Village Living 15 1210

Village LIVING

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December 2010

Lifestyle | Community | Business

Steyning Bramber Beeding Ashington Washington Storrington Henfield Small Dole Ashurst Partridge Green

Festive Feast Christmas Day with the Sylvan Oak

Locally Smoked

Handmade Heaven DIY pressies at West Dean College

Behind the scenes at Springs Smoked Salmon

He’s behind you!

It’s Panto season in Sussex

WIN! Family Pantomime Tickets We review Wabi, Horsham

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2 • BACK IN TIME

HENFIELD

We would like to wish all of our customers

a Happy Christmas & New Year Get ready for Christmas VISIT THE SALON FOR A WIDE SELECTION OF GIFT IDEAS Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 2

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D

3 • BACK IN TIME

Contents 5

Happy Christmas from village living

6-9

village News & Diary

11

He’s Behind you!

Win panto tickets this Christmas

13

let your Hair Down

lET yOUR HAIR DOwN 13

Top tips from Jimminy Snippets 15-16

Homemade Heaven DIY Christmas Gifts at West Dean College

18-19

locally Smoked Behind the scenes at Springs Smoked Salmon

22-23

Reader’s Review: Wabi, Horsham Japanese fine dining

lOCAlly SMOKED 18

24-26

From the Sylvan Oak kitchen: Christmas Day Dining

29

Sussex in Season: A Village Christmas

31

Drink local: A Pressing Engagament Homemade Cider with Middle Farm

33

Gardening: Thinking Big from the Big Plant Nursery

35

Mind & Body: Chris Jones & the art of Hynotherapy

37

Talk Money: with Claire Cook

CHRISTMAS DAy DINING 25

where Can you Find village living? village living Magazine is delivered to 10,000 homes and businesses across 10 villages.

Editorial & advertising enquiries Melissa Love 07976 917363 melissa@villageliving.biz

Find us in Steyning, Bramber, Beeding, Small Dole, Henfield, Ashurst, Partridge Green, washington, Ashington, Storrington as well as selected outlets in worthing & Shoreham.

Production Toni Barrington The Magazine Production Company 01273 467579 production@villageliving.biz

we are increasing our circulation every month, so if you didn’t receive a copy through your letterbox, you will do very shortly.

© 2010 Village Living

Village Living is published monthly by Big Picture Projects.

Cornerways, Pound Lane, Upper Beeding. BN44 3JB 01903 814092 www.villageliving.biz

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village living is an independent magazine and does not endorse the products or services that appear in the magazine.

Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily represent those of the editor or of village living magazine.

18/11/2010 12:22

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CARS & PLANES IN STOCK

18/11/2010 12:22

Welcome to December

I

don’t know about you, but arguments about what we’re going to eat on Christmas Day start sometime in the summer and are usually still raging at the beginning of December.

This year, I’m going to put myself entirely in the very capable hands of Sinan Kalan, chef proprietor of The Sylvan Oak, in Findon. His Christmas Day banquet is perfect for ambitious home cooks (p25-27).

At least there is no arguing about where to buy smoked salmon. Always top of my Christmas food shopping list every year, I head straight to Springs Smoked Salmon (p2426), in Edburton. This family smokery is a Sussex institution

Congratulations: to Sharon Scadding-Hunt, of Partridge Green, who wins a box of Cute Country Cupcakes.

and we were lucky enough to get a behind-the-scenes tour (p18-19).

Perhaps it’s the public mood or a move towards thrift, but the homemade Christmas gift is here to stay. However, homemade doesn’t have to mean homespun. I spent a wonderful day at west Dean College near Chichester learning how to make glamorous silver wire and brad bracelets. See the making of a masterpiece on pages 15 to 16.

Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for all of your kind comments and support over the past year. writing about the people and businesses of this lovely part of Sussex is a true pleasure.

Wishing you a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Melissa EMAIL ME AT: melissa@villageliving.biz or

follow us on Twitter @villageliving

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Village Living • 13/10/2010 December 11:05 2010

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6 • village news

ROYAL PAVILION ICE RINK OPENS IN BRIGHTON

T

he Royal Pavilion’s first ever outdoor real Ice Rink opened its gates to the public on the 13th of November 13th and will remain until January 16th.

The Prince Regent, played by actor Greg Marshall, greeted the first skaters at 10am.

The rink is beautifully set right next to the Royal Pavilion and also has a top quality heated cafe and restaurant created

by Due South, with rinkside views and indoor and outdoor seating areas, which is open to the public, whether they skate or not.

Royal Pavilion Ice Rink tickets cost from £9.50-£11 for adults and from £6.50-£7.50 for children under 12 and the one-hour skate times run from 10am to 10.15pm daily, on sale online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or by calling 0844 847 2352.

Santa Takes to the Streets

T

he streets, roads and lanes of Steyning, Bramber and Upper Beeding will echo to the sound of Christmas carols and the Ho Ho Ho’s of Santa again this year.

Your Local Bookkeeper Your Local Accountant Bookkeeping Patroll & CIS VAT Accountancy Tax Company Formations All related services Sole Trader, Partnership or Limited Company? We can help.

Competitive prices.

For an initial FREE consultation please call Sal Teichmann or David Clark

DCT Accounting Ltd

2 Wilton Close, Partridge Green, RH13 8RX 01403 711806 info@dctaccounts.co.uk www.accountssussex.com December 2010 • Village Living

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The Steyning and Henfield Rotary Club will be collecting for the many charities the Club supports and also bringing festive cheer to all.

Weather permitting, Father Christmas and his team of collectors will be visiting the following areas: Mon 6th December – Steyning Goring Road area, 6pm Mon 13th December – Upper Beeding Saltings Way area, 6pm Tues 14th December – Upper Beeding Undermill Road area, 6pm Thurs 16th December – Steyning Penlands area, 6pm Fri 17th December – Steyning Shooting Field area – on green, 5pm Tues 21st December – Steyning Newham Lane area, 6pm Father Christmas will also visit the Farmers Market in Steyning on Saturday 4th December and the Christmas Fairs in Steyning on Wednesday 8th and Henfield on Friday 10th December.

The Rotary Club is very grateful for the generosity of those living in Steyning, Bramber and Upper Beeding who contribute to the collections. All the money raised is distributed to local charities including Steyning First Responders, Chanctonbury Community Playscheme, Steyning Special Task Force and St Barnabas Hospice, and to overseas emergencies and projects including Rotary’s polio eradication programme, a village housing scheme in Zambia and the Pokot School in Kenya.

www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

18/11/2010 12:22

7 • BACK IN TIME

Bluebell railway kittens star at Black Cat Day

A Rush on Rushfields Farm Shop

hree four-weekold black kittens rescued from a parked Bluebell Railway steam engine were the stars of the show at Cats Protection’s family fun Black Cat Day on Sunday, 7th November.

850 people attended the event at Chelwood Gate, Sussex, which helped to match 28 cats with new owners, 16 of them black cats. The event also raised nearly £2000 for the centre. There were originally five kittens, found by a Bluebell Railway train driver freezing to death and without their mother, on October 1st.

Karen Thompson, Deputy Manager of the National Cat Adoption Centre came to the rescue and put the kittens inside her clothes, against her skin, and rushed them back to the centre to warm them up. Sadly two had already succumbed to hypothermia and didn’t make it, but the other three, who have been named Percy, Emily and Thomas by Cat Centre staff, have been hand reared and staff and volunteers at the centre take it in turns to take them home and feed them through the night. Said Karen Thompson: “They are doing unbelievably well and we’re so glad to have been able to save them. We hope that they will be ready for adoption in five weeks’ Black cats are even harder to find homes for than others and we currently have 48 at the centre, so our annual Black Cat Day is about opening our doors to local cat lovers as well as providing a fun day for families to enjoy. 28 cats were matched with new owners on the day.”

Contact the Adoption Centre on 01825 741012 or visit www.cats.org.uk

ver 1,500 people visited Rushfields Farm Shop’s Opening Day on the 23rd of October enjoying a free hog roast, kids’ pumpkin give-away and tastings from some of the county’s finest food and drink producers.

Local resident Paula Seager, who runs the Sussex Food & Drink Awards said: “Despite the current economic climate, there is increasing demand for locally-sourced produce and we are fortunate to have a wealth of wonderful food and drink here in Sussex. Rushfields Farm Shop offers an excellent range at good value and promises to be a great new outlet for local people.”

Rushfields Farm Shop has been purpose built as a large, barn-style shop, traditionally constructed with Sussex oak timbers by conservation craftsmen. Owners Pam and Colin Langridge have made Sussex a huge focus for the shop and have tried to stock everything that is great about Sussex, with a top quality butchers selling meat so local that you can see it grazing on nearby fields, ably managed by butcher Paul Channon. It also sells classic Sussex cheeses from local dairies, including the High Weald Dairy, local sauces and chutneys from Sussex Valley, local chocolate from Cocoa Loco and will shortly stock local wines and ales as well.

Rushfields Farm Shop. www.rushfields.com.

01273 857445

T

O

TOTTINGTON MANOR – FUNDRAISER VOUCHER GIVEAWAY

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alling all local fundraisers! Planning a Christmas raffle? Tottington Manor has a limited number of £25.00 vouchers available for local schools and other good causes. Offered on a first come, first served basis... call now on 01903 815757 and arrange collection. Visit the website www.tottingtonmanor.co.uk for more information.

www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

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VillageLiving_1209_3:170 x 240mm 11/11/2009 16:44 Page 1

8 • BACK IN TIME

A BEAUTIFUL NURSING HOME DELIVERING THE PERFECT BALANCE OF CARE

At Sussexdown we work hard to provide the highest quality care in an atmosphere based on independence, dignity and a great quality of life.

Whether you have residential, nursing or dementia needs, our staff have the skills and experience to deliver your perfect balance of care.

An historic building like Sussexdown also offers beautiful surroundings with landscaped gardens and lovely views. This is country house living, with ongoing care for total peace of mind.

We’d love to tell you more about how we can help you and your family to arrange your care needs. Please call Sussexdown Home Manager Sue Bush on 01903 744221 for an informal chat, to order an information pack or arrange a visit.

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9 • vIllAGE DIARy

Village Diary village Diary is a great way to publicise an event in your village. Charitable & not for profit events are listed free of charge. A small charge applies for commercial listings. Don’t forget to visit www.villageliving.biz to submit your own listing online.

FARMERS’ MARKETS Ashington Farmers’, Artists’ & Makers’ Market – 1st Fri of month. 9.30 – 13.30. Methodist Church, london Rd Horsham – Every Sat. 9.00 – 16.00. Carfax, Town centre Pulborough – last Sat of month. 9.00 – 12.00. village Hall Shoreham – 2nd Sat of month. 9.00 – 13.00. East Street Steyning – 1st Sat of month. 9.00 – 13.00. High St car park West Chiltington – 2nd Sat of month. 9.00 – 12.00. village Hall Worthing – 4th Sat of month. 9.00 – 14.00. South Street Square

of gifted performers can always guarantee that their audiences will leave with a broad smile on their face. £12.50 to include a victorian supper. A licensed bar will also be available. Dress up for the occasion if you so desire.

Tickets available from Guy leonard, Storrington & from Jan Taylor on 01403 790012 or Sue worthington on 01903 247664 WEDNESDAY, 8TH DECEMBER. Meet your local PCSO team. Police Community Support Officers are holding a street surgery at the late night Christmas shopping in Steyning.

WEDNESDAY, 8TH DECEMBER Sandgate Singers present a Christmas Concert “Glad tidings to All” At St Mary’s Church, Storrington,7.30 pm.

Tickets, £8 to include refreshments, available from The Parish Office 01903745913 or 01903 743345.

WEDNESDAY, 15 DEC Storrington Film Society. Sullington Village Hall “letters to Juliet”, starring vanessa Redgrave.

7.30pm start, interval when refreshments. Tickets £5 from ‘The Card Centre’ in Storrington.

Any unsold tickets will be available for purchase on the Door, Sullington Parish Hall, on the night. Contact Ken Collins on 01903 740745 or Malcolm Bennett on 01798 812407

EVENTS 1 - 4 DECEMBER Frankenstein the Pantomime by Storrington Dramatic Society.

Sullington Parish Hall. 7.45pm and on Sat 4th Matinee at 2.30pm & 7.30pm.

Inspired mayhem takes us to see little Orphan Heidi who has a hard life at Pumpernickel’s Tavern where the greedy innkeeper and his bossy wife treat her like a slave.Tickets from FOwlERS of Storrington.

Tel 01798 875591 THURSDAY, 2ND DECEMBER Charity Bingo. Storrington Village Hall, 59 West Street, Storrington Regular bingo evening in aid of the Mary How Trust for Cancer Prevention – Thursday December 2 and then on the 2nd Thursday of every month. Only 50p entry Great prizes; raffle & refreshments – and fun for everyone!” Bingo page: www.maryhowtrust.org Click on ‘News & Events’. Doors open 7 pm Play starts at 7:30 pm 2 - 8 DECEMBER St Mary’s Church Christmas Tree Festival. Storrington The Church will be filled with dozens of Christmas trees sponsored by several businesses within the local area and decorated by them and local pre-schools, schools, groups, clubs and organizations.

Tel 01903 745913 SATURDAY, 4TH DECEMBER Old Time Music Hall at Pulborough Village Hall, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Storrington Bringing the ancient but much loved art form of victorian Music Hall kicking and screaming into the 21st Century, The Allsorts, a group

TUESDAY, 21ST DECEMBER The Mary How Trust Film Society. West Chiltington Village Hall RH20 2PZ Made in Dagenham starring Bob Hoskins and Rupert Graves at 3.00pm and 7.30pm. Bar, raffle, refreshments and ample free parking. Tickets £5.00 from Guy leonard Estate Agents & The Card Centre, Storrington. Ticket hotline: 01798 877641 MONDAY, 27TH DECEMBER Footprints of Sussex Traditional Christmas Walk Starts at 10:30am from Fletchers Croft car park in Steyning (opposite St. Andrews Church).

A gentle 6 mile family walk out past wiston House and then up onto the downs to return along the South Downs way to Steyning, where mulled wine and mince pies will be provided for everyone in the Steyning Centre.

No need to book – just turn up in good time with family & friends.

Donation of £2 requested towards hire of centre.

HENFIELD COMMUNITY CHURCH CHRISTMAS EVENTS SUNDAY 19TH DEC 4-5PM CANDLELIT CELEBRATION followed by mince pies and mulled wine at Henfield Youth Club.

SUNDAY 24TH DEC 11.30-12.15PM MIDNIGHT COMMUNION at Henfield Free Church Hall (*please note change of venue) SUNDAY 26TH DEC 11AM-12PM CHRISTMAS THANKSGIVING at Henfield Youth Club with Welcome café from 10.30am

www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

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Village Living • December 2010

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10 • BACK IN TIME

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• PANTO ROUNDUP 1111 • BACK IN TIME

Boo Hiss. It's Panto Time!

Cinderella – Theatre Royal, Brighton Join Cinderella and her musical cast as they bring this classic fairy tale to life using show-stopping special effects. It’s a lavish all-singing, all-dancing production which will keep junior princes and princesses entertained.

From Friday 17th December 2010 to Sunday January 16th 2011.

Book online at www.ambassadortickets.com or call 08448717615.

Aladdin – The Pavilion, Worthing An all-star production of Aladdin starring Sam Atwater of EastEnders fame as Aladdin, and Coronation Street’s Poppy Jhakra as Princess Jasmine. CBeebies’ Alex Winters, as Wishee Washee will be a draw for the kids, whilst Splash FM’s Anna Bingham provides a bit of local colour.

From Thursday 9th December 2010 to Sunday 2nd January 2011.

Book online at www.worthingtheatres.co.uk or call 01903 206206.

Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs – Connaught Theatre Worthing With Nolan Sister, Linda as the Wicked Witch and Hollyoaks Phillip Olivier playing the adorable Muddles, the Connaught Theatre production of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs promises to be a spell-binding affair.

From Friday 3rd December 2010 to Friday 31st December 2010.

Book online at www.worthingtheatres.co.uk or call 01903 206206.

Aladdin – Capitol Theatre, Horsham Aladdin fans are spoilt for choice this year, with Horsham’s Capitol Theatre opting for a glittering take on the boy-meets-genie tale. Starring Anna Williamson from Nickelodeon as Aladdin, this production promises to be a fun and magical outing for the whole family.

From Friday 10th December to Monday 3rd January Book online at www.horshampanto.com or call 01403 750220.

WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO A WORTHING THEATRES PANTO! To be in with a chance to win a family panto ticket, answer this simple question: How many wishes does the Genie grant to Aladdin?

Send answers to info@villageliving.biz or to the address at the front of the magazine. www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

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Village Living • December 2010

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Chalcraft Funeral Directors circa 1870

Long established & family owned business, dedicated to making traditional funeral services as personal & special to you as possible . . .

Chequers Yard High Street Steyning 01903 812656 info@chalcraftfunerals.co.uk www.chalcraftfunerals.co.uk Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 12

18/11/2010 12:22

13 • JIMMINy SNIPPITS BACK IN TIME

Prepare to Party with Jimminy Snippits

S

torrington salon, Jimminy Snippits, is already getting into the party mood. Just a year after opening her business, owner Becky Cooksley, is holding a series of client evenings, offering advice, a selection of mini treatments and the opportunity to learn hair styling and makeup techniques, whilst relaxing with a glass of wine.

The first evening, held on the 11th of November, was a roaring success with more than forty local ladies dropping in to join in the fun. “It’s a great opportunity for an extended consultation”, manageress Jo Holder tells me. “It also the perfect time to learn new skills as we don’t often have time to teach clients how to get that salon look during an appointment.”

There were certainly plenty of techniques on offer. willing volunteers were having eyelash extensions, manicures and I even spied a sumptuous-looking hand and arm massage going on in one corner. Blow-dry and straightening iron demonstrations drew the biggest crowds leaving onlookers confident that they could attempt some of the styles at home.

Delighted by the turnout, Becky is keen to plan more fun evenings and has already scheduled a ‘Star Party’ on the 2nd of December, where clients can learn about party lashes and makeup, have a spray tan and learn how to achieve a glamorous ‘up-do’ for a special event.

“we’ve got every treatment you could need for the party season,” Becky tells me. “As well as the usual hair and nail treatments, we have our own spray tanning booth and treatment room and we even have an osteopath and homeopath on call.”

If you can’t make it to a client evening, Jimminy Snippits are offering a special ‘Party Package’ for £30 which includes hair, makeup and a spray tan. “Drop in and see us before your big event and we’ll make you look fabulous,” says Jo. “All you’ll need to do afterwards is slip into your party outfit and have fun.”

The Jimminy Snippits Star Party’ takes place on the 2nd December or book your ‘Party Package’ now on 01903 742000.

JIMMINY SNIPPITS PROFESSIONAL HAIRDRESSING • WEDDING HAIR SPECIALISTS EYELASH EXTENSIONS • WAXING • NAIL EXTENSIONS R MBE DECE ACK £35 MASSAGE • HOMEOPATHY & OSTEOPATHY P OPENING TIMES

Monday: Closed • Tuesday - Friday: 9am - 5.30pm Saturday: 9am - 4pm

Y PART ay Tan Spr Paint File & Lashes y Part

2ND DECEMBER - LATE NIGHT OPEN EVENING!!

ADDRESS: 19C WEST STREET • STORRINGTON PULBOROUGH • RH20 4DZ • TELEPHONE: 01903 742000 www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

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Village Living • December 2010

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18/11/2010 11:21 12:23 08/11/2010

15 • TRy SOMETHING NEw BACK IN TIME

DIY Christmas at West Dean College

T

his year I have grown my own vegetables (well, one or two anyway), started keeping chickens and have just pressed my first batch of apples which is well on its way to becoming a potent homemade cider. It’s certainly saved us some money and it’s kind of addictive.

In these new times of austerity, I’d already decided that a thrifty Christmas was in order, so I was delighted to open a letter inviting me to make my own Christmas gift at west Dean College.

How virtuous I would be, whilst also being able to indulge my secret passion for Kirsty Allsop’s Homemade House kind of lifestyle.

I was hoping to try something that would be easy to replicate at home and ‘Crochet a wire Necklace with Beads’ sounded glamorous yet achievable.

Not known for my knitting and sewing skills, I glossed over the ‘crochet’ part in my mind and arrived at gorgeous west Dean College on a rainy Tuesday already imagining the gasps of delight as my family and friends unwrapped my handmade masterpieces.

Situated 6 miles north of Chichester, west Dean College is perhaps not as well-known as its famous gardens.

The former family estate of Surrealist art enthusiast, Edward James, it was gifted to the west Dean Estate Trust in 1964 along with his art collection and the entirety of the estate’s land and

buildings. A publisher and poet in his own right, James supported Salvador Dali for two years and commissioned the famous Mae west ‘lips’ sofa for his nearby home, Monkton House. with an extensive list of short courses and special one-day Christmas activities, the college is busy and every workshop we pass has a session in progress. During the day, I see groups bent over sewing machines, turning wooden stools, painting, drawing and even making animated films. with the wind howling outside and no phone reception (bliss!) and it’s the perfect way to escape from day-to-day pressures and indulge my creative side.

After a brief introduction, our tutor Teri Howes, equips our group with coloured wire and an actual crochet hook. Out mission for the day, is to somehow crochet a three-strand necklace interwoven with jewelcoloured beads. I vaguely remember crocheting a pair of slippers when I was nine, and with a bit of patient instruction from Teri, I am turning out a fairly creditable wire necklace chain with some beautiful golden wire. Amazingly it turns out that all knitting and crochet techniques can be adapted to wire jewellery-making.

Teri, of course, is an expert. A professional jewellery-maker, based at a studio in london, she has been working with wire and beads for nearly

ten years, specialising now in intricate wire pieces with precious metal and gemstones. In fact she is wearing some of her own pieces. It has to be said that they are a million miles away from the fairly basic pieces we are producing, but it’s also inspiring because working with wire is a hobby which doesn’t require specialist equipment, just time and practice.

www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

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16 • try something new

After about half an hour, I’ve got the hang of the crochet technique and it’s time to introduce beads. Mumbled swearing ensues as we grapple with knitting the beads into the stitches. It is fiddly, but not that hard and my delicate gold chain is starting to look very interesting. As I get to the end of my first strand, I’m amazed to discover that it’s lunchtime already.

Over a relaxed lunch, I discover that the group is a mixed bag of fairly local Sussex residents, a regular from London and a two friends who have flown over specially from Jersey.

The sheer range of courses, the elegant surroundings and the lack of ordinary distractions make West Dean quite unique and it turns out that most of us in the group are keen to return for longer residential courses.

I sneak back to our workshop early to get a head start on the next strand of my necklace and I’m not the only one.

We’re a keen bunch and the afternoon fairly flies as we get stuck into some ‘fancy’ techniques, involving loops and twists. The grand finale, for those whose fingers aren’t too sore, is to crochet an elegant flower which could be used as a brooch or hair decoration.

Part of the fun is looking through Teri’s collection of books and magazines and picking out projects which we feel we could tackle at home. I’m quite taken with a snazzylooking beaded cuff and with plenty of wire and beads leftover to take home, I know what I’ll be doing over the long cold winter.

To find out more about short courses at West Dean College, visit www.westdean.org.uk or call 01243 811301 to request a prospectus.

View Teri Howes’ work at www.terihowesjewellery.com.

December 2010 • Village Living

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FARM SHOP GATEWICK FARM, A283 STEYNING Fresh turkeys & all the trimmings Fresh fruit & veg Homemade pies Local milk & cream Christmas trees, stands & wreaths Home produced meat & butchery Delicious homemade sausages (try before you buy) Open: Thursday - Sunday 10am - 4.30pm Ample free parking Gatewick Farm, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3SF tel: 01903 812241 or 07977 186003 www.overthefarmgate.com email: info@overthefarmgate.com

www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

18/11/2010 12:23

BeerMatt’s 12 Beers of Christmas!

A selection of 12 Sussex finest bottled beers delivered to your door for £25.00

Have a

Happy Christmas Cheers!

01444 241093 www.beermatt.co.uk

1. Dark Star Sunburst 2. Arundel Sussex Gold 3. Ballards Nyewood Gold 4. Harvey’s Blue Label 5. Adur Velocity 6. Hepworth Pullman 7. Arundel ASB 8. Hepworth Prospect 9. WJ King Red River 10. Adur Black William 11. Arundel Old Knucker 12. Hepworth Old Ale Also available are Polypins and Minipins (beer in a box).

Polypins (36 pints) or Minipins (18 pints) are a great way of enjoying your favourite Sussex beer over the Christmas and New Year. Choose from Harvey’s, Hepworth, WJ King, Arundel, Dark Star and and1648.

Prices start from £34 for a Minipin and £54 for aPolypin.

The Fox

SMALL DOLE

01273 491196

Lyn is pleased to announce that she has taken over sole proprietorship of The Fox and is looking forward to welcoming old and new friends alike.

A note from Ly

n...

TRADITIONAL GREAT VALUE PUB FOOD AT THE FOX Our set menu is still a great value £9.95 for 3 courses!

Main menu dishes from £6.95 and desserts from £2.45 Don’t miss our traditional Sunday roast with 5 roasts to choose from The perfect location for your Christmas celebrations - £15.95 for 3 lovely courses THE FOX IS OPEN: Monday to Saturday 12 - 2.30pm and 6 - 9pm (bar open all day Saturday) Sundays from 12 midday with (bar and food served all day) Henfield Road, Small Dole, Henfield, West Sussex. BN5 9XE

A warm wel com from the team e at the Fox. Wis hing our family & friends, our loya customers an l d our fantastic local supplie rs a wonderful Ch ristmas & a ve ry Happy New Year.

Best wishes from Lyn x

www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 17

Village Living • December 2010

18/11/2010 12:23

18 • remembering BACK IN TIME steyning

Locally Smoked Behind the scenes at Springs Smoked Salmon

M

y idea of Christmas heaven is being fed morsels of smoked salmon whilst sipping champagne in front of a roaring log fire.

In reality, Christmas Day in our house involves separating fighting children, looking for lost batteries and arguing about whether the turkey is done yet.

But my little moment with the smoked salmon is sacrosanct. Before the chaos begins, it’s scrambled eggs and Bucks Fizz all round and only Springs Smoked Salmon will do.

Located in the tiny village of Edburton, just a few miles from Steyning, Springs is not only a Sussex institution but one of the oldest family businesses in the area. Founded in 1964 by Geoffrey and Josephine Harris, the smoking tradition began with Josephine’s father shortly after World War Two in Suffolk, a business which still exists as the Butley Orford Oysterage.

A family holiday in Suffolk prompted Geoffrey and Josephine to learn the December 2010 • Village Living

Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 18

trade and return to Edburton to build their own smoking kilns designed to burn oak logs, converting an old forge into the premises still in use today.

Geoffrey and Josephine’s two younger sons, David and Martin Harris now run Springs, and their eldest son also runs his own smoking business in Australia, using the same secret family techniques and importing oak logs all the way from England to reproduce that characteristic Springs oak flavour.

My mouth is already watering when I arrive in Edburton to meet David for a tour of the operation. He has already warned me that he can’t show me all their secrets – fair enough – but to see the salmon being smoked will be plenty enough excitement for me.

First stop is the curing room, where hundreds of sides of salmon are laid out on benches covered in a thick layer of sea salt. Dry salting is one of the oldest ways of preserving food and David explains that whilst the smoking process imparts the flavour, it’s the

salting that allows smoked fish to be kept for so long. As well as salmon, I also spy some herring destined to be kippers and bloaters. (Bloaters are cured herring with the guts left inside.

Fish fact!)

Springs salmon comes from a variety of sources. In the main, David and Martin buy farmed Scottish salmon from trusted suppliers, but also a limited amount of wild Canadian and Scotch salmon, which has become increasingly rare and very expensive. Whilst the quality of the raw fish is a given, David is keen to emphasize that their salting process gives the very best results. He explains, “Modern salmon smoking factories would never do it this way, because dry salting takes moisture out and the fish loses weight.

Lesser quality salmon is injected with brine and actually gains weight but you really lose out on flavour. We know our process is extravagant, but it’s worth it.”

And now for the part of the tour I’ve been looking forward to the most; seeing the smoking kilns in action.

David can’t tell me too much about the process, but the smell of the smoking fish is intense, delicious and quite

www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

18/11/2010 12:23

19 • BACK IN TIME

would like to wish their customers a very

Happy Christmas & New Year distinctive. There are eight brick kilns which operate six days a week and it’s wonderful to see the racks of fish bathing in the aromatic smoke. All Springs salmon is cold-smoked, meaning that the temperature is carefully controlled to make sure that the fish doesn’t cook. The long gentle smoking process is another point of difference between Springs’ traditional approach and a modern operation which might only smoke the salmon for 8 hours in a stainless steel container.

David shows me how layers of tar have become embedded in the brick walls of the kiln, imparting a unique and complex depth of flavour.

It certainly works and indeed the fish is so tasty that nothing goes to waste at Springs. Even the trimmings are turned into a rich salmon pate which is sold in the shop.

Aah, the shop. For a fish and seafood lover like me, it’s an Aladdin’s cave of delights. As well as the in-house-produced smoked fish, there is a simply staggering array of frozen goodies from King Crab claws to razor clams as well as any fish or seafood accompaniment you could name. There is also a cracking selection of locally sourced fresh game right through the season.

A steady stream of customers, some local and some clearly travelling through, pays testament to the quality and variety of produce on offer and although, it’s only ten o’clock in the morning, I’m going to go home and have some smoked salmon. All on my own. In peace.

Spring Smoked Salmon, Edburton, Henfield.

BN5 9LN. Tel 01273 857338.

Order online at www. springssmokedsalmon.co.uk

Finest smoked salmon Smoked haddock Smoked herring Smoked kipper Gravadlax Seafood patés Frozen seafood Wild duck Seasonal game Springs Smoked Salmon Edburton, Henfield West Sussex. BN5 9LN 01273 857338 www.springsmokedsalmon.co.uk

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Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 19

Village Living • December 2010

18/11/2010 12:23

22 • COBBlESTONE wAlK

Steyning’s

Cobblestone Walk

Have a...

Handmade Flicker Rose candles & soaps £3.00

FLICKER-ROSE – Gifts A collection of Sussex-made gifts & home accessories

Tel 01903 814264

Historic Shopping Arcade

More than 20 independent shops...

Flicker Rose Gifts Era Furniture & Collectables Just Mee Jewellery Mary’s Vintage & Retro Courtyard Veg & Dry Cleaning Ema’s Nails & Beauty The Old Bakery Tea Rooms Something Special Baby Boutique Indulgence Jewellery Micky’s Jewellery Box Procycle Services A-Cars Local Private Hire One Planet Images Trisha’s Pink Mouse Crafts & Wool Breeze Cards & Gifts That’s So Shabby Furniture Donovan Silver Jewellery JOIN US FOR LATE NIGHT SHOPPING! Wednesday, 8th December 4-7pm

www.cobblestonewalk.co.uk December 2010 • Village Living

Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 20

ERA – Furniture, Collectables & Memorabilia A selection of vintage furniture, period items & interesting collectables. Tel 07519 275526

Charm bracelets from £15.00

JUST MEE – Jewellery Pandora-style bracelets, fashion jewellery, candles & incense.

Tel 07519 275526 www.justmee.co.uk

www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

18/11/2010 12:23

. Cobblestone Christmas COURTYARD VEG & DRY CLEANING AGENCY A wide range of fruit & vegetables available.

Christmas orders now being taken. Free local delivery

Tel 07944 053892

SOMETHING SPECIAL –

Baby Boutique & Toy Shop

Unique babywear, toys & gifts, and cosy handknits

Tel 07713 480279

THE OLD BAKERY TEA ROOMS

MARY’S VINTAGE & RETRO

Take tea with Santa every Wednesday in December from 3-5pm. Order a homemade celebration cake for any occasion Tel 01903 817008

At Mary’s Vintage & Retro Accessories there is a wide selection of items to choose from, dating from the 1890s to the 1980s Tel 07917 266365

Sterling silver marcasite jewellery from £15.00

EMA’S NAILS & BEAUTY

INDULGENCE –

Get ready to party with a mini manicure & pedicure for £20. Introduce a friend and get £5 off

Wide range of jewellery & accessories

Tel 07917 644909

Gold, Silver & Gem Stone Jewellery

Tel 01444 250947 elgranprofesor@aol.com

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Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 21

Village Living • December 2010

18/11/2010 12:23

22 • restaurant BACK IN TIMEreview

Wabi Horsham Reviewed by: Andrew & June Phillips

M

y partner, June, and I love Japanese food, so we were excited at the prospect of trying out this exciting new restaurant in Horsham. We were not let down.

On arrival, we were greeted by one of the many well-trained staff (6 weeks training before the restaurant opened with daily updates and weekly refreshers) and invited to take a drink at the bar. I’m glad we did. The bar occupies centre stage, as is the modern Japanese way, consequently the sushi/ sashimi preparation area is somewhat relegated to the side of the room. The intricate preparation that takes place there is, nevertheless, easily observed.

Behind the bar two chatty barmen were performing miracles with ice, lime, fruit juice and alcohol. It was an agreeable way to start the evening. The downstairs area offers a more casual eating experience, which we had tried out the previous week when we had lunch, choosing from the reasonably priced, and tasty, lunch special menu (including a Miso soup to die for).

On this visit, we dined upstairs which is slightly more formal and includes private booths, including one tatami room with low tables if your knees are up to it. As we worked our way through an extensive tasting menu the staff proved knowledgeable, informative and enthusiastic about the dishes being served. They were able to explain each dish and the very helpful sommelier was on hand to advise on which of the 19(!) different sake wines would compliment the various dishes. Many of these can be served warmed – which has always been my preference. I found the December 2010 • Village Living

Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 22

Chef Scott Hallsworth

Kenbishi suited the sashimi to perfection while the smoother richer Nanbubijin complimented the meat dishes.

All the dishes we tried were cooked (if that’s the right word when it comes to sashimi?) to perfection and presented beautifully. This is Michelinstar quality; fine dining at its best.

With Scott Hallsworth presiding in the kitchen it is not surprising that Wabi has already made it into the top 100 restaurants in the UK. Scott spent 6 years with Nobu in London, where he became Head Chef. He then launched Nobo’s Melbourne restaurant before becoming Executive Chef with the Mirai Restaurant Group in Bahrain and Dubai.

He was enticed back to the UK from Dubai by the challenge of opening a top-rank Japanese restaurant in West Sussex.

You would need to write a whole book to describe all of the dishes we enjoyed but we can single out a few very special highlights. The Edamame beans, squeezed from the salty pods straight into the mouth made for a fun and tasty starter. The Yellowtail Sashimi, served with Wasabi (Japanese horseradish) and a citrus and soy sauce was particularly good, the taste

www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

18/11/2010 12:23

heightened by the citrus flavour sauce. And my favourite, Beef Tataki with onion ponzu, finely sliced meat that melted in the mouth; the whole dish was simply delectable. we are not great pudding fans but here there is something for everyone, whether it’s the mouth-watering Cucumber and lime sorbet or Kuri Mori (warm chocolate cream with mint sorbet & Matcha stick) or the yummy Fried Apple Pie with yuzu custard, delicious.

So are there any downsides? It is perhaps little dark upstairs and the upstairs tables for two are bit small.

The décor and ambience do not quite match the food.

The bar is rightly very popular, with a good vibe but the noise from downstairs (and from a party in one of the booths upstairs) bounced around the somewhat austere interior. we are of course being quite picky. value for money? yes. Japanese food is always pricey but this is top of the range and well worth the money.

For lunch you could expect to part with £25-£30 per head (including drinks) whilst a full evening meal plus drinks will be at least double that Of course you can pay more or less by selecting appropriately from the extensive a la carte menu.

So overall, food 9/10, ambience 7/10, service 9/10, value for money 9/10 – overall experience 8.5/10. Go again? you bet.

Wabi Tbl 3

12Nov’10 8.23

Edamame Beans Yellowtail Sashimi Beef Tataki Crispy Squid Spicy Pork Belly Fried Apple Pie Kuro Mori Kenbishi Sake Takacho Sake

£2.50 £10.50 £12.50 £8.50 £12.00 £6.50 £6.00 £11.50 £11.00

Total

81.00

www.wabi.co.uk tel 01403 788 140

Wabi. 38 East Street, West Sussex, RH12 1HL Tel 01403 788 140 Find out more about Wabi restaurant at www.wabi.co.uk

Christmas

All I want for is a new WEBSITE Beautiful custom designs Domain name included 5 dedicated email addresses 7 pages included + vat Free year’s hosting Flash effects + html body Easy to add content & photos Google Analytics & basic SEO as standard Facebook, Twitter & blog integration E-commerce tools Matching print design & branding available

£495

01903 814092

www.bigpictureprojects.com www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 23

Village Living • December 2010

18/11/2010 12:23

24 • SylvAN BACK INOAK TIMECHRISTMAS

The Sylvan Oak, The Square, Findon Village.

BN14 0TE. Tel 01903 873385 www.sylvanoak.co.uk

Roast Turkey Stuffed with Spiced Couscous Stuffing

December 2010 • Village Living

Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 24

www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

18/11/2010 12:23

Turkey Caul fat (from your butcher) 1 turkey breast per person 1. Soak caul fat overnight in water.

2. Drain the caul fat and squeeze out any excess water, then open out and place on large sheet of tin foil. Cut the breast into strips and lay overlapping on the caul fat, covering an area of 20cm by 40 cm. Place the couscous stuffing into the centre of the turkey in the form of a long tube. Pick up one side of the foil and fold over the couscous, rolling it up tightly and twisting the ends so you have a tight cylinder tube. Place in fridge to chill.

Sylvan Oak Christmas Recipes

3. When ready to serve cut the turkey into steaks through the foil leaving foil in place. Place into a hot cast iron pan flesh side down, then when browned flip over and brown the other side.

4. Put the turkey with the foil into a roasting tray and into an oven at 180c for 10 mins. Remove the foil and cook for a further 5 mins.

Couscous stuffing 500ml chicken stock 300g couscous 1 tsp harissa paste ½ tsp ground cinnamon 100g dried apricots (or figs), chopped 1 small preserved lemon, finely chopped zest of 1 lemon 100g pistachios, toasted and chopped 50g pine nuts, toasted handful of mint, leaves chopped

Couscous dressing 3 tbsp lemon juice 150ml olive oil, plus extra to drizzle ½ tsp runny honey sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 1. Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a saucepan. Meanwhile, place the couscous, harissa, cinnamon, apricots, preserved lemon and lemon zest into a large bowl and mix well. Pour the hot stock over the couscous mixture, give it a quick stir and immediately cover the bowl with a piece of clingfilm. Leave to stand for 15-20 minutes.

Table arrangement supplied by The Clockhouse Florist, Steyning.

Tel 01903 813 438

2. In the meantime, whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing and set aside. When all the stock has been absorbed, fluff up the couscous with a fork and toss in the pistachios, pine nuts and chopped mint. Pour over the dressing and mix well. To check if the mixture is wet enough, try to squeeze a little mixture into a ball in your hand. If it crumbles, add more stock or olive oil.

www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 25

Village Living • December 2010

18/11/2010 12:23

Layer 1: Rhubarb jelly 300g of fresh rhubarb 50g of caster sugar half whole lemon juiced half dozen nice ripe strawberries 50ml grenadine 4 bronze gelatine leaves Thinly slice the rhubarb, squash the strawberries and put them both into a dish or pan that will fit comfortably over a pot of simmering water. Add the lemon juice and sugar, tightly clingfilm the pan with the ingredients in and place over the pot of water to steam. Leave for an hour and the separate the juice through a sieve.To that, add 50ml of grenadine and heat over a stove. Soak the 8 gelatine leaves until soft and add to the heated mix. Once the gelatine has dissolved, add 300 ml of champagne/ sparkling wine. Once mixed, pour a bit into the glasses, leaving room for the other layers and place in fridge to set. There will be mix left over so put into the fridge as will be needed.

Rhubarb Glory Fool Sylvan Oak Christmas Recipes

Layer 2: Malibu & coconut pannacotta 200ml of coconut milk two tablespoons of caster sugar 2 bronze gelatine leaves Soak the gelatine leaves in cold water, warm the coconut milk up over a stove add the sugar and a generous shot of Malibu. Once the gelatine is soft, add to the heated milk and pour into the glass and place in the fridge to set.

Layer 3: Cinnamon, orange & grenadine cream 200g of rhubarb 100g sugar ¼ orange zest ½ stick of cinnamon 1 pod of vanilla Roughly chop the rhubarb place into a pan add the orange zest, sugar, vanilla pod and cinnamon stick and stew till a jammy texture. Once cooled whip 200ml of double cream until you hit stiff peaks. Add the stewed rhubarb and fold together with 50ml of grenadine Pipe or spoon into the glasses.

Layer 4: Crushed amaretto biscuits Layer 5: Red wine rhubarb jam 200g rhubarb 150g sugar 100ml red wine Finely cut the rhubarb add the sugar and red wine into a pan simmer it till thick and of a jam consumption let it cool and place on top of the amaretto biscuits and finish off with a cornel of vanilla ice cream.

Layer 6: A scoop of vanilla ice-cream

December 2010 • Village Living

Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 26

www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

18/11/2010 12:24

willow Herbal Clinic

VEHICLE SERVICING AND REPAIRS – THERE’S ONLY ONE NAME YOU CAN TRUST

As the festive season approaches, many of us are gearing up for a time of celebration and indulgence. At such times we want to be Mercedes-Benz BMW Smart Mini feeling our best, ready Specialist German Vehicle Technicians to make merry and ALL MAKES AND MODELS CATERED FOR. enjoy the festivities with enthusiasm. The last thing GENUINE MANUFACTURER PARTS FITTED. we want to be dealing with is ill health, especially in the form of coughs and colds.

Bugs tend to proliferate in an organism that is lacking in vitality. If you are tired and run down, MEMBERS OF your temperature may dip slightly, enabling bugs to reproduce at their greatest rate, leading to the development of a cough or cold.

Reducing stress levels, getting plenty of sleep and For value you can trust call: eating lots of fresh vegetables helps to limit the chances of catching a cold. Reducing intake of Book online: mucus-forming foods is also beneficial as it will www.prestigeautotech.co.uk help to limit the build up of catarrh in the airways.

Unit 4, Hall Business Centre, Dolphin Road, Traditionally, herb teas containing equal parts of Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. BN43 6PB. yarrow, Peppermint and Elderflower have been used Situated behind DAF Commercial. to manage the symptoms of a cold, by drinking at least three cups a day, as hot as possible. vitamin C levels may also be supplemented, preferably taken Prestige AutoTech B5 QP 1010.indd 1 10/09/2010 in the form of rosehips.

Keep healthy, keep warm and enjoy a very merry Christmas.

We take pride in your car and in our workmanship

01273 446 776

10:32

Make your own cough syrup Slice a large onion into rings and place them in a jar. Cover the slices with organic honey and leave to stand overnight. In the morning, strain off the liquid and keep in the fridge. Take a teaspoonful 3-5 times daily.

Dirty Oven?

Mr OvenKleen

For a consultation, contact Andrea Murphy at Willow Herbal on 01903 816426 (Upper Beeding) www.willowherbal.co.uk Andrea Murphy BA (Hons) BSc (Hons) MNIMH MCPP

The professional domestic oven cleaning service ‘putting the “SHEEN” back into your oven’ OVENS • HOBS • MICROWAVES EXTRACTORS • RANGES • AGAs • BBQs Only non-toxic, eco-friendly, fume-free products used Please phone for an appointment on

0800 2984975 • 01403 751762 • 07789 316785 www.mrovenkleen.co.uk

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Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 27

Village Living • December 2010

18/11/2010 12:24

Flicker Rose

Beautiful gifts & home accessories from Sussex & beyond

Front Shop, Cobblestone Walk High Street, Steyning. BN44 3RD tel 01903 814264

Have an organic Christmas at Oomoo We’ve been busy here at Oomoo giving the salon a brand new look and we’re delighted to welcome new stylists to the team. Between the four of us, we’ve got great experience and we all have our ‘specialist subjects’.

Personally, I just love to do colours – it’s the quickest way to update your look. Our gorgeous organic colours help condition the hair and adding some warm rich tones is a great way to get ready for the party season.

But what’s so special about organic colours?

From personal experience, I can tell you that many hairdressers who apply colour treatments end up with very sore hands from coming in to contact with harsh chemicals like ammonia. If it’s doing this to your hands, imagine what it’s doing to your hair! Since discovering Organics, a UK-produced colour system, I’ve fallen in love with doing colours all over again. The products are so gentle and produce such spectacular results, and at Oomoo we only use organic colours.

Best of all, it doesn’t cost any more to have an organic colour at Oomoo than a standard colour elsewhere.

At tucked-away Oomoo, you can really relax and you’ll feel like you’re among friends. It’s completely different to any other salon you have ever been to.

Have a wonderful Christmas & New Year.

Julie & the Oomoo team x

Pick up a Christmas Treat China, etc. Ice Cream Bike Gorgeous Cakes, Bunting...

Hire Only or Set Up & Style

get in touch...

hannah@the-tea-set.co uk 07909 608 311 December 2010 • Village Living

Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 28

we’ve got a new look and we’ve got a range of retro and quirky on sale in the salon which would make perfect Christmas gifts. Our range of Alterna Gift Packs has just arrived and our organic nail varnishes are just the thing to pop in someone’s Christmas stocking.

Visit Oomoo Organic Hair Salon at www.oomoo.biz or call 01903 745616 High Street, Storrington RH20 4DJ

www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

18/11/2010 12:24

29 • SUSSEX IN SEASON

Village Living at Christmas Nick Hempleman Owner of The Sussex Produce Company, award winning produce store in Steyning, west Sussex.

I

have to say I am a sucker for Christmas. I don’t mean that I like the tat, or the Christmas cards for sale in August or the awful music they play in shopping malls but I do like the build up. The carols, wrapping presents, the general festive, community spirit. I also like the food shopping. when I was younger I worked in Tesco before the days of 24-hour openings. The supermarket used to open its doors at 6am on Christmas Eve and a human tidal wave of trolleys and grim faced shoppers used to surge forward, decimating anything in their path. It was not unknown at the end of the day on December the 24th to have to break up fights as people tore up the empty produce displays looking for the last brussel sprouts.

Away from the supermarkets, the pace is rather more leisurely. we are very lucky to have some wonderful food shops in our area of Sussex and some lovely high streets and there is no better time to patronise them than at Christmas.

Avoid the scrum and the arguments over car parking spaces and visit your local high street instead.

Most local high streets have late night shopping events, so do support these if you can. Storrington’s is on 3rd December, Henfield’s is on 11th December and Steyning’s is on the 8th December. we are very excited this year to have a large ice skating rink in Steyning! you will find lovely handmade products and some truly local specialities in the shops on these evenings. we will be stocking Christmas cakes and Christmas puddings made

by Michael and his mother, liz, from Glynde in East Sussex and we’ll be making our own brandy butter to accompany them. Robin Golds grows our Christmas trees in washington and Cathy from Storrington will be making our wreaths again. Somehow things seem slightly more special when you

know the people who have made them, so what could be nicer than a hamper for a close friend filled with local jams, chocolates and cheeses?

In order to make your Christmas shopping as pleasant as possible, we are once again offering our Christmas delivery service. Simply fill out one of our forms and we will make it all up and deliver it to your door for free. Forms are available from the shop or we can post or email you one if you contact us.

Finally can I wish you a very happy Christmas and a lovely, local New Year!

Christmas Opening Times: Mon 20 Dec Tues 21 Dec Weds 22 Dec Thurs 23 Dec Fri 24 Dec Dec Sat 25 Dec Sun 26 Dec Mon 27 Dec Tues 28 Dec Wed 29 Dec Thur 30 Dec Fri 31 Dec Sat 1 Jan Sun 2 Jan Mon 3 Jan Tues 4 Jan

8.00am - 5.30pm 8.00am - 5.30pm 8.00am - 5.30pm 8.00am - 5.30pm 8.00am - 3.00pm (Christmas Eve) CLOSED (Christmas Day) CLOSED (Boxing Day) CLOSED (Bank Holiday) 9.00am - 5.00pm (Bank Holiday) 9.00am - 5.00pm 9.00am - 5.00pm 9.00am - 3.00pm 10.00am - 4.00pm (Bank Holiday) CLOSED CLOSED Normal hours resume

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Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 29

Village Living • December 2010

18/11/2010 12:24

Tottington Manor HOTEL • RESTAURANT • BAR • WEDDING VENUE

• Exciting new menus

Book now on 01903 815 757

CHRISTM

LUNCH &

AS

PARTIES

No room

hire!

• Character private dining rooms • Bar menu & morning coffee • Refurbished en-suite accommodation • Dinner, bed & breakfast from £150 for two • NEW wedding facility available in 2011 TOTTINGTON MANOR • EDBURTON • NR HENFIELD • WEST SUSSEX • BN5 9LJ info@tottingtonmanor.co.uk • www.tottingtonmanor.co.uk

Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 30

18/11/2010 12:24

31 • DRINK lOCAl

31 • BACK IN TIME

Drink Local: A Pressing Engagement Homemade Cider with Middle Farm

T

here’s no doubt about it; making and drinking my own home-brewed ale was fun, even if it didn’t win any prizes at BeerMatt’s recent festival in Burgess Hill. But it felt a little bit like cheating.

After all, anyone can open a tin and just add water.

Although I didn’t so well in the vegetable stakes this year, mysteriously our lone apple tree has turned in a bumper crop, in stark contrast to last season, which yielded the paltry sum of 3 apples, one of which fell off too early. And it seems we’re not the only ones to have apple trees groaning with fruit. The warm spring and long dry summer provided ideal growing conditions across Europe.

But after 6 weeks of pie-making, we’ve barely made a dent in the crop, so we’d mentally earmarked the remainder for a spot of home cider-making. I say mentally, because I wasn’t entirely sure how to get the apples down from the tree without losing the lot into the brambly undergrowth beneath. It took a nimble 11 year-old with a passion for climbing trees, two adults with rakes and an old blanket to get our harvest down - three big crates full to the brim. would it be enough for a decent batch of cider? I’d prebooked a pressing slot at Middle Farm, near lewes. with the largest collection of ciders and perries in the country and a bespoke pressing operation, I knew that the Middle Farm professionals would be able to squeeze every last drop of juice from our fruit. Apple expert, Phil Coates, was on hand to press our batch, and it turned out that by leaving it very late, we’d probably done ourselves a favour. whilst we had a fair few rotten apples, the remaining fruit were very ripe and extra juicy, likely to give us the highest yield possible. And what variety were they? we knew that they were ‘eaters’ rather than ‘cookers’ but it was impossible to tell. There are so many old varieties around or trees grown

from seedlings, that even experts can struggle to make an identification. Still they tasted nice enough, I was sure that they would make good cider.

Phil made short work of our harvest, firstly putting them through mill, which chipped them into tiny pieces and then through a lovely old-fashioned wooden press, a testament to the efficacy of traditional pressing methods. Fifteen minutes later, and we had nearly 20 litres – more than enough for decent batch. I couldn’t resist setting aside a few bottles of juice for the kids before adding a packet of cider yeast and screwing the venting lid onto our plastic brewing container.

In fact, it was easier than making the ale, but somehow it seemed more virtuous.

In a world of darkness

Jesus is the light Join us at The Community Church Henfield to celebrate this Christmas

07548 850828 www.communitychurchhenfield.org

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Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 31

Village Living • December 2010

18/11/2010 12:24

H R

December 2010 • Village Living

Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 32

F

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18/11/2010 12:24

33 • GARDENING

Have a Homegrown Christmas

w

e’re looking forward to taking delivery of our first batch of Christmas trees this year, more than ever, because we’ve looked far and wide to find a UK grower who raises trees in this country and cuts trees to order.

Finding a reliable source of British trees is harder than you might think, as the majority of trees sold in the UK come from Scandinavia. what’s more, many of those trees will have been cut as early as the end of September and kept in cold storage. No wonder they drop their needles as soon as they reach your nice warm living room.

This year we’ll be offering the traditional Christmas tree (Picea Abies).

It’s wonderfully aromatic, and looks authentic but does tend to drop its needles. More and more non-drop varieties are becoming available too.

As well as the popular Nordman Fir, we’ve plumped for the dense, bushy, blue-tinged Picea Glauca or Blue Spruce. My personal favourite though, is the new Fraser Fir (Picea Fraseri),

which is the only non-drop variety to have the aromatic fragrance of a traditional tree. we’ll also be selling a few trees in pots, which can planted out in the garden after Christmas. To be assured of success, choose a tree which is no bigger than 4 feet tall. Anything taller is likely to have been dug up and potted without enough room for the roots to work effectively. Help your tree to make the transition between warm living room and cold garden by letting it adjust in a shed or sheltered area before planting.

  

Hole Street, Ashington.

RH20 3DE. 01903 891466

 

Hardy exotic plants Architectural trees Bamboos Japanese maples Olive specialist

Friendly, expert advice Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 33

with many plants being dormant in winter, they make perfect gifts to send to distant friends and relatives. we’re busy packing, gift-wrapping and posting a wide range of interesting plants and shrubs all over the country.

Fruiting figs, grapevines, goji berry and kiwi-fruit bushes and sacred bamboo plants all travel well. Hand-raised in Sussex, we’ve given them a good start in life, before we send them off to their new homes.

Happy Christmas and New Year from Bruce and the Big Plant Nursery team.

www.bigplantnursery.co.uk 18/11/2010 12:24

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December 2010 • Village Living

Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 34

www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092

18/11/2010 12:24

Ta

35 • TAlK MONEy

Talk Money Claire Cook

from independent mortgage and financial advisers Talk Money, gives essential advice...

Flexible mortgages – to suit your lifestyle

M

ost people find it stressful and time consuming to arrange a mortgage to buy a property in the first place, never mind having to review the mortgage in a couple of years time.

Although a mortgage review is often much simpler than arranging your initial mortgage, some people would rather find a rate where they can happily stay for the whole duration of the mortgage term.

To help these people, some major lenders offer “lifetime tracker rates”.

These rates are variable, and are set at a certain percentage difference to the Bank of England base rate.

As an example, the Bank Base rate is currently 0.5%, your rate may be set at 3% above this. Therefore your initial rate would be 3.5%. The rate would alter each time the Bank of England change their base rate, but you would always be 3% above for the whole term of the mortgage.

Not only are the rates competitive, but the mortgages tend to be flexible to adapt to your changing lifestyle during the mortgage term. For example, many have no early repayment charges (or penalties), this allows you to overpay on your mortgage, meaning that you can repay your mortgage early. Most

also offer the facility to withdraw the overpayment at a later time, or to take payment holidays.

Others even have offset accounts linked to them. An offset account is an investment account linked to your mortgage. It is a place where you can stash your savings and rather than earning interest, the lender offsets interest charged to your mortgage. This means that rather than earning interest on your money, you are saving interest at the same rate you are paying on your mortgage. This is very tax efficient for higher rate taxpayers, as it saves you paying 40% tax on the interest you would otherwise be earning from your savings account.

Also, the ability to withdraw the money from the offset account at the time of your choice means that you can save interest, but still retain complete flexibility. Some people use these accounts save for tax bills. Others wish to do home improvements to their properties, and need to borrow the money on the initial mortgage.

However, many do not want to spend the money immediately, but use it gradually. An offset account is ideal for this, as you can borrow the amount of money you will eventually require, then pay back the home improvement

money into the offset account, taking withdrawals as and when you need them. This means that you are not paying interest on money until the actual time you need to spend it!

One major lender is also offering a free valuation on their lifetime tracker mortgage, this can also save you a large fee when you first purchase your property.

Every person’s needs are different, so these types of mortgages only suit some people. However, for the right person, these mortgages can not only make life easier, but can save a substantial amount of money over the mortgage term.

To find out what type of mortgage will suit you, to discuss remortgaging your current property or purchasing a new one to live in, please call me, Claire Cook and my team on 01273 224667. We offer a free initial consultation and would be very happy to help.

Buy to let mortgages are not regulated by the Finanicial Services Authority. Talk Money is a trading style of Best Practice IFA Group ltd, which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority. If you prefer to pay a fee for advice this option is available, the exact amount of the fee will depend on circumstances but we estimate it will be 0.5% of the loan amount. where a rate is quoted the rate will depend on individual circumstances and not all borrowers will qualify for acceptance of the loan (or similar).your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Independent Financial Advice for an Independent You For a free initial mortgage health check talk to us on 01403 330822

Mortgages Investments Pensions Insurance

e info@talkmoney.co.uk w www.talkmoney.co.uk

Talk Money Limited is trading style of Best Practice IFA Group Ltd, which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority. If you prefer to pay a fee for advice this option is available, the exact amount of the fee will depend on circumstances but we estimate it will be 0.5% of the loan amount. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Village AW.indd Talk Living Money15Ad1210 (Village Living)35 0909.indd 1

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tel 01273 492511 December 2010 • Village Living

Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 36

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18/11/2010 12:24

37 • MIND & BODy

Mind & Body Chris Jones Cognitive Therapist and Mind Coach, Southdowns Hypnotherapy

Panic Over!

M

any individuals experience panic attacks; usually relating to a perceived threat, either real or imagined. Although panic attacks are extremely unpleasant and frightening, they are invariably not lifethreatening. Sufferers often anticipate a panic attack happening and the anxiety that this causes compounds the original problem and to an extent makes an attack more likely to occur.

The tendency is for people to try and fight the attack and this often makes it worse. My approach with clients is to take the sting out of the concept by asking them to think of the attack as something that has a purpose in life, so to treat it as an entity; something that is just passing through the body.

This is then effected by the client being encouraged, under hypnosis, to say out loud something along the lines of ’ thank you for coming… sorry you can’t stay’. Although this probably sounds a bit daft, the effect is to reduce the fear of the attack happening, by trivialising it.

This is then backed up by suggestions that the client’s experience of the attacks will get weaker and weaker, as each day goes by and at the

same time will diminish in intensity.

This incorporates two classic trance phenomena, namely Sensory distortion and Time distortion.

Although this procedure will, in itself, generally immediately reduce, or eradicate the panic attacks, the underlying cause(s) needs also to be addressed to help the client get rid of the conditions that caused the attacks in the first place.

For more information about Hypnotherapy and Panic attacks, please contact: Chris Jones Hypnotherapist, NLP Master-Practitioner & Sportsmind Coach www.chrisjones.uk.com 01903 745606/07740 085101 Chris is a Cognitive Hypnotherapist, NLP Master Practitioner and Sports Performance Mind Coach.

He became involved with mind techniques while practicing martial arts in his younger days.

He subsequently became interested in the concept of using them to help people and found that Hypnotherapy provided the ideal tools for this work. He is based in Storrington, where he works alongside his wife, Cathy (also a Hypnotherapist), who specialises in weight-loss.

Chris Jones

Treatment of

DipChyp, HPD, NLP, MNCH

 phobias  weight & eating disorders

Cognitive Hypnotherapy & Sports Performance Mind Coaching

 anxiety & stress  compulsions & addictions  performance enhancement  healing & pain management

01903 745606 or 07740 085101 www.chrisjones.uk.com Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 37

18/11/2010 12:24

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  December 2010 • Village Living

Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 38

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18/11/2010 12:24

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Village Living 15 1210 AW.indd 39

Village Living • December 2010

18/11/2010 12:24

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