West Magazine August 2 2015

02.08.15

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PLUS:

new ideas for fresh-air fun

+ GYPSY FLAIR + NATURE’S

FACIALS

INSIDE: + QUEEN OF THE

BUCKFAST BEES

Exotic essentials

WIN: + FESTIVAL FASHION

Little details to transform your summer style

+ Why patterns are the new black

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‘Narrowly avoid concussion three times as unit topples forward like felled tree’

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MEET THE BEES Among the hives at Buckfast Abbey

Gillian Molesworth tackles flat pack funiture assembly, page 8

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BEAUTY SECRETS Kim Kardashian loves fungi facials

BASIL MAGIC New ways with the popular herb

[contents[ Inside this week...

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THE WISHLIST This week’s pick of lovely things to buy

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CUPBOARD CHAOS Gillian Molesworth tackles DIY

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JUST BETWEEN US...

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BEEKEEPING AT BUCKFAST

Shh! We have the latest gossip!

A community tends its hives

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CUTE CARAVANS Take a look inside

CAREER CHANGE Dad of two turned cosmetic scientist Sam Farmer talks to West

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PRETTY SPACES Love Lane Caravans

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ANNE SWITHINBANK

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HIDDEN GEMS Marcus Rowe’s secret spots revealed.

Moths in your garden

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SUMMER DRESSING Indulge in embellishment

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HOW TO WEAR IT The lowdown on patterns

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YOUR WEEK AHEAD Cassandra Nye looks into the stars

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BOOST YOUR WELLBEING Great ways to feel your best this week

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IT’S IN THE CAN Why beer in a tin is back

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MY SECRET WESTCOUNTRY Marcus Rowe, head barista at hip burger joint Hub St Ives, shares his favourite places

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ALL IN THE DETAIL

Fashion goes up close

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HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES

Hands on dad to brand name

[ welcome [ We’ve plenty to share this week...

Welcome to West! We have a real mixture of dream interiors, interesting people and places and fabulous food and drink to share with you this week.

Our wonderful writer Catherine Barnes took a break from the office to head out into the wilds of mid Devon to interview Sam Farmer, pictured above, at the sumptuous home he shares with his wife, the actress Caroline Quentin. Sam has spent many years bringing up their two children, Emily and Will. Now they are growing up, though he has embarked on a new career, as a cosmetic scientist making no-hype cleaning potions for teenagers, inspired by a visit

[

Tweet

of the week @bentonsmenag Look who’s fluttered onto the pages of @WMNWest so thrilled to see him there

to the chemist to buy his daughter a deodorant which left him fuming. Turn to page 16 to read all.

Elsewhere, we enjoy a mumurous afternoon among the bees at Buckfast Abbey with Clare Densley and her volunteer beekeepers (p12), and take a peek inside the caravans handmade and decorated by a Cornish couple in a pretty gypsy style (p22). Gillian Molesworth has us in stitches as she attempts to put together flatpack furniture from Ikea (p8) and Tim Maddams has some ideas of what to do with that glut of basil that just keeps coming (p40), including using the herb in a gin cocktail. Cheers – and happy reading!

Ideas for what to do with a glut of basil include a gin cocktail

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Becky Sheaves, Editor

COVER IMAGE: Monsoon

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

MEET THE TEAM Becky Sheaves, Editor

Sarah Pitt

Kathryn Clarke-McLeod

Catherine Barnes

Phil Goodwin

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If you do one thing this week...

Commission your very own family photoshoot on the beach or while enjoying a favourite walk with The Family Postcard. The service is the brainchild of Cornwall-based photographer Adj Brown who offers a shoot of around two hours at your location of choice working with digital, film and Polaroid cameras to capture relaxed images with professional polish to frame, compile into an album and share digitally. Prices start at ÂŁ250, see www.thefamilypostcard.com

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zzz...

Sweet dreams are guaranteed with this Celeste cloud cushion made in Spain by Paparajote Factory, £34.45, en.dawanda.com

the

wishlist

Pier cushion, £110, Lara Sparks, www. rume.co.uk

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

HONEY HOME Thoughtful Gardener bee house, £19.95, www.redcandy.co.uk

Store we adore

John Leach Gallery, Muchelney Pottery The John Leach Gallery is part of Muchelney Pottery on the Somerset Levels, where John Leach, grandson of renowned potter Bernard Leach and son of David Leach, continues the family tradition, alongside fellow potters Nick Rees and Mark Melbourne. Original work by the trio is on display in the gallery’s lofty space, as well as prints, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, textiles and woodwork by other Westcountry artists. There is also currently an exhibition of photographs of the floods on the Somerset Levels by local photographer Matilda Temperley.

Muchelney Pottery is at Muchelney near Langport, visit www. johnleachpottery.co.uk or call 01458 250324

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Wishlist

Bee bauble Bill Skinner baby bee orb pendant, 18ct gold over sterling silver, £120, www. cotswoldtrading.com

Sitting pretty Oxyo weekend garden dining chair, £129, www.

Rustic Wire mesh oval basket, £9.50, www. boutiqueprovencale.co.uk

vivalagoon.com

Jumbo Provencale cup and saucer set, £26.50, www. boutiqueprovencale. co.uk

White leather clutch scallop bag, handmade in Amsterdam, £42, www.lalisette.nl 7

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talking points Gillian Molesworth

Story of my life...

Just how difficult can it be to build a cupboard? ere is an account of a Saturday spent putting together some Ikea kitchen units, which we ordered for our new extension.

7am: Phone rings. Grope for receiver wondering if family emergency. Chirpy delivery driver says he is going to arrive in 50 minutes. Have bleary argument with husband about who is do DIY. going to get up and walk to the 10.40am: Groaning hernialane where his SatNav will dump inducing struggle to right kitchen him. unit without putting weight on 7.30am: Breakfast. Husband plastic legs. Realise unit will not heads out to lane. clear newly painted ceiling. Chil7.50am: Van turns up. Delivery dren learn several new evocative men unload more than 18 boxes. phrases.

8am: Open boxes with Christmas 11: Manoeuvre tall cupboard morning-like excitement. “We through stone archway and turn should put those in piles based on upright. Will not fit back through the unit,” advises husband (belatarchway. Divorce mentioned. edly).

11.30: First 8.15am: injury occurs while Search for tools attempting to slide and launch tall cupboard across Find best way into first unit, floor on skis made a large corner from rigid insulato access hinge one. Laugh at tion. Kitchen now mechanism amusing icons “blooded” down is lying flat of confused man beech-effect door. putting together 11.15: Narrowly on back as in furniture. avoid concussion coffin. Wonder if 8.30am: Enter three times as unit vampires do DIY into same state of topples forward like confusion. Feel felled tree. Wedge bad for laughing. front with card8:50am: In the board. swing. Have mastered diagram 12.30: Lunch break. Go online and are making good progress. and peruse instructions on Ikea Unit A assembled and ready to be website. Admit they have some attached to unit B. No threats of good points. divorce.

1.45: Get assembling again 9.30am: Coffee break. Pause after encouragement and, later, to admire handiwork. Vaguely threats. throw food towards children and 2.45: Second tall unit assemkick cardboard into a corner. bled. Second injury incurred by 10am: On to the tall cuppinchy hinge. Hot and cross. boards. Find best way to access 4pm: Collapse into bomb site hinge mechanism is to climb into of shredded cardboard and screw cupboard, lying flat on back as shrapnel. Realise we need susif in coffin. Wonder if vampires pension rail before units can be

H

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 Next week: Fran McElhone on life with a new baby in east Devon

Go wide Kendall and Kylie Jenner caused a stampede in Topshop’s direction when they unveiled their new collection for the retailer in LA, with the black culottes Kendall wore at the launch proving an instant sell-out. But for once, Miss Jenner isn’t ahead of the fashion curve, because culottes are all over the shops right now. Very has a great selection, including the soft and swingy South Jersey Culottes, £16 (www.very.co.uk).

Autograph leather culottes £149 M&S

steal her

style

OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN

OPTION A Smart and sassy Floral culottes £14 Primark

OPTION B Summery Pleated culottes £49 The White Pepper

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BRAND NEW!

Just

FIONA LIKES A DANCE News anchor Fiona Bruce has turned down Strictly Come Dancing, saying it will “never happen”, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t like a boogie.

“Parties where nobody dances are boring, there’s nothing worse,” she says. “For me, if people come round

to our house and we have dinner and drinks, if it doesn’t end with a bit of dancing, even if it’s dancing in the kitchen, it’s not a success.” To paraphrase Antiques Roadshow, ‘as much cha-cha as that’ is all you’re going to get!

WEDDING BELLE We were very excited that Peter Andre and local gal Emily Macdonagh (she’s from Somerset) decided to get married in Devon this summer. We’re also thrilled to see that the wedding – at stately home Mamhead near Exeter – has been recreated in Lego. Cute, hey?

Emily (25) is no stranger to us, of course: back when she was 21, she posed for our sister paper The Bristol Post for a Street

Style feature on their fashion pages. Back then, she was a medical student, and told the paper her top was from Primark, her jeans Topshop and her Ugg boots from Australia. She and pal Kelly Canavan described their style thus: “Whatever looks nice really, we actually got dressed in the dark this morning!” A year later, she met Peter, and the rest is history.

between us!

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

MAISIE SQUASHES KIT HOPES Somerset actress Maisie Williams has dashed the hopes of Kit Harrington fans by declaring that there is “no hope” of a return for his Game of Thrones character, Jon Snow, saying: “We saw him get stabbed a lot in the chest. I think that’s pretty clear that he’s [dead].”

But die-hard Jon Snow fans are

hopeful of a twist in the plot after spotting actor Kit sporting his character’s trademark long locks in the crowd at Wimbledon. He’d previously told The Independent that his contract obliged him to keep his hair long for the duration of the show, but that he’s “cut it off ...as soon as I’m allowed”.

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Board work: Aaron Harvey tried his best at the Surf Life Saving Club’s Nippers contest at Portreath

in pictures

All smiles: Chagstock festival was a lot of fun

On home turf: Charles and Camilla visited Padstow in Cornwall

Prize beast: Charlotte Alford from Cullompton did well at the Great York Show

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talking points Furnace foods

Gemstones

ONE OF US Famous faces with links to the Westcountry

Qualities reputed to be bestowed by wearing precious stones:

1 Amethyst tranquility 10 metabolism-boosting foods to help with fat-burning:

1 Hot peppers 2 Brown rice 3 Oatmeal

2 Mica releases energy

5 Green tea

6 Agate stability

6 Apples

7 Jade longevity

7 Pears

8 Onyx strength

8 Cabbage

9 Clear quartz healing

9 Citrus fruits

10 Topaz creativity

10 Garlic

The happy list

10 things to make you smile this week 1 Goliath Bird-Eating Tarantula 2 Giant huntsman 3 Salmon Pink Birdeater

1 Morning runs in summer countryside

2 Ripe raspberries pick your own!

3 It’s regatta season don the nautical stripes

4 Giant Tawny Red Tarantula

4 School’s out! we think

5 Colombian Giant Black Tarantula

5 Wild swimming in rivers

6 Camel Spider

6 Gardens open enjoy the

7 Hercules Baboon Spider 8 Brazilian Wandering Spider

Mary Nightingale was born on May 26 1963 and spent her teenage years in Dartmouth, south Devon

4 Fluorite enhances memory 5 Citrine for success

10 of the world’s biggest spiders:

Mary Nightingale

3 Smoky quartz fertility

4 Broccoli

Aghhhh!

This week:

blockages

that’s good?! or the sea flowers with no weeding

7 Watermelon yum!

8 Crab sandwiches ‘tis the season to munch one

9 Golden silk orb-weaver

9 Bright lipstick with sun-

10 Purple Bloom BirdEater

10 Sunsets we have the best

glasses

Education: Mary went to the independent all-girls St Margaret’s School in Exeter and King Edward VI College in Totnes. She then studied at Bedford College, part of London University, where she graduated with a 2:1 degree in English.

have two children, Molly and Joe, and live in London.

Awards: Mary was named Newscaster of the Year at The Television and Radio Industries Club Awards in 2002 and 2004.

Career highlights: During her time at ITN, Mary has been DID YOU KNOW? involved in some of the UK’s biggest Mary’s favourite stories. She broke food are pies, the news of the “There isn’t a pie death of the Queen that I don’t like,” Mother, coverage she says. which was later nominated for a BAFTA. Mary was also one of the first people to interview Kate and Gerry Career: Mary anchored ITV’s McCann after the disappearance of holiday programme Wish You Were their daughter Madeleine in 2007.

Here from 1999 until 2001. Then she took over Kirsty Young’s role as Women in the media: Mary has news anchor for ITN, at a rumoured spoken out about the lack of more salary of £160,000 a year. mature women as newscasters on TV, asking why an older woman Family: Mary met future husband should not present the news Paul Fenwick when she was alongside a younger man. working as a chalet girl in Val d’Isere in Switzerland after university; he Hobbies: Mary loves sewing, a was running a hotel in the restort. hobby she took up when she was a The couple have been together ever student – she used to make wedding since and they got married in 2000, dresses and ball gowns.

City: After working for a time as a City bond trader in the mid 1980s, Mary started her journalism career as a presenter and writer on World Business Satellite for TV Tokyo before working on BBC World’s Business Report.

by Abbie Bray

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BUCKFAST ABBEY

Busy bees

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Sarah Pitt takes a trip to beautiful Buckfast Abbey in south Devon to meet the community beekeepers who are doing their bit to keep honey bees thriving in our part of the world lare Densley is letting the bee crawl all over her finger. “They are such sweet girls,” she says, a serene smile on her face, for all the world as though she is cooing over a baby.

We are standing in a neat meadow full of hives, right beside Buckfast Abbey, home to Benedictine monks who just love a dollop of their very own honey on their toast.

It is a warm afternoon and Clare has taken off her protective hood for the photographs for West, right beside the hives where the bees are buzzing contentedly in the heat.

This might seem a risky move, but Clare is unconcerned about being stung by these particular bees in the ‘home apiary’, where Buckfast’s most famous beekeeper Brother Adam once tended the hives.

“Look they are licking my finger,” she says.

“The bees here are particularly lovely whereas at our community hives there are some feisty ones.

We are looking to even out the temperatment of the hives by replacing all the feisty ones.”

C

I get to meet these feisty bees next, a short Queen bee is no hive at all. One of the volunteers drive away in a patch of enchanting woodland is wafting smoke from the smoker to subdue the where the silence is punctuated by the low hum bees as they open up the hive. “You have to check of Clare’s charges. I hastily pull each hive regularly to make sure shut the zip of my bee hood as the queen is there, to see if she is several angry ones buzz across laying, to check for diseases, and my sun-dappled path to the hives to make sure that the queen has ‘I hastily pull where the community beekeepenough room,” says Clare. ers are gathered.

At this time of year, explains shut the zip of Clad in their bee suits – white Clare, they are keeping a close eye my bee hood as boiler-suits and hoods with infor signs of swarming, when in several angry built net veils – the little group an overcrowded hive a Queen will have an exotic appearance in this take off with some of her worker ones buzz across English woodland, dressed for bees to establish a new colony elsemy sun-dappled something quite out of the ordiwhere. nary. Which, I soon discover, is This particular hive is prepath’ a pretty accurate description of sided over by a queen bee called the intricacies of beekeeping.

Eleanor. “She’s always been quite At this heart of this magical feisty, Eleanor, and the last time world is the Queen bee. She emits I checked her she was making pheromones that keep the worker bees in her queen cells to hatch into new virgin Queens, thrall, collecting nectar for honey, feeding her, which means she is preparing to swarm,” says stroking her and cosseting her. A hive without a Clare. She plans to preempt Eleanor’s plans to

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PORTRAITS: STEVE HAYWOOD

People

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flee the nest ping her in a separate mini hive – called a nuc – with some of her worker bees to form a new colony. The problem, though, is that she is now proving elusive.

“She is definitely still here because I can see eggs and larvae, I just can’t find her,” says Clare.

“We are looking for one bee in among thousands so it is quite a job.”

In the end, having removed a number of frames – the honeycomb-like structures to which the bees cling – from the hive without locating her, they decide they have antagonised Eleanor long enough. “We can see that the queen cells are not that advanced, so we have time. We will check her again next week.”

As well as helping Clare and her colleague Segundo Vacas look after the hives in the woods, some of the community beekeepers, who meet every Wednesday afternoon, have their own hives here in the woods. Veronica Allanach, from Dawlish, is one of them.

“My best beloved wasn’t too keen on the idea of bees in our garden, so I had to choose between him and the bees!” she says. “I get the best of both worlds here. There is a lot more to beekeeping than you might imagine. If I need any help then Clare is the first one to help..”

Veronica is currently a bit worried about one of her hives, which is presided over by a problem Queen bee called Juliette. A new queen, she hopes, might be found from another hive, but this will leave them with the tricky job of ousting Ju-

Abbey bees

a potted history

Historically monks have always kept bees, for wax for candles and sweetness for their food, so it is likely that the monks at Buckfast Abbey did in medieval times. Later, the Abbey fell victim to Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries but when it was rebuilt in the 1880s, the Benedictine monks who made it their home started keeping bees.

The most famous beekeeper was Brother Adam, who kept bees at Buckfast from his arrival aged 12 in the early 20th century until he was well into his 90s. Brother Adam travelled the world to seek breeding stock to develop the disease-resistant Buckfast Bee, which is famous the world over.

The hives at Buckfast were a commercial honey operation for many years, although for the past five years the emphasis has switched to teaching adults and children. A small amount of honey is still produced , harvested each summer, and eaten by the monks and their guests.

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People

liette. But when Clare and Veronica ciety and then I found out that open the hive, they find that Juliette Veronica, who lives right next has already flown the nest. “That door to me, was keeping bees, makes life easier for us,” says Clare. so I do my bit by sponsoring “It means that we will now be able to her instead. It has been fabugive the hive to a virgin queen.” lous and I get the benefit of “What we now will be praying hands on experience too.” for is balmy weather so she can Making sure all runs mate with as many smoothly in the drones (males) as Buckfast apipossible.” aries is Clare, ‘My best beloved Veronica has who has been wasn’t too keen always wanted to keeping bees keep bees, and when for 20 years, on the idea of she retired she enever since bees in our garrolled in Clare’s she happened upon beekeeping courses. some on display at den, so I had to It is, she says, an the Devon County choose between “expensive hobby”, Show. She has her him and the but she has help own hives at home, buying bee kit from as well as being bee bees!’ her sponsor, friend lady in chief at Buckand neighbour fast. Despite her vast Teresa Dudman. knowledge, though, Concerned about the general de- she insists her bee education is still cline in bee numbers, threatening very much a work in process. the entire ecosystem, Teresa had “I never get bored of learning been supporting a bee charity. about them and the more I learn “If we didn’t have bees it is hard about them the more I know I’ll to image what the world would be never learn everything about them,” like,” she says. “I had been donating she says. “They are just such fascimoney to the British Beekeeping Sonating creatures.”

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sam farmer

It’s chemistry Dad of two – and husband to actress Caroline Quentin – Sam Farmer tells Catherine Barnes how a shopping errand for his daughter kickstarted a new career creating no-hype cleaning products for teenagers ou could call it a chemical reaction.

Sam Farmer only wanted to buy a roll-on deodorant for his teenage daughter Emily, but what he saw in a high-street pharmacy made his blood boil and triggered a new direction in his life.

He’s gone from stay-at-home dad to the name (and scientific brain) behind a unisex, does-whatit-says personal hygiene range. It’s aimed to keep teens smelling sweet, without seducing them to buy with overt sexual references. Nor is there any gender stereotyping persuading them they’ll be sexier, minxier, more macho or invincible as result.

“It won’t make you a racing car driver,” says Sam, 43. “It exists because these messages exist, when all we are doing is stopping teenagers from having BO.”

Y

This is not the first time that chemistry of sorts has been a life-changer for Sam, who has been a fulltime dad to Emily now 16 and son William, 12, since he and wife Caroline Quentin left London for Devon in 2004.

Yes, that Caroline Quentin. Actress, TV presenter, Cornwall ambassador and, it’s probably fair to say, national treasure. When the two got together in 1998 – a year after Caroline and exhusband Paul Merton announced their split – their 12-year age gap predictably caused huge media interest, but was never an issue for them.

Sam was 26 at the time and after training as a surveyor and failing the final exams in an industry he’d found dull, had travelled overseas, running a youth hostel in Canada and working for an entertainments company in Hong Kong. He returned to the UK with an ambition to work in TV, printed out a sheaf of CVs and knocked on

the doors of production houses in London’s Soho, until he landed a job as a runner.

Eager for all the experience he could get, a weekend of unpaid work led to a connection which landed him a job on the set of Men Behaving Badly, the biggest sitcom on television at the time and co-starring Caroline.

“I met Caroline at 6am on my first day in a rainy car park in Reading,” he says. “I sort of knew the show and who she was, but I’d been away for two years, so was not massively aware.

Being a runner, it was a case of keep your mouth shut and don’t say anything, but I asked her out.

“I asked her if she wanted to go out and get some tea in front of Martin [Clunes] and Neil [Morrissey]. Neil said, ‘he’s got balls of steel!’ But there was a connection. It sounds corny, but we really did fall in love at first sight. We both knew it, but didn’t openly acknowledge it. Things hap-

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PHOTOGRAPHY: STEVE HAYWOOD

Interview

Sam Farmer and wife Caroline Quentin love living in the Devon countryside

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‘It was all new to me.

I wasn’t a businessman – I had worked in TV and made tea’ pened quickly, we went out and never left.”

Emily came along fairly soon after and the couple organised their work schedules so that they could take it in turns to look after her, dividing their time between their flat in London, a retreat on the Suffolk coast and frequent trips to Cornwall to see friends and Caroline’s family.

William’s birth was a turning point for the family and prompted a discussion about where they really wanted to be, remembers Sam. “Caroline was very busy and I was an assistant producer by this time and enjoyed it, but I enjoyed the kids more,” he says. “Because she’s filming all over the country, you can live more or less anywhere. Suffolk was lovely, but I thought, I could do with some hills and so we came down there and loved it.”

‘Here’ is in the midst of the Devon countryside, a short drive from Tiverton, in a beautiful farmhouse not far from the house which they initially lived in for the first few years. It’s warm, welcoming and gorgeous inside and out – all down to Caroline, says Sam. A basket of fresh-picked fennel from the abundant flower and herb beds is evidence that the keen gardener is round and about – she breezes into the kitchen looking summery in a long white linen shirt, says a friendly hello, then leaves us to it. It’s Sam who’s centre stage today.

Mr and Mrs Farmer (they married in 2006) are busy reorganising their respective work spaces, with Caroline set to take over Sam’s garden office as a writing room, while he’s in the process of converting another outhouse to accommodate his growing business and paperwork.

Sam Farmer the brand came about like this, explains Sam the dad: “Emily needed a deodor18

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Interview

Sam Farmer at the home he shares with Caroline and their children

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Interview

Sam’s products for teenagers are on display in the family bathroom

ant that would get her through the school day. It seemed like a simple request, but the first thing I noticed was that personal care products divided into gender. Those aimed specifically for teenage girls had named like minx, sexy and Playgirl so I thought ‘sod this’ and went to the bloke’s aisle but it was just as bad.

“I laughed, but when I got home, I realised I was pretty pissed off. I got so angry that I said, right, I’ll make my own. I thought, if I can make them a birthday cake, I can make them a deodorant. What could go wrong?”

Sam, who’d only ever studied science to GCSE level, crammed to secure a place on a degree-level course with the Society of Cosmetic Scientists, covering all aspects of skincare, from chemistry to molecular biology.

He juggled his home routine with studying for up to eight hours a day and passed the two year course with a Distinction in just 12 months. He also learned how to start a company from scratch.

“It was all new to me. I wasn’t a businessman, I worked in TV, and made tea,” says Sam. Now, he’s passionate about his science and is firmly on the side of the experts in the lab, whose reasoned voices, he says, can be drowned out by the marketing industry with its spurious innovations and seductive sales-spin. Although so new to the game, he’s even already been asked to give lectures to industry peers, saying: “Caroline helps me with my talks.”

Sam Farmer launched in 2013. “The kids had wanted a deodorant, and I’d made 10,000 of

‘There was a connection.

It sounds corny but it really was love at first sight’ them,” he says. “My plan is to take on the mass market brands. It’s quite daunting, but fun.”

Ranging in price from £4 to £8, he’s understandably proud that the range specially suited to teenage skin is now sold alongside many well-

established brands in Space NK’s carefully curated stores, as well as on his own website.

We’ve headed up to the bathroom where West’s photographer Steve is going to take some snaps.

Sam’s looking into developing a sunscreen, he explains, giving the pretty-much spotless mirror an emergency buff. He’s elaborating upon the technical challenges involved when Caroline calls up the stairs, laughing: “Sa-a-am! she’s not that interested!”

Most teens, he’s convinced, are going to draw confidence from an honest product that will manage grease and keep BO at bay.“It’s not a sexy message, but it’s a message that teenagers want to hear,” he says.

Emily and William have grown up with one famous name in the house, with their dad’s likely to become another – on tubes in the nation’s bathroom cabinets and washbags.

“It’s a bit embarrassing for the kids,” he admits, conceding “sometimes I do find other products under the beds.”

Ah, that classic ‘I just happened upon it’ line – we’ve all heard it, or said it, haven’t we?

“Well, Will is 12,” laughs Sam. And, echoing generations of parents who’ve fought on the losing side of the battle of the floordrobe, he adds: “The day he stops leaving dirty clothes under the bed, is the day I stop looking.”

The best of luck with that, Mr Farmer – and if anyone can get a message across, it’s you.

Find out more at: www.samfarmer.co

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fashion

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Picture perfect Sarah Pitt takes a peek behind the doors of the ‘dolls houses for grown ups’ created by a talented couple in their workshop in Cornwall t doesn’t come as a surprise to learn thing in the style they want. We build them totalthat Anna Bingham used to be a linly from scratch then fit them out in that person’s gerie designer. You can see her flair style, using as much architectural salvage and for detail and eye for prettiness in collectables as possible, which is what gives them every aspect of the small and perfectly formed their uniqueness.” ‘tin tabernacles’ she and her husband Dan MulAnna and Dan honed their talent for making laly on their land at Constantine near Falmouth. the most of small spaces living on a narrowboat These little dwellings, in the moored on the Thames in London. style of the little churches which When they moved to Cornwall were once a common sight in in eight years ago, wanting to return remote locations, are built from to their roots – Dan is Cornish scratch in their workshop by while Anna grew up in Devon – ‘I’m quite a girly Dan and Anna and a team of they started restoring gypsy caragirl and I think local carpenters and other craftvans and buses, starting up their our look is quite speople. It is then Anna’s delight vintage campsite Love Lane Carato decorate and furnish them, vans at Roskilly’s organic farm on tongue in cheek, pairing pretty wallpaper with the Lizard, when their son Victor, it is slightly cleverly constructed joinery now seven, was still a baby. frivolous and to make the most of the space.

“It was about creating spaces on With touches like fresh flowers, a smaller scale,” says Anna. “At fun’ gilt-framed pictures and even the time, no one else was doing it, candelabra light fittings, their so we were having real fun buying style is gypsy caravan, with up caravans and buses from faira touch of glamour, places to escape to when ground families. Dan used to travel quite a lot, modern life gets a bit too much. he worked as a band tour manager, and he’d see “People have them in their gardens for their a caravan behind a hedge somewhere and then own use as an extension to their own house, and we’d go and haggle a bit, pick them up for not quite a few people have them as holiday homes,” much money, and get to work.” says Anna. “I work with people to create someWhile Dan has always overseen for the struc-

I

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Anna and husband Dan take a break from building tabernacles

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Interiors Pretty fabrics and wallpapers work well in these small spaces

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Interiors

Anna and Dan make clever use of the space within the tabernacles

tural side of the conversions, Anna has always been in charge of the interiors, drawing on her eye for style which saw her establish her own lingerie brand Bas Bleu and create stylish smalls for such big names as Selfridges and Liberty in her former life.

“It was quite an easy transfer from lingerie to interiors,” she says.“I think I’m quite a girly girl and quite childlike I suppose! I think our look is quite tongue in cheek, it is always slightly frivolous and fun, but we are practical as well, because I can’t stand things that don’t work.”

After renovating more than 14 vintage caravans and buses, Anna and Dan have moved on to building their own structures from scratch, and furnishing them in the same inspired vintagetinged style. They went for the tabernacle style after being taken with these simple little buildings when seeing them out and about in the countryside. They have come up with several designs clients can choose from, built from corrugated metal sheeting and ccomplete with a little bell tower.

From the outside, they do indeed look like the charming little corrugated iron church halls and churches, now vintage buildings from the earliest days of pre-fab building, which can be seen in unexpected places in the British countryside.

Inside, though, they are rather more flamboyantly fitted out by Anna, with rococo furniture, gorgeous boudoir-like wallpapers and pretty china.

“When you are working with a smaller space,

it gives you licence to be a bit braver and bolder,” she says. “That is why I refer to them as dolls houses for grown ups.”

Each tabernacle has a name and, as Anna says, “its own personality”. Her Daisy design features a cabin bed at one end, which has curtains to con-

ceal it which match the floral wallpaper used on the walls.

The kitchen, which is specially designed to make the most of the compact space, features

the same design fabric for a 1950s-style curtain beneath the custom-made kitchen work surface.

Lovely floral wallpapers are a feature of several of the designs, and work extremely well in these small spaces.

“I’m a bit of a sucker for wallpaper,” says Anna. “I think it is a cheap but effective way of bring some artwork into the space, and we have got such an amazing array of little independent designers creating wallpapers, so I like to support them.”

She and Dan incorporate finds from architectural salvage yards, including original chapel doors and oak architraves, into their designs.

And everything, down to the tea cups and the crystal wine glasses on a table set for a romantic dinner, has been sourced with the overall look in mind.

“I think you have to have a good eye for detail,” she says. “Everything has to be thought about, down to the smallest things. I go to auctions and scour all kinds of places looking for things to give an original touch to each one. I do keep a small store of things, but I also go out and buy for each individual caravan. I will buy one thing I love, and then put a look together around that.

I like using old things because they have a story behind them, the history of where they have been before.”

Anna Bingham also designs children’s rooms. She can be contacted via email, anna@lovelanecaravans.com. See www.lovelanecaravans.com

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Shopping

GET THE

LOOK

Embrace gypsy flair to give any room a romantic feel

Butterfly tray £25 www.berryred.co.uk Amelia wallpaper £40 three metre length, www.digetexhome. co.uk

Chest of drawers £299.95 www. melodymaison.co.uk Aquamarine dining chair £131 www. sweetpeaandwillow. com

Glass vase decorated with painted flowers £7 www.berryred. co.uk

Enamel coffee pot, in shutter blue £25 www. coastalhome.co.uk 25

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29/07/2015 11:43:39

Gardens

ANNE SWITHINBANK

Moth magic Devon’s Anne Swithinbank, panellist on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, goes hunting for a creature which comes out at night y son and I went on an unusual evening out recently, to a moth hunt organised by the National Trust. A local moth group had set up three ‘traps’ involving sheets placed on the ground, a light to draw the insects in and lots of egg-box like structures for the moths to sit on.

Trapping is probably the wrong word, because the moths remained free and were only held for short periods individually in small boxes so they could be observed or identified. Apparently attracting them into a trap and letting them stay in there until morning is bad form, as the larger moths literally beat up the smaller ones with their wings.

The group itself was interesting. We met at dusk, in a car park near Sidmouth and as darkness fell, the lamps were switched on and we congregated around them. It soon became clear that half of us were novices and we liked the big moths best. The highlight for us was probably seeing beautiful olive green and pink elephant hawk moths.

The other half were expert moth hunters and helped us with our identification. They’d stand back somewhat indul‘There was that gently as us amateurs ooh’d and aah’d over large emeralds night I wandered and underwings but would sudaround the denly dart in, exclaim over some meadow in little brown moth, pass it around then let it go. Clearly, the size of my nightie one’s favourite moths diminishaccompanied by es as one’s experience of these creatures increases. The most ghost swift moths’ knowledgeable of the bunch were down to ‘micromoths’, tiny little chaps whose caterpil-

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lars mine tree leaves high in the canopy above. I suspect there are plenty of moths in our garden, though we usually only see day flying ones such as Jersey tiger and hummingbird hawk moths.

There was that night after drinking too much cider when I wandered around the meadow in my nightie, accompanied by hovering ghost swift moths, which was kind of eerie.

Their caterpillars feed on many kinds of grasses and leaves. Sometimes we’ll catch caterpillars of pale tussock or white ermine, box them with food plants, let them pupate, hatch and finally fly free.

We returned home to a lovely surprise, as a massive poplar hawk moth was bobbing around at the window, attracted by the kitchen light.

We’d never seen one here before but must have been especially tuned in.

A high moth population is great, because they are part of the food chain and make meals for birds and bats.

To attract them, you need plenty of different and preferably undisturbed habitats including long grass that in some years doesn’t get cut. The same nectar-rich flowers butterflies like, plus

night scented tobacco, honeysuckle and evening primrose will do the trick. The garden at night is magical and slightly scary. We have a badger sett down at the bottom of ours and these large creatures make strange noises.

I was trying to creep up on them but startled a deer and then heard bats and owls. We have nearly two acres now but I was brought up in a small and more urban garden in north Kent that was nevertheless teeming with life.

You are more likely to hear the snufflings of a hedgehog in a town garden, so plant hedges instead of putting up fences and walls, or make holes in their bases so the hogs can pass safely through their districts without using roads.

It’s many years since I slept out in my garden but I might give it another go.

The RSPB (www.rspb.co.uk) are holding their Big Wild Sleep Out from August 7-9 and while you can pitch a tent in your garden any time you like, it is good fun to do it en masse.

There’s an event map on the website if you want to camp in company and here in the southwest, there’s a site at Aylesbeare in Devon. I think I’ll pitch my tent well away from the badger sett.

Question time with Anne West reader queries answered by Anne Swithinbank I love sweet peas,and those I sowed last October and planted in February did really well. However they started to turn yellow at the start of July and now look awful, even though there are a few flowers left. How can I get them to carry on longer?

Q

This is the nature of the beast I’m afraid. If you plant early, even on good soil, at generous spacings and with all the correct care (watering during droughts, feeding, picking or dead heading) they eventually give up. Peas generally favour cool weather and a spell of high summer heat and dryness can finishes off a wigwam of sweet peas in no time. Once the flower stems start to shorten and the foliage turns yellow there’s rarely a way back. The trick is to start a second batch in late April or May, by sowing in deep modules. Plant them out at the end of June or beginning of July and you’ll have fresh growth and flowers.

Q

I’d like to grow a pansy orchid. How do I keep it healthy?

These are the fabulous Miltoniopsis, whose origin is in the high Andes of South America, mainly in Colombia. For those who cut their orchid-growing teeth on moth orchids, these are a good progression and are very free-flowering.

There are generally two bursts of pansy-like blooms, in early summer and again in autumn.

Aim for slightly cooler room conditions than a moth orchid likes (from 12-25 C/54-77 F) and find a position in good light but out of direct sun which can bleach and scorch the foliage. Keep them moist but not over-watered all year and give orchid food during summer. Don’t mist them, as foliage easily marks, but keep with other plants to encourage humidity.

Send your questions to Anne at westmag@ westernmorningnews.co.uk

This week’s gardening tips Anne’s advice for your garden

• Prune summer flowering shrubs such as mock orange (philadelphus) by thinning out the older, flowered stems Leave two thirds in place and retain the natural shape. These shrubs make lovely fragrant hedges, in which case prune to a loose hedge-shape using loppers and secateurs.

• Begin sowing hardy salads to crop between autumn and spring. Hardy lettuce varieties sown into pots are transplanted singly to pots and then planted out, with cloches to protect if needed..

• P lan to trim yew hedges this month to bring them into order. You can cut them with shears or hedge trimmers now but renovation

• Prune back the fruited stems of summer fruiting raspberries as soon as they have finished, leaving this year’s strong healthy shoots with new leaves.

pruning should take place with a saw during April. Many other hedges have their annual trim now.

Water runner and French beans regularly during droughts and pick them often too, to keep more coming.

Prune any stone fruits such as plums and cherries than need tidying up by the end of the month, as cutting them after this increases the risk of silver leaf disease.

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Beauty

Tried

& tested

We present the best beauty cheats and treats, all trialled by West magazine’s Catherine Barnes, with help from daughter Tilly, 18

Smooth things over Prep skins for a self-tan with this creamy Elemis scrub. Natural exfoliants include rice and bamboo, with macadamia oil and oat extract among ingredients that will leave skin feeling silky. £29.50 at www.timetospa.co.uk

Go for glow An illuminating body bronzer in a compact!

Give your skin a subtle all-over summer glow with www.ciatelondon.com’s Bikini Body Balm (£22)

LIP REPAIR Rid your lips of flaky skin and moisturise in one swoosh of this handbagfriendly exfoliating lip scuff. £8 at www. thebodyshop.co.uk

RIVIERA HUES Chanel’s twist-up shadow pencils are inspired by the skies and waters of the Med, in five shades including turquoise, olive and violet, £23 each. Find them at www.debenhams.com

Sweet shades Shine on in these summer lip shades by New Look – they’re just £3.99 each

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the review

Pores for thought take heart Too Faced’s new Love Flush, £25, has up to 16 hours of staying power and this blush is adorably packaged.

Find it in Debenhams.

Lisa Haynes tests three products which claim to make pores an open and closed case Benefit POREfessional Face Primer, £24.50

(benefitcosmetics.co.uk)

As somebody with very visible pores, this product’s a game-changer, like a velvety polyfiller for the face. It goes on easily, but don’t be tempted to use too much or it becomes heavy and cakey – a tiny halfpea-sized amount gives a smooth, silky base.

5/5

fun colours Lemon Fizz and Confetti: Keep it bright and bubbly with these pick of the polishes from Next, £4 each

Takes you back Perfumier and chemistry graduate Ruth Mastenbroek says she was inspired by exotic French smokes, Gitanes, from her student days for her latest unisex fragrance, Oxford.

Top notes include bergamot and basil, with amber and vanilla in the mix.

Fenwicks, 50ml £60.

Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfector, £20 (clinique.co.uk) I like the fact that this product comes in two skin tone shades, as well as just a brightening option. I go for the ‘Invisible Light’ shade and apply before my foundation, targeting open pores.

It instantly minimises them, making my skin look incredibly matte and clear.

4/5

Kiehl’s Precision Lifting & PoreTightening Concentrate, £49 (kiehls.co.uk) This product smells lovely (slightly mentholated) and doesn’t leave a greasy residue. After two weeks using it underneath my

moisturiser, my skin feels tauter, but whether my pores have become tighter is hard to tell.

3/5

Want a review? Send your request to westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 29

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Details details hey say the devil is in the detail. It is also where the fun is to be had when it comes to putting an outfit together. And summer dressing offers opportunities aplenty for experimenting with unusual accessories and patterns.

Sometimes apparently incompatible combinations go surprisingly well together, so it pays to experiment. Take this outfit, right, from Sportsmax, which sees a flamboyant floral belt partnered strikingly with a shimmery green stripe dress. It shouldn’t work, but it does.

Intricate patterns are best shown off on accessories, like this Oliver Bonas herringbone clutch bag, and swimsuits, including a striking black and white tribal pattern M&Co one-piece.

A little black dress, meanwhile, makes the perfect canvas for intricate beading. This one from M&Co, facing page top left, shows that glamour has its place on the beach.

T

Green stripe dress £210, floral belt £90 , both Sportmax at House of Fraser, Sunglasses £219.99 Persol

Dress £165 Oky^Coky 30

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Fashion

Swimsuit £32, sunglasses £12 &Co

Petite tropical print dress £25, sunglasses £12, sandals £20 all M&Co Cheap Monday sunglasses £99 Specsavers

Dorothy Perkins £8

Embellished beach dress £24, sunglasses £12 M&Co

Ted Baker square sunglasses, £70 House of Fraser Clutch £22, and honey enamel sunglasses £18 Oliver Bonas

Playsuit £10, bag £8, shoes £14, sunglasses £3,all Primark

Bikini top £18, bottoms £14, metal trim sunglasses £12, all M&Co

Donatella dress £79, sandals £39 Monsoon 31

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Trend

Shirt, River Island, Princesshay, £36 Molly jeans, River Island, Princesshay, £45 Shoes, River Island, Princesshay, £65

HOW TO WEAR IT:

Playful prints

Bag, River Island, Princesshay, £45 Necklace, River Island, Princesshay, £10

MAIN PHOTO HAIR: KIMMIE AT SAKS, MAKEUP: ESTEE LAUDER, DEBENHAMS (BOTH PRINCESSHAY) PHOTOGRAPHY: STEVE HAYWOOD STILL-LIFE PHOTOGRAPHS: PR SHOTS

Kathryn Clarke-Mcleod on patterns as summer's newest staple rints are to your wardrobe what scatter cushion are to your home décor, an opportunity to add an instant burst of colour as well as update your existing key items. I’m a sucker for the capsule wardrobe concept, having a wellcurated collection of wearable staples that make it easy to dive out of bed, into the wardrobe and out of the door in sub five minutes and still look enviably pulled together.

The only problem with this plan is boredom.

There are days where I long for a bit of jazz, a bit of zest and personality – without sacrificing sophistication of course. Lucky for me, SS15 runways were awash with prints to choose from and the high street has embraced them with fervour.

A simple lunchtime browse revealed rack after rack of kaleidoscopic options, from neon camo and curated botanicals to tribal and geometric, I was spoilt for choice. What to buy?

My eye eventually settled on this delightful long length blouse from River Island. The muted colours For the majority are lit up with flashes of orange of us, an eyeand masala which makes it fun catching aztecwithout being hysterical. Being sleeveless means that there is an print bottom is ample breeze for the brisk walk something we to and fro the office and the lovely longer length means that I can The more playful the print, the want to avoid at have a jam doughnut without a more you should look for a bit all costs care in the world. of tailoring to tone it down. The If I give you one piece of advice sweet collar and long line of butin your quest to add a dash of tons on this blouse mean that I prints to the wardrobe, keep it to can wear it to the office with conyour top half. Unless you are Gisele or Jo Pavey, fidence. The same shirt with a few less buttons whose long lithe limbs mean they can break would look great with a pair of denim shorts on every fashion rule and still look like greyhounds. the weekend and even better with leather trouFor the majority of us, an aztec print bottom is sers on a Friday night. The pattern has black and something we want to avoid at all costs. Opt for charcoal and even a taupe in it, which means it simple and soft black skinnies and use these patwill work with an endless combination of other terns as an opportunity to draw the eye to areas staples on any given day of the week. you favour more.

Don’t let me scare you off bolder incarnations

P

though. Celebs like Kate Bosworth, Rihanna and Fergie regularly turn the colour and shape volume way up and get some pretty magnificent results. Kate’s has a palm tree print shirt dress that is a blend of kitsch and cool that is daytime perfection while Fergie’s figure hugging and bodacious dress in aquamarine with geometric botanicals in coral and pink made sure all eyes were on her when she walked the red carpet.

I suppose you don’t need your your mother in law to approve of all your scatter cushions!

All fashion in these pictures is from Princesshay Shopping Centre, Exeter, www.princesshay.co.uk

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DEBENHAMS Betty Jackson Black £42

GET THE

NEXT tile print dress £40

look NEW LOOK patterned long sleeve dress £22.99

REISS Edie jacquard dress £195

DEBENHAMS Principles by Ben De Lisi £29.50 NEW LOOK sleeveless patterned dress £29.99

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Promotion

Win this look ole Valley Farmers knows how important it is to be well-dressed when facing the elements during the festival season. So the company is delighted to offer West readers the chance to win a complete outfit of Regatta gear (worth £500), as styled and worn by Radio 1’s Gemma Cairney. And as no serious festival goer would be seen without their wellies, Mole Valley Farmers will include a pair of boots from their fabulous range, which includes the stylish selection shown here. They are all available in Mole Valley stores across the region and online at www.molevalleyfar mers. com.

Gemma Cairney – a BBC Radio 1 DJ and TV presenter – leads BBC 3’s Glastonbury Festival coverage each year, as well as regularly reporting on BBC Radio 4.

She has a background in styling and other affiliations with charities such as Oxfam, making her a fashion icon with a conscience.

Who better to model an eye catching look which can deal with whatever the weather brings?

Hawkridge wellies Mole Valley’s own great value wellies come in blue, green and this zany purple. Made from waterproof rubber, they have a comfortable lining and a deep tread. £39.99

Aigle Parcours 2 ISO in bronze These wellies are seriously top-notch, handmade by French craftsmen from natural rubber. Waterproof, with a neoprene (wetsuit material) lining, they are also supremely comfortable. £143.94

M

Bogs children’s blue wellies These cheery numbers are waterproof and cosy, with a special lining to keep little feet dry. £17.49 (30% off)

Tractor Ted wellies These cuties come with handles for tiny hands to pull on. Perfect for serious puddle splashing. £16

Brakeburn wellies These jazzy beauties have a thick insole for extra comfort and are lighter than your average welly, making them perfect for those muddy music festivals! £39.99

Aigle Bison wellies in brun Stylish, and easy to pull on, these rugged and comfortable boots, which have a cosy neoprene lining, are popular with farmers and others working on the land. £85

Win! To enter this fabulous prize draw search Gemma Cairney on www.molevalleyfarmers.com. The competition closes on September 30, so you have plenty of time!

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Stars

Your stars

by Cassandra Nye This week’s sign:

Happy birthday to...

Leos often have an air of royalty about them, but are driven by a desire to be loved and admired by those around them. Many Leos have a career in the performing arts, which is excellent for a star sign that thrives in the limelight.

Geri Halliwell born August 6, 1972 Geri Halliwell, otherwise known as Ginger Spice, celebrates her birthday on Thursday.

Her gorgeous looks and inviting smile belie her soon to be 43 years. Her talents include singing, designing clothes, writing and acting which may be a result of her energetic Leo zodiac sign. After announcing the engagement in 2014, Geri recently wed husband Christian Horner, Formula 1 boss, in May this year. Geri’s daughter Bluebell stood by her side at the wedding and even walked her down the aisle.

LEO (July 23 - August 23) Blast negativity wherever you find it this week. Is someone or something getting in the way of you having a great time? You are in no mood to stand for this. You just want to get on. Determination will get the message across pretty quickly. Have the courage now to start on a journey to fulfil your ambitions. Who has told you that’s not possible? Why are you listening?!

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Being responsible doesn’t always mean taking the dull route! Getting away and having some fun is essential if you are to thrive and help others. When romance comes this week you may have a strange feeling. Have you been down this route before? What would you change this time?

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) A hectic time recently may have left you wanting some quiet periods to recover. Although you love the company of others, it can be overwhelming at times.

Popularity is great but everyone needs time to themselves. Romance comes from midweek onward, with the chance to make real progress.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Some pretty positive people come your way. That should help to balance some of the shaky thoughts you have been having recently. We all have times when our confidence is rocked. A chat with someone at the beginning of this week should help. Even so, you must be frank and to the point.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Having had an enjoyably frantic time of late, your battery may be running low.

There are those who would stop you recharging in the way that you should. Does that mean getting them out of your hair and seeking

pastures new? Probably. Don that sun hat and do your own thing. The love and good feelings that you get from folk are truly uplifting.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Make a list of all of those small problems that are niggling away at you. One by one, blast them away with optimism.

The more determined you are this week to make changes, the better your mood. Aiming for a relaxing weekend? Make sure the company you keep fits with that mood!

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) You need to get organised. Get small but irritating jobs done and you will feel much better. Those who are taking a break should try to sit in the sun and make a list of essential actions to take. Does that sound a bit like a military action? Well, that’s one way of doing it.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) In the ‘here and now’ there are some moments of absolute perfection this week, so enjoy every one. Fussing over the future won’t change it at the moment, so do relax! Your smile really is contagious and will bring the sunshine back into someone’s life.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) The spark of enthusiasm that runs through this week is fired by a chance encounter. Expect to meet someone special who

makes an offer to improve your cash flow. In a highly creative time, be determined to do some things that really bring you personal enjoyment.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) A couple of indulgences could leave you feeling guilty but don’t. You may have to hold back on buying a couple of large purchases, but a couple of small ones should be ok. The weekend gives you a chance to shine and show what you are capable of.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) In a positive week you can afford to ignore some smaller irritations. Why spoil what can be a happy time when some things can be dealt with later? Sometimes you are a bit hard on yourself. When it comes to romance, be cautious about giving your heart.

Waiting for the right person and the right time really is worthwhile. If you are asking for promotion or a rise, this is as good a time as any.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) Are you being urged to get out there and get on with things? Maybe this is not the best time to start something new.

To be successful it is important that your heart is in it. Sometimes that means waiting for the right time for you. In a quieter week there is the chance to do something very personal for yourself. Be a little indulgent. Those who are on holiday can really relax and any celebrations should go well.

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Wellbeing

the boost

Life just got better. We’ve handpicked the latest wellness trends, best-body secrets and expert advice to help you be your best self, every day

Kim’s exotic facial Kim Kardashian has said Reishi mushroom facial peels help keep her glowing and smooth.

The fungi’s been used in Japanese herbal medicine for centuries and is known as the ‘mushroom of immortality’ in China! Find

Honey glow Actress Scarlett Johansson uses Manuka honey on her skin for a natural and healthy glow. Try a homemade facial with Active Manuka Honey from Devon’s The Honey Doctor. Moisten skin lightly with water, then apply a tablespoon of honey. Leave on for around 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water and pat dry. You shouldn’t even need to moisturise.Look out for UMF gradings on the jar – honeys with a UMF of 10+ and over have more potent anti-bacterial properties. www. thehoneydoctor.com

it in Hifas da Terra’s antiageing serum (£89.50) and Micro-Rei supplements (£55.50). Find both online at uk.hifasdeterra.com

Team up Get a team of friends together and sign up for Truro’s alternative sports day challenges on August 16, (including a tuff enuff course and dodgeball and nerf gun tournaments) for your chance to be crowned the Gnarliest Team in Cornwall! Find out more at www. enjoytruro.co.uk.

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PICT URE : ANDY STYL ES

TRIBAL ACTION Places sold out in a matter of hours to take part in this year’s Tribal Clash at Blackpool Sands between August 21 and 23. But it’s going to be awesome, with £20 weekender passes still available for spectators to come and watch over 140 teams haul, lift, swim and heft their way through a host of gruelling challenges.

Take to the waves SUP – stand up paddleboarding – is THE watersport of the moment, great for corebalance and all-round fitness, not to mention feeling slightly smug about the myriad of gorgeous places to try it where we live. Ticket to Ride surf school in Newquay’s launched a ladies-only session on Thursday evenings from now until September, which cost £15 per person and includes a post -paddle glass of bubbly. Visit www. tickettoridesurfschool.co.uk to book.

SWEET ADVICE New health guidelines recommend we halve the amount of free sugars we consume, to just 5% of our daily energy intake. Free sugars are those added to foods, or found in fruit juices, syrups and honey, but don’t include natural sugars in milk products, whole fruit and vegetables.

Health body Action on Sugar says the recommended 5% works out at around 30g or seven teaspoonsful, while one can of Coca Cola contains almost nine. According to the new guidelines, four to six year olds should be consuming no more than 19 grammes of free sugars daily, with even ‘healthy’ processed fruit snacks and juices substituted with milk, water and fresh fruit, if they’re part of a daily diet.

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

@WMNWest or email westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 37

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Wellbeing

‘Can I trust him again?’

Rebuilding your relationship after an affair

I thought our marriage of 15 years was rock solid, but then I found out my husband was having an affair. I had been checking his phone for a text message from our daughter and found a racy message from someone called Tara. When I confronted him he admitted it immediately and says she’s someone from work he’s been seeing for six months. That was two months ago and he says he’s ended it, but I think he’s still bored with our marriage and I’m not sure I can ever trust him again. Is it worth trying to salvage our relationship?

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Counsellor Tricia Moore says: The discovery of an affair is a shattering blow to a relationship.

The sense of betrayal and anger are very hard to deal with before you can even think of the future. Trust is one of the major foundation stones of a relationship and yours is now broken.

Trust makes you open to being loved and also being hurt, so now you’re not sure you can trust him again. This is why it is so hard for a relationship to recover from an affair.

It is time to ask some fundamental questions.

Is your partner someone who will habitually run to someone else when the going gets tough, or is he usually loyal and trustworthy? Is this

a good marriage that had gone stale, or was of you have changed in your ideas or ambitions it never built on firm foundations in the first over the 15 years. It’s time to get to know each place? other again.

So is it worth trying? Yes, if you can both Make a wish list of the things you’d love to look back on those 15 years and do, even if they sound a bit see, for the most part, a loving mad and you reject some of partnership which enriched you them. Consider all areas: your both. sex lives; work lives; domestic Restoring trust The first step is to discuss, arrangements and family life; with openness and honesty, recreation and leisure time. won’t happen what happened and why it hapIt’s not reasonable to expect overnight, but pened. It’s good that he admitthat you will both want all the it may be an ted it, but he needs to hear and same things, but look at the acknowledge your feelings and things you can share and agree opportunity for show genuine remorse for the to start making them happen. an even richer affair and the damage it caused.

Then support each other in the future together You then need to be willing to things you want for yourselves, forgive him. Forgetting is not so that you will grow as a realistic, but real forgiveness couple and as individuals. means that the affair does not Crucially, the commitment become a weapon to sabotage shown by your husband in the future. working towards your shared The next step is not to go back to how things goals will enable you to begin rebuilding your were. It is time for change! You said in your trust in his commitment to you and your letter that you think he is still bored with the relationship. Restoring trust does not happen marriage. Quite possibly you are too, but hadn’t overnight, but with love and commitment from realised. So be honest with each other about the you both, this may become an opportunity for kind of life you want to live together. Did you an even richer future together. start out with an expectation of marriage that Tricia Moore is a counsellor for national charity has not worked out that way? Maybe one or both Marriage Care in Plymouth

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Eat

ally mac’s

Sweet Potato and Coconut Curry Ally says: Sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients, have a sweet flavour and are one of the most versatile and healthful vegetables around. They are chock-full of disease-preventing, cancer-fighting, and immune-boosting benefits too.

Coriander, another common ingredient of Indian curries, contains high levels of antioxidants that help to lower high blood pressure.

Of course, takeaway curries can be full of saturated fat and not very healthy at all, so this is the curry to make at home and will most definitely make your tummies happy and healthy!

You will need: (serves 2-4 depending on how hungry you are) 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped 1 cup green beans, chopped 1 cup green peas 1 head broccoli, chopped 1 large onion, diced A big chunk of ginger A handful chopped coriander 1 tin of unsweetened coconut milk (I use the Biona brand) 1 cup water salt and pepper 1 tbsp coconut oil A pinch of each of the following spices: ground coriander ground cumin cayenne pepper saffron Or substitute with any spices that you like! This is your curry and everyone’s taste buds are different, so experiment and make it your own.

Method: Fill a large pot with water. Add the sweet potatoes and bring them to the boil.

When the potatoes are nice and soft, drain the water off and put them to one side.

In another large pot over a medium heat, add the coconut oil and then the onion. SautĂŠ for a few minutes and then add the ginger and the spices and stir everything together.

Next add the coconut milk, water and the veggies, including the sweet potato, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then lower the heat and cover your pot.

Let your scrummy curry stew for about 20 minutes. Taste test, adding a handful of coriander, more spices or salt and pepper if needed.

This curry is delicious served with quinoa, fresh coriander and toasted flaked coconut.

@allyskitchenstories

@AKitchenStories

Natural food expert Ally Mac lives and cooks in South Devon. Ally specialises in devising good-for-you recipes that are easy to prepare at home. She also sells several of her own delicious healthy products online at www.allyskitchenstories.co.uk 39

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Eat

Ingredient of the Week

Basil

with Tim Maddams don’t remember ever eating basil as a youngster. It simply wasn’t available then, I guess, but these days it’s on sale everywhere. It’s by far and away at its best, though, when grown as a seasonal crop and eaten with its seasonal bedfellows. I personally am a rubbish gardener but that doesn’t stop me trying to grow it.I grow purple and green basil and I sow them in trays, eat a lot while the crop is young and then pop the rest among the tomatoes to grow on into bigger plants. The trouble is, you then end up with a lot of basil and creativity is then called for in the kitchen. We are all familiar with the classic combination of basil and tomato but, if you have a glut of basil, you’ll need a few more ideas to use it up. And it is a bold flavour, so how you use it needs a bit of consideration Just recently I have been cooking little medallions of pork tenderloin in a frying pan, flipping them over and placing a leaf of basil on the top, then topping them with a slice of cheddar and popping them in the oven for a minute or two. Once rested, I remove them and place them

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on a plate, de-glaze the pan with a little cider and pour this sauce over the plated pork.

I have been having some other more unusual, basil adventures too. These include making a little basil sugar by blending basil with sugar, spreading the resultant mess on a tray and drying it out slowly in a very very low oven. This is then briefly re-blended and used to sprinkle on all sorts of summer berries, cherries and much more besides. Pesto of course is a nobrainer, and keeps very well in the fridge for use in sandwiches, on pasta or as a dip for tasty raw veggies.

It is in the salad bowl, though, that I love basil best of all, used to pep up other salad leaves before dressing them in the normal way. The occasional flavour bomb of aromatic basil will elevate even the most humble side dish to tasty delight and is hassle free. Green sauce, basil ice cream, basil and strawberries, basil, basil and more basil! Use it where you will and enjoy it at its best. As a rule though, avoid it with fish.

It’s just a little too pungent to really work well.

Believe me, I’ve tried.

Basil cocktails I have recently been using basil in a gin-based cocktail, a bit of a palaver but worth it. You start by blending a few tomatoes with basil, a stick of celery, a chilli and a little salt. Place this mixture in a sieve and allow the juices to slowly drip through so you have a clear tomato and basil juice. This can take an hour or two, so don’t rush it. Finally, add your gin, ice and a few leaves of fresh basil and serve in martini glasses. Delicious! @TimGreenSauce

Tim Maddams is a Devon chef and writer who often appears on the River Cottage TV series 40

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Drink Beer of the week I have one of the Harbour cans to review, and it’s pretty damn good, like the rest of their output. Antipodean IPA (5.5% ABV), full of tropical and stone fruit flavours, is not at all like their British-inspired normal IPA (now on sale in M&S along with their flavoursome and lowABV Light Ale). Give both a try.

Darren Norbury

talks beer arbour Brewing Company, based on a farm just outside Bodmin, has always been known as a can-do kind of operation, but that’s literally true now with the installation of a new state-of-the-art canning line.

Canned beer. What’s that all about, then?

Surely canned beer ceased to be a thing years ago, as we recall the metallic taste of the tin cutting through the brew’s flavour. Well, as with so many things, times have changed and technology has moved on. A liquid polymer keeps the beer from coming into contact with the new-style, thin aluminium cans, which are recyclable and ‘The amount of very green. And because no beer being sold light can get in, there’s no risk in cans is rising of ‘skunking’ of the hops in the beer – a common problem in and the quality bottles, especially clear bottles. of some of those “You can take the cans on our like them, too, as they look good beers is excepbeaches easily,” says Eddie on shelves and are easy to stack.

Lofthouse, Harbour owner and Last year St Austell Brewery tional’ can evangelist, as so many UK went down the same route, brewers now are. “And they are canning its Korev brand in the light, so you are more likely to sexy 330ml packs that one sees carry a can home and dispose on beaches quite a bit now, as of it properly. well as at festivals.

They don’t break – they’re far better for the At Harbour, meanwhile, business is good and active lifestyle than bottles.” the end of this year will see the installation As a man without an active lifestyle, I’ll take his of a new 30-barrel brewhouse, replacing the word for that. The fact is, though, the amount ten-barrel plant installed at the launch of the of beer in cans is rising and the quality of some business just three years ago. of those beers – from the likes of Beavertown, The brewing team there is constantly Camden and BrewDog – is exceptional. Retailers experimenting with new brews. I escaped with

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CRAFTY CARLSBERG There’s more to Carlsberg than dull yellow fizz and that Special Brew stuff beloved of park staggerers. The brewer is introducing craft beer to the UK in the form of Jacobsen Saaz Blonde and Jacobsen Velvet, both light coloured, flavoursome brews. Founder JC Jacobsen named the hilltop brewery after his son Carl, and the Danish for hill, which is berg.

a bottle or two of Jim Beam barrel-aged barley wine, 14% ABV and maturing nicely. I think I’ll save them as a winter treat.

open for business Quantock Brewery has opened its new brewery shop on Broadgauge Business Park, Bishops Lydeard selling fresh Quantock beers on tap to take-away in containers, plus bottles, mini-kegs and presentation packs. There will also be guest beers and ciders. It’s open 10am-5.30pm weekdays, 10am-6pm on Saturdays and 10.30am-4.30pm on Sundays.

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fly away Paper aeroplane kit £2 M&S

free as a bird Traditional Diamond Kite £6.95 Dotcomgiftshop

Hop along Sports day sack race set £16.95

treasure pot The Scrunch bucket, £7.99 Cheeky Rascals

heme parks, the beach, cinema – most of the obvious ways to entertain children over the school summer holidays involve parents (and grandparents) putting their hands into very deep pockets.

Indeed, new research has found that families spend an average of £440 per year on days out, and two thirds of respondents say the high cost of activities makes them think twice about going out as a family.

That means having to think of something cheaper and more imaginative to head off the calls of “I’m bored!”. Astudy by Fab ice lollies has determined that nearly half of parents are dreading the current six-week break as they desperately search for pursefriendly ways to keep the kids entertained.

But there’s no need to despair. The Enid Blyton Estate, for example, is urging children to simply get outside and be more adventurous over the holidays as part of its Summer of Adventure campaign. The campaign found that today’s children spend much less time outdoors having adventures than their parents did as youngsters. Indeed, 41% of parents say they’re worried their

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Parenting

On the hunt for free fun With the summer holidays underway, families need cheap and cheerful ways to keep the kids entertained.

Lisa Salmon has a few ideas children are missing out on the great advenAnother adventure kids will love is a realtures they experienced while growing up. life treasure hunt, in the form of an activity Anne McNeil, of Hodder Children’s Books, known as geocaching, an outdoor treasure which publishes the Enid Blyton stories, hunting game using GPS-enabled devices to says tips on everything from getting creafind hidden treasure in a container at a spetive in the kitchen to taking cific set of map coordinates. great pictures of children’s There are two and a half miladventures, are available on lion geocaches worldwide, the Enid Blyton Summer of and in their simplest form, a Adventure campaign webcache always contains a log‘Having fun and site (www.enidblyton.co.uk), book to log your find. Larger which also lists events taking caches may also have treasbeing active place throughout the counure – you never know what needn’t be try over the summer. She the cache owner or visitors expensive or suggests kids try building a may have left. But if you take den in the garden and campsomething from a geocache, complicated’ ing out for the night, telling you should leave something stories and star gazing in the of equal or greater value in evening. The Perseid meteor return. shower is a great opportuTo start your hunt, simply nity to see shooting stars create a free account on your this summer, peaking around phone or GPS device at www.

August 11 this year. geocaching.com, then enter your postcode or “Having fun and being active needn’t be location to establish rough locations of geoexpensive or complicated, and Enid Blyton’s caches in your area, and use GPS to find one. adventure stories, like The Famous Five, are Karen Letten, schools and families engreat for inspiring children,” she says. gagement manager for the Woodland Trust,

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says: “Geocaching is great as it gives kids the chance to take part in a real-life treasure hunt, and explore woods at the same time.

There are a few hidden in our woods.”

If the kids are nagging to visit expensive attractions, there are still ways of cutting the costs, says Rachel Burrows from parenting site Netmums. She advises checking for deals and discount codes before booking attractions like theme parks and collecting money-off coupons on food packets and in newspapers so you have them to hand when you need them.

“If you have a loyalty card like Tesco Clubcard or Nectar, see if they’re doing a points swap on days out. And sign up to cashback sites too, as they can have great deals,” she says. “You can’t put a price on family time together, but luckily there are lots of creative ways to make your money go further.”

For even cheaper entertainment, Rachel suggests teaming up with another family to host picnics at each other’s homes, planning a themed dressing-up day, or getting out the hose and sprinkler fore a back garden water park. “If you can’t stretch the budget to pay for a family day out, just get creative.”

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My Secret Westcountry Marcus Rowe Marcus Rowe is the head barista at the awardwinning burger chain HUBBOX. He works in the St Ives restaurant which lies in the heart of the town on the harbour front.

Marcus lives in Redruth with his wife Jemima and two children Maisie-bo, 11, and Rudy, 7.

My favourite...

Walk: I love walking around Tehidy Woods, especially in late spring. They are a great place to explore as you always discover something new. The kids love it as everything is growing and blossoming, especially loads of bluebells.

Festival: Port Eliot is a great family friendly festival that I went to a couple of years ago. I was working for part of it, but also got to see some of the bands playing as well. It is a great atmosphere there and a brilliant location – maybe next year?

Marcus Rowe (left) with Hub St Ives manager Adam Sargent.

Activity: My two favourite things to do are riding my bike and surfing – can you tell I’m from Cornwall? When I get the chance, I love to ride from St Ives to Land’s End, the views along the way are amazing. When I find the time to go surfing, it depends on the weather where I

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People Gwenera beach

Pub: On the rare occasion my wife and I have a night off together, we love to go to The Brew House in Porthleven. They have a great cocktail menu on the weekends and my top choice is the cold brew gin sour.

Weekend away: Going away for the weekend would normally mean camping, which is a real family favourite. We love Trevedra Farm near Land’s End which is right on the cliff top overlooking Gwenver beach. We pack up the van, head off and pitch up our canvas tent, and when the weather is great, I can’t think of anything better to do.

Shop: Working in St Ives means I quite often browse around the great independent shops on offer. Academy is a great clothes shop I often visit and I pop into Port of Call, a homeware store with some great bits and bobs where you can always find a gem.

Treat: I would really like to visit Nancarrow Farm for one of their feast nights. I’ve heard such great things about it from friends and the location is ace – plus one of my mates is a chef there so I owe him a visit.

‘Secret’ place: I love to go on bike rides on quiet roads, which normally means I find some hidden areas. Carn Marth lies southeast of Redruth and is a great place to watch the sunset. It’s an old quarry with nice walks and you can see the north coast and south coast.

The Westcountry is a great place to bring up kids, and there are plenty of family-friendly places to visit. My love for biking has certainly rubbed off on my kids, and we go to The Track in Portreath, which is a great family friendly bike track.

head, but my favourite beach is Gwenver beach.

It is less than two miles from Land’s End and takes the full brunt of the Atlantic Ocean, so it’s great for surfing.

Westcountry tipple: Being a barista at Hubbox St Ives means I drink a lot of coffee!

The best coffee in my opinion comes from Helston-based Origin Coffee roasters. They are passionate about the quality and sourcing of their beans, which go into every cup produced.

Plus they are a true Cornish brand and very proud of this, which I love. If I’m thinking of something slightly stronger, it would have to be the Hub pale ale brewed by Harbour Brewery.

The small craft brewery make contemporary beer that tastes great. A glass of that is the perfect end to a long day.

Feast nights at Nancarrow Farm

Marcus and other staff from Hub St Ives have just completed CHSW’s Ride for Precious Lives, a 205-mile sponsored cycle. Donate at www.chsw.org.uk/ride 45

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My life

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man and boy

Gentle manipulation Phil Goodwin, dad of James, five, has cosmetic surgery

have just had a nose job. Not entirely out of vanity, I would argue, although you may disagree as technically speaking the procedure was not medically necessary.

My unfortunate run-in with a metal climbing frame at the playground had left me looking like I had gone five rounds with a 1980s Mike Tyson. After the cartoon swelling came down, my face blossomed through a range of vivid purples and settled into a colour best described as jaundice yellow. It reminded me of an old joke about an agent wise-cracking about a football star’s banana-like appearance after a booze binge – the good news is, I got you a part on the Simpsons, it went. Well, I heard more than enough jokes like this over the two weeks I spent hiding behind a pair a shades.

And to cap it all I was left with redesigned features. Maybe I will come out of it looking like Marlon Brando, I told myself. But when I showcased the new conk at an awards ceremony (I was nominated but didn’t win) a colleague quickly disabused me of this fantasy. You look like a retired rugby player, she told me over the free wine and canapés. Seems my new look was more Brian Moore than Stanley Kowalski.

I was adamant the thing was broken and sure enough the nice lady at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital’s ear, nose and throat department confirmed as much. We can try and correct it, she said, offering me what they describe in gentle terms as manipulation. I had heard

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that there actually exists some foul device like a pair of long tweezers which are slipped up the nostrils and used to tweak the bone back to its normal position. When I asked how it would be done, the nurse indicated the job could be done with a simple twist of the forefinger and thumb, which seemed less scientific but more comforting. It could have been reshaped with a ball-peen hammer for all I knew, as they insisted on a full anaesthetic. Amazingly, given the talk of waiting

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The operation was of course painless, unlike the act of explaining how I had come to be so severely injured

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lists and crises at the NHS, I was offered a slot the day following my consultation.

As I smiled at my fellow patients on the ward I was reminded that hospital is never a nice place to be. I have never spent more than a night on a ward and only ever had a handful of minor problems. Other than having my stomach pumped at the age of two. I hardly recall my first admission, though it was the stuff of legend for many years. I was found by my mother surrounded by a cupboard full of medicine bottles with pills scattered around me. Too young to say what I had taken, if anything, I was rushed to the paediatric hospital where they pumped my stomach just in case. My odd behaviour (plucking invisible webs from the air, shaking the cots and waking the children) suggested I had popped a few pills, but the effects seemed to fade.

So, there I was again, decked out in a fetching pair of knee-length white flight socks awaiting facial reconstruction. I was wheeled into the ante-room and dosed up prior to my date with the corrective tools. The operation was of course painless, unlike the act of explaining how I had come to be so severely injured while playing with my five-year-old son. When I came around, the nose was sorer than before, but the kink had clearly been ironed out. After a few rounds of toast and some cups of instant coffee, I was free to go. I was a bit woozy and sleepy for a few days but once the swelling went, I was quite pleased with the results.

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Bovey Castle

introduces two new restaurants for the South West…

North Bovey, Devon, TQ13 8RE T: 01647 445000 E: stay@boveycastle.com www.boveycastle.com /boveycastlehotel

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@boveycastle

Great Western Restaurant is relaxed and comfortable, yet upscale and classy. We call it ‘exclusive dining’, purely because it’s an experience you won’t find anywhere else in the South West.

Smith’s Brasserie is all about the stunning views, great food and a welcoming atmosphere. Relaxed and inviting, bang on trend yet unpretentious and most certainly classic British dining at its best.

Book to dine in our Great Western Restaurant and receive a glass of complimentary Champagne.

Try out Smith’s Brasserie and receive either a complimentary glass of house wine, or buy a starter and a main and receive a free dessert.

Quote ‘West Magazine Great Western’ when booking T&C’s apply.

Subject to availability. Offer valid until 31.08.15

Quote ‘West Magazine Smith’s’ when booking T&C’s apply.

Subject to availability. Offer valid until 31.08.15

29/07/2015 15:32:13

of

5th-30th August

Join the fun every day at Drake Circus with: 5-7 Aug Face Painting 8-13 Aug Arts & Crafts 14-16 Aug Kids’ YO! Sushi Workshops 17-19 Aug Balloon Modelling 20-28 Aug Gardening Fun 29-30 Aug Circus Workshops Visit our website for further details of each event Over 70 stores | Big brand names | Places to eat

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dream shopping...

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