Southsea Lifestyle August / September 2023

Southsea LIFESTYLE

SOUTHSEA SUMMER

Photo: Zirrinia Austin

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CONTRIBUTORS

Kate Thompson is a Southsea writer with a passion for uncovering quirky human interest stories

Neil Maxwell is director of Fry & Kent Estate Agents, and a volunteer crew member of the RNLI

Elios Stone is a Southsea based holistic health practitioner, specialising in shadow work, nutrition and breathwork

Daniel Nowland has loved food his whole life, and spent ten years working as the Head of Technical for Jamie Oliver. He is now the owner of The Southsea Deli and organiser of supper clubs, work-shops, and other food events in Southsea

Elly Hughes is a food and lifestyle writer exploring Southsea for the best places to eat, play and stay, whilst serving up some delicious articles along the way. instagram.com/elly.in.southsea

Southsea Lifestyle

Produced by Salad Publishing Ltd

Editor: Kevin John Dean

Editorial assistant: Kai Austin Dean

Creative Director: Zirrinia Austin Dean

Social media: Urban Salt

Web design: Daniel Sweeney

CONTENTS

11 EMOTIONAL EATING? HERE’S HOW YOU CAN CHANGE

16 DOING THE RIGHT THING

24 ENCOURAGING ORACY IN SCHOOLS

31 VICTORIOUS FESTIVAL

34 SLOW LIVING IN SOUTHSEA

36 BUILDING ON A GREAT TRADITION

38 ESCAPE TO THE FARM

45 SOUTHSEA PLAY CAFE

46 THAI FISHCAKES

Southsea LIFESTYLE

The word community is a bit of a buzzword that seems to keep popping up in the media in various forms. There’s the ‘online community’, ’the sports community’,’the local community’ and ‘the wider community’. It’s one of those innocent words that could start to become annoying from overusage, which is why I have been searching for another word to describe the common theme throughout this issue. Which is all about our Southsea ‘society’ or ‘neighbourhood’ beginning with this year’s Victorious Festival, which has been revamped and now promises three full days of fun, from Friday 25th - Sunday 27th August with a very impressive line-up (p.31). Or how about Slow Living in Southsea, with a round-up of simple habits, or activities you can do this summer (p.34). Or read about how local historic buildings are being restored by people in… the local community (p.36) Okay, I give up, the word ‘community' is difficult to replace with another, I’ll just have to keep using it!

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Kevin John Dean

EMOTIONAL EATING? HERE’S HOW YOU CAN CHANGE

Elios Stone

You’ve probably heard so much about the impact of having “bad” relationships with food and the effect it can have on your life. Maybe you have experienced it yourself. Most of the “food” that you find on supermarket shelves isn’t food at all, and certainly is not nourishing.

When doing my degree in Nutrition in the early 2000s I learned how food is manipulated. Foods are made addictive! Do you use food to change your mood?

Emotional eating isn’t satisfying, it’s self-soothing. I had unhealthy rituals around food. Eating: takeaways, crisps, chocolate, you name it. All this to avoid certain emotions. Do you use food for emotional pleasure or to avoid certain feelings?

self-sabotage which draw you into eating things you know aren’t good for you.

The gut-mind has immense power. But eating habits are often influenced by subconscious elements. If you follow these feelings without first transforming learned behaviours it leads to emotional eating. How can you transform your emotional eating patterns?

Simple little steps that transform destructive eating patterns:

1 Eat without distraction. Turn off the TV and all devices.

2. Take a moment to feel grateful for the food before you eat.

3 Eat protein and fats first, then any “sweet” stuff afterwards. (Reduces dopamine response).

That’s a start. But, by deepening your level of self-inquiry, you can change your behaviours, release old patterns and emotional eating. Bringing balance to your relationship with food and to your life.

By utilising somatic breathwork and introspection your root patterns change forever. Then, the feedback from your body gets clearer and you can eat consciously and guilt-free.

Dieting can work in the short term, but doesn’t have medium or long-term benefits. The opposite is true. Yo-yo dieting is destructive and damaging to health. The Journal of Clinical nutrition states that after 1 year, only 6% of people maintained weight loss.

Failure can leave you feeling shame and regret. Even with the knowledge of how to eat optimally you can’t escape the patterns of emotional eating. You can’t go “cold turkey” on food addiction, without relapsing. It is extremely common to experience uncontrollable feelings of

“Feeling connected to my body has shown me I can stay in the moment. Not let my mind take over and to try to control situations. I can feel what I'm feeling, accept it and respond rather than react. This also seems to bring more awareness of my thoughts surrounding addiction, giving me a choice I didn’t know was available.” A, Southsea

Contact Elios: 07825 686065 or eliosstone33@gmail.com to book your free consultation.

DOING THE RIGHT THING

Neil Maxwell

With the recent interest hikes and threats of more to come it’s no surprise that the sales market has experienced a slowdown. As ever with this industry when sales go quiet, lettings pick-up and indeed many of our landlords have been achieving good levels of return on their investments.

Good news for landlords you might think? In fact, some landlords have decided that with the increasing interest rates and various tax changes that have taken place, their investments are no longer viable and are opting to sell. I appreciate, that from some people’s points of view, landlords selling may be a good thing, but it means tenants are faced with a dwindling choice of properties available to rent.

It means we are now facing an unprecedented demand for rental properties with the average number of enquiries for available rentals numbering in the hundreds! Apart from the human misery of not being able to offer people properties to rent, it’s difficult to know how we are to deliver an effective response to these enquiries and to keep our normal standards of customer service. Bear in mind, and I’m not looking for sympathy

here, but since the government ban on charging administration fees for the rental process, this process has become a huge cost to the business, particularly as we only need one tenant per property. We have therefore had to prioritise on a first come, first served, basis and to be as fair as we can to help those in the NHS, social service workers and those in the armed forces.

On the Sales front there are less buyers but those looking are making offers and very serious about moving so there are still sales being made. We haven’t seen dramatic drops in asking prices and offers are generally within 1 or 2% of the asking price but it is a time to be realistic with asking prices and making deals where possible, even if that means shaving a little off the next purchase to make it all work.

Estate agents don’t always get a good press, but the experience and knowledge of estate agents who have made a career in this industry are becoming increasingly important in order achieve the best price for selling, the best price for rental properties, and doing the right thing for our prospective tenants.

BEMBRIDGE CRESCENT, SOUTHSEA - £875,000

• Outstanding four/five-bedroom family residence in highly sought-after Craneswater Park location

• Spacious accommodation spanning almost 2,900 sq.ft (265 sq.m) over four floors

• Superbly presented with fabulous open plan kitchen, cinema room, landscaped garden, and off-road parking option.

EPC Rating C

NORFORK STREET, SOUTHSEA - £595,000

• Charming Grade II Listed Georgian Town House in King Street Conservation Area of Southsea

• Deceptively large interior with two reception rooms, spacious kitchen/dining room, and separate living room

• Original features, courtyard, and cottage garden with gated rear access

EPC Rating Exempt

CRANESWATER PARK, SOUTHSEA - £850,000

• Outstanding penthouse apartment with panoramic views of Canoe Lake, Seafront, and City Skyline

• Spacious lounge/dining room with triple aspect windows and access to roof terrace

• Three double bedrooms, modern en-suite, two garages, allocated parking space, and communal heating system

EPC Rating TBC

‘Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted a career that involved food and wine. After I left university I got a great job, working for the Sunday Times Wine Club — I phoned club members, chatted about the latest wines and if I was lucky, people added them to their order. Later I lived in Spain where I was fascinated to learn all about the different vineyards and how a subtle change of soil, temperature or moisture can affect the taste of wine,’ explained George. Moving on, he spent some twenty years working in the restaurant sector, including general manager and regional manager of the chain Las Iguanas.

But at the back of George’s mind, was a business of his own, a business that had wine as its main focus… step forward Crushed and Cured, which he opened last November. ‘In my travels, I’d seen a few shops that sold wine, along with some well curated food, charcuterie and cheese’. Apart from selling bottles of wine (and craft beer), from across the world at various price points, people can come for wine tasting evenings. ‘I like to offer wines from one country per month, so far, we’ve had wines from France, Italy, Australia, Chile, and England. People drink the wines and I chat about the producing

George Bovill talks to Southsea Lifestyle about his fascination for wine and his long-held ambition to open his own business… Crushed and Cured.

country/region, where and how the wine is made, flavour and aromatic profiles, but in a way that’s unassuming and straightforward, I can’t stand all the pretentiousness that so often surrounds the wine industry! People can book a private evening, with their friends or family, including charcuterie and cheese, I

can cater for 6 – 14 guests.

‘Crushed & Cured also offers a selection of wines by the glass to enjoy; usually 6 reds, 6 whites and an orange wine. These change every month so there is always something new and exciting to try, accompanied by a small menu of British & Continental charcuterie and cheese and selection of small plates, all at affordable prices in a relaxed and cosy atmosphere, with low lighting and quiet music. The public tasting events are sold out until the end of this year, so it’s worth checking our website regularly to book a spot,’ said George who is obviously delighted that his dream of having his own business, is starting to come true ‘Ultimately, it’s all about great wine and good food,’ said George.

Opening hours: 10.30am-9pm Tues & Weds 10.30-11pm. Sun 11am-5pm Thurs, Fri & Sat

www.crushedandcured.co.uk

info@crushedandcured.co.uk

60c Victoria Road South, Southsea PO5 2BT.

Tel: 023 92178391

NESBITS

Jackie Evans

Idon’t know if you’re a film fan but in the classic movie Papillon, there’s a wonderful line where Steve McQueen looks out his cell porthole and says to a fellow inmate “How do I look?” You may be wondering why I’m opening with this but a good question people are asking of the property market is “How do I look?” What sort of condition is the market in?

Never a day goes by where the media isn’t speculating on the property market, interest rates seem to be going up monthly! It’s been a tough start to the year. Prices have gone down slightly and, as seems to be the case for the past couple of years, sales that are progressing are doing so very slowly. Buyers seem to be in short supply as the cost of finance is, for some, prohibitive at this time. However, it’s not all bad news. We are still selling. Where vendors are choosing to be pragmatic with their sale prices, we are seeing this rewarded with early interest from buyers. There never has been a time where realism is more needed. Last year’s break in Stamp Duty artificially inflated the market resulting in a scramble for properties which led to lots of buyers being disappointed. This year’s more realistic property market allows buyers to perhaps negotiate in their favour without the

unnecessary bidding against others and the risk of losing out.

Is now a good time to sell? If you are looking to match last year’s levels, then perhaps not. Consider also that the price of what you are selling will be offset against the price of what you are buying. For some, selling is a necessity because of a variety of factors; new job, bigger property, smaller property, relocation etc.

Should we be putting prices on property that have absolutely no chance of being achieved? Definitely not!

We are seeing quite a number of properties that are being reduced on the property portals and once a property has been on the market for a lengthy period of time, it is more difficult to sell. There is an optimum time for success to be achieved — when a property is first launched to the market. The longer a property remains unsold, the more ‘stale’ it becomes, and the harder it is to sell.

In any market it is vital that vendors seek proper professional advice. In the current market, this is doubly true.

I can’t leave without letting you know the response to Steve McQueen’s question… ”You look swell, just swell”.

Jackie Evans has been with Nesbits for 24 years, with the company celebrating over 100 years of trading. Contact the team to discuss your property journey today.

ENCOURAGING ORACY IN SCHOOLS

Jane Prescott

There is a drive to embed speaking skills within education curriculums. Schools concentrate more on literacy and numeracy, especially at primary level, and even at secondary school there is little formal assessment of oracy. Yet very few once in gainful employment write essays as part of their day-to-day, but most employees use verbal communication skills all the time. Developing in children the ability to speak coherently and fluently is important.

Schools encourage the skill of oracy which goes beyond just developing the confidence to speak within the classroom, for example, by engineering question and answer sessions where all participants respectfully listen and contribute. Competitions which offer the chance to debate, discuss and present also help build skills. Conversation is complex and the rules surrounding interactions, not that easy to grasp. Schools can create situations where conversation skills are rehearsed. At Portsmouth High School, for example, form captain lunches provide this opportunity, along with networking careers’ events. Smart phones have affected the number of opportunities to converse and interactions take place via messaging which include emojis and other ways to express emotion but this is not a replacement for a face-to-face discussion. At home having no mobile phone

allowed rules at the meal table, for example, encourages conversation. Talking when on journeys is another valuable use of time for a chat.

Non-verbal cues also help interactions such as tone of voice or use of facial expression. Eye contact is an important part of communication along with nodding. Knowing the questions to ask to keep conversation flowing is something to be taught and the common topics useful for creating a discussion. These skills are developed across the curriculum, but notably in subjects such as drama and musical theatre and in co-curricular clubs.

It might seem obvious but developing a wide-ranging vocabulary helps improve the quality of conversation and speaking. Being able to express yourself clearly and fluently is an advantage when being interviewed, for example, or in other situations where the power of persuasion is needed – for example in sales-type employment.

Schools concentrate on writing skills and this is important and through reading written expression and vocabulary is improved. However, becoming fluent when speaking is equally important. Schools play a huge part in this development by offering a variety of opportunities to speak which increases confidence and encourages even the quietest and most reticent to participate.

Headmistress Jane Prescott

DRAWING ON EXPERT ADVICE

We love to work with locally based experts to ensure our homebuyers get the best possible service, and Brian Masters at Fast Calc Ltd, specialist structural engineers, is a shining example. His association with Chinneck Shaw goes back many years, meeting Neil Shaw Senior back in 1979 when Brian was working in the engineering department at Portsmouth City Council and Neil was with the city estates team.

“He was a true gentleman and when he told me he was going to buy Chinneck’s, I was really pleased for him.

“I left the council and taught at the

Southampton Institute before setting up Fast Calc in 2002.

“And I’ve been working with Chinneck Shaw on and off since 2005,” he said.

Cracking in buildings is Brian’s field of expertise and when the Chinneck Shaw team needs expert advice on a property, Brian is the man they call. It doesn’t take long for prospective homeowners looking at property in Southsea to come across the term, the Great Morass.

Brian explained it was an old creek, probably fed by springs and the infill for the creek extends some 20 metres.

Canoe Lake is part of the Little Morass and the upshot is that the Great Morass can cause instability in foundations.

Having Brian on hand is definitely comforting, as he has an expert understanding of the geography covered by the Little Morass and Great Morass and how to find solutions.

The effects of bombing during World War II can also still be seen in Portsmouth.

“We’ve got maps of the bomb sites but basically every area of the city was affected.

“We are still seeing the effects of bomb

damage from the second world war. A bomb fell outside St Cuthberts Church and it knocked the ceilings and windows out of the house that I now own in Baffins and it was 200 yards away,” he said.

“Drainage failure will be the most common reason for cracking in Southsea,” said Brian.

“I get two to three mortgage reports a week on houses that are cracking and I always say to look for drainage failure.

“Often but not always, it is easy to sort and you can repair drains by lining them without escalating them. Often for less than £5,000 these issues can be resolved,” he said.

Victorious returns this month for the August Bank Holiday weekend (25th-27th August), with an even bigger line-up and three full days! Huge headliners Jamiroquai, Kasabian and Mumford & Sons top an impressive bill including British Mercur y Prize winners Alt-J, Raye, Kaiser Chiefs, Ben Howard, DJ legend Pete Tong who will deliver his Ibiza Classics with the Essential Orchestra, Sigrid, Ellie Goulding, Natalie Imbruglia and so much more!

It’s a good job it’s a Bank Holiday! Victorious has so much to do as the ultimate family-friendly, music fans festival, with over 13 stages packed with entertainment There is more than just the music; take your mini festival goer to our Kids Arena filled with FREE activities, then stop by Southsea Skatepark for a roller disco! Have a laugh at our comedy a nd cabaret big top with performances from famous comedians including Omid Djalili, Jason Manford and Dara O Briain Stop by the perfect sundowner spot at Southsea Castle Shop for the perfect festival souvenir amongst tons of unique market stalls and visit the World Music Village to be transported across the globe Plus loads more!

Victorious is always finding ways to give back to the community. Last year they introduced Neighbourhood

Eats, an area dedicated to showcasing the city’s amazing local businesses which offered subsidized pitches to those in the PO postcode Victorious has taken this a step further and this year introduced The People’s Choice Award An online vote was held for people to choose their favourite local catering business to win a FREE pitch in the Neighbourhood Eats area! Family-run food truck Cornish Cookhouse was chosen this year, so will be bringing their tasty, fresh street food to Victorious this Summer! Make sure you ’ re hungr y for this year ’ s festival so you can enjoy the delicious range of food on offer!

Big News! Victorious has recently launched a new app! Download it to start planning your incredible weekend at Victorious 2023! Check out the line-up times and build your own schedule so you don't miss a moment of music, read all about the amazing artists and entertainers performing across our 13+ stages! Plus, the site map will be coming soon!

If you ’d like to find out more, please visit www victoriousfestival co uk or check out their new column in Portsmouth News

Remaining day and weekend tickets are available at victoriousfestival.co.uk

BESPOKE PARENTING SOLUTIONS

° Are you and your family sleep deprived?

° Is you little one’s behaviour affecting family life?

° Are you feeling the pressure of potty training?

Hi, I’m Lucy and I am a certified Parenting Coach based in Southsea. I’ve been lucky enough to have worked in childcare for over 30 years in some amazing roles with children of all ages. I offer parents clear, straightforward advice on topics including toddler behaviour, sleep, and potty training all of which are based around my ethos of gentle and responsive parenting. Having been a nanny for many years I have experienced first-hand just how stressful everyday parenting challenges can be, and the toll it can take on the whole family. It can be really difficult to know what to do for the best when you’re sleep deprived, stressed and having to juggle work and family life, and that is why I set up my coaching business. I love helping parents get to the bottom of what is causing their

email: l l l

particular struggle and above all, finding a solution!

My services include one-to-one support, workshops and webinars and I work both locally and remotely. If you have any questions then please get in touch, I'd love to hear from you. To arrange your free, no obligation chat scan the QR code below. When you are ready, I am here to help.

www.lsparentingcoach.co.uk

info@lsparentingcoach.co.uk

BESPOKE PARENTING SOLUTIONS

Certified parenting coach based in Southsea with 30 plus years experience specialising in:

° Baby & Child Sleep

° Behaviour

° Positive Parenting

° Potty Training

CONTACT

info@lsparentingcoach.co.uk Tel: 07968 203527

SLOW LIVING IN SOUTHSEA

Elly Hughes

The act of ‘slow living’ has become a popular topic of conversation in recent months.

It highlights the simple habits we can adopt to enjoy a calmer, more mindful lifestyle, in turn alleviating some of the pressures that come hand-in-hand with a fast-paced world. It’s all about embracing the little pockets of peace away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life

HERE ARE A FEW WAYS YOU CAN LIVE SLOWER IN SOUTHSEA THIS SUMMER: THE COAST WITH THE MOST

It’s no secret that sea air can do wonderful things for us humans; from long walks along the shoreline, to basking in the sunshine with a good book (or the latest issue of Southsea Lifestyle Magazine!).

You can even rent a bicycle and take advantage of the fantastic cycle paths adjacent to the promenade. Enjoy the beautiful beaches of Eastney, or wander up to Southsea Castle, steeped in Tudor history, with routes to Old Portsmouth, offering a stunning backdrop of the Solent.

BE KIND TO YOUR BODY AND MIND

Gentle exercise can be a fantastic way of promoting mindfulness and calm; whether you’re just spending five minutes stretching in your garden, or going for a run in one of the many green spaces across the town.

There are plenty of local groups that organise a number of regular activities; from

paddleboarding and sea swimming, to outdoor fitness classes and garden yoga; so you can try something new and meet like-minded people at the same time.

GET CREATIVE

Engaging in arts and crafts can be a great way of taking some time to yourself, whilst experimenting with hobbies that you may not have considered before.

There are plenty of creative workshops hosted across Southsea, from painting and pottery, to photography and writing groups, there’s even several book clubs, so if you want to dabble in something different, you won’t be short on choice.

CHOOSE NUTRITION

Did you know that eating local honey is a great way to combat hayfever? This is just one of many examples showcasing the power of food.

We are fortunate enough to have an abundance of fantastic restaurants, cafes, coffee shops and markets dotted across Southsea, with a wide range of specialties, including fantastic plant-based eateries.

It’s never been easier to find something to your taste, whilst supporting our valuable independent businesses this summer.

Keep an eye on our website southsealifestyle.com for more information about things happening around Southsea this summer.

BUILDING ON A GREAT TRADITION

Kate Thompson

Ashortage of heritage skills required to safeguard the very fabric of historic buildings was the starting point for a creative solution that has been developed with help of Southsea-based Conservation Architect, Deniz Beck. Her passion for old military structures made her very aware of the issues facing these fascinating structures and by creating a community workforce armed with craft skills, she hopes they will be saved for generations to come to enjoy.

“In Portsmouth we are lucky to have so many amazing military buildings but the conservation costs can often put them at risk.

“Preserving these local historic buildings often involves dealing with massive structures. Fort Widley alone is built with nearly a billion bricks. Conservation and/or restoration of such vast and complex buildings, which often require traditional crafts skills, is costly,” she explained.

A recent pilot course organised and delivered by Sustainable Conservation (https://www.sustainableconservationtrust.com/) for local charity staff, volunteers, and conservation architecture students from the University of Portsmouth reconnected local communities with traditional craft skills and allowed them to learn about hands-on

heritage asset maintenance.

It proved so successful, that another two-day course is planned in September and local people with an interest in old buildings and building companies who want to learn more about heritage skills are being encouraged to get involved.

“The ultimate goal of the Widley Learning Centre project is to build a local community of skilled heritage maintenance task force through learning and training to undertake repairs of their local buildings like Fort Widley.

“Such skill acquisition has also the potential to improve well-being for the entire community and offer job and career opportunities,” said Deniz, who has led her own architectural design practice since 2012 and is a parttime lecturer at the University of Portsmouth School of Architecture.

Engaging local communities in heritage building crafts works on so many levels. It aids: decarbonization of the environment by using natural materials, reducing waste, empowerment of women in taking up skills traditionally regarded as a male domain and improving access to training in crafts skills to cultural minority groups, she added.

The course in brickwork masonry and repair starts with the basics: lime mortar maintenance, which is an ancient, sustainable, and costeffective traditional building method.

Sadly it has been largely forgotten in modern times, despite some of the world’s oldest and most iconic structures dating back to around 6,500 BC in the Indus valley region (present day Pakistan) and the pyramids in Egypt built around 2500 BC, being known to have the first traces of lime mortar.

“The challenges faced in sustaining heritage buildings are not unique to Portsmouth, and are faced by many other heritage sites across the UK and beyond. However, the training and the willingness of volunteers to be involved in sustaining their local cultural and historical heritage by learning intangible skills could prove to be the perfect solution.

The next two-day course will run on September 22nd-23rd and will focus on lime mortar repairs. To find out more about getting involved email info@sustainableconservationtrust.com

ESCAPE TO THE FARM

Afamily friendly Retreat inspired Festival set in the beautiful barn and woodland areas of Rushmere Farm in Hambledon. A day of workshops, well-being, vegan food, acoustic music, poetry and kids activities all to raise money for the charity Arms Around the Child - 9th September.

After a long and busy summer, we all need that perfect wind-down to recharge and ease back into the flow of Autumn. Escape from the city for the weekend and join us for a magical, intimate and unique experience on a rural organic farm immersed in the countryside.

Connect with nature, replenish the soul with mindfulness and the arts, enjoy a holistic day of wellness, and feel the wholeness of community and family.

by artists, practitioners, creatives and communities from in and around Hampshire. Start the day with family Mediation, Yoga, Sound Healing and Tai-Chi sessions. Express yourself and join us for Environmental Discussions, Drum Workshops and Ecstatic Dance. Try your hand at Food Workshops including Pizza Making. Enjoy the power of words with Poetry in the Woods. Listen to beautiful Acoustic Music performances throughout the day with a whole line-up of acts from Country to Blues, Jazz to Folk. Relax and cap off the evening round the Camp Fire with Storytelling, Marshmallows, Hot Chocolates and Acoustic Jams.

There will also be a Creative Circle with fun activities for Kids. Children can get involved in painting and drawing workshops, enjoy laughter and fun with Puppet Shows and Storytelling, stay active with Kids Yoga, and get messy with Face Painting and Glitter. Kids under 14 are Free!

The wonderful Hungry Herbivores will be offering wholesome, healthy and vegan Lunch and Dinner. Enjoy a delicious Mezze plate for Lunch and an Indian inspired Thali plate for Dinner. You can select Lunch and Dinner as part of your ticket for just £20. There will also be a Bar serving refreshments, cakes, beers, wines, cocktails and mocktails.

ACCOMMODATION

You can join us for the weekend! Camping spots are available from Thursday-Saturday Night for £15 per pitch a night.

PROGRAMME

We have an incredible programme of activities led

Rushmere Farm also has bespoke accommodation options. There are 3 beautiful Modern Cottages, a Woodland Yurt, Farmyard Yurt and a Shepherds Hut. The accommodation has to be hired for 3-nights ThuSat Night. You can enjoy a relaxing countryside break then join us for the activities on Saturday. Rushmere Farm have kindly offered friendly rates on their accommodation for the Escape to the Farm Fundraiser. *Limited number available, Book Soon.

CHARITY

Arms Around the Child helps children living in adversity in Africa, India and the UK. Bringing together beautiful people and communities in Hampshire for this holistic festival we hope to raise some vital funds for AATC. Our support will help fund their programmes providing children loving homes, care, education, medicine, nutrition and hope for brighter futures.

Rushmere Farm is a working organic farm in Hambledon that grows food sustainably whilst maintaining and conserving a place for wildlife. They also run Workshops from Spoon Carving to Stool Making and have beautiful accommodation for nature getaways. They run monthly workshops with refugees and have been incredibly kind in supporting Escape to the Farm. Rushmere Farm are developing a unique approach to ecologically sustainable farming and having a positive impact on the environment and community.

Full Line-up and Programme to be released soon.

Rainproof Event: Marquees and Indoor Space at the ready.

£25 Day Ticket

£45 Day Ticket + Lunch & Dinner

£15 Camping Per tent per night

Tickets:

https://armsaroundthechild.enthuse.com/Escape2Farm

Accommodation:

https://armsaroundthechild.enthuse.com/accom modationE2F

HANNAH BIRD TALKS TO SOUTHSEA LIFESTYLE ABOUT

TAKING OVER ONE OF SOUTHSEA’S OLDEST BUSINESSES, PERCY HARRISON OPTICIANS

‘Percy Harrison Opticians has been the name over this shop for over 100 years, so it seemed a bit presumptuous to change it when I took over,’ laughed Hannah, who bought the business in September last year. ‘I used to work at an opticians in Chichester, where I also studied to become a fully qualified dispensing optician in 2019. I studied in my own time, whist bringing up my then, one-year old daughter Bella. Bella is one of the reasons I bought this practice, because, apart from wanting to create an enjoyable place to work, I’d also love my daughter to take over the business one day… let’s see what happens,’ said Hannah with a grin.

‘Of course, a great deal has changed in optics over the past 100 years, with the development of lenses, lens materials, frames, and state of the art equipment. Since I purchased the practice, we’ve introduced new and exciting eyewear brands, carefully curated from independent manufacturers all over the world. In fact, we try to guide people when choosing glasses, so that the prescription, lenses, frame,

Hannah Bird FBDO

face and lifestyle all work together. It’s a very thorough and personal service, and this is what makes us different: we spend a lot of time with our patients to ensure a meticulous inspection of their eyes and that all of their visual requirements are met.

‘Having taken over such a long-established practice, it does mean we have lots of loyal patients, including some who came here for their eye test as children and are now in their 90s. Since taking over, the staff have remained with me as well, each are experts in their field. Ian for example has 40 years, experience, and is a dispensing optician, Ian and Ceri (one of our optometrists) joined our existing team after the closure of Portsmouth University Eye Clinic. Eleanor (another of our optometrists) has worked with us for around a year now and has developed some lovely relationships with our patients. She is incredibly thorough and experienced, and has a background in Medical Science. Not forgetting Berenice, our amazing receptionist who puts all our clients at their ease. It’s a great team, offering a great service. Between our professional team, we have a joint experience of around 100 yearsalmost the age of our practice!

‘We accept outside prescriptions if clients wish to book in for a dispensing consultation. We also offer an eyecare plan which runs alongside our NHS contract to enable us to offer eyecare that falls outside of the NHS entitlement at an affordable rate. There are several other benefits that come with the plan’.

Percy Harrison

117 Elm Grove Southsea PO5 1LH 023 9282 6831

https://percyharrisonopticians.co.uk

THE GOODS YARD

SOUTHSEA PLAY CAFE

Elly Hughes

Southsea Play Cafe has already become a celebrated addition to our town, run by two fantastic mums who truly understand the value in being able to enjoy a cup of coffee while it’s still hot!

Independent businesses are at the heart of everything the cafe does, with merchandise available from Craft & Tonic, Wooden Wife, Rainbow Child, Home Spa, All Better Club, Edith & Blanche and Mumma’s Little Cub.

Toddlers and young children can fully immerse themselves in exciting role play activities in the scaleddown Southsea shops; from having a pamper at Hair Junction or Baker Miller Nails to serving up some healthy treats at #PositiveEats; there’s even the option to get into construction with Yard Boiz, or pop on a wash at Southsea Laundry Co.

I love that Southsea Play Cafe has built an environment that creates the positive narrative that a child can do, or be, whatever they choose, with the right tools and a little imagination.

MONTESSORI-INSPIRED PLAY

Open-ended play is a fantastic way for children to develop all-important life skills in a leisurely way, this is highlighted in a number of facilities across the cafe, including a baby sensory room, a cosy corner with wooden toys, and climbing frames. There are also plenty of books if you fancy a snuggle and a read on one of the comfortable sofas.

SUPPORTING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS

With an eclectic mix of parental education and wellbeing classes taking place throughout the year, Southsea Play Cafe is fast becoming a hub for caregivers to tap into the abundance of local resources, from breastfeeding support to hypnobirthing and child first aid, with plenty more planned for the future.

HEALTHY EATING

The narrative of supporting local businesses extends into the food and drink on offer, with a delicious menu bursting with seasonal, healthy light bites and snacks, including a selection of cakes from local bakeries, and coffee provided by Broadway Coffee Roasters.

The inclusive menu also considers those with allergies and dietary requirements, with plenty of vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options.

It has become a firm favourite for us as a family, and I believe it will continue to be an amazing lifeline for many new, and existing, parents across Southsea and beyond.

Southsea Play Cafe can be found at 71 Osbourne Street and is open 8.30am - 4pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am - 3pm on weekends. Prices range from £1-£6 for a onehour slot.

THAI FISHCAKES

Daniel Nowland

Unlike the comfort food cravings during the dark winter months, I find myself craving colourful, fresh, and healthier options during the summer. There is probably also an element of wanting to eat a little better when there’s a chance you’ll be on the beach in your swim shorts?

When thinking of fresh and colourful, I am sure lots of us think of salads and also fish. I love this combination in Asian food, whether it’s Malaysian fish curry, Japanese style soft shell crab, or Thai style fishcakes — if you like seafood and spice you can be spoiled for choice.

point at other guests’ meals you liked the look of. You’d often have to turn a blind eye to the hygiene rating, but instead be reassured by the freshness and high turnover in the kitchen!

I’ve spent a lot of time in Asia for work in the past, and was lucky enough to visit amazing small restaurants in the sticks in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. For me, the best meals were often in the small shabby venues with no menus, but instead you’d

We are lucky to have some fabulous Thai restaurants in Southsea including the longestablished Lins Thai Cafe on Elm Grove and the tranquil Fah Thai on Albert Road, among others. Thai is a cuisine that can seem daunting to cook, but can actually be very simple if you’re armed with lots of fresh herbs and chillies!

At my cookery school I’ve been running Thai fishcake workshops for a few years now, and guests are always pleasantly surprised by how easy they are to make. I’ve included the recipe below in case you want to try it at home. I like to serve them with a crunchy salad and some sticky rice, but you can even

put them inside a baguette along with some mayo and lettuce for a super tasty lunch!

FOR TWO PEOPLE:

2 fresh salmon fillets

1 egg, whisked

1 tbsp cornflour

½ red chilli

1 garlic clove

½ stick lemongrass

1 tsp fish sauce

Small handful fine green beans (ideally around 6)

Small handful coriander, finely chopped, including the stalks

Remove the skin from your salmon fillets and finely chop them into a small dice size. Putting half the salmon in a mixing bowl, chop/mash the other half down further until it resembles a paste.

Finely chop the chilli, garlic and lemongrass and add to the mixing bowl along with all of the

salmon. Finely chop your green beans and add them to the bowl, along with all of the other ingredients, and mix thoroughly for a couple of minutes to combine.

Heat a large frying pan over a medium heat with a glug of oil. Use a tablespoon to transfer the mix to the hot pan as separate spoonfuls, allowing each spoonful to have a little space between them. Press the mix down lightly to create a flat surface. The small fishcakes will need 2-3 minutes on each side. Don’t try to turn them too soon as they could stick. Allow them to develop a golden crust before turning and they’ll be easy to handle.

Toi et Moi – By Barbara Tipple

You and Me

Ilove the rich symbolism behind this engagement ring. Napoleon Bonaparte proposed to Josephine de Beauharnais in 1796 with a beautiful Toi et Moi ring, featuring a pear-shaped sapphire and diamond.

The Toi et Moi design features two gemstones of choice which are positioned side by side to symbolise the meeting of two souls. These rings are not limited to an engagement ring. They can be given as an anniversary ring representing two people standing side by side through time. Or to celebrate the birth of a child. They can be given to celebrate any bond between two souls.

Famous people who have favoured this meaningful ring are Ariana Grande, Jackie Kennedy and Emily

Ratajkowski, to name a few. There is a myriad of ways a Toi et Moi ring can be designed from contrasting colours, shapes, sizes to classic pairing of twin diamonds.

I have recently acquired two incredibly rare, old-cut fancy intense, yellow pear shapes. Each weighing 1 carat. These are destined for a Toi et Moi ring along with a new collection of Toi et Moi’s that I will be showcasing in the coming months.

Barbara Tipple Jewellers has a vast collection of coloured gemstones. The idea of choosing your stones and having a ring designed is very special. Please visit Barbara Tipple Jewellers where we will be happy to assist you in designing the perfect Toi et Moi ring.

A rare matching pair of beautifully polished old cut intense fancy yellow pear-shaped diamonds