My Forest Edge Gazette - October 2022

Dear Residents,

September 2022 has certainly been a month to remember. The loss of our beloved Queen Elizabeth II of seventy years reign, with all her stability and dedication, always with an appreciative smile has been a sombre time. We look forward however to helping Charles fulfill his role and the huge legacy that his dear mother has left. We are sure he will be as dutiful and devoted, as has proven so successful over the last seven decades. Long live the King.

This month we have many, many trades and services who would absolutely love to hear from you. With some uncertainty in these incredibly changing times, your calls, enquiries and better still bookings are very appreciated. I thank you most sincerely for all your support to these local companies, for keeping them busy and our local economy thriving. This makes all the difference.

If you are aware of a local company that could benefit from more business, please let them know about us as we would love to help them. Equally if you know of a charity, club or society that needs some support, we are here for them too.

With the October issue we await with pleasure the autumn and those wonderful golden leaves. How beautiful our countryside looks at this time of year. Please grab a cuppa this October and have a read of your local Gazette, with all our businesses, editorials and stories. Keep smiling!

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The Longest Legacy

From the 15 Prime Ministers she swore in, to the modernisation of the Royal Family and the styling of a public perception that ensures we remain committed to the pomp and pageantry of the House of Windsor, Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy is impeccable and elegant. We reflect on some cherished moments along the way.

The Heir Apparent

Born in April 1926, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was third in line to the throne behind her uncle, Edward, Prince of Wales, and her father, Albert, Duke of York. However, her ascension was accelerated when, in 1936, following the death of King George V, her uncle relinquished the crown so he could marry the American divorcee, Wallis Simpson.

Now heir apparent, during the war she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service, learning how to drive and maintain vehicles; and on her first oversees visit, to South Africa in 1947, gave a speech dedicating herself to the Commonwealth – a promise Her Majesty kept to the very end.

By the time of her beloved father’s death in 1952, Princess Elizabeth had become a wife, to Prince Philip, and mother to Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Yet on undertaking the crown aged in her midtwenties, she was acutely aware of how monumental the task was that lay ahead of her.

In her prime Queen Elizabeth II made a truly modern Head of State. Her Coronation at

Westminster Abbey was the first to be televised, and on her gruelling first tour of the Commonwealth, alongside Prince Philip, she made every effort to win over the hearts and minds of all those she encountered.

Naturally, over the decades there was much political and social tumult. Her Majesty’s reign saw 15 Prime Ministers come and go, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss.

There too was drama from within her family. In 1955 it became necessary to intervene in her sister Margaret’s planned nuptials to Peter Townsend; though the most significant upset during her reign was surely the dissolvement of Charles and Diana’s marriage, and the Princess of Wales’ untimely death in a car crash aged 36.

Among the stars

In her twilight years, the Queen cemented her legacy through continued work and devotion, travelling extensively and hosting countless high-profile and sometimes controversial guests and Heads of State, including Mugabe, Mandela and Trump.

The final two decades of Queen Elizabeth’s life and reign undoubtedly brought both joy and sadness in equal measures - the weddings of six of her grandchildren and the birth of 12 great-grandchildren, yet also the deaths of her beloved mother and sister Margaret and the passing of the king of her heart, Prince Philip.

Money on my mind... the Martin Lewis column

He’s the UK’s leading money saving expert - a journalist and presenter who has kept millions of pounds in people’s pockets as well as lifting the lid on the threats and dangers we need to be aware of as consumers.

In this month’s column, Martin Lewis looks at whether it’s possible to still be green at times of real economic restraint.

None of us need reminding how tough this year has been, and while we’re all looking for the green shoots of recovery, that greenness has become another sticking point of late, with environmental campaigners looking to keep their own eco priorities live and real.

As consumers, we’re all pretty aware that products and services that are more organic, or better ethically sourced, or that contain a strong environmental edge, are typically more expensive, so that leads us to a potential conflict of choice – do we look after our planet, or do we prioritise the money in our pockets?

The answer – from research I have been doing on part of

my website, and a collection of other polls that pool data on this subject – is very much that green issues take a massive backseat when our backs are against the wall.

Now that’s not to say I don’t have a green conscience, or the average Joe in the street doesn’t work hard to preserve the planet, but the absolute truth is that in the vast, vast majority of cases – both at times of struggle and even when things are less chaotic – individuals are not willing to make big sacrifices.

What I think is important though is that, in future, it would be nice if people are being incentivised to go green, and doing so means we are given all the support we expect from government. We expect tax cuts on fuel and a decrease in oil price

to be reflected at the pump; we expect utility providers to play by the rules with clear billing and fair price schemes; we expect home insulation initiatives to really add up in the short-term, not 25 years down the line; and we expect new customer incentives to be accompanied by rewards for existing ones.

What’s more, the days of us feeling guilt-tripped into buying a green product over one that isn’t, are probably and hopefully over. Of course, we all want to get back to a place of economic and environmental prosperity, and I’m sure that will come, but our conscience to feed our families has been proven, time and again, to be stronger than anything else.

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Out on Bale

Christian Bale is the cool, calm, understated and effortlessly edgy actor famous for his roles in everything from American Psycho to Terminator: Salvation, Vice to The Machinist.

He sways between bloated bureaucrat and paper-thin introvert, between deranged narcissist and supercharged superhero; yet through it all, he carries with him a brand of perfectionism that permeates every project and every script, and an intensity, both on and off screen.

“Being a perfectionist does come across to me as a battle, but it’s a battle I want to invest in; and it’s one I don’t want to conquer,” he begins. “Sometimes the conflict is the thing that keeps you going in life, and that’s definitely the case with me.”

Already three decades into a brilliant career, which has taken him from the very simple surrounds of Haverfordwest, Wales, through and beyond LA and the global film market, he now occupies an iconic place where art and culture collide. He sits in a space where you doubt he could ever make a bad movie again.

“I’m not sure about that,” he cuts back, returning to the subject of the standards he sets himself. “Ultimately, I believe my own battle with perfectionism is something that will play itself out over the years to come. I’m not completely constricted by it, nor do I think I have conquered it, so I guess I must be somewhere in the middle.”

Diversity has also been a big part of Bale’s makeup – even his reacquaintance with the superhero genre sees the 48-year-old taking invention forward, as Gorr the God Butcher in 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder.

about a great story is a sense of fatalism - that’s usually what draws me to a project.

“It gives me a drive and focus because I know there is a destructive, uncomfortable endgame.

“Ultimately, once you are on that track to what is usually a sense of implosion, it opens up a pathway to what I consider my best work.

Whether Bale’s voyage back into CGI turns out to be as profitable as his portrayals of Bruce Wayne, or as artistically satisfying as Patrick Bateman, remains to be seen, but the notion of success is one that Bale has his own definition for anyway.

“It doesn’t matter to me what the genre is, what the subject matter is, who the character is or what the era is. What I love

Gorr what love

“Success is relative. Success in the movie world isn’t necessarily success in life. Success comes about when you choose the things that make you and those around you happy – it’s being confident enough to forge your own path.”

Under the skin of actor Christian Bale, who combines versatility with a permanent drive for perfectionism.

STRENGTH IN DEPTH

Buying and selling property can be, without doubt, a stressful period of your life. That’s why it’s important to select a solicitor with the relevant experience, knowledge and supporting staff to ensure all fuss is minimised.

At the Waring Partnership our conveyancing teams are led by solicitor and partner Andrea Waring, an expert in her field who has personally overseen countless property exchanges.

With one team based at our Totton office and another in Hythe, we continue to serve the local area, the wider New Forest, Hampshire and beyond. We can even offer the services

Conveyancing

8 Marsh Parade, Hythe Tel: 023 8084 9381

of our specialist new build department, fully fluent in all the expectations and idiosyncracies that a new build can offer.

And there’s more to us than just conveyancing. Our family law expertise and celebrated wills and probate team mean that the help you need is available locally, staffed by people that know the area and understand the challenges you might face.

We look forward to helping you make that next step, whatever it may be. By drawing on our strengths we hope to make it smoother and less daunting. Get in touch with the Waring Partnership today.

Family Law

Wills & Probate

info@the-waring-partnership.com www.the-waring-partnership.com

15 Water Lane, Totton Tel: 023 8066 0010

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Southampton Advanced Motorists is currently offering a Younger Drivers’ Financial Initiative cash-back scheme which is only available to the first 10 people to apply. The normal cost of the ADC is £175 but for younger drivers aged under 24yrs we can offer it for £110. However, our cash-back scheme will refund you half of this amount if you complete just 8 sessions with us and the full £110 if you pass the test within 12 months. Terms and Conditions apply. If in doubt why not book a “Free Introductory Drive” – see below.

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STAR GAZING

WRITTEN BY KATE EARL kateearlastro@gmail.com

Welcome to the October Stargazing Page. Highlights this month include the Orionids meteor shower and a partial Solar Eclipse.

International Space Station

The ISS can be spotted early in the evening until the 5th, and then before sunrise from the 21st. To establish exact timings please refer to www. heavens-above.com or a similar webpage for up-to-date information, remembering to set the location to your observing area.

Events

Orionid Meteor Shower:

The Orionids, which are caused by dust and gas leftover from Halley’s Comet, are visible on the night of 21/22 October. If the skies are clear, try staying up as late as you can, as the meteor peak is in the early hours of the morning.

Partial Solar Eclipse:

If the sky is clear, residents in southern England will be treated to a partial eclipse of the Sun on the morning of the 25th. The eclipse begins just after 10am and continues until 11.45am. The maximum takes place around 11am depending on your location, at which point the Moon will cover roughly 15% of the Sun (see figure). Various websites, including www.timeanddate.com can provide up-to-date information for your specific location. **NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN** There are several ways to view the eclipse safely, including the use of designated eclipse safety glasses, or making your own pinhole projector camera from a couple of pieces of cardboard. There are many websites available that show you how to construct one safely.

Mercury

The innermost planet can be spotted in the east just before sunrise for most of the month. Be mindful to end your observing session well before the Sun rises.

Venus

Venus is lost in the Sun’s glare this month.

Mars

Mars is brightening daily, and can be seen at the start of the month rising around 10pm in the northeast. By month end, it is rising around 7pm. It is

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currently located in the constellation of Taurus the Bull, and is close to the Hyades star cluster.

Jupiter & Saturn

Both gas giants are visible in the southeast when darkness falls; both set in the southwest early in the morning. Jupiter is the incredibly bright object to the east (left) of less-bright Saturn. The Moon appears near them between the 5th – 8th (see figure).

Moon

October’s full moon occurs on the 9th. Jupiter lies just above the near-full moon on the 8th.

or Fiction?

This month, four October releases as the build-up to the busy book season begins.

These serve to highlight the awe-inspiring, heart-warming and eye-opening moments that have changed the game – and sometimes the world – forever.

From pioneering players, trailblazing managers, and incredible tales both on and off the pitch, this book contains everything you ever wanted to know about the beautiful game. Published by Puffin on October 13th

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult

A soul-stirring novel about what we choose to keep from our past from the New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here and She’s Not There.

Olivia McAfee and Lily Campanello have both started new lives in unfamiliar surroundings, but a shared love interest sees suspense, love story and exploration of the secrets we keep threatens to build to a powerful crescendo.

Published by Hodder & Stoughton on November 15th

50 Times Football Changed the World by Gary Lineker and Ivor Baddiel

Like him or loathe him for his Twitter antics, football legend Gary Lineker – with the help of Ivor Baddiel – has put together a collection of truly uplifting, empowering and extraordinary football stories that have inspired him throughout his career.

Made With Love by Tom Daley Made With Love is Tom Daley’s long-awaited debut knitting and crochet book.

From covetable gifts to chic homeware, cosy accessories and stylish wardrobe essentials, Tom offers helpful tips and tricks to support even the most tentative of beginners. So whether you are a complete novice or looking for something a little different to try, Tom Daley’s Made with Love will soon have you creating projects to be proud of. Published by Harper Collins on October 27th

Soft Lad: A Collection of Stories (About Me) by Nick Grimshaw

In Soft Lad, DJ and presenter Nick Grimshaw shares his outlooks, surprising obsessions, the things that have shaped him and his personal experiences with the world.

From his move from Oldham, Greater Manchester, to the

bright lights of London, to his 14-year career climbing to the helm of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, he discusses everything from his love of music through to self-care, partying, lifechanging nights out, growing up, Red Nose Day, coming out, dogs, family, ADHD, Catholicism, and all that he’s seen in-between.

Nostalgic and heartfelt, it shines a humorous and captivating lens on the everevolving cultural obsessions we live by. Published by Hodder & Stoughton on October 27th

Financial Abuse – Who is at risk?

Financial abuse is a growing problem for the 18 per cent of the UK’s 65.6m population who are aged 65 and above. A recent review of evidence conducted by Age UK found that approximately 130,000 people over 65 who live in the UK have suffered financial abuse.

Although financial abuse can affect anyone, it is thought that older individuals are targeted because they are assumed to have more money and are perceived to be more vulnerable than younger people. What constitutes abuse?

One of the difficulties with tackling financial abuse is that it can take a variety of different forms. The definition of “financial abuse” for the purposes of the Care Act 2014 includes:

• Having money or property stolen.

• Being defrauded.

• Being put under pressure in relation to money or other property.

• Having money or other property misused.

Scammers are increasingly targeting adults by bank and investment fraud. There are frequent reports in the media of older people being conned into handing over their bank details or being duped into investing in dubious schemes involving property, vintage wine or rare earth metals. The majority of financial abuse of the elderly is not, however, committed by fraudsters in boiler rooms many miles away. Research collated by Age UK suggests that 70 per cent of financial abuse is perpetrated by family members. This insidious type of financial abuse involves family members or friends pressuring older people to part with cash or individuals befriending or ‘grooming’ an older person with a specific goal of taking money from them.

Lasting Power of Attorney

Losing mental capacity fills most people with fear, as does the prevalence of conditions such as dementia that affect people’s mental capacity. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are currently over 1 million people with dementia in the UK, with numbers expected to rise to 2m by 2051.

The most important step that can be taken to guard against financial abuse in the event of reduced mental capacity is for the client to appoint a person or persons to look after their affairs should the client lose capacity to do so.

Where a person lacking capacity has not appointed anyone under a LPA, the Court of Protection may be the only authority available to appoint a deputy to exercise those powers. The appointee can be a loved one or an independent person such as a legal professional. Section 9(1) of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 requires this arrangement to be enshrined within a lasting power of attorney (LPA).

A donee is the person with authority to make decisions on behalf of the donor, for example, the person lacking mental capacity. The donor must possess mental capacity at the time of creating an LPA.

This is intended for general guidance only. In all cases specific advice should be sought. Bells are a specialist Wills, Probate and Conveyancing practice. The office opens five days a week Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm and home and hospital appointments can be arranged where appropriate. Our professional service is right on your doorstep.

Join us again next time for another legal insight!

Tel: 01794 513328

E: bells@bells-romsey-solicitors.co.uk

Green ngers… the Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist and allround horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses the changing seasons, and why he ventures out into his garden in any weather.

I’ve been talking to a number of people over these summer months and it’s always a pleasure. Naturally, it feels like the part of the year where we all come out and celebrate what it is to have a space that is all ours – we all share in the successes and, okay, some of the failures too!

Yet what’s interesting is the fact the longer the summer goes on, the more the chat seems to evolve. There is an unspoken devil in the air, and it goes by the name of winter, where gardeners all across the UK dread not just the hibernation of some of the creatures in their garden, but their own removal or withdrawal from service as

the skies grow darker and rain threatens.

Of course, I can see why so many of us sink

into this mindset of what is effectively a subconscious filling of time before things start to pick up again in early spring. Though as I have said on many occasions, there are still so many plants that flourish across the winter months that we can take real pleasure from, so I would be firm in encouraging people to look at winter as a lot more than just a time when we feel like stepping off the gardening carousel.

Certainly, my routine in those quieter months never changes. Whether rain, hail, sleet or snow, I will always potter around the garden. Okay, so in the winter months it’s a

lot more difficult to sit still in a garden anyway, but just getting out there, soaking up the air and feeling the natural goodness around you, is really inspiring.

I get mucky every day when I’m at home, and if I’ve got a day of work or filming that will take me away from the house, I’ll always make sure I step out and spend some peaceful time alone before I leave – it sort of sets me up for the day.

Ultimately, what it’s all about is being out there, and believing you are making a difference. I’ve always thought however tiny a patch of ground you have, if you look after it well when you shuffle off your mortal coil you’ve paid your rent for your life on Earth.

To leave that space just a little bit better than how it was previously is a very special thing, and no wintry rainstorm should stop us from wanting to achieve that!

The Driver Decides

The unspoken rules of car etiquette that come into play when you’re the passenger sharing a ride!

1. Route 66

You may be equipped with satellite navigation; you may have intense insider knowledge as to local shortcuts; you may even own a field that can be driven across in a perfect ‘as the crow flies’ straight line. Yet ultimately, the driver will decide the route, even if that’s one that bears little resemblance to common sense; and question him or her at your peril!

2. Speed freak?

Only the driver has the option to apply pressure or ease off on the accelerator. While most of us fill the middle ground of speed, you may find yourself hitching a lift off Captain Slow on the one hand, or Lewis Hamilton on the other. Once the engine’s running, you’ve just got to go with the flow.

3. Driver DJ

From the minute you leave to the second you arrive, the soundtrack of your journey is deemed to be in the hands of

the person behind the wheel.

If, by way of a rare token of driver generosity, you are graced with the opportunity to “put something else on”, choose decisively and wisely!

4. The heat is rising

In the same theme, it’s a confident – and possibly rude –passenger who starts messing with a car’s climate control. Sit tight and sweat it out… it’s still better than walking!

5. It’s a car, not a bin One for the kids – whether chocolate bar wrappers, football cards, Happy Meal toys or poorly mopped up orange squash, there is nothing that angers a driver more than finding his or her car resembling a bin lorry at the end of a long trip.

A good passenger will clear up not just their own footwell but any loose bits of rubbish from the back seats.

6. Free petrol!

Contributing towards fuel is usually something that’s laid out before a journey starts, but if this hasn’t been discussed and you find yourself pulling up at a pump, it’s usually polite to offer… particularly considering what’s happened with prices this year.

7. The feet treat Your pinkies should always be kept out of sight. Raising them to the height of the dashboard – and leaving them there – is a one-way ticket to taking the bus next time.

8. Thanks for the ride

The Thanks

Finally, gratitude costs nothing and even a simple ‘thank you’ to the driver will make him or her feel that much better about themselves after suffering half an hour of you bemoaning Manchester United’s recent woes.

A New Dawn

We look at the changing elements that will soon play themselves out in a very public way, as the Elizabeth II era assumes its cherished place in history.

It is doubtless that with a bittersweet heart King Charles III embarks on his new role as Head of State. Having waited 73 years to take up the post he was literally born for, His Majesty has long dreamed of this historic moment. And yet, the price of power comes at the loss of his greatest love, mentor, and ally: his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

And while Charles assimilates to a new life and role, this is not necessarily the only challenge he has to face, for the opinionated Prince must now become the impartial King.

Having waited in the wings for the past seven decades, it would have been ludicrous for the Prince of Wales to not only nurture opinions on society and the world-at-large, but to express them also. From environmental issues to a desire to revive grammar schools –and most recently a disdain for the government’s Rwanda

deportation plan – the Prince of Wales has not only never shied from letting his thoughts be known, often instigating change via his various charitable and passion projects.

The issue here is that a prince may have such hobbies and persuasions, whereas a king, in truth, must not.

One of the most abiding and best-known rules of the British constitution is that the monarch stays out of politics. This is the foundation on which the monarchy survives in a democratic society regardless of what personal gains may be made from wielding its enormous power, publicly or otherwise.

Thankfully, King Charles is a brave, sincere, grounded member of the royal family,

who takes humility as a cornerstone of behaviour having seen such a lack of it in many of his relations. He understands the next step in the line of Windsor is not in questioning what is right and proper, but more prioritising the elements of society that need his authority and guidance most, during what are difficult times for us all.

As king, Charles is responsible for carrying the weight of not just a nation, but the other 53 Commonwealth countries, across 14 realms, which now fall under his rule. He must be a champion of the people, cultivating pride when times are good, and courage when they are bad.

It is a mighty task, but one he is more than qualified for. He will undoubtedly be a very different monarch, yet what should reassure us all is the fact he has inherited his mother’s values, strength, and sense of duty.

very the come…

Now, a new dawn has come… God save the King.

The Adventures of Daichi

The Modern Magazines Camper Van

Wow, what a summer we have had. We did not go away as we now live near the sea and absolutely love it. “Wafflicious”, our new icecream parlour on the Esplanade in Weymouth has been a delight to work in. We have met so many wonderful people and brought smiles to many. Daichi is very happy with his beach life.

One aspect of British summer life we have all missed in the last couple of years has been the summer fayres. How delighted we have been that so many came back this year. There are such a lot to choose from… The Dorset Show, The Romsey Show, which our dear late Queen loved so much, The Great Dorset Steam Fair, The Shaftesbury Show and the Bournemouth Air Festival to name but a very few. Then there are the food festivals which celebrate all that is local. Produce that is locally grown, or produced from the British Isles, and sometimes food from our friendly neighbours abroad too. Hayden and

myself took some time out to go the “SeaFeast - Dorset Seafood Festival” situated in Weymouth next to the Pavilion. We have never been to this one before, but we both love seafood, so it seemed like a good idea. The atmosphere was great. The weather was good, despite rain earlier which is always a relief for these shows and makes all the difference. There must have been well over sixty food stalls from crab and squid to paella and crepes. What an array of ‘cute vans’, sturdy vans and tents all circling in an arena style setting.

Something I feel we could do more of is buy local produce and shop locally. The stalls at this show definitely deserve our support. “Riverford” with their 100% organic fresh vegetables supplying fresh fruit and veg to our doorsteps weekly would love to hear from us I am sure. There are of course other farms that would supply such good, wholesome food

01264

The crab linguini was delicious!

that we could benefit from. We just need to pick up the phone and give them a call or go and visit to see what they can do for us. I used to get such a box on a weekly basis until we moved, so that is something I am going to look into again. Dorset crab was also on the menu. Many areas have a local fishmonger and I for one certainly could buy more from them. Supporting local fishermen will help keep their livelihood and also provides us with good food that is really healthy. When did we last buy good old English fish and chips from the local ‘chippy’? By the beach fish and chips are a must, but how about in the winter to keep the business going? There were other stalls too of Moules Mariniere, which I absolutely love, but that must be the French teacher in me speaking! Oh, that could bring back some good memories…. But let’s not go there. Much closer to home there was a pretty looking van which I think we have all come to recognise now, and that is “Dorset Tea”. We serve Dorset Tea at Wafflicious and I must say that the peppermint one is particularly tasty… but nothing beats a good-old cup of ‘normal’ British tea! I am sure

Queen Elizabeth II would have agreed, especially with her marmalade sandwich. Portland Pizzas was also available, Suzettes fresh pancakes, a crepe stand and there were even cookery workshops for the kids. With kitchen demonstrations, local beer, cider and wine there was plenty to occupy us for a few hours. This show raises funds for The Fishermen’s Mission which is a charity providing emergency support, practical, financial, spiritual and emotional care to all fishermen, active and retired as well as their families. These shows also do a lot of good for people in need which is another great reason to go and have a good day out while helping a just cause. We left well fed and all smiles having seen all the different catering vans. We are ‘secretly’ looking for one to join Daichi and promote Wafflicious. You never know… you may see us next year having a stall of our own. It looks like hard work but a lot of fun. In the meantime, do shop locally and support your local food stalls. We need them and they need us. Daichi is looking forward to lots more summer shows next year!

By Debbie Corney

A Design for Life… e Kevin McCloud Column

Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner talks about the evolution of design and design trends in 2022, and beyond.

It’s over 20 years since Grand Designs first appeared as a concept, and in marking that anniversary I’ve had a number of people ask me how new design and of-the-moment architectural planning has changed over that period, and what evolution we might see in future.

Well, with tongue firmly in cheek, I’ll begin by noting that these days there is an unending appetite for bifold doors! Also, a significant movement from tones of brown and black to the real on-trend colour of the moment, which is grey. I’ve always thought there is a real

versatility to grey and that seems in evidence.

Perhaps another thing I have noticed is the prominence of multiple toilets in new homes being built. It seems we have almost as many toilets now as we do bedrooms!

As for the future design trends, well there is that saying, “architecture is so slow there is no point trying to be fashionable with it because by the time you’ve built something it’s already out of date!”, and I think there is a lot of truth in that.

Certainly, a good building will always fulfil the needs and loves of the people who inhabit it. It’s a place that needs to be responsive to the people. The very first part of that must always be shelter, and security, in all conditions. Once you’ve solved that you can start experimenting and having a bit of fun.

With that in mind, I think entertainment

space is rapidly becoming a priority; and with the cost of living continuing to increase, this will be even more the case going forward, where perhaps we’re swapping eating out for eating in.

For similar reasons, workspaces at home are vital, with a decrease in the need or willingness to commute; while the connectivity of our technology is something I don’t think we will ever regress from, and certainly makes our lives easier, which is great.

Speaking personally, I would love to have a covered deck where I could just sit, sheltered, and just enjoy the view… perhaps with a glass of wine, and the guarantee of a sunset!

When you factor in all these things it makes you realise having all those toilets really doesn’t matter after all…!

Increasing numbers of homeowners are choosing to hold their properties as tenants in common to reduce inheritance tax and help protect their share from care fees

The Property Protection Trust Will package is based around how you hold the ownership of your home. All good estate planning nowadays considers the difference between owning your home as joint tenants or as tenants in common.

If you own your home as Joint Tenants; when one of you dies the ownership of the home passes by the Law of Survivorship and not by your Will. Therefore, the surviving partner will automatically own 100% of the property. This sounds right to most people. BUT should the surviving partner need care in the future, the Local Authority can take everything they own (including their home) to pay for the care fees, leaving just £14,250 to be inherited by children and grandchildren.

There is an alternative.

Nowadays many couples choose to own their home as Tenants in Common where each partner will own 50% of the family home. This provides for many benefits.

Firstly, it allows you to legally leave your share of the property in your Will to whoever you wish. A properly written Will can ensure that your half of your house will eventually pass to your children even if your widow re-marries.

Unmarried cohabiting couples or relatives living together can also use this means of ownership as a way of minimising their Inheritance Tax exposure.

It can also help with long-term care costs. If one of you is still living in your home the Local Authority can’t include its value in the means test if one of you has to go in to long-term care. This also applies if the husband or wife still living at home dies while the other is in care as their share will go into the trust.

Dorset and Wight are your local experts in Property Protection Trust Wills.

To advertise in this magazine, call 01264 316499

Top Tech Firms

The four most sustainable tech companies in the world.

1. Fairphone

As the name suggests, Fairphone has been striving for a fairer and more sustainable electronics industry since its inception in 2013. Though a less-known brand in the UK, this Amsterdam-based manufacturer has achieved an enormous amount in a short period of time and has sold around 400,000 devices globally.

Currently on the fifth imagining of their eponymous smartphone, the folk at Fairphone have managed to extend the average life of a device from 2.7 years to around five: which reduces greenhouse gas emissions per year of use by around 30%.

The back of the phone is made from 100% recycled plastics, and no parts of the body are sealed meaning it is easy for the consumer to change the battery if necessary.

In other words, this once-social enterprise is leading the way for other phone manufacturing giants to follow.

2. Apple

Despite having set the smartphone gold standard back in 2007 with the original iPhone, Apple have been playing catchup when it comes to their ethical and sustainability standards.

Yet under CEO Tim Cook, the tech titan has risen through the ranks to become one of the most committed and proactive in the world.

Not only have Apple decreased their overall carbon footprint by 40% since 2015, using efficiency efforts and incentives throughout their supply chain; they have also made a concerted effort to use recycled plastic across their products.

Most impressive though is their pledge to become a closed-loop supply chain, meaning every single device would be made entirely from recycled material - an effort Steve Jobs would be proud of.

3. Dell Dell aims to use 75% renewable source electricity by 2030 and 100% by 2040; and while their efforts are perhaps not as admirable or ambitious

as Fairphone or Apple, this tech stalwart publishes a detailed breakdown of its major suppliers along with transparency over product components, citing which parts are recycled (and which aren’t!).

They also use closed-loop materials in over 91 products, with materials sourced from their own takeback schemes.

4. HP

As one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of PCs, Hewlett Packard have been under great pressure from eco zealots who expect them to do their bit for the planet… and they haven’t disappointed.

Not only have the Palo Alto innovators shown a great willingness and transparency regarding their carbon output, they have also led the way in sustainable innovation, including tablets that are easier to repair and upgrade.

Inevitably, such steps lead to lower profit margins, but such are the expectations from household brands such as HP.

Nigella Lawson’s Marshmallow Squares

Introduction

One of our favourite and most inspirational chefs goes back to basics with a treat that appeals to adults and kids in equal measure.

You’d think this was designed to keep the children happy, and while that’s okay with me, it is the adults who seem to find this baked treat particularly irresistible.

If I can find a tub of edible disco glitter in one of my cupboards, I sprinkle some on while the marshmallow is still sticky, but it has a certain pearly, luminescent appeal as it is.

It’s also beautiful cut into squares. Alternatively, you could turn this into more of a pickable pud, by cutting the slab into teeny-tiny squares so that people can pop one straight into their mouth.

Ingredients (makes 24 squares)

- 45g butter

- 300g mini marshmallows

- 180g rice krispies

- edible glitter or sprinkles (optional)

Method

1. Melt the butter in a large, heavy-based saucepan over a low heat.

2. Add the marshmallows and cook gently until they are completely melted and blended, stirring constantly.

3. Take the pan off the heat and immediately add the cereal, mixing lightly until well coated.

4. Press the mixture into a greased 32cmx23cm tin /13x9”

pan; you may have to put on vinyl CSI gloves and press it down into the corners, as it will be very sticky. Flatten the top and then scatter over the edible glitter or sprinkles, if so inclined.

5. Let the marshmallow crispy squares cool completely in the tin and then cut them into 24 squares.

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