The Jersey Life

OCTOBER COVER 2019:Layout 1 04/10/2019 13:03 Page 1

OCTOBER 2019 | www.life-mags.com

Autumn Home Edition

A MAN'S HOME IS HIS CASTLE an interview with Matt Thebault

home | beauty | food and drink | motoring | the arts | fashion | travel | property | business | health | garden | antiques

Project2:Layout 1 03/10/2019 11:36 Page 1

!-$,!$% +)*% -. .2(%0 "%$

I N T E R I O R S 0.&%11).-!+ 1%04)#% !-$ %6/%02 !$4)#% !00%&.30 /%-

,!)+

1!+%1

3%1 2.

!2

%+.31

2

!50%-#% 8

$!4)$()#* #. 8 !,

/,

)1)2

%+%/(.-% 555 $!4)$()#* #.

+!2% -)'(2

0.,.2).- !4!)+!"+% &.0 ! +),)2%$ 2),% .-+7

(301 3-2)+

%0,1 !-$ #.-$)2).-1 !//+7

/,

OCTOBER WELCOME:Layout 1 04/10/2019 13:05 Page 1

Publisher Fish Media Ltd Head Office 20 Hill Street, St Helier, JE2 4UA Telephone: 01534 619882 Email: thejerseylife@fishmedia.biz Website: www.life-mags.com Editor Juanita Shield-Laignel Art Director Alexis Smith Travel Writer Rebecca Underwood underwoodrebecca@hotmail.com Photography Simon Finch simon@fishmedia.biz Production Sarah le Marquand Sales Executive Juanita Shield-Laignel juanita@fishmedia.biz Accounts and Administration Sarah Donati-Ford accounts@fishmedia.biz Directors Jamie Fisher Peter Smith Contributors Stephen Cohu Penny Downes Martin Flageul Rebecca Underwood Mark Shields Lorraine Pannetier Alistair Shield-Laignel Paul Darroch

Follow us on Twitter: @TheJerseyLife1 Like us on Facebook: The Jersey Life © All rights reserved. The Jersey Life is copyright and may not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers. Whilst Fish Media takes every reasonable precaution, no responsibility can be accepted for any property, services or products offered in this publication and any loss arising there from.

Whilst every care is taken with all materials submitted to The Jersey Life the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to such material. Fish Media reserves the right to reject of accept any advertisement, article or material supplied for publication or edit such material prior to publication. Opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Fish Media. We accept no liability for any misprints or mistakes and no responsibility can be taken for the content of these pages.

What a fabulous month September has been…we’ve enjoyed a few warm days lacking in August – and days here at the Jerseylife have been majorly busy as usual, but rewarding and fulfilling nonetheless.

One of my favourite days last month consisted of interviewing the extremely talented and very lovely Matt Thebault, one of Jersey’s most accomplished stonemasons.

You can read all about our extraordinary day on page 12. Interview is always one of my favourite tasks of the month and this was without doubt up there with my top 10.

We’ve moved things around a little this month, so if you can’t find your favourite item…check in contents or just enjoying browsing and it will materialise.

One of our changes has been to bring Martin Flageul’s wine piece forward – this month to page 46, he talks about Tavel Rose; a favourite for many. Lorraine Pannetier has again excelled herself in her foodie pages and included some gorgeous, hearty, seasonal recipes for us all to enjoy.

Motoring has also moved to a more central position in the magazine and on this occasion features the best Limited Edition Super Cars ever built!

Travel looks as the Alps without snow – still breath-taking and offering lots of outward bound activities for the whole family.

With family in mind, page 56 questions the modern day child’s activities and consequential downturn in eye health – interesting read.

September edition’s crossword solutions: Across: 3 Unsavoury; 8 Roar; 9 Samaritan; 10 Absent; 11 Blend; 14 Demur; 15 Turn; 16 Eight; 18 Wind; 20 Amble; 21 Yearn; 24 Disown; 25 Interpret; 26 Knot; 27 Legendary.

Down: 1 Breakdown; 2 Parsimony; 4 Neat; 5 Avail; 6 Orient; 7 Real; 9 Snare; 11 Begin; 12 Dumbfound; 13 Indemnity; 17 Tacit; 19 Delete; 22 Rapid; 23 Once; 24 Dear.

Mark Shields shares his thoughts on anxiety and how to overcome its far-reaching tendrils and talking of tendrils and other things curly in the garden – Caroline Moody has written a seasonal feature on the wonderful work at Acorn.

October is always of course our Autumn HOME living issue and I am thrilled to be able to share the practical yet stunning advice from Katya Pastorini of Painted Beautiful. I hope to be able to feature Katya’s brilliant home tips in future issues too.

Well that’s it for another month…have a most spook’ tacular Halloween and look forward to our next edition when we will be focusing on winter health…

Juanita Shield-Laignel If you have an interesting story to share or would like your business reviewed, please feel free to call me on 619882.

I’d love to hear from you.

OCTOBER DPS 2019:Layout 1 04/10/2019 13:06 Page 1

retirement sale now on

closiNg eND 2019 A small selection of our New and Second Hand Diamond rings second Hand brilliant cut diamond rings

New 18ct yellow gold diamond full eternity ring £1125 sale price £843.75

New 18ct yellow and white gold 5 graduated diamond ring 1.03ct £3750 sale price £2812.50

Traditional services still available repairs - eNgraviNg - resTriNgiNg - valuaTioNs

OCTOBER DPS 2019:Layout 1 04/10/2019 13:06 Page 2

second Hand 18ct & platinum 2 diamond crossover ring £125 sale price £93.75

New 18ct white gold diamond ring £2750 sale price 2062.50

New 18ct white gold diamond ring £1750 sale price £1312.50

New 9ct white gold diamond ring £1875 sale price £1406.25

second Hand princess cut diamond rings

Thank you all for your valued custom over the years



October 2019 3 WELCOME and The Jersey Life contact information

10 UP AND COMING

12

Events and walks around Jersey

74 REVIEWS AND CLUES Book of the month plus the crossword

INTERVIEW 12 CASTLES AND DREAMS Juanita Shield-Laignel catches up with Matt Thebault

HOME LIVING 18 LA TOUR A beautiful development in St Aubin

20 ECO FRIENDLY DECORATING Ideas for a more planet-friendly home

28 MEET TRANQUIL DAWN Dulux colour of the year for 2020

31 AT HOME WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY Air source heat pumps

32 MAKE THE MOST OF A SMALL KITCHEN

By Luke Rix-Standing

36 STYLING THE SEASONS The changing season isn’t just for your wardrobe

6 | www.life-mags.com

18 36

28

Project11:Layout 1 02/07/2019 10:29 Page 1

A Touch of Glass Every home deserves the best quality windows, doors and conservatories.

Give your home a touch of glass.

Pallot Glass & Windows provide a reliable and proven service for every job, regardless of size.

Tel. 760500 pallotglass.com

Windows | Doors | Conservatories | Glass balustrades



40 HOME LIVING 72 BIG AUTUMN CLEAN

By Abi Jackson

40 FA-BOO-LOUS PUMPKINS AT ACORN We catch up with Steve Ball, support worker at Acorn

ARTS, MUSIC AND CULTURE 68 THE ART HOUSE Supporting Jersey artists with promise

70 JERSEY OPERA HOUSE Jersey Opera House will once more be bringing the Met Opera screenings

FOOD AND DRINK 44 PLANT-RICH MEALS MADE FROM SCRATCH

By Lorraine Pannetier

52

72 TAVEL… THE FORGOTTEN ROSE

By Martin Flageul DipWSET

FASHION

64

64 BOOT TRENDS FOR AUTUMN From eighties to animal print

HEALTH AND BEAUTY 56 CHILDREN’S EYE SIGHT Poor vision may be linked to excessive screen use

62 BEAUTY – NATURALLY

By Juanita Shield-Laignel

66 FEAR AND ANXIETY

By Mark Shields

TRAVEL 52 A SNOW FREE ALPS IN SWITZERLAND Verbier by Priya Joshi

MOTORING 48 THE BEST LIMITED EDITION SUPERCARS EVER BUILT

By Ryan Hirons

48 8 | www.life-mags.com

Project1:Layout 1 04/10/2019 11:03 Page 1

 

what’s on...

Our selection of events to enjoy in Jersey this month

Let us know the month before your event is due to take place, and we shall do our best to include it in our listings.

Contact: thejerseylife@fishmedia.biz

Art, Music & Entertainment Shooting Light - A Photographic Journey Exhibition by Vince Thorne. Situated on Le Boulevard, alongside the picturesque and charming harbour of St. Aubin. Parking is available on the street or the nearby public car parks.

To 14th October 10:00 to 17:30 The Harbour Gallery Le Boulevard, St. Aubin's Village Jersey Contact: +44 (0) 1534 743044 info@theharbourgalleryjersey.com http://theharbourgalleryjersey.com Louise Catrell - Light in Time An exhibition of Louise’s recent oils, etchings and drawings. Laura Cummings, Chief Art Critic for the Observer, calls Louise ‘a romantic for the twenty-first century’. She describes 'an embodied sense of passing through the landscape, of passing through time, of moving towards something in the distance that seems always slightly out of reach'. Artists workshop Friday 11 Oct, 10:00-16:00, call for details.

Gallery open Saturday 12 Oct, 11:00 -14:00 and artist's talk at 11:00.

11 October to 18 November 2019 10:00 to 17:00 CCA Galleries International

Royal Court Chambers 10 Hill Street, JE2 4UA Contact: +44 (0) 1534 739900 enquiries@ccagalleriesinternational.com www.ccagalleriesinternational.com The Jersey Heritage Knitathon Knitting a new Jersey. Artist, Harald den Breejen will be joined by local knitters and their knitting needles to create a new pattern for a traditional Jersey jumper that represents the island of Jersey today. Come and watch them at work, discover more about Jersey jumpers, or join the knitting team! Presented in collaboration with The Morning Boat and supported by ArtHouse Jersey and the One Foundation. Free for Jersey Heritage Members and children under six.

14 - 19 October 2019 11:00 to 15:00 Jersey Museum, The Weighbridge Contact: +44 (0) 1534 633300 info@jerseyheritage.org www.jerseyheritage.org Amici Artium: Jennifer Pike and Martin Roscoe Renowned for her “dazzling interpretative flair and exemplary technique” (Classic FM), violinist Jennifer Pike has taken the musical world by storm with her unique artistry and compelling insight into music from the Baroque

to the present day. During his illustrious career, Martin Roscoe has become one of the UK’s most loved and respected pianists, appearing regularly at Wigmore Hall.

15 October 2019 20:00 to 22:30 Jersey Arts Centre, Philips Street, JE2 4SW Contact: +44 (0) 1534 700444 enquiries@artscentre.je www.artscentre.je Structures- Textile Exhibition by the Diversity group Diversity is the major Channel Islands practicing and exhibiting art textile group.

This year they will be joined by UK textile artist Alysn Midgelow Marsden, who now lives in New Zealand, who will be exhibiting and running a series of three workshops at the gallery.

17 October to 03 November 2019 10:00 to 17:30 The Harbour Gallery, Le Boulevard, St. Aubin's Contact: +44 (0) 1534 743044 info@theharbourgalleryjersey.com http://theharbourgalleryjersey.com

OCTOBER EVENTS 2019:Layout 1 02/10/2019 12:15 Page 2

EVENTS

Art, Music & Entertainment Powerhouse Gospel Choir Powerhouse’s uniqueness comes from the magical blend of their voices producing a sound that is soulful, passionate, uplifting and utterly captivating. This tour includes all your favourite gospel songs, including Oh Happy Day, Amazing Grace and Joyful Joyful.

19 October 2019 20:00 to 22:00 Jersey Arts Centre, Philips Street, JE2 4SW Contact: +44 (0) 1534 700444 enquiries@artscentre.je www.artscentre.je Beverley Speck's Felting Workshops at The Harbour Gallery Jersey Get booking for Beverley's next set of felting workshops this autumn/winter, places go quickly so book soon to avoid disappointment!

25 October 2019 13:30 to 16:00 17 November 2019 11:00 to 16:30 The Harbour Gallery Jersey Le Boulevard, St. Brelade, JE3 8AB Contact: +44 (0) 1534 743044 info@theharbourgalleryjersey.com www.theharbourgalleryjersey.com

Food, Fairs & Festivals La Faîs'sie d'Cidre - Cider Festival Everyone's favourite autumnal event brings together communities, volunteers, and of course apple and cider experts to celebrate the apple harvest and make cider together. With live music, creative activities, dancing, competitions, poetry, Genuine Jersey stalls, great food, great company, and a fantastic atmosphere, there's lots to do, things to learn, people to meet, and fun to be had!

12 October 2019 10:00 to 19:00 13 October 2019 10:00 to 17:00 Hamptonne Country Life Museum La Rue de la Patente, JE3 1HS Contact: +44 (0) 1534 863955 info@jerseyheritage.org www.jerseyheritage.org Festival of the Tides Explore an island shaped by the sea where some of the most astonishing tides in the world circle the coast, follow the tides to the remotest places of Jersey.

The meeting point is confirmed when you book.

25 October to 02 November 2019 09:00 to 23:45 Contact:+44 (0) 7797 853033

info@jerseywalkadventures.co.uk www.jerseywalkadventures.co.uk/go/walk-dates/

info@jerseywalkadventures.co.uk www.jerseywalkadventures.co.uk

Halloween Spooktacular!

Spooky fun for all the family, included in your entry fee! Haunted House, Little House of horrors for the smaller visitors, and haunted maze are just some of the activities on offer. Get dressed up and join in the fun.

The best Halloween event on the island. The park has great activities too.

26 October to 03 November 2019 - 10:00 to 17:30 La Hougue Farm La Grande Route de St. Pierre Contact: +44 (0) 1534 482116 contact@jerseyleisure.com www.jerseyleisure.com

Black Butter Making at The Elms Community event involving the ancient art of Black Butter making. Come along to The Elms and peel apples, watch the mixture being stirred all through the night, get involved in jarring up and then enjoy homemade food, pumpkin carving and live music on market day when the Black Butter goes on sale.

17 October 2019 14:00 to 17:00 18 October 2019 10:00 to 22:00 19 October 2019 10:00 to 16:00 The Elms, La Cheve Rue, JE3 3EN Contact: +44 (0) 1534 483193 donna@nationaltrust.je www.nationaltrust.je

Sports & Out and About

Rags to Riches Walk Encounter mansions and villas and enjoy a morning of famous names, residents and who's living the dream.

Discover another type of wealth on this walking extravaganza, as you explore a photogenic coastline rich in colour and detail. You will also travel back in time to riches of a bygone age with mysteries revealed.

Meet: Outside the Oyster Box Restaurant, St. Brelade's Bay. Price: £10 per person.

21 October 2019 10:30 to 12:45 The Oyster Box, St. Brelade's Bay Contact: +44 (0) 7797775696 petewebb@localdial.com www.jtga.org

Forest Bathing - Rewild Yourself Shinrin-yoku or Forest Bathing is a unique practice, established in Japan in the 1980's, to beat chronic stress in the cities. Now a global phenomenon, the practice is spreading fast. Certified ANFT Nature and Forest Therapy Guide our walks guide you through beautiful forested areas, connecting you with your senses and rewilding you in nature. Various locations in natural settings - beaches, woodlands, cliffpaths...in wilder parts of Jersey. Discover hidden aspects of Jersey, off the main trail.

Selected dates and times throughout October Contact: +44 (0) 7797 825107 wildshinrinyokujersey@gmail.com www.facebook.com/ AmandaBondHumanNatureProject/ The Oyster Trail Join a local resident to walk among the oyster and mussel beds in the Royal Bay of Grouville, followed by the opportunity to sample fresh Jersey Oysters at The Seymour Pub and Restaurant. Hear about the modern cultivation of shellfish in Jersey - the biggest oyster beds in the British Isles - and the fascinating history of the oyster fishery, which in the 19th century was a major industry.

13 October 2019 12:30 to 14:30 10 November 2019 11:00 to 13:30 The meeting point is confirmed when you book Contact: +44 (0) 7797 853033

Jersey Reds vs Doncaster Knights Come and watch the Jersey Reds and enjoy the family atmosphere at St. Peter.

25 October 2019 19:45 to 22:15 Jersey Rugby Club, Rue des Landes, St. Peter Contact:+44 (0) 1534 499929 enquiries@jerseyreds.je www.jerseyreds.je Boo at the Zoo This Halloween, explore Jersey Zoo after dark to find out which ghosts and ghouls visit the grounds after the animals have gone to sleep! Enjoy a range of spooktacular crafts and activities.

25 & 26 October 2019 17:00 to 20:00 Jersey Zoo, Les Augres Manor, La Profonde Rue Contact: +44 (0) 1534 860026 events@durrell.org www.durrell.org/events

Whether you're looking to hold a wedding for 80 or 280 guests Vibert Marquees is second to none. We stock a variety of beautifully crafted, high quality marquees and are here to advise you every step of the way, nothing is too much trouble for our professional and experienced team.

Let us create your perfect wedding day.

Get in touch today on 482970 or visit our website vibertmarquees.com

OCTOBER ISSUE | 11

 

HOME LIVING

  

‘A MAN’S HOME IS HIS CASTLE’ - EXCEPT WHEN THE MAN REFERRED TO IS MATT THEBAULT AND HE’S SPENT HIS LIFE’S WORK BUILDING CASTLES AND DREAMS FOR OTHER MEN (AND WOMEN)! … INTERVIEW BY JUANITA SHIELD-LAIGNEL Matt Thebault has been a stalwart of the Jerseylife HOME edition for many years, featuring his amazing work between the pages of this glossy magazine – so it was a few months ago, I settled upon his name when thinking of who I could invite for interview for our Autumn HOME Edition. The rest of the team agreed and most importantly, so did Matt!

Keen to show me some of his work up close and personal, Matt had contacted the owners of one his most ‘famous’ builds, star of Channel 4s Grand Designs’ Homes of the Year 2016, Le Petit Fort. I’d watched the programme in awe as this site had been on my radar since a very young age.

Situated on its own private lane leading off Rue des Pres directly to the concrete, German built wall leading all the way along La Saline, St Ouen, Le Petit Fort has been a local landmark for over a century. Encased by granite walls perforated with regularly spaced slits and redolent of some kind of battlement building, dog walkers and sunbathers alike will be familiar with its dominance of that part of the coastline.

Living in the next closest house to the site as a child, my best friend and her family used to invite me to stay for long summer holidays and weekends, so some of my earliest memories include building stone circular islands on the beach to save us five year old princesses from the dragons and foes peering at us through said openings in the fort wall! My imagination was no longer required when again having the fort as part of my almost daily adult life when living at Grantez during my twenties and walking along the concrete wall from Le Saline Slip to sunbath in the nook of the wall to the east of the property; a quiet and sheltered part of St Ouen’s beach.

On watching the Channel 4 programme I recalled often having thought the fort would make the most fabulous dream home to anyone brave enough to take it on and was delighted someone finally had and to such great effect.

12 | www.life-mags.com

 

HOME LIVING

So it was with much anticipation I arrived at Le Petit Fort on a beautifully sunny but rather blustery late summer day, to meet with Matt and hear all about his work with this property, others and his life as a whole.

As I arrived, the large wooden gates sandwiched between two impressive granite pillars (Matt’s work I later learnt), automatically opened and I drove in. Matt was waiting and invited me to park ‘anywhere’ I cheekily said ‘on the grass?’ - ha ha – as is my want!

Matt grinned and of course pointed me in the direction of the large open gravelled parking area. As I got out of the car the owner of the property came out to greet us. Expecting just to look around the outside as this is where the majority, if not all of Matt’s work is most obvious, I was surprised but thrilled when Mr Devenport invited us in. Matt reported afterwards – he too was surprised and pleased by the invitation.

Entering the spacious lobby Mr Devenport introduced himself as Ed and lead us up a huge bespoke concrete staircase, explaining - to capture the most stunning views, Le Petit Fort is an upside down house. Arriving on the first floor one is immediately struck by breath-taking views right across St Ouen’s bay all the way to Corbiere Lighthouse and framed perfectly by the dark window frames surrounding huge glazed walls to either side of where we were standing. Just about managing to peel our eyes away from the views outside, turning around revealed we were immediately in the kitchen with open plan living areas leading down to the front of the property and more spectacular views of the beach and across to L’Etacq.

We three started talking about the property, in particular Matt’s stonemasonry work and the thrill of being included in the much loved Grand Designs programme. Before long a door off to one side opened and a lady, naturally I assumed Mrs Devenport walked towards us. As she did I realised I recognised her and said as much. Emma immediately recognised me too and we laughed we had been at school together – playground peers in the 80s. This unexpected turn of events lead to cups of coffee and trips down memory lane.

Matt too had a lovely surprise in that he realised he could see his father’s granite house up on the L’Etacq headland, directly from the kitchen window. The serendipities didn’t end there as in reminiscing Matt realised he had spent some of his childhood with his family renting an old cottage within the fort walls.

After coffee Ed and Emma offered us free reign of the gardens and even a walk up the tiny concrete steps to the modern day version of a turret used as a home office and with more stunning views across the bay from a sitting position behind Ed’s desk.

must be quite therapeutic and Matt confirmed it is sometimes much like being in a meditative state and quite relaxing.

After walking around the outside and marvelling at Matt’s skill and enjoying the warmth of the day, we again went in to thank Ed and Emma. The visit couldn’t have been more perfect and it seems the magic of the fort lives on!

Wanting to know more about Matt we adjourned to El Tico (as I drove out of Rue des Pres, anyone passing in the opposite direction would have heard me saying through my open window ‘I love my job!’) for yet more coffee and a light snack and Matt continued to tell me about other aspects of his life: “I was born here in Jersey, my Mum was from England.

She followed her sister over here, met my Jersey born Dad and stayed. I was their only child but I have a brother and a sister on my Dad’s side and 2 brothers on my Mum’s side. My Dad was a stonemason so building was in my blood really and it showed throughout my schooling – I was at Les Quennevais and great at woodwork and metalwork and the like, but not so great when it came to the academic side of things; I was always more of a practical type of person.”

“Towards the end of secondary school I got a Saturday job at Lines Fishmongers in St Brelade’s precinct and really enjoyed it.

I’d lost touch with my Dad for a while as I was living with my Mum, but then he contacted Mum and asked if I would like to start an apprenticeship with him in his workshop at St Peter’s – I’m so pleased I did.”

“So I left school before I was 16 and grafted as a labourer for the first 2 years – helping the lads with their joints and tidying up afterwards and just general hard graft really, then started to learn how to dress the stones – ‘if you can’t cut you can’t build’ is a saying that was drummed into me. Nowadays all the tools have tungsten tips - really hard, attached to the steel, they keep their sharpness and shape much longer – goodness knows how they used to build with ordinary steel chisels.”

“After about 7 years working for my Dad I managed to get on the Brecou job for the Barclay Brothers building their castle. That was a really interesting job. For the first 3 months or so they put us up on site and then we had to commute from Guernsey on the boat.

Each craftsman had their own area and mine was the slipway.

Wandering around outside Matt began to talk about his work with the great passion one would expect from a master crafter.

The seamless continuation of the old wall into the new, where Matt had extended the original front faced fort to encompass the entire property was outstanding in its perfection. And the sensitivity in which Matt had incorporated as much of the original stone, I learnt, is one of his specialties and what he always strives for. Matt explained the process of needing to ‘dress’ each and every piece of granite individually. This consists of knocking off lumps and bumps and squaring off each stone so it sits neatly in amongst all the thousands of other stones that make up a wall.

This requires considerable, skill and patience. I commented it continues overleaf...

OCTOBER ISSUE | 13

 

HOME LIVING

Now visitors to Brecou from Guernsey will be landing on my work!”

“Then I did a spell with Heritage, learnt about lime work and restoration. I worked with a chap called Jodie Hingston. I was there for nearly 3 years, they are brilliant with lime work and restoration to the point they go to great lengths to match the lime, so will take a sample from a castle or wall, work out the aggregate ratios and match it. I worked on a few of the Martello towers dotted about the island including the one in St Lawrence.

They taught me a lot actually. Then I went back to work with my Dad.” I was interested to know at what point Matt had met his wife Chrissy. “I’d seen her about as she was friends with a lady called Stephanie who just so happened to be married to my mate Clayton. It was my 39th birthday and I’d organised a meal at the Salty Dog and asked Clayton if he could invite that very pretty lady who was friends with Steph. She was sitting a few spaces down from me but I managed to chat to her at the end of the evening and the rest, as they say, is history. We got married in Mauritius, on the beach. We were snorkelling an hour before, just the two of us so the hotel provided witnesses. They did everything so beautifully – it was really lovely.”

“Chrissy is from Kenmare, Southern Ireland – as is often the story, some friends of Chrissy’s came here to work and suggested she join them and luckily for me she did.” Matt couldn’t help himself from grinning as he talked about his wife. “She is one of nine; large Irish family, and I get on really well with her mum who is just so down to earth and lovely. Chrissy’s background is in marketing so she has been an integral part of Matt Thebault Stonemasons Limited for the last 7 years. She is really good with people and knows how to deal with others and situations where I might be a bit more, brash, I suppose the word is, although I’ve got better over the years all thanks to Chrissy.” I joked that she had ‘knocked the lumps and bumps off of him’, he laughed and said, “Yes absolutely and she is so on it – learning which parts to better and which parts to leave alone both in terms of the business and me!”

I’d seen photos of Matt with his dog and asked him about this.

“Buddy is our baby – in fact it’s weird not having him around today. I take him on site every day. Being a 1 year old 50 kilo hound, Chrissy can’t walk him on her own, he’s just too powerful.

I’ve usually got him in the back of my car and he is great with the lads – they love him, he’s become part of the team and even has

14 | www.life-mags.com

his own Matt Thebault high-vis jacket. If I’ve not had time to walk him in the mornings, one of the lads will take him. He’s great with kids, really submissive but is huge when he gets too excited and jumps up.”

Matt had mentioned his workshop and as a lot of his work is done on site, I asked him to tell me about that aspect and why he needs it. “We have a workshop at Five Oaks, we’ve been there for about 6 years and it really comes into its own in the winter when it’s just too cold and damp to dress stone outside. So a whole load of reclaimed granite will be dropped in, I like to use old granite rather than newly mined stone, it all gets dressed or cut then gets put back into a skip and delivered to site. We do a lot of fireplaces and other inside work during the bad weather. We have so much to do there is definitely no shortage of work.”

On that note I asked Matt what the future holds – does he have plans for expansion etc. “I don’t have kids but would really like to pass on my skills like my father did to me. Apprentices are hard to come by. This kind of graft isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and they do need to be keen. I feel like it’s a dying trade but there is always so much to do – we haven’t even touched on storm damage in our chat this morning; repairing old slipways after boulders have been tossed into a car park for instance. I like to think of it as reinforcing our island. You can’t force this kind of work on anybody but I would really like to find a way of introducing it to the next generation. I am lucky that the team I have around me are so dedicated and I even have a couple that just take integrity to the next level, they all have a great work ethic and are just great to have on site. We had one young lad working with us recently who, although ultimately it didn’t work out for him, I’m sure he got a lot out of it.”

Thinking back to the surfboards and kayaks we’d seen stacked by the swimming pool at Le Petit Fort, evocative of the relaxed, indolent kind of life we all aspire to, I asked Matt if he has much time for hobbies and other pursuits. “I love Kayaking and fishing.

Chrissy doesn’t like being in the water but we like walking the dog every day and even at the weekend we are up early - 6am, down at the sand dunes with the dog, then Monday comes and it starts all over again! But as working with stone is my passion, it doesn’t really feel like work at all. I love it.”

With that Matt announced that he had to go back and check on a fireplace one of his staff had started working on early that morning; it was Saturday around 1pm…now that’s what I call dedication to building dreams…

Project7:Layout 1 02/10/2019 13:27 Page 1



HOME LIVING

WILLOW Jersey WILLOW Jersey is a new online home accessories & lifestyle store, based in Jersey for Jersey.

We supply lots of gorgeous homewares, from candles, lanterns and cushions to kitchen ware, jewellery and lots more...

Even though we are an online store, we enjoy providing that personal touch and are always ready to help and answer any questions, either by email or via Facebook. Collection is available, but we do offer free Island wide delivery, at a time that works for you, which is great, as it means I get to meet everyone who buys from WILLOW. Searching for & sourcing products has been great fun, and I love to find new products to put onto the website. There is much more to come over the next few months, with exciting new products!

If you already follow WILLOW, then you will probably have noticed that I have a slight obsession for stars, but I have been pleased to find out that I’m not the only one!! Fortunately there are many other products for you to choose from, and I’m always pleased to hear from you with any ideas or suggestions of what you would like to see. It’s good to know what I should be looking out for.

As with all websites, you can sign up to our newsletter, but don’t worry, we won’t fill your inbox with daily emails. We promise to only send this out when we have news and offers for you…it will be strictly ‘Non-spamy’ !

16 | www.life-mags.com

I am delighted to say we have some exciting, exclusive news!!

Very soon, you will be able to come and view our whole product range! Yes, we will have a Show Space available for you to come and see all the products and even grab a cuppa too. There will be an exclusive offer to all our subscribers when we launch our new Show Space, so don’t miss out on that, especially with Christmas around the corner!

Here at WILLOW Jersey, we are also super excited to be exclusively offering the most fabulous Ethical Well-Being range of body products, which I know you will love.

If you like the products you use on your skin to be ethical sourced, cruelty free, eco-friendly and free from SLS and parabens and all those nasties, then look no further, MALAKO is for you. This sits nicely with another of our homeware ranges, that also promises to be eco friendly and ethical, with all the products being hand made by artisans, so every piece is different.

WILLOW Jersey has really gone from strength to strength since we opened our internet doors, and so much has happened in such a short space of time, that I can’t quite believe that my idea of

‘just selling a few Accessories from home” would turn out to be this much fun, and where it might go is very exciting!!

I’m extremely overwhelmed with the support from everyone… its been truly amazing, so a huge Thank You to you all, and I hope to see you soon.

Ness www.willowjersey.com Find us on Facebook and Instagram

PAGE 17:Layout 1 02/10/2019 13:45 Page 1



HOME LIVING

La Tour ST AUBIN NESTLED INTO THE HILLSIDE ON THE BROW OF RUE DU CROCQUET AS IT BEGINS TO DESCEND INTO ST AUBIN’S, OLD COBBLED HIGH STREET, LA TOUR EPITOMIZES ELEGANT LIVING...

Location is everything and with superlative views across St Aubin’s Bay and close proximity to some of Jersey’s most prestigious and popular restaurants and a variety of boutique shops and businesses, La Tour really does have everything the astute buyer could want.

Consisting of a conglomeration of several unique dwellings, reminiscent of smart, terraced town houses but on a much grander scale, visitors to La Tour are provided with several parking spaces in the spacious underground parking lot and can use the elevator to the first floor lobby housing residents’ post boxes. Each home is allocated two designated parking spaces plus the aforementioned spaces for occasional visitors.

Outside the lobby residents can turn right to the largest of the properties where the largest of families can be comfortably accommodated, but turning left along the elevated terrace will take you to Apartments 1, 2, and 3 - over two floors, official a duplex, far more evocative of a town house already alluded to than the general apartment label suggests.

To the far east of the property, Apartment 1 with its upside down layout commands a view across the bay from the contemporary open plan living area that would be the envy of many.

The panoramic views encompass The Somerville Hotel and green headland beyond, St Aubin’s Fort, Elizabeth Castle and on a clear day, endless blue sky and sea.

Modern sash windows, updated but maintained sympathetically with the original 17th century Merchant’s House, are dotted along three sides of the property with patio doors opening onto a Juliet balcony at the rear, affording a maximisation of light into the open plan kitchen, dining area and living space.

A sea of white, the kitchen stretches across half of the space and houses an island and Corian work tops. All the expected appliances are built in and include fridge freezer and dishwasher, with the cooking appliances sporting the reliable NEFF label.

A utility and cloak room to the rear of the first floor, in keeping with the rest of the high-end fittings in the apartment, are well appointed and offer lots of storage.

Underfloor heating throughout means the oak flooring is never cold and wood effect stone steps curve back down onto the ground floor where en suite bedrooms offer comfortable living at its best.

18 | www.life-mags.com



HOME LIVING

The Master suite includes a dressing area and is a substantial size. Bedroom 2 also has plenty of room and with its own en suite has everything needed for a growing family or guests. Bedroom 3 is just as well equipped but has the added bonus of glass doors leading out onto a bijou but functional paved area large enough to support a small table and chairs and a few pots of colourful plants, this could make a beautiful breakfast space or somewhere to read in peace and soak up a little of Jersey’s glorious sunshine.

Again a white kitchen holds centre stage and houses all the mod cons needed by the discerning 21st century home dweller.

Apartment 2 with its own but equally idyllic identity is a little more traditional in that the living space is on the ground floor. The utility and cloakroom are straight ahead on entering this apartment, with the substantial open plan living space falling off the generous hallway to the left.

This two bedroom property takes you up the stairs to the first floor for sleep and both the bedrooms have their own en suite facilities. The Master bedroom is sizable and also has glazed double doors opening out to a Juliet balcony that overlooks the courtyard below and yet again lets light flood into the room.

To the north of the up-to-date open plan area are large glazed doors leading out onto a quirky but potentially attractive little courtyard; just waiting to be dressed with gorgeous potted foliage and allowing shafts of light into the room.

Modern sashed windows of course grace this property too and give the occupant a satisfying view of the bay beyond.

These well- appointed, elegant properties located in such a prestigious part of the island, just a stone’s throw for the convenience and sociability of St Aubin, are bound to be sought after and are well worth a visit.

Whether you are seeking to downsize and long for village life, or if you want a no-fuss, readymade lock up and leave, or if you want to set up home and take advantage of all St Aubin’s has to offer including the built-in bustling social scene; La Tour is a sound investment for the future.

Prices start from £999,000 and further information is available from Lobster Tail, telephone: 728724 or email: info@lobstertail.co.uk

OCTOBER ISSUE | 19

 

HOME LIVING

ECO-FRIENDLY DECORATING IDEAS FOR A MORE

Planet-Friendly Home Want your homeware and decor choices to be more sustainable? From reclaimed timber to recycled kitchen tops, Gabrielle Fagan checks out the options...

We're all aware of the need to look after our environment and where better to start than at home?

Luckily, more and more companies are embracing eco-friendly approaches and solutions, and designers are becoming evermore inventive and innovative in their use of recycled materials to create desirable homeware - so you don't have to sacrifice your style for your principles.

"Year-round, we consistently see people searching for inspiration on Pinterest to shop and live in ways more mindful of the environment," says Enid Hwang, culture and community manager at Pinterest, who've seen a 108% increase in searches for sustainable lifestyle this year.

The site notes that September, when summer holidays are over, is the 'back to life' period - when, feeling renewed and refreshed, people look for ways to make small changes in their lives, such as recommitting to their environmental efforts.

"We've seen that reflected in searching for sustainable items for their homes, like recycled materials, eco paint and even bamboo bedding. Sustainable lifestyle choices are now a major theme for many Pinners," notes Hwang.

Need some inspiration? From wallpaper and paint, to furniture and accessories - follow our guide to creating a home to match your values...

PAINT IT GREEN Some house paints use casein - a protein derived from milk or beeswax as a binding agent - while others use ingredients that have been tested on animals.

Mindful of this, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex chose Auro, a non-toxic vegan paint which is also child-friendly, when they decorated baby Archie's nursery.

A lot of paints contain high levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which emit solvents into the air that are associated with causing dizziness and headaches, and may affect those with allergies.

Crown's Breatheasy Coloured Emulsion range is 99.9% solvent-free and certified under the asthma & allergy friendly Certification Program. continues overleaf...

20 | www.life-mags.com



MEL OWERS Painters & Decorators Limited

Interior and Exterior Decorating Covering all aspects of the trade including Specialist Paint Effects and High Quality Wall Coverings

726663 Or contact John McInally on 07797 710 890 anytime Daytime telephone and fax number:

Email: melowers@hotmail.co.uk Kroonstad, Clairvale Road, St Helier

Brontë Carpets create truly bespoke carpets that are as individual as your home. We offer the highest quality and service and you will find that apart from making a statement you will have a carpet that will give you many years of comfort and pleasure.

Our ranges include: 100% wool Saxony - Velvet - Shag pile, 80/20 wool nylon Classic twist & Handcrafted Borders. All available in any colour and any width up to an incredible 12m wide with no joins. Made to plan service also available to further reduce waste.

 

HOME LIVING

PAPER AND PLANT The desire for wallpaper with good eco-credentials is growing, and Little Greene not only has great designs, but sources and uses paper from certificated sustainable forests.

(they look lovely too). Bamboo is a highly renewable, fast-growing natural material with antibacterial, anti-fungal properties, and it's biodegradable.

"We manufacture our wallpapers in the UK and for every tree used four more are planted," says Ruth Mottershead, Little Greene marketing director.

"Wallpapers are printed using non-toxic pigments and our highquality wallpaper paste contains no solvent."

LIE BACK AND THINK OF THE PLANET You're setting the bar higher if you want a purely vegan lifestyle but it's perfectly possible according to Jo Peters, author of new book, Vegan Life: Cruelty-Free Food, Fashion, Beauty And Home (Summersdale, £12.99).

RECIPE FOR ECO COOKS If you want to cook up a storm but reduce your carbon footprint, sustainable timber is a good choice for kitchen units, worktops and flooring.

Deforestation is a major environmental issue that's contributing to global warming, so look for the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) 'tick tree' logo, which signifies it is certified timber that comes from wellmanaged forests and/or recycled materials.

Make sure worktops don't let the side down. Wickes offers worktops made from recycled materials in its range of kitchens.

Details count and bamboo kitchen containers are an excellent alternative to plastic

22 | www.life-mags.com

"Vegans prefer to avoid using materials that come from animals, which can make home furnishing seem like a challenge at first," she acknowledges.

"But, as with stocking your fridge, once you've sussed out what to avoid - and found some reliable suppliers of alternatives - you'll be able to make ethical choices in every room."

In her handy guide, she highlights the main culprits to avoid in home furnishings: Leather (and suede), wool (and felt), silk, down, fur and cowhide. She also points out that "when choosing a new couch, remember that you'll need to consider the padding materials as well as the cover."

That said, it's useful to remember that making use of pre-

 

HOME LIVING

existing leather, wool, etc, items that are still in good condition, is generally more planet-friendly than throwing things away only to replace them with new plastic ones!

RECLAIM AND REJOICE IN STYLE "As everybody becomes more eco-aware, the demand for sustainable furniture that is kinder to the planet is on the rise," says Ben Adams, co-founder and master craftsman of Rust Collections, creators of sustainable rustic-luxe reclaimed pieces made from locally salvaged timber. They also use oak certified by the FSC. "By using local recycled wood, we keep transportation miles down and give new purpose to a material that's already had a life, and in doing so, the carbon footprint is kept very low," explains Adams.

"Keeping the use of freshly-milled timber to a minimum also means putting less pressure on our natural timber resources, preserving more for future use."

MATERIAL CONCERNS "Over the last few seasons at Habitat, we've seen a definite increase in demand from shoppers who are obviously interested in purchasing designs made using recycled and sustainable base materials," says Siobhan McMillan, head of buying for Habitat.

"In textiles, we're working with suppliers to increase the amount of designs made from fabric that is recycled from the fashion industry.

Fabric off-cuts that would have otherwise been thrown away are instead re-dyed and woven to create new rugs and cushions, and we've increased the amount of patterns available."

In lighting, she notes, there's a growing demand for designs made from sustainable, fast-growing rattan and bamboo, with three-out-of-five of Habitat's current bestselling shades made from these natural base materials.

OCTOBER ISSUE | 23



HOME LIVING

A polished New Look for your bathroom… fittings! We also offer re-grouting and non-slip surfaces.

Let us Give New Life to your Bathroom. The advantages: • A shiny new finish to your bath; • The original surface restored to new; • Hygienic and easy to clean; • Bathroom back in use within 2 hours; • Minimum of disturbance with no mess;

Before

After

Your new finish will give you many years of beautiful shine and comfort For a bathroom that really shines, we have developed a unique system that will revitalize dull and stained bathtubs, basins, toilets, showers, tiles and marble surfaces. Your bathroom can be fully restored in a matter of hours by professionally trained technicians, with minimal inconvenience, no mess, no spraying and without removal of the

• An economical investment; • Non-toxic process without spraying; • Bathrooms over thirty years old can be restored; • A successful system that is fully guaranteed.

Treat Your Bathroom to Face Lift Do you have a dull stained bath, tried everything on the market to clean it? Has it now lost its glaze and feels rough? Is it hard to clean and have you given up?

A Whole New Look at a Low Cost This revolutionary new concept in bathroom renovations is less than one-tenth of the cost on conventional replacement. Bathtubs that re difficult to clean because they have lost their glaze and are etched and badly stained can now be refaced, polished, burnished and then protected by sealing to give a shiny, long lasting hygienic finish that is easy to keep clean.

A New Polish Without Replacement Let us transform your dull and stained bathtub, shower into a sparkling shiny bathroom, for a fraction of the cost or replacement by using an ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM. Call us today for expert advice and a free quotation.

NEW LOOK BATHROOM SERVICES Tel: 01534 498347 Mob: 07797 718455 newlookjersey@gmail.com

StudyBeds Make Waves in Jersey Once in a while we stumble across a truly innovative product that can transform an entire home in an instant. A slow trickle of sales to The Channel Isles has recently turned into a steady stream of orders, for this ground-breaking product, following an advert placed in this very magazine.

Called, The StudyBed, this ingenious multi-functional item of furniture can effectively double the space within any room, by combining two important functions, a desk and a bed, within the same footprint.

Why waste space by dedicating your spare room solely for the necessity to accommodate the occasional guest, when you can use it as a spacious office, or hobbies room, for the majority of the year, and convert in literally seconds to a comfortable guest bedroom.

Mrs Tanguy, who was one of the first Jersey residents to purchase a StudyBed, is delighted with hers and describes it as ‘The perfect solution to a downsizing dilemma!’. She commented, “We’re absolutely delighted with our StudyBed. The ingenious design still amazes us and all who see it! A very small room has been transformed into a very useful working area that also doubles up as a guest bedroom when required.”

StudyBeds are available in several different sizes and designs, and with a range of matching furniture and storage solutions too that help to make the most of every inch of space in a room including the often-under-utilized vertical space. It’s even possible to have a StudyBed painted any colour or combination of colours as part of the bespoke finishing service offered – StudyBeds really are the ultimate in flexible, space-creating furniture!

Mrs Farrall, who has a Small Double StudyBed, agrees with us and said, “We are so delighted with our StudyBed. It has transformed a small, cluttered room into a large workspace with a very comfortable bed for guests. Everyone who has seen it has been amazed by how roomy both bed and desk are, and the top box means we haven’t had to sacrifice as much storage space as I’d feared. It is a beautiful piece of furniture that has given us a huge amount of flexibility in a very small space.”

The StudyBed Company is based in Thame, Oxfordshire and with well over 8,000 beds already supplied across the UK they are confident that they have a winning formula; a great product combined with first class service. The rapid increase in the number of sales to The Channel Islands means that they are now able to offer competitive shipping rates to Jersey and beds delivered to The Channel Islands are also of course, VAT exempt.

If you are interested in finding out more about this amazing product and how it could help you to expand your living space visit www.studybed.co.uk. Or call 01844 214484



Fantastic service, friendly, flexible and straightforward removal service.

Would definitely use again and would highly recommend.

W W W. S H U T T E R H U T. C O. U K

YOUR LOCAL PLANTATION SHUTTER EXPERTS AGENTS FOR NEW ENGLAND SHUTTER COMPANY AND…YOUR CHOSEN LOCAL DEALERS FOR CUSTOM WEST MADE TO MEASURE PLANTATION SHUTTERS, GREAT CHOICE OF BLINDS & AWNINGS

Unit 1, Doue House, Longueville Road, St Saviour, JE2 7SA Tel: 618222 • Email: michelle@shutterhut.co.uk

Toni Cooper 

REMOVAL SOLUTIONS Á Home and Office Moves Á Collections and Deliveries Á Jersey to UK - UK to Jersey Relocations Á Packing Services Á We sell Boxes and Packing Materials Á Rubbish Clearance

Anthony Volante E: removalsolutionsjersey@gmail.com T: 07797739968

FIRST TIME BUYERS OFFER! 25% OFF ALL PLANTATION SHUTTER PRODUCTS AND 10% OFF ALL VELUX BLIND PRODUCTS. *VALID THROUGHOUT 2019. TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY.



KEEPING YOUR MONEY IN JERSEY



ASPHALT SERVICES LTD



For all your driveway and footpath needs

Visit our stores today to see offers!

GREAT DEALS TO BE HAD WITH NO HIDDEN COSTS

FREE QUOTES • TRENCH WORKS/ REINSTATEMENTS • POT HOLES • KERBING/PAVING • GROUND WORKS AND DRAINAGE

• DUCTING • PERMEABLE PAVING • RECYCLED TARMACADAM • CORE INVESTIGATION WORK • ROAD PATCHING AND PLANING

LICENSED AND FULLY INSURED For free advice or to arrange a meeting please contact TEL:

01534 281533

EMERGENCY CALLS ONLY

Email: sion@jftu.co.uk

Visit: www.jftu.co.uk

E: ADMIN@TARMAC.JE

07700 718 287 WWW.TARMAC.JE FIND US ON FACEBOOK

FEB 2018 DPS ADVERT:Layout 1 01/02/2018 13:44 Page 1

FEB 2018 DPS ADVERT:Layout 1 01/02/2018 13:44 Page 2

LIGHTING • DINING FURNITURE • BEDROOM FURNITURE • BEDS QUALITY FITTED CARPET • WOODEN FLOORING • OUTDOOR FURNITURE FLOORING AND WALL TILES • TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY SOFAS TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY RUGS

DESIGNER SOFA

INTERIORS

It’s all about the detail Designer Sofa delivers innovative interior design and bespoke interiors. From bedroom collections, through to dining and occasional pieces, we are able to offer high design furniture that endures the test of time and offer uncompromised quality.

01534 888506 7-9 PETER STREET • ST HELIER • JERSEY • JE2 4SP www.designersofainteriors.co.uk

 

HOME LIVING

THE DULUX COLOUR OF THE YEAR FOR 2020

Tranquil Dawn The paint gurus have chosen a soothing pale green as their new star shade.

Gabrielle Fagan reveals the inspiration behind the hue and how to use it...

Why did you choose Tranquil Dawn?

A team of expert judges, including former editor-in-chief of Elle Decoration magazine, Michelle Ogundehin, helped Dulux come to the decision on the colour.

"They found there was a growing desire to find our place in a world where advances in technology can make us feel increasingly disconnected from one another," explains Shillingford.

"We actually see 'green' coming through in everything from political movements and environmental concerns, through to dietary choices like veganism.

"So this is a colour that reconnects us with nature, infusing rooms with a sense of calm, and is the perfect antidote to the pressure of our 24/7 digitised, full-on, sometimes manically busy world."

There's always a buzz in the interiors world, when Dulux's eagerly-awaited new Colour of the Year is announced.

Now, the paint gurus have revealed their chosen hue for 2020 the lyrically named 'Tranquil Dawn', a cool, hazy tone of green.

"A new decade heralds a new dawn, and the hazy pale green tones of Tranquil Dawn are calming and comforting, just when we need it most in our lives," enthuses Marianne Shillingford, Dulux UK's creative director.

And a lot of thought goes into choosing which shade gets the title, as it's a question of timing as well as aesthetics.

"This is a colour palette for wellbeing, which we very much need in our troubled, uncertain times," Shillingford adds. "When we're unsettled, we long to return to the familiar, and that's embodied by nature-inspired colours which don't demand too much of us, and help us feel peaceful and soothed."

So what exactly is Tranquil Dawn all about?

"The new green palette is in tune with the interiors trend for strong green colours in the home, which has grown over the last couple of years," explains Shillingford.

"We've dialled down those deep greens and instead created a softer, more gentle, smokier shade. This is a neutral colour which is easy to live with," she adds. "It pays a nod to the elements of the natural landscape, and you could describe it as the colour of the space between the land and the sky."

28 | www.life-mags.com

How will it work in my home?

"It's an easy colour to use, and ideal for people who are nervous about using colour in their homes. We're generally a conservative bunch, so many people still have their reservations about bold colour, but Tranquil Dawn is so subtle and easy-on-the-eye," says Shillingford.

"We feel it will work for everyone and every style. Rather than a stand-out feature colour, this is one which you could totally wrap around all the walls in a space and it would look absolutely beautiful.

continues overleaf...



LA RUE A DON, GROUVILLE £2,100.00

CHATEAU VALEUSE, LA RUE DE LA VELEUSE £2,500.00

Two Bedroom Apt Brand New Heart Of Gorey

Two Bedroom Apt Duplex Immaculate Condition

High Specification Two Bathroom's Parking x 2

St Brelade's Bay Enclosed Garden Parking x2

 01534 888139  info@huelinhomes.com www.huelinhomes.com

ROSEVILLE STREET, ST. HELIER £1,029,000.00

LA POUQUELAYE, ST. HELIER £1,100,000.00

12 THE PARADE, ST HELIER, JERSEY, JE2 3QP

Refurbishment Project Studio Flat x 1 One Bedroom Flats x 2

Multi Generation Four Bedroom House Two Bedroom Cottage

Two Bedroom Flat x 1 Parking x 2 Close To The Beach

One Bed Unit Garden + Parking Double Garage

 

HOME LIVING

"Alternatively, pairing it with neutral pastels or rich jewel shades can have a totally different impact."

What are the different ways of using the colour?

Dulux have also created four palettes - Meaning, Play, Creativity and Care - each designed to correspond with Tranquil Dawn, showing how the shade and various combinations can be used to create different moods and atmospheres.

Care: This palette, Shillingford says, is "a warm inviting blend an less demanding of your attention, so colours that work effortlessly together. This creates a soothing, re-energising zone in a very gentle way," she adds.

Tranquil Dawn is much brighter and fresher than 2019's golden Spiced Honey - why the contrast?

"It's a natural progression," says Shillingford. "So Spiced Honey was something which put its arms around you and gave you a hug and gave you a bit of energy, but Tranquil Dawn sort of melts the walls away, it's looking outwards and reconnecting us with outdoor spaces.

Meaning: "This comprises neutrals working from almost black up the palest grey," explains Shillingford. "These can create peaceful, contemplative spaces, which are also effortlessly elegant and luxurious.

It's a very simple, pared-down palette, inspired by the dawn of a cool winter's day."

Play: "This is a palette for a more invigorating, energising space" says Shillingford. "It's definitely for people who are more confident with colour, as there are really amazing shades that pop. Soft, chalky Tranquil Dawn holds the other colours together and brings grown-up balance in a playful space."

Creativity: "This one's very strong, bold and a little bit more earthy, a bit more creative," Shillingford explains. "It's an ideal palate if you have an eclectic mix of furniture - say a sofa from your granny and a mid-century modern chair. This palette will draw it all together and anchor it."

30 | www.life-mags.com

"Spiced Honey, which features in the new palette, was a natureinspired neutral about ochre, the earth and honey itself. Tranquil Dawn is a colour inspired by nature but more the biophilic element of nature - natural materials, plants, and creating a breezy, airy sense of space and tranquillity."



HOME LIVING

At home with a renewable energy Air Source Heat Pumps Renewables, renewables, renewables.

That’s all we seem to hear since Jersey’s Government approved proposition 27/2019 to declare a climate emergency on 2 May 2019, along with a revised target of making Jersey carbon neutral by 2030. There have been calls for a tidal barrage, wind turbines, on and off shore, and solar panel arrays on every rooftop. But one renewable energy source that’s available to home owners right now that will not only slash your home’s carbon emissions but also save you pounds in heating costs is rarely mentioned – the air source heat pump.

With autumn nights lengthening and temperatures falling along with the leaves, what could be better than a sleek efficient home heating system that keeps you and your family cosy while cutting your carbon and costs.

Heat pump technology is not new.

The first heat pump was developed over 160 years ago by Austrian Peter von Rittinger but the first large scale heat pump in the UK was developed by Norwich City Electrical Engineer John Sumner in 1945. Though technically brilliant for the time, Sumner’s heat pumps did not catch on due to abundant cheap coal for heating.

Though popular in Switzerland, Denmark, Finland and the US, it was the oil crisis of the Seventies that sparked the heat pump’s resurgence in the UK. Today it is the climate crisis, not costs, that is the driving people from fossil fuels to low carbon electricity.

Air source heat pumps are an incredibly efficient way to meet your home heating and hot water needs because they convert and use the latent heat that naturally occurs in the air, increasing its temperature sufficiently to heat your home and hot water.

One of the newest heat pumps on the market in Jersey is Vaillant’s aroTHERM Split. Unlike its predecessors, the aroTHERM Split gets its name because it consists of two units – an outdoor unit and a wall-mounted indoor unit connected by refrigerant pipework.

The Vaillant brand has been in the heating industry for over 140 years, and their longstanding reputation is further supported by a seven-year warranty on the aroTHERM. Importantly, the aroTHERM Split can be used as a direct replacement for a standard fossil fuel (oil or gas) boiler and wet central heating system. This is a potential step change for the uptake of air source heat pumps, which in the past have required purchasers to have underfloor heating installed or resize their existing radiators. This flexible design combined with low noise performance eradicates some of the hurdles that homeowners used to face when wanting to switch to an air source heat pump.

The aroTHERM Split is available in five output sizes from 3.5kW to 12kW to suit different types of property. They typically produce around three times the amount of heat as would the units of electricity used to power them. This is known as the Coefficient of Performance (COP).

The greater the efficiency, the cheaper your bills will be. The aroTHERM Split has a maximum Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) as high as 4.69.

Dependent on your property type, you would expect the aroTHERM to deliver somewhere between two and four times the heat output compared with the amount of power the pump uses.

Either way, you can expect to reduce your running costs, potentially significantly.

The heat pump’s VRC 700 smart control is designed to work with multiple heating zones, underfloor heating and renewable technologies. Combined with the VRC 700 app you can control heating and hot water anytime, anywhere. So, if you’re going to be late home, you’re not heating an empty house. For even more efficiency you can even program and control wireless thermostatic radiator valves, so you can adjust the temperature and timings for individual rooms to maximise your comfort and your system efficiency.

Its weather compensation feature checks conditions outside and tells your heat pump how hard it needs to work to reach the right temperature without wasting any energy to get there.

For more information on the Vaillant aroTHERM Split, or any other low carbon electric heating solution, please speak to Jersey Electricity’s Energy Advisers on Tel. 505600 or visit Smarter Living at the Powerhouse, Monday to Saturday 9am - 8pm.

OCTOBER ISSUE | 31

SMALL KITCHENS:Layout 1 03/10/2019 16:42 Page 1

HOME LIVING

TOP TIPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF A SMALL KITCHEN Small can be beautiful and - crucially in this case - functional too. By Luke Rix-Standing...

In the modern world of cramped shoe-box flats and sardine-tin apartment blocks, space is a rare and valuable commodity.

Wave goodbye to extended worktops, double-door refrigerators, and luxurious kitchen islands - particularly in urban areas, these are now myths from a bygone age for many of us.

32 | www.life-mags.com

When space is scarce, kitchens are often the first to feel the squeeze - there's no headline floor-filler in this room, like a sofa or bed - but there's no need to let that cramp your cooking.

Here's how to keep livin' it large, even with the most modest kitchen...



HOME LIVING

PURGE THE UNNECESSARIES Be totally honest with yourself - do you really need that candy floss maker, that 'pizza oven' that's actually just a small oven taking up half the counter top, or that margarita maker you used once back in 2013?

"It's the number one mistake people make," says professional organiser, Vicky Silverthorn (youneedavicky.com). "Putting the contents of a four-bedroom house into a two-bedroom house, and keeping gadgets that come out only occasionally. The fondue set, the avocado slicer, the large dinner platters for people that don't have dinner parties... Ask yourself what you'd prefer the space, or the appliance you use once a year?"

STORE IN ADJACENT ROOMS If your home is relatively spacious, and it's just your kitchen feeling the squeeze, you can always store non-perishables elsewhere. There's just no need to clog your kitchen cupboards with piles of pasta and tinned beans, when they could live just as happily somewhere else in the house.

THINK VERTICALLY Floor space is not the be all and end all, and for those blessed with high ceilings, it's crucial to cash in. Add extra shelves above your cupboards, or use the tops of your cupboards as extra storage space.

Time and budget allowing, you could install a vertical, sliding drawer, which may single-handedly take the place of a pantry.

Think of your kitchen like a maths question - you're calculating the volume, not just the floor area.

USE YOUR CORNERS Corners are notoriously difficult to utilise, but unless you're living in a water tower, every room has at least three or four of them.

Wraparound corner shelves are shoo-ins for storage-starved kitchens, while floor lights and tables can be slotted in with ease.

In most rooms, corners are dead space; in a small kitchen, they're an opportunity.

KEEP IT TIDY Kitchens are supposed to be functional, efficient spaces, tailored to minimise the inherent pressures of cooking - and to keep a clear head when things get steamy, you need a clear work surface.

"It's about putting the items that you have in the correct spaces," says Silverthorn, "and there is no one-size-fits-all. Look out for gimmicky plastic containers that only contain a few tins - not everything needs to live in a basket, despite what Instagram says.

Get stackable storage containers, or containers that fit inside each other when they're not being used." continues overleaf...

OCTOBER ISSUE | 33



HOME LIVING

CLEVER COLOURS Just because your kitchen is small, doesn't mean it has to look small. Consistent colouring helps a room feel fluid, while bright blocks of contrast colour can quickly become claustrophobic (although there are no hard and fast rules!), so consider keeping your scheme to a two-colour maximum.

Lighter colours invariably feel airier - whitewashed kitchens are increasingly common - while reflective surfaces like mirrors lend depth.

TACTICAL LIGHTING How large a room looks is as much about your perception as its actual size. Natural light bathes your kitchen in a vivid glow, imitating the wide open spaces of the great outdoors, while poorly-lit areas very quickly feel poky.

Artificial light is where the buck stops after-hours, and you want to mix up overhead sources with table lamps or wall lights. Accent lighting lends contrast between different parts of a room, which inevitably leaves your kitchen looking larger and more varied.

"I love lights that dim in a kitchen," says Silverthorn. "It gives the bright, vibrant light for the morning and afternoon but can then turn cosy for when you're winding down."

SPACE-SAVING GIZMOS Extravagant gadgetry generally takes up more space than it saves, but there are a few specific products that earn their place.

Try a magnetic knife holder - a strip on the wall that holds knives and other metallic implements - or pick up a chopping board that sits atop your sink.

34 | www.life-mags.com

Anything that can be hung should be hung. Hooks on the undersides of shelves are a go-to for mugs, while large utensils can be well catered for with rails and racks.

DOUBLE UP Going back to gadgetry, even seemingly sensible tools can often be economised, and canny buyers can squeeze two tools into the space of one. "Employ multi-purpose kitchen utensils," says Silverthorn, "you're automatically saving space.

"I've been working with Brabantia (brabantia.com/uk)," she adds, "and their new Tasty+ range is full of them. There's a spatula that's also a fork, a skimmer that's also a ladle, a spaghetti spoon that's also got a measuring tool in it. You're instantly halving the utensils in your kitchen."



NEW LOOK BATHROOM SERVICES CI LTD Est. 1987 A polished new look for your bathroom

FOR A BATHROOM THAT REALLY SHINES DEALERS IN FINE ANTIQUES, WORKS OF ART, JEWELLERY AND OBJECTS

GOLD IS AT A RECORD HIGH If you have gold jewellery you never wear then cash it in and buy something you will.

We buy all gold jewellery, new, old, broken, it doesn’t matter.

WE ALSO BUY ALL SILVER ITEMS Old or new, dented, broken it makes no difference.

Trophies, trays, cutlery, jewellery, coins, anything and everything made of silver.

La Grande Route De St Laurent • Jersey • JE3 1NJ Tel: 01534 485177 www.stephencohuantiques.com Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am - 5pm.

Anytime by appointment. Resident on premises.

Enamel Repairs & Restoration Bath Services Chip Repairs Chemical Cleaning Tiling Re-Grouting Re-Surfacing

Tel: 01534 498347 Mob: 07797 718455 newlookjersey@gmail.com



HOME LIVING

Styling the Seasons: THE CHANGING SEASON ISN’T JUST FOR YOUR WARDROBE...

WORDS AND IMAGES SUPPLIED BY KATYA PASTORINI, PAINTED BEAUTIFUL

Rather than viewing autumn as a time of year when we lose those aspects of summer most valued, we believe that, like each change of season, the move into autumn brings many opportunities and inspiration for the home.

Warm colours, tactile fabrics and cosy lighting, are features this time of year bring to mind. Whether it’s a permanent change or a matter of seasonal rotation, there is a plethora of gorgeous colours, soft furnishings, lighting ideas and accessories to choose from.

COLOURS There seems to be no boundaries when it comes to colour.

The neutral pantones, grey and taupe, continue to feature either as a calm background for vibrant accessories and soft furnishings or as a key feature of the ever popular Scandi style.

36 | www.life-mags.com

The most exciting trend is the emergence of colour confidence; warm hues, bold and exotic colours, including metallics, feature heavily in this season’s wallpapers, paints, fabrics and accessories. The concept of key colours is negated by the diversity, however there is some dominance in the wonderfully rich visceral tones of deep blue, blue-green, ochre and blush.

Their intensity is being used to create warmth and atmosphere.

SOFT FURNISHINGS Throws, cushions and rugs, are pivotal tactile features for this season, providing warmth, colour, texture and dimension.

They provide the most possibilities for immediate enhancement of a room, whether it be for the purpose of seasonal change, or where there is a need to lift or amend the styling of a room, without the expense of refurnishing. There are wonderfully



HOME LIVING

luxurious feeling soft furnishings, that will synergise with the mood of the season. Velvet features highly, together with natural wools and ethically sourced sheepskins and hides.

Sheepskin is leading the way in terms of versatility, as it sits well as a rug, seat or bench covering and as a decorative feature.

Image credit: Nkuku

LIGHTING Good lighting is a key styling aspect in any season but as the days shorten the need to illuminate increases. Lighting schemes need careful planning and should be specific to the purpose of each room. Occasional lamps and lights provide an instant boost to a room’s ambience and add an extra layer of light, cosiness and warmth.

Soft gold is an emerging concept which is a stylish compromise to the brighter brass and gilded light features; it pairs well with neutral colour and bold palettes. Lampshades dare we say fringed, in beautiful vibrant colours are bringing a decadent vibe to lighting. In contrast there are well-crafted wicker shades which sit well with a Scandi or ethnic theme, particularly coupled with pure wools, natural woods and sheepskins.

We would be remiss not to mention candles, used for light, atmosphere, mood and scent in any room; their holders can be used as a decorative feature too.

ACCESSORIES Even a minimalist accessorises their home to some degree!

Whichever school of thought you belong to there is huge range of home accessories available at all price points. For this season we are focusing on: Greenery, bring it inside: living walls are a key trend and a wonderful concept, but if the more conventional indoor plants and flowers are more your style they are an excellent way of

adding dimension and can have health and wellbeing benefits, as well as enhancing the aesthetics of any room. For those who are not green fingered there are a great selection of faux plants available. The dressing of a room with plants is not just reserved for tables, the resurgence of macramé has inspired the hanging of plants in baskets, crates and glass planters, to name a few. A favourite is the use of ladders, branches or wooden poles to hang the planters from, or alternatively these items can be dressed directly with a trailing or hanging plant.

Mirrors: they enhance the light in a room and provide prominent decorative and stylistic features. Every room can host a mirror, making it an easy addition or change to a room.

Styling with round and oval mirrors continues to be popular.

Vintage, unusual and whimsical: given the vast array of home styling items that are available, we like to mix things to create a personalized mood evocative of the season. Reproduction stag, antelope and bear heads are much sought after at this time of year.

Seasonal decorations and scents: are an affordable and easy way of bringing the season into the home, whether it is flowers, a branch of autumnal leaves or other natural items used as table and fireplace decorations.

Enjoy the renewal of energy created by a new season…

For further information on any of the above pop into Painted Beautiful in the Central Market or contact Carrie or Katya on e-mail: paintedbeautifuljersey@gmail.com www.paintedbeautiful.com Facebook: Painted Beautiful Phone: 07797 816443

OCTOBER ISSUE | 37



HOME LIVING

Jersey Mutual Insurance Society 150 YEARS IN THE MAKING FOR THE ISLAND’S HOME AND CONTENTS INSURANCE SPECIALIST This is year Jersey Mutual Insurance Society celebrate our 150th year protecting Island homes. During that time Jersey has gone through many changes, not least two World wars and an occupation. The hardships our community faced during the occupation can never be understated, but there’s no doubt we are stronger for it. At times when we knew the world had gone mad, we remained calm and true to our values, relying heavily on the closeness of our community to overcome challenges to our freedom and our special way of life.

You only have to look around our beautiful countryside and shoreline to understand why Jersey is admired all over the world.

We must never forget that past generations have left us with a wonderful legacy. Their careful stewardship of our resources and traditions means that today we are well equipped to face the modern world and its challenges with a great deal of confidence.

If you don’t know much about Jersey Mutual and what we do, it’s important to point out the fact that the Society’s core values and foundations were built on the following philosophy.

Conceived by Islanders, the Society was borne of necessity.

Our founders saw the need to provide Island families with affordable home protection. It would take years of dedication before they were able to turn their vision into reality.

The motives for change were honorable and certainly not driven by profit, just a desire to establish a mutually beneficial Insurance Society for the people of Jersey.

In 1869 the Society’s constitution was approved and Jersey Mutual Fire Insurance Society was officially born. In 1908, the Society was incorporated and was registered before the Royal Court.

As the Island’s only insurance Society, we are immensely proud of our record and reputation. Furthermore the special relationship the Society enjoys with its members is the main reason we are celebrating our 150th Anniversary this year.

Unique is an often-used adjective these days, but in the case of Jersey Mutual it really does describe a business that is totally service driven. Our local knowledge and considerable financial strength enables the Society to deliver an unrivalled insurance package for homes, property and their contents.

Below are just some of the key benefits that underpin the Society’s core values and unique proposition • Since 1869 the Society has been exclusively owned by its Members • The Society is financially strong and is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission • Your policy is held directly with the Society.

We don’t use brokers • When you have a claim, there are no phone queues, stalling tactics or delays, just a real desire to process your claim as quickly as possible, by real people who care • There are no policy fees and no agent commissions • There are no dividends to shareholders.

• Profits are re-invested back into the Society to stabilise premiums and increase cover and service levels.

• With 27 directors serving your 12 parishes we are committed to providing you with the highest level of personal service.

• Our Hallett Place ground floor reception and offices are conveniently located in the centre of town

Jersey Mutual’s DNA is woven intrinsically into the fabric of Jersey’s community. The Society acknowledges the help and support of its Members since 1869 and promises to continue devoting all its energy, passion and commitment to serving its Members and the Island for the next 150 years.

38 | www.life-mags.com

Project9:Layout 1 02/10/2019 14:38 Page 1

 

GARDENING

s u o l !

O O B Fa. . . n r o c A t Pumpkins a More than 1,000 pumpkins have been growing in a field in Trinity, ready for harvest this month. They are at Acorn Enterprises, giving people who have a disability or long-term health condition work and training. The Jersey Life spoke to Steve Ball, a support worker at Acorn who oversees the allotment project...

HOW MANY PUMPKINS HAVE YOU GROWN THIS YEAR? Well over a thousand. We planted out eight full rows and there are roughly 120 plants in a row. The plants need to be a metre apart.

We had sowed quite a lot from seed so we planted a couple of hundred more in an area close to our allotment. Some of our pumpkins are grown from seed but most of them are from plug plants.

The clients who are involved in growing the pumpkins find it really enjoyable and rewarding. It’s so peaceful up there in the field and the allotment and you can see the results of your hard work.

HOW LONG HAVE ACORN BEEN GROWING PUMPKINS? This is the fourth season I’ve done it.

WHO PLANTS THEM? Primarily it’s a task for our clients, people who have a disability or long-term health condition. There have been almost 20 clients involved this season from sowing to harvesting. They love seeing the process from start to finish, watching the plants grow and enjoying the colours, shapes and sizes.

We were also delighted that a team of ten people from the local PwC office did about two thirds of the planting in one day back in May. It was quicker and easier this year because we used dibbers to make a hole in the biodegradable plastic. The plug plants have a thin root ball and it was easy to pop them in and just squeeze the soil together.

40 | www.life-mags.com

A team from PWC helped to plant the pumpkins in the spring HOW DO YOU LOOK AFTER YOUR PUMPKIN PLANTS? We have to water quite frequently, especially in the earlier stages.

We have a drip irrigation system set up but there’s only enough pipe for seven rows, so the others have been watered by hand.

We use a biodegradable mulch, which was kindly donated by Peter Le Maistre, the president of the Jersey Farmers Union, and that keeps the weeds down until the plants get established. After that there is weeding to be done and we feed them a slowrelease fertiliser initially. Pumpkins are very prone to powdery mildew so we have been using an organic spray.

 

    

FULL POOL SERVICE Available to any pool regardless of installation company - CALL NOW

WHAT IS THIS YEAR’S CROP LOOKING LIKE? We love seeing how striking the colourful pumpkins look in the field. Last year they were really uniform, all about the size of a football and they had an even colour. This year they have grown quite randomly, they are all shapes and sizes. Some are 80 cm across already. We have planted two varieties, Mars and Atlantic Giant.

Follow us on Facebook

HAS THE WEATHER BEEN GOOD FOR PUMPKINS THIS YEAR? I think it’s been ok because we’ve had a mixture of sun and rain. That’s pretty good for anything!

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST PROBLEM? Some plants get chewed by rabbits and once you have some damage, the pumpkins will rot. And birds are responsible for pulling quite a lot of the plants out when they are quite young.

We suspect crows are responsible for pulling out the bits of metal we use to hold the irrigation hose down. Surprisingly, slugs don’t seem to be much of a problem, despite it being a wet clay-y soil.

• Mini diggers, excavators, dumpers and lorries (self drive available) • Topsoil supplied & delivered • Black sand, chippings & hardcore supplied & delivered • Hard landscaping • Large/small excavations undertaken • Demolition • Drainage and Drain Laying • Fencing • Sand Schools

T: 01534 485687 E: info@baretteplanthire.com www.baretteplanthire.com continues overleaf...

 

GARDENING

Steve Ball (left).

ARE PUMPKINS EASY TO GROW? Dead easy. They grow best when seeds are planted straight into the ground. You’re looking at about six months from seed to being ready to pick so you should sow them in March/April. They like lots of water but also pretty good drainage.

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HARVEST THEM AND HOW? We’ll start to put them in the Acorn Reuse shop at Acorn early in October, with a steady supply in the weeks running up to Halloween. We always sell them all. You have to be careful when you move them as they are quite easy to damage.

They are priced according to size, around £3 to £5.

WILL YOU BE CARVING A PUMPKIN? I’ve always been a horror movie fan but I’ve never carved a pumpkin! I just buy in a load of sweets for the trick-or-treaters.  Abigail McDermott, Head of Marketing, said: ‘Acorn is such a fantastic social enterprise which really deserves our support.

It’s also great to get our PwC colleagues doing something different, outside of the office, as it really helps with team bonding, whilst giving back to the community. Added to that, we’re a competitive bunch, so it’s always fun to come back for the harvest, so we can try to identify which pumpkins we planted and see who planted the biggest one. Hopefully, this year we'll be able to help Acorn out further by selling some of the crop back at the office amongst our staff, where no doubt there’ll be a pumpkin-carving competition lined up too.’

42 | www.life-mags.com

Fancy trying to grow your own pumpkin?  Save your seeds from this year’s pumpkin.  Separate them out and put them on a paper towel.  Leave them in a cool, dry place for a week.  Once they are dry, store them in an envelope or brown paper bag ready for next spring.  When you plant them out, give them a good metre of space each.

Project10:Layout 1 02/10/2019 14:50 Page 1

Dedicated to restoring the past & building the future

MEMBER OF THE

Founded in 2002, we have rapidly grown into one of Jersey’s most prolific and dynamic companies specialising in all aspects of stonework construction.

Matthew Thebault, the company’s founder, draws on over 30 years of industry knowledge and experience and has built the business upon reliability, integrity and a passion for the finished product.

Discover more by visiting our brand new website! mtstonemasons.com

01534 738 358

07797 750 820

mtstonemasons

mtstonemasons



RECIPE

Delicious Autumn plant-rich meals from scratch Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away; Lengthen night and shorten day; Every leaf speaks bliss to me Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow Blossom where the rose should grow; I shall sing when night’s decay Ushers in a drearier day.

(Emily Brontë)

When Emily Brontë popped onto my computer screen at least three times as I began writing this article, I knew her poem was the perfect way to begin an article themed around autumn… (hint: read it aloud at least twice)

Country Life Museum to celebrate Jersey’s rich heritage of cider production - ‘La faîs’sie d’cidre’ festival. Both bring a sense of community and nature into our lives - a welcome respite from the fast paced, social media driven world we inhabit.

Ever since a school teacher once told me that ‘maths was all about patterns’, I’ve become hyper aware of these patterns, symmetry and connections and the beautiful synchronicity concealed within. There’s an infinite sense of magic in those serendipitous moments where the perfect word, person or object lands neatly in our lap to offer reassurance that we’re on the right path; to keep faith that all will work out exactly as it should.

Alongside the delicious recipes I’ve shared with you on the opposite page, here are a few more foodie ideas to spice up the season:

As autumn comes and goes each year, many of us take delight in the crimson, copper and gold leaves adorning the trees, feeling the cold breeze dance around our faces ’til our cheeks flush pink and cosy evenings in front of a log fire with a warm mug of homemade soup.

Everything about autumn stimulates a desire to be warmed from the inside out as we grab chunky knit jumpers and fluffy socks and begin to add cinnamon, cloves and cardamom to our food and drink. But while it’s easy to think about autumn in terms of everyday activities like eating and drinking, it’s worth taking some time to look inwards at this time of year.

Autumn can teach us that it’s ok to let go.

A tree is never afraid to lose its leaves; it knows it has everything it needs beneath ground: roots that provide nourishment and security to grow stronger.

We also have the chance to shed old habits, beliefs, people or belongings we’ve outgrown.

A tree doesn’t care that its appearance changes over time, it simply grows stronger during darker times and shoots new buds each spring as the light returns.

• Spice up your apple crumble with cloves in the stewed apple and mixed spice in the topping. Also swap half the flour for oatmeal for increased fibre for a healthy gut and reduced cholesterol.

• Create sweet, smoky and spicy flavoured sweet potato wedges by coating them in cinnamon, smoked paprika and chilli/cayenne pepper. Serve with a fresh avocado dip or as part of a main meal. (And always include plenty of leafy greens.)

• Make autumn vegetable soup extra tasty by adding a can of coconut milk and curry spices to seasonal root vegetables such as pumpkin, butternut squash, carrots and sweet potato.

• Learn to make risotto - it’s really not as difficult as you might think. The secret is to add the stock in small amounts and keep stirring until all the liquid is absorbed. I love to add roasted red peppers and sweet potato cubes to a simple pea risotto no cream needed!

• Make a hot white bean dip (cannelini beans or butter beans) with red pesto and enjoy with a serving of spicy tortilla chips.

Simply warm up beans in a pan with your choice of onion, garlic, seasoning and a little vegetable stock, then blitz in a food processor with tomato pesto and fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Here’s hoping I’ve inspired you to get in the kitchen and create

What will you let go of this autumn so you can become stronger and more aligned to your inner truth by next spring?

more delicious plant-rich meals from scratch this autumn.

If you’re looking to experience autumn-inspired events in Jersey this October, take a trip to The Elms in St Mary to get involved in the ancient art of Black Butter making or pop up to Hamptonne

Intuitive Copywriter, Content Creator

44 | www.life-mags.com

By Lorraine Pannetier and Plant-Based Food Expert thesoulfulword.com



RECIPE

AUTUMN VEGETABLE SOUP SIMPLE HOME COOKED FOOD FOR ALL THE FAMILY Ingredients: (serves 4) 2 medium sweet potatoes 2-3 large carrots Half a medium butternut squash 1 red onion fresh coriander or parsley sea salt and black pepper Method: Peel and cube the sweet potato, carrots and squash and place in a large saucepan with 1 litre of boiling water or vegetable stock.

(Organic carrots can remain unpeeled) Dice the onion and add to the pan along with seasoning (and/or stock).

Bring to the boil then reduce to a medium heat, cover and cook for around 30 minutes.

Remove from heat and allow to stand for 5 minutes.

CREAMY BUTTERNUT SQUASH SAUCE SERVED WITH TAGLIATELLE OR COURGETTE NOODLES Ingredients: (serves 4) 1 medium butternut squash 2 red peppers 2-3 sprigs of rosemary 1 can coconut milk 1 small red onion sea salt and black pepper olive oil or coconut oil for cooking Pine nuts or cashews (optional topping) Tagliatelle (or other pasta of choice) or spiralised courgette noodles Method: Preheat oven to 200 degrees celsius. Peel and chop the squash into bite-sized chunks. Chop the red pepper into large pieces.

Place peppers and squash into a large roasting tin and add 1-2 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil and seasoning.

Roast the vegetables in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the squash is cooked through and the peppers are just starting to darken at the edges.

In a large frying pan or wok, soften a finely sliced red onion for 3-5 minutes.

Add the coconut milk and rosemary and allow to simmer gently to allow the flavours to combine.

Remove the rosemary stems from the coconut milk and pour into a large jug blender with 3/4 of the roasted vegetables. Blitz until fairly smooth before returning to the frying pan with the remaining roasted vegetable mixture (this gives extra texture to the finished dish).

Cook the tagliatelle (or other pasta) or courgette noodles, drain then add to the pan. Stir gently to combine then serve immediately.

Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts or cashew pieces for extra protein and crunch.

Optional: add some chilli flakes or fresh red chilli to give a little extra kick!

Pour soup and chopped fresh parsley or coriander into a large jug blender (or use a stick blender) and blitz until coarse and chunky, or smooth and creamy.

Note: This delicious, colourful soup is also fat free and filled with fibre, vitamins and antioxidants, making it a super health-boosting addition to your weekly food plan.

 

WINE

Tavel… The Forgotten Rosé

by Martin Flageul DipWSET, Wine Consultant Once hailed as the king of rosés and the rosé of Kings, Tavel rosé was once considered by many to be the finest rosé wine in the world. Papal records reveal that Tavel rosé was a favourite of the Popes when they resided in Avignon as long ago as the 14th century and in the 17th century, King Louis XIV, “Le Roi Soleil” made Tavel a favourite of his.

CELEBRITY ROSÉS Celebrity status for rosé wine is nothing new, Tavel was the first-choice wine of Ernest Hemingway in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

The popularity of rosé wines has increased dramatically over past two decades, so much so that many celebrities are now involved the production of them.

Vinification usually entails a cold maceration lasting up to 48 hours and sometimes even longer. In Tavel there are over 30 independent growers and one cooperative, Cave des Vignerons de Tavel, founded in 1937.

Studio Rosé, ‘Miraval’ from the region of Var in France was the brainchild of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

PROBLEMS For certain Tavel has its problems to contend with.

Hampton Water, Languedoc Rosé is owned by Jon Bon Jovi and John Legend in conjunction with Jean-Charles Boisset produces French Sparkling Rosé “LVE” (Legend Vineyard Exclusive). “LVE ” also produce a Côtes de Provence Rosé.

Provence is the largest producer of rosé wines in the world and whilst other rosés may be in decline Côtes de Provence continues to grow and is already twenty times the size of Tavel.

TAVEL Unlike many rosé wines, Tavel is usually full-bodied and quite deep in colour and also ages well in bottle for a number of years.

The recent trend for light-toned crisp rosé, more suited to summer drinking, means that the more robust and structured Tavel needs to be re-introduced as a wine for all seasons and a great wine to accompany a meal.

Tavel has a very small annual production of around 5 million bottles of which less than 25% is exported.

A major problem Tavel is facing is its scarcity in the shops and restaurants.

Neighbouring Provence, by comparison, produces 105 million bottles per annum and the increasingly popular iconic brand Whispering Angel produces more than Tavel’s total output each year.

I am unsure whether or not Tavel is still available in Jersey, so your nearest shop or restaurant selling Tavel might be in Saint Malo.

Although rosé wine is still growing in popularity, it would appear that Tavel rosé is extremely hard to find outside of France.

The Tavel appellation only makes rosé and is alone in this distinction.

Tavel is dry and gently laced with tannins giving the wine structure, characterised by aromas and flavours of red fruits; it is a complex rosé which has an elegance even though it is full in body and flavour; it has an exceptional deep luminous pink colour.

Tavel was granted the AOC status in 1936, making it France’s first ever AOC Rosé wine.

46 | www.life-mags.com

Grape varieties are strictly controlled with Grenache typically dominating the blend. Other varieties used include Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre and Clairette.

Although some Tavel producers have deliberately decreased maceration time to make lighter coloured wines, there is probably a lot more that needs to be done to compete again strongly in the rosé market, if this is what they desire.

One Rhone vineyard proprietor has a very positive attitude, stating that although Tavel is more difficult to sell than Lirac or Châteauneuf-du-Pape from her other vineyards, Tavel is a gastronomic wine – it’s not rosé, it’s Tavel!

Once a “must have” rosé on any prestigious wine list or reputable wine merchant’s shelf, it would appear that the King of rosés has lost his crown.



JERSEY JERSEY

CAMPERHIRE.COM

CLASSICHIRE.COM

Self Drive Hire

TELEPHONE: 01534 864118

POWER TOOLS • HAND TOOLS AUTOMOTIVE • WELDING

MORRIS OILS FOR MANY 2 & 4 WHEEL MOTORS

BATTERIES FOR MOST VEHICLES

 

   

  

   

  

 

 

 



WORKWEAR • SAFETY BOOTS

Call us on:

Tel: 01534 862938 Les Charrieres Nicolle, La Route de St Jean St Lawrence, Jersey, JE3 1HJ

Find us at the very top of Mont Cochon

W: www.tractors.je | E: rob@tractors.je

    

 

MOTORING

  EVER BUILT

THE BEST

Looking for a motor that stands out from the pack? Ryan Hirons takes a look at some of the best cars ever built for the 0.1%...

For most of us regular beings, a supercar is already out of reach.

These exclusive machines are a rare breed and demand the kind of prices only the fortunate 1% can ever dream of being able to afford.

But what about for the 0.1% - for whom just any regular old Ferrari, McLaren or Lamborghini just doesn't cut the exclusive mustard? Step in the ultra-limited supercars, of which only a handful exist. We pick out our favourites...

KOENIGSEGG AGERA ONE:1 Koenigsegg produces some of the most cutting-edge machines on the planet, and the Agera One:1 is one of its finest creations.

Named as such for its power-to-weight ratio - which comes in at 1hp per 1kg - just seven were made (six if you don't count the prototype). If you use watts as a power of measurement, this was the first production car to ever reach the 1-megawatt mark which converts to 1,341bhp.

BUGATTI CHIRON SUPER SPORT 300+ Not too long ago, Bugatti stunned the world by breaking the 300mph barrier with a modified version of its already-ballistic Chiron. To celebrate, it's making a tribute model - the 1,578bhp Chiron Super Sport 300+. Just 30 will be produced - with the first arriving in 2021 - and each will use the modified bodywork, uprated engine and eye-catching carbon/orange colour scheme used on the prototype. Each is expected to cost north of £3.5m.

FERRARI LAFERRARI APERTA A regular LaFerrari just not enough for you? The drop-top Aperta may just tick your boxes instead.

PAGANI ZONDA CINQUE Though introduced way back in 1999, the Pagani Zonda has lived on right through to today thanks to multi-millionaires with wads of cash demanding their own special variants. There's more to choose from than you can count on either hand, but we'll give the title of our favourite Zonda to the ultra-exclusive Cinque. Just five units were ever made, and it was meant to be the swansong for the model back in 2009 - though that didn't prove true.

48 | www.life-mags.com

It's effectively the same as the 949bhp, V12-powered hybrid coupe save for one difference - the ability to take the top off and listen to that twelve-cylinder scream impact the atmosphere.

Just 210 examples were produced.

 

MOTORING

MCLAREN 675LT McLaren's 650S was no slouch - capable of covering the 0-60mph sprint in less than three seconds with a top speed of 200+mph - but clearly even this wasn't enough for some buyers.

MERCEDES-BENZ SLR STIRLING MOSS How do you commemorate one of the most famous British racing drivers ever? Well, if you're Mercedes, by producing an ultra-rare supercar.

Thus, the British firm kicked things up a notch with the limitededition 675LT. This post-gym 650S variant boasted more power, less weight and wilder aerodynamics - and became an instant legend. Only 1,000 examples exist - split evenly between coupe and drop-top 'Spider' variants.

Based on the SLR McLaren, it features a completely reworked body to give it a look of classic speedsters - completely lacking a roof or windscreen. Available only to existing SLR buyers, the Stirling Moss was restricted to only 75 examples.

LAMBORGHINI SESTO ELEMENTO Lamborghini's Gallardo could be accused of being a little tame by the firm's own wild standards, though the Sesto Elemento spawned it spawned certainly ups the ante.

PORSCHE 911 GT1 STRASSENVERSION Back in the mid-late '90s, to enter the top class at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race, a manufacturer would have to produce at least a handful of road-going examples of its racer - spawning some ballistic machines.

Though it houses the same V10 running gear as its more mainstream brethren, the Sesto Elemento is clad in dramaticallystyled carbon fibre bodywork and features an eccentric interior.

20 examples were built, with all of them sold before the car was even publicly confirmed for production.

One of the most notable is the Porsche 911 GT1 'Strassenversion' (Street Version). Unlike most 911s, this was mid-engined rather than rear, and boasted the same wild aerodynamics as the track racer. It's thought just 24 were ever built.

OCTOBER ISSUE | 49





MCLAREN 570GT - UNDER 10000 MILES £99,950 YEAR: 2017

AUDI R8 |SPIDER £79,950 YEAR: 2017 MILEAGE: 13100

PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4 £79,950 YEAR: 2015 MILEAGE: 3500

PORSCHE CAYMAN 718 GTS £59,950 YEAR: 2018 MILEAGE: 4250

MERCEDES C63 AMG CONVERTIBLE £46,950 YEAR: 2017 MILEAGE: 4750

AUDI R8 £41,950 YEAR: 2010 MILEAGE: 7710

Fayreways Showroom, St Saviours Hill, Jersey T : 0 7 8 2 9 9 9 6 6 7 7 E : o f f i c e @ l e c a c h e t . c o . u k W : w w w. l e c a c h e t . c o . u k



Let us introduce you to your next car...

VW CARAVELLE EXECUTIVE 4MOTION £46,950 YEAR: 2018 MILEAGE: 7100

VW CARAVELLE EXECUTIVE £39,950 YEAR: 2017 LOW MILEAGE

RANGE ROVER AUTOBIOGRAPHY 5.0 £69,950 YEAR: 2017 MILEAGE: 17000

ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE V8 £32,950 YEAR: 2007 MILEAGE: 39450

PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 4S £29,950 YEAR: 2006 MILEAGE: 31850

PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 2S £24,950 YEAR: 2004 MILEAGE: 47000

Fayreways Showroom, St Saviours Hill, Jersey T : 0 7 8 2 9 9 9 6 6 7 7 E : o f f i c e @ l e c a c h e t . c o . u k W : w w w. l e c a c h e t . c o . u k



TRAVEL

7 WAYS TO ENJOY THE SNOW-FREE ALPS IN

Switzerland One of Europe's most popular ski resorts transforms into a hiking playground during autumn. Here's how to enjoy it, says Priya Joshi...

Situated in the canton of Valais in southwest Switzerland, mountain resort Verbier is best known as an exclusive winter destination for the super-rich, and a playground for extreme sports enthusiasts.

With its pristine white slopes and wooden chalets adorned with pretty window boxes, it's a Christmas card-worthy winter wonderland when blanketed in snow. But with picturesque landscapes and diverse terrain, Verbier is also worth visiting in the 'off season'.

The snow melts to reveal grassy mountains and glistening waterfalls, and ski slopes are transformed into stunning hiking trails. From e-biking to mountain-top yoga, there are multiple options for active pursuits - proving there's more to Verbier than ski and snow. Here are seven ways to spend an autumn break...

1. TAKE AN E-BIKE INTO THE HILLS An e-bike ride presents a speedy way to experience the landscape. Hire a bike (adults CHF53.29/£45 per day) and board a cable car into the mountains. There are paths for cyclists of different capabilities, ranging from level terrain to jumps for the more experienced with a daring spirit.

2. PRACTISE HEAVENLY MOUNTAIN-TOP YOGA At 2,103m, the Cabane Brunet mountain hut (CHF75/£61pp, per night, half board; cabanebrunet.ch) is an ideal base for enjoying the sunrise - especially with an early morning yoga session.

WholeyCow (wholeycow.ch) - who have a yoga studio based in Bagnes - can arrange private sessions at the hut (CHF120/£98 for up to five people).

On a flat spot on the grass outside the Cabane that offers the best views of the mountains, instructor Svetlana Negashova guides us through a sequence of moves, as the fresh mountain air enlivens the skin and the senses. Watching the sun emerge above the dewy slopes is heavenly.

3. HIKE YOUR WAY TO THE TOP Carpeted with purple fireweed in the summer, Verbier's alpine slopes boast 400km of diverse hiking trails. All of them are beautifully picturesque with snow-topped mountain peaks surrounded by neat fields and forests in every shade of green.

The trails are signposted and you can also pick up handy maps from hotels and chalets.

Cycle from the La Chaux-Express gondola and follow the path towards the Cabane de Mont-Fort guest house in 40 minutes. The route is picturesque and peaceful, with just the occasional biker or hiker crossing your path. Natural streams and trickling waterfalls line the gravel route on a modern art trail, which features bronze sculptures by local artists, leading you through meadows and past grazing cows, into a more rocky, rugged terrain. Bar a few steep inclines, it's a leisurely ride. continues overleaf...

52 | www.life-mags.com

PAGE 53:Layout 1 02/10/2019 15:47 Page 1

Millennium Carriages The ultimate wedding experience

Weddings and private country drives a specialty Call Ivor Barette: 07797 713945 Email: ivorbarette@hotmail.co.uk



TRAVEL

heated, and adding rennet, which thickens the cheese, ready to be drained and set.

A tour of the cheese factory reveals a vault filled with Bagnes tomme worth £500k. The smell is pungent, but worth it for the tasting session that follows; sampled with crackers and grapes, the milky, matured cheese is silky in texture, strong on the palate with an earthy flavour and endlessly moreish.

6. FORAGE FOR FOOD IN THE FOREST A certified Swiss mountain leader, Cherries Ussher von Maur runs her own nature walks company Cherries Walks (CHF350/£286 for a half day walk including lunch; cherrieswalks.com).

From the Cabane Brunet, a gentle two-hour amble to the foot of the Petit Combin leads you along meandering crystal streams and grassy knolls.

Follow the distant ringing of bells into an alpine meadow, where a herd of cattle graze laconically in the sunlight.

4. INDULGE IN A HIGH-ALTITUDE BRUNCH Having worked up an appetite after a morning hike, treat yourself with a brunch in a traditional mountain farmer's hut on the hiking route from Cabane Brunet to Mont Combin. Book in advance for the culinary experience in the farmer's own private hut (CHF25/£20pp; verbier.ch).

Farmer Marc Maret presents us with an array of cheeses, homemade jams and bread, some freshly drawn milk to sample followed by locally produced Fendant du Valais, the best-known white wine from the region, and the perfect accompaniment to raclette.

After a leisurely lunch, there's time to sit back and watch marmots scurry in the distance, while listening to the sounds of an alpine horn player.

Strolling through the forest, she introduces us to the edible plantlife, demonstrating the right way to pick stinging nettles and how to squeeze the pulp from Swiss red berries to check which ones are safe to eat.

At La Maison de la Foret, a rustic cafe in the heart of the forest of La Tzoumaz on the Sentier des Sens hiking route, we chop, grate and grind our forest flowers and leaves, to conjure up some delectable concoctions for lunch - nettle couscous, pine tea, and rhubarb and berry jam.

7. FLY OVER VERBIER IN A CABLE CAR Experience Verbier from a different vantage point with a cable car - the best way to take in the drama and majesty of the mountain range. There are 12 sectors operating in the summer from June 8 to October 26, with the standard cables running from between 8.30 and 5.30pm (CHF48/£49 for a one-day pass; verbier.ch).

Or wrap up warm and take the extra early morning cable from La Chaux to Mont Fort, which runs at 5.30am. It's a ten-minute ride, where you can enjoy fondue at 1,000m (CHF18/£15) in the small igloo cafe at the viewing point, as you watch the sun rise over Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn.

How to plan your trip Rooms at Cabane de Mont-Fort (cabanemontfort.ch) cost from £62pp, per night, half board.

SWISS (swiss.com) flies from London Heathrow, London City, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh from £52 one-way.

The Swiss Transfer Ticket (sbb.ch) covers a round-trip between the airport/Swiss border and destination. Prices from £112.

The Verbier Infinite Playground (VIP) is presented at hotel check-in to guests staying a minimum of one night in the region and paying the tourist tax. Visit verbier.ch/en/vip-pass.

For more information about Verbier, visit verbier.ch.

5. MAKE YOUR OWN SWISS CHEESE Discover the Swiss art of cheese-making at the family-run La Laiterie de Verbier in Verbier village (CHF25/£20pp with VIP pass or CHF50/£41pp without; verbier.ch).

Cheesemaker Marc Bubosson guides you through the process of making Bagnes tomme, a raclette cheese made with milk from cows grazing on 610m-high pastures. Matured for at least three months before it can be sold, it's highly prized.

Learn how to make your own wheel, a simple process that involves stirring the fresh milk in a copper cauldron as it's gently

54 | www.life-mags.com



Carlton Carriers (Jersey) Ltd     

Units 1 & 2, Les Grennier Capelles, La Capelles, Rue de la Mare Ballam, St John, JE3 4EJ Tel:725625 Mobile: 07797721192 Email: carltoncarriers@gmail.com Follow us on... www.carltoncarriers.com Local & Overseas Removals • Complete Delivery Service Storage Facilities We collect items from DFS, IKEA, EBAY, HARRODS, SELFRIDGES, DEBENHAMS and MARKS AND SPENCER collections also available Online shopping delivered to your door, let Carlton Carriers bring you more !

MEMBER

                







  



 

 



HEALTH AND WELLBEING

AS MORE KIDS NEED GLASSES:

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHILDREN'S EYE TESTS...

An orthoptist outlines some of the signs a child may have a vision problem, and explains why poor vision may be linked to excessive screen use

It can sometimes seem that increasing numbers of children need glasses, and it is suspected that there are two main reasons for this, better detection of eye problems at an early age through screening programmes and an increase in short sightedness in teenage years or younger.

New research has found the number of 13 to 16 year olds needing glasses has almost doubled over the past seven years.

In 2012, a popular UK Opticians found 20% of young teens required glasses, but the figure increased to 35% last year.

Of those who needed glasses or contact lenses, 66% were short-sighted (myopic). The statistics match a global trend that has seen the diagnosis of short-sightedness in children double in just one generation, with the World Health Organisation predicting almost 60 million children worldwide under 17 years old will be short-sighted by 2050.

Teenagers in the 13 to 16 year old range were found to typically spend 26 hours a week looking at mobiles and tablets, watching TV and playing video games, and eye experts suspect that two mechanisms linked this and could lead to eye problems; one, so much time looking at screens could lead to eye strain due to the lack of changing focus which can in turn cause blurred vision and short-sightedness and secondly children are spending much less time outside and this also impacts on health of the eye.

56 | www.life-mags.com

Research into the increase in myopic is a hot topic and as always more information is always on the horizon, current trends suggest that a decrease in exposure to natural light (maybe due to an increase in amount of time spent on inside on electronic devices) leads to a change in the structure of the eye causing an increase in short sightedness.

"Trying to encourage children away from their tech to playing outside is not only going to be good for their vision but their overall wellbeing too."

The eye develops faster over the first eight years of a child's life and this time is critical for eye and vision development, many problems can only be corrected if treatment starts at a young age and hence children in Jersey are offered a free screening test by the orthoptic department in their reception year at school.

Getting your children's eyes tested should be a priority, as parents, we don't think twice about taking our kids to the GP should they become ill, or the dentist for regular checks, but arguably an annual eye health examination is just as important.

"Many children don't understand what's 'normal' when it comes to their vision, so probably won't know if they're having problems.

That's where an eye test will reveal any issues that, in the majority cases, can be easily treated”



HEALTH AND WELLBEING

The Association of Optometrists says research shows around 20% of school-aged children have an undiagnosed vision problem. In Jersey this hopefully does not happen though due to reception aged school screening which is not available in all areas of the UK. "Children's eyes continue to grow until early adulthood, and their vision is changing too, conditions such as short or longsightedness can happen gradually, and neither children nor parents can see the signs, which is why regular eye checks are so important."

healthy eyes - they are the window to your general health. An eye test is so much more than just checking whether your vision needs correcting with glasses or contact lenses."

Conditions that can be identified with an eye test include: • Short-sightedness (myopia): Where distant objects appear blurred, while close objects can be seen clearly.

• Long-sightedness (hyperopia): Where you can see sometimes see distant objects clearly but nearby objects are out of focus.

If your child hasn't had an eye test recently, here are some of the things you need to be aware of:

• Astigmatism: Where the transparent layer at the front of the eye (cornea) is not perfectly curved and most distances appear blurred.

What are the signs that might suggest a youngster has a vision problem?

• Lazy eye (amblyopia): Where the vision in one eye doesn't develop properly, must be treated before the age of 8.

Headaches: "The one of the most common symptom we see that triggers a sight test is complaints of regular headaches, headaches can be caused by eye strain where the eye muscles are being overworked as they strain to focus on objects."

• Colour blindness: Difficulty seeing colours or distinguishing between different colours; this is more common in boys (1 in 10) than girls.

Moving closer to see the board at school or tv. They may be doing this because they are struggling to see.

Dry eyes: when eyes feel gritty and dry, or like there's something in them.

Tilting head or covering one eye: Doing this can sometimes help children focus on an object.

• Squint (strabismus): Where the eyes look in different directions and can lead to a lazy eye if not detected early.

• Childhood cataracts: Cloudy patches in the lens of the eye that are present from birth.

• General health problems: Health problems that can be detected via the eyes include high blood pressure, tumours, raised cholesterol, diabetes and increased risk of stroke.

Rubbing eyes excessively: - or screwing up eye or complaining of eye pain.

Holding books close to their face when reading, and difficulty concentrating: "Not only will seeing clearly make reading and writing easier but it will help children's levels of concentration and help them remember what's being taught, being able to detect any issues with sight at this crucial stage of development and education can help to ensure your child doesn't fall behind."

If your child is still struggling to ‘see’ after a routine sight test at the opticians it may be necessary to also check them for tracking problems, visual stress or other visual issues that can affect learning.

What can an eye test detect?

An eye test can identify much more than just whether a child needs glasses, regular sight tests are essential for maintaining

‘Now have you got everything ready and packed for school ?’

 pencils

 ruler

 rubber

 coloured overlays

80% of children with reading difficulties find their school work dramatically improves after a full Orthoptic Assessment and Visual Care program. Contact Sarah at Vision Works to book your Child's Visual Skills Assessment making this and every school year count.

VisionWorks, Suite 3.2, The Hunter Suite. The Lido Medical Centre, St Saviours Road, St Helier. JE2 7LA T: 07797726884 E: sarah@visionworks.je W: w ww.visionworks.je

www.facebook.com/visionworks

@visionworksJSY

www.linkedin.com/sarahvisionworks



OCTOBER ISSUE | 57

 

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

92% of us are held back in our lives through limiting beliefs caused by fear and anxiety We often get asked 'What's the best way to overcome fear'. The medical profession teach countless techniques that resolve phobias, anxiety and pretty much any fear that gets presented very quickly. However for life in general we have observed that there are 3 main fears and when we understand them from a certain perspective their hold on us can be quickly reduced and often eliminated. So, here they are...

MARK SHIELDS EXPLAINS THE 3 FEARS There are 3 main fears that most often inhibit our success and happiness. Once we learn how to deal with these fears, our happiness and success ability tends to go through the roof.

Here are the culprits: 1. Fear of The Unknown 2. Fear of Making Mistakes 3. Fear of Exclusion In my experience there is one major and often not understood reason as to why these 3 fears are allowed to hang around in our psyche longer than is useful… We forget at great expense to our success and happiness that we are in fact, mammals.

In all our human being-ness and spiritual-ness, the cornerstone part of who and what we are is often ignored and misunderstood.

In our desire to 'live in the now' 'get to heaven or some spiritual realm' and /or cajole 'cosmic white light into our chakra system' we don't take the time to look honestly, frankly and thoroughly at

the part of ourselves that, from an evolutionary perspective is the most fundamental aspect of who and what we are.

We can totally forget that in flesh and blood and brain we are a mammal, very evolved, spectacular, often miraculous, but yet a mammal.

When we allow this fact to sink in, enjoy it, thrive on it and align with it we can make the most extraordinary changes rapidly and often very easily. Let me explain…

Let’s take the first fear. Fear of The Unknown It makes complete sense that a mammal would have this fear.

By staying in well established frameworks of familiarity and security we are giving ourselves the best chance of survival.

If we have worked out how to put a roof over our head, put food in our bellies and support our families basic needs, what else as a mammal would we need…? Not much, like a cat or a dog we would be content and spend the rest of the time bathing in the sunlight. continues overleaf...

58 | www.life-mags.com

PAGE 59:Layout 1 02/10/2019 14:59 Page 1

 

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

(no point, they are simply logical responses to life events) we can start to transcend them with understanding and the compassion afforded by seeing things as they really are.

Yes, there are techniques that can help us in moving quickly through these fears, but the in my experience the techniques tend to fall short unless we have a solid grasp of the key understandings just explained. In the future when you feel yourself in the grips of one of these fears you might like to try going through these 3 steps.

1. Acknowledge the fear, don't avoid it, just be with it.

Let’s take the second fear. Fear of making mistakes The Fear of Making Mistakes? Again a completely common sense fear to have. In mammal world if we make mistakes, we don't eat, we might lose our shelter and we might not evade that predator and we die. Making a mistake as a mammal has rather significant consequences.

Let’s take the third fear. Fear of exclusion To understand the Fear of Exclusion (aka fear of embarrassment, fear of social banishment) we need to understand that as a mammal we rely on our parents and the social group at large for our survival. I often use the example of a wolf pack. The notion of a lone wolf might seem romantic, but it's not.

Their chances of survival away from the pack are dramatically reduced. No protection, no team work for hunting success and no warmth in the cold night. As such even powerful wolves will subjugate themselves to the Alpha. If a wolf makes an unsuccessful challenge or is cast out for any reason, life starts to get hard, really hard, really quickly.

So I'm sure you can see that our own experiences are paralleled in these examples. As humans (aka major part evolved mammals) it is a natural part of our being to have these 3 fears and this for the most part is the major step in being able to overcome and transcend them - seeing the reality of the logical origin of these fears.

Realise that these fears are not personal to you. They are not 'caused' by your childhood, or something that you did or because there is anything wrong with you.

They are fears that EVERY human being at some point has had to deal with, face and resolve (or not).

When we give ourselves permission to see these fears for what they are (core mammal survival mechanisms) and stop beating ourselves up about them

60 | www.life-mags.com

2. Let yourself know that you are experiencing this fear, not because of childhood, or because there is anything wrongs with you or because you don't yet have the secret to the universe, but simply because the mammal part of you wants security and this is OK. 3. Let yourself know that in spite of the rational and logical reason as to the fear, another key part of being alive and fundamental to being a human mammal is to EVOLVE. To EVOLVE we need to step forward into the unknown, so that we can chart new territories both within and without.

We need to allow our selves the opportunity and potential for making 'mistakes' as how else can we learn? and we can let ourselves know that when we let the possibility of exclusion become real it is so that the possibility of INCLUSION into something greater is made possible.

I hope that this helps you understand your own personal anxieties and fears, helps you avoid putting an unnecessary label on them and accept it is quite normal to feel this fear and get on with life normally Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway.

Mark Shields, Author & Coach www.thenlpcoachingcompany.com 01462 431112

PAGE 61:Layout 1 03/10/2019 17:01 Page 1

A note to all Brides to Be...

From the first time you walk into the Bridal Boutique you will be struck by the sheer size and elegance of the space.

Being the largest wedding boutique in the Channel Islands, I can offer you a large amount of diverse wedding gowns across all categories together with an abundance of wedding accessories from veils to shoes to wedding lingerie and umbrellas! You will be hard pushed not to find the gown of your dreams inside these pretty walls!

I want everyone to immediately feel special, from the moment they come through my doors until the moment they leave. You will always be treated with the upmost respect and special touches will remain throughout your search of your perfect wedding attire... after all, it is one of the most special times of your life and so you should be treated accordingly. Bridesmaids and Bridegrooms are equally well catered for!

And with gowns from Kenneth Winston and Madeline Gardner New York, new for this season and also men's suits for hire from Cameron Ross, my precious brides and grooms will have an experience they will never forget and I will look after you and be a part of that wedding experience all they way through until you walk down the aisle.

Contact me via email, phone, or for a quicker response, FaceBook messenger to arrange your free consultation.

Looking forward to meeting you soon.

Caroline xx

Much love,

The boutique is open from 10:30am til 5.00pm on Tuesday to Saturday, however, I can often arrange appointments outside of these hours.

Your day should be as special as you are with no additional stress or worries.

+44 (0)1534 728 888 | enquiries@thebridalboutiqueltd.com | thebridalboutiqueltd.com



HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Beauty - Naturally Back in the day, (yes I know – not my favourite expression either, but it fits in this instance) when I was studying to be a holistic therapist, I was mortified when people lumped my skill set in with the ‘Beauty’ section of services, being adamant I was learning natural, health regimes nothing to do at all with waxing, nails and eyelashes!... musing by Juanita Shield-Laignel MFHT Don’t get me wrong – as an 80s teenager, I spent years plastered in neon blue mascara, green and pink eyeshadow and used enough hairspray, in creating the ‘big hair’ requirements of the day to single-handedly create my own hole in the ozone layer!

Now having matured and being a little more mellow; I have come to realise that beauty is oh so much more than applying foundation, two coats of lipstick and lashings of mascara.

massage, reflexology etc and so impressed by these I qualified in Arometherapy during 1993 and then several other holistic therapies over the years. These methodologies were accompanied by a natural curiosity in food allergies and intolerances and nutrition in general. Over the years I’ve discovered that certain foods exacerbate my condition and through eliminating said foods my breathing is that much better.

I started my quest for ‘Natural Health & Wholeness’ in my early twenties when I was gifted a beautiful box of essential oils including staples such as lavender, ylang ylang, tea tree, cedar wood, eucalyptus and rosemary. Accompanying the oils was the amazing book ‘The Art of Aromatherapy’ by Robert Tisserand…

I read it from cover to cover, 3 times and was fascinated by the history and medicinal and cosmetic uses of essential oil.

With continued self-awareness and exploration, I also realised certain chemicals such as perfumes, household cleaners and paints would irritate me. It stood to reason that by cutting out as many man-made chemicals as possible I would continue to improve my health and strengthen my immune system.

Nowadays, it is much more commonly known that essential oils are produced by distillation, pressing and maceration (to name a few extraction methods) of plant matter and therefore (unless adulterated with other substances)…totally natural. Through continued study and understanding of medicinal plants including herbs and health giving, vitamin laden fruits and vegetables, gradually my health and beauty regimes changed, developed, evolved and grew. As a consequence my health improved.

Having been diagnosed with asthma at around 7 years old, I spent much of my young life using nebulisers and being pumped with antibiotics. Chest infections were a regular occurrence and my education suffered as a consequence.

My young life was filled with symptoms and drugs to control those symptoms. Then as a free thinking adult I began to explore other ways to help myself.

One of the first things I adopted was yoga and meditation to physically help my breathing. I still use these methods today.

Then came the essential oils and methods for relaxation such as 62 | www.life-mags.com

The sweeping trend amongst certain, organic loving circles, for using edible items as natural beauty products, really suited me, so I used little other than olive oil and coconut oil coupled with my beloved essential oils in my beauty regimes for several years – branded a ‘weirdo’ by some, I cared not, choosing health over acceptance from peers.

Then more recently veganism and caring not just about what one puts inside one’s body but what one puts on one’s skin became acceptable and even fashionable and suddenly, that which I had been doing for years is bang up to date!

So now beauty regimes that nurture and nourish both physically and emotionally and that as a by-product just happen to also be so much better for our health and as it happens the health of the planet, are freely available and make so much sense…proving that despite my misgivings as a twenty something who thought she already knew it all – in fact ‘beauty’ can be a big part of our daily health routine.

How times have changed…



(Est. in Jersey since 1997)

where beauty meets science

Fall into beautiful skin this Autumn

Come and visit the team at your local friendly Pharmacy for help and advice on all Winter cold and flu remedies.

733123

Call or visit us at 12 Cleveland Road, St Helier www.clevelandpharmacy.co.uk

Hi, I’m Sophie Anderson creator of Biome Organic Medibles, a creative wellness fanatic bringing you healthy CBD edibles!

Having returned to Jersey after spending a number of years in California, during which I lost both of my grandparents to cancer and general poor health, I decided I wanted to provide a good quality CBD product with a sufficient dose. As a gut health coach, food activist and someone who learnt a lot about all aspects of the medical hemp/cannabis industry I knew the kind of ethics I wanted to adhere to in a relatively new industry; especially here in Jersey!

Edibles are simply another way of ingesting CBD and for some people seem to work a lot better. I used to make my own in California as I found a lot of the products being marketed were processed and unhealthy. Having seen first hand how much CBD was helping people over there, and seeing how much suffering my grandparents went through here, I wanted to create a healthy product with a quality full spectrum source but formulated in a way to enhance different aspects of their lifestyle. The flavours, textures, colours and ingredients are simply a reflection of getting to play around with nature in the kitchen!

Check out the Sleep, Digestion, Stress & Energy ranges by BOM!

+44 (0)7700 332 544 HELLO@BOMEDIBLES.CO.UK BOMEDIBLES.CO.UK

NEW PLASMA PEN, HYDRAFACIAL™ NON SURGICAL PROCEDURES, LASER, DERMAL FILLERS & WRINKLE RELAXING INJECTIONS.

Give Julie Naidu or Kathrin Baumert a call on 888272 to book your consultation.

The Laser Centre. Island Medical Centre, 14 Gloucester Street, St Helier.

E: info@thelasercentrejersey.co.uk. www.thelasercentrejersey.co.uk

 

FASHION

64 | www.life-mags.com

 

FASHION



 Katie Wright shows you where to shop the high fashion footwear look on the high street...

Sayonara, sandals - it's boots season at last, and there's a lot to get excited about as the autumn/winter collections land in shoe departments.

Inspired by the catwalks, there's a retro feel to many of the new drops, with ankle length styles dominating, but if it's over-theknee glamour you're after, you're in luck, too.

What else is new? Here are the five biggest boots trends of AW19 and where to shop them on the high street...

1. EIGHTIES BOOTS Designers including Isabel Marant, Marni and Marc Jacobs were throwing it back to the Eighties with their AW19 footwear, in the form of slouchy and cone-heeled boots.

Whether calf length or higher, these are great day-to-night boots they look just as cool with a pair of faded blue jeans (tucked in, of course) or a mini skirt and black tights.

4. SNOW BOOTS Who says high fashion is always impractical? At Chanel and Celine, models stomped down the runway in the coolest snow boots we've ever seen.

So when wet weather strikes this winter, you can still be on trend with your functional footwear.

5. ANIMAL PRINT BOOTS Animal print has been one of the biggest fashion trends of the year and it's not going anywhere in autumn.

Snakeskin boots were seen at Erdem and Rejina Pyo, while it was all about crocodile texture at Chloe and Max Mara.

Anything goes when it comes to creature inspired boots on the high street.

From croc and snake to tiger and leopard, take your pick from the animal kingdom (as long as they're faux fabric, of course).

2. WESTERN BOOTS The western trend gallops on this season, with Louis Vuitton, Versace and Alberta Ferretti all kitting out their models in cool cowgirl boots.

Bored of black or brown? Take your cue from Ferretti and try white for a fresh feel.

3. OVER THE KNEE BOOTS The most glamorous boots of the season? It's got to be the glossy over-the-knee styles seen at Max Mara, Celine and Salvatore Ferragamo.

Max Mara made a strong case for brightly coloured boots, but for more matching potential with the rest of your wardrobe, try a rich burgundy hue.

OCTOBER ISSUE | 65



COMITTI MAYFAIR RHODIUM PLATED MOVEMENT About                                           

MAYFAIR RHODIUM PLATED MOVEMENT AND BLACK LACQUER BASE                     



GALLICHAN JEWELLERS 1845

Celebrating 174 years

16 Royal Square. St Helier

01534 722915 ejgallichan@gmail.com



ART AND CULTURE

ArtHouse Jersey: Supporting Jersey artists with promise Beast ArtHouse Jersey, formerly known as The Jersey Arts Trust, is a charitable organisation that supports artists from Jersey and across the world to create ambitious work that has a positive impact on our Island community and international audiences.

A key strand of ArtHouse Jersey’s work is its Seed Funding programme.

The scheme provides financial assistance to local, professional artists working in any discipline who are seeking funding to create new work, or to assist with their professional development as an artist.

Seed Funding allocated by ArtHouse Jersey has been instrumental in helping a number of Jersey artists to carve out a career in the arts. A Seed Funding grant enabled Jersey-born writer-director Michael Pearce to attend the Torino Film Lab, an international script development organisation that helps filmmakers develop their first feature film. His film Beast, starring Jessie Buckley and Johnny Flynn, went on to win a BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a Brtish Writer, Director or Producer, along with a number of other awards and nominations for the film and its cast.

Talented pianist Georgina Sutton is another young, local artist whose career ArtHouse Jersey has been proud to support. Classically trained at The Royal

68 | www.life-mags.com

College of Music, Georgina is also well known for her creative covers of modern pop songs. With financial assistance provided through Seed Funding, Georgina will soon be working with respected producer Wilson Nash to create a new album of creative covers, something that will be crucial in enabling Georgina to reach a wider audience with her music.

Plans are also underway to create a new music video to showcase one of Georgina’s singles.

Jersey born sculptor, Lulu Macdonald, studied at The Slade School of Fine Art and now lives and works in Hamburg. She said “(The ArtHouse Seed Funding grant) has helped me enormously.

Lulu MacDonald Without sounding too dramatic, it completely changed my practice and my outlook. The funding I received has been put towards building a new body of work and to help fund a residency back home in Jersey where I carried out research for this project.

Support from ArtHouse Jersey has provided me with a freedom I am not used to.”

Artists supported through Seed Funding are often engaged by ArtHouse Jersey to deliver outreach activities in the community or to take part in other events as part of its programming. Lulu, for example, held a workshop with students at Hautlieu School as part of ArtHouse Jersey’s recent Skipton School Mural Project. Ideas and concepts contributed by students during this activity went on to inform the final piece that Lulu created at the school. 'Another Seed Funding recipient, Singer-Songwriter Frankie Davies performed at an ArtHouse Jersey dinner at the end of August, an event bringing together members of the local community with a collective of visiting artists.'

To ensure that funding is fairly distributed and allocated to the most promising artists, the application process for Seed Funding is fairly rigorous. Artists are invited to submit their applications to ArtHouse Jersey each quarter.

Each application is carefully considered and discussed by a subcommittee who oversee the selection process.

Applications for the next round of Seed Funding are due by November 1st and the next one is February 1st 2020. Any talented artists seeking funding to create ambitious work, or to assist with professional development are encouraged to apply at arthouse.je

Project12:Layout 1 02/10/2019 15:50 Page 1

 

The Met Opera at the JERSEY OPERA HOUSE We’re very pleased to announce that Jersey Opera House will once more be bringing the Met Opera screenings in 2019/20.

Featuring a stellar line-up of some of the world's finest opera productions, including a brand new production of the Gershwins' classic American opera Porgy and Bess, the Met premiere of Handel’s Agrippina and the return of Anthony Minghella’s inspired vision of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly - this season promises to continue to deliver the same stunning level of production and performance that have been delighting our audience for many years.

TURANDOT (Puccini) October 13, 2019 at 6pm Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Franco Zeffirelli’s celebrated production of Turandot, which stars Christine Goerke in the title role of the icy Chinese princess who has renounced all men.

MANON (Massenet) October 27, 2019 at 6pm Lisette Oropesa stars as the irresistible title character, the tragic beauty who yearns for the finer things in life, in Laurent Pelly’s revealing production. Michael Fabiano is the besotted Chevalier des Grieux, whose desperate love for Manon proves their undoing.

MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Puccini) December 1, 2019 at 6pm Hui He stars as the devoted geisha who gives everything for the American naval officer, sung by Andrea Carè. Pier Giorgio Morandi is on the podium for Anthony Minghella’s sweeping production, a perennial audience favourite.

AKHNATEN (Philip Glass) December 8, 2019 at 6pm Phelim McDermott returns to the Met with a new staging of Glass’s Akhnaten, originally created by LA Opera, Improbable, and English National Opera, where it premiered, winning the 2017 Olivier Award for Best New Opera Production.

70 | www.life-mags.com

WOZZECK (Alban Berg) January 12, 2020 at 6pm Yannick NézetSéguin conducts William Kentridge’s new production of Alban Berg’s expressionistic masterpiece Wozzeck, regarded for its intense emotional power and brilliant score as one of the most significant operas of the 20th century.

PORGY AND BESS (The Gershwins) February 2, 2020 at 6pm The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess returns to the Met for the first time since 1990, in a new co-production with English National Opera and Dutch National Opera, hailed as a triumph at its premiere in London earlier this year.

AGRIPPINA (Handel) March 1, 2020 at 6pm In the Met’s first-ever performances of Agrippina, Handel’s satire of sex and power politics, Sir David McVicar reconceives a production evoking a scandalous world in which the Roman Empire never fell but simply kept going right up to the present. Joyce DiDonato stars as the power-hungry empress.

DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER (Wagner) March 15, 2020 at 6pm For the first time at the Met, Sir Bryn Terfel sings the role of the mysterious Dutchman, condemned to roam the seas for eternity, with Anja Kampe as the devoted Senta, whose love can set him free.

TOSCA (Puccini) April 26, 2020 at 6pm Sir David McVicar’s bold staging of Puccini’s operatic thriller returns with star soprano Anna Netrebko as the passionate title diva, opposite Brian Jagde as her lover, the idealistic painter Mario Cavaradossi.

MARIA STUARDA (Donizetti) May 24, 2020 at 6pm Donizetti’s drama, focused on the political and personal rivalry between two queens, returns to the Met with Diana Damrau as the doomed Mary, Queen of Scots, and Jamie Barton as her rival, Queen Elizabeth I.



'Sewing Machine Centre has it all stitched up!'

Sewers in the island will undoubtedly have come across David Wood, Jersey’s only sewing machine engineer and typewriter engineer extraordinaire – hitherto hailing from the seemingly tiny shop in Bath Street, is moving his operation to Crafty Quilters in upper Midvale Road.

David began his love affair with sewing machines and typewriters in the 70s and has held faithful to his passion ever since. Now him-self in his 70s, he’d expected to be retiring about now but finds the call for his magical mechanical fixing touch is still so much in demand that retirement seems a long way off. He was recently heard saying “I love my work so much I don’t think I will ever be able to give it up”. And indeed if his collection of sewing machines and typewriters from temps passes is anything to go by then his words are certainly underlined by his actions.

The Sewing Machine Centre David J. Wood Service and repairs of all models Agents for Singer and Brother

  

Due to redevelopment we have relocated to

Crafty Quilters Jersey Upper Midvale Road, St Helier, JE2 3ZH

David explained when we talked to him recently, “When I learnt the buildings in David Place were coming down I thought that was the end of my little empire, but now that Jenny at Crafty Quilters has held out a helping hand, my customers old and new can drop machines for service and repair into her shop where I can collect them and take them to my workshop, do what I do best and then drop them back for collection.

I expect it to be a really good working relationship and can’t wait to get started.”

Mindful his work is a dying art – David has been hoping to find a suitable apprentice but they seem thin on the ground at the moment.

But who knows, maybe a fresh new start in fresh new premises will be just the ticket!

Cherish your memories with our Canvas and Aluminium prints...

Tel: 07797 716083 Email: woody@localdial.com

Roger Baudin Upholsterers and Curtain Makers

CANVAS PRINTS ARE AVAILABLE IN 3 SIZES Small 45cm by 36cm £15.00 Medium 59cm by 42cm £25.00 Large 80cm by 52cm £35.00

Loose Covers Foam Cut to Size Curtain poles supplied and fitted

ALUMINIUM PRINTS ARE AVAILABLE IN 7 SIZES Gloss or Matt finish, prices start at £48.00

01534 766845 office@magictouchjersey.com 11 Caledonia Place, St Helier, JE2 3NG

Unit 6d, La Rue De Bechet, Trinity, JE3 5BE Tel: 01534 861 756 Mobile: 07797 724 474 Email: rbupholstery@hotmail.co.uk



HOME LIVING

THE KEEPING-IT-REAL GUIDE TO A

Big Autumn Clean Want to get all sorted and calm before winter sets in?

Start at home, says Abi Jackson.

Spring might rule the roost when it comes to the eponymous seasonal 'Big Clean', but we reckon autumn's prime time for a good spruce and sort-out at home.

Hibernation period is around the corner (so it makes sense to get our nests ready for all those cosy nights in) plus, we're still banking on those 'back to school' vibes (a good tidy-up is the house equivalent of a pristine new diary, after all). And we tend to keep windows closed more during the colder months - and crank up the heating - which means things can get stuffy and dusty.

But let's get things straight: We're not clean freaks, we know there's more to life and, yep, we're all busy. However, a good sort out and scrub down can feel pretty rewarding - meditative, even (and don't worry, admitting you sort of enjoy housework - on your terms really doesn't dent your feminist status). It really does feel good to curl up on the sofa with a bowl of hot crumble in a freshly decluttered lounge, all the cushions just so.

You with us? Here's our keeping-it-real guide to tackling a 'Big Autumn Clean'...

BEFORE YOU START Step 1: Clear your diary The 'Big Autumn Clean' doesn't happen by magic and you'll need to set aside some time. Either block off a few two-hour slots across a few evenings, or dedicate a weekend to it (but be realistic about how many jobs you can do back-to-back without losing the plot - you're allowed tea breaks). That might sound ghastly, but think of the money you'll save by holing yourself up indoors in the process - and how good dinner will taste after all your hard work.

Step 2: Pick your battles If you want to 'enjoy' your Big Autumn Clean, you need to set targets that are doable, but still hefty enough that you're going to feel suitably smug afterwards. Pick a balance of jobs that aren't very fun but really need doing (like the fridge and oven) and ones that are (slightly more) fun - like reorganising your wardrobe and bookshelves.

GET CRACKING Want some inspiration? Here are the top seven cleaning and sorting tasks we recommend...

Freshen up the fridge: When was the last time you properly cleaned the fridge? As in, completely emptied it out, removed all the shelves and gave it a thorough scrub down, so that every inch is sparkling.

Can't remember? Enough said...

Conquer the cooker: Yes we know, it's a hideous job, but you can't put it off forever. We suggest dodging those nasty chemical-loaded products and taking a greener DIY approach (Google 'natural oven cleaning hacks' and you'll find lots of recipes for vinegar and baking soda solutions).

Mix up your solution, apply it - then leave it to dissolve all that grime while you get on with something else.

Blitz the bathroom: You're probably doing a good job keeping the bathroom clean enough, but those stubborn mould patches that insist 72 | www.life-mags.com

on taking up residence in your grouting require a bit more elbowgrease and attention (again, use Google for some bleach-free solutions). Not the most rock 'n' roll way to spend a Saturday, but think how much nicer all that winter pampering will be in a gleaming tub...

Dust like a demon: Remember how much you used to love rearranging the furniture when you were 10? Well, now's your chance to reconnect with your interior designer alter ego - because you're going to need to move everything in order to give all those nooks, crannies and neglected corners a good clean. Chances are you won't be airing the place as regularly until it gets warm again, while you'll also be spending more time indoors, so it's a good time to properly clear out all the dust and dander that's settled over summer.

Switch up your wardrobe: If you don't normally 'switch' between a summer and winter wardrobe, we'd suggest investing in a few vacuum storage bags and getting into the habit. Fold away all the floaty frocks and shorts you won't be needing until next May, stow them away under the bed/stairs/in the loft, and then you can have a neatly organised wardrobe of just the clothes you'll actually be wearing this season. Oh, the satisfaction! In the process, pull out anything you no longer want/wear/fit into, and donate to charity or recycle.

Clamp down on clutter: Has your bookcase become bogged down with random post, magazines and paraphernalia? Is your desk drowning in mess? Don't wait until the new year to get organised: Do it now, so you can stride into winter feeling collected and in control. Create a permanent home for life admin bits; invest in a couple of nice storage pots and boxes for stuff that needs to be kept, and tidy it all up.

Cabinet clear-out: We're all guilty of hoarding and over-buying beauty products. Sometimes, it's only when you confront the issue head-on that you realise just how out of control it is.

So, empty out all your bathroom cabinets/drawers/make-up bags and take a good, long look at all those half-used bottles, out-of-date lipsticks and crumbling palettes. Do you really need to keep that eye-shadow from 2004? No. Is it actually necessary to keep buying new night creams and face oils when you already have seven barely-used ones stashed away? No. Recycle and give away what you can, take the reality check, and let this be a lesson to you!

(Trust us, we're the worst offenders here.)

 

CLASSIFIED COLLECTION

PLUMBING AND HEATING LIMITED

Call Tony Mobile 07797 743005 Tel/Fax: 872066 Occupation Reconciliation The Life and Times of Michael Ginns MBE

7 Le Clos Paumelle, Bagatelle Road, St. Saviour, JE2 7TW

NOW AVAILABLE FROM

email: tlvplumbingltd@hotmail.com



Love Birds Gifts - Jersey War Tunnels Magic Touch, Victoria Art Gallery The Société Jersiaise, Jersey Museum Christian Solutions Book Shop WH Smith Fish Media on 01534 619882 or email: books@fishmedia.biz

To advertise your business in the CLASSIFIED COLLECTION please call Juanita Shield-Laignel on

619882 or email:

juanita@fishmedia.biz IT COSTS LESS THAN YOU THINK

 Individual or small groups.

REIKI means "Universal Energy" and is a light, hands-on healing to use on self, family & friends; animals love it too!

Feel a deep warmth & a sense of peace & well-being whilst strengthening the immune system & balancing energy centres (chakras) throughout the body.

CONTACT FIONA JOYCE: registered REIKI Master Teacher & full member of the Complementary Therapists Association (U.K.)

Tel: 866819 or e-mail: fiona_ joyce@yahoo.com

    

FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING AND HEATING REQUIREMENTS

 



  

Make your home safe and secure before seagull season starts.

We offer prompt, efficient solutions for wasps nests, moles, rats, mice and other unacceptable nuisances, using sustainable, effective, economical and environmentally sound methods.





Are SEAGULLS pests?

FOR A FREE ESTIMATE CONTACT BEN

Tel: 01534 859136 Mobile: 07797 787 912 Email: ben@1stcall.je

FRANK RAIMBAULT La Grenier a Pomme La Rue de la Prairie St Mary JE3 3EH M: 07797 829885 M: 07797 748288 (Howard Durell) E: malcolmlewis60@gmail.com

To advertise call Juanita Shield-Laignel on 01534 619882

 

 & Clues!

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 9 10 11

12

14

13

15 16

18

17

19 21 23

20 22

BOOK of the month...

24

25 26 27

Across

Down

3. Standard (9)

1. Eminence (9)

8. Passion (4)

2. Tumult (9)

9. Staunch (9)

4. Scold (4)

10. Shrewd (6)

5. Rubbish (5)

11. Keen (5)

6. Amend (6)

14. Famous (5)

7. Eject (4)

15. Measure (4)

9. Nails (5)

16. Scrub (5)

11. 20 (5)

18. Emporium (4)

12. Apposite (9)

20. Come in (5)

13. Callous (9)

21. Foster (5)

17. Memento (5)

24. Remarkable (6)

19. Chase (6)

25. Fitful (9)

22. Tempest (5)

26. Responsibility (4)

23. Whirl (4)

27. Burial (9)

24. Indication (4)

Answers can be found in next month’s edition of the Jerseylife.

THE ASSIDUOUS QUEST OF TOBIAS HOPKINS BY JAMES FARO REVIEW BY LAURA FRASER This is such a well written and thought out novel.

Tobias Hopkins is a trader in the late 17th century.

He's on a quest to find his missing father and is haunted by memories from his past.

There is much happening in this fast moving book and, without giving too much away, there's an ongoing storyline where the reader is kept guessing until the very end.

The characters are believable. Some aid Toby on his search, while others do all they can to deter him!

Tobias Hopkins is a very principled man, a deep thinker, and something of a loner and it was these characteristics which made me sympathetic to his plight and find the answers he was searching for. There are three principal female characters in the story, Elizabeth, Magdalena and Beatrice, each of whom has a contrasting, strong and endearing personality. I was particularly drawn towards the life of Magdalena, a free black woman who is struggling, against the odds, to maintain the property of Toby's estranged father. The descriptive writing in this book is excellent. I was readily transported to Madame Letica's House of Delights in 17th century Port Royal, and to La Bruma, a farmstead up in the hills of St Andrews.

There are dangers all around in Toby's quest which he is not always aware of, and episodes of high drama, all of which make The Assiduous Quest of Tobias Hopkins an enthralling read and an example of historical fiction at its very best.

Available in paperback and Kindle from: Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ James-Faro/e/B01I701M2O? Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jamesfaro

74 | www.life-mags.com

Project15:Layout 1 02/10/2019 16:41 Page 1

Project2:Layout 1 04/10/2019 11:57 Page 1



the Jerseylife | OCTOBER 2019

ISSUE 168 | THE QUALITY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

www.life-mags.com