The Winter Issue - Hot Brands Cool Places December 2020

HOT BRANDS

Cool Places

THE WINTER ISSUE DEC 2020

I S S U E N O. 7 3

Winter Wishes...

FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to our last magazine of 2020, what a year it has been!

This year we are very aware of the difficulties that many people are facing and so our message is one of hope.

A hope that in 2021, we may see a return to some kind of normality, that scientists across the world continue to work together not just in tackling Covid-19, but other ongoing health issues. A hope that people can continue to work in the careers that they love, that small businesses are supported to help them survive, that young people complete their education successfully. That families can meet, celebrate events with their loved ones and that local communities continue to support each other.

That we always remember the contribution of all the key workers who have cared for us and kept us safe, and that we never forget those we have lost.

In this issue This year more than ever before we have spent long periods of time in our homes, and as this trend is likely to continue, we share some inspiring and uplifting ideas about how you can refresh your living space. The festive meal will be different this year, we share some sources of inspiration for simpler, yet flavoursome meals.

If you are thinking about gifts for loved ones, we share ideas about how you can make them extra special by personalising them. We love books and we share some of our favourites that make perfect gifts and we hope that when shopping, wherever possible, you can support local independent shops and businesses.

Finally It’s our 14th anniversary this month, and we would like to thank all the companies in our Directories, the authors, publishers and PR/publicity teams and all our very loyal readers and followers, many of whom have been with us from the very start, for all your support.

Whatever you choose to do during the festive break this year, we hope you have a safe and happy time, and are able to look forward to 2021 with hope and positivity.

Kaye, Louise and the whole Hot Brands Cool Places team. www.hotbrandscoolplaces.com

Images throughout the magazine supplied by the various companies, or publishers featured.

Special Note: COVID-19 - Update The companies featured in this magazine and our Directories will all be affected in different ways and will be operating depending on their location and the latest government advice please see their individual websites for more details.

All information about products and services are supplied to us by the individual organizations, or agencies acting on their behalf. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, it may be subject to change. Please check with individual organizations for the latest information about all events, products, or news items. Inclusion in this magazine does not imply endorsement by Hot Brands Cool Places. Hot Brands Cool Places does not accept responsibility for the content of any external site.

CELEBRATING OUR HOMES If there is one positive thing to take from 2020 it is the year that we became really grateful for our homes.

There may have been times when we recognised its shortcomings as we struggled to accommodate children, parents and working from home. We may have lamented the lack of a garden, but ultimately our homes became our sanctuary, somewhere to escape from the world, to create our own bubble.

This year our working patterns have changed for many of us; discovering the joy of the short commute from bed to desk, moving away from air-conditioned offices to embracing the freedom to open the windows and let fresh air in.

As we look towards 2021, and the recognition that working from home may become a more permanent factor in our lives; it may be time to look at our interiors in a different way.

As a source of inspiration there are two books that filled us with absolute delight when they arrived: BOLD BRITISH DESIGN Modern living spaces to inspire fearlessness and creativity Emilio Pimentel-Reid, Sarah Hogan

Description: Bold British Design sees tastemakers at the epicentre of British interior design share their exclusive vision and inspiration for achieving a bold interior, inspiring you to create your own original, fearless home.

Designers the world over are increasingly looking to British creatives to combine heritage and history with wit, modernity and attitude. Interiors Editor Emilio Pimentel-Reid and photographer Sarah Hogan have gained exclusive access to the studios, homes and mood boards of 20 top British creatives. With the interiors creating a visual conversation through the rooms of the houses and creative spaces, the authors reveal the history, craftsmanship, key elements and inspiration that went into

creating these very personal and stylish spaces.

Featuring the studios and relaxed family homes of artists including furniture designers Sebastian Cox and Bethan Gray, ceramicist Hitomi Hosono, interior designer Lucy Hammond Giles, names to watch Yinka Ilori and Hal Messel and antiques dealer Guy Tobin, Bold British Design shows how a new generation is breaking new ground in interior style and decor.

Published by Quadrille Publishing Ltd https://www.hardiegrant.com/uk/quadrille

Feature

In Bold British Design - Modern living spaces to inspire fearlessness and creativity the author Emilio Pimentel-Reid and photographer Sarah Hogan have selected interiors both small and larger spaces where their ‘owners make use of old and new, mass-produced and crafted products, colour and monochrome palettes. They range from the quietly refined to the eclectic with a hint of luxury; many break design rules and achieve inspiring results.’

beautifully the content. This is an absolutely fascinating book, bursting with creative ideas and inspiration and full of advice about how to achieve your own beautiful interiors. We loved the in-depth interviews with the creative tastemakers; this is a book that deserves to be read from cover-to-cover as each person shares their insights into how they have created their space. Furniture and Homeware Designer Bethan Gray, offers advice to those wishing to bring out their own personality in their home

The content is a mixture of structured interviews and narrative, full of personal contributions and advice for those looking to create their own interiors. The photography throughout is in full colour and illustrates

‘A lot of it is about having the confidence to buy what resonates with you and makes you feel good. Make a mood board to see how the things you like work together – and get hold of samples, or see things in real life before buying.

I’m very visual and like touching and feeling everything. Choose things that you have a connection with. There’s no right or wrong; it’s your home and you need to be comfortable in it’ Many of those interviewed talk about taking inspiration from previous decades, for example visiting National Trust and English Heritage properties, other historic houses, museums such as the Victoria & Albert Museum (V & A) and some of this information is included in a really useful resource list at the back of the book.

We loved the description by Lucy Hammond Giles, a Decorator at Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, of how she encourages her children to be interested in the history of houses: ‘To find inspiration I like going to old houses…..I usually drag the children because I think it’s good for them. The more you can see from a young age the more you understand that there is no right or wrong way to live. There are just different ways to live' Lucy’s style is elegant, comfortable and relaxed, and very relevant to modern day living especially in the current climate where we are all having to adjust our ways of living in our homes.

‘The key elements to an interior, in addition to good proportion, are having good light which makes you feel joyful; and ensuring that everything works for its intended purpose’ reveals Lucy, ‘Our kitchen is where we spend most of our time. The space needed to be a kitchen, dining room and play room. The dining table needed to be not just for eating, but also for sitting at. Our kitchen is more than utilitarian, it’s a kids’ play area shared with grown-ups. All has to be well considered and quite democratic as everyone has to be able to use it’ What is both inspiring and encouraging is how many of those featured expressed a belief that design rules are made to be broken. Collector and Antiques Dealer, Guy Tobin, shares a view with refreshing honesty, ‘I never learned any decorating rules, so I fear I have no doubt broken them. My space came together as a cohesive accident’ This is very similar to the comment by Emilio Pimentel - Reid himself, ‘Not being trained as an interior or product designer I am not someone who follows rules. I go by what my eye tells me feels right. This approach probably comes from having an interest in rooms and how people live. There are certainly elements of balance, proportion and comfort to consider...'

British interiors are still evolving in varied directions and they are all valid. Whether modern, clean and hyper-edited, traditional or colourful, many of us are looking to break free from prescribed concepts of how we should live’ This stunning book is packed full of inspiring interiors and styles that illustrate just how to achieve this freedom.

The second book is Still: The Slow Home, which explores the central ideas of the slow movement, and how we adapt them to make positive changes in our homes for a better life.

STILL: THE SLOW HOME NATALIE WALTON Description: Still is a stunningly photographed interiors book that invites readers to take on the philosophy of the SLOW movement. Living Sustainably. Local.

Organic. And Whole.

Still features 20 in depth studies of inspirational interiors designed according to the SLOW principles. The owners explain why they chose this path and how it has benefited their lives. All of the homes have been exclusively photographed by renowned interiors photographer Chris Warnes.

The book features homes from Australia, Europe, North America, South America, and North Africa, offering readers the opportunity to see outstanding examples of SLOW interiors from all over the world. Immerse yourself in these tranquil spaces.

Published by Hardie Grant Books www.hardiegrant.com/uk/books From a journey that spans twenty homes across the world, writer Natalie Walton and photographer Chris Warnes show us that there are many paths to create more sustainable spaces. Each story is different, but home is at the heart of all of them.

As is explained in the introduction, ‘Living mindfully is the central tenet of the slow philosophy, which encourages SLOW – Sustainable, Local, Organic, Whole – choices.’

Reminding us that it’s more than thirty years since the creation of the slow movement, the author asks, ‘So are we eating simpler, working less, sleeping longer, being more community minded? How can we make positive change in our lives? We can start by asking the right questions – which can help us consider what drives our decisions. When we have a clear understanding of our why, it is much easier to make meaningful change and stay the course.

When we simplify from the inside out – rather than attempting quickfix solutions from the outside in – the changes we embrace become systemic, rather than just surface-based. And by communicating about the steps we take, even if we just talk to one person, we can help spread the word and start to change the world.’

We loved the keys steps to Slow Living: Create a vision Develop a value framework Find our why Focus on priorities Take responsibility Let go Switch off Live in the now Embrace SLOW living one step at a time.

Each step is defined and is so very relevant in all our lives.

This beautiful book includes studies of inspirational interiors designed according to the SLOW principles. The owners explain why they chose this path and how it has benefited their lives.

As well as describing how they have created their homes, the owners also all respond in an individual way to a set of questions, e.g.

When I do less When I disconnect I have learnt to live without I have set boundaries around Calm is Change is…….

My Life feels meaningful when And they also give personal examples of how they have embraced Slow-Sustainable, Local, Organic, and Whole Each study is supported by beautiful photography by Chris Warnes and throughout the book there are additional thoughtful insights e.g. Finding our Truth, The Slow Renovation, Letting Go, The Reimagined Home, Time Honoured Methods, written by some of the home owners.

What we loved about both books was that there were many varied examples of how to adapt and use your home to express your personality, but also to meet the realities of day-to-day living.

Taken together these two books are full of inspiring and uplifting messages to encourage every reader to experiment and have faith in their ability to create a home that really reflects their personality. Both are Highly Recommended!

Pages reproduced courtesy of Quadrille Publishing Ltd and Hardie Grant Books

Inspiration...

Feeling inspired by the previous feature?

You may also be interested in our recent Home Issue, click on the image to see the full magazine.

HOT BRANDS

Cool Places

THE HOME ISSUE OCT 2020

I S S U E N O. 7 2

THE FESTIVE MEAL

The celebrations will be very different this year, family groups will be smaller, there is still a need for careful social distancing, and there is the ongoing warning that we “don’t do unnecessary things just because we can” Some families are moving the festivities to 2021, choosing a time in early spring, or summer as a family get together, when the hope is that it will be safer for the more vulnerable family members. There are government guidelines and advice about how to stay safe indoors over the Christmas period, including opening windows, washing hands regularly, cleaning door handles and other touch points, limiting the amount of time people are together indoors, isolating before the gathering, and many more suggestions to try and stop the spread of the virus.

With this in mind many families may be looking to offer a different family meal. One of the ways of doing this is to reduce the amount of time spent in preparation and particularly limiting the number of people in a kitchen, before and after the meal. By offering simpler menus, there will be less time spent inside and people can perhaps go outside to walk after the meal.

If you are planning a family meal together you may want to look for alternatives to the traditional large turkey, by choosing a turkey crown, or a large chicken, or duck, or other type of meat, or vegan and vegetarian options, all of which can still be full of flavour, but involve less time to prepare. Whether you have a family gathering, or want to cook something special for yourself, or your immediate family we highly recommend the following book, full of delicious and alternative choices for throughout the festive period.

Mary Berry Simple Comforts – Mary Berry Find comfort with Mary’s easy home cooking.

In this tie-in to the recent BBC Two series, Mary Berry shares over 120 of her ultimate food recipes, all made simply and guaranteed to get smiles around your kitchen table.

Mary’s utterly reliable recipes are perfect for days when you want tasty and dependable food.

Come home to the delicious simplicity of a Whole Roasted Squash with Garlic and Chilli Butter, or a warming Spicy Sausage and Red Pepper Hot Pot. Treat your family to Slow Roast French Lamb with Ratatouille, and spoil everyone with a decadent Frangipane Apple and Brioche Pudding.

Featuring all the recipes from Mary’s recent series, plus many more fresh from Mary’s kitchen, every single dish is accompanied by a photography of the finished food, so you know exactly what you’re making. Each recipe includes Mary’s trademark no-nonsense tips and techniques for getting ahead, and has been rigorously tested to make your cooking stress-free. www.waterstones.com

MAKING IT PERSONAL In a year when so many of us have been unable to visit loved ones, or have been restricted in the places that we want to visit with family and friends, this Christmas is a perfect opportunity to create, or buy gifts that are more personal.

Feature

Handmade Gifts

Subscriptions/Memberships

There is still time to create a handmade gift, but don’t feel under pressure to create something. There is nothing worse than stressing out on Christmas Eve trying to finish something that you are not really happy with and wishing you had bought a gift instead!

But if you do want to make something, there are many beautiful suggestions in our crafting books at the end of this feature. If you have friends or family, who enjoy being creative, you can also create a crafting gift, with a book and a starter kit to help them begin.

At a time when money is becoming increasingly difficult, buying a subscription for someone can be a lovely ongoing gift. Always choose reliable sources, and make sure because of Covid-19 restrictions that they will be able to use it, but the hope is in 2021 things will gradually return to normal, or membership will be extended, particularly if the gift is related to visiting places.

Gifts in memory This is a sensitive area, you never want to make someone sad with a gift, but sometimes there are special gifts that you know someone may appreciate, perhaps a framed photograph of a loved one, a poem written in their memory, even a Christmas bauble with their name in calligraphy.

Gifts to charity So many charities have suffered from a loss of fundraising this year, one tradition can be to give to charity as part of a family tree gift.

Each family member can choose a charity to make a donation to and this is recognised by an envelope hung on a tree.

image courtesy of fineartdesignstudio.co.uk

Personalised Gifts If you are not confident, or don’t have the time to create your own home made gift, there are many very talented crafts people who can create and personalise something for you. Many small businesses have really suffered this year, if you can find someone local, or a small business online, you will also be helping your community, or a small business survive.

Relaxation Gift So many people have spent this year helping others, being lonely, or anxious, or generally rushing around. A gift collection of their favourite items, carefully chosen can be a wonderful way of helping them relax. Choose a pretty container and fill it with items that you know are their favourites, a magazine, chocolates, biscuits, a book, DVD, together with some other personal items can be a wonderful way of showing someone that you care.

Pampering Gifts Many of us have really missed being pampered this year! When thinking of gifts for loved ones, be creative about what might mean pampering for them. Personal notes offering to do something for them, creating a gift box of some of their favourite items, as well as vouchers for their favourite treatments, or pampering products.

Gardening Gifts This year has seen a huge growth in interest in the garden, and now is a time when keen gardeners start planning for 2021. Part of the joy of gardening is choosing which seeds, plants, or trees to buy. There are so many opportunities for gift vouchers, gardening books, or if you know a favourite item that they particularly want, buying a plant, or tree for them. A special rose, or ornamental tree can also be a gift in memory of someone.

image courtesy of fineartdesignstudio.co.uk

Gifts to celebrate your love Many couples often create personalised gifts to celebrate their anniversary, but as so many couples have had to cancel or postpone their weddings this year; choosing a gift that is related to the wedding that you had planned, confirming your hopes for the future could be a special gift for a loved one.

Gifting sensibly Christmas will be different this year, and while giving presents is one way to try and make up for 2020, for many this can bring additional pressure. One way of doing this is to talk to friends and family about different ways of gifting, recognising that it can create both stress and unnecessary expense and setting sensible limits on the spending.

Whatever gifts you choose this year, we hope you have a safe and happy time, and are able to look forward to 2021 with hope and positivity.

CREATIVE GIFTS

These delightful books are full of inspiring ideas to create your own gifts, or as gift ideas in their own right, or as part of a crafting gift.

Paper Christmas - Emily Dawe Description: These fun papercraft projects range from simple yet effective bunting to intricate tree decorations, bell jar Christmas trees, and an advent calendar village. Give your holiday season the homemade touch, from wrapping paper to tree decorations, using very few materials and innovative techniques, such as printing with shaving foam and creating stunning greeting cards using gold embossing ink. Includes 64 traceable templates.

Watercolour Flowers Step-by-Step Wendy Tait & Richard Bolton Description: Be inspired to paint beautiful flowers in watercolour by the four respected artists featured in this comprehensive guide. Each artist has their own individual style and provides detailed instruction on the tools, materials and techniques they use.

Crochet Learn It. Love it . - Tracey Todhunter Description: Aimed at the absolute beginner and assuming no prior knowledge, this skill-building book by experienced and highly respected crochet teacher, Tracey Todhunter, offers expert guidance as you hook away. Starting with the basic skills you need to crochet, Crochet Learn It. Love It will serve as a long-term reference guide to 40 essential crochet techniques. Each chapter teaches basic skills in detail, with step-by-step guides, photographs and diagrams to ensure the reader knows exactly what to do and how to do it. In addition, 12 simple 'Quick Start' projects have been specially designed by Tracey to build confidence and help the reader progress.

Previously published as Woman's Weekly Guide to Crochet.

Learn about painting wild flowers from Wendy Tait, including composition, sketching, painting backgrounds, and expert tips on how to improve your flower portraits. There's a fascinating section on achieving light in flower painting by Jackie Barrass, and an exploration of creative techniques with Richard Bolton.

Finally, Ann Mortimer guides you through depicting flowers in the landscape with four stunning projects.

With a total of 12 gorgeous projects to choose from, this highly practical book will provide all the instruction and inspiration you need to create amazing watercolour flower paintings in a range of styles.

This book uses material previously published in the highly successful Step-by-Step Leisure Arts series and the Watercolour Tips and Techniques series.

All three books are available from: www.searchpress.com

FESTIVE READS

One More For Christmas – Sarah Morgan

A Surprise Christmas Wedding – Phillipa Ashley

Description: Gayle is a highly successful and motivated business woman, but her success has come at a price – she hasn’t spoken to her daughters, Ella and Samantha, for years. But when Gayle has an accident at work, she realises she needs to make amends with her family.

Description: It’s been a year since Lottie’s fiancé walked out, leaving her heartbroken. But things start to look up when she lands her dream job at a beautiful Lake District estate, with a handsome groundskeeper for a neighbour.

And so she invites herself to join Ella and Samantha for their Christmas in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. The sisters are none too pleased that their mother has inserted herself into their Christmas plans. They have each other – and don’t need their mother back in their lives. Or so they think…

As they embark on their first family Christmas together in years, will the three women learn that sometimes facing up to a few home truths is all you need to heal your heart?

So when Lottie is asked to organise a last minute Christmas wedding at Firholme, she can’t wait to get started. Until she meets the couple, and discovers that Connor, the man who broke her heart, is the groom-to-be.

As snow falls on the hills, can Lottie put aside her past to organise the perfect winter wedding? And will there be any festive magic left to bring Lottie the perfect Christmas she deserves?

Curl up with this gorgeous story about love and second chances.

www.waterstones.com

www.waterstones.com

Hot Brands Cool Places Review

Hot Brands Cool Places Review

We love Sarah Morgan’s books, she is a sublime storyteller, each year she creates a wonderful festive read, and One More For Christmas is one of her best! It has all the ingredients of an absolutely delightful festive read; heartwarming romance, humour and drama in equal measures, set in a stunningly atmospheric location.

We love Phillipa’s books and this is another delight, full of festive magic. She captures both the importance of family and the atmosphere and spirit of the Lake District estate in the lead up to Christmas. Her magical storytelling creates so many twists and turns and unexpected developments in this story, it will keep you turning the pages to the very end.

Snuggle up, switch off and escape with this absolutely magical festive read! We loved it, another stunning book to join our collection of our favourite festive reads of 2020!

Highly Recommended!

A heart-warming festive read! Highly Recommended!

Home For Christmas - Florence McNicoll IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BATTERSEA DOGS AND CATS HOME Description: Kathy Brentwood is good at keeping it together – or so it seems to the people around her. But really, struggling with grief after the death of her husband, Kathy’s life has become small.

Her days are organised, her house is neat, but she’s desperately lonely – and with her son starting to build a life of his own, she isn’t sure where she fits anymore. On Christmas Day, a chance encounter with a man called Ben and a rescue dog leads Kathy to the door of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. She meets Milly, the shy greyhound in need of a loving home; Baxter, the friendly Staffie who brings everyone together and Archie the Jack Russell Terrier who is a true original and has a heart of gold.

Through a year of ups and downs, new friends – both two and four-legged – and even the possibility of romance, a new life beckons for Kathy, if only she is brave enough. Because at Battersea Dogs And Cats Home, it is never too late for a second chance – especially at Christmas. www.waterstones.com Hot Brands Cool Places Review We love Florence McNicoll’ s books, The Nine Lives of Christmas was one of our favourites last year. While this book is a work of fiction, in writing this, Florence also shares Battersea’s policy of aiming to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help, caring for them until their owners or loving new homes can be found no matter how long it takes. They are champions for and supporters of, vulnerable dogs and cats, determined to create lasting changes for animals in our society. www.battersea.org.uk A heart-warming tale about loneliness, love, families and the importance of furry friends – perfect to snuggle up with this Christmas. We absolutely loved it. Highly Recommended!

Christmas Wishes – Sue Moorcroft Description: Hannah and Nico are meant to be together.

But fate is keeping them apart…

As soon as Hannah bumps into her brother Rob’s best friend Nico in Stockholm, the two rekindle a fast friendship. But Hannah has a boyfriend – and Nico has two children to look after.

When Hannah loses her beloved shop in Stockholm, though, she is forced to move back to the little village of Middledip – only to find Nico has just moved in too.

Under the same snowy sky, can the childhood friends make a romance work – or are there too many obstacles standing in their way?

A heartwarming story of love, friendship, and Christmas magic. www.waterstones.com Hot Brands Cool Places Review We love Sue Moorcroft’s books, and Christmas Wishes is one of her best! Full of twists and turns Christmas Wishes is compulsive reading, full of action and even when dealing with difficult issues, these are handled with sensitivity.

Partly set in Stockholm, Sue’s evocative descriptions make you feel that even though we may not be able to travel, we are on a journey with Hannah and Nico. Heart-warming and romantic, this is a perfect pre-Christmas read Highly Recommended!

Christmas for Beginners – Carole Matthews SPEND THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR AT HOPE FARM… Description: Christmas is fast approaching at the new Hope Farm.

Owner Molly Baker has been convinced to organise an open day to raise some much-needed funds ahead of the New Year, but the nativity tableau is proving challenging. With anti-social sheep, awkward alpacas and a seriously sequined Santa Claus to assemble, Molly is feeling overwhelmed, and in desperate need of some Christmas spirit . . .

Despite the chaos of the farm getting in the way of her event planning, Molly is looking forward to spending the holidays with Shelby and Lucas, hopeful that a happy family Christmas is exactly what they need to draw them all together. But while she is busy making plans on the farm, Shelby, it seems, has ideas of his own.

As the nativity draws near, the team are working hard to pull off a spectacular festive fete – and make sure the animals and humans remain on their best behaviour. Will this Christmas be merry and bright, or is there more than one surprise in store for Hope Farm? www.waterstones.com Hot Brands Cool Places Review We loved the opportunity to return to Hope Farm, which we first discovered in Happiness for Beginners, when Carole took her inspiration from a real farm that offers alternative education. For readers familiar with Happiness for Beginners there is a lovely feeling of recognition as we remember the antics of the animals and the different human characters, but Christmas For Beginners works equally well in its own right. Carole’s gentle humour and magical storytelling ensures that even when dealing with difficult issues, this delightful book is another Christmas must-read! Highly Recommended!

I Wish it Could be Christmas Every Day – Milly Johnson Description: It’s nearly Christmas and it’s snowing, hard. Deep in the Yorkshire Moors nestles a tiny hamlet, with a pub at its heart.

As the snow falls, the inn will become an unexpected haven for six people forced to seek shelter there…

Mary has been trying to get her boss Jack to notice her for four years, but he can only see the efficient PA she is at work. Will being holed up with him finally give her the chance she has been waiting for?

Bridge and Luke were meeting for five minutes to set their divorce in motion. But will getting trapped with each other reignite too many fond memories – and love?

Charlie and Robin were on their way to a luxury hotel in Scotland for a very special Christmas. But will the inn give them everything they were hoping to find – and much more besides?

A story of knowing when to hold on and when to let go, of pushing limits and acceptance, of friendship, love, laughter, mince pies and the magic of Christmas.

Gorgeous, warm and full of heartfelt emotion, I Wish it Could be Christmas Every Day is the perfect read this winter! www.waterstones.com Hot Brands Cool Places Review I Wish it Could be Christmas Every Day is such an exquisite and clever read, Milly has perfectly captured the spirit of Christmas in the style of a traditional fairytale, full of emotion and poignancy, but with lessons for life and relationships crafted into the most uplifting and magical read. Highly Recommended!

Finding Love at the Christmas Market – Jo Thomas

All I want for Christmas – Joanna Bolouri

Description: Residential-home caterer Connie has had one onlinedating disaster too many. Hurt in the past and with her son to consider, now she’s feeling hesitant.

Description: What if the love of your life was your best friend’s girlfriend, and you were the one that set them up?

Then one of Connie’s residents sets her up on a date at a beautiful German Christmas market – with the promise she’ll take a minibus full of pensioners along with her…

When Nick loses his job and is dumped by his glamorous but demanding girlfriend, he is forced to grudgingly accept work as a Santa at a local Christmas grotto. As his friends are getting married or promoted, Nick spends his days being terrorised by unfriendly elves and cried on by snotty, spoiled children.

Amongst the twinkling lights and smell of warm gingerbread in the old market square, Connie heads off on her date with a checklist of potential partner must-haves. Baker Henrich ticks all the boxes, but when Connie meets Henrich’s rival William, she starts to wonder if ticking boxes is the answer.

Will Connie’s wish for love this Christmas come true, and if so – with who? www.waterstones.com Hot Brands Cool Places Review This delightful book is such joy for the senses, we love the way Jo always transports the reader to different locations and in Finding Love at The Christmas Market, you really feel you have travelled on a journey from when you first buckle up in the mini-bus to the arrival at the most atmospheric Christmas market.

The description of the making of gingerbread is so realistic that this gorgeous book should really be read curled up with a hot drink and your own supply of gingerbread! Highly Recommended!

Then he meets 4-year-old Alfie. All Alfie wants for Christmas is for his mum, Sarah, to be happy again. Moved by the boy’s selfless wish, Nick arranges a date between Sarah and his best friend, Matt. But as Sarah and Alfie become part of all their lives, Nick realises that happiness for Sarah and Matt might mean heartbreak for himself. https://www.amazon.co.uk Hot Brands Cool Places Review Both funny and heartwarming this delightful book is built on a slow-burning romance when the reader knows what should be happening, in the classic, ‘will they – won’t they’ relationship.

Add in laugh-out loud moments, and a very charming 4-year-old, and a grumpy grown-up elf and you have the perfect Christmas read! Highly Recommended!

The Six Tales of Christmas – Anne Marie Ryan Description: It’s almost Christmas and snow is falling in the Cotswolds. Simon and Nora are gearing up for the festive season – but their bookshop is in trouble.

Nora is delighted when a customer buys a book that’s been on the shelves for years, but that won’t be enough to keep the bailiffs away.

Fuelled by mulled wine and mince pies, Nora and Simon hatch a plan to rouse community spirit, sending out six books to lonely villagers. The books change the recipients’ lives, but is it too late to change the bookshop’s fate? www.waterstones.com

‘Nora and Simon hatch a plan to rouse community spirit, sending out six books to lonely villagers...’

Hot Brands Cool Places Review The Six Tales of Christmas is a delightful Christmas read, set in a Cotswold village, it creates a village atmosphere, and also shares some of the realities of the issues found in village communities, but running through this gentle story is a spirit of kindness, the power of books and the love of two people.

Highly Recommended!

Quite – Claudia Winkleman Description: Funny, moving and truthful … Quite Claudia Winkleman’s warmth, humour, no-holds-barred attitude and smoky eye have made her the favourite broadcaster of millions and a much-loved household name. In this, her first ever book, Claudia invites us all into her world. This is a memoir with a difference (owing to its lack of a plot – genuinely, how do people do that?), and Claudia shares her observations on topics such as the importance of melted cheese, why black coats are vital, how it’s never okay to have sex with someone who has an opinion on your date outfit, how nurses are our most precious national treasure, and why colourful clothing is only for the under 10s (if you’re reading this sporting a bright red jumper and you’re 9, great! If you’re older, sorry). This is a love letter to life – the real, sometimes messy kind. Quite celebrates friendship, the power of Art, the highs and lows of parenting, and of course, how a good eyeliner can really save your life. Heartfelt, wry and unmistakeably Claudia, this book gets to the heart of what really matters. www.waterstones.com Hot Brands Cool Places Review We absolutely love Quite by Claudia Winkleman. As we wait for BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, this is the perfect accompaniment to your Saturday afternoon preparation. Curl up with a duvet, a selection of snacks, essential refreshments, the perfect eyeliner and a copy of Quite. Quite is a like a conversation with Claudia as she shares her thoughts, observations and wisdom on all aspects of life. Honest and at times moving, particularly when she talks about nurses and her children leaving home, but also hilariously funny with her descriptions of picnics, sports day, holidays, skiing, decorating, fitting rooms, and so much more!

This delightful book is funny, wise and uplifting. Highly Recommended!

Feature

In this year of difficult times, it is uplifting to read about special people and their contribution, two books that contribute to this recognition are below. Emotional, poignant, but ultimately uplifting, they serve as a reminder of the selfless acts of so many people.

Remarkable People – Extraordinary stories of everyday lives - Dan Walker Description: In Remarkable People, Dan Walker, the host of BBC1’s Breakfast, recounts inspiring stories of the courage and selflessness of people he has met throughout his career. An uplifting tonic for the darkness and negativity of recent times.

We live in an age of anxiety, besieged by bad news and uncertainty.

But Dan Walker, the host of BBC1’s Breakfast and Football Focus, is determined to shine a light onto stories of selflessness and compassion that seldom make the headlines.

‘In Remarkable People, he recounts tales of incredible humanity, empathy, compassion, and a steely determination to transform lives, restore trust, renew hope.’

In the course of his professional life, Dan has encountered many inspiring stories of bravery and kindness. In Remarkable People, he recounts tales of incredible humanity, empathy, compassion, and a steely determination to transform lives, restore trust, renew hope.

Remarkable People is the perfect book for these challenging times; an escape from the negativity of our everyday news cycle, and a tribute to courage and positivity. www.waterstones.com

The Repair Shop: Tales from the Workshop of Dreams Karen Farrington, Jay Blades (Foreword by) Description: We all have treasures hidden away in the attic, wellloved and well-worn belongings that have been passed down from generation to generation. They may be damaged or no longer working, but we can't bear to part with them. The expert craftspeople of hit BBC series The Repair Shop are dedicated to restoring and conserving these heirlooms. They know that the true worth of these possessions doesn't lie in their monetary value, but in the memories they hold and the stories they tell.

In this fascinating book, you'll step inside The Repair Shop's Workshop of Dreams to explore some of the most moving family stories from the hit BBC series. From a glamorous sequinned dress that belonged to a popular travelling circus performer to a pump organ that was brought from Jamaica by a member of the Windrush generation, each family item is brought vividly to life - and lovingly restored by the team of Repair Shop experts who also contribute to these expanded stories.

With a foreword by Jay Blades, Tales from the Workshop of Dreams is a heartfelt love letter to our collective past, and a fascinating slice of social history. This book features items fixed

by Repair Shop experts Steve Fletcher, Will Kirk, Lucia Scalisi, Suzie Fletcher, Kirsten Ramsay, Dominic Chinea, Brenton West, Tim Gunn, Sara Dennis, Chris Shaw, Matt Nickels, Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell. With great care and attention to detail, the Repair Shop team resurrect priceless pieces of family history and breathe new life into the stories they hold. www.waterstones.com

Finally, if you haven’t yet discovered author and illustrator Charlie Mackesy we cannot recommend his work highly enough.

Throughout the darkest hours of 2020 so many people have been inspired by his Instagram posts, and his book.

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse – Charlie Mackesy The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse – Narrated by Charlie Mackesy - Brought to you by Penguin Discover the universal tale of four unlikely friends that has captured the hearts of listeners of all ages, now available in audio.

Experience the world of a curious boy, a greedy mole, a wary fox and a wise horse who find themselves together in sometimes difficult terrain, sharing their greatest fears and biggest discoveries about vulnerability, kindness, hope, friendship and love.

Charlie’s words have brought comfort to many and have been shared online by those around the world, as well as on t-shirts for Comic Relief, on magazine covers, on street lampposts in lockdown, in school classrooms, local cafés and hospital ward walls.

They’ve even been used as screensavers for NHS hospital computers in difficult times. The shared adventures and important conversations between the four friends are full of life lessons that have connected with listeners of all ages.

There are certain books that touch your soul, that instinctively you want to share with others. As soon as this beautiful book arrived, we knew it was something special. In The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse, Charlie Mackesy has created an exquisite book to share with others, a gift to treasure and to hold close and read over and over again. Every page reveals a thoughtful comment and a beautiful illustration, page after page of wise words and so much love, a book that the world needs right now.

This is a book to treasure and keep forever, put this inspiring book top of your gift list for all your friends and family. A reminder of the most important things in life. A book of hope for uncertain times.

Enjoy the journey of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse brought to life in audio by its author and illustrator Charlie Mackesy, with a beautiful music score and the real wildlife sounds of rural England. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, features an exclusive introduction by Charlie on why he decided to turn his words and drawings into audio, as well as music by Max Richter and a bespoke composition for the Fox written by Isobel Waller-Bridge ©2020 Charlie Mackesy (P)2020 Penguin Audio https://adbl.co/3jf0bF2

From the author:

‘My hope is that the book goes some way to helping people live more courageously, more honestly and with more love for themselves and others.’ – Charlie Mackesy If you haven’t discovered this exquisite book yet, it is something really special and perfectly sums up how to keep your family and friends close and loved. It has been our Book of the Month, Gift Book of the Year, and we would also nominate it for the Book of the Decade! The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy Ebury Press, £16.99) www.waterstones.com For daily inspiration: www.instagram.com/charliemackesy/ ISSUE˚73

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Festive Gift Guide If you are looking for something stylish and unusual for a Festive Gift, here is a collection of inspirational ideas: HOMES & ANTIQUES MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION Beautiful design and objects from any era or style.

If you believe great style is timeless, why not let a Homes & Antiques magazine subscription bring our eclectic approach direct to your door?

Brimming with beautiful, handmade objects and bold design from the past and present, it's all the inspiration you need to create a home that's uniquely you. Every issue is filled with practical guides to collecting antiques as well as decorating your home, and plenty of informative editorial that celebrates heritage and contemporary design.

Subscription benefits include: • • • • •

Make great savings on the individual shop price Delivery to your door wherever you are Guarantee your copy and never miss an issue Practical guides for collecting antiques The best antiques fairs and auctions near you

Buy Homes & Antiques magazine subscription as a gift, or for yourself: BuySubcriptions - https://www.buysubscriptions.com/print/homes-andantiques-magazine-subscription YUYU BOTTLE The YuYu Bottle is an unique gift and there is no better gift than warmth. The YuYu Bottle is a truly thoughtful and compassionate gift. The therapeutic and healing properties of warmth are centuries old, yet the ways they are delivered haven’t changed much since. The YuYu Bottle has inspired a new way of thinking. It isn’t a hot water bottle, it is a The YuYu Bottle.

Flexible and lightweight, our award-winning 81cm LONG original invention will hug the contours of the body, like nothing you’ve ever experienced. The YuYu is designed with heattrapping bumps on the surface and stays hot for up to 6 hours! www.yuyubottle.com THE EDITH - £23.00 This tulip shaped pot is the Edith. Sturdy enough to anchor big sculptural plants, it’s also delicate enough to work with smaller, more intricate species. Made from unlined concrete it absorbs water out of the soil, helping to control moisture levels. www.antherandmoss.com TEETHING GIFT SET A perfect Teething Gift Set with all the essentials to settle your teething baby.

Teething Gift Sets come in Grey, Blue, Green, Pink £29.95 Matchstick Monkey gift set. www.matchstickmonkey.co.uk £29.95

Emmanuelle Polle (Author) detach, frame, Louis Albert de Broglie (Foreword)

FR AME ABLE S

DEYROLLE: FRENCH BOTANICAL ART: 21 NATURE S PRINTS FORFR AME A ABLE PICTURE-PERFECT HOME Twenty-one beautiful reproductions to . . .

FRAMEABLES (PAPERBACK) and display!

Prints f it standard 24 × 3 0 cm frames (15 × 20 cm for the half-page prints) Includes a guide of expert picture-hanging tips to create an artful interior

French Botanical Art 21 nature prints for a picture-perfect home

Foreword by Louis Albert de Broglie

20-IX

9 782081 522060 editions.flammarion.com Printed in Belgium by Graphius

DEYROLLE

Flammarion

www.waterstones.com

£16.95 / €19.90 ISBN: 978-2-08-152206-0

Création Studio Flammarion

Deyrolle—the legendary Parisian establishment dedicated to nature, art, and education—shares twenty-one vintage educational plates devoted to trees, fruit, f lowers, buds, and seeds from its archives, the earliest of which were produced around 1871 by the “Deyrolle Educational Museum.” From the majestic oak to the humble carrot, and from colorful exotic fruit to regional agricultural maps, this selection of high-quality, easily detachable nature prints showcases the charm of French botanical art.

Emmanuelle Polle’s text on the back of each print provides the keys to understanding and appreciating these exceptional plates, in a veritable homage to the plant kingdom. The “Gardener Prince” Louis Albert de Broglie— who owns Deyrolle and is known for his long-standing commitment to biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection—contributes a foreword.

DEYROLLE French Botanical Art

DEYROLLE Botanical Art – the Reproduced from the archives of French Deyrolle legendary Parisian institution dedicated to nature, art and education – the book contains 21 high-quality reproduction prints that can be removed, framed and displayed. From exotic fruit to strawberry blossoms, palm trees to conifer and grains to aromatic herbs, each specimen is accompanied by a ‘frameable fact’ that explains the importance and specificities of that particular plant.

Published by Flammarion

FR AME ABLE S

TERRACOTTA SEED SPROUTER £17.50 FROM FRED ALDOUS Expand your urban garden! Start germinating and growing your own seedlings with this set of three terracotta seed sprout plates.

Put your seeds on the correct plate and place on the top of a glass of water. www.fredaldous.co.uk

DISNEY LEX-GO! WORD GAME The Super-Fast Word Game from Waddingtons No.1 of London.

Race against other players to get rid of your word tiles by swapping letters and even stealing your opponents’ tiles. Disney Classic version has 5 magic tiles that help you win the game.

MICKEY TILE - can be used as any letter in a word.

GENIE TILE - your wish is granted! Take a total of 3 tiles from any other player.

WRECK IT RALPH TILE - it's time to wreck it! Shuffle another player's words.

OLAF TILE - Whoops! Olaf walked over your tiles and now they're frozen in place for 10 secs!

ARIEL TILE - Here's one to add to your collection! You can take any tile from another player if it completes a word for you.

• Game for all ages, but helps children with spelling and vocabulary • All tiles pack into a neat canvas pouch, great for storing and on-the-go.

Available on Amazon.co.uk / Age 8+ / RRP £14.99 MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE TOP TRUMPS QUIZ 500 quiz questions on Marvel films Take another trip aboard the helicarrier and test your knowledge of the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the dozens more characters that make up the massive Marvel Cinematic Universe in this special edition of Top Trumps Quiz - Marvel!

With 500 fiendish questions exploring memorable quotes and moments from one of the most successful film franchises in history, you won’t need a Time Stone to recap the events of Civil War, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Age of Ultron and the record-breaking Endgame in this comprehensive set.

• 500 questions on 100 cards • Top Trumps Quiz with a twist! 500 questions on loads of different topics, films and TV shows.

• Plastic case opens on both sides, ready for battle and also great for storing and on-the-go Available on Amazon.co.uk / Age 12+ / RRP £9.99

PASS THE PUGS The infamous game 'Pass the Pigs' launches PUGS! The infamous game Pass the Pigs has launched their first ever variation (that isn't a pig), PUGS! Be the first to get to 100 points by throwing the pugs in the air and seeing how they land.

Will your pugs 'play dead', 'faceplant' or will it be 'puppy love'?

• Includes pencil and score pad, that all pack into a plastic carry case, great for on-the-go!

Available on Amazon.co.uk / Age 8+ / RRP £9.99

BEAUTY EDIT Here is our latest round-up of ways of relaxing and pampering NEAL ' S YA RD R E M E DI E S ™ REVIVE SHOWER GEL C OLLECTION We promise to plant, propagate and protect our trees well into the future. With this gift in partnership with World Land Trust, we will protect a tree on your behalf in Jaguar del Norte reserve in Sonora, Mexico. Preserving subtropical scrub and oak forest habitat, to safeguard biodiversity and to help combat climate change. Find out more at nealsyardremedies.com Set Includes: • Lavender Bath & Shower Gel • Aromatic Shower Gel • Geranium & Orange Shower Gel • Citrus Shower Gel • Rosemary & Elderflower Shower Gel • Seaweed & Arnica Shower Gel

CITRUS SHOWER GEL 300ML Bring some zing into your daily routine, with this gently foaming shower gel.

With the zesty infusion of organic lemon, lime and grapefruit essential oils, it’s the perfect combination to cleanse, freshen and uplift the spirits – the perfect way to start any day.

• Cleanses and freshens • Infused with an uplifting blend of organic essential oils • Certified organic and vegan approved • With soothing comfrey

L AVENDER BATH SALT S Add a handful of these best-selling, restorative salts to a warm bath to help you relax and unwind before bedtime.

• Relaxing and restoring • With mineral-rich sea salt crystals • Infused with pure, organic lavender essential oil Find out more at www.nealsyardremedies.com

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Winter BeautyFeature THE B ODY SHOP ® SWEETENING MANGO LIT TLE GIFT B OX This little box of seriously sweet body care treats is the perfect Christmas gift for yourself or someone sweet.

• Mango Shower Gel 250ml • Mango Body Yogurt 200ml • Mango Hand Cream 30ml • Mango Soap 100g • Mini bath lily made with recycled plastic

CAMOMILE GENTLE MAKE-UP REMOVAL KIT This starter kit for skincare is the perfect Christmas gift Camomile • Gentle Eye Make Up Remover 250ml • Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter 90ml • Muslin Cloth

VITAMIN E SKIN H YDR ATION KIT Made with Community Fair Trade ingredients from around the world, this kit is a brilliant Christmas gift and readymade starter skincare routine.

• Vitamin E Moisture Cream 50ml • Vitamin E Gentle Facial Wash 125ml • Vitamin E Quench Sheet Mask 18ml • Vitamin E Quench Sheet Mask 18ml Find out more at www.thebodyshop.com ISSUE˚73

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HOPE

WE HOPE THAT WE ARE ALL ABLE TO MEET WITH FA M I LY A N D F R I E N D S A N D C E L E B R AT E S P E C I A L EVENTS AGAIN IN 2021.

W E H AV E S O M E B E A U T I F U L S O U R C E S O F I N S P I R A T I O N IN OUR DIRECTORIES IF YOU VISIT OUR WEBSITE: W W W. H O T B R A N D S C O O L P L A C E S . C O M

THANK YOU

AN ENORMOUS THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VISITORS, MEMBERS/CLIENTS, AUTHORS, PR/PUBLICISTS, F O L L OW E R S A N D E V E RYO N E W H O WO R K S W I T H U S, W E A R E G R AT E F U L T O E AC H A N D E V E RY O N E O F Y O U F O R A L L Y O U R S U P P O R T. TO ALL THE KEY WORKERS, THE LOCAL AND INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES AND VOLUNTEERS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES WE THANK YOU FOR E V E R Y T H I N G Y O U H AV E D O N E T O C A R E F O R U S A N D TO KEEP US SAFE, WE WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT Y O U H AV E D O N E D U R I N G T H I S D I F F I C U L T T I M E .

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