Zenith JSY/GSY - Issue 1 - 2016

zenith.

JSY/GSY | Issue 1 | 2016

A curious profession Interview with renowned Channel Island artist Nicholas Romeril

The rise of the

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GUERNSEY Good Life

JEWELS

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zenith.

JSY/GSY | Issue 1 | 2016

zenith. is an annual pan-island magazine devoted to an ever-expanding 50 plus generation in Jersey and Guernsey. Appealing to a confident and self assured audience guided by knowledge and expertise, zenith. targets those looking for inspiration in the pursuit of exuberant living and positive lifestyle.

A curious profession Interview with renowned Channel Island artist Nicholas Romeril

The rise of the

‘SOCIAL SOMMELIER’ DIGITAL LEGACY JARDINS des Jèrriais

GUERNSEY Good Life

JEWELS

in the Islands’ Crown

1

Who we are Publisher

editor's note

The Refinery

Editor

Natasha Egré

Sub-Editor

Anthony Barbapiccola

Head of Sales

Rebecca Harrington

Sales Support Julie Todd

Designer

Eunice Santos

Photography Danny Evans Andy Le Gresley Chris George

Accounts

Rebecca Harrington

Contributing Writers Danielle Costford Stephanie Vinrace Trish Grover Laura Syvret Lorna Jackson

Please get in touch:

Advertising rebecca@getrefined.com Editorial natasha@getrefined.com

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Welcome to the first issue of zenith. a lifestyle magazine for the Channel Islands that speaks to today’s mature and discerning reader.

In this issue we take you on a journey of topical issues, luxurious travel, homes & gardens and fabulous fashion.

I am quite in awe of our lead interviewee Nicholas Romeril who, as an artist and sculptor, has found international acclaim whilst still remaining true to his Jersey roots.

For those who like to read magazines from back to front (gentlemen we know it’s you) we have devoted the back of the magazine to what has become one of my favourite pieces titled ‘Dear Me’. Here we have asked well-known people in the Channel Islands to write a letter to themselves at 18 years of age; imparting the wisdom they have collated through their lives to their younger selves (see page 70). The result is the most humorous and heartwarming letters I’ve had the privilege to publish. I implore you to read them without thinking of Baz Luhrmann’s song ‘Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen’.

Copyright © 2015 by zenith.

So, I end this note by borrowing some of Baz’s words of wisdom: Do one thing every day that scares you.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they'll be gone for good.

Remember compliments you receive, forget the insults.

And finally… wear sunscreen.

Natasha Egré Editor

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

A CHANGE IN THE WAY YOU LOOK AT INVESTMENTS COULD BE VERY REWARDING FOR YOUR PENSION

Tyrian Plum 10 year CAGR of 6.72% between 2005 and 2015*

Why rare stamps and coins could prove a surprising way to protect and grow your pension pot If you are planning for retirement then the waters have not been especially inviting recently.The Bank of England Base Rate has been becalmed at 0.5% for six years whilst capital markets and traditional investments have been buffeted. In 2008, many over-55s saw an average of £150,000 wiped off their pension schemes and although markets have pulled back since then, the overall outlook remains uncertain.

An anchor against low interest rates and market fragility?

The main lesson learnt has been to ensure that investment portfolios are diversified and not overly correlated. So wise pension holders are exploring ways to spread risk and ensure pension pots are not too narrowly invested.

Although they may not immediately spring to mind, tangible, heritage assets, such as rare stamps and coins, fit the bill.Their uncorrelated nature means they provide portfolio protection and diversification in a way that traditional investments cannot.Their performance bears no correlation to mainstream financial markets as they are delivered by a finite supply within a global collectors’ market. Plus of course, you get to own a little slice of history...

A finite supply – and a growing demand A track record of stability, steady growth and capital appreciation* is now being fuelled by increased demand from a growing global middle class.This, coupled with a finite supply of investment grade stamps and coins, means their value has tended to show continual rises, even during the crash of 2008/9.

For 2015 a further increase in demand is expected as the world marks the 175th anniversary of the Penny Black. A mint Penny Black in good condition purchased at auction in 2004 at a cost of £4,500 is worth £12,500 today - annual compound growth of 11.7%**. Though of course, past performance is no guarantee for the future.

Look forward to retirement by investing in the past Stanley Gibbons has been serving collectors and investors since 1856 and are worldrenowned for their expertise.They offer a choice of flexible investment structures from £10,000 including their equivalent of a regular savings plan, the Premium Portfolio Builder. It is ideal for a pension as it helps you build up a ‘pot’ over time.

There’s no need to be an expert in stamps or coins; they’ll provide you with a dedicated Investment Portfolio Manager who’ll help you with entry into the market, value your investment annually and give you structured exit options to help you realise your return.You’ll enjoy £0 fees, no insurance or storage costs (the sorts of things that erode your capital in many other investments) and you only pay commission on any profit made at the very end of its term.

Enjoying potentially healthy returns begins with downloading your free investment guide: sginvest.co.uk/zenith Diversifying your investment options begins with broadening the mind Stanley Gibbons is offering all our readers a free Investment Guide downloadable directly from their website. If you are planning for retirement, and wish to protect and preserve the wealth and lifestyle that is already yours, why not download it now to see if what they offer might suit your long term financial planning?

Find out more at sginvest.co.uk/zenith or call 01534 765892 Please note that the value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. Stamps, coins and other collectibles are not “Investments” for the purposes of the Financial Services (Jersey) Law 1998 (as amended). Stanley Gibbons (Guernsey) Limited has registered with the GFSC under the Registration of Non-Regulated Financial Services Businesses (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2008 (as amended) as a financial services business and therefore is supervised by the GFSC in respect of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financial Crime and Terrorist Financing matters. Past investment performance or experience does not necessarily give a guide for the future.

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contents interview

home & garden

08. A Curious Profession Interview with Nicholas Romeril

39. Going Native The rise of gardening

13. Artists Of The Channel Islands A look at popular C.I artists

42. Guernsey Good Life Interview with Sarah Vautier

investments 14. Precious Metals Coins as a store of wealth 16. A Delve into Unusual Investments From vintage posters to teddy bears 18. Digital Legacy Your online existence

fashion & shopping

44. Jardins des JÈrriais Q&A with Judy Dickson and Ruth Hayward 49. Get Smart on Trend Interior design for 2016

food & drink 52. The Rise of the Social Sommelier Meet Pedro Bento from Longueville Manor 54. Bon AppÉtit British Bake Off inspires Shaun Rankin recipes

21. It’s All in the Detail Accessories fashion shoot

travel

28. Jewels in the Channel Islands’ Crown A tour of Catherine Best

60. Dream Job Travel Product Manager, Louise Harvey-Simmons

30. S.K.I’ing Spending the kids' inheritance

62. Mind the Gap Voluntourism and sabbaticals

health & fitness

64. Top Travel Tips The travel 'to do’ list

Are you Ageing Successfully?

32. Build a better body

65. All ABoard!

Multi-generational holidays on the rise

Health and Beauty 34. Products and treatments

70. Dear Me Words of wisdom from local professionals

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INTERVIEW

A

curious

PROFESSION zenith. Editor, Natasha EgrĂŠ, met Channel Island artist Nicholas Romeril at the opening of his latest exhibition. He talks earnestly about his international career, love for the Channel Islands and even living in isolation in Les Minquiers.

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INTERVIEW

I

nternationally renowned artist Nicholas Romeril is modest and unassuming.

He dispels the myth of extrovert characteristics that are often associated with his trade and leaves flamboyancy to his paintings.

Nicholas has been exhibiting extensively in locations such as Miami, London, Switzerland and California. Most recently he returned to his home in Jersey for his largest exhibition of ambitious works titled ‘Free to Jump’.

Nicholas predominantly uses the mediums of canvas, slate and stainless steel. His recent pieces explore seascapes, underwater, dunes, boulders and cliffs. Influence stems from natural elements, light and shade, and rough seas. A number of pieces also use ingenious techniques such as optical illusion and 3D to convey their theme.

When we met for the first time, I was captivated by his Channel Island seascapes. His passion and ability to convey such a strong sense of moment in his pieces is truly inspiring. There’s something of the musical conductor about him, in each piece he commands the elements, feelings and the senses to deliver a spectacular crescendo.

“I aim to hold your gaze for as long as possible so that the image is burned onto your visual memory” ‘The paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures I make have a definite physical presence that commands attention,’ explains Nicholas. ‘I hope to create works that dominate a space and your attention. I aim to hold your gaze for as long as possible so that the image is burned onto your visual memory.’

Having grown up on a cattle farm in Jersey, we could have easily lost Nicholas to farming like his father but he was encouraged to follow his own dreams. The country boy inside him is still prevalent to this day however and his cow etchings are much loved by Islanders.

Nicholas recalls: ‘when I was a little boy, in the winter months both my parents would sit around our kitchen table either painting oils or making handicrafts. My parents were farmers and so this was almost an exclusively winter

Splash, Free the Spirit

occupation as the summers were too busy. I realised that I had some talent in art when my fellow pupils would ask me to do portraits of them or help them improve their own art. I even sold a painting to one of my teachers during my O levels. Art has been part of my entire life.’

Nicholas is inspired by an array of artists from Rembrandt to Ed Ruscha. He says: ‘I remember seeing an exhibition of amazing Rembrandt portraits in London when I was about 16 and being completely mesmerised by the realism of them. They had a physicality that I have rarely seen since. The impressionist paintings also marked my visual language. They were all over the place when I was younger. I would travel to Paris and roam around the Musée d'Orsay seeing the images I had only previously seen in books before. I would study how the paintings

“Art has been part of my entire life” were made. I think this is why my work is so connected to colour and shadow.’

He also admires the German painter Gerhard Richter, who is considered one of the pioneers of the New European Painting movement that emerged in the second half of the twentieth century. Nicholas explains: ‘Gerhard has had a fantastic career and his versatility is to be admired. His work has great power and clear intention. It is also very beautiful which is not always seen as a good thing in the art world.’

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INTERVIEW Nicholas’s passion for experiencing work in all its forms is boundless. He frequently visits galleries but explains that it takes something special to really resonate: ‘I see so many pieces in galleries but 99% do not connect, however every once in a while I’ll see something that grabs me. It’s like music, I am not keen on putting art in lists or groups but rather like an eclectic mixture.’

His own latest exhibition held at CCA Galleries International certainly captured people’s imaginations. Over 400 attended the preview alone and paintings sold before they made it onto the gallery walls. Nicholas now has a number of private commissions to complete before his next exhibition opens in London. He admits: ‘after an exhibition I feel a little down, as my studio is empty. I know that the next body of work will emerge but there is always a little doubt in the back of my mind of what it will be. I am lucky to have a lot of commissions at the moment to keep me occupied including a fish wall piece for Mark Jordan’s at the Beach.’

“After an exhibition I feel a little down as my studio is empty”

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“The attendance at recent visual arts events really does suggest a hunger for a decent public art gallery” He also has ambitions for an exhibition in Guernsey and is looking for the right space to showcase his work. He says: ‘my last exhibition in Guernsey was in 2001 titled ‘Here and Now’ and I have always wanted to exhibit there again as my work has become more ambitious since then. I have concentrated on scale, medium and subject. Whereas ‘Here and Now’ was almost entirely paintings about rock formations and sand dunes, I now have large seascapes, underwater paintings, cliffs, works on slate and of course sculptures to showcase.’

speaks wistfully about the weeks he spent living in isolation in Les Minquiers. ‘It was wonderful but also very lonely,’ he recalls. ‘A storm blew up while I was there and winds of force seven swept the archipelago. They were tremendously invigorating and I produced some good work. The views and the astounding changes that occur there over one tide amazes me and the scale and volume of water that moves through the gullies is awesome. There is a type of cleanness and space that I don’t get anywhere else.’

Nicholas is enthralled by the sea and coastal scenery of the Channel Islands. ‘I have been to all the Islands and made paintings of the gannet rocks in Alderney,’ he says. ‘I react strongly to the sea and I love being by, in and on it. I don’t often portray a particular spot but try to capture the emotion I get from the place.

The colours and shadows of our coastal regions excite me and the rocks, dunes and beaches all give me great pleasure.’

However, it’s not all trips of tranquillity and international exhibitions, being a selfemployed artist is a difficult profession and Nicholas knows this only too well. He explains: ‘I have some collectors who have bought pieces from me for my entire career but without their support I may not have been able to continue in the way I have. I have never received any meaningful financial support from the States coffers for art projects. I have always had to ask private sponsors or fund my ambitions by myself. There are always economic risks as I cannot foresee if any of the works will sell.’

He is also not unaccustomed to the small rocky outcrops of the Channel Islands and

Warm Evening Dune

INTERVIEW

“A storm blew up while I was there and winds of force seven swept the archipelago.

They were tremendously invigorating and I produced some good work�

A Safe Distance

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INTERVIEW

For the Love of Blue

“I hope that by making art I have given my life some sort of meaning” The case for building a large public art gallery in the Channel Islands has caused much debate over the years. People have battled over the benefit of investment in the arts versus profitable gain. Nicholas is unmistakably in favour of such a facility, enthusing over how much it would encourage the many great, unrecognised artists living locally. He says: ‘the enthusiasm is there but the infrastructure is absent or complaisant. Organisations and individuals either get sparse funding or none at all. The attendance at recent visual arts events really does suggest a hunger for a decent public art gallery.’ With his characteristic frankness he adds: ‘I think this is why my work is fairly traditional because I have always had

12

to support myself by selling art. I wonder what I would be making if there was a healthier support structure.’

When Nicholas is not working in his studio he is teaching budding artists at Highlands College in Jersey. He says: ‘time in my studio is extremely important to my practise. I start work at 7am and often do several hours before I go and teach. If I don’t work I get touchy and grumpy so it is better to work. I also think that I am unemployable now so this is my only option!’

Being an artist can be a lonely profession and Nicholas admits that he enjoys the company he gets from teaching: ‘it helps, as I am not quite ready to work in isolation. I enjoy the contact and interaction with young people and likeminded tutors. In fact, I increasingly work in collaboration with other makers so when I do decide to stop teaching I will not be left on my own.’

His own sons are not adverse to creative careers either. Nicholas has the benefit of experience to advise them, he says: ‘I have two boys who

seem to want to follow a creative pathway so I encourage them whilst also instilling that an artistic education is not only teaching practical skills but also flexible working patterns, self critical analysis and self-motivation - the most important elements in our evolving working environment.’

Thinking of his sons brings him to reflect on his own beginnings. ‘When I decided to call myself an artist at the age of 16, I did not think it was a viable career,’ he admits. ‘I have had to learn through experience how to be an artist. Thank goodness there are no right or wrong ways in this job’.

He concludes: ‘being an artist is a curious occupation. If I didn’t want to make things, nobody would know. The world would continue and nobody would be any the wiser. I have set myself targets and still strive to get better and make better art. I hope that by making art I have given my life some sort of meaning. I certainly feel like I have learnt a lot and there is still plenty of learning to do.’ www.nicholasromeril.com

LOCAL ARTISTS

Ian Rolls

Jason Butler

Peter Le Vasseur

Ian Rolls specialises in wayward interpretations of landscapes and buildings. He has travelled widely, an important source of inspiration for him, and has shown his work in solo and group exhibitions in India, Sri Lanka, Germany, France, England and regularly in Jersey.

Jason Butler creates both figurative and conceptual paintings. He is well known for his realistic and meticulous portraits that capture a warmth of life and personality.

Peter Le Vasseur’s paintings depict poignant narratives that are often inspired by the environment and characterised by their unique depth of detail. During the sixties, Le Vasseur sold paintings to the Beatles, film stars Rod Steiger and Jerry Lewis, and many other well known people, including the Duke of Bedford and Lord Porchester.

Jersey

Jersey

Ian uses both his left and right hand to create his paintings. The frenetic but mindful lefthanded drawing sets the distorted structure of the composition, while the right-handed painting responds with slow and careful detail that brings the scene to life.

Jason has built a reputation both locally and internationally. He has taken on over 200 commissions including a painting to commemorate the Queen’s visit to Jersey in 2001 and in 2013 he completed a painting of the Royal Mace celebrations for the States of Jersey. He is currently creating a new body of work titled ‘Seekers and Speakers’. This project focuses on the idea of hero-worship and will be displayed in May 2016.

Guernsey

Peter has travelled extensively to the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

The ideological themes throughout his work are used to communicate his interest in ecology and conservation.

artists OF THE

CHANNEL ISLANDS Frances Lemmon Guernsey

Rosanne Guille Sark

Rosanne Guille is a wildlife and landscape artist who is inspired by the natural beauty of Sark’s scenery. Largely using watercolours, Rosanne’s paintings of cliff tops, coastlines and wildlife all resonate a calm atmosphere that takes you away from the stresses of modern life. Her love for art and the environment has steered Rosanne’s ambitious projects that have not only produced beautiful paintings but also benefited the preservation of Sark’s beautiful scenery.

Frances Lemmon’s work combines vibrant colours with abstract shapes to create bold paintings of Guernsey landscapes. Frances always strives to create a clear and structured composition in her paintings, a style that has derived from her experience working with scientific painting and signwriting. Subsequently, geometric shapes and patterns are often prevalent throughout each painted scene.

Frances is always eager to tell a story and gives her work an emotional connection to a specific place and time. Landscapes are often combined with traditional 19th century folkloric stories that culminate to create a mysterious interpretation of Guernsey landscapes that tell stories and provokes contemplation in the viewer.

Nic West Alderney

Nic West is passionate about wild seas and rugged landscapes, which inspire her very visceral and vibrant paintings. In January 2015 (having sold her worldly goods), Nic, her dog and a rucksack moved to Alderney to start a new life as an artist. She is inspired by both the beauty and brutality of her surroundings and Nic uses this as a metaphor for the human spirit in the face of adversity.

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INVESTMENTS

Precious Metals From the Celts to the computer generation, how coins became a store of wealth

C

oins have been used as a store of wealth for thousands of years.

Easy to transport and easy to measure, coins provided a reliable way to transfer assets from one party to another. Although trade clearly existed before coins, they greatly facilitated people’s ability to trade across continents, and introduce exotic goods to new shores.

Today, in an age of online bank transfers and payments by phone apps, coins may seem redundant as currency. However, their irreplaceable nature, and their link to history mean the value of the best coins has transcended whatever sum they were supposed to represent.

For investors looking at diversifying a portfolio, coins are proving a versatile, and non-volatile, alternative asset class.

History of coins The first coins were minted in the 5th or 6th centuries BC; possibly by Demodike of Kyrme, wife of King Midas of Phrygia, or by King Pheidon of Argos, on the island of Aegina. Greek coins were taken to Egypt and Persia, while a few centuries later, during the reign of Alexander the Great, Roman coins went to India.

Phrases like ‘the Midas touch’ or ‘as rich as Croseus’ date back to the Greeks. Croseus of Lydia was thought to be the first to make coins from pure gold, rather than from electrum – a gold and silver alloy.

The Celts minted coins from the 1st to 4th centuries BC. Originally featuring Greek motifs, designs eventually became more symbolic, featuring severed heads, horsemen and chariots, the sun and moon, and gods and goddesses.

"For investors looking at diversifying a portfolio, coins are proving a versatile, and non-volatile, alternative asset class."

Many Celtic coins were made from iron and bronze, along with copper, silver and some of gold.

Jersey’s Celtic Coin Hoard Jersey boasts the largest collection of Celtic coins in the world. Three years ago two men using metal detectors unearthed a mass of Celtic coins and jewellery from a field in Grouville. Along with the mud, this hoard weighed about one ton, and is thought to be worth around £10 million.

Dating back over 2,000 years, the treasure comes from the time of Julius Caesar, a period where Celtic tribes were being conquered by Roman armies. At the time, the Romans referred to the Channel Islands as Armorica, and the locals as Gauls.

Scientists are slowly trying to separate the coins – thought to number over 70,000 – from the heap.

The Celtic Coin Hoard exhibition and lab is now located in a new, dedicated space at La Hougue Bie, where it will be sponsored by Stanley Gibbons Investment.

Although the Jersey treasure will not be for sale, rare coins do come on to the market, making it possible to invest in tangible elements of history.

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INVESTMENTS

1697 William III Silver Crown, one of the highest risers in the Stanley Gibbons English Coin 200 Index. This coin has increased in value from £20,000 to £45,000 in the past year.

Coins as an alternative investment A gold 150-50 BC Gallo-Belgic Stater, featuring the Laureate head of Apollo, Rev. Horse, is the oldest coin in the Stanley Gibbons English Coin Index. Between 2002 and 2015, the value of this coin alone has risen from £1,750 to £8000, a 10-year increase of 255.6%.

The English Coin 200 Index tracks the performance of the top 200 English coins since 2002. Based on published auction realisations, the index is fully transparent and robust, showing that like rare stamps, rare British coins continue on a steady upward trend.

"When buying coins, or any other alternative investment, knowledge and experience are key to making a good investment."

Coins are an asset class that is not correlated to other mainstream, traditional assets and therefore are largely unaffected by volatility and downturns in other markets.

The Index demonstrates a year on year growth of 12.6% for the last 12 months, a 10-year growth (2005 to 2015) of 232.1% and a compound annual growth rate of 12.75% over the last 10 years.

How

to make successful alternative

investments

From the earliest Celtic coins, the English Coin 200 Index tracks British history, through the Anglo Saxons and Vikings, to the Normans and Plantagenets. It includes coinage from the Houses of Lancaster and York, the Tudors and Stuarts, the House of Hanover, of Saxe-CoburgGotha, and finally of the Windsors.

When buying coins, or any other alternative investment, knowledge and experience are key to making a good investment. Each item is unique and investors have to navigate risks such as forgeries, and getting the right valuation.

The best performer in the English Coin 200 Index in the last 12 months was a William III Silver Crown from 1697, which increased in value from £20,000 to £45,000 (125%)

Rare coins have been collected and used as a store of wealth for centuries, and rare, quality items have consistently shown price appreciation through the years.

Merchants such as Stanley Gibbons, who have been in the business of collectables since 1856, can offer the sort of expert advice that allows individuals to participate in the market.

With collectable coins, rarity and condition are important factors in determining value, rather than the metals being of intrinsic value themselves. As with stamps, rarity may be down to factors such as being from a small issue, not going into circulation, or featuring a ruler who died during the time of minting.

Charles I, Gold Triple Unite. Minted in Oxford during the English Civil War, 1642.

At the time, it was worth three pounds (three months’ wages for a non-commissioned officer in King Charles’ army). Today it is worth around £90,000

Whatever era of coins you choose for your portfolio, getting it right can turn the change of the past into the fortune of tomorrow.

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INVESTMENTS

A Delve into...

Unusual Investments Financial reward is becoming readily available to a new breed of adventurous investors. ‘Traditional investments’ - those centred on bonds and stocks - are being rivalled by a plethora of private collections including fine wines, historic toys, cars, stamps and more.

%2000

£36,500

£1.3

million

Money may not grow on trees...

Vintage Ski Posters

'Steiffled' for investment ideas?

Japan’s pocket sized Bonsai trees have the potential to grow into a small fortune for any green thumbed investor. With the right care and attention, aBonsai tree bought for around £50 is capable of sprouting over £1000 in profit.

However, if you think this green investment comes without its fair share of work then you’re barking up the wrong tree! Bonsai trees require daily attention and pampering in order to keep the tree looking well proportioned and in harmony with its surroundings. Master Bonsai groomers can charge up to £300 and the most valuable trees are worth over a million. So why not branch away from typical means of investment and buy yourself a Bonsai?

Many Islanders escape to the mountains each year to ski or simply relax in the alpine air with a chocolat chaud. However, up until the 20th century skiing was an exclusive sport, only available to the privileged elite. In order to attract the wealthy to the Alps, a new style of travel posters was commissioned portraying glamorous, rosy-cheeked women dressed in fur gliding down the sunny mountains. Nostalgia for the ‘golden era’ has seen a comeback in onepiece ski suits and sweatbands, but primarily there is great demand for the Art Deco style ski posters. Christies have valued a 1930 Sports D’hiver poster designed by Broders at £6,000.

The record for a poster is £36,500 and the most sought after are those portraying the luxury resorts of St. Moritz, Gstaad and Zermatt.

Regarded as the creators of the first ever teddy bear, German-based toy company, Steiff, has always been known for its premium quality stuffed animals. The toys' alpaca and mohair coats are one element that makes them stand out above the rest. Limited edition Steiff bears have been selling for over £80,000 in Christie’s Auction House, where even the smallest editions of the collection can sell for up to £2,000. The most expensive bear on record is Steiff’s limited edition Louis Vuitton bear that sold for £1.3 million at an auction in Monaco.

If you were toying with the idea of parting with an old Steiff bear, or even investing in a new one, these figures show that it’s definitely worth bearing in mind.

16

INVESTMENTS

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INVESTMENTS

DIGITAL IGIT AL D LEG ACY LEGACY W H AT H A PPE N S TO OU R ON LIN E EXIST EN CE O N C E WE H AVE PASSED AWAY?

By Laura Syvret

U

nless we act to preserve our digital existence, we run the risk of losing financial and sentimental assets that have been stored online.

In the days before the Internet, preparation of Wills and distribution of your estate was relatively straightforward because physical assets were easy to ascertain and divide among executors. But we are now fully submerged in a digital age and it has been found that almost 70% of all 65 to 74-year-olds in the UK are online*. Many of us have uploaded endless information and don’t consider what happens to it when we pass away.

But Sarah Brehaut, Partner at AO Hall in Guernsey points out that digital legacy ‘is still more often than not forgotten or considered unimportant’. Sarah Hope, Probate Administrator at Voisin law in Jersey, further suggests: ‘according to research carried out by the Law Society at the end of 2014, only 27% of 16-54 year olds have a Will to deal with their main assets, and I would estimate that less than 1% of those people have done anything to deal with their digital legacy.’

E-mails, photographs, banking transactions and social media accounts are just a microcosm of your digital identity, which can hold both financial and sentimental value. In fact, it can sometimes be difficult to detach from your online presence, simply because you could lose so many important details and memories.

Online financial assets are a good example of

this. But without obvious paper trails, these financial accounts can be easily missed. Sarah Hope comments: ‘in the digital age, things are becoming a little trickier. Banks no longer send physical account statements, companies no longer wish to invoice us by post, and we are increasingly trying to reduce our carbon footprint by storing data online.’

It is important to ensure that executors are aware of any financial accounts and the relevant details. Sarah Hope continues: ‘people have had problems with accessing deceased family members’ accounts online. The biggest issue I have experienced is ascertaining where the asset is actually situated (i.e. is the bank account in Jersey, Switzerland, America or otherwise) and finding an appropriate contact within the organisation who is able to assist in the transfer or closure of the account. This is an issue which many organisations have failed to make adequate provision for.’

Digital financial assets form part of a person’s legal estate and can be organised within the terms of the Will. But more complex issues arise when it comes to social media profiles and other online accounts. Sarah Hope points out: ‘most of us now also have a cyber-self - we post personal information on Facebook, Twitter, web photo libraries and store important documents in the cloud.’ Many people do not realise that, unlike financial assets, these digital profiles cannot be left to another person through a Will because they don’t actually own them.

Sarah Brehaut explains: ‘as with Apple for example, items are provided to you by way of licence only, so you have permission to use the material but you do not in fact own it and therefore cannot pass it on after your death. Of course that is not the case with all social media and email accounts and, rather painfully, the small print needs to be read to determine what policy each company applies.’

If we do not own this information, how can we truly protect and preserve our online content?

Many of us have countless usernames and passwords for different accounts and it is important to collate a list of this data. Sarah Brehaut suggests: ‘the list should include the likes of banks, credit cards, phone companies, email, social media, photo-sharing accounts and any company whose bills are paid online’. This information can be stored in a Memorandum of Wishes with an assigned ‘Social-Media Executor’. ‘Such a person is simply a trusted (and IT literate!) friend who is given all the necessary details and instructions to manage a person’s digital assets after their death, in accordance with their wishes.’

However, when supplying this list, Sarah Hope points out that there is an ‘issue that arises in the frequency with which these details can change’ and it can be difficult to keep the list of usernames and passwords up to date for the executor. You also need to be aware of the terms and conditions, which clarify whether another person is authorised to access your account. Sarah Brehaut uses the App Store * the Office for National Statistics stated

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INVESTMENTS

D IG I TA L L EG ACY D E F I N IT ION : You r d ig ital le g acy in clu d es all of your a ccou nts, b lo gs, so cial n et wor k ing i d e ntities an d d ig ital f iles that will be lef t o n lin e wh e n yo u d ie.

as an example, which states that ‘the licence granted to you for the Licensed Application by the Licensor is limited to a non-transferable licence to use the Licensed Application’. For many social network websites, you cannot share your password or let anyone else access your account.

Sarah Hope is concerned that ‘most of us are all too quick to tick the box confirming we’ve read the terms and conditions of use, without realising just how much control of our personal content we are handing over.’ She continues: ‘there are very strict and formal procedures to be complied with to enable another person to deal with your assets upon death. If a person were to operate another’s account without the appropriate legal authority this would have serious legal consequences.’

In order to work towards a solution, some companies have started implementing settings that can control what happens to a person’s account once they have passed away. Sarah Brehaut has found that ‘social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook will work with relatives of the deceased to take down the account, but a death certificate, Power of Attorney, birth certificate or Will is required’.

Sarah Brehaut further explains that Facebook

and Google have an Inactive Account Manager feature: ‘this allows you to give instructions as to what should happen to your data after you die and you can choose to have your data deleted after a period of inactivity or nominate someone to access the data instead.’

Facebook has also added an option that allows your account to be memorialised after you have passed away. If a Facebook profile is memorialised, the word ‘remembering’ will be shown next to the person’s name on their profile. Additionally, content that the person shared will stay on Facebook and be visible to the audience it was originally shared with. It is also possible to choose the privacy settings of the account to determine whether or not friends can share memories on the memorialised timeline. Members on Facebook can also choose a ‘legacy contact’, whether it be a friend or relative, to manage their account when they pass away. However, the ‘legacy contact’ will not be able to log into your account, remove or change past posts, read messages or remove friends, in order to preserve your digital existence.

While social network websites are slowly making it easier to manage our digital assets,

Sarah Hope reveals ‘there are also many more companies who have done nothing to prepare for what is a growing issue and, as a result, it can take months to close down some online facilities, assuming, of course, an executor/ family member knows they exist in the first place.’

Consequently, there is an increasing market for ‘Digital Wills’. ‘Websites have recently sprung up to specifically deal with the issue of our online data, usernames, passwords and assets for which we no longer have a clear paper trail,' explains Sarah Hope. ‘The basic principle of these websites is that for a small subscription fee, they will securely store all your vital information, and send this information direct to specific individuals whom you pre-nominate, following a trigger event (i.e. inactivity over a set period of time or on production of a death certificate).’

It is important to note that the idea of creating a ‘Digital Will’ is by no means a replacement for a Last Will and Testament. Sarah Brehaut adds: ‘whilst we talk about “Digital Wills”, local legislation still requires a Will to be written, signed and witnessed to be valid (unless it is a holographic Will and complies with the requirements for such) – thus a computer generated Will would not suffice.’

Statistics from 2015 showed that global active Internet users exceeded 3 billion, nearly half of the world’s population (7.357 billion). Social media users exceeded 2 billion worldwide; a global penetration of 30%, while half the world’s online population use Facebook. Usage is rising steadily and it is becoming increasingly important to make people aware of the complications that can arise from digital assets and ensure that such valuable information is protected and preserved.

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It’s

Fashion FASHION

AllTHE in

Detail For 2016 designers have embraced an eclectic mix of accoutrements, from shoulder dusters to statement kaleidoscope totes. All that glitters, bold colours and vivid brights portraying an air of optimism are in. We’ve collated some of the best accessories available in the Channel Islands to help inspire you during this distinctive year.

Necklace Pearls in woven ribbon from éclat - £23.50 Pointed Court Shoes from Next - £25 Floral Print Bag by Ted Baker from A&B - £89.10 Leather Mini Skirt by Reiss from Voisin - £221 Perfume La Panthère rose by Cartier from Feelunique - 75ml - £81.40

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Fashion FASHION

Hat by Amorphia from éclat - £51 Red Necklace from éclat - £14.75 Necklace Cream Pearls by Joules from De Gruchys - £22.45 Floral Print Wallet by Joe Cool from éclat - £14.90 Bag by Nine West from Voisins - £75 Shoes by Reiss from Voisins - £145 Body Lotion Love Story by Chloé from Feelunique - 200ml - £31.50

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Fashion FASHION

Leather Belt by Gant from De Gruchys - £54 Handkerchief by Eten from A&B - £36 Leather Holdall by Barbour from A&B - £269 Colonia by Acqua di Parma from Voisins - 100ml - £72 Leather Shoes by Tommy Hilfiger from A&B - £117

23

FASHION Fashion

Bag by Moschino from Nautilus - £166 Belt by Reiss from Voisins - £46 Wallet by Moschino from Nautilus - ££67 Shoes by Whistles from A&B - £140 Eclipse Eau de Toilette by Ghost from Boots - 50ml - £34

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FASHION Fashion

Hat by Amorphia from éclat - £55 Suede Envelope Clutch Bag from éclat - £19.95 Leather Belt with Bow by Reiss from Voisins - £59 Eau de Parfum by Acqua di Parma from Voisins - 100ml - £63 Shoes by Miss KG from Voisins - £72 Scarf by MaxMara Weekend from A&B - £90 Necklace by MaxMara Weekend from A&B - £72

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FASHION Fashion

Hat by Amorphia from éclat - £52.50 Emerald Crystal Snake Broach/Pendant from éclat - £92 Tote Bag from Next - £42 Alaia Eau de Parfum from Feelunique - 100ml - £74.40 Shoes by Nine West from Voisins - £95

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“ Every person is unique and our treatment programmes are a reflection of this.’

Hillcrest provides advice, support and counselling services for people struggling to cope with alcohol and substance addiction in Jersey.

These services complement our detox and rehabilitation practice delivered by professionals who can work in your own home, or in the community.

Confidentiality and compassion are at the heart of everything we do. We work with families, corporate entities and individuals.

Telephone

01534 874071

Email

info@hillcrestjersey.com

Website

www.hillcrestjersey.com

SUBSTANCE DETOX ALCOHOL DETOX HOME DETOX AFTER CARE RELAPSE PREVENTION

We can help you. Call or email us to find out how.

27

SHOPPING

Jewels in the islands’ crown Writer Trish Grover toured the Catherine Best studios and workshops in both Jersey and Guernsey and discovered a world of rare gems and romantic gestures.

28

SHOPPING

A

nyone who has visited the Channel Islands cannot help but be overwhelmed by the outstanding beauty they have to offer; the wild and rugged cliffs, the golden sandy bays that seem to stretch for miles and the veritable maze of tranquil country lanes winding their way through luscious green valleys. Having grown up surrounded by this wonderfully diverse environment, two of the most talented local jewellery designers, Catherine Best and more recently her daughter Vikki Freeman cannot help but draw creative inspiration.

Catherine is widely recognised for the fabulous depth of her designs; there is an unmistakeable style and class to her work, from the simplicity and vibrant colours of the limited edition 'Musique' range to the intricate and stunning detail in the 'Dragon’s Lair' collection. Given that Vikki is a relatively new addition to the design team, she has undoubtedly been blessed with a similar creative gift to that of her mother. Vikki’s work is being greeted with the same admiration and is already seen adorning discerning clients and lucky recipients of wonderful romantic gestures!

“Catherine has always preferred that her designs are purchased foremost as an expression of love; love for life, love for a friend or love for a partner or a child” Jewellery is often promoted as an investment, however, and without ignoring its financial benefits, Catherine has always preferred that her designs are purchased foremost as an expression of love; love for life, love for a friend or love for a partner or a child (the sentiment reflected in the new 'Cradle of Love' jewellery range).

Many well-travelled visitors to the studios in Guernsey and Jersey are amazed to see the extraordinary collection of some of the rarest coloured gemstones in the world that are on display. These gems are lovingly crafted into the highest quality items of jewellery and are designed to be an eternal reminder of the romance that so often lies behind most purchases. It’s a real treat to end up with a limited edition item, a one-off design or even a personally commissioned work. You don’t have to be an expert to make the right choices either; the sales team, together with the designers and jewellers, help you to choose the right metal and gemstone for your special occasion, ensuring they express the sentiment behind your purchase.

Many of Catherine’s clients have taken advantage of the remodelling/redesign service that is on offer. This has been particularly popular with those who have a collection of jewellery that has become dated or unfashionable. There is invariably a great deal of sentiment behind the original purchase of such items or heirlooms and this service is a wonderful way to breathe new life into the materials, creating a totally fresh work of art that still encompasses, and further develops, the original love the jewellery signified.

In Guernsey, the studio is located in the parish of St Martin’s at the base of a 19th century 60 foot former windmill constructed out of local granite. The ground floor is also the location of the Guernsey jewellery workshop. Here, behind the safety of glass screens, it is possible to watch treasures being created before your eyes.

In Jersey, the studio and workshop are located in the parish of St Peter on the border with St Mary and within the beautiful grounds of a historic windmill. The studio houses probably the largest collection of handmade jewellery in Europe under one roof.

View an online selection of Catherine’s inspirational designs by visiting: www.catherinebest.com

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SHOPPING

S.K.I’

ING

Spending the kids’ inheritance

Join the new group of people known as the ‘SKI set’ an acronym for those cheerfully Spending their Kids’ Inheritance. Times are changing; watching the pennies is out and glamorous holidays and indulgent purchases are in.

CONSERVATORY/ORANGERIES The addition of a conservatory can provide desirable extra space in your home, in an aesthetically pleasing way. As well as adding value to your property, conservatories also serve as an excellent source of natural light and allow you to experience the enjoyment of your garden regardless of the weather. During the winter months conservatories also enable fresh herbs, flowers and vegetables to be grown annually. With bespoke and personalised hand drawn designs appropriate to your home and desired style, Vale have been designing and building premium conservatories and orangeries in the Channel Islands for over 20 years in a way that both complements and emphasises local architecture and heritage.

Prices available upon request at www.conservatories.je

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SHOPPING

iPAD MINI 4 The latest edition to the Apple collection, the iPad Mini 4 retains all the best features of the original iPad whilst acquiring new innovations in a uniquely compact and stylish design. Complete with the revolutionary Touch ID fingerprint sensor, it is the ideal multipurpose tablet with thousands of downloadable books and apps, two HD cameras, retina display and ten hour battery life.

Prices from £280 at IQ, Guernsey and Jersey

VROOM The Mercedes-Benz GLA conquers the road with style, functionality and exhilarating technology – from the chrome-style front apron and the 18” alloy wheels to the twin-pipe exhaust system with chrome detail. Combining innovative designs with enviable CO2 emission levels, Mercedes-Benz has created an impressive car that is both sleek and sustainable. Test-drives and immediate delivery also available in both Islands.

Prices on enquiry at Jacksons, Guernsey and Jersey

SEMI-PERMANENT MAKE-UP Semi-permanent make-up is a revolutionary development in the cosmetic industry, using tattoo based techniques to enhance the natural shape of your features. Taking years off your face and saving you time every morning, this make-up innovation enables you to ditch the painstaking ritual of pencilling your eyebrows and applying eyeliner each day.

Prices from £200, available at The Lavender Rooms, Guernsey and The Beauty House, Jersey

THE KITCHEN ROBOT The world's most intelligent food processor, Thermomix is an amazing kitchen machine that cooks at controlled temperatures, chops, blends, weighs, steams, stirs, crushes, mills, emulsifies, kneads and much much more... It also utilises an advanced heating system that cools with minimal energy consumption so you can save on household bills too!

Prices from £1,084, available at www.thermomix.vorwerk.co.uk

THE JET SET Spa pools are not only a brilliant way to relax and soak away the stress that daily life brings, but also a fantastic investment for your health. Spas are renowned for their ability to ease aching muscles and limbs, as well reducing back pain, arthritis and improve sleep. Controllable massage jets target every area of your body, from your neck down to your back and calves. A soothing personal masseuse, a hot tub is also a great source of social enjoyment and a fabulous activity for family and friends.

Prices from £4.000, available at JFTU Town and Country, Jersey and Stan Brouard, Guernsey

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Health & FITNESS

Are you

AGEING

Successfully?

BUILD A BETTER BODY AT ANY AGE

By Lorna Jackson, Acupuncturist, Fascia & Bodyworker, Health Point Clinic

By 2036 a third of Islanders will be over 65-years-old, and the number of over-80s will have doubled. However, people have been brainwashed to think that after 65, you’re pretty much written off.

“40% of the 60+ population take five or more medicines a day.”

W

e are told old age is a continuous state of decline, and that we should stop working, slow down and accept our lot. But how about looking at things in a different way? Our ageing population is one of the most remarkable success stories of the human race in modern history. There will soon be more people over 60 than children under 15. Natural, healthy ageing is unseen; the wonder of ageing is often overridden by the false assumption that disease is a natural consequence of ageing. In fact, it’s inactivity that’s a major cause of death. So how did this happen?

Our bodies have rapidly changed. Our height has increased by four inches over the last hundred years; our girth has also drastically increased alongside. World obesity has doubled since 1980, with 12% of the world population now classed as obese. In America this is a staggering 26%.

Obesity can cause diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Already 10% of the world’s population suffers from diabetes, so a world pandemic is already a reality.

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It is medically proven that people who maintain a regular physical activity regime have up to:

By 2030 it is estimated that 50% of the U.S. population will be obese.

The aged are now over nourished, over medicated and physically and mentally inactive. Incredibly, 40% of the 60+ population take five or more medicines a day.

Research shows that physical activity can boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing your risk of stress. If exercise were a pill, it would be one of the most costeffective drugs ever invented!

·· ·· ·· ·· ·· ·· ·· ·· ·· ··

35% lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke 50% lower risk of type 2 diabetes 50% lower risk of colon cancer 20% lower risk of breast cancer 30% lower risk of early death 83% lower risk of osteoarthritis 68% lower risk of hip fracture 30% lower risk of falls (among older adults) 30% lower risk of depression 30% lower risk of dementia (Source: NHS)

Health & FITNESS

You can rebuild yourbody atanyage “By removing the fat and regenerating lost muscle, we can give the 80 year old a body composition similar to one of 20 or even 30 years younger.”

“But there’s no point in changing now!” This is a phrase I hear regularly in my clinical practice but it is so far from the truth. Your body is a machine, what you put in is what you get out of it no matter your age or genetic makeup. The sooner exercise becomes like brushing your teeth, the sooner you will feel younger than your years. The body of an 80-year-old male has lost about 50% of his muscle mass since the age of 50, which has been replaced by fat. By removing the fat and regenerating lost muscle, we can give the 80 year old a body composition similar to one of 20 or even 30 years younger.

Exercise focus for the 50-years-young and up:

··

··

A decline in strength and fitness is not entirely a natural consequence of the ageing process but is also due to lack of use. We need to push ourselves physically no matter how old we are and increase our heart rate; Adapt aerobic exercise that jars and stresses the joints e.g. replace long runs with shorter gentle jogging or walking, jogging in a pool, swimming, or riding a stationary bicycle;

Acupuncture

Help take the pain and stress out of life

·· ·· ··

Resistance training is still important, however do not lift heavy weights if they aggravate your joints; Stretching and balance are an absolute must e.g. yoga, tai chi, Qigong; If exercise is new to you, try everything until you find your passion. It is not important to be a great sportsman, it is far more important to be a great trier and have fun along the way.

Our individual cells have a finite life span, when they die off they are replaced with new cells.

What type of new cells do you want to replace the old with? Cells sourced from a bad diet and lifestyle with no exercise? Or cells fed from organic produce, a healthy lifestyle and exercise?

Our bodies are continuously adapting and evolving and so must we. Retirement or ageing is not the end, it can be a new beginning, a chance to build a new body, develop dormant talents, and start a new life for the next 30 years or more. Go for it!

Lorna Jackson BSc (Hons) Acupuncture, MBAcC, AFN

• Pain relief

• Pregnancy support

• De-stress

• Sports acupuncture

• Massage

• Wellbeing

Tel: 01534 852039 | www.healthpointclinic.co.uk

Health & FITNESS

&

Health

Beauty

The Channel Islands Health & Beauty sector has grown exponentially, much to our gratitude. Now you can even enjoy the benefits of laser eye surgery and teeth whitening without leaving the Islands. Here we’ve brought together the best of what is available locally from beauty to fitness. If anyone tries the yoga paddle boarding we want your selfies!

PEARLY WHITES Teeth inevitably become stained over time due to age and what we consume. If a brighter smile is something you’ve been longing for, and you don’t want to ditch your favourite coffee and red wine, then teeth whitening could be for you. There’s something to be said for the confidence and self-esteem boost you get from great looking teeth too.

From £550 at The Cosmetic Dental Group in Jersey and Guernsey Smile

Sun Salutations Are you a yogi looking for a new challenge outside the studio?

Or simply a lover of the sea looking to try something new? If so, the combination of Paddle Boarding and Quantum Yoga could be perfect for you. Paddle Board Yoga not only enhances your regular workout by intensifying each pose and improving your balance, it also permits you to practice in a truly idyllic and rejuvenating location - if you can stay up long enough to take it in!

60 Minute sessions £12.50, available at Windmadness, Jersey

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A VISIONARY TREATMENT Laser eye surgery can eradicate the need for contact lenses and glasses, restoring your sight to the best it can be. There are so many stories of how corrective eye surgery has really changed people’s lives and it could save you a bit of money in the long run too. Be aware that your eyesight prescription needs to have been stable for a minimum of two years before you will generally qualify for this surgery.

Prices available upon request at The Little Grove Clinic in Jersey and The Fitness Factory in Guernsey.

Health & FITNESS

NEW DIMENSION Estee Lauder’s latest collection New Dimension promises to leave skin more plumped, radiant and defined in two weeks. The Shape + Fill serum targets and uplifts the look of the cheeks and jawline, enhancing and redefining your facial contours.

Available for both daily and nightly use. £77 from Feelunique

PREVAGE Elizabeth Arden’s premium skincare collection 'Prevage' is designed for aged and sun damaged skin, with its advanced 'Idebenone' technology helping to nourish and restore your skin's natural moisture defences. 'Prevage’s' AntiAging Moisture Cream is our favourite at zenith. - it reduces the effects of stress on the skin caused by the environmental issues we face each day such as sun, smoke, pollution and dryness. With SPF 30, your skin will be protected from sun damage and discolorations and left feeling and looking brighter, firmer and rejuvenated.

Available at Boots, 50ml £100

THE SPACEMAN TREADMILL If you’ve recently suffered from an accident or surgery and want to get moving again, the Alter-G Anti-Gravity Treadmill offers a solution. Using NASA technology this unique treadmill ‘unweights’ users to enable increased mobility and pain free movement. An inflatable air chamber lightens the user by 80%, creating a regular cardiovascular workout minus the strain and impact. Personalised workout programmes keep the user motivated by safely and gradually increasing intensity and weekly mileage.

Available in Jersey, Channel Islands

GET CRACKING

Chiropractors use gentle manipulative techniques, often called adjustments, to restore correct function and mobility to the joints. Whilst chiropractic is often associated with the treatment of lower back pain, chiropractors are also trained to treat many other areas of the body from headaches to sprained ankles!

Standard treatment visit is £57 at the Chiropractic & Massage Clinic, St Peter Port, Guernsey

35

OHN'S AY

Quality Care in a Stunning Setting.

LV Care Group is proud to introduce Cheval Roc, a state of the art nursing and residential care home opening in Jersey in February 2016.

LO CAT ION

Belle Hougue

Wolf's Caves Frémont

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BONNE NUIT

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Giffard Bay

La Crête

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La Rue des Platons

John's ish Church

Situated on the picturesque headland of Bonne Nuit Bay, the care home offers an exceptional environment with most rooms enjoying incredible sea views.

Les Ruaux

Cheval Roc will mirror the high quality services of its award-winning sister care home; Lavender Villa Residential. The dedicated and Petit Port professional team will provide personal care to meet each individual’s needs and endeavor to create ‘a home away from home’ for all residents.

Les Camps du Chemin

La Rue du Béchet des Chats

La Rue de la Mare des Prés

Le Claire Stables

Handois Reservoir

Cheval Roc Residential & Nursing Les Nouvelles Charrières, Bonne Nuit, Jersey JE3 4DJ T. 01534 888237

BSJA Showground

The home will cater for a variety of needs and offer both nursing and Tour de Rozel Le in Sauchet residential care. Residents and their relatives will be involved all Fort Leicester K BOULEY BAYwill ensure that residents maintain decisions and experienced staff ROZEL L’Etaquerel Fort WC NT BAY Les maximum independence. There will be 38 superior rooms available, all L'Etaquerel Croix WC Hill Climb Rozel en-suite, with and quality finish.

Site a unique K Jardin Parish Hall

d'Olivet

LV Care Group is a fast-growing, dynamic company focused on providing the highest standards of care. They put people at the heart of everything they do and this person-centered approach informs Les Augrès Manor Ville ès every sector of the local business.

Nouaux

Trinity Parish Church

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TRINITY

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ST. MARTIN

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36

Island Centre Stone

Le Becquet Servais (Sion)

Rozel Camping Park

Most of the rooms enjoy stunning views of Bonne Nuit Bay

Alaistair Jerrom-Smith, Director, Cheval Roc:

Jersey’s premier Nursing & Residential Home. Rooms starting from £120 per day:

“We can’t wait for people to see the new Cheval Roc nursing and residential home. As a locally owned company, nothing makes us more proud than providing the highest quality accommodation and care for local residents.”

• Individual care focused on what is best for the resident • Beautiful location in Bonne Nuit • Stunning views • All en-suite rooms exceed current care standards • Friendly caring staff • Full time nursing and residential care • Respite stays • Recuperation packages

Cheval Roc is open for viewings, please contact the LV Care Group on 01534 888237 for any enquiries.

To The Ecrehous

Offering the full cycle of care, we can truly cater to your needs. Whatever your personal circumstances, we will find the solution for you.

To find out how we can help you or your loved one visit us online at www.lv.je

Saie Harbour

NT

Locally run, locally owned and locally focused.

La Coupe

FLIQUET BAY WC

K

Verclut

St Catherine's Breakwater WC

St Catherine’s Wood

Belval Cove

37

“I just love it and am so pleased whenever I come home and unlock the door”

“I have lovely neighbours; I feel very lucky moving to Langtry Gardens”

Tranquillity and peace of mind

Langtry Gardens offers an exquisite selection of spacious, lovingly finished homes for the over 55s, where your next chapter begins…

Langtry Gardens offers an exquisite selection of spacious, lovingly finished homes for the over 55s. Named after one of Jersey’s most famous residents, Lillie Langtry, the development is an inimitable homage to the lady whose statue watches over the beautiful grounds.

A secure, managed estate not far away from the amenities of town, Langtry Gardens sits tucked behind the main routes to all major areas of the island.

Each home boasts a private garden to keep the green-fingered tinkerers busy, the large first floor proffers a spacious yet cosy master bedroom with en suite and

sizeable dressing area, and every property features a ground floor bedroom with adjacent wet room. Living areas comprise of roomy receptions and beautifully crafted, integrated kitchens. Some of the larger properties boast a separate dining room, and all of the homes present the perfect place to host neighbours, friends and family.

There are five beautifully tranquil phases to Langtry Gardens; Rosalind Court and Blanche Place, which are fully occupied, Antoinette Gardens, which is completed and partly occupied with 2 bedroom cottages from £485,000 and 3 bedroom cottages from £520,000. De Bathe Court is currently under

construction, with the final planned phase being Labouchère Court, which will finish this tranquil development. ■

Viewing can be arranged by calling 789900 or visiting www.dandara.com

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Home & GARDEN

Going Native

Green space is shrinking but gardening is rising in popularity.

Whether you want to eat produce grown through your own efforts or value the pleasure that flowers and shrubs can bring, gardening could be the route to well-being.

Y

ou don’t need to have access to a large garden to realise many of its benefits – pots on a balcony or a window box can be put to good use to bring a flavour of the countryside into an urban setting. The Channel Islands offer a multitude of choices to those of us with aspirations to be the next Alan Titchmarsh or Monty Don.

Our favourite hobby A new survey has found that gardening tops the list of your favourite outdoor pursuits, despite the rate at which green space is shrinking. First Utility, the UK’s largest independent energy company, surveyed more than 2,000 Brits (June 2015) and asked them what they put their energy into. Gardening, watching TV, baking, cooking and shopping came out on top, with gardening swooping nearly 38% of the vote.

Three things we learnt about Britain’s growing habit: 1. Gardening is a hobby that grows with age.

Nearly 50% of people aged 55 or over listed gardening as their favourite pastime, while just 16.4% of 16-24 year-olds like to get green fingered.

2. Both men and women love gardening (almost) equally.

The survey results indicate that 38% of men and 37% of women are passionate about gardening.

3. City gardens are bigger than you might think.

Surprisingly, concrete jungles are the top locations for gardening, with 50% of surveyed Belfast residents naming gardening as their number one outdoor pursuit. Sheffield residents followed closely behind with 49%, while London and Birmingham came out somewhere in the middle. Meanwhile, leafy suburbs and coastal towns are the least enthusiastic about gardening, with Bristol, Brighton and Liverpool coming bottom of the list.

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Home & GARDEN

Le Friquet Plant Centre

Health benefits & environmental gains

Making gardening easier

According to Age UK, Gardening has many health benefits and provides a workout for the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

It can improve strength, endurance and flexibility, helping to prevent problems such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis. In addition, physical exercise releases endorphins which help to alleviate stress. These benefits have been recognised by many organisations.

In fact, outdoor activities such as gardening are very important for helping the body to metabolise Vitamin D during exposure to sunlight.

Less tangibly, many people find that gardening engenders a sense of wellbeing.

Additionally, gardens can attract bees, butterflies and other environmentally benign wildlife. You can have a significant positive environmental effect if you practice sustainable gardening.

If you are concerned about the physical demands of gardening, there are many options for making the job more manageable. You could incorporate raised beds into your garden, so as to reduce the need to bend down. There is also a wide range of tools available which are designed to make gardening less laborious.

Blue Diamond Group is the third largest garden centre retail group in the UK and Channel Islands and is continuing to grow. It boasts two Channel Island garden centres, both of which are perfect for the gardener or homemaker. You can while away the time meeting with friends, choose a stylish gift or two, or simply stock up the greenhouse.

Nestling in the beautiful Guernsey parish of Castel, Le Friquet Plant Centre is one of the Island’s largest garden centres. Stocking the widest array of indoor and outdoor products, it also has the most comprehensive range of plants, seeds and bulbs in Guernsey. Not only providing inspiration for both the amateur and dedicated gardener and homemaker as well as all the best advice, the Centre has an Italian restaurant, Terrazzo del Giardino, as well as Café des Amis.

The team from St Martin’s Garden Centre can now be found at Le Friquet’s Pets and Aquatics department. This is a major part of the new centre with a far larger selection of food, beds, toys and accessories than could be contained on the St Martin’s site. Nearby is a section on wildlife gardening to encourage Islanders to think about, and help, the birds and creatures who live in our lovely coastal environment.

Based in Jersey, St Peters Garden Centre provides everything for both the gardener and homemaker. There is a comprehensive range of products and a wide array of inspiration for your home and garden. And when the shopping is complete, you can relax with a spot of lunch in the Bay Tree Restaurant, where all the food is freshly made from local Jersey produce.

St Peters Garden Centre

40

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41

Home & GARDEN

Guernsey Good Life

By Trish Grover

Allotments have been in existence for hundreds of years, with evidence pointing back as far as AngloSaxon times. But the system we recognise today has its roots in the nineteenth century, when land was given over to the labouring poor for the provision of food growing. Today there are an estimated 350,000 allotments in the UK and with their resurgence in popularity an additional 80,000 on the waiting list. Allotments have even reached the sphere of reality TV with BBC’s The Big Allotment Challenge generating even more interest in ‘the good life’.

L

ocally the trend is much the same.

We met with allotment holder Sarah Vautier in Guernsey to find out how she got the growing bug.

Sarah Vautier and her partner Joe started out when Joe’s father died leaving a sizeable piece of land including a few greenhouses. ‘He had been a commercial grower in his time,’ said Sarah. ‘As many Guernsey growers he grew tomatoes and then adapted his business to grow freesias when the tomato market more or less collapsed in the Island. When he died we took over one of the greenhouses initially just to plant out a few vegetables and it went from there.’

What started out as a weekend hobby became more of a part time job when Sarah exchanged keyboard for gardening gloves and stepped off the career ladder about five years ago. ‘I had

42

“As many Guernsey growers he grew tomatoes and then adapted his business to grow freesias when the tomato market more or less collapsed in the Island.”

had enough of the nine to five existence so now I spend at least three hours a day on the allotment and more at weekends. If keeps me fit and I just love spending time here. At the beginning I was pretty clueless. It was a huge learning curve and I made plenty of mistakes.

Drainage, ventilation, proximity of two vegetable types – everything plays a key role and it can be quite complicated.’

A vegetarian and animal lover, Sarah grows everything organically. ‘When I started, I had the soil analysed in case of any residual chemicals from the freesia-growing days. Since then I have dug in plenty of organic matter that has the added advantage of attracting beneficial insects. It does create quite a lot of extra work in that we have to keep the weeds at bay without resorting to chemical killer. And not all insects are welcome so, for example, we have to extract asparagus beetle by hand each season before it does any long-term damage.’

Home & GARDEN

“I had had enough of the nine to five existence so now I spend at least three hours a day on the allotment and more at weekends. If keeps me fit and I just love spending time here.”

Within an area of 9,000 square feet, Sarah grows an amazing range of veg – the usual suspects like tomatoes, courgettes and runner beans of course but also borlotti beans, every type of pepper imaginable as well as asparagus pumpkin, beetroot and lemons. Does she ever have to buy vegetables? ‘Mushrooms…that’s about it though!’

Sarah Vautier's Heg Veg Box in Guernsey

With one of the prettiest ‘heg veg’ boxes in the Island, Sarah sells some of her produce as well as the by products of her labours. ‘I spend hours making chutneys and relishes and a range of tomato sauces. Basically the income from the heg veg is enough to cover the cost of running

Made for offshore

the allotment and it’s great when people come back time and time again.’

And of course no allotment would be complete without…chickens! Sarah has just ‘taken in’ 20 chooks as she refers to them and they divide their time between the neighbouring greenhouse and the garden. Whilst egg production levels are good, Sarah explains the plans to improve their housing conditions with help from partner Joe – who happens to be a creative designer by profession. ‘We are going to build them some bespoke hen houses which I am sure will fast become the ‘des res’ of the entire Guernsey chicken population.’

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Home & GARDEN

Jardins

des Jèrriais Meet the Jersey Growers

Judy Dickson lives in St Lawrence, Jersey, with her husband Andrew. An injury that prevented Judy from working for some time triggered the need for a project and a growers garden was born.

How did you get interested in gardening?

'Growing fruit and veg is not a family tradition at all. Several years ago I had a shoulder injury that prevented me from working for a couple of months and I needed a project. So I slowly tidied up my greenhouse and started planting veg and flower seeds. It took forever as I could only use one arm but at least when the seedlings came up I felt a sense of achievement. It was very therapeutic to be inside/outside potting and nurturing the seedlings.'

44

What do you grow? And what do you turn it into?

'I have a large raised vegetable bed, which takes up about a tenth of the garden. I try to grow varieties that are slightly unusual and not always available like purple carrots, golden beetroot, Italian courgettes, cavolo nero, a variety of chillies, celeriac, kohlrabi, and any kind of edible salad leaf. I also grow staples such as garlic, shallots, beans, carrots, potatoes, butternut squash, cucumbers and tomatoes the list is endless!'

What is the weirdest or most exciting item that you have grown?

'Nothing weird but I was very pleased with the golden beetroot. It was such an amazing colour and had a great flavour.'

What has been the hardest item to grow?

'This year, I have struggled with the tomatoes.

Not sure why and I need to have a think about what I can do differently next year.'

Home & GARDEN Do you save money by growing your own fruit/vegetables or is it a costly exercise?

'No, I definitely don't save money but, for me, it is a very satisfying hobby and it is true that freshly picked or dug up produce is really good.'

Are you an organic gardener or do you use synthetic fertilisers?

'Yes I use organic fertilisers.'

What is your main advice for someone starting out with his or her first allotment or vegetable patch?

'Adequate spacing of plants is essential.

You then just need to be consistent with weeding, feeding and watering. The biggest accomplishment is keeping it tidy!!'

45

Home & GARDEN

Ruth Hayward grew up on a farm in Jersey and her dedication to home grown produce remains to this day.

She now grows everything from traditional fruit and veg to Cucamelons and Oriental Poppies.

How did you get interested in growing?

'As a small child, I followed my grandfather around while he hoed his beans, picked the redcurrants, etc. Then, growing up on my parents’ farm, I was the one who preferred plants to animals and grew things from an early age.'

What do you grow? And what do you turn it into?

'When it comes to fruit you can take your pick from red, black or white currants, loganberries, cherries, strawberries, grapes, rhubarb, apples, pears and, more recently, kiwifruit. My husband Dave makes wine from whatever we have in plentiful supply, and I make jam. We also grow a large variety of vegetables in the greenhouse and outside, I have been known to grow potatoes in-between Oriental Poppies.'

What is the weirdest or most exciting item that you have grown?

'This year I have two new things. Firstly, Oca or ‘New Zealand Yam’, obtained by mail order which started off in pots indoors in the spring and now consists of six large sprawling plants.

The leaves chopped in salads add a lemony ‘zing’. Secondly, Cucamelon, a member of the squash family, which produces lots of tiny green fruits like miniature stripy cucumbers - I’m not very impressed with the flavour, but they look nice.'

What has been the hardest item to grow?

'One year I tried to grow ginger – a total failure.

With more research about the conditions it needs, I might try again.'

Are you an organic gardener or do you use synthetic fertilisers?

'I am not strictly an organic gardener, but I make compost, have a wormery, which provides liquid fertilizer, and I collect seaweed for the

garden in the autumn. The flowers I grow, such as Echiums, support large colonies of bumblebees and goldfinches love the sunflower heads.'

What is your main advice for someone starting out with his or her first allotment?

'Don’t break your back to get it all done at once – little and often is better for both garden and gardener. Make sure the worst perennial weeds (e.g. bindweed, docks, couch grass) are out before growing anything. Lay old carpet over bits you have cleared to keep it free of weeds until you are ready.'

What are your three top tips for a healthy allotment? ·· 'The health of the allotment depends largely on the health of the soil. Compost, manure and seaweed add both nutrients and structure. ·· Try to rotate the crops so that you don’t grow the same family of plants in the same place each year. ·· Attend to it often enough to deal with pests and diseases before they spread.'

What is the greatest challenge of running an allotment?

'You have to be prepared to share with the wildlife. Fine gauge netting does wonders, but slugs and snails defeat me.'

46

“I make compost, have a wormery, which provides liquid fertilizer, and collect seaweed for the garden in the autumn.�

Home & GARDEN

47

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THE LOCAL COMPENSATION SPECIALISTS 48

Home & GARDEN

Get Smart On Trend

By Anthony Barbapiccola

The rapid development of technological innovations and human creativity, along with the versatility of new materials and novel forms, create modern interior design trends that are seldom permanent. The fresh and innovative trends of two years back may not necessarily be as stylish and interesting today, therefore it is a challenge to identify those ideas that will have true staying power. 2016 will be no exception, but at zenith. we hope to at least make the process a little easier.

49

Home & GARDEN

Get Smart There are a multitude of smartphone apps which can provide quick and useful information on trends and also deliver sparks of inspiration.

They are ideal if you are working to a tight timeframe, as they will save you the hassle of sifting through books, showrooms and stores.

Planner5D

A fantastic tool which guides you through an easy-to-use process to create detailed home plans and modern interiors without the need for any professional skills. It also serves as a great source of inspiration as users upload their designs and ideas to share.

Color Capture

This is a really useful app, particularly when you are on the go. You simply take a photo of an object, and the app gives you the matching paint colour.

Pinterest

This is still the must-have app when it comes to sourcing ideas. If you’re yet to sign up, the idea is simple. You can upload, save and manage images – known as ‘pins’ - through collections known as pinboards. You can also browse the content of others, which is great for discovering trends and ideas.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Colour Confusion Colour is the biggest challenge to any designer, be it paint, fabric or textures. But help is out there. Recently the industry-respected Pantone Color Institute unveiled the 2016 colour trends for furnishings and interior design. They will help you make the most informed decisions throughout 2016.

Some of the key palettes picked by the institute include:

1 Natural Forms:

Unambiguous colours, including shades inspired by natural sources such as warm rosy clay and muted beige.

2 Dichotomy:

Reinforcing the concept that opposites do and can attract as silver metallic, sunny yellow and bright cobalt blue combine with calmer versions of their respective hues.

3 Ephemera:

Pastel-focused palette that blends delicate shades of soft blues, pale peaches and tender yellows.

4 Lineage:

Shades of navy, black, tan and regimental green co-mingle with touches of brighter colours.

5 Soft Focus: Be on Trend Modular living and furnishing is a trend that will continue to grow in 2016 and clever use of storage will become a crucial factor, particularly if dealing with smaller apartments and houses.

Sustainability will play a big part in the industry too, as consumers become increasingly aware of the impact of their actions.

Green-manufactured items which are safer for the environment will see increased use as a result.

50

Subtle and/or muted colours, sometimes being described as "smoky" and always versatile.

6 Merriment:

Full of joyful shades including vibrant greens and yellows contrasted with pinks and oranges.

7 Footloose

: Capricious colour combinations with sea blues and blue-greens create a palette that supports the idea of simple enjoyment of outdoor freedom.

8 Mixed Bag

: An assortment of eclectic patterns and prints, with exciting and unique colours like pirate black and mandarin red as well as violet and florid orange.

Few things in life are as daunting as decorating your home. With a multitude of options available and so many decisions to make, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed but it doesn’t have to be this way. Don’t feel like you’ll be living with every decision for the rest of your life. Sure, it makes sense financially and environmentally to acquire those key pieces that will transition from your first interior redesign to your second, third and fourth. But that throw pillow is only going to be around for a few years. Same goes for those sheets and towels, and that table lamp. So have fun!

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51

Food & Drink

THE RISE OF THE

‘Social Sommelier’

By Laura Syvret

Wining and dining is a core part of island life, so are we all clandestine wine experts? We spoke to Pedro Bento, Managing Director of the Relais & Châteaux Longueville Manor Hotel in Jersey, about the rise of the ‘social sommelier’ and the future of wining and dining.

W

ine tasting events are now prevalent and it’s likely that you’ll know your Sancerre from your Pouilly-Fumé. There are numerous collectors amongst us who nurture wine and understand their qualities but does that make us a connoisseur? Pedro Bento personally oversees the wine list at Longueville Manor and over the years he has produced a collection of almost 400 bins. Having spent time working on vineyards, producing wine and lecturing on the subject, there is little that he doesn’t know about wine.

Pedro describes wine as a ‘live substance; having a beginning, middle and a peak.’ He explains that it can be daunting to people to tap into a treasured bottle that’s been sitting in the home cellar for a few years, but that it’s important to dust off those bottles and open at the peak time to appreciate wine for its true value… its taste.

The variety of wine now available at supermarkets means that our personal collections are now more diverse than ever.

Pedro says: ‘back when Les Riches was the place to buy wine you would have been mainly restricted to wine from France. In recent years, wine exporting has grown significantly and now you can walk into Waitrose and explore wine regions from Australia, France, Chile, New Zealand, almost anywhere. Each region provides different qualities and you can certainly taste the difference.’

It’s no secret that Pedro is partial to French Bordeaux, but he appreciates the subjectivity of wine: ‘French Bordeaux suits my taste, but

52

your tongue is so complex that everyone has a unique experience when they drink wine.’ Our brains can all recognise the same five tastes; bitter, sweet, salty, sour and savoury, but with almost 10,000 taste buds in our mouth, each individual experiences different levels of taste.

In recent years, a growing number of studies have shown that taste can be influenced by a host of factors, including smell, temperature, the environment, personal memory associations, even sound and colour. One study found that forty-eight percent of participants thought soda in a blue glass was more thirst quenching than in other colours, likely because they associated blue with cold. We may not yet be drinking out of blue wine glasses but it is becoming increasingly important for sommeliers to pay attention to these variables and how they affect the whole wine experience.

"Taste can be influenced by a host of factors, including smell, temperature, the environment, personal memory associations, even sound and colour"

Food & Drink

Longueville Manor’s 60-page wine list certainly accommodates all tastes, but they also offer diners the option of a wine flight.

Pedro mentions that ‘eating beforehand will alter the flavours of the wine.’ Food and wine pairings are about the marriage of flavours and creating a quality dining experience. This is also enhanced by the availability of half bottles and wines by the glass. ‘Diners were once limited to Black Tower or Piesporter wine’, explains Pedro. ‘But more restaurants are expanding this offering and, at Longueville Manor, you can now find ten or more different wines by the glass. People like to experience wine flights and experience different wines with different meals’.

Serving wine by the glass is also becoming popular for those who are trying to moderate their alcohol consumption. In fact, more people are leading an alcohol-free lifestyle. But what does this mean for the dining experience?

Many people who want to avoid alcohol are often limited when it comes to beverage options and the choice between water and fizzy drinks doesn’t exactly reflect the rich dining experience that we all hope to achieve. Does this mean the modern sommelier has to expand their expertise beyond wine and become an allround beverage connoisseur?

Pedro says: ‘unfortunately many people will be presented with a wine list or nothing. But

"Back when Les Riches was the place to buy wine, you would have been mainly restricted to wine from France"

at Longueville Manor we have the luxury of a garden and we are able to use our freshly grown produce to create homemade natural cordials and non-alcoholic beverages for our guests.

This means that we can also control the sugar levels and use the natural sweetness in berries or plants to create a healthy and luxurious nonalcoholic option.’

Wine experts are comfortable picking out the ripe red berry flavours and tannic structure in a Cabernet Sauvignon, which tend to go well with rich dishes and red meat. Perhaps a similar approach can be applied to nonalcoholic beverages too. Pedro suggests: ‘the analysis of flavours doesn’t have to be limited to wine. If you want something that resembles a Cabernet Sauvignon, you could use berries from the garden which will hold a similar tangy sweetness, put these in a blender with some lime or lemon juice to resemble the acidity you get in wine, and you have created the ideal nonalcoholic beverage to go with your meal.’

Another developing trend is the increased interest in organic wines. Today’s wine consumer isn’t just becoming concious of the flavours of wine but also the processes behind them. Organic grape vines are free from chemical fertilisers, weedicides and pesticides that can enter the vine’s sap and the grape pulp. Not only this but organic wine contains reduced levels of sulphur dioxide; a common preservative in wine and the main culprit for those shocking hangovers. Bearing this in mind, alongside the health benefits for the consumer and the environment, it’s no wonder the focus on organic wine is flourishing. Pedro comments: ‘as people become more health conscious, drinking wine is becoming less

"drinking wine is becoming less about quantity and more about quality.

It’s nice to see that more people are enjoying a small glass of good wine" about quantity and more about quality. It’s nice to see that more people are enjoying a small glass of good wine rather than an entire bottle of wine of lesser quality’.

Whether alcoholic or not, we are becoming more conscientious about the dining experience and tuning in to our refined palates.

It’s no longer just about white or red wine but where it came from, the processes behind the wine and how it compliments our dining experience. Whether this makes us budding social sommeliers or just wine snobs, there’s no doubt we have growing expectations when we visit restaurants and subsequently the professional sommelier is having to adapt the way in which they offer wine. We’re on the way to mastering wine flights and food pairings.

Perhaps the future will see restaurants that consider all sensory experiences, complete with coloured glasses and customised music for each course to provide the ultimate bespoke dining experience.

53

Food & Drink

Bon appetit

Great British Bake Off was a tremendous success story for the BBC in 2015 with an average of 12million viewers an episode. We all fell in love with Mary Berry, enjoyed the humour of Mel and Sue and somehow decided that Paul Hollywood was a pin-up! Most of all, we enjoyed the trials and tribulations of all the contestants and their staggering creations.

So, in our recipe collection we have challenged the Channel Islands most renowned chef, Shaun Rankin, to share his best baking recipes. Happy baking!

54

Food & Drink

OLIVE BREAD

by Shaun Rankin

Makes 360g (12oz) Ingredients 250g (9oz) strong plain flour 1 tsp salt 12g (1/2 oz) fresh yeast 60g (2oz) green olives, pitted 2 tbsp olive oil Special equipment Electric mixer

Method 1.

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/Gas 4).

6.

2.

Place the flour, salt and yeast into the bowl of the mixer and, using a dough hook, mix for 2 minutes on a slow speed.

Place the dough back into the bowl, leave for 35 minutes and repeat the same process.

7 .

3.

Add the olives, 2 tsp of water and the olive oil and mix on half speed for 3 minutes.

After the second knock back, roll and shape the dough and place onto a baking tray, cover, and prove in a warm environment for 30 minutes or until you can see that it has doubled in size.

4.

Remove the bowl from the machine and place a damp, clean cloth over the top. Set aside in a warm area and leave to rise for 35 minutes or until doubled in volume.

8 .

Bake in the oven for 35 minutes or until cooked. Check by tapping the base of the bread with your fingers; if it sounds hollow, it’s ready.

5 .

Remove the dough from the bowl onto a clean work surface. Using the palm of your hand, knock the dough back.

9 .

Remove from the oven and leave to cool.

FACT: In episode three the ten remaining bakers faced bread week, tackling quick breads, baguettes and 3D bread sculptures. Contestant Paul Jagger won his place in Bake Off history when he produced a magnificent bread-lion.

55

Food & Drink

HONEY CAKE & ROASTED PEARS

by Shaun Rankin

Serves 6

Ingredients 200g (7oz) unsalted butter 130g (4.5oz) dark soft brown sugar 300g (10oz) clear honey 280g (10oz) self-raising flour Half tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 tsp cinnamon powder 2 tsp mixed spice powder 2 eggs 150ml (5fl oz) milk 4 pears

Method

25g (1oz) caster sugar

1

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/Gas 4).

Grease the loaf tin with butter and line with baking parchment.

7

Remove from the tin and leave on a wire cooling rack. Brush with the remainder of the honey and leave to cool.

2

Heat a saucepan and melt 175g (6oz) of the butter. Add the brown sugar and 250g (9oz) of honey and mix together.

8

Meanwhile, peel the pears, cut into quarters and remove the core and seeds with a small knife.

3

Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda into the butter mix.

9

4

Add the cinnamon and mixed spice and stir in well.

Place the pears in a dry hot pan. The pears will start to take on colour. When they start to turn golden brown, sprinkle the caster sugar into the pan.

5

In a medium bowl beat the eggs with the milk then slowly beat into the rest of the mix.

10

6

Pour into the loaf tin and cook in the oven for 25–30 minutes. When the cake is cooked it will be golden brown, well-risen and firm when lightly pressed. Remove the cake from the oven.

When the sugar begins to caramelise, move them around in the pan to coat in the caramel. Add the Poire William and finish with the remaining 25g (1oz) of butter and the thyme.

11

To finish, take a slice of the honey cake, top with glazed pears and finish with a spoonful of natural yogurt. Sprinkle over more thyme and garnish with chunks of honeycomb.

75ml (2.5fl oz) Poire William (sweet pear liqueur) 2 tsp thyme, plus sprigs to decorate 200g (7oz) natural yogurt Fresh honeycomb, to serve

FACT: GBB contestants tackled Madeira Cake in their cake week challenge - the difficulty was to get the perfect Madeira with its traditional crack!

Food & Drink

Baked APPLE TART

by Shaun Rankin Makes 6 individual tarts Ingredients Plain flour, for dusting 400g (14oz) ready-made puff pastry 6 apples 2 tbsp demerara sugar Double cream, to serve

Method 1.

Preheat the oven to 200째C (400째F/Gas 6) and grease a baking tray.

7.

Transfer the tarts to baking trays and bake in the oven for 25 minutes.

2.

Dust a flat surface with plain flour and roll out the puff pastry to approx 4mm (quarter inche) thick. Place on the baking tray and leave to rest in the fridge for 10 minutes.

8.

Serve warm or at room temperature with a dollop of double cream.

3.

Peel and core the apples and cut into quarters.

Thinly slice the apples with a knife.

4.

Remove the pastry from the fridge. Place a 15cm (6in) diameter saucer upside down on the pastry and, with a sharp knife, cut around the saucer so you have a perfect circle. Cut out 6 circles from the pastry.

5.

Arrange the apple slices in a circle around each tart.

6.

Lightly sprinkle the apples with demerara sugar.

FACT: Ian from Great British Bake Off made Pear and Raspberry Frangipane Tart in the pastry challenge of series six. He said a good cheat would be to buy the raspberry jam but you have to make your own pastry.

57

Food & Drink

CHICKEN, LEEK & MUSHROOM PLATE PIE

by Shaun Rankin Serves 4

Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 100g (3.5oz) leeks, trimmed & sliced 115g (4oz) brown cap mushrooms 400ml (14fl oz) chicken stock 300ml (10fl oz) double cream 400g (14oz) cooked chicken pieces 1 tbsp roughly chopped tarragon Salt and cracked black pepper 350g (12oz) ready-rolled puff pastry sheets 1 egg, beaten

Special Equipment 23cm (9in) diameter deep pie plate

Method

FACT: In episode seven, the Bake Off tent came over all Victorian.

This included the meatiest game pies possible, with rabbit, duck, partridge, guinea fowl, venison, bacon, pork belly, pigs’ trotters, pheasants and several pigeons all going into the mix.

58

1

Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/Gas 6).

6

2

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the leeks and cook for 1 minute.

Once the chicken has heated through, remove from the heat and spoon the pie mixture into the pie plate, filling it right up.

7

Cut out the pastry to size so that it will cover your dish and then lay it on top. Cut around the side of the plate to remove excess and then crimp the pastry at the edges to seal the dish.

8

Brush the egg wash over the pastry to glaze.

9

Place the dish in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown and the pastry has cooked.

3

Add the mushrooms and cook for another minute.

4

Add the chicken stock and double cream to the pan. Bring to the boil and reduce the liquid until it starts to thicken slightly.

5

Then add the chicken pieces and tarragon.

Season with salt and pepper and stir thoroughly.

10 When ready, remove from the oven and serve immediately.

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You can explore the opportunities in the Highlands brochure or browse the ACE programme on their website at www.highlands. ac.uk. Sign up now – it’s a great day to learn something new.

Passion & Knowledge

Highlands Adult & Community Education

View our Adult & Community Education programme online at www.highlands.ac.uk Give the gift of learning...

For details of Highlands gift vouchers call 01534 608655

To learn more, visit www.highlands.ac.uk or call 01534 608608

J005476_HALF_PAGE_ADVERT_FOR_ZENITH_2015_V4.indd 1

01/12/2015 13:36

TRAVEL

DREAM JOB: THE TRAVEL PRODUCT MANAGER zenith. grills Louise Harvey-Simmons, Product Manager for Online Regional Travel Group, about her favourite destinations, Channel Islanders’ travel trends and the ultimate bucket list.

What types of trips do you find are growing in popularity?

'Definitely luxury holidays and short breaks.

We are also seeing an increase in the take-up of escorted tours to unique destinations and physical/action based holidays like climbing and trekking, Machu Picchu and Mount Kilimanjaro as examples. Finally, creative learning holidays such as art and cookery are popular at the moment too.'

Do you think that Channel Islanders in particular have any unique travelling habits?

'For some reason Channel Islanders seem to like islands! Travelling to places such as Majorca, Tenerife, Malta, Mauritius, Madeira, La Gomera and The Maldives.'

Have you noticed a change in the types of trips that people in their 50s and 60s are embarking upon?

'Cruising has always been traditionally popular with 50s and 60s and will remain so for the foreseeable future with bigger ships offering a vast array of entertainment and dining choices, and smaller ships offering personal luxury. We have however noticed that bespoke escorted tours such as India and China, and experiences outside of the normal holiday sectors are increasing in popularity.'

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25/11/2015 14:30

TRAVEL

Do you think that new technology and media are changing the way that we travel?

'Absolutely. I wouldn’t dream of staying in a hotel or eating in restaurant without reading online reviews first! All the information you need is online these days – from hotel reviews, sites and attractions in the area, to maps – I can’t remember the last time I used a physical map.'

Bellingham & Wayfarers Travel specialise in building bespoke holidays of all kinds.

What is the most unusual holiday or trip that you have organised?

'I have organised many complex holidays in my time but not one that I would call unusual.

My colleague Luisa was once asked to book a trip around Ethiopia, looking at the religious history of the country. They flew to Addis Ababa and visited Axum, Lalibela, Mek’ele, Kombolcha to name but a few and it was just the client with his wife and a guide.'

Do you think that more people are looking to fulfill a travel 'bucket list' in their retirement? Are they a good idea?

'Yes, I do think nowadays lots of people have a ‘bucket list’ of things they want to see and experience once they have that precious commodity of time, I do however believe in the saying ‘There is no time like the present’!'

If you were to give us your top three, which cities do you think everyone should visit?

'That’s a tricky one. For long-haul travel, it has to be New York, Hong Kong and Mumbai and for short-haul travel my top three would be Rome, Prague and Barcelona.'

If you, personally, could retire anywhere in the world where would it be?

'It would have to be South Africa, a nice little house on the coast and the wildlife, winelands and garden route on my doorstep.'

With more and more people taking big holidays with their children and grandchildren, what do you think are the key ingredients for a great family get-away?

‘Space’ - for the whole family to relax and enjoy time together, whether that be a lovely villa with a pool, a winter chalet on the slopes, or a resort hotel in a suite or interconnecting rooms. Also ‘fun’ – plenty to see and do with activities you can experience together on those days when everyone has lots of energy.'

You must have organised plenty of retirement holidays and breaks. If you were organising your own, what would be your perfect package?

'My perfect retirement holiday would be a trip out to the Caribbean, island hopping and sailing round the British Virgin Islands. I have been lucky enough to travel extensively in this area and it remains a special place for me.'

The Online Regional Travel Group is the British Isles' largest offshore traditional and online travel operator, better known locally as Wayfarers Travel (Guernsey) & Bellingham Travel (Jersey). ORTG also own and operate a number of successful websites, take a look : justtheflight.co.uk, manxflights.com, manxferries.com, flybelast.co.uk, flytodubai.co.uk, flyabudhabi.co.uk and the newest website escapetherock.co.uk is going to change the way islanders research and buy their travel.

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TRAVEL

Gap Years are not just for trendy students abusing their university loans.

In fact, there is new growth in professionals taking sabbaticals and retirees embarking on ‘Voluntourism’. Trish Grover investigates this growing travel trend.

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A

s we mature and find more stability in our professional and personal lives, we begin to focus on things that enhance our lives and experiences. Travel becomes ever more important with a curiosity to see more of a destination than just joining the masses on the beach, armed with a Kindle and sun cream.

‘Grown up gapping’ is understandably growing in popularity and is estimated to be worth around £5 million a year to the UK economy.

Far from booking mundane package holidays, the over-50s are organising trips to far-flung destinations. The desire is fuelled by major life events such as children leaving home, retirement, a sabbatical, or the shift from highly paid jobs to something less stressful on return.

Options are vast and career breakers and retirees are getting some bucket list items ticked off before settling into the next phase of life. Motivation can vary from relaxing and recharging the batteries, to achieving something that has always been a burning ambition such as writing a book, or fulfilling a life long dream such as learning a foreign language or walking the Great Wall of China.

Miraflores, Peru

It’s fashionable to incorporate an element of ‘voluntourism’ into the trip – one of the fastest developing trends within the travel industry with an estimated 1.6 million volunteer tourists spending around $2 million each year.

Building a toilet block in Ghana, teaching children in Peru, helping the post earthquake recovery programme in Nepal or volunteering on an archaeological dig – these community programmes are no longer the exclusive domain of the pre-university 18 year old seeking ways to pad the community section of a C.V. Specialist companies now help the more mature gap traveller to put bespoke trips in place combining valuable volunteer work with a well earned holiday at the end. There was even one aptly named ‘Gaps for Grumpies’.

Equally, organisations such as Voluntary Services Overseas or Raleigh are great places to research what’s out there.

Learning holidays are also high on the agenda.

Our appetite (no pun intended) for foreign food fuelled by the plethora of cooking programmes that fill our screens daily has developed our ambition to re-create these culinary extravaganzas in our own kitchens. And you can find every type of cooking course you seek; from a half-day course on chicken gumbo in New Orleans, to a farm in the scenic backwaters of Kerala, India, concentrating on traditional family recipes for chutney and curries. If cooking doesn’t do it for you the choices are still endless - yoga, painting, photography, or you can even volunteer as a zookeeper to learn the art of animal husbandry.

And if you are looking for something a bit cheaper, house-sitting holidays might be just the thing. No such thing as a free holiday? Well this is as close as you are going to get. Property owners – often with high value real estate in exotic locations – will often prefer to have their house occupied than leave it open to the risk of burglary. Live as a local, embrace the culture and lifestyle in return for keeping the house in order and looking after a pet or two.

The gap trip – whether that’s a month or a year - is no longer a teenage rite-of-passage. The Baby Boomer generation loves to travel, and in many cases has the money and ambition to make it a reality. There’s so much to gain - new perspectives, higher energy levels and greater motivation. No wonder more and more career breakers, grown up gappers and retired gappers are now venturing into the unknown.

Great Wall of China

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Top travel tips

Planning for a trip is exciting, but it can also be rather stressful! There’s always so much to remember and you’ll have a long to-do list. Wherever you’re jetting off to, we have some great tips that will ensure a smooth ride.

Passport:

First things first, check your passport expiration! If you’re traveling outside the UK, you won’t get anywhere without it. It may sound obvious but did you know that you may be denied entry into certain European countries if your passport is due to expire within three months of your ticketed date of return? Get it renewed if you’re cutting it close.

Banks:

An increasing number of holidaymakers are finding their bank cards blocked as fraud protection increases. Tell your debit and creditcard companies where you’ll be visiting. But just in case it gets locked anyway, make sure you take note of the contact details for the bank’s fraud department and they should be able to unlock it instantly.

Driving:

Helpful Packing:

A great way to soak up some culture is to visit the local mosques and cathedrals, most of which will require your shoulders to be covered. A scarf or sarong does the job perfectly and can also prevent those sunburnt shoulders. It’s also a good idea to pack some ear plugs. Whether you are surrounded by bustling traffic or rolling countryside, unfamiliar noises are likely to keep you awake at night.

Driving or renting a car is a great way to explore, but make sure you do your research. An International Driving Permit is technically required in Austria, BosniaHerzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain.

Wherever you are driving, check the rules of the road. For example, did you realise that France requires you to have a high visibility vest, a hazard warning triangle, spare set of bulbs and even a breathalyser kit? Additionally, if you’re going to be driving on the right hand side of the road. it’s worth checking out headlamp beam deflectors. Our headlamps dip to the left and into the path of oncoming traffic. Sometimes just a bit of opaque tape to stick on a section of the headlamp can solve this.

Enjoy yourself: Stash Some Cash:

Stashing extra cash is a great way to cut your losses and make sure you always have money to hand if you lose your wallet or your card stops working. Stash small amounts of cash in a few different places; our favourite hidey-holes include socks, underneath shoe inserts and in your wash bag – be creative!

64

Once you’ve done all your preplanning, it’s time to relax.

Don’t sweat if things go off plan that can’t be controlled; there will be another bus in half an hour or another hotel that can put you up. Yes, sometimes a freak-out is absolutely necessary, but take a deep breath and laugh about it later.

TRAVEL

ALL ABOARD!

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Multi-Generational Holidays on the Rise More of us are now taking our holidays with adult children, grandchildren, parents or extended family in tow. In fact, around one in six travellers in Britain have taken a multigenerational holiday in the last year.

T

he number one reason for taking such a trip is to find

According to experts, fewer cruise lines are building brand-new

quality time together. In modern times families are often

ships, but many are doing intensive renovations on their existing

separated by geography and kept apart by busy schedules

fleets. Some of these renovations involve adding new spaces to

and the multi-generational holiday is making up for lost family

accommodate groups with more than one generation. They are

time. Additionally, travelling to a neutral location means that the

also particularly attuned to consider the physical limitations of

onus does not fall on just one person to do the lion's share of the

old and very young customers alike.

entertaining and housework so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a win-win all round! zenith. coerced a group of Jersey and UK multi-generational Cruise companies are increasingly catering to families as multi-

travellers (aged 63 to 95) to take us on board with them and tell

generational holidays become more popular. Cruises can work

us about their trip and experiences. Here they share with us their

well for different generations; the sheer variety of distractions

colourful cruise diaries as they embarked on a tour of the Greek

on board, the various destination-stops provide something for

Islands aboard the Norwegian 'Jade'.

everyone and the vast array of dining options make it the perfect holiday for diverse groups.

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TRAVEL

Husband ‘Grumpy’ Deryck Jersey - Greece

I am not a keen traveller – in fact, I have to be persuaded to leave Jersey. There were four of us for this cruise on the Norwegian 'Jade', a mere 95,000 tonne ship built in 2006; myself and my wife, my 95-year old mother-in-law and her carer/companion for this trip (an old friend of the family). Travelling is stressful, especially when you leave the walking-aid on the baggage reclaim at Gatwick and have already left the restricted area!

Mykonos was island onDer yck's fav our t he cruis ite e

The lifts at our overnight stop were challenging – in fact, lifts and wheelchairs were a problem throughout the week. Marco Polo airport in Venice was organised chaos and we waited ages for luggage and no walking aid appeared. On walkabout, we eventually found the aid and he promptly took off with ‘Grannie’ and the trip began.

On arrival at the ship we proceeded to check-in and went straight for a late lunch. We set sail down the Grand Canal at 6:00 pm which looked stunning in the light of the setting sun - looking down from the 12th floor gives a different perspective on the lowrise old city.

Our first full day onboard was spent at sea. Although we had pre-ordered a suitable wheelchair to be onboard there was a general lack of maintenance which necessitated us changing this wheelchair five times – my wife eventually told guest services how unhappy she was with this service and they kindly removed the exorbitant charge ($260 for one week!) from our account.

Our first port of call was Corfu Town. I have to say it looks better from the sea – a trifle unkind perhaps, but it really does need a public works makeover. It does have, however, a scruffy charm all of its own and would require a longer look than the couple of hours I spent.

I was wearing this year’s Sark-Jersey t-shirt whilst in Corfu and a South African voice piped up “Oh, Sark-Jersey! We now live on Jersey” – just goes to show that yes you do always meet at least one other Channel Islander wherever you go in the world and that people do really take notice of what you wear!

The island of Santorini was reached the next day and it was, once again, hot. The hilltop town is rather charming when you get up there though and the views of the bay and ship are spectacular.

It is a bit of an OMG descent in the cable car but I had fortified myself with a beer whilst the ladies shopped. It is all very touristy so I tend to sink into gloom and despair very quickly. We managed to get back onto the right ship and, two large gins later I was quite happy!

Next morning we had arrived in Mykonos in early morning mist.

A very pretty bay surrounded by other small islands with a lovely flat sea front. The new wheelchair behaved itself and we walked around the harbour and in the small lanes behind, where we found a small shaded cafe to give welcome relief from the hot sun.

Back to the ship for lunch, sunbathing and reading. The ladies went swimming in the noisy and crowded pool but this was not for me.

Nor weigan 'Jade'

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Arrived early morning in Katakolon near Olympia, which preceded a perfect day weather-wise. Grannie’s companion deserved a break, so she went off early to see Olympia. We also left the ship early to explore the town before it became too hot. We discovered a small museum of early Greek inventions, which I found fascinating. The principles and logic I understood and the inventions were so clever dating back to 350BC. One wonders how this advanced civilisation ever fell. That evening, three of us went to the onboard show, which was surprisingly brilliant.

TRAVEL

Sunset over San t or ini

‘Adventurous’ Grannie Pat UK - Greece

As the senior member of our group, almost 96 years old, I was the luckiest, as I was booked in for special priority assistance throughout. A first experience, along with my young companion, was being taken onboard the aircraft via a platform lift, still in my wheelchair! At each stage of our week’s cruise there were always lovely strong men at hand, ready to help me into and onto various vehicles, including the bobbing boats to and from the pretty Greek Islands, a thrill and a challenge. Subsequently, the comfort of my young 70-year-old son-in-law’s strong hands was invaluable.

Granny Pat lo guest at t he C aved being a special ptain's Recept io n

Life on board was full of entertainments and plenty of food and wine - thanks to my daughter’s thoughtfulness to book us in for the ‘unlimited’ package. Exercise came from navigating my walker down “miles” of corridors. How we laughed throughout the trip - Did the fish swim forward, or backwards? Roger McGough’s poem “The Way Things Are”; and discovering we needed to order plates, as well as food, for breakfast in our cabin. But it was due to my dear daughter’s brilliant organising, that this trip took place; skills that also kept us all from getting lost on board…

Venice, Italy

Our large stern Stateroom cabin, on Deck 11 plus balcony, was a luxury. Soothed by the sea, I regularly enjoyed dozing off, watching patterns like lace, created in the backwash. How special too, seeing sunrise over Corfu, and the sunset over Santorini.

While my pastime was people watching, windy deck walks, sunbathing, or playing cards, it was always fascinating to see what entertained others; it’s quite true that patience and gratitude all come with age.

I will never forget our first magical evening, watching as Venice slipped by and St. Mark’s Square appeared, church bells peeled, and a pink sun set across the lagoon! There was also the charm of Mykonos’s little fishing harbour, a triumph that my wheelchair was kindly bumped round. My great achievement of managing the cable car to the top of Santorini, and seeing our ship below in a sparkling sea, was a delight. However, the highlight was having my picture taken with the Captain, because I was the most senior person on board, and being joined by the youngest, a girl of six months! A really special moment in a wonderful holiday, I really didn’t want to disembark.

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‘Organiser’ Daughter Judy Jersey - Greece

Travelling with an elderly person with mobility problems poses some enormous challenges but also opens the mind to the positive effects technology has had on assistance programmes.

Assisted passage creates employment (no doubt on minimum wage, yet the people we came across were always kind and patient and most reluctant, or point-blank refused, to accept tips). A variety of mobility systems come into play including wheelchairs, electric buggies (what fun to ride past all those people trudging wearily along the never-ending corridors en route to the departure gates!) and the amazing lift contraptions to place people directly on and off the plane.

Judy's fav ourite t he sunset (wit hview was Venice in a margarita!)

Our group of four spanned 63 to 95 in age – three active and ablebodied people and one neither of these yet plucky and willing to have a go, even if it was mainly in the mind! But this does have an effect on others in the group; slowing things down and customising activities to the least active, which, in effect, means you’ve got to get good at compromise. It’s good to have your own cabin where you can go for the odd half-hour, sit on the balcony in the quiet and enjoy the ever-changing vistas. I loved the calm waters shimmering and sparking in the sunlight as we cruised along. Likewise, I enjoyed the myriad of vessels when we were in harbour, some just pleasure craft and others working boats such as fishing trawlers.

It is interesting to note the different reactions from people when your party creates a slight delay in the normal pace of existence – some may need a little more practice at unwinding on holiday!

However, the staff on-board were quite excellent, treating my mother with care and going out of their way to be helpful. The one that sticks in my mind in particular was the man in charge of getting people onto the tender whilst we were docked in Mykonos. The rule for using the tenders is that you are able to walk on board whilst the little boat bobbed up and down rather erratically; this would have been impossible for my mother.

However, this lovely man told her to sit back down and he lifted her plus wheelchair onto the little boat! That is a memory that she, nor I, will ever forget!

Sant orin i

‘Patient’ Friend Thea UK - Greece

ia was O lymp n io s r u c x e Thea's besatnd t he Museum

I’ll never forget my dream becoming reality. The sun set over the lagoon, and we slipped our moorings to “sail” out of Venice. To right and left, from aboard the Norwegian 'Jade' I – with some 2000 others – glimpsed below from our balcony, this uniquely glorious place. Iconic images known from Canaletto’s masterpieces, of 17th Century buildings adorned in autumn colours, the steps of St Marks square coming into view, as with excitement and awe we headed towards those Greek Islands of white washed, blue domed buildings.

Invited by friends to join them, as companion for their remarkable mother of nearly 96, a new learning curve began. Age, I discovered, took speedy priority through custom checks, until that is, pre-dawn fuzz showed I’d packed liquids incorrectly...

Then there was the allocation of individual cabin keys, its whereabouts becoming my daily concern! We laughed and enjoyed the thrills as we took exercise down the long ship corridors and learnt how to navigate wheeled chairs. Who needed the gym! I felt a huge amount of respect for the patience and humility required as, due to age, you become reliant upon assistance: gratitude grew for loved ones, stewards, and Greek fishermen, always so deftly ready to help.

The privacy of our warm balcony was a delight, giving time for contemplation, and to witness the beauty of early morning sunrise, as islands revealed themselves from mists. Or sighting marine life, reminding us, we were at sea! And discovering, after being dazzled by illusionist shows, our delightful steward had left us animal towel creations. Then at dawn Corfu slowly emerging, and under an intense blue sky, we navigated cobbles and experienced the Mediterranean, where I tasted delicious baklava. Later, anchored off the picturesque rock of Santorini, under a blazing sun, we tackled the cable car, rewarded by the sparkling Aegean and refreshments. For me, also a trip to Olympia; finding myself at the birthplace of all Olympics, and viewing exquisite ancient marble statues, was quite incredible.

Throughout, we enjoyed delicious foods, wine and much laughter, my skill at losing at cards, and a first taste of a ‘Moscow Mule’! Sailing is seductive, as if we’d been at sea for weeks, but our magnificent, delightful experiences had to end, and over breakfast, fascinated, we surveyed our re-entry into Venice.

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TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Author Sally Webb gives her top five tips for a successful multi-age holiday...

Be flexible, & build in downtime. Small children will need sleeps and time just to play in a park; grandparents will need quiet rest & relaxation.

Book a babysitter.

Grandparents might be happy to babysit their young grandchildren once or twice in a week, but parents should not expect it every night.

Don't skimp on accommodation.

Everyone needs their own space & being on top of each other is a recipe for disaster.

Do your research.

Make sure there's something for everyone in your chosen destination. For city holidays, work out the sightseeing highlights in advance.

Allow for tranquil nuclear family time.

Young kids can get overwhelmed by the stimulus from increased action.

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Dear Meâ&#x20AC;Ś Hindsight is a wonderful thing. zenith. asked a group of well-known local professionals to write a letter to their 18-yearold selves and we are grateful for their honesty, homour and earnest words of wisdom.

Dea

Hinds

r Me

ight i

70

..

saw

onde

rful t

hing.

Vaishali Shah

Founder of Ananya Cards Dear Me, As you look towards your future with excitement as well as some trepidation, I would like to share some thoughts, in the hope that my experience can help guide you.

You’ve always known that you wanted to be an entrepreneur.

Choose a business that you have a real passion for.

Make sure you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve. Your passion and belief in your vision will keep you going when you face challenges.

Work hard but don’t become a slave to your work. Take up a hobby and commit to it.

Have some quiet time every morning to envision how you want your day to go.

At the end of the day, count your successes.

Be your own cheer leader. Give yourself a pat on the back every time you complete a task.

Schedule some ‘me time’ every day; it’s not a waste of time, but a time when creative thoughts can come to you.

You’ll make mistakes; don’t be too hard on yourself.

Learn from them, but don’t dwell on them endlessly.

You’re not supposed to know everything; it’s not a sign of weakness. Build a strong support network and ask for help.

Having a flexible attitude will help you to handle uncertainties and changing circumstances.

Sleep is important; don’t compromise.

Love yourself; don’t try to be someone you’re not.

Be grateful for what you have and be generous to others.

Have fun and laugh a lot.

You’re great! …Your future me.

Leanda Jane Guy Foundation Director at JCG and Marketing Consultant Dear Me You will become very proficient with lists, so here you go...

A... Always read everything three times B... Be brave and bide your time C... You will become an official 'Coppafeel! Boob Champ' and for our lovely friend, Tor...remind everyone to check their boobs! www.coppafeel. org D... Don't panic!!!

E... Expect the unexpected F... Follow your gut instincts G... Grasp every opportunity H... Humour, you will need it!

I... Ironing, outsource it! You will never master the fitted sheet!

J... Justify nothing K... Know your enemies L... Listen M... Mates...treasure the real ones N... Normal...there is no normal!

O... Options...you will always have many, if not... seek them out...they are there P... Pick the right divorce lawyer!

Q... Never Queue R... Rolos – choose wisely who you give your last one to S... Spreadsheets - admit defeat T... Take no prisoners!

U... Take an umbrella V... Vet bills...be prepared for many W... Watch out for weirdos!

X... Kiss more!

Y... You will one day master 'the Roast Dinner' Z... Give Jersey Zoo back the identity it forgot and help the Durrell legacy continue to save species worldwide!

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Gary Burgess

Content Editor, Presenter and Reporter, ITV Channel Television

Dear Me My goodness. You're 18 and you think you know everything. You look around at these so-called grown-ups who claim you could benefit from their worldly wisdom and you, somehow, doubt it.

Well, I've just turned 40, and let me tell you, their wisdom is worth knowing. But filter their advice carefully.

I've still got loads to learn, but the main thing that's only just clicked is the realism you never really do grow up. I've been watching those grown-ups for a couple of decades now... and now I am - apparently - one of them, I can confirm it's a great big myth.

Just keep on being you. I'm now firmly middle-aged, but I still feel like a kid some days. And, you know what? That's fine.

Don't take life too seriously. Don't take too much to heart.

Develop a thick skin and go with your gut. There have been so many times when I've been swimming against the tide in life and each time, because my gut told me it was fine... it was.

There's a great life ahead of you. Yes, there are hurdles ahead.

But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And, trust me, you'll get a lot stronger.

And finally... don't go chasing love. I can confirm you'll only meet 'the one' at the age of 38. It's worth the wait!

Yours Gary

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Jayne Sproson

Director of Sproson & Sproson Consulting Ltd Dear Me Understand you have a circle of concern and a circle of influence. It stops you sweating the small stuff or it speeds the healing of the heartache.

Julie Todd

Learn to delegate. You might be bright at school but you cannot be good at everything. Aim for ten out of ten - but remember it’s all about progress not perfection – seek perfection and you set yourself up to fail.

Dear Julie,

Follow your heart in your career – nothing great was ever achieved without passion. Don’t try to fulfill your parents’ ambitions – ditch law school and go to business school.

Director, Collaborate Communications Ltd

This letter comes to you from the heart to your eighteen year old self; the teenager with hopes and dreams and aspirations and a whole life ahead of you.

You were pretty ambitious at that age, and thought you could conquer the world – doing what, exactly, I don’t think you really knew. But you were certainly the loudest, most daring of your friends – where you led, they followed, and not always in a positive way!

Your life consisted of dancing in the “disco” to hits by Rose Royce and racking up your parents’ telephone bill at a rate of knots – none of this new-fangled mobile or email technology in those days, eh? And boys. Ah yes, you certainly admired the boys, for sure.

From lusting over the teenage Donny Osmond (and you must admit, not everyone in their fifties still has a ‘Donny’ mug to drink their coffee from, proving that first loves remain always in our hearts!) to dating real life teenagers, all lank hair, flared jeans and striped tank tops, you were first in the queue to experience it all.

But your parents haven’t got it all wrong – they predict computers to be the next big thing and it will be an advantage to speak Mandarin or Russian. Listen to your mother when she tells you to stop falling for the g ‘ ood looking nowts’ and look instead for the kind gentleman.

Go ahead: think big and then think bigger. You will make mistakes but it beats living your life in the layby. Find time to smell the flowers.

Travel more. But remember it will probably only be fellow Northerners who will get your dry sense of humour.

T here is a Karma Café, where people get served what they deserve. When you are treated badly in your personal life or professional life, walk away. Don’t use up your energy on negativity. Don’t lower your standards to fit in.

Hamlet Act 1 Scene iii – Lord Polonius’ advice to Laertes is worthy of note – just don’t act like him and spy on your kids!

Best Jayne

At eighteen you were very self-assured. No way would you consider dating anyone who wasn’t in the “in” crowd, which meant at times you probably hurt feelings along the way. I wish I could have told you what I know now – that looks are really the LAST thing you should consider when looking for love. Finding someone who makes you laugh, shares your dreams and supports you always, no matter what – that’s what it’s all about.

Because, when all is said and done, life is really short - I am so glad you chose to get out there, seize it for all it was worth, and become the woman you are today.

With love, Julie

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Martyn Torode

Dealer Principal, Barras Car Centre Limited Dear Mart As you embark on life’s often treacherous journey, I, a much older you, would ask you to consider the following: Be proud that you were born a ‘Donkey’! Despite the bureaucracy and frequent abysmal political decisions, Guernsey is still a wonderful place.

Eat well, drink in moderation and exercise regularly, easier said than done but your body is your greatest asset – listen to it – it will tell you when you get it wrong!

By now you should at least have some idea which career you wish to pursue. Work hard and enjoy it if you can, as it will occupy much of your time.

Cherish your family and friends – they are your anchors in stormy seas. Treat them as you would like to be treated by others.

sey eecham isit Jer Keith B fficer, V O e iv t u ec

r eat unfamilia ople, travel, pe t ee m n to u ca ity ery opportun business if yo of views. In e in. Take ev ts liv t be in ill Bu po w . u s’ es yo er m orld om oth ul outco wonderful w see things fr to successf t nd ge afraid a y be nd tr a t Well what a n’ them. Do tand them member to rs re to de ys up un a ll lw nd u’ a a s, yo asons ng- st foods and es of other ay of thinki lways find re into the sho ayers will a -you lose” w ep in ys st w a N to “I way of . n rn do a st a le it’s the be I want to ple pursue o t spe ha ke e w m ta is ut so o m t ake work the warned tha things and m n you’re in still trying to to try new nd help whe a t; at 60 I’m id u a en be m yo fr ri a r nt pe fo be ex ta to rizons ill cons ly t don’t open new ho something bu ise change w ill g w w in er the it do th h y; o t ug rl o e, no ro for ride th even po r chang dvocate fo a language, ller coaster a ro rn n the a a ea L n to Be o . g. m u in o learn iler ro take yo ign lands… from the bo e- they will yl e far off fore v rg o A se ; m o h nt th ut a to o rt in pected bars ith Plym st impo perhaps mo you will be ex And stick w nd rk u. o A yo w n. f a ng o zo ni s ri d ed rl ur ho threate s in the wo email that ne you’ll see yo you progres ays another bridge that lw e er you a th rd is n ha o re decades. As e ’s he it th family. T into life; easy but nd k ys a uc a s st lw nd a t ie t ge fr h So bridge; no moments wit and friends. me to share d with family un fo be make the ti to ent is al contentm reply but re ’ll be. e bl enjoya it try the more

x Chief E Dear Me,

Regards, Keith

Listen to your elders – they are not always right but most have a fascinating story to tell. Seek their advice on difficult matters and then make your own decisions.

Look after your parents, tell them how much you love them, you only get one lot, when they’re gone they’re gone!

Marry the right person, its less expensive in the long run!

Take Mark Twain’s advice and ‘Buy land they do not make it anymore!’ Just make sure it has Environment’s building permission.

Make time for your children, they are invaluable and should be treasured as they will be grown and making their own way before you know it. Teach them good things and make sure they feel your unconditional love as I felt that of my parents.

Enjoy your life as I have. Make the best of every moment as the years gallop by.

Finally, Princess Di once pointed out that some folk say it’s far better to be poor and happy than rich and miserable but she thought a compromise like moderately rich and a little moody a better bet – I agree!

Best of luck, Mart

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