Christmas at - Clients Thisisthenortheast

The Northern EchoThe lifestyle magazinefor the North-EastDECEMBER 2005GIFT GUIDEFamily favouritesGarden goodiesTop toysPLUSTalkingturkey withthe starsSHOPPING INTERIORS STYLE FASHION GARDENING

2 December 2005http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlycontents18 20magazineis produced byTheNorthernEcho/NewsquestLtd.,a GannettCompany,Priestgate,DarlingtonDL1 1NF(01325)381313ADVERTISINGGail Hunter(01325) 505 039gail.hunter@nne.co.ukChris Kay(0191) 374 0298chris.kay@nne.co.ukEDITORIALJenny Needham(01325) 505082jenny.needham@nne.co.uk3456810111214SHARON GRIFFITHSAddressing theChristmas card issueXMAS GIFTSSix of thetop toysSHOPPINGThe North’s largestSunday MarketXMAS GIFTSFirm familyfavouritesXMAS GIFTSTop buys forunder £10XMAS GIFTSTreats foryour homeSHOPPINGMonochromemagicCHRISTMASWhere the stars willbe this yearGARDENINGGifts for thegreen fingered30PAGES AND PAGES OF CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS16CHRISTMASTalking turkeywith the starsME & MY18 WARDROBEMonsoon missesMcCOURT19 & McKAYOut on the townCHRISTMAS20 BeautifullyhungoverGADGET MAN23 Techno-toys to covetthis ChristmasXMAS GIFTS24 Best footforwardENTERTAINING26 Croft, but notthe originalXMAS GIFTS29Away days forlittle indiansSPECIAL OFFERS2 for 1 meals – p25WIN a flying lesson – p28Front page picture: red fleece Christmas pudding hat, £3.50; redhooded cardigan, £10.99. Both from Next www.next.co.uk

TETLEYSA167http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyDecember 20053TIMING – as in so many things – iseverything, especially in the modernetiquette of Christmas cards. Too soonand you’re on your own, alone, beforeeveryone else. Too late and you’vemissed the point entirely.And anyone who sends their Christmascards in November with a return address onthe envelope is just plain desperate. Unlessthey’ve just moved, in which case they are verysensible.And don’t kid us about the post being so unreliable.When your Christmas card arrives,with a first class stamp, two days after BoxingDay, we know you’d forgotten us until you werejolted into action on Christmas Eve when youhad our card. We’re not fooled.I love getting Christmas cards. It’s just sendingthem that’s the problem. I start off withsuch good intentions… I have the addressbook, the phone books, last year’s diary,change of address cards, letters and printed upe-mails to remind me. I have a couple of carrierbags of cards, arranged in neat piles on thedining room table. And then I can easily whileaway half an hour or so wondering whichcards to send to whom…Snowy scenes of Durham Cathedral or YorkMinster for Americans; snow, snow and moresnow for friends in the sandpit of Dubai; picturesof the Dales for locals exiled in London…But do you send religious ones to vicars ordoes that look like creeping? Would they considera jokey card light relief or sacrilegious?And do you send British Heart Foundationcards to the widow of a friend who died of aheart attack – is that thoughtful or merely rubbingsalt into a recent wound?Do you send very tasteful reproductions ofRenaissance paintings just to prove what aneducated, sophisticated sort of a person youare or do you send something jolly and rudethat will give the recipient a laugh?Ho hum. So far, I’ve been here for an hourand have written precisely two cards. There’sabout another 60 to go. And that’s just my lot.I do my friends and family. Husband does his.Our joint friends either get two, one from eachof us, or none – because we each thought theother was doing it.And you must write something. Now I canknock out a fifteen hundred word newspaperarticle with no problem, but ask me to write acouple of cheerful pertinent sentences in aChristmas card and I’m left chewing my pensharon griffiths❛I like gettingChristmascards. It’s justsending themthat’s theproblemfor ages like a dreamy five-year-old. Hopeless.Husband is whizz at this and writes very niceand witty messages, but as his handwriting isso indecipherable no one actually gets to readthem, which is a bit of a shame really. Still, itno doubt provides a Christmas guessing gamefor the recipients.And if I’ve addressed the card to “Sue, Johnand family”, yes, you’re right. It means I havecompletely forgotten how many children Sueand John have and have no hope at all of recallingtheir names.In these days of quickly dissolved and reformedrelationships I think I’m doing prettywell to remember that Sue is still with John,and not any of the half a dozen or so namesshe’s been linked with on the Christmas cardlist in the last 20 years. With all its crossingsout, new names and arrows, my address booklooks like a plot-line for a soap opera.I have never sent a picture of my children ina nativity play or a Santa Claus hat. Especiallynot now when they are 6ft 5ins and their staringred eyes are nothing to do with the faultyflash on the camera.I have never sent a computer printed Christmasletter but I love reading them. Don’t knowwhy they get so mocked. Either you care aboutthe senders, in which case it’s good to hearwhat they’ve been up to. Or you don’t – inwhich case you can bin the letter with a clearconscience.Though there was one tricky moment a fewyears ago when a letter mentioned “the saddeath of Dodie” and I didn’t have a clue ifDodie was a granddad, brother, dog or goldfishand so had no idea what the correct responseshould have been. Tricky.Eventually, somehow, the cards will getdone. Except of course for those whose addressesI have lost and who aren’t in the book.If you’re ex-directory and don’t get manyChristmas cards well, frankly, it’s your ownfault.But just when you think you’ve got itcracked, there’s always one and usually onChristmas Eve too. A card will come from Bev,Brian and squiggle. “One of yours?” husbandwill say to me. But nope, not mine. It’s correctlyaddressed but we haven’t a clue.We put Bev, Brian and squiggle on displaywith the rest, but every time I look at it I feeluneasy. By this time next year I might just haveremembered who they are. Who knows, theymight even get a card.WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMASCharlotteFleming,jewellerydesigner andowner of E.DeWastneyJewellers inBarker’sArcade,NorthallertonWhere will you be for Christmasthis year?AT the Keith Moss Gallery in Brotton. Thetwo families are celebrating together thisyear, which will be a bit different. We willopen the gallery and have one very largetable in the centre and watch everyone goby. We thought it would be more fun in thegallery plus it is the only area in both ourhouses that will accommodate us all.What do you want for Christmasthis year?Jewellery please! I would love a piece fromthe Shaun Leane Collection. It is everywoman’s wish to receive somethingbeautiful and so very personal atChristmas. If my husband is reading this,the Shaun Leane Hook My Heart necklacewould be fantastic!What was your favourite everpresent?A pair of diamond earrings bought for meby my mum. They are timeless andTOHEIGHINGTONWHINBANKROADP.W.S.INCINERATORKITCHENCREATIONDURHAM WAYSOUTH3MFACTORYHOLIWAYSGARAGEFILTRONICAYCLIFFEVILLAGEMc DONALDSSOUTH NORTHA1 A1JUNCTION59A167DARLINGTONbeautiful stones. I have probably wornthem more than any other piece ofjewellery I have.If money were no object, what wouldyou like for Christmas?After spending the morning at homewatching my children open their presents,I would invite all my family and friends to acelebration at Seaham Hall. The girlswould have treatments throughout the daywhilst the men relaxed. We would indulgein good food and drink. No one wouldhave to find a taxi atthe end of the night aswe would all stay overmaking it a 24-hourcelebration. I wouldalso give everyone agift from the top oftheir wish list.Right: Sue Godleybracelet, £120;above, LeifSapphire ring,£3,175. Itemsstart at around£30 for earrings

http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyDecember 20055The ‘miracle’marketMarketmaestroGrevilleWorthington,left, and oneof hisstallholders,abovechristmasWHAT I WANT FORCHRISTMASNew YorkartistSpencerTunick, 38,has woninternationalacclaim forhis imagesof massgroups of people photographed inthe nude.If money were no object, what wouldyou like for Christmas?I would like a liver for my Uncle Al and Iwould bring it to him in a big box which Iwould make, with lots of ribbon on. He livesat home but he’s been on the waiting listfor a while now.What was your worst ever present?Actually it started off as my worst and itturned out to be the best. My mum got mea pair of black ski gloves and I was used togetting toys and I was so angry but then Ithink I wore them all the time until I wasabout 25!● Interview with Spencer Tunick in nextmonth’s NE MagazineAs the North’s largest Sunday market, the one at CatterickRacecourse is a must for bargain hunters – and a great place to pickup presents, the man behind it tells SARAH FOSTERmay be a strong word,but Greville Worthington usesit often when referring to CatterickSunday Market. “It just ‘MIRACLE’started – it was a miracle and it’s been a miracleever since. It’s a miracle every Sunday,”he enthuses. “It’s great for bargains, it’s suchfun and there are so many people there.”For the past 16 years, Greville has been ‘outdoorretail curator’ of the market. The flamboyantbusinessman, who owns the racecourse,explains how it first came about. “Weneeded to get some money into the racecoursecoffers – all racecourses have to look to retailactivities to underpin their racing,” he says.“Now the market has become more famousthan the racing – and the racing has beengoing since 1763. We get 3,000 at the races andabout 15-20,000 at the market. The market ison every Sunday all year round, except forChristmas Day and New Year’s Day this year.”With roughly 240 stalls, most of which areweekly fixtures, it’s certainly a fair size. Grevillesays that with its different nationalities,it’s a real cultural melting pot. “We’ve got alovely mix of Jewish people, Sikhs, Hindus –all sorts of foreign traders,” he says. “We’vegot, for example, people who are best friendson the market whose parents’ generation arefighting each other over the Indian/Kashmiriborder. We’ve even got the granddaughter ofGypsy Lee herself.”In terms of what is sold, the range couldn’tbe more diverse – from food to furniture,clothes to candles, you can buy just abouteverything. “The market is wonderful for bicyclesand garden furniture – much higherquality than Ikea,” says Greville. “There arewonderful scented candles, pot pourri, giftsets, perfume, Christmas trees, wreaths andglorious toys. We have wonderful big cars withengines for kids and real working motorbikes,as well as lots of wonderful fashion.”For those whose prime concern is food, themarket provides a feast. Stalls selling freshfish, fruit and vegetables jostle with fast foodoutlets feeding shoppers hog roasts, chickenand chips, pizzas, and stir frys. Entry and parkingare both free – leaving all your cash for bargains.Greville says that one of the best thingsabout the market is its lively atmosphere.“We’ve got an amazing meat auction by PremierMeats – it’s like going to the pantomimelistening to that guy,” he says. “Everythingcomes to life – it’s more exciting than a footballmatch. It’s so different from the supermarket.”To bag the best buys, Grenville says it’s wiseto visit often. “I strongly advise people to comeevery week because if they don’t, they won’tknow what bargains they’re missing,” he says.● Catterick Sunday Market runs from10am-4pm every Sunday at CatterickRacecourse. For more details, call 07702312456 or visitwww.cattericksundaymarket.co.uk❛It’s moreexciting than afootball match

http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyDecember 20057christmasTRENDSETTING TEENSTEENS and older children can bedifficult to buy for – if they’veoutgrown writing those usefulletters to Santa you may be reducedto guessing what they want forChristmas.However, with girls you usuallywon’t go far wrong with beautyproducts, and Boots’ 1950s-inspiredMs Manicure Manicure Mansion (£8)is ideal. See picture right.Girls who like to while away thehours in their bedrooms can confidetheir innermost thoughts in the HipHouse Secrets Diary (£3) by the lightfrom 40 Clear Flower Chain Lights(£7.98). Both gifts are from Tesco.Boys can illuminate theirbedrooms with Football StringLights (£8.99), while those with ataste for unusual sports can puttheir circus skills and ball control tothe test with Rugby Juggling Balls(£10), from House of Fraser.Music lovers can keep warm whilelistening to the latest sounds onGap’s fleecy earmuff-styleheadphones (£19.50), and film buffscan amuse themselves turninghumble spuds into the galaxy’s mostfeared villains with the Star WarsDarth Tater set (£9.99) –providing dads don’t get toit first! See main picture.PERFECT PETSFINALLY, don’t neglect the family’s four-legged membersthis Christmas. Cool cats will look fabulous in Superdrug’scollar, which has the word purr spelt out in studs, and thedog’s dinners will look much more appetising in the DogBowl Set from Superdrug (£9.99). In fact, even pooperscoopingwill be slightly more appealing with John Lewis’sanimal-print, bone-shaped Dog Waste Dispenser (£10).For blokes who spend more time in thebathroom than the kitchen there’s the FogFree Shaving Mirror (Next, £12.99), so theycan see that they’re looking their best, andthe Elvis-inspired Rock ‘n’ Roll Bath Duck(£5.40, Superdrug), a bath time companionfit for the King. See above rightAnd, if all that fails, there’s always thatgood old Christmas standby, socks. Noone will be disappointed with CalvinKlein’s Socks In A Box (House of Fraser,£20).YUMMY MUMMIES(and aunties and sisters)There are plenty of ways to spoil a femalerelative this year.If you know someone in need of a littlepampering, let her unwind with the SpaUltimate Escape (£11.97) or soak in peacewith the Virgin Vie 24 Carat Bathing Liqueur(£12.50).Girls-about-town can mix themselves aCosmopolitan with Lloyds Pharmacy’sCocktail Set (£4), before heading out in a mistof Armani’s City Glam perfume (£32) whichcomes in a gift set including a pink belt.Meanwhile, budding domestic goddessescan whip up a few fairy cakes with Next’sHouse Proud Baking Kit (£6.99), and find outwhether or not they are going to befashionably late again by checking the verychic Audrey Hepburn clock from John Lewis(£29). See above right.However, if the woman in your life prefersto get out of the house and behind the wheel,you can always treat her to the Next CarPrint Map Kit (£12.99). The road atlas, pen,notebook and torch mean she’ll never get lostagain – and the cute car print cover meansshe’ll love it enough to overlook the sly dig ather navigational skills.C ontact your localM ortgage InformationC entre Today!You can contact us in three ways:1 C all your nearest branch or then umber below2Pop-in 2 for a no-obligationc hat at your nearestb ranch (no appointmentn ecessary)3V 3 isit our websitew ww.discreet-finance.cominformation centreFINDING THE RIGHT MORTGAGE FOR YOU!M ORTGAGE INFORMATION CENTREM ORTGAGE INFORMATION CENTREM ORTGAGE INFORMATION CENTRED URHAMS UNDERLANDD ARLINGTON8 6 Claypath2 2 Athenaeum Street2 3 Duke StreetD URHAM DH1 1RGS UNDERLAND SR1 1DHD ARLINGTON DL3 7RXTel: (0191) 375 0333Tel: ( 0191) 510 8080Tel: (01325) 350 888e mail: durham@discreet-finance.come mail: sunderland@discreet-finance.come mail: darlington@discreet-finance.comT hink carefully before securing other debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you d o not keep up repayments on your mortgage.T here will be a fee for mortgage advice. The precise amount will depend on your circumstances but we estimate that it will be £495. The fee will only bep ayable if you are successful in obtaining your mortgage. The overall cost for comparison is 6.6% AP R. The actual rate available will depend upon yourcircumstances. Ask for a personalised illustration.

8 December 2005Anyone game for some friendly competitionwill appreciate the stylish MagneticBackgammon and Chess Set in Silver Case(£10) from Tesco, while girly girls with timeon their hands will put a big tick against yourchoice of pink Retro Zebra Clock (£5.)Macho men will appreciate the MaleGrooming Set (below), a snip at just £3, andanyone who reckons the sky’s the limit willthink the mini Telescope totally cosmic – astar buy at just £9.97.Another great place togo for bargain gifts isLloyds Pharmacy, whereyou can put puttersthrough their paceswith the fantastic IndoorGolf Set (£6), makea huge splash with theBudz Frog Bath Fun(£3.50), and totally bowlthe little ’uns over withthe endearingly cuteFarmyard Skittles (£5).The wonderfully colourfulLittle Angels Make Your Own Lip GlossSet (£3) is perfect for aspiring girly girls everywhere,while making the right decision hasnever been easier thanks to the quirky MysticOrb (£4).Toiletries are always a huge hit at Christhttp://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlySEVEN SWANS A SWIMMINGExperts in all aspects of hair careSCHWARZKOPF CHRISTMAS GIFT PACKS& LTD EDITION GHD PINK IRONSOpening times: Mon 9-6.30pm; Tues 9-6pm;Wed 9-1pm; Thurs 9-8pm; Fri 9-6.30pm; Sat 9-3pmADDITIONAL LATE NIGHTS AVAILABLEWe would like to wish all of our customers, new and old,a Happy Christmas and New YearSIX GEESE A LAYING • FIVE GOLD RINGS01325721213The Bridgewater Armsat WinstonIn A Class Of Its Own0132573030201748811416The warmest welcome around The signature of scrumptious foodSORRY - NO FRENCH HENS - JUST THREE GREAT PLACES TO EATFOUR CALLING BIRDSTop buysfor under£10You don’t have to dig deep this christmas. There are plenty ofpresents on the shop shelves to be had for less than a tennerChristmas has come toArthur Caygill Cycles• ROAD BIKES• MOUNTAINBIKES• BMX• JUMP BIKES• TRIALS BIKES• SCOOTERS• SKATEBOARDS• UNICYCLES• JUNIOR ROADBIKES £399DELIVERY &COLLECTIONSERVICEAVAILABLEBOROUGH ROAD • GALLOWFIELDS TRADING ESTATE,RICHMOND • NORTH YORKSHIRE • DL10 4SXTel: 01748 825 469 Fax: 01748 850 782Shop Business Hours: Mon-Sat 9.00-5.30pm Sun 11.00am-4.00pmwww.arthurcaygill.co.ukChristmasClub & AllYear RoundSavings ClubBIKE STORAGE UNTILCHRISTMAS EVELarge Clothing andShoe DepartmentALL BIKES READY TORIDE (not sold inboxes) WITH FREESERVICE PACKAGEInterest-free creditavailable, ask for detailsIT’S refreshing to know that not everypressie out there costs the earth. Witha bit of canny shopping and budgetbuying, you can start 2006 with onlythe tiniest of holes in your pocket –and we’re here to show you how.Give sweet-toothed friends and loved onesa licence to indulge with House of Fraser’swonderful Chocolate Heaven Fondue set(right) for £10, including a tea light, marshmallowsand two fondue forks, or the ChocolateTherapy mug set (£6), complete with minigrater, marshmallows and a drink. Yummy!For fun with tipples of another sort – namelythe alcoholic variety – try the TiddlyDrinks set, containing four shot glasses, fourcounters and a game board, for a mere £3. Alternatively,why not make wine-lovers tipsywith delight by giving them a sophisticatedand practical Senator bottle cooler by Emsa,for £9.99? (Log on to www.addis.co.uk forstockist information.)If you fancy trying people’s patience, lookout for the World’s Toughest puzzle (£7) or Safaripuzzles (£6) at Hof, or conjure fond childhoodmemories of hours whiled away pitchingyour wits against the Rubik’s Cube, witha 25th Anniversary edition set for £10, or acute key ring for a fiver.Magnetic backgammon and chess set

http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyDecember 20059The loveable cuddlyChad Valley ReindeerWHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMASSam Stern, 15, ofNorth Yorkshire, isthe author of Cookingup a Storm, the TeenSurvival Cookbook(Walker Books,£9.99)Where will you bespending Christmas?It’s always a familyChristmas at home. Everyyear we try and make it abit more extravagant andtacky so we’ll have reallycheesy dancing Santasand stuff.What was yourworst/best Christmaspresent ever?I got this remotecontrolled airplane oneyear and the first time Itried it, I crashed it into atree and it broke. So itwas the best present butalso the worst.What will be on your Christmasdinner table?It may be a goose or the butcher doesthis thing where you can get three birdsstuffed into one and we make our ownpuddings and cakes. Then we have tohave vegetarian options.The new JamieOliver? Samrelaxes athome duringthe schoolholidays. Left:the cookbookhe’s producedPink retro zebra clock from Tescomas and make ideal secret Santa gifts.Lloyds’s Perfect Bath Kit (£6) is a lifesaver forthose recovering from the morning after thenight before, or anyone simply needing a retreatfrom their hectic festive schedule. It includesan inflatable bath pillow, relaxinglavender bath foam, bath salts, a refreshinggel eye mask and a scented candle.Staying on the relaxation theme, why notget some Reflexology Socks from www.presentsdirect.com(0870 420 4366) to help massageaway aches and tensions? At just £8.95,lying back, putting your feet up and taking iteasy has never been so cost-effective.Well-loved favourite Dove is sure to be onthe wish list for many this Christmas. Althoughit may seem like a flight of fantasyto pay less than a fiver for the ProtectiveCare Hand Balm, Intense CareShampoo, Energy Glow Body Washand Silk Dry Deodorant, £4.99 reallyis all the Magical Minis GiftSet costs.If you can stretch yourtenner an extra 50p for yournearest and dearest, why nothead to Virgin Vie for some trulyclassy, indulgent smellies from theConnoisseur range, such as the Silkand White Truffle Shower Nectarand Sequin Skin Sparkle at £10.50each?Alternatively, help the ladieswith their preening and pamperingfor all the big parties coming up by gettingthem the dazzling Gold Dust Hair Sparkle, forjust £7.50, or the Perfectly Polished NailColour Collection (£8 for a set of threevarnishes).Women with a conscience wanting to wearglamour will appreciate Traidcraft treats(0870 443 1017 or www.traidcraftshop.co.uk),like the Rose Cascade Necklace (£5) and thefestive red Flower Necklace and Bracelet Set(£7.50.) The Lilac Bead Pendant (£5) andBracelet (£4) are really beautiful too and willadd a dash of classy ethnic style to any fashionista’soutfit, Christmassy or otherwise.A gadget to delight any DIY fan is the wonderfulPocket Memo Measure (£9.95) from PresentsDirect. Flip on the bright LED light,measure up using the 5m steel tape, jot downfigures on the integral sticky memo pad anduse the flip-up calculator for any tricky sums.The Original Gift Company has some amazingbargains for under a tenner too, many ofwhich can be personalised for that extra specialtouch. Show mums and grans how muchyou love them with picture tea towels, delightancient history fans with a Hieroglyph Mugor keep an eye on things with the Mirror-PolishedGlasses Case, which all come in at a bargainbasement £9.95 each.Finally, for more inspirational penny-savinggifts, head to high street favourite Woolworthsand grab some things from theJeff Banks Boudoir home accessoriesrange, from £4.99. You’ll also love thefabulous pink satin photo album(£4.99), the ladies’ Faux Fur Cuff VelvetGloves (£3.99), the light-tasticGiant Disco Ball (£9.99) and theloveable cuddly Chad ValleyReindeer (£7.99). For kidswho love dressing up,look out for the LadybirdPink Fairy Dress(£9.99) or Ladybird Elfcostume (left).With so many amazing gifts tochoose from and so many differentretailers stocking such fantasticthings, the only worriesyou’ll have this year won’t be todo with money – they’ll beabout making your mind up.CLEVELANDflyingSCHOOLThe UltimateChristmas GiftHave you ever dreamt oflearning to fly?Now you canat D URHAM T EES V ALLEYA IRPORTin one of our modernCessna 152sGift Vouchers startat just £69☎ 01325 332855

10 December 2005 http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyA uniqueCafe with adifferenceComfortable feelView to the whole storeExcellent value for moneyAll produce locally sourcedChristmas at . . .Newly expanded clothingdepartment and cafenow openSam Turner’s is a family business established since 1931 andwe pride ourselves in being a unique store to the North ofEngland and can now offer you ....Country & FashionClothing• Wellies • Boots •Waterproofs • Accessoriesand much moreTake the stress out of shopping and pop in and see us at:Sam Turner & Sons LtdDarlington Road, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL6 2XBTel.( 01609) 772422 Fax (01609) 770653Website: www.sam-turner.co.ukAgricultural & Horticultural MerchantsOpen: Mon-Sat 8am-5pm • Sun 10am-4pmChristmasTreesNow InStockFULLY IMMERSEDi-Chair £599www.boysstuff.co.ukUsing something called TactileTechnology, this chair, when hookedup to your games console, DVDplayer or music system, transformslow level sound into vibrations. Youcould almost be standing on theterraces without leaving yourhouse or get the buzz of aconcert without the crowds.6Christmas treatsfor your homeVacuumCleanersfrom£60Our repairservice is alsosecond to noneNo Call OutChargeWashingMachinesfrom£190Unit 11, Beechburn Ind Estate,Crook, Co. Durham.Tel. (01388) 766 900Open Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm,Sat 9am-4pmFridgeFreezersfrom£199Electric& GasCookersfrom£165DishWashersfrom£180FreeLocalDeliveryAlsoTumbleDryersfrom£1258 Main Street, Ferryhill,Co. Durham.Tel. (01740) 650 789Open Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri9am-5pm, Wed & Sat 9am-4pmIF you like to get yourselves and yourhome a treat for Christmas, you can nowkit out your home in a way Captain Kirkcould have only dreamed of a couple ofdecades ago. And while irons might not bewelcome under the Christmas tree, there aresome superb selection hi-tech gadgetsaround.Peter JenkinsonHOME HOVERCRAFTAirider£230 www.airrider.comOver a decade indevelopment, this vacuumliterally floats on a cushion ofair and sucks up dirt in thebagless compartment at over 200mph. Itis perfect for parquet flooring as there are norollers to scratch the floor, and as it’s so easy tomanoeuvre it is ideal for all types of carpet too.TECH TALKDUALphone £79 www.boysstuff.co.ukThe Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP is thelatest craze to be taken up by us Brits. It’s amethod of using your PC and net connection tomake cheap and free Internet calls. Until now,you had to have one handset for your PC and onefor your home phone. This handset can beplugged into your home phone socket and PC atthe same time, and offers the ability to wanderup to 50 metres away.SCAN AND LEARNBeyond MicrowaveAround £100 www.beyondeurope.comReduce the likelihood of burning anythingever again with this smart cooking machine.Simply use the pen on the control panel toscan the barcodes on your ready-mademeals, (it’s pre-programmed with 4,000 andstores your favourites as it’s used), pop inyour pack and press a button.WONDERWASHERSamsung Q1433approx £499.99www.samsung.co.ukCrammed withfeatures, this is thesmartest way to washyour smalls, and bigsfor that matter as ithas an extra largewash cycle forduvets.An electroniccontrol panel puts you in charge of allmanner of commands, there’s a 24-hour delayprogramme, overheating control, time-remainingindicator and it boastssomething called Fuzzy Logicwhere the machinecontinually monitors thewater temperature for theperfect results.COOLCREATIONLG Fridge with LCD TV£2,399 www.lge.co.ukOf course, the first thingyou notice is the built-in TV.It’s a 13 inch LCD TV of thehighest specification, has aTV tuner built in andoutputs to connect a DVDplayer, if you so desire.As well as offering a vastamount of storage space italso features somethingcalled a Magic Crisper. Nowwho else do you know whohas one of those?● See page23 forGadgetman’spick of thetechno-toys

http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyDecember 200511Monochrome magicI’m dreaming of a (black and) white Christmas… quite unlike the ones we used to know, says SHARON GRIFFITHSBLACK is the new green – when it comesto Christmas, at least. Top Londonstores are reporting a rush for Christmastrees and decorations in black andwhite. Not just in London. Not surprisingly,it’s a combination that’s doing well in ourregion too – especially on Tyneside.Each year, Peter Barratt’s garden centres introducea number of colour themes for Christmas andthis year’s winner is Russian Palace – a rich andexotic mix of black, white and pewter.“It works well, especially as it has plenty of silverto give it a festive feel,” says Angela Barratt, ofPeter Barratt’s garden centres, who now finds thatChristmas is one of the busiest times of the year.“It’s a theme that has been very popular on the catwalksand has very quickly moved into the home.Christmas decorations have become very muchpart of the fashion trend in interior design, withnew ideas being introduced each year.“I know it’s not always practical to do a wholehouse up in one theme, but a lot of women like todo a corner or one small area in just the way theylike.”In the southern half of the region, where perhapsthere aren’t so many Magpie fans, the Cappuccinorange is proving popular. “Lots of warmnatural creams and browns,” says Angela. “We’veused a lot a pine cones and twisted willow, whichgives it a very rural, natural feel.”There are also Renaissance themes – ivory andgold, and claret and evergreen – which are a bitmore traditional.Peter and Angela Barratt travel the world to findnew ideas for Christmas. Their last trip was toChina, to plan for Christmas 2006. It’s a long wayfrom the days when Christmas was just a case of abit of tinsel and a few baubles.“But it all adds to the pleasure,” says Angela.“It’s lovely to see young couples coming into theshow areas and planning for their first Christmasin their own house. They are just as excited aschildren.”When Peter Barratt’s started, they just did realChristmas trees, now they also have a huge rangeof artificial and fibre optics trees. Best of all arethe trees that come complete with their own lightsfixed in place. No more terrible tangles, knottedwires or the painful crunch of a bulb underfoot.Christmas will never be the same again…Russian Palace, main picture and centre;above, more traditional Christmas colours● Peter Barratt’s, Yarm Road, Stocktonon Tees TS18 3SQ (01642) 613433;Gosforth Park, Newcastle NE3 5EP (0191)236 7111. Open Monday to Saturday,9am-5.50pm; Sunday, 10.30am-4.30pm.Christmas couldcost you nothing!Visit The Gates for stress free shoppingand a chance to ‘Win Christmas’,just pick up a gift guide in centre.Bring the kids along too andthey can see Santa for free.‘The Gates, the new name for theMillburngate shopping centre’Where shoppers go to townwww.thegatesshopping.co.uk

12 December 2005http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyWILL YOUNG, 26‘‘Christmas is always a funny time because I work right upto it, and then I’m normally ill on the day – I was last yearand the year before that. So I’m already planning on it. Idon’t know if I enjoy Christmas as much I used to, to behonest. I find it, I think, a bit of a bore. I like buying presentsfor people throughout the year rather than at a specific time. Ilike the parties, though, and the Christmas bumper edition ofEastEnders. The rest of it I can take or leave.’’JOHN INVERDALE, 48‘‘We have a verytraditional Christmas, andthen I try and find asporting event on BoxingDay, because it can often bethe dullest day on Earth. So, Ieither go racing at Kempton forthe King George or go and have afootball match or something, justto get out the house.’’DERMOT O’LEARY, 32‘‘We have a lovely routinewith my mum and dad andmy brother-in-law. Atbreakfast, we walk alongthe beach and then comeback. Then we cook dinnerfor the evening. It allnormally takes place at myparents’ house, but I’mgoing to spend it this yearwith my sisterin York. It’sbeautifulthere.’’christmasTONY CHRISTIE, 62“Christmas we’ll bespending here in theUK. My daughter willcome over with herkids from Belgium.And then I don’t know– you never can planahead in this business.I had arranged to goback to Spain at theend of my current tourback in April, but Inever got to go becauseit went mad withAmarillo and all.We’re finally gettingback in the middle ofOctober. I’m lookingforward to that.”Stars ofthe seasonChristmas comes but once a year, and when it does, it’s a time foreveryone to celebrate. But how do celebrities choose to mark theoccasion? Is it just a grand excuse to embark on a glitter-packedmarathon of making merry, or do they prefer to take the opportunity tocosy up for some quiet quality time with their loved ones?Our insider guide reveals allKARL DAVIES, 23(Emmerdale)“I’ll probably just be back inManchester hanging aroundwith my family and friendsfor Christmas, but in JanuaryI’m taking my mum to NewYork becauseshe lovestoshop. I thought we’dgo when all thesales are onotherwise we won’tbe able to afford tobuy anything.I’ve neverbeenbefore. Ican’twait.”JAY HUNT, 40(stylist in Would Like To Meet andSpendaholics)“I hate Christmas. I’m not a Christmasfan. It’s just not my favourite time ofyear at all. Easter, count me in forEaster. Lots of Easter eggs anddaffodils, I’m happy then.“But, for the festive season I go toour cottage in the Cotswolds, which isthe most perfect, almost jokily pretty,house. It makes even mefeel Christmassy. We dothe full Christmasdinner. My partner,Margot James, lovesthis time of year. Shecooks and I don’t. Andwe have her family andfriends over.”BRUCE FORSYTH, 77I’VE been celebrating Christmas for the last 20years in Puerto Rico, where my wife comes from.We love to get in the sun for the season. For thefirst couple of years it was a bit difficult because itdidn’t feel right to be warm at Christmas, but then youget to love it. The fact that you can go and play golf in 45degrees on Boxing Day – although they don’t havingBoxing Day there – that’s pretty good.“This year, because we’re doing a Christmas show forStrictly Come Dancing, we’re not going away because itwould be too much to try to prepare before we get there, sowe’ll head off after Christmas.”

12 December 2005http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyWILL YOUNG, 26‘‘Christmas is always a funny time because I work right upto it, and then I’m normally ill on the day – I was last yearand the year before that. So I’m already planning on it. Idon’t know if I enjoy Christmas as much I used to, to behonest. I find it, I think, a bit of a bore. I like buying presentsfor people throughout the year rather than at a specific time. Ilike the parties, though, and the Christmas bumper edition ofEastEnders. The rest of it I can take or leave.’’JOHN INVERDALE, 48‘‘We have a verytraditional Christmas, andthen I try and find asporting event on BoxingDay, because it can often bethe dullest day on Earth. So, Ieither go racing at Kempton forthe King George or go and have afootball match or something, justto get out the house.’’DERMOT O’LEARY, 32‘‘We have a lovely routinewith my mum and dad andmy brother-in-law. Atbreakfast, we walk alongthe beach and then comeback. Then we cook dinnerfor the evening. It allnormally takes place at myparents’ house, but I’mgoing to spend it this yearwith my sisterin York. It’sbeautifulthere.’’christmasTONY CHRISTIE, 62“Christmas we’ll bespending here in theUK. My daughter willcome over with herkids from Belgium.And then I don’t know– you never can planahead in this business.I had arranged to goback to Spain at theend of my current tourback in April, but Inever got to go becauseit went mad withAmarillo and all.We’re finally gettingback in the middle ofOctober. I’m lookingforward to that.”Stars ofthe seasonChristmas comes but once a year, and when it does, it’s a time foreveryone to celebrate. But how do celebrities choose to mark theoccasion? Is it just a grand excuse to embark on a glitter-packedmarathon of making merry, or do they prefer to take the opportunity tocosy up for some quiet quality time with their loved ones?Our insider guide reveals allKARL DAVIES, 23(Emmerdale)“I’ll probably just be back inManchester hanging aroundwith my family and friendsfor Christmas, but in JanuaryI’m taking my mum to NewYork becauseshe lovestoshop. I thought we’dgo when all thesales are onotherwise we won’tbe able to afford tobuy anything.I’ve neverbeenbefore. Ican’twait.”JAY HUNT, 40(stylist in Would Like To Meet andSpendaholics)“I hate Christmas. I’m not a Christmasfan. It’s just not my favourite time ofyear at all. Easter, count me in forEaster. Lots of Easter eggs anddaffodils, I’m happy then.“But, for the festive season I go toour cottage in the Cotswolds, which isthe most perfect, almost jokily pretty,house. It makes even mefeel Christmassy. We dothe full Christmasdinner. My partner,Margot James, lovesthis time of year. Shecooks and I don’t. Andwe have her family andfriends over.”BRUCE FORSYTH, 77I’VE been celebrating Christmas for the last 20years in Puerto Rico, where my wife comes from.We love to get in the sun for the season. For thefirst couple of years it was a bit difficult because itdidn’t feel right to be warm at Christmas, but then youget to love it. The fact that you can go and play golf in 45degrees on Boxing Day – although they don’t havingBoxing Day there – that’s pretty good.“This year, because we’re doing a Christmas show forStrictly Come Dancing, we’re not going away because itwould be too much to try to prepare before we get there, sowe’ll head off after Christmas.”

14 December 2005http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyWE HAVE NOW MOVEDDurham Classic LtdWindows & ConservatoriesOur brand new showroom is at:P LATEAU 9, C OLD H ESELDON I NDE ST , S EAHAM , CO D URHAM , SR7 8STCall us on 0191 516 1720Also see our top quality showconservatories at:Richardsons Garden Centre,Stockton Road, Cold Hesledon(near Dalton Park)gardeningT HE P ERFECT G IFT THIS C HRISTMASTHE BEAUTYCENTREGift VoucherFrom as little as £10 to a full day or Pure Indulgence atTHE BEAUTY CENTRE2-4 Newlands Road, Belmont, Durham0191 386 5539 POSTAL SERVICE AVAILABLEMoroccan fire basket; bird and snail ornaments; the Titchmarsh design packGifts thatgrow on youGardening Correspondent BRIGID PRESS puts hammocks,Moroccan fire baskets and warm feet on her Christmas wish lists p a c e timberbuildingsoffice play room studiointroducing a new, affordable way to createmuch needed space to work, relax or playwe will supply and erect a high quality,insulated, timber garden building, for use allyear round, to suit your requirementswhether you need a home office, kids playroom, gym or just somewhere to relax andenjoy your leisure time!t: 01609 773988 m: 07736 814819jonny_space@yahoo.co.ukAFTER spending a week assistingmy parents choose and test drivea new car, I can definitely concludethat men and women havecompletely different shopping criteria.Whereas one wanted practicality, reliabilityand value for money, the other veeredtowards social status and performance. Needlessto say, practicality won out, with the oddluxury extra thrown in for appeasement.With this in mind, I have worked extra hardto try and find Christmas gifts that would suitboth standards. I have searched the shops,trawled the internet and thumbed throughthe catalogues.The first item I picked out is purely basedon personal experience. How many times doyou come in from a chilly morning’s sessionin the garden with toes like blocks of ice? Youcan’t put on too many socks as this onlycramps the toes together and makes themeven colder. Old shopping bags are good, butcrinkle and may be a bit embarrassing whensurprise guests turn up. Well, Gifts for theGirls mail order mag is selling Welly Warmersat £11.99. These are fleecy inserts made toslip inside the boot. The tops fold over the outsideof the welly, preventing them from fallingdown as you move and the adult sizes come ineither a shocking pink or more muted green.You can’t disassociate the garden from thekitchen table. Ripe Gifts (www.ripegifts.co.uk)combines the traditional, the practical andthe luxurious in the Gardening Gift Basket.❛There is somethingso soothing aboutjust lying and slowlyswinging in the cradle ofa hammockFor £66 you get a sturdy garden trug which ispacked full of gardening accessories, mouthwateringgoodies and sumptuous skin careproducts.If you need a little visual and technical assistancewith re-designing your garden, andyou are a confident computer user, then considersearching out Alan Titchmarsh’s BarleywoodGarden Designer. It is available atmost electrical and music stores for around£29.99. Once downloaded, you have access toa comprehensive database of more than 1,500plants, trees and shrubs, with which you candesign your virtual garden. Once you have selectedyour structures, borders, foliage andpathways, you can watch it all grow over theseason, and over the years. No more havingto move plants because they outgrow theirspace, or clash with the next plant at certaintimes of the year.For a bit of light-hearted entertainmenthow about a pair of realistic looking ceramicsnails with which to decorate your lettucepatches? They are available from The WeddingGarden Company (www.weddinggardencompany.co.uk).Ten pounds for two.On a more serious note, bigger pests in thegarden might not like this one; it’s a solarpoweredmole deterrent. Instead of having tolink it up to an electricity source, or find endlesssupplies of batteries, this lets you plungethe vibrating pole anywhere it will be effective.As an added bonus, there are no intermittenthigh pitched noises as with other repellents.From Greenfingers (www.greenfingers.com) at £25 each.My top choice, though, is a Moroccan firebasket. This beautifully designed metal basketcan be used as a burner for garden waste,as a log brazier to keep you warm on a chillyevening, or as a barbecue. All in all, for £49 youare getting a really practical garden gadgetthat can be used all year round, and looksgood too. The one that I have my eye on is suppliedby Greenfingers.com, available on the internetat www.greenfingers.com.

http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyDecember 200515WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMASBrigid Press is GardeningCorrespondent of TheNorthern Echo. She alsopresents Ask aboutGardening every Sunday onBBC Radio Cleveland 95FMfrom 1-2pmWhere will you be this Christmas?I am a fan of big traditional Christmas’s, filledwith extended families, fairies and food. I lovethe cosy, cuddly atmosphere, where the scentof spruce, cloves and mince pies wraps itstinsel tinted arms around you and your lovedones. I will be with my family, exchangingpresents and partaking in a monstrouslunchtime feast. This year though I shall beslipping back in time. My mother, in collusionwith her brother and sister, have begun havingthemed Christmases. Last year they wentVictorian. This year we are all going medieval.What will you be eating?We have all done our bit of research, visitingmedieval mock-ups, surfing ye olde net andspending hours in local libraries. The foodpromises to be good and hearty. In those days,venison, rabbit and big hunks of beef, alongwith various game birds, made up the maincourses and dried fruit was added to many ofthe savoury dishes.Vegetables were plentiful, but there were nopotatoes or runner beans. My brother hassecretly threatened to come as a late medievalsailor, returning from foreign lands with awondrous, newly discovered tuberous root.Any entertainment?Apart from a brief respite at 3pm (you have tolisten to the Queen), there will be notelevision. We are all going to have to do aturn. Luckily, Morris dancers were wellestablished in that era, so I may get away withshaking a few bells and wielding a big heavystick.What do you want in your stocking?Gifts will have to all be home or hand made. Ihave a mountain of marrow chutney, whichcould be cunningly packaged, along with someof my simple cider. I have also been savingspare wax, and candle ends, which I shall meltdown, add essential oils, some petals, andpour carefully into some old terracotta plantpots. Apparently, the best medieval gifts wereexotic beasts, but the nearest we’ll get to thatis by taking Ruby the Staffy to the poodleparlour.If money were no object?I am not a material person, and prefer the actof giving and receiving to the content of theparcel. However, I shall have my fingerscrossed that somewhere along the line I getKate Bush’s new album. If money were noobject and I could have anything in the worldthen my dream Christmas present would be tohave a cure for Alzheimer’s.STOPrising fuel costsand pollutionTHINKsaving money& the environmentI have a hammock. It was one of the firstpieces of furniture I acquired when I movedinto my new house. There is something sosoothing about just lying and slowly swingingin the cradle of a hammock. However, Imay have to upgrade. Mine is a one personhammock, but The Mexican Hammock Companyhave multicoloured family size ones.The Chacmool hammock is the largest, accommodatingat least five grown-up adults,and retails at £78.95. The whole range is availableon www.hammocks.co.uk.You may need one of the Chacmool hammocksall to yourself once you have finisheddriving the new Jeep Monster Wheelbarrowaround the garden. This has got to be the 4x4of the barrow world. The technical specifications(for the dads) are an eight cubic footloading tub, twin 16 inch wheels with four-plyIn the swing:the five-personhammock;monsterwheelbarrowand wellywarmerstube tyres set on a reinforced steel axle. It hasJeep-designed bumpers, cross bracing andextra long, easy lift handles. That amountsto a very stable wheelbarrow that will carryheavy weights through the roughest of terrain,and look macho doing so. Mind you, thismonster wheelbarrow comes with a giantprice tag. I looked one up on Amazon(www.amazon.co.uk) and it came to £230.My final recommendation finishes the yearoff on a happy note. Presents for men(www.presentsformen.com) have got some attractivebird silhouette post finials whichwill help protect the fence posts from rainwater as well as adding cheer to the garden.They are cut out from steel, and given a blackpowder-coated finish, so will last for manyyears. The blackbird is £16.99, the Wren £14.99and the Robin £15.99.DECIDEunleaded at 91.9por LPG at 39.9pIt’s your choice . . .It’s your money . . .Your car will run on either fuel . . .START SAVING . . . STOP POLLUTINGOne simple conversion to your car’s engine is all it takes . . .quick, clean and effective. You can then run on either fuel at theflick of a switch! Only your wallet and the environment will noticethe difference.CALL AND SAVE0191 384 9629CLS DUAL FUEL LTD

16 December 2005http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlySaturday,26th NovemberFriday23rd DecemberRaby Castle,Staindrop,County DurhamDL2 3AHTel: 01833 660202Cooking the turkey and all thetrimmings for an extendedfamily can be a mammoth task.GABRIELLE FAGAN asks theexperts for tips on how to makeit easier, and what they’ll beeating this ChristmasShop and Tearooms: 9.30am-5.00pmSanta’s Grotto: 2.00pm-5.00pm Monday to Friday10.30am-5.00pm Saturday & SundayLast admission for Gotto 4.30pm • £4 per child• Estate Grown Christmas Trees • Tearooms• Giftshop • Wreaths & Plants • Grottowww.rabycastle.comC hristmas is coming toOPEN TIMESMon-Sat 12.00-2.30pmEvening 6.00-9.30pmSunday Carvery12.00-6.00pmAn award winning restaurantChristmas Banquet Menu Afor two persons or more£19.95 per personChristmas FayreVegetarian BusinessLunch A£9.95 per person19 MILLBURNGATE CENTREDURHAM CITY, CO. DURHAM. DH4 4SLTEL: 0191 386 2020Fax: 0191 3845777email: info@numjai.co.u kSavour the flavour of aThai Paradisein Durham City & Newcastle-upon-TyneRoyal Deluxe ChristmasBanquet Menu Bfor two persons or more£26.95 per personTocketts Mill Restaurant is set in anarea of outstanding natural beauty andoffers you an array of wonderful,warm, winter fare. Come down andtaste for yourself. Please remember tobook in advance for the festive season!Christmas Lunch MenuAvailable from November 15 to December 23Served from 12.00 till 2.00pmTwo Courses £9.95Christmas Evening MenuAvailable from November 15 till December 23RestaurantFor Reservations telephone:01287 639120Skelton Road GuisboroughChristmas Fayre BusinessLunch A£9.95 per personNew Year’sEveMinimum for2 persons£34.95 per person● Sat TV kit● Good Eating Guide 2003-4 Certificate ofOutstanding Achievement● The North East Good Food Magazine 5 StarAward● Quality Food Online Platinum Award● Thai Select ‘Thai Taste-Thai Best’ ShieldWe hope you will pay us a visit and see for yourself, we know youwill be impressed once you have sampled Thai cuisine andhospitality at the Numjai, you won’t settle for anything less!THE BEST THAI RESTAURANT IN THE COUNTRYAmple parking is available in the Millburngate Shopping Centreand at the Riverside Car ParkNEXUS HOUSE,33 ST. JAMES BOULEVARD,NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE NE1 4AXTEL: 0191 261 9080Fax: 0191 2611040website: http://numjai.co.u kCHRISTMAS is the one time of year thatall of us – even the best cooks – findextremely stressful. The focus is on theChristmas Day feast, and getting thosedishes perfect is both physically demandingand complex.Our panel of celebrity chefs, famous cake makerJane Asher and top TV chefs Phil Vickery andMike Robinson reveal their culinary secrets here,with hints and tips to help you prepare a sumptuousspread that will earn you everyone’s adoration.They also talk to us about their Christmasmemories and exactly how they will be spendingtheir Christmas holiday this year.Talkingturkey(and other Christmas goodies)JANE ASHERJane Asher is a well-knownactress and writer and is alsorenowned for her decoratedcakes. Her latest book – the firstin ten years, Cakes For Fun(Simon & Schuster, £10.99)includes 40 ingenious ideas.What’s the essence of Christmasto you?“For me the idea is to gather asmany family members together aspossible. But then there’s the hopeof getting good presents andeating too much. My favouritepart is actually Boxing Day, whenyou’ve done all the hard work,everyone’s very full and happy,and you can sit around pullingbits of meat off the turkey andwatching Bond films on TV.”What is your favourite memory?“The early days, when youbelieved in Father Christmas andwould stretch your toes out andfeel the lump at the bottom of thebed. That excitement ofdiscovering a full stocking is veryhard to match in later life. There’snothing like it when you’re anadult, except sex, I suppose.”What is your favourite Christmasmenu?“We’re very traditional. I’ve donegoose a couple of times but Ialways go back to turkey. Whenyou’re feeding a lot of people Ithink it’s better to get two small tomedium-sized turkeys rather thanone enormous one. It makes itmuch easier to time the cooking –and you get twice as manydrumsticks! I cook it upside down– breast-side down first, then turnit over to brown it. I think it doeskeep it from drying out.”What is your favourite Christmasrecipe?“There are so many good ones. Ialways make my own cranberrysauce to have with the turkey,because it’s so easy – justcranberries, sugar and watercooked together.”What is the ingredient you couldnot do without at Christmas?“It might horrify some people butI often use ready-made stuffings –there are some really good onesout there. And I do spend moneyon a really good turkey, a Kellyturkey that has been properlyraised. It’s expensive, but it’sworth it.”Your tip to make Christmas foodpreparation easier“Buy ready-made where you can –and don’t feel guilty about it.”Where will you be spendingChristmas and what’s on themenu?“We’ll gather as a family – ourthree children and their assortedfriends, my mum, who’s 91, andmy sister and her family. Andwe’ll have the traditionalChristmas turkey.”

http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyDecember 200517JAMIE OLIVERPhil’s Christmas Cake and Brandy ParfaitPHIL VICKERYTV chef Phil Vickery, ofThis Morning and ReadySteady Cook fame, is ratedas one of Britain’s foremostchefs and is famous for hispuddings. His latest book isA Passion For Puddings(Simon & Schuster, £9.99).Phil is married to TVpresenter Fern Britton andthey live with her threechildren and their four-yearolddaughter Winnie.What’s the essence ofChristmas for you?“A big family get-together –trouble is I do the cooking.”What’s your favouriteChristmas menu?“The whole works onChristmas Day, then bakedham with pickles andmashed potatoes on Boxingday. This year we are havingpickled Bullaces, smallround wild plum-like fruits,picked by myself andWinnie.”What’s your favouriteChristmas recipe?“The family loves ChristmasCake and Brandy Parfait,one of the recipes in mybook. This recipe really cameabout because the kids willnot eat Christmas cake orpudding, but, made into anice cream or parfait, theylove it.”Is there an ingredient youcould not do without forChristmas food?“Looking back, it seems likeCarnation Condensed Milkhas always been part of mylife. Carnation is simplyirreplaceable in all kinds ofgreat puddings, cakes,sweets and ice creams. I’vegot a few other favourites –mixed spice, mincemeat,goose fat and my ownOrganic Golden ChristmasPudding.” (available fromwww.vickery.tv)Do you have a tip formaking preparation of theChristmas feast easier?“Don’t drink until thecooking is done!”Where will you be spendingChristmas and what will bethe menu?“At home with the wholefamily. The menu features abird within a bird. A quailinside a partridge, inside apheasant, inside a Guineafowl, inside a turkey, inside agoose, then roasted andglazed with lemon andhoney.”TV chef Jamie Oliver is bestknown for forcing thegovernment to do somethingabout the quality of schoolmeals. His most recent TVforay was Jamie’s Italy onChannel 4, now available inbook form (Michael Joseph,£20). Jamie will be spendingChristmas at home with wifeJools, and their two children,Poppy Honey, three, and twoyear-oldDaisy Boo.What’s the essence ofChristmas for you?Time off and a lie-in and then afull monty Christmas dinner forfamily, friends, and all my oldmates and pals who’ve comeback to see their mummies.There’s got to be a reasonableamount of alcohol and time towatch an episode of Only FoolsAnd Horses and the Queen’sspeech.What’s your favouriteChristmas memory?When I was 11 and I got my firstdrum kit. But perhaps the onethat always give me a giggle iswhen my nan set her hair onfire, because she put on toomuch hairspray and went neara candle. My mum poured a jugof wine over her head.What’s your favouriteChristmas menu?Traditional fare done properly,but with a few tweaks.What’s your favouriteChristmas recipe?It’s got to be my mum’sChristmas trifle. If you aregoing to do it, you have got to doit the real way, like my mumdoes, by using traditional, tackyingredients like packetblancmange and tinnedmandarins with a good slug ofCointreau. You can even makeit the day before you eat it.What’s your essentialChristmas ingredient?Vin Santo, a famous Italianwhite dessert wine, for drinkingand for the trifle.MIKE ROBINSONTV chef and outdoors enthusiast,Mike Robinson regularly appearson programmes such as BBC’sSaturday Kitchen, and in severalseries for UKTV. His new book,Wild Flavours (Cassell Illustrated,£20), is filled with easy-to-makedishes using fresh, seasonal andcountry ingredients. He lives withhis wife, Katie.What is the essence of Christmas?“Cooking for a large group ofpeople because that’s what I havedone all my life. I’ve worked moreChristmases as a chef than I’veenjoyed as a participant. I love tomake it a beautiful, visualspectacle as well as a deliciousmeal because this is the biggestcelebration of the year.”What’s your favourite memory ofChristmas?When I was about eight years oldour family dog managed to openthe fridge door, get out and eat a2lb packet of butter. He was thensick in the middle of theChristmas meal, which as a child,of course, I found hilarious. Hewas in disgrace for ages and I wasthe only one talking to him!”What’s your favourite Christmasmenu?“I like turkey because it’straditional but I never buy a largeone, rather I’ll get two 10lb BronzeNorfolk Blacks because they’refull of flavour and not artificiallyplumped up. I’ll follow that with asmall Christmas pudding becauseI don’t think people ever want toomuch of it. I usually crumble upthe leftovers and blend them intohome-made ice-cream, which isdelicious on Boxing Day.”What’s your favourite Christmasrecipe?“I like to make what is really mysignature dish, Beef Fillet WithShallots And Guinness, (from WildFlavours). It’s somethingcompletely different to have wheneveryone’s tired of the traditionalfare and it’s the ultimate comfortfood which warms the soul on adark and gloomy winter’s day.”Is there an ingredient you couldnot do without for Christmasfood?“Goose fat. I always use it as thefat for roasting my potatoes, and Ibaste the partridges with itbecause it gives them an excellentflavour.”Do you have a tip for makingpreparation of the Christmasfeast easier?“I believe people always overcookturkey. So I like to cut a little timeoff the recommended cookingtime but then allow the bird tostand for around 45 minutes to anhour. I cover it in foil and put itsomewhere warm, an airingcupboard is ideal.“Where will you be spendingChristmas and what will be themenu?“I won’t open my restaurant onChristmas Day so that my wife,friends, and the staff – around 20of us – can all enjoy a wonderfulmedieval style feast that will lastfor hours. I’m going to do roastgoose surrounded by Englishpartridges, tureens of casserolepheasant, jugged hare. I catch myown salmon and smoke it and sothere will be a platter of that aswell.”North Yorkshire Moors RailwayPickering - Levisham - Goathland - GrosmontQUALITY ASSUREDVISITORATTRACTION3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th & 18th DecemberTake part in the festivities with a journey on the trainincluding a visit to Santa in his grotto for every child witha gift included and mince pies and coffee for adults.Advance booking essentialDUE TO DEMAND NEW DATE ADDEDWednesday 21st December, Pickering Santa SpecialDeparting 10.20, 11.55, 13.40, 15.15Christmas & New Year Operating Days3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th 18th December Shuttle Service19th - 23rd & 27th December 2005 to 3rd January 2006 Full ServiceRelax during the hectic Christmas and New Year Festivities and takea journey with us through the beautiful North York Moors National ParkAdvance Bookings & Information 01751 472508Talking Timetable 01751 473535Email: customerservices@nymr.fsnet.co.ukWebsite: www.northyorkshiremoorsrailway.com

http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyDecember 200519NE Magazine’sstyle experts,Judie McCourtand AllisonMcKay, take tothe socialhoneypots ofthe region insearch of styleand individualityout on the townMcCourt& McKayAS this is the last column of 2005, wethought we would see the year outwith some celebrity style and joinLiberty X at an intimate and exclusivegig with Century FM at theCentre for Life in Newcastle. It was the firsttime we had been to the venue and we werevery impressed.Liberty X all looked amazing and what wasrefreshing was their love for high street labels,though being a successful pop group, they havea team of stylists, and designers who send themoutfits in the hope they’ll be photographed inthem. One thing that stood out was how theyglowed. Their skin looked flawless, which theyput down to drinking plenty of water.As Michelle Heaton is from Newcastle, sheloves to come back to the North-East to catchup with family and friends and to check outsome of her favourite shops.SCOTT MAKINSCOTT is the new face – or should we say‘voice’? – on the breakfast show at Century FM,so when his alarm goes off at 3.30am fashion isthe last thing on his mind. Prior to being marriedwith two children, he admits he was a Psycheregular, but now he shops on the highstreet. Scott was wearing a striped shirt fromLinea with Next jeans and shoes. His beautyregime consists of Pure & Simple moisturiserwith V05 Hair Gum and Black Code Armaniafter-shave, which is one luxury he is hangingon to!LISA HIGGINSLISA, a marketingdirector, loves toshop for clothes. Forwork, she wearsMarks & SpencerLimited Collectionand for playtime,she adopts a classiccool look. Lisa waswearing a black D &G jacket with Marks& Spencer vest,Gucci jeans andaccessories fromTopshop. Her skinis in tip-topcondition mainlybecause she nevergoes to bed in hermake-up and swearsby Clarins beautyproducts. She hasher hair cut everysix weeks.LISA HIGGINSSCOTT MAKINKYLECRAGGSKYLE is astudent at theprestigiousItalia ConteSchool ofTheatre Arts inLondon, whichmeans he keepsfit with all hisperformanceclasses. Hisgrey T-shirt isfrom House ofFraser, teamedwith G-starjeans fromTucci. Kyle alsolikes to shop atVan Mildert inDurham anduses Nivea forMenmoisturiser anda head clayfrom Saks Hair& Beauty.OWEN RYANKYLE CRAGGSOWENRYANOwen, 30, isCentury FM’sprogrammecontroller andalthough hesays he’s not aslave to fashion,he is veryfashionconscious. Owenwas wearingjumper fromNicole Farhi,jeans from Gapand Dieselshoes, which hebought in NewYork. He is ahuge fan ofdetoxing andregular exerciseand usesCliniqueproducts on hisskin andKerastase hairproducts.MICHAEL MORRISMICHAEL is a student in his second year of his National Diplomadance class at Newcastle College so, like Kyle, he keeps very fit.Michael was wearing a Diesel T-shirt from House of Fraser withFrench Connection jeans. He uses Studio FX works products on hishair.CAROLINE DUFFCAROLINE DUFFCAROLINE looked stunning, posing with the boys from Liberty X. She is marketingcontroller of Century FM. Caroline often visits her boyfriend’s brothers in the states,one in Boston and one in New York, and likes to buy clothes over there. The satin vestwas from Urban Outfitters in Boston, the jeans from Gap in New York. She teamedthem with a sparkly bolero from Topshop. When the seasons change, Caroline’s skindries out a little so she uses Elizabeth Arden’s famous Eight Hour Cream. In fact, shenever leaves home without it.Marianne● TV and radiopresenter JudieMcCourt andcelebrity hair andmake-up artist AllisonMcKay, run AMCreative Productions,which specialises increative and socialevent managementand PRamcreativeproductions.comMICHAEL MORRISof Cleadon VillageLeading stockistof SpecialOccasion wearHundreds of beautiful outfitsto choose from forMother of the Bride/Groom,wedding guests, races, cruiseand holiday wear.To complete your outfit wehave a fabulous selectionof hats to hire or buy withmatching shoes and handbags.• Sizes 10-22• Alteration Service53-55 Front Street,Cleadon Village,SR6 7PGTelephone: 0191 536 7310We are openMonday to to Saturday9.30am-5.30pmAM - PMand Sunday Sunday 10 AM - 4 PMLate night 10am-4pm Tuesday until 8pmwww.mariannefashions.co.uk• Free Parking

20 December 2005 http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlychristmasBeautifullyhungoverOur essential party survival guide covers everything from miraclemedicines to friendly foods, and banishing those bloodshot partyeyes. RACHAEL POPOW reportsVIOXXALERTHave you or a family membersuffered a heart attack,stroke or other seriouscardiovascular event as aresult of taking VIOXX?If so, call Browell Smith & Co NOW on0800 107 3000you may be entitled to compensation.26 Market Place, Durham, County Durham DH1 3NJwww.browells.co.ukNO matter how sensible you’ve beenthe rest of the year, Christmas istraditionally a time to eat, drink,be merry and party on down toyour heart’s content.But there is a downside to all those office dos,boozy family lunches and seasonal get-togethers– sometimes you can be due at the next bashbefore you’ve even had chance to draw breathand recover from the last one. Obviously, thevery best way to avoid a hangover is just not toget drunk in the first place. If you are going tobe drinking, do it sensibly – don’t booze on anempty stomach and do try to alternate alcoholicdrinks with water or a soft drink.But if you find that all your good intentionsget swept away by a tidal wave of excess festivespirit, all is not lost. There are ways to ensurethat you can still look like the life and soul ofthe party, even if you feel more like deathwarmed up.The process begins the morning after. Yourfirst step should be to brush your teeth andtongue to get rid of that furry feeling, beforejumping into an invigorating shower to wakeyourself up.Next, you need to turn your attention to yourface. Celebrity stylist Ceril Campbell says: “Ifyou came home drunk, then it’s highly likelythat you will have slept in your make-up. In themorning, take the time to cleanse properly, especiallyif you’ve used anything sparkly – youmay think you’ve removed it all, only to findyou’ve still got bits of glitter stuck all over yourface.”A good moisturiser will help your face recover– try Afterlife by Lush (£15) which hasbeen specially designed to perk up skin thathas taken the toll of too much hard living.And once you’ve washed and are feeling revived,you should hopefully be ready to leavethe bathroom and face the kitchen.Many people swear by a fry-up when they’refeeling hungover, but there are other, muchhealthier ways to recover. Ceril Campbell’swebsite, Red Carpet Glamour (www.redcarpetglamour.com),sells many natural productsto boost your inner beauty, including the vitamin-packedhangover remedy Emergen-C(£17.99 for 36 sachets).Alternatively, you can take the detox approachand try squeezing a little lemon juiceinto a glass of warm water to help flush outyour system.Hopefully this will help you face the dayahead, but if you find you’re flagging again bythe evening, you may need to rely on a few fashionand beauty tricks.If you’re feeling a little delicate, you may decideagainst experimenting with a new outfitand opt to stick with something tried and tested.But be warned – that trusty little blackdress might not be as flattering as you think.Ceril says: “When you feel bad, the veryworst thing you can do is wear black. It doesn’tmatter that it’s very fashionable this Christmas– it will wash you out and make you lookeven paler. Go for a colour instead – even adarker shade like brown or green is better thanblack.”However, while black may be out, she believesother trends can work in your favour, especiallywhen it comes to your hair. “The lookthis season is very ladylike and Sixties-inspired,”she explains. “So if your hair isn’t lookinggreat or you haven’t had a chance to washit, you’ll be able to get away with it by backcombingit or slicking it back into a ponytail.”Make-up can also be used to freshen up yourappearance, but be careful not to overdo it. Ifyou’ve been wearing make-up during the day,make sure you remove it and start again – don’tjust apply a fresh layer over the top. A goodfoundation and blusher will take the edge offyour ghostly pallor and put the colour back inyour cheeks.You need to pay special attention to youreyes as they’re the biggest giveaway if you’restill feeling rough – and wearing sunglasses indoorsduring December really doesn’t fool anyone.Beauty experts swear by Yves Saint LaurentTouche Eclat for disguising bags and dark circles,but if the £21 price tag puts you off, BootsNo 7 Instant Radiance Concealer (£11.50) is agood alternative. Applying some mascara andmaking sure your eyebrows are looking theirbest will also help you get that wide-eyed look,but for maximum impact, go for Sixties-styleeyes, with lots of dark liner and smoky sockets.Not only will this add a dash of sultry glamour,a la Brigitte Bardot, it will also make yoursunken eyes and black circles look like a fashionstatement rather than the result of a nighton the tiles.Then with a slick of lip gloss and some chewinggum or mints in your bag in case yourmorning breath comes back to haunt you,you’re ready to go to the ball looking as freshas a daisy.However, it’s worth remembering that whilethese quick fixes may work as a one off, thedamage caused by regular binge drinking willbe harder to cover up. As Ceril Campbell says:“How you look on the outside is a reflection ofhow healthy you are inside. And even if yourface doesn’t show the damage, your liver will.”❛When you feel bad, the veryworst thing you can do iswear black. It doesn’t matterthat it’s very fashionable thisChristmas – it will wash you outand make you look even paler

22 December 2005 http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlychristmasTV HOT-SHOTMenacer£24.99www.iwoot.comThis gun is pre-loadedwith six shoot-em-upgames which are utterlyaddictive and highly unlikelyto cause offence toanyone. It is highly likelythat you’ll find hoursturning into days, anddays into weeks – a greatfun gun.6of thebestplug and playTHE trouble with console games is thatyou need a PhD or equivalent just tostart level one. Well, it often feels thatway… Why can’t we just return to theglorious days of simplicity, where thegraphics weren’t great but the gameplaywas instantly addictive? Do we really havetime to digest hundreds of potential buttoncombinations to achieve special moves andunlock secret levels? No, what we want is alittle instant gratification – so here’s aselection of plug and play games that areready to play almost as soon as the box hitsthe bin.Peter JenkinsonCREATEDFROM ACOMPUTERC64 plug ’n’ play£24.95www.firebox.comFrom the prehistoricland of PCs comes theCommodore 64 box.This black unit isactually morepowerful than theoriginal computer.Thirty of the originalCommodore games arepacked inside, making this a superb valuevideo-vintage box.ORIGINALOFFENDERAtari 13-in-1paddle£19.95 for twowww.boysstuff.co.ukAnyone whoremembers earlyvideo-gaming willno doubt have asoft spot for the Atariclassics Pong andBreakout – just about the most standard yetspectacular show ever seen.A must-have to tuck away to show futuregenerations what they are missing.BE A BLUFFERTexas Hold ’Em£49.99 www.argos.co.ukPlay this high-stakes version of the classic cardgame without the need for a dealer, as the TVtakes on this part. Complete with six handheldLCD screens which let you and five othersbattle it out on-screen for the main prize pot.NO FUSS FOOTBALLSensible Soccer£29.95 www.firebox.comThis will never win any prizes for itsgraphics, or indeed for its in-depthgameplay but has a good chance ofscooping the World Cup for fast-pacedfrantic fun. One blink and the ball willbe snatched away from youGHOST HUNTERNamco 5 in 1£19.99 www.amazon.co.ukEach and every household in the countryshould get themselves a real slice of nostalgiain the form of this 5 in 1box of tricks. The yellowspherical pill-munching,monster-chasing, mazebustingcharacter hasn’tlost any of hischarm – andthere are fourothergames too.

24 December 2005http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyhifisoundchristmasFromDABTechnologyto old fashionedRecord Needles30B Larchfield Street☎01325 241888Jewellers of DistinctionEstablished for over twenty years as a topquality manufacturer. Asquith’s opened theirfirst retail shop in York in 1995 and thenDarlington in 1997.We offer extensive choice of fine jewellery,from diamond rings to elegant Sterlingsilver. We have a wonderful range ofWedding rings in gold, white gold andplatinum, you can also call on one of ourpeople to create that special piece just foryou. Our skilled staff have many years ofcombined experience and have achieved thehighest degree of qualifications, recognisedwithin the trade. Apart from superb choice,whether shopping for a friend or personaluse. Asquith’s always offer you superb value,bring you the highest quality of jewellery, ataffordable prices.Create that something specialjust for you.ASQUITH’SAsquith’s Diamond Merchants& Manufacturing Jewellers16 Post House Wynd, DarlingtonTel: 01325 25052260 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LFTel: 01904 633886CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S EVE ATTHE ATLANTIC BARAND GRILL38 CONISCLIFFE ROAD, DARLINGTON£35 PER HEAD - TICKETS ONLY • DJ TILL LATESUMPTUOUS BUFFET TO INCLUDE:A SELECTION OF STARTERS FOLLOWED BYHERB ROASTED SIRLOIN OF BEEF,DRESSED SCOTTISH SALMON, PLATTERSOF ROAST MEATS, STICKY ORIENTALSKEWERS, HOME MADE SAUSAGE ROLLSWITH WHOLE GRAIN MUSTARD, SESAMESEED PRAWNS SWEET CHILLI GLAZED,ASSORTED QUICHES, SALAD SELECTION,NEW POTATOES, GOATSCHEESE BROCHETTEFOLLOWED BY A SELECTION OF DESERTSLIMITED AVAILABILITY ON CHRISTMAS FAYREBringing labels to town: Jo Rankin, owner of Rubber Sole Pictures: STUART BOULTONSole sisterFrom cool jewellery to funkyfootwear, Rubber Sole has all youneed for a cutting-edge Christmas,as SARAH FOSTER finds outFOR Jo Rankin and her husband Lee,fashion is fundamental. As owners ofthe shoe and accessory store RubberSole, on Darlington’s Blackwellgate,their focus is street style – and this is somethingthey take seriously. “We offer alternativebrands – things that major cities sell,”says Jo. “If you went to London, Manchesteror any big city you would probably see whatwe are selling. We bring these labels to thetown.”Among the shop’s bestsellers are brandslike Converse, Fly London, Spanish footwearmake Art and Vans Classics. Other favouritesare shoes by Draven. “They’re very underground– they’re edgy with a punk twist,” explainsJo. She says her styles have wide appeal.“We cater for everyone, from children tothose in their 60s. Because everyone wears casualfashions, we appeal to them all.”Now entering its fourth year, the shop hasbuilt a solid reputation, scooping two businessawards along the way. As well as stylishshoes, it also sells bags and accessories – andall in the same distinctive vein. “We’ve pickedup a lovely knitwear range from Nepal calledKusan,” says Jo. “We sell hats and scarves andthey’re flying out. They’re just lovely – reallydifferent from anything that we have here.”Another big seller is handmade jewelleryby Newcastle-based designer Kate Tessa.“That’s gone from strength to strength,” saysJo. “Every piece that she does is individualand unique, so you can buy a necklace andwalk around knowing that you won’t see anybodyelse with it.”To meet demand for its quirky goods, theshop is moving to new and bigger town centrepremises. Jo says its mail order side hasalso taken off. “We’re doing a lot of mail orderat the moment,” she says. “We ship to all overthe place – Tokyo, the States and Australia.”With prices starting at £20, the shop hassomething to suit most budgets and in a pairof its striking footwear, you’ll certainly standout.WHAT I WANT FORCHRISTMASJo Rankin, owner of Rubber SoleWhere are you spending Christmas thisyear?At home in Darlington. It will be an intimateoccasion with my husband, sister and nephew.What’s top of your Christmas wish list?Peace for all and an end to poverty – I’m anactive campaigner.If money were no object, what would beyour ideal Christmas gift?Two weeks in the Maldives.What has been your best ever Christmasgift?It was a Raleigh Poppy bike, when I was ten.It was red with a poppy on it.TO BOOK CALL: 01325 382200● Rubber Sole, 35 Blackwellgate, Darlington(01325) 461118, www.rubber-sole.comOpen Monday-Saturday, 9.30am-5.30pm.Above: girls’ shoes and the retrofavourites, Converse All Stars

http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyDecember 2005WHAT IWANT FORCHRISTMAS27Emma Wilson, sales andmarketing manager at TheCroft hotelContemporary meets colonial: the Raffles restaurant; below, one of the extensive bathrooms and a bright sunny bedroomWhere will you be forChristmas?I come from a really largefamily and it’s not alwayseasy for us to all gettogether. Christmas is theone time of year when wemanage it effortlessly. It’s areal treat as we are veryclose. The celebrations andparties normally startChristmas Eve and by NewYear we have been toeveryone’s house.What is top of yourChristmas wish list?Lots of new shoes and bags.I’m a typical girlie girl and Inever seem to have enoughof either.What’s the best presentyou’ve ever had?A few years ago myboyfriend bought me aprivate number plate.If money were no object,what would you like?I would love a brand newwhite Mercedes SL55 withpink interior. My dream carto say the least.With the party season upon us, the restaurantis busier than ever. Along with specialChristmas nights, it’s hosting a lavish NewYear’s Eve dinner. “New Year’s Eve will bespectacular,” says Emma. “There will be afive-course gourmet meal with a magician,piper, live band, disco and canapes. It’s goingto be great.”With its steady weekend custom andspreading fame, it’s hoped that for Raffles,the New Year will bring new trade. Enhancedby the revamped bar, Emma says it’sbound for even greater success.● The Croft (includingRaffles), Croft on Tees,Darlington DL2 2ST (01325)720319, www.crofthotel.co.ukorwww.rafflesuk.com❛He’s come from arestaurant rather thana hotel background.Eventually, he’s looking forrosettes and he’ll get them

26 December 2005http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyADVERTISING FEATUREDarlington Wealth Managementlaunches new officePeter Marriott, Martin Burgess and Mike Hill(pictured), Principals of Darlington WealthManagement, have opened an office in Darlington.They have recently become Associate Partners of therenowned wealth management organisation, the St. James’sPlace Partnership. Previously they all worked for a wellknownbuilding society based locally in Darlington forapproximately 8 years each.The St. James’s Place Partnership is an elite group, made up of many of the mostexperienced, able and highly regarded professionals working in financial services today.Focused solely on face-to-face advice, the Partnership is well-established as one of theUK’s leading wealth management organisations.All three Principals have over 80 years combined experience in the Financial Servicesindustry. Previous history includes both Mike and Peter working for CIS Ltd for 12 and18 years respectively. Martin worked for Lloyds TSB for 29 years.Darlington Wealth Management are based at Valley House, Valley Street, Darlington;which offers client parking facilities and is also within comfortable walking distance fromthe town centre.They have the expertise and specialist knowledge to help you to:o Build and preserve capitalo Manage cash and borrowingso Gain financial protection against riskMike Hill commented, “We feel that this is a very positive move for us and the invitationto join the prestigious St. James’s Place Partnership was too good an opportunity tomiss. It is an exciting prospect to be able to offer both new and existing clients theexpertise and exclusivity of top performing St. James’s Place Fund Management as wellas the best of breed providers and mortgage advice”. To take advantage of thisexcellent proposition, please contact Mike, Peter or Martin on 01325 466 166OR e-mail them at dwm@sjpp.co.uk.The St. James’s Place Group stands behind and guarantees the advice given byDarlington Wealth Management when recommending any of the products andservices provided by companies in the St. James’s Place Group.INVITATIONINVITATIONFINANCIAL SURGERYFINANCIAL SURGERYDarlington Wealth Management are inviting you to come and discover the benefitsof their professional financial advice.They are holding a financial surgery session on Thursday, 24 th November,basedat their offices - Valley House,Valley Street, Darlington between the timesof 09.30 - 18.30. Each surgery will last approximately 30 minutes and is free andnon-obligatory.Please ring us on 01325 466 166 or e-mail us at dwm@sjpp.co.uk to reserveyour session or to find out more.Darlington Wealth Management are inviting you to comeand discover the benefits of their professional financialadvice.They are holding financial surgery sessions on Thursday 8thDecember 2005and Thursday 19th January 2006, based at their offices - ValleyHouse,Valley Street, Darlington between the times of 09.30 - 18.30.Each surgery will last approximately 30 minutes and is free and nonobligatory.Please ring us on 01325 466 166 or e-mail us at dwm@sjpp.co.ukto reserve your session or to find out more.D DARLINGTON W WEALTH M ANAGEMENT O FFER O FFERF INANCIAL F A ADVICE YOU Y OU CC AN AN T RUST T RUSTThe Oriental bedroom, one of the revamped rooms at The CroftCroft (but notthe original)With a major refurbishment, the name isn’t all that’s changed atDarlington’s Croft hotel, as SARAH FOSTER finds outThen and now: renamed The Croft, top, andthe Croft Spa pictured in the 1950sON stepping into The Croft, onthe outskirts of Darlington,you’re instantly transported tothe past. The large receptionand majestic staircase are remnantsof a bygone age and the feel is of heritageand tradition. From every feature, it’sclear the hotel has an atmosphere all itsown.For the past 12 years, The Croft has beenowned by Malcolm McKee. Its advancingage had meant it was starting to decline, solast year, he spent around £1m on a facelift.The results are dramatic. Not only has thehotel changed its name (from the CroftSpa), it has overhauled its image. Whereonce it was looking a bit tired, it’s now theheight of modern chic, and with more workplanned to transform the bar, things canonly get better.Emma Wilson, sales and marketing managerat the hotel, says it’s come a long way.“We would describe ourselves as a smallboutique hotel with an eating out restaurant,”she adds.Some of the most dramatic changes havebeen to the guest rooms. There are 20 spacioussuites, some with a theme, such asfeng shui or Manhattan, and the bathroomsare stunning – almost large enough to getlost in. Emma says they’ve proved a massivehit. “People are quite surprised by therooms – we’ve had lots of positive feedback.We’ve got pretty much every large companyin Darlington staying with us,” she says.Like most modern hotels, The Croft hasa health club, complete with state-of-the-artequipment and a sauna and steam room.Yet according to Emma, its real sellingpoint is its restaurant. “The restaurant isprobably our main focus. It’s somethingwe’re very proud of,” she says.Based loosely on the Singapore hotel ofthe same name, Raffles is where contemporarymeets colonial. Its lion statues andlush greenery recall the Raj, and yet itsmenu is up-to-the-minute. Emma says a keystrength is the chef. “He’s come from arestaurant, rather than a hotel background,”she says. “Eventually, he’s lookingfor rosettes and he’ll get them.”Open for lunch from 12-2pm and dinnerevery night, Raffles serves what’s referredto as ‘contemporary English cuisine’. “It’sfood that looks good on the plate,” Emmaexplains. “One of our signature dishes ismini joint of James Wright’s gammon,which is posh gammon, egg and chips. Oneof the chef’s favourite desserts is a basilinfusedcreme brulee with homemadelavender shortbread.”

28 December 2005http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlymotoringThe sky’s the limitthis ChristmasMercedes ML350: just about everything has been improvedBack up the ranksof the 4x4sIf it’s a long, long way to lunch, the Mercedes ML should definitely beon the car-buying menu, says Motoring Correspondent IAN LAMMINGWE have all jumped in the car tomeet a friend for lunch, haven’twe? Nothing unusual in that…until I mention it to others.“Let me get this straight,” they say. “Youjumped in your car and went to meet yourfriend for lunch, had lunch then drove all theway back in a day – from Edinburgh. Are youmad?”No, not when the car is an ML350, Mercedes’latest posh off-roader. One hundredand thirty six miles there courtesy of theA68; 162 miles back thanks to the old A1.The omnibus of the Archers followed byDesert Island Discs pretty much got me upthere; less than three music CDs got me back.In the middle, a spot of lunch at Harvey Nickswith my chum and that’s a good day out, I’dsay.Such a journey wouldn’t have been greatin every car, of course, and one of thosewould have been the old ML; a car that handledso badly that I once felt car sick whileactually driving it, thanks to the yacht-in-astormbody roll.No such troubles with the latest version tograce our roads, particularly when it is fittedwith air suspension which is simply superb.Press the little button on the dash sothe “sport” light illuminates red and the bigML will handle like any saloon, and a goodone at that. Opt for “comfort” and it takeson the persona of a limo. This one thing aloneis sufficient to make the new ML worthy ofthe badge at last.But it doesn’t stop there. Mercedes has improvedjust about everything on this car tocatapult it right up the ranks of 4x4s.It looks a lot better – similar yes – but muchimproved thanks to subtle styling changeswhich completely alter proportions and aesthetics.It looks much bigger, wider, lower,purposeful – in fact, nicer in every way.Get the tape measure out and you will findthat it is bigger in most directions and thebenefits stretch inside as well as out. Thereis more room for passengers, more for luggage,more car to stand on the drive.Inside is a delight too. The dash oozes qualityand could have come from an SL sportscar. In fact, if it wasn’t for the fact that youare seated so high up, you would forget youwere in a roughty toughty off-roader at all.It’s pure luxury.Never has The Archers sounded so good,thanks to the Harman Kardon hi-fi; the airtemperature is beautifully controlled by theclimate control; the sculpted leather seatscosset the body and support mile after mile;the seven speed automatic gearbox and silkysmooth V6 engine make driving long distancesa breeze.That engine produces a mammoth 272bhpwhich happily and unobtrusively cruises atthe legal limit while quaffing petrol at therate of 24 miles per gallon. Call on its hugereserves of strength and it responds in a waythat seems almost indecent in a vehicle thissize. Safe to say, it has more than enoughpower to overtake slow moving vehicles onthe A68 in perfect safety.Surely Mercedes hasn’t managed to ironout all the faults from the old ML? Is this theperfect off-roader? Well, nearly, but not quite,though I do have to nitpick.On a couple of occasions when creeping intraffic the automatic gearbox would thumpalarmingly into the lowest ratio; but,strangely, only sometimes, so I’m not surewhat that’s about.Also, unless you go for the optional extrabi-xenon lights, things are going to be a bitdull at night, and there are no headlampwash wipes. As an example, you can happilydrive along on full beam and no one evenflashes you.And although lights are something youshould not be skimping on if you drive a lotat night, these small faults leave next to nothingelse to grumble about.If your mates do live a long way away fromhome, particularly up north where theweather is inclement, there can be no bettervehicle than the Mercedes ML in which tomeet them for lunch… however far therestaurant.AT Cleveland Flying School,based at Durham Tees ValleyAirport, the sky really isthe limit. With expert tuition,you can get a pilot’s licence andeven learn to fly a jumbo jet. Yet formost, a fun experience is what it’s allabout.“We offer training right from thevery beginning up through privatepilot licence level right up to commercialpilot, so we are basicallytraining people who want to fly recreationallyor who want a job flying,”says Alan Wrigley, head of trainingat the school. “We are actually ableto offer every type of flying coursethat’s available in the UK, but the majorityof what we do is recreational.I would say that it’s about 75 per centrecreational and 25 per cent potentialprofessional pilots.”According to Alan, the school attractsall kinds of people. “We get allwalks of life – it’s so inclusive,” hesays. “Some people start doing itrecreationally then decide they wantto do it as a job, and some people onlyever come once – they love it and theyhave done what they wanted to do.”With prices starting from £69 forhalf an hour’s tuition in a two-seaterplane, lessons are within most people’sbudgets. Alan says that with theschool’s long history and rigorousstandards, safety is guaranteed.“There has been training at this airfieldsince the Second World War,” hesays. “The company as it now standshas only been here for two years butour club history probably goes back30 years. All the instructors have togo through a rigorous training courseand testing and they are regularly retested.It’s very, very safe.”Those wanting to take passengerscan have their lesson in a four-seaterplane, from £89, and flights can beFor those struggling to satisfythe hard to buy for thisChristmas, a flying lessoncould be just the thing.SARAH FOSTER finds outwhat’s on offer at ClevelandFlying Schooltaken up to six months after booking.Alan says that whatever the package,the student gets to grips with the controls.“The person who goes flying reallydoes get a chance to control theplane and usually comes back with agood idea of how to do it,” he says.While due to an increase in fuelprices, all options will cost an extra£6 from the New Year, any bookingsmade before that will be honoured atthe present rate. Alan says thatlessons make the ideal Christmasgifts. “Many, many people buy themas Christmas presents – you can geta gift voucher from us written out inthe name of the recipient,” he says.“I would say a person hasn’t goteverything until they’ve got some flyingexperience.”● Cleveland Flying School, DurhamTees Valley Airport (01325) 332855.WIN A FLYING LESSONThe flying school is offering one luckyreader the chance to win a half hourflying lesson in a two-seater plane,worth £69, with the option of payingextra to upgrade. To have a chance ofwinning, just tell us when trainingstarted at the airfield. Send youranswer on a postcard or the back of asealed envelope to Cleveland FlyingSchool Competition, Features, TheNorthern Echo, Darlington, DL1 1NF,to be received by December 14.You can learnto fly in theBulldog, theaircraft thatRAF jet pilotsused to dotheir basictraining in

http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyDecember 200529Wigwam gang: kids get ready to mosey down to the OK CorralUp hill and down dale –a real experienceIF YOU’RE looking for a giftfor the person who seems tohave everything, why not buythem an experience instead?Deepdale Off Road has giftvouchers which are valid forone year and allow the recipientto book their drive on aconvenient day. All vouchersare valid Monday to Friday andcan be upgraded to a weekendevent. And just so you don’t feeltoo lonely behind the wheel,they allow two people of yourchoice to share the driving.Absolute beginners arewelcomed, as are moreexperienced off roaders. Thequalified instructors show youhow to get your wheels muddyand how to get the most out ofyour vehicle.Former dairy farmer GraemeGill turned from four legs tofour wheels six years ago on the20 acre site at Smartgill Farm,Barnard Castle. He has taughtdrivers from the age of 17 to 76.“I love every minute ofinstructing but I have had someexperiences that could bedescribed as characterbuilding,”Graeme reveals. “Anda lot of them have been with aman behind the wheel. Womentend to stand back and examinethe challenges. In myexperience they also listen a lotmore to the instructors andconsequently end up driving alot better.”● Deepdale Off Road can becontacted on (01833) 630 802 orat www.deepdaleoffroad.co.ukAway daysfor littleindiansINSTEAD of the usualgames and toys thisChristmas, why not treatyour children orgrandchildren to the gift ofa Wigwam holiday with thefamily? A two-night breakfor a family of four betweenJanuary and March costs inthe region of £70 at theNorthumbria WigwamVillage near Berwick uponTweed.Visitors can choose theirpreferred wigwam such asThe Lone Ranger, OKCorral, Buffalo Bill orHiawatha. The interiorshave wooden floors, robustsleeping platforms and acentral dais that can bedismantled if more daytimespace is required. Outsidethere are individual carparking spaces, a showerand toilet block andchildren’s play area. Otherfacilities include a licensedrestaurant, licensed shop,country and coastal walks,interactive art centre, quadbike trekking and fishing.● For more informationcontact John and ChristineWhiteford on (01289) 307107or visit the websitewww.northumbrianwigwams.comOff roading can make an exciting Christmas giftchristmasGetting in the swingFOR those who want to improve their golf in 2006, lessons atMatfen Hall in Northumberland might be the answer. Ten lessonswith head pro John Harrison – the coach to Ken Ferry, winner of the2005 Open at the K Club – are available for £300. Each lesson is 45minutes long, which includes initial computerised swing analysis inthe new golf academy at the hotel. All students are given a DVDanalysis of their swing to take home with them. A digi-card of 15baskets of golf balls, with 45 in each, to be used at Matfen Hall’s newdriving range costs £30.Call the Matfen Hall Golf Shop on (01661) 855711COUPLES who love to be pampered might enjoy a His and Hersjoint day of pampering in the twin treatments suite at MatfenHall, the only spa in the world to offer Versace Skincare Treatments.Day packages, which include a minimum of three treatments, lunchin the Juice Bar and full use of all of the spa and leisure facilities,start at £118 per person.Gift cheques are available by telephoning (01661) 886500A heavenly treatFOR those keener to see the AuroraBorealis (Northern Lights) than an oldman with a beard this festive season,Explore’s five-day Lapland Ice Adventurestarting on December 21 and runningthrough to March 2006 includes ice fishingand reindeer sledding, plus a night in thefamous Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi from £775.The same operator also offers a four-dayIcelandic Escapade, with guesthouse accommodation,and a superjeep ride into spectacularvolcanic landscapes from £575, includingflights, until late-March.Explore (0870 333 4001)

30 December 2005 http://clients.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ne_monthlyThe chic of itThree whole floors of fashionsand homewares make this theseason to be stylish at Psyche,as SARAH FOSTER finds outWITH two top awards under itsbelt – as FHM’s best store andDrapers magazine’s retailerof the year – Psyche’s reputationspeaks for itself. The huge store, onMiddlesbrough’s Linthorpe Road, haslong been a favourite with the fashion conscious,but as menswear manager StevenIllingworth points out, it’s not just forlabel junkies.“We do menswear, ladieswear and childrenswearand in each department, we dothings like tailoring, evening wear and casualwear,” he says. “We do sell expensiveitems, but we try to keep the prices down.”As a so-called “destination store”, Psycheis much more than just a clothes shop.“We have three floors and we also dohomeware,” says Steven. “There’s an artgallery on the first floor and we have ourown bar and café as well. Basically, youcan get everything you need.”Such is its profile that it has starred ina TV documentary, The Secret Life Of TheShop, which may soon be repeated. Stevensays it’s the perfect place for presents.“At this time of year, we sell a lot ofgifts,” he says. “Obviously, we sell a lot ofclothes, but people also buy things likescarves, watches, wallets and cufflinks.The big thing this season is a leather PaulSmith iPod holder in the Paul Smith signaturestripes. We do it for the mini iPodand the regular sized iPod.”Another must-have gift is the ItalianU-Boat watch. “They’re exclusive tous and they have a huge face,” saysSteven. “They start from £294.99.Among the cheaper presents we areselling are a lot of stripy scarves, whichstart from £29.99.”Winter warmers include stylish jacketsby Armani and Boss, and for clued-upwomen, a Norman Longstaff handbag isthe season’s stalwart. Also selling well arePatty Anne drainpipe jeans and PaulFrank dressing gowns, and with rails ofclothes to choose from, kids needn’t be leftout.With so much on offer, the only problemcould be an overstuffed stocking.● Psyche, Linthorpe Road,Middlesbrough (01642) 888333,www.psyche.co.uk. Open 9am-5.30pm,Mon-Fri; until 9pm on Thursdays, until6pm on Saturdays and from 11am-5pmon Sundays.Clockwise from above: Psycheinterior; beaded clutch bag£19.99; U-Boat watch£484.99; Paul Frank nightwearbear £19.99, gown £59.99NE MotorsNE For The HomePREMIERLGVDriver TrainingServicesCat C (Class 2)Course & TestUsually £685DSA Registered InstructorChristmasOfferNow Only01325 482233or 07747 091740PINE THINGUMMIESWe provide hand built bespokekitchens and bedroomsWe also specialise in handmade furniture25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCETel: 01388 819980 or 816821B eauty is within the eyeof the BeholderQuality and Value fromE XPRESS B LINDSVertical • Roller • VenetianPleated • Solar Film01740 623360www.expressblinds.co.ukMeynells LtdStockists of all makes of sewingmachines and everything you needfor your hobby.W E G UARANTEE Y OU E XCELLENTC USTOMER S ERVICE2 Southfield Road, MiddlesbroughTel: (01642) 247863Site Visits & Home VisitsA1 ChoiceA1 QualityA1 ValueA1 BlindsMade to measure in many stylesand coloursQuality workmanship from a familybusiness established 1980Freephone 0800 78 38 548www.al-blinds.co.uk★For the biggest range of mini moto’s visit or callB ANKS R OAD , D ARLINGTON☎ (01325) 360029 07813 666 7602 Day FittingsFITTED FREEWITHIN 2 DAYS

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