For laid back lifestylers... with a sense of humour
GOT ISSUES 9
2019
The original Big Brother was a fictional character from George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. A symbol of a one-party state in which the rulers wield total power over the people, “for its own sake”. In the social order described by Orwell, everyone is under constant surveillance by the authorities, mainly by telescreens (sounds familiar), and people are continuously reminded by giant posters that “Big Brother is watching you”.
The term ‘Big Brother’ is so integral to our modern-day lexicon that it seems to have lost its sting. We might not see posters but there are cameras EVERYWHERE. Big Brother is no longer a synonym for the abuse of government power (the Brexit debacle has stolen the march on that debate), especially regarding civil liberties connected to mass surveillance. But the question remains: are we being watched? (YES) Who’s watching or listening? And what are ‘they’ doing with all that information? Do we even care if millennial technologies and increasing social media
trends encroach upon our personal privacy? Is society moving ever closer to an Orwellian state? While it’s hard to get the facts, every week public outrage is raised over new abuse. Remember the social media scandal of 2017, where Brexit votes were massaged via political advertising? And no one knew it was happening. The manipulation wasn’t uncovered until 2018 and showed extraordinary liberties taken by Cambridge Analytica: Facebook revealed that they could have harvested the personal data of 87 million people.
And did you know that in 2011 Microsoft patented a product distribution system with a camera or capture device that monitors the viewers that consume the product, allowing the provider to take “remedial action” if the actual viewers do not match the distribution license? Even your own laptop is watching you. What’s more, our mobile devices are always “awake,” passively listening for the appropriate command to activate, such as “Alexa,” or “Hey Siri,” or “O.K. Continues on page 2
S i n g l e - e S tat e g i f t S S t r a i g h t f r o m t h e f a r m e r | c h a S e d i S t i l l e r y. c o . u k
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2019
Google”. The problem is they’re far from perfect about only responding when prompted by a wake-word. In theory, the devices don’t record or transmit anything you say until the wake-word is uttered but you only have to look online to see the degree of complaints about the nefarious possibilities. Alexa-powered speakers apparently startled users earlier this year, when a number of devices reportedly burst into “creepy” spontaneous laughter. Many believe that all this voice tech is akin to bugging your own home. A valid concern, given that these companies live-or-die from the data collected about us, so why not gather more data? And how many of us have noticed the seemingly telepathic appearance of search-related advertisements on our phones, tablets and PCs… Then there’s the all too familiar airport security obstacle race, which given recent terror attacks, is a sad necessity for safety. Or is it a world-gone-mad? It’s certainly open to abuse – I recently witnessed a friend being approached by the Customs Security team to smuggle in some medicines from Tbilisi to the UK. I like to think it was a purely innocent act from a concerned relative, but it left me in a game of consequences. The quandary of it all. What did I do? I covertly filmed it on my iPhone (and whether rightly or wrongly, the proffered medicines were left in Georgia). It felt both puerile and precautious. And curiously Big Brotherly.
cameras (51,000 according to something called Big Brother Watch) are placed across the city on lampposts, buildings, and train stations to help reduce crime rates. According to a civil rights group called Liberty, on average a Londoner is captured on camera about 300 times a day. BBW activists have been advocating for the government to implement some effective guidelines for a new code of conduct for CCTV users. Some believe it is unethical to spy on someone’s private life and even claim that some agencies are using these cameras for their private interest. City surveillance remains a complicated, controversial topic.
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LONDONER
If George Orwell so accurately imagined the reality of today’s nanny-state back in 1949, the real question is, what does the future hold: artificial brain transplants, digi-medics, surrogate robotic mothers and what about AI Presidents and Prime Ministers? Right now, some would argue, that might not be a bad thing.
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3
2019
Christmas
Pressies
Think outside the box this year for some unusual gifts…
FOR THE HOME BIRD Home is where the Heart is, so why not put a place you love at the heart of a jigsaw map? Map Marketing make unique map jigsaws with a distinctive house-shaped centre piece based on the special address in your life. www.mapmarketing.com
FOR THE MIDDLE-AGED MAN IN LYRCA Stolen Goat jerseys are designed to inspire and empower every bike ride and have been known to help improve performance. www.stolengoat.com
FOR GIFTING BROWNIE POINTS With a cult following, Le Labo is known for its dedication to creating unisex scents for men and women that have the evocation of emotion at their heart. There are so many scents to choose from, there is something for everyone. www.lelabofragrances.com
60 Seconds with our friends... Angela Hartnett
Where are you happiest? I’m always happy. What’s your best advice? Treat people as you would like to be treated. What are you listening to? House Martins or Fleetwood Mac.
FOR THE CHRISTMAS JUMPER LOVER A collaboration between Bella Freud and Kate Moss celebrating the brilliance of The Pogues’ number one record – Fairytale of New York. A Merino wool crew neck jumper embroidered with ‘Fairytale of New York’ and a star with ‘KM’ embroidered on the sleeve is perfect for the fashionforward Christmas jumper fan. www.bellafreud.com
FOR THE BEAUTY ADDICT The Fortnum & Mason Beauty Advent calendar is filled with festive beauty surprises from Fortnum’s iconic beauty hall. Contained within the 25 drawers are skincare, make-up, haircare, bath, body and wellness treats. www.fortnumandmason.com
FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING Give the gift of binge watching this Christmas. Whether they are into thriller series such as You or Stranger Things or love the drama of The Crown, A Netflix gift card is the ultimate present for film and TV lovers this year. The gift card allows you to purchase the membership for your nearest and dearest. www.netflix.com
What would be your desert island luxury? Books are my biggest luxury. Who is the hero or heroine you’d be tongue-tied to find yourself sitting next to at a dinner? Larry David, writer of Seinfeld and Curb your Enthusiasm. What’s your favourite lazy-athome dish to cook? Spaghetti hoops on white toast with cheddar cheese on top. What’s your top tip for Christmas entertaining? Keep it simple, less is more.
FOR THE COOKING FANATIC Seletti’s vege-table chopping boards are great for the chef in your family. Four chopping boards in the shape of different vegetables are quirky and very different to your average square chopping boards. www.seletti.it
FOR THE TOTALLY ZEN The Pukka Tea Selection Box really has everything a tea lover would need. Made in the UK, this box contains 45 sachets of organic herbal teas selected from the Pukka range. The teas are all made with 100% organically grown and ethically sourced ingredients and all packaging comes from renewable sources and is recyclable. www.pukkaherbs.com
Your book at bedtime? Any Ian Rankin novel. I’m waiting for his latest to come out near Christmas. FOR THE BOOKWORM Wordsworth and Coleridge as you’ve never seen them before in this new book by Adam Nicolson, brimming with poetry, inspiring art by Tom Hammick, and wonderful nature writing. Proof that poetry can change the world. www.waterstones.com
The message to your younger self? Should have eaten at Jamin, in Paris.
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2019
THINGS WE LOVE in the sticks... PADSTOW CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 5TH- 8TH DECEMBER 2019
OTTERY ST MARY – TAR BARRELS, DEVON
While there might be an abundance of Christmas markets to attend, Padstow’s Christmas market is one of the largest in the UK, with a huge group of food and drink producers including Cornish Sea Salt, Flapjackery, Cornish Cheese Co, Kernow Sausage Co, Cornish Rock Gin and St Austell Brewery, to name a few. As well as the Christmas market, there are cooking demonstrations by many well-known chefs such as Rick Stein and Mitch Tonks.
A tradition that goes way back, every year, the flaming tar barrels are carried through the streets of Ottery St Mary. Ottery St Mary is internationally renowned for its tar barrels, an old custom said to have originated in the 17th century. Join the tradition on November 5th and celebrate Bonfire Night in 17th century style. www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk HALLOWEEN GHOST TOURS AT DEAL CASTLE, KENT
www.padstowchristmasfestival.co.uk
Do you dare to explore Deal Castle after dark? An evening tour of the castle on Halloween with storytellers guiding you through the darkness and taking you on a chilling eerie journey through the past. Not a night for the faint-hearted. Tours take place on Wednesday 30th October to Saturday 2nd November, with tours at 6.00pm, 7.15pm and 8.30pm. www.english-heritage.org.uk WINTER LIGHTS AT CORFE CASTLE, DORSET BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET 28TH NOVEMBER FOR 18 DAYS Christmas in Bath is truly beautiful, and the awardwinning Christmas market has an interesting array of different stalls containing ideal presents, fab stocking fillers and delicious festive treats and promises to be refreshingly different from the usual shopping trips. www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk
The castle grounds at Corfe have a festive magical atmosphere, with sparkling lanterns, braziers and beacons lighting the way around the castle. Share your Christmas wish at the wishing bridge, get cosy by the log fire with a festive treat or browse the shop for a spot of Christmas shopping. From 14th December – 29th December. www.corfe-castle.co.uk
5
2019
THINGS WE LOVE in the city... GO POTTY SkandiHus is an independent Danish design studio based in Hackney, founded by artist and maker Stine Dulong, who specialises in handmade, functional ceramics. Their pottery classes are a wonderful opportunity to spend a few hours indulging in some meditative creativity, immersing yourself in the world of clay. All classes are taught by practising potters, catering for all abilities, with the freedom to create your own beautiful and unique pots. Classes range from one-off taster sessions to popular six- or twelveweek courses for everyone who gets bitten by the bug. www.skandihus.co.uk JUNKYARD GOLF SHOREDITCH
ELAN CAFÉ – LONDON
Crazy golf but not as you know it. Junkyard Golf in Shoreditch has four weird and wonderful 9-hole crazy golf courses. Each course is randomly designed by an in-house team that loves using pre-loved junk. From old bathtubs, dodgems, scrapyard slides to abandoned fairgrounds and disco scrapyards. All the courses are filled with mad junk, trippy lights and bad puns – choose from Bozo, Gary, Pablo or Bruce and putt away some with seriously cool cocktails served in red party cups garnished with your favourite childhood treats such as party rings and fizzy laces.
An Instagrammer’s paradise, London’s Elan Café has become something of a social media mecca, with several locations across the capital. Perfect for a coffee or quick bite to eat, serving a range of delicious cakes, treats and afternoon tea along with yummy burgers and lunch dishes, in beautifully designed interiors with amazing flower displays.
www.junkyardgolfclub.co.uk/london
Secret Cinema allows you to live the story and be part of the film. Audiences are saying, ‘The attention to detail is insane’ and ‘The realism of the world that they create is beyond belief.’ Casino Royale is currently the film being shown, in a secret location in London, from June 2019 – October 2020. Fans of Stranger Things can look forward to seeing that from November 2019 to February 2020.
www.elnlondon.co.uk SECRET CINEMA
www.secretcinema.org
TIM WALKER AT THE V&A EXHIBIT (LONDON) Tim Walker’s fashion needs no introduction. His art has been described as ‘surreal, humorous and art that probes right to the heart of the fashion and people it captures referencing fairy tales, literature and art’. 25 years’ worth of work hang on the walls of the museum and is worth a visit for any Tim Walker fan or if you need to be brought up to speed, this is the exhibit for you. www.vam.ac.uk
6
2019
SINGLE-USE PLASTIC HABIT* DRINKING BOTTLED WATER
CONSUMPTION
EQUATED DAMAGE
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=
PEOPLE HABITUALLY BUY
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155 TONNES CO2
SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BOTTLES EVERY WEEK
1.3 MILLENNIA
MASS DAMAGE
PURCHASE & COST
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PLASTIC BOTTLES TAKE ABOUT THREE TIMES AS MUCH WATER TO PRODUCE THAN THEY CAN ACTUALLY HOLD
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BEHAVIOUR CHANGE AND SAVING SWITCH TO DRINKING AND CARRYING FILTERED WATER IN A REUSABLE BOTTLE AND SAVE £355.96 AND 17.5KG CO2 A YEAR
SAVE
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* A habitual user is someone who buys more than five single-use plastic water bottles every week.
12.2 BOTTLES A WEEK
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EQUIVALENT SPEND AVERAGE YEAR’S
GYM MEMBERSHIP
7
2019
A year on from David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II episode, depicting the damage that single-use plastic (SUP) is doing to the oceans, the majority of Brits say they are aware of its harm to the environment. However, staggeringly, over half admit they are not actually likely to change their habits.
For context, the production of one single-use plastic water bottle emits 31g of CO2 and requires the same amount of energy as powering a 13W lightbulb for 2.4 hours. With one million consumers regularly buying five million bottles a week, this is the same as a 13W lightbulb being lit for 1,300 years. Additionally, three times as much water is needed to produce a 500ml bottle than it can actually hold.
Despite huge public awareness of the plastic problem, new research shows three quarters of Brits are still buying plastic bottled water, despite knowing that most go to landfill. According to Keep Britain Tidy, over 7.7 BILLION bottles of water are consumed yearly with over half being bought for the home. We’re a nation of taste snobs with 39% of consumers buying bottled water because ‘it tastes better than tap’ and a third wanting to avoid limescale and ‘nasties’.
THE TOP 10 SINGLE-USE PLASTICS THAT BRITS THINK SHOULD BE BANNED IN THE UK: 1. Plastic packaging from online shopping deliveries (56%) 2. Plastic water bottles (45%) 3. Food on the go packaging (45%) 4. Takeaway food boxes and tubs (42%) 5. Disposable wipes (40%) 6. Soft drinks bottles (39%)
Joanna Lumley and Gethin Jones are galvanising the UK to take action against SUP bottled water and travelling the country to challenge neighbourhoods to make one small change and ditch their SUP habits. Lumley said, “There is no reason people should be needlessly spending their cash on bottled water, when by simply adding a water filter they could be opting for great-tasting, healthy tap water instead. I want to urge everyone to do their bit to make small changes that make a big difference. Not only will it reap huge benefits for the planet, but it will cost a lot less too.”
7. Plastic makeup packaging such as mascara (35%) 8. Plastic toiletries packaging such as shampoo bottles (32%) 9. Balloons (32%) 10. Frozen food in plastic such as ice cream tubs (29%)
MAKE THE CHANGE
A simple switch to reusable products, such as water bottles, jugs at home, coffee cups and food containers would help prevent small, unidentifiable fragments of plastic from single-use products entering the sea which are often mistaken for food by fish and birds. Furthermore, habitual users could not only reduce their single-use plastic waste and CO2 emissions but also make significant financial savings.
Plastic Alternatives that don’t cost the Earth
BRITA FILTER JUG www.brita.co.uk £31.00
REUSABLE BAMBOO COFFEE CUP www.bamboo-panda.co.uk £5.99
SODASTREAM www.sodastream.co.uk £89.00
8
2019
the allotment
BY GIUSEPPE OUR RESIDENT FORAGING FANATIC
I’m from Sicily, and everyone forages there – it’s just a way of life. I grew up hunting for things like wild asparagus, capers and snails, but then I moved to London and became a chef. I worked for Marco Pierre White at The Criterion and at The Manor House Hotel [the previous incarnation of The Pig on the beach] as head chef. It’s great round here because you have a nice mixture of coast and woodland. All year round there are wonderful finds. Down on the beach I find lots of seaweed – kelp, bladderwrack, rock samphire, sea beet and gutweed. I like it powdered on my porridge every morning; you don’t really taste the seaweed flavour but you get the nutrients – it’s a superfood. In the marshes I find more aniseed-flavoured samphire and sea purslane, which looks like sage. In the meadows I’ll pick a lot of flowers and rosehips, which can be used to make syrups and marinades. People make the mistake of thinking foraging always has to be about finding things to cook with, but just because certain flowers are edible it doesn’t mean you have to eat them. A lot of the time
they’re just nice as a garnish – especially flowers like valerian and wood sorrel. I love wild roses too; they have an incredible aroma and are great for adding colour. In the woodland I pick wild fennel, fragrant lemon balm and a spicy wild horseradish that the chefs put into potato salad. I also find wild garlic in the woods. Everyone loves it – it’s the best thing ever with lobster. But you need to remember the code of the forest: don’t pull up the roots or you’ve killed the plant. It’s all about sustainability. Although I forage all year round, autumn is special. If I find a basketful of chanterelle mushrooms, the chefs are jumping with joy. They’re very hard to find and there are never that many – which is why I never reveal where exactly I get my best finds…
Credit: The Pig: Tales and Recipes From the Kitchen Garden and Beyond (Octopus Publishing, HB £30) by Robin Hutson, Gill Morgan, Paul Croughton and The Pig team.
9
2019
Garden TIPS FOR THE
It’s tidy-up time. And harvest time. Those long summer months are yielding their treasure and autumn fruits are abundant this year. Take time to enjoy the long autumn nights and gently work your way through the garden, cutting back where necessary but leave plenty for the wildlife too; you could even build a bug hotel.
THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB There seems to be a tool for every gardening task. Many are perfunctory but some are worth their weight in gold. The combination of high-quality materials and ergonomic design can take the hard work out of gardening for many years to come. Once you’ve tried these, there’s no going back.
WEEDING Burgon and Ball’s stainless steel garden and cutting tool ranges are endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society, with a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects. They’ve been working with steel in Sheffield since 1730 and we love their new Weed Slice (www. burgonandball.com; £24.99), which revolutionises the way you weed in gravel and borders by cutting on both the push and the pull strokes, to get weeding done in half the time.
WATERING This very light but strong Spear & Jackson water wand (www.spear-and-jackson.com; £27.36) has transformed the way we water. Ideal for both reaching up to water hanging baskets and for directing water to the base of plants under foilage, with a choice of 10 spray settings with a sliding thumb catch for easy flow control.
You know what it’s like when you fancy something sweet at the end of a meal but you don’t really have room for a dessert? This is a nice light little pud, which can also be used as a palate cleanser. Granita is a great healthy alternative to ice cream and a fabulous way to show off flavours in a beautiful way. It can be made from whatever fruits or herbs are available, including wild pears, damsons, blackberries and elderflowers. The added advantage of this granita recipe is that you can make it without an ice cream machine. RECIPE Makes 12 shots • 150g (5½ oz) sugar
£24.99
• 500ml (18fl oz) cider • 500ml (18fl oz) apple juice (we use Hill Farm, or you could make your own) • 100g (3½ oz) blackberries
PRUNING
£69.00
CIDER, APPLE & BLACKBERRY GRANITA
Hand forged in Sanjo in the north of Japan, Niwaki’s ‘double yellows’ (www.niwaki.com; £69) are the perfect combination of refined craftsmanship and every day usability. KA70 carbon steel holds a mean edge, the chunky catch at the bottom and the strong spring gives a reassuringly simple functional feel, and the yellow grips show up when you’ve left them somewhere in the garden.
£27.36
Simmer all the ingredients together in a pan. Keep stirring, ensuring it doesn’t catch. Once the sugar has dissolved, pass through a fine sieve to remove any seeds. Pour into containers (shallow ones are best as it will freeze quicker). Chill, and skim off any bubbles. Freeze overnight. When ready to serve, remove from the freezer and scrape a fork over the ice to create slushy shards. Serve immediately. If you only need a few portions, the rest can be kept in the freezer for a month.
You can get your hands on a copy of THE PIG book at www.thepighotel.com or from any of THE PIG hotel Receptions for £30 – it’s the perfect Christmas pressie for PIG aficionados…
10
2019
DON’T WAIT UNTIL JANUARY… The summer swimmers have been packed away, the routine has kicked in and we are hurtling towards the ‘most wonderful time of the year’, and it’s all too easy to crack into the family-sized tins of Quality Street that are already adorning the shelves of every supermarket. We have called on our friends, Nutritional Therapist Amelia Freer and Personal Trainer to the A-Listers Matt Roberts for their top tips on winter wellness. January is the worst time to start on life changes, if you start now you have far more chance of actually sticking to them.
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BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR ALCOHOL INTAKE
EAT SOME PROTEIN AT BREAKFAST
Colder weather and darker evenings along with the run-up to the festive season can result in a gradual creep up of alcohol intake. Aim for at least three days off per week, and try to keep below the recommended maximum of 14 units (roughly seven medium – 175ml - glasses of wine).
Eggs, unsweetened natural yoghurt, nuts and seeds, even leftover chicken or fish (yes, really) – having a portion of protein-rich food at breakfast helps stabilise blood sugars and regulate appetite for the rest of the day, maintaining more consistent energy levels and making it easier to stay on a healthy track.
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HAVE AT LEAST � PORTION OF GREENS PER DAY
ENJOY SOME GREEN TEA
Any dark green vegetable will do, such as broccoli, spinach, rocket, chard or kale. While we might not be embracing the salads of summer anymore, getting in our greens is still important. I like mine simply steamed or sautéed, with some good extra virgin olive oil and a generous squeeze of lemon.
Green tea is rich in a class of antioxidant compounds called catechins, which have been linked to a variety of potential health benefits. It is a good alternative, or addition, to standard tea or coffee (although it does still contain caffeine). I enjoy mine with a slice of lemon.
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Amelia
#5 BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR VITAMIN D LEVELS Between October and March, we don’t get enough vitamin D from sunlight in the UK. Food sources include oily fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, trout), liver, egg yolks and some fortified foods, but NHS guidelines now state that all adults should consider a daily supplement during autumn and winter of 10 micrograms vitamin D3 per day.
As winter comes upon us it can be very easy to use the change of weather as an excuse to not exercise and just hibernate at home. However, a few simple tips can make the winter months very effective and even add value to your normal training.
Matt #�
Make sure you sit down and write down your goals and the journey to achieve them. Setting clear goals keeps you on the path to success and helps prevent that exercise lethargy.
#� Find yourself a workout buddy. Research has shown time and time again that having a training buddy makes it vastly more likely to achieve success. You are responsible to the other person to achieve, therefore chances are you won’t not turn up.
#3
#5
Be ready for the weather the winter can throw at you. Invest in the right kit, use layering to make sure that you don’t get too warm and you will have no excuse not to get out and make the most of the outdoors.
Work out the time of day to work out. For many of us light is an issue and we feel demotivated when it is dark. If you are that type of person change the time of day that you train during the winter months. It may well be that from Nov- March you need to try and squeeze in more lunch time workouts or use the weekend more for your workouts.
#� Make sure that you have a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C. All too often I hear people say “I planned to do a run but the weather was awful so I couldn’t go and didn’t do anything.” This approach doesn’t work. If Plan A is go for a run, make sure Plan B is go to the gym, then make sure Plan C is a great core and stability workout at home. This way your chance of failure is hugely reduced. Making sure that the exercise day never disappears is really important.
#6 Turn the negative into a positive. As winter is harder to get outside then run or bike or do some other cardio-work. Flip that season around to be where you build your strength. Design a really great strength and stability programme that will work to make your spring running or cycling that much easier and faster.
11
2019
wanderlust C
Co
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Courchevel in the French Alps, home to Portetta hotel, is lucky enough to have a high altitude and north-facing slopes. Coupled with the incredible snowmaking, it means that when snow falls, it stays, making it a reliable choice for an early season holiday!
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The countdown is on with under 100 days before the ski season opens, and Courchevel is getting ready for an outstanding year with two new ski lifts, several redesigned pistes, and a huge new multi services building in Courchevel Le Praz called Alpinium. There’s so much more to do in the mountains…
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Portetta, Courchevel Moriond, opens Saturday 14th December 2019. www.portetta.com
ON THE SLOPES… WITHOUT SKIS Hurtle down the slopes on a Fat Bike (basically a mountain bike with oversized tyres) as an après-ski activity with Espace VTT. A new route means Fat Bikers can go all the way to Courchevel Le Praz – perfect for families with teenagers. THE GREAT ESCAPE This winter, Courchevel Aventure is launching its very own Escape Game in a yurt. Participants need to work together to solve several puzzles based on a mountain theme. Give it a go from December onwards. FITNESS Uelys Montagne has come up with a Mountain and Well-Being package that combines Nordic walking or Bungypump in the morning with an osteopathy session in the afternoon. It offers a good overall workout using 90% of the body’s muscles, with osteopathy helping to highlight any imbalances or blockages. In the afternoon, a personalised osteopathy session focuses on observations made during the morning. LES INDIENS The Indiens Blue run above Moriond has a new ‘Indian village’ part way down, making it extra fun for kids. It’s a fun, colourful and vibrant immersive journey for little skiers, which will keep the big skiers happy. Pass through the Chieftain’s giant headdress, slalom around the animal spirits and take your photo with Yepa and her silver fox. SMOKED & UNCUT A series of live sessions are held on Tuesdays at Fire & Ice and on Thursdays in the Lounge or Bar, both at Portetta hotel (Moriond), during the ski season, brought to you by the team behind the Smoked & Uncut series of food and music festivals held at Lime Wood & THE PIG in the UK. Tuck into wood-fired pizza and ice shots during Happy Hour, daily at Portetta between 4.30pm-7pm.
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AQUAMOTION SPORTS SESSIONS The newly-extended fitness suite now boasts group classes to suit all: stretching to awaken the muscles (before skiing), sports recovery (after skiing), sports training course (muscle tone), Pilates etc. From 14€ per session. SLEDGING Test one of the night sledge descents. Once the ski area has closed, Courchevel ski slopes become a huge playground for sledges with several possible routes: Altiport to Courchevel 1550 has 4 kms of descent, 450 metres of vertical drop and takes around 45 minute. PISTE-BASHER DRIVING For something completely different over lunch, climb on board one of these enormous machines and once you get the explanations from the professional guide, it’s all yours to drive. MUSH-MUSH-AWAY See the biggest ski area in the world differently: settle into a sledge and set off on an incredible adventure with a team of huskies leading the way through the beautiful Plan du Vah forest, comfortably seated in a sledge driven by a professional musher.
LETTER FROM AFRICA
A CONSERVATION STORY THAT’S CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR BUSH TELEGRAPH NEWS!
The Mara Naboisho Conservancy is a prime example of the power of partnership. Ten years ago, this critical 200km2 wildlife corridor, bordering the famous Masai Mara Reserve, was degraded and threatened as a result of intensive herding and various tourism activities. The 500 families that lived in this region were facing dark times. Asilia Safaris (a friend of The Wire) took the lead and reached out to five other Ecotourism operators, forming a community wildlife conservancy together with the local Maasai. The Naboisho and Encounter Mara Camps are found within this exceptional conservancy, helping to protect this precious wildlife habitat. In 2016, the conservancy was named the overall winner of the African Responsible Tourism Awards for its unique model of partnership that makes it so efficient. In the first five years of existence, the conservancy has created over 300 new jobs, providing income to over 500 Maasai families, further benefitting the lives of approximately 10,000 people. www.asiliaafrica.com
12
2019
Next time you’re on the High Street look down and have a quick gander at your fellow pedestrians. There’s been a footwear revolution. Try and find anyone under 70 who’s not wearing trainers. Designer sports luxe is here to stay as a fashion-stakes bonanza. Our favourite designer trainers are for busy feet that want to look beautiful. These wanna-have trainers aren’t just for working out – they’re the cosy shoes you can wear with literally any outfit, from faithful jeans to, dare I say, a wedding dress. We’ve come a long way from the ever-popular trusty Adidas…
For Her
For Him
WORLD SECRETS
ADIDAS
She who Dares Sneakers (£130), feel as good as they look with cushioned inner sole and soft edging so they won’t rub your heels. Neither bulky nor heavy, these look great with shorts or a dress because of their elegant shape and pretty fabric. They look just as pretty with silver or red velvet ribbon-laces.
Original Campus sneaker Raw Ochre White (£42), has been renovated as part of their OG range of styles. In a beautiful mustard yellow suede, this design is at the forefront of Adidas’ 80s classics, it features retro racing stripes and a long-lasting vulcanised rubber outsole.
www.worldsecrets.co.uk
www.adidas.co.uk
ASPIGA
HARRY’S OF LONDON
Low Top Leather Trainers (£90), are set on a slightly distressed chunky rubber sole with a lace-up fit. Made for comfort as well as style with a soft towelling inner. The combination of the chunky leather sole and bold statement dusty pink and silver panels create an effortlessly chic Parisian look.
Based on their iconic Mr Jones sneaker, the Nimble (£295), is an updated twist on the archived classic. Updated with Technogel 3D insoles and ultralightweight soles for everyday comfort with a great colour choice.
www.aspiga.com
ALLBIRDS Wool Runners (£95), are made from superfine Merino wool, which is breathable, temperature-regulating, and moisture-wicking without that irritating scratchiness. We love that Allbirds are carbon neutral and 100% of the material in their laces is post-consumer recycled polyester: one old plastic bottle becomes one pair of durable, sleek shoelaces.
www.allbirds.co.uk
STELLA MCARTNEY British Stella’s ‘The Loop’ sneaker (£360) is a feat of engineering, using an innovative new method of attaching the upper to the sole without any glue. This means that at the end of the sneaker’s life you can remove the upper from the sole and recycle each part.
And we’re really excited that they’re no longer a men-only domain with a brand-new women’s range just launched (we love the blue suede Eva).
www.harrysoflondon.com
VEJA Veja is an environmentally friendly French brand of footwear and accessories which are made of organic cotton, wild rubber from the Amazon, vegetabletanned leather and recycled plastic bottles and are loved by everyone from eco-warriors to fashion influencers (Venturi Hexamesh Gravel Natural Grey €140).
www.veja-store.com
www.stellamccartney.com
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Editor: Sarah Siese Design and Production: Strattons (www.strattons.com) © Copyright. Lime Wood Group and Home Grown Hotels.