Edge Magazine July 2016 Edition

Edge Magazine July 2016

(Volume 46) FREE EDITION

Warwickshire, Worcestershire, West Midlands and North Cotswolds

Food & Drink | Culture | Business | Fashion | Lifestyle

RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWN – THE END OF THE ROAD? SPECIALIST FAMILY LAW SOLICITORS

You and you alone will know your marriage or relationship, and if it is in difficulty or comes to an end, only you can make those heart wrenching decisions which may bring with them more heartache and pain in the early stages. So many people are influenced by relatives or friends who try and persuade you into staying, often “for the sake of the children” or because they think they have your best interests at heart, know what is best for you and don’t want to see you suffer. Rash decisions are often made at times of stress and influence – decisions that you often regret later, or decisions that will lead to anger and resentment if you stay for the wrong reasons. Children are no fools – they pick up on anxiety and unhappiness within a family. Statistics show that it is far better to have 2 parents who are separated with happy children moving freely between them, than parents at war or living in unhappy circumstances.

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You will need to take time and expert advice as to all of your options; what will happen when you do leave or your partner leaves?; what will happen if you stay or your partner stays?; what are the financial consequences?; how will the children deal with the situation?; where will we all live; how can I manage financially; how can I stop the abuse or controlling behaviour; what will happen about the pensions; child support; problems relating to the children and arrangements for spending time with your partner – all the many questions that go around and around in your head and not knowing what you can do about it. For the breakdown of any relationship, emotions of fear, anxiety and heartbreak are often at the forefront. Your life is suddenly on a roller-coaster of emotions and you have to deal with the separation and the effect this is having, not just upon you but for the rest of your family. So how do you find the right solicitor?

Tracy Lowe. LLB

EXPERTISE - At Lowe’s we have developed an enhanced reputation in all aspects of modern family law. You are our priority and we are committed to providing you with a wealth of experience and expertise to ensure that you achieve the right result and best advice.

SUPPORT FOR YOU - We are always there for you. We listen to your concerns, and we will provide you with a supportive and caring environment in order to minimise the stress and anxieties which we know you have to deal with following the breakdown of your relationship.

ADVICE - We will provide you with all the options, guide you through the choices and help you make those difficult decisions, discussing them openly with you and ensuring that the advice is clear and concise whilst recognising with our experience the ability to judge when such disputes should be referred to the Court for an effective resolution.

GOING THE EXTRA MILE - At Lowe’s we pride ourselves on our reputation – we will always go the extra mile for our clients, supporting Husband’s or Wife’s; grandparents and other family members. Whatever the crisis, we will help you find the answer.

TEL: 01905 610888 Restdale House 32-33 Foregate Street Worcester WR1 1EE 2

www.edgemagazine.org

HELPING YOU - There are a number of reasons as to why you would wish to discuss your family problem or child related problem with your solicitor. We understand how confusing and stressful this can be. We encourage solutions where possible and we are always looking to resolve your problem as costeffectively as possible.

www.lowes-solicitors.co.uk

Editor’s Note Lucie Abu-Zalaf Editor-in-Chief

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o, here we are in July already. The biggest news of June has to be the UK’s decision to leave the EU, as I write this the news has just broken and everyone seems to be putting their two pennies in. I think the key thing that we all need to remember, and to be proud of, is that we live in a democratic society, we had a vote and it can only go one way. It’s now time to pull back together and get on with it. Now I’ve got that off my chest I can get on with telling you all the lovely things that we have in this edition to take your mind off the politics for a while…

One of the highlights of my month was going to meet the new arrival at West Midland Safari Park, Ekozu the white rhino. What a little sweetie he is. Gail writes about the plight of the white rhino in the wild and tells us why this little chap is so important to the species. There’s also the chance to become a rhino keeper for a day in our competition, so make sure that you look out for it later on. Staying with the animal theme we also have a look at which animals mate for life, there’s a few surprising ones in there!

We also checked out some local venues for Afternoon Tea, a fabulous British tradition that’s showing no signs of stopping and a real treat. Speaking of British traditions, we also bring you an article on the benefits of cycling. Love it or hate it, it’s here to stay and good for your health so why not get on your bike and join in?

We look at keeping a happy and healthy body and mind during the summer months, take a walk down memory lane and look at the history of the humble ice cream truck.

We have a fab piece on red wines that work well chilled from Laura Clay, Mel Taffs shares her knowledge on summer statement pieces, Dr. Louise Newson lets us know what to look out for with early hearing loss and Mike Stafford reviews the ageless classic, ‘The Art of War’. It’s too early for Tom to give us any financial feedback regarding Brexit, so we will hold off on that for this month and instead of Hatton & Harding bringing you interior features I went to meet them at Soho Farmhouse to find out a little bit more about them to share with you.

As usual, from all of us here, many thanks for reading Edge Magazine. I hope that you enjoy it and look forward to seeing you next month, please feel free to drop me a line with any feedback… Lucie@edgemagazine.org

Lucie x July 2016

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Main Features Save the Rhino Save them from extinction

Getting to know Hatton & Harding At Soho Farmhouse

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Interior Design

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Mill Farm, Stanford Bridge, Worcestershire, WR6 6SP E info@willowandwells.co.uk T 01886 853336 willowandwells.co.uk

Afternoon Tea A British Tradition

Spectacular Settings Wedding venues worth a visit

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Saturday 2nd July 2016 ADULTS £8.00 in advance, ADULTS £10.00 on the gate.

Under 12’s - FREE

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Emma Grzonkowski A talented Artist 51

TICKETS ON W LEONLNO SABUY INE FOR DISCOUNT

Main Arena Entertainment - Atkinson Action Horses

Attractions: Craft, Food & Horticultural Marquees, Livestock & Horse Classes, Children’s Amusements, Countryside Area, Fun Dog Show, Poultry Show, Gun Dogs, Heavy Horses, Public Bar, Over 200 Trade Stands and much more!

www.hanburyshow.co.uk

Park Hall Farm, Hanbury, Redditch, Worcs B96 6RD (off the B4090)

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JOIN US FOR OUR CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FAMILY FUN DAY - Sunday 3rd July 2016

Join us for our annual Family Fun Day at The Wood Norton. Take part in our traditional Fete Games, Bouncy Castle and more.

Food & Drink will be available to purchase on the day. Relax and enjoy the ambience that is The Wood Norton Entrance free of charge

WEDDING OPEN EVENING - Thursday 7th July 2016

Join us from 6pm onwards for Canapes and Bucks Fizz and have the chance to see the beautiful Wood Norton dressed for a wedding.

Meet some our preferred recommended suppliers and discuss your individual requirements with our wedding team

JAZZ & FINE DINING - Friday 7th October 2016

Relax and enjoy with an evening of Jazz with Fine Dining and our Resident Band Four & More.

Join us for a Drinks Reception from 7pm followed by a set 5 Course Dinner with Music £49.50 per person Why not make a night of it for only £199 including Dinner, Jazz and Breakfast the following morning.

For For more information on any of our events please contact Naomi at the hotel who will be delighted to assist you.

Events@thewoodnorton.com | 01386 765 611 Worcester Road, Wood Norton, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4YB

PRODUCTION Editorial Lucie Abu-Zalaf - Editor in Chief @LucieLincolnLew lucie@edgemagazine.org Tel:07714 490 943 Gail Braznell - Content Editor gail@edgemagazine.org

Contents Save the Rhino

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Royal Leamington Spa

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Creating the Perfect Work Life Balance 14 Getting to Know Hatton & Harding

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Keeping Cool in Bed

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Chillin’ with Cool Reds

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The Humble Ice Cream Van

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Local Kitchen 24 Afternoon Tea 27 St. Andrews Hotel

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Alex Dudley - Editorial Assistant

The Bank House

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Alex@edgemagazine.org

Praza 30

Sales

Worcester Foodie Festival

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All about Rose

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A Passion for Peddling

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Mid- Worcestershire Ring

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Michael Abu-Zalaf - Sales Director @ZalafAbu michael@edgemagazine.org Tel:07809 702 992

Preparing for a Pool, Sauna or Hot Tub 40 Love for Life

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Spectacular Settings

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Making Mischief at the RSC

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Charlotte Thorn - Worcestershire Sales @EdgeMag_Charlotte charlotte@edgemagazine.org Tel: 07525 120 626

Emma Grzonkowski

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The Art of War

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The New ISA Landscape

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Andrew Grant Estate Agents

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Charlie O’Neill - Warwickshire Sales @EdgeMag_Charlie charlie@edgemagazine.org Tel: 07834 538 284

Calling all Young Writers

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Louise Hillman - West Midlands Sales @EdgeMag_Louise louise@edgemagazine.org Tel:07515 493 703

CONTRIBUTORS Laura Clay Tom Ware Mel Taffs David Hatton Mike Stafford Dr Louise R. Newson

WRITE TO US MLP Publishing Ltd 3 Warwick Court Saxon Business Park Stoke Prior Bromsgrove B60 4AD

6info@edgemagazine.org www.edgemagazine.org

Hearing Loss 61 Herbal Teas 62 Rhino Competition 64 British Motor Museum

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What’s On 68 Stratford Butterfly Farm

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The Crescent Theatre

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The Cotswold’s Premier Bathroom Installation Company

Tel: 01386 47234 - www.the-bathroomstudio.co.uk UNIT 2 - EVESHAM TRADE CENTRE - ST RICHARDS ROAD - EVESHAM - WR11 1XG

July 2016

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Save the Rhino At the current rate of poaching, rhinos will be extinct by 2026

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he opportunity arose for me to attend a conservation talk at West Midland Safari Park (WMSP) from Save the Rhino International (SRI). The fascinating talk highlighted the plight of the wild rhino and the behind the scenes work the charity does to try and save these fascinating animals.

Rhinos are poached for their horns; relentless hunting by poachers who have slaughtered these proud, magnificent beasts as they dwindle close to extinction, which has escalated in recent years. Rhino horn is used in traditional Chinese medicine for a variety of ailments including fever, anxiety and food poisoning but it also appears to be used as a demonstration of wealth and high social status, with Vietnam being the main perpetrator. It is estimated that weight-for-weight rhino horn is currently worth more than gold. This high value has resulted in rhino poachers developing highly sophisticated and well 8 www.edgemagazine.org

Gail Braznell organised international crime syndicates with access to improved weaponry and equipment such as helicopters. Although much of the global rhino population decline is due to poaching, habitat loss has also been a key factor. As human populations have grown, more land is required for settlements and farming, and this means less land is available for wildlife, similar to forests around the world, which are being logged to supply the world’s demand for timber, affecting all species that live in those forests.

Meanwhile at West Midland Safari Park…

It may have taken ten years for the birth of the latest white rhino calf at WMSP, but boy was it worth the wait. After 16 months of pregnancy, first-time mum, six-year-old Ailsa, gave birth to the new arrival on Good Friday, 25th March, making him the first baby rhino to be born at the Safari Park since his father,

Barney, who was born in 2005. Angela Potter (Head of Wildlife Operations) talks me through the huge inspirational effort that it has taken to breed white rhino at West Midland Safari Park: “West Midland Safari Park has previously bred 3 white rhino calves but our last one was born in September 2005. This one was Barney and he is actually the sire of our latest calf. By 2011, our herd consisted of Mtuba, Tootsie (Barney’s dam), Barney, Trixie and her daughter Lucy. Mtuba and Trixie both had reproductive tract issues and were not breeding. We, therefore, worked closely with the European Endangered Species Programme Coordinator to get us and our animals back into a breeding situation. (The European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) is the most intensive type of population management for a species kept in European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) zoos.) It was decided to move Tootsie

to Whipsnade Zoo so she would have access to a breeding bull, keep Mtuba & Trixie within our herd and for Barney to become our breeding male.

From our point of view, it was good to keep Barney. He was becoming mature, was used to our safari park setting, being out in the drive through and mixing with our many African species. We needed to get some young females in to become the nucleus of our new breeding herd. The first young female to come in was Keyah, from Cerza Zoo in France. She was born in October 2007 and arrived at WMSP in November 2011. She is an important female in the European Population as her dam had arrived at Cerza from South Africa already pregnant so in fact, Keyah had a wild sire.

Next step was to move Lucy (as she was related to Barney), to Blair Drummond Safari Park as they had an established breeding male and to move his daughter Ailsa, down to WMSP. Ailsa was younger than Keyah, born in December 2009.

Ailsa arrived here in May 2009. Keyah & Ailsa soon settled into safari life well. Lucy did not do so well at Blair Drummond. She was not compatible with the bull so was then moved to Coulange in France where she soon became pregnant. This just shows the importance of the EEP and how they are working hard to ensure that every female gets the best chance to reproduce.

It took Barney a while to get the hang of mating. Keyah began to come into oestrus and was very patient as Barney practiced month after month. To give them the best opportunity we would leave them outside in the reserves overnight, with a keeper in a vehicle in attendance to keep an eye on them. By the time that Ailsa came into season Barney had perfected his technique and after her second season, she did not have another.

We suspected she may be pregnant so collected faecal samples and after a few months, we sent these off to a laboratory in Vienna and on the 22nd May 2015 we got the news that she was confirmed pregnant. We knew then with a gestation of 490 days plus or minus 14 we had an expected birth date of the 19th March 2016 and it was quite often the case that a first-time pregnancy would be later rather than earlier.

The keeper team and vet nurse then started training Ailsa for blood draws so we could establish a baseline progesterone level as we knew this would be important nearer the time when it would drop from 110 plus to near 0. By December, we started to prepare for the birth. CCTV was fitted into the rhino house which could be viewed in the wildlife office, veterinary products and equipment were purchased, the birthing pen and outside paddock were made calf proof and a comfy bed was prepared in the birthing pen. A rota was prepared for keepers to stay overnight when the time was right. By the end of February we were collecting blood, every other day and the progesterone levels were steadily dropping. These were sent to the veterinary lab but results took a couple of days to get back to us, so we also looked at other signs which would help us. We took weekly photos of the udder to look for changes; we started to manipulate the udder so we could collect fluid when it first appeared. We reviewed the footage from overnight CCTV so we could monitor any behavior changes. I could view this from my home on site on an iPad and found this became compulsive viewing, waking up throughout the night to check for any changes!

We were liaising with Robert Hermes, a vet from (IZW) Institute of Zoology & Wildlife Research, Berlin and renowned rhino expert. He was on standby to fly over for the birth in case veterinary intervention was needed. The use of technology came into its own here as we set up a ‘whatsapp’ group which included Robert and we found this invaluable as we were able to ask questions send him udder photos, blood results and get an instant response.

On the 12th March, we first got some fluid in her udder so we knew we had around 2 weeks until the birth. Easter was fast approaching and it would take longer to get the blood results over the bank holiday weekend. On the night of March 24th /25th, Ailsa was a little more restless, had passed smaller faecal boluses and her udders were fuller but not swollen. She seemed fine in herself so we let her out into the reserves as normal for the day (Good Friday). At 3pm we had a call from the keeper to say she had a scuffle with the one of the others and she was gushing water, maybe her

waters had broken. We got her into the house and spoke to Robert who set about looking for flights. Ailsa was very calm, ate her tea and lay down for a sleep.

We then heard from Robert that he was not going to get a flight until later and likely would be in the air with no way of contacting us if he took that flight. We elected for him to stay in Germany and then we would still have contact with him by phone and WhatsApp if we needed it.

The other rhinos came in and the animal team was viewing from the office.

At 18.43, she was restless and started to have contractions, by 18.50 the membrane was out and by 18.59 the calf was born. The other rhinos were all calm in the house. He was almost immediately trying to stand and Ailsa was being brilliant. We were in contact with Robert and our favorite quote from the night was - Us – “Calf is attempting to stand and Ailsa is licking it lots and with occasional pokes from her horn”; Robert – “Is OK, she may also try to lift it with her horn. This is also alright - Flying is not!!!”

Robert advised afterbirth should be expelled 2 - 4 hours after birth and suckling 1 - 6 hours after birth. The calf stood at 19.42 and was active and searching for the teat. At 21.18, he had a very small suckle just for a few seconds.

Robert was reassured - ‘Done. He will come back ….. It may take some time but that is fine’. It then took a long time for the next suckle and I was not quite so reassured! At 01.13, he had a very good long suckle and then all was good. He had got the hang of it for sure and Ailsa too. We had a keeper watching from the wildlife office overnight but all was well and he never looked back. We received the progesterone results for the birth date a few days after the Easter period and on the morning of the birth day they had actually dropped to 1.8.

On day 3 we separated him for a few minutes to vaccinate, weigh and microchip. He weighed in at a hefty 67.5kg. Luckily, we had a very strong person in, Noel, to pick him up and hold him on the scales!

The keepers chose the name Ekozu, which means white rhino in the Namibian Herero language. We feel this is apt as we have strong links with July 2016

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Namibia through our support for the Ongava Research Centre.

We wanted to get him integrated with the herd and in the reserve as soon as we could, although the weather was quite appalling for the time of year. Within a few days, we had Ailsa and the calf out in the paddock; this was followed by an introduction to mums’ best friend, Keyah, although to Keyah’s dismay, Ailsa was not the same friendly girl! Next step was into the reserves and this also went really well. He met the other species and they were all quite interested. He chased a lot of them and was pleased to see them all run away without him realising that it was because Mum was right behind him! He is now very comfortable in the reserve and our other rhinos Mtuba and Trixie have been introduced too. Our final step will be to introduce the male rhino, Barney, to him and then we will be set for Ailsa to come back into season and get pregnant again.

So to get where we are today it has taken 6 years and a massive team effort between the European Endangered Species Programme, animal managers, the keepers and the veterinary team.

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After meeting Ekozu for myself, courtesy of Bob Lawrence, Head of Wildlife Development at the Safari Park, I can vouch that he is absolutely gorgeous, with a fine temperament and a cheeky, mischievous character. His birth is not only fantastic news for the park, but also for the white rhino conservation. This adorable newcomer will help highlight the very real danger the species still faces today.

What I would also like to recognise is the commitment from West Midland Safari Park that they have to all their animals, including endangered species.

Over 23 million people visit British zoos and safari parks each year, the safari park sees this as an opportunity to educate this vast audience with a variety of talks, tours and projects, as well as contributing to research by allowing researchers access to study animal behavior, supply biological samples and animal records to approved projects.

I now see West Midland Safari Park from a completely different perspective and I’m proud to have such a place right on my doorstep.

Visitors can see the rhinos and other attractions during the four-mile self-drive safari.

A huge special thanks to Angela Potter (Head of Wildlife Operations) who not only shared this delightful story but has changed the way I see the conservation of these magnificent creatures.

For more information on Save The Rhino International or West Midland Safari Park please visit: www.savetherhino.org or www.wmsp.co.uk

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Royal Leamington Spa Join in the “Summer of Fun” at Royal Leamington Spa…

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oin us in Royal Leamington Spa this summer and enjoy a Summer of Fun! We have a great variety of events planned all summer long in the town centre so grab your diary, tell your family and friends and get them booked in.

On July 9th, the Leamington Carnival returns! One of Warwickshire’s biggest ever parades with its fun ‘Gaming & Technology’ theme will wind its way around the streets of Leamington before carrying on with the celebrations at the Royal Pump Room Gardens. With over 50 stalls, food, entertainment and Barkers Amusements Funfair there is something for everyone!

Seasons Restaurant’s is hosting a ‘Prosecco, Sparkling Wines & Champagne’ evening on July 20th. If you’re thirsty to learn more about these drinks, and what foods they complement, make sure to purchase your tickets before they sell out.

The art of deception comes to town at the end of July and camouflage will be celebrated across the town through a variety of art, performances and education marking the town’s Camouflage Festival. This kicks off on the 22nd with Leamington Spa Art Gallery’s ‘Concealment and Deception’ exhibition.

Make sure you’re ready to get creative on August 6th and 7th in Jephson Gardens when Art in the Park returns. Now in its third year, enjoy this FREE jam-packed weekend of art, creativity and fun as local makers, musicians and performers show and display a mix of arts and crafts.

The feel-good ‘Festival of Creativity’ will showcase 120 artists exhibiting everything from paintings, ceramics, textiles and sculptures. Other artistic action includes workshops ranging from upcycling to bespoke T-shirt designing and a pottery Throw Down. To fuel the fun a little more, fifteen local eateries will provide a variety of high quality food and drinks for all appetites.

Leamington’s hugely popular FREE Food and Drink Festival is returning for its ninth year on September 10th and 11th and will take place at the beautiful Royal Pump Room Gardens.

Visitors will find an exciting variety on offer, with exhibitors displaying culinary skills and selling exotic cuisines ranging from Italian breads and pastries to Indian street food, Zimbabwean preserves, alcoholic liqueurs and healthy smoothies.

Various competitions will encourage amateur foodies to join in the action such as the Great Leamington Bake Off which invites keen bakers to enter cakes and have them judged by local chefs Jenny Hudson, Laura Hamilton and Peter Knibb. Also, Aubrey Allen’s Home Cook of the Year returns to crown Leamington’s finest amateur cook who will be judged on a three course cooking challenge.

Children will be able to get their hands dirty by cooking scrumptious dishes at the kid’s cookery school, with sessions hosted

by Gusto Restaurant, Nandos, Pizza Express and Yo! Sushi.

The bandstand will host live entertainment from four-piece acoustic band Behind the Settee and country music from Honky Tonk Rose, along with The Wap Waps, Tom Kirkpatrick and The Rock Bottoms who have been booked for repeat performances.

After all that excitement, put on your shades, grab an ice cream and cool down. Summer is a great time to come and explore the town centre and have a relaxing time strolling around our beautiful parks and gardens.

To find out more visit; www.leamingtoncarnival.org.uk; www.artinpark.co.uk & www.leamingtonfoodfestival.co.uk

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Creating the perfect work life balance How to utilise your time after work?

Charlie O’Neill

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any of us do not utilise our time effectively after work and often end up doing the things perhaps we should do less of. It’s always nice to socialise with others after work, especially if you live on your own.

It’s also easy to slip into bad habits with food and drink and we can all tend to consume more alcohol than we should which only gives us a false sense of confidence and happiness with many of us finding that alcohol is a way out in order to de-stress and forget about the worries and difficult times we have experienced throughout the day.

Sometimes sending ourselves into a negative state of mind, in which case we need to keep motivated and inspired, so this month we have decided to put together a few tips and ideas in how to best utilise how you spend your time after work.

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Take some time out – 30 minutes

Go and see a show

After a long day at work one of the best things you can do is to get home, put on some comfy clothes, sit back, enjoy a cup of tea and turn off the TV or anything that will distract you whilst enjoying the peace. In order to cope with stress we need to evaluate the day or negativity will continue to play on the mind.

Not only does this help to utilise time effectively but it also helps to clear the mind.

I understand that theatre isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Putting yourself in a new and intriguing environment however can activate your brain. Theatre can be anything from a comedy, ballet, a Shakespearian play or a contemporary piece. There are always new shows taking place and many theatre groups perform locally. Going to the theatre can be a great evening out, but can also be a great way to switch off without having to sit and stare at a TV screen and can make a pleasant change.

Prioritise Learning to prioritise is important. Don’t neglect certain tasks in life. If you want something enough you’ll make it happen.

Postpone the less important events; write them down if you feel the need or if you feel like you may forget.

Keeping Fit Exercise doesn’t always appear exciting at first and can sometimes feel quite daunting but once you start and get into a weekly routine you will feel refreshed and refuelled, giving you increased energy, as well as making you feel fitter

find what you are looking for. We all can find it difficult to get out of our comfort zone and sometimes we muddle through each day feeling stuck in a trap of waking up, working, eating and sleeping, feeling bored and frustrated. It doesn’t mean that you hate the way you are living your life, it just means you may need to fill the day with something new to make it more exciting, meet new connections, go on new adventures and explore new possibilities and opportunities. Life is dictated by the choices we make so why not challenge your ideas and what you believe you can and can’t do.

Time out of work is not only the time after work but before work also. If you are able, why not walk to work. It’s never too late to start something new, you could learn a new skill or say yes to something you have always turned down, it could be something as simple as learning to play an instrument, learning to swim or trying out a new craft.

Build relationships

and healthier and before you know it the results will begin to show. It also enhances productivity, helps boost concentration, mood, creativity and confidence. There are many different ways to keep fit and there are endless listings of local clubs and classes you can attend in your area that can cater for you after work. Whether it be joining the local gym, going for a run, a gentle stroll, bike ride, dance class or maybe something a little more relaxing like yoga, Pilates or gardening. There is something out there for everyone at all levels of fitness and what better way to meet new people.

Seek inspiration and fresh experiences Trying something you are not used to is the best way to seek new inspiration and discover fresh experiences. It is always the most unexpected places that you will

Building new relationships out of work can be extremely difficult, especially when you have been surrounded by people all day. However, you can still feel a sense of loneliness if you live alone. A great way to gain new relationships is to host a dinner party and get friends to invite a plus one. This can be an interesting way to enjoy great food and company all at the same time; after all you never know who you may meet.

Making the simplest of connections with people, such as a smile, eye contact or a simple hello can strike up conversation with someone new. You could even join a local adventure club where you can meet like-minded people with the same interests and enjoy taking part in different activities including white water rafting, rock climbing or sailing. To find out more information on these certain groups you can visit www.spiceuk.com where you can even join groups on small city breaks and vacations whilst enjoying an array of activities.

Spend time outdoors

work. It’s a great time to clear the mind, take in the day and the best way to talk about the things you don’t normally get to discuss with your other half.

If walking is not your thing then you can try out different outdoor activities, such as ‘urban foraging’, which is an act of foraging for free fruits and vegetables, which not only can save you money but also reduces waste and builds the community. Other great ideas include quad biking, Segways and canoeing.

Cook a new recipe Not everyone is a fan of cooking and lots of people think that cooking is a chore and too much like hard work but this is often far from the truth; cooking can actually be a lot of fun and you can discover a whole new world of flavours and ingredients. If you’re lacking inspiration then why not try a meal subscription box, where each week recipes change? It makes it even more fun that you get to select the dishes yourself and they also send all of the ingredients weighed and measured, whilst providing easy to follow recipe cards. After trying and testing one company, Gousto, for myself, I can safely say that you are sure to soon feel like you have become quite the culinary expert.

For more information visit, www.gousto. co.uk Start a blog Nowadays, almost everyone has a blog and it is a great way to share opinions on a vast range of topics. Some people find that writing a blog can be therapeutic; others find it helps as a tool to deal with certain situations. Blogs have basically become the modern day journal. People, whose lives are chaotic, spend most of their time planning and organising which is tough. Starting a blog helps to train the brain to become more structured. It’s fairly easy to start a blog; all you need is a good name to register for your domain and affordable hosting. WordPress is a great way to start a blog; it’s free and has a great selection of easy to use theme templates. You can be up and running with your new blog in a day.

Being close to nature is one of the most relaxing things you can do, whether it be going for a country walk alone, with a partner or taking the dog for a walk after July 2016

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Getting to know Hatton & Harding

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atton & Harding is the creation of partners David Hatton & Jerry Harding. Their fabulous interiors and lifestyle boutique is located in the castle town of Warwick, showcasing their covetable style and wealth of knowledge and passion for what they do. We have been lucky enough to have them write for us for some time now and thought that it was high time that we let you find a little bit more out about the chaps behind the brand.

Believe in what you are doing, love people, love talking!

Tell us a little about yourselves...

Do you have any rules that you stick to?

As a couple we’re passionate about beautiful Interiors and love homes that are comfortable, well loved and lived in with pieces to treasure. We launched Hatton & Harding in 2010 as a thoughtfully chosen selection of Homeware, we generally love or would have all the items in our own home. Overall our look is muted and classic which means what we sell sits as comfortably in a city apartment as a country retreat. We have a philosophy....

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Were you always interested in design?

We’re both creative and love all aspects of design from architecture to landscaping. Jerry also had a longstanding career in premium fashion and it’s amazing how closely the fashion industry and interior design now follow one another.

Our homes are the ultimate reflection of us, it’s where we should feel most comfortable and safe so it’s paramount that any project fits the owners personality. People will often show us magazine room settings which are great for inspiration but are ultimately someone else’s home. We really make the effort to get to know and understand our clients individual needs. Our main

focus is to create real comfort; visual and physical in every room. It doesn’t matter what your own personal style is, elegant and sophisticated, casual and whimsical, minimalist, eclectic, classic, bohemian.... the most important thing is for your home to be liveable. A well designed home is both comfortable and functional. We want our clients to really love what’s in their home rather than being led by trends so it’s always worth waiting to find the perfect piece, never settle for second best.

What inspires you?

Generally we get our inspiration when we at our most relaxed during our down time...on holiday, with friends, abroad.... particularly the Middle & Far East where their simple take on design is exquisite.

The Chedi Muscat is one of the most understated elegant places we’ve been too, you can’t help but feel instantly relaxed.

We love the Soho House properties and style too, particularly the ‘Houses’ and the way each property is unique and sympathetic to the heritage of the building but at the same time carries the definitive style of the brand.

We’re also fans of places that push boundaries too....like Dover Street Market in London.

Can you describe your style?

Gritty opulence. We love velvet banquette seating with antique farmhouse tables, sparkling chandeliers sitting alongside battered old leather chesterfields. You’ll always find something pristine and elegant but generally sitting alongside something reclaimed or industrial.

What are the most effective simple changes you can make?

Declutter! Most people have far too much around the house. A few key statement pieces will make much more of an impact. Simplicity is key, you always want to create something that is timeless rather than fashion led.

Mix things up - patterns, textures, old and new, expensive an inexpensive... just as you would your wardrobe. The right accessories are the perfect way to tie in all the decor together, it adds a personal touch to your space.

What do you love most about what you do?

The response from a happy client, it's really satisfying. Most of our business comes from people who know exactly the look or item they want but simply haven’t been able to source it or quite simply have no idea at all. Either way when you fill their needs the level of job satisfaction when you see their response.

It’s a privilege to love the job you do.

Do you have a favourite project, a story about one?

Each project is different, each client is individual and each completed space is a proud accomplishment. We generally only work with residential clients but are currently working with Birmingham Children’s Hospital which, while having totally different challenges for us it is an amazing and rewarding opportunity.

The work the staff do there, the level of

support it gives to families and their gratitude in return is immense. This is about creating a comfortable and serene sanctuary that blends into the background.

How do you keep up with current trends and go further by predicting them?

We keep aware of trends rather than following. We like to design homes that have longevity rather than fad fashion so we’re more inclined to offer our interpretation of a style that provides a more timeless look. Trend does have the implication of something that will come and go whereas we want to give our clients something to cherish.

Does it make it easier or harder working as a team?

For us it’s definitely easier. Without intention we naturally fell into specific roles within the business that played to our strengths. To be a successful business is tough these days, you can’t let up for a minute so you’re obviously stronger together.

How do you find living and working together?

There are obviously pros and cons to anything but it’s lovely working with someone who you’d trust your life with and who wants the business to be as successful as you do. You couldn’t wish for a better business partner than that... you just have to remember to stop talking shop when you’re out for dinner.

Hatton & Harding Interiors 13a Old Square Warwick CV34 4RV 01926 408892 www.hattonandharding.co.uk Follow us on Twitter @HattonHarding5 Facebook Hatton&Harding, Instagram Hatton_Harding and Pinterest@hattonharding July 2016

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How to Keep Cool in Bed during the Summer Months

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hilst most of us enjoy the warm weather that summer brings, there is often one element that many of us struggle with when the mercury rises; sleeping. The ideal temperature for perfect sleep is between 16°-18° Celsius (0r 61°-64° Fahrenheit) which can be hard to achieve when temperatures remain high. Sleep disturbances from a hot, stuffy bedroom are common, from struggling to fall asleep in the first place to regular night waking and less time in REM sleep, which all contribute to waking up feeling less than refreshed. But it’s not just the heat that keeps you awake. When we get a hot spell here, it’s often combined with humidity, especially at the moment. This makes it harder for sweat to evaporate, which is our natural way of cooling down and only exacerbates the problems here as air conditioning units are rarely worth bothering about for most of us and our short lived hot spells.

Basically, your body temperature needs to drop slightly before you fall asleep, which is why on balmy evenings sleep can be so evasive. But there are also a few other things that play their part in your mini summertime insomnia. A key one being that summer is just more fun. Many of us socialise more and stay out later than in the winter months, often meaning that we eat later in the day and consume more alcohol. While alcohol can aid some in falling asleep more easily, when it comes to staying asleep it’s a totally different matter. The same goes with food, some of us can sleep very well with a full tummy, but sometimes lying down after a large meal can lead to acid reflux and generally feeling uncomfortable, which isn’t going to help when the heat is already getting you tossing and turning. On the other end of the spectrum is the temptation to exercise more and later when the weather is fine. Even a late, brisk stroll with the pooch in the evening can get the blood and endorphins pumping,

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Lucie Abu-Zalaf again leading to falling asleep becoming trickier. Combine that with the lighter nights, brighter mornings and all the noises that you don’t normally hear when your windows are shut and it can start to become troublesome.

The outcome of not getting enough sleep is that most people will be more cranky the longer it goes on, but it can also negatively affect your memory, cognitive function, appetite and physical performance. So what can you do to help counter the warmer days?

Firstly, close any windows, blinds or curtains that you have during the day.

This may seem counter intuitive but it really does work if the temperature inside your house is cooler than outside, which is usually the case from early morning. If you’re at home then it can be beneficial to open the windows, curtains and doors on the shaded side of the house to allow air to circulate and then swap sides as the sun rises during the day. But if you’re not at home, you’re best to keep the sun out by drawing the curtains until evening. Then fling them all open and get some cooler air circulating.

If you have an attic, open the hatches.

Hot air rises and this gives it somewhere to go, rather than it collecting in your bedrooms.

Have a lukewarm shower or bath before bed. Don’t go for a totally cold one.

While this might seem lovely at the time, it will actually close your pores and cause your body to have a rebound effect, effectively making you warmer.

Remove the duvet and just sleep under good quality, cotton sheets. Keep the luxurious silks or man made fabrics for winter time. If you get a hot head during summer, it could also be worth looking at some of the newer pillows on the market.

Those filled with wool are in actual fact some of the best as this natural fabric

is excellent at keeping you cool. And if you have long hair, tie it back so that it doesn’t collect around your neck in the night which is also a big contributor not feeling too hot for comfort.

Drink plenty of cool water throughout the evening and keep a glass by the side of your bed.

Invest in a fan. Creating a draft, even if the air isn’t cooled by air conditioning can help you feel much more comfortable and help sweat evaporate from the skin, allowing you to cool down. If a fan on its own isn’t enough, fill a tray with a little bit of water and some ice cubes and put it in front and allow the fan to blow the cooled air around.

You can even try cooling socks in the fridge or freezer before putting them on at bedtime. It’s been suggested that cooling the feet leads to an overall decrease in body temperature. Just make sure you put them in a bag first!

Lastly, if all else fails and your bedroom is still too hot, go downstairs. Hot air rises and the lower you go, the cooler it will be. This is especially important for babies, young children and the elderly, where being too hot can lead to dehydration much more quickly.

If sleep problems are something which you suffer with every year when summer comes around, it could also be worth your while to consider temperature regulating technology next time you are buying a new bed. Most modern mattresses factor in something similar to help you from overheating. What better excuse is there to go out and find your dream bed?

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Chillin' with Cool Reds Refreshing summer drinking Laura Clay

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’m not really of the view that we select and drink by seasons because actually our choice seems influenced more by habit’ sadly; by mood and food pairing, more positively; and by price, quite sensibly.

Having said that, habits can be broken; our mood and what we eat does change with the seasons and there are plenty of wine choices in every price category.

If we were thinking about winter warming wines we might suggest a bold Châteauneuf-du-Pape or a high alcohol Syrah bomb-blast from Australia but these work equally well in the summerwith barbecued food, for instance. If though, you are looking for something refreshing in the warmer months, are fonder of reds than whites and thinking along the lines of chilling (the wine, not you. Chilling not chillin’!), then which reds should you be buying?

Chilling reds is right on trend at the moment and I agree it works for some wines. But that is the point. Only some.

If, let’s think optimistically, it’s 25°, you’re on the patio, the barbie’s warming up nicely and you are after an aperitif.

A full-bodied, tannic Shiraz chilled is certainly not going to refresh you. Quite the reverse, in fact. It’s the tannins, those mouth-drying preservatives from the skins of red grapes, which are the problem. As the tannins are chilled, they become more obvious in the wine with some of their bitterness, integral to the wine when served at the right temperature (16-18°), much more apparent and unpleasant. The aromas are also inhibited and with the smell of a wine being so much a part of the tasting pleasure, you lose on that side of things, too.

But there are a few reds which you might enjoy chilled - those with lighter, more manageable tannins. Beaujolais is the most obvious of these. Made from Gamay, a very light grape, and made to be drunk young and fresh for the Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages wines, and which show more depth and vibrancy in the Beaujolais Crus wines of Morgon,

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Juliénas, St Amour, Fleurie and the rest – all can be enjoyed after 40 minutes or so in the fridge.

Sparkling Shiraz wines from Australia or red Lambrusco are not my particular cup of fizz but lots of people love ‘em. And I can quite see why they do. With their red and black fruit flavours, smoky notes and slightly off-dry style they can work well with burgers and piquant chutneys, right through to the summer pudding.

My bag though is for fresh Pinot Noir.

I’m a big fan. It’s a wine which should normally be served slightly cooler anyway than, say, a Cabernet Sauvignon, so chilling it down a few more degrees isn’t such a big step for anyone who is new to this red-wine in an ice-bucket lark. Pinots from Burgundy, where arguably the most superior expression of the grape is found, are to my mind and pocket at least, a bit too pricy to pop in the fridge. They lose their elegance and thus their raison d’être. But Pinots from Australia, Chile and New Zealand suit being chilled perfectly well, having a tad more obvious fruitiness. Or try a bit of a rarity, a red Sancerre. To be fair, it’s not that unusual - 25% of the Sancerre appellation is planted to Pinot Noir for the reds or rosés but has been completely overlooked in favour of the white in recent years. It is definitely one to try with its cherry clafoutis character, and neat combination of style, drinkability and savouriness. A perfect pairing for any number of summer dishes, from charcuterie to hard-to-match beetroot and tomato salads.

For those who want to be more adventurous try a Cabernet Franc from the Loire, a Nero d’Avola from Sicily, a Zweigelt from Austria or, if you’re brave enough, a Zinfandel from California – make it an inexpensive one, though.

Then just chill.

Competition

You can win a bottle of Sancerre Au Bois de l’Épine 2014 (£15 from Marks & Spencer) by sending your name and address to wine@edgemagazine.org Closing date 31st July 2016 For wine advice, tastings and courses email laura@bywine.co.uk or visit www.bywine.co.uk

The Flooring Boutique Tel: 0121 447 7237 | 12 Hewell Road, Barnt Green, B45 8NE. Email info@theflooringboutiquecompany.com | Web www.theflooringboutiquecompany.com

Leamington Spa 01926 311415 Kenilworth 01926 858434 Coventry 024 7650 2650 Stratford 01789 414040 Solihull 0121 704 3370 Evesham 01386 41474 Pershore 01386 554262 Chipping Norton 01608 641983 Bourton on the Water 01451 822048

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The Humble Ice Cream Van Lucie Abu Zalaf

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n their heyday back in the halcyon days of the 1960s, there were around 30,000 ice cream vans on Britain’s streets, today that has dropped to an estimated 5,000.

The iconic lofty jingle and the dash to get your shoes on in time to order your 99, has to be one of the most enduring childhood memories there is. You may have noticed that you hear more of the catchy little tunes played in recent years, as in 2013 the Government ruled that ice cream trucks could play them for 12 seconds, rather than 4. This was the biggest change in the fabulously titled ‘Code of Practice on Noise from Ice-Cream Van Chimes’ since 1982 and met with fierce opposition from the Noise Abatement Society. Although the rules of when and where ice cream vans are allowed to play their music is still

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regulated very strictly, the hope was to help the British icons of summer boost their trade, which has been suffering a downward trend. Not only have they been hurt by a succession of cold and damp summers, but the value packs of Magnums and Cornettoes’ available from supermarkets have dealt a devastating blow to the ice cream van man’s bread and butter.

The earliest ice cream vans carried only simple frozen ice cream, a fabulous treat considering most people weren’t lucky enough to own a home freezer. They kept the ice cream cool in a rudimentary freezer, a well-insulated box with a large lump of dry ice to keep everything from melting. This meant that the engine was always switched off when the van was stationary to help keep the temperature down inside and even the chimes were

worked by a hand crank, rather than the electronically amplified jingles that we are more used to hearing today. With freezers becoming more common place, ice cream vans had to diversify, selling more novelty items and soft whip ice creams that you just can’t recreate at home.

There are mainly two types of vans in the UK, a ‘hard van’ which sells scoop ice cream and a ‘soft’ van which has a freezer and also a soft serve ‘whippy’ machine for 99s and screwballs. With times being tough and the British summer notoriously unpredictable, many vendors have had to diversify by also selling cold and hot drinks and some even selling hot food such as burgers and hot dogs at other times of the year.

A summer heatwave can lead to a massive upturn in business and every

ice cream van owner will be rushing out to capitalise on what is generally a short lived opportunity, which, in the past, has led to some pretty vicious ‘turf wars’ with vendors fighting over who is to service the best spots around.

The most famous and deadly of these turf wars was in Glasgow in the 1980s, which culminated in an arson attack killing a vendor and his family. The conflicts, in which vendors raided one another’s vans and fired shotguns into one another’s windscreens, were more violent than might typically be expected between ice cream salesmen. Superficially, the violence appeared disproportionate, and the situation appeared almost farcical.

However, more than just the sale of ice-cream was involved here, several icecream vendors were also selling drugs and stolen goods along their routes, using

the ice cream sales as fronts, and much of the violence was either intimidation or competition relating to these.

Many ice cream vans are choosing to park up on selected pitches these days, rather than driving the streets and housing areas. Some of the best, such as those located in parks and high streets come with a hefty price tag for the privilege of having large volumes of people around, meaning, unfortunately for us, that the price of the ice cream reflects this. But we also expect more these days than a simple 99, with many ice creams vans, especially the hard scoop vendors, offering a wide selection of flavours. It seems that ice cream is now so readily available to buy and our tastes are certainly becoming more adventurous.

So, although there are far fewer ice cream vans roaming the streets, most of us can still take a leisurely stroll to get our frozen treat on a warm and sunny day. But if you’re one of the many people who no longer hears ‘Pop goes the Weasel’ or ‘Teddy Bears Picnic’ chiming out, there are now apps that you can download for your phone that will show you the location of your nearest ice cream van, should the urge strike.

And even if you do have a freezer full of the stuff, if you hear your ice cream van coming, get your shoes on and race out there, you can’t recreate a Mr Whippy at home, not without laying out thousands for a machine of your own at least, and it would be a dreadful shame to see numbers decline to the point where you can’t get one when you really fancy one.

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The Local Kitchen Everything that’s cooking in the four counties Gin for the Skin Yes, this is no joke the world’s first anti-ageing gin has arrived, called Anti-AGin. What better combination is there than gin that makes you more youthful? Well this gin claims to answer all your prayers.

This fantastic new creation is the work of Warner Leisure Hotels, who have collaborated with Bompas & Parr. As its creators say, “the alcoholic equivalent of a facial”, Anti-aGin is the first ever gin created with skinboosting ingredients.

The 40% spirit has been distilled with pure collagen - essentially the glue that holds our skin together (collagen levels naturally decrease in age, leading to loss of firmness and the formation of wrinkles).

This gin also contains a mix of antioxidant and skin healing botanicals which includes green tea, witch hazel, nettle and gotu kola, which claims can help reduce cellulite and sun damage.

Anti-AGin is on sale for £4.99 at all thirteen Warner Leisure Hotels in the UK and can also be purchased online at www.drinksupermarket.com

Ramada Coventry opens new Restaurant and Bar

Ramada Hotel, Coventry has undergone a £200,000 refurbishment in their Queens Road Restaurant, introducing new menus and a modern setting, ideal for escaping the city hustle and bustle.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner is served 7 days a week, with a traditional Sunday Lunch available, tasty desserts, a wide range of drinks, cocktails and wines, and a daily specials menu to keep your eye on at affordable prices with main dishes from £9. All of the ingredients are sourced locally, the food is fresh and the British inspired dishes are complimented with a Pan-European twist. Queens Road Bar are proud to announce that they have once again been awarded 2 Star Gold Award from the Sustainable Restaurant Association network.

The restaurant has a contemporary décor that fits the hotel superbly, as well as the lounge bar that offers a sophisticated alternative to the pub bar we are all familiar with.

‘We are keen to increase our weekend diners in addition to our weekly visitors. We have some exciting new offers coming up that we urge people to look out for. Please note we do offer complimentary car parking to anyone dining in the Queens Road Restaurant, the car park is directly next to the hotel. The hotel and restaurant have come a long way with the refurbishment and we are thrilled that it has been received so brilliantly’ Mark Hills, General Manager.

Ramada Hotel & Suites Coventry, West Midland, CV1 3GG To book a table, contact the hotel on: 02476 238110 or info@queensroad-restaurant.co.uk

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Gusto arrives in Leamington Spa

The premium restaurant brand Gusto has now arrived in Warwickshire’s Leamington Spa with the company creating 60 jobs at its new restaurant in the town’s thriving ‘food quarter’ in Regent Court, Livery Street.

Heading the team at Gusto’s first Midlands restaurant is general manager Tom Pitts, from Coventry. Alongside Tom, the team includes operations manager Joe Hull, who has been a part of Living Ventures Group, Gusto’s parent company, for the past 11 years.

Rob Dymond, is assistant general manager, while Lizzie Armstrong is business development manager. Paul Stevenson, from Nuneaton, takes up the role of head chef.

Gusto managing director Sue Crimes explains: “We’re pleased to have our new team in place, led by Tom. Leamington is a beautiful town and we are delighted to be opening here.

The restaurant looks stunning and we hope to provide an aspirational dining experience for our customers.”

Visit www.gustorestaurants.uk.com or follow @gustoleamington on Twitter.

The Bell at Alderminster - Al Fresco Dining

It’s fair to say that the pub’s sought after, sophisticated and landscaped alfresco terrace and expansive gardens, overlooking the rolling countryside, is the envy of many and unrivalled locally.

The Bell successfully brings comfort, atmosphere, delicious food & drink and entertainment, to the outdoors.

The spacious country pub garden is ideal for families to enjoy leisurely lunches and drinks, whilst the children take advantage of playing in the adjoining grassy meadow.

The beautiful courtyard, with views across the Stour Valley, offers a stylish area in which to relax and allows for informal drinking or dining outside.

The terrace with a wonderful mix of outdoor tables & chairs, soft cushioned furniture and back-ground music, serves everything from breakfast through to dinner. The decorative balcony, with panoramic views, is home to the traditional quintessential English, afternoon tea.

Throughout the summer, afternoon tea is available Mon–Fri with bookings made in advance, and there is live music on selected Friday’s and Sunday’s.

The Bell, Alderminster, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire Tel: 01789 450414 Website: www.thebellald.co.uk | e-mail: info@thebellald.co.uk

A taste of the Caribbean comes to Birmingham Birmingham Caribbean Festival – 30th July-1st August

Centenary Square in the centre of Birmingham City will be the location for the 2016 Birmingham Caribbean Festival, 30th July to 1st August. This prestigious venue will be clothed in vibrant colours and a hive of activities with an array of gastronomic delights. Tens of thousands of people from across the country are expected to attend this year’s Caribbean experience.

LA MESA - Boutique cocina

It has been called the new wave of cuisine but it is not about capturing any latest trend. It’s about celebrating the food and the people who eat it.

We do what tastes good and that’s it. Ingredients are brought in daily and prepared lovingly with the right technique. There are no white table cloths and the food is never put on your plate with tweezers. We cook in a contemporary manner. It’s curious and with no particular style or country of origin apart from a touch of Spain. We struggle to define it as it doesn’t follow a concept or a formula.

It isn’t rigid, it’s natural and based on freedom, spirit, conviviality which mixed with heart, improvisation, flair and creativity, is at the core and fundamental to the ethos.

We prepare a tasting menu every evening and serve excellent wines.

We are small and independent... So booking is essential.

You can find La Mesa at 5b Old Square, Warwick CV34 4RH or on TripAdvisor. Alternatively you can telephone 07528 080151

The festival will entice thousands of visitors with great food, taste-tingling rum punch, fresh tropical fruits and juices. Audiences will be thrilled by an exciting programme of live entertainment, featuring local artists, top billing groups and bands.

Birmingham Caribbean Festival will tempt you with Jamaican Jerk, Bajan Rum Punch, Caribbean topped pizzas and Coconut Macaroons as well as the Trinidad & Tobago steel pans, reggae music and a mix of gospels. To cool down you can learn arts and crafts and be amazed by the dexterity of the artists.

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The Afternoon Tea A Quintessential Tradition Charlie O’Neill

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he British Afternoon Tea is a quintessential part of our culture and history here in the UK and is still going strong today. The custom of drinking tea dates back to the third millennium BC in China, but only became popular in England during the 1660s by King Charles II and his Portuguese wife Catherine de Braganza.

However, the first concept of afternoon tea wasn’t apparent until the 19th Century and was first introduced in England by Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford in 1840.

At around 4pm The Duchess would start to feel rather peckish and the evening meal was not served until considerably later at 8pm, which left a long period of time between lunch and dinner. This then caused The Duchess to ask for a tray of simple but tasty delights including teas, bread and butter and cake, which would be brought to her room during the late afternoon. Soon this became a consistent habit and she began inviting friends to join her for these afternoon delights, making this a fashionable and social event.

During the 1880’s upper class and society women would take this event to a whole new level by dressing in gowns teamed with long gloves and a hat to enjoy this social event. This would normally be served within the drawing room, as it is in many manor hotels today.

The ‘Traditional Afternoon Tea’ of which we are most familiar with today consists of a selection of dainty finger sandwiches, which are served with a selection of fillings including thinly sliced cucumber, smoked salmon and ham and mustard. Scones were served with clotted cream and preserves and also an array of cakes and pastries, not to forget the selections of teas grown in India or Ceylon which would be poured from silver tea pots into delicate China cups.

Nowadays, there are a few changes to the afternoon tea. In a suburban household you would expect the afternoon tea to be classed simply as a choice of biscuits and a small cake, served with a classic pot or cup of tea.

For the ultimate afternoon tea experience where you can enjoy the traditional concept then you should most definitely visit some of London’s finest, such as, The Ritz or the Savoy where you can expect various ranges of loose leaf teas, open rolls, warm savoury dishes and a few of the chef’s very own twists.

You may even be the type who prefers a quaint tea room in the West Country that serves a true Devonshire cream tea but there are also some beautiful places you can visit to experience a spectacular afternoon tea within some of our favourite locations within Warwickshire, Worcestershire, The West Midlands and The Cotswolds. Take a look at some of the must try places within these areas that will not disappoint those taste buds…

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St Andrews Town Hotel Afternoon Tea

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t Andrews Town Hotel is located in historic Droitwich Spa. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, or just catching up with friends or family, our Afternoon Tea offers a relaxing way to enjoy an afternoon away from it all. Whether in our elegant dining room, cosy garden room or, on the terrace overlooking the tranquil gardens.

Our ‘Classic Afternoon Tea’ is priced at £14.95 per person.

You can enjoy a choice of teas (or coffee), accompanied by a selection of delicious finger sandwiches, freshly baked plain and fruit scones with homemade berry jam, lemon curd and clotted cream. Also, a tempting selection of cakes including mini berry meringue pie, lemon drizzle cake, chocolate brownie and individual Victoria sponge cakes. Want to make it extra sparkly?

Why not add a mini bottle of bubbly for an additional £4 per person.

We want to make sure all the family are included, so our Children’s Afternoon Tea allows our younger guests to enjoy a treat too, for only £7.50 per child. For something a little lighter, our delicious St Andrews Cream Tea with scones, jam, lemon curd and cream is only £6.95. Just get in touch to book or find out more.

The Dining Room

St. Andrews Town Hotel, St. Andrews Drive, Droitwich Worcestershire WR9 8BS

EAT, DRINK AND ENJOY YOURSELF...

RESTAURANT DINNER MENU Tempting range of starters, mains and desserts.

MIDWEEK LUNCH Only £12 for 2 courses

01905 779677 enquiries@ st-andrewshotel.com

T&Cs: Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer; cannot be used for groups greater than 6 people.

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WEDNESDAY WINE NIGHT house wine only £12.50 per bottle, selection of other wines £18

AFTERNOON TEA £14.95 pp, children £7.50

THURSDAY STEAK NIGHT steak & wine for two from £35

FRIDAY FIZZ mini bottle of Prosecco £5 4 – 8pm

Afternoon Tea at The Bank House

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aunched at the end of June was the new Afternoon Tea menu at the Bank House, Worcester. We got to head down for a sneak preview and what a treat it was. For a fabulous afternoon tea in Worcestershire, where you can indulge yourself with some tasty treats and spend an afternoon relaxing with friends or family, you will not go far wrong with the Bank House. It can be enjoyed in the cosy Sportsman’s Bar, the Champagne Bar or, weather permitting, out on the terrace enjoying the panoramic views across the beautiful Worcestershire countryside and picturesque Malvern Hills.

We opted to try the Contemporary Afternoon Tea, a modern variation on the classic, whilst being seated in the Champagne bar. We feasted on sandwiches of egg and cress, smoked salmon and horseradish cream, coronation chicken and ham and English mustard. Also served was carrot cake, Balmoral shortbread, vanilla cheesecake

with a berry jelly, chocolate tartlets and one of the most amazing miniature lemon meringue pies I have ever tasted.

Topping it off were plain and fruit scones still warm from the oven, served with Devonshire clotted cream and strawberry jam, all homemade. Served beautifully, on a traditional tiered cake stand.

There is plenty choice with their new Afternoon Tea menus whether you opt for a simple cream tea or to fully satisfy those taste buds and want to try that something that little more unique, then you can choose from some speciality options including the ‘An-tea-que’ which takes on some of the more traditional treats including Victoria sponge fingers, almond macaroons, pink peppercorn and honey Madeline’s, all served to perfection in vintage china for a true vintage experience. If you enjoy the more savoury delights then you can opt for the ‘Gentleman’s Tea’ which includes a selection of sandwiches, Scotch egg, pork pies, local cheeses and cheese and

bacon scones. You still get a couple of sweet treats in shape of sticky toffee cake and chocolate brownies, even finished off with a dram of whiskey.

The Cream Tea and Afternoon Tea menus are served daily with no need to book, but if you fancy that little something extra with the Contemporary Tea, AnTea-Que, or Gentleman’s Tea, make sure that you book ahead. Of course all Teas are served with tea, or coffee, but my personal choice is definitely to add a glass of bubbles, which you can do for as little as £4.95. What more could you ask for?

The Bank House Hotel Bransford, Worcester WR6 5JD 01886 833 551 www.bankhouseworcester.com

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Afternoon Tea at Praza Birmingham’s first Indian Afternoon Tea at Praza Edgbaston

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ward winning fine dining Indian restaurant, PRAZA Edgbaston, is serving Birmingham’s first Indian Afternoon Tea on the last Sunday of every month.

It’s the classic British favourite of Afternoon tea‌with a twist!

Guests can expect to enjoy a selection of exquisite Indian teas accompanied by some big flavours in Praza’s homemade sweet and savoury treats.

Some of the treats include Nankhatai - Indian style short and crumbly biscuits, Motichoor Ladoo - One of the most popular Indian sweets made with sweetened, roasted gram flour pearls, a Lamb Khatti Roll – India’s own lamb paratha wrap, and Homemade Mini Cumin and Orange Scones, served with apple and date chutney, plus many more. Vegetarian options are available upon request. There is also the option of Indian Afternoon Tea with Prosecco, and, not leaving out the little ones – a Children’s Indian Afternoon Tea menu is also available.

Executive Chef, Bishal Rasaily, comments: ‘Our Indian Afternoon Tea proved to be very much enjoyed and sold out on previous Bank Holidays. People really seem to love the fusion of British and Indian flavours and dish concepts. We’ve added a few new treats to the menu and I really do hope people enjoy our fun and quirky twist on a great British tradition!’

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Praza 94 - 96 Hagley Road Edgbaston

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Birmingham 0121 456 4500 www.praza.co.uk

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14/06/2016 15:41

A celebration of all things tasty in Worcester

F

oodies will be in for a treat from Friday 29th to Sunday 31st July when the popular Worcester Foodie Festival returns to the city centre again.

This free event organised by Worcester BID will be even bigger and better than last year with an additional event day, around 50 stalls offering delicious food and drink from local businesses and selected specialist producers, as well as food and drink matching sessions, cookery demonstrations and masterclass workshops by a variety of well-established chefs.

Dean Edwards will be headlining the festival on the Saturday. His family friendly cooking style has made him a firm favourite on ITV’s ‘Lorraine’ and he is the author of two cookery books ‘Mincepiration’ and ‘Feel Good Family Food’. Visitors are welcome to get their cookery books signed after the demonstrations on Saturday. Dean’s ethos on food is that it should be achievable, simple and above all taste fantastic.

“Food doesn’t have to be complicated,” he says.

Worcestershire based Fusion Brasserie chef Felice Tocchini will also be demonstrating a range of al fresco dining and tasty Italian recipes on the main stage. He said, “I am looking forward to showcasing some of the best local products in our region at the Worcester Foodie Festival”.

Amongst others he will also be showing visitors how to make his delicious summer pudding with basil and chocolate.

Why not join one of the free food and drink matching sessions and learn more about pairing different cheeses with beer, wine and cider? As part of the sessions cheese experts Martin Mills and Roy McDonald will also be introducing you to ‘smorging’ – an indulgent grazing style of eating, based on the Scandinavian Smørgåsbord – so discover new tasty ways of eating your favourite cheeses.

With free face painting, exciting food experiments and dedicated kids cookery workshops, youngsters will also enjoy their visit to the Worcester Foodie Festival. There will be exciting food experiments including exploding

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rockets, edible slime and fizzy mocktails, as well as fun pasta making and baking sessions.

Live music by local bands, stiltwalking chefs and GYO gardeners and the ‘cheesy rider’ comedy cocktail bar will add to the lively entertainment, plus there will be competitions and fun activities to make sure that there is something for all the family.

Nadja von Dahlen, Worcester BID Marketing & Events Manager, said “The Worcester Foodie Festival is a great opportunity for people to discover and experience our fantastic city centre food and drink outlets, whether it’s by visiting the street stalls or venturing into businesses for a tasty treat. Who doesn’t want to leave the cooking and washing up to someone else - and get the chance to see famous chefs like Dean Edwards sharing his cookery secrets with us?”

The event will be taking place throughout the pedestrianised city centre and admission is free.

Whilst in Worcester visitors can explore a great variety of more than 150 well-established and exciting new cafés, bars and restaurants.

For further details visit www.worcesterfoodiefestival.com, follow @WorcFoodieFest on twitter or take a look at www.facebook.com/FoodieWorcester.

Event opening times: 10am – 5.30pm on Friday 29th July 10am – 5.30pm on Saturday 30th July 11am – 4.00pm on Sunday 31st July

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Opening Hours Sunday & Monday – Closed (Available for Private Hire) Tuesday – Saturday 11am until Late Thursday 20th July, 7:30pm – Italian Wine Dinner with Castello Banfi Winery Held at Fusion Brasserie, Stoulton. Five course Dinner with matching wines. £55 per head.

Monthly Thursday Wine Club – Every last thursday of the Month Just £15 per person to include tasting wines and nibbles. 6.30pm at Bottles Wine Bar Please book online or call Bottles.

With our new tapas menu and extended sharing boards, Bottles is the perfect city centre venue to have lunch, meet friends or spend a great night out. Free WIFI.

Bottles Wine Bar & Merchants 22-24 New St | Worcester | WR1 2DP | 01905 747 919 34

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www.bottleswine.co.uk

All About Rosé

Sound advice from the experts at Bottles Wine Bar & Merchants Richard Everton

Canals I Casanovas Cava Rosato,

Jordan Chameleon Rose,

Spain, NV £6.79

South Africa, 2014 £9.77

Ta Pa Pinot Noir Rose, New Zealand 2014 £11.89

All prices are inclusive of VAT and wines are available for purchase at Bottles Wine Bar & Merchants or online at www.bottleswine.co.uk

R

osé is often thought of as the poor relation in wine terms, rarely the first bottle reached for, and rarely held in the same regard as the better whites and reds. This is not without reason, better reds and whites have more depth and range of flavour that is just unmatched in most rosé, however rosé is not without its niche, a bridge between white and red, and ideal for red drinkers who want to enjoy a chilled wine whilst still retaining some red fruit flavour. The reputation of rosé has undoubtedly been damaged by the vast amounts of cheap, poorly made wine that gets imported to the UK, in the same way that the German wine industry suffered in the 1970/80s with mass produced wines of poor quality. However, if you look in the right places, high quality rosé can be found at very competitive prices, simply because the ceiling price of the wine is lower than that of white and red.

The first rosé we’re going to look at is a Pinot Noir from Marlborough. Te Pa produce this wine exclusively with fruit from their Creighton Estate vineyard, which is in the south-west corner of the Waihopai Valley. To ensure the best possible quality, they harvest the grapes over a number of weeks to ensure that they are all at optimum ripeness. The grapes are then crushed and held on their skins for seven days, which is what gives the wine its pink colour, in this case the seven days of skin contact creates a much deeper colour. When tasting, you will find an abundance of strawberry and cherry, with undertones of raspberry and plum, perfect for a warm summer’s afternoon.

Next we take a trip over to South Africa, and Stellenbosch to find Jordan’s Chameleon rosé; so named because of the cape dwarf-chameleon that roams the gardens at Jordan.

An equal Merlot-Syrah blend, the

grapes in this instance were held on their skins for between one and three hours. When tasting this wine, you will again find strawberry, but paired with cranberry, which brings a bracing acidity, and added perception of dryness that adds to the wine’s appeal.

Finally, we move over to Spain, and look to Canals I Casanovas rosé Cava.

Made with primarily Tempranillo and Garnacha (Rioja grapes) using the Champagne Method of secondary fermentation within the bottle, this wine is packed full of flavour, and pairs exceptionally well with food such as pizza, pasta and risotto. Fresh and fruity in nature, rosé Cava also makes a wonderful aperitif, and is perfect for dinner parties and barbecues alike.

Wines are available at Bottles Wine Bar & Merchants 22-24 New Street Worcester WR1 2DP 01905 747919 or online at www.bottleswine.co.uk July 2016

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A Passion for Pedalling Get on your bike and put a smile on your face

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Gail Braznell

ycling is a truly invigorating and liberating experience, enjoyed by people of all ages and from all walks of life. Regular cycling can reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke. It can also boost your mood and keep your weight under control. So with the rise in popularity of cycling, there has never been a better time to get out there and start pedalling.

The number of medals won by British cyclists on track and tarmac, from riders such as Sir Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton, Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish has really inspired us to get on our bikes.

Although for many of us hitting the open roads, it is simply about enjoying the ride.

Cycling is good for you and not just because it can help you keep fit, it’s a great way to save money, save time and have fun with your family. Even for the new parents among us there are options for cycling, with special seats designed specifically for little ones.

People who ride a bike are amongst some of the happiest, just a simple ride to work or school can put you in a better mood than when you started. Cycling, along with other forms of exercise can cause the body to release endorphins; these chemicals reduce the perception of pain and can also lead to a feeling of exhilaration and well-being. Nothing beats getting out in the open air and pushing yourself, especially when you begin to see the results, riding a bike really gives your heart and lungs a good workout.

So with all that said, here are a few helpful hints if you are considering cycling this summer.

Make it a habit The easiest way to ensure you cycle regularly is to use your bike as a means of everyday transport.

Commuting to work by bike is cheap, green and one of the easiest ways to fit exercise into your routine. Work out your route before you ride.

Cycle to school Riding to school is a great way to get the kids more active. Cycling has many benefits for children such as improved health, confidence and concentration.

Just get out and ride There are many wonderful places to cycle in cities and the countryside. Cycling is an ideal way for friends and families to explore their neighborhood and beyond.

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Join a bike ride From charity rides to park cycles, signing up for a bike ride is a great way to stay motivated and experience the great outdoors.

Getting a bicycle If you’re buying a new bike, there are many models to choose from. Hybrids, road bikes and mountain bikes are the most popular but any good working bike will get you started, an old 10-speed racer, a shopping bike, a mountain bike or even a BMX. If you’re buying a second-hand bike or you have an old bike that’s been gathering dust, consider having it serviced at a specialist bike shop to ensure it’s roadworthy.

Find out if your workplace operates a Cycle to Work scheme. This is a more affordable way of buying a new bike and safety equipment.

Everyone can cycle regardless of age, health condition or impairment, there are many bikes available for people with disabilities. Wheels for Wellbeing (WfW) is an award-winning charity supporting disabled people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the benefits of cycling.

Safety first Whether you are a driver, cyclist or both, you need to take care of other road users.

Some cyclists feel threatened by inconsiderate driving and close overtaking, whilst some drivers can’t understand why cyclists at times ride in the middle of the road or ride two abreast.

Cyclists are trained to ride away from the gutter where there may be debris and grid covers. In normal conditions, a cyclist will ride in what is known as the ‘secondary position’, approximately 1/3 into the carriageway. However, sometimes they will need to ride further out in what is called the ‘primary position’, to improve visibility or to deter drivers from squeezing past where the road narrows.

The Environment Unlike motor vehicles cycling creates no pollution helping to reduce global warming and making our towns and countryside a cleaner more enjoyable place.

So what are you waiting for? Get on your bike, enjoy it, and most of all stay safe and have fun.

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The Mid-Worcestershire Ring Around and back again

C

Gail Braznell

anals were originally built in this country during the Industrial Revolution to carry cargo - long before motorways and trains. There was also a time when a canal was the fastest way to get goods from one place to another, but the growth of rail and road transport gradually saw the use of canals go into decline.

Recently canals have been redeveloped for the leisure and tourism industry, for instance the re-opening of the Droitwich Canals in July 2011 has created a brand new 21 mile cruising ring, giving us the chance to explore the attractions of Droitwich, the Cathedral City of Worcester and the broad waters of the River Severn all in one trip. This is, without a doubt, one of the real gems of the canal network now that the Droitwich Canals have been opened, joined and connected to the Severn and Worcester Birmingham Canal. Current and future generations can now benefit from the countless hours given free by the Droitwich Canal Trust and volunteers who have laboured for years to try and restore this part of the canal.

Four waterways and 30 locks make up the 21 miles of the ring all of which is now navigable as detailed; Droitwich Junction Canal 1.4 miles, Droitwich Barge Canal 5.8 miles, River Severn (part of) 4.5 miles and (part of) Worcester and Birmingham Canal 9.4 miles Cycling is a great way of seeing the network of canals and rivers whilst getting some exercise at the same time. There’s such a diverse range of wildlife on display and some of the counties finest heritage structures make great viewing. You don’t have to cycle, walking is also a lovely way to explore the beautiful canals and rivers, it doesn’t have to be vigorous and, in my opinion, the best part of a walk by the canal is the near-obligatory rest at a waterside pub, what a joy it is to sit back with a refreshing drink and watch the world float by.

Whether you like walking, running, cycling, boating or fishing there is plenty of opportunity along this or any other stretch of canal for you to discover. I chose to cycle the 21-mile circular through the beautiful scenery in open countryside and found this is a fantastic way to discover the wonderful river and canal landscapes on my doorstep.

The path meanders along the renovated Droitwich canal and into Droitwich Spa Marina, then next to the River Severn at Hawford, eventually arriving at pitchcroft, Worcester. Before you know it your about halfway at the Diglis House Hotel and ahead of here lies Diglis Basins, once very busy with commercial traffic as Worcester Cathedral stared down imposingly on travellers entering the river.

Next up is The Commandery, the battle headquarters for the Royalist army of Charles II during the decisive Battle of Worcester. Around Bilford, the countryside returns as the canal begins to encroach back along the Worcester-Birmingham Canal, passing Tibberton and back into Droitwich Spa.

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July 2016

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Preparing for your new outdoor Pool or Spa Tips in finding the perfect addition to your home Charlie O’Neill

T

hinking about taking the plunge into buying a new hot tub, pool or sauna then you are most likely going to need some advice and tips on how to get started, the things you need to know, how to establish a budget, if building your new pool from scratch, then finding a reputable builder or supplier who will be happy to help you in finding the perfect outdoor purchase for you. So, here are a few tips to give you a head start…

Create a wish list or look book You may already know exactly what you want but you may also be a little clueless in where to start but be sure to look into the latest technology and brainstorm your ideas. Once you have done your homework, you will then have all the facts and knowledge you need when speaking to your designer or place of purchase for your pool, hot tub or sauna. They will then be able to help you with the finer details and plan the use of your purchased product, suggesting styles, designs and blueprint, in order to help you create the perfect impression, making your dream a reality.

Another great way to help you make that all important decision is to create a visual look book of what you like or want, especially when it comes to swimming pools, designers can then get a feel for you as a customer and will also inspire not only you but them in making sure all of your preferences are incorporated.

Find a credible builder or brand when purchasing your pool or at home spa Finding a builder, designer or trustworthy brand is the most integral element of purchasing an outdoor pool or spa and they need to be credible so do your research. It is always best to work alongside a seasoned swimming pool construction professional when it comes to building a pool. You can always check with friends, local or regional pool build associations or even the ‘Better

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Business Bureau’. It is always advisable to interview your chosen candidates and ask them all the questions you feel you need to know in order for them to be chosen to lead your project.

A professional and reputable builder or designer will show you examples of their work, provide you with references and answer any questions you require.

As you will be spending many months working alongside the designer and builder you should be sure to choose not only someone who is professional, but someone who you feel comfortable with.

Decide on shape or size Design is critical to what you are trying to achieve and what you can actually create. Again, when it comes to pools, a rectangular design is perfect for a classic look and is timeless. The rectangular shape is also perfect if you look to use your pool for games and swimming.

Then there is the kidney shape which is a great design choice for blending into the surroundings you have and appears natural, working well when combined with features, such as waterfalls. The all important question to ask yourself is… Does this new purchase suit your lifestyle?

Consider the weather The weather can dictate to a lot of the decisions you make for your build and design, in colder climates especially.

Enclosed areas are always the go to option in order to prolong your use of the pool or spa. Other things that should also be considered are outdoor heating and pool covers for all outdoor pools, which stems evaporation and keeps the leaves and debris at bay, whilst protecting the pool when it is in use. These are all just things that should be considered when it comes to our ever changing weather in the UK. Know how you would like to use your pool, hot tub or sauna Why is it you want your new outdoor

feature? Is it for entertaining? For the kids to enjoy? As an investment? Or simply for your own use? Knowing the answer will help you in making the right decision. A client that has a clear sense of purpose is a builder and designer’s best friend.

Establish your budget You probably already know how much you would ideally like to spend but it is important to go into detail of the costings with the builder or supplier. You may find yourself having to adjust plans or it may be that have you have the resources to fund your dream project. Make sure that both the builder and supplier know your set budget from the start, to save having crossed wires.

Consider the long term costs The long term costs are in actual fact not as bad as you would expect and can be affordable. Upkeep is reasonable, especially if you follow energy saving steps. But be aware to always factor in those costs such as, how much water is required to fill a pool, cleaning and water maintenance and finally accessories, before making the big decision.

Check local building codes When having your pool designed and built you will need to understand building codes within your local area, your builder will be able to help with this but make sure you become familiar with the rules yourself. Some builds may require a permit for fence height, lockable fences, building permits, restrictions, noise policies and property tax.

Don’t forget the insurance Don’t forget to think about the long term when establishing your budget. Contact your insurance carrier and find out if owning a pool or spa outdoors will affect your home owner’s policy.

Don’t skimp with what you really want Yes, whilst it is always good to stick to your budget, don’t settle for less. If you really want those extras then don’t skimp on what you want. It’s always a good idea to ask your pool builder if you might be able to make a saving elsewhere. ‘Almost perfect’ is not what you should be aiming for when it comes to such a big spend.

Think about energy efficiency It’s now all about energy efficiency and finding different ways to save on energy costs. With enclosures, covers, pumps and lighting timers, these will all pay for themselves in energy savings before you know it. In colder climates, especially during the winter it may be worth shutting the pool down rather than paying to heat it.

Be green and eco friendly The impact on our environment often puts people off having a swimming pool.

However today pools can be heated by solar energy or can be fitted using natural methods. There are also many natural alternatives which are today used instead of the harsh chemical water treatments.

Pool covers also help to reduce water that is lost due to evaporation.

Always consider safety Safety measures are always worth having in place. Pools can be equipped with alarms to alert you of something that enters the water. You may also want to consider child-proofing your pool with locks on gates and security alarms within your garden.

Don’t forget finishing touches Decking, coping and borders make your outdoor space and pool look attractive.

Materials used vary from stone, concrete, ceramic and glass tile. It is always worth discussing those finishing touches with your designer to see what works best for you.

Put fun on the list As your pool is nearing completion do not forget the optional extras and the fun.

There are a range of toys, games, floats and furniture that can all be enjoyed whilst you make the best of your new outdoor purchase.

July 2016

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Love for Life

Those creatures that are together forever Gail Braznell

I

t’s the smallest of words but a word with a thousand meanings. Of course, some people insist they fell in love at first sight, but more likely love comes when you least expect it, or so they say.

As humans, we like to think of ourselves as a faithful species, but when it comes to true fidelity, many other animals seemingly offer better examples of how to keep a relationship together.

Although monogamy and lifelong pair bonds are generally rare in the animal kingdom, there are some animals that pull it off.

Gibbon apes are monogamous, a rare trait for primates, they pair off like humans do and will often stay with one partner until they die. Unlike most species males and females are very similar in size and the male does not dominate, giving both of them an equal footing, perhaps the reason why they work things out together within their lifetime.

Swans, who are protected by the Queen, the crown claimed ownership of all the mute swans in England and Wales in the 12th Century, primarily to stop commoners depriving the royals of a favourite banqueting dish. Suffice to say, today the birds are no longer eaten and it is a criminal offence to harm a swan in any way. Swans are a symbol of love or fidelity because of their longlasting, apparently monogamous relationships.

They are very affectionate with each other with lots of bodily contact, usually with their necks in the shape of a heart while touching and comforting each other – gracefully.

Wolves are often portrayed as tricksters and con artists in popular folklore, wolves have a family life that is devoted and more loyal than most human relationships. When the two are about to mate, they bond, sleeping close and touching each other more and more. After Mating, they remain loyal and continue to be affectionate. Although wolves often have long-lasting attachments to their mates, if one wolf dies, the widowed mate may breed with another wolf which is remarkably like us humans.

Turtle doves are emblems of love and faithfulness and have even inspired poetry by William Shakespeare, with the “The Phoenix and the Turtle.” A male courts a female by flying to her noisily, with his wings making a distinct whistling sound. He then puffs out his chest, bobs his head repeatedly, and calls to her as she becomes smitten for life.

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An albatross will fly great distances over land and sea, but despite this will always return to the same place and the same partner when it’s time to breed.

Pair bonds are formed over several years and will last for a lifetime, cemented through the use of affectionate ritual dances. In fact, the birds will court each other for years using those dances in order to pick the perfect partner. As an albatross only lays one egg per year, it’s important that it chooses the best partner to help raise a limited number of chicks.

Beavers are another of the rare mammal species who mate for life, they live in colonies which are made by mated beaver pairs and used to raise their children. After about two years, beaver kits find their own beaver spouse to start a life with. Should the worst happen and one of the beavers come to die, the still-living beaver will seek out another mate to find love.

Seahorses are truly unique, and not just because of their unusual equine shape. Unlike most other fish, they are monogamous and mate for life. Rarer still, they are among the only animal species on Earth in which the male bears the unborn young.

The female will transfer her eggs to the male which he self-fertilises in his pouch providing everything from oxygen to food.

Foxes are usually monogamous, they also take on nannies to help with their pups. The nannies are female foxes and are not breeders. Sometimes though, one male fox will have several female mates. Females that have the same male mate are known to live in the same den together.

When it comes to lifelong relationships it seems as if we could learn a thing or two from Mother Nature. Although we might think we’re the only romantics out there, it looks like we are not quite as good at monogamous relationships as those in the Animal kingdom.

July 2016

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Spectacular Settings

U

The perfect venues for your wedding

nless you have a venue in mind searching for the perfect setting for your wedding can be one of the most time consuming factors in your wedding planning. From hotels and restaurants to country houses and castles weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve compiled a selection of spectacular settings for your big day.

Redhouse Barn, Stoke Prior

Set in five acres of beautiful grounds and gardens, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no wonder Redhouse Barn is popular with stylish wedding couples! Say your vows in the beautiful Redbrick barn seating up to 105 guests or the Timber Barn for up to 160, before sitting down for a bespoke wedding breakfast by the award winning Morgans Catering. Finish the night in style with an amazing party for up to 200 guests. www.redhousebarn.co.uk; email info@redhousebarn.co.uk; or call Jane 07875 142493

Eastnor Castle

Eastnor Castle is the perfect fairy-tale castle for the most memorable day of your life. You will find tranquillity, splendour and complete exclusivity with 12 beautiful bedrooms hosting a limited number of very special weddings each year. Every wedding that takes place at Eastnor is treated with utmost discretion and personal attention to detail ensuring that the bride and groom feel comfortable and relaxed in this truly exceptional family home.

Eastnor Castle, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 1RL 01531 633160 www.eastnorcastle.com

Episode Hotel

Located in the heart of Leamington Spa, on the banks of the River Avon, this picturesque town house hotel is the perfect intimate and unique setting for your special day. Catering to each individual taste the team at Episode Hotel are on hand to discuss all of your personal requirements.

Offering exclusive use of the venue, along with a designated wedding co-ordinator, personalised menus and an idyllic location for your photographs, Episode Hotel really is a perfect choice for your special day.

64 Upper Holly Walk, Leamington Spa CV32 4JL 01926 883777 www.episodehotels.co.uk 44

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Stanbrook Abbey

Nestled in glorious Worcestershire countryside, Stanbrook Abbey is a rare architectural gem and a truly inspiring wedding venue. Boasting a rich heritage, this incredible property has undergone a ÂŁ5million renovation and is quickly becoming one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most sought after wedding venues. With an array of beautiful function spaces, 57 brand new bedrooms and a wonderful team dedicated to you, let Stanbrook Abbey make your dream wedding day reality.

Jennet Tree Ln, Callow End, Worcester 01905 830195 www.amazingvenues.co.uk hello@stanbrookabbey.com

The St. Andrews Town Hotel

The St. Andrews Town Hotel, located in historic Droitwich Spa in the heart of Worcestershire, offers you the perfect venue for your wedding day. The elegant Georgian building and tranquil garden make you feel you're in a country house retreat, yet the hotel is only minutes away from the town centre and motorway network. There are a choice of function rooms including a 150 seat Orangery, civil wedding licence, fully licensed bar and gorgeous bridal suite.

The hotel has a superb restaurant and 31 contemporary styled en-suite bedrooms, ranging from the value Classic rooms to superior Heritage rooms.

St Andrew's Dr, Droitwich Spa, Droitwich, Worcestershire WR9 8AL 01905 779677 www.st-andrewshotel.com

Welcome Hotel Spa and Golf Club

Set in 157 acres of beautiful parkland, just outside Stratford-uponAvon, the Welcombe Hotel Spa and Golf Club is steeped in history and tradition. The hotel is wonderfully romantic. Built in the style of a Calendar House with 7 entrances (days of the week), 12 fireplaces (months), 52 chimneys (weeks) and 365 windows (days of the year), it is said to infuse luck and prosperity to everyone who stays; the perfect venue for your special day.

Warwick Road, Stratford-uponAvon, Warwickshire CV37 0NR 01789 295252 www.menzieshotels.co.uk

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Hillscourt Hillscourt is set in 25 acres of attractive grounds & gardens which is itself surrounded by the conservation woodland of The Lickey Hills on the South Westerly edge of Birmingham. The grounds offer a superb backdrop for wedding photographs and a lovely setting for arrival drinks for wedding guests. Hillscourt combines old and new with a Victorian mansion being the focal point of the complex.

The centre offers a 85 seat Restaurant, fully licensed bar and 55 en-suite bedrooms which can be booked at preferential rates by wedding parties. Hillscourt caters for up to 200 guests for evening functions and holds a license to host civil ceremonies in a choice of 2 different rooms with capacities of up to 60 and up to 100.

Hillscourt has established a reputation for offering quality catering in beautiful surroundings at affordable prices.

Tel: (0121) 457 6100 E-mail â&#x20AC;&#x201C; info@hillscourt.co.uk Web: www.hillscourt.co.uk

Magical weddings at Hogarths Stone Manor Nestling in 27 acres of beautiful gardens and grounds, Hogarths Stone Manor, near Kidderminster is the perfect setting for the wedding of your dreams. Whether you are planning a small, intimate gathering or a grand celebration, the luxurious 56-bedroom, Tudor style hotel provides a wonderful backdrop for your big day.

Flexible suites accommodate up to 140 guests for a wedding breakfast and evening party; larger numbers can have a marquee in the grounds. The hotel is licensed to hold civil ceremonies for up to 170 in a choice of rooms including the Pump Rooms covered outdoor space in the garden.

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summer has landed...

Fill your diary with fantastic free events

Cruise the town to enjoy its delights…

’s t a Wh ..

On.

...and join in the Summer of Fun!

9 July: Leamington Carnival 10 July: The Doggy Paddle 22 July: Camouflage Festival 26 July: Jephson’s Jungle Club 6-7 August: Art in the Park 10-11 Sept: Leamington Food & Drink Festival

www.royal-leamington-spa.co.uk

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Making Mischief at the RSC Designing the Festival

M

adeleine Girling graduated from The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2012 and has been working in theatre design since then. Her relationship with the RSC began in 2013 and we’re excited to have her back to work on Making Mischief as the designer for Always Orange, Fall of the Kingdom, Rise of the Foot Soldier and Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.

When did your relationship with the RSC start?

In 2013, I came to live in Stratfordupon-Avon and work for the RSC in their one-year Resident Design Assistant position. Towards the end of that year, in July 2014, I designed two plays for the Midsummer Mischief festival in The Other Place - The Ant and the Cicada by Timberlake Wertenbaker, and Revolt.

She Said. Revolt Again. by Alice Birch.

This will be the first time I've returned to the RSC since then.

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What are you most looking forward to about working on the festival?

I’m thrilled to be working on the opening of the new The Other Place space.

After seeing the initial stages of its redevelopment two years ago and being involved in the exploration of how a studio space at the RSC might behave, it’s a thrill to be able to come back and be involved in its first season as a completed building. There are also a lot of people that I’m really looking forward to seeing and working with again.

Can you tell us some more about your process for designing this festival?

The design process has been a very open and collaborative one so far, and one which I think will continue to grow and develop throughout rehearsals.

I suppose all three of these productions could have been set in a series of very specific naturalistic environments and yet with each of them, the

discussions have lead us to something much more abstract and flexible/open to what will happen in the rehearsal room.

There is something so emotive and potent in the text of all three plays that anything too literal in the physical design could have felt desensitising or distracting. I think we have found a really interesting and individual language for each of the plays and I’m really looking forward to the next couple of weeks of working with the cast and creative team to refine these ideas.

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Emma Grzonkowski A deep and emotional interview Gail Braznell

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his month I caught up with rising star of the contemporary art world, Emma Grzonkowski.

Emma is a figurative artist who draws on long periods of introspection and selfreflection to portray a range of poignant themes with an intricate visualisation of human emotion. Emma is pure raw emotion at its very best, her powerful collection of art exudes a confidence and eloquence that comes from deep within her heart and soul.

inner peace. I decided to fully embrace the emotions which I was experiencing and Art became a form of therapy which helped me express my deepest emotions on canvas. I took photographs of myself at specific moments which were heightened by my emotional pain and I then used this imagery as the source for my artwork. It was tough but I was determined to finish my degree for my boyfriend, in doing this soulful process, I was able to battle through my degree.

From the beginning

With a year left at university and with the consuming feeling that I had nothing else to lose, I decided I had to pursue my dream of becoming a professional artist. I started to look for potential opportunities in the art world and was lucky enough to connect with Glyn Washington the director of Washington Green Fine Art.

It has always been my dream to become an artist, drawing has always fascinated me and as a child I loved nothing more than to be in my own idealistic world, sitting for hours on end, trying to encapsulate my playful imagination and put all my sketches down on paper.

My desire to create my own vision was sparked from such a young age and I believe that art has always been ‘within’ me and it seems impossible to think of life without it because it is something which has always felt so natural to me.

Glyn embraced my artistic potential by offering me the opportunity to exhibit in one of his galleries, but it wasn’t until I finished my degree a year later that I fully took on this magnificent opportunity.

I created 25 paintings whilst still completing my final year at university.

This body of work was a reflection of my journey of inner peace, from the darkness into the light and this was truly soulful.

In the same month I graduated, November 2009, I had my debut exhibition with this set of work at Castle Galleries. From this moment, Castle Galleries have continued to support my artwork and I have been working with them ever since, which has been an incredible journey.

Art continued to be my main focus, at home, throughout school, and then on to sixth form college, at Sir John Deanes College. It was here I was encouraged to push my technical ability, with reference to the study of the great Masters.

I went on to study fine art and graphic design at Chester University where I was given free reign to truly experiment, we were given no boundaries and I had to find my own style, which for me was a brilliant experience.

During the second year of my degree, disaster struck; my boyfriend was taken away from me in a fatal car accident.

My whole world was torn apart and I was completely lost and while searching for reasons, answers and solace, I turned to the only thing I felt couldn’t be taken away from me, my painting.

The inspiration and desire to paint from the soul evolved. I found myself painting endlessly, as a release in an ever expressive and often frantic manner, every painting reflecting my quest to find July 2016

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I have continued to express my inner emotions through my artwork and it’s almost like a visual diary of my life and the moods I have experienced over the years. I have experienced many other things since my initial body of work, therefore, the source of the subject matter has varied, even though my selfimage has been apparent throughout.

For instance, I have focused on love and heartbreak, (splintering heart, melting heart, crimson enigma) and serene moments of beauty (awake my soul) and also moments of euphoria.

As well as focusing on the real emotions I have experienced, I have also produced themes such as ‘The Seven Deadly Sins’ where I took on the seven different characters and expressed them as different personas onto the canvas.

I put myself in the mindset of each character very much like an actor would perform on the stage. I have also found inspiration from characters in films, in particular, the ‘femme fatales’ from ‘Sin city’ (to be torn) and (sugar vemon).

However, the underlying theme throughout everything I produce is the emotional connection behind it. There is a meaning behind everything I produce which the audience may not initially see and also may never know exists as it’s so personal. It’s important to me that people know that my work is truly soulful and that I paint from the heart, that each piece I create has a part of me within it, that my self-experience and emotion drives my artwork which makes it very

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personal, and that collectors are not just buying a piece of artwork they are also buying a part of my journey.

My latest releases Metamorphosis, Transcendence and Neon Soul were approached in the same spontaneous manner which I have always worked by. My impulsive nature feeds on the moods and emotions which I am experiencing within a particular moment in time, which means the overall feeling of the pieces usually reflect a part of me and my state of mind at that time.

Neon Soul was inspired by conscious feelings, whereas Transcendence and Metamorphosis were sparked by the feelings from the unconscious realms of sleep, they have an ethereal quality to them and this is because they stemmed from an enchanting dream which I had that really captured me.

I often have nightmares and in particular a recurring dream of being chased through a dark forest, however, the night before I started to create these paintings I dreamt that I was in the same forest, but I wasn’t being chased, and I was no longer fearful as I have been so many times before. The nightmare changed into an enchanting dream which was very peaceful and I was surrounded by butterflies which were flying towards a bright light. I had a sense of relief as I woke up that I had not experienced the dark dream that I had so many times before. The dream was so vivid and stayed with me, so I decided to recreate this on canvas.

Neon Soul was sparked from a set of paintings I produced under the theme of ‘Rainbow tears’ Within this piece I wanted to show an outpouring of the soul in all its colours. I think that crying is the purest form of emotion and it’s very beautiful as it comes from within, I wanted to explore this representation and to make this emotion look beautiful in a visual form.

We have learned there is such a huge thought process involved with each individual piece of work that you create, now can you talk us through the practical side of things?

To start with I usually enhance the images digitally on the computer and experiment with contrast and colour, this gives me an idea of light and composition. I prefer to work on a slightly textural surface to give the painting more interest, which I create simply by making expressive markings with acrylic paint with my hands. It is important that the paint is not too thick as I like to allow the paint to bleed. I tend to work with water based acrylic, in thin layers of colour which I gradually build up, light to dark. I allow the paint to dry naturally and use a lot of water, which I direct the flow of.

When the image has built up a definition, I often introduce an element of chance to my work by physically throwing paint over the top of the image to break up the linear qualities. This process consists of defining and then distorting continuously.

I then seal the canvas lightly with varnish for a finishing touch.

My work is very physical and I am constantly changing the position of the canvas according to the effect I want to achieve. If I am using a lot of water to build up the layers and create a bleeding effect I will paint on the floor with my legs either side of the canvas and look as if I am doing a new form of yoga, which is always amusing to anyone who visits me.

What are your studio arrangements?

My studio is in the bottom of my parents long garden, surrounded by fields, no one disturbs me which is great. Once you step inside you would think that there has been some kind of explosion, which has caused paint to fly off in every possible direction and splatter the whole interior. I am unbelievably messy and have to step very carefully as there are always discarded, (but more often than not full) tubes of opened paint lying in wait for anyone who may enter.

Is it hard making time for yourself?

I go to the gym most nights after 9pm and that’s my time to unwind from painting.

However painting is also my therapy so when the work’s going right that’s the best natural high. It’s hard committing to plans because painting consumes my life, I am living, breathing and thinking it so there is no escape really (not that I want one). To be successful I believe you have to be fully dedicated, so I often feel guilty if I’m doing other ‘normal’ activities.

What is the one thing can’t you live without?

This is such a difficult question because I have proved that I can live without the one thing I thought I couldn’t live without. But there are many things I am very thankful for, my ever so supportive family and friends mean the most to me.

What are your biggest challenges and what makes it worth it?

The biggest challenge is my own selfdoubt which I have to battle with a lot.

It’s difficult working on your own and relying solely on yourself, I question what I’m doing constantly. It’s also incredibly humbling meeting people in the galleries who have been touched by my work and people who have messaged me and reached out with an appreciation

for what I am doing. This puts fuel back into the fire and restores the self-doubt (for a bit anyway).

Do you have a dream project and professionally what is your goal?

Probably to work on some giant canvases which would be in a museum one day.

I am constantly striving to be a better artist; I want my hard work to leave a mark on the world or to make an impression for future generations and young women in particular.

Emma will be presenting her new collection on Saturday 16th July 2016 at: Castle Galleries, 62 Victoria Street Wolverhampton WV1 3NX An exhibition of her work will then run for a further week and pieces can also be bought from Castle Galleries network of high street stores across the UK www.castlegalleries.com

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The Art of War by Author Sun Tzu A Review by Mike Stafford

T

here are very few books on military strategy that have become useful as business handbooks, self-help guides and texts for sporting success. In fact, perhaps there is only one - Sun-Tzu’s ‘The Art of War.’ First appearing in Imperial China in the 5th Century BC, Sun-Tzu’s 13 brief chapters of guidance on how to wage war have endured for two and a half millennia, cherished by military figures, but also by a host of different civilian leaders looking to gain a competitive edge.

‘The Art of War’s versatility lies in its poetic pragmatism. While there are a few mentions of chariots and bows that date the text, for the most part, Sun-Tzu does not delve into the kind of detail that would rob the book of its mass appeal. This is more ‘zen and the art of achieving victory.’ Passages such as ‘have a capable general unhampered by his sovereign’ can be taken as a recommendation for senior management not to micro-manage their immediate juniors; ‘know the enemy, know yourself, and victory is never in doubt, not in a hundred battles,’ can apply to military intelligence gathering but also to researching opposition players in any team sport. This is less about talking detailed specifics of military engagement, and more about imparting the kind of philosophical wisdom that so often comes hand in hand with martial arts.

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All this might suggest a kind of floral, poetic guidebook, but ‘The Art of War’ is definitely not that. This is pragmatism, and champions mastery of one’s emotions. Sun-Tzu knows that failure to keep one’s anger or spite in check can result in poor decision-making. The best victories are won without even fighting, through subterfuge and wise application of principles.

Ergo, a well equipped army or organisation led by a vain, capricious leader is apt to be defeated by a well-marshalled inferior. History provides ample evidence of this simple wisdom.

So is ‘The Art of War’ helpful to those of us seeking guidance outside the arena of warfare? No question, yes - but let’s be smart about this. Those of us going about our day to day lives likely have no desire to work alongside someone who models themselves on Charlie Sheen’s Bud Fox in ‘Wall Street,’ spouting Sun-Tzu and categorising the world into friend and foe. Nevertheless, the appeal for senior executives and sporting managers is clear; give yourself the mindset of a victorious leader, and victory will follow - nothing succeeds like success, and all that. So if your local five-a-side team needs an edge, why not reach for ‘The Art of War?’ www.nudge-book.com/blog/contributor/mike-stafford

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DIVORCE AND DEATH ROW

by Steve Outhwaite, Solicitor Head of Matrimonial Services

“Both involve being placed in a situation beyond your control and some eventually accept that situation whilst others fight to the bitter end.”

Steve didn’t come into law until his 30’s having originally been in engineering.

“My father had always wanted me to pursue a career in law after I spoke it about many years earlier. Eventually I decided it was for me and having qualified, I spent some time in America in order to experience a different legal system.”

It was during that time that Steve saw first-hand the pressures faced by those charged with the most serious crimes and the way they are treated differently in the USA. Having returned to the UK, Steve spent several years at prominent law firms in North London and Birmingham before moving with his family to live and work in Worcestershire.

“What I have learned over the years is the benefits I can bring to our clients, using the varied experience from my background, as to how to accept the situation they find themselves in, often for reasons beyond their control, such as infidelity of a loved one and after helping them to accept the situation, to move forward in a measured way. By managing the stress of a divorce and the discussions regarding access to children and division of finances, I aim to achieve the right outcome as quickly as possible.

Though clients are often upset, it isn’t helpful to anyone involved to encourage a fight to the bitter end and that’s where my advice can prove invaluable.”

Steve Outhwaite, Solicitor Head of Matrimonial Services Steve says that of all his successes his career high point was working on death penalty cases in the USA. To help people understand things at the lowest and most difficult point of their lives when they are confused and angry with everyone and everything, is both massively challenging and rewarding.

Of course we all face challenges and his career low point was the collapse of a previous employer following the changes to the legal funding systems, not only because of the impact it had personally but also because of the clients who were left stranded without representation and the means to understand the process and deal with it themselves, or without the means to secure alternative advice.

“When asked who inspires me I would have to say my father.

He worked hard his entire life, from the back streets of a midland town, he worked to secure a place at the local grammar school and obtain a scholarship to university and at a time when few but the very privileged had the opportunity. He was faced with innumerable challenges throughout his life but faced them all to become a successful professional, against often surprisingly high odds.”

To enquire about this service please call Steve or another member of the team on 01527 839423.

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July 2016

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The New ISA Landscape What you really need to know Tom Ware

N

ot content with Help-to-Buy, Innovative Finance and a significant expansion of the annual allowance, the Chancellor further expanded the remit of ISAs in the March budget, with the introduction of the new ‘Lifetime ISA’ for the under-40s. The ISA landscape is now increasingly broad.

LISA

The new ‘Lifetime ISA’ sits alongside the normal ISA ~ where the annual limit was raised from £15,240 to £20,000 ~ and the £4,080 junior ISA. This means that couples could shelter up to £40,000.

This is a little over half the level that they could save into a pension every year (£80,000).

One of the appeals of the standard ISA has been its simplicity. There is no tax relief on the way in, but all income and gains are tax-free. The Lifetime ISA is

similar ~ tax-free income and gains ~ but it also has more restrictions.

For the first time, investors receive a bonus on the way in, as they might with a pension. For those opening an account under the age of 40, the government will top up the contributions by 25% up to the age of 50. Investors putting in the maximum of £4,000 every year will receive £1,000.

However, there are restrictions on the this money can be used: The terms of the LISA specify that the money must be used for a first home, up to the value of £450,000, or for retirement at age 60 or over. Money in normal ISAs can be used at any time for any purpose.

In this, the LISA looks and feels more like a pension, where the capital can’t be touched until 55 and there are restrictions on how it is used.

FLOORING

If investors need to take the money out of their LISA before 60, except for a house purchase, the government will claw back its contribution and any growth in that contribution. There will also be a 5% surcharge on the amount withdrawn.

The Lifetime ISA will have a place in a savings portfolio for many under40s, alongside conventional ISAs and pensions. Many have suggested that they may also be a precursor to a more radical shake-up of the pension system, which could see traditional pensions phased out and replaced with this new type of ISA. Lifetime ISA versus Help-to-Buy

The Lifetime ISA comes hot on the heels of the Help-to-Buy ISA and, in many respects, looks very similar. However, there are a number of key differences between the two options.

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The maximum amount ~ It is only possible to shelter £200 a month in a Help-to-Buy ISA and £12,000 in total. This means that the maximum government contribution over time is £3,000. LISAs, in contrast, have a higher annual cap (at £4,000) and have no lifetime cap.

distinction between cash and stocks and shares ISAs, combining both in a new ‘NISA’ and allowing transfers between the two types. There are also new rules allowing investors to withdraw and reinvest money into an ISA, without it denting that year’s allowance.

Help-to-Buy ISAs can only be held in cash, while LISAs are more flexible, allowing a range of different underlying investments. The exact investments will depend on the platform providing the LISA, but are likely to include funds, individual stocks and shares, and investment trusts.

There has also been the introduction of new types of ISA. Most recently this has included the Help-to-Buy and Lifetime ISAs, but there has also been the introduction of the Innovative Finance ISA, built to house peer-to-peer investments. Conventional ISAs can now house Aim stocks, giving investors a high growth option for their portfolios.

Help-to-Buy ISAs can only be used towards a property worth up to £250,000, or £450,000 in London. LISAs are subject to the same £450,000 limit, but this can be used all over the country.

New model ISAs

The ISA landscape has seen radical changes in recent years: the annual allowance has moved from £3,000 per year to £20,000. There have also been changes to the structure of ISAs, with the Chancellor getting rid of the historic

Equally as important for many investors have been the changes to the inheritance tax treatment of ISAs. ISA tax benefits can now be passed on to a spouse after death. The mechanism is clunky, but it is a boost for the surviving spouses of the 150,000 married ISA savers that die each year. These changes all support the ISA structure and make it an increasingly valuable tool in long-term financial planning.

Tom Ware

Churchill Investments PLC Registered in England No. 3125227 Registered Office: 9 Woodborough Road, Winscombe.

BS25 1AB 01934 844444 info@churchillinvestments.co.uk www.churchillinvestments.co.uk IMPORTANT NOTICE The descriptions of products and services in this article are not recommendations, which we will only make to individuals based on their personal circumstances and needs. Investment plans and funds may involve risks to both capital and income. Past performance is not a guide to the future and the value of investment can fall as well as rise. You might not get back the full amount invested particularly if an encashment is made in the early years.

The descriptions of tax rules are based on Churchill Investments’ understanding of law and HMR&C practice.

Tax rules are subject to change. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Churchill Investments plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

July 2016

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Andrew Grant Estate Agents

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ndrew Grant is the Midland’s leading independent estate agent with branches spreading over 5 counties Herefordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, the West Midlands and Worcestershire. We also have a London office. Our flagship office in Worcester is home to our prestigious Country Homes department.

If you are interested in selling or renting your home and would like a free valuation please pop in to our Malvern Branch and meet the team or contact Stuart Bass on 01684 563136 or email stuart.bass@andrew-grant.co.uk

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Calling All Young Writers!

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re you, or do you know someone aged between 7 and 15 who loves to write? This summer we will be running a competition for all young writers, judged by myself and our editorial team.

Our aim is to inspire, encourage and acknowledge the creativity of budding writers in our area and help to fill up those long summer holidays.

All you need to do is submit a non-fiction article to us that is between 600 and 800 words long and tell us a little bit about what inspired you to write it. We will then carefully select a winner for each age group and invite them to the Edge Magazine office, where they will meet the team and work with one of our designers to edit and help create their very own double page spread that will be published in the September edition.

There will be two categories, one for ages 7-10 and one for ages 11-15.

The closing date for the competition is Sunday 7th August and you and a parent or guardian will need to be available for one day in the week commencing 15th August to come into the office, which is located near Bromsgrove in Worcestershire.

Submission Guidelines

All entries should be sent to lucie@edgemagazine.org as an attachment or in the body of the email.

Please include your name and an email address so that we can contact you if you win (a parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s email is fine, but please get their permission first).

Include how old you are, then we can put your entry into the right age category to make sure everyone is judged fairly.

You are free to write about anything but if you are stuck for ideas, we will put some ideas in the next edition to give you some inspiration.

July 2016

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Hearing Loss Can Affect Younger Adults

M

y husband Paul and I first met 27 years ago when we were both medical students at Manchester University. He always struggled to hear in some of the very loud nightclubs and bars we all went to, but I did not think this was anything unusual.

Over the past decade, his hearing loss gradually worsened. I persuaded him to see an audiologist over ten years ago who told him that he would benefit from a hearing aid. He was 35 years old and categorically stated that he would never wear hearing aids, as “after all, they are for old people, not for young men like me”. His grandfather wore hearing aids but they never worked well as he spent much of any conversation saying “pardon”, so Paul’s view was that hearing aids were a complete waste of time anyway.

As our daughters grew up, they started to comment how their father could not hear very well. He often misinterpreted what they told him, as he would try to guess the words that they were saying, especially if he was in another room or not looking directly at them. He stopped joining in with conversations in the car, as this was one of the worst places for him to hear.

So five years ago I arranged for him to see a different audiologist. His hearing loss had worsened. Yet again Paul resisted the option of having hearing aids.

The Effects of Untreated Hearing Loss Since that time, we had also noticed how his hearing loss affected him. He became more withdrawn and less sociable when we went out for dinner where there was a high amount of background noise. Nurses often commented in the operating theatre that he could not hear them when they asked him a question behind their theatre masks. I often observed him talking to friends and getting closer and closer to them, usually invading their personal space and tilting his head to his right side (his right ear hears better than his left ear).

My mother commented that Paul was less friendly and avoided talking to her. Other friends echoed these opinions.

So eighteen months ago I persuaded Paul to see a different audiologist. Third time lucky! He was

persuaded to give hearing aids a trial. I was so excited about this as I have known many patients over the years whose lives have been really transformed with hearing aids.

The first few days of Paul wearing hearing aids were nothing like I expected. He felt sick, had constant headaches and hated the sound of his own voice. He even stopped listening to some of this favourite music, as it sounded so different to what he had been used to. He felt really fed up and despondent.

Thankfully, he persevered and has since tolerated several adjustments with his audiologist. The difference has been overwhelming to him, our family, his colleagues and our friends. He no longer avoids invitations to parties, he enjoys going out to busy restaurants and is generally much more sociable.

Hearing Loss Stigma and Access He has worn glasses for many years and there really is no stigma associated with wearing glasses. Wearing hearing aids is very different. He does not like putting them in every day and has only recently told colleagues and close friends that he wears hearing aids.

He works as one of the surgeons on Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies and has worn his hearing aids throughout filming, even for some very close camera shots of him. Even his audiologist struggled to see them.

This personal experience of hearing loss has taught me so much as a doctor. Firstly, it is so important to encourage people to have a hearing test if their friends and family are concerned they may not be hearing properly. Secondly, hearing aids are certainly not just for elderly people and also the stigma associated with hearing aids needs to be reduced. Hearing loss is under diagnosed and ignored by too many people.

Further information can be found at www.the-nhca.com

Dr Louise R Newson, General Medical Practicioner at Shirley Medical Practice, Solihull, West Midlands July 2016

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Herbal Teas and their Health Benefits

A

Mel Taffs

part from having health benefits, herbal teas are fragrant and appealing. They make for wonderful low calorie and relaxing drinks. Let’s take a look at a few and see which teas are good for what symptoms...

Chamomile This is probably one of the most common herbal teas and it soothes the stomach relieving bloating and indigestion. It’s also a great relaxant which makes this a perfect night time drink.

Rosehip Rosehips are the fruit of the rose plant and are high in vitamin C, which is important for boosting the immune system, skin and tissue health, plus adrenal function.

Peppermint This tea helps you digest foods better and reduces flatulence, digestive problems, nausea, sickness, heartburn, muscle aches, chronic pain and congestion.

Lemon Balm Lemon balm tea is a fragrant drink and a great tonic to calm nerves and anxiety. Cold lemon balm tea bags relieve cold sores or genital sores caused by the herpes simplex virus and it also helps strengthen memory and brain function.

Nettle Nettle is made with the leaves of the stinging nettle. Despite its rough exterior nettle is one of nature’s best remedies for anaemia, high blood pressure, rheumatism, arthritis, coughs and colds, congestion, urinary tract infections and kidney and bladder problems.

Ginger This tea is an energizer and a stimulant. Ginger both stimulates and soothes the digestive system. It’s also great for nausea and has antiinflammatory properties so is really good for arthritis.

Lavender Lavender is made out of the dried purple, pink and white flowers that grow on lavender shrubs. It has been used for many centuries and lavender’s medicinal properties have been documented for

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centuries. This amazing herb can soothe your mind, induce sleep, and treat flatulence, colic, bowel infections, upset stomachs, bronchitis, asthma and fever.

Milk Thistle This is a great liver cleanser, helping it to regenerate and function at a higher capacity.

Hawthorn The leaves and flowers are used in a variety of peach and berry flavoured teas. It contains flavonoid like complexes that help improve cardiovascular health by helping to relax and dilate blood vessels which increases blood circulation and lessens stress on the heart.

Green Tea Known as the wonder tea, it has many health benefits. It lowers cancer risk and inhibits carcinogens in cigarettes and other compounds.

It also contains potent antioxidants called polyphenols which help suppress free radicals.

Green tea stops tumours forming, lowers cholesterol, lowers blood pressure and helps fight tooth decay.

Echinacea Known to prevent or cure the common cold it’s a powerful herb that contains active substances that enhance the activity of the immune system.

It also relieves pain, reduces inflammation and has anti-oxidant properties.

Cardamom Grown mainly in India and Guatemala, both dried white cardamom flowers and the sweetly aromatic seeds are used to make tea. It is pungent, sweet and aromatic in flavour and helps treat indigestion, stomach pain, flatulence, nausea and congestion, whilst also helping with pre- menstrual symptoms.

Contact Melanie Taff’s for more information on healthy eating, weight loss and getting fit for summer on 07792421080 or email melanietaffs7@ gmail.com

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Become an Asian Rhino Keeper for the day A fantastic experience where you will meet, feed and generally care for our three magnificent Asian Rhino.

An unforgettably close encounter with these armoured giants! You may like to purchase the experience for yourself or treat a loved one to an unusual gift.

EXPERIENCE DETAILS Your day will begin with an exclusive tour around the Asian Rhino House.

You will be able to meet the rhinos and help with morning routines, feeds and training sessions. You will also go out on patrol with the Keepers and be able to see other animals on the Asiatic section.

There are some areas where your Guide will take pictures for you which will be put onto your very own CD, available for you to take away on the day. You will also receive a guidebook and a certificate to say that you have been a Keeper for the Day. Complimentary lunch will then be provided in our Explorers Restaurant where you will be given a chance to relax after your busy morning. Finally the afternoon will be your own; you can make use of your VIP wristband which provides you with unlimited use of the rides or browse round our selection of gift shops at your leisure. You also have the option of revisiting the reserves in your own vehicle if you wish.

ITINERARY 8:45am. – Arrive at WMSP on the main drive pulling over on the left hand side where you will be greeted by the rhino 64 www.edgemagazine.org

Keeper. Please remain in your car at all times. You will park in the main car park and then embark in one of our Safari vehicles.

9.00 a.m. – First stop Realm of the Asian Rhino House. This is the time of day that the rhinos are still in their house so you will be able to meet the rhinos and help with morning routines, feeds and training sessions.

9.30 a.m. – A photo opportunity with the rhinos will also take place. You will be able to get up very close and feed some bananas to the rhinos ‘Rap, Sunanda and Seto’.

10.00 a.m. – Time for the rhinos to go into the reserve. You will help prepare the paddocks and put out the feed and release the rhinos, all under guidance of the Keepers.

10.30 a.m. – Now it is time to clean out the Rhino House, remove the muck and turn the bark so we hope you are prepared for hard work!

12.00 p.m. – You will go out on patrol with the Keepers and be able to see the other animals on the Asiatic section and there will be time to collect some browse for the rhinos too.

1.30 p.m. – Lunch in the Explorers restaurant. One of the Keepers will join you for lunch and will be able to tell you about the other animals at the park too.

The Keeper will also give you a guide book.

2.30 p.m. – The rest of the day is yours to explore as you wish. You can use your VIP wristbands to have unlimited rides in the Leisure area, browse through the gift shops or even take a tour around the reserves in your own car.

When you are ready to go home, call in at the main reception where your photographic disc will be waiting for you.

Competition Entry

To enter answer this simple question and send you answers to

rhino@edgemagazine.org

HOW HEAVY WAS EKOZU WHEN HE WAS BORN AT WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK?

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New Family Festival this summer at the British Motor Museum!

The British Motor Museum is celebrating this summer with a special Family Festival on Sunday 31 July. This fun-filled family day of art and science activities is all themed around the great British car, with plenty of hands on workshops and drop in activities to keep everyone entertained. Activities include; Keep Calm and Carry on British Car Making, Balloon Modelling, Story time with Veronica Lamond - the author of ‘Landy’, Come and meet Mr Carter & Jim the bus driver, Drumming with car parts, Compton Verney - Beyond Bush crafts, Clay model making with Aardman, 25 Brick LEGO Challenge and Augmented reality with Computer Xplorers.

The Family Festival is just part of the Museum's summer family activities that run from 23 July – 4 September. For more information visit the website at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk or call 01926 641188 Just turn up on the day and families can take advantage of the Museum’s great value offer; buy a family ticket at £39 and Gift Aid it, and you receive a year’s season pass at no extra cost, so that you can come back time and time again to enjoy all the Museum's holiday activities.

Summer Holiday Family Fun 23 July - 4 September Join us to celebrate the British car with a festival of summer activities...

Themed family craft days Family trails & Workshops Outdoor play & picnic area

... and our Family Festival on Sunday 31 July See website for activity dates & full details.

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um.co.uk Gaydon . W arwickshire . CV35 0B J

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Family tic ket £39* Buy 1 day get 12 months free* * See website for full terms & conditions

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Fish Thursdays Steak Tuesdays

Primo Bar & Dining, 55 Sidbury, Worcester, UK 01905 611566 | www.primoworcester.co.uk

The Flyford Arms

This stunning Traditional English inn is situated within the beautiful Worcestershire countryside and you will find we offer delicious home cooked food, real ales, and a good variety of wines.

The Flyford Arms is the perfect place to stay for a drink and we can cater for private functions.

From celebratory events to private dining we understand that your function is important to you and we will do our best to make sure your event is everything you want it to be.

Fresh fish and local sourced produce a specialty our specials board will be constantly changing with inspirational dishes produced from chefs with vast knowledge and experience.

Old Hill, Flyford Flavell WR7 4DA | 01905 381890 | www.flyfordarmsworcs.co.uk July 2016

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What’s on this July Peep Behind the Scenes

Severn Valley Railway – Various Locations - Saturday 16th July

Antiques for Everyone Summer Fair

Thursday 21 July 2016 - Sunday 24 July 2016 - Halls 18 – 19 Find inspiration by adding stylish antiques and collectables to your home at the Antiques for Everyone Summer Fair. Antiques for Everyone is the largest art, antiques and interiors fair outside of London, featuring over 200 specialist dealers offering a huge variety of unusual and desirable items.

The fair is known for its diversity with dealers exhibiting pieces ranging from ceramics, glass, paintings, 20th century design and furniture, to jewellery, art deco items, silver, decorative collectables and contemporary pieces.

Stock is carefully vetted for authenticity by a team of experts and is refreshed daily offering you rich pickings that suit all tastes and budgets, from £10 to £100,000.

Whether you are a connoisseur or looking for something unique to add to your home, visit the fair to be inspired, buy what you love and create your own look.

Daily celebrity talks from BBC Antiques Roadshow experts Judith Miller and Will Farmer will also be taking place. Find out more at www.antiquesforeveryone.co.uk

Peep Behind the Scenes offers an exciting opportunity to see behind closed doors at the work that goes on to keep the SVR running on a daily basis, whilst experiencing first-hand the skill and dedication needed to run a Heritage Railway.

Organised by the 4150 Locomotive Group, the event allows access to areas normally closed to the public, including restoration projects, signal boxes, diesel cabs and more. The SVR’s heritage steam locomotives will be running a full service. Money raised goes towards the restoration of GWR Large Prairie Tank No. 4150.

The event includes entry into a true working environment and some floors may be uneven.

Locations: Kidderminster From the 4150 Stand near Platform 1 Bewdley From the EMF Fund Shop in the Car Park Bridgnorth From the Station Gift Shop on Platform 1

Tickets: Adults - £5 - Children aged 16 and under accompanied FREE (Train Travel will require a valid ticket) For more information visit www.svr.co.uk

Beer Cider Music Festival This Year Its Hotter Than Ever

JULY Friday 29th, Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st Featuring - Fred Zeppelin, Absolute Bowie Band, The Beached Boys, Foam Party, Zombie Boot Camp, Funfair Market, Food, Clothes, Stalls Car Boot Sale. 20 Real Ales 32 Summer Ciders To Try Guest Brewery St Austell Beer Company Droitwich Leisure Centre, Briar Mill WR9 0RZ 68

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July 2016

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Jewellery Quarter Festival 22nd-24th July 2016

Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival Moseley Park, Birmingham - 8th-10th July 2016

Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival will take place at Mosely Park in Birmingham and will feature some of the best jazz acts over 3 days including George Clinton Parliament Funkadelic, De La Soul & Average White Band plus many more. Purity Brewery Company will again be providing the festival with their award winning ale and imported lagers. As usual there will be one well stocked bar with ale available in 4 pint plastic containers to cut down on those trips to the bar. There will also be a range of onsite catering including pizza, falafel, Caribbean food and Tea and Cakes.

For more information visit: www.mostlyjazz.co.uk

Make the Jewellery Quarter Festival 2016 your opportunity to discover something different. Happening the weekend of 22nd – 24th July, the festival is a unique blend of heritage and innovation with a plethora of activities, live acts and entertainment suitable for everyone.

Starting Friday 22nd July at 4pm with an after work party, this three-day festival celebrates the unique blend of heritage and thriving creative innovation in this quirky corner of Birmingham.

The weekend will see a host of activities, music, live acts and performances hosted on the Quarter’s newest public space, the Golden Square; also on St Paul’s Square, the last Georgian square in Birmingham and home to the Grade I listed St Paul’s Church. A 15-minute walk or 7-minute tram ride form the city centre, the Jewellery Quarter is easy to get to. The Festival starts Friday at 4pm on the Golden Square.

Entry to the festival and Open Studios trail is free, but some venues may charge. For further information about the festival please visit www.jewelleryquarter.net/ JQFestival and join our Facebook event for regular updates.

Lionel Richie - All The Hits with special guest Corrine Bailey Rae Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham - Thurs 7th July 2016

International superstar Lionel Richie returns to Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham in 2016! This July he’ll be back performing ‘All The Hits’ from his extensive and much loved repertoire spanning decades, all the way from the Commodores to the present day. Lionel’s shows are world renowned for their party atmosphere and audiences will be able to join Lionel in singing along to classics such as ‘Hello’, ‘Easy’, ‘Dancing on the Ceiling’, ‘Say You Say Me’ and ‘All Night Long’.

So if you missed him on his 2015 sell-out tour last time or just want to be dancing on the ceiling all over again get your tickets now!

Ticket Price: £79.45 / £62.58 / £45.70 70

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Night at the Proms with Midland Voice Choir & Orchestra

Saturday 2nd July – Butterworth Hall, Warwickshire Arnold Schwarzenegger famously once said, “I’ll be back!”

Well, we are back, and we keep on coming back to entertain our audiences, (twice every year since 2010).

The Midland Voice Choir and Orchestra will this time be performing A Night at the Proms, an evening full of fun, fabulous harmony and emotion. The sound from 200 singers accompanied by a brilliant orchestra is incredible.

With popular songs such as Land Of Hope And Glory, Jerusalem, Battle Hymn Of The Republic, A Mary Poppins Medley and Zadok The Priest, to name but a few, it promises to be a night which will appeal to everyone’s taste, and will send you home with that “feel good” factor.

For more information visit www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

Chaplin - The Charlie Chaplin Story The Artrix, Bromsgrove - Wednesday 13th July 2016

This is a heart-warming and powerful musical tale of the first true British icon of cinema. This fascinating story weaves through Chaplin’s early journey as a young boy through the dark streets of Victorian Vaudeville London to the glitz of early Hollywood.

Featuring an all-star West End cast including Steven Arnold (Ashley Peacock in Coronation Street), Nicole Faraday (Bad Girls, Emmerdale), and a full array of amazingly talented Actor-Musicians (‘Once’, ‘Buddy’, ‘The Commitments’). This beautiful and hilarious musical play follows Chaplin through his early career, showbiz ambitions and often-fractious relationship with his mother, family and his first love. An untold story too fascinating to be missed!

Stratford upon Avon Butterfly Farm The Official Opening Ceremony Stratford upon Avon Butterfly Farm first opened its gates to the public 31 years ago. Since then over 3 million visitors and school children have walked amongst the stunning tropical butterflies in the rainforest flight area.

Last year the Butterfly Farm celebrated its 30th Anniversary.

Company Director, Clive Farrell, announced that there would be major refurbishments of the Butterfly Farm during the first half of 2016. We are now delighted to announce that the renovation is complete and ready to be revealed.

The official opening ceremony will take place at 10am on Friday 22nd July with an array of opportunities to discover all that is new including fascinating information about the life cycle of a butterfly, where they come from and introducing the Maya, an ancient rainforest civilisation, whose artefacts have been replicated and are now on display. Our special guest will be renowned archaeologist, Dr Diane Davies, who will be signing copies of her latest interactive children’s book, ‘Maya, A Journey Through The Maya World’.

The celebrations will continue into the weekend of July 23rd and 24th with Mini-Beast Handling Sessions, demonstrations in the Discovery Zone and a competition to win season tickets to the Butterfly Farm.

Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm, Swan's Nest Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7LS Tel: 01789 299288 www.butterflyfarm.co.uk

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“The Crescent Theatre Company presents Around the World in 80 Days”

P

hileas Fogg is off on the adventure of a lifetime!

Stampeding elephants! Raging typhoons! Runaway trains! Unabashedly slapstick!

Come and join us as we present, at a venue near you, the snappy, witty, delightful, exuberant, brilliantly entertaining play “Around the World in 80 Days”.

Hold onto your seats for the original amazing race! Join fearless adventurer Phileas Fogg and his faithful manservant as they race to beat the clock. Phileas Fogg has agreed to an outrageous wager that puts his fortune and life at risk.

Together with his resourceful servant Passepartout, Fogg sets out to circle the world in an unheard of time of 80 days.

Every step on the journey is dogged by a detective who thinks Fogg is a robber on the run. Danger, romance, and comic surprises abound in this whirlwind of a production as five actors portray 39 characters as they traverse seven continents in Mark Brown’s brilliant adaptation of the one of the greatest adventures of all time.

Make a date to come along and see this outdoor Crescent Theatre production as it tours various venues across the West Midlands. Bring the family, bring a picnic, bring a seat and enjoy this summer production brimming with energy and imagination!

‘Around the World in 80 Days” is touring during July 2016 – so grab a ticket and be part of this whistle stop adventure!

JULES VERNE’S

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Adapted by

MARK BROWN

OPEN-AIR SUMMER TOUR 2016 2, 3 + 6 JULY

12+13 JULY

9+10 JULY

16+17 JULY

SAINT NICOLAS’ PLACE, SELLY MANOR, KINGS NORTON BOURNVILLE CASTLE BROMWICH HALL GARDENS

HARVINGTON HALL, KIDDERMINSTER

BOX OFFICE 0121 643 5858 | crescent-theatre.co.uk

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closer to the performance

For more information, please visit www.crescent-theatre.co.uk or follow them on Twitter @crescenttheatre. Tickets can be booked online or by calling the box office on 0121 643 5858 The Crescent Theatre Brindley Place Sheepcote St Birmingham B16 8AE

Great food in the great outdoors Everything you look for in al fresco dining

Whether you fancy eating out in a lovely country garden or on a peaceful waterside terrace, our gastro pubs offer the ultimate al fresco dining experience. Our chefs know how to make the best of local summer produce creating fantastic menus that taste even better when experienced al fresco. Add in some refreshing wines and beers, and you have the recipe for lazy, hazy summer dining. With friendly, efficient service and a commitment to deliciously creative food, this is the independent pub company that has won a sack-load of awards, including Les Routiers Pub of the Year 2016. So why not book today?

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Myton Road, Leamington Spa CV31 3NY Tel: 01926 425043 www.themoorings.co.uk

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Crowle Green, Crowle WR7 4AA Tel: 01905 381772 www.thechequersatcrowle.com July 2016

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KITCHEN COLLECTION The Laura Ashley Kitchen Collection is now open:

imageinteriors kitchensbedrooms bathrooms Appointed Stockist for the Laura Ashley Kitchen Collection

Visit our showroom: Monday to Friday – 9:00am to 5:00pm, Saturday – 9:00am to 4:00pm Sunday – 10:00am to 3:00pm Unit 1 Aston Fields Trading Estate, Sherwood Road, Bromsgrove, B60 3DR

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