12.12.15
10
reasons to be happy, now
PLUS + JENNY AGUTTER + CAROL SINGING
DON’T MISS: + OUR GUIDE
I’ve been good! How to get the Christmas you deserve
TO THE PERFECT TURKEY
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Wray & Co
102 New George Street, Plymouth PL1 1RZ - 01752 661651 51 Fore Street, Kingsbridge TQ7 1PG - 01548 857577 Ads_Dec12.indd 2
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‘I occasionally contemplate the Boxing Day swim in Cadgwith Cove but always stand and watch instead’
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FUN TIMES IN EXETER Where to stay, what to do
Jenny Agutter’s Cornish Christmas, p12
9 22
ALL THE GOSSIP You heard it here first!
O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL Christmas in the cathedral choir
[contents[ Inside this week... 8
‘MUM, I WANNA KAYAK...’ Our columnist goes Christmas shopping
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JUST BETWEEN US... Sh! We have the latest gossip!
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JENNY AGUTTER’S CORNWALL The actress on why she loves Cornish life
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30
ADORABLE UNDIES Festive and fancy - yes please!
A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Festive feasting on a Devon family farm
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O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL Truro’s cathedral choir at Christmas
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ANNE SWITHINBANK
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SANTA’S SECRETS We know you’re up there!
A trip to Rosemoor for winter inspiration
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ADORABLE UNDERWEAR Festive and fancy - yes please!
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SPARKLES AND SEQUINS Kathryn Clarke-Mcleod dresses up
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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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A WEEKEND IN EXETER Where to stay, what to do
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SANTA SPILLS THE BEANS Exclusive interview with the big man
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SPARKLE AND SHINE
Party looks and how to wear them
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16
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FAMILY PHOTOS: STEVE HAYWOOD
[
FAMILY COURAGE
Free of fear
and Gez Thomas, who are This is a special Christmas for Louise without the shadow of cancer looking forward to family time son Dylan treatment hanging over their young
usual, he became later and far more tired than bladder and ear unwell, with doctors diagnosing By Catherine Barnes to notice the infections. Then the family began speckles on his bruises, which began as little so t this time of year, there are At this point, they neck and had begun to merge. but Hospital many things to look forward to, headed to A&E at Plymouth’s Derriford Louise and Gez Thomas are simply say for blood tests. enjoying the moment. They in a side room “Within two hours we were away they’ve wished enough time a virus, worst being told that at best Dylan had their son Dylan, Louise. since the April day in 2012 that case, he had leukaemia,” says leukaemia. were in the amnow nine, was diagnosed with “The following afternoon we Dylan finished It’s been three months since finally begin to bulance being treatment and the family can Bristo chemother- taken chart milestones that don’t involve tol,” says Gez, as Dylan very apy and steroids or tears (nor, taking crisps that 45, firmly insists, the packets of Frazzles up the story. treatment.) gruelling his sustained him during perfect Christ- “By the time “We’re looking forward to the we got there, 37. “Each New mas – a family one,” says Louise, was made it through Dylan Year’s Eve we’ve thought, we’ve complaining closer to what we this year and are another step his legs were to be better and all desperately want – for Dylan and to wish your time aching off treatment. You don’t want to walk. Dylan and Olivia that it hurt Louise. “We away and yet, when it all began “That was horrendous,” adds then, and I just were both so tiny.” didn’t understand leukaemia family have spread.” In fact it’s only now that the Plymouth thought, if it’s cancer it might sense of the lymphoblasis beginning to reflect and make Dylan was diagnosed with acute as they recount, journey they’ve been on. And, Louise and Gez, who’s a profescompletely un- tic leukaemia. to it really did involve being flung, barely had time for the news disease. Dylan sional singer, whisked off prepared, into battle against the in, before their little son was sink Olivia sister little had just begun school, and first chemotherapy administered life was turned to undergo his was only three, when the family’s under general anaesthetic. Dylan had leuupside down in less than a week. “When we were first told that suffered a Gez. During a family wedding, Dylan was too much to take in,” says to staunch. Days kaemia it nosebleed that took an age
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pretty sure Dylan “Even though by then we were the hope that he had leukaemia we still held onto trying to listen to didn’t. We were shocked, upset, but struggling to what the consultant was saying need three years take it in. He said Dylan would was good.” of treatment and that the prognosis “was when we “The next day,” says Louise, tell him? When? asked questions. How do we Should he know? and drew “We told Dylan he was very poorly bad black cells him a picture of a battle between and good white cells. We told Dylan he needed medicine so the white cells would win the fight.” Battle lines had been drawn against the disease, physical, invasive and
‘We drew Dylan a picture of a battle between bad black cells and good white cells’
It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...
[
immediate. Dylan’s move “One of the hardest things was Gez. “We didn’t onto the oncology ward,” says want to face want to go onto the ward, we didn’t were in. There the reality of the situation we bad way. We were so many children in a really would be but soon assumed this was how Dylan is different.” learnt that every child and cancer Plymouth to Louise and Gez had dashed from up in and slept Bristol in the clothes they stood Louise’s parents for nights in the hospital, with CLIC Sargent looking after Olivia. Then charity a family room in got in touch, with the keys to
FESTIVE RECIPES
Enjoy Christmas on a Westcountry farm
[ welcome [
People
nd we have plenty of ideas for getting into the festive spirit this week. For starters, on page 16 today we head off to a family farm in mid Devon to see how the Grieg family celebrate and cook the perfect turkey. This farming family runs the renowned Pipers Farm butchery business and expect 35 people for dinner on Christmas Day. When you realise that they cook their turkey in an outdoor wood-fired oven, you’ll understand that they certainly do know a thing or two about planning a festive menu. We’ve also got a wonderful interview with the
The Thomas family will be celebrating Christmas together this year
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of the week @jaynefreer Such a moving must-read article about one family’s battle with childhood cancer in today’s @WMNNews @WMNWest TO ADVERTISE: Contact Lynne Potter: 01752 293027 or 07834 568283, lynne.potter@dc-media.co.uk
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fabulous Jenny Agutter on page 12, in which she talks life, love and Christmas in Cornwall with Kirstie Newton. It’s good to learn that Jenny, like so many of us, is always full of good intentions about taking part in the annual Boxing Day swim at her home village on The Lizard - and then decides to stand and watch instead. Finally, if you are in need of a little spiritual uplift this Christmas season, do read all about the wonderful new girls’ choir at Truro Cathedral on page 22. How lovely to discover that the girls are proud of their traditional robes and give up all their free time to hit those high Cs. Heart-warming stuff, indeed.
They cook turkey for 35 in an outdoor wood-fired oven
[
Becky Sheaves, Editor
COVER IMAGE: Chemise £20 BHS
EDITORIAL: westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk Tel: 01392 442250 Twitter @wmnwest
MEET THE TEAM Becky Sheaves, Editor
Sarah Pitt
Kathryn Clarke-McLeod
Catherine Barnes
Lynne Potter
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If you do one thing this week... Revel in the magic of Christmas at Cornish stately home Trelissick, overlooking the river Fal, where the decorations are up, the Christmas trees are dressed, entertainment is being prepared and the mulled wine is warming on the Aga. The house and garden are open today and tomorrow, December 12-13, and from Saturday to Wednesday, December 19-23, from 10.30am-7pm. Father Christmas is taking up residence in the stables and you might even get to meet his reindeer. See www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trelissick to find out more.
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fave!
Tasty treat
Pirate bookends £19.99 Wyevale Garden Centres across the region www.
Gingerbread house DIY kit £25 www.biscuiteers.com
wyevalegardencentres.co.uk
the
wishlist West’s picks for spending your time and money this week
Cheep Robin handkerchief £6.50 www. annabeljames.co.uk
STREET STYLE STAR Jeanette Smith
Jeanette says: My style icon is Twiggy. She’s a classic, really. My favourite shops are White Stuff and Sea Salt, I love the comfy style of their clothes. Right now, I am shopping for cosy clothes, boots, thick jumpers, and woollen hats. Jacket: “Somewhere in Venice” £49 Top: White Stuff £25 Jeans: Topshop £48 Shoes: New Look £99 Bag: Marks & Spencer £50
INTERVIEW: HANNAH MATTOCKS
Jeanette, 63, is an artist from Paignton
Vintage-style hair comb £18 www. rockmyvintage.co.uk
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Wishlist
The real thing Diamond stud earrings £250 from Westcountry jeweller michaelspiers.co.uk
Handmade bauble made from recycled paper £2.50 The Eden Project., Cornwall
Bang! Liberty print crackers Wyevale Garden Centres across the region £39.99 for six
Party Louche Lux fringe dress £89 www. joythestore.com
Store we adore
Scarlet Wines and The Vineyard Table, Lelant Owner Jon Keast runs this gastronomic treasure trove near St Ives, with a deli, restaurant and wine shop all under the same roof. Expect fabulous local produce, as well as hard-to-find delicacies from Italy and Spain. There’s a Christmas shopping event here today (December 12) with the chance to win a case of six bottles of wine.. Scarlet Wines and The Vineyard Table is at The Old Forge, Lelant, see www. scarlet-wines.co.uk or call 01736 753696 7
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talking points Gillian Molesworth
Story of my life... Keeping it simple at Christmas isn’t easy remember the kids’ first Christmases very well. Sophie, as a baby, was more interested in the box than the gift. It kept her entertained for at least fifteen minutes, which was good going, for her. Freddy loved opening his stocking presents, and would have been happy as Larry with two gifts – a set of jingle bells and been systematically binning vast a cookie cutter in the shape of an swathes of the detritus that’s aeroplane. I had to keep encouragbeen clogging up my life – including him to open more, to keep the ing several gifts. I don’t want pace up. more, I really don’t. You know Those were the good old days. what would make me really I suppose it’s inevitable that as happy? A skip. But that sounds they grow, they get more ambireally grumpy, doesn’t it? tious – and also more retail savvy. Gift giving is a real art. It You should see the lists these shows you know the person and days. Iphone 5S, Xbox whojamacan anticipate their needs. My flip, a kayak, designer jeans, father was famous for giving eight hundred everyone what electronic games he himself liked at an average – generous to a price of £20 each. fault, but somewhat Where do you narrow minded. My I don’t want more start? More imgraduation present gifts, I really portantly, where from university was do you stop? And a set of golf clubs. don’t. You know when do they I gingerly pointed what would learn a sense of out that I didn’t play make me really proportion? golf. “You will now!” I read an was his response. happy? A skip. interesting blog And the real skill online. It was comes in when it’s written by a not something that woman whose the person knows Christmas spending had got out that they want. For instance: of control. She took steps to rein I was given a soup maker last it back and came up with this year, which made me cringe. We handy motto: “Something they already had a blender in which want, something they need, someI made soup – what a waste of thing to wear, something to read.” money. But I have to admit, it’s Four things. brilliant. You throw in all the I’m having the opposite scrag ends of your veggies, add problem – I don’t want anything water and a stock cube, and for Christmas. I’ve just spent twenty minutes later it’s cooked all autumn trying to get rid of and blended it for you. stuff. As a new student of Marie So I guess I should retain a Kondo’s book The Life Changsense of optimism. But I still miss ing Magic of Tidying Up, I have the simpler days…
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
OFF THE
shoulder Doesn’t actress Sienna Miller look fabulous in this full-length off-the-shoulder gown? Embellished with sequinned detail as lively as this, she’s right to keep her look as fuss-free as possible, although we love the starburst cluster ring she’s wearing on her index finger. This look is such a feminine way to draw attention to your collar bone area, without exposing huge amounts of décolletage. We’re entranced with Very’s floor-length number (£99) in midnight blue, perfect for Christmas parties.
Midnight blue maxi £99 Very
steal her
style
OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN
OPTION A Drama OPTION B Delicate Pink ruffles £49 La Redoute
Maxi dress £80 Lipstick boutique
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12.12.15
Just
AIDAN: I’M NEWLY SINGLE Don’t all rush at once but AIDAN TURNER has confirmed he is newly single. The Poldark star has split from his long-term girlfriend, actress SARAH GREENE. The 32-year-old actor admitted to the break-up, but says he would rather not talk about it:
exclusive
“I like to keep my private life private for my own head. It’s important to me that people don’t know too much about me... Sometimes you see actors who are really good, but you have trouble separating that actor from the celebrity profile.”
between us
!
Gossip, news, trend setters and more – you heard all the latest juicy stuff here first!
[[ ‘My chest escaped its confines!’
ADELE’S OUT AND ABOUT
CORSET DRAMA We can’t wait to see actress Caroline Quentin (who lives near Tiverton) at her wicked best this Christmas. She plays Oliver Twist’s foe, the bullying Mrs Bumble, in the BBC’s new series, Dickensian. Just between us, she nearly revealed too much while filming, she told West, explaining: “Let me put it this way, my corset was so tight that while filming one rather hectic scene my chest escaped its confines. We had to cut and reshoot - once all was safely gathered in!”
Adele has denied she was a “recluse” before her new comeback single Hello - she says she just wasn’t courting public attention. After huge success with her 2011 album 21 and Oscar-winning Bond theme song Skyfall in 2012, Adele stopped performing and didn’t release any new music until this October, when she suddenly released the lead single from her new album, 25. “I’m not a recluse,” she tells Observer Music magazine. “Can we clear that up? I didn’t stop going to shops. To parks. To museums. I just wasn’t photographed while doing it.” 9
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Little star: Ellie, five, attends the switch-on of Camborne’s Christmas lights
in pictures Lucky dip: Sisters Freyja and Charlotte try the tombola at the Culdrose Community Centre Christmas fair
Pony power: Tilly the Shetland pony visited Sheila and friends at Crossroads House care home in Scorrier
Live on stage: Grace Wallen is appearing in a new production of Brassed Off at the Regal Theatre, Redruth
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talking points Naked dates
Tangy!
ONE OF US Famous faces with links to the Westcountry
10 Nude charity 2016 calendars:
1 Boys of Bridgend (Ben
Cohen StandUp Foundation)
2 Warwick Rowers (Sport Allies)
3 Kit off for Cancer (Cancer Research)
4 All Nude Cabaret (Cancer Research/Macmillan)
5 Foxy Hunters (Wilts/Hants & IoW Air Ambulance)
6 Edmonds & Slatter
(Pancreatic Cancer/Brain TumourResearch)
7 It’s In the Bag (Testicular Cancer)
8 Kara’s Calendar Girls (Cancer Research UK)
9 Barberton Senior Living Residents (Esther Ryan Shoe Fund, USA)
10 Hunks and Horses (World
This week:
1 Sloe Tavy (Plymouth sloe gin)
The happy list
Spoofs
1 Spinal Tap (rock music) 2 What We Do in the Shadows (vampires) 3 Kenny (plumbing) 4 Confetti (weddings) 5 Best in Show (dog shows) 6 All You Need Is Cash (The Beatles)
7 Waiting for Guffman (amateur dramatics)
10 things to make you smile this week 1 Plymouth locals Charleine and Brett on The Apprentice
2 Strictly just so good 3 Gok in Plymouth’s panto 4 A Christmas Carol at Exeter’s Northcott till January
5 Montol Solstice festival in Penzance, December 21
6 Dick Whittington on now at the Hall for Cornwall
7 Dylan Moran in Exeter
Childhood: Juno began her career production of their film The Brass as a child actress. She has starred in Teapot. many films, including as a fairy in Disney’s Maleficent. “If Acting: “I was you told six year-old constantly in fancy Juno that she’d one dress and in character day play a Disney fairy, as a kid... If my mother DID YOU KNOW? she’d totally freak out,” ruptured the fantasy she says. and called me by my Juno once real name, I’d say. ‘But got her nose Taunton: Her who is this Juno?’” pierced to childhood home was a 14th century house in Co-star: Juno has look the Taunton. “As kids, we appeared alongside part for an lived in this magical Carey Mulligan in two audition world and roamed free major British movies, in the gardens. I was Atonement and Far obsessed with Alice in From The Madding Wonderland.” Crowd. Other film credits include the Family: Her father, Julien Temple, St Trinian’s movies and Notes on a is a film director. Known as a punk Scandal. filmmaker, he directed the Sex Pistols in the Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle and Communism: Juno’s aunt is Nina made the film Absolute Beginners. Temple, the last secretary of the British Communist Party while her Home: Juno now lives in Los Angeles grandfather, Langdon Temple, ran with her boyfriend, actor Michael Progressive tours, a travel agency Angarano. They met in 2012 during specialising in Communist countries.
next April - book tickets now
9 Razzle Dazzle (dance)
8 Mince pies hot, with cream 9 Spectacles Bake Off’s Sue
10 Mighty Wind (folk music)
10 Crafty gifts homemade fun
8 Bob Roberts (politics)
Actress Juno Temple, 26, was brought up in Somerset and went to school in Taunton
2 Ogleshield (cider) 3 Keltic Gold (cider) 4 Stinking Bishop (perry) 5 Tornegus (herbs and wine) 6 Oxford Isis (mead) 7 Baltic (ale) 8 Goddess (cider brandy) 9 Drunken Burt (cider) 10 Morn Dew (milk)
Horse Welfare/Testicular Cancer Research UK)
Mockumentaries and their targets:
Juno Temple
British cheeses with flavourful washed rinds:
has written such a funny book
Competition winners: Congratulations to… winners of the competition in West magazine on October 24 • John Arbon alpaca bed socks – Rita Dinham, Saltash; Addie Wyatt, Bristol; Emma Davie, Shobrooke near Crediton
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Interview
Soul sister Families all around the UK will sit down to watch Call The Midwife on Christmas Day this year. Joining them will be actress Jenny Agutter, aka Sister Julienne, who will be tuning in from her home in Ruan Minor, near Helston. Here, she talks life, love and Cornwall at Christmas with Kirstie Newton
t 7.30pm on Christmas Day, families all over the country will sit down to watch Call The Midwife on the BBC. The festive special has become a staple of the big day – last year’s episode was the fourth to air on Christmas Day, and pulled in 9.6 million viewers. Joining them this year will be actress Jenny Agutter, aka Sister Julienne, tuning in from her home in Ruan Minor on the Lizard peninsula. “We’ll definitely be watching – my husband loves it,” she tells me, speaking on the phone from London where she is busy filming. Series Four of Call the Midwife ended on a low note, with Patsy’s relationship breakdown and Trixie acknowledging her alcoholism. The new series starts a few months later, and we’re into 1961, which brings plenty of excitement and challenges, often in direct contrast: “We think that was a liberating time, but single mothers were still stigmatised, and homosexuality was illegal,” comments Jenny. Sister Julienne, meanwhile, is at the heart of a storyline involving the disastrous consequences of prescribing Thalidomide for morning sickness. “It’s a big theme, overarching the entire series. Limbs were not properly developed, and in the beginning people didn’t know why. It was traumatising.” With so many dark storylines, she adds: “The births are a relief, because they are full of hope, a new life with fresh possibilities.” We are also given an insight into Sister Julienne’s own past. “It was great for me when Heidi [Thomas, scriptwriter] gave me a storyline about a former lover. It made a huge difference to the way I see Julienne’s faith. She had all those possibilities – a great marriage and children – but her
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‘I occasionally contemplate the Boxing Day swim in Cadgwith Cove but always stand and watch instead’
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Interview
‘I love my office in the show, it’s my one real place of sanctuary’
Jenny’s career began with her starring role in The Railway Children
faith was such that she couldn’t leave it. Every time I start a series, I am questioning what things are about. A nun’s life is so far removed from what I can see myself doing.” In the show, television arrives at Nonnatus House and, in a quirky plot development, the nuns are asked by the BBC to film a Christmas service, causing them to consider the conflict between private celebration and the opportunity to reach out to a wider congregation. “I love the nuns,” says Jenny of her fellow actors in the series. “They make me laugh. Pam Ferris is funny, and Judy Parfitt laughs hysterically at things. We are much closer than any other group of people I’ve been with in other companies.” Of course, the whole cast has been cheering on Helen George, who plays Trixie and competed in Strictly Come Dancing this year. “I don’t know how she did it. I don’t think I could – I’d be too nervous about getting steps wrong. I’d make a complete ass of myself,” says Jenny. Filming of the show takes place near Ascot, she tells me. “It feels very much like home when I arrive. I love my office in the show, it’s my one real place of sanctuary.” But for Jenny, Christmas is always spent in Cornwall, and is the time of many celebrations; Jenny’s son, Jonathan, was born on Christmas Day, while her own birthday is on December 20. “My husband [hotelier Johan Tham] is Swedish, and so we follow the tradition of celebrating
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With Donald Sutherland in The Eagle Has Landed
Christmas on December 24. We have stockings in the morning, with silly things in them; then the main meal, which is like a late lunch. It’s a smorgasbord, a winter feast with whatever’s available – sliced meat and fish, including gravadlax and herrings. It’s fun, and makes a change from worrying about the turkey. It’s Johan’s department, as he knows those dishes so well - although I make the gravadlax, and Jansson’s Temptation - a traditional Swedish casserole made of potatoes, onions, anchovies, breadcrumbs and cream. “On Christmas Day proper, we have goose, because that’s Jonathan’s favourite - and it is his birthday.” Jenny and family join in many Christmas traditions in the nearby fishing village of Cadgwith. “The village has lovely Christmas lights, and we go to the pub for carols and the traditional mummers play. I occasionally contemplate the Boxing Day swim in Cadgwith Cove but always stand and watch instead. In any case we always go for a long walk on the 26th. “It all makes for a proper Cornish Christmas, and it gives me a sense of continuity that I love. It’s something we’ve always done together as a family, and always will. It’s terrific.” Jenny can also be seen in the film TIN, an adaptation of the play written and performed by Cornwall’s Miracle Theatre Company, released this year on DVD. “We shot against green screens, and it took two years to put the film together using tiny set models. It was quite a revelation when I actually saw it – it’s beautifully done.” And Cornwall will continue to hold a special place in her heart, Jenny says. “People in Cornwall are very private, which is what I like about it. There’s no constant social scene like you get in London, we’re not in each other’s homes. If I’m down here, I’m enjoying the place.” And so what’s next? Whatever comes up, is the simple answer. “One of the things about being an actor is that you’re the last person in a film. Everything else is done before you’re cast, so you never know much in advance. I quite like those surprises.” Watch this space!
‘It all makes for a proper Cornish Christmas and
a sense of continuity’
Jenny on a visit to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street 15
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People
Christmas on the farm At this time of the year, the Grieg family of mid Devon is busy supplying top-quality meat for Christmas. Then it is time to get together with friends and relations for a celebration on their own farm. Here, they share their recipe for the perfect festive feast
By Becky Sheaves
or the Grieg family of Pipers Farm, Christmas dinner is no small undertaking. Anywhere between 25 and 35 hungry friends and relations arrive expectantly at the family farm near Cullompton, while dad Peter Grieg cooks a turkey – and just to make it all the more complicated for himself, he does so outdoors, using a wood-fired oven. Mulled wine is ladled out, and, beneath all the holly and greenery, a huge feast is prepared. “It’s great fun and a really festive occasion,” says Abby Allen, 28, who is the girlfriend of Peter’s son Will and works in the family business. “We all get together and really have a wonderful time.” And by the time December 25 comes round, the whole family certainly needs – and deserves – some fun and relaxation. “Christmas is our busiest time. It’s frantic! December is absolutely flat out for the whole team,” says Abby. “So by Christmas Day, it is definitely time to have a glass of red wine and let our hair down.” Pipers Farm is the brainchild of Will’s parents, Peter and Henrietta Grieg. They set up the business more than 20 years ago, selling meat and top-quality ready meals online and through their butcher’s shop in Magdalen Road, Exeter.
F
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PHOTOGRAPHY: MATT AUSTIN
Abby Allen of Pipers Farm helps prepare a festive feast
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All their meat is sourced from small farms in Devon and Somerset, and raised according to the highest possible ethical standards. “In many ways, we’re trying to turn back time here at Pipers Farm, to preserve the knowledge and wisdom of traditional Westcountry farms,” Peter explains. “We’re very against industrial farming and all the horrors it has inflicted on animals. We are all about highwelfare, sustainable agriculture.” These days, Peter and Henri have stepped back from running the business (though Peter is still farming, as well as cooking Christmas dinner for 35) and the couple have handed the reins over to son Will, 27. As these lovely pictures show, Christmas the Pipers Farm way is a real celebration of traditional family values – and very delicious food.
The good news is, if you don’t fancy cooking a turkey from scratch, there is an alternative, designed strictly with convenience in mind. Pipers Farm have have developed what they call The Simplest Turkey, which cooks in one pan, in one hour, but can feed up to 12 people. The turkey is delivered to your home and comes readyprepared, rolled, boned and jointed, with its own roasting tin and foil. It’s complete with homemade apricot and hazelnut stuffing and also includes a free pot of proper homemade turkey stock for making gravy, plus a simple recipe for doing so. “For some people, a full Christmas dinner seems too difficult, either because they are short of time or because they’re not used to cooking roast dinners,” says Peter. “We have had brilliant feedback from nurses, for example, who were
‘By Christmas Day it
is time for a glass of red
and to let our hair down’
working on Christmas Day but still had time to make a lovely meal thanks to The Simplest Turkey. It also meant young families were able to spend more time with their children too and less time in the kitchen. It helps to make Christmas Day really special.” You buy The Simplest Turkey by the portion, with sizes varying between four and 12 portions, costing £8.50 per person. Top chef and cookery writer Rose Prince has praised The Simplest Turkey, saying it is: “The ultimate fait accompli... a boned and stuffed turkey roast in two parts. I have road-tested it and was very impressed.” But if you do want to cook your turkey from scratch, turn overleaf for the official Pipers Farm recipe for success. There’s also a recipe for their special variation on the theme of mulled wine, which could well help you during the cooking process. “Oh, and a wood-fired oven is strictly optional,” says Abby. “Peter just likes to do it that way. You know what men are like when it comes to cooking outdoors with fire, even in the middle of winter.” www.pipersfarm.com
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People
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‘Add stock and a good glug of wine to release treasure for your Christmas gravy’
Glogg Abby says: Spice up your feast with this Glogg recipe. Made with cinnamon, cloves, and citrus, this is a ‘must make’ for the perfect Christmas
How to cook the perfect turkey Abby says: Take a deep breath and a good swig of wine. It’s time to prepare your beloved bird… 1.
Preheat your oven to 180C. Let your bird reach room temperature before you think about doing anything. Take a good-sized roasting dish and let your turkey nestle snugly inside. If the legs overhang, simply wrap a bit of tin foil around them and create a tinfoil trench channeling any liquid back into the pan.
2.
Our fail-safe cooking times: 4.5kg/10lb – 2 hrs 5.5kg/12lb – 2 1/2 hrs 6.7kg/15lb – 2 3/4 hrs 7.5kg/17lb – 3 hrs 9kg/20lb – 3 1/2 hrs 11.5kg/25lb – 4 1/2 hrs
3.
If you are stuffing your bird simply add the weight of the stuffing to the weight of your bird and calculate the total weight and cooking time. If you are stuffing the cavity add 1/2 an hour onto your cooking time and make sure you stuff it loosely.
4.
The best indication that your bird is cooked is when it’s easy to shake hands with. Grab a tea towel or an oven glove and gently twist the drumstick. You should feel it ‘give’ and come away easily from the rest of the carcass.
5.
Your turkey will be cooked through when it
reaches 65C with a meat thermometer. Make sure you give your bird plenty of time to rest, say 20-30 minutes. This ensures the gorgeous juices will all stay in the meat rather than run all over your carving board. 6.
7.
The roasting tin may no longer hold the meat but there is so much value left behind. Add stock and a good glug of wine then stir to release the hidden treasures for your gravy. Don’t forget all the wonderful trimmings like handmade stuffing, sausages in bacon and lardo for the perfect roast potatoes.
A bottle of red wine A large glass of port 2 cinnamon sticks 6 whole cloves 1 orange, sliced 1 star anise A tablespoon dark brown sugar 1. 2. 3.
4. 5.
Take a nice big pan and pour in all your lovely ingredients. Your kitchen will fill with the most wonderful scent of Christmas. Gently heat until steaming and cook for about 10-15 minutes so really infuse all of the festive flavours. Carefully pour through a sieve into a pretty bottle or jug and serve. Cheers!
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08/12/2015 11:21:37
People
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TRURO CATHEDRAL
A joyful noise Words: Kirstie Newton Photography: John Freddy Jones
For the first time in its history, this renowned cathedral choir is welcoming girls as well as boys. We find out how it’s going so far... ruro Cathedral, Sunday morning. An excited murmur grows as the congregation gathers for the weekly Eucharist service. As the bell tolls, a reverential hush descends. It is broken by the sound of a lone girl’s voice as 13-year-old Katherine Gregory sings, exquisitely: “Let us now laud and magnify with music of concord.” The girl choristers have arrived. From my seat, I have the best possible view of the girls as they make their debut alongside 18 boy choristers. After months of preparation, this is a service with many moving moments as the girl choristers are officially installed. Each girl is welcomed personally by the Dean, the Very Reverend Roger Bush, and presented with a new surplice by one of the boy choristers, before signing her name in the cathedral’s historic Music Foundation Register, which has been signed by every member of the cathedral choir since 1880. “It was very moving – a very emotional day,” says Rev Bush afterwards. “The presentation of the surplices was a real lump-in-the-throat moment. It showed a commonality of purpose, a sense of support and belonging. I felt humbled to be part of that.” There are 43 cathedrals in England and Wales, and Truro is number 34 to admit girl choristers.
T
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People “It has been our aspiration for decades to have girls in the choir. Singing here shouldn’t be restricted to men and boys – girls have just as much right to sing in the cathedral.” Later, I chat with choirmaster Chris Gray, as the sound of choral evensong floats down, Schubert’s Mass in G. “I feel proud to be part of the team that introduced girl choristers,” Chris says. “It feels like a healthy and good thing to be doing. I shouldn’t have to say so in the 21st century, but the Church doesn’t always welcome change. Yet we had wide support for this.” Why now? “We wanted to offer the girls the same depth of experience that we offer the boys. That involved having a choir school, with rehearsals before classes every day, and bursaries, so that selection was based on ability and not financial background. It’s only recently that the planets have aligned and it has become possible to do this in partnership with Truro School.” Practical details also needed fine tuning: the girls needed their own cassocks and surplices (with matching scrunchies for their hair – not a consideration for the boys) and folders for their music, while even the toilets needed updating for the fairer sex. Auditions took place in November 2014 and January this year. As well as a good voice and ear, Chris and his team were on the lookout for the kind of personality that would thrive on the intensive chorister routine, and work well as part of a close team. “The standard was high and decisions were sometimes difficult,” he says. The
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Choral music
Hear cathedral choirs sing carols this Christmas
Truro’s cathedral choir is world-renowned for the quality of its singing
age of the girls was a big decision. The boys are aged eight to 13, and are educated at Polwhele School just outside Truro; the girls are aged 13 to 18. Some cathedrals – Exeter, York, Salisbury and Wells are examples - choose boy and girl choristers of the same age. “While boys have a five-year opportunity to sing as trebles before their voices break, I believe the best time for a girl to achieve the most from her voice is between the ages of 13 and 18,” says Chris. “Choosing older girls also enabled us to establish choirs with separate musical and social identities and dynamics.” Do they sound different? “The boys have a bright, clear sound, while girls can sound more like sopranos – it’s a richer, fuller sound.” Among the congregationare parents and relatives who, like the girl choristers, are embarking upon a major journey of rehearsals, performances and travel. Some of the choristers have changed school to take up places at Truro School, with two of them boarding. “Choir priorities take precedence over everything else in their lives. They can’t go away for Christmas or Easter for five years,” says Chris. A couple of weeks after this service, I meet three girls and their respective mothers in the crypt, to see how things are going. The girls chatter together excitedly. Elodie Lawry, 16, from Carnon Downs, has wanted to be a chorister since the age of seven. “I’ve got lots of choral CDs,” she says. “My vocal range has increased – I’m hitting top Cs,” says Lowenna Wearne, 13, from Helston. “It’s hard work, but it’s fun,” says Annabel Mackinlay, 17, from Shortlanesend near
[
Truro. Ask any of them what they are most looking forward to, and they answer as one: “Christmas Day.” Just as the girls are getting to know each other, so are their mums. “It’s Elodie’s dream come true,” says mum Nicola. Annabel’s mother Ruth can’t get over how much her fashionista daughter loves her robes. “They’ve all bonded really well,” adds Lowenna’s mum, Kathryn. “Lowenna’s one of the youngest, and they’ve taken her under their wing.” Of the three, Kathryn finds the practicalities hardest, as she travels from Helston: “I’ve got two other children, and it eats into family time - getting Lowenna from A to B, rehearsals before and after school,” she admits. “But we’re really excited and looking forward to Christmas - although it’s best not to think about the logistics.” This December, you can hear the boys and girls singing, both separately and together. For the annual Cornwall Today concert on December 19, both sets of trebles will sing. The girls will sing on December 23 and the boys on Christmas Eve. And yes, the full choir will sing together on Christmas Day.
[
‘I’ve got lots of choral CDs. My vocal range has increased. I’m hitting top Cs’
There are two events for prospective choristers coming up in Truro: • On January 11 2016, girls in Year 7 or 8 can attend girl chorister auditions. • Saturday, January 30 is the annual Be A Chorister For A Day event ahead of auditions in February, for boys currently in Years 2 or 3 at school. All enquiries to Elizabeth Stewart: elizabethstewart@trurocathedral.org.uk
Truro Cathedral
Saturday December 19: “Glad Tidings We Bring”, a carol concert in the cathedral. 7.30pm, tickets £12-£15, to buy tickets call 01872 262466 or visit www. hallforcornwall.co.uk Wednesday December 23: Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, with the girls’ choir. 7pm, free, see www.trurocathedral. org.uk for details. Thursday December 24: Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, with the boys’ choir. 7pm, free, see www.trurocathedral. org.uk for details.
Exeter Cathedral
Wednesday December 16: Lunchtime carol concert for shoppers and office workers, 1pm. See www.exeter-cathedral. org.uk for details. Thursday December 24: Crib service for children, 12 noon. See www.exetercathedral.org.uk for details. Thursday December 24: A service of lessons and carols, 6pm. See www. exeter-cathedral.org.uk for details.
Wells Cathedral
Tuesday December 22: Traditional carols with the choir, 6pm. See www. wellscathedral.org.uk for details. Wednesday December 23: Traditional carols with the choir, 6pm. See www. wellscathedral.org.uk for details.
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Gardens
ANNE SWITHINBANK
Midwinter marvels Devon’s Anne Swithinbank, panellist on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, heads to north Devon to get some midwinter inspiration ecember is arguably a low point in the gardening calendar, with leaves still being cleared, vestiges of summer growth routed from borders and everything soggy and dank. Only a minority of public gardens remain open during the darker months so I decided to visit RHS Rosemoor near Torrington to see how they rise to the challenges of early winter. Gardeners were hard at work everywhere, filling dumpy bags with debris to clear the lines of the garden so they can sparkle and shine in January frosts. I headed first to the winter garden, full of handsome birches such as B.ermanii and B.utilis var.jaquemontii whose ghostly bark looked freshly washed. This proved to be true, as they’d been gently cleaned only a month before, an annual task carried out using a washing up sponge to rid the bark of algae and lichen. There were also plenty of winter-flowering shrubs and plants like Salix rubens ‘Basfordiana’ whose yellow-green stems grow out of a short 23-15cm/9-10in trunk. In a small garden, there’s an argument for using mainly winter interest trees and shrubs for the backbone planting and think big. Do use trees, Dead stems and even if you have to plant them in large containers. Shallow-rooted seed heads will birches perform well in pots. look stunning Rosemoor have cunningly when rimed with brought their garden to life with a winter sculpture exhibition. frost or dusted I liked Karen Edwards Spring with snow in Sisters Trio, rising like unfurling fronds from a border in the January winter garden. Installations included chickens, snails, bats, a peacock, stately agapanthus,
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stacks of spheres and giant walnuts appropriately staged under a Juglans regia. Original sculptures are not cheap but their impact persuades you to think that perhaps ordinary gardens could benefit from
more theatricality. There are good, affordable concrete urns and ornaments about and clipped evergreens in containers look great too. As I moved through the garden, I noticed the distinctive tang of box. This has long been the evergreen of choice for clipping into low hedges, balls, spirals and cubes until box blight cast
07/12/2015 16:52:09
a question mark over it. This is caused by two fungi, both of which cause brown patches and die-back, with one also showing brown streaks in young stems. Sometimes, you can see white or pink spore masses on the undersides of leaves. I still think it is worth planting box but if you’ve had blight, spores can linger on infected leaves for six years, so it is then best to switch to alternative hedging. There was plenty of this on display, with a type of privet (Ligustrum sinense) looking first rate, with slightly woodier Osmanthus x burkwoodii close behind. A neat holly called Ilex crenata is often recommended as a box substitute but I.c.’Green Hedge’ looked a bit gappy and didn’t compete well with the others. Faded herbaceous perennials and grasses retained dead stems and seed heads, as is the fashion these days. This natural look favours wild life by providing cover and hibernating sites for insects, seeds for birds and will look stunning when rimed with frost or dusted with snow. The
seed heads of Oswego tea or bergamot (Monarda didyma) looked especially pretty. En route to the veg garden, I enjoyed the minute pale yellow fruits on crab apple Malus transitoria, didn’t rate the large, rather waterylooking red fruits on Malus ‘Red Sentinel’ but would give space to the thorn Crataegus x lavallei ‘Carrierei’ whose oval, orange-red fruits were solid and perky on a better shaped plant. Once in the productive plot, good labelling tells you when crops like Brussels sprouts were sown and planted out. The 1m/3ft high stems of Broccoli ‘Claret’ were tied to firm stakes in four places to keep their stems upright and straight. In the older part of Rosemoor, there were bamboos, ferns and shapely exotic plants in the more sheltered areas. A good tidy up, plenty of seasonal interest and adding structure with ornament and clipped hedges would seem to be the secrets of riding out winter. The Winter Sculpture Exhibition, Rosemoor runs until February 21 2016, 0845 265 8072 or visit rhs.org.uk/rosemoor for details.
Question time with Anne West reader queries answered by Anne Swithinbank I like to grow French lavender because the bracts look like rabbits ears poking above the flower head. The trouble is, it keeps dying off in my garden. How can I keep it from year to year?
Q
French lavender (Lavandula stoechas) and its varieties bloom earlier than the traditional, socalled English type (L.angustifolia) and bear attractive, slightly chunkier arrangements of flowers topped with purple bracts but I don’t think the scent is as good. It is also slightly less hardy and even more prone to dying off when soils are cold and wet. You stand the best chance of overwintering French lavender on light, sandy soils but on clay, you’ll need to take cuttings in summer and keep them sheltered in a greenhouse (unheated should be fine, they are sheltering from rain more than cold). Try growing them in pots of well-drained compost in a bright, sunny position and bring them under glass for winter. Trim back (but not into old wood) in spring.
Q
I’ve seen dainty camellias for sale on trolleys outside a supermarket. Surely these plants usually flower after Christmas?
They must have been a variety of Camellia sasanqua, a dainty Japanese camellia whose blooms open in mid and late autumn. They are capable of slowly reaching large evergreen shrubs of 6m/20ft but are sometimes grown in pots of ericaceous compost as display plants for unheated greenhouses and porches. Leaves are generally daintier than the spring flowering camellias and the blooms usually single and fragrant. In common with most camellias they appreciate a sheltered, woodland style location in humus-rich, lime free soil that stays moist in summer. As long as moisture content is good, they’ll thrive in sun, otherwise chose a semishaded position. Ours grow in a north facing position sheltered from winds by the backing of a hedge. A slightly raised bed means they have excellent winter drainage.
Send your questions to Anne at westmag@ westernmorningnews.co.uk
This week’s gardening tips Anne’s advice for your garden
• Plant all kinds of soft fruit into the garden, remembering that gooseberries and currants do well in the more difficult, shadier areas of a plot where some veg won’t grow. I’ve just added gooseberry ‘Hinnonmaki Red’, as it sounds delicious and is mildew resistant. • C lear out borders by removing unwanted self sown grasses (Stipa tenuissima can get carried away), the
remains of summer bedding and any ugly stems that aren’t needed for winter outlines. This will enable evergreens and plants with attractive stems to show off for the rest of the winter. • Trim scruffy lawn edges and re-cut those that have lost their original straights and curves. But work from a wooden board, otherwise your feet will cause a mud bath and ruin the turf edge.
Gifts for gardeners Still troubled by Christmas present buying? How about a seed gift box from Thomas Etty of Ilminster, Somerset (01460 298249 www.thomasetty.co.uk). The Colourful Tomato Collection, Rare and Unusual Chilli Collection or Colourful Veg Collection (all £12 plus £3.20 carriage) all look tempting.
Harvest At last we have had frosts enough to wilt the foliage of yacon, so we can harvest their sweet tubers known as ‘underground pears’. Snip them away to use and pot up the small tubers at the top (trim roots if necessary). Keep these frost free to start again in spring. 27
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bRiSTol
Get on your Christmas list!
WIN!
opping The ultimate Bristol sh s trip with Harvey Nichol and Hotel du Vin
To enter go to:
tmas
VisitBristol.co.uk/Chris Terms and conditions apply
Treat yourself this Christmas with a shopping break to Bristol. A great line up of stores is complemented by a host of Christmas treats, including a traditional German market and local specialities, all topped off with ice rinks, pantos and some of the UK’s finest restaurants. Get your skates on and book yourself a festive break – we’ll keep the mulled cider warm...
VisitBristol.co.uk/Christmas DPS.indd 2
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Galleries Grotto Until 24th December, The Galleries, Bristol Shopping Quarter
Twilight and Illuminations Tour 11th, 12th, 18th & 19th December, Bristol Insight
German-themed Christmas Market Until 22nd December, Bristol Shopping Quarter
Treefest 8th – 13th December, St Mary Redcliffe
Harbourside Christmas Market Every weekend until Christmas, Harbourside
St Nicholas Christmas Market Mon, Tue, Thu, Sun until Christmas, Old City
At-Bristol’s Ice Rink and Local Market Until 5th January (closed 25th), Millennium Square, Harbourside
Picton Street Christmas Fayre 12th December, 11am – 7pm, Montpellier
Winter Wonderland Until 10th January, The Mall at Cribbs Causeway Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015 Until 10th April, M Shed A Victorian Christmas Until 6th January, Brunel’s ss Great Britain Made in Bristol Gift Fair 5th, 12th & 13th Dec, Colston Hall, all 10am – 4pm. Santa Specials at Avon Valley Railway Weekends until 20th December plus 23rd & 24th December Spiegeltent Until 19th December, Waterfront Square
Enchanted Christmas Evenings 18th – 20th December, Bristol Zoo Gardens Starfish in the City 19th December – 3rd January, Bristol Aquarium
CHRISTMAS MUSIC & THEATRE The Light Princess Until 10th Jan, Tobacco Factory Theatres Sleeping Beauty Until 17th Jan, Bristol Old Vic
Santa’s Invention Workshop Until 4th January, At-Bristol Science Centre
Snow White Until 3rd Jan Bristol Hippodrome
Santa’s Grotto Until 23rd December, Bristol Zoo Gardens
Living Spit’s A Christmas Carol 8th Dec – 3rd January, Brewery Theatre
Bristol Local Christmas Market Until 23rd December, Broadmead
All details correct at time of going to print. Please check the website for times and prices before travelling.
Gareth Malone 12th Dec, Colston Hall The Nutcracker & The Snowman 20th Dec Colston Hall
For full event listings go to visitbristol.co.uk/Christmas @visitbristol #merrybristmas DPS.indd 3
07/12/2015 17:27:26
Festive nights t’s the night before Christmas, and what will you be wearing? If you’re in a slinky mood, and have some champagne on ice, then BHS has these extremely cute Santa Baby lingerie sets at great prices, or you could try some sassy festive knickers from Lascana. If, however, you’ve been up since dawn making mince pies and wrapping last-minute gifts, you might simply want to put on something comfy and cosy before you tackle a glass of Baileys in front of the telly. In that case, how about some cute pyjamas and a pair of fluffy socks? Either way, we wish you a very Merry Christmas.
I
Sa n ta kn ic k b ra
Santa baby chemise £20 BHS
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Fashion
Reindeer pyjamas £28 Boux Avenue
Bunny slippers £12 New Look
Sa n ta B aby kn ic ke rs £5 S b ra £1 2 B H
Robin pyjamas £20 BHS
Pug pyjamas £16 M&Co
Socks £5 Evans Knickers £2.50 George at Asda
Chocolate trees From £24.99 cuckooland.com
Fluffy socks £8 southbeachofficial.com
Knickers £15 Lascana.co.uk 31
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Trend
HOW TO WEAR IT:
MAIN PHOTO HAIR: CHARLOTTE AT SAKS, EXETER MAKE-UP: CLARINS, DEBENHAMS (BOTH PRINCESSHAY) PHOTOGRAPHY: STEVE HAYWOOD STILL-LIFE PHOTOGRAPHS: PR SHOTS. SHOOT ASSISTED BY: ELLIE JONES
Sequins Kathryn Clarke-Mcleod is in high spirits over high shine s I emerged from my office last week and stepped out onto the dark paveDress, Next, ment, a vision rounded the corner. Princesshay, £50 She was a smiling young woman dressed in the most hypnotic shimNecklace, Next, mering gold sequined dress. Her sparkling presPrincesshay, £18 ence was so incandescent that I felt immediately warm and happy, a sensation similar to having Box clutch, Next, the sun on your face after a long winter. Princesshay, £12 If that is what brushing past someone in sequins feels like, imagine what it must be like to Shoes, Next, drape yourself in them for an evening. I decided Princesshay, £45 then and there that, for my next social engagement, it would be me who lit up the room. For a Bracelet, Next, split second I considered dashing after her to find Princesshay, £12 out where she got her envy-inducing frock, and then reality set in. The frock that was perfect for her 22 year old frame and olive skin was probably not the exact match for me at a decade older and a few shades paler. I needed to find my own version of the shine, pronto. The beauty of I didn’t have to look far. I have any garment a bona fide crush on Next at the moment. It seems every time I that includes a go in the store, I leave with exhealthy dose of actly what I need, even if I didn’t know I needed it. spangle, is that it I am in love with this black semakes for easy quinned frock. It is quite matte glamour in the flesh which means it is a little less visually demanding, which suits me fine. I like to sidle into a room and get the lay of the land before I start my mingling, and bursting forth in a spangled piece of sunshine would glamour. Just slide it on with anything from certainly make it hard to do that. your basics collection (black trousers, white tee) The only problem this black frock gave me and you have instant sass and style. Jewellery is was deciding what to pair it with. There are just best kept to a minimum and hair should almost too many options. I ended up going with classic always be left down or pulled back in a simple courts and a box clutch, but my next outing will pony tail. definitely involve my new over-the-knee boots If you want to dip your toe in the trend, but and a luxurious soft black jumper over the top. shimmering frocks just aren’t your remit, then Luxe to the very max. an embellished jacket like the one from Monsoon The beauty of any garment that includes a pictured opposite is another key pick. Throw it healthy dose of spangle is that it makes for easy over a black jumpsuit for a winning combination
A
of warmth and wow-factor, or layer it over your faithful LBD for an instant update. Gold, silver and black are my top choices for this season. Along with the one accessory that I consider non-negotiable – a sparkling smile. Put yours on full beam and give away freely. I promise it feels even better than finding Balenciaga in a bargain bin. All fashion in these pictures is from Princesshay Shopping Centre, Exeter, www.princesshay.co.uk
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MISS SELFRIDGE shift dress £150
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08/12/2015 12:20:39
culture vulture Our superb new guide to what’s on in the South West by arts expert Sarah Pitt Seth Lakeman in Plymouth West Devon folk singer Seth Lakeman is playing a hometown show at Plymouth Pavilions next week, with support from special guest Cara Dillon and Exeter trio Wildwood Kin. He has successfully steered English folk into the mainstream with a series of bestselling albums including his current album Word of Mouth. Supporting him is his sisterin-law Irish star Cara Dillon, whose countless accolades include Album Of The Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and Tatler’s Woman Of The Year in Music. Saturday December 19, tickets from £21.45, www.plymouthpavilions.com
It’s panto time! Crafty presents Buying for someone special? The Plough Arts Centre in Torrington has a Christmas craft exhibition featuring contemporary and traditional crafts from more than 40 local artists. Stallholders include Anthea Puttick, who
upcycles old clock parts into ornamental flowers and this fish sculpture by Juliette Hayward from Bideford’s Curious Creatures gallery.
Visit Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 8pm from now until December 24, www.theploughartscentre.org.uk
Comedian Kernow King stars as Dick Whittington’s brother in Hall For Cornwall’s festive retelling of this panto hero and his Mousehole Cat. Actor Granville Saxton, a firm favourite with HFC audiences, plays Alderman Fitzwarren – expect plenty of hilarious audience interaction and brilliant ad-libbing. On from now until January 3, tickets £14 - £27, www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
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Enjoy
Your stars by Cassandra Nye
Happy birthday to...
Miranda Hart
This week’s sign: As half horse, half human. Sagittarians simply can’t restrain themselves from jumping into action. They are optimists and always look at the sunny side of things. They often don’t plan ahead and can act without forethought – but always with good intentions.
Born December 14, 1972 Torquay-born Miranda turns 43 on Monday. The comedian and actress first starred in her own eponymous TV series, then won hearts as Chummy in the BBC’s Call The Midwife drama series. Born Miranda Katherine Hart Dyke, Hollywood came calling for Miranda this year when she co-starred with Melissa McCarthy in the film Spy. Miranda lives in London with her dog Peggy, a Shih Tzu cross, who is often spotted riding pillion in her bicycle basket. “I chat to Peggy like a mad eccentric,” she says. “ I’ve always been old before my time.” But such fun, too, we think you’ll agree.
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Spending is fun, isn’t it? Yes, but do try to distract yourself with other things! Remember that your company is worth more to loved ones than a gift. Small bargains can bring a smile and cause hilarity if given at the right time. It should be your mission now to spend more time with loved ones and keep that smile ongoing. Brace yourself at the weekend for an honest declaration. You cannot be embarrassed by a compliment, so accept it gracefully.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) You are about to get much closer to a loved one. Shared interests and organisations bind and bring fun. If someone is pushing you to make a decision about a holiday, hold fire. There are those around you who need to see that smile and accept those invitations! You are important to so many.
AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Wanting to be friendly, it would be easy to get involved with something new this week. However, check how much it will cost and if you really are willing to give it enough time. Very good advice given by a friend this weekend stops any confusion.
PISCES (February 20 - March 20) In the next two weeks a breakthrough in your working life or something that you are trying to achieve will change your attitude. In the meantime try to have patience and do any research or ask any questions that seem relevant. Be sure to spot a bit of good luck as it tries to flash by you.
ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Coming up to the holiday period, there are new experiences to look forward to. Romantically try to keep an open mind. Avoiding something or someone because you are feeling confused is not the answer. Sometimes you need reminding that being brave usually gets you what you need, and this is such a time.
TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Itching to let someone know how you are feeling about them? The chance will come midweek when they ask for a favour. A letter or card from a lost love finds its way to you. This brings mixed emotions and a worry that a mistake could be repeated. Don’t let old wounds worry you, though, when all you have to do is forgive and forget.
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Get down to settling any financial matters by the weekend. Someone special could be around to help you do that. Even so, don’t be tempted to just snuggle up at home. Good as this may seem, others want your company at this time.
CANCER (June 22 - July 22) Spread yourself around this week. Demands made on your time should be what you want and not what someone nags you into. Give yourself plenty of time in the evenings to cuddle up with a loved one. Investigate what sort of holiday they want before making firm plans.
LEO (July 23 - August 23) Are you beginning to feel the festive spirit? No? Could it be because someone is putting a damper on things? Do you remember what I said about avoiding negative people? That goes double for this week. Building on an existing relationship not
only goes well but is better than expected.
VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Having mixed feelings about someone who is conveniently nearby is a sign. When it comes to long-term love you need to be sure. This you do not seem to be at the moment. It is time you had some fun doing something you have chosen yourself. It is easy just to tag along with others.
LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Expectations are high when it comes to the holiday season but it is in your heart that you need true satisfaction. Bringing others together can reveal how real your romantic expectations are. Have some good laughs and forget worrying about the far future. Just ask for what you need. Now it is possible to be open and honest. Sometimes you hold back to avoid hurt feelings, but what does that do? Yes, it hurts you.
SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) The run-up to the holidays is something to look forward to for you. Why do I mention such a simple truth? I mention it because someone may be trying to take the shine from your optimism. Be only with those who support a more positive attitude. What you want now is love and it is never very far away. This month is a springboard into next year. What you start now will bring a great deal of joy later. 35
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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, everyday
LIP SERVICE Isn’t it devastating when a limited edition product you adore comes to the end of its run? Well, you’ve now one less to worry about, because Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil, £18, John Lewis, is now part of the brand’s permanent collection. The hazelnut oil infused supersoother comes in Honey and Raspberry shades (www. johnlewis.com).
Gently does it Before... and after A little preening each day can alter our emotional state according to a study by make-up people Revlon. It found that 97% of women reported a significant positive change after a week during which they performed a daily ritual that involved facing a mirror, applying make-up and fragrance, looking at themselves and smiling. Their partners noticed a difference too, as you can see in a video documenting some of the participants at www.revlon.com/loveison.
What’s your greatest bane? Hair regrowth or the irritating bumps which pop up every time you wax or shave? According to skincare people Sass, around half of us put up with annoying ingrowing hairs. It’s developed a gentle shave gel (£10) and serum (£12) which is suitable for use on the most delicate areas. It helps prevent ingrowings, as well as slowing down the regrowth process. Find them at Boots.
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Wellbeing
BRUSH UP Victoria’s Secret angels Candice Swanepoel and Kendall Jenner have both raved about The Wet Brush (£11.99 at Boots) on Instagram and it’s a top seller in the USA. It’s been designed to detangle locks without breakage, while the range also includes a boar bristle brush that smoothes hair leaving it naturally shiny and frizz free.
Run! A 10k run would be a fitness challenge for most of us, let alone when it involves mud, water and hilly Cornish terrain. But Mudcrew. co.uk is already signing people up to take part in its Lanhydrock challenge on March 19, which will support Children’s Hospice South West. Oh: and you’ll need to don a head torch. We did mention it takes place in the dark, didn’t we?
What’s coming up? Tweet us your wellbeing diary dates
Handy Most of us love a face mask, so why don’t we pay as much attention to our hands when they bear the brunt of cold, dry weather the most? Give your digits 15 minutes of firming, moisturising loveliness with the new Starskin Hollywood Hand Model Hand Mask, £6.99, ASOS.com.
@WMNWest or email westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 37
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Wellbeing
Cure your cataracts Could you be seeing clearly once again? Q
My doctor tells me that I’ve got cataracts and will need to have them removed. What are cataracts and what are the treatments? BV, Bodmin Kenneth Hosie, medical director at Plymouth-based Peninsula Treatment Centre, says: Around 2.5 million people aged 65 and over in England and Wales have some form of vision impairment caused by cataracts. While cataracts can interfere with everyday life if left untreated, cataract surgery is a successful procedure with good results for almost all patients – and treatment is available on the NHS, there is no need to pay. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye that can become severe enough to impair vision. Once a cataract starts developing, the lens loses its transparency and also its ability to change shape. This causes the symptoms of gradual blurring of vision and a change in the effectiveness of a person’s glasses. Often a
person with a cataract will go to their optomeof an artificial lens into the eye. It is the most trist believing their glasses are no longer strong successful and most frequently performed openough and learn for the first time about their eration in the UK with more than 325,000 cases cataract. Some cataracts will affect the very cenannually. Far more than 90 per cent of patients tral part of the lens and come operated on have a significant on over a few months, causing improvement in their vision. real difficulty with night-time Doctors have, as yet, not glare and being especially found any proven method of Cataract noticeable while driving. They preventing cataracts, so it is removal is the are usually caused by ageing, very important to have regular most successful although can be associated with eye examinations (every two diabetes and some medications. years for adults and every year and frequently If your vision can be corafter the age of 50) as conditions performed rected to an acceptable level that may affect your eye health operation in the with glasses or contact lenses, become increasingly common surgery may be avoided at this with age. UK time. If your vision loss cannot Please ask your local optombe corrected by the above etrist or doctor if you have any measures and if the cataracts risk factors or indications that interfere with your daily life suggest cataracts may be affect(driving, watching television, hobbies) then you ing your vision. may be a candidate for surgery. Cataract surTo find out more, please visit www.peninsulatreatgery is the removal of the cataract and insertion mentcentre.nhs.uk/info or call 01752 506070
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Eat
Ingredient of the Week
Christmas veg with Tim Maddams
ow often when you are preparing little less of it in the kitchen? the midwinter feast do you overdo Whatever your poison when it comes to the side dishes? It’s easily done, the main event of the table, it’s well worth Mavis has to have sprouts, Uncle remembering that old cook’s saying, less Arthur simply is more. If you offer so many won’t look at the table without different side dishes you lose the mash, you have to have roast poessence of what you are trying tatoes, Billy likes peas and then to do. You can pile on too much there’s all the pressure to make in an attempt to try everything My menu this you feel creative and extravaand, in the end, wind up not December 25 gant. You could end up spending enjoying the meal and its flavours the whole day just cooking the as much as you would if it were will include veg dishes. Well, here’s an idea less complicated. My menu this garlic buttered for you. Take control and keep December 25 will include garlic things simple. It’s your kitchen, buttered sprout tops, creamed sprout tops and your feast, and your rules. Imkale and herb roasted squash. herb roasted agine the saving on time, not to So, stick to three veg (plus squash mention possible waste. the roasties) and you can’t go Preparing and cooking a big far wrong. And if you take my Christmas feast is a task that advice, you’ll make sure at least can take over and spoil not only one of them can be prepared the your own but everyone else’s enjoyment of the day before and re-heated in the oven. Focus on day, so why not this year just make your life keeping your veg simple, fresh, seasonal and, easier, enjoy your day a little more and spend a above all, tasty and you can’t go wrong.
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Root vegetable mash Does what it says on the tin and can be prepared in advance to great effect. Peel and cut potatoes, parsnips and carrots. Simmer in salted water until tender then drain well for at least five minutes to remove as much water as possible. Mash until you’re happy with the consistency. Season well with salt pepper and nutmeg and add a little olive or rapeseed oil to taste. This can then be stored in the fridge and reheated in the oven when needed. @TimGreenSauce
Tim Maddams is a Devon chef and author of Game: River Cottage Handbook no. 15 (Bloomsbury £14.99) 39
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Drink
Beer of the week Every week, new brewers, new beers, but some of the old stagers remain classics, and one of those is Pitchfork, from Somerset’s RCH Brewery. As well as being a major wholesaler of beers from all over the UK, RCH has a fine portfolio of beers which have stood the test of time, and Pitchfork (4.3% ABV), with its citrus fruit notes and satisfying bitterness, was ahead of its time as a popular golden session ale.
Hot stuff Unusual among this Christmas’s beery offerings is Ghost Hare from Bath Ales which utilises chillies in its recipe. The fiery capsicums in question are oak-smoked ghost chillies from the Upton Cheyney Chilli Company, creating a rich porter with a spicy flavour. Be careful under that mistletoe after you’ve drunk one!
Darren Norbury
talks beer hen the pre-publicity for Mark attention back in the late 1970s. Definitely recomDredge’s new book, The Best mended, it is published by Dog ‘n’ Bone at £16.99. Beer in the World, arrived, I have While you’re browsing the bookshelves, my to admit it set off the twitch I get other autumn-launched pick is Stephen Beauwhen I see book nont’s Beer & Food Companion, titles such as Britain’s Best an important book as beer now Brews or, most irritating, 500 is being seriously considered as Beers to Try Before You Die. the perfect accompaniment to Beer is now But never pre-judge. Mark’s a range of foods in many estabbook, subtitled One Man’s lishments and homes. This great being seriously Global Search for the Perfect coffee table book is published by considered Pint, turns out to be a great Jacqui Small at £25. travelogue and informative inAlso worth getting hold of is as the perfect troduction to the diverse styles Brew Britannia, by Penzanceaccompaniment from around the globe which based beer bloggers Boak & to a range of would make a great Christmas Bailey, which chronicles the regift. vival in British brewing from the foods It takes in the key areas early 1970s onwards. where particular beer styles And certainly, the Good Beer have developed, such as Pilsen Guide, published by CAMRA, in the Czech Republic, Belgium, while not perfect, is always Oregon in the USA and, yes, Britain too! For useful to have handy when out and about on the me, it harks back a little to the pioneering days lookout for an interesting beer . of the late Michael Jackson, the beer writer Darren Norbury is editor of beertoday.co.uk who brought global styles to the wider public’s @beertoday
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HERE WE GO AGAIN Having succeeded for three years in a row, the British Beer and Pub Association is in the vanguard of a campaign to get Chancellor George Osborne to cut beer duty again in the spring Budget, to offset rates burdens suffered by publicans. 41
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Enjoy Exeter’s Christmas market
A WEEKEND IN...
Exeter by Ellie Jones
Stay at The Magdalen Chapter
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Princesshay Christmas decorations he city of Exeter has an eclectic mix of bars, restaurants and independent shops, as well as lots of culture to enjoy. With Christmas just around the corner, a shopping trip to Exeter offers the perfect mix of cosmopolitan city life with a good dose of friendly Westcountry charm.
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Stay: The Magdalen Chapter is just a stone’s throw from Exeter’s city centre and within walking distance of the cathedral, quay and Princesshay shopping centre. Formerly the West of England eye hospital, the characterful Victorian building gives you the chance to abandon your car for the weekend and enjoy the city’s hustle and bustle. You can also relax and unwind in the hotel’s luxurious spa. Start as you mean to go on with a glass of festive winter Pimms on arrival as part of the hotel’s Winter Warmer package – prices start at £140 for two for one night including breakfast. Eat: A world away from the busy town centre is the tranquillity of Exeter’s historic quay, which is where The Onedin Line (remember that?) was filmed. Head to the Samuel Jones Smoke & Ale House and find something for everyone on their extensive menu, which caters for kids and veggies, and spoils gluten free-ers too. Alelovers rejoice! The St. Austell Brewery-owned pub boasts 12 draught craft beers. Walk off The Samuel Jones Smoke & Ale House
your meal with a stroll around the quay where you’ll find an eclectic range of independent arts and crafts stores in the historic buildings along the River Exe.
has to offer. Next, call in at The Old Firehouse, the Muggle world’s equivalent to The Leaky Cauldron, and enjoy one of its famous pizzas, served right up till 2am for late night revellers.
Explore: Make like Harry Potter and discover some of the real-life locations said to have inspired many of the magical locations penned by author and University of Exeter Alumnus J. K Rowling. Head first to Gandy Street, rumoured to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley, and see if you can spot the resemblance – failing that you can simply enjoy poking around the wonderful independent clothes, jewellery and arts shops it
Shop: The Cathedral Green plays host to the Exeter Christmas market up to December 19, which is absolutely bursting with festive spirit. Meander around the market stalls which are home to more than 50 traders, and take in the cathedral’s impressive architecture. The market boasts the Westcountry’s finest local produce and crafts, as well as welcoming international Christmas sellers to the city. Finish off at the Alpine Bar, which is opening late Thursday through to Saturday, and warm up from the inside out with a scrumptious mulled cider.
Exeter’s quay
Drink: Head
to The Oddfellows Gastro Pub & Cocktail lounge for a cocktail masterclass. Packages are a steal and start at £15 per person for an hour-long masterclass with cocktail making experience and (of course!) the chance to drink your creations.
Do: Located on Exeter’s picturesque Quay, Sad-
Shop in Princesshay
dles & Paddles is your one-stop-shop for bike and boat hire! Explore the Exe Estuary on one of the traffic-free cycle routes, or stay cosy and relax in a paddle boat on the calm waters of the quay. If you’re a paddling novice or you’ve forgotten to pack your helmet – don’t worry! Saddles & Paddles provide all the equipment too.
Enjoy: Visit Exeter’s free-to-enter Royal Albert Memorial Museum (known as RAMM), winner of Museum of the Year after a fabulous £10 million makeover. Their current exhibition on fashion in the First World War is well worth a look. Or soak up some culture – you will find something to suit every taste at the Exeter Phoenix arts centre with its varied programme of performances including comedy and children’s entertainment. 43
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My Secret Westcountry Father Christmas
It’s a busy time of year for Father Christmas, who is looking forward to meeting children at grottoes, attractions and events across the Westcountry this year, before his annual sleigh-run on Christmas Eve. He lives in a secret snowy location with Mrs Christmas, eight reindeer and several hundred helpers.
My favourite... View: There are so many but on a starlit night it’s a wonderful sleigh-ride across the sea from Cornwall to my next stop on the Isles of Scilly, although it can be a rather bumpy ride. And I never tire of seeing empty stockings ready for me to fill. Although, of course, I can only do my job if there’s no peeping!
Food: I’m very partial to a mince pie, which tastes very good with a dollop of lovely clotted cream. But Mrs Christmas insists that I get my five a day and I’ve grown very fond of carrots. The reindeer don’t mind sharing and – it might be coincidence - but I have excellent night vision, which is very handy in the more rural parts of the Westcountry.
Tipple: I’ll let you into a secret: I love a glass of Climbing Uffculme Mill in Devon
milk. Not only do I like the taste, but it doesn’t show up on my moustache. I got into a bit of trouble with Mrs Christmas once, after someone
kindly left out a glass of port. She thought I was covered in lipstick!
Shop: Again, there are so many, but I do my very best to visit as many as I can as Christmas approaches. Although I have my own toy workshop, it’s a wonderful way to meet the children who make my job worthwhile.
Weekend away: Mrs Christmas and I do try to take little breaks every so often. We number quite a few pixies from Devon and Cornwall among our friends in the workshop and they know some wonderful get-away-from-it-all spots on Dartmoor and Bodmin. We’re very fond of camping – and the sleigh has plenty of room for tents, sleeping bags, pots and pans and so on. We’ll generally look for a fairy ring to pitch our tent in. These are good for invisibility magic, although the sleigh itself has had a ‘disappear’ mode, since the advent of parking tickets and double yellow lines.
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People
Don’t forget Santa’s milk
In the sea in Cornwall
Santa loves festivals
Who’s up the chimney?
Activity: I’m very, very fond of
climbing chimneys. For me, it’s not just part of the job, but a real passion. The Westcountry is peppered with wonderful old chimney stacks, which are a marvellous legacy of its industrial past. But of course I’ve been climbing chimneys hundreds of years and have expert skills. It’s certainly not something that anyone else should try. I’m sorry to say that they’d go straight on the naughty list if they did!
Treat: It’s always a treat to read the lovely letters sent to me by children every year and it’s always gladdening to hear when they have been especially good. Fun: I enjoy surfing in Devon and Cornwall. High-octane sleigh-riding involves quite a lot of balancing skills and I’ve found I can ride a wave like a professional. A new interest is
music festivals. While Jingle Bells will always be top of my playlist, it’s always good to hear something new. I’ll pop on some sunglasses, wear a different coloured hat and blend in with the hipsters. It’s touching to see so many youngsters wearing their facial hair Santastyle these days.
My Christmas: I work my way across the world on Christmas Eve and am still filling stockings in parts of America while children in Devon and Cornwall are tearing off wrapping paper on Christmas Day. We’re all very sleepy after that, so we take a few days off and then we have a party. A favourite game is ‘Secret Santa’, where everyone picks a name out of a hat and that’s the person you get a present for. One of the funniest (I think it was from the Elf who writes our cracker jokes) was three gardening implements. Hoe, hoe, hoe! Merry Christmas!
Father Christmas was talking exclusively to Catherine Barnes. Want to feature in My Secret Westcountry? Email us at westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 45
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My life
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man and boy
Practical criticism
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Phil Goodwin, father of James, five, considers the nature of success iming, they say, is everything in comedy. You either have it. Or you don’t. Laughs have been in short supply at our house in recent weeks. This time of the year is always a bit tough and life has felt like a bit of a slog of late, perhaps made worse this year by the odd prospect of a first Christmas without my mother, who passed away in March. So, I was sitting in the poetry class of the MA I am doing part-time at Exeter University, waiting for the three-weekly peer review of my attempts as verse. It is not easy having your efforts torn apart but the group is cool and constructive. We were analysing the sonnet – the centuries old 14-line classic – and all wishing we had the skill to craft our ideas so perfectly, when a classmate piped up that she didn’t quite understand something. It takes guts to do this, I think. Many are the
T
times I have sat wondering about meaning but too afraid to let on. The Emperor’s New Clothes syndrome, you might say. What had left her confused was a particular image, which had placed a toe stepping on a rope by way of a metaphor for a newly-wed couple keeping the magic alive in their relationship. ‘I don’t see what balancing on a rope has got to do with marriage,” she explained, in complete innocence. There was silence for a moment, then another, as we all thought how to respond. It is a fairly young class, though one or two of us in the class are old enough to have been through some longterm relationships, including the professor, who has a family. He weighed up the question then turned to her and said, deadpan: “You have never been married before, have you?” It punctured the moment perfectly, sent those of us who knew exactly what he meant into fits of laughter, and answered the question without explanation. He is a poet and knows how to deliver a line. Marriage is, of course, a supreme highwire act. Most people my age have fallen at least once, been pushed and even jumped without a net. Keeping yourself and a part-
[
ner happy, trying to rein in your own worse traits, and maintaining the style that Hemingway famously called ‘grace under pressure’ is no mean feat. So to all those of us still together after all these years: well done. Keep juggling the ball. Anyway, I left the class cheered – if a little chastened by the critical support of my own poem. That evening at dinner I was given another laugh by the lad, a creature who has no hesitation whatsoever about asking whatever question pops into his scatterbrain. It appears he has finally understood the benefits of having his mug plastered over the back page of a colour magazine. Of course he pulled no punches. Chewing on a pizza slice, he asked me: “Daddy are we this much famous because we are in a newspaper?” pinching his thumb and forefinger together to hold an invisible pinhead. One of his mates had told him so in the playground that day. I considered all the times I have been stopped in the street by readers who recognise me (zero). Then I was reminded of the time the guy in my local Co-op came up to me as I was checking an early column one day, just for fun, only to puncture my delight by saying: “If you want to read it you have to buy it.” But the lady in our street admitted she likes to read what we are up to. So I told him, with the same pinch: ‘Yes son. We are famous. This much.”
‘Daddy, are we famous because we are in a newspaper?’ he asked
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