25.03.17
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Springtime days out
REAL LIFE: ‘I’m just doing what any mother would’
WIN: A fun shopping spree
WE LOVE YOU MUM Celebrating Mother’s Day in the South West
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DREAMING OF
FANTASTIC SHOPPING
• Late Night Opening on Thursdays • Big Brand Names • Places To Eat • Undercover Mall with over 70 stores • 1200 parking spaces To find us type PL1 1EA into your Sat Nav or Smartphone drakecircus.com
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‘“Where’s my Mother’s Day card?” The crushing sense of guilt curled slowly around my heart and gave it a good squeeze’ Fenella Tobey vows never to forget again, p8
44
SECRET WESTCOUNTRY Where to go, what to do
30
THE STYLING SESSION Let Reiss come to your fashion rescue
[contents[ Inside this week... 6
THE WISHLIST Our pick of the best treats this week
9
JUST BETWEEN US... Sh! We have all the latest gossip
12
IT’S A TWIN THING Sharon Goble celebrates Mother’s Day
16
DOING HER BEST
12
ON MOTHER’S DAY... Sharon Goble on life with twins
38
FRESH AND DELICIOUS The spring recipe you’ll adore
Meet the Helston mum on a mission
22
MODERN MANORS A Somerset mansion gets a new lease of life
26
JUST ASK GRACIE Our style guru solves your problems
28
LOOKING GOOD, MUM What to wear for your special day
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BOOST YOUR WELLBEING Great ways to feel your best this week
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SKINCARE FOR SPRING Dr Pradnya Apte has some wise advice
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SMALL BITES What’s hot in the South West foodie world
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SECRET WESTCOUNTRY Where to go, what to do
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THE PERFECT PRESENT? Phil Goodwin goes perfume shopping
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HAPPY HOUR What’s new in the world of wine
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YOU LOOK GORGEOUS
What to wear on Mothering Sunday 3
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12
Sharon Goble on life with twins
[ welcome [
People
Life in very high spirits Co-founders of Salcombe Gin Howard Davies and Angus Lugsdin tell Anna Turns why a sailing in the Westcountry was big inspiration for creating a very
Sometimes you laugh, sometimes you cry...
special tipple
gins, ith the recent boom in craft all new distilleries are popping up does across the country. So what gin it take to create a truly unique that will stand the test of time? delicious but, Of course, it has got to taste integrity and more than that, a gin has to have a story. And every heritage. The spirit has to tell Gin’s debut tipple, bottle of Start Point, Salcombe
W
does just that. Distilling The inspiration behind Salcombe joint passion for Co stems from the co-founders’ Lugsdin, both sailing. Howard Davies and Angus waters off Sal40, learnt to sail in the sheltered combe in south Devon. to teaching As teenagers, they progressed the Island Cruisother young people to sail with strenuous day ing Club. “Typically, after a very and I would retire teaching on the water, Angus the sun was setup to the yacht club terrace as the esoverlooking hand, in tonic and gin ting, the day. That is tuary, to discuss the events of originally stems where the idea for our business from!” laughs Howard. Angus Then university and careers beckoned. mapping the worked in underwater technology, Howard sea floor around the world. Meanwhile until more rewas a management consultant,
DOUBLE TROUBLE
17
16
Tweet
of the week
@LooseyLocket
Last week in @WMNWest @AnnaTurns inspired me to go plastic free. This week she’s inspiring me to drink more @SalcombeGin
omorrow is Mother’s Day and, with this in mind, we have two stories for you that I feel sure will raise a smile - and perhaps provoke the odd tear, too. First up, Devon-based journalist Sharon Goble (who I’m sure you will recognise from her appearances in print and on screen) reflects on becoming mum to twins after years of fertility problems, on page 12. It’s just lovely to read this beautifully-written account of Sharon’s experience of longed-for motherhood, as her 11-year-old sons stand on the brink of adolescence. Secondly, we hear from Hayley Gwilliams, who
T
[
[
[
lives in Helston. Hayley is mum to Freddie, aged six, who was born with multiple disabilities. The challenges she faces and overcomes every day are considerable, which is impressive enough. But what is truly remarkable is that Hayley has also found the time and energy to start a charity, fund-raising for other children like Freddie who need help and support. Read her story on page 16 today. We also take a sneak peek into a truly beautiful Somerset manor house that has been rescued and restored on page 22. And don’t forget to enter our shopping gift card competition (page 5)!
[
‘It is a beautifully-written account of life with twin sons, aged eleven’
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: Frugi, Cornwall
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 snap yourself up some serious bargains on a fun night out? Princesshay shopping centre in Exeter is staging its annual Spring Spree this Thursday (March 30). The evening of entertainment and shopping includes some seriously unmissable one-night-only offers at more than 30 stores and restaurants. There are also live fashion shows (6.30pm – 7.15pm), live music, a free photo booth, beauty and pamper area, freebies, goody bags and more! Pre-registration for the event is now open - it’s free to attend and registration will grant you access to all the offers on the night plus the chance to win some fantastic prizes. Thursday March 30, 6-9 pm, register online at www.princesshay.co.uk
Win!
Win! We have a £50 Princesshay gift card to win, which can be spent in any of Princesshay’s shops or restaurants in Exeter. To enter, simply tell us the date of the Princesshay Spring Spree 2017. Send your answer, together with your name, address, phone and email to: Spring Spree competition, westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk to arrive by April 7. Alternatively, you can post your answer to: Spring Spree 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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Mock croc cross-body bag £35 Lipsy
Bronze round mirror £453 Houseology
the
wishlist
Metallic lamp £39.99 HomeSense
West’s top picks for spending your time and money this week
COOL Tokyo chair £261 Amara
Metallic vase £10 George Home
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Wishlist
Wooden necklace £25 East
Quilted cushion £117 Amara
Photo frame wall stickers £6 Wilkinson
ELEGANT Maxi dress £16 George at ASDA
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talking points SINGING
Fenella Tobey
Story of my life... Better late than never have always made my Mother’s Day cards. This may be a ritual that I have just refused to give up ever since nursery school. Or is it simply because Mother’s Day is an event that seems to creep up on me. With no fixed date, I just never I rang that evening and, of remember it’s coming. I always course, the first thing she asked think of some elaborate plan me was: “Where is my Mother’s a week in advance, and then Day card?” and the crushing promptly forget to bake that cake sense of guilt I felt curled slowly or make those origami flowers. around my heart and gave it a Then before I know it it’s the day good squeeze. “Oh Mum, I’m so before Mothering Sunday and sorry. I remembered too late for there is a moment of sudden realithe post to get there on time, it’s sation and startled panic. I rush on its way I swear.” upstairs to furtively draw, cut, As soon as I got off the phone, and glue this year’s creation. I set to making the prettiest card At least, as a I could. Alas, I did member of the not have a carrier so-called “boopigeon, and had to ‘Where’s my merang generasettle for first class Mother’s Day tion” I’m here in post the next day. person to deliver Better late than card?’ The it to my mum, never. crushing sense who is kindly Some argue that tolerating me their mothers know of guilt curled returning home how much they love slowly around my after university them - and seem to heart and gave it until I find that use that as an excuse elusive graduate for not making an a good squeeze job. effort. It’s an excuse I remember that I can’t underone year, I was stand. Even if you away at boarding school, and know your joke is funny, you it was the day before Mothernever quite believe it until someing Sunday. I wasn’t at home to one laughs outrageously and tells quickly make a card and hand it you so. to mum in the morning. Even if I So, in case you hadn’t guessed, bought one, the postman wouldn’t it’s Mother’s Day tomorrow. Don’t get it there on time. worry if you have forgotten. You Now, my family is not big on sostill have a day to papier-mâché a called “Hallmark holidays” and gift or make that card. Good luck my brothers would never even - and remember: it’s the thought think to send a card. A phone call, that counts. So even if your homeperhaps, if they remembered but made offering looks like a disaster that would be it. Mum wouldn’t zone, it’s in a mother’s nature to even notice. Or so I thought. love it (and you) anyway.
I
the blues The actress and film producer Viola Davis was a vision in blue when she attended the Baftas earlier this year. Her flowing two-tone dress was custommade especially for her by British designer Jenny Packham (who is a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge) which would no doubt have set Viola back a bob or two. This vivid hue is a great shade for warmer weather - we think this knot dress from Littlewoods is perfect for smart summer events.
Knot dress £52 www.littlewoods.com
steal her
style
OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN
OPTION A Fun Strapless mini dress £59 Topshop
OPTION B Fitted
Ribbed Bardot dress £35 Lipsy
Next week: Fenella’s job hunt continues. Gillian Molesworth is having a break but her column will return to West in April 8
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25.03.17
A BRAVE FACE?
Were you as surprised as we were to discover that Dorset’s Martin Clunes – who lives near Beaminster - may have had cosmetic surgery? The 55-year-old has, after all, built his impressive TV career in hits such as Cornwall’s Doc Martin on his expressive features and famous jug-ears. But Martin has gone to court to argue for the cost of a mystery treatment set against his income tax, saying he needed it “for the purposes of his acting trade.” He added that it was “intimately connected with his work.” The story came out after HMRC disallowed the expense and a judge dismissed Martin’s application to keep
his identity secret. There’s no doubt his appearance today is different to just two years ago, with smoother skin, a trimmer waist and whiter teeth. But could that just be good maintenance? He’s also professed himself to be no fan of cosmetic surgery in the past, saying: “I don’t know what the pressure is, it is weird, isn’t it? It is always the prettiest actresses who go and butcher themselves.” Experts who have looked at recent pictures of Martin say they think he might have had botox on his forehead, a possible neck lift and fillers around his eyes. But everyone agrees – those ears are the same as ever!
Just
between us Gossip, news, trend setters and more – you heard all the latest juicy stuff here first!
!
THANDIE IS ON THE CASE
[[ ‘Sorry, but I’m just feeling the cold right now’
CAREY WRAPS UP WARM Carey Mulligan, who lives on a farm near Exeter with her husband Marcus Mumford and their daughter Evelyn, two, has a new film out. She recently flew to America for its premiere. The actress posed for photographers at the Eccles Center Theatre at the unveiling of the motion picture Mudbound. The film tells
the tale of the homecoming of two World War II soldiers, one who’s black, the other white. Even though the temperature hit 25 degrees when she was there, Carey was clearly feeling the cold, as she wore a large camel woollen coat to the event. Maybe she was dressed for the weather in Devon, rather than Utah?
Thandie Newton took to Twitter recently to spread the word about International Women’s Day. She shared a picture of herself wearing a grey hoodie with the slogan: “Matriarchy NOW”, and said: “It’s our day - now and forever! X Thandie #internationalwomensday.” Thandie – currently starring in TV’s Line of Duty – grew up in Penzance before studying at Cambridge. She has also been campaigning recently for the sexual abuse of young models by their agents to be “named and shamed”, having had some unpleasant experiences herself as a young star. West says: Good to see a feisty woman standing up for herself, and others.
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Glorious: Julie Taylor of Newquay took this stunning picture of Holywell Bay
Hooray: Amy Sole was the first woman across the line in the Falmouth Half Marathon
in pictures Parade: Celebrating St Piran’s Day in Redruth
Well done: Alison Clough won a prize at the West Cornwall Spring Show
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talking points A HISTORY
of the
WEST in
100
objects 37. TERRACOTTA SPHINX
The best way to:
Watcombe pottery, Torquay, about 1870
CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY Hurrah for mums everywhere. Tomorrow is the day of the year where you are to be worshipped and appreciated as much as you deserve. Fenella Tobey has some ideas for Mothering Sunday inspiration Did someone say Spa Day? Keeping the family functioning is a full-time job and your mum is probably overdue a holiday. A fortnight away takes lots of planning - a spa day, however, does not. Try the Harbour Hotel chain (www. harbourhotels.co.uk)? They’ve got fabulous spas in Sidmouth, Salcombe and St Ives. A spa day with 90 minute massage, lunch and tea is £125 -bliss!
I know something you don’t know.: Stop everything; there is a real Secret Garden. In the depths of the Tremayne family’s estate, a doorway hidden under decades of overgrowth was uncovered. Since its rediscovery in 1970 Heligan Gardens have been brought back to their 19th century beauty. With free entry and a bunch of flowers for all mothers this Mothering Sunday, visit www.heligan. com for more information.
Treating the Cook: Perhaps it’s time for mum to step away from the
oven gloves, and leave the cooking to someone else for a change. The Buckland Tout Saints Country House Hotel just outside Kingsbridge offers 17th century luxury and this Mothering Sunday a three course meal is £25 a head www.tout-saints.co.uk
Small and Sweet: If you are unable to spend this Mother’s Day with your mum, panic not. I have just the gift that she will have no trouble enjoying without you - order before 11am for same-day delivery. Devon Heaven have been preparing Cream Tea Hampers just for this occasion, and with free delivery and personalised gift card, for just £20 www. devonheavenhampers.co.uk
Julien Parsons is the Senior Collections Officer, The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. He says: The sphinx – an enigmatic creature with a human head and lion’s body – originates from Ancient Egypt. However, this terracotta version with a woman’s head, ornate coiffure and tiara is a Victorian revival of the architectural fashions of the 18th century. This neoclassical sphinx was one of the early products of the Watcombe Terracotta Clay Co. which was established by George Allen in 1869. When Allen, of Watcombe House near Torquay, had a new well dug, he was intrigued by the red clay removed by the workmen. Analysis revealed it was ideal for potting and sculpting, and the entrepreneur hatched a plan. Torquay was a
This Egyptian-style sphinx was actually made in Torquay
popular destination for tourists who might be persuaded to buy souvenir ceramics, but there was a lack of local expertise in pottery. So Allen recruited workers from the Staffordshire potteries to supervise production and train the locals in the new craft. News of Allen’s project encouraged others to establish potteries – such as Aller Vale and Longpark – when new sources of clay were discovered in south Devon. By the 20th century, much of the output of the Torquay Potteries was slipware and glazed novelty items with mottos aimed at the mass market. However, the early Watcombe products had a distinctly sober and classical appearance. Slip-cast in terracotta, they included busts and Greek urns, as well as standout pieces such as the wonderfully modelled sphinx from a design by Wedgwood.
#37
On display in Gallery 15, Royal Albert Memorial Museum Exeter. Competition winner: Congratulations to Mr K Owen of Ottery St Mary who wins a one-day nature and landscape photography course with Nigel Hicks worth £90 www.nigel.hicks.com
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People
Today is our day... Mum of twins sharon Goble on what Mother’s day means to her very morning, when I open a kitchen cupboard to make tea, I catch sight of a mug one of my twin sons gave me years ago on Mother’s Day. It says “I love you more than chips and chocolate”. Isaac likes chips and chocolate an awful lot so, even though the mug is chipped (I now keep teaspoons in it), I know I will never throw it away. Silly really, the attachment we have to gifts from our kids. Silly and yet inexplicably lovely. Who else exerts that kind of pull on our heartstrings? I’ve been pondering this notion of sentimental attachment a good deal in the run up to Mothering Sunday... Isaac and Felix, aged 11, have recently stopped sharing a bedroom and moved into their own personal space, each with a “Please knock before entering” sign on the door. Consequently, I’ve spent ages trawling through toys and clothes they’ve grown out of, alongside the usual mountain of “stuff” your house acquires with children. It makes you realise how quickly all those different phases of childhood pass. The dressing-up trunk, which they haven’t rifled through in a while, brought a flood of memories. Remember when they donned cowboy outfits and strode around pulling pistols on you? And the marvellous costumes they concocted
E
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photography: kilian Hall (THe SMarT PHoTograPHer)
from their own imaginations to become monsters, wizards and animals even Darwin could never have dreamt of ? There were the little matching chef’s outfits my two looked so adorable in about the age of three, when they’d devise menus and set out a restaurant for me and my husband Richard, a TV journalist. And the diminutive policeman’s costumes. I remember being issued a ticket many a time for alleged speeding or “bad behaviour”. I confess, I’ve even kept a few of those. Then there was the collecting period. Our home in Exeter housed a metal collection, beach and fossil finds, gemstones, Ben 10 characters, Dr Who figures, football cards. And Lego sets, of which we have hoards. Going through these discarded former treas-
Sharon with husband Richard and twins Isaac (left) and Felix (right)
ures underlined for me how quickly they are growing up. I guess when your only children are twins, there’s an added bitter-sweet poignancy about this change from child to adolescent - with no younger brother or sister waiting in the wings. I became a mother later in life than many. In truth, at first I wasn’t sure I wanted to have children. But as my biological clock ticked away, I realised that I wanted more from life than a good job in the media and holidays abroad. I wanted my own children. Paradoxically, that’s
When I first held the twins I was taken aback by
the feeling of pure love
when I discovered that getting pregnant wasn’t as easy as I’d assumed. There was no obvious fertility problem but it took us seven years to conceive with help from Exeter’s fertility centre. When Isaac and Felix were born in May 2005 - half an hour apart - I was taken aback by the overwhelming feeling of pure love when I first held them. The only time in my life I’ve experienced love at first sight. The week in hospital on my own following their birth, I wondered what on earth I had let myself in for. Was I up to it? Felix developed jaundice. Breast-feeding two was a challenge. They cried a lot. But taking them home, in their double buggy, I felt very special, blessed even. And that’s the way it goes as a mum. Up and down. Yes, our kids can drive us to distraction like no one else on earth. Yes, you are torn between wanting to wrap them in cotton wool and allow-
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People odd remarks or amusing episodes. From time to time, I dip into my special book and it bolsters me, particularly on days when I’m doubting my parenting skills, to see the gorgeous things the boys have said over the years. They also love me to read them excerpts. “Remember when Felix said such and such” or “Read the bit where Isaac said x to Daddy”. I also love the pink and gold mug I now drink my tea from, a gift from Felix. “Queen of Awesomeness”, it says. It makes me think I must be doing something right as a mum and I’ll be having my cuppa in it this Mother’s Day.
ing them to spread their own wings and fly. Your aspirations and best intentions are sometimes torn to shreds in the cut and thrust of family life or simply worn down by the daily grind. At the end of the day, you love them unconditionally and do your best. Life with twins is certainly not an easy ride. I assumed they’d be best buddies but there’s a huge element of competition and vying for attention, as they try to assert their own personalities and not be subsumed by “being twins”. One of the things I’m confident I have done right is to cherish special moments. Like most parents, we have a zillion photos of the boys, but a small leather-bound notebook I bought in Venice has become a volume we treasure as a family. I keep it beside my bed and scribble down funny or endearing things they’ve said, from their first mispronounced words and phrases to jokes and 15
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A very speciAl mum Hayley Gwilliams of Helston tells Becky sheaves about life with her disabled son Freddie
“
knew just as soon as Freddie was born. There was something wrong,” remembers Hayley Gwilliams. “He just didn’t look right. He was all curled up into himself, and his face was… different. I know the word now: dysmorphic. His features were dysmorphic. Really what struck me at first were his ears, they were set so low down on his head. He just didn’t look like a normal newborn baby.” It was several hours, however, before doctors acknowledged the new mum’s fears and suggested that Hayley’s second child, Freddie, now six, might have “some kind of syndrome” and eight weeks before they confirmed that this was, indeed, the case. It was the heart-breaking news that every new mother dreads. “It was tough. Very tough. I remember those first weeks of Freddie’s life so vividly,” says Hayley. “I spent ages trying to take pictures of him that didn’t show his ears, to put on Facebook and show everyone. I was so worried that people would see my new baby and judge him. You just want everyone to love your child as much as you do, don’t you?” Remarkably, as well as dealing with Freddie’s mulitple disabilities every day (and much of the night, too), Hayley has found the time and the energy to fundraise for other families in similar positions. She recently had her long blonde hair completely shaved off to raise money for other disabled children. “The NHS is fantastic, of
I
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pictures: John Freddy Jones
Interview
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course but it cannot supply everything for children who cannot walk,” she explains. “There are pieces of kit that can make these children’s lives better, and really help their families too. But they are only available privately and they are eye-wateringly expensive. “For example, a car seat costs £2,000. A special travel cot is £2,000, too. It’s really shocking how pricey these items are, as they mostly have to be made as one-offs. You can basically just add a zero to the usual cost – a bike for a disabled child costs £2,500. And then, like any other child, they grow out of them. “As a family, we have already done some separate fund-raising for a bike for Freddie and should have enough money for one for him by his seventh birthday this June. But I can’t bear to think that other children simply have to do without.” That Freddie is a much-loved child is without doubt. Now six and with multiple disabilities, he lives with Hayley, 29, her naval engineer husband Andrew, 28, and his siblings Evie, seven, and Caspar, two. The family lives in Helston, where 18
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Interview
Andrew works at the Culdrose naval base. Being his parent is no easy matter, however, as Hayley admits with hard-won honesty. “Freddie can’t walk – he shuffles on his bottom. Heis in nappies. He can’t talk. He needs a feeding tube into his stomach so he gets enough calories to stay well. He has epilepsy and he takes 14 different doses of medication every day. Developmentally, I would say he is around the level of an 18-month-old child.” But for all that, Hayley has never given up on Freddie. And although Freddie cannot speak, his expressive face radiates joy as he hugs his mother. “He gets a lot of enjoyment out of his life, which makes it all so much easier.” Even so, everyday life for the family is fraught
with problems. “He has a breathing device at night to give him enough oxygen - the alarm on it goes off all the time. Andrew and I dream of a decent night’s sleep. “Then there’s the lifting – he is getting heavy now. And it is simply hard looking after him with two other children who also need love and attention. They do accept that Freddie has to come first but it is hard on them. “To this day, we don’t know what has caused Freddie’s difficulties,” she explains. “He’s been tested and examined – and those tests are ongoing – but there is still no name for what he has. It is some rare sort of syndrome. That is all we know. I don’t even know what his life expectancy will be.” Experts now believe something probably went
‘I must admit, caring for Freddie’s needs does
overwhelm me at times’
wrong very early in Hayley’s pregnancy. “At first, I blamed myself. I had a fall when I was pregnant - could that have caused it? Maybe I didn’t take the right vitamins? In the end, you just have to accept it and look forward, not back.” Happily, Hayley and Andrew have “only grown closer” as a couple since Freddie was born, she says. The two of them were only 16 years old when they first met: “I knew I wanted to be a young mother and when Evie arrived, I was thrilled to bits. We both were. “She was so adorable, by the time she was four months old I wanted to have another baby. And so Freddie arrived just over a year after Evie.” But Hayley’s experience of motherhood second time around was much more challenging. “It has been gruelling at times. We get 16 hours of respite care for Freddie every month, usually on Saturday so we can spend family time and go out with our other kids. Our carer is so kind, she often has Freddie for a few more hours on top, unpaid. “I must admit, caring for Freddie’s needs does overwhelm me at times. Especially when Andy 19
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Interview
is posted overseas. Then it is really hard. More than once, Freddie has fallen ill and Andy has had to rush back on emergency leave from the Middle East.” As well as the everyday challenges of Freddie’s condition, he also suffers with seizures. “He had one just yesterday,” says Hayley. “I had my heart in my mouth, thinking the worst. We live on a knife edge.” Even so, Hayley, Andy and their friends have thrown themselves into fund-raising with gusto. “It all started last summer when I went for a run, as I was trying to get fit. It was hard work but then I got to thinking of Freddie and how he can never hope to run himself.” From that first inspiration, Hayley set up the fundraising campaign Footsteps for Freddie and Friends. “The idea is to tie in with events
like fun runs or even marathons and encourage people to get fit while raising money for children who cannot walk.” Their first event, a family fun day in Culdrose Community Centre, raised £3,500. It actually helps Hayley, she says, to be doing something positive for others. “There are people worse off – and I know only too well that without help you can, as a parent of a child who cannot walk, become totally trapped at home.” As for the headshaving, Hayley says it was “surprisingly liberating”, though she is not going to keep it so short forever: “I have always had really long, thick blonde hair. But the point is, I can grow it back – children like Freddie can’t grow new legs, can they?” Visit www.facebook.com/ footstepsforfreddieandfriends
Shopping list Equipment for disabled children is very costly:
‘Without help, parents of a
child like this can become
totally trapped at home’
Car seat £2,000 Travel cot £2,000 Supportive beanbag chair £700 Specially adapted bed £1,200 Specially adapted bike £2,500
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wellness
44
explore
38
28
food
fashion 21
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Interiors
Steeped in history Sarah Pitt discovers a Somerset manor house dating back tothe 1300s, now restored to be a comfortable family home ou could say that Kingston Hall is a house with a past. And for its current owners, Lloyd and Gabriella Dormer, that was exactly the appeal when they first came to view this beautiful manor house in Somerset more than a decade ago. The Grade II listed house played an important part of life in Kingston St Mary back in medieval times, as the place where villagers paid their taxes to the king. And as they restored the house, the Dormers found reminders of those days, with ancient coins hidden behind skirting boards, tucked into crevices and beneath floorboards. “We have found money in the hall dating back to 1260 and the ‘The house dates reign of King John all the way through to George III,” says back to medieval Lloyd. times and had “Probably the most interesting coin we have found is a been derelict Louis XVI coin from the time of since the 1960s the French Revolution. We’ve nobody had lived also found First World War toy soldiers in the floorboards. here since then’ As you can see, there is a massive amount of history in this house.” Kingston House - which sits at the foot of the Quantock hills - was originally a medieval “cruck” house (cruck means timber frame) and then a Georgian house was built around it. The medieval A-frame is visible within the elegant rooms of the later house. When the Dormers first came to see the house 12 years ago, they found a property that had not been lived in since the 1960s. The call to restore it was one that the couple could not ignore. “My wife and I are property developers but usually we build new homes,” says Lloyd. “But this was such an interesting building that we decided to live here ourselves. We’ve been here ever since.” The original house was built in 1342. “It is a fourbay cruck house,” explains Lloyd. “It would have
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Interiors
been a very substantial house for those days, open plan downstairs for both people and animals, and with a solace, the only sleeping chamin bubble wrap for a year while we worked on the ber in the house, upstairs.” interior.” While old houses are known for being Another fascinating reminder of past inhabitchilly, the Dormers have installed underfloor ants are the messages carved into the fireplaces, heating beneath the old flagstones. “That transapparently intended to bring good luck to the formed the house,” says Lloyd. “It keeps everyhouse. And a more recent histhing dry and it is an even, contorical curiosity is the plastertrollable heat. When we came work ceiling, created by an Italhere the house was ice cold.” ian prisoner of war in the sitting The furnishings are comfort‘The sofas in the room during the Second World able and by no means all anlounge are new War. tiques. Lloyd and Gabriella deLloyd describes the work cided to team the period details and came from on the house as “conservation of the house such as the carved John Lewis. We rather than renovation”, with panelling and wood beams, with are not using old difficult decisions having to be contemporary comfort in the made on what to bring back to shape of modern beds and sofas, things just for life and what to leave well alone. and a gleaming kitchen. “The the sake of it’ The couple have won an award sofas in the lounge are new and for the restoration from their came from John Lewis,” says local council, Taunton Deane, Lloyd. “We are not using old and worked with English Heritthings just for the sake of it.” age on the project. Conserving the woodwork in “The house had been derelict since the 1960s, the house was a delicate operation. “We didn’t nobody had lived there since then,” Lloyd exsand any of the beams, because they have still plains. “We temporarily reroofed it, wrapping it got stick figures that were carved on them that
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date from the 15th and 16th centuries. They were all to do with bringing good luck to the house,” says Lloyd.“There was one area, however, that we had to do a lot of work on. The panelling in the kitchen had been attacked by woodworm, and the bottom metre was rotten. We had to do a lot of work to get it back to where it is now.” With tapestry hangings in the bedrooms and a carved wooden bench on the upstairs landing, the furnishings at Kingston Hall hint at the past, while also creating a home that’s meant to be lived in. Now that their own family have grown up, the Dormers have decided that the time has come to downsize. They are only moving a short distance away, and are pleased that the house will be lived in by a family once again. “It has made a really fabulous home,” says Lloyd. “Now we have had an offer from a young family and we hope they will have as enjoyable a time here as we have done.” Kingston Hall was sold through Knight Frank (www.knightfrank.com, 01392 248898) off a guide price of £885,000
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GET THE
LOOK
Add up-to-the-minute comforts for a cosy country vibe
Teal knitted throw £25 Sainsburys (in store May 29)
Striped cushion £80 Amara
fave!
Basket £30 Debenhams
Three-seater-sofa £599 Furniture Villiage
Artificial sunflower £1 each Wilko
10 Geo Brights multi frame £85 Oliver Bonas
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Ask Gracie...
Want to look your best this week? Our styling expert Gracie Stewart of Exeter can help you fulfil your fashion potential in every possible way. All you have to do is ask...
Curl power I have really unruly curls and was wondering if you can recommend any good products for taming frizz? SC, Hayle
Q
From plummeting temperatures to high humidity, it doesn’t seem to matter what the weather, frizz is a constant battle for many of us. But thankfully there’s now a good range of anti-frizz products available that really do work.
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Original serum £6.99 Boots
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Original Serum: The original and, some say, the best: this serum was revolutionary when it launched back in 1990. Silicone-based, it really delivers on frizz without leaving your hair feeling greasy. It also contains a UV filter for sun protection. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Frizz Deep Treatment: Formulated with aloe vera and Australian jojoba
seed oil this deep treatment will help replenish moisture to your hair reducing frizz while leaving leaving your locks luscious and shiny. Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo: Fight frizz in the shower with this ultramild cleanser. It blocks humidity without adding weight and smoothes your hair texture so strands are polished and frictionless.
Living Proof No Frizz shampoo £22 John Lewis
Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Frizz Remedy £4.99 Superdrug
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Gracie’s shopping list
fave! Ex-Boyfriend Trucker jacket £90 www.levi.com
Kendle wedge-heeled sandals £55 Dune London
Ripped denim jacket £45 River Island
These Kendle sandals from Dune are perfect for summer. They feature two crossed straps over the foot that are elasticated for a snug fit and the soft footbed provides plenty of comfort for all day wear.
How to do denim Q
Is it true that denim jackets are cool again? I used to love them, but it’s been a while! FG, Padstow
L’Oréal Botanicals Coriander strength potion £11.99 Boots
It’s official, the denim jacket is back and bigger (literally) than ever. Although the practical outerwear has never really gone out of style, this season it’s all about the boyfriend version. Just like boyfriend jeans, this means you’ll want to look for a style that’s baggy and oversized. Although the high street has some great options available, you can’t go wrong with a classic, slightly oversized version by Levi’s. Oversized denim jacket £46 Topshop
Jumpsuit £179 Jigsaw
Marianne dress £85 White Stuff
The new black? I love orange but often shy away from purchasing clothes in this colour because I worry it’s too bright - or just too much. What do you think? KA, Bridport
Q
Infused with a concoction of coriander, soya and coconut oils, this conditioning leave-in serum is designed for dry hair in need of some extra strength and protection. Simply apply a few drops through the lengths to protect hair from daily aggressors and leave it feeling reinforced from root to tip.
Definitely not for the faint hearted, a little orange goes a long way. However, this somewhat challenging shade is set to be a major player come summer 2017, so here are my tips for wear it with confidence.
Nikki orange tote £42 Oliver Bonas
1.
Go for prints: If you’re afraid of block colour then an orange print is a subtle way to introduce this shade to your wardrobe.
2.
Pair it with neutrals: Orange and black might not seem like the classiest combo but it really can work. Orange also looks great with beige, white, navy and olive.
Ren Pollution Proof Kit £18 www.feelunique.com
Orange accessories: From bags to sandals, you can amplify your look by adding accessories in various tones of orange.
A must have for anyone living in the city, this kit is a four-step regime which dispels signs of dullness, maintains moisture levels and deflects the everyday onslaught of urban life.
3.
Got a style or beauty question? Email Gracie Stewart at westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk with the subject Ask Gracie
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Mino jersey tee £45.00 straight jean £49.95 Renee slip on loafer £59.95 all from White Stuff
Pink dot dress £16 George at Asda
Mum’s the word other’s Day is upon us and, these days, mumsy clothes are anything but dull or frumpy. So, if you’re spending this Sunday with your family, then relax and celebrate in style with these must-have pieces. Whether you’re spending the day at home with the kids, enjoying a champagne lunch or having high tea with your own mum, you’re sure to look the part. We especially love this embroidered midi skirt from Dorothy Perkins - gorgeous, isn’t it?
M
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Fashion Meow top £42.50 White Stuff
Knot front crepe top £22 Very
Sparkle embellished top £79 Monsoon
Dancing Tulip print trousers £139 Jigsaw Cold shoulder tunic £38 Simply Be
Handbag £55 Dune
fave!
Embroidered midi skirt £45 Dorothy Perkins Leather bow mules £45 Simply Be
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Trend
HOW TO:
A wardrobe that works Kathryn Clarke-Mcleod invests wisely and profits greatly want my mid-thirties to be defined as a time of financial responsibility. Trouble is, I’d also like them to be a time of high fashion. What’s a girl to do? Up until now, a Carrie Bradshaw-esque mantra of “I like my money where I can see it, hanging in my closet” suited me just fine. Lately however, I have been struggling to close said closet and, annoyingly, some of my “go-with-everything” pieces are being very uncooperative. Frustrated is an understatement. The arrival of the Reiss Personal Approach in their Exeter store in the Princesshay shopping centre could not have been better timed. Their new service teams you up with a personal shopper for customised style advice and outfit building. I’m greeted by personal shopper Helena, who is bubbly and upbeat. We run through what I do for a living - a mix of magazine work and photography. We touch on This is the which celebrities I admire, body perfect fashion parts I don’t and I express my tool for curating yearning for a more compact capsule-style wardrobe. I also a consistent look have to accompany my beau to - and curbing an awards dinner next month, so a flirty frock wouldn’t go amiss. unnecessary All the while, Helena is filling spend in a client sheet with my details and preferences. “We’ll keep everything on file for you, she says Helena. A case in point is the says” Genius. What a great gorgeous pair of matt-sheen trousers tool for curating a consistent look, and curbing she adds to my own personal clothes rail. Grown unnecessary spend. up yet undeniably edgy. “It’s handy for us too,” says Helena. “All the “I like to start with a key piece and then build on stylists can see at a glance what you have purchased it. Let’s build you an outfit that will take you from in the past. It makes it easier to build a collection of day to night. If you make the right choices, clothing clothing that really works. can be incredibly versatile” “Some people want key work pieces, some have The rail fills up, and my eye is drawn to a soft special occasions to go to and others want a chic blouse that shimmers like quicksilver and a white weekend look. The common ground is they want to blazer. They fit like they were made for me. Also, make good fashion choices that will last.” I appear magically slimmer. “Our hemlines and The beauty of Reiss is that the pieces aren’t necklines are cut just right, and we line most highly seasonal. “We tend to focus on classic items dresses and trousers for smooth silhouettes,” with a modern slant that will work all year round,” explains Helena.
PHOTOGRAPHY: STEVE HAYWOOD
I
Shawl lapel blazer, Reiss, Princesshay, £245 Larue satin blouse, Reiss, Princesshay, £160 Alexis coated trousers, Reiss, Princesshay, £120 Dione patent heels, Reiss, Princesshay, £140 Leather handbag, Reiss, Princesshay, £325
The only difficult part of the experience is choosing a handbag. Reiss’ latest collection is all hand crafted in London, and finished in Italy. Swoon. I opt for a brown bucket-shaped beauty that will easily hold a camera as well as my everyday essentials, and can’t resist a sparkly clutch too. I’ve had a fabulous Princesshay Gift card tucked away for just such a treat. The experience is just like having a fashionforward best friend who is also my very own investment consultant. The forecast? An uncluttered closet, breezy mornings and a stylish reflection. That’s a return I could get used to. The Reiss Personal Approach runs until April 2. Call 01392 213343 or visit www.princesshay.co.uk/reiss
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Jackpot: Helena picked out this tangerine beauty for my formal event next month. I’ll also be taking it for a flutter at the races and abroad for a few tropical cocktails. Now that’s multitasking.
Haddi off-theshoulder dress £195 REISS
Cupid suede mules £150 REISS
GET THE
look
Balm off the shoulder dress £180 REISS
Webb jacket in heritage check £265 REISS
Neave watercolourprint dress £185 REISS
Bleeker mini leather bag £250 REISS
Somerset longline trench coat £285 REISS 31
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Wellbeing
the boost
And relax
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
If you’re struggling with Mother’s Day ideas why not consider a luxurious day out at Dartmoor’s Ilsington Country House Hotel? Take a dip in the pool, relax in the hydrotherapy bath, release those toxins in the steam room and sauna. Or, if you’re feeling energetic, there’s always the hotel gym. When you’re feeling truly zen, top off your day with a delicious cream tea in one of the cosy lounges. A Spa and Time for Tea (for two) package costs £65, www.ilsington.co.uk
Fun foraging SLOW DOWN! Feeling tense? New research suggests that modern technology isn’t helping. A delay of as little as two seconds, when surfing the web on our smartphones, can hike up stress levels and send our heart rates through the roof. Ouch! To help soothe your nerves, experts advise you take certain lifestyle precautions including adorning your home with houseplants, getting out into green spaces every day, eating oily fish twice a week and, when all else fails, sipping on a cup of green tea.
Foraging combines the chance to discover healthy food plus getting a good walk into the bargain - what could be better for both mind and body? Discover spring’s edible offerings here in the Westcountry with professional forager and herbalist Brigit Anna McNeil. On Wednesday March 29, Brigit will be leading a foraging expedition on Dartmoor to identify edible plants, prepare and cook them - or even turn some into natural medicines. Tickets £25 for adults, £10 children under 16, www.visitdartmoor.co.uk
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A fresh face... Clear up your skin this spring by following some simple but smart tips. Start by snacking on pumpkin seeds - high in zinc, these nutritional gems can help with acne, dry skin and dermatitis. Next, look out for collagen-boosting vitamin C in face creams for a bright and fresh complexion. Finally, stock up on carotene-rich vegetables such as carrots, squash, pumpkin and sweet potatoes, all proven to work wonders on skin integrity.
TIME FOR A SCILLY WALK There is nothing quite like the Isles of Scilly - and you can explore them with expert guides during the islands’ annual Walk Scilly festival this April. Choose from 29 events, including a wildlife discovery tour, food foraging and a top-to-toe ramble across all five inhabited islands.New for 2017 is the chance to visit the uninhabited island of Nornour. With white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and exotic flora and fauna, this is the perfect way to have a healthy break. April 1 - 7 www.visitislesofscilly.com/walkscilly
What’s coming up? Tweet us your wellbeing diary dates
@WMNWest or email westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 33
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Wellbeing
Spring into action
Give your skincare regime a fresh start for the new season
Image Skincare: Prevention Plus Range, which costs £46. Look for a lighter formula In summer your skin can be less dry, which means your complexion can handle stronger skin-care ingredients. Retinol is Medical aesthetician Dr Pradnya Apte says: During great and I like to think of it as rocket fuel for the winter months, changes in its anti-ageing benefits. In winter, retinol can be temperature from outdoors to inquite drying but the benefits are improvement of doors can wreck skin tone, reducing the appearhavoc on your ance of fine lines. complexion. Exfoliate regularly To combat ‘Retinol is great With brighter skin looking patchy and dull I and I like to think days ahead, recommend a product that connow’s the time to make-over tains glycolic acid to increase of it as rocket your skincare regime. cellular renewal and help your fuel for its antiStep up sun protection The skin to look younger. A medinumber one anti-ageing prodcal grade chemical peel with ageing benefits uct that all aesthetic practitionanti-ageing ingredients such as on skin tone and ers agree on is sunscreen. For glutathione, retinoic acid and reducing fine maximum protection, use a gycolic acid increase cell turnosmall amount all over your face ver for a smoother and brighter lines’ and don’t forget your neck and looking complexion. back of hands. Pick a moisturFocus on cleansing Spring is the ising sunscreen formulated perfect time to focus on cleanswith antioxidants to block UV ing your skin to reveal a more rays and to protect from free radical damage dewy complexion. Switching to a lighter formula and environmental pollutants. I personally use and even changing your cleanser to a different I want to kickstart my skincare for spring as I have a lot of big events to attend, including a family wedding. What can I do to make sure I’m looking my best? AS, Sidmouth
Q
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range can work wonders. Cleanse in a circular motion and focus on more congested areas in a smaller circular motion while cleansing the majority of the face with a large gentle circular motions. Cleansing your face with a product that contains alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or betahydroxy acids (BHAs) to rid your skin of those dead, dull skin cells is a must in your spring skin regime. These products are generally best used once or twice per week so there is less chance of irritation. Change your cosmetics Detox your make-up bag. Take the time to re-organise your make-up collection and get rid of old and out-of-date makeup. It’s also the perfect time to switch to spring colours in sheerer, lighter textures. Check your diet Drinking a collagen drink will help plump up and keep your skin looking vibrant and youthful. Adding fish oils -either as supplements or in your food - to your diet will also keep your skin looking smooth and supple. I recommend a product called Gold Collagen Rx, which costs £50 for ten bottles. Dr Pradnya Apte runs Skin Southwest, an dentistled aesthetic clinic in Exeter offering injectables, wrinkle-reducing injections and Silhouette Soft treatment. www.skinsouthwest.co.uk
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Food
SMALL BITES
Our pick of what’s on in the Westcountry food world right now
fave! Summer in a bottle Dedicated to producing world-class sparkling wine, the Langham Wine Estate in Dorset produces a sparkling rosé (£25) which has notes of strawberries, raspberries and cherries. They recommend it paired with fresh fruit desserts, perfect for summertime. www.langhamwine.co.uk
Make a date for dinner Celebrity chef Tim Maddams is hosting a food and drink extravaganza at the beautiful Polgoon Vineyard and Orchard in Penzance. Tim previously headed up the River Cottage chef team and regularly appeared alongside Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on the River Cottage TV series. He also appears on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and BBCs Food and Drink shows. Friday May 28 and Saturday May 29, tickets £35 to include a tour of Polgoon, plus three courses of delicious seasonal produce cooked by Tim and a glass of Polgoon’s award-winning wine. www.polgoon.com
A fun-filled day out For a fun family day out, try the River Cottage Spring Fair, near Axminster. This event is a treat for the senses and aimed at both foodies and gardeners. The fair will be packed full of activities and family fun, including from chef demos, artisan food stalls and live music. There are also tours of the wonderful River Cottage HQ garden and foraging trips with wild food guru John Wright. Saturday 27-Monday 29 May, adult tickets £17.50, children free. www.rivercottage.net/springfoodfair
Fudge with a twist Fudge fans can look forward to two unusual new flavours, thanks to collaborations between awardwinning Cornish confectioner Buttermilk and two local food producers. Buttermilk has brewed up a partnership with Tregothnan Tea to create an Earl Grey fudge and also worked with east Cornwall’s Tarquin’s Gin to create a delicious Gin Fudge. Available £3.99 for 150g, from major stockists plus Buttermilk’s own shops in Port Isaac and Padstow as well as online. www.buttermilk.co.uk.
Got some foodie news? Let us know on westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 35
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Meet the highly experienced experts, Martin Docking and Simon Martin
Fear of the dentist? Worried about your smile? Revitalise Dental Centre and Same Day Teeth have been developed for people who have a genuine fear or anxiety that prevents them from going to the dentist. Get the same day smile you want with his revolutionary technique that means we can provide a new arch of comfortable, natural-looking teeth – fixed in place using dental implants – in just one day, without your anxiety getting in the way. Sedation is delivered by our Consultant Anaesthetists and experienced Dentists, with patient safety and comfort our top priority. Relax and let the team take care of everything.
Louise’s Story
Susan’s Story
I love my teeth, I cannot stop smiling and my confidence has now been restored in full.
I now enjoy going out with my family and friends and better still, I laugh!
I’ve had a fear of dentists since my teens. However, I knew I had a problem and I had to find a sympathetic dentist.
I was the woman who kept in the background, hiding myself away from people. I was the one who talked to others with one hand across my lower face, I always felt embarrassed eating out so would make excuses and not go. I became introverted with very little confidence in myself.
I went for my first consultation with the Same Day Teeth team. I was very nervous but they put me completely at ease. They understood my major fears, and I had all the information for the solutions they could offer me. And to know that I was talking to the people that would make my teeth, as well as fit them, made it very easy to communicate my wishes. I have gone through all the stages and have ended up with my fabulous implants and teeth fixed in place on the same day!
The Same Day Teeth team have put sunshine into my everyday life. I was always afraid of the dentist because of a few horrendous treatments in my earlier days. This was so different. They are not only completely professional, but gentle, kind and most importantly honest, explaining each treatment before the event. I cannot thank them enough, they have changed my life.
Tel: 01872 555915 Tel: 01872 555915 Join us on our Discovery Days! Wednesday 8th & Tuesday 21st February
www.revitalisedentalcentre.co.uk
Revitalise Dental Centre, Hurlingburrow Farm, St.Agnes, Cornwall TR5 0PG Martin Docking, GDC No: 115044. Simon Martin, GDC No: 67146
Ads_March25.indd 4
21/03/2017 12:28:44
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Cook
Ceviche of Loch Duart Salmon with Miso and Crème Fraiche By the chefs at Yeo Valley, Somerset: We’ve teamed up with our friends at Tideford Organics in Devon to bring you this o-fish-ally delicious dish! It’s absolutely delicious and a true celebration of Westcountry dairy produce.
Ingredients:
Method:
400g trimmed salmon fillet Olive oil ½ lemon juice Fennel Pea shoots 1 small chilli 100g Yeo Valley crème fraiche 15g Tideford white miso
1.
Make sure that the fish is trimmed properly and free from bones.
2.
Slice very thinly directly on to the serving plate.
3.
Drizzle the olive oil and squeeze the fresh lemon evenly over the sliced fish.
4.
Finely slice the fennel and the chilli and place over and around the fish.
5.
Now garnish with the pea shoots.
6.
Mix the crème fraiche together with the white miso then dot the mixture on to the Ceviche with a teaspoon, until it is all used up.
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: This can be such an uplifting time of year. My mood completely changes (for the better) this weekend when the clocks go forward and the feeling that spring has finally arrived lifts my spirits. Lush green fields and magnificent magnolia blossom adorn the countryside alongside spring lambs. And, yes, Westcountry lamb is soon to hit the shelves in favour of meat flown half way around the world. This gets me thinking about one of my favourite food and wine matches, which is slow-cooked
local lamb with Rioja – a match made in heaven! People often associate Rioja with heavy, woody wines - which they do still produce - but the style is changing. In fact around 80% of the wines they make now are young juicy reds that never see the inside of a barrel. Historically, Riojan wine makers have favoured American oak in which to age their wines. This gives the Rioja strong flavours of coconut and vanilla. But, more recently, there has been a move towards more elegant, refined wines, which is where French oak comes into its own, lending more subtle flavours of toast and soft spice. Oak maturing is reserved for the quality wines
I love slow-cooked
Westcountry lamb
paired with Rioja
Know your red Rioja styles Joven – Young wine generally no ageing in oak cask (green Rioja stamp on the bottle) Crianza – Aged for at least two years before release with a minimum of 12 months in oak casks (red Rioja stamp on label) Reserve – These are aged for at least three years before release with a minimum of one year in cask (burgundy brown Rioja stamp on label) Gran Reserva – Only made in exceptional vintages. Wines are aged for at least five years with two years in oak (burgundy brown Rioja stamp on label)
Always fancied a wine trip to Rioja? Experience the food and wine culture of Spain’s most important wine region with Plymouth based Wessex Continental in October. They have a five day tour planned leaving on October 17 with wine expert tour guide Andy McClarin. The cost of £890 per person includes the coach, ferry crossing and many of the meals visit www.wessexcontinental.co.uk
of the region, where they use Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano grape varieties. Tempranillo, in particular, takes really well to oak maturation and is nearly always a prominent part of the blend. I am a huge fan of wines from Rioja, including the whites and rosés as well as the more usual reds. They are in shorter supply but well worth seeking out. April Marks is co-founder of Regency Wines Ltd Exeter @regencywinesuk
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK Finca Manzanos Rioja Reserva 2011 Now run by the sixth generation of the Manzanos family, their wines are a modern take on this classic wine. Their reserva is aged for two years in a combination of both French and American oak with a further 12 months ageing in bottle. The wine has aromas of vanilla and sweet almonds with hints of leather, also a generous palate with tasty spice and an intense finish. Available at The Oak Rooms in Lynton, The Phoenix Restaurant in Chudleigh, Babbacombe Bay Hotel, Torquay and Flavours Restaurant in Wellington. 39
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Drink Beer of the week You have to love Matt Reay at The ‘Front bar in Falmouth. Takes a cask of Sharp’s Leviathan IPA (8.5% ABV) last autumn, could put it on while there’s promotion and PR around the beer, instead leaves it in the cellar for six months. Glorious beer. Finely balanced big hop and big malt tastes, pine and blood orange flavours, all in a deep gold, clear brew.
Darren Norbury
talks beer ORDER, ORDER! Black Tor Brewery, based in the Dartmoor National Park, has seen one of its beers, Pride of Dartmoor, on sale in the prestigious Strangers’ Bar in the Houses of Parliament. Head brewer and director, Jonathon Crump, says: “We’re very proud of our beers and this was a great opportunity to spread the word about them and our family-run brewery.”
Be daft not to… The Cornish Arms, in Hayle, is holding its first beer festival under licensees Claire and Huw Williams. The Fools Festival, on Friday and Saturday, March 31 and April 1, will include family fun such as face painting and live music, as well as a selection of beer and cider. One of my favourite west Cornwall hostelries.
ne of the reasons I love writing who wants to keep their finger on the pulse of about beer is that it is, by and large, Cornish trade and letting the CBA and CAMRA a very friendly and inclusive comhave this bar is a massive vote of confidence in munity. the quality of the Duchy’s brewers. It also means This was one of the reasons it was that, as well as those with deep pockets, the great to see the Cornwall Brewers’ Alliance set smaller brewers, even the one-person operations, up in 2013. One for all and all for one, when it will get a chance to shine on this high-profile comes to promoting great beer down west. platform. It all got off to a blazing start and one of the I went to a planning meeting for this event first major tasks – creating the Alliance bar at under the impression that I had managed to log the annual Celtic Beer Festival, all 37 of the breweries currently in St Austell Brewery – proved operating in Cornwall. Turns a winner. Things had been a bit out there are 42, some of which I ‘I thought I’d quiet, since then, however, and bet you’ve never heard of. Tower logged all 37 I was starting to wonder if the Brewing, anyone (St Tudy)? Or group was going to gently wind Woodman’s Wild Ale (Ponsabreweries in down. nooth) or Leafy Hollow (WadebriCornwall. Turns But no, it would appear not. dge)? No, I didn’t think so. out there are 42, The brewers are back and This could be one of the best coming to a major event this stands at Royal Cornwall, with some of which June. all Cornish brewers invited to I bet you’ve never That’s the Royal Cornwall take part. Where are you going to heard of’ Show, this year taking place find all of these beers in the same from June 8-10. While there have place, aside from the Falmouth or been stand-alone brewery bars Celtic beer festivals? The differat the show in the past – and the ence is that you’re also very likely likes of Sharp’s and St Austell breweries will to get the chance to meet and talk to the brewers be likely to continue with theirs – this year the here, which is always worthwhile. Because, as I show organisers have agreed to an Alliance bar always say, you never stop learning. Get this in as well. It is essentially a mini beer festival at the your diary now, and if you can persuade someshow and is being staged in association with the one to drive you to the show, or stay somewhere Cornwall branch of the Campaign for Real Ale nearby overnight, so much the better! (CAMRA). Darren Norbury is editor of beertoday.co.uk This is big news. The show is a must for anyone @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 Artisans of Dartmoor Running until Monday April 3, this exhibition is a showcase of all the sculptors, soap makers, potters and painters that reside in Dartmoor. Travel photographer Suzy Bennett goes behind the workshop walls to produce an intimate collection of photographs of some of the Moor’s finest artists, makers and producers. The exhibition is open daily at the Riverside Gallery, Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey, Devon and entry is free. www.crafts.org.uk
A DIY dream The South West Home and Garden Show is one of the region’s leading home and garden events and is a must for anyone about to buy, or those undertaking an extension, renovation or self-build project. The event will bring together the best of the south West’s interiors, garden, renewables and lifestyle products and service all under one roof. Saturday May 8 and Sunday May 9 at Westpoint Arena, Exeter. The first 2000 visitors to pre-register online gain free entry to the show, alternatively tickets are £3. www. southwesthomeshow.co.uk
A night of magic Direct from a hit season in London’s West End, the world-class illusionists that make up the Champions of Magic are heading to the Hall for Cornwall, Truro on Wednesday April 12. Witness the impossible, including disappearances, large scale teleportation and a heart stopping finale that sees one performer walk through the spinning steel blades of a giant industrial fan. Tickets are prcied from £19 and can be booked online. www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
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In the swim Anna Turns takes some much-needed swimming lessons in an attempt to finally master the front crawl hen it comes to swimming, I know only too well there’s always room for improvement. Sometimes I feel like I’m flying along, on other days the water feels like treacle. So I’ve come to Watergate Bay Hotel near Newquay for a bit of much-needed help. I've signed up for a weekend of intensive training with Salim Ahmed, who describes himself as an alternative swim coach. He’s been a swimmer for 50 years and over the past 20 he has taught swimmers of all levels, from complete novices to Olympic athletes. Fundamentally, Salim’s approach inspires swimmers to connect with the water, whether that be pool, sea, river or lake. “The first thing I say to competitive swimmers is that you need a spiritual connection with the water to make you feel comfortable in it.
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"I'll slow you down in order to speed up, so at Seaworld but this pool is a glorious 25 metres in the end you’ll be using less energy to swim long, ending at a full height window overlooking faster.” the windy beach below. Salim is the founder of the Once the eight of us have swum alternative swim coaching a few lengths to warm up, Salim 'You can get betcompany SwimLab. “Think explains that there’s no such about swimming like any other thing as a perfect stroke: “Within ter at swimming means of travel - consider your certain parameters, you need to with age. The fuel efficiency, aerodynamics master the stroke that is perfect better you know and engine capacity, then work for your body – it will be bespoke, how your body towards a realistic objective,” with your own signature.” Salim he explains. But also, use your tells me that 90% of front crawl works, the more imagination: “It’s important comes from forward propulsion you improve' to visualise yourself reaching by the upper body, so a torpedo your goal when you’re swimbody position is critical. So we ming.” spend the first session working on Watergate Bay is an inspirvarious challenging drills using ing setting for swimming lessons. Most hotel pull buoys and kick floats, breaking down the pools make me feel as claustrophobic as an orca stroke into parts.
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Enjoy
Next comes a yoga session tailored for swimmers to improve flexibility and then we head down to the beach for "surf appreciation" with the hotel's Extreme Academy surf school. We change into wetsuits and pick up a handplane and surf fins. Within the hour, this kit help us to bodysurf along the waves, but first we have got to get to grips with this powerful element. I can feel the waves pulling, but I feel safe with our instructor Carl Coombes. The sea is his natural habitat, he was world champion waveskier and a qualified lifeguard. It’s exhausting but exhilarating just being in the waves gives a sense of freedom. That evening, Salim videos each of us swimming, both from the poolside and from the bottom of the pool. Early the next morning, he analyses our videos and suggests some areas for improvement. Once poolside, he begins teaching us the art of perfecting three gears – plodding (which, up until now, has been my default speed), race pace and sprint. We aim to build endurance and create new "muscle memory" for an optimal body position and better stroke technique. It’s an intense workout and I look forward to the de-brief over a breakfast feast. I’ve really earned those delicious waffles! We're a mixed group of age and ability, so it’s a breath of fresh air to hear Salim say it’s never too late to learn: “Swimming is one of the few sports you can get better at with age. The better you know how your own body works, the more you will improve.” He truly believes swimming can be therapeutic - mentally and physically - and says that mastering the art of swimming begins with falling in love with swimming. Writing this a few days later, I totally agree. Weekend swimming clinics at Watergate Bay Hotel cost from £310 www.watergatebay.co.uk
Doing it in style
Salim Ahmed's top tips for perfecting your front crawl outstretched in front
1.
Above all, aim to simplify your swimming
2.
Body position is key – 70% of your gains will result from a more streamlined body
7.
Keep flexibility in your ankles and point your toes to kick efficiently
3.
Recalibrate your position after every wall push in the pool - enjoy the free ride!
8.
4.
Pull through the water with a slightly bent elbow to increase leverage
Look down and forward slightly so that you can see your outstretched arm in front of you
9.
5.
Your elbows should break the surface first when your arm exits the water
Roll into your breathing position effortlessly, there’s no need to actively turn your head
6.
Feel the glide when your arm is
10.
Swim mindfully and enjoy it.
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My Secret Westcountry Tiffany Macedo-Dine Tiffany Macedo-Dine, 40, is a confidence coach and lifestyle consultant. She lives in Okehampton with her husband Ken and their daughter Maisie, 12.
MAIN PICTURE: JOHN PROUDFOOT
Tiffany with daughter Maisie
My favourite: Walk: Not being a fan of the gym, I rely on good walks to get my exercise - and I’m glad I do because some of my walks have taken me to some amazing places. One of my favourites is the walk from Castle Drogo following the breathtaking Hunters Path high above the River Teign. I remember vividly doing this walk for the first time as it started out very unassuming, and then all of a sudden, as if out of nowhere, the most spectacular views were revealed. Place to eat: I must confess, even though I am a big foodie, my food guilty pleasure is the humble beefburger. I absolutely love them and over many years I have been on a quest to find the perfect one - and I think I have, at the Hubbox in Exeter. There is a Hubbox in Plymouth and another in Pentewan, near St Austell, too.
Weekend escape: I genuinely believe I have
Meldon Reservoir
Belstone on Dartmoor
Beach: For me there is only one go-to beach in
View: Just a few miles down the road from my home is a view that makes me so grateful to live where I do. That place is Meldon Reservoir or, more accurately, a picnic bench tucked away along the footpath overlooking the reservoir and surrounding hills. This is my own little piece of heaven. As a family, we’ve been known to get up on a cold winters morning, pack up bacon butties and a hot flask and go and have breakfast on our bench.
the Westcountry, and that’s Widemouth Bay near Bude. It is where I go to recharge and it works every time. It has a very special quality to it that I have yet to find anywhere else.
Secret place: I really feel like I’m giving away all my secrets now but, as they say, it’s good to share! My secret place is The Old School Tea
discovered Devon’s best kept secret for a weekend escape. Devon Dens in west Devon is an offgrid hut set in woodland. Staying here gave me the most amazing, exhilarating yet relaxing experience of my life. I had 24 hours with no wifi, phone signal or TV - a much needed escape from everyday life, and the outside shower was a complete revelation!
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People
The Scarlet Hotel
Widemouth Bay
Devon Dens
Room in Belstone village, just a hop, skip and jump from my home. This is the friendliest, most welcoming place you could care to stumble upon after your walk on Dartmoor. With the roaring fire, the best homemade cakes, scones and jams it would be a shame to keep this a secret.
Shop: There is a little shop in the heart of Tavistock which I adore. Odds & Suds is a independent handmade soap company and I have watched this beautiful business grow over the years from a small market stall in Tavistock, to a cupboard size shop, to the amazing space it is today. The shop itself is beautiful and the soaps are exqui-
Burgers at Hubbox
site. I really love the attention to detail, with every purchase wrapped and sealed with tiny flowers - it really is the perfect place to buy that special gift.
Pub: It has to be The Tom Cobbley at Spreyton, west Devon. I must confess, I don’t frequent this pub for its beer, but more for its Sunday roast. When you are presented with a huge plate of perfectly roasted meat, huge bowls of the crispiest, fluffiest roast potatoes, great big platters groaning with veg and enough gravy to float a boat, it’s easy to see why this pub has won numerous food awards. It’s so good, we have even booked to go
on Christmas Day this year!
Special treat: A visit to The Scarlet Hotel in Mawgan Porth, north Cornwall is my special treat. It was somewhere I had wanted to go for a long time and last year I was lucky enough to stay there for a friend’s wedding. Stunning views, great service and understated opulence really sold this place to me. A highlight was spending time relaxing in the eco-spa, resting in the hanging pod hammocks and enjoying a glass of bubbles in a wooden hot tub overlooking the beach. I don’t think treats get much more special than that. 45
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my life
man and boy
The perfect present Phil Goodwin, dad of James, goes gift shopping ith Mother’s Day looming tomorally remembered the name : Hermès, the Greek row, I have to say that the encygod of commerce no less. As you can imagine I clopaedia of spousal blunders in was feeling pretty pleased with myself. I tested the sphere of gifting would be a the spray on one of the card lollipops and it weighty tome indeed. Just imagsmelled like, well, perfume. It was okay. It also ine it, a fat volume sat on the shelf between cost more than fifty quid, so you can’t accuse the Concise Oxford English and the Bible: Old me of being a cheapskate. Codger’s Compendium of Cock-ups, a testaI took the bottle to the counter and ment to men’s folly across the florists and deasked for it to be gift-wrapped. “It’s partment stores of the world. for an anniversary,” I told the woman, It is surely no lazy stereotype created by who smiled. Ten years. She seemed to women. Truly, we are hopeapprove the purchase. I less at buying presents. In also checked it could be the general spirit of male swapped in the unlikely event denial, I had of course that it was unsuitable. There it smelled like, always excluded myself was no problem, so long as it well, perfume. from this sorry band of was unopened. I had all the brothers. Until last week bases covered; there was nothit was okay. it when I made a total mess ing that could go wrong. I was also cost more of what should have been a feeling pretty chuffed, I can tell simple anniversary job. you. than fifty quid, so We don’t normally celOver cocktails: a vodka you can’t accuse ebrate our wedding annivermartini (me, James Bond) me of being a sary but I thought we ought and a mojito (her, Bond girl) to mark a whole decade toI presented the gift, a small cheapskate gether by doing something token of my love. She was special. So I booked a restaudelighted and tore open a rant and arranged to meet corner. One eyebrow lifted as her at a swanky cocktail bar beforehand. she ripped off the rest of the wrapping. “Oh darOn the way and, perhaps significantly, at the ling that’s so thoughtful,” she said. The she put last minute I decided I would pick up a little a hand across her mouth and laughed. “You do something to show my appreciation. The only realise it’s for men?” place still open was Debenhams. But DebenI looked at the packaging. It was called Terra, hams has a perfume counter, right? Indeed it which didn’t strike me as unusual. How did does, a sprawling department, shelves packed that translate: land? But why hadn’t the with mystifying fragrances bearing exotic saleswoman stopped me? I recalled her smilnames. ing fondly as she tied the bow. But then, in Inside the near-deserted store, I suddenly 2017, it is hardly unusual for men to buy their had a flash of inspiration. I actually knew what boyfriends aftershave. her favourite perfume was. Imagine that! At Well, they do say it is the thought that counts. some point I had been listening and had actuThank God I kept the receipt.
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NEXT WEEK: Chris McGuire on starting his new life in the South West
main picture: Steve Haywood
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Summer style
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