West Magazine, May 10 2015

10.05.15

DON’T MISS: + MONEY OFF MAKEOVERS + DIY WEDDING FLOWERS

36

ways to look your best on the day

INSIDE: + PERFECT

PICTURES + BEST

DRESSED GUESTS

PLUS: + MY MID-LIFE MARRIAGE + GORGEOUS GIFTS+ BEAUTIFUL DRESSES+ VIP VENUES+ FRESH IDEAS

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06/05/2015 15:57:30

DARLING gowns DARLING

Gowns

Darling Gowns is a Charming Bridal shop situated on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, in the village of Yelverton.

The proprietors are sisters Sue & Lin,Who both have had Careers which have influenced their decision to create a wedding studio.

Lin has enjoyed a long career in Hairdressing specialising in wedding hair, Sue has worked within the design and sales industry.

They both believe a brides gown is one of the most important things to get exactly right and makes that special day a day to remember.

Both Sue and Lin work closely with the Designers to source only the best and most beautiful Wedding Gowns for their studio.

They have tried to create a relaxed Bridal studio, with hand picked Gowns from a selection of designers with outstanding reputation in the worldwide Bridal industry, from award winning designers such as, Allure, Madison James, Venus Bridal and Victoria Kay & Opulence Bridal who are manufactured by Award winning Romantica of Devon design house

We have also Handpicked a selection of stunning Accessories, beautiful shoes from Award winning Charlotte Mills as featured on the site and Harriet Wilde.

We are very proud to be the exclusive supplier to British shoe designer Sargasso & Grey who’s designer shoes are made in a wider fit giving a little more space for your feet for that extra bit of comfort.They are also exclusive retailer to Devon, to the stunning Evening and bridal range of montalto shoes, who sponsor the popular tv show Top Model.

Opening times 10am-5pm Tuesday- Friday Appointments are available Mondays and Saturdays 10-6pm Evening appointments available on request.

For More information Contact Darling Gowns 01822 853132 www.darlingweddingdresses.com darlinggowns@gmail.com ŠLW

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06/05/2015 14:19:19

‘I was barely capable of delivering a letter at that age, never mind a speech’ Phil Goodwin on being a Best Man, aged 17, p46

36

Wellbeing tips for looking your best on the Big Day

22

Our how-to guide to crafting your own wedding day flowers

HAVE YOUR CAKE

8

STEAL HER STYLE Look like Gisele - yes, really

MAKING ARRANGEMENTS

[contents[ Inside this week...

6

THE WEDDING WISHLIST Gifts, confetti, bunting and more

8

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Just ask Siobhan Adcock...

9

JUST BETWEEN US...

30

Sh! We have the latest gossip!

12

MIDDLE-AGED MARRIAGE One bride-to-be confesses all

16

THE BEST PHOTO ALBUM Get the look on your wedding day

22

MAKING ARRANGEMENTS Our how-to guide to wedding flowers

26

WHAT TO WEAR Wedding outfits, sorted

42

A WEDDING IN...

The best venues in the South West

ANNE SWITHINBANK Top advice from our garden guru

28

BRIDAL BEAUTY Gorgeousness guaranteed

30

SENSATIONAL DRESSES What to wear on your wedding day

32

OFF TO THE DO...

How to be the best-dressed guest

36

THE BOOST

39

COOL WEIGHTLOSS

Top tips for wedding wellbeing Can fat-freezing really work?

44

MAN AND BOY Marriage memories, for better or worse...

40

SECRET WESTCOUNTRY

Insider advice for the best days out, ever

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06/05/2015 15:10:11

I DO, I DO, I DO!

The pick of Westcountry wedding venues

IMAGE: JOHN SUCH

42

[

[

[ welcome [ We hope you like this special edition of West...

Spring is in the air and wedding invitations are on the mantelpiece (or tucked behind the kitchen clock, in our house). Whether you’re nervously looking forward to your own big day, looking on with amusement and wonder as your offspring plan theirs, or simply pondering what to wear to a friend’s Big Day, there no doubt that this is the bridal season.

To celebrate, we have selected the very best the Westcountry has to offer in terms of wedding fashion, food, gifts and more, and we hope you find our round-up both useful and inspiring.

We’ve also got some lighter reading on the subject of matrimony, not least from Lyn Barton, whose account of planning her “mid-

[

Tweet

of the week @RosaClaraDesign Thank you @WMNWest for featuring the Flamingo Flourish lampshade in your wish list!

dle-aged wedding” will have you chuckling on page 12 today. We’ve also got some great tips for saving some money in the run up to a wedding, such as how to make your own table decorations (page 22 today). You’ll see that florist Lucy Cole has some truly lovely ideas for wedding flowers, which are not only very charming, but also cost-effective.

Finally, our regular columnists have some wise words to add on the subject of matrimony. Our beer expert Darren Norbury considers what he would drink at his next wedding (only kidding, Mrs N) on page 45, while Phil Goodwin remembers a Best Man speech he made aged 17, among other horrors, on page 46.

Our round-up of the best wedding fashion, gifts, food and more

[

Becky Sheaves, Editor

COVER IMAGE: Rosie Anderson

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

MEET THE TEAM Becky Sheaves, Editor

Sarah Pitt

Kathryn Clarke-McLeod

Catherine Barnes

Phil Goodwin

4

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06/05/2015 14:14:48

If you buy one thing this week...

High street store Monsoon is a good source of elegant, hand crafted off-the-peg wedding dresses, Isabella dress, ÂŁ499, www.monsoon.com 5

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06/05/2015 14:15:11

Ivory placecards, £2.99 for a set of 10, www.oakroomshop.co.uk

Heart confetti, £3 a pack, www.hamptonblue.co.uk

top to toe Tallulah barely there sandals, £59, Monsoon

wedding

the

wishlist West’s picks for the perfect wedding day

Store we adore...

Darling Gowns, Yelverton

You heard it here first! Darling Gowns opened just last week, and is run by sisters (and wedding experts) Sue Ewing and Linda Birnie. It has an exclusive range of beautiful dress designs, such as this lovely one from Victoria Kay, as well as lots of fabulous accessories. We particularly like the Charlotte Mills wedding shoes, with a lucky sixpence embroidered into the shoe and romantic poems on the soles.

Darling Gowns is at 2, The Rock Complex, Yelverton, call 01822 853132 or visit www. darlingweddingdresses.com

Love Pack of 30 pink heart doilies, £3.75, www. hamptonblue. co.uk

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Wishlist

This silver shell ring, handmade in Ashburton, is a lovely bridesmaid’s gift £90, www.yumemartin.co.uk

Celebrate Raise a toast with local bubbles. Sharpham Sparkling Pink 2010, £25.95, from www. sharpham.com and local wine merchants

Party Fun Wedding photo booth props, £7.50, www.gingerray.co.uk

Hessian Just Married bunting, £11.99, www.hamptonblue.co.uk 7

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06/05/2015 12:34:12

talking points Gillian Molesworth

Story of my life...

What’s in a name? Just ask Ms Adcock y dear friend Siobhan Adcock has written a very funny piece about her name. Spare a moment in your thoughts, dear readers, for all the souls in the English-speaking world with the last name of “Adcock.” Not only does it feature that tee-hee-hee syllable, but it is sure to be in the first five names butter, it’s Chiffoo-ooon” (sang of any alphabetical list, called out by a buxom mascot in a singsong while the rest of the class is still voice). Naturally this is what all paying attention. the kids would sing as she got on Would you believe that my (or off) the bus. “It’s Chifoo-ooon!” friend Siobhan’s brother’s name Gillian is another uncommon was actually Richard, shortened name in America, and I had my to Dick – absolutely true, not own TV jingle that people sang making it up. So was his father’s. when I crossed the playground: it Big Dick Adcock and little Dick was the theme tune to “Gilligan’s Adcock.

Island”. “Just sit right back and “Heavens, Jeeves,” remarked you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fatePG Wodehouse’s ful trip, that started Bertie Wooster in this tropic port, once, “There’s aboard this tiny some raw work enship,” everyone acted at the font.” hollered lustily as Tricky names So true. And if I neared, cheeks include Titson, you have a tricky burning. last name, such as Kids are actually or Adcock or Dix. Titson or Bottomsnot that clever – it’s Poor Mrs Dix was ley or Adcock or more the tone of my year eight Dix (poor Mrs Dix voice that stings. was my year eight “Hey GIL,” I reHistory teacher History teacher), member an older why would you boy saying to me compound your (“Gil” with a hard child’s misery by G). “Are you a giving it a difficult first name as FISH? Do you breathe with your well? There’s character-building, GILL?” He walked off, chuckling and then there’s just cruel and in self-appreciation. “That’s not unusual punishment. even that funny,” I remember callSiobhan’s name was a flight of ing after him (not too loudly). fancy on behalf of her mother.

I used to dream of a nice normal In the UK, people might have name like Amy or Jane. But even heard this Irish name or even people with normal names get know someone else named it. But teased. I know a girl called Ann in Texas, where my friend grew Phillips who was baited by the up, the closest anyone could get bullies because Phillips was was the margarine brand “Chifthe company that made Milk of fon,” which at the time was being Magnesia. What doesn’t kill you marketed with a jingle: “It’s not makes you stronger, right?

M

Cast a

BEADY EYE...

The world’s highest-paid model looked a million dollars when she strutted down the runway in her native Brazil recently wearing Adrianna Papell.

Steal Gisele’s style in another beautifully beaded Papell number: Adrianna Papell Short Beaded Dress in Champagne, £250 (www.johnlewis.com).

steal her

style

OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN

OPTION A Shift Miss Selfridge Diana dress £150 Embellished party frock

OPTION A Detailed Pretty Eccentric Ava dress £225 Flattering A-line perfection

Gillian Molesworth is a journalist and mum-of-two who grew up in the USA and moved to north Cornwall when she met her husband 8

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06/05/2015 13:35:18

BRAND NEW!

ouch!

Just

Things that go bump...

Never try and run upstairs in the dark wearing flip flops. That is the valuable lesson BRAD PITT has learned the hard way.

The Hollywood hunk appeared at a charity event recently sporting a large bruise just below his eye on his left cheek, raising concern among fans as to how he may have injured himself.

Brad, 51, released a statement to People, revealing: “This is what happens when you try to run up

between us Gossip, news, trend setters and more - you

steps in the dark, with your arms full, wearing flip flops.

“Turns out if you then try to stop your forward momentum with your face, the result is road rash.

“Regardless, I wasn’t going to miss the Autism Speaks benefit the night after - wonderful people and I was honoured to be a part of this important event.”

West says: Look where you are going, Brad!

No time to DATE? Still on the theme of pin-up male actors going all human on us, Irish heartthrob COLIN FARRELL has really given us a surprise by revealing he has not dated for four years.

The 38-year-old Irish sex symbol and former hell-raiser told the Sunday Times he has been too busy working and looking after his sons to find time to look for love.

Colin said: “I have not dated for, ooh, four years now. It’s just not happening, what with the work, the kids and my life.

“I know it’s not what people expect to hear, but that’s the honest truth.”

The True Detective star, who checked into rehab in 2005 to be treated for drug addiction, said par-

enthood had changed him.

“It’s not all about you anymore, which is a relief. It’s about a bigger world, and helping them find their place in it.”

West says: That’s all very laudable, but if you do fancy a date, give us a call.

heard all the latest juicy stuff here first!

!

BARELY FAMOUS? Actress KATE WINSLET says she does not feel as much in the public eye as she once was – and is totally fine with that. The 39-yearold Reading-born actress found fame 20 years ago in the Hollywood movie of Sense and Sensibility alongside Emma Thompson. The film, shot on the Flete estate and Saltram House near Plymouth in Devon, famously saw Kate as Marianne Dashwood, alongside Emma Thompson as her sister Elinor, getting soaked in a Westcountry deluge of epic proportions.

“I think it has quietened down a lot for me now,” says Kate, appearing in period costume again in the just-released film A Little Chaos, set in the 18th century Court of Versailles, which sees her once again working with Alan Rickman, an old friend from her Sense and Sensibility days. “I’m older, my life is what it is - that’s not really as interesting to people as say the more tabloid, juicy stuff of one’s 20s. And I think that as you get older, you learn to really not care. It’s one of the great things about approaching 40, you really do learn to exist within yourself,” says the three-times married actress, who is pregnant with her third child. West says: You’re still famous in our eyes, Kate!

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Many hats: Andrew Hichens will respond to police, fire and ambulance calls in Hayle - he’s the UK’s first three-in-one emergency officer

in pictures To the rescue: Children from St Ives School help return a seal to the sea on the beach at Gwithian

Sunshine: Cally, aged nine, enjoys the springtime in a field near Newton Abbot

The big cheese: Stuart Dowle of Quickes Dairy shows off some cheddar at the Exeter food festival

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06/05/2015 12:36:58

talking points Say it with…

Anniversaries

ONE OF US Famous faces who come from the Westcountry

It’s not all jewels and precious metals, you know 10 garden flowers called Wedding Day

3. Lace (13th)

2. Fuchsia

4. Ivory (14th)

3. Chrysanthemum

5. Copper (22nd)

5. Primula auricula 6. Clematis 7. Iris 8. Agapanthus 9. Dahlia

Maisie Williams

2. Willow (9th)

1 Rose

4. Sweet Pea

This week:

1. Paper (1st)

Somerset actress Maisie Williams has become world famous through her role as Arya Stark in hit television series Game of Thrones.

6. Orchids (27th) 7. Coral (35th) 8. Alabaster (37th) 9. Groceries (44th) 10. Books (47th)

10. Penstemon

The happy list Superstition

School: Born Margaret Constance Williams in Bristol in 1997, Maisie, who’s just turned 18, went to school in Midsomer Norton before moving to Bath Dance College to study Performing Arts. She landed her Game of Thrones role at the age of 12.

film Cyberbully, Maisie campaigned to support victims, saying: “I wanted to help people my age who look up to me,” she said. “So I went with cyberbullying, as it’s not tackled right.”

DID YOU KNOW?

10 lucky wedding customs

1. Throwing peas (Czech Republic) 2. Pre-wedding milk bath (Morocco)

10 things to make you smile this week 1 Met Ball fashion Good for a gander, and a giggle

3. Pinching the bride (Egypt)

2 Another Bank Holiday

4. Breaking a loaf (Ancient Rome)

3 Books St Ives Literary Festi-

5. Bride wearing red (China/Korea)

4 Charity fundraising for

roll on May 25 val runs until May 16 Nepal = heart-warming

6. Marrying on a Wednesday (Europe)

5 Babies especially Princess

7. Silver sixpence in shoe (Britain)

6 Pony Racer new kids’ book

8. Breaking a vase (Italy) 9. 12 gold coins for the bride (Mexico) 10. Father spitting on the bride (Kenya)

Charlotte. Aaahh... from Devon’s Lucy Johnson

7 #fivewordstoruinadate very funny on Twitter

8 Spring greens fresh 9 The election over (hurrah!)

10 Malala attackers in jail: good

Smelling salts: Maisie stars in new film The Falling, about a mysterious fainting epidemic that breaks out after a tragedy at strict all girls’ school in the 1960s.

Discovered: She got her first break when Right handed her dance school Maisie learned teacher encouraged to sword fight her to take part in a left handed, to dance showcase in France, explaining: “A play her role as number of VIPs from Shy: She reveals that tomboy Arya. the entertainment Sean Bean is ‘quite industry were shy’ on the game of watching in the Thrones set, saying: audience. From that audition I got “When wasn’t acting, he was usually an agent.” That led to her Game of sat reading a book.”

Thrones audition and the rest is history, although down to earth Growing up: “I’m just trying to do the Maisie adds: “I’m just a normal right thing, at the same time as trying teenager. I still go home and eat beans to figure out who I am,” says Maisie. on toast.”

What’s next: She’s set to appear in an episode of Doctor Who called The Girl Who Died and The Woman Who Lived, with comedian Rufus Hound. She was on set in Cardiff filming it, last month and the show will be screened later this year.

In Game of Thrones

Campaign: After starring in the 11

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06/05/2015 12:38:37

People

Confessions of a middle-aged

bride Lyn Barton from Penzance finds out that planning a laid-back wedding in your forties is no joke. What with pricey frocks, busy registrars and gardens for hire at nearly £2000 a pop, this mid-life marriage is already looking somewhat stressful. And there’s still 14 months to go...

Engaged?

Over 35?

Start here:

That’s £1000 to rearrange furniture

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06/05/2015 12:31:30

£4,000 on a dress seriously!?

t’s been a weird few weeks of joy and jaw-dropping disbelief.

In what was an uncharacteristically romantic gesture, on the last day of our dream holiday to Japan my partner of 11 years put his arm around my shoulders and asked me to marry him.

Illuminated, as we were, in the bright neon lights of late night central Tokyo, of course I said yes.

That was the happy part - and it was enough to convey me on fluffy white clouds of hope all the way back to Cornwall.

Our wedding - we decided - was going to be a casual, friendly affair. Shaun and I have known each other for nigh on 30 years and tying the proverbial knot would be a great opportunity to gather all our friends together for fantastic reunion which otherwise only seemed to happen when we attended funerals.

It was going to be fun.

It was going to be relaxed.

It was not going to be a stuffed shirt wedding with blokes poured into morning suits tugging at uncomfortable collars and women squeezed into frocks which required cantilever underwear.

Nope.

Our day was going to reflect our personalities - laid back, mildly inebriated and bit shabby

I

t’s 0 to ange ure

round the edges.

Then I made the mistake of buying a bridal magazine.

I dare you to pick one up. There are loads - I counted 18 in WHSmith in Truro, many of which

£4 00

0

were sealed in little plastic bags to prevent you perusing the contents.

Just as well really because when you hand over your fiver and break into one of these

things, you instantly see why.

They are about 85% advertising and what copy there is I suggest is recycled year on year, reflecting that it’s an area of interest with a fairly limited shelf life for most people.

Sewn into the endless adverts for dresses costing £4,000 - (seriously! do people do this?) are a host of not-very-subliminal messages.

They imply that to spend anything less than the GDP of a small South American country on your wedding would be tantamount to consigning the whole thing to shameful, shotgun-like affair.

It is your day, they say, do you really want to scrimp on the springboard for your life together?

After all, if it all goes horribly wrong, they imply you’ll only have your failure to hire a herd of trained wedding alpacas or the fact you didn’t commission specially genetically-modified flowers for the bouquet to blame.

Our mantra at this early stage of organisation was that the whole thing was going to be a pleasure, not a pain.

Above all, it was not going to bankrupt us.

However, it seems that the word ‘inexpensive’ does not feature in the lexicon of weddings.

I thought I would obtain a benchmark for costs and contacted one large hotel near the beach in Cornwall. It’s a lovely place although, to be 13

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THE SHOOT: Professional photographer Phil Monckton took these relaxed engagement shots of Lyn and Shaun

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06/05/2015 12:32:06

People

Our day was going to reflect our personalities - laid back, mildly inebriated and bit shabby round the edges Lyn Barton, 47, bride

£2,300 for less than an hour

honest, we never thought it was our pot of tea because it seemed rather formal - the kind of place where the maitre ’d’s monocle might pop out if you insisted on a glass of white wine with your beef.

And with 70 ‘must-have’ guests and a basic price for each one at just shy of £100...well, you do the sums.

By this point we had already discovered that dragging a registrar out of their office on a weekend would set us back the best part of £500. So, as the military say, we managed our expectations accordingly. But why, we wondered, was a venue so much pricier for a wedding reception than for a retirement do or a 21st birthday party?

At another place, which in fairness we really loved, the cost of hiring one gorgeous garden area which sported magnificent elevated views of the sea - for the ceremony alone was close to £1,700.

Add to that the registrar and you’ve already spent £2,300 for something that will probably take less than an hour. And that’s before anyone has popped open a bottle of prosecco.

At another venue, the price for hiring it from 4pm onwards went from £500 Monday to Friday to double that on Saturday. Holding the ceremony there was another £1,000, plus your £500 for the registrar.

That’s £1,000 to rearrange the furniture!

I’m delighted to say that we have found our dream wedding venue though and it is everything that we hoped for: cool, fun, unfussy, good value, professional - and within a stone’s throw of a beach.

Lovely Driftwood Spars at Trevaunance Cove, near St Agnes, has a fantastic reception room which is bright, airy and has terrific views of the sea. There’s also a private bar selling their own award-winning ales - which means pub prices for our guests - a private garden with wonderful sea views and plenty of accommodation.

The big day is 14 months away and I keep getting warned it will fly by.

Until then I have a veritable minefield of decisions to make, including frock, bridesmaids, guest list, menu, band or disco, flowers and decor.

What can possibly go wrong?

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06/05/2015 12:32:23

People

The work of a

moment When Saturday comes, you’ll find Kathryn Clarke-Mcleod going up the aisle, yet again.

Here’s her insider guide to life as a wedding photographer - plus vital tips on how to get the very best pictures of the day...

’ve got the groom in my sights. The room is hushed and I can feel my heartbeat in my ears. The collective gaze of the entire church swings to where I stand at the back, before sweeping past me like a lighthouse beam.

This is a big day for me. My first wedding.

I’m not the bride. She is outside and just about to step through the church doors. I am crouched inside, my mind fizzing with shutter speed numbers and exposure calculations, watching her through the viewfinder of my beautiful new full-frame camera. She shares a poignant look with her mum, with whom she is arm-in-arm ready to walk down the aisle. Click…click…click Then, she steps over the threshold and into the church. I focus and recompose constantly, and my camera’s reputation as a reliable workhorse is put to the test. She sweeps past and up the aisle, where her groom is waiting, eyes abrim (Zoom in, click click) Regular readers may ask themselves how I find myself here. I am one of West magazine’s content editors, and spend most of my days laying out the pages of the magazine you are holding. Truth is, I have fallen victim to the increasingly popular ‘cupcake-shop’ dream syndrome.

You know, the one where someone in their thirties decides the want to do something they don’t just like, but really love. This can be anything from the aforementioned cake

I

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Inside advice for capturing your day Choose your photographer carefully Pick someone you wouldn’t mind being stuck in a lift with. They will be your shadow on your big day, so if there is anything about them that makes you uncomfortable or unsure, keep looking.

Don’t be afraid to ask A lot of the time packages are there as a guideline. But if you don’t want a large printed album, just say so.

More often than not you’ll get an alternative that pleases you. Often in the form of extra time or other products.

Consider engagement shoots They are such a good opportunity to get to know your photographer and vice versa. Things will flow easier on the day, and you have a whole extra and entirely different set of images for your home. A lot of the time this is included in the package or available for a small extra fee. Worth every penny.

Break with tradition Your wedding album doesn’t need to look like everyone else’s. These days there are so many options you can work into your package to make your album really unique. Next day ‘trash the dress’ shoots (think wearing it horseriding or for a swim in the sea) are hugely popular and produce stunning results. A ‘first look’ shoot is also a beautiful idea.

You meet your groom at a gorgeous location of your choice just before the ceremony takes place. Gently tap him on the back, and he turns around to see you, captured on camera.

Insider tip: A lot of the top wedding photographers are more affordable on weekdays.

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shop, Zumba and dive instructor, hairdresser or, in my case, wedding photographer..

These things are slippery slopes. I imagine those tempted by the world of full-time baking have had a seed planted by friends and relatives making delighted noises over a plate of their goodies, perhaps an offhand: ‘These are good enough to sell’ comment has watered it further. And before you know it they are lying awake at night thinking of ways to live their dream.

It’s not that different in my case. A genuine enjoyment of the craft, a few kind words here and there and the next thing I was quietly nurturing an obsession with the industry. I spent every spare minute researching gear, stalking successful photographers online, mooning over the shots from weddings all over the globe, and shooting everyone who would sit still long enough for me to capture them After a bit of asking around I was put in touch with a respected and established Westcountry wedding photographer, Zac Gibson.

Zac is very tall, has a calm easy energy, and is one of the most knowledgeable cameramen I have ever met. Zac looked at my portfolio and invited me to second shoot (ie be his wingman) for him at his next wedding, and that’s how I found myself crouching at the back of a dark church witnessing the most special day in a couple’s life.

Fast forward a few months and I have shot four weddings, (five by the time this goes to print) four with Zac and one solo. Each one has been unique and beautiful in its own way. And each one further affirms why I love what I do. There is no better way to spend a day that to share in such a happy occasion. At the end of a shift my limbs ache, but not as much as my cheeks which are near cramping from smiling.

Contact Kathryn on kathrynwrites@gmail.com, or find her on facebook as A Heart-Shaped Stone Photography

Look your best...

Choose your foundation with care. Ever had your photo taken on a night out, only to look at the screen and see a white clown face staring back at you? This is known as foundation flashback.

The problem occurs when you use a foundation that contains titanium dioxide, which reflects light from a camera.

This doesn’t mean you need to eliminate sunscreen from your foundation. Rather, choose a base that has chemical sun protection rather than physical.

We recommend: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation £32.85 Debenhams

Great looking hair doesn’t start the morning of the wedding.

Schedule regular trims and treatments for the 12 months before the big day. It may seem counter-intuitive but trims mean that your hair will grow thicker and fuller, avoiding thin and straggly ends.

Practise your smile. Don’t underestimate the power of knowing which curve of the mouth shows exactly the right amount of teeth. This will come especially handy when doing the seemingly endless family formal portraits when your face feels like it is about to crack. You can just pop on your default grin.

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People Kathryn took these shots of Tessa and Luke’s wedding in February this year

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06/05/2015 14:05:21

‘Dramatic and romantic.’ Offcamera flash is a technique Kathryn enjoys.

ALL IMAGES: KATHRYN CLARKE-MCLEOD

People

Ideas Kathryn would steal:

Photo booth. This is such a fun way to spoil your guests. Lots of people like to see themselves in photos, and even those who usually don’t will love the fact that you can use the supply of wigs and glasses to go incognito. My local favourite is www. funboothdevon.co.uk Think instant prints as well as an online gallery (very high tech) and the funniest props around. Fun after the champers, but also a great distraction for when you slip off to get your portraits done. Never leave your guests high and dry with nothing to entertain them!

Make your menu your own. I loved the

fact that one of my couples served up bangers and mash. It’s their favourite meal.

Everyone else loves it too. It’s local and sustainable. Goes equally well with red and white wine. The list is endless.

your tablescape. Take back control and use personalised wine labels. Use your favourite quote, your names and the date of the wedding, or even just reimagine the existing label with softer fonts.

Wine labels – it seems almost obligatory to have a bottle of red and white on the table. But if you’re design-oriented like me there is the worry these will clash with

Be social media savvy. Sure, you are forking out a hefty fee for professional photos, but there are thousands of moments that even they can’t capture, and you have to wait weeks for those.

Use a chalkboard to display your chosen hashtag for the event (eg: #smithwedding) and get guests on Instagram/facebook/ twitter to use it every time they upload a snap. Then sit back and watch your online album grow. It’s the modern equivalent of the disposable camera on the table.

Essentials in the bathroom. A basket in the ladies’ room filled to the brim with perfumes, plasters, safety pins, paracetamol, concealer, gum and even tights was one of the most thoughtful things I have seen. It tells your guests that you know it is a long day, and that you appreciate them taking the journey along with you.

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venues

30

dresses

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guests

flowers 21

Intro.indd 21

06/05/2015 14:59:20

How to: Do

u

n w o we r

flowers ing dd

yo

Words: Becky Sheaves Florist: Lucy Cole Photography: Steve Haywood

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Decorate

“

he style right now for wedding flowers is very rustic, very pretty,” says florist Lucy Cole from Totnes. “The crafting and retro vibe in fashion really has extended to floristry.

People like arrangements that are relaxed, looking homely and a little bit handmade.”

This is great news for brides who want to get creative and do the flowers for their wedding themselves. “Often, bridesmaids, the bride and her mum get together and do the flowers. It’s a really fun thing to do in the run-up to the wedding,” says Lucy.

Lucy works part-time at Teasels, a florist in Ashburton, while studying one day a week at Bicton College in East Devon. “At this time of year we are doing flowers for a wedding every single weekend,” she says.

Now in her third (and final) year of the Level 3 National Certificate in Floristry, Lucy says she has “learned so much” on the course. “I absolutely love what we do here at Bicton College, and the course lecturers are so knowledgeable,” she says. Once she has graduated, Lucy is planning to work full-time as a florist.

Especially for West magazine’s wedding edition, Lucy has designed four table arrangements (see overleaf) for a spring/summer wedding.

They are, she says, “easily achievable” by nonprofessionals. “They’re simple to do but with real impact. You can achieve a really lovely effect for a relatively small financial outlay. And once you start flower arranging, you might well fall in love with it, as I have done.”

To study floristry at Bicton College, visit www.bicton.ac.uk. Lucy Cole is available for wedding commissions: call 0777 0369951 or email lucycole511@hotmail.com

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It’s enjoyable (and cost effective) to do your own wedding flowers

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STYLE TIP: Wrap lace and ribbon

round a jar to make a free vase Milk Churn

Table Basket

Lucy says: This is a simple hand-tied bouquet, using a mini milk churn as a vase. Pick long-stemmed flowers in soft pastels and plenty of natural greenery.

Lucy says: This is surprisingly easy to make, and once the candle is lit looks lovely for an evening reception. If the pussy willow isn’t available, you could use lengths of ivy instead.

You will need: Lace for tying A mini milk churn (available from florists) Roses, stocks, clematis, bouvardia and veronica

You will need: Wicker wreath basket (available from florists) Church candle and candle jar Moss Three pieces of florist’s oasis Roses, tulips, clematis, yellow skimmia, eryngium (blue thistle) purple trachelium, chrystanthemum, ornithologium and pussy willow branches

Method: Hand tie the flowers in a spiral, adding stems to the outside of the bouquet as you turn it round in your hand. Tie it off with lace and set it in the milk churn.

Cost: Flowers around £13, churn £9

Method: Arrange three similar (but not necessarily identical) sets of flowers in oasis, and set them around the basket. Fill in the gaps with moss, and loop pussy willow around to join the three arrangements. In the centre, place a church candle in a glass jar.

Cost: Flowers around £15, basket £8

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS In Victorian times, a bouquet could send a hidden message:

PRIMROSES:

STEPHANOTIS

These pretty hedgerow mean ‘I can’t live without you’

The classic bridal flower means ‘Happiness in marriage’

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06/05/2015 12:54:12

Decorate

Hand tied frame

Bird cage

Lucy says: I made the frame for this bouquet with wire and birch bark. It’s dual-purpose - it would look lovely as a bridesmaid’s bouquet, and then you can stand the bouquet in its jar as a table decoration.

Lucy says: This is a little bit different and very striking. You can pick up these decorative bird cages quite cheaply these days.

You will need: Decorative wire and birch bark to create a circular frame Ribbon to tie Large empty coffee jar, decorated with lace and ribbon Snapdragons, eryngium, trachelium, calla lilies, clematis and ornithologium Method: Create the frame with bent wire and glue discs of birch bark to some of the hoops. Hand tie a bouquet and fit it into the frame, then tie off with ribbon. Large coffee jars make great free vases, if decorated with lace and ribbons.

You will need: Bird cage Oasis in a dish Pheasant feathers Moss Germini, skimmia, alchemilla mollis, chrysanthemums and September flowers Method: Set up the oasis in a dish arrange the flowers into place, then place into the cage. Finish off with moss around the dish and, once the cage is closed, pheasant feathers.

Cost: Birdcage £15, flowers around £15

Cost: Flowers around £20, wire £4

WHITE VIOLETS:

RED ROSES:

ORANGE BLOSSOM

Send these, and you’re saying: ‘Let’s take a chance on happiness’

To this day, these beatiful flowers mean ‘Love and respect’

Another wedding classic, this means ‘Marriage and fruitfulness’ 25

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06/05/2015 12:54:35

Gardens

ANNE SWITHINBANK

Wedding reflections Devon’s Anne Swithinbank, panellist on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, is thinking about weddings, and water... hat could be nicer than a picture of a bride and groom reflected in water? Small wonder that so many wedding venues include water features, lakes and ponds. First published in 1956, the Observer’s Book of Pond Life

by John Clegg, with its sturdy, pale blue cover has stood the test of time, as enduringly as any long-lasting marriage.

Flicking through its colour plates of water beetles and caddis fly larvae takes me straight back to myself as a nature-mad child of nine, packing for the annual family fortnight’s holiday. This was usually spent with relatives in Fowey or in a caravan at Polkerris, a good eight hours from north Kent in those days. In readiness, I’d start stacking up my I-spy’s, Ladybird and Observer collections, ready for tackling pastures new.

John Clegg is a past curator of Torquay Natural History Museum (now Torquay Museum), founded in 1844. Visiting museums is another favourite pastime of mine. You never know what you are going to find and although I may not be interested in Torquay’s current exhibit on Torquay United, I was amazed to discover that, tucked away, it has an extensive natural history collection including an herbarium of 17,000 specimens local and exotic, shells and insects.

Back to Pond Life, I came across rotifers, those fabulous microscopic animals that kept my eye glued to a ‘junior microscope’ for hours, angling the mirror to shine light on their transparent bodies and wafting cilia, used in feeding and movement. This had me rushing out to our own pond. Lined with concrete, it is roughly cloverleaved in shape and varies from 1-3m/3-9ft wide with gently sloping sides. Unless you have small children in a garden, a pond is delightful. Wildlife use it for drinking, breeding and bathing, a

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flat, reflective surface adds another dimension to your plot and you can grow aquatic plants.

When it comes to pond maintenance, I’m a firm believer in non-intervention. We’re told not to site them under trees but a little shade will stop the water becoming too warm, which encourages the algae that turn clear water into gloopy green. Covering the surface with netting in October (birds can still drink through it and careful stretching and pegging down should ensure they don’t get caught) to stop leaves from drifting in is essential, because then it won’t get choked up

with rotting leaves.

Unfortunately, I didn’t follow my own advice last year and oak leaves have drifted in. I never thoroughly clean a pond but only ever dredge it, usually in stages using a net. But when is the best time? This is entirely dependant on what’s happening in there and the only way to find out is to have a little dip. A few gentle, slow swipes with a small fishing net will bring out duckweed from the surface, a few leaves and some silt. Turn this out gently on the bank and see what’s in it. Our pond is usually home to newts and I netted two,

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

straight away. Now is not a good time to disturb the water, because they’ve returned to the pond (having wintered under garden debris) to breed.

You may already have frogspawn and tadpoles.

There were a lot of freshwater shrimp and more swipes might have revealed some hammer-headed dragonfly larvae. I’ll dip again in late summer and see how things stand.

Plantwise, I have it just right at the moment, with a massive marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) in full bloom, two pots of well-behaved Japanese water iris and one of Iris laevigata ‘Mottled

Beauty’ which, like yellow flag, needs regular division and replanting to keep it under control.

These are marginals growing in shallow water just covering their pots but there’s also a small water lily, some floating water soldier and submerged weed. Controlling plants in small ponds is important, otherwise they knit into a raft of vegetation and there is no calm water. Shading half the surface with their leaves is important where ponds are in full sun. I could watch our pond for hours. Gardens and water really are a match made in horticultural heaven.

• T op up ponds where water levels have sunk in droughts.

Stored rain water is best (siphon it down from higher water butts using a hose) but I frequently use tap water.

• Make a pond in a pot by taking a wooden half barrel or glazed container with no drainage hole and filling it with

water. Treat like a pond in miniature, so add a marginal or two, some pondweed and maybe a floating plant, with stones to allow birds easy access. It will soon fill with life and activity.

• Earth up potatoes by drawing soil up on either side using a rake or draw hoe. This weeds at the same time.

Question time with Anne West reader queries answered by Anne Swithinbank

Q

I’ve grown lettuce for the first time (I read that it was easy) and sowed it into a seed tray out in the garden. The seeds have germinated but the plants are not growing very fast.

Lettuce is easy but compared to some crops (cabbages and kales for instance) is slow in the early stages. We’ve had cold nights and a greenhouse or cold frame would have helped.

As soon as seedlings have developed and are big enough to handle in a seed tray, they should be transplanted to individual small pots or modules to grow on. Handle them by their leaves, not stems and provided with more space and fresh compost, they’ll grow faster as spring progresses.

Once they’ve filled their small pots, plant out in good soil about a trowel length apart. I harvest loose leaf lettuces by the leaf from the outside, as you get a much longer season of picking and avoid the inevitable glut if you leave them all to heart up.

Q

Our Lithodora ‘Heavenly Blue’ is looking yellow and sickly. It is planted in a sunny bed along the front wall of our house. The soil here is not very good and full of stones and chips of concrete. Should I feed it?

This low-growing, ground carpeting evergreen shrub with bright blue flowers prefers a neutral to acidic soil. Beds running alongside houses are often alkaline because of accumulated building materials. New growths are yellow or ‘chlorotic’ because they are deficient in iron and magnesium and are not able to take up other plant foods from the soil. Try feeding them with a fertilizer for ericaceous plants but the answer might be to move them to a different bed in early autumn or next spring. Buy a basic pH testing kit and test the soil here and further from the house.

There will be plenty of lime tolerant plants you can grow instead.

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

Prune camellias as soon as they have finished flowering, if they are becoming too large for their space. Resist the temptation to clip them like a hedge, but reach in and cut certain stems back into the bush for a natural effect.

Remove side shoots from greenhouse tomatoes regularly and tie stems in to their supports or twine them around strings as they grow.

Ventilate the greenhouse to avoid extremes of temperatures.

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06/05/2015 12:25:09

Beauty

Bridal beauty

We present the best bridal treats and cheats, all trialled by West magazine’s Catherine Barnes, with help from daughter Tilly, 17.

Blush! Forget the best man’s speech - Art Deco’s long lasting sunshine blush will accentuate your natural glow. £22.80 at Debenhams and www.artdeco.com

They call it Mission Impossible, but it’s a misnomer: This fabulous shadow palette has everyone covered – from bride and hens to mothers-of. £39 from www.iconiclondoninc.com

Cheers!

Photo ready?

Prep, brush-apply foundation, conceal and powder-finish your way to a flawless, photo-ready face with Delilah’s Time Resist products, available in eight skin tones. The brand’s also behind applicator tools to help you achieve an even finish. Prices start at £26 for a concealer at www. delilahcosmetics.com

Champagne bath or fizzy cocktail soak, moddom? What better way to start a special day! Bath House bath salts box set, £18 www.moonpig.com

SMART The high maintenance look nailed: Try M&S’s gel effect varnished for a quick, streak-free finish without the need for drying lamps. £6 each at www.marksandspencer.com

You’ve been awake since dawn and it’s going to be a long day! This nude pencil liner highlights and opens up your eyes and also helps eliminate redness. £9.99 from www.idealworld.tv

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the review Three of the best:

Nail varnish Our testers treat their talons to a trio of highshine nail polishes Shiny

LUXURY

“This polish is beautifully shiny and the thick, flat brush means you can almost cover a nail in one stroke. The down side is that it’s still wet after 60 seconds, although you can apply a second coat comfortably without it catching on the first. If you’re in a hurry though, you won’t be out the door in a minute unless you have a hairdryer handy.” Gemma

It’s your time to shine: Smooth your body with Iconic’s Gold and Caviar home spa scrub, which gently exfoliates for shimmerysoft results. £30 from www.iconiclondoninc.com

Rimmel London 60 Seconds Super Shine Nail Polish in Black Cherries, £2.99 (www. boots.com)

First kiss Soft kissable lips with a hint of shine: Benecos lip pencils are £6.95 each in Pretty Daisy and Silky Tulip. www.benecos.co.uk

PREPARATION Step up your routine in the weeks up to a happy occasion. Face Theory’s vitamin rich blemishbusting toning mists are formulated for dry/ combination skin, as well as sensitive complexions. A 100ml mist costs £15, or try a handy travel version for just 75p - great for a freshenup spritz during a long day!www.facetheory.com

LUSCIOUS “A great polish that really lives up to its name. This luscious pillar-box red goes on like a dream - the brush is perfectly shaped and compact for precise application. It stays shiny for days and chip-free for nearly a week.

I didn’t even need a top coat.” Julia

[[ ‘Within a day it had started to peel and I ended up picking it off.

Disappointing for such a pricey polish’

OPI Infinite Shine 2 Lacquer in Unequivocally Crimson, £13.95 (NailPolish.co.uk)

Pricey...

“This wet-look varnish went on smoothly, but I needed three coats before I felt the colour was dense enough. The juicy raspberry colour was shiny like the coating on a toffee apple, but within a day it had started to peel and I ended up picking it all off. Disappointing for such a pricey polish.” Sandy

Yves Saint Laurent Nail Lacquer in Rouge Wet, £19 (available May 27; www.yslbeauty.co.uk) Want a review? Send your request to westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 29

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06/05/2015 12:28:25

Ivory Abigail dress £200 BHS

Bride & Joy Top choices to help you look your beautiful best here are so many ways to look beautiful on your wedding day, and here are just a few starters for inspiration. How about this gorgeous Cressida dress from Phase Eight, with soft lace for a flattering neckline, and a pretty embellished waistline? You could ring the retro changes with a cute 60s-style tunic dress from Mont Velvet or go for 1940s glamour with a siren dress from House of Foxy.

If you’re into something a little more understated, then Jacques Vert has this elegant dress and jacket combination. And don’t forget that people will be spending a fair amount of time staring at your back, which is where this 1920s Gatsby dress from Pretty Eccentric wins out.

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Cressida wedding dress £395 Phase Eight

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Fashion

Wedding dress £189 Jacques Vert

Dress £199 Jacket £189 Shoes £99 Jacques Vert

Pink dress £229 Jacques Vert

Champagne siren dress £260 The House of Foxy

Aurora embellished wedding dress £750 Phase Eight

Blush pink bridesmaid dress from £36 boy’s waistcoat set £20 BHS

Marlene dress £295 Phase Eight

1960s-style lace tunic dress £139 Mint Velvet

Josefine wedding dress £495 Phase Eight

Gatsby beaded dress (back view) £225 Pretty Eccentric

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Trend

HOW TO WEAR IT:

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

Kathryn Clarke-Mcleod on why this season’s yellows were made for wedding guests he wedding season is upon us. You will have read about my foray into the world of photography on page 16, so you’ll understand that when Dress, LK Bennett, I get the opportunity to go to one as Princesshay, £225 an actual guest, I get quite excited. Cue obsessive celeb stalking.

Bag, LK Bennett, Did you see Emma Stone in Ellie Saab at the Princesshay, £195 2015 Oscars? Divine. Admittedly that dress was more gold than sunshine yellow, but it definitely Shoes, LK sparked an idea. Another ray of inspiration is Bennett, Margot Robbie (Leonardo Di Caprio’s leading Princesshay, £250 lady in Wolf of Wall Street) who stunned in a Rosie Assoulin Spring/Summer collection gown at a Women of the Year awards in November last year. The bright and buttery shade she wore was feminine and playful and stopped the nearly navel-deep neckline The hemline from looking too brash. is appropriate Amazing as they are, these without being a sirens are best used as inspiration rather than literal intertotal snoozefest, pretation, as no bride will be and the sleeves best pleased if you show up in give a demure a floor length spangled gown, or one whose cleavage might cause air to this sassy most of the menfolk to miss her colour grand entrance.

If you’re going to indulge in the darling of this season’s appropriate without being a total yellow brights, my advice is to keep it simple. snoozefest, and the sleeves give a demure air The colour does all the talking and, done right, it to this sassy colour. It’s a good investment and says ‘Hello. Look at me. I’m one part Gossip Girl, more versatile than you may think, depending on one part Michelle Obama, a sprinkling of Hepwhat you pair it with. There is so much fun to be burn and a dash of lioness’ had accessorising with yellow. I’m in the grips of Let the setting dictate the style. I was looking a fixation with all things sparkly, so these shoes for a frock that would be right at home at a counwere snatched up within mere minutes of entertry manor house, but beach weddings allow for ing the store. What beauties. But if bling’s not softer flowier styles while evening soirees mean your thing there are still a wealth of options. you can get away with a little more glitz.

Turquoise pairs well with pale lemon, as does This LK Bennett frock is a good addition to pearly white. An oversized patterned clutch will anyone’s occasionwear arsenal. The hemline is add interest to the look, or you could really go

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to town with earrings. Think oversized shiny hoops, long danglers in royal blue and even the sparkles of simple studs.

I’m a real sucker for pairing this season’s yellows with leather, too. A structured yellow blouse is white hot with a black leather skirt, and a soft yellow maxi is given a dose of edge with a biker jacket thrown on top.

The best accessory though? A glass of champagne. Cheers to all you happy couples!

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

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DEBENHAMS Butterfly by Mathew Williamson shirt £40 EAST citrus crepe maxi skirt £59

GET THE

look

NEXT crop jacket £50

HOBBS Alderly bag £199

LK BENNETT heels £250 bag £195

NEW LOOK neon high neck top £9.99

NEXT Platform sandals £45

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Wellbeing

Sam Taylor:

Sofa Dodger

This week: Ultimate Frisbee Sam trained with Devon Ultimates in Exeter

Mum of three Sam Taylor from Bodmin is the Sofa Dodger, trying out keep-fit activities that make exercise fun. This week she tries: Ultimate Frisbee with the Devon Ultimates in Exeter ’m a huge fan of team sports and of Ultimate? “American Football at all of the clubs I have visited so and Netball” came the reply, when I far, it usually goes like this after enquired what sports a game of Ultithe introductions: I’m assigned to mate is most like. a babysitter, get Having growing up coached in the rules and the in Cornwall, I’ve had objectives of the game, pracmy fair share of expetise the techniques and once rience chucking a Fris‘Having grown my mentor feels that I have bee around on a beach. up in Cornwall, achieved a basic level of comHowever, the big rule I’ve done my fair petence, I am released back to in the Ultimate game is the group. At the very end, we that when you catch a share of chuckusually have a small game and frisbee, you don’t pick ing a frisbee I get an invite to the pub after. it out of the air with one hand.

What hasn’t happened before Nope, you have to crocodile-snap around on a is that I turn up to a club on a catch it, with one hand on top and beach’ competition night, get given a the other on the bottom. shirt and a typed out rule sheet Warming up, my teammates to read on the side line, before chucked a few forehand Frisbee I’m subbed on! throws - not a technique I’ve ever I’ve amassed quite a bit of sporting knowledge tried, but it looked fairly simple and pretty stylover the course of my Sofa Dodger challenge, so ish. If I wheeled that move out on the beach, I’d what sort of sports might help me get the hang look like a proper pro.

I

[[

My babysitter Pete told me to whip my wrist, in the same manner you might would whip a tea towel to inflict pain. I found, sadly, that my forehand frisbee is as bad as my forehand in tennis.

Luckily, I had a good 10 minute practice before I was given my team pink shirt. After a rival team team scored, I was beckoned on the pitch.

I donned the part of the headless chicken and thankfully, my team scored in spite of my presence, before I left the pitch.

get involved: Visit www.sofadodger.co.uk and key in your postcode to find a class or club near you. Or add your own to the growing database, for free.

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Wellbeing

ally mac’s

DAL-Licious Dhal Ally says: Dhal is the soul food of India! This super quick, veggie dish is jam-packed with fibre, antioxidants and protein and deliciously flavoured with scrummy spices.

This is made from Moong dhal lentils which are yellow, flat, quick cooking, a great source of protein and fibre and very easy to digest. Like other lentils (there are more than ten types of Indian lentils) they are also low in fat and rich in potassium, calcium and vitamin B. So get buying and start cooking.

1 tsp mustard seeds 1 tsp crushed chilli (fresh chillies would be even better) Pinch of Himalayan seasalt Knob of coconut oil Freshly torn coriander

You will need:

Method:

(to make four hearty bowlfuls)

1.

400g Moong dhal lentils 1 red onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, chopped A small knob of ginger (approximately 3cm) 1 tbsp turmeric 1 tbsp cumin seeds

2.

Wash the dhal until the water runs clear, then drain and put in a large pan and cover with two litres of cold water. Bring to the boil.

Add the garlic, ginger, turmeric and chopped chillies to the pan with a pinch of salt, turn down the heat and cover, leaving the lid slightly off your pot and simmer very gently for about an hour. Stir every so often until

3.

4.

5.

the dhal has broken down completely and become creamy. How incredible does your kitchen smell now?!!!

Add boiling water or reduce the dhal further. At this point I added another teaspoon of Himalayan seasalt, but that’s up to you.

Next, you need to simmer it for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat your knob of coconut oil in a frying pan over a medium high heat and add the onions. Stir them until they are golden and beginning to crisp then add the dried spices and cook for a couple of minutes until the mustard seeds begin to pop. Tip over the dhal, stir in, and top with chopped coriander.

This dhal is serious comfort food! I’m reminiscing about my trip to Asia right now!

Eating this really takes me back…

Natural food expert Ally Mac lives and cooks in South Devon. Ally specialises in devising good-for-you recipes that are easy to prepare at home. She also sells several of her own delicious healthy products online at www.allyskitchenstories.co.uk 35

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Wellbeing

the boost

Look good in those wedding pictures.

Here are the latest wellness trends, health secrets and expert advice to help you feel your best on the Big Day

Football for all Come on you mums-of-the-bride (and dads!): if you love football but feel your knees are no longer up to a match, then why not try walking football? It’s all the fun at an easier pace, and these days you’ll find clubs all over the South West. Visit www. walkingfootballunited.co.uk for details – Bideford’s team meets on Monday nights at Bideford College, 7-8pm, and there are many more around the region.

If you’re looking for a real gamechanger with your workout, then Blast Fitness Camps could work for you. Taking place in Launceston, Tavistock, Bude and Bristol, they are intense sessions of interval training and weight resistance.

For men and women of all ages, it’s £97 a month for three sessions a week, plus dietary advice and lots of motivational help from trainer Matt. Have a look at www. blastfitnesscamps.co.uk for some amazing before-and-after pictures.

SUPERFOOD Brewer’s yeast is packed full of B vitamins, which can help combat tiredness and fatigue in the run up to a wedding. Already found in Marmite, now M&S has collaborated with a London brewery to come up with its own spreadable version. Its Brewer’s Paste is made with seven-malt Porter Ale and also contains molasses, a source of iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium. M&S says that as well as on toast, its £2 paste is great for livening up stews.

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ALL ON A PLATE Calorie counting can be tedious, but you can fit in your wedding dress by having a little of everything you fancy, provided you don’t cheat. If you serve up according to the portion sizes demarcated on the Diet Plate, you could lose weight steadily and sensibly. There’s a range of crockery available to ensure you consume a balanced amount of calories a day, according to your age and gender. Academic trials saw users eating from the Diet Plate range shed around 1.2kg a week over six months. Plates cost £19.99, with bowls available at £15.99 from www.thedietplate.com

Top up your beauty sleep Losing sleep over wedding plans?

Nutritionist and dietician Dale Pinnock has created a limited edition Snoozie Smoothy for Premier Inn, formulated for an especially restful night’s sleep.

Create your own version with tincture of valerian, a natural soporific, along with cherry juice, spinach and banana, all great for readying your body and mind to relax.

In a survey into our sleeping habits, Premier Inn found that women can lie awake worrying for 45 minutes in between dreams, with their relationship top of their concerns.

Premier Inn is currently trialling the smoothie with guests at four of its hotels, to explore just how well it is received.

WEDDING

cake?

NO PROBLEM !

Now you can balance good food with plenty of exercise.

Enthusiastic runners and walkers are in for a Devon treat with the Scrumptious Croyde Trail on June 7. The scenic 10 mile circular route over coastal and public footpaths to Saunton and Putsborough stops off for tasty local treats to eat along the way.

The event costs £25, including 12 food stops, and will raise money for hospitals and healthcare in north Devon. To enter, visit www. overandabove.org.uk 37

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Wellbeing

A slim secret Could fat-freezing work for you?

My wedding is coming up and I have been dieting for the last few months and exercising too. I’d love to look as slim as Amal Alamuddin, George Clooney’s new wife, when it comes to my wedding day but I can’t seem to shift the stubborn fat around my stomach.

I have read that there is a treatment that reduces the fat in these areas by having that particular area frozen? How does it work, is there any downtime and how much does it cost?

Q

Dr Pradnya Apte says: The treatment you are referring to is fat freezing liposuction, also known as cryolipolysis. This type of treatment is nonsurgical so no scalpels are involved, there’s no downtime and hence it’s a treatment that could even be done in your lunch hour. out.

Fat cells that are just below skin surface are Prior to the cooling heads being placed on the very sensitive to cold. This process works by skin, a wet cooling membrane is placed over the cooling the area to subzero temperatures, which skin to protect it from cold burns. The cooling causes the fat cells in this area to die, disinteheads are then placed over the membrane. As the grate and eventually be eliminated from the body area to be treated is drawn into the heads, you through body wastes. The surrounding blood feel a slight suction pressure but this is not unvessels, nerves etc are much less sensitive to cool comfortable. The heads then start to cool down exposure and remain unaffected. the skin to sub zero temperatures This results in the elimination of and can range from -5C to -11C. the fat cells without damage to There’s then an opportunity to ‘You can read, the surrounding tissues. relax, read and listen to music. relax or listen The fat cells perish and are Some people even fall asleep dissolved into the body via the during treatment. to music during lymphatic and immune system.

Afterwards, the treated area is a fat freezing These systems flush the affected gently massaged to allow the skin fat cells using the body’s natural to come back to a normal temtreatment. Some processes. The treated area beperature as well as aiding the fat people even fall comes smaller in size over the folcells to disintegrate. Sometimes asleep’ lowing weeks. How quickly this there is a risk of bruising and happens and the extent of the redness after treatment but this result varies upon the individual. normally goes after a few days.

Treatments normally take about 45-60 minThere should no pain during or after treatment. utes, depending on area to be treated and thickIt can take up to 6-12 weeks to see any differness of fat measured. After a careful medical ence, and some areas require two treatments to history is taken to see if you are suitable for the get the desired results. Fat reduction can be up to treatment, the area is measured with special cal22%. The results are more noticeable if exercislipers and a tape measure. This is recorded and ing and eating a healthy balanced diet is mainthen programmed into the machine to determine tained after treatment. The results are permathe length of time the treatment is to be carried nent as, once destroyed, the same fat cells cannot

[[

Amal Alamuddin looking slender on her wedding day

Where can fat freezing be used?

Dr Pradnya says: Fat freezing Liposuction can be used to treat most areas of stubborn fat: • Upper and lower abdomen • Inner thighs • Flanks/ love handles • Buttocks • Saddle bag areas • It can also be used to treat ‘man boobs’.

grow back - as long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Treatment costs can range from £195£1000 per area, depending on the clinic.

Dr Pradnya Apte offers fat freezing liposuction at her clinic in Exeter, costing £200 per area. She is currently offering a special rate to West readers of £175 per area (terms apply). Quote WEST when booking.

Visit www.revitalise-rejuvenate.co.uk for more details or call 01392 426285.

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Wellbeing

STARS

10.05.15

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Whatever mood you are in to start this week off, the only way is up!

The spring in your step lightens and the warmth in your heart glows. Those who are looking for love are extra receptive to charmers and rogues alike, so be aware!

Still, don’t be over-pessimistic, and generally give the benefit of the doubt.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) With love in the air it is easy enough to indulge your loved ones and fantasies, especially in the evenings.

Enjoy this light-hearted period by exploring your more artistic and spiritual side.

The influence of Venus flows through all of your meetings and greetings, bringing out your sympathetic nature.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) This is a week for the home-lover in you. With the nesting instinct strong there is the urge and the joy of creating a good atmosphere around you.

Time spent with loved ones takes on a special meaning. Working together to make decisions brings you closer together. For those who are rather freer-spirited or unattached, there are many options.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) Being a time of giving and sharing, this is a week when really good memories can be made. Be with people who are important to you and let them know that they are appreciated. This is also a sensuous time when personal relationships, even those of long standing, gain a sense of revival. Lost opportunities are not for you, Cancer, so get out there and make your mark!

LEO (July 23 - August 23) A home-loving Leo will be in their element this week. The joy of adding beauty and practicality to the home is welcomed. Plans for a holiday or going to see relatives can bring loved ones together. It seems that any excuse for a party is good enough! Older members of the family may need some extra help or attention. Give it willingly if you can.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Loving encounters at home can be offset by scratchy relationships at work. Certainly it is a mixed bag this week. Tune in to your instincts and be guided by them, especially when it comes to work. Finances do not need much attention

now but look at this area to avoid problems in the future. On a lighter note, getting together with others to plan a holiday or unusual trip can be great fun.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Now is the time to look a bit further into the future. Being so easygoing you often let life take you in a ‘natural’ direction. Give yourself a three-year plan and just see how much of it you are able to get through. Not only do you need a challenge to get you started, Libra, but you need to find an incentive.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) You can decide to take on challenges, both big and small, this week. They are there waiting for you and will certainly serve to sharpen your mind.

Puzzles always give you a kick-start in the brain department and this is a great time to show what you can do. Don’t try to prove something to others. Prove it to yourself.

Love life should be running smoothly but this will not stop you from noticing what others have, however - naughty you.

find joy in doing something new together.

Keep your wits about you with finances.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) The call of the open road and the smell of freedom are serving you up a whole bundle of options this week. Throughout the month a sense of adventure keeps you sparking. Inspiration may come in the shape of a past relative whose story fascinates you. Where did their journey take them and how does that touch your heart? When your imagination is this fired up it is possible to experience some magical insights. Choose carefully with whom you share these.

Happy birthday to...

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) In a deeply loving and appreciative week you are likely to be spending a lot of time with your chosen partner. Some moments are magical this week, even for those who are unattached. Young relatives, in particular, bring joy. High emotions, perhaps centred around work, may flare up as the week beings. Speak your piece but try to stay calm.

CAPRICORN

(December 22 - January 20) A decision or remark that you made last week is still showing its influence.

If this was on the subject of romance there could be mixed reactions. Keep up your confidence by reminding yourself of all that you have to offer the right person. Closeness is indicated at the weekend. Make sure that you are with the right person. Why should you deny how you feel?

AQUARIUS

(January 21 - February 19) Those who are looking for love may have a slow start this week. Even so, the grounds for leaping ahead can be laid.

An early holiday throws up opportunities if travelling with a ‘singles’ theme. Why not book it now? As an ongoing search this becomes fascinating. Those who are attached

Pam Ferris Much-loved actress Pam Ferris celebrates her 67th birthday tomorrow (Monday May 11). Pam was born in Germany, where her father was serving with the RAF, in 1948. Her big break as an actress, after years in theatre, came playing Ma Larkin in the 1990s TV adaptation of The Darling Buds of May, alongside Catherine Zeta Jones.

Most recently, she’s known as the forthright nun Sister Evangelista in Call the Midwife. She is married to actor Robert Frost and lives in north London. Pam comes across as a down-to-earth personality, which fits with her star sign - Taureans are practical, as well as dependable and loyal. They can also be stubborn, which is certainly a trait of Pam’s character Sister Evangelista. Above all, they are not afraid of hard work, which Pam has shown in her career.

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MAIN PICTURE: STEVE HAYWOOD

Dartmoor’s Haytor

My Secret Westcountry

My favourite Westcountry...

View: One of my favourite places on earth is the top of Haytor on Dartmoor. The view is breathtaking and being there shifts my perspective on life. As a writer I spend most of my time alone inside my head, getting my plotlines and characters in a complicated knot.

Time spent up on Haytor brings a stillness to my mind that I need.

Kate Furnivall Novelist Kate Furnivall fell in love with the Westcountry when she visited on holiday with her husband 30 years ago.

She promptly gave up her job in advertising in London and moved to the village of Churston Ferrers in Torbay, where she has found the peace and quiet to write her bestselling novels, including her first The Russian Concubine and the just-published The Italian Wife.

Arts venue : I am so lucky to have Dartington Hall on my doorstep. It is a remarkable arts centre that offers wonderful concerts and performances in the most inspiring of settings. I’d say thank you to Dorothy Elmhirst for her vision in setting it up in the 1920s. I have just been there for the live transmission of the Young Vic’s The View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller, with the moody and magnificent Mark Strong in the lead. It was a wonderful evening.

Kate Furnivall

Beach: It has to be Broadsands beach. I love it. At the end of my writing day I crave movement and fresh air and the wind in my face; and

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People Broadsands

Burgh Island Hotel Dartington Hall

Tintagel

Kate Furnivall will be signing copies of her latest novel The Italian Wife at the Torbay Bookshop, Torquay Road, Paignton on Saturday, May 16 at 10.30am.

Broadsands is my go-to place. It is five minutes’ walk from my house, and I stroll or run or paddle up and down at the water’s edge. I might even treat myself to an ice cream if my writing has gone well.

Attraction: It is definitely Tintagel in Cornwall. When I was growing up in Wales, I became a castle fanatic; all that history, passion and violence - and those mighty construction skills - contained in the one structure. When I gaze on the romantic remains of Tintagel, I hear the beat of dragons’ wings and the voice of King Arthur booming over the waves – and my skin starts to tingle.

Food: As I live right next to the beautiful fishing port of Brixham, my favourite food arrives fresh on the boats every day – Dover sole, bass, plaice, scallops and crab. Mmm, delicious brain food. Irresistible.

Tipple: This is easy. It has to be Sharpham’s white wine – especially their excellent Dart Valley Reserve. I make a point of going over to their vineyard for the Trek & Taste tours every

now and again to check out their latest wines and to wander through their 12,000 vines on the bank of the River Dart.

has a weird tractor to take guests across to the island at high tide. Just fabulous.

Pub: Churston Court Inn in Churston Ferrers

a cornucopia of funny little off-beat shops that I can spend hours poking around in. I never know what I will find next. When my London agent comes to stay, it is always top of her list of things to do.

is my hostelry of choice. It is just around the corner from where I live. Lucky me! A medieval manor, full of beams and portraits, dripping in atmosphere and serving great food. Watch out for the ghost!

Way to relax: In my work as an author I have to dash around a lot - up to publishers in London and to America, Russia and Italy for research - so in my rare free time I head straight for the solitude of Dartmoor. The stillness, the peace and the ever-changing colours of those vast open spaces are very special and very healing. I would live up there if I weren’t so chicken-scared of all the snow in winter.

Weekend away: I am an Art Deco freak – my whole house is furnished with it – so what could be more perfect than a weekend away in a hotel oozing Art Deco from every pore? So I choose Burgh Island Hotel every time. And it

Shop: I love to shop in Totnes High Street. It is

Treat: It has to be a night out at the theatre. Yes, please. With theatres in Torquay, Plymouth, Exeter and of course the glorious outdoor theatre in Dartington, I am spoiled for choice.

Bookshop: Bookshops are sadly thin on the ground these days, but I make a point of using local independent bookshops as much as possible. The Torbay Bookshop in Paignton is very special. Matthew and Sarah Clarke provide a brilliant service to customers, with lovely staff who really know their books. There’s chocolate too. Lots of it. The dream team – choccie and books. Maybe I’ll live there instead of on Dartmoor!

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MAIN PICTURE: JOHN MILES

Enjoy

A wedding in... hoosing your venue will undoubtedly be one of the biggest wedding decisions you’ll make as an engaged couple, so it’s good to start considering your options right away.

The good news is that the South West has some wonderful places to choose from. Have you dreamed about this day your whole life, and can’t imagine getting married without everyone you know to watch it?

If so, then start looking at country house wedding venues with large capacities, such as Nancarrow Farm’s green oak barn in Cornwall. If you’d prefer a wedding more intimate and low-key, just surrounded by close friends and family, then Lamorran House Gardens might suit you better.

Many couples to book their chosen wedding venue 12-18 months before their wedding date, giving them plenty of time to plan their perfect day. That said, you might get lucky and be able to book a date at the last minute due to a cancellation or last-minute availability. Once your wedding date is secured and you’ve paid the deposit, you can then move on to drawing up your guest list, and sending out those invitations.

C

Salcombe Harbour Hotel and Spa Salcombe

For yachting chic, you can’t beat the south Devon resort of Salcombe, and if you hold your wedding at the stylish Salcombe Harbour Hotel and Spa, you can toast your marriage on the terrace overlooking the idyllic estuary. The hotel’s light and airy Marine Room – which overlooks the estuary – is licensed for civil ceremonies and can seat 100 people or you can opt for a ceremony in a smaller room. www.salcombe-harbour-hotel.co.uk, 01548 844444

IMAGE: CHRIS DENVER

Our top picks for where to wed in the Westcountry, from harbourside hotels to Cornish farm barns

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Nancarrow Farm

Lamorran House Gardens St Mawes

Couples who get married in these gloriously lush subtropical gardens near Falmouth don’t really need to order flowers, because there are so many colourful blooms around every corner. This is more a place for intimate weddings than huge affairs, as the cupola licensed for weddings only holds about 12 people (with space for 25 further guests to gather around). For those who would prefer a quiet wedding, though, it is hard to imagine a more romantic spot, with views far out to sea through the palms and flowering exotics. If it rains, there’s a room on standby inside.

IMAGE: ROSS TALLING

Zelah near Truro

For a rustic affair with plenty of style, invite your guests to your wedding in the Green Oak Barn at Nancarrow Farm, mid Cornwall, which seats 120 comfortably beneath its restored historic rafters.

The farm, which also has self-catering accommodation, has been in the same family for nine generations. Beef and lamb raised here feature in the delicious

feasts which chef Ben Quinn, formerly of Fifteen Cornwall, serves up to guests.

You can try out the amazing food, which is big on flavour, before the wedding at one of Nancarrow’s feast nights, which are fast becoming a local byword.

Visit www.nancarrowfarm.co.uk, 01872 540343

Visit www.lamorrangardens.co.uk, 01326 270800

Polhawn Fort near Torpoint This Napoleonic-era fort (with its own drawbridge) in south east Cornwall is available to rent lock, stock and barrel for your wedding party for several days.

Weddings take place either in a summerhouse in the grounds, or inside the fort itself with its granite spiral staircase and vaulted ceilings. Guests can stay the night in the fort, which was recently voted the most romantic wedding venue in the country.

Visit www.polhawnfort.com, 01752 822864

Combe House Gittisham near Honiton What could be more romantic than saying your vows in the peaceful surroundings of this Grade I-listed Elizabethan manor house in east Devon?

With exceptional food, and a warm and friendly attention to detail, staying at Combe House feels more like being a guest at a country house party than a

hotel. You can even rent the whole hotel for your exclusive use, if budget permits, and host a candlelit dinner on the eve of the wedding in the atmospheric Georgian kitchen.

Visit www.combehousedevon.com, 01404 540400 43

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Ingredient of the Week

St George’s with Tim Maddams

ow, I know it’s May and St George’s day has passed us by on the April 23, but I would like to introduce you to a wonderful mushroom which although traditionally found on that dragon-slaying saint’s day I have found to be just as happy to grow throughout May and into early June. Making it perfect for a foraged wedding canape ingredient.

Once correctly identified, this mushroom is a real treat and you may be just in time to enjoy it with the last of the wild garlic leaves or, indeed, a few of the flowers from that wonderful aromatic plant.

Finding this mushroom is relatively straightforward, as it grows in grass fields and along woodland edges. It looks a lot like a regular mushroom from the shop, white with off-pink hues. But they do like to hide and you often don’t see them till you stand one, then you have the wonderful realisation that they’re all around. Time to fill your boots, basket or even the hood of your coat!

I won’t bore you with careful notes on

N

identification, there is plenty of information on the web to help you and plenty of books too - John Wright’s handbook on mushrooms is the perfect field companion. Just remember at all times, if you are even a tiny bit unsure about what you have picked – don’t eat it.

All over Europe this mushroom is worshipped and the flavour is amazing. It’s also a welcome break from all the greenery of spring and has a wonderful earthy aroma. You can dry them but I tend to eat them fresh in a fit of mushroomy gluttony as I know full well that we won’t be looking at any other wild fungi treats until July or August.

In Germany and Italy these little chaps are often stuffed with eggs, herbs and cheese and then baked in a hot pan inside a wood oven. They also make an excellent white pizza with a little wild garlic and some nice fresh sheep’s curd.

The absolute bonus with these mushrooms is that they re-appear year after year in the same location, just to make life easy for you. Here are some recipes that work well with St George’s or, indeed, any fresh mushrooms.

Mushrooms with honey and watercress

Brush mushrooms with a little rapeseed oil and cook on a hot griddle so they take a little colour but are still nice and firm. Toss a little watercress in some more rapeseed oil and some flaky salt, add the warm mushrooms and drizzle with honey. You can embellish this with a soft boiled hens egg if you like or indeed some shaved hard cheese.

Mushrooms on toast

Cook in a hot frying pan with a little oil and seasoning. Finish with butter and chopped wild garlic. Serve on toast with a squeeze of lemon over the top. @TimGreenSauce

Tim Maddams is a Devon chef and writer who often appears on the River Cottage TV series 44

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Beer of the week I’ve been enjoying the view from a window table at Hub, in St Ives, lately, where one of their house beers is Hub Pale Ale (4.4% ABV). I think it’s an open secret that this originates from Harbour Brewing Co, near Bodmin, and it’s delicious and ridiculously moreish. It’s lemon citrus zingy, clean and refreshing. Hub has several branches in the west now and they’re well worth searching out for the beer menu.

Draught measures CAMRA’s annual conference has voted in favour of accepting real ale served from key kegs – a oneuse, disposable container. This is quite a major shift in attitude for the consumer organisation which has only previously recognised real ale in cask or bottle. Keg dispense, however, is much more suitable for premises where beer turnover is low, such as small hotels.

MAIN PICTURE: WWW.BEERGENIE.CO.UK

Drink

Darren Norbury

talks beer vow to take you, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Anyway, enough about my commitment to beer, today we’re talking weddings.

When I got married in 1998 – the culmination of events which had kicked off at a memorable works Christmas party – I was just getting into beer. So it was, to the best of my shaky recollection, vinous fizz of various styles all round. But the world has moved on since then, and while there’s still a place for bubbly at the nuptials (I have always favoured a good Cava over Champagne), if I did it all again (just joking, Mrs N!) I’d get some beer in.

If you don’t want drunken dad congas or, even worse, Jeremy Kyle-style inter-family punchups in the car park, it is probably best to steer clear or imperial porters or Belgian tripels. No, what’s needed here is something light, golden and quaffable, that will look good whether it’s in a pint pot or elegant stemmed beer glassware.

From my part of the world, something like Tintagel Brewery’s Castle Gold springs to mind, light golden in colour, hoppy and fresh but not overpowering. An everyman (and woman) beer.

You could as easily serve this at table at the reception as have a barrel going in the corner

I

while the couple are taking to the floor for their first dance.

Here’s a thought, though. As most weddings are major exercises in terms of strategic planning, why not go the whole hog and commission your own beer? Small brewers have been known to produce short-run beers for weddings, in fact many enjoy the challenge. But the key here is asking well, well in advance. Your beer has to be planned, then a brewing day booked, then fermentation allowed for. But give them good notice and many brewers will rise to the challenge.

A suitable alternative is to have an existing brewer’s beer specially bottled with your own wedding day label, turning so-and-so’s regular golden bitter, for example, into Dave and Jackie’s Wedding Ale. A great souvenir of the day for guests. Again, in my neck of the woods, St Austell offer this service via their www.thatsmybeer. co.uk website.

If I say I can’t think of a wedding day that couldn’t be improved by beer, that may sound wrong. But if the big day is pending, it may be time you visited your favourite brewer.

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

SHELF LIFE Marks & Spencer was never a big stockist of beer, but all that has changed these days, with the arrival of a new range of house-branded craft beers, as well as bottles from in vogue Camden Town Brewery. One of my favourites of the new brews is a 5.6% ABV Battersea Rye, made by Sambrook’s Brewery for M&S. Rich, fruity and with the rye really shining, it’s packed with flavour. Pair it with spicy meats.

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My life man and boy

Wedding daze...

Phil Goodwin, father of James, five, on marriage memories

I

[

ranged a registry office do followed by a slapup reception at a country hotel. Unfortunately, myself and a mate, Raff, got ourselves into a spot of bother the night before and I woke up with a massive shiner. Tom thought it hilarious. Not so my mother, who was ashamed of me, again.

I don’t know what it is about weddings, but they do something to people. Maybe it’s the supercharged emotions, welling up. Perhaps they are overcome by the commitment, the loving union, the coming together of families and friends for the first time in years. Or maybe it’s just the bevvy. A reception I went to a few years back in Rainford, a village outside Liverpool famous as the birthplace of Keith Chegwin, was hard to beat for craziness. A vodka frenzy saw my friend Ritchie taking a DJ’s sheet as a cape and flying around the dance floor like Batman.

He has never been allowed to forget this indiscretion.

There have been great weddings, too. An Irish girlfriend took me back to Dublin when her mates Jenny and Wooly were hitched in the ‘90s. That was fun. A colleague had a do near St Ives, with a Cornish male voice choir followed by a party at Cape Cornwall. That was lovely. And my nephew married in Ottery St Mary five years ago, with a reception in the idyllic grounds of Escot House. Hard to beat. And

I got myself into a spot of bother the night before and woke up with a massive shiner

my own? It was a very modest affair with just a few family members. Vows were made at the registry office in Penzance, where Dylan Thomas wed Caitlin Macnamara. After that we went for a meal in St Ives. A few glasses of wine, nothing crazy, then we went off to the Lake District for a few days. Eight years and one small boy later, we are still together.

[

main picture: Steve Haywood

have been to a lot of fairy tale weddings over the years, most of them scripted by the Brothers Grimm. I exaggerate, of course. Many have been perfect days for the bride and groom. Perhaps it is on account of my tendency to seek out the imperfect, which is always to my mind so much more interesting. But in all truth, as I cast my mind back over the many matches I have attended, so many odd moments spring from memory that the beast seems to entirely blot out the beauty.

My first experience came at the age of three or four when my eldest brother John was hitched. In the monochrome photos we are the perfect family, I am cuteness personified – short pants, suit jacket, side parting, angelic face. But these pics conceal the torment I suffered when my new sister-in-law reminded me that ‘my John’ as I had called big brother, was now ‘hers’. An unintended slight, I like to think, in my charitable moments.

When my brother Robert married I was probably 10 or 11. Again, the photos look perfectly normal, but what sticks in the memory was the song performed by the bride’s mother – a tender rendition of the Theme From The Deer Hunter which she had recoded and added her own words in dedication to her daughter. Try to imagine this to the tune: she was beautiful, beautiful too-oo me…It went on for a long while. Or at least it seemed that way.

At the tender age of 17 I was asked by my mate, Fishy, to perform the role of best man.

I was barely capable of delivering a letter at that age, never mind a speech. It was unorthodox, to say the least. All I recall is drinking and playing Bow Wow Wow records at his parents’ house. A year or two later, my third brother, Tom, decided to tie the knot and ar46

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PLYMOUT L LYMOUT H F FASHI N

LOVES

22 April - 11 June 2015

GET YOUR FEET ‘SANDAL READY’ AT

on Wednesday May 13th • Free taster sessions with our in house beautician • Our podiatrist will also be offering advice on the do’s and don’ts of summer footwear • Try on a pair of our sandals & we will enter you into our draw for a free pair of sandals, a pedicure and other on the day surprises 34 Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 1DU footsolutions.co.uk/plymouth Call our store to book your free taster session on

01752 222660

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