The Brockenhurst Guide - January 2023

Five Generations Of

The Jose family have been master bakers since the 1890s and here in the New Forest area since 1905.

At The Bakehouse, we hand make our white bread which has been matured for 30 hours and is additive-free, providing a wonderful flavour and long lasting freshness.

To complete the process, the breads are then baked in authentic stone ovens for their traditional taste.

And if the thought of these hand made breads and pastries are making your mouth water, then why not drop in to The Bakehouse today for a made to order mid-morning or lunchtime treat?

Fresh breads and baguettes baked on the premises can be filled with all manner of wonderful fillings ranging from simple salads to fresh hog roast and apple sauce to create the sandwich of your dreams!

Dear Residents,

A Very Happy New Year to you! 2023 here we are. We cannot say that the last three years have been uneventful, that is for sure. Here at Modern Magazines with your local Guide, we sincerely intend this year to be successful for all of us, despite anything the news may try and tell us. I hope you have made some good New Years’ resolutions and that you feel you can create and have some fun. Our local trades and businesses inside really want you to call them. Please use their services for the help you need in the home, for the car, your business or even for yourself. Do tell them that you have seen them here, as this makes all the difference. I just love to hear you found their details in “My Guide”. The index at the back is a quick guide to find who you are looking for. There are local groups and societies that also wish to hear from you, so please give them a call too and join in with their activities. There is nothing better than getting together with like-minded people. It is very uplifting and may be the ‘therapy’ we all need to watch less TV. If you know of a club that needs more support, let them know of us. We can help spread the word. In a number of recent editions we have carried a column that was associated with Martin Lewis. We have since found out that they were in fact not written by Martin Lewis himself. For the most up to date guidance and personal finance information, visit MoneySavingExpert.com.

Stephen, myself (Debbie), Mel, Julie, Steph, Tracey, Pippa, Beth and Jaidan, our new graphic designer, all wish you a fantastic 2023! May you expand in all areas of your life and laugh a lot. Best wishes, Debbie, Stephen

Used Cars: Banging Bargain Or Buyer Beware?

The checks you need to make when it comes to buying a used car.

The used car market is awash with quality motors, yet it’s important to lean on the talents of a mechanical mind who can give your prospective purchase a once-over. Alternatively, if the seller agrees, book it in for a professional health-check.

Before you get to that stage, there are a number of checks you can perform yourself on the driveway:

1. Beginning with the outside of the car, have a good look at the wheels and tyres. Make sure that you confirm the tyre depth and tread are road legal and do the 20p test by inserting a coin into the grooves.

2. Make sure you take a torch along on a viewing in order to check bodywork, both the exterior and underneath. Rust, leaks and splits should be evident.

3. Next is the interior. Check all warning lights work properly, and that the mileage is ticking along properly on a test drive. Electronics are important and could be costly to get replaced.

4. Next look at the engine. Check for leaks (when you previously looked underneath the car, you may have seen liquid on the tarmac). Inspect pipes and hoses for any splits or abrasions.

5. The test drive is where you will truly put your new motor through its paces. If you have someone else with you, get them to check the colour of the smoke from the exhaust.

Drive along with windows open and music off so that you can listen out

for any unexpected noises – squeaks, purrs and grinds should cause alarm.

Ensure you drive at varying speeds to get an accurate idea of what the engine has in it (or doesn’t!).

6. Gear box and clutch issues can be particularly expensive, so ensure you move through all configurations. If the car doesn’t get through each of the gears happily, there could be an issue.

7. Documents and paperwork should include the car’s previous service history. Perform an online vehicle history check to confirm nothing is outstanding regarding MOT and tax.

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Summing up, although the fun of landing a new car can seem like it’s being taken away by an exhaustive look at possible motor issues, you may well save yourself a lot of money in the long run.

Pegg in Paradise

Not long ago, Simon Pegg was co-writing low-budget British comedy. Now he’s tasked with preserving the legacy of not one, not two, but three of cinema’s most beloved sci-fi franchises.

It’s a sizeable distance from the suburbs of North London to the final frontier of space, but Simon Pegg has made the journey without breaking sweat.

In 1999, Pegg first made his way into the British public’s consciousness as slacker Tim Bisley in Spaced, the sitcom he both starred in and cowrote. The show not only set a precedent for much of Pegg’s early career, it also helped him catch the eye of Hollywood’s elite movers and shakers. In 2006, just five short years after wrapping up the low-budget British hit, and at a time when the writer feared he may have to pen a third series, Pegg was approached by one of Los Angeles’ leading directors, J.J. Abrams.

With Abrams in the director’s chair, Mission: Impossible III saw Pegg appear alongside cinema royalty in the form of Tom Cruise as the nerdy Benjamin ‘Benji’ Dunn.

“When J.J. Abrams asks you to be in one of his movies, you don’t think, ‘Will this pigeonhole my range’ – you say, ‘When do you need me?’” the 52-yearold laughs.

Pegg and Abrams teamed up again as part of Star Trek, the cinematic re-boot of the much-loved sci-fi story. Add in his cameo as Unkar Plutt in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and this largely unassuming creative comedian has strolled almost effortlessly into the A-list franchise elite.

“Being handed the keys to these universes has been such a privilege and an honour. They are daunting prospects and I’ve always appreciated the importance of doing them justice.

“You have to tread a fine line between the two different types of

people who watch franchise movies – on one hand you have the super fan, and on the other, the newbie who knows nothing about this world,” he explains. “You want to appeal to someone who says, ‘what’s this Mission: Impossible business?’, and then goes back and discovers 20 years’ worth.”

“Yet at the same time you don’t want to alienate old fans and move too far away from the core model,” he continues.

With two new Mission: Impossible movies in motion –Dead Reckoning Pts 1&2, for release in 2023 and 2024, the size of the task doesn’t get any smaller.

“I feel like I’ve had a really nice run of smaller films before all this – with Hector, Man Up, Absolutely Anything and others. I’ve had a run of blockbusters, then balanced back into movies such as Lost Translations, Inheritance and others. It’s a nice mix. It’s keeping me away from having to write another series of Spaced!”

Eco-Co ee

How to ensure your morning beverage isn’t brewing up an environmental storm.

When, in the mid-Nineties, the likes of Costa Coffee and Starbucks began opening on our high streets, so too did there begin a coffee bean revolution that has transformed our drinking habits.

However, such pleasure has come at a cost. With 95 million cups of coffee slurped down in the UK every single day the resulting waste and environmental impact has also increased significantly. A colossal 2.5 billion coffee cups are dumped every year (with only 0.25% currently recycled), while 30,000 coffee pods end up in landfill every single month. And that’s before you even consider the global resource and human costs of what has become the most traded commodity after crude oil.

Fortunately, there is much you can do to ensure your caffeine kick is not compromising the planet. As with most products, knowing the origin

of what you’re consuming is vital, and many supermarkets are keenly aware of their responsibility to offer ethically sourced coffee. Check for sustainability certifications that ensure things are being done to help make production better for both the environment and the farmers involved. Associations like Fairtrade and the Rainforest Alliance are great examples of this, so look out for beans that feature their logos.

Even fans of pod machines can also lower their coffee carbon footprint. Many appliances are now compatible with foil pods which can be recycled using a very simple and nifty pod recycling device that separates the used coffee grounds from their foil casing. The grounds go on your compost heap, while the accumulated foils

head for the recycling bin. You can also source pods that are compostable in their entirety.

When it comes to drinking ‘on the go’, the obvious solution to limiting waste is to switch to a reusable coffee cup, and many cafes will offer a discount on your beverage when you proffer your own vessel. You can also upgrade to beans that are organic; and if your focus is on the imprint being made on the dairy industry, cow’s milk alternatives such as soy, almond, rice or oat have never felt closer to the real thing.

In other words, you don’t have to let your coffee consumption become a burden on your conscience.

With an abundance of options available in an industry that is positively booming, it’s actually very easy to make the right choices. It means if you still give in to the temptation of the odd instant coffee – and why should you not? – the assault will be only on your tastebuds, not the planet!

Going Green...

So much is being said about the need to protect the planet and use more eco-friendly material, but it is the small steps that each of us can do that will really make the difference.

Take the EcoEgg Laundry Egg... the innovative laundry solution. It replaces laundry detergent and fabric conditioner, reducing both harmful chemicals used and also single-use plastic packaging.

Dermatest has rated it excellent for use on sensitive skin, giving a kinder wash on both your skin and your pocket.

The mineral pellets in the egg, which are refillable (saving even more money!), work together in the water to effectively draw dirt from your clothes and softens them by changing the pH. Therefore leaving your laundry clean and fresh.

EcoEggs are available in Fresh Linen, Spring Blossom and Fragrance Free.

Recently, they have also released the EcoEgg Dryer Egg, which can be used when tumble drying. They reduce the drying time by up to 28%, saving you both time and money.

“I’ve been using mine for over a month now and I absolutely love it. It saves money, there’s no mess from washing powders and liquids. Also easy to use, and is better for the environment. Helps cut down on single use plastic and doesn’t use harmful chemicals.” KD

If you would like to know more about these products and many more, please feel free to visit my website at debbiegoesgreen.uk or email me at hello@debbiegoesgreen.uk as I would love to hear from you. Let’s look after ourselves and our environment!

Debbie Corney

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.

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

Litter Pickers of the New Forest

Litter Pickers of the New Forest is a group founded by Stephen Green from Lymington in May 2020. During lockdown he noticed that, with so many people taking their “daily exercise” in the Forest and its towns and villages, there was an increase in litter. He acquired a picking stick and set up a Facebook group to see if any like-minded people would like to join him. Within weeks he had a small group of strangers who were all willing to take on the problem and get out there picking litter. No one could have foreseen that now, two and a half years later, the group would number 1700 members!

Although not all members are active litter pickers on a regular basis, everyone who joins the group is concerned about the growing problem and is keen to support the effort to make things better.

From the small beginnings, the group has grown not only in number but also in activities. A great many members pick on their own or with a friend or two, but group picks are organised regularly in identified hotspots such as town centres, popular Forest car parks and the coast and beaches. Individuals post pictures of their finds on the group

Facebook page and the Pick of the Week award is highly prized. Winners have included various items of underwear, toys, car parts and even a Wightlink parking meter which was inexplicably found in the middle of Wilverley Inclosure. Other found items are not suitable for publication!

The group has become more visible to the general public as it provided a litter picking service at Dogstival 2021 and in 2022 we were picking at Brockstock and the Lymington Seafood Festival as well as having information stands at the New Forest Show and Hordle Dog Show. The group gazebo will no doubt be out at more events in 2023.

The Facebook group now has 11 Admin members who work to ensure that the group remains a safe and friendly place to be, concerning itself only with issues of Forest cleanliness, littering, fly tipping, hazards, damage and other aspects of the New Forest Code. We have links with other groups to increase awareness of litter/environment/animal issues such as litter on verges, feeding of

Forest livestock, speeding and verge parking, evidence of BBQs and other inappropriate behaviour.

There is also a strong sense of comradeship in the group and there are now social events such as a monthly coffee-shop meet up and an occasional lunch club. Christmas 2021 saw a mulled wine and mince pie event in a Forest car park, where Santas, reindeer, elves and a snowman were in evidence. There was a summer evening picnic in 2022 and Christmas 2022 will see a repeat of the Christmas event and also a Christmas lunch. Lasting friendships have been made between people from all backgrounds who would probably never have met had they not embraced the “hobby” of litter picking. Every group pick ends with a well deserved cup of coffee and a biscuit at “Jill’s Coffee Stall” from the back of her car.

The group is always keen to attract younger members and one such member recently achieved her Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for (among other activities) organising a group pick in Lymington. At the other end of the scale, one of our regular pickers in New Milton is 86 years young!

Some of the results of the group’s activities are quite amazing. A recent group pick attended by 12 people at Pennington produced about 20 full black sacks of litter in just one hour. However, the main accolade must be reserved for Neil Woodman, who

has taken the task to new heights around Lymington and will by the end of December 2022 have collected 900 bags since 1 January 2022. He is known in the group as the Lymington Legend and often clocks up 10 miles plus in a day in his quest to rid the town of litter.

Although the group is independent, we have had support from New Milton Town Council and Hordle Parish Council and maintain links with Forestry England and the National Park Authority. We are also working towards a closer relationship with New Forest District Council from whom we have recently received a grant to further our activities.

New members are always welcome and can join by requesting membership of the Facebook group “Litter Pickers of the New Forest”. The group has picking sticks and hi viz gilets available should people want to give it a try before perhaps buying their own.

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 returns to the subject of truly making our home into a home.

It’s becoming more and more difficult to get on the property ladder. We are living through an incredible ‘cost of living’ crisis, and that throws the whole housing market into disarray. Should people buy now in fear of things getting even worse? Should they look to rent and wait for things to calm down? Or perhaps if the bubble is going to burst, should they sell up, keep their money to one side and buy something when the property sector crashes?

Through all the worry and uncertainty there is always the

factor of making wherever we do live as happily and as homely as possible. I feel that sometimes we are so keen to move, so keen to head on to the next place, that we lose sight of the day-to-day joy, satisfaction, security and homeliness of our spaces, and really these things are worth more than any amount of money in the bank.

I have always thought that, right back to the first house I ever bought - an old two up, two down in East Dulwich in London. It was small and not worth a lot, but it meant and still does mean an awful lot to me. It was where I started out, and I look back with huge fondness.

So this is why, when we have so much worry and concern

over the way the market is going – and let’s be honest, for several years now it’s only been going in one direction – we can sometimes lose sight of the contentment and happiness that a property brings us. Perhaps it’s the garden, or the cellar, or just the hour or two you get to sit in the front room and relax on an evening.

My point is we are always trying to move on and aspire to the next thing, when in reality so much of what we should do is about sitting still, looking around, being in the moment and saying to ourselves, ‘you know, this is okay – in this moment, I am happy’.

Make the most of your home’s best features, because adding value isn’t always about money and it never has been. Wherever you find yourself, just enjoy your time there.

Green ngers… the Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and allround horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses his move to incorporate horticulture into the National Curriculum, and a sidestep into novels.

I’ve written three autobiographies and people have expressed surprise that I do sometimes, even now, lack confidence in my work. I always wonder if it stems from my childhood and my parents who were very much realists. I wouldn’t swap them for the world, but in their very blunt Yorkshire way they would say ‘he’s not that bright,’ and I wasn’t then. I suppose it has been a bit of a curse and given my success I probably should have more confidence, but then

again it has made me who I am. When you’re not that good when you’re young, there is the fear that you won’t get better, and it came as a kind of revelation when I did.

Even in the 11 novels I’ve penned, I’ve never had faith in my prose; in secondary school I remember doing ‘when composition becomes essays’. I don’t think my English teacher was particularly convinced about my capabilities; I’ve still got my essay book and it’s got some very harsh comments at the bottom in red ink.

Yet my English teacher, bless her, I was in touch with her a few years ago and she said she felt she hadn’t been a particularly good teacher,

and I wrote back saying ‘well whatever it is you did, I’ve ended up doing the job I do now, writing pretty much for a living, so you can’t have got it all wrong’. I thought it was terribly generously spirited of her to admit that she was wrong.

I think my point here is that I was no more a gardener at school than I was a novelist, and I became both; but I did that through exposure and opportunity, and this is what we need to give our children.

And in my mind, there is no greater exposure to the world than you will find in the garden on a frosty Sunday morning, so get your kids and grandkids out there, and let’s really inspire the next generation!

Nurturing a garden can give you a real sense of achievement, and connection to the earth; I always say it is an escape to reality, or a different reality… and for our young people, that’s where real inspiration can emerge.

The Adventures of Daichi

The Modern Magazines Camper Van

London! Daichi has never been to London. Many years ago I was at university there, so this was a real adventure for me. A trip down memory lane. The easiest and cheapest way to get there was to park Daichi in the car park at Richmond. A mere £8.50 for the day. The Richmond train station is just a ten minutes’ walk away and we were on our way into the Capital! It was 25th November and Hayden’s 19th Birthday so what a great excuse to book a show for the evening and wander around our wonderful city for the day. Hayden has never seen Buckingham Palace so that was a must. St James’s Park is one I remember well. Having spent three years at Goldsmiths College and regularly taking the train to Charing Cross then walking from there, it was a place I recall with fondness. We stopped in the park for a coffee and sandwich, looking at the ducks on the water and enjoying the sunshine – Yes, in November! The palace was surrounded by people taking photos. I heard one European sounding accent say, “Oh that is where he comes out on the balcony!” I smiled. Isn’t it incredible how well our late Queen passed over her duties so smoothly, after all that time on the throne, and how well we are recognised for the good work we do as a nation.

I really enjoyed being there. The King was there too – the flag was up! I would have gone in to say ‘Hello’… but we were a little short on time.

Next was a trip to Camden Market. You see, owning a Waffle place, it is good to get ideas and we set off there all determined to see what we could do, to lift “Wafflicious” in Weymouth even further. Lindsey, a friend, came with us as she is a chef and is full of great ideas of her own. Camden Market is not a place I frequented much at all when I was living there. It is an amazing place. We immediately saw lots of street food vendors and lo and behold there were two very colourful and popular I have to say, waffle sellers! Wow. They looked amazing. Of course, we all had to try one. They tasted as good as they looked. So… if you are ever in Weymouth this coming spring or summer you can come and see our own version of the delights that we relished. Let’s see how we do! After dessert, we had lunch (obviously) outside, under the canopy, of a bar overlooking the Lock. Fabulous! Smoked salmon salad this time, so healthier, but not nearly as much fun. A barge even floated by for us to watch.

Hayden has joined a ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ group recently. This is a fantasy tabletop

First stop... Buckingham Palace!

role-playing game where you create your own character and can enact it while you play. How exciting! We found a wonderful leather book at a bargain price, with a dragon on the front. All ready for him to take notes and plan his manoeuvres. This world famous and iconic market really does live up to its reputation. We spent a few well–spent hours there, looking at clothes, games, toiletries, food stalls galore, paintings, decorations, in fact anything you could think of to buy. Daichi would have loved it, if he wasn’t too expensive to drive into London itself!

Then it was time to make our way to the well anticipated West End Show! We had tickets to see the renowned musical, “Back to the Future”. Seats in the upper circle, second row from the front, and we were ready. It is such a long time since I have taken in the full atmosphere of a truly professional setting like this. It was glorious. The whole show was spectacular. The special effects of lighting and scenery were remarkable. The singing and dancing were outstanding. Ben Joyce who played Marty McFly was brilliant and he only graduated in summer 2021. His list of

Night lights of London across the Thames

already acclaimed credits was much shorter than Cory English who played ‘Doc Brown’. What a fantastic start to his career. All of the performers were perfectly cast, and I have to say that Oliver Nicholas who played the father, George Mc Fly, as his debut West End performance, was excellent. To be able to dance ‘wrongly and awkwardly’ deliberately is a skill in itself! Bravo I say. The finale was totally unexpected and incredible to watch. Having a seat in the circle I do believe was a bonus as we had all the full effects of the lighting, sound and visuals. I will not spoil it for you as you must see it for yourself! All in all, a day trip to London was a real hit. We walked to the Thames before leaving. I looked at the Charing Cross Bridge I used to cross all those years ago and remembered times when I was much younger. Fortunately, I was not sad. I feel I have been leading a full life and those days set me on my path. The lights of all the towering buildings that night seemed particularly bright and were shimmering Thames water. Then there were the opulent boats carrying well dressed passengers for a luxury 4 course meal. Not quite the street food we had been drooling over earlier. London of course is full of diversity and that is why we love it… or maybe you don’t. I love to visit but am happy where we live. I think a day trip to London will be on the cards again soon. It was a great success and Daichi was as happy as Larry to take us home and Hayden was all smiles after his Birthday treat. Where will Daichi take us next I wonder…

By Debbie Corney

TV presenter Megan

McCubbin welcomed as new President of HIWWT

The Springwatch presenter assumes the role alongside co-presenter Chris Packham who becomes a Vice President for the Trust.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has welcomed wildlife television presenter and conservationist Megan McCubbin as its new President.

The 27-year-old Springwatch star was confirmed as the Trust’s President at the charity’s recent annual general meeting on 5 November. McCubbin, who grew up in Hampshire, takes over from predecessor John Collman, who is retiring from the role after six years of service.

Naturalist and Springwatch co-presenter, Chris Packham, was also appointed as a Vice President for the Trust.

Rising television star McCubbin said: “I am over the moon to be the next President for the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. “I have so much admiration for the fundamental work that the charity carries out - from the reintroduction of key species to their community conservation projects.

“At this critical time, we need all hands on deck to help protect wildlife and their habitats. I cannot wait to get stuck into my new role helping to protect the environment across the two counties.”

As well as presenting on the BBC’s Springwatch and Autumnwatch programmes, McCubbin

has recently co-authored her first book - Back to Nature: How to Love Life - and Save It – and is also a keen nature photographer. McCubbin’s popularity and enthusiasm for wildlife will help the Trust reach new audiences and inspire more people from a wider range of ages and backgrounds to get on nature’s side. The Trust is currently working towards its goals of inspiring at least one in four people to take action for nature, and to push for at least 30% of land and sea to be protected and restored for nature by 2030.

Debbie Tann, chief executive of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Megan on board as our new President.

“We’re currently facing immense pressures from the climate and nature crises, and Megan’s significant conservation and science communications experience will be crucial in helping us tip the balance in favour of nature’s recovery.”

New Forest-based Packham, who is McCubbin’s stepfather, added: “I am delighted to join the superb Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust as a Vice President.

“In our current climate and ecological emergency, organisations such as the Wildlife Trusts are essential, and I am delighted to be part of it.”

To find out more about the vital conservation work that Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is involved in, visit www.hiwwt.org.uk.

Photos: Top right, Hazel McCubbin Bottom left, Chris Packham

New Year, New Book!

This month, four books that will lead you into 2023.

A Nation of Shopkeepers: The Unstoppable rise of the Petite-Bourgeoisie by Daniel Evans

Lifting the lid on the UK’s modern class structure, Daniel Evans’ forthcoming book, A Nation of Shopkeepers: The Unstoppable Rise of the Petite-Bourgeoisie, focuses on the class of people existing between the working class and the bourgeoisie – those shopkeepers, small-time landlords and self-employed artisans who were expected to be swallowed up by monopoly capitalism, but who’ve actually grown in recent years.

Referring to them as a “mysterious class”, he investigates what their seemingly unstoppable rise might mean for the Left.

Published by Repeater Books on February 14th

You Are

Not Alone

by Cariad Lloyd Cariad Lloyd losing her father at 15 inspired her awardwinning podcast, Griefcast, in which she talks to celebrities about navigating their own experiences of loss.

In You Are Not Alone, the comedian and writer explores society’s reluctance to talk about death and its impact. Amid stories from those she’s interviewed,

including Stephen Mangan, Sara Pascoe, and Adam Buxton, are Lloyd’s own thoughts on therapy and friends as, amongst other things, she debunks ‘the five stages of grief’ in appraising loss and heartache in all its unexpected forms. Published by Bloomsbury on January 19th

8 Rules of Love by Jay Shetty

Jay Shetty, author of the no.1 New York Times bestseller Think Like a Monk, offers a revelatory guide to every stage of romance, drawing on ancient wisdom and new science.

Instead of presenting love as an ethereal concept or a collection of cliches, Shetty lays out specific, actionable steps to help you develop the skills to practise and nurture love better than ever before.

He shares eight rules, each teaching and empowering, detailing how to win or lose together, how to define love, and why you don’t ‘break’ in a breakup, and more. Published by Harper Collins on January 31st

The latest breakneck thriller from powerhouse writer Linwood

Barclay introduces us to Sandra Montrose, who hasn’t been the same since her husband died after he fell asleep at the wheel of his car, leaving her a single mother to Archie and Katie.

When, in an experiment, the cars on Garrett Island are switched for driverless vehicles called Arrivals. Sandra is hesitant. Sure enough, as the day of the big reveal gets underway, a member of the press has gone missing and there are rumours of industrial sabotage.

Shortly afterwards, the sleek driverless cars stop taking orders. In fact, they have rules of their own and start targeting the trusting residents of Garrett Island. Published by Harper Collins on February 3rd

Look Both Ways by Linwood Barclay

Pond Life

Water features are back in fashion. Here are five ways to do them right…

1. The free-standing fountain

The look: Consider the breathless, artistic energy of the Italian renaissance, and create your own version with consummate abundance.

The execution: Ideal if you’ve got a small garden or as a welcoming feature for out the front of your house, the freestanding fountain is one of the easiest features to install and maintain. For a minimalist look, select one made from a natural stone, or for something more fabulous choose the classic cherub.

2. The water wall

The look: Imagine your garden as a subtle and secret oasis – your route to perfect privacy may be closer than you imagine.

The execution: Forget Wonderwall: this is a garden ornament that really rocks. Another space-saver, this is for small gardens and equally small budgets. Some also have light options, making them

the perfect centrepiece for alfresco dining and evening soirees.

3.

The reflecting pool

The look: You are the person who wants a touch of Japanese zen in your garden, with echoes of peace and harmony emanating from a garden of process and precision.

The execution: For a feature that requires very little digging and even less maintenance, reflection pools are a surprisingly impressive addition to the more subdued space. Plus, if you install an automatic re-fill system, all you need to do is start them up and shut them down

4. The waterfall

The look: You want imposing and impactful, sinking back into a trickling trip to a place of calm – it can only be a waterfall.

The execution: Don’t go chasing this waterfall because if installed right, this ecofriendly feature will work in a loop, using very little energy and water. One of the bigger and more impressive additions to your garden, it is also surprisingly versatile and doesn’t necessarily need a pond. Tiered cement waterfalls are ideal for a modern aesthetic, or choose natural rocks for a more organic, outdoorsy theme.

5. The outdoor pond

The look: For the gardener who adores everything that is English, with rural resplendence lapping away at the side.

The execution: For all the modern innovations, you still can’t go wrong with the classic pond – though this is only recommended if you don’t have pets or small children. Ponds are fantastic because they are naturally beautiful and attract a diverse array of wildlife to your garden, including frogs, water beetles and butterflies. However, do be sure to install properly with inlay, edging and filters.

However,

Working together for a single purpose: our patients

Suzanne has been a Ward Sister on the In-Patient Unit for seven years and says of the time she spends with patients ‘we are there to enhance the quality of life for our patients for as long as possible. You look after patients to the best of your ability and make time for them as an essential part of providing good end of life care. You will hear laughter, it’s not all dark and gloomy. We go above and beyond to meet the wishes of our patients, such as staging parties in the gardens and providing a knitting companion for another patient who loved to knit.’

Suzanne says she is incredibly proud of the teamwork on the IPU ward at the hospice, which includes everyone – doctors, nursing staff and the housekeeping team, ‘we work together for a single purpose.’

Suzanne and the clinical team care for one in four people thanks to Gifts in Wills.

Leaving a lasting legacy to Oakhaven in this way ensures we will be able to continue caring for those in our community when they need us most, helping us to make every moment matter.

A pledge of any size really will make a difference to our future. Visit oakhavenhospice.co.uk/legacy for more information. We also offer a free and confidential online Will writing service in partnership with Guardian Angel.

‘Spending time with patients is about living, not dying’

Could you help us with a gift in your Will?

Lorraine Pascale’s Soda Bread

Bread, on its own, is always enough! There is a warmth and simplicity that no other type of food can rival.

Sure, add some butter, some oil, and maybe a dusting of salt, and jam of course; but bread, no matter how you dress it up, comes equipped with such perfection that I don’t feel it will ever let me down!

This recipe is probably the easiest route for baking bread. It’s also quick – and the bread won’t keep for long, so you get the pleasure of scoffing it all on day one!

Ingredients

(serves 4)

• 370g/13oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting

• 130g/4½oz wholemeal flour

• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

• 1 tsp salt

• 40g/1½oz butter, melted

• 1 tbsp black treacle

• 300–340ml/11–12fl oz buttermilk (or alternatively use warm milk plus 1 tbsp lemon juice)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6 and ensure the top shelf in the oven is in position. Now place the flours, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large bowl and stir together. Make a large hole in the centre of the flour mixture and pour in the melted butter and treacle, plus enough of the buttermilk to make a loose sticky dough.

2. Tip the dough onto a lightly dusted work surface. The dough will be quite sticky. Knead the dough for one minute, then shape it into a large ball with a taut, smooth top. Place the dough on a baking tray and flatten it a bitI find the easiest way to do this is with a rolling pin.

3. Take a wooden spoon, put some flour over the whole handle, then hold it horizontally over the bread. Put the wooden spoon handle on top of the bread then push it down until you feel the baking tray at the bottom. This mark is the first half of the trademark soda bread cross. Repeat with a line at right angles to this.

4. Dust with some flour then bake in the oven for 30–40 minutes, or until the bread is brown, has risen nicely and the dough inside where the cross was made is not damp.

5. Serve fresh from the oven with butter and jam. Enjoy!

Top Tips

- This recipe calls for buttermilk, which is available from bigger supermarkets. However a homemade version can be made by putting lemon juice in regular milk and letting it sit for a few minutes.

- Also, the best way to remove treacle from the tin is to run a tablespoon under a really hot tap for 10 seconds before dipping it into the treacle. This ensures the treacle runs easily off the spoon.