Kudos 07

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Your free lifestyle magazine for Kent and East Sussex

Festive fashion How to look a cracker this Christmas

Drama queen

Actress Pauline Quirke and her acting academies

Fabulous gifts Perfect presents for all the family

Chris Saga

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HELLO

Welcome to the November/December issue of Kudos magazine.

It’s amazing to think that Christmas is almost here, again – and that we have been publishing Kudos for over a year. Ah well, they do say time flies when you are having fun!

I love this time of year, when the shops are all dressed up, the ice rink comes to Calverley Grounds, and Father Christmas is in his Royal Victoria Place grotto. And don’t get me started on Christmas music!

So, you’ll find plenty of festive cheer in this issue. We’ve got some fabulous festive fashion, suggestions for family outings over the Christmas season, and some great recipes from our favourite local chefs, giving you ideas for something different to cook this Christmas.

We’ve done your Christmas shopping for you this year with our great gift guide, including presents for your pets (don’t forget to check out our latest feline and canine models on our Pets Corner page).

Elsewhere, we meet actress Pauline Quirke who has just opened one of her drama academies in Tunbridge Wells, we visit a house that was renovated by email and Skype, and look at shrubs and plants that will bring colour to your garden over the winter months.

All this, plus our usual regular features, adds up to a cracker of an issue.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers!

Keep loving local!

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Hannah Tucek Publishing Director

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Managing Director: Robin Tucek Publishing Director: Hannah Tucek Editorial Director: Ann Wallace Creative Director: Neil Constant Chief Sub-Editor: Verity Willcocks Fashion Editor: Sally-Ann Carroll Photographer: Matt Harquail Beauty Editor: Lucy Hargrave Motoring Editor: Anthony ffrench-Constant Social Media Queen: Lady Katherine Sims Front cover image credit: The Reindeer Centre near Ashford, taken by Mark Bridges

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Kudos is published bi-monthly by Bad Betty Media, Blackadder House, 1 Andrew Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9DN Printed by Garnett Dickinson While every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers, authors and printers cannot accept liability for errors or omissions. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be produced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holder and publisher, application for which should be made to the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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WELCOME TO KUDOS

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CONTENTS

LOVE FEATURES Upfront 10

Ask the doctor 47

What’s on 16

Beauty extra 48

Pets corner 20

LOVE FOOD Christmas with a twist 50

What’s new and happening

Local events guide

You name, we shame!

Kudos loves 40

We hunt down the best

Gifts for your best friend 78 Your four-legged friend, that is

Puppy love 80

Cookies for canines

Love gifts 84

Ideas for Christmas presents

Faster, cheaper, cleaner 90

Our pick of the latest products

Pairing food and drink 53

Tips on matching meals with beer

Let’s eat 56

A round-up of the latest foodie news

LOVE HOME AND GARDEN Design from a distance 58

Renovating a house from the other side of the world

Home, sweet home 62

Where there’s a will 98

Home extra 65

LOVE CELEBRITY Quirke of fate 22

Winter wonderland 66

Pauline Quirke looks back over her career and forward to her drama academies

LOVE LOOKS Fashionista 19

Style on the streets

Christmas crackers 30

Look fabulous whatever you are doing

Ideas to turn your house into a home

From kitchen to home entertainment, local experts have got it covered

LOVE FAMILY Take time out 70

Ideas for family days out

Heads up 74

School days – the best days of your life?

LOVE BUSINESS Loving it 94

So spa, so good 46

Business agenda 96

We visit one of the best spas around

CONTENTS

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Bring colour to your garden

Oils for beauty 44

Nourish your skin naturally

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Local chefs create alternatives to traditional Christmas fare

We put the Aston Martin Vanquish to the test

How Will Bayley turned the tables

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Cosmetic surgery questions answered

Vintage queen Hannah Gee

Help and advice for businesses

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BATTLE

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LIV E LOC AL

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7:30am

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LOV E LOC AL

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UPFRONT

GAINING MOMENTUM

What’s new and happening

Momentum Orthopaedics, part of Spire Healthcare based at the Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital, has become co-sponsor of the NDGA. The NDGA was opened in 2011 and is a state-of-the-art, £2-million gymnastic facility based in Longfield Road, Tunbridge Wells.

Patients of Momentum Orthopaedics will now be able to take advantage of the NDGA’s high-tech gym facilities in an off-site clinic, conveniently located in Tunbridge Wells and with easy access to the A21.

Every week, physiotherapists from Momentum Orthopaedics will run a specialist clinic at the NDGA for new and existing patients. This offsite clinic will offer extra rehabilitation facilities that complement the current physiotherapy service at the Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Momentum Orthopaedics’ physiotherapists offer a multidisciplinary approach for diagnosis and rehabilitation, accepting referral directly from patients and all healthcare professionals.

Jonathan Canham, Business Development Manager for Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital, said: “We are delighted to be able to sponsor the NDGA as there is a lot of synergy between our two businesses. Our recently launched Momentum Orthopaedics clinic means that our post-operative patients can now take advantage of the NDGA’s state-of-the-art facilities to help with their rehabilitation, either through physiotherapy, personal training or by using the gym.

“We are looking forward to offering our Momentum Orthopaedic patients an extended rehabilitation service at the NDGA – utilising

their state-of-the-art facilities and gym equipment alongside our dedicated team of physiotherapists.”

NDGA’s Operations Manager, Chantelle Harman said: “We are delighted to accept sponsorship from Momentum Orthopaedics as there is a strong link between our services. It also means that not only can we continue to invest in our facilities for the benefit of our members, but we can continue to support our elite gymnasts too, who have gone on to represent both the county and the country.”

To make an appointment or find out more about Momentum Orthopaedics please call 01892 598124 or visit www.momentumorthopaedics.co.uk

SLOE, SLOE, QUICK, QUICK, SLOE The George pub in Frant is to again host the Sloe Gin World Championships on Wednesday 10th December, from 1pm.

Artisan sloe gin-makers from across the world will gather at the popular village pub to vie for the coveted Sloe Ginster World Champion title for 2014. This Christmas will mark the sixth year of the popular annual event, which started after pub locals began arguing over the perfect sloe gin recipe.

Sloe gin is a red liqueur flavoured with sloe (blackthorn) drupes, a smaller relative of the plum, and is normally made with an alcohol content of between 15% and 30% by volume. It is traditionally made by infusing gin with the bitter-tasting drupes using sugar to extract the sloe juices from the fruit.

Sloe gin is made from ripe sloes, which by tradition are picked after the first frost of winter. Each drupe should be hand-pricked with a thorn taken from the blackthorn bush on which it grew. Connoisseurs say that the drupes may only be pricked with a metal fork or pin if it is made of silver.

Locals looking for advice as to where they can forage wild sloes can visit the Moon Down website. Based at Bells Yew Green, the company teaches country crafts, making Christmas wreaths, and hosts wild-mushroom foraging courses.

Sloe Gin Recipe

Fill a wide-necked jar halfway with pricked drupes and add 110g of sugar

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for each 570ml of sloes. Fill the jar with gin, seal and turn several times to mix, then store in a cool, dark place. Turn every day for the first two weeks, then weekly, for at least three months, when the gin develops a deep ruby colour. The liqueur is then poured off and filtered into clean bottles, and left to stand for another week. The sweetness can be adjusted to taste at the end of the process by the addition of more sugar. Allowing the drupes sufficient time to ensure full extraction, the gin develops an almond-like essence and aromatic flavour from the sloes’ stones. In some recipes, the process is accelerated with the inclusion of a few drops of almond essence, cloves and a stick of cinnamon.

All proceeds of the event will be donated to the MS Society which supports people with multiple sclerosis. www.mssociety.org.uk www.moondown.co.uk

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UPFRONT

BLOOMING WINNER

What’s new and happening

The glorious gardens of historic Hever Castle in Kent received a Gold Award and were voted ‘Garden of the Year 2014’ by South & South East in Bloom, beating stiff competition in the Heritage Parks & Gardens category.

The Gardens received a glowing report from the Assessors who praised Head Gardener, Neil Miller, and his passionate team of nine horticulturallytrained gardeners for maintaining the extensive gardens to such an immaculate standard. It noted the ‘manicured lawns, closely mown and home to some beautiful majestic trees that occupy the skyline’, as well as admiring the ‘formal gardens where water features, colourful bedding displays, Italian sculptures, Mediterranean-style planting, carpet bedding, topiary and over 4,000 different roses, typical of the quintessential English garden are found’.

Hever Castle Gardens also scored highly on the environmental scale, and the report noted ‘the use of chemicals is minimal with bedding grown in peat-free compost, while water is obtained either sourced from a bore hole or from the large 38-acre lake’.

Among new and ongoing projects to enhance the visitor experience is the reclaiming of Church Gill Walk, an extension of Sunday Walk.

Additionally, exciting new vistas have been opened up to surprise and delight visitors, along with pruning mature yew hedges back into shape

and the introduction of new plantings covering all seasons, including the development of a Winter Garden.

On their win, Neil said: “I was absolutely thrilled with the Award – my team really deserved it.” This sentiment was echoed by Chief Executive Duncan Leslie, who added: “We are delighted that the hard endeavours of the gardening team have been recognised. Hopefully this prestigious award will make more people aware that we have one of the finest and most important gardens in the ‘Garden of England.’” www.hevercastle.co.uk

A WINNING PINT The International Beer Challenge 2014 has awarded Van Bulck Beers, based in Tunbridge Wells, with a bronze medal for taste for their gluten-free organic lager.

More than 500 beers from 30 countries entered the competition, which was judged by UK beer experts including retailers, importers, publicans, brewers, writers and flavour analysts, as well as highly-experienced judges from continental Europe, to give a comprehensive spread of tasting experience.

Brews were entered from such far-flung places as Brazil, Egypt, Mongolia and Bury St Edmunds.

Each was tasted blind by the expert panel and medals were awarded to the exceptional entries.

Chairman of the judges Jeff Evans said: “The IBC is not an easy competition in which to win a medal of any colour.

“Our judges are among the most demanding around, all of them experts from across the brewing industry. They don’t give medals away cheaply and so bronze and silver medals in the IBC, I believe, are worth much more than golds in other competitions.”

Denis Renty, Director of Van Bulck Beers, was delighted to win the award, saying: “It is a nice and beautiful recitation of all the hard work and developing from the past year and a half, and I am very proud to have won it.”

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All Van Bulck beers are based on old family recipes and are made by a five-generation family brewery, which has existed since 1830 and is based in Flanders, Belgium. They only work with top-quality, organiccertificated ingredients, sourced mainly from Belgium, Germany, France and the UK. These ingredients are carefully selected by Denis Renty and the company’s brewer. www.vanbulck-beers.be

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UPFRONT

MAKING A SPLASH

What’s new and happening

The Bathroom Shop in Tenterden is a family business that was established in 1987, but the family has been trading from these premises since the late 1920s.

Their aim is to provide quality, value and, above all, service, both before and after sales, and what sets them apart from other businesses is not only their possession of so many years of knowledge and experience, but also the wider variety of bathroom products they offer, including towels, bath mats, toiletries, kimonos, hand-painted porcelain, and a wide range of accessories.

They endeavour to help customers achieve their perfect bathroom, and to avoid pitfalls in the installation. Their expertise also stretches to sourcing obscure spare parts and even occasionally-discontinued lines or colours.

They have formed relationships over many years with well-established distributors to help provide the ultimate service.

The Bathroom Shop, 11 East Cross, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 6AD 01580 763207 www.the-bathroomshop.co.uk

AN OLD MILL BY A STREAM...

If you want to live in a unique mill setting near Sevenoaks, you had better be quick. All the two-bedroom, Grade II-listed cottages as well as a couple of three-bedroom homes and a converted 17th-century, four-bedroom mill house have been either sold or reserved at the Farningham Mill Estate development, near Sevenoaks.

The launch, organised by Savills, took place over two weekends in September at the gated development of the historic Farningham Mill.

This unique site is set on eight acres adjoining the River Darenth in the centre of the tranquil and picturesque village of Farningham.

By bringing the 18th-century buildings, including the Grade II-listed mill, back to their former glory, Vision Homes has created a collection of homes that have been sympathetically restored to retain many period features, yet offering beautiful, up-to-date interiors.

Colyer House, an imposing Georgian home at the end of a gravel drive, is available for £1.2 million. The property comes with a detached summerhouse, converted from a former cart store and cowshed, and a beautiful private garden. Other features include a detached garage with an office, and some beautifully-restored fireplaces.

Also available are the converted Victorian mill annexe, known as The Engine House at £895,000, and an unusual stable conversion known as The Stables, available at £875,000.

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area of the ground-floor apartment so the water can be seen flowing underneath.

One of the top-floor apartments incorporates the original mill locum as a feature off the living area, while the first-floor apartment features a striking balcony with a glass balustrade, creating a relaxing space to sit and enjoy the river setting and the stunning views of the grounds and beyond.

The former watermill has been divided into four apartments with a lift, and are available from £575,000. These homes have a unique view of the River Darenth.

Occupants of Farningham Mill have sole access to about three acres of grounds, including a riverside orchard with secluded seating areas along its river frontage and a beautiful walled garden, all overlooked

by The Folly, a romantic ruin on the bank of the Mill that has been preserved and imaginatively lit to look over the Estate.

The Mill Race, a tributary of the river created to power the mill, flows under the watermill and a small glass floor has been built into the living

For more information and sales enquiries, contact Savills on 01732 789740.

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UPFRONT

SPARKLING SERVICE

What’s new and happening

Jewellery makes the perfect Christmas gift. Visit Payne & Son and you’ll find not only stunning contemporary and vintage pieces, but old-fashioned courtesy and elegant surroundings, too.

Picture, if you will, a small olde-worlde jewellery shop, nestled in the middle of a traditional Victorian colonnade. As you enter the front door you are met with the aroma of freshly-polished aged mahogany, a plush deep-pile carpet in rich burgundy and gold covering creaking old floorboards, delicate crystal chandeliers casting a soft glow all around, and the distant chime and steady tick-tock of a grandfather clock echoing around.

Since 1870, Payne & Son have been supplying jewellery and silverware to the gentry of Tunbridge Wells from their shop in the High Street, and to this day still provide an extra-special personal service to their clientele.

The traditional charm of a quintessentially-English, family-run jewellers has never been lost here – even in the face of adversity and difficult times past, this business has re-invented itself to become more than just a jewellers.

For instance, aside from a huge collection of jewellery in gold, silver and platinum set with a colourful array of gemstones, Payne & Son also have a superb collection of fine German and European porcelain in stock. From recognised names like Meissen and Dresden and to perhaps the lesser-

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known KPM and Kaiser and Höchst, and with prices from £30 upwards, you are sure to find the perfect gift or just a little stocking filler.

Take advantage of their late-night shopping evening till 7pm on Thursday 11th December, and choose those special gifts in style. www.payneandsonjewellers.co.uk

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WHAT’S ON

Get out and about with our pick of local events

Until 15 November This Land WING Gallery, Wadhurst An exciting exhibition designed to celebrate the animals and landscape of this inspiring area, featuring a collection of outstanding artwork from both established and emerging artists, including painters, sculptors and ceramicists. Sponsored by NFU Mutual. Open Tuesday to Saturday, between 10am and 5pm. www.wingartgallery.com

13 November Christmas lights Town centre, Tunbridge Wells Ho, ho, ho! Santa is in town and will be switching on the Christmas lights across the town centre. Santa will be kicking off his six-week stay at Royal Victoria Place by taking a tour of the town in his beautiful horsedrawn sleigh before taking up residence in his ‘Enchanted Forest’, which will be open every day until 24th December.

16 November Wonderland The Assembly Hall, Tunbridge Wells The McAllister-Brown Dance School and Don’t Stop Believing Theatre School are proud to announce their 11th show. The McAllister-Brown Dance School is one of the largest dance schools in Tunbridge Wells, with over 200 students, many of whom will be performing in the show. www.mbdanceschool.co.uk 21 & 22 November Kentish Opera Gala The Stag, Sevenoaks Following last year’s sell-out success, Kentish Opera brings you a new gala, with fully-staged excerpts from some of your favourite operas, including Puccini’s Tosca, Verdi’s La Traviata and Beethoven’s Fidelio.

Sung in English by professional soloists, with a full orchestra and the fabulous Kentish Opera chorus. www.stagsevenoaks.co.uk 22 November Christmas Bazaar St Luke’s Church, Tunbridge Wells Expect fun for all the family with stalls, games, Father Christmas and refreshments. Open: 2pm – 4.30pm. Entrance: £1 Adults/Children Free. www.stlukestw.co.uk 29 November-21 December Christmas tree sale Pepenbury, Tunbridge Wells Bring all the family to buy your tree and enjoy 100 acres of idyllic Wealden countryside with animals, woods, adventure-play equipment and a coffee shop. Pepenbury sells Nordmann non-drop fir trees from a local supplier ranging in size from 3ft up to 15ft, with all profits going straight back into the charity. Open 10am – 4pm. www.pepenbury.info 6 & 7 December Christmas Art Hub Hadlow 15 local artists will be displaying their work, ranging from glittering glass and jewellery, to vibrant ceramics, photography and painting, at three Hadlow studios; Bourne Grange Oast East, Natal House and Gingerbread Gallery. Open 10am – 6pm on Saturday and 11am – 5pm on Sunday. On Saturday, a Dickensian-themed Christmas Fayre is being held on Church Street and St Mary’s Church, from 4 – 6pm. Free entry.

By artist Will Taylor, showing at WING 11 December Late-night shopping High Street, Tunbridge Wells The High Street, Grove Hill Road and Chapel Place will be open until 9pm. They have created a truly-magical experience for you, with carol singers as well as all sorts of entertainment and activities. There’s a raffle with all proceeds going to Hospice in the Weald (prizes are being donated by the High Street shops and businesses), a best-dressed window competition, and many shops will have drinks, nibbles, and special offers and promotions. A Christmas treasure-hunt map will be available until Christmas Eve for intrepid explorers who can spot clues in High Street windows to win a prize.

13 December Christmas Gift Fair Plaza Suite, Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks Organised by Love from Kent, 30 local designers will offer truly-original presents for Christmas, including ceramics, fabric boards, jewellery, bloc art prints, flowers, local photography, fragranced candles and Christmas wreaths. Open 9.30am – 4pm. Free entry. www.lovefromkent.co.uk 22 December The Lydian Orchestra Christmas Concert St Stephen’s Church, Tonbridge For almost 40 years, The Lydian has given talented West Kent young musicians the chance to play together as an orchestra, and several have gone on to high-profile professional careers. There are three concerts a year, the next being the Christmas concert, conducted by Jonathan Butcher. Performance starts at 7:30pm. Tickets: £12 adults/£5 children.

Tickets on the door, or tel. 0844 3320187, or online www.brownpapertickets.com/event/892490 Until 24 February Disturbance-done three ways Velocipede cycle shop, Tunbridge Wells Come and see artist Deborah Mills’ new work at Velocipede. Exploring Newton’s laws of the behaviour of matter, together with theories of quantum mechanics and the Uncertainty Principle, Mills’ work brings together ideas of motion and illusion with reference to mechanical systems and optical patterns.

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FASHIONISTA

What will you be wearing on Christmas Day? Team Kudos had a fun day out and about in Tunbridge Wells with our local Fashionistas getting into the festive spirit

ZAC CARPENTER

Military jacket, Beyond Retro. Tartan shirt and jeans, Topman. White T-shirt, All Saints. Boots, Dr. Martens.

XMAS OUTFIT: A Jack Wills onesie

KEVIN CLARKE

Leather jacket, Roland Sands. Jeans, Gap. T-shirt, Deus Ex Machina. Scarf, Buff. Boots, Solovair.

Bike: Hand-built Custom Kawasaki W800.

XMAS OUTFIT: Smoking jacket with a pipe, while drinking a single malt!

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LILY ROBBS (STYLED BY ZAC)

Hat, H&M. Shirt, New Look. Jacket, Laura Ashley Vintage. Skirt, Primark. Handbag, Vintage from the Pantiles. Shoes, Select.

XMAS OUTFIT: Comfy Christmas pjs

OLLY DASHWOOD

Shirt and shoes, Next. Jeans, Topman.

XMAS OUTFIT: A quilted plaid shirt

SIMON LOMOND (VACANT, T WELLS )

Sweatshirt, Religion from Vacant. Jeans, Gap. Baseball boots, Adidas Nizza.

XMAS OUTFIT: A Vacant Christmas jumper

ESME BRENDON

Orange gilet, Tommy Hilfiger. Pink T-shirt, Comptoir Des Cotonniers. Jeans, All Saints.

Boots, Madrid Airport. Pink bag, Gabs.

Jewellery by Esme Brendon.

XMAS OUTFIT: Leggings. Sloppy Joe jumper. Over-the-knee boots LOV E FASHION

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PETS CORNER

We all love our pets, but often they are not the little angels we would like them to be. It’s time to name and shame your pet!

Can you keep the noise down, I’m doing my yoga stretches!

No, I don’t think I am too old for my teddy!

Napoleon, a Norwegian Forest cat, who lives in Tunbridge Wells

Fred, a ginger moggy, who lives in Sevenoaks with Manda & Stuart

Forget Batman! My pedigree name is Silent Knight

Reading time is so over!

Murphy, a Miniature Poodle, who lives in St Mary’s Platt

Le Chat, an American moggy, who now lives in Tunbridge Wells

I chew everything but have a real taste for Crocs – the shoes, not the reptile!

Dexter, a Sproodle, who lives in Rusthall

Look into my eyes, my eyes.

I did not steal the prawns!

Pig, a moggy, who lives in Tonbridge

If you have a pet to name and shame, email a photograph and details to editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk

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QUIRKE OF FATE Seven years after opening her first Academy of Performing Arts, actress Pauline Quirke has opened a new academy in Tunbridge Wells. Here, she shares her vision for her academies and talks about her career

Words: Rebecca Clarke

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“There is so much more you can get from training in performance arts than a career. It builds confidence by the bucketload, creates bonds, teaches respect, and even how to listen” Pauline Quirke is a household name and face, thanks to her performance as Tracey in the hit TV series Birds of a Feather. And it’s that fame that spurred her on to starting her academies.

Says Pauline: “I started my Academy of Performing Arts – PQA – because when I was a kid, some of my happiest times were spent in drama classes – making new friends and learning new stuff, whilst going on some fantastic trips of the imagination!

“I think the world has changed since then, it’s all fame, fame, fame now, and at almost any cost. And yes, although an acting career is a great one, it can also be a road of disappointment that not all are prepared for. There is so much more you can get from training in performance arts than a career. It builds confidence by the bucketload, creates bonds, teaches respect, and even how to listen – very important as life goes on.

“So I wanted to recreate the experience that I was lucky enough to have at the drama school I attended, learning performing arts in a safe and fun environment with a professional attitude!

“I read a survey somewhere that 85% of children want to be famous. I thought this was sad, as fame should only be a by-product of being successful and not the goal. This, along with not finding a suitable school for my son Charlie, kicked it all off. We were only going to open the one, but people kept coming to us to open more, so as long as the right person comes along, I guess we’ll keep doing it.

“We opened our first academy in September 2007, and I’m so pleased we’ve been able to bring our own unique brand of performing arts training to so many kids since then.”

Pauline is a believer in the power of drama to change lives and the importance of making theatre skills available to all youngsters, regardless of means.

PQA creative director Simon James Green says: “Pauline’s approach has always been about trying to give something

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back, as she benefited as a child from similar training.

It’s about offering opportunities where we can.”

Along with husband Steve Sheen, Quirke turned her ambition into reality when she founded the first Pauline Quirke Academy. Since then, PQA has expanded to more than 50 sites, from Newcastle to Torbay.

So what’s the secret of their popularity? “Firstly, it’s a friendly, family atmosphere – there is no sense of cut-throat competition. We go for a nurturing atmosphere. It’s not just about getting roles; they learn skills that will always be helpful, whether it’s making university applications or applying for jobs,” says Simon.

“A high percentage do want to perform, but kids also come with different priorities. They might be keen to meet a different bunch of friends and/or build up their confidence,” he adds.

The academies also aim to give children experience of as many different aspects of performing as possible. In one Saturday class, you will have hour-long sessions in comedy and drama, musical theatre and then film and television.

Classes are divided into age groups, and teachers are specialists working in their chosen fields.

There’s plenty of opportunity for practical training, too.

Within the film and TV module, the youngsters get to devise, script, storyboard and edit their own short films. A selection are even shown at schools’ local cinemas, and every two years a number are shortlisted for a festival at the Empire, Leicester Square in London.

There is also a chance to take part in PQA’s annual West End productions at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Last year, 800 PQA students from 16 academies across the UK were involved.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for them – it’s hard enough for a seasoned pro to get to perform in the West End. They love travelling to London, and the parents are delighted,” says Simon, who is also a professional director and works with the children on the production.

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“I got my first telly job – on Dixon of Dock Green – when I was nine. And I remember thinking, ‘Oh, this is quite fun”

Simon’s fellow creative director Sarah Counsell runs PQA’s creative management agency Quirky Kidz, and some students have won roles in the West End and on television. But Simon explains that great care is taken in managing children’s expectations and pointing out what a tricky business performing is.

He also wouldn’t want scholarship applicants to be worried about being finished, polished performers: “We are looking for kids that will fit in nicely with our family dynamic. The big thing is seeing potential and a passion about joining PQA so that they can get everything they can from the experience.”

Pauline is the perfect example. She discovered acting at the age of nine when a couple of after-school clubs were formed by the local teachers. One was country dancing and the other was a drama club. Not fancying country dancing, Pauline joined the drama club and has not stopped entertaining the nation since.

Remembers Pauline: “I had an English teacher at primary school called Anna Scher who started a little after-school drama club. There were about 20 of us – Linda Robson was one of the first there, too. It cost 10p unless you got free school dinners, which I did, in which case it was free.

Before you knew it, word spread and directors started coming to watch us. I got my first telly job – on Dixon of Dock Green – when I was nine. And I remember thinking, ‘Oh, this is quite fun.’”

Since then she has appeared in numerous TV programmes including Pauline’s People, her own chat show at the age of 15. Since then, she’s appeared in The Further Adventures of Oliver Twist, the 1980s hospital series, Angels, and Shine on Harvey Moon. During the 1990s her TV roles included Our Boy, Last Christmas (with Ray Winstone), Real Women (with Michelle Collins and Frances Barber), DI Maisie Raine, David Copperfield (with Daniel Radcliffe), Being April, Office Gossip, North and South, Emmerdale and Susan Wright in the hit TV series Broadchurch – not forgetting her BAFTA-nominated

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portrayal of Olive Martin in the award-winning drama, The Sculptress.

She says: “With Broadchurch, as soon as I saw that first script I thought ‘Oh my God, I so want to be in this, and even if I’m not in it, I’m going to watch it’. And Emmerdale was one of the best jobs I’ve ever done. Being part of a bigger picture and not the lead has its comforts, plus the people are just wonderful. If it wasn’t 400 miles from home, I may well be still doing it.”

Her most famous role is, of course, as Sharon in the BBC series Birds of a Feather with fellow Scher graduate Linda Robson, and Lesley Joseph. Birds of a Feather ran from 1989 to 1998 and starred Pauline and Linda as sisters Tracey Stubbs and Sharon Theodopolopodous, who set up home together after their husbands were sent to prison for armed robbery.

Joined by their man-crazy neighbour, Dorien (Lesley Joseph), the series was a huge success, earning BAFTA nominations and a British Comedy Award during its nine-year run.

After 15 years, the Birds of a Feather girls teamed up for a touring stage show followed by a new series at the beginning of the year.

Deciding to do the Birds of a Feather stage show was something that Pauline found challenging. “It’s no secret that it wasn’t an easy decision for me to do the show,” she says.

“I had done very little theatre. In fact the last time I had done anything on stage was 25 years before – when Linda and I did panto. I’d never done a tour or anything and I was really nervous.”

Not only that, but having taken the decision to end the series when the writing – and related ratings – were still good, Pauline says that protecting the Birds pedigree was paramount.

“You can’t just expect to be able to wheel us three out and it be enough,” she says. “But once Laurence Marks and Maurice

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Gran, who created the show, got involved with Gary Lawson and John Phelps – who wrote some of the best Birds episodes – there was such a good script, I just thought, ‘Yes, I’m going to do this and get rid of some of the demons.’”

Even then, it wasn’t easy. Of the first performance of Birds of a Feather, Pauline recalls: “I was terrified. I remember the first day we were doing preview nights in Leatherhead and I got out of the car and stood in front of the theatre and just had this out-of-body experience, thinking ‘I don’t want to go in there, what on earth was I thinking of?’”

And of the second TV series, Pauline said at the time: “I don’t think we can worry about whether we’re repeating the success of the first series. I suppose some people will absolutely loathe it, but I think the majority will love it!”

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At the end of the day, Pauline is down-to-earth. “TV is not my life, it’s my job. My life is my family and my home, and going to garden centres and shopping and cooking. I can say, hand on heart, if someone said to me you’re never going to act again, it wouldn’t bother me. At the end of the day, I was just a nine-year-old child who joined a drama club. And I’m still doing it. I never felt if I didn’t act I’d die. As soon as they say ‘Cut’, I’m thinking: ‘If I leave now I’ll have time to get to Sainsbury’s.’”

And of her 46 years in showbusiness, Pauline says: “I don’t know where it’s gone. I don’t even remember the transition from being a child actor to a teenager to a young adult to a middle-aged old crone! I just know I’ve had the best times.

And for that I’m truly grateful.”

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CHRISTMAS CRACKERS ‘Tis the countdown to Christmas and the time to shimmer ‘n’ shine! Sally-Ann Carroll and Team Kudos have been busy working their magic. Here are one or two fabulous fashion ideas to help you and local businesswoman Hannah Gee get into the festive spirit.

Photographer Matt Harquail

CREDITS

Fashion Editor: Sally-Ann Carroll Photographer: Matt Harquail (mattharquail.co.uk) Assisted by Ben Westcombe (ben.westcombe@yahoo.co.uk) Hair and make-up: Lauren Saunders (www.lauren-saunders.com) Hannah was our top supermodel for the day. If you are interested in being part of our fabulous fashion, please email a recent picture with relevant details to editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk

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ALL DRESSED UP

Navy dress, £280, by Kevan Jon, and cuff, £68, by Butterfly, both from La Belle Femme. Necklace, £125, from Chapel Place Gallery. Silver sandals, £28, from Next. Red rubber boots, £110, from Ilse Jacobsen.

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GLAMOUR PUSS

Long red dress, £359, by Dynasty, from La Belle Femme. Beaded cuff, £25, from Sahara. Silver sandals, £28, from Next.

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HOOD-WINKED

Snow waterproof coat, £425, grey feather print dress, £115, mink and grey facet necklace, £35, grey fur trim boots, £265, all from Ilse Jacobsen.

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SHORT CUT

Printed black and pink dress, £439, by Diane von Furstenberg, boots, by Ash, £199, cuff, £35, all from The Clever Dresser. Necklace, £54, from Chapel Place Gallery.

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JUST ONE COAT

Burnt orange coat, £269, damson shirt, £125, skirt, £79, earrings, £39, red bag, £159, all from Sahara. Patent boots, £46, from Next. Papier Mache Father Christmas, £195, from Love Inc.

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PALE AND INTERESTING

Alpaca shawl, £140, by Samantha Holmes from Fi Chi. Sheer blouse, £59, trousers, £89, all by Noa Noa from Fi Chi. Necklace, £32, from Chapel Place Gallery. Earrings, £25, and shoes, £28, from Next. Stop sign, £24, wooden star decoration, £15, arrow light, £45, and golden stag, £6.50, all from Love Inc. 36

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CHECK IT OUT

Blue coat, £295, burnt orange top, £79, black trousers, £115, necklace, £21, all from Sahara. Black brogues, £28, from Next. LED lights for use in/outdoor, £35, gold merry Christmas sign, £4, and original vintage Christmas card, £2, all from Love Inc. KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2014

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PRECIOUS METAL

Bronze glitter dress, £105, painted feather necklace, £35, camel fur top boots, £166, all from Ilse Jacobsen.

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OFF THE RAIL

Top row (left to right): Navy and gold sweater, £390, by Diane von Furstenberg, from The Clever Dresser. Navy skirt, £290, by Diane von Furstenberg, from The Clever Dresser. Cream reversible suede and fur gilet, £250, by House of Gilet, from Fi Chi. Blue tunic dress, £85, by Noa Noa, from Fi Chi. Bottom row (left to right): Leopard faux fur jacket, £240, by Save The Queen, from La Belle Femme.

Green and black printed skirt, £149, by Save The Queen, from La Belle Femme. Printed dress, £265,

by Paola, from La Belle Femme. Burgundy plaid dress, £115, from Ilse Jacobsen.

NECK AND NECK If you buy just one thing, make sure it’s a statement necklace.

Right: Silver and orange necklace, £32, black and red necklace, £54, silver mesh necklace, £174, all from Chapel Place Gallery.

Left: Short twist necklace, £35, silver and black pendant, £35, silver and black one bead necklace, £25, all from Sahara.

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KUDOS LOVES

We widen the net to find things that we think our lovely readers will appreciate.

We hope you love them as much as we do!

CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL

Have you always been artistic?

How did you come up with the idea to make felt dogs?

Is there anything else creative that you enjoy?

When we saw All Things Felt & Beautiful’s needle-felt models of dogs, we just had to tell you about them. If you are a dog owner, you will want to read our interview with Sophie Wheatley

I have a lifelong love of dogs and love the connection we have with them. I first came up with the idea of making felt dogs having made a few tiny ones for a craft fair to see how they would be received, and they were really popular. Seeing how people reacted to holding them, it was the same connection that they have with their real dogs. I wanted to capture this emotion and decided to continue just making dogs. I haven’t really looked back.

How long have you been doing needle-felting?

I started my business, All Things Felt & Beautiful, making just dogs about a year ago and have been needle-felting for about 18 months, so I’m still fairly new to it.

What drew you to needle-felting?

I started after seeing a TV programme by Kirstie Allsopp and thought that I would like to have a go. It appealed to me because it is such a versatile craft where you can create whatever your mind can dream up. I use all natural materials (mainly sheep and alpaca fleece), which is important to me.

It’s also a very consuming craft, very relaxing and one that you can do pretty much anywhere, you can pick it up and put it down time and time again. It also doesn’t require any expensive equipment.

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Yes, my mum has a natural artistic flair, and as a child I was always given the opportunity to be artistic and creative – I think her enthusiasm and talent rubbed off on me. I used to love art classes as a child, drawing, painting, making pottery and knitting – I’d have a go at anything.

Nowadays I enjoy watercolour painting and have a long list of crafty things I would like to make, but just don’t have time, with making my dogs. I really enjoy needle-felting and find I miss it if I don’t do it for a while – as happened recently when I went on holiday for two weeks. It’s a great opportunity to give all my attention to one thing, which is rare in our fast-paced society – you can’t do anything else but needle-felt, as if you don’t concentrate you’re likely to stab yourself with the needle!

Would you ever do other animals, cats, for example?

I’ve just received my first cat commission, which I’m thrilled about. But for the time being I’m happy giving all my attention to dogs and the odd cat, if people ask me.

You can choose one of the dogs already on the website, but what we really love is the fact that you can commission a model of your own dog. How great is that!

Commissions are priced according to size, with small-sized models £80 (approximately 10 to 12 cm long), medium-sized models £120 (approximately 12 to 15 cm long) and large-size models £160 (approximately 17 to 20 cm long). www.feltandbeautiful.co.uk

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A PAW FORWARD IN PET HYGIENE

It didn’t take long for us to get the hang of it so, quite frankly, if we can master it then you definitely can.

Let’s face it, cleaning up poop is the one downside to owning a dog. None of us enjoys doing it, but some are able to tolerate it a little more than others.

The amazing thing was that it had no trouble clearing the waste from the long grass – any dog owner who has had to attempt that by hand (with a poo bag, I hasten to add) will be very impressed. It also holds a decent amount of waste, so you can use it a number of times before having to change the bag. But the best part? You don’t even need to see the waste!

You just remove the bag and dispose of it.

New revolutionary scoop-flush technology to bring hygienic clearance to your garden

So what if there was a way of cleaning up your dog’s waste from the garden without having to get too near?

When we heard about the dooup, we just knew that our strong local community of dog owners would love this product. We certainly do (do!).

In a nutshell, the dooup complete pet waste clearer is a pooper-scooper machine that clears, sprays, stores and seals poo – all in one quick-and-easy pump action.

Our editor has two dogs; Archie, a Border Terrier and Jake, a chocolate Lab/garbage disposal. We got her to refrain from cleaning the garden and on a sunny Saturday afternoon, arrived with dooup in hand.

The most important thing is to watch the instruction video a few times before you set it up. The dooup really is quite simple to set up and use, but it is not advisable to take the gung-ho ‘I don’t need to read the instruction manual’ approach.

There are only a few steps in the video showing how to set up the machine (basically fill up with sanitizer, put a bag in place, and go), but things to note are to make sure you attach the bags in the right way (er, let’s not see what would happen if we don’t!) and, most importantly, it shows you that you need to centralise the dooup to the waste and follow with a strong pump action. If you do that, you shouldn’t go wrong. There are also some handy hints and tips in the video to ensure you make the most of your dooup.

It might take a bit of practice before you are ‘push perfect’.

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The dooup is best used on grass, and can clear varying types of waste consistencies with several pushes of the lever. More importantly, every time you pump, the dooup spritzes the area to sanitise. The reason for this? Shockingly, there are 23 million bacteria in a deposit of dog waste. Think about that the next time you walk barefoot on your lawn or the children are doing handstands!

However, we found that it also worked well on other surfaces, including patio, gravel and decking. And before you ask, the poo really was in all those places; we didn’t strategically place them! The only thing to note is that when clearing small ‘nuggets’ on decking, you might want to try slowing down the pushing of the lever as there can be a tendency for the poo to bounce if pushed too hard. I’ll say no more…

Once you are familiar with the set-up and best practice for your own garden, the dooup will save you time, bags and keep your garden clean. It’s a one-handed, contactless process that makes an unpleasant job that bit easier.

Cup of tea whilst clearing the garden with one hand, anyone?

Look out in the next issue of Kudos for the chance to win your very own dooup!

Retails at £59.95 (it is so worth it!), which includes 600ml dooup sanitizing fluid and 20 self-sealing bio bags. www.thedooup.com

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ADV ERTISEMENT FEATURE

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PRIVATE PEACE OF MIND The Wells Suite offers private hospital care that’s second to none

Did you know that Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust operates a private patient unit called The Wells Suite at the Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Pembury?

Claire Hubert, Business Development Manager for the unit, explains, “Operating private-patient facilities is a way for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust to meet its financial challenges by creating extra income. Every penny of profit generated by private treatment at The Wells Suite is invested into local NHS hospital services. Last year, close to £1 million of profit helped provide better services and equipment for all patients cared for at Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone Hospitals.”

The Wells Suite is open to all patients whether they have private medical insurance or want to pay for themselves. There are four consulting rooms and 26 en-suite patient rooms, each with farreaching views of the surrounding forest around the hospital.

Claire continues, “Coming into hospital can be a stressful time, but here we hope you will feel supported and reassured. You will receive dedicated care from a specialist consultant, assisted by a professional and committed nursing team. We will do everything we can to make your recovery as swift and comfortable as possible.”

The unit benefits from access to advanced diagnostic equipment, modern operating theatre suites, and the reassurance of

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immediate on-site access to critical-care facilities. Patients experience the best of both worlds: the advantages associated with private healthcare, together with the clinical support of a large, state-of-the-art NHS hospital.

The Wells Suite has a full team of consultants whose expertise extends to a wide range of specialities from cardiology to weight-loss surgery.

To make an outpatient appointment with one of their Consultants, please call the Private Patient Booking Office on 01892 635888. If you’re already awaiting a consultation or appointment and would like more information on transferring your care privately to The Wells Suite, call 01892 635888, or visit www.thewellssuite.co.uk

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OILS FOR BEAUTY Natural oils have become the on-trend natural beauty cure-all. Here’s how you can use argan, olive, coconut and sesame oils to moisturise, nourish and repair

Argan oil

Often called ‘liquid gold’, argan oil is extracted from the kernels of the argan tree, which is native to Morocco. It is extremely rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, which make it particularly beneficial for the hair and skin. Here are some of its most common uses.

Skin moisturiser Argan oil is an excellent skin moisturiser, hydrating and softening skin. With its high vitamin E and fatty-acid content, argan oil is the ideal product to give skin a natural boost.

It is absorbed easily and is non-greasy and non-irritating, which makes it a great natural moisturiser. It’s easy to use all over the body, including the face and neck – simply smooth a few drops into your skin.

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Before straightening or for speedy styling, apply to dry hair as for the leave-in conditioner. Don’t use too much – you want it to be absorbed easily, and a little goes a long way.

Anti-ageing tonic Argan oil can help to restore the skin’s elasticity, leaving it feeling plumper and softer. Massage a few drops into your face and neck before bed.

Hair conditioner Argan oil has been proven to make hair softer, silkier and shinier. It can also help fight dandruff and soothe dry scalps, tame frizz and promote strong, healthy hair.

Dry skin treatment People suffering with dry skin or conditions such as eczema, which can leave skin raw, flaky and itchy, will benefit immensely from argan oil. The vitamin E and fatty acids in the oil are excellent for repairing damaged skin and providing it with nutrients which will prevent further dryness and irritation. Argan oil also contains ingredients which soothe skin. Applying a small amount of oil directly to afflicted areas and massaging in gently can provide relief and encourage healing.

Use it as a leave-in conditioner for sleek, extra-shiny hair.

Simply rub a few drops of argan oil between your palms and then comb your fingers through damp or towel-dried hair. Make sure to massage it into the scalp and down to the ends of the hair.

Foot, hand and nail treatment Argan oil’s softening properties can improve brittle nails, dry hands and cracked, hard skin on feet. Try massaging a few drops of argan oil into cuticles, hands and feet before bed each night.

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Olive oil

Probably the most widely-used oil in cooking, olive oil is pressed from fresh olives and is rich in vitamins, minerals and natural fatty acids. It’s also a powerful ingredient in antiageing skincare products; rich in antioxidants, it prevents skin ageing, the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, and nourishes, rejuvenates and protects the skin.

moisturiser for coconut oil. It sinks in quickly and will leave your skin feeling baby soft.

Rich in vitamins E and A, olive oil helps hydrate the skin, maintains its elasticity and softness, whilst encouraging skin cells to regenerate. So how can you use olive oil for beauty?

Make-up remover As with olive oil, coconut oil makes an excellent makeup remover. Massage into your skin, leave it on for a few minutes, and wipe off with a warm cloth.

Bath oil Add five tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to your bath for soft, smooth skin. Or massage your body with olive oil before getting into the bath; afterwards, pat your skin dry and wipe away any excess oil. If you prefer to shower, smooth olive oil all over your body after using soap or shower gel.

Youthful glow Coconut oil can minimise the appearance of wrinkles, and works on the delicate eye area, too.

Nail strengthener A warm olive-oil bath for nails is an excellent way to strengthen them. Soak your nails in slightly-warmed olive oil (it shouldn’t be too hot, just at room temperature).

Do this once or twice a week and enjoy strong, shiny and healthy nails!

Eye cream Olive oil will nourish the tender skin around your eyes and help soften fine lines. Gently dab a little under your eyes before bed or in the morning.

Hair treatment Apply slightly-warmed olive oil to your hair, leave it on your hair for about an hour, then shampoo and condition as usual (you might need to shampoo your hair twice to remove all the oil).

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is extracted from the kernel of matured coconuts.

Because of its high saturated fat content, it is slow to oxidize and can last for up to two years without spoiling.

Cuticle care Treat dry cuticles by massaging coconut oil into your nail beds – and moisturise your hands in the process.

Hair conditioner Massage coconut oil into your scalp to fight dandruff.

Use coconut oil to prevent the ends of your hair from drying out. Just rub some onto the tips of your hair, and then shampoo as usual.

Skin conditioner To keep your skin soft and supple, swap your regular

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Bath balm Add a generous scoop of coconut oil to your bath and soak in its moisturising benefits.

Foot smoother Before bed, soften cracked, rough skin and calluses by exfoliating your feet and then applying a generous layer of coconut oil. Since it has natural antibacterial properties, it’ll deodorise as it softens. Then slip on some socks to wake up with much smoother, sweeter soles.

Sesame oil

Sesame oil has been used for thousands of years to improve skin and hair. It helps prevent wrinkles and pimples, and stops split ends. Eating sesame seeds is also good for hair and skin as they are packed with many nutrients which nourish the scalp and hair. This includes vitamin E, lecithin, essential fatty acids and protein.

Glowing skin salve Apply sesame oil all over your face and massage it in thoroughly. Wash off with warm water, then rinse your face with cold water to close the pores.

Antifungal treatment Sesame seed oil has natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It helps to get rid of skin fungi such as athlete’s foot. To control vaginal yeast infections, simply apply sesame seed oil mixed with warm water.

Cracked-heel soother Rub sesame seed oil into your heels every night before going to bed, then put on cotton socks. You should notice a difference after a couple of days.

Healthy hair conditioner Sesame seed oil makes a wonderful conditioner for dry, damaged hair. Massaging your scalp with sesame seed oil will help relieve a dry, flaky scalp. Sesame seeds also have anti-fungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help clear scalp infections, dandruff, and clogged pores that can all cause hair thinning and hair loss.

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SO SPA, SO GOOD

Alexander House proved the perfect venue for the ultimate spa experience

For me, the Alexander House Hotel epitomises sheer luxury. The five-star manor house is set in 120 acres of glorious Sussex countryside just outside East Grinstead, offering a choice of restaurants and rooms designed for absolute comfort.

So when my best friend and I were invited to enjoy a day at their award-winning Utopia Spa, we couldn’t resist.

We arrived at the spa reception, and were immediately invited to help ourselves to a hot drink and flapjack (er, who needs muesli for breakfast?), and relaxed in the lounge as we chose what we would have for lunch.

After a quick tour of the spa, and an even quicker change into our cossies, before you could say “This is the life!” we were relaxing in the swimming pool.

The spa has a wonderful, Grecian-inspired design, and it was like stepping into a secret underwater cave. You really do feel as if you have escaped from the world. Surrounded by pillars, with some actually in the pool, you could be in a Roman bath, if it were not for all the mod cons, of course!

With ambient blue lighting, it is such a relaxing place to be.

There’s an exercise pool (we did one lap before deciding that was enough exercise!), hydrotherapy pool, bubble tubs, sauna, steam room and monsoon showers… you could quite happily spend the entire day here without getting bored!

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5,000-year-old system of natural healing that has its origins in the Vedic culture of India. Her grandfather had also been an Ayurvedic doctor in Northern India, and her first experience of the system had been while visiting him at the age of seven.

Pinda Sweda is a Sanskrit term. Pinda means bolus or herbal compress; Sweda means to sweat. It’s a traditional treatment found predominantly in Southern India. Medicinal herbs are tied in a muslin cloth, along with a medicinal powder called kolakula, which forms the medium for this treatment.

The bolus is then dipped into very warm oil and massaged over the body using four techniques – circling to improve circulation, straight strokes to help reduce inflammation, pummelling to energise the body and direct heat to ease tired muscles. It’s great for increasing circulation, restoring get-upand-go, nourishing the skin, and relaxing overworked bodies and minds.

OK, so that’s the technical bit. All I know is that it felt good!

From having the warming oil dripped over my body, to the ‘pummelling’, it is an entire body massage that leaves you feeling completely relaxed and de-stressed. It was sheer heaven. I literally did fall asleep at one point and woke myself up with a little snort!

After our treatment, we retired to the relaxation lounge; it’s definitely the place to go if you just want to switch off.

Before we knew it, it was getting close to leaving time.

So, to finish off, we relaxed in the sauna and steam room.

After lunch it was time for our spa treatments; the Tri-Dosha Pummelling Massage – Pinda Sweda. We thought we were already relaxed, but we were about to embark on a whole new world of relaxation and pampering.

It was the perfect end to the day, and we remained relaxed, feeling the holistic benefits of our treatment and the wonderful experience at the spa.

Tri Dosha is an award-winning, UK-based wellbeing brand, and the first natural Ayurvedic skincare range by health and beauty writer and holistic therapist, Sunita Passi.

The Sooo Sanctuary Spa Day starts from just £99pp and includes a two-course lunch or afternoon tea, plus a 25 minute treatment and your own bathrobe to take home.

Sunita started off life as a business journalist, travelling the world. Whilst working and living in India, she became re-inspired by holistic health and, in particular, Ayurveda – a

Alexander House Hotel and Utopia Spa, Turners Hill, East Grinstead RH10 4QD Tel: 01342 714914 www.alexanderhouse.co.uk

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ASK THE DOCTOR Your cosmetic surgery questions answered

Cryolipolysis can work, depending on the device being used. The only one with any research behind it is called CoolSculpting by Zeltiq. There are other devices around, but many of them do not have the vital in-built safety features, and also do not achieve the same results. There are some parts of the body where these techniques can’t reach or where you want some finer sculpting, and for these areas the fat-dissolving injections are excellent.

So my answer is – do your research before spending money on a treatment like this.

SOPHIE SHOTTER, MBCHB BSC (HONS) COSMETIC DOCTOR What are your views on non-surgical fat loss techniques?

The two most commonly-found types of fat-loss device are ones which use heat (like laser lipolysis), versus ones that use cold (cryolipolysis). There are also fat-dissolving injections available, called Aqualyx. In my opinion, there is no evidence that heatbased devices provide long-term results, although they can give an immediate inch loss, which is nice before a big night out, for example.

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Are these techniques as good as liposuction?

They are different to liposuction, and different techniques will be right for different people. Many people don’t want to have an operation, and the non-invasive techniques that I use offer a great option for these people. They also don’t leave any scars.

The results of both techniques will take several weeks to become apparent. After both liposuction or non-invasive techniques, there is a possibility of being left with excess skin which would require surgical treatment. The best solution is to have a consultation and assessment to see what would work for you. www.illuminateskinclinic.co.uk Send your questions to editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk

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BEAUTY EXTR A

Christmas is coming, so here are some beauty boosters that would make great gifts

MASSAGE MAGIC

Enjoy a luxury spa massage treatment with this Hot Stone Therapy pack. It contains geranium, lavender and patchouli massage oil, natural tumbled river pebbles, a mood-setting candle and a hairband. Price: £10.95. www.prezzybox.com

LIPSTICK KISSES

No, it’s not a real lipstick, but a traditional mouth-blown crystal version with a distinctly rock ’n’ roll feel from a quirky range designed by Swede Åsa Jungnelius for Kosta Boda that includes empty nail-varnish bottles and red-hot lips! Price: £41. www.scandinavianshop.co.uk

GARDEN GLORY

Perfect for gardeners, this reusable painted metal planter is filled with pampering products and pretty garden gloves. It contains hand and body lotion, hand wash, hand scrub and body soap, all infused with extracts of milk thistle, and a wooden nail brush.

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MIRROR IMAGE

This cute, fabric-covered pocket mirror features a colourful rabbit illustration, originally drawn in ink and watercolour.

Stored in a handmade felt and lace pouch, it’s perfect for keeping in a handbag. Price: £5. www.ceridwendesign.etsy.com

IT’S A CRACKER!

The Secret Paradise Manicure Cracker contains Heathcote & Ivory’s luxury hand wash and hand cream, formulated with enriching shea butter and vitamin E, plus a glass nail file. Price: £12. www.hintonshome.com

ALMOST GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT

Created by Blancreme, whose cosmetics and toiletries are inspired by food and drink, this gift set includes bath foam, shower gel, body scrub, body lotion and massage cream in Strawberry and Pomegranate fragrances. Price: £44.95. www.boutiqueprovencale.co.uk

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CHRISTMAS WITH A TWIST Festive fare doesn’t have to be all about traditional dishes. Here are some alternative ideas from local chefs that will taste great not just at Christmas, but all year round

SANKEY’S SMOKIE

KURZI LAMB

There is something about smoked haddock that nothing else can match; succulent, tanned flakes of smoky, sweet fish are irresistible. Here is a cracking dish that really utilises all the best characters of the smoked fish. It would make a perfect Christmas Eve or Boxing Day supper.

The Cinnamon Square in Hildenborough will be serving a spicy feast this Christmas. Here’s our version of their delicious lamb with a difference.

Ingredients: 500g skinless, pin-boned, natural smoked haddock (your fishmongers can prepare this for you) 1 pint full-fat milk 100g unsalted butter 100g plain flour 3 handfuls of grated Cheddar 200g raw peeled and deveined tiger prawns 4 small handfuls of spinach Handful of chopped parsley (flat or curly) Method: 1. Gently poach the haddock in the milk for about five minutes.

2. Make a roux by melting the butter in a pan, add the flour bit by bit to make a paste and cook for about one minute on a low heat.

3. Strain the milk and slowly add it to the roux to make a white sauce, stir for around 15 minutes or until you get a nice, even, thick sauce.

4. Then add two handfuls of the grated cheese, stir in and remove from the heat.

5. In a separate pan, poach the tiger prawns until cooked – about two minutes or until they go orange.

6. In a baking dish (or you can do this individually), layer the spinach on the bottom of the dish, then add the haddock and prawns before evenly pouring in the sauce. Coat with the remaining cheese and brown under a hot grill.

7. If you wish, you can serve with a poached egg on top.

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Ingredients: For the marinade: 1.1L natural live yoghurt 3 tbsp ground cumin 3 tbsp garam masala 3 tsp ground coriander 2 tsp ground turmeric 3 tsp chilli powder 3 tsp cayenne pepper The juice of three lemons 6 garlic cloves, crushed 10cm/4 inches fresh ginger root, grated A few drops of red food colouring, optional Other ingredients: 1 leg of lamb Vegetable oil for basting Lemon wedges to serve Method: 1. Place all the marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

2. Remove the fat from the leg of lamb and make several deep cuts across the meat using a sharp knife.

3. Place the lamb in a dish, pour over the marinade, forcing it into the cuts, refrigerate and marinate for 24–60 hours, turning from time to time to keep it coated.

4. Once marinated, preheat the oven to 110˚C/90˚C fan/gas mark ¼.

5. Remove the excess marinade from the lamb and place the lamb in a roasting tin. Pour over a little vegetable oil and roast for 24 hours, basting regularly. Serve hot with lemon wedges.

Book a table at The Cinnamon Square for their mouthwatering Christmas menu.

Starters: Popodoms and chutney followed by a mixed platter consisting of chicken tikka, duck tikka and onion bhajee. Main course: Leg of lamb marinated for 48 hours in fresh herbs and cooked in the oven for 24 hours, served with spinach, chick peas, butternut squash and baby potatoes, accompanied with rice and naan bread. Leg of Lamb serves 2-4 people. The Cinnamon Square will need a week’s notice and are limited to serve only 14 pieces, so it will be on a first come, first served basis. Also available on the day is their normal menu, which is available without any notice given and there is no extra charge on the day. The Cinnamon Square is open from noon.

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ROAST VENISON

BEEF COBBLER

Rendez-Vous in Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, use venison from the Bayham Estate near Frant for this succulent dish. And venison makes a fantastic alternative to turkey on Christmas Day. If you have a good butcher, he should be able to supply you with some local venison and even some game bones, which you can use to make a nice strong jus to go with it.

Cobblers are more often made with fruit and served for pudding, but here is a savoury version with minced beef and herby scones that is quick and easy to make. A great winter warmer from The Kentish Hare in Bidborough.

Ingredients: 600-650g loin of venison 1 tbsp coarsely-ground fresh black pepper and salt 2 tsp vegetable oil Method: 1. Preheat oven to 200˚C/180˚C fan/gas mark 6.

2. Trim any sinewy bits from the venison loin 3. Sprinkle the black pepper and salt onto a clean chopping board.

4. Rub the loin with the vegetable oil and roll the loin (including the ends) in the salt and pepper mixture to lightly coat.

5. Heat a large, heavy-based frying pan until hot. Add the venison, fat-side down, and sear for a couple of minutes. Turn over to sear the other side, then sear the ends.

6. Place the seared venison into a roasting tin and place in the preheated oven for about 10-15 minutes for rare meat, a bit longer for medium-rare or medium.

7. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for ten minutes. This will ensure moist meat.

8. Slice the venison loin into thick slices and serve with porcini mushrooms, chestnuts, tenderstem broccoli, sauté or roast potatoes and a game or red wine jus.

To make the jus you will need 1L venison stock, 1L homemade veal stock, ½ L red wine, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 1 head of garlic, 2 sticks of celery, thyme and parsley stalks.

Method: 1. Lightly fry the carrot, celery, onion and garlic until golden brown.

2. Add the red wine and reduce by half, then add parsley and thyme.

3. Add the venison stock and veal stock. Cook until a thicker consistency is achieved, then serve.

Image for illustrative purposes only

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Ingredients:

For the beef: 2 tbsp plain flour 1 tbsp olive oil Leaves from two sprigs of ½ white onion, diced fresh thyme 500g good-quality lean minced beef 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 small leek, white part only, diced 1 bay leaf 1 stick celery, diced 150ml red wine 1 large carrot, diced 200ml good beef stock 1 garlic clove, finely chopped Crushed sea salt 1 tbsp tomato purée Freshly ground black pepper For the cobbler: 300g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting, 180g butter, cubed and chilled, 1 tbsp chopped fresh curly parsley, leaves from 2 sprigs of fresh thyme, 1 free-range egg yolk, beaten Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160° fan/gas mark 4.

2. Place a large saucepan over a high heat, add the oil and sweat the onion for one minute. Add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until it is browned all over. Add the remaining vegetables and garlic and cook for a further two minutes.

3. Stir in the tomato purée and flour. Add the thyme leaves, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, wine and stock. Season, cover with a lid and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.

4. To assemble the topping, put the flour and butter in a mixing bowl.

Rub together to form crumbs, season and add the herbs and make a well in the centre. Add three tablespoons cold water, a little at a time, and mix to form a soft dough. Roll out the dough on a floured work surface, to about 1.5cm in thickness, and cut out 11-12 rounds using a 6cm pastry cutter or the top of a small cup.

5. Pour the beef mixture into a 30 x 20cm ovenproof dish, lay the rounds on top and brush with the beaten egg yolk. Place the dish on a baking tray and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the stew is bubbling and the herby scones are golden.

(From James Tanner’s Old favourites, New Twists – 100 classic recipes with a difference).

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POMEGRANATE AND ROSE SUNSHINE CAKE

PANETTONE BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING

This dairy-free cake from Juliets in Tunbridge Wells is light as snow!

This version of a traditional Italian Christmas treat is from La Dolce Vita in Lamberhurst.

Ingredients: For the cake: 120g OO or extra fine flour ½ tsp salt 200g caster sugar 7 eggs, separated ½ tsp rose water 1 lemon, zested 1 pomegranate, seeded 1 tsp vanilla extrac ½ tsp cream of tartar 25cm non-stick angel cake tin

Ingredients: For the pudding: 50g unsalted butter 250g panettone 2 whole eggs 150ml double cream 225ml whole milk 1 orange, finely zested 2 tbsp granulated sugar

For the icing: 370g icing sugar 2 tsp rose water 1 lemon, zested ¼ tsp vanilla extract Your choice of edible flowers and fruit to decorate

Method: 1. Preheat oven to 160˚C/140˚C fan/gas mark 3. Sift flour and salt three times, set aside.

3. Whisk together the egg yolks, half the sugar and the rose water.

When the eggs are pale in colour, add your lemon zest, pomegranate seeds and vanilla. Whisk again until fully incorporated.

4. Sift the flour over the egg yolk mixture, set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar until they have tripled in volume, then add the remaining sugar. Carry on whisking until the mixture forms soft peaks.

6. Fold in the yolk mixture a spoon at a time, being careful not to lose any air. Gently scrape the mixture into the tin, levelling the top with a spatula.

8. Bake for 35 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean and the cake feels springy. Remove from the oven, turn upside down and balance on the neck of a bottle for about one and a half hours, a long-knecked wine bottle is perfect for this.

10. To remove the cake from the tin, slide a thin knife around the sides and gently ease the cake out from the tin.

11. Cover the cake with icing, let it set for 30 minutes, then decorate however you choose!

For the icing: 1. Sieve the icing sugar into a bowl.

2. Add the rose water, vanilla and lemon zest, mix until smooth.

For the clementine compôte: 1 cup caster sugar 10 clementines 100ml Triple Sec Method: For the pudding: 1. Slice and butter the panettone.

2. Whisk the eggs, cream, milk, sugar and orange zest.

3. Grease a baking dish and line with the panettone buttered side up.

Pour the egg mix over.

4. Bake for half an hour at 160˚C/140˚C fan/gas mark 3 or until nicely browned on top and just set.

For the compôte: 1. Slice the clementines with the skin on, and discard both ends.

2. Spread half the sugar on a thick-bottomed pan, layer with the clementines, the rest of the sugar and the Triple Sec. 3. Cover with greaseproof paper and cook on a very low heat until it is cooked through and broken down.

4. When ready, spoon on top of the pudding and serve.

La Dolce Vita has lots of events over the coming months.

Here’s a taste: Nov 5th: Cameo Opera Night Dec 4th: Abba Tribute Night Dec 12th: Loose Ends (laidback music with a difference) Dec 19th: Opera Night Dec 23rd: Sinatra Night Dec 24th: Special set menu dinner Dec 25th: Special lunch menu with pianist Dec 31st: Special New Year’s dinner with seven to eight courses and Loose Ends band

Image for illustrative purposes only

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BEER AND THE BEAN Alex Greig of Fuggles Beer Café and Joe Lloyd of Perk & Pearl, both in Tunbridge Wells, share their expertise in beer and coffee

“The beer scene in the UK is going through an amazing renaissance at the moment. UK brewers are making some of the best beer in the world and, complemented by some stunning imports, it’s a really exciting time to be drinking beer.

“Versatility has been a big part of helping this boom, and beer is now being respected by many more, particularly when it comes to food. The right beer can often be a better match than wine with a meal. The availability of such a wide range and different styles of beers has also increased its accessibility, so there’s something for everyone.

“We’ve had a great summer with some outstandingly-good pale ales, IPAs and saisons, the spicy, fruity pale ales. Now we’re heading into winter and the nights are drawing in, it’s time to drink darker beers – rich stouts, complex barley wines or Trappist ales.

“So what should you be drinking at this time of year? Winter dishes and darker beers are great matches – the rich and warming flavours of casseroles and stews need something that will stand up to them. A classic London Porter, with its roasted barley and softer, fruity notes, would be a great match for any classic slow-cooked dish. Dark Trappist ales are also a great match for game birds, and plum and apricot notes are great with duck.

Dessert is one of my favourite areas to play with food and

beer, in particular, pairing chocolate and stout – the coffee notes and bitterness cut through the sweet chocolate perfectly, and it always brings a smile to my face. Another favourite of mine is to match a wintery crumble with a Belgian fruit beer or one of the new wave of UK saisons currently being brewed.

“Beer and food pairing needn’t be complicated. Hopefully these suggestions will give you a nice starting point from which to explore and discover. And there’s always advice behind the bar at Fuggles for you!” www.fugglesbeercafe.co.uk

“One common reaction when people meet me for the first time is for them to say ‘I like it to drink it – but I don’t know anything about coffee!’ However, you don’t need to be a master barista to know if a coffee tastes good or bad!

“There is definitely a shroud of mystery and elitism when it comes to the recent rise in coffee culture, especially with us bearded baristas (there are non-bearded versions, too, but these are a slightly-rarer breed!) concocting new and crazy ways to extract coffee in weird and wonderful scientific equipment.

“The new wave of indie coffee houses can certainly be quite intimidating too, and may make some people feel slightly inadequate when it comes to entering the world of coffee. Put all the perfect extraction times and optimum bar pressures aside for one second and let’s just focus on what initially makes this drink so blimmin’ special.

“It all starts with the humble coffee bean. There are two types – robusta and arabica. Robusta is a poorer-quality bean but packs a punch when it comes to caffeine content. Arabica is a more tender bean and has the best flavour. Robusta is mainly used to produce freeze-dried coffee and is added to some espresso blends. Coffee starts off as a green bean and only comes alive when it is roasted. The skill to a good roasted bean is all about

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knowing the bean’s origin and what kind of roast it likes. For example, Kenyan beans produce better flavours if roasted slightly lighter. Others from Central and Southern America are more likely to be roasted slightly darker to draw out their individual flavour.

Roasted whole coffee beans, if kept in an airtight container, will stay fresh for a while, but the secret is to buy little and often – that way you can explore our range of 20 or so regular and guest beans!

“If you would like any advice on coffee (or tea) or would like to mastermind your own coffee blend, I will be happy to help!” www.PerkandPearl.co.uk

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LET’S EAT

A round-up of the latest foodie news

GIVE US A RING

The UK’s first gluten- and wheat-free frozen doughnuts have been launched by Feel Free. The sugared ring doughnuts are made using potato and rice starch and will keep in the freezer for six months. Price: £3.99 for a pack of four. www.glutenfree-direct.co.uk

SPEEDY SUPPERS

Enjoy tasty meals in minutes with the G’Nosh range. Piquant Prawn & Chorizo in a Spicy Tomato Sauce; Mussels & Prawns in a Garlic Butter Sauce; and slow-cooked Italian Sausage Ragu.

Price: £3.29 each from Waitrose and Ocado. www.gnosh.co.uk

TASTE OF MEXICO SWEET TREAT

The new 9bar Indulge range is the perfect sweet treat. With a blend of rich cocoa, nutritious mixed seeds and either hazelnuts or raspberries, it’s a deliciously-filling snack bar with all the indulgence of a chocolatey treat. Price: £1.90 for four 40g bars; available from Tesco. www.9bar.com 56

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SOUPER!

Celebrity chefs have created three new soups for Tideford Organics. Mitch Tonks’ Smoked Haddock Chowder with Organic Leeks and Peas, Mark Hix’s Celeriac and Apple soup, and Aldo Zilli’s Tuscan Bean soup are organic, gluten-free and delicious!

Price: £3.49. www.tidefordorganics.com

IN A PICKLE

Spice up Christmas with this trio from The Bay Tree: a rich Christmas Pickle with cranberry and apple; Boxing Day Chutney with apricots and coriander seeds; and Christmas Marmalade with wild Moroccan oranges and spices. Price: £8.30. www.thebaytree.co.uk

LET THEM EAT CAKE

Award-winning cake sculptor to the stars, Michelle Wibowo, shares her secrets for creating fantastic cakes in her new book Showstopper Wedding Cakes. Each design has step-by-step instructions for a truly-individual wedding cake. Price: £30. www.bdutton.com

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DESIGN FROM A DISTANCE

When Mark and Claire Armitage’s home needed a revamp, there was just one problem – they had to co-ordinate it from the other side of the world

The extension on the back of the house fills the ground floor with light

How do you renovate and extend your home near Tunbridge Wells when you’re living in Hong Kong? That was the dilemma facing Mark and Claire Armitage. They bought their five-bed home, three-storey house in 2010, as an investment when they returned to the UK having been in Hong Kong.

They rented out their house and, over the years, it naturally became a bit tired and rundown. When the couple decided to return to the UK this year, they wanted it to be to a refreshed house that had been turned into a long-term family home.

But where to start?

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options, and also have an interior designer they use, who met with us to finalise aspects of the work.

Following emails and finally a meeting at the house a year ago, Hemsted presented detailed plans with all the options costed up.

An interior designer that works with Hemsted but lives in Hong Kong liaised with them to finalise the interior.

Says Mark: “We needed to find a company that we could trust to create the home we wanted, even though we would be thousands of miles away. We looked at various options and then we were given the name of Hemsted, a local design and building company, by friends who had used them for their own house renovation.

Says Vicky: “It was an unusual commission but we looked forward to the challenge. We initially met the Armitages a year ago and spent a lot of time discussing exactly what they wanted and costing it carefully so there would be no surprises later.

This was all before going to planning to create the new spaces they wanted. There were a lot of changes to the ground floor, and a total refurbishment of the other two floors. We ended up making very few changes from the initial concept once work started, except to add underfloor heating on the ground floor, shelving in the entertainment room and adding a rear terrace.”

“We met with Vicky Risebrow, Hemsted’s director, and immediately felt reassured that we had found the right company for the project. They presented detailed plans and

Vicky admits that, initially, she was a bit daunted by the possible problems of working at a distance. “But Mark and Claire were good at making decisions and there wasn’t anything that

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The original rear of the house. Below: The extension and terrace

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The old kitchen

Now it’s light and white

The redesigned hallway

A far cry from the original

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The feature wall in the sitting area

The spacious ground floor flows seamlessly from dining and sitting areas to the kitchen we weren’t able to resolve. We also needed to be efficient with timing to give them the opportunity to consider things but not to hold the work up. Having interior designer, Tracey, was an added bonus, as she was able to advise on layouts, colours and so on.

“Probably the biggest worry was them not liking the result when they came over five months into the project for the first time!”

creating one huge, light-filled space, accentuated by crisp white walls, pale, limed-oak flooring and light carpets.

Interest is added by a feature wall in the sitting area and a bank of dark units in the kitchen to contrast with the glossy white ones.

How could they not? The result is stunning. Gone is the small kitchen, separate dining room and sitting room, the worn parquet flooring and conservatory. The ground floor has been extended across the width of the building, and completed with a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Now the hall, dining area, sitting room and kitchen flow seamlessly into each other,

Mark and Claire love their redesigned home and have just moved back in.

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On the other floors, bedrooms and bathrooms have been refurbished and an entertainment room added.

“It’s even better than we imagined,” says Claire. “I love the light and space – I can’t believe our old home could have been made into something so beautiful.”

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HOME, SWEET HOME Ideas to turn your house into a home

VINTAGE CHARM

Kelly Swallow’s chairs are individually-sourced vintage pieces, each with their own unique charm. This Mad Hatter-style vintage chair with scrolling wings has been reinvented in an eclectic array of colours, patterns and textures. Price: £1,950. www.kellyswallow.co.uk

CANDLE POWER

A charming pair of vintage French gilt-metal candelabra, dating from the mid-1900s. The cherub design is a recurring motif in French lighting, and these candle holders will add a touch of château chic to any room. Price: £48. www.dazzlevintagefurniture.co.uk

DOGGONE IT!

This fun Pompom Poodle is hand-made from 350 merino wool pompoms, with a leather face, back and legs. It measures 50cm x 140cm in length, and is 60cm high at the head. Made to order

by German company MYK. Price on request. www.myk-berlin.de

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AND SO TO BED

No flamboyant twists and turns, no fireworks, just understated, graceful elegance for this loose-covered, flower-strewn bed from sofa.com. Sophie Bed in Design Lab Occipinti Wisteria, White and Purple fabric. Price: £995. www.sofa.com

TABLE TALK

Dress up your Christmas table with this set of six white linen union napkins, hand-printed with a stag, partridge, goose, pear, turkey and a sprout stick. They come beautifully presented in a gift box with ribbon. Price: £60. www.annabeljames.co.uk

FESTIVE STYLE

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a wreath, and this sumptuously-decorated lit wreath with gold baubles, foliage and fir cones from Laura Ashley will be the perfect stylish addition to your festive home. Price: £50. www.lauraashley.com KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2014

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FILL YOUR HOME WITH MUSIC Making music is rewarding, whatever your age

You’ve probably started thinking about the perfect Christmas gift for your loved ones this year, maybe the latest gadget or gizmo.

We’re all searching to find that thoughtful present that will bring lasting enjoyment, a meaningful gesture that will not only be appreciated, but also be a reminder of you.

So how about a musical instrument? Giving a person of any age an instrument is not just another material gift, but a vehicle for the imagination, much like giving a painter a palette of colours for expression. It can also be passed on down the family, or handed on to a friend who would like to learn music.

Music can be learnt at a very young age and also rediscovered years later.

Many who were given instruments as children have rekindled their passion for playing and fallen in love with music all over again.

From a recorder to a flute, a keyboard to a clarinet, Brittens Music store in Tunbridge Wells has a huge range of instruments to suit all ages and musical tastes.

Or how about giving a gift of lessons at Brittens Music School? The school offers tuition at all levels to children and adults, with experienced and qualified teachers that will help you achieve your goals. And don’t worry

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if you don’t have an instrument. Brittens have a great-value rental scheme. Plus, if you do decide to buy your instrument later, as a Brittens Music School student you’ll be entitled to an extra discount!

So this Christmas, why not bring the gift of music home to your family.

Tel: 01892 526659 www.brittensmusic.co.uk

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HOME EXTR A

Luxury touches that will make your home extra special

The modern kitchen is as much about living as is it is about cooking. The hub of the home will soon showcase Christmas cooking and simmering pans of mulled spices. Here are a few ideas from the designers at Rencraft to make your kitchen the talk of the town, plus the smartest TV unit ever…

You’ve got the dream kitchen, but what about the entertainment? If you have a spare room in your home or an attic or cellar to convert, then a media room is the way to go.

New Wave AV talks us through the ultimate home-entertainment design...

THE MIELE COFFEE MACHINE

This will prove an indispensable appliance in the kitchen, producing perfect cups of coffee year after year. With handy automatic rinsing, it couldn’t be easier to keep clean, making it exceptionally low-maintenance.

DUAL-SCREEN

A dual-screen is a must-have for any media room.

A flush, wall-mounted plasma for day-to-day TV and gaming, but for the real wow factor, a ceiling lift drops to reveal an HD projector. Who needs to go to the cinema when you have one at home!

THE RENCRAFT TV DISPLAY UNIT

A gorgeous feature piece for any home. Watching TV has never been so stylish.

LIGHTING & CONTROL

THE QUOOKER HOT-WATER TAP

The kitchen must-have. A tap that immediately dispenses boiling water and can be fitted retroactively. No more waiting for the kettle to boil.

The team at Rencraft wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to welcoming you to our showroom in 2015. www.rencraft.co.uk KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2014

It’s all about the extras that really make a media room.

Control4 can be used not only as an audio-visual kit, but also to control the lighting and even motorised blinds. And you don’t even have to get off your comfy sofa! Don’t forget those wall-mounted LEDs for added ambience and colour-matched in-wall speakers to enhance the design.

Come and visit our demo suite in Tonbridge.

Merry Christmas from everyone at New Wave AV! www.newwaveav.co.uk

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WINTER WONDERLAND Give your garden a touch of magic over the coming months

Many plants with winter interest are scented, most are shade tolerant, and some are adaptable to life in containers, so can be moved in and out of the limelight according to the season.

The sight and scent of these valuable plants can cheer up a dull time of the year.

Five top plants for winter interest

Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca

Helleborus niger

Stachyurus praecox

Mahonia × media ‘Winter Sun’

Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna

Interest in the winter may come from flowers, scent, berries, coloured stems or dramatic evergreen foliage. Plants with fragrance are best appreciated when planted by doorways or entrances in regular winter use. Since some are not particularly attractive during the summer months, you may find it useful to plant in containers and change plantings according to the seasons.

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Before embarking on creating your winter displays consider the following points: • Containers are a great way of growing many of these plants to provide winter interest. Use loam-based compost, such as John Innes No 2 • Flowering of shrubs can be sporadic over several weeks or months, depending on the severity of the winter • If you plan to train shrubs to a wall, first ensure that a satisfactory method of support can be erected or attached to the wall

Suitable plants

Bulbs

• Eranthis hyemalis AGM – yellow flowers from January to March. Height 15cm (6in).

• Galanthus nivalis AGM – white flowers from January to February. Height 7–10cm (3–4in).

• Scilla mischtschenkoana ‘Tubergeniana’ (syn. S. tubergeniana) AGM – pale blue flowers in February.

Height 10–15cm (4–6in).

Containers planted with a selection of foliage and flowers can brighten up a patio or balcony, giving colour and interest over the cold season.

Heights given are approximate and they may vary under differing conditions. Shrubs may take several years to reach their ultimate height. When positioning the shrubs, take into account their eventual size.

There is a huge selection of shrubs, herbaceous plants, bedding and bulbs to choose from. Although these plants are not as flamboyant as those used in summer containers, you can still make a statement with careful plant selection.

Shrubs (deciduous)

Remember that plants grow very little in winter, so make sure you start with good-sized plants and use sufficient numbers for the size of container to make an impact from the start.

• Abeliophyllum distichum – fragrant white flowers in February. Height 2m (6½ft).

• Daphne mezereum – purple-red flowers in February–April.

Good in chalky soil. Height 1.5m (5ft).

• Hamamelis × intermedia – several cultivars; fragrant yellow or orange flowers between December and March. Height 1.8–3m (6–10ft).

Shrubs (evergreen)

• Arbutus unedo AGM – white or tinged pink flowers between October and December. Height 4.5–6m (15-20ft).

• Elaeagnus pungens ‘Maculata’ (v) AGM – small, silverywhite flowers between October and January. Height 2.4–4.5m (8–15ft).

• Mahonia × media ‘Charity’ AGM – yellow spikes of flowers in November and December. Height 3–4.5m (10–15ft)

Climbers

• Clematis cirrhosa – cream flowers from November to March. Height 4m (13ft).

• Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica AGM – cream spotted red/ maroon flowers from November to March. Height 4m (13ft).

• Clematis cirrhosa ‘Freckles’ AGM – cream flecked maroon/ violet flowers from November to March. Height 4m (13ft).

Herbaceous perennials

• Bergenia – several species/cultivars with pink or white flowers from January to April. Height: 20–40cm (8–15in).

• Helleborus niger AGM – white flowers from December to March. Height 30–45cm (12ft–18in).

• Iris unguicularis AGM – lilac flowers from October to March. Height 22cm (9in).

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Position your container where it will get as much light as possible during the winter months to ensure plant foliage remains green and healthy.

Water containers carefully in winter, making sure you check the compost regularly as it can soon dry out in mild spells. Smaller plants are more susceptible to over- or underwatering.

It’s not necessary to feed container plants during the winter, but do raise containers off the ground on pot feet or bricks to aid drainage and help prevent the freezing conditions that cause pots to crack.

Choose frost-proof terracotta or containers made of plastic, fibreglass or wood. Bubble-wrap containers in severe weather to reduce damage to plant roots.

Suitable plants

Winter bedding plants: these mainly flower in spring, but cyclamen, winter-flowering pansy, viola, primula and polyanthus will flower intermittently during mild spells in winter.

The following can also be used: forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris), large-flowered bedding daisies (Bellis perennis), wallflowers (Erysimum), and Cyclamen persicum (not hardy but will usually last until the new year in a sheltered location).

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Evergreen shrubs retain their green leaves through winter and make a good focal point in a large container, or can be mixed with other dwarf shrubs for a variety of foliage and flowers. Try box (Buxus sempervirens), bay (Laurus nobilis), skimmia, euonymus, ivy (Hedera). Ornamental cabbage and kale provide additional foliage interest.

Hardy evergreen ferns add greenery. Use hart’s tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium), common polypody (Polypodium vulgare) and soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum) in containers for shady positions.

Herbaceous plants such as Heuchera are an excellent choice for their evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage in green or rich plum shades, some with exquisite markings.

Small evergreen ornamental grasses, such as Carex, combine well with winter bedding to give height and a contrast in texture.

Plant evergreen perennial herbs like rosemary, sage, thyme, lavender and curry plant in a sunny position.

Trees and shrubs with attractive bark

In the depths of winter, the quiet charms of plants with strikingly-coloured bark come into their own. Textures and stem colours attract the eye, as bright whites, yellows, pinks and warm red-browns light the gloom.

Winter interest provided by bark on trees and shrubs is an important aspect of planting up a garden, and is sometimes overlooked in favour of more flamboyant flower interest. For maximum impact, plant the shrubs in groups and the trees where their bark can be seen and appreciated.

A few of the brightest and best: • Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ • Betula utilis var. jacquemontii ‘Grayswood Ghost’ • Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ • Rubus biflorus • Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’

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TIPS

Cornus (dogwood), Rubus and Salix (willow) are shrubs that need pruning each year, almost to ground level in March, to ensure that a fresh crop of the brightest-coloured stems are produced for the next winter. This is known as coppicing or stooling.

Pollarding is suitable for Salix (willow), Eucalyptus and other species grown as small trees, and is another way of ensuring the brightest stem colour on new growth.

While pruning these plants for winter stem interest, you can take hardwood cuttings to increase your plant stocks. Acers are not very obliging when it comes to pruning, so try to avoid it. An exception is Acer ‘Winter Lightning’, which can be coppiced annually.

Suitable trees

• Acer davidii ‘Ernest Wilson’ (snakebark maple, Père David’s maple) – green-and-white striped bark. Height 8m (27ft).

• Acer griseum AGM (paper bark maple) – peeling red-brown bark. Height 10m (30ft).

• Eucalyptus paucifolia subsp. niphophila AGM (alpine snow gum, snow gum) – shades of whitish gray and pale brown bark to reveal yellow, bronze or greenish patches. Height 6m (20ft).

Shrubs or trees (depending on pruning technique)

• S alix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’ AGM – rusty orange stems. Height 2–2.4m (7–8ft).

• S . ‘Erythroflexuosa’ (S. matsudana ‘Tortuosa’) – golden, twisted stems (tolerates drier soil). Height 2–2.4m (7–8ft).

• T ilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’ – yellow autumn colour, golden-orange young stems. Height 15–20m (50ft–65ft).

Shrubs

• Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ – a mix of yellow and red shades. Height 1.2–1.5m (4–5ft).

• Cornus alba ‘Kesselringii’ – blackish purple stems. Height 1.2–1.5m (4–5ft).

• Rubus cockburnianus ‘Goldenvale’ AGM – white stems, yellow summer foliage. Height 1m (3ft).

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TAKE TIME OUT It may be cold outside but there are plenty of places to enjoy an afternoon of family fun. Here’s our pick

ICE, ICE BABY

It’s time to get your skates on – the Tunbridge Wells ice rink returns to Calverley Grounds this winter for another season of festive skating fun

Now in its fourth year, the Tunbridge Wells outdoor real-ice rink is a popular Christmas attraction in the centre of the town. Set in the natural amphitheatre of picturesque Calverley Grounds, the ice rink offers spectacular views of the park, and will be open from Friday 21st November – Sunday 4th January (closed Christmas Day).

Whilst skaters of all ages and abilities can take to the ice, spectators can enjoy the festive atmosphere in the park, and warm themselves with a hot chocolate or mulled wine.

Traditional rink-side wooden chalets will sell local seasonal produce and Christmas gifts.

The ice rink opens at 10am each day for a dedicated parent and toddler session, with main skating following every hour.

Advance booking is recommended at peak times – Thursday and Friday evenings, school holidays, and all day Saturday and Sunday. Wheelchairs are welcome on the ice but must be pre-booked in advance.

The cost of one hour’s skating, including hire of boots is from £7 for children and £9.50 for adults. Tickets can be booked online at www.tunbridgewellsatchristmas.com or from the Assembly Hall Theatre, Royal Tunbridge Wells Box Office in person or by calling 01892 554645.

The onsite Box Office opens 21st November.

LET YOUR DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT

Join Peter Pan, Wendy, Michael and John as they fly to Neverland in this year’s magical Christmas show Head to the Assembly Hall Theatre and prepare to fly to Neverland, with this magical stage version of JM Barrie’s classic children’s story.

Brought to you by the same team behind Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, and Aladdin, Peter Pan will take you high above the clouds on a magical journey.

There’s spectacular flying and computer-generated imagery, plus amazing acrobatics. Featuring an all-star dancing and singing cast, this is a Christmas show with a vast amount of sparkle. Pinch yourself as you watch Peter Pan fly high above the stage and join Wendy, Michael and John as they take off to Neverland with the boy who never grows up.

A familiar face on TV, Mark Moraghan heads the cast as the evil Captain Hook. Known to millions for his portrayal of Owen Davis in the BBC1 TV series Holby City and more recently as the narrator of much-loved children’s TV show Thomas The Tank Engine, he has also appeared in such series as Brookside, Heartbeat, Peak Practice and Celebrity Masterchef.

Joining Mark in Neverland will be Gemma Hunt, presenter of CBeebies show, Swashbuckle, as Tinker Bell. No stranger to TV, she co-presented Best of Friends, Barney’s Barrier Reef, Bamzooki, Barney’s Latin America and All Over the Place.

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She has also regularly hosted CBBC’s live coverage at Wimbledon, and last but no means least, appeared in Chucklevision and the CBeebies pantomime.

Peter Pan is played by Jessica Punch and Smee is played by Mark James. The Pirate Crew are played by comedy acrobat troupe The Nitwits, whose death-defying antics will have you gasping with amazement and crying with laughter at the same time.Book early to avoid disappointment… the ‘croc’ is ticking!

Peter Pan is from 12th December – 4th January at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells.

Opening night & 2nd January: all tickets £16.50 Adults from £21; children from £12 * There is a £1.25 per ticket booking fee up to a maximum of £12.50 Signed performance: 7pm, 16th December Relaxed performance: 5pm, 2nd January www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

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GROWING SUCCESS

Nestled among rural life in Staplehurst is an award-winning wholesaler and retailer of flowering house and garden plants, producing more than half a million a year for London markets and garden centres.

Christmas starts in July at Staplehurst Nurseries when Marcel Franke and his nursery team receive stock of 45,000 Infinity poinsettia plug plants, ready for the festive season.

Says Marcel: “Infinity red is the main variety grown. We grow 40,000 for supermarkets and London markets. We also grow 5,000 white, marble, pinks and sparkle varieties.

“Growing poinsettias can be a challenge,” he says. “We constantly monitor their growth to make sure they’re ready for Christmas.”

Every year, Staplehurst Nurseries holds what they call crop walks, where they take a party through the greenhouses before the poinsettias are all shipped out to market. It’s an opportunity to see 45,000 poinsettias all in one place before they disappear. Watch out on Facebook for exact dates.

Frankie’s Farmshop Established for 18 years, Staplehurst Nurseries heralded a new development in June 2012 with the addition of Frankie’s Farmshop.

Inspired by the accomplished yearly production of 600,000 stunning pot plants by the nursery team, Marcel’s wife Frankie sought to create a farm shop and café to a similar standard.

The farm shop caters for the daily needs of locals who visit to shop, chat, eat, drink and relax. Trained by master French bakers, Claire Edwards makes fresh bread from unbleached French flour every day by hand for the farm shop. Claire’s bread accompanies many of the dishes produced by busy chefs in the open-plan kitchen.

For foodies, there is a treasure trove of culinary delights, from local honey, eggs, cheese, honey-glazed ham and beef, to the finest smoked salmon, chocolate and coffee.

The farm shop serves breakfast and lunch every day, Saturday being the exception when a new brunch menu is run from 10am until 3pm to cater for busy families or anyone who just wants to start the day a little later. Frankie’s food offering is all about understanding what her customers want from the farm shop: a hassle-free dinner prepared and collected to allow busy hosts to enjoy their party instead of cooking. At present, Frankie runs a Bistro service from 5pm Thursday to Saturday, offering seasonal, fresh and flavoursome dishes.

The farm shop has been built in a traditional, Kentish style-barn, complete with a stunning oak-framed interior, to house the openplan theatre-style kitchen, bakery, café and retail area. Seating for a further 30-40 covers is available outside on the terrace.

Says Marcel: “We have taken great care in sourcing the right furniture and finishings, because our thinking is why would anyone KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2014

drive out here if they are not going to enjoy a fabulous lunch in beautiful surroundings. We even have a zipwire, much to the delight of many of our customers!

“We must be doing something right because the coffee shop is full almost every day, and we even have people who reserve tables for lunch. It is just incredible.”

Opening hours The Café: Monday to Saturday, 9am–5pm, and Sunday, 10am–4pm.Breakfast served 9:30am–11am (10am–11am on Sundays), and lunch served Midday– 2:30pm (12:30–3pm on Sundays).

The Bistro: Thursday to Saturday from 5pm with last orders at 9pm. Booking is advised.

The Farmshop: Monday to Saturday, 9am–5pm, and Sunday, 10am–4pm.

Staplehurst Nurseries, Clapper Lane, Tonbridge TN12 0JT Phone: 01580 890713 www.frankiesfarmshop.co.uk

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WINTER AT THE CASTLE

It may be winter, but there’s still plenty to see and do at Sissinghurst Castle

Like lots of properties in the National Trust, Sissinghurst Castle is now open 363 days a year, which means that apart from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, they’re open every day of the year.

Through the winter months they’ll be welcoming lots of visitors through the doors, but not quite in the traditional sense.

Instead of the standard entry, they’ll be running winter tours starting on November 3rd. With the formal gardens taking a much-needed rest during the winter months to prepare for spring opening, the winter tours will show visitors views from the tower, the gardeners hard at work, tell a bit more about the history and what’s going on behind the scenes.

The tours will be led by Sissinghurst’s knowledgeable guides, who’ll keep you busy with fun facts and anecdotes as you stroll around. The winter tours will run every day and take place hourly between 11am and 3pm.

The garden isn’t the only thing available, though. With a 450-acre estate for you to explore, why not grab your wellies and enjoy an estate walk. For those hardy walking types, and even for those less inclined to brave the English winter, the estate is open all year round, with lots of different routes to explore. There’s a map available showing both long or short walk options, and if you need warming up afterwards, the coffee shop will be open with the wood burner blazing. Or pull

up a chair and enjoy the view with a festive lunch in the restaurant between the 1st-23rd December.

Christmas shopping will be in full swing, with lots of goodies for sale in the shop, and the festive market returns for another year on 29th-30th November.

Gardeners will be especially interested in the festive foliage and wreath-making workshops with local growers Blooming Green on 21st and 23rd November, and the expert garden team will be running rose care workshops in November and December.

It all adds up to a fun winter at Sissinghurst Castle. See you there! www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle

MEET THE REINDEER

Visit The Reindeer Centre near Ashford for a fantastic family day out

Take the family to see some of Rudolph’s special friends who will be getting ready for the big Christmas event that’s taking place at The Reindeer Centre near Ashford, Kent, from the 15th November until Christmas Eve. Young and old alike will enjoy visiting Santa’s Magical Grotto, while parents and children will have their very own special encounter with Father Christmas, and each good child will receive a quality wrapped gift. Then you can stroll through the Grotto’s seven animated scenes and see Anna and Elsa in the beautiful Frozen setting, and meet their friend Olaf.

Head to the barn for a host of family-friendly attractions, including a straw-bale ball pit, fake-snow play area, a bouncy castle and singing and dancing with the Elves.

There’s also the animal petting corner, where you can meet pigs, goats, llamas, donkeys, meerkats, rabbits, chickens and much more – plus, of course, the centre’s beautiful reindeer – all in 40 glorious acres!

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You’ll find light refreshments and a large undercover seating area, and there’s a free reindeer souvenir mug with every purchased hot drink, plus a complimentary mince pie, and a Santa hat for every child.

There’s no need to book; for more information visit www.reindeercentre.co.uk

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THERE’S ONLY ONE PLACE TO SEE SANTA!

And that’s Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells

It’s that time of the year when we start to see the Christmas lights go up across town and the shops fill with sparkling festive delights to get us in the mood for the jolliest time of year.

At West Kent’s largest shopping centre, plans for Christmas start early, with Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells busily preparing for Christmas 2014 not long after the decorations were taken down last year!

The highlight of Christmas at Royal Victoria Place is, of course, when Santa arrives to open his magical Grotto and the switching on of the centre’s festive lights. This year will see Santa taking up residence at his favourite shopping centre on Thursday 13th November, after he takes an afternoon tour of the town centre, marking his 13th consecutive visit to Royal Victoria Place.

Over these past 13 years, Santa has made the wishes of nearly 50,000 children come true and he is once again looking forward to meeting children from across the region – but remember you’ve got to be good!

Santa and his elves will feel very much at home this year in their brand-new Enchanted Forest-themed Grotto, which will be officially opened by Santa and a host of special guests, including CBeebies presenter Gemma Hunt and The Snowman on Thursday 13th November from 4.30pm. Santa’s Grotto will be

located at the Food Court Terrace on level 1 opposite M&S, and will be open every day right up to 4pm on Christmas Eve. Children will also be able to join Santa at 4pm every weekday for some enchanting festive tales, as well as receive their very own free Christmas story book. Not only that, there will also be special Santa paper and a postbox available for children to send Santa their Christmas wishes… with every letter receiving a reply from the man himself!

Book now online! Plan your visit in advance and guarantee you get to see Santa at Royal Victoria Place this Christmas.

It’s easy and quick, so book today at www.royalvictoriaplace.com *Ticket cost is per child and all events are subject to change or cancellation.

MAKE IT A BLUEWATER CHRISTMAS Christmas is back at Bluewater for the festive season, with experiences for the whole family

If you want two floors and more than 300 stores of fabulous shopping, then Bluewater is the place to go. And as well as the shopping, you’ll find family fun galore.

The festivities come to life from 14th November, when Bluewater will hold their annual Christmas Light Night, a unique Christmas show with lights, water, fireworks and much more. From 27th November until the 7th January, families can enjoy the magic of Winter Wonderland, bringing Christmas to life with Santa’s Grotto, a stunning ice rink and traditional rides and amusements. Father Christmas and his merry helpers will be meeting families in this year’s magical Santa’s Grotto, right up until Christmas Eve when Santa will be jetting off to make all his deliveries!

You can make the experience even more special by strapping on some skates and taking a turn on the huge ice rink, surrounded by the beauty of the Ice Palace. The starry sky, warmth of the indoors and a festive soundtrack will be sure to add an extra dash of yuletide spirit (not forgetting the penguin assistance to help the mini skaters).

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From 28th-30th November, you’ll be able to shop for a wealth of unique and exciting gifts for loved ones, while enjoying tasty, Christmassy treats at the Festive Gift and Food Fair. With over 100 of the UK’s very best suppliers of unusual, distinctive gifts, you’ll be spoilt for choice!

To make sure you can get all your shopping in with ease, Bluewater’s extended hours start this year on 8th December, when shops will be open until 11pm six days a week. For more information and to book tickets visit www.bluewater.co.uk

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HEADS UP! School days are said to be the happiest of one’s life – truth or myth?

This well-known and rather hackneyed phrase has caused a mass of emotional outpouring.

Education is something that everyone of any age has experienced in some form or another and, together with politics and maybe religion, is the one subject about which everyone has an opinion, positive or negative, but rarely ambivalent.

As we celebrate Christmas and reach the end of 2014, we naturally look back and reflect.

All parents instinctively want their children to experience a happy childhood and that includes schooling – for childhood and education forge and form the adult. They are the roots upon which we build, and the values and ethics upon which we depend, in order to remain grounded and well-balanced in later life – and that is before we consider success.

Growing up is never easy; there are always going to be both good and difficult experiences, successes and disappointments. This time, I have invited people of different ages ranging from 80+ to 20, from a variety of educational and social backgrounds, who have all in some way built a successful career, to tell us if their school days were happy. Did they prepare and give them the confidence to go on to achieve great things? As for me – I was an academic disaster – rejected by a top London school at ages three, five, seven and 11 – much to my father’s chagrin!

Their responses are both insightful and honest, and at times surprising!

Angela Culley

Headmistress of The Mead School, Tunbridge Wells, a co-ed prep school for children aged 3 to 11

So many people wanted to contribute to this discussion – please do send your comments and experiences to Kudos at editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk. There is far more to this story than I can include here!

Rachel Crouch

Teacher My primary school was not a good experience! I was constantly worried I would not be collected by my sisters and days became shadowed by worry! Then I went to a village school and, as a vicar’s daughter, simply didn’t fit in!

Aged nine, I was sent to a boarding school because Father had died.

I felt abandoned, unloved and desperately homesick. Aged 11-18, I moved to a public school as a clergy orphan, and felt materially inferior, BUT I had an excellent education, made lifelong friends and have been forever grateful for that opportunity. So, a mixed bag!

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Douglas Rubashow BSc (Hons)

Sales Director @ larrytech My experience of school was an interesting one. I was brought up in Ealing and moved to Tunbridge Wells when I was eight. I went to a local prep school, which I thoroughly enjoyed as sport was big there, and I was captain of both the football and cricket teams in my last year.

My views on school changed somewhat when I moved to grammar school as an 11-year-old, where I found myself a rather small fish in a big pond. Academically, I struggled to keep up and found the first few years of secondary school very difficult. In fact, it wasn’t until I reached the sixth form that I started to enjoy school life more, partly because the subjects I chose were more focussed.

If I had my time over again, I would still go to the same school as, although I felt towards the bottom of the class, I did feel dragged along by my peer group. It wasn’t until I left school that I discovered the culture in other schools was to actually hide your marks if you did well, as otherwise you got bullied for being a geek.

Laurie Wood

Performing Arts Student, MAA Overall, primary school was a positive experience, with the exception of a few incidents. For example, I have always avoided art after being told I couldn’t draw in Year 3. The transition to secondary school was not successful as the social environment was a lot less friendly, and my own individuality led me to being singled out and bullied, which was often very physical. I was pulled out of secondary school and home-educated by my father. These were some of the best years of my life. We often learned together through discovering new things, rather than my father simply ‘teaching’ me. Things changed slightly for the worse when we began GCSEs, as the learning became far more regimented, and therefore boring.

Ruth Foreman

First Female London Bank Manager I was born in 1931 in Reigate, Surrey. My first school was a little Dame school in a big house. It was in a class of only six to eight children, with a lovely teacher who taught us all the way through until I was 11, when I took a scholarship to the fee-paying grammar school. After such a sheltered primary education, this was a big difference, but as the youngest of three sisters I knew what to expect, and I loved the sport and other activities that were available. This, of course, was wartime and, when I was about 13, the threat of the V1 ‘flying bombs’ and the V2 rockets meant I was evacuated to Maesteg in Wales until the danger passed.

It was a very different environment to the one I knew and had grown up in, but I was billeted with a nice family who had a daughter close to my age.

I remember my school years as a happy time and enjoyed them. I was taught well and, when I think back, good standards of behaviour and discipline in school seemed to be natural, with respect for the teachers at all times.

My schooling gave me a good grounding, and when I left I joined Lloyds Bank and remained with them for the whole of my career, becoming the first female bank manager in London and only the second woman to achieve that status in the UK.

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and normal, when moving into secondary education. New surroundings, new relationships, with teachers and classmates should all lead to kick-starting a whole new level in development if the conditions are right. However, I found myself in classes which ranged from 35 pupils pushing up into the early 40s, and for someone that is not a natural academic I found that the support, which on reflection I definitely needed, was severely lacking.

The result was inevitable. I found myself becoming distanced from the subject matter that the teaching staff were attempting to impart.

At the time, I considered my lack of apparent interest was due to a shortfall in my ability, thoughts which at the time completely threw my confidence. However, on reflection I can see that I always had the ability; my disinterest was purely down to a lack of education.

We were taught almost exclusively en masse, and if you were a little slower than the majority on the uptake, then your chances of catching up receded more and more as each class passed. Couple this with the typical soap opera of teenage life and you end up with a recipe for disaster.

Jeremy Hall

Lead Engineer in the Civil Nuclear Sector The word ‘school’, for me, conjures up some pretty emotional extremes, depending on which period of my life I focus on; good at one end of the spectrum and bad at the other. I would say that a mixture of feelings towards school life is common for most people, however, I think the overall experience definitely depends on how the two extremes are balanced.

As a child growing up in the Tunbridge Wells area, I like to think that I was extremely fortunate with my circumstances. Two loving parents, my own bedroom, regular holidays and local infant and primary schooling, which I enjoyed very much. Of course, I had the usual complaints, mainly getting out of bed in the morning and anything that resembled homework (which I now realise could hardly be described as homework!), but I generally really enjoyed my time at school and the main thing was that I was engaged in the classroom, and I interacted well with my teachers and classmates. I made my way through the primary syllabus and, although I wouldn’t say that I excelled at the subject matter, I definitely learned and enjoyed learning.

However, with all the encouragement of my teachers, I still wasn’t quite ready as I approached the end of my primary school years to pass the impending 11-plus exam. As such I didn’t take the test, and due to my family not being of a religious background, the majority of local comprehensives were also out of bounds. So, after weighing up what limited options were left, secondary school ended up being a half-hour bus journey away.

So, secondary school begins for me with the majority of the classmates that I had spent my entire school life with up until that point back at schools in Tunbridge Wells (but a couple along with me for the ride, so not all bad), and me elsewhere in the county finding my feet with my new classmates and surroundings, which I think would have been a healthy change,

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Of course as an individual you always have the option to try harder, to put in all the time you can to succeed, and I fully accept that I could have put in more effort, but the support just wasn’t there for me and I simply spiralled out of control. By year 10, when all efforts should have been focused on preparing for my GCSEs, I had completely lost all interest, and a year later I scraped through my exams and left school with barely any grades to speak of – a real shame!

I remember at the time, after the initial relief and novelty of being free of school life had passed, I felt extremely ashamed and regretful about how my schooling had come to an end. However, at the time, being a typical teenager, those feelings only manifested themselves as anger and rebelliousness towards the world. I had the vague intention that I would go back to education at some point, but I had so much frustration within me that I had to redevelop myself before I would be ready for the classroom again. It wasn’t only my development from a knowledge point of view that had failed, but also my development as a person, and schooling should always be designed with both in mind!

A little over five years later, after many temporary jobs, with friendships made, countries visited, countries worked in, and I was a substantiallychanged person, still me, but well-rounded. I felt I was ready to take a career path and to do all that was necessary to get there. So, starting with evening classes to retake my GCSEs, I worked through a number of foundation courses and diplomas in engineering and eventually entered into an advanced apprenticeship, which I completed a couple of years ago along with my HNC in mechanical engineering. I currently work as a lead engineer in the civil nuclear sector, have an amazing wife and an incredible son.

As I’ve pointed out throughout this piece, and I’ll state it again, at the points in my education where mistakes were made I was there, I had my part to play, and I fully accept that. I paid the price and I worked hard to rectify it! However, there are many individuals who have suffered, and are continuing to suffer the types of failures in the system that I’ve highlighted here, and it needs to be recognised that the education of the country’s youth does not have a ‘one size fits all’ solution!

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GIFTS FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND Don’t forget your pets this Christmas. Here are some great gift ideas

Luxury dog gift hamper bag, £46.95 www.hugoandhennie.com

Fruit and veg rubber dog toys, from £7 www.houndworthy.com

Dog and cat feed mats, £8, and grey pet bowl, £12 www.hugoandhennie.com

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Snuggly soft fleece dog blankets, £15 to £45 www.hugoandhennie.com

Felix cushions, £35 a pair including cushion inners www.hugoandhennie.com

Half Nelson navy rope dog lead, from £35 www.houndworthy.com

Completely waterproof Dash travel water bowl, £22 www.houndworthy.com

Christmas Edition: The Festive Houndbox, £24 www.houndworthy.com

Bare Bones peanut butter dog treat, £5.50 www.mungoandmaud.com

Comfy bolster dog bed, from £99 www.hugoandhennie.com

Perfect for a game of tug of war, Camelia the Camel dog toy, £22.95 www.mungoandmaud.com

Monogram leather dog collar, from £44 www.houndworthy.com

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Luxury Jacob sheepskin dog rug, £85 www.houndworthy.com

Have some fun with this frog rope dog toy, £14 www.mungoandmaud.com

Witney wool dog coat, various sizes, from £50 www.houndworthy.com

The prettiest Liberty print dog collar, £13 www.hugoandhennie.com

Luxury bolster cat bed, in a variety of designs, £69 www.hugoandhennie.com

Merino dog jumpers, various sizes, from £35 www.houndworthy.com

Pretty in pink dog collar, from £25, and lead, £37 www.hugoandhennie.com

Motley special lead & collar set, from £36 www.houndworthy.com

Distressed canvas dog bed, in vintage post design, £119 www.houndworthy.com

Venison chipolatas hypoallergenic dog treats , £4.49 www.hugoandhennie.com

Warm and drying quilted dog coat, £35 www.hugoandhennie.com

Elegant illustrated Good Dog treat jar, £46.00 www.mungoandmaud.com

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PUPPY LOVE Bake some treats for your furry friend

Dogs are well known for sniffing out things that they shouldn’t eat – edible or not! But did you know that some of the things we eat can be toxic or fatal to dogs if ingested. These are 10 of the most dangerous ingredients for dogs:

Alcohol • Avocado • Chocolate • Coffee and caffeine • Fruit with pips/seeds • Grapes and raisins • Macadamia nuts • Onions and garlic • Xylitol (artificial sweetener) • Yeast dough

Also avoid giving your dog bones that can splinter and cause internal injuries to their intestines (such as chicken or pork chop bones). If you suspect your dog has eaten any of the things listed, contact your vet immediately.

Jayne Shawcross, head chef and owner of Doggy Bags Bakery, gives us two delicious recipes, one savoury and one sweet.

However, there are lots of tasty treats you can give your dog.

Why not go one further and bake them something with love?

Says Jayne: “Both of these recipes are really easy to do and very child-friendly, so the whole family can get involved. As we are approaching the festive season, why not use shaped cutters to make Christmas trees or snowmen.”

CHRISTMAS TURKEY TREATS

YUMMY HONEY TREATS

Ingredients: 128g ground porridge oats 128g rice flour 128g raw minced/diced turkey 1 tsp dried rosemary 1 egg 120ml water

Ingredients: 190g rice flour 250g rolled porridge oats (not instant porridge!)

1 egg 128g unsalted peanut butter 4 tbsp unsweetened apple sauce 60ml honey 60ml cup water

Method: 1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor to form a dough.

2. Roll into small balls approx 1” in diameter and place on an ungreased baking tray.

3. Bake for 22–27 mins at 180˚C until completely cooked through.

4. Cool completely on a wire rack and then store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Method: 1. Mix everything thoroughly together until it forms a dough.

2. Roll into 1” balls, place on an ungreased baking sheet and flatten to form cookies.

3. Bake for 18–22 mins at 180˚C or until golden brown.

4. Cool on a wire rack, then store in an airtight container in the fridge.

www.facebook.com/DoggyBagsBakery

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LOVE GIFTS

Here’s our fabulous Christmas gift guide

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Selection of cultured pearls, single strands from £250 www.payneandsonjewellers.co.uk

American log cabin incense burner, £21 www.houndworthy.com

Bunny tutu dress, 3 months–6 years, £25 www.next.co.uk

Set of lemon, chilli and basil flavoured oils, £6.50 www.next.co.uk

Get on your bike with Barracuda’s Vela 1, £239.99 www.velocipedecycles.co.uk

Glass dome with wooden base, £39.99, and Finlay Fox felt slippers, £24.95 www.loveincltd.co.uk

Handy holdall, £150, and satchel bag, £30 www.next.co.uk

Printed technical jacket, 3 months–6 years, £28 www.next.co.uk

LOV E CHRISTM AS

Fragrant Kukui oil Connock candle, £36 www.the-bathroomshop.co.uk

Cotton Genius jumper, 3 months–6 years, £11 www.next.co.uk

Save for a rainy day with this cute Kitty money box, £12 www.loveincltd.co.uk

Make beautiful music with the Hohner harmonica, £84.99 Brittens Music (01892 526659)

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Stag antler dog whistle, from £14 www.houndworthy.com

Chiaroscuro, 30cm x 30cm, by artist Dani Humberstone, £500 www.danihumberstoneart.com

Ortigia olive oil based soaps 40g x 12, assorted scents, £45 www.the-bathroomshop.co.uk

18 carat gold wren brooch with a sapphire for an eye, £715 www.payneandsonjewellers.co.uk

Pretty patterned cardigan with plain sleeves, £12 www.next.co.uk

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Handy stackable sewing tins, £12 www.next.co.uk

Animal-printed check drum seat, £90 www.next.co.uk

Denim Varsity hi-tops, 0 months–2 years, £7 www.next.co.uk

Keep kids snug in these hardy snow boots, £18 www.next.co.uk

Eat your music with this bag of milk chocolate pianos, £4.99 Brittens Music (01892 526659)

Keep off the rain with this walking stick umbrella, £24.50 www.hugoandhennie.com

Retro telephone with push-button dial, £35 www.next.co.uk

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Natural wooden floor lamp with hessian shade, £125 www.next.co.uk

Put your foot in with these piano key novelty socks, £5.99 Brittens Music (01892 526659)

Kitchen storage baskets (set of 3), £10 www.next.co.uk

Planet Pomegranate, 100cm x 100cm, £2,750 www.danihumberstoneart.com

Children’s knitted cat hat and gloves, £10.50 www.next.co.uk

Mondaine Swiss Railways watch, evo alarm 40mm dial, £299 www.payneandsonjewellers.co.uk

Fragrant Connock Kukui soothing bath oil, £45 www.the-bathroomshop.co.uk

Lovable Siamese cat salt and pepper set, £10.99 www.loveincltd.co.uk

Say it with words – and this Happy Ending sign, £16 www.loveincltd.co.uk

Pack of two dinosaur tops, 3–16 years, £12 www.next.co.uk

Jewellery for him and her, from £15.99 Brittens Music (01892 526659)

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Musidoku, a musical variation on the hugely popular Sudoku puzzle, £4,25 Brittens Music (01892 526659)

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Beautifully-crafted white horse candle, £16 www.loveincltd.co.uk

Moose table lamp with hessian shade, £55 www.next.co.uk

Mahalo Ukulele in assorted colours, includes a zip up case for travel, £25 Brittens Music (01892 526659)

Golden Fleece, 70cm x 70cm, by artist Dani Humberstone, £1,750 www.danihumberstoneart.com

Keep them occupied with this DIY ladybird crepe art kit, £3.50 www.loveincltd.co.uk

Music-inspired cappuccino mug and spoon, £5.99 Brittens Music (01892 526659)

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Men’s classic tee, in sizes S, M, L, XL and XXL, £24 www.houndworthy.com

Sparkly pink star tutu, 3 months–6 years, £20 www.next.co.uk

Tell them like it is! Hippies Use Backdoor sign, £39 www.loveincltd.co.uk

The stylish 2015 KONA Process 134, £2,399 www.velocipedecycles.co.uk

Set of two Winnie the Pooh bodysuits, 0–18 months, £10 www.next.co.uk

Little girls will love this stationery set in a cute dog bag, £8 www.next.co.uk

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LOVE CHRISTMAS

Make your home extra festive this season

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Bell heart decoration, £3.50 www.next.co.uk

Kitty decoration, £3.50 www.loveincltd.co.uk

LOVE fabric ribbon, £4.50 www.loveincltd.co.uk

Heart decoration, £8.50 www.loveincltd.co.uk

Elf sleepsuit, £10 www.next.co.uk

Santa decoration, £6 www.loveincltd.co.uk

Christmoose sign, £5 www.next.co.uk

Celebration rosette, £4 www.loveincltd.co.uk

Pheasant clip decoration, £6 www.loveincltd.co.uk

Wooden standing deer, from £3.50 www.loveincltd.co.uk

Christmas bunting, £10 www.next.co.uk

Moose stocking, £10 www.next.co.uk

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Squirrel decoration, £3.50 www.next.co.uk

Wreath, starting from £30 www.facebook.com/EmmaMillsBespokeFlorist

Lanterns, £10–£14, and vase, £14 www.next.co.uk

Squirrel nut bowl, £10 www.next.co.uk

Santa it’s a Long Story sign, £3.50 www.loveincltd.co.uk

Santa in a rocket decoration, £9.50 www.loveincltd.co.uk

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Tea house, £12 www.next.co.uk

Printed jug, £10 www.next.co.uk

Rudolf cuddle robe, £14 www.next.co.uk

Wooden house lamp, £22 www.next.co.uk

Sitting wooden reindeer, £19 www.loveincltd.co.uk

Decoupage bauble, £2.50 www.next.co.uk

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FASTER, CHEAPER, CLEANER The Aston Martin Vanquish facelift is more revolution than evolution, as Anthony ffrench-Constant discovers

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A new engine management system has gearbox and Aston’s glorious V12 chatting away with the easy enthusiasm of a first date How refreshing. Model-year facelifts are, almost without exception, precisely that these days; merely a nose job with attendant bruising. Here, however, we find exactly the opposite.

New wheels and colours – including the deeply-suspicious Fandango Pink leather interior – aside, everything that differentiates the 2015 Vanquish from its predecessor is dedicated to upping the driving entertainment quota and the commensurate size of the passenger-seat wet patch.

Most significant, and long overdue, is the first incorporation of ZF’s eight-speed automatic transmission into a transaxle layout. Better yet, a new engine management system has gearbox and Aston’s glorious V12 chatting away with the easy enthusiasm of a first date destined to wind up in the sack.

And the 6.0-litre V12’s peak power and torque both rise a whisker, to 568bhp and 465lb ft respectively.

All of which makes the Vanquish swifter and, relatively speaking, more frugal and cleaner. The 0-62mph dash time has been reduced by a stout half a second to just 3.8 seconds – making this the quickest-accelerating series production Aston in the company’s 101-year history – and top speed rises to 201mph.

Simultaneously, CO2 emissions tumble some 10% to, erm, 298g/km, and average fuel consumption to 22.1mpg.

Commensurate undercarriage enhancements include the stiffening of front and rear dampers, the latter by a whopping 35%. In addition, steering, brake and electronic stability control systems have been retuned, and the amount of transmission noise entering the cabin reduced. Yeah, right, like you’re ever going to hear transmission noise aboard a Vanquish.

The unique vocal signature of Aston’s V12 remains allconsuming. It instantly and irrefutably becomes the defining attribute of any machine within which it is installed.

A start-up tang of such metallic intensity overlaying the basso profundo rumble of tick-over that it’s always something of a surprise not to actually smell blood curdling as the engine barks into life, gives way to a fabulous range of noises-off, which vacillate between John Landis’ peckish American werewolf prowling the London Underground and that neverto-be-bettered simile – Tom Jones bending over to pick up the

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soap in Strangeways’ shower block... Unlike the powertrain, however, the interior’s crying out for a major overhaul.

A gratuitously-jaunty angle to the air vents aside, there’s nothing wrong with the basic architecture, which has lost none of its visual strength. Thing is, that’s precisely what’s lacking in the attendant switchgear and instrumentation.

No matter, because to drive the Vanquish is to forgive it almost everything. Untainted by turbocharging and now abetted by gearshifts as deft as a world-class cutpurse, the powertrain is a masterpiece of smooth, relentless urgency.

Peak torque arrives long before maximum power, and the only real reason to properly bend the rev-counter needle is for the noise. So this happens. A lot.

Aston’s response to requests for a more extreme Vanquish experience is, however, in that stiffened suspension. A deal of pliancy has been sacrificed, making the car feel notably less Gran Turismo in its capacity to tackle poorer surfaces.

Engaging a ‘Sport’ mode merely adds rocks to what is already more gristle than blancmange, whilst the ‘Track’ setting is stiff enough to shake the ticks off a sheepdog.

Let’s hope we still have a few years before Aston succumbs to electric steering, because the current offering is rather wonderful in the manner of a system which is so sorted it requires absolutely no contemplation. It’s beautifully weighted, properly accurate and imbued with lashings of the feel and feedback required when asking a big car to dance to your tune.

The Vanquish boasts stacks of mechanical grip, and may be leaned on to a quite-exceptional extent for such a large machine; the more you ask of it, the more firmly it tucks its rump into the road surface, settling in with admirable poise.

Allied to that delicious helm, this equates to an unexpected degree of agility, the pleasure of placing such a large hooter with such accuracy on smaller, tighter roads marred only by suspension verging on over-tough for the British B road.

Stick to wide, sweeping A roads, however, and the Aston is entirely at home, covering ground with magisterial poise, and noise, and responding to your growing confidence in the depths of its abilities with ever-increasing pace. A tad more revolution in this evolution, then, and properly intoxicating.

ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH Price: £192,995 Engine: 5935cc 48v V12, 568bhp @ 6650rpm, 465lb ft @ 5500rpm Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

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Performance: 3.8 sec 0-62mph, 201mph, 22.1mpg, 298g/km Weight: 1739kg On sale: Now

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LOVING IT

Vintage homewares queen Hannah Gee is looking forward to a festive time at her pop-up shop in Tunbridge Wells

Hannah Gee’s home is her business. She runs online vintage homeware shop Love Inc Ltd and has opened a pop-up shop in her house several times a year. Now she’s taken the pop-up idea one step further, with a temporary shop in Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells

What inspires you?

From a young age I have been surrounded by a home full of curiosities, and as children we were always crafting, making things from nothing. My parents are collectors of the unusual and unloved, with a keen ability to spot a bargain. I guess my love of vintage and the homemade comes from them.

Where are you from?

Sunny Tunbridge Wells.

What did you do before Love Inc?

I hand-pick everything in the shop from boot fairs, antique fairs and a small selection of wholesalers.

How do you choose the products you want to stock?

I have to love them passionately. If I wouldn’t want it in my own home, I don’t buy it!

So they reflect your own taste?

Yes, my style is a mixture of new and old things, I like to mix things up. It’s good to be different, and customers warm to this.

Is this your first pop-up shop?

I worked in recruitment and charitable fundraising, before becoming a mum to my gorgeous three boys.

Yes, I have done lots of vintage fairs, which involves so much carrying and wrapping; it’s lovely to have a semipermanent home.

When did you start Love Inc and why?

Why did you decide to try a pop-up shop?

I had to stop buying unique, cool curiosities, as my home didn’t have room! My lovely friends said I should open a shop, so I started selling at vintage markets and the like.

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You have an eclectic mix of products, where do you find them?

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I wanted to see if my ideas would work on a larger scale.

I also love meeting customers, and I like that they can touch our beautiful things, before they decide to buy.

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Love letters, £125, red berry wreath, £6, red star decoration, £6, and red glass bauble, £3

And why Tunbridge Wells?

My home town is a mixture of wonderful people, in an amazingly-beautiful part of the country. No-brainer!

How easy was it to organise?

It was fairly straightforward, but I have been working 18-hour days for months!

Have you got a shop elsewhere or is this your first one?

I had a shop in my home, which I opened up on special sale days. Customers sign up to my newsletter on my site, to be informed when they are being held. It allows customers to browse and see the products in a real home setting.

White unicorn money box, £14, rocking horse, £5, and toadstools, £2 each

What challenges have you faced with your business?

Juggling being a full-time mum, and working full-time is hard work. My family comes first, and now my youngest son is at school, it is slightly easier. I have also had epic fails, but the trick is to view them as lessons, pick yourself up and get back out there. We sell the book Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr Seuss.

This has lessons for us all, young and old.

What are your plans for the future?

We have had an overwhelming response to the shop. I am filled with pride at the comments our lovely customers give us. So we plan to open more permanently, perhaps integrating a café, in the future. I am looking for a foodie business partner now!

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Cherub, £20, white star, £8, and owl candle, £12 www.loveincltd.co.uk (Please note, web prices vary from shop prices as they include postage and packing) www.facebook.com/LoveIncLtd

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HOW CONVERSATION CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

What we talk about and how we talk about it matters. Honest, energised conversations are the way to change the world. That’s how it has always happened, says Judy Apps

Whenever talented people are thrown together, ideas are born and grow. Almost 500 years ago, informal conversations sprang up in London in new coffee houses, where men met to discuss the future of society and politics. Their influence became so powerful that they were shut down for a while in the 18th century when the government of the day felt threatened. Conversation has always been the crucible for new thinking, and many new ideas emerged from coffee-house discussions, including the founding of the Royal Society, a great supporter of innovation. At Royal Society gatherings, a fascinating cross-section of famous thinkers, including Benjamin Franklin, Isaac Newton and Karl Marx, discussed ideas of the day.

Some of the most important recent discoveries in science have come about through conversations between different disciplines, both in funded ventures and outside formal channels. The discovery of DNA resulted from conversations between Crick, a biophysicist, and Watson, a biologist. MRI scanning became possible through the coming together of an American chemist, Paul Lauterbur and an English physicist, Peter Mansfield. The whole area of cognitive science – combining psychology, linguistics, computer science, philosophy and neurobiology, with the help of medical PET scans and CAT scans – is a huge conversation between scientists from different fields. Interdisciplinary research is now given prominence in many universities.

Conversation is about connection in more than one sense. When two or more people connect in conversation, they often make intuitive, creative connections that spark new ideas.

When nations allow democratic conversations, change is inevitable.

No wonder free conversation is the first thing to go in a dictatorship.

Maybe it is impossible to silence talk completely. Cicero claimed that conversation, being so transient, was impossible to censor and the essence of free speech.

In our own day, conversation has gone global. For the first time in history, we can create conversations about issues at the heart of our human existence and they spread at high speed around the planet.

While politicians in their parliaments are often still posturing and sticking to party lines or vote-winning arguments, passionate people across the globe are creating important conversations using new

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technologies. They are listening to each other, touching and influencing each other, and joining forces to create a better world.

Every great environmental campaign or social change starts with a conversation between a very few people. The conversation opens anywhere – in people’s homes, in offices, cafés and pubs, or in virtual space. As a result, people come together with passion and more people join in to create change.

Such conversations are possible when they adopt the best aspects of being face-to-face – becoming curious about each other, listening actively, speaking with courtesy, allowing vulnerability, seeking to connect and understand. If we wish to avoid the violence and massive inequality of our century, it’s of the utmost importance to keep the conversation going – to overcome our fears and keep the channel open between us; to be willing always to engage in dialogue.

Online discussions are gaining momentum due to social media.

One powerful example is the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking, which has brought together 12 different human rights organisations in the USA, who are able to work collaboratively, partly as the result of social media. Another is Avaaz, a global web movement with more than 28 million members, bringing the voice of ordinary people to political decision-making everywhere. TED Conversations, linked to the highly-successful TED Talks, provide a social media platform for online conversations with a time limit to keep them focused and meaningful.

Currently, they have more than 15 million monthly users.

The world has always changed through conversations between people who care and think something matters enough to take steps together to change the status quo. This applies as much to climate change and world peace as it does to family harmony and children’s happiness.

When you get to know someone personally, through conversation, you are forced to recognise your common humanity. It’s the opposite of drones, a deadly technology that obscures humanity.

Conversation is all about connection, and we connect most easily when we speak at the level of heart and soul.

For more on conversation, read The Art of Conversation: Change Your Life With Confident Communication by Judy Apps, published

by Capstone, price £10.99.

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KING OF THE MAC Jon Traquair answers the most common questions people ask in The Mac Man’s Tunbridge Wells and Brighton shops

It’s been a busy time at Mac Man Towers with our new shop in 6 Goods Station Road in Tunbridge Wells opening and our online store going live. Both are now open, though, and looking fantastic.

Thanks for all your enquiries via Twitter and please continue to ask us questions about any hardware- or software-related queries you have relating to your Apple products. We will always respond to all your questions (and publish it in the next edition of Kudos and share the Apple love!).

Since upgrading the iOS 8, the keyboard has changed!

Apple have added emoticons to the iPhone and iPad keyboards with iOS 8.

If you don’t like it, then go to ‘Settings’, and then ‘Keyboard’. You’ll then see ENGLISH and EMOJI. In the top-right corner is the word EDIT. You can press EDIT, and then swipe ‘delete’ to remove the EMOJI keyboard.

Also, with iOS 8 you can add additional keyboards from the App Store.

I have an iPhone 4, can I upgrade to iOS 8?

According to Apple if you have an iPhone 4 you cannot, but if you have an iPhone 4S you can. However, most customers who have upgraded to iOS 8 with their iPhone 4S are finding it does not run as well as it did on iOS 7.

As a rule, if your handset is the oldest model on the upgrade path (like the 4S in iOS 8), then hold off until you have spoken to someone you know who has already upgraded and see how they have got on.

When is the new MacBook Air coming out?

No one ever knows when a new Apple product is coming out, but there are strong rumours of both a MacBook Air with a Retina

Business partners Matt Edbrooke & Jon Traquair Display, and also a MacBook Air with a SIM slot in it so you can use it to connect to the internet when there is not a WiFi signal available.

I can’t perform a software update in iLife 11 after installing Yosemite.

We have been getting a lot of questions about Apple’s new Mac operating system “Yosemite” recently, namely regarding iLife 11 updates. Apple are now linking all apps to your Apple ID, so to do any software updates you first need to go to the Purchases tab and accept the downloads there, and once you have accepted them, they then become part of your Apple ID and you can do the software update.

Please send your questions to info@themac-man.co.uk or via our new Twitter page for our Tunbridge Wells stores: @themacmantw

WIN AN IPAD MINI!

Kudos has got together with The Mac Man to offer one lucky reader the chance to win an iPad Mini Our prize, courtesy of The Mac Man, is an iPad mini, WiFi, in Space Grey.

The iPad mini is perfectly sized for everything you love to do.

Web pages, photos and videos look crisp and sharp on the brilliant 7.9ins display with 1024x768 resolution, and powerful processing and fast graphics make everything quick, from launching apps to browsing the web. And its power-efficient design delivers up to 10 hours of battery life.

For the chance to win, simply email your answer to the following question, together with your name and contact number, to ipadgiveaway@themac-man.co.uk How many stores does The Mac Man now have in Tunbridge Wells?

A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 KUDOS NOV EMBER/DECEMBER 2014

Terms & Conditions The closing date is 23rd December, 2014. The first correct entry drawn at random will win an iPad mini 16GB WiFi. Prize is as stated. No cash alternative can be offered. The competition is not open to employees (or their immediate families) of the promoters, their agents or anyone professionally connected to the promotion. The winner will be chosen at random from the correct entries and will be notified within 14 days of the competition’s closing date. By entering this competition, you agree to receive occasional details of offers and promotions from The Mac Man. All entrants to competitions are deemed to have accepted these rules and agree to be bound by them.

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WHERE THERE’S A WILL… Will Bayley overcame a rare congenital disorder and childhood cancer to become world para table-tennis champion – and it all started in Tunbridge Wells

When Will Bayley won the world para table-tennis championship in September with a 3-2 victory over world number one Maksym Nikolenko in Beijing, it was the crowning moment of his career.

The gold medal added to the European title the 26-year-old claimed in 2011, and his silver in the London 2012 Olympics.

After the final, Will said: “I’ve worked all my life to get to the moment where I can say I’m the best in the world, and to come here and win the world championships means a lot to me.

I played the game of my life.”

It is a life that he’s fought hard for since birth. Will was born with arthrogryposis, a rare congenital disorder that inhibits the movement of all four limbs. Will’s feet were splinted from birth and at three months old he underwent the first of 12 operations at Great Ormond Street Hospital, which was to see him in plaster for several months.

Table tennis remained a hobby, though, until he met Joe Stotesbury, who played for the Paralympic team. It wasn’t long before Will and Joe moved to Filton College in Bristol to continue their studies.

Will’s great friend and table-tennis coach Kevin Satchell, Head of the Bristol Table Tennis Academy, is cited by Will as the reason for much of his success. Kevin, himself a former international player and previously coach to both Scotland and England’s international table tennis teams, has been tireless in his support of Will. Kevin was quoted as saying, “Will Bayley is one of the most focussed and dedicated players I have ever worked with.”

The family moved to Groombridge in 1993, and both Will and his brother joined St Thomas’ School. At the age of seven, Will was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and began a six-month course of chemotherapy at the now very-familiar Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Will joined the Paralympic team some six years ago, when he was selected to play for Great Britain in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

It took the world number one Jochen Wollmert to remove Will from medal contention, but since then Will has taken on the best in the world.

“Chemotherapy was really tough, I went through a lot of pain and hardship as a kid and I kept having setbacks,” Bayley told BBC Sport.

“I got infections, ulcers and had to keep going back to hospital.

Sometimes I felt like giving up.

He now trains full-time with the Paralympic team at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. Due to complexities with nerve-endings, no operations could cure Will’s hands, which are effectively clasped shut. However, he has near full use of his fingers and he expertly manoeuvres a table-tennis bat by twisting his right arm and arching his body.

“At that age, though, I still don’t think I understood just how bad it was. If I got it now I would probably freak out and be really scared!”

To help distract Will from the cancer treatment and help his rehabilitation, his grandmother bought him a table-tennis set, and Will discovered he was rather good at it. He persevered with the game and at the age of 12, joined Byng Hall Table Tennis Club in Tunbridge Wells, where he continued to improve and enter competitions. This culminated in him representing Kent men’s team of able-bodied players, where his table tennis went from strength to strength.

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At the age of 16, Will left the Beacon Community College in Crowborough to join The BRIT School for Performing Arts in Croydon to embark on a Theatre Studies course. As with everything else, Will threw himself passionately into his acting, but continued to train during the week and take part in table-tennis competitions at the weekend.

LOV E LOC AL HEROES

“I like entertaining the crowds,” he says, “and when I’m playing table tennis, I want people to say ‘Wow, this is great’ and enjoy watching me play. But I understand that the most important thing is winning and if I can entertain whilst I’m winning, that’s even better.

“I always have that drive because I know how lucky I am to be here.

My goal now is a gold medal in Rio.” And you know that he’ll do everything in his power to achieve it.

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