Day: February 12, 2023

Tony Delahoy: Things Remembered

GOING HOME – and THE INDIAN MUTINY!

IT was from Coimbatore Camp in India that I started the return journey to the UK. Our route home would be via the city of Madras and then onwards by train to the transit camp at Deolali near Bombay, which was a three day journey.

At each station along the way we stopped for half an hour or more and drinks and food could be bought from the many refreshment sellers. It was even possible for a cooked meal to be bought. These food sellers were very efficient in servicing the whole train and could remember what had been ordered and where you were located in the carriage!

The camp at Deolali was largely unchanged from the previous yeae and with no special duties to perform except that, as a sergeant, I was asked a few times to deliver military correspondence going by train overnight to various other camps. This relatively ‘easy life’ was short-lived, when notification of departure to the UK was announced with an expected four week sea crossing. The ship was fairly small for a troop ship at only 9,000 tons and, together with about a hundred other soldiers, I marched through Bombay to go on board. I was at last on my way home.

As we had all served in the forces on active duty for many years in different theatres of war we were expecting a fairly relaxing voyage home, but this was not to be. The ship was also transporting 2000 Italian prisoners-of-war back to Naples and we had to undertake guard duty of 24 hours on and 24 hours off. The accommodation for the 100 or so soldiers was one deck down at the stern of the ship and no space had been allocated for them on the upper deck.

The ship was also carrying civilians who had been resident in India and were also returning to the UK. They were accomodated in cabins and had the use of the main promenade deck.

Due to the lack of space provided to the returning troops we made a formal protest about the cramped conditions – and we were eventually given an area of the deck for our use. However – it seemed in retaliation to our protest – we were ordered to lay out our full kit for inspection, and, as you might imagine, this was not appreciated!

As we waited for this kit inspection to take place the assembled men felt that the the delay was deliberate and began to voice their disapproval, banging their cutlery on the mess tables. It wasn’t long before some officers appeared and caautioned me that, as a Sergeant, I was responsible for keeping order and that I would have to report to the ship’s Captain.

In fact I saw the ship’s Purser, who informed me that I could be charged with mutiny, but considering the cirumstances I would not be – thanks a bunch!

When our ship eventually docked at Southampton we were met by newspaper reporters who had got wind of the alleged ‘mutiny’ but nothing further came of it.

Celebrate Valentine’s in style with Romeo and Juliet on Royal Opera House Stream

Two new recordings of Romeo and Juliet

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with an exclusive double helping of The Royal Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet on Royal Opera House Stream. The new recordings join a library of over 50 beloved productions and over 100 behind-the-scenes videos, bringing you romance, drama and world class dance wherever you are.

Kenneth MacMillan’s classic adaptation of Shakespeare’s play is set to Prokofiev’s iconic score and features evocative designs by Nicholas Georgiadis. Since its premiere in 1965, performed by Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn in the leading roles, Romeo and Juliet has been a romantic staple of The Royal Ballet’s repertoire.

On the Thursday 9 February, a recording of a 2019 performance came to Royal Opera House Stream, starring Royal Ballet Principal dancers Matthew Ball as Romeo and Yasmine Naghdi as Juliet.

On Valentine’s Day, a recording from 2022 will be released, featuring Royal Ballet Principals Marcelino Sambé and Anna Rose O’Sullivan, who made their debuts together in these roles in 2019.

All Royal Opera House Stream productions come complete with extra wraparound material – interviews, masterclasses, rehearsal footage and more – giving audiences a unique behind the scenes insight into one of the world’s leading theatres.

Royal Opera House Stream currently hosts over 50 stunning works from The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera, with other romantic highlights including Frederick Ashton’s La fille mal gardée, Christopher Wheeldon’s The Winter’s Tale and Puccini’s La bohème.

Join today to watch the world’s greatest performers, emerging talent, leading choreographers and trailblazing creative teams from the comfort of your own home.

From family favourites and modern masterpieces to heart-breaking arias and passionate pas-de-deux, Royal Opera House Stream offers it all: truly transformative experiences for only £9.99 a month or £99 annually. Whatever your interest – whether classical or contemporary – there’s a breadth of content for you.

NHS Lothian publishes new annual Public Health report

NHS Lothian has released a new annual report which looks to provide an in-depth analysis into the health of Lothian.

The report, from NHS Lothian’s Director of Public Health, seeks to outline health and social inequalities, as well as their current and predicted impact on mental and physical wellbeing.

Public Health specialists work to protect and enhance the health of everyone in Lothian, informing local and national policy to improve outcomes for both the individual and community.

Dona Milne, Director of Public Health for NHS Lothian, said: “Understanding our population as it is now and how this is predicted to look is vital to reduce inequalities and improve health outcomes for everyone in Lothian.

“This report highlights and reaffirms what the evidence tells us about the socio-economic factors impacting health the most. When designing and delivering health and social care, we must be able to understand and address those wider factors which lead to poorer outcomes for people.”

The new report brings together evidence and research from a variety of sources, addressing systemic inequalities and the impact of recent seismic events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report also predicts population trends and the expected health impact of the cost-of-living crisis and increasing child poverty on those already living in more deprived communities.

Dona continued: “We are endeavouring to share this report widely with partners to help inform the collaborative work we need to do to make long-lasting and meaningful changes to public health in Lothian.

“With the cost-of-living crisis and increasing child poverty expected to exacerbate pre-existing inequalities, it’s more important than ever to understand what is needed as part of a whole system approach to ensuring better health outcomes for all.”

Jane Ferguson, Director of NHS Lothian Charity, said: “As the official charity of NHS Lothian, we have a key role to play in supporting Public Health in their work to reduce health inequalities and prevent ill health in all our communities.

“Through our strategic partnership with the health board, we have provided five years of funding for income maximisation services that can be accessed by patients and their families to help mitigate against both the immediate impact of the current cost-of-living crisis and the ongoing impacts of poverty on overall physical and mental health.

“We will continue to work closely together to support Public Health to tackle health inequalities that exist as a result of poverty so that we can improve the health and wellbeing of people across Edinburgh and the Lothians, now and in the future.”

You can read the report in full on NHS Lothian’s website.

NHS-Lothian-Public-Health-Annual-Report-2022-finalDownload

Healthy Heart Tip: We Love Fibre

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: We Love Fibre

In this week’s Healthy Tip, we show our affection for fibre (it is nearly Valentine’s Day after all) and discuss why it is such an important part of a healthy diet. We also give you some ideas on how you can increase the fibre content of your food intake.

Most of us know that fibre prevents constipation, but did you know that eating a high fibre diet can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke? Fibre is found in the plants we eat, such as fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, beans and nuts. We dig a little deeper into fibre below.

A high fibre diet

Adults should aim to consume 30g of fibre per day, yet the average fibre intake for adults in the UK is 18g – only 60% of the recommended daily intake. Diets that contain 30g or more of fibre per day are considered ‘high fibre diets’.

Try tracking your consumption for a few days to understand how much you’re eating and come up with a plan to eat more if needed. When reading food labels, a food is considered high fibre if it contains at least 6g of fibre per 100g. Opt for these foods where possible.

Fibre for a healthy gut

We tend to think about bacteria as harmful, however there are many bacteria that are good for our health, and lots of these live in our digestive systems. Did you know the number of bacteria living in your gut is almost ten times more than the number of cells you have in your body?

The good news is, many of these bacteria use fibre as food and it keeps them healthy, which in turn keeps you healthy. Make sure you eat a variety of different fibre-rich foods to feed the good bacteria and keep your gut happy.

Increase your intake

Aim to slowly increase your intake of fibre to at least 30g per day to help protect against cardiovascular disease and stroke. It’s a good idea to do this gradually to avoid any unpleasant symptoms such as bloating.

Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids (6-8 glasses per day) when adding more fibre to your diet to keep everything moving nicely through your digestive system. See the chart above for some ideas to increase the fibre content of your usual meals.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

RAISING THE STEAKS: Morrisons unveils Valentine’s Day Surf n Turf deals for £5 per person

–  Shoppers can choose from Oysters and Beef Brisket, Langoustines and Beef Sirloin or Scallops and Flat Iron at purse pleasing prices –

–  All offers are available until Valentine’s Day  –

A picture containing plate, food, dish, sliced Description automatically generated
A picture containing plate, food, table, snack food Description automatically generated

Seafood and steak lovers rejoice! Morrisons has revealed its best deals on surf n turf yet – just in time for Valentine’s Day. 

For £5 per person, couples can recreate a fine dining experience from the comfort of their own home – combining mouth-watering flavours of land and sea on one delicious plate. 

For a truly pearl-fect match, couples can select the Counter Oysters (£1 each or 6 for £5 from 9th Feb) and Morrisons Flat Iron (£4.00) for a perfect premium main, especially for the day of love. Add a touch of luxury with a bottle of Charles de Villers Champagne Brut (down to £12 from £24 for My Morrisons members).

Not a time to be shell-fish, couples can treat their loved one to delicious Langoustines (£1.25) combined with tender Beef Sirloin (£15/kg My Morrisons, £17.50/kg) for a decadent meal to impress. Top off the meal with a glass of the delicately fruity Morrisons Pinot Noir (£4.79)*,which was commended at the 2022 International Wine Challenge.

If that wasn’t all, Morrisons fans will adore juicy King Scallops (£1 each or 6 for £5.00) served with Morrisons 100% Beef Brisket (£7.49) for a deliciously meaty treat. The Best Chilean Chardonnay (down to £6.99 from £8.25), with notes of citrus and richness on the palate, is the ideal accompaniment. 

Shoppers can mix and match across fish and meat deals to create their ideal pairing and get something they can both enjoy. All deals will be available in-store until Valentine’s Day, giving lovers plenty of time to get their hands on these great deals. 

Churchill announces plans to recruit up to 30 new apprentices in 2023

To coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, specialist housebuilder Churchill Retirement Living has announced ambitious new plans to support the next generation of housebuilding talent by recruiting up to 30 new apprentices in 2023.

This is a significant expansion of the company’s apprenticeship programme and will create a range of new office and site-based training roles across the country for applicants aged 16 and upwards, including school leavers.

At a time when other housebuilders may be reducing their apprenticeship activity due to uncertainty in the market, Churchill is taking the opposite approach and underlining its commitment to attracting the next generation into the sector. Those wishing to register interest should visit Churchill Apprenticeships & Early Careers.

Apprentices can join the scheme in September and choose from a range of careers from Site Management to Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Accountancy, HR, Tower Crane, Business Administration, Property Management and more.

Churchill will provide professionally recognised qualifications with clear progression paths, building on its experience in developing talented individuals through the apprenticeship route. The roles will be based across Churchill’s network of offices from Ringwood in the south to St Albans in the East and Warrington in the north, as well as various new Churchill sites currently under construction around the country.

Founded in 1994, Churchill remains independently owned by brothers Spencer and Clinton McCarthy, whose family values are embedded throughout the business.

For over 20 years the company has specialised exclusively in purpose-built apartments designed to meet the needs of older people, enabling them to enjoy an active, independent and sociable lifestyle in their retirement. The company has built and continues to manage over 200 retirement developments across the country via its property arm Churchill Estates Management.

Spencer J McCarthy, Chairman & CEO of Churchill Retirement Living, said: “Providing opportunities for people at the start of their career has always been a cornerstone of our business, and having started out as an apprentice myself it’s something I believe in strongly from my own personal experience.

“I’m therefore very proud to announce these plans to help more people get qualified, get paid, and build a career with a company that makes a difference.

“It will not only help to bring through the next generation of talent into our sector, but also ensure that we can continue to develop our industry leading team of people, to keep delivering the highest quality retirement apartments that help transform our customers’ lives.”

Case study:

Surveyor Chase Asher joined Churchill as an apprentice in 2015 and has received training and support with a series of qualifications to progress his career since then.

His initial BTEC Level 3 in Built Construction and Environment was followed by an HNC in Quantity Surveying, and he then completed a Degree in Construction Management and Quantity Surveying.

Chase says: “To start my apprenticeship I was out on site, I enjoyed this as it gave me a hands on approach and I was able to experience construction first hand. This then helped me progress into surveying, and gave me a better understanding of the process on site.

“Churchill were generous enough to fund my education by putting me through college and university to achieve a degree in Construction Management and Quantity Surveying. My work colleagues are always willing to help me when needed and are interested in my progression to be the best I can be.

“I would definitely recommend Churchill Retirement Living to work for, they’re a great company with lots of benefits with an excellent working environment.”

Adult Education Courses: Navigation

Navigation – skills for life 

Either our one day course or the 5 week course can help you develop confidence to go out walking in the hills with a better grasp of map reading and navigation abilities. You will learn the fundamentals of interpreting contours and scales and ways of keeping a track of where you are, so you are able to keep found. 

Effective use of a compass will also be reviewed, with guidance on pacing and timings and route planning. Developing these talents could make all the difference to enjoyment and safety whilst out and about with family and friends and the course is fun. 

Learn to navigate safety through Scotland’s hills, mountains, forests and glens competently, confidently in an enjoyable setting with a friendly tutor either as a one day course overview or in more depth over 5 weeks. 

Staying Found – Introduction to Navigation – All – (26/2) – OUT60387F

Sunday mornings from 10am-12 noon 5 weeks from 26th February 

Fees £43.50 standard fee – £21.75 for senior citizens/ students – £17.25 for benefits. 

One Day Courses

Navigation – Hillwalking – Beginner – (18/3) – OUT60196M

Or

Navigation – Low Level Hillwalking – Beginner – (12/3) – OUT60287M

Meeting for Pentlands walk 9.30am – 4.30pm

Sunday 12th March or Saturday 18th March 

Fees £30.45 standard fee – £17.25 for senior citizens, students and benefits.

To find out more or to book a place please ring 0131 556 7978 or go online on www.joininedinburgh.org 

Chart, map Description automatically generated

Last-minute Valentine’s gifts and date night ideas at Fort Kinnaird

Valentine’s Day is just round the corner and whether you’re treating a partner or celebrating Palentine’s with a much-loved friend, Fort Kinnaird has rounded up a selection of ideas to help make the search for the perfect gift or date night easier.

From fashion to jewellery, and restaurants to the cinema, there is something for everyone.

Can’t-go-wrong Valentine’s gifts

Visitors can gift their loved ones a new signature scent with Chanel, Dior and other favourites available at Superdrug, Boots and The Perfume Shop – where you can also find the newly launched Marc Jacobs’ Perfect scent.

For indulgent bathing and pampering hampers, try TK Maxx and Next, while Hotel Chocolat has a new ‘Made with Love’ selection of 30 heart-shaped chocolates – plus their popular ‘Chocolate & Fizz’ collections, which can include a bottle of prosecco.

M&SM&S also has an abundance of bouquets of flowers, including spring tulips and red roses.  

Luxury gifts

Fort Kinnaird is home to Beaverbrooks, Goldsmiths, Swarovski, and Pandora, the perfect places to pick up personalised charms, watches and jewellery that will last a lifetime.

Romantic meals at home

For wine and prosecco, delicious sharing menus and decadent desserts, M&S has a huge selection of Valentine’s ideas to plan the perfect night in. With mix and match offers on mains and sides alongside specially created limited edition buys, there’s something for everyone.

And ProCook has all the kitchenware you need to create a romantic meal at home.

Dining out and activities

For a romantic date night with other halves or friends, head to Tony Macaroni for freshly made risotto, Italian wine and dessert, or Wagamama, Pizza Express or Bread Meats Bread for a laidback meal, before heading to the cinema to catch one of the latest releases. This includes M. Night Shyamalan’s new thriller, Knock at the Cabin, or Steven Spielberg’s newest multi-Oscar nominated biopic, The Fabelmans.

And throughout February, Fridays has the sweet Pink Punk Cosmo, the fruity MidWest Martini and the limited-edition Heart Cracker cocktails all for £6 each Monday to Thursday, while Frankie & Benny’s has an exclusive pink ‘My Beloved Burger’ as well as a fun Jammy Dodger ice cream shake to try.

Plan your Valentine’s Day out at Fort Kinnaird and find a full list of gift inspiration by visiting: https://www.fortkinnaird.com/valentines-day

Fort Kinnaird is open 9am – 9pm on weekdays and 9am – 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information about planning a trip to Fort Kinnaird, please visit www.fortkinnaird.com. 

“We are having to skip meals”: Families bear brunt of cost of living crisis as Scots cut back on eating and heating

One in ten consumers in Scotland are skipping meals, new Which? research suggests, as the consumer champion calls on essential businesses to do more to support people through the cost of living crisis.

The consumer champion carried out extensive research with more than 1,000 people representative of the Scottish population to understand how the cost of living crisis is affecting Scottish consumers.

Which? research found financial pressures are leading consumers in Scotland to make choices that could be harmful to their health. One in ten (11%) are skipping meals due to rising food costs – with parents hit particularly hard by this.

One in five (22%) of more than 250 parents in the Scottish survey are prioritising feeding other family members over eating themselves – compared to 8 per cent of the population overall.

One 55-year-old woman said: “We are having to skip meals, not have the heating on and not going out due to fuel costs”.

Nearly eight in 10 (77%) said they had been putting the heating on less due to energy price rises – compared to just under half (46%) last year. 15 per cent of Scottish consumers had been eating fewer cooked meals to save on energy costs and 2 per cent had used a food bank.

A 42-year-old respondent said: “I’m heating the house to a maximum of 15 Degrees… Eating cold things like sandwiches etc. instead of using the cooker”.

Almost nine in 10 consumers said they were worried about energy prices (89%), while concern around food and housing costs have increased sharply compared to the previous year.

The proportion of people worried about food prices increased by 10 percentage points to almost nine in 10 (87%) in December 2022, compared to eight in 10 (77%) in 2021 and six in 10 (63%) in 2020.

Which?’s research shows how justified these concerns about price rises are. The consumer champion estimates that if consumers in Scotland tried to maintain the same spending habits they would need to spend an additional £40 per week – or around £2,080 a year – on food, energy and fuel in December 2022 compared with December 2021. That would mean almost a third (29%) of their household expenditure would be spent on just these essential goods.

This has led many households to make adjustments to cover essential spending. Nearly six in 10 (56%) consumers in Scotland said their household had made at least one adjustment to cover essential spending in the last month, up from nearly half (48%) in 2021 and nearly four in 10 (37%) in 2020. The most common adjustment was cutting back on essentials – which increased to four in 10 (39%) from a quarter (25%) in 2021.

Which?’s research also found that some household types are being hit harder than others by the cost of living crisis. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of parents in Scotland surveyed had to make adjustments to cover essential spending, compared to just over a third (35%) of pensioners.

Only four in 10 (37%) working-age parents surveyed in Scotland say that they are living comfortably or doing alright – compared to half (50%) of Scottish consumers overall.

These financial pressures are causing widespread emotional harm among Scottish consumers. Nearly half (45%) of consumers in Scotland said that concerns around the cost of living have left them feeling anxious and more than a fifth (22%) said they were struggling to sleep due to worries about the cost of living.

A 34-year-old woman said: “I’m severely depressed and worried all the time about being able to pay my bills and have enough money to feed and clothe my kids as well as electricity and gas to heat my home.

“It’s having a massive effect on my mental health, I feel anxious and stressed out all the time”.

A 54-year-old man said: “I’m having sleepless nights worrying what else is rising in price”.

With the UK heading into recession, mortgages and rent costs rising and the energy price guarantee becoming less generous from April, Scottish consumers will only face further financial pressures in 2023.

Which? recently launched a campaign calling on essential businesses – energy firms, broadband providers and supermarkets – to do more to help consumers struggling to make ends meet. For example, supermarkets must ensure that budget line items are widely available, make pricing and offers more transparent and provide targeted promotions to support people that are struggling most with access to affordable food.

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “It’s hugely concerning that people in Scotland are losing sleep, skipping meals and sitting in the cold due to rising prices.

“As the cost of living crisis puts huge pressure on household finances, we are calling on businesses in essential sectors like food, energy and broadband providers to do more to help customers get a good deal and avoid unnecessary or unfair costs and charges during this crisis.”

BBC Chair made ‘significant errors of judgement’ over PM loan involvement, says damning Westminster report

A Westminster committee has found that BBC Chair Richard Sharp made ‘significant errors of judgement’ when failing to declare his role in the facilitation of a loan to the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson and should reflect on the potential damage caused to trust in the corporation.

The conclusion from the Digital Culture Media and Sport Committee comes following the hearing held with Mr Sharp on Tuesday.

In a report published today, the Committee says that his omissions denied MPs the opportunity to fulfil their scrutiny role, as they were left without the full facts to make a judgement on his suitability when he appeared before the Committee for a pre-appointment hearing in January 2021.

The report calls it ‘highly unsatisfactory’ that the Committee’s subsequent approval of his appointment has been cited by the Government as a defence that the process was properly followed.

The report calls on Mr Sharp to now consider the impact his actions will have on the trust in him, the BBC and the public appointment process and for the Government and all those involved to ensure future processes are not clouded by partial disclosure.

The Committee also notes that the issue of why the Cabinet Secretary believed Mr Sharp had been giving financial advice to Mr Johnson, which Mr Sharp denies, remains unresolved. The Cabinet Office should clear up the confusion immediately.

Digital Culture Media and Sports Committee Acting Chair, Damian Green MP, said: “The public appointments process can only work effectively if everyone is open and transparent, yet Richard Sharp chose not to tell either the appointment panel or our Committee about his involvement in the facilitation of a loan to Boris Johnson.

Such a significant error of judgment meant we were not in the full possession of the facts when we were required to rule on his suitability for the role of BBC Chair.”

Neither the BBC nor Richard Sharp have so far responded to the report.

Richard-Sharp-Appointment-reportDownload