SHOPPING Di's objects of desire ME AND MY WARDROBE Kate ...

The Northern Echo 

The lifestyle magazine 

for the North-East 

FEBRUARY 2004 

ME AND MY 

WARDROBE 

Kate Saint 

SHOPPING 

Di’s objects 

of desire 

WIN 

A luxury 

night away 

INTERIORS GARDENING GADGETS BEAUTY FASHION

2 February 2004 Online: www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk 

Conservatory World 

Largest 

Conservatory 

Village in 

North East 

The Fully Refurbished Show Village 2003 

Telephone Bishop Auckland 01388 458088 

Open 7 days a week! 

contents 

16 

8 

Now Open In Middlesbrough 

Handcrafted furniture from the Orient 

MULCASTER & HYDE 

H andcrafted in Indonesia, our 

housewares are made from natural timber 

and plant weave. 

This classic range of furniture is designed 

to add a touch of elegance to any home 

at remarkably low prices. 

Whether refurbishing your living room or 

bringing your conservatory to life, check 

out the current range of products in 

Middlesbrough’s newest fashionable 

outlet. 

From the beautifully exotic “Daybed”, to 

the classic “Davenport desk” you will not 

believe that quality wooden furniture 

could be yours for so little. 

All our furniture is hand-made by local 

Indonesian craftsmen in the finest teak 

and mahogany. Our rattan range is 

constructed of the more robust water 

hyacinth to cater for today’s indoor and 

outdoor entertaining 

• Teak 

• Mahogany 

• Water Hyacinth 

Where to find us: 

278 - 280 Linthorpe Road (opposite “camera mart) 

Tel/Fax (01642) 247112 

Email: sales@mulcasterandhyde.com 

Check out our online catalogue www.mulcasterandhyde.com 

17 

magazine 

is produced by 

The 

Northern 

Echo/ 

Newsquest 

Ltd., 

a Gannett 

Company, 

Priestgate, 

Darlington 

DL1 1NF 

(01325) 

381313 

ADVERTISING 

Trish Taylor 

(01325) 505 233 

trish.taylor 

@nne.co.uk 

EDITORIAL 

Jenny Needham 

(01325) 505082 

jenny.needham 

@nne.co.uk 

3 

4 

7 

8 

10 

11 

12 

14 

SHARON GRIFFITHS 

The joy in a 

bunch of flowers 

INTERIORS 

The restaurateurs’ 

leafy retreat 

SIX OF THE BEST 

Pick of the home 

exercise equipment 




GARDENING 

Solutions to 

common questions 

DIY 

How to lay your 

own carpet 


Curtain up after 

a revamp 

ME AND MY 

WARDROBE 

Kate Saint 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

21 

22 

BEAUTY 

How to overhaul 

your regime 

MOTORING 

Nissan’s pretty 

Z car 

SLIMMING 

‘Now life’s worth 

living again’ 

GADGET MAN 

How to get the best 

from your iPod 

FOOD 

Foods to give your 

body a boost 

NE CONNECTIONS 

A passion for Italy 

COFFEE TIME 

Crossword and 

puzzles, PLUS 

WIN A LUXURY 

NIGHT AWAY AT THE 

FEVERSHAM ARMS 

CHAMELEON 

MIRRORS

February 2004 Online: www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk 

3 

ADOG might be for life and not 

just for Christmas – but flowers 

are for all year round, not just 

for Valentine’s Day. Let the red 

rose excesses of this month 

inspire us for the rest of the year. 

There are luxuries you can live without 

and luxuries you can’t. Well, I can’t anyway. 

It’s been my great extravagance and has 

been since I was a poor penniless student – 

there are always fresh flowers in the house. 

They don’t just look good, they smell good 

and they one of the nicest links to the world 

outside. And they’re immediately and 

immensely cheering. 

In spring and summer there are plenty in 

the garden, of course. But for the rest of the 

year I cheerfully splash out, even if it’s just 

a bunch of freesias at the supermarket 

checkout. 

Actually, it’s probably safer for me to stick 

to the supermarket. Fatal to go into a flower 

shop – all those heady smells mixed with a 

sort of refreshing dampness and earthiness. 

I’m like a kid in a sweet shop and end up 

staggering out with bucketfuls of blooms 

Flowers or chocolates? No problem – 

flowers would win any time. See – this 

extravagance has the added bonus of being 

fat free with no calories whatsoever. 

We ‘re buying a lot more flowers than 

years ago – inspired by those bunches in the 

garage and the supermarket – but we still 

seem to have lost the language of flowers 

highly prized by the Victorians. The 

selection of flowers in a bouquet can convey 

so many intricate messages, so many subtle 

shades of meaning and feeling. Now we 

send text message s instead. UR GR8 doesn’t 

have quite the same air of romance... 

But flowers still have the most amazing 

effect. Years ago I was stuck in a miserable 

job in a dreadful building in the middle of 

London. My office – where I worked all alone 

– was at the end of a long dark corridor. 

There was one tiny window and if I could 

ever see through its layer of grime all I 

could see was a brick wall and a fire escape. 

Once a pigeon landed on the fire escape and 

the excitement was nearly too much for me. 

A friend, knowing how miserable was, 

thought she would cheer me up. From her 

home in the country she sent a little parcel 

to the office. I sat at my grey desk in my 

grey office and unwrapped a padded 

sharon griffiths 

❛Flowers or 

chocolates? 

No problem – 

flowers would 

win any time 

envelope, a freezer bag, some kitchen roll 

and finally a small bunch of pale yellow 

primroses wrapped in damp moss. 

They smelt delicately of spring and 

sunshine, fresh air and freedom and made 

me wonder what on earth I was doing in 

such a job in such a place. Almost instantly 

I marched down that long grim grey 

corridor to my grim grey boss and handed 

in my notice. All because of a bunch of 

primroses. 

A few years later, before we were married, 

husband and I were living and working at 

opposite ends of the country. Just before 

Christmas he had sent me a splendidly 

extravagant bouquet of red roses. There was 

no way I was going to leave them in my cold 

flat over the holidays. So I decided to take 

them home with me – along with all the 

family presents. 

Have you ever tried to cross London on 

Christmas Eve carrying two suitcases, a 

shoulder bag and a dozen red roses? It 

should have been hellish. The city was 

crowded, the underground was heaving as 

everyone tried to get home for Christmas, 

while avoiding the drunks emerging from 

office booze ups. 

But it was brilliant. At the sight of me 

and my bags and my roses, everyone 

immediately seemed to come over all sweet 

and sentimental.. People forced tube train 

doors open for me, made way on escalators, 

lifted bags onto trains. They smiled at me 

fondly, called me a lucky girl , asked if “he” 

had a friend and waved me through barriers 

without asking for my ticket. 

Flowers are wonderful, being given them 

is more wonderful still. But it’s still a treat 

largely reserved for women. Although there 

are many men I know who enjoy fresh 

flowers around the place, there are still very 

few to whom I would send them. Shame 

really. But times are changing. 

There are fashions in flowers just as 

everything else. A world – and a lot of 

money – divides the garage forecourt 

freesias from the complicated, dramatic and 

spiky arrangements from fashionable 

florists. But it doesn’t matter. Whether it’s 

an enormous, artistic bouquet or just a 

small bunch of snowdrops, still damp from 

the garden, they are all special. 

Go on, pick yourself a bunch... 

window shopping 

WHITE HOT 

The Aga has long been available in 

a stunning range of colours, from 

traditional cream and racing green 

through to funky modern shades, 

such as heather and pistachio. 

Now, the world’s most famous 

cooker is also available in perhaps 

the coolest colour of them all – 

Classic White. It is available now, 

and costs from £5,625 

The white Aga was first 

introduced as an optional shade 

way back in 1956. 

Says Simon Page, Marketing 

Director for Aga: “People are 

increasingly looking to make a 

statement with the design and 

decoration of their homes. The 

kitchen is a place where we tend to 

spend a lot of time and it’s 

DREAMY CHEESE 

IF you believe that eating cheese 

before bedtime gives you 

nightmares, a North Yorkshire 

company has come up with a new 

cheese with calming and destressing 

qualities. Shepherds 

Purse, makers of traditional 

handmade blue cheeses, has 

developed Katy’s White Lavender, 

a feta-style cheese 

infused with the subtle 

taste of fresh, 

locally-sourced 

lavender. The 

cheese is made 

with ewe’s milk and 

is carefully matured 

with lavender flowers 

to produce a creamy, 

fresh cheese with a 

Lifestyle 

Visit our newly opened demonstration rooms 

on the second floor 

Now Open our New Showrooms including a cinema 

at home room, demonstration zones and a Hifi display. 

Offer 

important to have everything just 

right. The Classic White Aga 

provides an elegant look and, of 

course, white goes with everything.” 

For local stockist details and a 

brochure, please contact 08457 

125207 or visit www.agarayburn.co.uk 

/www.agalinks.com 

delicate hint of lavender, which 

lingers on the palate. The new 

cheese is named after Katie Bell, 

sales and marketing manager of 

Shepherds Purse Cheeses and 

daughter of the founder, Judy Bell. 

“The cheese is low in fat, easier to 

digest than cow’s milk products, is 

highly nutritious and can be eaten 

by allergy sufferers and 

vegetarians alike,” says 

Katie. 

Katy’s White 

Lavender will be 

available in specialist 

cheese shops, as well 

as direct from 

Shepherds Purse 

Cheeses. It costs from 

around £1.75 for 100g. 

New 3.2.1 

Digital Home 

Entertainment 

System 

Interest free credit on selected Bose 

equipment from 2nd - 30th April. 

This fantastic offer includes nothing to pay 

for 6 months then 10 months interest free 

credit on selected Bose equipment 

by Alan Goodrick 

Established 50 years 

41-42 Blackwellgate, Darlington. Telephone (01325) 353234


interiors 

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Restaurateurs’ 

Running one of 

York’s leading 

restaurants can 

be a hectic 

affair. IAN 

LAMMING takes 

a look through 

the keyhole of 

country house 

that provides 

sanctuary for a 

couple of 

restaurateurs 

retreat 

LUNCH is over, but there’s no time to rest. There 

are tables to be cleared, tables to be set. There is 

tidying up after those who have enjoyed lunch, 

preparation for those coming to dinner. Such is 

the life of Sally Robinson and Nigel Stacey, who 

run the Tasting Room restaurant in York. 

Days start at 9am and can often run until midnight. Not 

that they are complaining – it’s still a lot less hassle than 

working for the railways, as they both used to. Nigel was 

station manager at York, Darlington and Durham and the 

man to whinge to when things, invariably, went wrong. 

Sally worked for Railtrack. They met at a McDonald’s. 

“Food was something we always had in common – though 

you’d better not mention the McDonald’s thing,” says Nigel. 

“So we looked around, found a spot, I took redundancy and 

Sally decided to leave so we could do something together.” 

They have been packing them into the city centre 

restaurant ever since – Country Living magazine voted The 

Tasting Room best place to eat in York – and as they work 

to maintain standards and grow ever more successful, 

having somewhere to escape to when it’s too hot in the 

kitchen is also vital to their lives. 

A short drive east from the city towards Elvington takes 

them to their bolthole, the home for her three children, his 

two and a menagerie that includes a spaniel, Cassie, two 

cats Amber and Alf, a canary, a finch, a gecko and three 

guinea pigs. 

The animals set the scene for a home far away from the


5 

A rural retreat for when the heat in the kitchen gets too much 

hustle and bustle of running a successful business, the cats 

stretching out in front of the 40-year-old Aga and the dog 

snoozing quietly under the rustic kitchen table to 

emphasise the point. 

The estate nestles on the edge of the virtually disused 

Elvington Airfield, home to the Yorkshire Air Museum and 

annual airshow. Set in seven acres of wooded grounds, the 

19th century hall was built on the site of a monastery, parts 

of which still lie in ruins, and has since been divided into 

several family homes. 

“We needed a huge house for the kids,” recalls Nigel. “And 

we ended up renting the hall. Then our neighbour 

emigrated to the US and she asked us whether we wanted to 

buy her house next door – which was about a third of the 

size. It was the ideal four bedroom house and meant we 

Continued on page 7 

❛ 

I don’t 

see much 

of the children 

– they come 

out and play 

all day at 

being hobbits


7 

OF THE 

6BEST 

EXERCISE EQUIPMENT 

SPRING is one of the most popular times 

to get fit and stay fit, and the early months 

of the year usually see an increase of up 

to 200 per cent in gym memberships. But 

you can also bring the gym into your 

home... 

BOUNCE TO FITNESS 

ABS Power Gymnastic ball, 

£12 to £20 

It may look like an adult spacehopper 

but these balls are perfect 

for sit-ups, pelvic exercise and the 

universal problem areas of hips, bums 

and tums. Available in four sizes from 45cm to 

75cm, they give a gentle but effective workout. 

STEADY PACE 

Polar A3 heart rate monitor, 

£64.99 

If you’re taking part in any kind 

of cardiovascular workout, it 

might be worth investing in one 

of these easy-to-use, watchsized 

monitors to keep your ticker 

at a safe level. As well as heart-rate, 

it displays average rate, total exercise time and 

a 60-minute timer. 

Continued from page 5 

could continue to live on the estate, so it all 

worked out beautifully. 

“It is a great piece of faded glory and just 

the answer to a busy life in a restaurant. It is 

beautifully peaceful yet so close to York.” 

Wooden floors and period features create a 

gentrified and relaxed atmosphere. The vast 

living room has a real fire and a glorious bay 

window. Thick walls are pierced by windows, 

while skylights allow light to flood into the 

rooms, making them bright and airy. 

An inherited painting of the house sits 

above the fireplace, painted by John Rayson 

and capturing its splendour on canvass. 

Outside the back door is a walled sun trap, 

inviting the home dweller outdoors where the 

real fun begins. 

“I don’t see much of the children, they are 

always outside,” says Nigel. It’s not surprising, 

it’s a children’s delight, a 400-year-old copper 

beech standing Ent-like, transforming the 

huge grounds into a Lord Of The Rings 

wonder-world. “Copper beech isn’t native to 

Britain and must have been among the first 

trees to be brought over from North America 

after it was discovered,” says Nigel. Old fruit 

trees still sport their Victorian tags in the 

walled garden, while a tennis court has given 

way to the ravages of time and the overgrown 

trees and shrubs provide the ideal den-making 

terrain for the children. Old fish ponds, a 

bridge and a moat hail back to its monastery 

days and now offer refuge to geese, moorhens, 

ducks, owls and wild orchids. 

“The kids come out and play all day at 

being hobbits. They are always threatening to 

dig out the air raid shelter too.” A legacy of 

more recent history. 

It’s easy to lose track of time at the hall and 

glancing at his watch, station manager-like, 

Nigel sees it is time to return to the family’s 

meal ticket in the heart of York. 

“We aim to provide modern British food, 

freshly prepared using local ingredients and 

good value for money, in an informal and 

relaxed setting,” says Nigel. And looking at 

the house and the business it is easy to see the 

common thread: “It’s about good taste and 

things that taste good.” 

The Tasting Room, 13 Swinegate Court East, 

York, Y01 8AJ. Info@thetastingroom.co.uk 

www.thetastingroom.co.uk (01904) 627879 

❛ 

It is a great piece of faded 

glory and just the answer 

to a busy life in a restaurant. It 

is beautifully peaceful yet so 

close to York 

FROM TOP: Sally 

Robinson and 

Nigel Stacey in the 

sitting room; the 

kitchen and dining 

areas 

Pictures: 

RICHARD DOUGHTY 

BE PREPARED 

Vinyl stretching mat, 

£23 

It is all too easy to forget 

that most accidents whilst 

exercising occur because 

you haven’t stretched out 

beforehand or feel aches and pains because of 

not doing any afterwards. This stretching mat is 

ideal with its unique shock absorbency. It’s so 

comfy that you might even use it for a lie down 

afterwards. 

BACK TO SCHOOL 

Reebok Speed rope, 

£9.95 

Skipping is a fantastic 

way to raise your 

cardio-vascular rate 

and burn off excess fat 

at the same time. 

UP AND OVER 

Inversion tables, from £157 to 

£1,400 

This padded table suspended 

on a frame looks a little 

medieval but there are many 

benefits. Just strap in your 

ankles, relax back and the 

table will rotate effortlessly 

as you raise your arms. It 

causes blood to flow to 

the brain, aiding mental 

alertness and helping poor 

circulation whilst stretching and relieving 

pressure on inter-vertebral disks to prevent 

back pain. 

WIRE WORKOUT 

Parabody Cable motion gym, £1,195 

The cable motion of this machine means you 

can vary your movements to give an almost 

unlimited number of exercise options to 

maintain the challenge and keep you 

interested. Customise your workouts and you 

can build up the correct 

muscles for the perfect 

golf-swing or tennis 

stroke. 

All products available 

from Fitness Network 

(www.fitnessnetwork.co.uk 

or call 

0115 973 

6444).


The 

C OORE A RMS 

SCRUTON 

NORTHALLERTON 

Traditional Country Pub and 

à la Cartè Restaurant. 

Open fires, home cooked food, a 

genuine Free House with real ales 

Serving Meals 

Monday-Saturday Lunchtime & Evening 

: Sunday 12 noon - 7pm 

1 FREE BOTTLE OF WINE per couple 

for 2 Courses purchased in the Restaurant 

RUNNING ALL JANUARY 

Monday - Wednesday 

TELEPHONE 

01609 748215 

DEPEND ON OUR 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE 

ULTRA HEAT 

Oil - Gas 

Solid Fuel 

• Central Heating, 

Cookers & Boilers 

• Multi Fuel Stoves 

• Gas and Electric 

Fires 

• Fire Surrounds 

• Appliances & 

Spares 

• Full professionial 

installations & 

maintanance 

service 

A LLWOOD F IREPLACES 

Designs of Distinction 

Showroom Open 

Monday to Saturday 

(Half Day Wednesday) 

Free Parking Tel. (01287) 640109 

19A We st Road, Loftus, Saltburn, Cleveland, TS13 4RP 

shopping 

SALE 

NOW ON! 

for UNBEATABLE PRICES 

on all carpets, laminate flooring, 

vinyls and rugs visit us now 

Laminate Flooring All ranges available 

Vinyls 100’s in stock Including Rhinofloor 

From £6.99 sq.yd / £8.36 sq.m. 

Beds 4’6” Cambridge 4-dr Divan Only £229.00 

3’ Pine Beds Only £39.00 

4’6” Silver Bedstead Only £79.00 

Quality Carpets 

80% 20% Wool Axminsters 

From £10.00 sq.yd / £11.96 sq.m. 

80% 20% Wool Twists 50% 

From £8.99 sq.yd / £10.75 sq.m. 

1000’s of 

Roomsize 

Remnants 

always available 

Di Overton 

chooses the 

best of 

European 

design for her 

online 

interiors store. 

CHRISTEN 

PEARS reports 

Di Overton in the 

WDYBT showroom 

FRONT STREET, COXHOE, DURHAM. 

Tel: 

0191 3770296 



The Dress 

“Every bride is an individual... 

looking at photographs may give a clue as 

to what is available.” 

“The only model who can show the bride 

what she will look like is the bride 

herself...” 

“Brochures and advice from ‘friends’ 

cannot tell you how comfortable the dress 

will feel.” 

The Bride 

Exclusive Designer Dresses 

sizes 6-36 

Bridesmaids 

Flowergirls to size 30 

Sale or hire on selected ranges 

Over 40 headdresses to choose from 

Large range of veils 

With an exclusive selection of Morning 

Wear from boys to men 

(all sizes available) 

“With over 25 years of professional, 

friendly advice and service, our staff are 

only too happy to help you make your 

special day, a day to remember” 

20 Dundas Arcade • Middlesbrough TS1 1JA 

Tel 01642 224554 • Fax 01642 224558 

www.principia.uk.com email enquiries@principia.uk.com 

THE future looked bleak for Di 

Overton. She was just 17, had 

been expelled from school, 

dropped out of art college and 

was expecting a baby. It was a 

challenge to say the least – but one to 

which she was more than equal. Today, 

she is the owner of 

wheredidyoubuythat.com, an exclusive 

online interiors store that is building up a 

cult following both in the North-East and 

further afield. 

Based on the Team Valley Trading 

Estate in Gateshead, the showroom is an 

Aladdin’s cave for style-hungry shoppers 

and includes everything from cashmere 

bed socks to clocks that project the time 

onto walls, ceilings or the floor. There’s a 

rug with a patch of grass growing out of 

it, sleek leather furniture, Nigella 

Lawson’s entire kitchen range and lamps 

shaped like handbags. 

With two children to support, Di started 

a series of jobs but her flair for design 

soon came to the fore with the creation of 

Dizzies. The Darlington-based shop 

specialised in designer knitwear, 

importing yarns from Italy which Di made 

up with appliquéd and embroidered 

designs. 

Even in the 80s, prices were as high as 

£250 for a jumper and the range was sold 

in Harrods and Harvey Nicks. But the 

business was hit by a lorry strike, 

followed by the miners’ strike. Di then 

entered the advertising world with 

partner Harvey Roll. The business 

developed into a successful marketing 

company called @1, specialising in the 

provision of loyalty schemes for client 

companies. 

Di used her experience to buy ‘aspirational 

products’ for companies’ loyalty 

schemes. Her search for well designed, 

functional and funky objects took her all 

over Europe and that is when she 

developed the idea of wheredidyoubuythat.com. 

“We had the website, the 

databases and the graphic designers. 

There was no reason we shouldn’t do it for 

ourselves,” she says. 

Di started out looking at British trade 

fairs and exhibitions but is now buying 

work by European designers. “There are 

so many chain stores that sell standard 

stuff throughout the UK, that we are all 

familiar with the ranges. I wanted to 

create excitement with new and desirable 

products that beg the question, ‘Where 

did you buy that?’ ” 

She started the company about three 

years ago, with an outlet at Team Valley 

to sell end of lines and old stock. “When 

people came in, they had heard of the 

website and asked us why we didn’t just 

have the WDYBT stuff in the showroom. 

We decided to re-launch.” 

Customers can now become VIPs,

TETLEYS 

A167 


9 

FERRETING ABOUT 

window shopping 

BAGS OF FUN 

IN its first season at House of 

Fraser, Philip Treacy’s handbag 

range offers a series of 

covetable printed bags. Brightly 

coloured images of Marilyn 

Monroe, Elvis Presley and Debbie 

Harry adorn canvas totes, 

shoppers and clutches. Treacy 

has also drawn inspiration from 

FERRET-lovers can get their teeth 

into some great gifts from Ferrets 

UK. Managing director Karen Parker 

– the proud owner of Bingo, who 

features on some of the 

merchandise – offers a range of 

items on the website including wine 

(Chateau le Ferret), doormats, 

cufflnks, jewellery and car stickers. 

The mug pictured above costs 

£7.99. www.ferretsuk.com 

1960s Op Art, which is relected 

in monochrome prints which are 

exclusive to the range. 

Also available this season at 

House of Fraser is Ted Baker’s 

underwear, so sweet you could 

be in a candy store. Yum... 

Kitchen gadgets, above; top left, a heater 

Pictures: DAVID WOOD 

joining online or in the shop. This gives 

them access to the store’s VIP area, fitted 

out with black leather sofas and a giant 

plasma screen TV, where they can browse 

the online collection. 

VIPs are also eligible for the store’s 

loyalty programme. Similar to the reward 

schemes operated by high street chains 

such as Boots and Sainsbury’s, you accrue 

points with each purchase. These can be 

set against future buys or for treats such 

as champagne, TVs, holidays and 

household appliances. “If you’re fitting 

out your entire house, the points soon add 

up,” says Di. 

There’s an unhurried atmosphere. 

Shoppers can browse or sit down and have 

a coffee without any pressure to buy, and 

they’re positively encouraged to pick up 

objects for a closer look. The staff use 

many of the products themselves, from 

the coffee percolators and fridge to the 

sink and dishwasher. 

When people come in, they’re given a 

card where they write down the codes of 

everything they want to buy. When they 

go to the till, the codes go to the 

warehouse next door where everything is 

bagged and then taken to their car. 

“They love it. People have told us they 

feel just like they’re in New York, except 

they’re in the Team Valley,” says Di. “We 

want people to feel at home and we want 

it to be as easy for them as possible. We 

know how busy people are these days. 

That’s part of the reason the Internet is 

doing so well, but because we have the 

store as well, you can come in and see 

things before you buy. It’s the best of both 

worlds.” 

For more information, log onto 

www.wheredidyoubuythat.com 

❛ 

People have told 

us they feel just 

like they’re in New York 

TO 

HEIGHINGTON 

WHINBANK 

ROAD 

P.W.S. 

INCINERATOR 

KITCHEN 

CREATION 

DURHAM WAY 

SOUTH 

3M 

FACTORY 

HOLIWAYS 

GARAGE 

FILTRONIC 

AYCLIFFE 

VILLAGE 

Mc DONALDS 

SOUTH NORTH 

A1 A1 

JUNCTION 

59 

A167 

DARLINGTON


gardening 


Some common 

garden problems 

QWhich bulbs can I plant to create 

colourful summer displays? I would 

also like some bulbs to grow in pots and 

others to provide me with cut flowers. 

AOnce the last tulips and Dutch iris 

fade, you can look forward too 

glorious summer displays from alliums, 

camassias, summer hyacinth (galtonia), 

ornithogalum, crinum, canna and 

Amaryllis belladonna. Slightly more 

challenging is Cardiocrinum giganteum 

which carries tall, bold heads of white 

trumpet flowers above beautiful glossy 

foliage. 

Every bulb catalogue will be full of 

lilies, ranging from the dainty species to 

bright and gaudy hybrids. Lily bulbs are 

best planted from autumn to early spring 

and as soon as the bulbs can be 

purchased. Many lilies are ideal for 

growing in pots with the new dwarf 

varieties being particularly suited to pot 

displays. 

Some bulbs and dahlia tubers can be 

planted outside in early May to provide 

late summer and autumn cut flowers. But 

gladioli corms are best planted in groups 

at two or three-week intervals form midspring 

to early summer to produce a 

successional display and all gladioli 

varieties make excellent cut flowers. Also 

look out for their relative called the 

watsonia. 

An unusual patio display comes from a 

container filled with the pineapple flower, 

Eucomis bicolor. Start off in the 

greenhouse, bringing the container 

outside for the summer and autumn 

months. Provide frost protection during 

winter. These bulbs will then divide and 

multiply naturally. 

Agapanthus also perform well in large 

containers, but in most parts of the 

country also need winter protection from 

cold and waterlogging. To round off the 

list of summer 

Lilies 

provide 

both 

flower and 

fragrance 

flowering bulbs, take a look at tigridia 

and for late colour do include colchicums, 

crocosmias, montbretia and nerine. For 

pots in the greenhouse try begonias, 

sinningias, Hymenocallis festalis and 

scadoxus. 

QCan you recommend some fast 

growing plants for a shady site that 

will smother the existing weeds? 

AThere are plenty of ground cover 

plants for shade, such as Alchemilla 

mollis (lady’s mantle) and bergenia. 

Variegated plants are a great way to 

brighten up those shady areas. There are 

several good white or pewter-leaved forms 

of Lamium maculatum, such as White 

Nancy. 

The variegated Solomon’s seal is 

beautiful and there are hundreds of 

variegated hostas. Variegated honesty is 

lovely, although the variegation only 

appears in the second season. Variegated 

periwinkle, a rampant spreader, will fill 

dark corners. 

But no plant is good at smothering 

weeds. Plant them through sheets of 

slitted black polythene or woven 

landscaping fabric and cover this with a 

2.5-5cm (1-2ins) layer of chipped bark. 

QWhy won’t my wisteria flower? I’ve 

trained it for a number of years to 

the south-facing side of my house, but it 

has never bloomed. What am I doing 

wrong? 

AYou certainly have the right spot as 

wisteria loves to grow in a sunny, 

sheltered site. A common cause of nonflowering 

is that the plant is seed-raised 

and therefore takes many years go bloom. 

When buying wisteria always look for 

plants that have been raised by grafting; 

the knobbly graft union is usually clearly 

visible near the base of the main stem. 

Also try to choose named varieties such 

as Issai, Black Dragon and Purple 

Patches. 

However, this is little help in your 

present situation. Several things can 

be done to promote flowering. Training 

your plant to spread over the entire wall 

will ensure it receives maximum 

sunshine. The cheapest and 

most effective means of support 

is strong galvanised wire run 

through vine eyes. Twice yearly 

pruning will develop the short 

lateral branches which 

produce flowers so in July or 

August take the side shoots 

back to five to six buds from the 

main stem. The following January 

shorten these shoots even further to two 

to three buds. Plants growing near walls 

may be short of nutrients as the soil here 

is often poor quality and the shelter 

created by the wall also keeps off a fair 

amount of any rain water. Tackle this by 

annual spring mulching with well rotted 

compost or manure, watering during dry 

spells and applying a general fertiliser in 

spring. An application of sulphate of 

potash in late winter can also help to 

encourage flowering. 

Wisteria usually loves to grow in a sunny, sheltered site 

QHaving recently bought a house, my 

gardening budget is very tight. 

What scented plants could I grow that 

would not cost much? 

your own plants from seed is 

AGrowing the most economical. Try hardy 

annuals such as Centaurea mosohata 

(sweet sultan), Lathyrus odoratus (sweet 

peas), particularly the variety Snoopea, 

which needs very little support, as well as 

Matthiola bicornis (night-scented stock), 

Reseda odorata (mignonette) and 

zaluzianskya (night phlox). Use alyssum 

to create honey-scented edging. Sweet 

White and Oriental Night are two of the 

strongest smelling varieties around. 

SKIMMIA (Rubella) 

THERE are numerous 

lovely skimmias, generally 

from the Himalayas and 

the Far East, and these 

form evergreen shrubs of 

varying heights. Most are 

dioecious, meaning they 

have male and female 

flowers on different 

plants, and both sexes 

must be planted to ensure 

a crop of fruits. 

Rubella is a compact 

male variety with 

PLANT OF THE MONTH 

attractive red-margined, 

dark green leaves. The 

flower buds, which appear 

in autumn and winter, are 

a prominent feature of the 

plant, as are the scented 

flowers which open in 

spring. It is perfect for 

growing in containers and 

provides good all year 

round colour. Rubella has 

been given an Award of 

Garden Merit (AGM), which 

is for plants of 

outstanding excellence. 

Ten week stocks can be treated as halfhardy 

annuals and sown in pots on a 

window sill in late winter for spring 

flowers or sown outside in April and May. 

Sow biennials such as Hesperis 

matronalis in late spring to flower the 

next year. Other good biennials include 

honesty, wallflowers and sweet williams. 

For climbers select Lonicera 

periclymenum Serotina and Belgica, L. 

caprifolium with cream and pale pink 

flowers or L. x americana, which has 

attractive yellow flowers. 

● More information from Greenfingers, 

edited by Adam Pascoe (BBC Books) 

It likes partial shade 

and grows to a height of 

75cm. 

Read Brigid Press every 

Saturday in The Northern Echo


11 

d.i.y IN ASSOCIATION WITH 

LAYING A NEW CARPET 

Measure the room to establish the 

amount of carpet required. Always buy 

a piece of carpet that is slightly larger 

than your measurements, so it can be 

cut back and laid in one piece 

4 Using a very 

sharp blade trim 

the carpet to fit 

and use a 

bolster chisel 

to fit it behind 

the gripper 

strips 

2 

Lay the 

underlay 

at 

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Why not make it a romantic break? 

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Hartlepool Showroom: 151 York Road 

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Fax: (01429) 868336 

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Lane, Stockton TS18 4DN 

Tel: (01642) 603922 

Fax: (01642) 643008 

CGSE 

3 

Butt one edge of the 

carpet to the wall and fix it 

on to the gripper strips. 

Then use a knee kicker 

to stretch the carpet to 

the other wall 

How to fit a new carpet 

SPARE rooms are often the last to 

benefit from a makeover but it 

needn’t be a difficult task. 

Simply touching up paintwork 

and generally giving it a very good clean 

may be all that is required. If it’s a room 

that is largely ignored, however, it may be 

time to give it a lift by laying a new 

carpet. This isn’t a particularly 

complicated DIY job, but it does need to 

be done with care and precision. 

When buying a carpet, don’t always opt 

for the cheapest. It will soon look shabby 

and need replacing. Although it is 

possible to fit a hessian-backed carpet 

yourself, it can be difficult as the carpet 

will need to be stretched. 

If you’ve spent a lot of money on a new 

carpet then it’s probably worth getting 

this fitted professionally. However a 

second-hand hessian-backed carpet is 

much easier to fit as it has already been 

stretched. A foam-backed carpet is 

probably the easiest type of carpet to lay. 

Measure the room to establish the 

amount of carpet required. Always buy a 

piece of carpet that is slightly larger than 

your measurements, so it can be cut back 

and laid in one piece. If you do need to 

join two bits of carpet, avoid making the 

seam in areas of heavy traffic such as 

doorways. 

How the carpet performs is often 

determined by the care taken to prepare 

the floor underneath. For wooden floors, 

remove any protruding nails and tacks 

and fix any loose boards. Fill any wide 

gaps with a wooden wedge knocked in 

flush with the rest of the floor. Finally, 

clean the floor and ensure it is dry. 

If the room hasn’t been carpeted before, 

check that the door has enough space 

underneath for the carpet. If not, the base 

of the door will need to be planed so it 

can be opened across the carpet. If you 

are laying a hessian-backed carpet you 

will need to fit underlay. A foam-backed 

1 

Fix gripper strips about 1/4" 

from the skirting, with the 

points towards the wall 

5 Lay a door 

bar and 

stretch the 

carpet to fit 

the gripper 

points on it 

by SHARON DAVIES 

carpet doesn’t require underlay, but will 

need floor lining paper to prevent dust 

and to protect the carpet from wear and 

tear. 

The trick to laying foam-backed carpet 

and floor lining paper is to lay them both 

at the same time. To begin with, lay 

carpet tape or carpet grippers around the 

edge of the room to hold the carpet in 

place. Carpet tape is far easier and 

quicker. 

Next, unroll the carpet half way across 

the room. Lay the lining paper across the 

other half making sure it doesn’t cover 

the carpet tape or carpet grippers. Fix in 

place with a stapling hammer, staple gun 

or tacks. Roll the carpet over the now 

lined floor and roll up the carpet on the 

other side. 

Line this side of the floor as before and 

then roll out the carpet so it now spreads 

flat right across the room. The carpet will 

now need to be cut and fixed into place. 

Using a very sharp blade trim the carpet 

to fit, cutting first along straight walls 

and then around corners and alcoves. 

Fix the carpet in place by peeling off 

the backing tape on the carpet tape and 

pressing the carpet firmly in place all 

around the room or by pressing the 

carpet hard onto the carpet grippers. 

THE QUICK FIX 

Q Our pipes burst this winter. How can I 

prevent this from happening again? 

A Make sure all pipes are lagged, especially 

those in the loft. 

Q Damp patches keep appearing at the top 

of one particular wall. Any suggestions? 

A A quick solution is to treat the area with 

damp seal. However the root of the problem is 

probably from moisture seeping through from 

the outside so this will need to be investigated. 

THE MORRITT ARMS 

Wedding 

Fayre 

Sunday, February 15 th 

11am - 3pm 

Exhibitors including 

C ARS B RIDAL W EAR F LORISTS 

C AKES C HILDREN ’ S E NTERTAINERS 

H AT D ESIGNERS M ENS O UTFITTERS D ISCOS 

P HOTOGRAPHERS S TRING Q UARTET H ARPIST 

W ALKABOUT M ODELS B ISHOP A UCKLAND R EGISTRARS 

Visit our refurbished Hotel & Ballroom licensed for Civil Ceremonies 

ENTRANCE FREE 

Morritt Arms Hotel, Greta Bridge, Barnard Castle. Tel. 01833 627232 

or visit : www.themorritt.co.uk 

Visit us for a unique dining 

experience in the heart of Durham 

City. Over 80 different dishes 

served daily from the best 

Cantonese, Peking and Thai cuisines 

Spice it up on Valentine’s Day! Book Early NOW! 

The Big Lunch 

Buffet 

£5.50 

11.45-5.00pm leave by 5.30pm 

The Deluxe 

Grand Buffet 

£8.50 

7.01-10.30pm 

Thai & Chinese Buffet Restaurant 

The Huge Happy 

Hour Buffet 

£6.50 

5.01-7.00pm leave by 7.30pm 

The Baby Elephant 

Buffet 

£3.00 

All day for children over 2 years and 

under 4ft 11ins in height 

Unit 1-12, Millburngate Shopping Centre, Durham 

Open Daily 11.45-10.30pm 

Tel. 0191 375 7333


Country House Hotel & Restaurant 

This superb Jacobean country mansion 

offers the very best of accommodation, 

cuisine and service. There are 35 

individual bedrooms, a restaurant open 7 

days a week and extensive conference, 

banqueting and leisure facilities. A family 

run business offering that personal touch. 

Recently attained English Tourism 

Council Silver Award 

The Restaurant: 

Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, Head Chef Austen Shaw 

and his team offer the best of English and Continental cuisine 

using the finest local ingredients. The restaurant has a warm and 

relaxing atmosphere with friendly and professional service. Midweek 

lunch £9.50 for 2 courses, Sunday lunch £16 for 3 courses 

and dinner from £22 for 3 courses. 

Headlam Hall Golf Course 

This superb 9 hole course is due to open June 2004 and we will be 

offering an exclusive number of memberships. Constructed to 

USGA spec on beautiful mature pastureland complete with 

covered driving range. 

Headlam Hall , Headlam, Darlington, DL2 3HA 

Tel: (01325) 730238 www.headlamhall.co.uk 

fashion 

Clockwise from above: the shop front; John 

with a selection of fabrics; the interior of the 

shop with its selection of lights; Martini Jewel, 

£25 per metre 


If good advice and 

fantastic fabrics are 

what you’re after, 

there’s the perfect shop 

in the Teesdale market 

town of Barnard Castle. 

JENNY NEEDHAM 

reports 

Curtain 

up 

THE steep hill down to the river in Barnard 

Castle, known as The Bank, is well known 

for its pine and antique shops. There’s not 

much you can’t buy here if you’re 

furnishing your home in a fairly 

traditional way. 

Half way down the slope is what is probably the 

prettiest shop window in the Teesdale market 

town. It belongs to Fabtique, a fabric and antique 

lighting shop, and it’s difficult to resist the 

temptation to step inside. 

Behind the twinkling lights, beautiful tapestries 

and artfully draped linens and cottons is a late 

15th, early 16th century building, home to John 

Purkiss, his wife Jessica, seven-year-old Colleen 

and three-year-old David. John’s been here 11 years, 

and has made the run-down shell into a stunning 

home and business. The fabrics he sells are fairly 

traditional – after all, his main customers are 

country folk, generally conservative by nature. 

And if they want to find something unique for their 

period properties, John has all the right 

qualifications. 

He’s got a long history in the fabric trade: his dad 

used to sell material at markets in Bishop 

Auckland, Consett and the Quay in Newcastle, and 

young John would go along to lend a hand. When 

his parents parted, Uncle Ernie, a builder by trade, 

took John under his wing and taught him all the 

basics of joinery. And along the way, John’s always 

had a fascination for period, learning which 

antiques and fabrics look right in which homes. 

Furniture and architectural restoration were his 

main living until a trapped nerve made it difficult 

to do heavy work, so John moved back into the 

world of fabrics and opened Fabtique. 

It’s a beautiful, colourful, bazaar-style shop. 

Three-metre lengths of material drape down along 

the length of one wall, which customers can 

borrow to see if they suit. The fabrics cost from £4 

to £5 a metre for discontinued roll-ends up to £70 

for fancy fabrics such as Linen Union, Crowson, 

Designers’ Guild and Schumacher. 

Customers can have anything made up – throws, 

curtains, bed covers, headboards, pelmets. Every 

Friday John wanders up town to drop off fabrics to 

be made up by his two sewing experts. 

At Fabtique, John aims to sell something 

different, fairly unique. “Shops on the high street 

of larger towns are increasingly the same,” he says. 

“A small market town like this can offer something 

a bit different and unusual, a different shopping 

experience, with in-depth knowledge and advice. 

I’ve been in the trade a long time and I have a good 

knowledge of fabrics, antiques and periods.” 

John’s built up a good reputation and sells on the


13 

JK 

WOMENSWEAR 

75 Skinnergate 

Darlington 

Telephone 

01325 463931 

Internet all over the country and sometimes abroad. 

He picks up the lights he sells – all rewired to meet 

safety standards – at fairs in this country and on 

regular trips to the Continent. He has pals like 

Andre in Belgium and Frank in Holland. They meet 

up every six months and trade. “I buy continental 

lights off them and they buy English stuff off me,” 

says John. 

At the moment he can’t get enough French stuff – 

“the brass with glass drops that’s so popular at the 

moment. I’ve got a list of people waiting for them. 

Of course, you can get something similar on the 

high street, but my customers know they’ll be 

getting something unique.” 

Like many rural towns, traders in Barnard Castle 

are still getting back on their feet after the foot-andmouth 

crisis, which killed off the tourist trade for 

well over a year. But John is determined to do all he 

can to make the business thrive and the shop has 

just reopened after a refit. 

The current craze for interior design has brought 

him another opportunity. “Bed crowns, the 

embellishments that hold up the curtains on halftesters, 

are increasingly popular. No one sells them 

in the North-East and the ones that are available on 

the Internet are hugely expensive,” says John, who 

is setting up a workshop to make them. 

Nor do his plans stop there. Before leaving, I 

mention how extraordinarily comfortable is the 

Knole sofa on which we’ve been sitting chatting. 

This is another new arm of the business, John 

explains. He’s teamed up with a furniture maker to 

offer the sofas for sale. They cost from £800 for a 

two-seater plus fabric. This one’s destined for an 

apartment at nearby Rokeby Hall. 

One thing’s for sure, the new owners will be 

sitting very comfortably for some time to come… 

Fabtique, The Bank, Barnard Castle 

Telephone: (01833) 631338 

Opening: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 

Saturday, 10am-5pm 

Pictures: CHRIS BOOTH 

Saturday, February 14 

and 

Sunday, February 15 

2004 

at the 

Yorkshire Event Centre 

G REAT Y ORKSHIRE S HOWGROUND 

9.30am - 4.30pm 

Promoting Yorkshire food and produce in 

the region’s local shops, hotels, pubs and 

catering establishments 

Information Hotline 

01969 666041 

www.yiga.co.uk


me and my wardrobe 


Kate Saint has always been interested in 

fashion but she worked for British Airways for 

15 years before opening her own boutique, 

Kate Saint, in Darlington’s Grange Road. She 

specialises in occasionwear, stocking labels 

from across Europe 

NORTH ROAD 

Magnet 

RING ROAD 

VALLEY STREET 

CHESNUT 

ST 

RUSSELL 

ST 

EASTMOUNT 

Reg 

Vardy 

Renault 

RUSSELL 

ST 

ROAD 

WE 

ARE 

HERE 

HAUGHTON RD 

Bannatynes 

Pictures: STUART BOULTON 

❛ 

I’m quite 

tailored 

and I do lean 

towards the 

50s and 60s 

with little 

Chanel-look 

suits 

Clockwise from left: 

Serena Kay coat, Mad 

Hatters hat; suit by 

French designer Nina 

Angel; red dress by 

Sagaie, Paris. All labels 

from Kate Saint in 

Grange Road, 

Darlington 

How would you describe your look? 

I’m quite tailored and I do lean towards the 50s and 

60s with little Chanel-look suits – tweed suits 

trimmed with suede or fur or velvet. It’s very chic and 

neat, nothing flowing. I’m fashionable but not at the 

cutting edge. It’s more of a classic look. 

What’s your favourite item of clothing? 

It has to be a red evening gown, real scarlet. It’s silk 

georgette and very French, very dramatic. I only ever 

had one in my shop and I should have put it in the 

window but I just had to have it myself. 

What’s your worst buy? 

A cream, wool, ankle-length coat. It was so 

expensive I didn’t dare wear it and it just sat in the 

wardrobe. I paid £600 for it and I think I wore it 

twice. I ended up taking it to the nearly new shop 

where it was sold for £100. My best buy is an 

original Chanel suit I picked up in the Butterwick 

Hospice shop for £6.50. 

What’s the most you’ve ever spent on an item 

of clothing? 

I spent £700 on an Escada suit. It’s very Jackie O, 

with a wide neckline and a little collar. I wear it all 

the time and I don’t think I’d ever part with it. 

What are your favourite shops? 

I prefer the smaller, independent shops because they 

have different labels. You never know what you’re 

going to find. When I go to London or Paris to look 

for labels for the shop, I often pick up things for 

myself. 

Which celebrity’s style do you admire most 

and why? 

Catherine Zeta Jones. I think she’s very stylish and 

she doesn’t feel the need to bare all. She’s totally 

glamorous, confident and all woman. 

Kate Saint, 37 Grange Road, Darlington, (01325) 

480181.


15 

beauty 

SHEREEN LOW talks 

to experts on hair, 

skin, cosmetics and 

nails to find out how 

we can best improve 

our beauty regimes 

ADAM REED, INTERNATIONAL SESSION 

AND ARTISTIC MANAGER FOR CHARLES 

WORTHINGTON, NEW YORK 

REED encourages people to 

respect their hair by going 

for regular head massages. 

‘‘When you’re worried and 

stressed, the first part of the 

body to become tense is the shoulders,’’ 

he says. ‘‘This inhibits the scalp’s supply 

of oxygen and blood. Inevitably, your 

hair becomes stressed. Signs include a 

flaky scalp, dull hair and eventually, 

hair loss. 

‘‘Massage the scalp and learn to relax. 

It relieves tension and increases blood 

flow to nourish the root and hair follicle. 

Gently work your fingers around your 

head, starting at the perimeter of the 

head and working inwards, making sure 

your fingers never leave the scalp.’’ 

Another useful hair resolution would 

be to buy a good-quality hairbrush. Too 

often, he says, people use the wrong 

tools for the job despite the fact that the 

choice of brush can affect how fast your 

hair dries, how smooth the hair becomes 

and how much volume you can create. 

‘‘Good quality bristles protect hair 

from splitting and stretching, making 

styling and combing easier and painless, 

while poor-quality brushes and combs 

will scratch the scalp and damage the 

hair shaft. When choosing a brush, 

always check that the teeth and bristles 

are smooth.’’ 

JOHN GUSTAFSON, MAKE-UP AND 

SKINCARE EXPERT FOR HANDBAG.COM 

GUSTAFSON recommends a few simple 

changes to your routine, which are 

easier to stick to than major overhauls. 

‘‘Firstly, let’s try to wash our make-up 

brushes at least once a month,’’ he says. 

He suggests using a bit of shampoo, and 

maybe even a dollop of conditioner if 

they have been long neglected. 

Gustafson also points out that the 

benefits of sleep outweigh even the most 

technologically-advanced cosmetics. 

‘‘Try for eight hours of sleep a night. 

Hard sometimes, but we can but try. 

Sleep is one of the best beauty 

treatments there is, and it’s free.’’ 

Lastly, he urges us to try new make-up 

looks. ‘‘Try something different twice a 

month,’’ he says. ‘‘A different lip shade, 

or eyeshadow colour, or just changing 

the texture from matte to sheen. You 

don’t have to buy it, just try it out for a 

day. You may end up finding you get 

really experimental, or that you really 

hate pink. But unless you try, you’ll 

never know.’’ 

SALLY PENFORD, DERMATOLOGIST FROM 

INTERNATIONAL DERMAL INSTITUTE 

THE most important beauty essential, 

according to Penford, is to wear a 

sunscreen every day. ‘‘This needs to be 

part of the daily skincare regime,’’ she 

says. ‘‘The sun causes 90 per cent of the 

skin’s ageing, and sunscreen will help 

slow the process down.’’ 

While a sunscreen that is separate to 

your moisturiser is more effective in 

protecting your skin from UV rays, a 

moisturiser containing sunscreen with a 

Make-up: try a few simple changes to the old routine 

More beauty, 

less beast 

minimum SPF of 15 is better than none 

at all. Try Dermalogica’s Day Bright 

SPF 15 (£31.20 – call 0800 591 818) or 

Origins Have A Nice Day Super Charged 

moisture lotion with SPF 15 (£22.50). 

It is also vital, Penford says, to remove 

make-up at night: ‘‘We’re all lazy at the 

end of the day, but there are a lot of 

nasties in make-up, which can lead to 

clogged skin, blackheads and 

breakouts.’’ If you are too tired to do the 

whole cleansing routine, just use a 

cleansing wipe like Johnson’s Softwash 

cleansing cloths (£3.99) to remove makeup 

and do a proper cleanse in the 

morning. 

Penford also says we should look after 

the skin on our body, as well as our 

faces. ‘‘Don’t just focus on your face and 

neck – your chest and other neglected 

areas need just as much attention,’’ 

Penford says. ‘‘Keep skin highly 

hydrated by using a rich moisturiser, 

and exfoliate with a buffing cloth and a 

scrub. This simple process can make an 

incredible difference to the overall 

texture of the skin.’’ 

ANDREA FULERTON, NAIL TECHNICIAN 

WHO HAS WORKED WITH HOLLY 

VALANCE, KATE MOSS AND SOPHIE DAHL 

FULERTON advises against trying to 

get rid of all your bad habits at once, but 

for those who’ve decided to stop 

nibbling their nails, she says: ‘‘My 

proven technique is to stop biting finger 

by finger. Limit yourself to biting only 

your ring finger and little fingers. As the 

other nails grow, you’ll be inspired to 

stop biting.’’ 

She also recommends going for 

regular manicures, at least once a 

month, and if this eats into your purse 

too much, put together your own 

manicure kit. ‘‘Book an appointment 

with a professional manicurist, and find 

out where she gets her tools from, and 

how she uses them,’’ Fulerton explains. 

‘‘Get into the habit of home 

maintenance for your hands because 

they often reveal your true age.’’ 

She suggests using a three-in-one 

product like Crabtree & Evelyn’s Hand 

Recovery (£12.50), which exfoliates, 

moisturises and cleanses. 

Diary of a hair and 

make-up artist 

ALLISON McKAY 

Do we really 

want to look 

flawless? 

AM very sceptical 

when I see a celebrity 

Ior model cover shot 

looking totally flawless. 

All the glossy magazine covers we see now 

have had some form of re-touching or 

airbrushing. 

I can see why they do it, so the eye is not 

distracted by so-called imperfections as we 

all clamour: “I want to look like that”. Do we 

really though – all that we are, our character 

just simply airbrushed away? Trust me, I 

have seen many a celeb and model before 

make-up and airbrushing and they are real 

people under the make-believe. 

Three of the most beautiful women I have 

worked with are Brenda Blethyn, Amanda 

Burton and Francesca Annis. Grace and 

beauty glow from head to toe and the fine 

lines which we are led to believe are 

imperfections, actually give verification to 

their humour and passion. In other words, 

they are stunningly real. Airbrushing would 

take that away. 

We aspire to so much that is quite often 

beyond us. Airbrushing is only for film, but 

surgery and luxurious products and 

treatments are there – for those who can 

afford it. 

Here are my tips for concealing minor 

blemishes: 

● It is always a good idea to start by gently 

exfoliating. This gets rid of dead skin cells 

that concealer may clog around. 

● Too much concealer can make a spot look 

worse. 

● Apply product from the back of the hand; 

never straight from the tube, as you may 

infect the product. 

● Never rub. Dab lightly, then blend 

outwards. 

● Antibacterial concealers help in drying the 

spot and combat against re-infection 

● If a spot or blemish is red, add a touch of 

green concealer. 

● Do not use the same concealer for the 

eyes as you would the blemish, especially if 

the blemish concealer contains antibacterial 

agents. 

Male celebs and models are also being 

treated with airbrushing and surgery, and 

they increasingly use body care and 

grooming products. I personally dislike seeing 

men who obviously have make-up on and 

cover shots with them having unreal, 

perfectly even-toned skin. 

Usually for a shoot I start with a 

massaging exfoliator on the face, followed by 

a light tinted moisturising lotion, a touch of 

Vaseline to tame eyebrows, and a 

moisturising lip balm. 

TIPS FOR MEN 

● Harsh soaps can lead to dry flaky skin, so 

use a mild cleansing wash. 

● Apply shaving cream after you have 

showered as your pores will be open. 

● Shaving foam needs to be allowed to 

absorb into the skin for at least one minute. 

Creams and lotions work faster. 

● Do not shave against the hair growth as 

this will result in irritation or a rash. 

● Apply a toner to close the pores and 

always finish with a soothing, daily 

moisturising lotion. 

● If you mainly dry shave, it is a good idea 

to exfoliate a couple of times a week. This 

can be in the form of an exfoliating face 

wash. 

● Use a moisturiser with a sunscreen to 

stop a worn leather look in later years.


motoring 

The NIssan 350Z: a little noisy but handling is a dream 

Oh, you pretty thing 

In the latest Z car, Nissan has produced a thoroughbred sportscar 

to rival the best, says motoring correspondent IAN LAMMING 

NOW AVAILABLE: 

PURE TEMPTATION 

The addictive nature of the Nissan 350Z isn't just a 

phenomenon caused by superb styling, unforgettable looks and 

gorgeous specification. It's also a result of a 3.5 litre V6 engine 

delivering 280PS and achieving 0-62 in a breathtaking 5.9 secs. 

Phone or call in to book a test drive and experience the Nissan 

350Z at first hand. 

350Z 

RICHMOND MOTOR COMPANY 

DUNDAS STREET, RICHMOND, NORTH YORKSHIRE TEL: 01748 823956 

350Z 3.5 • CO2 273G/KM • URBAN 17.5MPG / 16.1L/100KM • EXTRA-URBAN 32.5MPG / 8.7L/100KM • COMBINED 24.8MPG / 11.4L/100KM 

IN DAYS gone by, when the Japanese 

motor industry was emerging from 

its lair to challenge the might of 

Europe, there was plenty of namecalling 

this side of the world. 

One of the main accusations was that 

the East could only ape the West, that it 

had nothing new to offer, just cheap 

copies of automotive masterpieces being 

produced here. 

That may or may not have been true 

but what did seem to escape the attention 

of those same name-callers was the fact 

that Japanese cars were better built and 

cheaper than those built on the Continent 

or in Blighty. This simple fact threatened 

to kill the industry and manufacturers 

decided it was time to stop hurling abuse 

and get on with some serious car making. 

That’s all history and only the foolish 

would still accuse the Japanese of not 

being their own men and women. It’s not 

surprising then that the latest supercar 

to emerge from Japan does carry more 

than just a little “heritage”. The 

marketing spiel talks of “harking back”, 

of styling cues taken from previous 

classics, of a Z-DNA from previous 

generations, which is pretty good for a 

relative newcomer. 

Now motoring purists may scoff and 

leave that sort of talk for Mercedes, 

Porsche and Ferrari. But I am no purist. 

I’m a realist and am left in no doubt that 

in the latest Z car, Nissan has produced a 

thoroughbred sportscar to rival the best. 

The 350Z possesses all the attributes 

discerning drivers could possibly ask of a 

car they would be proud to own. First and 

foremost it is beautiful, the love child of 

a Porsche 911 and an Audi TT, perhaps? 

The rear three quarter view rivals 

anything on the road in terms of 

aesthetic qualities, with organic lines, 

swollen wheel arches and perfect 

proportions. The profile is glorious, the 

front fresh and modern. It really is a 

pretty car and most deserving of the 

admiring glances it attracts everywhere 

it goes. 

The interior is every bit as good. The 

optional orange leather takes a bit of 

stomaching but the seats are perfect 

taking you in a fond embrace and 

hanging on through the side G-forces 

cornering provokes. The dash and centre 

console are clean and simple, attractive 

and functional, with well placed dials 

and switches and sporty hooded clocks. 

It’s a Nissan so you would expect the 

specification to be high – and it is with 

cruise control, climate control, a Bose hifi, 

trip computer and electric seats, 

windows and mirrors. 

Start the 3.5 litre V6 and the engine 

has been tuned for aural pleasure, the 

motor emitting a harmonious treat that 

is a delight to the ear. It threatens and 

hints of the car’s more than ample 

performance but on the open road, in 

cruise mode, is surprisingly muted. As 

the revs rise, so does the cacophony to 

magnificent effect. 

It doesn’t just sound the part, it also 

plays it. The V6 boasts real wallop with 

280PS on tap, enough to catapult the 350Z 

to a governed top speed of 155mph 

(where permitted), while the 62mph 

sprint time comes up in just 5.8 seconds. 

Real-life performance is truly superb. It 

is a fast car point to point without ever 

needing to break the speed limit because 

it has the mid-range thump to get you 

past slow moving traffic easily and safely. 

Yet it is also surprisingly frugal, offering 

an average miles per gallon figure of 27.1 

during a bout of mixed motoring. 

The transmission is a gem – and 

innovative too. The six-speed box offers 

perfect ratios and the clutch makes an 

expert of even an average driver. Power 

then feeds, uniquely, through a carbon 

fibre propshaft to the rear wheels. 

Handling is a dream. The steering 

sends you in the right direction with just 

a fleeting thought. The ride is totally flat, 

with no hint of cabin roll through the 

bends, while grip is outstanding, even on 

wintry roads. 

If there is a glitch it is with road noise, 

which is considerable. Problems arise 

because nothing separates cabin from 

boot. There is no sound deadening 

partition between the loadbay and your 

ears. So the road roar from the fat tyres 

travels through the rear suspension and 

is amplified by the hatch area. It is there 

but given the car’s other qualities, not 

too much of a problem. 

That said, the 350Z is a totally splendid 

machine in its own right and an 

imitation of nothing I can see on our 

roads. 

In true Japanese fashion, it has 

emerged from its lair to compete with the 

best Europe can offer. With its blend of 

beauty and ability it is difficult to see 

how it could possibly fail.


17 

AFTER: a stylish and confident Sheila 

IN 2001, Sheila Vickers went to Australia. It should have 

been the holiday of a lifetime but she spent the entire 

time being miserable because she was overweight. It all 

started on the plane when she couldn’t fasten the 

seatbelt and had to ask for an extension, but the most 

embarrassing moment occurred during a river cruise. 

Sitting at breakfast, a fellow passenger asked in a very loud 

voice when her baby was due. Sheila, who was 49 at the time, 

was mortified. She left the room in floods of tears and was so 

upset, she fell down the stairs and ended up in a heap on the 

floor. “It was soul destroying,” she says. 

Sheila, who lives in Darlington, had always been active but 

in 1992, she had an accident, which resulted in surgeons 

removing some of the vertebrae from her neck. She spent 

several months at home recuperating and, because she 

wasn’t exercising, she started to gain weight, and no matter 

how hard she tried, she couldn’t lose it. 

At her largest, Sheila was a size 24. She had tried all sorts 

of diets, from Cabbage Soup to Atkins, but nothing seemed to 

work. She travelled all over the region to slimming 

LIFE COACH 

LOVE: MORE THAN A FEELING 

WONDERING who will think of 

you this Valentine’s Day? 

Instead of waiting to see 

what arrives in the post, think of who 

you really want to reach out to. Love 

is not a feeling, it is much more than 

romance. Love is active. We show our 

love by our actions. 

Real love goes beyond emotions. 

When we truly love, we accept 

someone completely as they are, 

unconditionally. That doesn’t mean we 

accept bad behaviour and become 

doormats but it does mean we keep 

on loving despite faults and failings in 

others, and especially ourselves. 

Can you truly love in this way? How 

about starting with you. It’s 

impossible to love others if you can’t 

love yourself. So give yourself a 

special Valentine gift this year. Learn 

to love yourself unconditionally and 

let yourself shine. The admirers will 

come flooding in. 

Juliette is available 

at www.sunflower 

coaching.com or on 

her mobile on 

07740 416891 

❛Now 

life’s worth 

living 

again 

Between them, Sheila Vickers and her 

daughter Susan have lost almost ten stones 

since joining Slimming World. They talk to 

Women’s Editor CHRISTEN PEARS 

classes because she didn’t want to meet anyone she knew. 

Sheila works as a freelance book keeper but didn’t promote 

her business because she was afraid of meeting new people. 

She says she always felt she was being judged on her physical 

appearance rather than her ability. 

She didn’t go out socially and, despite the support of her 

husband Keith, and daughters Leeann and Susan, she sank 

into depression. 

“When I was that size, I was so depressed. I spent four 

years being very unhappy and felt like it wasn’t worth living. 

I didn’t want to do anything and I didn’t want to be seen. I 

really was suicidal.” 

Then Sheila was diagnosed with a thyroid problem and put 

on medication. “That was the turning point. I realised that it 

wasn’t hopeless and that I could lose weight. I managed to 

lose about half a stone on my own but I needed the support of 

a class.” 

Sheila joined Slimming World and, as the weight began to 

fall off, she felt her confidence grow. A few months later, she 

received a phone call from her 30-year-old daughter, Susan. 

Susan says: “I had got to the point where I didn’t want to go 

clothes shopping because I was so big but I loved my food. 

Then one night, I was getting ready to go out and none of my 

clothes fitted me. That’s when I made the decision. I rang my 

mam and told her I was coming to the class. She has been a 

really big inspiration to me. I actually joined with a friend 

but she was the one who showed me it was possible. It’s 

definitely brought us closer together.” 

Sheila has lost five-and-a-half stones and Susan has lost 

four. Both women feel much happier, although they still have 

more weight to lose before reaching their targets. 

Sheila says: “It’s totally changed my life. I feel alive. I feel 

as if life’s worth living again.” 

● For more information, visit www.slimming-world.co.uk 

BEFORE: Sheila in her pre-diet days 

slimming 

Lunches without 

the lumpiness 

WHAT we eat for lunch is very 

much dictated by where we are. 

Those who work in an office tend 

to be at the mercy of whatever sandwich 

bars and shops there are around – 

unless, of course, you take a packed 

lunch. The idea of a packed lunch may 

take you back to schooldays but 

remember this time you’re in control – 

you choose whatever goes in it. All the 

following sandwiches, stuffed pittas and 

tortillas can be taken to work as packed 

lunches, saving you time, money and 

calories at lunchtime. 

If you are still hungry after you have 

eaten, have a piece of fruit. All the 

following lunches serve one and are 

under 350 calories. 

Sandwiches 

HAM, MUSTARD DRESSING AND SALAD 

Mix ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard with one 

tablespoon virtually fat free fromage frais, 

Spread over two slices of thin wholemeal 

bread and fill with three slices (24g/1oz) 

ham, plenty of green salad and slices of fullflavoured 

tomatoes 

MOZZARELLA, PESTO AND FRESH BASIL 

Spread two teaspoons of pesto over two thin 

slices of wholemeal bread, add a layer 

(around 30g/1oz) of sliced mozzarella light 

(use a bread knife to slice it), top with baby 

spinach leaves and sliced vine tomatoes and 

squeeze over some fresh lemon juice. 

TUNA AND SWEETCORN 

Mix 100g (3½oz) can drained tuna in brine 

with half a 195g (7oz) can sweetcorn kernels. 

Mix in one tablespoon reduced fat mayo and 

stuff into a 15cm (6in) wholemeal pitta bread 

with plenty of rocket or strong salad leaf, 

some sliced spring onions and red pepper. 

RECIPE 

HERB, CHILLI AND GARLIC SAUTEED 

PRAWNS ON VEGETABLE SPAGHETTI 

(serves 4) 

3 carrots, peeled and trimmed 

3 courgettes, trimmed 

salt and freshly ground black pepper 

2 tsp olive oil 

28-30 raw, large tiger prawns, shelled (leave 

the tails on) 

1 red chilli, de-seeded and finely sliced 

4 garlic cloves, peeled and very thinly sliced 

Juice and finely grated zest of one lemon 

4 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley 

METHOD 

Using a mandolin or a serrated vegetable 

peeler, carefully cut the carrots and 

courgettes into thin, long strands (to 

resemble spaghetti). Bring a large pan of 

lightly salted water to the boil and add the 

vegetable strips. Cook for 2-3 minutes, drain 

and keep warm. 

Heat the oil in a large, non stick frying pan 

and when hot add the prawns, chilli, garlic, 

lemon zest and juice. Stir fry on a high heat 

for 3-4 minutes or until the prawns turn pink 

and are cooked through. Stir in the chopped 

parsley, season and remove from the heat. 

To serve, divide the warm, drained carrot and 

courgette ‘spaghetti’ between four warmed 

bowls or plates and top with the cooked 

prawns. Spoon over any pan juices and serve 

immediately. 

From Slimming World Food with Faimly and 

Friends (Ebury, £15.99)


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every Friday 

gadget man 

How to get 

the best 

from your 

iPod 

A small gadget that can carry 

your entire music collection was 

the big hit of 2003 – and a new 

version looks set to become the 

‘must have’ gadget in 2004. 

NIGEL BURTON picks up some 

useful tips on taming your iPod 

CRAFT MAKING Want to learn more? 

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THE Apple iPod was the runaway 

gift success in 2003, with many 

major stores running out in the 

pre-Christmas rush to buy. Now, 

advances in technology have 

allowed Apple to refine the concept still 

further and 2004 will see the release of a 

new smaller and cheaper mini iPod. The 

gadget is a class leader but there are 

other alternatives, mainly produced by 

Archos, that can do even more than play 

music. Some of these hard disk recorders 

can also store video movies and play 

them back on a tiny screen. Virtually all 

of them can back up your digital 

photographs as well. 

If you were lucky enough to get an iPod 

for Christmas, a new book has just gone 

on sale revealing the secret on how to get 

the best from this sleek little gadget. 

Called iPod and iTunes For Dummies, it 

shows owners how to set up their iPod, 

load it with songs, manage music files, 

alter sound quality and use other 

features like the calendar and games. 

Shopping tips for the iTunes 

music store are also included. 

Not convinced? Well how 

about these five tips for the 

iPod Equaliser that should 

really make a difference to 

your favourite tracks. 

Setting the volume to the 

right level: before using the 

iPod equalizer (EQ) to refine 

the sound, make sure the 

volume of the iPod is set to 

about half or threequarters 

(not more), 

so that you don’t 

introduce distortion. 

Then set your speaker 

system or home stereo 

volume before trying to 

refine the sound with 

equalizers. 

Reducing tape noise 

and scratch sounds: to 

reduce the hiss of an old 

tape recording (or the 

scratchy sound of songs 

recorded from an old 

vinyl record), reduce the highest 

frequencies with the Treble Reducer EQ 

preset. 

Reducing turntable rumble and hum: 

to reduce the low-frequency rumble in 

songs recorded from a turntable (for 

vinyl records) or recorded with a hum 

pickup, choose the Bass Reducer EQ 

preset. 

Setting presets when you’re eight miles 

high: when using your iPod on an 

aeroplane where jet noise is a factor, try 

using the Bass Booster EQ preset to hear 

the lower frequencies in your headphones 

and compensate for the deficiencies of 

headphones in loud environments. You 

may want to use the Classical EQ preset, 

which boosts both the high and low 

frequencies for extra treble and bass. 

Cranking the volume up to eleven: if 

you want larger-than-life sound, use the 

Loudness preset and then jack the 

preamp slider to the max. Turn your 

stereo up all the way. Note that sounds 

that are too loud can 

damage your hearing 

though. 

● iPod and iTunes For 

Dummies by Tony Bove 

is available from all 

good bookstores now. It 

costs £11.99. 

❛ The 

gadget is 

a class leader 

but there are 

other 

alternatives, 

mainly 

produced by 

Archos, that 

can do even 

more than 

play music


19 

Spring seems as far off as 

ever, with terrible weather 

and dark days leaving 

many of us feeling 

lethargic, or picking up 

every bug around. But in 

her new book, Bodyfoods 

For Busy People, 

nutritionist Jane Clarke 

has tips on what to eat to 

keep you active and 

mentally fit. JONATHAN 

DALEY reports 

Give yourself a boost 

SPRING seems as far off as 

ever, with terrible weather 

and dark days leaving most 

of us feeling lethargic, or 

picking up every bug 

around. For most busy people though, 

trying to eat well, on top of coping with 

stress and illness, is just too complicated. 

But celebrated nutritionist Jane 

Clarke believes that a certain diet and 

eating plan can combat the unhealthy 

effects of a hectic lifestyle. 

‘‘Leading a frantically busy life takes 

its toll on our bodies in the form of digestive 

problems, headaches, disrupted 

sleep patterns and even bad-hair days,’’ 

says Clarke. ‘‘It’s my aim to help people 

nurture and soothe their bodies with the 

food they eat and drink.’’ 

Bodyfoods For Busy People, the fifth 

book in Clarke’s Bodyfoods series, sets 

out how to boost your spirits and immune 

system, without complicated culinary 

expertise. Divided into four categories: 

basics, practicalities, therapies 

and stress-busters, it’s an in-depth digest 

of what and how to eat in order to 

defy fatigue, stomach trouble, insomnia, 

jetlag, hangovers, colds, skin complaints 

any many other symptoms of stress. 

‘‘The trick to remaining healthy,’’ insists 

Clarke, ‘‘is firstly to understand 

why your body is sending out hunger 

signals, secondly to know which foods 

are best to eat in such situations and 

thirdly to have those foods to hand.’’ 

And for each eating principle in the 

book, there is a set of simple recipe suggestions 

to try. 

‘‘You’ll find recipes that can be rustled 

up in ten minutes flat, snacks that 

will provide instant energy and keep 

you focused, and suppers that will relax 

and satisfy you when you stagger 

through the door at the end of a tiring 

day, giving your body the wherewithal 

to wake up the next morning feeling 

reinvigorated.’’ 

And she also includes lifestyle tips on 

preventing stress. 

‘‘I believe that the more you do in little 

ways to feel good about your body, 

the better you’re likely to treat it when 

it comes to eating and drinking.’’ 

Many of the tips are simple – drinking 

plenty of water a day, as well as eating 

fresh fruit and vegetables – while others 

may be less obvious, like adding herbs 

and spices to food rather than salt. And 

there are recipes which can be made in 

advance and frozen, such as Lasagne 

Verdi Al Forno, to avoid giving in to microwave 

meals after a tough day, 

If you never eat until late, it’s vital to 

choose your foods with care, says 

Clarke. Avoid rich, creamy and fried 

food, or lots of raw vegetables. A carbohydrate-based 

meal, such as a bowl of 

pasta, rice with a stir-fry or risotto, will 

be easy to digest and leave you feeling 

contented and sleepy. 

For those who feel tired all the time, 

there are foods to tackle chronic fatigue 

– she suggests Fig And Date Couscous, 

which doesn’t lead to an energy dip after 

eating, or Grilled Cinnamon Papaya. 

And tackle colds and flu with delicious 

salsa – great for giving your tastebuds 

a kick, as well as being healthy. 

There are recipes for Salsa Verde, Rossa 

and Mango Salsa. 

Here are a couple of recipes to keep 

you going... 

STRESS-BUSTING BODYFOODS 

MUSHROOM RISOTTO 

(serves 4-6) 

Risotto may seem a cumbersome meal to 

make, but if you have the energy to stand for 

20 minutes, you should find that the monotonous 

action of stirring acts as a hypnotic 

stress-buster. Rice also seems to encourage 

the body to produce soporific hormones to 

wind us down rather than up. 

30g (1oz) dried mushrooms 

1 litre chicken stock 

30ml (2tbsp) olive oil 

30g (1oz) unsalted butter 

2 shallots, peeled and finely chopped 

400g (14oz) Carnaroli or Arborio rice 

30g (1oz) Parmesan, freshly grated 

Soak the mushrooms in 450ml (16fl oz) 

warm water for 30 minutes or until the 

water has turned dark. Strain the mushrooms 

through a sieve lined with 

kitchen paper to remove any dirt, saving 

the water. Rinse the mushrooms in 

fresh water until they are very clean. 

In a saucepan, heat the stock until it 

is simmering slowly and steadily. Add 

the olive oil and half the butter to a 

heavy-bottomed risotto pan and saute 

the shallots until soft, but not brown. 

Add the rice, stirring until the grains 

are well coated, and cook for a couple of 

minutes to warm them through. Now 

add the stock, a ladle at a time, allowing 

the rice to soak up all of the liquid before 

adding another ladle. After about 

ten minutes, add the reserved mushroom 

water, again a ladle at a time, until 

it is used up. 

Now add the mushrooms, stirring 

gently as you continue to add the stock, 

until the rice is cooked, but not mushy 

– it should retain some texture. 

When the rice is cooked, turn off the 

heat and add the Parmesan and remaining 

butter. Now check the seasoning; 

you shouldn’t need to add much sea 

salt because the stock is likely to have 

been quite salty, but sprinkle over plenty 

of black pepper before serving the 

risotto immediately. 

FOR CHRONIC FATIGUE 

GRILLED CINNAMON PAPAYA 

(serves 2) 

When buying a papaya, sniff it rather 

than squeezing it, and if your nose detects 

a highly perfumed scent, this is a 

sure sign that the fruit is ripe and ready 

to eat. 

Preheat the grill. Cut one large papaya 

in half, from its stem to its base. Remove 

and discard all of the brown seeds 

and stringy bits and peel off the skin. 

Slice the papaya lengthways into long 

strips. Arrange the papaya strips on a 

lightly oiled baking tray and dust them 

with cinnamon. Place the baking tray 

under the grill for one to two minutes. 

Serve immediately with some creamy 

vanilla ice cream or yoghurt and a sprinkling 

of toasted coconut. 

Bodyfoods For Busy People by Jane Clarke 

(Quadrille, £14.99) 

food 

EATING OUT 

THE PARKMORE 

HOTEL, EAGLESCLIFFE 

THE Parkmore Hotel and Leisure Club 

on Yarm Road Eaglescliffe, situated 

between Stockton and Yarm, is 

extremely popular for weddings, 

conferences and all manner of group 

celebrations. But how does it compete 

when it comes to the quiet meal out where 

fierce competition from chic restaurants, 

atmospheric bistros and increasingly good 

pub fare is forcing all hotels to look to their 

laurels? The Parkmore Hotel, built in 1896 

as a family home and now owned by the 

Reed family, appears to be meeting the 

challenge admirably, due no doubt to the 

quality of staff such as operations manager 

Ben Hunt, holder of the prestigious 

membership of The Worshipful Company of 

Innholders. 

Our Choice 

Unable to resist a good prawn salad, I was 

delighted with my succulent prawns while 

my friend chose smoked haddock and pea 

risotto and pronounced it mouthwatering. 

Following a complimentary iced sorbet, my 

main course, chunk of halibut, baked with 

lemon garlic, julienne of vegetables, 

pancetta cherry tomatoes, butter and white 

wine with Lyonaisse potatoes was truly 

mouthwatering. Staying with the fish theme 

my friend was equally happy with her tuna 

steak, chilli basil, potato rosti, tomato 

chutney, buttered broccoli and lemon butter 

sauce. 

No room for desserts? Pure greed took 

over. I had fruits of the forest delice, a 

whipped-up wonder with raspberry sauce. 

My friend went for the white chocolate rum 

cheesecake. 

The menu 

Other sample menus include for starters: 

smoked salmon and prawn timbale with 

basil leaves, mussels in white wine and 

parsley garlic and cream, wild mushrooms 

and bacon glazed with goat’s cheese. 

Main courses include braised rump of 

beef, glazed vegetables, potato gratin with 

claret jus; double entrecote steak stuffed 

with prawns, potatoes with roasted root 

vegetables; vegetable nut Wellington, 

sautéed potatoes, leeks, cherry tomatoes, 

and chive butter sauce. 

For gorgeous food without the guilt, you 

can book a Fit ’n’ Feast which includes a 

workout in the gym, use of the swimming 

pool and Jacuzzi, and a two course meal 

from a varied menu, all for £18.95. 

The cost of our three course meal for two 

with a bottle of house wine and coffee was 

£55.80 

Jo Stevens 

WIN A LUXURY NIGHT AWAY 

The Parkmore Hotel and Leisure Club is at 

636 Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe, Stockton on 

Tees TS16 ODH. To book call (01642) 

786815 or fax (01642) 790485. Email: 

enquiries@parkmorehotel.co.uk 

The hotel has teamed up with NE Magazine 

to offer two people dinner with bottle of 

house wine, use of all leisure facilities and 

overnight accommodation with breakfast 

(offer subject to availability). All you have to 

do is tell us which year the Parkmore Hotel 

was built. Answers on a postcard or the 

back of an envelope to Parkmore Hotel 

Competition, Features, The Northern Echo, 

Priestgate, Darlington DL1 1NF. The closing 

date is the end of the month. Usual 

newspaper rules apply.


PEEL ST. 

MORRISONS 

SUPERMARKET 

NEWGATE ST. 

CHESTER ST. 

RAILWAY ST. 

WE ARE 

HERE 

ASDA 

SUPERSTORE 

KING 

JAMES 1 

SCHOOL


21 

connections 

PLACES WITHIN EASY REACH 

OF THE NORTH-EAST 

Mesmerising Marche 

When Yorkshireman Felix 

Stewart visited the Marche 

region of Italy, he was 

taken aback by its similarity 

to his home county. He 

tells CHRISTEN PEARS 

about his love for the area 

and his holiday homes 

business 

ASPECTACULAR coastline, 

picturesque fishing villages, 

bustling market towns and 

beautiful national parks. You 

could be forgiven for thinking 

you’re in Yorkshire but this is Marche, 

one of Italy’s hidden gems. 

Sandwiched between the Apennine 

mountains to the west and the Adriatic to 

the east, the region receives little mention 

in the travel guides but Yorkshireman 

Felix Stewart believes it is Italy’s “own 

Garden of Eden”. 

Felix, a former journalist, grew up near 

Helmsley and went to Ampleforth 

College. Eight years ago, his life took an 

unexpected turn when he travelled to 

Italy to meet his Italian girlfriend’s family 

in Marche. He fell in love with the region 

and was impressed with its striking similarities 

to the Yorkshire landscape. 

“Coming from North Yorkshire, a part 

of England not short on landscapes or 

history itself, I was instantly mesmerised 

by Marche’s enchanting mixture of wild 

beauty, warm and friendly people and 

relaxed way of life,” he says. 

“After numerous trips and holidays, we 

finally decided to move to the region in 

2000 and we have never looked back. 

“Today my love of Marche is stronger 

than ever and I still wonder at its 

stunning scenery – the beautiful medieval 

towns, rolling hills, secret valleys and 

miles upon miles of beautiful coastline – 

and its strong traditions and superb 

cuisine.” 

The 32-year-old introduced his family to 

the region but experienced difficulties 

finding suitable places for them to stay, 

and the idea for Marche Holiday Homes 

was born. 

He teamed up with a German friend to 

set up the business, which provides holidaymakers 

with accommodation in some 

of the area’s beautifully restored 

properties: houses, villas and apartments 

tailored to their needs. 

All of the accommodation is handpicked 

and includes large, converted 

farmhouses which sleep up to 14 people, 

an elegant 18th century villa and 

apartments in a former nunnery. 

Halfway down Italy’s east coast, Marche 

Smitten: Felix, above, 

with his Italian partner, 

fell in love with the 

region and the people 

of Marche 

borders Tuscany and Umbria. It is now a 

very popular destination with Germans – 

Chancellor Shroeder has a holiday home 

there – and is gradually becoming a 

favourite with Brits. It recently featured 

on the television programme A Place in 

the Sun. 

Felix says: “People are saying it’s the 

new Umbria in the same way that Umbria 

was the new Tuscany a few years ago, but 

it’s still relatively undiscovered, which 

means you don’t get the crowds, even in 

the summer. 

“The thing that struck me is just how 

like Yorkshire it is – without the weather. 

It has a spectacular coastline with 

brilliant, golden sandy beaches, dramatic 

cliffs and picturesque fishing villages. 

Inland towards the Apennines, the 

traditional hill farming communities and 

market towns of the two beautiful 

National Parks resonate with history, 

recalling the landscape, romance and 

mystery of the Yorkshire Dales and the 

North York Moors.” 

Marche boasts lush greenery, sunflower 

fields and woodlands and stunning 

mountain scenery, as well as two national 

parks. 

Nature lovers will enjoy visiting the 

Monti Sibillini National Park, which is 

playing a key role in building stable 

populations of animals including grey 

wolves, golden eagles, wild boar and 

brown bears. 

With a typical Mediterranean climate, 

many visitors head for the coast, to enjoy 

the secluded sandy beaches and clear blue 

waters but further inland there are 

medieval hilltop towns with stunning 

architecture and rich histories and in 

some of the smaller villages it is almost 

as if time has stood still. 

With more than 200 art galleries, the 

area is particularly rich in Renaissance 

art and is home to important works by 

Piero della Francesa and Raphael. 

Visitors can visit Raphael’s house in 

Urbino, which is preserved as it was when 

he was born in 1493. 

Marche also has plenty to offer 

shoppers, from bustling local markets to 

stylish boutiques. 

Felix says: “The region is so varied, 

there really is something for everyone to 

enjoy. It’s a wonderful place for a holiday 

and I think I’m incredibly lucky to live 

here.” 

For more information, visit the website 

at www.marcheholidayhomes.co.uk or 

call 08450 569 440. 

● Ryanair flies direct from London 

Stansted to the local airports of Ancona, 

Pescara and Bologna Forli' as well as 

other airports including Rome, Pisa, 

Milan and Venice. 

● Easyjet also operates daily flights to 

Bologna, Rome and Milan from Stansted.


puzzles 

Find a word that can follow the word on the left and 

precede the word on the right. When you have filled in all 

the answers, the name of a celebrity can be read from top 

to bottom in one of the lines. 

?CELEBRITY 

STARE: 

Name the 

star pictured 

on the left 

ANSWERS 

Celebrity wordmatch: The missing words are: 

hockey, green, travel, string, dinner, dock, 

colour, prison, party, shanty, safety, secret and 

the celebrity is Kevin Costner 

Celebrity stare: Gwyneth Paltrow 

WORD wise 

The word may sound 

familiar, but do you 

know what it means? 

NOVENA 

A Recurring every 

ninth year 

B Nine day 

devotion 

C Anticipate 

ANSWER 

? 

If you add a third of the 

time from now till midnight 

to half the time since midnight, 

you’ll get what the 

time is now. 

B: Nine day devotion 

What is the time? 

SOLUTION 

Time 9:35am 

competition 

WIN a luxury night away at 

the Feversham Arms 

IF you’re in need of some pampering 

and relaxation then look no further 

than the luxurious Feversham Arms in 

Helmsley, North Yorkshire. 

The hotel was recently acquired by 

Simon Rhatigan, former managing 

director at Seaham Hall, who is planning 

to turn the already popular hotel into one 

of the UK’s latest must-visit destinations. 

This is truly a place for escapism and 

romance. The surrounding countryside of 

the North Yorkshire National Park will let 

you indulge in your Wuthering Heights 

fantasies while the attention of the 

Feversham Arms staff will complete your 

indulgence. 

Making the most of the wonderful local 

produce, chef Charlie Lakin creates 

dishes of ‘real food’ with an emphasis on 

game and seafood making your dining 

experience one to remember. 

This beautiful bolthole is offering 

Northern Echo readers a special Escape 

rate between now and the end of March 

which includes a three-course dinner, full 

English breakfast and overnight 

accommodation. 

The exclusive Escape package is only 

£65 per person per night from Sunday to 

Thursday inclusive or £75 per person on 

Friday or Saturdays (usual price £180). 

However, one lucky reader will get the 

chance to enjoy the hospitality of The 

Feversham Arms free in our exclusive 

competition. 

For your chance to get away from it all 

you have to do is answer the following 

question: which North-East hotel did 

Simon Rhatigan once manage? Answers, 

by February 20, to Feversham Arms 

Competition, Ne Magazine, c/o Features, 

The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington 

DL1 1NF. 

● Please note upgrades supplements 

are available for Superior rooms and 

suites. Only two-night reservations 

are taken on certain weekends. For 

further information please contact 

The Feversham Arms hotel on 01439 

770766. 

corner 

NE Motors SHILDON Motor Company 

Redworth Road, Shildon 

Nr George Reynolds Ind Estate, Dl4 2 JT 

T el : (01388) 778492 

M obile 07966 225962 

SAFE 

DRIVER TRAINING 

Patient, Friendly instructions 

Theory help using latest CD Roms or book 

Pass both tests quickly 

Intensive Course Specialist 

Block Booking Discounts 

Additional New Customer Discount 

Credit and Debit cards accepted 

Call for details 

Call Free 0800 027 2422 

Guaranteed Finance Available 

Licensed Credit Broker - Written d etails o n r equest 

Open: Mon-Fri 9-6 Sat 9-5 Sun 10-4 

w ww. s hildonmotorco. co.uk 

FINE TUNE 

Winter Special Offer 

ring for details 

Mobile Engine Tuning, Servicing 

& Fault Code Reading 

Tuning includes over 80 checks, 

all work guaranteed, carried out 

by qualified technician - 25 years 

experience 

We come to you 

Tel: 01642 765155 

You 

Regency Restorations 

R. Robinson - Est 1948 

Antique and Modern, Domestic and 

Commercial Furniture, all repaired and 

restored by expert craftsmen 

• Cabinet Making • French Polishing 

Antiques a Speciality 

Estimates FREE at our discretion 

Member of Guild of Master Craftsmen 

Fowler House Farm, Heighington, Co Durham 

Tel: (01388) 778022 

Paylors 

Memorials 

Suppliers of 

Quality Materials 

& Designs 

Free Estimates/ 

Insurance/Advice 

A Second Generation 

Family Business 

01429 890010 / 869026 

(M) 07949 088241 

Unit 27a, Park View 

West Ind Estate, 

Hartlepool - Showroom 

& Workshop 

Daily Living Aids 

for the Disabled & 

Elderly 

Independence 

Restored 

Our Showroom is set 

out as a replica home 

with great ideas on how 

to make daily tasks 

easier. 

Scooters, Wheelchairs, 

Walking Aids, Bathing, 

Toileting, Household, 

Kitchen and Dining 

Unit 18, Drum 

Industrial Estate, 

Chester-le-Street 

Tel: 0191 4922301 

Family 

Perranporth 

Gear Park, Cornwall 

6 BERTH 

CARAVAN 

Colour TV, close to beach, 

ideal for touring Cornwall 

DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE 

Enquiries to 

01872 572271 

W. GORDON SCOTT 

& CO 

(Fire Extinguishers) 

Main agents for 

AMEREX FIRE 

INTERNATIONAL LTD 

Service & Sale of fire 

extinguishers 

Refil of CO2 

PORTABLE 

APPLIANCE 

TESTING 

Unit 14, I.E.S. Centre, 

Aycliffe Ind Park, 

Co. Durham 

Tel/Fax 

01325 300643 

CLOCK 

REPAIRS 

Would like to wish 

customers old and new a 

very Merry Christmas 

Antique or Modern 

Collection and delivery 

could be arranged 

45 years in the trade 

Tel/Fax: 

01207 234600 

Mobile: 

07767 803585 

Cottage Inn 

Craster, 

Northumberland 

Open all year 

5 mins walk from 

coast. Situated in its 

own woodland 

gardens. All rooms 

en-suite. 

Oct-April: £35 pppn 

based on a 2 night stay 

Tel: ( 01665) 576658 

Woof 

Cutts 

Dog Grooming 

Parlour 

All Breeds Welcome 

Opening Hours: 

Mon-Thurs 9am-3pm 

Fri-Sun 10am-till late 

Ring with your 

requirements 

We also stock a small 

selection of dog food 

and treats at 

competitive prices 

Rose Bungalow 

Chilton Lane, Ferryhill 

Tel. 01740 654728 

POLLY’S 

CHILDREN’S EMPORIUM 

20 Front Street East, Wingate 

Tel. 01429 838700 

Major stockists of quality knitting yarns, 

patterns, buttons and haberdashery 

Baby and Christening wear and accessories, 

Anchor threads and cross-stitch 

Excellent range of traditional wooden toys 

Polly’s is not just a shop ... it’s an experience 

COACH TOURS 

SCOTLAND AND DEVON 

McColls of Argyll 

The Friendly Hotels 

We own the hotels and coaches so you get the best prices 

Pick ups: Darlington • Middlesbrough 

Stockton • Durham • Washington 

Sunderland • Newcastle 

Middlesbrough Tour Dates 2004 

TO BOOK PHONE 08702 40 30 80 

To Dunoon 

FEB Thurs 26 5 days £111 Now £99.90 

Lucky Draw 

APR Fri 16 5 days £124 Country 

& Western 

MAY Mon 3 6 days £149 

JUN Wed 9 5 days £149 

AUG Sun 22 6 days £164 

SEP Mon 13 6 days £164 

OCT Fri 22 5 days £114 Line Dancing 

NOV Mon 22 5 days £114 Jinglebells 

To Torquay 

MAR Sun 7 7 days £156 Now £140.40 

Lucky Draw 

APR Sun 25 7 days £189 

JUN Sun 13 7 days £214 

AUG Sun 1 7 days £233 

SEP Sun 19 7 days £179 

NOV Sun 7 7 days £157 Jinglebells 

60s Weekend: 60s music at its best; 

Country & Western: 3 nights of country 

music at its best; Lucky Draw: one lucky 

guest will have the balance of their holiday 

cleared (extras excluded); Torquay & 

Tinsel: An after-Christmas Jinglebells 

We reserve the right to amend pick up 

points due to operational requirements. 

Tel. 08702 403080 Fax 01369 702764 

Email: info@mcollshotel.co.uk 

Website: www.mcollshotels.co.uk


23 

FILEY 

HOLIDAY 

HOME 

3 Bedroom 

House 

Ideally located for 

beach and shops. 

Also close to 

Glen Gardens. 

PETS WELCOME 

Available all year 

Further details 

contact: 

01904 

782998 

Ambleside 

Gables 

Hotel 

Located in heart of 

village, pets/children 

welcome, private 

car park. 

November to 

February 

3 Nights B&B 

from £70 pp 

excludes school 

holidays & weekends 

☎ (015394) 33272 

NE Leisure 

BLACKPOOL 

Canberra 

Hotel 

Under New 

Management 

South Shore. Lic 

bar, all rooms ensuite, 

TV’s in all 

rooms. Adjacent to 

prom. Evening 

meals available. 

Book Now 

for 2004 

Tel: (01253) 343720 

New 

Marlbro 

Blackpool 

LICENSED 

Central location, 

all amenities, 

entertainment 

COACH PARTIES 

WELCOME 

Telephone 

01253 401110 

The 

Penthouse Beauty Suite 

FOR ALL YOUR BEAUTY & BODY CARE NEEDS 

Spoil yourself with one of our Special Packages 

Sauna, Bunbed, Mini Facial, Back Massage £22 

Eyelash Perm, Tint & Eyebrow Reshape £20 

Full Body Massage, Sauna, Pedicure, Sunbed £25 

Acrylic Nails for £25 Back Massage & Facial £20 

Patch test recommended. Packages are ideal for those 

special occasions, exchange of treatments available to 

suit individual needs. Contact Brenda Allinson at 

The Penthouse Beauty Suite 

Bainbridge House, 86-88 Skinnergate, Darlington 

Tel: 01325 353637 /384700 

MORTIMERS 

HAIR & SUNBEDS 

Call 01325 381158 

“Experience the ambience of Mortimers, 

the hairdressing experience of luxury 

and quality you deserve” 

INTRODUCTORY 

OFFER WITH KAREN 

Limited time only 

For an appointment call 01325 381158 

59 C ONISCLIFFE R OAD , D ARLINGTON 

R 

E 

D 

K 

E 

N 

Summer Offers at 

Catterick Golf Club 

GOLF SOCIETY DAYS 

18 Hole Society Golf Day 

Coffee and bacon sandwich on arrival 

18 holes of golf • 2 course evening meal 

from £29 per golfer 

27 Hole Society Day 

Coffee and bacon sandwich on arrival 

9 holes of golf • Lunch • 18 holes of golf 

2 course evening meal 

from £34 per golfer 

For more details please telephone Grant 

(01748) 833268 

Catterick Golf Club 

2004/2005 

membership 

available 

Perfect Holiday 

Recipe 

Step 1: Take top notch 

overnight 

accommodation. 

Step 2: Add a home cooked 

hearty breakfast 

Step 3: Mix with a warm & 

friendly atmosphere 

Step 4: Contact 

01253 343839 

Result: 

Southcliffe 

Guest House 

BLACKPOOL 

It’s certainly cooking 

with class! 

Party Bookings welcome. 

Book now for half term. 

Leyburn Road, Catterick 

Garrison, Nr Richmond 

grant@catterickgolfclub.co.uk 

www.catterickgolf.co.uk 

New 

Marlbro 

Blackpool 

LICENSED 

Central location, 

all amenities, 

entertainment 

COACH PARTIES 

WELCOME 

Telephone 

01253 401110 

BTL WOOD SHEDS 

HAND CARVED ROCKING 

HORSES 

LOGS AND STICKS 

SUPPLIERS OF SHEDS 

SUMMER HOUSE 

PLAY HOUSES 

Suppliers Of Fencing / Decking Materials 

Now taking orders for Rocking Horses and 

Playhouses 

All Garden Play Equipment 

Available 

RAILWAY SLEEPERS & TELEGRAPH POLES ALSO AVAILABLE 

Tel: 01388 608452 Toronto, Bishop Auckland 

Auctioneers of Distinction 

The Gallery Saleroom 

Northumberland Street 

Darlington DL3 7HJ 

TelFax 

(01325) 462559 (01325) 284587 

BLINDS UK 

2 Vertical Blinds £60 3 Vertical Blinds £89 

4 Vertical Blinds £111 5 Vertical Blinds £129 

Any size - FREE measure 

FREE fitting (lovely choice of fabrics) 

All blinds 

& samples 

brought to 

your home 

A LSO FABULOUS RANGE OF 

W OOD V ENETIANS AND 

R OLLER B LINDS 

(01325) 320666 

For a FREE No Obligation Estimate 

Visit our website www.blinds.uk.com 

Have peace of mind with 

HOME 

INSURANCE 

For details telephone 

01423 502253 

F OR ALL YOUR DOLLS HOUSES AND CRAFT SUPPLIES . 

Choose from our beautiful, ready-assembled and kit form 

houses. Extremely wide range of miniatures. Very large range 

of needle work and card-making supplies also stocked. 

C LOSED T UESDAYS . 

Gift vouchers available . 

The Craftmill 

98 Church Road, Stockton-on-Tees 

✁ 

Lots of new and 

exciting tile ranges now 

in stock 

10% DISCOUNT 

ON PRODUCTION OF 

THIS COUPON 

✁ 

U nit 2G, D rum I nd E state , 

C hester-le- S treet 

( opp B atleys ) 

tel ephone: 

(0191) 4920073 

Open Mon-Fri 10-5 pm 

Sat 10-4 pm 

MACKAY 

SERVICES LTD 

New Floors for Old 

Replacement floors 

also installed. 

Total renovation of all 

timber flooring, 

sanding, staining and 

polishing 

Victorian Terracotta 

Tiles Renovated 

Tel. 01937 835776 

or Mobile 

97702 000742 

Paving 

from £1 

18x18 

also 2x2 and 3x2 

paving 

Bricks 

from £34 a pack 

Old York 

£8.40 sq yd 

All Plus VAT 

Telephone: 

ELDON HOPE 

01388 775261 

☎ 

01642 

351008 

PINE 

THIN GUMMIES 

Can provide you with 

hand-built bespoke 

kitchens and bedrooms 

We also specialise in 

handmade furniture and 

radiator cabinets 

25 years experience 

D. Lavery 

Unit 6, Tudhoe Ind. 

Est., Spennymoor 

Tel. 01388 819880 

/ 816821 

Mob: 07966 478591 

Dolls 

Houses 

for 2 - 92 

year olds! 

Most Credit/Debit Cards 

Fenby Stone 

and Timber 

Suppliers of Reclaimed 

Materials 

Create your ideal home 

traditionally 

Stockists of new and reclaimed 

timber, decking and sleepers 

Buildings, garden wall and 

rockery stone 

Box profile and corrugated 

sheets etc. and steel 

Windhill Farm, Fylingdales, 

Robin Hood’s Bay, Whitby 

For advice call: 

(01947) 880702 

Large quantity of Herribone 

Stone 

W ESTWOO 

T I M B E R D 

& FENCING 

Tel: (01325) 378202 

www.westwoodtimber.co.uk 

• Custom-made sheds, play huts and 

summerhouses 

• Private and domestic fencing supplied and fixed 

• Panels, trellis, posts and rails 

• Hardwood railway sleepers in stock 

• Large selection of profile posts 

• We also supply hardwood logs 

We are situated just past the Croft Motor Racing 

Circuit, down West Lane, at Dalton on Tees 

Bow Street Centre 

GUISBOROUGH 

BUSINESS 

UNITS TO LET 

Start up your business with our 

easy terms. 

Good access and parking 

01642 710742 • 01287 610600 

The Butterwick 

Children’s Hospice 

i ncorporating the Northumbrian Water Day Centre 

Run For The Children 

60% of the great north run participants do not run for charity, help 

us change this statistic and run for The Butterwick Children’s 

Hospice. 

This year’s Great North Run takes place on 26th September and 

we’d love to see you there proudly wearing your Butterwick vest, 

but if you don’t feel up to running 13 miles why not join in with one 

of the other events on offer, The Great North Walk, The Great Mile 

Run or for the youngsters The Junior Great North Run. 

At Butterwick Children’s Hospice we provide the very best care and 

support to many young terminally ill children in the North East, 

during their good days, bad days and often last days of their lives. 

All of whom have a lot of living to do, but sadly not a lot of time in 

which to do it. Through your kindness and support we can help 

enrich their all too short lives. 

For more information please contact Nicola Miley at the 

Fundraising Office on (01642) 624231. 

Please make a difference today as tomorrow may be too late. 

NE Homes and Gardens 

Meynells Ltd 

Stockists of all makes of sewing 

machines and everything you need for 

your hobby 

WE GUARANTEE YOU EXCELLENT 

CUSTOMER SERVICE 

2 Southfield Road, Middlesbrough 

Tel: (01642) 247863 

Beauty B is within the eye 

of the Beholder 

Quality and Value from 

E XPRESS B LINDS 

Vertical • Roller • Venetian 

Pleated • Solar Film 

0800 0745724 

www.expressblinds.co.uk 

Let the light shine with 

Homefair Blinds 

• Vertical • Roller • Venetian 

All made to measure 

www.homefair-blinds-uk.com 

Freephone 08000 729474

SHOPPING Di's objects of desire ME AND MY WARDROBE Kate ...

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