PL Magazine - March 2015 by DCMedia

Your lifestyle magazine for Plymouth & surrounding areas

P L

M a g a z i n e

MARCH 2015

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This girl can! WOMEN WHO LIVE FOR EXERCISE

EASTER TREATS CREATE YOUR OWN COOKIES AND CAKES

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74 PEOPLE

32 SPRING INOVATIONS

FOOD & DRINK

5 ALICE GULLICK

Rejuvenate your routine

58 CAN YOU COOK IT LIKE MY MUM?

FAMILY

Best homemade recipes

Reluctant star

8 THIS GIRL CAN ‘We love exercise’

12 MUMS IN A MILLION Our fantastic mothers

14 MEIER WILLIAMS Equestrian artist

16 DOODLES What your squiggles mean

FASHION & SHOPPING 18 MAD MARCH Styles for spring

22 FLORALS Blooming lovely designs

24 JUST FOR MUM Pick of Mother’s Day gifts

34 MAGIC BREAKFASTS Food your children will love

A taste of Havana

36 GUS HONEYBUN

64 MOTHER’S DAY VENUES

Why we loved him so much

Where to take mum

38 LOOK AFTER THEIR SKIN

66 ZUZIMO Mixing up good tastes

Products for your little ones

FEAST OF EASTER 40 EASTER BAKING

TRAVEL 68 VIETNAM Healed and happy land

Treats to make

42 QUEEN OF THE ICE How to create perfect cakes

44 SPRING CLEANING Freshen up your home

46 GARDEN GLORY Get ahead for spring

HEALTH & BEAUTY

62 CUBA!

OUT & ABOUT 70 RADFORD FOLLY Hidden gem

72 BRENDAN COLE King of the ballroom

74 DANCE SPECTACULAR

HOMES & GARDENS

26 SHE’S WORTH IT Pamper your mum

28 BEAUTY FIXES FOR NEW MUMS

48 CABIN FEVER The perfect bolthole

50 CLEVER KITCHENS

Pick of the products

Neat and stylish

30 PETER ANDRE

52 ROSY GLOW

Loving life again

Colour for the summer

The U.Dance festival

76 DAFFODILS Where to see their glory

78 SOCIAL DIARY Out and about in the city

80 TOP 6 EVENTS What to do this month

54 GARDEN LIKE A KING How Henry VIII did it

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

56 GARDENING TIPS What to do this month

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Spring is in the air

scars fever was in the air as we put the final touches to this edition of PL. Among the glitz and glamour of the evening was a moving tribute to the great comic actor Robin Williams. As well as being a brilliant actor, Robin was also known for his fantastic one-liners and his quote, “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party’” is one I love the most. And this edition of PL is taking a lead from nature, in celebrating everything that’s great about the arrival of the new season. From mad March fashions to gorgeous gardens, we hope you’ll enjoy the ideas we have to embrace spring and all its glory. But this month’s edition is also a celebration of our magnificent mums. We meet six Plymouth ‘mums-in-a-million’ and find out why each means so much to their families. And to help you mark Mother’s Day on March 15 we have the low-down on the best gifts, flowers, beauty treats and places to take your mum for a special treat. As usual we’ve met some fantastic people this month, from the inspirational ladies in our ‘this girl can’ feature to shy teen singing sensation Alice Gullick and artist Meier Williams. We also loved meeting Plymouth cake decorator extraordinaire Joanna Hunt who shared the secrets of her sugar-craft skills. And that brings us neatly on to the subject of food. We have a little help for anyone who wants to cook as well as their mum, or mother-in-law, does with recipes for proper homecooked British food. We also have Easter baking recipes plus features on two fascinatingly fresh city eateries. Finally, I hope our out and about section inspires you with some great places to go to enjoy the start of the new season.

Happy reading

Clare Jardine

Clare Jardine – PL Magazine

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These Girls Can! THIS GIRL CAN IS A £10M GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN ENCOURAGING MORE WOMEN TO TAKE REGULAR EXERCISE. BUT, AS EMILY SMITH DISCOVERED, THERE ARE PLENTY OF WOMEN OF ALL AGES IN PLYMOUTH WHO ALREADY ARE

BECKY MARTYN Becky Martyn, 35, is a paediatric nurse who has just adopted a little boy and runs Thai boxing classes at Taurus Gym. Becky says: “Most of the people I work with don’t have any idea that I box - the staff at A&E have been quite shocked,” chuckles Becky.

As a kid I went to a sports class every night of the week, I played a lot of volleyball. My mum kept us active so we didn’t get into mischief

- BECKY MARTYN

“I’m the only women in my boxing class girls seem to come and go. When I used to fight I never had girls to train with. “Girls just don’t seem to stay at it, I think it’s because there are so few of us they don’t like training alone. There are a lot of stereotypes created around boxing.” “I wanted to start doing something based on martial arts and then I got addicted to it. As a kid I went to a sports class every night of the week, I played a lot of volleyball. My mum kept us active so we didn’t get into mischief.” I used to fight at amateur level but I’m not an aggressive person so I didn’t win many of my fights.”

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‘When I was three-years-old I suffered from chilblains. My mum took me to the doctor and he told her to take me dancing. I had chilblains most of my life but I love dancing!’

- FRAN EASTER FRAN EASTER Fran Easter is 69-years-old and an avid tap dancer. She also likes Zumba and swimming. Fran says: “I started dancing when I was three-years-old and suffered from chilblains. My mum took me to the doctor and he told her to take me dancing. I had chilblains most of my life but love dancing!” laughs Fran. “I was the only one in my class at school to go dancing. My mum always loved dancing and never had the chance to go - she let me have a go at everything and anything. I fell in love with it. I was

dancing six times a week at Geraldine Lamb Dance School.” “I love the showing off really - no, I love the company and the exercise is good. “I have also played the dame in the local pantomime every year up until two years ago - it’s all very well getting down on the floor and being silly, but it takes a long time to get back up again!” “ I go to two tap classes a week, as well as Zumba at Hartley House Dance Club and swim once a week at Marjon.”

We don’t wear wetsuits, just a costume, goggles and a hat. We start in October going into the lake when it’s about 11 degrees. We have a saying ‘get in, get on with it and get out!’

- NICOLLE MCKENZIE

PAULINE BARKER One person proving that Plymouth women really can is outdoor swimming extraordinaire Pauline Barker, who will attempt to swim across the English Channel this summer. Pauline, 51, a part-time banker, set up the Devon and Cornwall Wild Swimming club. Pauline says: “We don’t wear wetsuits, just a costume, goggles and a hat. “We start in October going into the lake when it’s about 11 degrees. We have a saying ‘get in, get on with it and get out!’ “When I was a teenager I was a competitive swimmer, as well as being a synchronised swimmer. “I did all the water stuff - but I gave that up when I was 20. I was at that age when you’re growing up and you get other interests -

sport takes a back seat. I was also as good as I was ever going to get.” “I’ve completed two ice miles in three degree water, a 21-mile swim across Lake Windermere and three English Channel relays and this summer I’m going to attempt to cross the English Channel - alone. “People are different - I like to have a challenge and have something to do for myself,” admits Pauline. “I train for the Channel swim alongside my cold water swimming, which I do about three times a week. I spend a long time in the pool clocking up my mileage. “In April I’m going to Majorca to get my long distance up to six hours. The Channel swim is going to take me a long time. I’m not the quickest swimmer.”

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‘Running is really important to me - it gives me that space to be on my own. It’s an added bonus if things get firmer - if jiggly bits get more firm then that’s a good thing’

- NICOLLE MCKENZIE

‘I want to enjoy the life I’ve got. I don’t want to not be able to get up off the chair. My mother died when she was 84 years old and never did any exercise - in her later years she just sat in a chair doing nothing. I don’t want to do that’

- NICOLLE MCKENZIE NICOLLE MCKENZIE Nicolle McKenzie, 35, is a mum-of-two who runs three times a week near her home in Modbury. Nicolle says: “Running is really important to me - it gives me that space to be on my own. I do it more for my mental health than anything else. It’s an added bonus if things get firmer - if jiggly bits get more firm then that’s a good thing.” “I don’t enter any race, I like to run alone, with no music and my dogs for company. “If I’m with the dogs then I can run 4/5km - they love it and they’re great company. I don’t run with anyone else, it’s difficult to co-ordinate with other mums.” “I got into running as an adult when I was living in London in my twenties, before that I was terrible at running - I couldn’t even run for the school bus.”

ANNIE WAKEHAM Annie Wakeham, 61, is the fitness manager at Derriford Health and Leisure Centre. She teaches five spin/X-bike classes every week. She also teaches kettle bells twice a week and runs four times a week. Annie says: “I was never active as a child. I was conscious about how skinny I was and I never wanted to show my legs. After I had my first child I made friends with someone in hospital who was a PE teacher and she encouraged me to get active. We both started teaching aerobics - back in the Jane Fonda days. It’s my life - I would be empty without it. I have now been teaching classes for 35 years. “Exercise is so important - you make friends with people you would never normally meet. You get people from all walks of life - there are all sorts of people doing my classes,” she says.

“I have always trained a lot but being older makes me more determined. I’m really pleased with myself when I do my ten mile run, plodding along on a Sunday morning. “I want to enjoy the life I’ve got. I don’t want to not be able to get up off the chair. My mother died when she was 84 years old and never did any exercise - in her later years she just sat in a chair doing nothing. I don’t want to do that.”

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A reluctant songbird SINGER, SONGWRITER AND AVID DOG WALKER ALICE GULLICK IS BRINGING AUDIENCES TO SILENCE WITH HER BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCES. BUT THE SHY STAR TELLS EMILY SMITH SHE’S NOT INTERESTED IN STARDOM

ALICE GULLICK PICTURES BY JOHN ALLEN

eenager Alice Gullick can move people to tears with the sound of her voice but, she says, it’s not something she likes to listen to herself. Alice, just 17, is obsessed with Dolly Parton and her dog Stanley – and has only been performing properly for the last 18 months. She fell in love with music after repeatedly being played Dolly Parton in her family’s car. Alice has a voice that sounds much older than her years and will easily move audiences to tears but she says it’s not the same for her. “I hate my music – I don’t like how my voice sounds, says Alice. “In my head it could sound good but when I listen to it I’m like ‘delete it now, get rid of it.’ “I don’t think anyone likes their own voice to be fair.” Alice splits her time between singing and studying Music Production at Deep Blue Sound, as well as learning to drive and just being a 17-year-old girl. The teenager’s love of singing started when she stared as Annie at the Devonport Playhouse when she was just eight-years-old. Then her family moved to Australia for four years and Alice’s singing took a side line to her new found love of football. Alice played for Sunshine Coast Rep girls team and was selected for the Football School of Excellence in Queensland. In 2011 she got selected to play for Australia in the Surf Cup in San Diego USA as one of the youngest players on the side. After returning to the UK, Alice decided to hang up her boots and concentrate on the guitar instead and hasn’t looked back.

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ALICE GULLOCK

“I think Australia did help me find my feet because I quit playing music before we went and I wasn’t into it, but when I was there I had different aspirations.” Alice is inspired by strong, power vocals - people such as Adele, James Bay and Dolly Parton. Her music is sprinkled with folk and a maturity that any professional musician could appreciate. Her first single, Colours Of My Edelweiss, is stunning, a song about a friend who has cancer. “I was in bed and suddenly thought of some lyrics. “I didn’t know the song was about her until I read the lyrics and what she means to me. I didn’t set out to do it like that. “She cried when she heard it and then she just really smiled and was really happy that I’d written it for her. Now she’s really proud that I recorded it and it’s my first single. It kind of connects us more.” Alice hasn’t been in the business long but has already taken part in the World Championship of Performing Arts and won a top-five placing. Fitting the time in to write ‘I have days of songs around her busy teenage life, Alice finds that lyrics not believing in normally come to her at 2am. myself and then the “If I really want to write a song and there is nothing to next day I will be write about then I have to wait she isn’t playing again. I get for ages to let the words come prepared inspiration when I’m to me. Sometimes I have done to leave her nothing to get a song and then family home out with my dog’ they just come out. and quit college “I got a new book for just yet - she ALICE GULLICK Christmas and that’s all I have wouldn’t be able to been working in at the minute – I take fend for herself. it everywhere with me. “I can’t even make soup “I just have to write when I think of something without burning it,” she chuckles. but it mostly happens at 2am. It’s kind of annoying “Being away from home is hard when you’re when you have to get up in the morning. young. I have always had a dream of travelling the “The most recent song I wrote I stayed up for world so that would be the ultimate dream – to about five hours writing it – so I didn’t get sleep, tour while you’re travelling. which sucked but it got a song out of it.” “I don’t think I’m ready for it yet though – I get Although Alice knows it’s singing she loves, tired of a solid week of gigging.”

Alice has come a long way since fainting at her first gig and forgetting the lyrics but although she would love to be a huge star, she realises she needs to stay true to herself. “I do feel most people just want it for the fame – they only want to play music because they can get famous one day – I hate it when people do that. “Music should generally be what you love and you should be yourself – if you need to be someone else to do your dream then it’s just not right.” Although the singer is showered with compliments and her music is spreading all over the South West, Alice takes on day at a time and doesn’t give herself much credit. “I have days of not believing in myself and then the next day I will be playing again.”

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Every piece of Clogau jewellery contains the same rare Welsh gold as used by Royalty for over 100 years.

Photographed at Highclere Castle, location of Downton Abbey.

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My mum in a million AS MOTHER’S DAY APPROACHES AND THOUGHTS TURN TO OUR WONDERFUL MUMS, PL FINDS SOME SUITABLE NOMINATIONS FOR THE BEST MUM IN THE WORLD!

HAZEL GULLICK ‘SHE IS SO SELFLESS AND LOVES EVERYONE EQUALLY. SHE DOES EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE ELSE AND NOTHING FOR HERSELF’

PAULA SIMSON ‘MY MUM IS A VERY HARD-WORKING WOMAN WHO DOES SO MUCH FOR OUR FAMILY WHICH NONE OF US THANK HER ENOUGH FOR’

NIKKI CAMPBELL ‘WE WANT TO SUPPORT OTHER MUMS AROUND THE WORLD TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AS A HAPPY MUM MEANS A HAPPY FAMILY’

Talented 17-year-old singer Alice Gullick admits that she can’t even boil soup and wouldn’t be able to leave home just yet, as her mum, Hazel, is the best. Alice said: “My mum has made sure she comes to every single one of my gigs. She is my taxi driver, roadie, manager and my best friend. I love her so much! “She is so selfless and loves everyone equally. She does everything for everyone else and nothing for herself. “Mum is the most supportive, inspirational and beautiful person I know. She takes nothing for granted and she is so down to earth.”

Paula Simson is mum of 17-year-old sprint hurdler Jade Simson. Without her mum, Jade says she’s never be able to fit college, sport and socialising into her busy schedule. Jade said: “From an early age my mum has been keen to support me in and out of my sport, athletics, and she still does. “I have been training as an athlete for more than eight years and the cost of travelling, accommodation for competitions, membership, sports kit and so on becomes very expensive. I am extremely grateful my parents cover these fees and also very lucky to have their full support. “As well as being a mother, my mum is also an athlete too, and has been for many years. Currently her favourite events are cross country and long-distance on the track. She is a member of City of Plymouth AC and often represents the club at fixtures. “Outside of athletics my mum is a also a very hard-working woman who does so much for our family which none of us can simply thank her enough for!”

One Plymouth mum who is not only making a huge impact on her own children’s lives but others too, is mum-of-two Nikki Campbell. Nikki is part of a group of Plymouth mums who cycled 1,000 miles to raise money for other mothers around the world for Oxfam’s Motherhood Appeal. Mums on a Mission is made up of 10 women who have children at primary school in Ivybridge and Plymouth. The idea came from Nikki who teaches PE at Plymstock School. She said: “The bike ride challenge started off with small bike rides and, as we are always up for a challenge, I thought it would be great to take on a 100-mile bicycle challenge for charity. “I thought only two or three people would be interested but there were 10 of us who spent the weekend on our bikes with a target to raise at least £1,000. “We are very fortunate in our lives and the support network of our local mums group is amazing. We want to help other mums around the world to support their families as a happy mum means a happy family.”

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SAMMIE WELCH WITH HER SON RYLAN

BETTY INSLEY ‘AS LONG AS I’M HEALTHY AND I CAN GIVE CHILDREN A STABLE BACKGROUND THEN I DON’T PLAN ON STOPPING’

BECKY BOWEN ‘EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED. I CAN RUN AROUND EASILY AFTER MAXWELL, I CAN CARRY HIM TO BED WITHOUT GETTING BREATHLESS’

Betty Insley is nothing short of a supermum. She and her husband, John, have taken more than 230 children under their wing during 34 years as foster carers. Betty said: “We never decided to go into fostering, it just kind of happened. I got involved in a scheme that prevented children coming into care. You would take children home for up to 28 days and it went from there really.” “As long as I’m healthy and I can give children a stable background then I don’t plan on stopping. We’re able to give children another start and a chance at another life. “I get upset every time the children go but you have to think of what’s best for them and not yourself.”

Mum-of-one Becky Bowen won the Plymouth’s Biggest Loser competition in 2014. The biggest change for her after losing 3st 3lbs was the difference it made to her family life. As mum to two-year-old Maxwell, Becky was delighted to be able run around after him without getting out of breath, and said she didn’t realise how miserable she was before. Becky said: “Everything has changed. I can run around easily after Maxwell, I can carry him to bed without getting breathless and I can lean over the bath to bathe him and not get a bad back. “I didn’t realise how unhappy I was before - this journey has been more tough emotionally than physically.”

SAMMIE WELCH ‘IT BRIGHTENED UP MY DAY TO SEE A YOUNG MUM SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR HER SON’ Young mum Sammie Welch was stunned to receive a mystery letter and a £5 note from a stranger on a train this year. Sammie was travelling from Birmingham to Plymouth with her three-year-old son Rylan when she was handed a piece of paper saying: “Have a drink on me, you’re a credit to your generation; polite and teaching the little boy good manners.” The stranger was eventually revealed as Ken Saunders who said: “It brightened up my day to see a young mum setting a good example for her son. He coughed and she said ‘Put your hand over your mouth Rylan’, so he kept practising it. He said ‘What?’ and she said ‘Say pardon, Rylan’. It was just lovely.”

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PEOPLE

For the love of horses THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HORSE AND HUMAN IS AN OBSESSION FOR ARTIST MEIER WILLIAMS, SAYS MARTIN FREEMAN

he toddler was walking down the country lane when she came to a gate. Two big horses had their heads over the top, dwarfing the little girl. Meier Williams wasn’t unnerved. She was enthralled. “Before my parents could stop me I was climbing the gate to get in with them,” she says. That was the start of a life-long artistic fascination. The equine connection has led to an encounter with Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, a link to Prince Charles and exhibitions in the USA and Britain. Meier is today an artist with a growing reputation and a constant focus on the connection between humans and horses. The studio in her Torpoint home is packed with life-sized busts, paintings, drawings, photos and sketchbooks all celebrating and investigating that connection. London-born Meier studied theatre design and costume at Croydon College. After she moved to Cornwall in 1991, she did further study in textiles and began making fabric-based sculptures of horses. Her first major project was four years in the

company of Dartmoor pony farmers and the creatures they care for. Her eyes were opened. “I realised that the farmers have more respect for their horses than those who have them for a hobby,” she says. “The farmers aren’t in it for the money. It is something they have done for generations.” If the animals don’t have a value – and that includes the food trade – the tradition will end and Dartmoor will be transformed, she says. “The visitors who come to see the ponies won’t come, and the moor will change. The ponies eat everything, keeping the gorse down and allowing other animals to graze.” Her photos, drawings and sculptures were shown at the Dartmoor National Park centre, Princetown, in 2011. Meier arranged for Prince Charles to receive one of her sketches when he visited. She found herself in the company of Spielberg when he was filming War Horse on Dartmoor. Meier was invited to the set after Neil Cole, a Yelverton farmer, told them about the pony project. She watched the director at work, chatted

to producer Kathleen Kennedy and saw some footage screened. “I got up there and I was like,” she drops her jaw to mime wide-eyed amazement. “I’d been on a set with Steven Spielberg. I couldn’t believe it.” Her next project involved living the life of a cowboy when she visited friends who have a ranch in Oklahoma. Meier showed her three years’ worth there in 2013 as The Cowboys’ Way. She met the modern-day equivalents of the war horse, the King’s Troop, when the Queen’s personal cavalry visited Cawsand last summer. Meier enjoyed exclusive access to photograph riders and horses. “I was hyperventilating. I was so excited.” That work will form part of current project Pony Girls. Meier hopes to photograph 100 riders, including those who have a horse as a hobby. She doesn’t know what that project will result in. She doesn’t have a book commissioned or even an offer of an exhibition.

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MEIER WILLIAMS AT WORK IN HER STUDIO, SURROUNDED BY IMAGES OF HORSES, HER INSPIRATION

J E R RY B ROW N I N G 26 March - 18 April

Private View 26th March at 6pm please phone for invitation

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She admits: “I am rubbish at selling myself. “I don’t make a living from this. “I have the most wonderful husband to thank for supporting me and the family so I can do this.” Tony, a former Parachute Regiment soldier, is a civilian worker at Bickleigh Barracks, home of 42 Commando Royal Marines. They have a son, Charlie, 19, and a daughter, Neve, 17. Their first child, Felean, was stillborn. “It was horrendous but,” she pauses for a moment, “it is part of life. “I am not religious but I am spiritual. I am not bitter. If I had not lost Felean I wouldn’t have gone on to have two more, wonderful children.” A second great emotional trauma was the death of her mother from cancer two years ago. Meier talks about “drifting” and “losing her way” after that. She found her way back through horses. “I don’t do this for the money,” she says, and you can immediately picture toddler Meier climbing that gate in amazement at those first two horses. “I do this because I have to do it. I am bloody obsessed!” TO TAKE PART IN HER PONY GIRLS PROJECT, CONTACT MEIER THROUGH WWW.MEIERWILLIAMS.COM OR VIA HER FACEBOOK PAGE, SEARCHING FOR “EQUESTRIAN MIX MEDIA ARTIST MEIER WILLIAMS”

Are you looking for good quality Home Care in Plymouth? Are you not happy with your current care provider? Caremark can help you with care at home to maintain your independence and enjoy the life you want to lead. Please call us to arrange a free, no obligation assessment of your care needs.

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PL MAGAZINE | 15 | MARCH 2015

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FASHION

S E L D O O D R U O Y R E H P DECI

T REVEAL U KEEP DOODLING MIGH YO TS JEC OB D AN NS ER THOSE RANDOM PATT PL INVESTIGATES… MORE THAN YOU THINK.

ver wondered why you always doodle little houses when you’re bored in meetings? Or can’t resist scribbling squiggly dogs on the side of your notebooks? Our doodles might look like a load of meaningless dots and lines to most people but, to the experts, they can reveal someone’s deepest, darkest secrets.

“Doodles are like fragments of a map that show how someone’s mind works,” says handwriting expert Ruth Rostron, who recently teamed up with Epilepsy Action’s National Doodle Day, earlier this month. “Everything in a doodle relates in some way to the person who has drawn it.” Curious about what your scribbles and sketches might mean? Read on to find out...

SHAPES

SIZE AND SPACE

People who prefer straight lines tend to have strong willpower and self-control, and like facts. People who prefer curved strokes are more flexible, imaginative and emotional. Circles, squares and triangles show needs and motivation. Emotional people who want harmony and love tend to draw things with circular or rounded shapes, or symbols of love and femininity (circles, spirals, suns, flowers, hearts, fluffy clouds etc) Down-to-earth, practical people who need security and like to be in control tend to draw things with square shapes or flat surfaces, or symbols of material security (squares, boxes, houses, block letters, punctuation marks etc). Determined people who need an outlet for their mental and physical energy tend to draw things with triangular or pointed shapes, or symbols of masculinity (stars, arrows, zigzags, spires, diamonds, stick figures, lightning etc).

A single object or pattern (depending how big it is) shows someone who tends to dominate situations or relationships. A large object shows someone is outgoing, appears confident and has a busy life. A small one suggests they observe more than they participate, like their personal space and prefer a quiet life. The top of the page is associated with dreams and aspirations. The bottom links to security and material concerns. The right links the future and the outside world. The left links with past and family. Directional trends to indicate attitudes and priorities.

STYLES AND STROKES

People who are sensitive or hesitant tend to draw with short, light or sketchy lines. Determined people use longer, firmer strokes. Digging into the paper or going over and over something are signs that someone is frustrated, obsessed or stuck with a problem. Heavy shading or criss-crossing of strokes suggest depression or worry. Drawing lines or objects in rows shows good organisation. Disorderly-looking doodles are done by lively, spontaneous people.

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s s e n I d a m h c r a M 5. ABI WEARS: BLUE PROM DRESS, £70, STATEMENT NECKLACE, £15, FASCINATORS FROM £10, SOCKS STYLISTS OWN, SHOES MODELS OWN.

t’s March and madness is in the air. Why not step out in stunning clothes with a mood to match the season? 2015 marks the 150th anniversary of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson’s logic defying story. Alice is a bored little girl who chases a white rabbit down a hole to a topsy-turvy world full of talking animals, absurd adults and strange situations which are ultimately revealed as a dream. PL Magazine loves Alice In Wonderland and the suggestion of eccentric chic, so spent the day at Kitley House capturing the spirit of the Edwardian novel. Go for it in feisty florals, monochrome mix-ups and fun accessories. Ramp up the glam with glittering statement jewellery, hip skimming skirts and fabulous fascinators.

PL MAGAZINE | 19 | MARCH 2015

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7. ABI WEARS: FAUX LEATHER AND WOOL DRESS £39.99, BLUE CLUTCH, £20, FASCINATORS FROM £10, PINK SPOTTY GLOVES, £15.

10.

6. ABI WEARS: FASCINATORS FROM £10, STATEMENT NECKLACE, £15, WINE FUR JACKET, £45. 8. ABI WEARS: FLORAL BODY CON DRESS, £35, FASCINATORS FROM £10, STATEMENT NECKLACE, £15. 9. ROSIE WEARS: GOLD BEADED BAG, £10, RUFFLE TUNIC WITH NECKLACE, £39.99, SHOES, MODELS OWN, SOCKS, STYLISTS OWN.

11.

10. ROSIE WEARS: CORAL BODYCON DRESS, £35, FASCINATORS FROM 10, ORANGE AND YELLOW ROSE NECKLACES, £15, SHOES MODELS OWN. 11. ROSIE WEARS: LILAC FLORAL CROP TOP, £20.00, LILAC FLORAL SKIRT, £29.99, ORANGE FLOWER NECKLACE, £15, ORANGE AND PINK CROSS BRACELETS, £5 EACH, FLORAL HAIR BANDS, £3.

PL MAGAZINE | 20 | MARCH 2015

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FASHION

BRIGIDFOLEY

Est’d. 1973

BUY ONLINE

www.brigidfoley.co.uk 01822 612203 ©LW

O’Meara House, Leg O Mutton, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6AA. Tel 01822 853900

Shop in Store or Online for Mother of the Bride / Groom Wedding Guest Outfts All with co-ordinating accessories

Evening Wear Cruise Wear Day Wear

Hats & Fascinators (Hire / Buy) Jewellery Newly opened Tea Room Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 10-5pm Website Re-launch in March for a fabulous new look!

12. ABI WEARS: WHITE SHIRT, £19.99, WET LOOK LEGGINGS, £10.00, BLACK BEADED VEST TOP, £24.99, TOP HAT AND MONOCLE, STYLISTS OWN, SHOES, MODELS OWN

www.beau-yelverton.co.uk ©LW

PL MAGAZINE | 21 | MARCH 2015

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FASHION

VINTAGE NATURE BAG £12.50, MARKS &SPENCER

ROSE FLORAL TROUSERS £59, PHASE EIGHT

STAR BY JULIEN MACDONALD DRESS, £65, DEBENHAMS

AUTOGRAPH DRESS, £55, MARKS & SPENCER

DEBUT DRESS, £70, DEBENHAMS

Hello FLower!

Don’t wait until the summer to enjoy the great outdoors. Forget about winter chills and get a burst of colour. Get rid of the gloom and brighten up cold winter days with fabulous florals. Forget chintz and think bold palette flowers on black backgrounds, mixed printed country scenes and birds and delicate flowers on black and white geometric shapes.

LORETTA DRESS, £169, PHASE EIGHT

PL MAGAZINE | 22 | MARCH 2015

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made to measure

CHANTAY ROSE DRESS, £120, PHASE EIGHT

curtains, blinds & soft furnishings

supplier of a wide range of fabrics, wallpaper and rugs

The Window Dreser 40 Molesworth Rd, Millbridge PL1 5NA 01752 567354 www.thewindow-dresser.net ©LW

Shabby Chic comes to Ivybridge...

BALCONY BRA AND BRIEFS, £25, NEXT

BLUSH PINK FLORAL MAXI DRESS, WALLIS CHECK INSTORE FOR PRICES

jaz interiors Fabulous French inspired, vintage style, distressed furniture and gifts. From candles and rustic hearts to feature pieces of furniture - from £1.50 to £1,200 you’ll fnd nothing but inspiration and vintage style!

Come and visit us and discover for yourself... 16 Fore Street, Ivybridge 01752 894012 furniture • lighting •mirrors cushions • throws • clocks www.jazinteriors.co.uk

BLUE FLORAL JACKET, £45, MISS SELFRIDGE

©LW

PL MAGAZINE | 23 | MARCH 2015

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Seychelles floral silk square scarf, £25, Accessorize

Tokyoc Scented Room Candle, £28, Tokyoc Scented Room Diffuser, £35, both from the Ted Baker Residence Tokyo Collection

Carina statement earings, £10, Accessorize

Show your mum how much you love her

Asalia, 3D flower statement necklace, £22, Accessorize

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT GIFT FOR MOTHER’S DAY ON SUNDAY MARCH 15. HERE’S PL’S PICK OF THE NICEST GIFTS FOR YOUR MUM

Mother’s Day Elegance Arrangement, only available for delivery on March 13, £34.99, Interflora.co.uk

Home is Where Mum is Cushion, £19.50, Marks & Spencer

Floral cake tin, £8, Sainsbury’s

PL MAGAZINE | 24 | MARCH 2015

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FASHION

Personalised Pink Rose and Chocolates Gift Box, £64.99 Interflora.co.uk

Oxford satchel bag, £32, Accessorize

Mummy and me t-shirt, £3.50, M&Co

Personalised Pink Mother’s Day hand-tied, £36.99, Interflora.co.uk

Oriental dress, £45, M&Co

9ct white gold blue topaz and diamond ring, £530, Robins and Moore

Mum Mug, £8, Marks & Spencer

PL MAGAZINE | 25 | MARCH 2015

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Time to spoil your mum WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT MUMS? FROM KISSING OUR KNEES BETTER TO CRYING AT OUR WEDDING, THEY ARE THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. SO WHY NOT TREAT HER TO A LITTLE PAMPERING ON MOTHER’S DAY?

other’s Day is the time to show her you love her too. Mums love to be pampered and a little bit of luxury goes a long way, so splash out and give her a treat. Towelling robes, soothing scents and pampering treats should all be in a day’s fun for your special mum. Treat her to something special at one of the country clubs, hotels or beauty salons in and around Plymouth. Most offer fabulous packages to suit every budget – from weekend getaways to one-off luxury treatments. Whether that’s a rejuvenating facial, sparkling shellac nails or a relaxing massage complete with afternoon tea. ESTEE LAUDER ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR EYE COMPLEX, £46

ELEMIS PAPAYA ENZYME PEEL, £31

ELEMIS WHITE BRIGHTENING EVEN TONE LOTION, £39.50

ELEMIS WHITE BRIGHTENING EVEN TONE CLEANSER, £29.50

PL MAGAZINE | 26 | MARCH 2015

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      

   AND RELAX...  

ELFORDLEIGH, SPARKWELL The Oasis Spa is well-placed for pampering. The team specialise in pamper packages and have a sauna, steam room and pool on site for maximum indulgence.

THE BARN SPA, SALTASH The Barn Spa is located on the grounds of prestigious China Fleet Country Club in an original stone building. De-stress and detox, away from the city in a tranquil atmosphere with a range of marvellous treatments.

  

RETRO CHIC, PENNYCROSS PARK ROAD Facials include an indulgent neck, arm and hand massage. The team use the Tropic skin care range, so you know it’s great for her skin and her inner calm.

OCEAN BEAUTY, THE HOLIDAY INN They look after your all-round wellbeing. Talk to the team about packages which include a visit to the gym and pool. Don’t forget to check out the menu and roof-top terrace for panoramic views of Plymouth.

SATORI, DRAKE CIRCUS Conveniently located so you and mum can pop in and relax after giving your feet (and credit cards) a workout – nails, facials and massage, all in a stunning purpose-built city centre salon.

                   

     

NEW ESTEE LAUDER, REVITALISING SUPREME GLOBAL ANTI-AGING MASK BOOST, £45 PL MAGAZINE | 27 | MARCH 2015

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JUST FOR BABY... NEAL’S YARD BABY POWDER, £5 A delicate, light, fine and simple powder for babies and anyone with delicate skin. Made with organic maize starch, making it more beneficial to the skin, and naturally preserved with propolis. Neal’s Yard powders do not contain mineral talc.

New mums deserve a little luxury NO-ONE DESERVES A TREAT MORE THAN A NEW MUM. BUT WITH TIME SHORT YOU MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO SKIMP ON YOUR BEAUTY REGIME. SOOTHE AWAY YOUR ACHES AND PAINS AND REFRESH YOUR SKIN WITH THESE SCENTED GOODIES NEAL’S YARD MOTHER’S BALM, £19.75 NEAL’S YARD MOTHERS MASSAGE OIL, £19 NEAL’S YARD MOTHER’S BATH OIL, £14.75

KNACKERED COW RELAXING BATH & SHOWER GEL, COWSHED, £16 LAZY COW SOOTHING BODY LOTION, £18, COWSHED

MOROCCAN ROSE OTTO FIRMING CRÈME RICHE, £36, REN

KNACKERED COW RELAXING ROOM CANDLE, £30, COWSHED

MOROCCAN ROSE OTTO BATH OIL, £20

PL MAGAZINE | 28 | MARCH 2015

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Mannamead Hair & Beauty Salon

Looking For Breathtaking Colour? Intense Shine - Glossy Colour Superb Conditioning

Treat someone special this Mother’s Day Pamper packages available

01752 662674

1-3 Eggbuckland Road, Mannamead, Plymouth, PL3 5HF Open Tuesday to Saturday. FREE parking. ©LW

YOUR ONE THE STOP STRAND HAIR AND BEAUTY SALON YOUR ONE New Client STOP HAIR AND Ofer SALONSalon 20% Of - BEAUTY Hair & Beauty

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GET OVER THE WINTER BLUES AT THE STRAND YOUR ONE STOP HAIR AND BEAUTY SALON PL MAGAZINE | 29 | MARCH 2015

GET £15 OFF

A HONEY I SHRUNK WRAP WAS £35 NOW £20!

GET £15 OFF

colours, eyebrows, facials, ACuts, HONEY I SHRUNK WRAP hair up, lashes, nails, tanning, WAS £35 NOW £20! waxing, wraps and more. Centre, Cuts,Southway colours,Shopping eyebrows, facials, 323hair Southway Drive, Plymouth, PL6 6QR up, lashes, nails, tanning,

waxing, wraps and more. 01752 783049 FREE PARKING

Southway Shopping Centre, 323 Southway Drive, Plymouth, PL6 6QR

01752 783049 FREE PARKING

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PETERHEALTH ANDRE AND & BEAUTY HIS FIANCE EMILY MACDONAGH

PL MAGAZINE | 30 | MARCH 2015

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

How Peter fell back in love with life PETER ANDRE’S LIFE HAS BEEN ON AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER. HE OPENS UP ABOUT THE LOSS OF HIS BROTHER AND HOW HIS FIANCÉ, WHO HE MET IN PLYMOUTH, AND BABY DAUGHTER HELPED HIM THROUGH

ersonal happiness is something Peter Andre certainly doesn’t take for granted, because he’s too well aware it can be snatched away. His turbulent marriage to model and celebrity Katie Price, much of which was played out in public on a reality TV series, ended in a bitter divorce five years ago and two years ago he suffered the anguish of losing his brother to cancer. But today the 41-year-old TV presenter, singer and personality says: “Although you wish for happiness you never really know whether it is going to happen so honestly at one time I didn’t think I would ever be as happy as I am now. It’s amazing to be so content.” He credits Emily MacDonagh, 25, his willowy, brunette fiancé, who he met in Plymouth, with helping him learn to love again, and giving him the family life he craved with their daughter, one-year-old Amelia, as well as his two children from his four-year marriage to Price, Junior, 9 and Princess, 7. “It was life-changing meeting Emily,” said Peter. “She’s my best friend, a really calming influence on me, and having Amelia was just the best thing. “She’s so lovely and running around now and even though we were warned that Junior and Bister (his nickname for Princess) might be jealous when she came along, the opposite is true. “They both absolutely love her and, if anything, having her has brought us all so much closer. Me, Emily and the kids do everything together and it’s just wonderful.” The couple met five years ago at a gig at Plymouth Pavilions after Emily’s surgeon father, Dr Ruaraidh MacDonagh performed a kidney stone operation on the 60 Minute Makeover TV presenter. “It makes the saying saying ‘there’s no love without pain’ so apt for us,” he jokes. “I thought Emily was stunning the first time I saw her, but never thought anything would happen between us. We were just friends and then it slowly changed.”

Tragedy almost destroyed their romance, however, as only two months after they started dating in 2012 Andre’s brother, Andrew, 54, died of kidney cancer. “For a long while I was in complete turmoil with a whole mix of emotions - so sad, angry, bitter, scared and unable to deal with the loss. I’ve never experienced pain like that before. I also became almost a commitment-phobe because I just couldn’t bear the thought of potentially losing someone again,” he admits. “But the genius Emily broke down those barriers, that’s for sure. It helped that while I’m an emotional thinker, she’s a logical thinker. It took a while but her love, support and encouragement got me through.” He is dismissive of the 16-year age gap between them and jokes, “I don’t know whether it works because I’m very immature and she’s very mature!” More seriously he says: “Honestly, we’ve never really thought about it. As far as we’re concerned, we’re just two people who are so similar and like the same things. Every couple has their good and bad moments, of course, but we have so much common ground and love being together. And she is a very mature, smart girl with a good head on her shoulders.” The couple hope to marry either in the summer or next year, but plans are uncertain until Emily, who’s just qualified as a doctor, finalises the next step in her medical career. “I’m so proud of Emily for qualifying even though it means I can’t ever moan about ‘man flu’ again because she’ll suss me out instantly!” he says with a smile. “It just means the wedding plans are a bit up in the air because we might have to move house for Emily’s job and so we’re sorting all that first. If not this year, it will be 2016. “Even though we’ve been together more than two years and could have married before, we wanted to do everything gradually because we

wanted the kids to be happy about everything. Looking back, when I was younger, I was quite selfish, but when you’re a parent you have to make your kids your priority and that’s what I try to do. “We never kissed in front of them or anything and didn’t even let them know we were a couple until just before we got engaged just over a year ago. “In the end, when I did propose, they were both thrilled and went, ‘Gosh, you took your time dad!’ because they’re always teasing me about being slow on everything from getting ready to making the dinner!”

PL MAGAZINE | 31 | MARCH 2015

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

YOUTH OF TODAY The quest for eternal youth continues in beauty labs the world over, with two new serums promising to stop time in its tracks. The star ingredient in Murad’s Intensive AgeDiffusing Serum is Palmitoyl Tripeptide-37, extracted from an aptly-named desert-dwelling shrub. :: Murad Intensive Age-Diffusing Serum, £65

Time to spring clean your beauty regime FORGET THE NEW IPHONE, IT’S TIME TO UPGRADE YOUR MAKE-UP BAG WITH THE LATEST INNOVATIONS. PL SEEKS OUT 2015’S HIGH-TECH BEAUTY HEROES

LAY THE FOUNDATIONS The latest word in Foundation comes fro Clinique whose Beyond Perfecting base comes with a multi-use ‘doe foot’ wand. Dot on the full coverage foundation with the flat end, smooth it on in swathes with the side, or use the tip to cover blemishes. However you use it, you’ll cut out the need for concealer completely. :: Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer, £25

MASKING TAKE While most face masks rejuvenate by chemically exfoliating the skin, Environ Intensive Revival Masque uses a blend of Asiatic, lactic and mandelic acids to lower the ph balance of skin instead, promoting renewal from the inside :: Environ Intensive Revival Masque, £49.95 (selected Harvey Nichols stores and FacetheFuture.co.uk)

TINTED LOVE

COLD COMFORT

If you’ve ever used a tinted moisturiser, you’ll know that on the whole, they’re not very moisturising at all. That’s set to change with Complexion Rescue from BareMinerals, a flesh-toned creme that really does moisturise. The 10-shade range is different to other formulas because the pigment molecules are encapsulated in a water soluble solution, and since it also contains SPF30, you can ditch your day and BB creams in favour of this all-in-one marvel. :: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream, £26 (available late March; www.debenhams.com)

La Prairie Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Emulsion is infused with a bio-tech complex derived from purple saxifrage, Swiss snow algae and saponaria. A light moisturiser for daily use, it’s also packed with antioxidant vitamins and plumping actives. :: La Prairie Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Emulsion, £213

PL MAGAZINE | 32 | MARCH 2015

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TRIED AND TESTED

The boutique is located on the Barbican, Plymouth and is blessed with an elegant and stylish interior,

Can a 24 carat gold-infused mask leave you with gleaming skin? Laura Wurzel finds out... There were flecks of gold everywhere as I prepared the mask, by mixing the gold powder and thick gel together. Having first cleansed my skin and applied a generous amount of the Rejuvenating Revitalising Cream (to help the mask peel off easily), using the spatula as instructed, I applied a thick layer of the mask mix over the whole of my face - even eyebrows, lips and eyes get covered; I felt like Shirley Eaton in Goldfinger! As I relaxed for 20 minutes, I could feel the mask going hard and rubbery to the touch. Then once dry, I peeled it off from the neck in one single piece. The results were amazing. My skin was clear, the bags and shadows under my eyes were reduced, and my face, cheeks and neck felt firm and hydrated. In fact, friends even commented on how glowing I looked when I went out that evening. Diamonds may be some girls’ best friends, but I am definitely a (24 carat) golden girl.

private dressing facilities and a wide range of bridal wear accessories for you to choose from.

My promise... Quality goes into everything we do from your first consultation, to the personal contact we dedicate to you before your very special day. It’s my promise to you.

:: Casmara Beauty Plan Collection Rejuvenating Algae Peel Off Mask, £9.99 (www.boots.com)

You all went above and beyond to make me feel like a princess on my special day. Cassie x

Beauty Bulletin FACIAL LIFT Facials were on the up in January, with bookings rising by 50%, and non-surgical lifting treatment CACI up 93%, according to Wahanda.com.

STEAL OF THE MONTH Move over oxygen facial, word on the beauty scene is that lying back and letting snails slither all over your face is the best way to boost your complexion. Originating in Japan, now a spa in Thailand has started offering snail facials, but did you know you can reap the benefits of mollusc gloop without having to jet off to Asia? Dr Organic Snail Gel Face Serum, £17.99 (www.hollandandbarrett. com), is rich in the slimy stuff, but the lemon-scented gel won’t make you squirm in horror when it touches your face.

By appointment only 52 Southside Street, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2LB

Telephone: 01752 228451 www.samcoxbridalwear.co.uk Email: samcoxbridalwear@btconnect.com

PL MAGAZINE | 33 | MARCH 2015

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FAMILY

Help your children avoid the rumbling hour MORE THAN HALF A MILLION CHILDREN ARE GOING TO SCHOOL WITHOUT EATING BREAKFAST. CAMPAIGNER CAROL VORDERMAN TELLS PL WHY IT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL FOR LITTLE MINDS

reakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day yet more than half a million young children are missing it regularly. Sending children to school without having eaten doesn’t just leave them hungry - it also affects their ability to concentrate, and leaves them distracted, tired and needing attention, say teachers. In fact, four out of five teachers say mornings are more stressful because their pupils haven’t eaten breakfast, and an average of 66 million minutes of teaching time are lost every morning during the ‘Rumbling Hour’ at around 10.30am, which teachers say is the most stressful point of their day because of the hungry and distracted pupils in their classes. In a bid to encourage more parents and children to appreciate the importance of breakfast and make eating it a priority, the charity Magic Breakfast, which provides free breakfasts to primary school children, has teamed up with the cereal company Quaker to run the Feed Their Future campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance ofbreakfast as the first meal of the day, and raise funds for Magic Breakfast which, with the help of Quaker, currently provides 16,000 children with breakfast every morning. Carmel McConnell, founder of Magic Breakfast, says: “Hunger is a very real problem in this country - we constantly hear from our partner schools the devastating impact this can have on a child’s ability to learn, and without an education, their future life success is at severe risk. “We can’t ignore this problem any more - it’s time to put an end to it and work to ensure every child has the right nourishment and fuel for learning.” Research for Quaker’s Feed Their Future report

found that during the Rumbling Hour, teachers say 76 per cent of hungry children struggle to concentrate, and more than half of them are sleepy and lethargic. In addition, 44 per cent disrupt other children in the classroom, and the same proportion demonstrate lower levels of creativity and focus throughout the day. In addition, a ravenous 1 per cent of children even try to find something to eat in class. Alison Lennox, professor of public health nutrition from the University of Surrey, says that since the 1930s, numerous studies have explored the impact breakfast has on the ability to focus, concentrate and learn. “It’s only now that we’re really beginning to understand the affect that breakfast has on a child’s attention at school, their grades and their behaviour in the classroom,” she says. “The trend of children missing breakfast is increasing, which is directly impacting children in schools to perform at their best - academically, socially or creatively.” The Feed Their Futures campaign was launched by the TV presenter and maths whizz

Carol Vorderman, who says she’s always given her two children, now aged 22 and 17, breakfast either eggs and a hot breakfast, cereal or porridge. And she insists that no matter how chaotic a household is in the morning as parents and children rush to get ready for school and work, breakfast should never be forgotten. “Some things are too important,” she stresses. “I would always put breakfast out the night before with crockery and cutlery and so, even if I was having a nightmare morning, the kids could help themselves.” Vorderman says she’s passionate about education, as it’s “the greatest gift we can give our children”, and she points out that primary school children are like sponges, absorbing every nugget of information. But she warns: “Research showing that education can be adversely affected by not having breakfast is extremely concerning. “If a child doesn’t eat breakfast, their concentration will suffer dramatically during the day.” The Feed Their Future report found that 68 per cent of teachers can identify if a child has eaten or not just by observing their behaviour, and almost half of those children will look and act drowsy.

PL MAGAZINE | 34 | MARCH 2015

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injury claims? if we don’t win your case we don’t get paid Why not treat your budding baker to a unique cupcake

accidents at work

birthday party?

animal injury asbestos claims

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Are you looking for a little help in life, for yourself or a loved one? Call into our Plymstock ofﬁce for a coffee and a chat or speak to our Care Advice Line to arrange a complimentary visit if you’re unable to come and see us. We’ll be pleased to discuss your needs and develop a tailor made package. Let us show you how Select Homecare can make a difference so you can live your life your way. 01626 331133 info@select-homecare.co.uk www.select-homecare.co.uk Select Homecare The Broadway, Plymstock, Plymouth, PL9 7AF

PL MAGAZINE | 35 | MARCH 2015

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FAMILY

GUS WITH WESTWARD PRESENTERS DAVID FITZGERALD AND RUTH LANGSFORD

ME AND GUS HONEYBUN SUSAN DALZIEL, EX-COLLEAGUE AND CLOSE FRIEND OF GUS HONEYBUN, SPOKE TO RACHAEL DODD ABOUT THE FAMOUS BUNNY AND WHAT HE WAS REALLY LIKE TO WORK WITH

usan Dalziel has reached some lofty heights in her career; she worked as a script supervisor for EastEnders and ill-fated sunny soap Eldorado; running the South West division of the British Film Commission and now producing and editing audio books. But Suzanne, affectionately known as Dizzy, had an unusual introduction to the world of media. In her own words she spent a year with her hand up Gus Honeybun’s bottom. A job she says she would’ve crawled on her hands and knees for and regularly did. It was third time lucky for Dizzy when she was given the job of loggist at the South West’s Westward Television in 1978. Having dreamed of television work for years and been rejected twice, she had finally been given a way in. “I think it was one of the best days of my life when I walked through the doors and knew I was employed by Westward Television,” Dizzy beams. “It was scary to begin with because I hadn’t done anything like that, but then I hadn’t done anything at all in that field.” Dizzy, who was born in Penang in Malaysia and raised in Australia for 14 years, spent 10 years in the Woman’s Royal Naval Service and started her career in television a little older than usual at 29. She joined a small group of all-female loggists who noted the adverts transmitted from the master control studio and doubled as Gus’ helping hand. Together they worked shifts, bringing Gus to life for thousands of his fans on the popular birthday spot. Dizzy quickly learnt what it meant to be Gus’s right-hand woman: “The very nature of the job meant most people had a big personality or were as mad as a box of frogs in the main”.

“You really took your lead from the announcer. There was no point in being crazy if the announcer was being really sober,” Dizzy recalls. “The operator should never have been seen or heard but Judi (Spiers) and Ian (Stirling) would make me laugh so it was very difficult.” “It was wonderful performance for the maximum of about five minutes and it fitted into the schedule as a buffer between programmes, but Gus had a huge, huge following.” As if to prove the point, a man sitting at the next table interjects to ask if we’re speaking about Gus Honeybun and his eyes light up when he discovers Dizzy worked with Gus. A 10-minute conversation ensues before the interview begins again. “He was very much a vehicle for your own personality,” Dizzy enthuses. “He became part of you but he was totally, totally inanimate. You did the eyes with your fingers - together or separately so he would wink or blink, you had a stick that you revolved, to turn his head and you could raise his ears too.

After a year Dizzy sensed it was time to move on: “Much as I loved Gus, the logging wasn’t fulfilling my production ambitions. I couldn’t be a loggist for the rest of my life!” But Gus was always around. Dizzy met up with him several times in the years to come. He even attended her 60th birthday party in the Barn at Cotehele. PL decided to reunite Dizzy and Gus Honeybun at the South West Film and Television Archive and the pair were soon laughing and chatting like old times. Gus, dressed in a fetching green shirt and trousers, was a little media-shy but he did offer two winks and an ear wiggle for PL readers. No magic buttons, sadly. “He’s an amazing personality and I don’t think he should be allowed to retire and be forgotten,” Dizzy says, “People recall him from their fifth birthday mention on the programme and they’re now 50, but they still remember.” “Even now people don’t believe me when I say I worked with Gus,” Dizzy smiles. “And then they are very impressed!”

‘GUS, DRESSED IN A FETCHING GREEN SHIRT AND TROUSERS, WAS A LITTLE MEDIA-SHY BUT HE DID OFFER TWO WINKS AND AN EAR WIGGLE FOR PL READERS’ GUS BACK IN HIS TV HEY

DAY

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GUS HONEYWHO? The South West phenomena that is Gus Honeybun began in 1961. Gus was introduced as a simple time filler between programmes on his own five-minute slot called Gus Honeybun’s Magic Birthdays. The popularity of the slot exceeded all expectations and the little bunny developed a huge fan base. People wrote to Gus in their thousands and a select few would receive any number of ear wiggles, winks, hops and magic buttons from Gus in recognition of their birthday. Gus was the beloved station mascot for Westward Television and later Television South West (TSW) for 31 years. He retired from public life in 1992. His TV career ended when TSW was taken over by Westcountry Television that year. You’ll find him enjoying the quiet life at Flambards these days but his fans still rave about him to this day. DIZZY DALZIEL IS REUNITED WITH GUS HONEYBUN

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FAMILY

Cool for kids HAS THE RECENT COLD WEATHER LEFT YOUR LITTLE ONES’ SKIN PARCHED? PL REVEALS SENSATIONAL SOOTHERS TO RESTORE THAT BABY SMOOTHNESS

e’ve all felt that sting of tomato soup against chapped lips, or the uncontrollable itch of a body starved of TLC during the colder months. So imagine what it feels like for young skin, that’s so much more delicate than our own? “A child’s skin is still developing, so it’s much more sensitive to dryness,” acknowledges Joanna Jensen, founder of Childs Farm, who produce a range of award-winning products for babies and children. JONNA “Skin is the first line of defence against infection and dehydration. Newborn and young children’s skin absorbs and loses water more quickly than a grown up’s. It also has a thinner ‘stratum corneum’ - the outermost layer, which shields everything beneath.”

Young or old, the drop in temperature brings challenges to skin, as we move in and out of the cold to very dry, heated areas, Jensen continues. “Actively keeping skin hydrated becomes a necessity, to prevent dry flakes or eczema. Moisturisation of all skin areas - even forgotten feet - is important, to ensure skin cells remain hydrated and plump, keeping irritation out.” “The key to skincare starts from inside,” says Jonna Jalkanen, founder of Sophie La Girafe Cosmetics. “If our stomachs JALKANEN feel well, the rest follows, so focus on clean, basic food that’s not processed. Pure, organic produce can be a real benefit to children in terms of wellbeing.” The next step is skincare. “We believe the most essential thing is products which respect

‘The key to skincare starts from inside’

the natural lipid bilayer (that protects cells),” she adds. “If your skin feels dry after you shower and it craves moisture immediately, something is wrong. Use a mild cleanser and avoid overwashing children’s delicate skin, and moisturise as often as needed.” It’s also worth popping an SPF on children’s faces before they go outside, especially if it’s cold or windy. Children’s hands are very susceptible to getting dry and chapped during winter months, as they’re often exposed to the harsh wind and cold. Expert dermatologist Dr Emma Wedgeworth advises: “Use an emollient wash instead of your normal soap and a good dermatological hand cream, as often as possible, with cotton gloves at night if necessary.” Try to keep your child’s bath as brief as possible. Hot baths are really dehydrating, so try to keep the temperature less hot than normal, make them short, use a moisturising bubble bath and apply a moisturiser to skin within five minutes of getting out.

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Cook up an Easter treat LOUISE DANIEL INVITES YOU INTO HER KITCHEN TO SHARE HER EASTER BAKING RECIPES

t this time of year the land is waking up daffodils and crocus make their way up through the earth and everyone breathes a sigh of relief that winter is almost at an end. This time of year also brings Easter celebrations and with them, the promise of a feast. Glazed ham, spring lamb with mint sauce, hot cross buns, simnel cake and, of course, chocolate eggs. These culinary delights are what I remember most from my childhood Easters. My grandmother liked to make sure we had something to look forward to as we tramped off to Easter services at the local church. The singing and prayers were very nice but it was the prospect of returning to a traditional Easter feast that really kept us going as we sat on hard pews with our behinds going to sleep. Regardless of how traditional you are at Easter, like me, family, friends and food probably play a large part in the festivities. The eating is really good this time of year - there are gorgeous, irony spring greens and moist, tender spring lamb. And don’t forget the chocolate, cakes and biscuits! Laying on a feast which competes with Christmas in size can up the potential for frazzled nerves, taking away from the sheer pleasure of getting stuck in. Don’t do it alone, enlist family and the right equipment and enjoy the best of Easter feasting.

Traditional simnel cake Ingredients

A light fruity cake with marzipan topping

For the almond paste

Method

250g caster sugar 250g ground almonds 2 free-range eggs, beaten 1 tsp almond essence For the cake 175g butter or margarine 175g soft brown sugar 3 free-range eggs, beaten 175g plain flour Pinch salt ½ tsp ground mixed spice (optional) 350g mixed raisins, currants and sultanas 55g chopped mixed peel ½ lemon, grated zest only 1-2 tbsp apricot jam 1 free-range egg, beaten for glazing

1. For the almond paste, place the sugar and ground

almonds in a bowl. Add enough beaten egg and mix to a fairly soft consistency. Add almond essence and knead for one minute until the paste is smooth and pliable. 2. Roll out a third of the almond paste to make a circle

18cm/7in in diameter and reserve the remainder for the cake topping. 3. Preheat oven to 140C/275F/Gas 1. Grease and line a

round 18cm/7in cake tin.

4. For the cake, cream the butter and sugar together until

pale and fluffy (or use a mixer). Gradually beat in the eggs until well incorporated and then sift in the flour, salt and mixed spice a little at a time. Finally, add the mixed dried fruit, peel and grated lemon zest and stir into the mixture. 5. Put half the mixture into a greased and lined

18cm/7in cake tin. Smooth the top and cover with the circle of almond paste. Add the rest of the cake mixture and smooth the top leaving a slight dip in the centre to allow for the cake to rise. Bake in the preheated oven for 1¾ hours. Test by inserting a skewer in the middle - if it comes out clean, it is ready. Once baked, remove from the oven and set aside to cool on a wire rack. 6. Brush the top of the cooled cake with the apricot jam.

Divide the remainder of the almond paste in half; roll out a circle to cover the top of the cake with one half and form 11 small balls with the other half. 7. Place the circle of paste on the jam glaze and set the

balls round the edge. Brush the cake topping with a little beaten egg. 8. Preheat the grill to high. Place the cake onto a baking

tray and grill for 1-2 minutes, or until the top of the marzipan begins to brown.

9. Allow to cool and decorate further with assorted

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EASTER FEATURE

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Colourful Easter cookies Ingredients For the dough 200g softened butter 150g caster sugar 2 large freerange egg yolk 400g/14oz plain flour, plus extra for flouring 1 level tsp mixed spice 1 level tsp ground cinnamon

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Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

Lightly grease two baking trays lined with baking parchment. 2. Measure the butter and sugar into a bowl

and beat together until light and fluffy (or use a mixer). Beat in the egg yolk. Sieve in the flour and spices and add enough milk to give soft dough. Use your hands to bring it together. 3. Roll out to a thickness of about 5mm/¼in.

Cut out using Lawsons Easter cookie cutters. Place on the prepared baking trays. Sprinkle with caster sugar. 4. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or

2-4 tbsp milk

until pale golden-brown. Keep a careful eye them. Sprinkle with caster sugar and place on a wire rack to cool.

For the icing

5. To make the icing, pass one teaspoon of

1-2 tsp lemon juice

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250gicing sugar about 2 tbsp cold water different coloured food colouring

lemon juice through a fine sieve, to remove any pips or bits. Mix the icing sugar with the lemon juice, and then add about two tablespoons of water, adding it little by little until you have a relatively stiff but smooth icing. 6. Divide the icing into separate bowls and

mix in food colourings of your choice into the separate bowls of icing, until you achieve the desired shade. 7. Spoon a little icing into a piping bag and pipe

your decorations onto the biscuits. For a smooth finish, pipe the outline of the design with firm icing, then add a little more fluid so it has a more runny consistency, to fill in the designs.

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EASTER FEATURE

XXX

Learn the art of beautiful cakes ICING FLOWERS, BUTTER CREAM ROSES AND SUGAR PASTE LEAVES - RACHAEL DODD DISCOVERS IT’S ALL A PIECE OF CAKE FOR CLOUDBERRY CAKES’ JOANNA HUNT

reative cake decorating is something of a her own house. Although ‘house’ doesn’t really mysterious art. For most non-bakers, cake do it justice - St Michael’s Lodge is a stunning decorations are an impossible, sugared manor designed by the famous Plymouth marvel. Joanna Hunt is here to dispel the architect John Foulston. It sits in the grounds myth and show people that anyone can become a of Stoke Damerel conservation area just five cake decorator, whatever their skill level. minutes from the city centre. I was Joanna’s student for the Joanna spent 20 years in food afternoon. Can a woman whose retail but it’s no surprise she baking know-how stretches eventually found herself as far as microwave baking cakes - it’s in ‘I want to show meals become a master her blood she says: people that you don’t decorator in four “My mum’s Swedish hours? We’ll see… so I bake a few have to buy masses Daisies, primroses traditional buns and of equipment, with and tiny floral blossoms cakes from Sweden. just a few things are all covered on my “There’s one one-to-one course and in particular, the you can transform Joanna gives step-byprincess cake, which icing into something step instructions with was on the BBC Bake almost inhuman patience. Off last year. beautiful’ She’s already pre-cooked a “When I was younger JOANNA HUNT scrumptious red velvet cake for we would go out to Sweden me and iced it. every summer to visit family and On the first attempt at a flower, and my birthday always fell while I was much to my surprise, a daisy materialises out of the there. My grandmother didn’t speak any English icing. Then comes daisy centres. Two hours later, so she’d declare her love by baking for weeks the icing equivalent of an average garden centre is before we arrived. For my birthday she’d always resting on boards in Joanna’s beautiful front room. make a princess cake. Joanna holds her cake decorating sessions in “I have aspirations that we can run baking

sessions at Cloudberry in the future as our renovation moves on.” St Michael’s Lodge was a flurry of gaudy seventies carpets and wall-to-wall palm tree wallpaper before Joanna got her hands on it and started renovating. Joanna grew up in Plymouth and after a career that took her from Kenya to Bangkok she decided to settle in Plymouth and raise a family. “My parents were still living in Plymouth and my Dad died very suddenly,” said Joanna. “I had a moment of epiphany and realised I wouldn’t be around forever. “I resigned from my job and decided to take some time back for myself. “I was really keen to start a family, the role I had was so demanding and my partner travelled internationally – to cut a long story short I now have twins!” Joanna’s twin girls are now three-years-old and “fun and mad at the same time”. “I knew about St Michael’s Lodge because I grew up around the corner in Napier Street. I’ve come full-circle really. “From here I can spend some time with the children, run a business from home and this is the result.” “I’ve been on a lot of cake decorating courses. There were elements that I’d used before –

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EASTER FEATURE XXX

managing a team and coaching so that’s very natural to me.” “I want to show people that you don’t have to buy masses of equipment, with just a few things you can transform icing into something beautiful.” Speaking of something beautiful; placing the final blooms on my cake like I’m disarming a bomb, I suddenly realise how proud I am of my creation. This is not my usual slumped, rustic halfbaked attempt.

ST MICHAEL’S LODGE WAS DESIGNED BY JOHN FOULSTON

It is, quite simply, the prettiest cake I’ve ever made and it’s all down to a bit of Cloudberry magic. Joanna is offering spring/ Mother’s Day cake decorating classes on March 7 and March 14 for groups of five. She supplies all the equipment, aprons, icing and advice – just bring your own uniced cake, box and boards and leave with a creation to impress all your friends and family.

XXX

JOANNA HUNT

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EASTER FEATURE

Blow out the cobwebs THE FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING, THE BIRDS ARE SERENADING, BUT DOES YOUR HOUSE STILL FEELS LIKE IT’S STUCK WITH WINTER BLUES. SPRING CLEANING IS A TRADITION THAT ALLOWS US TO FRESHEN UP OUR HOMES AND GET A HEAD START ON THE HECTIC SEASONS OF SPRING AND SUMMER CLEARING CLUTTER AND ORGANISING DURING SPRING CLEANING One of the biggest parts of spring cleaning is getting rid of clutter that you don’t need. Learn how to box up items you don’t need and find out how to donate items that are taking up space. Take advantage of the natural urge that comes each spring to get rid of items that are weighing you down and begin fresh with a more streamlined lifestyle. While we may have a tendency to hoard and hold on to items in the winter, we generally are more ready to let go of clutter when spring arrives. Cleaning is a lot easier when the clutter is gone. PRODUCTS TO USE DURING SPRING CLEANING The cleaning aisles of the supermarkets are stocked full of supplies to help you clean. But sometimes the variety can be overwhelming. Although you may be tempted to clean out the local store of all their cleaning supplies, the real champions of spring cleaning are more basic supplies like a good all-purpose cleaner and microfiber cloths.

GETTING THE FAMILY INVOLVED IN SPRING If you need a little help in your cleaning endeavors, try to get your family involved. Even the most unwilling helper can make a big difference in the workload. I know what you are thinking. It might actually seem easier just do everything by yourself rather than try to get your family to help. This is actually a great time of year to get the entire family to work together. Try throwing on some music or establishing a family reward for when the work is done. EXTRA SPRING CLEANING CHORES There are some special chores that need to be done seasonally. We ignore them for most of the autumn and winter, but now it is time to bite the bullet and get these things clean. Even though these chores only need to be done once or twice a year, they will help your home look better and run smoothly. Outdoor chores like cleaning grills, patios, and windows can be a little intimidating, but there are some simple tricks to keep the jobs manageable.

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2. Invite everyone to bring his or her favorite CD or cassette tape. Take turns playing each of the CDs or cassettes. To be fair pull names out of a hat to determine order. Have a small certificate or prize for both the best and worst clean-up music. 3. Gather supplies before the day arrives. Trying to run to the shop for things that come up can ruin momentum. Careful planning will allow you to have everything you need at home when the day arrives. 4. Have some good snacks and drinks on hand for break times. Choose your families’ favourites. Having predetermined breaks can keep the family motivated to keep working. 5. Plan a reward for when the job is finished. Take the family out to a the cinema or for a meal. If you are all too tired from your hard work, order a pizza. You’ll all be able to lounge on the sofa basking in the knowledge of a job well done.

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6. Hide small tokens around the areas being organised or cleaned. The people who have the most tokens at each break time get an extra five minutes at break (or think of your own reward). Warning: Use the honour code to make sure your family is actually cleaning and organising and not just searching for tokens. (Yes, I know we should trust them, but after all we know them.) 4. Make chores age-appropriate. Do not expect children who are too young to participate in heavy cleaning and organizing. Have work that they can do available or create alternate activities that still help. Sorting safe items can be good for pre-school and school-age children. If some of your children are too young to participate consider having a trusted relative or friend take care of them during the clean-up. 8. Turn off the ringers on your phones, and let extended family and friends know that you’ll be unreachable that day. A distraction can cause the whole job to fall apart. 9. Take pictures of the event. One day your children will want to prove to your grandchildren that you worked them like slaves. Let them have their fun. (Just like your parents walked shoeless in the snow uphill both ways just to buy bread.)

©LW

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1. Make sure the assigned day has no prior engagements during the time period allotted for work. Check and re-check schedules and plan ahead. Don’t accept excuses. Let everyone know that this is a family event and they are all strongly invited to be there.

FOR A FREE ESTIMATE - CALL

maintenance

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EASTER FEATURE

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EASTER FEATURE

Spring into the garden EASTER IS THE PERFECT TIME TO START PREPARING YOUR GARDEN FOR SPRING AND SUMMER. SOON YOU’LL BE CAUGHT UP IN A FRENZY OF SEED-SOWING, GROWING, AND NURTURING AS YOUR GARDEN COMES TO LIFE. HERE’S 10 TIPS FOR GETTING A HEADSTART

1. ORDER SUMMER-FLOWERING B ULBS AND SEEDS This is the perfect task for a wet and windy day! Summer-flowering bulbs such as Lilies, Gladiolus and Ranunculus can be planted in early spring for a colourful summer display. Browse our catalogue or website for inspirational new varieties of seeds and bulbs to plant and grow this year. 2. CLEAR UP FLOWER BEDS AND BORDERS Have a general tidy up and remove leaves and other debris from your flower borders, lawns and ponds. You can cut back the old dead growth of deciduous grasses and herbaceous perennials now, although if you’d like to be wildlife friendly then its best to leave the tidy up until early spring. If the soil is workable you can dig a 5cm layer of organic matter such as well-rotted manure, compost or recycled green waste into empty garden borders. 3. CLEAN YOUR GREENHOUSE Wash your greenhouse before the warm weather arrives! Before long your greenhouse will be home to trays of seedlings and cuttings. Sweep out any plant debris on the floor and benches and disinfect with a hot solution of garden disinfectant such as Jeyes Fluid. Make sure you disinfect the inside of the glass too - overwintering pests and disease can survive in the smallest nooks and crannies. Whilst you’re there, wash pots and seed trays to help prevent diseases such as ‘damping off’ infecting your young plants. Ventilate your greenhouse well over the next couple of days so it dries thoroughly.

PLANT GLADIOLOUS

4. SOW SEEDS THAT NEED A LONGER SEASON

8. MOVE DECIDUOUS SHRUBS

In January and February you can start to sow seeds of plants which require a longer growing season, such as Geraniums (Pelargoniums), Begonias,Antirrhinums, Peppers and Aubergines. They’ll need to be grown in a heated propagator or similar to ensure good growth.

If you have a badly placed deciduous shrub then now is the time to move it whilst it’s dormant. Choose a still day to prevent the roots drying out. Take a wide berth around the shrub when digging it up and try to take as much of the root ball as possible for the quickest establishment in its new location. When planting shrubs in their new position, place them at the same level they were previously in the soil, and remember to water them in well afterwards.

5. HUNT DOWN GARDEN PESTS Hunting down and removing hibernating pests now can save a lot of trouble come spring and summer. Take a closer look at the crowns of your perennial plants and you may find slugs, snails and aphid colonies sheltering for the winter. If you still haven’t cleared last year’s pots of summer bedding then do this now and be on the look-out for the white vine weevil larvae, which live in the compost and feed on plant roots. Destroy any you find and be prepared to treat for vine weevils this year, using parasitic nematodes or chemical drenches.

9. CLEAN GARDENING TOOLS Give your tools a clean and a sharpen! Caring for your garden tools not only helps preserve them, it saves you money in the long run and helps prevent the spread of disease. Dirty secateurs may introduce bacteria and fungi to fresh pruning wounds. Sharpening your tools will also improve their performance; they’ll be easier to work with and will give cleaner pruning cuts.

6. INSTALL WATER BUTTS

10. CREATE A COMPOSTING AREA

Install water butts in your garden now to collect seasonal rainfall. Not only does this help the environment but rain water is good for watering ericaceous plants such as Camellias, Rhododendrons and Blueberries (tap water is often slightly alkaline). When installing a water butt make sure it’s positioned below a downpipe to make the most of the rainfall.

If you haven’t already then try setting up a compost area in your garden. This could simply be a readymade compost bin or you could build a compost bin yourself using spare bits of wood. Not only will you have somewhere to put your garden waste but your plants will benefit from the rich compost created when it all breaks down! Make sure you have a good mixture of grass clippings, vegetable peelings, paper and woody prunings. To help the process along you’ll need to turn your compost with a garden fork each month to keep it aerated.

7. FIX FENCES, GATES AND TRELLIS Although it’s cold outside this is the ideal time of year to get those niggly little jobs out of the way! Any broken structures or tools are best fixed now so you have more time to spend in the garden during spring and summer. Treat your wooden garden structures with a wood preservative during dry periods.

COLLECTION OF SPRING PLANTERS, HOMEBASE

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THIS DARTMOOR CABIN IS NOW A CHIC LUXURY BOLTHOLE

My fantasy bolthole SARAH PITT TALKS TO GEMMA ROBERTS ABOUT HOW SHE CREATED A FANTASYSTYLE INTERIOR FOR A LOG CABIN IN THE GROUNDS OF HER DARTMOOR HOME

he sense of entering a fantasy starts on the doorstep of The Secret Holt, a log cabin surrounded by Scots Pines high up near Haytor on Dartmoor. The ornately-carved door, set back in the porch, looks as though it will creak open to reveal a goblin or sprite beckoning you in. Fantasy author JRR Tolkien’s family once lived in the main house down the lane, while Lord of the Rings illustrator Alan Lee has drawn inspiration from the tangled roots and branches of ancient Dartmoor woodlands. This is a landscape which inspires imaginings, and the cabin, a hideaway for owner Gemma Roberts’ guests, reflects this with brightly-painted shutters and carved wooden doors. The cheery interior, with heart frames on the red walls behind the ornately carved fireplace and fur throws covering wooden stools, also owes a great deal in spirit to an alpine chalet. “I have always loved alpine chalet-style buildings, like you see in ski resorts, and in the first winter after we moved here we had so much snow it felt very mountainous, very alpine,” says Gemma. “It is surrounded by these enormous pines, which the architect of the house planted in groups of three, and it looked like something out of a fairy tale.” The wooden cabin had been used by the previous owner Phoebe Whortley-Talbot – a great traveller and photographer – as a darkroom and photographic studio. “It had a low black ceiling, all the windows were boarded up and the entrance was around

the back then,” says Gemma. “We straightened out the ceiling, painted the beams and made it all much brighter. The red on the sitting room walls was definitely inspired by ski chalets, I love the whole alpine feel.” When Gemma and her family bought the house and moved in four and a half years ago, many interesting curiosities came along with it, collected by previous owner Phoebe, who died in 2009. The trunk in the sitting room of the Secret Holt, as well as the photographs of Haytor between the wars and a fine hunting oil painting in a gilt frame, were all hers. “She had travelled the world because her

father was linked to a big cruise company so she had lots of interesting bits and pieces,” says Gemma. “When we were tidying out her studio, we found so many slides from literally every country she had been to. She had travelled to places like Burma 40 years ago, and it was all really fascinating.“At the same time, the cabin is in a lovely English woodland setting, so the bedroom has a traditional Sanderson honeysuckle and passionflower fabric and it really has a calm feeling in there.” She and her husband love going to reclamation yards, and many of the things they have sourced for the interior of The Secret Holt are results of those

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PL MAGAZINE | 49 |MARCH 2015

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HOMES & GARDENS

CARRADALE KITCHEN; SELBY CERAMIC RISE AND FALL CEILING PENDANT AND CECILE BAR CHAIR, BOTH FROM THE CROFT COLLECTION, JOHN LEWIS

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itchens are for eating, drinking and socialising, but the heart of the home also speaks volumes about our taste - as a glimpse into the kitchens of Prime Minister’s wife Samantha Cameron and celebrity chef Nigella Lawson recently revealed. While there’s a homely, eclectic feel to the Downing Street space, with open shelves cluttered with pots and pans and a blackboard on the wall for family messages, Nigella’s made a full-on feminine statement with fuchsia-pink cabinets and drawers, in her new London home.

‘The recipe for a perfect kitchen is highly personal. There’s no one right look - what matters is that this space suits you and the way you want to live’

It just goes to show, the recipe for a perfect kitchen is highly personal. There’s no one right ‘look’ - what matters is that this space suits you and the way you want to live. “There are several factors to take into account when choosing a kitchen,” advises Craig Burgess-Allen, UK manager for Rational kitchens. “Consider the style of the rest of your home, especially if you have an open-plan layout with spaces flowing into one another, as you want to avoid choosing a style which jars with the rest of your design scheme. “Equally, don’t feel obliged in a period home to install a traditional kitchen. The priority is for a functional space, which is easy to work in and is visually appealing, and modern ranges can be hugely successful as a stunning, calm pared-back contrast, when the rest of the house is highly embellished with flourishes and detail.”

A kitchen can make or break a property deal, and it’s estimated that it can add up to 7 per cent to the value of a home. “Bear in mind that adventurous colour choices may look great in the showroom but can be hard to live with, and aren’t generally advisable if you’re considering selling a property,” Burgess-Allen points out. “If you feel colour-starved, play with colour in worktops and tiling. “Always consider the natural light available, and opt for light reflecting surfaces if it’s limited. On a practical note, avoid glossy kitchen doors if you’re house proud and have small children, as they’ll show up every smudgy fingerprint!” Check out the essential ingredients for a celebrity-style kitchen; simply add your own taste!

PL MAGAZINE | 50 |MARCH 2015

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01752 705960 PL MAGAZINE | 51 |MARCH 2015

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FOOD & DRINK

It’s all coming up roses VALENTINE’S DAY HAS BEEN AND GONE BUT GARDENERS WHO GROW ROSES WILL BE DELIGHTED WITH THEIR CHARM ALL SUMMER LONG

here is nothing more English than a garden crowded with roses. And there is nothing that sums up domestic bliss more than the image of a chocolate box cottage with roses growing round the door. Roses will complete any garden and reward the grower ten-times over - but they do require a little patience and care. If you are growing roses for the first time, now is a perfect time to order bare-root plants to to establish during the dormant season so they can get a head-start for summer. There are so many types of roses but if you want to plant them among other specimens in beds and borders, then English Roses by David Austin are probably your best bet, they are repeat-flowering, reliable and often disease resistant (although always check on the label or ask someone if you’re not sure). Many are good for cutting although personally I can’t bear to cut my own roses. I would much rather they flourish in the garden, outside for all to see. Good red roses are difficult to breed. The challenge is to get a good combination of both fragrance and health and dark red roses in particular are subject to burning in the sun. But if you have your heart set on one, look out for ‘Darcey Bussell’, a compact, bushy variety which flowers all summer, producing clusters of rosetteshaped flowers of deep crimson and a fruity scent. It’s ideal for a smaller garden, a narrow border or even a large pot. I always find red quite a hard colour to match, preferring the pinks and pastel shades of other English roses including the fragrant ‘Gertrude

Jekyll’, which I grow up an obelisk in my mixed border with Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’, a beautiful pink and white-striped hybrid. Together, they provide a stunning display in June and beyond. Roses are hungry feeders, so make sure you add plenty of organic matter such as well-rotted manure or compost to the soil before planting, digging a hole much bigger than the roots so that they can easily spread out and make sure the surrounding soil is cultivated, not compacted, or the roots won’t spread. When planted, the base of the stems should be about 3in (7.5cm) below ground level. Newly-planted roses will also need to be kept well watered when they are trying to establish. Add rose fertiliser in March or April, at the start of the growing season, and again in June to repeat-flowering varieties and mulch them with compost in spring. All roses need four or five hours of sunshine a day during the growing season to thrive, although some can take more shade than others. Avoid areas where there are overhanging branches and dry places where there would be too much competition from the roots of other trees and shrubs. Climbing roses such as ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles Climbing’ should do well on an open north-facing wall. Shorter companion plants can be used around them, allowing

the roses t o display their beauty to the full. Avoid using invasive perennials or shrubs which might overpower theroses. Instead, go for light, airy perennials such as lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis), whose soft rounded leaves and lime-green flowers make a colourful base to your rose bushes and don’t wtake away the glory of the rose flowers. Pale pink varieties like ‘Eglantine’ can be easily partnered with deep purple perennial salvias or perennial geraniums such as ‘Johnson’s Blue’. Copper-coloured specimens such as ‘Pat Austin’ make a good match for soft blue nepeta underneath. The taller English Roses will add height and structure to the mixed border without the need for staking, while the more compact varieties are perfect for the front of the border. It is particularly important to plant roses in small groups in the border as this will create the most pleasing effect. If you need to fill in space, good annuals which will combine well with roses include love-in-amist such as Nigella ‘Miss Jekyll’ or the feathery Cosmos bipinnatus, with its large single flowers in white, pink and purple. And then, of course, we come to pruning - but that’s a story for another day.

PL MAGAZINE | 52 | MARCH 2015

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PL MAGAZINE | 53 | MARCH 2015

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THE GARDENS OF WOLF HALL, AS ENVISAGED BY THE BBC

HOW TO GARDEN LIKE A KING AS A HORTICULTURAL MANUAL WRITTEN IN 1304 AND SAID TO HAVE INSPIRED HENRY VIII GOES ON DISPLAY, HANNAH STEPHENSON INVESTIGATES WHETHER THERE’S ANY TRUTH IN SOME OF ITS BIZARRE CLAIMS

’ve heard of some strange gardening practices over the years, but some of the tips offered in a medieval gardening book which is said to have inspired Henry VIII’s lost Great Garden at Whitehall Palace take the biscuit. The Ruralia Commoda, written in 1304, due to go on display at an exhibition at Buckingham Palace in March, claims that a squash will bear fruit after nine days if planted in the ashes of human bones and watered with oil, and that cucumbers shake at the sound of thunder. It also mentions that lettuce loves goat manure and that combining the seeds of lettuce, radishes, nasturtium and colewort will result in a particularly tasty crop of greens. The book, which will be displayed alongside some of the earliest and rarest surviving records of gardens and plants from the Royal Collection, entered Henry VIII’s library after the death of its owner, the King’s chaplain Richard Rawson,

in 1543 and explains the importance of a king’s garden to the Tudors. But just how much truth is there in its horticultural growing tips? Guy Barter, head of the RHS advisory service, says: “They didn’t have squashes as we know them in those days.” Perhaps the Latin text has been lost in translation. “It would have been a marrow. Squashes come from North America, which hadn’t been discovered at that time. If you watered oil on the ground it would have no fertiliser effect. It might inhibit loss of moisture by evaporation but it wouldn’t control pests. “They would have used vegetable oil as they didn’t have synthetic oil in those days and it would have been broken down in the soil. But if an old-fashioned gardener wanted to give it a go, it wouldn’t do any harm. Just don’t use engine oil!”

The manual also suggests that lettuce loves goat manure; and Barter agrees. “Gardeners throughout history have gathered sheep manure which is an excellent quality and balanced feed, not too high in nitrogen like bird manure and probably better than cow manure. The problem is, goats are pretty thin on the ground nowadays. If you can get hold of a goat, I’m sure there’s potential there.” Burnt human bones were obviously valued for their horticultural properties in Henry VIII’s day - and they would have added nutrients to the soil, Barter agrees. “Mixtures of blood, fish and bones are widely sold today. Bones are a very good fertiliser. Before they had good machinery to grind up bones into bonemeal, they would have been burned and the ashes would have been rich in phosphorous and

‘I’VE NEVER SEEN A CUCUMBER SHAKE WITH FEAR’

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in lime. Whether human bones are better than any other bones, I wouldn’t like to say.” While it’s not the case today, in Tudor times many soils were deficient in phosphorous. The growing of root vegetables and legumes was often inhibited by lack of phosphorous, which is needed for the healthy production of roots and good root systems. “Plants don’t use much phosphorous but there’s desperately little of it in virgin soil, so it was lacking until the invention of the fertiliser industry in the mid-19th century,” says Barter. He is, however, flummoxed by the claim that cucumbers shake with fear at the sound of thunder. “I’ve never seen a cucumber shake with fear,” he laughs. “They would have been grown in cold frames covered with glass or wax. But even so, I can’t imagine why a cucumber would shake with fear. There’s a lot of thunder at RHS Garden Wisley and a lot of cucumbers and they’ve always remained rather stoic.” However, the 14th century manual was ahead of its time in some respects, declaring that combining the seeds of lettuce, radishes, nasturtium and colewort will result in a particularly tasty crop of greens. “Isn’t that amazing? They predicted the invention of bagged mixed salads by hundreds of years. What a brilliant idea! It’s come full circle. We used to grow everything separately and now gardeners are back to sowing mixed salads and grow their own versions of the supermarket ones. “Those plants would all grow happily in the same soil. Radishes are a little bit hairy, but there are versions of radish that haven’t got hairy leaves so perhaps the Tudors grew those. But they would all combine well together.”

ABOVE, DAMIAN LEWIS AS HENRY VIII AND MARK RYLANCE AS THOMAS CROMWELL IN THE BBC’S WOLF HALL. BELOW, SOME OF THE VEGETABLES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOWN IN HIS GARDEN, INCLUDING CUCUMBERS, RADISHES AND SALAD LEAVES

:: PAINTING PARADISE: THE ART OF THE GARDEN IS AT THE QUEEN’S GALLERY, BUCKINGHAM PALACE PL MAGAZINE | 55 | MARCH 2015

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HOMES & GARDENS

March gardening tips NTIA

PLANT ASTRA

mid-March and the pring usually arrives by e the opportunity vid pro s frequent sunny day of gardening tasks. for an increasing range paring seed beds, pre y Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to get bus back winter shrubs and sowing seed, cutting the garden. generally tidying up around

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Top 10 jobs to do this mo

from slugs 1. Protect new spring shoots and early potatoes 2. Plant shallots, onion sets s 3. Plant summer-flowering bulb ps clum n grow over de divi and 4. Lift of perennials fresh compost 5. Top dress containers with (if needed) days dry 6. Mow the lawn on and Salix d) woo (dog 7. Cut back Cornus ter stems win l urfu colo for n grow low) (wil th deal with 8. Weeds come back in to grow d han of out get them before they pond the g usin and 9. Start feeding fish ters hea d pon ove rem ; tain foun servatory doors 10. Open the greenhouse or con days m and vents on war

PRUNE CORNUS

Sowing and planting

SOW SWEET PEAS

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mone coronaria prevent the bulbs rotting. Ane ined soils. -dra well arly icul part d nee tubers ers for this flow cut of Plan a continuous crop ums and hini delp as such ls nnia Pere summer. ul and usef a uce prod annuals can be grown to lay. beautiful disp e in the When space becomes availabl tender of ings cutt up greenhouse, pot and at the mer sum last n take ls nnia pere plant numbers beginning of this year. Bulk up largest of the the from ings cutt e mor ng by taki new plants. in the house for Indoor forced bulbs that were e now finished hav ch winter displays, but whi into the garden, ted plan be now can flowering, s. root the taking care not to disturb

PL MAGAZINE 56 | MARCH 2015

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PL MAGAZINE | 57 | MARCH 2015

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Can you make it like my mum? IN CELEBRATION OF MOTHER’S DAY WE BRING YOU A SELECTION OF RECIPES WHICH SUM UP THE JOY OF GOOD, HOME COOKING. WE’VE RAIDED OUR MUM’S RECIPE COLLECTIONS TO BRING YOU FAVOURITES FROM COTTAGE PIE TO TREACLE TART

Bread and butter pudding Ingredients 25g/1oz butter, plus extra for greasing 8 thin slices bread 50g/2oz sultanas 2 tsp cinnamon powder 350ml/12fl oz whole milk 50ml/2fl oz double cream 2 free-range eggs

Unctuous and comforting – just don’t fight over the crunchy top layer! From BBC Food Method 1. Grease a 1 litre/2 pint pie dish with butter. 2. Cut the crusts off the bread. Spread each

slice with on one side with butter, then cut into triangles. 3. Arrange a layer of bread, buttered-side up,

in the bottom of the dish, then add a layer of sultanas. Sprinkle with a little cinnamon, then repeat the layers of bread and sultanas, sprinkling with cinnamon, until you have used up all of the bread. Finish with a layer of bread, then set aside. 4. Gently warm the milk and cream in a pan

25g/1oz granulated sugar

over a low heat to scalding point. Don’t let it boil.

nutmeg, grated, to taste

quarters of the sugar and lightly whisk until pale.

5. Crack the eggs into a bowl, add three

6. Add the warm milk and cream mixture and Prep time:

30 minutes Cook time:

Mum’s cooking is the best!

stir well, then strain the custard into a bowl. 7. Pour the custard over the prepared bread

Around an 1hour

layers and sprinkle with nutmeg and the remaining sugar and leave to stand for 30 minutes.

Serves: 4

8. Preheat the oven to 180C/355F/Gas 4. 9. Place the dish into the oven and bake for

30-40 minutes, or until the custard has set and the top is golden-brown. PL MAGAZINE | 58 | MARCH 2015

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FOOD & DRINK

Homemade Cottage Pie Ingredients 3 tbsp olive oil 1¼kg beef mince 2 onions, finely chopped

Just like mum used to make! From BBC Good Food Prep time: 35 mins Cook time: 1hr 50 mins | Serves: 10 Method

3 carrots, chopped

1. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large saucepan and fry the mince

3 celery sticks, chopped

Set aside as it browns. Put the rest of the oil into the pan, add the vegetables and cook on a gentle heat until soft, about 20 mins.

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 3 tbsp plain flour 1 tbsp tomato purée large glass red wine (optional) 850ml beef stock 4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce few thyme sprigs 2 bay leaves For the mash 1.8kg potatoes, chopped 225ml milk 25g butter 200g strong cheddar, grated freshly grated nutmeg

until browned – you may need to do this in batches.

Add the garlic, flour and tomato purée, increase the heat and cook for a few mins, then return the beef to the pan. Pour over the wine, if using, and boil to reduce it slightly before adding the stock, Worcestershire sauce and herbs. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 45 mins. By this time the gravy should be thick and coating the meat. Check after about 30 mins – if a lot of liquid remains, increase the heat slightly to reduce the gravy a little. Season well, then discard the bay leaves and thyme stalks.

Treacle tart Ingredients

Method

375g pack shortcrust pastry

1. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface until big enough to line a 23cm fluted tart case, about 3cm deep. Line the tin with the pastry and fold the overhang over the sides. Chill for 30 mins.

a little flour, for dusting 750g golden syrup 225g breadcrumbs zest and juice 1 lemon 3 eggs

2. Meanwhile, make the mash. In a large saucepan,

cover the potatoes in salted cold water, bring to the boil and simmer until tender. Drain well, then allow to steam-dry for a few mins.

Mash well with the milk, butter, and three-quarters of the cheese, then season with the nutmeg and some salt and pepper.

Prep time:

45 minutes Cook time:

1hr 10 mins Serves: 8-10

3. Spoon meat into 2 ovenproof dishes. Pipe or

spoon on the mash to cover.

Sprinkle on the remaining cheese. If eating straight away, heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and cook for 25-30 mins, or until the topping is golden. Or follow the steps (below) to freeze.

2. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line the tart with greaseproof paper and baking beans. Bake blind for 20 mins. Remove the beans and paper and bake for 10 mins more until the pastry is pale golden and sandy. 3. Meanwhile, mix the golden syrup, breadcrumbs, lemon zest and juice and eggs together. Once the pastry is ready, lower the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Using a small serrated knife, carefully trim the edges, then tip in the treacle mixture and bake for 55 mins-1 hr until the filling is golden and crisp, and feels set to the touch. 4. When the tart comes out of the oven serve warm with vanilla ice cream or custard.

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Apple crumble Ingredients For the filling

Method

600g Bramley apples (3 medium apples), peeled, cored and sliced

190C/170 fan/gas 5. Toss the apples with the 2 tbsp sugar and put in a 23cm deep baking dish. Push the mixture down to prevent too much crumble falling through.

1. Preheat the oven to

2 tbsp caster sugar Add sultanas and some cinnamon for extra flavour For the crumble 175g plain flour 110g caster sugar 110g cold butter If you like you can add rolled oats to the crumble mix for extra flavour Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 40 mins Serves 4

2. Put the flour and sugar

in a bowl with a good pinch of salt, and rub in the butter with fingertips until the mixture looks like moist breadcrumbs. Alternatively, pulse in a processor until sandy but don’t over-do it. 3. Pour the crumb mix over the apples

then use a fork to spread out. Gently press the surface with the back of a spoon so the crumble holds together. 4. Place on a baking tray and place in the oven

for 35-40 minutes, until the top is golden and the apples feel very soft when you insert a small, sharp knife. Leave to cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Nana’s Steak and kidney pudding Method

Ingredients

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F/180° C/

25g beef dripping, or lard

1 bay leaf

675g beef topside, cut into 2.5cm cubes

280g selfraising flour

add the dripping/lard or oil and heat until slightly smoking.

½ tsp baking powder

Add the beef cubes and the kidney, stir well until all the meat is browned. Add the onion, carrots and stir again.

350g beef kidney, cut into 2.5 cm cubes 1 onion, peeled and roughly chopped 2 carrots, washed, peeled and thickly sliced 25g plain flour

1 tbsp tomato puree

Pinch salt 140g beef suet, finely chopped 2 - 3 tbsp cold water Butter for greasing Salt and pepper

300ml beef stock

Prep time:

150ml red wine (you can leave this out if you wish)

Cook time:

30 mins Around 2 hours Serves: 6

Gas 4

2. Heat a large casserole dish on the stove,

Sprinkle the flour over the meat and vegetables and stir thoroughly. 3. Add the stock, red wine, bay leaf and

tomato puree. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and cover with a lid, place in the hot oven and cook for 1 hour. 4. Remove the casserole from the oven,

season with salt and pepper to taste, and leave to cool. 5. Make the pastry. Place the flour, baking

powder, and salt into a baking bowl. Add the suet and rub into the flour. Add enough cold water to form a stiff, slightly sticky dough. Leave to rest for 30 mins.

6. Grease a 2 pint pudding bowl with the

butter. Divide the pastry into 2/3 and 1/3 and roll the larger piece of dough in to a circle large enough to line the bowl plus an extra 1.5cm border. Dust your hands with a little flour then carefully line the bowl with the dough. 7. Add the meat mixture to the lined

pudding basin. Roll the remaining dough in to a circle large enough to cover the pudding basin. Wet the overhanging lip of the basin with cold water, lay the lid on top and press firmly around the edge to seal. 8. Cover the bowl with two circles of

greaseproof paper secured with kitchen string. 9. Steam over rapidly boiling water for

2 hours. Check frequently to make sure water has not boiled dry - top up with boiling water as needed. Remove the pudding from the steamer, remove the greaseproof paper and serve.

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£18 PER PERSON

Creamy chicken, ham and leek pie

3 COURSE CARVERY BOOKING ESSENTIAL

Mothering Sunday 2015 Sunday 15th March - 12.00 to 15.00

Ingredients

Method

For the filling

1. Heat the chicken stock in a lidded saucepan.

450ml/16fl oz chicken stock 3 chicken breasts, skinned 75g/3oz butter 2 leeks, trimmed and cut into 1cm/½in slices 2 garlic cloves, crushed 50g/2oz plain flour 200ml/7fl oz milk 2-3 tbsp white wine (optional) 150ml/3fl oz double cream 150g/5oz piece thickly carved ham, cut into 2cm chunks sea salt flakes freshly ground black pepper For the pastry 350g/12oz plain flour 200g/7oz butter 1 free-range egg beaten with 1 tbsp cold water, plus 1 free-range egg, beaten, to glaze Prep time:

30 mins

Cook time:

30-60 mins Serves: 4

Add the chicken breast and bring to a low simmer. Cover with a lid and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the chicken breasts from the water with tongs and place on a plate. Pour the cooking liquor into a large jug. 2. Melt 25g/1oz of the butter in a large heavy-

The Corinthian Restaurant has become a popular destination for those seeking mouth-watering cuisine at refreshingly reasonable prices. Come and enjoy spectacular views over Plymouth Sound whilst you dine. Treat your loved one this Mother’s Day.

based saucepan over a low heat. Stir in the leeks and fry gently for two minutes, stirring occasionally Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club, Madeira Road, The Hoe, PL1 2NY until just softened. Add the garlic and cook for a 01752 664327 email club@rpcyc.com website: www.rpcyc.com further minute. Add the remaining butter and stir in the flour as soon as the butter has melted. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. 3. Slowly pour the milk into the pan, just a little at

a time, stirring well between each adding. Gradually add 250ml/10fl oz of the reserved stock and the wine, if using, stirring until the sauce is smooth and thickened slightly. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 minutes.

Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club, Madeira Road, The Hoe, PL1 2NY phone: 01752 664327 email: club@rpcyc.com website: www.rpcyc.com

4. Season the mixture, to taste, with salt and

freshly ground black pepper. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream. Pour into a large bowl and cover the surface of the sauce with cling ilm to prevent a skin forming. Set aside to cool.

CHLOE’S RESTAURANT

5. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Put a

baking tray in the oven to heat.

6. For the pastry, put the flour and butter in a food

processor and blend on the pulse setting until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. With the motor running, add the beaten egg and water and blend until the mixture forms a ball. Portion off 250g/10oz of pastry for the lid.

7. Roll the remaining pastry out on a lightly floured

surface, turning the pastry frequently until around 5mm/¼in thick and 4cm/1½in larger than the pie dish. Lift the pastry over the rolling pin and place it gently into the pie dish. Press the pastry firmly up the sides, making sure there are no air bubbles. Leave the excess pastry overhanging the sides. 8. Cut the chicken breasts into 3cm/1¼in pieces.

Stir the chicken, ham and leeks into the cooled sauce. Pour the chicken filling into the pie dish. Brush the rim of the dish with beaten egg. Roll out the reserved pastry for the lid. 9. Cover the pie with the pastry lid and press

We are open Mondays to Saturdays inclusive for Lunch, Pre-Theatre and Dinner Lunch - 12.00 to 2.00pm All dishes are prepared from the fnest fresh locally sourced ingredients by chef patron Didier and his highly skilled team. The cooking is French at its best with a collection of old favourites and interesting twists on traditional themes.

the edges together firmly to seal. Trim any excess pastry. 10. Make a small hole in the centre of the pie

with the tip of a knife. Glaze the top of the pie with beaten egg. Bake on the preheated tray in the centre of the oven for 35-40 minutes or until the pie is golden-brown all over and the filling is piping hot.

CHLOE’S RESTAURANT

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FOOD & DRINK

CUBAN CLASSIC, CUBANOS

A taste of old Havana in the heart of Devonport MARGO’S LOOKS LIKE AN ORDINARY CAFÉ, BUT INSIDE YOU’RE TREATED TO SHABBY CHIC AND CRACKING CUBAN CUISINE, SAYS LOUISE DANIEL

lymouth’s eating out scene is bursting with diversity – if you want a taste from almost any country in the world, Plymouth has probably got it covered. Margo’s Cuban cuisine has added another plate to the Plymouth table and I’m more than happy to pull up a chair. When Andrew Miller landed in Plymouth some years back he knew exactly what he wanted to do. With his background in creating wonderful spaces for the hospitality industry and top level experience as a globe-trotting chef, the obvious next step was opening his own place. Andrew says: “I used to work in the Caribbean and on my four days off every month, I used to go to Miami or Cuba and the food was amazing.” “I thought why not combine great Devon and Cornwall products with the great tastes of that area?” Originally Andrew and partner Summer only

put the occasional Cuban dish on Then there are the the menu, but the food proved Cubanos. so popular, they conceded and For the uninitiated, ‘There is an stocked the regular menu with Cubanos are the Latin-America classics. unofficial national art to a good Andrew has created sandwich of Cuba, sandwich and dishes which have deep, rich whose popularity has flavours and speak of his good spread to Florida and Margo’s nails it’ understanding of the flavour was the subject (in part) complexity of the area. of a major Hollywood There are really good seafood movie starring Jon gumbos bursting with crab legs and Favareau. (Chef – check it out, mussels, and slow roasted specialities it’s quite a nice redemption story which take hours to prepare. Think sticky ox about a chef cooking sandwiches). tail, melting pork belly and juicy chicken with Packed with meat, cheese, pickles and mustard, a pleasing char; fresh zingy salads, black beans, sandwiched in buttery toasted Cuban bread, a peppery sauces freshened with lime, and fresh Cubano is truly a joy to behold. seafood and meat lovingly prepared with well You can laugh, but there is an art to a good thought out spice combinations. sandwich and Andrew nails it. PL MAGAZINE | 62 | MARCH 2015

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GUMBO PACKED WITH SEAFOOD

Wedding Fair ANDREW MILLER, COOKING FROM THE HEART

Sunday 22nd March 12 noon - 4pm Many Exhibitors In Attendance Reception Drink On Arrival

Late availability complete Wedding Packages from only £3,995 01752 881555 Cuba!

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THE MISSION

ROCK SALT CAFE BRASSERIE

HOLLAND’S DINER

MOORLAND GARDEN HOTEL

THE SAMPHIRE BUSH

SHIRLEY VALENTINE’S

THE ROYAL CO

RINTHAIN

The perfect Mother’s Day lunch IT’S MOTHERING SUNDAY ON MARCH 15 - THE PERFECT DAY TO SHOW YOUR MUM JUST HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HER. TAKE HER OUT FOR LUNCH OR AFTERNOON TEA AT ONE OF OUR PICK OF FANTASTIC VENUES

The Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club Perfectly located at the heart of Plymouth Hoe, The Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club combines stunning views of Plymouth Sound and Drake’s Island with the comfort and seaside feel you’d expect from a waterside restaurant. Treat your mum or a loved one to a relaxing and mouth-watering dining experience. The Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club is the perfect place for a celebration with your family and friends. Top quality local ingredients is lovingly prepared by our talented team of chefs, under the guidance of head chef Chris Richards. Booking is essential, call 01752 664327.

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Rock Salt Café Brasserie

Holland’s Diner, Frankfort Gate

The Mission

Rock Salt Café Brasserie is the venture of a Plymouth born and bred family. Opened in November 2011 they haven’t looked back since, turning it into one of Plymouth’s most vibrant eating places. Chef Dave Jenkins and his family pride themselves on operating a relaxed and friendly environment where it doesn’t matter the occasion, the food should always be good and the welcome warm. Along with a listing in the Good Food Guide, the restaurant has recently been awarded its second rosette from the AA Restaurant Guide and listed in the Sunday Times Top 130 Restaurants in the UK for “cheap eats”. For Mother’s Day bookings call them on 01752 225522 or visit www.rocksaltcafe.co.uk

Chris Holland’s passion for good burgers and a bygone era is written all over Holland’s Diner. This colourful Frankfort Gate eatery is packed with memorabilia and Americana – from the bespoke, original posters and 45s on the walls to the Wurlitzer that plays rock’n’roll classics. There’s a HarleyDavidson Electra Glide in the window and an original bumper car inside where customers can have their picture taken.The atmosphere, period artefacts, the freshlymade two-scoop shakes and of course the belly-busting burgers are a treat. Holland’s Diner, Frankfort Gate, is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 10pm.

Treat your mum this Mothering Sunday to a delicious three-course meal at The Mission, tucked away in Sir John Hawkins Square behind Plymouth’s law court. The Mission is one of Plymouth’s most original venues, a hidden gem. The restaurant is offering a special Mother’s Day lunch menu at £19 per head. Starters include oxtail soup with bloomer bread and wild mushroom risotto balls with wilted spinach. Mains include roast shin of beef with trimmings and baked cod with crushed new potatoes, spring greens and crayfish bisque. For more details check the website www. themissionplymouth.com. Booking is advised on 01752 229955.

Shirley Valentine’s Taverna

Moorland Garden Hotel

The Samphire Bush

Treat your mum to authentic Turkish cuisine at Shirley Valentine’s Taverna on the Barbican. The restaurant offers a taste of the best cuisine Turkey and the Mediterranean has to offer with a wealth of traditional dishes. All dishes are homemade by the restaurant’s Turkish chefs using, where possible, only the finest locally-sourced ingredients. Shirley Valentine’s is offering a two-course Mother’s Day lunch for £12.99, including a complimentary glass of pink fizz for your mum. The special menu is available until 5pm. Reserve your table on 01752 669686.

Treat your mum to a delicious three-course lunch or a sophisticated afternoon tea in the beautiful surroundings of the Moorland Garden Hotel near Yelverton on Dartmoor. Award-winning head chef Rob Murray has created two delicious menus and there is a special handmade gift for every mum. Three-course Sunday Lunch is available from 12pm to 2pm and afternoon tea from 3.30pm to 5.30pm and includes a delicious selection of finger sandwiches, chef’s mini fancies and homemade scones with strawberry preserve and clotted cream. If you can’t be with your mum on her special day then why not buy her a gift voucher? To book call 01822 852245.

The Samphire Bush is a newly-opened independent seafood restaurant on Admiralty Street, Stonehouse, just two-minutes walk from the Royal William Yard. The restaurant specialises in local seafood with dishes including River Yealm oysters, Fowey mussels, local scallops, native lobster and local fish. Vegetarian starters and main courses are also available. The Samphire Bush strives to create fresh, local, simple food focusing on the essence of the finest produce. The Samphire Bush will be open on Mother’s Day from noon to 2.15pm. Call 01752 253247 for reservations or email info@thesamphirebush.co.uk.

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RELAXED BAR AREA

A taste of the world

LAMB TAGINE AND SPICES

AS THE FOOD REVOLUTION IN PLYMOUTH KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR, ZUZIMO PROVES A DIVERSE MENU CAN MEAN QUALITY, SAYS LOUISE DANIEL

auxhall Street is a strange part of Plymouth. It’s not that it is out of the way or uninspiring, just that it sits betwixt the Barbican and the city centre and is wrongly (in my opinion) overlooked when it comes to eating out. There is diversity there and not least because of Zuzimo. This eclectic, 75-cover eatery is the brainchild of Mo Vassif and Zuzi Fancovicova who opened their doors on their international menu 14 months ago. They have an all-nations approach to the dishes they serve, with a selection of classic food from Morocco, Spain, Japan, Brazil and Italy (to name a few). You can try a little bit of everything and share tapas with friends or go the whole hog with the largeportioned main courses. Zuzi and Mo clearly love food (so much so they named the restaurant after themselves) and it makes perfect sense that they don’t specialise in one style of cuisine. Zuzi smiles as she explains: “Mo is from Tehran, I’m from Slovakia and we live in England, we already eat a little bit of everything at home – a real mix of dishes.” Chef Mo is Iranian so his speciality is MiddleEastern cookery (try the lamb tagine, home-made hummus and the spicy batata hararah) but he is

multi-talented, which means Spanish tapas and Japanese teriyaki are also in good hands. Zuzi smiles: “We thought rather than open a different restaurant every time, why don’t we have all the cuisines under one roof? “We picked the most popular dishes as we have worked in all the different areas – each for around two years – to find out what people prefer.” The idea works particularly well if you fancy dining out but can’t agree on what style of cuisine to eat. Mo says: “People have said that it is good idea, especially when someone wants one thing and another wants something else. We have a good choice here.” But to Mo classifying the food they serve is far easier, Mo says: “It’s simple – we cook good, fresh food. “It’s something I’ve done from a very early age and it’s very satisfying. “Mum and dad always worked and I was never satisfied with just making a sandwich. I used to pull a chair up to the

cooker as a child.” Mo cut his professional teeth with a large national chain and Zuzi came to understand the business by way of the Barbican Kitchen. Zuzi says their experiences were invaluable: “We learned how to do business and we would never have opened without MO AND ZUZI, knowing what we DYNAMIC DUO are doing.”

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153 Vauxhall Street Barbican Plymouth PL40DF

Locals from around the world...

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We are open all day, every Zuzimo! is a restaurant and tapas bar located on day and offer an excellent choice of menu: From Plymouth's Barbican, a short walk from Plymouth Tapas to Steaks, Pastas to Tagines, you will fnd city centre and next to something to suit all Sutton Harbour. Come in and relax with fresh, local, palates and appetites homemade dishes cooked Only by our chefs in styles Tapas 5 mins from around the world. Tuesdays 3 Tapas & a drink

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Indulge in the fnest fresh Fish and Chips from the heart of Devon.

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©LW

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TRAVEL

A VERY GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM 40 YEARS ON FROM THE END OF THE VIETNAM WAR, NEL STAVELEY TRAVELS FROM HO CHI MINH TO DA NANG AND WITNESSES A HEALED AND HAPPY LAND

INSIDE THE COCONUT FACTORY

onestly, beams my guide from a suspiciously bad-looking tunnel. “It’s not that bad down here.” I’m not convinced. So he tries another tack. “They’ve made these tunnels twice as big as they were back in the war. They’re tourist-sized.” While unsure whether I’m offended or encouraged, I do at least know that I now have no choice but to edge my tourist-sized hulk down into the dark, cramped, muddy hole - and not complain about how dark, cramped and muddy it is. Because the guide’s right, this maze of Cu Chi Tunnels, 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, might be unbearably humid, feel hauntingly claustrophobic, and smell like damp mould, but this is the sanitised version; the Disney-esque take on what, more than forty years ago, in the midst of the bitter Vietnam War (or the American War, as the Vietnamese rightly call it) can only have been unimaginable hell. Even those not particularly well-versed in Vietnamese history will have heard about the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels, a 200km underground maze of deep, airless, water pipe-sized holes, sometimes three ‘storeys’ and 15ft deep, where Viet Cong soldiers lived, fought and hid from American and South Vietnamese troops. It’s not the worst thing here either; there’s an exhibition of the infamous torture traps the Viet Cong used: leaves covering a bed of footlong bamboo spikes, and a rolling set of spiked poles ready to snare a soldier up to his waist. Even today, surrounded by chattering tourists and behind the safety of a wooden fence, they make your blood run cold. A few hours later, back in Ho Chi Minh City, comes the War Remnants exhibition, where I find myself in front of the original version of ‘that’ photo - Nick Ut ‘s Napalm Girl. Needless to say, it’s just as poignant in real life as all the times you’ve seen it in newspapers and books. This year marks the 40th anniversary of when the 20-year battle ended, and the Cu Chi tunnels and War Remnants Museum are reminders of the pain and suffering endured. But a bigger part of this warm, energetic, swarming country is also here to tell you a very

‘Four decades on from that civil war that threatened to bring the nation to its knees, Vietnam has never stood taller’ different story. Because four decades on from that civil war that threatened to bring the nation to its knees, Vietnam has never stood taller. Last year, the country received a record number of visitors, and it still rates highly on every ‘destination hotlist’ for 2015. A number of fashionable new hotels, such as the A La Carte Hotel in Da Nang, about half-way up the country’s coastline and an hour’s flight from Ho Chi Minh City, are also an indication of exciting growth. As I sit on a terrace, looking out to the beachlined bay and the pulsing city with clanking cranes

building sleek new places to stay, it’s hard to imagine that Da Nang is where the American troops had one of their biggest air bases during the war. “It’s changed quite a lot,” my guide shrugs. A lot, but, thankfully, not completely. For all its postwar reconstruction and surging tourism, Vietnam is in no hurry to surrender everything to progress. Hoi An, half an hour’s drive from the bustling Da Nang, was once a major 16th century trading centre and is now a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. With its low, tiled houses, ancient markets and candle-lit night lanterns, it’s a very pretty tourist mecca. Yet an array of backpacker bars and trinket-selling street stalls reveal it’s embraced the 21st century. But hop on a small, old fishing boat, and half an hour later - via a few excited, potentially boattoppling children and a sweeping river view - and you’re in a tiny village, seemingly untouched by modern times, with smiling people gently pulling in fishing nets and craftsmen making clay pots with nothing but a foot-press and the heat of the sun. Similarly, not far away, there’s Tra Que Vegetable Village, where you can try some century-old farming

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DA NANG.

A STREET FRUIT VENDOR

WATERING THE CROPS

techniques for yourself. To be honest, at first, it looks easy - just don a Non La conical hat, watch the experts rake furrows in the ground and follow suit. Farmers explain how to sow seeds, cover them up, and water them. But it’s a careful, gentle, ancient craft that I quickly realise I have no hope of emulating. My effort is a total failure - one extremely well-soaked pea shoot and four lines of extremely thirsty ones - but as with everything in this country, it’s greeted with a hearty smile. In fact, throughout Vietnam, hospitality is legendary. It’s something I notice on a family-run river cruise in the province of Ben Tre. We’re kept refreshed with a constant supply of fresh fruit and cold flannels, and whenever we stop off at an array of brick and rice-noodle making villages, we’re forever met with herbal tea and offers of keo dua (local coconut sweets). In addition to the unswervingly friendly people, Vietnam is blessed with achingly beautiful landscapes, centuries of historical buildings and madly vibrant cities. There are long, tree-lined rivers and spawning rice fields, lovingly tended temples, pagodas and royal palaces, and the loud, moped-frenzied, brilliant cities of Ho Chi Minh and Hue.

A VENDOR SELLING VIETNAMESE SNACKS

Equally remarkable are the country’s often-overlooked beaches. Neighbouring Thailand has somewhat stolen any chance of Vietnam winning the South-East Asia beach mantle, but it shouldn’t be the case. A fine example of the beach properties found here is Fusion Maia Resort in Hoi An. It’s the epitome of luxury, with private pool villas, two free spa treatments a day, and morning yoga by the beachside infinity pool. Down on the beach, where you can take breakfast or a lantern-lit BBQ dinner, it’s even more perfect. I enjoy sitting quietly on the sand and watching the bustling fishing boats, while a group of local children play football a few hundred yards away. It’s a scene offering a vibrant stillness; a feeling of gentle, ambling calm alongside a joyous energy. And for me, that’s what Vietnam is all about. A third went to all the same bars and restaurants, 16 per cent stayed in the same room and 13 per cent managed to meet up with the same people. In addition to the USA and Australia, Brits would also like to save up and go back to Egypt, Thailand, the Maldives or Mexico.

TRAVEL FACTS Nel Staveley was a guest of Hayes & Jarvis (01293 735 831; hayesandjarvis.com) who offers a nine-night multi-centre, holiday to Vietnam (visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hue) from £1,749pp, saving up to £432pp. Offer includes some meals, all transfers and return international flights from London Heathrow. Based on an October 6, 2015 departure. An excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels by speedboat costs £66pp; Life as a farmer in Tra Que Vegetable Village costs £62pp.

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TIC KE T

OUT & ABOUT

VIEWS OF RADFORD CASTLE

Folly’s fascinating past PLYMOUTH’S RICH HISTORY HAS THROWN UP SOME FASCINATING FACTS AND NARRATIVES AS PEOPLE DELVE INTO THE CITY’S PAST. BUT WHAT LIES BEHIND THE DOORS OF RADFORD CASTLE? SARAH WADDINGTON FINDS OUT MORE

ust 200 years old, the 19th-century Radford Castle separated Radford and Hooe Lakes – the area now affectionately known as the Duckponds. It was built purely for the workers of the Radford estate, unlike similar looking defensive structures. It sits in Radford park which once surrounded Radford House, home of the grand Harris family and their successors, the Bulteels. But the accommodation in the folly would have been basic, despite being home to some large families over the many years. Now, 200 years later, it is unoccupied. It was last let to Lady Potter, who left in the 1970s. Robin Blythe-Lord, President of Plym Valley Heritage, explained: “Around 1800 the then owner of the Radford estate, John Harris, reached an agreement with his neighbour, the Duke of Bedford, to rationalise their rather complicated boundary. “In the process Harris got what is now the arboretum and Radford Quarry. This enabled him to fulfil a lifelong dream which was to create a boating lake by damming the creek that ran into Hooe Lake. “This creek was fed by a small stream, which still runs under the road at Radford dip. Before the road was metalled it was a ford; the soil around is red and so the name Redforde, or Radford. “Using local stone the dam was built around 1815 with a romantic castellated cottage in the middle for the sluice keeper. The boating lake was enhanced by some pleasure gardens, cottages and a boathouse on the site of St Keverne’s Quay. This was originally a simple landing quay that could only be reached at high tide. Drake, Frobisher, Hawkins and Raleigh used it when visiting Radford. “The idea was that the sluice could be opened

to drain the lake for cleaning and help catch fish and cut water plants. The lake soon became stocked with wildfowl and had the alternative local name of ‘The Duckponds.’ “The dam also provided an alternative route to Radford House. The castle had been built across the dam with gates in the arches. Visitors would have to stop and request permission to continue from the groundsman who lived in the castle. “There would have been just a kitchen/diner downstairs with toilet and washing facilities and two rooms upstairs reached by a spiral staircase. Rising damp was a problem but if a fire was kept going it dried out at around three feet up from the floor. “Although of limited accommodation it housed some large families, in 1901 there was John and Elisabeth Edwards, their daughter Emily, her husband Walter Nurse and their children Bessie, Walter, Harold, Percy, Sidney and Daisy. Ten people in all.” After Mrs Potter moved out in the 1970s, Devon Historic Buildings Trust showed interest in the folly, but it has never been purchased because of a lack of legal access. It is now in the council’s hands. “By 1914 Radford House and its castle was owned by F T Bulteel, one of the partners in the Naval Bank,” said Mr Blythe-Lord. “The bank collapsed and Bulteel was imprisoned for six months for slack accounting. Radford had to be sold to pay the bank debts. It was bought in 1917 for £11,000 by Billy Mitchell, who preferred to live in his family house Rockville in Plymstock and let Radford and the castle out to a variety of tenants. “When Billy died in 1930 the house and estate passed to his 15-year-old son WA Gordon Mitchell and was administered by his mother. However the cost of maintaining the immense house and estate

could not be met from the rents. “Local concern of the dilapidation of this important house in 1935 prompted a Western Morning News report of July 27 1935 describing the house as ‘a rambling old ruin falling into a state of irreparable dilapidation which is of such a size that no modern landowner would purchase it for his own use.’ The owners decide that demolition was their only option and the main house was flattened in 1937. The castle, St Keverne’s Quay and the lodge survived. “The park was sold for housing. In 1956 Gordon Mitchell transferred the castle, St Keverne’s Quay, dam and most of the north park to the council which then proceeded to neglect it.” Hooelake.org is run by a passionate group of people who protect Radford and Hooe Lake wildlife and habitats, as well as publishing historic anecdotes and other information. On there are the memoirs of Colin Stephenson

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JOSHUA JENKINS (CHRISTOPHER) AND THE CAST OF THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT…

‘Harris fulfilled a lifeling dream to create a boating lake by damning the creek that rai into Hooe Lake’ - ROBIN BLYTHE-LORD and his sister Sheila Coaker, who were brought up in Radford Castle in the 1930s. Colin was 77 when he wrote his memoirs before passing away. Mike George, of Hooelake.org, said: “I particularly like the fact that the water supply was gravity fed from Radford House well, half a mile away, and as a young boy he (Colin) had to go up to the well and clear the weed to allow the water to flow again.”

Award-winning novel The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time by Mark Haddon has been read by millions the world over. Now the tale has been adapted for stage by Simon Stephens and directed by Marianne Elliott, and arrives in Plymouth this month, writes Emily Smith. “I never had the aspiration that the play would go to the West End and tour the country. It was just done with a friendship in mind,” explains Simon. The Curious Incident tells the story of Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old boy who describes himself as ‘a mathematician with some behavioural difficulties’. He goes on a journey to discover who killed his neighbour’s dog and overcomes a number of obstacles. Many people have approached Mark Haddon and asked to adapt his novel - but he turned everyone away until he had a chance meeting with Simon Stephens at the National Theatre in London. Simon explains: “This idea started at the National Theatre - the coffee they serve there is really terrible and I was sharing this with Mark Haddon in 2007. “He was here at the time working on his stage production Polar Bears - we struck up a conversation and a friendship started. “We are similar men, we have the same observations in life.” Simon’s adaptation of The Curious Incident delves into a world seen through the eyes of someone with Asperger’s - even though the condition isn’t mentioned once throughout the performance. Katy Rudd, associate director, says: “Asperger’s takes over the whole space. It’s all about Chris and all about what’s going on inside his head. “The set designer and director have made a mathematical world that Christopher can play in. “The word Asperger’s is never mentioned in the play - it’s all about seeing the world in a different way.” Haddon’s novel has won many fans all over the world and is a book that any age reader can warm too. It’s a story about a boy, that as a nation we learn to love. Simon says: “I fell in love with the book and Christopher Boone and the way he sees the world. It’s not a play about autism - it’s a play about family and raising children. He’s not defined by his illness - he is defined by his personality. It works as a play because we can recognise ourselves in it. When I was working on it, I didn’t think about it being performed nationally I just thought about telling the story of Christopher Boone.” Simon sets the whole thing in a box, Christopher’s character is able to write on the walls, run around and pull out drawers, the whole thing lights up and he even runs up a set of stairs that come out of the back wall. The team have had to adapt each performance depending on the theatre and the levels of the fitness of the actors - is outstanding. Katy says: “The actors are learning about the way of the play and just spending time in Christopher’s world. We spent a lot of time getting to grips with the physical challenges of the picture. The actors take part in circuit training and stretches before we start a rehearsal.” Scott Graham, Movement Director, says: “We didn’t choose actors who had a dance background, they have all had to learn from day one. “We remind them that they are actors - it’s not just about the dancing.” The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night is at The Theatre Royal Plymouth, March 2-14

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TIC KE T

OUT & ABOUT

A night to remember BRENDAN COLE HAS ALL THE RIGHT MOVES TO GIVE PLYMOUTH AUDIENCES A NIGHT TO REMEMBER. MARTIN FREEMAN HAS THE DETAILS

e’s been around the block a few times, that Brendan Cole. The Strictly Come Dancing professional was as well-known for his romances as his footwork, which helped fill gossip columns before he settled down and married model Zoe Hobbs. The Kiwi star was nippy on the race track too until a high-speed car crash at Silverstone three years ago left him on clutches and prompted a reality check. Zoe was expecting their first child – daughter Aurelia was born on Christmas Day 2012 – and Brendan knew things had to change. “I love motor sport but that is probably the end for me,” he told PL not long after. “It made me realise even more that I have a family to support.” Brendan’s love of fast cars, previous reputation for dating a string of glamorous and famous women, and dark good looks have all added to his appeal, making him one of Strictly’s biggest assets. The Latin American dance specialist has appeared in all 12 series of the BBC favourite and partnered TV presenter Natasha Kaplinsky to victory in the first. Busy Brendan has broadened his experience. He has judged the New Zealand version of Strictly, presented a travel show (also in NZ), and sung (on the BBC’s Just The Two Of Us in a duet with Beverley Knight and on ITV’s Sing If You Can), plus he runs his dance academy. And there are his hugely popular live shows. He played on his action man image and suave appearance with a reference to another man known for quick cars and beautiful women – his Licence To Thrill channelled James Bond. This month he’s back at Plymouth Pavilions with new show A Night To Remember. French Dancing With The Stars champion Fauve Hautot returns, as does Germany’s Patrick Helm (assistant artistic

director on Strictly), plus professional Latin dancer Crystal Main. There’s a big-show feel to match Cole’s larger-than-life image: 14 musicians provide the tunes for eight dancers. There’ll be plenty of chat too from Brendan who is an accomplished host behind the mic, born of practice across various TV shows and live dance spectaculars. “I host the show and perform throughout,” he says. “I love the fact that it’s very intimate between me, my cast and the audience. “It’s a real variety type show with all you’d expect to see on Strictly but more intimate as it’s geared for a live audience.” With a decade on Strictly Come Dancing behind him and the successful shows a fixture on the arena circuit, Brendan has come a long way since he left New Zealand at 18 as a young dancer determined to rise to the top in Britain. He is so much in demand that he can pick and choose the projects he does. But Brendan still has an eye for something new and adventurous. “You never know what awaits you around the corner,” he says. BRENDAN WILL BE AT PLYMOUTH PAVILIONS ON FRIDAY MARCH 13. PL MAGAZINE | 72 | MARCH 2015

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PLYMOUTH

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SOME OF THE YOUNG DANCERS TAKING PART IN THE U.DANCE EVENT, PICTURED AT LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY BY KEVIN CLIFFORD

Got to T dance PLYMOUTH PLAYS HOST TO ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S BIGGEST DANCE EVENTS LATER THIS YEAR. CITY DANCERS ARE ALREADY PREPARING TO BE PART OF THE EXTRAVAGANZA. CLARE JARDINE REPORTS

he countdown has started to one of the biggest youth dance events ever staged in Plymouth. U.Dance 2015 will see nearly 400 talented young people from across the country arrive in the city in July for a four-day celebration showcasing the breadth and diversity of youth dance created across Britain. Each month, in the lead up to the festival weekend, there will be a free screening on the Big Screen in Plymouth City Centre of a short dance film made by and including young people from Plymouth. U.Dance 2015 is produced by Youth Dance England in partnership with Plymouth Dance and celebrates the quality and vibrancy of young people’s dance and choreography.

Over the festival weekend, the young people will work with nationally renowned artists to help inspire them to develop their dance skills and introduce them to new creative ideas. Workshops, social events and performances will take place over eight different venues and locations in Plymouth with three vibrant and distinctive performances, showcasing work by some of the best youth dance groups from across the UK, taking place on the Lyric stage at the Theatre Royal Plymouth. In the build up to the U.Dance 2015 festival weekend, Plymouth Dance has created a sixmonth programme of dance opportunities, events and performances for and by young people living in Plymouth and across the South West. These include a Youth Dance schools tour with

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TIC KE T

OUT & ABOUT

WHERE TO LEARN TO DANCE DANCE MATRIX Dance Matrix offer a variety of dance classes for juniors across a number of venues in the city. Monday: Mount Gould Church Hall, under 16s disco and freestyle, 4.45pm Wednesday: Staddiscombe Park, under 16s disco and freestyle starting, 4.15pm Friday: Harewood House, Plympton, Junior ballroom, Latin and rock ‘n’ roll, 6.30pm; junior disco and freestyle, 7.15pm Saturday: Dance Zone, Devonport, junior ballroom & Latin medal class,10.30am; junior rock ‘n’ roll medal class, 11.15am; junior disco and freestyle, 12 noon. Call Sally Dunn on 1752 265826 HARTLEY HOUSE DANCE CLUB Friday: Junior Tap Grade 2, 6-6.30pm Saturday: Junior Tap Grades 1 and 2, 2.50-3.20pm. Email linda.hess@btinternet.com PLYMOUTH LIFE CENTRE Monday: Born To Move (13-16 years) from 4pm Tuesday: Street Dance (7-12 years) from 4.30pm Saturday: Roller Disco (all ages) - from 6.30pm There are more than 200 pairs of skates available from child size 9 to an adult size 11 and plenty of helmets and pads. Call 01752 606900

seven youth dance groups performing in schools across the city, a dance photographic exhibition of young people dancing at locations around Plymouth, three weekends of live performances and workshops and 6 short dance films created by Plymouth based youth groups. Entitled Ouside-Inside-Plymouth, each film has been shot at different locations around Plymouth City Centre and will have a live performance in the City Centre during the U.Dance 2015 weekend in July. The first of the films will be shown next Friday, 23 January on the Big Screen at 5.30pm. Plymouth based Community Interest Company Fotonow has worked with each group to produce and edit the films, with young filmmakers actively involved in the project. The films have been commissioned by Plymouth Dance and Youth

Dance England, funded by Arts Council England with support from Plymouth City Council. Plymouth Dance Coordinating Producer June Gamble said: “Plymouth Dance is very proud and privileged to be hosting such an established national event that celebrates youth dance across the country. It has given us the opportunity in 2015 to increase investment in and raise awareness of the many young talented people who dance in City, as well as to profile Plymouth nationally as having a vibrant and growing dance ecology.” Claire Somerville, Programme Manager, Youth Dance England added: “With the countdown to U.Dance 2015 beginning this month, Youth Dance England is now attending regional events across England, where dance groups will be selected to come to the national festival. Their involvement

will be made even more special by the welcome they will receive in the City by Plymouth Dance and the local youth dance groups already engaging with the festival build-up.” U.Dance 2015 is delivered by Youth Dance England, in partnership with Plymouth Dance. This will be YDE’s ninth national youth dance festival and the first one to be run in the South West. The festival will have a focus on inclusive dance to profile exceptional work created and performed by disabled dancers and show how accessible the national youth dance festival is without compromising excellence. U.Dance 2015 forms the pinnacle of the national U.Dance programme which has involved more than 170,000 young people since it started in 2008.

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HOMES & GARDENS ANTONY

A host of golden daffodils THEY ADORN THE FIELDS WITH A GOLDEN GLOW AND THERE IS NOTHING WHICH HERALDS THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING MORE THAN A BLOOMING DAFFODIL, MARTIN FREEMAN REPORTS

hey are the perfect gift for Mother’s Day; a simple bouquet of fresh, locally-grown flowers. But if you want to look not give, many grand estates in the South West boast stunning drifts of spring bulbs. Few, though, can rival the range at Cotehele, near Callington, where there are about 300 varieties. The first of about 30,000 daffodils is getting ready to show its colour in a display that will last deep into May. One of the latest varieties, Tamar double white, won’t push its scene into the air until Whitsun. The National Trust property has about 300 varieties preserved as a reminder of the Tamar Valley’s past when the area was an important area of production, filling the gap between the milder warmer climate of West Cornwall and those produced in East Anglia, where spring arrives later. Antony House, near Torpoint, and Saltram, near

Plympton, will also soon pull in visitors to admire the daffodils. Mount Edgcumbe is a popular hunting ground too, and farther into the Rame peninsula the roads near Antony offer glimpses of the daffodil-growing industry. On a smaller scale you can see the remnants of the Tamar Valley’s daffodil-growing heyday as flowers nod their heads in corners of fields or roadside banks. Occasionally a lost or previously unrecorded variety turns up – some are born by cross-pollination. A new cultivar of daffodil has also been identified on an historic estate in the valley. Enthusiasts stumbled across the newcomer by chance in the gardens within 2,000 acres of grounds at Pentillie Castle, near in St Mellion. The new bloom was name Pentillie Duke in honour of Chris Duke, Pentillie’s head gardener for over 30 years.

THE PENTILLIE DUKE DAFFODIL

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HOMES & GARDENS MOUNT EDGCUMBE SALTRAM

COTEHELE

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SOCIAL DIARY

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Sharron Davis

23/02/2015 16:17:06

Martin Freeman takes a sideways looks at Mothering Sunday…

h, Mother’s Day when nothing is too good for the woman who brought you into the world. Ah, Mother’s Day when nothing is good enough for the woman who brought your partner into the world. When you swapped rings/ keys a second person became a fixture in your life: mum number two, aka the mother-in-law. The love of a mother (M) for her son or daughter

is well documented. She is “the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world”. Wipe those tears away for there is more to come. “Mothers hug their children to their hearts, their mother love never dying.” Those sentiments came from Anna Jarvis, the American woman responsible for the flower-heavy, chocolates-laden special-pub-lunch phenomenon that is Mother’s Day (March 15 this year). One of 13 children, she campaigned for a day devoted to mums and President Woodrow Wilson (one of four) relented in 1914. She said little about mothers-in-law (MILs, in trendy relationship speak) and is not around to ask as she died in 1948. Her motherly love was a one-way street: she never married and did not have children. The leading authority on MILs, curmudgeonly Mancunian comedian Les Dawson (single child; two MILs), is not around for us to ask, either. He died in 1993 leaving a legacy of MIL jokes that

in the interests of political correctness and family cohesion should have been buried with him. Where does that leave us? With two sets of advice. The first is on what not to do for M. “A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world,” Ms Jarvis ranted. “And candy! (chocs to you and me) You take a box to Mother – and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment.” The second is what to do for MIL, including a potential/ future one. “Always spend a lot of time getting to know her mum,” an auntie (and MIL of one) told me when I was 16 and she learned I had a girlfriend, “then you get away with anything.” That and with my dad’s entreaty to “never buy cheap razor blades” are the best advice I have ever had. Both have saved me a lot of pain, and face, over the years.

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TIC KE T

OUT & ABOUT

TOP

EVENTS NOT TO MISS THIS MONTH IN PLYMOUTH

MARCH 5

MARCH 13

MARCH 14

Paul Weller

Freefall dance awakening

From the Jam to the Style Council and as an award-winning solo artist, Paul Weller has had an eclectic career and released seminal albums which redefined pop conventions. Catch this British icon in full effect at Plymouth Pavilions.

A triple bill featuring original works by award-winning choreographer Yael Flexer and Cornwall based company Freefall Dance. This delicately performed and powerfully danced production comes to the Barbican Theatre.

British Science Week: Giant wave breaker Help create a huge collage in the shape of the giant wave breakers on Plymouth’s Breakwater. An amazing feat of engineering, the breakwater has inspired New Expressions 3 artist Keith Harrison’s work. Join him at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery from 11am to 3pm.

MARCH 28 MARCH 21

MARCH 26-28

Plymouth Model Show

Coppélia

The annual Plymouth Model Show is hosted by three local model clubs where enthusiasts, novices and experts get together to sell, paint and display their magnificent models at Plymouth Guildhall. 10am to 4pm.

Birmingham Royal Ballet brings the popular story of eccentric toymaker Dr Coppélius to The Theatre Royal. He wants to know what’s at the heart of a woman and plans to bring his mechanical doll, Coppélia, to life to find out. This joyous and witty ballet is popular celebration of love, with a sparkling score and breath-taking choreography.

Catches: Boozy, bawdy and British – a singing workshop Ever wondered what people did before karaoke? In the 17th and 18th century they sang ‘catches’ or simple rounds of song. No music ability is required for the sing-a-long at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery from 2pm to 5pm. £5 per person.

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