Style of Wight JANUARY FEBRUARY 2024

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ISSUE 86 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

B R I DA L Our essential 12-page guide

B E T T E R D AY S The community café that is making a difference

FOOD Brunch time

NEW YEAR...A TIME FOR...

ADVENTURE lifestyle

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fashion

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health

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beauty

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food

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home

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family

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art

Charnwood Cove 3

5

YEARS

Extraordinary stoves. Made on the Isle of Wight, sold worldwide.

01983 537780 • @charnwoodstoves • www.charnwood.com

charnwood

What is your home worth?

Book your free valuation today Scan to find out the value of your home today.

The Island’s property people

More properties available on Rightmove, Zoopla and hose-rhodes-dickson.co.uk

Moor Lane, Brighstone £530,000

3 | EPC TBC

An individual detached bungalow that has been greatly improved by the current owner. The accommodation comprises a large opening plan living/dining room with wood burning stove, kitchen, three bedrooms, dressing room/study, en-suite shower room and family bathroom.

Upper Lane, Brighstone £545,000

4 | EPC C

Situated in sought after Upper Lane in the West Wight village of Brighstone is this detached property with accommodation comprising entrance porch, hall, living/dining room, kitchen, breakfast room, shower room and WC on the ground floor.

Silver Mist, St. Lawrence £535,000

2 | EPC E

This property enjoys wonderful far reaching sea views. Silver Mist is a lovely two double bedroom detached bungalow which has been beautifully modernised and is presented in immaculate decorative order by the current owners.

High Street, Bembridge £650,000

4 | EPC E

Located in the very hub of Bembridge village, minutes from the beach, coastal path, and amenities. An imposing property facing out towards the harbour and St Helens, enjoying the benefits of 2 garages and driveway parking.

Bembridge: 01983 875 000 Cowes: 01983 294 714 East Cowes: 01983 219 002 Freshwater: 01983 212 188 Newport: 01983 521 144 Ryde: 01983 565 658 Shanklin: 01983 866 000 Ventnor: 01983 855 525

Searching for the key to your new home this year?

Let Spence Willard help you find the right one

“

WE PROVIDE VALUATIONS FREE OF CHARGE AND FREE OF OBLIGATION, SO YOU CAN MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE BASED ON TRUSTED ADVICE

HELLO@SPENCEWILLARD.CO.UK

” 01983 200880

BUZZARD BARN

SWALLOW COTTAGE

POR C H F I E L D £ 775,0 0 0 Buzzard Barn – EPC D Swallow Cottage – EPC B

Occupying an attractive rural setting with distant southerly country views, a contemporary single storey house and an adjacent converted barn both subject to a holiday let restriction and set in about 2.3 acres including a paddock and ancient woodland.

An additional 12.5 acres is available as a separate lot at £140,000

B E M B R I D G E £ 8 35,0 0 0

WELLOW £ 6 49 , 9 5 0

A light and spacious detached house, set within substantial gardens, just minutes from the beach and coastal path.

EPC D

A wonderful country cottage of great character and charm, set in approximately ½ acre of lawned grounds and with Southerly aspects across open farmland to the downs, with high quality detached outbuildings. EPC F

SPENCEWILLARD.CO.UK

@sp en ce w illardiw

STYLE | Home

Guide Price £395,000 Stephenson Road, Cowes

An elegant three bedroomed period home with off road parking for two cars is perfectly nestled in a prime location, this newly renovated end-of-terrace home seamlessly combines classic features with modern comforts, offering a delightful haven with three bedrooms and an array of exquisite details. Two reception rooms, a modern kitchen with dining area overlooking the rear garden, two bath/ shower rooms and off road parking for two vehicles, this home is ready to move into.

The entire property has been meticulously decorated in soft, warm tones, creating an inviting and cohesive atmosphere.

Every room is a canvas of elegance, where classic features meet modern design. Stripped floorboards and new neutral carpet, provide a tactile and stylish foundation for each room. The staircase, adorned with a central runner and brass carpet rods, adds a touch of grandeur to the entrance.

Built-in cupboards in key areas ensure that storage is both ample and discreet, allowing you to maintain the sleek and uncluttered aesthetics of each room.

The cosy sitting room beckons with a new log burner, which sits upon a decorative hearth and recessed area. The second reception room is an ideal office space/dining room

children’s play room, boasting a fireplace and built-in storage. The modern kitchen is the heart of the home, delivering modern convenience with integral appliances.

The dining area, bathed in natural light from full double glazing, provides a picturesque view of the garden.

The enchanting rear garden has mature plants lining the length, providing privacy and form a delightful backdrop.

A newly fenced side ensures seclusion, while a pergola and garden room at the far end invite moments of relaxation and contemplation. Outdoor entertainment is easily achieved, a door from the kitchen opens onto a paved area, complete with a log store, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living. Ideal for al fresco dining and entertaining.

In Summary: This residence is not just a house; it’s a carefully curated living experience where classic features and thoughtful design come together. This home exudes elegance and comfort, don’t miss the opportunity to make this your new home.

BEAUTIFULLY RENOVATED

email: hello@mccarthyandbooker.co.uk phone: 01983 300 111

Helping you find your perfect home...

The Lodge’s McCarthy & Booker are pleased to introduce to the market two beautiful lodges in unique locations.

Guide Price £385,000

Lodge, Blackwater, Road, Newport Charming two bedroom cottage with modern upgrades that includes two reception rooms, utility area, modern kitchen and a beautiful garden with garden store and covered outside seating area. Located within a secluded no through road and the benefits from off road parking.

Originally believed to be a chapel, has undergone a stunning transformation, blending its historic character with modern and stylish elements. The property retains many of its original features, including gothic-style windows, which have been meticulously preserved and complemented by contemporary upgrades, such as underfloor heating with wooden flooring and skylights.

In Summary: It’s the perfect combination of historic charm and contemporary living, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a unique and comfortable home in a semi-rural setting.

CHARMING COTTAGE

mccarthyandbooker.co.uk

Guide Price £585,000

The Lodge, Newport Road, Ventnor Nestled in the picturesque seaside town of Ventnor, this extraordinary period property offers a perfect fusion of old world charm and modern amenities. The main house has three double bedrooms (one ensuite), a separate bathroom, two reception rooms, fantastic conservatory and modern kitchen. The outside space is a gardeners dream and there is off road parking for several cars.

Easily accessed directly from the house, the annexe has it’s own large sitting room and kitchen, double bedroom and bathroom as well as it’s own personal private garden.

Located within walking distance of The Island Free School and St Francis Catholic & Church of England Primary Academy.

In Summary: This is a truly unique property that offers the perfect blend of modern comfort, historic character, and stunning natural beauty. The private garden oasis and an annex for versatility, this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.

EXTRAORDINARY PERIOD PROPERTY

W E E K FA R M

WEEK LANE • WHITWELL • VENTNOR • ISLE OF WIGHT • PO38 2AA

Week Farm (Lot 1) WHITWELL

■ An attractive and substantial,

non-listed Georgian Farmhouse.

■ The property enjoys sea views

across Ventnor bay.

■ Sheltered garden and grounds

GRANGE

extend across 5 acres, including an orchard and pond.

Watergate Road, Newp

■ Week Farmhouse boasts high

ceilings throughout providing a spacious atmosphere.

■ This farmhouse hosts a wide variety

GARDENS AND GROUNDS

of rooms, including 5 bedrooms, a workshop and breakfast room.

The house enjoys a large, secluded driveway, gated from the main access. The formal grounds and gardens are centred around a partially walled garden, which is south facing with well-established borders and shrubs. There is a large pond and an orchard with apples, pears, white willow, walnuts and sweet chestnuts, along with a separate woodland area and paddock. Within the grounds there are several domestic buildings including a garden building (currently used for storage purposes), with adjoining greenhouse, stone barn (historically stables), log store currently housing the oil tank, and a greenhouse.

■ This secluded property is accessed

by its own private driveway.

The principal house, gardens and grounds extend to 5.56 acres (2.26ha).

Guide Price: £1,495,000 EPC: E Council Tax Band: F Tenure: Freehold

R U R A L C O N S U LTA N C Y | S A L E S | L E T T I N G S | D E S I G N & P L A N N I N G

www .bcm.co.uk

iow@bcm.co.uk

@BCM_LLP

01983 828 805

R U R A L C O N S U LTA N C Y | S A L E S | L E T T I N G S | D E S I G N & P L A N N I N G

WEST

Brocks Copse R

RURAL PROPERTY SPECIALISTS WITH OFFICES ON THE ISLAND, HAMPSHIRE AND OXFORDSHIRE

UNDER OFFER

Grange Kennels & Cattery NEWPORT

Week Farm (Lot 2) WHITWELL

K E N N E L S A N D C AT T E R Y

port, Isle of Wight, PO30 1YP

R U R A L C O N S U LTA N C Y | S A L E S | L E T T I N G S | D E S I G N & P L A N N I N G

Westfield WOOTTON BRIDGE

Corve Lodge CHALE

R U R A L C O N S U LTA N C Y | S A L E S | L E T T I N G S | D E S I G N & P L A N N I N G BCM, Red Barn, Cheeks Farm, Merstone Lane, Merstone, Isle of Wight PO30 3DE

FIELD

Road, Wootton Bridge, PO33 4NP

Note from the Editor A new year, a new dawn, a new life…

Cover Pic:

Adele Jackson

…and also a slightly new ‘feel’ Style of Wight magazine. We’ve made some small, but we feel beautiful, changes. Working hard with our suppliers of paper and print, we’ve sourced a new paper stock that is cleaner and crisper, but still gives us all the ecology and sustainable credentials we insist on, such as vegetable-based inks and carbon footprint monitoring.

We’re also encouraging and building links between our print and digital media with QR codes – see page 19 for more developments coming soon around augmented reality.

Editor Christian Warren christian@styleofwight.co.uk Sub Editor Helen Hopper Production Assistant office@styleofwight.co.uk Writers James Rayner, Rebecca Lawson, Roz Whistance, Dale Howarth, David Harrington Design and Creative Tim Mander, Christian Warren, Lauren Fry Photography Christian Warren, Julian Winslow, Pipi-Lotta Kulla Sales Christian Warren christian@styleofwight.co.uk Distribution office@styleofwight.co.uk 01983 861007

Still, like the fish in the sea and the river running free, we are true to our longstanding values in supporting local independent retailers, hospitality specialists, and producers, and championing the arts and creative talents found on our shores. This edition, we’re embarking on a journey of exploration and adventure, celebrating the new year as a time to embrace new ideas, challenge the status quo and let your creative sprits soar – see our cover feature on page 39.

Embarking on a new adventure as a couple? Our bridal feature is brimming with inspiration on pages 101 to 113. Looking to re-energise yourself? Our beauty and wellness section has new writers and content that we will see continue through the year – see page 61.

So, join us on our journey this year as we set off on new adventures, both big and small. Whether through travel, artistic exploration, or self-knowledge, I hope this year brings a tapestry of golden discoveries.

“If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village she must seek them abroad.” Jane Austen “I always get to where I am going by walking away from where I have been.” Winnie The Pooh “More than often the view is best after a hard climb.” Christian Warren “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Lao Tzu

We print on sustainable paper using ecologically friendly inks and use a ‘carbon balanced’ printer.

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of Style of Wight Magazine, but legal responsibility cannot be accepted for errors, omissions or misleading statements.

Winners at the IW Chamber Awards 2016

Christian Warren

Get in touch

8 Salisbury Gardens, Dudley Road, Ventnor, Isle of Wight PO38 1EJ 01983 861007 www.styleofwight.co.uk

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DIVE IN

Contents Issue 86: January and February 2024

REGULARS

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

16

Style Picks: Shake off those winter blues

61

LED Wellness: Caroline Hurley – BeCalmed and Healthwell Solutions

18

The Style Scoop: Get ready for the months ahead

64

Illuminating Wellness: Dr Margarita Kitova-John – The Lantern Clinic

90 39

Style Speaks: To Kirsty Chapman of Better Days Café

63

Style Spectrum: Photography by Adele Jackson

Lower Back Pain: Dr Luther Moss, Osborne Chiropractic

67

The Power of Saying No: Business Coach Shereen Hoban

99

Swarm All Over It:

By Dale Howarth, Business Mentor and Consultant

96

Evolution:

By Will Turner, the new Headmaster at Ryde School

20

ART 92

BUSINESS

Dickens: Makes a colourful return to the Island

32

New Year Fortunes: With Lauren Fry, Arts Educator

34

Studio Delma: 3D sculptured wall art

FEATURES

FASHION 68

Denim: How to wear and style this wardrobe staple

HOME AND GARDEN 78

Island Escapes: A special service with Mermaid Holidays

101

BRIDAL GUIDE: Our annual guide for your big day

72

New Year Garden Review: With Ventnor Botanic Gardens

20

Better Days: The community café in Ventnor

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Make a Dried Flower Bouquet: With Flowers by Ellie

114

Island Stories: Major General Sir Martin White

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The Bigger Picture: Meet the team at McCarthy & Booker

46

FOOD 46

Meet the Baker: Piotr of Deli-Cious in Shanklin

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Brunching: Our new favourite time of the day

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Recipes: Easy brunch recipes for any time of the day

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Cauliflower: With Will Steward, Living Larder

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78 January and February 2024

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...them January

blues

It may look grey out of your windows today, but our editor’s picks will help you beat those winter blues and put a little glint of spring into your step.

RECYCLED COTTON BLANKETS We love the coastal blue wool collection from XV Stripes. These recycled cotton blankets are made for XV Stripes in Lancaster, by the same mill as Ian Mankin. These are their two staples, which have become iconic for the company. Pop to their shop in Yarmouth to see a brand new ‘compass’ range that’s out now. Wool Blankets from £85, Recycled cotton (big and cosy) £120.

XV Stripes 20 High St, Yarmouth PO41 0PL www.xvstripes.com

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THE ORIGINAL DUCK Lilas’ Dream Eco-friendly Umbrella is sustainable, handmade and built to last. Each canopy is made of 100% recycled plastic bottles. This compact umbrella fits into any backpack or tote bag. You can rely on its sturdy build to keep you dry during any downpour. British artist Willemien Bardawil has created three exclusive designs for Original Duckhead, each a celebration of new beginnings and the abundance of life.

ST Y LE PI C KS H2EAU HANDWASH

ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT A unique range of chalk paints from Annie Sloan for creative projects to keep creative minds busy.

Vast range of colours and plenty of blue hues all available at Dig 4 Vintage The Colonnade Ryde PO33 2NE www.digforvintage.co.uk

ORIGINAL ART

LIFORME Y0GA MATS

Inappropriate Armada is part of a set of 2 items.

There are plenty more interesting characters to see and all in the branded ‘blue’ for Independent Arts. Prices are ranged to suit all

Flex your purchasing power with Liforme - their mats feature the patented design to guide your practice, and have Liforme’s unique GripForMe technology, using nontoxic and planet-friendly materials, which maintain their grip even when ‘sweaty- wet.

And they are the first UK yoga brand to be awarded B Corp status.

Independent Arts 48-49 High St, Newport www.independentarts.org.uk

A gentle, cleansing hand wash scented with ocean notes and blended with natural extracts from the depths of the sea.

Fresh watery tones are given brightness with touches of spearmint and sparkling Mediterranean lemon.

This forward thinking company work to help save rainforests with TR[1]BE as well as the worlds marine life Ocean Generation.

Gibbs and Gurnell 34 Union St, Ryde PO33 2LE gibbsandgurnell.com

LiForme Yoga www.liforme.com

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STYL E NE WS Whether your New Year’s Resolution is to read more books, tell more stories, or learn about literary heroes, the Island has you covered. And if you have a wedding to plan, you’ll be spoiled for choice at one of our fabulous wedding fairs…

IW Story Festival 15-17th February 2024, Quay Arts Centre Newport A special place for children and families to have fun together; where they can all CREATE, INSPIRE, and IMAGINE. Stories are all around us; not just in books and poems and plays and songs, but also in the news and history and the places we live. Over three days, the IW Story Festival lets you get lost in stories of all kinds...

For full event listings visit: iwstoryfestival.com

Wedding Shows 2024 21st – 24th December – Havenstreet There is a never-ending stream of decisions to be made when organising a wedding, but take a deep breath because a simple solution will make things easier.

And that is… going to a wedding fair.

See also our feature on pages 101 to 113 for our pick of top Island suppliers.

28th January

13th-14th Jan

21st January

18th February

The Wight Events Wedding Show

Wedding Fair Weekend

The Hampshire Wedding EXPO

Wedding Showcase

Medina Leisure Centre, 11am to 3pm wight-events.co.uk

Northwood House, 10am to 4pm northwoodhouse.org/event

Lakeside, North Harbour Portsmouth, 10:30am to 4:40pm pmnweddingfayres.co.uk

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East Afton Farmhouse, 11am to 4pm tapnellfarm.com

Dickens – in Technicolor On the 175th Anniversary of his last visit, Dimbola Museum and Galleries hosts a rather exceptional exhibition celebrating original portraits of Charles Dickens that have been expertly restored and brought to life in colour by the Charles Dickens Museum in London. See our feature on page 92 for a small preview.

Show opens on February 7th (Charles Dickens’ Birthday) and runs until 18th May 2024.

QR Codes Using QR codes can be a great way to streamline user experience and ensure readers can access information as quickly and efficiently as possible.

They link the print platform directly to digital channels. By scanning a QR code, customers can go straight to a landing page or even be directed to unique content. Here at Style of Wight we’re really pleased to introduce this as part of our media platform.

Introducing a new Style of Wight partnership with the Island Stories podcast.

Hosted by journalist and broadcaster Harriet Hadfield and produced by Alex Warren.

The underlying aim of the Island Stories podcast is to promote this beautiful Island and to celebrate the incredibly inspiring people who live here.

With a focus on Islanders doing extraordinary things, we’ve covered a host of Island industries including: music; mental health; film production; beauty; farming; tech and food and drink.

SCAN ME You can see some great examples in this edition: Mermaid Gin: sponsorship donation Pg52 Mermaid Holidays: discover more Back Pg Lantern Clinic: wellness services Pg64 Isle Celebrate: WIN a wedding website Pg110 Island Stories: Sir Martin White Podcast Pg114 To find out more about this service contact us at

The first two seasons included some big Island names like DJ Rob da Bank — whose interview made headline news with hints of a possible Bestival return; double-gold medalist Olympian Shirley Robertson, who continues to fly the flag for Britain and the Island in the world of professional yachting; and Mountbatten CEO Nigel Hartley, who has led the national conversation around dying — a podcast interview about death, which was strangely uplifting.

We are so delighted to now be partnering with Style of Wight Magazine - which shares our goal of promoting creativity and endeavour on the Isle of Wight - and excited to be bringing the Island Stories podcast to a wider audience.

office@styleofwight.co.uk

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BETTER

DAYS Words By Rebecca Lawson Photos By Pipi-Lotta Kulla Art By Christian Warren Ventnor’s Better Days Café is all about its people, and what a group of people they are! Each person who comes through the door has a story to tell. Their careers span industries — you might get chatting with a deep sea diver sitting in the corner or order coffee and cake from a former publican; you may share a laugh with a property developer or sit next to a search and rescue officer.

The differences between life stories are vast and the stories themselves are impressive, but this is not where the soul of this heartfelt little café lies. Everyone here has realised one fundamental necessity vital to maintaining mental health, something that so many of us refuse to acknowledge in our mercenary society.

Each volunteer, customer, and friend of the Better Days Café has, through their own unique life journey, come to understand that community, belonging and a sense of purpose are absolute necessities for human wellbeing. American singer-songwriter Ani DeFranco said, “There is strength in the differences between us, but there is comfort where we overlap.” If this comfort is to be found anywhere, it’s at the Better Days Café.

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Dancing Days are here again, summer evenings glow. You are my flower you are my power you are my woman who knows.

Meet the people of the Better Days Café January and February 2024

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Peter As a former deep sea diver, Peter certainly has some stories to tell and has met many different people (and marine lifeforms) throughout his career, but it’s the Better Days community where he has found companionship and support when he needed it. “I’m bereaved,” he explains, “I have found fun and friendship at Better Days — and really good coffee!”

Diversity is having a seat at the table.

Inclusion is having a voice. Belonging is having that voice heard.

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Mackenzie “I came to Better Days because I felt alone. I’m pregnant, which can be difficult emotionally for anyone, but I’ve found a place here where I can talk about how I’m feeling over a hot chocolate. Everyone here has similar interests and wants to offer help and support. It’s non-judgemental. I began volunteering here so I could come down more often and I love it just the way it is. I hope the café and the volunteers just keep doing what they are doing.”

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John John was an emergency ambulance crew member and first aid instructor working for Isle of Wight Search and Rescue. He is also a good dad, which is just as impressive. A breakdown last February led him to require rest and recuperation, something he has found at Better Days. “The café has been a vital part of my recovery both physically and mentally. It has provided a safe place to rebuild my confidence and to become used to people again. The volunteers here all provide a massive amount of support to the community. I’m impressed with all the different groups that the café provides and social support to those in need.”

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Patrick Patrick’s journey to Better Days began with redundancy from his position as a property developer on the mainland. “Both my wife and I lost our jobs at the same time, and we knew it was time for a change. We holiday on the island and always said we must move here — that’s how we found Better Days. It’s my favourite place to come on a day off, either to sit alone or to meet with friends and share a pot of tea. I love sharing the pleasure of good food and drinks in a warm, welcoming, non-judgemental space.

The sausage rolls and sarnies are the best, but then again, the cakes are delicious too…

I would like to see more bacon butties though!”

Kindness changes everything.

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From ‘Under the Bed’ to Adorning Your Home Buy Original Art in an Original Way The inaugural ‘Under the Bed Sale IOW’ launches this February at Montage Place in Ryde (formerly the Depozitory). It is the perfect, affordable opportunity for people to start or continue their art collections. The works for sale are all from exhibited artists currently working on the Island, many of whom have exhibited nationally and internationally and have won prestigious awards.

This sale gives artists an opportunity to pull out artworks from storage and sell them at reduced prices to help clear space in their studios …and heads! Prices range from £1 to £350 so art lovers have a chance to purchase original artwork at a great, affordable price. There will be painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, ceramics, plus experiments, slight seconds, sketchbook works, drawings, collage, cards, and objects that defy description!

‘Under the Bed Sale IOW’ is a not-for-profit event directly

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supporting artists. It is hoped that it will become an annual event in the Island’s creative calendar. A group of active Island based artists — Fran Farrar, Fiona Schindler, Jill Wilkinson and Karen Mead — are coordinating the sale.

“There’s a wealth of experienced, exhibiting artists on the Island who inevitably have lots of work in plan, chests, lofts and yes, under their beds,” says Fran Farrar, one of the artist organisers. “We’re incredibly excited about the work that will be for sale, so why not bring out your inner art collector and pick up a unique piece of original artwork?”

Under the Bed Sale IOW will be open to the public from 10 am Sunday 4th February, then daily 10am– 4pm (Thursday 8th from 12.30pm – 4pm) up to and including, Saturday 10th February.

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Independent

Arts

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Remember Independent Arts in your Will

There are lots of great reasons to want to live on the Isle of Wight. It’s good to know that we’ve got the microclimate, the incredible tomatoes, and the stunning beaches; but what happens when the proverbial sun stops shining?

One good thing the global pandemic taught us was that taking up a creative hobby (knitting, baking, poetry etc) is good for improving our sense of wellbeing.

Researchers have known for decades that music is brilliant for the brain; we’ve all been moved by seeing dementia choirs on TV. But you might not know that there’s a tiny charity based right here, that has been quietly practising ‘arts for wellbeing’ for more than three decades.

For more than 35 years, since 1987, Independent Arts has been changing lives by widening access to the visual and performing arts for people living here.

Each week we provide more than 50 creative workshops in care homes and local community venues throughout the island, and at our Creative Hub which is situated in Newport’s busy town centre.

Our workshops, provided by freelance professional artists, offer creative opportunities for improved cognitive and emotional wellbeing and social connections for some of our island’s more vulnerable residents.

Artwork created by workshop participants is exhibited within our Creative Hub’s gallery. For participants and their carers exhibitions extend opportunities for connection and celebration.

Independent Arts is also very active with schools, helping to support the curriculum by bringing island innovation and heritage to life whilst improving soft skills and learning.

For older teens we provide a safe space for youth social action through mural painting and music. We even run an intergenerational chess club, run at weekends when older folk often feel most alone and young people are not at school.

If you’ve not visited us, do pop in any time – you might stumble into a group singing ‘show me the way to go home!’ or be shushed during a mindfulness session, but you’ll be warmly welcomed and invited to look around at the gallery and maybe pocket a souvenir or two – all to ensure that this small charity with a big heart can continue to support the most vulnerable of all ages.

We have a favour to ask; we are a small charity and are funded by grants and donations, so if you like what we do, please support people on the Isle of Wight who are alone for whatever reason, with a regular donation. www.independentarts.org.uk

m

£5

on

o

n

programme inspired

t hly d o n ati

enables a welcome volunteer to be recruited, checked and supported for a year.

£10

m

on

o

n

donation

fundraising event Buy some of our

t hly d o n ati

enables an isolated older person to attend a weekly session to sing or dance, make friends and feel connected.

£30 m

on

o

n

Ask for employer

to match your

upcoming fundraising challenges and events

Run your own

t hly d o n ati

pays for a specialist arts practitioner to support care home residents to connect through music and memory.

www.independentarts.org.uk/donate

We welcome donations in cash, cheque, contactless payment or online direct through our website January and February 2024

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With Lau ren Fr y, A rts Educator Mark your calendars, because on Februar y 10th, 2024, billions of people worldwide will gather with their families to eat sumptuous food, play games and share gif ts to celebrate the Lunar New Year. This ancient festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, symbolises the end of winter and the star t of a new year in the Chinese Zodiac Calendar, and what a great year we have ahead of us, as 2024 is the year of the Wood Dragon.

While dragons in European my thology are seen as dangerous creatures; menacing monsters to be feared and slain by knights

Materials: • White card • Felt tips, coloured pencils, paint sticks • Scissors • Glue or Double-sided tape • Glitter, gems, sequins (optional) 32

styleofwight.co.uk

rescuing damsels in distress, in Chinese culture, the Dragon is a symbol of power and prosperity, famous for their incredible wisdom and luck. They are supernatural beings with unimaginable talent and excellence.

To welcome in the year of the Wood Dragon and spread good luck , why not create your own beautiful paper for tune cookies with a hidden message of hope and wisdom to gif t to your friends and family this Lunar New Year ?

Step 1: Draw around a circular object that is around 10 - 15cm in diameter and cut this out carefully.

Step 3: Fold your circle of card in half and glue/tape together the top edges. Put this to one side and cut out a narrow strip of card. Write a thoughtful fortune on your card strip.

Step 2: Use bright, bold colours to decorate one side of your card.

Step 4: Slide your fortune carefully into your folded circle. Push in the centre of your folded circle and bring together the edges gently. This is pretty tricky and may take a little practice but don’t give up!

Step 5: Once you have mastered the folding, glue the cookie into place. To give your fortunes an extra sparkle, decorate with glitter, sequins, or gems.

For my fortune cookies, I have created fireballs from the mouth of a luck-bringing dragon and shiny dragon eggs ready to hatch.

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Meet the Maker

Studio Delma Words: James Rayner Photography: Julian Winslow

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mongst the undulating green fields just south of Whitwell, in a converted stone outbuilding, you’ll find the characterful new home of Studio Delma. After a sturdy knock on the door of Unit 6, Dean Farm, we step inside to meet artist and creative India Allin who uses this space to make her distinctive 3D sculptured wall art and unique hand-painted surfaces.

Following a quick tour of the showroom, where freshly finished pieces sit side by side with India’s lush, green houseplants, we’re whisked through a curtain and into the studio, where our interview starts in earnest.

“I was born in the Hertfordshire town of Stevenage,” India tells us, “and spent my mid-teens on the Essex-Cambridgeshire border. Growing up, if I wasn’t reading, I’d be doodling and I was definitely encouraged to be creative by my artistic parents. My gas engineer dad is amazing at drawing and my mum, who has been a support worker for the past ten years, is quite nifty with a paintbrush. Work-wise, I started out managing charity shops and absolutely loved putting together the window displays.

It prompted me to enrol for a visual merchandising course at the London College of Fashion but I dropped out after a year, realising my heart wasn’t really in it.”

It was at this moment in time that a close friend suggested India take a look at prop-making courses, even ringing up the universities to ask if they were still accepting new students, despite the fact it was rather late in the year. Incredibly, they were, and soon India was making her way to the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (located close to London’s Swiss Cottage tube station) to be given her first prop-making projects. “There was absolutely no hand-holding” she explains, “they’d just give us a task and say “make it!” I’d be sat there thinking “what do you mean just make it?” Actually though, I learnt an awful lot in those lessons and still use skills picked up then in my artwork today.”

After graduating, India took on her first propmaking role with a chain of magic-themed immersive hospitality venues, creating everything from wizard’s wands to cocktaildispensing dragons’ heads for their London, Edinburgh and New York locations. Here, her skills in sculpting and painting continued to grow and soon she’d come up on the radar of Ben Piner, founder of Benjamin Raymond Atelier - a decorative arts and interiors studio operating right next door to India’s workplace.

“I wasn’t sure I wanted to leave props but I’d spoken to Ben a few times and he offered me a job if I was up for the challenge. It was

the best move I could have made though.

Ben trained me in interiors, paint effects, finishes and textures. He taught me all the things you’re assumed to know, like the difference between eggshell paint and matte, and where best to use them. Mostly I’d be making the paint-effect textures for walls, kitchen cupboards and splashbacks for high-end clients both in the UK and around the world. I also hand-painted cloudy skyscapes for interior ceilings and created bespoke resin finishes for kitchen worktops too.”

However, it was one particular project in December 2022 that would set India on a new path and ultimately lead to the founding of Studio Delma - a bas-relief sculpture.

Ordinarily sculpted on a solid background of the same material, bas-relief sculptures have been chiselled from wood and stone since the Ancient Egyptian era, with famous examples including the Parthenon friezes and the historic carvings at the crumbling Cambodian temple of Angkor Wat. “We’d never done something like that before” India tells us, “but Ben was confident I could do it. I enjoyed sculpting but was a bit intimidated by the thought of a standalone 3D sculpture. Being able to carve into a flat panel made it much more accessible and a bit less scary too. After the piece was finished we posted a photo of it on social media and it just blew up! So many people got in touch about it and soon I was getting many more chances to practise this exciting new technique.”

In August 2023, India, together with her mum and illustrator sister Fife decided to relocate to the Isle of Wight to be closer to her paternal grandparents. “I was tired of London after living there for nine years, tired of the cost of London and fed up with having to get the tube just to go to a park.

We’d been visiting my grandparents in Freshwater since I was four, swimming at Colwell Bay every day during our summer trips. I’d always wanted to move here and after realising that we had no real ties to the areas we were living in, we decided to get together and find a house in Cowes.”

After setting sail for the Island, India next secured a workshop space at Dean Farm which would become the new home of Studio Delma - her creative company specialising in decorative artwork and surface finishes (named after her maternal grandmother). From direct-to-wall ombre paint effects, faux stone surfaces and unique textured copper effect wall panels, India creates a stunning array of tailor-made finishes, alongside her growing range of nature-inspired bas-relief panels, with each one (when seen in situ) having the power to utterly transform a room.

Swivelling round on our stool, attention turns to India’s latest flamingo-themed bas-relief creation which has just reached completion. Made from a layer of gypsum plaster applied to a board, it’s first smoothed and primed before India sketches out her design and begins sculpting. “It needs to be pretty dry before you start to sculpt, ” January and February 2024

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“bas-relief sculptures have been chiselled from wood and stone since the Ancient Egyptian era” 36

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she explains, “and almost completely dry before sanding and adding detail. I use a craft knife for the outlines and clay gouging tools to start picking out the design. I’ve also got some metal implements which I call my ‘dentistry tools’ that are great for the finer features. When I’m finally happy with the piece I sand it and then spray the whole thing with a white acrylic sealer to protect it. I’d like to experiment with colour in the future but right now I just think they all look so good in white.”

Whilst she’s only been on the Island for a few months, India has already started to make her mark. Her recent live sculpting demonstration at the Isle of Wight Homes and Interiors Show gained her a considerable number of intrigued followers and many locals are already on the waiting list for India’s private tuition and signing up for her sculptural plaster workshop at the Quay Arts that starts in February. “I’m hoping to cater to the current gap in the market for specialist finishes on the Island.

I’ve already connected with the local interior designers and I’ll be exhibiting in the Quay Arts café this month which should help get my name out there. With everyone here being so lovely and encouraging (especially through the Isle of Wight Creative Network) and with so much fresh air around it’s surprised me, actually, how much I haven’t missed London at all.” studiodelma.co.uk @studiodelma January and February 2024

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YARMOUTH GALLERY Contemporary Art & Craft

est.1997

find us in the high street

check our website for opening hours

Island & UK Artists & a great li le card shop OPEN ALL YEAR Dennis Fairweather

paintings textiles ceramics prints jewellery sculpture glass & wood

ANNE TOMS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

OPEN ALL YEAR

www.yarmouthgallery.com

Under the bed

t an starrt A tion ec l o c loday! t

ART SALE

2024

3rd - 10th February

Over 35 IOW artists selling original artwork painting, printmaking, sculpture & ceramics Montage Place (The Depository) 23 Nelson Street, Ryde PO33 2EZ

Free Entry Opening Hours Feb 3rd 5 - 7pm Feb 4th-10th 10am-4pm

STYL E SP E C TRU M Adele Jackson

In my twenties I was working 12-16 hour work days in my business and realised I was caged by all the materialistic items that were in my life. I was always thinking about the future and never truly living in the present. I was depressed most of the time because my days were filled with overworking myself and partying in whatever free time I did have. This was my normal. The fear of being trapped in my house was so intense that I couldn’t breathe. The more I grieved the more I kept thinking about all the dreams I wouldn’t be able to achieve. Then one day I stopped feeling sorry for myself, changed my perspective, and took control. I realised I needed to stop living in the future, and keeping money saved for my future. I realised the time is now, not when I’m older. I realised I was stuck in the mindset of “one day, when we are old”, instead of, “one day when I’m young”.

So I put my money into a van.

Instagram a_dingles_story | Instagram/Facebook: Photolife Photography

Above: A lesson vanlife has taught us is you don’t need materialistic time together.

We don’t need a fancy restaurant or extravagant gifts, just the gift of time and the beauty of the world shared together.

Living in a van and finding true joy in a harder lifestyle has made me feel more alive. Even things like showering with a water bottle that I stabbed holes into the lid of, to give a shower effect, or bathing in a natural lake with all natural ingredients, or trying to find fresh water. All these little things give me such happiness, instead of a materialistic item I have no need for. I feel we have all forgotten what we are; we come from nature and we should be in nature.

Nowadays everything is made more simple for us, which means we do not enjoy the little things in life, but vanlife has given me back what it truly means to be human and that is to just be present in a moment and appreciate it for what it is. This is something I had lost for so many years and I will do everything I can, even though that means living on a small budget, to be able to achieve this bliss. I know now I was addicted to a stressful life.

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Above: Something we have both hated is rain. Living in a van you really need to learn to love all the bad moments because there are a lot. But are they bad or is that just our perspective?

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Right: It blows my mind that I was ever under the illusion that I needed more money to be happy. To keep working hard to someday make it. But make it where? I feel like my life is so much more fulfilled living a simple life in a cabin on wheels on a small budget, leaving a very small carbon footprint.

Even though I had to give up home comforts for this life it is the best price I could ever pay.

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Above: As we get older, we start getting aches and pains and our joints really need help. So we decided to both take a massage course so that we could look after each other. This has now turned into getting the massage chair out anywhere. So we have decided we will be giving each other massages all over the world at the most beautiful locations.

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Right: I am nude or topless a lot now. Not for any other reason than because it feels comfortable. The world we live in has sexualised females so much that anything slightly revealing gives females a trashy name. But why? I have felt so much shame around my body and my gender for so long due to stereotypes about how a woman should be. It is nice that when we are out in nature away from society I can just be me, not sexualised, just me being present in my body. This also is what I feel true freedom is.

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Above: I didn’t know what true freedom was until I stepped out of my comfort zone. Not knowing where we are going or what is going to happen, just seeing what happens with the days. We have a budget of just £500 a month between us, this includes fuel, food, and leisure. Whatever I make extra from work is what goes into savings, like if one of us falls ill — ‘us’ also meaning the van.

Above: It is amazing that this is free. We live on such a small budget and are so happy. Normally I would be curled up in a blanket watching Netflix crying, finding it hard to elevate my mood, with no desire to go outside. But with this lifestyle I am able to walk out of my van and go out on the lake and ground myself with nature.

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If you would like to see your work featured in our Style Spectrum pages, please email in the first instance with two or three images only and a short description to office@styleofwight.co.uk

Meet the

BAKER Piotr Banachowski

Words: James Rayner Photography: Julian Winslow

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At 2 a.m. on a chilly Monday morning, behind the unassuming door of an industrial unit in Lake, master baker Piotr Banachowski ties his apron strings and fires up his ovens. His rustic sourdoughs have been cold-proofing overnight, sitting in the fridge in their own wicker baskets, awaiting the intense heat of the bread oven which will shortly bring them to life. As Piotr selects his baking paddle, ready to start the day’s work, it’s clear his connection with artisan bread is a deep-rooted one — and one that leads all the way back to Poland and the year 1990.

Born in the central Polish city of Inowrocław, Piotr started professional bakery studies at the age of fifteen, encouraged by his car mechanic father and his mother, who was a housewife. After three years, he travelled north to the city of Bydgoszcz for his theory and practice exams, soon working full-time in a string of different bakeries. Here he kneaded and baked Poland’s traditional (often German-influenced) specialities, including chleb żytni (rye bread), chleb baltonowski (a sourdough made with 40% rye) and the hornshaped rogalik rolls, which are traditionally dipped in natural yoghurt before eating. Later, he learned the art of confectionery and after five years he passed his final exams with the Guild of Various Crafts, earning him the title ‘master of professional bakery’, something he’s clearly very proud of.

“Apart from a break of a few months,” Piotr tells us, “I’ve been a baker ever since. Then, in 2006 I came to the Isle of Wight after my sister, who was working in a Sandown hotel,

found out that Grace’s Bakery had a vacancy that needed filling. I arrived on a Friday and started work on the Monday, without a single word of English. Unfortunately, the only second language we’d been taught at school during Soviet times was Russian.”

In 2018, Piotr’s career took an entrepreneurial direction as he decided to take the plunge and set up his own baking business. He took over the keys to Number 10, Shanklin High Street, and created an Eastern European-style delicatessen with a small in-house bakery at the back. Visible from between the shelves of Polish rosehip tea and Moldovan wine, Piotr baked everything from sourdough bread and drożdżówka pastry swirls, to cheesecakes and traditional apple pie. Every Saturday was ‘doughnut day’ when he cooked Polish pączki (pronounced: ponch-kee) doughnuts, filled with jam, cream, custard, or salted caramel — a tradition that continues in the shop to this day. Initially a well-kept secret amongst the Island’s Eastern European residents, local

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Brits soon became aware of Piotr’s top-notch baking too, and demand for his goods was rising.

“A few years later,” Piotr explains, “an opportunity came up to take over the Island Bakers kitchen in Lake, so we moved the bakery there and started increasing production. Assisting me today is John, a hotel management graduate from Kerala in India who previously worked in kitchens for the British Army both in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He’s a very good bakery student and always strives to make sure everything is perfect.

I also took on confectioner Andrzej a few weeks ago and my sister Kasia helps in the office with all the paperwork.”

This small but talented team now supplies artisan, locally baked bread right across the Island, from Bembridge Farm Shop and Rosalie’s of Cowes to the restaurants of

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Cibo in Wootton and Fumo in Ryde. Over in West Wight, The Piano Cafe frequently toasts Piotr’s sourdough, whilst PO41 makes it into sandwiches and Orchard Brothers of Freshwater Bay sells a selection of aromatic loaves. Meanwhile, the delicatessen in Shanklin is now run by Piotr’s cheerful wife Justyna, where, aside from the rustic bread and poppy seed rolls, customers can also test the ever-changing selection of cakes, pies, and pastries — such as the chocolate and cream wuzetka cake (a 1940s invention, supposedly named after the W-Z motorway near Warsaw).

“At the moment,” Piotr tells us, “our most popular products seem to be the traditional sourdough bread and sourdough baguettes, as well as the walnut and cranberry bread, our olive and thyme, spelt with sunflower seeds, and the rustic white. We’re trying to

do something different, something you just can’t find in the supermarkets. For Christmas, John helped us devise a special Keralaninspired Christmas cake with figs, dates, apricots, prunes, and sweet ginger, all mixed together with candied peel and dried fruits, before being soaked in dark rum. We’ll keep heading in this direction in future, trying new things and pushing to create the highest quality artisan bakery products that we can.”

Having sampled Piotr’s creations numerous times in recent years, we can confirm there’s something very special about his baking, no doubt down to his thirty-four years of expert experience and perhaps the fact his bread is kneaded (unusually for an industrial kitchen) on natural wood. Whatever it is, as we leave him cutting and weighing the next batch of dough, we can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

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Cauliflower

With Will Steward , Living Larder Widely available at any time of the year but mostly grown on the Isle of Wight in winter because of our warmer maritime climate, cauliflower is a major crop for a lot of big growers and has attracted farmers on the Isle of Wight for some time. Hungry for good fertility but hardy of most weather conditions, we always enjoy seeing our cauliflower coming in. The sight of the bright white curds when you peel back the leaves never fails to evoke a feeling of finding something special when stood in a cold, wet field in winter.

Cauliflower and coconut dal

Method:

Ingredients:

Heat oil in a large pan and gently fry the onion for 10min until completely softened, careful not to burn. Stir in the garlic, ginger, spices and chilli and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

1 tbsp oil 1 onion, finely sliced

1 tsp. each ground coriander, turmeric and garam masala

Add lentils and stock and bring to the boil. Turn down heat and simmer for 15 minutes – check that it doesn’t need topping up with water. Add the cauliflower florets – simmer until the cauliflower is soft and the lentils are well cooked – around 10 minutes.

1-2 red chillies, sliced

Stir in the coconut milk, chickpeas and greens, simmer until wilted.

150g brown lentils, rinsed well

Check seasoning, serve with brown rice for a wholesome veggie dinner.

2 garlic cloves, crushed 5cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and grated

200ml coconut cream 400ml vegetable stock 250g cauliflower florets 400g tin chickpeas 100g your choice of greens – we’ve used kale as it’s seasonal

Living Larder is a family-owned, Soil Association certified Organic farm. supplying local fruit and vegetable boxes. livinglarder.co.uk | Instagram: @livinglarder

Mermaid Atla

Now on the water, potentially mid-Atlantic as you read, three Island friends, Xavier Baker, Paul Berry, and Chris Mannion, have taken on the challenge of a lifetime. The Islanders are participating in the World’s Toughest Row, the Atlantic Challenge.

Those who have been following their journey from the start will know that the lads have left their jobs, families, and normal dayto-day lives behind. Facing marlin strikes, tumultuous weather, waves, and vacuumpacked meals, the challenge promises to be arduous. It’s also an opportunity for the team to fully immerse themselves in nature and be at one with the ocean, with nothing but sea and sky as a familiar friend.

So why are the Island lads rowing the Atlantic? Their mission is two-fold: firstly, to communicate the detrimental effect of waste items on the ocean. Plastic is the biggest culprit, but many materials don’t

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decompose, polluting the water, damaging ecosystems, and threatening marine life.

The second is to raise awareness of the power of seagrass and the role it plays in combating the climate crisis. Seagrass is the unsung hero of the ocean, not to mention a huge carbon sink, sequestering it 35 times faster than the rainforests.

However, its survival is threatened by humans, including mooring anchors, dredging, and pollution.

The Mermaid Atlantic team embarked on their journey on the 12th December, 2023, from the starting line at La Gomera, waved off by their loved ones. The lads have

skipped Christmas and New Year with their families for a short chat by satellite phone at sea. Taking on a life-changing experience of rowing 3000 miles across the southern Atlantic has some drawbacks, but they’ll soon land in sunny Antigua, to join their loved ones in celebration.

Having worked up to this moment for over two years, the lads are now mid-way through the Atlantic ocean, tackling up to 20ft waves whilst rowing two hours on and off around the clock. Consuming 5000 calories a day, they’ll be getting through reserves covering them for up to 60 days at sea. The current 3-man race record is

lantic antic

Photo credits: Adrift Visuals

held by Dark Trio, who in January of 2023 crossed the line in 35 days, 1 hour and 33 minutes. The Mermaid Atlantic team has a goal to reach Antigua safely and still be friends!

In their mission to get across safely, the team also has an ulterior motive, raising funds for three chosen charities: Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Surfers Against Sewage, and The Seahorse Trust, hoping to raise awareness and £2500 each for the individual charities.

If you have been inspired by their mission and would like to donate to their charities scan the QR code to their GiveWheel.

January and February 2024

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The Old Village Shanklin Isle of Wight PO37 6NU

Telephone (01983) 865500

Extensive Menu Serving Quality Dishes Locally Caught Crab & Lobster Home Cooked Sunday Roasts Real Ales & Live Music Homemade Cakes & Cream Teas Courtyard Garden The Old Village SHANKLIN Isle of Wight PO37 6NU Tel. (01983) 865500

The Island’s newest food destination reveals a unique offering as it opens on Cowes High Street.

Brazil Espirito Santo Producer: Smallholders Altitude: 900 - 1200 masl Varietal: Red & Yellow Catuai Process: Washed Roast: Medium

Become a Coffee Aficionado From that first life-affirming sip of the morning to a perfect post-prandial brew, coffee is more religion than drink to many. Dan Burgess of the I.O.W Espresso Company shares his deep expertise in the beautiful bean so you can learn more about coffee origins and brew the perfect cup yourself…

Brazil is the world’s largest coffee nation, producing approximately 30% of the world’s supply. Primarily producing Arabica varieties, which are a staple component for many espresso blends, these coffees’ characteristic flavour profiles are chocolate and nut, which are always crowd pleasers and also work well as a single origin.

Recipe

Method

30g of medium/coarse ground coffee

• Pre-heat the french press then discard the rinsed water into a carafe or mug.

“This is a coffee we started working with a couple of seasons ago and it has been well received as a single origin for use as an espresso or brewed.

A set of weighing scales (preferably to weigh to 0.00 of a gram and with a built-in timer)

“This lot comes from three producers of the Afonso Claudio area, in the centre of the province of Espirito Santo, Brazil. It is hand-picked at full maturity, at an altitude of around 1000m between July and December.

It is then rigorously sorted in order to remove overripe or underripe cherries, before being fully immersed in basins of water for 24 to 72 hours to remove its pulp. Syrupy and sweet, with tones of milk chocolate, cherry, and caramel, its medium roast makes Espirito Santo a perfect choice for an espresso or a great easy drinker brewed in a cafetiere.

French Press/Cafetiere Brew Guide The French Press or Cafetiere is one of the most common home brewing methods for coffee in this country and following a few simple procedures can produce great results. Because of the long contact time, this method normally produces a heavier fuller-bodied brew.

500g/ml of filtered water heated between 94-96 degrees Celsius Total brew time: 4 minutes Equipment

A Cafetiere/French Press A stirrer/paddle of some sort A timer (you can use your phone or a kitchen timer if your scales don’t have a built-in timer)

• Place the brewer onto scales and tare/zero.

• Carefully decant the coffee grounds into the french press and level the grounds by gently tapping the side of the brewer.

• Pour the water slowly over the ground coffee, ensuring all the coffee grounds are wet.

A kettle (preferably a goose neck)

• Then place the lid/filter carefully over the top of the coffee surface and start your timer.

A vessel for the brewed coffee (e.g a carafe or mug)

• At 2 minutes break the crust with a spoon or paddle with 3 big agitations.

• At 4 minutes plunge slowly.

• Pour coffee into mug or carafe. ** Tip: before plunging remove any grounds or foam from the surface using two spoons to get an overall cleaner brew.

The I.O.W Espresso Co. www.iow-espresso.co.uk www.islandroasted.co.uk

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BRUNCH Time

Brunch - a heavenly hybrid between breakfast and lunch, combining all the best bits of both without the formality or the hefty portions. Supposedly first dreamt up by a British writer in 1895, it has since become an unmissable part of many a weekend.

T

hankfully the Isle of Wight is spoilt for choice when it comes to spots to brunch in - from atmospheric town centre eateries to dining destinations buried deep in the country. Whilst taking inspiration from across the world, our local brunch kitchens often use the Island’s top-notch homegrown ingredients to take their dishes to the next level. Things like Arreton asparagus to accompany a dish of gently poached eggs, or maybe Briddlesford butter to spread on that freshly toasted muffin. Whatever you plump for, you’re unlikely to be disappointed but if you wanted a few succulent suggestions anyway, we’ve rounded ours up here.

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Porridge and Pastries Situated in an impressive former chapel in Newport’s St James Street, Caffè Isola is the place to go for Italian-inspired pastries, tasty small plates and coffee roasted just down the road, by the Medina. Commence brunching with their homemade porridge, it’s made using rich, Isle of Wight milk and is topped with fresh berries, honey and a scattering of mixed seeds. To accompany it, why not try a crisp sfogliatella pastry or perhaps a cream-filled cannoli? islandroasted.co.uk/caffe-isola

Eggs Popeye Over at Briddlesford Farm, the chefs at Bluebells Café can rustle up a truly tempting selection of brunch-based dishes. Not to be missed is their Briddlesford Eggs Popeye, combining ham and spinach on granary toast with two poached eggs and a silky hollandaise sauce. Mix and match it with pan-fried frittata, fresh avocado or some golden crunchy halloumi sticks (made from the farm’s own milk in their on-site dairy). briddlesford.co.uk

Potato and Bean Hash Moving south, you can’t go wrong with a walk through Ventnor Botanic’s lush green gardens before taking a seat in their café for brunch. Start things off by sipping one of their delicious herbal infusions, such as the blueberry rooibos, the tropical green or their red berry hibiscus.

Then follow it up with their breakfast potato and bean hash (pictured), buttered crumpets or a tomato, garlic and basil bagel. botanic.co.uk January and February 2024

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Brilliant

Brunch Recipes

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Brunch Destinations - A Few More Recommendations from the Style of Wight Team

Latke

Baked Eggs

Serve these potato latkes with just about whatever suits. We love smoked salmon with a dollop of soured cream. Thanks to Stu at Cantina, Ventnor, for the inspiration for this one.

Eggs are super-versatile, making them a brunch staple. This recipe is a great concept that allows you to play around with adding store-cupboard ingredients and odd fridge leftovers until you find your signature combination.

Ingredients 4 large potatoes (Maris Piper) peeled 1 medium white onion 2 large free-range, organic eggs 2 tbsp plain flour Coconut or rapeseed oil for frying Salt and pepper

Ingredients Olive oil 4 large free-range eggs 1 ripe avocado ½ a lime 1-2 sprigs of fresh coriander or green herbs

Method

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees

Coarsely grate the potatoes into a large bowl.

Grease a small skillet or cast-iron pan that’s oven-proof with a drizzle of olive oil, then crack in the eggs.

Drain off the liquid, then put the mixture in a cheese cloth or clean tea towel and gently squeeze out the remaining liquid.

Add the eggs, flour, 1 tsp sea salt and pepper, and mix well. Pour the oil into the pan so that it is 2-3cm deep. Set over a medium heat for a few minutes until it ripples.

Carefully spoon in the mixture to the size you want – 2 tbsp for large latkes – and fry them in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook on each side on a mediumhigh heat until browned (this takes around 2 -3 minutes) then reduce the heat and allow them to cook through for a further 5-8 minutes.

Remove to a plate lined with kitchen paper to absorb any excess oil, then season with a sprinkle of salt. Serve with the soured cream and smoked salmon, adding any herbs to taste or a spicy sriracha, if that’s your thing.

The Finest Choice for Vegans try the vegan version of Cook + Baker’s ‘Korean Eggs’ including scrambled tofu, brioche, kimchi, crispy onion and coriander

1 red chilli

Accompaniment: e.g. sour cream and smoked salmon or poached eggs – whatever you fancy!

Do the same for the onion and gently mix into the same bowl. Leave the mixture to rest for about 15 mins – this lets the water release from the onions and potatoes.

The Heartiest Shakshuka - full of flavour and a hint of spice, the shakshuka at Ventnor’s Cantina is one of the best around

Method

Finely slice the red chilli and scatter over the eggs.

Peel the avocado, then slice and place in a bowl.

Halve the lime and squeeze over the juice of one half.

Arrange the avocado around the eggs, seasoning with a twist of salt and black pepper.

Place in the oven for about 10 minutes, or until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny. Keep an eye on this and don’t let them overcook.

Before serving roughly chop a few coriander leaves and sprinkle over the eggs, then cut the remaining lime half into wedges for squeezing over.

Delicious served with toasted sourdough and a bright tomato salad.

The Most Indulgent Drink - the chilli infused hot chocolate at Chocolate Apothecary is surely the most rich and comforting drink you could go for at this nippy time of year The Cheesiest Choice - just opened in Godshill, Loaph offers melted raclette cheese croissants or rich and filling raclette cheese gratins The Best Eggs for a DIY Brunch - in the same family since 1965, the free-range eggs from Hazelgrove Farm in Ashey are always a winner The Crispiest of Toast - we’re big fans of Deli-Cious Artisan Bakery’s rustic sourdough.

Get yours from Shalfleet Farm Shop, Pickle & Dill or Harwoods of Yarmouth

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BeCalmed Specialises in:

Wellbeing Treatments • ESPA • Beauty Therapy Pre-Natal Treatments • Anti-ageing treatments

FACE & BO DY CO NCERNS:

• • • • • • • •

Lines & wrinkles Overall skin texture Pigmentation Sun damaged skin Pitting of skin Brightening & tightening Sagging skin Stretch marks

NO N-SURGICAL FACE LIF T:

• • • • • • •

Formation of new collagen to lift & tighten the skin Skin rejuvenation Brow & jowl line lifting Treats both face & neck One off treatment Safe alternative to surgery Results develop over 2-3 months & last for up to 24 months

AlumierMD Advanced Skin Treatments We can customise your program of treatments to target your specific skin concerns whether it be ageing, pigmentation or acne.

A tranquil oasis in the heart of Cowes 01983 296655

8 Birmingham Road • Cowes • P031 7BH info@becalmedincowes.co.uk • www.becalmedincowes.co.uk

Get Your Personalised Skincare Plan:

01983 532 275 @thebeautyspotiow Unit 2, 128 Pyle Street, Newport, Isle Of Wight, PO30 1JW

Health and Beauty | STYLE

LED-POWERED WELLNESS With Caroline Hurley Wellbeing Practitioner at BeC almed and Healthwell Solutions

BeCalmed are pleased to announce that they will to be working in collaboration with ESPA and The Light Salon.

BeCalmed has always been keen to bring the best to the Island’s Wellbeing industry and realised that the combined power of ESPA’s natural skincare with The Light Salon LED (Light Emitting Diode) light treatment further advances ESPA’s results-driven facial treatments to deliver longer lasting and more powerful results to spa guests.

With its roots in aromatherapy, nature derived formulations, and holistic spa treatments, the collaboration sees the introduction of technology and use of light treatment with ESPA treatments. The Light Salon are trusted professionals with an unparalleled industry reputation for excellence, making them the clear choice for a skincare technology collaboration which brings BeCalmed clients advanced LED treatments. The Light Salon pioneered the LED facial movement. It is a noninvasive form of skincare that not only triggers an increase in collagen but has a positive effect on the body and promotes a sense of calm and balance.

These treatments not only improve the appearance of your skin but improve your overall wellbeing and have been seen to help those who suffer with SAD (seasonal affective disorder).

The team at BeCalmed are looking forward to introducing this unique combination of treatments to their customers. becalmedincowes.co.uk January and February 2024

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T H E C O U R T Y A R D A E S T H E T I C C L I N I C D O C T O R

H A Y L E Y

E L S M O R E

HEALTH SERVICES  Free NHS Prescription Delivery  Free NHS Flu Vaccines  Free Managed Repeat Service  NEW* Free NHS Blood Pressure Checks  NEW Online Or Mobile App Ordering  NEW Services Clinic (Travel, Ear Cleaning, UTI)

*(Eligible over 40 years)

SCAN WITH PHONE CAMERA AND GET OUR APP Get Re-Order Reminders ⁄ Order 24/7 We Keep You Updated ⁄ Chat To Our Pharmacist BEST SKIN CLINIC UK

Fragrance I Beauty I Luxury Bath I Mens Grooming Natural Remedies I Pharmacy 34 UNION STREET  RYDE P033 2LE TEL: 01983 562570  WWW.GIBBSANDGURNELL.COM

B A Y L I S S

LET US HELP YOU TO DISCOVER YOUR BEST SELF FOR 2024

BOOK ONLINE OR C A L L N O W 01983 241214 www.thecourtyardcliniciw.co.uk

Osborne Chiropractic

B O O T H

6A Cross St Shanklin

Specialist treatment for spinal, joint, muscle and nerve conditions by an experienced chiropractor.

For appointments email: info@osborne-chiro.com

MODERN COUNTRY LUXE MID-CENTURY SCANDI FRENCH CHATEAU VINTAGE FINDS INSPIRATION 01983 528600 @baylissandbooth

B AY L I S S A N D B O O T H . C O . U K

LUSHINGTON HILL

WOOTTON

PO33 4RD

or call: 01983 514 996

LOW BACK PAIN IS COMMON

Osborne Chiropractic

Dr Luther Moss, Osborne Chiropractic

Each year approximately 8 million people report chronic pain. Back pain alone is a leading cause of absenteeism, causing an estimated loss to the economy of £10 billion a year.

The Problem is Typically Long Term

• Generalised ache:

Lower back pain is a huge and debilitating problem in today’s society, with the majority of complaints caused by a lack of muscle control and loss of movement of spinal joints. This occurs over many years, rather than after an acute injury or trauma, and early intervention is key in reducing its severity.

Dull aching in the lower back is often due to a gradual loss of the motion in the joints of the lower back and subsequent tightening of the muscles in the lower back. This is normally a sign that there is an underlying problem. If assessment and treatment are received at this stage, future injury can normally be avoided. Many people put up with these symptoms only to later experience more severe pain.

Many people experience severe symptoms after apparently simple tasks such as stretching, picking up a pen, or sneezing.

This is because, over many years, incorrect use of the spine leads to changes in the movement of joints and flexibility of ligaments. The subsequent change in mechanics affects the nerve control of the muscles in the area, meaning eventually they are unable to adapt to normal forces that occur in the spine, and injury ensues.

These changes can exist in your spine for a long time without you being aware of it.

• Sharp/stabbing pain: A sharp stabbing pain in the back normally indicates injury and swelling to the joints or discs in the lower back. At this stage, significant injury has often already occurred, and assessment and treatment will initially be focussed on reducing your symptoms before concentrating on returning the spine to normal function and dealing with the prevention of future injury.

Symptoms Can Vary

• Pain on one side or in the buttocks:

Symptoms of lower back pain can vary widely between individuals; some of the more common symptoms are described below:

This is normally due to involvement of the sacroiliac joints/large joints on either side of the base of the spine. It can also be caused by severe spasm of the gluteal/buttock

musculature. These muscles support the lower spine and pelvis and often spasm when there is injury in the lower back.

• Pain in the leg: Contrary to popular opinion, not all leg pain is due to ‘sciatic’ irritation; in many cases, leg pain is due to referred pain from the joints in the lower back or tightening of the leg muscles, which are closely related to the flexibility of the lower back. Occasionally, however, inflammation in the joints or discs (and rarely severe muscle spasm) can be sufficient to irritate the nerves in your lower back which may result in leg pain.

• Pins and needles in the legs/feet: These symptoms normally mean that there is significant irritation or injury to the nerves in your lower back. This can occur for many reasons, commonly due to injury to the discs and joints of the lower back. It is important that, if you are experiencing these symptoms, you get your problem assessed as soon as possible.

Chiropractic is recognised as a cost-effective and evidence-based approach in the management acute and chronic low back pain. If you are concerned about lower back pain or would like some advice, please feel free to get in touch: info@osborne-chiropractic.com January and February 2024

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Illuminating Wellness: The Lantern Clinic’s Year of Transformative Functional Medicine With Dr Margarita Kitova-John, Functional GP on the Isle of Wight.

“At the Lantern Clinic, we focus on discovering the root of the problem and treating the cause of the disease. Functional Medicine is a remarkable practice and gaining in popularity as it’s patient-centred and involves understanding the origins of illness and the prevention and treatment of complex symptoms.”

New private medical practice on the Island Precise medicine to get to the root cause of your symptoms.

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Navigating the Path to Health and Vitality on the Isle of Wight and Beyond Lighting the Way to Holistic Health: In the heart of the Isle of Wight, Lantern Clinic stands as a beacon of hope for those seeking a holistic approach to well-being.

Inspired by the serene beauty of the island, we celebrate a year of transformative healthcare, illuminating the path to optimal health through the principles of Functional Medicine.

Dr. Margarita Kitova, our visionary founder, seamlessly blends ancient healing wisdom with cutting-edge Functional Medicine principles. Drawing from extensive clinical experience in general practice and former Chair of the Island GP Federation, Dr. Kitova is committed to addressing the root causes of diseases, restoring trust in medicine as a vocational calling. Emphasising the importance of time in healing, she opposes the industrialisation of medicine, advocating for personalised and patient-focused treatment at Lantern Clinic.

No two individuals are alike, and neither are their health journeys.

Explore the personalised wellness plans crafted at Lantern Clinic, where we delve into the unique genetic makeup, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors to create a roadmap to vitality tailored just for our patients.

Bridging Distances: Telehealth Revolution post COVID pandemic: While rooted in the Isle of Wight, Lantern Clinic’s influence extends beyond the island’s shores. Dr. Kitova’s vision includes the expansion of Functional Medicine across the UK and beyond.

Join us in breaking down geographical barriers to healthcare as we pioneer a future where the transformative power of Functional Medicine knows no bounds.

Functional Medicine is not just a new specialty; it’s a philosophy that seeks to uncover the root causes of health issues, viewing the body as an interconnected system. At Lantern Clinic, Functional Medicine involves in-depth patient assessments, exploring genetic predispositions, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors.

This comprehensive understanding allows us to craft personalised wellness plans, addressing the underlying imbalances rather than merely alleviating symptoms. It’s a transformative journey that empowers individuals to take an active role in their health, promoting lasting well-being.

Glowing Testimonials: Stories of Transformation: Step into the lives of those who have walked the path of Functional Medicine at Lantern Clinic. Real stories, real results – witness firsthand the impact our approach has had on individuals grappling with a range of health challenges.

One Year, Countless Successes: As we mark our first year anniversary, we reflect on the lives touched, the journeys taken, and the victories celebrated. Join us in commemorating a year of innovation, compassion, and dedication to empowering our community with the tools for a vibrant and healthy life.

Join Us on the Path to Wellness: Embark on a journey toward optimal health with Lantern Clinic. Visit our website at www.lanternclinic.com to learn more about our preventative approach.

Illuminate your life with the power of holistic healthcare at Lantern Clinic – where the future of medicine meets the individual needs of today.

Own Your Health!

Address: Gurnard Pines, Cockleton Ln, Cowes PO31 8QE info@lanternclinic.com Tel: +44(0)1983 685667 | lanternclinic.com

If you are interested in learning more about our services and would like to book an appointment, kindly scan the QR code or visit our website at www.lanternclinic.com

January and February 2024

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Handmade Jewellery Inspired by the Ocean …Made to be Worn Anywhere.

WINTER SALE UP TO 50% OFF

Visit us in our Workshop and Studio to see how it is all made.

Cast in Solid Sterling Silver from the mould of real shells.

Collections for both Men and Women.

Open 7 days a week.

NEW

Jewellery Workshops

* RALPH LAUREN * BARBOUR * PART TWO * LEVIS * FRED PERRY * * FRENCH CONNECTION * DIESEL * GANT * NUDIE JEANS * * NYDJ * LYLE & SCOTT * YAYA * MARC DARCY * TED BAKER * * SCOTCH & SODA * TIMBERLAND * LOAKES SHOEMAKERS *

Day courses in jewellery making Group or individual bookings with discounts for 2 or more ...come and be creative

ARRETON BARNS CRAFT VILLAGE IOW PO30 3AA Tel. 01983 685578

www.thomaspcochran.com

MENSWEAR 21 Holyrood Street, Newport, Isle Of Wight PO30 5AZ Tel: 01983 821908

the suit store

Christopher's of Newport

the suit store

6/7 Watchbell Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight

www.visualimpact.co.uk

LADIES WEAR 3/4 Watchbell Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 5XU Tel: 01983 525665

The Power of Saying No: Unlocking Balance in Work and Life

By Shereen Hoban, Business Coach In a world that celebrates being busy as a badge of honour, the ability to say no is often overlooked, yet saying no is one of the most powerful things we can do.

Saying no isn’t about negativity; it’s about reclaiming control of your time, priorities, and ultimately, your life.

Here, we explore the transformative force of this two-letter word and how it can unlock balance in both your work and personal life.

Reclaiming Your Time and Energy

Achieving Balance and Fulfilment

Tips for Saying No Firmly and Fairly:

Picture this: a calendar bursting with commitments, a to-do list that seems never-ending, and the looming pressure to say yes to every request. It’s a scenario familiar to many, and it often leads to burnout. But being able to say no empowers you to reclaim your most precious resources; time and energy.

Balance is the key to a fulfilling life and by using the word no you’ll be better able to strike a balance by allowing yourself to allocate time and energy to the things that truly matter. No empowers you to be intentional about your choices, ensuring that you don’t spread yourself too thinly.

1. “I appreciate your offer, but my current commitments won’t allow me to take on more at this time.”

When you say no to tasks, projects, or meetings that don’t align with your goals or values, you free up space for what truly matters. It’s not about being uncooperative; it’s about being strategic. By focusing your efforts on what truly drives your success or happiness, you become more effective and more fulfilled.

Setting Boundaries and Preserving Well-being Saying no is crucial to setting boundaries.

It’s a way of communicating your limits to others, which is essential for maintaining your wellbeing. Whether it’s declining a lastminute request from your boss or turning down social invitations when you feel you need downtime, saying no is a way to protect your mental and emotional health.

Boundaries shield you from burnout and resentment. They allow you to honour your needs without feeling guilty. When you respect your limits and communicate them clearly, you foster healthier relationships, both at work and in your personal life.

In the realm of work, saying no can lead to more focused efforts, increased productivity, and improved work-life integration. In your personal life, it means spending quality time with loved ones and pursuing activities that bring you joy.

Embrace the Power of No The power of saying no isn’t about closing doors; it’s about opening the right ones.

It’s a tool for self-care, self-respect, and self-empowerment. It’s about creating a life where your priorities take centre stage, where balance becomes attainable, and where the pursuit of your goals aligns with your values.

In a way, saying no can be a way of saying yes to increased happiness, respect and balance.

So, embrace the power of no. Say no to what doesn’t serve you, and yes to what lights your path. It’s the key to unlocking a better work-life balance, allowing you to lead a more fulfilling and purpose-driven existence.

2. “I’d love to help, but I need to focus on my existing responsibilities right now.”

3. “I’m honoured that you thought of me, but I’m unable to commit to this project due to prior commitments.”

4. “I need to decline this opportunity to ensure I can give my full attention to my current workload.”

5. “I value our relationship, but I have to decline this request in order to maintain a healthy work-life balance.”

6. “I can’t take this on right now, but I’d be happy to revisit it at a later date when my schedule allows.”

7. “I’ve learned that I work best when I can dedicate my full attention to my current tasks, so I have to pass on this.”

Remember, saying no doesn’t make you uncooperative or unhelpful; it makes you mindful of your own well-being and priorities.

www.shereenhoban.com

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DENIM Best of the Blues for January

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A good pair of jeans is an investment for several reasons. They are durable and can last for years without showing any signs of wear and tear, while their versatility means they can be dressed up or down to suit the occasion. They are a timeless fashion staple that never goes out of style. This means that you can wear them year after year without worrying about them becoming outdated.

Mens Visual Impact highly recommends investing in a pair of Nudie Jeans Co. Jeans. This is a company that values ethics in the production of their clothing. One of their most popular styles, the Lean Dean, is not only stylish, but also sustainable. The denim used to produce this style is available in a range of options, including dry denim, dry selvage denim, and washed denim.

Lean Dean Nudie Jeans, prices from £115, available from Mens Visual Impact.

Ladies Visual Impact recommends the classic Levi’s 501 90s.

Originally designed as a unisex style, the 501 is a staple in any wardrobe, regardless of gender. With its high waist and straight leg, this style flatters a wide range of body types. Made from high-quality denim, these jeans can withstand years of wear and tear, making them a great investment piece. Whether you’re dressing up for a night out or running errands on the weekend, these jeans are sure to become a go-to in your wardrobe.

Levi’s 501 90s, prices from £95, available from Ladies Visual Impact.

Our second pick has to be the Levi’s 502. The 502 is the perfect blend of comfort and shape. Relaxed through the leg with a taper at the ankle, these jeans fit all shapes and sizes while looking great dressed up or down. Plus, the quality of Levi’s jeans is known to be exceptional, so you can be confident that your pair will last for many years to come.

Levi’s 502, prices from £95, available from Mens Visual Impact.

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Flowers by Ellie How to Make Your Own Dried Flower Bouquet This Winter Dried arrangements are making a huge comeback this year, especially things like feathery plumes of pampas grass or soft, furry bunny tails (which, if you’ve never heard of them before, are the flower heads from a species of Mediterranean grass). Luckily, making your own dried flower arrangement at home has never been easier - whether you use your own dried flowers, plucked from your own garden, or drop

by Bembridge Flower Shop to take a look at our small, carefully selected, varieties.

What you’ll need: - A vase - Chicken wire - Scissors - Dried Flowers - Hairspray (optional)

How to make it: Start by scrunching your chicken wire into a ball and placing it inside the neck of your vase or pot. Alternatively, you can also use clear tape to make a grid pattern across the top of your vase, which will keep your stems exactly where you placed them. However, chicken wire has the eco-friendly benefit of being reusable time and time again, which is why it’s my preferred option.

Prep your flowers by removing any crispy leaves. You can also give them a quick spray with some hairspray to keep them looking their best (and stop them drooping too!)

Take hold of your scissors and start snipping those stems. Start with your tallest flowers to get your outline shape and cut each one to your desired height — remember, you can always take off more if needed, but you can’t add more, so start longer and work your way down. For this part, you could use pampas grass, delphiniums, or other grasses too. We usually work with odd numbers to create that perfect triangle shape.

Next, go in with your ‘focal flowers’. The options are endless here. Our wholesalers can pretty much dry anything, but just be aware that dried flowers can be a little more expensive due to the time and energy that goes into drying them.

Finally, you can fill in your gaps with a filler flower (or ‘fluff’ as I’ve noticed people like to call them). This could be delicate gypsophila (also known as baby’s breath), elegant limonium, or bright yellow solidago. You can also add accent flowers like craspedia, helichrysum, bunny tails, or gomphrena to give that little touch of ‘wild’ that we absolutely love at Bembridge Flower Shop.

Now your arrangement can be displayed with pride and will last forever. (Just be sure to keep it away from damp places!).

bembridgeflowershop.co.uk January and February 2024

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YO U R N E W Y E A R GARDEN REVIEW Ventnor Botanic Garden Curator Chris Kidd The start of the gardening year marks the best time to scrutinise the role and function of the garden. Gardens are in a state of constant change, albeit at a pace we can’t appreciate in a human sense. Yet we become complacent with how the garden looks, and it doesn’t now resemble what we first made years, maybe decades ago. The tree we decided to give one more year is still there, more decrepit, and more dangerous. The uneven patio has shifted again, the fence leans more, the lawn is thinner, and the gate doesn’t close. Now is the time to buckle up and arrest the rot, fix the problems, or reimagine a new garden.

CONSIDER ITS PURPOSE Ask some questions of the garden. Who is the audience now? Have the children grown up? Are you using it more, or less? Has it become a storage area or junk room? How do you garden now? Has the hobby grown or become a chore? There are no right or wrong answers, but answering the questions will put you on a route to being happier with the space.

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PLAN CHANGES CAREFULLY Fixing a problem garden can lead to a domino effect where one problem solved highlights a new issue, so consider the scope of works that could emerge.

Reclaiming an area that has gone out of control will make the neighbouring area appear degraded. Focus on the items you absolutely have to fix and consider opportunities that will come along as part of the fix. A new fence, shed, pergola or other structure will give a new space for plants. Removing a troublesome tree is probably self-indicating that a new tree shouldn’t replace it. The thinned lawn may be for a reason; perhaps the impasse is resolved with a different surface.

If you have a fundamentally new take on your garden, more dramatic changes may be necessary. A move to growing more fruit or vegetables will require making a place with maximum light, almost certainly inhabited already by plants you’ll need to move or remove. Remember, a new greenhouse needs light and tucked away will never be productive, regardless of warmth. If your garden has become a store, stare down the stored items and ask if you really need them. If you truly can’t live without these things then maybe it is time for a store or shed, but opt for the very smallest possible, or you will inevitably fill the new space with even more.

WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE Accept the limitations you have in location.

Aspects will always remain the same, the sun will always set on the same side, and the doors open on the same spot. Accept your own physical limitations too. The remedy, however, is not necessarily a house move.

CONSIDER ASKING AN EXPERT Gardens become deeply personal spaces, so taking objective decisions and criticising objectively is hard to do. You might consider taking views from other people. The size and complexity of the project will help determine who to call. We, for example at VBG@Home, can review your garden with you, make suggestions that work with your lifestyle and objectives for your space; design, build, and source plants for you from all over the world. On a smaller scale, however, an objective view from a friend or neighbour over a cup of coffee might be all you need for that new spark to get you invigorated to change your garden this spring.

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The art of estate agency is like painting a picture. Using varied mediums, tools, and skills to produce a stunning result. Every painting is different, just as every home is unique. At McCarthy & Booker, Georgie and Paul use their combined skill set, honed from 45+ years of joint experience, to get the perfect result.

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Georgie is the bouncy chatty one, shorter and curvier than her business ‘husband’ Paul. This has been playfully reflected in the fonts in their logo, rounded type for ‘McCarthy’ and tall thin lettering for ‘Booker’.

They started working together over 20 years ago, with Paul breaking away to start his own successful business under the Waterside Isle of Wight Properties banner.

Georgie continued in the property sales market, additionally working 14 summer seasons at the Isle of Wight Zoo (now the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary) giving talks to the public. “The tigers and lemurs were a release valve,” she says. Now her beloved Jack Russell boys perform this function.

Both Georgie and Paul have an enjoyment of the outdoors and the beautiful Isle of Wight. It’s been a busy year for Paul, who recently married Lesley and held the wedding reception in their garden in Freshwater. He is now deep into renovating

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this property and, along with puppy training his Labrador puppy Margot, understands life can be very stressful!

Georgie moved here from Buckinghamshire 21 years ago with her family and says she will never return to the mainland. Her grown-up family and husband Paddy have two furry members of the household, Ralph and Mickey the Jack Russells. Georgie loves walking ‘her boys’ on the beaches all around the Island, from Yaverland to Compton and around her home village of Gurnard.

Paul and Georgie’s personal friendship continued, and it was a natural progression to work together again as Waterside Isle of Wight grew and grew. Working in a tiny office along Cowes High Street, the business figuratively and physically grew so well that they had to move offices along to The Old Post Office, where they can be found today.

Around 18 months ago, the business had expanded so much with more staff — Lynda and Tracey — and with a hectic workload, that they decided it was time to take the opportunity to put their own names ‘above the door’. “The idea of the rebrand was to say who we are,” Georgie explains. “Selling a house is incredibly personal, so we wanted to show that we are real people who understand that.”

Rebranding took planning and thought and, with the help of graphic designer Shaun Cuff, the clever logo emerged. Wanting to remove the ‘stereotype’ estate agency image, they hired photographer Steph Mackrill to show more of their personalities, as it’s quite possible to never meet or see the very person associated with selling your precious home. The various photoshoots around the Island throughout the year have cemented their image as a buoyant team who are approachable and friendly.

This is all-important with all the trials and tribulations selling homes can entail!

Georgie explains that the team loves the photoshoots, though some more than others, and the photos forge the fact that they are a team that is built on using individual strengths as well as working together. “With every single property, we try to ensure the seller meets all four of us, so they can put a name to a face. Lynda and Tracey will be in the office if Paul and I are out on appointments, and as they have seen the properties, they can talk about them with potential buyers.” On valuations little versions of group photos are given to vendors to show who is who. “We’re just trying to get outside the boundaries of what you expect estate agents to be,” explains Georgie.

Certainly, when you put a house on the market your relationship with the agent is unlikely to be the first thing on your mind.

A mix of counting down the days until the ‘Sold’ sign goes up, cleaving to memories you’re packing away, wanting a price that allows for the next move all while you’re being subjected to the critical gaze of strangers… you may ask where the skill of the agent comes in? Paul says it is all about, “delivering on what you promise at the start, never over promise and under deliver. Do what you say you will do.” He points out

that, given McCarthy & Booker only have the one office, clients know where they will find them. “We try and treat people how we would like to be treated. Moving can be quite a painful process.”

Paul adds that the importance of photographs of the property can’t be overestimated: “Saving on fees by turning down professional photography is never wise.” Georgie agrees, “For great photos, we would recommend that homeowners try to declutter, clean their windows and try to pay some attention to your kerb appeal too.

You can’t see dust in photos, but you can see sparkly windows.” Working alongside other local professional individuals for photographs and videography/drone shots, Steve Thearle as well as Nathaniel and Tom from Procam, ensures quality and consistency of content.

As their publicity photos show, it is ultimately the picture that tells the story.

Theirs is a career from which it’s hard to switch off, but having this great friendship and working relationship goes a long way to make up for that. That they can’t initially remember how long ago they started working together – and are surprised it is as long as they work it out to be – says it all really.

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Exceptional Island Escapes with Mermaid Holidays IOW

Since August 2022, 13 Pier Street in Ventnor has been home to the inviting H.Q. of Mermaid Holidays. Inside, amongst the comfy armchairs and freshly poured coffee, you’ll find mother and son team Gabriella Gor and 27-year-old Andor, offering outstanding Isle of Wight holiday lettings with an unparalleled level of service.

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Although you’d never know it, Mermaid Holidays came from very humble beginnings, originating back in 2007 when Gabi, a former beauty store manager from the Hungarian city of Kecskemét, took on her first Island cleaning job. “It was a holiday home in Shanklin,” Gabi explains, “and it took me an hour to walk there with a backpack full of cleaning products. At the end of the work, I’d earnt just £20 but, from day one, people noticed my high standards and immaculate finishes.”

Soon Gabi was managing the cleaning and laundry for a string of properties, washing everything at home and ironing the sheets on the dining room table. “During this time I analysed what the national holiday lettings firms were doing,” Gabi tells us. “I saw their hidden fees, their lack of customer care, and how they didn’t know anything about the Island at all.” So in 2018, together with Andor, Gabi set up her own firm — Mermaid Holidays IOW — which now looks after a curated collection of impeccable local properties, taking care of everything from maintenance and electrics to bookings and promotion.

“Our commission is just 5%,” Andor explains, “compared to an industry average of between 15 and 20%. We charge no setup fees and owners are free to use their own property as much as they like. Our team is also available for guests 24/7 — even if it’s for when they get stuck in the bathroom at 2 a.m!”

Amongst their current 4- and 5-star properties you’ll find ‘The Wight Riviera’ in Ventnor with jaw-dropping views of the sea, and a historic stone manor in Shalfleet, as well as a more sleek and contemporary number in Shanklin. “As we grow,” Gabi adds, “we will always remain friendly and approachable, building long-term relationships with our wonderful homeowners.

We have plans to expand but one thing’s for sure, we’ll never compromise on quality.”

mermaidholidaysiow.co.uk

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Planning Fees Increase A consultation by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities took place earlier this year seeking views on improving the performance of local planning authorities. The reasoning behind this is that there has been consistent feedback from all sectors that the planning application service is not performing at the level it should, with the main reason cited as an absence of adequate resources and capability. All users, whether they are large developers, or homeowners undertaking an extension, should benefit from a quality planning service that determines applications in a faster and more efficient way. The government states that to do this it is essential that all planning authorities have the resources they need to deliver this service, as well as meeting the government’s ambitions of a planning reform.

As a result of this, there will be an increase in planning application fees. The Government estimates this will raise an additional £65 million for Local Planning Authorities. There has been a strong support for an urgent increase, including by the Local Government Association (LGA) as the LGA has warned that without the increase, it will continue to cost Council taxpayers almost £5 million a

The timber clad building is a former stable block that was converted for residential use. BCM successfully obtained planning permission for all these applications.

week to subsidise planning departments.

This legislation has been approved by both the House of Lords and Commons and has just been formally approved by Parliament, meaning the planning application fees will increase on 6th December 2023.

The main changes include a: • 35% increase in major applications.

• 25% increase in other applications.

The planning fees will also see an annual rise linked to inflation every April from 2025, with a further review of fees to take place within three years.

There are other changes which will also affect the planning process. BCM submits planning applications on a regular basis and can advise on these changes and also strategies to ensure a planning application is presented to the local planning authority in its best form to try and avoid unnecessary delays so that the planning application can be determined in a timely way and also to secure a positive outcome.

The other notable changes include the removal of the ‘free-go’ application. Currently, the fee for the resubmission of a similar

application within 12 months is exempt.

When this comes into force, there will be a period of time when applications that were eligible for a free go at that date will still be allowed.

To ‘encourage’ faster determination by the planning department of the non-major applications (including householders), there will be a reduction of the time period to be eligible for a refund of the application fee (a decrease from the current 26 weeks to 16 weeks). Other applications will remain at 26 weeks for a refund of the fee.

There were discussions about doubling fees for retrospective planning applications (applications relating to a development already built but without planning permission or a change of use that has already occurred) – essentially a ‘punishment’ for doing the works without first obtaining planning permission. However, this change is not being brought in under this legislation but could be considered again in the future.

BCM’s planning consultants are able to provide advice on a wide range of projects, including residential, commercial, tourism, rural development and diversification, renewable energy, appeals and certificates.

If you have any queries, please contact David Long or Richard HolmesCall: 01983 828800 | Email: dlong@bcm.co.uk | Email: rholmes@bcm.co.uk January and February 2024

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Seahaven

Carter Street, Sandown

Prices from £150,000

Just launched!

An exclusive collection of 16 beautifully renovated apartments!

One, two and three bedroom apartments available Within walking distance to the town and seafront Stylish contemporary style kitchens Allocated parking Buildzone 10 year Warranty

Internal images are of show home and for indicative purposes only. Final build, landscaping and elevations may differ.

RESERVATIONS BEING TAKEN NOW!

For further details please contact our New Homes Department on:

01983 538080 or email newhomes@hrdiw.co.uk

Breakwaters

B

reakwaters is a brand-new development of apartments, duplexes and townhouses that has graced the seafront location of Sandown Bay. Occupying a prime position opposite an awardwinning beach, the properties benefit from panoramic sea views across the bay, far reaching views to Culver Cliffs coastline plus the countryside. You can find your desired property within this development of luxury homes that are stylish and modern.

The luxurious feel continues throughout this complex with the properties being built to a high standard, there are choices to suit your style. Kitchen appliances will be integrated, and underfloor heating comes as standard throughout. As well as this the apartments have security entry systems, allocated spaces and visitor parking bays.

The apartments boast space with a variety of sizes depending on which apartment is of interest and they benefit from balconies and/ or terraces for al fresco dining. For peace of mind these properties also benefit from a 10-year Q-Assure Warranty.

CULVER PARADE, SANDOWN

Sandown Bay was voted the Best British Beach and described as a ‘traditional bucket and spade beach on the east coast of the island with miles of golden sand, pier and eclectic seafront – and just a short walk to peace, fossil-rich cliffs and stunning coastal wildlife’ in BBC’s Countryfile online poll.

In 2021 and 2022 this prestigious coastline was awarded ‘Blue Flag’ status meaning it can fly a flag to show it is recognised regarding its safety, facilities, cleanliness and environmental considerations.

Although three other beaches on the Isle of Wight won a seaside award Sandown was the only beach to win ‘Blue Flag’ Status as well as winning a seaside award and only one of 17 beaches across the Southeast region to hold the status in the 2022.

Just half of a mile along the seafront is Yaverland beach which allows dogs all year round, the perfect place if you have a pet that needs to stretch their legs, whereas Sandown Beach directly in front of the development is dog friendly in the winter months.

Four Bedroom Townhouse

All imagery (photographs or computer generated) are for illustrative purposes only and computer generated images including final elevations and landscaping could differ upon final completion and should not be relied upon. Imagery shown is to be used as an example and may not be available, for availability of plots please enquire.

If you would like further information, please contact Hose Rhodes Dickson New Homes Department on 01983 538080 or alternatively email newhomes@hrdiw.co.uk

CT (IOW) LTD

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Inspired by life on and off the water

xvstripes

www.xvstripes.com BEDDING - CUSHIONS - THROWS - INTERIORS - GIFTS & ACCESSORIES Shop & Showroom - Yarmouth, IOW

Billingham Farm – Newport

F I N D YO U R HISTORIC I S L A N D H AV E N

Agent: BCM

If you yearn to live in a piece of history, our selection of historic island homes may offer just what you’re looking for.

Available as a whole or in three separate lots.

Explore this rare opportunity to acquire a unique and historic estate situated in the hamlet of Billingham. Properties available within the estate include a Grade II* listed Manor House – perfect for aspiring Lords and Ladies – as well as a separate detached cottage. Traditional and modern farm buildings are also available, together with 130 acres (52 ha) of arable, pasture, and woodland.

Lot 1: Manor House, Cottage, Farm Buildings and 18.98 acres of pastureland/woodland Lot 2: Farm Building and Arable Land extending to 56.84 acres Lot 3: Arable, Pastureland and Woodland of 49.38 acres Bcm.co.uk

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Vernon House – Cowes Old Town Agent: McCarthy & Booker This historic townhouse has wealth of features. Step into a world of timeless elegance in this exceptional Georgian period property, dating back to 1802, that spans four floors and includes a rare integral coach house, now a garden room. The house is a masterpiece of architectural charm and character, boasting stained glass windows, exposed floorboards, and period fireplaces. With six spacious double bedrooms, a roof terrace, and a private garden, this property offers a blend of historic charm and modern comfort that’s truly unique.

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Each room offers space and comfort; perfect for a large family or those who love to entertain. The top floor offers beautiful views over the harbour, while the lower floor features original flagstone flooring, a cosy snug, a utility room and a bright study.

The stylish modern kitchen is equipped with a stand-alone breakfast bar, thick oak work surfaces, and a Falcon gas range cooker. A door from the kitchen opens to a balcony overlooking the mature private garden, perfect for enjoying breakfast and sunshine.

The integral Coach House provides a large storage area and an additional WC, offering potential for conversion (STPP) or a variety of uses.

Mccarthyandbooker.co.uk

Bass Rock – Niton Undercliff Agent: Hose Rhodes Dickson Bass Rock is a substantial, attractive Victorian coastal villa that enjoys superb sea views from an elevated position on the island’s south coast.

Victorian Cottage – Cowes Old Town Agent: Spence Willard This attractive Victorian cottage is brimming with period features.

Located in the Conservation Area of Cowes Old Town, it is only a short walk to the popular High Street with its range of independent shops and restaurants, world-renowned sailing facilities and yacht clubs, as well as high-speed passenger ferry service to Southampton and onward connections to London.

The seafront is only a short walk away, as well as Northwood Park offering an attractive setting with tennis courts. The cottage has been subject to extensive refurbishment by the present owner, and now provides light and spacious accommodation to suit modern living, with an open-plan kitchen dining area to the ground floor, sitting room and WC to the ground floor, as well as two bedrooms and a large bathroom to the first floor. To the rear of the cottage is an attractive partially walled garden, with brick paving and seating and dining areas.

Spencewillard.co.uk

The property is thought to date from the early 1800s, and local folklore says that it was built for smugglers — its position and features would attest to that.

The main house has five double bedrooms, most enjoying lovely sea views across the gardens. The master bedroom is charming, with an en-suite and Juliet balcony. A covered veranda spans the width of the ground floor and affords two of the three reception rooms sea views. The property also offers a one-bedroom self-contained annexe that has access to the garden.

Having been loved by the same family for the last 40 years, the house is unspoilt with numerous period features to uncover and enhance. The garden is large and well-loved with bespoke areas of planting and growing, a revolving folly affords a delightful place to relax, and paths lead down through the garden where a lawn area gives the perfect space to watch the sun setting behind the lighthouse. This property is available chain free.

Hose-rhodes-dickson.co.uk

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DIG FOR VINTAGE

R

Anne Ginger soft furnishings

Offering monthly painting technique Vintage lifestyle through Find out more in-store the decades, fashion, iconic workshops. and on our Facebook page. furniture, fabrics, ceramics, DIG F ORV O. U K art and classic books. I N TAG E . C Book a painting The Colonnade, Lind Street, experience with Everything you need to create a us today!

Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 2NE Tel. 01983 719433 gorgeous vintage look for your home.

The Colonnade Ryde PO33 2NE

T 01983 719433 E info@digforvintage.co.uk

Expert legal advice at your service We have the knowledge and expertise to help with all of your legal requirements, offering a comprehensive range of services.

SERVICE

ABOUT US

Support We'll help you approach your situation with confidence

Suggestion We'll help you make the best decision for you and your family

Solution We'll help you to gain the best possible outcome

01983 562 201

Cowes

info@churchers.co.uk

Freshwater

Our team of legal professionals across the Isle of Wight have provided their support and advice to the local community for over 150 years.

WHY CHOICE US ?

Our lawyers pride themselves on their professional legal advice, all of which is tailored to you or your business.

www.churchers.co.uk

Newport

Ryde

With 40 years experience Anne Ginger and her dedicated team are happy to assist in making the right choice of soft furnishings for you, from helping you choose the perfect product through to installation.

Our service is based around giving excellent advice combined with quality products. Come and see us and turn your dream into reality. www.anneginger.co.uk

tel. 01983 407730

From Cover to Cover with Babushka Books

An Interview with Owner Reuben Simpson-Little We’ve been told that Babushka Books was started all the way back in 1957 when it was set up by an eccentric book collector named Aldous Pembroke. So how did you end up taking the reins of this very distinctive and long-lived Isle of Wight bookshop?

It’s had a long and interesting life has the bookshop. From what I can piece together, after the founder died it passed through several owners and name changes until I stumbled upon it nearly 20 years ago. We gave it its original name back and have tried to continue the ethos of supporting local writers and artists. I like to think we’ve kept hold of some of those eccentricities too.

Before becoming a bookseller, you spent time on Baltic fishing trawlers, worked as a banker in Moscow, and edited an English-language magazine in the Chinese province of Shandong. What led to your return to the Island and your decision to direct your career down a more literary route?

It’s so important for the Island’s youth to leave and discover the world when they’re ready to do so. I was no different really, and wanted to explore and test myself in other cultures and parts of the world. But, as we all know, the Island beckons to you like a siren on the rocks, and within a few years I was back. I’d always had this idea of running a bookshop in retirement, and when I found the place I brought that plan forward by a few decades.

Stepping in through the door of Babushka Books today, the ground floor is home to your curated selection of freshly printed new literature. From modern Japanese fiction to crime thrillers and elegant books of pocket-sized poetry — which titles, in particular, should visiting readers be on the lookout for?

Readers have so much to choose from these days and, since Covid, publishers have really put a lot of effort into making books even more beautiful. Penguin’s Clothbound

Classics are a huge favourite for our customers and sell like hot cakes. Smaller publishers, like Persephone, will often cater for more specialist genres and have a very loyal following. Right now, I’m loving the Canongate Myth series, which are retellings of ancient legends and myths by contemporary authors like Philip Pullman, Margaret Atwood, and Jeanette Winterson, fantastic books.

Ascending the stairs to your snug and sophisticated upper floor, we find your second-hand and antiquarian section, complete with ‘depressing poetry’ and attractive 19th-century editions of Jane Austen. Over the years what has been your most exciting vintage book find or sale?

One of the privileges of being a bookseller is that for a short period of time you can have in your possession books you’d otherwise never been able to afford for yourself. This last year alone we’ve sold books signed by Hemingway, Steinbeck, Lewis Carroll, John Lennon, and Queen Victoria.

Picking one from the last 15 years is almost impossible, but one piece I do wish I’d kept was an original pencil sketch by John Tenniel, the artist Carroll used for Alice in Wonderland.

Finally, you must have read many hundreds of books in your life so far, if you had to pick just one, which would you say was your all-time favourite?

Ha! Well as many of my customers know asking me for a recommendation is my biggest fear. I don’t get the time to read nearly as many books as I’d like any more. I used to read a lot of travel literature so maybe Eric Newby’s ‘A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush’. For fiction, it’s a little predictable but I adore Fitzgerald, so it has to be ‘The Great Gatsby’. I’m still looking for a 1st edition if anyone has one!

Babushka Books | 67 Regent Street Shanklin Tel.01983 652880 January and February 2024

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STYLE | Business

“

I already had an idea for the perfect location - it was empty, and when I came in there was nothing. I didn’t have any money - I borrowed about a thousand pounds from my dad.

”

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ST Y LE S PE A KS

This issue, we sit down with Better Day’s Café manager, Kirsty Chapman, to speak about what inspired her to open Better Days, her role as one of life’s carers and the best things about Ventnor.

Words by Rebecca Lawson Pictures by Pipi-Lotta Kulla

Better Days has been running for over a year now, and it’s going from strength to strength. What inspired you to open a community interest café and how did you get it up and running?

To sum it up into one word: Covid. I was working as a support worker at the time and it was the hopelessness that really got to me - there were just so many lonely people.

I can’t stand loneliness and I couldn’t make money knowing that there were people out there without it. There are a lot of people just holding on by an eyelash.

I already had an idea for the perfect location - it was empty, and when I came in there was nothing. I didn’t have any money - I borrowed about a thousand pounds from my dad. The furniture is all items that people have left, donated or given away. I am quite choosy about what I use though, there is a certain standard that we’ve got to stick to. Just because it is a community café doesn’t mean we have to have crappy chairs and broken tables. I also popped up on social media that I needed help to paint.

I came down on the Monday with the keys and there were about 25 people outside, most of whom I didn’t even recognise! They all got stuck in cleaning, bleaching and painting. Then about six of them stayed on as volunteers. Now there are about 22 volunteers.

Are all the staff that you employ volunteers?

is perfect for her - it builds up people’s whole lives. It also helps that we prioritise people’s mental health here - in a normal job she may feel pressured, but here people often don’t come in one day because they are too anxious, or they go home early. That’s fine with me - they just need to build their confidence back up. The problem is that because there is no pressure, no one wants to leave!

people who can afford it to ‘pay it forward’ for the next person, which essentially means donating some money to buy the next person lunch.

I know some people assume that others will take advantage of this, but they don’t really. Maybe some don’t spend their money wisely or buy things they may not need, but that’s not for me to judge. We’re here to feed people, not condemn them.

Do you get much funding from the council?

The success of Better Days has been noticed by many other people - you’re almost famous! What is your secret?

We get no funding from the council for the day-to-day running of the café at all.

Because we give away so much free food on the Pay It Forward program, the café barely breaks even, but luckily we get a lot of people privately donating £100 here and there. People also bring locally-grown produce in - all through the summer we had tomatoes and salad, and then in the winter, we get root veg, so our volunteers make soup out of that. Last winter, we were given £3000 for the Teen Toast after-school club. I just wanted to get the kids off the street and warm, because there is nowhere around here for them to go. You can see the nights drawing in, boredom coming and trouble building. We just gave them some snacks and drinks and sent them out the back with chess tables. We have a Grand Chess Master who comes in and gives the kids pointers - Ventnor is full of great people like that.

What’s the Pay it Forward Program?

Everyone here is a volunteer. We pay for people to do their kitchen hygiene certificate That’s our free meal project. Anyone can and we have volunteers from St Catherine’s come in and ask for a house special, and and St George’s which are both special anything they order will be free of charge, no educational schools. Then we have some questions asked. And it doesn’t have to be people from the Isle of Wight College who something simple like a cheese sandwich are doing their Pathways course or catering. and a plastic cup of squash - why should it For many people, volunteering here is their be? People need their dignity and everyone first step back into the workforce. I spoke deserves to eat well. Just like with the decor, to one woman who was crying because it’s really important that we don’t lower the she Howarth had noisidea how to get back into the standard.

Lifewith is hard enough for people, Dale a Business Mentor and Business Growth Consultant.

Working individuals and companies to I workplace afterleaders Covid.and Somewhere like thisof tomorrow. think.ToWe a sign the counter asking make the business businesses successes findleave out more visit by www.dalehowarth.com

There is honestly no secret, it’s just getting down to the grassroots. A woman from Richmond called me the other day. She said her community café had failed and wanted to ask me why I thought this had happened.

She asked me what my business model was and I said I don’t have one, nor do I have a CEO and that’s the café’s strength. If you’ve got your CEO driving past in a nice Range Rover, with 22 volunteers working their asses off, you’re obviously not going to build much community spirit.

You were recently nominated in the BBC Make a Difference Awards this year.

What was that like?

We were nominated in the Together category, which is for businesses that inspire communities to come together. It was a red-carpet affair and we took up a couple of our volunteers who have been here from the start. The man sitting next to me was the trustee for a multi-million-pound charity for disabled children. He asked me what our business model was and I said, ‘It’s just me!’ We didn’t win, but we were in the final four out of the whole of the Solent and the South Coast. I think that’s pretty good for a community café with no business model!

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Charles Dickens is about to come to the Island — and it won’t be for the first time.

by Ian Dickens

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This year, Dickens makes his third return to the Island. And when you see him, you’ll be astonished by his appearance, thanks to a remarkable new photographic exhibition that has brought the literary genius vibrantly to life.

‘Technicolor Dickens: The Living Image of Charles Dickens’ was curated by The Charles Dickens Museum in London and was first shown there in 2020. In a real coup for the Julia Margaret Cameron Trust, this is the first time the exhibit has toured and it’s fitting that it comes to the Island on the 175th anniversary of his last visit.

Dickens’s image was captured over 120 times — the first in 1841, when photography was just a couple of years old. In his day, he was described as the most photographically famous person in Britain outside the royal family and his fame meant that people clamoured for copies of his image.

‘Technicolor Dickens’ takes many of those original portraits and merges pioneering photography with the very latest in digital wizardry. The images have been sharpened and retouched and then colour has been added to the process. And not just any old colour — painstaking research through letters and bills of sale established exactly what Dickens had purchased including which Clan his new tartan waistcoat represented. And with a final flourish, artist and photographer Oliver Clyde asked both my brother and my cousin to sit in the same poses, so he could lift their skin texture and add crucial detail to the face of the great man.

The end results are extraordinary and in vivid colour; you will see Dickens as you have never seen him before. The show opens on February 7th (Dickens’ birthday) and will run until May 18th. I, for one, can’t wait to visit from my Gurnard home — because Charles Dickens is my great-great-grandfather.

Welcome back Boz — and I’m pleased to concur that the Island is still the prettiest place I have ever seen, either at home or abroad.

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The great novelist first set foot on the Isle of Wight with his young wife Catherine in 1838. They had married a couple of years previously, Dickens’ first book — the Pickwick Papers — was becoming a publishing phenomenon and Oliver Twist was about to follow suit.

Money was rolling in, life was good, but the pair could still enjoy a wonderful anonymity as they spent ten days exploring the Island from hotels in Alum Bay and Ventnor.

novel — the hugely biographical David Copperfield. Winterborne House in Bonchurch was just the spot and, having inspected it, he wrote to Catherine back in London: “I think it is the prettiest place I ever saw in my life, at home or abroad”. A deal was struck to rent the place from July through to October, and Charles, Catherine, and their eight children excitedly arrived on the ferry into Ryde from his birthplace city of Portsmouth.

When they returned in 1849, Charles Dickens had become a global superstar. He needed to find a tucked away spot for his young family to spend their summer, whilst allowing him to work on his eighth

The third visit — another four-month stay — is when he makes a very personal appearance at the Dimbola Museum and Gallery in Freshwater this spring.

styleofwight.co.uk

Volunteering At Dimbola An army might march on its stomach, but a charity runs because of its volunteers. The Julia Margaret Cameron Trust who run Dimbola could not survive without our loyal band of volunteers…

Richard

Penny

“I started in October. We live locally and they were advertising for volunteers, so my wife Lucy and I volunteered – we wanted to give back something to the community. It’s very friendly and a nice place to be. It’s very different from paid working.”

“I’ve been a volunteer for 18 months and I’m now the volunteer coordinator. I’d love to encourage more people to share this special place and maintain its atmosphere by becoming volunteers. Everybody who works and volunteers here cares deeply about Dimbola.”

Pat

Conner

“I became a volunteer in 2001 and I’ve been here for over 20 years.

After my husband died, I wanted to meet people and I love this place because you meet people from all over the world, and it’s quirky and bohemian. It’s a warm and happy place. I think Julia Margaret Cameron’s spirit is still here.”

“I became a volunteer for ‘Experience the Isle of Wight Festival’ when it moved to Newport in October. As I am a people person and a music fan, I found it very easy to open up and talk to people about the Isle of Wight Festival. I’m going to volunteer again next summer when ‘Experience’ comes back to Newport.”

If you’re looking for a new opportunity this New Year and would like to volunteer at Dimbola, fill in an application form at www.dimbola.co.uk/volunteer-application-form/ or call 01983 756814.

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EVOLUTION NOT REVOLUTION For Will Turner, the new Head Master of Ryde School, his role is about evolution rather than revolution. Arriving on the Isle of Wight last year from his previous role as Rettore (Head) of UWC Adriatic in Italy, Will explains why establishing the core values of the school has been so important to him in his first year at the helm of Ryde School.

“What has struck me are the great strengths of the school and the real sense of community at Ryde. I know that every school is by definition a community but here, more than the other schools that I’ve worked in, there’s a very strong sense of pupils, staff, and parents all together as a community, feeling a real sense of pride in our school. Some of this may come from living on an island which in turn has its own strong feelings of community. Certainly, the School’s identity of an island school with a global outlook with the vast majority of pupils coming from the island means many parents also attended the school or went to Upper Chine or Bembridge Schools and so there’s a strong affinity with the whole community.”

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Ryde School’s mission is to send well-rounded children out into the world as global citizens; children who can interact and think beyond their immediate lives. “We have a multi-national boarding community at the school, and we also do the International Baccalaureate in the Sixth Form which has a deliberately global outlook. In an ever-increasingly small world, it’s important to think beyond the Island, the Solent, and the UK, and to think about what the UK’s place is in the world and therefore how we interact as global citizens with an understanding of what internationalism means and represents.

and engaging curriculum in place that allows pupils to develop multiple skills but also knowledge to help with life outside school.

Our continual focus at Ryde is the well-being of all the students and the well-being of pupils is at the forefront of everything we do. We know if pupils are feeling happy and positive they can achieve as much as possible in their time with us. Our ethos and values help to deliver the best environment for all our pupils through our ongoing evolution of our education here at Ryde.”

“Since January, as a school and a community, we have been working on defining our values to help guide us as a community and how we go about our daily lives. Prizing out the values we felt were at the heart of our School, the values we see and experience within the school. These values of Ambition, Responsibility, Courage and Respect underpin everything we do at Ryde and support our motto of ‘Ut Prosim’ – to be of service.

“We deliberately focus on the breadth of opportunity at Ryde to help develop a variety of skills to equip young people to succeed at university and beyond. I can see how confident the pupils are, presenting in public, speaking in front of others and it’s about developing those skills further. The school has a diverse, interesting,

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SWA R M A L L OV E R I T !

B

By Dale Howar th BUSINESS MENTOR AND CONSU LTANT

irds do it. Bees do it. Even educated fleas do it. No, I’m not writing about Cole Porter in an article about business. I am highlighting the benefits of ‘swarming’ – focussing, acting collectively, and gathering all the resources at your disposal and the best of yourself to overcome an obstacle, or ensure the survival or advancement of your business.

It’s a powerful strategy proven to work and is highly beneficial in today’s disruptive business environment.

Many of us when faced by a challenging task, change, or the unknown, procrastinate.

Instead of swarming we put off tasks that will advance us nearer our goal – fearful of what might happen by completing the task – rather than just getting on with what we have to do. Even though we know this will affect us negatively and that in the end we still need to get on with whatever it is that needs doing.

But did you know that procrastination comes in three flavours?: ‘Classic Procrastination’, where we consciously delay what we know we should

be doing now, putting it off until the pressure to do so forces us to finally get on with it.

‘Creative Avoidance’, where we deliberately find any excuse or distraction not to take action. Making us feel productive but in reality, avoiding getting on with the thing we know we should be doing.

‘Priority Dilution’, where we end our day with our priorities incomplete because we allowed our attention to drift from what was our aim for that day. Instead filling our day with insignificant tasks or taking on someone else’s problems that override our own priority tasks.

As Bob Carter said: “Poor planning on your part does not necessitate an emergency on mine.”

Procrastination is not new, people have been doing it for centuries – putting things off, delaying the inevitable, making excuses.

Causing anxiety for themselves and others, creating avoidable problems, wasting time, energy and valuable resources.

Many cite discipline as the answer. To plan better, be strict with yourself, not to be so lazy. However, procrastination is an emotion regulation issue, not a time management

problem. It comes from avoiding negative emotions, not laziness. Whilst self-discipline may help, the fact that you procrastinate doesn’t mean you’re undisciplined. It simply means you’re overwhelmed by negative emotions and coping with them the best way you know how – by pushing away the task that’s making you unhappy or fearful.

The answer is to not beat yourself up but accept you are human, to forgive yourself. Then consider why you are putting something off, what is holding you back?

This leads to finding ways to make the task less stressful, such as breaking it down into simpler tasks, sharing or even passing it over to others.

Finally, when you complete it, reward yourself, countering the negative emotions of procrastination with something positive.

To procrastinate is to be human, but once we master overcoming it, it opens up our ability to swarm all over tasks and relish challenges more readily than ever before.

Swarming will save you time, encourage collaboration and increase both the volume and quality of your output. And that will get you faster to your goals.

Dale Howarth is a Business Mentor and Business Growth Consultant. Working with individuals and companies to make the business leaders and businesses successes of tomorrow. To find out more visit www.dalehowarth.com

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We are an independent florist in the centre of Newport with island wide delivery.

We offer a wide selection of stunning fresh flowers, indoor and outdoor plants and a beautiful range of homeware, all available online or instore.

Flowergardeniow.co.uk Telephone: (01983) 524 061

Gems Bridal Wear

Showcasing exclusive designer ranges and bridesmaid dresses to match your themes and choose from our bridal accessories to finish your look.

Stockists of Top Designers

Maggie Sottero, Romantica, True bride, and more including NEW in at Gems the MORILEE COLLECTION! Working by flexible appointment times so please enquire for a perfect time that suits you to find your dream dress.

9-13 Scarrotts Lane, Newport PO30 1JD Tel. 01983 529429 www.gemsbridalwear.co.uk

STYLE OF WIGHT

Bridal Guide

So, your wedding day is drawing nearer, but before those canapés are plated and the bridesmaids don their dresses, there’s a lot of planning to do! Here to give you a matrimonial nudge in the right direction, we’ve put together this special Style of Wight bridal guide, bringing together top-notch Island retailers, venues and service providers, who can ensure your big day is truly as magical as can be.

Bring the beautiful Isle of Wight outdoors in on your big day with SDC Marquees — versatile and pristine, our marquees come in multiple styles to suit any wedding.

Using our marquees, you can host your wedding almost anywhere! Many couples dream of a unique wedding at home, or in the grounds of a historic venue, or at a local beauty spot or a place that holds special memories. A wedding marquee gives you a totally blank canvas to which you can add your own theme and decorating scheme.

SDC Marquees offer you an outstanding first class service. With our exemplary Customer Service we are confident that we can beat any written or verbal quotation. Please do not hesitate to contact us on: iow@sdcmarquees.com or 01983 406499

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Dress to Impress - Gems Bridal Wear Tucked away down Scarrots Lane in Newport, is Gems Bridal Wear, a long-established luxury boutique with over 20 years of experience in the bridal business, offering an unrivalled choice of dresses, shoes and accessories. It’s also the Island’s only bridal boutique to have free appointments and an on-site seamstress too. Once through the door, brides-to-be are presented with a glass of fizz before being given a one-to-one tour of the brands on offer - from Romantica of Devon and Maggie Sottero, to True Bride, Jennifer Wren, Morilee and Angela Bianca.

On hand to assist is manager and seamstress Tara, alongside bridal consultants Angela, Karen and Emma, who all have extensive experience within the wedding industry, ranging from photography to design. These multi-talented ladies will make sure every bride feels comfortable, confident and relaxed as they help them peruse the collections and find the dress that’s just right for them.

Downstairs, visitors will discover the off-the-peg and discounted designer dresses, whilst the floor above is home to the designer and plus size ranges, including a sophisticated selection of trending dresses combining high leg splits, exposed boned bodices and oversized bows in a selection of fabrics and styles - from big satin ball gowns to sexy sparkling mermaid dresses. Gems Bridal Wear know that picking your wedding dress is a big decision, so they make sure to let every bride take their time, with absolutely no pressure to buy and they can even offer a payment plan (if needed) to boot.

As an added extra, Gems Bridal Wear also provides a special ‘dressing service’. On the day the couple tie the knot, one of their team of bridal consultants can be available to assist and help the bride into her dress.

9 - 13 Scarrots Lane, Newport, PO30 1JD

Put a Ring On It - Adrienne Wroath Jewellery If you follow the faint sound of chinking metal down Holyrood Street in Newport, it’ll lead you to the crisp navy blue shopfront of silversmith and jewellery designer Adrienne Wroath. Behind the bright lights of the showroom sits the workshop, where gold and silver are handcrafted using traditional methods into unique, stylish and infinitely wearable pieces.

A fine art graduate from the University of Creative Arts, Adrienne can also turn her skills and ingenuity to all manner of bespoke commissions. For those engaged (or about to be engaged), perhaps consider one of her elegant and incredibly sophisticated precious gemstone rings, custom-made to suit every proposer’s needs whether diamonds, sapphires or deep green emeralds fit the bill.

For the finishing touch, don’t forget to ask about some personalised engraving too, so your one-of-kind ring can continue to tell its story for generations to come.

26 Holyrood Street, Newport, PO30 5AZ adriennewroath.com

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Pre-Wedding Skin Prepping from The Courtyard Aesthetic Clinic

You can view the whole range of bridal packages on their website.

If there is ever a day we want to look our absolute best, it’s on our wedding day!

Brides want to feel confident and beautiful and that all starts with skin. At The Courtyard Aesthetic Clinic, they understand the importance of making sure your skin is healthy, flawless and glowing ready for that moment when you walk down the aisle.

St Cross Business Park, 5 The Courtyard, Newport, PO30 5BF

Prepping your skin for the big day should be something you start to think about anywhere from 6-12 months in advance.

Even though it is another timescale to factor in during the busy time of planning, it is something you won’t regret. You can hand your skin concerns and timeline over to The Courtyard Clinic at a FREE consultation with Dr. Hayley Elsmore and their team can create a bespoke plan to get your skin picture-perfect ready, just in time for all those photos. Helping you to feel at ease and in control of your bridal skincare and reach your goals for that wedding day glow.

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thecourtyardcliniciw.co.uk take away on honeymoon to keep up your beauty regime.

Complexion Boosting Skin Tips from BeCalmed of Cowes Consistency is key to maintaining a healthy complexion. So before your wedding you should consistently add these tips to your skincare routine.

1. Wash Your Face More Than Once A Day: Wash your face once or twice a day, pat in an active serum, massage in a hydrating moisturiser, and protect your complexion with sunscreen. But don’t constantly switch up your products. Stick with the ones that you know will work. BeCalmed recommends ESPA’s Optimal Skin Pro-Cleanser — a multi-use enzyme cleanser, exfoliator and mask — for radiant skin and perfect to

2. Use LED Light: To induce your glow and decrease inflammation, book BeCalmed’s LED Active Nutrients Facial. LED delivers clinically proven red 633nm and nearinfrared 830nm wavelengths. After three treatments a week, for four weeks, 95% of Boost users said their skin was brighter and plumper.

3. Get Enough Sleep: Getting an adequate amount of sleep is great for your skin. When we get eight hours plus of sleep, our stress hormone (cortisol) goes down and our sleep hormone (melatonin) goes up. Basically, our body and our skin are in repair mode.

8 Birmingham Road, Cowes, PO31 7BH becalmedincowes.co.uk

Flower Garden’s hexagon frames happy couples

From Bouquets to Buttonholes Flower Garden Located along Newport’s St. James Street, in a characterful (but at this time of year, quite chilly) old stable block, you’ll find the fragrant and inviting emporium that is Flower Garden. Behind the counter is florist Catherine Jones, who took to the helm two years ago, bringing her rustic, wild and garden-inspired style of floristry with her.

Originally from the Island, Catherine studied for her professional qualifications at colleges in Portsmouth and Southampton before sharpening up her secateurs and getting to work in a flower shop in the upmarket London borough of Chiswick.

Moving back to the Island, she took a job at Flower Garden over six years ago, before a chance to take the business over later presented itself. Since then, she’s certainly made an impression with her fantastic floral arrangements - including a bouquet of hellebores and ‘Memory Lane’ roses made especially for Princess Anne!

St James’ Church Yarmouth adorned with Bembridge Flower Shop expertise For her most recent weddings (including a number at the historic Kingston Manor) Catherine tells us clients are increasingly asking for hedgerow or English country garden inspired arrangements, with handpicked wildflowers and a rustic composition. Also in high demand is her portable wooden hexagon, decorated with a selection of seasonal cut stems, which can act both as a centrepiece for outdoor weddings, as well as a photo backdrop for guests too.

45 St James Street, Newport PO30 1LG flowergardeniow.co.uk

A Budding Romance - Bembridge Flower Shop When it comes to blooms and buds, Ellie Tuffrey of Bembridge Flower Shop is something of a local expert. Since 2019, her family-run florists in the heart of Bembridge has been assembling floral arrangements for weddings all over the Island - including Appuldurcombe House, East Afton

Farmhouse and the one and only Osborne House (where she is listed as one of their preferred providers).

Specialising in garden-inspired floristry and bouquets that sing of the seasons, Ellie’s natural and slightly wild creations can be adapted to any venue - whether that’s festooned church columns or ‘just picked’ posies to line the aisle of an al fresco wedding. Recent projects have included a floral archway at St. James Church in Yarmouth - where Ellie mixed blue hydrangeas with yellow roses and sprigs of eucalyptus for a fragrant and very natural entrance to this historic stone church.

With Bembridge Flower Shop, every wedding flower commission begins with a conversation, then using her expertise (gained from two years studying at the Academy of Floristry in Bournemouth) Ellie creates a bespoke mood board before bringing your wedding to life in floral form.

6 High Street, Bembridge, PO35 5SD bembridgeflowershop.co.uk January and February 2024

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Showroom open Monday - Saturday 10am - 4pm Garnet and diamond halo ring Garnet is the birthstone for January, shown here set into the ‘Eleanor’ ring design— a perfect setting for any gemstone and contrasts beautifully with diamonds.

Prices from £1500.00.

Pre-owned vintage blue sapphire ring

Isle of Wight stud earrings

Set with 1 carat if natural deep blue sapphires in 18-carat yellow gold. This is just one ring design from our cherished jewellery designs available to purchase online or from our Ryde showroom 18-carat yellow gold.

Price £480.00.

Handcrafted in 925 Sterling Silver, available online or from our showroom. Price £50.00 including presentation box.

Twizzle engagement ring and shaped wedding ring set Created in Platinum and set with over 1 carat of diamonds.

Available from our ready-made jewellery designs.

Price £2880 for both rings.

Bespoke Amethyst engagement ring

J’adore Double Heart Necklace

Features February’s birthstone.

Styled in Platinum with interwoven diamond set shoulders.

Price £1980.00.

Limited edition heart necklaces, available online or from our showroom in white gold or yellow gold.

Diamond solitaire earrings Classically styled in 18-carat yellow gold. Available with natural or lab-grown diamonds. Our example shows 2 x 1-carat ethical certified lab-grown diamonds.

Price £1900.00.

Independent family jewellers on the Isle of Wight since 2007 www.serendipitydiamonds.com/uk chat online or call 01983 567 283

Clemmie & Sam, Dunsbury Farm (Clemmie’s Family Home) A completely unique, vibrant and theatrical wedding at Dunsbury Farm with a ceremony on top of the down on top of the bronze age ‘barrows’. They all started the day with a swim at Compton Beach which was fun to capture.

The couple and most of the congregation all have theatre/film/music backgrounds (can you tell?) and they all worked together to produce the most magical day. Everything was homemade, from the flags and ‘props’, to the handfasting rope and head dresses.

Their friends provided the musical entertainment.

The event was helped along by Carrie from Wed & Prosper and All about Catering looked after the food.

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Sam & Kimmi Scadgell Photographers We are visual storytellers who cover weddings of all sizes, capturing quiet, unscripted moments alongside the formal, planned stages of the big day!

This approach results in a richly textured wedding record that radiates fun, intimacy, and most of all, love.

We also offer pre-wedding photoshoots, and videography

services can be added to any package. We can also provide fine art prints and photobooks that preserve the magic of your day.

We don’t just capture what it looks like, but also what it feels like. Those special moments that not everyone sees, like holding hands, a precious hug, cheeky kids, and a happy tear.. we are there to capture it all. www.littleislephotography.com January and February 2024

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A Little Matrimonial Inspiration The Wedding of Dylan and Paula Amey If you’re thinking of a themed wedding but haven’t yet plumped for an idea, take a leaf out of Dylan and Paula’s book. This happy couple married on a suitably dark and stormy day in July when they held their pirates and mermaids themed wedding - a concept that came pretty naturally to both of them. ‘Paula has always thought of herself as a mermaid’ Dylan tells us, “and I’ve always been into pirates, so it seemed like the obvious choice.”

The venue was Commodores House in Cowes (the former home of sailing pioneer Uffa Fox), a characterful and historic building, set right beside the lapping waves of the Solent. The Jolly Roger flew from the rooftop, a barnacleencrusted altar was put in place and 200 guests dressed in pirate and mermaid costumes assembled to see Paula’s unusual arrival.

“She came by boat and disembarked at the venue’s jetty’ Dylan explains, ‘with my sons Alfie and Charlie ready to escort her up the aisle. My best friend Vern came over all the way from Dubai to marry us, we exchanged rings that we’d designed

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and made at The Jewellery Cabin near Gatcombe and of course, we had pirate-themed vows too. Once the ceremony was over, Paula had entered the pirate world, now it was my time to enter the mermaid world, so we both dived into the sea and swam out to a boat which would drop us off at Trinity Landing.

Then after a quick costume change, we were back at the venue”.

Mermaid and pirate pizzas, as well as freshly shaken cocktails, were provided

by Captain Pizza of Cowes, whilst the soundtrack for the day was provided by Brighton-based band Stash and local rock group Pistol Knights. All in all, the wedding of Mr and Mrs Amey made for a pretty memorable event and soon the couple were heading off for their honeymoon to Portugal, starting in Lisbon before moving on to Vila Nova de Milfontes - where Dylan once lived as a child.

EAST AFTON FARM HOUSE With a history of epic celebrations, East Afton Farmhouse is the ideal setting for a country wedding, where celebrating the joining of two families can last more than just a day.

Wedding packages offer various options, including 3 and 4 day hire and special all inclusive packages. All allow you plenty of time to create your bespoke special day and make memories with family and friends in beautiful, relaxed surroundings.

The main Farmhouse oozes character and comfortably accommodates up to 13 guests, with ample living space, private cinema room and roof terrace. The Country Annex offers accommodation for six more guests or makes the perfect retreat for the newlyweds. The Piglets & Snug in the Paddock are also great for staying guests.

Close by, three event barns enclose a private stone courtyard. The barn adjoining the main farmhouse offers superb flexibility for small receptions with practical amenities including its own bar, restrooms and catering areas, underfloor heating and lighting for parties that stretch from day into night. Large bi-folding doors welcome in light and

country air to a space that comfortably accommodates 60 seated guests.

East Afton’s latest addition, a beautiful large wedding and events barn with vaulted ceiling and glass windows and doors opening onto the stone courtyard, has a commercial kitchen, underfloor heating, mezzanine and an 8-metre long bar.

At a glance Civil ceremony license

20-170

Sit-down reception capacity 20-170

Across the courtyard, another more rustic stone barns offers an alternative venue and is a favourite ceremony and party space. All three barns are licensed for ceremonies.

Evening party capacity

Picturesque and peaceful, East Afton is surrounded by landscaped gardens and arable farmland. Managed and owned by the same team as Tapnell Farm. All three barns are licensed for ceremonies and cater for intimate weddings of 20 up to bigger parties of 200 guests.

Venue only, all-inclusive and midweek wedding options available. Dog friendly.

East Afton can be seen by appointment only.

Don’t miss East Afton’s Wedding Showcase on Sunday 18 February 2024, 11am – 4pm

East Afton Farmhouse, Newport Road, Freshwater, PO40 9UF t. 01983 758729 | e. weddings@eastaftonfarmhouse.com eastaftonfarmhouse.com/weddings/

yes

Ceremony capacity

20-250

Outdoor facilities

yes

Option of outdoor ceremony

yes

Marquee available

no

Fireworks allowed

no

Parking available

yes

Option of exclusive use

yes

Outside caterers allowed

yes

Vegetarian options

yes

Bridal suite available

yes

Guest accommodation

yes

Wedding coordinator

yes

Music license

yes

Option for band/DJ

yes

Dancefloor available

yes

Venue available until

midnight

Wheelchair access Price range

yes £3,000 - £22,800

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VENTNOR BOTANIC GARDEN Imagine your wedding in an exclusive subtropical garden paradise nestled beneath the balmy undercliff in Ventnor.

At a glance Civil ceremony license

yes

Ceremony capacity

300

Sit-down reception capacity

300

Evening party capacity

300

Outdoor facilities

yes

Option of outdoor ceremony

yes

Marquee available

yes

Fireworks allowed

no

Parking available

yes

Option of exclusive use

some areas

Outside caterers allowed

yes

Vegetarian options

yes

Bridal suite available

yes

Guest accommodation

yes

Wedding coordinator

yes

Music license

yes

Option for band/DJ

yes

Dancefloor available

yes

Venue available until

midnight

Wheelchair access Price range

yes

Not only do you have the beautiful Garden, but also elegant indoor spaces with garden views. The palm garden, with its huge trees, is the ideal location for your ceremony and/ or drinks reception. The Edulis restaurant, overlooking the courtyard garden and pond, is perfect for a small- to medium-sized wedding and reception, come rain or shine.

Or choose a ceremony in the New Zealand Garden with a marquee for up to 200 guests, for a wedding with real wow factor.

Hire the entire 22-acre garden for the weekend if you really want to push the boat out. It’s all possible at Ventnor Botanic Garden.

delicious Ventnor crab to ultra-fresh garden salads, you can blow everyone away with a stunning wedding menu. Their chef will help you plan your menu in the finest detail from welcome drinks and canapés to the main culinary event itself.

You might want a location to get ready, to stay in the night before or even for your wedding night. Signal Point is a beautifully restored Victorian cottage nestled amongst the plants overlooking the Garden.

VBG also have the one-bedroom Smugglers Lodge and three studio cabins.

You won’t find a venue locally that offers quite such an original setting to create a wedding day to remember.

Ventnor Botanic Garden gives you complete flexibility over creating exactly the day that you want. As they say: “We are a venue like no other… no limitations and no boundaries… just here to make your day perfect. So let us make your dreams come true.”

From elaborate three-course menus to simple buffets or BBQs, Ventnor Botanic Garden showcases superb local produce and ingredients grown and picked freshly from the Garden. With such great fresh garden and Island produce available, from

£250 - £12,000+ Ventnor Botanic Garden, Undercliff Drive, Ventnor, PO38 1UL t. 01983 855397 | e. weddings@botanic.co.uk | botanicdreamweddings.com

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SEAVIEW HOTEL At a glance Civil ceremony license

yes

Ceremony capacity

50

Sit-down reception capacity

50

Evening party capacity

60

Outdoor facilities

no

Option of outdoor ceremony

no

Marquee available

no

Fireworks allowed

no

Parking available

yes

Option of exclusive use

yes

Outside caterers allowed

no

Vegetarian options

yes

Bridal suite available

yes

Guest accommodation

yes

Wedding coordinator

yes

Music license

yes

Option for band/DJ

yes

Dancefloor available

yes

Venue available until

midnight

Wheelchair access Price range

yes

£110 to £460 (for accommodation)

The Seaview Hotel is a peaceful haven idyllically set in the picturesque sailing village of Seaview, just yards from the sea, providing a stunning backdrop for your photos. In summer, the Solent teems with pretty boats and, out of season, there’s an unspoiled singular charm to the place.

Since 2018, The Restaurant holds 2 AA Rosettes for accomplished dining. Head Chef, Mark Wyatt, is an advocate of modern British cuisine using local suppliers and artisan producers. The Hotel also achieved a Silver Award for its superior level of accommodation quality, as well as two Isle of Wight Chamber Awards for Business Excellence, Tourism and Green business of the year.

The Seaview Hotel allows you to host your entire day in one location. Their dedicated, professional team leaves nothing to chance, ensuring a magical experience for you and your guests.

Perfect for dinner the night prior to your wedding, or breakfast the morning after, the hotel is a wonderful venue to kick-start your celebrations or say bon voyage to your guests after your special day.

The Seaview Hotel can put you in touch with local florists for your table decorations, will take care of your reception drinks and canapés and ensure all your guests have the most suitable accommodation.

Their Head Chef will work with you to create the perfect menu with carefully sourced produce and the freshest ingredients.

With accommodation for up to 50 guests, they invite you to make yourself at home.

They take care of everything from planning and creative design, to managing budgets, sourcing suppliers and handling pesky wedmin.

There are two main areas to hold your reception, giving you the flexibility to create the wedding of your choice, and the unique location combined with superb food and great hospitality will make your day unforgettable.

The hotel organises the room layout to accommodate your number of guests, making sure each table is dressed to perfection.

Seaview Hotel, High St, Seaview PO34 5EX t. 01983 612711 | e. reception@seaviewhotel.co.uk | seaviewhotel.co.uk January and February 2024

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Island Stories: Major General Sir Martin White

The Island’s highest-ranked veteran with tales of warfare and royalty, Sir Martin White is one of the Island’s most respected residents. Born and bred in Seaview, where he still lives today with his wife Fiona, Sir Martin’s decorated military career and 14 years serving as Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight makes for a fascinating podcast interview.

We sat down and chatted through his Island Story: how a teacher at Sandown Grammar helped launch his military path, missing the annual Seaview Regatta when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990, and how the Island celebrated Her Late Majesty the Queen’s visit in her Diamond Jubilee year.

“Being an Islander, selling the Island was easy for me.”

Major General Sir Martin White

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Why the Island?

“In my case, I didn’t really have very much choice! My mother and father were here, it was wartime, and I was born in Seaview, and that’s where I’ve been ever since… I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”

Going to war: “I was summoned by the Commander-inChief, who called me in one morning and said ‘I’ve got a job for you’ and it’s to go to run the logistics in The Gulf… I thought, great, this is my golden opportunity to put into practice everything I have learned.”

On welcoming Royalty to the Island: “I firmly believe we’ve got a lot going for us on this Island… I had a list of things I wanted to show them: industry; education; charities… a whole range of things that we are damn good at. That was the way I felt that I could sell the Island.”

Remembrance Sunday: “For me it’s a very personal moment… I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck going up, just thinking about it. Go to Newport and see how many young people gather in the square… the younger generation do understand what generations of people have sacrificed.”

Sir Martin’s 5 Island Things Favourite Restaurant: @number3cowes Favourite Shop: @seaviewvillageshop Island Charity: @mountbatten_iw Hidden Gem: Priory Bay In 10 Years? Better Education

To listen search ‘Island Stories’ wherever you get your podcasts from or use the QR code.

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