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Sixtyplusurfers
Competition
Win
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Goodies
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Sixtyplusurfers has teamed up with Studio Canal to offer
one lucky reader the chance to win a Tinker Tailor
Soldier Spy DVD, Soundtrack and a copy of John Le Carré's
Smiley VS Karla, the paperback spy trilogy featuring
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the Honourable Schoolboy, and
Smiley's People.
Two runner's up will also receive a copy of the
soundtrack and the book.
In these three masterly
novels, John le Carré brings to thrilling life the
shadowy battlegrounds of the Cold Wars. Stalking each
other through this twilight landscape are the
incomparable George Smiley and his ruthless opposite
number, codenamed Karla, the Soviet case officer who has
been slowly masterminding the Circus's ruin.
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Studio Canal
are also pleased to
announce the Home Entertainment release of number one UK
box office success Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a tense,
cerebral and captivating adaptation of the
genre-defining bestseller by John Le
Carré.
Tinker Tailor Spy is directed by Tomas Alfredson and
stars Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Benedict
Cumberbatch and John Hurt.
Set at the height of The Cold War, with international
relations poisoned with paranoia and deception,
Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), codenamed
‘The Circus’, is striving to keep pace with other
countries attempts at counter-espionage, and keep the UK
secure.
The Chief of the Circus, ‘Control’ (John Hurt, The
Elephant Man, Brighton Rock) personally sends dedicated
agent Jim Prideaux (Mark Strong, Kick Ass, The Guard)
into Hungary, but the mission goes bloodily awry,
forcing Control out of his position, and the circus,
along with trusted lieutenant George Smiley (Gary Oldman,
The Dark Knight, The Fifth Element), a career spy with
razor-sharp senses.
However when disgraced agent Rikki Tarr (Tom Hardy,
Inception, Warriors) reappears with devastating
information that The Circus has long been compromised by
a mole working for the soviets, Smiley is secretly
conscripted back into service and the murky world of
espionage.
Tasked with investigating which of his trusted former
colleagues has chosen to betray him and their country,
Smiley narrows his search to four suspects - all
experienced, urbane, successful agents - but past
histories, rivalries and friendships make it far from
easy to pinpoint the man who is eating away at the heart
of the British establishment.
Even before the startling truth is revealed, the
emotional and physical tolls on the players enmeshed in
the deadly international spy game will escalate, as the
hunt leaves a trail or murder, doubt and double crosses
in its wake.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has been made for the screen
by Tomas Alfredson (Let The Right One In) with the
screenplay adapted by the writing team of Bridget
O’Connor and Peter Straughan.
For
Your Chance to Win
Tell us
who wrote
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?
a) Kingsley
Amis
b) John Le Carré
c) Agatha Christie
d) Ernest Hemingway
To Enter the Competition
Tell us who wrote Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?
Then send in your answer, together with your full name,
postal address and telephone number by clicking on
the Sixtyplusurfers link below:
sixtypluscomp@hotmail.co.uk
* This competition is open to
our UK readers only
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Forest Concerts for Alfie
Boe
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Alfie Boe is
the latest act to announce participation in this year’s
Forestry Commission Live Music with a brace of concerts
this Summer.
The classically trained tenor has become well
established as one of the country’s most popular artists
with acclaimed, sell-out, live concerts and two Top Ten,
‘platinum’ selling albums in the last twelve months.
Theatre-goers have witnessed sensational performances in
shows such as ‘Les Misérables’ in the West End and ‘La
Bohème’ on Broadway; and with albums like ‘Alfie’ and
‘Bring Him Home’, Alfie Boe’s interpretation of the most
revered and timeless songs has ensured an ever-growing
fan base. Alfie’s forest debut will see him performing
from his current albums as well as from classical and
proms repertoire.
Forestry Commission Live Music concerts are renowned for
their relaxed atmosphere, and income generated from
ticket sales is spent on improving the local forest for
both people and wildlife.
Commenting on the shows, Alfie Boe said, “I am delighted
to be asked to appear at Westonbirt Arboretum and
Thetford Forest as part of Forestry Commission Live
Music. It is going to be a real privilege to perform at
such prestigious outdoor venues with beautiful trees as
backdrops”.
Alfie Boe plus Orchestra and 'special guest support'
will be performing on the following dates:
Friday 13th July, Thetford Forest, near Brandon,
Suffolk.
Saturday 21st July, Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury,
Gloucestershire.
Tickets £35.50 (subject to booking fee) are now on sale
from the Forestry Commission box office Tel: 03000
680400 or buy online at
www.forestry.gov.uk/music
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UK Hedgehog Charity
Reaches out to Hedgehogs in Malawi
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The British
Hedgehog Preservation Society, based in rural
Shropshire, has answered a cry for help from Malawi in
Africa.
Chief Executive, Fay Vass said, “We fairly regularly get
requests for help with hedgehogs in Europe, and there
was a lovely story we printed in our newsletter a few
years back about some UK soldiers looking after
hedgehogs in the wild in Iraq, but I think this is the
first contact we have had from Africa!”
The hedgehogs found in the wild in Africa are different
to the ones we see in our gardens here in the UK. They
are smaller, eat different food and aestivate (they can
go into a Summer period of torpor) rather than
hibernate. The Society offered advice and gave the
rescuer contact details for wildlife centres in Africa
that deal with hedgehogs. We continue to maintain
contact by email and will do so as necessary until they
are ready for release.
Fay continued, “The lady who rescued the baby hedgehog (hoglet)
had found our website and contacted us for help, she was
asked to check for more babies, as if one hoglet is in
trouble; the chances are its litter mates are too. Another little one was found and this beautiful
photograph of one of them was sent to us.”
Hedgehogs in the UK have declined by a quarter in just
10 years. There are many simple ways you can help
hedgehogs in your area, to find out how see the Society
website at
www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk
Or send an
A5 SAE to The British Hedgehog Preservation Society,
Hedgehog House, Dhustone, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 3PL.
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Step into Eden's
Delicious Chocolate Jungle at Half Term
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From 11th to 19th February
The Eden Project
is exploring everything there is to know about chocolate
during the February half-term.
The Chocolate Jungle is a festival taking place from
Saturday, February 11th to Sunday, February 19th, and
will have something for every chocolate lover whatever
their age, from connoisseur-style tastings and hands-on
workshops to a chocolate-themed trail.
In the Rainforest Biome visitors will be challenged to a
chocolate quest where they can trek through the tropical
landscape, see cocoa growing, find out about the farmers
and communities who grow the crop and how chocolate
reaches us.
Visitors can hear the history of how the plant was
transformed from the bitter drink once consumed by the
Aztecs to the delicious confectionery eaten today.
Elsewhere there'll be mouth-watering tasting sessions
where everyone can learn how to see, feel, smell, taste
and even hear the difference between types of chocolate.
The delicate processes of harvesting cocoa pods and
blending, refining and tempering will also be shown.
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Plus there are hands-on chocolate making sessions where
children can make their own delicious treats.
In the Eden Bakery and cafés there’ll be pastries, cakes
and even savoury dishes made with chocolate, and a large
selection of chocolate goodies to buy in the Eden Shop.
Emma Hogg, Eden’s programme producer, says, “During the
February half-term we’re exploring the fascinating story
of chocolate, often described as the ‘food of the gods’.
“Come and see cocoa growing in the world’s biggest
rainforest in captivity, learn how chocolate is made
and, of course, taste it!”
All Chocolate Jungle activities are included in the
price of admission to Eden.
For more
information on the festival, go to:
www.edenproject.com
Eden’s glittering ice rink will also be open too during
half-term and until February 26th.
For skating times and prices go to
www.edenproject.com/come-and-visit
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Enjoy a Family Day Out
at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
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Enjoy a lovely
day out with all the family at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
At Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, visitors
can feel at first-hand what it was really like to serve
and fight on board the ships that shaped Britain’s
history – alongside modern warships of the Royal Navy.
It’s a full day out that stays with all ages forever.
With the flexibility of a year’s validity on the ticket
price for a full or part visit, a visit focused on a
particular historic time period, personal stories,
action and adventure or one based on accessibility
needs, visits to the Historic Dockyard have something
for everyone.
Ask anyone to name the most famous warships in the world
and Mary Rose, HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860 are sure
to feature. Their appeal endures because of the graphic
and moving stories associated with them; being the
favourite of Henry VIII; the victor at the Battle of
Trafalgar and never firing a shot in anger during 10
long years of sea domination.
But it’s more than that. It’s the social history about
life on-board and in the wider society; the bravery and
heroism of generations of serving personnel and their
families and their compelling stories; the technology
that meant Britain led the world and the anecdotes which
have fashioned our language for centuries.
Add the National Museum of the Royal Navy; interactive
Action Stations where visitors can fly a helicopter or
climb the UK’s tallest indoor climbing tower; a Harbour
Tour that brings passengers up close and personal with
modern Royal Navy warships and shows why Portsmouth
remains one of the world’s most important harbours; the
Dockyard Apprentice and the Trafalgar Sail exhibitions;
then it’s clear why Portsmouth Historic Dockyard often
appears as people’s favourite museum!
Late 2012 marks thirty years since the nation was glued
to televisions watching the wreck of the Tudor warship,
the Mary Rose, break the surface of the Solent. It will
be a momentous anniversary as history will be made once
again when the Mary Rose Trust opens a new museum at
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
The new museum will be the most significant development
to take place in the Historic Dockyard in a decade. The
£35 million heritage project to build an
internationally-renowned museum will reunite the Mary
Rose hull and many of the 19,000 artefacts, placed in
context, in a brand new boat-shaped museum. Currently, a
selection of items is being shown in a small museum by
the entrance to the Historic Dockyard. It’s a
fascinating look at everyday shipboard life from almost
500 years ago and compliments the other attractions in
telling the wider history of 800 years of naval
heritage.
A special exhibition is also running at The National
Museum of the Royal Navy until Sunday 30th September
2012, an interactive exhibition titled – Bones of Oak &
Iron – Beneath Victory’s Skin explores how HMS Victory
was originally built in 1759, how she was preserved and
cared for in war and peace and the restoration process
that will cover the next ten years. The exhibition is
FREE to enter. However, it is advised that to get the
most from a visit, visitors should also visit the ship
herself, the magnificent Trafalgar Sail, the Nelson and
Sailing Navy galleries in the museum and the rest of the
attractions at the Historic Dockyard to put the story
into the wider naval historical context.
Visitors are able to explore the exhibition through
computer generations, footage, display panels, ‘did you
know’ facts and various tactile displays and discover
the way that this remarkable 250-year-old ship is looked
after to safeguard her for future generations. They can
also learn the amazing story of her survival and the
hard work that ensures this incredible piece of living
history makes it through the next quarter of a
millennium.
2012 will also see work begin on new galleries at the
National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN), due to open by
2014, the centenary of the start of World War I, so the
Museum can be at the centre of marking the Navy’s vital
role.
The galleries will tell the story of the Royal Navy
since 1900, a largely untold part of our maritime
heritage. The 18th century Storehouse 10, built in 1776,
is one of the finest Georgian storehouses in the UK and
will be completely restored providing new exhibition
spaces for the museum’s vast collections. Storehouse 10
will be connected to Storehouse 11 enabling the museum
to showcase four centuries of our important naval
history properly for the first time. State-of-the-art
interactive displays and exhibitions will help bring the
collections alive and into the 21st century for
everyone, especially young people, to learn from and
enjoy.
The project will enable a 400% increase in the space
available for exhibitions on the Navy and its people
since 1900. A Special Exhibitions Gallery will also be
added, giving the museum the chance to create 2 new
exhibitions a year which can showcase new collections,
commemorate anniversaries and bring a changing
attraction to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. It also
includes a dynamic programme of events and activities to
help local schools, veterans and families discover and
understand how the Navy has shaped their heritage. With
a new Community Outreach Officer the Museum is going to
be even more active outside the Dockyard wall and there
will be many opportunities for volunteers to get
involved and enable local schools to get more hands on.
It is an exciting time for Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
as support from the Heritage Lottery Fund has enabled it
to develop plans to tell the navy story in a uniquely
inspirational and moving way. Over the next few years,
with the development of the NMRN, and the new Mary Rose
Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard will demonstrate
why it remains one of the country’s most popular tourist
attractions.
For details call 023 9283 9766 or visit the website at
www.historicdockyard.co.uk
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The Bag Issue
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Sting and
his wife Trudie Styler are hoping that elephant dung and
banana fibre bags will become the ‘must have’
accessories of 2012.
The Big Issue, Britain’s social enterprise for the
homeless kicked-off it’s Bag Issue campaign at a
glittering gala event at The House of St. Barnabas,
attended by more than 200 guests including Sir David
Frost and Eddie Izzard.
The Bag Issue offers ‘a hand up not a hand out’ to
Indian orphans from Karm Marg - a home for street
children based in the outskirts of Delhi.
Trudie Styler has been the patron of the Mukti charity,
which funds the Karm Marg orphanage, for the last 10
years and she was delighted to be invited to launch the
Bag Issue.
Trudie Styler who was also recently guest editor of the
Big Issue Magazine said, “There’s a synergy between the
Bag Issue and the Big Issue. Both Big Issue vendors and
the children at Karm Marg are working their way from the
streets.”
“They want to make their own destiny and hold their head
up. This gives them self esteem, helps foster
communities and enables them to support their own
lives.”
The bags are made by women on low subsistence wages from
banana skin fibres and elephant dung and will have a
series of articles printed on them by The Big Issue.
The first edition of the collectible bags bears the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948 and the
will be sold by street vendors, on the Big Issue website
and through retailers.
“Poverty is a human rights abuse and Trudie has done
wonderful work in highlighting this. I urge everyone to
get behind the Bag Issue,” said John Bird, co-founder of
the Big Issue.
For more information about The Big Issue click on
www.bigissue.com
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Hampton
Court Palace Festival
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Katie Melua performs at the
show
Tickets are now on sale for the
Hampton Court Palace Festival
which will be celebrating its
20th Anniversary in June 2012
with a wonderful line up of
music artists from the Rock,
Pop, Jazz and Classical world.
Historic Royal Palaces and PWR
Events are delighted to announce
the first of the artists
confirmed to perform in the
stunning open-air courtyard of
King Henry VIII’s Palace, taking
place from 13th to 24th June
2011.
Katie Melua, one of Britain’s
most successful artists of the
last decade who’s sold more than
11 million albums, will delight
festivalgoers with familiar
favourites such as Closest Thing
To Crazy and Nine Million
Bicycles, as well as performing
songs from her new album Secret
Symphony, due for release in
March.
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Frankie Valli and The Four
Seasons
will perform at Hampton Court
Legendary Frankie Valli
and The Four Seasons will
perform their first concert in
the UK for 18 years at Hampton
Court Palace Festival.
This eagerly awaited concert
will give fans the chance to
hear many of the classic hit
songs played live, such as: Big
Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like A
Man, Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of
You, Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby
Goodbye), December 1963 (Oh What
A Night) and Grease.
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Jools Holland and his Rhythm and
Blues Orchestra will return to the show
Festival favourite, Jools
Holland and his Rhythm and Blues
Orchestra will make a triumphant
return delighting crowds on a
summer’s evening.
And Caro
Emerald, who recently appeared
on Jools Holland’s Annual
Hootenanny, will make her
Festival debut this year with
her eclectic style of ballroom
jazz, cinematic tangos, groovin'
jazz and infectious mambos with
songs from her platinum-selling
album Deleted Scenes From The
Cutting Room Floor.
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Caro Emerald will perform at
the Festival
In addition to the music,
Hampton Court Palace Festival is
renowned for creating a truly
unforgettable experience.
Artists perform in the historic
main courtyard of the
magnificent Tudor Palace
providing an intimate atmosphere
for an audience of 3,000.
Corporate hospitality is
available in the State
Apartments and Festival-goers
can also arrive early (doors
open at 1730) and enjoy a
delicious picnic courtesy of
Jamie Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts,
in the stunning Palace gardens.
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Festival Dates:
Wednesday 13th to Saturday 24th
June 2012
Location: Hampton Court Palace,
Surrey, KT8 9AU
Tickets:
www.hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com
In Person: Welcome Centre,
Hampton Court Palace
Artist
Information
15th June - Jools Holland & 9pm
£50 and £45
His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra
21st June - Caro Emerald 9pm £45
and £37.50
22nd June - Katie Melua 9pm £50
and £45
23rd June - Frankie Valli & The Four
Seasons 9pm £60 and £75.
To hear further announcements
please register on
www.hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com
or follow the festival on
twitter @HCPfestival.
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Spring Snowdrops and British
Iris Show
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At Myddelton House Gardens on
Saturday 18th February
Green fingered enthusiasts can
enjoy a double day of flower
power on Saturday 18th February
with a Snowdrop and early spring
walk as well as a special
viewing of the best of the early
Irises at the beautifully
restored Myddelton House Gardens
in Enfield.
Head Gardener Andrew Turvey, who
trained at the Royal
Horticultural Society and has an
encyclopaedic knowledge of the
Gardens, will lead two guided
walks to marvel at the exquisite
snowdrops as well as other early
spring flowering plants.
The tours cost £3.50 per person,
last for one hour and start at
either 11am or 2pm. The guided
walks with Andrew Turvey are
extremely popular and advance
booking is suggested.
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Also returning for the second
year, from 12 noon to 4pm, is
the British Iris Society Early
Spring Show, offering the
opportunity to view some of the
best of the early award winning
Irises for which Myddelton House
Gardens is renowned.
Enjoy the wonders of this
incredible garden in north
London, created by renowned
plantsman E.A. Bowles. Visit the
newly restored Victorian Kitchen
Garden, café and a museum
recounting the story of the
legendary Mr. Bowles himself.
For more information and to book
please ring 08456 770 600.
Address is Myddelton House
Gardens, Bulls Cross, Enfield,
Middlesex EN2 9HG.
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For Your Eyes Only
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An Exclusive James Bond package
at The Master Builder's
A New Forest hotel has a licence
to thrill in 2012 when it offers
a special hotel package for
visitors to the National Motor
Museum’s exciting James Bond
vehicle exhibition.
The eagerly-anticipated Bond in
Motion event is the largest
collection of its kind in the
world, featuring an exhibition
of 50 iconic James Bond
vehicles, and The Master
Builder’s at Bucklers Hard wants
to make sure visitors avoid
arriving shaken or stirred.
The exhibition will run at the
Beaulieu museum until December
2012 and film fans can take
advantage of the hotel’s £199
James Bond Package, which
includes a one-night stay for
two people in a classic room,
dinner from the themed 007 menu,
two tickets to the National
Motor Museum to see the
exhibition and a full English
breakfast.
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Conveniently located on the
Beaulieu Estate, just a few
minutes’ drive from the museum,
the hotel provides quirky,
affordable luxury for guests and
a dedicated menu that includes
an obligatory Martini and main
courses options such as “Golden
Eye” smoked salmon with poached
egg, a “Casino Royale” high
steaks with roulette chips and a
“Goldfinger” dish of goujons of
fish in batter.
There’s also a “Diamonds are
Forever” sparkling champagne
sorbet course and desserts “For
Your Eyes Only” of chocolate
brownie or New Forest cheeses.
The menu’s dramatic ending,
“From Beaulieu with Love”,
involves fine filtered coffee
with local chocolates.
The Bond in Motion collection is
brought to the museum by Eon
Productions and will showcase
the best-loved and most
unforgettable 007 machines to
celebrate the 50th year of James
Bond films and to mark the 40th
anniversary of the world-famous
National Motoring Museum.
It will feature a range of cars,
boats, motorbikes, sleds and
jets that have made
unforgettable appearances in
Bond films over the years,
including the 1937 Phantom lll
Rolls-Royce from Goldfinger; the
Lotus Esprit S1 affectionately
nicknamed ‘Wet Nellie’ from The
Spy Who Loved Me; the Bede
Acrostar jet famously flown in
Octopussy; the BMW 750iL from
Tomorrow Never Dies; the
original villain’s Parahawk
featured in The World is Not
Enough; the original SFX Cello
Case Ski famously navigated by
Timothy Dalton in The Living
Daylights; and the 2008 Aston
Martin DBS from Quantum of
Solace – plus many more.
A must for fans of the films,
The Master Builder’s Bond
Package is an offer too good to
miss. After all, You Only Live
Twice…
To book this exclusive package,
contact The Master Builder’s on
Telephone: 0844 815 3399 or
enquiries@themasterbuilders.co.uk
or visit the website at
www.themasterbuilders.co.uk
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See Yourself in 3D at The
Science Museum
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How are our faces constructed?
How does your face differ from
other faces? What do you look
like in another dimension? These
questions will be explored in Me
in 3D - a new event running
until 10th April, where visitors
can volunteer to have their
photograph taken with a 3D
camera and explore what their
faces look like in another
dimension.
The project is part of the
Science Museum's ongoing Live
Science programme, where
visitors can volunteer to take
part in real experiments
conducted by visiting
scientists, which take place on
the first floor of the Wellcome
Wing.
The photographs, which will be
taken using the latest 3D
imaging technology, will be used
to form the largest database of
3D facial images in the world
and will help with vital
research conducted by visiting
surgeons from Great Ormond
Street Hospital, University
College Hospital and the Eastman
Dental Hospital and Institute.
The photographs will be used by
the researchers to study
patterns in face shape. This
could help the surgeons improve
treatment for patients with
facial disfigurement.
Priya Umachandran, Contemporary
Science Developer at the Science
Museum says, "The Science Museum
thrives on engaging visitors in
the latest contemporary science
issues and our Live Science
programme lets visitors meet the
experts and involves the public
directly in cutting-edge
research which has an impact
upon all of us."
Dr Chris Abela, Senior
Craniofacial Fellow, Great
Ormond Street Hospital adds, "We
know a lot about the bones in
our faces but little is known
about what makes our face the
shape it is and about the skin
and muscles that make up our
face. By collecting as many 3D
face photographs as we can we
will have a greater
understanding of our complex
faces, and have greater
knowledge to plan and perform
the best facial surgery in the
future. This is a really
exciting event and we want as
many children, young people and
adults to come and see
themselves in 3D."
Me in 3D will run until 10th
April in the Live Science area
on the first floor of the
Wellcome Wing. The experiments
are FREE and open to all
visitors and no booking is
required.
For more information visit the
website at
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/mein3d
or click on
www.mein3d.info
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Hever Castle Flies
the Flag for 2012
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Hever Castle flies the flag for
2012 with a special programme of
events and an exciting new
exhibition to celebrate the
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Surrounded by picturesque
countryside in the garden of
England, romantic Hever Castle
in Kent is famous for being the
childhood home of Anne Boleyn,
the intriguing second wife of
Henry VIII and mother of Queen
Elizabeth I. With a double moat
and drawbridge, the 13th century
castle has splendid panelled
rooms containing a fine
collection of antique furniture,
exquisite tapestries, fine
paintings and an important
collection of Tudor portraits
described by David Starkey as
“one of the best collections of
Tudor portraits after the
National Portrait Gallery.”
After exploring the Castle,
groups can step into the
glorious award-winning gardens.
Each garden has its own style
and character, from the giant
topiary chess set and 100-year
old Yew maze to the Tudor Herb
Garden and magnificent Italian
Garden designed to display
William Waldorf Astor’s unique
collection of classical
statuary. The fragrant walled
Rose Garden contains over 4,000
roses which flower throughout
the Summer months, while
seasonal plantings in flower
beds and borders provide colour
and interest throughout the
year.
A VisitBritain video of Dame
Judi Dench strolling through the
Gardens and along the Loggia
overlooking the 38-acre lake
filmed for their international
“You’re Invited” TV commercial
can be seen on the Hever Castle
website. In the video Dame Judi
says of the Castle: “There is a
place very dear to my family and
me, not far from where we live.
We come to it in all weathers
and all seasons and this is
where we recharge our batteries:
Hever Castle.”
Attractions for children include
the Adventure Playground and
Water Maze. Visitors of all ages
enjoy finding their way through
the 100-year old Yew Maze and
boats are available for hire
from the Edwardian boathouse
(holidays and weekends, April –
Oct weather permitting). There’s
a wide range of gifts and
souvenirs in the gift and garden
shops, many of which reflect the
castle’s colourful history. And
a warm welcome awaits visitors
in the award-winning restaurants
which serve a wide selection of
hot and cold food and
refreshments.
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Events in 2012
The Snowdrop Trail & Half Term
February 11th – 19th
Follow the snowdrop trail
through the grounds and enjoy
the early blossoms of camellia
and quince. The lady of the
Wildwoods returns with stories
of spring and a workshop to
delight young visitors.
‘A
Royal Romance’
1st March - 18th November
As the country celebrates the
Diamond Jubilee, Hever Castle
revisits the coronation
celebrations of one of its most
famous occupants, Anne Boleyn,
with a new exhibition in the
Long Gallery. ‘A Royal Romance’
includes a replica of Anne’s
coronation gown, described as “a
kirtle of crimson velvet
decorated with ermine, and a
robe of purple velvet decorated
with ermine over that, and a
rich coronet with a cap of
pearls and stones on her head”.
The colourful period is brought
to life with an informative and
entertaining soundtrack of
“court whispers” which tells of
the intrigue and gossip
surrounding Anne’s tempestuous
relationship with Henry VIII.
The Annual Easter Egg Hunt
April 6th – 9th
Bring all the family to hunt for
clues hidden in the garden with
the help of Henrietta the Hen
and claim your chocolate egg.
Brass bands playing throughout
the weekend plus rare breed hens
and their chicks.
Step into Easter
April 10th – 15th
Get creative and make your own
brass rubbing at the drop-in
workshop. Then step into the
gardens to see the daffodils,
hyacinths, early tulips and
blossom or take a walk around
the Lake, home to many species
of birds and waterfowl.
Dancing round the Maypole
May 5th – 7th
Welcome in the spring with
traditional folk and Tudor
dancing. Join costumed dancers
as they circle the Maypole and
see Morris Men perform lively
folk dances against the backdrop
of the Castle.
Tudor Jubilee Celebrations
June 2nd – 5th
Join in the merriment of a royal
celebration when Henry VIII and
Anne Boleyn celebrate Anne’s
coronation in a weekend of Tudor
revelry. Tudor music and
jesters, have-a-go archery and
demonstrations from a variety of
craftsmen of the period
including a jeweller to the
crown. Children can come in
costume and join the parade to
win a prize for the best dressed
prince and princess. .
Best of British Garden Festival
June 14 – 24
From June 14th – 20th beautiful
floral displays created by
Sevenoaks NAFAS fill the Castle
rooms with colour and fragrance
celebrating the Jubilee. The
patriotic theme continues in the
gardens where red, white and
blue planting schemes will
impress and delight. On Sunday
24th June Classic car lovers
have the opportunity to view
around 150 Aston Martin cars
which will be on display on the
lawn overlooking the castle.
Directions and Parking:
Hever Castle is located 30 miles
from central London, three miles
SE of Edenbridge, between
Sevenoaks and East Grinstead. It
can be reached via junction 10
of the M25, and is signposted
from junction 5 & 6 of the M25,
and the Hildenborough (B245)
exit from the A21. We have a
limited number of manual
wheelchairs for loan on a
refundable deposit basis subject
to availability.
For further information, opening
times and prices please visit
the website:
www.hevercastle.co.uk
or call Hever Castle on 01732
865224.
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Toast Valentine's Day with Love
Potion at the Langham Hotel
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Couples can toast the most
romantic day of the year with an
extra special twist as the
glamorous Artesian Bar, located
in one of the capital's most
luxurious hotels, The Langham,
has created a bespoke
Laurent-Perrier champagne
cocktail especially for
Valentine's Day.
The seductive tipple, aptly
named 'The Love Potion',
captures the spirit of true
romance. A few dashes of a
secret ingredient - the 'love
potion essence' - adds sultry
notes of spice and hints of rose
and white tea to complement the
berry-fruit taste and salmon
pink hue of Laurent-Perrier's
Cuvée Rosé champagne. Served in
a frozen flute that glimmers
with a sugar pearl dusting, this
will be the perfect drink for a
romantic Valentine's date.
Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé is
the benchmark rosé to which all
others aspire. Made from
hand-sorted Pinot Noir grapes,
Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé is
memorable for its exceptional
freshness and unique aromas of
freshly picked red berries
making it a delicious apéritif,
and the perfect partner to
charcuterie, poultry, Asian
cuisine and red-fruit desserts.
Available throughout the month
of February at £24 per glass,
the Laurent-Perrier Love Potion
Cocktail at Artesian Bar, The
Langham, London is the perfect
way to treat a loved one.
For information click on
www.laurent-perrier.co.uk
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Sixtyplusurfers
Book
Reviews
The Midwife
of Venice
By
Roberta Rich
Review by Jenny Itzcovitz
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The Midwife of Venice is a
fast-paced historical novel set against the
richness and squalor of 16th Century Venice and
Malta.
Hannah Levi is famed throughout Venice for her
skills as a midwife, but as a Jew the law
forbids her from attending a Christian woman.
However, when the Conte di Padovani appears at
her door in the dead of night demanding her
services, Hannah's compassion is sorely tested.
The Conte is desperate for Hannah's help and is
offering a handsome reward. And she could use
the money to pay the ransom for her husband who
is currently imprisoned on the island of Malta.
But if she fails in her endeavours to save the
mother and child she could put her own life in
danger and also the Jewish community where she
lives. Should she take on this task and the
risks that it involves?
I was completely enthralled with this lively
tale set in Venice and Malta. This richly painted
novel captures the danger, excitement and drama
of the treacherous life that Hannah leads as a
midwife. It also explores the rough and ready techniques she
must employ in her work, without the medicine and knowledge that we take for granted nowadays.
This poignant story love story takes you on a
perilous journey with romance, blackmail, family
jealousy, murder, plague, loyalty, and compassion. It
highlights the religious prejudices of the
times, together with the hardships faced by the Jewish people
in these early days,
and the strength of women beyond the odds.
Well researched with plenty of suspense, twists
and turns I was completely gripped as soon as I
began reading the book. I would thoroughly
recommend it and look forward to reading more
novels from this gifted author.
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Roberta Rich, author of the book
Roberta Rich divides her time between Vancouver
and Colima, Mexico. She is a former family
lawyer. The Midwife of Venice is her first novel
and is already a bestseller in Canada.
The Midwife of Venice
is published by Ebury Press on 16th February. Price is £6.99
for the paperback and £7.29 for the ebook.
Find out more news about Roberta Rich on her
website at
www.robertarich.com
and also
www.facebook.com/midwifeofvenice
For more information about the book click on
www.eburypublishing.co.uk
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What
the Grown-Ups
Were Doing
By
Michele Hanson
Review by
Jenny Itzcovitz
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What the Grown-Ups Were Doing is a hilarious and
wonderfully evocative memoir. Michele Hanson
tells us about her childhood and coming of age
in a Britain that is long gone. From the
post-war austerity years into the days of
'you've never had it so good' with all its
fashions, foods and anxieties.
Michele grew up as an 'oddball tomboy
disappointment' in a Jewish family in Ruislip in
the 1950s - a suburban, Metroland of neat lawns,
bridge parties and Martini socials. Yet this
shop front of respectability masked a multitude
of anxieties and suspected salacious goings-on.
Was Shirley's mother really having an affair
with the man from the carpet shop? Whose
Battenberg cake was the best? An atmosphere of
intense rivalry prevails, with Michele's mum
very suspicious of her non-Jewish neighbour's
domestic and personal habits, and Michele very
wary of children's games like 'Doctors and
Nurses' that might bring 'bottoms' into the
equation.
And with glamorous, scheming Auntie Celia
swanning around in silk dresses demanding
attention, Michele has a lot to contend with.
Their only respite (questionable) is their
annual holiday in the South of France ...
I really enjoyed Michele's lively memoir of her
life in Ruislip through her childhood and
rebellious teenage years. Told through the eyes
of a child and later on as a teenager, her
observations of her family and the adults that
surround her are honest, humorous, and a joy to
read.
Even though she is a child, Michele is able to
see through the often bad behaviour of her
parent's friends, the difficulties in their
marriages, and the half truths which are so
often told to children. We see her discovering
boys, examining her religious faith, and growing
up and making her own choices. This was a
wonderfully told story, and I look forward to
reading other books from Michele Hanson.
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Author, Michele Hanson
Michele Hanson is one of the UK's wittiest and
most popular columnists. Previously, she was a
school teacher for 25 years in inner London, and
then escaped the chalk-face and began to write
weekly columns for the Guardian.
Her books have been serialised for radio and
made into a BBC cartoon series. Her book Living
With Mother won MIND book of the year in 2006.
She lives in north London, these days mostly on
her own with her dogs.
What The Grown-Ups Were Doing is
published by Simon & Schuster. Price is £14.99 for the
hardback.
For more information about the
book click on
www.simonandschuster.co.uk
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The
Story of the Unsinkable Titanic
By
Michael Wilkinson
and Robert Hamilton
Review by
Simon Fine
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When she
was launched on 31st May 1911, RMS Titanic was
the largest moveable object on Earth at 882 feet
and 46,000 tons. Its 159 furnaces requiring 700
tons of coal per day. Owners White Star were
determined that Titanic would give them the
advantage over fierce rivals Cunard in the
battle for luxury passenger travel to America.
Famously, four days into her maiden voyage, in
the early hours of 15th April 1912, the Titanic
was hit by an iceberg which tore a 300 foot gash
in her hull. Despite her reputation as
“unsinkable”, the Titanic went to the bottom of
the Atlantic Ocean. Of the 2,200 on board, only
700 survived.
This book which marks the 100 year anniversary
of that tragic voyage provides a vivid day by
day account of events from the night of the
disaster, using news reports of each day,
eye-witness accounts of the crew, passengers and
rescuers and reports of the subsequent enquiry.
And the final chapters revisit the outcome of
the enquiry chaired by Lord Mersey and the
discovery of the wreck in 1985 and subsequent
expeditions.
The book is richly illustrated with photographs
from 1912 and from later expeditions, bringing
to life the scale of the Titanic, its luxurious
first class accommodation and its ultimate
demise. But of greater impact are the human
stories of the passengers and crew who lost
their lives or who lost loved ones in the icy
waters. And the heroism of many of the crew and
passengers in the face of near-certain death.
The analysis of the causes of the tragedy,
insufficient lifeboats, design weakness,
material failure, human error and bad luck are
also of great interest, as are the flaws in the
subsequent enquiry which pointed the finger of
blame at Captain Lord of the Californian for
supposedly failing to answer Titanic’s distress
call rather than the Board of Trade for
inadequate safety standards or White Star for
cutting corners. But on reading this story, the
strongest emotions inevitably concern the
suffering of the victims and bereaved.
Robert Hamilton has written and edited numerous
historical reference works and biographies for
more than twenty years. His work includes The
History of World War One, Atlas of World History
and Ancient Egypt.
Michael Wilkinson is the editor of A
Photographic History of World War Two.
The Story Of The Unsinkable Titanic by
Michael Wilkinson and Robert Hamilton is
published by Atlantic Publishing. Price is
£16.99 for the hardback.
For more information about the book click on
www.atlanticpublishing.co.uk
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The
Beatles
By
Tim Hill
Review by
Jenny Itzcovitz
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The
Beatles - Then There Was Music is a
comprehensive 448 page book about the world's
most famous band. This extraordinary feast
includes over 1,000 illustrations including
superb photographs, original memorabilia,
newspaper features and a detailed chronology.
The Beatles were so big and so important to so
many generations that it's easy to forget their
performing life as a band was relatively short.
Although their public persona was mocking,
offbeat and iconoclastic, it's unlikely that any
band worked harder than the Beatles - first to
get their position, by sheer performing genius,
as the world's biggest band in the 60s, then to
retain it with genre-defying or rather defining
studio work, long after their performing career
as the Beatles ended.
The Beatles - Then There Was Music is a loving
look at the decade which changed popular music
forever. The Beatles simply made music and life
much better - unlike subsequent generations such
as punk which dismantled the values that came
before. The way these four lads from Liverpool
made their mark on the world means that their
story will continue to be told and retold with
new light still being shed on the Beatles story.
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However, few books achieve the coverage of this
one, with its unique mix of chronicle,
individual biographies, album notes, song
stories and the simply vast number of
photographs and contemporary detail - from
newspaper stories to facsimile tickets for gigs
in obscure locations of Britain nearly half a
century old.
Then There Was Music keeps telling the story of
the individual Beatles after their magical
decade, and the up-to-date discography
lists every recording made by The Beatles.
Transatlantic Press has made the definitive book
on the Beatles with more facts and photographs
than any other - a visual banquet and essential
for the library of any Beatles fan or music
enthusiast of the modern era.
I have always loved the Beatles, ever since I
was a child, so I was delighted to receive this
beautifully presented book and find out more
about them. This lovely big hardback is packed
with interesting information, trivia and news
cuttings. It also includes plenty of photographs
showing the Beatles in their early days, behind
the scenes and performing together as a band.
There's plenty of interesting facts and
memorabilia in this book to dip into and enjoy.
Many of the photographs are rare and I've never
seen before, and others show the band in their
happier days. This is a lovely book for Beatles
fans to treasure and enjoy.
The
Beatles - Then There
Was Music
by Tim Hill is published by Transatlantic Press. Price is £29.99 for the hardback.
For more information about the book click on
www.atlanticpublishing.co.uk
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Earthflight
By
John Downer
Review by
Jenny Itzcovitz
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"One
of the most common of dreams is to fly like a
bird, says John Downer, author of Earthflight.
"For me, flight has been a personal obsession
for as long as I can remember, and I have been
fortunate enough to come close to fulfilling
this dream through the BBC Series, Earthflight."
Earthflight uses ground-breaking technology to
take you on a journey like no other - into the
skies to fly with birds. Filmed using pioneering
techniques to capture the majesty and drama of
winged flight from an entirely new perspective,
this collection of over 200 photographs from the
landmark BBC series takes you across the world
to experience some of the most stunning
spectacles on earth in a new and inspiring way.
From tussling with Alaskan bears to soaring with
eagles over the Grand Canyon, Earthflight
follows the migratory routes of a host of birds
across the globe. Whether soaring above the
galloping horses of Carmargue in France or
hunting for bats with red-tailed hawks, the book
unlocks the secrets of the skies and offers a
glimpse into a previously inaccessible world.
Beautifully presented and with detailed insights
and an extensive look at how the series was
made, this definitive guide offers a unique and
awe inspiring study of natural flight.
Earthflight is packed with wonderful colour
photographs which show some incredible pictures
of birds in flight and in their natural
habitats. John Downing explains the techniques
used to achieve these impressive photographs and
how he developed the 'birdcams' which enabled
him to show these beautiful creatures in flight.
This is lovely book for birdlovers and a
fascinating accompaniment to the TV series.
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Producer/director John Downer started his
professional life with the world renowned BBC
Natural History Unit. Here he created many
groundbreaking and award winning programmes such
as In-flight Movie, which for the first time
flew cameras alongside birds on the wing and the
acclaimed series Supersense and Lifesense which
explored animal perception from the animal's
point of view.
As
an independent producer, John Downer pushed back
the boundaries of filmmaking again to create the
series Supernatural and the wildlife special
Eagle which featured inflight shots from a
camera carrying golden eagle, another first. He
also created Lion - Spy in the Den which
introduced the now famous 'Bouldercam' (a mobile
rock containing a camera), as well as the recent
hit Polar Bear - Spy on the Ice.
Earthflight by John Downer is published
by BBC Books. Price is £30 for the hardback.
For more information about the book click on
www.eburypublishing.co.uk
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The Complete
Countryman
By Alan Titchmarsh
Review by Jenny Itzcovitz
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The Complete Countryman is a comprehensive,
fully illustrated, practical guide to the
countryside. Passionate and hugely
knowledgeable, countryman Alan Titchmarsh
explores the heritage of rural Britain, its
landscapes and wildlife, its traditions, customs
and crafts.
Alan
shares his wealth of knowledge and love of the
countryside in this lovely book.
The book includes a checklist of British
butterflies and where to find them; how to keep
chickens, pigs, ducks, goats and sheep; how to
brew beer, bottle fruit and make jam and
chutney; how to track animals and forage for
food; how to create a kitchen garden; recipes
and herbal recipes from sloe gin and curd cheese
to herbal repellent and soap.
With Alan
as your guide and companion, Britain's
countryside is a treasure trove of all these
delights and skills, plus many more, to be
enjoyed by everyone, anywhere, whether you live
in a terraced house or a cottage on a farm.
The Complete Countryman is a really beautifully
presented book. Alan was brought up surrounded
by the countryside where he made his own
amusement and was allowed to explore the moors,
lanes and countryside, and he shares his
extensive knowledge of country life and customs
in this book.
Packed with interesting ideas such as how to
make your own marmalade, real ice cream,
coppicing a tree, keeping ducks and so much
more. This is a wonderful book to dip in to and
provide you with ideas for living a more natural
and green lifestyle. With delightful wildlife
photographs, plenty of lovely recipes and things
to make and do, this is a wonderful book to
treasure or give as a gift.
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Author, Alan Titchmarsh
Alan Titchmarsh is an author and television
presenter. He has written and presented
programmes on diverse subjects including natural
history and gardening. He is the author of more
than 40 gardening books; natural history titles
including British Isles: A Natural History and
The Nature of Britain, three best selling
autobiographies and a number of best selling
novels.
He writes for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine,
Country Life, the Daily Express and Sunday
Express. Alan fronted the BBC Gardeners' World
for many years and has presented their annual
coverage of The Chelsea Flower Show for over two
decades. He presents 'Love You Garden' and hosts
his own daily chat show, both on ITV.
The Complete Countryman
is published by BBC Books.
Price is £25 for the hardback.
For more information about the book visit the
website at
www.eburypublishing.com
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February
2012