Prima

Prima – a magazine name known to many, and quite rightly so because Prima means first or leading and I feel it is a leading magazine in the area it covers and it certainly covers lots of areas.

It started back in October 1986, and although at that time I thought it was expensive I did buy it as there was always a free pattern and I made a lot of my clothes in those days, so it was a bargain. This magazine has moved with the times ...
.../> Buying a copy of Prima over the counter costs £2.10. Sometimes in the magazine there is a special offer encouraging you to buy a subscription. In last May’s edition it was on offer for £12.60 by annual Direct debit, making it exactly half price! I have ordered mine using just £6.30 of Tesco Clubcard vouchers for a 12 month subscription, sounds like excellent value! I do love a bargain!


*SIZE*

Just slightly ... more

Prima – a magazine name known to many, and quite rightly so because Prima means first or leading and I feel it is a leading magazine in the area it covers and it certainly covers lots of areas.

It started back in October 1986, and although at that time I thought it was expensive I did buy it as there was always a free pattern and I made a lot of my clothes in those days, so it was a bargain. This magazine has moved with the times and is bang right up to date now and is one of the popular magazines sold at most newsagents, although many people have it delivered as this is a perfect start to your day – or used to be when post came in a morning! Although probably not aimed at the younger end of the market it does have some articles suitable for all ages.
I always buy one at the airport at it is a magazine that you can pick up, glance at, read little bits and go back to at a later time. I like to flick through and always spot something I missed before. I never leave it behind as there is always something I want to keep and it’s a magazine that friends and family like to browse through too.

*PRICE*

Buying a copy of Prima over the counter costs £2.10. Sometimes in the magazine there is a special offer encouraging you to buy a subscription. In last May’s edition it was on offer for £12.60 by annual Direct debit, making it exactly half price! I have ordered mine using just £6.30 of Tesco Clubcard vouchers for a 12 month subscription, sounds like excellent value! I do love a bargain!

*SIZE*

Just slightly shorter and slightly wider than an A4 sheet of paper, but much heavier!! In fact I just weighed a copy and it is 0.75lb. with approximately 170 pages.

*COVER*

Decided I would start at the very beginning, a very good place to start! The name “prima” is in bold lower case letters at the top of the cover, there is usually a picture in the centre and lots of snappy details about the contents, for instance 50 Easy ways to revamp your home, Get more energy in 5 minutes flat, Beat the clock dinners etc.

*CONTENTS*

After 2 or 3 pages of large adverts there is an Editors page. The editor always writes a letter, usually tying in with some of the features and there is a list of all the editorial staff and information about PPA – the Periodical Publishers Association. The address and telephone number of prima are given and the e-mail address. It is also part of the National Magazine Company. The Contents page is part pictures and part writing, or should I say two pages, dividing the contents clearly into sections.

Fashion – there is always several articles on this popular topic. It tends to be in a set order and the first part of the magazine has ideas about fashion for a certain season or holiday. How to cope with a certain problem , like disguising a small bust, finding the right pair of trousers whether you have long legs or large tummy, there is always a solution. A page under the name of fashion notebook, brings the latest news of High street and catwalk fashion with perhaps a competition to win a giveaway item.

Beauty - we all like to dream don’t we and so we learn what new potions are available, often members have tested products from all price ranges, and so we can find out who it’s suitable for, what is in it, who tried it, their verdict and the rating out of 10. In the May edition it was all about Britain’s favourite face creams and 10 were tested. For all you Avon fans, the Anew wrinkle corrector came out very well! In the edition I’ve got at present there was also an article in question and answer form on hair with suggestions of different products to solve the problem. As with the fashion section there is a Beauty Notebook with latest beauty news and pampering products.

Features – there are always some features to get your teeth into so to speak. This might be about prima people, perhaps something outstanding that they have achieved, may be they were very ill or injured, perhaps they fought back to enjoy life to the full or did something very courageous. Always with photographs which make it more interesting.

Home – most of us have to work within a budget, so ideas how to transform our homes on a budget are helpful. Tips and wise buys are added with this article. For instance first impressions last so your hallway needs to be stylish – important if you are selling your home, one idea was that a mirror can make a pokey hallway look bigger. Paint rather than wallpaper in your hall as it easier to touch up scuffs from family and pets. Other rooms are also covered, with fresh ideas in the kitchen, glamorise your bathroom by livening up your loo seat or relax in a beautiful bedroom. Lists of stockists are given with telephone numbers. There are always lots of pictures and prices making it easy to decide what you would like to do in your home.
Easymakes – instead of the patterns which must have been expensive, prima now gives clear instructions on how to make an article and lists all the materials you will need and easy instructions how to make it. On the Home Solutions page every month an expert rounds up the latest decorating tips and offers advice getting the best for your home. The Home notebook has short articles on different subjects, perhaps cheap and chic bedding, or unusual crockery. Five of the best vacuum cleaners, a giveaway and you can win £25 for a reader’s tip!
Gardening comes under the title banner of Homes, and there is a section to interest the gardeners amongst us, or even give ideas to those who hate gardening! There maybe an easymake section here too, with instructions how to make a bouquet or a simple floral arrangement. The garden notebook also has a reader’s tip and the winner gets £25 – I wish I had read the tip of putting sponges in the bottom of hanging baskets as they retain the moisture and need less watering. Too late now, but I will try it next year. Again the notebook page is full of ideas, tips and has a competition. Tip to stop slugs eating your Hostas, is transfer to containers, daub Vaseline around the rim and mulch with a thick layer of gravel.

Making Life Simple- articles, letters, easymakes it is all there. You can even win a free years subscription by having a letter printed.

Cookery – my favourite pages! There are always delicious recipes with mouth watering photographs. I find it helpful that they include the cooking time, the cost per portion, and especially the calories breaking it down to fat and carbohydrate content. The recipe is in bold print and the instructions are clear. There even may be a tip on how to make something simpler or how to vary the taste. The step by step cookery page is good for the novice cook and leads you carefully through each stage. I like the cut-out-and-keep cookcards, there are 4 pictures on one page and the recipe and instructions are printed on the back. There is a Reader’s kitchen page where the readers can ask a question, share a recipe or give a tip. There is a competition for a favourite recipe with a prize of a set of saucepans worth over £300! The Cookery notebook page shares tips and advice on new products, what is in season and sometimes compares similar products to rate which one is best.

Mind, Body and Soul – there are articles on health matters, perhaps a section on depression, panic attacks, female problems. One I liked in the last magazine was “How to have your cake and eat it!” - detailing what fat and calories are in various cakes and biscuits. An innocent little custard cream biscuit has twice as much fat as a Kellogg’s Special K bar! An excellent article on how to get more energy in 5 minutes flat, I’m off to twiddle with my toes and then maybe I’ll be carrying on writing all night. An holistic doctor answers questions giving advice, there are also telephone numbers giving expert advice on some medical matters.

Prima promotions – some pages are under this heading it may be look like a cookery page but is clearly labelled so you know they are advertising but the information is written in a helpful form, like how to roast a joint from the English Beef and Lamb Executive, or raising awareness about Freedom Foods, stepping out in style in Hush Puppy shoes. I was actually surprised that there were about 56 pages devoted to adverts apart from these promotions, I hadn’t realised there were so many, but I’m sure some of the really expensive glossy magazines must have more adverts and I know the adverts do keep the cost down.

Certain features are in every month –there is a Creative Idea – It may be a knitting pattern for a cardigan or how to knit stylish cushion covers. A pattern for a dress or other clothes is available free, only one per person and it takes about 10 working days, can be ordered by phone or by sending in a coupon. Reader’s offers are also available – for example a saving of £120 on a Singer sewing machine. There is a page devoted to children with something to make and a Kids notebook page with tips and ideas and of course a giveaway too! Not a free child I hasten to add! There is a Crossword each month and you could win £500! There is a small Travel section, with information on home and abroad and even here you can save money with Reader’s offers.

Treat yourself – has a page of offers you can enter to win, perhaps a Luxury weekend or a camera, which you can enter by telephoning or writing.
After a few pages of adverts there is the last page “Spoil yourself” – a page full of indulgent treats guaranteed to make you feel good about yourself. There is even a recipe in this edition to treat your body to a boost. If you can’t afford a visit to a salon, then give yourself a body polish. Mix 1 tablespoon of Demerara sugar, and one of caster sugar with 4 tablespoons of honey, a couple of squirts of lime juice, a teaspoon of ground ginger and a pinch of cinnamon. Rub it in circular motions over your body before rinsing off in the shower. You’ll smell and look good enough to eat!

I think you can tell that although I am not a Prima Donna or a Prima Ballerina I am most certainly a big prima fan!

One interesting fact I noticed was that prima is available on CD or floppy disc for blind or disabled people from TNAUK (The Talking Newspaper Association UK), there is a charge for this. They supply most magazines and as I am a voluntary reader and presenter of our Local Newspaper (which is supplied free) for the blind and partially sighted in this area I can recommend such a magazine as a gift for people who used to enjoy reading and are no longer able to do so.

 

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