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Mother’s Day treats to try
DRAMA QUEEN TV’s Hermoine Norris in Somerset
Gin palace High spirits in south Devon
BOW PEEP We’ve got spring fashion all tied up
- pg 28
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INSPIRATIONAL
Cookery Courses Cookery Courses French Bistro
1 Day
Mon 20 March
£141
Mediterranean
1 Day
Tue 21 March
£141
Breadmaking
1 Day
Sun 26 March
£149
Fish & Seafood Plus
Weekend
Sat 1 & Sun 2 April
£315
Food Photography
1 Day
Sat 8 April
£149
Teen Cuisine
1 Day
Sat 8 April / Sat 15 April
£135
Pasta Making
Half-Day
Sun 09 April AM
£75
Italian To Go
Evening
Sat 15 April
£49
Patisserie
1 Day
Sun 16 April
£165
Knife Skills
Half-Day
Sun 16 April AM
£63
Sushi
Half-Day
Sun 16 April PM
£75
Dinner Parties
1 Day
Mon 17 April
£165
Dinner Parties Weekend
Weekend
Sat 22 & Sun 23 April
£279
Certificate in Professional Cookery
4 Week Academy
Mon 03 to 28 April
£2950
Italian Weekend
Weekend
Sat 06 & Sun 07 May
£315
Intermediate Cookery
5 Day
Mon 08 to Fri 12 May
£875
Dining Events Demo & Dine
Evening
Sat 25 March / Sat 22 April
£45
Charity Dining Club
Evening
Mon 15 to Thu 18 May
£59
Learn to cook with passion and skill at Ashburton’s very own award-winning cookery school. Courses are taught by professional chefs and range from short classes in your favourite cuisine to week-long skills courses and even culinary diplomas for aspiring chefs at our Chefs Academy. With over 40 inspirational cookery courses to choose from you are sure to find the course for you.
www.AshburtonCookerySchool.co.uk Ashburton Cookery School & Chef’s Academy Old Exeter Road · Ashburton · Devon · TQ13 7LG · Tel: 01364 652784 Ads.indd 3
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‘The whole point of mobiles is that I can get hold of you wherever you are. Just leave the phone on.’ ‘It’ll waste the battery.’ Chris McGuire meets his match, p46
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THINKING CLEARLY Gorgeous gin, made in Salcombe
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THE TIED TIMES Why knots and bows are oh-so-now
[contents[ Inside this week... 6
THE WISHLIST Our pick of Mother’s Day gifts to buy now
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JUST BETWEEN US... Sh! We have all the latest gossip!
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ONE TO WATCH Hermione Norris loves the South West
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09
MAKING US FEEL PROUD Why Heather Small loves Cornwall
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VEGGIE GOOD Food inspiration from across the region
IN HIGH SPIRITS How south Devon inspired a special new gin
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CONTEMPORARY AND COOL Architecture with an edge
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JUST ASK GRACIE Our style guru solves your problems
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THE TIED TIMES Why knots and bows are having a moment
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BOOST YOUR WELLBEING Great ways to feel your best this week
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YOUR STARS THIS WEEK Cassandra Nye has your new horoscope
35
SMALL BITES What’s hot in the South West foodie world
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THE SKILLS GAP Whatever happened to hemming a skirt?
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SECRET WESTCOUNTRY Where to go, what to do
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SECRET WESTCOUNTRY Where to go, what to do
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LOOK GOOD, FEEL GREAT
Smart style advice from the experts 3
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[
[
12
ONE TO WATCH
Hermione Norris in Somerset
[ welcome [
People
Pack it in!
Shocked by the environmental impact of modern packaging, anna turns, who lives in kingsbridge, resolves to quit her plastic habit. it’s no easy task.. manlastic is everywhere and once ufactured, it stays on our planet. the Forever. The stats are scary. In botUK alone, 38.5 million drinks For tles are thrown away each day. of plastic from years, I have picked up fragments reality that plasthe beach – a reminder of the breaks down into tic never disappears, it just recycling efforts, smaller pieces. Even with my rubbish the main component of my household briefly, it usuis plastic packaging – once used for the recycling ally heads to landfill, unsuitable plant. the planet, in So I have decided to try to save me wrong. I’m no my own little way. Don’t get to live without saint. I realise that I’d find it hard of my life... that’s any plastic at all for the rest in today’s modern probably close to impossible three months, and world. But I’m going to give it see how I get on.
Spring is well and truly here at last
Week One
for coffee in I meet up with Amanda Keetley mum like Kingsbridge. She’s a busy working founded an inspirme, and earlier this year she UK - so I need to ing website called Less Plastics to reduce demand pick her brains. “The key is first place,” says and produce less plastic in the
PhotograPhy: Steve Haywood
P
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Tweet
ast autumn, I was driving past a flower farm in Cornwall and spotted a sign saying “Bulbs For Sale”. In the spirit of optimism, I bought a huge sack of them for just £20 and took them home to Devon. Then followed quite a few weeks in which everyone and anyone pitched in with planting them there were hundreds! In the chill drizzle of a Westcountry autumn, it was a pretty unappealing task, I have to say. We planted them all the way along the hedges near our house. Which don’t actually belong to us, but we figured no one could possibly object to some
L
[
of the week
guerrilla gardening. But now all that stooping and digging has paid off. There are wonderful golden daffodils everywhere, such a joyful sight. and a sign that spring most definitely is here at last. With this mind, I hope you will find this edition of West uplifting. We’ve got a wonderful interview with one of my favourite actors, Hermione Norris (page 12). Did you know she and her family now live in the Westcountry? Wise move! Elsewhere, our writer Anna Turns tracks down the two friends who have launched a rather lovely new gin brand in south Devon - read their story on page 16 today. Have a great weekend.
[
Did you know she and her family now live in the Westcountry? Wise move
@LessPlasticUK
Thanks for the mention @AnnaTurns @WMNWest Great article! Hope it inspires others to #ditchplastic too! TO ADVERTISE: Contact Cathy Long: 01752 293017 or 07557 576668, clong@dc-media.co.uk
Becky Sheaves, Editor
EDITORIAL: westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk Tel: 01392 442250 Twitter @wmnwest
COVER IMAGE: Dress, £14, George at Asda
MEET THE TEAM Becky Sheaves, Editor
Phil Goodwin
Kathryn Clarke-McLeod
Gillian Molesworth
Cathy Long
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If you do one thing this week... Why not treat your mum this Mother’s Day with the promise of a gorgeous weekend away? The Boskerris Hotel is a small, stylish, coastal retreat with fabulous sea views. It is set in one and a half acres of grounds on the edge of St Ives, just above Carbis Bay beach. The decked terrace is the perfect place to enjoy the wonderful view all the way from Godrevy lighthouse to St Ives harbour. Built in 1931 as a small hotel, the Boskerris has recently been totally revamped by its owners, the Bassett family, to blend contemporary cool with coastal comfort. Rooms (with full Cornish breakfast) start at £155 per night. www.boskerrishotel.co.uk
Win!
We have a two-night stay in a classic deluxe ocean view room at the Boskerris Hotel, plus a bottle of prosecco on arrival, to be won. This prize is worth £400 for the lucky winner. To enter, simply tell us where you will find the Boskerris Hotel. Send your answer, together with your name, address, phone and email to Boskerris Hotel competition, wmnwest@westernmorningnews.co.uk to arrive by April 7. Alternatively, you can post your entry to: Boskerris Hotel competition, West magazine, Queen’s House, Little Queen Street, Exeter EX4 3LJ. Normal terms apply, West will not share your details. 5
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SMART Leather wash bag £30 Marks & Spencer
the
Adult colouring book £5 George
wishlist
Home
With Mother’s Day next week in mind, let’s go shopping...
CUTE Wallflower jug £34.95 Daisy Park
Metal heart wall light £19 Very Mirrored jewellery box £39.99 Argos
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Wishlist
fave!
SCENTED Happiness candle £23.50 The Great Gift Company
RELAX Heart4heart True Love earrings £35
Ted Baker robe £42 Debenhams
Folli Follie
18ct yellow gold raindrop diamond bracelet £650 www. michaelspiers.co.uk
I Love You Mum biscuits £9 Biscuiteers Baking
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talking points Fenella Tobey
Story of my life... Back at home, it’s the boomerang kid uess who’s back? Sorry - you don’t even know who I am or where I’ve been. Hello, Fenella speaking and I have just returned to Devon after three years at university studying Drama. Before you ask, no, those three years did not consist of me preMost parents claim to miss tending to be a tree or staring in a their offspring when they disapmirror trying to make myself cry. pear to university. Mine are still It was in fact a highly educational coming to terms with having me experience (shocking, I know) and back. Dad no longer has control I have graduated with A Degree. over the TV remote and Mum has I’ve always assumed that a to lock herself (and the radio) in degree would be like a Golden the bathroom to ensure I can’t Ticket for Willy Wonka’s chocointerrupt the Archers at 7 o’clock. late factory and would instantly Just when they were about open the doors to a job. Well, I’ve to get on my case about getting got one and on July 13 last year a job, they dropped the bombI held my cershell that we were tificate proudly moving house above my head, swapping Somerset Most parents chucked my for Devon. mortarboard in That whole miss their the air, and prosummer was offspring when ceeded to lose the consumed with the cap in the crowd. stress of packing up they disappear Whoops! our family home. to university. This was it, the Dad began his affair Mine are coming beginning of the with the skip while next chapter. I Mum and I tried to terms with had grown into our best not to pack having me back an independeach other into ent adult, ready cardboard boxes. to take on the Soon the boxes were world. Or so I thought as I clamgone and so were the last of my bered into the back of the family excuses. It is time to get a job. car, squashed next to my trusty So the applications begin. Oh frying pan and cuddly toys, about how I dislike them. Somehow I to move back in with my parents. have to convince a stranger that For the next few weeks, I didn’t I am wonderful, without actually pick up a pen. Instead I drew telling them that I am wonderful. great pleasure in doing all the Confused? So am I, but surely things I couldn’t do when I was I will succeed at some point - this frantically studying. I knitted a week, next week, next year. Does hat, I painted pictures, tried to it really matter? With no money learn how to do the splits. Turns to feed myself, at least I’ll always out being unemployed is rather a be able to fit into my favourite lot of fun. pair of jeans....
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Next week: Fenella’s job hunt continues. Gillian Molesworth is having a break but her column will return to West in April
EARNING
her stripes Attending the BAFTA awards earlier this year, Felicity Blunt took to the red carpet with her husband Stanley Tucci in a striped camisole floor length gown by Polish label La Mania. Available at Harrods for £2,499 the striking gown is crafted in a silk blend and features a plunging neckline. Blunt let this stand-out piece speak for itself by pairing it with understated accessories and peep toe heels.
La Mania dress £2,499 Harrods
steal her
style
OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN
OPTION A Smart Zip-up dress £42 Very
OPTION B Slinky
Chevron dress £39 Simply Be
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18.03.17
CHRIS HITS THE BIG 40 Chris Martin – the Exeterborn lead singer of Coldplay – turned 40 just recently and received birthday greetings from a huge range of stars, including Noel Gallagher of Oasis, who tweeted his congratulations. To mark the occasion, Coldplay released the first single from their forthcoming album, Kaleidoscope, called Hypnotised. We’re sure Chris Martin is feeling better since his split from Gwyneth Paltrow in 2014, which he admitted caused him a “year of depression”. He said recently “I still
Just
between us Gossip, news, trend setters and more – you
wake up down a lot of days. But now I feel like I’ve been given the tools to turn it around.” Onwards and upwards, Chris.
[[ ‘Actually, 60 is a really great age to be’
DON’T CALL US PAST IT! Dawn French admits that she used to think people who were 60 were completely past it – but she’s changed her mind now she is 59. The actress – who lives in Fowey, south east Cornwall, was on TV’s This Morning talking about her future plans when she told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: “I’m writing a novel which is going to be published this year around my birthday because I’m going
to be 60. Yes, I’m 60. How did that happen? “When I was a kid I just used to look at people who were 60 and think you just really need to die because what is the point of you now?” The presenters were in hysterics as Dawn, 59, made the confession, adding: “Yes, when I was little that’s what I used to think of people who were 60.” We bet she doesn’t think that way now!
heard all the latest juicy stuff here first!
!
PROUD TO BE FOUND IN CORNWALL Who knew that M People singer Heather Small loves to relax in Cornwall when she has time off? Heather – who sang the 2012 Olympics anthem Proud – recently told Cornwall Today magazine that she loves the county’s beaches because they remind her of her family home in Barbados. Her favourite place in the county? “If I had to pick one place it would probably be Newquay because I love the cliffs and the beaches and the holiday atmosphere. I also love the little white fishermen’s look-out hut, too.” And her favourite treat is icecream: “Unless you have it in Cornwall, you will never get the full flavour of one of the world’s greatest ice-creams.” Aw, Heather, you’re making us feel proud!
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Parade: It was a windy St Piran’s Day at Perranporth
Style star: Billie Jacobina from Plymouth showed her student collection at London Fashion Week’s Graduate show
in pictures
In season: The daffodils are out at the Lost Gardens of Heligan
Cheers: Dartmoor Brewery has made a special Liberation ale to commemorate the Falklands war
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talking points A HISTORY
of the
WEST in
100
objects 36: MEDICINE CHEST The best way to:
CATCH THAT SPRING FEELING It is time to wish farewell to winter and say hello to sunny spring. Here’s how to get started, says Fenella Tobey • Heaven scent: Every year since 1944 the Falmouth Spring Flower Show has marked the beginning of spring. A host of golden daffodils and many other local flowers will be at the town’s Princess Pavilion to help you shake off the winter blues. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, there will be cake. Convinced? Entry £3, under-16s free. All day today and tomorrow (Saturday March 18, Sunday March 19). • Food glorious food: On the third Sunday of each month the Good Food Farmers market is held in Totnes. Now I don’t know what you gave up for Lent, but everyone’s allowed a cheat day. With a wide selection of quality local produce, the town becomes a hive of activity. Over the years the market has grown, and now plays hosts to an array of artisan craft stalls as well. What could be better than spending a day celebrating the coming of spring and all that it produces? Sunday March 19 from 10am. www.totnesmarket.co.uk • All aboard: Built in 1872, the South Devon Railway is a magnificent piece of history that still lives and steams its way along the valley of the River Dart today. Right now the railway banks will be blanketed in daffodils, the trees budding green, and lambs jumping as you pass by. At the station in Buckfastleigh you can see the historic steam and diesel locomotive collection as well as explore the gardens, gift shop and even have a picnic. www.southdevonrailway.co.uk • In full bloom: We can’t get enough of spring flowers right now, so the good news is that the 106th (yes, really) Cornwall Garden Society flower show takes place on April 1 and 2 at the wonderful Boconnoc Estate near Lostwithiel. There are more than 100 trade stalls to browse, plus hard-fought world-class contests for daffodils, camellias, rhododendrons and much more. Entry from £5.50, www. cornwallgardensociety.org.uk
Used by the Lander brothers of Truro, about 1830 Julien Parsons is the Senior Collections Officer, The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. He says: It takes special courage to step into the unknown. In 1830 two brothers from Truro displayed just such bravery in the forests of west Africa. It seems Richard and John Lander were born with a sense of adventure. Elder brother Richard travelled to the West Indies aged just 13. He survived malaria and returned home in 1818, before leaving for west Africa in 1825. Again, he came back in poor health but planned to return, this time with his brother. In January 1830, the Landers embarked from Portsmouth to find the source of the river Niger. West
Africa was a dangerous place for European travellers: unfriendly locals, poisonous animals and tropical diseases all posed a risk. Medicine chests stocked with powders, tinctures and Epsom Salts were all they had to combat illness and infection. The brothers relied on the contents to sustain them canoeing down the Niger into the Gulf of Guinea. They had solved a riddle and opened up a continent for trade. The Landers made it home from Africa. John then worked as a customs official and died in London in his 30s but Richard could not resist the urge to return. However, his luck run out this time. He was shot in the thigh and a medicine chest could not help with gangrene. He died at Fernando Po (now Bioko) in February 1834, aged 29.
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On display in the Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro Competition winner: Congratulations to Liz Giles of Bovey Tracey, who wins a set of Clarins skincare worth £137, thanks to the Clarins counter in Debenhams, Princesshay shopping centre, Exeter
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Interview
Heart and Home actor Hermione norris first found fame in tV’s Cold Feet and has a new film out now. She tells Gabrielle Fagan how, offscreen, her family life in Somerset is at the heart of her happiness he’s played a host of tough women over the years grappling with KGB agents in Spooks and hunting down criminals in Wire In The Blood. But actor Hermione Norris reveals it is “flawed” former alcoholic Karen Marsden, her character in Cold Feet, that she admires most. “I’m nothing like Karen, but I’d like to be her because I think she’s an impressive person. Clearly she’s much more intelligent, much more together [than me] and her mind seems quite organised, which I rather envy,” she says fondly. The character first shot Hermione to fame back in 1998, just as she was on the brink of quitting acting altogether. Despite initial misgivings, she reprised the role last year in the triumphant return of the ITV series after a 13-year break. “Oddly, people always expect you to be like the roles you portray, and in my case, that’s often been quite tough, ballsy characters - and Karen’s
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pretty tough. In fact, I’m not at all like that - I’m introvert, quite shy and reserved.” She and the rest of the Cold Feet cast are currently filming the seventh series of the show, to be shown later this year. Hermione, who lives near Chard in Somerset, has had many other high-profile roles over the years, including Ros Myers in Spooks, DCI Carol Jordan in Wire In The Blood. She admits: “I had massive reservations about returning to Cold Feet because I didn’t want to risk spoiling something millions of people had clearly loved. It was a lovely surprise that it was as good and well received as it was, and great to be working again with everyone. We have such a bond.” Cool, composed, middle-class mother-of-three Karen has emerged as a newly-liberated divorcee, who’s already kicked two would-be suitors into touch. Hermione jokes: “Karen and I have just said hello to each other again and now who knows where she’ll go? I feel slightly horrified wondering what [writer, Mike Bullen] is going to do with her! “I do like Karen though - you have to like a character to play them or at least have a certain compassion for them - because she’s a mature, complicated, intelligent woman and it’s brilliant that parts like that are being written for women. I think the public warm to her because she’s a very well-rounded character, who’s flawed, bright and quite a raw person.”
‘I fell in love with the region going for walks along the Jurassic Coast’ By contrast, Hermione, 50, who currently starring in new movie, Love Of My Life, comes across as warm, witty, down-to-earth and clearly enjoys domestic contentment. She and Wire In The Blood writer, Simon Wheeler, married in 2002 and moved to the Westcountry from London shortly after their second child was born. They have two children, Wilf, 12 and Hero, nine. “I’d fallen in love with the region when I used to go for walks along the Jurassic Coast in between bouts of filming Cold Feet. Also Simon went to school in Dorset,” Hermione explained at the time. And as for Simon? “I’ve found my soulmate. Simon’s an amazing partner and brilliant dad. It changes you completely being a mum because when you have children you realise they’re the be-all-and-end-all. But it’s balancing a huge amount being an actor and having to work away as well as bring them up. I couldn’t do it without him,” she explains. “I don’t think the [seven year] age difference between us matters or makes any difference. You wouldn’t look at us and think, ‘Gosh, she’s much 14
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Interview
older than him’, although maybe you will in a few years’ time! He’s definitely the grown-up in our relationship, which was part of my attraction to him, because he’s very solid, secure, and with his feet on the ground. I’m the more emotional one who cries and laughs easily.” Surprisingly, despite her glamorous image, that confidence doesn’t extend to her looks. She says candidly: “I certainly don’t feel confident about my body and wouldn’t ever get my kit off on screen. I don’t have time to exercise and just walk a lot and try to eat healthily, so that’s the limit of my efforts on it. “At the end of the day, I’m sure I suffer the same insecurities as most women, and, on top of that, I also have the insecurity of being an actor. I always fear I’ll never get another part once the last one’s finished.” That unlikely worry aside, Hermione is philosophical about the future. “Life’s an ongoing journey and I just want a nice, gentle, easy life. I’m not into making it complicated, so I’m easing into my 50s. I feel very blessed to have the partner, children and career that I have,” she says. Love Of My Life: in cinemas and to download 15
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People
Life in very high spirits Co-founders of Salcombe Gin Howard Davies and Angus Lugsdin tell Anna Turns why sailing in the Westcountry was a big inspiration for creating a very special tipple ith the recent boom in craft gins, new distilleries are popping up all across the country. So what does it take to create a truly unique gin that will stand the test of time? Of course, it has got to taste delicious but, more than that, a gin has to have integrity and heritage. The spirit has to tell a story. And every bottle of Start Point, Salcombe Gin’s debut tipple, does just that. The inspiration behind Salcombe Distilling Co stems from the co-founders’ joint passion for sailing. Howard Davies and Angus Lugsdin, both 40, learnt to sail in the sheltered waters off Salcombe in south Devon. As teenagers, they progressed to teaching other young people to sail with the Island Cruising Club. “Typically, after a very strenuous day teaching on the water, Angus and I would retire up to the yacht club terrace as the sun was setting, gin and tonic in hand, overlooking the estuary, to discuss the events of the day. That is where the idea for our business originally stems from!” laughs Howard. Then university and careers beckoned. Angus worked in underwater technology, mapping the sea floor around the world. Meanwhile Howard was a management consultant, until more re-
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Angus Lugsdin, left, and Howard Davies of Salcombe Gin
cently when he travelled abroad as a sailing and windsurf instructor. But south Devon always called and they continued to return for holidays until both friends decided three years ago to make their dream a reality and settle back here permanently with their young families. But how to make a living? Craft gin beckoned... The pair trained in Scotland, touring gin and whisky distilleries up there. “It took a long time to develop our own gin recipe and we did that on a miniature still," remembers Howard. "You can make fantastic gin on a small scale – we created multiple permutations, did blind tastings day in and day out to get the balance right. Eventually, by July 2016 we got to a stage where we were happy with our recipe and began production.” So last summer, Salcombe Gin launched their waterside distillery. Aptly, it is on the site of the
old Island Cruising Club offices - their journey has come full circle. What is more, the gin ingredients they have chosen to use are a reflection of Salcombe’s own history. Back in the 19th century, the Salcombe and Kingsbridge area of south Devon was renowned for manufacturing fast, copperbottomed sailing vessels. These schooners were called Salcombe Fruiters and sailed to far-flung places such as the Azores, West Indies and the Mediterranean, bringing precious citrus fruit back to the ports of London, Liverpool and Hull. These boats were sailed "fairly aggressively", explains Angus, because they had to return to the UK quickly, before their costly cargo perished. "Sometimes, the hatches would be left open to ensure good circulation around the food but this made it much more dangerous if the boat hit a storm. Many sailors lost their lives." Angus and Howard are fascinated by the his-
'We use ruby red grapefruit, lemons and limes in our
gin. It's an amazing history'
tory of these traditional Salcombe Fruiters: “We pulled up old cargo manifestos too, to see what they were importing, and that has been the inspiration for a lot of our botanicals in our gin," says Howard. "At the Overbecks museum near here, we came across lots of old paintings of these old fruit schooners. It’s an amazing history,” says Angus. In a nod to this heritage, Salcombe Gin’s zesty flavour notes come from the fresh peel of three citrus fruits. "We use ruby red grapefruits, lemons and limes," says Howard. To be classified as real gin, juniper must be the dominant ingredient. So now a bucket full of juniper, sourced from Macedonia, goes into the still for every batch. "Juniper is actually a miniature pine cone rather than a berry," explains Howard. Many more ingredients, known as botanicals, are used in the making of this gin, including cardamom, coriander seed, cinnamon, liquorice, angelica root. Not to mention more exotic flavours such as cubeb berries (also known as the Java pepper) and orris root. “The provenance of our ingredients and how we handcraft our gin in small batches is so important to us,” says Howard. “Some of the recent craft distilleries popping up are in fact being
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People
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People
made by huge distilleries just making batches of gin under different labels.” Angus and Howard have named their copper still Provident, after the Brixham trawler that was the founding vessel for the Island Cruising Club in Salcombe. This 450 litre still, imported from Germany, can produce 600 bottles a day. Howard explains the process: “We adhere to the 'London dry' standard, which is premier quality gin. We start heating the still at 8am, adding the spirit made from English wheat, plus water from Dartmoor which is naturally very soft. The botanical ingredients look so beautiful as they go in, floating on top.” Once the mixture starts bubbling, the alcohol begins to absorb the flavours. As it condenses down the sides of the copper column, impurities are removed by the copper and the flavours strengthen. Angus explains the next crucial stage: “The first ten litres of spirit that comes out of the still is known as the heads. This may contain impurities such as methanol, so it is always discarded. "Then comes the good stuff, about 220 litres of gin known as the hearts. Then the strength decreases from 88% to 81% so the flavour profile changes too. It starts off sweet, then gets more earthy,” he says. “At the end of hearts, we cut to what is known as the tails relatively early on because we only want the absolute best to go in the bottles. The tails are then reused in the next run, giving the gin more of a full bodied flavour. It means you get a lovely continuity between batches.” Then the spirit is left to rest, enabling the flavours to marry before it is blended with purified Dartmoor water and ready to sell at £37.50 per 70cl bottle. The process is fascinating and the distillery also runs a Gin School, where you can spend a day making your own bottle of gin (£100). Angus and Howard hint that they’ll be developing a new Salcombe gin later this year. They may even find time to go for a sail together this summer, too... www.salcombegin.com 20
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interiors
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The contemporary home in Topsham, Devon
A change of style This brand new home in Devon is the chance to explore cuttingedge contemporary style. Charlotte Dear finds out more hile house-hunting in the pretty The property is built with energy efficiency port of Topsham on the River Exe and comfort in mind, he explains. “It is timber estuary eight years ago, Allan framed with solar panels on the roof, doubleTaylor stumbled glazed windows, highly insulated upon a neglected walls and floors and under floor caretaker’s house on the edge heating throughout – it is built for ‘The wood of the town’s leafy recreation practicality and endurance.” burner can rotate ground. Inside, Allan went for a reverse “I immediately saw its polevel layout with the living areas around while it is tential,” says Allan, who had upstairs, to optimise the views of alight, so the heat already built three houses as the river, which lies just 100 yards a property developer. After a way. and flames can career as a quantity surveyor Upstairs, the spacious openbe seen and felt and project manager, he soon plan kitchen, dining area and sitfrom wherever realised, however, that this ting room is lined with windows, property was beyond repair. flooding the whole space with you choose’ “So I decided instead to start natural light. At one end of the from scratch.” living area, the kitchen features He has since created a cool, a ceramic floor, quartz worktops contemporary home with a distinctly 21st centuand Miele appliances. In the main reception area ry vibe. And its location, set in greenery and with a solid oak dining table sits beneath a mid-centuuninterrupted views of the River Exe, is nothing ry pendant light. An entire wall of this room can short of sensational. be opened up onto the generous balcony, giving a
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Interiors
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Interiors wonderful open-air entertaining space. In the winter, the wood burner made by Dutch family firm, Harrie Leenders, takes centre stage. “Suspended from the ceiling, this is really a piece of art more than anything else. It can rotate around while it is alight, so the heat and flames can be seen and felt from wherever you choose,” says Allan. “It is like nothing I’d ever seen before, I’m very pleased I decided to include it.” Film watching is a serious business in this house and takes place in the spacious separate “man cave” upstairs, which Allan has kitted out with a state-of-the-art Sonos sound system. The monochrome striped carpet and grey upholstered furniture to add to the cool, minimalist theme. Down the solid oak staircase you’ll find a spacious entrance hall with a porcelain floor and full-length window panels, leading to four double bedrooms. The master bedroom has been decorated in calming neutral tones, with a hessian wallpapered feature wall behind the bed adding interest and texture. Its bathroom is completely lined with top-quality travertine tiles, creating a sense of luxury and serenity. Outside, the garden has been split into two halves, each with a very different identity, explains Allan. “To the northern end, the garden has been naturalistically planted, while the south west-facing section has been planted and designed by my partner, who has settled on a tropical style. “With a couple of water features, it’s a lot less interesting and isn’t a patch on mine, but that’s just my opinion!” he jokes. In fact, planted with Australian palm, olive trees and climbers such as clematis and rose, this tropical garden is a superb asset to the house and takes full advantage of its sheltered, frost-
free riverside location. And what is undeniable is that, overall, this is a spectacular property in a unique and sought-after location. “When I first looked at this plot, I did um and ah, but not for very long,” Allan remembers. “As I was driving home, it occurred to me just how unique a property this could be to this area. Topsham doesn’t have many detached, contemporary houses with river views, which is exactly what this is. It’s a real one-off.” The good news is that this remarkable property is now on the market, ready and waiting for a new occupier to make their mark – and, no doubt, have a lot of fun here, too. 21 Ferry Road, Topsham, is on the market with Knight Frank, Exeter for £1.3 million www.knightfrank.co.uk
The first floor kitchen and dining area
The cinema room or ‘man cave’ 24
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GET THE
LOOK
Smart ways to add some cool, contemporary style to your home
Grey geometric rug £349 Amara
Wallpaper £15 a roll Wilko
Peacock blue cushion £26.50 Amara
Four-seater sofa in clay £999 DFS
Bookcase £395 Cuckooland
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Ask Gracie... Want to look your best this week? Our styling expert Gracie Stewart of Exeter can help to you fulfil your fashion potential. All you have to do is ask...
In it for the long haul Do you have any recommendations for what to wear on a long flight? I’m going to be travelling for more than 14 hours and want to be comfortable without looking sloppy. HJ, Kilmington
Q
When it comes to travelling, I fall between the two camps. I’m not going to get dressed up just for a flight but I’m also not going to laze about in baggy old sweats. That’s why I’m a hug fan of Icebreaker’s Crush pants, in fact I love them so much I own both colours (black and grey). I’ll admit they look just like sweatpants, with an internal elastic waistband, cuffed ankles and side-seam pockets. But they are made from 87% merino wool (ideal for hot and cold climates) plus a little bit of nylon and Lycra for stretch. The fit is relaxed but not baggy, and the back yoke allows for a more flattering fit than your standard sweats. Depending on where I’m off to, I team mine with a tight fitted t-shirt, leather jacket and a clean pair of trainers. If you can’t face wearing them at the airport, keep them in your hand luggage and get changed after take-off.
fave!
Crush pants in black £100 www.icebreaker.com
Crush pants in grey £100 www.icebreaker.com
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Freshen up Q ‘Have you ever had a chemical peel and would you recommend them? I’m thinking about getting one before my wedding in a couple of months’ time.’ GK, Lostwithiel I’ve always shied away from chemical peels - they just sound a bit scary. But, in the name of research, I went for my very first one just a few weeks ago - and I have to say the results were amazing. I tried mine at Radiance MediSpa in Exeter, where they use peels which give little to no actual peeling (which is a relief !) yet you still get the results. The solution applied removes the damaged skin cells via a chemical reaction. The skin is first cleansed then a preparatory solution is applied before the peel itself. I opted for what’s called the Hollywood non-peel peel, which can even be used on the day of a special event (although just to be safe, I wouldn’t recommend doing it on your wedding day) and it left my skin bright, refreshed and beautifully smooth. The cost is £70-£100, depending on the treatment, www.radiancemedispa.co.uk. You can also try home peels too, see below.
Philosophy The Microdelivery Resurfacing Peel £59.50 Boots
Pink and red heels £39 Dorothy Perkins
Is it ever OK to wear red and pink together? BA, Okehampton
Like most women out there, you probably think wearing red and pink together is the ultimate no-no. But the truth is it works because they’re both in the family of warm hues. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind when wearing this bold colour combination. 1. If you’re new to the trend, try finding a printed piece that mixes red and pink together rather than opting for more strident block colours. 2. Adding a touch of black to the outfit is a great way to tone down your look. 3. Wearing a pair of red heels with a pink dress is an easy way to get in on the trend. 4. If you’re still not confident about wearing the two shades together, try incorporating it into your beauty look instead. Think red lips with pink polish or pink lips with a red top.
Iconic London Evo make-up brush set £75, www.iconiclondoninc.com An Instagram favourite, these make-up brushes are ideal for creating a flawless, high coverage look. The oval-shaped head and dense bristles ensure velvet application and a sleek finish. Although they are mainly for contouring, I’ve been using the 003 brush to apply foundation and the 005 for concealer - and my makeup has never looked better.
Decleor Gradual Glow hydrating body milk, £33, www.escentual.com This tanning moisturiser has a light, melting texture which is easily absorbed into the skin and offers a natural sun-kissed look from the first application. Always exfoliate before applying and wash hands thoroughly after use.
Elemis Papaya enzyme peel £32 John Lewis
DERMAdoctor Physical Chemistry Microdermabrasion + Multiacid Peel £56 www.cultbeauty.co.uk
Pink vs red Q
Gracie’s shopping list
Ruffle blouse £28 Very
Nine by Savannah Miller embroidered midi dress £75 Debenhams Perfect for spring, this dress by Savannah Miller, sister of the actress Sienna Miller, has an effortlessly feminine charm. It’s a flattering midi length, with pretty embroidery and beaded detailing.
Got a style or beauty question? Email Gracie Stewart at westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk with the subject Ask Gracie
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With a bow on top ollowing on from last season’s trend for pussy bows at the neck of prim-butalluring blouses, Spring/ Summer 2017 has seen an outbreak of bows all over the place, fashion-wise. On shoulders, on shoes, even on jewellery - the simple bow is certainly having a style moment. We love this charming cold-shoulder dress from George at Asda, an absolute bargain at just £14. We’re also huge fans of this longline shirt from Oliver Bonas, which is super-flattering thanks to its front tie feature. Wrap dresses have been with us forever, of course, but we still love them for their forgiving silhouette - and if you tie them with a bow, they’ll be bang on trend this spring, too!
F
Cold shoulder dress £14 George at ASDA
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Fashion
Tie front jersey top £22 Simply Be
Hana longline shirt £49.50 Oliver Bonas
Pleated wrap dress £24 Miss Pap
Gingham dress £30 Debenhams
Bow ring £8 Accessorize
fave! Wrap dress £65 Oliver Bonas
Shoe boot £38 Littlewoods.com
Tie-front trousers £35 Debenhams
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Hot water bottle £10 Paperchase
Collection scarf £12.50 Marks & Spencer
Mum's the word
Gucci Bamboo £63 The Fragrance shop
Shopping for Mothering Sunday? Look no further... other’s Day is on the way and we have a wonderful selection of gift ideas to make the mums in our lives feel special. From clothes to perfume, here’s our pick of the best gifts now available at Drake Circus shopping centre, Plymouth, ready for Mothering Sunday on March 26. Show your appreciation with a lovely gift for your mother or, if you're a mum, why not just leave this page of the magazine open on the kitchen table... and make sure you drop a few hints!
M
HAPPY FEET
If your mum would like some cute shoes for springtime, Cath Kidston's pumps in her new Large Painted Pansies print are designed for fashion and comfort. They are also versatile, looking good with skirts or trousers. These pretty yet practical shoes cost £28 and have a soft cushioned sole for any mums rushed off their feet.
GET THE MESSAGE
[[
SAY IT WITH FLOWERS
Choose a lovely gift for your mother or, if you're a mum, just leave this page open on the kitchen table
How many times does a mother have to remind her kids to "say please"? Show you've got the message with a slogan sweat top like this one, saying "S'il vous plait", from Next (£22). As every mum will agree, it is always good to have a reminder to be polite, in any language. And then we're pretty sure she will be the one saying Thank You when she gets this gift.
COSY UP
SHOP TILL YOU DROP
Complete with matching zip pouch on a detachable strap this Monsoon Wild Rose printed shopper bag is the perfect gift for any busy lady. Adorned with a pretty rose print the bag – which retails at £39 - features two handles and a magnetic popper closure. It’s also large enough to be used on weekend breaks and getaways. Maybe you could book one for Mum, too?
Sometimes it is nice just to spell it out, and tell people exactly how you feel. This heart-shaped hot water bottle from Paperchase with a pink knitted cover is the perfect gift for Mother's Day. The soft and tactile cover is embroidered with the words Love You Mum - a sweet reminder for cosy moments.
Floral prints with dark backgrounds are very on-trend right now. Marks & Spencer have this chic exotic print which can lift an outfit and can be dressed up or down depending on your mood. Great with a sharp suit or jeans and a jumper this versatile piece costs just £12.50 and could become a favourite accessory.
A REAL GEM
When it comes to gifts, jewellery is always a winner. White Stuff’s delicate and pretty adjustable cord Poetry necklace is strung with dangly metal coin discs and has a nice, casual weekend vibe. This £19.95 necklace is versatile and fun - there is also a matching bracelet and earrings in the same set too, if you feel like splashing out.
HEAVEN SCENT
Step into The Fragrance Shop at Drake Circus and you'll be spoilt for choice. If you're not sure what perfume your mum would like, then Gucci's scent Bamboo has woody and warm notes of sandalwood and Tahitian vanilla with the exotic floral scents of Casablanca lily, orange blossom and ylang ylang. A 50ml spray – retailing at £63 – is sure to bring a smile to her face on Mother's Day. The shop also has lots of nice gift sets, too, which are a surefire winner if you're looking for a present.
Pumps £28 Cath Kidston
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Shop Necklace £19.95 White Stuff
Printed shopper £39 Monsoon
Sweat top £22 Next
All items featured are available at Drake Circus shopping centre, Plymouth www.drakecircus.com 31
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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
Putting your best foot forward There is nothing like a good walk to combine exercise with the feel-good factor, especially in the beautiful scenery of north Cornwall. Boscastle Walking Week kicks off on Saturday March 25 with an extended selection of walks and activities. Join an experienced local guide for a ramble along Cornwall’s highest coastal cliff top or try a steep climb to a stunning waterfall, or try a themed walk all about the writer Thomas Hardy, who spent time here. Before heading home, don’t forget to reward yourself with a special Walking Week cream tea – you’ve earned it! www.visitboscastle.com
Ten a day...
According to a new study led by Imperial College London, the five-a-day fruit and veg rule should be doubled in order to decrease our risk of strokes and heart disease. So how do we squeeze ten portions of fruit and veg into our daily diets? Here are a few fuss-free solutions: whizz up a smoothie snack, jazz up your cereal with banana or berries, swap crisps for carrots and cucumbers, eat soup at lunch, fling berries in the freezer and – why not? – sneak them into a cocktail. Cheers!
MINDFULNESS If you’re out and about in Exeter today, pop into the Royal Albert Memorial Museum to explore the three Cs in mindfulness practice: contact, curiosity and care. Led by Aspasia Leledaki, the workshop will help you to discover how to use the museum as a wellbeing space while enhancing your understanding of art and opening up pathways of creativity. Between 10.30am and 4pm, tickets £55, bring a notebook, pens, pencils and your lunch. www.rammuseum.org.uk 32
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For a very good cause World Rocks Against Dementia is a whole afternoon and evening of entertainment organised in support of dementia awareness. Taking place from 12.30pm until midnight on Saturday March 18 at Hannahs at Seale-Hayne near Newton Abbot, this fantastic event features craft stalls, advice and support plus a whole host of live music from the likes of Lionstar, Sandy Sparkle and the Plymouth Military Wives Choir. Tickets cost £10, more information at www.discoverhannahs.org
Pedal power Swap four wheels for two this month by taking part in The Big Pedal 2017. Running for two weeks from Monday March 20, the event is the UK’s largest inter-school cycling and scootering challenge, encouraging pupils, staff and parents to compete and log as many journeys as possible. If you’re not involved in a participating school, why not spark up some healthy competition with friends and family and take on the challenge yourselves? www.bigpedal.org.uk
What’s coming up? Tweet us your wellbeing diary dates
@WMNWest or email westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 33
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Wellbeing
Cutting out the carbs Is a low carbohydrate diet the healthy way to lose weight? I keep hearing that cutting out carbohydrates is the answer to losing weight, but is a low-carb diet really such a good idea? GF, Fowey
Q
1. Carbs haven’t caused our weight problems
The reality is, we humans have been eating carbohydrate foods for a very long time. And yet it is only in the past few decades we have seen an explosion in obesity and the number of people who are overweight. So logic tells us that carbs - and carbs ‘Humans have alone - cannot be solely held responsible for weight gain. been eating carbs
[[
Rob Hobson of Healthspan says: It’s easy to be confused about carbs. One minute they’re bad, then they’re good again (or should that be the other way round?!). It’s all too much to make for a very long sense of at times. Many of 2. The processed factor time. Yet only the most publicised diet In fact, it’s highly-processed plans of recent years - from foods - that are rich in refined in the past few Atkins to Paleo and Dukan, carbohydrates, including decades have we and everything in-between sugar - and not diets - have seen carbohydrates containing unprocessed foods seen an explosion demonised, either chucking that have contributed most in obesity’ them off the menu entirely, to obesity and disease among or allowing them, but with populations around the world. strict (and sometimes mind-boggling) rules and 3. What’s in a carb? restrictions. Starchy root vegetables, such as butternut So, in a spirit of eating sensibly and finding a squash, are lower in carbohydrates than white balanced diet that you can maintain and enjoy refined grains such as white rice, white bread in the long term, here are the five key points and white pasta. They also have the added about carbs that I think everybody should benefit of being higher in fibre, which helps to remember... keep you feeling full - as well as protecting you
against the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
4. Complex matters Although beans and pulses are often associated with being a vegetarian source of protein, they are also a source of complex carbohydrates as they are high in fibre. This group of foods contains about half the carbohydrate content of white refined grains and is one of the richest sources of fibre. Beans and pulses also contain more iron, zinc and calcium than refined carbs, which is good news for people who do not eat meat or dairy foods. Serve beans and pulses whole in salads, soups and stews or you can mash them to serve as a low carbohydrate accompaniment.
5. Go with the grain Oats are a wholegrain and make for a highly nutritious breakfast. They contain fewer carbohydrates than many breakfast cereals that are often loaded with quickly digested sugars. Oats also contain a greater amount of protein and fibre than many other breakfast cereal options, which work together to help maintain fullness. Rob Hobson is head of nutrition at Healthspan and author of The Detox Kitchen Bible
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Food
SMALL BITES
Our pick of what’s on in the Westcountry food world right now Mastering vegetables Whether you’re a vegetarian aiming to extend your repertoire or simply a meat eater keen to eat well, there is no denying that vegetables are the way forward. If you’d like to increase the amount of veg in your diet, why not try the Master of Vegetables cookery course at Philleigh Way Cookery School near Truro? The one day course includes five demonstrations and four practical sessions as well as a glass of prosecco mid-morning and wine with lunch. £135 www.philleighway.co.uk
Kids in the kitchen Fun Kitchen offers children’s cookery classes in Exeter where kids can meet likeminded budding chefs and learn a range of cooking techniques while producing culinary masterpieces. Their next workshop is on Tuesday April 4 at Exeter Cathedral School. Children must be aged between eight and 14 and tickets are £59 per person. www.funkitchen.co.uk
A brand new brew Westcountry chef Mitch Tonks has created a new craft beer called the Seafood Coast Ale, to celebrate all that is great about the Westcountry coast. It has been developed with brewer Tom Maderious of Salcombe Brewery in south Devon. The beer contains citra, chinook, Amarillo and challenger hops along with Devon spring water. Mitch describes it as “the perfect thirst-quencher and just hoppy enough to really bring out the best in the seafood”. Try some at his Rockfish fish and chip restaurants in Plymouth, Brixham, Dartmouth, Torquay and Exmouth.
Get ready for BBQ season As we start heading into the warmer months, it won’t be long before our barbecues are out in full force. A great accompaniment to a good barbie is the new Sticky Barbecue Sauce (£3.10) from Tracklements, based in Wiltshire. The smoky-sweet sauce is a rich and sticky concoction of chipotle chillies and Mexican honey. It’s also delicious served over a full English - mmm! www.tracklements.co.uk
Got some foodie news? Let us know on westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 35
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Enjoy
Your stars by Cassandra Nye This week’s sign:
Happy birthday to...
Alex Jones
If your birthday falls between the dreamy sign of Pisces and go-getter Aries, chances are you know what you want - and you want it now. Those born on the Pisces-Aries cusp, which falls between March 17 and March 23, are a fascinating mix of hot-headed impulsiveness and creative daydreaming, which is actually rather wonderful because it means you’re both imaginative and you get things done.
Born March 18, 1977 The One Show presenter Alex Jones turns 40 today. She trained as a ballet dancer when she was a child and grew up in Carmarthenshire. Her first TV presenting jobs were in the Welsh language. She started presenting The One Show in 2010, and announced on the show on January 26 this year via a live phone call that she had had her first baby, a little boy. Alex is married to insurance broker Charlie Thomson and lives in west London. She has raised millions of pounds for charity thanks to her efforts for Comic Relief, including climbing a mountain in Utah and sailing from Belfast to London.
PISCES (February 20 - March 20) It is a truly great week when the power of your plans filters through everything you do. Take opportunities as soon as they arise and try to avoid negative people. Instincts should not be ignored, especially when it comes to romance. While watching finances, realise that a small investment of time is far more valuable than flashing the cash. This is also true when it comes to romance.
ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Instincts seem to be spot-on this week, especially with regards to new people. The chance to work with others may be seen in a practical sense but it also brings social benefits. When you see colleagues making the wrong moves it is hard not to interfere. Doing so, however, could be disruptive.
TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) With the pace slowing, things can still move along if you enlist the help of others. Remember that small moves can bring a big shift later. Being spontaneous feels good and brings some sparkling moments. These forays should, however, be short-lived to avoid conflict. Love and life are feeling the benefit of your past experience.
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Someone comes along who really can bring out the best in you. Indeed, working with others can become both a regular treat and a business perk. A slow start to the week seems discouraging but you quickly realise that things are moving faster. With spring in the air, that is natural!
CANCER (June 22 - July 22) In a slower week, avoid frustration by delegating and letting some projects coast. Questions buzz around in your head from midweek and the chances are that the answers will be ones you seek. If a romance has
stalled or become somewhat stale, perk things up with the offer of a bright and unusual holiday or weekend break.
LEO (July 23 - August 23) Hard work and the chance to travel may go hand in hand this week. As the rewards are high and the challenges exciting, give it your best! Changes of schedule are likely so do have that Plan B ready! Bring a shot of spring into your love life by visiting different places and meeting new people.
VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Taking a practical stance at work leads to a bit more leisure time. This is just right when there may, before, have been little time for romance. Can you pick up where you left off ? There is only one way to find out. Hold back from making social plans if it means leaving someone important out.
LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) In a lucky week you see some extra help and support from others. Someone special lets you know how important you are. Although others are drawn to you, much of the time you want to be alone to get on with a project. This should, however, leave time to make plans for a holiday. Don’t take on more than is easily managed.
SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Setting your sights a little higher is no
bad thing at the moment. Getting up and out is exciting and nothing seems to blunt your curiosity. Being with loved ones can be more enjoyable at the weekend when you can relax more. Someone who wants to know everything can be irritating but they benefit from a sharp mind.
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Slowly, more luck is filtering into your everyday life. This will also affect your partnerships which may be due for a boost. Having sought, in the past, to hold on to the familiar rather than experiment, you feel adventurous. Feeling guilty about making basic changes is just wrong!
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Changes and travel plans are afoot and need some detailed scrutiny. Avoid areas that could mean a change of plan because of unrest. Emotions run high so be aware that others can be going through a tricky period. Although you feel there is nothing to be done by you, simply listening can really be valuable - so do pay attention to those around you.
AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Using your charm and armed with a bundle of facts, get others to come to your way of thinking. Some people dislike change and will need to be won over. Business still takes up a lot of time and there seems no way to combine it with home matters. Even so, planning a getaway can relieve tension.
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14/03/2017 14:02:22
Cook
Chocolate Ganache Tart By the chefs at Yeo Valley, Somerset: This is sure to be a winning dessert for any chocolate lover!
Ingredients:
Method:
For the pastry: 375g butter 110g icing sugar 375g plain flour 45g egg yolks 30ml water
1.
2.
Chocolate filling: 500ml double cream 50g glucose 400g dark chocolate 100g butter
3.
Firstly make the pastry. Do this by softening the butter in a food processor. Add in the icing sugar, then the flour and finally the egg yolks and the water. Mix until all combined. Once you have your ball of pastry, wrap it in clingfilm and place in the fridge for half an hour to chill. Roll out your pastry and place it in your flan dish. Bake blind at 180C for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes remove the baking beans and cook for a further 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.
boil. Break the dark chocolate into a bowl and add the butter. Place the bowl over the saucepan of boiling water to melt. 4.
In a separate pan, bring the double cream and glucose to the boil. Once boiled, pour the cream onto the melted chocolate mixture and whisk until very smooth.
5.
Pour the chocolate filling into the precooked pastry tart base. Allow to set at room temperature for about 4 hours.
6.
Serve with candied oranges and crème fraiche
To make the chocolate ganache filling, place a saucepan of water on the hob to
Yeo Valley make delicious organic dairy products in Blagdon, Somerset. For more recipes see www.yeovalley.co.uk 38
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Drink
Happy h ur with drinks expert April Marks
April says: Rum is tipped to be the trending spirit of 2017. While it’s unlikely to reach the dizzying heights of gin it is definitely the drink of choice for the millennials. This tropical product comes in a diverse range of styles and is used for two classic cocktails – The Daiquiri and The Mojito. Rum is drenched in history dating back thousands of years - it’s known that the Malay people fermented a drink from sugar cane called brum, although some say the name derived from rumbullion meaning a great tumult
or uproar. The Royal Navy has long been associated with rum - a daily ration of half a pint each was drunk neat from 1687 right up until 1970! Made from the juice of sugar cane (never sugar beet!) or molasses, all rums leave the still as clear spirits. What happens from here on determines their style and flavour. Clear rums, known as white or silver, are normally aged for just a few months before being filtered to remove colour and character. Generally these are destined to be mixed with coca
A Navy daily ration of
half a pint of rum each was drunk neat!
The Daiquiri Cocktail 50ml Doorly’s white rum 20ml freshly squeezed lime juice 20ml sugar syrup Ice Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake well until the liquid is really cold. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass with a wedge of split lime placed on the glass rim.
The Mojito Cocktail 50ml Doorly’s white rum 1 whole lime (chopped) 12 mint leaves 2 teaspoons of soft brown sugar Dash of soda water (optional top up at the end) Muddle all the ingredients in a tumbler, fill with crushed ice and stir, add the soda if required and garnish with a sprig of mint.
cola. There are white rums aged for longer with character (see my product of the week, below) however longer ageing is usually saved for golden and dark rums. Sometimes colour is a result of adding burnt sugar but more complex rums are achieved through several years of ageing in oak barrels, also look to see where the rum was aged as not all rums are aged in the country of production. Barrels can be shipped to Europe (sometimes Scotland) where cool damp conditions will have quite a different impact on the finished product compared with maturing in the tropics, where the hot humid conditions will mature the rum three times faster - although as much as 6% can be lost through evaporation. April Marks is co-founder of Regency Wines Ltd Exeter @regencywinesuk
The four flavour profiles of rum Jamaican – Intense and pungent Guyana – Rich and sweet Barbados – Delicate and smooth Cuban – Light and fragrant
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK Doorly’s 3 Year Old White Rum A white rum with character! Very subtle tropical fruit aromas and flavours of pineapple and coconut make this perfect for rum cocktails. Available at The Beach House in Woolacombe and The Trehill Arms in Ivybridge. 39
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Drink Beer of the week It’s been a while since I’ve tried Powderkeg Brewery’s Speakeasy pale ale, but it was on top form at the Lamp and Whistle in Penzance when I dropped in. There’s punchy, resinous hops, with tangerine citrus notes, lovely malt balance and very smooth, at a sessionable 4.3% ABV.
Darren Norbury
talks beer WILD IN THE COUNTRY Wild Beer Co – famous for its brews utilising wild airborne yeast – is crowdfunding with a £1.5m target to move to a new base within the Bath and West Showground, near Shepton Mallet. The destination brewery will specialise in barrel ageing and include a taproom, restaurant, private dining, and corporate hosting, as well as gardens growing fruit and veg for the beers and kitchen.
International flavours J D Wetherspoon kicks off its spring festival for ten days from Wednesday (March 22). Expect beers from around the UK from a selection of 40 or so, including some created by overseas brewers in British breweries.
t’s a Sunday afternoon in the Hub, nice,” he said, in that laid back, taciturn way that St Ives, and I’m sipping half a Magic teenagers have perfected. Result. Rock Brewing Common Grounds Catch ’em young, they say, and I’m hoping (5.4% ABV) from Huddersfield while that now he’s tried decent beer he’ll stay with it. I wait for my son to finish work. He’s No reason why he shouldn’t. That demographic kitchen portering elsewhere in St Ives and I like from 18 to 30 is discovering beer in a way that I to have a couple of halves while I wait to drive never did when I was their age. Mind you, that him home. Today, however, is a special day. would have been the early 1980s when the microIt is the first occasion I have picked him up brewery revolution was in its infancy. since his 18th birthday and, when he arrives, I When I did start taking an interest in beer, it ask him, with a degree of trepiwas the likes of Wadworth 6X dation: “Do you want to try a and Marston’s Pedigree that got beer, then?” There’s a pause me hooked. No coincidence that My son has turned which seems to last an eternity both brands have recently had 18. ‘Do you want to before he replies: “Go on, then.” makeovers designed to make You really can have no idea them more appealing to younger try a beer, then?’ what a proud moment that was. drinkers. Many, I suspect, will try There’s a pause Let me point out, Hub doesn’t them, but possibly only once. Not which seems to last serve any rubbish. Even their that there’s anything wrong with standard lager is the delicious either beer, but Magic Rock Aprian eternity before and hugely successful Korev, ciation they ain’t. he replies: ‘Go on, from St Austell Brewery, so he So do I envy the boy? If he wasn’t starting his legal beer does decide to go with the beer then.’ drinking career with anything flow, there are all those brews from the wrong side of the ahead. And with apps like Untracks. tappd available now, he’ll have Knowing that he tried a cider with his 18th a much better chance than me of keeping track birthday meal (at the fantastic Caffe Pasta on the of what he’s tried and what he likes. It’s one of Wharf, in St Ives – I had slow-cooked shoulder of those interesting ‘what if’ questions, isn’t it: lamb which was an absolute delight) and that he would I rather be him, starting out on his beer does like fruity drinks, I got him half of the Magic journey, or me, looking back with experience and Rock Apriciation – a wheat beer featuring heaps fondness? I genuinely don’t know the answer. of fresh apricot in the mix. And then I waited. Darren Norbury is editor of beertoday.co.uk Again, for what seemed an eternity. “Yeah, that’s @beertoday
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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 On the hunt for some Easter fun? Looking ahead to Easter, the National Trust has teamed up with Cadbury’s chocolate to host 250 Easter Egg hunts at NT properties across the country. Coleton Fishacre in Dartmouth, Killerton House near Exeter and Lanhydrock House in Cornwall will all be running daily Cadbury chocolate egg hunts from April 1 throughout the school Easter holidays, priced at £2.50 per child. It’s a lot of fun and a great day out for all the family. www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Painting plants
Canoe by twilight For a really special adventure on water, join the team from Winding River Canoe for an evening paddle on the River Dart. It’s a unique opportunity to slow down and experience the natural world from the river. You will set off in daylight, paddling upstream and gathering firewood on the way. Pitch up on the riverbank for some hearty soup around the fire before paddling back as night falls, listening out for the sounds of owls. Thursday April 6, 6 – 10pm £35 adults, £15 children. www.windingrivercanoe.co.uk
If you’re an arty type, join botanical artists for a special five days at the Eden Project, where tutors will guide you through the techniques of graphite drawing and shading and how to turn this into a finished watercolour painting. This five-day course runs from Monday March 27 – 31, £350 per person, aimed at both beginners and improvers. Bookings can be made online at www.edenproject.com.
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The skills gap Research suggests mothers are no longer passing on many once-basic domestic skills to their children. But now that you can find out how to do almost anything on the internet, does it really matter, asks Lisa Salmon? n the past, when children of any age needed to know how to perform basic domestic tasks from sewing on buttons to getting stains out of clothes, they'd ask their mum. But these days it seems that wealth of everyday know-how is either being lost, because it's not relevant to modern life, or - if used at all - it is found on the internet instead of being passed down though families. With Mother's Day approaching, new research suggests that skills such as letter writing, sewing, washing-up, ironing and how to spring clean are among the things today's mothers just aren't teaching their offspring any more. Organising the laundry and making proper gravy, baking cakes and biscuits are also on the list of skills casualties, compiled from a survey
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of 2,000 mums of children aged two and above. The Addis Housewares study found that more than half of mothers just don't have the time to teach their kids domestic know-how. So instead of asking Mum how to do something, one in ten people turn to the internet for help. But as the top skills not being passed on include darning and patching clothes, crocheting and polishing brass and silverware, perhaps it could be argued that most of the skills that face extinction are outdated and no longer needed in today's society. "Being a parent is all about preparing your child for the life ahead of them. So of course being able to look after yourself, in terms of being able to cook a meal and do the washing up, is important," says Anne-Marie O'Leary, editorin-chief of the parenting site Netmums.
"But the majority of items on this list are life skills that simply aren't needed these days. Luckily parents nowadays are aware that softer skills that ensure emotional wellbeing are as much, if not more, important than making chutney." Indeed, nearly two-thirds (64%) of the mums questioned thought much of their know-how is no longer relevant to modern kids, although eight in ten said their offspring enjoy learning things from them. The research found modern mums estimate they learned 22 skills from their own mums, and use seven of them every day, with six in ten saying they wished they'd learned more skills from their mothers. And the mums questioned thought the most important skill to pass down to children was cooking, followed by looking after money and
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Family moral values. Anne-Marie suggests that the most important skills to pass on to children these days are how to be a good role model, how to be a good listener, how to express yourself, how to give back, how to multi-task, how to self-soothe, and how to motivate yourself. "The list of life skills required for a meaningful and fulfilled life in 2017 is very different to how it was a generation ago," she says. "So I'm delighted parents aren't wasting time on teaching kids how to hem a skirt or polish a silver teapot. Hopefully this means they're spending time with them on far more important things instead." Justine Roberts, chief executive of the parenting site Mumsnet, wryly points out that busy modern mums just don't have the time to pass on skills - outdated or otherwise - but there's always the internet. "Mothers tend to be fairly busy these days, what with earning a living and, as surveys show, doing almost all domestic and childcare work," she says. "If only there were another kind of parent available to teach children how to darn socks, starch shirts and crochet. Until we find them we'll just have to turn gratefully to YouTube tutorials." So, what do you think? And, amid all this debate, we also wonder what today's dads are up to...
The lost art of... Some of the skills today's mums aren't passing on to their children:
1. 2.
Patching trousers or jeans How to polish brass and silverware 3. Letter writing 4. Making jam/chutney 5. Handwashing clothes 6. Knitting 7. How to hem a dress 8. Sewing on a button 9. Descaling a kettle 10. Making a white sauce
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Looe Music Festival
My Secret Westcountry
My favourite: Walk: East Portlemouth to Gara Rock. South Devon, where I live, is a stunning part of the country and full of amazing views and walks so it’s hard to pick one single one out. But if I’m ever at a loose end this is one for me. Ending at beautiful Gara Rock is a treat too.
Eugene Boje
Place to eat: The Spice Bazaar in Dartmouth
Eugene Boje, 42, is a cosmetic dentist based in Dartmouth who runs Eunique Dental. He is single, with a daughter, Lola, aged six.
Festival or event: If
is an absolute favourite and a real part of the neighbourhood here, great food and a great dining room. I can’t choose the AfrikaBurn in the Karoo desert which creates a temporary city to celebrate art and culture and music (and I realise that is not Westcountry!) then I’d go for Looe Music Festival in September. It has a great location right on the Cornish coast and it attracts locals and visitors from all over the world.
Weekend escape: Watergate Bay, the hotel there, the Beach Hut and the big glass bar and restaurant overlooking the sandy beach near Newquay. I love that the building blends into the environment. It lets the sea in.
Shop: Bon Gout deli in Exeter – always really good quality and always really tasty food.
Bon Gout delicatessen, Exeter
View: My favourite view is of Dartmouth but particularly the view you get when rounding the corner out in the sea and coming into the estuary by boat. You come round the bend and approach slowly by water and the town and
Sharpham vineyard
hills behind it just open up in front of you. Fabulous.
Pub: The Ferry Boat Inn at Dittisham, just up the River Dart from Dartmouth. It is right on the water, cosy and it is super-friendly. I was in there the other week and a local choir came in and sang, relaxed and casual - and it was just beautiful. Food: Ribeye beef.
From Piper’s Farm Shop, Cullompton, it is absolutely great quality all the time, serving really good thick cut steaks. Or from the Well Hung Meat Company at Buckfastleigh. I love a good steak.
Drink: Sharpham Vineyard near Totnes does a great Sharpham Barrel Fermented 2013 that goes well with a grilled ribeye. Their ‘Trek & Taste’ tour is a good way to discover the estate at your leisure. The nearest thing to South Africa’s Stellenbosch vineyards I can find here!
Secret place: It would have to be Landcombe Cove near Dartmouth. It’s a difficult steep walk which I guess puts people off and keeps it quieter. You can have a fire on the beach, camp out for the night, sit with a back drop of the cliff and watch the stars and listen to the sea – that sums up what is great about Devon and living by the coast. It’s a 20 minute walk down and about an hour back up – steep!
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People
Devon beef from Pipers Farm
Food at Zacry’s Watergate Bay Hotel
Dartmouth
Special treat: Avocado and poached egg with bacon from the Dart Café in Dartmouth – the owner, Scott won’t put feta on for me though. He says I’ll ruin his dish, but it’s still a good treat and a great place to eat.
Westcountry icon: Dee Nutt MBE. She’s the driving force behind Dartmouth Caring and has been working tirelessly for many years to help those that find it difficult to care for themselves. She’s a wonderful example for all of us.
Dee Nutt, chair of Dartmouth Caring
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My life
Chris MCguire
Tech it or leave it Chris Mcguire meets his match when it comes to mobile phones... t’s very simple.” too happy that I was unable to form a Plan B, It wasn’t. rather than wasting my time on a cold platform “All you need to do is let me know for what turned out to be three hours. when you’re going to call. And I’ll To be fair, my godmother isn’t alone in her return the phone on then.” fusal to embrace technology. My dad, a man who “But,” I reasoned, trying to – after five years of ownership sound calm. “It’s a mobile phone.” – cannot work his own televi“I know,” said my godmother. sion, also refuses to see ‘The whole point “It’s in my pocket and I’m mobile.” the smartphone as a of mobiles is that “Well, the whole point of mobiles mobile device. If his I can get hold of is that I can get hold of you wherphone rings, he’ll ever you are, whenever I want. Just stop walking and you wherever you leave the phone on.” stand rigidly still are. Just leave the “It’ll waste the battery.” for the duration phone on.’ “Perhaps,” I said. “But it’ll be of the conversavastly easier for me.” tion. This usu‘It’ll waste the Silence followed, hinting that my ally occurs when battery.’ godmother didn’t agree. we’re already Yes, this week, I discovered that late for somewhen it comes to engaging with thing. technology, people either do or don’t. And those As I stood there, at the stawho don’t are very frustrating to those of us who tion, waiting for my godmothdo. er, my thoughts drifted to I’m not here to bash people who find most the Jenny Joseph poem modern tech surplus to requirements. That’s fair Warning, which famousenough. If you don’t want to talk into your watch, ly states: “When I am an like some latter-day David Hasselhoff, that’s fine old woman I shall wear by me. I’m not an early-adopter myself. purple.” I do, however, firmly believe that if you live Perhaps, it occurred in a society you need to be conversant with the to me, turning off the basic technologies it relies upon. If you lived in phone was my godNorman England, it would be very annoying if mother’s own act of you refused to be illuminated by new-fangled rebellion. Maybe she’s tallow candles, or, during the 15th century, if you spent a lifetime earndecried anything that had emitted from Caxton’s ing the credit that she is press. now cashing in, by being With this in mind, I didn’t think it would be too really, really annoying. In much to ask for my godmother to leave her phone that, I quite admire her. But on when I was due to pick her up from the train not too much. I was, as I say, station. A few pence of battery life was, I felt, a turning into an icicle. price worth paying for my convenience. I do have to wonder when I’ll On this we disagreed. So, when the train was check-out? When will I draw a indefinitely late and I tried to contact her, I found line in the sand and refuse to underthe phone frugally turned off. Trust me, I wasn’t stand or use any more new technolo-
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gy. I suppose it’ll be fun to enter my purple phase. I can imagine the look on my son Sam’s face when I refuse to do my shopping by virtual reality, insisting he goes to an old-fashioned shop – at great inconvenience to him. I plugged my godmother’s phone in as soon as she arrived at our house. I was pleased to see it stayed on for the entire visit. Some might think this was because it was my electricity she was “wasting”? I wouldn’t like to say. Chris Mcguire is a writer and new dad. he wrote this on an unnecessarily fancy computer. @Mcguireski
NEXT WEEK: Phil Goodwin on love, life and parenting in the Westcountry 46
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