Affinity Luxury Lifestyle Magazine November 2020

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PRICELESS

www.affinitymag.co.uk AFFINITY LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

ISSUE 113

WWW.AFFINITYMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Your must-have Winter Fashion Edit Step into Gift Guides Galore

Don’t hit the snooze button!

We show you a new morning routine

Let’s celebrate

Tried and Tested!

Wines you’ll love this Christmastime

Mouth-watering seasonal recipes for all the family

ISSUE 113

Christmas!

Decor ideas you'll love

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2

LETTER EDITOR’S

With approximately seven weeks to go until the big day, we feel it’s quite acceptable to mention that word – Christmas and fill this issue with all that glitters and more.

1

This year with the current pandemic around the world, Christmas is going to be a little different, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be any less important.

With mental health issues rising it is important now, more than ever, that we spend time (even if only over zoom) with our family and loved ones, making each moment as special as we can.

3

The countdown’s well and truly on when you open day 1 of your advent calendar, gone are the days of just a picture or a bit of chocolate, now calendars are full of beauty products, alcohol and food – You literally are spoilt for choice, turn to page 10 for a roundup of our favourite beauty advents - what one will you choose?

I think there’s something just as magical about giving a gift as there is receiving one. The look on the person’s face as they unwrap it is a joy to watch, but I hear you ask “I don’t know what to buy? “Look no further than our Christmas Gift Guide, (page25) this year it’s back bigger and better than before and has gifts everyone will love.

Remember also, it’s the season of goodwill, a little kindness goes a long way!

Stay Safe!

Jane x

4 5

1. Bambi Faux Fur Coat, £279, www.thebiascut.com 2. Briston Clubmaster Watch, £265, www.wolfandbadger 3. Jo Malone Roasted Chesnut Candle, £52, www.jomalone.co.uk 4. Rose Gold Tassel Bracelet, £52, www.bellajanejewellery.co.uk 5. Rose Gold Zirconia Earrings, £39, www.beaverbrooks.co.uk Don’t forget to join us on social media, we love getting to know you!

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Editor: Jane Fry jane@affinitymag.co.uk 07507 602401 Advertising: Stewart Hedges affinitymagstewart@gmail.com 07595 894557 Graphic Design and Photography: David Zita dave@affinitymag.co.uk

@affinitymagz

All adverts are printed in good faith. Affinity cannot take responsibility for the content of adverts. Advertisements are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are accurate. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

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Contents 58

45

Affinity

November 2020

8 13 18 22 26 32 38 41 43 46 52 56 62

Winter Morning Routine Hot Picks Green Goddess All Ears The Lady Loves Small Wonders Foodie News Chilli Con Canard Christmas Wine Opulent Luxe A Real Tree Little Whispers Stars

25

On The Cover Joe Browns

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I

A Winter Morning Routine

t can be hard to develop a morning routing during winter- a time of quiet, wet, dark and cold which leaves us feeling tired and unmotivated. Additionally, in the era of COVID-19, many of us are working from home and dealing with disrupted routines. Although we can’t control what’s around us, we can control out responses. Structure can really help balance the seasonal changes and improve our productivity in these uncertain times.

We’ve spoke to the experts on how to build a morning routine during the winter months, and stick to it!

Don’t hit the snooze button!

It can be easy to want to stay in bed and repeatedly hit the snooze button, especially when it is cold outside the covers! However, it might be doing you more harm than good by disrupting your body’s natural sleep cycle. Sleep specialist, Lauren Peacock from Little Sleep Stars tells us;

“Pressing snooze and snuggling back down signals to the body that it can settle back into a restful slumber. The alarm sounding again jolts us awake just as we’re on our way to deeper sleep, causing sleep inertia. Despite having had a few more minutes sleep, we feel drowsier than if we’d got up with the first alarm!”

Have a hearty breakfast and take your supplements Is breakfast an essential meal? Should I take my supplements? What are the best foods to eat to give me energy during the winter months? These are all questions we ask when trying to build a strong morning routine. To maintain your health and make sure you get enough essential nutrients for the day, we spoke to nutritionist Donia Hilal from Personalised.co

‘Breakfast can be the most important meal of the day, depending on what you decide to eat and nourish your body with. Some people prefer to start their morning off light and fresh without breakfast, which is totally fine. If you prefer having a hearty breakfast filled with nutrients to get you going for the day, then ensure you are eating a source of healthy carbohydrates, protein or healthy fats for energy. This could be carbohydrates such as oats, protein such as eggs, or healthy fats for brain power such as unsalted nut butters.

Combining supplements with your morning breakfast is a great way to ensure consistency in your supplement regime too. Most supplements are best absorbed when combined with a meal. For example, vitamin D is better absorbed if taken alongside a meal which contains some fats as it is a water-soluble vitamin.”

Go for a morning walk Walking is one of the easiest approaches to getting active and improving your overall fitness. Not only is it an exercise that is ideal for all age groups, but a quick tenminute stroll every day can improve your blood pressure, manage joint and muscular pain, make your bones stronger and reduce body fat. Focusing on your surroundings as you walk can also help you feel more present and therefore, relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety in these uncertain times. Founder of Shakti Himalaya hikes, Jamshyd Sethna told us.

“You spend time out in the great outdoors…It does change you. Whether it be a daily walk or a ten-day trip up into the mountain, living simply, has a huge positive impact. Being cheek by jowl with great beauty has a positive impact on us all.”

Meditate With COVID-19 anxiety showing no sign of disappearing, setting up a mindful practice can be useful for managing our angst in this strange and unpredictable time. Whilst meditating in an outdoor space may not be possible during the winter months, with the right furnishings, lighting and scents, you can create a tranquil space in your home which you can come back to re-centre your mind every morning. Interior designer, Jenniver Jarvis from Helen Green Design highlights how to create a home meditation space: ‘Swap out dark and heavy colours or materials for light and fresh ones to give your key spaces a refresh during the winter months. Whilst the weather may not be bright outside, the change of season inside your home will bring the brightness in which will benefit your mental health and well-being.’

Pour yourself a coffee to start the day Is there anything better than a warm brew on a cold winter’s morning? Coffee ranks as one of the most popular drinks in the world, so it is no wonder that so many people associate their winter mornings with the smell of a fresh cuppa. There has been a lot of debate about the best time to have your cup of coffee to maximise the effects of productivity and happiness. To get to the bottom of this, we spoke to James Carter from Coffee Direct:

“We recommend timing drinking your first cup of coffee so you can efficiently maximise the energy you gain. As our cortisol levels are high between 8-9am, we suggest having your first cup of coffee at 9.30am, when your body’s energy levels would naturally be low.”

We’ve done the hard part, now it’s time for you to start your Winter Morning Routine.

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Beauty advents

And the countdown begins, we can’t get enough of Beauty Advent Calendars, there’s so many to choose from, would it be rude to get two?

benefit Shake your Beauty Advent Calendar, £58.50, www.lookfantastic.com

Jo Loves Advent Calendar, £300, www.joloves.com

Jo Malone Advent Calendar, £320, www.jomalone.co.uk

MAC Beauty Advent Calendar, £125, www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Nivea Ski Lodge Advent Calendar, £40, Amazon

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Elemis 25 Days of Spectacular Skin Advent Calendar, £175, www.uk.elemis.com Charlotte Tilbury Bejewelled Chest Of Beauty Advent Calendar, £150, www.charlottetilbury.com

The Body Shop-Ultimate Advent-Calendar, £130, www.thebodyshop.com

Soap & Glory Roam the Foam Advent Calendar, £42, Boots

L'Occitane Classic Beauty Advent Calendar, £53, www.uk.loccitane.com

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Midlife Madness I’ve had one of those weeks/months possibly a whole year when things just don’t seem to be going the way I want.

I’m sure given what’s going on in the world there will be a few others who feel the same! Often it has been the little things, like the thoughtful package I ordered to be delivered to a friend – a very time sensitive package and I was enjoying a few moments of back patting as I’d been ahead of the game – but guess what after 5 days of fretting I was told they’d lost the parcel. They blamed ‘the current situation’ – this virus has infected people, computers and goodness know what else. Another was couriered but it arrived somewhat after the event so I’d lost that possibly smug feeling that I was for once in my generally disorganised, bumbling life been ahead of the game!

Like lots of other people I’ve also had cancelled theatre trips, outings, and holidays and while of course that is not so terrible compared to people who have lost so much more in this pandemic I’m afraid it does still count a bit to me.

I feel incredibly grateful for my home and where it is situated which means I can enjoy lovely walks. Most of the time I feel grateful for the folk I live with – although let’s be honest when everyone in the home is working from home you can have a bit too much of a good thing!

I am absolutely NOT going to use the new words we now have like ‘new normal’ and ‘unprecedented’ but I do need to acknowledge that things have changed and frankly I’ve had enough. I miss my trips to town – in theory I could still go but I can’t really justify it – why on earth would I need any new clothes when frankly my outings are few and far between! Though somehow at midnight when I can’t sleep that goes right out of my head as I scroll and somehow click the buy now for all sorts of things that I feel I need (yes at midnight in bed).

Thankfully at the moment I can still see mates and go out for meals – and I am grateful that I am still able to work although most of it is online and frankly while I loved that at first, it’s wearing a bit thin now and causing quite a bit of irritation. We have all had to learn about online working and most of us managed that steep learning curve quite quickly but trust me some definitely haven’t.

My own, (slightly old fashioned perhaps) view is that we may not be physically in the same room BUT we should still offer some professional courtesy which for me means that certain things are NOT OKAY, I accept people have difficult dogs, crazy cats, cute or crying children, postman or other delivery persons who don’t know that you are working and partners who may also be working from home or are just loud and insensitive. But would you ever allow them to come to a work meeting with you? I suspect not unless it was a dire emergency! So how come it seems okay when it’s virtual. Then there is the dress code – yes, I know we are at home so flip flops, leggings etc are ok as long as our ‘top half’ looks presentable but that means if the camera is on and you are wearing the kind of shorts that you’d wear on a beach you need to remember that and shut off the camera before you stand up! A colleague of mine would have caused gasps if she’d walked in to a meeting wearing shorts that resembled bikini bottoms!!!

And what about eating – I’m fine if people have a coffee or water, working on the assumption that people would often do that in ‘real’ meetings but chomping into a full cooked meal – feels a bit much to me especially when it looks like a curry at 10am!

So, to quote something I saw on social media – punctuation is important here ‘I’m going to give up drinking till this is all over’ – NO ‘I’m going to give up, drinking till this is all over’!

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Rose Gold Bee Necklace, £50, www.beaverbrooks.co.uk

Top of the Pops Party Game, £20, www.bigpotato.co.uk

AFFINITY HOT PICKS

Balanced Water Bottle, £75, www.alittlefind.com

Hannah Martin Link Baroque Pearl Bracelet, £45, www.screampretty.com

Sequin Jacket, £65, Marks & Spencer

Coat, £400, www.gaala.com

This month’s must have gifts and accessories

Morris & Co. Rose Gold Strawberry Watch, £239, www.augustberg.co.uk

Wicker Tray, £19.99, www.blossomandbuttercup.co.uk

Fabric Angels, £20, Daisy Park

Cashmere Short Robe, £229, The White Company

Rowena Disco Sweater, £49, www.sugarhillbrighton.com

Peacock Ear Muffs, £4, Flying Tiger

Rhubarb Washing Up Liquid, £12, www.alittlefind.com

Gratitude Journal, £28, www.cgdlondon.com

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Developing a Mind Set for

Wellbeing If we’re honest with ourselves, we all know it makes sense to take care of our physical and mental/emotional health and wellbeing. The vast majority of us also know what we have to do to take care of ourselves. And yet often we don’t.

When I speak to people, they often say it is about the time and I get that but the fact remains that we usually manage to fit in are the things that we decide are important. So, while lack of time may be part of the issue it certainly isn’t the whole issue.

I also accept that we all have a whole range of responsibilities which can exert constraints on how we use our time and there may be other constraints like the weather if you enjoy walking for example but not in the rain or the fact that many gyms and swimming pools have been closed.

But even accepting all of that, we probably all have some time available when we could choose to do things to take care of ourselves but instead find ourselves ‘choosing’ not to.

That’s where mindset comes in and there are two important and different aspects about the way our mindset impacts our wellbeing.

The first is that there is a lot of research to suggest that if our general mindset is positive, we are likely to experience less pain and a greater sense of wellbeing. Positive thoughts and positive self-talk can reduce stress and may help with anxiety.

When you first read this, it might seem a bit strange but try to remember how you feel on a really good day when things are going well and you are feeling at the top of your game. On those days we are much more likely to take things in our stride and perhaps shrug off things which seem negative. On other days it could be that any little pain makes us feel we can’t cope, or worry that it is a symptom of something terrible happening.

So, developing a positive attitude in general will help our mental and emotional wellbeing BUT it may also have an impact on our physical health. Some people find being positive a lot easier than others but there are some simple steps we can all take that might help – like the ones below.

• Begin your day with gratitude.

• Make a conscious decision to concentrate on positive thoughts – check the words you use.

• Turn your thoughts outward – make someone else smile, be kind – it changes how we feel.

• Look after your physical health – it’s harder to be positive when you are very tired or hungry.

• Don’t let yourself be dragged into others problems, you really don’t need extra drama.

• Try to surround yourself with other positive people (that doesn’t mean dropping friends that need help) but if some are always negative you may need to think about how much time you spend with them.

• Reframe problems by focussing on solutions or ways around obstacles

But the other way that mindset can impact our wellbeing is that some of our underlying limiting beliefs will actually prevent us from taking care of ourselves.

Mindsets can come from all sorts of experiences that have happened or things people have said, particularly ‘repeated’ messages. To take care of ourselves means that we need to believe we are worth looking after, that our needs count and that it is okay to make ourselves our priority at least some of the time.

We’ve listed a few mindsets that will work against your wellbeing – if any of these resonate with you then I’d venture to suggest that you will always struggle with self-care until you do a bit of work on ridding yourself of those limiting beliefs.

‘I need to look after others, please them, keep them happy’

‘My needs are not important – or at least not until everyone else’s needs are met’

‘Well no one cares about me anyway so it doesn’t matter if I don’t take care of myself’ ‘Life just keeps throwing rotten stuff at me so it doesn’t matter what I do, life will be a struggle’

Any of these mindsets will be working away at the subconscious level ensuring you fulfil those beliefs.

Until you start to address the mindset underneath you will always struggle to put yourself first and prioritise your needs.

Take a minute now to think about the particular mindsets you might have that work against your own self-care.

Now you need to connect with the truth – the fact is that every human being, that includes you, is of value and that doesn’t matter how you feel, it is a fact. While you may have responsibilities, exercising self-care usually means you are better able to fulfil those responsibilities.

You can read more about mindset and how to identify them and change them in the book ‘Make it Magnificent’ by Sheila Mulvenney

We’ve heard before that the most powerful way to change is often with actions rather than words. Take the time right now to write down or plan a few self-care activities that you can do in the next week and make sure you do them. If that inner voice tries to tell you not to - just remind yourself that you matter and taking care of yourself is essential.

For tips and hints to help you live a more fulfilling positive life join the face book group www.facebook.com/groups/AAYGroup

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FASHION

Sonder Studio

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Go Green

Bottle green, simple, stylish and wearable, the perfect colour for colder days and cosy nights.

Studded Bag, £49.50, Oliver Bonas

Pu Dress, £65, Monsoon

Ankle Boots, £425, Rosamund Muir

Green Gloves, £20, Accessorize

High Neck Velvet Dress, £75, Oliver Bonas

Wallis Faux Fur Ear Muffs, £22, Oliver Bonas

Velvet Leggings, £16.99, M&Co

Spotted Tiered Dress, £22, Tu

Button Treggings, £22, Dorothy Perkins

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Trendy Ted

Still as in-trend as ever, if there’s only one coat you buy this year it has to be a Teddy Coat

Mink Teddy Coat, £59.99, New Look

Brown Teddy Coat, £45, Tu

Yellow Teddy Coat, £90, Oasis

Blue Teddy Coat, £65, Roman Originals

M&Co

Cream Teddy Coat, £49.99, New Look

Dark Grey Teddy Coat, £49.99, New Look

Burgundy Teddy Coat, £90, Oasis

Sage Teddy Coat, £55, Roman Originals

Stone Teddy Coat, £265, Reiss

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Jump to It They're one of the comfiest things you'll ever own, style with a pair of knee high boots for a chic, stylish look.

Black Embellished Jumper Dress, £48, Wallis

Cream High Neck Jumper Dress, £25.99, New Look

Camel Jumper Dress, £28, Dorothy Perkins

Cream Disc Jumper Dress, £125, French Connection

Grey Jumper Dress, £42, Roman Originals

Roll Neck Blue Jumper Dress, £85, Hush

Frill Jumper Dress, £28, Miss Selfridge

Stripe Grey Jumper Dress, £129, AllSaints

Black Jumper Dress, £175, L.K. Bennett

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Black is Black Just like a little black dress, a black top or two is a wardrobe must-have.

Chiffron Frill Jumper, £29.99, Quiz

Frill Top, £16, F&F

High Neck Peplum Top, £26.99, Quiz

High Neck Top, £30, Wallis

Debenhams

Lacy Stitch Knitted Top, £45, Oliver Bonas

Lace Ruffle Top, £55, Very

Puff Sleeve Top, £13, Primark

Organza Square Neck Top, £25, Dorothy Perkins

Mesh Tier Top, £20, Dorothy Perkins

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All Ears Gold statement earrings are the perfect accessory to add a little elegance to any look.

Hammered Earrings, £8, M&Co

Jangle Disc Earrings, £16, Debenhams

Three Drop Earrings, £10, Debenhams

Lightning Hoop Earrings, £40, www.screampretty.com

Tassel Chain Earrings, £14, River Island

Falling Leaves Earrings, £340, London Road

Kendra Scott Earrings, £80, Selfridges

Triple Drop Sparkle Earrings, £50, www.screampretty.com

Drop Earrings, £10, River Island

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Christmas Gift Guide Gorgeous gifts, everyone will love.

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White Gold and Diamond Pendant, £275, www.bakerbrothersdiamonds.com

Shaun Leane Hoop Earrings, £175, www.bakerbrothersdiamonds.com

Barbour Pink Pom Pom Beanie, £27.95 www.barbourInternational.com

Marc Jacobs Daisy Gift Set, £74.99, www.perfumedirect.com

Jo Loves Luxury Christmas Layered Candle, £350, www.joloves.com

Raymond Weil Parsifal Watch £1,695, www.raymond-weil

Jo Malone Orange Bitters Diffuser, £130, www.jomalone.co.uk

Swarovski Rose Gold Ring, £119, www.swarovski.com

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Fleurs du Nil Earrings, £45, www.lesgeorgettes.com Grey Bag, £60, Dune London

Tan Gloves, £45, Dune London

The Lady Loves Any lady in your life will love to find one of these gifts under the tree the Christmastime.

Roberts Bluetooth Speaker, £149.99, www.robertsradio.com

Jo Loves Minature Pomelo Collection, £40, www.joloves.com

Lace Cami Set, £40, www.figleaves.com

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Collection, £88. www.jomalone.co.uk

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Little Box of Cheese Treats, £35, www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

Hotel Chocolat Grand Wreath Box, £75, www.hotelchocolat.com

The Taste of Italy Hamper, £110, www.souschef.co.uk

Pistachio Panettone With Pistachio Cream, £33.50, www.souschef.co.uk

Biscuiteers Luxury Christmas Gift Box, £85, www.biscuiteers.com

Cartwright & Butler Apricot & Fig Loaf, £12, www.cartwrightandbutler.co.uk

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Hotel Chocolat The Nice List Collection, £60, www.hotelchocolat.com

Cartwright & Butler Sweet Shop Favourites, £38, www.cartwrightandbutler.co.uk

Festive Foodie

Perfect gifts to indulge your inner foodie this Festive season Monopoly Luxe Biscuit Tin, £48, www.biscuiteers.com

Christmas Eve Hamper, £110, www.bolneywineestate.com

Gressingham Duck Recipe Book, £22, Waterstones

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Barbour International Sweatshirt, £79.95, www.barbour.com

Dunhill Amalfi Citrus, £120, Harrods CIROC Black Raspberry Vodka, £35.90, Amazon

The Humber Bag, £95, www.kovered.co.uk

Luxury Belgian Chocolate Coated Dates, £35, www.farhi.co.uk

Paco Rabanne Invictus Set, £49.50, www.thefragranceshop.co.uk

Bentley Headphones, £1,199, www.shop.bentleymotors.com

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Montblanc Starwalker Pen & Credit Card Holder, £365, www.bakerbrothersdiamonds.com

Tan Suede Slippers, £40, Dune London

Mens Room

Barbour Tartan Travel Mug, £11.95 www.barbour.com

We’ve found the best gifts for the men in your life this Christmas Sterling Silver Hallmark Cufflinks, £135, www.bakerbrothersdiamonds.com

ESPA Gents Essentials, £45, www.espaskincare.com

Raymond Weil Freelancer, £1.750, www.raymond-weil.co.uk

Lacoste Gripshot, £80, ASOS

Scallywag Winter Edition, £49.99, THe Whisky Exchange

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Reindeer Slippers, £24, The White Company

Vip Pets Dolls, £17.99, Argos

Downfall £20.00, Tesco

Woodland Baking-Set, £22, www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

Hotel TransylvaniaBoard Game, £19.99, www.rachellowe.co.uk .

Rainbocorns Sweet Shake Surprise, £34.99, www.zuru.com

Percy Pig Baking Set, £20, Marks & Spencer

Unicorn Hot Water Bottle, £22, Marks & Spencer

Bayliss & Harding Llama Shower Set, £6, Boots

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Paw Patrol Mighty Lookout Tower, £109.99, www.spinmaster.com

Christmas Jumper, £16, Marks & Spencer

Batman Figure, £9.99, www.spinmaster.com

small wonders Santa’s been busy choosing gifts that your little ones will love to open on Christmas morning

Hatchimals Colleggtibles Pixies, £9.99, www.spinmaster.com

Bayliss & Harding Rainbow Fizzers, £15, Boots

,

Reindeer Hood Robe, £32, The White Company

Dobble Gruffalo, £12.99, Argos

Jellycat Leffy Elf, £22, www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

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Star Necklace, £18, Joe Browns

Slipper Boots, £19.50, Marks & Spencer Christmas Pudding Bobble Jumper, £22.99, New Look

The Very Merry Christmas Boardgame, £20, Debenhams Emma Bridgewater Robins in the Snow Mug, £19.99, www.emmabridgewater.co.uk

Silk Spot Eye Mask, £25, The White Company

Knitted Cream Hat, £8.99, New Look

Daily Planner, £8, Paperchase

Cami Set, £25, Marks & Spencer

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Metallic Ceramic Candle Lantern, £20, www.blossomandbuttercup.co.uk

Stocking Fillers

Peach Geo Print Face Mask, £14.99, www.stylecheat.com

We’ve found the perfect gifts to pop in those stockings, and all for under £25

Biscuiteers Snow Globe Biscuits, £25, www.biscuiteers.com

Hotel Chocolat Christmas Goody Bag, £18, www.hotelchocolat.com

Hot Water Bottle, £8.00, Primark

Pearl Headband, £18, River Island

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food & drink

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FOODIE NEWS Popcorn Pops

A Christmas Tipple

Rosebud Preserves has captured the spirit of its Seville Orange Marmalade in this uniquely distilled Gin Liqueur (£29.95 from www.rosebudpreserves.co.uk).

It is made in a traditional copper still to create a deep, dark and warming blend of bitter orange, molassed sugar and botanically rich hand crafted gin, with a truly distinctive flavour. It’s perfect drunk neat, over ice or simply with some tonic added for a longer drink.

Countdown to Christmas

Leave the chocolate to the kids this Christmas and count down to the big day in style with Mariage Frères’ NOËL GLAMOUR® (£45) a luxury advent calendar with 24 premium tea blends from France’s oldest teahouse.

Behind every door you will find a luxury Mariage Frères’ tea, from the fresh and fruity MARCO POLO, to suitably seasonal varieties such as the ESPRIT DE NOEL, a festive and aromatic tea rich in Christmas spices, orange peel and vanilla.

Painted in white and gold and decorated with silver stars this beautiful advent calendar is available to buy in store and online at www.mariagefreres.com

A little flavour of the North Pole has arrived in an industrious corner of North London, the Joe & Seph’s (www.joeandsephs.co.uk) family of confectionery creatives have dreamed up some seriously indulgent and utterly charming popcorn-based gifts, decorations and mouth-watering treats to keep Christmas 2020 delicious.

You’ll be spoilt for choice with their extensive range of gourmet, handmade popcorn and caramel sauces. This festive season sees their elves pack selection boxes chockfull of festive favourites including Salted Caramel, Toffee Apple & Cinnamon and Prosecco Popcorn.

Christmas Crackers

This Christmas Nairn’s are re-introducing their award winning Gluten Free Savoury Biscuit Selection box (£3.75,from Tesco & Sainsbury’s). A medal winner in the prestigious Free From Food Awards last year in their new ‘gifting’ category, this limited edition product features six of their best-selling gluten free oatcakes and crackers, guaranteed to suit a variety of different tastes.

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Pork, Spanish Persimon and Cider Casserole

“Great flavours all come together to create this warming slow-cooked pork dish”.

Ingredients 2 Spanish Persimons® 1tbsp vegetable oil 500g lean pork chunks (shoulder is good) 1 large red or brown onion, sliced 3 celery sticks, sliced 1 large red pepper, deseeded and chopped 300ml dry cider 400ml chicken stock 1tsp ground coriander 1tsp ground cumin Salt and freshly ground black pepper 3-4tsp chicken gravy granules Fresh parsley sprigs, to garnish

Method Cut the leafy tops from the Spanish Persimon® and chop the flesh into chunks. Heat the oil in a flameproof casserole and add the pork. Cook over a medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes, turning occasionally, until well-browned (important for a good flavour).

Add the onion, celery, red pepper and Spanish Persimon® and cook for 2 minutes, then pour in the cider and stock. Stir in the coriander and cumin and season with black pepper. Cover and cook on the hob over a low heat for 1hour 15 minutes, or cook in the oven for the same time (preheated to 190°C, fan oven 170°C, Gas Mark 5).

Just before serving, stir in the chicken gravy granules to thicken.

Check the seasoning, adding salt and black pepper, if needed.

Serve with parsley.

Cook’s tip: Serve with baked potatoes (cooked in the oven for 1 hour) or with creamy mash and green veg, such as broccoli or cabbage.

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Chilli con Canard

“A delicious twist on the classic chilli con carne, using shredded cooked duck legs instead of beef”.

Ingredients 2 large Gressingham duck legs 1 red onion, peeled and finely sliced Vegetable oil 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed 100g cooking chorizo 2 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tbsp tomato purée ½ tbsp chipotle paste 1 tin of kidney beans, drained (400g) 1 tin of chopped tomatoes (400g) 1 lime, halved To serve Fresh coriander Soured cream Grated cheese Fresh chillies Tortilla

Method Preheat the oven to 200°c or 180°c fan. Pat the duck legs dry with kitchen towel. Prick the skin all over with a fork or sharp knife and season well with salt and pepper. Place them on a baking tray and into the preheated oven. Cook for 45 minutes then remove from the oven, leave until cool enough to handle and shred the meat from the bones with two forks.

Meanwhile, gently fry the red onion with a little oil in a pan over a low to medium heat until softened. Add the garlic and chorizo and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

Next add the cumin, oregano, paprika, tomato purée, chipotle paste, kidney beans and chopped tomatoes. Turn up the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, then stir in the shredded duck and a little water if the sauce is getting too thick. Cook the chilli for a further 10 minutes, then finish with salt, pepper and lime juice to taste. Add a sprinkle of paprika if you like, then serve the chilli alongside all your chosen accompaniments.

Recipe from Gressingham, The Recipe Book

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Plum and Almond Pudding with Brandy Cream “This South African plum batter pudding is easy to make and tastes divine”.

Ingredients 1tsp butter 60g caster sugar 1 cinnamon stick 1/2tsp Chinese 5-spice powder 5 South African plums 2 large eggs 80g plain flour Pinch of salt 200ml milk 200ml single cream 1/2tsp vanilla extract 2tbsp brandy 20g flaked almonds, plus a few extra Icing sugar, for sprinkling Brandy cream: 100ml double cream 1tbsp caster sugar 1/4tsp vanilla extract 2tbsp brandy Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C, fan 160°C, Gas Mark 4. Use the butter to grease a 1 litre baking dish.

Heat 300ml water in a saucepan with half the caster sugar (30g), the cinnamon stick and 5-spice powder.

When the sugar has dissolved add the plums and simmer gently for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, use a whisk to beat together the eggs, flour, salt, milk, single cream, vanilla extract and brandy. Add the remaining 30g sugar.

Allow a few minutes for the sugar to dissolve. Stir in the almonds. Use a draining spoon to transfer the plums from the cooking liquid to the baking dish. Pour in the batter and bake for 4550 minutes until golden brown. Cool for a few minutes.

Meanwhile, whip the cream in a chilled bowl until it holds its shape, then whisk in the sugar, brandy and vanilla extract.

Serve the plum pudding sprinkled with icing sugar and a few extra almonds, accompanied by the brandy cream.

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Bordeaux Make a Case for Christmas

After a year of disruption and uncertainty, it has never felt more important to make the most of the festive period and enjoy each event to the full.

From sparkling crémants and sumptuous sweet wines to start the celebrations, to dry whites to enjoy alongside a succulent turkey, fruit-forward reds to serve with a vegetarian feast and crisp crémant rosés for Boxing Day, Bordeaux offers something for everyone, whatever the budget or occasion.

Laithwaites Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Bordeaux Blanc This elegant dry white Bordeaux Blanc, is intensely fragrant with both citrus fruit and grassy characters.

Delightfully fresh the palate opens with bright grapefruit and elderflower notes, followed by characters of blackcurrant leaf and a steely minerality. £9.99, Laithwaites

Chateau Bauduc Blanc de Blancs 2016 Made from 100% Sémillon from an ambitious, British-owned Château. Crisp, dry and appetising with fantastic concentration of fruit the palate presents notes of lemon zest, peach, walnuts and toast, a luxurious addition to a day of festivities. £16.50, www.bauduc.com

Tesco Bordeaux Blanc 2018 Made primarily from Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Sémillon. The nose opens with attractive citrus and herbal notes that follow on the palate, and are met with fresh notes of lemon, elderflower and white blossom. This wine offers a lovely acidity that cuts through rich vegan dishes like nut roasts or mushroom Wellington. £6.75, Tesco

Chateau de Bonhoste RoséNV This stunning Rosé Crémant is produced from a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

Bright and fragrant, it has an attractive and persistent mousse supporting a fine palate of bright red berry fruit and brioche. Ideal with a wide selection of Christmas canapés. £15.85, Hourlier Wines

Tesco Finest Sauternes 2015 This golden-hued wine is made from carefully selected grapes affected by noble rot with aromas of ripe stone fruits, candied summer fruits, marmalade and honey. Luxurious sweetness and spicy vanilla characters layer and coat the palate before a clean and fresh finish. Enjoy a glass as an aperitif or perhaps alongside a leftover turkey Pad Thai. £12.00, Tesco

Château Mille Anges 2016, Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux Bright, and fruit-forward, deep and complex yet with a charming fruit profile, the palate is expressive of blackcurrant, cherries and damson, harmonising with notes of tobacco and sweet spice. This is surely the wine to serve with roast turkey and all the trimmings. £13, www.Goedhuis & Co

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Fry’s Footie Corner As we move into November, football is still sitting precariously on the edge. At the time of writing this column, every club within the EFL are teetering on the brink.

We need a bailout and we need it yesterday!

Football without crowds is essentially football without revenue. We need help. Every club needs help. The government need to step up. The Premier League can help.

The PFA can help. At this stage, I don’t care where the help comes from because right now, football in this country is at the most vulnerable it has ever been.

I understand the risks. I understand the reasons as to why crowds were not allowed in earlier this year, but every stadium has been made Covid secure, including our own, with social distancing measures put in place. We have adhered to all of the requirements.

It is ludicrous that you can have people in hospitality areas watching the game on a big screen yet you can’t allow 3,000 supporters into a 15,000 capacity stadium. People can go to the cinema, people can eat in restaurant’s, people can even go to Legoland, but they can’t watch football and I am left scratching my head at the decisions that are being made.

On the pitch, we at Peterborough United have had a decent start to the campaign and enjoyed a really strong October with wins at Wigan, Hull, Northampton as well as beating Swindon Town at home and Fulham under 21s in the EFL Trophy. Darren Ferguson is doing an excellent job.

In the Premier League there have been a whole host of surprising results. Aston Villa hitting Liverpool for seven, Manchester United beaten 6-1 by Tottenham and Everton leading the way after a solid start. With matches coming thick and fast, momentum is going to be key across all of the leagues and consistency is going to be vital.

Squad rotation at the top level will be important and those with the bigger squads should be able to cope the best with the relentless nature of the truncated campaign. Steering clear of injuries will be key; Liverpool seem to be hit the hardest with that with Van Dyk and Fabinho among their injury casualties.

Let’s see what the next month brings – Stay Safe!

Barry Fry

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deck the halls Whether it's traditional or elegant we've got Christmas Decor for everyone

Argos

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Gold Christmas Tree, £9.99, Homesense

Blue Tartan Bauble, £8, Luxdeco

Blue Speckle Bauble, £2, Sainsbury's Home

Blue Gold Elegant Vase, £41.95, www.blossomandbuttercup.co.uk

Hanging Gold Fruit, £2, Sainsbury's Home Peacock Table Decoration, £12, Sainsbury's Home

Opulent Luxe

Try a jewelled look with deep blue and accents of luxe gold.

A bold and decadent look that fits with any colour scheme

Peacock Decoration, £15, Daisy Park

Gisela Graham Palm Tree Candle Stick, £19, Amara

Gold Shaker Baubles, £5, Argos

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Set Of 6 Two-Tone Luxury Christmas Crackers, £38, www.rocketstgeorge.co.uk

Gold Pomegranate Ornament, £81, Luxdeco

Blue & Gold Stocking, £48, www.penelopehope.com

Cox & Cox

Gold Napkin Rings (2 pack), £4, Primark

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Decorative Baubles, Amara

Sequin Bauble, £4, Wilko

Gin Bauble, £3, Matalan

Charger Plate, £8, Matalan

Champagne Blush This glamorous colour palette of rose gold and champagne will add a touch of glamour to any décor,

Grape Garland, £75, Amara

Eucalyptus Wreath, £29.99, Dobbies

Pearl Velvet Humming Bird, £9, Ella James

Tree Decoration, £2, Wilko

Leopard Print Bauble, £3, Matalan

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Bunch Grapes, POA, Amara

Glitter Peacock Feather, £1.99, Dobbies

Champagne Flute, £4, Matalan Amara

Floral Stocking, £6, John Lewis

nov20.qxp_Jan 2014 Aff 30/10/2020 18:37 Page 48 Large LED Glass Bauble with Pearls, £30, www.darlighting.co.uk

Baubles (set of 3(, £ , Amara

Mistletoe, £12.50, Hudson Home

Matt Glitter Glass Bauble, £3.99, Dobbies Beaded Snowflake, £6.99, Gisela Graham

Natural Green

Capture a little Scandi hygge, with pale greens and whites, perfect for cosy Festive nights.

Winter Wonderland Wreath, £27.99, www.blossomandbuttercup.co.uk

Mistletoe Garland, £35, John Lewis

Large Pale Green Tree, £27.99.

Gisela Graham

Acorn Hanging Decoration, £4.99, www.blossomandbuttercup.co.uk

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Oak Leaf Crackers (box 6) £36, www.nancyandbetty.com

Clear Glass Bauble Fir & Berries £4.99, The Contemporary Home

Large White Distressed Star, £35, Hudson Home

Embroidered Stocking, £150, Luxdeco Cox & Cox

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Nothing beats a real tree at Christmas. The smell alone conjures up images of mince pies, Christmas stockings and Santa. It is the centrepiece of all your decorations, and no matter what your personal style or interior scheme you can’t beat a real tree, and with a real tree comes a little TLC – We caught up with Samuel Lyle, owner of Pines and Needles, who told us “despite Christmas trees being a long-standing tradition, millions of Britons are still unsure how to look after them.”

With this in mind we asked him to share his top tips with us:

Prepare the trunk - Just before you install your tree, saw off the bottom 1” (3cm) of the trunk.

This creates a fresh cut and opens up the pores in the bark, which otherwise can block up with sap within a few hours of being cut. The tree is then able to drink water through these pores via capillary action. We do this to all our trees so you don’t have to!

Keep it away from any heat sources - Position your Christmas tree away from any heat sources such as radiators and fireplaces.

Heat dries out your tree faster, so the further from potentially damaging heat sources the better, and the fresher your tree will remain.

They need routine - Do not expose your tree to sudden changes in temperature. Trees like most people are creatures of habit and prefer steady conditions.

Water your tree - Place your tree in plain water - not soil or sand which would block the pores in the bark. This is best achieved by using a specially designed Christmas Tree Stand.

Many precious hours can be wasted trying to make a Christmas Tree stand up straight in an ordinary bucket using just bricks or stones!

Then keep on watering it! Keep the Christmas tree stand

A Real Tree

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topped up with water. Your Christmas tree may drink 2-3 pints (1-2 litres) of water per day, depending on its size and your central heating settings. This is very important as once the water level drops below the tree’s trunk, sap will re-seal the bark within a few hours, preventing the tree from drinking any further water even if you then refill the Christmas tree stand.

Timing is everything - These trees are natural living things, and once they are cut they begin to die, sad as this is apart from artificial trees we are still without a solution to this simple fact of life. Time the arrival of your tree with this in mind to increase longevity and get the most out of it.

What About Decorating?

It may sound obvious, but two people are better than one if that's possible - even if it's just for the lights. Lights go on first and it's great if one person can feed them to the other as they wind it round and round, starting at the bottom. Embed the lights in the lush greenery and then move out as you go up.

The heavier the decorations the more you'll need to keep them away from the tips of the branches. Everyone has a different way of decorating but themes look good, whether that's a colour or a certain style such as Scandi (sparse; red and white) or Victorian (wooden decorations, dried fruit, pine cones).

Tinsel has been dying out for a while but ribbon is en vogue but go horizontally rather than at an angle - it's a much cleaner look.

Pines and Needles have a fabulous selection of real Christmas Trees, sustainably grown on their own Scottish Christmas Tree farms. You can take your pick from a range of Nordmann Fir, Non-Drop Christmas Trees or a more traditional and sweet-smelling Norway Spruce Tree, the choice is yours, there’s even artificial trees available for those who prefer not to have a real tree.

For more information, or to view trees, visit wwwpinesandneedles.com

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TRAVEL

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Little Whispers Cabins and Castles is a handpicked collection of holiday homes in and around Sussex and Kent, from beach boltholes on the Sussex coast to hidden lodges in the quintessentially English countryside, Cabins and Castles selects the properties to ensure guests are comfortable in their home away from home.

The holiday homes range from larger family homes to cosy and romantic lodges, cabins and shepherd’s huts. Most recently, Cabins and Castles has welcomed ‘Little Whispers’ to the portfolio, an exquisitely designed, immaculately styled retreat in the South Downs village of Lodsworth, an ideal base to cosy up in front of the fire after a day exploring Cowdray Park, home of the Polo.

Everywhere the host’s brilliant eye for colour and detail is apparent; rich, vibrant Farrow & Ball hues are offset by cool, calm greys and off-whites. The grey Shaker kitchen is accessorised with glamorous gold-toned handles, and the generous, plum-toned sofas – perfect for relaxing in – are dressed with plenty of cushions in complementary

shades, and fluffy throws. Not that you’ll need them, once the cosy wood burner is fired up and roaring.

Little Whispers has been carefully planned with guests’ needs in mind – from the thoughtful selection of cookbooks on the kitchen shelves, luxurious bed linen, selection of books and board games for rainy days, and well-equipped kitchen.

The outside terrace and space is equally dreamy.

Although you are conveniently on the edge of a village, you would never know it – the views are of uninterrupted fields, woods, and over to the South Downs. You may even see some deer grazing in the field below the house on quiet mornings.

Add delicious breakfast supplies (including, by prior arrangement, the owner’s own homemade sourdough!), an excellent village pub just a couple of minutes’ walk away, and all of the beauty of the South Downs on your doorstep – and you may find you never want to leave.

For more information or to book, visit www.cabinsandcastles.co.uk/little-whispers

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Launching This December

Siyam World in the Maldives

un Siyam Resorts, the creators of the five-star multiaward-winning Iru Fushi, have announced a brand-new chapter, with the launch of revolutionary concept resort Siyam World. Truly innovative and unlike anything the Maldives has ever seen, Siyam World will open in December 2020 as the very first multiexperiential resort. Located on a stunning natural island nestled in the Noonu Atoll, encompassing 52 acres of breath-taking wonder, Siyam World is surrounded by a 1.5 km house reef that is teaming with wildlife and a diverse array of aquatic life.

S

WOW! All-Inclusive Plan – The First of its Kind!

Siyam World will revolutionise the all-inclusive option. It’s unique 24-hour WOW! Inclusive Plan is at the core of Siyam World. Present in every detail of the resort, it gives guests the unmissable opportunity to experience the Maldives like never before.

Offering guests an infinite choice of endless dining possibilities.

Guests can take advantage of 12 individual restaurants and bars that enable them to experience an extensive range of the finest international cuisine, from fresh sushi to exquisite Italian and authentic Indian and Maldivian dishes. The culinary concept continues with FRESH – a stylish restaurant that offers guests the opportunity to experience a contemporary menu specialising exclusively in raw and organic food.

Day or night, guests can tantalise their taste-buds with three different pool bars surrounded by lush vegetation and a latenight buffet comprising of unlimited beverages and snacks from across the globe at the main bar. The WOW! all-inclusive dinearound, is a wholly new concept to the Maldives, further enhancing that Siyam World is a luxury resort that innovates and does not imitate!

Endless Possibilities – An Infinite Choice of Accommodation The spirit of the Maldives is prevalent in all of the 12 accommodation categories.

Accommodation sizes range from the generously appointed Beach Villas at 72 sqm with king-sized beds and open-air bathrooms, complete with rain showers. The Deluxe Water Villas with Pool + Slide are 94sqm in size and inject an element of fun into the traditional over-water villas which the Maldives is famed for. Siyam World fuses innovation and excitement to create accommodation like no other. The regal and exceptionally luxurious, The Palace is 1,224 sqm and is uniquely positioned for breath-taking views of the sunset and is located on the beach, just steps from the ocean. The Palace is perfect for celebrating landmark occasions and for once in a lifetime holidays with loved ones. Sleeping up to 18 adults, the six bedrooms, are exceptionally spacious. The Palace has a private pool, separate dining and living areas and dedicated butler service to cater to guests’ every need.

The meticulous design of Siyam World has been created with couples, honeymooners, groups of friends and families with children of all ages in mind. With the opportunity to experience sublime sunset views and peaceful private pools, the accommodation at Siyam World provides the perfect blend of luxury, romance and fun family-friendly options.

All of the villas, suites and residences offer complimentary WiFi, satellite TV, a fully stocked mini-bar, luxury amenities and twice-daily housekeeping facilities.

Spa and Wellness – A Garden to Skin Concept The Sun Spa at Siyam World provides a luxurious tropical sanctuary, complete with 18 treatment rooms, including dedicated couples’ suites and an expansive yoga pavilion. The Sun Spa is the Maldives finest spa and the country’s

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quintessential wellness provider, renowned for its naturally sophisticated spa treatments. Experienced therapists have been carefully chosen from Bali, Thailand and Indonesia to expertly deliver a fusion of Eastern and Western practices from yoga and meditation to Ayurveda, naturopathy and Chinese acupuncture.

Many of the boutique spa experiences at the Sun Spa are developed using local and organic ingredients, several of which are hand-picked from the Sun Spa garden.

The Sun Spa has been designed in harmony with the surroundings and guests can experience the natural beauty of whilst participating in a range of activities, in addition to the extensive treatments including sound bath healing and meditation classes. A series of spa packages ranging from three to seven days offer the ultimate in wellness.

Siyam World – A Natural Island with House Reef Siyam World is situated on a 54-acre natural atoll, rich with wildlife.

The unparalleled WOW! experience offers guests the amazing opportunity to explore every inch of this exotic island: swim freely in harmony with nature on the house-reef, experience the wonder and magic of sunset fishing or take a trip through the celestial heavens with the resident astronomers. It is an exciting new realm that stretches across land, ocean, and sky.

Protecting the natural biodiversity of the atoll is of the utmost importance to Sun Siyam and the dedicated environmentalist ensures that the spectacular surroundings and extraordinary ecosystem are preserved for guests to endlessly enjoy.

Set on a pristine stretch of white sand beach, guests can partake in a wealth of water sports and recreational activities such as paddle boarding or take introductory and advanced courses in diving. With 33 dive sites located around Siyam World. The most spectacular dive sites are all easily accessible. The nearest dive sites take between 15 and 20 minutes by boat with the furthest dive sites taking approximately 45 minutes to reach, depending on weather conditions. The expert dive masters at Siyam World will guide guests to a range of dive sites depending on ability and visibility.

Families – Something for Children of all Ages Traditionally Maldivian resorts have been for couples and honeymooners. Siyam World is for everyone! Children aged from four to 12 will love the dedicated Turtle Kids Village, where the enthralling entertainment and lively daily activities mean that the possibilities are endless, and kids can do it all! Even hard to please teens can play and stay at Siyam World, with an astonishing waterpark – a one-of-a-kind offering in the Maldives!

Guests of Siyam World will have access to the most incredible facilities in the Maldives at their fingertips, from 12 restaurants and bars; an 18 treatment room spa with an extensive range of therapies as well as a wellness centre and yoga platform; an entire village dedicated to kids’ and teens with a diverse and exciting range of activities as well as an SSI dive school.

Getting There Many airlines including British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Gulf Air, Etihad Airways and SWISS International Airlines fly from Manchester, Birmingham, London Gatwick and Heathrow Airports. Prices start from £560.00 per person return. The direct flight time is approximately 10 hours 25 minutes. From Velana International Airport, Male, seaplane transfers can be arranged which take approximately 45 minutes to Siyam World.

Rates Prices start from $603 USD for a Beach Villa per night on WOW! Inclusive for two people. The best available rates for all accommodation are available via the Sun Siyam Resorts website: www.sunsiyam.com

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Wild Wellness

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As international wellness retreats remain limited, stay closer to home this Winter as Gleneagles launches Wild Wellness – a mindful and restorative nature-based wellness programme, set in the wild surrounds of the hotel. Guided by the principle that exposure to nature has significant physical and mental health benefits, the two-day retreat invites guests to reconnect with the natural rhythm of the dramatic Scottish landscape, to nurture mind, body and soul.

Focusing on harnessing nature’s healing powers while combining learnings from both Shinto and western practices, the retreat has been designed to focus on organic mindfulness, with selfconnection to nature as the guiding factor – setting it apart from the traditional guided mediation approach. Here, the Wild Wellness guide will master the skilful balance of providing information and insight, whilst encouraging moments of quiet and contemplation, to enable guests to forge an authentic connection with nature.

Day 1 – Breathing in the Wilderness Once settled at the hotel, the Wild Wellness journey will commence with an introduction to pranayama breathing, known for its power to soothe and revitalise a tired body, in a scenic spot on the Glorious Playground. Led by resident a yoga instructor, guests will learn the basics of primal breath control and its effect on energy, allowing for more opening and presence throughout the retreat. Guests will then be encouraged to adopt this practice throughout the duration of the programme, in different locations and at their own pace, facilitated rather than led by the guide.

An immersive Nature Walk on the estate will follow, incorporating the natural sounds and rhythms of the landscape, with guests given the chance to track and observe local wildlife along the way. For those looking to push their boundaries, the walk culminates with the ancient Japanese ritual of waterfall bathing. As well as purifying the soul, this bracing cold water immersion helps to increase white blood cell count, which in turn boosts the immune system, with benefits further enhanced when combined with the newly learnt breathing practices.

After indulging in a heart-warming supper in The Strathearn, guests will once again be whisked away into the wilderness aboard one of Gleneagles’ bespoke Defenders, for an evening of stargazing under the inky-blue Scottish skies with al-fresco digestifs to reflect on the day’s adventure.

Day 2 – A Mindful Morning in the Mountains The world-famous Gleneagles breakfast provides the ultimate fuel for the full day’s expedition that awaits - summiting the magnificent Ben Vorlich, which provides the most dramatic backdrop to

Loch Earn. Guests will ascend from the beautiful shores of Loch Earn, whose surrounding areas are largely undeveloped and have an open and wild sense of place, to 3,000 ft above sea level.

Regarded as the Gateway to the Highlands, guests will take in spectacular views, before stopping off for a scenic picnic lunch to admire the scenery.

Back at the hotel, guests will retreat to the awardwinning spa for a well-earned aromatherapy massage to help soothe tired limbs.

Day 3 – Embracing Natural Pursuits Drawing on a selection of the country pursuits for which the hotel is renowned, Gleneagles’ Wild Wellness programme will culminate with a morning of fishing, foraging & forest bathing. Set in the calming stillness of the forest and woodlands surrounding Gleneagles’ very own secret Loch, guests will take time to breathe, relax and enjoy an introduction to seasonal foraging be that edible or medicinal – forging a deeper connection with nature and learning about the wild and wonderful flavours in Scotland’s natural larder.

Take a tranquil boat ride on the loch, before enjoying an introduction to the graceful and rhythmic art of fly fishing - a meditative activity that deepens the connection with nature. The retreat concludes with a Forest Bathing session in Torlum Wood, allowing guests to slow down and completely immerse themselves in the tranquil atmosphere. A self-guided audio mediation has been specially curated to offer guests an introduction to the popular Japanese therapy, allowing for a more intimate experience. Inspired by the Japanese art of Shinrin-yoku which draws on the therapeutic powers of nature to reduce stress, the sensory practice imparts a profound sense of peace. Guests will depart Gleneagles focussed and restored, with a newfound sense of inner calm, and with newly learnt holistic practices to better equip them to handle the stresses of everyday life.

The new programme is designed to build upon Gleneagles’ extensive wellness offering. The Gleneagles Spa offers a holistic wellness experience, with 20 treatment rooms, a steam room, a hot sauna cabin, a warm, dark vitality pool, a light-filled relaxation courtyard and a healthy Spa café.

BOOK IT

Wild Wellness at Gleneagles will run on selected dates from October to March 2021. Rates for the package start from £3,280 including VAT and breakfast in October, and from £3,100 from November to March, based on two people sharing a Manor Room for two nights.

For more information, please contact Reservations at resort.sales@gleneagles.com or on 0800 704 705.

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STARS Manish Kumar Arora (K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant) reveals what’s in store for you this month

Scorpio (23 October – 21 November) It will be a month of ups and downs as a conflict between your emotions and your nature will seem very noticeable.

Someone’s tendency to be clingy could bring out the stubborn side of you as you will feel in need of some space and yet later you could find that you’re the one making demands. Take a breather, step back, see what you have to accomplish, and ask yourself what you really want to finish this month.

Favourable Dates: November 2, 5, 11, 14, 20, 23, 29 Favourable Colours: Purple & White

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Sagittarius (22 November - 21 December) Everything you‘ve been working towards is finally shaping up into what you envisioned in the first place. You‘ll find it easier to connect to your intuition or your sixth sense. Any explosion you are headed for will be averted with your natural diplomacy and grace.If you are not already feeling calm and relaxed, don’t worry, you will soon be in situation like that. Your natural flexibility to see the "other side" of the coin would be part of your charm.

Favourable Dates: November 2, 3, 11, 12, 20, 21, 29 Favourable Colours: Red & White Capricorn (22 December – 19 January) You may expect a little windfall, or a lucky break.Luck is on your side. That better opportunity you‘ve been looking for on the career front is finally here. You see yourself in a whole new light, and have discovered areas of yourself that are extraordinary and other parts that are not so great. Goals you‘ve set out to accomplish are becoming easier. Love will be optimistic and relaxed for you so you can concentrate now more on career.

Favourable Dates: November 1, 3, 10, 12, 19, 21, 28 Favourable Colours: Red &Yellow

Aquarius (20 January – 18 February) You show great consideration towards others and are willing to compromise with them in order to build a stronger relationship or partnership. It's a time of celebrations and you may find yourself in groups and organizations. You could actually build a long-term friendship or close connection that could benefit you in many ways. Committed relationships will blossom further. If you are single, make yourself available for romantic liaison. New romance may come soon.

Favourable Dates: November 3, 8, 12, 17, 21, 26 Favourable Colours: White &Yellow

Pisces (19 February – 20 March) Great changes are coming, and will have bearing upon your circumstance. This period marks the conclusion of one phase and the beginning of another. You would be taking initially required steps to begin a new phase of life or career.

Move away from looking at things on a mundane or physical level; try a spiritual viewpoint to help you move ahead. Don’t waste your time with projects which are not worthy of your attention, nor of value to your aspirations.

Favourable Dates: November 1, 8, 10, 17, 19, 26 Favourable Colours: Red &Yellow

Aries (21 March – 19 April) There is a scene of new opportunities and growth and they may come through unexpected resources or connections.

The next four weeks will bring a time for you to connect with friends and like-minded fellows. This may be a time for you to lead a group or branch out on your own. Finances look positive and this could be a time when you may gain financially through a job offer or opportunity to make money.

Favourable Dates: November 4, 7, 13, 16, 22, 25 Favourable Colours: Red & Blue

Taurus (20 April – 20 May) This month will bring a time for you to find and chase love, or spend time with children. It will also be a time for you to focus on a partner including a lover, spouse, friend or employee. It is a great time for you to collaborate and work closely with others to build the project or business venture.

It may bring some light-hearted moments – a new friend is on the horizon, although it’s doubtful you’ll hit it off at first.

Favourable Dates: November 1, 3, 10, 13, 21, 28 Favourable Colours: White &Yellow

Gemini (21 May – 20 June) You can make progress especially if your work has to do with beauty and pleasure or if you use your charm and connections to get where you want to. Besides that, it will take a lot of fight, courage and enterprising spirit, because there will be many obstacles thrown in your way. The month will have strong financial connotations: there will appear a large amount of money or an important investment initiative.

Favourable Dates: November 1, 9, 10, 18, 27, 28 Favourable Colours: Red &Yellow

Cancer (21 June – 22 July) You will be highly motivated and active to get projects done..

Your tone may be a bit aggressive so be careful not to come out to be pushy towards others. The next four weeks may bring a time for you to discuss issues and problems with a friend and lover. Friends from the past may pop up and want to communicate with you. You may run into friends and family through social networks, internet, text messages and phone calls.

Favourable Dates: November 2, 8, 11, 17, 20, 26 Favourable Colours: Blue & Green

Leo (23 July – 22 August) Some illusions and glamorous notions that you have are painfully removed now. You feel inclined to speak to others about your innermost feelings, your past, and other personal subjects, which builds closeness and trust in your relationships, especially with women. You may hear from someone from the past or reach out to someone you have a long history with or who was once very important in your life.

Favourable Dates: November 1, 3, 10, 12, 18, 21, 28 Favourable Colours: Red & White Virgo (23 August – 22 September) This month is all about you and your personal wants and needs. You are about to pay off that large loan or you have managed to save enough money for the large purchase that you have been planning for a while now. The wealth or better finances are on the way. You may collaborate to further your career, finances, education or personal relationships. It is a time for you to receive plenty of praise and attention.

Favourable Dates: November 3, 5, 12, 14, 21, 23, 30 Favourable Colours: Green & White Libra (23 September – 22 October) This period will bring a time for you to gain financially or materialistically through gifts or rewards. It could be that someone lends you money or you gain through a loan or credit card. Also, your sex life will improve at this time. This month will help you to focus on financial and material matters relating to taxes, credit, loans, child support, alimony and any other financial obligations to others or to yourself.

Favourable Dates: November 2, 5, 11, 14, 20, 23, 29 Favourable Colours: Purple & White

manishastroconsultant manish@manishastrologer.com

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Weekend Starts Here....

Under the Mistletoe by Katie Lynn When war comes to Britain, Jessica Wilson and her friend Ruby seize the opportunity to leave behind the orphanage they grew up in and start new lives in the NAAFI. With only forged papers as identification the girls expect to be turned away but are delighted with an offer of work.

For the first time in their lives they experience real independence and it isn’t long before they’re spending their evenings enjoying the delights of Liverpool.

When Jessica meets the handsome Tom, she feels as though her life is complete, but after a chance encounter with a friend, she soon learns that not everything is as it seems.

As Jessica begins to uncover the truth, she unravels a web of lies, starting with the night of her birth . .

Mt Dad’s Christmas Date It’s Christmas and the charming city of York, home to Jules, 16 and her Dad, David is decked out ready for the festive season. In many ways, David and Jules’ relationship is no different from that of most fathers and their sixteen-year-old daughters. He struggles to understand her, she refuses to communicate with him. He wants to be involved in her life, she wants her own space. In one important respect, however, David and Jules share a profound bond: the death of Jules’ mum, and David’s wife, in a car crash two years before. With both struggling to cope with everyday life in the shadow of their loss, Jules, inspired by happy memories of her mom, decides to take matters into her own hands.

Release Date: 6th November

Ava What happens when a hit-man gets too comfortable with a target? A deadly conflict of interest. Ava is lethal. She's an assassin, often sent on high-profile missions. She works for, and takes out, dangerous people. Even more dangerous is her attitude towards the people in her life. When a job takes a turn, Ava is forced to make hard decisions. She must fight for what she believes in - or, she will die trying.

Release Date: 24th November

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PRICELESS

www.affinitymag.co.uk AFFINITY LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

ISSUE 113

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Your must-have Winter Fashion Edit Step into Gift Guides Galore

Don’t hit the snooze button!

We show you a new morning routine

Let’s celebrate

Tried and Tested!

Wines you’ll love this Christmastime

Mouth-watering seasonal recipes for all the family

ISSUE 113

Christmas!

Decor ideas you'll love