Kudos issue 11 by Kudos Kent

Your free lifestyle magazine for Kent and East Sussex

Issue 11

Chris Saga

HELLO

Welcome to the July/August issue of Kudos Summer is well and truly here – you only need to sniff the scent of barbecues on a sunny afternoon as proof! Barbecues are big business these days. As soon as good weather is forecast, supermarkets stock up on charcoal and family packs of burgers and chicken wings. And as for equipment – there’s everything from the humble instant barbecue to fire pits and gas models. Whatever your chosen method of cooking outdoors, when the barbecue bug bites over the coming weeks, we’ve got some great recipes for you to try. See page 48. Much as the sun makes us feel good, we’re all aware of the dangers of sunbathing. Our feature on page 42 has tips on staying safe, and when the heat’s on, our beauty feature on page 36 will keep you looking cool. Our celebrity interview in this issue is rock legend Steve Hackett of Genesis. He called in at the Zed Music Café in Sevenoaks and we couldn’t resist going along to talk to him about his career and his future musical plans. Meet him on page 22. When it comes to fashion, we’ve got it covered in our Fashion Forum, with some great outfits to wear this summer, all from local shops. Check them out on page 28. Elsewhere in this issue, we visit a renovated garden with a surprise, and a party venue that’s a secret. Plus, we’ve found some great days out for all the family. Friends know me as the crazy cat lady on account of having six moggies. That’s nothing compared to Celia

Hammond and her animal trust. Their Greenacres Rehoming Centre & Sanctuary is home to aroud 300 cats! Read all about the fantastic work they do for our feline friends on page 96. Enjoy the summer, and your issue of Kudos.

HANNAH TUCEK Publishing Director

Instagram and Twitter: kudoskent www.kudoskent.co.uk

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 Social Media Queen: Lady Katherine Sims

Advertising Sales: 01892 300321 Kudos is published bi-monthly by Bad Betty Media Ltd and 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

CONTENTS

42 LOVE FEATURES Upfront 10

What’s new and happening

What’s on 18

How to glow in the summer sun 36

Style your home 69

Local events guide

Great looks when the heat’s on

The latest trends for stylish living

That’s entertainment 19

Beauty extra 39

A garden for all seasons 70

Latest releases on stage and screen

Our pick of the latest products

Renovating with the experts

Pets corner 21

Ask the doctor 40

Great Dixter! 73

Turn the spotlight on your best friends!

Cosmetic surgery questions answered

Gardens full of history

Perfect gems 41

Stay safe in the sun 42

Birthstone jewellery

Protect you and your family

LOVE FAMILY Make a day of it 80

Yummy mummy corner 84

LOVE FOOD Cook local 46

Heads up 86

Especially for mums

Sports car of the future 91

Bentley’s new concept two-seater

Men only 92

Especially for men

From model to animal saviour 96 The work of the Celia Hammond Animal Trust

LOVE CELEBRITY Genesis Revisited 22

Some like it hot 48

Barbecue food made even easier

LOVE BUSINESS 9 to 5 94

Apps and gadgets to smooth your working day

Fab food, new brews and perfect coffee

Let’s eat 58

A round-up of the latest foodie news

LOVE HOME AND GARDEN House of secrets 62

LOVE LOOKS Fashion forum 28

Home, sweet home 66

CONTENTS

The season of transition

Food, beer and the bean 55

We interview Steve Hackett

Meet your local fashionistas

Seasonal recipes and the kitchens to cook them in

Great days out for the family

The Manor that’s the perfect party venue

Ideas to turn your house into a home

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WELLINGTON ROCKS, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

LIV E LOC AL

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

7pm

Taken by Matt Harquail

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UPFRONT What’s new and happening

KUDOS IS EXPANDING!

THE WORD IS OUT

We are excited to announce that we are expanding. Kudos has evolved and grown a lot over the last two years, and we are proud to be working with a fantastic bunch of advertisers. We are looking to take on a parttime freelance media sales person to continue the Kudos momentum and help to expand us even further. This is a fantastic opportunity to work on a unique and dynamic local magazine – one unlike any other! We are proud of the magazine we produce and want someone who will be as equally enthusiastic and hardworking as we are. Your primary role will be to find and secure new advertisers. This would be ideal for someone who has perhaps given up working full-time to look after their family but are now keen to dip their toes back into work. Flexible hours to suit. Must have experience. In the first instance, please email your CV to info@badbettymedia.co.uk

Congratulations to Iona Cowie, aged 13, from Sevenoaks, who was is in the final of BBC Radio 2’s 500 Words short story competition. It has been a record year for the competition with a terrific total of 120,421 entries – that’s over 60 million words! Each one was read by a team of volunteer teachers and librarians from around the UK, before being whittled down to the top 50 finalists at St James’ Palace. Although Iona’s story was not one of the three eventual winners in her age category, she got to meet Chris Evans and his team and see how they put together a radio show live! There were also performances from Will Young and a gospel choir, as well as The Vamps. The celebrity narrators were Barney Harwood, Charles Dance and Sir Kenneth Branagh. A fantastic achievement celebrated with a memorable day out!

Exciting freelance media sales role on the Kudos team

Local girl in final of BBC Radio 2 short story competition

JEMPSON’S CELEBR ATE 80TH ANNIVERSARY

Independent family-owned supermarket marks its 80th anniversary this year Local business Jempson’s is co-owned, operated and managed by brothers Stephen and Andrew, who are the third generation of the family at the helm, following in the footsteps of father Harold and grandfather George Thomas Jempson, who established the business as a bakers, confectioners and grocers in Peasmarsh, East Sussex, in June 1935. The Jempson’s group currently consists of two supermarkets, three local convenience stores, four Post Office counters, a pharmacy, six cafés and an award-winning petrol station incorporating an Express convenience store, all of which employ a dedicated combined team of 280 staff, serving 100,000 customers per week. The Peasmarsh store has witnessed considerable change and diversification over the past 80 years. From a modest 225 sq ft general store in 1935, it has grown to become one of the largest independent food superstores in England. The 35,000 sq ft store still occupies the original site – albeit considerably extended. Andrew and Stephen are passionate about their support for local farmers and producers. They currently have 13 suppliers deemed Jempson’s ‘Local Heroes’, who supply quality, fresh local produce, products and services. They spend £3.5m annually with this band of local producers and suppliers, and also advocate the Fairtrade Foundation, and are avid supporters of the ‘Keep Sunday Special’ campaign. The support for the local community has been enhanced even further since establishing their own charity in 2010, The Jempson Foundation. Jempson’s have been the recipients of many awards and accolades over the years, yet their core values and belief in honest trading remain constant, as does their respect for their customers, staff, suppliers and the wider community which they are proud to serve. “Our relationship with both customers and suppliers is at the fore of the business,” said Stephen Jempson. “We value the importance

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of being honest in our day-to-day dealings. We enjoy meeting customers and suppliers face to face and welcome the opportunities that arise from these discussions.” “It’s not every day that an independent family-owned supermarket can mark 80 years of trading, so we intend to celebrate,” said Andrew Jempson. “We’ll be offering many unique and one-off deals, food and drink sampling and give-aways. We’ve also had our own exclusive ‘Local Hero’ anniversary beer brewed.” Stephen Jempson added: “To be able to mark our 80th anniversary is a source of great pride to us. It hasn’t always been easy, but from the beginning we have gone to great lengths to ensure we always maintain the highest standards possible. We look forward to welcoming, and being of service to, our customers in order to achieve our 100th Anniversary.”

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UPFRONT What’s new and happening

RICHARD PHILLIPS PARTNERSHIP Creating a benchmark for hospitality excellence

With much talk of the acute skills shortage in the hospitality industry, Tunbridge Wells celebrity chef and Michelin-star restaurant owner Richard Phillips is proud to announce the launch of the Richard Phillips Partnership (RPP). This truly-unique partnership network will create and encourage excellence in staff training and service, both front and back of house. The RPP will provide a unique network of high-quality hospitality training placements, working with the very best chefs and restaurants across the county. Candidates will not only have the choice of three Richard Phillips venues for training and placement, but also a number of other equally high-quality partner properties across the region. The unique RPP training and mentoring programmes are aimed at both existing staff and new young apprentices. With their main training delivery partner – HIT Training – the RPP has developed its own bespoke one to three-year onsite training and mentoring programmes. Tutor-lead education will be given at each of the partner sites and will be consistently delivered and assessed, with

feedback given to the employee, the partner and RPP. Planning for this partnership began in January in 2015. Pictured are Richard Phillips (right), with Lisajane Davies and Gary Beach, and Zena Cooper of HIT Training. For more information, contact Lisajane Davies on RPPartneship@ byanise.com; tel 07871 823572; or Twitter @RPPartnership

A-MAZING!

Kent artisans help The Royal Horticultural Society celebrate 25 years at Hampton Court Although somewhat younger than the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show, the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show is a much larger affair and has been going from strength to strength in its 25 years. To celebrate this milestone, RHS Gold medallist, designer and artist Tony Smith was commissioned to create a 900 sq metre garden by the Royal Horticultural Society. The garden featured a maze, based on the number 25, built from a box hedge and containing urns and pedestals by Kent artisans Chilstone of Tunbridge Wells. The display included recreations of urns that were once owned by Florence Nightingale and were replicated by Chilstone’s craftsmen from the last remaining original.

Design of the 25th anniversary Garden (courtesy of Tony Smith)

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UPFRONT What’s new and happening

SAY ‘I DO’ IN STYLE

Now you can find everything you need for your wedding – including a stunning venue – all under one roof UK Wedding Centres are delighted to announce the opening of The Kent Wedding Centre in one of the iconic, historic oast houses at prime wedding destination, The Hop Farm, in Paddock Wood. The Wedding Centre is a unique showroom concept, bringing together a complete wedding service to complement the wedding venue there. You’ll find wedding gowns from renowned European manufacturers along with menswear from Germany’s top formalwear supplier. Independent wedding specialists from around the county will be offering services such as wedding designers, flowers, cakes, cars, stationery, photographers, novelty lights, horses and carriages, as well as hair and make-up. The Wedding Centre’s Managing Director, Graham Phebey, said, “After looking around for two years, I feel we have found the perfect location, situated in a well-known destination with easy access and plenty of parking. I was thrilled to find out our opening coincided with the Hop Farm’s successful renovation of their own wedding venue. The synergies between us and our suppliers make it a vibrant and creative working environment. For anybody who is thinking of getting married The Wedding Centre is a not-to-be-missed experience.”

LOVIN’ IT

Re-thinking high-street community with retail, café and creativity in one home Local businesses Manna, Love Inc and Freckles & Fire are joining forces to bring a new retail and creative outlet to Tunbridge Wells! After the massive success of Love Inc’s pop-up shop in town, they are now embarking on a new adventure with Manna, setting up a permanent home in their high-street location to sell their eclectic, vintage homeware and gifts, and partnering with Freckles & Fire to provide a fabulous creative workshop programme. The workshops, held in both the Manna shop and the café, are synonymous with modern-day style and offer locals and visitors alike the opportunity to pamper their creative spirit and further ignite the craft revolution happening nationwide. This exciting collaboration is aimed at creating a greater sense of community in the town, by bringing people together over good coffee, good food, gifts, crafts and workshops. Manna has become a vibrant and popular venue on the High Street and gives 100% of its profits in support of justice causes and helping to fight poverty. Love Inc Ltd sells a quirky collection of original vintage and modern homeware and gifts, and 10% of their annual profit is donated to Hospice in the Weald. Freckles & Fire is a creative business offering workshops, parties and corporate events in and around Tunbridge Wells, as well as supporting

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British designers and makers through fairs and retail outlets. Workshops are aimed to bring out the creative spirit in a relaxed and fun environment, where participants will learn traditional crafts with a modern twist. The enterprise will donate 50% of the shop’s profits to a slum in Nairobi called Mathare. www.loveincltd.co.uk

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UPFRONT What’s new and happening

FROM LITTLE ACORNS...

Local oak joinery company opens new show building Things are happening down at Round Wood in Mayfield. Continued expansion has recently seen the completion of an eye-catching oak-framed office, which doubles as a show building, and features oak joinery crafted in their workshop and a selection of their oak flooring. Round Wood are also in the process of developing a new mill, a new home for their joinery team and a showroom, which will include additional office space. Over the last 20 years, the company has planned, erected and finished thousands of oak-framed buildings. These have ranged from garden gazebos and single-bay garages, to office complexes and complete houses. Regardless of size, every project is approached with the same sense of pride and close attention to detail, giving you an oak-framed building that you can be proud of for not just years, but decades. Round Wood also offer a range of decking, including tropical hardwoods, and Heveatech, a particularly resilient engineered hardwood decking board. Their wood flooring is produced from high-grade European Oak, and they also offer Walnut in engineered form for those looking to achieve a rich timber and high-end aesthetic. Garden features are another speciality. They have a selection of planters, burners, oak barrels from French vineyards to use as water butts, iron work and statues.

Free prize draw

To celebrate their new offices, Round Wood are offering a prize draw with the chance to win £1000, £500 and £250 to spend on any of their products. The draw will take place at Round Wood’s stand on the final day of the Bentley Woodfair, on Sunday 20th September 2015, at 5pm. The winners will be contacted by e-mail the following day. For details and to enter, and for information about their products, visit www.roundwood.com

A GARDEN FOR ROSE

Garden designer’s granddaughter with rare chromosome disorder inspired show garden at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show Garden designers Catherine Chenery and Barbara Harfleet were inspired to create a show garden for the recent RHS Hampton Court Flower Show after the diagnosis of their niece and granddaughter, Rose, with a rare chromosome disorder. The garden design reflected the family’s journey from the shock of diagnosis to the support and understanding offered by the UK charity Unique. The design echoes Unique’s logo – a DNA strand, with hedges and paving symbolising the genetic anomalies that cause chromosome disorders. Barbara, who designed the Unique garden with Catherine, her son’s fiancée, said: “Since my granddaughter Rose, four, was diagnosed with a rare chromosome disorder, our family has faced an emotional battle dealing with the effects this has on Rose’s health and on her development.” The charity Unique, which is based in Oxted, helps families like Rose’s by providing information on the meaning of chromosome disorders and how they are likely to affect their children. Unique matches families with others throughout the world who are affected by similar disorders so that they can share information and support for each other. Rose and many thousands like her, is actually ‘unique’ – the only person in the world known to have her particular disorder.

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Individually, chromosome disorders are incredibly rare but collectively they are common. At least one in every 200 babies is born with a rare chromosome disorder, with many severely disabled. Some people with chromosome disorders have no outward signs but face medical, educational or behavioural issues. Barbara and Catherine’s garden design for Hampton Court featured a winding path, cut across by paving and hedging which represented the duplications and deletions of genes, which cause rare chromosome disorders. Gravel pathways embodied the rough and difficult journey made by children and families affected by such disorders. The garden helped Unique to raise funds and awareness of these little understood but devastating disorders. www.rarechromo.org

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WHAT’S ON Get out and about with our pick of local events

Swans on the Pond by Maureen Ridley 15 AUGUST-13 SEPTEMBER Maureen Ridley: A Retrospective Exhibition of Paintings, Batiks and Ceramics – Hall Place, Bexley A retrospective exhibition of work by artist Maureen Ridley will be held in the Stables Gallery in the Visitor Centre at Hall Place, Bourne Road in Bexley from 15th August to 13th September 2015. Maureen lived and worked in Bexley up until December 2013. Her children are mounting this exhibition to show a selection of her work in a variety of mediums, particularly oil and batik. As well as oil, ceramics and watercolour, Maureen was one of the leading exponents of the art of batik and a renowned teacher of that medium. She was a Fellow of the Free Painters and Sculptors and a member of the Batik Guild. She found batik work an exciting means of expression, a constant challenge to be developed alongside painting, and she harnessed the technique to express the beauty she saw in landscape and natural forms. Many of the batiks could be mistaken for paintings and the exhibition demonstrates not only her technical skill but also her artistic composition and use of colour. Her death in December 2013 was a sad loss to the art world and this is likely to be the last time a collection of her work will be exhibited in one place. Entry to the exhibition is free and opening times are from 10am to 5pm daily. VARIOUS DATES Keep it Local craft fairs Where we shop can say a lot about who we are and our sense of style, but our destination also needs to be a fun place to go, offering attractive, good-quality food and merchandise. The Keep it Local team are committed to providing a shopping experience which is all this and more besides. Their primary focus is on selecting an excellent range of crafters, growers, products and produce, only allowing the best of local, hand-made products. Their ethos is to run friendly, professional events and they pride themselves on the relaxed atmosphere you will experience. If you want a fun day out to see high quality and good value, and a huge variety of locally-made and produced goods – give the Keep it Local events a try! The next craft fair is at The Llama Park in Wych Cross on 30-31 August, between 10am and 4pm. There are craft fairs at Coolings Nurseries in Knockholt on 18-20 September, between 10am and 4:30pm, and at Crowborough Community Centre on 24 October, between 10:30am and 3:30pm. There is also a regular food and produce market at Coolings Nurseries on the fourth Saturday of every month. www.keepitlocalevents.co.uk

For more events, visit www.kudoskent.co.uk 18

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THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT Latest releases on stage and screen

WAY OUT WEST

Calamity Jane is riding into town Featuring 10 Oscar-nominated songs including The Black Hills of Dakota, The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), Just Blew in from The Windy City and Secret Love, Calamity Jane will have everyone in the family from Grandma down, singing along. The wonderful array of musical talent is led by Jodie Prenger (Oliver!, Spamalot and One Man Two Guvnors), whose beautiful voice and comic timing makes her perfect for the role of the irrepressible Calamity. Starring alongside Jodie is the hugely talented Tom Lister (The Water Babies, Emmerdale) who plays Calamity’s secret love, Wild Bill Hickok. Calamity Jane can outrun and outshoot any man in Deadwood. Hard, boastful and desperate to impress, she travels to Chicago to recruit a star, Adelaide Adams, for the Deadwood stage. But things don’t go too smoothly for Calamity, as everyone in town favours the new girl, and she struggles to keep her jealousy and pride in check. It takes her longstanding enemy Wild Bill Hickok to make her see sense, and realise her secret love… This really is the summer’s must-see musical, from the charm of the authentic set, the clever use of lighting, the beautiful musical arrangement, and the lively and perfectly-executed choreography – Calamity Jane blows into Tunbridge Wells for one week only. Calamity Jane is at The Assembly Hall, Tunbridge Wells from Tuesday 28th July to Saturday 1st August. To book, call 01892 530613 or visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

TED IS COMING, AGAIN In cinemas 10 July

The anticipated sequel to the 2012 smash hit, Ted 2 follows Ted’s attempts to be legally recognised as human so that he can have a child with his new wife. Despite convincing John (Mark Wahlberg) to be his sperm donor, a talking teddy bear doesn’t count as a person in a court of law. So Ted and John do the only sensible thing: they recruit lawyer Samantha L Jackson to help them sue the government. Directed by Seth MacFarlane, who also provides the voice of Ted, Ted 2 features Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman and nominee Liam Neeson, acting alongside a sweary teddy bear.

INSIDE OUT

In cinemas from 24 July Pixar’s latest animation will show you the human mind from the Inside Out, going into the head of Riley, where we meet her emotions: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust. After Riley has to move to a new school, Joy and Sadness accidentally go missing in the depths of her mind. Now that Riley’s only guided by Anger, Fear and Disgust, Joy and Sadness must journey through her long-term memory, imagination and dreams to try and get everything back to normal. From the creators of Monsters, Inc. and Up, Inside Out reveals a place we all know well, but none of us have ever seen – the human mind.

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PETS CORNER

It’s time to turn the spotlight on your best friends!

AND SO TO BED

Treat your guinea pig or rabbit to their own snuggly bed. Designed by Willow Whippet for rabbits, small pets and cats, they are fully washable and made from super-soft fleece fabric. The side walls provide a sense of security and cosiness and the large corner flap an additional snuggle zone for relaxation. The bed has a removable lap cushion for when your pet sits with you. It comes in two sizes: Small (40cm x 30cm) suitable for smaller rabbits and guinea pigs; and Large (55cm x 35cm) suitable for larger rabbits and cats. Price: from £24 www.notonthehighstreet.com/willowwhippet

Pug off, I’m sleeping!

Bentley, a Pug, who lives in Barrow-in-Furness, and is one of our Twitter fans all the way from Cumbria!

CHECK MATE Reporting for duty! Elvis, a a Shih Tzu, who lives in Tunbridge Wells and is employed as Rover Reporter and PA by his mum Lisajane Davies of Byanise

Forget expensive toys – give me an empty plastic bottle and I’m in heaven! Bunji, a Jack Russell X Springer Spaniel, who lives in Tunbridge Wells

Whilst the adults are playing chess, your dog is up to her own games! She’s having far too much fun frolicking in Mungo & Maud’s new Check Collection, The Clara Lead is available in celeste/mint, grey/ bonbon, and orange/lavender and is priced from £42.50. Matching collars are from £35.00 www.mungoandmaud.com

Email a photograph and details of your pet to editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk

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STEVE HACKETT: GENESIS REVISITED When Zoe Ashfield of the Zed Music CafĂŠ in Sevenoaks invited us to meet a music legend, we jumped at the chance... Words: Hannah Tucek. All images by Russell Harper Photography www.harperphotography.co.uk

“I WAS AWARE THE BAND HAD SOMETHING SPECIAL WHEN I JOINED, BUT I DIDN’T REALISE IT WAS GOING TO BECOME WORLD FAMOUS UNTIL TWO YEARS LATER WHEN JOHN LENNON SAID ON THE RADIO THAT WE WERE ONE OF THE BANDS HE WAS LISTENING TO” Steve Hackett found fame as the lead guitarist with the rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977. He’s had a busy solo career since his first departure from Genesis, in 1977. Collaborating with everyone from Richie Havens to Steve Howe to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, he has released more than two dozen albums, including his most recent solo album, Wolflight. Was music a part of your life growing up? Did you come from a musical family? My father was musical and played a number of instruments, just for fun. He was able to play harmonica, bugle, a bit of clarinet and then he learned a little bit of guitar. So he passed all of that on to me. I used to play mouth organ as a kid, and then guitar once I was big enough to get my arms round it. I was about 12, because it was a huge guitar, a big country thing. When did you discover you had a talent for the guitar and are you self-taught? I am self-taught. I started buying records from the age of about nine onwards. The first thing I bought was a Shadows record. I started to become obsessed with guitars from the age of about nine onwards. Hank Marvin and The Shadows, that was where I was heading in those early days. When you joined Genesis did you ever imagine they’d become as big as they did? Absolutely not. Luckily I had no idea. I was aware the band had something special when I joined, but I didn’t realise it was going to become world famous until two years later when John Lennon said on the radio that we were one of the bands he was listening to. At the same time, the band was starting to use its own light show and Peter Gabriel was dressing in weird and off-the-wall costumes. All this closer attention to visual presentation was attracting larger audiences and, for the first time, we realised we just might make it. What do you think of today’s bands? Anyone that impresses you? I can think of two bands straight off that I think are really interesting. Muse probably carry the candle for modern progressive stuff more successfully than any other that I am aware. In terms of pure playing and the Blues, I like Joe Bonamassa very much, who I have met a few times. He’s a great player.

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Who are your music heroes? It’s usually classical musicians because I figure those are the ones that spent most of their lives indoors, really struggling with this kind of stuff. So, I love Bach, obviously, and lots of the Russian composers and people from the Nordic and cold Slavic regions: Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Prokofiev, Borodin. I tend to look for unusual harmonies and sometimes find that in classical music more than in rock. You’ve collaborated with Chris Squire of Yes in the past. How does that work? What do you each bring to the relationship? Well, he’s a mate and we grew up in bands that sometimes crossed over. Yes and Genesis were often playing the same circuit at the same time, when we were young blades. I like to work with him because he shares a love for choirs. He was trained as a choir boy, he loves rock bands and working with orchestras, so we share this love of all things symphonic that can inform this very basic thing called rock and roll. I read that you run songs past your wife. Is that true? Yes. In recent years we’ve got closer and closer. We write together and I run pretty much every idea passed her. She’s a very constructive critic and a very worthwhile partner, both very loving and very perceptive musically. She will often remind me that something could perhaps do with a variation instead of just sticking in the groove and repeating things. Both her father and grandfather played and she was trained as a violinist. Violin runs in the family. In fact, her sister was in the band for two years with me. It’s a family affair. Are you still in touch with the other members of Genesis? Yes, I am in touch with them – we did a documentary in recent times. I do like to see them. Sadly, there’s been no reformation of the five-man team. I see quite a bit of Anthony Philips, who was my predecessor in Genesis. How do you remember your days with Genesis? What’s your overriding feeling when you think back? It was very character forming, musically. The band was very competitive. I’d never come across contemporaries who were that competitive with each other. I think they were each capable of writing great songs on their own. They proved that with time, that was possible. I think it was a brilliant band, I’m sad that it doesn’t exist any more but it’s there in glorious retrospect. In terms of a group of songwriters,

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Zoe Ashfield and Steve Hackett I don’t think there’s been a stronger team. I’m very proud to have come from that, but I think it was a very difficult school to be part of. It was very hard to please each other. I remember the days of watching ice skaters and seeing the Russian judges deliberately mark down everyone else other than the Russians, and I think we functioned a little bit like that. Everyone used to dread playing their songs to each other because everyone would go, umm, but reluctantly. It’s a strange thing that a team that’s so creative together can be so often opposed to each other’s ideas, but I think that’s what made Genesis strong. It made us all try very, very hard indeed. I used to think there’s no pleasing the others but occasionally I did, and I would think, ‘Oh isn’t that great, what happened there. How did that slip through the net? They missed that one’. But it worked like that. I used to have to think very hard to write things that were very unobvious, and I think the early writing of the band was just that, unobvious. After being in a band, what was it like going solo? I refer to solo these days as my Genesis afterlife. Luckily that’s still continuing. In the early days, equipment was always breaking down. It was tough, we were very young, we were touring incessantly, that often leaves you bruised and battered. In those days I used to smoke and drink and party, so every day I was recovering from hangovers. I don’t have that any more because I don’t feel the need to do that. Now I’m interested in making a noise for a living for as long as possible, and I don’t want anything to stand in the way of that. That’s my priority as opposed to burning the candle at both ends. It’s part of being a certain age. You’re testing your limits, but everyone I know who’s still alive in my business is quite health conscious in one way or another, if only to avoid the poisons. Tell me about Genesis revisited In the mid 90s I did an album called Genesis Revisited, going back to some of my favourite songs. I wanted to do enlargements of them; in other words, use both the rock band and orchestra because I felt that a lot of the 70s Genesis stuff was quite symphonic in aspiration and classical music and orchestras were important to us, but the band didn’t expand to involve that at that stage. I re-recorded tunes with a number of well-known people from like-minded bands, some of whom I had worked with before, including John

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Wetton, who had collaborated with bands like Genesis and Yes, and Bill Bruford of Earthworks. Many years later, I did another version covering some of the songs I hadn’t done from the Genesis archive. I wanted to take it on the road, so we did an Albert Hall show, Hammersmith, a couple of DVDs and toured around the world. I’ve dedicated about two or three years to that and it’s been extraordinarily well received. And because there is no version of Genesis that’s touring, it’s the nearest thing to the real thing. There are plenty of Genesis tribute bands, though. I think there are more Genesis tribute bands than any other band on the planet. There’s probably a band on Mars somewhere that plays a mean version of our music. Tell us about your recent album, Wolflight It’s partly a world music album but I’ve tried to make it as accessible as possible. I don’t think it quite fits the progressive mould. It’s different. Some of the songs are very long, but in a way it’s the kind of album I’ve been trying to make my entire life. I wanted to put all these unlikely combinations together on one album, so you’d have one guy from Azerbaijan playing a stringed instrument called a tar, and a girl from Hungary playing a didgeridoo. This makes it sound like a very esoteric album, but it’s actually very accessible. You are still working hard, writing, touring and performing, what is it that drives you? Madness! Or the love of a good woman! Passion for music, still. I just think it is so important to get out there and meet people and do what you love for a living, because why bother to do anything else for a living if you don’t love it? I’ve learnt to be optimistic with the years – there’s always something around the corner that you didn’t expect. Ninety per cent of success is just showing up. Is there anything that you still want to achieve? To eradicate poverty, save the planet and achieve total world domination by next Thursday. Not much then! The Zed Café in Sevenoaks High Street is a three-in-one musical hub, with a cafe on the ground floor, live music three nights a week, practice/tuition rooms on the first floor and a recording studio currently being created in the basement. www.thezedmusiccafe.com / www.hackettsongs.com

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

THE BIG FASHION SHOW WEEKEND Calling all fashionistas!

If you’ve got a fashion business to promote or fancy strutting your stuff on the catwalk, we want to hear from you. We’re planning the Big Fashion Show Weekend on The Pantiles on August 22nd-23rd, with fashion stands and a series of fashion shows, putting local businesses in the spotlight. Limited stands will be available for shops and stores for just £100 for the weekend – a bargain for the opportunity to showcase your style and sell at the same time. But it’s first come, first served, so don’t delay! We’re also looking for models of all ages. You don’t have to be professional, just love fashion and confident enough to show off! If you’re interested in either a stand or the chance to model, contact

info@badbettymedia.co.uk

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

Linen blend top, £139

Geometric silk shirt, £165

SAHAR A,

High Street, Tunbridge Wells

Hello sunshine! With summer finally on the horizon, Sahara’s latest capsule collection has been designed with dreams of secluded beaches and sun-drenched terraces in mind. So whether you’re about to embark on your travels or simply want to bring an essence of holiday spirit to your new-season wardrobe, their latest range has something for every adventure! The collection features a series of striking silk pieces featuring three geometric designs, contrasted to create a quirky take on the season’s key monochrome trend. For those looking to add a splash of colour into their look, the collection is highlighted with must-have linen separates in a hot fuchsia pink and vibrant jade green. Shop the full collection in store and online. Sahara, 75-77 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1XZ. Tel: 01892 536 638. www.saharalondon.com

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Crepe tee, £109, crepe trousers, £109, and leather necklace, £145

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

Geometric silk dress, £185

Jersey dress, £139

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

Linen button back dress, £169, and beaded necklace, £29

Beaded necklace, £29, and silver fan necklace, £32

Geometric silk balloon dress, £195

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VACANT CLOTHING,

The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells

Pixie dress, £46.99 www.vacantclothing.co.uk

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KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

KITCH,

High Street, Tunbridge Wells

Melissa Odabash Alanna crochet dress, available in cream or black, ÂŁ319 www.kitchclothing.co.uk

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

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ODYL,

High Street, Cranbrook, www.odyldesign.com

Baum und Pferdgarten Alicia black lace dress, £279

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Baum und Pferdgarten Sashenka black and white skirt, £189, and CAMEO knitted poncho, £249

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

scho o l Back to STAMPEDE, with

Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells

Start-rite shoes, from £38, www.stampedeshoes.co.uk

Paper, £38

Tarantula, £47

Burford, £46

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

Fleur, £41

Meteor, £37

Impulsive, £52

Skip, £12

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KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

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HOW TO GLOW IN THE SUMMER SUN

At home or on holiday, when the sun’s shining, ditch the heavy foundation and matte lipstick and try out a new, lighter look

How many times do you change your make-up routine? Hardly ever, is probably the answer. Most of us find cosmetics we like, create a look and stick to it. But it’s good to shake things up, try something new and reinvent yourself – and summer is a great time to do it. Bronzer is a good place to start. It makes your eyes look brighter, your teeth whiter — and everyone looks better with a little warmth added to their skin. Keep it natural by applying bronzer just to the high points of your face, where the sun naturally hits you: forehead, cheekbones, chin, and nose. Keep it subtle, though; too much and you’ll look fake. Powder bronzers are the easiest to apply; look for one with varying shades — they’ll mix together for the most authenticlooking results. If you wear foundation, swap it for a tinted moisturiser with an SPF factor. These sheer formulas look and feel airier on skin and are less likely to clog when the heat’s on. If you like a bit more coverage in places, brush a dusting of powder foundation over the tinted moisturiser. Summer means bright colours, so match your make-up to your clothes and go for vibrant shades that will brighten your face. Nervous? Start with a lively blusher on the apples of your cheeks, and a stronger-than-usual eyeshadow. Stop shine by blotting with cosmetic sheets. Try Boots Skin Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets, which instantly remove excess oil from the skin, leaving it shine-free in one simple step, or Mac Blot Film, which leaves make-up intact. If your make-up needs a boost, blot then follow up with a dusting of powder with a hint of luminescence. It will eliminate shine, but leave you with a pretty glow. Try Clarins Mineral Loose Powder, Nars Light Reflecting Setting Powder or Dior Nude Luminous Rose Loose Powder.

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KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

Switch from rich, deep lip colours to tinted lip balms. They give you whisper-light colour, and many have SPF to protect lips from the sun. Use a lipliner if you need extra definition, but go for a nude shade to keep that carefree feeling, or try “invisible” lipliner, like The Body Shop’s Lip Line Fixer, a creamy, moisturising, retractable pencil that can be used to form an invisible barrier around the mouth area to help ‘fill’ fine lines and prevent lipstick bleeding. For longer-lasting eyeshadow, smooth on an eye primer like L’Oreal Colour Riche Eye Primer Base to help minimise creasing and create a base for the shadow to cling to so it lasts longer. Then top shadow with a layer of powder to help it set. Waterproof mascara is a must in the heat. Try MAC Zoom Waterfast Lash, which has a creamy, velvety texture; Estée Lauder Sumptuous Waterproof Mascara, which lasts up to 12 hours; or Lancôme Hypnose Waterproof, which gives lashes six times more volume, thanks to the 1,000+ bristle wand, along with a waterproof seal. That’s your make-up sorted. Now for your hair. After a few days of sun and sea, even the most healthy, glossy hair can frazzle. Try and keep your hair covered up as much as possible when you are out in the sun – ideally with a scarf or hat. The sun’s UV rays can damage your hair as well as your skin, especially if it is coloured or highlighted. When it is uncovered, apply a protective product, like PhytoPlage Protective Sun Veil, a lightweight spray that leaves a natural, transparent finish to protect hair against dehydration and damage from sun, salt and chlorine, and preserves color with a natural UV filter. And instead of straightening already frizzy holiday hair, smooth it into shape with a water-soluble styling wax or cream.

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

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EYE EYE!

Forget mascara – fake lashes are the big news for summer

Sun, sea, suntan lotion and – dare we say it – sweat, play havoc with mascara. So for perfect summer lashes, ditch it and instead invest in professionally-applied false lashes. Jess Butler, owner of Vanity Fair in Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, is a big fan of fakes. “We use Lash Perfect to create individual looks for our clients,” she says. “Some people have shorter, finer, straighter lashes while others’ lashes will be naturally quite long, thick and curly, so we match that but keep in mind if they want a glamorous effect or something more natural. “Some eye shapes, such as big eyes with high eyebrows, can take longer, fuller lashes. Smaller, less prominent eyes will usually need more natural lashes. “The process takes about an hour and starts with a full cleanse of the eye area, applying patches so that we don’t stick your bottom lashes together. We then use tweezers to apply the false lashes to each individual lash. “We recommend using the finishing glaze daily to keep them set in place and to add a nice shine to the lashes.” The lashes will shed naturally one by one, so clients return every two weeks for maintenance. “All we ask so that they last as long as possible is to avoid water for the first 24 hours, oil all together and no pulling or touching the lashes,” says Jess. “They are great for a wedding or holiday, or just a little pick me up!” Vanity Fair, 144 Camden Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells TN1 2QZ Tel: 01892 616096 www.vanityfairbeauty.co.uk

SPECIAL OFFER FOR KUDOS READERS A full set of lash extensions costs £82.50 but mention Kudos magazine when you book and you’ll pay just £50!

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TOP-TO-TOE PACKAGE

Book a Gelleration manicure and pedicure and receive a FREE skin ritual facial! All for just £83.50! Treatment for both men and women. Vouchers are available.

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

BEAUTY EXTR A

Pick-and-mix products for great top-to-toe looks

TR ACK YOUR HEALTH

Strap on one of the new AS80 wrist-based activity sensors from Beurer, designed to offer more informative, interactive and detailed data on physical activity and sleep than ever before. The slimline sensor has been designed for comfortable allday wear, with a splash-proof enclosure and subtle display that can be activated to show a wide range of data at the touch of a button. Detailed activity tracking includes number of steps, distance, calorie consumption, activity duration and progress levels according to a customisable set of daily activity goals. At night, a sleep tracker can be activated to monitor sleep movements and sleep duration to determine rest type and quality. It even has a handy vibration wake-up alarm which can be set for those early morning starts without disturbing partners. Price: £99.99 www.stressnomore.co.uk

BEAUTY FROM THE INSIDE

Delicious Help:Beautify Skin natural apple-flavoured jelly supplements from Works with Water Nutraceuticals are designed to be eaten on the go and help nourish and rejuvenate skin from the inside out. Free from artificial colours and flavours, they contain CoEnzymeQ10, collagen, Resveratrol, aloe vera, and Vitamin C. Price: £22.94 for a 14 day supply www.workswithwater.com

BE SUN SAFE

This disposable wristband from SmartSun measures UV radiation and changes colour when you have had enough sun. Ideal for anyone who spends time outside – from babies to grandparents! It gives you an easy-to-read indicator of when to reapply sun lotion and when to stay out of the sun for the rest of the day. Each band is worn once, and starts out as yellow, changing to beige and pink to alert you when it is time to top up on sun lotion, or when it is time to avoid the sun for the rest of the day. Price: £4.99 for a pack of 5 www.smartsunuk.co.uk

NAIL IT!

Limited Collection Jelly Bean nail polish from M&S has a subtle matt finish and translucent colour. Price: £4 www.marksandspencer.com

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

LUXURY SCRUB

Iconic’s luxurious, intense Gold & Caviar Body Scrub leaves a shimmer on the skin, and naturally moisturises whilst gliding over the skin’s surface to gently exfoliate. Full of uber-rich extracts from caviar, the scrub is full of Vitamins A, B and D. There are also trace elements of amino acids, which help to promote healthy ageing. Use twice a week as a luxury home spa treatment. Price: £30 www.iconiclondoninc.com

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ASK THE DOCTOR

Your cosmetic surgery questions answered

SOPHIE SHOTTER, MBCHB BSC (HONS) COSMETIC DOCTOR I know I can have injections to treat wrinkles, but is there anything I can do about sagging skin? The most common treatment I get asked about is wrinklerelaxing injections, but quite often I will tell people to focus on other factors first. Wrinkles can look distinguished, whereas loose, saggy skin is never desirable.

There are two components to sagging in the face. The first is that the quality of our skin decreases as we age. From the age of 25 onwards, we lose 1% of our dermal collagen per year. The second is that we start losing volume in our faces, and so there is less fat and tissue tenting our skin and keeping it taut. The earlier you start counteracting these the better. It is much easier to reverse 5% collagen loss than 20%. Goodquality medical-grade skincare, such as Obagi Nu-Derm, can actually stimulate new collagen formation. This is a different league of product from the anti-ageing lines you can buy in high-street shops. They will leave your skin not only looking younger, but actually physically younger. Dermal fillers can be used to re-volumise areas of the face that have lost volume. This will make your skin sit differently and be tauter. For some patients we may need to utilise other technologies. INTRAcel is a machine which uses tiny needles to transmit radiofrequency waves to the deep layers of the skin. This is extremely powerful at stimulating skin tightening, and is a strategy we often use in clinic. All of these treatments can be used in combination to give powerful and natural results. www.illuminateskinclinic.co.uk Send your questions to editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk ADVERTISEMENT

PERFECT GEMS Make that gift of jewellery extra special by choosing a birthstone

Birthstones are gemstones associated with each month in the calendar. They are considered lucky, and their healing powers are allegedly heightened during their month. RUBY – The birthstone for July “The Ruby stole a spark from heaven above To bring the July maiden untold Love” Notable sources of ruby are Burma, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Their colour can be a pale rose-red, but the sought-after colour is traditionally called “pigeon’s blood” and is a fine, even colour and transparency. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that the ruby could relieve pain and cure rheumatism, as well as protect the wearer from drowning. The Hindus likened the glowing colour of rubies to an enduring fire. The ruby has been the traditional choice of kings and emperors for their Coronation rings. Among the crown jewels of France that survived the French Revolution are the celebrated rubies of the Royal Collection. These were redesigned and set with diamonds in 1816. The Black Princes Ruby in the English Crown Jewels is actually a Spinel, which is another beautiful red gemstone. The qualities of ruby are said to be contentment, love and devotion.

PERIDOT – The birthstone for August “The August maiden so sweetly coy, Wears a Peridot, the gem of Joy” The famed source for apple-green stones is the Isle of St John in the Red Sea, but peridot can also be found in Sri Lanca, Norway and the USA. It is actually a magnesium iron silicate of the mineral species olivine. The word peridot (pronounced with a silent “t”) is derived from the Arabic “fadidat”, which means precious stone. The ancients believed that peridot had the power to conquer timidity and could also strengthen the nerves of the wearer. The 11th-century philosopher, Marbodus, maintained that it should be set in gold, the metal of the sun, to cure fear of the dark. Crusaders treasured them on their long periods away from home as they reinforced their faithfulness. The qualities associated with peridot are gladness, serenity and trust. For a range of jewellery in your birthstone, visit Payne and Son in Tunbridge Wells. www.payneandsonjewellers.co.uk

STAY SAFE IN THE SUN Take sensible precautions when the sun’s shining

LOV E YOUR HEALTH

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

Whatever your age, staying safe in the sun makes sense. Sunburn can lead to skin cancer, sometimes years later, so it pays to take precautions. You need to be especially careful if you have fair skin that burns easily, lots of moles or freckles, red or fair hair, light-coloured eyes or a family history of skin cancer. Moving into the shade between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its hottest, can help. Sit under an umbrella, a tree or awning – or simply go inside. If you can’t get out of the sun, then cover up with a T-shirt, hat and sunglasses. Materials with a close weave will help block out most UV rays – but wet cotton T-shirts will stretch and allow more UV rays through the fabric. Choose a wide-brimmed hat or one with flaps over the ears and the back of the neck for good protection. The single most important thing to look for when buying sunglasses to protect your eyes is a sticker indicating that they block 100% of UV rays. The more coverage from sunglasses, the less sun damage inflicted on the eyes, so consider buying oversized glasses or a wraparound-style, which help protect the eyes from the side. While very dark lenses may look cool, they do not necessarily block more UV rays. USE A SUNSCREEN Sunscreens will not protect completely from sun damage on their own. However, they can be useful for protecting the parts of skin we can’t shade or cover. They work by combining several ingredients that help prevent the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the skin. Two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB, damage the skin, age it prematurely, and increase your risk of skin cancer. UVB is the chief culprit behind sunburn, while UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply, are associated with wrinkling, leathering, sagging, and other light-induced effects of aging. They also increase the carcinogenic effects of UVB rays, and increasingly are being seen as a cause of skin cancer on their own. Choose a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 (UVB protection) and a star rating of at least four

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

LOV E YOUR HEALTH

stars (UVA protection). Most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do an excellent job of protecting against UVB. SPF — or Sun Protection Factor — is a measure of a sunscreen’s ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin. Beware – sunscreens with higher factors don’t provide much more protection against UVB radiation. For example, an SPF15 sunscreen filters out 93% of UVB radiation, while an SPF30 sunscreen filters out 96%. It’s easy to be tempted to stay out on the sun longer than you should just because you’re wearing higher factor sunscreen. No sunscreen, no matter how high the factor, can provide 100% protection. No sunscreen, regardless of strength, should be expected to stay effective longer than two hours without reapplication. If your skin turns red, it’s a reaction to UVB rays alone and tells that you are probably getting UVA damage, too. You don’t need to get sunburn for damage to be done. PROTECT CHILDREN Children under the age of six months should not be exposed to the sun, since their skin is highly sensitive to the chemical ingredients in sunscreen as well as to the sun’s rays. Shade and protective clothing are the best ways to protect infants from the sun. Many moisturisers and cosmetics have a sunscreen (usually SPF 15 or greater) already in them, and this is sufficient for everyday activities with a few minutes now and again in the sun. However, if you work outside or spend a lot of time outdoors, you need a stronger, water-resistant, beachweartype sunscreen. The water resistant types are also good for hot days or while playing sports, because they’re less likely to drip into your eyes when you sweat. Always make sure you apply enough sunscreen and ensure all exposed skin is thoroughly covered. It should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure to allow the ingredients to fully bind to the skin. Reapplication is just as important as putting it on in the first place, so reapply the same amount every two hours. Sunscreens should also be reapplied immediately after swimming, toweling off, or if you’ve been sweating a lot. Sunscreens that claim to be ‘water resistant’ or ‘waterproof’ should always be reapplied after going in the water, especially if you have towelled dry. Don’t store sunscreens in very hot places as extreme heat can ruin their protective chemicals. They also have a limited shelf life of two to three years, so check the expiry date. And don’t think that because it’s cold or cloudy outside, you don’t need sunscreen. Up to 40% of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth on a completely cloudy day.

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KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

COOK LOCAL

Fresh, local ingredients in season, and the kitchen to cook them in! Beetroot and gooseberries are plentiful during July and August Beetroot Brownies These easy-cook brownies deliver a chocolatey hit, enhanced by the beetroot Ingredients: 500g whole raw beetroot 100g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing 200g bar plain chocolate (70% cocoa) 1 tsp vanilla extract 250g golden caster sugar 3 eggs 100g plain flour 25g cocoa powder

Method: 1. Top, tail and peel the beetroot, then roughly chop it and put it into a large bowl. Add a splash of water, cover with cling film, then microwave on High for 12 minutes or until tender. 2. Heat the oven to 1800C/1600C fan/gas mark 4. While the beetroot cooks, butter then line a 20 x 30cm small roasting tin. Roughly chop the chocolate and cut the butter into cubes. Tip the cooked beetroot into a sieve, drain off any excess liquid, then put into a food processor or blender with the chocolate, butter and vanilla. Whizz until the mix is as smooth as you can get it. 3. Put the sugar and eggs into a large bowl, then beat using an electric hand whisk for about 2 minutes, until thick, pale and foamy. Spoon the beetroot mix into the bowl then fold it into the whisked eggs using a metal spoon. Sift in the flour and cocoa powder, then gently fold these in to make a smooth batter. 4. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 25 minutes or until risen all over. Cool completely in the tin, drizzle with pink icing, if liked, and cut into squares.

KITCHEN TALK

Cook up a storm in this stunning kitchen

This large and unusually-shaped room has been maximised to its full potential, making it a cookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream. The long island has a built-in hob and an end grain circular chopping board, so that you can prep your ingredients with ease. A large larder and side-by-side fridges also make sure that you have plenty of food storage within easy reach. Cool white units teamed with wooden floors and pale olive walls make it the perfect space. www.rencraft.co.uk

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Gooseberry Crumble Sharp gooseberries and a golden, buttery topping Ingredients: 500g gooseberries, topped and tailed 85g golden caster sugar 175g plain flour 75g demerara sugar 85g salted butter, chilled

Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 1800C/1600C fan/gas mark 4. Toss the gooseberries with the caster sugar, then spread in a medium ovenproof baking dish with 2 tbsp water. 2. To make the crumble, put the flour, butter and a big pinch of salt in a bowl. Rub together with your fingertips until you have a rough breadcrumb texture. Mix in the demerara sugar. 3. Scatter the crumble topping evenly over the gooseberries. Bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes until the top is pale golden and crunchy, and the gooseberries bubbling.

Gooseberry PurĂŠe Pour onto ice cream or yogurt for a fruity treat Ingredients 500g gooseberries, topped and tailed 3 tbsp caster sugar

Method 1. Put the gooseberries and sugar in a pan with 4 tbsp water. Heat gently, stirring, then bring to a simmer and cook until the fruit starts to burst. 2. PurĂŠe in a food processor, then push through a sieve to get rid of the pips and skin. Cool.

KITCHEN TALK

Cook up a storm in this stunning kitchen

Practical and elegant, the eye-catching curves of the island draw you into this sumptuous, light-filled bespoke kitchen. It boasts an ample work surface, finished in luxurious Corian. Mirroring this is the cloud-like bulkhead above, with accent oak highlighting hand-painted in-frame units that ooze sophistication. A stainless-steel steam oven and boiling water tap make light work for the cook, creating a stunning room fit for any culinary purpose. www.jonesbritain.co.uk

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

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SOME LIKE IT HOT

Fire up the barbecue and make the most of summer with our delicious recipes

Easy Burgers

If you’ve never tried making your own burgers, you should: it’s really easy Serves 4 Ingredients: 1 small onion 500g beef mince 1 egg 1 tbsp vegetable oil 4 burger buns

Method: 1. Finely dice the onion then put it into a bowl with the beef and egg. Mix thoroughly. 2. Divide the mixture into four. Lightly wet your hands and carefully roll the mixture into balls, then gently flatten to make patties about 3cm thick. Put on a plate, cover with cling film and leave in the fridge to firm up for at least 30 minutes.

3. To cook, lightly brush one side of each burger with oil. Place the burgers, oil-side down, on the barbecue. Cook for 5 minutes until the meat is lightly charred. Oil the other side, then turn over using tongs. Don’t press down on the meat, as that will squeeze out the juices. Cook for 5 minutes more for medium and a further minute for well done.

All images for illustrative purposes only

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4. When cooked, leave the burgers to rest on a plate. Slice each bun in half. Place, cut-side down, on the barbecue rack and toast for 1 minute until they are lightly charred. Place a burger inside each bun, then top with your choice of accompaniment.

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

Sizzling Spare Ribs

Spare ribs are inexpensive and full of flavour, especially when smothered in this deliciouslysticky sauce Serves 4 Ingredients: 2kg pork spare ribs 1 bunch of spring onions, roughly chopped 4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped 6 tbsp demerara sugar 6 tbsp dark soy sauce 6 tbsp clear honey 6 tsp mustard 1 tsp ground allspice

Method: 1. Tip the ribs into a large bowl (not metal) and add the spring onions and garlic. Spoon all the remaining ingredients over the ribs and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

2. Using your hands, turn the ribs over and over in the sauce until theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re well coated.

All images for illustrative purposes only

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3. Cook the ribs over a moderately-hot barbecue for 20-30 minutes depending on their size, turning them over frequently and brushing with sauce each time, so that all four sides of each rib get encrusted with the sauce. If you have any leftover sauce at the end, heat it up in a pan and pour it over the ribs just before serving.

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Honey Barbecue Chicken

This is a simple but delicious blend of flavours Serves 4 Ingredients: 3 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp honey 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tsp lime juice 1 clove garlic, chopped 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast fillets

All images for illustrative purposes only

Method: 1. In a shallow container, blend the soy sauce, honey, vegetable oil, lime juice and garlic. Place chicken breasts into the mixture and turn to coat. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes. 2. Preheat barbecue to high heat and lightly oil the cooking grate. Discard marinade, and grill chicken 6 to 8 minutes on each side, until cooked through and the juices run clear.

Strawberry Fizz

A sparkling, fruity cocktail Ingredients: 450g strawberries, hulled 1 tablespoon icing sugar Crushed ice (optional) 165ml vodka, chilled 1 bottle sparkling wine, chilled

Method: 1. Put the strawberries and icing sugar in a blender or food processor and blend or process to a smooth purée. All images for illustrative purposes only

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2. Put the purée through a fine sieve into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator.

3. Half-fill 8 glasses with crushed ice. Divide the chilled strawberry purée among the glasses, then top each with 1 tablespoon vodka and top up with sparkling wine.

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

DUCK AND OR ANGE SALAD Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be bothered to light the barbecue? The Weald Smokery have done all the hard work for you. Try their Smoked Duck breast with an Asian-inspired dressing for a speedy, delicious alternative

Ingredients: Serves 2 2 Weald Smokery smoked duck breasts 100g watercress 1 orange, peeled and cut into segments 50g walnuts For the dressing: 50ml sesame oil 50ml soy sauce 1 tbsp clear honey Pinch of five spice seasoning Salt and pepper

Method: 1. Whisk the dressing ingredients. Season. Add Âž of the dressing to the watercress and toss to coat the leaves. 2. Slice the duck lengthways and place on top of the salad. 3. Drizzle the remaining dressing on the duck. Use orange segments, walnuts and zest to garnish.

FOOD NEWS

Tuck in to all that’s happening around the region

MORE THAN JUST CAKE

From breakfast to afternoon tea, a wedding meal, party menu or birthday celebration, Juliets can do it all – deliciously Whether you fancy breakfast, brunch, coffee or lunch, a splendid afternoon tea or a complete wedding, Juliets are here for you – and they really are much more than just cake. In the middle of the old High Street in Tunbridge Wells, Juliets is the perfect place to fuel yourself for the day ahead with a great breakfast, to stop for lunch, catch up with friends over a cup of tea or to simply grab a take-out coffee on the way to the office – with or without resisting a piece of cake, mmmm. Or book ahead for the ultimate indulgence – their afternoon tea – yum! Juliets has a great reputation for parties, too. There’s something for everyone – from a teacup or canapé menu to a sit-down supper or mingling party menu. Whether it’s your birthday, an intimate wedding or baby shower, Juliets is a great location and they really can help you to celebrate and have fun. And that’s not all! They can cater away from Juliets for weddings, birthday parties, christenings and events, whether it’s at your home, in a castle or a marquee. Try them – they can add to the magic! You see, Juliets really are much more than just cake… but what great cake. Here’s one they made earlier... www.julietsandmore.com

IT’S THE LAST WORD IN DINING

Couple launch intimate supperclub events to celebrate local producers – and good food Last Word Suppers, a newly-launched dining experience run by husband-and-wife team Hanna Sorrell and Mike Roberts, offers intimate supperclub events, with exclusively local menus crafted to each site, celebrating the particular history and charms of the chosen venue. Bored and frustrated by their busy lives in London, Hanna and Mike took the brave leap of quitting their jobs, getting married and recuperating on a long, well-deserved honeymoon. While travelling and eating, the idea of Last Word Suppers was born. Knowing that food was to be the focus of their new lives, the supperclub seemed like the perfect idea. Following the success of the first supperclubs hosted at boutique coffee emporium Perk & Pearl and cycle community hub The Velo House, the next event will be on Sunday 19th July at Fuggles Beer Cafe, the ever-popular craft beer pub in Tunbridge Wells. The bespoke menu for this collaboration will feature Last Word Suppers’ take on foods that go great with a cold beer: salty, smoky, spicy and sweet dishes all made with the local produce that is so fantastic at this time of year. The team at Fuggles will be providing specially-matched beer pairings from their incredible selection to accompany each course. The evening will begin with a welcome drink and a fresh take on classic bar snacks, featuring crispy fried pigs’ ears and chorizo gougères. Diners will then enjoy four dishes created specially to be served alongside beers, beginning with a smoked brisket croquette served with the spicy Korean flavours of kimchee and gochujang, accompanied by a light and refreshing hoppy pale ale. Following this will be Last Word Suppers’ version of a traditional Alsatian choucroute garnie – sauerkraut slowly stewed with cuts of pork and juniper – perfect with a Belgian beer. 52

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It’s July, and it’s Kent, so it would be remiss not to have a sweet course celebrating glorious local cherries. Theirs will include a cherry clafoutis, cherry sorbet and poached cherries, served alongside a sour cherry lambic beer from Belgium. The meal will be rounded off with a selection of local cheeses chosen by Fuggles’ resident cheese expert, and served with home-made crispbread and a rich and smoky porter. For more information or to book a place visit www.lastwordsuppers.com or email

info@lastwordsuppers.com

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

FOOD NEWS

Calling all foodies! Don’t miss The Kentish Hare’s new cookery demonstrations

Lemon sole with brown shrimp butter Serves 2

The Kentish Hare Library Bar and snug areas were filled with sounds of happy conversations recently in anticipation of the treat to come: the first cookery demonstration at The Kentish Hare by the Tanner Brothers, Chris and James. The demonstration started with James talking through and demonstrating a starter idea that people could replicate at home. He went on to filleting a lemon sole, making it all look so easy, as Chris talked all things veg and sauces, whilst at the same time frying duck breasts with ease! The rest of the demonstration, which was aimed for all levels of cooks, continued with tips for preparing and cooking the dishes on the menu to be served for lunch, with Chris and James answering questions and passing on some professional culinary tips. Louise Robinson, a local food blogger from Cygnet Kitchen, attended the demonstration. Read about her experience and see some great photographs at www.cygnetkitchen.co.uk After the demo, the audience returned to the Library Bar and snug to chat with a glass of fizz. They were all then treated to a three-course lunch cooked by the Kentish Hare kitchen team with Chris and James. To start, they enjoyed chargrilled maple pears, Kentish blue cheese sauce, chicory, watercress and walnuts. For the main course, they had fillets of lemon sole, brown shrimp butter, Pink Fir potatoes and sea asparagus, followed by passion fruit and lemon meringue roulade for dessert. The delicious meal was finished off with coffee and sweet treats. The event was very popular and more are planned throughout the year. The next one will be a demonstration in September, so keep checking The Kentish Hare’s website for further details and a confirmed date! And don’t forget, if you would like to try their food out at the pub, they have a new summer menu available. The sun is shining so why not take advantage of their terrace or beer garden! Here’s a summer recipe for you all to try from the event. Happy cooking! www.thekentishhare.com

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Ingredients: 2 x 400g whole skinned Lemon sole 125g unsalted butter 100g peeled brown shrimps 2 tbsp chopped chives 1 whole lemon, cut in half 250g x Pink Fir new potatoes 2 handfuls samphire, stalks removed 2 garlic cloves ½ lemon

Method: 1. First crush garlic cloves and put in saucepan with a pinch of salt. Add new potatoes, cover with boiling water and simmer for around 12-15 minutes, until just tender. Drain and set aside. 2. Fillet the lemon sole by following the backbone line of the fish, trim any skirt off the edges and set aside. 3. Blanch the samphire in salted water for two minutes, drain and refresh.

4. Take a large frying pan to a medium heat and add a splash of oil. Slice the cooked potatoes in half and add flat side down to the pan. Sauté for 3 minutes until just golden then drain onto kitchen paper and keep warm in a low heat oven. 5. Wipe the pan clean with kitchen towel and put back on heat. Season the fish fillets, then add a splash of oil to pan and sear the fillets presentation side down, first for 2 minutes, then turn and cook for a further minute. Remove and arrange on plate.

6. Add butter to the pan until it turns a golden colour, then squeeze in the lemon juice, add the shrimps, samphire, then chives. Season and spoon over the fillets, then arrange the sauté potatoes next to the fish. Serve and enjoy! LOV E FOOD

FOOD, BEER AND THE BEAN

Charles Spencer of The Poet at Matfield, Alex Greig of Fuggles Beer Café and Joe Lloyd of Perk & Pearl, both in Tunbridge Wells, share their expertise in food, beer and coffee

I absolutely love this time of year! The temperature is warming up and the days are getting longer, so I’m starting to think about al-fresco dining, tapas, glasses of Albariño and barbecues! I often take inspiration from the Mediterranean in the summer, as traditional English dishes are better suited to the colder months. The dish that I’m going to talk about today is a simple pork chop recipe, but not as you know it! I use a rare breed Iberian pig from Northern Spain, fed on acorns in the surrounding orchards to create real flavour and character, and a much darker meat than our native white pigs. A decent rare breed English pig would work well, too, if you cannot source the Iberian meat. The first stage of the recipe is to prepare the marinade. I cut the loin chop to about 250g (on the bone), remove any excess fat and clean the bone for presentation. To make the marinade, purée papaya and mango. This will not only add background taste, it also contains an enzyme which breaks down the collagen and improves the texture of the meat. After the meat has marinated, I cook it Sous Vide* in a vacuum bag with a few aromatics and some pork fat. The water bath ensures the meat is cooked throughout to exactly the same degree, which is almost impossible to do with any other cooking method. The vacuum bag also helps to keep the meat moist as there is no evaporation. Next, it’s time to caramelise the meat, creating a contrast in texture and adding a smoky characteristic which makes it visually

Normally I talk about beer, but two other great products we work with are meat and cheese. When Fuggles was being conceived in my head, I had to think about the food offering and it’s evolved over time. With the help and influence of Doug White, we’ve discovered some amazing British cheeses (in part thanks to Doug’s previous employment with Neal’s Yard Dairy in Borough Market), as well as new cured meats, allowing us to create some great new dishes for our menu. Cured meat and the craft beer scene seem to be going hand in hand. There’s barely a craft beer bar you can walk into now without some form of charcuterie or cheese on offer – and what could be nicer than a well-served beer alongside some gorgeous meat! We recently had in some bath chaps (pigs cheek). Dorset Charcuterie smoke them and the flavour is incredible. It’s got an intensity unlike anything else I think – it reminds me of the first time I tasted Lambic beer. Talking of which, it’s an amazing match with anything tart. Right now we’d suggest Chorlton’s Citra Sour. Citra, as a hop, imparts a grapefruit flavour which works really well with the bath chaps (as well as the grapefruit dressing we conjured up to cut through the intense meat flavour). As we’re now in the summer season, my preference has turned to drinking lighter and more refreshing beers. A Saison

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more appealing. We use our coveted ceramic Big Green Egg BBQ** for this final stage, intensifying the smoky character. The pork is browned on both sides for two minutes each, then rested for five. In the restaurant, we serve this dish with roasted Roscoff onions and a medley of English carrots. The first time I tried this, I couldn’t believe that it was pork, it had the texture of ribeye! A million miles away from my childhood memories of the pork chop. Even if you don’t do every stage, try at least one stage and I’m sure you will appreciate the results. Whatever you do though, don’t over cook it! Anova – Sous Vide at home **Big Green Egg – Chart Farm Seal

www.thepoetatmatfield.co.uk

or pale ale are my current go-to’s. Both are great with cheese. Pale ales and IPAs are especially good with farmhouse cheddar, while Saisons, particularly anything a bit tart and with plenty of citrus notes, are fantastic with goat’s cheese, for example. Another favourite dish of ours is our spicy Nduja – (pronounced ‘En-doo-ya’) – a fiery, spreadable Calabrian-style salami produced by Jon & Jose of Moons Green in Northiam. It’s got some real spice to it, but served with some cumin yoghurt and pickled cucumber it mellows down and is a great combination. Pair it alongside a hoppy IPA to match the spice and you’ve got a real winner. Beer, meat and cheese. It’s part of our mantra here now and should be part of yours too! www.fugglesbeercafe.co.uk

LOV E FOOD AND DRINK

Okay chaps, I hope that by the time this is published the sun is beaming down, suntan lotion sales are soaring, the streets are a sea of big floppy hats, picnics in the park, sausages cremated on makeshift barbecues and bottles of beer being chilled in back-garden paddling pools. By this I, of course, mean summer is hopefully finally upon us. My homage to the summer is, rather predictably, coffee related. Yes, it’s time for my yearly experimentations with iced coffee. Now, I have to say that in the past I have had some pretty grim experiences when it comes to cold coffee (none of them have been made by my good self of course!). The problem with it is that no one can really define it. I have had many iced coffees and all have been different. So what is iced coffee and what is the best way to make it? We all like our coffee made in different ways: some like a long milky latte with a single shot of espresso, while others see themselves as purists and drink it black and unadulterated. When it comes to day-to-day coffee drinking, I fall into the latter but I have to say when it comes to iced coffee, bring it on comrades. I want the works, no-holds-barred bells and friggin’ whistles baby! So here’s my iced coffee recipe; this is how I roll: Take a tall glass, scoop a level teaspoon of condensed milk and place the spoon with the condensed milk into the glass. Add crushed ice up to the top of the glass and pour a shot of coffee to fill three quarters of the glass. Top up with semi-skimmed milk

and stir. Remove the spoon, add lashings of squirty cream, top with chocolate sprinkles and layer over toffee sauce. Plunge a bendy straw in the middle and enjoy! Summer sensation! If that sounds like a bit too much work, then you can always pop in to the shop as I will be serving them all throughout the summer! You can check us out at www.perkandpearl.co.uk

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

LET’S EAT

A round-up of the latest foodie news

SWEET TASTE OF SUMMER

If you’re looking for the most delicious way to celebrate summer, this collection has everything you need. Hotel Chocolat’s Chocs-to-chill H-Box features 15 superbly zippy truffles, ready to chill in the fridge for your next BBQ, while the Mojito Cocktails make the perfect end to a long summer evening. You’ll also enjoy Creamed Caramel Puddles, Classic Champagne Baby Truffles, Blackcurrant Bombes, a Raspberry and Vanilla 100g Slab, and a 50% Milk and Cookies Nano Slab. Price: £35 www.hotelchocolat.com

PRESERVING FLAVOUR

Hawkshead has added two sweet and two savoury preserves to their range. Ripping Raspberry Curd is a vibrant curd with a wonderful lustre, while Passion Fruit Curd is a beautifully-subtle curd. Hot Onion & Red Pepper Relish is perfect with cold pies, burgers and sausages, and Lemon & Sweet Chilli Chutney has tangy lemon, fresh apricots and honey, combined with an undercurrent of chilli and spices. Delicious served with white fish and chicken. Price: from £3.20 www.hawksheadrelish.com

UPWARD SPIR AL

APPY WINES

With the handy Microplane Spiral Cutter, you can easily create spiral-cut vegetables for stir-fries, casseroles, or to make healthy meals more appealing. Revolutionise your salads and cut carbs by switching spaghetti for courgetti (spiralized courgette)! Price: £9.99 www.steamer.co.uk

The market for fine wines can be both baffling and confusing at times, but the clever new Mr Vine app demystifies the process of selecting the best wines from Britain’s best specialist retailers, for any budget and for all occasions, whether you need one or two bottles for dinner or several cases for weddings or events. It will help you to select, source and buy the best wines to suit your palates and personal tastes, at the best prices, from the UK’s leading independent wine merchants, making choosing and buying your wines fun, easy and great to share! Free to download itunes.apple.com 58

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IT’S IN THE BAG

ZeBag is a unique wine-bottle carrier, with many different uses. It is practical and ergonomic as a bag and becomes a wine rack in one of its many configurations. As a bag it carries up to six bottles of wine; open one end and lay flat for a compact wine rack; lay out flat on a shelf and store between 6-11 bottles of wine; and hung vertically, it becomes a space-saving wine display unit. It’s available in Black, Red Pepper and Grey. Price: £49.95 www.cuckooland.com KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

LOV E YOUR HOME

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

HOUSE OF SECRETS It’s Tunbridge Wells’ best-kept secret, the perfect party house that’s steeped in history

The Secret Manor is just that, a stunning, tucked-away rambling house between Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge that makes the perfect setting for parties, events and exhibitions. The house was bought in 1991 from the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS) and in recent times Boo Saraff and her husband Owen Blackhurst have gained permission to put the whole house to work as a venue. “Several years of friends and family suggesting it would make a great venue persuaded us to open it up,” says Boo. “Owen and I actually got married here in 2009.” The house has a long and fascinating history. It was built mainly of Tunbridge Wells sandstone in 1805, with a park and farms that originally extended to some 500 acres. The main part of the present house was built by developer and builder James Burton in 1804, and later extended by his son, the renowned Decimus Burton, who was brought up in the house. The conservatory beyond the library was a great feature and contained many beautiful and exotic plants. Against the north wall of the large kitchen garden were extensive greenhouses in which were grown all kinds of citrus fruits, including pineapples, tangerines and grapefruit. Unfortunately, on the outbreak of the Second World War, the grounds and much of the house were requisitioned by the War Office. Officers were quartered in the house, and 50 Nissen huts were erected in the fields for other ranks. The Army was in occupation for seven years. General (later Field Marshall) Montgomery officially opened the place as an officers’ training depot, and during the last year of the War in Europe, it held Italian ex-prisoners of war, and lastly served as a rehabilitation centre for returned British prisoners of war from the Far East. Next it was used by the Ministry of Health as a psychiatric hospital before the CPAS bought it. They restored much of the house and turned part into a conference centre – the estimate for the restoration was nearly £18,000. The two larger reception rooms were turned into conference lounges, and the library became the main dining room. The octagonal ‘withdrawing room’, at the base of the south-east tower, was turned into an unusual chapel and a new central heating system was installed throughout. Upstairs, the bedrooms were adapted to take 40 guests, and self-contained flats were created. The official opening of the house in its new form took place on 19th December 1956.

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LOV E YOUR HOME

By 1989, the house was no longer required by the CPAS and was put up for sale. “The house was in quite poor condition,” says Boo. “The church had run it as a residential camp as well as a conference centre from the 1960s through to the 1980s, and much of the décor remained from that era. “We had to do a fair amount of work. The rooms and grounds are so vast, it seemed like an endless project at first, especially due to planning restrictions, but we chipped away at it over the last few years and got it off the ground.” With 50 rooms and acres of grounds, did Boo find it a daunting project to create a venue for events or see it as a big adventure? “A bit of both,” she says. “I know the property so well and we have had our own large-scale events and functions over the years, so I am pretty used to organising events here. “We had an open day in 2007 which yielded very postitive feedback, but we didn’t start until 2011 on a small scale, and now it has expanded.” The event venue market is pretty crowded, so what makes The Secret Manor strand out? “The setting and location,” says Boo. “It’s also perfect as a party venue which sets us apart from other venues. Our guests can party all night – there are no time restrictions.” The day-to-day upkeep of such a huge property keeps the family busy. “There’s quite a bit of work involved in running it as a family home, business and venue!” says Boo. “Being an old house, there are the usual ups and downs of managing a property this size, but I do have a small team off staff who assist me.” When she’s not busy running the house and events business, Boo is busy studying for a qualification in Canine Behavioural Science at the Natural Animal Centre. “It’s quite time consuming,” she says. “I have to go to Wales regularly for my course, but I’ll be qualified by the end of the year. Helping dogs for me is a real passion and I hope to help more dogs and owners in the near future. I also volunteer for various dog rescue charities when time permits.” “We have two German Shepherd rescue dogs, Daisy and Amber, and they love the space here. They both have very sad histories, especially Daisy, and compared to what she had before, this is heaven for her.” It may be hard work running such a huge property, but Boo and Owen wouldn’t have it any other way. “We love the house, and nothing worthwhile is ever easy. It’s a real labour of love. “Parties are a big thing for us, along with conferences and exhibitions. We’d love to see a film or period drama being shot here. We do have a few propositions that we are considering.” So out of all the rooms in this magnificent house, which is Boo’s favourite? “The library… it’s the perfect party room with a glorious view!” If you would like to book The Secret Manor for your party or special event, email info@thesecretmanor.com www.thesecretmanor.com

LOV E YOUR HOME

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

JACKSONS FENCING Latest news, topical treats and more...

Here’s a simple shelter that makes a delightful ‘retreat’ in any garden... After showing you some of our very lovely customer projects over the last few months, to help inspire you with your own garden projects, I thought it was high time I showed you something tempting from the Jacksons range. Something suitably summery, that may capture your imagination and make you keen to have something like it in your own outdoor space. I think this may be it; we created the Retreat shelter a couple of years ago, it was inspired by a structure in one of our Jacksons show gardens (The Sanctuary Garden by Joanne Winn). It was a simple garden shelter with a back, one side and a roof, that had the option of having a polycarbonate covering to make it a bit more shower-proof – pretty handy with our typical British summers. One of the bonuses with this standard, single unit Retreat, is the size; it’s not massive with a modest footprint of roughly 3.3m wide by 1.9m, but as you can see that’s plenty big enough to accommodate a four piece garden seating set, including a table. So it’s the sort of size that can nestle easily into a corner of a small courtyard or garden. However, if you wanted to be more ambitious you can add to this standard Retreat by adding panels or doubling depth etc. So, if you wanted something bigger have a chat to Jackson’s sales team. The original Retreat was designed with Venetian panels (simple horizontal slats) which looked great, this new version Retreat has our new Woven panels which I think looks even better, and creates wonderful light and shade effects when the sun shines through the panels. www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/ashfordlocal or call 0800 408 4754 to talk to your local Jacksons Fencing Centre. louise@jacksons-fencing.co.uk

Jacksons Woven Retreat garden shelter

Win £300 of Jacksons vouchers To enter the free prize draw and be in with a chance to win £300 of Jacksons vouchers simply log on to your dedicated page, address below, and follow the easy instructions on how to enter. The draw closes 31.08.15. To enter go to: www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/ashfordlocal

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LOV E ADV ERTORI ALS

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

ON REFLECTION

TABLE TALK

This boudoir mirror by designer Laura Oakes captures her signature digital decoupage look. Perfect for placing on a simple dressing table, it features three angled panels with a mix of colourful, layered florals interspersed with illustrations and lace detailing for a bold, vintage-inspired look. Dimensions: 50x52x1.2cm. Price: £50 www.debenhams.com

Impress your guests with this stylish tableware, featuring a rustic Bowsley bowl (£42 for a set of six), contemporary Mayfield plates (from £54 for a set of six) and Ashcroft natural chalked rattan placemats (£84 for a set of six). Create the perfect candle centrepiece with an Alderney Hurricane Lantern (from £35). www.neptunetonbridge.com

LET THERE BE LIGHT

CUPBOARD LOVE

These traditional Suffolk handpainted kitchen cabinets are so versatile that they can also be used as fitted cupboards in a bathroom! Complete the look with Ashcroft baskets, candles and Corinium wear, all to be found at Neptune in Tonbridge. www.neptunetonbridge.com

LOV E YOUR HOME

AND RELA X…

Making a stylish statement courtesy of its shapely silhouette, this Hinge glass table lamp is weighted by a chrome base and accented with a linen drum shade in a classic oyster shade. The transparent design comes in delicate smoke, green, blue and rose hues. Price: £390 www.LuxDeco.com

Natuzzi’s Re-vive is the world’s first performance leather recliner. It’s not only sourced from recycled materials where possible, but has been designed to be highly recyclable at the end of life. And it’s supremely comfortable. Colours range from Pitch Black and Summer White to Pearl Blue, Evergreen, and Pearl Gold. Price: £2,900, with foot rest. www.natuzzi.co.uk/

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STYLE YOUR HOME The latest trends for stylish living

SUMMER’S COLOUR PALETTE

With the height of summer on our doorstep, there’s nothing more invigorating than the brightly-coloured flowers that seem to appear overnight. With this in mind it’s time to add some simple touches inside your home to bring in some of the summer sunshine. Choose fabulous flower-print fabrics for curtains and cushions, teamed with fresh checks for a country-style contrast. If you’re looking for an alternative window dressing, consider shutters painted in a variety of finishes to give your home a continental look, reminiscent of the South of France and Italy. And add the scents of summer with the higher-than-usual oil content of Herb and Berry Garden candles to fill your home with a fresh fragrance. They’re also ideal for al-fresco dining. You’ll find all this and more, plus an extensive collection of sample books at Skinners, 6 Castle Street, Tunbridge Wells. www.skinnersoftunbridgewells.co.uk

LIGHT MY FIRE

Thinking ahead to autumn, the largest stove in the Stovax Brunel range, the 3CB, has an extensive window through which you can watch the swirling flames of the Stovax Cleanburn System work their magic. This woodburning stove incorporates all of Stovax’s state-of-the-art technical features, and generates up to 7kW of heat for you to enjoy. www.woodstovetrading.co.uk KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

MIRROR, MIRROR

Joseph McCarthy have been designing and making beautiful, bespoke mirrors, frames and overmantels in both traditional and contemporary styles for over 35 years. They create mirrors that sit in perfect harmony with the surroundings, bringing a sense of space, light and animation to a room, whilst also creating a beautiful focal point and a piece to treasure forever. Visit their showroom on The Pantiles to see their collection and be inspired! www.josephmccarthy.co.uk LOV E YOUR HOME

LOV E YOUR GARDEN

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A GARDEN FOR ALL SEASONS

When interior designer Phoebe Oldrey wanted to create the perfect garden, she called in the experts

As the owner of interior design company Smartstyle Interiors, Phoebe Oldrey is used to creating beautiful designs, working with everything from cottages to country estates. But when it came to redesigning the garden of her home in Tunbridge Wells, Phoebe decided to call in the experts. “Interiors are my area of expertise, but I can’t really get my head around garden design,” says Phoebe. “When you design rooms, your sofas don’t grow bigger over time, unlike plants!” After qualifying from KLC School of Design in 2002, Phoebe began working with big names in London under the watchful eye of mentors Mark Humphrey and later Sue Symons. She founded Smartstyle Interiors in 2006 and later moved her burgeoning business to Tunbridge Wells. Phoebe, her husband and two sons moved into their current new-build house in 2012. “We’d previously lived in a Victorian property and this was our first new-build,” says Phoebe. “The garden is very small, especially in proportion to the rest of the house. The previous owners had filled an already small garden with the world’s biggest conservatory. They had also completely paved it over and created different levels, with lots of steps. When the kids ran around, my heart would be in my mouth; I was terrified they’d crack their heads open or lose a tooth! “We wanted to get as much out of the small plot as possible. We wanted to raise some of the levels, soften the whole thing and have something green to look at!” So did Phobe’s interior design skills help her come up with ideas? “I spend my life designing interiors, which is not only my job but my passion, but when it came to the garden I was desperate to hand over responsibility to someone else. I wanted to be the client for once. I could only see what the problems were and not the solutions.” Phoebe’s sister-in-law originally did a design for them. “It was amazing,” says Phoebe, “but the prices we had been given to build it were sky high.” So Phoebe chose building design company Hemsted to help create her new garden. “I‘ve worked with Vicky Risebrow of Hemsted before, and I love her work ethic. Hemsted also has that ability to handle the design and the implementation, so it was great to one-stop shop which saved me so much hassle. “When I initially met with Vicky, I made sure I had images

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LOV E YOUR GARDEN

of what I liked. I know from my work that giving a good client brief is the key to getting what you want. Also, the design process was very organic between us. I feel that Hemsted took my ideas and created the garden I wanted.” Some elements of the old garden were worked into the new design. “We kept the sunken dining area but added the builtup bench seating,” says Phoebe. “We also kept the paved area outside the living room but added a huge rose bed. This is an amazing feature but also has a practical purpose, stopping anyone flying off the patio! “We kept fifty per cent of the arbour to give some height and definition to the space. The last part that stayed was the flower bed area, but we cleared out a lot of the planting and added my beloved water feature. The result is a garden that maximises the space, and is full of interest with a variety of shrubs, low planted walls and a sweep of lawn. The arbour creates a perfect outdoor eating space. “I took Vicky’s advice about planting. I talked through the kind of plants I like, and these where pulled together into the scheme. With the planting structure in place, I can build it over time. “The one item that Vicky went the extra mile for was the camellia. My grandfather was passionate about his camellias and even registered two of his own – the “Phoebe Jane” after me, and the “Mary Margaret” after my mother. I have always had a camellia in my garden to remind me of him, and Vicky excelled herself and hunted down the most amazing one.” An unusual aspect of the garden is the lawn. Explains Phoebe: “Because of the extensive concrete base under the original paving, we had to go with AstroTurf for the lawn. It felt very odd putting it down, a bit wrong, if you know what I mean. But I have to say it has been great. It’s completely kidand dog-friendly, especially when it comes to summer-long paddling pools. The only thing that surprised me was walking on it barefoot on a hot summer’s day. Instead of being cooling on your feet like grass, it’s very hot, which takes a moment to get your head around.” Now Phoebe is looking forward to the coming seasons. “Gardens are ever-evolving. I’m finding my way with it this year, as I work my way through the season and build the planting and my knowledge. I had a great spring and fell in love with Ranunculus. And I’m looking forward to the explosion of white roses, which is just about to happen.” “I wanted a place my children could play safely, a place to sit and enjoy a glass of wine on a long summer’s evening and a place to enjoy BBQs with friends. I love the fact that I can do all these things. I also didn’t realise how much I would enjoy just pottering around on my own in the evening, watering my plants and doing a little crafty dead heading. It’s a real me-time.” www.smartstyleinteriors.com www.hemsted.co.uk

LOV E YOUR GARDEN

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GREAT DIXTER! Tim Sykes of Tunbridge Wells-based Gardenproud visits the stunning gardens at this historic house

And great it truly is! In the search for fresh inspiration we visited the gardens recently. Great Dixter is known the world over as a place of pilgrimage for horticulturalists. It was the family home of Christopher Lloyd, journalist and world-renowned gardener himself, who worked so hard to create the wonderful garden we can all enjoy today. His parents Nathaniel and Daisy Lloyd bought the property in 1910, from Sarah Springett. At the time, the house was a shadow of its current grandeur. Nathaniel had a vision for it and he hired the great architect of his time, Edwin Lutyens, and his team to transform the building. Quite how he pulled this off is a mystery, as the young Lutyens was in great demand. The work included dismantling and transporting another property from Benenden to Northiam, where Great Dixter is situated, and bringing the two together. As was so often the case with architects of this period, Lutyens went onto help lay the foundations for design of the gardens of Great Dixter. Much of this structure still exists today, albeit this is augmented with Christopher Lloyd’s and his mother Daisy’s own influence, which marries the formality with informality, Christopher Lloyd being particularly well-known for his work with the creation of wild meadows. One of the great characteristics of the gardens is that they surround the house so, as a visitor, you get an excellent view of the house as you journey around each room in the garden. From the Meadow Areas, to the Mixed Borders, to The Walled Garden with its pebble mosaic, The Sunken Garden, The Long Border, and finally The Exotic Garden, there is a huge wealth of colour and mixing of species that is very Christopher Lloyd and a real feast for the eyes! A must-see is the Nursery and Shop. The Nursery is one of the best of its type and is championed by a brilliant horticulturalist you will find in the Nursery Shop. We bought loads of plants, so leave some boot space for this! The Shop has all manner of interesting gifts, but the star items are the refurbished garden tools. I bought a fabulous pair of topiary shears for just £25. I also bought an ornamental rhubarb – Rheum Palmatum Atrosanguineum, Camassia Leichtlinii Caerulea (for its lilac blue flowerheads), Geranium Maderense (for it’s spring flowering magenta pink flowers), and Achillea Millefolium Red Velvet – you pop this in a full-sun position in moist, welldrained soil. Great Dixter is based at Northiam, near Rye. So if you are staying at The Mermaid (which I’d recommend), it’s a must-visit.

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For further information see www.greatdixter.co.uk or call 01797 252878, Great Dixter, Northiam, Rye, East Sussex TN31 6PH Nearby you can also enjoy the Chapel Down Vineyards. There is a super restaurant and shop there, so go to Great Dixter first, then call into Chapel Down and book a taxi home! The Champagnes (sorry, sparkling wines) are superb, the Flint Dry white is surprisingly good for a blend, and the Chapel Down Curious Brew is one of the nicest lagers I’ve ever tasted. Chapel Down can be found at www.chapeldown.com For more information about Gardenproud call Tim Sykes on 07725 173820, or visit www.reallygardenproud.com

LOV E YOUR GARDEN

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Plaxtol ÂŁ1,425,000 Freehold A beautifully presented and spacious executive 5/6 bedroom house in the centre of the highly sought after village of Plaxtol, near Sevenoaks. The house is arranged over 3 floors offering a flexible and versatile living space. EPC: C

Sevenoaks ÂŁ1,79 5,000 Freehold A substantial 6 bedroom detached family house in this desirable central Sevenoaks location, walking distance to both shops and station. The property benefits from six bedrooms, with separate flexible ground floor games rooms / au-pair room and integral garage. EPC: C

Hamptons Sevenoaks Sales. 01732 667 211 | Lettings. 01732 667 191

Tunbridge Wells £1,89 5,000 Freehold A substantial 6 bedroom Edwardian family home situated within a quiet cul-de-sac in a prime central location with spacious and versatile accommodation throughout, many fine period features and superb mature gardens of just over quarter of an acre. EPC: F

Eridge Green OIRO £1,49 5,000 Freehold A fine, detached former farmhouse which dates from the 1600’s, Grade II Listed with spacious, updated and improved interior which is arranged over three floors and located off a country lane with rural outlooks, a stable block and approximately 4.2 acres. Convenient for Eridge station.

Hamptons Tunbridge Wells Sales. 01892 597 607 | Lettings. 01892 597 609

www.burnetts-ea.com

Indivdual Property: Individual Agent

Mayfield Offers in the region of ÂŁ1,350,000 Freehold A deceptively-spacious, contemporary yet characterful 6-bed barn conversion and a substantial 2-bed detached annexe, both offering bright and flexible accommodation, enjoying a lovely outlook over open fields and countryside to the rear, all tucked away in a private, quiet setting, enjoying beautiful, landscaped gardens of approximately an acre. The main house forms a period barn, completely rebuilt in 1995, and thoroughly modernised and renovated. It includes an impressive entrance hall with galleried landing and exposed beams, open-plan double-aspect dining room with an open inglenook and double-sided wood burning stove, with part-vaulted sitting room and glazed doors to the rear terrace. To the front is the substantial detached annexe, finished to a high specification and in a similar style to the main barn, with exposed timbers. It has a private rear terrace and area of enclosed garden to the front.

Sparrows Green ÂŁ899,995 Freehold Set within approximately 1/2 acre of gardens, within striking distance to shops, the High Street and the station, is this substantial and deceptively-spacious detached family house with the added benefit of an adjoining singlestorey annexe with its own entrance. The main house comprises 4 Bedrooms, 2 en suites and a family bathroom, 2 reception rooms, conservatory and a kitchen/breakfast room, utility and a double garage/carport/workshop and store with newly-formed office above. The adjoining annexe includes a kitchen, sitting room with large bay window, conservatory and en-suite bedroom with french doors. The rear garden has a paved patio area with retractable sun awning, enclosed Spa/Jacuzzi and garden shed. EPC Rating: C

Mayfield Office 3 Church View House High Street, Mayfield East Sussex TN20 6AB t:01435 874450 e: mayfield@burnetts-ea.com

Wadhurst Office Clock House High Street, Wadhurst East Sussex TN5 6AA t:01892 782287 e: wadhurst@burnetts-ea.com

Lettings Department t:0845 8737493 e: lettings@burnetts-ea.com Associated London Office 119-121 Park Lane London W1K 7AC t:020 74090371 KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

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Tunbridge Wells – Guide Price £1,950,000 Ref: 61021 A handsome modern house of about 4,500 sq ft with contemporary styled interior enjoying spectacular townscape views to the countryside beyond • 3 Reception Rooms • Impressive Kitchen/Dining/Family Room • 2 Utility Rooms • 2 Cloakrooms • 4 Bedroom Suites • Bedroom 5 • Broad Decked Balcony • Large Integral Garage • Gardens • Parking • Balance of 10 year NHBC warranty • EPC: B • Chain Free Property

Tunbridge Wells – Guide Price £1,325,000 Ref: 60491 A fine contemporary family house with light and airy accommodation set away from main roads on the rural fringe of Tunbridge Wells • Reception Hall • 3 Reception Rooms • Kitchen/Breakfast Room • Utility Room • Cloakroom • Galleried Library Landing • 2 En-Suite Double Bedrooms • 3 further Bedrooms • Family Bathroom • In all over 2,700 sq ft • Attached Double Garage • Gardens • In all about 0.35 of an acre • Balance of 10 year NHBC warranty • EPC: C

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MAKE A DAY OF IT!

Fun-filled family days out that will keep everyone amused for hours

Groombridge Place, Groombridge, near Tunbridge Wells Open every day, Groombridge Place near Tunbridge Wells is packed with things to do. Children can play hide and seek round the yew hedges and visit the secret garden through the large oak door. They can walk along the canal and look out for the Fallow deer in the meadows, and watch the exciting birds of prey displays (twice a day in high season) with kestrels, eagles and owls (twice a day in high season, except for Mondays). Then there’s the enchanted forest, designed in the most part by TV gardener and land artist Ivan Hicks. The Forest can be reached by either canal boat or on foot. This magical world includes giant tree swings, zip wires and rope swings, wooden bridges, a maze and Crusoe’s World, which is a recreated film set from the TV series Crusoe. The award-winning gardens are alive with colour and interest all year round. The Secret Garden is particularly interesting, entered through a wooden door and planted with beautiful blue agapanthus, foxgloves and gazania. Philip Packer, who was a courtier to Charles II and a friend to Christopher Wren, rebuilt Groombridge with Wren’s help in 1662 and it was in the Secret Garden, said to be his favourite garden, that he died while reading a book in the sunshine on Christmas Eve in 1686. There’s also the Oriental Garden, full of vibrant hot colours, shaded by magnificent Japanese maples with an unusual grass fountain at its centre, and the Drunken Garden, a favourite of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, with a blue and yellow theme. The Raptor Centre is the largest conservation centre for birds of prey in the South East. Flying displays take place twice daily (weather permitting) and feature eagles, hawks, owls and falcons. www.groombridgeplace.com Ashdown Llama Park, Wych Cross, near Forest Row The Llama Park is home to a host of animals including llamas, alpacas, reindeer, Andalusian horses, Jacobs sheep, donkeys, woodcock and pigs. You can take a leisurely walk around the 33-acre site, meet the animals and enjoy food from the cafe, while taking in stunning views across the Ashdown Forest. You can even take a llama for a walk – a unique experience to remember forever! There’s a Full Llama Walk for adults and children over 14, which lasts for one and a half hours and leaves The Park to go out into the

LOV E FAMILY

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Forest. The Family Walk is designed for a family of two adults and two children over eight years of age but can be adapted on request. This walk lasts about 30 to 40 minutes, and stays in the Llama Park. Llamas are bred for trekking and will happily walk beside you, peacefully accepting your commands without too much fuss. Llama walks take place twice a day at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Donkey rides are also available around the fields. Additional facilities include an adventure play area for the children and a unique fashion, knitwear and gift shop with recent additions of jewellery, ceramics and artefacts from around the world. The Tea Room and Coffee Shop serves a delicious assortment of freshly-made sandwiches, cakes, and hot and cold food – the Sussex Cream Teas are legendary, with delicious fruit and cheese scones made every day. The fully licensed restaurant has a variety of food to cater to all tastes, from home-made soups and pastas, to baked potatoes and children’s portions of good, wholesome food. www.llamapark.co.uk Evolution Climbing, Lye Green, Crowborough It’s so simple to start climbing at Evolution. No experience or booking is required to use the Bouldering areas – just turn up, pay and climb. Evolution instructors treat every student as an individual. They work with you to improve your climbing skills, whether it’s a children’s birthday party or specific tuition for experienced climbers. If you’re a beginner, just starting out, or an advanced veteran, there will be something to challenge you at Evolution’s state-of-the-art centre. They also run two academies, one for children on Sunday mornings and one for adults on Wednesday evenings. They are both really accessible – just turn up, you don’t need to book. Evolution has the most experienced team of instructors in the South East. They may not have the highest rock faces in the country, but they do have the most accessible. Local KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

sandstone rock outcrops may only reach 12 metres, but they provide technically-challenging climbs of every grade. Once you have mastered a few basic skills you can get outside and climb. Children must be 6+ years old. www.evolutionclimbing.co.uk Wilderness Wood, Hadlow Down Wilderness Wood is 62 acres of chestnut coppice with stands of beech, Scots pine, Douglas fir, cedar and giant sequoia. Follow a 1.25km self-guided trail to see some of the woods most interesting features, or a shorter easy-access trail more suitable for buggies and pushchairs. Or simply follow your nose and ramble wherever the mood takes you!  They run a number of events and activities, ranging from Bug Hunts, Camp Building and How To Survive In The Wild to Fairy Gardens, Fire class and seasonal specials. For a truly unique outdoor-living experience, spend the night under the canopy of the trees in one of their beautiful woodland glades, complete with fireplace. www.wildernesswood.org Knockhatch Adventure Park and Farm, Hailsham Set in 80 acres of lush countryside, Knockhatch is a fantastic choice for families. There’s a Falconry Centre, a large indoor play centre called Froggies, several outdoor adventure playgrounds with a zip slide, swings, spinning tyres, monkey bars, climbing frame and a giant web, a boating lake, the Wave Runner waterslide, go karts, mini quads, paddling pool, Quadapillar ride, Tommy Tractor Play Barn, petting farm including the Wallaby Walkthrough, a couple of picnic areas throughout the park... and much more! For adrenaline thrills, try the rock-climbing wall, Avalanche Toboggan Slide, Bungee-Trampoline, the Demon Drop Slide, a daring vertical slide, plus petrolpowered go-karts on a 150m indoor track. www.knockhatch.com LOV E FAMILY

GO WEST

Much as we love local, it’s good to explore other parts of the country and we couldn’t resist this perfect hideaway in Devon for the ideal weekend break

A romantic cottage in a pretty village in Devon. Oak beams, a log fire, huge roll-top bath, fabulous views and beautiful countryside. What more could you want from a holiday hideaway? Moorland View, a luxury boutique two-bed cottage in peaceful North Bovey, has been voted one of the most romantic cottages in the UK. Not surprising, when your stay includes freshly-cut flowers, Molton Brown toiletries, luxury White Company Egyptian cotton bed linen, fluffy towels, scented candles, glossy magazines and Sunday papers. There are even marshmallows with a toasting fork for the log fire. There is free Wi-Fi, a Sonos sound system with Spotify, an Apple computer, Sky TV, DVD/Blu-ray player and a movie library. You’ll find mountain bikes, wellies and boogie boards to use, and cottage guests have unlimited complimentary membership of the spa, Jacuzzi, sauna, pool, gym and tennis facilities of luxury, five-star Bovey Castle Hotel nearby, with 10% off anything you purchase. Make your stay extra-special with optional extras, including a West Country hamper, a private chef, farmhouse breakfast boxes and organic food deliveries. There are also special honeymoon packages that include rose petals scattered on the bed, champagne on arrival, a posie of Old English white roses and delicious chocolates. North Bovey has a handful of thatched cottages, a medieval church and a village pub, clustered around an oak-shaded green. It’s in one of the prettiest parts of Dartmoor National Park, with woodland walks and 365 square miles of beautiful wilderness on the doorstep. The white sandy beaches of Devon’s South Hams are a scenic 50-minute drive away. Pure bliss! Moorland View Cottage is available to rent from £560 for three nights. www.moorlandviewcottage.co.uk

Photographs of dining room and living room by Constantino Leite

LOV E SHORT BREAK S

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YUMMY MUMMY CORNER

Whether you’re a yummy mummy, a loving partner or a doting grandparent, this is for you...

BAGS OF STYLE

This gorgeous Mama et Bebe changing bag in pretty Cottage Garden print combines fashion with functionality. There are two front canvas pockets plus an adjustable shoulder strap that is long enough to fit over any pram or buggy handles. Inside there are two insulated bottle holders, two nappy pockets, a pen holder, key fob, mirror, phone pocket, small zip pocket, padded changing mat and wet zip bag. Price: £79 www.pinklining.com/uk

AND SO TO BED

How about a treehouse they can sleep in? This Treehouse Cabin Bed comes in a range of different colours and has a shelf against the back wall of the treehouse where your child can store their favourite toys and pictures. The second bed fits underneath the standing treehouse bed. Dimensions: 220cm wide x 132cm deep x 221cm high. The mattress is not included. Give your child the ultimate unusual bed, but don’t be surprised when they’re showered with sleepover requests! Price: £2,350 www.Cuckooland.com

HOME SCENTS

Treat yourself to an Emma Bridgewater Feels Like Home Scented Candle. A mix of camomile, lavender and orange blossom, Feels Like Home captures the simple pleasure of a well-loved home... sheets blowing on the washing line, newly waxed floors and summer herbs hung up to dry. Light this candle whenever you want to make life feel a little bit nicer. Price: £18.00 www.marksandpsencer.com

LOV E FAMILY

PACK IT UP

This fun Red Fox Backpack for little ones is ideal for pre-school, trips and on holiday. This high-quality, signature toddler backpack with protruding tartan ear details and a fluffy red tail features a spacious front zipped lined pocket for snacks, a side adjustable mesh pocket to hold a bottle and adjustable padded straps. Price: £19.98 www.beckyandlolo.co.uk

HOUSE CALLS

This luxury children’s wardrobe and storage cabinet is designed in the style of a row of gabled houses in Amsterdam. They were inspired by a mum in the Netherlands who, when she couldn’t find the furniture she wanted for her children, designed and made it herself! Made from high-quality, sustainable MDF, they are available in 10 colours, four sizes and two interior choices. Price: £1,250 www. Cuckooland.com

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HEADS UP! The season of transition

Life is full of changes. Without change not only would we get bored and stagnant but worse still achieve very little. As the saying goes, ‘stop moving forwards and you go backwards!’ Change should be exciting, but the unknown is also unnerving and often scary. Leaving the comfort blanket behind and stepping out on one’s own can be unsettling, not only for the adventurer, but for those left behind. Regardless of how ‘right’ the decision, imaginations can go to funny places. We have reached the season of transitions. Shakespeare describes the seven ages of man; in turn I have looked at seven stages of transition during an educational journey. Not all of us will have necessarily experienced all of them, but all of us will remember undertaking some of them: 1. Nursery: This is particularly hard, for babies are anywhere between six months and two years old so do not have the communication skills to share their experiences and emotions. Most often, of course, the babies are absolutely fine, indeed thriving, while the poor Mum returning to work is left feeling dreadful! 2. Starting school: This is either at reception or pre-reception and a huge change for everyone, as full-time education starts. 3. Year Six: Many children cannot remember much prior to Primary/Prep school, making that their sole educational experience to date. Adolescence is descending and a whole new ‘Big World’ beckons – enticingly! Scary for parents, too. 4. Leaving compulsory education: Every Headteacher needs to feel that every child leaving their school will continue to thrive and be able to say ‘thank you’ whenever they think of their school days. 5. Gap years and Uni: Freedom at last! 6. ‘Flying the nest’ Syndrome: Every mother dreads this! Suddenly all those arguments, endless food requirements and the constant mess is dreadfully missed – not forgetting the panic as to whether their child (for to a mum, they will always be a child) will cope without them whilst being terrified about what they are actually doing! 7. Retirement: For those teachers who have devoted their entire working lives to caring and educating within tight communities, how do they cope with the thought of no more bells! Mental health and wellbeing are at long last being given the recognition they deserve, no doubt partly because of the huge increase in children and young people becoming over-stressed and over-anxious. We, as parents and

LOV E EDUC ATION

Angela Culley

Headmistress of The Mead School, Tunbridge Wells, a co-ed prep school for children aged 3 to 11 educationalists, owe it to every child entrusted in to our care, that they leave and enter whichever transition phase feeling not just best prepared but confident, excited and ready to take on every new challenge with determination and perseverance. We enable them to do all of this knowing there will be hard times to work through, whilst understanding that this is exactly what makes life so worthwhile and fulfilling. Good Luck to everyone who has just said good bye. Take with you all you have learnt to date and look forward to embracing all the new adventures, whatever they be.

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Emma Price

I found the last few years of secondary school very difficult, as I tried to juggle an ever-increasing workload with all my other commitments. Despite the stress, I managed to get through exams and am now taking a gap year. I spent three months volunteering in the Philippines, travelled around Europe, and am currently working on a kids’ camp in Florida! I’ve had time to relax, be with my family and friends, and have some amazing experiences. I now feel ready and excited to start university this autumn.

Claire Peace, Reception Infant Teacher

Transition from pre-reception into reception is undoubtedly a big step – after all, it often marks the moment when a child’s early care and education becomes a legal requirement, not a choice. But if handled correctly between teachers and parents, it should be a smooth and exciting experience, and one that supports each child in continuing to blossom and thrive.

Heather Waight, Year 6 Teacher

The transition from primary to secondary school is a huge moment in any child’s life. It marks the watershed between childhood and adolescence and, for most children, is a time of excitement and anticipation. Year 6 children are encouraged to become more independent in their learning. Numerous trips, visits, visiting speakers and sporting fixtures develop community awareness and social skills. New-found maturity enables them to act as guides and mentors for the many visitors to the school. Prepared well for the wider world of secondary school life, all make the leap from primary to secondary school with eagerness and confidence.

David Clark, Headmaster, Battle Abbey School

Usually, by mid-way through year 13, students begin to hit their school ‘sell-by’ date! They are ready for the next move, they are ready for freedom. That move is facilitated if they have developed all the necessary ‘soft skills’ (interpersonal, public speaking, leadership) necessary to cope with the demands of the outside world. Equally, a good sixth form should equip them with the self-confidence to ensure they make good choices and help them to thrive on the university campus, the apprenticeship scheme or the trekking adventure across the outback.

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LOV E EDUC ATION

SAM AUSTIN, Rainbow Nurseries At Rainbow, we see the transition from home to nursery as a process, not an event. We plan and discuss with parents how to provide a secure experience for the child between home and nursery. Before starting at nursery, the child and parent are invited into the setting to build a relationship and attachment with their key worker.

BARBAR A LING, Retired teacher/Headteacher By the time the finishing tape is in view, it’s a welcome sight. However, the actual end is tinged with sadness and trepidation. What will I do, who am I and who needs me? These questions flash through the mind. Once through that stage, it can be a joyous time of reflecting on one’s achievements as an educator and the many lives that have passed through your hands. We wonder how they are all doing and what they’ve achieved. I love it when someone in their 40s says “You used to teach me”. It happened to me the other day in the bank. It somehow reaffirms why you did it. Thank you to all my past pupils for the joy (and pain) you gave me.

TEACHER AT THE MEAD Empty Nest Syndrome! What Empty Nest Syndrome? Being a mother of two, and a teacher to boot, the prospect of finally having some time to myself filled me with guilty pleasure. As I waved my youngest off to university, stifling a twinge of regret, I thought my moment had come. Little did I suspect that the departure of one child would usher in the return of the first, complete with dirty washing, requirements for a paleo diet, and the need for endless wake-up calls to get to work. I began to despair that the much-heralded Empty Nest Syndrome would ever arrive. It is only now that both children have moved to the Big Smoke, and no longer come home every weekend, that I start to feel a sneaking sympathy for all those of my friends who have bewailed the departure of their children. I find myself resisting the urge to text, or phone, just to hear their voices, and still wondering whether they have got home safely and are eating properly. Enjoy them while they are ‘yours’, because that time will never come again. And take comfort in the knowledge that now it’s your turn to arrive unannounced at their front doors on a Sunday, and wait for lunch to be served!

SPORTS CAR OF THE FUTURE Introducing Bentley’s new concept two-seater

Bentley is going head to head with the likes of Aston Martin, Ferrari and McLaren with the EXP 10 Speed 6 sports car, which was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. The two-seater concept is said to be experimental in its design and has been revealed to gauge exactly what customers want from a Bentley sports car, as well as to get feedback on possible styling influences for future models. “It is one vision for Bentley’s future,” said company chairman Wolfgang Dürheimer. “It has the potential to be the pinnacle luxury two-seat sports car. This is not just a new sports car concept but the potential Bentley sports car — a bold vision for a brand with a bold future,” he said. “It offers thrilling, driverorientated performance, complete with trademark modern Bentley luxury and effortlessness.” Muscular, athletic bodywork echoes the inspiration drawn from sleek, aerodynamic aircraft forms. Striking copper elements are

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used on both exterior and interior features, as accents to highlight the hybrid potential of this concept’s advanced new powertrain. The inspiration for the interior comes from the continuous line that runs around the cabin, driving through the console into two symmetrical wings before flowing into the door and looping back into the console armrest. Two quilted sports seats are positioned either side of the narros centre console which houses exquisite driver controls and a highly-intuitive 12” touch screen. These features combine futuristic technology seamlessly with progressive Bentley craftsmanship. The words of Sang Yup Lee, Bentley’s Head of Advanced Design, say everything: “When I judge a sports car, I have a simple logic. Unless you fall in love with it at first sight, the car is a failure.” Prepare to fall in love – with the next generation of sports cars. www.bentleymotors.com

LOV E C AR S

MEN ONLY

Everything you need for a stylish life

BEACH BUM

COOL STYLE

Mint crew neck print T-shirt, £25, and charcoal jersey shorts, £30, both by Criminal, available from House of Fraser www.houseoffraser.co.uk

Pink T-shirt, £6, floral chino shorts, £20, and blue-and-white striped chino shorts, £28, all from Next www.next.co.uk

DRONING ON

BAG IT

Kingston beautifully-made chestnut brown leather satchel with orange highlights, £250, from The British Belt Company www.thebritishbeltcompany.co.uk

A few years ago, the thought of having your own drone would’ve been pretty out-there. Now, you can have your own super HD flying camera on hand to capture every moment. Drone pioneers DJI have recently released the Phantom 3 Professional, which boasts 4K video and a 12 megapixel camera. The lens offers wide-angle view, and footage is stabilised by a three-axis gimbal. The control handset has a range of over a mile, and pairs with your mobile device running the DJI Pilot app so you can see what you’re recording. Price: £1,159 www.dji.com

MORE MEN GO UNDER THE KNIFE Plastic surgery seen as a career enhancement in the US

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery recently revealed that Americans spent over $12 billion on assorted procedures last year – and one sector is on the increase. “More men are turning to aesthetic cosmetic procedures, with dramatic increases seen in both surgical and nonsurgical options over the past five years and a 43% increase overall,” the organisation stated. Since they began collecting statistical data in 1997, there has been a 273% increase in the number of procedures performed on men. Many of them are top businessmen who view plastic

MEN ONLY

surgery as a career enhancement. They are at the top of their game and still feel young and confident, but are worried that they don’t look it. Typically, they have a necklift, eyelift, jawline recontouring, and possibly liposuction as well. “This is not a trend we expect to see wane anytime soon. Facing a challenging and sometimes ageist job market, men, like women, are starting to consider their options to maintain a youthful appearance that exudes exuberance and energy,” says Dr. James Grotting, president-elect of the The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

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9 TO 5

Apps and gadgets to smooth your working day

APPS

WORKFLOW

Available on: iOS Price: £1.99 Billed as a “personal automation tool”, this iOS app by DeskConnect has 100 functions to make everyday tasks become much smoother. You can post photos to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram in one step. You can also make PDFs from web pages in Safari.

ECHOSIGN

Available on: iOS and Android Price: Free Developed by Adobe, EchoSign lets you e-sign documents and forms, and send them to others for signatures, speeding up the process of signing contracts.

THE WRITE STUFF

Go from Clark Kent to Superman with one swish of your writing accessory with this Olixar HexStyli 6-in-1 stylus pen. One minute you could be writing on paper with the ballpoint pen or tapping on a tablet with the stylus tip, and the next staying on the straight and narrow with the spirit level, measuring distance with the ruler or fixing things using one of two screwdriver heads. Warning: excuses for not putting up those shelves may be reduced when in possession of this unusual pen. Price: £9.99 www.mobilefun.co.uk

QUIP

Available on: iOS and Android Price: Free The ultimate app for people who like creating lists, Quip allows you to take notes, edit documents with your office co-workers, and collaborate with any group or team on a project. A chat system is included so you can easily share information with other users. Billed as the “word processor app for the Facebook generation”, Quip has stripped out many features found in traditional word processors and concentrates on the basics – a clean writing and editing interface with collaboration and messaging. 94

LOV E BUSINESS

CONFERENCE CALL

This speakerphone from Sennheiser works as a portable conference-call system – meaning you don’t need to look for empty meeting rooms when it’s time to make that important call. The speakerphone is light enough to carry around in a briefcase or a bag, and a built-in cable system means it can be connected anywhere to a mobile phone, tablet or computer. Its features include a music mode, allowing it to double up as a portable speaker, dual talk function, echo-cancelling and a protective carrying pouch. Price: £115.19 www.uk.insight.com KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015

HOW MUCH IS YOUR DATA WORTH? When your hard drive dies, you’ll lose everything unless you’re well prepared, says Richard Ellis McCallum of A&E IT If you use a computer for anything at all, you will have personal data stored on a hard drive. This can comprise of layers of glass platters which are written to by a mechanical armature. Or you could have a Solid State Drive with no moving parts that stores your data electronically. The problem is, all hard drives die. It’s not ‘if’, it’s ‘when’. And when disaster strikes, you will lose everything – even on a Mac. All your precious photos, music, work and accounts will disappear. To recover data from a failed hard drive can cost a fortune, so the question has to be: How much is your data worth, and what can you afford to lose? External hard drives can be had for as little as £60 but they contain cheap components, plus you need to remember to copy your data manually, or choose what type of automatic backup to run. For Apple users, the obvious choice is Time Machine. The software is included with every Mac and it can run automatically, taking ‘snapshots’ of any changes every hour. On paper it sounds like the panacea to all recovery problems. Well, surprisingly, it isn’t. If your hard drive dies, you cannot fully recover it with a Time Machine backup. To do that, you need a ‘bootable’ backup. This is essentially a perfect replica of your hard drive containing a system, every single piece of

data, and all the settings and programs required to start up your computer. But you have to maintain and update it daily or you will lose anything added since the last backup run was made. For maximum protection, you need at minimum both a Time Machine and a ‘bootable’ backup. This will cover all eventualities apart from theft or fire. To protect against the latter, you need to duplicate both backups regularly and store off site or on a cloud-based server. But that gets expensive. Which cruelly takes us back to the original question. How much is your data worth and what can you afford to lose? For a solid, reliable, automatic, dual backup solution for your Mac email gethelp@aande.it anytime!

FROM MODEL TO ANIMAL SAVIOUR The Celia Hammond Animal Trust, based in Wadhurst, has been rescuing cats for almost 30 years. We talked to them about their work…

Back in the 1960s, Celia Hammond was a top model, travelling the world with the likes of Jean Shrimpton and Twiggy. One day, she discovered a cat and three dead kittens locked in a derelict house and got to thinking about what happens to abandoned pets. Always an animal lover – she was the first model to campaign against fur in fashion and chained herself inside a cage on London’s Regent Street to highlight the plight of battery hens – she became involved in rescuing, neutering and rehoming stray and unwanted animals, learning how to trap feral cats and developing her own equipment. In 1986, she set up the Celia Hammond Animal Trust which has taken over her life. Today the Trust has two clinics in London and a sanctuary in East Sussex.

On average, how many cats does the Animal Trust rescue a week? We take in approximately 50 cats between our three centres.

And how many of those will be found a home? All cats rescued by the Trust are found a home, although some take much longer than others. Some cats are easily homed, mainly due to their looks – any cats with unusual colouring receive huge amounts of interest at the Trust, whilst beautifully-natured black and blackand-white cats are so often overlooked for months on end.

What are the main reasons that animals come to you? The vast majority of animals that come into our care are rescued from living on the streets, in derelict houses, on industrial estates and building sites. These animals are proactively ‘rescued’ by our dedicated rescue staff, who spend hours – often late at night when it’s quiet and the cats feel less threatened – coaxing them to safety. Usually, once in our care, they blossom and become true lap cats! Some cats are handed over to us from homes when their owners can no longer look after them for personal or financial reasons. Over the years, the charity has built an expertise in stray, abandoned and semi-feral cats. Quite a few of the stray cats we take in were once someone’s pet, often unneutered tom cats who roamed too far to find a mate, or unneutered female cats who were chased away by unneutered male cats. In both cases, they have been unable to find their way home again and we have been unable to trace their owner. That is part of the reason why neutering and microchipping your pets is so important.

LOV E LOC AL HEROES

Photo by Sandra Harma

Tell us about the sanctuary at Brede. Our Greenacres Rehoming Centre & Sanctuary is fortunate to be situated in secluded idyllic surroundings with many acres, and is home to around 300 cats (along with two goats, pet dogs and some rabbits!) at any one time. The centre always has many friendly cats and kittens looking for new homes. We also have many resident cats who are unable to be homed because they are old, bad tempered, or have ongoing health problems, and have therefore been released at our Sanctuary. Our resident cats have their own chalets within the grounds or are welcome to live in the main house with the staff. The Trust operates a strict non-destruction policy, so any animal released at our Sanctuary will have a loving home for life. The Sanctuary is open to potential adopters every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, from 1pm-4pm, or during the week by appointment. We welcome visitors at these times, too (especially those who bring treats for the cats!), and we always love to hear from and meet potential volunteers.

Is Celia Hammond still heavily involved in the day-to-day running of the Trust? Celia works around 18 hours per day, seven days a week. She still carries out a lot of rescue work (especially in the East London area), manages one of our low-cost veterinary clinics, and is heavily involved in all decisions that affect the running of the charity.

What can volunteers do to help? Our volunteers are absolutely vital – we simply could not carry out our animal welfare work without them. We need volunteers to help care for the animals in our rescue centres, fundraise, help promote the charity, help out in our charity shop in Wadhurst, carry out home visits, transport animals, design leaflets/posters, and foster our rescued cats and kittens in their own homes whilst permanent new homes are found for them.” The Celia Hammond Animal Trust (CHAT) is a registered charity. They receive no Government funding, and are completely reliant on donations from the public. You can donate by credit/debit card via the website (www.celiahammond.org) and by telephone (01892 783367), or by posting a cheque to: CHAT, Head Office, High Street, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 6AG. Every penny you donate will have a truly positive impact on the rescued cats and kittens under their care.

KUDOS JULY/AUGUST 2015