PL Magazine October 2015

LIFE IN PLYMOUTH AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

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October 2015

MAGAZINE

CHECKMATE BOARD GAME CRAZE HITS CITY

Beautiful Brides

YOUR COMPLETE WEDDING GUIDE OF THE BEST EVENTS THIS MONTH

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BEAUTY BEST-SELLERS • AUTUMN FASHION • BEAUTIFUL HOMES 24/09/2015 09:34:40

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CONTENTS

30

OCTOBER 2015

Fashion & Shopping DO 6 6O CT HTOI NBGESR TO EVENTS 8 GVAOTMHP IUCPSSI RTEYNL ES T Y M U S T- H AV E S 12 BT HE AU E B E S T- S E L L E R S 14 CHOA IMRPWE TI TI THI VE DE GCEO I F F E U R S TUMN TRENDS 16 AU H OT T HI S S E A S O N L LY TAV Y 18 TOTA S H O P P E R ’ S PA R A D I S E RS 20 WM EEEDTDMI NAGRCWAI NNNDEDAW NE ENUES 22 WP EERDFDE CI NTGPVL AC ES DDING DRESSES 24 WG OERG EOUS GOWNS 26 WT HEEDBDEI NS TGSPHI COTT US R E S 28 WR I ENDGDS I&N GACJCE WE SESLOLREIREYS Health & Beauty 30 PF UONWFEIRTNBEOSUS N C E D D L EB OA R D I N G 34 PA WAT E R WAY S

14 Food & Drink PUMPKIN 36 PERFECT HALLOWEEN RECIPES PASSION 38 PORTUGUESE A TASKINHA MED 40 TOTALLY LE ZIZ FLAVOURS 42 FRENCH FINE WINES Homes & Gardens THE KEYHOLE 44 THROUGH MAGNIFICENT HOME DESIGN 48 TRUE CRAFTY CREATIONS EDGE 50 LEADING GROWING GALLERY HUES 52 MOODY AUTUMN INTERIORS GARDEN HOUSE 56 THE GOLDEN DELIGHT

Family & People CELEBRATIONS 58 FESTIVE WHERE TO GO HAPPENINGS 60 HALF-TERM WHAT TO DO SLEEPING IN 62 RELAXING ROUTINES ART AND MUSIC 64 LAUREN ROTHERY PICTURE 66 INDOMTHEMOORE JUST CR ICKET 68 NOT FREDDIE FLINTOFF Out & About BOARD GAME BOOM 70 THE LATEST CRAZE 72 TRAVEL ZAMBIA DIARY 76 SOCIAL DOZENS OF PICTURES

4 | PL MAGAZINE

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24/09/2015 09:28:37

WELCOME Autum’s glory

H

ello October! We’re sorry to see the end of summer but our new best friend is definitely Autumn. Think crisp walks, woolly jumpers and cosy nights by the fire and you are getting acquainted with one of my favourite times of the year. Top that with Halloween and there’s a load more fun added to the agenda.

I’m kicking off October by enjoying some of the best outdoor activities our city has to offer. Walks on the Hoe, runs around Saltram and cycles at Plymbridge.

But as the nights get colder, I’ll be spending a little more time indoors and at home. I may even join the hundreds of people in Plymouth who have started a board game craze, playing their favourites in cafes and bars across the city. You can read all about that on Pages 70 and 71.

Along with our usual favourites, from homes and gardens to food, drink and fashion, this month’s edition of PL has a special focus on weddings and those who have just got engaged and are planning their big day. We have advice on wedding dresses, venues, photography and jewellery. The latest wedding trends are for more relaxed events, loose hair and blush dresses.

But a wedding is your chance to put a personal stamp on the day and maybe even set some trends yourself.

As well as absorbing ourselves in beautiful wedding dresses, the PL team had great fun styling this month’s fashion shoot. Our gothic sirens shoot has produced some great pictures, with a Halloween edge, by photographer John Allen who spent the day with stylist Louise Daniel at historic Boringdon Hall.

We’re delighted to have a packed social diary section this month with dozens of pictures of our readers out and about and having a great time in Plymouth. I hope you enjoy this cracking Autumn edition as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

EDITOR - PL MAGAZINE

52

36

Clare Jardine

ON THE COVER This month: Autumn bride pictured by Plymouth wedding photographer Clare Kinchin

42

LIFE IN PLYMOUTH AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

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YOUR COMPLETE WEDDING GUIDE

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BEAUTY BEST-SELLERS • AUTUMN FASHION • BEAUTIFUL HOMES 23/09/2015 14:55:18

Copyright © 2015. 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. Printed by Precision Colour Printing Ltd. PL Magazine is part of The Herald, Studio 5-11, Millbay Road, Plymouth PL1 3LF

PUBLISHER Paul Burton 01752 293045 paul.burton@plymouthherald.co.uk EDITOR Clare Jardine 01752 293138 cjardine@plymouthherald.co.uk ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Fiona Stoddart SALES TEAM Jane Resoli 07793 165669 jresoli@dc-media.co.uk Nese Salman 01752 293079 nese.salman@dc-media.co.uk Jenny Short 07711537464 jshort@dc-media.co.uk Jane Resoli (eating out, out & about) 01752 293070 jresoli@dc-media. co.uk PROPERTY Mike Wainwright 07879 604387 mike.wainwright@swmg.co.uk DESIGN Rob Coumbe / Rachel Bray

24/09/2015 09:30:42

DEVONPORT HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS THE EARLY YEARS

SKY RIDE LOCAL RIDE: YOU LITTLE DEVIL October 4th Stonehouse

HARRY ENFIELD AND PAUL WHITEHOUSE: LEGENDS

From October 17th Ford Park Cemetary

October 24th Plymouth Pavilions

Kevin the Teenager, The Surgeons, The Writer, the Landlady, Smashie and Nicey, Loadsamoney, Julio Geordio, the Old Gits and The Scousers! All of the characters that you know and love are a must-see this month at the Plymouth Pavilions. After 25 years of partnership, Harry and Paul are finally travelling the UK. Plymouth City Council, in partnership with Sky and British Cycling, are hosting weekly, free group cycling activities to encourage people to explore their local area. Getting into the spirit of halloween, the 6.9 mile steady ride will start from Devil’s Point, allowing cyclists to enjoy the views overlooking Firestone Bay, Drake’s Island and Mount Edgcumbe.

TOP

The exhibition looks at the creation and life of one of the most influential schools in the city.

Looking at the formation of the School in 1896 the flashback focuses on what it was like to live and grow up in Edwardian and early twentieth century Plymouth, the effect of two world wars and the reformation of the School after the Second World War.

Things to do in October

HALLOWEEN MUSIC, FOOD AND FUN DAY October 18th Central Park

It’s the month to scare it up! Get in the Halloween mood with activities for everyone; from face paints to pumpkinmaking to bouncy castles. There will also be a selection of foods available including a steamy hog roast and scrumptious falafel.

Immerse yourself in what Central Park has to offer for the spooky season.

WEST COUNTRY SCENE MINI RALLY Sutton Harbour October 25th

Everybody, start your engines! A chance to see Minis of every era battle it out in a rally taking place at Sutton Harbour. And of course driven by the owners themselves.

There will be an chance to admire the classics, chat to the drivers and take photographs, and after all that grab a bit to eat at Cap’n Jaspers. Vroom Vroom

MACK AND MABEL Until October 10th Theatre Royal

The brilliant Broadway musical comedy makes its way down to Plymouth this month, starring an award-winning cast including Michael Ball.

Re-live the romance between filmmaker Mack and rising star, Mabel and watch the story of the silent screen in the Golden Age unfold. Including the classics I Won’t Send Roses and Time Heals Everything, watch the era of silent film come to life.

6 | PL MAGAZINE

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24/09/2015 15:27:56

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Fashion

GOTHIC Sirens

Release your inner spirit with PL’s inspirations for a stylish Halloween

CONNIE WEARS: BLACK ROSES CORSET: £29.99, LACE TOP: £5.99, FINGERLESS GLOVES: £1.99, SKULL NECKLACE: £2.99

Fashion Shoot GS_PL_OCT.indd 2

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ctober style wouldn’t be complete without plenty of black, skulls and spookilysexy flourishes. But fangtastic fashion doesn’t have to be glum or tacky. PL teamed up with the Blue Banana boutique in Plymouth City Centre to use their eclectic styling for a fabulously freaky shoot at historic Boringdon Hall in Plympton.

Boringdon is not only a stunning location but boasts plenty of ghost stories from its colourful past. Whether partying on the Eve of All Hallows or not, this late-season celebration gives style mavericks the chance to step out in alternative style.

24/09/2015 15:34:12

DEMI WEARS: KILLSTAR PENTAGRAM VELVET CROP TOP: £34.99, BLACK LACE SKIRT: £29.99, SHOES: MODEL’S OWN

DEMI WEARS: LACE CROSS BODY SUIT: £5

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CONNIE WEARS: BLACK DRESS WITH RED POLKA DOTS £34.99, SHOES: MODEL’S OWN

DEMI WEARS: DRESS: £37.99

00 MAGAZINE | PL MAGAZINE PL | 10

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MAKE UP:

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LOCATION:

BORINGDON HALL, PLYMPTON

PHOTOGRAPHER: JOHN ALLEN

STYLIST:

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{ Health & Beauty {

SIMPLY

THE BESTSELLERS Some are decades-old cult classics while others are relative youngsters, but all are heroes in the cosmetics game. PL reveals the beauty favourites worth knowing about

T

housands of creams, serums and other beautifying concoctions are launched every year, not to mention mountains of make-up and fragrances, each clamouring for space in our shopping baskets. In such a competitive market, it takes a truly remarkable product to stand out, so when sales soar, you know you’ve got a real winner on your hands (or face).

In a bid to suss out the champs from the also-rans, we asked a clutch of our favourite cult brands to reveal what flies off the shelves fastest. From body butter to blusher and scent to scrub, meet the beauty bestsellers...

The calming balm

Tea tree has long been harnessed for its blemishbusting and skin-calming properties. The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil, £8, is Fairtrade, organic and a bargain to boot. No wonder one is sold every eight seconds. (www.thebodyshop.co.uk).

The handy hero

Suits-all shade

The legendary Orgasm shade from NARS - a warm, peachy hue - is responsible for shifting 135 units per hour, be it blusher, lipstick or the famous Multiple sticks. Where to start if you haven’t tried this ultra-flattering pink yet? The Orgasm Blush, £23, will have you screaming with delight (www.narscosmetics.co.uk).

The mega-hit mascara Benefit’s They’re Real mascara isn’t just a top seller for the brand, it’s been the UK’s bestselling mascara for the last four years. To celebrate, the They’re Real Sexy Steal set, £19.50, containing the original mascara plus a mini liner and remover, has just hit the shops (www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk).

The anti-ageing icon The product of 20 years of dermatology research, Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate, £60, uses a unique complex to boost skin’s immunity, and it’s proven a hit with consumers since it debuted last year - one bottle is sold every 18 seconds worldwide (www.shiseido.com).

The perfect perfume It may be phenomenally popular, but this is no lowest common denominator or one-note wonder scent.

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne, £85 for 100ml, is bold, succulent and unforgettable (www.jomalone.co.uk).

More than 20 years since it debuted, L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream, £19, remains the brand’s number one seller. One tube of this rich but fastabsorbing formula is sold every three seconds - devotees won’t leave home without it their mini tube (www.loccitane.com).

12 | PL MAGAZINE

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Fashion

A bit of a do

FROM CITY’S CUTTING CREW It’s a yes from me! Louise Daniel was expecting tears, tantrums and tresses when judging the Skills Group Hair Show 2015. But what emerged was cutting edge creativity and a thriving community of passionate people who were all winners...

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Fashion

I

nnovation, skill - and nerves of steel. The 42 hairdressing students from 29 Plymouth salons displayed all of those attributes when they showed off their skills at the Skills Group Hair Show.

I couldn’t help but admire them all. Judging people is a national pastime in this country.

If you don’t believe me, think about the tidal wave of popular shows where people are given the thumbs up (or down).

Britain’s Got Talent, the Great British Bake Off and MasterChef (to name a few) are successes because of the yesses and nos, grim faced adjudication and our love of lounge-based discussion on who should be in or out.

It’s great fun being an armchair warrior, but when you are up close and personal with young hopefuls and faced with the reality of deciding who should be crowned first, second and third it’s very difficult indeed.

Tensions ran high across the three competing groups – novices, intermediates and advanced students – not least because they were cutting, dressing and teasing hair on the clock.

As I walked among the nervous competitors, fingers fluttered and scissors wobbled.

Supportive throngs clamoured for a view, took photos and cheered them on and us three judges – Lois Taylor, a trainer with Andrew Hill in Newton Abbot, Joss SmithReynolds, salon owner of Team Works in Exeter and me – walked among them watching, marking and discussing.

These were young people shooting for the top and showing their mettle under stress – and for that alone I could have given them ALL first place.

As judges, we looked at hairdressing skills, creative interpretation and overall look, giving marks out of fifteen for each. And it wasn’t easy.

There was vibrant colour, pompadours, beehives, a peacock and one ‘do resembling the crown worn by the Statue of Liberty’.

There was plaiting, backcombing, clippering and gallons of hairspray and to top it all, the outfits to accompany the themes; pure & simple, pomp & ceremony and let’s party were sensational.

It hard to believe some of the students have only been in hairdressing for a matter of weeks.

The standard was extremely high.

As for judging, unless I can give out prizes to everyone there won’t be a next time for me – it’s back to armchair decisions and the comfort and the pleasure of hands-off GBBO critique.

Novice Group – Pure & Simple 1. Lara Donnelly – Arena 2. Tyler Morgan – The Cutting Company 3. Jess Tucker – The Cutting Garden

Intermediate Group – Pomp & Ceremony 1. Ellie Kittle – Envy 2. Tiffany Kent – Salon @ No 6 3. Danni Russell – Style Rite Hair & Design

Advanced – Let’s Party 1. Brooke Wheeler – Utopia 2. Tas Gribbins – Vogue Hair 3. Janine Semmens – Maiya’s Hair & Beauty Salon

LEFT: ADDING THE FINISHING TOUCHES BELOW: SOME OF THE SHOW’S COMPETITORS AND WINNERS

PL MAGAZINE | 00

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Fashion

Autumn!

EVERYTHING IS

A

From cool pastel pink to brash Eighties excess, gothic Victoriana to cosy Bohemia, AW15 is shaping up to be an exciting season. PL rounds up the looks you’ll be longing for as the nights draw in

fter spring’s crisp utilitarian feel and summer’s Seventies love affair, fashion takes a turn into darker territory for autumn - with a couple of notable exceptions. Don’t ditch your boho blouses and flares yet, because the Seventies trend is sticking around, albeit warmed up for winter. Similarly, traditional

outerwear tropes like tweed get a seasonal shakeup, and gothic Victorian vibes undergo a revamp, while Eighties influences are felt in the eveningwear department. But in contrast to all the moody hues, the undisputed shade of the season is actually a sweet, pale pastel. Read on to discover the colours, cuts and styles you’ll be shopping for this season...

Act Your Heritage

Tweeds and checks often return for winter, but this season these trad fabrics have been patchworked and reworked to great effect. At Topshop Unique, English country classics like duffle coats and pinafores were reimagined for urbanites, while at House of Holland and Preen, houndstooth and plaid were given a modern spin.

TRY THE TREND: Lorraine Kelly Quilted PU Biker Coat, £85 (jdwilliams.co.uk)

All Tied Up

Now here’s an autumn trend that started from the ground up. Giambattista Valli and Gucci both sent models out in dance shoe-inspired lace-up booties and, ever since, eyelets and drawstrings have been a feature on the high street and the red carpet. More S&M than sportswear, this trend is set to take hold this season, with low-cut laceup tops and dresses all over the shops right now.

TRY THE TREND: Miss Selfridge Long Sleeve Navy Lace Up Tunic, £35 (missselfridge.com)

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Regal Retro

Giles Deacon’s AW15 collection of smoky gowns, high-necked blouses and huge Elizabethan ruff collars has informed an inordinate number of high-street collections. Design teams have run wild with a mix of historical references, from sweet ivory Victoriana dresses for day, to strict gothic frocks for evening. A black lace blouse is a key piece, and one that also meshes nicely with the prevailing Seventies trend.

TRY THE TREND: Definitions Lace Collar Blouse, £35 (Very.co.uk)

Seventies Freeze

Yep, the Seventies trend rocks on, summer’s diaphanous fabrics making way for a more wintry outlook. Think faux-fur gilets, felt floppy-brimmed hats, slouchy cardigans and lots of corduroy.

Burberry led the way on the catwalks, with brown suede fringed coats, capes and bags - a pair of slouchy suede over-the-knees is also a must to complete your boho reboot.

TRY THE TREND: Multi Faux Fur Gilet, £59; Long Sleeve Floral Peasant Top, £26; Straight Leg Jeans, £20; Fedora Hat, £16 (mandco.com)

Think Pink

The new black? That’ll be pink.

Palest, prettiest, pastel pink - as seen at Fendi, Alexander McQueen, Pringle, Prada, Marni... the list goes on. Try a dinky pink purse for starters. Before you know it, you’ll be lusting after a blushtoned Prada trouser suit.

TRY THE TREND: Radley Portman Small Zip-Top Cross Body Bag in Dusty Pink, £139 (radley.co.uk)

Everything_Autumn_PL_OCT.indd 3

Optical Allusion

Gucci also tapped into one of the season’s biggest print trends, for op-art patterns in a muted Sixties colour palette. Ideal for earlyautumn dressing, these sleek separates will slot easily into your work wardrobe and have staying power in the months to come.

TRY THE TREND: Dorothy Perkins Skirt, £18 (www.dorothyperkins.com)

24/09/2015 14:06:16

Shopping

So much to discover in

TAVISTOCK

Tavistock is a market town which is a joy to visit for so many reasons. PL profiles some of its favourite places

Brocante

Brocante of Devon, in Brook Street, is a family-run independent gift shop. Personal, friendly service and good advice are their watchwords. Brocante stocks a wide range of gorgeous, classy, unusual gifts catering for every taste, occasion and budget. Brocante will post goods to you if you are unable to visit in person or are pushed for time.

BROCANTE STOCK A RANGE OF BEAUTIFUL SOLAR-POWERED MOVAGLOBES WHICH GENTLY REVOLVE ON THEIR OWN

Worth Electrical

Worth Electrical on Pixon Lane is open to trade and public and offer free local delivery. The store has a huge range of lighting and heating, including energy-saving LED lighting.

Worth Electrical also stock a massive range of Dewalt power tools, CK hand tools and CCTV systems.

A RANGE OF UNDERFLOOR HEATING IS AVAILABLE FROM WORTH ELEC TRICAL

CRUZEE BALANCE BIKE RRP £100, £95 AT DARTMOOR CYCLES

Dartmoor Cycles

Dartmoor Cycles on West Devon Business Park is run by lifelong bike geek Andy, along with fellow bikeaholics Chris and Craig. Like a lot of Tavistock businesses, the business is small, unique, friendly and approachable! Dartmoor Cycles specialise in mountain bikes, BMX, commuting and children’s bikes and has a great range in the showroom to try.

Crebers

After 130 years in business, Crebers Deli is rightfully a Tavistock institution.

Its varied offerings make it all a good deli should be. It has a wide selection CREBERS HAMPERS, FROM £19.99 of cooked meats, salads, local cheeses and a choice of best local foodie produce such as jams, condiments, beers and honey. They produce magnificent hampers to suit all requirements.

Dartmoor Country Clothes

Dartmoor Stove Company

THE EVERHOT 90I STOVE, £6345

The Dartmoor Stove Company on Crealake Industrial Estate is a family-run business with a wealth of knowledge and experience to advise on the best products for your home. For inspiration call into the showroom where there is a selection of stoves and range cookers to choose from. The Hetas-approved team is on hand for installation/building work to complete your project to the highest standard.

Ron’s Pets

With a fantastically well-stocked shop West Devon Business Park and market stall in town, you will not find anywhere better than Ron’s Pets for your pet supplies.

Staff are knowledgeable and friendly and always have yours and your pet’s best interest at heart.

PET BOWLS, PRICES FROM £1.45

BARBOUR CORBRIDGE WAX JACKET - AVAILABLE IN BLACK OR RUSTIC £229

Based in Brook Street, Dartmoor Country Clothes is a family-run business with friendly and helpful staff. Offering a diverse range of clothing, footwear and accessories all under one roof, Dartmoor Country Clothes stocks clothing for the whole family including the dog! The range includes Barbour, Dubarry, Joules, Magee, Hunter, Seasalt and Jack Murphy.

The Wharf

Tavistock’s Wharf is your local, live entertainment centre and has a packed Autumn programme of great musical entertainment.

October 23: Wolfsbane - The original 80s band back on tour.

October 24 - King King - The hottest draw in British blues rock.

November 6 - London Calling - Excellent Clash tribute.

November 7: Bon Jovi Experience - Bon Jovi Tribute: striking resemblance in voice and appearance.”

KING KING PLAY THE WHARF ON OCTOBER 24

TavistockFeature .indd 2

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www.dartmoorcycles.co.uk

Pet supplies & treats from both our shop & market stall.

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Traditional living in a modern world

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Wedding Fashion

GETTING READY FOR OUR

DREAM WEDDING Dawne Penney and Marc Jones have been on an incredible journey this year after winning The Herald’s Dream Wedding Competition. They share their love story with Rachael Dodd...

J

ust four months ago Dawne Penney and Marc Jones discovered they’d won the Dream Wedding Competition organised by The Herald newspaper. Their prize is a wedding worth more than £20,000 with all the trimmings. “The most I’d ever won before this competition was £10.28 at bingo when I was eight-years-old,” Marc laughs.

Video footage captured the moment when the couple were announced as winners; full of joy as they hugged - visibly shaking from the shock.

Dawne says she looks at the film regularly: “I’ve watched that video at least once a week every week since we’ve won just because it’s good to remind yourself of the moment.” Since then, the people of Plymouth have followed Dawne and Marc’s wedding planning experience as they ticked off their appointments with all the prizegivers in a weekly feature in The Herald.

Dawne says she’s grown in confidence as a result of all the press attention but it’s Marc’s growing facial hair that’s been the more obvious weekly change. “A woman did ask me if I was ‘The man from The Herald’ the day after the final but I think that might be more to do with the beard,” he laughs. So, the question everyone’s asking, is Marc going clean-shaven for his wedding? “I grew it for the wedding!” he laughs.

“I had shaved it off and then Dawne entered the competition with a photo of me in full beard. The agreement was that if we won then I could grow the beard again.” The facial fuzz even came in handy at the competition final.

“The interview was made easier because we were talking about my beard for a long while,”

DAWNE PENNEY AND MARC JONES PICTURED IN THE GROUNDS OF THE BUCKLAND TOUT SAINTS HOTEL WHERE THEY WILL CELEBRATE THEIR DREAM WEDDING NEXT MONTH

PL | 20 00 MAGAZINE | PL MAGAZINE

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Fashion

DAWNE PENNEY AND MARC JONES WITH THEIR FAMILY AND, RIGHT, AT THE FINAL OF THE WIN A WEDDING COMPETITION

Marc says. “I had to remind the judges about the time because we only had seven minutes,” Dawne adds. The couple’s story began just over two years ago when they met through a dating website. They were both on the verge of closing their accounts until Dawne messaged Marc.

“I’d been on the site for a few months,” Dawne says. “I’d been single for eight years before that.

I have my two daughters so I couldn’t really get out and about. I thought the best thing would be to try a website so I could filter through all the rubbish – all the work’s been done for you.

I’d been on a few dates but it was just the same faces all the time. I messaged Marc, I’d already made up my mind that he was my last shot and then I’d close my account for a little while.”

Dawne blew her cool on the first date but Marc wasn’t fazed. “We went to the Seco Lounge,” Dawne says. “I remember saying something like, ‘Oh in 15 years we’ll look back at this and laugh!’ That’s not really a very cool thing to say!” “I did think about running,” Marc jokes. “I was 34 when I met Dawne and through my 20s I’d just exhausted going out all the time – I was fed up with it.

“I didn’t want to meet anyone drunk so online dating was the only way I could go. I’d been on numerous dates and heard nothing back. I think I would’ve taken a break, too, if it hadn’t been for Dawne.” Two years later the couple are very much in love. Marc has even become a father

figure to Dawne’s daughters, Alana and Millie: “Last year they gave me a Father’s Day present and I did get very choked up,” Marc says.

“They even put a little ad in The Herald.” Marc isn’t able to have children but says he’s been presented with a ready-made family in Dawne

‘I’d been on numerous dates and heard nothing back.

I think I would’ve taken a break, too, if it hadn’t been for Dawne’ and her daughters. “I’ve still got a lot of learning and bonding to do,” he admits, “but I’ve got the time to do it.” Dawne says: “I came into this relationship with nothing. I’ve never had my own house so for us to move in with Marc and for him

to be investing in our future we haven’t got the extra money to be spending on a wedding. “Now the four of us can be a proper family without the burden of debt because we would’ve had to borrow to marry. The competition has set us up really.”

“If we hadn’t won, getting married would’ve been in the distant future,” Marc says.

“Not that we would ever have split up but I’d rather set up a home for Dawne and the girls over spending a vast sum of money getting married. I never wanted to be with anyone else other than Dawne. Then we won the competition and marriage was suddenly possible.” Looking back, the happy couple agree that the competition hasn’t just given them a wedding – it’s changed their lives in far bigger ways.

With the wedding paid for, the family have been able to think about moving into a bigger house much quicker than they could’ve hoped for. Marc says: “I’m looking at moving us because we only have the two bedrooms right now so the girls are sharing. The plan was always to move but I accelerated it. I’m thinking of the girls long-term and getting them closer to schools and more out in the suburbs.”

Dawne and Marc agree that the entire experience has been very humbling. “My persona is quite surly,” Marc smiles, “but I’ve never smiled so much in this process. “It makes you realise that you should enjoy the small things.

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Wedding

FINDING THE PERFECT

VENUE Whether it’s rural sophistication, dramatic seascapes, rolling fields or urban chic, Plymouth has an excess of wedding venues to offer happy couples

THIS IMAGE AND INSET BELOW, AN ELEGANT WEDDING IN THE BALLROOM AT THE DUKE OF CORNWALL HOTEL, PLYMOUTH PICTURE BY LIBERTY PEARL

THE MOORLAND GARDEN HOTEL NEAR YELVERTON. PICTURE BY MCKENZIE-BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY

Y

our venue will determine many key points for your wedding; how many guests you can invite, travel times and what decoration you can try. If you’re looking at a guest list of 150 or more you need to start searching for larger venues. Fifty or less and a smaller venue or private function room is your best fit.

Most couples tend to book their venue 12 to 18 months in advance. If possible, try to visit a location at the time of year you’re considering for your big day. Autumn, in particular, is a season which can dramatically affect a venue’s look. What looks beautiful and lush in summer may appear barren in winter. Marketing manager Jo Di-Carlo describes The Moorland Garden Hotel’s autumn benefits.

“With the garden and trees transforming from pastel colours and lush greens to flaming and vibrant colours the grounds are welcoming for lawn games and stunning for photographs. Cooler weather can be better for the bride and guests in their wedding attire and, if they begin to shiver a little later in the season, they can step into our

bright, light and warm Crystal Room ready for the wedding breakfast and evening reception to take place.” Surprisingly, one of the best parts of an autumn wedding is the weather. If you aren’t anticipating sunshine you’ll have no reason to be disappointed or stressed when it doesn’t show.

It also means that if an unexpected ray of sunshine falls on your beautiful venue it can only be an added bonus.

Ask your venue about the possibility of providing guests with a warming cup of mulled cider or a liqueur coffee rather than chilled wine to get them in the party spirit, autumn-style. Scout out your venue for added autumnal charm points; open fireplaces, wooden beams, barns and nearby forests will all lend themselves to the atmosphere. Once you’ve found your dream venue, decorating it on your own might seem too scary – a venue decorator can come to your rescue.

Joanne Smith of Seaspray specialises in dressing venues to look their best.

“With so many weddings for next autumn to look forward to I can’t wait to start decorating in the current styles and trends,” Joanne says. Rustic is definitely the most popular trend for next year; hessian-covered jars, wooden logs, candles and lace make stunning centrepieces and venue decor. “Rustic ladders are also playing a big part, being used for decor and table plans.”

When it comes to colour, Joanne says lots of brides and grooms are using a whole rainbow for their big day.

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24/09/2015 13:42:54

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Wedding

HELPING YOU FIND

THE ONE Choosing the dress is one of the most difficult decisions any bride has to make. Rachael Dodd has been seeking some expert advice

F

eathers, plunging necklines, applique florals and A-line designs are all potential trends for 2016. But how do you make sure you buy the best dress for you? Here are some tips for the perfect fit: It’s always advisable to book an appointment with a dress shop rather than dropping in spontaneously. Sales assistants work one-to-one with a bride-to-be and you could be waiting a while for a free slot as appointments usually last an hour.

Wedding dress shops stock sample sizes for each gown. The one you actually get to take away with you is ordered in which can take a number of months, so book your dress appointment in plenty of time. You’ll then need to come back for up to three fittings. Just to keep you on your toes, bridal gown sizes often don’t match up to ordinary clothing sizes and can vary from one designer to another. Make sure you’re measured and don’t be alarmed if you go up a couple of sizes - it’s just a number and what matters is your dress fits you in all the right places.

By the same token, your dress may need alterations. Some fabrics are hard to alter and they could take more time to get right. Your friendly sales assistant can advise you on what

can be adjusted so your dress fits like a glove.

Remember, a dress that’s too big can be taken in but a dress that’s too small can’t be made larger.

If in doubt, always go a size up. It might sound

‘A dress that’s too big can be taken in but a dress that’s too small can’t be made larger. If in doubt, always go a size up’ odd but make sure you’re wearing supportive underwear in a neutral colour and a strapless bra if possible. Not only will this help you to see how

a dress will fit your figure but it will also save you any embarrassment in the changing room - sales assistants will often be in there with you to help you in and out of each dress.

Don’t take too many people to your appointment - this should be your decision and a lot of opinions in the room will only confuse you.

Bring a trusted friend and your mum or a sister.

They can see how you dress fits and get tips on how to help you dress on the big day if there is any complicated corsetry or fiddly buttons that you can’t reach yourself. Take your wedding shoes to the appointment with you. Whether you’re going for flats, heels or sparkly pumps, wearing the shoes you’ve chosen for the day will help you and your assistant see where the dress falls and whether it needs to be taken up. It also gives you a chance to practice your aisle walk particularly if you’ve chosen heels.

When you go back for your fitting and it’s complete make sure to move around in your dress. You need to know that you can breathe, walk, dance and sit in your dress. Wedding planning can be stressful and you might find yourself putting on or losing weight. If you feel your body shape changing, arrange for another fitting as soon as possible. Have a final fitting two weeks before the wedding. Any closer to the big day may cause problems for alterations.

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THE BEST-DRESSED WEDDING GUEST Looking for the perfect wedding outfit? You can expect a warm welcome along with advice on dressing for an entire wedding day at designer boutique Beau. Beau is a hidden gem in the middle of Dartmoor, in the hamlet of The Leg O’Mutton in Yelverton. The boutique has been open for nearly eight years and its newly-opened teamroom is also hugely popular.

Beau’s collections are mainly from European designers, with many Italian brands – James Lakeland being one, who has been with Beau since it opened. James creates timeless pieces, made beautifully, defined by innovative fabrics and unparalleled cuts, ensuring a flattering fit to all who wear them. Clothes are available in sizes 8-20.

Cruisewear collections from Frank Lyman are beautifully designed, with fabrics that won’t crease and look fantastic once unpacked from the suitcase. Stunning evening dresses, jackets and separates that will never date, sizes from 8-24. To co-ordinate Beau has a large collection of hats, hatinators and fascinators to hire or to buy. The jewellery collections also offer something different and work well as gifts for friends and family, as do Beau’s collections of gifts and accessories.

Collections can be viewed and purchased online on the website www.beau-yelverton.co.uk.

However, there is lots more in store.

PIPPIN BY WTOO GOWNS IN ROSEGOLD FROM PEPPERMINT BRIDAL PLYMOUTH £990 PL MAGAZINE | 00

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Fashion

ANDREA GALLEY AND DAN ATKINS FROM PLYMOUTH PICTURED BY PHOTOGRAPHER CLARE KINCHIN MAKING THE THE MOST OF A RAINY WEDDING DAY IN CORNWALL

CAPTURE THE PERFECT

MOMENT

Your wedding day pictures will provide the lasting reminder of an amazing day. Rachael Dodd seeks expert advice on making the most of the moment

F

orget summer, autumn is the time of year when nature really shows off; all those falling, golden leaves and sparkling frosty lawns. If you’re thinking about a tying the knot in the colder months, there’s no better time to be captured on film. Talk through your options with your photographer to get the best out of the season - think about fun and romantic ideas for photos; throwing leaves; sat by an open fire; or larking around in your Wellingtons.

Speaking of which, the key to autumn wedding photos is preparation. Plan for all eventualities of weather to avoid being let down if the heavens open. Bring umbrellas, Wellies and a warm winter shawl in case it gets chilly. Don’t forget to consider lighting. As the winter weather creeps closer the best time of day for photos will change. Here’s some more options to consider whatever the season:

‘Think about investing in some quirky Wellingtons and umbrellas, the photographs can be a ton of fun’

Top Tips; Photographer Clare Kinchin’s top tips for an autumn wedding:

1. Always plan for bad weather and if it’s dry

and you manage to make it outside, then whoop whoop!

2. Think about investing in some quirky

Wellingtons and umbrellas, the photographs can be a ton of fun.

Style You can go for posed pics with everyone arranged and smiling at the camera or an increasingly popular option is a more candid style where people are captured in the moment.

Talk this through with your photographer - do they have a preferred style?

Colour Do you want your photos in black and white, colour or a mix of the two? Black and white gives a sophisticated and elegant look but if you’ve put a lot of effort into your colour scheme you’ll want that captured too. Your photographer will be able to advise you on the best style to go for and at what time.

Timeframe Your photographer can be with you for as long as you want on the day. It’s become popular to have photos taken before the ceremony, for example as the bride has her make-up applied; getting in the car on the way to the ceremony; and with the groom and groomsmen as they wait for the bridal party. Photos like this provide a sense of the day as a whole and capture all the little moments as well as the big ones.

Presentation Photographers can present their finished work in a myriad of ways; traditional prints, USB sticks, an album... Talk through packages and think about how you want to keep your images for years to come.

3. Choose a venue that is going to look

amazing inside as well as outside, and make sure there is a space for the photographer to work.

4. Maybe think about setting up a funky

backdrop in one of the rooms. One of my brides made an amazing vintage backdrop from old wall paper - it looked fab!

5. If you want to make the most of the available light then book an early ceremony time, during the winter months the light has faded by 2.30 to 3pm.

6. Make the most of the ‘magic hour’, this is the

first and last hour of sunlight during the day. Your photographer should be able to achieve some amazing photographs during this time.

7. Think outside the box. If light is limited after

your ceremony then let’s shoot before. You and your partner can set up a beautiful first meeting about two hours before the ceremony and have your photographs taken then. It’s actually really romantic as it’s just the two of you.

8. You are probably going to be cold if you

are outside so make sure you have something gorgeous to wear over that dress.

9. If it rains then so be it, you are marrying Mr or Mrs Wonderful, don’t let it spoil your day.

10. Finally, have a warm drink waiting for

you and your guests when you arrive at your reception. Mulled cider or a Winter Pimm’s is a great welcoming drink and maybe a nice cup of tea for Aunt Margery!

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Ladybirds DAY NURSERY

Brixton Under new ownership!!

Our wedding catering offers great value for professional service and outstanding food!

Tailored wedding catering menu’s to meet all of your individual requirements.

We cover everything from a full sit down wedding breakfast, a BBQ selection or Hog Roast, a professional waitress service, crockery & cutlery hire and also a fully licensed bar.

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Our sole aim is to make you happy with our service.

Open day on Saturday October 24th from 12pm- 3pm For more information or to book a place

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©LW

Wedding

WITH THIS

RING

The ring is the ever-lasting symbol of your marriage so it pays to take time to choose the perfect pieces. Rachael Dodd reports

W

edding rings have been a symbol of eternal love for nearly 5,000 years. The Ancient Egyptians braided papyrus to wear around their fingers but these days we prefer something a little more shiny and expensive. With so much choice available it can be difficult to know what wedding jewellery might suit you. Drakes Jewellers have more than 60 years of experience helping brides and grooms select their perfect wedding jewellery.

The prestigious company hs picked its top bridal jewellery trends for 2016:

Top Tips;

1. Don’t be restricted by the label of ‘wedding

rings’. Many couples are opting for eternity rings instead of the traditional band - a ring given as a symbol of lasting affection, typically set with an unbroken circle of gems.

2. It’s important that you really connect with a

ring whatever its style. Remember it will be with you for life and you’ll rarely take it off.

3. Consider the engagement ring when looking for a wedding band. The two rings should complement each other visually and the metals should work well together. Look for advice from a jeweller as some metals can scratch when worn together - particularly platinum.

4. A man’s wedding band should pair up well

Extreme Necklines

5. Take care with bracelets, earrings, tiaras

Bridal gowns featuring extreme necklines are set to be a favourite for 2016. Both high-necklines and deep V-necklines have been popular amongst bridal designers. Intricate earrings and geometric bracelets will complement high necklines, while V-shaped necklaces will mirror the lines of a deep neckline gown.

with his partner’s. Again, there are no rules but there is something symbolic in the idea of the two bands being a perfect pairing. and necklaces - enhance your beauty but don’t mask it with too much bling.

6. If you do choose a little something extra

think in threes; a statement piece (tiara, necklace or cuff) with two less dramatic pieces can really set off a wedding dress, giving a balanced overall look.

7. Consider reworking a favourite piece of

jewellery. You may have inherited something that has sentimental value but not in a style you like. Take it to an expert for appraisal and get some ideas to redesign it.

8. Wedding jewellery doesn’t have to be just

worn. Collect some vintage brooches and turn them into an ornamental brooch bouquet.

Cinderella

9. Do try to set a budget for your rings. You

Princess dresses will be a big bridal trend for 2016 and have been gracing the catwalks.

Intricate jewellery pieces such as the Swarovski Diapason Collection will complement your Cinderella inspired gown and have you feeling like an utter princess.

10. Be open-minded – you may fall in love

could be carried away by the craftsmanship and forget the price tag but the credit card company won’t. with a ring style you hadn’t even thought of.

Colour Jewellery Coloured jewellery continues to be a bridal trend for 2016. Rose gold is becoming an increasingly popular choice for brides-and-grooms-to-be. The soft warm tones make for a more modern take on the traditional. This gold will work beautifully with pastel-coloured bridal gowns that have been popular on the catwalks.

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24/09/2015 12:52:59

Taking care of men’s health.

COME AND MEET OUR CONSULTANTS AT OUR FREE EVENT FOR ADVICE ABOUT MEN’S HEALTH. Come and meet our expert Consultant Surgeons at our FREE event on men’s health issues and listen to them talking about areas that relate to men’s health such as hernia, prostate, testicular conditions and much more.

Joining us on the evening will be Players from Plymouth Albion Rugby Team and Plymouth Raiders Basketball Team, so take this opportunity to also meet the teams.

Free refreshments are provided on arrival (from 6.45pm) Places are limited, please call to book your place.

Nuffield Health Plymouth Hospital Derriford Road, Plymouth, Devon PL6 8BG

WHEN: Thursday November 12th 2015 TIME: 19.00 WHERE: The Seddon Suite, Plymouth Albion Rugby Club, The Brickfields, 25 Damerel Close, Plymouth PL1 4NE

01752 545 988 nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/Plymouth

©LW

{ Health & Beauty { EMILY SMITH TRIES PADDLEBOARDING IN PLYMOUTH SOUND

PADDLEBOADING PLYMOUTH’S NEWEST CRAZE

S

Heading out to sea to explore Devil’s Point, Drake’s Island and views across the Plymouth Sound certainly sounds like bliss. Doing this without getting wet sounds even better. Emily Smith took to the water with a paddleboard and an oar...

tanding on the edge of Royal William Yard kitted up in my wetsuit I was prepared to get wet and constantly fall off my huge paddleboard – in fact this didn’t happen at all.

Paddleboarding is certainly becoming more popular and why wouldn’t it be when you can explore huge expanses of water without battling against waves, constantly falling in and having to paddle back out to sea after each ‘epic wave’.

Although it’s a craze that seems relatively new to the UK, it has in fact it has been around for years and originates in Hawaii.

Surfers used to paddle out to sea in dug out canoes merely equipped with a wooden oar.

The sport hasn’t changed much over the years and many companies are keen to promote it on our beautiful coastlines. One man eager to get people of all ages on-board with the craze is Will Batho, founder of South West SUP. Previous to owning the business, Will was a helicopter pilot for the Royal Navy but after being medically discharged after nine years he decided he needed to follow his passion – the great outdoors.

He explains: “It all came pretty quickly when I left the Navy and I didn’t know what the plan was. I had lots of outdoors experience prior to being in the Navy.

“I felt like I could do something a bit different in terms of working outdoors – I could use my

experience as an officer in the Navy. I started the paddleboarding as something to play with.”

Joining a session with South West SUP means you’re provided with a paddleboard, often supplied by local company Red Paddle company, which supplies inflatable boards and an oar, plus excellent tuition from Will.

It’s then a case of pulling on your wetsuit, or shorts and T-shirt if you’re experienced, and heading down to the water. To begin with four of us jumped on a huge board so I could get use to the sensation and have a go at getting my paddling technique correct. It all felt a bit strange being on the water and not getting wet.

Will encourages everyone to start by kneeling but it’s not long before you’re up off your knees and

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{ Health & Beauty {

paddling out to Devil’s Point. After a quick trip around the bay on the huge board I decided to give it a go alone. Paddling out with Will on my knees it wasn’t long before I was standing on my own two feet. After a while I was able to take in the views and adjust to the rhythm of the ocean.

A sport almost anyone can pick up – Will has even travelled out to sea with his two-year-old daughter.

Will says: “Paddleboarding was something you

‘Surfing is wonderful in good conditions but in the UK the weather can be fickle – you’re relying on the surf, whereas with paddleboarding you can go out when the surf isn’t great’

could do in the mornings in places like Greece where the wind picks up for wind and kite surfing later in the day.

“It’s now the fastest growing water sport in the world.

This year Will has joined forces with local cycling company Rockets and Rascals, who have bases both at Royal William Yard and the Barbican. Will is keen to encourage people to paddle out to the Barbican and cycle back.

The 35-year-old believes being in the great outdoors is essential for people of any age.

He says: “I think it’s very important to get people outdoors – the main benefit is it’s good exercise and the benefits of just being outdoors are great.

Being active gives you an appreciation of the world outside of the viral sphere so many young people are involved in.

“For me being outdoors works in the same way as being mindful works for people – paddleboarding is really accessible.

“It can be really positive for someone’s frame of mind.”

Indeed it can – paddling out on a beautiful sunny evening across the bay, exploring parts of the Sound I had yet to explore – I couldn’t think of anywhere I would rather be.

I have to admit it did feel strange to be on the water and not get wet – I almost wanted to jump in to warrant pulling on my wetsuit. Maybe next time I could just try shorts and T-shirt.

Will continues his bid to get people outdoors and there is no doubt Plymouth will become a hub for this new and exciting way to get out on the water.

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{ Health & Beauty {

POWER

BOUNCE

I

Carly Squires took a leap of faith and joined Power Bounce creators Carla and Louise to discover more about the class which has caused a social media craze in Plymouth

t was the astronauts who, back in the 1980s, realised that jumping about on a small trampoline was not just fun but extremely good for you. Called rebounding, it grew into a fitness phenomenon that NASA would use to help its space-goers build up their muscles after being in space. Because it puts little pressure on the feet and legs and less exertion on the heart, its benefits were well-documented, until the craze fizzled out. But bringing this fitness phenomenon back with a bounce are close friends and mums Carla Cassidy, 30 and Louise Kelly, 32.

The girls met in their teenage years through a shared passion for dance and made the lifechanging decision to start Power Bounce, the first rebounding class in Plymouth more than a year ago.

“Power Bounce is a mixture of aerobics and dance moves, bouncing on a trampoline to club music,” Carla explained.

“It’s cardio and it’s high intensity so you’re having a really good workout but there’s also 15 to 20 minutes at the end for toning. That’s when you work your abs and your legs and your butt – it’s a bit of a mixture.

“We were thinking about doing something to do with fitness and then we went through different ideas like boot camps and fitness clubs but they were already being done. When Louise came up with the idea of doing this, it was really, really exciting.” Louise chipped in: “I started researching on the internet and because people always say that Plymouth is behind. I was

researching classes in London. I came across a rebounding class and it was something new.”

However, creating the class wasn’t easy.

Neither Carla or Louise had the qualifications needed to make Power Bounce a reality and so each undertook a course which took them away to Bournemouth and meant they had to juggle their busy family lives.

“It took three months to get it and it was completely out of my comfort zone - it was awful.” Louise reminisced, “to stand up in front of people and make a routine on the spot with no experience or anything like that, it was just bad.

“The first weekend that I came back I didn’t think that I would be going back the following month.

It was putting yourself out there, I hadn’t done it before.”

Carla added: “But you did, didn’t you? Even I thought that if she doesn’t get this qualification that we’re not going to be able to do it – it was really that bad.” “I still get a bit nervous before classes now!” Louise laughed. Despite these challenges, the hard work paid off and in early 2014 both Carla and Louise were qualified and launched Power Bounce, which gained popularity rapidly due to videos of the class being shared on social media.

Louise said: “We did our first class together so it was a little bit more bearable and we ironed out the creases that night of what worked and what didn’t. “We started off doing all of the classes together but because we had so many classes we weren’t able to do that and we had to split up.” Carla explained, “we would have loved to have carried on like that because you have

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two personalities and two people giving it a lot of energy.” Louise nodded: “At one of our first classes we only had two people turn up and we were so worried but within a few weeks we had 30 in each class and a reserve list,it was manic!

That’s when we decided that we needed a studio because we needed to put on more classes and hire instructors. It was taking a toll on our bodies as we had gone from doing normal exercise to doing three back-to-back classes on Wednesday nights alone. In the beginning we also had 30 rebounders who we would have to transfer between two places. We had to put them all up, dismantle them and pack them in our cars. It took so long!

“We actually started by making up the routines in Carla’s kitchen! We used to set our phone set up so we could see ourselves or grab a mirror from downstairs and put it on top of the fireplace.

“We picked the tracks that we liked created a play list and with each track we choreograph a routine. We create it ourselves so it’s all totally fresh,” Carla added.

Louise continued: “We listen to the music and it gives us ideas for moves rather than looking at moves online. We listen to the music and think what it should look like. It’s not like some other fitness classes that do the same thing for six weeks, our classes are varied and changes every night with every instructor. We also change up the press-ups and sit-ups every week.

“If we were doing the same thing every week

we’d get bored and we wouldn’t want that coming across to the class.” Both Carla and Louise welcome everybody and hold classes both in Plymouth and Saltash between Monday and Friday. They also hope to branch out further into Cornwall, where there are currently no rebounding classes available.

‘Al ages, genders and abilities are welcome because even if you’re only getting a bounce out of it you’re still getting a good workout’ Carla said, “It’s better than being sat at home doing nothing. It’s quite easy to just bounce.

“We do tend to say right at the beginning that everybody needs to work at their own pace.

The moves are there, it depends how hard you want to work. If you want a really hard workout, you need to bounce as hard as the instructor.

However, you don’t need to do that if you don’t want to.” As mothers, Carla and Louise do understand how finding time to exercise can be difficult for parents. “If parents get stuck with their children who are six years of age or up we tell them to bring them along and they can sit on the sides,” said Carla. “We say 14 is the minimum age however, they do need their parent with them and they are their parents’ responsibility.”

Louise agreed: “My six-year-old daughter Chloe practices at home, she’s a bit of a power bouncer. She makes up moves for me at home!

“I don’t know if it’s because they’re being brought up around nutrition and fitness but our daughters are very active and healthy,” said Louise. My daughter is nearly four and all she talks about at school is exercise and about mummy jumping on a trampoline. I think it’s good for them to grow up in this kind of environment.”

The two long-term friends also understand that the prospect of jumping of a trampoline can be intimidating, but don’t want anybody to be put off from joining in and having a go.

“I remember getting the trampoline in my kitchen, putting on some music and trying to do some moves and it was difficult at first,” Carla revealed, “so I know how people feel when they first come and get on that trampoline but it is the music that gets you going! If in doubt, power bounce!” Louise smiled, “if you can’t do the moves, or you’ve fallen behind just power bounce until you’re ready to join in again.”

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24/09/2015 10:31:38

{ Health & Beauty {

I

f you’re looking to see improvement in your fitness quickly, then high-intensity fitness class Power Bounce is certainly a good bet, writes Carly Squires. The hour-long class will on average burn 700 calories and is 68 per cent more effective than jogging.

Talking to other attendees in my class before it started, many remarked how challenging it was, which is a comment I had never heard in any of my previous classes.

For them, that’s what had them hooked that they are continually inspired to improve themselves.

Due to my dance background, I feel confident when it comes to aerobics as I find it easy to follow choreography and therefore was wondering what the challenge might be.

Oh yes, the fact that you are continually bouncing on a small trampoline, I promise you that it is much harder than it looks.

The class has a well-uniformed pattern of two high-intensity bounce routines to two different tracks, totalling around six minutes. Louise, who was leading my session, would then encourage everyone to drink plenty of water and get some fresh air before the next couple of routines.

In meeting Louise, she explained that she felt nervous prior to the classes, but that certainly didn’t show. This slim, petite blond woman transformed into a powerhouse with a smile as soon as the club beats poured into the studio.

I could not believe how high and hard she was able to bounce on the trampoline, and how many attendees were able to replicate her.

You begin bouncing from the warm-up, and it didn’t take long for things to heat up in the studio - I was red in the face almost immediately.

At times, despite my dance experience, I was unable to keep up with Louise’s choreography due to the fact that timing the beats with the jumps on the trampoline is a challenge in itself.

Some may find this to be embarrassing or off putting but thankfully Louise had explained at the start at the class that as long as you’re bouncing, whether you’re doing the routine or not, you are benefiting. Regardless of whether I was following the routine or not, Louise continually gave me a nod and a smile which was encouraging.

I must admit that I can be a bit fussy about club and dance music, and for me there’s a fine line between genius and just plain noise.

Some of the songs weren’t to my taste, but others really were and Louise’s choreography largely reflected the vibe of each song perfectly. A stand-out routine was that to a Samba-influenced track where sexy moves and twists were encouraged.

An element of the class which I really admired was the way in which Louise continually explained what type of exercise we were undertaking and its benefits.

Abby Read

Jo Terrell

Louise Andrew

NURSING STUDENT, 20

ADMINISTRATOR, 27

HOUSEWIFE, 46

How did you find out about Power Bounce?

I saw some of the videos on Facebook and came with my friend.

How long have you been Power Bouncing for?

Since May 2015.

What is it you enjoy about Power Bounce?

I don’t do exercise unless it’s really fun! The instructors are really nice and motivating - they are always telling you that you can do it.

How did you find out about Power Bounce?

I heard about it through a friends recommendation.

How long have you been Power Bouncing for?

Since October 2014, three times a week.

What is it that you enjoy about Power Bounce?

I find the gym monotonous but I want to get fit and I find the class enjoyable. The instructors are great, the music is great, I’ve made loads of friends and I feel and look fitter.

How did you find out about Power Bounce?

My daughter wanted to come so I came with her and my other daughter.

How long have you been Power Bouncing for?

12 months.

What is it that you enjoy about Power Bounce?

It’s a fun and intense class and it’s totally different to anything else. It’s challenging and a full body workout. It’s produced some great results!

34 | PL MAGAZINE

Power_Bounce_PL_OCT.indd 4

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Pumpkin PERFECT

Don’t relegate pumpkins to decoration at this time of the year. This vividly coloured veg is versatile, packed with potential and perfect for creating delicious and simple comfort food

Pumpkin risotto Try this flavour-packed risotto which you can serve in a pumpkin shell for added flair.

Prep time: 30 mins | Cook time: 1 hour Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 small pumpkin or butternut squash which should weigh around 400g without skin and seeds 1 tbsp olive oil 2 garlic cloves 8 spring onions 25g butter

Halloween-Pumpkin_PL_OCT.indd 2

A splash of good white wine (half a glass) 200g risotto rice 2 tsp ground cumin 1litre of hot vegetable stock 50g grated parmesan A small handful of chopped coriander Feta cheese, pumpkin seeds and olive oil to garnish

Method 1. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Chop the pumpkin into 1.5cm cubes and place on a baking tray, drizzle over oil, then roast for 30 mins.

2. While the pumpkin is roasting crush the garlic and finely chop the spring onion

3. Heat 1 tbsp oil with the butter in your pan over a medium heat, add the spring onions and garlic until translucent add the rice and cumin. Stir well to coat in the buttery mix for about 1 min.

4. Now add the splash of white wine , and stir every now and then until it has all disappeared into the rice. Start adding the stock a large splash of stock at a time, until all the stock is gone – this will take about 20 mins.

5. Check the rice is cooked – it should be soft but have some bite left. If it isn’t, add a splash more stock, and carry on cooking for a bit.

Once the rice is soft enough to eat, gently stir in the grated parmesan, chopped coriander and roasted pumpkin.

6. Crumble on feta cheese, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds to serve.

24/09/2015 10:21:18

Food & Drink Food & Drink Pumpkin and Cumin Soup

.

Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 25 mins Serves: 6

Ingredients

Pumpkin Pie Prep time: 40 mins | Cook time: 1 hr and 30 mins Serves: 8

Ingredients

750g pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cut into chunks 350g sweet shortcrust pastry plain flour, for dusting 140g caster sugar ½ tsp salt ½ tsp fresh grated nutmeg 1 tsp cinnamon 2 eggs, beaten 25g melted butter 175ml milk 1 tbsp icing sugar

4 tbsp olive oil 2 onions, finely chopped 1kg pumpkins or squash (try kabocha), peeled, deseeded and chopped into chunks Salt and pepper Half teaspoon of cumin 700ml vegetable stock or chicken stock 1small pot double cream Handful pumpkin seed from a packet

Method

1. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan, gently cook 2 finely chopped onions until soft but not coloured. Add 1kg peeled, deseeded and chopped pumpkin or squash to the pan, carry on cooking for 8-10 mins, stirring occasionally until it starts to soften and turn golden.

2. Pour the vegetable stock into the pan and season with the cumin, salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, simmer for 10 mins until the squash is very soft. Pour the cream into the pan, bring back to the boil, then purée with a hand blender.

3. Scatter with home-made croutons, the pumpkin seeds and drizzle with olive oil.

Method

1. Place the pumpkin in a large saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and simmer for 15 mins or until tender. Drain and set aside to cool.

2. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use it to line a 22cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Chill for 15 mins. Line the pastry with baking parchment and baking beans and bake for 15 mins. Remove the beans and paper, and cook for a further 10 mins until the base is pale golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.

3. Increase oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Push the cooled pumpkin through a sieve into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, salt, nutmeg and half the cinnamon. Mix in the beaten eggs, melted butter and milk and add to the pumpkin purée and stir. Pour into the tart shell and cook for 10 mins, then reduce the temperature to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Continue to bake for 35-40 mins until the filling has set.

4. Leave to cool, then remove the pie from the tin. Mix the remaining cinnamon with the icing sugar and dust the pie.

Halloween-Pumpkin_PL_OCT.indd 3

24/09/2015 10:21:54

Food & Drink

Portuguese flair in UNION STREET

W

A Taskinha is a little café punching above its weight. It’s no frills or fuss and in an unusual part of the city – exactly why Louise Daniel is charmed

hat comes to mind when I write ‘good food’? Is it tiny portions, silverware, white table cloths and exquisite service, or is it an over-spilling plate of homemade Sunday roast with all the trimmings?

Is it little plates packed with tempting tapas, chewy breads and meaty olives or is it international spice, eye-watering heat and pillowy naans?

Good food is, of course, all of the above and everything in between.

There is room for everything at the table as far as I’m concerned and just as well because this little cafe on Union Street is hard to classify.

Step inside A Taskinha and you find an eclectic bolthole for people who crave excellent coffee – seriously strong and perfect with their freshlybaked pastel de nata (gorgeous little custard tarts) – and those of us who like to step off a city street and find themselves transported to a laidback eatery somewhere other than here.

This is a supermarket, delicatessen and cafe where meat and seafood are the top of the menu and you can buy traditional Portuguese olives, sardines, meat and cheese or grab a traditional earthenware pot along with jams, pasta, chorizo and TV, Portuguese style.

Let’s be honest, Union Street is not the obvious

place to go for food. Once it was the main thoroughfare into the city, designed as an upperclass grand boulevard. Nowadays, unless you are up to your eyes in shots and deep-fried pizza at 2am, it doesn’t register on the food map.

A Taskinha (which literally translated means

ABOVE: PEDRO AND ELSA RIO

interesting and different) should make you have a rethink.

This little cafe wears its unusual location on its sleeve and is unashamedly belting out authentic Portuguese food and drink, in the face of the dubious area.

It’s been done before and worked – look at Rock Salt.

Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a restaurant, but it is a cafe punching above its weight and arguably delivering better chicken than other, more cheeky, chains present on the high street.

That is primarily due to the hard work and heart of Portuguese national and owner Pedro Rio. Pedro came to Plymouth 12 years ago with wife Elsa, who works at Derriford Hospital, and has since built a business and home for their children, two-year-old Raphael and eight-yearold Emma.

The city’s coastal location is reminiscent of home and, says Pedro, has much to offer.

“I like this city – you can be in the countryside in half-an-hour or the city centre. It suits me.”

Initially he did gruelling agency work for Interfish, racking up 12 hours-a-day six-days-a-week on night shifts.

But the hard work was worth it, he says.

“The first couple of years we worked to save money to buy a house – we didn’t like to pay rent.”

38 | PL MAGAZINE

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Food & Drink

After buying a house Pedro moved on to work at Derriford Hospital which he really enjoyed, but he yearned to be his own boss.

“I got fed up working for others, we thought about opening a cafe but we never had the cash.”

Pedro admits A Taskinha probably wouldn’t have happened without the support of his wife.

They opened the doors in November 2011 and have never looked back.

The small menu has expanded (through popular demand) and the cafe has become a local meeting point for the city’s growing Portuguese population and enthusiastic locals.

Pedro tells me that people travel from Totnes and Exeter for their food and supplies and it was the encouragement of customers which helped cement the decision to expand the food offering.

“I always had the deli stuff in here – the coffee and custard tarts – but all the time people were asking why don’t you do the pork steak baguettes and why don’t you do this and that?

Three years ago the menu started to grow and grow to what it is now.”

It’s a testament to the generosity and hard work of the couple that we meet on their only day off this week which is also their 10th wedding anniversary.

They married in Plymouth Register Office but went back home for a traditional church celebration in Portugal.

“There is lots of food, drink and dancing. After the church we sat down from 1pm until 10pm, always eating,” laughs Elsa.

“The food is meat and fish – there is a lot of seafood – the Portuguese are very good with fish.

“We have green wine (vinho vert) made from green grapes – it’s very good.”

The menu at A Taskinha is simple, with no frills, but is delicious and hearty.

Here you’l find fine black pudding (morcela), delicious clams and pork and authentic grilled peri peri chicken Food from this relatively thin strip of a country, which takes the hits of the Atlantic all along its shore, is typically sea-food driven – salt cod

(bacalhau) is a staple, eaten two or three times a week – but there is much more to Portuguese cooking than that, Pedro tells me.

“If you aren’t used to salt cod, it is a bit tricky to cook it.

“It needs two or three days to unsalt it – but there are books on 1,000 ways to cook it, it’s that big.

“There is also our bean stew – feijoada – cooked with chorizo, panchetta, puy lentils and beans, like a cassoulet.

“Rice is a big part of Portuguese food – over here it’s chips, over there it’s rice.”

Elsa makes my mouth water by describing her aunt’s wood-oven cooked piglet whose crackling snaps pleasingly in the mouth, then about tearing the juicy cooked flesh easily with fingers and enjoying the whole animal nose to tail.

Pedro nods: “Yesterday my sister, who runs a bistro put on social media, ‘the best things are eaten by hand’. It’s true isn’t it?”

I find it hard to disagree – pulling tender joints apart, rolling slivers of salty meat with olives and cheese, tearing bread – it’s all good eating.

The menu at A Taskinha is simple, with no frills, but is delicious and hearty.

Here you’ll find fine black pudding (morcela), delicious clams and pork (carne porco altnetejana), authentic grilled peri peri chicken, pastries, liqueurs and coffees.

They stock a mean vinho vert and there is a selection of good Portuguese beers.

To top it off there is friendly service from Pedro – a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and is living the life he wants to.

PL MAGAZINE | 39

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24/09/2015 09:13:06

Food & Drink

It’s a family AFFAIR

T

Awash with reclaimed wood floors, hand-washed stone walls and lots of love and graft, Le Ziz on Southside Street takes diners on a food journey around the Mediterranean. Louise Daniel talks with owner Dino Bali about bold flavours and loving the Barbican

he Mediterranean may be famous for its diversity and colourful cultures but there are common themes – fresh flavours, bite-sized portions and dishes drenched in sunshine.

The climate may be common, and the sea may divide the region but it also ties it together – you can see glimpses of Spanish tapas in Greek meze and speciality grilled meats in Turkey and Morocco, and then there’s the gorgeous array of fabulous seafood and the sociable, shared eating of people who are raised in the sun.

Dino Bali recognised the simpatico of the regions and has ensured the menu at Le Ziz is packed with flavours from Spain, Morocco, Italy and Turkey, with flourishes of Greece and the Lebanon.

If it all sounds too busy for you, don’t be put off – this is fresh cookery and something a bit

DINO BALI WITH WIFE AYSE AND SON KUZEY

different for the Barbican, says owner Dino. “I like a bit of everything – it’s good to do this. I have three chefs who specialise in each area.”

Dino has a two-year-old son, Kuzey, and wife, Ayse, with a second son (to be named Kaya) on the way. He also runs a couple of other food businesses so he’s clearly a busy guy.

And not least because of the effort it required to get the business ready to serve. Work on the Southside Street restaurant took 12 months and he’s personally nurtured what was a souvenir shop which lay empty for two years and suffered from water damage, into a free-flowing, relaxing space.

“The floor is reclaimed wood, which I stained and restained myself. And the bar... I had to learn to bend the wood myself.”

It’s a testament to Dino’s hard work and eye for detail that the dining area feels so complete.

Curves in the room flow and the muted colours say ‘sit and relax’ rather than ‘eat and leave’.

“My family are hard-workers – I learned stone

40 | PL MAGAZINE

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24/09/2015 10:47:03

Food & Drink

DINO BALI, OWNER OF LE ZIZ

and wood work from my grandfathers and one of my uncles is an artist who uses sulphuric acid to make original work, which can take him many months.”

Choosing which food to put on the menu was easy, says Dino.

As a Turkish Kurd, meat, and particularly lamb, is the star of the show and he is immensely proud of the authentic tagines his chefs deliver in traditional fluted earthenware pots.

“The lamb takes 24 hours to cook – there is cinnamon in there and the meat is soft.”

It’s a treat when you’re served food in one of these individual dishes and the tagine flavours burst out when the lid reveals the slow-cooked Moroccan stew. The aromas are flowery and delicate, while the lamb is hearty, easily-cut with a spoon. If trying a tagine isn’t your thing, the traditional meze is laden with goodies. Meze is more commonly associated with Greece, but little dishes of meat, fish, cheese and cold sauces are common all over the Mediterranean.

There’s chicken, lamb and walnut salad accompanied by excellent cacic (which we know as tsatziki) and amazing Turkish bread.

“We are next to Jacka’s bakery and our chef spent the afternoon showing him how to make it,” reveals Dino. The bread is delicious – a chewy sour dough crust and light bread run through with black olives – it’s perfect for dunking in exotic gravy and fresh, cold dips.

Dino’s work with Jacka’s is not just because they make cracking bread.

He is a great advocate of the Barbican and believes that adding value to the area means working together to make it better.

“If I get customers, then everyone gets more business. Working together is important.

“Plymouth is wonderful – so much more relaxed and beautiful than London. They have four times more visitors than us... why?

“Business for one restaurant is business for us all – when people come and enjoy, they will come again and try somewhere new next time.”

PL MAGAZINE | 41

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24/09/2015 10:48:25

Food & Drink

France’s hidden corner CORNER PL head to South-West France and discover a diverse range of wines made from local grape varieties

T

he south-west of France offers a wide range of delicious wines from the hillsides of Gascony to the foothills of the Pyrenees, and thanks to some talented winemakers, they’re extremely high quality at prices that remain modest. Not just a wine-making region but a community, they’re committed to upping the ante. Produce is made from traditional grape varieties from vineyards which

Reserve Des Tuguets Madiran 2012, Madiran AOC, France £11.99, Tesco

A bronze medal winner at the International Wine Competition 2015, the winemaker has topped the fruitiness of the tannat with cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc to create a brooding red with black cherries, mulberry fruit, and spice.

Wines_PL_OCT.indd 2

Beret Noir 2012, Saint Mont AOC, France

Chateau du Bascou 2011, Saint Mont AOC, France

£7.91, christopherpiperwines.co.uk

£9.95, thewinesociety.com

This is a good, traditional red made from a blend of tannat, pinenc and cabernet sauvignon and possibly the closest thing to a Bordeaux, its more illustrious neighbour.

Inky black with a generous bouquet of plummy black fruits and a soft mouthfeel of cassis, blackberries and a light dusting of spice.

The perfect red for a Sunday roast, this is the same tasty blend with a bit more backbone to it. Expect more of the same dense, dark forest fruits wrapped around a core of steeped cherries, plums, and blackcurrants, spiked with spice with ripe tannins on the lengthy finish.

flourished before the region became better known for its Armagnac, the oldest brandy distilled in France.

You won’t find international varieties such as chardonnay or merlot, but you will find crisp, fruity, dry whites made from gros manseng and petit courbu; robust reds made from the tannat grape with a touch of cabernet sauvignon and pinenc to add some ‘salt and pepper’ to the brambly fruit; and fresh, rich dessert wines with petit manseng in the blend that are served as an aperitif.

Plaimont Colombelle L’Original 2014, Cotes de Gascogne IGP, France £7.70, spiritedwines.co.uk

Described by the winemaker as ‘modern, fruity and original,’ it’s made from the colombard grape which has a fruity, crisp character.

This easy drinking, mid-week white is delightfully fresh with plenty of citrus and passion fruit that finishes with a lemony tang.

Finest Saint Mont, AOC Saint Mont, France £6.99, Tesco

A blend of the region’s best white grapes - gros manseng, arrufiac and petit courbu - this wine is aromatic with notes of grapefruit and exotic fruits, crisp acidity and a twist of lemon on the finish. If you’re fond of a New Zealand sauvignon blanc, this is a refreshing alternative that speaks with a French accent.

The Adnams Selection Fine Dessert Wine, Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh, France £8.99, 50cl, cellarandkitchen. adnams.co.uk

For most people, sweet wines and dessert are firmly intertwined, but here the tradition is to begin the meal with a glass of sweet white wine as an aperitif, or with duck pate. The Pacherenc vineyards are ‘cousins’ to Madiran and there is a contrast of sweetness and freshness with notes of honeycomb, vanilla spice and a silky texture.

24/09/2015 11:21:44

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Homes & Gardens

Through the Andy Pyle visits an historic home in the heart of Plymstock

S

ince moving to Elmleigh nearly ten years ago, Andy and Sarah Batten have created the perfect family home in the heart of Plymstock. Together with son Joe – who has since moved out to start a family of his own – Andy, a retired bank director and management consultant, and Sarah, a former special needs teaching assistant, have many happy memories of their time spent in the attractive Grade II Listed house.

In fact, the only reason the couple has made the decision to move is to be closer to family – and Sarah admits: “If we could pick the house up and take it with us, we would!”

Andy explains: “Now we’ve both retired we’re keen to move down to Cornwall, nearer a wider network of family, and have bought a property which will cater for our needs, together with Sarah’s mother who is moving down with us.”

Homes_Keyhole_PL_OCT.indd 2

24/09/2015 15:03:18

Homes & Gardens

ANDY AND SARAH BATTEN OUTSIDE THEIR PLYMSTOCK HOME WHICH THEY ARE SELLING AFTER TEN YEARS

Sarah adds: “Because we’ve already bought a home, there is absolutely no chain involved with ‘Elmleigh’ so a buyer would be able to move in straight away.”

Dating back to the 1690s, ‘Elmleigh’ is surrounded by stunning walled gardens; there is also a coach house which incorporates the garage and a traditional workshop with a large games room or den above, and a large carport below.

Sarah admits: “One of the main reasons we bought this house, as well as the garden and the lovely features inside and out, was for our son.

We previously lived in Elburton, and moving here allowed Joe to go to Plymstock School.

“We’re also close to the shops, the library, the church, the doctor’s surgery, the pub... we have everything we need all within walking distance.”

Andy adds: “We’re just coming into our tenth year of living here, and we timed that with Joe going to Plymstock School. It’s been great to be so central where a lot of things we do mean we don’t need to take the car out and can walk instead.”

The imposing entrance hallway sets the tone of the house with a feature fireplace, oak parquet flooring and book shelving.

The lounge has recessed leaded casement windows overlooking the lovely rear gardens and patio. There is fitted book shelving, a feature fireplace with a marble surround, a slate hearth and a wood-burning stove. An Edwardian

archway with fluted columns leads through to the part-panelled drawing room.

This has a recessed arch with book shelving, leaded windows overlooking the rear garden and patio and a glazed door to the gardens. A large study doubles as a second reception hallway.

Andy reveals: “The front hallway was used by the previous owners as a study, with the front door all bolted up and pine shelves everywhere – so we restored that back to a proper hallway without removing any of the original features. All we’ve done is brought them back up to how they would have looked.

“We’ve not done it all ourselves and even when we used tradesmen we’d say, ‘We don’t want you painting over exposed wood, we don’t want you painting sash windows closed’. It’s been very much a case of keeping it as it is.

“There were some windows which were shut when we arrived, but we’ve opened those up now.” Fitted in the dual-aspect kitchen / breakfast room are a range of handcupboards, tiled work surfaces, ceiling spotlights and a stainless-steel one-and-a-half bowl sink and drainer unit with a brass mixer tap.

Period features include wooden windows, stripped pine floorboards and an old fireplace recess suitable for a range cooker.

The laundry room includes a Belfast sink with a wooden draining board, plumbing for a washing machine and houses the gas central heating boiler. The dining room is very stylish, with oak

PL MAGAZINE | 45

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Homes & Gardens

parquet flooring, part panelled walls, cornice mouldings and a white marble fireplace with a slate hearth and a wood-burner. There is also a downstairs wc.

Andy reveals: “We’ve hardly had to change anything at all since we moved in nearly ten years ago. “The only real thing we’ve altered are the two bathrooms, which previously were very tired and dated so we upgraded them.

“When we bought the house, the kitchen floor was covered in cork tiles, so we took those all away and had the stripped pine sanded down and treated.

“It was the same in the dining room and hallway, where there is parquet flooring. It was looking very tired so again, it was a case of sanding it down to bring the colour back up and getting it back to how it would have looked.

“This is the first truly old property we’ve ever owned, and it was a case of systematically considering each room and thinking about what we wanted to do with it.”

Sarah says: “It’s been much more a case of maintaining the property’s quirkiness, rather than changing anything.”

The master bedroom boasts a pink marble fireplace and a walk-in wardrobe. The other four bedrooms are all doubles and have charming features including a wig cupboard!

The master bathroom suite include a large white oval bath, a fully-tiled walk-in shower cubicle and a bidet. There is also a guest bathroom and a separate wc.

Andy says: “We love character properties The previous owners kept a lot of snippets of information about this house. We have many old documents, including plans and conveyances, which take the property right back to the beginning of the last century when it first moved into private ownership.

“Prior to that it was all Duke of Bedford estate.

It is an evolutionary sort of house; it didn’t get built all at the same time and has been improved throughout the years.”

When we bought the house, the kitchen floor was covered in cork tiles, so we took those all away and had the stripped pine sanded down and treated To the front of the house there is a paved terrace enclosed by a stone wall. Double wooden gates open to a gravelled driveway from Church Road.

The kitchen garden is well-stocked with fruit trees and bushes, and there is a large greenhouse containing two productive grape vines. The delightful rear garden is laid to lawn and includes a large pond with a fountain and water lilies.

Andy explains: “We’ve carried out a lot of work on the gardens, bringing them back into a much better state of affairs.

“The apple and pear trees are all mapped out in some of the documents we’ve acquired, including information on when they fruit, when you should pick them, which are ‘cookers’ and which are ‘eaters’ etc.”

Sarah adds: “It’s amazing what we’ve discovered

outside. We even discovered a little flight of steps leading up to the back garden.

“One of the previous owners, possibly Dr Rook – who actually delivered me as a baby – planted some unbelievable things and some of them still come up now. For example, planting along the driveway includes and old-fashioned herb, Bistort, the leaves of which can be used in salads - someone really knew what they were doing.”

It’s clear the couple are going to miss living at ‘Elmleigh’.

Andy admits: “One of the benefits is that once you come in the gates, and especially when you shut them, all of this is totally private and people don’t know we’re here. It’s hidden away, and you’ve got the benefit of having a country cottage in a central location.

“What more could you want?”

46 | PL MAGAZINE

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Homes & Gardens

WOOL EXPERT HAS

a pattern for success

W

True Design Cards & Crafts is a knitter’s paradise.

Owner Margaret Punchard weaves the story of the shop’s creation for Rachael Dodd

hen most people pick up their craft supplies they might create any number of beautiful handmade things: a cushion, maybe a photo frame. Margaret Punchard created a business – True Design Cards & Crafts. Card-making began as a form of therapy for Margaret but quickly became a far bigger project. “I was recovering from a serious operation and lost my job. My sister got me making cards as part of my recovery and I began building up a small base of customers. I wondered if there might be a market for it,” she says.

Scottish-born Margaret started selling her cards from home before establishing True Design, selling card-making supplies. But bigger companies had also spotted the trend for cardcraft and Margaret had to rethink her business to compete. “Unfortunately the card industry started dying and I had to adapt,” she says.

“A customer asked if I would do wool. I hadn’t knitted anything in a long time but I took up my knitting needles and off we went.” Where cardmaking had struggled, knitting succeeded.

“Knitting really boomed a couple of years ago.

There were celebrities doing it and it made a huge comeback,” Margaret says. “It’s almost like therapy, too, it’s very relaxing.”

There’s something almost magical about one strand of wool woven through a pair of needles.

‘I had a man come in who wanted to crochet a dress for his wife. Another wanted to knit a scarf for his daughter. There are a lot of men who come in to knit, it’s not a namby pamby craft at all’ A clicking blur of hand movements and yarn slowly becomes a piece of clothing.

True Design is now seven-years-old and Margaret is still knitting. She’s even got some help in the form of four ladies who can create

a knitted item on request for a customer. “If a customer asks, we can knit an item for them.

The ladies can knit something they want to sell, too, and I take a commission.”

Margaret has tried to rope in husband Graham, premises manager at Ivybridge Community College, but without success.

“Every time I bring some wool home he asks me, ‘What are you doing now?’ “One day I told him he could help me with the knitting if I taught him how. He said, ‘That’s fine I’ve just got to do something in the garden first’. That was two years ago!”

Margaret’s had much more luck with her customers. People don’t just visit True Design on Ivybridge’s Fore Street for wool. They often come for advice, too. “I had a man come in who wanted to crochet a dress for his wife. There was another man who came in with his daughter.

He wanted to knit a scarf for her but he’d never knitted before. I sat him down and taught him the basics. A while after, his daughter came back and showed me the scarf he had made her – it was really lovely. There are a lot of men who come in to knit actually – it’s not a namby-pamby craft at all.” Knitting is a skill that Margaret loves to pass on and she gives out her advice and help free-of-charge. “People bring patterns in and I help them through it – sometimes two sets of eyes are better than one.

“Strangely, I also get a lot of left-handed people coming in thinking they can’t knit – I’m left handed,” she laughs.

48 | PL MAGAZINE

True_Designs_PL_OCT.indd 2

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Homes & Gardens

LIZ GETS THE

Leading edge As a girl, Liz Aubrey broke convention to study woodwork and become a picture framer. Thirty years later she chats to Rachael Dodd about the joys of owning her own gallery

F

or nearly 25 years The Leading Edge Gallery has been proudly displaying the works of local artists and framing treasured objects for its customers.

Owner Liz Aubrey founded the gallery and picture framers by herself in 1991. “I’d been a framer for about seven years before that,” she says. “We started with a smaller gallery and we’re still here today.”

Liz and her team offer bespoke framing and tailor their services to individual needs.

All frames are handmade in house using high quality materials. Liz also specialises in cleaning and restoration of oils, watercolours and prints.

Framing has been a lifelong passion for Liz but she came close to never getting started. She

made history in her school days as the first girl in Somerset to take O-Level woodwork.

“I had to argue my case with the school board,” she says. “My daughter’s 16 and she can do what she likes, it seems strange that only 30 years ago I had to fight to go and do what I wanted.” Luckily, the school board’s decision fell in Liz’s favour and she began framing when she left college. Seven years later, Liz moved to Ivybridge with her family and found a space at Chapel Place on Fore Street.

“It’s an old building which really suits a gallery and workshop,” Liz says. “I’d worked with someone else before so I had a good idea of what was involved in the business.” Since 1991 The Leading Edge has grown in reputation even forging a strong link with the Royal Marines as framers for their Stonehouse Barracks militaria collections. Liz gets hundreds of framing requests – from the sentimental to the bizarre.

“Over the years I’ve had lots of unusual things

to frame, “ Liz laughs. “That’s the great thing, you never know what you’ll get. “I’ve just framed one of the ceramic poppies from the display at the Tower of London. I’ve done cricket bats; football shirts; a Victorian beetle collection; a gall stone in a bottle; and I once framed a speculum for the county gynaecologist. “Basically, bring it in and we’ll do our best to frame it for you.”

The Leading Edge recently received a commission from one of the top department stores in the world, Selfridges, which includes framing work for their revamped rooftop restaurant. “It’s really exciting for us,” Liz says.

“I’ve been able to work with some very nice black and white photos of people at Selfridges like John Lennon and there’s some beautiful shots of their Sixties window displays.”

The other side to the business is an art gallery.

The Leading Edge offer works by local artists, hand-made cards and gifts. “People don’t come to us expecting seascapes,” Liz says. “They

PL MAGAZINE | 50

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Homes & Gardens

PARTNERS AT THE LEADING EDGE GALLERY, ELIZABETH AUBREY AND KAREN VALENTE. PICTURE BY MATT GILLEY

The Leading Edge

mainly want moorland views. Animal paintings are also very popular.”

The gallery runs two or three exhibitions per year to show off its featured artists and is planning more for 2016.

Artists such as James Martin and official war artist for the Royal Marines Andrew Miller have gone from humble beginnings to being highly sought after during their time displaying works at The Leading Edge. “James Martin had his first exhibition with us when he was still a doctor,” Liz says. “Back then he worked with a lot of oil paints and now he works almost exclusively with pastel.”

Liz says it’s a great experience to watch artists develop and always looks for the potential in anyone who approaches her to have their work displayed. “Many artists will bring a piece in and you often see a glimmer of something to encourage them to grow.”

Picture Framing and Art Gallery Why not pop in to see Liz and Karen for some friendly advice and a quote at our Ivybridge gallery.

01752 691352

theleadingedgegallery.co.uk

Our framing can now be seen in two of Selfridges’ restaurants in London Vintage Salt, on the roof terrace and the Brass Rail in the food hall! ©LW

PL MAGAZINE | 51

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Homes & Gardens

THE MOODY

Hues

PL Autumn’s cool winds and chilly nights may be unwelcome, but the season’s hot new decor trends more than make up for it. PL selects three key looks to inspire a sumptuous home transformation

O

ur homes have a dramatic effect on our mood and spirit, so investing in their visual appeal makes perfect sense.

This time of year, when designers and stores release their new collections, is a perfect opportunity to track new trends - and embrace them if you’re in the mood for a complete makeover, or simply shake up your existing scheme with some smart new buys.

This isn’t a season for the faint-hearted, as there’s a roll call of bold looks: full-on sultry luxe - all dark tones and glittery metallics, a style garden of dark blooms, and a twist on tradition with dark green ‘gentlemen’s club’ style settings, which make a grand backdrop for carefully chosen furniture pieces.

If that all sounds a little too rich for your decor palette, go for more subtle interpretations - no trend’s worth following just for the sake of it, it must suit you, your lifestyle and your taste, too.

That said, there’s plenty to excite that could bring that requisite personality to rooms, and make your home awesome for autumn...

SLEEP IN STYLE...

NAVY DOUBLE DUVET COVER, £80; QUILTED THROW, £195, AND GOLD CUSHION, £45, BEDECK

MADELINE ARMCHAIR, IN LOVARI FLORAL, £899, MARKS & SPENCER

PL MAGAZINE | 52

Interiors Homes_PL_OCT.indd 2

24/09/2015 14:33:18

PINEAPPLE OBJET, £12, SAINSBURY’S

OPULENCE CHANDELIER, £260, HOUSE OF FRASER

OPULENT & ELEGANT...

PUCCINI DRINKS CABINET, £1,999, WENDY MORRISON JEWELS RUG, £595, AND ODYSSEY LARGE SOFA, £2,000, ALL JOHN LEWIS

Interiors Homes_PL_OCT.indd 3

24/09/2015 14:40:18

CHIC CHINTZ...

MIDNIGHT BLOOM BED LINEN, £25, SAINSBURY’S

BLACK VELVET BIBA LOGO CUSHION, £45, HOUSE OF FRASER

MIDNIGHT BLOOM 12-PIECE DINNER SET, £40, SAINSBURY’S

BUTTERFLY HOME BY MATTHEW WILLIAMSON DESIGNER GREEN BEADED POM POM CUSHION, £22, DEBENHAMS.

PINEAPPLE TABLE LAMP, £83.40, DAR LIGHTING. PL MAGAZINE | 54

Interiors Homes_PL_OCT.indd 4

24/09/2015 14:43:47

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Homes & Gardens

THE ULTIMATE

Garden

One of the finest gardens in Devon, if not Britain, turned 70 this year. Rachael Dodd discovers the secret to The Garden House’s success...

J

ust after World War Two, the Fortescue family moved into a vicarage in Buckland Monochorum. Arriving at the house with their gardener and just two containers of plants, they would create a beautiful public garden from the property’s 10 acres, still thriving 70 years later.

It was head of the family, Lionel Fortescue, who gave the building its present name, The Garden House, at his wife Katharine’s suggestion. In an article published in the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1958, Lionel wrote: “The deeds do not permit the house to be called The Old Vicarage. The Garden House seemed premature before the garden was planted but my wife Katharine maintained that a change of name later would not be possible.

“No doubt she was right, as usual, for The Garden House earned its name.”

Lionel, a former head of languages at Eton, and Katharine developed the grounds of The Garden House extensively, with a succession of head gardeners, until their deaths in 1981 and 1983 respectively.

In the 1960s, the couple had established an independent registered charity, The Fortescue Garden Trust, to which they bequeathed the house and garden to ensure their survival. After their deaths, ownership passed to the charity which maintains The Garden House to this day.

Now filled with sub-gardens overflowing with

swathes of poppies; tufts of geraniums; pools; a glade of acers whose famous chameleon-esque switch from calming green to blazing fiery red foliage draws the crowds every year; and much more besides, The Garden House has surpassed what the Fortescues had planned for it. The couple’s daughter, Nancy Fortescue, visited the gardens this year to celebrate the 70th anniversary.

She was also able to see a new display which describes the property’s horticultural history and features her father Lionel as storyteller. Nancy now lives in Sussex but still visits the garden her father and mother lovingly created.

She was delighted to see the display, entitled The Garden House Story, which features a number of quotes from Lionel, discovered in an article from the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society from August 1958. Created with the help of a generous grant from the John Spedan Lewis Foundation, the display gives a great insight into Lionel’s determination to create a garden experience of the highest horticultural standard.

“It is wonderful to see the images of the many people who have worked so hard to develop the garden over the past 70 years and I was really pleased to see how the planting has developed since I was last here, four years ago,” Nancy said. “The garden looks an absolute picture and is really flourishing under the stewardship of its highly-creative and talented head gardener, Nick Haworth.”

THIS MONTH’S

gardening tips What to do this month • Plant window boxes and pots for winter interest • Apply or renew grease bands on the trunks of apple and pear trees • Sow parsley and chervil for use in late winter and early spring • Support tallgrowing clumps of asters or they’ll be blown down in windy conditions • Cut down the stems of herbaceous perennials and lift and divide clumps which are becoming old and bare in the centre • Lift maincrop potatoes on a

warm, sunny day and leave them on the surface of the soil for an hour or two to dry out • Sow lettuce seeds in shallow drills and cover with cloches • Pick pumpkins, marrow and squashes, which can be put into storage and should keep until well after Christmas.

• Plant out some of the runners of your strawberry plants to increase your stock • Start to clear garden debris in borders, putting it on the compost heap or disposing of it if diseased

56 | PL MAGAZINE

Gardens_tips_PL_OCT .indd 2

24/09/2015 11:36:55

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Festive CELEBRATIONS

It’s time to start planning your Christmas celebrations.

Here’s PL’s pick of perfect venues for a night out with colleagues, family or friends

NEW CONTINENTAL HOTEL

BORINGDON PARK

The New Continental Hotel is raising a glass to party planners with a special seasonal offer.

Every party planner needs help to set the stage for a spectacular annual Christmas celebration, so why not let the team at The New Continental Hotel make your party go with a sensational swing? A beautiful dining space, selection of delicious menus and central location means we’re the perfect place for fabulous festive fun.

From luscious lunches and delectable dinners to diva-worthy discos and perfect private parties, let our expert planners put sparkle in your seasonal step to ensure you and your party are pleased as punch.

Bookings of more than 20 mean a little extra in your stocking – organisers can luxuriate for the night free of charge with full use of the hotel facilities.

Christmas is a time to cherish and spend time with your friends and family. To celebrate this festive period, Boringdon Park has created a range of packages and dining opportunities to suit everyone.

A festive three-course Christmas Lunch and Sunday Carvery lunches are available throughout December and are ideal for a pre-Christmas family gathering at. £18.50pp. in the lead up to the big day, Christmas party nights are available on selected dates throughout November and December from just £29.95 per person.

Christmas Day lunch is also available for a traditional family treat. Priced at £55 for adults, and £27.50 for children.

There will also be a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner so you can see in 2016 in style.

Prices are £54.95 per person.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Call 01752 220782 or email events@ newcontinental.co.uk for further information

Call Boringdon Park on 01752 339113 to book your table

MOORLAND GARDEN HOTEL Celebrate the festive season in our magical moorland setting just 20 minutes from Plymouth City Centre, with our relaxed friendly style and delicious award winning food. We have events for you to enjoy throughout December from Festive Afternoon Teas, Lunches and Dinners to our very popular Crystal Party Nights.

On Monday December 7th we have our wreath making workshop from Flowers Going Green with afternoon tea. For the all-important Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day we have also created very special menus. Why not experience a traditional Christmas in the beautiful surroundings of our country hotel or join us on New Year’s Eve for a glamorous evening to celebrate ‘a very important date’ at our Alice in Wonderland Ball.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Or a brochure please contact the Events Team on 01822 852245 or events@moorlandgardenhotel.co.uk www.moorlandgardenhotel.co.uk

58 | PL MAGAZINE

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Feature

SHIRELY VALENTINE’S

RIVER COTTAGE

Our family - run restaurant in the Barbican area has a wide range of authentic Turkish dishes all home made by our own chef, Ismail.

If you leave feeling pleasantly full, we’ve done our job well. We are now taking Christmas bookings please visit our website for our full menu. All dishes are freshly made to order and terrific value for money. We’re pleased to offer a range of new mezze dishes especially for 2015 - and with vegetarian, gluten free and vegan options, there’s something for everyone. What’s more, we also regularly host traditional belly dancing nights with performances from Ameera Dance - a spectacular night out at Shirley Valentine’s.

Based in the stunning Royal William Yard, River Cottage Canteen Plymouth is the perfect setting for your Christmas Party.

The canteen will be serving a delicious locally-sourced, seasonal and organic Christmas menu with a River Cottage twist. Just £21 for two courses or £27 for three courses.

Our Christmas menu will be served from Monday November 30 until Thursday December 24. Why not pop into our deli for some Christmas shopping?

You will find a range of River Cottage books and gifts and a fantastic range of produce supplied by local food and drink producers, our Christmas hampers make the perfect gift for foodies. Book your Christmas Party before the end of September and get 10% off your bill.

WE ARE OFFERING A FESTIVE SET MENU From £22.50 per person call us today on 01752 669686 to reserve your table, or visit our website for menus, events, reviews and more

TO BOOK YOUR PARTY Call 01752 252702 or email plymouthchristmas@rivercottage.net www.rivercottage.net/plymouth

PL MAGAZINE | 59

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{ Family {

THE PERFECT

half-term fun

Schools are already counting down to half term. PL has plenty of ideas to keep your children entertained during the break

Dartmoor Zoo, Sparkwell Spend a day out with the kids seeing a host of incredible animals. Walk in-between the grounds and be greeted with friendly meerkats, wolves and their newest arrival - the slightly shy but equally menacing jaguar. Dartmoor Zoo provides a fantastic day out and the story behind it is one every child in Plymouth should know.

Paddleboarding, South West SUP, Royal WilliamYard Come rain or shine paddleboarding is the perfect activity to get your children out of the house and on the water. All you need is some shorts and a T-shirt and you’re well away. South West SUP offer sessions from RWY and it’s something that is easy to pick up and great fun. A test of balance and concentration - it will have the kids entertained for at least two hours!

Cycling, Rockets and Rascals, the Barbican

Ice skating, Plymouth Pavilions

Cycling is something you can do almost anywhere at very low cost - if you have your own bikes, then there need be no cost at all. But if you don’t then Rockets and Rascals have plenty to choose from. Cycle around Plymouth taking in areas your kids may not venture otherwise, stop for a picnic and tire them out before bed.

Open all-year-round the ice rink in the Pavilions is great fun for all the family - who will fall on their bum first? A chance to invite the friends while you sit and enjoy a hot drink. The sessions are reasonable and perfect entertainment for someone who might prefer to be in front of a computer screen.

Segway, Adventure Segway, Mount Edgcumbe Segwaying seems to be the coolest thing to do during leisure time at the moment and it’s fun for all the family. Adventure Segway offer reasonable sessions with a choice of two off-road routes around the park. Test your ability on two wheels on a mini assault course before taking on the park. October even welcomes ‘glide and glow’ sessions for those a little more adventurous.

60 | PL MAGAZINE

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{ Family {

TIME FOR

Bed

With the school routine back in full swing, how do you make sure the whole family is thoroughly rested and sleeping well?

Ella Walker asks the experts

N

ow all the children in the UK are back at their school desks, desperately trying to get their brains working again, sleep becomes hugely important.

If you haven't already reinstated a sleeping routine, you'll need to do it as soon as possible, says Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, a sleep expert at Silentnight. "The school holidays are an exciting time for children.

It means enjoying lovely holiday lie-ins, afternoon naps, and sometimes late nights, hugely affecting both parents' and children's body clocks.

"Routine is key to children waking up refreshed and feeling ready for bed at a suitable time.

The sooner you begin to reintroduce a sleeping rhythm after several weeks of irregularity, the sooner all the family can fall back into a healthy sleeping pattern."

Don't know where to start? Get bedtime under control with Dr Ramlakhan's top tips...

Help get your little ones off to sleep with these great ideas

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A calming pre-sleep routine

Serenity Star

The hours before can be just as important as actual bedtime. Running a relaxing bath with lavender fragrance, making a milky drink or reading are great ways to help children wind down and feel ready for sleep.

More than just a pretty addition to a nursery, this feeding and sleep system from aden + anais features a feeding diary for nursing mums, a soothing sound machine (with lullabies, a heartbeat and white noise), a room temperature indicator and comforting night light. £64.99, uk.adenandanais.com

Have a chat Starting a new school year can be worrying for some children. Talk about any concerns they may have before bedtime. You could even try to encourage simple yoga or meditation techniques by repeating a calming word and breathing deeply from the stomach.

Introduce technology-free evening time

Create a sleep-friendly bedroom

Research has shown that having a constant stream of light enter our eyes before we go to sleep tells our brains we want to be awake. An hour or so before the children go to bed, rule out any blue light; this means no TV, tablets or mobile phones. The bedroom should be a technology-free environment.

Bedrooms need to be sleep-friendly, which means creating a cool environment free of any noise or distractions. Freshly laundered bedding can make the room feel more calming and relaxing.

Gradually reintroduce earlier bedtimes

It is scientifically proven that exercise can lead to a better night's sleep. Regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to reduce stress hormone levels, enabling you to sleep more deeply. A short walk with children after dinner is a good way to help them wind down.

An ideal bedtime for pre-teens would be no later than 8.30pm. If you haven't done so already, try to gradually shift bedtime earlier over the course of a few days to allow children to adjust.

Sweet Dreams

Exercise is key

Fall Into Dreams Massage Oil A little goes a long way with this organic mother and baby massage oil, which aims to promote peaceful sleep. It contains nourishing peach kernel oil, protective rosehip oil and argan oil (a source of vitamin E), and can be used by mums also in need of pampering. £29 for 100ml, littlebutterflyorganic.com

62 | PL MAGAZINE

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People

music

DRAWN TO Plymouth’s music scene is unlike any other and no-one understands this better than illustrator Lauren Rothery.

Carly Squires shared a drink with Lauren to talk city gigs, music artwork and her dad’s influence

L

auren Rothery always wanted to grow up to be a rock star.

But despite having a go at drumming in a few ‘awful, awful bands’ it never quite worked out.

However for the 24-year-old that wasn’t enough to deter her from being involved with music altogether. Her illustrations are brightening up Plymouth in the form of gig posters and Lauren receives commissions from city-based bands for album artwork.

Forget your standard back-of-NME blackand-white music artwork though, Lauren’s work is unique, clever and unmistakable, using a

minimal colour palette. She also works as the assistant manager for the alternative live music venue The Underground, based on Mutley Plain, where she aims to showcase the best local talent in addition to touring bands.

“Music has always been a massive part of my life,” said Lauren. “I’ve been going to shows with my dad since the age of 12. We were always off to London to go and see big touring bands.

“My dad’s not into punk rock like me but he’s into rock. We had a 7-inch vinyl jukebox when we were growing up. Vinyl has come back massively recently but in the early 2000s a lot of modern music wasn’t being put onto 7-inch.

My dad managed to get me a copy of Britney

LAUREN ROTHERY, ABOVE, AND SOME OF HER MUSIC-INSPIRED ILLUSTRATIONS

Spears’ Hit Me Baby One More Time and it was a revelation for me – ‘what, music I like can be on this as well?!”

“This is why doing this is so important to me, we don’t get so many big bands playing down here and that’s how I grew up. We put on great local music and smaller circuit touring bands and I just wish people would take more of a chance on them. These bands might be the bands that will be performing at Wembley in the future, you never know.”

Lauren graduated from Plymouth University in 2012 with a BA (Hons) in Illustration. This is where she discovered that she could give up on rock star fame and instead fuse her love for art with her love for music.

Lauren laughed: “I was forever getting in trouble at school for doodling on my books, I was always drawing. I love art.

“I moved to Plymouth four years ago for university and I stayed here because I like it. It’s such a big city with lots going on, but it’s really small at the same time – you can walk anywhere, I never have to get transport, it’s right by the sea – it’s nice. All of the people that I’ve met here are part of the punk rock scene that I’ve become 64 | PL MAGAZINE

Lauren Rothery_PL_OCT.indd 2

24/09/2015 09:42:43

a part of – why would I want to leave this all behind?

“I spent a lot of my time at university researching gig posters and I have piles of books on gig poster design at home, which is still where I get loads of inspiration from. Forget Google, I’ve got a book!

“Most tour posters have the big white space and you just write in them. They’re functional, they’re well designed but ultimately they’re boring. I’m an illustrator not a graphic designer and so it’s important for me to do bright, standout posters. People stop and look at them, and it’s nice being able to put that colour on Mutley Plain and brighten it up. I love making people smile.

“I have to do quite a quick turn around on these pieces so that’s a factor as to how they look.

“I can’t spend three weeks drawing the most detailed image – at university I was told to develop the idea and then 40,000 ideas later they’d always end up liking my first one the best.

That’s very much punk rock, going with your gut instinct.

“When bands come in and say, ‘did you do

‘When bands come in and say ‘did you do the poster? It’s rad!, it really does make my night’ the poster? It’s rad!’, it really does make my night.”

Live-music fan Lauren likes to think “outside of the box” when it comes to her designs, and enjoys interpreting different musicians’ identities, including the likes of Plymouth-based threepiece Bad Credentials and long-term punkers Secrets & Lies.

Lauren said: “I think live is the best way to first experience music so if it’s a band that I haven’t heard before I won’t listen to them until they are playing the show. To create their posters I’ll instead go on their website and find out what genre they are, what their album and band names are and go more on that.

“I’ve got a lot of freedom, which is great. I don’t like to go for the most obvious image, for The Scandals’ gig poster they mentioned that they liked travelling so I drew a dog looking out of a car window. With album covers it’s different because I’m working for a client, rather than for the public.

“I do a series of thumbnails and send ideas

to the bands and go back-and-forth until they’re happy.

“For those I do listen to the album because it is so much more personal.”

Lauren admits to spending a lot of her working day dancing because she loves her job so much.

“There is so much to live music, the atmosphere and the community. My dad always said that what he loved about vinyl records was the ceremony of putting them on the deck.

“I feel the same way about putting on shows; doors open at eight, rock up, come down the stairs, get a stamp on your hand and come to the bar.

“I really enjoy my work, I’ve been to bigger venues where workers look a bit grumpy but because it’s small here and there’s a great sense of community I get to chat to people about music in the city.

“It beats sitting in your pants watching the X Factor! I’m not living for the weekend and not many people can say that. I’m very lucky.”

PL MAGAZINE | 65

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People

PUTTING PLYMOUTH

in the picture

U

“I was a rubbish student and all my lecturers nion Street parties, musicians, knew that. My work book was never filled but married couples and practically I was good - I was always trying businesses - you name new things and experimenting with different it - everyone wants city techniques.” Dom started an internship with photographer Dom Moore Fotonow while he was studying which allowed to capture their moment.

Photographing some of the city’s biggest events PHOTOGRAPHER DOM Dom proves you don’t MOORE AND SOME always need a piece of OF HIS IMAGES OF paper to tell you you PLYMOUTH can do something. The 27-year-old tried his hand at university twice but never quite got to the end of the film - instead he had a back catalogue of work most wouldn’t achieve for years.

His is a name you will hear time and time again and Plymouth is lucky that he doesn’t plan to leave anytime soon. So how do you quit university twice but still become a pro? “I started a National Diploma in Media and Moving Image - I didn’t finish that. him to gain work as a photographer - the hours Then I decided to start a National Diploma in in the classroom were no longer needed.

Photography - I also didn’t finish that!” he laughs.

Photographer, avid cyclist, born and bred janner, Dom Moore says he wouldn’t want to be doing what he does anywhere else.

Emily Smith meets him

In 2009 his hard work paid off and he came third in a Fuji Film competition with a portrait of his sister. Since then the happy snapper has worked on various projects. Last year he took a leap of faith and set up his own business. He says: “I think it’s important to find that balance between doing what you love and what makes money. I do a lot of weddings - people book me because they like my candid approach - they aren’t looking for all the formal stuff.

“I’m getting to the point now where I’m finding it hard to juggle the amount of work I’m getting in. I find it really hard to say ‘no’.”

One of Dom’s biggest projects to date is a mural he produced for the people of Barne Barton, a commission

by Take A Part. In the space of a year, Dom took a series of pictures which represented the community.

He explains: “It took a lot of time and

66 | PL MAGAZINE

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24/09/2015 10:56:37

People

sometimes I had to sub-contract out other work because I couldn’t do it all but it all worked out fine in the end. It was a bit nerve-racking when we unveiled it because of the cost of the project.

We used this special paper that was protected from UV rays and I needed to make sure the size was right and make sure the community appreciated it.

“At several events throughout the year we did ask the community what they would like to see and I took some samples for them. That’s there forever now. Everyone loved it and enjoyed finding pictures of themselves in it.”

The freelance photographer is one of many creative people based at Radiant, on Derry’s Cross roundabout, and after living here all his life he admits the Big Smoke isn’t that appealing.

He says: “I know people who studied in Plymouth and then moved to London or Bristol.

Some of them have even come back down here.

In Plymouth you’re fighting against a lot less people. I have never really been adventurous.

I don’t think I’m confident enough to move somewhere else. I have no plans to escape!”

One day Dom could be shooting a product in a studio, perhaps a musician on stage at a huge festival or even someone’s big day - he admits that’s what he loves about the job. “I love the variety of the work I do - I do something different every day. Last week I was photographing 400 scarves, then I was shooting a toilet and before

Dom Moore_PL_OCT.indd 3

‘I think it’s important to find that balance between doing what you love and what makes money’

that I was doing some work for The Times.

“I love taking photos of people. This Is Plymouth was a university project I did and it was just a case of walking around and capturing people on the street. I definitely want to get back into that and do it in a different form. One of the most enjoyable projects I worked on was with Drew Turner who designed a website for the Sheldon Monk School - it never actually opened in the end. We did the shot on Sheepstor when the sun was just setting and it was so much fun.”

Working at a wedding can be no easy task - making sure every detail, every moment and every guest is captured. Ever shed a tear? “You do get nervous doing weddings because you need to make sure you get everything - it’s someone’s big day. You see the whole process and usually people are drunk by the end of it!”

“I enjoy seeing a couple get married because they really love each other and they may share that through their vows - and that’s amazing.

I have definitely been at weddings and welled up,” he smiles. For Dom he couldn’t be happier - he is earning a living from what he loves doing and he’s working on well-established projects.

But does admit he sometimes misses doing his own thing. He says: “I have realised I need to be pushing my own work out more. Working with digital can mean things can just stay on your computer or your hard drive. There is no point in taking photos if you are not going to show them.”

24/09/2015 10:57:09

Out & About

It’s not just

CRICKET Emily Smith chats to Freddie Flintoff about life on and off the cricket field

T

here is no denying Freddie Flintoff might be better known to many for his drunken antics rather than his ability on the cricket field.

But that’s okay because he doesn’t regret a thing. In fact his show 2nd Innings, which he is touring across the UK with his partner in crime Clyde Holcroft, is a chance for the ex-cricketer to look back on his time and have a laugh at his own expense. The show has received five-star reviews and will come to Plymouth Pavilions this month. Freddie treats the captivated audience to ‘hilarious tales and changing room banter with all the behind-the-scenes cricketing insights you could want’.

Being part of a winning Ashes team, competing in a professional boxing match, taking a wee in the gardens of Number 10 and trekking across the jungle - you name it - this man has done it all. Although he doesn’t regret a thing, he does admit that he might have to explain a few things to his three children. “When the children get older I might have some explaining to do. I will just say to them don’t look at the first four pages of Google!” he laughs.

“Thinking back to things that have happened makes me smile more than anything. I don’t regret anything - everyone wants me to - it’s all about learning and growing. I’m so happy now I have just made some mistakes. “I work hard and have a pretty quiet life. I have a Mrs and three kids.

“My reputation wasn’t that bad - I’ve not hurt anyone. I may have made a fool of myself at times.” Freddie’s honesty is what makes him a much-loved personality in both the sporting and TV worlds. Testament to his charm and honesty was winning the Australian version of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!

This is a man who won’t say no to anything which has led him cycling through the Amazon in TV show Road To Nowhere. He says: “There are some things I have done which have been amazing. I spent a week in the bush on my own and been to so many different places. I never want to be offered something and regret not doing it - I would rather try it and not be able to finish it.

“I always just wanted to play cricket - I never had big plans to be on TV. It’s a nice position to be in though - I don’t do anything I don’t want to do. I come up with most of the ideas myself.

I have been really lucky in that respect - I’m not desperate to be on TV.” Although Freddie’s days of playing cricket are over - it’s his love for the game and ability as a player that made him win over the hearts of the nation. “Cricket is pretty much all I played as a young lad. I was a bit bigger when I was younger and played a bit of

rugby. I was asked to play for a team but they all had messed-up faces and that wasn’t my bag,” he laughs.

“Everyone hated cricket in my school. It was always the one for me though. From a young age I played for clubs and I couldn’t believe what was happening. I played for Lancashire when I was nine years old. Then I played two Ashes where England won. During the second one I just looked at my other players on the field and just thought ‘how did this happen.’

‘I find the tour all quite humbling.

It’s fun.

We are just having a laugh, going on stage and enjoying it. It’s not just about cricket, it’s having a laugh at my expense’

68 | PL MAGAZINE

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Out & About

Board game Who said boardgames are for the elderly and the geeky? More than 300 avid gamers of all ages and backgrounds are meeting every week to shout ‘checkmate’ or journey past go. Emily Smith took on opponents for a chat about the craze

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE ADAM JAMES AND RACHEL DOBBS WHO RUN THE PLYMOUTH BOARDGAME MEETUP; RACHEL DOBBS PLAYING HER NEW GAME WAGGLE DANCE, WHICH IS BEE THEMED; BOARD GAMERS ENJOY A MEETING AT PRIME CAFE 70 | PL MAGAZINE

BoardGames_PL_OCT.indd 2

24/09/2015 13:45:15

Out & About

E

veryone loves a boardgame don’t they? The smell as you remove the wooden board from the box it hasn’t left since last Christmas. The arguments over which piece you will be as you settle down to a game of Monopoly and the glory when winner takes all.

Plymouth is at the heart of the boardgame community and two self-obsessed lovers of games are bringing the hobby back into the homes of even the youngest and coolest among us. Adam James, 30, and Rachel Dobbs, 34, met through their love of games and are encouraging others to celebrate their love for the boardgame.

Adam says: “My love of games has come from childhood - I have always played from an early age with the family. I have a nine-yearold daughter called Aela and we play games together. I think it’s really important we spend time together and she is learning and developing herself from playing.”

Adam works behind the bar at Carpe Diem on North Hill and after keeping his love of all things board to himself for many years he decided he would share it with others. He started a game night at the bar in October last year and instantly Plymouth people were keen to get involved.

Meanwhile, Rachel was doing the same.

“I had just moved back to Plymouth and didn’t have regular people who wanted to play games,” she says. I had a few chats in the pub and put a couple of posts on Facebook asking people if they wanted to play games. Then we decided to hold the first night in the Bread and Roses.

“We had eight people turn up and it was really nice. From there we wanted to try to find the best way to get people involved. So I set up the Plymouth Boardgame Meetup. Then I was put in touch with Adam. We had a chat about the best way of doing something together and it’s gone from there.”

Now more than 300 people travel to various venues across the city each week to play with likeminded people.

If anyone ever said games were for geeks then Rachel and Adam are keen to argue against that.

Rachel says: “There is this stigma attached to playing boardgames but over the last year they

have become more mainstream. It’s becoming something that’s in popular culture, things like The Big Bang Theory have helped with that.

“There is a real sense of a community - you could turn up on a night on your own and you wouldn’t feel out of place.”

“I think the thing you notice is that some people turn up and they are really shy and keep themselves to themselves and then six months later they have really come out of their shell,” smiles Adam.

The game nights are free to attend and there is no need to take your own game, although you are more than welcome to. The idea is to get people making friends and having fun.

Adam’s love of boardgames runs deeper than holding a night once-a-week and he is in the process of looking for his own premises which he can open for the boardgaming community.

He explains: “I want to open a venue and use it for that geek culture. If you are a rocker then you can go to places with that rock vibe - we want to do that for gamers. We will also be able to offer lots of new nights.

“All of us are using computers on a day-to-day basis. It was once geeky to play games but it’s coming back, all of this geek-chic thing is.”

Rachel adds: “People are looking to go away from the mainstream now. A lot of people are up for trying something new.”

Adam hopes this project will come to fruition in the next few months.

Games are also much more than a hobby for Rachel. She is an artistic director for the gaming industry, working freelance but has recently worked with Grubin, based in Cornwall, on their games Cornish Smuggler and Waggle Dance.

Rachel says: “I started as an artistic director for a few games a couple of years ago and now it’s the thing that pays my bills. Waggle Dance was released last October at ESSEN, which is one of the biggest gaming trade fairs in the world. The first run we did was 3,000 and they all sold out, we are just in the process of getting the second run made.”

It would seem you would struggle to find many in Plymouth that don’t enjoy a night down the pub with a pint and a boardgame - but Adam admits playing is much more than having fun.

“There are many reasons why playing games is beneficial. It helps you read and challenges your mind. When my daughter was just four years old she would tell me the rules and I would check the rule book and she would be right!” he laughs.

“For me it’s about teaching her skills - it helps with problem-solving, reading and learning all the different aspects of all the games. It’s a lot more beneficial than sitting down in-front of a TV screen.”

TOP 5 GAMES AVALON SPY FALL GOOD COP BAD COP KING OF TOKYO PANDEMIC

Where to play GAME NIGHT AT CARPE DIEM, NORTH HILL Every Monday from 6pm until 1am.

ROLEPLAY AT CARPE DIEM, NORTH HILL Dungeons and Dragons and the like. Great for beginners. Every Tuesday from 6pm.

SUNDAY SOCIAL GAMING Family friendly. Plymouth Telecom Club, 247 Mannamead Road. The first Sunday of every month.

PLYMOUTH BOARDGAME MEETUP Prime Cafe, Ebrington Street. Once a month - see Plymouth Board Games Meetup page for details.

BOARDGAME NIGHT AT THE FORTESCUE The Fortescue, 37 Mutley Plain. Every fortnight.

PL MAGAZINE | 71

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24/09/2015 13:46:26

Travel

STEPPING INTO THE

Zambia wilds of

Do walking safaris afford the best wildlife encounters? Sarah Marshall visits South Luangwa, where it all began, and finds out what it’s like to explore the bush on foot

W

hen we arrive at the crime scene, barely any evidence remains. Only a few bloodsoaked blades of grass, glistening in the tangerine dawn sunshine, reveal foul play has been afoot.

By now the perpetrators are long gone, having raced into the dense teak forest, so thick and lush in late spring. Yet only minutes earlier, “detective” Kanga and I had been hot on their tails, as urgent shrieks ripped through the Zambian bush and a very violent murder unfolded.

The only weapon I’m shooting with is a Nikon DSLR camera, but on a walking safari through the South Luangwa National Park, I find myself embroiled in a life or death drama far more thrilling than any Hollywood cop movie.

Accompanied by an armed ranger, we’d set off early that morning to explore areas of the park only accessible by foot. When super sleuth Kanga, who’s been guiding for eight years, detects fresh leopard and wild dog paw prints in the sandy soil, we know predators must

be close by - in reality, much closer than we imagine.

Bounding vertically like a bouncy ball, a male impala starts frantically stotting, a display to deter potential attackers, indicating he’s being chased - most likely by a pack of wild dogs.

Panic spirals like a tornado as guinea fowl screech and opportunistic hooded vultures swoop down in anticipation of a fresh feed.

To our left, baboons are barking ferociously, a sign their nemesis, the leopard, must be in the vicinity. Sure enough, we see a flash of silky rosettes slinking through the undergrowth.

But there are far wilier criminals in the area. A shrill cry leads us to a clearing but by the time we arrive, the deed is already done.

Large ears pivoting like satellite dishes, the wild dogs have detected our presence. For a few minutes I stand 100 metres from them, staring eye to eye, before they cautiously trot away.

There’s been a kill and we were in the middle of

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24/09/2015 15:26:28

Travel it, listening to every alarm call and sensing the rising panic, as if we were part of the chase.

If a classic vehicle safari concentrates on watching wildlife, then walking is all about feeling.

Standing on a level playing field with wildlife, you’re immediately part of their matrix and it’s easy to see why experienced guides like Kanga prefer to cover ground with their own two feet.

South Luangwa is often cited as the birthplace of the walking safari, first offered by Norman Carr in the 1950s, with some of the most scenic terrain in Africa.

Forty years later, guide and safari camp owner Robin Pope began running mobile camping safaris, where guests would explore the bush by foot, sleeping at different spots every night.

I’m given a taster of the experience at an overnight bush camp, which is far more luxurious than it sounds. Along with a tent, long-drop toilet and bucket shower, I have a chef, waiters and even a well-stocked riverside bar at my disposal. Beneath the shade of mopane trees, I fall asleep listening to giggling hyenas and wake up to hippos honking and spluttering in the meandering Luangwa river, still flowing at the end of May. Perhaps South Luangwa’s greatest attraction is its landscape; oxbow lakes piled high with lime green Nile cabbage curl through dense teak forests. By September, much of the vegetation will have wilted away and riverbeds turned to dust, making game viewing arguably much easier. But with clearer air (none of the forest fires, which result in a semi-permanent cloud of smog, have started) and vibrant colours, there’s something very beautiful about this season. The wildlife too seems equally abundant - creatures large and small.

Flashes of brilliant purple light up the sky as lilac-breasted rollers perform loop-the-loops, and at ground level, antlions litter the dry soil with conical-shaped booby traps to catch their prey, while white fortified bee eaters ruffle their feathers and take dust baths nearby.

A male puku - an antelope with a thick brown coat - peels back his lips in a Leslie Ash-style pout, to sniff a female’s rear end and assess if she’s on heat. Dissatisfied, he bounds away and applies his clunky seduction techniques elsewhere.

Having walked almost 10km, we stop to rest on a fallen tree trunk at a lagoon populated by Egyptian geese and African jacanas. Fierce commotion breaks the idyllic silence, as a gosling is pulled underwater by a stealthy crocodile, a reminder that it’s survival of the fittest out here.

When we eventually arrive at Robin Pope’s Nsefu camp, Zambia’s first photographic safari camp, established by Norman Carr in the 1950s, fellow guests have covered more ground in their 4x4s, taken more photos and have, arguably, seen more than us. But I bet none have locked into the environment in quite the same way, sharing that visceral fear that keeps senses permanently on a knife-edge.

Robin Pope operates four camps in South Luangwa: Nkwali (with six chalets set on private land overlooking the park), Luangwa River Camp (an elegant home in the neighbouring Game Management Area with five brick and thatch freestanding suites), Tena Tena (a sumptuous tented camp shaded by mahogany trees) and Nsefu (with six rondavels swathed in history).

The latter two camps are in a remote sector of the park, where few self-drive day-trippers venture.

One thing they all have in common, though, is an opportunity to spot leopards. These famously elusive cats are the star players of South Luangwa, and by the end of a week’s stay I’m almost tripping over them.

During numerous

game drives in elevated open-top vehicles, I watch a tough male carefully guarding his prey in the treetops, witness a hungry juvenile stalking puku in the bushes, and spend several hours with a surprisingly approachable female, as she glides slowly through the long grass, tracking an impala herd.

Most leopard sightings are at night, but Zambian park authorities permit drives until 8pm, meaning its possible to search with flashlights.

The proliferation of leopards in South Luangwa is largely due to a low lion population, with many prides fractured by past trophy hunting.

Since a countrywide ban was imposed in January 2013, numbers have improved, although it’s feared plans to reintroduce big cat trophy hunting next year may result in a reversal of fortunes. In theory, hunters can only operate in bordering GMAs, but past cases of illegal baiting have affected prides in the park.

Non-profit conservation trust The Zambian Carnivore Programme will closely monitor any impact.

The recent high profile case of Cecil the lion, in neighbouring Zimbabwe, has thrown the “sport” into the spotlight, with opinions divided on the financial benefits it can potentially bring to conservation.

'Picking up in your Area' TRAVEL FACTS Sarah Marshall was a guest of Expert Africa and Robin Pope Safaris. A nine-night/10day day Hippo Safari costs from £4,219 pp (based on two sharing) and includes return overnight flights from Heathrow, seven nights’ accommodation, all meals, most drinks, two safari activities per day, internal flights, transfers and park fees. Call Expert Africa on 020 8232 9777 or visit www. expertafrica.com. This classic Zambian safari in the South Luangwa National Park stays at three small, high-quality camps run

by Robin Pope Safaris and allows you to choose your activities - from walking safaris to 4x4 game drives (night & day).

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More than 2,000 women took part in the Cancer Research UK challenge, taking on a series of obstacles around a 5k course in Central Park in August. Ladies clambered up cargo nets and crawled through tunnels â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all while getting muddier and muddier â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to raise vital funds to help find a cure for cancer.

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