Village LIVING
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June 2010
Lifestyle | Community | Business
Steyning Bramber Beeding Ashington Washington Storrington Henfield Small Dole Ashurst Partridge Green
Surfs’ up Brave the
beach now
East Beach Café Littlehampton’s coolest café
Travelling Tales
Join a Steyning Festival walk
More bubbles please!
Hove Champagne Festival
WIN! Tickets to Hove Champagne Festival Quick & easy Spring recipes from Cromwells
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2 • BACK IN TIME
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3 • BACK IN TIME
Contents 5
Welcome to June
6-7
Village News & Diary
9
Your Wonderful Garden
11
Garden Wildlife
13
Travelling Tales
TRAVELLING TALES 13
Steyning Festival Walks 15-16
Surf’s Up Time to Brave the Beach
20-21
East Beach Café Littlehampton’s Coolest Café EAST BEACH CAFE 20
23
Cromwell’s Kitchen: Quick & Easy Spring
25
Sussex in Season: Strawberry Fields Forever
27
Drink Local: More bubbles please Hove Champagne Festival
29
Gardening: Thinking Big from the Big Plant Nursery
30
Talk Money: with Claire Cook
31
Mind & Body: You Are What You Think You Are
RECIPE 23
Where Can You Find Village Living? Village Living Magazine is delivered to 10,000 homes and businesses in 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
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.
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Welcome to June
I
have to admit that my head was turned by that first sunny spell of the year. It’s the only way I can explain agreeing to try windsurfing on a decidedly chilly May morning. Find out if I sank or swam on page 15.
Get Ready for an Oomoo Summer
With the worst of the winter over, it’s easy to forget about birds, bees and all manner of garden wildlife. Local wildlife expert, Liz Bell explains that they need our help more than ever (page 11). Steyning Festival kicks off the summer season this year with a packed programme of events. We joined local storyteller Jamie Crawford as he mapped out the route of one of his ‘storytelling walks’. From ancient folk stories to drovers’ tales, Jamie kept us entertained for 3 whole miles (page 13). But undoubtedly the highlight of my month was a visit to Littlehampton’s stunning East Beach Café. First class food, an iconic building and an inspirational owner make this café the coolest on the south coast and we’re lucky to have it right on our doorstep (page 20-21).
Melissa EMAIL ME AT melissa@villageliving.biz
P.S. Don’t forget to visit www.villageliving.biz or follow us on Twitter @villageliving
Congratulations: To Collette Searle of Ashington who wins April’s case of Hepworth ales
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Now that the sun is shining, we’ve been thinking about getting you ready for summer from the inside out. Although we love our chocolate treatments, our Therapy Rooms offer so much more. We have a new organic range of beauty products, including a brand new organic fake tan, where the active ingredients are all-natural. Let us pamper you in the salon or buy some to take home and try. We have quite a range of summer products and accessories on sale now, including eco-friendly Bill Brown bags, which I’m taking to the beach this year. Apply the finishing touch to your summer look with a coat or two of our new vegan nail varnish. With no petrochemicals or parabens, our new range is perfect for anyone with sensitive skin or brittle nails.
Think Colour This month, Becca & I spent the day at Hobbs Academy, picking up new cutting and colouring techniques and finding out about this summer’s hot new hair trends. We particularly liked the new pastel hair colours straight from the spring catwalk and the word on the street is that short cuts are in. Luckily, short cuts are Becca’s favourite thing, so if you feel like a change, you’ll be in safe hands. Julie x
Visit Oomoo Organic Hair Salon at www.oomoo.biz or call 01903 745616 High Street, Storrington RH20 4DJ
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66••BACK EVENTS IN TIME
Local author publishes new book
Horsham’s Kidz Stuff festival set to break records
U
pper Beeding-based writer, Mary Levett, has published a new book, entitled, Capital Letters. The book takes the form of a series of humorous letters to a friend, chronicling Mary’s experience of travelling around London over a 3-year period. Filled with comic anecdotes, the book will resonate with anyone who travels regularly to the capital city. Published by Melrose Books, Capital Letters can be ordered at all good bookshops.
CHILDREN’S AUTHOR ADDED TO STEYNING FESTIVAL LINEUP
W
ell-loved children’s author, Julia Donaldson, is a last-minute addition to the Steyning Festival programme. Her books include classics The Gruffalo, The Snail & the Whale and Stickman. Julia & her husband will be singing, telling stories and from What The Ladybird Heard at the Steyning Bookshop Garden Marquee at 4pm on Wednesday, 9th of June. Call 01903 812062 for more information.
T
he Kidz Stuff Festival returns to Horsham Park on June 4/5/6 with plenty of activities available to children of all ages and young-at-heart parents. As well as stage performances, competitions, sports sessions and fun play equipment on offer, this year there will be five official World Record Breaking attempts. Each day organisers will be attempting to beat the record for the most people dressed as story book characters (mums and dads can join in too) as well as going for the record of the most people in a bun fight, the most people in a wet sponge fight and the most people in a gunge fight. Register for a record attempt at www.kidzstuff.org.uk or pre-book your ticket on 01403 750220.
June 2010 • Village Living
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7 • VILLAGE BACK IN DIARY TIME
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 view a complete calendar of events or submit your own listing online. FARMERS’ MARKETS Ashington Farmers’, Artists’ & Makers’ Market – Fri 4th June. 9.30 – 13.30. Methodist Church, London Rd. Henfield – Fri 18th June. 9.00 – 13.00. Library car park. Horsham – Every Sat. 9.00 – 16.00. Carfax, Town centre. Pulborough – Sat 26th June. 9.00 – 12.00. Village Hall. Shoreham – Sat 12th June. 9.00 – 13.00. East Street. Steyning – Sat 5th June. 9.00 – 13.00. High St car park. West Chiltington – Sat 12th June. 9.00 – 12.00. Village Hall.
SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST COURSES Springwatch Festival Stanmer Park, Brighton Sunday 6th June. 10.00 – 17.00 Making the Most of Wild Food Woods Mill, Henfield Sunday, 13th June. 10.00 – 16.00 Discover your own wild food on an exploration of Woods Mill nature reserve. Members / concessions £32 / Non-members: £45 Booking essential. Please ring 01273 497561 or visit www.sussexwt.org.uk.
Worthing – Sat 26th June. 9.00 – 14.00. South Street Square. EVENTS 29TH MAY TO 14TH JUNE Steyning Festival A celebration of music, literature, performance, visual arts & walks. For more information, visit www.steyningfestival.co.uk or call 01903 812062 FRIDAY 18TH JUNE West Sussex Geological Society Presentation St Stephen’s Church, Angola Road, Worthing. 7.30pm Dr Sanjeev Gupta from Imperial College, London about “Island Britain: The formation of the English Channel”. Further information from 01903 209140 SATURDAY 19TH JUNE Sunflower Collection Henfield’s Friends of St Barnabas will be in prominent positions in Henfield with collection tins. Please give generously to this very worthy cause. SATURDAY 26TH JUNE Beeding & Bramber Village Fete Memorial Field, Beeding from 11.00am. In aid of the Primary School and Village Hall. Dog show, children’s Fair, model engineering, refreshment marquee, side stalls and classic vehicle show. Call 01903 813814 for further details or 01903 816978 for a stall. FREE entry and a great day out for the family.
SATURDAY 26TH JUNE Storrington Village Day Storrington Recreation Ground. 2.00pm to 9.00pm Classic Car Show and Parade, Funfair, Craft and Society stalls, Full programme of Arena events, Petworth Town Band, Medieval display, Amusements, Archery, Hot Air Balloon, refreshments including a Beer tent, and a musical evening. For further information please contact Ken Collins on 01903 740745. SATURDAY 26TH JUNE Midsummer Party at Rye Farm 07.30pm till late. Tickets £12 for adults £6 for children under 12. Available from Friends of St Barnabas, Jasmines Florist, Henfields St Barnabas shop. Price includes entertainment by local band “White Linz” playing popular music for all and a burger or hot dog produced on Rye’s organic farm and the ambiance of midsummer at a barn party. Pay bar by the BP Guild.
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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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www.care-south.co.uk S U S S E X D O W N I S PA R T O F C A R E S O U T H P R OV I D I N G Q UA L I T Y C A R E S E R V I C E S I N T H E S O U T H O F E N G L A N D H E A D O F F I C E : 3 9 C O M M E R C I A L R OA D, P O O L E , D O R S E T B H 1 4 0 H U T. 0 1 2 0 2 7 1 2 4 0 0
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9 • GARDEN BACK IN TIME DIARY
Your Wonderful Garden Louisa Bell from City and Country Landscapes looks at your garden at night...
Still in the dark?
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e’re moving towards the light evenings, when we feel almost Scandinavian as our hair lightens in the sunshine and we sit in our gardens until nine o’clock and can still see each other. I can argue the case for great garden lighting in the summer, when we use the garden more, have friends round for barbecues and sit out, put a couple of logs on an outdoor fire , bring out the guitar we haven’t touched since university and make our teenagers laugh. But lighting the garden in winter is just as important. After all, with so many wonderful glass doors across the back of houses nowadays, we look at black panes of glass from October until March as soon as the afternoon draws to a close. Garden lighting brings your garden into the house all year round and even the winter tracery of branches and bare stems can look stunningly architectural when lit from underneath. Every design job we do tends to contain an element of lighting, whereas ten years ago it was rarely specified. Gardens have become another room of the house, and lighting them is just like switching on the lamps in the sitting room. Lighting should be used in four ways: for security, safety, features and ambience. It’s no good thinking that those two big lights you’ve got on the wall of the house constitute garden lighting, unless you’re the kind of person that sits underneath a fluorescent strip in the kitchen. Sometimes, lighting can do more than one job. Up-lighting tall trees along your front path, using a motion sensor will mean the lights come on as you go out and come home. They light up if anyone else comes down the path and also, the trees will look fantastic. An override switch also allows you to put them on when you’re expecting visitors or just want your house to look lovely.
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Up-lighting features in the garden, such as water can also provide a stunning effect. Never under-estimate the power of reflection. Like putting a mirror opposite a window in a dark room, the reflective qualities will give the garden a magical night-time look. It’s imperative to work out lighting schemes at the beginning of a project. Armoured cable attached along the fence might be hidden by plants in the summer, but looks awful in the winter. Buy or specify the best fittings you can possibly afford, especially if you’re near the sea. These things can be expensive but a rusted light fitting won’t be much of a feature. I prefer using LED to halogens as, with normal usage, the bulbs need replacing about once every 24 years. Even though they’re more expensive initially, they pay for themselves in the long run – a bit like buying a cheap printer with huge ink costs. Lighting also needs to be used responsibly. There is little enough dark sky for us to enjoy the stars at night. A floodlit garden, for you and your neighbours, can be a source of annoyance. Keep your lighting to yourself and make it beautiful. If you’d like to plan your night garden, please let us know. Please call or ask for our brochure.
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More than 20 independent shops to explore...
www.cobblestonewalk.co.uk Village Living 9 0610 AW.indd 10
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11 • GARDEN BACK IN TIME WILDLIFE
Go Wild in Your Garden Find more info about caring for garden wildlife on the Sussex Wildlife Trust website at www.sussexwt.org.uk
W
ith winter behind us, it’s easy to assume that at this time of year, garden wildlife doesn’t need a helping hand. In fact, common garden insects, birds and animals need our help more than ever, as they are busy building nests and raising young and have little time to find high-energy foods. Now, they have a local champion in Liz Bell, who has just opened The Wildlife Garden Shop in Steyning’s Cobblestone Walk. The shop stocks all manner of specialist bird feeders, hedgehog shelters and a wide range of wildflowers, specially cultivated to attract bees and butterflies to the garden. With the well-documented decline in bee numbers across the UK, it’s more important than ever to make gardens welcoming places for even the solitary bees, who do not build communal nests but who play a vital
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role in pollinating garden plants and wild species. Liz has the perfect solution for solitary bees – a bee nest made out of sustainable wood and with snug holes for bees to shelter in. Hanging a solitary bee nest on a wall just above a flower bed in full sunlight will encourage bees to nest there and some species, like the leafcutter bees may even signal their presence by sealing their nesting holes with mud. Hedgehogs can also need a bit of TLC at this time of year. After a rough winter, many hedgehogs are still sleeping a lot during the day but those who have already left their winter burrows will need shelter throughout the summer particularly if the weather is very wet. Hedgehog shelters also reduce the risk of hedgehogs nesting under bonfires in the autumn. Contrary
to popular opinion, bread and milk is not easily digested by hedgehogs, but according to Liz, they are partial to a bit of cat food. Surprisingly, it’s not too late to attract nesting birds. Although many will already have build a nest, swallows and housemartins are only now arriving in the UK for the summer. Very tiny birds like wrens will enjoy a nesting box to shelter in and it’s common for dozens to huddle in together to stay warm on chilly days. Even if your nesting box isn’t used this summer, wild birds need time to get used to new structures and will certainly be eyeing it up for the following year. Pop into The Wildlife Garden Shop at Cobblestone Walk, High Street, Steyning or call Liz for advice about helping your garden creatures on 07903 218555.
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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 9 0610 AW.indd 12
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13 • STEYNING BACK IN TIME FESTIVAL WALK
Travelling Tales The Swan Wife One bright day a very long time ago, a hunter saw six swans on a lake. As he reached for his arrows the swans shed their feathers and six beautiful young women appeared. They ran off into the woods laughing and while they were gone, the hunter slipped one of the feathered cloaks into his bag…
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alking and live performance have a rich joint history in Britain, harking back to the days of the travelling troubadour singing for his supper or the cherished folk tales of gypsy communities. These days you are more likely to find walkers with an iPod in one hand and a phone in the other. Be thankful then, for traditional storyteller, Jamie Crawford, who is leading several ‘storytelling walks’ as part of this year’s popular Steyning Festival, now in it’s 4th year. Jamie is set to lead two different story walks, A Way Through the Wood, a delightful ramble through the Steyning countryside and the intriguingly named, ‘Dusk At Daylands’, which starts and finishes at Daylands Farm near Ashurst,
where I joined Jamie and walk leader, Vivien Lyth, one morning to map out a route for the walk. Derek & Vicki Crush’s organic farm is a slice of pastoral splendour. Their land contains ancient woodland, currently carpeted with bluebells, wandering streams, lush meadows and a picturesque pond next to a traditional farmhouse with roses round the door. In short, it provides the perfect backdrop for a scenic walk and mysterious country tales. As we enjoy our gentle 3-mile ramble, it’s obvious that Jamie sees his surroundings quite differently to most people. A hollowed-out tree stump, just big enough for Jamie to hide in, gets him thinking about woodland spirits and the discovery of an old drovers’ track running through the woods sparks a lively discussion about traditional drovers’ tales. As we pass by the pond, farmer Derek Crush picks out the song of a nearby nightingale telling its own musical story and Jamie’s thoughts turn to swan maidens. We’re back at the farmhouse and I know I’ll just have to come back later to find out how the story ends.
Find out how the story ends by booking your place on a Steyning Festival Walk. Book a place on a Festival Walk on 01903 879439 and view the Steyning Festival programme online at www.steyningfestival.co.uk. www.villageliving.biz | tel: 01903 814092
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June 2010 • Village Living
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15 • TRY BACK SOMETHING IN TIME NEW
Surf’s Up
A
firm believer in not casting a ‘clout’ until May is out, my grandmother would have been horrified to see me not only without a vest, but actually contemplating jumping into Hove Lagoon on a cold Monday morning in early May. It seemed like a great idea during April’s unseasonably warm spell, but standing at the water’s edge with a chilly breeze blowing in from the sea, I’m struggling to muster much enthusiasm for the task at hand. Still, I am prepared to be convinced and my hunky-looking instructor, Neil, dons his wetsuit so cheerily that I am shamed into going along with it. Lagoon Watersports is quite an operation, with fully-equipped
Editor, Melissa Love, braves Hove Lagoon watersports bases at both Brighton Marina and Hove Lagoon. If it floats on the water, they probably offer a course in it. Yachts, dinghies, power boats, fancy motor launches and the ominoussounding Thunder Cats were all on the menu, but windsurfing presumably offered the only sure-fire opportunity to give me a good dunking. And I’ve got to admit, I was tempted by the cool factor and the opportunity to redeem myself. To date, my only experience of windsurfing was being ignominiously towed back in to shore again and again on a Greek beach holiday in 2004. I’m not sure it counts as ‘experience’ as such but I know one end of windsurfer from another and can’t believe I can
possibly be worse than last time. Before we get started, there’s the kit to get into. After 15 minutes of struggling my way into a full-body wetsuit, spray jacket and life vest, I might look like a little round black pudding, but I’m certainly warm. Neil, of course, has got a really cool-looking wetsuit and I’m pretty sure he didn’t spend 15 sweaty minutes trying to squeeze into it. OK, so I’m not doing so well on the cool front, but our first lesson, on the dry-land simulator goes well. It’s fairly easy to balance and I quickly get the hang of pulling the mast up hand over hand, turning the sail to catch the wind and shuffling my feet into the right position to turn the board around. In fact, I’ve been so busy concentrating that I’ve forgotten that I’m going to have to do this for real, in actual water. Neil picks out manageable-looking beginner boards and sails for us and we slip gingerly into the lagoon. Brilliant, it’s only thigh-deep. Standing on my board, I follow Neil’s instructions to the letter. Surely that dunking is imminent? To my amazement, my sail catches the wind and I’m off, heading confidently across to the other side of the lagoon. It doesn’t take long to get the hang of it and soon we are zipping companionably backing and forth across the water.7569411 Neil can’t believe I 0800 haven’t fallen in yet and neither can I. In
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16 • TRY BACK SOMETHING IN TIME NEW
fact, he looks a bit disappointed. ‘I can’t help being a natural’, I shout across to him smugly, and of course, fall straight off the back of the board, startling two white swans nearby. There goes any remaining shred of cool, and now the falls come thick and fast as I get progressively bolder. Amazingly, I’m not cold at all. It’s not attractive, but the wetsuit is certainly doing its job and I’m having a great time. After lunch, we walk over to the beach to check the sea conditions. It turns out to be a bit too choppy for a beginner to cope with and I’m secretly relieved, but it turns out Neil has a special challenge up his sleeve for us. He has been preparing the strangest looking windsurfer I have ever seen. It’s a tandem windsurfer with two sails attached to one board. How cosy. I can’t help thinking that Neil must be a bit mad to share a board with a complete beginner like me who is as likely to knock him off the other end as sail it. And indeed, that’s exactly what happens. Within two minutes I overbalance, whack Neil with my sail and we both hit the water together. He’s so cool it’s probably the first time he’s ever fallen in. Still, he’s very good natured about it, even though I seem to be re-enacting my Greek holiday windsurf shame of 2004. We are slowly getting blown into one corner of the lagoon and I have visions of having to be towed back the clubhouse, but just when it’s looking a bit hopeless, we (I) seem to get the hang of it and we start tacking back up the lake fairly efficiently. We’re not elegant (indeed a passing friend stops to point and laugh at us) but we’re perfectly synchronised and we glide over the clubhouse, where with a final flourish, I fall off.
Hove Lagoon location offers adult courses and kids’ water sports lessons from the age of six upwards, including summer kids’ activity weeks. Join the exceptional ‘unlimited hire club’ and get to use all the latest kit plus unlimited use of dinghies, SUP and Surfboards for just £480 for the whole year, or go for full membership of the water gym for single, group or family membership. Taster sessions to have a go include three hours of Sailing or Windsurfing for £35 or three hours of Kayak or Stand Up Paddle for £25.
SAMnews By Josie Bryan
FREE Open Day at SAM – Saturday 19th June from 10am – 3pm
The Sussex Academy of Music (SAM) in Shoreham-bySea provides music tuition to people of ALL ages in ANY instrument! From piano and classical guitar to beatboxing and DJ’ing, we teach classical and contemporary music tailored to how you want to learn. We also run exciting and fun workshops, have a state of the art recording studio and teach in schools across Sussex. At our FREE open day, you can come and see our unique facilities, including our themed tuition rooms, our recording studio and our fantastic LIVE ROOM! Listen to LIVE MUSIC, watch demonstrations from our tutors and there will even be a summer barbeque to enjoy. Surprise musical celebrities will be at the event, so make sure you come along to meet them! You will be able to join in with some brilliant interactive workshops, try out lots of different instruments and even have a go at recording! Our tutors will be available to chat about the different types of lessons we offer and how we can help you to get involved in music. Everyone that comes along to this fun event will not only receive a special discount code to use on any of our services, but will also receive a FREE musical goody-bag to take home, and a voucher for a FREE first music lesson! This is going to be a fun-filled summer event for all the family, so come down and see us at the Riverside Business Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea! To find out more about the Sussex Academy of Music or to arrange your FREE 1st LESSON, visit www.sussexmusic.com or alternatively call us on FREEphone: 0800 756 9411 or 01273 465122.
Call Lagoon Watersports on 01273 42 48 42 or visit www.lagoonwatersports.co.uk
June 2010 • Village Living
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10/05/2010 00:19:17 Village Living • June 2010
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We are quite friendly
so get in touch...
June 2010 • Village Living
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hannah@the-tea-set.co.uk
07909 608 311
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pd kitchens
all the ingredients for a perfect kitchen
Horsham’s largest kitchen showroom More than 20 kitchens on display
Beautiful designs at sensible prices Exceptional & friendly service Hundreds of styles to choose from On-site workshop & craftsmen Free design service Free carparking
Oakhurst Business Park, Southwater, Horsham RH13 9RT telephone 01403 732259 ▪www.pdkitchens.co.uk
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20 • CAFé BACK review IN TIME
East Beach Café Littlehampton
V
isit Littlehampton’s official tourism website and you won’t find a single mention of its most famous attraction apart from a coy reference to ‘stunning architecture’ and an image or two. Perhaps it a measure of how deeply the East Beach Café has divided public opinion in the town, that the council isn’t shouting from the rooftops about the iconic building which has won it a hatful of accolades, including Vogue’s “coolest seaside resort” award. It’s hard to believe that the Vogue judging panel has actually paid a visit to Littlehampton, because lovely as it is, it couldn’t be labelled ‘cool’. That honour must surely go to the landmark building gracing its windswept East Beach, the brainchild of owner Jane Wood and designed by architect Thomas Heatherwick, dubbed by The Times ‘the most creative mind in Britain’. The inspiration for the design was a piece of driftwood but it references many nautical shapes – sand dunes, waves and rocks – and the interior feels like the kind of snug cave you might stumble upon at the side of a windswept beach. Made from mild steel, rusted and coated in a special oil to protect it from the elements, it is a giant jigsaw of hundreds of flat ribbons of steel, built over nine months by two men. Like the hull of a ship it is a selfsupporting structure and is an extremely complicated piece of engineering. It was made in Littlehampton in four separate pieces, then brought on site and welded together. The whole process from commissioning the architect to completion took 18 months. Although the East Beach Café has been open since the building’s completion in 2007, somehow I have
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managed not to pay it a visit before now and perhaps it’s because I have been wondering if a simple lunch can possibly live up to the hype. The day I finally made it to Littlehampton was a typically blustery early spring day, with the sun popping in and out and whitecaps on the waves. And yet, the shape of the building and the interplay of light and shadow on its rust-coloured curves was much more striking than I had anticipated. Indeed, local writer and digital artist, Gary Marlowe, calls it his muse and I can see what he means.
It almost reminds of another famous monolith, Ayers Rock in Australia, which changes colour according to the season and time of day. Rather brilliantly, the waves of the building are replicated inside and the management has been brave enough to leave it unadorned, letting the magnificent view speak for itself. And so to the food. Can one meal possibly stand up to such architectural grandeur? The menu is mercifully brief – six starters, mains and desserts and some imaginative specials on the board – and the emphasis on fresh fish and locally sourced produce shines through. I’m delighted to see new season asparagus given pride of place on the specials menu as well as wild garlic and a fillet of river trout, contrasting nicely with the pollock, seabass and coley on show elsewhere. I dally briefly with the mussel, saffron & salmon chowder and the cockle, bacon & cider linguine is tempting, but in the end, I can’t go past the salt and pepper squid with chilli. Meltingly tender with the kind of crunchy coating which indicates some special ingredient (Panko breadcrumbs apparently), the perfectly balanced kick of chilli comes at the end. My companion’s potted crab is
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pronounced ‘really crabby’ – I assume in a good way, and we get stuck into our more traditional main courses of Moules Marinieres and beer-battered fish and crabs. Before I even taste my moules, I’m powerless to resist stealing a chip. They are golden wonders – light, fluffy and no doubt double-cooked in the manner of Heston Blumenthal. Perfect for dunking in the broth of my moules in fact. It’s a lovely broth; so creamy and savoury that in less polite company I would certainly have picked up the bowl and drunk straight from it. Suffice to say, we polished off the lot and would have started again at the beginning if not for the arrival of charming and elegant owner, Jane Wood. Rather amazingly, Jane has never run a restaurant before and bought the café in its previous incarnation to make sure that its redevelopment would do justice to the wonderful natural setting. She’s passionate about service and about detail – to get a feel for her potential clientele she spent a year working in the old café before it was torn down – and her personal style is such that she undoubtedly has an innate feel for creating a stylish space and making it comfortable. The friendly front-of-house team are a testament to this. Astutely, she realised from the beginning that a building like this
“For a photographer, the building is a fantastic subject. There are times when it’s dark and foreboding, others when it appears to be sporting a tan. When it snows, white lines accentuate the curves, when it rains it’s like it’s glistening with sweat. Like a chameleon, its ever changing appearance never ceases to inspire.” Local digital artist, Gary Marlowe. would need serious talent in the kitchen and that serious talent, in this case Ritz-trained, is expensive. Like any other destination restaurant, the café is open seven days a week and stays open throughout the winter. It’s a strategy that’s obviously paid off because even though the rest of the Littlehampton’s boardwalk is deserted, the East Beach Café is bustling and that’s on a chilly May afternoon. Although I’ve probably come late to the party, the opportunity to eat the best of the British seaside inside a piece of modern art, will have me returning again and again this summer.
East Beach Café, The Promenade, Littlehampton, BN17 5GB To make a reservation, tel 01903 731903 or visit www.eastbeachcafe.co.uk.
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22 • BACK IN TIME
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23 • BACK IN TIME
W
hen spring is in the air, my thoughts always turn to Asian flavours – the perfect match for locally caught fish and the first of the oriental spring greens. In this dish, I have used organic sea trout, but most fish would work well, including seabass, salmon & mullet.
Organic Sea Trout with Sticky Rice, sautéed Pak Choi in a Chilli Dressing
Nick Cain
y Quick & Eas
If you can get hold of it, sushi rice has a natural stickiness, but any short grain white rice will do the trick. Put your rice on to cook, following the instructions on the packet. In the meantime, make your chilli dressing, by combining the dressing ingredients. Blanch the pak choi quickly in boiling water and sauté in a little olive oil and sesame oil for flavouring. Add a squeeze of light soy sauce at the end. Saute the fish skin side down until golden and crispy turn over and cook for a further minute or so. Serve on the rice, drizzle over dressing and garnish with a little extra chopped coriander and a wedge of lime.
(Serves 4) 250g sushi or short-grain rice 2 heads pak choi sesame oil light soya sauce
For the dressing 5 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce 1 tablespoon fish sauce 2 tablespoons light soy sauce 1 tablespoon water chopped fresh coriander a squeeze of fresh lime
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25 • SUSSEX IN SEASON
Strawberry fields forever Nick Hempleman Owner of The Sussex Produce Company, award winning produce store in Steyning, West Sussex.
E
nglish strawberries are the epitome of summer and yet it is a strange fact that they are most prolific at the end of May and the beginning of June. By the time Wimbledon has come along the main season is all but over. There are a number of ‘late season’ varieties but they usually start producing in July and there is a gap when everyone expects to see English strawberries.The motto of this story
is get them when you see them. Like so many of the things I seem to write about, English strawberries have a short season and it is an interesting question whether their brevity adds to their allure. Probably. Egyptian strawberries in December exude a rather wanton and easy attitude. They seem to say “have me when you want me” and this attitude only ever leads us to take them for granted. There are many wonderful ingredient combinations that great chefs suggest for strawberries. Basil, red wine, balsamic vinegar. Nigel Slater swears by cracked black pepper and he’s never wrong. Call me boring but I can’t help thinking that the tiniest sprinkling of caster sugar and some double cream is as much as they need. If you are the frugal sort and have saved a vanilla
pod when you’ve used its seeds, add it to your sugar jar and it will infuse the sugar with a subtle fragrance that will all add to this simple and sublime dessert. Simplicity is an under-rated virtue these days and it has gone out of fashion because so much of what is produced is tasteless and bland. Ingredients without taste need all sorts of exotic seasoning to make them interesting. We buy local produce grown by small scale farmers because of the twin benefits of ensuring total freshness (berries are picked in the morning and in the shop that afternoon), and also that we can get varieties grown for taste rather than looks. As the Beatles sang: “Living is easy with eyes closed… Strawberry fields forever.”
Monthly offer: Buy a punnet of strawberries and save £1 when you buy a tub of clotted cream to accompany them. Name: .................................................................................................................................................................................................. Postcode: .......................................................................................................................................................................................... Name and postcode is used for marketing analysis only. You will not receive any marketing form us as a result and we will not share your details with anyone else. This offer is subject to availability and is vaild only for the month of June 2010 with an accompanying coupon.
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Independent Mortgage Advice Richard is happy to meet you in the comfort of you own home and his tailored solution will be presented in a comprehensive manner and reflect his expertise in the different areas above.
Independent Mortgage Adviser, Richard Lucy is based in Henfield, West Sussex and is a member of the Finance Planning Group. Richard has over 20 years experience in financial services. During this time Richard has taken various financial planning exams as well as completing an MBA through the Open University in 2004.
If you would like to explore the ways in which you and your family could benefit from a meeting with Richard you should arrange a no obligation meeting at a convenient time.
Richard is a specialist in residential mortgages, buy to let mortgages, lifetime mortgages, protection and insurance. He is experienced in providing support for a range of clients, recognising that your needs are important and specific to you as an individual. To understand the features and risks of a lifetime mortgage, ask for a personalised illustration.
Richard Lucy Independent Mortgage Adviser Specialist Lifetime Mortgage Adviser Protection Adviser Office – 01444 449200 Mobile – 07824 595503 richard.lucy@financeplanning.co.uk
Our aim as an organisation is to understand you, your situation, your goals and your ambitions. Richard will listen and work with you to find an appropriate financial solution to meet your needs. He is patient and approachable and able to explain the importance of mortgage and protection planning at a pace to suit you.
To book a no obligation appointment with Richard Lucy please call the numbers above or 0845 602 4260. Call charges may vary. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Taking out a lifetime mortgage could affect your tax position, your eligibility for means-tested benefits and ability to move or sell your property. We do not normally charge a fee but depending on your circumstances a fee of up to 1.5% of the mortgage amount may be charged. For lifetime mortgages, a fee of £499.00 will be charged on application.
June 2010 • Village Living
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17/5/10 15:53:11
27 • DRINK LOCAL
Drink Local _Bubbles in Hove
I
’ve got a confession to make. This month, whilst BeerMatt was at a beer festival, I’m afraid I was tempted away to investigate a glamorous rival event, the Hove Champagne Festival, which comes to Hove Lawns on the 4th and 5th June. With over 50 champagnes to try, tutored tastings and a chance to buy heavily discounted champagne, and VIP tickets on offer, can you blame me? What sealed the deal was an invitation to enjoy a private tasting with organiser Louise Murie and one of Brighton’s most talented chefs, Sam Metcalfe, owner of the acclaimed Seven Dials Restaurant and more recently Sam’s of Brighton. Sam’s restaurants, as well as the glamorous Riddle & Finn’s Champagne & Oyster Bar, will be cooking tasting portions of their signature dishes throughout the two-day festival. With dishes around the £5 mark and the opportunity to buy the world’s finest champagnes in 30ml sample size glasses, the festival offers the opportunity to live the high life for a few hours without spending a fortune. Even the standard entry ticket at £12,
is an absolute bargain, including a commemorative champagne flute, two tasting-size glasses of champagne and a tutored tasting session. The event is the brainchild of Brighton resident and accomplished festival organiser, Louise Murie, who is also responsible for the highly successful London-based Toast festivals, now in their 10th year. As soon as she saw Hove Lawns with a backdrop of elegant Regency buildings and sea views, she knew she wanted to design an event to make the most of the unique location. “Wherever you are at the festival, glass of champagne in hand, you will have great sea views to enjoy”, she tells me. Particularly exciting are the Live Theatre events where some of the world’s best known champagne houses, like Perrier Jouet, will be guiding festival-goers through such mysteries as the difference between vintage
and non-vintage. To accompany the delicious grilled English asparagus with herb butter that Sam has whipped up for me on the spot, we are tasting an organic, biodynamic 1997 Blanc de Noir from boutique grower, Christophe Mignon. In other words, something a bit special. It’s lovely – made exclusively from the red grapes of pinot meunier, it’s got plenty of bubbles but also the bite that is often missing from chardonnay-only champagnes. I’m looking forward already to raising a glass or two. Just don’t tell BeerMatt… Hove Champagne Festival are offering a generous £3 off a standard entry ticket (£12). Just use the code VILLAGE when you book online or by telephone on 0871 230 3449. Book online at www.hovechampagnefestival.com.
Win tickets to the Champagne Festival! WIN 2 tickets to a session of the Hove Champagne Festival by answering the following question: Name 2 grape varieties commonly used to make champagne. Competition closes 3rd June, so be quick! Answers to info@villageliving.biz or to the address at the front of the magazine.
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H R
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29 • GARDENING
Take Cover
A
t the first hint of sun, most people I know head straight for the garden, to enjoy their own little patch of nature. The problem is, after a hard winter, you might find a few shrubs haven’t survived, leaving you with gaps and a little less privacy than you might like. If this was the 1970s, you’d probably be thinking about planting a Leylandii, a nice enough evergreen, but liable to get completely out of control if you don’t prune it regularly, hence its reputation as a neighbourly relationshipwrecker. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives these days when it comes to planting trees and shrubs for screening. One of my favourites is the elegant Ligustrum japonicum or Japanese Privet with dark glossy green leaves and fragrant white flowers in late summer. It’s perfect for small gardens as its slim trunk takes up little space and it can be planted close to walls and fences without causing any subsidence. If you have a single gap to fill and want a real showstopper, try a Magnolia
It’s not always about creating a little privacy. Sometimes, you simply want a tree or shrub that can break up a tree line grand flora or Bull bay magnolia. This has very large, dark green glossy leaves with a curious brown felting on the underside. Unlike most other magnolias, the bull bay produces very large, creamy white, lightly scented flowers over a period of several months from mid-summer. Of course, it’s not always about creating a little privacy. Sometimes, you simply want a tree or shrub that can break up a tree line without blocking out any precious sunshine. With their papery bark and silvery green leaves,
Hole Street, Ashington. RH20 3DE. 01903 891466
precious sunshine. eucalyptus trees are perfect for this. Eucalyptus gunnii or cider gum is the most commonly grown Eucalypt in this country. It is extremely vigorous and can achieve over 2 metres growth a year giving you a substantial screen in no time. Of course you might want to just enjoy the view!
Hardy exotic plants Architectural trees Bamboos Japanese maples Olive specialist
Friendly, expert advice Village Living 9 0610 AW.indd 29
without blocking out any
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30 • TALK MONEY
Talk Money
Claire Cook from independent mortgage and financial advisers Talk Money, gives essential advice...
Predictions for interest rates
I
am writing this article on Election Day, 6th May. Normally the interest rate decision would have been made today by the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), but the decision has been postponed to Monday 10th May. By the time you read this article you will know the outcome of the election, and also what the interest rate decision has been. The Bank of England were given the power to set interest rates in 1997. This was a major reform by the Labour Government. The reform took the politics out of our interest rate decisions and put the decision firmly into the hands of the Bank’s committee. The Government felt that Ministerial control of the rates was not helping long term economic stability; they wanted to end the boom and bust. We have seen that in the lead up to this election, the Bank has kept rates stable, in fact they have remained at their lowest
0.5% for 14 months now. So, now the General Election is over, what are the predictions? It is widely anticipated that rates will remain low at least until the end of 2010. Many economists believe that the rate will not rise until 2011, feeling that any interest rate rise could have a damaging effect on our fragile recovery going forward. So if they are right, this is good news for all those on tracker or standard variable rate mortgages, rates could remain low for some time still. Keep in mind that these are only predictions. Some cautious borrowers are already taking fixed rates to secure their payments for the next few years. Fixed rates are currently higher than the variable, so you would pay a premium to fix. This has led to many just sticking to the lower variable rate for the time being. Interest rates on offer from the lenders seem to have stabilised over the past few months. Deals are always changing but things seem to have settled. This certainly makes it easier to deal with in terms of finding the right deals, they no longer seem to be withdrawn from under your feet, but are the lenders easier to deal with? The answer is no!
If you are applying for a mortgage soon, you may find you have to jump through a few hoops. Even if you have a large deposit and seem to be a low risk borrower. Lenders still want all of their paperwork and their boxes ticked. So don’t be shocked if you are asked for proof of everything in terms of your financial position. This could include payslips, P60, accounts, proof of deposit, bank statements, the list goes on. If you want a stress-free mortgage application and a quick offer, it would be wise to dig out all of these things before you meet with your adviser. The more you can give the lender upfront the quicker the process will be. For advice on mortgages or any other financial issue, please call me Claire Cook on 01273 224667, I would be very happy to help. We also offer independent financial advice on pensions, investments and protection. 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.
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31 • MIND & BODY
Mind & Body Chris Jones Cognitive Therapist and Mind Coach, Southdowns Hypnotherapy
You are what you think you are
T
he experience of the recent election reminds me about how people’s opinions are created based on their individual perceptions of the world around them. Our perceptions are formed by such things as our experiences in life, our values and attitudes; coupled with personality traits, such as introvert/extrovert.etc. Of all the information coming in from our major senses: hearing seeing touch, we interpret what this means to us. Also, once we have made a decision, we find all the evidence to support that decision. My mother, for example, blames Messrs Blair and Brown for all the woes in the world. Expat friends of mine, living in Spain, say ‘England is finished’; ‘The weather is awful’; ’How can you live here? I find myself saying, mostly to myself: ‘Just how beautiful is the countryside around here’; ’The weather is actually ok and rarely too hot’ and many other reasons that justify my decision to stay in England. None of the above is really a problem, but many people internalise issues, which can cause anxiety and ultimately lead to depression and/or social problems. Clients come to me with fixed views about themselves. Many of these are created early in life. For
xact age.
15:18
example, I had a client who came to me believing that she did not deserve to have friends. This belief occurred after she had been bullied over a period of time; possibly because she was both intelligent and attractive. Hypnotherapy is about identifying what is causing the negative thoughts and helping the client to re-evaluate those thoughts in a way that leads to them changing their perception of themselves. As you look at the picture, which side of the mirror are you? If you would like to make any changes to this, please contact me.
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.
“Problems are created, not by events, but by people’s perception of those events” – Epicetus 100AD. Visit: www.chrisjones.uk.com or contact him on 01903 745606.
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 9 0610 AW.indd 31
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