VOLUME NUMBER 2
JUNE 2018
Seashore
CREATIVE
WELCOME
Welcome to our latest Seashore Creative magazine, if you haven’t discovered us yet Seashore Creative is a celebration of all things coastal; places to stay, events, markets. Delightful and hidden little coastal shops and galleries, coastal interiors inspiration, showing how to create the spirit of the sea in your home. Family holidays by the sea and ways of encouraging your children to develop a love of the outdoors and playing safely by the sea. It’s also a place inspire creativity. The weather has been interesting this year, we have had beautiful days of sunshine, followed by mist,rain and fog, but we are an optimistic team here at Seashore Creative and we know that particularly by the coast, the mist and fog can be burnt off by the hottest sunshine and the clouds can be blown away by bracing winds, the secret is to be prepared for all weathers but recognise that nothing is quite as uplifting as the air and the views by the coast. We love discovering new places to stay by the coast and In this issue we have a wonderful collection of delightful places to stay, where you can be sure of a very warm welcome.If you cannot visit the coast you can always create a coastal feeling in your home, we include a selection of beautiful coastal inspired interiors. A huge thank you to: Miranda Dickinson Paula Clark Rachel Thomas for taking the time to share their inspiration with us. Finally if you are getting ready for your holiday, we have some ideas for what you might like to pack in your suitcase, or read on your holiday. Thank you for reading, enjoy your weekend! www.seashorecreative.co.uk Images throughout the magazine supplied by the various companies, or publishers featured.
Please Note All information about products and services are supplied to us by the individual organizations, or agencies acting on their behalf. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, it may be subject to change. Inclusion in this magazine does not imply endorsement by Seashore Creative. Seashore Creative does not accept responsibility for the content of any external site. The views and opinions expressed by the individual companies, agencies and other contributors are theirs alone and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Seashore Creative.
CONTENTS
6
INTERVIEW - MIRANDA DICKINSON
20 INTERVIEW - PAULA CLARK 32 IS IT THE CAMERA, OR IS IT THE EYE? 42 SEIZE THE MOMENT 50 INTERVIEW - RACHEL THOMAS 54 TOP READS FOR SUMMER 58 GET READY FOR SUMMER
3
Toad Hall Cottages
For nearly 30 years, we’ve been helping guests find the perfect Westcountry holiday cottages. With over got something for everyone. We can even accommodate your four-legged friend as over half of our prope hearing from you. www.toadhallcottages.co.uk
700 properties throughout Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset and the New Forest, we’ve erties welcome dogs. Visit our website or give us a call on 01548 202020 – we look forward to
Interview Miranda Dickinson, Author
Can you tell us a little bit about how you first started writing? I always wrote stories as a child. They never got past Chapter One, but in my head they were great epics! In my teens I first started writing longer fiction but shelved it when a bloke I fancied told me it was a childish thing to do… Moral of this story: never listen to guys you fancy when you’re 18. They know nothing! I wrote other things at university and into my twenties – scripts, diaries, short stories – and then when I was in my late twenties I was given a very old, very cranky PC and started to write what eventually became my first novel, Fairytale of New York. I wrote the kind of story I wanted to read, just for me, so it’s amazing that it was discovered on a website for unpublished authors, was published and went on to be a bestseller in four countries! We absolutely love Somewhere Beyond the Sea – what gave you the inspiration for the story? Thank you! I adore Cornwall and St Ives in particular. It’s the place I feel happiest and is incredibly important to my family, too. I’ve always wanted to set a story here but I knew it had to be special to do the place justice.
7
Then, two years ago on our wedding anniversary, we were staying in St Ives and my lovely husband, Bob, got up early and made a heart out of seaglass, driftwood, seaweed and shells on Porthgwidden Beach for me to find. That inspired the seaglass stars that Seren and Jack make on Gwithian Beach in the story. I also wanted to write a proper love story. In my two previous novels, A Parcel for Anna Browne and Searching for a Silver Lining, the love story has been secondary to what my main characters learn about themselves. I love that, but I had a hankering to write a will-theywon’t-they story again. Two people falling (or not falling) in love, surrounded by the sea and the most beautiful place on earth was just too good to resist!
Your passion for St Ives shines throughout the book and particularly with Miranda’s Guide to St Ives at the back. If you could have lived in St Ives at any time in its history when would that have been and what would you like to have been doing? What a great question! I’d love to live in St Ives right now because it’s such a vibrant, fun community and I love all the independent businesses that make the town such a special place to be. But I would also have loved to live there in the 1930s – 1950s when the St Ives School of artists was established, with Barbara Hepworth, Bernard Leach and Ben Nicholson all living and working in the town. I would love to have studied art alongside them. It’s easy to see why St Ives became such a magnet for artists and creative people – beauty is everywhere you look and it’s such an inspirational location.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers about how to get your manuscript in front of the right people? Firstly, dare to get your manuscript out there. Sharing your work with other people is terrifying, but the only way you learn to be a better writer. I started a blog for my short stories, joined an online writers’ community (because I didn’t know any writing groups in my area) and looked for any opportunity to get my writing seen. Secondly, look for the agents and publishers of authors you admire. You can usually find this in the acknowledgements of their books (I thank everyone who works on my books in mine!) Thirdly – but probably most importantly – make sure your manuscript is ready to be seen. The first three chapters – which is usually what agents ask to see – should be as compelling and polished as you can get them. Lastly, make sure you believe wholeheartedly in your book because from the moment you share it with someone else you have to champion your words.
You have been very successful in your chosen careers. Do you have any unfulfilled ambitions? Lots! I would love to see my books adapted as films or TV series. That’s always been my dream. I’d love to see how someone else interprets the story I’ve created. I’m also a singer-songwriter, so I would love to perform on a really big stage with an orchestra – somewhere like the Symphony Hall in Birmingham, which is my favourite concert venue. And – bit of a daft one – I would love to one day meet someone cosplaying one of my characters at a fan convention!
When you are not writing what do you do to relax? I love walking with my family – and if that can be by the sea, so much better! I try to get to St Ives whenever I can, but there are lots of gorgeous places to visit nearer my home. Music is very important to me, so I always have some playing. And I love losing myself in a great book – I’m an avid reader and love curling up with someone else’s words when I’m not writing my own!
Somewhere Beyond the Sea is published by Pan Macmillan on 14th June, and is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook. All images © Miranda Dickinson
9
Carbis Bay Holidays
Carbis Bay Holidays specialise in luxury 4 & 5 star self catering accommodation in St Ives and Carbis Bay, they are proud to offer a selection of over 150 properties. Short breaks available. enquiries@carbisbayholidays.co.uk 01736 630015 www.carbisbayholidays.co.uk
11
Number One Dart Ma
Number One Dart Marina is an exquisite home in a breath-taking location by the River Dart in Dartmouth within a few steps of Dart Marina Hotel & Spa, perfect for a getaway, see more at www.dartmarina.com/number-one
arina
h, Devon. For an exclusive destination with a stunning combination of views, luxury and style,
13
Coastal Cottages
Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire have over 500 cosy, family and dog friendly cottages nestled along th which to discover the beauty of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. A unique concierge service enab hampers on arrival to in-cottage private dining to ensure its memorable! To Book Call 01437 765765 www.coastalcottages.co.uk
he Pembrokeshire Coastline, which provide a perfect location from bles you to add those extra special touches to your holiday from
15
Garden Trading
The Garden Trading collection embraces a clean, practical and uncluttered lifestyle. Combining classic m the home and garden adds distinctive style in any setting. www.gardentrading.co.uk
materials with innovative designs; the range of contemporary lighting and timeless furniture for
17
LSA International
Discover LSA International’s Hint collection - an elegant range of mouthblown drinkware characterised b www.lsa-international.com
by refined shapes with a hint of pale colour.
19
What inspired you to set up cocoon&me? After working as a Creative director and Knitwear designer in the fashion industry all my career, in 2016, I decided to take a “Grown -up” gap year. Rather than travel the world, I returned to my creative routes and decided to follow my long-held dream of running my own business and cocoon&me was born. From the very start, the aim has been to create a brand of beautiful things for like-minded people whilst at all times respecting the people and planet that we all rely upon. You came from a creative background, how much has this helped in stimulating your own creativity? I fell in love with all things creative at a very young age, drawing at a desk whilst my artist mother worked in her Covent Garden studio in the 1970s. Growing up in an environment buzzing with creativity, art and design is second nature to me. Undoubtedly this inspired me to follow in her footsteps, enjoying the creative process. What are some of the most popular designs that you offer? One of my first commissions was for a local Arts and Culture Cafe; I created 15 Giant rope plant hangers, which along with the planting have become iconic to the Cafe. These continue to be a great seller for me - I think it’s because of the contemporary chunky scale and the fact that they can work both inside & outside. They have been bought privately, sold to interior & garden designers, stocked in florist & interior shops as well as commissioned for cafes, pubs, & modern offices. I think they have a nod to the current 70’s macramé trend and also a renaissance of the popularity of plants. More recently I have been up-cycling brightly coloured pom poms sourced through a friend who deals with fair trade goods from Mexico. My most popular product and the recent Artist Open Houses in Brighton were my crochet cocoon wall vases with pom pom and tassel details. Colour is selling well at the moment, which is what happens when money is tight and we need something to lift our spirits. You seem to have a tremendous energy, what advice would you have for others looking to set up their own business? I suppose the energy comes from really enjoying what I do. Creating new products, then following this through to the photographic styling & ultimately seeing them bought and in their new homes is all very inspiring. It’s also really rewarding being your own boss & being able to make your own decisions, building a brand that reflects you but also appeals to different people. You live in a beautiful part of the country, what do love most about where you live? I’ve always lived near water, either beside the Thames in my early years when I lived in London or by the sea having spent part of my childhood in Whitstable. I love what Brighton has to offer everyone that lives and visits. A buzzing city, sea to the south & country side to the north - for me this is the perfect blend. When you are not working what do you do to relax? Relax? I like travelling, eating good food, going to gigs, dancing, hanging out with friends and family - the normal stuff. But I always have a creative project on the go, so to the outsider it looks like I’m not relaxing but I find making very therapeutic, and therefore making is how I relax! www.cocoonandme.com
All images © Paula Clark
INTERVIEW
Paula Clark Founder of cocoon&me
21
Loaf
Loaf’s new coastal inspired pieces are bursting with summery colours. The handmade designs work bea easy to live with palette. Stockist: Loaf.com / 0845 459 9937
utifully with Loaf’s signature laid-back look using natural materials, weathered timbers and an
23
The Treasure Trove
The Treasure Trove is a place where you can find shabby chic and vintage furniture with a unique style. With Free UK Delivery, explore our online shop to see what treasures you can find for your home www.thetreasuretrove.co.uk
25
Dusk Lighting
Need lights to illuminate the exterior of your home? Transform your garden or patio with our beautiful ground lighting. Our high quality Astro coastal lighting range is available now! www.dusklights.co.uk
27
Quality Cottages
The tight knit family business based in North Pembrokeshire represents nearly 400 fabulous holiday prop began their business even before the Welsh Tourist Board existed and when they finally caught up Qualit in Wales, probably setting the bench mark for future standards. www.qualitycottages.co.uk
perties throughout the most stunning coastal, countryside and mountainous regions of Wales. They ty Cottages was the first company to be awarded a gold medal for services to self catering holidays
29
Coquet Cottages
Coquet Cottages have a enviable collection of over 100 beautiful and unique properties across the length Bamburgh, to the stunning International Dark Skies Park & Tynedale Valley. We can match the perfect re www.coquetcottages.co.uk
h and breadth of Northumberland, from prime coastal locations such as Amble, Warkworth and etreat to your holiday needs.
31
Is it the camera, or is it the eye?
Many people are nervous of photography, doubting their own creativity, or believing they need special equipment; but the technology within many smart phones is such that you can take some really brilliant shots just because you are in the right place and you have the right way of setting up the shot so that you capture a fleeting moment in time. Going on holiday is a wonderful opportunity to relax and open our eyes to the world around us. In our increasingly frenetic lives being creative with a camera can be immensely soothing and absorbing. Standing and watching the waves rolling in, capturing little video clips that can be replayed later are all ways of taking the memory with you. I have always loved photography; it is something that brings such joy whenever I see a shot that captures what was there in my imagination. This is mostly because I am shortsighted, so what I see in a distance is like viewing through a soft focus lens, and when I view the shots it is always a surprise – sometimes good and sometimes not what I had imagined! As well as opportunistic shots that just present themselves I often go to places with a photograph in mind.
33
It is often driven by the weather, if I am working and I look out of the window and notice a cloud formation or I can hear the wind blowing I know that as soon as I can take a break, it is worth taking a quick drive to the nearest stretch of water. Or at the end of a day if I see a sunset building, whether it’s an urban landscape or near the coast I want to be out there capturing it. Many years ago I was in St Ives, Cornwall on the harbour front and just as the sun was setting, there was a sudden movement of people to the other side of the town; curious to see what was happening, I followed, only to be rewarded with the most amazing sunset off Porthmeor beach. As with many coastal locations, there are often spectacular sunsets, it is a photographer’s dream. In these situations nature does the job for us, all you need to do is just point and shoot, whether you use a phone or a camera, the beauty just sings down the lens. Images are around us all the time, but sometimes you need to think creatively about what would make the shot special. As mentioned above, certain shots are always spectacular and to a certain extent predictable, but looking for more unusual shots is when the fun begins. Focusing in close, particularly in nature means that you showcase real beauty, for example whether you have pots on a balcony or a bigger garden, or even when buying a bunch of flowers, these in particular can provide the most beautiful images.
Having an eye for the unusual, or using apps can extend these opportunities and take what could be an ordinary shot and turn it into something completely different, for example, taking a photograph of a horse chestnut tree recently I played around with the image, and suddenly found myself with an unusual pattern. In the snow earlier this year, there were some freak situations where freezing rain combined with snow created the most amazing icicles on the sides of cliffs and in gardens where normally the climate is quite mild. Snow on the beaches is something that is likely to be reproduced in Christmas cards and calendars! If you are holidaying abroad you will have even more extensive opportunities to be creative with a camera, and what is interesting is how people often use the images from overseas to inspire them when they return home. One of the key themes in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year was the way that garden designers have used this inspiration when creating their gardens. The growth of Instagram has provided a real opportunity for people to showcase their images, and friendship groups have developed where people share their passion for photography, gardening, the coast, and much more. Photography is the most wonderful activity, whether an amateur or professional if you keep your eyes open you can find the most amazing photo opportunities, whether at home or away.
35
Sykes Cottages
Sykes Cottages offers over 7,500 handpicked holiday cottages across the UK & Ireland. Having grown t 25 years’ experience helping you find your dream holiday home. www.sykescottages.co.uk
to be one of the nation’s leading independent holiday cottage agencies, we have more than
37 37 37
St. Brides Bay Cottag
St Brides Bay Cottages offers delightful cottages in superb locations around the North Pembrokeshire Co scenery is spectacular, the air is crystal fresh and the villages are full of character. The rugged beauty off www.stbridesbaycottages.com
ges
oast. “Welcome” might be a small word, but here it has a very big meaning. The fers the perfect backdrop for a real get-away-from-it-all holiday.
39
Dream Cottages
Dream Cottages are Dorset’s leading cottage agency with a portfolio of more than 320 properties peppe rolling countryside, to modern apartments with views over the Jurassic Coast, we have something for eve so we welcome all members of the family, even the four-legged kind! Our team of friendly property advis into individual properties. www.dream-cottages.co.uk
ered throughout the county. From traditional picture perfect thatched cottages with views of the eryone to enjoy. More than 120 of our properties are pet friendly, with some allowing up to 4 dogs, sors are extremely knowledgeable about the local area and are on hand to offer first hand insights
41
Seize the moment
People used to talk about ‘carpe diem’ in the context of seizing the day, making the most of the opportunities presented to us. In our busy lives seizing a moment of reflection can sometimes seem difficult. Yet it is so important to take opportunities to just stop, pause and enjoy moments of quietness. Some time ago a film crew visited me to make a video; at their suggestion we agreed to film it outside. It was fairly informal, a cameraman, and an interviewer. We arranged the background carefully for the external shots, chose a pretty part of the garden, I relaxed into a chair focusing on the camera and the first question was asked, and the camera rolled. During the next four hours, I had an incredible insight into just how noisy our lives are, as we stopped for planes overhead, seagulls calling above, the man mowing the lawn next door, and in the distance men on scaffolding shouting to each other, not to mention children at a local school playing outside at break-time! It brought home to me vividly just how noisy our environments can be. Finding moments of real tranquility can be a challenge, yet some of the most satisfying moments are at the coast. No one questions why you are sitting and staring out to sea. The air is different, a visit to the coast is uplifting, dramatic, even in the rain there is beauty. Huddled inside windbreaks, sand in your food, knowing that the wind that bought the clouds can just as easily blow them away again and bring bright sunshine in a heartbeat.
When people visit rural areas a common reaction is “it’s so quiet” or “it’s so dark” but this blanket of darkness can reveal some amazing views of the stars, and bring a sense of wonderment. However busy you are try starting, or ending your day with moments of reflection. Just take the time to slow your breathing, focus on something pleasant, a happy memory, a beautiful 43 image. Seize a moment of peace.
Original Cottages
We are proud to present Original Cottages, bringing together all of the unique holiday properties within o accommodations. We pride ourselves on employing people with local expertise across all of our destinat 4000 properties to choose from, we have whatever your heart desires, from sand, sea, hill and forest to to www.originalcottages.co.uk
our family of local brands – including Niche Retreats, offering an exciting portfolio of luxury tions, meaning that we can always find the perfect escape for you and your family. With over own, city and everything in between – let us provide a truly unique holiday for you.
45
The Pier
The Pier stands proudly overlooking the picturesque harbour and the confluence of the Stour and Orwell Harbourside on the first floor of The Pier, is renowned for using locally caught seafood, much of which is lobster and crab are nearly always on the menu served whichever way you’d like. Stay over and capture t must! www.milsomhotels.com/thepier
l rivers. Long established in Harwich, the hotel boasts four stars with two rosettes for cooking. The s landed in the harbour opposite. Our Head Chef takes much of his influence from the sea so Harwich the ambience of this delightful old town, a night in The Mayflower suite, complete with telescope is a
Baileys
In this beautiful coastal location right at the entrance to Chichester Harbour and within easy reach of the with the world famous ‘Glorious Goodwood’ horse racing, ‘Festival of Speed’ and ‘Revival’. Baileys offer a situated directly overlooking the beach www.baileys.uk.com/holiday-lettings
e Cathedral City of Chichester and Goodwood a wide selection of self-catered properties, many
49
What inspired you to set up Coast & Country Holidays? I live near very near to the coast in North Pembrokeshire and had a farmhouse to let on the family farm I was acutely aware at the time that South Pembrokeshire, Tenby, St David’s etc were already very well known as holiday destinations but then the north of the county was not getting anything like the same recognition, and the scenery and beaches are equally spectacular also the hills surrounding them. My friend Liz Davies was in complete agreement and as we both had our own cottages so we decided to help one another with marketing them and dealing enquiries and bookings. Within a couple of weeks one of my neighbours asked if we’d let hers as well. So when we agreed to do this we knew we had to commit and develop the business, we have run the business jointly ever since. How has your business grown and developed? We started the business in my home in 1990 with just 3 cottages by the end of the first year we were letting 35 cottages in the locality (we still let several of these today). Initially we advertised the agencies in the media and responded to enquiries and bookings using telephone, post etc. We quickly moved premises to a converted outbuilding on our farm and later we bought premises in the centre of Newport Pembrokeshire. The biggest change in the running of the business came in 2000 when we developed and launched a website – it was a very fast learning curve for us. Initially we had envisaged it as an additional marketing tool with maybe a couple of last minute bookings per week. After all the initial learning curve and many stresses we endured setting up the website it finally started working for us.
In the first 6 months of taking bookings on line we took an additional 25% of bookings – wow – this was amazing! This was the main catalyst for future growth in the business, and within 2 years the business doubled in size. What are your hopes and ambitions for the future? We have remained a locally run business – we pride ourselves on being different to the very large letting agents, as we live and work in the vicinity of the properties we let. We could grow the business and deal with more cottages but our customer base is loyal and appreciates the fact we do know the properties awe let and where they are, growth is steady. All our staff are local and they are able to give really good advice too customers – what’s on, where to go etc. The business is steadily growing; the “looking after the customer” is part of our strong ethos. Although being online taking bookings etc. is a massive part of the business, maintaining personal contact with property owners and customers is essential to the business. For visitors new to your area what would be your recommended places to visit? St David’s peninsula is a great favourite of mine (possibly because I was born there), there are so many different things to do, fantastic access to the Coastal Path, as well as historical sites, beautiful beaches, boat trips to the offshore bird islands. St David’s Cathedral is a must and if you are visiting in the season a trip around Ramsey Island this is especially good, seals, birds, carpets of wild flowers on the cliffs and sometimes dolphins really make the trip memorable. Whitesands beach is the biggest beach on the St David’s peninsula but the lesser-known Pothseli just to the left of Whitesands is my favourite.
INTERVIEW RACHEL THOMAS, DIRECTOR OF COAST & COUNTRY HOLIDAYS
51
Other close by musts are; Aberiiddy, Porthgain and Abercastle just a few miles north, Solva harbour, Newgale beach lead around the coast in the opposite direction. Having said all that the area around Newport, and Ceibwr bay are amazing, the scenery is quite different, the coastline is more dramatic but the beaches are equally beautiful. Although there are 186 miles of coastal path around the county, it’s quite easy to travel from one end to the other from St Dogmaels in the north to Tenby in the south is less than an hour in the car – which does mean the whole county is easily accessible for exploring wherever you are based Do you have a particular favourite location in Wales and why? Each area of Wales is very different so asking for a favourite area is difficult – for me it has to be Pembrokeshire. The diversity of the landscape -we have the Preseli hills where the Bluestones of Stonehenge originated. There are wonderful views across the landscape and rugged walks. The Coastline- is the only Coastal National Park in the UK, which I think says everything! Whatever season you access the coast it is always different, ever-changing scenery! Even if you live or stay in the centre of the county you are only about 15 minutes’ drive to the coast so everything is very accessible. Away from work, what do you do to relax? When I’m away from work I often support my daughters with their hobby, which is horses. They are often travelling to competitions – so guess who the unpaid groom is? It is hard work with lots of early morning starts and long days and because of where we live often long distances to travel, however it as absolute contrast to the day job, which is great. www.welsh-cottages.co.uk
All images courtesy of Rachel Thomas
53
FABULOUS READS FOR EARLY SUMMER MONTHS Nothing is quite like escaping into a book, in anticipation of a holiday, or while you are away, here is our selection of early summer reads.
A Family Recipe Veronica Henry
The Hideaway Sheila O’Flanagan Synopsis: What would you discovered you were living a lie?
do
if
you
When a shocking news report shatters Juno Ryan’s world, she suddenly finds herself without the man she loves - and with no way of getting the answers she so desperately needs. A distraught Juno flees to the enchanting Villa Naranja in Spain. The blue skies and bountiful orange groves - along with Pep, the winemaker’s handsome son - begin to soothe her broken heart, but only Juno herself can mend it. Just when she begins to feel whole again another bombshell falls. Can Juno put the past behind her? And will she ever learn to trust herself again? Buy now from www.amazon.co.uk
Synopsis: What’s the secret ingredient to your happiness? Laura Griffin is preparing for an empty nest. The thought of Number 11 Lark Hill falling silent – a home usually bustling with noise, people and the fragrant smells of something cooking on the Aga – seems impossible. Laura hopes it will mean more time for herself, and more time with her husband, Dom. But when an exposed secret shakes their marriage, Laura suddenly feels as though her family is shrinking around her. Feeling lost, she turns to her greatest comfort: her grandmother’s recipe box, a treasured collection dating back to the Second World War. Everyone has always adored Laura’s jams and chutneys, piled their sandwiches high with her pickles . . Inspired by a bit of the old Blitz spirit, Laura has an idea that gives her a fresh sense of purpose. Full of fierce determination, Laura starts carving her own path. But even the bravest woman needs the people who love her. And now, they need her in return . . . Buy now from www.amazon.co.uk
Pieces of Happiness Anne Ostby A Novel of Friendship, Hope and Chocolate Synopsis: I’ve planted my feet on Fijian earth and I intend to stay here until the last sunset . Why don’t you join me? Leave behind everything that didn’t work out! When recently-widowed Kat writes to her four old school friends, inviting them to live with her on a cocoa plantation in the South Pacific, they swap icy pavements and TV dinners for a tropical breeze and an azure-blue ocean. Leaving behind loneliness, dead-end jobs and marriages that have gone sour, they settle into the Women’s House, surrounded by palms and cocoa trees; and locals with the puzzling habit of exploding into laughter for no discernible reason. Each of the women has her issues to resolve, and secrets to keep. But together the friends find a new purpose, starting a business making chocolate: bittersweet, succulent pieces of happiness. As they embrace a new culture that views ageing so differently from their own, will they learn to accept and forgive: to discover the value of friendship, and a better way to live? Buy now from www.amazon.co.uk
Millon Love Songs Carole Matthews Synopsis: After splitting up with her cheating ex, Ruby Brown is ready for a change. She’s single again for the first time in years and she’s going to dive into this brave new world with a smile on her face and a spring in her step. The last thing she’s looking for is a serious relationship. Mason represents everything Ruby wants right now: he’s charming, smooth and perfect for some no-strings-attached fun, and yet Ruby can’t help feel that something is missing. Joe on the other hand is kind and attentive, but he comes with the sort of baggage Ruby wants to avoid: an annoyingly attractive ex-wife and two teenage children. And though Ruby thinks she knows what she wants, is it what she needs to be truly happy? It’s about to get emotional in…Million Love Songs. Buy now from www.amazon.co.uk
55
One Cornish Summer
The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness
Liz Fenwick
Laura Kemp
Synopsis: Against the beauty of Cornwall, a story of two women struggling with their past: one cannot remember hers, the other cannot forget…
Synopsis: When Ceri Price arrives in the small seaside village in West Wales, she only means to stay for a couple of nights – long enough to scatter her mother’s ashes, and then go back to her life as a successful make-up entrepreneur. But when a case of mistaken identities means she lands a job as the barmaid in the local pub, she unexpectedly finds friendship, and perhaps a chance at love.But when the plans for a new housing estate put the local woodland under threat, she fears the way of life here could disappear.Then mysterious acts of kindness start springing up around the village – a string of bunting adorns the streets, a new village signpost appears out of nowhere and someone provides paint to spruce up the houses on the seafront. Who is behind these acts of kindness and can they help in the race to save the village from the faceless developers…?
When Hebe receives a life-changing diagnosis at only 53, she struggles to make sense of what it will mean for her, her job and the man she loves. With memories slipping away by the day, she flees to the one place she has always felt safe and peaceful – Cornwall, and the house her family spent so many summers in. Lucy is having her own crisis, and seizes the chance to follow her aunt to Cornwall. Curious about what has driven Hebe there after so many years, she also has to battle with the secret she has kept since her family’s last summer there more than ten years ago.
Both women will learn that memories live in our hearts and that sharing secrets can set you free… But can they find their way back to Welcome to the Village of Love. Where the things that are truly important to them? friendship flourishes and love blossoms… Buy now from www.amazon.co.uk Buy now from www.amazon.co.uk
57
GET READY FOR SUMMER
With longer days and the promise of warmer weather, thoughts turn to a life lived outdoors. Gathering friends and family around the table as the sun sets or heading out for a picnic under a shady tree, the National Trust’s outdoor dining collection features coastal scenes that capture the essence of the season. From the seagulls swooping over the waves at Stackpole in Wales, to the craggy lichen covered rocks of Mulough Bay in Northern Ireland, the collection captures the stunning landscapes looked after for the benefit of the nation, and generates income for their long- term care. The collection is available in store and online (nationaltrust.org.uk/shop) now. As always 100% of profits support the conservation work the National Trust undertakes to look after the special places in its care.
All images Š The National Trust
Atticus & Gilda Matching Pippi nightie and Bunny sleep mask in tea rose. Pippi is a short sleeved nightie with pintucked bodice. Finished with vintage style ribbons, cotton lace edging and mother of pearl buttons. Back fastening with flat mother of pearl buttons and a flounced frill edged in cotton. The Bunny sleep mask makes a perfect holiday accessory with its cute ears and soft velvet backing. Available from www.atticusandgilda.co.uk
Minilite-2 Nautical Rose Fulton Umbrella Great all-round compact umbrella available in a range of delightful prints • Patented safety runner to prevent injury • Strong lightweight aluminium/fibreglass rust-proof frame • Extra large canopy for greater coverage • Umbrella measures 25cm long when closed, 96cm when open Available from www.fultonumbrellas.com Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Eau De Toilette There’s nothing quite like a spritz of perfume to lift flagging spirits. Our Eau de Toilette effortlessly captures that easybreezy feeling of stress-free, relaxing holidays. It really is sea air in a bottle. Crisp marine accords collide with petitgrain, basil and warm amber notes to create a super-fresh fragrance, while the scent of marine goodness exhilarates the senses. For free-spirited days or languid evenings. Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Mineral Bath Soak There’s something about the sea that revitalises the soul and invigorates the mind. Bring that holiday feeling to your bath with our mineral soak. Nourishing marine extracts like antioxidantrich green seaweed and brown algae combine with sea salt and wild mint oil to create a fresh, conditioning soak. Fragrant with the tang of sea air, it’s the perfect restorative end to a busy day. Dermatologically tested. www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk
59
SEASHORE CREATIVE WWW.SEASHORECREATIVE.CO.UK