West Magazine July 12, 2015

12.07.15

Lazy days Suit yourself with foolproof beachwear

18

new ways to love where you live

DON’T MISS: + WIN AN OCEAN

ADVENTURE + AMAZING GRAINS

Cover_July12.indd 1

INSIDE: + KATE MOSS + FAKE TANS

PLUS: + PETER ANDRE’S WEDDING + COASTAL INTERIORS

08/07/2015 13:38:19

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www.furnitureco-op.co.uk 08/07/2015 13:26:55

‘He was my kindred spirit and it’s his strength and energy that keep me walking forward’ Lucy Herd on how she survived a family tragedy, page 12

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COASTAL CHIC Get on board for seaside style

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WEDDING BELLS Peter Andre is marrying in Devon, to a girl from Somerset

[contents[ Inside this week...

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THE WISHLIST The loveliest things to buy this week

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STEAL HER STYLE We channel Kate Moss - in pyjamas

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PETER ANDRE’S WEDDING The TV star is getting married in Devon to a girl from Somerset

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WEST IN PICTURES Prom queens, beach polo and pirates

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GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN The woman who overcame a family tragedy and went on to help others

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COASTAL CHIC Marine blues in summer interiors

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SUIT YOURSELF Beachwear you’ll love to be seen in

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AMAZING GRAINS The good-for-you recipes from Somerset bakers

AMAZING GRAINS Delicious recipes for good-for-you baking

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30 42

A WEEKEND IN...

Beautiful Boscastle

HOW TO FAKE IT The finest ways to get an instant tan

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FUN IN THE SUN Costumes and cover-ups for beach days

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HOW TO WEAR IT Off-the-shoulder, made easy

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KISSABLE LIPS How to protect (and perfect) your pout

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SIMPLY SCALLOPS Tim Maddams on his favourite shellfish

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BEAUTIFUL BOSCASTLE Where to stay, what to do

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KERNOW KING Cornwall’s comedian spills the beans

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HOW TO WEAR IT Off-the-shoulder, made easy 3

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08/07/2015 12:29:29

39

BERRY BLISS

Try Ally Mac’s tempting fridge ‘bake’

[ welcome [

05.07.15

DEVON’S VINTAGE

[

[

FESTIVAL:

Let’s go retro!

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Head-to-toe tips for high summer style

WIN WIN: + £130 ARTWORK + DINNER FOR TWO

It’s time to get out there...

INSIDE:

Whether you are walking, cycling or even Stand-Up Paddleboarding (see our fab offer, opposite) this really is the time of year to enjoy the natural beauty of the Westcountry. This week, we’re celebrating the landscape of the South West in so many different ways. On page 16, we meet Roger Saul, the entrepreneur who launched - and ran the fashion label Mulberry for many years. Roger has turned decidedly outdoorsy these days and is now busy growing the special (and good-for-you) grain called spelt on his Somerset acres. He’s just brought out a cookbook, full of lovely ideas for spelt-inspired recipes. And as you’d expect from a chap with such

+ CAROLINE

QUENTIN

+ WHAT TO WEAR

TO WIMBLEDON

PLUS: + PERFECT PLAYSUITS + CORNISH DAWNS

[

Tweet

of the week @maustinpics My image on the front of @WMNWest magazine #photographer #southwest Ed’s note: Thanks Matt for a great Crikey It’s Vintage photograph!

an impeccable design background, the recipes and pictures are completely beautiful, I’m sure you’ll agree.

Meanwhile on page 12 today we have the heartbreaking - but ultimately uplifting - story of Lucy Herd, who has turned family tragedy into a lifetime’s campaign to help bereaved parents. Her latest project (there have been many) is to fundraise for families in need, to give them a holiday retreat on the stunning north Cornish coast. We’re quite certain she’s onto something, and the chance to relax there will prove restorative. I hope you enjoy this week’s West - happy reading!

[

This is the time of year to enjoy the beauty of the Westcountry

Becky Sheaves, Editor

COVER IMAGE: La Redoute

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

MEET THE TEAM Becky Sheaves, Editor

Sarah Pitt

Kathryn Clarke-McLeod

Catherine Barnes

Phil Goodwin

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08/07/2015 10:33:02

If you do one thing this week... ...why not try Stand Up Paddleboarding? Discovery Surf School in south Devon is run by Annika and Martin Connolly, who first tried the sport on their honeymoon in Hawaii. They realised their home beach of Bigbury is perfect for this traditional Hawaiian style of surfing, which involves using a long paddle to move forwards through gentle waves or along the coast. “Exploring Bigbury and Burgh Island this way is great fun,” says Annika.

For more information visit www.discoverysurf. com or call 07813 639 622.

Win

We have a one-hour Stand Up Paddleboarding taster lesson at Discovery Surf School for two, including full kit hire (wetsuit, board/paddle and buoyancy aid) worth £75, to win. To enter, email us your name, address and phone number, with Discovery Surf as the subject, to westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk by August 2. Normal terms apply.

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08/07/2015 15:27:56

Hot pink Pantone 215 coffee maker £25 www. berryred.co.uk

wishlist

Grrr...

This cute panther mini purse is handmade in Amsterdam and can be sent to UK customers £35 www.lalisette.nl

Our top picks of the things you’ll love this week

Store we adore...

Finisterre, St Agnes

Finisterre is a clothing brand based on the north Cornwall coast. It prides itself on combining style and substance in its wetsuits and other surfing gear, as well as clothes to pull on afterwards. These include jackets with effective insulation and cosy base layers made from merino wool, which are not just stylish but also manufactured ethically and to a high technical specification. Visit the shop at Finisterre’s HQ at Wheal Kitty workshops near St Agnes, on the cliffs high above some renowned surfing beaches.

Finisterre, Wheal Kitty Workshops, St Agnes TR5 0RD, www.finisterreuk.com, 01872 554820

BRIGHT IDEA Mosaic wool throw £78 www. villeetcampagne.co.uk

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Wishlist

Mellow yellow Lather up with the scent of bracing juniper, gin & tonic moisturising soap £8.95 www. swankymaison.com

Retro Get a wiggle on in this polka dot tea dress £49 www.rockmyvintage. co.uk

Alana tripple drop earrings £24 www. oliverbonas.com

Cath Kidston river fish melamine platter £12 www.daisypark. co.uk

Fixie bike pizza cutter £14.50. www.redcandy. co.uk 7

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06/07/2015 16:51:55

talking points KATE’S COOL

Fran McElhone

Story of my life...

An era of nappies, night feeds and love o festival season is upon is here and, with his arrival, us once more. My mind things have become as unexpectdrifts back to Gastoned, and confusing, as they were in bury 1999, and a time of the summer of ’99. And I’ve found sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. myself trying to figure out the Well, less of the sex and the drugs, next bit of the plot once again...

I was young (and my mum’s going Whereas life back then was to read this). But life then was cerabout trying to fathom both tainly sporadic and carefree, and study and boyfriends: What that summer, post A-levels, was modules to take? Is it worth boht whimsical and wistful as I bothering with a second date? tried to figure out the next bit of And the in-between years have the plot. predominantly been about work Glastonbury 1999 was where I and boyfriends (and latterly the learnt to expect the unexpected lovely Mr McElhone). When is and crowd-surfed to Skunk Ananthe right time to ask for a pay sie, who played out rise? How do you the festival. The strike a comproweekend marked mise after a bout the end of an era of marital disMy new baby and the start of cord? Nowadays, adulthood for me. life as a new mum Woody is here And with every is about figuring and, with his passing summer out the best way arrival, things since, as Glastonto clear up poop bury comes and explosions, workhave become goes, it serves as a ing out how to get unexpected... thought-provoking rid of the pesky marker of how fast trapped wind, the and confusing time is flying by as most effective way I take stock of how to clear out fluff life is evolving: from between tiny where I’ve been, where I am, and toes, and how to function sleep where I want to go. These days I deprived. All while revelling in struggle to believe how long ago an overwhelming feeling of love. it was that I was cavorting with So as Glastonbury breezes giant robots, twirling around with by once again, and I feel a pang strangers underneath a rainbow of nostalgia, I’ve found myself of flags, clasping a can of warm contemplating the strange sense Fosters. of familiarity of embarking on Sixteen years on, as Glastonsomething new again. Perhaps bury 2015 passes (with headliners, things are not as carefree as they the amazing Florence and the Maonce were, but they are certainly chine), with it, another new era as sporadic and whimsical, and a has started. My new baby Woody whole lot more wonderful.

S

Fran McElhone and her husband Mike live in east Devon with their new son Woody Next week: Gillian Molesworth on family life in Cornwall

Jim-jams

“Perfect breakfast attire!” When Sadie Frost Instagrammed this poolside holiday snap of Kate Moss looking amazing, every woman who’s ever done the school run in their jim-jams felt like a trailblazer. So where did Kate get hers? The secret’s out: they’re

by Olivia von Halle (www.oliviavonhalle. com) and cost £330. Victoria Beckham and Gwyneth Paltrow are also fans of the label.

We can dream… or we can rock these stylish alternatives.

Mossy’s morning favourites: £330 www.oliviavonhalle.com

steal her

style

OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN

OPTION A Stripes Pyjamas £49.50 www.hush-uk.com

OPTION B Spots Karina shortie pyjama set £32 www.bouxavenue.com

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12 JULY 2015

WEDDING BELLS When Somerset surgeon Ruaridh MacDonagh treated Peter Andre for kidney stones back in 2010 he little dreamed that his daughter Emily would end up marrying the star. But the couple announced plans this week to wed at Mamhead, the luxury mansion on the River Exe near Exeter.

Back in 2010, Peter was set to perform at Butlins in Minehead when he fell ill and was rushed to hospital in Taunton. As a thank you, Peter came to Ruaridh’s house to meet the family – and fell for his 21-year-old medical student daughter Emily.

Friends of the MacDonagh family say Emily’s parents had initially “hoped the romance would be shortlived”. But five years on and with a baby daughter Amelia born last year, the couple are

Just

between us now very much in it for the long haul. And her parents are delighted, not only that Peter and Emily are set to marry but that Emily has managed to continue with her studies, and qualified as a doctor this summer.

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

!

‘YES, I’M A HOME SWEET HOME Multi-talented actress, screenwriter and author Meera Syal has said the post-credit crunch nation is finally waking up to family life, traditional Indian style. Meera says that her daughter Chameli has just returned home to live since graduating, adding: “Everyone I know is digging out their

basement or their loft. Everyone is becoming Indian and doing the joint family thing now. We’re just feeling a bit smug, going, Yep, told you - that’s the way it works.” Meera, married to Goodness Gracious Me co-star Sanjeev Bhaskar, has just published her latest novel, The House of Hidden Mothers.

COUNTESS!’ Pamela Anderson has been honoured in Italy for her work protecting marine life by being made a Countess. The former Baywatch star has been named “Countessa de’ Gigli” by the (admittedly self-declared) royal Prince Stefan of Montenegro, who also made Pammy a Grand Dame of Montenegro last No-

vember. Alas, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford in Dorset - aka Julian Fellowes - has penned his last TV series of Downton Abbey. Just imagine an encounter between the Dowager Countess Violet Crawley and Pammy, the Countessa de’ Gigli. There is a rumoured movie of Downton in the offing, after all...

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07/07/2015 14:16:52

Spectacular: Polo on the beach at Watergate Bay

in pictures Day out: Billy-Jo, aged nine, enjoys Armed Forces Day in Plymouth

That’s different: Students from Coombe Dean School arrive at their prom at Boringdon Park

Me hearties: Ava, aged 23 months, dressed up as a pirate for the Saltash Regatta parade

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07/07/2015 14:45:40

talking points The juice

Woo!

ONE OF US Famous faces with links to the Westcountry

This week:

Just add strawberries to:

1 Mojitos with fresh basil 2 Quesadillas with leeks 3 French toast feeling daring? Add rhubarb

Most popular hen weekend destinations:

2 Bristol 4 Nottingham

5 Lemon sorbet

5 Brighton

6 Jam make your own

6 Leeds

7 Lemonade throw in some

7 Bath

8 Crepes a change from chocolate

9 Cheesecake of course

8 Manchester 9 Liverpool 10 Bournemouth

10 Smoothies vitaminpacked

The happy list

Don’t forget

10 things to make you smile this week 1 Heather Watson she’ll beat you next time, Serena Festival essentials for your rucksack this summer:

1 Head torch 2 Sun lotion 3 Paracetamol 4 Toilet roll 5 Bottled water 6 Air bed 7 Wellies 8 Bin bags 9 Wet wipes 10 Wind-up phone charger

19-year-old singer Barclay Beales comes from Bow in mid Devon. He’s a member of the boyband Stereo Kicks

3 Newcastle

4 Avocado salad

mint, too

Barclay Beales

1 Cardiff

2 Dancing National Youth Dance, Plymouth, July 22-23

3 Carnivals Truro’s street parade is on July 11

4 Stithians show rural fun on July 13

5 Radishes for extra crunch 6 Joey The Lips soul band at Doddiscombsleigh, July 17

7 Lavender in full flower 8 Clovelly festival July 19 9 Visitors coming to stay 10 Family dog shows time to parade your pooch

School: Barclay attended Queen Elizabeth’s Academy in Crediton. He later went on to study at the Academy of Music and Sound in Exeter before applying to appear on ITV’s the X Factor in 2013.

Career: Before Barclay’s time on the X Factor, he had a job as a tyre fitter at Mid Devon Tyres. He says he always wanted to be a professional footballer.

Yodelling: In his audition for the X Factor, Barclay wowed the judges with his yodelling skills.

However, he was eliminated by judge Louis Walsh at the bootcamp stage.

likes to look after himself and is not afraid to admit it. When he is at home in Devon he regularly gets his eyebrows threaded at Arch Angels in Debenham, Exeter.

DID YOU KNOW?

Last month Barclay sent Instagram into ‘meltdown’ after flashing his bare bum to his 160,000 followers

Family: Barclay was apprehensive when he went for his second audition on the X Factor in 2014 but it was his Dad’s encouraging words that made him try again. He says: “I wasn’t going to go but my Dad said if I didn’t I’d regret it, so I just had to man up and go for it”.

Stereo Kicks, what’s next? : The band finished fifth in the X Factor competition and have just released their debut single, ‘Love Me So’.

Comeback: In 2014 Barclay decided to make a comeback to the X Factor in series 11 where he performed Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game’ and Robbie William’s ‘Angels’. The judges thought that he would be more suitable for a boyband and on the show the Stereo Kicks were born.

Keeping up appearances: Barclay

Stereo Kicks 11

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Interview

Jack Herd’s untimely death must not be in vain, says his mother Lucy

Gone, but not forgotten Losing a child in a tragic accident is every parent’s worst nightmare. After Lucy Herd’s toddler son Jack died, she vowed to dedicate her life to helping others in the same heartbreaking situation. Catherine Barnes meets this remarkable woman, and her new baby Noah

By Catherine Barnes

“

t doesn’t matter how many times you say it was a tragic accident – and it was – I blame myself every day,” says mother, safety campaigner and fundraiser Lucy Herd.

“I remember everything. From the time of the phone call, to the time I found him, to the time the doctor put his arm on my shoulder and told me there was nothing more they could do.

“I can still see him face down in the pond.”

This August will be the fifth anniversary of Lucy’s 23-month old son’s Jack’s death in a drowning accident, a cruel twist of fate that turned her life upside down in moments.

“I miss him terribly. My life has changed so much, as have so many who knew him,” says Lucy. “He was my kindred spirit and it’s his strength and energy that keep me walking forward.”

I

Since then, despite the heartbreak, Lucy has been determined to help others in the same position. She’s championed the rights of working parents to statutory bereavement leave and supports the Royal Life Saving Society in its drowning awareness campaigns – she’s just filmed a video for them. And every day, she reaches out and responds to other grieving parents, through her social media links.

Now, she is aiming to raise £20,000 to buy a caravan in Perranporth, on the Cornish coast, that she hopes will give families a little of the time and space they need, when they’re enveloped in the grief of having lost a child.

“It’s my mission for this year,” says the former computer programmer, 40. “I’ve fallen in love with Perranporth, it’s beautiful and perfect for bereaved families like myself when I lost Jack.

There’s a need to be somewhere different, to create new memories and this place will be greatly beneficial in the healing process.”

Lucy’s grief has given her the strength to comfort others and today she is able to remem-

ber Jack with joy. But she admits, “I still always dread the summer holidays and the anniversary of Jack’s death.

“It’s my countdown to August 27 and if I could disappear with the family far away, it would be a lot easier.”

Lucy keeps a watchful eye on seven month baby Noah as she talks. “He’s my rainbow baby,” she says. “He brings a lot of laughter and smiles, a lot of light around the dark cloud in my heart.”

Lucy didn’t have an easy time bringing Noah into the world. She’d already suffered five miscarriages before having Jack and her pregnancy with Noah was also complicated.

“I don’t keep them very well,” she says, explaining how her partner Chris, 40, had to give her blood-thinning injections every day for the final 25 weeks of her pregnancy with Noah.

Lucy split with her second husband, Jack’s father, in the aftermath of their son’s death.

“We were together for eight years, but I’ve never named him publicly,” she says. “Talking is my way of dealing with what happened to Jack but

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PORTRAITS: DAVID HARTLEY

Child bereavement campaigner Lucy Herd with her new baby Noah

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Interview

Lucy with Jack before his tragic death aged 23 months

New baby Noah ‘brings a lot of laughter and smiles’ says Lucy

he feels differently and I respect his privacy.”

Four years ago, she found new happiness with Chris. He’s an old childhood friend and their reunion sparked a romance after more than 20 years apart.

Making up the family are Lucy’s older son Josh, 18 and daughter Ellie, 14, from her first marriage. “I say I’m a mum of four and one of them’s in heaven,” says Lucy, who can remember every moment of the day she lost Jack with frame-by-frame clarity.

The family, who now live in Berkshire, had a home in Cumbria at the time. “Mum had called, I’d put Jack down next to me with some colouring pencils and I rang her back for a chat when he was all sorted,” she says.

“In the split moments that I turned my back, he’d opened the back door and climbed the fence that surrounded the pond.”

Prior to that day, little Jack had never so much as scrambled onto a kitchen stool.

“He hadn’t learned to climb,” says Lucy.

Although doctors tried their hardest, they couldn’t save Jack. Today, Lucy is able to remember the happy times, as well as the shock and horror of his death. Jack, she tells me, would bestow his favourite word: “hello, hello, hello!” to shopkeepers and neighbours with a beaming smile. “I love talking about Jack,” says Lucy. “He was just lovely. A lovely, happy little boy.”

Now, every time that Lucy says his name, it sounds like a smile. “When did I start functioning again?” she says. “It probably took 12 weeks, although within 24 hours I had to be Mum to my other children still, even though I didn’t know how. I still had little people to look after. I’d hear, ‘Mum! where’s my socks?’ That was my prompt

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The Perranporth holiday retreat will be a haven for bereaved families

get out of bed.”

Josh and Ellie were referred to a bereavement councillor, but with her family hundreds of miles away, Lucy had to, as she puts it, get on with it.

“People tell me you can’t watch children 24 hours a day. It happened. I know it was an accident and now I don’t let it consume me, I’ve passed that,” she says.

“I don’t think of the what-ifs, but as a mum, it’s in my heart. We created memory books and talked a lot. I did my best and we still talk about Jack every day.”

Sadly though, her relationship with Jack’s father did not survive the strain. “Ninety per cent of relationships break down after the death of a child. I totally believe that’s because the parents don’t have time to grieve together, or a place to go, to escape the everyday,” she explains.

“There’s so much strain on everyday life and a huge financial impact in losing a child as there is no statutory bereavement leave. If you haven’t got an understanding employer, you’re stuffed.

Three days off is the norm – and one of those is for the funeral.

“This sort of bereavement also impacts on the whole family, including step-parents and grandparents. As a nation, we find death and bereavement very hard to deal with. I’ve got friends I’ve not seen since Jack’s funeral. Many people can’t talk about death and so they walk away. I don’t

hold resentment for people like that. But in fact, they didn’t need to say anything. A hug, a card, cooking some dinners - random acts of Lucy is fundraising kindness all count.” for a Cornish holiday Lucy is fundraising for retreat for bereaved the Perran Sands holiday parents and families park caravan via Go Get Funding. She hopes it will provide a tranquil retreat for other families to remember and begin healing, working with support charity Child Bereavement UK. “I know Cornwall pretty well and we’ve spent lots of time down here as a family. This will be Jack’s legacy and I hope to call it JACK’S place, standing for Just Ask For Care, Kindness and Support.

“I’m a bit like a hamster on a wheel,” she confesses, laughing. “I’m a mum and a campaigner, supporting bereaved people all over the place. It’s creating something good and happy out of Jack’s memory. I’m doing all these things to make a positive out of a negative.”

Donate now to Lucy’s Go Get Funding campaign at www.gogetfunding.com/bereaved-familiesholiday-home-by-the-sea. Visit Lucy’s website at www.jacksrainbow.com Follow Lucy’s

Lucy campaigns in Jack’s memory

bereavement campaign on Twitter @chngbereavement.

You can also watch Lucy’s awareness video for the Royal Life Saving Society at www.rlss.org.uk 15

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08/07/2015 15:03:02

People

How’s that spelt?

It’s a grain with ancient beginnings and a healthy future, as fashion brand founder -turned food hero Roger Saul celebrates in a new cookery book inspired by his homegrown organic harvest he Romans referred to spelt as their “marching grain” because of its high energy content. Today, this ancient form of wheat is undergoing something of a renaissance, thanks to its healthgiving properties.

Spelt is higher in protein and has a broader spectrum of nutrients than wheat - and is relatively easy to digest. One of the pioneers of the spelt revolution is Somerset’s Roger Saul, founder of the fashion firm Mulberry. Roger grows spelt on his 300 acre

T

Roger Saul grows 300 acres of spelt in Somerset

farm near Shepton Mallet and sells his organic spelt products at his own farm shop, online and in Waitrose, under the food label Sharpham Park.

“Man has been eating spelt for thousands of years,” Roger says. “It suits our stomachs.

We can digest it so much more easily than modern commercial strains of wheat.”

Roger has just published his debut cookbook, simply entitled Spelt. It is a collection of homely recipes, inspired by Roger’s family meals with his wife Monty and children William, Cameron and Freddie.

Roger says: For those of you who haven’t come across cranachan before, it is a Scottish Gaelic dessert that sounds a handful but is absolutely delicious. Originally it was a dish eaten around harvest time. There is a tale that says if you put a ring in the mixture and serve it at a wedding, whoever finds the ring in their dish will be the next to marry. Quite what happens if you are already married, I am not sure!

SPELT CRANACHAN SERVES 4 PREPARATION TIME: 10 minutes, plus making and cooling the porridge Put the cream, honey and whisky in a large bowl and whisk, using an electric whisk, until soft peaks form.

Spoon a layer of the spelt porridge into tall glasses, then a layer of the poached raspberries and finally the flavoured cream. Sprinkle with the spelt porridge flakes, if using. Chill in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

700ml double cream...............................................

2 tbsp clear honey.........................................................

3½ tbsp malt whisky..................................................

70g cooked and cooled spelt porridge 200g poached raspberries or other poached or fresh fruit of your choice......

1 tbsp spelt porridge flakes, toasted (optional)..........................................................................................

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Roger says: Your patience will be rewarded if you have taken the time to chill this traybake thoroughly for a few hours in the fridge before slicing it into squares, as it will set much better.

Either way, the texture has a delicious, delicate crunch that is perfect with a cup of strong coffee.

Maple & Pecan Squares MAKES 9 squares PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes, plus 2 hours chilling COOKING TIME: 30 minutes Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4 and line a 23cm/9in square cake tin with baking paper.

Put the butter, sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and salt in a saucepan over a low heat and bring slowly to a simmer, allowing everything to melt and mix together. Add the pecans and the spelt porridge flakes and stir well.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin, smooth the top so that it is as even as possible, and bake for 30 minutes, or until the top looks golden brown and slightly crisp.

Leave to cool in the tin. Once cool, put the traybake, still in the tin, in the fridge

150g/5½oz unsalted butter.........................

125g/4½oz light muscovado sugar......

115g/4oz maple syrup........................................

1 tsp vanilla extract................................................ ½ tsp ground cinnamon.................................. ¼ tsp sea salt................................................................

150g/5½oz pecans................................................

150g/5½oz spelt porridge flakes...........

for a few hours or overnight to set fully before slicing into squares.

These will keep in an airtight tin at room temperature for about a week (if they last that long).

Roger Saul’s Spelt is published

by Nourish Books (www. nourishbooks.com) £16.99

Roger says: Plums have a wonderful affinity with almonds, and this cake is so easy to rustle up that there is no excuse not to give it a go.

The plums can be substituted with other seasonal stone fruit, such as greengages or apricots, if you prefer. You could also use other nuts, such as walnuts or hazelnuts, in the cake mixture or vary the flavours by substituting the vanilla and cinnamon with freshly grated lemon or orange zest.

Plum & Frangipane Cake MAKES 20cm/8in cake PREPARATION TIME: 20 minutes COOKING TIME: 40 minutes Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Lightly grease a 20cm/8in round springform cake tin and dust with a little spelt flour.

Beat together the butter and sugar in a large bowl, using an electric mixer, until pale and fluffy. Add the vanilla and cinnamon and beat again. Add the eggs one at a time, including a spoonful of the flour with each egg to prevent the mixture from splitting.

Add the remaining dry ingredients to the bowl, then use a large metal spoon or spatula to fold the ingredients together so that the mixture is evenly blended. Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin and gently insert each plum half, cut-side down, around the cake, arranging them either in concentric circles or in whatever pattern you prefer.

150g/5½oz unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing....................................................

125g/5½oz white spelt flour, plus extra for dusting......................................................

150g/5½oz golden caster sugar...............

1 tsp vanilla extract................................................ ¼ tsp ground cinnamon..................................

3 eggs...................................................................................

125g/4½oz ground almonds.......................

1½ tsp baking powder........................................

8 summer plums, such as Victoria or Opal, halved and pitted...........................

A little icing sugar for dusting ..................

Bake for 35–40 minutes until the cake is golden brown on top and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool. Dust with icing sugar to serve.

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People

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People

Roger says: Pecan pie is an American export that we gratefully receive. Traditionally a Thanksgiving dish, our spelt pastry crust reflects the flavour of this sweet nut. And for my version, I’ve added a slug of rum.

PECAN PIE SERVES 6 PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes, plus making the pastry case and 10 minutes cooling COOKING TIME: 45 minutes Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4 and lightly grease a 23cm/9in pie tin.

Make the pastry, roll it out on a lightly floured surface and use to line the prepared tin and bake blind (see page 14). Sit the tin on a baking sheet and leave to cool completely. Turn the oven down to 170°C/325°F/Gas 3.

Put the eggs in a large bowl and lightly whisk, then add all the remaining ingredients except the pecans. Crush two-thirds of the pecans and reserve 100g/3½oz of pecan halves.

Add the crushed pecans to the large bowl with the other filling ingredients and mix well.

Pour this into the prepared pie tin, arrange the pecan halves on top of the filling and bake for 45 minutes, or until the filling has set. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.

250g/8oz shortcrust pastry made with spelt flour.............................................................................................

A little flour, for dusting.........................................................

3 eggs........................................................................................................

200g/7oz dark soft brown sugar................................

125g/4oz golden syrup..........................................................

75g/2½oz unsalted butter, melted and cooled......................................................................................................

2 tbsp golden or dark rum.................................................

1 tsp vanilla extract....................................................................

250g/9oz pecan halves........................................................

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interiors

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trends

30

fashion

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get out 21

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A bold painting or print can make your room: Regatta photograph, from a range www.uk.whitewall.com

All aboard Seaside style has sailed back in for summer. Gabrielle Fagan shows you how to get your home looking shipshape with coastal chic ust the sound of waves crashing on a shore, and the high-pitched cry of gulls, evokes the coast and all its pleasures – which many of us are lucky enough to live by (or near) here in the South West.

But conjuring seaside style at home is easier than ever, no matter how close to the beach you live. Just perfect for the summer, this look is a perennial favourite, and taking the plunge can be as simple as applying a fresh lick of paint, in brilliant white or a maritime blue, or treating yourself to accessories such as a model sailing boat or cushion decorated with anchors. Before you know it, you will be decked out and shipshape.

“The term ‘nautical’ can inspire many aesthetics, from the traditional images of anchors, lighthouses and buckets and spades, to the more subtle material influences, such as stripped wood, wicker baskets and natural floor coverings like seagrass or jute, for that unspoilt beach retreat look,” says Clotilde Passalacqua, a design expert at Ikea.

“Take inspiration from the colours of the seaside and use soft, pastel blues for upholstered furniture or soft furnishings. These will work well

J

paired with driftwood browns and can combine to a striking look. create an air of serenity in the home.

There are some fabulous wallpapers around “Whatever your choice – a simple splash of with motifs which will sweep you away to a seastripes or all the kit for a full captain’s galley – side instant in a setting, such as the gulls wallpait’s time to make waves with your per, in subtle colourways, from decor.” online company Mini Moderns.

The most obvious colour choice Rough-hewn wood is part for a maritime look is blue and of the nautical look, whether ‘Take inspiration white, and this combination has it is used to frame mirrors or the advantage of being simple to fashion furniture. A chunky from the colours put together. reclaimed wood Samson coffee of the seaside “The pairing of white and table is currently reduced to and use soft, blue hues never fails to make us £325 from £400 at Barker & smile. Fresh, bright and intrinsiStonehouse, who also have pastel blues for cally linked to summer, it’s a classilver Nautical Portlight mirupholstered sic combination which brings a rors, currently £100 each, down tranquil vibe to any home,” says from £120, and an appropriate furniture’ Claire Hornby, creative stylist blue and white Frankier rug, at furniture company Barker & £149.

Stonehouse.

If blue and white is not to If your space is quite compact, your taste, meanwhile, you Claire suggests sticking to smaller items to sug- could go for a subtle beachhouse look which gest a seaside look, such as cushions, patterned makes use of sun-bleached whites, soft sand and throws and rugs in a white and blue colourway. creamy corals for a mellow interpretation of In your hallway, meanwhile, you could go for coastal cool. paint stair risers in different shades of blue for “Coastal style’s always a hit for the warmer

[[

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Interiors

Samson coffee table, ÂŁ325 reduced from ÂŁ400, www. barkerandstonehouse. co.uk

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Interiors

The wood panelling on the walls of this room is actually a clever wallpaper, from Albany, £11.99 a roll reduced from £19.99, from www. wallpaperdirect.com

seasons,” says David Roebuck, sales and marketing director at Direct Blinds. “Base materials can be stone, glass and wood – in light shades or painted white and distressed for a ‘sea air-weathered’ look – along with rope and other coarse-woven fabrics, like hopsack.

“As the aim of this look is to bring the outdoors in; windows should contribute all they can to the finished design by framing and maximising natural light.”

Painted wooden flooring or panelling on the walls adds an instant beside-the-sea feel, reminiscent of beach huts and chalets. And if your budget – or your timescale – doesn’t stretch to genuine wood, check out clever wallpapers and laminate floorings which give the feel of the real thing, such as the Beachhouse laminate flooring from Topps Tiles and Abany’s wood panelling wallpaper, from Wallpaper Direct.

Stripped, varnished wood floors and pale grey walls will set the scene for a cool, contemporary scene that only needs a stunning wall print or painting to complete the picture. You could go for an original painting or opt for a photograph – online company Whitewall can even make your own favourite seaside picture into a striking large canvas.

See www.barkerandstonehouse.co.uk, www. minimoderns.com, www.toppstiles.co.uk and www. wallpaperdirect.com for more information

Give a plain decor an instant dash of seaside chic with these cushions from interior designer Jan Constantine, £60 each www.jancontantine.com

STYLE TIP: Good base materials for the

coastal look include stone, glass and wood in light shades or painted white

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Shop

GET THE

LOOK

Get on board for coastal cool with these style inspirations

Shamrock decorative boat £95, John Lewis Fisherman’s pendant light £34.99, www.coastalhome.com

Felted pebbles £25 for a set of three, www.eliseandfleur.co.uk

fave!

Gulls wallpaper in British lichen £50 a roll, Mini Moderns

Wooden avocet £39.95, www.coastalhome.co.uk

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07/07/2015 14:00:11

Gardens

ANNE SWITHINBANK

Checking it out Devon’s Anne Swithinbank, panellist on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, visits a neighbour’s garden - and is inspired or me, the horticultural highlight of the past week lay in visiting a local garden whose owners had thrown open its gates in aid of a charity.

I don’t attend as many of these events as I should, because the day comes round, there’s so much to do in my own garden and the thought of changing out of slightly sweaty, earthgrimed clothes into something more afternoon tea-ish seems like hard work. This time, I’d been asked along to say a few words, chat about plants and answer questions so there was no wriggling out at the last minute. I cleaned up, put on a show-off hat and went.

What a treat though, as the garden was owned by a true plantaholic and was a treasure trove of plants. There were many trees, plenty of roses, a pond, wildlife area and veg. In between was pretty much every shrub, herbaceous perennial and annual you’ve ever heard of and all nicely placed and doing well. John (my other half) and I had to wake up every one of our botanising brain cells, even though some had been dormant for years, in order to identify all that was there.

This was an invigorating visit and as we drove home to our This was an own plot, we thought about what invigorating we had learnt from it.

John had enjoyed the trees, visit and as we of which there were many. The drove home we garden was more sheltered than thought about ours and on a lawn were some fabulous specimens including what we had a variegated tulip tree whose learnt from it shapely leaves were edged with creamy-white. Nearby, a handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata) had grown into a lovely

F

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pyramidal shape. There were several kinds of dogwood, a nyssa, catalpa and more. These were good young trees and each was treasured for its foliage, form and flower but there was not enough space for them all to reach full size. The prevailing wisdom for tree planting is to leave room for key specimens to reach maturity and then fill gaps with shorter-

lived trees and shrubs. But why not plant what you like, space them so they can do their first twenty years in comfort and then you or some future gardener can weed them out further down the line?

When we moved into our garden, we found many trees packed too tightly and have had to gradually take some out. When the time comes, it is usually obvious which should stay or go.

Inspired, John expressed a desire to plant some showy trees here but our garden is more ex-

07/07/2015 14:37:05

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

posed and windy. It is surprising how many choice garden trees originate from wooded areas where they are sheltered by taller, more dominant trees. They need a spongy, leaf-mould or humus-rich soil that also drains well in winter.

We’ve earmarked a sheltered area which once we’ve cleared it, could be home to three or four specimens. I’ve carried out soil tests in this spot and know that the soil is slightly acidic, which is a bonus. We’d better get on and plant them between this autumn and next spring because they will need a good fifteen years to make an impact.

My lesson learnt was to do with a sense of calm. Can you have too many plants? A packed

garden is great to visit but I have to admit that tranquil spaces and soothing greens are more my cup of tea. Yet on returning home I realised our garden lacks punch at this time of year, especially since we dismantled the rose bed. Harder work is needed to brighten up key areas.

You really can’t beat a good garden visit to delight the senses and challenge the mind. What could be better than socialising amongst the plants, comparing the progress of swelling tomatoes and settling down for tea and cakes. Besides which, it does you good to scrape off the dirt, dig out a hat and take an afternoon off once in a while.

Question time with Anne West reader queries answered by Anne Swithinbank

Q

When growing tomatoes in the greenhouse, at what point should leaves be removed below the bottom truss?

Everyone develops their own habits with tomatoes but most will cut off lower leaves when the plants have reached 1.2-1.5m/4-5ft high, to let in more air. Removing sideshoots from varieties designed to be cordons and stopping them after a sensible quantity of fruits have set (usually 6-7 trusses) helps retain order. Sometimes I take off the odd leaf shading fruits to let more light in.

Towards the end of the season when fruits are still swelling but plants tired, I often let some side shoots grow, as I reckon they feed the plants and give them a boost. Older books recommend removing the central, ugly flower on a truss and to thin fruits of larger-fruited kinds.

Q

Like everything, gardening is prone to fads and fashions, so what do you think is ‘in’ and ‘out’ at the moment?

Judging by the quantity being bought at shows, I’d say corn lilies (ixia) are in vogue. They don’t always come back well for a second year and the corms are cheap, so planting your own in pots of well-draining compost in autumn is an option.

Calla lilies (zantedeschias) have been selling like hot cakes too. It seems gardeners are looking for unusual flowers to turn heads. Impressive fruits such as Black Russian tomatoes seem popular.

Nobody seems to dare mention heathers, conifers or house plants though I think cacti and succulents are hot. Instant gardening is out and slow, pesticide free gardening with wildlife in mind, in.

• Take cuttings of a wide range of plants including most shrubs, choosing semi-ripe wood. Look for shoots around 10cm/4in long to pull away with a ‘heel’ of older wood attached.

Make them by trimming the stem under a leaf, or trimming the ‘heel’ and remove bottom leaves.

Insert into 50:50 soilless compost and sharp sand or vermiculite, water in and sit in a poly bag loosely knotted over the

top, out of full sun.

• Prune plum trees and other stone fruits if you need to, as now there is less danger of them contracting silver leaf disease.

Sometimes this consists just of removing dead and crossing wood, shortening over-long stems and cutting away suckers and sideshoots from lower down.

• Dead head assiduously all around the garden to keep flowers coming.

Shear back sage, thyme, pinks and lavender when they have finished flowering.

If you

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

take time out to go garden visiting, the Yellow Book 2015 of the National Gardens Scheme will be your guide (01483 211535 www.ngs.org.uk). If you like prairie plantings and more, I can recommend Highcroft Gardens near Saltash open on August 2.

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Beauty

Tried

& tested

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

In

e th

Givenchy’s Mister Radiant Made-to-Measure Glow (£28) is a shimmer gel, shot through with tiny bronzing bubbles that burst on contact with the skin.

Find it at www.feelunique.com

g!

ba

Rosehip seed oil is among the natural hydrating ingredients in Amie’s light daily moisturiser and at £4.95 it’s a steal. Find it exclusively in store at Waitrose

of ro -p ag db m an .co ’s h cs er eti lin m ye os y e hc m ila ea el cr w.d is - th ww le at ab h ct eac tra re £20 nd n. ga w in bro en or rp k ha lac f-s in b el f, s es oo m pr d co er at an W

Coming up roses

CUTE COLOUR

SHINE ON Quinoa’s good for your insides and now it’s adding shine to your hair in a shampoo (£9.95). Also available as a conditioner (£14.95) Green People’s Quinoa & Artichoke range is formulated to soften and de-frizz locks, as well as protect against sun damage. www.greenpeople.co.uk

SAVE FACE Good for an all-nighter, or just a really long day - Urban Decay’s setting spritz will keep your makeup looking fresh for up to 16 hours. £21 www.urbandecay.co.uk

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the review How to fake it Whether you’ve got minutes to spare or weeks to prepare, fake tans have never been better.

Katie Wright’s gives the glow-how from her favourite picks

If you’ve got three days

Beautiful Looks like a work of art: YSL’s Couture Palette, Mauresques (£42.50) brings together five eye colours inspired by a Moroccan sunrise. www.yslbeauty.co.uk

if you’ve got... a week or more Swap your daily body lotion for a cream with gradual tanning properties. Melvita Prosun Self-Tanning GelCream, £22 (www.melvita.com), uses natural Erythrulose from cane sugar instead of DHA - the usual active ingredient - so you don’t get that typical fake tan smell.

10 minute tights

Nail it!

Seaside rock and kiss me-quick hats have inspired these Model Own summer nails shades. £5 each at Tesco

An all-over spray tan is best left to the professionals, but Diego Dalla Palma Spray On Tights, £16 (www. marksandspencer. com) is a great quick-fix solution for pasty presummer complexions, and not just for legs.

The latest innovation from tanning supremos St Tropez is the Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion, £14.50 (www.boots.com), a creamy gel that helps you reach your optimum golden glow after three daily doses. After exfoliating, turn the shower off and apply the lotion as you would your usual shower gel, wait three minutes then rinse. The subtle colour develops throughout the day.

One hour makeover Given 60 minutes, you’ve just about got time for an all-over application. Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Instant Tan Mousse, £7.99 (www.superdrug. com) develops in one hour then washes off. It recently got the Instagram seal of approval from bronzed model Kylie Jenner, causing a Stateside sell-out.

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

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In the swim Suit yourself with our choice of pretty and flattering swimwear ith summer well underway, the beach is beckoning - either here in the South West or in holiday destinations overseas as we all get ready for some time away.

There’s a great selection to be had this year, with lots of costumes that you will not only look great in, but can safely actually swim in - without your bikini or swimsuit floating away in the water. We love this skirted polka dot suit by M&Co, a pleasingly economical £12 to buy. We’re also big fans of the White Stuff range of swimwear this year. Throw on some shades, a floppy hat and a sarong, then head to the beach and have some fun.

W

Polka dot skirted swimsuit £34 and diamante trim sunglasses, £12 both M&Co

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Fashion Junebug swimsuit £35 White Stuff Bright pink swimsuit £25 www.axparis.com

Hawaiian floral swimsuit £35 White Stuff

Poppy swimsuit £26 M&Co

Colour block bikini top £20 and briefs £16 Very

Embroidered beach cover up £29 La Redoute

Madagascar print bikini £60 www.phase-eight.com Davinia bustier top £15 and Dulcie briefs £11 South Beach

Pompom sarong £39 www.phase-eight.com

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Trend

HOW TO WEAR IT:

Off the shoulder

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

Kathryn Clark-Mcleod celebrates the collar bone with the latest summer trend ere’s a sentence I never into position. thought I would write.

Another essential secret weapon Clavicles are the new is bronzer, and a big brush. I’m not black. Off the shoulder suggesting you paint yourself until top and dresses are v v you shine like a pageant queen but de rigueur, and I am practically doing a swift dusting across the collarbone cartwheels in celebration. can help to sculpt the area more than ‘Why?’ I hear you ask. I have a hours of planking at the gym. theory, that the very last part on a These little tops aren’t terribly exbody to get soft and squishy after pensive, so if you can get away with a few weeks on the puddings is the it, consider buying two. One for day clavicle (that’s collar bone to you and and one for night. Daytime favourites me). I have grimaced in the face of of mine include a soft white gypsy inthe trends that have dictated peeping spired number and a slightly smarter bellies, upper thighs navy blue option. I out in the open and have a real thing for don’t get me started breaking out my white on the bandage dress. skinnies in summer, I can’t emphasise So, when a look and this blue blouse enough the comes along that from River Island is celebrates the area just the ticket. I feel importance of of your body that like a travel blogger investing in a is almost always an exploring the islands asset, grab it with of the Mediterranean. good strapless both hands I say.

I will wear the soft bra. Go and get There are so many inwhite option with my terpretations of this favourite skinny jeans measured aesthetic, from classic and denim shorts. Perelegance a la Sienna fect beach-to-bar look.

Miller in Balenciaga Wedges are a staple to Katy Perry’s relaxed preppy boho for this more relaxed look, unless of ensemble at Coachella. Depending course you are without shoes comon the occasion, these are both great pletely at a beach bar somewhere muses to take into the real world. (jealous sigh). Normal stilettos are too Before you start, my first bit of formal and angular, you need to look advice is to give your shoulder area easy-breezy here. a little bit of TLC. A gentle sugar When getting your shoulders out scrub in the shower will slough away of an eve, you can definitely take the dead skin. Gentle is the key word as bronzer/shimmer up a level. There is this skin in this area is especially nothing lovelier than a subtle sheen delicate. Then slather on a rich body under candlelight. Sweep your hair butter before your skin is properly up and off your neck in a loose updry. I recommend two coats as you style and accessorise with simple want this area to gleam. gold hoops or diamond studs. Follow Also, I can’t emphasise enough the these rules and I guarantee you won’t importance of investing in a good be picking up the tab, so be sure to strapless bra. Go and get measured, order dessert. nothing ruins an outfit faster than All fashion in these pictures is from you constantly clutching at your unPrincesshay Shopping Centre, Exeter, dergarments to hoick them back up www.princesshay.co.uk

H

Top, Next Princesshay, £18 Jeans, Next Princesshay, £30 Shoes, Next Princesshay, £50 Necklace, Next Princesshay, £12 Bag, Next Princesshay, £26

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fave!

DUNE Doris leather handbag £69

GET THE

RIVER ISLAND Red tile print tunic £24

look

NEW LOOK White lace gypsy crop top £14.99

DUNE Kendell wedge £65

CARLTON LONDON Kylie wedge sandals £39.99

MARKS AND SPENCER Face and body brush £5 SIMPLY BE Frilled neck off-the-shoulder top £30 MARKS AND SPENCER Bronzer £8

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Shop

The edit Your straight line to style: this week we’re in buttercup brights

+

Dorothy Perkins £16

+

Lands End £110

£150 Chatelles

+

M&Co £22

+

£30 JD Williams

Moda in Pelle £85

+

Miss Selfridge £10

+

Apricot £28

New Look £17

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Stars

Your stars

by Cassandra Nye This week’s sign:

Happy birthday to...

Confident Crabs love to be intimate and are affectionate romantics at heart, but can be domineering and stubborn when they feel insecure. They enjoy their home and like to share it with someone special - once they connnect with someone, they stay settled.

Elizabeth McGovern born July 18, 1961 Illinois-born Elizabeth is known to millions as Downton Abbey’s Countess Cora Crawley.

The actress also rocks out as the singer and guitar-playing front woman of Sadie and the Hotheads, saying : “Sadie is my alter ego. She’s who I am.” Mum of two Elizabeth turns 54 on Saturday, and is married to My Week With Marilyn director Simon Curtis. Cancerians born on July 18, like Elizabeth, often give a boost to others with their positive attitude.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) The New Moon is urging a fresh start.

As this is in your financial sector it is the right time to get down to more detail.

Why has something been less successful than you expected? Although you may put it down to bad luck, there is usually a reason.

LEO (July 23 - August 23) A strong mix of love and friendship is stirred up by a New Moon this week.

Passions, at times, run quite high and some arguments are likely. See this as a time of much-needed change, although it is not likely to be easy. Look to the weekend for a nice chunk of fun and relaxation.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) In every relationship there are ups and downs. However, sometimes this does become difficult to continue with. A fair bit of hard work lies ahead to make a success of anything right now. Make plans for the weekend, when hearts and minds are lighter.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) A great deal of strong and enthusiastic energy is with you this week. Changes and moves within the family keep you on your toes. These may also bring impatience and disagreements, which is normal and healthy, so try not to attach blame. Confusion could make you feel like running for the hills at times, but let open discussions happen.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Easy communications are fired up by Mercury the messenger, and there is a strong feeling of family and sentiment.

Getting together with those who are important to you, be they family or friends (or both), is great right now. Be open with each other

and find the best way to help so everyone can benefit.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) You are right out there this week in asking questions and expecting quick answers. A loved one may need your help and patience to help them understand where they are going wrong. There is no point in getting cross with those who are less able than yourself. Gentle communication is key.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Love blossoms this week but you may need to set some ground rules. Enthusiasm is enchanting in someone close but it can lead to them making mistakes. Encouraging noises from someone you admire at the weekend could put your head in a spin.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) A recent break from routine seems to have recharged your brain. Property and inheritance come to the fore, perhaps through an older person giving some sage advice. This would be a good week to find out about relaxation and mindfulness if you haven’t previously touched on either.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) The rekindling of an old love or friendship has already given you pause for thought.

So many aspects of your past have been coming up you sometimes feel like a time-traveller. By the end

of this week, however, expect something fresh and exciting to happen.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Love is in the air but so are high passions and strong feelings. Some days you may feel you are on a roller coaster ride, on others, that life slows down too much. This can be confusing. Give family the importance they deserve. Although your patience may be tested, remember it is better to be kind.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) High passions and domestic disruptions flow with a new closeness in the family. Something you discover, perhaps when looking into family history, is surprising and somewhat shocking. Even so, there are elements of excitement and recognition in it all. Do you sometimes feel you have ‘been here before’? The overall emotion is one of ambition, but avoid being over-confident in front of those who know more.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) With the New Moon this week comes a raft of activity in your home and health sector. You are now ready to move ahead with plans that have been on the ‘back burner’.

A lack of funds, as well as a lack of confidence, may have been the culprit here. As the week progresses, so does your understanding of a loved one. This solves a few puzzles about their behaviour.

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07/07/2015 17:27:17

Wellbeing

the boost

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

Swim for it!

Make a splash at Cornwall Hospice Care’s open water swim at Trelissick Gardens on July 19. The charity says it’s going to be fun and ideal for first timers, with all levels and abilities welcome. Ages 8 to 80+, the swim costs £15 (£8 children) to take part. Booking’s essential at www.cornwallhospicecare.co.uk

HIGH WIRE CHALLENGE It’s been the subject of a feel-good comedy musical, but when it comes to menopause, many symptoms are no laughing matter. But help is at hand: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), has drafted new guidelines so that healthcare professionals can better support women going through this stage in life. Professor Mark Baker says the current support lacks consistency: “When women seek medical help for their symptoms, there is considerable variation in what is offered to them.”

Eek! How about taking on The Newquay Tightrope Walk?

It’s okay – there are safety harnesses involved and fabulous coastal views if you’re brave enough to look down at the drop between two 150ft cliffs at Lusty Glaze. It costs to register and takes place on September 6. Why the advance notice? So you have time to raise a hoped-for £50 in sponsorship for www.parkinsons. org.uk - find out more on the website.

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Naturally refreshed FRUITY WAYS

to a healthy heart Your daily portion of five fruit and veg can help reduce blood pressure, thanks to high natural levels of potassium and vitamins A and C. Dr Dale Webb of the Stroke Association says: “In fact, higher amounts of fruit and veg could lower your risk of stroke by about 30%, which is really significant.”

Cosmos Organic’s moisturising shower gel contains rose, calendula and aloe vera. It’s also got birch sap, which is a happening health drink right now but can keep you feeling refreshed on the outside, too. Find it - and the cream deodorant in the same range - at www.healthyfoodbrands.co.uk

LOVE IT OR HATE IT...

Did you know yeast extract could help you win the war against insect bites? Apparently, flying pests hate the smell of vitamin B (found in abundance in Marmite) in our bloodstream. Catherine Zeta-Jones is a big fan of Marmite, but if you can’t stand the stuff, a supplement can work just as well. Garlic will also put them off, whether you eat it, or rub cloves on your feet (a genuine way to absorb it into your bloodstream). If you fear garlic feet will put more than just the mozzies off, try www.veganicity.com’s capsules (£6.75 for 60).

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

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

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Wellbeing

The perfect pout How to achieve younger-looking lips Q

As I am getting older, I have began to notice that my lips are not as full as they used to be - they seem to be looking thin. I have also noticed that the lines around my mouth seem to be getting deeper, though I do not smoke. Could you give me some advice on how to improve the appearance of these areas of my face? RD, Truro Medical aesthetic practitioner Dr Pradnya Apte says: Reduced lip volume, dry skin and pucker lines around the lips can age the face considerably, and that’s before we’ve even considered the nose to mouth folds and marionette lines that can add to the

as well as a collagen-boosting treatment around your mouth can slow the etching effect, as will creams and gels that contain hyaluronic acid, a naturally-occurring substance that we lose as we get older, to plump up fine lines.

There are a lot of such products on the market to help with

problem.

Thankfully however, there’s now plenty that can be done to both hold back and improve the signs of ageing in this part of your face, so that you’ll be able to enjoy younger, plumper lips for longer.

Hydration of the lips is very important to reduce the signs of ageing. Dry, flaky lips are not only uncomfortable, they look thinner than their well hydrated counterparts, and it’s this thinness that makes lips appear older.

The skin produces less oil as we age, and this, coupled with the fact that the lips have no protective epidermal layer, means that they’re a prime area for moisture loss. Apart from staying well hydrated by drinking plenty of water (something I can’t emphasise highly enough) balms are a very important way of maintaining ‘Hyaluronic acid moisture in the lips. A rich is a naturallymoisturising balm that contains a high SPF will occurring help the lips appear smooth, substance which even and full. plumps up fine Fine lines around the lips, or ‘smokers pout’ lines’ as it’s come to be known are mainly (although not always) caused by smoking.

The lines are due to the repetitive pursing of the lips.

If you do smoke, quitting is the single most effective thing you can do to reduce the signs of ageing on your lips.

Using sunscreen

[[

this.

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures can reduce the signs of ageing in the lips considerably.

The lips can be injected with dermal fillers designed specifically for the lips. These fillers can also be used to correct the lines around your mouth area. They contain hyaluronic acid.

Injectable dermal fillers can help both increase lip volume and lessen the appearance of wrinkles around the mouth.

Often associated with the ‘trout pout’, fillers can, in fact, be used in a variety of ways to simply support and restore the lips, hydrate and smooth them, or tweak shape and volume.

It’s important to remember, however, that it’s essential that you see a qualified professional when considering dermal fillers, as they will be able to advise you on the best kind for your case.

Laser resurfacing, deep chemical peels and dermabrasion can also help the appearance of lines around the mouth. The heat generated by lasers encourages collagen production in the deeper layers of the skin, which will plump up and smooth out wrinkles.

Dermabrasion and deep peels work by removing the top layer of the skin to reduce the depth of wrinkles and encourage the production of new, smooth skin.

Dr Pradnya Apte carries out lip peels, dermabrasion and injectable fillers at her Exeter clinic RevitaliseRejuvenate in Southernhay. Call 01392 426285 or visitwww.revitaliserejuvenate.co.uk

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Eat

ally mac’s

Berry Nice Coconut Yoghurt Tart Ally says: Coconut yoghurt is vegan and free of dairy, soy, gluten and lactose, with no added sugar. So it’s no surprise that it’s the new favourite food amongst lactose intolerant foodies and ‘sugar haters’, as well as other alternative health enthusiasts, including lovers of coconut!

If you haven’t tried coconut yoghurt, make sure you add it onto next week’s shopping list. Made from whipping up the cream of a coconut until it has the consistency of yoghurt, this is a seriously yummy treat. I use the brand COYO which can be found in many supermarkets and health food shops. Or you could make your own, by whipping up a can of coconut cream.

You will need:

Method:

½ cup raw pistachios ½ cup raw almonds 1 cup medjool dates, pitted ½ cup shredded coconut (unsweetened and organic) 1 tsp maca powder 1 tsp chia seeds 2 tbsp coconut oil A handful fresh mint Half a punnet of strawberries and loganberries Two small pots of COYO yoghurt (or make your own from whipping up coconut cream)

Throw all of the ingredients except the yoghurt, chia seeds and the berries into your food processor and mix until smooth.

Next add the chia seeds and give the mixture a good stir.

Press this sticky base mix into a nine-inch tart tin and transfer to chill in the fridge, preferably overnight.

Slice the strawberries and set aside.

Spread a layer of COYO or whipped coconut cream evenly on top of your base, then decorate with strawberries and loganberries in any design that takes your fancy.

Served with a cup of tea on a sunny afternoon, this tart is guaranteed to make your family and friends happy.

Once you are hooked on its flavour, try using it to make the delicious tart in my recipe below, which also makes use of the strawberries and loganberries in abundance at this time of year. @allyskitchenstories

@AKitchenStories

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

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Eat

Ingredient of the Week

Scallops

with Tim Maddams here is a certain something about scallops. Good, clean and fresh, they represent the perfect bivalve to me. More meaty than oysters, sweeter than cockles, more delicate than mussels but with a lobster-like depth that is heard to beat, scallops for me are a rare treat, a delicacy to be indulged in on special occasions, with good wine, or crisp cider.

The average scallop spends its life clacking about the sea bed, filter feeding on the ebb and flow of the tide. They are often caught by dredging of the sea bed, not an ideal method from the point of view of low impact sustainable fishing, though some would disagree. An alternative method is to dive down to the sea bed wearing scuba gear and collect them by hand, a much more low impact method. The advantages with hand-diving don’t stop with protecting the environment. Dredged scallops are often gritty or sandy from having been dragged along the sea bed in order to be scooped out.

Freshness is of paramount importance with these tasty molluscs and they should smell

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only of the sea, be firm, brightly coloured and glistening once removed from the shell. If you are buying your scallops in the shell then make sure they react to a little poking to confirm that they are alive. Removing scallops from the shell is straightforward and the added bonus is that you get the frills which make an excellent crispy snack if deep fried, Mark Hix style, a vibrant stock in the oriental style or more traditional fish soup or if you have the desire. They also make the best bait for black bream known to man.

The very best way to eat very good, very fresh scallops though is to thickly slice the white meat and marinate it very briefly in a little lime juice and coriander, with a good hit of chilli.

The smaller queen scallops that are a slightly different species can only be harvested using dredgers but there is an Marine Stewardship Council certified sustainable queen scallop fishery that produces good ones.

These smaller cousins of the more familiar scallop are excellent cooked in a similar way to mussels, added to a fish stew or flash fried for addition to a nice salad.

Coral suggestions The coral, or red bit, is well worth eating. You can simply pan fry your scallops with the coral attached or separate them off. I love to blend them with butter to make a coral butter to dress pasta and then add cooked, sliced scallops at the last minute.

Another good trick is to dry the corals out. This results in a very tasty scallop powder that can be used for all manner of fishy applications, like adding to fresh pasta or mayonnaise as a dip. @TimGreenSauce

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

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Drink

Darren Norbury Beer of the week Has to be the Cornish Crown Golowan Ale, named in honour of the Penzance festival. At 4% ABV it shows that a sessionable, everyperson beer does not have to be dull. There was lots of refreshing, piney, citrus hop flavour, and good body and balance from light malt.

Quenching and perfect for a Cornish summer’s evening, with a satisfying bitter finish.

Raising the bar Pub and bar staff are getting clued up on craft beer via an online learning programme, Cask Beer Uncovered.

Cask Matters, which runs the programme, has seen more than 2,000 registrations for the course since it was launched, giving bar personnel insight into the perfect way to keep and serve cask ale.

talks beer t is a sultry Saturday evening in was giving a first outing to his new mobile Penzance and I am standing near shipping container bar, which really is a joy the dock, holding a pint of cold beer to behold, dispensing his own brews, such in a plastic glass. I’m not generally a as refreshing, hoppy SPA, as well as guests, fan of plastic glasses, but the streets including a popular Potion No 9, from Penzance are thronged with people, many dancing under Brewing Co, and American-inspired, zesty canvas as DJ (and my former Cross Pacific Pale Ale from journalist colleague) Nigel Launceston’s Firebrand Brewing Pengelly segues between classic Co. Nearby, the award-winning 70s disco and a curious but very Dock Inn licensee Stephanie The awardpopular insertion of Glenn Todd is serving Blue Anchor Miller’s In The Mood.

Spingo like a woman possessed. winning Dock This is the evening of Mazey The Dock is one of the few venues Inn licensee is Day, probably the biggest day of trusted to serve the famous serving Blue Penzance’s year, rounding off Helston brew - a malty, brown Golowan Week, the midsummer beer with a nice hop bite.

Anchor Spingo festival. Penzance is not having Elsewhere, I find The Lamp and like a woman a great time economically at the Whistle a reliable stop-off, with possessed moment, compared, say, with changing cask and keg beers and, Falmouth just around the coast. unusually, a fine choice of bottled The recession hit the town hard continental beers. Speaking of and it’s going to be a big task bottles, The Vault, in Market getting it back on its feet again.

Place, has a range of world beers If the spirit of Golowan could be harnessed 52 to keep a serious beer lover entertained. weeks of the year, there would be a boom.

Give Penzance a try – just don’t wait until next What Penzance is, however, is an increasingly year’s Mazey Day. good place to enjoy a beer. By the dock, Cornish Darren Norbury is editor of beertoday.co.uk Crown Brewery owner and Crown pub licensee @beertoday

I

[[

BOHEMIAN HOPSODY Another brewer rock group collaboration has emerged. Queen have followed in the footsteps of Iron Maiden and Status Quo to produce a proper Czech Pilsner, Bohemian Lager, to mark the 40th anniversary of their most famous and biggest selling single.

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Enjoy

A WEEKEND IN...

Boscastle

ry and bag the passenger seat when you head to Boscastle in north Cornwall – the spectacular coastal view as you broach the top of the hill on the twisty country lane in the approach to the harbour village is second to none.

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Stay: A night’s B&B at the Wellington Hotel costs from £60 (single room) and £130 (double). Non residents can enjoy a drink or coffee in the bar, as well as eat in (or al fresco, on the new terrace) at its two AA Rosette winning contemporary restaurant headed by chef Kit Davis. Self catering? The Valency B&B is a pretty barn conversion, with a self-catering studio sleeping two at £80 a night during the summer – or book for a week (£525) as a base to explore more of this lovely stretch of North Cornwall coast.

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

Do: Children love to paddle in the stretch of rocky river, when it’s in trickle-mode heading out towards the sea. Beyond the car park, the village is a virtually car-free zone - great for pottering. Follow a path to the harbour mouth in an easy one-mile ‘flip-flops’ walk - you can

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The Wellington Hotel

The fund-raising raft race takes place today

Boscastle is a beautiful little harbour village

find the route at www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Explore magic and folklore at the Museum of Witchcraft on the harbourside. It is a fascinating place, but be warned - some of the exhibits may be considered controversial for children with a sensitive disposition.

Shop: Roger Irving opened his Boscastle Pottery and runs it in the village’s Old Bakery with his son, Tim. Together they make beautiful Mocha ware ceramics to buy. A shop called Things on the harbour sells covetable gifts and crafts, including jewellery. Don’t miss the St Kitts Herbery before you turn off the A39 to Boscastle. Stock up on plants for your own garden apothecary there, or indulge in its wonderful range of botantical scents and skincare products.

Make a date:

Roger Irving runs Boscastle Pottery

Calendar events include a walking weeks in April and the village’s food and arts fest in October. There’ll be folk singers, bagpipe players and a barbecue courtesy of the Cobweb Inn (another great option for food and accommodation) this very afternoon. It’s all part of the inn’s charity raft race in the harbour in aid of the RLNI. The fun kicks off with an inflatables race for under-14s at 2.30pm, before teams of grown-ups get their turn.

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My Secret Westcountry Edward Rowe

Kernow King

Edward Rowe is better known as Kernow King, the stand up comedian with what he describes as OCD: Obsessive Cornish Disorder.

Edward is set to take the stage at the Port Eliot festival in St Germans this month. He lives in Falmouth with his wife Jo and their two children My favourite...

View: I’ve got so many favourites, it’s hard to pick just one. The top of Watergate Bay looking north, the flight in to the Isles of Scilly is mindboggling, gazing out from the top of Roche Rock, too many to choose from. So I’m going to give a slightly more obscure answer. After a couple of weeks in Australia back in May, coming home and driving around our Cornish lanes gave me revitalised love for them! The green of the hedgerow, the overhanging trees, the elderflower, the bees and the foxgloves just make the most beautifully Cornish picture.

Beach: This changes from season to season, week to week. I love Rinsey Cove near Porthleven in the winter. I love the Falmouth beaches in the summer when my children and I jump in for a swim or a paddleboard after school and Watergate Bay near Newquay, where I was brought up surfing, even though it’s all a little chaotic up there nowadays.

St Mary’s Hall Hotel

Festival: Port Eliot festival in South East Cornwall is probably my favourite because it’s just so diverse. The setting around the house is

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People Port Eliot festival

just stunning. It’s not rammed to the point of being uncomfortable, it’s family friendly, with great people performing from big names to people you’ve never heard of that are brilliant.

Ultimately, loads of people from all over are having a really great time. The highlight is getting in the River Tiddy at low tide and getting lagged in mud.

Activity: Surfing, rugby and tennis. I’ve surfed all my life and I just love being in the water. I came back to playing rugby in my 30s at Penryn RFC after playing for Bodmin as a boy. I try and play tennis all year round and can get a little obsessed with it.

Food: Cornish Sea Salt and all their concoctions! Ansum.

[[ ‘I’ve surfed all my life and I just love being in the water. Watergate Bay is where I was brought up surfing’

Westcountry ale: I like Skinner’s Seven Hop and Potion Number 9 from The Star Inn, Crowlas. Potion Number 9 not only has the most brilliant name, it tastes delicious. You don’t see it around much but when you do, grab a pint, it’s a summer’s evening on the beach with prawns and steaks on the BBQ with the sun setting - in a pint glass.

and a bit of a secret in a way. Only small, less than ten tables and somewhere we go for birthday treats.

Way to relax: Sleep. I used to be a really bad sleeper, but now in my mid 30s, it’s one of my favourite pastimes. I try and do it for eight hours every day.

Restaurant: Probably The Wheel House in

Weekend away or overnight stay: Isles of Scilly - any B and B or hotel, St Mary’s Hall Hotel is spot on. Or Bude which for me has a similar vibe to the Isles of Scilly - unspoiled, traditional, beautiful.

Falmouth. Loads of fresh mussels and prawns, cooked by a small friendly team. It’s delicious

Shop: Anywhere that’s good for gift buying.

Pub: The Chain Locker in Falmouth for the incredible view.

Watergate Bay

I like Falmouth Bookseller or Bookmark, another bookshop in Falmouth. Bookseller sells new stuff and always have something in that’s a perfect gift for a loved one, and Tash in Bookmark has a great Cornish section.

Treat: Could be an item, food, an activity, anything! Probably a trip down The Lizard for a pasty from Ann’s Pasties followed by a walk or surf at Kynance Cove.

‘Secret’ place: I’ve got a few secret spots which I’m gonna keep secret for a bit longer but a great spot that isn’t quite so secret as it once was but still has a magical vibe is Henry’s Campsite on The Lizard.

The Port Eliot festival takes place in St Germans from July 30 to August 2. Kernow King will be on the Park Stage at 3pm on the Saturday and then again at 3.30pm on the Sunday interviewing Jon Cleave of The Fisherman’s Friends. Visit www.porteliotfestival.com for more details and tickets.

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My life

[

man and boy

A time to give

[

Phil Goodwin, father of James, five, is shamed into action

y uncharitable nature heaped fresh shame upon me this week.

One of the mums at the school gate, whose son often plays with James, was clutching a wad of raffle tickets and asked if I wanted to buy one.

Jesting, I reminded her that I don’t give to charity, making some reference to the local authority paying for education through my council tax. She responded by explaining to me the shortfall in funding, with particular reference to a school trip that week, to Pennywell Farm.

I had dutifully paid my £10, along with everyone else as required in the bulletin, blissfully unaware that the actual cost per pupil – there are 30 of them in Reception Class – was closer to £30 each.

Not only that but without the school Friends group to which she belongs, the event would probably not have happened at all. I was taken aback that a coach trip to a farm 20 miles away could set us back £900 but what do I know about event organisation? Having now seen the effect this day out had on the children, who all returned home bursting with tales of having milked goats, fed deer and petted all manner of woodland creatures, I realise it would indeed have been a shame had it not gone ahead.

To be honest, I have never been big on charity, or fundraising for that matter. I don’t sign up to adverts in the paper offering the adoption of orphans, I don’t

M

give to beggars or engage with the jolly-faced youngsters with the charity bibs who ambush unwitting shoppers in the street. I don’t support groups or belong to a political party. In fact, the only two organisations to which I subscribe are The National Union of Journalists and Liverpool Football Club, only one of which could be argued to work for the public good.

Other than the sponsored walks we were forced into at school, my only work in the charity

[

I had dutifully paid my £10, unaware that the actual cost per pupil of the trip was closer to £30 each

[

field was a fund-raising bike trip across Spain ten years ago. Following the shocking death of my friend Stuart’s father from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (the human version of ‘mad cow’ disease), Stuart, his dad’s best mate Eddie and I cycled the ancient pilgrim route from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela. It was more of a cathartic thing, really – and a lot of fun – though we did raise about £5,000 for research.

By complete chance, I recently came across a far more intrepid cyclist via the medium of Twitter. The Cycling Scouser, a car worker at Jaguar Land Rover in Liverpool, is currently riding from Shanghai to Liverpool in order to raise cash for the Anthony Nolan Trust, which saves the lives of people with blood cancer who need a blood stem cell transplant. This takes him along the old Silk Route, including a road controlled by the massively uncharitable Islamic State.

It put me in mind of a guy in Cornwall I know who lost his wife when a match could not be found for her ‘bone marrow’ transplant.

Then, just to add to my shame, West editor Becky Sheaves announced in her weekly newspaper column that she has been galvanised into action by a step-mother who has developed leukaemia and so she is set to become a stem cell donor. For starters I think I too will sign up by logging on to www.deletebloodcancer.org.uk.

Give it a go. If you don’t, I might come round with the raffle tickets.

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