15.07.17
27
Westcountry days out
WIN:
A pair of Olly Murs tickets
REAL LIFE:
‘My honeymoon career change’
I LOVE CORNWALL Julian Clary on his new book’s inspiration
- pg12
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10/07/2017 11:25:52
‘I really like getting in touch with my inner child, it is so much fun’ Julian Clary’s new children’s book, The Bolds, is set in St Ives
22
SAILING AWAY A coastal Cornish bolthole
28
FLOWER POWER Pretty prints for summertime
[contents[ Inside this week... 6
THE WISHLIST Our pick of the best treats this week
9
JUST BETWEEN US... Sh! We have all the latest gossip
12
BOLD MOVE Julian Clary on his St Ives-based book
16
IN THE PICTURE
12
FROM CAMP TO CAMPING Julian Clary goes back to nature
16
PICTURE POWER Sally Adams praises the Cornish coast
Meet Cornish photographer Sally Adams
22
INTO THE BLUE A coastal Cornish bolthole
26
JUST ASK GRACIE Our style guru solves your problems
28
BEST OF THE BUNCH Floral prints to lift your mood
32
BOOST YOUR WELLBEING Great ways to feel your best this week
33
SMALL BITES What’s hot in the South West foodie world
36
COOK LIKE MITCH TONKS Serving up sea bass with lime and chilli
44
SECRET WESTCOUNTRY Where to go, what to do
46
A NEW SPECIES The Goodwins have a visitor
36
BRANZINO CURATO Raw fish recipe from Mitch Tonks
40
A NEW HOPE
Martine McCutcheon’s ME journey 3
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[
[
16
CAPTURING CORNWALL
Meet photographer Sally Adams
08.07.17
[ welcome [
IES
FAMILY T An afternoon
y in Cornwall
with hotel royalt
- pg16
INSIDE:
‘I designed the perfect bikini’
You never know what is coming your way... DON’T MISS:
A Dartmoor manor ver house makeo
28
ce Ways to embra high summer
e’ve all heard the saying that the Chinese for crisis combines the words “danger” and “opportunity”. Apparently (thank you, Professor Google) this is a modern myth and isn’t actually true - but the idea appeals nonetheless. And for Sally Adams, it certainly did take a crisis to make her change her life, ultimately for the better. When she lost her job as a photographer back in 2015, just as she was about to get married, it definitely seemed like a negative situation. But then she and her husband came to Cornwall for their honeymoon and liked it so much they
W
Tweet
of the week
@ifmedia Sharon Goble On the cover of a magazine. My interview with Olga Polizzi, owner @hoteltresanton @ hotelendsleigh
[
decided to move down here. Two years on, and Sally is working away in Westcountry, finding ever more lovely places and fascinating people to be the subjects of her gorgeous pictures. Find out how she did it on page 16 today. Elsewhere in the magazine, we hear from the ever-fresh comedian Julian Clary (p12), who has added another string to his bow by becoming a hugely successful children’s author. His latest book (aimed squarely at children who like a good joke and a laugh) is set in St Ives. Julian explains why his own family childhood holidays there by the sea inspired him on page 12. Have a lovely weekend.
It certainly took a crisis to get her to change her life for the better
[
TO ADVERTISE: Contact Cathy Long: 01752 293017 or 07557 576668, clong@dc-media.co.uk
Becky Sheaves
EDITORIAL: westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk Tel: 01392 442250 Twitter @wmnwest
COVER IMAGE: Steve Ullathorne
MEET THE TEAM Becky Sheaves, Editor
Phil Goodwin
Kathryn Clarke-McLeod
Gillian Molesworth
Cathy Long
4
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If you do one thing this week... Why not make plans to have a truly fabulous night out this month? Olly Murs is performing live in the beautiful outdoor grounds of Powderham Castle near Exeter on Saturday July 29. It looks set to be a truly fun night out, with support act Louisa Johnson (the 2015 X-Factor winner). Tickets from £39.50, www.ollyatthecastle.co.uk 01202 255161
Win
We have a pair of tickets to see Olly Murs perform live in Devon, worth £79. To enter, simply tell us which castle is hosting Olly’s show? Send your answer, together with your name, address, phone number and email to Olly Murs competition, westmag@ westernmorningnews.co.uk to arrive by Friday July 21. Alternatively, you can post your entry to: Olly Murs competition, West magazine, Queen’s House, Little Queen Street, Exeter EX4 3LJ. Normal terms apply, West will not share your details.
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Bandeau bikini £33 Very
Cross body bag £24.99 TK Maxx
the
wishlist
fave!
West’s top picks for spending your time and money this week
Bamboo shelving unit £129.99 Argos
COOL BLUE Occasional chair £199 Very
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Wishlist
Bead necklace £19 East
GO GREEN
Wooden lid storage jars £24.99 for five jars Argos
COMFY
Fish cushion £275 Amara
FLORAL
Flower watering can £19.50 Marks &Spencer
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10/07/2017 08:15:20
talking points Gillian Molesworth
Story of my life... Appreciating the beauty of Cornwall he houseguests and I have just returned from a very blustery walk. “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes,” I joked with them as we left in floor-to-ceiling raincoats. They seemed to endorse the sentiment, although I did feel a bit guilty after we returned bedraggled and windblown. But hey, the Lizard, it’s all rugged and inspirpasty afterwards tasted mighty ing. You could see an open air good. production at the Minack, which This is the first family visit you’ll never forget if it’s good I’ve had in ages: my cousin weather. Or if it’s bad weather, Keith, visiting from Maine in come to that. the USA. He knows what it’s “On Sunday just meander like to be a bit out of the arterial around and explore, or go to the network when it comes to travel. service in Truro cathedral: they “If we want to visit anyone, have the most amazing choir. it’s about a six hour drive Centuries of tradition, spirituminimum,” he told me. “Funally uplifting - and it’s free.” nily enough, it’s Looking at the always OK for map, I cast my us to visit other mind back to the ‘Houseguests are people but no one last time I had ever visits us.” gone meandering useful. “Gosh isn’t I feel a bit like and exploring. You it amazing around that in Cornwall tend to get stuck in here,” they sometimes. Lots your fixed points of my London of school, grocery say, with fresh friends I saw store, work. One eyes. And you more when I forgets there is a lived in New York whole county out remember, yes. than I do now I’m there waiting to be Yes it is amazing’ in the Westdiscovered. country. It’s like This is where there’s some kind houseguests are of mental block for them to leave useful. “Gosh isn’t it amazing the city limits. around here,” they say, with But once you do, what a treasfresh eyes. And you remember, ure trove awaits. “So we’re going yes. Yes it is amazing. I should go to Penzance for a night - what do check it out. you think we should see?” asked I am really enjoying their visit. Keith. It’s so nice having a connection “St Michael’s Mount for sure,” to my family and feels so special I said. “Other than that, anyto be visited by someone willing thing. Anywhere around there to make the trek. And they love is gorgeous. There are beautiall the stuff I love, including long ful beaches and coastal walks walks, which I can convince no everywhere. You can go off to the one in the family to do with me wild west coast or down onto the any more, apart from the dog.
T
EARNING
her stripes Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon was a vision in black and white as she attended the show’s photocall at the London Palladium recently. The vertical stripes and wide legs on her trousers did wonders to emphasise the star’s tiny waist.
Striped trousers £33 Wallis
steal her
style
OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN
OPTION B Smart Tailored trousers £75 Gerry Weber
OPTION A Relaxed Linen blend trousers £14 George at ASDA
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 8
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15.07.17
YES, IDRIS IS IN NEWQUAY... Way down the list of performers at Boardmasters Festival in Newquay this summer is a name that jumps out: Idris Elba. Yes, the famous actor, renowned for his roles in Luther and The Wire is also a musician and DJ. In fact, before he made it big in acting, he was really into music and went by the name of DJ Dris. These days, he is far better known as an actor but he still loves performing African-influenced hip-hop and DJing, he says: “There’s a huge stigma attached to actors or musi-
cians crossing over from one side to the other. No one likes to see it. ‘Stay where you are!’ “I did worry that it might water down how people see what I do as an actor,” he says, but now he doesn’t let it bother him: “Because my music is so much more truthful about my art – me – than my acting is. Music comes from my soul. I can connect with you more through my music.” So there you go - connect with Idris on Fistral Beach this summer, August 9-13.
Just
between us Gossip, news, trend setters and more – you heard all the latest juicy stuff here first!
!
ROSIE’S BABY DELIGHT
HUGH’S THAT MAN, AGAIN? Is it just us or has it all gone quiet on the Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall just recently? Well, it turns out the TV foodie is busy, actually - making a major new series for the BBC up north. In it, Hugh, whose River Cottage HQ is near Axminster in east Devon, is tackling the issue of obesity. To do so, he is challenging the whole city of Newcastle to lose weight. His mission is to sign up people to lose a whopping 100,000lbs - that’s nearly 7,143 stones - over the course of a year, with the TV cameras following their
progress. “The fact is that as a nation we need to do something about our increasing weight,” says Hugh, 52. “It’s doing too many of us too much harm. “I think that galvanising a whole city to take responsibility for their collective health, by coming together to lose weight, could be an amazing way to make progress in the fight against obesity.” So should we be offended that Hugh didn’t look closer to home to find enough fat people? Or flattered, maybe?
Happy news for Tavistock model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and her fiancé Jason Statham. The couple have just announced the arrival of their first baby. Rosie, 29, whose family still lives in Devon, announced the birth on Instagram, saying: “Our little man arrived! Jack Oscar Statham - 8.8lbs on Saturday June 24th.” The 29-year-old model - who now lives in California - announced the news to fans that she was expecting a baby back in early February. Fans were elated with the news, with one writing: “Congratulations Rosie & Jason God bless you all!” At the age of 16, Rosie HuntingtonWhiteley was voted as one of the prettiest girls in her school – Tavistock College - by her classmates, although in her younger years she has revealed that she was nicknamed “Kipper lips” on account of her full pout. Ouch!
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Glow: The biomes at The Eden Project were lit up for this year’s live music Eden Sessions
in pictures
Celebrating the Eighties: Philip Rowland snapped these revellers at Let’s Rock Exeter
Coming up roses: In full bloom at RHS Rosemoor in north Devon
Muddy good fun: Trythall School, Penzance, celebrates International Mud Day
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talking points A HISTORY
of the
WEST in
100
objects 55: LUCKNOW QUILT
The best way to:
GET (BACK) INTO TENNIS New balls please! It’s the Wimbledon finals this weekend and who doesn’t want to dash about a court looking gorgeous in skimpy whites? Come on, you know you want to… Make friends: Truro Lawn Tennis Club is sited in a beautiful, sheltered valley on the outskirts of the city, with four outdoor courts. On Monday and Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons the members meet up, play a set or two, and then relax on the clubhouse sundeck with a cool drink. They specialise in doubles and there is plenty of opportunity to join a competitive team, too. Also on offer is professional coaching for children and adults. Full membership is £195 a year. www.truroltc.com Rusty rackets: Seaton Tennis Club in east Devon has six outdoor courts with a range of surfaces. They’re a friendly bunch and currently have a great offer on for new members - you can pay your annual membership in monthly instalments (6 x £27) and get up to £80 worth of free coaching on Tuesdays. What are you waiting for? Contact Jennifer Rose on seatontennis@gmail.com or telephone 07812 189529
Take it easy: Ivybridge Tennis Club is one of the best indoor facilities in the country. More to the point, it also has four floodlit outdoor with a special rubberised surface which plays very slowly (like clay) making it much easier for beginners and children. Count us in! Visitors can book from £5.50 an hour www.sdtc.mycourts.co.uk
Up your game: Want to hit some aces? Tarka Tennis, in the heart of Barnstaple, has six indoor courts and four outdoor ones, offering everything from coaching to casual play sessions. An outdoor court is £8.40 an hour and lessons start at £16 an hour. www.leisurecentre.com/tarkatennis
From northern India to Bodmin, made in 1857 Julien Parsons is the Senior Collections Officer, The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. He says: This quilt is the stuff of legend. It was made during the siege of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1857. As the 32nd (Cornwall) Regiment of Foot defended the British Residency from a force of Indian “mutineers”, the officers’ wives pieced together a quilt. They used scraps from the uniforms of fallen soldiers and green baize from the Residency’s billiard table! Evading bullets, cholera and heat exhaustion they displayed the classic British stiff upper lip. Of course, the fascination of history is its capacity to be retold. Indian historians no longer speak of mutiny but of freedom fighters battling an occupying army. I also
wonder about who was involved in stitching together the quilt. Military quilts were in vogue in the 1850s: about 30 were at the Great Exhibition (1851) and examples exist that were made during the Crimean War. Contrary to modern expectations, the majority were the work of male soldiers and encouraged by the government. But why? The 32nd Foot had been associated with Cornwall since 1782 but, as with many of Victoria’s troops, they were stationed abroad – in India since 1846. Soldiers overseas had temptations such as alcohol and gambling, and quilt-making was a distraction - and therapy for the injured. Whatever the exact circumstances of its making, the Lucknow quilt serves as a poignant, yet beautiful, reminder of turbulent times in Britain’s colonial past.
#55
On display at Cornwall’s Regimental Museum, Bodmin. Competition winners: Congratulations to Nicky Rogers of Brixham who won tickets to the Venus Loving the Beach festival on Blackpool Sands in south Devon www.lovingthebeach.co.uk
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Interview
[
JULIAN CLARY
Meet the author
[
From high camp to camping in a tent - comedian Julian Clary has set his latest children’s book in St Ives, he tells Becky Sheaves. And it is all good, clean fun...
nyone who remembers Julian Clary from his early days of fame, back in the 1980s, might find it hard to believe that the man who got banned from live television for joking about gay sex with the Chancellor of the Exchequer is now happily working as a children’s author. But it’s true. Julian, now 58, has just brought out the third in his series of children’s books about a fun-loving family of hyenas who pretend to be human beings and tell lots of jokes, called The Bolds. “I know!” he says when I ask, intrigued. “It is all very different from my days in Lycra and eyeliner. But that was the 80s. And things were very wild. I was very wild.” His latest book, The Bolds on Holiday, has just been published in hardback, and sees the Bolds – Mr and Mrs Bold, twins Bobby and Betty, plus elderly Uncle Tony – go camping. Yes, that’s right, Julian now writes about camping, as in staying in a tent, rather than his renowned habit of camping things up with racy innuendo.
A
So why Cornwall, and why St Ives? “Well, I had very lovely holidays in Cornwall in St Ives with my family as a child. I based this book very much on those childhood memories of paddling on the beach, sheltering behind windbreaks. “You know when you are a child and everything feels like such an adventure? We would drive down from our home in Teddington, and stayed in the same little cottage every year. It was so exciting.” In Julian’s new book, The Bolds stay at Sunnyside Campsite, St Ives for their holiday, but drama and peril soon catch up with them. Dog-Mad Debby the evil pet thief, helpful dolphins and a surfing marmoset called Miranda are just some of the fun elements of the book, which is aimed at children aged eight and over. Julian grew up (in Teddington, where his fictional Bolds also live) with his mother, a probation officer, and father, a policeman. He says he knew he was gay from the age
of eight but avoided bullying at his Catholic boys’ school by dressing in odd socks and using archaic words such as “forsooth”. “I had a certain celebrity status being the school queen,” he has confessed. He then found fame as a stand-up comedian and cabaret star called The Joan Collins Fan Club, performing alongside his pet whippet cross Fanny the Wonder Dog – who lived with him until her death at the age of 19. His saucy mix of outrageous innuendo took the traditional British camp of Kenneth Williams and Larry Grayson to a whole new level. Today, he still tours with his own stand-up material and says he “thoroughly enjoys” performing live. He has also found that the writing process goes well with his comedy work. “Writing books complements the touring I do,” he explains. “After months of being the centre of attention I can then sit quietly and write. I know
‘I had lovely holidays in St Ives with my family as a child. I based this book very much on those childhood memories’
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it seems extraordinary that I am now a children’s book author – I myself find it so unexpected. But I get so much enjoyment from it. I really like getting in touch with my inner child, it is so much fun.” Indeed, he says that he is “not at all surprised” to find himself living quietly in the country with an array of pet animals, happily married to his long-term partner Ian. “If you go back to my interests as a child, my childhood self would not be even remotely surprised to find me living in the country with animals, writing about children and animals. I have
always loved books and nature.” The idea for The Bolds came to him back when he was a child and it has taken all these years to bring it to reality, he says: “As a child I was really interested in wild animals and Africa. I loved hyenas and was an enthusiastic member of the Junior World Wildife Fund club. I’m actually not convinced at all that we are more intelligent or in any way superior to animals – we are just different. We’re so arrogant as a species, in fact.” Julian has now settled into a routine of writing a new The Bolds book every year. “I have
just finished number four - I can’t tell you what it is about - and I am sending it off to David Roberts, the illustrator. I can’t wait to see what he does with it. Hhis brilliant pictures most definitely create 50% of the joy of the book – more even.” One thing is certain, Julian’s delightful family of hyenas have certainly caught the imaginations of children worldwide. “The books have been translated into, I think, 22 languages. It is rather amazing to think of Chinese children reading about The Bolds.” Other than writing, he has another comedy tour coming up in 2019 with 50 dates nationwide. “I did two tours last year, so right now it is great to have a break. I quite like people
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Interview
to miss me, and I keep busy with other stuff such as podcasts and readings. There is lots going on.” He and Ian got married last year, after ten years together. Julian has said that he wishes he had children – but he and Ian have no plans to start a family. “I’m still in so many ways a child myself even though I am 58 – having my own kids would be exhausting. I’m too old. But I do sort of wish I had a grown-up daughter to look after me when I get really old, and do the things that I do for my parents. But perhaps that’s the wrong way to look at it!” Career-wise, Julian has no regrets. There was a time, perhaps, when greater stardom beckoned and he could have taken his stratospheric success as a stand-up to become a TV presenter or chat show
host along the lines of Graham Norton. But his outrageous comment about Norman Lamont at the 1993 British Comedy Awards sent his TV career off the rails. Today, though, he says he is content with how things have worked out: “I’m just pleased I have survived and I am still making a living out of talking about myself and writing books. I never thought it would last this long.” One thing is for sure, Julian is looking good for his age. Now that he no longer accessorises with gold lame and turbans, he is quite the suave and classically handsome silver fox. So what is his secret? “Well, my parents are both 86 and still very active and outdoorsy. I think happiness is the key to longevity – perhaps I have happy genes. That, and good moisturiser.”
‘My books have been translated into 22 languages - amazing to think of Chinese children reading about The Bolds’
So what does the future hold? “I can think of 20 more adventures for The Bolds so I just hope I get the chance to write them. I loved the Just William books when I was a boy and there were loads of them. It would be lovely to write a huge series of books. Other than that, I’d very much like to carry on what I’m doing right now.” The Bolds on Holiday by Julian Clary, £10.99 Andersen Press
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People
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FIND YOUR JOY Cornwall is the inspiration for photographer Sally Adams, she tells Kirstie Newton hey do say that when one door closes, another opens. And it was certainly a dramatic change in circumstances, back in 2015, that precipitated a move to Cornwall for photographer Sally Adams. “I lost my job, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time, she remembers. “I was made redundant from my job of eight years with the Bournemouth Echo, just as I was due to get married. “We were in the middle of organising the big day - it felt as if everything had been coming together one minute, only for it to suddenly fall apart.” Sally and her journalist husband-to-be Steve Smith were regular visitors to south-east Cornwall, with a particular soft spot for Whitsand Bay. So they got married, spent a brief honeymoon perched high on the cliffs at Tregonhawke, and reflected on the future: “It was so beautiful, and for the first time we realised that, lovely as Dorset was, we didn’t want to go back. We wanted to stay in Cornwall.” With Sally now a free agent, taking on freelance commissions, the pair used their journalism contacts in Cornwall to put out some feelers. Within a few days a job opportunity came up and a month
T
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Truro Cathedral by night
later, the newly-weds upped sticks and started a new life west of the Tamar. “It all happened very quickly,” says Sally. “Steve is the sensible one who teeters on the edge; I say ‘Yay!’ and take the leap. What’s the worst that can happen? We married in September 2015 and spent our first Christmas in Cornwall that December.” Eighteen months later, Steve now works at Cornwall Live, the online version of the county’s local newspapers. Sally has also joined the staff, covering the busy catchment area of Truro, Falmouth, Redruth and Perranporth. She has a wealth of experience in local news: “I started
doing a university degree in photography in Nottingham but it was very fine art focused,” she recalls. “I managed to get some work experience during the holidays and it resulted in a job. I got stuck in straight away and never looked back.” Then followed stints with news agencies and regional newspapers, including the South Shields Gazette and the Sunday Sun, before moving down south. “In fact, taking pictures is quite a small part of the job - the larger part is communicating with people, and that’s what I love,” she says. “I meet inspirational people from all walks of
life. In a small town, I could walk down the street most days and be approached by someone I’d photographed. It makes you realise they invite you into their homes and it’s amazing access into their lives. I never take that for granted and I don’t just take pictures and leave. The first thing I do is sit down and talk to people.” Sally is a firm believer in the power of photography: “Some think that images are no longer important or that professional photographers aren’t necessary now everyone has smartphones. But I think that, as human beings, we are image led.” It goes without saying that Cornwall is a pho-
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People
‘It was so beautiful and we didn’t want to go back - so we stayed in Cornwall’
Sally Adams, right, now lives and works in Cornwall
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People
Carn Brea near Redruth
Wheal Uny, near Redruth
tographer’s dream. “It’s stunning and constantly changing. One coast is completely different from the other. I’m a big outdoorsy person, so I love the South West Coast Path, and the scenery seems to change every mile that you walk. You never know quite what tiny coves you are going to come across next. Thousands have people have walked that way, yet it feels like you’re the first.” The couple are currently renting in Gorran Haven, on the Roseland peninsula, and house hunting. “I’d love to live in Perranporth,” says Sally, “but I also love Redruth. It’s steeped in history and surprisingly close to the north coast. In particular I love Carn Brea, which I shot recently for Cornwall Live. It was so windy, I could hardly stand up at the top, but it made for some very dra-
matic shots. It’s beautiful when the sun sets, and I’m determined to visit for sunrise too.” Sally is equally fond of the Cornish people. “As a northerner – Leeds born and bred – I found Dorset people rather wary of talking to you, and it would take a while to crack them. I find the Cornish very similar to northerners – they are incredibly friendly, will strike up a conversa-
tion even if they don’t know you. I missed that about the north – now I don’t have to miss it any more. “I’m very lucky to live here. It makes me smile, whether in glorious sunshine or pouring with rain. I adore it and I don’t think I ever want to leave. You can never get tired of Cornwall.” Find Sally on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @sallyadamsphoto
‘In particular I love
Carn Brea - it made for
some very dramatic shots’
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fashion
42
dining
44
30
days out
wellbeing 21
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Interiors
Blues and views A rare chance to restore an Edwardian house by the water in Flushing in Cornwall has proved both a challenge and a pleasure for one couple, discovers Sarah Pitt
hen Lorna Proctor and her husband Adam first discovered a derelict house on the waterfront in Flushing, near Falmouth, they realised that they were onto a winner. “My husband grew up in Cornwall and spent a lot of time on Flushing beach, so he knew it was quite unusual to find a house for sale on this road,” says Lorna. “We only looked around it for 20 minutes and in fact it was the only house for sale that we looked at. The substantial property, built ‘We knew in 1901, looks out across the how rare it Penryn river towards Falmouth docks and, like its neighbours, was so we might once have been home to a grabbed the sea captain who docked his boat opportunity in Falmouth. It was, though, as Lorna and Adam could see, in with both dire need of renovation. hands’ “It hadn’t been lived in for ten years, was damp with mismatched repair works and smelled pretty horrid,” remembers Lorna. “It was a complete wreck, basically. We knew how rare it was to have something like this come up here, though, so we grabbed the opportunity with both hands.” That was five years ago, and the couple moved to Flushing with their two daughters, then a oneyear-old and a babe-in-arms. With Adam, who works for a private bank, away a lot of the time on business, Lorna supervised the renovation while looking after her children. ‘’We rented in the village at first, while the building work was done, so I was walking up and
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Interiors down with a newborn baby in my arms trying to make decisions on tiles, which was a bit crazy,” Lorna recalls. “When I started, I painted everything jasmine white and it wasn’t until we moved in and lived there for a while that I decided to think about what I really wanted. I actually did it very gradually.” Lorna found support developing her ideas from two interior designer friends: Liz Bennetts, who gave her help with cushions and curtains, and Tabitha Barker, who helped her take the leap from white paint towards her first deep blue feature walls. The next stage of the work on the property, called Atlas House, came over the past ‘I was walking up year, when the Proctors found out that they were and down with a being posted to Singapore newborn baby in for Adam’s work. They are my arms trying to renting their home with Unique Home Stays, who make decisions helped them restyle their on tiles, which family home as a luxury bolthole for guests. was a bit crazy’ “They gave me the confidence to say yes to more colour - in the living room I had already painted two of the walls a deep blue but they said ‘it will look a whole lot better if you do the whole thing’, so I went with it.” Blues of all shades, as well as a palette of greys, are a big feature of the house, reflecting the seascapes which unfold beyond the windows. “A lot of the original ideas were built around coastal colours,” Lorna says. She has gone for duck egg blue in one of the bedrooms, where she’s created a boutique hotel feel, with a chest of drawers made from mirrored glass. Some design touches have not necessarily cost a lot of money - the map of the world which is such a striking feature of the dining room cost Lorna just £40 online. Shelves in the kitchen decorated with a selec-
[[ tion of coastal-inspired memorabilia, from glass jars to driftwood wooden boats and ink prints of seashells and fish. “I got a carpenter to make those shelves for me,” says Lorna. “I originally had family pictures up there, but of course people don’t want to sit in our house and see our wedding pictures on the walls, so we put together this collection instead.” Lorna says that doing up the house has been a pleasure and, a physiotherapist herself, she found the introduction to the world of interior design fascinating. “I might have looked at a picture in a magazine and said ‘that looks gorgeous’ but I had no insight before about what goes into creating it, all the little things and people’s skills. “In the lounge, for example, Liz picked a blue border on the bottom of the curtains. I would never have had any inkling that that would look so good, but it makes such a difference. It is all about attention to detail.” www.uniquehomestays.com 01637 881183
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GET THE
fave!
LOOK
Contemporary coastal style for a fresh look at seaside living
Dream Love Be sign £5 M&Co
Lorraine at Home table lamp £35 JD WIlliams
Tartan throw £20 M&Co
Ceramic vase £26 Oliver Bonas
Papillion chair £229 Very
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Ask Gracie...
Want to look your best this week? Our styling expert Gracie Stewart of Exeter can help you fulfil your fashion potential in every possible way. All you have to do is ask... The Konjac Sponge Company facial sponge with red clay £8.99 www.timetospa.co.uk
The latest must-have Q
What is a konjac sponge and what do you do with them? LV, Teignmouth
Made from the root of the konjac plant, these squishy sponges can be used in your cleansing routine to help you more effectively dislodge, dirt, oil, and blackheads. Konjac sponges have been popular in Asia for years - and for good reason.
Konjac sponge Bamboo Charcoal pore refiner £6.99 www.cultbeauty.co.uk
1.
Konjac sponges are really gentle: They’re gentler than scrubs, so they’re ideal for daily exfoliating and can be used by all skin types.
2.
They remove make-up easily: Used with your favourite cleanser, konjac sponges will remove more make-up than washing with your hands alone.
3.
They dry quickly: A washcloth often stays damp in between uses, whereas a konjac sponge dries quickly in between uses, which helps to prevent bacteria build-up.
4.
They feel great: Because of their bouncy, rubbery texture, konjac sponges makes a rich lather using less cleanser than you’d normally need.
fave!
Erborian Green Tea konjac sponge £10 House of Fraser
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Maxi dress £65 Simply Be
All white on the night Q
What are the rules for wearing white? ZP, Exeter
White is a summer favourite. The crisp, clean hue always looks exceptionally stylish and offers a high-impact look. However, it’s not the easiest of shades and there are a few guidelines you should bear in mind if you want to look your best.
Gracie’s shopping list
• When shopping, put your hand behind the fabric to check its transparency. You don’t want anything to see through. • Replace white shirts every season as they have a tendency to yellow, particularly under the arms.
John Frieda Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery deep conditioner £6.99 Superdrug
• In the office, stick to sturdier, thicker fabrics.
Infused with John Frieda’s innovative Amino Repair Complex, this intense conditioner will nurse even the most damaged locks back to soft, shiny health.
• White looks just as good as a single item as it does on an entire outfit. • Apply perfume before getting dressed (to prevent staining) and make-up after (to avoid smudging when pulling on clothes).
White denim jeans £85 Gerry Weber
Tan-Luxe The Booster £42 www.cultbeauty.co.uk
Longline blazer £39.99 Bon Prix
Fashion with heart Q
Can you recommend any ethical fashion brands that are available to buy here in the UK? PR, St Agnes
MATT & NAT: Using 100% vegan and sustainable materials, Matt & Nat create some of the most stylish ethical accessories known to man (or woman!). In addition to using vegan leather, the linings inside all Matt & Nat bags are made out of 100% recycled plastic bottles. In fact, approximately 21 plastic bottles are recycled for every bag they produce. Cool, hey? MIRABELLE: A firm favourite of Kate Middleton, Mirabelle create handmade Fair Trade jewellery using sterling silver, gold-plated metals, brass, bronze and semi precious stones, from trusted sources. Fair Trade guarantees producers receive a fair price for their goods, healthy and safe working conditions, economic development of their communities, and educational opportunities for their children. PEOPLE TREE: A pioneer in Slow Fashion, producing Fair Trade and environmentally sustainable clothing, People Tree partners with artisans and farmers in developing countries to produce look good, feel good
Gloria handbag £115 www.mattandnat.com
The ultimate holiday hero product, Tan Booster is a revolutionary tan activator, accelerator and extender. Simply add the illuminating serum to your chosen moisturiser before and after sun soaking to enhance, deepen and prolong your natural glow.
Lila dress £99 www.peopletree.co.uk
Love ring £30 www.mirabellejewellery.co.uk
clothing. The Slow Fashion movement is about designing, creating, and buying garments for quality and longevity. Slow Fashion encourages slower production schedules, fair wages, lower carbon footprints, and ideally, zero waste. I approve!
Bead and chain drops anklet £7 Accessorize Brighten your outfit from the ground up with this beautiful beaded anklet.
Got a style or beauty question? Email Gracie Stewart at westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk with the subject Ask Gracie
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Flower power lowers aren’t just for Chelsea. From roses to tulips and hydrangeas, flower prints are big news this summer. Although florals are a fashion mainstay, the high street has taken it up a notch with the pretty print adorning everything from suit jackets to trousers. This season we love the floral print culottes from George at ASDA and the bloom midi dress from Very.
F
Floral suit jacket £65 Miss Selfridge
Iris floral dress £169 Pretty Eccentric
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Fashion Hydrangea print blouse £89 East Floral print culottes £10 George at ASDA
Floral cami dress £20 Simply Be
Ruffle wrap top £25 Dorothy Perkins
fave!
Pair with a block colour cami for breezy style
Tie shoulder floral top £28 Very Mimi deco dress £169 Pretty Eccentric
Floral hem skirt £35 Miss Selfridge
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Wellbeing
the boost
Life just got better. Our wellness guru Charlotte Dear has handpicked the latest health secrets and expert advice to help you be your best self, every day
Keep your cool As temperatures rise, it is more important than ever to stay hydrated and ensure our pets do the same. A new personal heat alarm from fitness and health specialists Tanita has been designed to help people avoid succumbing to the heat by helping you determine safe levels of physical exertion when working or exercising outside. Simply place the device in direct sunlight to monitor temperature, humidity and solar radiation and stay safe in the sun. Buy now for £85.96 from www.tanita.eu
Take a break Experience opulence overlooking the ocean with a night at The Greenbank Hotel’s new feature suite, The Lookout. Inspired by its location, this luxurious room has been beautifully decorated in blues and teals with nautical influences throughout. During your stay, be sure to visit the Green Room spa for a soothing treatment by the sea. One night stays start from £319. www.greenbank-hotel.co.uk
AND CHILL If you need to cultivate some inner calm, perhaps a trip the The Barefoot Barn near Chagford on Dartmoor is in order. Surrounded by six acres of woodland, there is plenty of space for walks, reflection and meditation. There are weekly yoga, pilates and tai-chi classes during term time and a drop-in meditation evening every week. Longer workshops and courses are also on offer. www.barefootbarn.org 30
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Time for a digital detox? New research reveals that the average Brit reaches for a gadget every 16 minutes and with most of us now owning not one but two devices, we are tapping, scrolling and swiping up to 60 times a day. Though most of us simply cannot live or work without our trusty smartphones or tablets, this shocking figure could mean it’s time to scale back every so often by introducing a screen-free evening once a week and using this time to focus on life and relationships beyond our screens.
Wild water Cool off this summer with a refreshing dip at one of the region’s wild swimming spots. Cold water immersion can soothe aching muscles, relieve depression and even boost the immune system, while raising mood and enhancing vitality. Just make sure you’re safe and sensible: check out the Westcountry’s daring dipping destinations at www.devonandcornwallwildswimming.co.uk What’s coming up? Tweet us your wellbeing diary dates
@WMNWest or email westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 31
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Wellbeing
Finding the time to heal
Our expert has advice on getting back into exercise after injury Inspired by the London Marathon, I took up running at the end of April. Unfortunately, at the beginning of May I twisted my ankle and, although I rested it for a few weeks, since returning to running it feels weak and I keep going over on it. I’m really enjoying running and keen to continue but am I doing myself more damage? LA, Exeter
Q
Physiotherapist Sarah Moore says: When a sprained ankle occurs, some of the fibres of the ligament – the structures that hold our bones together to form a joint – are damaged. How many of the fibres, depends on the severity of the injury. At the point of initial injury, the body’s natural response is to increase the blood supply to the area, bringing with it the chemicals needed to remove the damaged tissue, and start the healing process – this causes a variable amount of pain, heat and swelling depending on the individual and severity. This inflammatory phase is an essential part of the healing process. It standardly reaches a crescendo between 1-3 days and then starts to resolve over the next 1-2 weeks, but this is only part of the healing process.
It sounds like you sensibly took a short break Practise going up onto your tiptoes, or standing to allow the inflammation to settle before you on one leg, and when you can walk comfortably returned to running. What people often don’t without a limp and the swelling/pain has realise is that as the swelling decreases, the decreased (three to six weeks, depending on amount of scar tissue being laid down to repair severity) then you can start to jog/walk/jog and strengthen the injury, short distances and increase it is only just peaking at this from there. 2-3-week stage, and continues When running our bodies for up to 4-6 months. An have to rely on feedback ‘By the end of ongoing process of scar tissue from our ankle ligaments the first week remodelling then continues about what position our feet for up to a year! The acronym are in. Injury can affect this you should be POLICE – Protection, Optimal mechanism, and this may be gently pushing Loading, Ice, Compression what is causing you to go over towards full and Elevation is now used to on your ankle. This is easily represent the balance that is fixed by challenging your ankle movement, needed between too much and balance. Practise balancing even if there is too little rest, both affecting the on one leg, walk on your ultimate strength of the healed tiptoes and heels, jump and discomfort’ tissue. hop up and down on the spot Most people are confident and in different directions, in the early management of practice running and quickly a sprained ankle, but how changing direction. All of to reintroduce loading causes confusion. By these exercises will improve this feedback the end of the first week you should be gently mechanism and help protect you from repushing towards full ankle movement, even if injuring that ankle in the future. Good luck! there is discomfort while you do the exercise, Sarah Moore runs Cathedral Physiotherapy in as this loads the tissue and helps the healing. Exeter www.cathedralphysiotherapy.co.uk
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Food
SMALL BITES
Our pick of what’s on in the Westcountry food world right now Getting crabby Stuart McGuire of the Rum & Crab Shack in St Ives shares his perfect crab sandwich recipe. 1. Steam a good size spider crab for about 8-10 minutes or boil it for 10 minutes. 2. Pick the crab while it’s still warm and separate the brown meat from the white. 3. Flake up the white meat with a fork. 4. Pass the brown meat through a coarse sieve. 5. Add to the white meat: chopped parsley (and chopped wild garlic when in season), lemon juice, good olive oil, Cornish sea salt and cracked black pepper. 6. Spread unsalted Cornish butter on two slices of fresh granary bread then paste the brown meat on both buttered sides. 7. Fill generously with the white meat mixture, cut into quarters and present with extra lemon wedges. Top tip: Purists never put mayo in a crab sandwich.
Men in the kitchen For many men, cooking was not part of their upbringing and they often lack the confidence and skills to really enjoy cooking for themselves or others, which is why the Ashburton Cookery School in Devon has created a Gentlemen’s Relish cooking course. The two day workshop covers the fundamentals of cookery and by the end of the weekend you will be able to cook a range of starters, main courses and delicious desserts, perfect for family meals or entertaining. Saturday August 5, 9.30 am – 6pm and Sunday August 6, 9.30am – 3.30pm, £315. www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk
Cornish delights
A local Gin & Tonic How about an all-Westcountry gin and tonic? Luscombe, the Devonbased drinks company, has announced the launch of three natural tonic waters. The Devon Tonic Water, Elderflower Tonic Water and Grapefruit Tonic Water are available in 20cl bottles (£1.20) and can be served on their own or how about with a Wicked Wolf gin from Exmoor or a Tarquins Gin from Cornwall? Made with Devon spring water, these tonics are crisp and refreshing - we especially love the Pink Grapefruit version. www.luscombe.co.uk
The longest running food festival in Cornwall, the Great Cornish Food Festival is set to take place again this year at Truro’s Lemon Quay from Friday September 22 – Sunday September 24. Free to visit, the three days will be packed with demos, tastings and of course, plenty of shopping. There will be sizzling street food from pizza to paella and pasties, and you can expect the full range of flavours from over 60 stalls. Michelin-starred chef Nathan Outlaw, local hero and now writer of four great cookbooks, will officially be opening the festival at 10am on the Friday. www.greatcornishfood.co.uk
Got some foodie news? Let us know on westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 33
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FEAR OF THE
DENTIST? Are you worried about your smile? evitalise Dental Centre and Same Day Teeth have been developed for people who have a genuine fear or anxiety that prevents them from going to the dentist. Get the same day smile you want with this revolutionary technique that means we can provide a new arch of comfortable, natural-looking teeth – fixed in place using dental implants – in just one day, without your anxiety getting in the way. Sedation is administered by Dr Simon Martin or Implantologist, with patient safety and comfort our top priority. Relax and let the team take care of everything.
R
Ads_July 15.indd 2
10/07/2017 11:24:51
Meet the highly experienced experts, Martin Docking, GDC No: 115044 and Simon Martin, GDC No: 67146
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I was the woman who kept in the background, hiding myself away from people. I was the one who talked to others with one hand across my lower face, I always felt embarrassed eating out so would make excuses and not go. I became introverted with very little confidence in myself. The Same Day Teeth team have put sunshine into my everyday life. I was always afraid of the dentist because of a few horrendous treatments in my earlier days. This was so different. They are not only completely professional, but gentle, kind and most importantly honest, explaining each treatment before the event. I cannot thank them enough, they have changed my life.
Tel: 01872 555915 www.revitalisedentalcentre.co.uk Revitalise Dental Centre, Hurlingburrow Farm, St.Agnes, Cornwall TR5 0PG Martin Docking, GDC No: 115044. Simon Martin, GDC No: 67146
Ads_July 15.indd 3
10/07/2017 11:25:07
Cook
mitch tonks:
Branzino Curato Sea bass with lime, chilli and avocado As we always have a good supply of fresh fish at my restaurant The Seahorse in Dartmouth, I like to put raw fish on the menu. Serves: 2
You will need:
Method:
1 ripe avocado, peeled and stoned 1 green chilli, finely chopped 2 large limes Handful of coriander leaves 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for drizzling 200g really fresh sea bass fillet 1 red chilli, finely chopped Salt
1.
To make the toasts, preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas Mark 6.
2.
Cut the focaccia into thin slices, about 1–2mm thick. Place on a baking tray, drizzle with a very small amount of olive oil, sprinkle with salt and place in the oven for 3 minutes, or until just crisp.
For the toasts Stale focaccia Very good-quality olive oil, for drizzling
3.
Blend the avocado in a food processor with the green chilli, juice of 1 lime and most of the coriander until you have a smooth paste. Add the olive oil and season with salt. Set aside.
4.
Finely shred the remaining coriander and set aside. Dice the sea bass as finely as you can and put into a small glass or metal bowl. Squeeze over the juice of the remaining lime then drizzle generously with olive oil. Sprinkle with the red chilli,
the reserved shredded coriander and salt to taste. Toss everything together lightly with a spoon. 5.
Serve a spoonful of the mixture on a plate with a good spoonful of the avocado mixture and focaccia toasts.
The Seahorse, the Restaurant & its Recipes by Mitch Tonks & Mat Prowse, photos by Chris Terry £25 Bloomsbury www.seahorserestaurant.co.uk 36
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Drink
Happy h ur with drinks expert April Marks
April says: When it comes to gin I consider myself a London Dry Gin girl through and through. So why is one of my favourite gins described as a cross between a London Dry and an Old Tom? J u s t to clarify, Old Tom dates back to the 18th century when distilling methods weren’t as refined as they are these days and sweet liquorice or sugar was added to dry gin to make it palatable. As techniques improved, the need to sweeten gin lessened so Dry Gin styles became popular and Old Tom hasn’t made a comeback since.
The gin that always adorns my gin shelf is Sir Robin of Locksley, distilled by the very talented John Cherry, based in Sheffield (hence the name of his gin). Launched in 2014 after trialling more than 100 recipes, John settled on a botanical selection of juniper, coriander, cassia bark, angelica root, liquorice root, pink grapefruit, elderflower and dandelion. John explains that it’s the latter three ingredients that give his gin its distinctive style. The pink grapefruit gives a wonderful citrus element (with the pith removed to eliminate any bitterness), the elderflower adds delicate aromatics and a touch of sweetness while the dandelion contrib-
The elderflower adds delicate aromatics
and a touch of sweetness
Top Tip Never run out of G&T garnish again... Slice your fruits (grapefruit, orange, lemon or lime) and freeze them flat on a tray (or plastic storage container lid) then pop the frozen slices into a freezer bag or storage container. You now have a great supply of beautifully cold garnishes. utes herbal and earthy notes which tone back the alcohol, resulting in a lovely smoothness. I can definitely vouch for the smoothness as this is one of the few gins that I regularly drink neat. April Marks is co-founder of Regency Wines Ltd Exeter @regencywinesuk
Product of the week Sir Robin of Locksley Gin
Exeter’s new gin bar Gandy Street and Upper Paul Street have long been known as Exeter’s quirkiest shopping area. The latest addition is Crocketts Bar, on Upper Paul Street, specialising in gins from the Westcountry - they also have an impressive range from around the world. Can’t wait to pop in and see their selection!
The juniper is at the fore, with aromatic elderflower evident. The most wonderfully balanced gin, extremely smooth, with warming spices and zesty grapefruit on the finish. Try neat over ice or serve with Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic and a slice of pink grapefruit. Sir Robin of Locksley is available at the following outlets: Crocketts Bar in Exeter; Cellar Restaurant in Tiverton; Hidden Olive in Plymouth; The Phoenix Restaurant in Chudleigh; The Ferry Boat Inn in Dittisham and The Culm Valley Inn in Culmstock 37
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Drink
Darren Norbury
talks beer Beer of the week The St Austell / Harbour Brewing collaboration, Ardennes Pale Ale, was well worth waiting for. Robust, at 5.3% ABV, with delightful fresh bread malt notes, Belgian spiciness and subtle fresh and dried fruit, this was a delight to drink and not as heavy as you’d think.
VERDANT AND GUESTS With a guest list including Northern Monk, Vibrant and Deya breweries, Falmouth’s Verdant brewery may be underplaying its July 22 event with the name Little Summer Beer Bash. Thirteen brewers, two taps each, from 11am to 11pm. Music and burgers, too. See you there!
Seaside special
Despite CAMRA’s retreat, there is still an annual St Ives Beer Festival, organised by St Ives Brewery’s Marco Amura, and this year it falls from August 25 to 27. This is always a diverse and interesting festival, held in the town’s Guildhall, with great live music. Definitely one for the diary.
am seated in the Hub, on St Ives hazy, fruity, hop-forward IPAs are a speciality. Wharf, with Sam Congdon, proprieTheir Pulp is a great beer, described as an imtor of the Vessel bottle shop and bar, perial, or double IPA. That just basically means in Plymouth, when I have to remind strong! him how bloody old I am. I may Gyle 59, in Dorset, makes a virtue of not drive a PC now but when I was at school we got fining its beer, leaving brews such as its Double one go - for ten minutes a term - on a Commodore IPA (7.3%) hazy yet deliciously fruity. Stannary PET, which was treated like a deity in the corner Brewing Farmhouse, from Tavistock, may look of a maths classroom. I’ve been like fruit juice, but it’s all about catching up with technology the flavour. And for hazy exotica, ever since. there’s the likes of Huell Melon Likewise with beer. Certain and Amarillo Saison from New ‘I wouldn’t go people seem to think I’m on Lion Brewing, in Totnes, part of so far as to say top of trends when I’m just the White Label range, available a fruity IPA is a frantically trying to catch up only from the brewery. with them. Like murky, fruity I wouldn’t go so far as to say a way of getting beers. They’re all the rage, you fruity IPA is a way of getting one one of your five know. Perhaps hazy is a better of your five a day (I think alcohol word than murky but, either watchdog The Portman Group a day but they way, gone are the days when we would have something to say on have rekindled judged the quality of a beer by that matter, at the very least). my love of fruit’ its clarity. What these beers have done, howOddly enough, it’s all about ever, is rekindle my love of fresh purity. About not tampering fruit. We’re lucky enough to have with the natural products in a the Trevaskis Farm shop close beer. Fruit flavours can arrive via two routes. by our home in west Cornwall and my wife will Firstly, through hops. Many New Zealand hops, regularly appear with fresh strawberries, goosefor instance, tend to offer flavours of stone fruit: berries, even Tayberries, grown outside of their peach, apricot, mango. Juicy lipsmacking fruits, native Scotland. Dipping into these really does like Opal Fruits. Sorry, Starbursts. Showing my feel good and makes me appreciate those beery age again there. American hops tend to be more fruit flavours all the more. tart and citrussy, offering lemon and lime. Big And while we enjoy the middle of summer, thirst quenchers. And then there’s actual fruit. they make a refreshing accompaniment to barPulped fruit, or fruit syrup sometimes, added becue food or salads, and are great for taking to into the beers. the beach, too! For great examples, have a look at Verdant Darren Norbury is editor of beertoday.co.uk brews, from its brewery in Falmouth, where @beertoday
I
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Enjoy
culture vulture Our pick of the most interesting and exciting things to see and do right now in the South West Fun fitness for absolutely everyone This summer, Get Active Truro is transforming the city’s Lemon Quay into a sports and activity hub with a range of free activities including come-and-try sports sessions, and demonstrations. They promise there will be something for everyone and you don’t have to be super sporty to get involved. The event is part of the wider initiative, Get Active Cornwall, which encourages everyone in the county to be more active and participate in a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity per week. Wednesday August 16 – Saturday August 19, 10am – 4pm, free to attend. www.enjoytruro.co.uk
Fly me to the moon
Charitable tunes After the success of last year, Dartmoor’s newest music festival, Langaland, is set to return to Langaford Farm. Offering a range of live music, craft stalls and local beers, it’s a family-friendly event and a great day out. Headliner is Trevor Oakes from Showaddywaddy. All proceeds from the festival will help pay for improvements to facilities for Langaford’s farmbased educational work. Saturday August 5, Langaford Farm, near Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor, £15. www.langaland.org.uk
This summer, get ready to boldly go where no visitor has gone before, when you journey into space at the Eden Project. Begin your intergalactic adventure at the Astronaut Academy, embark on a Solar Safari and venture into the Biomes to see the extraterrestrial plant displays. You’ll also get the chance to meet the experts, from astronauts themselves to the scientists who are working out how to grow plants and survive in space. Thursday July 27 – Sunday September 3, Journey into Space is included with normal Eden admission. www.edenproject.com
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Getting better The actress and singer Martine McCutcheon isn’t the only one full of praise for a new treatment for chronic fatigue, discovers Abi Jackson hronic illness can have a deep and long-lasting impact, as actress and singer Martine McCutcheon highlights in her new album, Lost And Found, due out in August. Her first album in 15 years, the record doesn't just mark her return to music, but is a reflection of just how far she’s come in recent years. The former EastEnders star has been open in the past about ill health forcing her to stop working, resulting in bankruptcy in 2013. Martine was diagnosed with ME (chronic fatigue syndrome) in early 2012, but she’d been suffering with debilitating pain and exhaustion for six years by that point, to the extent of needing a wheelchair and help getting washed and dressed.
C
Now, following the release of new single, Say I'm Not Alone, she’s talked about the extent of the depression she endured too, admitting she felt “worthless”.
It is built around the idea of body and mind being closely linked Martine, 41, who has a two-year-old son, Rafferty, with her husband, singer Jack McManus, is in a much better place now and says
putting her experiences into her new songs was “cathartic”. “I never felt I would be well enough to return to music after all my health problems. It killed me not being able to do what I loved, so I just started writing music for my own happiness and wellbeing... It was initially just for me and that’s why it is so raw and brutally honest,” she told the Daily Star. It’s believed around 250,000 people in the UK have ME. Numerous causes and factors can be involved, and Martine has talked about believing stress played a big role for her. One of the things she says helped her is something called the Lightning Process (LP) and she’s not the only celeb fan. Singer Laura Mvula and former England Rugby Union
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Family
player Austin Healey, whose wife did the programme to help with ME, have also praised its transformative effects. LP is a training programme, built around the idea of body and mind being closely linked. It “helps people learn how they can use their brain to influence the way their physiology works”, explains founder Phil Parker, who has a background in osteopathy and personal development. “It started 18 years ago, when I was working with people who had issues and illnesses that just weren’t responding to available treatment options. I started a research project to see if we could find out some of the missing pieces of the puzzle, to help these people onto the road to recovery. “The result was the development of a set of tools to harness the way the brain influences the body.” The tools are described as involving “gentle movement, meditation-like techniques and mental exercises. Underpinned by ideas from osteopathy, neuroscience, positive psychology, mindfulness and NLP (neuro linguistic programming”. To be effective, people need to be ready to engage, Phil acknowledges. “As with any training programme, there are a few elements that help it be as successful as possible: effective teaching, useful tools, a readiness to adopt a new way of thinking about how we can influence our health,
and to apply the tools when needed,” he says. “But this is not the approach we are used to in medicine generally, where we expect the expert to fix the issue for us. “Recent research and new health directions of encouraging increased patient self-management has also promoted a shift towards more trainingtype approaches,” he adds. “Although this means the individual has to put some work in, the pay-off is that they're empowered in the process of change.” More than 20,000 people have completed the LP, covering a wide range of conditions, including high blood pressure and anxiety. It’s not the only mind-training programme out there, and in some ways, you could say similar principles apply in psychological therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which is sometimes available on the NHS. But consisting of just three half-day sessions, the LP stands out for the speed at which it promises to work. With group courses from £695 and individual courses from £2,000, it doesn’t come cheap – but many claim it’s worked when other treatments and techniques have failed. www.lightningprocess.com. 41
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Out to lunch Becky Sheaves checks out The City Gate, a traditional Exeter pub that’s just been given a new lease of life t was time for an office lunch out here at West. Not just your sandwich in the park, either. A proper meal with fun, a menu to choose from, and waiters, and everything. An occasion. Why? Well, Gracie Stewart, our style guru, was off around eastern Europe on a two-month back-packing holiday with her boyfriend Kyle. Boy, do these New Zealanders love to travel. I mean, if you and I were to inter-rail around Europe we’d probably be ticking off Paris, Rome, Venice… perhaps Berlin. But no. Gracie and Kyle are heading for Romania, Bucharest and – which staggered me – Sarajevo. “Apparently it is gorgeous, a really vibrant city,” she said. “So much going on.” Good Lord. I went there in 2001 to interview survivors of the Balkan war and I remember so vividly the state poor old Sarajevo was in then. Every wall was drilled full of bullet holes.
I
Even the kerbs of the pavements were riddled. It looked as though an entire nation’s arsenal had been steadily fired at the city from its surrounding hills over a period of years. Which is more or less exactly what had actually happened. “It is like someone saying, in 15 years’ time, that they are going backpacking to Mosul,” I ex-
‘The rhubarb and lemon gave tartness to offset the meringue’ plained. “It seems astonishing.” But apparently, such is the sense of optimism and recovery in the Balkans that Sarajevo is now
known for its café culture. Sniper’s Alley is just a stop on a tourist bus. Who would possibly have dreamed that things could get better so quickly? Anyway, to see Gracie off on her travels, we decided to try to find some vibrant café culture of our own, right here in Exeter. And so we headed off to the City Gate pub, just around the corner from our office in the centre of town. The City Gate has just recently had a serious makeover. Not quite as much as Sarajevo, admittedly, but the traditional old street corner pub (formerly known as the Crown and Sceptre and dating back to the 1600s) is now run by Young’s Brewery. It has always been a foodie place, you could say: someone called James Bell remembers an incident here during the Second World War: “I was passing the Crown & Sceptre Hotel on the Iron Bridge, when a fish lorry lost a box of fish which fell into the road. He did not stop, and some twenty large cod fell out of the box. Housewives passing, rushed out
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Enjoy
and fought each other. In less than a minute the only thing left was ice, even the box wood disappeared.” Love it. Now, sometimes it’s bad news for a pub to be taken over by a national chain but at others it can be a much-needed lifeline. And in this case, I’d say Young’s involvement is definitely the latter. The manager showed us around - the new boutique bedrooms are glamorous and downstairs is now all light and bright, with a gorgeous glassroofed conservatory with sofas and tables, perfect for chilling out. But we were there on a properly sunny day, so the real outdoors beckoned. Behind the pub is a large paved area - probably once home to carriages changing horses - and is still full of character thanks to outdoor sofas, pergolas, bunting, parasols and strings of lights. There’s also a quirky free-standing Burger Shack, open in the evening at the back of the garden, so you can order quick bites to eat, which must be really fun after dark. Although this is a chain pub nowadays, there were nods to local sourcing to be had on the menu, with Brixham crab and Quickes cheddar (excellent, and made near Exeter) on offer. I was on a health kick so went for warm beetroot, carrot and roasted pistachio super salad, with spinach, watercress and an orange dressing (£9). It was fresh and tasty, though (to be ruthlessly honest and this probably does say more about how hungry I was than the size of the dish) it would not have been filling enough had I not also gone for some excellent sourdough bread and
butter (£4). Just as well I did, then. Gracie and Kathryn both ordered the open steak sandwich with horseradish mayo, crispy shallot, sourdough bread and fries (£10.50) which had perfectly cooked steak, slightly pink inside. They did not need to fill up on bread. Afterwards, I went for Eton mess with poached rhubarb and lemon curd (£6.50). It was lovely, with the rhubarb giving an unusual twist and a great level of tartness to offset the meringue. Kathryn had a “perfect” vanilla pannacotta with raspberry compote (£6.50) and Gracie went for a warm apple crumble and Devon cream (£5.50) – well, she was going to be away from the delights of Westcountry cooking for the foreseeable future. It was also, she said, very good. It was lovely to be sitting outside in the sunshine of this charming beer garden and it’s heartening to see this venerable old pub getting a new lease of life. Here’s to things getting better. The City Gate, Lower North Street, Exeter, EX4 3RB. www.citygatehotel.com
How they scored... Food
Atmosphere
Service
Price
Lunch for three was £64
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Adam Banks with manager Polly Dent at Fifteen Cornwall
My Secret Westcountry
Watergate Bay, Cornwall
Adam Banks Adam Banks, 34, is the new head chef at Fifteen Cornwall, where he first started out as an apprentice. He has previously been cooking at the Star & Garter in Falmouth. Adam lives in Pentire, Newquay. My favourite: Walk: I love the walk from Polzeath Beach to Pentire Head. I used to live in Polzeath and walk that stretch of coast all the time; it’s really lovely. Place to eat: If I had to name my favourite restaurant I would probably say The Gurnard’s Head, which is between St Ives and St Just near Zennor. It’s a bit of a day out, driving down there, but it is worth the journey – nothing beats having some good food and a long walk along the cliffs. Weekend escape:
I head up to Bristol quite often - the South West in general is bursting with great foodie spots and Bristol is up there with some of the best. I also really want to go for a weekend at Coombeshead Farm near Launceston soon - I’ve heard amazing things about it as a foodie destination.
Festival or event:
I always enjoy the Port Eliot festival at St Germans. It’s got a good atmosphere with plenty of things going on - workshops, talks and demonstrations with lost of interesting people. One closer to home I always try to visit is Boardmasters Festival in Newquay, although it’s quite full on, so these days I tend to go for one of the nights rather than the whole weekend!
Port Eliot Festival
Beach:
Aside from my love of food, getting to the beach and going for a surf is up there with what I’m most passionate about. I try to surf as often as I can – Watergate Bay is becoming home turf now I’m working at Fifteen Cornwall but Sennen or Fistral are also close contenders.
Shop:
The cliffs by Tregardock beach
Watershed is a great shop, it’s run by a couple of friends of mine and it’s great to see how well they’re doing. There’s a Watershed shop in Falmouth, Truro and Newquay and they all have that same great vibe. Goes without saying I’m a big fan of the clothes!
Pub: The St Kew Inn is a really interesting building, a traditional pub and in a great setting – be sure to make the most of the garden. But let’s not forget the most important bit… they have a great selection of beers!
View:
a wealth of great local and seasonal produce. Ross Geach from the Padstow Kitchen Garden is always treating us to the finest baby leeks, herbs, kales and edible flowers here at Fifteen Cornwall. That said, if I had to choose just one favourite food it has to be cheese. I just couldn’t resist! Helford Blue and White are good and I also really like St Gluvias cheese made by Kennall Vale. There’s a lady in Stithians who is producing raw honey and it is seriously amazing as well and that’s good with cheese.
You can’t really beat the view from Fifteen Cornwall. The kitchen in most restaurants has no view with only a tiny porthole as a window - that couldn’t be further from how it is at Fifteen. I sometimes have to remind myself to take a minute and look out from the kitchen across the bay - I certainly feel very lucky to have that view as a backdrop everyday.
Westcountry icon: I was fortunate enough to work with Andy Appleton while at Fifteen Cornwall when I was senior sous and learnt so much. One of his greatest skills (and of course the Fifteen Cornwall ethos) is enabling creativity in others and Andy and I have become good friends.
Food: We are spoilt for choice in Cornwall, with
Drink: Andi Richardson is the chef
at The Star & Garter in Falmouth, where I used to work. He is a mate: he and I make our own cider from wild
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People
St Kew Inn
local apples collected from St Agnes up on the north coast of Cornwall. In my opinion cider is the perfect drink for the summer. Ours is still rather than sparkling and a beautiful amber colour. Many a happy evening has been spent in the garden in the sun, with a glass of our cold cider in hand.
Secret place: There’s a quiet place where I sometimes go surfing called Tregardock. You can only find it when driving past Port Isaac and even then you have to walk across fields and down a rocky cliff path to get there. No one goes there and it’s a wicked little spot. Special treat: Obviously, being a chef, I love eating out and trying new foods. I’m obsessed with seasonal produce and working with local suppliers and although I love a good meal in a restaurant, you can’t beat grabbing a beer and a burrito in our local Mexican, Gilmore’s, in Newquay, after a long shift.
Pentire Head 45
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My life
[
MAN AND BOY
Teenage kicks
[
Phil Goodwin and James, aged seven, have a visitor
curious creature has taken up temporary residence in our home. At first, we were unsure how to handle its odd habits. It wolfed down huge amounts of food, stripping bare the fridge like some ravenous wolf, then fell silent, scuttling upstairs to a back room where it remained for hours on end. When it finally rose, to feed again – almost certainly a male, we could tell from the markings: the jaunty crest of head hair – it disappeared into the bathroom and remained there for a long time, conducting an elaborate cleansing regime. When it did re-appear, it communicated only through short, staccato outbursts. Desperate to identify the species, I canvassed wiser, more experienced parents, and discovered the beast belonged to the genus humanoid, classified in Latin as Lazyitus Horizontalus but better known by its English name: The Teenager. It all happened very quickly. A Russian friend who lives on Dartmoor called with an urgent request: an exchange student from Moscow was on his way but couldn’t stay as planned with the host family in Oxford due to the presence of Felis Catus. He was allergic to cats. Could we step in? All we had to do was arrange collection and drop-off at Heathrow, feed a 17-year-old, teach him English and organise a few excursions. Well, we definitely didn’t have a cat. As for the rest, we would have to busk it. Of course, I unfairly exaggerate his behaviour for cheap comic effect. Danil is in fact a lovely kid: hard-working, conscientious and polite (shakes my hand each morning and again at night). After being dissuaded (sensibly) from his first idea of becoming a journalist, he is either going to
A
[
[
It wolfed down huge amounts of food, stripping bare the fridge like some ravenous wolf, then fell silent
become a lawyer or an economist. My dear wife, however, is run off her feet. She now works in the morning before dashing home to feed and teach our guest, then pick up our son James and cook for three blokes. To be fair, I have taken the boys to Sidmouth (Danil doesn’t like the beach) and Haytor on Dartmoor (he loved it, said I was lucky to live “beside such beauty”) and I have educational trips planned to the Crown Court in Exeter for a murder case and the Houses of Parliament. Never let it be said I can’t show anyone a good time. Danil’s arrival has had a strange effect on the dynamic of our small family, even sparking the odd territorial skirmish. First our visitor walked in on young James as he caught up on his bathroom reading then the youngster returned the compliment, much to their mutual embarrassment. I really need to fit better locks. It’s clear the younger boy is watching the stranger closely, his first experience of a teen. For me, Danil’s interests (iPhone and gadget-based) are a scary glimpse of the future. There is no doubting the great responsibility involved in looking after someone else’s kid, as the nightly Skypes with Worried Mum attest. And let’s not forget the cultural burden of representing Blighty back in Russia. Danil comes from a well-to-do family: nice house in the suburbs, flat in Moscow and holiday home abroad, not to mention nanny and cook. Contrast that with our chaotic lifestyle in an Exeter terraced house with a half-finished back yard. His Oxford hosts had proposed TV-free evenings, dressing for dinner and listening to cello recitals. I would dearly love to know what he makes of us.
NEXT WEEK: Chris McGuire on his new life in the Westcountry 46
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10/07/2017 08:08:38
LIVE THE
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