FOR MCCARTHY & STONE HOMEOWNERS SPRING 2020

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FOR MCCARTHY & STONE HOMEOWNERS SPRING 2020
For McCarthy & Stone homeowners   Spring 2020
FOR MCCARTHY & STONE HOMEOWNERS SPRING 2020
Welcome to

                         EMERALD
                      our magazine for
               McCarthy & Stone’s homeowners.
Welcome to the latest edition of                questions, then please do speak to your
Emerald. I wanted firstly to take this          House or Estate Manager.
opportunity to send you my best wishes,
                                                In this issue, you will find suggestions
and to update you on the steps that we
                                                on how to keep busy and stay positive
are taking to help minimise the spread
                                                during this time. The honorary Sir Muir
of COVID-19 in our developments.
                                                Gray has kindly shared his personal
We are continuing to follow and monitor         insight on staying at home and looking
the official guidance from the UK               forward to the future.
Government and Public Health England
                                                As ever, it’s lovely to receive news from
carefully. It’s of vital importance for us to
                                                so many of you about what you’ve been
be in a position to ensure that any and
                                                up to at your developments since the last
all procedures are in place to support the
                                                edition, as well as hearing some of the
health and wellbeing of our homeowners
                                                incredible life stories of our homeowners.
and staff.
                                                We continue to have our exclusive Sky
All of our developments have strict             offer on page 64 and are giving you the
hygiene protocols in place with regards         chance to win £150 worth of M&S
to necessary visitors, and information          vouchers on page 30.
notices have been clearly displayed at
                                                I hope that you enjoy reading this latest
all entrances. The health and safety of
                                                edition of Emerald.
you all is our number one priority and
we will continue to follow any official         David Searle
Government guidance over the coming
                                                Managing Director of Services
weeks. If you have any concerns or

  Emerald, McCarthy & Stone, 100 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth BH8 8AQ
                     emerald@mccarthyandstone.co.uk
FOR MCCARTHY & STONE HOMEOWNERS SPRING 2020
WHAT’S INSIDE...
    To request a copy of Emerald in alternative large print format
    please contact emerald@mccarthyandstone.co.uk                                                                      26   We're all in this together
                                                                                                                            How McCarthy & Stone is supporting you at
                                                                                                                            this time.
                                                                                                                                                                             47   Peter’s crossword
                                                                                                                                                                                  Can you solve Peter’s cryptic crossword? He’s
                                                                                                                                                                                  back with a second edition!

                                                                                                                       28   Spring clean your wardrobe
                                                                                                                            Rediscover the items that make you feel good
                                                                                                                            every day.
                                                                                                                                                                             48   Virtual tours
                                                                                                                                                                                  Places to escape to and explore from the
                                                                                                                                                                                  comfort of your sofa.

                                                                                                                       30   Competition time
                                                                                                                            Send us your answer for a chance to treat
                                                                                                                            yourself to something new.
                                                                                                                                                                             52   Sir Muir Gray on keeping safe
                                                                                                                                                                                  Sir Muir Gray’s personal insight on keeping
                                                                                                                                                                                  positive during lockdown.

                                                                                                                       31   Codewords
                                                                                                                            Can you solve this edition’s codeword
                                                                                                                            challenge? Answers on page 67.
                                                                                                                                                                             54   Keep in touch
                                                                                                                                                                                  New ways to stay connected with friends and
                                                                                                                                                                                  loved ones.

                                                                                                                       32   Homes for Later Living
                                                                                                                            Thank you for taking part in our survey on
                                                                                                                            the benefits of retirement living.
                                                                                                                                                                             56   Reading list
                                                                                                                                                                                  A list of our top reads to travel away with this
                                                                                                                                                                                  spring.

                                                                                                                       34   A traveller’s guide to marriage
                                                                                                                            How a later marriage can lead to a world of
                                                                                                                            unexpected adventures.
                                                                                                                                                                             58   Television series
                                                                                                                                                                                  A guide to some of the best box sets to sink
                                                                                                                                                                                  into at the moment.
                                                               So many of our homeowners have hidden talents, we
                                                                received this delightful cartoon from Bob Gridley at
                                                                                    Walmsley Place. Thank you Bob!     36   Resales
                                                                                                                            Our Resales team can offer a helping hand if
                                                                                                                            you are thinking of selling.
                                                                                                                                                                             60   Podcasts
                                                                                                                                                                                  From interviews to comedy, discover the joy of
                                                                                                                                                                                  listening to a podcast.

06           Stay at home
             Together, we’re doing our bit to help slow the
             spread of coronavirus.
                                                              15    Not on the high street: online shopping
                                                                    Brighten up your home without hitting the
                                                                    high street.
                                                                                                                       38   Easy stove-top eggs
                                                                                                                            A quick and easy supper you can scramble
                                                                                                                            together from your store cupboard.
                                                                                                                                                                             62   Thank you
                                                                                                                                                                                  A huge thank you to our heroes selflessly
                                                                                                                                                                                  working to support and protect us.

08           Be positive
             There are many ways to look after your mind,
             body and soul during this unusual time.
                                                              16    Celebrating a true hero
                                                                    Local legend John Clarke and his tales as a
                                                                    D-Day Dodger.
                                                                                                                       40   Store cupboard stars
                                                                                                                            Tasty tips for making the most of your kitchen
                                                                                                                            cupboard ingredients.
                                                                                                                                                                             64   Sky
                                                                                                                                                                                  Bringing best-loved shows and award-winning
                                                                                                                                                                                  entertainment to you.

12            Never too late to learn
              Why not use this as an opportunity to learn
              something new.
                                                              20    VE Day 75
                                                                    A shared moment of celebration 75 years on
                                                                    from when the guns fell silent.
                                                                                                                       42   Our charity partner
                                                                                                                            What an amazing year it’s been supporting the
                                                                                                                            fantastic Coram Beanstalk.
                                                                                                                                                                             66   Congratulations!
                                                                                                                                                                                  Many congratulations to Jill Hill, the winner
                                                                                                                                                                                  of our Lakeland prize.

14                                                            22                                                       44                                                    67
             A stronger community together                          Britain goes to Hollywood                               News & events                                         Share your stories
             Send us your happy news to feature in the next         The country’s landmarks are in the spotlight on         Wonderful stories sent in from you over the           Send us your life stories for a chance to feature
             edition of Emerald.                                    the big screen.                                         last few months.                                      in future editions.

4   EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                                                                                                                                                     EMERALD | Spring 2020 5
FOR MCCARTHY & STONE HOMEOWNERS SPRING 2020
CORONAVIRUS

                            We’re staying at home to stay                                  and private outdoor space. The communal gardens at
                                                                                           our developments continue to be open and we would
                            well, protect the NHS and save                                 very much like you to make the most of the safe
                            the lives of our loved ones.                                   outdoor area available to you. All we ask is for you
                                                                                           to follow the social distancing guidelines when you
                            We’re all being asked to stay at home in a national            do. Many of you also have balconies where you can
                            effort to help slow down the spread of coronavirus. In         continue to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air from the
                            a very short space of time, our daily lives have changed       comfort of your apartment – and it has been lovely
                            drastically, affecting us, our families and our communities.   to see many of you socialising, taking part in group
                                                                                           exercises or joining in the #ClapForOurCarers from
                            Across the country, we’re being asked to only leave our        your balconies each week.
                            homes for very limited reasons, if at all, and to comply
                            with the Government advice on social distancing and            Around our developments, we are limiting use of lifts
                            practicing safe hygiene at all times. We can only leave        and buggy rooms to one resident or apartment at the
                            our homes to shop for basic necessities, for one form          time, minimising physical contact. This is in order to
                            of exercise per day, any medical need or to travel to          help keep your friends and neighbours safe and well,
                            places of work. While the over 70s or those with an            and we thank you for your patience and consideration
                            underlying health condition, are being asked to stay at        of others. Our House and Estate Managers along with
                            home and rely on others to do the shopping or collect          your ‘Buddies’ are also working tirelessly to ensure you
                            medication for you. It has impacted us all in many             receive all your food deliveries and any prescriptions
                            different ways, making us rethink how we go about              you may need.
                            our day-to-day lives, how we socialise with family and         Simply, all we’re being asked to do is to stay at home.
                            friends, how we continue to work or volunteer, how we          We thank you all for being so understanding at this
                            shop, eat, exercise… the list goes on.                         time, working together with your neighbours and
                            For us all, it’s not the spring we expected. There has         House and Estate Managers to follow and respect the
                            been some lovely weather, which has kept many                  essential Government guidelines in hope to combat the
                            people’s spirits high, but this again welcomes its own         virus. The little part we all play today, will make a huge
                            challenges as naturally we want to head outside. Strict        difference tomorrow.
                            restrictions have been put in place to discourage
                            people from visiting parks, landmarks or the coast,
                            and instead encourage us to enjoy our own gardens

6   EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                                                                         EMERALD | Spring 2020 7
FOR MCCARTHY & STONE HOMEOWNERS SPRING 2020
HEALTH & WELLBEING                                                                                                      LIFESTYLE

                            BE POSITIVE
                            Looking after your mind, body and soul
                            Ways to keep your smile bright, your mind positive and your body active
                            during this unprecedented time. When balanced with positive ingredients,
                            managing stress, anxiety and personal feelings can be made much easier.
                            With restrictions in place to self-isolate, it’s time to rejuggle your social
                            calendar and daily routine to find happiness in what could otherwise be a very
                            overwhelming situation. You never know, you may discover something new
                            that you just love.

8   EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                                                    EMERALD | Spring 2020 9
FOR MCCARTHY & STONE HOMEOWNERS SPRING 2020
Daily dose of Vitamin D                                          Yoga & Pilates
Something as simple as opening your windows can help             Both yoga and Pilates offer a more relaxed approach to
bring the outside in. Move your favourite chair by the           exercise, keeping your body moving and your joints warm,
window where you can sit and read your book while                while helping to clear your mind. Yoga and mindfulness go
the sun streams in or make the most of the landscaped            hand in hand, and many find it particularly calming.
gardens and watch the spring flowers bloom.                      Again, YouTube offers a great way to find an online teacher
Where possible, include eggs and fish in your diet and           you love. ‘Yoga with Adriene’ is highly recommended as
citrus fruits like oranges. They can help give your body a       her videos are very gentle while offering a variety of moves,
                                                                 making them perfect for newcomers.
much-need Vitamin D boost.
                                                                 Read books (lots of them!)
Find happiness in hobbies
                                                                 If you ever needed an excuse to pick up a good book, it’s
A hobby, old or new, is a perfect way to keep your mind
                                                                 finally here. A book is the perfect escape transporting you
active while distracting yourself from the world outside.
                                                                 to a fictional tale or discover the unearthed reality of a place
With more opportunity on your hands than you know
                                                                 or person. Once you’ve finished, swap your books with a
what to do with, this is the perfect time to find something
                                                                 neighbour or start a ‘Book Box’ in the communal lounge.
you love and to see where it takes you. Escape to a painting,
                                                                 See page 56 for our top reads.
write a book, poetry or music, learn the instrument you’ve
had at the back of the cupboard for too long or dig out the
                                                                 Turn up the music
sewing machine and get crafty. We’ve shared some ideas on
things to learn overleaf.                                        Listening to music can benefit your overall wellbeing, help
                                                                 regulate emotions and create happiness and relaxation in
Home workouts                                                    everyday life. When you hear songs you like, similarly to
                                                                 dancing, it can naturally help lift your mood, reduce stress
Staying active will help lift your physical and mental
                                                                 and ease anxiety. So, for a double dose of daily goodness,
wellbeing. Exercising little and often will release endorphins
                                                                 turn up your favourite music and dance along to your
that can boost your energy and improve your circulation,
                                                                 go-to soundtrack!
helping you feel happier and healthier.
YouTube is a fabulous tool for following online videos by        Bake a treat or two
qualified instructors. Accessed via your computer, iPad,         Nothing lifts spirits quite like a cup of tea and a slice of
tablet or smartphone you can search for exercises from           cake in the afternoon. Mary Berry always says you can bake
cardio classes to Pilates and yoga.                              in advance and freeze it for later, so if you love to cook
Celebrities such as Joe Wicks, ‘The Body Coach’, and             it's a great excuse to bake now and enjoy later. Her top
Davina McCall offer easy-to-follow, energised routines           tip is to keep the cake and icing separate, defrost at room
from 10 minutes to an hour. The recently launched NHS            temperature and assemble just before serving.
Fitness Studio is also fantastic offering a range of aerobic     If you don’t have all your usual ingredients to hand, there’s
and strengthening online classes.                                many recipes using replacement ingredients such as egg-
If you regularly attend an exercise class, ask your instructor   free bakes and flourless goodies. See page 40 for our store
if they’re uploading any of their sessions online, as many       cupboard tips.
are. That way you can follow your usual routines from the
comfort of your home.

                                                                                                           EMERALD | Spring 2020 11
FOR MCCARTHY & STONE HOMEOWNERS SPRING 2020
LIFESTYLE

                                                                                                                   Politics

                                                Is there a moment in history
                                                you'd like to know more about?
                                                A talent you secretly wish you'd                                 Languages
                                                nutured?
                                                Whether there's a language you adore that you'd like
                                                to learn, an idea for a book that you've never got
                                                round to writing, or an art or craft that you'd like to         Photography
                                                master, now's the perfect time to give it a go!
                                                The outbreak of coronavirus has forced us all to
                                                slow down, to stay home, and as a result we have
                                                much more time on our hands. This time gives us an
                                                opportunity; a chance to be creative and imaginative,          Computer skills
                                                to learn and discover a new skill. Generations of all
                                                ages are in search of new hobbies to spark interest and
                                                excitement in their day to day lives – embracing the
                                                positives and the endless possibilities.
                                                Thanks to books, journals and the internet, there’s so
                                                                                                               Candle making
                                                many fantastic resources available, inspiring, teaching
                                                and encouraging us to discover (or rediscover)
                                                something we enjoy. There’re bundles of online
                                                courses ready and waiting, from universities such
                                                as Open Learn and Future Learn to YouTube and
                                                Skillshare sharing video tutorials.
                                                                                                                  Knitting

                                   r too lat
                                                Whatever your age, your brain still has an astonishing

                                ve              ability to learn and this should be an opportunity to

                              ne            e   find the thing you love. From the arts, history and
                                                literature, to music, languages, cooking and digital
                                                technology – there’s something out there for all
                                                interests and abilities and you could very quickly find           Patisserie
                                                yourself immersed in a topic that you now don’t want
                                                to leave.
                                                To get you started, we’ve shared a few ideas but don’t
                                                be limited to the options listed here, as there really
                                                is something for everyone out there. A great place to       Watercolour painting
                                                start is YouTube, but online shops such as Not On The

                             something new      Highstreet selling at-home starter kits are also fabulous
                                                to get you going, particularly with arts and crafts.        And many, many more...

12   EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                                                             EMERALD | Spring 2020 13
FOR MCCARTHY & STONE HOMEOWNERS SPRING 2020
CORONAVIRUS                                                                                                                                                                                    SHOPPING

                                A STRONGER                                                                                              NOT ON THE HIGH STREET

                             COMMUNITY TOGETHER
                               Send us your happy news to feature in
                                   the next edition of Emerald.

                                                                                                                                                                                              1.
                                                                                                                         3.
                                                                                                                                                           2.

                                                                                                                                   4.                            1. Blue Speckled Hanging
                                                                                                                                                                    Planter
                                                                                                                    5.
                                                                                                                                                                    £5.99 Homesense

                                                                                                                                                                 2. House Plant in Textured Pot
                                                                                                                                                                    £19 M&S

                                                                                                                                                                 3. 12 Piece Abstract Dinner Set
                                                                                                                                                                    £25 M&S

                                                                                                                                                                 4. House by John Lewis Ridge
                                                                                                                                                                    Storage Cabinet, Blue
                                                                                                                                                                    £199 John Lewis

                                                                                                                                                                 5. Gin Lovers 500 Piece Jigsaw
                                                                                                                                                                    Puzzle
                                                                                                                                                                    £18 Harvey Norman
It’s times like this that communities come together        We love these wonderful stories, and would also love
to support each other, and the little things really do     to hear how you're keeping yourself busy. Have you                 6.                                 6. Floral Teapot
shine through.                                             found new ways to catch up with neighbours? Are you                                                      £12.99 Homesense
                                                           learning a new hobby? Maybe you’ve hosted an event                                7.
It’s so lovely to hear that Tesco donated flowers to our                                                                                                         7. Ralph Lauren Home Player
                                                           online or celebrated your birthday with your family
homeowners at Bilberry Place. The son of our Estate                                                                                                                 Towel - Yellow - Hand Towel
                                                           virtually.
Manager entertained homeowners from their windows                                                                                                                   £30 Amara
with his bagpipes at Hilltree Court, and Cranberry         Please email your positive stories along with pictures
Court enjoyed pie and chips courtesy of their local fish   where possible to emerald@mccarthyandstone.co.uk or
and chip shop. As well as children painting rainbows       hand them to your House or Estate Manager to send
and sending letters to keep you all smiling.               on your behalf.

14   EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                                                                                                                    EMERALD | Spring 2020 15
FOR MCCARTHY & STONE HOMEOWNERS SPRING 2020
PROFILE

                                                         CELEBRATING
                                                         A TRUE HERO
                                                      From being a Black Watch volunteer to receiving
                                                     an MBE in recognition for his service, 96-year-old,
                                                          homeowner John Clarke is a local hero.

                             Ermine Court homeowner, John, began sharing his               John was shortly after deployed to Italy, where he
                             stories by saying there just wouldn’t be enough pages.        fought in the massacre of Monte Cassino, one of the
                                                                                           most savage battles of the Second World War. Serving
                             Over his remarkable and brave life, John has travelled
                                                                                           in Italy between the years of September 1943 and April
                             the world fighting for his country in North Africa, Italy
                                                                                           1945, he was proudly part of the D-Day Dodgers, a
                             and Greece. He was just 17 when he volunteered for
                                                                                           famous band of fighting men who inched their way
                             the Highland Regiment in 1942 training with the Black
                                                                                           over mountains through mud, snow and rain.
                             Watch until he was old enough to go to war.
                                                                                           'We had just been relieved from the horror of Cassino
                             One of his first campaigns saw John take part in a
                                                                                           town when we travelled to the hot springs spa of
                             rescue mission to save 200 injured British troops from
                                                                                           Acquafondata, a village at the foothills of the Abruzzi
                             an Italian hospital ship imminently that was set to sail
                                                                                           mountains. The Royal Engineers had rigged up a
                             from Korba in North Africa. He says:
                                                                                           number of shower units and pumped the water from
                             'I was one of 30 men detailed to board the ship.              the springs so we could shower for the first time in over
                             Hidden about 100 yards away from the main gangway,            a month. It was pure ecstasy.'
                             we awaited the signal from our officer to board. I was
                                                                                           After Italy, John went on to fight in Greece, where
                             halfway down a stairwell when I heard voices shout,
                                                                                           75,000 military personnel were deployed.
                             "Listen, listen, the Jocks are here." It was a sight I will
                             never forget.'

16   EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                                                                      EMERALD | Spring 2020 17
FOR MCCARTHY & STONE HOMEOWNERS SPRING 2020
to the Italian region, John received an MBE in 2005.          The D-Day Dodgers
                                                            As secretary of the Monte Cassino Veterans Association,
                                                            John was behind a high-profile funding campaign which         Words supplied by John Clarke, The Black Watch (R.H.R)
                                                            saw a £10m scheme set up by the National Lottery to
                                                            fund veterans’ pilgrimages so that ex-servicemen could
                                                                                                                          We are the D-Day Dodgers, out in Italy,                                      If you are in the mountains, amidst the snow and rain,
                                                            pay homage to their fallen comrades.
                                                                                                                          Always on the vino, always on the spree,                                     You’ll see rugged crosses, some which bear no name,
                                                            D-Day Dodgers                                                 8th Army skivers, and the Yanks,                                             (Quietly)
                                                                                                                          We live in Rome, we dodge the tanks,                                         Heartbreaks and toil and soldiering done,
                                                            'Over the years, when talking to WWII veterans, if
                                                                                                                          For we are the D-Day Dodgers out in Italy.                                   The lads beneath, they slumber on,
                                                            I had asked them "Were you a D-Day Dodger?" the
                                                                                                                                                                                                       For they were the D-Day Dodgers, out in Italy.
                                                            answer would be a smile and a loud "Yes!". However,           We landed at Salerno, a holiday with pay,
                                                            sometimes there would be an angry retort which                Jerry brought his bands down, to play us on our way,                         Then on the way to Florence, we had a lovely time,
                                                            identified the person as someone who did not know             They showed us the sights, and brewed up tea,                                We ran a bus to Rimini, right through the Gothic
                                                            what the title D-Day Dodger meant.'                           We all sang songs, and the beer was free,                                    Line, Soon to Milano we shall go,
                                                                                                                          For all the D-Day Dodgers, out in Italy.                                     When we’ve chased Jerry, beyond the Po,
                                                            Along with fellow troops, John helped write what is today
                                                                                                                                                                                                       For we are the D-Day Dodgers, out in Italy.
                                                            one of the Second World War’s most famous songs. The          Naples and Cassino were taken in our stride,
                                                            lyrics were fuelled by the disappointment of the lack         We didn’t go to fight, we just went for the ride,                            The years have quickly passed, today we’re old and
                                                            of publicity which had followed on the departure of           Anzio and the Sangro, were all a farce,                                      grey, But still we remember, this our special day,
                                                            General Montgomery from the 8th Army in Italy in              We did nought at all, we had a day pass,                                     When all the lads and lasses are gathered here,
                                                            December 1943. And the lack of reinforcements from            For we are the D-Day Dodgers, out in Italy.                                  To sing the songs and drink the beer,
                                                            the UK, the stopping of new equipment to replace that                                                                                      For we are the D-Day Dodgers, who fought in Italy,
                                                            first used in the desert and the overwhelming publicity       Once we had a blue light, we were going home,                                For we are the D-Day Dodgers, who fought in Italy.
                                                            about the Normandy landings.                                  Back to dear old blighty, never more to roam,
'The Greek campaign was the most brutal I had                                                                                                                                                          A D-Day Dodger is someone special
                                                                                                                          Then someone whispered, in France you’ll fight,
taken part in. As a senior stretcher-bearer, I escorted a   To vent their frustration, the song sarcastically refers to
                                                                                                                          We said ‘blow that’. We’ll just sit tight,
number of our wounded to the British field hospital         how easy life in Italy was, whereas it was anything but.
                                                                                                                          For we are the D-Day Dodgers, bin Italy.
in Athens. Once our men were taken in, I received           Today there’s many variations on verses and the chorus,
an order to join a party of VIPs who turned out to be       but all are set to the tune of the classic ‘Lily Marlene’.
Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden and the Archbishop
of Greece, with numerous MPs. As I accompanied the
group, a shot was fired at Winston Churchill, hitting
an interpreter instead.'
On the day the Second World War finished, the
territorial battalion stood down. John transferred to
the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, joining the 6th
Airborne Division. In May 1947, he left the army
returning to his hometown of Manchester where he
went back to work for his first employer Metro-Vicks in
Trafford, and to start a family with his late-wife Olive.
Along with the Italian Star and the Polish Gold Cross,
John was awarded many medals for his services in the
Black Watch.
It was in recognition of his courage and bravery
demonstrated on the Italian battlefield along with his
tireless work over the next 40 years arranging trips back
                                                                                                                          John moved to Ermine Court two and half years ago, where he has made many friends who love listening to his heroic tales.

18   EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                            EMERALD | Spring 2020 19
HISTORIC
  VE DAY EVENTS

                                                             How will you
                                                             commemorate VE Day?

 VE DAY 75
                                                             Sadly, in light of the terrible
                                                             coronavirus outbreak, the many
                                                             community celebrations planned
                                                             over the bank holiday weekend
                                                             have been postponed to a later date.
                                                             However, in honour of all who fought,
  On 8th May, 75 years ago, the guns                         tributes are still encouraged from the
 fell silent marking the end of the war                      comfort of your own homes.

  in Europe. Millions of people took                         They key moment of reflection was
                                                             set to be 3pm, when pubs were
  to the streets to celebrate peace and                      inviting you all to raise a glass to the
       remember their loved ones.                            heroes of the Second World War
                                                             in the Nation’s Toast - signalled by
                                                             a lone piper playing the traditional
                                                             tune of Battle’s O’er. We’re sure
                                                             many of you will still join the nation
                                                             as we toast from our living rooms,
 A shared moment of celebration                              balconies and gardens.
 In honour of those who showed courage and                   Our House and Estate Managers
 determination through the war, the nation was set to        had been busy organising special
 come together for a three-day international celebration     events to commemorate the
 on the Early May bank holiday this year to joyously         anniversary, and we hope to come
 continue the VE celebrations 75 years on.                   together to mark the occasion
                                                             at a later date. In the meantime,
 The Government had previously designated the Friday as
                                                             we’re still encouraging you to host
 a bank holiday (for only the second time, the first being
                                                             a celebration at home. Here’s a
 the 50th anniversary) to allow everyone to remember
                                                             handful of our top party tips:
 and share a personal tribute to those of the British,
 Commonwealth and Allied armed forces who gave their         • Sing along: download a VE Day
 lives, returned home injured and safeguarded the home         playlist on Spotify
 front during the difficult and frightening times.           • Dancing: Learn the ‘Lindy Hop’

 Despite many community events now not going ahead,            Swing
 the day of remembrance will still be an opportunity to      • Get creative: Make bunting to
 pay tribute to family and loved ones who have served          hang inside or on your balcony
 and continue to serve in the UK Armed Forces across         • In the kitchen: Bake traditional
 the world today.                                              treats such as carrot scones or
 The Friday bank holiday has been extended to enable           eggless sponge cake
 communities and families to reflect and be thankful         • VE Day in pictures: Find old
 for the bravery of the nation 75 years ago, and for the       photographs to share with your
 country as we know it today.                                  family and friends

 20    EMERALD | Spring 2020
HISTORIC EVENTS

                             The multi award-winning, critically acclaimed
                             World War One film, 1917, is a movie of the
                             ages. And a reminder of the breath-taking
                             backdrops Britain is famous for.

                             Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire
                             1917 (2019)
                             Six of the 12 locations for Sam Mendes epic
                             war film were shot on the West Country’s
                             Salisbury Plain. The 300-square-mile area close
                             to Stonehenge, often used for British military
                             training, was used to depict northern France
                             during the movie.

                             The Jurassic Coast, Dorset & Hampshire
                             Dunkirk (2016)
                                                 Weymouth harbour and
                                                 Portland bay with its Georgian
                                                 architecture and sandy beaches
                                                 can be seen in Christopher
                                                 Nolan’s adaption of Dunkirk.
                                                 While much of the filming
                                                 took place in France and the
                                                 Netherlands, landmarks along
                             the Dorset coastline feature including Swanage
                             Railway and Corfe Castle.

                             Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scottish Highlands, Scotland
                             Harry Potter (2001-2011)
                                               The ‘Harry Potter bridge’
                                               Glenfinnan Viaduct is a
                                               spectacular landscape in the
                                               Scottish Highlands perfectly
                                               fitting to transport you to the
                                               magical, wizarding world.
                                               The luscious highlands and
                                               characterful Scottish cities are
                             iconic backdrops in many movies from Glencoe in
                             Skyfall to Edinburgh in Trainspotting.

22   EMERALD | Spring 2020                                    EMERALD | Spring 2020 23
Military Wives (2020)
     starring Kristin Scott Thomas                                                                                                    The Personal History of David Copperfield
     and Sharon Horgan                                                                                                                starring Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie and Tilda Swinton

Yorkshire                                                             Gloucester Dock                                              London                                                      London
Military Wives (2020)                                                 Vanity Fair (2018)                                           The Personal History of David Copperfield                   Love Actually
A film adaption of the musical phenomenon Military                                         The old warehouses boarding             Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History of David                              It’s a British classic, featuring the
Wives, following the true story of a group of army wives                                   the water at Gloucester Dock            Copperfield both respects and reinvents the novel in a                        very best of the country’s actors
who formed a choir to help each other whilst their                                         have provided ideal backgrounds         wonderfully entertaining adaptation, full to bursting                         and film locations. While watching
husbands were away on duty. Together with Gareth                                           for shooting scenes for period          with fantastic comic performances. At its heart lies a                        the friendships and relationships
Malone, the choir released four singles and albums.                                        television dramas and feature films     theatrical journey of self-discovery which manages to                         unravel, you can spot Heathrow
There are now over 80 choirs attached to army bases                                        including the Onedin Line and           both respect and reinvent the novel - it’s definitely one                     Airport, Somerset House, Selfridges
across the country.                                                                        Vanity Fair.                            to watch.                                                                     and St Lukes Mews in Notting Hill
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 to name but a few.

Derwentwater, Keswick, Lake District                                  Chatsworth House, Derbyshire                                 London                                                      London
Miss Potter (2006)                                                    Pride and Prejudice (2005)                                   James Bond                                                  Paddington Bear
                              Once home to the beloved author                              Home to the Cavendish family since                          The city of London features in many                       London’s famous bear enjoys a trip
                              of the best-selling, family favourite                        1549, the 35,000-acre Chatsworth                            iconic shots of Ian Fleming’s James                       of a lifetime in the 2014 adaption.
                              Peter Rabbit, the quintessential                             Estate offers a range of beautiful                          Bond series. You can see the 007                          From the Natural History Museum
                              setting of the Lake District with its                        locations. The house is the residence                       agent jet down the Thames, climb                          and its once 26-metre-long resident
                              lush greenery and beautiful views                            of Mr Darcy in the adaption of Jane                         the roof of The 02 arena and enjoy                        Dippy, to St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower
                              was a lovely location to bring the                           Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, as well                       afternoon tea at Langham hotel.                           Bridge and Portobello Road, much-
                              writer’s story to life.                                      as a star in The Wolfman and                                                                                          loved landmarks pop up throughout
                                                                                           The Duchess.                                                                                                          the movie.

24    EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                       EMERALD | Spring 2020 25
CORONAVIRUS

                                                        We're all
                                                 in this together
                                           At McCarthy & Stone our number one priority is looking
                                           after our homeowners, your families, our employees and
                                          construction teams to ensure you all remain safe and well.

We appreciate this is a challenging time for everyone,         Our developments
where you will be missing loved ones and the routine of
your day to day lives. Over the past few weeks, we have        You will notice many posters around the developments
introduced new measures which we hope will reassure            advising you to follow the Government guidelines to
and support you through this uncertain time. If at any         help slow the spread of the virus. We have stopped
point you have any questions or concerns, please do            visitors, except those essential to providing care, coming
speak to your House or Estate Manager.                         to the development at the moment, and all deliveries
                                                               will be left at the main entrance.
Our homeowners                                                 300 of our newly built in unoccupied developments have
You will receive regular packs outlining the forever-          been offered to the NHS and the Government, to help
changing steps we’re taking to support you. The packs          them to respond to the national emergency, either housing
include top tips for keeping busy and healthy at this time     key workers or those recovering from the outbreak.
from 7 exercises to do at home to 7 good mood foods
to 7 cultural delights to live stream to 7 virtual places to   Our staff
visit. Our website has become a portal of information          We’re delighted that hundreds of our staff from teams
for you and your family, offering advice and support. We       and offices across the country have volunteered to help
hope the packs and our website are helpful and inspire         provide additional operational support to help meet our
you with different ways to fill your time.                     homeowners'needs.
We have also set up a buddy system, where a trusted friend,    On site, we have strict hygiene procedures in place,
close relative or member of our team will check in with        extra cleaning where needed and personal, protective
you and help deliver medical or food supplies. We are now      equipment has been issued to our frontline teams.
offering a series of free Mirthy talks online which you are
invited to sign up to at www.mirthy.co.uk/mcs/ and our
‘Send A Smile’ campaign will launch on the 27th April
2020, giving you an opportunity to send and receive letters
from children locally. We hope this will contribute to the
efforts of many helping to bring everyone together at this
time – and most of all, make you smile.

26   EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                                                                  EMERALD | Spring 2020 27
LIFESTYLE
                                                        Declutter
                                                        Love it or throw it! No matter
                                                        how long something hangs in your
                                                        wardrobe for, you will only wear it if
                                                        you love it.

                                                        Make a simple change
                                                        Changing or adding to an outfit can

      Spring
                                                        make it seem brand new. Opt for a
                                                        different colour shirt, tie, jumper or
                                                        accessory. A stylish, statement silk
                                                        scarf or choice of shoes can change the
                                                        whole look and feel.

      clean your                                        Embrace the layers

      wardrobe
                                                        Layering is a great way to give your
                                                        existing wardrobe a boost. Wear a
                                                        vest top in the same colour as your
                                                        bottoms and add a contrasting top
        Whittle down your wardrobe so                   or cardi.
        that everything you own makes
                 you feel good.                         Mix & match
                                                        Mixing and matching your wardrobe
                                                        makes your clothes work hard for you
Cue the capsule wardrobe: a collection of essential     – and you can have some great fun
items of clothing that won’t go out of fashion. The     too! Take an outfit you wore only once
term, coined by British fashion icon Susie Faux in      for a special occasion and pair the
the 70s, was designed to encourage us all to fill our   formal jacket with jeans.
wardrobes with quality, much loved garments that
can be worn time and time again.                        Polish
Several decades on, it’s a phrase many of us revive,    Give your favourite accessories a
especially come spring when our wardrobes – and         new lease of life by investing in some
what’s in them – may feel a little tired.               leather polish to clean up your shoes
From personalising an item with different buttons       and handbags.
or embroidery, to sending your ‘throw it’ items
straight to the charity shop, we’ve gathered our        Treat yourself to something
top tips for decluttering and rediscovering your        new each season
wardrobe to find those clothes you love.
                                                        Whether it’s a new season signature
                                                        jacket, cashmere sweater or a beautiful,
                                                        floral cotton scarf, treat yourself to one
                                                        new item per season to team with your
                                                        capsule wardrobe.

28   EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                   EMERALD | Spring 2020 29
COMPETITION                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                PUZZLE

                                                                                                                                                                                                 Codewords
                                                                                                                                                                                                 Can you solve the codeword challenge? Each letter of the alphabet has been substituted for a
                                                                                                                                                                                                 number between 1 and 26. We haven’t given you any clues but have started you off with a few
                                                                                                                                                                                                 letters to help you on your way. Good luck!

                                                                                                                                                                                                 Check your answers on page 67.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 9        5         12        3                   22        19        7     19    21   7        5

                                                                                                                                                                                                 13              19                 3                   12                  24              14         20

                                                                                                                                                                                                 3      19       12       19        7         13        3                   12        23    19    1    25       21   4

                                                                                                                                                                                                 19              20                 11                  9                   25              12         10            23

                                                                                                                                                                                                 9      12       23       2         9         3         12        23        11        2           23   11       17   23

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 11                 3                   23                  1               9          3

                                                                                                                                                                                                 15     19       12       6         12        23        23        1                   2     3     3    2        19   26

                                                                                                                                                                                                 25                                 19                  16        19        13              12                       19

                                                                                                                                                                                                 21     3        4        19        24        3                   7         5         20    25    21   15       3    12

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 12                 3                   3                   15              26         12

                                                                                                                                                                                                 7      23       19       20                  3         18        23        12        8     25    24   19       21   24

                                                                                                                                                                                                 19              1                  16                  9                   19              21         4             23

WIN A £150
                                                                                                                                                                                                 12     3        1        23        12        2         3                   24        19    6     25   21       4    2
                                                                                                  The department store is a national treasure, but
                                                                                                  in which UK city was Marks & Spencer founded
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 19                 23                  7                   3               20         3             13
                                                                                                  in 1884?

M&S GIFT CARD                                                                                     A. Liverpool
                                                                                                  B. Leeds
                                                                                                                                                                                                        7        12       3         1         19        24        3                   20    3     16   24

From spring cleaning your wardrobe to adding a splash                                             C. London
of colour to your home, simply answer the following                                               Email your answers to emerald@mccarthyandstone.co.uk                                           A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
question about Marks & Sparks for your chance to win a                                            or hand them to your House or Estate Manager.
£150 gift card to spend in store.                                                                                                                                                                 1         2        3         4         5         6         7         8         9         10    11    12       13
                                                                                                  Entries must be received by Friday 17th July 2020.                                                                                                                                  P                     R
                                                                                                                                                                                                  14        15       16        17        18        19        20        21        22        23    24    25       26
Ts & Cs The competition is open to UK homeowners aged 18 or over, except employees of McCarthy & Stone, their immediate families, or anyone directly connected with the                                                                                 A
competition. The closing date is midnight on Friday 17th July 2020. The winning entry will be drawn at random on Monday 20th July 2020. Entrants may only enter the prize draw
once. There will be one winner. Promoter: McCarthy & Stone Retirement Lifestyles Ltd, 4th Floor, 100 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH8 8AQ. Reference to ‘McCarthy
& Stone’ in the terms and conditions includes any and all companies within the McCarthy & Stone group of companies. McCarthy & Stone is not responsible for any damages to the
prize which occur in transit. If the selected winner is not able to accept the delivery, they will need to rearrange a further delivery directly with the postal service. No cash alternative.                                                                                                                            EMERALD | Spring 2020 31
MCCARTHY & STONE

                                     A BIG
                                   THANK YOU
                                    We would like to say thank you to all our
                                  homeowners who took part in our survey last
                                   year on the health and wellbeing benefits of
                                             Homes for Later Living.

                             Published in Autumn 2019, the report explores the wellbeing
                             benefits from living in retirement developments, and how Homes
                             for Later Living can significantly improve the wellbeing of
                             older people by maximising independence and increasing social
                             interaction. The research was undertaken, evaluated and written
                             by a former HM Treasury economist, Chris Walker, who found:

                             • An average person aged 80 feels as good as someone aged 10
                               years younger after moving to a retirement community.
                             • Retirement communities save the NHS and social care services
                               c.£3,500 per person, per year by keeping older people healthier
                               and happier.
                             • Building 30,000 more retirement
                               properties every year for the next
                               10 years could generate fiscal
                               savings of £2.1bn per year
                               across the NHS and
                               social services.

                             To read the full report, please visit homesforlaterliving.org

32   EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                      EMERALD | Spring 2020 33
PROFILE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    PROFILE

 A TRAVELLER’S
 GUIDE TO
 MARRIAGE
     How a late marriage can lead to a world
            of unexpected adventures

When Sylvie Nickels met her late husband George
Spenceley in the 60s, she didn’t quite expect what was
about to come... 38 adventurous years of marriage.
With hindsight, she should have seen the signs, for
her partner was an adventurer and climber who has an
Antarctic glacier on the Island of South Georgia named
after him.
'George lived by the motto "A tent is only a tent if you
have to crawl into it!" I definitely took for granted how
privileged I was to travel in style before I met him!'
says Sylvie, homeowner of Foxhall Court in Banbury.         She was 54 when she embarked on her adventure            Her first stories, which she refers to as "scribbles",    Retiring to Foxhall Court in 2016, Sylvie is now the
'My Swiss mother and British father met on a ship           with George along the Mississippi. Filled with both      reflected the air raids in suburban London during         proud author of 10 books and mountains of memories.
travelling to New Zealand, so you could say my interest     disarming and comical experiences, it was one of the     the 1940s. Back then, along with her grandfather          Keen to continue learning, she is a member of the
in travel was predestined. We spent my childhood            most memorable periods of her life – from dining with    who was a forester and poet, BBC’s top war                University of the Third Age (U3A), in particular a
summers in Switzerland and later as a travel writer,        the "River Rats", the Mississippi-side inhabitants, to   correspondent Richard Dimbleby was one of her             philosophy group whom she meets every month.
I travelled widely including to Finland. It was there I     sharing the waterway with push boats and barges, and     biggest inspirations.
                                                                                                                                                                               'Membership of the U3A is excellent for keeping the
crossed paths with George.'                                 surviving canoe-stopping head-on gales.
                                                                                                                     'At the age of 12, I wrote to him for advice of how       mind active, and I highly recommend it to other
George introduced Sylvie to her "wild side" which           As a writer by trade, Sylvie went on to publish a book   to become a journalist. Amazingly he answered in his      McCarthy & Stone homeowners. Since moving to
included long distance canoeing and venturing along         about this U.S canoeing adventure. Entitled The Big      own fair hand. Having followed his suggestions of         Foxhall Court four years ago, I have made many
the Danube, Europe’s longest river, followed by the         Muddy, it joined her growing collection of novels,       learning shorthand and to type, I got my first job at a   friends who I enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles with over my
Mississippi, North America's longest.                       anthologies and short stories which follow themes of     small agricultural magazine.'                             morning coffee, when in the past I would have just sat
                                                            travel, war and the modern world.                                                                                  at my computer.'
Sylvie adds: 'I am extremely lucky to have met my                                                                    Later she became a freelance travel writer for the
husband. Without marrying late in life, I would never       'I first started writing when I was a child during the   Saturday supplement in the Financial Times.               For more information about Sylvie’s books
have had quite such big adventures. At an age when          Second World War. It was a very different world back     Working for the publication for 15 years, she had         and to read her world-wide adventures, visit
you’re supposed to be thinking of slowing down, I           then with no digital technology, and I spent most of     the opportunity to travel worldwide and write about       www.sylvienickelsbooks.com
went on to do many things I never imagined.'                my time reading and writing.'                            many destinations.

34    EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                                                                                                                                                        EMERALD | Spring 2020 35
MCCARTHY & STONE

                                                                                              McCarthy & Stone’s Resales team        'I already knew our Resales
                                                                                              and staff at Poppy Court assisted      Property Consultant, Mikaela,
                                                                                              Frances Murphy with the sale of        and she arranged to put Mum’s              We’ve helped 539
                                      Our fantastic Resales department is                     her late mother’s apartment at the     apartment back on the market.            homeowners and their
                                      still open and adapting its service to                                                         She suggested using some of the        families sell their property
                RESALES
                                                                                              development in Sutton Coldfield.
                                      support our customers. For more                                                                ex-show home furniture
                                                                                              'My mother Josie lived at Poppy        available so the apartment
                                      information, please contact our                         Court in Sutton Coldfield for a        looked its best.'
                                      team directly on 0345 556 4127.                         little over seven years. The team
                                                                                                                                     'The carpets were professionally
                                                                                              were all very supportive of
                                                                                              mum, especially in her later           cleaned and with the addition
                                                                                              years. Mum was very fond of            of modern furniture and
                                                                                                                                     accessories kindly supplied by          More than 284 eligible
                                                                                              them all and was always very                                                 buyers register each month*
                                                                                              grateful for the help and              McCarthy & Stone Resales, the
                                                                                              support they gave her.'                apartment looked remarkable.'
                                                         Windsor House,
      ED

                                                         Sheffield
    UR
  AT

                                                         Prices from £220,000
FE

                                                         Windsor House is situated in a
                                                         sought-after suburb of Millhouses                                                                                   On average we carry out
                                                         in Sheffield, close to a thriving                                                                                 over 73 viewings each week*
                                                         shopping centre and a wealth of
                                                         visitor attractions.
                                                         Specifically designed for the
                                                         over-70s, Windsor House is one of
                                                         the perfect places to enjoy
                                                         retirement. With landscaped                                                                                       83% of all our properties go
                                                         grounds surrounded by trees, a                                                                                      through to successful
                                                         stylish lounge and in-house                                                                                              completion
                                                         restaurant, it offers homeowners
                                                         both socialisation and relaxation.
                                                                                              Unexpectedly, after a short spell in   'Mikaela and Kevin organised an
                                                                                              hospital Josie developed pneumonia     Afternoon Tea event to showcase
                                                                                              and sadly died on 18 June 2019.        the lifestyle benefits available at
                                                                                              'Her death came as quite a shock,      Poppy Court. We had numerous          Sales agreed on average 3
PROPERTIES                   Scholars Gate,
                             St Andrews
                                                         Ravenshaw Court,
                                                         Bentley Heath
                                                                                              particularly as Mum had been in        enquiries, and the apartment was
                                                                                                                                     sold a week later by a couple who
                                                                                                                                                                            months from instruction*

FOR SALE                     Prices from £199,500        Prices from £249,000
                                                                                              such high spirits and so well just a
                                                                                              few months before.                     who were just passing by.'
                                                                                                                                     'I really can’t recommend
                             Ryebeck Court, Pickering    Kings Place, Fleet                   Understandably, we were all
                                                                                              devastated, but Kevin, the Estate      McCarthy & Stone Resales
                             Prices from £139,000        Prices from £200,000                                                        enough. The support they’ve
                                                                                              Manager and his team were very
                                                                                              supportive throughout. It was nice     given me has been over and above      The majority of our managed
                             Clarkson Court,             Rivers Edge Court,
                                                                                              to see staff and homeowners attend     what I expected.'                      properties increase in value
                             Woodbridge                  Okehampton                                                                                                                when resold
                                                                                              her funeral and Kevin kindly
                             Prices from £170,000        Prices from £146,950                 agreed to do a reading.'
                                                                                                                                                                                *Figures recorded prior to the
                                                                                                                                                                                    coronavirus outbreak

36   EMERALD | Spring 2020
FOOD & DRINK

                       Easy
      S TO V E - TO P E G G S
  A quick lunch or supper that can help use up what’s left in your
    fridge. Swap chorizo for bacon or sausage, and peppers for
        courgettes or broccoli. Serve with fresh crusty bread.

          Prep Time 15 minutes | Cook Time 35 minutes | Serves 2

350g new potatoes                        ½ red pepper, deseeded and sliced
100g chorizo, sliced                     4 hens eggs
1 red onion, sliced                      A few sprigs fresh parsley, leaves
1 yellow pepper, deseeded and sliced     picked and chopped

Place a saucepan of water on to boil and cook the potatoes for around 10
minutes or until nearly cooked through. Drain and place to one side.
Place the chorizo in a frying pan or suitable hob-to-table-pan and fry for 5
minutes on a medium heat or until starting to crisp and release oil. Transfer to a
bowl and place to one side leaving the oil in the pan. Add the onion and peppers
to the pan and fry on a medium heat for 10 minutes or until softened. Add the
cooked potatoes and fry for a further 5 minutes until they start to brown. Return
the chorizo to the pan and stir everything together. Make an indent in the
vegetables for each egg and crack them into the gaps. Place a lid on the pan and
allow to cook for 5 minutes or until the white is cooked. Scatter over the parsley,
season with pepper and serve.

                                                                                 EMERALD | Spring 2020 39
Simple snacks                                    Tinned fruit magic
    Store                                                     You can make homemade dips with a tin
                                                              of drained chickpeas or beans like butter
                                                              or Cannellini. Reserve a little of the water
                                                                                                               The possibilities are endless. Serve
                                                                                                               chopped on porridge or cereal for
                                                                                                               breakfast, make an upside-down pear,

cupboard stars
                                                              and whizz in a food processor or mash in a       peach or pineapple cake, or fold into basic
                                                              bowl with lemon juice, olive oil, ½ a clove      sponge mix for an afternoon pick me up.
                                                              of garlic and black pepper. Add a little of      Add pineapple, peaches or apricots to
                                                              the reserved water if it’s too thick, and then   curries, or poach in wine or sugar syrup

 …suppers, soups, stews, sweets & more                        enjoy with crudités or crackers.                 with spices for a warming dessert or
                                                                                                               topping for your rice pudding.

  With the current restrictions in place, many of us are
 looking for new ways to make what’s in our cupboards
  go a little further. Here’s our tasty tips for making the   Waste not want not                               Bulk out your stews
              most of your kitchen ingredients.               Any odds and ends of breads can be sliced        Add a few pieces of dried fruit such as
                                                              and roasted for a few minutes in the oven        apricots and prunes to meat or veggie
                                                              with herbs, spices, oil and salt to make         stews, or throw in a tin of beans or lentils
                                                              croutons or crackers. Perfect paired with        to bulk it out. These are both great for
                                                              your homemade dip.                               keeping your fibre uptake going too.

                                                              Eggless dishes                                   Banana surprise
                                                              No eggs, no problem. Supplement with             Glut of ripe bananas? We all seem to
                                                              mashed ripe bananas or apple sauce in            over buy them but can’t eat them quickly
                                                              cakes. You can also use the aqua faba or         enough. So, bake a banana loaf or
                                                              leftover water from a can of chickpeas as an     muffins, peel, slice and freeze in bags to
                                                              egg replacement when baking too. What            add to milkshakes and smoothies or blitz
                                                              about pasta? All you’ll need is pasta flour,     into “ice cream” with other fruits and a
                                                              water and olive oil.                             spoonful of yoghurt.

                                                              Kitchen bakery                                   Freshly baked biscuits
                                                              No bread flour? Did you know you can             Make a batch of cookie dough and freeze
                                                              still make bread with plain flour and yeast?     the measured out portions to bake at a later
                                                              The crust may not be as chewy but it’s still     date when you fancy something sweet.
                                                              comforting and delicious…

                                                              Whiz up your greens                              Chin, chin!
                                                              Slice a woody broccoli stalk or asparagus        Freeze slices of lemon and lime ready for
                                                              bases and add to other vegetables in a soup      an ice and slice in one go.
                                                              base before blitzing.

                                                                                                                                        EMERALD | Spring 2020 41
MCCARTHY & STONE

                         A HUGE THANK YOU

                      £220,000
                                          RAISED

                                                                                                                      Company Donation £15,000   Gala Dinner £66,000

                                                                                                                      Golf Day £39,000           Winter Ball £22,000

With your help we have raised an incredible               attitude to wider learning, whilst increasing their
£220,000 for Coram Beanstalk, the literacy                enjoyment of reading. With approximately 170,000
                                                          children leaving primary school unable to read to the
charity helping children across the country
                                                          expected level, Coram Beanstalk helps to improve
with reading.                                             children’s lives in the long-term so that their risk of
The grand total will help an additional 668 children to   long-term disadvantage and the negative consequences
receive vital reading support from a Coram Beanstalk      of illiteracy are reduced.
reading helper. With the positive and consistent          The significant funds raised by McCarthy & Stone
one-to-one support from a reading volunteer, these        have also put Coram Beanstalk in a stronger financial
children will accelerate in their reading progress,       position so the organisation is able to support more
narrowing the gap with their peers. This in turn will     children and develop additional training sessions for
increase children’s confidence and encourage a positive   reading support, including advice for parents and carers.   Bike Ride £10,000

42   EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                                                                                                             EMERALD | Spring 2020 43
NEWS

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Shilling Place, Waterlooville
                                                                                                                                                                                                             Shilling Place in Purbrook has
                                                                                                                                                                                                             been named in recognition of a
                                                                                                                                                                                                             local hero, Beatrice (Tilly) Shilling,

                               NEWS                          EVENTS
                                                                                                                                                                                                             OBE, a successful aeronautical
                                                                                                                                                                                                             engineer and a racing driver.
                                                                                                                                                                                                             Beatrice invented the R.A.E
                                                                                                                                                                                                             restrictor, a safety device used in
                                                                                                                                                                                                             Hurricane and Spitfire aeroplane
                                                                                                                                                                                                             engines during the Second World
                                                                                                                                                                                                             War. Homeowners gathered with
                                                                                                                                                                                                             the local press, as a commemorative
                                 Events and happenings from our                                                                                                                                              plaque to mark Beatrice was
                                 developments across the country                                                                                                                                             unveiled by Lady Mayoress.

                                                                                                                              Shackleton Place, Devizes
                                                                                                                              Francis Witton, a veteran from
                                                                                                                              Shackleton Place has been awarded
                                                                                                                              the Norwegian government’s
                                                                                                                              commemorative medal for his
                                                                                                                              contribution to the liberation of
                                                                                                                              Norway in the Second World War.
                                                                                                                              At 17 years old, he joined the Royal
                                                                                                                              Navy. Once deployed, Francis’ time
                                                                                                                              in the war saw him take part in two
                                                                                                                              Arctic convoys in Russia, the battle
                                                                                                    The Mayor of Worthing,    of the Atlantic, numerous North
                                                                                                      Ron and his son Nigel   Sea convoys and much more.

Amelia Court, Worthing                                       The last 40 years have been spent exactly as they should
                                                             – holidaying, spending time with family, and admiring
Cupcakes, champagne and storytelling were on the
                                                             very nice cars! With two children, three grandchildren
cards as everyone from Amelia Court gathered to
                                                             and seven great grandchildren, retirement isn’t necessarily
celebrate fellow neighbour Ron’s 100th birthday!
                                                             as quiet as he once thought it might be!
A former Royal Army sergeant and accountant, Ron
                                                             Since moving to Amelia Court, the centenarian has found
retired to Amelia Court in 2016, after 30 happy years
                                                             a new interest in the arts, leading a vibrant, cultural social
in Hastings with his late wife Nora. Growing up in
                                                             life attending the theatre (conveniently just opposite the
Southend, he joined the army after school, spending most
                                                             development) regularly with close friend Deryl. From             Clayton Court, Burgess Hill            Claridge House, Littlehampton           Ryebeck Court, Pickering
of his years serving in the Middle East. Following his
                                                             the symphony orchestra to ballet, Ron’s known on a first
heroic contribution to putting out a fire on an oil tanker                                                                    Homeowners from Clayton Court          Over 120 homeowners and their           Keen to learn more about
                                                             name basis by many of the staff in the box office!
in 1943, he was awarded the British Empire medal.                                                                             enjoyed a celebratory lunch in the     guests attended Claridge House’s        beautiful Yorkshire, Ryebeck
                                                             Amelia Court suits Ron and his family just perfectly.            homeowners' lounge for neighbour       Friends & Family weekend. The           Court homeowners hosted a talk
Ron tried his hand as a blacksmith and grocer                                                                                 Muriel Spencer’s 90th birthday.        food and wine went down a treat         by a well-known local naturalist,
                                                             Offering freedom and privacy and the reassurance of
before qualifying as an accountant. Moving from                                                                               Moving into a McCarthy & Stone         and the fantastic local steel pan duo   Richard Baines, on the wildlife
                                                             knowing he can enjoy a fresh, homecooked meal in
his hometown of Manchester to Blackpool, he was                                                                               development in 2019, it was her        amazed the crowds with a variety        of the North York Moors – from
                                                             the on site bistro once a day,
employed by British Air Space travelling around the                                                                           way of saying a big thank you to       of festive classics and some modern     humpbacks to goshawks.
country until his retirement in 1982.                                                                                         everyone for their warm welcome.       tunes.

44     EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                  EMERALD | Spring 2020 45
Peter's crossword
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  PUZZLE

                                                                                                                   Peter Shram from Kingswood Court in Sidcup is back for another cryptic crossword teaser.
                                                                                                                   Check your answers on page 67.

                                                                                                                    1      2             3             4                      5       6               7            8

                                                                                                                                                                     9

                                                                                                                    10                                 11

                                                                                                                    12                                        13

                                                                                                                                                       14

                                                                                                                    15                   16            17                                             18

                                                         Langton House, Warlingham
                                                         Homeowners from Langton House have taken part
                                                                                                                    19                                 20            21                               22
                                                         in the Mirthy Speaker initiative, which sees members
                                                         of the local community host free talks in retirement
                                                         developments. Wilf Lower, who worked in the Scenic
                                                         Operations department for the BBC, was the first
                                                                                                                    23                   24                                                   25      26
                                                         guest. He gave his signature talk, ‘Don’t sneeze in the
                                                         microphone’, which touches on the rise of television,                                                                        27
                                                         aided by slides and videos of favourite TV shows such
                                                         as Morecambe & Wise, The Two Ronnies and Only              28                                                                                29
                                                         Fools & Horses. For more information about Mirthy
                                                         and their speakers, please visit www.mirthy.co.uk/mcs

                                                                                                                    30                                                        31

                                                                                                                   Across                                     23 Disappoint Frost Hall (anag) (4,5)          7 The second most populous country in the
Cranberry Court, Peterborough                                                                                      1 Russian satellite (7)                    25 Therefore (5)                               world (5)
                                                                                                                   5 Foreshorten (7)                          28 To do this properly you’ll need to put it   8 A McCarthy & Stone resident’s little one?
Cranberry Court enjoyed a Burns Night bash where                                                                   10 Idiot; drugs (4)                        in, take it out shake it all about! (5-5)      (5-10)
resident Marjory prepared a scrumptious, Scottish-                                                                 11 Cleaners had eclairs (anag) (10)        29 Short play (4)                              9 Spank (6)
inspired menu for over 30 people that included                                                                     12 Give a leg up (5)                       30 My gnat’s an acrobat (anag) (7)             14 Looks for signs of chickenpox? (4-6)
traditional haggis, neeps and tatties. With Cranachan,                                                             13 Derogatory term for a cultured person   31 Detonate (7)                                16 Take a seat (3)
shortbread and bagpipes too, it was a lovely evening                                                               (4-5)                                                                                     18 The local (3)
                                                                                                                                                              Down
celebrating the festivities.                                                                                       15 Ova (4)                                                                                21 I’ve found it! (6)
                                                         Deans Park Court, Stafford                                                                           2 Stretch out and go Ooh! pregnantly
                                                                                                                   17 It’s in the eye of the student (5)      (anag) (7,3,5)                                 24 Get up late (3-2)
Imber Court, Warminster
                                                         Special guest Gloria Hunniford joined homeowners          18 Hair-do (4)                             3 Adolescents (5)                              26 Artists’ stand (5)
Homeowners from Imber Court have installed               at Deans Park Court to officially open the new            19 Chin-wag (4)                            4 You just have to scratch it! (4)             27 Wild cat (4)
a hedgehog house and bird boxes to attract local         development. She gave a short presentation to discuss     20 Foolish person (5)                      6 Olympic-standard dives? I don’t think
wildlife to the gardens, and annually take part in the   her career as a television and radio presenter before     22 “_ _ _ _ On The Run” - song and album   so! (5-5)
RSPB Bird Watch.                                         spending time socialising with everyone there.            by Wings (4)

46   EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                       EMERALD | Spring 2020 47
TECHNOLOGY

                                            Virtual
                                                                                             Pyramids of Giza, Egypt                            The Vatican, Rome
                                                                                             The Pyramids of Giza were constructed around       Some of Rome’s most amazing architecture and
                                                                                             4,500 years ago. With walking routes around        historic monuments at The Vatican and are now in

                             TOURS
                                                                                             the site, the virtual tour shows the magnificent   reach from your own home. Step into the Sistine
                                                                                             beauty up close and from afar. Cast your eyes      Chapel and Raphael’s Rooms, which are adorned
                                                                                             on two of the largest pyramids ever built from     with simply sensational artwork. Even through a
                                                                                             the comfort of your own home.                      screen, the results are breathtaking.
                                                                                             www.google.co.uk/maps/about/behind-the-            www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/
                                                                                             scenes/streetview/treks/pyramids-of-giza/          en/collezioni/musei/tour-virtuali-elenco.html
                             AROUND THE WORLD
                                                                                             Machu Picchu, Peru                                 Le Musée du Louvre, Paris
                              At a time when travel is restricted, many of the world’s art   No need to buy a plane ticket to Peru to see       The Louvre is the world’s largest art and
                               and cultural landmarks are finding new ways for you to        the legendary Machu Picchu in all its glory.       antiques museum, home to world-famous
                             experience their fascinating collections. From the comfort of   The virtual tour of this World Heritage site is    pieces. On this virtual tour, visit the exhibition
                              your sofa, you can immerse yourself in the history of these    immersive and filled with mesmerising insights     rooms and galleries and contemplate the façades
                                 amazing locations by simply taking a virtual tour…          from a helpful narrator who accompanies you        of the Louvre.
                                                                                             on your digital tour.                              www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne
                                                                                             www.youvisit.com/tour/machupicchu

48   EMERALD | Spring 2020                                                                                                                                                                EMERALD | Spring 2020 49
LIVE
                                                                                                                                               STREAMS
                                                                                                                                               The Royal Opera House
                                                                                                                                               The Royal Opera House is
                                                                                                                                               generously scheduling free
                                                                                                                                               broadcasts that you can
                                                                 British Museum                        San Diego Zoo                           access anywhere anytime.
                                                                 The British Museum presents The       Nestled within the habitats at San      From Alice in Wonderland
                                                                 Museum of the World with an           Diego Zoo, live cameras capture the     to Peter and the Wolf, new
                                                                 online journey through the cultures   lives of their animals foraging and     titles are being added all
                                                                 of Africa, America, Asia, Oceania     playing around. From the comfort of     the time.
                                                                 and Europe. Visit their website to    your armchair, you can switch between   www.roh.org.uk/
                                                                 see some of the most fascinating      penguins, koalas and tigers too.        streaming
                                                                 objects in human history.             www.zoo.sandiegozoo.org/were-
                                                                 www.britishmuseum.withgoogle.com      here-together
                                                                                                                                               National Theatre
                       Rijksmuseum                               Walt Disney World                     Seaworld Orlando                        While the NT is closed,
   The Golden Age of Dutch art is celebrated in this museum,     Light up your home with the magic     Using state-of-the-art technology,      you can enjoy world-class
 one of the many historic landmarks in Amsterdam. Whilst the     of Walt Disney with their online      this innovative and interactive         theatre online completely
Rijksmuseum has closed its doors temporarily, they have opened   tours. Gather the grandchildren       tour lets you dive head first into      free of charge. Bringing
 ‘virtual’ windows to the world, welcoming everyone to admire    together on Zoom or Facetime to       the world-famous attraction.            the stage to your screens,
the work of legendary artists including Vermeer and Rembrandt    join in this enchanting experience    Experience the virtual thrill of        National Theatre will
                 from where ever you may be.                     where you can explore the Magic       riding their Mako roller coaster        stream several iconic
                                                                 Kingdom and more.                     and take a tour of Discovery Cove.      plays to YouTube every
                    www.rijksmuseum.nl/en
                                                                 www.disneyparks.disney.go.com/        www.visitorlando.com/en/things-to-      Thursday.
                                                                 blog/2018/03/disney-parks-            do/virtual-tours/seaworld-orlando       www.nationaltheatre.org.
                                                                 launches-first-ever-360-degree-                                               uk/nt-at-home
                                                                 panoramas-on-google-street-view/

                                                                                                                                                      EMERALD | Spring 2020 51
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