The Lyndhurst Guide - March 2023

Welcome...

Dear Residents,

Where has the summer gone? Well, I believe Spring is just around the corner, so let’s hang on in there and take a deep breath until March! In the meantime, this cooler weather and rain gives us a chance to look at the house and see what is needed to upgrade or change a few things around. Maybe there are people here in your local magazine to help you? We have electricians, plumbers, solar panel experts, builders, roof specialists, carpet cleaners, oven cleaners, window cleaners, carpet fitters, window fitters… and much more! Each of our loyal and trusted trades people and services would love to hear from you. Now is a good chance to get the help you need, so please do mention us when making those all-important calls. I am always very happy to hear this as it makes all our work worthwhile. You get a local person to help with what you need, and the company keeps busy. It is what we are all about. It also keeps our local economy thriving which is good for us all. A win-win all round.

I also hope you enjoy reading the articles and local data inside. If there is anything you would like to see or any suggestions for making your useful magazine, more useful I would love to hear from you! Do give me a call or send an email.

For now, we wish you a good month of February. May you have fun with, or even find, your Valentine!

Best wishes,

Debbie, Stephen & all of us here at Modern Magazines

Are You Septic Smart?

All across rural Hampshire, there are properties that are disconnected from the main sewer system. Instead, these properties use private ‘off-mains’ alternatives: cesspits, septic tanks, and sewage treatment plants. The three types vary in how they store, treat, and release waste, but aren’t a cause for concern when working well.

When something goes wrong, however, both people and wildlife are put at risk. While off-mains properties are in the minority, they have the potential to massively impact their surrounding environment. This is because systems that are incorrectly sized, sited, or maintained can cause chronic sewage pollution.

This pollution can damage homes and gardens, but is also rich in nitrogen and phosphorus - highly effective fertilisers. When it gets into our local chalk streams, it encourages the rapid growth of algae. The resulting ‘blooms’ starve the streams of sunlight and oxygen, with devastating consequences for wildlife.

The contamination of our waterways is especially serious in Hampshire, where pollutants can easily reach the underground chalk aquifer. As the source of both our chalk streams and most of our drinking water, this natural wonder is hugely important. Once inside, pollutants may continue to emerge even years later.

Luckily, expensive repairs and environmental harm can be avoided with a little know-how. Owners are responsible for ensuring that their system is suitable for their property and the number of residents. They must schedule frequent emptying and maintenance, and perform regular checks for signs of trouble.

Swampy ground, pooling water, a leaking tank lid, a grey film on the ground, and spots of lush grass growth can all be clues that something is amiss. Inside the home, look out for sinks, showers, and toilets draining slowly or noisily. Staying alert to potential problems is the best way to fix them before they escalate.

Care over what gets ‘flushed’ is also key, as the wrong additions can make off-mains systems inefficient or non-functional. Oil, fat, food waste, ‘flushable’ wipes, and sanitary products can cause blockages. Medicines, chemicals, bleach, and drain cleaner can kill the bacteria that help to break down the waste.

Learn more about how to keep your system safe and effective through the Septic Smart project. It forms part of the Watercress and Winterbournes scheme, which is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

To get involved, visit www.hiwwt.org.uk/septicsmart or email

winterbournes@hiwwt.org.uk.

Free Online Talk – ‘Bats: Superheroes of the Night’

21st February, 7-8pm

Join Nik Knight for a look at our fascinating local bat species and how they thrive in the rich environments of our chalk streams. Book your ticket at:

www.hiwwt.org.uk/events

Turning the page

For February, four books that will weave a fictional spell.

The Angel Maker

by Alex North

Haunted by the violent attack of her brother Chris years ago, Katie Shaw sees threats everywhere. When her brother disappears, Katie leaps into action to help him once more.

Meanwhile, Detective Laurence

Page’s investigation of a brutal murder of a professor leads her to suspect the case is connected to Chris’s attack... and to a serial killer said to be able to predict the future.

Published by Celadon Books on February 28th

The Porcelain Moon

by Janie Chang

At the end of the First World War, Pauline Deng runs away from her Chinese family in Paris to escape an arranged marriage back in Shanghai. In the French countryside, Pauline finds shelter with Camille, a French woman planning to escape her own abusive marriage, until Pauline finds out a terrible secret about Camille, forcing them to make a decision that will bind them together forever. Published by William Morrow on February 23rd

Someone Else’s Shoes

by Jojo Moyes

Globetrotting Nisha Cantor has the perfect life money can buy until her husband divorces her and cuts her off. Scrambling to hold on to her previous lifestyle, Nisha’s distress hits a peak when even her gym bag is stolen.

Meanwhile, Sam Kemp is desperately trying to keep her

family afloat. When she tries on a pair of expensive shoes from a gym bag she took by accident, the jolt of confidence inspires her to change her life.

This is a story of mix-ups, mess-ups and making the most of second chances. Published by Michael Joseph on February 2nd

The Worst Woman in London: A Victorian Romance

by Julia Bennet

A defiant Victorian wife fights to escape a bad marriage but her love for a forbidden man jeopardises her chance at freedom.

James Standish knows how to play society’s game. He’ll follow the rules, marry a virginal debutante, and inherit a massive fortune. At least, that’s the plan until he meets Francesca Thorne. She’s not the sort of woman a respectable gentleman like James could ever marry… not least because, strictly speaking, she’s married already.

Francesca is determined to flout convention and divorce her philandering husband. When James sweet talks his way into her life tasked with convincing her to abandon her dream of freedom, she’s unprepared for the passion that flares between them.

James and Francesca must choose whether to keep chasing the lives they’ve always wanted or take a chance on a new and forbidden love. Published by Entangled on February 2nd

Puzzle Page Quick Crossword

Word Ladder

The Ultimate Love Quiz

1.

2.

3.

4. What planet was named after the Goddess of Love?

5. What fruit has been referred to as a Love Apple?

6. Where is a shrimps heart?

7. On average, what percentage of marriage proposals are on Valentine’s Day?

8. What hormone is known as the ‘love hormone’?

9. What is the Guinness World Record for the longest marriage ever recorded?

ANSWERS: (LAMP,

10. Who are Shakespeare’s most famous lovers?

Avatar...again

Never an actress who rushes to take up film scripts, Zoe Saldaña very often opts for the ‘less is more’ approach – thus, a string of colossal projects decorate a CV that is notable for gaps in between.

Certainly in terms of the film that set her on her way to a string of big-budget projects from where she rarely now strays, the influence of James Cameron’s groundbreaking Avatar has been present for well over a decade now.

So it is with no small amount of relief that, finally, a sequel has arrived… and not just one. In what may turn out to be the biggest box office series ever, production of four more Avatar movies is in motion, through to Avatar 5, due for release in 2028, no less.

“The project is huge, but it has to be,” says Saldaña. “You have a film that took $3billion at

the box office, and yet here we are 13 years on. Perhaps it’s only right we’re getting this many sequels done if it’s taken us this long up until now!”

On the eve of Avatar: The Way of Water, one of the most-anticipated sequels in film history, Zoe Saldaña is a woman with a lot of work to do. does just different… different.”

While details over Avatar 2, or The Way of Water to give it its official title, are sketchy, what’s clear is this is no rushed project, nor is Saldaña taking her return lightly.

“I was very nervous because sequels can be dangerous, and we were feeling the pressure. I think the first couple of days, we all had moments of, ‘Can we do this again? What was the secret ingredient?

Do you know, does anyone? Should we just leave it there, not mess with it?’ There were a lot of nerves. It has been a long while.

“Yet [director and writer] James Cameron is in charge and his vision is present and trustworthy. And the film is very different from the first, way different… different planet different.”

While we are now in a new era of film that feels a world away from the CGI-laden original, the appeal of welcoming a new generation of filmgoer to the mystery of Eurasia is one Saldaña is relishing.

“We still retain the curiosity and interest of the millions of people who went out to watch it first time around, but the continuation of this story will bring new eyes to the story, and that’s a thrill for me.”

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.

Could you help us with a gift in your Will?

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’

A waxwing winter? –Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

Waxwings are perhaps one of the most beautiful birds imaginable.

Their buff colouration with flashes of yellow and red on the wings, elegant ‘eyeliner’ and silky large crest really make them stand out from the crowd.

Part of a family of three species, the Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is the species native to northern Europe. The bird’s English name refers to how they travel in large nomadic groups (bohemian) and the red tips to their secondary wing feathers that look like seal wax droplets (waxwing).

But it’s not all about the looks. Their trilling ‘sirrrrr’ call sounds like a small ringing bell – perhaps akin to Santa’s sleigh dashing overhead – as flocks of up to 100 birds move from tree to tree.

Bohemian waxwings breed within the northern parts of Europe’s coniferous belt, often in remote, damp, mossy mature forests nesting high in pines. In winter, they escape the numbing temperatures of north-eastern Europe and western Russia and head west in search of more temperate conditions, feeding on fruit-rich trees including apple, rowan and hawthorn. During winter, a relatively small number of these starling-sized birds travel to UK shores; first seen on the east coast before spreading west and south from there.

Waxwings are referred to as irruptive, which means on occasion large numbers of the birds migrate beyond their typical range. Some years, hundreds of thousands of waxwings will land in the UK, often labelled as a ‘waxwing winter’. But why does this happen?

Waxwings are pushed away from their

breeding grounds in search of food, and it’s the yield of fruit trees that determines how far afield waxwings must travel. Most fruit trees of the same, and of similar, species bear fruit at the same time. This can result in a bounty of fruits in some years, and practically none in others. During years of bad yields, large numbers of waxwings will migrate large distances. Recent reports of poor berry crops in Finland and Sweden suggest an irruption is possible this year!

In Hampshire, waxwings are not seen every year – they are a rare visitor. However, when they do turn up, it might not be where you’d expect. The ASDA supermarket in Totton and Whiteley shopping centre in Fareham are common hotspots. These commercial areas often feature car parks planted with aesthetically pleasing, berry-laden fruit trees – and these always prove popular with waxwings. The last irruption in Hampshire was in the winter of 2010 when over 2,000 birds arrived.

So, keep your eyes and ears open for these punk rock-looking winter birds over Christmas and New Year and you might just get lucky enough to spot one!

Find out more about local wildlife at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s website:

www.hiwwt.org.uk

Image Credits: The aptly named Bohemian waxwing can often be found feeding on berry-laden fruit trees in supermarket car parks (c) JonHawkins_ SurreyHillsPhotography

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.

Increasing numbers of homeowners are choosing to hold their properties as tenants in common to reduce inheritance

Want to put your best foot forward with your better half? These fashion tips on how to maximise your power couple status – while not looking too matchy matchy – cover every occasion from a gym outing to a super slick soiree.

Here are our top tips for ensuring you are the sartorial king and queen of wherever you roam.

Casual date

Want to show your one and only you have eyes for them? Then consider looking similar in the subtlest of ways.

Matching outerwear in the form of camel coats or bomber jackets; white trainers with jeans or a sweatshirt in a similar hue to her dress, can be touching without overbearing.

As with so much in fashion, the trick is to keep it subtle for maximum effect.

Gym hangout

Matching lycra is obviously a no-no unless you fancy channelling Barbie and Ken, but gym-based couple selfies surely demand a little liaising with your betrothed.

Donning the same sportswear brand or t-shirts with a similar font and style will give an effortless sense of cohesion, as will matching sports bags.

Couple Goals her

Similarly, you can also team up with matching post-workout protein shakes, but that really is one for the dedicated.

Wedding When it comes to complementary fashion looks, it’s often about the smaller details… for example, his tie matching her dress. It’s a little nod to the one you love without going overboard.

Generally, a dark to mid-grey suit pairs well with a formal cocktail dress in a colour palette agreeing to the theme and time of the wedding.

Just remember that white and black dresses are generally a no no.

Corporate event

If the event is semi-casual, then the guy can wear a black jacket paired with pitch black jeans and loafers. His partner can stick to the little black dress. If it’s a formal event, then adhere to the same rules as for a wedding.

Summer Soiree

You want to look and feel relaxed, so definitely choose breathable fabrics and cuts. Loose cotton shirts and lightcoloured chinos with loafers or boat shoes for him, and a flowing, elegant dress for her.

Once again, your outfit synergy comes from the accents. The gentleman’s shoes may be similar to the lady’s dress, or her nail polish may match his shirt. These details not only make you look well put together as a couple, they also show your hosts that you’ve made the effort for their event too.

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Dash cameras starting at £145 fully tted or FRONT & REAR cameras for just £245

Cleaning up our act

Keen to make your laundry routine as ecofriendly as possible? Well, we’ve got some simple and effective solutions for you.

1. Lessen the load

Sometimes the most obvious option is the best one, and in this case, that would be to simply do less washing.

Naturally, socks and pants can only be worn once before they need a clean, but perhaps you can at least strive to get a couple of days from the same pair of jeans or sweatshirt. Going fewer days without doing a wash is also a good strategy: three larger loads a week is preferable to five smaller ones.

2. Curb the chemicals

Toxic detergents have a very negative impact on our local eco-systems – particularly marine life. Fortunately, there are numerous ecobrands on the market that are also effective and pleasantly fragrant.

Another good option is soap

nuts - these are dried shells of berries from a tree native to the Himalayas. Entirely natural, chemical-free and gentle, these

nuts contain saponins, a soap-like chemical that foams when agitated in warm water. Soap nuts are also anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and an effective alternative to chemical cleaners.

3. Get some balls

Your favourite scented dryer sheet is singleuse, non-biodegradable and packed with toxic chemicals, so invest instead in some wool dryer balls.

Not only do they reduce static electricity and wrinkles, soften fabrics and encourage them to dry faster, they can also be used over and over again – far kinder to your pocket, too! And to go a step further, sprinkle with essential oils to give your clothes a dreamy scent.

4. Ditch the plastics

It’s no secret that single-use plastic is enemy number one to the environment. Why not seek out a local store that provides refillable stations, or consider a detergent alternative such as soap nuts or even just distilled white vinegar -

don’t worry, the vinegar smell naturally neutralises!

5. Cool it down

Even though most washing machines offer the option of a 90-degree wash, it really is an unnecessary temperature to wash linens at. If you do have nasty stains, pop half-a-cup of baking soda in with your clothes to banish them.

Even your colour clothes wash can be dropped from 40 to 30 degrees thanks to better formulated detergents (even the eco brands), a small change that lessens both the impact on the planet and on your pocket.

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.”

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!

Let’s go eco friendly!

Debbie Corney

Greenfingers… The Alan Titchmarsh Column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and allround horticultural inspiration. is month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses how to keep motivation for your garden going.

e back might ache more than it used to and there’s more than a hint of a painful creak in the knees, but most days I still feel the urge to get out there and do my bit… and even when I don’t feel the urge, I always find it important to push on. A er all, my faithful beds and trellises rely on it!

It’s also worth remembering how beneficial the everyday rigours of flowering and weeding, pruning and digging are. It comes with the territory when you get to my sort of age, but I always remind myself that by the very nature of gardening you are outdoors, filling the lungs with oxygen and experiencing what it is to be around plants, trees and flowers. If that isn’t good for the soul, I don’t know what is!

I think what should motivate us to garden, even on those days when we would rather be in the pub, is the fact there is something unique about every outside space, and it changes on each occasion you set foot out into it. ere is always something that’s di erent, and special, and always ready to enchant you… always something you perhaps hadn’t noticed before!

It’s important to remember that although your garden is a wild space, you have, in e ect, tamed a lot of it; so like a pet or a child, it relies on you to keep doing the things you invested in it in the first place. It’s sort of saying, ‘you’ve started now, you can’t just stop!’

Remember too, it was you who had the vision, the idea, the perception of what this space should look like; so press on with those jobs and keep making your garden your own personal space – it’s an expression of who you are, and just like we get up in the

mornings and have a wash, comb our hair, so too do we owe that to our gardens.

So in summing up, of course the work can be hard and tiring and there are days when the body seems to be telling me to stop, but I am happy and healthy and have a loving family so things could be far worse. And what would I do anyway? Okay, yes… head to the pub!

Game on

Why Emilia Clarke’s progression from Game of Thrones is there for all to see.

It says a lot for Emilia Clarke that between the filming of the eight seasons of Game of Thrones, the actress additionally managed to squeeze in appearances in two of the biggest movie franchises of all time. She played the role of Sarah Connor opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator Genisys in 2015, before starring as Qi’ra in the Star Wars spin-off Solo: A Star Wars Story three years later.

In more recent times, the Brit has been swaying her influence around dramatic material of a rather more grounded nature, from an extended theatre turn in Anya Reiss’s adaptation of Harold Pinter’s The Seagull, to voiceover excellence in animated adventure, The Amazing Maurice. And in 2023 she takes her first steps into executive producer responsibilities in The Pod Generation.

It all adds up to a slew of work that belies her 36 years,

although in recent times she sees her progression both professionally, and personally – Clarke has recovered from two brain aneurisms and says she is in the best health of her life –as a marker to a renewed zeal for her craft, that is carrying her forward with genuine momentum.

“Firstly, I think it was important for me to move away from that tight stricture of Game of Thrones,” she begins. “Although it was an evolving storyline and it captivated minds and hearts for so long, ultimately you are kept in a restricted place. Certainly, as far as characterisation goes, there is very little movement, and actors need to keep flexing their muscles on a variety of different things in order to stay fresh.”

Clarke admits she was always slightly at odds with her character Dany’s brazen fearlessness in Game of Thrones. “I do feel I learned a lot from her - I have taken on some of her security and have tried to embrace that wonderful fearlessness she has, but deep down that’s not my nature.

“I have a very easy-going and vulnerable side and that will always be who I am.”

Indeed, while Clarke is in many ways pleased to see the back of Thrones, you sense she may be lured back; after all, so much of her adult life has been centred around the story - she was just 23 when filming for the first scenes began.

“I think as an actor there is always a strong sensation of not wanting to be left out, and not wanting to miss out,” she admits, rather candidly. “That could be for Thrones or any other project, to be honest… so we’ll see!”

General Knowledge

Across Clues:

1. Imply (4)

5. Old, aged, long-established (4)

7. Ductile malleable metal (9)

9. Type (4)

11. Harsh (5)

12. Dissolve (4)

14. Dry, irritated skin (6)

17. Copy from an original (6)

19. Parents brother (5)

20. Wild (5)

21. Revolver (6)

23. Beauty treatment (6)

24. Bring down (4)

26. Attendant (5)

28. Folk tale (4)

30. Essential (9)

31. Discharge (4)

32. Seep (4)

Down Clues:

1. Natter (4)

2. Starchy plant (4)

3. ‘The mainland’ (6)

4. To be wed (6)

5. Leave out (4)

6. Raffle (4)

8. Lifetime (3)

10. Comprehensive (9)

13. Applying to reverse a legal decision (9)

15. Maintain (5)

16. Faithful (5)

18. 4 suits plus 22 tarot cards (5)

22. Deploy (6)

23. Prevent (6)

24. Renown (4)

25. 40 days (4)

27. God (3)

28. Creamy dressing (4)

29. Sharpen (4)

The Adventures of Daichi The Modern Magazines Camper Van

Daichi, The Dashing Dude, our wonderful, spirited Campervan is always ready to cheer us up, to take us on family adventures both near and far and generally take us away from any stresses or strains of everyday life. He doesn’t believe in watching the news or letting woes and worries get him down. He is all about living life, seeing friends and family and making the most of our beautiful British Isles. It is a great attitude to have. Christmas seems a long way away already, but at that time we have two important Birthdays (well I think so…), my own and Stephen’s. You see I was born 3 days before Christmas and Stephen was born on Boxing Day. It is a busy time of year! Daichi’s story this month is how very different we can spend our Birthdays and how we all enjoyed both of them!

Daichi drove us all the way to Hull for my Birthday… where I was born and lived until I was 18 years old. The family are still there and what I wanted was to see them all with my Mum and Dad. It gets to a certain time in your life, when, I don’t know about you, but you wonder if this Christmas could be the last, with certain people. I had this going on in my jumbled head for some time, so Daichi was very accommodating and drove myself and Stephen all the way to Hull. We arrived late on December 21st. What my Dad did not know

was that I had already been in contact with our 22 family members there, and each were coming to his humble abode the following evening. Dad worries a lot, and at 87 now and though still very fit and able to drive all the way down South, Daichi did not want to stress him out. A Mum with dementia is not at all easy and situations can never be predicted, but I managed to get her up and dressed and ready to go to a local garden centre the morning of my Birthday. For anyone with this problem, I had bought mum a gorgeous doll and it worked like a treat. This “baby” was a saving grace on many occasions this Christmas. It is very sad to watch in many ways, but believe me, Mum lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw her, and hardly let go the whole time we were with them. The people in the garden centre were marvellous too, mum had many smiles and hello’s, and I was very touched by all their gracious looks and helpful comments as Mum wandered around holding carefully her pretty baby. Daichi was all smiles too. What a great idea that worked a treat, for everyone’s benefit. During lunch I approached Dad and told him my Birthday plan. A little taken aback, but he knows me well, the next step of the plan was set. Shopping! The boys would do the shopping,

Debbie and mum in the garden centre

Enjoying a family walk in “the garden”!

while I kept mum entertained at the garden centre. It worked! Daichi took the boys to the supermarket… and I lost Mum several times walking around the Christmas decorations! All good fun.

Seeing all my cousins and family members was what I had wanted. We don’t get together too often and when we do it is always good. I was particularly interested in the younger members… now in their twenties and thirties (I am showing my age now…). One cousin is buying her first house. Another cousin had gotten married and gone to Disney for three weeks. An aunt is planning a new life for herself. I loved it. Lots of life, living and forward thinking. It was a great way to spend my Birthday.

Mum and Dad came back with us for Christmas and spent a week with my sister over at their farmhouse in Margaret Marsh, near Shaftesbury. We spent a quiet Christmas Day with them in the countryside. Gorgeous. Log fire, wind whistling around the walls and windows and Christmas dinner…mmm…. From Hull to Margaret Marsh, and then to Weymouth for Stephen’s Birthday on 26th. Variety is the spice of life I have heard it said!

As you know we do love living in Weymouth with our sea views. The last two years, Boxing Day has been glorious! Really, sunny and blue skies. It has become Stephen’s day for a brisk swim in the sea with Hayden, our son, to

celebrate his big day. They do have wetsuits, but nevertheless this is a brave move I would say! I, well, I take the photographs… Afterall someone has to do it! This year they stayed in the water a good 15 minutes all the while playing ball and diving in and out of the water. It is fun to watch, though people passing by gave us a few sympathetic looks… I think Stephen likes the challenge of it all. There I am bringing the family members together for my day, and Stephen absolutely backs me up with all of that, but on his day a bracing challenge and a full ‘alive feeling’ is what he wants. After a Birthday lunch, including ice-cream of course at our wonderful “Wafflicious” ice-cream parlour, “Avatar 2” was next on the menu! All within walking distance of where we live, the cinema, just around the corner was the perfect way to end a great day. The film is brilliant. Defense of the family is at the core of this adventure. Quite apt really. A three-hour movie, well worth it with gorgeous graphics and we were well entertained the whole time. An exhilarating end to a fabulous day!

So, how did you spend your Birthday? Daichi would love to know. Why not email him at debbie@modernmagazines.co.uk. Maybe we could add some of your Birthday photos in the magazine and Daichi will send you his Best Wishes? Birthdays are a great excuse to do what YOU want to do! Where will Daichi take us next, I wonder?

By Debbie Corney

Stephen after a bracing dip on Boxing Day

Light the way

A guide to the best and brightest scented candles available.

Best blowout

BYREDO Bibliothèque

scented candle (approx. £60)

This cult candle is described as ‘a world of old books’, but there is no mustiness in sight with this deliriously heady mix of peach, plum and peony blended with leather, patchouli and vanilla.

Sophisticated, sensual and presented in a beautiful black jar, this candle may work out a pound-an-hour with its 60-hour burn-time, but you really can’t put a price on such olfactory exuberance.

Best budget

Yankee Candle, Clean Cotton

large jar candle (approx. £30)

American brand Yankee Candle have established themselves as experts in having a scent for every season. However, their divine Clean Cotton fragrance is one that never goes out of fashion, because who could possibly get tired of smelling freshly washed sheets?

Presented in their iconic jar with a lid, this beast burns for 150 hours as sun-dried cotton combined with green notes, white flowers and a hint of lemon gently waft through your home.

Best value

The White Company, Seychelles scented candle (approx. £20)

Luxury homewares brand The White Company are experts in making the home feel as sumptuous as possible, and this candle is no exception.

Like a summer holiday in candle form, bergamot, orange and coconut are blended with notes of amber and vanilla for a dreamy and evocative scent. The price is also remarkably good for a high-end candle that will burn for 33 blissful hours.

Best for daytime

Jo Malone London Lime Basil and Mandarin scented candle (approx. £55)

London perfumier Malone’s signature scent has long been regarded as then go-to housewarming gift among those in the know.

Zippy notes of citrus, basil and aromatic white thyme

will make anywhere smell like home in minutes in this most uplifting and joyous of aromatic adventures.

Best for night-time

Aromatherapy Associates

Relax scented candle (approx. £50)

Aromatherapy Associates are experts in creating scents that ‘do a job’, Whether reviving, refreshing or in this case, relaxing, you can be sure that every product will do what it says on the tin – or stylish, ceramic candle vessel.

Rich, relaxing odours of warm, smooth West Indian Bay essential oils and myrrh will transform even the grubbiest of bathrooms into a luxury spa. Unwind in the bath or woo in the bedroom, this diminutive candle will provide 40 hours of pleasure.

Spot the Difference!

There are 10 differences between the two images below. How many can you spot?

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 concept of space.

During lockdown, our understanding and appreciation of space was something that was challenged in ways we w had probably never expected.

Not only was even outside space challenged and conditioned to be accessed and used in very specific ways, but when at home, our rooms suddenly became multifunctional when they were never designed for such a purpose – our kitchen tables were work desks; our little creative nooks and crannies were filled with children and other imposters!

One of the positive take-outs many of us took from lockdown

was versatility, yet in my own life I’m keen to get back a certain amount of separation, because I find it absolutely essential for organising my mind and staying creative.

It’s for that reason that I actually have different work areas, spaces and locations for different types of jobs. By that, I mean I will do all my creative television thinking in a little bale- and stone-walled hut I have, called The Straw Bale. It has a roof, some furniture in there, and serves as a studio away from prying eyes and everyday interruptions you would usually encounter in the house.

I felt I needed this little space because with a show such as Grand Designs I am pretty much on-location the whole time. That means there is no set base by which I can connect myself to a project and get in that headspace… unless I make one.

I have an office within the main part of the house, but that is used for much more menial matters, such as answering emails and firing off angry letters to all and sundry!

The concept of space is one that isn’t always objective – it can be

subjective as well. For instance, just because you have a big area with which to express yourself, it doesn’t mean it will actually feel big, or spacious.

Similarly, very small rooms can be made to feel much larger than they are with clever techniques and smart aesthetics. I talk around this idea a lot when I mention high ceilings, uplighting and an abundance of floor space, utilising tables and chairs with legs, that guide the eye and light through the space.

In essence, it’s all about how we marry together space and comfort. If done well, you have the first building blocks for somewhere, home or office, that truly inspires you and brings happiness.

Driven to distraction

Driving on UK roads is about how we respond to danger and hazards… both of our own doing, as well as those around us. We look at how these factors collide, and how being aware means being safe.

The actions of others

The AA regularly poll their members on a variety of road issues, and over time have gathered the responses of a quarter of a million people on the habits and traits that irritate them most. The results are revealing, with talking on a mobile phone, in recent years, having become the thing that creates the most ire.

Most frustrating habits of other road users:

1. Talking on a mobile (30%)

2. Tailgating (23%)

3. Middle lane hogging (20%)

4. Swooping or cutting across lanes to leave a motorway at the last minute (10%)

5. Overtaking on the inside (7%)

6. Driving too slowly (4%)

7. Speeding (3%)

8. Littering (3%)

Our own misdemeanours

Most of us know the key things we need to avoid on the roads, yet there are a few other

seemingly inoffensive actions that you may also land you in trouble.

A bad apple

Around two thirds of British drivers have had a bite to eat while behind the wheel – but how many of those would have snuck a piece of sandwich had they known it could mean big trouble? The Highway Code, under Rule 148, states that “safe driving and riding needs concentration,” and advises against eating, drinking, smoking, listening to loud music and trying to read maps while behind the wheel.

Anyone tucking into their lunch could well be committing an offence of driving without due care and attention, or not being in proper control of a vehicle.

Making a splash

Mean-spirited motorists careening through surface water and subsequently soaking pedestrians may be infringing section three of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which states that driving “without reasonable consideration

for other persons using the road” is an offence. So next time you see an inviting puddle, steer well clear or risk being hit with a fixed penalty notice!

Horn blower

The horn is a vital part of staying safe on the roads and should be used to warn other drivers of your presence, particularly if you are about to tackle a sharp corner or a situation where there is poor driver visibility.

Beeping in a moment of anger can in fact be considered breaking the law; while sounding the horn between 11.30pm and 7am in a built-up area unless is prohibited, unless it is an absolute emergency.

Puzzle Page Answers

Quick Crossword Solution #024

Answers:

Across: 2. Sap, 5. Almost, 7. Lychee, 9. Upvaluation, 10. Reborn, 11. Toffee, 13. Emesis, 16. Shalom, 18. Tremblingly, 19. Ovisac, 20. Airmen, 21. Tar.

Down: 1. Blouse, 2. Stolen, 3. Pliant, 4. Beanie, 6. Obviousness, 8. Cliffhanger, 10. Rue, 12. Elm, 14. Motive, 15. Subact, 16. Spinar, 17. Oxygen.

The Ultimate Love Quiz Answers

1. Paris 2. Titanic 3. 1,400 4. Venus 5. Tomato

6. Head 7. 50% 8. Oxytocin

9. 86 years, 260 days

10. Romeo and Juliet

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Lisa Faulkner’s Choux Hearts with Berries

Having met her now husband, John Torode, on the 2010 series of Celebrity MasterChef – on which he was a judge and she a contestant – Lisa Faulkner knows full well that food is the language of love. So, what better way to woo your beloved on Valentine’s Day than with these stunning choux hearts?

Ingredients

(makes 8 hearts)

For the choux pastry

• 90g butter

• 360ml water

• pinch salt

• pinch sugar

• 110g plain flour, sifted

• 3 whole eggs, beaten well

To serve:

• 500ml double cream

• 400g mixed fresh berries

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6. Put the butter and water in a medium saucepan, add the salt and sugar, and bring to the boil. Ensure the butter is melted. Remove from the heat, add the sifted flour all at once and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes away from the sides of the pan. Return to the heat and cook for 2 minutes until the paste is pale. Cool a little.

2. Add the beaten eggs, a little at a time, incorporating fully with a wooden spoon after each addition. The mixture will go glossy then back to dull. Add the eggs until the mixture is shiny again and it just drops off the wooden spoon. Cool the mixture for about 10 minutes. Put in a piping bag and pipe heart shapes on to a baking sheet dampened with a little water.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes then reduce the temperature to 160°C, gas mark 3, and bake for a further 15-20 minutes until golden.

4. Pour the cream into a chilled bowl and whisk, either by hand or with a hand mixer, until stiff peaks form. This may take a few minutes.

5. When cooked, turn the hearts over and pop back into the oven for 2 minutes to dry out a little. Split each heart in half horizontally and then spoon or pipe the whipped cream on the base. Top with the other half and fill the centre with the fruit. Serve immediately.

Top Tips

Be careful not to overwhip your cream. As soon as you have firm peaks (you should be able to hold the bowl over your head without it spilling out!) you should stop.

If berries aren’t your thing use whatever fruit you prefer… mango and passion fruit, for example.