West Magazine 8th March

08.03.15

Pamper time!

The West Good Spa Guide, just in time for Mother’s Day...

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MOTHER’S DAY

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‘There can be few stress busting activities to beat sitting at a kitchen table with a basket of freshly picked peas and a colander’

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INTERIORS A special space on Dartmoor

12

BAGS OF STYLE Bespoke handbags from Salcombe

Anne Swithinbank on how to give peas a chance, p26

[contents[ Inside this week...

6 THE WISHLIST Mothering Sunday gift inspirations

8 GILLIAN MOLESWORTH A beetle drive - what’s that?

9 JUST BETWEEN US...

All the gossip - you heard it here first

12 HANDBAG HEAVEN The Devon designs that are causing a stir

16 THE GOOD SPA GUIDE

16

IT’S PAMPER TIME! The perfect spas for Mother’s Day

40

EATING OUT Where to find the best burgers

The perfect places for Mother’s Day

22 CREATIVE SPACE Transforming a Dartmoor cottage

26 ANNE SWITHINBANK

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HOW TO WEAR IT Fashion’s finest prints

Giving peas a chance

29 GIFTS SHE’LL LOVE Beauty goodies for mums of all ages

30 THE NEW FLORALS Flowery fabrics from the cutting edge

32 HOW TO WEAR IT Looking good in fashion’s finest prints

36 CULTURE VULTURE Arts, events and more

42

WILD FOOD FOR FREE Tim Maddams picks sorrel

43 IT’S BEER, DEAR How to choose the very best ales

38

MY WESTCOUNTRY

Secret places to eat, drink and be merry 3

12

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BAGS OF STYLE

The new must-have handbags from Salcombe

[ welcome [ Now’s the time to think about Mum...

Next Sunday, March 15, is Mothering Sunday, and a great time of the year to give mums of all ages a little thought and attention. With this in mind, our girl-in-the-know Abbie Bray has spent a good deal of time drawing up our official West magazine Good Spa Guide (page 16). She’s picked out the places that are offering great pamper days for mums (and daughters), which we think would make really top-notch Mother’s Day gifts (are you reading this, kids?). Even better, we’ve got a luxury spa day to win at the glamorous citychic Magdalen Chapter Hotel in Exeter, complete with lunch.

If you’re more of a traditionalist, then a bunch of daffs is a lovely Mothering Sunday present, and

[

Tweet

of the week @StephKerr The time my stepmum asked for cheese & biscuits at a hotel West says: Spill the beans Steph, which hotel was it?!

guess what, we’ve also got some of those to win, thanks to the wonderful growers working away so hard right now on St Martin’s in the Isles of Scilly - see opposite for details. Now, as well as Abbie, we’ve another new writer joining us this week for the first time. Gorgeous Anna Turns most definitely has her finger on the fashion pulse in this part of the world. She came to us with a very cool new story about some handbags being made right now in Salcombe that are turning heads all over the South West, made by a very clever man called Will Bees. Read all about it on page 12 today. In fact, I wouldn’t mind one of Will’s bags for Mother’s Day, now I come to think about it!

Our girl-in-the-know has drawn up our official West magazine Good Spa Guide

[

Becky Sheaves, Editor

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

MEET THE TEAM Becky Sheaves, Editor 4

Sarah Pitt

Kathryn Clarke-McLeod

Catherine Barnes

Phil Goodwin

If you buy one thing this week...

These scented narcissi are grown in the fields of St Martin’s on the Isles of Scilly and sent out to customers by post. With bunches available from posy size to 60 blooms – easily enough to fill three vases – they would make a lovely present for your mum on Mother’s Day. Visit www. scillyflowers.co.uk.

We have a box of 40 scented narcissi from Churchtown Farm, worth £17, to be sent directly to one lucky reader’s door from the Isles of Scilly.

To win, just email your name, address and a contact telephone number to westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk, with Narcissi in the subject line to arrive by March 13. Normal terms apply.

Win

5

Handmade lavender soap, £3.90 100g, Odds and Suds in Tavistock and Ashburton and www.oddsandsuds.com

Yum! Yummy Mummy mug, £11.95, www. oliverbonas.com

the

wishlist West’s top picks to make your mum feel like one in a million

Hand-tied bouquet with roses, lilies and gypsophilia, £32.90, www. iflorist.co.uk

Store we adore Odds and Suds, Tavistock and Ashburton Jenny Elesmore makes scented soap and bath bombs with a reassuringly short list of ingredients in her shops in Tavistock and Ashburton. They are beautifully packaged and decorated, contain no chemical nasties and lather up a treat. You can also make your own soap in workshops with Jenny, who shared her secrets with Kirstie Allsopp on Channel 4 recently. www.oddsandsuds.com

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Essentials Fun money box, £2.49, www.mollieandfred.co.uk

Wishlist Make someone feel special with this engraved You are TEAriffic vintage silver spoon teaspoon, £13.50, www.thegreatgiftcompany.co.uk

The fairest..

Heart pocket mirror for mum, £7.50, www. swankymaison.com

COSY AND CUTE Cakes tea cosy, £48, handmade by Newlyn’s www.poppytreffry.co.uk

Floral wash bag, £12, www. tch.net

Personalised Mother’s Day woodcut, £22, from north Devon-based www.letterfest. com

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talking points Gillian Molesworth

Story of my life...

A beetle drive - what’s that, exactly? ight now I’m in the final throes of planning a Beetle Drive fundraiser for the school. Is that something you remember from childhood? Or are you as baffled by the words as I was when I was first confronted by them?

Here’s how it works. You get a large number of people to pile into a big space, like a village hall. clockwise. I’ve run a lot of fundThey sit at tables of four. Everyraisers over the years, and this is one has a piece of paper and a pen, one of my favourites. We do ours and in the middle of each table is a with a pasty supper at the break, die (singular of dice). consisting of small pasties, a piece At the starting gun, you roll, of fruit and a biscuit or chocolate and you pass the die along, quick bar. All supper takes is a bit of asquick. Everyone rolls and passes, sembly. rolls and passes. You’re trying to Here’s what I like about it. It’s roll yourself a beetle, which you not that hard to set up – mostly draw on your piece of paper. a question of putting up folding First you have to roll a six, tables and getting hold of lots of which gives you pens and pencils. the body. Once you It’s good, rollicking have the body you fun for all ages - the can start adding grumpiest person A random small the six legs (rolled will come out of as threes) and two their corner and child came up: wings (fours). You find a competitive ‘Excuse me, will need a head streak. It’s sweet beetle lady? (five), two eyes to watch the older (ones) and the two kids helping the When are we antennae (twos). younger ones. And, having another It sounds combecause you have plicated, but eveto keep moving beetle party?’ ryone has a cheat tables, no one sits sheet to remind in their little safe them of what goes groups of just the where. people they know – everyone gets When someone has a completed mixed up. beetle, they shout: “Beetle!” and I’m now getting to the stage everyone stops. Then the adjudiwith my kids where they’re cator has to check that they got harder and harder to entertain, all the body parts (missing legs and everything isn’t so exciting as are the usual culprit). If a beetle it was when they were little. This is confirmed, you go onto the next is why I was particularly gratiround. fied when a random small child Before you do, though, the came up to me at the school gate person at your table who got the and said: “Excuse me, beetle lady? highest score (i.e. the most beetle When are we having another parts) moves one table along beetle party?” clockwise – the losers, counterJust you wait, kid!

Scarlet LADY

Dakota Johnson spurned all shades of grey to wear this fabulous red Yves St Laurent asymmetric dress to the Oscars this year.

R

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

OPTION A Vintage Channel Dakota’s red hot look with this gorgeous vintage number from House of Foxy (www.20thcenturyfoxy.com), “proudly made in Britain” and good value at £99.

steal her

style

OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN

OPTION B Flirty Red Herring at Debenhams short and sweet £45

OPTION C Elegant M&S column dress heaven £99

BRAND NEW!

TRIXIE: IT’S JUST LIKE SCHOOL! Helen George has said that being in Call The Midwife for years feels like coming back to school for each new series.

The actress has played Trixie Franklin in the BBC One soap since it began in 2012 and told TV Times she loved having spent so many years in the same role.

She said: “We’ve filmed for nearly four years now, so it feels like anoth-

er leg of school - especially because we’re in uniform in an old house.”

Helen added that she had got a lot out of concentrating on just one character for so many series in a row. “The show has opened up so many doors and it has taught me so much about learning how to work with one character over a sustained period of time.” West says: Roll on the next series...

Just

between us Gossip, news, trendsetters and more - you

heard all the latest juicy stuff here first!

Richard: I’M JUDY’S

plus ONE! We loved this recent tweet by Richard Madeley (@richardm56) from the clifftops of Cornwall: “Meanwhile I know my place.

Passed some guys on the cliff path this morning and heard one say: ‘Isn’t that Judy Finnigan’s husband? Ha ha!’

Richard’s been supporting Judy on her book tour, as her latest Cornwall-set novel I Do Not Sleep, climbs the best seller charts….

!

FEARNE COTTON:

‘Becoming a stepmum prepared me for life as a new parent’ Radio 1 presenter FEARNE has a two-year-old son, Rex, with her husband JESSE WOOD and has just announced she has another baby on the way. She is also stepmum to his children from a previous relationship. She told This Morning: “I was 29 when I met my husband, so it was quite an induction into being a proper adult and a parent, but I love it and they’re amazing kids and they love Rex and Rex adores them, he idolises

them.”

Fearne added: “I think any working mum takes a step back and definitely thinks very thoroughly about choices they make. You become a bit more picky, you really want to make sure that you’re home enough.

“For me, family always comes first. I’ve got two stepchildren as well, so [I make] sure that they’re really part of our whole process and our family and then work fits around that.”

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Wild weather Richard Austin captured granddaughter Amelie braving the wild weather in Lyme Regis

in pictures The write stuff: Judy Finnigan signs her new novel for fans at Waterstones in Truro

I like this one: PC Andy Hocking checks out the art at the Patrick Woodroffe exhibition at Falmouth Art Gallery 10

All God’s creatures: Whitefaced Dartmoor sheep are welcomed at Exeter Cathedral (picture: Richard Austin)

talking points Playing cards

Seeds

ONE OF US Famous faces who come from the Westcountry

What’s in your hand? 10 nicknames for playing cards

by Abbie Bray

1 Devil’s bedpost (Four of

This week:

Spades)

2 Lancelot (Jack of Clubs) 3 Julius Caesar (King of

Not just for birds: 10 kinds of edible seeds sold as health foods

1 Sesame

Diamonds)

4 Spadille (Ace of Spades) 5 La Hire (Jack of Hearts) 6 Calamity Jane (Queen of

2 Chia 3 Hemp

Spades)

4 Sunflower

7 8

9

Judith (Queen of Hearts) The Curse of Scotland

5 Flax

(Nine of Diamonds)

6 Pumpkin

Beer card (Seven of

7 Pomegranate

Diamonds)

8 Cumin

10 Puppy Foot (Ace of Clubs)

Sue Barker Question of Sport quiz compere Sue, 58, grew up in Paignton, south Devon before becoming an international tennis champion and TV presenter

9 Watermelon 10 Amaranth

Pack it in!

The happy list

National Non-Smoking Day NHS Choices’ ten reasons to quit:

1 Better sex thanks to 2 Improved fertility

10 things to make you smile this week

3 Younger looking skin

1 Spring is officially here

improved bloodflow

4 Whiter teeth and sweeter breath 5 Breathe easier

lung capacity increases

6 Live longer - reduces risk

of nasty diseases

7 Feel less stressed nicotine cravings exacerbate

stress levels

8 Improved taste and smell 9 Energy boost - thanks to

better circulation

10 Making someone happy quit for someone

you love

according to meteorologists

2 The Proclaimers coming to Looe Festival in September

3 Alexei Sayle The Plough, Great Torrington, Mar 10

4 The Archers David and Ruth: not leaving Brookfield!

5 Beer festivals try Driftwood Spars, St Agnes Mar 13

6 Mother’s Day daffodils 7 Creme eggs everywhere 8 One last Call the Midwife tonight, 8pm, BBC1 9 Hot cross buns mmm...

10 Sloe gin and tonic try it

Early years: Susan “Sue” Barker MBE £455,272 in prize money during her was born in Paignton. Sue’s forehand tennis career. was her strongest weapon, with her coach Arthur Roberts describing it as Success: On retiring from tennis in “especially potent”. Arthur was a no1985 Sue became a commentator and toriously severe character who very sports reporter for Australia’s Chanrarely praised Sue. nel 7. She then went on to “Everyone was anchor tennis coverage for terrified of him, my British Sky Broadcasting. parents weren’t She is now one of the BBC’s DID YOU KNOW? allowed to watch presenters and the muchme practise, and loved compere of the BBC In 1976, at he would brook sports quiz A Question of no interference Sport. the age of 20, whatever,” she Sue Barker later said.

Personal life: In 1988, Sue won the married former policeman Where it all began: Lance Tankard, and the French Open Sue began her topcouple now share a manflight tennis career sion with 26-acre grounds in 1973 when she in Surrey. moved to the USA to play tennis professionally. “Luckily Did you know? In 1982, Sue met I managed to persuade my parents to singer Cliff Richard and Cliff has said let me follow my dream. I was so exthat he had come close to asking her cited. I remember my parents seeing to marry him in the 1980s. me off on the platform at Paignton station. My mum was crying and I Dog attack: In 1980, Sue was tempowas trying to cry, but I couldn’t. I was rarily blinded in her right eye after a just thinking of California.” dog bit her. She lost sight in her eye for five hours and later said that she Hits: Sue had many successes in feared that the dog attack would force her tennis career. She won eleven her to stop playing tennis. However, WTA Tour singles titles and her she is still a dog lover - she and hushighest ranking of her career was band Lance own several Rotweilers. world number 3 in 1977, and she won 11

People

[

WILL BEES BESPOKE

Bags of style Anna Turns visits the designer who has turned his skills to good use creating gorgeous handbags in south Devon

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acking onto Salcombe estuary, surrounded by traditional boat builders in workshops along Island Street is a handbag haven. Perhaps not what I’d expect to see in this part of the world but, on entering, I’m immediately immersed into a colourful world of craftsmanship.

With tools adorning the walls, alongside clutches, pouches and tote bags in every imaginable style of fabric, this workshop/showroom is where Will Bees now sells his own wonderful handbag designs. “It’s about more than just bags. For instance we have a huge chandelier next to the building’s original strip lights on the ceiling – don’t ask me why but for some reason it just works,” Will tells me as he puts on his denim work apron.

“I source hundreds of fabrics and I haven’t seen anyone else do what we’re doing on this same large scale,” explains Will, who has scrutinised tens of thousands of fabrics over the last couple of years. “I have chosen 1500 fabrics that we can use and we’re currently using between 500 and 600 designs, all British-made of course.” These include the famous Liberty prints, plus distinctive fabrics by Sanderson and William Morris.

Every bag is personalised with the owner’s embossed initials on the leather patch, a process which Will does on the spot for customers at his work bench. “When customers get their initials embossed on their chosen bag, it’s a happy moment. When I

B

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Will Bees, the creative force behind new handbag company Will Bees Bespoke

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hand them their finished bag, they smile. They can run their finger over their own initials. I love seeing people appreciate the product they have bought.”

Will shows me the two embossing machines and three alphabets. His capacious tote bags (£215) have to be hand embossed the old-fashioned way with a hammer and stamp, as they are too big to fit in the embossing machines. Will also develops his new bags here in the workshop, so there’s an element of working sampling here on-site, before the bags are manufactured in two British factories. Prices start at £35 for a clutch bag.

Will is the founder of well-respected Quba Sails, a nautical clothing company that he started almost 20 years ago. But he is proud to have

[

gone back to basics for this new venture, which opened last August: “It’s artisan and people love this old-fashioned ethos of making something bespoke.” Walking through the workshop, the traditional manufacturing process is clearly apparent. “There is real labour involved, our bags are all made in England and nothing is mass produced.”

Will picks up one bag and points out a mark on the leather.

“This is where the cow would have scratched against barbed wire,” he tells me. “That’s what’s so nice about working with great quality vegetable-tanned leather, two pieces are never the same.” He sees the natural beauty in every flaw.

In keeping with the company ethos, vegetable tanning is a traditional craft process that uses natural tannins. It’s a slow process, taking up

[

‘This is where the cow would have scratched against barbed wire. No two pieces of leather are the same.’

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to 60 days and, because no chemicals are used, vegetable tanning is the most environmentallyfriendly way to tan leather, resulting in rich, warm tones while retaining every marking and imperfection.

From sparkly fabrics to stripes, florals and textured neutrals, Will’s company, Will Bees Bespoke, is certainly more about timeless accessories than fashion. “I have a brand vision and I’m sticking to that,” he explains.

Will’s Quba Sails clothing had a strong association with Salcombe, which is very much a sailing town. But he’s happy to be based by the estuary to make handbags, too. He is currently busy working on the new SS15 collection. “I’ve got some really exciting new products coming in before Easter. We’ve worked hard to select a balanced mix of colours and prints.” He’s also opening a new keyring bar in the workshop. “I’ll be personalising four styles of dyed leather keyrings with an endless choice of Liberty prints and other fabrics. I follow the idea that if I decide to do something, I do it in a big way,” he adds.

Ladies, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Buy online at www.willbeesbespoke.com

Interview

The workshop/showroom, where all new bags are personalised with their owner’s initials

New designs are created in the showroom itself

Working by the water

Why I love Salcombe Will Bees says: “Salcombe is a great place to be. I’m lucky that our back door slides open to the slipway by Shadycombe Creek where I can leave my tender tied up for the summer.

“I love the fact that my wife Ros and I can just hop in the boat to take our two young children across the estuary to Mill Bay beach or Small’s Cove. And sometimes I move my desk so it’s in view of the water while I work.”

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St Ives Harbour Hotel and Spa

The Good Spa Guide Mothering Sunday next weekend is the perfect excuse for a little pampering. Abbie Bray seeks out the Westcountry spas that offer the perfect treats for Mother’s Day, either to give as a gift for your mum, or to start dropping hints about right now…

St Ives Harbour Hotel and Spa, St Ives Mums and daughters can spend a relaxing day together in the luxurious Harbour Spa, lounging by the pool and enjoying the views out over St Ives. The excellent spa facilities include several rejuvenating treatments. Then why not indulge in a wonderful afternoon tea in the Terrace Bar (pictured)?

Signature treatments Try an Express Facial with regenerating eye treatment or Heavenly Hands and Feet treatment.

Prices: A Mother and Daughter Spa Day costs £70 for two, on offer until March 31.

Contact: 01736 792945 or www.stives-harbour-hotel.co.uk

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Enjoy The Headland Hotel and Spa, Newquay Have a day of indulgence with your nearest and dearest at the £4 million newly revamped spa in Newquay’s iconic hotel. Choose from a variety of treatments and enjoy the use of the glamorous pool and relaxation lounge, pictured.

Signature treatments Luxury OPI Manicure or Pedicure (book during March and receive a complimentary glass of fizz per person).

Prices: 60 minute manucure costs £45 Contact: 01637 870200 or www.headlandhotel.co.uk

The Headland Hotel and Spa

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The Woolacombe Hotel and Spa For the ultimate Mother’s Day gift why not try a Super Spa overnight break at the Woolacombe Bay Hotel? The ultimate escape away in a luxurious four star hotel, with Haven Spa. Signature treatment: Elemis Back Massage Prices: One night’s stay with bottle of Prosecco, 25 minute treatment and full use of the Haven Spa facilities, £99.

Contact: 01271 870388 or www.woolacombebayhotel.co.uk

The Magdalen Chapter, Exeter Nestled in a walled garden in Exeter, this spa uses REN products which are so natural that each treatment is suitable for pregnant and breast-feeding mums. The innovative “inside-out pool” allows you to swim both indoors and outside.

Signature treatments - REN bespoke facial, for relaxed, healthy and radiant skin.

Prices: Mother’s Day offer 60 minute treatment, three course Mother’s Day lunch and a free REN gift (only available on Sunday March 15) £80 Contact: 01392 288177 wwwthemagdalenchapter.com

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Enjoy Dart Marina Hotel and Spa Within a few steps of the magical River Dart, Dart Marina Hotel and Spa is a great location for Mothering Sunday. Their Special Sunday package includes full use of the spa facilities for half a day, the choice of one of four relaxing treatments and a cream tea.

Signature treatment Exotic Coconut Wrap, 55 minutes of relaxing, skin focussed paradise Prices: Special Sunday package of spa visit and cream tea £59 Contact: 01803 832580 www.dartmarina.com

Dart Marina Hotel and Spa

St Enodoc Hotel and Spa, Rock, Cornwall Book in for some quality time this Mothering Sunday and take advantage of their buy one get one half price treatment offer right now to mothers and daughters who visit together.

St Enodoc Spa uses organic products for all treatments and the ingredients are expertly blended in Cornwall.

Signature treatment Hot stone massage Prices: £40 for 30 minutes or £70 for 75 minutes for the hot stone massage.

Contact: 01208 863394 www.enodoc-hotel.co.uk

Bovey Castle, Dartmoor The Sundari Spa at Bovey Castle is a little sanctuary that is tucked away in the heart of Dartmoor National Park. The bespoke spa experiences have been created to relax, revive and restore the body and spirit and there are many luxurious treatments to tempt you this Mother’s Day. Signature treatment Sundari Abhyanga Back Massage and Cooling Scalp Treatment Prices: £60 (for the above treatment) Contact: 0844 474 0080 www.boveycastle.com

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Enjoy The Grand Hotel and Spa, Torquay

This 4 star hotel in Torquay is right in the heart of the English Riviera, situated on the seafront with views overlooking Torbay. The ESPA Spa at The Grand offers a wide variety of treatments with a Mother’s Day Special Offer; if you spend £35 on an ESPA treatment you will receive a gift worth £15.

Signature treatments - ESPA Aromatherapy Massage Price: £74 for 1 hour 10 minute massage Contact: 01803 206031 www.grandtorquay.co.uk

The Grand Hotel and Spa, Torquay

Home Place Farm Spa, near Barnstaple This spa is located in the midst of the countryside - the perfect destination for a getaway of pure pampering. The barn has been converted into purpose-built wet and dry rooms, where you can enjoy the Hydrotherapy Spa with the choice of relaxing in the whirlpool or detoxifying in the steam rooms.

Signature treatments - Holistic Journey, a total body treat with salt scrub, followed by a full body massage using aromatherapy oils and luxurious aromatic facial.

Prices: £125 for Holistic Journey (see above) but West readers can claim 20% off this treatment, quoting “West” when booking (terms apply).

Contact: 01598 763283 www.farmhousespa.com

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Win! We have an Express Pamper package to be won at The Magdalen Chapter in Exeter. The prize, worth £45, consists of a 30 minute treatment, spa visit and twocourse lunch or afternoon tea. Available Monday to Thursday, with certain restrictions.

To win, send your name, address and contact number to: The Magdalen Chapter competition, wmnwest@ westernmorningnews.co.uk to arrive

by March 20. Normal terms apply

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interiors

30

fashion

style

36

culture vulture

40

eat out 21

Gardens

ANNE SWITHINBANK

Give peas a chance Devon’s Anne Swithinbank, panellist on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, knows the very best ways to grow fresh peas this summer here are so many lovely things of matchstick. Soon I’d have a flotilla to sail about home grown peas, I’m across the surface of an old bird bath. Finally, scrabbling to write them down the luxury of sitting down to a pile of peas in the proper order. Number cooked as a side veg or braised with lettuce one has to be the first pod, is incomparable. You can’t really buy this picked from your plants, popped open, the luxury, as freshness dwindles fast once they peas drawn out and eaten raw. It is not really leave the plant and frozen ones are ok but possible to experience their fresh flavour and weird and always the same. A fine-flavoured texture any other way. Next, garden peas are sort like ‘Onward’ picked at the perfect stage incredibly pretty plants, with dainty leaves, and cooked promptly is truly delicious. tendrils and flowers. These are usually My autumn sown peas of a hardy variety creamy in colour but purple podded sorts called ‘Meteor’ were sown direct to the soil generally have pink or purple and are about 5cm/2in tall, blooms. There are many vaready to grow away when the rieties and while some are weather improves. A further lowly and sensible for windy batch raised in pots under There are gardens or where you don’t glass have just been planted few stresswant to rig up supports, I love out and needed the support the tall ones, capable of reachof some beech twigs straight busting ing 1.8m/6ft. away. activities We hear about stress caused As soon as the soil has by the pace of modern life and dried out and warmed up, I’ll to beat how some folk pay a fortune sow some ‘Onward’ direct podding peas to learn mindfulness and and then at the beginning of meditation to help calm them April, a tall variety. Last year down but I think they should it was the wonderful ‘Telefono just grow peas. Waiting for Climbing’ from Franchi seeds germination and growth is one thing but (020 8427 5020 www.seedsofitaly.com). I set once you have your crop (any crop, for that down a garden line to mark a double row and matter), your life is forced to slow down so then take out a wide, flat drill on either side you have the time to pick, cook and eat it. using a draw hoe. The peas are sown 5cm/2in There can be few stress busting activities to or so apart over the base and covered with beat sitting at a kitchen table with a basket of soil. A draping of fleece will help ward off freshly picked peas and a colander. birds, cats or worse, badgers and if you have Of course, you can make wine from pea trouble with wet soil or mice, sowing under pods and also toy boats. As a child, I’d steal glass is always an option. If you are short of a few empty but perfect pods and wedge the space, grow a tall variety around a tepee of two halves open with a couple of sections canes in a small bed or pot.

T

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This week’s gardening tips

Sowing can continue until the beginning of May but peas prefer to grow in cooler weather and tend to frizzle up during the heat of a good summer. I tend to follow them with French and runner beans, both of which need and enjoy warmth to germinate and develop. Even the shorter growing kinds benefit from support, as their tendrils will grip pea sticks or netting, to hold the stems firmly upright, making picking easier. I prefer pea sticks to push into the ground either side of the rows, mainly because they are easier to remove from the spent crop afterwards.

To capture each pod at its best, picking should take place every two to three days when growth is at a peak. Fortunately, any surplus freeze well and I usually blanch them first before bagging them up. Using them during the following winter always brings happy memories of warm summer days flooding right back.

Anne’s advice for your garden

• Plant out bulbs that flowered in the house or under glass in pots. They will settle down and naturalise in the garden.

Question time with Anne West reader queries answered by Anne Swithinbank

Q

I’ve lost an apple tree and would like to add a replacement. How do I go about choosing which one?

First, it is unwise to plant a new tree into the same spot where the old one has died. It is thought that various pathogens that built up during the life of the older plant persist to overwhelm the new one, causing its demise. However adding products containing beneficial mycorrhizal fungi to roots at planting time are thought to help overcome this. What apples do you already have? One cooker will probably be ample. If you have an early eater like ‘Discovery’, add a later one whose fruit can be stored into the New Year. Most apples will pollinate each other but sometimes an early variety will finish blooming before a late one starts, so find out what pollination group they are in (1-4) and make sure the new tree has a partner of the same or next group for flowering to overlap.

For old local varieties, consult a specialist nursery such as Thornhayes (01884 266746 www. thornhayes-nursery.co.uk). If you live in Devon, you might be tempted by ‘Lucombes Pine’, a mid to late eating apple from the Exeter area. Or from further west, ‘Cornish Gilliflower’ is another late dessert variety. We are nearly at the end of the bare root planting season, so if you want an unusual variety, act fast in case the nursery does not have it in a pot.

Q

When should I prune my camellias?

• Sow leafy spinach several seeds per module. They’ll germinate under glass with no heat. Harden off and plant out when soil is ready and enjoy lots of eggs Benedict, salads and spicy callalloo soup.

• Trim winter flowering heathers when the flowers begin to turn brown.

Shear the tops to remove most of the previous year’s growth to keep them dense and healthy.

• Divide potted agapanthus and put half back in pots (for easy overwintering under glass) and half into the ground to see how hardy they are.

Immediately after flowering is the best time. Identify the longer stems poking over lawns or into other shrubs, trace them back some way into the plant and cut just above a leaf. If the plant is wall-trained, you’ll be shortening almost all the stems which have just flowered. On a bushy plant, you generally stop while the plant still has a natural leafy shape.

Give your pond a good start by netting out clusters of duckweed and blanketweed to let plenty of light in for submerged weeds, water soldier and water lilies to wake up after winter. Later on, covering two thirds of the pond with leaf of some kind will shade the water and keep algae down.

Sow

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

tender bedding plants like nicotiana, heliotrope and petunia. Growing them in a greenhouse at home is satisfying and you have more choice of varieties from seed catalogues, including single and unusual colours.

27

Beauty

Tried

& tested

We present the beauty treats and cheats of the week, recommended by West magazine’s Catherine Barnes, with help from daughter Tilly, 17.

Wonder stuff Argan nut oil’s such an all-round wonder; moisturising skin, hair and nourishing nails and loaded with vitamin E. This handy 50ml dropper is part of a range which also includes a spritzspray. £13.99 from moroccanarganoilco. com

Smooth Jo Malone’s Vitamin E Lip Conditioner smooths dry lips to leave them soft and slightly glossy. £23 at www. jomalone.co.uk Tilly’s a serious fan of sultry Alien, by Thierry Mugler, but this threepiece coffret (£50) has been put together with - ahem - Mother’s Day in mind. www.mugler.co.uk

Bright This cheer-me up lotion is also a body-tonic, with organic ingredients including lemongrass - traditionally used to relieve fatigue. £15 at www.berryred.co.uk 28

kiss kiss Collection’s new Field Day lipsticks in three pretty pink shades go on sale in Superdrug this week, at Boots later in the month and are a bargain £2.99 each

the review The best:

Gifts for mums Celebrate Mother’s Day on March 15 with three gifts guaranteed to delight,

by Abbie Bray

fave!

For a new mum

Softly softly Safeguard your skin from the harsh elements with Weleda Calendula Weather Protection Cream, £8.95 www.weleda.co.uk

The Body Shop’s Spa Wisdom Polynesian range For tired mums in need of relaxation, the scents of gardenia and coconut are designed to help them unwind. There is a wide selection of tempting products within the range: I like the Polynesian Monoi Miracle Oil, a real multi-tasker, which can be used for body, bath and hair all in one. Ideal when pamper-time is in short supply. From £10, The Body Shop, www.

thebodyshop.co.uk

For every mum nailed Posh polish: Your nails are a blank canvas, say Only Fingers + Toes, the go-to boutique to perfect the art of the mani.

Gorgeous packaging, too. (£16 at www. onlyfingersandtoes.com)

For a grandmother

Fabulous facials

Just for you

The Marks and Spencer’s skincare range is not one to disappoint, and this Radiant Cleansing Brush is soft and gentle, perfect for the most sensitive skin. Also try their Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser, a twophase cleansing system that really works. Cleansing brush £19.50, Hot

Here’s a cute idea - you can personalise the label on this beautiful scented candle with a bespoke message to make your mum feel special on Mother’s Day. There are many fragrances to choose from, all made with fine essential oils.

My favourite is the Elderflower and Lime, well worth a try.

cloth cleanser £10, both M & S

£22.50 Oliver Bonas www.oliverbonas. com

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

Trend Top, Oasis, Princesshay, £40 Trousers, Oasis, Princesshay, £35 Bag, Oasis, Princesshay, £34

HOW TO WEAR IT:

Necklace, Oasis, Princesshay, £16

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

Ditsy Prints

32

Kathryn Clarke-Mcleod tries fashion’s new patterns t doesn’t get much cuter than this.

We’re talking dots, diamonds, swirls, tiny little anchors and itsy bitsy boats. I like to think of this season’s ditsy prints as the ultimate lunch date staple, and as the weather gets warmer you’ll only love them more.

Fashion is supposed to be fun, and shopping for this season’s prints has it in bucket loads. The best part? You don’t need to worry about being sorority-queen matchy perfect. Clash them, mix them, mingle them and wear them at will. It’s a rare opportunity to go all out.

It evokes in me all the colour and fun of South Africa, where I grew up. Much of South African everyday wear is characterised by a printed dyed cotton fabric called Shweshwe (pronounced shwear-shwear, try saying it, I am a wee bit in it’s fun). It is essentially coloured fabric (usually indigo or love with these brown) printed with intricate cropped dotty geometric patterns. Shweshwe is so popular it is often referred trousers from to as ‘South Africa’s denim’ Oasis.

I foresee a That’s saying something. I have a oversized weekend bag in this beautiful future iconic print, and it seems that together my appreciation of this craft has put me bang on trend for this season.

The key to this season’s prints is their size.

Italian in Exeter, with this delightful panelled Everything is small and delicately cheeky. This patterned shirt and metallic pumps. Comfortable gives depth and personality to even the simand utterly charming. If you’re loving the look, plest of outfits. I am a wee bit in love with these but fear it may just be a fad, I have the answer. cropped dotty trousers from Oasis. I forsee a Shop from the spots and squares selections only. long and beautiful future together. We’ll enjoy Checks and polka dots literally NEVER go out markets, paired with a white vest, gladiators and of fashion. They come down the runway every a straw fedora. We’ll order wine and mussels in year, in various incarnations. Want to make your front of a fire, with brogues and a chunky cream outfit even more future-proof ? Stick with monoknit, and I think we’ll even hit the beach with a chrome combinations. balconette bikini top. Va va voom!

All of that said, I know that some of you out In the meantime I wore them to lunch at Jamie’s there are horrified at the idea of clashing prints.

I

You’ll be glad to know there is a way around this.

If you must match, match with unwavering perfection. Choose a structured t-shirt and pencil skirt made from the same fabric. If there is a clutch in the same print, buy it too.

Of course, you can always pair your patterned purchase with crisp white, faithful denim, or inky black. Don’t let me tell you what to do. After all, the only rules with prints this season is that there aren’t any.

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

HOBBS ink spot trousers £99

MISS SELFRIDGE navy and pink printed shell top £39

GET THE

look NEW LOOK printed high neck midi dress £19.99

NEXT printed skirt £28

STREET STYLE HERO Keera Rowlinson Student, Exeter Scarf – George at Asda Coat – Sainsbury’s Jeans – Topshop Boots and bag – Russell & Bromley

OASIS metallic pumps £22 MONSOON Missouri jumpsuit £29

Keera says: I love browsing in vintage shops looking for unique pieces.

33

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Events

The hotlist: There’s plenty to do right now here in the Westcountry, from guided walks to writing courses

3. Write stuff

#1

Sidmouth, March 13 and 20 If you enjoy creative writing , but haven’t a clue how to go about getting your work in print, Devon-based writer Jane Bidder, who has had fourteen novels published under the pen name Sophie King, will show you how. Jane, who’s also the successful author of countless short stories will be running a two-part course, How To Write a Short Story and Get it Published, at Kennaway House, Sidmouth on March 13 and 20. By the end of the course, which costs £49, you should have a short story ready for submission to a competition or publisher.

For more details and to reserve a place call 07810 480995 or email janebidder@ btinternet.com

#3

Envelope Plymouth, until March 28 Plymouth University asked around 100 creative people in disciplines ranging from architecture and fashion to product design to pop an item, connected with their thought processes, in the post. Duly dispatched by a host of talented people including textile designer Helen Yardley, the exhibition, called Envelope, is on display at Plymouth’s Peninsula Arts Gallery until March 28.

2. J oin in

Falmouth, March 12 to 29 Shake off the cobwebs and come and join the fun at Falmouth’s Spring Festival. It’s all about enjoying the outdoors with a fun run, lots of guided walks, a wild food foraging session, flower show and the annual Oyster Gathering on the Fal. There will be hosts of glorious daffs on display throughout the town, too, or you can lend a hand at the community spring-cleans!

See the full events programme at: www.falmouth.co.uk

#2

4. Arcadia

Truro from tomorrow until Saturday 14 Golden Compass star Dakota Blue Richards is making her stage debut role in this touring production of Tom Stoppard’s award-winning play, Arcadia, at Truro’s Hall for Cornwall. Set in a stately home in the 19th century, secret desires and professional rivalries take hold of the residents of Sidley Park. Tickets cost between £13 and £30. www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

#4

35

Discover

culture vulture Our superb new guide to the arts scene in the South West by our woman in the know, Sarah Pitt

Spellbinding See two plays in one evening at Exeter’s Cygnet Theatre , where young actors who’ve been training with the company will perform pieces written by American writer Jane Shepard. Nine sees two women held against their will in a locked room, where a single word becomes the difference between life and death. In The Last Nickel , Jamie’s obnoxious sister and a trio of sardonic puppets keep her awake.

7.30pm From Monday March 9 to Saturday 14, tickets £10, details at: www.cygnettheatre. co.uk

Head over Heels There’s a chance to see the talented dancers from Truro’s Hall for Cornwall company perform a contemporary show piece that wowed London audiences at the national Dance Your City competition last month.

HFC Youth Dance will be staging their Cornwall in My Bones routine, as part of the Truro Festival on March 28, which will see various places around the city become pop-up performance spaces.

The HFC dancers’ piece was inspired by a poem by written and read by Callum Mitchell. It’s been included in the score by musician Phil Innes, who’s also mixed in the sounds of the sea, wind and seagulls.

The Truro Festival begins on March 27 and runs until April 5. More details at: www.enjoytruro.co.uk/TruroFestival 36

Canvas and Porcelain This wonderfully vivid canvas, Walking on Air by Kathy Ramsay Carr is part of a spring showcase of collectable art and ceramics which launches at the Porthminster Gallery, St Ives on March 14. There’s work by well established artists Andrew Bird, Angela Charles, Freya Hornsley, Arthur Lanyon, Joanne Last and Alex Morton, plus stunning porcelain by Sun Kim, Carina Ciscato, Keith Varney and Sasha Wardell. The exhibition runs until May 17. www. porthminstergallery.co.uk

Enjoy xxx

A WEEKEND IN...

Ashburton Home to its own celebrated cookery school, Ashburton’s full of wonderful locally-owned places to eat and shop for foods and antiques as well as being a postcard-pretty gateway into Dartmoor.

A

Ashburton Cookery School

Stay: You

can eat and sleep at Agaric, where contemporary style meets traditional elegance in this Georgian townhouse with four stunning boutique ensuite rooms. Breakfast includes homemade bread and Dartmoor honey. Nick Coiley, who runs the business with wife Sophie, also hosts cooking demos and produces a range of gourmet meals, which you can buy frozen along with fabulous cookware at Agaric’s shop on nearby North Street, see www. agaricrestaurant.co.uk

A room at Agaric Ashburton

xxx

Do:

Book a cookery class at the Ashburton Cookery School, which offers day sessions

through to five-day residential courses - and accommodation to boot. The school’s led by professional chefs, with 40 courses to choose from, for everyone from absolute beginners to industry professionals. A day-long course on how to cook an impressive three-course dinner for friends costs £165. www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk

xxxx

Relax:

Joanna Woolvett runs Ashburton Aromatherapy and Massage Practice, which offers a range of soothing treatments including a 30-minute massage to un-knot stressed up shoulders (£25), visit www.ashburtonmassage. co.uk for details.

Eat::

Great food’s served from breakfast through to dinner at the gorgeous Moorish Restaurant, where flavours are inspired by southern Spain and the Arabic Mediterranean. Try Pomegranate Molasses Chicken with roast squash, beetroot & bulgur wheat salad (£ 13.85) or something equally delish (the vibrant and highly appealing menu changes every fortnight). There’s a mini-deli, too,

where you can buy some of the ingredients used in the kitchen’s dishes.

Shop: The Ashburton Fish deli sells a wealth of seafood brought in by Westcountry day boats, as well as delicious olives, bread and other treats.

Dartmoor Butchers sources locally, too and is a go-to place for wonderful slow-matured cuts and home-made sausages. If you love antiques and vintage, you’re spoiled for choice: The Shambles on North Street has five dealers selling goods from a wide range of periods under one roof.

37

Deborah Clark

My Secret Westcountry

Deborah Clark Hotelier Deborah Clark revived the fortunes of Burgh Island Hotel in south Devon and renovated and created Southernhay House hotel in Exeter. She works with husband Tony and they live in Exeter.

My favourite...

Walk: I don’t wear wellies and I don’t have a dog - but I do like a frosty morning walk across Cathedral Close in Exeter. It’s minutes from our boutique hotel, Southernhay House.

MAIN PICTURE: RICHARD AUSTIN

Arts venue: Conceptual artist, Volkhardt Muller has a 12-month studio residency, called TOPOS, in central Exeter His work is intriguing, accessible and not at all as pretentious as I make it sound. I also highly rate the Thelma Hubert Gallery in Honiton; it’s a great exhibition space and the curator Angela Blackwell has a real eye for local modern art.

Food: I’m not a big meat eater (I wish I were

Burgh Island 38

- Devon surely has the best steak and pork in the country) but I can really go for the fabulous local fish: I love brill or turbot or the fresh and magic lobster or crab from local day boats.

People Tipple: I’m going to plug Pebblebed Wines in Clyst St Mary. Owner Geoff Bowen has a cute cellar in Topsham where you can sample the full range with local tapas. Very chilled and you can also tour the vineyards and even join in the harvest.

Devon County Show

Pub: The Pilchard Inn (on Burgh Island) has no competition - anywhere. It’s been around since 1336 and is like a dream of a pub, on the edge of the sea. I’m not generally a pub woman but I crave a cosy afternoon in front of the fire with a large glass of chablis, book in hand, watching the birds wheel and the tides meet.

IMAGE: MARCUS THOMPSON

Scenic spot: Top of the turn on the road from Bigbury on Sea to Burgh. It is the most fabulous and inspiring view for anyone, owner or not, in any weather and especially on clear and cold mornings.

Restaurant: I love my chefs at Burgh Island and Southernhay and eating on home turf.

But I’m going to say Mark Hix’s cafe in Lyme Regis. That’s where we go to escape our businesses and observe someone else at work. Rock Salt Cafe, Plymouth is also a sophisticated find, well off the track in formerly run down Stonehouse Street. The food is creative and deceptively simple and it’s owned and run by two of my best ex-staff, Chantal and Dave.

Just one of our Burgh Island romances!

[[ The Pilchard Inn has been around since 1336 and is like a dream of a pub on the edge of the sea

Shop: I’d say John Lewis Exeter is completely out there in terms of service, efficiency and

staff. These qualities take it beyond mainstream and I love it with all my middle class heart.

‘Secret’ place : Not a lot of

people know this but there’s a fantastic and very old private library/club (founded in 1813) right in the centre of Exeter, in Cathedral Close. The Devon and Exeter Institution is a charming, genteel and genuine institution: membership is “by invitation” but there are regular public lectures and a dinky

panelled tea room/restaurant. Plus, the collection of local history books in the glass domed reading room is fascinating. I researched quite a bit about Southernhay House there while we were creating that project.

Diary dates: I get a lot of pleasure from being part of the Devon County Show (traditional), TEDx Exeter (intellectual), and Exeter Food Festival (earthy). The diversity of life here and the range of smaller independent businesses takes a bit of digging out, but it’s all here.

The Devon and Exeter Institution

39

Ingredient of the Week

Sorrel

with Tim Maddams t’s now the time of year which brings with it the familiar springtime urge for some fresh greens.

As yet, there’s no sign of the asparagus that heralds the start of all the green joys of early summer, so what’s the answer? Time to go wild!

Free food is a wonderful thing and it feels good to include a few wild greens in your diet. It needn’t be too hard, either: a simple introduction to the wild harvest is as easy as ABC. You can learn to identify wild garlic (which is just beginning to appear in abundance) by simply following your nose - and I think we’re all familiar with the stinging nettle.

So allow me then, to introduce you to sheep sorrel - or wild sorrel, as it’s also known. Once you know what this plant looks like (with shieldshaped leaves, it’s related to dock and looks a bit like spinach) and where to find it (meadowland just about everywhere) there’s no stopping you.

Sorrel is a great accompaniment to all sorts of lovely dishes and it has the zingy green apple or citrus flavour which is a product of the oxalic

I

acid contained within. As ever, make sure that you have permission from the landowner before harvesting this saucy little herb - and be careful not to uproot the plant. If in doubt, there’s plenty of legal info online for would-be foragers to gen up on, before you set out.

Wild sorrel is a little too strong to use as the main component of a leafy salad. A handful among other mixed leaves. though, will add a certain something, or you could use it as a garnish. You can certainly afford to go mad with this wonderful plant, as it’s so easy to come by that you won’t struggle to find more if you run out.

It’s also a really useful freshener, used in place of other chopped green herbs, to finish a sauce, or combined with other wild leaves such as wild garlic or nettles, to make a punchy wild green sauce. You can also cook sorrel a little like spinach, or flavour an omelette with it. When cooked, it loses its green colour and goes a funny grey olive shade. And if you like something with a real kick, I sometimes use sorrel to flavour a martini with. As for whether to use vodka or gin, I’ll leave it up to you to decide

Ways with Sorrel A few of these small leaves are an excellent garnish for white fish.

Or try them dressed over waxy potatoes, with lashings of butter, salt and pepper.

The acidic flavour can also be used well in some unexpected places.

Finely chop a little and add it to strawberries dusted with a little sugar to give your summer berries a different twist.

@TimGreenSauce

Tim Maddams is a Devon chef and writer who often appears on the River Cottage TV series 42

Drink

Beer of the week Skinner’s: Seven Hop To me, this is Skinner’s finest hour. Clear and polished, deep mesmeric golden in colour and with refreshing citrus, peachy hop notes balanced by lovely malt with a very satisfying bitterness on the finish. When I raved about it after the Falmouth Beer Festival last October, I was given the impression it was a true one-off; now it’s made it to Skinner’s seasonal portfolio. Cheers chaps!

Keeping it local

The Budleigh Salterton Buy Local Food and Drink Festival gets under way for three days on Friday and include a real ale festival as well as a selection of ciders and wines to try. Find out more on the packed festival website: www. budleighfoodanddrink.org.uk

Darren Norbury

talks beer f you ask most brewers about awards they’ll reply that they don’t brew to win awards, but if they do receive one then that’s a bonus. Hmm. If I was a brewer and I won an award, I think I’d be dead pleased. Modesty? Pah. No, I’ve done a good job here! I’d say.

Wide smiles, then, for Sharp’s and St Austell breweries in Cornwall, and Cornish Orchards, Thatcher’s and Sheppy’s cider makers in Cornwall and Somerset following the judging of the International Brewing Awards in Burton on Trent.

St Austell won a bronze medal in the class for lagers 4.5-4.9% ABV, and there was bronze, too, for Sharp’s Atlantic in the class for cask ale 3.94.3% ABV. Cornish Orchards was the region’s only gold medal winner, in the class for medium ciders 3.5-7.5% ABV, with its appropriately named Gold cider, but also picked up a bronze in the same category for its Heritage variant.

Thatcher’s Old Rascal was a silver medal winner in the sweet ciders 3/5-7/5% ABV, and Sheppy’s took silver, too, in the open apple class, for its Somerset Draught.

There are two things worth pointing out about the International Beer Awards. They are judged by those currently working in the industry, therefore the winners feel a little extra pride

T

at having impressed their professional contemporaries.

The drawback, though, is that the title may be misleading. Don’t think every beer and cider across the globe is being judged: they aren’t. The brewers and cider producers pay to enter their drinks in the competition – £160 (plus VAT) per product. It’s water off a duck’s back for a big company with a large marketing budget, but a lot for a small operation for fork out.

The Campaign for Real Ale’s champion beer of Britain competition, on the other hand, and its associated Pomona award for ciders and perries, doesn’t require entry, but relies on the scoring and voting of CAMRA members around the country. Gaining more prominence, too, are the annual Golden Pints awards, originating in 2009 as a collaborative project between the blogging co-operative real-ale-reviews.com and Mark Dredge, of pencilandspoon.blogspot.com and Andy Mogg of www.beerreviews.co.uk These awards have gained a momentum all their own with bloggers all around the world joining in. No beer or beer style is barred – it’s a straight ‘this is what I’ve loved this year’ vote.

Democracy in action.

Darren Norbury is editor of beertoday.co.uk @beertoday

Starting with a bang Ross Kessell and Dominick Lilly have formed the Dynamite Valley Brewing Company, based at Ponsanooth, in Cornwall. They aim to produce small batch, American craft brewing influenced beers. At the time of writing, it’s a week before their first tasting session. I’ll report back!

43

Living

MOTORS

The fun factor Plymouth car nut Scott Squires road tests the new and updated Toyota Yaris hen Toyota launched the original Yaris it was marketed as a fun-time supermini, offering a spacious, well made fun-looking car, which won it the European car of the year. Then the new Mini was launched and changed the game (again) and soon every manufacturer had jumped on the supermini band wagon.

Since then, Toyota’s rivals have always had the upper hand. Not even its cute looks could save it: the Yaris began to seem a bit old-fashioned compared with its competitors, while its buyers became similarly less style-focused, seeing it as merely a safe reliable option.

But with this latest update, Toyota has reinjected the fun factor. It has brought the ‘X’ style front end from the funky looking Aygo, but it’s a little more subtle on the Yaris, with the ‘X’ running from the headlights through the Toyota badge into the bumper. It certainly gives it a

W

44

more distinctive look than its rivals.

Toyota says: “Everywhere you go, you deserve to be happy. The new Yaris is bold and dynamic on the outside, while delivering a driving experience so serene that you can hear yourself harmonise.”

Certainly on the outside it could put a smile on your face, but not so when you step inside. While there are touches of nice soft materials, like across the top of the dash, this just highlights the poor quality of the rest.

It’s not all bad, though: Toyota’s Touch 2 multimedia system is simple to use and looks pretty good with its seven-inch display.

And one thing that the new Yaris has in common with the original is space. It can seat four adults comfortably, as long as the rear occupants are of average height. Around the back you get a better than average size boot for this class, so for new families, there really is plenty of room for picking up your new arrival from the hospital

gadget notebook 8 March 2015

tech tips: Looking good We seek out Ultra High Definition gadgets newly on the market

ALL ACTION and all the baby luggage, including most averagesized pushchairs.

You also have lots of handy little storage cubbies, ideal for stashing the children’s emergency rations during those longer journeys.

There’s a choice of petrol, diesel and hybrid versions. My test car was fitted with the economical 1.3-litre petrol engine, which manages 55.4mpg and 119g/km of CO2. This was more than a match for city driving, and can just about hold its own on the motorway – even if it did get a bit noisy at the top end.

Where the Yaris loses ground on its rivals is in the driving stakes. The likes of the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo just drive and handle better. In its element, which is town driving, the Yaris is on par with others but as soon as you leave town they pull away and are much more fun to drive.

One area where you don’t have to worry is reliability. Toyota has a first-class reputation for building cars that go on and on and, like the rest of the range, the Yaris gets a five-year/100,000mile warranty.

It also has a five-star Euro NCAP rating, and you get seven airbags. So, while the Yaris is a great car and won’t let you down, it just won’t set your heart racing like some of the competition can. But then again, it is, at heart, a town car.

This super compact camera is compatible with Sony’s wrist-worn Live-View Remote, which lets you start and stop recording and you can also review, edit and delete footage on the go.

Sony X1000V Action Camera - £359 from sony. co.uk

Cool connections This Blu-Ray and DVD disc-playing machine also features Wi-Fi, to stream content to your TV even from your phone. Its UHD upscaling will visually improve images.

Panasonic DMP-BDT360 - £99.99 from currys.co.uk

CURVE APPEAL How about a UHD TV with 65-inch curved panel? Plus all the right connections to hook up compatible devices, including wirelessly grabbing content including from Netflix. Samsung UE65HU8500 - £3,299 from johnlewis.com

High flyer Toyota Yaris Excel 1.33 Price: £15,695 (£17,235 as tested) 0-62: 11.7 secs Co2: 119g/km MPG combined: 55.4 Top speed: 109mph

A flying eye in the sky with a UHD camera equipped unit. Command it to ‘return home’ and, using GPS, it’ll return back to base. DJI Inspire 1 - £2,381 from flyinggadgets.com

45

My life

[

[

MAN AND BOY

Difficult questions

Phil Goodwin discusses the afterlife with James, five

round Christmas I wrote about my elderly mother’s spell in hospital, which saw me bring her home in early January. Unfortunately, she only managed a few weeks of health before succumbing to yet another serious water infection. And this time the prognosis from the doctors is bad. So much so that I was required to collect the Catholic priest from her local church and take him to the ward.

During our journey from St Patrick’s Church to the hospital, I found myself in the unusual position of discussing the the afterlife with a man of the cloth. Naturally, I have struggled to come to terms with this sudden situation.

But as a father of a young lad, I am also faced with the problem of how to explain mortality to a child who is at ease with the concept of death, but only when it concerns the predatory

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activities of the great white shark or the T-Rex. He is not yet ready to face the temporal nature of human life.

Clearly there is a balance to be struck here between truth and the ability to handle difficult notions. I don’t recall, but am reliably informed, that I was initiated into the reality of death at the age of three, rather abruptly and insensitively, by a cruel neighbour who informed me that my daddy was not coming back and was ‘in

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He is at ease with the concept of death, but only when it concerns great white sharks

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the ground’. I can only imagine how my mum felt when I appeared, upset and demanding answers at a time she was herself in grief.

So with that family memory burned into my mind, I attempted to soften the blow that Nancy may not be with us for much longer. As we were driving to the supermarket, I talked to James about how Granny had been ill, was very old (she is 89) and would not be around for ever.

He seemed quite happy to accept this at the time though it became apparent later it had come as a shock. ‘You did freak me out,’ he

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said of my ‘people don’t live forever’ speech, while we were walking back to the car with the bags, though not in an upset kind of way.

Unfortunately, since then it has reared its head again a few times and is clearly playing on his mind.

My wife has on more than one occasion given me ‘that look’ for opening this Pandora’s Box, a move I readily accept may have been a mistake.

But what am I supposed to do? How will I tell him the truth when the worst happens?

On my recent visit to his Church of England school, I noticed a huge artwork depicting how God created the Earth in seven days.

I wonder at what age they deem it suitable to reveal the reality that all life ends in death.

Perhaps they stick with Heaven as the sweet pill to make that bad medicine go down.

So to this end I – a lapsed Catholic and agnostic rather than militant atheist – launch into a wide-ranging philosophical discussion on eternal life with Mum’s very own parish priest, as we drove along the East Lancs Road. Father Kevan (pronounced like Devon, as he likes to say) eschewed the easy fix of the Pearly Gates and instead told me he urges those looking for answers to ‘reflect’. I suggested the optimism shown by 60s guru and acid experimenter Dr Timothy Leary in the face of his ‘last trip’ had always impressed me as a nice way to think.

Father Kevan told me I shouldn’t let my own imagination limit the possibilities that there might be other worlds or forms of existence. It may sound like a cop out but I liked it. Now I just need to find a way to explain it to a fiveyear-old boy.