The Northern Echo
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The Northern Echo The lifestyle magazine for the North-East JANUARY 2005 SALES PITCH WIN A pamper day New year, new you, new home One man and his shed SHOPPING INTERIORS GADGETS MOTORING GARDENING 2 January 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk Have you ever dreamt Lots of new and exciting tile ranges now in stock of learning to fly? 10% DISCOUNT Now you can at Durham Tees ON PRODUCTION OF THIS COUPON Valley Airport in one of our modern Cessna 152s U nit 2G, D rum I nd E state , C hester-le- S treet ( opp B atleys ) 01325 332752 Gift Vouchers tel ephone: (0191) 4920073 01325 332855 start at just £69 Open Mon-Fri 10-5 pm Sat 10-4 pm contents 19 4 8 SHARON GRIFFITHS ME AND MY 3 I’m not a slummock, 14 WARDROBE honest! Lesley Middlemiss magazine INTERIORS OUT ON THE TOWN is produced by 4 What’s hot for 15 The Devonport, The homes in 2005 Middleton-One-Row Northern SLIMMING SHOPPING Echo/ Newsquest 6 New year, 16 Getting the best out Ltd., new you of the sales a Gannett HEALTH GADGET MAN Company, Priestgate, 7 Take stock 18 Who you calling Darlington and detox a geek? DL1 1NF INTERIORS FOOD (01325) 381313 8 One man and 19 Time with his shed Rosemary ADVERTISING INTERIORS NE CONNECTIONS Trish Taylor (01325) 505 233 10 A little bit of 20 A new addition to trish.taylor mural magic the Audi A3 range @nne.co.uk GARDENING COFFEE TIME EDITORIAL 11 My New Year’s 22 Puzzles PLUS win a Jenny Needham (01325) 505082 resolutions luxury pamper day for jenny.needham BEAUTY two at Broom Mill HOLIWAYS @nne.co.uk GARAGE WHINBANK Can a jab melt Day Spa ROAD DURHAM WAY 12 SOUTH KITCHEN CREATION AYCLIFFE fat away? VILLAGE TO P. W. S . HEIGHINGTON 3M FACTORY A 1 6 TETLEYS 7 INCINERATOR JUNCTION 59 A167 Mc DONALDS DARLINGTON FILTRONIC SOUTH NORTH A1 A1 January 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk 3 GOING CONTEMPORARY sharon griffiths THE new Tiko kitchen range from Magnet might be just the thing to update your home and give it a contemporary feel. It has a sleek, professional look, with strong clean lines, in a mix of stained oak and stainless steel. For further information visit www.magnet.co.uk or call 0845 123 6789 for details of your nearest store. WHAT’S IN STORE? aI read IF you want some stylish storage in your sitting room, the occasional table from the Old Charm Chateau Collection could be the solution. The somewhere central portion of the table has two large shelves, a flap at either end opens 180 degrees to reveal hidden that to lose storage compartments… and somewhere to balance the drinks. At £1,276, it is available in four finishes. For stockists call (08451) 1lb of fat you 303 303 or log on to www.oldcharm.co.uk have to walk PORTABLE FLAMES IF you want the beauty and atmosphere of real flames 12 miles wherever you fancy, Calor’s Boston heater is an attractive window shopping portable option. It retails at £299 and would be great for taking the chill off a garden shed EW Year, New You? If only… There fixed and I could stride out again. Oh bliss. or conservatory. is, of course, no justice in the world. I read somewhere that to lose 1lb of fat you If there were, I’d have been born tiny, have to walk 12 miles. It was one of those fig- Nwith razor-like cheekbones, natural- ures that stuck in my brain, so this time last ly curly hair and been good at maths. Like my year I decided I would keep a record of how sister, in fact. much I walked and would aim for at least 12 Instead, I got the short straw. Or the large miles a week. At that rate, I thought in my in- straw. The size eight feet and the Channel nocence, by the end of the year I would have swimmer’s shoulders. And there’s nothing I lost nearly four stone. Then I would wear skin- can do about it. Believe me, I’ve tried. ny trousers and have a new picture for this Right now, I expect, you’re living on lettuce page. Ha! leaves and bottled water and going to the gym. I certainly walked. Nearly every day I strode If you stick to the routine, by Valentine’s Day out down the lane near our house. There’s a de- you will have lost all the weight you gained cent three mile circular walk with nice views over Christmas, your clothes will be looser, in the middle. And I know it in all weathers. I your waistband gratifyingly swivelly. You will know most blades of grass, when the first buds have a spring in your step and a sparkle in your appeared, where to find the best gooseberries eye. For you, the regime will have worked. Not, blackberries and sloes. I meet the gamekeeper alas for me. and the tractor driver, an occasional shooting Looking for a Now you’ll pat your nice firm flat stomach, party and sometimes other people out for a look at that picture on the top of this page and stroll. you’ll probably think “What an idle, greedy I have occasionally been accompanied by my Mortgage? slummock that woman must be.” husband, my friend Liz, visitors, other people’s But you’d be wrong. Honestly, you would be dogs, a three-legged cat and a mad pheasant. so wrong. But mostly I walk on my own Let Us Every now and then I do those quizzes in the Holidays are spent walking too. Welsh hills, paper. You know the sort, “How healthy are Irish beaches and plenty of weekend walking Offer you?” they ask. And you go down ticking boxes in Swaledale, Weardale, Teesdale and around. You A about what you eat and drink, how many veg- I aimed at 12 miles a week, but at the end of etables you have, how much exercise and how the year, I worked out that throughout the year Helping often. – not counting walking as part of the every day I answer those with scrupulous honesty and routine, to shops, to friends or wherever – I had Hand... when I add up my score, it usually says some- walked an average of 18 miles a week. Every thing like: “Congratulations! You have an ex- week. cellent lifestyle and are doing everything On that, you’d think, I’d be as slim as a stick, right!” a shadow of my former self, toned, tanned and In that case, I snarl, as I throw the paper – at the very most – a trim size 10. across the room, why am I four stones over- Not a bit of it. weight? Tell me that, clever clogs. True, I feel heaps better. I know I’m fitter. I And answer comes there none walk faster, easier, breathe better, sleep better, DARLINGTON OFFICE For the past 20 years I have swum for about have more energy than I’ve had for years. 23 Duke Street, Darlington 40 minutes every morning except Sunday. At But my clothes are no looser, my waist no 6.30 in the morning, as lazy slugs lie abed, rain trimmer, the bulges still, depressingly, bulge… 01325 350 888 or shine, sunshine or pitch dark, I go to the I don’t weigh myself because it makes me sui- pool. cidal, but I honestly think I’ve not lost an With branches throughout the North East, DURHAM CITY OFFICE I rarely use lifts. I take the stairs. I use the ounce. I shall continue to walk, because I love our experienced advisors can arrange your 86 Claypath, Durham City gym occasionally, despite the mirrors. And I it, and live a sensible life. But I don’t hold out mortgage or re-mortgage to suit your individual needs. All applications walk everywhere. I never buy chocolate, don’t much hope. sympathetically considered. 0191 375 0333 have a sweet tooth, love vegetables, don’t drink So if you are starting on your fitness regime Contact us now to discuss your much. And when I eat out with my husband, I I wish you all the luck in the world. I’m sure SUNDERLAND OFFICE am the one heard to say – honestly – “Do I have you’ll achieve it. You might well have a New requirements or call in - no appointment necessary 22 Athenaeum Street, Sunderland to have a pudding?” You. True, for years a wrecked Achilles tendon But spare a thought – and some sympathy – 0191 510 8080 kept me from walking much. But then – won- for those of us who, however hard we try, are YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP derfully, magically, brilliantly – it was doomed to be lumbered with the old one… REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE or 0191 565 7788 4 January 2005 Online: www.nemagazine.co.uk interiors A spring clean for sweeter surroundings It’s a new year and while most people have heard of the advantages of detoxing the body by giving up alcohol, caffeine and rich foods, what about your home? GABRIELLE FAGAN gets some tips on how to give your house a complete room by room detox T’S the time of year when attention is on having a healthy body and getting fit, but there is one key area many of us neglect – our home. So get ready to detox.