Plympton Magazine March 2023

MealfortwoBaltiatShaplaCuisine WIN!

SPRAY VISION

Transform, refresh and restore your home with Spray Vision

HOME & GARDEN RENOVATION

Top tips and ideas from local home and garden trades

THE MURRAY GROUP

Work with the Plymouth-based car dealership, The Murray Group

Seeing daffodils, crocuses and bluebells popping up makes me so happy that Spring has finally sprung. The days are getting longer too, by March 31st, the sun will set in Plymouth at 19:45 – now that is exciting. Inside this March edition of OM, we have two business profiles, lots of interesting editorials and some tasty recipes.

We met Dean and Sarah of Spray Vision, based in Plymouth to understand their new business venture and how it can transform the houses of Plymouth.

The 8th of March marks International Women’s Day. Learn about what the campaign theme #EmbraceEquity means for women in 2023.

We also share home and garden renovation tips from local businesses to make the most out of your home this Spring.

Mothering Sunday is on Sunday 19th March. We have gathered together some thoughtful gift ideas to treat your mum this Mother’s Day.

I hope you have a lovely month

HOME & GARDEN

Home and gardening remodelling ideas to help make the most out of your space this Spring.

If you can’t buy, renovate! Giving your home a makeover can mean more than just the furnishings and a lick of paint. In order to make the most of the space or increase the value of your property, it might be worth thinking about doing some renovating. We renovate our homes and gardens to make the most out of the space and to be able to enjoy them for years to come. We also self-consciously update our homes to improve the market value of the property when it comes to selling down the line. Spending that little bit of extra money and time on things that are built to last will save you more money in the long run.

Exterior

Starting with the exterior of your home is a great way to increase curb appeal and can make a huge difference to the overall look of your home. Cleaning or re-painting your windows and doors will help to bring them back to life again and make your home more welcoming. Spray Vision offer a service like no other where they can spray paint your UPVC windows and doors any colour you like and leave you with a factory finish and a 10-year guarantee. They are also able to re-paint the exterior walls of your home which helps uplift the house and keeps it looking modern and inviting.

If you are quite happy with the look and colour of your windows and just feel like they need freshening up, Your Cleaner Windows are here to help. They offer window cleaning, gutter clearing, soffit and fascia cleaning and conservatory roof cleaning.

Tired or broken doors and windows can make the whole house feel neglected, they also let in more drafts causing your energy bills to increase. For all types of door and window repairs, The Door Doctor offers a mobile repair service based in Plymouth to help your windows look brand new again.

Garages can feel very cluttered very quickly, even the garage door itself can take up that much-needed space. Garolla Garage Doors have a unique solution with their electric roller garage doors. Fully fitted, insulated and with 24 colours available to choose from, these garage doors are the space-saving items of the future.

A well installed driveway will add to the value of your property while making it look polished and clean. J Davis Paving, Plymouth offer affordable driveway installations and repairs with a wide variety of patterns, colours and materials.

Interior

If you can’t decide on which room to renovate, we would always recommend doing the kitchen to make the biggest impact on the overall look of the house and on your lifestyle. We spend a large amount of time in the kitchen, it’s where we cook, entertain, socialise and gather for meals so it’s important to get it right. However, if you are renovating to sell, the kitchen may not be the place to spend your money as everybody’s

tastes are different and the new owners may end up ripping it out anyway.

If you are happy with the general layout and style of your kitchen but feel it needs a change of colour and a bit of updating, Spray Vision can also spray your kitchen cabinets too giving new life to old kitchens. The results after Spray Vision has transformed your kitchen look flawless and have a factory finish every time.

Flooring obviously runs through your whole home and although it’s not technically a statement piece, it can make a huge impact when it has been refreshed. Even just giving it a good old clean will help to bring light into the room and make the floors feel new again. Herringbone and seagrass flooring are very popular at the moment as we are picking out neutral colours and natural materials. It also provides a base if you then wanted to add a splash of colour to the room. Russells Flooring is your local hard flooring & carpet specialist, visit their showroom in Plympton to see for yourself.

When it comes to selling or renting your property, Tech Surveys can aid you in making sure you have an upto-date EPC, as well as Legionella risk assessment. They can also supply you with floor plans available in full colour, black and white or 3D from as little as £30 for a standard 2D B&W plan of a 1–4-bedroom house.

Garden

It’s all systems go in the garden in March. Whether you’re a novice gardener or have your own veg patch complete with a greenhouse, anyone can have a go, no matter the size of your garden or balcony. Knowing what seeds you have to sow indoors, outdoors or plant straight into the soil is the first thing to keep in mind.

Seeds of carrots, parsnips, lettuces, radishes, turnips, broad beans, beetroot, peas, salad leaves, leeks and spinach can now be sown outdoors. Make sure they are sheltered with some protection or kept in a mini portable greenhouse. They will each have instructions on the back of the packet in terms of sunlight and feeding.

For a splash of colour, sweet peas can now be sown outdoors after being sown indoors from autumn. And hardy annuals can be sown outdoors for a gorgeous display of colour when summer arrives.

Man for all seasons can give you a helping hand in your garden with their highly skilled gardeners and landscapers. They will listen to your garden wishes and help to transform your garden into a space you’ll want to call your own.

If low maintenance is more your style, Green Scheme Solutions, based in Plymouth, offer realistic artificial grass suitable for many different uses as well as composite decking for a hassle-free garden.

Choosing the colour of your fence should complement your house but not necessarily match it. Colourfence in Plymouth offers low maintenance steel fences with no painting required. You can choose from a wide variety of popular colours as well as four height options. They come in two varieties, a plain, sleek and smart design or with a decorative trellis design on top that you can customise with contrasting paint colours.

All businesses mentioned in this editorial are local to Plymouth and trusted with years of experience. We hope that this has given you the confidence to transform your own house into a space that you’re proud to call home.

The Low Maintenance Garden

Transform your garden with arti cial grass and rot-proof composite decking

From a mud patch ... to a perfect lawn

Replace rotten wooden decking with anti-slip low maintenance composite

From derelict ... to perfect

Time to cut down on your gardening chores.

With careful choice of a few clever products it is possible to spend less time working in your garden and more time relaxing in it. Arti cial grass means no mowing, no mud and gives you the perfect lawn to use all year round. As well as looking incredibly realistic, it is pet and child friendly.

Why not install the latest generation wood-free composite decking to create the perfect area for relaxing and socialising. It is anti-slip, rot proof, maintenance free and comes with a 25 yr guarantee. From a vintage weathered look to chic modern golden oak, the decking comes in a range of nishes to complement your garden.

Banish maintenance headaches with artificial grass Book

Did you know that you can change the colour of your kitchen cabinets and UPVC doors and windows without having to replace them? Spray Vision offer something unique to the people of Devon & Cornwall with factory-finish spray painting. This revolutionary service will leave you with money to spare at the end of your renovation project whilst transforming your home with a showroom finish that is guaranteed to last for 10 years. Before meeting Dean and Sarah of Spray Vision, Myles and I thought painting UPVC was impossible. Amazed at the results, we had many questions to ask the Plymouth-based couple to find out more about their service and how it came to be.

With the ambition to learn a trade but unsure of which one, Dean decided to undergo a college course where he was able to pick up a few different skills. One of these skills included professional spraying. This instantly sparked Dean’s interest and led him into a four year apprenticeship with one of the nations leading vehicle body repair garage where he focused on repairing and respraying vehicles for clients. Dean completed many training programmes at the reputable Thatcham research automotive training academy, where he learnt the latest spraying techniques and technology. He also gained an ATA qualification which he had to redo every couple of years, this meant he is always up-to-date with any new paint processes and technology.

A few years later and a heap more experience and knowledge under his belt, he got a job spraying prestigious luxury yachts for Princess Yachts in 2019. As you can imagine, the quality of the paintwork on a Princess Yacht has to be of a very high standard before handing it over to the client. Being a perfectionist, Dean thrives in this environment and has always been very proud of the spray paintwork he has completed on both vehicles and yachts.

During easter of 2022, Dean, Sarah and their two children went to Florida to visit his father for the holidays where they began talking about Dean’s father’s painting business and mother-in-laws hand painted kitchen business. After a few light-hearted disputes over which is better; hand painting or spray painting, they all agreed that Dean should start up his own painting business. Dean had always envisaged owning his own business where he could offer a premium service to the people of Devon and Cornwall.

Arriving back on English soil, Dean and Sarah’s visions spiralled as they became excited by the concept of this new business venture. After endless hours of research, ideas and notes taken later, they were ready to get the ball rolling and bring the vision to life. The name ‘Spray Vision’ came from Sarah after playing around with paint and renovation terminology. With the high-quality equipment, premium industry standard paint and transit custom van purchased, they were primed and ready to get spraying.

Their first project was in the safe hands of their own family home. This enabled Dean to get used to the equipment, paint and ensure the finish was up to his high standard. Myles and I visited their home during the interview and we could tell instantly which house was theirs on the street as it looked fresh, and bright with unique matt anthracite grey-coloured UPVC windows and doors. After showcasing the before and after images on their social media channels, they received an influx of new customers who were all astounded by the results and the service.

Spray Vision specialises in UPVC windows, doors, garage doors and kitchen cabinets however, there is no limit to what they can spray. This is due to the different kinds of premium paint they use and the techniques Dean uses to prepare and prime the material before spraying. There is also no limit to what colours you can use and there is no added charge for brighter or more unique colours. They offer a swatch booklet however, if you find a particular paint colour that you like with another brand, they will match the exact same shade for you.

By using a spray gun, you receive a flawless ‘factory finish’ with no brush or roller marks, bubbles or uneven paint. The paint that Dean uses has a 10-year guarantee and is weather-resistant, peel resistant, and

waterproof. Dean uses specialist paints which form a chemical compound to adhere to the upvc. Rest easy knowing that your house will look beautiful all year round.

When Dean comes to paint your kitchen, he will require 3 days maximum in your home, which is much faster than replacing a whole kitchen. You will still be able to use the kitchen throughout the process and everything can stay in the cupboards, Dean will just mask the inside so that the paint stays within the desired areas. Dean will start by taking all the cupboard doors, kickboards and drawers to his workshop to be sanded down, repaired, primed and sprayed. He will return to your home a few days later where he will mask the whole kitchen, sand, repair and prime the carcass. The following day, he will come back and apply 2 coats of coloured topcoat on the carcass, side panels etc. On the third day he will put all the cupboard doors and handles back on and leave you with a beautiful new kitchen and a personalised Spray Vision mug left on the counter.

The paint Dean uses in your home for kitchens and furniture is water-based and doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals when breathed in therefore it is safe for the client and any pets they may have. Spray Vision can change your cupboard door and drawer handles if desired, adding to the modern and transformed look. The exterior of your house might require scaffolding to be erected which Spray Vision can organise. Dean will protect your property from overspray by masking the walls and glass surrounding the areas to be sprayed. Spray Vision can also paint the exterior walls of your home if you want a complete transformation.

You can receive a free quote usually within 24 hours of your enquiry in between Sarah’s part-time job as a teacher. Simply send Sarah an email or facebook message (details listed below) of what you’d like to be sprayed along with a few photos and she will create an estimated quote. If you are happy to go ahead, Dean will visit your home, talk to you about your vision and give you an exact quote. The quotes are priced per door/drawer/window/side cabinet therefore, he will make sure the number of doors relates to the quote given. The average quote for a full medium-sized kitchen with 15-20 doors comes to £1,500-£2,500 compared to a brand-new kitchen which can be priced anywhere between £5,250 and £14,000.

Not only does it save you money but it also prevents unnecessary waste. In most cases, people want a brand-new kitchen for aesthetic purposes however, keeping the same cabinets and simply painting them, can transform your old kitchen and bring it into the modern world. The images on this page illustrate just how dramatic the transformation can be.

Garage doors take up a huge part of the exterior of your home therefore, it will make a huge difference to your curb appeal if it looks brand new and matches your doors and windows. Dean can also paint your cladding, electric meter box, soffit, fascias, gutters and downpipes so that it matches your doors and windows.

With over 15 years of spraying experience, Dean is confident he can transform your home and leave it looking flawless. He has received countless great reviews both in person and online. Dean loves nothing more than to see the clients’ faces when he reveals to them the finished product, often they are astounded by the difference and high-quality factory finish. They have also received great feedback regarding their customer service, with Sarah explaining the process with simple terminology and Dean arriving at your house punctually, remaining tidy and hassle-free.

With some of the larger jobs, Dean uses other highly skilled Spray Vision team members to ensure the job is done within the allocated time and up to their usual, high standard. When the job is finished before the end of the day, Dean will let the team go home early and still pay them for their day rate.

If you would like your kitchen, windows or doors sprayed, they currently have a mere 2-month lead time before you can witness the transformation of your own house.

In 5 years, they would love to be dominating the spray-painting market in Devon and Cornwall, have multiple vans, more employees and more importantly, ensuring the people of Plymouth are aware of the transformations they are capable of doing to your home. The future of Spray Vision looks bright. Not only will they be giving the people of Devon & Cornwall beautifully painted homes but as a result, they will be making the streets of Plymouth look fresh and modern, house by house.

What’s On South Devon

MURDER MYSTERY: THE SPEAKEASY

The Box, Plymouth Saturday 4th March

Join us in The Box Kitchen & Bar on Saturday 4 March for an evening of cocktails and mystery. Are you a crook, a gambler or a flapper? Will there be trouble when an infamous gangster appears and what has he got up his sleeve? Could it lead to murder?

PLYMOUTH BRICK FESTIVAL

Plymouth Guildhall, Plymouth Saturday 18th March

We are very pleased to announce that the Plymouth Brick Festival will be celebrating all things LEGO! This event celebrates all things LEGO and will take place on Saturday 18th March 2023, with opening hours 10am - 5pm. Early entry is from 10am; £12 per person. Standard Entry is from 11am; Adults £6, Children £4, Family Ticket (2 Adults, 2 Children) £17. Under 5s gain admission for free (with a paying adult).

SILENT DISCO: HERE COME THE GIRLS

The Box, Plymouth Saturday 11th March

Our popular ‘Silent Disco’ returns once more - and this time it’s a celebration of female musicians to help mark International Women’s Day! Come along and dance the night away underneath our Royal Naval ships’ figureheads. Two DJs will be battling it out with a great selection of tracks. Who will win? The choice is yours!

INTERACTIVE QUIZ NIGHT

Soapbox Theatre, Devonport Park

Friday 10th March

Becoming a parent is a wonderful journey with many highs and lows. Comedy can be used to help build a sense of connection and also relieve symptoms of poor mental health. This show aims to help parents reconnect with their adult selves, an experience that is for them as opposed to their children.

JAZZ & ROAST SUNDAYS

HonkyTonk Wine Library, Plymouth Saturday 11th March

Local Jazz legend Martin Dale will be lighting up the room with his Jazz Saxophone. Accompanying this live music with a fabulous Sunday Roast Board.

COMIC & ZINE FAIR

Ocean Studios, RWY 4th & 5th March

Plymouth’s FIRST Comic and Zine Fair featuring the best comic makers and zinesters in the South West. Vendors will be selling comics, zines, pins, patches, T-shirts and more!

ST PADDYS DAY: MAD DOG MCREA, THE BUSKETEERS & MORE

Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth Friday 17th March

Welcome to PAVILIONS

INTRODUCES a hand curated program of events showcasing the South West’s finest talent in Plymouth Pavilions most intimate setting to date. Soak up the atmosphere and relax with a drink or some food.

MEN’S DAY OUT

Devonport, Plymouth Saturday 11th March

Join the mass of big-hearted men marching through Plymouth to support the compassionate care St Luke’s provides for hundreds of local families at the toughest times in their lives.

Men’s Day Out

NEW YEAR, NEW CAREER?

Why the Murray Group is a great place to start your career in the automotive industry.

2022 sees local car Dealer Group, Murray Group, celebrate twenty-two years as a key player in the local area. From humble beginnings as a Sponsored Volkswagen Retailer, with 85 people across two sites in Newton Abbot and Plymouth, we have grown over the past two decades to in excess of 240 people across seven sites with eight manufacturers.

Our Brand partners now include Skoda, Trade Parts Specialist and, as a result of an acquisition in December 2021 of the well-respected local dealer group Rodgers of Plymouth, we are now excited to represent Kia, MG and Hyundai across the city too. The Murray Group are numbered in the top 250 automotive businesses in the UK and have been recognised for both individual and team awards across a variety of platforms.

We are immensely proud to represent innovative brands that consistently push the boundaries of technology. We are also immensely proud of the reputation that we have built amongst our loyal customer base and that is entirely down to our

people – who make the Murray Group so much more than just a business – they make us a family. It is this incredible culture that sets us apart from our competitors.

The Murray Group employ over 240 people in the local area and offer a variety of different careers for anyone hoping to get started in the automotive industry or ambitious individuals hoping to progress within a supportive, agile business. We believe that training is key to recruiting and retaining the right people and we offer continued professional development opportunities for individuals in roles across the business.

Group HR Manager Keri Brisley says: “I believe 100% that the success of this business is wholly down to the people we employ”. As a business, we are truly committed to recruiting individuals whom we believe will be able to carry out the needs of their role to the best of their abilities – whether they have industry experience or not. We also believe in investing in those people and as a result, we are proud to say that around 40% of our team members have been in post for five years or more.

Keri is just one example of this – having joined the Murray Group as an Administrator back in 2004. Keri undertook several CIPD qualifications and is now Group HR Manager. In an historically male dominated industry, Keri says of her 18 year career with the Murray Group:

“It is extremely unusual to be able to grow and progress your career as a woman whilst taking the time out to have two children and yet I have done that with the group.”

In fact, Murray Group embrace diversity and are proud of the fact that we have a substantial number of women working in senior management positions across the business – from HR, Finance and Marketing to Aftersales and Parts.

We are passionate about offering apprenticeships to individuals for both technical and non-technical roles across the group, and the possibilities for career development from these beginnings are immense.

We have recently launched our first, bespoke Leadership Training Programme, in conjunction with Martec Training. Six individuals from areas across the business were selected to take part in the first programme, which aims to hone their skills and equip them to become the leaders of the future in their chosen business area. The programme kicked off in late November and our first attendees thoroughly enjoyed the sessions.

Sales Executives Laura and Ross told us:

“Prior to the course starting, we weren’t sure what to expect but the first few sessions have been incredibly interesting. They have made me think about different ways in which I can approach situations and I find I am already putting these into practice in my working life. I’m definitely learning a lot.”

Promoting a healthy work/life balance is of paramount importance and 2022 saw us proactively reviewing the working hours of our technicians. In conjunction with the technician teams, a working pattern was agreed that saw our colleagues undertaking a longer working day for part of the week, which in turn, means that

every member of the team is guaranteed a three day weekend every other week.

One of our technicians told us:

“ Every other week, I finish work at 4pm on a Thursday and don’t return until 8am on Monday morning. This is against the norm for my role and industry and makes a huge difference to my personal life.”

This scheme, trialled within the Skoda team 12 months ago has been introduced across half of the Murray Group franchises to great success, and will be rolled out to the remaining teams in 2023. Not only are our teams happier and healthier but they are also more productive. Additionally, the longer working hours during the week mean that our Aftersales Services are available for a longer time to our customers too.

From technical roles to admin, finance, service washing, sales and marketing – a career in the automotive industry can be hugely rewarding. A career with the Murray Group , which prides itself on being a high performance business based on exceptional customer service, can be so much more. We genuinely believe that to succeed, we have to have fantastic people who are prepared to go the extra mile, to treat customers and other staff how they expect to be treated and above all else – people who want to work for a company who have ambitions to be the very best in the South West. Murray Group isn’t just one of those companies who claim to put our people first – we really do.

So, whatever your future ambitions, if you’re looking for a career within an award-winning, family run business, why not take a look on our website at our current vacancies? If you don’t see the role you’re looking for, don’t worry! We are always on the look out for ‘Murray People’, so drop us your CV anyway. If you are hardworking, dedicated and have the ability to put customers at the forefront of everything that you do –we want to hear from you.

You never know – 2023 may just be the start of your new career as part of the Murray Group! We are looking forward to hearing from you to begin your new career with an outstanding local employer.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

March 8th is a day that belongs to all women, everywhere. International Women’s Day highlights how women all over the world have fought, and still fight, for gender equality.

The International Womens Day 2023 campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity. Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality.

Currently, women face inequality and bias in all parts of their lives and the workplace is no different. Inequality is even higher in women of colour, trans women, and women of marginalised groups. The coronavirus pandemic highlighted how disproportionately women are affected in the workplace. In 2020 alone, women globally lost $8 billion in income. Reports by Oxfam International showed that in the first year of the pandemic more than 64 million women lost their jobs, that’s around 5% of total jobs held by women. By comparison, only 3.9% of men’s jobs were lost in the same period.

Globally women make up 70% of the health and social care workforce, this sector includes essential but lowwage jobs.

In 2023 women are still being passed over for highpaid roles and are still overrepresented in many low-wage roles, such as waitressing, child-care, and housekeeping.

During the pandemic two of the main reasons that millions of women had to leave their jobs was the lack of childcare available and because the roles they held were the highest casualties of lockdowns. Currently, mothers are three times more likely to be responsible for the majority of housework and child care than fathers. Women are also twice as likely to worry about their work performance being judged negatively by employers because of their caregiving responsibilities.

This International Women’s Day you can join the #EmbraceEquity campaign and help call out gender bias and inequality. As women, we need to come together and actively challenge any bias we encounter. Don’t be afraid to call out inequality when you see it, awareness and education are the key pillars to ensuring that we end gender bias. For the whole of March why not use your social media platforms to celebrate the women in your life, share their achievements, tell them how proud you are of them, be their biggest fan. Never forget we are stronger together and by working together we will end inequality for all women!

regarding International Woman’s Day and how to join the challenge can be found

WIN!

A MEAL FOR TWO AT SHAPLA BALTI CUSINE, PLYMPTON - INCLUDES 2 MAINS, 2 SIDES, 2 DESSERTS AND A BOTTLE OF WINE

For a chance to win

...just answer these questions

What do you like most about Plympton Magazine?

What type of businesses would you like to see advertised in Plympton Magazine?

When did you recieve your copy of this magazine?

NAME:

ADDRESS:

If you could change something about Plympton Magazine, what would it be?

POSTCODE:

CONTACT No:

Which businesses have you used from the magazine and why?

AGE:

Please send to: Plympton Magazine Reader Response, Unit 5, Bowker House, Lee Mill, Ivybridge, PL21 9EF by Wednesday 5th April

T’s&C’s: The voucher is non-transferable and no change can be given. Voucher cannot be exchanged for cash. Must be aged 18 or over.

Voucher can be redeemed at Shapla Balti Cuisine, Plympton Must be redeemed and used by 30th June 2023.

RECIPES delicious

We have gathered together some delicious recipe ideas that are simple to re-create at home this Spring.

Beef & Broccoli Noodles

Serves - 4

• 3 blocks egg noodles

• 1 head broccoli, cut into small florets

• 1 tbsp sesame oil

• 400g pack beef stir-fry strips

• sliced spring onion

• 3 tbsp low-salt soy sauce

• 2 tbsp oyster sauce (not oyster stir-fry sauce)

• 1 tbsp tomato ketchup

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

• 1 thumb-sized knob ginger, peeled and finely grated

• 1 tbsp white wine vinegar

ONE Start by making up the sauce. Mix the ingredients together in a small bowl. Boil the noodles according to pack instructions. A minute before they are ready, tip in broccoli. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a wok until very hot, then stir-fry the beef for 2-3 mins until well browned. Tip in the sauce, give it a stir, let it

Churros Serves - 8-10

• 140g plain flour

• 100g golden caster sugar, plus 2 tbsp

• zest 1 lemon

• 120g unsalted butter, diced

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• 3 large eggs, beaten

• sunflower oil, for frying

• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

• melted dark chocolate or salted caramel sauce

ONE Boil the kettle. Sift the flour into a big mixing bowl with a big pinch of salt, then stir in the 2 tbsp sugar and lemon zest. Put 350ml boiling water, the butter and vanilla extract in a saucepan. Heat gently to melt, then bring to a simmer and, as soon as it is boiling, turn off the heat. Tip in the flour mixture and very quickly beat with a wooden spoon until lump-free. Cool for 5 mins, then beat in the eggs one at a time, with the spoon or an electric whisk. Rest for 1015 mins, or cover and chill for up to 24 hrs.

Fill a large, deep saucepan one-third full of oil. Heat until it reaches 180°C on a cooking thermometer. Cover a tray with kitchen paper, and mix the caster sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl.

THREE Fit a star nozzle to a piping bag –1-2cm wide is a good size. Fill with the rested dough, then pipe 2-3 strips directly into the pan, snipping off each dough strip with a pair of scissors. Fry until golden brown and crisp, then remove with a slotted spoon and drain on the kitchen paper-lined tray. Carry on cooking the rest of the dough in batches, sprinkling the cooked churros with some cinnamon sugar as you go. Dip the warm churros into the melted chocolate or salted caramel sauce and enjoy.

Smoked Salmon Sushi

Serves - 4

• 300g sushi rice

• 2 tbsp rice or white wine vinegar

• 1 tsp caster sugar

• 1 large avocado

• juice ½ lemon

• 4 sheets nori seaweed

• 4 large slices smoked salmon

• 1 bunch chives

• sweet soy sauce (kecap manis), to serve

ONE Put the rice in a small pan with 600ml water. Bring to the boil and cook for 10 mins until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender. Stir through the vinegar and sugar, cover and cool.

TWO Skin, stone and slice the avocado. Put in a bowl and squeeze over the lemon juice, turning the avocado to ensure the pieces are covered.

THREE Divide the rice between the nori sheets and spread it out evenly, leaving a 1cm border at the top and bottom. Lay the salmon over the rice, followed by the chives and finally position the avocado across the centre.

FOUR Fold the bottom edge of the seaweed over the filling, then roll it up firmly. Dampen the top border with a little water to help it seal the roll. Repeat to make 4 rolls. At this stage, the rolls can be wrapped individually in cling film and chilled until ready to serve. Using a serrated knife, cut each roll into 8 rounds. Serve with sweet soy sauce for dipping.

Overnight Oats

• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

• 50g rolled porridge oats

• 2 tbsp natural yogurt

• 50g mixed berries

• drizzle of honey

Serves - 1

• ½ tbsp nut butter (we used almond)

• 1/2 scoop of protein powder if you’d like

ONE The night before serving, stir the cinnamon and 100ml water (or milk) into your oats with a pinch of salt.

TWO The next day, loosen with a little more water (or milk) if needed. Top with the yogurt, berries, a drizzle of honey and the nut butter.

Ask

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MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS

Showing your love and appreciation for your Mum can be tricky to convey so we have created a list of our favourite gifting ideas to help treat your Mum to the Mother’s Day she deserves. - Sunday 19th March 2023

Flowers, chocolates and a big dose of appreciation are just what the doctor ordered this Mother’s Day. We have found some brilliant gifting ideas to spoil your mum rotten this year!

HANDMADE GIFTS

There is nothing more special than a handmade gift made with love. I have found some brilliant ideas that you can create at home with very little skill involved. Simply search the for the method online and have a bit of fun whilst making them!

• Bath Bombs

• Scented soap

• Essential oil scented candle

• Her favourite sweet treat

• Paint a piece of pottery for her

• Canvas makeup/ purse pouches

• Handmade bookmark – Stitch onto fabric or draw onto card.

• Knit a jumper or scarf

• A photobook

GIFT CARDS

When I say gift cards, I don’t mean a £10 gift card taken off the shelf at a supermarket. Have a think about the shops that your mum likes, the products she loves to use or something she has always wanted to do. You can get gift vouchers or gift experiences for just about anything nowadays! You can even get gift vouchers for her favourite local restaurant.

SWEET TREATS

A box of gooey brownies or pink iced cupcakes are a great way to show your mum some love this Mother’s Day. (Unless she is on a strict diet of course) We have so many independent bakeries in Plymouth to choose from including; Yield Bakery, Mila’s Bakery, Jacka Bakery, Mrs Browns, Flapjackery, Just Like Mumma’s, Lulu’s Bakery, The Rise Bakery and The Conscious Candy Co. to name just a few.

FLOWERS

A beautiful bouquet is enough to brighten up anyone’s day and is the perfect accompaniment to your chosen gift or card. Head to your local florist and grab either a pre-made bouquet or, in most florists you are able to pick and choose which flowers you’d like in the arrangement. With a lot of online florists, you can choose an exact delivery day, this means the flowers won’t have to be kept in hiding until the day and they will stay fresher for longer.

Mother’s Day can be an exceptionally saddening day for those who have lost their mums. Adding some gorgeous fresh flowers to her grave or perhaps an artificial flower wreath to withstand the windy coast is a lovely heart warming gesture.

WRITE A WILL WHY YOU SHOULD

Making a Will advise from Avalon Legal

Having a Will in place before you die has so many benefits to you as well as your loved ones. We spoke to Avalon Legal to find out what these benefits are and when you should consider making a Will.

AVALON LEGAL – COLIN & K AREN WELLS

What are the key benefits of having a Will in place?

Writing a Will allows you to have control over what happens to your property, money and belongings after you die, leaving the estate to who you want to inherit, rather than those you do not which could happen under the rules of intestacy.

For example, Mrs Smith is estranged from her eldest child and does not want them to inherit. By making a

Will Mrs Smith can put this in a Will, however if she were to die without a Will then her estate could be divided equally between her children including the disinherited one or go to distant relatives with no claim on the inheritance.

When should you consider making a Will?

Ideally, you should write your Will at the earliest opportunity, for example leaving school and starting work or going to university at the age of 18, marriage, entering a civil partnership or even co-habiting, having children, buying property, divorce, re-marriage, death of a loved one, receiving inheritance or other form of major income. Statistically at least 60% of the UK population between the ages of 18 -80 DO NOT have a Will in place and fall into the realms of intestacy.