West Magazine December 03 2016

03.12.16

Tree-mendous!

Gorgeous decorations

WIN A Christmas shopping trip

27

smart ways to party

HOW TO HAVE A

FESTIVE and fabulous Christmas

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‘I’m sure there’s a special spot in every landfill site, reserved for Secret Santa presents. Has anyone, ever, actually wanted something they received?

Chris McGuire struggles to spend his £5, p8

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FESTIVE FINERY Make your tree look simply wonderful

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ALL THE GOSSIP Why Eddie Redmayne can’t win ‘em all

[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...

Why Eddie Redmayne can’t win ‘em all

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A CO-STAR NAMED BOB The Devon actor in this year’s hot new film

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WHAT MAISIE KNEW The Somerset star with bags of style

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GET SET, BAKE! Beetroot never tasted so good...

THE PROOF IN THE PUDDING Baking with the family in Devon

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TAKE A BOUGH...

Christmas trees get a makeover

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JUST ASK GRACIE Our style guru solves your problems

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FANCY FOOTWORK Party shoes that you’ll just adore

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BOOST YOUR WELLBEING Great ways to feel your best this week

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SMALL BITES What’s hot in the South West foodie world

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WOULD YOU LIKE A DRINK? Our beer guru picks the best on offer now

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STAY COOL THIS YULE The healthy way to enjoy December

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SECRET WESTCOUNTRY Where to go and what to do

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‘I MADE IT MYSELF’ Home-made gifts they’ll really love

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STAY COOL THIS YULE

Our guide to enjoying the holidays 3

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FESTIVE COOKERY

The perfect Christmas pudding

[ welcome [ Wonderful things are happening here right now... ver since reading the wonderful book A Street Cat Named Bob, I’ve always bought a copy of the Big Issue every week. The book really gave me an insight into how much of a struggle it is to lift yourself out of homelessness and drug addiction - and having a job selling magazines is such a help on that journey. Its author, James Bowen, also had some extra support, of course, in the form of a large ginger cat called Bob whose unswerving affection helped James get back on his feet.

So imagine my delight when I learned that Luke Treadaway - a Westcountry boy who grew up in mid

E

Tweet

of the week

@NTSouthWest

A HUGE thank you to @ WMNWest for the wonderful feature on @NTKillerton, photos by @stevenhaywood1

[

[

[

Devon and went to school in Crediton - is playing James in the film of the book, with the real Bob appearing as himself. We’re lucky enough to have an interview with Luke all about it on page 12 today - well worth a read.

Elsewhere in the magazine, we meet Jo Evans (p16) who grew up in Perranporth loving to cook and bake using traditional recipes.

Her grandmother’s Christmas pudding with a few tweaks and some seriously luxurious ingredients - is now a national award-winner, as recommended by food critic Tom Parker-Bowles, son of the Duchess of Cornwall. Perhaps they eat Jo’s puds in the palace? Have a great weekend!

[

Jo’s delicious Christmas puds are now national award-winners

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: Tunic, Edinburgh Woollen Mill £32

MEET THE TEAM Becky Sheaves, Editor

Phil Goodwin

Kathryn Clarke-McLeod

Gillian Molesworth

Cathy Long

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If you do one thing this week...

Why not come and see the Christmas lights in Exeter? In Princesshay shopping centre, the shops and streets are illuminated with all sorts of festive decorations, not to mention life-sized light-up polar bears – and shops will stay open until 9pm every Thursday in the run up to Christmas. There is also a Giant Snow Globe creating a festive buzz from now until Christmas Eve. 10% of all proceeds from the admission price will be donated to Princesshay’s 2016 charity of the year, Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education. For more details visit www.princesshay.co.uk.

Win

We have a family pass to the Princesshay Snow Globe (worth £10) and a £50 Princesshay gift card to be won, for a fun shopping trip in Exeter. To enter, tell us: What is Princesshay’s charity of the year 2016? Send your answer with your name, address, email and phone to: Snow Globe competition, westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk by December 9. Alternatively, you can post your entry to: West magazine, Queen’s House, Little Queen Street, Exeter EX4 3LJ. Normal terms apply, West will not share your details.

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BRIGHT Orange glass vase £59 HomeSense

PRETTY Double-ended tea light holder and candlestick £45 TheMakerPlace.co.uk

the

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

Twiggy lily blossom diffuser £15 Marks & Spencer

Eichholtz Connor side table £1,195 Sweetpea & Willow

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Wishlist

FRUITY Pineapple Christmas tree baubles £32 for a set of three Amara

Ember clutch £60 Dune

Golden deer £16 M&Co

Devore jumpsuit £80 Next

CUTE Rusty & Friends gift tags £1.95 for a set of six Dotcomgiftshop 7

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talking points Gillian Molesworth

Story of my life...

Hair today, gone tomorrow think I’m going to do it. After several years of having long hair, I’m going to bob. Great strands will fall to the floor. My kids will have a fit when they see me afterwards.

Having spent years with hair around the mid-length mark, I grew it out because of them.

“Grow your hair long, Mummy!” watching all the female comthey said. “I like it how it was mentators in the run-up to the in this picture,” said Freddy.

American election. So many of The picture in question was my those intelligent female panellists wedding photo, in which I do had sharp, short haircuts. They indeed have long Disney-like looked executive and sassy. And tresses, dyed blonde. It was a bit probably did not smell of horse. of a disaster really – I went to Short hair is great because it’s an unknown stylist, due to time so ready-wear. If you get a good constraints, and ended up with cut, you don’t have to style it, it’s a bright blonde streak sprouting just wash and go. It takes less from my forehead. We had to do time to comb through and it dries emergency repafaster. ration to make The downside of it look less like course is that you What is it about Cruella De Vil. have fewer options What is it of what to do with kids and long about kids and it. But really, how hair? I think they long hair? I think often do I make a identify it with they identify it chignon or a French with femininity, plait - or even a femininity, or or maybe beauty. pony tail? I spend maybe beauty.

Disney does have more time on my a lot to answer horse’s hair.

Disney does have for. They need I researched a lot to answer for to learn to think whether there outside the box. might be enough I’m feeling coming off to donate the rumblings of a major hair for wigs, to some place like the re-think. It’s a deep-set need for Little Princess Trust, which change, similar to how birds must donates real hair wigs to kids feel before they migrate. with cancer. Apparently you need Currently, I spend so much a minimum of seven inches, and time in the stables now that long it has to be in plaits. Not sure if hair feels like a liability. First of I won’t need some of those seven all, it smells of horse. Second, inches for the style, but I’d like to it gets knotted at the nape of take part. We’ll see if my stylist the neck, where it rubs my coat can pull it off. collar. Knotty, horsey hair goes The only trouble with having a very little way to make one feel short hair is that you get a cold glamorous. neck. Must add scarves to my My other inspiration was Christmas list.

I

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.

DARK

florals Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams - who grew up in Somerset attended the 2016 Emmy Awards in this retro-inspired black tea-length Markus Lupfer gown with embroidered flowers on the bodice. It looks terrific with this 1950s style handbag and ankle-strap heels. The embroidery on Maisie’s pretty frock was all done by hand as a one-off piece just for her, but if you’re looking for a floral fix along the same lines, look no further than these top picks from the high street.

Embroidered dress £95 Next

steal her

style

OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN

OPTION A Sassy A-line dress £45 Very

OPTION B Sheer

70s-style tunic £16 George at Asda

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03.12.16

ROBBIE’S AT HOME! Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda are back from LA and living in London now - but we’ll be lucky to spot the former Take That star out and about.

Robbie says he suffers with mild agoraphobia and prefers to stay at home rather than stroll the streets: “I mean, I could, but I wouldn’t have the time or patience for everything that would be asked of me - sign this, photo, photo, photo, will you speak to my mum?” he admits. “I’m sort of diet agoraphobic, not full-fat - I’m not

Just

between us Gossip, news, trend setters and more – you

terrified of going out, I just don’t want to and can’t be bothered.” Shame!

[[ ‘Playing The Queen was a little insane, to be honest’

IT’S A MAD ROYAL WORLD So how on earth did Netflix manage to spend a rumoured £100 million making its series The Crown? Well, you could start with employing thousands of extras for the crowd scenes. “I heard there were 7,000 extras the other day, in the whole series. Isn’t that insane?” says 32-year-old Claire Foy, who plays Queen Elizabeth II. “It needs this

scale - things like this aren’t easy to pull off in television,” chimes in Matt Smith, who plays the Duke of Edinburgh.

“When you’re making a show about the Royal Family, it needs these great locations and it needs [hundreds of] extras turning up, because otherwise it doesn’t bite in quite the same way.”

heard all the latest juicy stuff here first!

!

YOU CAN’T WIN THEM ALL...

Things are looking good for Eddie Redmayne and his wife Hannah, who had their first baby this summer, a little girl called Iris. On top of that happy news, Eddie is currently starring in JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, to rave reviews.

But Eddie admitted to an interviewer lately that things don’t always go his way – he’s had “hundreds” of casting flops in this time: “There was Lord Of The Rings, Stars Wars... I remember I was meant to audition for something called 10,000 BC and then I read the script and it was about this young, ripped, tanned Neanderthal.

I called my agent saying, ‘Have you ever seen me?’ I still auditioned for it, but didn’t get the part!”

Never mind, Eddie, you can’t win them all.

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Celebration: The Mount’s Bay Harriers syndicate did well in the National Lottery

Well done: Tallulah Milliard was the Most Promising Recorder Player at Camborne Music Festival

Looking good: The launch party for Skin South West beauty clinic in Exeter was a glamorous affair

in pictures

Spectacular: The Christmas garland at Cotehele, near Saltash, is looking fabulous

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talking points A HISTORY

of the

WEST in

100

objects The best way to:

SING A CHRISTMAS CAROL Suzanne Barrett picks the places to hear (and make) sweet singing in the choir this December • In the cathedral: Exeter Cathedral’s internationally-acclaimed choir has its Christmas carol concert on December 7, 10 and 13, with tickets ranging from £11-£18. The Cathedral café will be serving pre-concert meals. For more information visit: www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk • Carols online: The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, east Devon, will hold a candlelit carol service on December 9, with no booking required. At 3.30pm, the staff will light thousands of candles in the sanctuary and at 5pm, a 45 minute carol concert will begin in the main barn. They have even organised a live stream of the service, if you cannot make it! Visit www. thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk •

Christmas at the castle: Pentillie Castle in east Cornwall will hold a carol concert at 6pm on December 14, in the castle’s courtyard. So wrap up warm and enjoy the festive atmosphere surrounded by the castle’s grand architecture. Warm winter refreshments will be on offer. For more information, and to book tickets, visit www.pentillie.co.uk or call 01579 350004.

• Truro’s finest: Truro Cathedral Choir will be hosting a traditional carol concert in the cathedral on December 17 at 7.30pm - a great chance to hear beautiful music and see the cathedral’s famous Christmas crib. The concert is £15 per ticket with under-19s free. To make a booking, call 01872 262465.

21: COOKING POT

From Dinna Clerks, Dartmoor, 13th century Julien Parsons is the Senior Collections Officer, The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. He says: As the nights draw in and the cold bites, the thought of hunkering down in front of an open fire seems an attractive option. After reading about this humble cooking pot you might feel more appreciative of your modern creature comforts.

The pot was excavated from a longhouse at Dinna Clerks, a medieval farmstead near Widecombe-in-the-Moor. Dartmoor longhouses provided shelter for a family and, sometimes, their livestock. They were rectangular, single-storey buildings with low stone walls and turf roofs.

The longhouse occupants were farmers who relied on growing crops – oats, rye and vegetables – and raising a few sheep, cows and pigs. It was a Spartan existence.

The open fire in the longhouse was a place for the family to warm themselves after a hard day’s work. Yet the scene unearthed by archaeologists at Dinna Clerks suggests it may also have caused a tragedy.

Close to the hearthstone, the

cooking pot was sunken into the beaten-dirt floor. There was a layer of blackened remains, evidence that the turf roof had caught fire and collapsed. It sealed in pottery fragments, burnt wooden platters and a single coin that provided a vital clue. The silver penny dates to AD 1253 to 1260, suggesting the fire took place in the reign of Henry III or Edward I. The longhouse was not rebuilt and Dinna Clerks was abandoned.

#21 Dartmoor farmers cooked with this pot back in 1253 AD

On display in Gallery 3, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter www.rammuseum.org.uk

ID Fashion competition winner: Congratulations to Mrs Betty Colton of Cornwood near Ivybridge who wins handmade jewellery worth £50 from ID Fashion of Plymouth www..traditsia.co.uk

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Interview

He’s the cat’s whiskers The true story of Bob the street cat, who helped transform his homeless owner’s life, is a bestselling book. As the story comes to the big screen, actor Luke Treadaway, who grew up in Devon, tells Susan Griffin about playing alongside a feline star uke Treadaway is an Olivier Awardwinning actor but he wasn’t fazed by the prospect of going to toe-totoe with a moggy in his latest movie.

Even though he knew full well he’d be playing second fiddle to the feline.

“I accepted that fact early on,” says the actor, laughing. “You knew all eyes would be on the little guy on your shoulder.”

The little guy in question is Bob, a beautiful ginger tom, who James Bowen, his owner and great friend, found injured and prowling the hallway of his sheltered accommodation back in 2007.

At that point, James was homeless and had spent a decade living on the streets and in temporary accommodation but had just embarked on a drugs rehab programme and was trying to turn his life around.

Although struggling himself, he couldn’t turn his back on Bob and, after helping him heal, the pair became inseparable.

They were a regular sight on the streets of London, where James busked and sold The Big Issue. Bob would often sit on James’ shoulders - hence Luke’s earlier reference - and the pair

L

made for quite an eye-catching sight.

The unlikely partnership attracted the interest of newspapers and garnered a huge online following, as well as the attention of a literary agent, and in 2012, their story, A Street Cat Named Bob, was published.

To date, it’s sold five million copies worldwide and spent almost 80 weeks at the top of the Sunday Times’ bestseller list. A second book, The World According To Bob, followed in 2013.

Now the film, with Luke in the role of James Bowen and Bob as himself (except when stunt stand-ins were required) has arrived on the big screen.

For all Bob’s star charisma, it’s Luke, 32, who carries the film, and appears in every scene.

The actor grew up in Sandford, a village north of Crediton in mid Devon, with an architect father and primary school teacher mother. His twin, Harry, is also an actor and the pair went to Queen Elizabeth College in Crediton.

Acting in this film was an intense experience, Luke says. “But I like that,” says the softly-spoken

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actor, wearing dark trousers and a short-sleeved shirt, his hair pushed back in a quiff above huge pale blue eyes.

“It’s good being in the thick of things, and if you are in every scene, every day, you just give yourself over to it. You never really have any time off, but that’s fine, it’s the same for every member of the crew.”

The film’s producer, Adam Rolston, thought of Luke for the role after seeing his performance in the National Theatre’s production of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, which earned him the aforementioned Olivier Award.

“Roger [Spottiswoode, the director] and I had both seen him at the National. He was 29 at the time, but he convinces you he was this 13-yearold autistic boy,” recalls Rolston.

“And when we wanted someone to play James, we knew we needed someone who could really go at it and who the audience would believe in the role. Luke is a very good method actor and he loved the script.”

For Luke, whose twin brother stars in TV’s Penny Dreadful, one of the highlights of shooting was the night shoots for scenes at the beginning of the film.

James is seen walking around the capital looking for places to sleep and asking strangers for money.

“A lot of the time, they [the crew] would be down the street with a long lens and filming me going up to [real] people on the street, and them not knowing what was going on,” explains the actor. “And that was good because you felt like you were in that world, privately doing it.”

It was an eye-opening experience too. “There are so many people that are homeless, and there are so many reasons people fall into that situation,” he says.

“It’s very easy for people to see one homeless person sit on the street and think they’re all falling into the same category, and there is, as this story shows really well, I think, a human being on every street.

“It’s someone who has a past and a family and a life, and they’re just trying to do the best they can to get by. And when you couple that with addiction and other issues, it’s a really hard place to be.”

Like so many people, Treadaway found the story incredibly touching. “It’s got a real purity to it,” he observes.

“James and Bob beautifully balance each other in their worlds. They’re both incredibly vulnerable but they come together and help each other.

There’s a transformation of fortunes. Their lives become so much happier once they meet.”

‘James and Bob the cat are

both incredibly vulnerable but they help each other’

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Interview

Luke Treadaway with (from left) film co-stars Ruta Gedmintas, Joanne Froggatt and Anthony Head, plus the author James Bowen (centre)

It’s not the first time Luke’s played a real-life person - earlier this year, he appeared as late snooker ace Alex Higgins in the BBC drama The Rack Pack - but he stresses that playing someone who’s actually standing in front of you is “surreal”.

“James was brought in a lot to help Bob, and it was amazing to have the person you’re playing right there for you. I’ve played ‘real’ before but not when they’re alive and on set, passing their cat from their shoulders to yours.”

He also had his long-term girlfriend Ruta Gedmintas, 33, close-by, as she plays James’ neighbour Betty. It’s the third time the couple has worked together since meeting on 2011’s You Instead. “in the film, Betty and James’ relationship never becomes a fully romantic thing,” notes Treadaway. “It’s a deep friendship, so maybe that made it easier in a way, because it’s not like Ruta and I were trying to recreate our own romantic relationship on screen.”

Growing up in Devon, Luke and Harry played in a band together while at secondary school.

They both joined the National Youth Theatre, and even performed together as conjoined twins in the 2005 film Brothers Of The Head.

Luke then graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art the following year, and has since appeared in 2007’s Clapham Junction, then Clash Of The Titans, Attack The Block, Angelina Jolie’s 2014 film Unbroken and Sky Atlantic’s Fortitude (a second series of which is set to air in January).

Before then, we will hear his voice in Ethel & Ernest, an animated feature version of Raymond Briggs’ 1998 graphic novel, which is in cinemas now and will be shown on BBC One over the festive period. Luke describes it “an honour” to voice

the young Briggs in the true story of Raymond’s parents, Ethel and Ernest (voiced by Jim Broadbent and Brenda Blethyn). They’re two ordinary Londoners living through a period of extraordinary events and immense social change, starting with their courtship in the Twenties through to their deaths in the early-Seventies. “Raymond has written this love letter to his parents and it just seemed like a beautiful story. It’s poignant and very sweet, definitely a tear-jerker,” he says.

The New Year will mark another project, but the rising star won’t divulge what it is just yet.

Could it be something on stage? Luke laughs. “It might be,” he teases.

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Jo Evans with husband Richie and their children Katy and Jack

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People

Sweet dreams Fran McElhone meets Jo Evans, who creates award-winning Christmas puddings from her home in Devon, with a little help from the family.. hristmas starts early in Jo Evans’ household in the Devon countryside - she started work on her Christmas puddings back in August. Which is just as well, considering she makes 4,000 of them.

“Four months is the optimum age for my puddings,” explains Jo, who lives at Kenn, near Exeter. “But everyone’s recipes are unique.

Mine is a light pudding, so it’s not cooked for so long as some.”

Even so, she cooks them for six to eight hours and the end result is a treat that has been award “best dessert” in the whole of the South West by Taste of the West, as well as a Gold Star in the national Great Taste Awards.

Indeed, Tom Parker-Bowles, the food writer and son of the Duchess of Cornwall, is a fan, saying recently: “These are very much luxury Christmas puddings, hand-made in Devon by a husband-and-wife team. It’s about the ingredients: decent California raisins, British apples, Somerset cider brandy and Hanlon’s Port stout.”

Jo, 40, developed her love of baking growing up in Perranporth, north Cornwall, inspired by her grandmother and mother. When she and

pictureS: Steve Haywood

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‘I’ve always enjoyed making things from scratch with traditional techniques’ her husband Richie, 43, were in their twenties they first began growing their own produce and exploring traditional skills such as home brewing, including making mead made from a neighbour’s honey. Jams and chutneys soon followed and then it was on to baking Christmas cakes and puddings.

“I’ve always enjoyed making things from scratch and getting back to the traditional techniques,” Jo tells me. “And we’re foodies. So Christmas puddings were part of that.”

Jo admits she soon found puddings easier to make than cakes.“I find that where cakes can go wrong, puddings go so well. I had a tendency to burn cakes! Christmas puddings have fallen out of fashion because they take so long to make but I fell in love them early on.

“Both my grandmother and mother were traditional housewives, so I learned from them.

My mum grew up on rural Exmoor and would pick bilberries and make a pie with them for her mum.”

“My recipe is heavily dependent on my grandmother’s recipe. I tinkered with quantities and altered little things each year so I had something we all really loved.

“And then, when I started selling them commercially, I focussed more on specific ingredients. For example, I decided to specialise in using really good local ingredients,” explains Jo, who now pours in a good glug of ten-year-old Somerset Cider Brandy and Devon-based Hanlon’s Port Stout to flavour her creations.

She took the decision to start the business when she was expecting her daughter Katy, who is now nine. “I’d always liked the idea of running my own business when I became a mum.

I thought I could set it up while on maternity leave, which in hindsight seems crazy!” she says.

“I made 100 puddings over three days at first, with newborn Katy in tow – it felt like 10,000. I didn’t realise how useful my marketing background would be but from then I set up a website with help from a friend and then sold some online and via Christmas fairs. I still have some customers from those early days, which is really nice.”

Jo describes her puddings as “quite boozy” but, with most of the alcohol cooking off, they are very family-friendly and she has no qualms about letting Katy and her younger brother Jack, 18

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People

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People

Christmas Pudding Ice Cream 4 free-range eggs, yolks only 100g sugar 600ml double cream 1 vanilla pod Leftover Christmas pudding Brandy, to taste (e.g. a couple of tablespoons, or none if you don’t like it) Jo Evans says: Mix the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and whisk until the mixture is thick and pale coloured.

Heat the cream and vanilla pod gently until almost boiling. Leave the vanilla pod in the cream for a couple of minutes and then scrape out the seeds and return them to the cream, discarding the husk.

Slowly pour the hot cream onto the egg/ sugar mixture, stirring all the time.

Heat this mixture very slowly on a low heat. Keep stirring it until it is steaming and has thickened slightly. Go slowly, and don’t overheat, or you will make scrambled egg (not the end of the world if it does go a bit lumpy because the lumps won’t really be noticeable in your finished ice cream)!

Take the mixture off the heat and stir in the brandy. The more brandy you add, the softer your ice cream will be when served straight from the freezer. Don’t go overboard if you’re serving it to children!

Crumble in your leftover Christmas pudding. I recommend at least 100g if you want a good Christmas pudding flavour.

When the mixture has cooled to room temperature, put it in the freezer.

Take it out after an hour and give it a good mix with an electric hand mixer or just a fork. Then put it back in the freezer.

Keep doing this every hour until the ice cream is too stiff to mix anymore (usually 4-6 hours). This stops ice crystals from forming in your ice cream. The Christmas pudding will break up a bit, but don’t worry because this will give your ice cream a nice Christmas pudding colour and spread the flavours throughout.

six, have some. “A good Christmas pud leaves you with a warm feeling in your chest,” she continues. “And they’re very moist, with a natural sweetness from the fruit, and very light. They’re not stodgy at all. They’re easy to eat, even after a full Christmas dinner.”

In her first years as a pudding-maker, Jo also worked in the marketing department at Exeter University while Richie was a civil engineer for the Environment Agency. Today, they both work full-time together in the family business. So how do they juggle a few thousand puddings and two busy under-tens?

I’m even more impressed when I learn that, with a determination to “work to live, not live to work”, the couple also decided 18 months ago to home-educate their children.

“It’s been amazing, we haven’t looked back,” Jo says. “We’ll never be millionaires, but our work-life balance is really good these days. And running our own business has definitely encouraged the entrepreneurial spirit in the children.”

Richie manages the logistics of the business and Jo is in charge of customer care, with bothbeing hands-on pudding makers. “I heard once that you shouldn’t go into business with your

partner if you’re too similar,” Jo says. “We’re very different in personality so we’re brilliant business partners. So we accidentally did this right!”

And where does the name come from? “Figgy’s pudding traditionally was the name for Christmas pudding here in the Westcountry; in local dialect figgy meant raisin. A figgy ‘obbin was the name of a Cornish raisin and pastry dessert. And then there’s a figgy duff, a raisin pudding from Maritime Canada... I’m full of pudding folklore!”

Their puddings, which they sell online and via fairs and events, cost from £10.95 and each comes in a traditional ceramic bowl.

You can even send them direct to friends as gifts.

“I think a lot of our success is word of mouth and recommendations, plus the internet helps small businesses so much these days,” says Jo. “It’s really nice to have your hard work recognised. But more than anything I love the fact that there’s so much tradition in a homemade Christmas pudding. Our puddings invoke nostalgia - they remind people of our childhood and our family heritage. It’s lovely!” www.figgys.co.uk

‘We’ll never be millionaires

but our work-life balance

is really good these days’

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events

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gifts

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Deck the halls Treat your tree to a new look this year. Gabrielle Fagan reveals this season’s top styles for making your home beautifully festive this Christmas

s we all know, the true focal point of all your decorations at Christmas is the tree, and it’s fun to make it look truly eye-catching. This year, there are several trends to choose from, say design experts. And if you’re a traditionalist at heart, then that, too can be on-trend. “The classic seasonal look is being shaken up this year, with a tartan twist,” says Kate Hepworth, a buyer at Dobbies who specialises in all things Christmas.

“Traditional style - particularly the pairing of red and green - is enduringly popular, but the accents change every season to give this theme a new injection of interest.

“By using Scottish plaid patterns, we’ve aimed to ramp up the cosiness.” The good news is, it’s easy to tie this look into a room’s decor theme, by accessorising with tartan throws and cushions.

Stags are still running wild all over decor right now, and Christmas trees are no exception.

“But they are starting to make way this year for owls, robins, reindeer, and even bear baubles,” says Kate: “People are lavishing more and more care and attention on decorating their trees, so they’re an eye-catching talking point in a room.”

Another eye-catching look for 2016’s Christmas is modern minimalism, and that’s made white trees and white lights one of this year’s most popular choices, says Stephen Evans, managing director at Christmas Tree World.

“This is a sleek, magical look and works brilliantly with blue decorations - they’re a really strong trend. Combine with silver, grey and white for a Frozen or Narnia-inspired look. This cool palette brings a frosty sparkle to the home,

A

Bayberry spruce Christmas tree £214, decorations £2.99 Wyevale Garden Centres

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Interiors

Gowan gold glitter tree from ÂŁ99.99 baubles from ÂŁ2.99 Dobbies

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24/11/2016 10:21:19

Interiors Pre-lit white tree £25 decorations from £1-£2 paper pompoms £8.99 Very

Large glass ball with red poinsettia £14.99 Wyevale Garden Centres

but if this is a little too chilly for your taste, instyle, which emphasises the natural beauty of tersperse accents of gold and copper to warm up the tree foliage and uses a pared-back approach the theme.” to decorations,” enthuses Kate Hepworth of DobMetallic finishes always impress and attracbies. tively capture the light. Silver “To achieve this, use clear is the contemporary choice, alglass, white, or silver decorathough there’s a real growth in the tions, which will conjure a popularity of more antiqued silver feeling of snow-laden land‘People are and vintage baubles. “We have an scape, or play up the natural lavishing more unusual Clock Face Bauble in gold theme with green baubles. or silver [£4.99], which is a great “Accessorise around attention on example of the trend. It encapsuthe tree with lanterns, decorating their lates the fashionable style of a mix wooden candle holdtrees, so they’re of shabby chic and Victoriana,” ers, and chunky cream says Stephen. knits for throws and an eye-catching “Gold is still strong for decoracushions, and maybe talking point in a tions, with rose gold featuring wreaths and garlands but champagne gold is taking over of mistletoe and holly. room’ because it’s glamorous and so“The beauty of this phisticated, and suits more gentle, interpretation is that subtle schemes. Bright, shiny gold it’s so versatile, and is still strong for traditional themes, though.” can look pure and elegant or rustic and And finally, Nordic style is continuing to caplog cabin.” ture our hearts - and our trees. “I love a simple, All you need to do now is get the tree up and let country-style look inspired by Scandinavian your imagination run wild!

[[

Egg bauble £9.99 HomeSense

Pre-lit flocked emperor wreath, £29.99 Very

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24/11/2016 10:21:45

Green glass acorn bauble £5 Marks & Spencer

GET THE

LOOK

Make your Christmas tree look truly festive with these fun ideas

Glass post box £4.99 Dobbies

Green 7.5 ft fir tree £250 Green flex cluster lights (1,200 clear bulbs) £95 Baubles from £4 all The White Company

Nordic glass polar bear bauble £2 Wilko

Gisela Graham jewel snowflake decoration £19.95 Harrods Floral droplet bauble £5 Marks and Spencer

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24/11/2016 10:22:55

Ask Gracie...

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

Emerald ruffled top £17.99 Next

Fairest of them all I have really fair skin and I find so many colours wash me out even more. What shades should I be looking for? GE, Topsham

Q Q

Wearing colour can be a tricky one to get right. If you put mood, personal preferences, and what’s on trend aside for a moment, the right colour (or the right shade) has the power to give your looks an instant shot of radiance.

Lace dress £45 Miss Selfridge

Fair skinned ladies should try…

Emerald: Jewel tones are the best way for light-skinned women to wear saturated colour.

Baby blue: A pastel with just enough pigment, like this lace dress from Miss Selfridge, looks gorgeous against pale skin. Pair it with a red lip for a pop of colour or a smoky eye for an evening look.

Camel: The classic tan hue creates a striking contrast against fair skin.

Camel pea coat £59 Dorothy Perkins

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24/11/2016 11:14:02

Winter defences Q

Do you have any tips for sorting dry, flaky winter skin? JB, Bodmin

3.

Dry, flaky skin can be a real pain, especially in the winter. Between the cold, bitter weather and the blasting interior heat, our skin gets hit hard so here’s a few tips to help: 1.

2.

Temperature control Although cold, windy winter days contribute to overall dryness, it’s actually the air indoors that causes most of our skincare woes. During the winter months we tend to bump up the thermostat and, while this keeps us warm and cosy, it causes severe dryness to the skin. Start by using a good moisturiser. Then turn down the thermostat and use a humidifier in your bedroom. This will help keep your skin moist while you are at home.

Together Natural Algae Omega 3 gel capsules £13.99 Holland & Barrett

Perfect products Since turning off the heat altogether isn’t an option, dealing with dry winter skin comes down to choosing products that won’t make the problem worse.

Harsh cleansers and exfoliants can cause severe dryness and worsen the condition by stripping your skin of its natural oils.

When shopping for a cleanser, look for a mild cream or milk formula without alcohol and fragrance. When it comes to moisturiser, look for products that contain natural oils such as avocado, rosehip, macadamia and shea butter.

Trilogy organic rosehip oil £19.50 John Lewis

Eau Thermale Avène gentle milk cleanser £12 Boots

Coming out in the wash

Levi’s 711 Skinny jeans £90 House of Fraser

Q

Blue fray hem skinny jeans £19.99 New Look High rise skinny jeans £89 Jaeger

Get Your Omega-3s Omega-3s are key to help keep your body healthy and your skin looking great. Reach for a handful of nuts like raw almonds for a healthy snack that will boost your immune system and help moisturise your skin from the inside out. And we all know that flaxseed is good for our hearts, but not everyone knows it’s also great for your skin. Sprinkle some on a salad for an instant crunch and boost to your radiantcomplexion.

How often should I be washing my jeans?

DS, Liskeard

According to the Levi’s president Chip Bergh you should never wash a pair of jeans. Ever. To clarify, he says he “spot cleans” his denim with a toothbrush: “A good pair of denim doesn’t really need to be washed in the washing machine except for very infrequently or rarely.”

It probably helps that he has access to unlimited pairs to wear, but he insists that machine washing is not good for denim.

He’s got a point. Putting jeans through the machine breaks down the fibre structure in denim. The more you wash your skinnies, the sooner they will lose their shape and the quicker the indigo dye will fade.

Many denim fashion houses recommend easing off on the hot wash cycle, both to preserve the colour and the texture of your jeans.

Gracie’s shopping list

All I Want for Christmas is a Moment of Calm gift set, £15 Neom www.neomorganics.com A gorgeous gift for anyone who needs an opportunity to pause and take a breath, Neom’s All I Want For Christmas Is A Moment Of Calm is a delectable duo, uniting a mini ‘Real Luxury’ bath and shower oil, with a nourishing hand balm to soothe skin (and senses!).

Susanne Kaufmann advent calendar, £110 www.cultbeauty.co.uk An exquisite indulgence to celebrate the countdown to Christmas, Susanne Kaufmann’s Advent Calendar has 24 doors, behind which lurk miniature, skin care, hair, body and wellbeing essentials – guaranteed to make December a delight.

Embossed Velvet Loafers £290, Man Repeller www.netaporter.com These loafers put a contemporary spin on a classic silhouette. In the season’s favourite fabric, this plush velvet pair is embossed with a paisley motif and has a traditional penny slot.

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

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24/11/2016 16:38:51

Fancy footwork tand out from the crowd and take Christmas and New Year in your stride with our round-up of festive footwear.

To ensure you look sharp under the mistletoe, step out in style for this year’s Yuletide revelry in these shining examples. Whether you’re at your office Christmas party or a black tie celebration with family and friends, you’ll look sensational.

We love these velvet heels from Evans, which are just so pretty. And how about these rose gold heels from Miss Selfridge with a block heel - so much easier to walk in. If you’re after the full killer heels, though, then Dune’s red satin pair is simply gorgeous.

S

Rose-gold heels £45 Miss Selfridge 28

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Fashion Ve lve t he els £4 5 Evan s

Gold sandals £52 Topshop

Sartine sandal £69.95 Moda in Pelle

Bow detail heels £55 Miss Selfridge

Cut-out heeled sandal £32 Very

Bluemoon courts £85 Dune

Red satin heels £80 Dune

Fai th he els £59 De be nh am s

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24/11/2016 10:40:37

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, every day

Wild walking Take a walk on the wild side tomorrow, combining a hearty stroll with a chance to brush up on your bird identification skills.

Wander through the Broadsands marsh on the Torridge estuary in north Devon from 10-12am with expert birder Mike Langman and see wintering firecrests and chiffchaffs. Glean top bird watching tips so that you will have an excuse to enjoy gentle, fun exercise all winter long.

Tickets £7, www.countrysidetrust. digitickets.co.uk

All round fun According to experts, crafting is officially good for your health as it is both therapeutic and extremely rewarding. Time now therefore to enjoy a much-needed afternoon of relaxation with a wreath-making workshop at Cranbrook’s Younghayes Centre in east Devon, from 2-4pm on December 10. As you create your beautiful wreath using natural materials, tuck into mince pies and mulled wine before heading home where you’ll be the envy of your neighbourhood. Tickets cost £12 and can be booked at www.eastdevon.gov.uk

GOOD GIFTS Searching for Christmas presents for those spiritually minded friends? The Mind Body Spirit Fayre at The Royal Seven Stars Hotel in Totnes is full of festive flair and the perfect place to bag books, crystals, jewellery and herbal remedies. With more than 20 stalls to choose from, you’ll also have the chance to watch demonstrations, join meditations and indulge in a restorative massage to help you find calm in the midst of your Christmas shopping. December 11, tickets cost £5 and can be booked via the hotel on 01803 862125.

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Sweet and low party drinks Most fizzy drinks bust our daily sugar limits, researchers have said. So what are we designated drivers supposed to do this Christmas party season to avoid sipping our way into diabetes?

Time to get creative and jazz up your water with a dash of natural flavour such as peach, melon or berry juice - or opt for coconut water or kombucha tea – bottoms up!

TIme for you Step away from the frenzy of the high streets this month and enjoy some me-time. The Great Escape in Truro offers a signature treatment, beginning with a gentle skin brushing and full body exfoliation, followed by a nourishing full body mask. Next comes a calming facial and head massage. Take a rainfall shower before a peaceful body massage which completes the treatment. It all lasts two and a half hours and costs £82 oh, and they also offer gift vouchers! www.thegreatescapetruro.co.uk

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

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

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24/11/2016 13:46:00

Wellbeing

The secret of a good night When sleep is an issue, our expert has some wise advice Q

I’m struggling to get a good night’s sleep these days, even though I feel completely exhausted a lot of the time. Help! KS, Launceston

Sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan says: First things first, get the temperature of your bedroom right. For a good night’s sleep, your brain temperature needs to be fractionally lower than your body’s core temperature, so ideally your bedroom needs to be cool, around 19C. You’ll walk in and find it a bit chilly but you can put a hot water bottle into the bed which you then discard as you get cosy. It’s important not to overheat as this will make sleep fretful and restless.

I find it helpful to keep a fan in my room, even in winter, carefully positioned so I don’t get too cold if I use it. Also, a eucalyptus stick on your bedside table’s a good idea. Eucalyptus is cooling, so if you wake during the night - 2am to 4am is the most likely time for overheating - rub the menthol stick between your eyebrows and temples. It has a cooling effect on the brain and, surprisingly, the mind. Go for layers of bedding, too, rather than one thick duvet, so you can discard some as you journey through the night.

A comfortable bed, that’s just right for you,

makes a big difference. The best mattresses dinner may make you feel sleepy but setting your aren’t likely to be the cheapest but if you are digestive system up for a night of overdrive isn’t looking to make investments, few things are going to amount to the best quality slumber. more rewarding than years of good sleep. A good The same goes for alcohol - it may seem to help mattress can also play a role you drift off, but booze actuin helping manage and reduce ally hinders quality sleep. aches and pains.

Making a soothing herbal tea I also recommend an elecpart of your pre-bedtime rou‘Tailor what you tronic sundown of around an tine is a great idea - not only eat and drink, hour before getting into bed, in can this be a natural way to order to calm those dopamine aid sleep, but the simple act of with windinghits from constantly looking making yourself a cuppa, and down in mind. at a screen, and cut down on then sitting quietly to sip it, To sleep well, we the blue light exposure that nurtures a sense of calm and suppresses melatonin - the mindfulness. need foods that sleep hormone - production.

Even a 10-minute bath – help produce Try old-school bedtime readrather than a quick shower ing instead. Reading on paper will make a difference when melatonin’ tends to be more mindful, and you don’t have time for a halfwe slow down and read in hour soak. Make the ritual more detail (neuroscientists richer with some aromathercall this deep reading). apy-based products. Applying Tailor what you eat and drink in the evening, a soothing body oil, or lavender-based moisturwith winding-down in mind. To sleep well, we iser, can be another effective step in your snoozeneed to eat foods that help the brain produce meready self-care ritual, finishing off with a spritz latonin: a small amount of carbohydrates with a of lavender pillow spray. Sleep well! small amount of protein rich in tryptophan. A Fast Asleep, Wide Awake: Discover The Secrets Of cheese sandwich will help sleep but a big steak Restorative Sleep And Vibrant Energy by Dr Nerina dinner will make your sleep worse. A late, heavy Ramlakhan (£12.99, Harper Thorsons)

[[

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SMALL BITES Our pick of what’s on in the Westcountry food world right now Cider lovers rejoice We all know that the South West makes the best cider in the world, and Devon Heaven Hampers is offering a lovely gift hamper which showcases the very best on offer here today. Their cider-only Craft Cider hamper (pictured) costs £38 and can be sent direct to your friends and family with a gift card. They also do some great food and drink hampers, well worth trying this Christmas. Devon Heaven Hampers are sold online and sent across the UK with free next day delivery and same day delivery if you order before 11am. www. devonheavenhampers.co.uk

Make your own gifts This year, instead of buying expensive packets of roasted spiced nuts or honey-roasted ones, make your own by following this recipe from Jamie Oliver.

They make lovely presents, too.

Ingredients: • 50g of unsalted butter • 2 tbsp of runny honey • 2 tsps of sweet smoked paprika • 1kg mixed unsalted nuts (cashews, pecans, peanuts, macadamia almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts) • 2 tsps quality sea salt

Christmas baking In need of some baking know-how? Philleigh Way Cookery School, south Cornwall, has a Christmas Baking course on December 8. This festive course will teach you how to make a variety of traditional favourites, such as a yule log, as well as introducing some of Philleigh Way’s personal twists. Five demonstrations and five practical sessions will give you with a bag full of baked goodies to take home to family and friends. £70, www.philleighway.co.uk

Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Place a medium pan on a medium heat, add the butter and honey and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the butter has melted.

If using Brazil nuts, roughly chop some of them up into halves and quarters to make them more bite size.

Place all the nuts onto two large roasting trays, then carefully divide the melted butter and honey mix between the two, then scatter over the paprika. Toss to coat all the nuts, then cook for 20-30 minutes, or until golden all over, carefully shaking the tray every 10-15 minutes to make sure they cook evenly.

Got some foodie news? Let us know on westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 33

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Enjoy

Your stars

by Cassandra Nye Happy birthday to...

This week’s sign: Curious and energetic, Sagittarius is the keenest traveller of all the zodiac signs. Sagittarians are extrovert, optimistic and enthusiastic, and love change. Their enthusiasm has no bounds and they possess a great sense of humour and an intense curiosity. Freedom is their greatest treasure, so that they can freely travel and explore different cultures and philosophies. Because of their honesty, Sagittarians can be impatient and tactless and might need to learn to express themselves in a tolerant and socially acceptable way.

Judi Dench Born December 9, 1934 Dame Judi Dench will be turning 82 this year.

Having had a long and successful acting career, winning an Oscar for her role in Shakespeare in Love, some might say it was time for her to slow down. However, there are no signs suggesting she will do anything of the sort any time soon.

The James Bond star is already set to headline in Kenneth Branagh’s adaption of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express alongside Johnny Depp. On her 81st birthday last year, she surprised us all by getting her first tattoo, saying Carpe Diem on her wrist. Keep seizing the moment, Judi! We’re all eagerly waiting your next great performance.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Romance this week will make your head spin. You may think that someone is having a joke when they make their feelings known, but take care. The chances are that they are very serious indeed! Finances should be running smoothly but don’t forget those bills that will be rumbling in January.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Jolly japes and weird goings on. This week is more like Halloween! The unexpected and downright queer keep you on your toes. Really, with all that dancing your feet could be aching too. Too much fun could give you the heeby-jeebies by the weekend.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) A quiet start to the week changes rapidly mid week. Love is in the air all right and you will soon find out from which direction! Bringing others together has to tie I with the invitations being offered. Please get organised and try not to double book! Why does everyone want your company again?

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Brace yourself for a hectic and somewhat confusing week. Just when you thought you could relax at the weekend the invitations start rolling in. Don’t double book but keep free for as long as possible as things are very changeable. Of course, if someone makes you a special offer, you could take them along?

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) This is a week in which it is hard to say ‘no.’ If you are sure someone is going to

ask where you can’t deliver, avoid! It is better not to promise something that is not possible.

Romantic tangles and blasts of affection at the weekend mean that it is a good time to decide once and for all who you want to be with.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Love is very much in the air this week, be it with a present partner or a new mate. Nothing can distract you when someone with a special smile is on your radar.

Someone older would rather have your time in the holiday than just another gift. Satisfaction comes from being appreciated.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) This is a great week when you are urged to get out and have fun! With so many positive vibes around it is hard to concentrate on any work. Even so, keep an eye on opportunities to shine in this area. If you don’t, someone else will! Plan the New Year carefully to be with the right people.

LEO (July 23 - August 23) Fun meetings revolve around those you have not seen for ages (well, it seems like it!) Pay particular attention to the needs of older relatives, some of

whom may like to join your frivolities. When choosing presents, put yourself in the other person’s shoes. What would you like?

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Get together s at work could cause some romantic confusion. Someone there thinks that you are more interested than you realise. Tact is needed, especially if it is your boss! Stick a couple of spare gifts in the car in case you get a surprise. You never know who might turn up.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) You really are getting into the spirit of the season, aren’t you? Your usual cool exterior seems to be melting. Under the admiring glance of a workmate your blushes will increase. Of course, it’s all in fun, isn’t it?

Well, isn’t it? Be careful what you wish for.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Short of money? Look for bargains early. Avoid buying duplicate presents by being organised. Travel is likely over the holiday but organise this early so that you can avoid delays and snarl ups. Better still, get others to come to you. Love comes from far away and old memories are rekindled.

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29/11/2016 13:57:57

Cook

Beetroot and Vanilla Cupcakes

Carol’s top tip Make the petals in advance.

To make your own crystallised rose petals then prepare at least the day before they are required. They will keep in an airtight box for a few weeks. Lay out a piece of silicone-coated baking paper on a tray.

Brush 12 organic rose petals with egg white and sprinkle all over with caster sugar.

Allow to dry in a warm place for eight hours before using.

Recipe: Carol Bowen Ball, author of Esse’s The Four Seasons Cookbook Carol says: These pretty cupcakes use beetroot to give them their gorgeous colouring naturally - no artificial ingredients required!

Ingredients:

Method:

Makes 12 175g unsalted butter 175g caster sugar 3 large eggs, separated 175g self-raising flour 175 g plain cooked beetroot, pureed (with a little juice reserved for the icing) 1 tbsp vanilla extract

1.

Preheat the oven if necessary to 180 C/Fan 160 C/Esse Dial Guide MODERATE. (Aim for the dial reading to be at the top end of MODERATE or very low end of HOT). Line a 12-hole cupcake tray with cases.

2.

To make the cupcakes, cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks, flour, pureed beetroot and vanilla and beat until smooth.

3.

In a clean bowl whisk the egg whites until fairly stiff. Take a large spoon of the egg white and beat into the flour mixture to loosen a little, then gently fold the remaining egg white through the mixture, taking care not to overbeat.

Icing: 300g icing sugar 150g unsalted butter few drops rose flower water 12 ready-made flower decorations or crystallised rose petals, to decorate

4.

Divide between the cupcake cases and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cakes are firm to the touch. Remove from the tray and leave to cool on a rack.

5.

Meanwhile, to make the icing, beat the icing sugar with the butter until fluffy. Add a few drops of rose flower water and few drops of the reserved beetroot juice to flavour and lightly colour, mixing well. Spread generously or pipe over the cooled cupcakes and decorate with a flower or petal to serve.

The Rangemoors Hearth & Cook showroom at Marsh Barton, Exeter, supplies the full range of Esse stoves: www.hearthandcook.com 36

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Drink

Happy h ur with drinks expert April Marks

April says: Some days I absolutely love my job. Okay, most days actually, as not many will go by without something wet and interesting landing on my desk. This week it’s an apple vodka made in Dorset

by Liberty Fields. The first thing I notice is the colour, a beautiful pale gold, not like any vodka I’ve seen before.

One sniff and I know this is going to be different, there’s a touch of caramel that is reminiscent of toffee apples. This soft wheat grain vodka has been cold-infused with their apples, then botanicals and spring water from the Fon-

Mistletoe Fizz You will need: 25ml Brecon Gin 10ml Pama pomegranate liqueur 5ml cinnamon sugar 15ml fresh lemon juice Champagne Shake all ingredients and strain into a chilled flute charged with champagne.

Garnish with an orange twist.

thill Estate added. The result is extremely smooth, with a nice texture in the mouth and delicious creamy flavours that finish with a whack of white p e p p e r.

T h e y ’ ve used a variety of apple known as Porter’s Perfection, which is a Somerset cider apple that has creamy coloured flesh and a deep red skin.

Liberty Fields have 12 acres of land dedicated to apple orchards, from which they also produce other apple-based products including an apple aperitif and an apple balsamic vinegar.

This soft wheat-grain

vodka has been infused

with their own apples

Your Christmas drinks check list: • Create a drinks menu for the festive period • Prepare a shopping list • Clear some fridge space for drinks that require chilling • Make ice cubes • Check glassware (may need to go on shopping list or polishing) • Go shopping early • Have fun and enjoy!

Available at Darts Farm in Topsham, near Exeter, this drink makes a lovely sipping vodka or as a long drink with plenty of ice and a slice of fresh ginger.

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

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK Liberty Fields Porter’s Perfection vodka This apple-infused vodka is made near Yeovil. It’s served at Rendezvous restaurant in Exeter and The Harbour Hotel, Sidmouth - or buy online (£31.99) at www. dikeandson.co.uk

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Drink Beer of the week Totnes Brewing Co has been donating 30p from every pint of its Movembeer sold to the men’s health charity Movember Foundation UK. A rye beer, there’s just a touch of malt sweetness in the 4.9% ABV brew, with fresh, zingy fruit notes from Amarillo hops.

Darren Norbury

talks beer HOPE IN HAM The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has published its shortlist for national pub of the year. Alas, the closest competitor to us is the Salutation Inn, in Ham, Gloucestershire. Never mind, we wish them all the best anyway…

Wild but easily available Brews from Somerset’s Wild Beer Co have always been worth getting your hands on, but the launch of a new online shop by the wild yeast experts has made the process much easier. The core range, limited editions and mixed cases are all available.

Visit wildbeer.mysopify.com

t’s close enough to Christmas now to of life’s great joys is introducing customers to head off to the shops and stock up new beers. It all starts off with a simple queson seasonal booze. Be prepared. You tion: what do you usually drink? Some folk are never know who’s going to drop in. reluctant to be dragged away from their favourOne of my late relatives was a Salite style, while for others that inquiry can be the vation Army captain, but even he enjoyed one start of a journey of adventure. tipple a year on Christmas Eve. He never had To summarise: for friends dropping in, I’d a beer, but then this was the advise a nice golden bitter or tradi1970s and to have offered him a tional amber bitter. For Christmas drop of Red Barrel would have lunch, I always like a strong pale ale You will be seemed pretty unchristian. or IPA for turkey or chicken, or perCan I make this plea? You will haps a best bitter for a darker meat tempted by be tempted by expensive glossy like pork. A porter or stout will help glossy advertisadvertising campaigns to part the Christmas pudding go down. ing campaigns with a tenner for, say, a pack of Speciality beers, such as a proper 24 cans of some industrial-proalcoholic ginger beer or a tart for industrialduced, faux-continental party saison, are great to share during a produced, lager. I know times are tight and party and will be a talking point. austerity is still biting like a bullThat IPA works well with the faux-continental dog on a DHL delivery driver’s Boxing Day turkey curry, as will a party lagers calf, but if you can, please resist.

German-style wheat beer, the latter Visit your local brewer or also working well with light-flaspecialist beer shop instead. To voured salads. me, it’s the difference between buying a book off And then there’s barley wine. Ideal for nodAmazon or wandering around a book shop with ding off with as a last drink of the evening, or friendly staff on hand to advise. for shutting yourself away in your room when And, like a good book, picking up a bottle of that awkward relative who not on your side of beer is a sensual experience, even before that the family and who no-one invited makes an uncrown cap is popped off. Smooth label, matt scheduled appearance. As if. label, wacky artwork, classic styling, 275cl, 330cl, This Christmas, buy beer for yourself and for 500cl, maybe even an imperial pint, stubby bottle, friends who visit, buy beer to give, and buy local skinny bottle. Maybe even a handwritten label on beer to support our brilliant brewers who work a tag around the neck. I love those. So much to so hard all year. They deserve a merry Christenjoy before the beer even reaches the lips, or the mas, too! aroma wafts up from the glass.

Darren Norbury is editor of beertoday.co.uk I’ve done work in shops selling beer and one @beertoday

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culture vulture Our guide to what’s on in the South West by woman-in-theknow Gracie Stewart Magical theatre Looking for some magic this Christmas? Join Wendy, John and Michael as they soar into the night sky with Peter Pan, to a magical land of mermaids and fairy dust, where children can fly and all sorts of exciting adventures happen every day. But beware – danger is just around the corner. Captain Hook and the pirates are looking for revenge and Peter Pan is top of their list! Peter Pan is an Exeter Northcott Theatre production and is directed by its exciting new artistic and executive director, Paul Jepson.

The show runs at the Northcott Theatre, Exeter, from now until January 1, tickets from £12, www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

Plant hunter

Seeing the funny side If the self-styled “German comedy ambassador” Henning Wehn has made you laugh lately on TV or Radio 4, then you can see him perform live on December 8. His previous comedy tour tackled the British obsession with home ownership and the self-serving nature of most fundraising efforts but this time Henning’s having an unbiased look at immigration in his show Westphalia Is Not An Option. Henning Wehn is at The Regal Theatre, Redruth from 7.45pm, December 8. Tickets £16 www.redruth.merlincinemas.co.uk

Plantsman Nick Macer has been obsessed with plant-hunting from a young age and trained in some of the UK’s finest arboreta. He runs the renowned nursery Pan Global Plants in Gloucestershire and has spent the past 25 years travelling the globe in search of new treasures. Nick was one of the first botanists to visit the remote Indian region of Manipur since the celebrated Frank KingdonWard went there in the 1940s. In this lecture, Nick will recount his planthunting exploits there. The lecture (paid by donation on the door) begins at 2.30pm on December 7 at Bodmin

Shire Hall, Mount Folly, Bodmin. www. cornwallgardensociety.org.uk.

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Stay well this Christmas 'Tis the season to be jolly - but festive health hazards can also loom. Kate Whiting finds out how to avoid and treat common Christmas calamities orget partridges in pear trees. Last year, on the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... a whacking great scald on my hand from the boiling water he poured off the sprouts while I was rinsing glasses in the sink!

It's not quite how the song goes, but the fact is, the festivities don't always go off without a hitch, and it can be all too easy for accidents to happen, especially with all those decorations and piles of presents lying around and a house full of excited kids.

Community pharmacist Steve Riley warns: "Christmas is a time to celebrate with family and friends, but it can also be a season of horrid health hazards. The winter festive season tends to bring about lots of coughs and sniffles, but it's those seasonal festive health problems that people need to be prepared for."

F

Here are Steve Riley's top festive health hazards to avoid - and how to treat them...

Burns A Christmas Day classic! Juggling roast potatoes, pigs in blankets and setting fire to puddings can lead to the inevitable cooking burns. Steve says: "Make sure you cool a burn with tepid water for 10-30 minutes, and ideally within 20 minutes of it occurring."

Treating minor burns and scalds at home is usually OK, but remember, in the more unlikely event of a serious burn, it's best to seek medical attention as quickly as possible.

including excess wind, belching and an acidic taste in your mouth. Steve says: "To avoid indigestion, eat smaller portions of food, don't drink too much fluid while you're eating, and try going for a short walk after meals to get the digestive system moving."

Overeating Overdoing it on chocolates, Christmas dinner and Boxing Day leftovers can lead to uncomfortable symptoms of heartburn and indigestion,

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Family Boozing Mixing mulled wine, champagne and Christmas pudding brandy can lead to dehydration and headaches. Steve says: "To try and prevent headaches, drink a glass of water between each alcoholic drink, as these symptoms can often be a sign of dehydration." Remember, accidents are often more likely to happen when you're under the influence of alcohol too. Of course, everybody wants to enjoy the festivities, but best be responsible with it.

Food poisoning Getting the cooking time right for a massive turkey can be tricky and it can be a common cause of seasonal food poisoning. If you're cooking a frozen bird, make sure it's thawed properly, work out the cooking time in advance and get yourself a meat thermometer, which is the most accurate way of working out whether the turkey is cooked through.

Seasonal stress The pressure to decorate the house, get the best presents, catch up with all your friends and relatives and cook the perfect Christmas dinner can make even the strongest person crumble. Take time out to recharge your batteries and look after yourself. Steve says: "The symptoms of stress can be varied but are usually low energy, headaches, problems with digestion and insomnia. Get to bed early, talk to your friends and family if you're feeling low, and try relaxation techniques to stop your mind from whirring from the stress."

Dry skin The central heating will have been switched on for a while now winter's in full flow and you may have noticed your skin has become dry and itchy as a result. Steve says: "The mix of cooler weather and central heating can play havoc with all skin types, but especially those that are dry and sensitive already. Apply topical creams and emollients to soothe dry skin."

Coughs Coughs and colds are a threat throughout the winter months, and generally much more so during the Christmas season, as we can pick up bugs from close contact with lots of people. "You can reduce your risk of getting a cough by washing your hands frequently to prevent the spread of viruses. Don't smoke or use other forms of tobacco, as this can irritate the lungs. Increasing your intake of fluid can help loosen a chesty cough, too." says Steve.

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24/11/2016 15:09:02

My Secret Westcountry Nick Hodges Nick Hodges, 44, is the executive chef at The Greenbank Hotel in Falmouth. He lives in Falmouth with his wife Fiona and their children Tilly, Levan and Ilsa.

Granny Alice’s fish pie

My favourite: Walk: I’ve just been walking in Snowdonia which was amazing, but my heart will always be in Cornwall. I love the cliff walks around the Helford River and exploring all of its secret creeks, gardens and forests. And there are plenty of peaceful waterside pubs to find along the way.

Place to eat: Anywhere I don’t have to cook!

I grew up in Falmouth and have a serious passion for local produce. I love to eat out during the spring and summer season. I always head for al fresco – you can’t beat a local catch of the day while looking out over the water.

Weekend escape: The

Cary Arms in Babbacombe Bay. It’s a charming spot and family friendly – we often rent one of their cottages in the quieter season.

View: I would have to say the view from my house – which overlooks St Anthony’s Lighthouse.

The Greenbank Hotel

Pub: I

am biased but The Working Boat, our pub at The Greenbank Hotel, where I work, has an incredible atmosphere and views to

The Greenbank Hotel

match. Established in 1876, it was traditionally the first port of call for those on the working boats after a hard day out at sea. It reopened last summer and is a great spot for a casual Sunday roast or pint of our own ‘Working Boat’ beer. I remember the pub from my childhood – jumping off the quay and then tucking into some hearty food. Now it’s my children jumping off the quay and I aim to bring back those good old fashioned family values. One of our most popular dishes on the menu is my Granny Alice’s fish pie.

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People

The Cary Arms

Cornish Orchards cider

Food: A fresh crab sandwich on a granary doorstep, with lots of butter. Or a lazy breakfast of poached eggs on toast, with good coffee, in the garden. My top food tip would be to let the produce stand out – season it well, complement with subtle flavours, and don’t rush.

Drink: On a lovely sunny day it has to be, Cornish Orchards’ gold cider with lots of ice. Or a simple bottle of Pinot Noir. It’s a perfect match with salmon, roast chicken or duck.

The Helford River

Secret place: If

I said it wouldn’t be a secret!

But I get there by kayak...

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My life

Chris Mcguire

Secret Santa Chris McGuire goes looking for an amusing, tasteful gift for £5. Simple!

“

’ve got a fun idea,” said a colleague. received from this system?

I cringed, but attempted to mask “You look pleased.” the chasm of despair that opened “I am. I just got an Elvis Presley doll that within me. hangs from my toilet and sings ‘All Shook Up’ “Wouldn’t it be every time you flush.” more fun,” she continued, “if we “Wow! You’ve always all brought a ‘Secret Santa’ present wanted one of those.”

I’m sure there’s to the party? Wouldn’t that be “I have. Thank a special spot in great?” goodness for Secret every landfill site, The enthusiastic chatter this Santa and the genstatement elicited in my workerosity of a colreserved for Secret mates showed that saying: “No” league I hardly Santa presents. wasn’t an option. Yes, this week, know.”

I learned buying a Secret Santa Exactly.

The Has anyone, ever, present isn’t on my Fun Things To truth is more like wanted something Do list. Trust me, I checked twice. this: they received?

Now, I understand that we’re all “Good night, built differently. Some people love last night?” spending their time on railway “Alright.” platforms, noting the numbers of passing loco“What’s that in your coat motives. That’s fine. I’m sure I’ve bored people pocket?” senseless with talk of cycling – life’s like that.

“Secret Santa present.”

So I appreciate some enjoy facing the maraud“Do you want it?” ing hoards that descend upon the high street at “Nah.” Christmas time. They can’t think of anything So I joined the thoumore exciting than spending hours picking the sands of stressed-out “perfect” present. Good for them. shoppers, hell-bent But here’s the thing, train spotters and cyclists on getting the best £5 don’t inflict their mania on other people. Not so item on the market. with the Secret Santa fans. My colleagues inThere are troughs flicted an entire afternoon of misery onto me, as of these gifts in all the I looked for a unique gift that could be purchased stores, where people for no more than a fiver (or tenner, if you mix in rummage like pigs in better circles than I do). swill. Someone, next to I mean, what do you buy for a person you me, cried: “Bullseye!” hardly know, but who can have a majorly detrias he found a miniature mental effect on your career, with such a deridisco ball. In what other sory amount of money? How do you make it fun context would a grown man and quirky, without being insulting? What part part company with five, hardof this process is supposed to be pleasurable? earned, pounds to buy a bit of I’m sure there’s a special spot in every landplastic neither he, nor its recipifill site, reserved for Secret Santa presents. Has ent, valued? Eventually I picked anyone, ever, actually wanted something they the gift I would offer up to the senior

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colleague, and joined the queue to pay. Most of us, by the time we reached the counter, looked positively ashamed of our purchases.

The recipient of my gift looked as happy receiving it as I did in the shop. Who was this lucky person? I’m not telling. But if you hear Elvis’s dulcet tones emanating from your bathroom, you might share your home with a colleague of mine that I hardly know. And if that doesn’t make you feel Christmassy, I don’t know what will.

Chris McGuire is a writer based in the Westcountry. He doesn’t get asked to many parties @McGuireski

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

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