciates gloriously feminine underwear, but until recently it’s Ladies Fashions, often been hard to find lingerie to Nightwear and Lingerie accommodate the more curvaceous figure. Bravissimo, catering for women who wear a D cup and above, has lingerie sets to die Visit us this Christmas for for by leading manufacturers, including an all the best reasons irresistible set by Bacirubati in a choice of two stunning colours – coral or pistachio – We have regular promotions on with bra (£29), brief (£18) and thong (£18). throughout the store Bravissimo has eight stores and customers can also shop through mail order (01926 459859) or via the web (www.bravissimo.com). GIFTS for the home are always welcome and Woolworths offer some stylish Front Street, Stanley. Telephone 01207 232049 accessories to grace any modern pad or Celebrate 100 years in style (1904 - 2004) more traditional home. Treat her to some sumptuous silk mix cushions (from £6.99) in seven assorted colours or a pretty beige suede picture frame (small £5.99/large £7.99) available at selected stores.

ANOTHER way to help a cause that is especially close to the hearts of women is to buy your loved one a stunning piece of jewellery that has been produced to raise THAT high street favourite Boots comes funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The into its own as Christmas approaches, with Diamond Neck Charm (£120 – with £30 from gifts to suit all ages and tastes. The No7 each sale being donated) has been beauty bag (£25) comes packed with its exclusively designed by www.icecool.co.uk. popular skincare range, while the Homedics Set to create a sparkle, the 18k white gold spa therapy kit (£19.99) is sure to perk her ribbon features a trilogy of diamonds to up with a vibrating body massager and represent your past, your present and your relaxation CD. future. The Icecool website will have a special Breakthrough page for consumers to LLOYDSPHARMACY – the UK’s largest buy online and Icecool has arranged for its national community pharmacy chain – also mail order line to be open from 7.30am- has some great ideas for Christmas gifts. 10.30pm, seven days a week on 0870 9006367 Thanks to the So Far Away range, with its (available from October). delicate scent, your loved one can enjoy all the benefits of a relaxing spa in the DESCRIBED as the must-have dinner party comfort of their own home. Try the So Far game of 2004, and based on the celebrity Away four-piece relaxing bath set (£8) that news magazine, HELLO!, the ultimate includes bath cream, body lotion, flannel trivia quiz game (£19.99) is sure to delight and gel candle. To find your nearest Lloyds any female with a penchant for celebrity pharmacy visit www.lloydspharmacy.com. trivia. Players advance through the game by answering multiple-choice questions to ANY product from the Virgin Vie range is reach the top of the scoreboard. For more sure to delight. Choose her a Night Fever information, hours of dining room fun and Front Street, Stanley. Telephone 01207 232049 Shooting Star glitter pot (£12) from a stockist details simply visit Celebrate 100 years in style (1904 - 2004) glamorous collection of three glitter pots. www.hellomagazine.com December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 5 WHATI Boys of all WANTFOR ages love anything on CHRISTMAS... four wheels, so why not TRICIA STEWART treat him to his very own Tricia Stewart, 55, is one of the racing car – original Rylstone & District WI even if it is Calendar Girls from Cracoe near of the model Skipton. She is now a Pilates variety? teacher. Marks & Spencer have What is the best Christmas gift home too. She’s getting married soon several to you have ever had? and will be going to Singapore to live choose from, It has to be when I was five and I was for three years so it will be really including a given a doll called Jennifer and I was special to have them all here. I’m not radio control absolutely thrilled to bits. I don’t know bothered about getting any presents. Porsche why I called her Jennifer – but I’ve still Carrera (£59) got her. If money were no object, what would you want? and a Ferrari What’s the worst Christmas gift A little blue house on a Greek island (£99). you have ever had? somewhere please. I don’t mind which I don’t know about the worst but I’ve island, as long as it’s by the sea. had plenty of horrible scarves in my time. I think that’s what is wrong with Christmas when people just buy FESTIVETRIVIA anything that’s expensive without putting much thought into whether you FATHER Christmas is based on Saint Finding that perfect gift for the like it or not. It’s such a waste. I’d Nicholas, who lived from 270 to 310 rather have nothing than someone buy AD. At the age of 30 he became the hunky man in your life can be a GIFTS me something and think ‘oh, that will Bishop of Myra, a port town on the major headache... do’. Mediterranean Sea, which is part of FOR HIM... modern-day Turkey. He hailed from a What do you want in your stocking rich home and became well known ... UNLESS, that is, he’s into a particular this year? for supporting the needy. He would hobby – or actually enjoys getting a new This year is going to be really special. often be seen clad in red and white pair of slippers to slob around the house in back to the office won’t involve a jug of My son, Mickey, is coming home from bishop’s robes and riding on a each year – it’s often quite a mammoth water! Bright, funky, easily legible digits in Seattle where he’s been playing rugby donkey, handing out gifts to task searching out something he’ll really red, gold and green can be dimmed for and Lizzie, my daughter, is going to be children. appreciate. There are, however, plenty of tired eyes, and there’s also a radio to help festive treats just waiting to be unearthed to return him to the land of nod at night. which will please even the most difficult- The clock is available from to-buy-for male about the house. Just delve www.mayhemonline.co.uk into our Christmas gift guide, and you’re bound to pick up the perfect pressie to put ELVIS has been hitting the headlines once a smile on his face. again, with the 50th anniversary of the release of his first single and the stage FOR a gift with a difference – and one musical version of Jailhouse Rock that’s sure to please – fine wine and spirit becoming a huge hit in London’s West End merchant Berry Bros & Rudd has a – and you can even let Elvis keep your selection of seasonal treats. For the man man – and you – dry with the unique in your life with a sweet tooth, The King’s Jailhouse Rock umbrella (stick umbrella Ginger Liqueur (£45) also includes a silver £24.99, micro-mini £17.99, plus £2.99 hip flask, a jar of King’s Ginger P&P). The umbrella shows Elvis in two Marmalade and a jar of the tangy King’s classic poses from the 1957 movie, at the Ginger Mustard. You could even treat him microphone and playing his guitar. to a wine course! The Wine School runs in Unusual and stylish, the umbrellas are London and Basingstoke each season, PETROF 116 SATIN only available in the UK from MAHOGANY PIANO including six-week courses in the www.umbrellart.co.uk. evenings, week-long and daytime courses *Available on (£45-£350 per person). Gifts are available Play Now, Pay Easter 2005 EVERYONE loves *Available on Play Now, Pay Easter 2005 by mail at 3 St James’s Street, London a guy who can SW1, online via www.bbr.com or through CASIO AP33 DIGITAL make a mean cup PIANO Berry’s wine shops. of coffee, so why not drop him a CHRISTMAS is the ideal time to smarten hint by buying availability. up your man to show that he’s cherished him a Café Merito and cared for, and Jaeger has some stylish, pump espresso *Available on Play Now, Pay Easter 2005 essential must-haves to perk up his tired, (around £99.99) YAMAHA CVP303M old wardrobe. A velvet jacket (£250) can be from Morphy MAHOGANY dressed up or down to suit the occasion, or Richards and DIGITAL PIANO persuade him to throw out that scruffy old available in wallet and treat him to a new one (£85). Currys? This little (this pack is valued over £420) beauty benefits MEN, like women, love to receive from a powerful fragrances in their Christmas stockings pump pressure *Available on Play Now, Pay Easter 2005 and Ralph Lauren has some gorgeous gift that produces deliciously rich coffee with a STEINBACH 108 sets this year. Treat your man to the thick cream on top. Or if you prefer POLISHED EBONY PIANO caress of smooth tropical sands and a cappuccino, its additional pump light sea breeze with Polo Blue – the new cappuccino nozzle will whip up thick, male fragrance. This beautiful gift frothy milk. *Available on Play Now, Pay Easter 2005 (£31.50) includes a 75ml Polo Blue EDT CASIO CHRISTMAS PACKAGE packed with a 50ml aftershave gel and BUT if the Christmas excesses take their 50ml shower gel in a Ralph Lauren toll on your poor man’s waistline, then the and 2 year guarantee Fragrances’ signature blue box which are HFX60 Body Fat Analyser (£94.99) from available at Boots and department stores Hanson is the perfect antidote. This (from October). cutting-edge fitness tool uses a clinically PLAY NOW proven method known as Bioelectrical PAY EASTER IF your man’s likely to get used to all those Impedance Analysis (BIA) to measure the 2005 minimum lie-ins over Christmas, pop a Mesh multi- percentage of fat in the body and it is an advance £150.00 colour digital alarm clock (£19.99) in his excellent gift for those with a New Year Credit available to persons over stocking and rest assured that his first day 18 years and subject to status. resolution to get fit. Written details on request. 6 December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk

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HRISTMAS is traditionally a extremely chic rubber gloves, should go Festive & time for families, but while it down a storm with all domestic goddesses. Funky Party may be wonderful to spend the If you can afford to splash out a little Nights entire festive season more, then Red Letter Days have come up with their Culture Couples days out. For Vintage 70s and 80s night with surrounded by your loved ones, Glam Rock Band, Groovy itC can also make your Christmas shopping £125, your grandparents could enjoy the Disco and Fab Dinner a nightmare. Coming up with new and RHS Flower Show Experience, with access per person different present ideas every single year to either Chelsea, Hampton Court or can be extremely difficult, but don’t Tatton Park shows, or the new Wedgwood despair – if you know where to look, Experience day, which provides a Performance Dates: December 10, 11, 17 & 18 there’s something unique out there for fascinating history of the famous 250-year- even the hardest-to-buy-for relatives. old company and a tour of the Wedgwood Santa’s Grandparents often enjoy being Story, the factory’s multi-million pound Stopover surrounded by photos of their loved ones, visitor attraction. so you can’t usually go wrong with an The vouchers are available from interesting photo frame. Tesco’s Gold selected stores across the country, Coloured Jewelled frame (£3.97) is perfect including Allders, Debenhams, Harrods, per person sharing twin or for cherished snaps, and pet lovers will be House of Fraser stores and Selfridges. double room thrilled with the supermarket’s special If you’re stuck for ideas about what to 9-12 Priestgate, Darlington DL1 1NW Cat and Dog Photo frames (£3 each). get your mum or an auntie, then why not t: 01325 380222 f: 01325 382006 Green-fingered grandads may prefer check out Superdrug’s impressive range of e: [email protected] Boots Country Living Gardener’s Trug girly gadgets. The silver clip-on Talking Gift Set (£20), which comes complete with Pedometer and Calorie Burner (£9.99) will seeds, twine and scatters, while the calculate if you’ve managed to work off Domestic Delight range could be just the that extra helping of Christmas pud and thing for house-proud grannies. Buying will help mums stick to their New Year’s The The GeorgeGeorge HotelHotel someone cleaning products may sound resolutions in style. like a sure fire way to get yourself struck If it’s usually dad who gets the DIY- off their Christmas card list for good, but themed presents for Christmas, why not at Piercebridge the Kitsch Kitchen set (£12), which break with tradition and give includes a bottle of pink washing-up mum the Superdrug’s Ladies’ Teenage DISCO PARTY NIGHTS liquid, a pink feather duster, and a pair of Screwdriver Set (£6.99), boys’ CDs IN THE BALLROOM which contains four will sound £18.50 per person (fully inclusive) With 3 course festive animal print even hot and cold Buffet, party games and prizes screwdrivers with better on Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday From 25th November to 18th December marabou trim, or the Also Monday 20th, Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd December, 7.30 start, Woolies’ Bar ‘til 12.45am, Dancing ‘til 1am bright pink 10-in-1 Army DINE AND DISCO NIGHTS Battery Operated Portable Girlie Boom Box IN THE RIVERSIDE RESTAURANT AND THE PAVILION Screwdriver £22.50 per person (fully inclusive) (£14.99). Enjoy a 3 course Christmas Fayre Dinner in the Riverside Restaurant or Pavilion and join the Party in the Ballroom after your meal Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday From 25th November to 18th December. Also Monday 20th, Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd December. Dinner served 7.30pm, Bar ‘til 12.45am, Dancing ‘til 1am NEW YEARS EVE BALL £45 per person (fully inclusive) Cabaret & Dancing with Entertainment Express, Rudi West & Lynnie Larkin PLUS our resident DJ. And our famous Gala Buffet, presented and carved by our Chefs Welcome Cocktails served at 7.30pm, Dinner served 8pm prompt. Bar open until 1.45am, dancing until 2am Domestic goddesses will love the For more information, contact 01325 374576 Domestic Delight Kitsch Kitchen set December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 7 WHATI WANTFOR CHRISTMAS... G P TAYLOR

GRAHAM Taylor, 46, is the best-selling author of Shadowmancer and Wormwood. He lives at Cloughton, near Scarborough. What is the best Christmas gift you’ve ever had? My first cricket bat when I was nine.

What is the worst Christmas gift you’ve ever had? A jumper that was so big it didn’t even touch the sides and it made me look like the astrologer Russell Grant.

What do you want to see in your stocking this year? Preferably my wife... sorry in my stocking and not in stockings... A new Harley Davidson.

If money were no object, what would you like? Motorbike mad: Graham Taylor Putting up shelves has never been so chic or so A Scottish island without the midgies. glamorous. However, girls about town who think a screwdriver is a cocktail, not a tool, will probably prefer to while away their spare time FESTIVETRIVIA playing Marks and Spencer’s Sex and the City Trivia Game (£5), or soaking in Virgin Vie’s EVERY year since 1947 the people of Oslo have given a Christmas tree to the city Seduction Decadent Bath Nectar (£16). of Westminster in London. The gift is an expression of goodwill and gratitude for And of course, jewellery will always make an Britain’s help to Norway during the Second World War. impression. Debenham’s Diamante Cuff by Jon Richard (£31) should definitely put the sparkle Postmen in Victorian Britain were often called Robins because their uniform was red. into somebody’s Christmas and will look great Victorian Christmas cards often showed a robin delivering Christmas cards to homes. in the J by Jasper Conran faux leopard skin and fuchsia jewellery box (£50). Dads and uncles with a taste for the high life will love the Deluxe Poker Layout (£40) from Debenhams. Complete with a felt layout and chips it will instantly transform your living room into a casino. Celebrate Christmas in Style..! Male relations who like to think they’re a dab hand in the kitchen won’t be able to resist For a Great Christmas Feast wielding the cook’s torch in the Gordon Ramsay Crème Brulee Set (£25) from Boots, but dads Come and enjoy Traditional Turkey, Exclusive Seafood who prefer eating to cooking will probably creations and many more of your Thai and Chinese favourites appreciate a hamper. World of Food’s with a drink . . . or two! Gentleman’s Gift Set (£15) from House of Fraser includes wild boar pate, which will taste delicious on the black pepper and sea salt HRISTMAS UNCH UFFET biscuits. C L B Big kids can relive their lost childhood with 11.45 - 5.00 p.m. only £6.00 Mark and Spencer’s Scalextric compatible Starsky and Hutch Racing Set (£79) or recreate C HRISTMAS H APPY H OUR B UFFET their favourite scenes from The Italian Job with the Mini Cooper Groovy Rider (£14.99) from 5.01 - 7.00 p.m. only £7.00 Woolworths. Teenagers can be hard to buy for, especially C HRISTMAS G R AND B UFFET as they aren’t particularly good when it comes 7.01 - 11.00 p.m. only £9.00 to feigning enthusiasm for presents they don’t like. Luckily, most teenage girls will be C HILDREN only £3.00 A LL D AY genuinely pleased to receive Superdrug’s Gloss Teenage 2 Go Kit (£5.99) which contains a shimmer girls can lipgloss and sparkling body lotion and comes in party at BOOKINGS NOW two choices of fragrance – toffee crunch or home with berry fiesta. And if you light up their bedroom the Glitter BEING TAKEN with the Glitter Babes Disco Tower (£25 from Babes Boots), they won’t even have to leave the house Disco to enjoy that disco ambience. Tower Open Boys can enjoy their favourite sounds on Woolworth’s Army Portable Boom Box (£24.99) New Year’s Eve – perfect for listening to while he and his mates get stuck into the Mini Table Tennis and New Year’s Day Set (£10) from Superdrug. Little ones are probably the easiest people to please. Their letters to Santa contain some pretty big hints about what they would like to Celebrate With Us! find under the tree on Christmas morning, and even if they don’t like their presents, Units 1-12 Millburngate they’ll happily play with the wrapping. Shopping Centre However, if you’re still looking for a few quirky stocking fillers, there’s plenty to North Road, Durham choose from, including the Lion Binoculars Open daily (£4) from Tesco or Mr Men Giant Snakes and Ladders (£10) from House of Fraser. 11.45 -11.00pm With gifts like these, you can be sure Thai & Chinese of a very happy family this Christmas. Buffet Restaurant Tel. 0191 3757333 8 December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk

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Your home takes on a completely new meaning at Christmas as it becomes the focal point for family gatherings and parties for friends. So it’s important to capture the essence of the season by giving each room a makeover that conveys not only festive congeniality but tradition, style, atmosphere and elegance.

ORGANISATION baubles, antique ornate candlesticks and HETHER you can’t wait to gold and red luxury crackers on offer. For get stuck into decorating as a more frivolous, younger look, don’t miss early as possible, or you their range of clear baubles containing usually leave it until pink and lilac feathers, gold and purple W fluffy baubles and jewel, amber and red Christmas Eve, it’s important to think ahead. Retrieving last year’s dishevelled drop tree decorations. decorations only to discover the The Pier, meanwhile, is focusing on two Christmas tree lights won’t work and half themes this year – Imperial Russia, which your baubles are missing is no way to mixes traditional red and gold with jewel- begin the season of goodwill. like colours and sparkling gems, and Take stock of your existing decorations Exotic, which includes dazzling shades of early on in December and decide if any blue, turquoise, purple and copper mixed need replacing or throwing away. If you’ve with beading and crystals to create a got an eclectic mix of styles gathered magical festive look. from years gone by, see if there is a For naturally inspired decorations, common theme. Think of a style that at check out specialist designer Emily least some of your existing decorations Readett-Bayley’s collection. Her hand- will fit into and build on that. If they are carved heart and Christmas tree designs all looking tired and worn, then maybe it’s are gilded with a metal leaf and come in time to start from scratch with a totally gold, silver or red. The Shaker shops also new scheme. have a large range of traditional hand crafted decorations to choose from. As well as paying attention to your DECORATION STYLES rooms, don’t forget the other areas of your IF it’s tradition you’re after or a more con- house. Decorate the front door with a temporary, funky look, then the high traditional wreath made from holly street has got it all wrapped up for sprigs, pine cones, and berries or go for a Christmas 2004. From wooden luxurious bauble-encrusted wreath from handcrafted decorations to feathers, and beaded wreaths and garlands, there’s something to suit every style this season. Bold, bright colours are out in force again this year and a theme of opulence runs throughout most decoration collections. Marks & Spencer have a colourful array of hand-painted baubles in reds, blues, yellows and silvers, and their felt Christmas stockings featuring holly print are a must for mantelpieces this Christmas. Woolworth’s too has gone big on luxury this year with red, green and gold

For a more frivolous, younger look, don’t miss Woolworth’s range of clear baubles containing pink and lilac feathers, top, or gold and purple fluffy baubles, right December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 9 FESTIVETRIVIA

Christmas is a time when we eat, drink who met under mistletoe in battle would stop and be merry – fact! But were you their fighting, kiss and make up. aware that the real St Nicholas lived in One of the oldest Christmas dishes known is the mince pie, which originated Turkey or that Christmas was once in the Middle Ages. The original recipe illegal in Britain? Read on for more contained a mixture of finely chopped tantalising trivia. poultry, pheasant, partridge and rabbit. Later, sugar, apples, raisins and candied Around 65 million Christmas trees are oranges and lemons were added. Over grown in Britain each year, seven million time, the meats were eliminated leaving of which are sold at Christmas time. only the sweet ingredients. The world’s tallest cut Christmas tree was Brussels sprouts are traditionally eaten at a 67.36m high Douglas fir erected and Christmas – but how many can you eat in decorated at Northgate Shopping Centre in one sitting? Britain’s Brian Mynard currently Seattle, Washington, in December 1950. It holds the record by eating 43 in one minute took two days to clear the streets between at the Cactus Television Studios in London on the logging merchant and the shopping December 10, 2003. Each sprout was eaten centre and the trunk was accompanied by one at a time using a cocktail pick. the Highway Patrol as it made its 20-mile According to the British Nutrition journey. Foundation, studies show that, on Martin Luther is believed to be the average, people gain 5lbs in the four- first person to have brought his week Christmas period, which works out Christmas tree inside his home. He at just an extra 500 calories a day – decorated it with candles to show his equivalent to a few handfuls of crisps, a children what stars looked like at night in mini sausage roll and a couple of glasses the forest. of wine. The word ‘holly’ is thought to have been In 1843, the first Christmas card was derived from the world ‘holy’. The holly plant printed in England for Sir Henry Cole, who represents the crown of thorns worn by Jesus wanted to save time at Christmas by sending on the cross. It is said that the plant’s berries cards instead of letters. He was also used to be yellow before they were stained interested in encouraging the expansion of red by his blood. the postal system. One thousand copies of The largest functional Christmas the card were sold at one shilling each. cracker ever made was 55.45m long and The abbreviation of Xmas for 3.6m in diameter. It was made in Christmas is not irreligious. The first Australia and was pulled at Westfield letter of the word Christ in Greek is chi, Shopping Town, Chatswood, Sydney, on which is identical to our x. Xmas was December 16, 1998. originally an ecclesiastical abbreviation In Norse custom, it was said that men used in tables and charts. Crystal decorative fairy lights from The Pier, price £19.95. They are suitable for indoor and outdoor use with 10 lanterns on a 7.5m cable.

Marks & Spencer. Add a festive feel to the hall with silver twigs, sparkling mobiles and sprigs of mistletoe and don’t forget to dress the stairs by wrapping the banisters with a rich red garland.

LIGHTS LIGHTING has never been so exciting and this Christmas the choice of designs is simply endless. Bring decorations to life with delicate fairy lights and paper lanterns, and create a cosy atmosphere with candles and oil burners. Give the Christmas tree that snow-kissed look with a trail of white frosted lights and make the most of the season of cheer by taking your lighting scheme outside, line the front path with outdoor lanterns and install a traditional outdoor light to illuminate the front door. Going cheep: colourful, beaded bird place TREES card holders from The Pier, £3.95 CHRISTMAS wouldn’t be Christmas without the smell of pine needles and a traditional Christmas tree. Homebase, B&Q and most garden centres stock a huge selection of real trees in December that can be bought cut, potted or pot- grown. Homebase, B&Q and Woolworths also stock a variety of artificial trees in natural colours as well as reds, golds, whites and silvers. Habitat are producing a fibre optic tree you can put on your table top this year, and you can even order half trees to mount on walls from www.xmas- treesdirect.co.uk.

CONTACT INFORMATION: For Christmas decorations check out the

HOLIWAYS following stores: GARAGE WHINBANK ROAD DURHAM WAY SOUTH Woolworths 0845-608 1101 KITCHEN CREATION AYCLIFFE The Pier 0845-6091234 VILLAGE TO P. W. S . HEIGHINGTON 3M

House of Fraser 020-7963 2000 FACTORY A 1

6 John Lewis (08456) 049 049 TETLEYS 7 Tsar of Bethlehem: the baubles selection INCINERATOR JUNCTION Shaker shops: 020-7935 9461 for branches 59 from The Pier includes the velvet beaded A167 Emily Readett-Bayley (01400) 281 563 for Mc DONALDS DARLINGTON FILTRONIC tree ornament, red sphere and purple oval, SOUTH NORTH stockists A1 A1 price £3.50 each. See front page 10 December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk christmas

The sparkling winter wonderland at Serendipity Dreaming of a black Christmas

Free Martha Hill Evening Primrose A noir noel is the way to be cool this Christmas as decorations go all grown up, says SARAH FRENCH Nourishing Cream for every reader LACK is back, but not just on autumn through to December, with extra n e is delighted to team up with Martha Hill, to the catwalks. Sparkly table gold added for some Christmas cheer. offer every reader a free 50ml jar of their excellent cloths and black baubles on Drawing on Alpine influences, a more Evening Primrose Nourishing Cream (with Oil of Evening Primrose, Wheatgerm, Beeswax, Carrot the tree, black candles and homely look is embroidered linen table Oil and Comfrey) worth £9.30. even black tinsel will all help cloths and wooden napkin rings with Bcreate some mono merriment this colour kept to simple neutrals and red. Herbal skin care specialists Martha Hill are offering every reader a full size jar of their wonderful Christmas. It works well with the New England Evening Primrose Nourishing Cream, which is a rich, nourishing night cream to minimise the And just in case you’re thinking the theme. Wooden rocking horses, appearance of fine lines, guard against premature festivities are starting to look funereal, gingerbread men and cinnamon sticks ageing, repair daytime damage, smooth and don’t panic. The black is for drama but hang from the tree, while children will soften. You will wake up to a wonderfully refreshed and revitalised complexion. it’s the sparkling silver, white and crystal love the Santa dolls in gingham dresses SPECIAL OFFER that give it a magical feel. and knitted cardigans. Complete your Martha Hill Evening Primrose Skin Care at Super Discount Prices! Cath Wadsworth, co-owner of Whatever your choice, creating the The free Nourishing Cream is part of Martha Hill’s best selling Evening Primrose Skin Care range. Serendipity Interiors in Leyburn, North right look for Christmas has become part We have some great offers on the other products in the range including a Cleansing Lotion, a Pre- Moisturising Toning Gel and a daytime Moisturiser. All products are free of artificial fragrance and Yorkshire, says customers shouldn’t be of the interior design phenomenon. colour. nervous of a blackout this Christmas – Cath says there are so many different 150mls Evening Primrose Cleansing Lotion Only £5.50 even if her black Cruella de Vil-esque looks that there’s something to suit all (with Oil of Evening Primrose, Avocado & Cucumber) (normal price £8.40, saving £2.90) ladies are a little scary. tastes. “There are some real contrasts A rich, creamy cleanser formulated to gently remove every “It’s certainly different, I can’t this year, so you can have the fairies and trace of make-up and impurities leaving your skin supple, remember black being so strong before santas for the children, create a winter moisturised and thoroughly cleansed. for Christmas. But it does create an eye- wonderland in the hallway and keep the 50mls Evening Primrose Toning Gel Only £5.00 catching and very sophisticated look, dining room glamorous and elegant,” she (with Oil of Evening Primrose, Cucumber, Rosewater & Witch Hazel) (normal price £7.50, saving £2.50) especially for a dining table if you’re says. “What’s more, some of the A deliciously cooling, pre-moisturising treatment to re-hydrate, prevent moisture loss, tone, refine pores & refresh. having friends over for a dinner or for decorations are so exquisite that they Christmas lunch itself,” she says. make wonderful gifts in themselves.” 50mls Evening Primrose Moisturiser Only £5.00 (with Oil of Evening Primrose, Avocado, Sesame Oil, Vitamin A (normal price £7.50, saving £2.50) One way of making sure it’s a white Serendipity Interiors, Market Place, & UVA/UVB Sunscreen) Christmas is going for an indoor winter Leyburn (01969) 622112. This light, easily absorbed daytime moisturiser will smooth, wonderland, another major look this soften and maintain moisture balance. Most importantly, it year. It’s all feathers, frosting and will protect from the damaging effects of climate and pollution. twinkling lights, with chandeliers, It’s certainly Readers ordering any of the discounted products will automatically receive the Free Evening Primrose Nourishing engraved glass tea light holders and lace Cream, with no SAE required. Applications for the gift only must include a 60p self addressed envelope. different, I can’t Applicants for the Special Offer products and free gift must include either a cheque or postal order made payable table linen for a soft, sparkly look. to Martha Hill Skin Care. We can also accept the following card payments: Visa, MasterCard, Amex and Switch. Telephone orders (but not just for the free gift) or queries can be taken on 0800 980 6665. Closing date for the gift At Serendipity, staff have been offer: 31 December 2004. Website: www.marthahill.com unpacking decorations for three weeks remember black being with ranges from Gisela Graham and Sia, HOW TO ORDER: To order, please complete the coupon below in BLOCK letters and send it, with a crossed so strong before for cheque / postal order made payable to: Martha Hill Skin Care Offer, The Old Vicarage, Laxton, Corby, NN17 3LL Walton & Co tableware and Villa Collection glassware. Please send me: I enclose a crossed cheque made payable to Martha Hill Skin Care for £...... Christmas or debit my MasterCard / Visa / Switch / Amex card by £...... When it comes to colour, last year’s all- OFFER PRICE QTY SUB TOTAL Card blue and all-lilac trees are definitely out. Clockwise from main picture: 150 ml Evening Primrose Cleansing Lotion £5.50 Valid from date ...... Expiry Date ...... Issue No...... (Switch only) Colour remains simple but it’s more black bauble £2.75; the black look 50 ml Evening Primrose Toning Gel £5.00 Signature ...... traditional with a red, green and gold that’s in this Christmas; Gisela 50 ml Evening Primrose Moisturiser £5.00 Title: Mr/ Mrs/Miss/Ms Initial...... Surname ...... theme and decorations of angels, santas, Graham ornament £18.75; Address ...... snowmen and nativity figures. Total Order Value £ ...... Postcode ...... gingerbread heart; Sia Christmas On the table, there’s plenty of choice Only one application per person and only original coupons will be accepted. This is only doll £13.50; felt hearts, large Free Gift Only . I enclose a 60p SAE open to UK readers. All offers subject to availability. If any item is unavailable, we from regal burgundy with gold and, reserve the right to substitute with a comparable product of at least equivalent value. £2.25, small £1.75 Please allow 28 days from receipt of order for delivery. unusually, brown to take you from December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 11 OF THE 6BEST FASHION PHONES BY the end of this year, there will be more SLEEK SLIDE mobile phones in the UK than there are people. Sony Ericsson S700 – It really is staggering how quickly they have gone £499.28 sim free from from novelty item to an essential fashion www.mphone.co.uk accessory. This phone is a must for style- conscious snappers as it has a STAINLESS STYLE massive 1.3 megapixel camera built Motorola V3 – from £79.99 with contract in to its compact package. The real head-turner from www.carphonewarehouse.com is the opening mechanism which slides open to Probably the slimmest reveal the keys underneath. For show-offs. phone you can own right now at only 14mm thick, CHANGING TASTES and it packs the features in Nokia 7200 – from free with too. The stainless steel exterior gives it a rugged contract from feel and you’ll be able to tell all your friends www.carphonewarehouse.com about the ‘‘laser etched keyboard”. This clamshell camera phone wouldn’t look out NOT A THICK STICK of place on the catwalk, Nokia 7280 – from £29.99 with contract not least because of its design, from www.phones2udirect.co.uk which includes textile covers. And there are all A real breakaway phone here from the Finnish manner of accessories if you feel the need to folk, it’s sleek and stylish and unlike anything change your phone as often as your outfit. else you’ve seen before. The phone has no keypad so you’ll need a clear voice to activate many of the functions, which include a camera, BLING RING Nokia 7260 – from £30 with and you start and end calls with a flick of the contract from wrist. www.phones2udirect.co.uk A true fashion phone in every sense BIG SPENDER of the word, which offers some Vertu Mobile Phone – from £2,900 available unique features for those who love from www.vertu.com. This phone to shop. The Nokia 7260 has a built-in FM could really take over your life. This is radio, games and Java technology for the entry-level model but all the applications and games, plus a built-in clothes mobiles from this company give you and shoe size converter so that you can have a access to a concierge service to help fashion friend with you when you go shopping. you organise just about anything Peter Jenkinson

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Why wait for the January Sale? at Restoring Georgian elegance to a neglected farmhouse sparked a smart career move for the owner. CAROLINE Lennox we have permanent sale TURNER reports

OU can easily drive straight garden. A modern kitchen based on a prices all year round past Hall Farm and not realise traditional design, with state-of-the-art that it’s there. It’s positioning is appliances has been chosen. Natural so incongruous, on a smart stone flooring and granite work tops keep BUY NOW PAY DECEMBER 2005 residential street in a North the look sympathetic to an old house. YYorkshire village, rather than set alone New wooden Yorkshire sash windows as most farm houses are. But if you look have been installed to replace PVC Full Range carefully, the gracious Georgian facade windows and in the rest of the house, shows it to be by far the grandest house original windows have been restored. It’s of Furniture of all its neighbours, probably because it lovely to see old, bubbled and wrinkled was here first. Many of its neighbours are glass in the original sashes. in Store built on land originally belonging to the Steve points out that the upstairs sash farm, which was parcelled up and sold off windows are four-paned Victorian-style for development over many years. remnants of a later makeover. His plan is Hall Farm has an interesting history to make the style common to those below, and inside it’s packed with original which are original Georgian 12-pane Chelsea features. These, however were not at all sashes. in evidence when Stephen and Isobel Charming stories come to light as you Peters bought the house four years ago. wander through the house. As we walked They have meticulously photographed up the stairs, I learned that when they their progress, starting with their very moved in, every other spindle had been first viewing. This record shows now just removed and a wood-turner was sought Kendal how much work has been done in the to make exact copies of the originals to intervening years as the farm house was complete the balustrade. Not an easy split into three dwellings – a cottage, a thing to find these days. A search led bedsit flat and a main house. Stephen to the Yorkshire Dales, where he The renovation was to be a long and found a postman-turned-wood-turner. daunting task. In many rooms, floors had The new posts are indistinguishable from to be dug back to the original the old. foundations, as timbers laid straight onto Four years into the renovation, the end Ginza the earth when the building went up in of the project is in sight. Now the the mid-1700s were now rotten. couple’s sights are set on extending into Photographs from the start of the project the roof-space, formerly a granary. From show 1960s-inspired mock-stone the side of the house you can see blocked- fireplaces with gas fires and false up entrances where the grain would have ceilings. Once these were ripped out, been hoisted by crane for storage. This original beams and fireplaces emerged fascinating piece of heritage raises its from the rubble. head each time a ceiling is disturbed Table & The massive hardwood beams show a upstairs (which has been a regular fascinating secret history – they are occurrence in this house). A shower of punctuated with slots, holes and even ancient grain rains down from the spaces 4 Chairs metal fixings. It was common in the 18th in between the timbers and the nooks century to reuse timbers that could have and crannies of the house will be Many more available in store come from the likes of ships, mills or scattered from top to bottom with grains, agricultural buildings. Every room has which flow like water into any gap. the original fireplace and once the Now, with the benefit of experience NEW STORE OPENING SOON IN DURHAM chimneys had been cleared of soot, sticks and a more critical eye, projects that and dead birds, they could all be lit to were finished are being rethought. New Bed Showroom Open give the old house new warmth and Softwood floorboards are to be replaced in Chester-le-Street (opposite main store) cosiness. with oak, which as the dining room and Walls and ceilings had to be renovated new bathroom show, are much more in every room. Stripping down one wall, attractive, as well as hard-wearing. Tudor-style foundations were discovered Stark, modern radiators are being underneath, cross timbers with intricate replaced with traditional reclaimed or brickwork in between, a style of work reproduction cast iron and a renovated very much older than the farmhouse’s claw-foot bath brings a traditional Front Street, Chester-le-Street Georgian pedigree – suggesting a more elegance to the new bathroom. A jumble Telephone: 0191 389 2803 ancient and interesting history yet to be of junk-filled rooms untouched since the uncovered 1960s has been transformed into a warm Written Quotations on Request Finance available subject to status. Credit Example £599, No Deposit, 12 months @ £49.92, Total Price £599. Licensed credit broker - written details on request. The warren of tiny rooms at the back and welcoming family home for Stephen Pictures are for illustration purposes only of the house was redesigned to make a and Isobel and their two young sons. Affordably furnishing your home! large, airy kitchen with views onto the Continued on page 14 December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 13

Each a time a ceiling is disturbed upstairs, a shower of ancient grain rains down from the spaces in between the timbers

The jumble of rooms has been transformed into a welcoming family home

Stephen and Isobel Peters have finished phase one of their restoration, but are now rethinking some areas of the house, including the flooring 14 December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk

at

Bathroom Suites or Shower Cubicles that will make Santa smile!

Natural stone flooring and granite worktops work well in the kitchen

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Including shower tray, available 800mm or 900mm. New life for an old home A modern, sophisticated design only Continued from page 13 Available in White, The four years of hard work, gaining Bright Silver, Antique Gold £ experience along the way, encouraged frames, with or without glass 495 Steve to give up the day job as a forensic designs inc VAT accountant to launch a new career restoring other houses such as these. The Visit Our Bathroom Showroom Restoration Company was born, and all the lessons learned at Hall Farm serve to benefit the business. A source book of at skilled local crafts people, suppliers and tradespeople means that Steve can source the best of everything for an Builders Merchants authentic restoration and work the same MANY MORE BATHROOMS & SHOWERS AVAILABLE kind of magic for other people that he has for his own family. Damson Way, Dragonville Industrial Estate Stephen Peters is managing director of 0191 384 84 84 the Restoration Company (North Yorkshire) Limited and can be contacted on 01845 OPENING Monday - Friday 7.30 - 5pm All prices include VAT 578663 or 07739 258650, e-mail: Georgian facade: Hall Farm has an TIMES Saturday 8am - 12 noon Most major credit cards accepted stevepeters@rest interesting history All offers are subject to availability and change without notice orationcompany.fsbusiness.co.uk Pictures: RICHARD DOUGHTY December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 15

Stephen and Isobel have pictures of every stage of the work on the house

Pictures: RICHARD DOUGHTY

Natural wooden flooring, below, is a feature throughout the house

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Potted plants are great gifts for Christmas, but few of us have the knack of keeping them alive for long. Gardening Correspondent BRIGID PRESS has some timely advice

LL sorts of plants are often surface. Keep the plant cool (but

A Christmas Wish A Christmas Wish A Christmas Wish given as presents or used for protected from frost). In May re-pot and A Christmas Wish decorative purposes over the begin watering, feeding when shoots Christmas period. Some of appear. Remove some of the new growth them are only ever meant to be to leave four fifths of the strongest stems. Atemporary, but others can go on growing From late September cover with a black and flowering for many years to come. bin bag from early evening until morning Basket collections can be compiled of a to give the plant a total of 14 hours of in Durham City & Newcastle-upon-Tyne mixture of annuals, perennials, half darkness each evening for at least eight hardy or tender plants and after the weeks. This will initiate colour change festive period, all apart from the annuals and flowering. may be carefully separated, potted on, A Christmas Wish A Christmas Wish and cared for in their own preferred Christmas & New Year 2004 manner. Christmas Fayre There are though some notoriously A Christmas Wish Christmas Banquet Business Lunch A difficult plants which can be extremely Menu A Royal Deluxe Christmas £9.95 tricky to keep going for any length after Banquet Menu B per person Christmas. However, all they need is a for two persons per orperson more for two persons or more little specialist treatment. £19.95 £26.95 per person New Year’s Eve Minimum for 2 POINSETTIA Christmas Fayre persons (Euphorbia pulcherrima) Vegetarian Business £34.95 per person THIS houseplant has become enormously

A Christmas Wish A Christmas Wish popular over the last couple of decades

Lunch A per person with the introduction of modern £9.95 varieties and dwarfing techniques. It is A Christmas Wish the colour of the bracts (petal-like leaves) that most people go for. Red remains the most common colour, but pink, white and green forms are also available. Whilst the poinsettia does flower, they are small and AZALEA INDICA THESE aristocrats of winter-flowering • Sat TV kit inconspicuous. • Good Eating Guide 2003-4 Certificate A temperature of 15C (60’F) is ideal, house plants can provide a mass of of Outstanding Achievement but it must not fall below 13’C (55’F) for colour throughout the holiday season • The North East Good Food Magazine prolonged periods of time. It needs with their red, pink or white funnel 5 Star Award A Christmas Wish A Christmas Wish maximum amounts of light during shaped blooms. The dark glossy-leaved • Quality Food Online Platinum Award • Thai Select ‘Thai Taste-Thai Best’ winter, but protect from full sunlight in shrub originates from Asia. Shield summer. A temperature of 10-15’C (50-60’F) is A Christmas Wish We hope you will pay us a visit and see for yourself, we know you will be Allow the compost to dry out between ideal, but avoid hot airless situations. impressed once you have sample Thai cuisine and hospitality at the watering. Over watering will lead to a They prefer a brightly lit spot, away from Numjai, you won’t settle for anything less! loss of colour and possible leaf drop. Mist direct sunlight. THE BEST THAI RESTAURANT IN THE COUNTRY frequently during flowering and Keep the compost permanently wet, colouring and feed weekly with preferably by plunging the pot in a Ample parking is available in the Millburngate Shopping Centre and at the Riverside Car Park houseplant food. bucket of water for five minutes and then 19 MILLBURNGATE CENTRE NEXUS HOUSE, 33 ST JAMES BOULEVARD After colouring and/or flowering the allowing any excess water to drain away. DURHAM CITY, CO DURHAM DH4 4SL NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE NE1 4AX plants are usually discarded, although it Rainwater should be used in areas with Tel: 0191 386 2020Tel: 0191 261 9080 is quite possible to get them to colour up hard water. As a rough guide, the bottom centimetre of the stem should be dark. A Christmas Wish A Christmas Wish Fax: 0191 384 5777 Fax: 0191 261 1040 again year after year. Allow the soil to E-mail: [email protected]: http://numjai.co.uk Feed with houseplant food weekly during

dry out, and after leaf fall cut back the A Christmas Wish A Christmas Wish A Christmas Wish stems to four inches from the compost the flowering period December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 17 THE CRAFT WAREHOUSE TEESSIDE’S ONE-STOP CRAFT & ART SHOP TEL. 01642 677472 Whatever you want to make for Christmas, we’ve got the makings CRAFTS CRAFTS CRAFTS CRAFTS CRAFTS SPECIAL PRICES ON DO-CRAFTS XMAS GIFT PRODUCTS SPECIAL PRICES ON PERSONAL IMPRESSION PRODUCTS SPECIAL PRICES ON OTT-LITE NATURAL LIGHT LAMPS SPECIAL PRICES ON ANITA’S PRODUCTS MASSIVE P&Q DEPARTMENT THOUSAND OF FABRICS AND FAT QUARTERS. XMAS WREATHES, HOLLY, IVY, MISTLETOE, SPRIGS & POINSETTIAS ARTS! ARTS! ARTS! ARTS! ARTS! ARTS! WINDSOR & NEWTON COLOURS, BRUSHES & MEDIUMS • FULL RANGE OF DERWENT ARTISTS PENCILS • COL ART REEVES CANVAS NEW IN STOCK - A1 MOUNTBOARD & A1 CARTRIDGE PAPER GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE £5, £10 AND £20 UNITS 15-17 SOUTHSIDE RETAIL PARK, PORTRACK LANE, STOCKTON SITED BETWEEN COTTAGE CANE AND LAMINATE FLOORS DIRECT OPEN MON, TUES, WED, FRI, SAT 9-6; THURS 9-8 & SUN 10-4 Is choosing a new bed keeping you awake? Call today for the bed of your dreams For every type of bed you need: Children’s Beds, Pine Beds, Metal Beds to top of the range Pocket Sprung Divans Only the finest quality Beds and Pine Furniture at TRADE PRICES New to our Consett Store introducing our Brand New Range of Sofas J&A’s Beds & Furniture Chester-le-Street Roundabout Unit 3B, Drum Industrial Estate, Birtley, Chester-le-Street A693 Stanley (0191) 4111415 Beamish New Showroom at OPEN 7 DAYS 13 Medomsley Road, FREE LOCAL Batleys Consett DELIVERY • C.O.D. WE ARE (01207) 588008 AVAILABLE HERE

After flowering move the plants to a cool frost-free place (re-potting if necessary using an ericaceous compost), moving them out into the garden in late May. They should be kept well fed and watered in the garden until mid-September when they should be brought in for flowering.

CYCLAMEN CYCLAMEN are one of the most attractive and popular houseplants for winter flowering. It is a half-hardy tuberous plant which is found wild in the Mediterranean. It has a mass of shuttlecock-shaped flowers in a range of white, pinks, reds and purples. They survive best in temperatures of 10- 15’F (50-60’C), but don’t like cold draughts or very warm rooms. When watering, soak them from below and avoid pouring water onto the leaves or corm, as this may cause them to rot. Allow the compost to dry out slightly between watering. Feed with houseplant fertiliser once a week while it MEYERS LEMON is in flower. After flowering, reduce the (citrus X meyeri) amount of water and stop feeding until the THE Meyers lemon has a compact growth foliage turns yellow. In late May take the and flowers all year. The leaves are glossy pots outside and lay them on their sides and leathery. The star-shaped flowers are and keep them dry until new growth is highly scented. It can stand outside in seen in summer. Re-pot the corm using a summer but is best over wintered in a cool well-drained compost rich in organic but bright room as lack of light will result matter. Restart the watering and feeding in loss of leaves. It needs plenty of regime and ventilation, but not cold draughts. This bring back plant hates sudden changes in inside in temperatures and dislikes root September. disturbance, so it needs potting into a large enough pot to last several years. In place of re-potting, scrape off the top two inches of soil every April and replace with a mixture of compost and well-rotted manure. Watering in summer should be thorough, with water pouring out of the bottom of the pot, but hold back in winter, so that the compost stays just moist. It will not need regular pruning, but can be shortened by two thirds every three years or so to maintain its shape. It is prone to infestations of scale and mealy bugs, but regular washing of the leaves can minimise the risk of attack. 18 December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk

ERICTHOMPSON ERIC THOMPSON Annual Annual Christmas Christmas Exhibition Exhibition to be held at The stars at SPENNYMOOR LEISURE CENTRE Saturday, 11th December Sunday, 12th December 10am until 4pm For an original Christmas present A new selection of Watercolours and Christmas Limited Edition Prints of local scenes from around the area Most people For further information contact get nostalgic as (01388) 816454 Christmas www.ukwatercolours.com approaches and celebs are no different. Here, sentimental stars share their intimate memories of Christmases past...

SURANNE JONES, 26, actress (Karen McDonald, Coronation Street) I WAS 19 and in Belfast doing panto. The cast and crew were all with their families and there I was on my own with flu and a fever, Don’t put up with second Change the look of your best or lame excuses. PVCu Windows Doors house drinking hot toddies. My family wasn’t able to Conservat ories Come to the professionals. join me so they sent my presents over. My aunties Double Glazing Repair Add or subtract lead or Service colours had given me these Santa Claus knickers and I We repair: Bring windows upto new was sat there laughing at them, and then my Misted/failed double legislation with K Glass glazed units laughter turned to tears. That carried on as I Unit 11, Newcommen Road, Replacement Double Skippers Lane Ind Estate, opened my other presents. And I was Glazed PVCu Panels and Discoloured or cracked Middlesbrough Glasswork, manufactured PVCu Panels, Doors in house and guaranteed thinking: ‘What am I doing in Belfast, at Christmas, all on my own, opening gimmick Damaged Window Locks, 01642 469342 Ask about our genuine Hinges, Letterboxes Mobile: 07930 207008 deferred payment scheme presents which really need to be shared with the people who had given them to me?’ I had no idea that I was drunk as a skunk from the hot toddies!”

GABBY LOGAN, VICKY HALL, 27, actress 31, TV (Lindsay, Teachers) presenter TANGERINES always THE last remind me of this Christmas time of year. Every time I that my see a tangerine, I get brother Daniel really excited because I was alive was think it’s Christmas. We an incredible always had tangerines Christmas. It and nuts in our stockings, was a really it was really old lovely family fashioned.” Christmas and the last we ANDREW LINCOLN, 31, actor (Simon Casey, would all have This Life/Teachers) together.” EVERY Christmas we would travel down from Hull to Gloucestershire to see my granddad. My brother and I must have been about five or six, and used to count the Christmas trees on the way. Obviously we were really annoying kids and my parents had realised it was a good idea for us to count them to shut us Why not call in and browse around, you’ll be amazed at the selection of up. quality jewellery we have to offer. A small deposit secures your gift. “Dad would also give Diamonds Gold Gemset Jewellery us Fox’s Glacier Fruits, and say: ‘See how long Your friendly, knowledgeable, independent jewellers you can make them last’’I December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 19

The Ideal Christmas Present ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP 2005 Members enjoy 15 days racing at Thirsk, plus 17 exchange days at other racecourses and at Yorkshire County Cricket Club plus discounts at a number of hotels and restaurants Single Member £125 (lady or gentleman) Associate member £200 (member and one other family member) Guest Membership £230 (a member plus one guest) Junior member £65.00 (aged between 17-21 - proof required) CREDIT CARD FACILITIES AVAILABLE For further details please contact: Thirsk Race Club, Station Road, Thirsk YO7 1QL Tel. 01845 522276 • Fax. 01845 525353 Email: [email protected] • www.thirskracecourse.net Stunning Collections for Christmas S PECIALISTS IN P ICTURE F RAMING & F INE A RT D EALERS Over 100 Years Experience In our gallery we have on display a large selection of Original Paintings & Limited Edition Prints by: David Shepherd, David Ferrant, John Lowrie Morrison, Russell Flint, Gordon King & many others. We also have a large selection of Posters & Prints, Antiquarian Maps & Engravings, & Sports Prints, Expert Cleaning & Restoration of Oil Paintings & Watercolours WILLIAM DODDS 34 Tubwell Row, Darlington DL1 1NU Established 1884 Tel. 01325 462599 www.fineartdodds.co.uk

Get wrapped up for Young Chic Christmas... DESIGNER CHILDRENSWEAR

KWAME KWEI-ARMAH, 37, actor (Finlay Newton, 10 WEST DYKE ROAD, REDCAR paramedic, Casualty), singer/writer 01642 498298 MY favourite memory, I suppose, is our a annual family debate. I’m one of seven brothers and sisters so it gets pretty noisy. We all go round to my parents’ house for Christmas and debate all day long, and I love it. Often new friends or partners think we’re all arguing but we’re just talking and discussing – you want to see us when we fight!”

KATY HILL, 33, TV presenter and radio DJ I LOVE family Christmases and one of my a favourites was when me and my older brother Simon got given our very first bikes. We came downstairs and there they were. Mine was purple with white tyres and his was a Chopper. Getting your first bike was quite a major achievement, and they were both really cool.”

realise now what the son of a gun was doing – it was because he’s such a cheapskate. There we were for two hours rotting holes in our teeth. But it kept us quiet. “It was so exciting going to granddad’s – all my cousins would turn up and we used to do the whole thing with the carrot for Rudolph and the glass of port for Santa. The next morning we’d say: ‘The carrot’s got a bite out of it, the port’s gone and look, there are presents!’ It was the real deal and I remember that being the perfect idea of Christmas.”

ALAN TITCHMARSH, 55, TV gardener and presenter WHEN I was a boy, I always remember my dad a disappearing mysteriously down into the cellar around October time. “A t Christmas, something painted and made out of wood – like a fort, or a zoo, or a garage – would appear at the end of my bed. I never made the connection with that and all of his disappearing acts. “The older you get, the more you realise the amount of planning, preparation, imagination, work and love that must have gone into making them. “Dad was a classic northerner who didn’t say a lot, but the fact that he took the time to do all those things for me was wonderful. I don’t have any of the toys now. They were played with to bits and eventually fell apart.” 20 December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk me and my wardrobe Pictures: RICHARD DOUGHTY

Caroline Turner, 32 is a freelance writer, What’s the most you’ve ever spent on boots from Hobbs for £150 would qualify. part-time sales assistant and full-time an item of clothing? But I justify the spend in that I’m wearing wife and mother. She lives in North I don’t spend much myself, I’m Queen of the them to death for their third winter and they Yorkshire with her husband and son. Her Bargain and I tend to buy lots of clothes still look great. My husband believes in obsession with clothes and shoes from the likes of H&M and Benetton, so you buying less and sticking to good quality, so started around the age of four when she just can’t spend a lot on any one item. I he buys all my ‘investment’ pieces - coats, went to bed in her new fur-lined boots suppose shoes would be the most expensive handbags, jewellery. The most expensive and wouldn’t take them off. Caroline thing I buy. Knee-length black patent leather thing would be a leather and shearling jacket says she reads far too many magazines at around £450. and takes it all far too seriously, but at least she wears good shoes while doing Main picture: black halterneck dress, so. Zara; belt with rose corsage, House of Fraser; black kitten-heel shoes bought in France. Earrings; Bradleys. How would you describe your look? Considered; put together rather than thrown Above right: tweed jacket and brown together. My style changes daily. I’ll go from sweater, H&M; brown baycord kilt, vintage 501s and biker boots one day to Matalan; white shirt, Barbour; brown nice and Mummyish in tailoring and a riding boots, John Lewis cardigan the next; then as a reaction to the middle-age threat, a mini kilt and knee Left: shirt, Thomas Pink; jeans, vintage Magnet EA S TM O length boots the next day. I swore I wouldn’t Levi’s 501s bought in France; boots, U N WE T T E ARE wear really short skirts after 30, but I’m Harley Davidson E HERE R R

T O

S A regressing. I love accessories in all their D Reg Y D

A E Vardy

L O L Renault R guises, so even if I’m wearing just, say,

A

H V

T

R jeans and a black sweater I can’t go out Jewellery throughout, Bradleys of

O D R N CHESNUT N ST O without a good belt, a scarf of some Northallerton, except beaded rings, Kate T H es G n U ty RUSSELL RUSSELL A a description, great shoes and bag. I aim for Atkinson. ST ST H nn R a IN B G elegance, but I’m not sure I’m quite there Christmas flowers on mantelpiece and

RO A D yet, at least not all the time. potted pine tree from Bloom; bloom.uk.com. What’s your favourite item of clothing? I have a plain black, very fine wool crepe suit My style changes that makes me feel confident. It fits like a a daily. I’ll go from glove. My husband bought me the trousers from Boden and quite by chance I found the vintage 501s and biker matching jacket in their online clearance sale for just £15. It’s incredibly versatile. boots one day to nice And my new favourite things are my fabulous hand made beaded rings by a young and Mummyish in designer, Kate Atkinson. They’re on all my tailoring and a cardigan friends’ Christmas lists this year after seeing mine. the next December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 21 out on the town

Our image experts scour the social honeypots of the region this festive season NIGEL in search of style and individuality

CAROL JOHNSON DY RUN McCourt EN G AR & K ORTH IZ N M L ATH EW D & McKay AVIS

NYONE who hasn’t visited The in an outfit that was MATHEW DAVIS Forum Bar and Club in Borough tasteful, modern, Mathew works for the BBC and still manages to be a very funny and entertaining guy. Road, Darlington is missing a treat. feminine and certainly Our host for the evening wore a Thomas Pink suit and generally shops in Manchester for Housed inside this derelict-looking not dowdy. Her pink A its variety. One feelgood tip from Mathew is to stay off alcohol for a few months. Mathew building are recording studios, rehearsal dress was by Linear has tried it and he says you get a fantastic reality buzz. Also drink lots of water – 70 per rooms and a live performance area, all kitted from Eve in Yarm cent of us are dehydrated. One of Mathew’s favourite sayings is: “Face the sun and the with quality instruments and recording and to keep the chill off her shoulders, she shadows will fall behind you”. technology that could even make us sound wore a shawl from Primark. Carol shops good, and we love the buzzer door entry wherever she sees something she likes and system which ensures a secure environment that could be The House, The Conservatory while relaxing in the bar. in Yarm or Primark. She believes you should The Forum stages live performances most wear what you feel good in, not what people CHRISTMAS IS... nights of the week, from opera and jazz to tell you to wear. rock and punk and is a venue very quickly gaining a reputation as the cool and creative NIGEL place to be. We went along on the fifth Nigel, 32, is a graphic designer and artist. anniversary of First Stop, a Darlington- Some of his portraits were on display and based charity which offers advice and they were amazing. What a talent! Nigel guidance to the homeless. The organisers helped in organising and designing this had put a lot of effort into this fund raising evening as well as donating a portrait to the evening and the photographic images auction. He thought tonight’s venue was captured of people living on our streets perfect and was just what Darlington made you grateful for organisations like needed. First Stop. It was a sparkling do, a Nigel was wearing a beautifully cut suit champagne reception with live jazz from the by Reiss with a Thomas Pink Shirt and Jazztones and a superb buffet supplied by Prada shoes. His favourite label for cool, Darlington College Catering. BBC Radio comfortable and stylish clothing is Diesel. ... AND A LITTLE BIT OF LEGGS FASHION! Cleveland’s Mathew Davis hosted the I’m sure he has more beauty tips than he is Leggs woman Leggs man evening letting on but he insists on getting a haircut 21 & 77 Skinnerage, Darlington Women Tel: 01325 363633 Man Tel: 01325 466434 www.leggs-fashion.co.uk every four weeks without fail. DAVID REGAN A man in a kilt always LIZ NORTH AND KAREN GRUNDY stands out and 33-year-old Thirty-something Liz is an arts development David Regan did just that. manager and did a great job designing the He is an administrator and decor for the evening. Liz loved the creative DAILY LIVING AIDS FOR THE ELDERLY AND LESS MOBILE trustee at First Stop atmosphere of the Forum and thought it and was wearing was a perfect venue. • Scooters • Chairs • Electric Recliners his traditional Liz wore a lovely sparkling wrap top from • Wheelchairs • House & Home family Dundee Monsoon, which sat perfectly with a classic • Kitchen & Dining GAN tartan from VID RE pair of black dress trousers. Liz loves a • Bathing & Toileting DA Greenwoods. He bargain and shops anywhere – her favourite prefers to wear a is Karen Millen but for a bargain she likes Unit 1B, Drum Ind Estate kilt rather than a Primark. Chester-le-Street (Opp. Batleys Cash & Carry) suit as he finds it Karen is the chief officer for First Stop in more comfortable, Darlington, but the many sleepless nights 0191 492 2301 but other than Karen has certainly didn’t show as she that his wife looked elegant and radiant in a dress by decides what he is Principles. At 44, Karen finds Principles is a FACTORY wearing. David’s great shop to suit her style, as well as Next. DIR healthy tips are to High on her list of grooming is a good BEDS ECT eat haggis once a hairdresser you can trust (hers is Tracey & PINE week – with a wee bit who works at Sue’s in Cockerton). FREE LOCAL SAVE POUNDS - of tripe of course. DELIVERY BUY DIRECT FROM THE FACTORY Quality Pine Beds, Furniture & Mattresses CAROL JOHNSON Judie McCourt, of TV and radio fame, and make-up and hair artist Allison McKay, run AM Unit 5, First Avenue, Drum Ind. Est. Chester-le-Street, Tel: 0191 4109994 It was Carol’s first Creative Productions, which specialises in time at the Forum creative event management and the Branches also at Washington, Tel: 0191 4175277 Low Fell, Gateshead, Tel: 0191 4871414 and she thought the production of photographic images for venue was a refreshing advertising Chester-le-Street Store - Open: Mon-Thurs 9-5; Fri 9-4 Sat 10-4; Closed Sunday change. Carol stood out amcreativeproductions.com Washington Store - Open: Mon-Fri 9.30-4.30; Sat 10-4.30 Sun 11-4 22 December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk beauty

If you want to truly treat someone this Christmas, why not give them a chance to pamper themselves, in the salon and at home

Tanning & Beauty Studio Mary Cohr gifts are presented in two-tone satin drawstring bags Mini Manicure & Mini Facial Deluxe Facial +Manicure or Pedicure Instant revival of the nails with cuticle work, a An enjoyable taster to introduce luxury massage on the hands or feet depending any client who wants to achieve on choice. Will suit our every need giving a instant results healthy, radiant and glowing skin.

Body Wrap (seaweed or inch loss) + Mini Facial Indian Head Massage Presents to pamper + Manicure or Pedicure + Hopi Ear An ultimate body makeover to unwind Enjoy this relaxing treatment which will take and relax from head to toe you away from the stresses of the world. HE Matfen Hall Spa, the only spa hours of massage and pampering for £50. 89 West Auckland Road, Cockerton, Darlington DL3 0LF in the world to offer the luxurious Anyone accompanying guests to the spa T Versace skincare treatments, has can take up the offer of a one-hour TEL: 01325 367369 launched two exclusive Versace Day Spa Chauffeur’s spa for £15, which comprises email: [email protected] Programmes. This spa opened six full use of all facilities. Gift vouchers months ago. The programmes, The and a gift wrapping service are available. Versace Glamour and The Versace The spa is at High Hill House Farm, Signature, incorporate a selection of Dean Bank, Ferryhill, Co Durham (01740) Versace skincare, handcare and beauty 654225. More details on treatments within the luxurious www.broommilldayspa.co.uk. surroundings of Matfen Hall, near Newcastle, voted Best Small Hotel of YOU can always pretend to be offended the Year in 2002. They are priced from when you open your “lift and firm” £105 per person per day non residential creams and gels this Christmas, but and £160 per person for a residential most women will be happy to add the programme and would make great gifts cosmetics to their collections. Gatineau for someone you want to treat to a has a fantastic range of Christmas gift pampering. More details on sets, including Youthful Promise – www.matfenhall.com or by telephoning resculpting moisturiser, eye contour lift the Spa on (01661) 886510. cream, throat gel and redefining serum – and Body Beautiful – body scrub, A SPA day is also available at Broom Mill Melatogenine body firming cream, Day Spa, out in the countryside near vitamin A hand cream and a natural Ferryhill. The Signature Spa Day, which sponge. The sets are £69.95 and £44.95 costs £65, includes a full use of all respectively from the CACI Beauty facilities, the relaxation zone, pool, Oasis just off Darlington’s Grange Road sauna, aromatherapy and infra red (01325) 489970. For perfect pampering, rooms, full consultation and 30-minute the salon also sells lovely Christmas treatment tailored to your needs plus collections from Mary Cohr, the UK’s buffet lunch and refreshments fastest growing aromatherapy brand, throughout the day. For the man in your and has gift vouchers for £5 upwards life there is the Sportsman’s Spa, 2¼ and pamper days which start at £62.

LIFE COACH Rekindle the magic of Christmas

RE you feeling stressed yet, As adults, so many rushing around trying to prepare of us have lost touch Afor Christmas? Have you reached with the magic of the stage where you wish it were all Christmas. It’s a over? Please stop, just for a few beautiful season of moments. Take a deep breath and cast wonder and hope. Allow yourself to your mind back to Christmas when you enjoy it, rekindle those feelings. Don’t were a child. Did you believe in Santa get caught up in the stress, remember Claus? Can you remember that excited what it really is all about. There is still a feeling wondering what Santa might place for magic within all of us. Happy bring? Did you put out carrots for the Christmas! reindeer? Just take a few moments to Juliette Lee remember those feelings of anticipation and wonder. Let yourself remember; Website: www.juliettelee.co.uk don’t brush this off thinking it’s silly. Email: [email protected] December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 23

Dorothy Rowbotham, left, and Judy Brown surrounded by some of their wares

Pictures: ANDY LAMB

If you’re still trawling the streets looking for Christmas gifts, SARAH FRENCH has spotted a shop in Teesdale which could provide some answers

People have really supported A fruitful us and done everything to help and encourage us partnership Alfred A PLACE for everything and Judy. “They’ve said things like ‘thank heav- Wedding everything in its place,” said ens you’ve opened’ and ‘you’re an asset to Angelo Samuel Smiles, the English social Barney’, which is so nice. People have really Dresses reformer. He would certainly have supported us and done everything to help Bridal from been smiling had he visited The and encourage us.” Damson Tree. There are special mentions for Louis Swin- to Small but perfectly formed, it’s a depart- bank, the electrician, Duncan Gales, the £145 £2,500 ment store squeezed into a shop the size of a painter and Sandy, the carpet fitter, all local Angels cottage living room. How owners Dorothy tradesmen who helped Judy to get the shop in Rowbotham and Judy Brown fit in so much ready while Dorothy was in America. Judy’s without it looking cluttered is a masterpiece husband Philip is their accountant, and go- Bridesmaid Silk of interior design. pher. Dresses There’s a children’s section, shelves of Buying is easy since they have the same products for men, toiletries and other gifts taste and style – “a wide spectrum, from clas- from Ian for women, jewellery, handbags, plant con- sic to fun”. .00 tainers, even items for pets, all happily dis- “There is probably five per cent at each end £85 Stuart played together with large pieces of furni- which is different but generally we pounce ture and lamps. Lamps with feathers, lamps on the same things and say the same number with beads, lamps with tassels, lamps made when we’re considering how much to order. Mens Wedding Benjamin of glass, silk or lace. “We find that the more It’s been a lot of fun,” says Dorothy. and Dinner wacky the lamps are, the better they sell,” They trawl the trade fairs for ideas. Since Roberts says Dorothy. their stock ranges from handmade silver jew- Jackets Both she and Judy had shops before de- ellery from Israel and freshwater pearls im- ciding to come together at The Damson Tree, ported directly from China to lamps shaped 22” chest to 62” in Barnard Castle’s Horsemarket – the shop like a fruit cocktail and door signs saying (selected ranges only) DG is named after Dorothy’s famed damson “gone to the pub”, anything is possible. vodka. There are keepsake wedding and baby Collection Judy ran Brown’s Antiques in Darlington, boxes, loads of stocking-fillers and Olli toys Richmond and Barnard Castle but after 30 to be warmed up in the microwave for chil- Dinner Jackets .95 years in the antiques business and with no dren to take to bed. Their collection of hand- from family responsibilities any more, her plan bags goes from brightly coloured crocheted £19 Romantica was to disappear off to her house in France. to tweed and leather, while a brass compan- “Instead I opened another shop. It was ion set sits next to a shelf of shower caps. Morning Coats Dorothy’s fault,” she laughs. They’ve sent lamps to Kent and furniture .95 Forever Dorothy had run Philberts food and cook to London, and they will order one-offs for from £29 shop in Grange Road, Darlington for five and customers who spot something in one of Yours a half years but had to give it up because of their suppliers’ catalogues. “We aim to have hip problems. After a while, she got bored a really good range at competitive prices. with being at home, and decided to knock on We’re not in London, and we know what peo- next door – Judy’s house – with her idea. ple want to pay,” says Dorothy. Organza “I thought Barnard Castle would benefit Judy adds: “We like to say that anyone can Bridal from a good gift shop,” she says. “Partners walk in here and buy all their presents for was very, very popular but its old format has every member of the family. There really is gone. Both Judy and I had run shops before something for everyone.” so it seemed like the obvious thing to do.” The Damson Tree, Horsemarket, Ronald They’ve been warmly welcomed in the Barnard Castle. Tel: 01833 690120. 20 Dundas Arcade, Cleveland town. Opening times: 10am-5pm Monday, Joyce “People have been so complimentary,” says Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays. Telephone 01642 224554 24 December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk shopping

Above: Michelle Murphy with the range of decks in Urban Chaos; right, the Charms range at The Silver Shop and one of the artworks on display at Gallerina Duke Street & Post House Wynd

“For a truly individual Christmas Shopping Whether you’re looking for a new piece of jewellery for a loved-one or Experience” artwork to brighten up your home, Darlington’s Post House Wynd and Duke Street have everything you could want this Christmas, as Women’s Come to Editor LINDSAY JENNINGS discovers

OWS of faceless high street spontaneous images that capture people’s stores set in concrete trading natural expressions and personality. estates may be convenient for Edward Frederickson, who owns the Michou.... some, but Darlington’s beauty Venture franchise for Tees Valley and Gifts with Love lies in its winding cobbled North Yorkshire, says: “We offer and browse through our streetsR and individual shops. something more than just simple pictures, stunning giftware ranges for 8 Post House Wynd, Darlington - A saunter up Post House Wynd, situated we offer an experience. Our relaxed, men, women and children. Tel: 01325 380152 off the town’s High Row, proves that you friendly approach means that the session We also stock beautiful GIFTS FOR ALL OCCASIONS really can find something for everyone in is a fantastic, fun experience.” cards and gift wrap, and UNIQUE JEWELLERY a series of hidden gems. Post House Wynd is a fantastic place to we can offer a free gift TRADITIONAL GAMES Typical of these is Michou, which come for distinctive Christmas jewellery wrapping service counts traditional wooden games, and gifts. Popular jewellers include GIFT IDEAS FOR EVERYONE handmade cards and original pieces of Asquiths, Bramwells and The Silver Shop. 21 Duke Street, Darlington jewellery among its biggest sellers. Dads Key pieces at The Silver Shop this Tel. 01325 481222 Worth a look ! and granddads will no doubt love one of season are the bright pinks in the Carrick the classic games the shop offers, such as range, Guess jewellery, the stone set Dolce dominoes and backgammon and old and Gabanna “bling” style watches and favourites like the dice game, Shut the the Nomination charm bracelets. Box. Owner Brian Waddington also sells Like many of Darlington’s shops, it’s the collectable chess sets and can order in personal touch which set them apart from various designs, from figures dressed as some of the bigger high street names – Samurai warriors to characters from the which is particularly handy if you need Lord of the Rings trilogy. some help selecting a gift. Says Brian: “We try wherever possible Also in Post House Wynd, is designer to stock things which no-one else sells. menswear shop Fourth Chamber run by The traditional games are a fine counter John Whitehead. Big sellers this winter, balance to modern computer games.” he says, include classic knitwear with a Established for over Twenty Years as a top quality manufacturer, Play is also a key factor in the energetic twist. Says John: “We’re seeing a lot of the Asquith’s opened their first retail shop in York in 1995 and Darlington 1997. images captured by lifestyle smarter, classic knitwear sell well at the We offer an extensive choice of fine jewellery from diamond rings to elegant sterling silver. We hav e photographers, Venture. In state-of-the- moment but also some of the brighter a wonderful range of Wedding rings in gold, white gold and platinum. You can also call on one of art, digital studios situated above the colours. The pinks, lemons and limes are our people to create that special piece just for you. premises in Post House Wynd, expertly all going to be big next summer.” Our skilled staff have many years of combined experience and have acheived the highest degree of qualifications, proudly recognised within the trade. trained photographers shoot vibrant, Another great place to shop for lads and Apart from our superb choice, whether shopping for a friend or personal use, Asquith’s always lasses is at skateboarding and offer you superb value, bringing you the highest quality jewellery at affordable prices. snowboarding specialists, Urban Chaos in The qualities that set Asquith’s apart make shopping for jewellery a pleasurable and rewarding Duke Street. The business, run by experience. Michelle Murphy and Paul Naisbitt, is packed with top names to be seen in this winter from technical jackets and lifestyle wear by Volcom, to clothing by the up-and- coming brand Hurley – tipped to replace Von Dutch as the label of choice this Christmas – Nixon watches and footwear

Left: One of the portraits from Venture December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 25 Pictures: SARAH NICHOLSON Top: Micheline Waddington in Michou gift shop; above, strolling down Post House Wynd

Friendly, Affordable Eye Care for all the family

Eye Examinations Contact Lens Fitting & Aftercare Professional Eyecare for Children Visual Therapy Colorimetry Diabetic & Glaucoma Screening 26 Post House Wynd, Darlington Retinal Imaging Photography 01325 355482 Advice on Sun Protection incorporating by Emericas and Vans. The shop stocks Prescription Sunglasses everything you need to go snowboarding Darlington Vision Therapy Centre Designer and Budget Eyewear and skateboarding and has a huge selection 01325 481627 of boards as well as all the protective gear Computerised Thinner Lens Designing you need. www.cliffordrees.co.uk “We’re more than happy if people want to Same Day Service [email protected] come in and talk about their requirements so we can get it right and they’re satisfied,” LOOK OUT FOR OUR SALE says Michelle. And if you’re a bit bemused about what to buy for someone, don’t worry – the shop also sells gift vouchers. Gallerina, in Duke Street, also has a brilliant plan to pay for its goodies. The Own T 24 Post House Wynd, Darlington The Silver Shop

Art scheme enables buyers to help spread el: 01325 464175 the costs over ten months interest free. The only problem is picking out what to buy from the fabulous collections of jewellery, glass, ceramic, textile and art work, which start from £20. But Darlington’s own Lou Harris, who has just brought out a set of limited edition prints in time for the festive season, is bound to be a winner. And after all that shopping, there are a great selection of places to stop off for a homemade cake and coffee. Both Wades and Cooper’s in Post House Wynd specialise in providing tasty home-cooked foods as well it with sage and onion roasted potatoes, as a twist on some of the traditional fare. homemade chestnut stuffing and our own Martin and Tracy Elliot took over range of iced Christmas cakes. Cooper’s three years ago and have seen the “You can come in after shopping and have business go from strength to strength. a light meal and a coffee, maybe a piece of Says Martin: “Our December menu offers homemade cake or you can have the full all the Christmas fare such as turkey and turkey dinner. It’s about giving people the mince pies but we like to put a nice twist on choice.” 26 December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk gadget man

PB6100 Projector

Relisys RDC 3100 3.1mp Digital Camera only 10 of the

- 3.1 Megapixel - 4x digital zoom best Yuletide - 1.5” TFTL display

Epson C66 gizmos Epson Compatible Don’t miss Cartridges Burton’s Bytes Black £6.85 only – game Christmas is almost here but Colour £7.75 reviews in The Northern Echo there’s still time to buy a gizmo for every Friday the gadgetman (or woman) in your life. NIGEL BURTON serves up some tasty Yuletide treats

Sega-Mega Drive: What’s this? A ten- Soundbug to your desk or window 1 year-old console in a column about gizmos to turn it into an instant loud and gadgets! It may seem crazy but many speaker. Perfect for music lovers gamers of a certain age still look back on the old who hate headphones. Price: Sega with rose-tinted specs. To satisfy those £24.95. cravings for Sonic The Hedgehog Sega has relaunched the Mega Drive – after a fashion. The Simkey: Don’t lose your new one is tiny (about the size of a mini disc) 7 precious mobile phone data. and only comes with six games. But what Use the simkey to download all games! As well as Sonic you get Golden Axe, your numbers to this small keyring Altered Beast, Kid Chameleon, Flicky and Dr memory device for safe keeping. For Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine. Price: £24.95 added convenience the Simkey features a calendar and an alarm. Price: £9.95. Medusa 5.1 headphones: Fed up with 2 not hearing your DVDs in full-on surround sound? Why splash out on a bulky speaker set- up when you can have these headphones instead? The Medusa cans have three speakers and a so-called sub woofer in each ear pad for that immersive sound experience. They may lack the clarity of a separate speaker set-up but for listening at night they are just the trick for keeping the peace with your neighbours. Price: £59.95.

Presso: If you love real coffee but can’t be 3 bothered with the complexity of some Fireplace DVD: If you lack a real log fire for grinder/percolators, this is the answer. For less 8 those cosy winter evenings, get this DVD. than forty quid you get a manually-operated Just slap it into your player and watch as your TV espresso maker. Simply pour hot water into the is transformed into a restful fire. Perfect for filling chamber and press down. Bellissimo! contemplative TV loafers everywhere, but not many special features. Price: £14.95. The Bug: This crazy This item can only be purchased by persons over the age of 18 4 digital radio looks like USB Xmas tree: Tinsel around your PC a cross between a kid’s toy 9 monitor not festive enough? Then plug in a and a robot. Beneath the USB Christmas tree for the total Yuletide cute appearance beats a experience. Powered by your PC, the little tree high-tech heart that not transforms itself into six different colours. Price: only lets you listen to your £9.95. fave digital stations but records them too. Your Insectilix music is downloaded to a 10lollies: Don’t digital memory card so it can be buy the usual selection played back on an MP3 portable or your PDA. box this year. Have a cool Price: £149.95. Yule with a lolly that contains an edible worm, MP3 Alarm Clock: Wake-up to…whatever. a minty ant or even a 5 Transfer your favourite file from a PC and set scary scorpion. Price: the alarm. When it’s time to rise, the MP3 alarm £3.75 each. plays it back and flashes a light in time to your tune. Daft but fun. Price: £24.95. All these goodies – and many more – are The Soundbug: No room for speakers in available from www.firebox.com the online 6 that cramped office? Then just clamp the gadget store. December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 27 christmas The sloe must go on

Ann Brown puts labels on the liqueur and Ben Taylor makes sloe gin chocolates. Left: Julia Brown picks sloes on Manor Farm

Pictures: RICHARD DOUGHTY

HE fruits of summer are a distant launched a nationwide appeal to farmers to Sloe Motion products include a black gift box with bottle of gin and chocolates £23.95; memory and even the apples are past harvest their hedgerows and send the sloes chocolates from £6.25; gin from £9.95; sloe gin Wensleydale cheese made at Hawes their best. But as the leaves fall and to North Yorkshire. Their call was answered Creamery £8 and sloe chutney £2.25. Products can be ordered from the website at Tthe verges die back ready for winter, from as far away as Devon and Northern www.sloemotion.com, which also has a list of stockists and lots more information about England’s hedgerows have one last reward Ireland. “We had people turning up with 150 sloes. for hardy types – sloes. kilos at a time. It’s probably the best way The blackthorn is the last to give up its forward,” says Julia. “We’ll pick several key rich bounty with a season that lasts until farmers who are perhaps retired or have the first week in December. Which means local children who can help pick and earn now is the busiest time of year for Julia some money. It’s labour intensive but very Brown, her husband Richard and their rewarding and the sloes just go to waste relatives who make Sloe Motion a real otherwise.” family business. All the fruit is washed by hand and any Between them they will handle tonnes of leaves are removed. Then it’s immediately the blue-black fruits to produce 10,000 frozen which also “pops” the sloes so they bottles of sloe gin liqueur, 20,000 boxes of don’t have to be pricked. sloe gin chocolates and, for the first time When needed, the fruit is put into 200 litre this winter, sloe gin cheese and chutney. tanks (they have ten in a barn at Manor It all started when Julia decided to Farm) in layers with sugar and “a very expand her hobby of making sloe gin as neutral” gin to allow the flavour of the fruit Christmas presents into a business at their to permeate. The tanks are pivoted so they farm at Westow, near Malton. can be turned regularly. “We knew the farm had a lot of The recipe itself is a secret but the lovely blackthorn but when we mapped out the mix is left for three months before being potential volume of sloes we realised there bottled. A very high ratio of fruit gives the was enough to make a lot of gin,” explains gin its jewel-like colour and also reduces the Julia, who as mum to two young children alcohol content from 37.5 per cent for the was also looking for a business she could “raw” gin to 20 per cent in the finished run from home. product. It’s best drunk and savoured as a They worked on improving the product liqueur or in a long drink with dry ginger last year and since then the business has and lime, Julia recommends. grown rapidly. “Nobody was making sloe Richard’s mum, Ann, is in charge of the chocolates commercially and other sloe gin gin while Julia’s sister-in-law, Jill Taylor, is usually based on juice rather than the runs their stands at fairs. Producing the traditional method. There seemed to be a chocolates is a different skill, overseen by gap in the market,” says Julia. chief chocolate maker Brenda Robinson, But first you need your sloes. Blackthorn Julia’s mum. is recognisable as one of the first shrubs to She and Julia’s nephew went on a flower in early spring with an abundance of training course to learn the art of blending white blooms. The sloes, which first appear and tempering, the techniques that gives in September, resemble tiny, sour damsons. good chocolate its snap and shine. The Browns cut their hedges less The chocolates are made in a former frequently and less hard to help the bushes, garage on the farm which smells like which is also in keeping with their farming Christmas. The fruit is spooned into large protocol to protect natural habitats by piping bags and squeezed out into the preserving meadows and leaving wide Belgian chocolate cups before a chocolate margins at field edges. lid is added. They can make 500 boxes of 12 It’s a wonderful environment for Georgia, chocolates a day. who’s four, and three-year-old Oakley. Sloe Motion products are sold in 70 “They’re the only kids I know who can tell carefully chosen shops and at the the difference between a sloe and a bullace Blacksmith’s Inn in Westow, which the (the fruit of the wild plum),” says Julia, Browns also own. There you can sample whose own childhood was at Kielder, where sloe sorbet and ice cream, and sloe sauce her father’s family worked in timber. with savoury dishes. Julia explains: “The Manor Farm produces a tonne of sloes idea is that the farm supplies the pub and and they harvest another tonne from introduces people to sloes which feeds back neighbouring farms. This year’s frost, to the farm. So far it’s working well.” however, meant a poor yield and the Browns Sarah French 28 December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk motoring

The Hyundai Tucson: just the vehicle for a mad dash down country lanes Swift, safe and very smooth

Motoring Correspondent IAN LAMMING gets his teeth stuck into the latest tasty offering from Hyundai

Hyundai Tucson where possible and picking the quickest OTHING should come line through them. between an Englishman and The height of the vehicle and huge his Sunday afternoon tea; not swathes of glass allows peerless all-round 50 miles of twisting roads nor vision. As a result progress is swift, safe the time constraints of life. and very smooth, which is just as well NWhen cakes and sandwiches beckon and given the car is also packed to the the driver has only the bit between his gunwales with furniture. teeth instead of the food he craves, it The 2.0 diesel engine is an absolute would take a brave sheep or pheasant to peach. Would you believe it feels quicker set foot, hoof, or craw in front of his test off the mark than the Chrysler Crossfire car hoping he would stop. sports car driven the week before? The This is the life and death reality of a common rail diesel churns out a healthy Sunday routine that ends in Leyburn at 111bhp and a lusty 245Nm of power in your favourite café. When the weekly walk relentless waves from way down the rev takes 40 minutes longer than planned, range. It is smooth, refined and a joy to then the car takes 20 minutes extra to load live with. It also sips rather than glugs at up, you find yourself an hour late and the the fuel, even when maximum power is planned potter though the Howgills and called upon. Ride is exemplary and the the Yorkshire Dales becomes a determined brakes are outstanding. The only small drive. flies in the ointment are the gearbox and But 90 minutes later and half an hour clutch, which could be slicker. before café’s close, we find ourselves safely The Tucson sits in the range below the ensconced in Serendipity, steaming drinks Santa Fe and is very much a shrunken tantalising the tastebuds, elaborate version of that vehicle. It has the butch toasties a feast for eyes and stomachs off-roader looks and proportions but also alike. And how? Well it’s down to the boasts a modern twist thanks to rounded blessings of the road gods who keep the edges and curvaceous lines. way clear and the supreme abilities of the Inside, the cabin is large and well Tucson, Hyundai’s brand new mid-sized appointed. It is neat and well laid out with off-roader. an air of quality about the fixtures and At first glance a tall off-roader could fittings. A real plus is the design of the have been seen as the worst vehicle rear seats. Most cars nowadays allow you possible to make maximum progress to drop the rear seats to increase the load along twisty country lanes. Generally grip bay. But seldom do you find the back seats is too limited and cabin roll too actually lying flat and flush with the boot pronounced to be able to dash anywhere floor as the seats squabs get in the way. without dashing everyone and thing Not so the Tucson. The squabs hinge and inside to pieces on the rocks. shift forward in one fluid movement as the But not so the Tucson, which drives backs are lowered to fit snugly against the very much like a car; cornering flatly, cushions. The result is a large and accelerating well out of bends and perfectly shaped area; just the thing for gripping to the leaf-mulch strewn asphalt the kitchen table, chair bed and office with aplomb despite the best efforts of chair to be easily slotted inside. spilt slurry and wet mud from the fields. The Tucson is a tremendous addition to Given the constraints of any large the Hyundai range, offering a good vehicle the driving style must adapt to alterative to Toyota’s RAV4, Nissan’s X- suit and in the Tucson that is easy. The Trail and Land Rover’s Freelander and Hyundai actually makes you drive with seven models and prices ranging properly, like an advanced motorist from £14,995 to £18,695, it is competitive should, looking and planning well ahead, too. In fact, I would go as far as to say, braking and accelerating firmly but given the choice of tasty vehicles on the smoothly, straightening out the curves table, the Hyundai is definitely my cup of December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 29

christmas Every picture tells a story

Glossy books with stunning photographs are always welcome as presents. JENNY NEEDHAM takes her pick

YORKSHIRE DALES LANDSCAPES by Dave Coates (Myriad, £16.99 www.myriadbooks.co.uk) A STUNNING 128-page full colour hardback by leading regional photographer Dave Coates, the book is divided into five chapters, each of FIVE THOUSAND DAYS: Press Photography in a which looks at a particular dale. Born Changing World (David & Charles, £29.99) in Harrogate, Dave has lived in QUITE the most fascinating of the “coffee table” books to Northallerton for many years and is come our way in time for Christmas, this is a mesmerising active in the local camera club. His record of the 5,000 days that have passed since the interest in photography, coupled with collapse of Communism in 1989. From front-lines to touch- his love of the great outdoors dates lines, political downfalls to private triumphs, the British back to his teens when he first Press Photographers’ Association has covered it all. Above, explored the rugged landscape of the a pale Mrs Thatcher sits among the Tory Party grandees at Yorkshire Dales both on foot and by the Party Conference in Bournemouth in 1994, while right, bike. He has been a serious The Northern Echo’s own Stuart Boulton caught this photographer for more than 20 years wonderful scene when Ronan Keating was signing T-shirts at and his photographs have won TFM Radio in Thornaby on Teesside. Both are included in awards from the Royal Photographic this visual feast, which has a foreword by Harold Evans, a Society. former editor of The Northern Echo.

A HOME IN THE WORLD: HOUSES AND CULTURES (Abrams, £29.95) FORD OWNERS WE tend to think of homes in terms of bricks and mortar, but throughout the world humans perch homes in trees and Andrea’s float them in lakes; some build them to last centuries, some Autos make them portable enough to carry on their backs; they • Servicing all new Fords in compliance with look for design inspiration in the landscape, in the human manufacturers warranty body and in flora and fauna. Through wonderful standards • Deal direct with Ford photographs, A Home In The World offers a fascinating Technician perspective on home design by revealing how different CRACKING DECEMBER OFFER • Prices from £75 cultures handle the essential task of building houses that • All makes and modesl reflect their ideals and values. At a time when home 10 lessons only £100 Male & Female Instructors Available welcome improvement is all the rage, the books sheds light on other, Contact:- Richard Watts more global, meanings of the word “home”. 0191 3734661 THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ROSES by Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix (Macmillan, £20) W EDDING D RESSES from £145 to £2,500 AN authoritative and personal guide to more than 850 *5((1/,*+7 B RIDESMAID D RESSES from £85 roses, illustrated by pictures so stunning you can almost School of Motoring smell that perfume coming off the pages. Every rose is fully described in text detailing its origins, cultivation and MALE&FEMALEINSTRUCTORS alternative names and the book concludes with a striking visual presentation and 1st HOURS FOR £100 advice on using roses in the garden. 10

Snowflake: Winter’s CHRISTMAS GIFT VOUCHERS Secret Beauty (Colin Open Mon-Sat 9.15am-5,15pm Baxter Photography, 0800 2983064 20 Dundas Arcade, Middlesbrough 01479 873999, £12.50) www.greenlight-som .co.uk Tel. 01642 224554 HIGH above the earth a www.principia.uk.com snowflake is born, but because it’s so light, it may take hours to fall – finally landing where Patricia Rasmussen’s amazing micro- photography can capture the fleeting beauty and complexity of nature’s art. Her pictures are collected here, accompanied by words from scientist Kenneth Libbrecht, who chronicles the creation of the snow crystal, though even today we cannot fully explain why no two snowflakes are alike. competition

TO help you in your quest to find Christmas presents for all the family, we have put together a collection of books worth more than £200 – fiction, non-fiction, adult and children’s, audio, pictorial, serious stuff and stocking fillers. To stand a chance of winning, just tell us who wrote Jane Eyre. Answers on a postcard or the back of an envelope to Christmas Books Competition, Features, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington DL1 1NF. The closing date is Monday, 30 December 2004 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk

Pamper your Pet! ~ ALL BREEDS WELCOME ~ Opening hours: Mon to Thurs 9am-3pm; Fri - Sun 10am-till late Ring with your requirements NE Homes We also stock a small selection of dog food and treats at competitive prices Dog Grooming Parlour Rose Bungalow, Chilton Lane, Ferryhill Tel. 01740 654728 Shirtcliffe & Co. Pine Thingummies Buying, selling and re-mortgaging specialist HAND-BUILT BESPOKE KITCHENS & Howard offers down to earth advice and guarantees no jargon to make life simple BEDROOMS, FURNITURE ETC Telephone 01845 526222 or call in at TELEPHONE 01388 819890 / 816821 NE Motors 1 Finkle Street, Thirsk YO7 1DA for further information OR 07966 478591

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NE You NE Holidays

Discover the Canals of England & Wales HEARTBEAT Gosforth Maths and COUNTRY English London Weekend 2 for 1 On one of our 2-10 Berth Hall Hotel Gosforth, Cumbria Executive coach hire including insurance, 2 nights bed and breakfast accommodation at the 2 star Ibi s Hotel, Made Easy London Excel which is 5 mins walk from the Custom House Station (for easy transfers into London) and offers Narrowboats CS10 1AZ en-suite faciltiies, television and telephone 2 Bedroom Tel: 019467 25322 All centrally heated, full instruction. No experience needed Fax: 019467 25992 The ‘La Table’ restaurant offers buffet breakfast, hot and cold snacks during the day and dinner in the evening Choice of scenic and historic routes • Help your child achieve their full st rd 21 -23 January 2005 Holiday The a la carte restaurant is open potential in class ALL INCLUSIVE PRICES Wednesday to Saturday evenings Day 1 Travel to London to arrive at 2pm and leave for hotel at 6pm the coach wil then transfer back CLAYMOOR NAVIGATION with traditional lunches available • Excellent results achieved with our into London at 7-7.30pm and return back at 9pm on Sunday. The hotel has 10 The Wharf, Preston Brook, Warrington, Cottage comfortable guest bedrooms, eight Home Study Programme Day 2 10am transfer into London and return at 6pm. 7-7.30 Cheshire WA4 4BA of which are en suite and contain transfer into London and return at 9pm To Let tea and coffee making facilities and • Suitable for school children aged from £ 150 per couple Lo-Cost 08450 900 1800 televisions. The Suite boasts a Day 3 10am depart hotel and into London, 4-poster bed, a giant en suite bath Primary to GCSE for homeward journery at 1.30-2pm www.claymoore.co.uk • [email protected] and must be seen to be believed! in old part of Filey, • Local service from a national company H. Atkinson & Sons (Ingleby) Ltd Full tour brochure available S PECIAL OFFER FOR A • Over 100,000 students currently 250m from beach. 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Headquarterz 2 Nights £60pp 3 Nights £80pp Inc Breakfast Cottages, fully 4 Bedrooms, Let us ensure you feel relaxed, pampered Tel: (017687) 74612 equipped . and special for that big occasion. excellent location, Or simply just indulge yourself. Parking south facing pool Bowness on Windermere Dogs Welcome A fabulous range of treatments available From £405 per week Real Hair Extensions, Spray Tanning B&B also available Lonsdale Hotel Brochure & CD available All the latest Colouring & Cutting techniques TEL: Telephone Come along and pamper yourself this Christmas! UK Accommodation of the Year 01947 603790 (01670) 731922 Call now for your appointment 2004 Award Winner (0191) 3842045 Lic, all en-suite, car park, family rooms. 32 Silver Street, Durham City (015394) 44348 www.lonsdale-hotel.co.uk Home and Abroad Holidays CANADA Specialising in Long Haul - Safaris NE Leisure Tailor Made - Groups - Weddings TORONTO & See our web pages for unbeatable deals of the week at www.homeandabroadtravel.co.uk NIAGARA FALLS Up to 50% OFF P&B and Princess Cruises FROM www.cruiseabroad.co.uk NEWCASTLE AIRPORT Alternatively email us at [email protected] with all your travel requirements 4 nights Toronto, 2 nights Niagara Falls (Falls View Rooms) 6 Craigton House, Redcar TS10 1DL Telephone 01642 484842 Now booking May 26, 2005 Sunday 19th to Friday 31st December Times: 7.30pm Matinee 2.30pm (Matinee only on from £440 Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve) HURRY! LIMITED AVAILABILITY Tickets: Full £14.50 - £4.50 Concessions £12.50 - £3.50 Children £8.50 - £2.50 NOW BOOKING 2005 Coach Holidays Direct by c featuring The Heritage Dance Studio Palmers Coaches ALLIED TRAVEL Group M C olls of A rgyll (Stockton-on-Tees) Tel. (0114) 243 3902 www. alliedtravel.co.uk Private and Contract Hire 650 Stainforth Road, Darnall, Sheffield, South Yorks S9 4LP Allied Travel act as retail agents for ATOL holders. Globespan ATOL No.701 and ATOL Holders 10% Early Bird Discount Booking conditions apply. Allied Travel are a fully bonded member of ABTA NO.11433 To book phone: 08702 40 30 80 Richmond, North Yorkshire DL10 4RH Tinsel & Turkey - DUNOON For tickets contact BOX OFFICE on PICK UP POINTS: DARLINGTON, MIDDLESBROUGH, STOCKTON, 4 Days - £115.00 • 26th-29th November DURHAM, WASHINGTON, SUNDERLAND & NEWCASTLE 01748 825252 The Park Hotel is situated on the sea front approximately 10 minutes walk from PRAGUE or BUDAPEST TO DUNOON 2005 the main town. The hotel places a strong emphasis on your comfort. All bedrooms FEBRUARY Thurs 24th5 days £121 60s Weekend are en-suite with colour TV and tea/coffee facilities. 2005 APRIL Fri 15th5 days £134 Country & Western MAY Mon 2nd6 days £159 The Bridge Inn All hotels are half-board and en-suite with tours. BOOK EARLY FOR THE BEST PRICES! JUNE Wed 8th5 days £159 The coach and some hotels are wheelchair friendly. AUGUST Sun 21st6 days £174 Gordon Lane, Ramshaw, West Auckland Winter Breaks (Jan-March) SEPTEMBER Mon 12th6 days £174 Ramshaw Five R’s Largest selection OCTOBER Fri 21st5 days £124 Line Dancing NOVEMBER Mon 21st5 days £124 Jinglebells • Real Ale • Real Food of vegetarian Tel/Fax: (0191) 2677109 3 nights from £169p.p • Real Enjoyment • Real People meals TO TORQUAY 2005 • Reliable Standard available Spring/Summer Breaks JANUARY Sun 16th7 days £149 Torquay & Tinsel • Lucky Draw MARCH Sun 6th7 days £166 Lucky Draw We are open over the Christmas period 5 nights from £265p.p APRIL Sun 24th7 days £199 7 days a week 11am-11pm at The Sundial Hotel includes flights from Newcastle or JUNE Sun 12th7 days £224 Star of Siam JULY Sun 31st7 days £243 BOXING DAY LUNCH Teesside, airport tax and B&B in a SEPTEMBER Sun 18th7 days £189 Served 11.30 - 3.30 pm, from £6.00 AUTHENTIC THAI RESTAURANT 3 star city centre hotel sharing a twin/ NOVEMBER Sun 6th7 days £167 Jinglebells FESTIVE FAYRE 26 November - 23 December Open Every Day 12-3pm and 6-11pm double room 10% EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT Carvery Luncheon Evening Carvery OTHER DURATIONS AVAILABLE 10% TORQUAY and DUNOON Pay Now 10% Adults from £5.50 2 Courses Adults from £10 Book Now for that Special Christmas Party 10% JAN, FEB, MARCH Children from £3.40 Children from £6.50 Ring a specialist: Senior Citizens from £4.50 Open Christmas Day Lunch with choice of Traditional English or Thai Banquet The Grand Hotel Experience Come and try our Sunday Lunch Carvery as SPECIAL NEW YEAR PARTY Czech Travel Sunday, June 19th - 6 days £199 D/BB a fine example of what to expect For further information Star of Siam at:- Tel: 01376 560592 The Grand Hotel, Blackpool inclusive of please call The Highfield Hotel, Durham Road, East Rainton Tyne & Wear. Telephone (0191) 5848745 ATOL protected 3659 Excursions and Coach Travel. (01388) 832509 ESTABLISHED 1995 or The Sundial Hotel, Darlington Road, Northallerton Telephone (01609) 780525 309118