“How long have I got, Doc? Five days? Five weeks? Five months? Five years?”
“Months,” the oncologist replied.
When he heard this devastating news, Steve Legg and his wife Bekah made a bold decision – they would get busy living and get busy laughing.
Yes, there were tears that day and in those that followed, but Steve is a funnyman and a man of faith. He was never going to give cancer the last laugh.
In his latest book, international baffler and funny guy, Steve Legg, faces the no-joke reality of the diagnosis of a terminal illness. An engaging read throughout, the book will lead you to the most wonderful of all conclusions: that we are never, ever alone, and never, ever forsaken.
But this is not just Steve’s story; he draws lessons that can change not only the way we view our death – but also our life.
Hope. Heart. Humour. Humanity. This gripping story has everything.
Digital Editor’s Note: I’m excited and proud to welcome Rob Allwright as a Guest Writer here at the Sorted Magazine website. Rob brings a wealth of experience and is one of the most respected Christian reviewers in the UK. The energy Rob devotes to supporting and encouraging Christian creatives is staggering. His review show One Man In The Middle is broadcast by Branch FM, Heartsong Live and Hope FM. And I’m just a teensy bit excited that he has joined the wonderful peeps at the Manchester based broadcaster Konnect Radio!
Rob writes: Over the years Matt Maher has released a number of Christmas singles, but this album is his first collection of Christmas songs, this album isn’t just about Christmas itself though, it’s about the build-up, the anticipation and the message of hope that is prevalent through this time. The album itself is made up of a few familiar festive songs, and many more original songs to bring us to a total of 13 tracks in all.
The album starts off with Gabriel’s Message which is a surprisingly traditional track for this collection. It’s not a Christmas carol that I am terribly familiar with, but I have heard it sung by the traditional Anglican choirs. This sets out the beginning of the Christmas story as Gabriel brings God’s message to Mary which is as good a place to start in thinking about advent. Matt keeps a fairly traditional feel to this track with a choral emphasis on the Gloria refrain. Matt follows this up with a version of He Shall Reign Forevermore which Matt wrote with Chris Tomlin, previously featured on Tomlin’s 2015 Adore album. Both of these tracks work well with Maher’s vocals with some great emphasis put behind parts of the verses bringing these to life. These first few tracks are on the serious side of Christmas considering what the Jesus’ birth means for us and for humanity. Born On This Day is the third of these as it considers the meaning of Emmanuel as God with us and how Christmas paves the way for our forgiveness and salvation through Jesus.
Next there is a slight change as we get that song that is so full of Christmas meaning, Jingle Bells. It’s got a bit of a Jazzy feel to this version, it’s not quite Bing Crosby but it’s quite enjoyable none the less. Another well known carol is up next with the gentle track of The First Noel, this version does have an additional chorus which doesn’t really add much to the original, but it works reasonably well. The main focus for this track is the vocal, backed for the most part of the song by just a piano, Matt carries this song well. Then we are into one of the key tracks on this album which is Hope For Everyone and it expresses just that in an upbeat style. Advent is about hope, Jesus’ incarnation offers something new, from the Angel’s declaring the birth, the wise men seeing the sign in the sky and for everyone waiting for the promise of a saviour amongst men. Don’t let the chorus catch you out on this track as the first couple of lines seem to be sung in isolation with no music or other sounds between them making you wonder for a split second if something has paused the playback.
Glory (Let There Be Peace) could almost be sung in church at any point. Other than the references to Emmanuel and the Angel’s song it doesn’t really sound like much of a Christmas song. Of course the next track O Come, O Come Emmanuel is incredibly Christmassy and Maher has done a great job of breaking this out from the Christmas hymn that can at times be quite slow into a very upbeat and joyful song. He has even managed to insert sleigh bells into the recording which works really well. There is just one guest vocal on this album that is credited and that is found in Always Carry You. It’s by none other than Amy Grant who brings a great vocal to this track which blends really well with Maher’s voice. The issue I have with this song is that it doesn’t really make a huge amount of sense to the listener, well not to this listener anyway. Perhaps its about Mary carrying Jesus and holding these things in her heart, but I am not totally convinced! Love Came Down To Bethlehem is another co-write, this time with Jon Guerra. This track sounds like a traditional Christmas Carol and certainly seems to borrow some phrases from other places making this seem more familiar than it actually is.
Moving the style more towards a folk sound it seems that Matt has taken a page out of Rend Collective’s book for the very upbeat Hark The Herald Angels Sing which features an Irish whistle and flute along with the acoustic guitars. It is at this point that it seems Matt has allowed himself to let his hair down a little and Little Merry Christmas is much more a tongue-in-cheek look at the trappings that go with Christmas. Trees, twinkly lights and hopefully silent nights if the kids go to sleep, of course the theme is that being with the one that you love at Christmas is the best thing that can happen. The last song also fits with a different aspect of Christmas, reminding us to spend it well and remember those that are no longer here to celebrate it with us. There are memories to be made and a hope to remember as Matt wishes us a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Matt has done well to incorporate many aspects of the season of advent into this album. He’s definitely kept the message of the hope that Jesus Christ is for the world through many of these tracks but also the joy of the time of year. There are some songs that don’t work as well as others, but it seems that Matt has had a lot of fun to re-imagine some of the traditional and well known songs. I love the way that he brings a swing flavour to Jingle Bells and although it’s been done before it still sounds great. I really liked the version of Hark the Herald Angels Sing as well. Of the original tracks there are a number that work well, but a couple that just didn’t quite work for me. It’s my first Christmas album for the year so I have enjoyed this selection, but there are definitely tracks that wouldn’t make it onto my Christmas playlist!
This is actually true but you’d have to eat a lot of carrots for it to happen. Carrots contain beta-carotene and if you consume too many, the excess beta-carotene enters your bloodstream where it is not properly broken down. Instead it is deposited in the skin, leading to an orange skin discolouration called carotenaemia. It is a common and harmless condition that typically affects infants when they begin eating solids since carrots are a popular choice among new parents.
Eating Turkey Makes You Sleepy
This is true. Turkey is rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that your body turns into a B vitamin called niacin. Niacin plays a key role in creating serotonin, a brain chemical that is associated with sleep. It is not just the turkey that makes you sleepy. It’s also the stuffing and potatoes because eating these carbohydrates allows the tryptophan to easily enter the brain speeding up the serotonin production. If you add alcohol into the mix as well, it is no wonder you can hardly keep your eyes open.
You Can Detoxify Your Body
Although an appealing idea, this myth is false. For doctors to know if a detox therapy works they need to know two things. Firstly, they need to know what toxin is being removed from the body and secondly they need to know how it will be removed. Researchers found that companies simply renamed ordinary processes like cleaning or brushing, calling the “detoxifying”. They used “detox” as an advertising buzzword. Legitimate detoxification happens in a hospital, usually when something has seriously gone wrong such as a patient with heavy metal poisoning or treatment of an alcoholic.
Exercise Makes You Smarter
This is true! It is not just your body that benefits from exercise but your brain too. Your body produces a chemical called irisin during endurance exercise. This activates genes related to learning and memory and results in new neurones being created. Exercise also lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Eating Late at Night Makes You Gain Weight
Another true myth … in general late-night eaters tend to weigh more and have a higher body mass index than those who eat earlier in the day. It is thought that this is because eating at night can disrupt your circadian rhythm and your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels.
Vitamin C Stops You Catching The Cold
This is false. Vitamin C does not stop you catching a cold but there is some evidence that it may reduce the duration of symptoms by a day or two if taken in high dose (1000mg daily).
You Should Wash Poultry Before Cooking
This is definitely false. Poultry should not be washed before cooking as this can increase the risk of food poisoning with campylobacter, a nasty bug that causes bloody diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and severe tummy cramps.
Fresh Vegetables Are More Nutritious Than Frozen
There are conflicting opinions on this one. If eaten within a few hours of picking, fresh produce is the most nutritious. However most “fresh” produce in shops is actually several days or even weeks old and the nutrients start to break down from the moment the produce if picked. On the other hand, many frozen vegetables are quick frozen very soon after picking and this preserves more of the nutrients. So unless you can grow your own vegetable and use them as soon as you pick them, frozen vegetables may be more nutritious.
All Fat is Bad For You
This is false. Healthy fats are essential for good health and have been shown to protect from a range of chronic diseases especially heart disease. Healthy fats include monounsaturates and polyunstaurates, found in nuts, seed, olive, olive oil and avocados. They also include omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish, linseeds, flaxseeds and soyabeans. You should minimise saturated fat intake; butter, cheese, red meats.
Eating Carrots Improves Your Eyesight
This myth has been about since World War Two when rumours circulated that pilots ate lots of carrots to optimise their vision. In reality, unless you a very deficient in vitamin A, more carrots won’t make any difference to your vision.
Natural Sugar Alternatives are Healthy
False. We all know eating too much sugar is bad for us, so it’s not surprising we convince ourselves natural sugar alternatives are healthy. However, our body still sees it as sugar. Agave syrup, maple syrup, honey and brown sugar are still sugar and although they may have more micronutrients than refined sugar, these are in such small quantities to make no meaningful difference. Sugar is sugar. The World Health Organisation recommends limiting daily added sugar to less than five per cent of energy intake (this equates to six to seven teaspoons).
Chocolate is Good For You
This is true; if it is dark chocolate and you limit it to two squares per day!
Digital Editor’s Note: I’m excited and proud to welcome Rob Allwright as a Guest Writer here at the Sorted Magazine website. Rob brings a wealth of experience and is one of the most respected Christian reviewers in the UK. The energy Rob devotes to supporting and encouraging Christian creatives is staggering. His review show One Man In The Middle is broadcast by Branch FM, Heartsong Live and Hope FM. And I’m just a teensy bit excited that he has joined the wonderful peeps at the Manchester based broadcaster Konnect Radio!
Rob writes: For those who love their Christmas music with a touch of class then you need look no further than this classic album from All Souls Orchestra in London. Marked as Prom Praise Celebrates Christmas this album takes you on a classical journey through instrumentals of some of the best loved Christmas Carols and songs. Arranged and conducted by Dr Noel Tredinnick this album captures a great crisp orchestral sound which will bring a warm glow to any room where it is played!
The first track A Christmas Festival is a bit of a medley of many different Christmas songs brilliantly wrapped up together in one brilliant piece of music and you can’t help but be swept into the Christmas spirit with this. While this is one piece of music it brilliantly captures the different elements of the various songs included here, there is time to dwell in a couple of parts before you are swept along to something else. This first track is just under seven minutes long and it really flies past! The second track also takes pieces from some of the more majestic sounding Christmas hymns. In The Bleak Midwinter, O Come All Ye Faithful, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and others are blended together to become A Christmas Overture.
The next track is Silent Night which, when it comes to Carols is many people’s favourite. They have certainly done it justice with this version as there is a little prelude before the Cello’s come in with the main harmony and slowly other areas of the orchestra work their way into the familiar tune. It was intended that these versions of the songs would be an excellent backdrop for the Christmas season, but additionally they should be music that could be sung to as well if that is something you wanted to do. With these tracks that are well known they have kept the arrangements relatively straight forward, with a bit of an intricate introduction and then into the main body of the music. There are some rather grand openings, such as the amazing organ opening up It Came Upon A Midnight Clear.
Along with the classics and the medleys there are some less well known tracks, including From The Squalor Of A Borrowed Stable by Stuart Townend which has never really broken out of the church in the way that it should have done, because it is a truly beautiful song. A track that I am not terribly familiar with is Overture: Hansel and Gretel originally composed by Engelbert Humperdinck which is included on this album and shows that this orchestra aren’t afraid to take on something a little more rare and challenging. The last medley on the album is the A Festival of Carols which combines another whole load of well known tunes starting with Hark, The Herald Angels Sing these even re-cover some ground with different interpretations of some carols that have appeared previously.
This may not be the most high-brow of orchestra’s but I think that they have done a great job with these arrangements to bring these carols to life as instrumentals. These could easily play in the background throughout the whole of the Christmas period, through dinner parties, family gatherings and more, additionally they could be used for a little bit of Carol worship too for small groups or personal worship. I’m not a big orchestral or classical music fan but I really enjoyed these and appreciate the talent from every member of the orchestra.
Digital Editor’s Note:Christmas at the Movies is a close-up view of ten of J.John’s favourite Christmas movies and his festive reflections on them. Each chapter in this new book brings a fresh perspective, covering topics such as family relationships, living with regret, the pressures of the ‘perfect Christmas’, and the true reason for the season. Today’s post is an extract from the book.
J. John writes:It’s a Wonderful Life follows the life of George Bailey, born and raised in the typical American small town of Bedford Falls. But he is someone with ambition and imagination who wants to escape, to travel and to achieve something. Those dreams, however, never materialise. George’s commitment to his family and, above all, to his community, means that he spends decades stuck in the town without the obvious visible achievements that his friends and family acquire. He is a man whose selfless willingness to do little things for others has prevented him from doing big things for himself.
One Christmas Eve George’s frustration comes to a head with a financial crisis that threatens to send him to prison. In a fit of angry despair, he goes out to commit suicide. At this point his guardian angel intervenes and, in a nightmarish vision, shows him what his community and those he loves would have been like if he hadn’t existed. In the face of this revelation George realises that his life has indeed been wonderful.
There is much to think about in It’s a Wonderful Life but perhaps its biggest lesson lies in how we evaluate what we have done. Society has always celebrated the visible attainments of wealth, power and fame but never more so than today. We are all inclined to measure ourselves by our number of friends (real or virtual), our job title, our bank balance or the size of our house. God, however, operates on a very different basis and so should we.
Looking back this Christmas you may, like George Bailey, reflect on your life and think that actually you haven’t done very much. That may very well be you assessing things by the wrong standards. It’s worth remembering that what God values most of all is faithfulness, kindness, generosity and obedience. Let’s be more focused on what we can do for others and less on what we can get for ourselves. The lesson of It’s a Wonderful Life is that it’s not what you achieve or have that counts, but it’s who you are.
Digital Editor’s Note:Wonder: An Advent and Christmas Collection is a profound and often humorous collection of reflections, monologues, poetry, sermons and sketches. In this new book Rev Andy March invites us, whether we’re lifelong Christians or new to faith, to take a fresh look at this world-changing story and become lost in wonder once again. I’m delighted to welcome Andy as today’s Guest Writer. Look out for extracts from his book during the month of December.
Rev Andy March writes: “I love Christmas. I think I look forward to it almost as much as my children. I love almost everything about it, the cheesy music; the lights that illuminate the dark December streets; the carol services and nativity plays; the carols and Bible readings; going to church at really strange times of the night; the Christmas trees and decorations … I could go on. I love telling stories, particularly Bible stories, and finding ways for these timeless and ancient truths to hit home today, whether for a hall full of schoolchildren, an all-age congregation, or occasional visitors to church at carol services. If I can find a different way to convey essential truths, I will, even if it involves looking silly (which it often has, as I’ve dressed up as angels, wise men and even adorned donkey ears, much to the embarrassment of my children!).
Wonder: An Advent and Christmas Collection is the fusion of these two passions and the result of a decade or so of my work in Church of England parish ministry. Most of these pieces have been written for church all-age and carol services as well as “ordinary” Sundays, and school services. They were written to be read aloud and performed, so you may want to try this yourself!
Whether you’re someone looking for fresh inspiration as you plan your own services, or a Christian looking for something to inspire your own worship and devotion, I hope this book is a blessing to you.
Wonder: An Advent and Christmas Collection is not designed to be read front-to-back like a novel. I see it more as a selection box to be dipped into and enjoyed! The stories are gathered into four parts:
Part One: Telling the story A collection of monologues and sketches that seek to tell the familiar story in a new way, often from the perspective of the characters involved. These would be perfect for use in services and would work as stand-alone pieces.
Part Two: Proclaiming Good News – the message of Advent and Christmas This includes sermons I have preached over the years. The “Carols by Candlelight” sermons try to reflect the year’s events in some way and link it to a particular aspect of the Good News of Christmas.
Part Three: Responding to the Story Poetry, which often forms my personal expression of worship in this season. My greatest challenge as a “professional Christian” is that I can be so focused on communicating the Good News to others that I fail to appreciate its meaning for myself. These poems flow from those times when I stop, reflect and worship.
Part Four: Reflecting on the Story An Advent and Christmas devotional that starts on December 1st and ends on January 6th, containing Bible verses I selected and reflections I wrote on Twitter. You may want to use this to accompany your own devotions, perhaps at the end of the day.
In the foreword Andy Kind, Comedian and Author writes: “The joy of writing, when you shake off the norms and the preconceived, is that really you can write whatever you want to. “Unclassified” isn’t a low grade – it’s a sign of pioneering out-of-the-boxmanship. Andy March has done that with this book. Having preached at his church, I’ve seen first-hand Andy’s commitment to people and kingdom ideas, telling the old, old story in new and innovative ways. This new work is the fruit of Andy’s labours working “in the trenches” of local church. It drips with experience, wit and wisdom – an impressive addition to his growing output and legacy. For devotion and inspiration, via his own perspiration, here you’ll find a one-stop shop for Christmas word feasting. An advent calendar of tasty word; a buffet of delectable sound bites. Don’t get too fat, now, will you?”
Throughout the UK lockdowns, I often spent my evenings lying down in the house – trusting in God’s care. Suspended in that strange season, I buried my nose in more books, consumed more online productions and viewed more TV than ever before.
Now as the night’s draw in and a new sofa season is rapidly approaching, I sense broadcasters tempting me with their creative offerings once again. But before I recline with the remote, let me tell you what the telly has taught me about God:
Visualising Deconstruction:The Repair Shop (BBC)
Observing the skilled experts of The Repair Shop thoughtfully assess, lovingly deconstruct and carefully conserve all manner of precious family heirlooms is quite something. With patience and courage, they undertake the lengthy surgical deconstruction process. They remove every single shard of rust, every fleck of baked on glue, varnish, paint, oil or grime. All carefully executed without inflicting further damage on the already fragile artefact. Every trace of these ancient contaminants must be removed as they hold the potential to undermine the strength, structure and function of the object. Original materials which have been lost to the sands of time, or become too delicate, are either replicated or reinforced.
The BBC team is eager, excited and engaged. Its conservation work generates joy. Watching the individuals at work, wholly immersed in a dedicated campaign of total restoration, forges a deeper understanding of how my Heavenly Father is at work in me. I’ve learned that God too is a cheerful, diligent craftsman who delights in the work of His hands. Every aspect of my life is being lovingly restored by Him.
Understanding Bounded spaces:Gardeners’ World (BBC)
Watching expert gardener, Monty Don, working in his own garden is an exercise in both beauty and peril. His garden, Long Meadow, seems idyllic. There is shade and sun; friendly dogs; a writing garden; a cosy shed. It’s worth noting that this garden, as in the *garden of Eden described in the Bible’s Book of Genesis, is a bounded space.
I’ve thought a lot about bounded spaces lately. This is mostly down to Walter. He lives under my neighbour’s shed. I kid you not. Walter the Weasel is furry, cute and deadly. A cunning agent of chaos and destruction. A vicious predator, Walter can easily kill a creature twice his own size. Lately he has begun chewing holes in the base of the boundary fence, sneaking in, and helping himself to the unsuspecting bird life in my garden. I’m not happy about the vandalised fence and the slaughtered birds. If the holes are blocked up he chews a new one. Walter can be held at bay but he can’t be kept out.
Much human effort goes into creating bounded spaces of both the physical and abstract variety. In our primal quest for safety and certainty, our guts instinctively communicate that there’s something that needs to be kept out. So we build boxes. And bigger boxes. We build businesses. And we build belief systems. But here’s the thing, even the sagely Monty Don is unable to keep agents of destruction out of his bounded spaces. He can only hold them at bay. Sometimes pests and pestilence utterly destroy the plant he’s nurturing, invoking an inner savage with the secateurs.
And if God’s perfect garden, a holy bounded space, was breached (by design or default) by an agent of chaos and destruction (a snake) what chance have I against such foes? I’ve learned that no matter how secure my bounded physical or abstract spaces seem, my perimeters are permeable. Metaphorical weasels may be held at bay, but because weasels are so very weasely, they will surely weasel their way in. I need not fear them; they’re not dragons; they’re just weasels. I must expect them. I must not let them blow me off course. I must stand against them. It would be naïve of me to think otherwise.
Valuing Journalism:Endeavour (ITV)
The dynamics between journalism and law enforcement can be tense.
In the fictional crime drama, Endeavour, the tension is mostly played out between two central characters. Newspaper editor, Dorothea Frazil, (Abigail Thaw) works to pursue and publish the truth. DC Endeavour Morse (Shaun Evans) works to prosecute the perpetrator. Both strive to hold the powerful to account, both play their respective parts as citizens in a nation under law. Nowadays journalists and ‘the media’ are frequently despised and subjected to considerable criticism. I’m often disheartened by this, but when I study Abigail Thaw’s character it renews my hope in the value of good journalism. Through her, God reminds me that He’s in the business of recruiting outliers to become scribes, prophets, truth-tellers and jobbing journalists. I think God gets behind writers, and the act of writing, because it’s one of the ways He brings things into the light and gives a voice to the voiceless.
Experiencing Gratitude:The Victoria Slum (BBC)
This fly-on-the-wall series follows a group of modern people transported to a replica Victorian slum deep in the bowels of London’s East End. I expected to be more prepared for the scummy horrors of slum dwelling. My personal narrative casts me as an unspoilt, humble, working-class northerner. But while viewing this series God revealed a shed full of muttering ingratitude, generously daubed with a splodge of low-level resentment. God insisted that I let this go. And so I did. Now I’m grateful that I grew up with a freezing brick privy at the end of our yard because it was private. I’m grateful for that terraced house because it wasn’t occupied by the whole street. I’m grateful for that cold bed because I didn’t have to share it. I’m grateful for that hand-me-down doll because I could play instead of work. I’m grateful for that wafer-thin slice of Hovis bread because I got one every day. I’m grateful that I was the last child dunked into that shared weekly bathwater, because it was clean(ish) and warm(ish). I’m grateful for my ancestors, who grafted in mines and mills because their past investment rewarded me with a future. I’m grateful to my Heavenly Father, more than ever before, because he has revealed more of His goodness towards me.
Closing thoughts…
As the liberty and liveliness of summer gives way to the warm embrace of autumn, consider the leaves changing and falling. Observe the drifting clouds; slow your thoughts down to the subtle speed of the sky; and watch as night gently falls. Though dark evenings will soon envelop us, God can communicate through the stillness, if we’re open to hearing from Him.
If you do only one thing, Allow yourself to lie down in the evening, and be open to receiving God’s care for you.
Main Photo Credit: Glenn Carstens-Peters via Unsplash
Alfa Romeo has finally entered the SUV market with the Tonale – a crossover aiming to take on the likes of BMW’s X1 or Audi’s Q3.
Its personality seems contradictory, with an aggressive front end coupled with a contrasting friendlier, rounded style at the side, while the rear features a cool lightbar that spans the bodywork.
Alfa Romeo has high hopes for the Tonale, believing it will soon be its most popular model, so there’s quite a lot hinging on its success.
Two four-cylinder turbocharged petrol powertrains are offered in the form of a front-wheel drive 1.5-litre mild hybrid producing 160PSwith a seven-speed automatic. Meanwhile, the 280PS plug-in hybrid (PHEV), driven here, offers all-wheel drive from its 1.3-litre engine, which is hooked up to a six-speed automatic ‘box.
A generous amount of equipment is offered, with the entry-level Ti trim getting 18-inch alloys, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with SatNav, DAB radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and voice control provided by Amazon Alexa.
It also gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument screen, wireless phone charger, rain-sensing wipers, gloss black painted body kit, dual-zone air conditioning and keyless go. A leather sports steering wheel, an automatic tailgate and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support also form part of the package.
The mid-range grade under review gets 19-inch rims, red-painted brake callipers, privacy glass, adaptive suspension, aluminium gearshift paddles and plenty of additional styling touches.
The Edizione Speciale trim is marketed as the top-of-the-range model. Yet, it is the cheapest version, primarily based on the Ti trim, adding 20-inch alloys, a prominent exhaust and aluminium door sills, plus other styling elements.
On the road, the Tonale PHEV deals with 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds, which isn’t bad for an SUV. The mild-hybrid, by comparison, takes 8.8 seconds to do the same.
The PHEV makes excellent progress, moving swiftly off the line thanks to the instant torque provided by the electric motor – and it’s untroubled at any speed.
The 280PS on tap provides effortless acceleration. However, when flooring the throttle, the gearbox can be more hesitant to change down versus the mild hybrid, as the PHEV tends to seek power from the electric motor first, only changing down if it needs to.
While the mild hybrid feels more instantaneous in that respect, the PHEV easily outmuscles it, which will likely placate Alfa die-hards disappointed only to have a choice of hybrid powertrains.
The Tonale is surprisingly agile around corners for an SUV, limiting body lean in bends and feeling far lighter than its nearly two-tonne kerb weight suggests.
The mild hybrid feels even better because it carries 310kg less bulk, but the PHEV is still the pick of the bunch given its economy figures, which I’ll come on to shortly.
The feedback through the steering wheel is limited, but the wheel does firm up at speed around corners, and there are three driving modes which impact its firmness, along with adjusting other characteristics of the car.
As a result of its enthusiastic handling, it’s by no means the best in class for comfort, but even with larger alloys, it’s certainly not bad. This is likely helped by the DSV adaptive suspension on the Veloce trim, which improves the ride. Unfortunately, this feature isn’t available on the Ti trim, but the Ti’s smaller wheels somewhat offset its loss.
The PHEV has a 15.5kWh battery, which can be fully charged from empty in around two-and-a-half hours from a 7.4kW home wall box. However, it won’t charge any faster, even if you’re using a public charging facility capable of much higher speeds.
The Tonale PHEV’s all-electric range is 42 miles, and it’ll manage 217mpg, with CO2 emissions of just 29-33g/km. These figures make it a reasonably attractive proposition for company car users due to the low Benefit in Kind tax. Meanwhile, the mild hybrid manages 49mpg, producing 130-142g/km of CO2.
You also get a three-year unlimited-mileage warranty. What’s more, Alfa has entered the crypto world with NFTs (non-fungible tokens) to record things like servicing and ownership history, making the car’s records impossible to forge.
The Tonale’s interior is refined, but it isn’t awe-inspiring, falling slightly short of the wow factor you might expect from an enthusiastic Italian manufacturer. Don’t get me wrong; the Alfa still has some lovely touches, such as circular air vents and a rounded dashboard top above the instruments.
The infotainment screen is pleasing to use, offering an intuitively straightforward menu layout. However, there’s no rotary dial, as seen in some other Alfa Romeos, while the shortcut buttons next to the screen are so small they risk distracting you from the road ahead to work out what you’re pressing.
The air conditioning controls are still physical buttons, thankfully, while the instrument screen is informative and customisable, too.
The driving position feels quite low-down, but Alfa Romeo has pulled off a neat trick by mounting the dashboard slightly higher up, giving you the illusion of feeling closer to the ground.
There is a bunch of space in both the front and the back, although the legroom is a tad more limited in the rear. The headroom should be plentiful unless you’re well over six feet tall.
Thanks to the shape of the rear side windows, the back pillars are very bulky, restricting visibility. Still, parking sensors are offered on all models as standard, along with a rear-view camera, which can be upgraded to a 360-degree camera by choosing one of several upgrade packs provided as optional extras.
Storage space in the cabin is generous, too, although the door bins could be more accommodating.
The PHEV’s boot only offers 385 litres of space, 115 litres less than the mild hybrid, increasing to 1,430 litres with the rear seats folded down in a 60/40 configuration.
The Tonale earned a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, along with an 83% score for adults, 85% for children and 85% for safety assists, which include automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning and lane support system.
You also get intelligent adaptive cruise control, drowsy driver detection, a tyre pressure monitoring system, traffic sign recognition and intelligent speed assist as standard on all models. Optional extras add even more, including Level 2 autonomous driving features.
Overall, the Alfa Romero Tonale has plenty going in its favour.
The Italian SUV is generously equipped as standard, meaning upgrading to the Veloce trim is likely unnecessary. Furthermore, it retains a firm but reasonable level of ride comfort and excellent performance alongside superb economy figures.
Fast Facts – Alfa Romeo Tonale [1.3 PHEV 280 Auto Q4 Veloce trim] as tested:
Max speed: 128mph
0-62 mph: 6.2-secs
Fuel economy: 217mpg
Engine layout: 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine with electric motor
Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover has joined with campaigners around the world to pray for the rubbish problem which is blighting communities living in poverty.
The special downloadable prayer video<https://vimeo.com/865999979> is for international development charity Tearfund’s Rubbish Campaign Week of Prayer and Action which takes place from Monday, October 30th until Sunday, November 5th 2023.
The week comes ahead of the next round of negotiations for the first ever UN treaty on plastic pollution. Tearfund staff and activists will be at the talks in Kenya to make sure that the voices of waste pickers and people living in poverty are heard.
Around the world, one in four people have no safe way to dispose of rubbish, meaning many are forced to live and work among piles of waste. This is making people sick, releasing toxic fumes, flooding communities and causing up to a million deaths each year, that’s one person dying every 30 seconds.
Photo Credit: Antoine Giret via Unsplash
Bishop Rose said: “Our world is in a mess in so many ways. Among other man-made problems, we’re facing mountains of plastic pollution and our addiction to single-use plastics is only making it worse. But Jesus told his followers that even the smallest amount of faith can move mountains.
“Join me and a global movement of Christians, from the UK to Australia, New Zealand to Zambia, in praying for the UN plastic treaty talks and bringing an end to this rubbish problem.”
Tearfund is encouraging churches and individuals to check out their free resources including a prayer video, prayer guide and even daily texts to pray for those most affected by the plastic crisis. Visit www.tearfund.org/weekofprayer<http://www.tearfund.org/weekofprayer> for more information.
Photo above: Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover
Digital Editor’s note: I’m very pleased to welcome today’s Guest WriterDon Esson. Don is Director of Partnerships and Development for Spurgeons Children’s Charity, publishers of Dad.info. In this article Don opens up about some of his deeply personal experiences, insights and understanding of parenting and mental health.
Don writes: ‘Toxic masculinity’ can have a direct link to mental health among men. As a society we’re all too familiar with this negative term that is used to package up everything men are supposed to avoid. Yet, is there a baby and bathwater moment where we are removing the very thing that makes men, well men?
The real issue is that society hasn’t addressed what standards and attitudes men should strive towards, or in other words, positive masculinity. As the statistics reveal, this couldn’t be more timely. Evidence from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) clearly indicates that the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 is suicide. Not cancer, accidents, or anything else.
Diving deeper into the statistics, the common thread is men are less likely to ask for help.
ONS statistics show that since the early 90s, men have been at least three times as vulnerable to death from suicide as women. Men are dealing with the effects of social expectations on masculinity, meaning they are less likely to admit when they feel vulnerable, I know for me I can struggle to ask for help when I need it most. In the absence of asking for help men are likely to self-medicate and ‘numb’ the mental load with alcohol and drugs which can reinforce depression and increase impulsive behaviours.
So, for Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, I’m thinking of the dads who fall under the age of 45 and how they can be better supported.
There is no blueprint for how dads can raise the next generation with their mental health and well-being intact. I’m a dad. I have two daughters who I co-parent with my wife. I am also a man who knows what it feels like to be in a hole and not know how to get out of it. My life has not always been straightforward.
In the space of 12 months, my family faced multiple blows including various health challenges, and I found myself wondering ‘Can this get any worse?’. My wife later fell down the stairs suffering severe fractures and my daughter was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and underwent major surgery. I cannot tell you the pain I felt as a father watching my 18-month-old daughter drift under the effects of a general anaesthetic. Despite trying desperately to keep it together, my stress levels went through the roof.
I grew up around very poor mental health and have witnessed the effects of suicide. I know what a battle with one’s mental health can do to someone and as we endured this difficult season, I diagnosed myself with everything under the sun. I thought I needed to be locked up.
My Christian faith is a guiding light in my life, and I’ve been fortunate enough to understand what the author of Hebrews is talking about when he writes: ‘We have this hope as an anchor for our souls, firm and secure’. Despite the ‘feeling’ of things not improving I could draw upon the faithfulness of God in days gone past to know that if He’d got me this far, he’d be there as this season continues.
In prayer, I was prompted to contact a friend who was able to connect me to someone he knew could help me. This person’s day job is being a sports coach and he has a background in psychotherapy so when he told me I didn’t have any of the things I had self-diagnosed, I started to listen. He said: “You’re stressed”. He gave me tools to manage my stress like walking and breathing exercises. Though I thought they were ridiculously simple at first, to my surprise they worked.
Finally, he told me that I probably just needed some ‘buddies’ around me.
I got out of the hole by asking for help, but many dads don’t have the same roadmap to help as I did.
Not every dad has a coach for a friend on the other end of the phone.
Ryan, a 38-year-old dad from Kent lost two brothers and one cousin to suicide and two of those deaths happened in the past year. Having had a mental breakdown two years ago, he describes himself in ‘crisis mode’. “I have struggled all my life with my moods. I have always tried to deal with things myself, but this resulted in alcohol and drug abuse to numb the pain, creating another problem, and worsening my mental health.
“Men tend to hide things and not talk as freely as women about their feelings. For me, hiding my issues led me to the point of needing specialist and intensive therapy, the kind of service that isn’t as readily available. For many men, it’s too late before the support reaches them.”
In a society that so comfortably challenges toxic masculinity, why aren’t we making room for men to talk?
Typically, men don’t ask about other men’s feelings.
Add fatherhood into the mix and you’re met with the added worry and responsibility of how this impacts the children. Critically, dads who find themselves in this place often feel as if they’ve failed their job of being ‘dad’. The term ‘positive masculinity’ presents an alternative approach that we should pursue, rather than its toxic variation just being something we should avoid.
To dads I say, it’s less about fixing your problem and more about becoming vulnerable.
Ryan did a skydive to raise money for the cause and in memory of those he lost. He said doing what he can to help, in turn, helps him. He is an important part of the change although he still has a daily battle with his mental health.
As we raise the next generation, we have an opportunity to make change possible for our children. To invite a friend for a pint or coffee and tell them how bad your day was is a culture shift and so is asking another man how he really is. The more our culture starts to shift, the less easy it will be to ignore the gaps in support for dads and, equally, support for all men.
To be a part of the change, fill out this anonymous survey to share how you’ve felt since becoming a dad: https://www.videoask.com/fc82ux5lj
Photo Credits: Samuel Martins, Juliane Lieberman and Donovan Grabowski all via Unsplash
