Edge Magazine March 2016 Edition (Volume 42) by MLP Publishing Ltd

Edge Magazine March 2016

(Volume 42) FREE EDITION

Warwickshire, Worcestershire, West Midlands and North Cotswolds

Food & Drink | Culture | Business | Fashion | Lifestyle

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ŽďũĞĐƟǀĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ŝƚ͘ ZĂƐŚ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ŽŌĞŶ ŵĂĚĞ Ăƚ ƟŵĞƐ ŽĨ ƐƚƌĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞ͕ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ǇŽƵ ŽŌĞŶ ƌĞŐƌĞƚ ůĂƚĞƌ͘ ŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂƌĞ ŶŽ ĨŽŽůƐ ʹ ƚŚĞǇ ƉŝĐŬ ƵƉ ŽŶ ĂŶǆŝĞƚǇ ĂŶĚ ƵŶŚĂƉƉŝŶĞƐƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ Ă ĨĂŵŝůǇ͘ dŚĂƚ ŝƐ ǁŚĞŶ ǇŽƵ ŶĞĞĚ ĂĚǀŝƐĞ ŽŶ ǁŚĂƚ ĂƌƌĂŶŐĞŵĞŶƚƐ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƌƚ ǁŝůů ŚĂǀĞ ŝŶ ŵŝŶĚ ŝŶ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ǇŽƵƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͘ zŽƵ ŶĞĞĚ ĂĚǀŝƐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ŽƌĚĞƌƐ ƚŚĂƚ Ă ĐŽƵƌƚ ŵŝŐŚƚ ŵĂŬĞ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ŽƌĚĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ǇŽƵƌ ŚŽŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǁŚĞƌĞ ĞǀĞƌǇŽŶĞ ǁŝůů ůŝǀĞ͖ ǁŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ŚĂƉƉĞŶ ŝŶ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ǇŽƵƌ ƉĞŶƐŝŽŶ Žƌ ǇŽƵƌ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌ͛Ɛ ƉĞŶƐŝŽŶ͖ ŚŽǁ ǁŝůů ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĂƐƐĞƚƐ ďĞ ĚŝǀŝĚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ǁŝůů ƚŚĞ ůŝĂďŝůŝƟĞƐ ďĞ ĚŝƐĐŚĂƌŐĞĚ ʹ ŝŶ ĨĂĐƚ ŚŽǁ ĂƌĞ ǇŽƵ ŐŽŝŶŐ ƚŽ ŵĂŶĂŐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƌƚ ĂŶĚ ůŽŶŐ ƚĞƌŵ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ͘

dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƟŵĞ ǁŚĞŶ ǇŽƵ ŶĞĞĚ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ŐŽŝŶŐ ƚŽ ďĞ ũƵĚŐŵĞŶƚĂů͕ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ ǁŚŽ ĐĂŶ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ǇŽƵ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĞǆƉĞƌƚ ŚĞůƉ ǇŽƵ ŶĞĞĚ ĂŶĚ ǁŚŽ ǁŝůů ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ǇŽƵ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ǁĂǇ ĂŶĚ ďƵƚ ǁŝƚŚ ǇŽƵ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƵůƟŵĂƚĞ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂǇ ĂīĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƚ ŽĨ ǇŽƵƌ ůŝĨĞ͕ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ ŝƚ ďĞ Ă ƐŚŽƌƚ Žƌ ůŽŶŐ ũŽƵƌŶĞǇ͘ /Ŷ ƐŚŽƌƚ͕ ǇŽƵ ŶĞĞĚ ŵĞ dƌƵƐƚ ŵĞ͕ ǁŚĞŶ ŝƚ ĐŽŵĞƐ ƚŽ ƐŽƌƟŶŐ ƚŽ ŚĞůƉ ǇŽƵ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĚŝĸĐƵůƚ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ĂƌƌĂŶŐĞŵĞŶƚƐ ĨŽƌ ƟŵĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ Ă ƌĞƐŽůƵƟŽŶ ƚŽ ǇŽƵƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ƚŚŝƐ ĐĂŶ ŽŌĞŶ ďĞ Ăůů ŽĨ ƚŚŽƐĞ ƉƌŽďůĞŵƐ͘ ŶĚ ŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ĚŝĸĐƵůƚ͘ zŽƵ ĂůƐŽ ŽŌĞŶ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ďŽŶƵƐ ʹ ǁŚĞŶ ǇŽƵ ŝŶƐƚƌƵĐƚ ŵĞ ĚĞĂů ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƵƐĞ͕ ǇŽƵƌ ƉĞŶƐŝŽŶ ǇŽƵ ŐĞƚ ŵĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĂŶĚ ĚŝǀŝƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĂƐƐĞƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ǇŽƵƌ ĐĂƐĞ͘ Ɛ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĂůŝƐƚ ůŝĂďŝůŝƟĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĐŽŵĞ͘ zŽƵ ĂƌĞ &ĂŵŝůǇ >ĂǁǇĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŵĞŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ĂŶǆŝŽƵƐ ĂŶĚ ĨƌŝŐŚƚĞŶĞĚ ŽĨ ǁŚĂƚ ůŝĞƐ ZĞƐŽůƵƟŽŶ / ĐĂŶ ŚĞůƉ ǇŽƵ ĮŶĚ Ă ĂŚĞĂĚ ĨŽƌ ǇŽƵ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͘ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ǁĂǇ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ͕ ŶŽƚ ũƵƐƚ ĨŽƌ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ŶŽ ƟŵĞ ƚŽ ŐŽ ŝƚ ĂůŽŶĞ͘ EŽƚ ǇŽƵƌ ŽǁŶ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ͕ ďƵƚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ŽŶůǇ ŚĂǀĞ ǇŽƵ ŐŽƚ ƚŽ ĚĞĂů ǁŝƚŚ Ă ŽĨ ǇŽƵƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͘ Ɛ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĂůŝƐƚ ǀĂƌŝĞƚǇ ŽĨ ĐŽŵƉĞƟŶŐ ĞŵŽƟŽŶƐ ďƵƚ &ĂŵŝůǇ >ĂǁǇĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŵĞŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ǇŽƵ ŵĂǇ ĂůƐŽ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŽ ŚŽůĚ ĚŽǁŶ ZĞƐŽůƵƟŽŶ / ĐĂŶ ŚĞůƉ ǇŽƵ ĮŶĚ Ă Ă ĚĞŵĂŶĚŝŶŐ ũŽď ĂŶĚ ǇŽƵ ŵĂǇ ďĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ǁĂǇ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ͕ ŶŽƚ ũƵƐƚ ĨŽƌ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ĂŌĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĚĂǇ ƚŽ ǇŽƵƌ ŽǁŶ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ͕ ďƵƚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ĚĂǇ ʹ ǇŽƵ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ŝŶ Ă ŐŽŽĚ ƉůĂĐĞ ƚŽ ŽĨ ǇŽƵƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͘ ĚĞĂů ǁŝƚŚ ǇŽƵƌ ŽǁŶ ůŝĨĞ ůĞƚ ĂůŽŶĞ ďĞ

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

inally it feels like spring is on our doorstep, the days are getting longer, the sun that little bit stronger and at the end of the month we put the clocks forward. March is one of those months where everything seems to be happening this year; Mother’s Day falling on the 6th and Easter weekend falling early this year with Easter Sunday falling on the 27th. Oh how I am looking forward to that long weekend. Let’s hope that the weather warms up a bit and we can all really enjoy it. There’s also St. Patrick’s Day, World Book Day, the final rounds of the Six Nations Rugby and, of course, Cheltenham Festival. If all of that sounds a little hectic and you need to wind down, it is also National Butchers week. We’ve been out and about getting to know some of your local butchers and if it really is all too much, it is also National Sleep Awareness week and we look at the most common sleep problems and how the experts suggest to overcome them. In case that isn’t quite enough to get you motivated, we’ve also brought you some fun and different ways to get the heart racing and get fit, find out what you should be doing to your vegetable patch this month in part two of my little gardening feature, but I do have to admit it has been a little bit cold so I haven’t got down to too much hard work yet! It’s also National Nutrition month and Charlie brings you some top tips on eating healthily. Steve checked out this season’s new menu at Mediterranean bistro the Olive Branch in Worcester and Michael and I headed to Praza, fine Indian dining on the Hagley Road in Birmingham. I also got treated to a relaxing afternoon at The Bank House’ newly opened Spa; it was amazing and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

not, I do apologise, it really wasn’t my call! Laura Clay gives us the low down on healthier wines available and the opportunity to win a bottle, financial advice on end of year tax planning from Tom Ware, interior design inspiration with Zoffany’s new range from Hatton & Harding, Sophie Hannah’s new thriller is reviewed by Mike Stafford, Mel Taffs brings us her tips for better back care and Dr Louise Newton shares her knowledge on migraines and how to cope with them and Emma Jenkins and Dawn Anna Williamson bring you the new styles for spring/summer 2016. Many thanks for reading and special thanks to those who drop me a line to chat about the magazine, it really is lovely to hear people’s thoughts on what we are doing, so please do get in touch… lucie@edgemagazine.org Have a great March and see you next month!

Lucie x

Gail also gives you a closer look at one of our area’s most striking buildings which you may not have heard of- Chesterton Windmill and she has been chatting with Keith Maiden, our Artist in Residence for March. There’s also an interview with yours truly, which I was a little hesitant about agreeing to but apparently the team here think that finding out a little bit more about me and the magazine as whole will be of interest. If it’s March 2016

Main Features Meet the Editor-in-Chief An Interview

Praza Edgbaston A Review

NOW OPEN, RESORTS WORLD BIRMINGHAM

The Olive Branch A taste of the Mediterranean

BRING SOME COLOUR INTO YOUR HOME THIS SPRING

Malvern View Spa At the Bank House Hotel 58 FLOORING FLOO F G PAINTS P AIN A NTS & PAPERS N PAP S BLINDSS BLIN

Jonjo O’Neill Partnership Hospitality with a difference 72

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March 2016

Contents Meet the Editor-in-Chief

PRODUCTION

Spring 13

Editorial

O bag 16

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

Royal Leamington Spa

Praza Edgbaston 18 Planning your Spring wardrobe

Spring Fashion 22 Raw and Expressive

Spring Trends 28 St Patricks Day

Edo Launch by Zoffany

Alex Dudley - Editorial Assistant

Tips for decorating with colour

Alex@edgemagazine.org

Museum of Royal Worcester

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

Ginger Properties 38 Chesterton Windmill

The Olive Branch

Droitwich Food Festival 2016

Local Butchers Week

Healthy wine drinking

March in the vegetable garden

National Nutrition Month

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

Local Kitchen 54

Steve Picker - Worcestershire Sales @EdgeMag_Steve steve@edgemagazine.org Tel:07515 493 703

More water, More Happiness

Malvern View Spa

Sleep Awareness Week

What is Aura Veda?

Got your back

Cheltenham Festival Preview

Have Fun Getting Fit

Sport Relief 70 Migraines 71

CONTRIBUTORS Laura Clay Tom Ware Mel Taffs David Hatton Mike Stafford Alex Dudley Adrian Barrows Emma Jenkins Dr Louise R. Newson Dawn Anna Williamson

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

6 info@edgemagazine.org www.edgemagazine.org

Jonjo O’Neill Partnership

End of year tax planning

Disney on Ice UK Tour

Crescent Theatre – Hay Fever

World Book Day

The Narrow Bed

Six Nations Rugby

What’s On this March

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SCREW FIX

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Meet the Editor-in-Chief

Gail Braznell

his month, we thought it would be a good idea to try something a little different for once, instead of looking outwards for interesting content, we decided to interview our own Editor-in-Chief, Lucie Abu-Zalaf, to find out more about what makes her tick, her likes, dislikes, family life and everything in between! Since taking over the role from Michael in the summer of last year, Lucie has worked tirelessly to make improvements to the magazine and stamp her own mark on it, both in the way it looks and the subject matter covered. Her ideas have involved some big changes to the team and the way the magazine content is produced, but it has resulted in a much better finished product and is reflected in the massive increase in the interaction we have had with our readers since she took over the position.

Despite her uneasiness to allow us to do this aritcle (mainly down to the fact she didn’t want to be seen as blowing her own trumpet,) she has reluctantly agreed to share her story for the readers of Edge. Here is what our Editor-in-Chief Lucie, has to say. Tell me about your background? I was born in Worcester, at the old Ronkswood hospital, where my parents were so sure I was going to be a boy I didn’t have a name for quite some time! Eventually after being home a while they settled on Lucinda, but I still only ever get called that when I’m in serious trouble. I had a great childhood, I grew up in Feckenham which is where my parents still live and I have two older brothers, which could be why I’m still a bit of a tomboy. I went to school at King’s in Worcester where I was quite the opposite of a model pupil and spent more time in trouble than I did in class. Eventually I pulled myself together, sat my A-Levels and went on to study Chemistry and Pharmacology at The University of Birmingham, which was hard work but also great fun and where I met my husband, Michael. After finishing university I went down to London to work, keen to earn some money, but ended up back in Worcestershire when the time came to start a family. When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up? There’s only ever been one thing that I’ve really wanted to do, and it has been the same since I was about four years old. It’s to be a doctor, or more specifically an orthopaedic surgeon. It’s still something I want to do now and hope to go back to study once we’re done having children and they are settled in school. But I think now that I’d be too old to start surgical 8

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training after finishing the medical degree and due to certain life events if I do get around to doing it, I would rather go into oncology. How, when and where did you meet Michael, was it love at first sight, how long have you been married? I met Michael for the first time at a party at uni. Neither of us wanted to go and we had both been dragged along by other friends. There was quite a lot of alcohol involved at the time so it’s a bit hazy, but somehow he did end up with my number, which is the only time that I have ever actually given it out, so he must have said something right. I chickened out of dinner twice, but on the third time decided not to be a wimp and the rest is history! We’ve been together for about eight years now I think and it will be our fourth wedding anniversary this year; so far so good. What does your family think of your work activity? I think they are fairly torn between thinking that I lead a total life of luxury reviewing spas, cars and restaurants and seeing how hard we all actually work and how much effort it takes for such a small team to produce our magazine every month. How did you happen to find yourself in this position? I worked in The City before I came here, for a Lloyd’s broker, but when I got

pregnant it wasn’t really compatible as I travelled around Europe a lot and worked very long days with my time divided between Oxfordshire and London so I thought I would take early retirement, so to speak and just enjoy being a mum. I managed to last about a year before I started really missing adult conversation and the need to do something more than being at home a lot of the time. I came to work for Edge on the sales side of things, which was where my background was, but over time the role evolved and I ended up taking on more of the editorial side, until eventually we decided to work to our strengths and do a total role swap. I suppose that’s one of the benefits of being a small, family business and it makes more sense for me to be more office based as it means I’m never too far away from our little girl, Sophia. Being Editor in-Chief you must be a good leader so what qualities of a good leader do you have? Haha, that’s a tough one to answer! I don’t know, you tell me… I think I always try and be balanced and look at the bigger picture and the long game and I’m also very aware of what the big problems are in life and in business and which ones may cause a bend in

the road but aren’t things to waste time worrying about. I’m also quite a logical person and I would say I’m pretty level headed- most of the time. I get on with people and try to spend the time to get to know everyone and make sure that people I work with are happy and confident in what they are doing. I think that’s the most important thing, if people are happy and enjoy their time at work and feel appreciated, most other things take care of themselves. What are your long-term goals or career plans both for the magazine and on a personal level? For the magazine the goals are to keep doing what we’re doing, but push ourselves to make it better and bigger. We will be having another design overhaul in the coming months to make sure that we stay fresh and interesting and the general plan is to then roll out Edge Magazine to neighbouring counties, but we’re still very much in the planning stage of where we will expand to, but it will be somewhere along our current borders. On a personal level, my long term goals are much simpler; to be happy, healthy and make the most of every situation that I find myself in. But in the short term I tend to congratulate myself on a daily basis that we have got through another day, the house is tidy, the clothes are clean and there is food on the table! What’s different in your job compared to what you thought it would be?

Name three positive character traits you don’t have? Self confidence. Determination (I tend to give up and do something else if I’m not very good at something early on). Optimism, I do tend to be a glass half empty kind of person. What is your favourite article you have written and why? I have two that I can’t really choose between. I loved writing the article on hedgehogs that was in the September 2015 edition. I found that really interesting and learned so much

about the spikey little creatures and it was great to be able to raise a bit of awareness for one of our indigenous species that has really been suffering in recent years. But the one that meant the most to me on a personal level was the article in the December 2015 edition on Bethlehem. It was difficult to try and convey what life is like out there without being overly political and to also make it interesting for our readers. Having spent quite a lot of time there, it is an issue very close to my heart so I was also very aware of getting it wrong, which added a different element and it was great to get my teeth stuck into something a little more divisive.

By far the hardest thing, which I never really considered before is coming up with new and interesting articles every month that haven’t been done before, either by us or any other magazines. I was also shocked by how negative some people in this industry can be. For me, I think competition and choice are great for helping to keep you on your toes and make sure that you are always striving to make the next edition better without the need to put others down and I was quite surprised that some people have a very different attitude and it is something that I have never really come across before.

March 2016

Are there any big problems you have had to face in your position? Finding the right staff! It’s so much harder than I ever would have thought to build a team that works well together and that you can depend on. Have you recently gone above and beyond the call of duty? It’s hard to answer that one and I would say it depends on how you judge it. I regularly work well into the night and most weekends, especially when it comes near press time, which when combined with a toddler who doesn’t sleep very well means life can become pretty tiring, but I think that is also the case for many people, especially when you own your own business as there is no one else to pick up the slack and if things don’t get done it means a lot more than just getting a telling off from the boss. What is most important to you? Family, friends, health and happiness. Oh and also my car, I do love that. Are you a well organised editor? The only other editor I can compare myself to is my predecessor, who is also my husband. I am definitely better

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organised than him, but he isn’t always the most organised of people so I’m not sure that is a great comparison! There has to be a certain amount of organisation, but there also has to be the ability to be pretty fluid and work quickly when new ideas crop up so it’s a fine balance. Luckily I have you and Charlie around who are very organised which does help an awful lot.

to deadline) getting everything laid out on the pages correctly and then leave at about 5 to go and collect Sophia. Then go home, have some supper and it is back to emails and copy checking before bed.

What does a day look like in your office?

Do you find it difficult living and working with your husband?

Well the alarm clock goes off at 6.15, if I’m lucky enough to have been allowed to be woken up by that rather than Sophia. Then it’s a bit of a military mission to get myself and Sophia ready and out of the door to drop her at nursery for 8. Into the office for about 8.15 where I go through my emails and copy lists and work out my plan for the day before everyone else gets in. Then, as you know, it’s coffee and chat time before we all settle down a little and get on with sourcing and writing our articles, coordinating editorial coming in from our contributors and working closely with the sales team to make sure that we are on top of their editorial requirements. Then it is plenty of reading, re-reading and editing all of our copy multiple times to try and spot any errors (especially when we are close

Actually not at all. Many people ask how on earth we do it, but we don’t find it a problem. We met when we were at university and have always been used to spending a lot of time together which I would say helps a lot. We are also quite similar people and have the sort of relationship where we take the mickey out of each other a lot but we also both respect each other and value the other’s role, not thinking we could be doing it better which is good. We bicker a lot in the office and at home, mainly about little things but it tends to end with laughter which is great for getting any frustrations out without ever building up to a catastrophic fight. And eventually he usually comes round to seeing that I was right all along. That’s the real key.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? Well, that all depends on whether or not I win the Euro millions on Friday.

How’s the gardening coming on? It’s a work in progress, but I’m enjoying it so far. I just want the weather to perk up a little so it is less of a chore! What kind of hobbies and interests do you have? I do really enjoy cooking and seeing my friends, that’s a very dull and generic answer I know, but I just don’t have time for much else at the moment. I do have a passion for Formula 1 too, so when it’s racing season there’s not much chance in seeing me out if there’s a Grand Prix on. If you could be friends with any character in a book, who would it be and why?

everything, plenty of fiction but lots of non-fiction too, mainly political or political history books; but I am struggling to think of someone who I would like to be friends with as I tend to imagine myself as the character in the book rather than view in a more detached manner. Is there anything particularly awesome that you’re working on right now? Haha, nope! (Sorry I can’t think of anything work wise!) I’m working hard to be a better person and to give more back to people, society and those less well off, but I don’t think that’s particularly awesome or necessarily in line with the question, just overdue.

So, I’ve heard you’re a secret One Direction fan…? And there she goes, what a finisher. Yes, you know I am and have a total Granny crush on Harry Styles. I have no idea where it came from and I can’t bear boys with long hair so it makes absolutely no sense at all. I think it could possibly stem from not wanting to be old and having a crush on a boy band member is obviously such a random teenage thing to do that my slightly detached mind has decided this is what I’ll do to keep myself young. And he’s only 9 years younger than me, so that’s not too bad, right?!

Considering I spend most of my day reading and writing, I actually do read quite a lot at home, around a book a week. I will read anything and March 2016

Worcester Bedroom Centre Grand Opening High end luxury showroom will be ready to open on Friday 25th March (Easter Weekend), to display a full range of Somnus, Kaymed, Millbrook, Gainsborough and lots of other well known brands. Be sure to keep an eye out for very interesting opening offers.

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The Bedroom Centre Ltd City Walls Road St Martins Gate Worcester WR1 2JA Tel:- 01905-729 077

sales@the-bedroom-centre.co.uk

Now also in Bromsgrove The Bedroom Centre Ltd 27-29 High Street, Bromsgrove, B61 8AJ Tel - 01527 - 577 946

Spring Lucie Abu-Zalaf

raditionally, March marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, hurrah. During spring, the axis of the earth is increasing its tilt, relative to the sun and the amount of daylight rapidly increases, causing everything to warm up and new plants to ‘spring forth’ which is where the name of the season originates.

There are two equinox every year, one in March and one September; it is when the sun shines directly on the equator making the length of day and night as close to equal as they get, not just here in England, but all over the world, this is the astronomical definition of spring. This year, in the UK this falls on Sunday March the 20th, at 04.30 if you want to be particularly precise. The March equinox symbolises many things, for us in the northern hemisphere it is traditionally a time of rebirth, but it also sets the date for other festivals, such as Easter. The air may well lose its winter chill before late March though and this is why meteorological experts simply define spring a three month period of

time based on rising temperatures. The warmer temperatures lead the ground to soften and thaw, becoming more yielding to plants and it is often accompanied by increased rainfall, which helps to water the infant seedlings as they take root in the ground. It is also the time when those animals that go into hibernation are meant to wake up, although with warmer winters at the moment many have been waking earlier than they really should, and those who travelled to warmer climates to spend the winter return. It is also the time when many animals give birth, making sure that their offspring have the best start with warmer temperatures and plenty of food available. Children even tend to grow faster in spring than any other month. The spring equinox is also responsible for deciding when Easter is celebrated, rather than being held on a specific date every year, like Christmas. Many years ago Christians decided that Easter would be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the equinox; this means that Easter can be as early as March 22nd, or as late as April 25th.

As well as being a date that moves every year, Easter is also celebrated on a different day depending on which calendar that you use. Here in the UK we work with the Gregorian calendar, along with most of the Western world, but some orthodox churches still use the Julian calendar for religious festivals. Easter is the Christian celebration that marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but the name could actually stem back much further to traditional pagan celebrations of spring arriving. The Goddess of spring, had the name ‘Eostre.’ Pagans thought that the sun died in winter and was born again in spring and that the goddess brought the spring and with it the sun would get stronger. So, however you decide to choose how it starts and whether or not you celebrate the festivals determined by it, let’s all be pleased that it will soon be here and will definitely bring us longer days with lighter evenings and hopefully some warmer weather too. But you can keep some of the extra rain that so often accompanies springtime months, I think we’ve had enough of that recently.

March 2016

(S)Hop into town Royalthis Leamington Spa Visit the town to seeEaster! what's new this Easter

op into Royal Leamington Spa this Easter to enjoy a bunny-bouncing month of events, restaurants and shopping! With its truly unique combination of independent boutiques and high street stores, there’s an eclectic mix of unique gifts and interesting activities that will delight all the family. With endless options of Easter fun, there’s plenty to keep the kids occupied! Take part in the Royal Pump Rooms’ Easter Egg Hunt Trail with the family on Good Friday and enjoy searching for chocolate prizes, face painting and making your own bunny shopping bags. Delve into the centre of town to discover a wonderful selection of new stores. Treat your new-born to vintage clothing from Happyology on Regent Street; a brand offering a modern edge for babies, toddlers and children up to seven. Pop down a few doors to Claire Marie to discover a world of dress designs from stand-out to chic. No matter what age, size or occasion there is something for everyone. Shop with their VIP experience in the search for that jawdropping dream Ball gown – book your appointment today!

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Strike a pose with stage props from Leamington’s newest addition The Stagey Fox. From plays to gifts the store has an abundance of theatrical goodies for all new upcoming thespians! Feel the wind in your hair in the great outdoors with bicycles from Evans Cycles on Warwick Street. The recently opened store carries the UK’s widest range of bicycles so whether you’re in need for a junior or hybrid model there are products suitable for all the family. After all the family activities and shopping munch your way through the town! Over 50 scrumptious restaurants offer gastronomic delights with delicious alternative treats for anyone with dietary requirements. For instance, visit Regent Court Shopping Centre to dine safely in the newly opened and Coeliac UK accredited Côte Brasserie. Once your French soiree has ended bounce over to Las Iguanas to unwind with their 241 ‘ALL DAY’ happy hour cocktails. On March 13th take a visit to Park Street for Fat MooMoo’s Vegan Night where mouth-watering treats will await you. Enjoy and discover an evening of sin-free sweets, Vegan milkshakes and RAW chocolate.

If you have more of a taste for art culture, visit Reload Gallery in Augusta Place to experience their public art exhibition. The much anticipated Solo Show by Cherie Strong ‘Crazy, Mad, Beautiful’ will showcase between March 19th until April 4th. You can always delve into art at the Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum on March 19th. Spend a day with couture designer Bobbi Heath in the Craft Studio and learn how to create your own chic fascinator or headpiece. There are so many treats in store for you and your family this Easter in Royal Leamington Spa! To find out more about What’s On visit www.royal-leamington-spa.co.uk.

Hop into town this Easter! Enjoy fun family events and activities...

Bounce around the fabulous shops and parks...

’s t a Wh .. On.

...and munch your way through town!

...IN MARCH:

Easter Egg Hunt & Fabulous Fascinators Workshop: Leamington Spa Gallery & Museum Gin Party: Leamington Wine Company Aromatherapy Blending: Neal’s Yard A Solo Show by Cherie Strong: Reload Gallery Exhibition Join in the #LoveLeamChallenge!

www.royal-leamington-spa.co.uk Facebook “f ” Logo

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March 2016

O bag Comes to Touchwood - Solihull

ome and meet Claudia and her team at the new Italian designer store O bag, which opened at Touchwood last month. Solihullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most stylish shoppers are being given the chance to be amongst the first in the UK to get their hands on the latest customisable fashion accessories, available thanks to this fabulous new store launch. O bag originated in Italy in 2009 and is now an international brand with over 250 stores worldwide, including Rome, Milan, Cannes, Barcelona, Tokyo and Miami, with Touchwood marking its first UK concept store. Claudia and her team welcome you all to the store, giving advice on the many combinations, offering customers a wide range of colours, mix and match handles and accessories, to suit any style, outfit or taste, and all made from the highest quality materials and finishes.

When asked Claudia what she enjoys most about her role, she says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love helping customers personalise our range of O bag products to create a style and unique look which is individual to them. The products include a vast range of interchangeable watches including the new O clock greats with new straps and larger dials. O bags has many different styles to suit all, including the classic and mini, the smaller bags O basket and O pocket, and the recently launched O chic, again all with many accessories which are easily added too or changed. For work the O folder was launched last year, the perfect fashion accessory for the lap top and accessories. For SS16 there is a fantastic new and completely For further information about the Store compatible collection, all available within our Touchwood store from the end or the Brand please contact Claudia on 0845 519 8181. Or visit of Februaryâ&#x20AC;?. www.obagonline.com for online sales and www.obag.uk.com wholesale inquiries.

O bag O bag is a vibrant Italian brand with a unique range of colourful and interchangeable fashion accessories. Key products include O clock watches, the O bag, O pocket, O folder, O chic, flower bracelets and O sun sunglasses.

Touchwood Centre, Solihull B91 3GJ, tel: 0845 519 8181

obagonline.com 16

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37 Main Street, Dickens Heath Shirley B90 1UB, tel: 0845 519 7171

facebook.com/obagonline instagram.com/obagonline

30 New Street Worcester WR12DP houseofdogs.org.uk

March 2016

Praza Edgbaston A review

Lucie Abu-Zalaf

aving opened its doors in 2015, to coincide with sister restaurant Pushkar’s fifth birthday, it has gone from strength to strength and there are no signs of the success stopping any time soon. Set just back from the Hagley Road in leafy Edgbaston is Indian restaurant Praza. This is not your standard curry house, this is international fine dining at its best, coupled with talented mixologists, dedicated to bringing you the ultimate cocktail experience. Praza has its own private car park at the rear of the restaurant, which leads you through the main entrance and straight into the bar and cocktail lounge, decorated in sumptuous black and copper. It looks stylish, but also welcoming and cosy. We took a seat and drinks menus were brought straight over. We thought it would be ever so rude not to go for a cocktail and took recommendations from our waiter as we just couldn’t decide. Out came a vodka based chilli and mango ‘martini’ which was amazingly smooth but with a kick of green chilli and a cocktail which will be appearing on the menu from next month, the B94, a rum based cocktail with ginger

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notes that was absolutely superb and the perfect way to kick off. We were then shown upstairs to our table, which is solely dedicated for dining and perfect for cosy intimate dinners or bigger parties alike. After taking our seats the menus arrived along with some of the finest poppadoms I have eaten in quite some time; actually, since my last meal at Pushkar! We mulled over and decided to go for a selection of starters and swap around a little so we could really experience what was on offer. We went for the Praza Kebab Platter which consisted of Chicken Tikka, Arctic Charr and Duck Sheekh Kebab, Fofos - which are Goan fish rolls and the Makhmalli Chicken Kebab. All were served promptly, with the separate elements of the dish outlined by the waiter as they were served. For our second course we opted for the Nilgiri Chicken Curry, which is a lightly spiced sauce with coriander, curry leaves, coconut, chillies and roasted spices. The Punjabi Chicken Masala was what I went for and contained succulent chicken, onions

and tangy tomatoes masala, spiced with green chilli, ginger fresh coriander and garam masala. On the gentler side we also tried the Butter Chicken Deli Wale; a dish of tandoori cooked chicken, simmered in a subtle, creamy tomato and cashew nut gravy with dried fenugreek leaves, ginger and honey from the street-side eateries of Northern India. To accompany we chose a selection of naan breads and pilau rice. These dishes were truly exceptional. The portion sizes were not skimpy but not too big either, the flavours and sauces were delicately balanced; not swimming in ghee or with one ingredient overpowering the rest and the quality of the ingredients used really does shine through.

kitchen to make Praza, without doubt, one of the finest Indian restaurants in the country.

The level of quality from all aspects of the menu at Praza is seriously high; Executive Chef of Praza and Pushkar, Bishal Rasaily, was crowned one of three winners in the prestigious South Asian Chef Competition 2015. Bishal was one of eight UK finalists to take part in the live cooking competition and his dishes not only met the rigorous SACC criteria, but all three dishes were judged as outstanding. The competition is now in its twelfth year and is one of the most highly regarded accolades in the industry. From menu choices to presentation, it is clear that Bishal has the knowledge to produce amazing combinations to excite the palate and also delight the eye and this knowledge has been shared with his team in the

For the quality of food served, you will not find a more reasonable restaurant around either. With main courses coming in at around £10.95 you really can’t go wrong at Praza.

The ground floor of Praza boasts two private dining rooms catering for parties of eight and sixteen if you want that extra special feeling. The dining room upstairs has space for eighty more diners and is divided into sections to keep that intimate feel. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and not afraid to make recommendations and if the cocktail menu doesn’t have something that jumps out and grabs you, the mixologists will happily show off their skills and create something just for you based on your favourite spirit.

94-96 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 8LU Tel: 0121 456 4500 info@praza.co.uk March 2016

Planning Your Spring Wardrobe

know it’s hard to think about spring when the rain is lashing against your windows and the wind is buffeting against your conservatory but it might just put you in a better mood if you do. Daffodils and crocuses are already starting to emerge and sooner or later you need to be turning to your wardrobe to see what you’ve got available and what new garments you may need to invest in. The changes you make at the start of spring can be fairly subtle. There may still be a nip in the air so rather than make changes in cloth at this stage you should be looking at colours. The deep dark colours of winter can start changing to the gentler hues of greens, mid-blues, and lighter greys. Waistcoats can still be worn and you may want to invest in a lightweight coat to keep the chill out. As the temperature creeps up you can gradually put away your heavy wool suits and move to lighter flannels, cavalry twills and milled worsteds. Every man’s wardrobe should contain a lightweight suit and sports jacket that will serve them for the spring season and moving to more pastel colours such as beige, tan and ivory are ideal for this time of year.

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For a more casual look then a smart pair of chinos, a soft and lightweight blazer, a pale relaxed shirt and a silk pocket handkerchief cuts a fine sartorial figure. For the office, then light grey, mid blue or beige two piece suits in soft cotton or light wool will set the tone perfectly. Cloths that allow the air to circulate through them are a good choice for spring so wool-linen blends or silk blends may be a good addition to your wardrobe. Now is a good time to look at your spring wardrobe and see if it fits the bill. What have you got planned for spring? Are you taking a short break? Will you be going to a sporting event? Plan your spring wardrobe now so that you can look sharp for the season. For more information about being a well dressed man please see www.thebespoketailor.co.uk or call Adrian Barrows on 07968 438717

Adrian Barrows

The art of the wedding

March 2016

Spring Fashion Must have looks for SS16

e Brits face our own unenviable wardrobe dilemmas whatever the season due to our wonderfully unpredictable weather – four seasons in one day ring a bell? But finally we’ve turned the corner and we’re heading into spring so here to brighten those dull days are my top fashion picks for spring. Pieces that will take you seamlessly into Summer; SS16 is all about tailored elegance, Ruffles, Stripes, Boudoir Dressing think ‘underwear as outwear’ and the 90s which is making a huge comeback in the form of versatile slip dresses, and low slung tailored trousers, there were plenty of crossover trends on the runway too; ruffles mixed with stripes, lacy 90s slips worn in grunge style in a nod to the 90s and bare shoulders are everywhere. Here are some of my must-have items as seen on the runway with some more wearable looks available on the high street: All about the shoulders

The shoulder is the must-show accessory this spring, bare shoulders and collarbones were all over the SS16 catwalks; think angular necklines, Bardot tops and dresses all in interesting shapes – a chic way to show some skin, seen head to toe at Boss and on the high street at M&S and Asos.

On the runway – Boss

On the high street – Blouse £39.50 - Autograph at M&S

Dawn Anna Williamson Fashion Stylist www.dawnwstyle.com

On the high street – Pink Ruffle dress - £25 ASOS.com

Ruffles and Romance

The ruffles came in the form of Victorian inspired high neck collars, ruffled hemlines and girly bows seen at Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. The romance came via ladylike dresses, dressed down with flats for a more relaxed, vibe mixed with delicate floral prints. On the high street - Ruffle Sleeve Top - £32 Oasis 22

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On the runway – Gucci & Alexander McQueen

Boudoir Dressing

Lacy slips were turned grungy in a nod to the major 90s trend with the addition of biker-chic boots and leather jackets seen at Givenchy, Celine and Saint Laurent. The slip dress reigned supreme and was seen on almost all runways, velvet, silky, plain and embellished, you name it this is a key piece for spring, and you can layer it up or simply wear this piece on its own for summer. Pyjama shirts are also featured again for the second season running, with tailored yet relaxed styles at Calvin Klein and Alexander Wang.

On the High Street Lacy slip dress £49.99 at Zara

On the runway Haider Ackerman

Statement sleeves

Sleeves are a key feature – voluminous and diaphanous, think ‘the bigger the better’. Bell sleeves, kimono sleeves and fluted are key shapes but still retain a tailored aesthetic.

On the runway Ralph Lauren Stripes

Stripes are everywhere in all sizes; pinstripe and block, both multi-coloured and monochromatic, the stripe is definitely the pattern must-have of the season.

Online Becky Shirt Dress £25 at boohoo.com >>

Accessories

In a roundup of Spring accessories, look out for chunky heeled mules, chokers and extra-long statement earrings.

Mules £32 – Asos.com

Tall Order Choker £10 at Aldo

Earrings £12 at River Island March 2016

Raw and Expressive If I were the Devil... Gail Braznell

Avarice Egocentric

ntil a few years ago Keith Maiden was a struggling artist who had to resort to buying the cheapest brushes from his local art shop. Keith also chose the most cost effective black and white materials over oils which later served to create his signature monochrome style. I talk to the storytelling master, the king of raw and the technical genius at his home in Shrewsbury. Can you tell me a little bit about your background? I was born in Ashmore Park, Wolverhampton and had the opportunity to attend art college at 16. Times were tough back then and I chose to earn a living to help my parents instead. I went on to work as a designer for international retail brands until about three years ago and that was when I picked up a pencil and sketchpad for the first time in 20 years.

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So how did your big break occur? I left a couple of figurative paintings at a framers in Welshpool, they were spotted by a guy who was in the framers picking up a mirror. He liked what he saw and contacted me, little did I know he was a fine art collector and a big client of Castle Fine Art. I went to his house a few days later with the framer and he bought all three paintings that I took to show him. When we were on our way home the phone rang, it was the collector again, he asked if we could pop back as he wanted to introduce someone to me. When we got back there was a lady who was the gallery director at Castle Fine Art Birmingham, she loved my work and asked if she could show it to her boss, who was the owner of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest publisher, Washington Green Fine Art. A few weeks later I went to Birmingham with my paintings unframed and in a black bin liner. I nervously chatted with

the owner and within ten minutes he offered me a publishing deal and a five year contract. I really owe the collector a drink (I did give him one of my sketches as a thank you). How would you describe your work? Very raw, I am not after perfection or realism. I paint from the heart, and I strive for emotion and feeling in my work. The often untouched and deliberately minimalist background ensures focus is on the subject. What was your first piece of artwork? It was a portrait of Elvis, my mum still has it hanging over her fireplace, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not exactly my best work.

Your new exhibition of brand new original works is called ‘If I Were The Devil’, where does the inspiration come from?

Oil be back

A couple of years ago I heard this inspiring audio clip on the internet, it was a broadcast by legendary ABC Radio commentator Paul Harvey. On April 3rd, 1965 Paul could be heard ranting about how he saw American society in the future. What I couldn’t get over was this speech, made in 1965 remember, is a measure of today’s society, it’s as if it was written only yesterday. And this is what inspires my portrayal of the social evils that scar British society today. Through my work I’m telling a story of the greed and self absorption that exists in every aspect of life today. For example, Avarice Egocentric was never intended to have religious connotations but they evolved over time whilst I was creating the painting. The crucifixion-like composition with outstretched arms holding a British flag. There’s the subtle twist on Apple’s branding, the tattoo showing two bites of the apple, signifies the greed of today’s conglomerates. The Latin inscription translates to ‘centre of their own attention’ Look closely and you can see the name on the credit card as ‘Mr Owen Monie’. The bottom right hand corner has the social media Twitter logo with the words ‘ACCOUNT CLOSED: 0 followers...’ interpret this as you will.

young, disabled, race etc. I find him amazing, he has the ability to lift my mood after a bad day in an instant. He’s a very inspiring young man and he makes both Vonne and I very happy. Both Vonne and Levi are so supportive, Vonne has been incredible, she puts up with my artist temperament, and goes out of her way to help in any way she can, I would not have achieved what I have so far without her. If there is an exhibition or an artist appearance both Vonne and Levi are always right there with me, I couldn’t be happier. Describe a typical day in the life of Keith Maiden

What does the term ‘having it all’ mean to you? I think I have got it all to be honest. My wife Vonne seems happy my son is always happy and we have our lovely home. It’s great getting paid for something I love so much as it was once only a hobby. What makes you happy? Without doubt my son Levi, he was not dealt the best of cards, he has Cerebral Palsy, and learning difficulties, he has an incredible personality, he doesn’t see wrong in anybody and he doesn’t judge people, he finds good in everyone, old,

There isn’t a typical day really, every day starts with a dog walk for Eddie our Boxer. I’m nearly always painting or sketching, I don’t have a set routine as such, but I do like to do a lot of research for my paintings. What do you do to de-stress? And is it hard finding the time? Again, I love to spend time with Levi, I always have quality time with him. He’s got some model steam trains in his bedroom that we play around with from time to time. We always have dinner as a family and I like to have a beer down the pub, Levi comes along for a Diet Coke but always asks, “are we going for a beer dad?”. Most Fridays we go down our local, have some food watch a live band and enjoy spending time together.

25 If I were the devil

March 2016

What is the one thing in your life you can’t live without? Ah! I was only talking about this with some mates of mine recently. If you could only keep one thing, either music, television, an ipad, a phone or books, what would you keep? I could live without my phone and at a push I could live without television but I couldn’t imagine

life without music. Music is so inspiring, it can brighten your day and it could be a useful resource tool if the other items are not available. I would keep music! What are the biggest challenges of the job and what makes it all worth it? The story telling element is my biggest challenge. If you look at the process of producing a piece of art, there’s the

preparation which is the easier challenge, the painting which is a challenge to a degree because some pieces are harder than others, but the story telling is about getting all those things to work and transfer to an image so that people can relate too. And that is for me the difficult bit. What are your working arrangements? My purpose built studio (shed) is in my garden and is split into two halves, I do all my prepping on one side, which is things like working out the size of the boards, painting, sanding and then coating them with acrylic. Then the other side is where I draw and paint. What’s your strongest memory of your childhood? Because I like to paint about what’s going on in the world, it’s the simple things that I like remember most as a child. A game of curbey, a game of spotlight or footy in the street. There was trouble in those days but I guess it was part of living on a council estate in Wolverhampton, we were used to it, so I guess a bit oblivious to it. I set an amateur football team up with a mate when I was 13 and it was a huge part of our lives for many years, I still drink today with some of the lads from the footy team, that’s almost 40 years. Do you have any advice for new artists within the art world? You know what I do! I would say never give up, my break didn’t happened for me until I was 50, develop your own style, believe in that style and stick with it. There are a lot of incredible artists out there it is a very tough and very competitive profession. What has been your best experience so far? After I had been with Washington Green for about a year they asked me along with a selection of internationally acclaimed artists if we wanted to paint Pelé’ for the Halcyon Gallery in London in celebration of his 75th Birthday and his lifetime of achievements. Other artists included Lorenzo Quinn, Mitch Griffiths, Andy Warhol, Nic Joly, Raphael Mazzucco and myself, I still can’t believe I was asked.

26 www.edgemagazine.org Original Pele

My vision was to strip back the public mask of Pelé, and reveal the genuine, humble guy beneath with a serious, honest and raw painting. I wanted the composition to translate how a bare footed unknown Brazilian went from humble beginnings to become the ‘king’ of world football. As a football fan I was in my element, it was such a surreal experience. I met Pelé’ and chatted for a while, he’s such a lovely bloke. I shook his hand and we both signed my original giving it that ultimate seal of approval. My piece was one of the first paintings to be sold from the collection and it makes me a very proud man. Over time has your artwork changed at all, if so how? It’s always evolving over time, it’s changed from the last exhibition to this one and I assume it’ll change again. I’ll always keep that core look but I’m always looking for new ideas. What’s the most indispensable item in your studio? When I first moved into our new home in Shrewsbury I needed to sharpen my chainsaw and one of the neighbours lent me a file. One day when I was working away I needed something to put some hair lines in the thick paint I was using so I grabbed this file, the pointed edge worked a treat. I recently had this particular file framed as a present for the guy who loves it and sees it has his little contribution to my art work. I now have a new file which I bought for a pound and I couldn’t manage without. But there’s also a little brush I use where I’ve cut all the bristles off so it’s really stubby, I use this as a blending brush and this too, works perfectly when I’m blending my colours into the graphite.

Wake up and smell the corruption

Keith Maiden artist appearance at Castle Fine Art, ICC Saturday 12th March 2016, 1pm-4pm Castle Fine Art (ICC), Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA Local Wolverhampton artist Keith Maiden will reveal a newly curated collection of his work at Castle Fine Art at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre on Saturday 12th March 2016, 1pm-4pm. His new exhibition of brand new original works is called ‘If I Were The Devil’.

Following his much anticipated artist appearance, an exhibition of his work will then run at the gallery until Sunday 27th March 2016. For further information please see: www.castlegalleries.com/events www.maidenart48.com March 2016

Spring Trends Key wardrobe additions for spring Emma Jenkins fter what feels like the coldest spell EVER, the shops are beginning to slowly dribble into spring. This means lighter tones, denim, blues, creams, khaki and tailoring. The UK high street always seems to take the ‘safe’ option with early spring styles, so this month I’m giving you a few hot tips to get ahead of the game!

The 90’s are making a come back, if like me you wore your ‘mom’ jeans, dungarees, bomber jackets and oversized shirts the first time around it does all feel a little raw, but the 2016 spin on these trends are the ones to buy into now. Cropped, high waisted denim is back. with a dark indigo wash, frayed hems and the new shape of a cropped flare are the ones to watch out for. The tip is look for a slightly loose, but still fitted style. A girlfriend fit is great. Levis do a great ‘mom’ shape, which is on my payday shopping list!

Cropped wide leg jeans £38.00 River Island Sateen Bomber £29.00 Zara

Slips are usually something worn underneath your clothes, but this season they are on trend when worn as a dress (think Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell circa 90’s), or layered over a roll neck jumper. Stripes are always around in spring, but this year look for shirts, culottes, cropped jersey and then layer them in varying types of stripes and colours. Bomber jackets are back! Think silk, embellished, luxurious fabrics - we aren’t looking for the shiny fabric, ill-fitting style from the 90s thank goodness!

Striped Wrap Skirt £29.99 Zara Calvin Klein Slip £72.00

The simple oxford white shirt has had a makeover; look out for longer styles but with a little twist. Tied waists are very much on trend right now. Wrapped skirts, in all kinds of fabrics and colours are the perfect wardrobe update. Wear now with an oversized jumper, wear later with bare legs and slinky t-shirts. Happy shopping!

For more style inspiration, follow me on; Pintrest: Emma Jenkins Instagram: itsabeautifullifeuk Blog: www.itsabeautifullife.co.uk Contact for marketing strategy: www.marmaladesoup.com

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St Patrick's Day

Charlie O’Neill

t Patrick’s Day is a day for celebrating identity and culture, for Irish and the Irish at heart on 17th March, all across the globe. It began as a religious feast day to celebrate the death of the patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland’s heritage and culture. Today this is known as an international festival which includes parades, entertainment, special foods and the colour green. According to tradition, Patrick returned to Ireland to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity and this special day is also a public holiday in the republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Wearing of Green As you may have noticed on St Patrick’s Day there are many followers who wear the colour green and it is customary to wearing shamrocks, green clothing and accessories. St Patrick supposedly used the Shamrock, a three leaved plant to explain the Holy Trinity to the Pagan Irish. This story first appeared in writing in 1726. Green has since been associated with Ireland since the 1640s. During the 1790s green was a colour that represented Irish Nationalism in which many Catholic members launched a rebellion in 1798 against British rule. The phrase “wearing the green” actually evolved from a song of the same name, which laments United Irishmen supporters being persecuted for wearing green. Since the 19th and 20th century, the colour green and its connection with St Patrick’s Day have continued to grow, as well as wearing the St Patrick’s Day cross. St Patrick’s Day in Ireland Ireland is the place to go when it comes to experiencing all of the fun on St Patricks Day, a day that gets everyone to think and go green. It is celebrated unlike anywhere else in the world on this special day. Unbelievably, 13 million pints of Guinness are consumed on St Patrick’s Day, instead of the usual 5.5 million. Dublin celebrates with a four day festival which embraces anything from ceilis (a traditional dance) and salsa dancing as well as an array of entertainment throughout the city’s famous bars. Londonderry’s Derry celebrates with the “Seachtain na Gaeilge” (Irish language week), a linguistic build up to the big day with events taking place throughout the City. However,

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the oldest of parades is celebrated in County Wexford, beginning in 1917 whilst heading out West to the Dingle, where things begin to get started from as early as 6am in the morning with the Dingle Fife and drum band taking to the streets. Limerick and Cork are also favourites with their festivities, hosting food and crafts markets which line their streets, as well as plenty of music and street performances to entertain its visitors. County Armagh has the strongest connection with St Patrick’s Day in Ireland with its strong Christian heritage and where the man himself founded one of his churches. All of the festivities in County Armagh last for one whole week in honour of St Patrick. Looking to celebrate somewhere a bit closer to home? Then head over to Birmingham…. Birmingham hosts its very own St Patrick’s Day parade where locals and tourists will line the Digbeth High Street on Sunday 13th March 2016. The parade starts at Camp Hill at 12 noon and lasts for two hours, showcasing the diverse cultures and communities in Birmingham including Irish dancers and Chinese dragons. The ‘confetti blast’ will begin the festivities as has happened since 1952. Birmingham was the first place in Britain to host the festival to help to reinforce identity and links to the country and has been held at Digbeth since 1996. With its continued growth the parade attracts over 80,000 people, with local pubs venues and businesses hosting their own celebrations. The Emerald Village will return to Birmingham on Sunday 13th, starting at 1.30pm and finishing at 6pm. This is a fantastic event, located by the Irish Centre on Ballard Street, showcasing some of the best bands in town on the largest “St Patrick’s Rocks” stage. There will also be markets and catering on site where you can sample some of the delicious food and drink from Birmingham’s independent traders. The festivities are great for all, with plenty of fun and activities for the children to partake in, including face painting, a mobile zoo, clowns and much more fun for all of the family. For more information on St Patrick’s Festivities in Birmingham visit: www.stpatricksbirmingham.com

March 2016

Edo Launch by Zoffany At Hatton & Harding Interiors David Hatton

pring always heralds the start of new beginnings, natures bursting with floral abundance and it’s always exciting to see the launch of new collections, in line with fashion, from the top interior companies. We were thrilled to get a prestigious invite to head down to the Mecca of interiors, Chelsea Harbour, and view Zoffany’s latest collection from Head of Studio, Peter Gomez. Now, it’s no secret that we sit amongst Zoffany’s biggest fans. The success of their stunning collections over recent years is allowing them to build and build on their outstanding reputation. Incorporating hand drawn elements and new developments in technology, Zoffany’s studio is one of the most innovative and creative in the market. Hardly surprising then when September 2015 propelled them, with the likes of Apple, Aston Martin and Liberty, as ‘Coolbrand 2015/16’ an initiative to identify the UK’s coolest brands. We’ve loved their recent collections, ‘Town & Country’, ‘Winterbourne’ and ‘Haddon Weaves’. All offer enough variety to appeal to a modern, contemporary home but still maintain the classic English Country House style, so we were eager to see what the designers had created to add even more diversity to the range. So the presentation began, Peter flicked through swathes of the most beautiful fabrics I have seen in a long time with passion and flair (hardly surprising when each collection takes a year from concept to launch. Inspired by Japanese design and culture, the ‘Edo’ collection is simply breath-taking in its

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understated interpretation of the natural world around us. The fabric collection demonstrates the ultimate craftsmanship; watercolour prints on natural linens, lightweight silks and delicate embroideries. We were shown the stunning original artwork pieces (which I begged to have for a wall at home!) created by lavish & spontaneous brush strokes. The collection certainly contains designs that you would associate with the Zoffany brand. Our favourite, Acer, is exquisite. Weave, print and embroidery have been layered, the Acer’s painted in the studio, printed onto a beautiful silk and linen quality and then the chrysanthemum heads are embroidered over the top as if randomly falling on the leaves. These fabrics serve more than just purpose and sit proudly above any design led trends. This is art for your home. A beautiful black and white photograph with crumpled edges aged by time

was then passed around the room. A beautiful Japanese lady was pictured, dressed in a traditional shibori kimono in the 1930s. The traditional technique which involves binding sections of cloth was the inspiration for ‘Kanoko’ with its meandering zig zag motif... the design used for upholstery or drapes is stunning. Complimenting wallpaper, fabric and trimmings collections are available within Akaishi, Birodo velvets (16 beautiful colours inspired by polished stones, muted and brights) and Edo braids. Following a lengthy love affair with emulsion the appeal of wall coverings is definitely returning, albeit with a twist. The Akaishi wallpaper collection comprise a mix of wallpapers & stunning extra wide paper backed fabrics which are sold by the metre. As the Zoffany brand claims it ‘embraces the best of both worlds’ of contemporary and traditional design and the magic of digital printing makes the latest

collection truly spectacular and perfect for the most prestigious County homes.

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

by Will Taylor for Hillarys Will Taylor writes one of the most colourful blogs on the web, and has recently partnered with Hillarys to ﬁnd Britain’s most creative use of colour in the home. Read on, for Will’s top tips on adding colour to your home, and for the chance to enter an exciting competition.

For more information on Will's partnership with Hillarys, and to enter our competition visit:

hillarys.co.uk/ creative-colour

brightbazaarblog.com FOR MORE INSPIRATION OR TO BOOK YOUR FREE HOME APPOINTMENT, VISIT HILLARYS.CO.UK OR CALL 0800 587 6491

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D O NAT E A POT Do you have any Royal Worcester pots in your attic or in the back of your cupboards that you no longer need? If so please consider donating them to the Museum for resale in our Museum Shop. No matter how big or small they are, our visitors delight in buying a piece of Royal Worcester to take away with them, so we can guarantee they will to a good home. Every single penny raised goes towards care of the collections.

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Museum of Royal Worcester secures Heritage Lottery Fund investment

he Museum of Royal Worcester has received a confirmed grant of £1,282,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the project ‘Celebrating 250 Years of Innovation, Industry and Craftsmanship’. Royal Worcester- the oldest continuous porcelain manufacturer in Britaintouched the lives of thousands of people in Worcester, from its formation in 1751 to its closure in 2008. The company exported to every corner of the world. Porcelain orders were commissioned by monarchs and statesmen, and millions of people marked the special moments in their lives by dining off Royal Worcester china. This project will bring the story of Worcester Porcelain alive, by focusing on social history, the sense of community that the factory inspired and the extent of its worldwide distribution. Hidden stories and exhibits from the archives will illustrate the skills, techniques and developments of this remarkable factory. Excerpts from the workers audio recordings will describe the camaraderie and rivalry that existed between departments and show just how many skills and pairs of hands each piece took to create. The displays will raise the Museum of Royal Worcester’s profile and attract new

visitors. Plans include an innovative educational programme, community projects and a lively programme of events. Henry Sandon MBE, Museum Patron, said: “The museum possesses a great archive of the lives and work of thousands of craftsmen and it will be wonderful to display this in a modern way so that it can be brought to life and the public can appreciate the human person behind the superb work. We are delighted The Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support and we are looking forward to welcoming new audiences to our doors.” Vanessa Harber, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund West Midlands, added “The Museum of Royal Worcester provides a great insight into the production of porcelain and china and the exceptionally talented people who worked at the factory. Thanks to National Lottery players, the museum’s fascinating collections will now be available for more people to learn about. HLF is pleased to support this worthwhile project.” A number of dedicated volunteers are helping staff research new stories for the displays and interpretation and the museum is actively recruiting for volunteer help in every aspect of the project and invite people to make contact if they would like to contribute. March 2016

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inger property is the exciting new local estate agent that’s revolutionising the buying and selling experience, with a boutique style service tailored towards the needs of today’s busy lifestyle. Founder Carl Hemming, a Balsall Common based property expert, has been buying and selling homes nationwide for almost 20 years and has set his sights on creating a service that’s detailed, personal and flexible. “The way in which we buy and sell property is changing. Buyers are using the Internet far more to find property, demanding instant search results and greater technology to view homes online, all at a time of day that is convenient to them” says Carl. “So we have designed a service around today’s new era of estate agency. Using the latest developments in premium selling tools

to give our buyers a real lifestyle appreciation of our properties. We deliver a consultancy service throughout your journey, for both our buyers and sellers, offering expert guidance to make your home moving journey as stress free as possible, all available from 8am-10pm, 7 days a week. A truly detailed, honest and fun approach to buying and selling property”. Ginger has carefully crafted 3 selling packages to suit all types of property and budget. A completely bespoke service is available too; ginger will tailor a service around your individual property needs. Take a look at ginger’s modern & exciting new website www. gingerhomes.co.uk for more information about ginger and Carl, or call Carl to chat about your property requirements or advice on 01676 533 585.

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The Wood Norton could have been designed with weddings in mind. The moment you approach this wonderful Grade II listed mansion, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll start to imagine the day. The satisfying scrunch as your car pulls up on the wide, gravelled approach in front of the Hall. Drinks on the lawn. A photograph of the happy couple on the stone balcony of the Princess Louise Suite. A gathering of friends and family enjoying Champagne in the wood-panelled Main Hall, or a larger party in our brand new events suite 'The Orangery'. The glamour of The Wood Norton's location is matched by the professionalism and attention to service of our dedicated functions team, who will guide you through the planning and the build-up to ensure an enjoyable experience. Call 01386 765 611 and ask for our wedding coordinator if you would like to organise a show-around of The Wood Norton, during which we can discuss all of our flexible options to meet your requirements for your special day and we will create a bespoke proposal for you.

WEDDING OPEN DAY Sunday 13th March 2016 from 12.00 - 4.00pm Visit The Wood Norton for a chance to see our fabulous venue dressed for a wedding. Meet our preferred recommended suppliers and discuss your wedding requirements with a member of our dedicated wedding team who will be delighted to discuss our availability and show you around this beautiful venue Enjoy a glass of Bucks Fizz and Canapes

Weddings@thewoodnorton.com | 01386 765 611 Worcester Road, Wood Norton, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4YB For more information on either of our events please contact Naomi at the hotel who will be delighted to assist you.

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Chesterton Windmill One of a kind that towers over the County By Gail Braznell

n the summit of Windmill Hill in open Warwickshire countryside, overlooking fields of ever changing colour and texture stands grade one listed Chesterton Windmill. This historic local landmark with breathtaking views has dominated the skyline with immense pride for over 350 years. For many years visitors have been enjoying the peacefulness, space and the tranquility enhanced by the stunning uncluttered landscape of Chesterton and it’s Windmill, a place for reflection, a haven for wildlife and a perfect spot for romance as the sun sets. The windmill, which is the oldest stone windmill in Britain is thought to be based on a design by Inigo Jones, an English architect of the early modern period and built by Sir Edward Peyto, the Lord of the Chesterton Manor House in 1632. A young pupil of Inigo’s called John Stone was in Chesterton designing the Manor House at the time and it’s said he would have probably helped with the build of the Windmill. Sir Edward was a mathematician and an Astrologer and it’s likely the windmill was built as an observatory at first and later grinding corn as a working mill even though records do show that it was always designated as a windmill. However, what the estate records of Chesterton Manor reflect may not have been the whole truth. In 1632 the science of alchemy was in in its ascendency but also carried a stigma

that was considered by many to be unwholesome. This was the time of Sir Isaac Newton and Thomas Vaughan and it is wholly possible that the mill served a dual purpose. With Sir Edward’s interest in mathematics and astrology these interests often went hand-in-hand with other scientific pursuits such as alchemy. The area has certainly attracted many other strange occurrences over the years. It is the site of several unexplained crop circles (including the famous ‘All Seeing Eye’ of 2009) and has become a popular location for UFO spotters during spring and autumn. It has also been linked to the mysterious and ancient stone tower of Rhode Island. Around 1676 a duplicate of the Chesterton Windmill which was built in Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A. by Governor Benedict Arnold. The family had lived near the Chesterton windmill prior to immigrating to America in 1635. While this is the generally accepted origin of the Rhode Island Ruin, a small but vocal group of historians believe that the tower dates back to the preColumbian era and should be attributed to the Vikings. The tower is supported upon six semicircular arches and is built with hard local limestone, with sandstone detailing. There are four windows, one of which is set in the roof on the opposite side to the sails and has a small plaque above it with the letters E.P. 1632. Believe it or not there are actually two

floors to the mill, the lower floor is 15 foot from the ground and houses the stones, great spur and wheel and sack hoist. The upper floor has the wind shaft, main gearing and winding equipment. Up until the 1930’s the space inside the arches used to have a wooden structure to store the grain and an open staircase to reach the mill, that was moved to prevent vandalism along with the lead cap which has been replaced with ubiflex. The lattice-type-sails are turned on a three month cycle in order to prevent excessive weathering or sagging of the whips or frames. The windmill is truly beautiful both in the distance and close up, standing high on a hilltop near the Fosse Way, a Roman road that links Exeter to Lincoln and is 230 miles long. It costs a lot of money to prepare to open the mill each year by a truly dedicated set of people. Kevin Haito is the Miller in Charge and he arranges the volunteers and mill operators on open weekends. Also involved are Adam Marriott who is one of the millers as well as a professional millwright, Warwickshire County Council, WCC Museum and Chesterton Parish Council. Chesterton Windmill has an open day on the 15th May 2016 from 10:30–15:30. The Windmill will be open and working and there will be access inside the mill. There is Parking, refreshments, other attractions and onsite conveniences. Everyone is welcome.

March 2016

The Olive Branch

A taste of the Mediterranean in the heart of Worcestershire Steve Picker

et in one of Worcester’s most historic buildings is, the Olive Branch, a Mediterranean bistro and wine bar that is split across three floors, with a stunningly designed dining area located on the ground and first floors, whilst the cellar boasts its rustic charm with its transformation to an intimate bar area with low brick ceilings, creating the perfect location for a pre or post dinner drink. Once again I returned to the Olive Branch to discover what tasty delights Adam had conjured up on the new menu this season, which consisted of an array of delicious dishes to tantalise those taste buds. Whether it be tapas, a sharing board or one of the main courses such as paella, agnolotti aagosta (lobster pasta) or the parrillada mixta (mixed fish grill marinated in chimichurri), you will be truly spoilt for choice. The Olive Branch offers a lunchtime and evening menu as well as a daily specials board which allows the opportunity for all diners to take advantage of the seasonal ingredients mixed with the chefs creative influences. Arriving at the restaurant, Kate and I were shown to our table and after ordering our drinks we were ready to make our decision and both opted for the board of Gambas a la Plancha and tapas. You can’t help but observe how Adam has researched his menu to give not only his expert knowledge in food but also offering his diners something with a difference, allowing you to indulge in a Mediterranean dining journey, taking into consideration every last detail on the plate, from design, to smell and right through to taste. The dishes provide you with that nice warm feeling where you can’t wait to tuck into that first mouthful. We decided to pace ourselves with the tapas, and take a moment to enjoy and discover new flavours with our selections which consisted of mini paella, chorizo and patatas bravas, that all produced an edgy taste to kick start a tasting sensation before we were served the piece de resistance, a large board which can only be described as a visualization of seafood heaven. The board was full of beautiful pink gambas (King Prawns), cooked on the grill and served with garlic and paprika potatoes, chimichurri and a greek salad. Kate and I wanted to savour every last mouthful of this delicious Mediterranean speciality. The whole evening was a real taste of food heaven for me and over dinner Kate had explained that she had lived in Spain for a while and mentioned to Adam that this was the best she had tasted since spending time sat outside tavernas and tapas bars in Andalucía.

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The Olive Branch itself embodies a restaurant where you can eat, chat, laugh and maybe even cry whilst discussing who was to have the last of the tasty morsels that lay in front of us ready to be devoured. Having fought over who was to have the last gamba we opted for the tapas of dessert for two, a selection of six mini desserts, Tarte au Citron, tiramisu, white chocolate and pistachio torte to name a few, accompanied by a Cortado and a café latte, which was simply divine. You can really appreciate the time and thought that had been taken for those diners who want to finish their evening with something a little bit special, leaving you feeling refreshed and not too full, ready for the journey home. When looking for somewhere to dine in Worcester that offers more than just an eating experience, then you need look no further. The Olive Branch boasts its busy and bustling atmosphere in a contemporary gem set in the heart of Worcester. The Olive Branch will make for a great evening on any night of the week whether you enjoy seafood, tapas or prefer a meat dish, there is something for everyone. Customers can also enjoy a new addition to the menu, of veal sirloin adding a twist to the classic choices of pastas, paellas, tapas and sharing boards as well as offering a range of draft and craft beers, cocktails and 15 wines by the glass, the olive branch has produced and exclusive beer, Matador at 4% this is the ideal beer to help you absorb the full flavourings of the food and in which compliments the whole spectrum of the wonderful menu on offer. If you love Mediterranean cuisine, served in a continental style restaurant, that offers you a warm welcome with excellent service and expertise, then The Olive Branch is the place to add on to your list of must try restaurants in Worcestershire. Special offers available Weekdays 12-7pm 2 cocktails for £10 5 tapas for £20 2 glasses of wine and a sharing board for £20

the

Olive Branch

The Olive Branch Mediterranean Bistro & Wine Bar 6 Church Street, Worcester WR1 2RH 01905 616669 www.olivebranchworcester.co.uk March 2016

Located on the historic Droitwich Spa High Street, enjoy breakfast, lunch or evening tapas at this fantastic location. Monday - Wednesday: 09.00 - 16.30, Thursday: 09.00 - 23.00, Friday: 09.00 - 23.00 Saturday: 09.00 - 23.00, Sunday Breakfast/lunch 44-46 High Street, Droiwich Spa, Worcestershire WR9 8ES Tel: 01905 770897 email: eat@bullocksofdroitwichspa.co.uk

www.bullocksofdroitwichspa.co.uk

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Droitwich Food Festival 2016

TV Sensation and Bake Off Winner, Nadiya Hussain, to Headline the Droitwich Spa Food & Drink Festival this June.

reat British Bake Off winner, Nadiya Hussain, will run a baking masterclass for visitors to this year’s Droitwich Spa Food & Drink Festival on Saturday 18th June and will officially open the festival on the Saturday morning along with meeting and greeting festival goers. The Droitwich Spa Food & Drink Festival has become one of the main events in the town during the summer and is fast building a reputation as one of the leading foodie festivals in the Midlands. Last year the festival attracted 130 exhibitors, many of whom are local to the area, and drew an estimated 18,000 visitors. This year, with Nadiya baking up a storm, festival organisers hope to receive even more interest and increase the number of visitors. Festival organiser Patrick Davis said; “We are thrilled to have secured Nadiya Hussain to join us for the day on Saturday 18th June. The Great British Bake Off has become hugely popular with an estimated 15 million people watching the final on BBC last Autumn. Having Nadiya with us will help to put Droitwich on the map and bring even more visitors to our beautiful town. And who knows, she may even inspire a new wave of bakers in the area!”

Gillian Kerton, Churchfields Farm Ice Cream “Great event for us and so good to see local producers supported and promoted in this way”. Some key facts about the festival: A two-day festival taking place on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th June in Droitwich Spa town centre A quality Food & Drink festival with a strong emphasis on “local” food & drink produce. Up to 150 exhibitors with a wide range of food & drink and related products. A demonstration kitchen featuring Nadiya Hussain and local chefs and food & drink producers. Street entertainment throughout both days.

The Droitwich Spa Food & Drink Festival is run by a committee of volunteer representatives and is supported by Wychavon District Council. If you would like to find out more please contact the organisers or visit the website www.droitwichspafestival.co.uk or info@droitwichspafestival.co.uk.

A “Kids Zone” with free access to activities.

The Droitwich Festival was first set up in 2013 and after only 3 years has become a leading foodie festival in the Midlands with some 130 exhibitors and an estimated 18,000 visitors. Here is what some of last year’s exhibitors said about the festival: Nigel Craig, Pie Creator, “The best food festival of the year for us”. Dave Checketts, Checketts Fine Foods Ombersley “ Droitwich was one of the first festivals we attended 3 years ago and it is one of our favourites and most successful and on our door step”. March 2016

Local Butchers Week

ational Butchers week is celebrated for the eighth year in 2016, celebrating all the hard work they do to appease our appetites, whether it’s there sausages or pies. And, who doesn’t like a good piece of meat from their butcher?

The whole idea of National Butchers week was formed by the Meat Trades Journal, who wanted to promote the skills that butchers have, in a time when the vast majority of being forced out of business. By making this week exciting and by setting up various activities at the local shops, it puts emphasis on how important these butchers are to the community. The main purpose this year is to increase the knowledge of what butchers do and how they do it, something that supermarkets have removed. The butchers service to the consumer far expands what a supermarket could offer. Their knowledge of meat is second to none and the cut of meat that is on offer makes it the superior choice should you like your meat. Additionally, spending your money at the local shop keeps them going and keeps your money local at a hard working business, rather than being washed away with the big corporate supermarkets. This year, the Meat Trades Journal are on the hunt for the sexiest butcher in the UK, a tough ask indeed. National Butchers week this year offers to be the best yet, so get yourself down to your local butchers and get involved in the celebrations for one of the UK’s oldest professions.

Here are some of the best butchers we have found in our area

Checketts of Ombersley

hecketts has been associated with Ombersley Village since 1925 when the first butchers shop was born and its name and legacy has continued to grow over the years, becoming a destination shop. Whether it is to browse the array of gifts and fine foods or to enjoy coffee and cake in the tranquil coffee shop or a homemade snack or sandwich, where all menus are prepared by the deli. All produce at Checketts is locally sourced quality meat including English and Scotch beef which is matured on the bone for a minimum of 21 days. Free range pork and bacon, lamb, poultry, a seasonal game range, their award winning sausages and burgers and the

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freshest fish you will find.

Church Villa

Checketts are always looking for new suppliers to sit between their timeless classics and some of the more established favourites making this one of the best Butchers you will find in Worcestershire.

Main Road Ombersley Worcestershire WR9 OEW

Opening Times Butchers and Fish Counter Tues to Fri 8am – 5.30pm, Sat – 8am4pm, Sun and Mon - Closed Delicatessen Mon – 8am-4pm, Tues to Fri – 8am -5.30pm, Sat – 8am-5pm, Sun– 10am2pm

T: 01905 620750 E: enquiries@checketts.co.uk www.checketts.co.uk

Narraway's Butchers

arraways Butchers have spent over 40 years in St Johns Worcester and has been running as an independent family business since, sourcing their produce from local suppliers. Many of the products are homemade on the premises including the award winning pies and sausages. Other meat served includes fresh beef, lamb and pork, all of excellent quality, priding themselves on their popularity for having the best customer care, at the highest of standards, with the quality standards

approved mark. Narraways pays close attention to detail and clearly demonstrates their commitment and duty to its customer, which is why their customers stay loyal as they know that they are purchasing their produce from a reliable source, giving expert advice that focuses on its quality. Not only this, but, Narraways also sell a range of produce in their deli, as well as some of the best cheeses, chutneys and pickles that you can find in Worcestershire.

Opening Times: Mon to Fri - 9am-5pm, Sat – 8.30am-3pm

Fladbury Pie produces some of the best award winning pies and Simon follows an original and well-guarded recipe that has been passed down over the years. Available are a range of cold pies including game, chicken ham, pork or cheese and pickle, as well as hot pies including beef and Guinness, steak and stilton and lamb and mince. All products can be made to order in any size and quantity and the team will be more than happy to discuss your catering requirements. Not only this, but you can purchase a range of items from the deli counter on a daily basis.

Opening Times:

29 St John’s Worcester Worcestershire WR2 5AG 01905 424488

Fladbury Pies & Sausage

ladbury Pies is located in the sleepy Worcestershire village of Fladbury. The butchers shop had first become a part of village life in Fladbury 150 years ago and has continued to hold its reputation. Owner, Simon has always been devoted to good food, previously working as a chef and he believes it is important to continue to make good food even better. They are well known for their award winning speciality sausages and pride themselves on using some of the highest quality meats from marinated chops, chicken, steaks and whole joints of meat which can be marinated with fresh herbs.

Mon and Sun – Closed, Tues, Wens & Fri – 7am-5pm, Thurs and Sat – 7am-12pm

The Butchers Shop Church Street Fladbury Worcestershire WR10 2QB

T: 01386 860228 www.fladburypies.com March 2016

H Dayus Butchers

ased in St Johns Worcester, H Dayus has been an established butcher for over 50 years and runs as a family business. This traditional butchers pride themselves on selling the best free range British meat, that is farm reared locally with full traceability and all meat being matured naturally using traditional preparation methods to ensure the best texture and flavour is produced. H Dayus is known for specialising in sausage and bacon, as well as the home-made pies

that are produced on the premises. The spring lamb will also be available ready in time for Easter. All products are made on the premises using the best ingredients and they are also proud of their award winnings including the Supreme Champion Sausage maker, pie maker and ready meal producer. As a bespoke butchery H Dayus offer the ultimate customer experience.

Opening Times: Mon – 9am-4pm, Tues to Fri – 9am-5pm, Sat 8am-4pm 9 St Johns Worcester Worcestershire WR2 5AE Call: 01905 422459

M & M Meats

& M Meats Limited is a traditional family run butchers, established in 1984 and has a long standing reputation for serving its customers from its shop in Worcester. With all of the staff and family together this butchery holds over 100 years of experience. They specialise in sourcing some of the highest quality meat and produce that you will find including beef, pork, lamb, poultry and Venison, free range eggs, black pudding and not to forget the award winning white pudding, faggots, dripping. M&M Meats also plays host to producing a wide range of tasty sausages of all kinds of flavors including the spicy Welsh Dragon, pork

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and leek and pork and stilton, to name just a few. Produce is sourced locally and everything is cut and prepared on the premises. M & M Meats have established an excellent reputation for quality and price and have built up a good catering trade within the city’s restaurants and eateries.

M & M Meats 15, St Swithin’s Street, Worcester

You don’t have to be in the catering business in order for delivery of an order; they will happily deliver any order over the value of £50 to an address locally.

WR1 2PY

Opening Times: Mon, Wens, Thurs & Fri – 8.30am-5.30pm, Tues – 8.30am 4.30pm, Sat - 8am – 4pm, Sun -Closed

E: enquiries@mandmmeats.co.uk

T: 01905 739287

www.mandmmeats.co.uk

The Elgar Inn The home of exceptional Italian and Greek food, in the heart of Worcestershire

Bookings now being taken for Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day and Easter

Open Tuesday to Sunday

The Elgar Inn Earls Croome, Worcester WR8 9DA 01684 594567 www.elgarinn.co.uk

March 2016

Healthy Wine Drinking The rise of organic and biodynamic wine Laura Clay

his morning my cup runneth over with a thick, green dodgylooking liquid which, despite appearances suggesting otherwise, tasted delicious and I could almost hear my insides thanking me for all the goodness I was sending their way. My Nutribulleting has become a daily routine at breakfast; it seems I am joining a general trend towards healthy eating. Dry January and Lent are not for me, I’m not a huge fan of delayed gratification, but I am, in middleage, recognising that I need to make changes to my lifestyle and diet. This is a bit tricky when it comes to wine especially when there is so much conflicting press about what are and aren’t acceptable drinking habits. I devour articles suggesting that red wine is good for you, that a glass of wine a day reduces the risk of dementia, heart disease and strokes, and am wary of headlines warning women that drinking wine increases the risk of breast cancer. I suspect there may be truth in both but if, like me, you plan to carry on drinking whatever the perceived dangers, there are wines which may be better for you than others. The wines which are supposed to be good for the heart are those with high levels of polyphenols and antioxidants such as Cahors and Madiran made from Malbec and Tannat respectively. These grapes, and others such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the ones whose beneficial properties are generally agreed to be the most valuable and which are responsible for what’s known as The French Paradox – in areas where wine is consumed in relatively copious quantities, the inhabitants seemed to be more healthy and live longer than in regions where they don’t. Professor Corder’s groundbreaking research and subsequent book, The Wine Diet, is already almost 10 years old but the opening line, ‘Wine drinkers are generally healthier and often live longer’ is alone worth a trip to Waterstones.

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I read recently that Pinot Noir, one of my favourite red grape varieties and one which produces somewhat lighter and more medium-bodied wines, is a great SIRT rich food. Dark chocolate is another. Apparently, these are foods which work by activating proteins called sirtuins which imitate the effects of fasting and exercise. To be honest, the duty-bound obligation to give it a go, all in the name of research, obviously, is greater than the need to understand the science. Flippancy aside, organic and biodynamic wines for the seriously health-conscious wine-drinker are more easily attainable now than they have ever been. Organic wines are those where the vines have not been treated with pesticides and fertilisers. Biodynamic farmers work to a particular calendar, use as little sulphur as they can get away with and treat the vines with special naturally produced preparations. There are two merchants who specialise in these wines: Vintage Roots set up in 1986 sell nothing but organic and biodynamic beverages (they sell beers, ciders and spirits, too) and have a handy link to vegan, vegetarian and lower alcohol wines. www.vintageroots.co.uk Les Caves de Pyrene has one of the largest ranges of natural wines in the UK. These are wines with no sulphur (in most cases), no added yeasts or enzymes, wines made in conjunction with, but also at the mercy of, nature. www.lescaves.co.uk Today, as I write this, I am heartened to read that a Professor Bellis from my Alma Mater, Bangor University, has discovered that wine drinkers are less likely to be ill when they eat healthily and don’t smoke. So a cup of green smoothie in the morning for a glass of red wine in the evening seems a perfectly acceptable trade off to me.

For your chance to win a no added sulphur, healthy Paul Mas Cuvée Secrète £9.75 from Vintage Roots please send your name and address to wine@edgemagazine.org If you have any wine questions you’d like answering email laura@bywine.co.uk For wine advice, tastings and courses email laura@bywine.co.uk or visit the website www.bywine.co.uk

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March in the Vegetable Garden

s we head into March, it would appear that it’s time to really get things moving on the vegetable patch. During a fairly dreary February, I managed to get outside, collect up all of the stray stones that seemed to have found their way onto my lovely patch of soil and give everything a good digging over. Then it got colder again and I must admit that I haven’t really been out again since. But what I did do was order my seeds and seed potatoes and put the potatoes out to chit on my kitchen windowsill. But, what I have done is made a plan, so as we move into March and the weather becomes a little warmer and with fewer frosts I know exactly what I will be planting and when. First to be planted will be my beans. Broad beans grow best in a sunny situation sheltered from winds and enjoy rich, moisture retentive, well-drained soil. Dig in some well-rotted manure and then sow each been about 2” deep and 6” apart from each other. Broad beans can be sown from the beginning of March. They will form the first line in my Vegetable patch.

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Lucie Abu-Zalaf Second to go into the ground when I can see the temperatures stop dipping below zero will be my chitted ‘Charlotte Potatoes’. To plant the potatoes, dig a trench about 6 inches deep and pop the seed potatoes in about 12” apart. If you are planting more than one row, allow about 2 feet between them. Cover over with some good manure and then rake the soil back over to form a ridge. Sowing in stages throughout March will also be my peas, onions and spring onions although peas, beans and onions do not grow well next to each other (apparently) so these will be either side of my potatoes. I opted to order onion sets, rather than seeds as it seemed to take the hard work out as the plants do not need thinning. From mid-March onion sets can be planted. They should be in rows roughly 12” apart and with about 10cm between each set. Dig a small hole for each one and place the set in neck upwards. When covered back up with soil the tip of the neck should just show through the soil surface.

Peas like moisture so it’s best not to plant them too close to a wall or fence, but they do need to be in a quite a protected area and tolerate shade quite well so if this is the best option then just make sure that you water them well. Providing the soil has had a good amount of compost dug through it there should be no need for future feeding. Virtually all pea plants will require support of some kind, the easiest method of support is to place twigs near the plants - the tendrils of the plant will twine around the twigs for support. You could opt to tie canes in a row and tie in the plants as they grow. Spring Onions are one of the easiest things to grow, or so I hear. I am looking forward to these- as long as the soil has been fertilised a week or so before planting all that needs to be done is thinly scatter them in a patch and rake them in. For a constant supply through the summer sow every couple of weeks from late March. So there is my plan of things to plant in March… Broad Beans, Peas, Charlotte Potatoes, Onions and Spring Onions. A busy little bee I will be. Once it warms up a bit that is…

National Nutrition Month Savour the flavour of eating right

utrition is something we all need to educate ourselves about from time to time. That’s why this month is also known as National Nutrition Month, an information campaign, sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietics. 2016 introduces its theme “Savour the flavour of eating right.” This is the perfect time to become aware and focus on the importance of making the right choices when it comes to what we eat and how to stop us developing bad food habits. It’s not all doom and gloom, it’s a time to encourage all to enjoy food traditions and appreciate the nutritious values that food produces and the great flavours and social experiences that can be shared when enjoying our food. It’s not all about what we eat; it’s about why we eat, where we eat and how we eat, in order to develop a healthy eating pattern for you to gain those nutritious benefits. This month we thought it would be great to share a few interesting facts with our readers on nutrition and its benefits:

Breakfast

We all skip breakfast when we’re in a

Charlie O'Neill rush in the mornings and this can be one of the worst things to do. As they say breakfast is the meal which can set you up for the day. If you miss this meal then by 10am you will start getting those hunger pains which lead you to unhealthy snacking. Porridge is the best thing to set you up for a long day ahead and is great for energy, strong bones and boosting our immune systems. Smart Snacking

Smart snacking throughout the day is the way forward to having a healthy and nutritious diet and I don’t mean a packet of crisps or a chocolate bar. The best snacks to eat are those containing fibre, such as a piece of fruit, rice cakes, a handful of almonds or low fat plain yoghurt. These healthy snacks can help keep your mind alert and again keep those energy levels up. Eat less salt

Too much salt is no good for our blood pressure and plays a major part in strokes, heart failure and heart attacks, which are the leading causes of death in the UK. High salt intake is also linked closely with cancer, osteoporosis, obesity, kidney stones, vascular dementia and water retention. Do not get me wrong,

small amounts of salt are essential for our diets. Adults need less than one gram a day and children even less. Reducing your intake will help lower blood pressure and will prevent disease. Calories in food

Calories are a great measure of the amount of energy that we consume and knowing how many calories are in our food helps us balance the energy we put into our bodies and the energy that we use, which is the key to maintaining a healthy body weight. We measure our energy in calories just as weight is measured in kg. If trying to lose weight, it involves eating less calories and being more active. Weight gain occurs when we put more energy into our body and without an increase in exercise this energy is turned into fat. Calories are a useful tool to work with as you are able to check calories when buying food and drink. It helps us keep track and is often stated on the packaging on the nutrition label. The calorie count will most likely be found under the ‘energy’ heading and is often shown as Kcals/KJ (Kilojoules). For more information on national nutrition month you can visit www.nationalnutritionmonth.org March 2016

The Local Kitchen Everything that’s cooking in the four counties Fresh Rootz Veggie street food

A Leamington based company that cater for weddings and parties, can come to you at home, or you’ll find them at markets, street food or other festivals, and at lots of other events across the UK. They only use biodegradable materials and have a 5-star rating from Warwickshire Environmental Health, won the BBC Good Food Show for best Midland street food 2013, won best snack at the British Street food awards 2014 in Leeds, appeared on CH4 Sunday Brunch and have had an article in the Telegraph Food magazine.

Fresh Rootz, founded by Martin Phazey is an award-winning producer of a delicious blend of world foods brought back from experiences of travelling and catering around the world. Using only fresh locally sourced ingredients that don’t just offer your 5-a-day but aim for at least 7! And that’s not all... They are really keen on teaching children about different tastes and flavours through cooking demonstrations at birthday parties or in an educational environment. Just give them a call to find out more. www.freshrootz.co.uk 07477 405444

Miller & Carter Takes Prime Position on Hagley Road

Miller & Carter has raised the ‘steaks’ in Birmingham with the arrival of a new restaurant, creating 40 new jobs for the local area. Located on Hagley Road, the new Miller & Carter, which opened it’s doors on 28th February, is the second Birmingham site for the brand with a popular steak house already located in the Mailbox.

Afternoon Tea At The Barn

Set against a backdrop of glorious Worcestershire countryside, the beautifully restored Barn at Churchfields Farm, Salwarpe, is the perfect place to enjoy a rather special afternoon tea with friends or family. Relax in the charmingly rustic interior and enjoy a pot of tea or coffee with a tempting selection of freshly made sandwiches, warm savoury pastries, delicious homemade cakes, scones with clotted cream and, of course, Churchfields award-winning ice cream. All served on fine bone china and beautifully presented on a miniature picnic bench. Priced at a very reasonable £12.00 per person, afternoon tea at the Barn is a delightful occasional indulgence. If you’re celebrating with friends why not enjoy the Barn’s sparkling afternoon tea, served with a glass of Prosecco - £16.00 per person. Afternoon tea is available Mondays to Saturdays between 10.00am and 6.00pm, Sundays 10.00am to 4.00pm. Pre-booking is essential. To book contact the Barn on 01905 451 289 ext 3. www.churchfields-farm.co.uk 54 www.edgemagazine.org

Miller & Carter serve the finest 30 day aged steak, using both wet and dry ageing techniques to provide the optimum succulence and flavour. There are 12 fantastic steak cuts to choose from; including a 30oz Longbone Tomahawk, Fillet-on-thebone, and our award-winning Sirloin steak. Each are individually hand cut by our butchers before they are grilled to perfection by our specially trained chefs. For more information or to book at table at Miller & Carter Hagley Road, please visit www.millerandcarter. co.uk/restaurants/east-and-westmidlands/millerandcarterhagleyroad or call 0121 429 1082

Primo Bar & Dining

Primo Bar & Dining, Worcester, has successfully opened its doors, continuing the buzz and increasing its popularity. Primo is co-owned by Ali Cokaj, who owns Worcester’s prominent coffee shop in New Street, Papa’s Caffe, and his business partner Yanni Cokaj. Both have a wealth of experience in the catering business as well as outstanding customer service knowledge. It’s a great opportunity for the passionate and enthusiastic duo to combine their skills and bring something new and edgy to this side of town. Primo’s Kitchen is led by its talented head chef Bertie Davies and his team, who have created a flawless menu, sourcing local ingredients where possible, creating beautiful dishes that are not only visually appetising but tantalise the taste buds. One of the most popular changes inside is the addition of an upstairs panoramic bar, which boasts stunning views of the Cathedral that is synonymous with Worcester. The interior has a welcoming, cosy feel, perfect for any occasion, whether you choose to come along and dine or simply drop in to enjoy a glass of wine or two! 55 Sidbury, Worcester, Tel 01905 611566

www.primoworcester.co.uk

PRIMO bar & dining

Hatton-Based Fudge Maker Expands Online

The owner of a traditional sweet shop at Hatton Shopping Village has been so overwhelmed by customer feedback that she has decided to expand her business with an online shop. Business owner Debbie Bloxham, who owns Hatton Sweet Shop, an old-fashioned confectionary emporium in Hatton Shopping Village, left her job as a purchasing manager with an automotive company to launch the venture four years ago, and has since been renting a unit at Hatton, where she makes the fudge on the premises.

The Chequers at Crowle Opening on the 18th March

CD Pubs Co launches its newest addition to the group with the idyllic countryside pub, The Chequers at Crowle, opening this March. Undergoing a huge transformation, this village pub will bring character and tranquillity to Worcestershire housing its new style décor with a contemporary twist and a large garden ready for those summer months. The 90 seat restaurant is the Sister Pub to the award winning Forest at Feckenham and aims to impress with its successful formula of quality food at great value, serving a wide range of local beers and cask ales, as well as a range of spirits and wines selected from around the world, which can all be enjoyed in a relaxing atmosphere where you can enjoy becoming a part of village life. The Chequers at Crowle, Crowle Green, Worcester WR7 4AA www.thechequersatcrowle.com

She said: “I was very lucky to have found a space for my shop at Hatton Shopping Village. The picturesque location and Hatton Adventure World right next door means that it attracts visitors from all over the country, including regular coach parties that are often not from the area. “I was always being asked if I offer an online service to enable my customers to replenish their depleted stocks. I had been asked by so many visitors whether I could send them chocolate and fudge that I decided it was an interesting expansion strategy to look into. I used to jot down the addresses and send orders out on request but it just became too much.” The website fudgeathome.co.uk was launched just before Christmas and Debbie has already had orders from as far afield as London and Glasgow. March 2016

More Water, More Happiness We never know the worth of water ‘til the well is dry By Gail Braznell

ur planet is astonishingly beautiful and part of the reason for this extraordinary magnificence is its abundant water. Whether we see it as ice, a rainbow, steam, frost, dew, rain, flooding or in a glass ready to drink, there is no denying the brilliance of this liquid. More importantly water is critical for our survival, yet many of us choose to abuse, curse and ignore it.

Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain it.

Water is your body’s principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. Water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells, and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues. Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired. Drinking water is also probably the easiest, and cheapest, action you can take to help you lose weight.

Test meal studies have shown that drinking water prior to and during meals increases satiety and changes in feelings of satiety are associated with a lower overall calorie intake which, in turn, leads to weight loss. Water is essential for metabolising stored fat into energy, so much so, that the body’s metabolism could be slowed down by even fairly mild levels of dehydration. The slower your metabolism, the harder it is to lose weight.

How much water should we drink each day? It’s a simple question with so many answers. Studies have produced varying recommendations over the years, but in truth, your water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live. We all know that water is good for us, but often we don’t actually know why. And even if we know why we should drink water, it’s not a habit that many of us keep. The trouble is we love drinking tea and coffee, soda or alcohol, fruit juices, milk and a bunch of other possibilities. I’ve made drinking water a daily habit now, although a couple of years ago I was more likely to drink anything but water.

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So grab a glass and get sipping whilst I walk you through a range of reasons to drink water. Weight loss

Healthy Skin

Drinking water can clear up your skin and people often report a healthy glow after drinking water. It won’t happen overnight, of course, but just a week of drinking a healthy amount of water can have good effects on your skin. Digestive problems

Our digestive systems need a good amount of water to digest food properly. Often water can help cure stomach acid problems, and water along with fibre can cure constipation (often a result of dehydration). Natural Remedy for Headache

Regularly sipping water can reduce the severity of headaches and migraines, reducing the need for tablets. Water helps to relieve headaches and back pains due to dehydration, although there are many reasons that contribute to headache, dehydration is the common one.

Health Issues

Drinking plenty of water helps fight against flu and other ailments like kidney stones and heart attacks. Drinking water can improve your immune system too. In relation to the digestive system, some studies show that drinking a healthy amount of water may reduce the risks of bladder cancer and colon cancer. Water dilutes the concentration of cancercausing agents in the urine and shortens the time in which they are in contact with bladder lining. Brain food

The brain is one of the most important organs in your body to keep fueled. It is approximately 85 percent water, brain function depends on having abundant access to water. Water gives the brain the electrical energy for all brain functions, including thought and memory processes. When your brain is functioning on a full reserve of water, you will be able to think faster, be more focused, and experience greater clarity and creativity. Try some of these daily tips and see how you go, it has worked for me... • Sometimes, we feel hungry when we are actually thirsty. • Always keep a water bottle with you. • Sip throughout the day, smart sipping I like to call it. • Drink water with meals. • When drinking juice, water it down by 25% to reduce calorie and sugar intake and increase water consumption.

d e nd om e t o n x r e E w o Op h S ow N

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New instore This Spring at Thomas Hearn Furnishers

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New instore this Spring

Here at Thomas Hearn we are very focused that we have built the business by supplying our customers with the best value for money in the Midlands. The products we offer represent a wide choice of furniture from all the well known brand names. These represent the core of our business and will continue to do so for many years to come. We have separate galleries for G Plan, Parker Knoll, Stressless and Sherborne and many of the other leading brands in furniture industry.

New Showroom Extension

The new extension to our showroom gives us an exciting new dimension which allows us too broaden the range of products we offer. Some of these will be more contemporary than those we have a reputation for but some of the great names of British furniture are still represented such as Parker Knoll with their exciting Maison Collection (featured above). New instore this Spring

Over the last few years it has become increasingly popular to mix and match living room furniture. In particular there is a trend towards experimenting with sofas and chairs in the same or complementary ranges, but choosing different textures and colours The Maison collection is the latest collection of products that enables you to do this giving your room the designer look.

102 Warwick Road, Kenilworth CV8 1HL Tel: 01926 854884 Large Free Car Park Free Delivery

www.thomashearn.co.uk March 2016

Malvern View Spa At Bank House Hotel

aving opened its doors in November, the Malvern View Spa is a total oasis of calm and tranquillity. Set within the beautifully landscaped gardens of the Bank House Hotel, with stunning panoramic views of the Malvern Hills, this is the perfect place to relax, unwind and laze the day away. From the moment you arrive you can leave everything behind and enter in to a world of calm. Choosing to offer the award winning Temple Spa range of treatments and products, those seeking rest and relaxation will be spoilt for choice. After a most hectic start to the week, I could not have been happier to skip out of the office at lunchtime and head over to Malvern View to experience it for myself. It was a cold but beautiful day and after being shown around by spa manager Tracy, I changed into my robe and sauntered out to begin winding down on one of the many extremely comfortable loungers around the indoor pool. The pool was gloriously warm and the views through the panoramic windows on such a lovely day were simply stunning, I could easily have spent three or four hours just lying here taking it all

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Lucie Abu-Zalaf in, or maybe letting it all out would be a more appropriate phrase. But before I dosed off and my afternoon disappeared, I thought I had better go and check out the thermal suite. In contrast to the light and airy pool area, once you are through the door and into the softly lit thermal suite you could easily lose track of what day it is, let alone what time. Featuring a brand new, state of the art hot tub where you can even take your pool safe flute of bubbly in with you, there is a steam room infused with eucalyptus, which is great not only for detoxing and clarifying the skin but also works wonderfully for anyone suffering with asthma or a cough and cold. There is also a sauna, the traditional dry heat space which is great for relieving rheumatic aches and pains as well as helping relieve symptoms of the common cold. After either the steam room or sauna, the best thing you can do is have a cold drench in the experience shower. I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite brave enough for this, but I did check out all of the options; my favourite being the rainfall, but I did have it fairly warm!

I headed back to my lounger around the pool and after closing my eyes for what only seemed like a millisecond, it was time to be whisked away for my Temple Spa treatment with therapist Jess. I was being treated to the Champagne and Truffles Deluxe Facial. Said to be the crème de la crème of facials and containing ingredients such as champagne, silk, diamonds, gold and black truffles; this is a serious celebration of the skin. But it’s not just the ingredients that made this facial so special, unique elements such as lymph drainage techniques a lifting face massage to strengthen muscle tone on the face and jowls, an ice blend to reduce puffiness and cold stone therapy feature. It also includes two different masks to help iron out wrinkles and smooth skin, a glorious scalp massage and it even stretches down to exfoliate arms and legs. Finishing off with an application of Temple Spa’s award winning Skin Truffle, after 90 minutes of pure heaven I was not only completely relaxed, my complexion was glowing and wonderful. Having dressed back in my robe, I was handed a glass of champagne and a handmade truffle, complementing the facial ingredients and the most perfect way to finish off a perfect treatment. All of the products used not only felt lovely on my skin, but also smelled divine, without being too overpowering or floral. Pottering back down stairs, champagne in hand, as tempted as I was to return to my lounger and bed in for the evening, my tummy was starting to rumble so I took a seat in the spa café. I love this. So many spas, especially those attached to hotels do not have a separate facility to sit down and have a bite to eat within the spa itself, expecting you to have any food, robed up amongst guests just out for lunch, or an evening drink and I think this is one of my favourite parts of Malvern View Spa and shows how well everything has been thought out and considered. I opted for the antipasti board which was a selection of sundried tomatoes, feta cheese, marinated olives and stuffed bell peppers, served with warm ciabatta and olive oil and balsamic for dipping. It was delicious, beautifully presented, incredibly tasty and just enough to satisfy without leaving me feeling too full.

I get to review quite a lot of spas through the magazine, so it is not very often that I actually need to book up and return, but with Malvern View I am already planning on going back with friends for a full day of pampering; I genuinely cannot wait. Whether it’s the outstanding friendly service, the beautiful location, excellent choice of products with Temple Spa or the fact that you can enjoy a glass of bubbly rather than just water that has me so keen to return I’m not entirely sure- most likely a combination of everything and I really do urge you to go and find out for yourself. Malvern View Spa are currently offering an exclusive Founder Membership; this will only be available for 50 Members, so for those wanting that extra special VIP experience this is a must for you. Founder Membership allows access to the Malvern View Spa 7 days a week during our opening hours and use of all facilities, including the Thermal Therapy Suite, Swimming Pool and Gymnasium as well as the following benefits: • Priority booking for exclusive members’ events and luxury product launches • Complimentary Malvern View logo robe • 30% off ‘on the day’ Temple Spa treatments • 7 Complimentary guest passes (worth £45 each) • 10% Discount on food & drink across menus throughout the hotel and spa • 15% off advanced booking Temple Spa treatments • Complimentary Bottle of Champagne for your birthday when you dine with us • No Joining fee (saving £50) • No Increase on membership fee for 2 years • Edge Readers will also receive £100 of Spa Vouchers when they join Bank House Hotel, Bransford, Worcester WR6 5JD T: 01886 833 551 E: spa@bankhouseworcester.com March 2016

Sleep Awareness Week 6th-12th March Charlie O’Neill

e all love our sleep and yet most of us don’t get enough of it with the busy lifestyles that we lead today. But the question is, are we getting enough or too much? The truth is everyone’s different. The older we get we don’t need as much sleep, apparently, yet I beg to differ. I could always do with more sleep. Some struggle to drift off and end up being awake until the early hours, which only makes you more tired. I am one of those people. Some fall asleep easily, however find it difficult to wake up in the morning, others suffer with sleeping disorders such as sleep apnoea, insomnia and restless leg syndrome. This can be exhausting to our mental state and to our physical abilities, affecting us in a number of different ways, including our hormone levels, weight and mood.

Sleep awareness week takes place between the 6th and 12th March and is a week where everyone should be made aware of how sleep plays a huge part in our life. It’s a time when people can raise their sleeping issues and share ideas in how we can prepare to resolve bad habits that may be leading us to too little or too much sleep. So this month I have put 60 www.edgemagazine.org

together some common and less common sleeping disorders that are the route cause to bad sleep. Sleep Apnoea Sleep apnoea, the way in which you breathe whilst asleep and if left untreated, breathing can become shallow causing pauses that can last anywhere between 10 – 20 seconds, affecting the natural sleep rhythm. Spending more time in a light sleep and not feeling restored from the usual deep sleep? Sleep apnoea leaves you feeling un-energised and can make reflexes slower, concentration poorer and increases your risk of having an accident. It can also lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes and weight gain. With treatment, symptoms can be controlled. Insomnia I struggle with insomnia and have done for years. Not only do I find it difficult to get to sleep but I find it hard to stay asleep and I constantly toss and turn during the night. This can be frustrating

when all you want to do is be able to go to sleep and wake in the morning feeling refreshed. Stress is the number one cause of insomnia; other causes include poor sleep hygiene, illness, drug side effects and chronic pain. How do you stop yourself from having Insomnia you may ask? Well we may not all enjoy it but regular exercise stimulates better sleep, although it is better to leave 2-3 hours between exercise and sleep to allow your body to adjust as exercise makes us more alert and increases our body temperature. Many of us are guilty of spending too much time on our phones before bed. Technology is great but when it comes to our sleep, looking at a phone or iPad screen tricks our brains into thinking its daytime and the lights reduce our brains melatonin levels. Other things to avoid are sleeping pills, these should only be used temporarily, they’re not the answer to long term sleep issues, instead train your body to relax by following a ritual whether it be reading a book for an hour or having a warm relaxing bath. Obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart

conditions can all be brought on through lack of sleep so it is important to find out the root cause of your disorder. Restless Leg Syndrome This is one of the most frustrating sleep disorders you can have and it is also tricky to diagnose. Having that constant urge to move your legs every 20-30 seconds can be really uncomfortable when trying to sleep. People who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and anaemia often suffer with RLS, as well as women that are pregnant, but it can happen to any of us. To help relieve RLS try gentle stretching before bed time. Yoga is always a great way to relax your limbs and it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be difficult, basic yoga stretches will help towards defeating the disorder. Also, cutting our caffeine intake down, especially before bed as this makes our bodies more active. Again, a soak in the bath could help relax those limbs or using a hot water bottle to warm your legs or in other cases ice packs, whatever feels best. The brain can also be tricked into causing RLS so before bed why not try out a crossword or Sudoku. Another great option would be to ask your partner to give you a leg massage. A great excuse for them to stop being woken up during the night. Sleep Deprivation Consistent late night after late night can cause sleep deprivation. It may be that you stay up working or you may have an extremely busy social life, leading to less sleep. Sufferers often are linked to type two diabetes, cardiovascular disease and depression, but not in all cases. Instead of having sleep the brain believes it is hungry and increases its production of ghrelin, the hunger hormone. Too much of this makes your body crave sugary and fatty foods. Poor sleep also affects leptin, our satiety hormone. The simple answer to resolving sleep deprivation is to get into a routine and to simply stop having so many late nights. Snoring Snoring is a condition that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always be cured, but can often be controlled. There are many different causes of snoring which can be caused by a

vibration at the base of the tongue, breathing through the mouth whilst asleep or even a nasal airway problem. Healthcare professionals are on hand to help and can perform a test via a grading system. The higher the grade, the more severe the snore. This can lead to excessive tiredness and poor concentration, as well as relationship problems. Snoring can also indicate a condition called obstructive sleep apnoea. Other causes may be weight gain, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking. There are many devices that can be used to help control snoring including, anti-snore devices, mouth guards, nasal strips and surgery for the more severe conditions, as well as simple lifestyle changes.

Sleep Paralysis

Sleep Walking

Dreaming is an activity controlled by our minds whilst the body is at rest. The difference between normal mental activity and REM disorder is that people suffering with REM act out their dreams as if it were real life situation, this can involve physically moving limbs, engaging in activities, talking, shouting, hitting and punching, which are all common traits of REM. The activity within the brain of someone experiencing this is similar to our brain whilst awake. This can be treated by monitoring sleep.

Sleep Walking is also known as somnambulism, a behaviour disorder that is active whilst you sleep. Even though it is much more common in children, it can affect adults. A sleep walker is normally in a state of deep sleep and it can be difficult to wake them however it can sometimes be more dangerous not to wake them. Walking whilst asleep is not the only symptom; sleep talking and sitting up in your sleep are also common attributes. The more severe cases include driving long distances whilst asleep, violent attacks or unlocking doors and roaming the streets. Some of the main causes of this are sleep deprivation, alcohol consumption, febrile illnesses and medication. Most sufferers will often have no recollection of the event. Hypnosis is often used to treat adults that sleep walk. Hypersomnia In other words this disorder is referred to as excessive daytime sleepiness, a condition where a person has trouble to stay awake during the day. People who suffer from this often can fall asleep at any time, whilst driving or even at work. It could also be down to the lack of energy and the difficulty to think. The national sleep foundation can confirm that up to 40% of people have experienced symptoms of hypersomnia. It can be treated with prescribed medication including Provigil and Xylem.

This is a disorder which at some point has affected many of us with a temporary inability to move or speak when waking up or falling asleep. Although awake, your body appears paralysed; this can last from as long as ten seconds to several minutes. Sleep paralysis actually causes no harm and is most common in teenagers and young adults. This occurs when the mechanism that relaxes your muscles tires during sleep. This is a rare disorder and the best way to overcome sleep paralysis is by creating a restful sleeping environment as well as having a regular sleep routine. REM sleep Disorder

Night Sweats Another term referring to night sweats is excessive sweating during the night. This leads to severe hot flushes that sometimes drench clothing and bed sheets. The most common causes of night sweats in women is the menopause. Other causes include Idiopathic Hyperhidrosis, where the body chronically produces too much sweat with no cause identified, as well as certain medications. Infections that also relate to night sweats include tuberculosis, bacterial infections and abscesses. More serious relations are cancers such as lymphoma, hormone disorders, neurological conditions and hypoglycaemia, causing low blood sugar levels. The best route of action for night sweats is to go and see your doctor who will be able to advise further on identifying the cause.

March 2016

What is AuraVeda?

An individual rehabilitation program based on natural remedies Lucie Abu-Zalaf t AuraVeda consideration is given to the five basic elements, space, air, fire, water and earth, and the three bio-physical forces, Vata, Pitta and Kapha within each client.

Discover the health of the 7 bodily tissues which naturally covers the endocrine and organ system and function. Having diagnosed these factors we can show you how to best benefit your digestive health and manage toxin accumulation.

The treatments are targeted at the root cause of any disease rather than just the symptoms and this is achieved by not only offering hands-on treatment but by looking at other aspects of your life that may influence the way you feel right now. Daily stress takes its toll on all of us and this can have quite phenomenal repercussions on your well being. With this in mind a comprehensive full health maintenance package using the cutting edge science of Heart Rate Variability is available. Heart Rate Variability - How it works Electrical and mechanical occurrences happening in the heart create external characteristics of the pulse wave. Our diagnostic equipment analyses the heart rate using mathematical methods.

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Central to our ethos is the notion of bringing the physical body into alignment with its auric field, (the layers of energy surrounding it).

It allows estimating functions of particular organs and systems, as well as the patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health status in general. We work with stress, insomnia, digestive problems, weight loss, detox and the menopause. We can provide functional assessments of the body, showing you what is happening to the nervous system and how this affects your bio-ageing rate. We can also see the adaptation rate of your body, your total energy reserves, and assess your heart function and BMI (body mass index).

Aiming to achieve well-being through holistic care, we at AuraVeda combine the ancient 8000 year old Indian philosophy of long life and rejuvenation with energy field work. Ayur meaning science and veda meaning life. Much of our work is based around various massage treatments and healing sessions, taking into consideration your whole self.

AuraVeda’s assessments include: Nutrition – Advice concerning foods to favour and foods to avoid, making a distinction between foods that can heal and foods that can aggravate (including a filter of over 160 medical conditions). Herbal Therapy – Working with some of the leading herbalists in the country, we provide

tailored herbal formulas designed to aid a multifaceted healthcare approach.

Pilates sequences, yoga exercises and meditation techniques.

Aromatherapy –

Affordable options are available with one off and/or ongoing supported programs.

Oils for self-massage, aimed to improve health and psycho emotional state.

AuraVeda,

Ayurvedic Home Remedies –

41 High Street, Kinver,

Age old wisdom, recipes and practices to be performed at home and integrated into your daily lifestyle.

Staffordshire DY7 6HF 01384 936227 www.auraveda.co.uk

March 2016

Got Your Back Tips for a healthy back and spine

Mel Taffs bout 10 million working days are lost each year due to work-related back pain and other muscular disorders. It’s the second most common cause of long term sickness in the UK with stress being the first. The most common problems are strained muscles, ligament wear and tear, bad posture and stress.

The good news is that in many cases back pain can be treated and also prevented by making a few lifestyle changes and these can go a long way to keeping your back and spine healthy. Even if you have had a history of back and spine problems you can still perform activities more easily by practising basic self-care measures as outlined below and instructed to you by your doctor. Now Check Out My Guide… Good Posture

Lifting

I wonder if you’re sitting up straight as you read this? How many of actually think about the way in which we are sitting, nine times out of ten we slouch when watching TV, at our desks, driving our cars and we don’t even stop to think about it! Prevention is always better than cure so always make sure you are aware of how you sit, buy a good high backed chair for your desk and computer because by not supporting your back it throws the natural spinal curvatures out of alignment and that adds more stress to the neck which in turn can lead on to (RSI) repetitive strain injury.

One of the biggest causes of back injury especially at work and its due to people not lifting or handling objects correctly. Think before you lift, start in a good position, keep the load close to your waist, make sure that your back is as straight as can be and most important know your limits.

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Bending

By leaning forward with legs straight puts enormous stress on your lower back, this puts added strain on the discs (the spongy material between the bones of your spine), whist doing this keep your back

straight and bend from the hip, this will keep the spine in alignment. Sleeping

Having a soft mattress or couch can lead to back problems, always purchase a firm mattress and sleep on either your side or your back as sleeping on your front can put strain on your neck. Standing

Can affect you if you stand for long periods of time, if you have to, try and distribute your weight evenly between both feet throughout the day and try to wear low heeled shoes. Exercise

Sport

Always stretch your spine before and after sports as this will help loosen up the surrounding muscles. Smoking

Apparently smokers have more spine pain than nonsmokers and it also takes a smoker longer to heal. This is because the chemicals in tobacco restrict blood flow to the tissues in and around your spine. By following my guide there is no guarantee that you will be free from back pain for your entire life but these simple steps will hopefully keep your back and spine in good shape.

This does not mean anything strenuous. A daily walk can make a huge difference.

For tips on weight loss, healthy food alternatives, keeping fit on a budget email: melanietaffs7@gmail.com or call 07792421080.

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March 2016

Cheltenham Festival Preview Tips for winning ways Alex Dudley

t’s that time of the year again; Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner. Hopefully by the time the week is over your pockets are considerably heavier. This year, the jumps most famous race meetings will be taking place between Tuesday 15th and Friday 18th March. We will do our best to make sure we have done all the hard work so you can enjoy your week and are able to celebrate your winnings come Friday evening. Last year, the festival drew in record crowds of over 240,000 people and over £150 million was spent on betting over the course of the week. Cheltenham owners and executives are expecting much of the same again this year, with the track looking to break the attendance record for the third time in the last five years. The main event of the whole week being Gold Cup day; it’s the big money spinner and last year over £1,000,000 was on offer over the course of the day. 2015

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Gold Cup winner Coneygree was the first novice runner to win the race since 1974, proving just about anything is possible at the Cheltenham Festival, never mind Gold Cup day. The St Patrick’s Day meeting on the Thursday is the second most popular day of the week and this year it actually falls on the day itself. This year proves to be no different but we have picked out our three that we believe will deliver when it matters on the day:

Annie Power- Mares Hurdle (15th March) 5/4

Maybe not the greatest of tips but Annie Power provides you with a chance to get profit straight away. Possibly one of the most famous jump racehorses in the modern era, but cost punters over £50 million last year with her heart breaking fall on the last fence. However, just two months following this devastation she returned to the track at Punchestown, winning the featured race of the week. She seems like a safe bet especially due to the fact that the jockey that has won the most races at Cheltenham, Ruby Walsh rides on her. Vroum Vroum Mag- Ryanair Chase (17th March) 12/1

Another horse that is ridden by Ruby Walsh and heavily fancied at this year’s festival. Despite the fact that she hasn’t lost a race in a whole year and never lost a race when she has been ridden by Walsh, the odds for this race make it well worth the bet. The other key fact to

remember when betting at Cheltenham is the top quality talent that Willie Mullins brings with him. Last year, Mullins won four of the biggest races at Cheltenham, making him the first person to achieve this. Any race that features one of Mullinsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; horses will always be in with a chance. Don Cossack- Gold Cup (18th March) 6/1

The Gold Cup is perhaps the most difficult meeting of the whole week to predict but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve given it a go. Don

Cossack has been in fantastic form all season and priced at 6/1 (as of this writing) gives the punters a chance to jump on a realistic chance at good odds. Cossack is trained by Gordon Elliott and

ridden by the young and talented jockey, Bryan Cooper, who is only 22 years old. In his last ten races, Cossack has performed tremendously well winning nine of them. If you are going to back this house you will have to before the festival kick off as the odds are sure to get shorter once the week has begun. We hope that you enjoy a prosperous week at Cheltenham and hope that our tips have given you some background knowledge heading into the moneyspinning week. Good luck. March 2016

Have Fun Getting Fit

Alex Dudley e are all guilty of spending more than enough time at our local bars or feasting on fish and chips on a Friday night. It’s also very easy to forget about our health despite us all knowing the importance of it. The majority of people who don’t do regular exercise; me included, tend to ignore the idea of getting fit as it’s often tedious and time consuming. Here are some different ideas to get fit which aren’t expensive and a lot more fun than grinding it out in the gym.

W Zumba

This is a dancing craze which has caught on all over the world, zumba is now popular across 150 countries with an estimated 15 million people taking part in classes. It incorporates samba, salsa and mambo dances with squats and lunges to get the pulse raising. Like Bollywood dancing, this form of dance also is very good for your aerobic energy systems and is a lot of fun to take part in. With the growing interest in Zumba, most gyms across the country have at least one class a week designated purely for this.

Boxercise As is evident in the name, boxercise includes the exercises that boxers use to get fit for fights. Classes have a variety of different formats. The most prominent include press-ups, shadow-boxing, skipping and kicking punchbags. The classes are aimed at both male and females of all ages and fitness standards. This is because no classes involve physical hitting of other people taking part. It’s a fun and safe way to get fit quickly while also giving you challenges which you become determined to over come. After the first class the effects can be felt on the whole body. Ice-Skating Perfect for this time of the year, ice-skating can help burn up to 600 calories along with the fact that if you can skate; it’s a very fun recreational activity. Along with burning calories, ice-skating can also help tone your leg muscles and build endurance. It’s very popular all over the world and instead of being seen as exercise you could use it as a social event and meet up with friends.

Bollywood Dancing You are bound to have seen some form of Bollywood dancing on your TV screen whether in a film or TV series. It is an up and coming style of dance in the UK. Hand movements are pivotal in this dance as it helps to tell the story, in sort of a sign language way. With the continuous movements the dance gets the blood flowing through your body and is therefore very good for your aerobic system. There is no better way to have fun and get fit with your friends than attending a Bollywood dance lesson, which are available for all ages and experience.

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Yoga Yoga is an ancient form of exercise that focuses on strength, balance and breathing to boost mental and physical wellbeing. This is done through a variety of stretches ranging from beginner to expert levels. Studies have shown that this is a safe form of exercise for all age groups to increase physical exercise. There is even some evidence that shows yoga can be good for those with high blood pressure, heart disease and aches and pains (especially lower back.) Along with feeling proud of yourself for doing exercise you will also feel relaxed and stress-free when leaving a class.

Paint Balling As scary as it sounds; paint balling is a great way to get into shape. The crawling, sprinting and dodging of paint balls can increase your aerobic and anaerobic fitness. Along with this, unsurprisingly it is a great way to relieve stress. It’s better to get rid of your aggression in a safe environment where physical harm is not used. Paint balling is a lot of fun and makes for a brilliant day out with your friends, while getting fit and enjoying the fresh air. Air Space (Wolverhampton) New to the West Midlands is Air Space located in Wolverhampton and is the largest trampoline park in the area. With over 100 connected trampolines across 50,000 sq. foot, there is no better location for a day out with the kids. They also offer a range of facilities and classes, including freestyle fitness, dodge ball and ninja runs. Air Space has something for everyone to enjoy while getting fit. You can now save £5 when booking online for a family of four or more, all by entering the promotional code ‘GROUP2016.’ There is no better time to try out the West Midland’s newest and most exciting way to get into shape.

OPENING HOURS Tues - Fri 8.30am - 4.00pm Sat 10.00am - 4.00pm and other times by arrangement. We look forward to welcoming you at The Den; the Teme valley's hidden gem. Whether it's for a relaxing coffee, glass of sparkling prosecco and catch up with friends, a light lunch or one of our inspiring events; we're here to offer you a warm welcome. For a comprehensive list of all our events, visit our website

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RESERVATIONS Phone: 01886 853 800 Email: info@thedencafebar.com

Mill Farm, Stanford Bridge, Worcestershire, WR6 6SP March 2016

Sport Relief cash makes a difference right here in the UK

port Relief is back and the whole nation will be getting together to get active, raise cash and change lives at the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games on Friday 18th – Sunday 20th March.

future. From mucking out and feeding livestock to growing vegetables and eating meals around the table, the project blends family, farming and therapy to help young people with challenging behaviour.

Half of all the money the public raises is spent by Comic Relief right here at home in the UK, with the other half used to make a difference in the world’s poorest communities.

Toby, project manager at Jamie’s Farm, said: “The young people we work with get fully immersed into farm life - from mucking out to maintaining fences – the jobs they do, really need to be done. Many haven’t been out of the city they live in so cutting wood, for example is a whole new experience for them. They might not feel like they can do it in the first session but with positive encouragement, they always overcome their barriers.”

Arts 50 Alive Network brings generations together to challenge long held stereotypes and enhance community cohesion in Northfield, Birmingham. By bringing together the young and not so young in interesting and enjoyable activities, the project aims to break down barriers and build positive and lasting community relationships between residents. A small grant from Comic Relief has helped Arts 50 Alive to host a range of weekly activities, covering the cost of a professional artist to provide arts and crafts sessions. The funding has also paid for a minibus to transport young people and elderly residents from the Kings Norton area to various local WWI Centenary activities. Janice Boyett from Arts 50 Alive, said: “Just putting on a coffee morning for older people with drinks and cakes served by young people gets great results - everyone enjoys a good giggle and a chat. It also helps both age groups to see each other as real people rather than as the stereotypes that both young people and the elderly are often represented as. “The support from Comic Relief is so important; it helps us to continue our work and makes a huge difference where it’s needed most.” Another project benefitting from money raised through Sport Relief is Jamie’s Farm in Hereford, a working farm helping 11-16 year olds at risk of exclusion to fulfil their potential in school and better their chances for 70

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Once again, the public is being encouraged to take part in the

Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games, which will take place from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th March. This sees the return of flagship events at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. There will also be five flagship Games in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Norwich and Sheffield, plus hundreds of Miles and Swimathons across the UK. Whether you get sponsored to enter an event at the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games or fundraise with friends and family at home, work or school, you’ll help people living incredibly tough lives right here in the UK and the world’s poorest communities. For the latest Sport Relief news and fundraising ideas, visit www.sportrelief.com

Migraines Headache Help

eadaches are very common and it can sometimes be difficult to know whether a bad headache is due to a migraine. It is important to diagnose migraine correctly as the treatment is often different than that given for other causes of headaches. Migraines are very common and affect around one in seven people in the UK. They are three times more common in women than men. They can occur in people of all ages although they are more common in those people aged between 20 and 50 years. The headache from a migraine usually lasts from four to 72 hours and the frequency varies from one a year to more than two a week. Migraines can occur in several members of the same family. Around six out of ten women with migraines get more migraines around the time of their period; hormones can trigger migraines. Some women find that they have more frequent migraines when they go through their menopause. Migraine is more than simply a headache though. Often people have a warning sign (called an aura) before the headache starts. These may include visual symptoms like flashing lights, temporary loss of vision, numbness and pins and needles in the arm or leg. Some people experience problems with their speech or even have food cravings. However, many people have only the headacheâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; which is usually severe and often throbs and is felt on one side of your head. Other symptoms such as vomiting and sensitivity to light can also be present. Some people experience poor concentration, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and going pale. Triggers may include chocolate, cheese, red wine, dieting, stress and poor sleep. Sudden relief of stress can also bring on a migraineâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; often people get them at the weekend after a busy week. It is not usually one trigger that leads to a migraine developing but a combination of factors.

After experiencing a migraine it can be very common to feel more tired than usual for a day or so. Many people with migraines do not need any further tests to diagnose their migraine. Sometimes tests are done to exclude other causes of headaches. There are many different treatments available for migraine. Some people find simple painkillers (like paracetamol or ibuprofen) work but most people need to go and see their doctor to get more effective treatment. There is a group of drugs that work really well for people with migraine which work by interfering with a chemical in the brain which is involved in migraines. In addition to tablets they can be given as a spray into the mouth or even an injection which can be very beneficial to those people who have sickness as a feature of their migraine. For people who are having frequent migraines then there are medicines available which work to reduce the likelihood of a migraine occurring. Your doctor will be able to talk about the choices of treatment for you in more detail. Many people find the frequency of their migraines reduces by cutting out caffeine and alcohol from their diets. This is not easy to do but can really make a dramatic difference! Further information is available from Migraine Action - www.migraine.org.uk and Migraine Trust www.migrainetrust.org

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

Jonjo O’Neill Partnership Hospitality with a difference

onjo O’Neill is highly recognised as one of the best jump jockeys to have lived, with over 900 winners in his career, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Champion hurdle. Now, by becoming a member with the Jonjo O’Neill Partnership you can gain unrivalled access to first class horse racing, ownership, hospitality and social events. The partnership not only boasts a lifetime of experience and knowledge but provides members with world class hospitality opportunities whether in England or on one of the overseas race days. Members of this strictly limited and highly coveted club can experience the thrill of horse ownership, owner involvement and being part of the world famous Jackdaws Castle. O’Neill doesn’t want to rest on his laurels and wants members to share his future plans for racing history. In the future he wishes to add Champion 72

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Alex Dudley trainer to his already eye-watering list of achievements as well as, add more prize money and titles for members. Members of the Partnership will be influential in the growing success and will be pivotal to create history. Set in 500 acres of Cotswold countryside, Jackdaws Castle is legendary for producing horses of the highest possible quality such as Synchronised and ShutTheFrontDoor. In 2015, there were exciting changes made to the riding team and refurbishments made on the gallops, making Jackdaws Castle even more important to the development of thoroughbred horses. Members can also witness an insight into owner communication, schooling, training and first class race preparation from the team on each visit to the yard. You get an insight into what really makes a winner. Jackdaws Castle Experience Days are by invitation only, purposely for

the timetables and well being of their precious horses. A half day experience would include a stable tour, meeting the horses, team and in-depth look at facilities, out on the gallops and then finishing with a hearty breakfast and a glass of champagne in the Owners Suite. A membership with Jonjo O’Neill’s Partnership will be a good investment for the future; it could provide a fantastic corporate return or investment. Also, it can be used to acquire or host clients or colleagues. Single & Joint Memberships

The first types of membership are Single or Joint membership, which includes an interest in the five partnership owned horses, including shares of the prize money, sale proceedes from the horse and of course the winning. The membership also includes racecourse badges, all race day hospitality which includes being fully escorted by

members of the partnership race team with additional industry sports related appearances at every meeting. There are also eight hospitality visits each season to the country’s leading racecourses, additionally there is a high level of owner involvement including member-only website access, weekly blogs, newsletters and partnership meetings to discuss with Jonjo the progress of partnership horses. All of this and of course visits to Jackdaws Castle. Corporate Membership

The Corporate Membership packages are truly bespoke; they provide you with flexibility in regards to finding the best package to suit you. Whether these are colleague engagements and entertainment, sales networking or management away days. Managing Director, Torie will personally work with you to make sure you are perfectly happy with your bespoke package. She has a great understanding of corporate

hospitality and will always look to give you the best membership possible. Along with this, as a corporate member you will receive special sponsorship opportunities tailored to your requirements. The Corporate membership expands on the Single & Joint Membership with a more personal feel, you will have a dedicated individual who can source and organise larger scale race day hospitality directly with the venue on the company’s behalf. Along with this, there is a concierge service included with the Corporate Membership, to make sure you, your colleagues and your clients get the maximum from your Partnership package.

Partnership Hospitality

Involvement with the Jonjo O’Neill Partnership is the true definition of mixing business with pleasure. As part of the membership, the team will ensure you enjoy the highest standards, attention to detail and outstanding quality at some of the UK’s leading racecourses. For your eight hospitality visits, the Partnership will also help you choose a venue, date and experience that matches your expectations perfectly, giving you and your colleagues a day to remember. Begin your race journey today with the Jonjo O’Neill Partnership.

Torie Blythe-Richards 07762708557 torie@jonjooneillpartnership.com March 2016

End-of-year tax planning Pensions tax relief Tom Ware

here are changes afoot to pensions tax relief. Although no details have yet been finalised, it is clear that the Chancellor has tax relief for higher earners in his sights. He has already started to make changes and more are due to be announced in the next budget on 16th March when the Chancellor reveals the outcome of his pension taxation review. At the moment, investors can currently receive tax relief up to their full marginal rate. Basic rate tax is added automatically to the pension, while the remainder must be claimed through the annual tax return. The exception is for workplace schemes, where employers will often deduct contributions from salary before they deduct tax, meaning that tax relief is received at source. Either way, higher rate tax relief is a

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significant benefit. Top rate taxpayers effectively receive £10,000 worth of pension contributions for as little as £5,500 up front. However, the Government has been reviewing the tax relief available. Chancellor Osborne’s first move has been to introduce a gradual reduction in tax-free limit on pension contributions from £40,000 a year to £10,000 for high earners. From April 2016, top earners will see their tax-free limit reduced at a rate of £1 for every £2 earned over £150,000, until the tax-free limit hits £10,000. The move is designed to pay for new cuts to inheritance tax. However, it is clear that, for the Chancellor, this may not go far enough. The Government currently spends over £30bn on tax relief, with the vast majority going to the highest earners.

At a time of austerity, that appears unsustainable and various options have been mooted. Among the most popular options has been a flat rate of between 25% and 33%. This would reduce tax relief for higher earners and increase it for lower earners. The flat rate has the backing of many pensions’ experts, who believe it may simplify the system. The other option under discussion is a more radical overhaul of the system as a whole. The Chancellor is currently consulting on whether pensions should look more like ISAs. This would mean pensions would attract no upfront tax relief, but any income would be tax free. The Government may also make a contribution at some point.

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Underlying both options is not only the desire to save money, but also to simplify the system. Tinkering from various governments over the years has left the pensions’ system unwieldy and complicated. Many believe this is deterring people from saving via pensions. Whether it is truly possible to simplify the system remains to be seen. Action plan

With so much uncertainty, it makes sense for higher and toprate taxpayers to maximize contributions where possible before 16 March 2016 (the date of the Budget). Lower rate taxpayers may receive higher tax relief after the end of the tax year, so it may make sense to wait until after April to make larger contributions. Equally, although pension contributions are subject to an annual limit of the amount you earn, or £40,000, whichever is smaller, it is possible to make the most of the carry back/ carry forward rules to maximise contributions in an individual year. This involves carrying forward unused allowance from previous years, but is subject to certain restrictions, notably that earnings must equal or exceed the amount they are contributing. Either way, the changes announced in the Budget are likely to affect many people saving for retirement and the efficiency of pensions as a savings tool. We would suggest that people reconsider their options in light of the changes when their impact is clear.

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.

March 2016

Disney On Ice UK Tour Silver Anniversary Celebration

he skating spectacular takes audiences to four far-away lands in one action-packed ice adventure.

Join Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as they commemorate 25 years of Disney On Ice across Europe in an action-packed ice adventure that travels to four magical destinations! Disney On Ice presents Silver Anniversary Celebration, which will take audiences on a fun-filled tour, visiting seven cities across the UK from 16th March to 15th May. Tickets are on sale at www.disneyonice.co.uk. Disney On Ice invites you to embark on the ultimate sightseeing holiday with all your favourite Disney characters. Join tour guides Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck as they visit the magical worlds of Disney’s The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan. You’ll also be whisked away to the wintery wonderland

of the number one animated feature film of all-time, Disney’s Frozen. Told through an international team of award-winning skaters, breath-taking choreography and a musical score filled with familiar Disney hits and rock androll classics. The whole family is sure to experience a captivating journey to far-away lands without ever leaving their seats! The arena will be filled with music and magic in every scene as you discover four

unique landscapes filled with boisterous pirates, Caribbean beats and loving moments. Audiences will explore the African Pride Lands with Simba, Timon and Pumbaa; voyage deep under the sea to Ariel’s mystical underwater kingdom; and tour London with Peter Pan and Wendy before flying to Neverland to join Tinker Bell and the lost boys. If that wasn’t enough, you’ll then travel to Arendelle for an extraordinary adventure with royal sisters Anna and Elsa, rugged mountain man, Kristoff and everyone’s favourite huggable snowman, Olaf. “It’s an extraordinary show and a family vacation all rolled into one incredible night,” says Producer Kenneth Feld. “You really get a sense you are traveling right alongside Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their friends. We can’t wait for the UK audience to celebrate the Silver Anniversary of Disney On Ice with us! ”

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The Crescent Theatre Company Presents Hay fever

ay Fever is the brilliant comedy from the pen of Noel Coward and is a frothy farce about the most mannered of comic set-ups the nightmare country house party. Set in the stylish 1920s it is a comic masterpiece which whizzes along at a pace and is full of classic Coward frivolity. Judith is a retired actress whose life is full of melodrama and she plays with her weekend visitors both to annoy her husband David, and to confirm that age has not diminished her sexual allure. Hay Fever, which enjoyed a revival in London last year, is a Coward perennial favourite. The lines are still crisp as the play takes us through a weekend party that was always destined to go disastrously awry. This production sparkle and fizzes and is played expertly by a strong cast set against the delight of the

1920s period. “David’s been a good husband to me but he is wearing a bit thin now” exclaims Judith about her marriage and the scene is set for an evening of light hearted fun and high jinks. Great costumes and fabulous set all add to the glamour of the 1920’s. Hay Fever is undoubtedly one of Noel Coward’s best loved plays and displays all the hallmarks of his comedic touch. 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

March 2016

World Book Day

It’s time to put down those devices, pick up a book and delve into the wonders of another world Gail Braznell

t wasn’t that long ago that I became a new mum, I remember bragging to my friends with children, that I was never going to allow my child to constantly have their head engaged in any type of device. Famous last words! Fast forward a couple of years... At the age of three, a few minutes on an iPad isn’t a big deal and it’s actually part of growing up in today’s society. But talking and reading to our kids is more important, it can help their language development and their behavior by giving them feedback, guidance and support. Reading makes you smarter according to countless studies and not only does reading help you retain knowledge, it stockpiles your brain with new information. The brain is like a muscle and needs to be exercised, reading improves your memory and is more challenging to your brain than most other activities. World Book Day is a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and reading. In fact, it’s the biggest celebration of its kind, designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and marked in over 100 countries all over the world.

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This is the 19th year there’s been a World Book Day, and on 3rd March 2016 children of all ages will come together to appreciate reading, very loudly and very happily. The main aim of World Book Day in the UK and Ireland is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own. Thanks to the generosity of National Book Tokens Ltd, publishers and booksellers, millions of book vouchers are sent to children and young people. They can take their voucher to a local bookseller and can use it to pick one of TEN (exclusive, new and completely free) books. Or, if they’d rather, they can use it to get £1 off any book or audio book costing over £2.99 at a participating bookshop or book club (terms and conditions apply.) And that’s not all, on World Book Day children across Britain put on their best fancy dress costumes from books such as The Gruffalo, Harry Potter and Mr. Tickle to the Gingerbread Man, Peter Pan and many more, all to promote reading and books in schools. Today a reader tomorrow a leader.

The Narrow Bed A book by Sophie Hannah Mike Stafford

ou know you’ve made it as an author when your name is in a larger font than the title. Sophie Hannah, queen of psychological crime, has been in that category for quite some time now. ‘The Narrow Bed’ is the tenth in the Culver Valley / Waterhouse and Zailer series, and in it we see the cops of the Culver Valley hunt for a killer who is dispatching pairs of best friends, but not before gifting each of them with unusual, handmade white books bearing only a single, mysterious line of poetry. While the investigation is the spine of ‘The Narrow Bed,’ as with all Hannah’s work, this is a novel about people; their quirks, their vulnerability and their darkness. It also plays with the themes of radical feminism and new age spirituality - there’s a good deal more than mere crime fighting sandwiched in between these covers.

get to the meaning of any interaction between characters, exposing the flawed, inherently irrational creatures that we all ultimately are. Kim Tribbeck, for example, throws up a list of demands before arriving in any situation - is it because she’s a diva? No; it’s more complex - the demands are merely a defensive wall, they’re expectation management, protecting her from potential users and chancers. Hannah is a writer whose fans would, by now, presumably follow into hell. She can certainly afford to take risks creatively, having built up capital through her literary excellence up to this point. It’s just as well; towards the end of ‘The Narrow Bed,’ we’re asked to make an unusually vast leap of psychological faith, particularly for a writer whose eye

for character motivations is so sharp. Overall though, ‘The Narrow Bed’ is another fine piece of work from the nation’s reigning psycho-crime champion. It’s well observed and deftly written, with an eye for the modern world and the folk who live in it. Just brace yourself to suspend a little more disbelief than usual. www.nudge-book.com/blog/ contributor/mike-stafford

It’s a rich cast of characters that Hannah has to play with. Returning leading man Simon Waterhouse is a born sleuth with more than a whiff of the savant about him - a Holmes somehow taken away from London’s gas lights and hansom cabs and plonked into the 21st century. He shares the page with Kim Tribbeck, a standup comedian with questionable ethics but an ostensibly decent core, and with Sondra Halliday, a dogmatic feminist whose journalism takes the good cause of feminism and distorts it into something spiteful and aggressive. The cops of the Culver Valley must do battle not just with the killer, but with Halliday’s distortion of the case in the media. Halliday is a fine if intentionally infuriating character. Against all the complexity and nuance of the others, she is revealed as a two-dimensional fanatic, never allowing persuasion or even facts to move her from her position. As an antagonist, she is superb. Again in ‘The Narrow Bed,’ we see how well deserved Hannah’s status as doyenne of psychological crime is. She has an acuity that allows her to tease out secrets and their importance, to March 2016

Six Nations Rugby Alex Dudley It’s that time of the year again when all of the home nations do battle for the Championship trophy. Following an uninspiring World Cup from all the sides involved, this years competition promises to be the most tense and unpredictable for many years. The fierce competition is the oldest in the world, beginning in 1883, over 130 years ago. It was originally named the Home Nations until France began to participate following the end of the Second World War. Up until the turn of the millennium it was named the Five Nations Championship. Italy joined the elite in 2000 and the tournament was rebranded as the Six Nations. The most championship wins are currently level between England and Wales, and considering they are most people’s favourites to win it this year, they will be separated come the end of March. However, it’s England that holds the advantage, having won twelve grand slam titles and 23 triple crowns. The Triple Crown is awarded when one of the home nations has beaten the other three sides. The last nation to achieve this was England during the 2014 Six Nations. Since the rebranding in 2000, France have won the most amount of championships; currently five. As is the case in all sports, there is also a loser, and the Six Nations is no different.

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The wooden spoon is awarded or rather given to the team that finishes bottom of the table. Unfortunately for Italy, they are the team who have the most 6th place finishes, and by quite a margin. They have received ten wooden spoons while the team that has the second most is Scotland who has four. England and Ireland have the honour to have never finished bottom of the group, yet! Ireland are the reigning champions having won the championship in 2015 to regain the title. They are looking to win the Six Nations for the third time in a row, if successful they would be the first ever team to win the championship outright more than twice in a row. France achieved four championship wins in a row twice between 1959-1962 and 1986-89 but three of those wins were shared. The championship was shared as the total gained point was even and this happened before the points difference game into play. The 2015 Six Nations went right to the final game, if England would have beaten France by 25 points or more they would have won the championship. However, they were only able to win by a margin of 20 points, meaning the Irish’s win over England in the third game was crucial to their tournament win, this gave Ireland the same amount of points as England. When the points are level at the end of the group games in the Six Nations the winner is decided by the amount

of match points difference (number of points scored subtracted by points conceded.) Along with the major prize on offer there are also bragging right trophies between certain teams participating. The most famous of which is the Calcutta Cup, decided between England and Scotland. This is the most famous of all trophies on offer and has been contested since 1879. Of the 123 meetings between the sides, England have won 70 of those with Scotland winning 39 and the remainder being draws. The other trophies on offer are Centenary Quaich (Scotland vs. Ireland), Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy (France vs. Italy) and the Millennium Trophy (England vs. Ireland.) The tournament could be about to expand again with the dominance of Georgia in the second tier of the Six Nations. Last year, Georgia won their fifth consecutive European Nations Cup, beating Romania, Germany, Russia and Spain. Following their impressive World Cup in 2015, a petition was started to have Georgia included in the Six Nations, the petition has received over 45,000 signatures but the RBS have refused to acknowledge their growing support. This year’s championship promises so much and all nations, especially England have to deliver when it matters.

What’s on this March

Crufts 2016

Thursday 10 March - Sunday 13 March 2016 Halls 1 - 5, NEC Pavilion & Arena, Birmingham Car Parking: £12.00 per day Crufts is the world’s BIGGEST and BEST dog event! It is a fun family day, full of unforgettable dog shows, the best in dog shopping and hundreds of canines for you to meet!

Easter at Warwick Castle March 2016

Great balls of fire will fly again at Warwick Castle as the world’s largest siege engine, the Mighty Trebuchet, returns to fire twice daily. At 19 metres high and weighing 22 tonnes, the Trebuchet has been fully restored with an investment of £40,000 and is the largest working example in the world of a mediaeval missile launcher. What’s more, two new tours, the Devile Warwicke trail and Capability Brown debating tour will bring alive very different facets of Warwick Castle’s history in a surprising and contrasting way.

Celebrating 125 years of Crufts – The BIGGEST and BEST dog show on earth! Bring your family to meet your best friend’s friends. There is so much to see and do including… - Shopping heaven - over 400 stands with special offers and exciting new products - Fun in the arena - this year’s programme is jam packed with agility, flyball, displays and exciting competitions - Discover Dogs – Come and meet, greet and discover over 200 breeds of dog - Best in Show - Over 22k dogs striving for the title of Best in Show 2016

Easter in Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare’s Birthplace - 18th March- 4th April 2016 Enjoy an egg-citing Easter with a host of fun activities for all the family in Shakespeare’s England from 18 March – 4 April. Search for clues to win chocolate prizes with Easter trails and egg hunts, decorate Easter biscuits, re-create a sword fight from Hamlet, wander around spring flowers at Hill Close Gardens or simply enjoy a traditional Easter lunch with friends and family. Raise your glass at the pop-up pub at Shakespeare’s Birthplace and see the Swan and Maidenhead come back to life. Meet the innkeepers running the tavern’s drinking parlour and lodging rooms plus discover Tudor tavern food and ale brewing techniques. March 2016

T. Rexstasy – I love to Boogie – 40th Anniversary Tour

Marc Bolan & T.Rex, and the only band endorsed and approved by Marc Bolan’s family, estate, original ex-members of T.Rex, and Bolan’s catalogue management. The band has been described by many as ‘beyond the boundaries of tribute’.

Look forward to an evening of entertainment at The Belgrade in Coventry as T.Rextasy take to the stage. T.Rextasy have now been performing around the world for over 20 years, a career that ironically out lives Marc’s very own T.Rex. The band is now accepted as the world’s only official live tribute band dedicated to

Truly a rock’n’roll concert for all ages - If you would like to know exactly what a Marc Bolan concert was like in the 1970s, this show is for you!

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Saturday 12th March -7.45pm

Tickets: £17.75 - £25.00 Concessions: £15.75 - £23.00

Science Night at The Hive, Worcester Cool talks, fun activities and Mad Science Show performances are all part of The Hive's Science Night taking place on Thursday 17 March during British Science Week. Between 5pm and 8pm there will be: free talks on microscopy, computers and robotics, waking the dead: DNA and the science of ice-cream; numerous free demonstrations including interactive engineering, robot programming and historic medical implements; a science quiz with prizes; the opportunity to have

your photo taken with Darth Vader; and two Mad Science Show performances. The Mad Science show is both entertaining and educational. The first show is at 5.30pm and the second at 6.15pm. Tickets cost £3.50 for adults and £3 for children and can be booked online www.thehiveworcester.org/familyevents . Anyone interested in listening to one of the free talks is also advised to reserve a seat via The Hive website www.thehiveworcester.org as places are limited.

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March 2016

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March 2016

Shop until you drop, or drop and then shop Is online grocery shopping better than going into the store? Gail Braznell upermarket shopping is a very different kind of shopping. While there are indeed some people who enjoy a weekly stroll around the aisles, for many our weekly grocery shop is an unpleasantness that we endure out of necessity. For parents with small children or the elderly and disabled it can be an exhausting ordeal.

The big advantage of ordering groceries online is that you can browse any time you want without leaving the comfort of your home, in most stores you even get an online assistant to help with any ordering problems immediately. Shopping online means no queuing at the checkout, no parking hassles and no negotiating the crowds if you have to shop at peak times.

But shopping online isn’t without problems, for instance you don’t get to choose the produce yourself. If you’re a cook with strong feelings about the ripeness of your fruit and veg you may not be happy with what has been chosen for you. There can also be a problem if an item you have requested is not in stock or is too close to the use by date for your liking, the ’picker or packer’ that chooses your items for you can occasionally get it wrong. Not everyone is confident about navigating online, some grocery store websites are poorly designed and searching for a specific item can be slow, not to mention confusing.

Many times I’ve opted for online grocery shopping, as I tend to spend a lot more than the required shopping budget on those impulsive items if I go into the store.

Delivery charges are sometimes higher for the more popular delivery slots, for example on a Friday or Saturday. For major public holidays like Christmas or New Year, delivery slots can get booked up several months in advance. If you forgot to place your order, you could miss out.

There are some people who find online grocery shopping so vital to their independence that once they’ve tried it they can’t imagine life without out it.

While many retailers have developed the design of their websites to make the shopping experience as successful as possible, errors and misunderstandings

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can occur. When ordering loose vegetables, for example, if you mistake quantity for weight you might receive single veggies rather than a kilo (this happened to a friend of mine.) The last thing that a grocery store wants is dissatisfied customers complaining about having received poor quality goods, so any a reputable store will give a guarantee that if you are not happy with your delivery then they will give you some kind of a refund. Grocery shopping is just one of the chores that the internet has made easier and more pleasant. But beware of getting carried away: the real basket on your arm is a lot heavier than the virtual basket on your computer - keep an eye on the running total to make sure you don’t order more than you planned to! In conclusion There are pros and cons that we have to weigh when it comes to either online or in store shopping. Whether or not one thinks that online shopping has more pros than cons, or vice versa, It’s a totally personal affair.