Rutland Living March 2011 by Best Local Living

PEOPLE • SHOPPING • FOOD & DRINK • ACTIVITIES

RUTLAND Living

& MARKET HARBOROUGH

Design Solutions Update your home

Motoring

Cross-over cars

Travel

Holiday destinations £1.50 March 2011

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PEOPLE • SHOPPING

WWW.BESTLOCALLIVING.CO.UK

March 6

ave you decided where you’re taking mum this Mothering Sunday, which is actually at the 3rd April this year so plenty of time to plan? It’s always a complicated one for me as what happens to mothers who have mothers? Who is indulged then? The older generation, of course. My mother pretends to find flowers and chocolates too commercial (just to clarify, I don’t!); she’d much rather, “quality time with me”! And quite frankly this is more costly as time is elusive but I did, recently, find a day which we spent together in Market Harborough. We coffeed, shopped and then lunched in my favourite restaurant in Kibworth and it was worth it - so my advice for this mother’s day is to give the gift of time (and a few bouquets of flowers and breakfast in bed just in case!). For another idea, I recently discovered the Garra Rufa Fish Pedicure experience at The Little Therapy Centre on the High Street Oakham – be warned it’s not for everyone as it’s a very strange, but effective, experience with all these fish nibbling at your dead skin. And there are other treatments available including threading, which is a first for Oakham (Tel: 01572 723650). Still not sure then check out pages 22 and 23 for some health and beauty treats or for a something really special what about a surprise holiday? See pages 16 and 17 or visit the website for other ideas.

Abigail Late in: • For something truly sublime that all the family can enjoy this Mothering Sunday, why not visit the daffodils at the gardens at Deene Park? They will be open from March 27th and include lakeside walks with stunning panoramic. (£4 per adult: www. deenepark.com or Tel: 01780 450278 for more details.) • ‘Romeo and Juliet’ with the Clarion Young Singers and Edge Dancers at The Rutland County College Library on ThursdayMarch 17th 7.30pm Free but ticketed call, Tel: 0785 9027341

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Up front – Mini Monsters in Oakham and Jussi in Market Harborough Shops and services – New Art exhibitions from Woodbine and Goldmark Gallery and more Home and garden – Spring cleaning Design solutions – Easy ways to update your home Travel – Holiday destinations Eating out – The Blue Ball, Braunston and Stapleford Park Hotel Food & Drink – Sean Hope’s Kitchen Conﬁdential Health and beauty – Armchair Aerobics! Fashion – Are you ready for the April showers? Titillations – Secrets from a local historic home Motoring – Cross-over cars What’s on in our region? Proﬁle – Peter Jones County Councillor and business guru

19 EATING OUT

22 HEALTH & BEAUTY Editor Abigail Richardson 01572 756733 Local Living Ltd, PO Box 208, Stamford PE9 9FY abigail@bestlocalliving.co.uk Advertisement Manager, Rutland Tracy Watkinson 01572 813187 rutlandliving@btinternet.com Advertisement Manager, Leicestershire Helen Walton 01780 754801 helen.stamford@btopenworld.com Advertising Copy & Subscriptions Rachel Beecroft 01780 765320 rachel@locallivingdesign.co.uk Head of Design Steven Handley steve@locallivingdesign.co.uk Assistant Designer Nik Ellis nik@locallivingdesign.co.uk Publisher Nicholas Rudd-Jones 01780 765571 Email: nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk Printed by Warner’s of Bourne

13 EASY WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR HOME Cover Rutland Living – Many thanks to the Goldmark Gallery for this beautiful Mothering Sunday image by Dora Holzhandler Cover Market Harborough – St Mary’s Place, Market Harborough

Subscriptions – annual rate £20 in the UK, £30 overseas surface mail (including postage). Please write to The Editor, enclosing cheque made payable to Local Living Ltd Or subscribe online at www.bestlocalliving.co.uk

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING March 2011

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Be Inspired! Be Inspired!

Visit us Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, 8 St Mary’s Hill Stamford Lincs PE9 2DP Tel: 01780 767878 www.siriusjewellery.co.uk

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LOCAL NEWS

Upfront What’s new this month

Mini Monsters opens in Oakham Rutland’s ﬁrst and only family entertainment centre, Mini Monsters, is already proving to be hugely popular with parents looking to keep their little ones amused in the wet weather. Having opened in the commercial units in Long Row in December 2010, Mini Monsters is the brain child of Kate and Richard Bingham. Kate told me: “As parents of young children ourselves, we realised that indoor play facilities were really lacking in the area.” Aimed at children up to the age of 11, the centre comprises a three level soft play structure with ball pit and double slide, a whizzer, whirligig tube, body roller, ladders, mazes, climbing nets and biff bags. Additionally, there is a generous sized ball pit and soft play area for babies and toddlers up to the age of two. The lovely bright party room carries on the Mini Monsters theme and entitles the birthday boy or girl and friends to two hours on the play equipment, party food, a cupcake tree and sweetie cones to take home. The menu is reasonably priced and offers good quality home made food with sandwiches, fruit tubs, veg sticks, pasta and yoghurts for the children and jacket potatoes, toasted paninis (red pesto and roasted veg and bacon and brie were two of the tempting ﬁllings on offer) and delicious looking cupcakes for the adults. Kate has also started a programme of events during the week to make it a great place for parents to catch up on a regular basis: “We are doing Story Times, messy play activities, arts and crafts and music sessions to keep the little ones amused. All activities are free to entrants and are led by our experienced and fully trained staff.” • Mini Monsters is open 7 days a week from 9.30am-5.00pm. Contact: Mini Monsters Softplay, Units 1 & 2, Long Row Business Park, Long Row, Oakham, LE15 6LN, Tel: 01572 756811, www.minimonsterssoftplay.com

Local Mum launches children’s furniture collection Mills and Flo has recently launched a beautiful new range of British-made single beds, wardrobes, chests of drawers and bedside tables; designed for boys and girls, toddlers and teens The collection is the brainchild of Stamford-based Claire Hall, 37, who has designed all the pieces drawing inspiration from her own two children as well as input from other Mums, interior designers and also contemporary craftsmen. In establishing Mills and Flo, Claire’s wanted to develop an exclusive range of simple, classic bedroom furniture at an affordable price which was made in the UK. All her children’s furniture is constructed at a joinery workshop in Bourne, Lincolnshire. It is built to last as the child grows. A special “Make it Personal” service is offered on all pieces of Mills and Flo furniture to give customers a chance to create a perfect living space for their child, without the price tag of a custom product. The collection is available in a choice of four house colours from the Farrow and Ball colour palette and the furniture comes with the option of a star or heart cut-out, as well as glass, wooden or ceramic door knobs. Mills and Flo will deliver within three weeks of ordering. Furniture is delivered fully assembled, with the exception of the bed, which will be assembled by the delivery drivers. • Take a look at the website for details on the fantastic launch offer available now. www. millsandflo.co.uk info@millsandflo.co.uk Tel: 01780 470552 Mob: 07970 280565; or you will find them at the NCT Parenting and Baby Show on the 5th February at the Stamford Junior School, from 10am - 3pm.

Jussi, Market Harborough Jussi has been attracting lots of attention since opening in Adam and Eve Street recently. With its eye-catching presentation and emphasis on quality and creativity, the shop is a refreshingly adventurous blend of home and fashion accessories. Owners Bob and Julie Murray have obviously sourced their stock with great care. Their eclectic mix includes leather satchels by Barbara Wiggins, hand-crafted jewellery, Geodesis home fragrances, luxurious throws and Fog Linen Works’ ultra-chic Japanese collection. Julie says, of the Harborough experience so far, “It’s been very encouraging. It’s thrilling when customers say appreciative things about the shop, and selling products that you like yourself is a tremendous pleasure.” So what of the future for Jussi? Spring will be an exciting time - look out especially for the fabulous new French-designed silk and linen scarves coming soon.

Top tips for safe running... Whether you are training for the marathon or jogging round the park, Woodlands hospital can keep you safe • Warm up, stretch before and after training • Run at a conversational pace • Get the right footwear. John Chadwick, podiatrist at the Woodland Hospital can analyse your gait and running stance. • Plan your diet and stick to it. Avoid fatty food but take plenty of carbohydrates. Drink plenty of ﬂuids; a pint of water an hour before you run, and half a pint for every 30 minutes of running.

What causes running injuries? Many injuries are caused by inconsistent training, it is vital not to miss several days and then dive straight back into training, build mileage not more than 10% a week. Don’t do two hard workouts back to back, listen to your body and don’t be a slave to ﬁtness. If you suspect you have an injury, begin a preventative rehabilitation program to keep the damage to a minimum. Continuing to run will only slow down the recovery process or even make the injury more serious. In addition, by favouring the injury and altering your natural running style, a secondary injury may develop. There are several therapeutic measures you can take to recover from stressful runs massage therapy is great after a long run. And ﬁnally, get lots of rest in between your long runs and make sure you get about eight hours sleep. • To book a pre-running assessment please contact the Woodland Hospital on Tel: 01536 536814.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING March 2011

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Oak House Residential Care Home for the Elderly

• Care home providing high quality care in comfortable ‘home from home’ surroundings • Dedicated ground floor respite care room/trial visit room, with en-suite available now, rate £575.00 per week. • Day care now available, to include all meals and bathing service, from £40 per day • Rated ‘Excellent’ by the CQC - see our Inspection Reports online at www.CQC.org.uk • Oak House prides itself on offering high quality care in a pleasant friendly home environment • Room rates from £525 to £650 per week

newly refurbished room with en-suite available soon To request a brochure or for more information

please telephone us on 01572 812647 or e-mail us on dcw@oakhouse28.fsnet.co.uk

www.oakhouse-carehome.co.uk Pond Lane, Greetham, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 7NW

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LOCAL NEWS

Upfront

Woodbine Contemporary Arts presents Loic Gesnouin Born in Normandy in 1960, Loïc Gesnouin decided to make painting his vocation following a meeting with the French seascape painter Marin Marie. Inspired by Vivaldi, Beethoven and the cellist Rostropovich, LoÎc works in oils applying his paint as if one with the music, sometimes with violence, sometimes with sensuality, using both brush and palette knife to create a rich and multi layered painting. Loïc Gesnouin has exhibited regularly and to great acclaim in the salons of his native Normandy. His work has featured in the Paris Salon and in 2000 was selected for the Paris section of the Peking Salon. He ﬁrst showed with Woodbine Contemporary Arts in the autumn of 2010 at the London Affordable Art Fair, where his work proved to be one of the major sellers. • This February Liz and Rowan returned to Normandy to collect new paintings which will feature in an exhibition of his work this month, until March 19th. Open: Thursday, Friday, Saturday 11.30 - 5.00, www. woodbinecontemporaryarts.co.uk

Ski Preparation Class Not being in shape can put a huge damper on your day of skiing. Preparing yourself physically as best you can before skiing can make your ski trip that much more enjoyable and can save you a lot of pain. As a keen skier herself, Judith Ewing has started a ski preparation class at Barnsdale Hall Hotel. The class contains strengthening exercises for the legs, core stability exercises and strength work for the biceps and triceps as well as a short cardio vascular section to get your heart rate elevated ready fro the mountain air! • No need to book, just turn up. Class price £4 per person. The class will run to Tuesday 19th April Visit www.judithewingﬁtness.com for a listing of all classes or call Tel: 07771 866123

Dora Holzhandler at the Goldmark Gallery Goldmark Art Gallery is very proud to announce the charismatic octogenarian’s forthcoming exhibition which runs from 26 March to 22 April 2011. Marvelous new oils and watercolours alongside older works will showcase the artist’s “naïve”, richly decorative style of painting which has courted controversy in some circles (her 1971 portrait of the Queen), whilst earning her legions of fans over the decades. You may not know her name, but you will certainly recognise her work. Dora draws inspiration from both the mundane and the mystical aspects of Jewish life with palpable tenderness. Her family emigrated from Warsaw via France to finally settle in Dalston, London in 1934. Her beloved maternal grandfather who remained in Paris was killed at Auschwitz. Since the 1950s, her love of Buddhism has strongly influenced her painting both in subject matter, symbolism and artistic traditions. That Dora Holzhandler continues to command attention in the art world at 82 is a testament to her tenacity, but also to her widespread appeal across all ages. She is a wonderfully original pattern-maker, whose captivating figurative scenes of familial love or gentle eroticism are regularly reproduced in the media and in publications throughout the world. She has donated her charming life-affirming paintings to UNICEF for their greetings cards and diaries for many years. This new exhibition at the Goldmark Gallery celebrates the unique talents of a national treasure whose timeless paintings tell us as much about modern life today as they have done over the last 60 years. • 26 March – 22 April 2011 Free entry. Goldmark Gallery, Uppingham, Rutland. Tel: 01572 821424. Open Monday to Saturday 9.30-5.30, Sunday and Bank Holidays 2.30-5.30, www.goldmarkart.com RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING March 2011

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HOME & GARDEN

Spring Cleaning Time to sweep away the cobwebs and reveal a clean and clutter free home – it’s a dirty job so why not let the local professionals lend a hand?

usan Garon operates a franchise in the Market Harborough area on behalf of Molly Maid, a professional and personalised cleaning company. “We provide a uniformed, fully insured, two member team plus all the necessary equipment and supplies to clean your home. We carry out a free in-home estimate so you can tell us what you want us to do and we do our best to achieve it.” A typical clean includes: Floors: Wash and/ or vacuum throughout Kitchen: Clean work surfaces, dust and wipe appliances, wipe clean cupboard fronts and wash floors. Bathrooms: Thoroughly clean sinks, baths, toilets and wipe counters. All rooms: Clean and dust skirting boards, pictures, lampshades, knick-knacks, window sills, furniture, and light fittings, and vacuum throughout. Merry Maids of Rutland is a franchise owned and operated by Nicholas and Amanda Beaumont who currently clean around 250 homes per month on a regular basis. “We provide customised regular cleans, weekly, bi weekly, four weekly or one-off specials. Each home is custom priced in the presence of the homeowner and costs vary depending on location, size of home, condition of home and frequency of cleaning schedule. You can count on us to be there to clean your home as scheduled every time.” Rutland’s Home Straight – a popular independent housekeeping company has customers ranging from busy Mums to working couples and specialise in providing help at home for elderly clients who need a hand to keep on top of things. In addition to cleaning they run errands and undertake other chores. “Sometimes it’s just time and a chat that is required,” says owner, Georgie Rockman. “Our success relies on the impeccable work ethic of our team; housekeepers build a close and trusting relationship with customers which we all appreciate.” Before a thorough spring clean or preparing houses for sale, a major de-clutter is recommended. If you have goods or furniture that you want out of the way but not gone forever, try Rutland Self Store who provide secure and accessible storage for a huge variety of needs. Rates are pay as you go and from as little as £17 per week. Let in the light with gleaming windows courtesy of local firm C More Clear who provide window and UPVC cleaning, patio pressure washing, roof, walls and gutter cleaning in the Rutland and Stamford area. Freshen floors and upholstery with All Seasons Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners – a family run business for over twenty years offering a unique service in Rutland “We are the only truck mounted system in Rutland which offers a superior service and superb results.”

A professional clean once or twice a year makes a huge difference to the performance and longevity of your oven. Eddie Lowe of Sparkle Oven Cleaners guarantees a gleam using only non caustic substances in your home. “We clean all kinds of cookers, commercial and domestic, including Agas, Ranges, ovens, hobs, microwaves and extractors. We supply and replace oven bulbs, door seals, filters and other cooker parts.” According to the National Association of Chimney Sweeps, a clean chimney is a safer chimney. Peter Rowell’s company Glo More Ltd is a member of the Association which operates to a strict Code of Practice and provides professional chimney sweeping as well as technical expertise for the safe operation and maintenance of chimneys, appliances and the installation of flue systems.

Sparkle Oven Cleaners Tel: 01536 760268/07971 825745 Susan Garon, Molly Maid Market Harborough Tel: 01858 439925 www.mollymaid.co.uk

Directory: All Seasons Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners Tel: 01572 737238/07885 269883 C More Clear Tel: 01780 489339 Glo More Tel: 0781 7364283 Home Straight, Georgie Rockman Tel: 01572 722590 www.home-straight.co.uk Merry Maids of Rutland, Nick and Amanda Beaumont Tel: 08000 855632 www.merrymaids.co.uk Rutland Self Store, Robert Mills Tel: 01780 460465 www.rutlandselfstore.co.uk

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING March 2011

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Trust the domestic cleaning experts at MOLLY MAID

Merry Maids of Rutland Domestic cleaning experts • Regular & one off cleaning services • Weekly, fortnightly or every four weeks • Thorough clean every time • Customised to meet your needs • Satisfaction guaranteed

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Opening hours: Monday: 9am - 4pm, Tuesday: 9am - 4pm Friday: 9am - 4pm, Saturday: 9am - 12.30pm And by Appointment.

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Traditional Restoration Timber Renovation Specialists Old sash & casement windows, exterior doors & joinery

Why replace your timber windows when you can restore? Traditional Restoration offers a cost-saving alternative to window replacement. Also: • Repairs and renovations • Overhaul and draught proofing • Reglazing and reputtying For a free, no obligation estimate please call James on:

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Ceramics, mosaics, glass, porcelain orcelain and natural stone Karndean floor coveringss Underfloor heating Bespoke glass splashbacks Complete omplete design & tiling service

Oakham Oriental Rugs Hundreds of fine hand-knotted rugs from all over the world

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DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Easy ways to update your home Michelle Hansel receives inspiration from local interior design and lifestyle specialists on quick and easy ways to add that special decorative touch to your home Heatsource

Uppingham Carpet Company

Source unique pieces of furniture For something special and unique Hirst and Hirst in Oakham can provide locally sourced one off pieces that will add that perfect finishing touch to your home. Choose from stand out pieces such as a Black and Grey Union Jack acrylic table or home furnishings by well known designers such as Snowdon Flood. Check out decorative art and new cool wall stickers for teenage boys bedrooms; these can transform the décor of a room with little effort and no preparation or clean up! Get made to measure window decorations Julie at Kingfisher Curtains believes that simple touches such as new pelmets and trims can add a touch of elegance to a tired room or if you do want something completely different, why not ask her to make you some new curtains from scratch?

Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors

Just choose your fabric and call to discuss requirements. Alternatively, Caroline Everard at Curtains Complete has a wonderful showroom full of every variety of nearly new curtains including designer curtains that are significantly reduced in price. Countesthorpe Blinds cover the whole of Leicestershire and bordering counties and have been in the blind trade since 1987. They specialise in all shaped conservatory roof blinds, patio awnings and Plantation Shutters and also have a full range of blinds to complement any room in the home. Contact them for more information and a no obligation quotation. For bespoke plantation shutters Rutland Shutters can provide a service that covers the whole of the East Midlands and beyond providing shutters for every room in the house. Lift a room with sumptuous fabrics At Hunters you will find an extensive range of fabrics, wallpaper, soft furnishings and furniture, which instantly add a blend of elegance and contemporary styling to your home. From refreshing existing décor to complete overhauls, Hunters is able to offer a complete interior design service. Add an extension to your home Natural Structures design and build oak framed buildings to clients’ specific needs, including complete homes, extensions, garden rooms and home offices. Oak is a versatile material, rich in character and sits well with all other building materials. Building with oak 2

Continued on page 14

Go for seasonal bright colours and florals The easiest way to add simple decorative touches to your home is to use accessories and soft furnishings including cushions, throws and rugs to add colour, texture and depth to any room. This concept can be seen through Missoni products now being stocked at Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors as well as through accessory companies such as Pip Studio, also featured in store. Often they use a mix and match concept with layered patterns with a keen eye for tiny details and special finishing touches combined with a subtle colour pallet. Bright floral colours that are vibrant and strong are seen as key this season and are available in fabrics, furniture and accessories. At Sarah Harding Interiors you will find an array of gorgeous accessories for the home including Cath Kidston products certain to brighten up anyone’s home. You will be bowled over by the beautiful fabrics, with gorgeous linens by Lewis and Wood, printed with bright colours on both sides and perfect for curtains and cushions. For deliciously rich textures and bold colours then velvets by Joseph will be hard to beat really making a statement when used in upholstery.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING March 2011

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DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Continued from page 13

2 brings life into the interior space as well as beauty to the exterior. Brown and Jones specialise in a range of traditional designed bespoke building work and interior design. Their advice for creating individual style is, “Take time and build your own mood boards, as pictures can tell a thousand words. Choose a contractor who brings imagination to the table and can show you some of his works. Pricing is also important, detailed costings can prevent problems later and try not to change designs after you have started works.”

and lifestyle. Alternatively, you could view their range of designer and traditional cast iron radiators and homemade stone fireplaces and surrounds.

Add texture with carpets and rugs Sisal Flooring from the Uppingham Carpet Company is a great option for areas that need sprucing up. Sisal is extracted from the Agave Sisalana plant, which is farmed in Mexico, Brazil and East Africa. This natural fibre flooring is versatile and hardwearing making it an ideal choice for hallways and stairs. Tightly woven with a subtle sheen, the natural fibres combine well with selected Update your kitchen colours for a touch of Martins of Harborough easy glamour. Oakham has recently launched Oriental Rugs provides an Ivory Chamfered an extensive range Shaker kitchen. This to peruse in stylish kitchen is their showroom a painted timber and supply Shaker with a contemporary as chamfered design well as traditional and is versatile styles in various enough to be shapes and designed as both sizes. If you have a modern and something specific traditional kitchen. in mind and can’t Giving your kitchen find it in the shop a facelift has never just ask and most been so easy and will Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors styles, be it modern, save you £1000s when ornate or traditional, can comparing it to installing be sourced through their a brand new kitchen. From various contacts and suppliers. electrics to tiling DreamDoors can undertake all aspects of an update using Transform a space with tiles professional local tradesmen. If you need an Brand new from Decorum, and hand painted instant elegant storage solution than The Real in England by their studio team, are beautiful Kitchen Company could have the answer. The hand painted tile ranges from The Rutland Tile Chichester Grand Larder is a prime example of Gallery. They are able to undertake almost any Neptune’s philosophy to design furniture that commission for customers however unusual combines form and function whilst using only the subject or source, however large or small, the finest materials and true craftsmanship. and can offer this service on a wide choice of The Chichester Grand Larder is in every sense a base tiles. Included in their new hand painted magnificent piece of furniture. range are Dotty Mixtures which are designed to blend with the new generation of AGA stoves, Modernise your heating hand painted using a soft pallet of colours that With the regular arrival of new ranges of stoves can be mixed and matched to create a fun many of which are exclusive to premier dealers, and stylish finish. Alternatively mix and match you must make sure you visit the Heatsource teapots, cup cakes, tea cups and sugar bowl showroom and see for yourself. You can select decors from the Tea Time collection. size, colour, finish and style to suit your home

The Real Kitchen Company

Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors Directory: Rutland Tile Gallery, 14 Midland Court, Station Approach, Oakham, LE15 6RA, Tel: 01572 722500, info@rutlandtilegallery. co.uk, www.rutlandtilegallery.co.uk Martins of Harborough, 6 Northampton Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9HE, Tel: 01858 468683, www.martinsofharborough.co.uk Hunters Interiors Ltd, The Dairy, Copthill Farm, Deeping Road, Uffington, Stamford, Lincs, PE9 4TD, Tel: 01780 757946 The Real Kitchen Company, 29a High Street East, Uppingham, Rutland, LE15 9PY. Tel: 01572 823187, www.realkitchencompany.co.uk Dream Doors, 4 Adam & Eve Street, Market Harborough, Tel: 01858 419914, www.dreamdoorsltd.co.uk Sarah Harding Interiors, 27 High Street East, Uppingham, Rutland, LE15 9PY, Tel: 01572 823389, www.sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk Heatsource of Uppingham, 35 High Street East, Uppingham, Rutland, LE15 9PY. Tel: 01572 829953, Email: enquiries@ heatsource-of-uppingham.co.uk, www.heatsource-of-uppingham.co.uk Uppingham Carpet Company, 24 High Street East, Uppingham, Tel: 01572 821581 Rutland Shutters, Tel: 01664 474013, www.rutlandshutters.co.uk Countesthorpe Blinds, Tel: 0116 277 6749, www.countesthorpe-blinds.co.uk Kingfisher Curtains, 4 Kingfisher Close, Oakham, LE15 6ER, Tel: 01572 757893 Curtains Complete, The Hall, Back Lane, East Farndon, nr Market Harborough, LE16 9SE, Tel: 01858 466671 Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors, 27 Mill Street, Tel: 01572 722345 and 1 South Street, Tel: 01572 759185, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6EA, www.elizabethstanhope.co.uk Oakham Oriental Rugs, 6-7 The Maltings, Mill Street, Oakham, Tel: 01572 724441, www.oakhamorientalrugs.co.uk Hirst & Hirst Living, 18 Church Street, Oakham Tel: 07912 408636 Brown and Jones Ltd, The Old School House, Manton Road, Edith Weston, Rutland, Tel: 01780 729027, www.brownandjones.co.uk Natural Structures, 2 Fir Tree Walk, Market Harborough, LE16 7AE, Tel: 07976 557 or 01858 445401, www.natural-structures.co.uk

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TRAVEL

We’re all going on a lovely holiday… If there’s one thing guaranteed to put a smile on my face, it’s booking my eagerly awaited yearly trip abroad. But where to go? With last minute holiday bargains a distant memory, the advice is to book early to get the best deals. So whether you’re a sun seeker (like me), a snow queen or an action adventurer, your dream holiday is out there, just waiting to be booked…. A FAMILY FAVOURITE: When booking a holiday for a family with older children, you need to ensure there’s enough to keep the teens entertained as well as ensure the adults get some much deserved relaxation time. Paula Cockcroft is the Director of Oundle Travel and offers two very different family friendly holidays: GREAT VALUE: “A great value holiday which sold extremely well for us last year was Obidos on the west coast of Portugal. Praia de Rey is a 600 acre resort set on the cliff tops overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, with a 5* Marriott Resort at the centre, plus a fabulous 18 hole Golf Course and pretty bars and restaurants.The beauty of this holiday is the short flight into Lisbon, the freedom of a car collected at the airport and a superbly appointed Townhouse. It costs from £1200.00 per family of four for a week in July 2011 – excluding flights and car hire.” BLOW THE BUDGET: “A Family Adventure to Guatemala & Belize – this is a wonderfully varied and exciting holiday to two small neighbouring countries of distinctive different character. Guatemala is the true heart of Central America, where the amazing landscapes include volcanoes, azure lakes and towering lost cities. Belize has a Caribbean feel and a supremely laid back English speaking population. It offers jungle adventures and white sandy beaches, plus wonderfully rich marine life on the world’s second largest barrier reef. This trip costs from £2475.00 per adult & £1395.00 per child.” GREAT GET-TOGETHERS: A coach holiday can be a great way for groups of friends to enjoy spending time together. Shaws Coaches offers a door-to-door service which is perfect for those who like to keep personal travelling time to a minimum. Jane Duffelen recommends two of the best: GREAT VALUE: “‘Wales on Rails’ is a super

holiday for people who don’t have a huge budget, but still want to get away. See the spectacular Snowdon mountain scenery by coach and rail travelling on some of Wales’ great little trains – no two are the same and they all offer a unique experience of a bygone era. Their special attraction lies in their modest size and leisurely speed, allowing plenty of time to take in the superb scenery through which they pass and is particularly good value at £350 per person, including free travel insurance and our Door-2-Door service.” BLOW THE BUDGET: The Grand European Tour. “Our journey ‘Behind the Iron Curtain’ is not so much a holiday, but more a voyage of discovery on a tour which takes in France, Holland, Germany, Poland and Belgium and includes a 2 night stay in Berlin, a visit to Auschwitz and sightseeing tours to Krakow and Dresden. For £975 per person, we include half board accommodation, free travel insurance and our Door-2-Door service.”

accommodation, which includes breakfast, afternoon tea and a three course evening meal with wine. On 19th March with flights from Gatwick the price is now just £499.00 pp down from £739.00 pp.” BLOW THE BUDGET: Out of all the world’s must luxurious ski hotels, Ischgl’s 5* superior Trofana Royal has to be the best. The ‘Trof’ sits elegantly poised on the quieter pedestrianised side of the resort and just a few yards away from the Silvrettabahn gondola. A 7-night stay here isn’t going to be cheap (around £1900.00 pp for half board in a double room excluding flights and transfers during March), however, it will be very memorable. With over 220kms of snow-sure skiing and one of the world’s best lift networks, Ischgl is an intermediate skiers paradise. Oh, and did I mention the nightlife? Ischgl is party town central and the wildest ski resort in the alps, making it perfect for an adult orientated winter break.”

ON THE PISTE: Not everyone likes sipping cocktails by the pool so if you’re after a bit more action from your holiday, a ski-ing break is great. Nick from Snow Finders tells me about a family holiday option and the ultimate get-away for a couple: GREAT VALUE: “Nestled amongst the pine trees in the Les Arcs ski domain lie the twin villages of Peisey-Vallandry which provide a safe environment for a perfect winter break. The ski schools are well championed, none more so than the award winning British ski school of ‘New Generation’. Accommodation is Bouc Blanc, a chocolate box free standing chalet providing 7 nights catered

GUIDED TOURS: An escorted tour is perfect for those who really want to see the heart of a destination with an expert who can show and tell them everything they need to know. Marina Boor from Travelsphere suggests Paris as the place to go for a romantic getaway without breaking the bank: GREAT VALUE: “With its seductive architecture, superb shopping, delicious gastronomic delights and a vibrant night life, the French capital has the winning formula for a fabulous break at any time of the year. From just £149 per person, the 4 day break includes the services of the Travelsphere Tour Manager, return travel by air-conditioned

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executive coach, Channel crossings by ferry or Eurotunnel and 3 nights B&B. Optional excursions include the Capital tour, Paris by night & Montparnasse Tower.” BLOW THE BUDGET: “For couples with a bigger budget, the Polar Bear adventure is the trip of a lifetime. Travel to the remote wilderness of northern Manitoba and be one of the few who have witnessed the majestic and endangered ‘Lords of the Arctic’ in their natural environment. Holidaymakers will stay in the Bear Country Inn in Churchill for 3 nights, located on the main street which offers a cosy atmosphere, friendly service and comfortable accommodation. This is followed by 2 nights at the historic Fort Gary Hotel in Winnipeg and 2 nights at the Delta Chelsea Hotel in Toronto.” FUN FOR LITTLE ONES: For a family with young children, an easy to reach destination and a home from home experience are the best options for a stressfree break. Jacki Brand from Meadows World Travel found some great breaks to keep little ones entertained: GREAT VALUE: “Keycamp holidays are great value for larger families and the Le Clarys Plage campsite in the Northern Vendee in France is perfect for family friendly fun. The well equipped campsite has a variety of kids clubs, an indoor pool and a nearby sandy beach. Prices for 10 nights in a Villa Nova mobile home

in August costs from just £1375 for 2 adults and up to 4 children (aged up to 17 years). A ferry crossing from Dover to Calais costs just £34.00 extra – excellent value in the school summer holidays for a large family.” BLOW THE BUDGET: For slightly older children who can travel further afield, an escorted 12 day trip to Vietnam offers a truly authentic experience. First stop; Hanoi where you will meet the other families who will join you on this great adventure. Highlights of the trip include a boat cruise, visits to historic landmarks and the chance to get a taste of real Vietnamese life when you join a local family on their fishing trip. With economy flights from Heathrow, this amazing experience costs just under £11,000 this August (£19,000 for Business Class flights).”

CALL OF THE WILD: Honeymooners who don’t fancy lazing around on a sun-drenched beach for two weeks will love the excitement a safari holiday can provide. Adventure Wild Safaris is a locally based company, which offers tailor made itineraries to Africa including Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. The holidays are centered around being in vast wilderness areas with great wildlife experiences and offering opportunities to walk, canoe, mountain bike, horse ride, quad bike, game drive, sleep under the stars and learn of local African cultures all within pristine wilderness areas. Manger Nigel Robey told me: “Safari itineraries are tailor made to you, your expectations, wishes and budget. Chill out in amazing bush luxury and be pampered or get involved and adventurous - the choice is yours. With over 20 years experience working on the ground in the safari industry in Africa - we are well versed in all aspects of Safari.”

Directory: Oundle Travel Limited, Market Place, Oundle, Peterborough, Cambs, PE8 4EA, Tel: 01832 273600, www.oundletravel.co.uk Shaws Coaches, 49 High Street, Maxey, Peterborough, PE6 9EF, Tel: 01778 342224, www.shawscoaches.co.uk Snow Finders, Aspen House, 12 Kings Head Place, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 7JT, Tel: 01858 46688, www.snowfinders.co.uk Travelsphere, Page & Moy Travel Group Limited, Compass House, Rockingham Road, Market Harborough, LE16 7QD, Tel: 0844 567 9959, www.travelsphere.co.uk Meadows World Travel, 2 Barleythorpe Rd, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6NR, Tel: 01572 770330 Adventure Wild Safaris, Oakham, Rutland, Tel: 07927 534647 RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING March 2011

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Firenze Menu Mercato for £11 1 course Boboli Prezzo Fisso for £11 2 course Offer only available with this ad. Call or see web sites for more details & conditions.

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FOOD & DRINK

Abigail Richardson is indulged once again and can honestly recommend both:

The Blue Ball, Braunston

and Stapleford Park Hotel

s loyal readers will know, I always rave about the Blue Ball and with a new chef at the helm I simply have to give it another mention. Pete and I went for a romantic dinner á deux and, as usual, shared a combination of starters, main courses and a dessert. I do recommend this approach as there are three menus to choose from and a lunch for less offer this month too. We had Seared king scallops, served with minted pea puree and lemon herb oil (£7.95). I always choose scallops if on a menu and these did not disappoint. They were huge, yet delicate and beautifully complemented by the very tangy pea puree. We then tried the homemade Crayfish ravioli, served with roasted pepper coulis and tomato jelly (£7.95). Both dishes could have been from the Master Chef Final (is that a compliment? – I hope so); they were exquisite in presentation with that nouvelle cuisine elegance. And tasty too. Honey Marinated breast of duck, served with confit leg meat, fondant potato and redcurrant (£16.95) followed. Truly melt in the mouth and Pete devoured the lot as I indulged in more homemade bread – naughty. Dessert was a trio of white and dark chocolate and utterly divine, ideal to share as it was rich and probably best accompanied by coffee, although I have to admit I had wine- well why not Dominic stocks my favourite French Gros Manseng! From plenty of experience, I can recommend the Bar menu which is equally good to share, particularly the platters: Italian, for meat eaters, with an array of salami, chorizo, Parma ham and Italian cheeses all for £9.95 and truly plenty for two. Or my favourite: Tiger prawn, avocado, smoked bacon and jalapeno salad also at £9.95 but have this to yourself! I haven’t tried the lunch for less; as you’ll see I’ve been busy dining elsewhere this month, but it looks a steal at £14.95 for two courses and includes the Tiger prawns in a sweet chilli, light soy and ginger sauce as a starter and Baked fillet of hake with red pesto, Parma ham and cherry tomato compote or steak with onions and Stilton as some of the main choices. • Do book as weekends get very busy. The Blue Ball, Cedar Street, Braunston Tel: 01572 722135

elen and I met Rebecca for a business lunch at Stapleford Park where we indulged in the new House Menu. Always one for adventure, I suggested we let recently promoted head chef, David Ellams, choose our lunch. It’s quite exciting not knowing what you’re going to be served, so I restrained myself from eating the whole basket of handmade breads, which were beautiful. Out came a wild mushroom and tarragon soup (£5.95), which Helen chose, declaring it to be delightful and filling with an enjoyable, yet unusual texture. I had the oak smoked salmon with watercress and lemon and caper dressing (£11.25). Again very substantial, the salmon was succulent and very tasty. Rebecca was left to the remarkable looking Rustic free range pork terrine, sour dough and pear chutney (£8.95). There was nothing rustic about it- elegant and delicate in taste. All three were a celebration for many senses: sight, smell and taste. Mains were an Open lasagne of wild mushrooms and spinach with parmesan crisp (£12.95), Spiced Pork belly, bok choi, spring onion and ginger jus (£16.25) and Pan friend halibut, sautéed potatoes, parsley and brown shrimp butter (£17.95). The portions are very generous and I think, for lunch, one course would suffice –so great value for money! And this menu is on offer in the evening too. Long gone are the days when Stapleford seemed to price themselves out of the market. The dining room was traditionally set and very elegant, but it was busy with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. I had the pork and it was melt in the mouth and so unusual with the ginger jus- fabulous! Dessert with 3 spoons please! Cappuccino brulee, coffee sabayon- I am not a pudding person but this was so different from anything I’ve had before and not at all sweet- unlike the petit fours that followed, which were totally unnecessary but couldn’t be resisted and proved a wonderful accompaniment to the bitter black coffee. I have dared to take Luc on one occasion recently and, I have to say, we were made most welcome, with games for the kids and no raised eyebrows as he “explored” the drawing room – so family friendly it is with a menu to cater for the ‘younger appetite’ and, again, well priced with mains at £7.50. • Stapleford Park, Stapleford, Nr. Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 2EF, Tel: 01572 787000, www.staplefordpark.com

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH Living March 2011

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SEAN’S KITCHEN

NEW SERI ES CONFIDENTIAL

Lovely leeks In the ﬁrst in a new series focusing on ﬂavour combinations, Sean Hope of the Olive Branch showcases the humble leek

Sean’s quickﬁ re recipe

Bla ck pu dding a n d lee k pattie s

Makes two pa tties • 2 tbs choppe d blanched leek • 2 tbs mashed potato • 1/2 Grasmere Farm black pudding • 1 tsp English mustard • Seasoned ﬂou r Combined the ingredients an d form into patti es. Pan-fry for two minutes either side. Serve with salad leaves an d fruity brown sauce.

n culinary terms, our Welsh friends have chosen the best national emblem by far. The leek is a fine vegetable, being versatile and packed with taste yet subtler and sweeter in flavour than its close relatives, garlic and onion. Leeks are a joy to cook with, combining with several ingredients to create some truly classic flavours. To top it all, leeks are practical – they have a long season and thrive in dismal, damp conditions. Perfect for Britain. Leek season starts as early as August but they are at their best during the depths of winter, with March being the last month in which you can enjoy them at their best. With St David’s Day falling on March 1 every year, you’ve got a good excuse to enjoy them. Leeks are at the heart of some great flavour combinations that I’d encourage you to experiment with. Classically, they go well with chicken, as proven by cock-a-leekie soup (leeks, prunes – yes prunes – chicken stock, rice, seasoning and parsley). They’re also in their elements when teamed up with bacon and potatoes. Slightly less well known is their complementary effect on black pudding (see my quick and easy recipe opposite).

Did you know? Wild leeks are also known as ramps.

Other leek combinations to try: • Oily ﬁsh goes perfectly with leeks • Leek and beetroot (leeks counteract beetroot’s sweetness) • Ham and leek suet pudding • Leeks in a good, honest steak pie

Sean’s seasonal must-buys for March What Sean will be cooking with at the Olive Branch and Red Lion MEAT Spring lamb – heralding the start of spring Beef – my favourite cut is ribeye from the Longhorn breed VEG Purple sprouting broccoli – the ﬁrst veg of spring Leeks – enjoy them while they’re still at their best

Sean’s kitchen tips My current kitchen favourite is my cast iron pestle and mortar by Typhoon. You can get them for around £20. They’re incredibly hardwearing and will last a lifetime. If you drop it on the ﬂoor it won’t break, but it might break your foot. It’s brilliant for mashing up ingredients and mixing ﬂavours – an absolute must.

FRUIT Forced rhubarb – a beautiful shot of tart freshness

8 NENE 20 RUTLAND VALLEY & MARKET LIVING July HARBOROUGH 2008 LIVING March 2011

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• RL March ADS.indd 21

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Health and Beauty

Armchair Aerobics!

It’s not always possible to join a gym, so make the most of maximising your fitness time at home. Catherine Batkin talks to some local experts to find out how you can incorporate healthy living and exercise into your daily routine for a happy and healthy 2011 EAT YOUR WAY TO BETTER HEALTH Sophie Driver is an experienced nutritionist who works at The Broad Street Practice in Stamford. She offers some advice for people wanting to get back into shape after the winter months: “Spring is in the air but many of us may still be feeling the effects of winter in the form of extra weight, lack of energy and poor skin. We all know that too much alcohol, caffeine and junk food makes us feel sluggish and tired, but can we reverse the process and help improve energy, skin, weight and mood by changing what we eat? Yes we can! • A detox programme could give you the boost you need to start feeling cleaner, brighter and more energised. Eating the best cleansing foods for your body such as fresh fruit and vegetables on a daily basis helps support your liver. • Protein helps to manufacture the brain chemicals that improve your mood and mental function. Good sources of lean protein include chicken, turkey, shellfish and eggs. • Not all fats are created equal. Saturated fats can make you lethargic but the fats found in nuts and seeds provide essential fatty acids, which produce an alert mental state. Other healthy fats to include are avocados, olive oil, fish oil and flaxseed oil. • Foods to avoid whilst on a ‘detox’ include caffeine, sugar, alcohol, saturated or processed fats, gluten and dairy products. • To keep energy levels up and to stave off hunger pangs, plan to eat regularly throughout the day – 3 small meals with a healthy snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon usually work well for most people and help prevent cravings. Have healthy snacks to hand such as nuts, seeds, fruit and oatcakes.

GETTING BACK INTO SHAPE If you haven’t been able to work out for a while, whether through a change in routine or injury, it is important to take things slowly and ease yourself back to fitness. Anglea Mitchell is a local personal trainer who specialises in working with mature clients and those needing rehabilitation from injuries. Angela told me that it is especially important to exercise as you get older: “Keeping active in your later years can prevent bone, joint and muscle problems as well as providing considerable emotional and psychological benefits. Keep your routine varied – pilates and yoga are great for core strengthening but a more intense cardiovascular activity will keep your heart healthy too.”

INCORPORATE EXERCISE INTO A BUSY LIFESTYLE Judith Ewing is a highly qualified fitness instructor and personal trainer and is an expert when it comes to incorporating exercise into a busy lifestyle: “It is especially difficult this time of year to motivate yourself to exercise on a regular basis but with a little organisation and structure in your day, you can incorporate fitness into your life without too much effort: • Think of an exercise that you LIKE to do. If you don’t enjoy cycling for example, you will quickly stop doing it. • If you work in an office, take TIME OUT FOR YOURSELF. Always give yourself an hour at lunch time and try to leave your desk and go for a brisk walk. A 30 minute walk if performed 4 times a week will greatly improve your fitness. • If you use the gym after work, pack your kit the night before and go directly to the gym from work. If you go home first there is a big chance you will not leave the house again! • Think of exercise constantly – use stairs instead of lifts, walk briskly rather than saunter, take trainers instead of high heels to work so you are always ready for an opportunity to exercise.”

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GET THE RIGHT GEAR: Clothes and shoes: Getting the correct equipment can make all the difference to whether you persevere with exercise. Running is one of the best forms of cardiovascular activity around and best of all, after your initial investment in the correct footwear and clothing, it’s free. Sam Hale from Advance Performance in Peterborough offers some advice for people who are new to the sport: “An absolute essential for running is a decent pair of running shoes, for which you’ll need to spend around £80. When you’re running, four times your body weight goes through your feet so you need to have shoes that offer maximum shock absorption. We offer GAIT analysis to tailor the shoes to the individual’s running style and ensure they are properly ﬁtted.” Gadgets and Gizmos: There are plenty of great pieces of equipment on the market to help you make the most out of your running time. The Nike+ sportsband (£41.00) tracks your distance, pace, time and calories burned whilst you run. It also doubles as a watch and there Nike+ sportsbands is a Nike+ sensor to place into your running shoe included. After each workout simply remove the Nike+ Link and connect it to your computer’s USB port to go to nikeplus. com, where you can see your progress and take part in the Nike+ community. The Nike+ SportBand memory saves 30 hours’ worth of your workouts for review.

ENJOY LOW IMPACT EXERCISE: I spoke to Tony Lowther of Precision Sports in Stamford about the most popular forms of exercise at home: “Swiss balls are incredibly popular despite taking up a fair amount of space! You can do a variety of exercises on them, including working your core muscles which is particularly useful for toning the abdominal area. They are also great for remedial work and people recovering from muscle injuries as the ball takes some of the impact.” Their outdoor shop, Precision Outdoors have Lucky reported a marked rise in the number of walking Rutland and Market shoes and Nordic poles sold due to the fact Harborough Living readers that more people are starting to exercise on will be able to get 5% off any holiday as Tony explains: “Many more people purchase at Precision Sports & are holidaying in the UK and have found that Leisure and Precision Outdoors in walking holidays are a great way to get fit and Stamford throughout the month of explore our beautiful countryside.” March. Simply quote code: RL001 when making your purchase. GET SOME SUPPORT: Valid only for purchases made Directory The correct underwear is vitally important and for women, a between 1st and Angela Mitchell, Tel: 01572 723052 decent sports bra is certainly worth the investment. At Fords of 31st March. Judith Ewing, Tel: 01572 770225, Mob: 07771 Oakham, they have an excellent selection of support bras by 866123, www.judithewingfitness.com Triumph, starting from the Workout N range which is ideal for a high Sophie Driver, The Broad Street Practice, 20-21 level of activity such as tennis and cycling (£22.50), through to the Extreme N bras (£28.50) which Broad Street, Stamford, PE9 1PG, Tel: 01780 offer an additional level of support for activities such as running. 480889 Cavells at South Street stock the Icebreaker range of performance clothing made from 100% Advance Performance, 4 Fengate East, Titan merino wool. Designed to breathe better and feel better, they are also odourless and irritant Drive, Peterborough, PE1 5XG, Tel: 01733 891 111, free. These active base layers will keep you warm in inclement weather conditions and the range www.advanceperformance.co.uk includes vest tops, leggings and zip up tops. Precision Sports and Precision Outdoors, 25a Broad Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 INVOLVE THE WHOLE FAMILY: 1PJ, Tel: 01780 757818, www.precision-sports. For clothing and equipment for the whole family, pay a visit to Rutland Sports in Oakham who co.uk and 28 St Georges Street, Stamford, PE9 have a surprisingly large selection. Outdoorsy children will love the football nets and netball goals – 2BJ, Tel: 01780 762165, perfect sizes for the back garden, as well as a whole host of swimming accessories including diving www.precisionoutdoors.co.uk games, float bands, goggles, caps and costumes. People with limited space at home will also find Fords of Oakham, 8 Church Street, Oakham, there are plenty of accessories to ensure that working out at home is possible. Resistance tubes Rutland, LE15 6AA, Tel: 01572 722654 are incredibly compact to store, yet provide a great upper and lower body workout – available in 3 Cavells South Street, South Street, Oakham, different resistances, they cost £8.99. Free weights and push up bars are also available for serious LE15 6BG, Tel: 01572 772502 exercisers and finally, all the sportswear you could need from brands such as Nike, Adidas and Rutland Sports, 20- 22 Catmose Street, Canterbury of New Zealand. There’s no excuse not to get moving! Oakham, LE15 6HW, Tel: 01572 722675 RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING March 2011

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• RL March ADS.indd 24

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FASHION

DRIP, DRIP DROP... April may not quite be here yet, but it’s a good idea to be prepared for those showers with the latest fashion trends! Vanessa Hollander has found some great ways to update your spring wardrobe and invest in stylish ways to keep dry!

Part Two Trench, £190, Jacks, Market Harborough

The Trench Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O both loved the Trench. This year it’s back in style and well worth the investment. A Trench or Mac is a fashion classic and can make the most casual outﬁt look chic and stylish. If you already own one, why not consider another in this Spring’s new ‘bright’ trend, or perhaps trying a twist on the Trench with a shorter, more casual version?

B-Young Trench, £45, Attic of Stamford

Tayberry Mac, £16.99, Home Image, Oakham

Esprit Mac, £95, Attic Oakham

Barbour Rainbow International Mac, £149.95, Cavells, South Street

Wellies Thanks to the ‘Festival’ scene, wellies are still very much in fashion and deﬁnitely not just consigned to muddy ﬁelds. It’s well worth investing in a good pair as well as one that’s more fun! Ilse Jacobsen Lace Up Rubber Boots in Pink, £99, Cavells

Umbrellas Add some fun and colour to your Spring wardrobe with an umbrella which reﬂects your own personal sense of style. Keep it with you at all times, as you never know when those April showers will appear! Left to Right: Guy de Jean, Bow Umbrella, £115, Cavells Paul Smith, Dotty Umbrella, £55, Cavells Lindy Lou, Clear Umbrella, £7.95, Cavells

Barbour Wellies in Black, £60, Cavells, South Street

STOCKISTS Joules, Printed Wellies, £35, Fords of Oakham

Attic of Stamford, 01780 766667, www.atticfashion.co.uk Attic, Oakham, 01572 759000, www.atticfashion.co.uk Cavells, Oakham, 01572 770372, www.cavells.co.uk Fords of Oakham, 01572 722654, www.fordsofoakham.co.uk Home Image, Oakham, 01572 770222, www.homeimageuk.com Jacks, Market Harborough, 01858 468876 RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING March 2011

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TITILLATIONS

Never was there a tale of more woe… Caroline Aston reveals the dark secrets of a local historic home

ore moons ago than I care to contemplate I used to act as a guide at Stapleford Park. Back then, when dinosaurs walked the earth, the Stapleford I knew was not a luxury country house hotel. It was certainly a country house though, the family seat of Lord Gretton, famed for its lion reserve (a kind of mini-Longleat affair) and a miniature steam railway which had once featured in an episode of ‘The Avengers’. The Grettons were actually relative newcomers. For centuries Stapleford Hall had been the seat of the Earls of Harborough. There were six Earls before a failure to be fruitful and multiply led to the title dying out….which is where my romantic memory comes in. The sixth Earl Robert Sherard was, to put it mildly, a bit of a lad. He was such a rake that his nickname was ‘the naughty Earl. In the 1820s he was a leading character in a love story worthy of Corrie or Emmerdale! His Lordship loved the theatre or perhaps it would be truer to say he loved actresses. In 1825, when he was 28, he began courting one Emma Sarah Love. Emma was a bosomy brunette with a deeply rich contralto singing voice and was making a name for herself at Drury Lane. By 1828 things were simmering nicely but ﬂighty Miss Love (how appropriate!) was two-timing her Earl with an army Captain called Granby Hales Calcroft. Calcroft was an MP’s son and had been told by his papa that if he dared to marry beneath him he’d be cut off without

a penny. However, so enamoured was he by Emma’s arias that he proposed to her during a provincial theatre tour at Peterborough in 1828. There was a romantic secret marriage ceremony. Oh calamity! Pressures of secrecy and work kept the lovebirds apart and frustrations set in. On the night of 18th July 1829 Emma was performing in Nottingham – and what a performance it was! She slipped down the backstairs of the Blackamoor’s Head Inn and into the waiting carriage of her very naughty earl and was driven off to Stapleford where the couple arrived around midnight. Harborough built his mistress a cottage on the estate and she proceeded to give him three sons before being dumped in favour of another actress, Mary Glover. Robert did eventually marry a suitable lady but died without legal issue in 1859 while Emma and her sons stayed in the area. The love nest cottage was demolished by the widowed Countess who remarried a Leicester JP in 1864. Emma Love ended her days as Emma Sarah Calcroft Kennedy and her clergyman eldest son ultimately lived at Stapleford Hall after she moved to Whissendine. The former actress died in 1881 and one of her daughters-in-law was William Wordsworth’s granddaughter. The wages of sin were a comfortable retirement in rural Rutland. Miss Love had survived what was called at the time ‘the hot brief stink of scandal’! Oh, and as for poor deserted Captain Calcroft, he died alone and unloved in New York in 1855.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING March 2011

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KEN RAWSON

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James Brewer Gardens

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17/2/11 10:19:36

MOTORING

Cross-over cars The new cross-over vehicles blend the style of a 4 x 4 with the flexibility of a multi-purpose vehicle. Ashley Martin reports

here are more than 70 motor manufacturers selling cars in the UK and between them they produce something of the order of 375 different ranges and some 6,900 models. That, you might think, would offer choice aplenty. But you would be wrong. There are the established range sectors of superminis, small family cars (the lower medium sector), family cars (upper medium sector), compact executive models, executive cars, luxury cars, estate cars, multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), 4x4s, coupés, roadsters and cabriolets and perhaps to that list can be added performance cars and hot hatches. Exhausted already? Well, in recent years manufacturers have decided that the choice list is still not long enough so they created a sector known as city cars - essentially ‘baby’ supermini. Then, those same car producers decided that instead of large seven-seat MPVs car buyers would like smaller MPVs so along came the mini-MPV segment. Now as car makers continue to create niche ranges they have introduced the so-called crossover which, if hype is to be believed, marries the style of a 4x4 with the flexibility of an MPV to create the ‘perfect’ family vehicle.

swiftly as they can to plug what they perceive as any hole in their model line-up. For example, Mazda will unveil a concept version of its lower medium sector crossover at this month’s Geneva International Motor. However, the issue with crossover vehicles is that while they may blend together the characteristics of an MPV (space and higherlevel seating) and a 4x4 (off-road capability, or more realistically up-kerb capability and practicality) they cannot be defined by either size or price. For example, the Suzuki SX4 is probably the cheapest crossover available with prices starting at around £11,750 - the Fiat Sedici is in essence a re-badged version of the Suzuki and costs a few pounds more - while at the opposite

end of the scale the flagship 3.0 litre model of the Volvo XC60 crossover range costs more than £40,000. The Volvo may be big, but it is a lot of car for your money and is available with a wide choice of engines - the entry-level 2.0 litre costs less than £28,000 - but then there are also small crossovers like the Toyota Urban Cruiser priced from about £15,400.

Mini crossover Interestingly Mini, which is continually seeking to expand its range, has decided to label its recently launched Countryman model - the first car from the iconic brand with four doors and a large tailgate and the option of four-wheel drive - as a crossover.

Multiple choice Continued on page 30

A glance down the list of car ranges on sale in the UK shows that there are perhaps 20 crossover models currently available and typically though not always - with a choice of petrol or diesel power and two or four-wheel drive. That list is sure to grow longer as motor manufacturers will undoubtedly move as

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MOTORING

Continued from page 29

I’m not sure about that classification, but the public is voting with its wallet as Mini claimed that 2010’s Countryman allocation was sold out weeks before its autumn launch while the 2011 order bank is reported to be ‘robust’ for the vehicle that costs from about £16,300. Jochen Goller, director of Mini UK, said: “We knew that there would be an appetite in the UK for the extra space and greater flexibility which the Mini Countryman has to offer, especially amongst customers who reluctantly left Mini when they needed a four-door car.” Mini puts demand for crossovers down to drivers wanting the best of both worlds with normal saloon-like driving responses as well as the added versatility of soft off-road ability and the interior flexibility to cope with all the hobbies, shopping trips and activities that are such a huge part of busy modern family life.

Toyota’s model Meanwhile, it seems that while Toyota has the small Urban Cruiser it has also jumped on the crossover bandwagon with the RAV4 even though the model has been in showrooms for years and has been through several reincarnations. Influential consumer magazine What Car? suggests that the RAV4 is ‘arguably the car that gave rise to the whole crossover idea’. Meanwhile, Toyota itself bills the RAV4, prices for which start from around £22,750 as the model ‘that inspired a whole new market segment for compact recreational SUVs’. Recreational SUVs or crossovers, it is the sort of bar room debate that marketing professionals would love. Not content with billing the Countryman as a crossover Mini, brand owner BMW also gets in on the act with its own crossover, the X1. The premium badge manufacturer launched the X5 more than a decade ago and subsequently followed up that model with the X3 and X6 before launching the compact X1 a couple of years ago. Although BMW steers clear of using the crossover word, industry commentators

describe the X1 as a crossover but tend to refer to the other X models as 4x4s. Only available as a diesel, the X1 costs from around £23,000.

Peugeot’s version Taking on the likes of BMW, which is a perennial industry award winner is a tough task but that is what Peugeot is doing with its own crossover, the 3008. So good is the Peugeot that What Car? recently gave the model its ‘Crossover of the Year Award’ and the 1.6 THP 156 Sport model ‘best buy’ status. Launched 15 months ago, the 3008 was named the publication’s ‘Car of the Year’ in 2010 Steve Fowler, editor in chief of What Car?, said: “The 3008 offers levels of class and comfort that rivals can’t match and, with the 1.6 THP engine under the bonnet, it’s great fun to drive, too. No wonder 3008 is the envy of the sector. “The 3008 oozes clever thinking. It is styled in a striking and user-friendly fashion and has all the room inside that a modern family should need. Some of the features are a delight, like the full-length glass roof, the head-up display and the massive cooled storage bin between the front seats. Mind you, the rest of the car is pretty clever, too; the rear seats fold flat at the pull of a lever in the boot and the false cargo bay floor means you can get a long or a tall load in. And just as importantly, the 3008 is also comfortable to drive and be driven in, as well as being keenly priced and affordable to run. All of which makes it ultra-desirable.” With on-the-road prices starting from almost £17,000 and topping out at more than £23,000, the 3008 is in the heart of the burgeoning crossover market as far as sticker cost is concerned.

Other manufacturers Britain’s best-selling motor manufacturer Ford is in that mid-price sector of the market with its Kuga as is fast-growing Skoda with the Yeti, which none other than Jeremy Clarkson recently raved about on BBC Television’s ‘Top Gear’.

And the Far East manufacturers are, not surprisingly, also in the middle price ground with plenty of choice – the Hyundai ix35, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi ASX, and the Kyron and Korrando from Korean marque Ssangyong, for example. Two other crossover models to mention are the Tiguan from Europe’s largest motor manufacturer, Volkswagen, which is not as cheap as many rivals, but like all the brand’s cars is as solid as they come. The Nissan Qashqai is another choice. If you want to fly the flag for Britain then the Qashqai and its stablemate, the Qasqai+2 (a five-seater with two additional seats), is the choice with prices starting from close to £16,000. Both models are built at the Japanese company’s car plant in Sunderland as is Nissan’s compact crossover, the Juke, which went on sale last September and has on-the-road prices starting a few thousands pounds lower than its bigger brother. At the launch of the Juke, Trevor Mann, Nissan senior vice president of manufacturing, Europe, said: “Juke provides a much needed breath of fresh air within the small car segment and will play a key role in defining the Nissan brand in the years ahead. “Customers in this sector now have the opportunity to own a highly individual and innovative car that will reinforce Nissan’s position as a pioneer of crossover vehicles.” Finally, if you thought that the ever inventive designers and marketeers at motor manufacturers had reached a dead end as far as inventing vehicle sectors are concerned then think again. At the Los Angeles Motor Show late last year Nissan unveiled the Murano CrossCabriolet, which it billed as ‘the world’s first all-wheel drive crossover convertible blending all of the things people love in a crossover with the open-air enjoyment of a convertible’. In terms of choice, new car buyers have never had it so good.

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WHAT’S ON

Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 March (including a Saturday matinee) THEATRE: Double Bill A double bill starting with ‘The Sociable Plover’ by Tim Whitnall - a dark comedy set in a bird-watching hide involving two slightly odd men and an unsolved gruesome murder. In ‘Perfect Partners’ by Alan Richardson, Edwina and Jonathan are about to get a divorce - hardly the best advertisement for the dating agency they run together. • Harborough Theatre Tickets from £8 from Customer Services, Harborough Council, Adam & Eve Street

Diary dates

Amander Meade selects some of the best entertainment in the region this month

1

March TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

6

 Thursday 3 March

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Sunday 6 and Monday 7 March

SATURDAY

2pm to 4pm EVENT: Snowdrop Spectacular Enjoy the beautiful snowdrops in the lovely Launde Abbey gardens followed by a delicious afternoon tea. Booking for larger groups would be appreciated, otherwise not necessary. • £3.50 per person to include tea. For details of other events including Mothering Sunday lunch, retreats and spiritual days this spring at Launde Abbey Tel: 01572 717254 www.launde.org.uk

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Sunday 20 March 12 noon to 4pm EVENT: The Wedding Show Stapleford’s dedicated events team has handpicked the best wedding suppliers in their field to showcase their expertise. Complimentary canapés and champagne on arrival. • Stapleford Park Hotel, near Melton Mowbray. To register for free entry to the Stapleford Park Wedding Show Tel: 01572 787016

Sunday 20 March 8pm, LIVE MUSIC: Govannen Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with Govannen at Don Paddy’s. Expect jigs, reels, traditional and contemporary Irish songs. • Don Paddy’s, Market Place, Uppingham

Sunday 27 March 7.30pm - MUSIC: Stabat Mater Performed by four superb professional singers with the Oakham Choral Society, Rossini’s Staber Mater remains as popular and inspirational as ever. • Oakham School Chapel, Tickets £8/£6

20

10.30am to 12.30pm COURSE: Basics of Vegetable Growing Top tips for beginners as Nick Hamilton explains the mysteries of soil preparation, seed sowing, plant raising, crop requirements and planting. • Barnsdale Gardens, near Oakham Places £18 booking Tel: 01572 813200 (Other courses this month include Growing in Raised Beds, Spring Flower Photography, Organic Vegetable Growing, Vegetables All Year Round, Rose Pruning, Plant Propagation and a RHS Watercolour Painting Day. All details at www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk

SUNDAY

Wednesday 16 March



SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

7.30pm THEATRE: Paper Birds present ‘Others’ ‘Others’ is the culmination of a project for which Paper Birds asked ‘other’ women to reveal themselves through answering a series of set questions. Based on a six-month exchange of letters and emails with prisoners, a celebrity and an Iranian artist, multi award winning Paper Birds offer a visual and political exploration of ‘Other’ women. • Uppingham Theatre, Stockerston Road Tickets £9 Tel: 01572 820820 www.uppthearts.co.uk

Friday 25 and Saturday 26 March



DANCE SHOW: Flawless – Chase the Dream After making it to the finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, the dance troupe starred in the hit movie StreetDance 3D as well as appearing in music videos for the likes of Madonna, Beyonce, Leona Lewis and Westlife. Following a sold-out run of Chase the Dream at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year, Flawless continue to dazzle audiences around the world with their astonishing energy, ingenious choreography and uncanny unison. • Tickets £19.50 Tel: 0116 233 3111 www.demontforthall.com

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WHAT’S ON

Fun at Easter at Uppingham School If you are looking for a way to keep the children (or yourself!) entertained over the Easter holidays you need look no further! There is plenty of holiday fun for everyone at Uppingham over the Easter holidays, with lots on offer for both the sporty and the more creative types. Former England, Kent and Leicestershire cricketer Trevor Ward and former Derbyshire professional Paul Aldred will once again be running the hugely popular Cricket Coaching weeks, for boys and girls from 7-14 years old. Tennis Coaching with LTA CCA performance coach James Muir is offered on the brand new Uppingham School Sports Centre tennis courts in group 2 hour sessions for 7-10 and 11-14 year olds. In addition, England U18 XV rugby coach Paul Westgate will be running 3 days of rugby Total Rugby for 7-10 year olds, teaching young players all the basic skills of the game through small-side games. Children from 6-11 wishing to do something more creative will enjoy Arts and Crafts Fun Days. Enjoy a Clown Workshop day with balloon modelling, face painting and decorating clown boots, or make your own painted mug as an Easter present. Alternatively, put on your pinny for 3 days of making yummy things for Easter at the Easter Cookery for Kids course. There are new courses for adults too. Popular artist and tutor Mark Wilde will be returning to Uppingham to run a series of Drawing Masterclasses. And by popular demand, local wine expert Dr Stephan Muller will lead an evening of Champagne Tasting, to help you plan your Easter festivities. In addition, there will also be the regular Upholstery course. • For further information please call Uppingham Summer School on 01572 820800 or visit www.uppinghamsummerschool.co.uk

And Looking ahead... Friday 1 April, 7.30pm Evening Star Six of the most famous musicians from France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom come together to play traditional dance music from across Europe. Evening Star are an international touring band who love playing to audiences of all ages. • Greetham Community Centre Tickets are priced £8 for adults (concessions available) Tel: 01572812804 for further information

Sunday 3 April, gardens open 9am-5pm Mother’s Day at Barnsdale Gardens Treat Mum to a wonderful day out at Barnsdale’s famous and beautiful Gardens. With hundreds of bright spring blooms, the scent of ﬂowering shrubs and friendly tearoom serving luscious clotted cream teas, who could resist? Plus, Mums (if accompanied by children) visit free. • Garden admission: adults £6.50, concessions £5.50, children £2.50, families (up to 5) £16. Tel: 01572 813200 for further details.

Book early for the Wildcats Easter Holiday Programme… Young people aged between 5 and 16 can enjoy a programme of full day workshops at Stamford Arts Centre during the Easter holidays. Sample expert tuition in different styles of dance, photography, musical theatre, face painting and stage make up plus the chance to perform for parents and friends in a mini musical. • Prices from £16.50 per person, booking and further information from Wildcats Theatre School. Tel: 07725 915333 www. wildcatstheatreschool. co.uk

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING March 2011

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Morgan

ELECTRICAL SERVICES LTD Established 1982

Protect your home against rising energy costs • Design, supply & installation of solar photovoltaic panel systems • Energy efﬁcient lighting • Agricultural Installations • Rewires • Testing • Part P Registered

2 Baldocks Lane, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE13 1EN Telephone: 01664 501701 Mobile: 07836 245312 Email: rmorganelec@aol.com

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The Myth of a ‘Common Law’ Marriage

Why you get