PL Magazine - January 2015

P L

M a g a z i n e

| FA S H I O N | H E A LT H & B E AU T Y | FA M I LY | H O M E S & G A R D E N S | P R O P E R T Y |

JANUARY 2015

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Your lifestyle magazine for Plymouth & surrounding areas

HEART WARMERS ALPINE RECIPES TO BEAT THE CHILL

In the stars WHAT’S COMING UP IN THE YEAR AHEAD?

PUT THE GLAM INTO GLACIAL HOW TO LOOK GOOD ON THE SLOPES

| M O T O R I N G | T R AV E L | F O O D & D R I N K | O U T & A B O U T | S O C I A L D I A R Y | JANUARY COVER.indd 1

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CONTENTS

22 PEOPLE

FAMILY

6 LAURA PLANE

30 SURVIVING DIVORCE

The Pride of Plymouth

Special feature

8 JENNY AYRTON

32 HOBBIT HABIT

Glass artist

Designer’s inspiration

12 SUMMER BRIGHT

34 HOROSCOPES

Saxophonist

Your year ahead

FASHION

36 IN THE STARS Astronomical excitement

14 SNUGGLE UP Sheepskin and fur

HOMES & GARDENS

16 SKI SENSATION

38 DRAB TO FAB

Hot looks for the slopes

Get the shabby chic look

20 LOOKING GOOD!

40 ART DECO

Great fitness outfits

Classic looks

22 STAR DESIGNER

42 AGAPANTHUS

Alice Vandy

A blue beauty

HEALTH & BEAUTY

TRAVEL

24 ANGELIC BEAUTY

Discover Quebec

44 FRENCH CANADA

Secrets revealed

26 RESOLUTIONS? Wise choices for 2015

28 CELEBRITY SECRETS How they stay healthy

FOOD & DRINK 46 ALPINE DELIGHTS Winter warmers

47 NATURAL DETOX Plants that heal

48 BURNS NIGHT All you need to know

OUT & ABOUT 50 CLEAR THE COBWEBS

follow us /PLMagPlymouth @PLMagPlymouth COVER: JOHN ALLEN

Inspiring locations PUBLISHER: Paul Burton 01752 293045 ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Fiona Stoddart THE HERALD: 01752 293000 For more contact details see page 82

51 TOP 6 EVENTS What to do this month

52 SOCIAL DIARY What to do this month

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44

Happy New Year!

T

08

he excitement of Christmas has passed but there is so much to look forward to in the year ahead.

And while putting together this month’s edition of PL it occurred to me just how maligned January can often be.

The start of the month brings the opportunity to review our lives and make some resolutions.

But these don’t necessarily have to be about depriving ourselves of the things we love. It’s also a great chance to resolve to do more of the good things we like; enjoying our free time, seeing friends and trying new hobbies and activities.

If you need a little inspiration, just read on. We’ve got our top six places to blow away the Christmas cobwebs, a guide to skiing in French Canada and our pick of fantastic ski wear, fitness clothing, cosy sheepskin and fur.

If you are planning a New Year detox we’ve got some recipes that can help you refresh your inner being – without sacrificing taste. But PL Magazine wouldn’t be the same without some deliciously naughty recipes. So writer Louise Daniel reveals her favourite Alpine food while I have some hints and recipes for celebrating Burns Night.

And we’re taking a look at the stars. Not only do we have an astrologer’s guide to what lies in store for you in 2015, but we’ve also been talking to a city astronomer to find out what excitement the planets promise for star-gazers this year.

But the highlight of this edition, for me, is the people we have profiled this month. From incredible breast cancer campaigner Laura Plane to musician Summer Bright and designer Alice Vandy, each has plenty to inspire us to pursue our dreams in the year ahead.

Clare Jardine

46

Clare Jardine – PL Magazine

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PEOPLE

LAURA AT THE PRIDE OF PLYMOUTH AWARDS

Laura’s style is a force to reckon with LAURA PLANE HAS JUST BEEN NAMED THE PRIDE OF PLYMOUTH FOR HER INCREDIBLE DETERMINATION WHILE FIGHTING CANCER. PL TEAMED UP WITH DEBENHAMS TO TREAT HER TO A FANTASTIC MAKEOVER, AS RACHAEL DODD REPORTS

L

aura Plane has a distinctive style to match her vibrant personality. Recently named the Pride of Plymouth for her tireless campaigning to raise awareness of breast cancer, the 35-year-old sparkled as she collected her award.

Laura has been battling cancer since 2009 but in that time she has also raised more than £30,000 for breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel!

As well as raising cash, Laura has given countless talks encouraging young women to regularly check their breasts for signs of cancer.

Awareness is a cause close to Laura’s heart as six years ago, aged just 29, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She found a lump in her breast but it didn’t occur to her that at such a young age this was the first sign of cancer.

Doctors assured her that it was probably nothing and that she should come back in a month to rule out any hormonal changes. With the lump still there a month later she was sent to the hospital for tests.

When Laura returned to the doctors they told her there were three lumps in her left breast measuring 9, 7 and 3cm.

“I was young so they threw everything at me,” Laura said, “I had to have a mastectomy, really strong chemo and radiotherapy. Then I had reconstructive surgery and they removed my left breast, too.”

Despite her aggressive treatments, in 2012 Laura received the devastating news that her

cancer had spread to her spine and ribs. It is now secondary, incurable cancer.

She’s on medication and although her cancer will never go away it has been stable for more than nine months.

Laura said: “When I tell people it’s never going to go away, they realise that by doing something as simple as checking yourself you could save your life. Hopefully it’s an easy message to get across.

People can see that, because I didn’t check, the future isn’t what it should’ve been for me.“ Laura’s efforts have caught the attention of the national and local press but she isn’t fazed by it.

She said: “I don’t see it as anything special. I just don’t want anyone to be in my position really. If only I’d known about CoppaFeel! when I was 29 I might not be in this position now.

“I even hate having my photo taken, and I hate being on camera and listening to myself, but I’ve got used to it because hopefully even if one person sees it that’ll make a difference.“ And what a difference she’s making - Laura gave three talks in October alone for Breast Cancer Awareness Month at City College Plymouth. Her message made a real impact on the teenagers: “They were really responsive and tweeting about it,” said Laura. “At the end this group of girls, who I thought hadn’t been listening the whole time, were saying they wanted to raise money for CoppaFeel! and put shaker tins in the salon.”

Laura’s ability to inspire has also led to marathon running. She completed the Bath and Plymouth half marathons in 2012 and 120 people have pledged to run the Plymouth half with her for CoppaFeel! in 2015.

Laura’s husband runs with her and together they are a fundraising team. Laura said: “None of this would be possible without my husband. He does so much and keeps me going a lot of the time. I even make him do the running, which he hates – I couldn’t ask for anyone better really.“ At the Pride of Plymouth awards ceremony Laura was described as a “beacon of hope for all those who live with cancer and a true inspiration to the city of Plymouth.”

Winning the city award came at the end of an incredible year. She has dedicated her time to fundraising for breast cancer awareness and in the process she’s trekked Machu Picchu, been nominated for a Pride of Britain Award and met David Cameron.

Laura said: “This year’s been pretty amazing

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LAURA WITH DIANE GILES

THE PERSONAL SHOPPER

LAURA WITH DEBENHAMS PERSONAL SHOPPER DIANE GILES

really, the things we’ve done and experienced – it’s definitely a year I’m not going to forget.”

To treat Laura, PL teamed up with Debenhams to give her a personal shopping experience and a Dior makeover.

Her personal shopper for the day, Diane Giles, instantly recognised Laura’s sense of style and inimitable sparkle.

Diane said: “Laura was absolutely amazing. I knew I LAURA would get on with her – she’s RECEIVES HER such a lovely flamboyant AWARD person. We just giggled all the way through; I took to her like I’d known her for years. It’s been a real pleasure.”

Laura was left feeling like a celebrity after her £200 shop. “It was so much fun!

I really enjoyed it,” she said. “I love shopping so having someone helping me

choose things and giving advice was great.

Diane was lovely, too.

“It was also really nice getting my makeup done by Dior. I felt like a star. It was so kind of PL and Debenhams to organise this for me for winning the Pride of Plymouth.”

Diane Giles has been a personal shopper for 12 years and loves her job: “I just adore it,” she says. It’s very challenging but I don’t look upon it as a job - basically I look upon it as meeting nice people.

“When a customer comes in I introduce myself and welcome them to the service. I explain that it’s a free service, it’s also a service where they’re under no obligation.

“I have a little chat to them and then listen to their needs.

Obviously to come to a personal shopper you usually have a reason for it, you don’t just say I’m going to come to a personal shopper. For a normal appointment, depending on the customer’s needs, I’d go into the store and possibly do some outfit building for them. Then I’d just come in pop the clothes on the rail, talk the customer through it and they can try it on at their leisure.

“It’s just such a laid-back service. Not enough people know about us on the high street really. We are the only retailer that has a full-on personal shopper service.

“For me, if I allowed a customer to go out with an outfit they’ve got in their head I really wouldn’t be doing my job.

They go out in something brand new – Laura would never have dreamt of walking out the door with the outfit she has so that’s the difference.

“I think the biggest thing is to build outfits and go for something simple like black trousers – one minute you can wear a jumper with it, next minute a jacket. Not everybody’s got thousands to spend money on clothes so to be able to accessorise and build really works.

“Laura can wear colour really well and I said that what I would like was for her to enjoy the experience and go out with things she wouldn’t buy herself. I said I can imagine her in a certain pair of trousers and she was very sceptical but when she tried it on she loved it.

“I have to talk about budget, too, but it’s not all about money it’s about the customer walking out happy.

“All customers are offered a complimentary makeover in cosmetics – some take it some don’t but the offer is there for them and it is a free service. Obviously they would get coffee served but Laura doesn’t drink coffee and she was so high in the air with excitement about all of this she didn’t want a drink, let alone coffee!

“I find it very hard to explain how I feel about my job, people in the store do laugh at me because I feel so strongly about it. I eat, drink and sleep it. Sometimes it can be very challenging but it has to be. It’s always a challenge with clothes, being prepared to try things on and having confidence in wearing it and not worrying too much about what others think. It’s just having patience, liking people and having a bit of flair to a degree.”

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PEOPLE

ONE OF JENNY’S FINISHED PIECES

Art of glass SARAH PITT TALKS TO A GLASS ARTIST WHO MAKES WINTER WONDERLANDS WHICH SHIMMER AS THOUGH THEY ARE MADE OF ICE

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t was a washing line of clothes drying in the breeze, glimpsed from a railway carriage window, which sparked the idea for Jenny Ayrton’s very first winter wonderland.

At the time, just starting out as a student at Plymouth College of Art, she was experimenting with sand casting, pouring molten glass into simple moulds hollowed in sand.

The effects coming out had something magical about them, the glass textured as though shaped by the forces of nature, a storm or a fast-flowing river.

Jenny knew they needed something more, but she didn’t know what.

“Then I was on the train going to my parents’ house in Tavistock, and I saw all the washing lines blowing out the back of the terraced houses in Plymouth,” she says. “I thought ‘that’s it’. I went back and cut out some clothes from metal mesh and made a washing line from wire.”

Back in the glass studio at the art college, Jenny

half-filled a mould with molten glass then used tweezers to carefully place the washing line and clothes in a little scene. She had to work quickly, because the second layer of glass had to be poured on before the first had a chance to cool off.

Next, she put her work into a special kiln to allow it to cool down very slowly from its molten temperature of 1,110C, a process called annealing which prevents the piece from cracking.

The moment of truth came when Jenny took the cast from the machine and revealed her shimmering scene caught within glass.

“Everyone smiled when they saw it,” she says.

“It got such a response that I knew I was on to something.”

At the time Jenny was a newbie to the world of glass art, a part-time student in her first year at the college. She’d enrolled after her first career as a yachtswoman hit the buffers when a routine medical revealed she was colour blind. “That was

a real blow,” she says.

As a mature student – at the great age of 25 – going back college was a leap of faith, based on her memories of enjoying art at school.

At the time she had just got engaged to Rob, her now husband, who is in the Navy, and they were living at Plympton near Plymouth.

“One day, we were walking through town and I mentioned how much I wanted to go back to college and do something creative,” she says.

“The next thing I knew I was sitting in the cafe over the road from the art college, filling in the application form. Rob said he would support me.”

She also supported herself with a part-time job throughout her time at the art college, where it took a little while to find her niche.

“The majority of people who have access to hot glass are glass blowers,” she says. “I started out at college thinking that I wanted to blow glass, but I found that I didn’t fit in. It was quite a feisty

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JENNY AYRTON AT WORK IN HER STUDIO

environment, and there was a constant audience of people telling you what you were doing right or wrong. It wasn’t for me.

“I tried jewellery making and I tried ceramics, but nothing ever seemed to click. Then I discovered sand casting.”

Sand casting is a technique that every glass student learns, but is often seen more as a stepping stone. With help of her tutor Amy Whittingham – whose own creations include glass skulls – though, Jenny started exploring its possibilities. It appealed to her, partly, because it was less complicated than other forms of casting.

And, with that first piece with the washing lines, she struck gold.

“Almost immediately after making it, on the Friday afternoon that week, I had a phone call to say that the principal of the art college was retiring, and that she wanted to commission 20 pieces of my work to give to people to mark the

occasion. So I suddenly had a lot of work to do!”

A few years on and Jenny, now the mother of a two-year-old daughter, Erin, has made a thriving business around her ‘winter wonderlands’. Their creation involves two stages. There’s the peaceful

GLASS IS A FEISTY MATERIAL AND is susceptible to cracking - JENNY AYRTON

bit, where she sits in front of the TV making the wire models, be they swings, washing lines, boats, streetlights or houses. Then there’s the hot glass

part at Teign Valley Glass near Bovey Tracey, a 20 minute drive down the road, where Lisa works with founder Richard Glass in an intense day-long session making a batch of her pieces.

“It is such a different way to spend a day, a long hard day of heat, anxiety and adrenalin,” she says.

“Richard does the hot glass pouring. There’s a big pot of molten glass that is heated up and kept running all day. He then uses a ball iron on the end of a long metal pole to pour the glass in.

I then have to work quickly to put my model in place. Next, we pour the molten glass over the top to seal the scene in its ice-like surroundings.

“The quicker you work, the more likely you are to have success,” she says. “Glass is a feisty material and it is susceptible to cracking if you put the second layer on too slowly.”

Being a glass maker is about living with uncertainty. Sometimes pieces don’t work, although Jenny has yet to experience the

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dramatic failure of a loud bang inside the kiln. She never knows quite, though, what a piece of work will look like after it has cooled and the kiln door is opened.

“I like doing them because they constantly surprise me with the way they come out,” she says. “Quite often when I’m casting, it is the pieces which I think have failed that come out the best.”

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT JENNY AYRTON’S GLASS ART AT WWW. JENNYAYRTON.CO.UK.

JENNY FIRES GLASS 1 PL MAGAZINE | 10 | JANUARY 2015

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SUMMER BRIGHT WITH DEPHICIT (JAMES STAFFORD).

PICTURES BY DEWA ARIADI WWW.DEWA ARIADI.CO.UK

Summer’s days are always bright SAXOPHONIST AND ALL-ROUND MUSIC LOVER SUMMER BRIGHT IS MAKING A NAME FOR HERSELF UNDER HER PSEUDONYM. BUT EMILY SMITH DISCOVERS THAT ‘SUMMERY AND BRIGHT’ DESCRIBE HER PERFECTLY

T

he sound of a saxophone being belted out behind her school when she was just eight years old inspired Summer Bright’s determination to learn the haunting instrument. She has never looked back and admits that as long as her saxophone is by her feet - she’s happy.

Summer, real name Elise Webster, developed her talent by studying at Plymouth’s Deep Blue Sound academy, and music is now her hobby and her profession.

Although Summer’s love of music is rooted in jazz and funk, she is doing something quite different with her counterpart James Stafford, stage name Dephicit, who DJs while she plays her saxophone live.

It is this creativity and infectious energy on stage

that makes watching her perform such a pleasure.

“I started playing the saxophone at eight and I’ve just carried it on,” said Summer. It just sounded extremely attractive and looked beautiful.

“There is something about it I find so lush. I have always been into all sorts of music, but there is a lot of funk, hip hop and jazz involved with the sax – I love all that.”

Summer met James three years ago when she was studying Sound and Music Technology at Deep Blue Sound, and since then the pair have made music together - neither of them has looked back.

The saxophone player said she tried the “band thing” but that it didn’t let her fuel her creativity in the way she wanted.

She said: “When I was in bands I couldn’t let loose when I wanted to let loose. I just wanted to break out

and do a solo real bad. If there’s loads of you, you can’t just go and do that. I was holding back.”

Sitting in a quirky cafe in Plymouth, Summer’s energy bounces around the walls - she stays grounded by surfing with her boyfriend and is about to head to South America for a holiday.

She said: “I love surfing – it’s really hard to pull myself away from Plymouth. I feel like if I lived in Bristol I would feel quite clouded because there is so much going on and there are so many amazing things that I would be dancing all day, every day – I wouldn’t have time to do anything else.

“Being here I have that head space and I enjoy working and going to the beach – it’s more of a healthy lifestyle for me; mentalLy, physically and creatively.”

In-between surfing and playing the saxophone,

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SUMMER BRIGHT (REAL NAME ELISE WEBSTER)

‘I love surFng - it’s really hard to pull myself away from Plymouth’ SUMMER BRIGHT

Summer works as a music leader at Plymouth Music Zone. Although she lives the dream of playing live every other weekend, she admits that she loves having a job and wouldn’t give it up unless she was ‘making big bucks.’

“For me it’s the most rewarding job in the world.

I would love to do a masters in music therapy and carry on with it, become more influential and learn more about it because it’s so rewarding.

“We go into old people’s homes, work with people with mixed disabilities - everything. It’s a really inspirational place to be – I love it.

“It’s only a small amount of hours a week so I can do my own stuff as well.”

As I ask Summer what the story is behind her stage name, she fills the small coffee shop with her laughter.

The inspiration came from her travels to

Australia where she was introduced to Summer Bright beer.

“It’s a girl’s name and it reminds me of Australia, which is where I was born.”

“It’s a blonde beer – it couldn’t be more perfect if it tried. I spent a lot of time drinking it so happy days.

Perfect for me I think.”

Summer is so full of energy that she compliments James, who has a calm approach to music, perfectly.

Summer said: “I just zen out when we’re performing, I just love it so much I just have a dance. I don’t worry about it, as long as my sax is by my feet I’m alright.

“When I’m up on stage with James – I’m naturally dancing my head off.”

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18/12/2014 15:20:59

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PHOTOGRAPHER: JOHN ALLEN MODELS: TOMMY TUCKER & NICOLA GALLACHER STYLIST: LOUISE DANIEL LOCATION: PLYMOUTH SKI CENTRE CLOTHING: TRESPASS HAIR & MAKE-UP: MAIYA’S HAIR & BEAUTY

M A L G E H T PUT L A I C A L G INTO ON, AND SNOWBOARD SEAS I SK E TH OF AL RIV AR E PES CELEBRATING TH LOOK GREAT ON THE SLO TO W HO U YO S OW SH PL

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It’s the look the jet-set will be rocking all over the Alps and the Rockies this month.

But you don’t have to hit the slopes to get ski chic. PL used the latest collection from Trespass to create looks fit for the Alps, moors or for getting cosy around a wood fire.

Slippery slopes aren’t the typical catwalk, but fashion never sleeps. Go for winter wear that will look just as good on a blustery walk on the moors as the slopes of St Anton.

Combine form and function and put the glam into glacial. Perk up winter chills with bold colours, traditional motifs, fleece linings and waterproof protection.

And remember, sunglasses aren’t just for summer. Cut out the glare with a huge pair of designer shades or goggles.

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10.

1: BLACK GLOSSY GOGGLES, £32.49; FLEECE, £16.99; HAT, STYLIST’S OWN 2: SPOTTY TOP, £12.49; LADIES PADDED GILET, £49.99; SHORTS, £12.95; BOOTS, £79.99; SUNGLASSES, STYLIST’S OWN 3: SKI POLO, £13.99; TANGERINE SALOPETTES, £55.99; DOWN JACKET, £74.99; SUNGLASSES, STYLIST’S OWN 4: BLACK GLOSSY GOGGLES, £32.49,; FUR AND HAT, STYLIST’S OWN 5: SKI POLO, £13.99; FLEECE JACKET, £76.99; BLACK GOGGLES, £38.99 6: BLACK GLOSSY GOGGLES, £32.49; JACKET, £52.49; SHIRT, £7.99; HAT, STYLIST’S OWN 7: BLACK GLOSSY GOGGLES, £32.49; FLEECE, £16.99; HAT, STYLIST’S OWN 8: HER - WHITE SALOPETTES, £74.99; LUXURY VEST AND SHORTS, £24.99; GLOVES, £34.99; HAT – STYLIST’S OWN. HIM - BLACK GLOSSY GOGGLES, £32.49; JACKET, £74.99; SHIRT, £19.99 9. BLACK GLOSSY GOGGLES, £32.49; FLEECE, £16.99; HAT, STYLIST’S OWN 10: WHITE SALOPETTES, £74.99; LUXURY VEST AND SHORT - £24.99, GLOVES - £34.99, HAT, STYLIST’S OWN 11: BLACK GLOSSY GOGGLES, £32.49; TOP, £34.99 12: HER - WHITE SALOPETTES, £74.99; BLACK GLOSSY GOGGLES, £32.49; JACKET, £99.99; HAT, STYLIST’S OWN’ WHITE SNOW BOOTS, £12.99 HIM - SKI POLO - £13.99; FLEECE JACKET, £76.99, GOGGLES, £38.99; TANGERINE SALOPETTES, £55.99; SNOW BOOTS, £69.99 13: WHITE SALOPETTES, £74.99, LUXURY VEST AND SHORTS, £24.99; GLOVES - £34.99 PL MAGAZINE | 19 | JANUARY 2015

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FASHION

ADIDAS WOMEN’S TECH FIT CAPRI TIGHTS, £16.99, GET THE LABEL

LIPSY WHITE CARDIO QUEEN TEE, £18

LAHINCH AQUA SPORT TRAINERS, £95, DUBARRY OF IRELAND

JACK WOLFSKIN, WOMEN’S FREE ME HOODY, GET THE LABEL, £39.99

Working out in style KEEPING YOUR NEW YEAR FITNESS RESOLUTIONS IS EASIER IF YOU FEEL THE PART. HERE’S PL’S PICK OF THE SEASON’S SPORTS AND ACTIVITY CLOTHES AND ACCESSORIES

A MODEL WEARING LIPSY WWW.LIPSY.CO.UK

BERGHAUS WOMEN’S ELECTRA GORE-TEX SHELL JACKET £99.99, GET THE LABEL

LIPSY PINK TECH TOP, £20UK

FUNKEDUP RAW RED SIDE VIEW BMX £425, WW.FUNKEDUPFIXIES.COM

PL MAGAZINE | 20 | JANUARY 2015

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19/12/2014 13:15:02

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PL MAGAZINE | 21 | JANUARY 2015

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FASHION

Styling the stars FROM PLYMOUTH TO LONDON IN JUST OVER A YEAR, FASHION DESIGNER ALICE VANDY HAS TAKEN THE FAST TRACK. EMILY SMITH CHATTED TO THE PLYMOUTH COLLEGE OF ART GRADUATE WHO IS NOW DESIGNING OUTFITS FOR CELEBRITIES PL MAGAZINE | 22 | JANUARY 2014

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FASHION

ALICE MODELS SOME OF HER OWN CREATIONS

L

iving in Cornwall, after graduating from Plymouth College of Art in 2008, life couldn’t have moved any faster for fashion designer, Alice Vandy.

Alice graduated six years ago and within a year of finishing the course her clothes were being worn by popstars Jessie J, Little Mix and Rita Ora. “When I graduated I just fell into doing my own brand - this was all sooner than I had planned.

“I signed up to an online portfolio site once I had graduated and I managed to get contact details for a stylist. She got back to me and asked if I would be interested in providing some clothes for the opening scene of the Clothes Show in Birmingham.”

From the Clothes Show came even bigger and better things and soon Alice was hanging out with huge pop stars and her creations were being seen by thousands.

She said: “I managed to work with celebrities on the back of my work at the Clothes Show, X Factor and Britain’s Next Top Model. I used to model a little bit as well and your name just gets out there.

“I’m quite laid back about it all. I don’t stress about things - I don’t believe in having a negative energy.

“I got to meet Jessie J in London - I went to a fitting for her. I worked solidly on her outfit for about five days - there were so many different pattern pieces.

“I flew up to London from Cornwall in the end.

She’s so nice though - so down to earth.”

One of Alice’s most successful ranges today is her collaboration with My Little Pony, which has just celebrated its 30th birthday.

Alice said: “I was a huge fan of My Little Pony when I was younger. I have just painted a five-foot pony for a company. They wanted it for a big-brand licensing show and asked me to

design it - they sent it down by courier and then I spent a week working on it. It was huge - 36 inches wide.”

Alice’s clothes aren’t shy of colour or an eye catching design, take for instance her super-tight leggings covered in skulls. It’s these aspects of her clothing that make the stars want them.

Creativity is something that doesn’t only run through the designer’s creations, but into her everyday wear.

“I have always been really creative with the way I dress. I love outrageous clothing. I always wear my own clothes out.

“I get inspired by weird things. I take so many photos of nature when I’m out and about. I have also come up with my own colour pallet.

“I walk out of the house wearing a lime-green maxi skirt and bright pink hair but I still think I look boring. I normally just do whatever I want.

“When I was younger I didn’t have any concept of what was appropriate - I just did what I wanted.

I think it’s fun to express yourself with clothing.”

Alice is currently living in Cornwall but spends more and more time in London. Her big plans are to move to America.

“I sell most of my creations online at the moment. Now I have everything structured and in place I would love to try and hit America next year. Asia is also somewhere I would like to try and get a following.”

You would think seeing huge stars like Jessie J

I’m quite laid-back about it all. I don’t stress about things - I don’t believe in having a negative energy - ALICE VANDY and Rita Ora wearing your clothes, you would have somewhat of an ego, but Alice’s modest approach to her work couldn’t be further away from an ego.

She explains: “When people like Jessie J wear my clothes, all my friends go crazy, it just becomes part of the job. I like seeing the growth of my business - I like to look at the bigger picture.

“I was with my friend once and we saw a magazine with Little Mix on the front cover wearing my stuff - they went crazy and I was just chilled out about it. It’s not that it isn’t exciting it’s just all part of it.”

It’s not only clothes Alice is passionate about, she is also a campaigner for human rights and loves the alternative, power females such as Brooke Candy.

“I use my online platform to spread awareness but I don’t preach too much or people won’t listen. If you get aggressive people just won’t listen to you.”

Alice hasn’t had any loans to start her business and has worked solidly since graduating to get her name out there. She is busy working on new ranges and doesn’t stop for one minute.

“Every day is different at the moment and I have a new range coming out soon.”

PL MAGAZINE | 23 | JANUARY 2015

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Secrets of the angels THE BODY OF A VICTORIA’S SECRET ANGEL MIGHT BE A TAD OUT OF REACH, BUT ANYONE CAN EMULATE THEIR BEAUTY TRICKS. PL HEADS BACKSTAGE TO DISCOVER THE WINGED-ONE’S FAVOURITE PRODUCTS AND MAKE-UP TIPS XXX

A

fleet of 47 leggy beauties (though only eight are officially ordained Angels) recently landed in the UK for the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, ready to strut their stuff while pop stars Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande performed.

Much is made of the models’ pre-show prep, but unless you’ve got four hours a day to spend doing ballet classes or are willing to forgo solid food, the chances of honing the body of an Angel are, no pun intended, slim.

You can, however, steal some of their beauty secrets: “I’m a product fiend,” admits platinum blonde Devon Windsor, before reeling off all the gadgets and lotions she uses to keep her skin runway ready.

“I love the Clarisonic cleansing brush, it’s an amazing exfoliator that gets rid of all the dirt every day. And I use Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion.

“I also use Chanel Hydra Beauty Creme, it’s a good lotion that’s not too heavy but very moisturising.”

Windsor’s pal Cindy Bruna, meanwhile, is an aficionado of her native France’s famous pharmacy finds, citing the Effaclar cream from La Roche-Posay as her can’t-live-without product.

“I like NUXE Oil for my body, it’s a pharmacy product again, I put it on every day,” she adds.

You’d think that after all those hours in the makeup chair, these girls would have picked up a tip or two, right?

“Absolutely, you learn from the best,” says Lily Donaldson, one of only three Brits who walked in the show. “There are so many tips, like smile when you put your blusher on, to make the apples of your cheeks come out. And apply lipstick with your finger

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because it makes your lips look plumper.”

Windsor agrees, and says she’s perfected her smoky eye technique by watching the pros at work.

“One of my favourite tricks is using a cream pencil or liner on the waterline under the eye, then it makes your eyes look bigger and brighter,” she says.

And even though she already has incredible bone structure, the American reveals that she also uses a contouring set. “It’s got brown and white colours, so you use it to contour and highlight,” the model adds.

But if they had to forsake all other make-up for just one item, the VS girls are unanimous about what it would be: mascara.

“I like the Chanel mascaras,” says Windsor. “They have a daytime one and then a thick, voluptuous night-time one, so I switch them up, depending on the occasion.”

NUXE HUILE PRODIGIEUSE MULTI-USAGE DRY OIL, £17, FEELUNIQUE

PL MAGAZINE | 24 | JANUARY 2015

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

HIS VIEW AFTER ENDURING THE CHRISTMAS PARTY SEASON, PL COLUMNIST MARTIN FREEMAN IS LOOKING FORWARD TO A LEAN JANUARY

PROMISE YOURSELF A GREAT NEW YEAR FORGET THOSE CLICHED LISTS. PL ASKED SOME TOP HEALTH EXPERTS WHAT RESOLUTIONS THEY’D LIKE US ALL TO MAKE THIS YEAR ANNA MAGEE, WOMEN’S HEALTH EXPERT (WWW. HEALTHISTA.COM) “I’ll be sprinkling cinnamon on my porridge in 2015. One of the most powerful spices, research published in Diabetes Care found as little as a quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon a day could help control blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes. It’s brilliant eaten at breakfast to help control sweet cravings throughout the day. In fact, when it comes to free radical fighting, antioxidant-rich foods that help fight ageing, herbs and spices could be the next big thing. One teaspoon of ground cinnamon contains the same antioxidant levels as a punnet of blueberries.”

DR CHIDI NGWABA, DIRECTOR OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF LIFESTYLE MEDICINE “As a resolution, nothing can beat learning to forgive. Stress is at the heart of so many chronic illnesses, such as cancer, hypertension, depression and obesity; one of best ways to permanently overcome stress is to practise forgiveness. It has also been shown that even thinking about forgiving someone can lower our blood pressure. So if someone’s hurt you, don’t let them kill you.

Get help and do all you can to forgive, and learn to forgive yourself, too. “

SIONED QUIRKE, DIETICIAN AND PROFESSIONAL MANAGER OF ADULT WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SERVICE, ANEURIN BEVAN UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD (WWW. QUIRKYNUTRITION.CO.UK) “Become a healthy weight. Obesity is nearly at epidemic level in the UK, and we need to do something about it. I want to see people taking responsibility over their own health and future health by becoming a healthy weight - it’s one of the only modifiable things we can do to actively become more healthy. The most common mistakes I see are people trying to lose weight too fast. Set yourself a realistic goal of 1-2lbs a week.

DR UCHENNA OKOYE, CELEBRITY COSMETIC DENTIST (WWW.LONDONSMILING. COM) “My resolution would be to vamp up your toothbrush or have an amnesty of throwing away your manual toothbrush and upgrading to an electric one. Brands like Oral B have a huge range. There are so many on the market today and they don’t have to be hugely expensive.

Plaque is the new 21st century plague, so we need to tackle it for health reasons.

Brushing your teeth really can have an impact on your health. We’re all happy to spend time cleansing and toning, but don’t think of the health implication of our teeth on lifetime health.”

DR JOHN CHISHOLM, CHAIR OF TRUSTEES AT THE MEN’S HEALTH FORUM (WWW. MENSHEALTHFORUM.ORG.UK)

DR MIKE KNAPTON, BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION ASSOCIATE MEDICAL DIRECTOR (WWW.BHF.ORG.UK)

“Lots of men could look after themselves more. Good health is not just about physical health, but mental health, too, so men should do more to look after their relationships and mental wellbeing.

Also, we know men don’t always get help when things might be wrong.”

“Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do to protect your heart.

Research shows that a smoker who gives up on January 1 will see their risk of coronary heart disease cut in half by the end of the year. There are still around 10 million smokers across the country and smoking remains the number one cause of premature avoidable death in the UK.”

January. Ouch. TS Eliot was wrong. This is the cruellest month.

What could be worse than a month of miserable dieting and masochistic exercise?

An open-ended commitment to a whole new year of self-torture, that’s what.

I recommend you stop immediately. You are going to fail some day and feel guilty.

Empower yourself by choosing to fail now and save days or weeks of misery.

But if you insist on continuing, at least make an informed choice.

Here is your cut-out-and-forget guide to being horrible to yourself in the name of health and fitness.

Pilates: (pronounced pie-lah-teas) involves controlled movement to build strength, flexibility and overall fitness. Rehydrate afterwards with lots of water.

Pirates: (pronounced pie-rah-teas) involves swinging on ropes while holding a sword in your teeth. Rehydrate afterwards with lots of rum.

Dukan Diet: protein-based eating plan designed by now-disgraced French doctor.

Toucan Diet: also protein-based but you eat only exotic tropical birds. (Never order this in a restaurant: the bill will be enormous.)

Israeli Army Diet: a 1970s fad based on eating only one type of food (apples days one and two; cheese days three and four, and so on) to get your body ready to fight at a moment’s notice French Army Diet: enjoy the world’s best eating plan with a clear conscience, knowing if war is declared you’ll surrender first chance you get.

5:2 diet: 1eat normally five days, go hungry for two (when you are on a fasting day, tell everybody so every five minutes).

4:4:2 diet: sit on the sofa, eat junk food and watch non-stop football.

Yoga: this is a centuries-old body-and-mind programme of exercise and meditation.

Yoda: if talk-you Hollywood-style philosophy backwards a better person you will be.

Detox: quackery based on eating only the stuff your kids will never touch, and drinking vast quantities of water.

Deetox: drinking the contents of a Welsh river.

And remember, a diet that is mainly vegetarian is the healthiest and most natural in the world.

Have you ever seen a fat hippo?

PL MAGAZINE | 26 | JANUARY 2015

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Spring clean your insides GIVE YOUR SYSTEM A LITTLE TLC AFTER THE EXCESSES OF THE FESTIVE SEASON WITH PL’S GUIDE TO DETOXING THE NATURAL WAY

F

orget restrictive diets and drastic detoxes.

Find colour, variety and taste in recipes packed with nutrition-heavy, satisfying meals and smoothies that boost your mood and set you on the path to a healthier you.

“No one needs to punish or deprive themselves - just eat real food, and be sensible, then a little of what you fancy does no harm.” Says nutritionist Jane Hutton.

Jane is the nutritionist, food writer, and educator at Trinity Holistics, with a background of nearly two decades in the worlds of nutrition, functional medicine, integrative health and teaching who champions seasonal eating as delicious daily healthcare.

Brain-Boost Smoothie The fat and protein in this smoothie, along with the colourful berries, will keep a steady stream of energy fuelling your body, plus it will boost mood and motivation. (Serves 2)

To her the formula is relatively simple – small changes and more fruit and veg. Jane says: “A really simple reboot is packing in the fruit and veg – a smoothie for breakfast, soup or salad for lunch, good quality protein and veg for supper. Throw in a couple of small healthy snacks like fruit or organic yogurt, plus get out daily and exercise. And obviously, no rubbish or alcohol.

“If you want to change your life, then a short period of really clean food (like juices and salads) followed by changing to fresh food can help.”

Try some of Jane’s recipes and give your body a boost.

Very Healthy Green Smoothie It might seem odd to put spinach and cucumber in a smoothie, but they taste very mild, and add huge benefits.

Ingredients

Method

Ingredients

Method

250 ml organic semiskimmed milk or substitute (or more if you want your smoothie thinner)

1. Chuck in a blender/smoothie maker, whizz and enjoy!

A couple of handfuls of spinach

1. Blend, and enjoy!

125 ml probiotic yogurt 1 banana

1/2 cucumber, 1 apple, 1 pear water or coconut water

Frozen blueberries (or berries/mixed fruit of your choice) A handful of milled flax

MOOD BOOSTING, BODY BUILDING, SUPER FOODS FLAX SEEDS Rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are great for brain health. Could help cholesterol levels, stabilise blood sugar.

Rich in fibre and high in protein – they can leave you feeling fuller for longer.

BLUEBERRIES A rich source of proanthocyanidins which have been linked to anti-aging.

Packed with vitamins C and E and also containing iron and magnesium. Also said to increase the production of dopamine which helps with brain health.

SPINACH A large handful gives almost 20 per cent of your RDA (recommended daily allowance) of dietary fibre and the daily amount a body needs of vitamins A and K. You’ll also find Magnesium, Manganese, Foliate, Protein, Calcium, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Zinc, Potassium and Selenium in Popeye’s favourite.

Some research suggests that it is an appetite suppressant.

GARLIC It might be smelly but garlic adds a flavour to dishes like no other. Used as a natural medicine for many centuries, there is a reason why garlic is used in cultures around the world. Allegedly good for anti-blood coagulation, antihypertension, anti-cancer plus it has antioxidant and anti-microbial effects

KALE Another brain health champion protecting against heart disease.

Packed with fibre and anti-cancer benefits. It’s full of vitamin K for bone health and plenty of iron which means that this green goodie has antiinflammatory properties and helps keep the pounds off.

FENNEL

2 tbsp. of almond/ cashew/pumpkin seed butter (optional)

Anti-inflammatory and possible anticancer properties plus antioxidants, fibre and vitamin C are a winning combination. Purported to increase heart health and contains potassium which can lower blood pressure - a risk factor for stroke and heart attacks.

Cinnamon to taste

PL MAGAZINE | 27 | JANUARY 2015

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Study the stars to discover the key to good health WE’RE ALL AT RISK OF AILMENTS DURING WINTER. A HOST OF CELEBRITIES REVEAL THEIR PERSONAL HEALTH TIPS TO HELP YOU KEEP WELL...

JENNY FROST (36) Singer, dancer, TV presenter and former member of girl band, Atomic Kitten.

“I live in Ibiza, so we don’t have the severe cold of the UK, which means it’s easier to be outside all year round and enjoy walks and the beach. In a way, it’s more relaxing [in winter] as I don’t have to worry about the children burning in the sun.

“At this time of year, I make sure we all eat as much fruit and vegetables as possible.

I’m also converted to the benefits of an alkaline diet and an hour before every meal, I take half a teaspoon of bicarbonate in a glass of water, as it can neutralise acid in the stomach.”

TOP TIP: “Using garlic in recipes can ward off colds and flu as it benefits the immune system.”

2015 HEALTH RESOLUTION: “To have an annual health MOT and carry on with pilates, which has really made me fitter and slimmer.”

HAPPY FACTOR: “I’m blessed with a spectacular husband, Vicente, my son, Caspar [seven], and our twins, Blake and Nico [three], so I couldn’t be any happier.”

GABBY LOGAN (41) TV and sport presenter “Winter’s challenging because when it’s dark and cold outside, all you want to do is stay home and comfort eat!

“I’m very conscious of staying fit so I can juggle all my commitments – work and family – so I try to stick to a routine throughout the year incorporating at least an hour’s exercise every day. I like cycling outdoors, but if the weather’s too bad I go on the cross-trainer in my garage. I do a workout as early as I can so it’s out of the way and it gives me energy for the day. It’s so much part of my life that I feel odd if I don’t do it.”

2015 HEALTH RESOLUTION: “Making more time for a run, a round of golf, or reading will help me relax and re-focus.”

HAPPY FACTOR: “A good work/life balance is key, so remembering that while goals and work are important, spending time and having fun with family and my children [twins Reuben and Lois, nine] is vital for my happiness.”

PL MAGAZINE | 28 | JANUARY 2015

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

VICTORIA PENDLETON (34) “In the winter, I’m very aware of keeping my immune system healthy, so I ensure I eat vitamin-enriched foods, take multivitamins and fish oil supplements.

TOP TIPS: Use a hand sanitiser gel so you avoid picking up germs. “I’m a fan of natural remedies and have never taken any over-the-counter remedy for colds. I rely on rest and a remedy of a hot drink made with water, a dollop of Manuka honey and a squirt of lemon.”

“I’ve kitted out the garage at home as a gym so I can work out there whatever the weather, although after years as a competitive athlete, it doesn’t bother me if I get cold and wet training outdoors.

2015 HEALTH RESOLUTION: “To take courses in yoga and pilates because they’re so good for mental as well as physical wellbeing, and to take my final exam so I’m a qualified personal trainer.”

“Every morning, I do a three-kilometre power walk with my dogs, followed by a 40-minute run, or a work-out on my Pilates Reformer machine, a luxury treat I bought myself. On my Christmas list is a punch bag so I can do some boxing! I don’t feel right if I don’t work out.”

HAPPY FACTOR: “I’m very content, but want to work out which direction to follow, so I have the most impact. I love so many things, from personal training to TV and writing work, as well as all my cycling interests, so it’s hard to choose which way to go.”

Olympic gold-medal-winning track cyclist

ASHLEY BANJO (26)

GREG RUTHERFORD (28)

JODIE KIDD (36)

Leader of dance group, Diversity, which is currently touring the UK in Limitless – The Reboot tour

Olympic long jump champion

Model and TV personality

“Winter used to be a nightmare for me as I had constant tonsillitis which really pulled me down and disrupted training.

“Winter is a tricky time for health and I’m a great believer in healthy juices made from raw vegetables to improve vitamin intake and help the body fight off bugs.

“I have to be conscious of my health because my work is so physical and challenging and it’s easy to catch chills and bugs if you’re not careful about chilling down slowly after a hot, sweaty training session.”

“The only health problem which has bothered me in the past was really bad migraines, which turned out to be caused by dehydration as I was losing so much fluid and salts during training. Now I drink lots of water and they’re a thing of the past but I’m still working on my insomnia. I only manage around five hours as I find it hard to switch off and relax although the dark mornings seem to help me lie in longer.”

TOP TIP: Vitamin C to ward off colds and flu. “I stock up in September and keep taking it right through till the spring.”

2015 HEALTH RESOLUTION: “Switching to eating organic meat and eliminating any sweeteners and chemicals from my diet, so it’s a clean as well as a healthy diet.”

HAPPY FACTOR: “I’ve just got engaged so it’s going to be exciting planning for the future with my fiance, Francesca (Abbott).”

“Having them out a couple of years ago really improved my health and every winter now I rely on extra multivitamins and supplements to keep me tip top. It’s amazing how trying to stay warm burns off extra energy and so it’s important to stick with a diet that has slow-release carbs so blood sugar levels stay stable and you’re not reaching for unhealthy snacks. I’m a keen baker, so I do allow myself an occasional treat of gluten-free muffins, though!

“Keeping the body as alkaline as possible is key, so it’s better able to resist illness. Our diet at home includes lots of vegetables and wholegrains rather than processed foods, and we take HoneyGar, a blend of cider vinegar and honey. It all helps to put less stress on the body, which is especially important at busy and sometimes fraught times such as Christmas.”

“As a new dad – my partner Susie gave birth to our son, Milo in October – lack of sleep is part of life this winter but it’s such a pleasure I don’t mind feeling tired most of the time!“

TOP TIP: “If I feel under the weather, I take Propolis, a compound produced by bees to help boost the immune system. I also swear by a daily booster dose of vitamin C, in a preparation, Emergen-C.”

TOP TIP: “A gluten-free diet which can boost energy and aid digestion.”

2015 HEALTH RESOLUTION: “Every new year, I make and break a promise to myself to go to the gym! So I’ll aim to just keep on with my normal health regime.”

2015 HEALTH RESOLUTION: “To cut sugar from my diet.

I first tried it in 2012 and my Olympic gold result proved to me how beneficial it was.”

HAPPY FACTOR: “Playing and learning from my son and making sure he and Susie are happy and healthy.”

HAPPINESS FACTOR: “Life’s wonderful already – I got married in the summer and my son, Indio [three] is a constant joy. I just want to keep working at balancing my life and enjoying work and family.”

PL MAGAZINE | 29 | JANUARY 2015

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FAMILY

Let experts ease the pain of divorce NO ONE GOES INTO A MARRIAGE EXPECTING TO SPLIT UP, BUT NEARLY HALF OF ALL MARRIAGES IN THE UK END IN DIVORCE. IT’S A STARK STATISTIC. LOUISE DANIEL MEETS THE DIVORCE AND MEDIATION TEAM AT WOLFERSTANS WHO DO THEIR BEST TO TAKE THE PAIN OUT OF SEPARATION.

W

hen you’ve fallen out of love with your partner, communication has irretrievably broken down and it’s time to go your separate ways, what can you do to mitigate the trauma for everyone involved, including the children?

The latest official statistics indicate that 42 per cent of marriages in England and Wales will end in divorce. But the divorce petition is just the beginning of what can be a fraught process.

Solicitors Kate Westmacott and Vikki Martin are part of Wolferstans ‘experienced team using expertise, knowledge and support to guide separating couples through the delicate process of disentangling from one other.

Kate has been a solicitor for 21 years and a trained mediator for five; she understands that there can be heartache in breakups. “With the work we do, there are no winners – it’s not a great situation to be in.

“We’re committed to providing a fair, friendly and highly specialised service to every client.”

Vikki Martin agrees, she says: “It is always going to be a tough meeting, people find their first

meeting with a solicitor emotional, but that’s the nature of it.

“The work we do is about empowering people with advice, reassuring them that the law is there to support them, being constructive not destructive and taking that pressure off them.”

Our aim is to make it as smooth as possible – the smoother it is for the adults, the better it is going to be for the children - WOLFERSTANS Kate has personal experience of the mediation process and sees the real benefit of using their service to solve thorny issues before the courts become involved.

“Our aim is to make it as smooth as possible – the smoother it is for the adults, the better it is going to be for the children.”

Couples who need to talk about how to split the finances and make sense of contact with children have to see a mediator to find out about mediation and decide if it is the best route for them.

Kate says: “You’ve got the divorce which is a separate issue to that of the finances and children.

“Since October 2014, the ‘Presumption of Parental Involvement’ has come into effect. The court now considers that it is right for every child to have contact with each parent where that is possible.”

That means couples have a duty to attempt to resolve disagreements in the first instance with a recognised mediator like Kate.

Kate says: “For the people who want to go down this route, it really works.

Mediation is usually a quicker, cheaper and easier way to resolve financial and children issues but if matters cannot be agreed that way the Family Court is there to help.”

Vikki and Kate understand more than most people that sometimes relationships don’t make it. Being realistic means knowing that the process is not going to be pain free.

No one marries expecting it to fail but the reality is that even amicably-divorcing couples need help.

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It’s emotionally-challenging work supporting people through some of their darkest days but the professional team at Wolferstans find it very rewarding.

Kate agrees: “It sounds really clichéd but this is a really difficult time in anyone’s life. We try for an outcome that is okay for them. It’s never going to be an easy time, but we can reach an outcome that people can at least accept.”

Vikki agrees: “It’s almost like a grief cycle that the client goes through so you have to adapt your approach with the client according to how they are coping with the process emotionally – there are often feelings of anger and upset and clients need supporting through that.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL SARAH WEBB ON 01752 292239 OR EMAIL, SWEBB@ WOLFERSTANS.COM

DID YOU KNOW? There’s a perception that divorce can be expensive, but it isn’t necessarily the actual divorce that costs money and it is often the most straightforward part of the whole process. Sorting out finances and children is frequently the more complicated part.

The family home may not need to be sold following divorce. If the children are still in their minority (under 18 years of age) the court decides whether the home can be protected as a residence for the children.

Even assets in one person’s name may still be considered a matrimonial asset. Whether a house, savings or pension - the starting point is to include everything in the ‘matrimonial pot’ before deciding how to divide it fairly between the parties.

A Decree Absolute in divorce does not put an end to financial claims. Although it is advisable to deal with the financial settlement alongside the divorce, if you

didn’t deal with it at the time you can in the future, as long as you have not remarried.

The mediator’s role is not to get a couple back together. Their role is to help facilitate negotiations and sort out the difficult process of separation.

There is no such thing as a Common Law Wife or Husband. The law is different if you are a partner rather than a spouse and the process of financial settlement can be much more expensive and complicated.

The grounds and details included in a divorce petition don’t generally affect later decisions with regards to finance and children. For example, being divorced on the basis of adultery or unreasonable behaviour does not mean automatic entitlement to a lesser share of the matrimonial assets or less time with the children. Children and finances are separate issues.

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A SCENE FROM THE LATEST FILM WITH IAN MCKELLEN AS GANDALF

DARTMOOR’S WISTMAN WOODS

Dartmoor FIres imagination of Oscar-winning Hobbit illustrator THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES, THE LATEST BLOCKBUSTER BASED ON TOLKIEN’S NOVEL THE HOBBIT, IS THE HOT FILM IN CINEMAS THIS MONTH. LIZ PARKS MET ONE OF ITS TALENTED CREATORS

I

t may be the rugged beauty of New Zealand that is seen on screen in the latest Hobbit film – but an Oscar-winning member of the film’s creative team has taken inspiration from Dartmoor to realise JRR Tolkien’s vision.

The Battle of the Five Armies, the third and final of Peter Jackson’s films based on Tolkien’s novel The Hobbit, is the hot film in cinemas this month.

Chagford-based illustrator Alan Lee has worked on the films as a conceptual designer after his illustrations for the 1992 editions of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books were spotted by director Peter Jackson who personally asked him to work on the sets for the first three films.

As a result, in 2004, he won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction for the third of the films, The Return of the King, the culmination of six years of creative work.

In 2008, the director Guillermo del Toro, who was then leading the Hobbit project prior to Peter Jackson taking the reins, asked if Lee would ensure the look of the final three films was the same as the first.

In 2009, he started work on the films, which were shot back-to-back in New Zealand, and he has been working on them ever since through

shooting and post production to provide continuity from set construction through to the look of digital effect shoots.

As part of this, he and fellow designer John Howe spent every day coming up with drawings of the different places shown in the film, showing these to Peter Jackson and production designer Dan Hennah.

“We had meetings with Peter almost every day, so we had to keep working at quite a fast pace. It’s all about helping Peter to get his vision on screen, so we have to get inside the director’s mind, as well as stay as close to the book as possible, and take into account all the practical aspects of working on a project of this scale. Peter has a great sense of humour, so the meetings were always enjoyable,” he said.

In fact, Lee is still in New Zealand now having just finished work on the Hobbit films a few weeks ago and he will now be doing design work on a DVD of the films. He will be back in Devon in April, which will be his first English spring in six years.

“I’ve missed that and so much else,” he said.

When he returns to his beloved Dartmoor, Lee is planning to work with books again but he is aware that his life over the last 12 years or so will

seem quite a contrast. Being on a film set can be very surreal – being in the canteen at lunchtime even more so, with orcs, elves and dwarves lining up for their meals. The film studios themselves aren’t that glamorous – a converted factory in a suburb – but most, if not all, of the people we work with are very friendly and down to earth.

The tuxedo moments are very rare, and can feel as though you have entered an alternative universe.

I’ll have fond memories of the whole thing, though,” he said.

Lee first visited Dartmoor in 1975 when he was living in London and visited friends at Thornworthy and ‘fell in love’ with the moor. He moved to a cottage in Chagford soon after and he is now a patron of the Chagford Film Festival and has worked with the Chagford Filmmaking Group.

“Everyone who lives in Chagford loves the town – there is strong sense of community, and perhaps a sense that you can be both quietly busy, and feel connected at the same time,” he said.

The landscape around him remains an inspiration for his illustrations.

“It’s the woodlands and rivers in particular that I’m drawn to – Wistman’s Wood is a favourite place,” he added.

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LIFE’S JOURNEY CAN BE DIFFICULT...

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE IT EASIER Going through a divorce or a separation can be emotional, particularly when arrangements need to be made for children and finances.

We provide friendly, practical and confidential advice to help you find the best route.

For more information please call us on 01752 292215

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FAMILY

It’s written in the stars LIGHTS DOWN, EYES UP FOR A GREAT YEAR AHEAD IN THE STARS, SAYS MARTIN FREEMAN

A

DAVID SOUTHWOOD, PLYMOUTH ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY’S PATRON

nd now it’s time to find out what the stars have in for you in 2015.

That’s the real stars. And the planets.

And the moon.

It’s a big year ahead for astronomers generally and city skywatchers in particular.

Plymouth Astronomical Society celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2015.

The club was founded after teenager Lawrence Harris captured images of a lunar eclipse using a home-made telescope and the photos were published on the front page of The Herald newspaper.

They drew such a response that the society was formed.

Plenty of excitement was provided in the 1960s by the Space Race, when the United States and the Russia-dominated Soviet Union competed to put the first man on the moon.

There is much to keep the astronomers engaged now, too, the society’s chairman reckons – and one history-making event late last year had a Plymouth connection.

“There was a lot of excitement a few weeks

ago when the Rosetta mission landed the Philae probe on the comet,” says David Wilton.

“That was launched when professor David Southwood was at the European Space Agency.”

The Devonian, who has a home on the Hoe, was director of science at the agency in 2004 when the mission to land the first probe on a comet was launched. The former president of the Royal Astronomical Society is the patron of the Plymouth body. “He gave a talk at our November meeting.”

In 2015 the society has a full programme of monthly meetings with talks and there is much in the skies to engage the astronomers.

The year features a lunar eclipse – when the moon moves through the Earth’s shadow – and a total solar eclipse (although you would have to head into the Atlantic north of Scotland to see that one on March 20).

David singles out the closest approach to Earth by the giant planet Jupiter on February 6.

“It will be directly opposite and rising as the sun sets, looking bright and being visible all night,” he says.

“With a good pair of binoculars you’ll be able to see four of Jupiter’s moons and with a small telescope you can see the big red spot, which is a storm that has been happening for hundreds of years.”

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE AT WWW. PLYMOUTHASTRO.BTCK.CO.UK AND CONTACT THE SOCIETY THROUGH DAVID.T.WILTON@ BTINTERNET.COM

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FAMILY

STUDY WITH A TOP TEN MODERN * UNIVERSITY www.plymouth.ac.uk

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NAMES OF THE PLANETS In the western world the planets are named after the Roman gods. They are named according to the characteristics they show when we look at them in the night sky – brightness, colour or speed in orbit.

MERCURY The wisest of the gods and their speedy messenger is hard to spot in the sky.

divorce? divorce? we’re here to help you with expert advice on

VENUS The goddess of beauty. The brightest of all the planets, can be seen at either morning or evening.

• finances • pensions • property disputes • co-habitation • maintenance • children

MARS Its reddish colour suggested the colour of blood so this is the planet of the bloodstained god of war.

JUPITER The chief of all the gods. Jupiter is almost as bright as Venus, and moves slowly and regally across the sky (it takes 12 years to orbit the Sun).

SATURN Dim and slow with a 29-year orbit, Saturn was also Chronos the father of Zeus (Jupiter) and god of old age.

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PL MAGAZINE | 35 | JANUARY 2015

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FAMILY

Sasha’s glimpse into the year ahead IT’S WRITTEN IN THE STARS FOR ASTROLOGER SASHA FENTON, AS RACHAEL DODD DISCOVERS

S

itting in a quiet Plymouth cafe with her husband Jan Budkowski you wouldn’t guess that Sasha, 71, has had such a mystical career – getting a special glimpse at the lives of others through their star signs.

Her eyes light up when she’s asked why she loves astrology so much: “What I personally like about astrology is the psychology aspect of it,” she says, “astrology is a very fast and easy form of psychology for me.

“It doesn’t rely on something indefinable like being psychic – it’s something you can actually learn.

“Once you understand it, which does take a little practise, you can find out what’s going to happen to people and, more importantly, when, because what people really want is forecasting.”

Sasha became a professional astrologer, palmist and Tarot card reader in 1974. She’s done readings for all types, from the wives of bank robbers to the rich and famous.

Sasha’s readings are an in-depth profile of a person’s life and she finds people come to her for answers in all areas: “It takes two hours to do a reading – it’s a deep process. People have a million things on their mind that they’d like answers to.

“It could be something quite silly or something profound. Money, business, family, grandchildren – all the things people bother themselves with.

“You get a real insight into human nature. I think most people are rather nice, to be quite honest – you do see the things that are on people’s minds and for most it’s pretty normal.”

Her lifelong passion for all things astrological began at 12 years old when she read a book of her mother’s: “This book had all sort of different things in it – astrology, numerology, dreams – I liked all of it but I thought palmistry was something I could take an interest in and it became kind of a vague hobby.”

Eventually, Sasha discovered that her real passion lay in astrology: “I found it fascinating.

At that time, I mean we’re talking about the sixties, it was the beginning of the new age.

People started looking at these things not as a cult but as something they were interested in.

“When people started coming to me and asking if I could do their horoscopes I made the effort to learn how to do it properly.

“My kids have disabilities and my first husband was in and out of hospital then, so for many years if I couldn’t work, this was a way of earning money.”

But astrology became more than just a way to pay the bills. In her 40 years of experience the grandmother of two has been twice President of the British Astrological and Psychic Society, written for Prediction magazine and previously had regular columns in Woman’s Own and The Sunday People.

Not to mention her TV and radio work.

Sasha also has a well-established writing career which began with her first book, Fortune Telling by Tarot Cards, published in 1985. She said: “I wanted to be a journalist when I was at school and I’ve always been a writer. I feel I’ve made it these days – I do a lot of writing now.”

This is something of an understatement. With more than 130 books published, translated into 14 languages with sales in excess of 6.5 million, you could say Sasha’s made it.

The art of astrology might be 25,000 years old but it’s certainly moved with the times.

Sasha now does all her readings using a mix of her interpretations and computer software: “Nowadays we use software but the interpretation is all my own. Once I have the information on screen I can see what a person was like at birth and I can describe their life and their character.

“For those who want forecasting, which is everybody, I can create charts that show where the stars are now and how they’re affecting people.

“My own horoscope is very good at the moment,” Sasha smiles, “I’m waiting for it to work out because, if not, I’m going to sack myself!”

TO CONTACT SASHA FOR A READING VISIT WWW.SASHAFENTON.COM OR EMAIL SASHA@ SASHAFENTON.COM

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FAMILY

St Budeaux Foundation

SASHA FENTON’S ASTRO-FORECASTS FOR 2015

C of E (Aided) Junior School

ARIES March and April will be critical months, because that is when you can drop people and situations that are holding you back and make a powerful bid for the things that you want. Career matters are at the forefront of your mind, but family life will be great this summer.

SCORPIO Last year was far from easy, but you will soon feel a great weight lifting from your shoulders. Your career and working life are about to improve, but you can’t take gambles, or spend large sums of money or do much to expand your horizons until later in the year.

TAURUS You can expect some much-needed peace and quiet during most of this year, although late April could be anything but quiet, because a major row with someone in a position of authority will erupt, with money at the heart of the matter, but then problems ease and peace returns.

SAGITTARIUS You’ll take on extra responsibilities and become the oldest and wisest person in your circle this year, but you will also enjoy breaks, sports, picnics and parties.

The worst time is September when you really will have to put your nose to the grindstone and take on some extra responsibility.

GEMINI Events will help you to make great strides towards achieving one particular plan early in the year, but later on, you will have a real sparkle in your eyes, because love and passion will come your way.

Even those in settled relationships will be happier than usual this year.

CAPRICORN Pluto will transform the lives of many of you this year and while the process may be uncomfortable, the outcome will be good. It’s like having the builders in, because while it feels disruptive at the time, it’s lovely when it’s all over. Take care not to upset others during March.

CANCER There will be whirlwinds blowing around, but you won’t be personally affected as long as you avoid getting caught up in other people’s arguments. Working life will be unstable until the middle of the year and family life will also be subject to upheavals. Peace returns as August ends.

AQUARIUS A much better year is ahead, although short-term setbacks in January may make you wonder whether this is true.

The spring and summer give you an opportunity to offload things that no longer work and choose new ones that do. The end of the year brings joy and fun.

LEO The past few years have been far from easy, but this is the start of a better phase although July and August will be tricky for those whose birthdays fall late in the sign. The year will be busy and sometimes very tiring, but it will be productive and happy.

PISCES Matters concerning health and healing will be at the top of your agenda, probably due to an interest in these subjects or working in the health field. The circumstances of your working and living arrangements are set to change, possible because you need to get your finances in order.

ily Why choose us? We are a happy, fam centred school, where children are enthusiastic about their learning and aspire to reach their full potential.

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VIRGO Life will be quiet during the first few months of 2015, but the entry of Jupiter in your sign in August brings new friends and the start of an interesting and exciting phase that includes travel for pleasure or for work. The eclipse in September brings something to an end.

LIBRA A new address, a move of premises and differences in your family setup are in the air this year, so your lifestyle is set to change. Eclipses in March and April bring changes in a partnership situation, and you’ll put new ideas of your own into action in late September.

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HOMES & GARDENS

It’s not shabby, but it’s certainly chic SHABBY CHIC CONTINUES ITS REIGN AS THE LATEST INTERIORS TREND. GRAHAM BROACH MEETS TWO YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS WHO HAVE TURNED IT INTO A LIFESTYLE BUSINESS

E

verything we sell is hand-made and a one-off.

Most of our customers are women, but men also appreciate what we do.”

Think of the term shabby chic and you usually just think about painted furniture.

But business partners Jodie Langworthy and Laura Stoneham are using decoupage, wallpaper and glass knobs to make old and practical things look pretty and feminine.

Jodie and Laura, both aged 27, have been firm friends since primary school where they both discovered a creative streak which has stayed with them.

They have taken the plunge and rented a stall in Plymouth City Market, naming it Drab To Fab. Laura renovates furniture, while Jodie works with textiles, making items such as bunting, cushions and bean-bags.

The women take turns to man the stall, giving each other time for a home life and to work on their latest creations.

Laura has a young son, while Jodie also runs her own child-minding business.

Laura began by restoring a table and chairs at home, then re-upholstered an ottoman and developed many new ideas after joining a group.

Jodie has turned her hobby of working with textiles into a business – and won’t let anyone else touch her specialist scissors or sewing machine.

Neither woman has had any formal training in their new career, both being completely self-taught.

Laura said: “Everything we sell is hand-made and a one-off. Most of our customers are women, but men also appreciate what we do.”

She added: “We needed a small space to showcase

what we do, but shops were too expensive.

“We didn’t expect to do so well initially, but we are meeting the rent, paying ourselves a basic wage and putting a bit aside in our business account.

“We both understand what we are doing, who we are targeting and where we are going.”

Laura said the market was gradually changing, with more quirky stalls and quality items.

Jodie said: “I’m sure the shabby chic trend will carry on – though you either like it or you don’t.

“Each item we make is unique – for example, I make memory blankets out of children’s old clothing.

“I do my cutting and preparing while working in the store; it’s nice for customers to see us making things. The sewing I do at home in my quiet conservatory.

“Laura and I give each other space and time to go out and buy materials and have a life, too.

“We intend to pay ourselves a wage, but it’s not all about money – it’s so rewarding when people buy our products, love them and put them in their home.”

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HOMES & GARDENS

AGAPANTHUS MIDNIGHT STAR AVAILABLE FROM PINE COTTAGE PLANTS

The moody blues CLARE JARDINE REVEALS THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A LOVE AFFAIR WITH AGAPANTHUS

I

fell head over heels for Agapanthus on my first visit to the Isles of Scilly. It grows like a weed around the sandy shores and fills cottage gardens with a haze of majestic blue.

The plant with its tall lollipop heads, sprouting from long, lush green leaves is both modest and striking in equal measure. I’d met my perfect plant.

But Agapanthus is definitely at its best growing wild and becomes a far more fickle creature in a relationship.

I have found, to my cost, that while the plant is happy in the temperate climate of the Scillies and West Cornwall, it is far less happy in the mixed climate and rich soil of South East Cornwall and Devon.

My own Agapanthus have been mixed in their affections. From the moody blues, sulking and refusing to appear, to tall stunners which return my love and care with a show of azure beauty.

More often than not you will see Agapanthus growing on sunny terraces in terracotta pots which can be brought into a greenhouse as soon as the weather turns chilly.

Growing it freely in gardens is a far more difficult operation.

The most common Agapanthus plants are the Headbourne Hybrids, which were originally cultivated

by Lewis Palmer in Headbourne Worthy, Hampshire.

They were raised from seed sent from their (mostly) native South Africa.

But the Hybrids, rather unassuming and pale blue plants, are a long way from the varieties available to buy today.

Further enhanced by subsequent breeding and selection, as well as modern techniques for rapid propagation, has meant that the Agapanthus of today are far more vibrant and exciting.

There are now far more types available to buy from garden centres.

Northern Star is a fantastic deep blue, well worth growing for its dense heads of flared flowers.

Somewhat more muted in this type, though no

less lovely, are a duo bearing names that exhibit the mischievous, yet descriptive word playing of their raiser, Alan Street at Avon Bulbs – Blue Rinse and Grey Wave.

More recently clever planstmen have cultivated a new colour in the Agapanthus spectrum – indigo.

The first from across the Atlantic in the States was aptly named Mood Indigo; its reputation for being temperamental has happily not been passed on to all of its off-spring.

The National Collection of Agapanthus is held at Pine Cottage Plants in North Devon.

Their more exciting species include Midnight Cascade, with its purple flowers startlingly carried on contrasting yellow-green pedicels. For an excellent pure white variety, they have the pure flowers of Arctic Star.

With the vagaries of the weather, you always need to check how hardy your chosen Agapanthus plant promises to be.

Borderline hardy varieties are far too easily lost in a harsh and frosty winter.

Try to choose a deciduous, more robust variety, even if it means compromising on some of the showiness, and treat it with care.

Plant Agapanathus in a reasonably sunny, welldrained position – and they will reward you with a graceful happy show in the summer.

They will never look as adorable and happy as they do growing wild, but they will reward your love with a touch of the exotic to brighten any garden.

AGAPANTHUS, NATIVE TO SOUTH AFRICA, THRIVES IN THE WARM CLIMATE AND SANDY SOIL OF TRESCO, IN THE ISLES OF SCILLY

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january gardening tips Top 10 Winter Tips 1. Recycle your Christmas tree by shredding it for mulch 2. Ventilate the greenhouse on sunny days 3. Dig over any vacant plots that have not been dug already 4. Repair and re-shape lawn edges

5. Inspect stored tubers of Dahlia, Begonia and Canna for rots or drying out

6. Prune apple and pear trees 7. Start forcing rhubarb 8. Plan your vegetable crop rotations for the coming season 9. Keep putting out food and water for hungry birds 10. Prepare a polythene shelter for outdoor peaches and nectarines, to protect them from peach leaf curl

General maintenance Even in mild areas, tender plants that cannot be left outside with protection should really be taken into the greenhouse or conservatory by the beginning of this month. In cold areas, you are best moving things inside much earlier, in the autumn.

In cold spells, protect non frost-proof containers (terracotta pots for example) with bubble wrap, hessian or fleece, to prevent them cracking. Grouping the pots close to a south-facing wall may provide additional protection to the most vulnerable ones.

Ensure protective straw or fleece is still in place on tender plants overwintering outdoors.

Collect leaves that have blown over alpine beds as these plants are easily smothered. Bare patches can be covered with gritty compost.

Clear up any weedy beds ready for mulching in the spring.

Keep tubs and containers tidy, cutting back and removing debris regularly. They can be mulched with compost or grit. Grit is aesthetically pleasing, and will reduce the surface puddling that can occur when light composts are beaten into a solid ‘cap’ by raindrops.

Some pots - particularly those sheltered by eaves or balconies - may need watering. Check the compost (at a hand’s depth) to see if it feels dry. Aim to keep pots moist (not too wet), and do not let them dry out.

Raise patio containers onto feet or bricks, if you have not done so already, to avoid them sitting in the wet.

Free fundrasing pack includes: recipes; posters; balloons; fun games and a collection box.

Planning ahead Order catalogues for spring planting of summer-flowering bulbs, bedding and herbaceous perennials.

Stock up on store cupboard items such as string, stakes and canes for use later in the year.

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MONTTREMBLANT SKI RESORT

NOTRE DAME BASILICA, MONTREAL.

Ooh la la in French Canada HANNAH STEPHENSON AND HER TEENAGE DAUGHTER TAKE TO THE SLOPES AND THE SHOPS ON A SKI AND CITY BREAK TO MONT TREMBLANT AND MONTREAL

W

ill we need to speak French?” my 14-year-old daughter Grace asks on the journey to Mont Tremblant, Quebec’s top ski resort. Well, you don’t have to parlez Francais in this neck of the woods, but it certainly helps.

We’re here for a girls’ week of skiing, shopping and spas, arriving at the eastern resort of Mont Tremblant (known as ‘Trembling Mountain’), one of the most family-friendly Canadian ski resorts, which is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary.

The French influence is everywhere in this pretty, twinkling town, whose brightly painted Disney-like buildings form the base to 49 miles of runs.

Only a day’s drive north from New York, Tremblant attracts Americans because, to them, it feels like France, like going to Europe without the long, expensive flight. For us, it’s a six-and-a-half hour flight from London and 90-minutes by car to the resort, far closer than its bigger competitor Whistler, in the west.

There’s a French flavour to the pretty cobbled streets, as we find apres ski shacks serving not only poutine - a Canadian staple of French fries topped with gravy and curd cheese - but also real French onion soup and Savoyard fare, including raclette and fondue, creme brulee and other Gallic delicacies.

But for now, we’re here for the slopes; the cool cruisers, the gentle blues, the tree-lined runs and the black double diamonds for adrenaline junkies.

Mont Tremblant has them all.

First, though, be aware that this is a truly cold spot. On our first brilliantly sunny day on the slopes, the temperature is a teeth-chattering -18C and our eyelashes freeze while we’re waiting for our instructor.

In February, you don’t want any flesh showing at all. Everyone wears full-face ski masks or balaclavas under their helmets and goggles. You literally cannot see what expressions your ski

We’re here for the slopes; cool cruiers, gentle blues and double diamonds buddies are making. The temperatures here in the east fluctuate massively, dipping to below -30C in the winter and soaring to 30-plus in the summer Having said that, once the thermals are on, the handwarmers and footwarmers are in place and the sun is shining, Mont Tremblant is a blessing for intermediates like us. Half of the runs are deemed advanced, but many of the blacks are so well groomed, they’re more like European reds.

With 95 runs over an elevation of 2,871ft, there’s plenty of action for skiers and snowboarders alike,

whatever their level. The beauty of skiing in Mont Tremblant is that it’s pretty difficult to get lost.

There’s only one mountain, with four faces. The south side, directly facing the village, is sunny and leads right back into town - which is ski-in, ski-out - while the north side gets the sun in the morning and takes you back up to the top of the mountain, with access to the south side and back to base.

We practise our techniques on the Nansen, the longest run in Tremblant at 6km and green all the way.

The other faces are the Versant Soleil (sunny side), which is home to the casino and more lodging, and the Edge, which is good for powder.

Back in the village, we watch little ones try their first ‘pizza’ slices on the slopes - they used to be called snow ploughs - in the learning zones, which are well equipped with a magic carpet and plenty of patient instructors to scoop up the young learners when it all becomes too much.

Meanwhile, older kids looking for excitement can buy an ‘Adrenaline Park Pass’ to access the 50 rails and jump modules in three parks - helmets are obligatory. In the evening, there are snowmobile rides and tubing nearby. There’s also 80km of cross country trails, dog sledding and snow shoeing.

To avoid the crowds, we’re at the gondola at 7.45am for ‘first tracks’, a service which allows skiers who want space to jump the crowds and hit the slopes first. It’s here that you can really appreciate this resort, the perfect snow, the views over the pretty village and the magnificent lake.

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FIRST TRACKS IN TREMBLANT

We catch the early morning sun on the north side and ski down perfectly groomed ‘corduroy’ snow on empty pistes.

After a few days, our aching muscles are a timely reminder of the need for chill-out time, so we head to Montreal for the second leg of our trip. I’m given a signature massage at the spa of the five-star Hotel Le Crystal, in the downtown district where the shopping can commence. Who cares about the cold now? Grace and I head for Rue Sainte Catherine, shopping hub and home of Canada’s famous department stores Ogilvy, Simons and La Baie, the biggest department store in the city.

“Instead of going to church and praying, we go shopping,” Celine, our guide, reflects of the city she says was once so religious. “Some people just don’t go outside in the winter.”

We venture into Montreal’s famous underground city from Rue Ste Catherine and find ourselves in a vast 30km network of shops, restaurants, cinemas and businesses. The lower the floor, the cheaper the shop, according to Celine. When it all starts to become a bit claustrophobic, we head for the old town and Marche Bonsecours, an indoor market selling more native-inspired goods, including ornate wooden carvings and local artwork.

Shopped out and exhausted, we make our way back through the vast underground downtown maze to the hotel, for a swim in the spa pool, before reviewing our purchases. With the great exchange rate, retail therapy never felt so good.

DOWNTOWN MONTREAL

TRAVEL FACTS Hannah Stephenson was a guest of Quebec Tourism (0800 051 7055; info@quebecoriginal.com; www.QuebecOriginal.com) For more information on Tremblant, visit www.tremblant.com Air Canada offers return economy flights from London Heathrow to Montreal/MontTremblant (via Montreal) from £522.16/£617.16, including taxes.

Find out more at www.aircanada. com or call 0871 220 1111

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Tartiflette Potatoes and bacon cooked with cheese, what’s not to like? This French dish is tailor made for the post-slope hunger pangs. Traditionally made in a long-handled pan, it’s an unctuous dish and sure to put a smile on everyone’s face post piste. Recipe from BBC Good Food.

A taste of the mountains YOU DON’T HAVE TO HIT THE SLOPES TO ENJOY THE HEARTY FOOD ENJOYED IN THE ALPS. HERE’S PL’S PICK OF THE BEST ALPINE RECIPES

Slow-roasted shoulder of lamb with white wine, rosemary and garlic You’re going to be on the slopes and working up an appetite – why not slow cook a hearty joint? The lamb is melting and should be easy to pull apart with forks – the delicious juices are great for dipping.

Ingredients

Method

2 kg shoulder of lamb

1. Preheat the oven to full temperature.

3 cloves of garlic 1 bunch of fresh rosemary 1 kg carrots 2 onions Olive oil Salt and pepper Half a bottle of decent white wine

2. Take a small sharp knife and slice the peeled garlic into three, then poke holes into the shoulder carefully and push the shards of garlic into the holes.

3. Drizzle the lamb with olive oil and rub all over, season generously with salt and pepper.

4. Peel the onions and carrots, slice into 1cm lengths, place in to a deep roasting tray with the rosemary and lay the lamb on top. Pour in the white wine and cover the tray with tin foil.

5. Place the tray in the oven and turn down the temperature to 170/350 degrees or gas mark 4 and cook for four hours.

Ingredients

Method

1kg/2lb 4oz Charlotte potatoes, peeled

1. For the tartiflette, preheat oven to 200C/400F/Gas 7.

250g/8oz bacon lardons 2 shallots 1 garlic clove 100ml/3½fl oz white wine 200ml/7fl oz double cream sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 whole Reblochon cheese (about 450g/1lb), sliced (if you can’t find it, try using Camembert

2. Cook the potatoes in a saucepan of salted boiling water for 5-10 minutes, or until tender.

3. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.

4. Meanwhile, heat a frying pan until hot and fry the bacon, shallots and garlic for 4-5 minutes, or until golden-brown. Deglaze the pan with the white wine and continue to cook until most of the liquid has evaporated.

5. Slice the potatoes thinly and layer into an ovenproof gratin dish with the bacon mixture.

Pour over the double cream. Season with salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Layer the Reblochon slices on top.

6. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is golden-brown and bubbling.

Mulled cider mulled wine to sink a ship, If by January, you’ve had enough e from BBC Food. Thirty recip r cide ing why not try this warm cold toes and noses. to minutes prep and a great antidote Ingredients 3½pts/2L dry cider or fresh apple juice 2 apples studded with cloves 4-6 cinnamon sticks 5-6 allspice berries Zest of 1 orange

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and simmer gently for 30 minutes - do not boil.

2. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and ladle into glass mugs. Garnish with apple slices to serve.

Dark rum (optional) Slices of apple for garnish

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The taste of Seville PUT SOME TANG ON YOUR TABLE. LOUISE DANIEL CELEBRATES THE SHORT SEVILLE ORANGE SEASON

J

anuary ushers in the prospect of the new. Resolutions are made (and sometimes broken), traditions upended and the future embraced with new gusto.

January heralds the arrival of the lumpy and bitter Seville orange, the star of the show in the marmalade-making world and a tradition worth hanging on to.

Sevilles are not the prettiest fruit and their season is short, so grab late January and early February when they are at their best.

Creating that tantalising tang is simpler than you think and with a bit of slicing, stirring and bottling you’ll have a delicious golden preserve to grace your table throughout the year and a perfect partner to toast, cakes and glazes.

Marmalade has become a quintessentially British preserve but the origins and name are from further flung destinations.

Original marmalades have associations with Portuguese membrillo paste (made from quince) which was imported to Britain during the early 1600s - the name marmalade comes from the Portuguese word marmelo which means quince – with marmalade the word catch-all word for all fruit preserves.

The first British marmalade recipe was documented in a recipe book

by Madam Eliza Cholmondeley around 1677. Her ‘marmalat of oranges’ recipe resembles the marmalades we make today, though the process involved removing the peel and soaking it for four days.

Back then marmalade was eaten as a sweetmeat rather than an accompaniment and the preserve (!) of the upper classes because sugar was an expensive commodity.

Whether you like your marmalade thick or thin cut, nothing beats making your own.

Embrace the short Seville season and get stirring – it brings a golden glow to what can be a gloomy month.

Ultimate Seville orange marmalade Ultimate Seville orange marmalade from BBC Good Food Ingredients

Method

1.3kg Seville oranges

1. Put the whole oranges and lemon juice in a large preserving pan and cover with 2 litres/4 pints of water - if it does not cover the fruit, use a smaller pan. If necessary weight the oranges with a heat-proof plate to keep them submerged. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer very gently for around 2 hours, or until the peel can be easily pierced with a fork.

2 lemons, juice only 2.6kg preserving or granulated sugar

2. Warm half the sugar in a very low-heat oven. Pour off the cooking water from the oranges into a jug and tip the oranges into a bowl. Return cooking liquid to the pan. Allow oranges to cool until they are easy to handle, then cut in half. Scoop out all the pips and pith and add to the reserved orange liquid in the pan. Bring to the boil for 6 minutes, then strain this liquid through a sieve into a bowl and press the pulp through with a wooden spoon - it is high in pectin so gives marmalade a good set.

3. Pour half this liquid into a preserving pan. Cut the peel, with a sharp knife, into fine shreds. Add half the peel to the liquid in the preserving pan with the warm sugar. Stir over a low heat until all the sugar has dissolved, for about 10 minutes, then bring to the boil and bubble rapidly for 15-25 minutes until setting point is reached.

4. Take pan off the heat and skim any scum from the surface. (To dissolve any excess scum, drop a small knob of butter on to the surface, and gently stir.) Leave the marmalade to stand in the pan for 20 minutes to cool a little and allow the peel to settle; then pot in sterilised jars, seal and label. Repeat from step 3 for second batch, warming the other half of the sugar first.

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FOOD & DRINK

Raise a glass, and a dagger, for Burns Night JANUARY CAN FEEL A LITTLE AUSTERE AFTER ALL THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES. BUT EVERYONE NEEDS A LITTLE CHEER IN THIS DARK WINTER MONTH. WHY NOT SHAKE OFF THE NEW YEAR BLUES BY JOINING THE SCOTS IN A CELEBRATION OF BURNS NIGHT ON JANUARY 25. KILTS ARE OPTIONAL!

A

traditional Burns Night is more than just a gathering of friends and family to enjoy Scottish food. The entire evening is a celebration of the life and times of the great Scottish bard Rabbie Burns, and follows a series of traditions.

Scottish communities in Plymouth will follow these with precision, others may choose to follow some, but not all, of the proceedings.

The evening begins with drinks, a welcome from the host and grace.

The supper then starts with soup such as Scotch Broth, Potato Soup or Cock-a-Leekie.

Then the real ceremony begins with the piping in of the haggis which is carried in on a platter by the cook.

The host, or perhaps a talented guest, then

recites the Address to a Haggis which contains the line “An’ cut you up wi’ ready slicht”, at which point a knife is plunged into the haggis so it is slit open from end to end. Done properly, this can be the highlight of the evening.

At the end of the poem, a Scotch whisky toast will be proposed to the haggis, then everyone sits to enjoy the meal. If cooking at home, you shouldn’t need to slave too long to prepare the traditional haggis with mashed potatoes (tatties) and neeps (mashed swede).

A dessert course usually follows which may be cranachan or Tipsy Laird (whisky trifle) followed by oatcakes and cheese, all washed down with the “water of life” (uisge beatha) – Scotch whisky.

When the meal reaches the coffee stage various speeches and toasts are given.

These start with a speech remembering some aspect of Burns’ life or poetry.

Then comes the Toast to the Lassies. This was originally a short speech in thanks to the women who prepared the meal. Today it generally covers the male speaker’s view on women. It is normally amusing but not offensive. The men then drink a toast to the women’s health.

This is followed by the Reply to the Laddies.

A female guest will give her views on men, usually with humour.

The evening ends with everyone standing to join hands to sing Auld Lang Syne.

Scotish cranachan Ingredients 55g pinhead oatmeal 250g fresh raspberries 475ml double cream 3 tbsp malt whisky 1 tbsp, PLUS extra Scottish runny honey to serve

Method

1. Heat a large heavy based skillet/frying pan on the stove until hot. Add the oats and stirring constantly, toast the oats until they have a light, nutty smell and are just beginning to change colour. Do not leave unattended, the oatmeal can quickly burn. Remove the oats from the pan.

2. Keep a handful of the raspberries to one side, place the remaining raspberries in a food processor and whiz once or twice to create a thick es purée, do not over-blend. You can, if you wish, simply crush the raspberri with a fork if you prefer a more rustic-looking dish.

3. In a large bowl whisk the cream and whisky to form firm peaks, finally, fold in the honey.

4. In either a glass trifle bowl, or individual serving glasses layer the dessert starting with cream, followed by raspberries, followed by oatmeal. You can either make small layers repeating several times or layer 1/3 of each to fill g the bowl or glass. Always finish with a layer of cream and a light sprinklin of oatmeal.

5. Cover the bowl or glasses with clingfilm and chill for a minimum of one hour or several if possible.

6. To serve, drizzle over a little extra honey (optional) and serve with some shortbread.

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Haggis, neeps and tatties Ingredients

Method

1300g haggis

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C, gas mark 3.

Remove the haggis from its outer packaging and wrap tightly in foil. Place in an ovenproof dish and add water to come 2cm up the sides of the dish. Cook for 1 hour 45 minutes.

1500g King Edward potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks 100ml whole milk 60g unsalted butter 1500g swede, peeled and diced 50ml whisky Gravy 1 tbsp sunflower oil 1 celery stick, roughly chopped 1 carrot, roughly chopped 1 small onion, roughly chopped 1 tbsp plain flour 1 tsp tomato purée 750ml beef stock 3 tbsp redcurrant jelly 1 splash worcestershire sauce 1 splash Tabasco sauce

2. Meanwhile, make the gravy. Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the vegetables for 5 minutes until just brown. Add the flour and tomato purée and cook for 2-3 minutes. Slowly add the stock, stirring until smooth. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for 30 minutes, then pass through a sieve. Return the gravy to a clean pan and add the redcurrant jelly, Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces. Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from the hob and reheat before serving, if necessary.

3. For the tatties, place the potatoes in a pan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 12-15 minutes until tender.

Drain, return to the pan and allow to dry for 2-3 minutes, then mash. Warm the milk and half the butter in a small pan until the butter has melted. Stir into the mashed potato and season.

4. For the neeps, place the swede in a pan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes until tender. Drain and return to the pan to dry out for 2-3 minutes.

Mash, stir in the remaining butter and season.

5. Reheat the gravy, neeps and tatties if necessary. Remove the haggis from the oven and unwrap from the foil. Make a slit through the casing and pour in the whisky.

Serve spoonfuls of haggis with the tatties, neeps and gravy.

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OUT & ABOUT

Let nature clear your mind SHRUG OFF THE WINTER BLUES BY GETTING OUT AND ABOUT. LOUISE DANIEL DISCOVERS THE BEST SPOTS TO BLOW AWAY THE COBWEBS

Lopwell Dam

Burrator Reservoir Surrounded by beautiful woodland and tiny tributaries, you could be many more miles away from the city. The walk around the reservoir is approximately 3.5 miles and should take around one and a half to two

hours. Admittedly popular with hikers, cyclists, families and day trippers, but if you go offtrack there’s plenty of space to get lost in nature and take a breath away from crowds and the working week.

Jennycliff Beach Walk along the craggy beach and enjoy views across Plymouth Sound.

This is the only part of the Sound not protected by the breakwater which is why divers enjoy this beach. There is free car parking and a café nearby. The walk down to the shore is rather steep but you’re rewarded with plenty of rock pools and stunning waterside views.

A designated Local Nature Reserve, Lopwell Dam is just three miles north of Plymouth but has views to rival Canada. This is a beautiful, tranquil spot in which to waste time and gather thoughts.

There is no mobile phone signal here and enough walks through the wooded areas to remove oneself from the noise of modern life.

Take some wellies and cross the dam (being mindful that it is tidal) say hello to the swans and spot some wildlife.

Small car park and a range of delicious delights available at The Old Pump House, even during the winter.

The dam was built in the 50s to stop salt water merging with the fresh water of the River Tavy. The original pump house was decommissioned in the early 80s and the newer pump house still serves Plymouth, the South Hams and South East Cornwall.

Cremyll ferry and Wembury Mount Edgcumbe Point Believed to have been operating since the 1200s, this charming little foot ferry is the ideal start to blowing off steam.

With a free car park and only £2.60 return for adults and £1.30 return for kids the small vessel takes a leisurely trip over to the Cornish side.

At 885 acres Mount Edgcumbe Country Park has plenty of room to run around or find peace and quiet.

Though the estate is looked after, there is a rustic feel to the wider park, making for a great walking experience. Kingsand and Cawsand are part of the estate and the linked villages a relaxing alternative to a city stroll.

Once part of the Langdon Estate and now owned by the National Trust, Wembury Point has stunning views of the Great Mewstone. It’s a Special Area of Conservation so expect plenty of wildlife and take some binoculars. Use them to spot birds, but you could also catch a glimpse of Sam Wakeham’s solitary ruined cottage on the Mewstone.

He raised rabbits for the Langdon Estate during the 1830s and lived there rent free with his family – he was also a smuggler.

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EVENTS NOT TO MISS THIS MONTH IN PLYMOUTH

JANUARY 20 – FEBRUARY 14

WEDNESDAYS, THROUGHOUT JANUARY

JANUARY 30

Wicked

Wine-tasting courses

Introduction to Breadmaking

Wicked is an award-winning musical which has been casting its spell over London’s West End for a decade. Now the show is on tour bringing its re-imagining of the stories and characters created

by L. Frank Baum in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to Theatre Royal Plymouth. Wicked tells the incredible story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students.

Wine bar Le Vignoble, in the Royal William Yard, is offering wine-tasting courses at 7pm every Wednesday. The small class will look at where vines grow in the world, how wine is made and how to pick up different flavours.

Then the class will taste two whites and two reds to discover the differences.

The Column Bakehouse breadmaking courses are back for 2015. In an Introduction to Breadmaking, beginner bakers have the chance to get to grips with the basic bread-making skills and learn how to create a more traditional and simple loaf.

5:30-9pm, £75, Devonport Guildhall.

JANUARY 17 - MARCH 12

JANUARY 29

JANUARY 11

Open for Business

Southern Tenant Folk Union

Pedal Power

In 2013, Multistory and Magnum Photos commissioned nine of the world’s leading photographers to document contemporary British manufacturing. These photographs show traditional, handmade crafts to modern, intelligent automation. The exhibition will feature images of South West-based companies including Bandvulc Tyres, Burts Potato Chips, Conway Stewart and Dartmoor Brewery.

Southern Tenant Folk Union are one of the most highly acclaimed folk/bluegrass bands in the UK today. The six-piece acoustic band perform an eclectic mix of high energy atmosphere folk and have received airplay from Bob Harris and Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 2 and made live appearances on BBC One TV. They now sell out arts centres across Europe. Catch their infectious live set before it’s too late.

After the Christmas season you may be feeling a little plumper but there are plenty of opportunities to get on your bike. Saltram House is starting new Sunday social bikes rides in the New Year. The adventure will take you through Saltram and the Plym Valley - the perfect time to soak up the views of the River Plym, Saltram estate and the Plym Valley.

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Happy 2015 to all our PL Magazine readers!

FIND US ON: /PLMagPlymouth @PLMagPlymouth

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SOCIAL DIARY

Eva and John

Hirshman open

the new store

Guests queue to get into the new sto re

Drakes’ new store opening VIP guests attended the opening of the new Drakes store at Drake Circus.

There was much emotion from all the Hirshman family as their new flagship store in Drake Circus Shopping Centre was unveiled on Wednesday night.

The shop, located beside the Next retail outlet on the first floor of Drake Circus Shopping Centre, is the glittering new jewel in the Drakes crown.

There’s 82 feet of frontage and two distinct sections offering a multi-brand side (with Swarovski, Links of London, Thomas Sabo and Michael Kors) and ‘The Diamond and Bridal Lounge’, complete with cream banquettes and romantic music.

The well-loved local business welcomed friends, family and customers old and new to the dazzling VIP launch with champagne and canapés courtesy of Edmund Devari.

ard Wendy Beresford-W and Simon Mayhew

and role Stock of Lily

Graham and Ca

Lotty

ily

Lee Spencer and fam

Lauren Partridge, Lisa Partridge and Lisa Davies

52_53_Social diary_1.indd 52

Stuart Dyke and

Natasha Griffin

19/12/2014 12:22:03

chcock.

ris Gilchrist & Zoe Hit

Angel Valentine, Ch

Pride of Plymo uth Awards

Gill Maltby, Steve Maltby, Chris Penk, Joanne Penk and Marilyn Penk.

mrod

Kezia and Becky Or

Plymouth’s unsung her oes were invited to a special night of celebration , organized by The Herald in association with Ply mouth City Council.

The event, at the Ho liday Inn, was an em otional evening which saw local heroes reward ed for the work they do.

The Pride of Plymouth Award was presented to breast cancer campaigner and fundraiser Laura Plane.

Kerry Glanville, Betty Insley, Shelley Lynch and Leanne McDonnell.

Sharon Tiday, Michelle Falli Doaa Shayea and ck.

ia Couch

Sarah Barrow and Ton Syd Soulsby, Christina

Soulsby, Sam Coz and Wayne Cox.

Andy Bank, Jessica Taylor

& Bill Richards.

John and Betty Ins

ley

Laura Plane

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LITTLE CAMDEN MARKET

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PL MAGAZINE | 56 | JANUARY 2015

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Next Month

TheLove Edition!

PEOPLE

ROMANCE ISN’T DEAD PL reveals the city’s most romantic proposals

FASHION

LINGERIE TO LOVE Our pick of the latest creations

WEDDINGS

SAY I DO IN STYLE PL’s pick of wedding venues PL FEBRUARY – THE LOVE EDITION EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LOVE, ROMANCE AND MARRIAGE. TO ADVERTISE CALL 01752 293000

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Fiona Stoddard SALES TEAM: Run of Magazine Jane Resoli 07793 165669 jresoli@dc-media.co.uk Joe Reeves 01752 293080 Joe.reeves@dc-media.co.uk Jenny Short 07711537464 jshort@swmg.co.uk Property Mike Wainwright 07879 604387 mike.wainwright@swmg.co.uk Motors Adele Taylor 07730019004 ataylor@swmg.co.uk Eating Out, Out & About Jane Resoli 07793 165669 jresoli@swmg.co.uk 01752 293070

EDITORIAL: Publisher: Paul Burton 01752 293045 pburton@plymouthherald.co.uk Editorial: Clare Jardine 01752 293138 cjardine@plymouthherald.co.uk DESIGN: Design: Jessica Daykin Copyright © 2014 The Herald Views expressed by writers herein do not necessarily represent those of PL Magazine or The Herald. Availability and price of items have been checked at time of going to press, but we accept no responsibility for any rejected items or unfulfilled orders.

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PL MAGAZINE | 58 | JANUARY 2015

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