West Magazine, August 13 2016

13.08.16

31

August adventures to discover

Go the distance ‘I’m 66 years old, and can swim 10 miles’

Recipe: The ultimate gin cocktail

How to

CHILL

in style

Throw yourself a pyjama party this weekend

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‘Don’t worry,’ my pal continues. ‘Grockles are easy to spot, Sam’ll pick it up very quickly. He lives with one, for a start.’

Chris McGuire tries to bring up his son to be a proper local, p46

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THE SHOES WE CHOOSE Gorgeous footwear made in Devon

PYJAMA PARTY How to lounge in style

44

SPECIAL PLACES The very best of the Westcountry

[contents[ Inside this week...

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THE WISHLIST Our pick of the best treats this week

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JUST BETWEEN US...

Sh! We have the latest gossip!

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DEVON’S FINEST FOOTWEAR Gorgeous shoes, made in Topsham

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26

JUST ASK...

Our fashion guru has the answers

WILD AND WONDERFUL Swim ten miles aged 66? Here’s how

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ALL IN THE DETAIL The transformation of a Salcombe home

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JUST ASK GRACIE Our style guru solves your problems

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PYJAMA PARTY The coolest ways to lounge around

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BOOST YOUR WELLBEING Great ways to feel your best this week

35

HAPPY HOUR April Marks tries a new South West gin

36

CANNED LAUGHTER Darren Norbury investigates tins of beer

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RESTAURANT REVIEW A chef excels himself in Truro

46

A WESTCOUNTRY CHILDHOOD Parenthood puzzles new dad Chris McGuire

30

HI-TECH FIT KIT Get your routine on track the smart way

34

LUNCH, SORTED

Check out our recipe of the week

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SOUTH WEST SHOES

Beautifully handmade in Devon

[ welcome [ How to make your dreams come true... on’t you just love today’s story about Sarah and Ben Sherlock, who create gorgeous shoes on the banks of the River Exe in Devon? In the days BC (that’s Before Children) they worked in the fast lane - for fashion houses in New York, Amsterdam and London. But once parenthood came knocking, it was time to live somewhere a little more rural and relaxed. And so they have set up their new business in Topsham, making top-quality hand-crafted shoes and bags, alongside raising their young family. I think we can all understand why they made that move - and we wish them

D

Tweet

[

of the week

[

[

well. Find out more on page 12 today.

Another admirable decision was taken by Kari Furre (page 16) a few years back. Always a keen swimmer, she decided to re-train as a swimming instructor and took to the water herself to cross ever more impressive distances.

When I tell you she is training to do her second ten-mile swim this year, I’m sure you’ll be impressed.

When you realise she is 66 years old, even more so. Elsewhere in the magazine, do check out our wonderful new wines and spirits columnist April Marks (p35). She really does know her stuff and this week is busy making gin cocktails. Mmmm!

[

It was time to live somewhere a little more rural and relaxed

@MoleValley

Did you see reference to our boiler suits in @WMNWest magazine this weekend? #sooowestcountry

TO ADVERTISE: Contact Cathy Long: 01752 293017 or 07557 576668, clong@dc-media.co.uk

Becky Sheaves, Editor

EDITORIAL: westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk Tel: 01392 442250 Twitter @wmnwest

COVER IMAGE: La Redoute

MEET THE TEAM Becky Sheaves, Editor

Phil Goodwin

Kathryn Clarke-McLeod

Gillian Molesworth

Cathy Long

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If you buy one thing this week...

Why not think about getting a truly beautiful new bed? The Cornish Bed Company makes Victorianstyle hand-cast beds deep in the heart of Cornwall.

Based in Par near St Austell, it is one of the last foundries in the country to hand-cast traditional iron, brass and nickel beds.

The company is proud of its reputation for making expertly-finished beds that are designed and built to last forever. Every bed has the unique cast knuckle joint to attach the side rails to the head and foot of the bed. Prices start at £895, for details visit www.cornishbeds.co.uk

Win

To celebrate the Cornish Bed Company, we have two Naturalmat organic wool pillows to be won, worth £55 each.

To be in with a chance, simply tell us in which town or village you’ll find the Cornish Bed Company’s foundry.

Send your answers, together with your full contact details, to: Cornish Bed Company competition, westmag@ westernmorningnews.co.uk to arrive by August 26. Normal terms apply, West magazine will not share your details.

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COSY Striped throw £12.99 HomeSense

fave!

Dipped bamboo wooden table set £75 Marquis & Dawe

the

wishlist West’s top picks for spending your time and money this week

Golden chunky necklace £14.99 New Look

Boho table lamp £35 Very

Orange floral tin £6.99 HomeSense

PRETTY Botanical floral print cushion £19 M&Co 6

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Wishlist

Cremeria fondue set £400 Amara

COOL Robert Welch pinch pot set £40 Houseology

Pompom clutch £25 East

STORE WEres ADORE: Tiger Sto This Copenhagen chain now has two branches in the South West and both the Plymouth and Exeter outlets are rammed full of quirky and colourful creations that, true to their ethos are usually “things you never knew existed”.

These include homeware, toys, electronics, and fashion, mostly at surprisingly low

BY: JAZ REILLY

Store we adore...

prices. The aim is, they say, to inspire customers to try new things, to be creative and to enjoy themselves with family and friends. Hot news - the business is planning to change its name to Flying Tiger.

Find Tiger branches at Plymouth’s Drake Circus and Exeter’s Princesshay shopping centres www.tiger-stores.com.

RETRO 1958 armchair £585 Oliver Bonas

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talking points Gillian Molesworth

Story of my life...

Horse sense?

You’re telling me! have renewed appreciation for anyone who keeps horses, because GOOD LORD are they a lot of work. It is all-consuming.

Your day starts early on summer mornings, when you have to bring them in to their stable, and ends last thing at night, when you turn appear please? With some disinthem out to their field. You have to fectant at the bottom? feed them, exercise them, groom Each horse has a different them, sort out their medical needs thing you need to sort out – like, and make sure they’re comfortit’s sensitive to flies and midges, able and happy at all times. Not or it can’t eat too much grass, or easy. it needs to eat more grass, or it We’ve got three at the moment mustn’t wear this or that type of – a new one has arrived and we’re rug or sleep on this or that kind of looking after a friend’s until she is bedding. home from holiday. I feel like I’m Right now my maternal inback in the dark ages of having stincts are in overdrive and I am a new baby – only I’ve got three fretting a lot. I’ve woken in the babies, and they’re enormous. middle of the night in a blind Having just set up our stables, panic, thinking: I put on bug rugs we’re still trying to get into rouand it’s raining! Should I have put tines and sort out things like on lightweight turnouts? Are they storage.

That’s going to freeze???? another thing – a Then I try to reaslot of stuff comes sure myself: they’ll Right now, I feel with horses, it’s be fine, they surlike I’m back in quite remarkable. vive in the wild, it’s the dark ages There are bales summer. I still can’t of hay and straw fall back to sleep. of having a new and miscanthus It may come as baby – only I’ve (that’s elephant a surprise to non got three babies, grass, aka horse’s horse owners that bedding) and big, the amount of time and they’re big bags of food. that you spend enormous Currently I’m riding your horse is shifting it all a tiny proportion to around our availthe time you spend able space like one of those block generally sorting it out. puzzles with a missing block. I That being said, I’ve had kids dream of large sheds. between the ages of 11 and 15 over Then, you have to figure out every day (as well as my own) and where to put the copious amount they love all the horsey stuff. So of poo and dirty bedding that that’s a result: the youngsters are you get through in a day, and it outside, interacting with nature, has to be out of sight and away learning new skills, working tofrom water and not bothering gether and laughing a lot. your neighbours. As well as the It’s just me that’s on the verge big shed, could I have a convenof a nervous breakdown. Rome ient crack in the earth suddenly wasn’t built in a day…

I

MAGICAL

monochrome

Black corded lace dress £60 JD Williams

Looking stylish on a white carpet, Lorraine Kelly shone at the recent Star Trek Beyond premiere in a monochrome lace dress from her own collection at JD Williams, which she teamed with a metallic clutch. Her black corded lace dress is now on sale too, reduced from £75 to £60. Or you can make the look your own with one of these ‘take on the trend’ ensembles from the high street.

steal her

style

OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN

OPTION A LACE Twiggy lace dress £32 Accessorize

OPTION B EMBELLISHED Embellished shift dress £78, Very

Gillian Molesworth is a journalist and mum-of-two who grew up in the USA and moved to north Cornwall when she met her husband.

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13.08.16

Just

LOOK GOOD IN RIO! Tonia Couch, the diver from Plymouth, made sure she went off to the Rio Olympics looking her best, West has discovered. In the lead-up to Rio, Tonia was spotted visiting the high-end beauty salon Satori in Plymouth’s Drake Circus.

Tonia says: “I love coming into Satori and always feel rejuvenated after enjoying one of their many treatments.

“With my line of work it’s really important to look after yourself, especially with being in and out of the water most of the time, I like to know that I’m doing my best to care for my nails and skin.” Tonia was seen stepping out fresh faced and relaxed after enjoying a pedicure at Satori, as well as getting some help perfecting her eyebrows. Smart lady.

Gossip, news, trend setters and more – you heard all the latest juicy stuff here first!

!

‘I TRULY REGRET MY SURGERY’

[ [ ‘Yes, I never miss an episode of The Archers - do you?’

CAMILLA’S AN ARCHERS FAN It’s official – The Duchess of Cornwall listens to The Archers. When she was in Exeter recently visiting the Taste Of The West food fair, Camilla was overheard jokingly asking the egg producers of Blackacre Farm in Somerset whether their eggs were “as good as the Fairbrothers”. She’s clearly been following the Radio 4 saga of Rex and Toby

between us

Fairbrother and their (so far hugely unsuccessful) business venture called Upper Class Eggs.

West can confidently reveal that Blackacre Farm’s eggs – all freerange and holding not one but five prestigious Gold Taste of the West Awards – are far, far better than those produced by the flaky Fairbrother boys.

We feel really sorry for the actress BRITT EKLAND, who admits that a botched surgical procedure on her lips nearly ruined her career.

The former Bond girl, now 73, opened up about her cosmetic surgery experience on ITV’s Loose Women recently.

“They put a lot of stuff in my lips and I’ve had to live with it,” she said.

“Now I’ve taken it away - they give you injections to melt it - I still have a bit, but I’ve had to live with newspapers printing horrible pictures of

me saying, ‘Oh God, look at Britt Ekland. Why did she do this?’”

The Swedish star said the person who did the procedure “used me as some sort of experiment”.

“For a very long time, I couldn’t really do television or films.

“When you’re in the theatre, you’re very lucky because you have a distance so you can present yourself with something else.

“But it’s been very, very traumatic in my life.” Poor Britt.

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Proud: Jean Nicholl from Sennen took her Ferguson T20 tractor to the St Buryan Rally in west Cornwall

in pictures Free ride: Steam engines were on display at Boconnoc Steam Fair near Lostwithiel

All aboard: The Charlestown raft race was great fun

Wow: The Cornish Man Engine mining heritage puppet is the height of three double decker buses

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talking points A history

of the

WEST in

100

objects 7: Harvest jug

QUIZ Of the Week:

Made near Barnstaple, 1703

How Westcountry is:

Your handbag?

1. Are you carrying: A) An Aspinal of London tote?

B) A leather-lined satchel from Rare Pear of Topsham?

C) A reusable bag from Tesco?

2. Who is your favourite handbag designer?

A. Chanel B) Michael Kors C) You what?

3. What are your must-have handbag essentials?

A. An iPhone, iPad, Oyster Card and oversized sunglasses.

B) Sun cream, wallet and whatever the kids need for the day.

C) A horse wormer and a pasty.

4. How many handbags do you own?

A. Put it this way, they have their own

B) C)

room in my house.

One handbag, two beach bags.

You need more than one?

5. If you had all the money in the world, which handbag would you buy?

A. A Hermès Birkin Crocodile Tote (£22,709) – a girl can dream.

B) A Becksondergard suede leather tote from Roo’s Beach in Cornwall (£125).

C) I’d like a ripstop nylon bag for my saddle please (£52.95, Stowaway).

6. What does your go-to evening handbag look like?

A Miu Miu Matelassé leather clutch B) A black and gold embellished number from House of Fraser C) Evening bag? What are the pockets in your jeans for, then?

It features a hunter and his excited hounds in pursuit of an extremely fat hare

results:

Mostly As) Your handbag is not Westcountry at all. Not that this is bothering you, as we understand you are currently on holiday in St Tropez.

Julien Parsons is the Senior Collections Officer, The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. He says: While some of us spend August beside the seaside, for farmers it can be the busiest month of the year. This was certainly true in the past, when August meant hard work. So a harvest jug seems an appropriately seasonal choice.

This one is a remarkable survival.

It features a hunter and his excited hounds in pursuit of an extremely, fat hare. The inscription explains ‘the fearful hare doth run a pace because the honds are on thare chace’. I see no fear on the face of this hare, he’s bigger than the dogs, and grinning. The jug is dated 1703 – the reign of Queen Anne.

Before mechanisation, farmers relied on an army of seasonal workers to bring home the harvest.

Mostly Bs) Your handbag is a little bit Westcountry. Well done on your practical approach to life.

Mostly Cs) Congratulations! Your handbag is proper Westcountry. That’s if you actually own one.

They toiled in the fields with scythes and sickles, bundling the cut wheat into sheaves to dry. Thirsty work, no doubt.

In north Devon, so the story goes, they were rewarded with refreshments brought to them in jugs. The term ‘harvest jug’ is used for round-bodied vessels made near Barnstaple or Bideford and decorated with agricultural scenes and verse.

Surely this hare and hounds jug was too fine to be carried into the fields. More likely it was used in celebrations, for August was also the time for festivals and fairs marking the end of the agricultural year.

#7

On display in Gallery 4, the Royal Albert Museum, Exeter www.rammuseum.org.uk Competition winners: Congratulations to Sarah Rego from Moretonhampstead who won a pair of tickets to Mitch Tonks’ Rockfish Crab Party in Dartmouth, worth £25 each

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Details Fashion-forward accessories in the finest possible materials add a sense of style

Linings The softest glove leather money can buy is used for the shoe lining

Leather The best English leather makes comfortable shoes that age beautifully

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THE ANATOMY OF A

perfect SHOE A young couple from Topsham, east Devon are making some of the best shoes money can buy. Here’s how...

By Gracie Stewart

ust over a year ago, husband and wife duo Ben and Sarah Sherlock decided to take the plunge and launch their own shoe-making company in Devon, called Rare Pear. They have started from scratch, fuelled by the conviction that they could make beautifully-crafted footwear to the highest standards. But they have good reason to have such a healthy dose of self-belief, as I discover when we meet.

Sarah has a long and glittering career in fashion under her belt: “I worked in the States for Calvin Klein for before returning to the UK, where I worked for high street brands and fashion houses,” she tells me.

“At the time I was doing a great deal of trend forecasting and colour prediction.

It was then that I moved into footwear and met my husband Ben, who had trained as a

J

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Ben and Sarah Sherlock run their shoe business in Devon

shoemaker. We were both working for Lacoste in London,” Sarah explains.

The pair had their first child in 2010 and then moved to Holland, where they worked together for Tommy Hilfiger. There, baby number two was born in 2013. In 2014 the young family moved back to the UK, to the pretty riverside town of Topsham, near Exeter. It was a conscious decision not to set up their fledgling business back in London, Sarah explains: “We

very much knew we wanted to set up the business in Devon. Creating our brand, away from London, had been and continues to be a real positive for us. We are making something we love and believe in, while being in the place we love.

“There is a perception that if a brand is not set up in London and it has been developed elsewhere in the UK, that it must almost be a little behind in style or thinking. This is a huge misconception!” Sarah says.

“Ben and I are also very passionate about British manufacturing. The quality of materials and the traditional skills used in the UK are some of the best in the world. British footwear is rightly regarded as some of the finest you can buy,” she adds. Indeed, Ben started his shoe-making career at the iconic UK shoe company, Clarks, which still has its head office in Street, Somerset, where it began in 1825.

Sarah’s passion, meanwhile, has always been a creative one: “I love colour. Ben builds fantastic shoes and I try to make them look beautiful,” she says.

And it would seem that creativity runs in the

‘We are making something we love and believe in,

in the place that we love’

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People

The finest leather is used in the shoe making

blood. Sarah’s mother ran two very successful men’s tie businesses in her time. “Mum used to sell her ties in Liberty. She is one of the most creative people I know. I was lucky enough to grow up in a house surrounded by printed fabrics, silks, beautiful oil paintings and delicate watercolours,” she recalls.

Ben and Sarah say the greatest reward for their current lifestyle is being able to live and raise their children in Devon. “The goal has always been to be together, doing what we love, where we love to be,” says Sarah.

Sarah’s links with Devon date back to her childhood in the Home Counties. “A friend of my mother’s was an artist called Clifford Fishwick.

He and his wife were both successful painters.

We would come to Topsham as children to visit them. My sister and I adored coming to Devon, it was then that I fell in love with the place,” she reminisces.

According to Sarah, the process from an idea to a finished shoe is very fluid. She and Ben are able to develop ideas very swiftly, unlike the big brands which plan their ranges 18 months in advance. “We have created some classic silhouettes that are well designed and beautifully constructed. These can then be added to and adapted based on current trends.

“Ben and I work together on the ideas we have, what we have seen that we like, and what we want or feel we need to add to the collection.

Sometimes it is just as simple as, let’s make one of these, and so we do. We work very much as a tag team,” she explains.

The couple use the very best quality materials as their starting point. “All our footwear is lined in the finest grade of glove leather we can find.

We use Spanish leather soles for durability and all the straps are the best bridle leather, that will age gracefully, while always remaining classic in

look.” Sarah says. The shoes start at £90 a pair, the bags at £50 and all are available online.

Looking ahead, Ben and Sarah would like to continue their journey while building upon the start they’ve made. “We want to create a brand that people choose to come back to because they love the simple, classic, yet a little bit quirky approach we have to footwear and handbags.” www.rarepear.co.uk 15

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People

[

KARI FURRE

Going the distance

[

Kari Furre, aged 66, has just swum the entire length of Lake Windermere (10.5 miles) and is just planning an equally arduous swim in the seas of south Devon. She tells Fran McElhone how and why - she pushes herself to such extremes of endurance

ari Furre’s love affair with wild swimming started early, she tells me: “My father had a digger, and one day he just dug and dug until he’d created a pond in our garden which I spent a lot of time swimming in with all the frogs and dead leaves,” she recalls.

“That’s probably what made wild swimming quite normal for me,” continues Kari, who lives in Harbertonford, near Totnes in south Devon.

This July, Kari swam the epic 10.5 mile length of England’s largest lake, Lake Windermere, accompanied by two friends, her son on a paddleboard and a friend in a motorised boat.

“I swam for about six hours, eating every 45 minutes,” she says. “And I had the most memorable meal in the middle – a white bread roll with grated cheese from Spar and a cup of instant coffee. It was absolutely delicious - food always tastes better mid-swim!”

As a teenager back in the 1960s, Kari, who is now 66, was one of a small number of girls who completed their Gold Duke of Edinburgh award. To mark her 65th birthday, she decided to attempt her Diamond Duke of Edinburgh award and chose swimming the length of Windermere as the “perfect challenge”. Indeed, she was used as a poster girl for the scheme, which is celebrating its diamond anniversary this year.

And she is by no means resting on her laurels now she has finished the swim. Her sights are now fixed on a new target swimming all the way from Dartmouth Castle to Start Point later this summer. It’s a similar distance to the Lake Windermere swim, she explains, and she is very much looking for-

K

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portraits: Steve Haywood

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People ward to it. “People swim for different reasons. I like the journey. There’s something very special about immersing yourself in the landscape, and for me, it comes from the creative part of my brain.

“You get a heightened sense of being. It’s an art process rather than a sport.”

Indeed Kari, whose favourite swimming haunts include the River Dart and Hope Cove, doesn’t actually call swimming in the outdoors, be it rivers, lakes or the sea, “wild” at all. “I just call it going for a swim!” she laughs.

The two mile section of the River Dart from Totnes to Dartington Hall is a regular foray for Kari. “I get it all to myself, it’s amazing, and it’s completely free! I used to go up and down, up and down for training for Windermere. It’s good fresh water, very shallow and safe, and there are lots of teenagers enjoying themselves there at the moment which is lovely.

“I mix up river and sea swimming. I think I prefer rivers but there’s an iconic swim in the sea around Burgh Island I use for training which is just brilliant.”

Another favourite swim is a three and threequarter mile stretch downstream from the village of Aveton Gifford to the sea estuary at Bantham, along the River Avon. “It’s very serene,” she explains.

“There’s a sandy bottom and the water’s always really clear so you can watch the seaweed beneath you. You get a lot of assistance from the current so you feel like an Olympian! It feels like the 19th century children’s fairytale The Water-Babies.”

It’s all a far cry from her early working life, which was very firmly on dry land: Kari had a career working in repertory theatre for 20 years, then worked as as an exhibition designer. She is now by no means retired - she works as a successful and much-collected sculptor. At first glance, her works appear to be created from metal and leather, then you notice that they are in fact created using fish skin leather, suitably enough for someone so influenced by water. She says it is a nod to her Norwegian roots (her father

was Norwegian, her mother from Totnes) that she sources the fish skin for her craft from Brixham chefs who save the skins for her. She describes her fascination with the material as a subconscious link to her amphibious alter ego.

But throughout her life, Kari has always been a swimmer, regularly clocking up 30 odd lengths in swimming pools throughout her life. And a flirtation with scuba diving, which she learnt aged 35 when her son was 10 so they could go together, also paved the way for her later life amid the blue.

It was when she hit her 50s that she decided she wanted “something else” from life and long distance outdoor swimming became part of her identity.

She took a short course with a swimming coach who was renowned for his interest with the wellbeing philosophy the Alexander Technique. This kickstarted a newfound appreciation for technique and the therapeutic benefits of swimming. The first of Kari’s many adventures in the water started with an “idyllic” two mile swim between Greek islands.

“You could say I had a midlife rebellion,” she says.

“Part of the reason it didn’t happen sooner was that water quality back in the 1960s and 70s wasn’t as good as it is now, and nor was the technology - people 18

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had to make their own wetsuits. It’s all about the zeitgeist really.”

Kari then became a swimming coach, using Ashburton’s community outdoor pool. Her speciality is treating swimming “like an art form” and giving unsure people the confidence to swim.

“I don’t push people up and down the pool,” she says of her teaching style. “I have a sculptor’s eye - I’m good at looking at people and working out what to do with their technique.”

Kari swims herself four or five times a week but sticks more to the pool in the winter months. She admits that sometimes the brutality of the cold can get to her, particularly as she has Raynaud’s Syndrome, in which blood circulation is reduced in extreme cold. Yet she never lets it conquer her. “The swimmers who swim without wetsuits are just so tough,” she says. “I’m a bit more namby- pamby.”

I disagree - as would most people - but Kari

[

insists she she is no risk taker and always does things safely. “I have a sense of self-preservation.

I don’t ever mess with the sea or waterfalls because you can’t win.

“I think a bit of healthy fear is good for you.

But everyone has different perceptions of fear – for some people putting their faces into water is scary. For me it’s cycling - the scariest thing for me would be cycling around Totnes! But I do believe that if you try, you can achieve anything.”

In fact, she struggles to decide which has been her most epic adventure to date, as there seem to have been so many.

There was the time she swam across the Lake District’s Crummock Water in the dark. But even that didn’t faze her: “The nice thing about swimming at my age is that middle-aged ladies have a layer of fat which aids buoyancy. So we can be really good at it while young athletic teenage

[

‘Middle-aged ladies have a layer of fat which aids buoyancy and helps us be good at swimming’

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People

boys sink to the bottom,” she laughs.

“It’s quite like learning to drive a car. You have to coordinate all of your arms and legs, and your position and rotation, and then take the water into consideration.

“I prefer swimming alone. But there is no need to if you are unsure - there is a strong Facebook community of swimmers and there’s always a swim going on somewhere. I often get involved, but to be honest more for the social side of things - and the cake!”

Kari’s sister lives near her in Devon and her son, a marine biology graduate and London Triathlon winner, visits home frequently. They often hit the water for a swim together, which sounds like an enviable and rather special mother-son activity.

“I count myself very lucky that we go out swimming together,” she says. “My son was in my support team, saying throughout the Windermere swim, ‘Come on mother, more swimming!’ I used to be the one pressuring him to exercise and now it’s come back at me!”

Kari’s husband died in 1992, and it was in part his health issues that saw her embrace exercise as an elixir of life. “I used to believe that if you

[

got up and went running and you didn’t eat rubbish, you’d be immortal,” she explains. “I know now that exercise doesn’t make you immortal. But it does make your quality of life much better.”

What advice does she have for would-be wild swimmers? “Learn to swim properly,” she recommends. “If you have a good technique, it will not only make it easier but more fun. Everyone wants to master their front crawl but don’t forget to play in the water try underwater s o m e r s a u l t s, jumping in, climbing out of the pool. If you’re used to being upside down, then you’re not going to be frightened if you’re suddenly wiped out by a wave.

“Swimming is the most remarkable activity.

You can do it from before you can speak, right up to old age. I’ve seen people who can barely move about on land but chuck them in the water and they get their independence back.”

She adds: “I’m a water junkie. There are a lot of people who don’t like chlorinated pools or only swim in chlorinated pools, but I love anything - I’d swim in a puddle. I see no real reason why I can’t go on swimming forever.”

‘Exercise doesn’t make you immortal. But it does make your quality of life much better’

[

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recipe

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events

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Interiors

All in the detail This former Baptist chapel in Salcombe has been transformed into a stylish and comfortable home beside the sea, thanks to clever architecture and lots of cool, contemporary detailing

by Charlotte Dear

nce a Baptist chapel, this beautiful property in Salcombe, south Devon, was converted back in 2000 to make three homes, each with a story to tell. Ash Mill Developments took on the task of transforming the building into contemporary homes, and the result is one of style, simplicity and distinctive character.

A clever combination of cutting edge technology, natural materials and traditional skills has transformed this property, Number 2, The Sanctuary, a 2,400 square-foot stunning Salcombe home.

Inside, a welcoming entrance hall guides you past a useful boot room, WC and laundry room, before opening out into the breakfast room.

The hub of this home is the open-plan kitchen, dining and sitting area, which has been created

O

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Interiors

to make the most of this property’s panoramic views, which include East Portlemouth’s beaches. The simple, minimalist design of white walls and timber floors serves to emphasize the vistas beyond. Clever use of glass and windows has brought as much light as possible into the property, with skylights and glass ceilings all helping to bring the outside in.

The property is currently for sale, offering some lucky buyer a chance to enjoy a wonderful home in one of the country’s most sought-after yachting locations. Estate agent Harriet Cundy of Marchand Petit says: ‘It is quite rare “It is quite rare to find the combination of space, character to find this and high specification in equal combination of measures and Number 2 The space, character Sanctuary, thanks to innovative architectural input and time and high taken over arranging the interspecification in nal layout with imagination and flair, achieves that equilibrium.” equal measures’ The kitchen, which has chrome units, marble worktops and extensive storage, will appeal to any keen chef. Once prepared, meals can be enjoyed in the dining space, which sits on a slightly lower level and is beautifully lit by the towering windows and glass roof above. The main sitting area offers the perfect space in which to relax at the end of a long day on the water and benefits from a floor to ceiling window panel displaying views across the harbour as well as an inset fireplace for those chillier evenings.

This property is arranged over three levels, The property has a spectacular view of Salcombe with two bedrooms, a bathroom and a shower

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The dining space is lit from above thanks to its glass roof

room on the first floor and a further two bedrooms and bathrooms on the second. The bedrooms have been styled with the same contemporary flair as downstairs, with bright white walls and natural carpets once again beautifully framing the blues and greens of the harbour and landscape outside.

One of the most spectacular features of this property is the sun terrace, as Harriet explains, “The fact that it also has an outside terrace with stunning views across the harbour and parking in central Salcombe is an added bonus.” This private space sets the scene for many summer barbecues with family as the harbour boats come and go beyond.

When you can tear yourself away from the property, you’ll find it is in the very heart of thriving Salcombe. Just a minute’s walk from Salcombe’s Fore Street, this is the perfect base from which to explore the many boutique shops, cafes, restaurants and galleries this much sought-after harbour town has to offer. Further afield, this is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with hidden coves to be discovered at low tide.

2, The Sanctuary, is for sale at £1.395 million visit www.marchandpetit.co.uk

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GET THE

LOOK

Simple, stylish and modern ideas for contemporary chic decor

Fuchsia cushion £26 Amara

Tealight holders £50 for two Amara

Wooden bowl with servers £15 Wilkinson

Five shelf unit £160 Cuckooland

Leather chair and footstool £249 Very

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01/08/2016 12:41:00

Ask Gracie...

Want to look your best this week? Our styling expert Gracie Stewart of Exeter can help you look your best, in every possible way. All you have to do is ask...

Denim distress Q

Magisculpt jeans £40 JD Williams Levi’s light wash distressed boyfriend jeans £75 House of Fraser

“I really struggle when it comes to buying jeans. How do I know which pair is right for me when there’s so many lengths and styles to choose from?”

GF, Falmouth

[[ Denim gets bigger when you wear it, but it comes straight back to the original size once you wash it

When buying denim, a lot of people don’t realise that your body proportion is actually more important than your dress size.

You need to know if you are long or short-waisted. For example, if you are a short girl but longer in the torso, I would recommend going for a highwaisted style to elongate your legs.

You should always buy denim as it fits in the store. Don’t buy smaller. Yes, denim gets bigger when you wear it but it comes straight back to the original size once you wash it.

Finding the perfect pair of jeans is all about the comfort factor. If they aren’t comfortable, you aren’t going to be able to wear them all day. I always do the sit test - if you can’t sit down in them, don’t buy them.

Lastly, find a style that is true to you. Most people think they only suit one certain cut but you’ll be surprised how many you suit once you actually give them a try.

Abigail straight leg jeans £49.95 White Stuff

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Holiday hero: Everything stick £10 Topshop

Pack like a beauty editor “I’m heading to Spain for a summer holiday, how do I pack like an efficient beauty editor when I want to take my entire makeup bag along?” FH, Plympton

Q

The art of packing light is something that a lot of people struggle with but, over the years, I have learned that when it comes to packing beauty products it’s all about being strategic (and that doesn’t just mean reaching for the ‘mini’ versions). Here are a couple of easy tips that I use for packing light while still being able to take everything I need: 1. Chubby sticks are your new travel companion Always go for products that are in stick form – stick foundations, blushes or brushes built in with

Gracie’s shopping list

powder. These take up less space in your bag and make for an easy application. If they’re dual-ended or multipurpose, even better. I love the Tophop Everything Stick, which is available in six different shades and can be used on the eyes, lips and cheeks.

2. Simplify your skincare routine When travelling, focus on the basics by going for products that have multiple functions like a tinted moisturiser, a makeup removing cleanser or a SPF that is also a face cream. A fail-proof combination is a cleansing oil (to remove make-up, cleanse and hydrate the skin), plus a serum and a moisturising sun block.

Pink belted kimono jacket, £34.99 New Look For your evening wardrobe invest in this belted kimono jacket - the perfect lightweight cover-up this season.

Smart sneakers Q

Ayda crackle leather trainers £98 Jigsaw

“Can I wear trainers in summer and still look pulled together?” SA, Taunton

It doesn’t matter the season— trainers are always a good idea. In summer you can balance out a bold dress with a simple and sleek pair of kicks or, for something a little unexpected, play with contrasting colours, including bright footwear. You can even give a fitted dress a tomboy twist by styling it with sporty sneakers.

fave!

Autograph trainers £49.50 Marks & Spencer Chlorine double zip sneakers £84.99 Office

Vitness Beauty vitamin tonic, £35 (14 day trial box) www.wearevitness.com As we get older, our body’s ability to produce collagen slows down. This natural ageing process is one reason why fine lines and wrinkles start appearing. But fear not, Vitness has come to the rescue with their beauty drinks – packed full of collagen, retinol, anti-ageing vitamins and powerful antioxidants.

Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Instant Soft-Focus beauty flash primer, £38.50 House of Fraser An anti-age elixir meets complexion-enhancing light diffuser. This gives skin an instant spotlight effect. Use underneath foundation, on its own for a relaxed, dewy look or on top of make-up for an instant pick-me-up.

Got a style or beauty question? Email Gracie Stewart at westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk with the subject Ask Gracie

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M&S Collection pyjama bottoms £14 Marks & Spencer

Rosie for Autograph short pyjama set £30 Marks & Spencer

Sleep shorts £14 River Island Peony nightdress £8 George at ASDA

Elephant print short pyjama set £24 Accessorize

Pyjama Party s tempting as it might be to throw on a ratty old t-shirt when you climb into the bed, the best way to unwind after a busy day is to indulge in beautiful sleepwear. We’re not suggesting you whip out a silk robe and fluffy kitten heels but putting a little effort into choosing your pyjamas might make going to bed just a little more enjoyable. This stunning set from Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (who grew up in Tavistock) for Marks & Spencer is perfect for warm summer nights, and the Monsoon pyjamas are lovely enough to wear by day, too.

A

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Fashion Fran pyjama top £59 pyjama trousers £59 both Monsoon

Floral pyjama bottoms £9 George at ASDA

Retro floral printed nightie £20 Boux Avenue

fave!

B By Ted Baker kimono £42 Debenhams

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01/08/2016 14:09:30

Wellbeing

the boost

Life just got better. Our wellness guru Charlotte Dear has handpicked the latest health secrets and expert advice to help you be your best self, everyday

Fitting it in Struggling to find time for exercise in your hectic routine?

With Johnson & Johnson’s new 7 Minute Workout app, making every minute count has never been easier. There are 72 fast, simple, science-based exercises to suit every fitness level, plus motivational music and experts to show you the way. Download for free at iTunes, visit www. apple.com and give it a try

WATER GOOD IDEA...

Anyone who enjoys a long day out exploring the great British countryside on foot or bicycle will understand the importance of staying hydrated while on the go. But what happens when your water supply runs out in the middle of your run or ride?

Fortunately, the new Grayl ultralight water purifier bottle removes nasty bugs, viruses and bacteria in just 15 seconds, allowing you to drink clean water anytime, anywhere www. thefowndry.com

Get sporty From August 15-19, Lemon Quay in Truro will be transformed into a sports and activity hub as part of the Get Active Truro festival. With an abundance of free activities on offer, the biannual event welcomes all ages and fitness levels to get stuck in and try something new. From 10am-4pm each day, with table tennis, basketball, badminton, rounders, dance and even climbing – so what are you waiting for? www.enjoytruro.co.uk/getactivetruro

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Dip in!

Recent research suggests that supermarket dips such as hummus and taramasalata are often laden with excess salt and fat, with a 100g serving of shop-bought hummus containing almost 15% of the recommended daily intake of salt for women. With garden party season in full swing, now is the perfect time to try making your own dips and River Cottage’s selection of tasty and healthy recipes is a great place to start - check out Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s ideas from his east Devon farm at www.ivercottage.net/recipes

Yoga time Everyone’s talking about the new Gaia Spa, a luxury wellness centre set within the grounds of Grade I listed Boringdon Hall in Plympton, south Devon. Opened on August 1, the brand new spa is inspired by healing goddess Mother Gaia and offers therapies designed to nourish mind, body and spirit. Book your Calming, Balancing or Awakening Break at www.gaiaboringdon.co.uk

Escape to Sidmouth for a rejuvenating spiritual escape at Jala Flow Yoga. With two nights’ accommodation complete with daily breakfast, dinner and afternoon tea, enjoy yoga classes and a spa session with hydrotherapy pool, steam room and sauna. Design your own experience based on your individual needs and time, making sure to explore the beautiful surrounding area while you’re there. www. jalaflowyoga.com

What’s coming up? Tweet us your wellbeing diary dates

@WMNWest or email westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 31

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PHOTOGRAPHY: MATT AUSTIN

Wellbeing

Naturally Bridie’s

Mediterranean twists Bridie Nicol says: When I have friends come round I often get them to help roll these Mediterranean twists up with me while we sit and have a good giggle.

You will need:

Method:

2 tbsp olive oil 2 aubergine 3 red sweet peppers 1 large red onion, finely chopped 3-4 garlic bulbs, chopped 2 beefsteak tomatoes 4 tomatoes 400mlpassata sauce 1 tsp balsamic vinegar 1 cube vegetable stock 1 tsp celery seeds 5 stems of basil leaves, cut up 2 courgettes 170g feta cheese

1.

Preheat the oven to 190°C, (170°C Fan, 375°F, Gas 5).

2.

Slice the aubergine and peppers lengthwise into thin, flat strips, then brush lightly with olive oil on both sides and place into two oven dishes. Bake until soft.

7.

Cut up a handful of fresh basil and pop into the sauce, along with some celery seeds.

8.

Cut the courgette into strips lengthwise. Cut the feta into 2cm x 4cm strips.

3.

When both dishes are soft, take out of the oven and allow to cool. While you wait for this you can get on with the sauce part.

9.

4.

Place the onion and garlic into an ovenproof frying pan that will be able to go into the oven at a later stage. Cook on a medium heat for about five minutes.

Now on a flat surface place a courgette strip, layer it first with aubergine, then sweet pepper. At one end place a feta cube, pick up the end of all three ingredients and roll.

Once rolled to the end, place the twirl into the pan with the rich tomato sauce in it.

5.

Add in the beefsteak tomatoes and tomatoes and cook for a further five minutes.

6.

Pour in the passata sauce, balsamic vinegar

and vegetable stock, cook for a further ten minutes

10. Cover the pan with foil and place into the oven for 45 minutes. For the final 15 minutes remove the foil to allow the top to crisp a little in the heat.

@naturally_bridie

Bridie Nicol runs nutrition advice business Naturally Bridie in east Devon www.naturallybridie.co.uk 32

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04/08/2016 11:29:51

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09/08/2016 11:01:17

Enjoy

Panfried Salmon with Shallot Lyonnaise Potatoes Recipe: Carol Bowen Ball, author of Esse’s The Four Seasons Cookbook

Ingredients

Method:

200g new potatoes 4 large shallots, peeled and finely chopped 50ml vegetable oil 100ml white wine 5g fresh basil, coarsely chopped 2g fresh tarragon, coarsely chopped 10g snipped chives 10g fresh flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped Juice of 1⁄2 lemon 1 large tomato, skinned, seeded and chopped Salt and freshly ground black pepper 15g butter 2 x 150g salmon fillets

1.

Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, cut each potato in half and set aside.

2.

Heat one-third of the oil in a pan, add half of the shallots and cook for 5 minutes. Add the white wine and cook until it has almost completely evaporated. Remove from the heat, add another one-third of the oil, the basil, tarragon, chives, parsley, lemon juice, tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste.

3.

Heat most of the remaining oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add the potatoes

and cook until starting to colour. Add the remaining shallots, butter and seasoning to taste. Cook until golden.

4.

Meanwhile, brush the salmon fillets with any remaining oil and cook in a non-stick pan until tender. Cook skin-side down first for about 4 minutes, until the skin is crispy, then turn over and cook for a further 1 minute.

5.

To serve, spoon the potatoes onto a plate, spoon over the herby sauce and top with a salmon fillet.

If you’re looking for a light, tasty and healthy lunch then this is perfect summer eating. It’s also smart enough to serve at a dinner party as your main course

Serves: 2

The Rangemoors Hearth & Cook showroom in Marsh Barton, Exeter supplies the full range of Esse cookers: www.hearthandcook.com 34

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Drink

Happy h ur with drinks expert April Marks

April says: Hamish Lothian is a workaholic. Owner of four of Exeter’s hipster bars, he set up a brewery and smoke house in his flagship pub The Fat Pig in John Street. His most recent project is the installation of the country’s smallest boutique distillery. Labelled ‘The Bedroom Distillery’ his first beautiful copper still is in what was once his upstairs bedroom. A second still will soon sit in the former bathroom.

I caught up with him recently to find out what drives him to take on so much. “I get bored easily,” he tells me, thrusting a glass of 44% Bad Fagin’s Gin in my direction at 9:30 in the morning (not a problem for a pro like me). I’m blown

away - how does he do it?

It’s not delicate, but it has character; a punchy spiciness from cardamom, grains of paradise, ginger and cinnamon; kaffir lime leaves give it fragrance while fresh orange and grapefruit come through on the finish.

Hamish won’t buy in neutral spirit like some. He produces neutral spirit himself, using the most mineral-free water in the country (which just happens to come from Dartmoor) so it doesn’t interfere with flavour. I also try his vodka and apple pie moonshine - delicious.

Pop in to Exeter’s The Fat Pig, Rusty Bike, Tabac or Pig & Pickle to sample them all for yourself.

April Marks is co-founder of Regency Wines Ltd Exeter @regencywinesuk

His latest project is

setting up the country’s

smallest distillery

Festival fun Bradninch in mid Devon is staging its first ever wine festival this month. Taking place on Saturday 27th August (that’s Bank Holiday weekend sorted then) there will be wines to taste from all over the world plus a barbecue. Tickets are now available from The White Lion in Bradninch.

Sweet treat MIXING IT UP

The Fat Pig’s Ultimate Gin Cocktail A Spanish Goblet (which holds a pint) is loaded with ice, then a measure of Exeter distillery oak-aged gin, chestnut cask-aged gin and Bad Fagin’s sipping gin is poured in, then topped with Fever Tree tonic and garnished with wedges of lime, lemon peel and a sprig of mint. Imbibe and smile. Find this at The Fat Pig in Exeter.

Mád late harvest Tokaji At the end of a meal when you fancy something sweet but can’t manage a dessert this wine is just the ticket. A vivid and lively late harvest wine, the natural sugar concentration is balanced by refreshing acidity. Floral, fruity intense aromas, touch of minerality and fresh fruity lingering finish. You’d be mad not too…

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Drink Beer of the week Now commonly available here, Bear Republic Brewing Company’s Racer 5 (7% ABV) fits most people’s idea of what an American India Pale Ale should be. Light biscuit malt lines up against resinous, orangey hops, a good introduction to the style.

Darren Norbury

talks beer ove a barbecue. A barbecue on a beach, that is. Not a barbecue in the back garden. You never know if your neighbour has some washing out and starting a barbecue then would be really inconsiderate, wouldn’t it? Yes, really inconsiderate. Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

Hopefully, by the time you read this, summer 2016 will have well and truly kicked in and we’ll all be conserving water as an anti-drought precaution. Let’s hope the brewers haven’t had to conserve water, though, and that production is in full flow. While most beer production in the West Country is cask beer, some of it finds its way into bottles (a big market now) and kegs, and increasingly into cans, too.

Now before you start thinking about beer cans from years back, where not only was the beer not great but it carried that tinny taste with it, think again. Cans have a polymer lining between the metal and the beer, sellers love them because they’re easy to stack and display, and drinkers love them because they offer the freshest packaging – no chance of light strike or air getting in.

I

Beer sales rise

British beer sales in the second quarter of 2016 showed sales up 1.5 per cent. The rise means Britons enjoyed 31 million extra pints from April to June, compared with last year. Euro football and Brexit celebration/commiseration maybe?

[[

And they’re ideal to take to the beach. When From further afield, you’re on safe ground you’ve finished with the can, flatwith anything in a can from ten it and carry it back with you the BrewDog, Magic Rock, in a compact space – lighter and Beavertown, Camden and more convenient than an empty Fourpure breweries, the latter’s Bibble (4.2%) bottle. But what to take? session IPA being something I is a tropical Harbour Brewing Company, regularly slip into the basket fruit filled joy. in Bodmin, has its own canning while Mrs Norbury makes big line and its Antipodean IPA decisions in the M&S food hall.

To bibble, (5.5% ABV) with tropical fruit From the other side of the pond, apparently, is notes is a favourite of mine. look out for brews from Flying They also do a session IPA (4.3%) Dog, Brooklyn, Sierra Nevada an old Somerset and a Pilsner (5%). and Anchor. The Americans term for imbibing Wild Beer Company, in the were first into canning and have regularly depths of Somerset, cans beer in really nailed it. Open one of its trademark wild yeast way and their cans of IPA and breathe in Bibble (4.2%) is a tropical fruit those hops. Then pop some more filled joy. (Bibble, apparently is sausages on that barbie… an old Somerset term for imbibing regularly and Darren Norbury is editor of beertoday.co.uk not a Blackadder reference.) @beertoday

FESTIVAL FIXTURES Two beer festival dates for your diary in the Duchy. Camborne Rugby Club is staging a beer festival from August 19-21, while the Launceston Beer Festival returns to the town square on August 26 and 27.

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Ingredient of the Week

Puffballs

with Tim Maddams love the summery sunshine, and beginners. But this is to damn them with faint I’ve been using the weather as an praise. They are such splendid chaps that they excuse to make lots of ice cream need a little more salesmanship than just saying experiments. My latest is the best they are safe and easy to identify. They are like so far: raw milk, honey and eggs. a more mushroomy mushroom in terms of flaIt’s good. It’s even better now vour, if that makes sense, I have added some wild honand they can get quite large, eysuckle. And it was while out though generally speaking picking honeysuckle for anthey tend to be about 8-12cm They are, other batch that I discovered a across. Make sure you pick happily, wonderful thing. them while they are young The puffballs have started. and firm. If you allow the impossible to This fills me with joy, if you spores inside to develop too mistake for any have never seen a giant puff much they are not as good, other fungus ball (Calvatia gigantea) brillike so many things they liant white against the lush suffer with age. so they make green grass then you may be Once you have grabbed a an ultra-safe surprised when you do first couple, they need little in the see one. They look as if they way of preparation, simply introduction must be the result of some unwipe them off with a damp derground chemical leak, so cloth if they look a little dirty unnatural looking as they are. and then slice them and fry But they are of course fungi them in a little bacon fat. and very, very tasty ones too. They are, happiThey are quite spongy so don’t add too much fat ly, impossible to mistake for any other fungus at the start or they will soak it all up. so they make an ultra-safe introduction to the Enjoy the puffballs right now, they are great world of wild fungi for the most fresh-faced of fun, super-tasty, and free.

I

[[

Low carb I very much like to fry puffballs up in chunks with lots of spring onions until they sort of go limp. I then throw in a few eggs and bake in the oven for a few minutes, very nice with a little wild horseradish grated over the top.

The other successful dish I have done with puffballs is to fry off large but thin slices and then use them in place of pasta to make a traditional lasagne al forno – very good indeed and of course handily gluten-free and low carb for those of you who care or indeed have to care. @TimGreenSauce

Tim Maddams is a Devon chef and author of Game: River Cottage Handbook no. 15 (Bloomsbury £14.99) 37

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09/08/2016 12:11:42

culture vulture Our guide to what’s on in the South West by woman-in-theknow Gracie Stewart

Calling all foodie aficionados...

This September, Scilly raises a glass to the very best of its local food and drink when it hosts the month-long inaugural Taste of Scilly festival. Savour the flavours of the islands’ food and drink as local bakers, growers, brewers, fishermen, foragers and chefs come together to share their stories, passions and creativity. Expect special island-hopping food trails, foraging walks, talks and demonstrations. There will also be wine tastings, master classes, crab and lobster evenings, restaurant promotions, local produce markets and beach barbecues. Yum! www.visitislesofscilly.com.

Puttin’ on the Ritz

A spellbinding exhibition Grab your wand and prepare to hop on your Nimbus 3000. A new exhibition in south Devon showcases the original artwork for an upcoming edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The illustrations for the JK Rowling book are by Jim Kay and the Illustrating Harry Potter exhibition has been put together by The National Centre for Children’s Books. As well as the fabulous new artworks, the show will also include a whole summer of magical events, including storytelling, astronomy, a murder mystery, open-air cinema and quidditch lessons (yes, it is a real sport!). Illustrating Harry Potter runs until Tuesday August 30, open daily 10am-5pm at Hannahs at Seale-Hayne (just outside Newton Abbot). Tickets are only £2, www.discoverhannahs.org.

Running every Wednesday night for the month of August, Puttin’ On The Ritz is an all-singing, all-dancing spectacular featuring the most famous songs of the Golden Age of Hollywood, recreated live on stage by a host of fantastic performers. You’ll be taken on a wonderful musical journey featuring the music made famous by Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and many more. Book your tickets and have a night out celebrating some of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time. 8pm every Wednesday in August, adults £11, children £8 at the Palace Theatre, Paignton, 01803 665800, www.palacetheatrepaignton.co.uk

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04/08/2016 11:33:16

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09/08/2016 12:25:08

Enjoy

A WEEKEND IN

Boscastle Try and bag the passenger seat when you head to Boscastle in north Cornwall – the spectacular coastal view as you reach the top of the hill on the approach to this pretty harbour village is second to none. Its name comes from Botreaux Castle, a 12th century motteand-bailey fortress here, of which few traces remain today. Luckily there are lots of other things to visit and see in Boscastle!

Stay: A night’s B&B at the Wellington Hotel costs from £65 (single room) and £135 (double) in the summer season. Non-residents can enjoy a drink or coffee in the bar, as well as eat in (or al fresco, on the new terrace) at its two AA Rosette winning contemporary restaurant headed by chef Kit Davis. Self catering? The Valency B&B is a pretty barn conversion, with a self-catering studio sleeping two at £80 a night during the summer – or book for a week (£525) as a base to explore more of this lovely stretch of the spectacular north

Cornwall coastline here.

Eat: The Riverside’s menu has a focus on locally fished and farmed produce. Its relaxed daytime menu includes lobster, crab and haddock burger with chips, side salad, homemade coleslaw and lemon mayonnaise (£8.95). You can also stay the night: B&B here costs £42.50 per adult sharing a room or £45 in a single. Alternatively, enjoy a splendid full English at the friendly Sails cafe or a cream tea at the centuries-old Harbour Light Tea Garden, now restored to its picture-perfection in the wake of the dramatic floods which struck the village back in 2004.

Do: love

[

in the stretch of rocky river when it’s in tricklemode heading out towards the sea. Beyond the car park, the village is a virtually car-free zone - great for pottering. Follow a path to the harbour mouth in an easy one-mile ‘flip-flops’ walk - you can find the route at www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Explore magic and folklore at the Museum of Witchcraft on the harbourside - it’s fascinating but it advises that that some of the exhibits may be considered controversial for parents of children with a sensitive disposition.

[

Children love to paddle in the stretch of rocky river heading out towards the sea

Children to paddle

Shop:

Roger Irving Little opened his Boscastle Pottery and runs it in the village’s Old Bakery with his son, Tim, and wife Nanette.

Together they

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The Wellington Hotel

make beautiful Mocha Ware ceramics to buy.

A gift shop called Things in the harbour sells covetable gifts and crafts, including jewellery.

Explore: Don’t miss St Kitts Herbery before you turn off the A39 to Boscastle. Stock up here on plants for your own garden apothecary there or indulge in its wonderful range of botanical scents and skincare products, www. stkittsherbery.co.uk.

Visit: King Arthur’s Castle at Tintagel is a great day out, with so much to see. It costs £7.90 for an adult visit (www.english-heritage. org.uk). Throughout the school holidays, there are children’s activities organised here. While you are in Tintagel, visit the village’s charming and historic Old Post Office, plus its tea rooms and gift shops. If surfing is your thing, then head for beautiful Trebarwith Strand two miles along the coast from Tintagel. Warm up after with a hot chocolate at The Strand Cafe.

Food at The Wellington Hotel

Boscastle Pottery

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Enjoy

EATING OUT

The Alverton WORDS: GRACIE STEWART

few weeks ago my boyfriend Kyle and I headed off for a short break at The Alverton Hotel in Truro. This venerable Grade II listed building has had quite a history but is now a chic boutique hotel with a 2AA rosette restaurant - most definitely my kind of place.

It was originally built in the early 1830s, by a chap called William Tweedy who had 13 children and needed a big home for them. Next, it was home to the Bank of Cornwall until the collapse of the Cornish mining industry (and the bank) in the 1870s.

Then it became a convent and home to The Sisters of the Epiphany. The nuns commissioned The Chapel, now known as The Great Hall, in 1883 which was built by John Loughborough Pearson, who also built Truro Cathedral. In 1985 The Alverton became too big for the nuns and it was converted into a county house hotel which was purchased by The Cornish Hotel Collection in 2012. The new owners have since invested considerably in its restoration, creating four star accommodation.

As part of our night away we had a delicious

A

three course dinner at The Alverton Restaurant which was recently awarded its second AA Rosette.

Now, the main road that dips down into Truro doesn’t seem like a likely spot for a tranquil retreat in picturesque gardens, so it was a genuine surprise to wind up the long drive and find ourselves in another world. We found mature gardens with huge trees, an ancient manor house with stained glass windows and a position so far from the road that you can’t see or hear traffic it was a truly a treat, and a retreat.

More surprises revealed themselves inside the historic stone build-

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ing in the form of contemporary styling and décor.

Inside the dining room you can expect well-loved British dishes updated with innovative modern touches. To start, Kyle and I ordered a bottle of the Reserve Malbec (£28), which went down far too easily. For our starter we both ordered the marinated pressed belly pork (£9) which came with cauliflower and apple mash, cider jus and, of course, crackling.

While we wait for the starter to arrive, we were offered warm focaccia and salted butter, which (in an unusual move for us) we turned down - we didn’t want to fill up on bread before we had even begun. A few moments later the pork arrived and, considering how quickly we both devoured the food on our plates, I can without a doubt say it was one of the best dishes we’ve ever eaten.

For the main we decided upon the pan roasted rump of lamb (£19) which was served with champ potato, garlic-roasted vegetables, tomato jam and rosemary jus. As Kyle and I are both born and bred New Zealanders who were brought up on lamb, we were intrigued to see how Cornish lamb compared.

Although I wasn’t a big fan of the tomato jam, which seemed a little out of place, the rest of the dish was an absolute delight. The lamb was seasoned to perfection and expertly cooked. In fact, it was so good it could have been from New Zealand.

To finish we both opted for the Dark Chocolate Fondant (£7) with chocolate soil and Rodda’s clotted cream. Albeit a little on the sweet side, the dish was pure heaven. As a self-confessed chocolate lover, Kyle managed to get every little bit of chocolate sauce off his plate before proceeding to finish mine.

By this time our bottle of red was well and truly empty so we decided it was only right to finish the night on a glass of whisky, although our waitress was determined to give us another bottle of wine to take back to the room, which we politely declined - only because we had an early start the next day.

Whether you’re staying at the hotel or not, The Alverton Restaurant truly does offer a unique and delicious dining experience to remember courtesy of Head Chef Simon George and his brigade.

The Alverton Hotel, Truro, Cornwall, 01872 276633, www.thealverton.co.uk

Expect well-loved British dishes updated with

innovative modern touches

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My Secret Westcountry Will NcNally Will, 51, recently swapped his career as Exeter University’s Director of Tennis to work as a puppeteer. His grandparents were the puppeteers who made Muffin the Mule famous in the 1940s and 50s and today Will performs with the original puppet, made in 1933. He lives in East Budleigh, east Devon with his wife Kate and children Georgie, 11, and Lauren, nine.

My favourite…

Place to visit: It has to be Pennywell Farm, in south Devon. It is so friendly and welcoming.

Muffin loves it that we are down there regularly and Muffin just can’t resist snuggling up with the miniature pigs! It really is set in the most idyllic of locations with breath-taking views over the fields towards Torbay. Our children love it too, from riding the Red Rocket to meeting all the animals.

Walk: There is a great ramble across the fields from my home to the River Otter – always keeping an eye open to try and catch a glimpse of an otter or beaver. Then walk along the river-

bank to the beach at Budleigh Salterton. An ice cream from the Creamery there is always a great incentive and replenishes the energy levels for the return trip.

Place to eat: I love home cooking and great company. What can be better than a barbecue on a warm summer’s evening with the family and friends enjoying a beer, games in the garden and having my favourite sausages from Porky Down butchers in Exmouth sizzling away.

Weekend escape: Though there is no need to escape the stunning east Devon countryside,

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People

Bluebells at Blackbury Camp Gw ith ia n

when we do go, it’s in our VW camper to the beaches and surf of north Cornwall. Our family favourite is Polzeath but we love so many places - from Widemouth Bay to Perranporth.

View: The view of the bluebells at Blackbury Fort near Honiton really takes your breath away. It was my mother’s favourite place, so for me it is not just the view but the memories too.

Pub: The Sir Walter Raleigh in East Budleigh.

What a wonderful and traditional pub – it has a great range of local beers, good food and, even better, it’s in walking distance of my house.

Food: Sausages are hard to beat but for me it is not just about the quality of the food but the ambience, too. So I would choose the family roast. My mother-in-law does a fantastic Sunday roast with all the trimmings and when accompanied with a good glass of something – blissful!

I do agree though with Muffin that home grown carrots are a must. In fact Muffin likes anything carrot – carrot cake is his favourite but a carrot Muffin is something special.

Secret place: Gwithian Beach. Well perhaps this is not such a secret place but the excellent Churchtown Farm campsite located just off the sand dunes on the approach to the beach is superb. It is situated in a fabulous position where it’s just a short walk to the most inviting and beautiful of sandy beaches, great surf and where you can watch some stunning sunsets.

Perranporth

Festival: East Budleigh Scarecrow Festival was terrific this year with so many events and very creative scarecrows. It really is lovely to see the community all pulling together to create a great event. The humour and variety as well as the quantity of homemade scarecrows are staggering and definitely entertaining.

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My life

Chris Mcguire

Proper local Chris is keen to raise his son in the Westcountry way - but how?

“

f course…” she said, leaving a long Gig rowing, the intense sport using old-style pause for effect. lifeboats is, I admit, quite a South West special“Yes?” I replied, feeling a little too ity. We live near the beach, so I expect the water tired for all of this. will play a large part in Sam’s upbringing. But “He’s not going to sound like you gig rowing? Maybe I could persuade his mum at all. He’ll talk proper Westcountry.” to take him out for a row – personally I get seaI nodded. If I’m honest, this likelihood hadn’t sick in the bath. totally escaped my attention.

What are the other important ele“Actually,” she continued, looking me up and ments of a Westcountry childhood? down with a critical eye. “Do you have any idea “Knowing how to deal with grockhow to raise a kid the Westcountry way? Being les,” suggests another pal. “He’s an outsider and all?” got to know how to wind up tourEr, no. What I learned this week is my newists, like giving wrong directions born son Samuel is going to have with a straight a very different upbringing to face.” mine.

This seems a ‘Don’t worry,’ my I’m a Northerner, a Wigan little harsh, I’m pal continues. boy born and bred. If you want a not sure I ap‘Grockles are shortcut to visualising my childprove. hood, think of a Lowry painting “ D o n ’ t easy to spot, but with slightly more rain. The worry,” my Sam’ll pick it up mainstays of my childhood were pal contingrey skies, meat and potato pies, ues. “Grovery quickly. He chips, gravy and Coronation ckles are lives with one, for Street. easy to a start.’

I know how I would bring up s p o t , Sam as a Northerner: I’d simply Sam’ll sit him in front of Les Dawson pick it and Victoria Wood repeats for the next ten years up very quickly. He and the job would be done for me. But what about lives with one, for a raising a South-Westerner? I am not so sure. start.”

What are the important elements of a WestI have decided to country childhood? I am canvassing some opinleave this element of ions.

Samuel’s education to “An outdoors life is important,” announces others. a friend of mine, who grew up here. “We’re not “Anything else he’ll couch potatoes round these parts.” need to know to be a true I must admit I’m relieved. I figure an outdoor Westcountry lad?” I ask a life for Samuel shouldn’t be too hard to deliver – I neighbour. am a keen cyclist after all.

“Oh yes,” he chuckles. “Little “I don’t mean that type of outdoors life,” my Sam will need to love pasties. friend smirks, “Not cycling. I’m talking about Now I wonder who could teach him something really Westcountry, like gig rowing.” all about that?”

O

At least there is one part of Sam’s Westcountry education where I could take the lead. And on the subject of baked goods, I will also make sure Samuel’s education contains some elements of his North West heritage. There will be regular trips up North to visit meat and potato pies served with chips and gravy – and his grandparents, of course.

[[

Chris McGuire is a writer who recently moved to the Westcountry. He’s possibly the worst person on the planet to teach a child about the ways of the Westcountry @McGuireski

NEXT WEEK: Phil Goodwin on love, life and parenthood in the South West 46

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05/08/2016 14:02:06

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