Plympton Magazine January 2025 by OM Plymouth Magazine

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Kitchen Transformations

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Welcome... January

Happy New Year! I hope you’ve all had a lovely Christmas and are excited about what 2025 will bring.

We are starting this year off with a great edition of Plympton Magazine from motivating editorials to inspiring Veganuary recipes to try.

KF Kitchen tell us about the mesmerising kitchen transformation that has completly changed the heart of the home. For National Walk Your Dog Month, we have some beautiful walk suggestions to celebrate the occasion.

A huge congratulations to Mr Ali and the team from Shapla who have won yet another award for their outstanding food and service. Read more on page 16.

Thank you to Continue Arcades for offering a fantasic prize for this months competition over on page 23.

Have a great start to the year!

for any mistakes or omissions in this publication. All opinions expressed in The Plympton Magazine are that of the individual contributor and are not always shared by the publication.

KF Kitchens

-EST 2008-

Keep Forever Kitchens

Stunning tranSformation

putS the kitchen at the heart of the home

When Lewis and Kylie Furse embarked on a complete redesign of their home in St Austell, they wanted their kitchen to be the focal point, somewhere that looked amazing and where family and friends could all come together. Step into their home, and it’s safe to say they’ve succeeded!

The front door leads directly into the kitchen, which is at the heart of their open plan home, with the lounge area and dining room to the left as you walk in, and the rest of the accommodation to the right.

With their requirement for something completely bespoke, and following recommendations from other

family members, they went to independent Plymouth firm KF Kitchens to help them create their stunning kitchen. When they first visited the showroom at Faraday Mill, their home – which was previously owned by Lewis’ parents and was a single-storey bungalow with rooms in the roof – had just been redesigned with a new mezzanine and high, vaulted ceilings with natural oak beams.

“We needed our new kitchen to be built around the vaulted ceiling,” explained Kylie. “Design-wise, my idea was for a light, bright, Scandinavian look and an inviting, sociable space. In addition to this, we wanted it to look eye-catching, because it’s the first thing you see when you come in through the door.”

Lewis and Kylie chatted through their ideas at the showroom with the owners of KF Kitchens, Nathan and Derinda Damarell, before Nathan visited the property to discuss the plans further. Lewis said: “It was a bit of a wreck here at the time! One of the design issues was that the kitchen is big and it’s long, so we wanted to break things up and give it a bit of character. We went back and forward quite a bit, but they were very flexible and gave us the time to make our decisions.”

The couple chose a classy Burbidge kitchen from the Chartwell range, with an island in the middle. At one

end of the room is the integrated oven and concealed fridge freezer appliances; at the other end is a bar area which links seamlessly to the lounge. The long wall has distinct features, to offer style and character, including a glass cabinet next to the bar, an alcove with lighting for the Rangemaster, and lit shelving. The cupboards above the sink are at a higher level, providing an additional aesthetic feature, while the low-level cupboards include two dishwashers.

Most of the kitchen is in the subtle shade of putty, but Lewis and Kylie were unsure which colour would work best for the island: “I wanted something timeless,” explained Kylie, “and after considering hues of green, blue and grey, Derinda suggested having the island cupboards done in a bespoke shade of black. It works really well. She also came up with the idea of the brass handles on the black section to create a better contrast. We were impressed with those bits of attention to detail.”

KF Kitchens supplied and installed the kitchen, with Neff and Liebherr appliances, a Quooker Flex tap and a Rangemaster Belfast Sink. They also installed the Rangemaster cooker, and recommended the Silestone worktop, which was supplied and installed by Plymouth company, Mayflower Stone. The oak elements of the bar, shelving and island were hand-crafted by Lewis, who also did the natural stone walls using TIER Standard Wall Cladding in Rustic Granite from his family-owned stone company Contec Southwest in St Austell. In fact, much of the home refurbishment is a family affair, because Kylie’s long standing family firm (Green Circle Bespoke Glazing in Plymouth, founded 1975) did all of the external aluminium windows, sliders and entrance doors. These were selected in a Smooth Jet Black (RAL9005M) to tie in with the interior design throughout the home.

Before the house was refurbished, the new kitchen area had been the dining room. The new dining room is where the old kitchen used to be, and KF Kitchens supplied and fitted a feature cabinet in that room. They also supplied and fitted a new utility room.

Lewis said: “The whole process went very smoothly. Nathan and Derinda were great to work with, and we liked the ideas they suggested for us to consider. And their installer, Kevin, was absolutely brilliant, nothing was too much trouble for him.”

Kylie added: “We wouldn’t change anything about our kitchen, really. It’s where everyone sits, around the bar and the island, they don’t use the lounge area, they stay here. I’d definitely recommend KF Kitchens. They were actually interested in what we wanted to do and went above and beyond our expectations.”

The work was completed just in time for Lewis and Kylie’s marriage in September: “We moved all our stuff in a week before we got married and moved in on the day of the wedding,” said Kylie. “It was a pretty busy time, but we thought it would be nice to move in on the same day as our wedding.”

And what three words would they choose to describe their kitchen? “It’s a difficult one to answer really as there are so many great aspects of the kitchen,” said Kylie. “It’s bright, airy, sociable and so much more. For us, our kitchen is truly the heart of the home!”

How is this possible? For a quick look, check out their website (www.kfkitchens. co.uk), social media on Instagram (@kfkitchens) or Facebook. Book a consultation in their studio, either by email (enquiries@ kfkitchens.co.uk) or phone (01752 255022) and make your first steps towards your dream kitchen today!

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IT’S NATIONAL WALK YOUR DOG MONTH

Every year in January, we celebrate National Walk Your Dog Month! As a way of celebrating this, we have found some of the best walks around Plymouth with some reasons why walking your dog twice a day, every day is so beneficial to you and your dog’s health.

After a month of Christmas celebrations and roast dinners, it is all to easy to stay inside with the comfort of a warm fire but getting a walk into your routine once or twice a day will help to keep you fit without needing to hit the gym. Depending on the breed of your dog, they all require different amounts of walking to maintain a healthy weight. Alongside a healthy diet, the correct amount of exercise will help to regulate their weight. Getting some exercise in each day will also make a positive impact on your mental health and wellbeing and will allow you to be more motivated and less anxious in your day-to-day life.

Put the phone on silent and focus on your dog for the entirety of your walk, watching them run around getting up to mischief. Your dog will find your engagement more exciting and you will enjoy living in the present moment. Always bring a phone with you just in case there is an emergency or if you are walking in the evening.

The fresh air will do yourself and your dog a world of good. Heading to a space free of cars and lower pollution levels such as Dartmoor will not only smell much more pleasant but it will also reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and respiratory diseases like asthma. Although Plymouth is an ocean city surrounded by green open spaces, back in 2018, Plymouth was actually classed as one of the UK’s most polluted cities. With this in mind,

it is important to escape the city regularly and give yourself and your dog a breath of fresh air.

Where can I walk my dog near Plymouth?

Fortunately, we are very blessed to have an abundance of stunning walks right on our doorstep with low pollution levels and space for your furry friend to run around, complete with a paw friendly pub to end the walk.

Bovisand Bay to Heybrook Bay & back (2.5 miles)

Arrive at Bovisand car park and join the South West Coast Path heading down past the holiday chalets and up towards the next cove. Enjoy picturesque views of the sea and the countryside as you take a gentle stroll along the trodden path. After 30 minutes of walking, you will arrive at Heybrook Bay, a stunning natural beach nestled into the South Hams coastline.

You can either choose to turn back around, stay for a paddle, carry on further down the coast path or enjoy a hot drink and some grub at the Eddystone Inn. The Eddystone Inn is a charming village gastro pub, complete with a log burner fire. Enjoy panoramic sea views sat on the terrace in the summer months or cosy up next to the roaring fire after a brisk walk. The bar area is dog friendly.

If the 30-minute walk there didn’t work up an appetite, head back along the South West Coast path back to Bovisand car park and then take the 5-minute drive to The Mussell Inn. The dog friendly pub hosts a delicious food menu and a wide range of drinks to satisfy your tastebuds. The country décor feels a far cry from the bustling city centre.

Buckland Abbey Woodland Walks

(1-3 miles)

With a choice of three different walks to try out, there is something for the whole family at Buckland Abbey. Located besides the River Tavy, the 700-year-old, grade I listed house boasts 20,000 acres of stunning gardens and woodland walks.

The routes are as follows; yellow, red and blue which increase in difficulty and length.

The yellow route is a short 10–15-minute walk, suitable for wheel chair users and push chairs and ideal for elderly dogs who just need some fresh air.

The red route is a 45-minute trek around the picturesque countryside, through woodlands and fields. Walking boots or wellies are a must for this walk, especially after a heavy down pour.

The blue route is the most challenging walk of the three, taking 1.30hrs and taking you into the depths of the woodlands and overlooking The River Tavy. Walking boots are essential.

Your four-legged friends are welcome in all three of the walks but they ask for you to keep them on a lead. There are no doggy poo bins on the grounds therefore they suggest either ‘Sticking it and flicking it’ into the hedgerow or pick it up and dispose of it at home.

In need of a refreshment after the walk? Head to the restaurant for a delicious hot chocolate and to dry off those muddy paws.

The Middle Dart Valley Walk (5 miles)

An easy walk, perfect for those winter days when your usual walks get too muddy. With surfaced paths and lanes between Totnes and Darington and no styles or steep hills, this walk is perfect for the long-distanced walkers.

Begin by strolling through Totnes and follow the route to finally end up in Dartmouth. You can find the details for the walk here: www.visitdartmoor.co.uk/themiddle-dart-valley-walk

Bellever Forest (3 miles)

Bellever Forest is a must see for anyone who loves a picturesque country walk with mossy woodlands and babbling brooks.

There are two trails to follow at Bellever, both similar distances that begin at the car park. To read the guided walks in detail, please visit www. visitdartmoor.co.uk/bellever-forest

Although a lot of the walks involves tracks, this is Dartmoor so it’s always good to wear a suitable pair of walking boots as you never quite know how boggy it’s going to be.

In the summer months, Bellever Forest is a great destination to have a picnic next to the river. You can even enjoy a little paddle in the water to cool off and wash off those muddy paws.

Stover Country Park

A peaceful lake, lots of picnic areas, wildlife to spot on route and toilets in the paid car park. Dogs are allowed off the lead here but ask for them to stay out of the lake for the welfare of the wildlife. This gorgeous spot can become very popular in the warmer months but in the colder months, it’s an ideal spot to come for a walk with flat paths and tranquil waters.

After your walk, why not take the 10-minute drive up to Ilsington’s local pub for some delicious food from the bistro pub, The Carpenters Arms. They are a dog friendly pub and offer home cooked and home-made traditional pub food nestled in Dartmoor National Park.

Mount Edgcumbe Country Park (4.3 miles)

This moderate circular walk will take you around the perimeter of the Mount Edgcumbe estate with fantastic views of the Plymouth sound and surrounding coastline. You will also come across eighteenth-century follies, fountains and shelters along the path. To download a step-by-step guide of this walk, head to: www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/ walksdb/135/

So, what are you waiting for? Wrap up warm, put the walking boots on, grab the dog lead and start exploring some more of what Devon has to offer!

January 2025

What’s On South Devon

beAuty And the beAst PAntomime

China Fleet Country Club, Saltash, Saturday 11th January

Bring your friends and family for an afternoon filled with laughter, music and dazzling costumes, while you enjoy a well-loved enchanting fairy tale!

QuiZ night

China Fleet Country Club, Saltash, Friday 31st January

Gather your quiz team for a fun evening of trivia, and enjoy a Chinese-style buffet!

80s silent disco

National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth, 23rd - 24th January

A Silent Disco like no other is coming to Plymouth Aquarium this January for a spectacular 80s Silent Disco. Expect 3 epic DJs playing all your favourite 80s tunes in the stunning, illuminated surroundings of Plymouth Aquarium.

the book oF moRmon

Theatre Royal, Plymouth 14th - 25th January

This outrageous musical comedy from creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and Bobby Lopez co-writer of Avenue Q and Frozen, follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent on a mission to a place that’s about as far from Salt Lake City as you can get.

wedding FAyRe At FutuRe inn Plymouth

Future Inn Plymouth, Derriford Thursday 19th January

Plymouth’s top professional wedding suppliers will be present to provide inspiration, creative ideas, and the assistance required to personalise your wedding day exactly to your liking.

Harpers Football Centre, Plymouth 24th - 26th January

Gather your family, friends, and cosy blankets for three days of beloved classic and family-favourite films, all enjoyed from the comfort of your car. Whether you wish to revisit an old favourite or discover something new, this event is designed for all ages and makes for the perfect winter evening out.

the

The Wharf, Tavistock Friday 17th January

The Best of Grohl is the ultimate rock show based in the UK dedicated to the legendary rock icon Dave Grohl. Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Queens Of The Stone Age, Tenacious D, Probot & Them Crooked Vultures.

China Fleet Country Club, Saltash Wednesday 22nd January

In this beginner-friendly workshop, you’ll create a beautiful, custom silver ring from scratch, learning essential jewelry-making techniques along the way. Perfect for anyone looking to try something new and make a keepsake to wear or gift.

The Box, Plymouth Saturday 11th January

In this workshop you’ll get the chance to experiment with watercolour and develop your own painting inspired by Turner’s imaginative landscapes and turbulent marine paintings. Beginners are welcome and all materials are provided.

best oF gRohl

Plymouth dRive in cinemA

beginneRs silveR Ring

Veganuary Veganuary

It’s good for the planet, it’s good for your health, it’s Veganuary! Try something new this month and have a go at some of these easy recipes.

Creamy Carbonara

Serves - 4

INGReDIeNTS

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 3 shallots, peeled and finely chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced 150g frozen peas

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 350g spaghetti

• 125g cashew nuts, soaked for two hours in boiling water

• 150ml unsweetened plant milk

• 2tbsp nutritional yeast

• Vegan parmesan to serve

In a large pan, fry the shallots on a medium heat in the olive oil for about five minutes until softening. Add the garlic and fry for another two, then add the peas and stir well. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Cook the spaghetti as per the packet’s instructions and while it is cooking, blend the cashews with the plant milk until you get a creamy smooth mixture. Stir in the nutritional yeast, then combine with the shallots and peas. Season.

When the spaghetti is cooked, coat it in the creamy mixture. Grate over the parmesan to serve.

Chocolate Ice-Cream

Serves - 1-2

INGReDIeNTS

• 3 medium bananas, peeled, sliced, and frozen for a few hours or overnight

• 1 tablespoon cacao powder

• 2 to 4 tablespoons cacao nibs or nuts of your choice (optional)

1Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Process until the texture changes from crumbly to creamy. Transfer to a bowl and serve right away or place the bowl in the freezer for an hour or so for a firmer texture.

Garlicky Butterbean Toast

Serves - 2

INGReDIeNTS

• 1 380g carton cooked butter beans

• 1 large spring onion

• 4 large chestnut mushrooms

• handful of young spinach

• 3 cloves of garlic

• olive oil

• salt and pepper

• flat leaf parsley

Heat a tablespoon or so of olive oil in a small skillet. Finely chop the spring onion and add to the pan. Gently cook over a medium for several minutes before adding the sliced mushrooms. Season and sweat for several more minutes.

Finely mince the garlic and add to the pan. Let the flavours infuse for a few minutes. Drain and rinse the butter beans and add to the pan. Season generously and heat through, stirring thoroughly so the ingredients are fully combined.

Lastly add the spinach and let it gently wilt before adding a little more salt and pepper. Serve hot with some roughly chopped flat leaf parsley and sliced spring onions.

ON YOU FOCUSED

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NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

Many of us will make a New Year’s resolution in the hope of sparking change, but according to research, only very few people will accomplish their objectives. If you are planning on making a New Year’s resolution this year, read our top tips for successfully starting and sticking to your goal.

It’s that time of the year again where for some strange reason we all think that magically, because a new year has arrived, we will suddenly change into a whole new person, just like that. Unfortunately, as we envisage that the arrival of a new year will magically provide us with all the motivation and persistence we need to be the healthier, happier us, most of the time this doesn’t happen. New Year’s resolutions often require a positive attitude and more hard work than people seem to realise. Year after year we make these New Year’s plans, and year after year we stumble and stop them after only a few months, sometimes after only a few weeks!

So how can we break this endless cycle and make sure this year’s resolutions are permanent changes that, in the long, will make us feel great? Read our top tips for successfully starting, and sticking to, your 2025 New Year’s resolution.

Pick only one thing you want to change, and focus on just that one.

While you might have a long list of potential New Year’s resolutions, it is better to pick just one and focus all of

your time and energy into it, rather than trying to take on too many different objectives, feeling overwhelmed, and spreading yourself too thin trying to cover too much.

Focusing your efforts on one specific goal makes keeping a resolution much more achievable.

Make sure your New Year’s resolution is realistic so you are not setting yourself up for failure.

The final goal of a resolution can be so daunting that you don’t even start it, so why not break that goal into more manageable pieces that feel more realistic to reach. If you want to set yourself a New Year’s resolution you have to be honest with yourself, and realistic about your capabilities. If your goal is to lose weight, it might be better to set yourself small weekly goals, for example, losing 1lb a week, rather than “I want to lose 2 stone in a month”, that way you can track your progress and address your fitness routine and meals accordingly.

If you are planning to lose weight as part of your healthy New Year’s resolution, make sure you are being realistic in the amount you aim to lose and the time frame you plan to lose it in. Consult your weight loss and fitness plans with a professional to ensure you are being safe and not putting your body under stress.

If you want to start going to the gym — fantastic! But don’t try to go from nothing to everything too quickly.

If you have never been to the gym before, don’t expect to go every night of the week, be realistic and set yourself the task of going two nights a week for an hour each time. If you like what you’re doing, and you achieve your weekly goals, you can add more days into the mix by increasing it to three times a week

for two hours each time, and so on. Sometimes it is better to start small and build yourself up. Breaking your goals down into smaller actions can work wonders, especially on days when you’re feeling unmotivated.

Remember that change takes time.

The unhealthy habits that you are trying to change probably took years to develop, and so you can’t expect to change them within such a short period.

When you decide you want to make a change, it’s difficult to be patient with yourself. It might take longer than you would like to achieve your goals, but remember it is not about how fast you can get there.

Making a change is about making permanent healthier choices and committing to change is something that you will continue to work on for a long time, sometimes for life.

Expect setbacks and work through them.

Experiencing a setback is one of the most common reasons why people give up on their New Year’s resolution.

Instead of giving up, try to view relapses as learning opportunities and push forward being more knowledgeable and prepared for the future.

To be more prepared for any setbacks, keep a diary specifically for your New Year’s resolution, that way you will document what happened before your relapse occurred and therefore what might have triggered it. By understanding the challenges you face and what makes sticking to your resolution all the more difficult, you will be better prepared to either face them or perhaps avoid them, in the future.

Reward yourself for your achievements, big and small.

Rewarding yourself doesn’t mean that you can eat an entire box of chocolates or a big bag of sugary sweets if your resolution is to eat healthier or to lose weight. It is possible to reward yourself without the need for unhealthy choices.

Treat yourself to something you enjoy that doesn’t contradict your resolution, for example, perhaps some new gym clothes, or having a friend over for a (healthy) dinner.

If you are struggling, don’t be afraid to ask for help from your friends and family.

Having a solid support system can help you stay motivated. Share your New Year’s resolution with your friends and family and ask them to help you stay on track. Share your progress and setbacks and most importantly be honest with them, and yourself.

Keep reminding yourself of why you set out to achieve your New Year’s resolution in the first place and try to keep a positive mindset.

Making permanent changes in your life takes a lot of hard work, and some days can be harder than others. By focusing on the negatives you will only discourage yourself, which will most likely result in you giving up completely.

Instead of sitting at work thinking about how tired you feel and how the gym is going to make you even more exhausted, or perhaps it’s raining outside and you don’t want to go for the scheduled run, try to remember all the positive outcomes.

Believe in yourself and your goal and remind yourself of the benefits and positive impact it will have on your life. Focusing on the positives will help you stick to your new year’s resolution and make it happen.

winter tidy up

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