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Newmarket and Ely Living Dec 2019 - Jan 2020

The fantastic festive issue is here, packed with local events, Christmas fun, delicious recipes, chef Michael Caines plus travel to Oman and advice on buying a new home.

The fantastic festive issue is here, packed with local events, Christmas fun, delicious recipes, chef Michael Caines plus travel to Oman and advice on buying a new home.

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Contents<br />

A Note<br />

from the editor<br />

A Culinary puddings Journey through without a<br />

24Christmas sultana Northern in Irel<strong>and</strong> sight<br />

Chef Michael<br />

Caines<br />

IN THIS ISSUE...<br />

04 What’s On<br />

We are in full festive mode with a diary<br />

full of events over Christmas <strong>and</strong> into<br />

the New Year<br />

10 Education<br />

Extra curricular activities are an important<br />

part of any child’s development - it’s all<br />

about finding the right one<br />

17 Michael Caines<br />

We catch up with the West Country<br />

chef, on his quest for a second<br />

Michelin star at Lympstone Manor<br />

19 Christmas Crackers<br />

Five pages of beautiful puddings to<br />

help you savour every second of the<br />

festive season<br />

26 Amazing Oman<br />

17<br />

We take in the mountain passes <strong>and</strong><br />

the breathtaking s<strong>and</strong> dunes in this<br />

diverse country<br />

30 Homebuying Guide<br />

If the festive period shines a light on<br />

your desire to move, we have tips on<br />

the process<br />

Magical<br />

Oman<br />

26<br />

32<br />

Creating the<br />

perfect guestroom<br />

Editor Katie Thomson<br />

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk<br />

Key Account Manager Simeon Wynn<br />

e simeon@minervapublications.co.uk<br />

dd 01225 613 515<br />

twitter: @<strong>Ely</strong><strong>Living</strong><br />

w www.newmarketliving.co.uk<br />

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening -<br />

Christmas’s here, your heart quickening?<br />

With gifts still to buy, <strong>and</strong> cards left to write<br />

- holy heck there’s still so much to do!<br />

That’s how the song goes right? Like it<br />

or loathe it, we are well into the festive<br />

preamble (what number tin of Quality Street<br />

are you on? I count three...). It’s time to get<br />

serious about your festive salutations <strong>and</strong><br />

batten down the hatches - the guests will<br />

be here before you can say ‘figgy pudding’!<br />

This issue aims to highlight the best of the<br />

festive season, with a packed events guide<br />

<strong>and</strong> lots of festive fun. I’ve been extra<br />

selfish this issue <strong>and</strong> curated a section<br />

especially for the Christmas pariahs among<br />

us - those that hate festive puddings! Try<br />

as I might, I can’t st<strong>and</strong> Christmas Pudding,<br />

Cake, mince pies - anything with the spiced<br />

fruits combo - I’m out.<br />

I reckon I’m not alone (though perhaps<br />

you’ve not outed yourself yet, just<br />

pretending you’re full up when a bowl is<br />

proffered in your direction), so for my fellow<br />

outcasts, please enjoy a bumper batch<br />

of celebratory puds which are perfect for<br />

the big day, without a sultana in sight.<br />

We also caught up with one of the UK’s<br />

most famous <strong>and</strong> decorated chefs, Michael<br />

Caines on his passions outside of cooking<br />

(he’s one charitable guy!)<br />

That’s all for now - we will see you again in<br />

February, when we will be recovering from<br />

post Christmas food comas <strong>and</strong> thinking<br />

about moving a bit more <strong>and</strong> maybe eating<br />

a little less.<br />

In the meantime, we wish you the happiest,<br />

healthiest New Year. Now, pass the Quality<br />

Street please.<br />

Publisher Sally Thomson<br />

Katie<br />

Katie<br />

Contributors Rebecca Williams, Peter Thomson, Dan Weston, Angela Cave, Pete<br />

Lawrence, Kate O’Connell <strong>and</strong> Lucy Saunders. Front cover: Clarence Court Eggs<br />

Web Account Manager Louise Thomson<br />

d/l 01225 308 101<br />

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ<br />

County Gate, County Way, Trowbridge,<br />

Wiltshire BA14 7FJ t 01225 308128<br />

visit our website www.newmarketliving.co.uk<br />

Disclaimer: The publishers shall not be held liable for any loss occasioned by failure of an<br />

advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions <strong>and</strong><br />

misprints. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the<br />

publishers. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publishers.<br />

www.newmarketliving.co.uk | 3


EVENTS<br />

GUIDE<br />

Winter is here <strong>and</strong> yes it’s chilly, however there<br />

is plenty going on to keep everyone entertained<br />

throughout the winter months...<br />

Anglesey Abbey<br />

Quy Road, Lode, Cambridge CB25 9EJ<br />

01223 810080<br />

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/anglesey-abbey<br />

29, 30 November <strong>and</strong> 1, 5 - 8, 12 - 15<br />

<strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />

Anglesey Abbey Winter Lights<br />

Combining a magical mix of light, colour,<br />

sound <strong>and</strong> nature, Anglesey Abbey Winter<br />

Lights is back with another breathtaking<br />

experience.<br />

Perfect to share with family <strong>and</strong> friends,<br />

Winter Lights returns for its ninth year.<br />

Between Saturday 30 November - Sunday<br />

5 <strong>Jan</strong>uary<br />

Tinsel <strong>and</strong> Tweed<br />

Step back in time to the 1960s, as Anglesey<br />

Abbey invites you to help create Christmas.<br />

Revel in festive smells <strong>and</strong> glitzy vintage<br />

decorations throughout the Domestic Wing<br />

whilst the rest of the house will be dressedto-impress<br />

for his Lordship’s Christmas<br />

celebrations.<br />

Blackthorpe Barn<br />

Rougham, Bury St Edmunds IP30 9LZ<br />

01359 270880<br />

events@blackthorpebarn.com<br />

Runs until Monday 23 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />

Christmas - Yule’ll love it!<br />

Every year, for many years, the heavy oak<br />

doors of Blackthorpe Barn, in the heart of<br />

Suffolk, are drawn back during the winter<br />

season to unveil a truly magical <strong>and</strong> unique<br />

Christmas experience for all to enjoy.<br />

This year the Country Christmas Shop is<br />

bigger <strong>and</strong> better, as it suggests, a haven<br />

for everything Christmassy from special<br />

gifts, baubles <strong>and</strong> decorations to lighting<br />

<strong>and</strong> gift wrap.<br />

There will be Festive Nights (late night<br />

shopping) Fridays 6, 13 & 20 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />

till 7pm.<br />

Church Farm Stow<br />

Bardolph<br />

Nr Downham Market PE34 3HT<br />

01366 382162<br />

www.churchfarmstowbardolph.co.uk<br />

Monday 9 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />

Christmas Wreath Workshop<br />

Enjoy a relaxed, festive workshop using<br />

spruce, forest floor pine cones, hedgerow<br />

teasels completed with cinnamon sticks<br />

<strong>and</strong> dried fruit slices. Create a gorgeous,<br />

natural, seasonally scented Christmas<br />

4 | www.newmarketliving.co.uk<br />

wreath to take home.<br />

Tuesday 24 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 3pm<br />

Crib Service at Church Farm<br />

This is a children’s service telling the<br />

Christmas story with lots of carols.<br />

The service is about 25 minutes long.<br />

Everyone will be seated in the barn on a<br />

bed of straw.<br />

It is the most magical <strong>and</strong> wonderful way to<br />

start your Christmas celebrations.<br />

<strong>Ely</strong> Cathedral<br />

Chapter House, The College, <strong>Ely</strong> CB7 4DL<br />

01353 660349<br />

www.elycathedral.org<br />

Sunday 8 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 5.15pm<br />

The Big Christmas Tree Light<br />

Switch -On Service<br />

Go <strong>and</strong> see the biggest, most spectacular<br />

Christmas tree in <strong>Ely</strong> as we countdown to<br />

the switching on of the lights.<br />

This popular event designed for young<br />

children <strong>and</strong> families celebrates the festive<br />

season in song <strong>and</strong> prayer, concluding<br />

with the blessing of the magnificent tree<br />

complete with fairy dust!<br />

Thursday 12 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 10.30am<br />

Christmas Story <strong>and</strong> Song Time<br />

A very special service recommended for<br />

younger children re-telling the Christmas<br />

Story in the wonderful setting of <strong>Ely</strong><br />

Cathedral. This short service will include<br />

storytelling, delicious snacks plus songs<br />

<strong>and</strong> prayers in preparation for Christmas.<br />

Friday 13 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 7.30pm<br />

A Christmas Carol -<br />

Charles Dickens<br />

A Christmas Carol is brought to life in<br />

a traditional production, complete with<br />

beautiful period costumes, song, dance,<br />

<strong>and</strong> a generous helping of festive spirit.<br />

Saturday 14 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 2pm<br />

Community Christmas Carol Singa-Long<br />

Forget the Christmas shopping for an hour!<br />

Go <strong>and</strong> sing-a-long to your favourite<br />

carols with Christmas music, readings <strong>and</strong><br />

prayers. Free admission, all welcome.<br />

Sunday 15 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 1.30pm<br />

Royal Papworth Hospital Charity’s<br />

Annual Christmas Carol Service<br />

The carol service provides the perfect<br />

opportunity for festive cheer with traditional<br />

carols <strong>and</strong> readings whilst raising vital<br />

funds for Royal Papworth Hospital.<br />

Saturday 21 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 7.30pm<br />

Hark! The Herald - Carol Concert<br />

Hark! The Herald is a memorable evening<br />

of traditional Christmas carols <strong>and</strong><br />

seasonal music in the magical setting of <strong>Ely</strong><br />

Cathedral.<br />

Sunday 29 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 4pm<br />

Service of Readings <strong>and</strong> Carols<br />

This service will be supported by members<br />

of the <strong>Ely</strong> Cathedral Octagon Singers along<br />

with local singers, their guests <strong>and</strong> by any<br />

other singers who find themselves in <strong>Ely</strong><br />

on the day.<br />

Monday 30 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />

Carrot Productions present<br />

“The Snowman”<br />

Immerse yourself in the irresistible animated<br />

film of The Snowman this Christmas,<br />

accompanied by a live orchestra. A heartwarming<br />

experience that brings more than<br />

a snowman to life - <strong>and</strong> featuring the muchloved<br />

classic ‘Walking in the Air’ - a festive<br />

favourite for the whole family.<br />

Haverhill Arts Centre<br />

High Street, Haverhill CB9 8AR<br />

01440 714140<br />

www.haverhillartscentre.co.uk<br />

Monday 2 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 1.30pm<br />

Neil S<strong>and</strong>s’ Christmas Memories<br />

You are invited to take a festive trip back<br />

down Memory Lane. This unforgettable<br />

afternoon of nonstop nostalgia, filled<br />

with more songs & carols more stunning<br />

costumes <strong>and</strong> more festive fun than ever<br />

before!<br />

Tuesday 10 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 7pm<br />

Coppelia<br />

Ninette de Valois’ charming <strong>and</strong> funny story<br />

of love, mischief <strong>and</strong> mechanical dolls. The<br />

intricate choreography is set to Delibes’<br />

score while Osbert Lancaster’s designs<br />

bring a colourful storybook world to<br />

life. A Christmas treat for the whole family.<br />

Friday 20 - Monday 30 <strong>Dec</strong>ember (Not<br />

25, 26)<br />

Snow White <strong>and</strong> the Seven Dwarfs<br />

pantomime<br />

With a brilliant cast including ITV’s hilarious<br />

Britain’s Got Talent finalist <strong>and</strong> Judge<br />

Rinder star, Drew Cameron as Muddles,<br />

a villainous Wicked Queen, a h<strong>and</strong>some<br />

Prince <strong>and</strong> the beautiful Snow White, plus<br />

the funniest <strong>and</strong> cutest Seven Dwarfs, <strong>and</strong><br />

a very clever Magic Mirror.<br />

continued


www.newmarketliving.co.uk | 5


Saturday 4 <strong>Jan</strong>uary, 7pm<br />

André Rieu - 70 years Young<br />

Charlotte Hawkins welcomes cinema<br />

audiences from around the world to<br />

Andre’s castle in Maastricht for a birthday<br />

celebration.<br />

Sunday 5 <strong>Jan</strong>uary, 2pm<br />

The Nutcracker<br />

The Royal Ballet recorded broadcast.<br />

The classical Christmas ballet. A treat for<br />

all the family.<br />

Ickworth National<br />

Trust<br />

Horringer, Bury St Edmunds IP29 5QE<br />

0344 800 1895<br />

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth<br />

1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 & 22 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />

Family Christmas Sparkle <strong>2019</strong><br />

Make Christmas decorations <strong>and</strong> crafts,<br />

sit next to the Christmas tree with stories<br />

<strong>and</strong> gifts from Father Christmas, visit the<br />

kitchen so your little ones can decorate<br />

their own biscuit <strong>and</strong> for the adults - warm<br />

up with a cup of mulled wine or apple <strong>and</strong><br />

a tasty treat.<br />

1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 & 22 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />

Children’s Crafts - Christmas is<br />

Coming<br />

Celebrate the festive season with some<br />

Christmas themed crafts!<br />

Monday 2 - Friday 6 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />

Ickworth’s Light Nights<br />

This winter, visit Ickworth’s Italianate<br />

garden that glows. Awaken your senses<br />

with a sound <strong>and</strong> light based trail capturing<br />

the magic of a Gothic Victorian Stumpery<br />

<strong>and</strong> the Gardener’s modern additions.<br />

Moyse’s Hall Museum<br />

Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1DX<br />

01284 706183<br />

www.moyseshall.org<br />

Sunday 8, 2.30pm <strong>and</strong> Tuesday 10<br />

<strong>Dec</strong>ember, 6.30pm<br />

Ghost Stories of M.R. James<br />

The Victorian Gentleman returns to present<br />

the Christmas M.R. James Ghost Stories.<br />

Moyse’s Hall is holding an afternoon<br />

reading of two classic stories from the pen<br />

of the master story teller Monty James.<br />

Saturday 14 <strong>and</strong> Sunday 15 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />

Meet Father Christmas<br />

Pay a visit to see Father Christmas, tell<br />

him your wishes for Christmas, <strong>and</strong> have<br />

a photo taken by one of his friendly elves<br />

before he heads off for his busiest day of<br />

the year! Children will receive a free gift <strong>and</strong><br />

photo with Father Christmas.<br />

Oliver Cromwell’s<br />

House<br />

29 St Mary’s Street, <strong>Ely</strong> CB7 4HF<br />

01353 662062<br />

www.olivercromwellshouse.co.uk<br />

Friday 27 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />

Christmas Eel Walk<br />

Why not discover the Eel Trade <strong>and</strong> enjoy<br />

this post Christmas Day walk around the<br />

wonderful Eel Trail. Marvel at the artworks<br />

connected to the Eel Heritage <strong>and</strong> learn<br />

so much from expert guides. Walks are<br />

approximately 1 mile <strong>and</strong> usually take 1<br />

hour 30 minutes.<br />

6 | www.newmarketliving.co.uk<br />

Saturday 28 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />

Christmas City Walk<br />

What better way of discovering the history<br />

of this magnificent city than being guided<br />

around its splendid array of medieval<br />

streets <strong>and</strong> paths. Embrace this post<br />

Christmas Day walk <strong>and</strong> discover the<br />

origins of the Cathedral <strong>and</strong> the importance<br />

of trade in this former Isle of Eels<br />

Sunday 29 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />

Christmas Riverside Walk<br />

This wintery tour takes in the city centre as<br />

well as the stunning riverside. Learn about<br />

the draining of the fens, the life of the Fen<br />

Folk <strong>and</strong> how the river serves visitors <strong>and</strong><br />

residents today.<br />

Prickwillow Engine<br />

Museum<br />

Main Street, Prickwillow CB7 4UN<br />

01353 720737<br />

www.prickwillowmuseum.com<br />

Sunday 8 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 11am - 4pm<br />

Christmas Special<br />

Get into the Christmas spirit with the sights,<br />

sounds <strong>and</strong> tastes of the festive season. e.<br />

Activities including making a festive<br />

decoration <strong>and</strong> decorating a fairy cake.<br />

Plenty of beautiful crafts to browse for<br />

Christmas gifts.<br />

The Apex<br />

Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3FD<br />

01284 758000<br />

www.theapex.co.uk<br />

Wednesday 4 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 7.30pm<br />

One Night of Elvis -<br />

Lee Memphis King<br />

Lee Memphis King, Europe’s most<br />

successful Elvis Presley tribute artist,<br />

recreates the essence of the King<br />

with consummate ease <strong>and</strong> an almost<br />

unbelievable combination of stunningly<br />

accurate vocals <strong>and</strong> incredible passion in<br />

every performance.<br />

Wednesday 18 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 7.30pm<br />

Jazz at the Movies -<br />

A Swinging Christmas <strong>2019</strong><br />

This joyous show gets jazzy with a<br />

stocking-full of 20th century holiday<br />

classics <strong>and</strong> curiosities.<br />

Expect vivid music, deep repertoire <strong>and</strong><br />

droll presentation, Jazz at the Movies <strong>and</strong><br />

A Swinging Christmas is the perfect way to<br />

begin the festivities.<br />

Saturday 21 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 7pm<br />

The Fillers (The Killers Tribute)<br />

Formed in late 2006 in Bury St. Edmunds,<br />

The Fillers are the world’s first <strong>and</strong> official<br />

tribute to The Killers. They’ve captured the<br />

sound, look <strong>and</strong> feel of the Vegas quartet,<br />

performing tracks from ‘Hot Fuss’, ‘Sam’s<br />

Town’, ‘Sawdust’, ‘Day <strong>and</strong> Age’ <strong>and</strong><br />

‘Battleborn’.<br />

Monday 30 <strong>Dec</strong>ember - Saturday 4<br />

<strong>Jan</strong>uary (no performance 1 <strong>Jan</strong>uary)<br />

Lionel Bart’s Oliver!<br />

The streets of Victorian Engl<strong>and</strong> come<br />

to life as Oliver, a malnourished orphan<br />

in a workhouse, becomes the neglected<br />

apprentice of an undertaker...Oliver<br />

escapes to London <strong>and</strong> finds acceptance<br />

amongst a group of petty thieves <strong>and</strong><br />

pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin.<br />

Friday 17 <strong>Jan</strong>uary, 7.30pm<br />

Buble Meets Sinatra -<br />

The Showdown<br />

Michael Buble <strong>and</strong> Frank Sinatra fans<br />

will experience the closest thing to the<br />

superstars themselves in this exhilarating<br />

tribute musical.<br />

Tuesday 28 <strong>Jan</strong>uary, 7.30pm<br />

Dance to the Music<br />

Dance to the Music is a sumptuously beautiful<br />

<strong>and</strong> glamorous dance show, created, directed<br />

<strong>and</strong> choreographed by ex Strictly Come<br />

Dancing professional, Kristina Rihanoff.<br />

The Fitzwilliam<br />

Museum<br />

Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RB<br />

01223 332900<br />

reception@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk<br />

Saturday 7 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 2pm - 4pm<br />

Family First Saturday<br />

Drop-in on the first Saturday of the month<br />

<strong>and</strong> join them for activities <strong>and</strong> art-making<br />

on the theme of festive fun.<br />

The Maltings<br />

Ship Lane, <strong>Ely</strong> CB7 4BB<br />

01353 662633<br />

www.themaltingsely.org.uk<br />

Friday 13 <strong>Dec</strong>ember - Sunday 5 <strong>Jan</strong>uary<br />

Dick Whittington<br />

Dick Whittington is off to London to seek<br />

his fortune <strong>and</strong> find the streets that are<br />

paved with gold. Along with his new found<br />

feline companion, Dick Whittington may<br />

just be the answer to everyone’s problems.<br />

Is he the one to save the day from Queen<br />

Rat’s quest to take over London?<br />

The Theatre Royal<br />

Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1QR<br />

01284 769505<br />

www.theatreroyal.org<br />

Friday 29 November - Sunday 19 <strong>Jan</strong>uary<br />

Peter Pan<br />

Everything changes on the dull, dreary day<br />

Wendy Darling meets a strange young boy<br />

called Peter Pan. He takes her to Neverl<strong>and</strong><br />

filled with fiendish pirates, funky mermaids<br />

<strong>and</strong> an incredibly hungry crocodile. Join<br />

Peter, Wendy <strong>and</strong> the outrageous Tiger Lily<br />

as they face the most fearful pantomime<br />

villain of all Captain Hook.<br />

Thursday 12 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />

Call My Festive Bluff<br />

Test your knowledge of wine against the wit<br />

<strong>and</strong> expertise of a panel of bluffers as they<br />

bluff, <strong>and</strong> double bluff, as you guess <strong>and</strong><br />

quaff! Enjoy a riotous evening of laughs, fun<br />

<strong>and</strong> fine wine, hosted by Nethergate Wines.<br />

Friday 24 - Saturday 25 <strong>Jan</strong>uary<br />

Showstopper! The Improvised<br />

Musical<br />

The Showstoppers create a br<strong>and</strong> new<br />

musical comedy from scratch at each<br />

performance of this award-winning show<br />

as audience suggestions are transformed<br />

on the spot into all-singing, all-dancing<br />

productions with hilarious results.<br />

We take great care in compiling the<br />

listings however, we recommend that you<br />

contact the venue in advance as events<br />

<strong>and</strong> activities may change


Celebrate Christmas<br />

at the Holiday Inn Cambridge<br />

Party Nights<br />

starting from £36.95 per person<br />

Please call 01223 582408 for more details or<br />

email events@hicambridge.co.uk<br />

www.newmarketliving.co.uk | 7


Thetford grammar school<br />

ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

Offering a wide range of extra-curricular activities because<br />

we know that well-rounded young people are best equipped to<br />

thrive academically <strong>and</strong> socially...<br />

Thetford Grammar School is an independent boarding school<br />

for pupils aged 3 – 19 years. Here at TGS we believe in the<br />

importance of a small school setting where a detailed picture of<br />

each pupil – their strengths, their needs, their hopes – is known<br />

by all staff. This means we are able to set challenges appropriate<br />

to our pupils’ ability levels, ensuring that they are always being<br />

stretched to achieve the very best of which they are capable.<br />

We offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities because we<br />

know that well-rounded young people are best equipped to thrive<br />

academically <strong>and</strong> socially. Our pupils have many opportunities<br />

to develop artistic, sporting, musical <strong>and</strong> linguistic skills through<br />

additional classes, clubs <strong>and</strong> activities. Our pupils achieve<br />

outst<strong>and</strong>ing results at GCSE <strong>and</strong> A level, with the majority of our<br />

Sixth Form going on to study at universities in the top tier of UK<br />

<strong>and</strong> global rankings including Oxford <strong>and</strong> Cambridge.<br />

Respect, Responsibility, Resilience<br />

The Three Rs are a commitment to provide everyone in our<br />

school with the opportunity <strong>and</strong> instruction necessary to develop<br />

these core values everyday. The Three Rs form a statement<br />

encompassing everything the school advocates <strong>and</strong> celebrates.<br />

By extension, they also outline behaviours <strong>and</strong> actions that the<br />

school will robustly but supportively challenge. Our goal is to<br />

inspire respectful, responsible, resilient young people capable of<br />

achieving their very best in school <strong>and</strong> in the global community<br />

beyond.<br />

We aim:<br />

• To provide a unique, personalised education for all pupils aged<br />

3-19 years;<br />

• To celebrate <strong>and</strong> support each child as an individual, finding<br />

their strengths <strong>and</strong> challenging them to achieve <strong>and</strong> to grow;<br />

• To provide a stimulating curriculum <strong>and</strong> excellent levels<br />

of pastoral care that enable the highest possible academic<br />

achievement <strong>and</strong> personal development of each pupil;<br />

• To cultivate in our pupils an international outlook that prepares<br />

them for success beyond school <strong>and</strong> inspires them to contribute<br />

positively as global citizens.<br />

It would be our privilege to have an opportunity to show you<br />

all that TGS has to offer <strong>and</strong> warmly welcome you to visit the<br />

school. For more information please contact our admissions<br />

team at: admissions@thetgram.norfolk.sch.uk<br />

8 | www.newmarketliving.co.uk


The importance of extra-curricular<br />

activities for children<br />

In team based sports they will learn how to<br />

work well in a team <strong>and</strong> they also build a lot<br />

of endurance. Every sport has something<br />

good to offer your child, whether they are<br />

played in teams or individually.<br />

Your child has spent a long day at school,<br />

however their first port of call when they<br />

home will probably be their X Box or<br />

something on the TV.<br />

However, we suggest that they will benefit<br />

greatly from a non-academic activity that<br />

they have an interest in. They can choose<br />

from sports, chess clubs, dance clubs,<br />

book clubs, <strong>and</strong> music clubs <strong>and</strong> so on…<br />

your child is bound to find something to like.<br />

There are many options for after-school<br />

activities for kids. Talk to your child about<br />

their interests <strong>and</strong> see what she may be<br />

interested in. High energy children may<br />

prefer sports or dance, while children<br />

who are quieter tend to prefer the calmer<br />

activities like book clubs, cooking class or<br />

perhaps pottery.<br />

Here are some extra-curricular activities<br />

that your child might enjoy.<br />

1. Music<br />

Some children learn to play instruments,<br />

while others prefer to sing. There are some<br />

who are good at doing both. There are so<br />

many instruments to choose from that you<br />

are bound to find something that they will<br />

enjoy playing.<br />

There is a certain freedom in music, <strong>and</strong><br />

a lot of children find joy in it. Children also<br />

tend to learn a lot about history <strong>and</strong> culture<br />

while learning something such as a musical<br />

instrument or song.<br />

2. Sports<br />

Sports such as football, basketball, cricket<br />

<strong>and</strong> softball require teamwork <strong>and</strong> a lot<br />

of energy, but if this type of sport doesn’t<br />

sound like it suits your child, there are other<br />

options such as tennis, badminton <strong>and</strong> golf<br />

that your child can try.<br />

10 | www.newmarketliving.co.uk<br />

3. Dance<br />

Even among dance, there are so many<br />

types to choose from that your child is sure<br />

to find the perfect fit. Be it ballet, tap or<br />

modern dance is something that will help<br />

your child develop physically <strong>and</strong> mentally<br />

as most forms of dance require discipline<br />

<strong>and</strong> a strong body <strong>and</strong> it keeps them active<br />

as nowadays there is very little physical<br />

activity at school.<br />

4. Painting <strong>and</strong> Sketching<br />

Perhaps your child is a blossoming artist.<br />

Playing with colours is a lot of fun <strong>and</strong><br />

creating different works of art may be<br />

something your child would prefer over<br />

other more boisterous activities.<br />

Your child will improve creative skills as<br />

the brain will begin to develop the areas<br />

associated with creativity. Painting <strong>and</strong><br />

drawing can also help develop problemsolving<br />

skills.<br />

5. Crafts, Pottery <strong>and</strong> Sculpting<br />

Working with clay <strong>and</strong> creating something<br />

with their h<strong>and</strong>s can give a child a sense of<br />

satisfaction that is not found through just<br />

any activity. Clay can have a therapeutic<br />

effect <strong>and</strong> is capable of keeping your child<br />

occupied for hours.<br />

Your child is going to develop sensory<br />

<strong>and</strong> motor skills through creative works.<br />

Children learn about shapes, the threedimensional<br />

world <strong>and</strong> even need to have a<br />

form of discipline, especially when working<br />

with clay.<br />

6. Martial Arts<br />

Though the varied styles of mixed martial<br />

arts like judo, Tae Kwan do, karate <strong>and</strong><br />

others may make one think of violence,<br />

what these really teach is discipline <strong>and</strong><br />

how to control strength rather than wielding<br />

it for violence.<br />

Martial Arts teach self-control <strong>and</strong> selfdiscipline.<br />

They also help in socialization<br />

skills <strong>and</strong> physical development in your<br />

child.<br />

7. Sewing Classes<br />

Sewing may not be something that<br />

crosses very many people’s minds for an<br />

extracurricular activity, but it is a skill that<br />

is very h<strong>and</strong>y indeed. Many children grow<br />

up with a passion for fashion, <strong>and</strong> this may<br />

be a very h<strong>and</strong>y first step for them for their<br />

futures.<br />

Sewing is as creative a field as painting or<br />

sculpting, <strong>and</strong> it is to be noted that it can<br />

be very educational for those children who<br />

want to be future designers.<br />

8. Book Club<br />

Book clubs are a great way for little<br />

bookworms to have their fun <strong>and</strong> socialise<br />

with other book lovers.<br />

Many things can be gained from a book<br />

club. Not only will the literature itself teach<br />

your child a lot about the world, the way it<br />

works <strong>and</strong> so much more, but it will also<br />

help them to develop their reading skills,<br />

which will have a tremendous impact on<br />

their writing skills.<br />

9. Cooking Class<br />

Cooking classes are great for children<br />

as they are not only an essential skill but<br />

another area where they can express their<br />

creativity.<br />

There are quite a few benefits to this as<br />

cooking food is something that will help<br />

your child develop focus, creativity <strong>and</strong> will<br />

also teach your children useful skills like<br />

how to h<strong>and</strong>le sharp knives. It also teaches<br />

them about different ingredients <strong>and</strong> how<br />

to prepare healthy <strong>and</strong> balanced meals, all<br />

with the company of others their age.<br />

10. Drama Club<br />

Your little drama kings <strong>and</strong> queens will love<br />

this one as it is a fun <strong>and</strong> productive way to<br />

use up their dramatic energies.<br />

Drama club helps your child to develop<br />

physical, artistic, social <strong>and</strong> public speaking<br />

skills. It also helps to improve a their<br />

memory <strong>and</strong> improvisation skills. Often,<br />

shy children who have a talent for acting<br />

become more confident <strong>and</strong> social through<br />

drama club.<br />

When you have a general idea of what your<br />

child wants, you can do some research<br />

to see who provides these classes in your<br />

area <strong>and</strong> then take the time to take your<br />

child to visit the place while a class is in<br />

session <strong>and</strong> see if is a stimulating <strong>and</strong><br />

comfortable environment.


SOUTH LEE<br />

SCHOol<br />

Ruth O’Sullivan, Headmistress at<br />

South Lee School speaks about the<br />

access their pupils have in all extracurricular<br />

programmes....<br />

Academic rigors <strong>and</strong> pursuits such as complex problem solving<br />

<strong>and</strong> critical thinking activities go far to strengthen the mind, but<br />

excellent extra-curricular activities will take this brain training<br />

even further.<br />

By offering activities involving learning <strong>and</strong> skills that the<br />

classroom alone cannot always facilitate, the children are<br />

exposed to a rich plethora of exciting, fun activities in which to<br />

immerse themselves.<br />

For example, a debating club can provide an opportunity to<br />

do more public speaking, a Greek club can enable children to<br />

experience life in Ancient Greece, <strong>and</strong> sport fosters strong team<br />

building skills along with healthy competition.<br />

Access to the Arts should be a given in all extra-curricular<br />

programmes. Today’s children are growing up in a very<br />

academically driven society, so they are under a huge amount of<br />

pressure to perform well in exams.<br />

By exposing our pupils to a rich, diverse <strong>and</strong> full extra-curricular<br />

program, we are allowing them to explore new things <strong>and</strong> to learn<br />

about themselves <strong>and</strong> what<br />

their future interests might<br />

be. Access to fun activities<br />

outside of the classroom<br />

is so important for mental<br />

health, providing a much<br />

needed space away from the<br />

pressures of academia.<br />

Ruth O’Sullivan,<br />

Headmistress, South Lee School in Bury St. Edmunds<br />

ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

Contact:<br />

South Lee School, Nowton Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2BT<br />

01284 754654<br />

office@southlee.co.uk<br />

www.southlee.co.uk<br />

www.newmarketliving.co.uk | 11


ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

the leys cambridge<br />

“A successful education is not only to be<br />

measured in examination grades, in the<br />

same way that no person should ever be<br />

defined by those grades.” Mr William Earl,<br />

Director of the Wider Curriculum at<br />

The Leys School, Cambridge.<br />

An education at The Leys is built on 3<br />

foundation stones; the academic, the<br />

pastoral <strong>and</strong> the wider curriculum. Wider<br />

Curricular activities form an integral<br />

part of the school week for all pupils<br />

with a significant amount of time in the<br />

afternoons <strong>and</strong> early evenings devoted<br />

to it. This is why, here at The Leys, we<br />

refer we the Wider Curriculum rather<br />

than the Extra Curriculum; education<br />

extends beyond the classroom allowing<br />

pupils to benefit from the breadth of<br />

skills, personal qualities, experiences<br />

<strong>and</strong> attitudes that are developed<br />

through performance, participation <strong>and</strong><br />

engagement. These skills are transferable<br />

to the working life of the pupils <strong>and</strong><br />

therefore huge benefits can be derived<br />

from undertaking them. Pupils at The<br />

Leys experience how hard work can yield<br />

excellent results <strong>and</strong> the programme<br />

of over 100 weekly activities, clubs<br />

<strong>and</strong> societies actively encourages a<br />

healthy, active lifestyle that supports their<br />

physical <strong>and</strong> emotional wellbeing.<br />

Everyone takes part in sports three times<br />

a week, whether as a member of a team<br />

in the major sports of hockey, cricket,<br />

netball, rugby <strong>and</strong> tennis or individually<br />

in areas such as rowing, squash,<br />

water polo, sailing, athletics, dance<br />

or badminton. The Sports Academy<br />

supports the school’s top sportsmen <strong>and</strong><br />

women by monitoring <strong>and</strong> enhancing<br />

their performance, setting goals,<br />

improving fitness <strong>and</strong> developing links<br />

with clubs. Many pupils play at County,<br />

Divisional <strong>and</strong> National levels. The school<br />

takes considerable pride in pupils’<br />

sporting successes <strong>and</strong> achievements<br />

<strong>and</strong> is equally proud of those who<br />

may not be at the ‘elite’ level but still<br />

contribute to sporting life.<br />

In Year 9 pupils start working on the Duke<br />

of Edinburgh’s Bronze award, progressing<br />

to Silver <strong>and</strong> Gold in Year 10 <strong>and</strong><br />

beyond. As part of the school’s Personal<br />

Development <strong>and</strong> Leadership Scheme,<br />

pupils from Year 10 – Lower Sixth take<br />

part in the army <strong>and</strong> navy CCF syllabus<br />

as well as providing volunteering services<br />

to the local community.<br />

Musical enrichment opportunities are<br />

vast; pupils can choose to participate in<br />

10 different musical ensembles <strong>and</strong> there<br />

are numerous options when it comes<br />

to live performance including overseas<br />

“Pupils at The Leys experience how hard work<br />

can yield excellent results <strong>and</strong> the programme<br />

of over 100 weekly activities, clubs <strong>and</strong> societies<br />

actively encourages a healthy, active lifestyle that<br />

supports their physical <strong>and</strong> emotional wellbeing.”<br />

tours (Croatia, Slovenia <strong>and</strong> Malta most<br />

recently) <strong>and</strong> the Chapel Choir who<br />

regularly join forces with choirs from the<br />

University’s College Choirs at Evensong.<br />

This year they were delighted to sing at<br />

St. Paul’s Cathedral <strong>and</strong> a number of<br />

concerts take place at the school every<br />

term culminating in the End of Year<br />

Concert at Saffron Hall in Saffron Walden.<br />

In addition to this over 200 individual<br />

instrumental lessons take place each<br />

week.<br />

The school’s Great Hall plays host to<br />

numerous dramatic performances, at<br />

least five major productions each year<br />

<strong>and</strong>, for those who prefer time out of<br />

the spotlight, the Backstage Theatre<br />

Company offers opportunities for helping<br />

with the ‘behind the scenes’ work such<br />

as theatrical makeup, sound <strong>and</strong> lighting<br />

<strong>and</strong> set-building. The Leys’ strong<br />

connections with the Charing Cross<br />

Theatre in London also enables pupils to<br />

train <strong>and</strong> perform away from the school<br />

environment.<br />

Whether physical, artistic, cultural<br />

or practical, the Wider Curricular<br />

opportunities are enormous <strong>and</strong> their<br />

benefits cannot be over-estimated.<br />

For more information or to visit The<br />

Leys contact the admissions team<br />

admissions@theleys.net or telephone<br />

01223 508904. We look forward to<br />

meeting you.<br />

12 | www.newmarketliving.co.uk


There’s a lot happening at <strong>Ely</strong> Markets this Christmas...<br />

<strong>Ely</strong> Markets will be hosting a wonderful selection of events in the run<br />

up to Christmas – including a Vegan Christmas Fair <strong>and</strong> traditional<br />

festive food <strong>and</strong> gift markets.<br />

At <strong>Ely</strong> Markets you’ll find all the local produce you need for a traditional<br />

Christmas celebration, plus a wonderful selection of crafts, gifts <strong>and</strong> vintage finds.<br />

Choose a h<strong>and</strong>made wreath for your front door, try some of <strong>Ely</strong> Gin’s famous<br />

Sloe <strong>and</strong> Cherry tipple or hunt down the perfect stocking filler.<br />

Whether you’re after last-minute gifts, local produce or some laid-back street<br />

food, make <strong>Ely</strong> Markets your festive destination this <strong>Dec</strong>ember.<br />

Vegan Christmas Fair<br />

Sun 15 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 10am – 4pm<br />

Festive Mini Markets<br />

Mon 16, Tues 17, Wed 18, Fri 20<br />

<strong>Dec</strong>ember, 10 – 3pm<br />

Last Charter Market before Christmas<br />

Thurs 19 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 8.30am – 3.30pm<br />

<strong>Ely</strong> Markets Diary:<br />

Christmas Eve Mini-Market: 10am – 3pm<br />

Markets as usual from Sat 28 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />

Craft, Food & Vintage Market<br />

Sat 21 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 8.30am – 3.30pm<br />

Sunday Market<br />

22 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 10am – 4pm<br />

Special Christmas & Farmers Market<br />

Mon 23 <strong>Dec</strong>ember,<br />

8.30am – 3.30pm<br />

ELY MARKET PLACE Cambridgeshire CB7 4NT<br />

www.elymarkets.co.uk | fli @<strong>Ely</strong>Markets


THE HAIRY BIKERS<br />

Easy Eats<br />

The following recipes have been taken from Si <strong>and</strong> Dave’s<br />

new cookbook based around one-pot recipes. The hearty<br />

meals featured in their book are delicious <strong>and</strong> nutritious <strong>and</strong><br />

hopefully there will be no fighting about who will be doing the<br />

washing up. Just right for Christmas...<br />

Turkey <strong>and</strong> ham<br />

C hristmas Casserole<br />

This is a great way to use up any leftover<br />

turkey <strong>and</strong> ham at Christmas, or you can<br />

substitute chicken at any other time of<br />

year. The topping is made from stuffing<br />

ingredients <strong>and</strong> turns out beautifully crunchy<br />

<strong>and</strong> tasty - of course, many of us think the<br />

stuffing is the best part of Christmas dinner.<br />

A fab festive feast. Serves 4<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

50g butter<br />

3 leeks, cut into rounds<br />

30g plain flour<br />

100ml white wine<br />

500ml chicken stock<br />

100ml double cream<br />

400g cooked turkey (or chicken), diced<br />

150g ham, diced<br />

2 tarragon sprigs, leaves finely chopped<br />

100g peas, defrosted<br />

6 cubes of frozen spinach, defrosted<br />

salt <strong>and</strong> black pepper<br />

Stuffing crust<br />

100g breadcrumbs<br />

1 small onion, grated<br />

100g chestnuts, grated<br />

50g dried cranberries, soaked in warm<br />

water (optional)<br />

2 tsp dried sage<br />

small bunch of parsley, finely chopped<br />

large knob of butter<br />

16 | www.newmarketliving.co.uk<br />

METHOD<br />

First make the filling. Heat the butter in a<br />

large flameproof casserole dish. When it<br />

has melted, add the leeks with plenty of<br />

seasoning <strong>and</strong> turn down the heat.<br />

Cover the dish with a lid <strong>and</strong> leave the leeks<br />

to cook gently until tender. Stir regularly<br />

<strong>and</strong> try not to let them take on any colour.<br />

Stir the flour into the dish to form a roux<br />

around the leeks. Add the wine <strong>and</strong> stir<br />

vigorously - it will thicken considerably.<br />

Gradually add the stock, stirring constantly,<br />

until you have incorporated it all, then add<br />

the cream. Fold in the turkey or chicken,<br />

ham, tarragon <strong>and</strong> peas. Squeeze any<br />

excess water from the spinach, then stir the<br />

spinach into the dish. Taste for seasoning<br />

<strong>and</strong> add salt <strong>and</strong> pepper as needed.<br />

To make the topping, mix the breadcrumbs,<br />

onion, chestnuts, drained cranberries <strong>and</strong><br />

the herbs, then season with plenty of salt<br />

<strong>and</strong> pepper. Sprinkle this mixture over the<br />

top of the filling, then dot with butter. Bake<br />

in the oven for 25-30 minutes until the filling<br />

is bubbling <strong>and</strong> breaking through the crisp,<br />

golden-brown topping.<br />

Veggie chilli<br />

with cornmeal dumplings<br />

We do like a dumpling <strong>and</strong> these sweetcorn<br />

ones are just right with our veggie chilli.<br />

There are lots of great flavours here <strong>and</strong><br />

this is a good filling feast for hungry hordes.<br />

Serves 4<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

2 tbsp olive oil<br />

1 large onion, diced<br />

1 green pepper, diced<br />

1 red pepper, diced<br />

2 celery sticks, diced<br />

2 jalepeño chillies, finely diced<br />

4 garlic cloves, crushed<br />

2 bay leaves<br />

1 tbsp ground cumin<br />

25g red lentils, well rinsed<br />

750ml vegetable stock<br />

400ml coconut milk<br />

1 head of baby spring greens, shredded<br />

2 x 400g cans of black or pinto beans,<br />

drained <strong>and</strong> rinsed<br />

juice of 1 lime<br />

salt <strong>and</strong> black pepper<br />

Cornmeal dumplings<br />

150g self-raising flour<br />

75g chilled butter, diced<br />

125g fine cornmeal<br />

125g sweetcorn, defrosted if frozen<br />

50ml buttermilk<br />

1 egg<br />

100g vegetarian Cheddar cheese, grated<br />

chopped fresh cori<strong>and</strong>er<br />

METHOD<br />

Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole<br />

dish with a lid <strong>and</strong> add the onion, peppers,<br />

celery <strong>and</strong> chillies. Cook over a medium<br />

heat until the vegetables have started to<br />

soften, then stir in the garlic, bay leaves,<br />

cumin <strong>and</strong> red lentils. Season generously<br />

with salt <strong>and</strong> pepper, then pour in the<br />

vegetable stock.<br />

Bring to the boil <strong>and</strong> leave for 5 minutes,<br />

then turn down the heat <strong>and</strong> continue to<br />

simmer until the red lentils have softened.<br />

Add the coconut milk, spring greens <strong>and</strong><br />

beans <strong>and</strong> cook until the spring greens are<br />

tender <strong>and</strong> the lentils have collapsed <strong>and</strong><br />

thickened the sauce. Taste for seasoning<br />

<strong>and</strong> add the lime juice.<br />

To make the dumplings, put the flour into<br />

a bowl with a pinch of salt. Rub in the<br />

butter until the mixture resembles fine<br />

breadcrumbs, then mix in the cornmeal,<br />

sweetcorn, buttermilk <strong>and</strong> egg. Bring<br />

everything together into a firm dough, then<br />

divide into 12 pieces. Roll them into balls.<br />

Arrange the dumplings over the chilli <strong>and</strong><br />

cover. Cook over a medium heat for about<br />

25 minutes until the dumplings are well<br />

risen <strong>and</strong> glossy. Serve the chilli with grated<br />

cheese <strong>and</strong> plenty of chopped cori<strong>and</strong>er.<br />

The Hairy<br />

Bikers’ One<br />

Pot Wonders<br />

by Si King<br />

<strong>and</strong> Dave<br />

Myers is<br />

published by<br />

Seven Dials<br />

in hardback<br />

at £22,<br />

photography<br />

by Andrew<br />

Hayes-<br />

Watkins


NOTES<br />

from the pass<br />

Michael Caines MBE, chef/patron of Lympstone<br />

Manor, is one of Britain’s most decorated <strong>and</strong><br />

well-known chefs. Sally Thomson caught up with<br />

him to discuss his ventures in wine, his passion<br />

for teaching <strong>and</strong> his need for speed...<br />

When we last met you were at<br />

Kentisbury Grange, <strong>and</strong> I note that you<br />

received some awards for that?<br />

Yes, the Small Hotel of the Year <strong>and</strong><br />

Restaurant of the Year. It’s great!<br />

Kentisbury Grange is owned by my old<br />

school friend Mark Cushway. Mark asked<br />

me to get involved <strong>and</strong> help him with<br />

his project, which I did, <strong>and</strong> it’s great to<br />

see that over the years we’ve managed<br />

to acquire many awards which is a<br />

tribute to the team. The chef there at the<br />

moment is James Checkley <strong>and</strong> he is<br />

doing a great job, <strong>and</strong> we just continue<br />

to advance <strong>and</strong> improve. There are<br />

challenges being in North Devon that are<br />

different to being located in South Devon,<br />

unfortunately places in North Devon can<br />

get overlooked on the culinary map, so<br />

it’s nice to be able to contribute to the<br />

North Devon economy by creating a<br />

lovely venue, <strong>and</strong> to see it do well.<br />

When we last spoke you mentioned that<br />

your pride <strong>and</strong> joy was Lympstone Manor.<br />

You are now nearly into its third year…<br />

It’s incredible to think that when we last<br />

met, it was just in its infancy. We won a<br />

Michelin Star within six months, <strong>and</strong> we<br />

are very pleased to announce that we<br />

have been given five rosettes this year,<br />

so it is great progress <strong>and</strong> we just look to<br />

the Michelin gods that we might advance<br />

to two! But the main thing is that since<br />

we spoke we planted a vineyard <strong>and</strong> the<br />

whole property has settled <strong>and</strong> matured.<br />

It really is the best of me <strong>and</strong> everything<br />

that I have achieved in my career<br />

combined into this wonderful place.<br />

Do you draw back the curtains <strong>and</strong> pinch<br />

yourself to remember that it’s yours?<br />

Every day! When I walk into that<br />

"Lympstone Manor<br />

really is the best of<br />

me, <strong>and</strong> everything<br />

that I have achieved in<br />

my career combined<br />

into this wonderful<br />

place."<br />

property <strong>and</strong> I look<br />

at that view…I do pinch myself! But<br />

I also recognise that it has been a<br />

huge amount of hard work <strong>and</strong> it still<br />

continues to take a lot of commitment.<br />

So about your vineyard! The harvest<br />

in 2018 was good wasn’t it?<br />

The harvest in the UK in 2018 was<br />

brilliant, it was the best harvests in the<br />

history of English wine making, it’s been<br />

incredible. We planted our vineyard in<br />

2018, <strong>and</strong> in its second year it will<br />

produce grapes that we can harvest<br />

(next year), those grapes will then be<br />

vinified <strong>and</strong> we will be releasing our first<br />

wine in 2024. So it takes three years for<br />

the vineyard to establish. We are now in<br />

our second year. We planted, in eleven<br />

acres, 17,500 vines, of which 50%<br />

are Pinot Noir, 20% Meunier <strong>and</strong> 30%<br />

are Chardonnay. They are the classic<br />

champagne varietals, so we are looking<br />

forward to producing some wonderful<br />

English sparkling wine. Hopefully they will<br />

have their own story to tell, alongside the<br />

story of Lympstone Manor.<br />

I’ve been watching Jason Atherton<br />

in The Chef’s Brigade, <strong>and</strong> what I<br />

hadn’t really realised is the interaction<br />

between each person in the kitchen<br />

<strong>and</strong> how it can affect the cuisine. I<br />

work in an office, <strong>and</strong> each person<br />

does their own thing, whereas in a<br />

kitchen, the relationship between each<br />

person is quite a complex one!<br />

In all honesty it’s not that different! Similar<br />

to what you described with your office,<br />

everyone has different disciplines. The<br />

editor brings into the magazine all those<br />

different skills that contribute into a great<br />

publication. In a kitchen it is similar, it’s<br />

like an orchestra, <strong>and</strong> we conduct that<br />

orchestra, but we edit it <strong>and</strong> so we are<br />

the curators but it requires an individual<br />

team working alongside each other <strong>and</strong><br />

communicating. Our deadlines however<br />

are very immediate! It requires massive<br />

amounts of effort <strong>and</strong> discipline, <strong>and</strong><br />

that discipline is not self-indulgent,<br />

it’s selfless, as it is a requirement. It is<br />

a very tough environment. We are all<br />

interconnected <strong>and</strong> intertwined, but it’s<br />

also like the analogy of a swan, where on<br />

the surface to the customer we appear<br />

very calm, but underneath there’s two<br />

legs paddling! But we’ve got more than<br />

two legs on the team, <strong>and</strong> those legs are<br />

components, all working together. It’s<br />

fascinating <strong>and</strong> it’s a good insight into<br />

what goes on behind the scenes.<br />

17


On a completely different note, did<br />

you go to Silverstone this year? If so,<br />

how many Gr<strong>and</strong> Prix’s did you get to<br />

attend?<br />

I did go this year, it was great! I’ve seen<br />

four this year, sometimes it’s five. But I<br />

did three Europeans <strong>and</strong> one fly-away,<br />

<strong>and</strong> so we send a chef out to all the<br />

Europeans to support ROKiT Williams<br />

Racing, <strong>and</strong> I go to Monaco, British,<br />

Monza <strong>and</strong> America. Sometimes I do Abu<br />

Dhabi <strong>and</strong> I might try <strong>and</strong> do Singapore<br />

next year. I do as many or as few as I<br />

want, but no less than three.<br />

What’s your favourite?<br />

Monaco is amazing but the racing is<br />

dull. Monza is the fastest track. Italy, I<br />

love Italy. But I love Silverstone for pure<br />

racing, it’s a great track. It’s a fascinating<br />

sport, <strong>and</strong> I think as much as we criticise<br />

it, one minute you can have a dull race<br />

<strong>and</strong> the next minute you can have the<br />

most exciting race.<br />

I know you are very involved with<br />

charities, <strong>and</strong> you have the Michael<br />

Caines Academy at Exeter College?<br />

It’s probably more of an educational<br />

programme at Exeter College where we<br />

take sixteen students through two years<br />

of training <strong>and</strong> they then graduate as<br />

a Michael Caines Academy student. In<br />

that time they have a slightly shortened<br />

curriculum where they spend six weeks<br />

in work experience <strong>and</strong> they have do<br />

one ‘experience day’ a week, which are<br />

cooking demonstrations, visits to the<br />

industry etc. After these two years when<br />

they graduate they are very sought after,<br />

because of the experience they have<br />

gained. So the academy is very important<br />

<strong>and</strong> it’s doing a great job supplying the<br />

industry with some much needed talent.<br />

They are all like-minded <strong>and</strong> are fabulous<br />

kids, <strong>and</strong> now in its eighth year we’ve had<br />

sixty cohorts going through, <strong>and</strong> we will<br />

continue to develop. We might increase<br />

the cohort, <strong>and</strong> we might exp<strong>and</strong> the<br />

academy within other colleges. But in<br />

terms of the charity work I do, I work with<br />

seven different charities. I’m patron of<br />

Families for Children which is an adoption<br />

charity, I’m the president of the wonderful<br />

charity Farms for City Children, I’m on the<br />

board for the Exeter Chiefs Foundation,<br />

which is the charity for the Exeter Rugby<br />

team which do a fantastic job. I’m also<br />

an ambassador <strong>and</strong> advisor to the board<br />

of the Calvert Trust, <strong>and</strong> I also work<br />

alongside Damon Hill’s Charity who<br />

support people with Down’s Syndrome.<br />

So it’s lots of different charities! But it<br />

increases public awareness, <strong>and</strong> I’m<br />

particularly proud to have been made<br />

a deputy lieutenant to the lieutenant of<br />

Devon, because through this position<br />

I am able to work on improving the<br />

network of charities in Devon, <strong>and</strong> get<br />

them working together.<br />

In terms of the success of the Exeter<br />

Chiefs, <strong>and</strong> the work that they do – we<br />

support seventeen charities every<br />

year, but alongside that we donate<br />

undesignated funds to a huge amount of<br />

different charities. What we are seeing<br />

is a way in which we can help charities<br />

with capital projects, <strong>and</strong> last year we<br />

got together with the Property Ball.<br />

They raised £55,000 last year towards<br />

charities, <strong>and</strong> we chose to match fund<br />

"If you are a public<br />

figure...then I<br />

think you have a<br />

duty of care to do<br />

something <strong>and</strong><br />

put back in the<br />

community"<br />

that, <strong>and</strong> so between the two charities<br />

we raised £110,000 to refit Devon<br />

Hospice in Exeter, which was a wellworthy<br />

cause <strong>and</strong> an incredible thing<br />

to do. But it’s things like that, that are<br />

about the community, that inspire you<br />

to get involved. If you are a public figure<br />

or you are someone who is perceived<br />

to be a celebrity or you are successful<br />

then I think you have a duty of care<br />

to do something <strong>and</strong> put back in the<br />

community. Not everybody does it but I<br />

think it is important.<br />

You can find out more about Michael<br />

Caines at michaelcaines.com<br />

<strong>and</strong> Lympstone Manor at<br />

lympstonemanor.co.uk<br />

18


C hristmas<br />

MINI CHOCOLATE &<br />

RASPBERRY TARTS<br />

So, you're not a fan of mince meat <strong>and</strong><br />

dried fruit? Christmas is a challenging<br />

time then. Just as well to have<br />

these delicious Christmas pudding<br />

alternatives for the big day. Recipes<br />

from egg experts Clarence Court<br />

Prep: 30 mins | Cook: 30 mins to 1 hour<br />

Serves 6<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

For the pastry:<br />

150g (5oz) plain flour<br />

4 level tbsp icing sugar<br />

Pinch of salt<br />

100g (3½ oz) unsalted butter<br />

1 Burford Brown egg yolk<br />

For the filling:<br />

4 tbsp raspberry conserve<br />

284ml carton whipping cream<br />

2 tbsp liquid glucose<br />

200g bar dark chocolate<br />

50g (1¾ oz) unsalted butter<br />

Few drops of vanilla extract<br />

Fresh raspberries <strong>and</strong> chocolate curls or<br />

fans, to serve<br />

Icing sugar, to dust<br />

METHOD<br />

Pre heat the oven to 180°C (350°F, gas mark 4).<br />

Pour flour, icing sugar <strong>and</strong> salt into a bowl <strong>and</strong> stir.<br />

Cut the butter into smaller pieces before adding it to<br />

the flour <strong>and</strong> rubbing together.<br />

Add the Burford Brown egg yolk <strong>and</strong> bind together<br />

(if required, add 1-2tbsp of water to get the desired<br />

consistency). Wrap the pastry in cling film <strong>and</strong> leave<br />

to chill it for around 15 mins.<br />

Roll the pastry <strong>and</strong> use it to line the tins. Prick<br />

the bottom of the pastry <strong>and</strong> line with backing<br />

parchment <strong>and</strong> baking beans before putting it in the<br />

oven to bake for 12-15 minutes.<br />

Remove the baking parchment <strong>and</strong> baking beans<br />

then return to the oven to bake for a further 3-5<br />

minutes or until the pastry is cooked through.<br />

Take out of the oven <strong>and</strong> leave to cool. Remove the<br />

pastry from the tin <strong>and</strong> cover the bases with jam.<br />

For the chocolate filling, carefully bring cream to the<br />

boil <strong>and</strong> remove from the heat. Stir in liquid glucose<br />

<strong>and</strong> pour over the chocolate, stirring until it's<br />

melted. Add butter <strong>and</strong> vanilla extract <strong>and</strong> stir until<br />

melted. Pour the chocolate into the cases. Chill until<br />

filling has set. <strong>Dec</strong>orate with raspberries to finish.<br />

THESE HEAVENLY CHOCOLATE<br />

TARTS ARE NOT ONLY A<br />

MOUTHFUL OF CHOCOLATE<br />

RASPBERRY HEAVEN, BUT THEY<br />

ARE ALSO SO EASY TO MAKE.<br />

19


WINTER FRUIT<br />

& NUT PAVLOVA<br />

Prep: 30 mins | Cook: 1 hour 20 mins<br />

Serves: 6-8<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

6 large Clarence Court Burford Brown egg<br />

whites (keep the yolks in the fridge for<br />

another day or make eggnog)<br />

300g caster sugar<br />

Pinch sea salt<br />

1 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />

2 tablespoon icing sugar<br />

50g pecans<br />

300ml double cream<br />

1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste<br />

4 figs<br />

200g mixed berries (red currants,<br />

raspberries)<br />

1 clementine or tangerine, peeled into<br />

segments<br />

4 tablespoons sweetened chestnut puree<br />

Ground cinnamon<br />

METHOD<br />

Pre-heat the oven to 120°C. Line a baking<br />

sheet with greaseproof paper <strong>and</strong> draw a<br />

30cm circle on it as a template.<br />

IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO MAKE<br />

ONE ONCE YOU'RE NEARLY<br />

DONE WITH THE OVEN AFTER<br />

A DAY OF BAKING AND<br />

ROASTING. ONCE COOKED,<br />

TURN OFF THE OVEN AND<br />

ALLOW THE MERINGUE TO<br />

COOL IN THERE UNTIL THE<br />

NEXT DAY.<br />

Place the egg whites in a large, spotlessly<br />

clean mixing bowl <strong>and</strong> whisk with a h<strong>and</strong> held<br />

or freest<strong>and</strong>ing electric mixer until stiff peaks<br />

have formed. Add the caster sugar a spoonful<br />

at a time, whisking the whole time then add<br />

the sea salt <strong>and</strong> vanilla extract. Continue<br />

to whisk for around 8 minutes or until all<br />

the sugar has dissolved <strong>and</strong> the mixture is<br />

smooth. To test this take a pinch of mixture<br />

between your finger <strong>and</strong> thumb <strong>and</strong> rub<br />

together. If it’s a little gritty, continue mixing.<br />

Spoon the mixture on to the lined baking<br />

sheet using the back of the spoon to create<br />

peaks. Place the pavlova in the oven for<br />

around 1 hour <strong>and</strong> 20 minutes or until set<br />

<strong>and</strong> crisp. Once baked switch off the oven<br />

<strong>and</strong> allow the oven to cool down completely.<br />

Once cooled you can keep the pavlova in<br />

an air tight box for around 3 days in a cool<br />

dark place.<br />

About 30 minutes before you’re ready to<br />

serve remove the pavlova from the oven <strong>and</strong><br />

pre-heat to 200°C. Line a small roasting tin<br />

or baking sheet with grease proof paper.<br />

Rinse the pecans under cold water in a sieve<br />

<strong>and</strong> tip into a roasting tin whilst wet, sprinkle<br />

over 1 tablespoon icing sugar, toss together<br />

<strong>and</strong> bake in the oven for around 15 minutes<br />

until toasted <strong>and</strong> crunchy.<br />

Meanwhile pour the cream into a large mixing<br />

bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoons icing<br />

sugar <strong>and</strong> vanilla bean paste. Whisk to soft<br />

peaks <strong>and</strong> place to one side.<br />

Wash fruits, quarter the figs. Place the<br />

pavlova on a serving plate or board <strong>and</strong><br />

spoon over the cream, spoon the chestnut<br />

puree on top <strong>and</strong> arrange over the fruit.<br />

Scatter over the caramelised pecans <strong>and</strong><br />

dust over a little ground cinnamon.<br />

20


FLOURLESS<br />

CHOCOLATE<br />

CAKE<br />

Prep: 30 minutes<br />

Cook: 1 hour | Serves: 8-10<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

6 Clarence Court Burford Brown eggs,<br />

separated<br />

200g unsalted butter<br />

200g dark chocolate<br />

Finely grated zest of one orange (cut the<br />

orange itself into thin slices for serving<br />

with the cake)<br />

1 tablespoon cold espresso<br />

250g caster sugar<br />

70g cocoa powder<br />

Créme frâiche (or salted caramel sauce)<br />

for serving<br />

Pecan nuts (optional)<br />

METHOD<br />

Preheat the oven to 160°C/gas mark 3.<br />

Grease a 23cm springform cake tin, <strong>and</strong><br />

line with baking parchment.<br />

Place a heatproof bowl over a saucepan<br />

of simmering water. Add the butter,<br />

chocolate <strong>and</strong> orange zest to the bowl,<br />

<strong>and</strong>, stirring occasionally, allow to melt<br />

until smooth. Stir in the espresso. Take<br />

the bowl off the heat <strong>and</strong> place to one<br />

side to cool a little.<br />

In a mixing bowl, whisk the sugar <strong>and</strong> egg<br />

yolks until they’re pale <strong>and</strong> fluffy. Sift in<br />

the cocoa powder <strong>and</strong> fold through, then<br />

sprinkle in a pinch of salt. In a separate<br />

mixing bowl, whip the egg whites into soft<br />

peaks using an electric h<strong>and</strong> whisk. Stir<br />

the melted chocolate mixture into the egg<br />

yolk mixture, then gently fold through the<br />

egg whites until just combined.<br />

Carefully pour the cake mix into the lined<br />

cake tin <strong>and</strong> place in the oven for around<br />

one hour. Test the dense cake after an<br />

hour by inserting a skewer into the centre:<br />

if it comes out nearly clean, it’s ready.<br />

Remove the cake from the oven <strong>and</strong> allow<br />

it to cool on a rack before removing it<br />

from the tin.<br />

Serve with the blood orange slices <strong>and</strong><br />

créme frâiche, <strong>and</strong>/or the salted caramel<br />

sauce, with a h<strong>and</strong>ful of pecans (optional).<br />

FUDGY, MOUSSEY AND RICH.<br />

WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE? A<br />

PERFECT CAKE TO SERVE AS A<br />

GLUTEN-FREE TREAT, THAT’S<br />

SO DELICIOUS EVERYONE WILL<br />

WANT SOME. EGGS ARE THE<br />

KEY TO THIS CAKE, GIVING IT<br />

BODY AND RISE.<br />

21


PEAR &<br />

BLACKBERRY<br />

FRANGIPANE<br />

TART<br />

Prep: 1 hour | Cook: 1 hour<br />

Serves: 8<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

Plain flour<br />

1 500g pack shortcrust pastry<br />

160g unsalted butter, softened<br />

160g caster sugar<br />

2 Clarence Court Burford Brown<br />

eggs<br />

160g ground almonds<br />

2 tablespoons plain flour<br />

1 teaspoon almond extract<br />

50g blackberry jam<br />

100g blackberries<br />

3 pears<br />

Icing sugar<br />

METHOD<br />

Roll the pastry to 3mm thick on<br />

a lightly floured work surface.<br />

Carefully line a 22cm, round, fluted<br />

tart tin allowing for a little overhang.<br />

Prick the base all over <strong>and</strong> place the<br />

lined tin in the freezer for 1 hour.<br />

Meanwhile place the butter, sugar,<br />

egg, almonds <strong>and</strong> extract in a large<br />

mixing bowl. Whisk together until<br />

smooth <strong>and</strong> place to one side. Peel<br />

one of the pears, core <strong>and</strong> chop<br />

then place to one side.<br />

Pre-heat the oven to 180c/350f/<br />

gas mark 4. Fill the chilled case with<br />

baking beans <strong>and</strong> blind bake for 15<br />

minutes. Remove the baking beans<br />

<strong>and</strong> return the case to the oven <strong>and</strong><br />

bake for a further 5 minutes or until<br />

golden.<br />

Once baked, remove the tart case<br />

from the oven <strong>and</strong> spoon the jam<br />

into the bottom of the case. Scatter<br />

over the chopped pear. Fold half of<br />

the berries into the frangipane <strong>and</strong><br />

spoon over the jam <strong>and</strong> chopped<br />

pear. Smooth over with a spatula.<br />

Halve, core <strong>and</strong> slice the remaining<br />

2 pears. Arrange the slices over the<br />

frangipane <strong>and</strong> dot the remaining<br />

blackberries around. Place the tart<br />

on an oven tray <strong>and</strong> bake for 30<br />

minutes or until just risen <strong>and</strong> set.<br />

Allow to cool for a few minutes<br />

before removing from the tin <strong>and</strong><br />

allow to cool on a wire rack. Serve<br />

warm with creme fraiche <strong>and</strong><br />

berries or allow to cool completely.<br />

Dust with icing sugar <strong>and</strong> serve.<br />

QUICK HOMEMADE<br />

FRANGIPANE IS THE PERFECT<br />

CARRIER FOR ALL TYPES<br />

OF FRUIT. CRANBERRIES<br />

AND CITRUS FRUITS ARE<br />

ALSO GREAT CHOICES FOR<br />

CHRISTMAS<br />

22


EGGCELLENT EGGNOG<br />

Prep: 10 mins (plus chilling) | Cook: 10 mins<br />

Serves 6<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

565ml (1 pint) milk<br />

200ml double cream<br />

1 vanilla pod, halved, seeds scraped out (or 1 tablespoon<br />

vanilla bean paste)<br />

Half a whole nutmeg, grated (plus a little extra for serving)<br />

2 sticks cinnamon<br />

2 whole cloves<br />

4 Burford brown eggs separated<br />

100g golden caster sugar<br />

130ml Cockspur fine rum<br />

3 tablespoons demerara sugar<br />

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />

METHOD<br />

Pour the milk <strong>and</strong> cream in to a saucepan. Add the spices<br />

(including the empty vanilla pod) <strong>and</strong> place on a medium<br />

heat. Bring to a simmer (but not boiling) <strong>and</strong> allow to cool for<br />

5 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse.<br />

Meanwhile place the egg yolks <strong>and</strong> sugar in a large mixing<br />

bowl. Whisk well until light <strong>and</strong> thickened. Strain the warm milk<br />

into a jug through a sieve. Pour the spiced milk into the bowl of<br />

egg yolks in a steady stream whisking well. Stir in the rum.<br />

You can either place the mixture in a cooled sterilised bottle<br />

with a tight fitting lid <strong>and</strong> allow the flavours to develop in the<br />

fridge. If you decide to do this you can freeze the egg whites<br />

in a s<strong>and</strong>wich bag until you’re ready to use. Then defrost<br />

them in the fridge before whisking.<br />

If you would like to serve straight away. Place the egg whites<br />

in a large mixing bowl <strong>and</strong> whisk the whites to soft peaks.<br />

Mix the demerara sugar <strong>and</strong> ground cinnamon on a plate.<br />

Have a small bowl of rum or water ready.<br />

Fold the egg whites in to the eggnog mix then pour into a<br />

serving jug. Dip the rims of serving glasses into the rum or<br />

water <strong>and</strong> then dip straight into the sugar <strong>and</strong> cinnamon mix.<br />

Divide the eggnog between glasses <strong>and</strong> finish with a grating<br />

of nutmeg.<br />

Images Courtesy David Loftus<br />

23


OWLEEZ<br />

Interactive Owleez<br />

responds to your<br />

touch, movement<br />

<strong>and</strong> care – it has<br />

over 100 sounds<br />

<strong>and</strong> movements<br />

<strong>and</strong> can even fly!<br />

£44.99, amazon.<br />

co.uk<br />

MY PARTNER PIKACHU<br />

3 touch sensors let you <strong>and</strong><br />

Pikachu communicate in a<br />

new <strong>and</strong> fun way. £17.99,<br />

smythstoys.com<br />

24<br />

PET POOKI<br />

The interactive pet! With<br />

over an hour of content,<br />

movement <strong>and</strong> sounds<br />

Pooki will respond<br />

differently to your child's<br />

interaction. Pooki will<br />

look for you when you<br />

call her name, don't shout<br />

though she gets scared.<br />

£49, argos.co.uk<br />

NEON MARL<br />

Fun <strong>and</strong> bright<br />

sweatshirts <strong>and</strong><br />

hoodies for her,<br />

the kids plus<br />

festive designs.<br />

From £30,<br />

neonmarl.co.uk<br />

SUEDE SLIPPERS<br />

Beautiful, soft h<strong>and</strong>made<br />

Moroccan slippers with<br />

padding inside that moulds<br />

to the feet. Grey <strong>and</strong> Tan<br />

Brown available. £16 with<br />

free P&P, hauslife.co.uk<br />

FLORIS REED<br />

DIFFUSER<br />

Fill your home with the warming fragrance of<br />

Ginger & S<strong>and</strong>alwood from luxury scent makers<br />

Floris. £70, florislondon.com<br />

PERFORMANCE<br />

GYM BALL<br />

Help support fitness<br />

goals at home with<br />

this sturdy 65cm ball<br />

<strong>and</strong> pump. £21.99,<br />

1000mile.co.uk<br />

SNEAK V TRAINERS<br />

Sustainable, vegan lace up sneaker in breathable <strong>and</strong><br />

soft (yet hard-wearing) alternative to leather, featuring<br />

perforated Po-Zu butterfly<br />

logo detail. £99,<br />

po-zu.com<br />

PICTIONARY AIR<br />

A fun take on a classic.<br />

Just download the free<br />

Pictionary Air app <strong>and</strong><br />

take turns drawing<br />

clues in the air while<br />

your teammates<br />

guess the images<br />

that appear on the<br />

screen! £19.99,<br />

amazon.co.uk<br />

HER<br />

KIDS<br />

THE VERY MERRY<br />

CHRISTMAS BOARDGAME<br />

Move around the board<br />

collecting presents (present<br />

cards) to put in your stocking.<br />

Presents have a value<br />

depending on whether they’re<br />

nice… or naff! £20, Debenhams<br />

<strong>and</strong> Amazon<br />

LONG DACHSHUND MATCHES<br />

At 29cm these long matches are a<br />

joy to behold as well as being ideal<br />

for lighting hard-to-reach c<strong>and</strong>les or<br />

lanterns. They come in a beautifully<br />

letter press-printed box.<br />

£10, noblemacmillan.com<br />

HARRY POTTER GAMES<br />

Know your OWLS from your<br />

NEWTS? Test your HP knowledge<br />

with word game Lex-GO or<br />

get quizing with Top Trumps<br />

with a twist. Lex-GO, £14.99,<br />

Waterstones <strong>and</strong> Top Trumps,<br />

£9.99, amazon.co.uk<br />

CACAO & VANILLA CANDLE<br />

Get a chocolate hit without<br />

the calories with this sublimely<br />

scented c<strong>and</strong>le from Hotel<br />

Chocolat, made with natural<br />

soy, coconut <strong>and</strong> beeswax<br />

for a cleaner burn. £28,<br />

hotelchocolat.com<br />

LEATHER POUCH<br />

Beautiful, buttery soft leather<br />

pouches with sublime<br />

tassels - make yours pop<br />

with your initial too! Leather<br />

Pouch, £99 <strong>and</strong> Alphabet<br />

Keyring, £40,<br />

noblemacmillan.<br />

com


FLEX DELUXE MICRO SCOOTER<br />

A premium scooter with a wood <strong>and</strong><br />

fibreglass deck that flexes to absorb<br />

bumps <strong>and</strong> large 200mm wheels that<br />

glide serenely over any terrain. Matt<br />

Black Flex Deluxe, £179.95,<br />

micro-scooters.co.uk<br />

HIM<br />

MOSHI PORTO Q 5K<br />

A Qi Wireless battery<br />

which will have you<br />

charging on the go without<br />

worrying about cables.<br />

£79.95, moshi.com<br />

MOSHI WORLD<br />

TRAVEL ADAPTER<br />

This international<br />

power adapter<br />

features US/EU/<br />

UK/AU power plugs<br />

to cover over 150<br />

countries. Charge up<br />

to six devices at the<br />

same time with the<br />

AC socket, USB-C<br />

port, <strong>and</strong> four USB<br />

ports. £54.95,<br />

moshi.com<br />

MYZONE MZ3<br />

The Myzone MZ3 tracks heart rate with<br />

99.6% accuracy <strong>and</strong> provides live workout<br />

feedback on your phone. £129, amazon.<br />

co.uk or myzone.org<br />

STM DAPPER<br />

WRAPPER<br />

Great for those that travel<br />

with tech, this h<strong>and</strong>y rollup<br />

wrapper keeps cables<br />

tidy <strong>and</strong> all in one place.<br />

£24.95, stmgoods.com<br />

TINCUP AMERICAN WHISKEY<br />

A bourbon style profile with a bold<br />

<strong>and</strong> spicy finish. £30, asda.com<br />

SALTED CARAMEL HAMPER<br />

Complete with truffles, vodka,<br />

nut spread, shortbread <strong>and</strong><br />

decadent hot chocolate. £27.50,<br />

hotelchocolat.com<br />

CHOCOLATE<br />

SLABS<br />

Hotel Chocolat has<br />

perfect bits for the<br />

whole family - we<br />

love the no alcohol<br />

Winter Puddings<br />

Sleekster Luxe<br />

<strong>and</strong> the Chocolate<br />

Slabs with cheery<br />

faces. Sleekster<br />

£35.95 <strong>and</strong> Slab<br />

£8,hotelchocolat.com<br />

ITALICUS<br />

A perfect festive botanical aperitivo to<br />

add to sparkling wine - not to mention a<br />

beautiful bottle for the drinks cabinet.<br />

£29.99, masterofmalt.com<br />

PRESTAT<br />

The ideal chocolate for gifting,<br />

we love their beautiful packaging,<br />

especially on the Mini Truffles<br />

Bauble. £12, prestat.co.uk<br />

BLACK COW VODKA<br />

FOOD<br />

& DRINK<br />

The only vodka made<br />

entirely from whey from<br />

grass-grazed cow’s milk<br />

left over from the<br />

cheese-making<br />

process. £28,<br />

blackcowvodka.<br />

co.uk<br />

CAPUCANA CACHACA<br />

Brazilian fire water! Capucana<br />

combines nine varieties of<br />

sugar cane distillate which<br />

gives its bright golden<br />

colour <strong>and</strong> its stewed fruit<br />

<strong>and</strong> grassy character. £36,<br />

masterofmalt.com<br />

BETTY'S<br />

CHOCOLATE<br />

DESIRES<br />

12 h<strong>and</strong>-piped<br />

chocolate discs<br />

topped with fruit <strong>and</strong><br />

nuts. £12.75,<br />

bettys.co.uk<br />

PORTER’S<br />

TROPICAL<br />

OLD TOM GIN<br />

A classic juniper<br />

based gin lifted<br />

by exotic notes<br />

of passion fruit,<br />

guava <strong>and</strong> white<br />

tea. £34.67,<br />

masterofmalt.<br />

com<br />

25


magical<br />

OMAN<br />

Katie Thomson journeys to the mountains <strong>and</strong> dunes of Oman to<br />

discover unrivalled l<strong>and</strong>scapes <strong>and</strong> classic Arabian hospitality<br />

26


The name Oman is a particularly evocative one. It<br />

speaks of the shifting s<strong>and</strong>s of dunes <strong>and</strong> deserts, the<br />

intricate mastery of wood carving, interiors bedecked in<br />

jewel-toned fabrics reflected in shining brasswork <strong>and</strong><br />

of millennia-old traditions <strong>and</strong> classic Arabic hospitality.<br />

It is also a country of contrasts - high mountain passes<br />

with spectacular valleys <strong>and</strong> picture postcard famous backdrops of<br />

s<strong>and</strong> dunes.<br />

You might not think mountains when you think of Oman, but the<br />

country has some of the most spectacular l<strong>and</strong>scapes <strong>and</strong> vistas<br />

anywhere in the Middle East. Indeed, many nationals from the UAE<br />

or Saudi head to the Omani mountains for their holidays, preferring<br />

the milder climate in the summer months.<br />

Sitting atop a peak in Jabel Al Akhdar is the Sahab Resort <strong>and</strong> Spa,<br />

the latest hotel offering from the Omani Al Nahda group. Known for<br />

their strong commitment to service <strong>and</strong> luxurious settings, this hotel<br />

seeks to offer a mountain getaway where guests can truly relax. The<br />

hotel is of course centred around the views - spectacular vistas of<br />

gorges, waterfalls <strong>and</strong> stone cut ridges. The designers have been<br />

keen to ground the hotel in its location through a series of careful<br />

touches - the million year-old fossils found in the valley are visible<br />

throughout all of the grounds <strong>and</strong> the local rosewater scents the<br />

halls.<br />

Sahab offers 27 rooms in three different categories - Studio rooms,<br />

Suite rooms & Family Suites. The decor is influenced by rich Omani<br />

culture, equipped with all the modern amenities <strong>and</strong> offering a<br />

magnificent view of the Jabal Al Akhdar mountain range. It was<br />

special indeed to sip my morning coffee whilst gazing out across<br />

the vastness of the surroundings, watching as the sun stretched <strong>and</strong><br />

touched each mountainous ridge in turn.<br />

There are lots of excursion options from the hotel - some abseiling<br />

<strong>and</strong> mountain climbing for adrenaline-seekers, alongside more<br />

sedate tours of local villages, the rose garden or even star gazing. I<br />

opted for the village tour, taking in the local waterfall <strong>and</strong> getting a<br />

sense of the unique challenges of living in somewhere so remote.<br />

After days of soaking up the endless views by the pool, it was time<br />

to move on to a more archetypal Middle Eastern experience in the<br />

s<strong>and</strong> dunes.<br />

Mirage-like <strong>and</strong> utterly majestic, the Dunes by Al Nahda resort sits<br />

amongst the undulating s<strong>and</strong> dunes of Wadi Al Abyad. Only 40<br />

minutes from Muscat, it’s a world away from city life, creating an<br />

authentic taste of the Omani experience. The hotel is made up of<br />

a series of static ivory one or two bedroom Bedouin tents, each<br />

luxuriously furnished with dark woods, richly patterned fabrics <strong>and</strong><br />

ultra-comfortable beds. For a truly majestic stay, <strong>and</strong> this resort<br />

does host royalty, there are the Royal Suites. The size of almost<br />

four tents together, each is capacious at 139 square meters <strong>and</strong><br />

equipped with separate bedrooms, a living room <strong>and</strong> a private patio.<br />

Dunes Resort <strong>and</strong> Spa<br />

“IT IS ALSO A COUNTRY<br />

OF CONTRASTS - HIGH<br />

MOUNTAIN PASSES WITH<br />

SPECTACULAR VALLEYS AND<br />

PICTURE POSTCARD FAMOUS<br />

BACKDROPS OF SAND DUNES.”<br />

27


“IT WAS SPECIAL<br />

INDEED TO SIP MY<br />

MORNING COFFEE<br />

WHILST GAZING<br />

OUT ACROSS THE<br />

VASTNESS OF THE<br />

SURROUNDINGS”<br />

Other than the opulent accommodation, what makes<br />

Dunes unique is the swimming pool - unlike many desert<br />

camps, Dunes is unique in having a spectacular infinity<br />

pool, with views stretching out for miles over undulating<br />

terrain. This immersion in the l<strong>and</strong>scape is important, <strong>and</strong><br />

it is emphasised at every opportunity - each tent enjoys<br />

similarly spectacular view of the dunes or the distant Al<br />

Hajar mountains, so, if like me you have a little jet lag, you<br />

can watch the sunrise over the s<strong>and</strong>s from your bed!<br />

The resort offers a whole host of amazing experiences<br />

- from riding on Abdul the resident camel, guided quad<br />

biking on the dunes <strong>and</strong> even a most spectacular Arabian<br />

feast served under the stars. Just as in Sahab, Dunes<br />

prides itself on an excellent menu of Indian <strong>and</strong> Omani<br />

dishes. These are served in the Fleur Restaurant, open<br />

on all sides to the panoramic mountain views. Fleur’s<br />

head chef is somewhat of a local celebrity, having won<br />

the Omani equivalent of MasterChef. He was also a part<br />

of Rick Stein’s series on India - showing the calibre of the<br />

cookery on offer.<br />

It is clear with both resorts that the work is collaborative<br />

<strong>and</strong> dependent upon excellent staff. The chefs, both<br />

Indian, are adept <strong>and</strong> dexterous in the kitchen, creating<br />

different takes on classic Omani dishes <strong>and</strong> elevating<br />

them to fine dining - of course with some spice <strong>and</strong> curry<br />

flavours thrown in. The spas too are what the group are<br />

known for; Dr Mary Ann is one of those brought in at the<br />

conception of the hotel group, with the owners seeking<br />

out her health <strong>and</strong> wellbeing expertise to set up the<br />

medi-spa in the original Al Nadha Hotel. Her ethos <strong>and</strong><br />

whole-body approach to wellbeing is echoed in each<br />

resort <strong>and</strong> she has designed a treatment menu for each<br />

that reflects its setting.<br />

In Sahab, perched as it is high in the mountains, the<br />

signature scent is called ‘Clouds’ - an uplifting fragrance<br />

which pairs with the Signature massage. In Dunes, the<br />

scent is a more musky ‘Arabian Nights’ <strong>and</strong> the signature<br />

treatment is quite extraordinary. Called the ‘S<strong>and</strong> Spa’,<br />

clients take to an open air treatment room are immersed<br />

in s<strong>and</strong> which has been heated by the sun. It is said that<br />

a s<strong>and</strong> bath provides relief for people suffering from a<br />

range of muscular disorders as well as helping to ease<br />

the symptoms <strong>and</strong> heal various skin conditions too -<br />

the gentle heat is also supremely relaxing, bringing a<br />

soothing warmth to the body without becoming overly<br />

hot. After the s<strong>and</strong>, which exfoliates the skin too, a<br />

moisturising coating of natural yoghurt is applied to the<br />

skin. Quite unique <strong>and</strong> almost elemental in its approach,<br />

this is a treatment unlike any you might find elsewhere.<br />

28<br />

Dr Mary, originally from Scotl<strong>and</strong>, was certain she would<br />

return home after setting up the spas - but she fell in


Images, clockwise from top left: Bedrooms at<br />

Sahab; amazing views from the Sahab pool<br />

area; the infinity pool at Dunes; Dunes tent<br />

interior; Abdul, Dunes' resident camel<br />

with Oman <strong>and</strong> moved permanently. I asked<br />

her about her thoughts on the way the modern<br />

world is changing what is ostensibly a traditionled<br />

country “the country is not virgin anymore,<br />

in the respect of technology <strong>and</strong> infrastructure,<br />

she is newly married though - growing a little,<br />

finding her way, experiencing new things <strong>and</strong><br />

of course changing - but ultimately Oman is<br />

not so changed from its core <strong>and</strong> that is what<br />

makes it so magical.”<br />

It is amazing that a country can have as peaceful<br />

an existence as this, often called upon to be<br />

the mediator of other political conflicts. The<br />

Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said plays a part<br />

in this prosperity, <strong>and</strong> his particular penchant<br />

for aesthetically pleasing architecture has<br />

seen Oman, <strong>and</strong> Muscat in particular, grow<br />

gracefully <strong>and</strong> with tradition at its heart - you<br />

won’t see the skyscrapers of Dubai here as all<br />

buildings are limited to four storeys. There are<br />

lots of excursions available from Dunes which<br />

take in some of the city’s best sights - you can<br />

me<strong>and</strong>er through the nearby Matrah Souk or<br />

visit the city’s architectural gem - Sultan Qaboo’s<br />

Mosque. This mosque can accommodate<br />

over 7,000 worshippers inside it’s cool marble<br />

prayer rooms <strong>and</strong> at its heart it houses the<br />

most dazzling ch<strong>and</strong>elier I have ever seen - all 8<br />

tonnes of it.<br />

I have travelled fairly extensively in the Middle<br />

East, but something about Oman really did<br />

capture my imagination. It offers so much<br />

to the traveller - world-class scenery, lots of<br />

cultural sights, <strong>and</strong> of course that wonderful<br />

Omani hospitality.<br />

The Al Nahda Group too make the most of these<br />

elements, amplifying them in their hotels to give<br />

guests an authentic, but relaxing experience<br />

<strong>and</strong> surely fond memories of a holiday filled with<br />

adventure <strong>and</strong> discovery.<br />

TRAVEL TIPS:<br />

• 4 nights at Sahab <strong>and</strong> then three nights at Dunes, private transfers <strong>and</strong><br />

return flights with Oman Air<br />

• Cox & Kings (0203 642 0861, cox<strong>and</strong>kings.co.uk) offers 4 nights at Sahab<br />

Resort & Spa on a full board basis <strong>and</strong> 3 nights at Dunes by Al Nahda on a<br />

half board basis from £2,395 per person (two sharing) including all private<br />

transfers <strong>and</strong> return economy international flights with Oman Air.<br />

• The currency is the Omani Rial - 2 rials is approximately £1<br />

• The national language is Arabic - h<strong>and</strong>y phrases include 'Shukraan' - thank<br />

you, 'Salam Alaikum' - hello or peace be with you to which the response is<br />

'Wa-Alaikum-Salaam' - <strong>and</strong> peace with you also<br />

29


THE HOMEBUYER'S<br />

Thinking about moving or buying your first home? Read on...<br />

If you are beginning the process of buying<br />

your first home, selling to buy a bigger<br />

property or even downsizing once the<br />

kids have flown the nest, you may find<br />

that the property market is an unknown<br />

entity, full of potential pitfalls, doubts<br />

<strong>and</strong> unexpected costs. Couple that with<br />

the looming uncertainty of BREXIT, <strong>and</strong><br />

you have a complicated set of hoops to<br />

jump through. In this guide, we aim to<br />

demystify homebuying <strong>and</strong> give useful<br />

advice for each stage of the process.<br />

BREXIT BLUES?<br />

UK house price growth remains subdued<br />

as uncertainty about the direction <strong>and</strong><br />

shape of Brexit continues to weigh on the<br />

market.<br />

The latest figures from Nationwide show<br />

UK house prices rose by 0.4% on the year,<br />

the 11th month in a row that annual price<br />

growth remained below 1%.<br />

City A.M. says the latest modest rises<br />

“underline concerns over a slowdown<br />

in activity in the UK’s housing market,<br />

particularly in London <strong>and</strong> the South,<br />

despite a recent improvement in earnings<br />

<strong>and</strong> employment”.<br />

“It’s hard to see the market emerging from<br />

this sub-one per cent annual growth rut<br />

until there is clarity on Brexit,” said David<br />

Westgate, chief executive of Andrews<br />

Property group, adding “the sheer level of<br />

political uncertainty has left the property<br />

market in a protracted limbo”.<br />

Which? magazine says: “Whether you’re<br />

a staunch remainer or avid Brexiteer,<br />

there’s no denying that the uncertainty<br />

around when the UK will leave the EU, <strong>and</strong><br />

the terms under which it may happen, is<br />

causing property market jitters.”<br />

What has the impact of Brexit been so far?<br />

“The economic uncertainty caused by<br />

Brexit has undoubtedly affected the<br />

market, with house price growth slowing<br />

year-on-year <strong>and</strong> the number of sales<br />

taking a dramatic dip in recent months,”<br />

says Which?.<br />

Nationwide’s chief economist Robert<br />

Gardner said this week that average<br />

prices rose by £800 over the last 12<br />

months, a sharp slowing compared with<br />

the year to October 2016, just after the<br />

Brexit referendum, when prices jumped<br />

by £9,100.<br />

Data released by Rightmove earlier this<br />

month found that the price of property<br />

coming to market has endured its weakest<br />

month-on-month rise at this time of year in<br />

over a decade.<br />

Prospective home buyers have been<br />

undeterred by the approaching Brexit<br />

deadline, while sellers have been put off<br />

by ongoing uncertainty over UK house<br />

prices, according to the real estate<br />

platform.<br />

While the latest Brexit extension has<br />

pushed back the imminent threat of a nodeal<br />

Brexit, investors <strong>and</strong> market experts<br />

have expressed concern about the<br />

potential consequences given it remains<br />

the default position if an agreement<br />

cannot be ratified by Parliament by 31<br />

<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2020</strong>.<br />

Information from theweek.co.uk<br />

FIRST-TIME BUYERS<br />

So, you’re about to make the biggest<br />

investment of your life so far. Scary, right?<br />

There’s a lot to think about, <strong>and</strong> a lot of<br />

costs you will not have even considered<br />

until the process has started. Your<br />

mortgage is the first thing you should<br />

think about, because until you have your<br />

<strong>Dec</strong>ision in Principle, you will not know<br />

what you can afford to buy. By going to<br />

an independent mortgage advisor, you<br />

will have the choice of many different<br />

banks <strong>and</strong> building societies, so you<br />

can assess options like the term of your<br />

mortgage, fixing interest rates <strong>and</strong> any<br />

cash back offered.<br />

Viewing Houses<br />

This is probably the most fun bit of<br />

the process, because you get to know<br />

your tastes <strong>and</strong> can have a look around<br />

some lovely properties in the process.<br />

Rightmove is a great resource, as is<br />

Zoopla for comparing prices in an area.<br />

As well as relying on these sites, it is<br />

vital that you make yourself known to<br />

lots of different local agents. Let them<br />

know in as much detail as possible what<br />

requirements you have (location, number<br />

of bedrooms, garden, garage etc) <strong>and</strong><br />

your upper price limit. A good agent will<br />

let you know about properties about to<br />

come to the market, helping you get a<br />

head start on other buyers.<br />

Viewing Tip - When viewing houses,<br />

try to take some pictures (with the estate<br />

agent’s permission) on your phone as<br />

an aide memoir <strong>and</strong> if you have furniture<br />

from renting to fit in, take a tape measure<br />

<strong>and</strong> see if it would fit in the space.<br />

CONVEYANCING<br />

So, once you’ve found the property you<br />

want, you will need to instruct a solicitor<br />

to do the conveyancing for you. Before<br />

deciding on one, we recommend emailing<br />

or calling around for some quotes to<br />

make sure you get a competitive rate.<br />

30


GUIDE<br />

CHARTERED SURVEY<br />

Unless the property you are buying is less<br />

than 10 years old, it really does make good<br />

sense to have a survey. Most surveyors<br />

offer a choice between a RICS Homebuyer<br />

Report or a Building Survey. Send over<br />

the property details you have <strong>and</strong> they<br />

will help you decide on the best survey for<br />

peace of mind. Once again, it does pay to<br />

enquire with a few different firms to keep<br />

prices competitive <strong>and</strong> to find the right<br />

surveyor for the type of property you buy.<br />

Surveying Tip - If you are buying a<br />

flat, it can be difficult to know whether<br />

you need to have a full building survey<br />

(formerly called a structural survey). If<br />

you are buying a flat in a listed or older<br />

building, talk to your surveyor about<br />

whether they can offer a special package<br />

for you.<br />

SELLING<br />

Over the past few years, the property<br />

l<strong>and</strong>scape really has become a seller’s<br />

market. With a high dem<strong>and</strong> for property,<br />

estate agents are having to be creative<br />

in the way they compete for instructions.<br />

This is great news if you are selling, as<br />

you can ask them to be competitive in the<br />

rates they offer.<br />

Surveying Tips - It is likely that you<br />

will need to provide certificates or<br />

documentation of any major work you<br />

have had done on your home in the last<br />

10 years, primarily electrics. De-clutter<br />

before the estate agent comes to take<br />

photos. Your home needs to be a blank<br />

canvas, so the potential buyer can imagine<br />

their possessions there, without yours<br />

dominating their vision.<br />

MOVING<br />

So, you’ve accumulated a lot of stuff eh?<br />

Here are our top tips to make moving easier:<br />

• Start packing the areas of your<br />

home that you use the least. Pack<br />

essentials last.<br />

• At least 8 weeks before the date,<br />

notify change of address for any<br />

subscriptions.<br />

• Pack early if you are using the<br />

services of a moving company. Also<br />

be sure to label clearly <strong>and</strong> keep<br />

heavy boxes double taped.<br />

• Recycle anything you don’t love<br />

anymore. Start this process early,<br />

using a skip for unsellable items <strong>and</strong><br />

send other bits to the charity shop.<br />

Removals companies sometimes<br />

charge by volume, so reducing the<br />

amount you take with you cuts costs.<br />

Help to Buy?<br />

The Help to Buy scheme offers an equity<br />

loan where the government lends firsttime<br />

buyers <strong>and</strong> existing homeowners<br />

money to buy a newly-built home.<br />

The purchase price must be no more<br />

than £600,000. Under this scheme, you<br />

can borrow 20% of the purchase price<br />

interest-free for the first five years as<br />

long as you have at least a 5% deposit.<br />

If you live in London, you can borrow up<br />

to 40% of the purchase price.<br />

The Government has confirmed it will<br />

extend its Help to Buy equity loan<br />

scheme from 2021 to 2023. However, this<br />

extension will be restricted to first-time<br />

buyers purchasing newly built homes.<br />

From 2021, there will also be new<br />

regional price caps which could reduce<br />

the maximum value of homes that can be<br />

bought through the Equity Loan Scheme.<br />

Help to Buy: Equity loans<br />

How they work<br />

• You need at least 5% of the sale<br />

price of your new-build flat or<br />

house as a deposit.<br />

• The government lends you up to<br />

20%, or 40% if you live in London,<br />

of the sale price.<br />

• You borrow the rest (up to 75%, or<br />

55% if you live in London) from a<br />

mortgage lender, on a repayment<br />

basis.<br />

• The equity loan must be repaid<br />

after 25 years, or earlier if you sell<br />

your home.<br />

• You must repay the same<br />

percentage of the proceeds of the<br />

sale as the initial equity loan (i.e.<br />

if you received an equity loan for<br />

20% of the purchase price of your<br />

home, you must repay 20% of the<br />

proceeds of the future sale).<br />

• You don’t pay any interest or fees<br />

on the government’s equity loan for<br />

the first five years. In the sixth year,<br />

you’ll be charged 1.75%.<br />

• After then, the fee rises by inflation<br />

based on the Retail Prices Index<br />

(RPI) plus 1% each year.<br />

• RPI figures are put together by the<br />

Office for National Statistics.<br />

Help to Buy: Shared<br />

Ownership<br />

If you can’t quite afford the mortgage on<br />

100% of a home, Help to Buy: Shared<br />

Ownership offers you the chance to buy<br />

a share of your home (between 25% <strong>and</strong><br />

75% of the home’s value) <strong>and</strong> pay rent<br />

on the remaining share. Later on, you<br />

could buy bigger shares when you can<br />

afford to.<br />

You could buy a home through Help to<br />

Buy: Shared Ownership in Engl<strong>and</strong> if:<br />

• Your household earns £80,000 a<br />

year or less outside London, or<br />

your household earns £90,000 a<br />

year or less in London<br />

• You are a first-time buyer, you used<br />

to own a home but can’t afford<br />

to buy one now or are an existing<br />

shared owner looking to move.<br />

With Help to Buy: Shared Ownership you<br />

can buy a newly built home or an existing<br />

one through resale programmes from<br />

housing associations. You’ll need to take<br />

out a mortgage to pay for your share of<br />

the home’s purchase price, or fund this<br />

through your savings. Shared Ownership<br />

properties are always leasehold.<br />

You can get help from another home<br />

ownership scheme called Older People’s<br />

Shared Ownership if you’re aged 55 or<br />

over. It works in the same way as the<br />

general Shared Ownership scheme, but<br />

you can only buy up to 75% of your<br />

home. Once you own 75% you won’t<br />

have to pay rent on the remaining share.<br />

31


Left, Blinds from<br />

englishblinds.co.uk<br />

Below, Lamp, £79,<br />

atkin<strong>and</strong>thyme.co.uk<br />

HOW TO MAKE YOUR GUEST BEDROOM<br />

Easy updates to make your<br />

guest room more inviting<br />

feel like home<br />

Whilst it can feel like another job to add<br />

to the list, preparing the guest bedroom<br />

to receive guests can actually be quite<br />

relaxing - making a space comfortable<br />

<strong>and</strong> inviting really does something good<br />

for the soul.<br />

When you start to plan your guest room,<br />

think about what you’d expect to find<br />

in a lovely hotel <strong>and</strong> try to make your<br />

room measure up to that st<strong>and</strong>ard. Your<br />

budget may not be enough to create a<br />

getaway oasis, but you can clear the<br />

decks, lay out all the necessities, <strong>and</strong><br />

provide a quiet place to relax.<br />

PROVIDE A COMFORTABLE BED<br />

Don’t give your guests the oldest,<br />

saggiest mattress you have. Try sleeping<br />

in the room yourself <strong>and</strong> assess the<br />

quality of your sleep on that mattress - it<br />

may be time to invest in a new one. If<br />

you can’t afford a new bed, think about<br />

getting a quality air mattress.<br />

UPGRADE YOUR BEDDING<br />

Beyond clean, crisp bedding, think<br />

about adding luxurious bed linens <strong>and</strong><br />

comfort items supplied by fine B&Bs: a<br />

featherbed or wool mattress topper, a<br />

choice of pillows, a cosy down quilt or<br />

thick throw, extra blankets <strong>and</strong> freshly<br />

ironed pillowcases.<br />

SUPPLY EXTRA LINENS<br />

Always have an extra set of bed <strong>and</strong> bath<br />

linens available for your guests. Accidents<br />

do happen! Or you may have one of those<br />

wonderful guests who insists on changing<br />

the sheets when they leave. Let them do<br />

it, <strong>and</strong> thank them profusely.<br />

MAKE ROOM FOR A SUITCASE<br />

Clear a space to put a luggage rack or<br />

provide a small table or bench to set down<br />

a suitcase. No one likes to have to stoop<br />

over to the floor to pull out a clean pair of<br />

socks. Even a chair is better than nothing.<br />

– more space, more comfortable, <strong>and</strong><br />

more welcoming. Get rid of anything you<br />

would not find in a hotel room. Keep only<br />

the most useful items in the room, like a<br />

clock <strong>and</strong> calendar.<br />

BRIGHTEN THINGS UP<br />

One of the biggest hotel decor missteps<br />

is when an otherwise nice room has no<br />

light to read by. It’s always helpful to<br />

have a light control near the bed so your<br />

guest won’t have to stumble around in<br />

the dark just to turn a light on. If nothing<br />

else, provide a good reading light near a<br />

chair or over the bed. Another fixture or<br />

lamp near a desk would be great. A small<br />

night light is helpful, <strong>and</strong> a lit magnifying<br />

makeup mirror is a real luxury.<br />

CLEAN THE WARDROBE<br />

If your guest room shares space with<br />

a home office, clear at least a foot or<br />

two of pole space in the cupboard. Or<br />

purchase an inexpensive over-the-door<br />

hook that can accommodate some<br />

hanging clothes. It’s likely that guests<br />

will have items they’d like to hang. Don’t<br />

forget a supply of six to eight hangers.<br />

A simple hook on the wall or behind a<br />

wardrobe door can hold a coat or bag.<br />

DON'T FORGET SIMPLE BASICS<br />

A lighted clock next to the bed is a great<br />

amenity, <strong>and</strong> an alarm clock or clock/radio<br />

is even better. Provide paper <strong>and</strong> pens,<br />

scissors, tape, tissue, <strong>and</strong> a hairdryer to<br />

have all the bases covered. If you can,<br />

provide somewhere to sit in front of a<br />

mirror so guests can do make up or style<br />

their hair. If you don’t have an extra iron<br />

<strong>and</strong> ironing board to offer, be sure to tell<br />

your guest where they can find yours.<br />

PROVIDE PRIVACY<br />

You might know that the big willow tree<br />

just outside<br />

the<br />

window camouflages everything going<br />

on, but your guests won’t. Choose<br />

window coverings that add to the<br />

character of the room <strong>and</strong> also provide<br />

privacy <strong>and</strong> light control. If you need to<br />

keep it simple, blinds work great. You<br />

can always add a beautiful valance or<br />

side panels later.<br />

ADD SOME PERSONALITY<br />

Guest rooms can suffer from being<br />

personality vacuums - try to let some<br />

of your personal style infuse the space,<br />

or try out some decorative ideas that<br />

inspire you. We love spaces that mix<br />

mid-century modern furniture with boho<br />

soft furnishings, or fabulous colour on<br />

a single wall with dramatic wallpaper or<br />

artwork. Maybe dare to go<br />

dark with dark navy on the<br />

walls <strong>and</strong> gold detailing.<br />

FINISHING TOUCHES<br />

Add some lovely<br />

finishing touches to<br />

the room - a reed<br />

diffuser to fill it with<br />

delicious fragrance<br />

<strong>and</strong> pop some throw<br />

pillows on the bed<br />

or chair. If you like<br />

them, add some cut<br />

flowers to a dresser<br />

or move some<br />

of your existing<br />

houseplants into<br />

the space for<br />

some greenery. If<br />

you don’t use your<br />

room much during the<br />

year, be sure to open<br />

the windows for a few<br />

hours before guests<br />

arrive to<br />

help air it<br />

out.<br />

T<br />

32<br />

CLEAR THE DECKS<br />

Resist the temptation to put your<br />

beautiful collection of dolls on the dresser<br />

or fill the closet with out-of-season<br />

clothes. In a guest room, less is more<br />

Extra large Cotton Throw £59,<br />

<strong>and</strong> Mudcloth Pillow, £56,<br />

hauslife.co.uk; Navy Pillow, £50,<br />

Soho House; Fish Lamp, £90,<br />

Dar Lighting; Moorish Mirror,<br />

£75, thefarthing.co.uk<br />

4


HOW TO BUY A NEW<br />

HOME IN <strong>2020</strong><br />

If you are planning to buy a new home in <strong>2020</strong> here are<br />

some useful tips to get you on the property ladder...<br />

The continuing uncertainty around Brexit actually means there are<br />

delays to be done on new build homes across the country.<br />

We’ve asked Paula Higgins, Chief Executive of the Home Owners<br />

Alliance, to explain what you need to know before you buy a new<br />

build home in the current economic climate.<br />

Research, research, research!<br />

This is one of your biggest financial investments, so don’t just rely<br />

on glossy promotional materials. Read around about the developer<br />

of your new build home, search for online reviews <strong>and</strong> forums, <strong>and</strong><br />

visit homes they’ve built on other sites<br />

Get your finances in order<br />

Developers work to tight timescales <strong>and</strong> once you’ve put down a<br />

deposit you may have only 28 days to exchange. Speak to a feefree<br />

broker to find the right mortgage for you. For more information<br />

see New build homes <strong>and</strong> getting a mortgage (www.hoa.org.uk/<br />

advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-buying/new-build-homes-<strong>and</strong>getting-a-mortgage-top-tips/)<br />

Get your conveyancing solicitor lined up<br />

Try to find a conveyancer with experience of new build<br />

developments. They will need to check planning permissions,<br />

restrictive covenants <strong>and</strong> - importantly - the terms of any lease if you<br />

are buying a leasehold flat.<br />

Negotiate!<br />

With the slowing down of new build sales developers need to boost<br />

sales figures. That doubled with Brexit uncertainty <strong>and</strong> a slowing<br />

market means there is no better time to negotiate.<br />

be bold <strong>and</strong> see what else can be added into the mix – upgraded<br />

finishes <strong>and</strong> appliances are part of the negotiation process.<br />

Getting a survey<br />

Many builders won’t allow you to view the property until the day<br />

of completion. If this is the case you want to very quickly get an<br />

independent snagging inspector to identify <strong>and</strong> report on any<br />

defects or errors (from cosmetic to structural). You can read more<br />

about whether you need a snagging survey (www.hoa.org.uk/<br />

services/snagging-survey/)<br />

The HomeOwners Alliance www.hoa.org.uk offers expert advice <strong>and</strong><br />

services for every step of your home buying <strong>and</strong> selling journey.<br />

www.newmarketliving.co.uk | 35


ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

Owning a Property Jointly<br />

– What do I need to Know?<br />

By Carla Tirrell, Associate Licenced<br />

Conveyancer at Fraser Dawbarns LLP<br />

Solicitors...<br />

With the cost of property rising at a<br />

faster rate than incomes, many people<br />

are choosing to buy a house together<br />

in order to help them on to the property<br />

ladder. When two or more people co-own<br />

property they can either be joint tenants<br />

or tenants in common. These terms are<br />

a little old-fashioned because they come<br />

from an act that was passed nearly 100<br />

years ago.<br />

Although a lot has changed since The<br />

Law of Property Act 1925, the concept<br />

of establishing different ways of owning<br />

a home is still very useful today, perhaps<br />

even more so than it was then. So what<br />

are the differences?<br />

Joint Tenancy<br />

If nobody requests the alternative, a<br />

joint tenancy is the legal default position.<br />

Under a joint tenancy, the property can’t<br />

be divided up <strong>and</strong> all owners have equal<br />

rights to the property. If one party wants<br />

out, the other owners have no choice to<br />

agree <strong>and</strong> must either sell the property<br />

or buy the co-owner out. If one owner<br />

dies, the other owners will retain equal<br />

ownership of the entire property. If there<br />

were two joint tenants, the other will<br />

become the sole owner. A married or<br />

cohabiting couple are likely to be joint<br />

tenants of a property.<br />

Tenancy in Common<br />

Here each owner has a separate share<br />

of the property <strong>and</strong> can do with it as<br />

they wish. By default, ownership is split<br />

equally but if the parties have agreed a<br />

different ratio, that will apply. As with a<br />

joint tenancy, if one party wants out, the<br />

others must allow them to sell their share<br />

or buy them out themselves. If one owner<br />

dies, their share is distributed as set out<br />

in their Will (or according to intestacy<br />

rules if they have not made a Will).<br />

Friends or business partners buying a<br />

property as an investment will very likely<br />

be tenants in common.<br />

Changing Types of Ownership<br />

It is possible to change from joint tenants<br />

to tenants in common or vice versa by<br />

applying to the L<strong>and</strong> Registry. It is also<br />

“Although a lot has changed since The Law of<br />

Property Act 1925, the concept of establishing<br />

different ways of owning a home is still very<br />

useful today...”<br />

36 | www.newmarketliving.co.uk<br />

possible to change from sole ownership<br />

to either joint tenancy or tenancy in<br />

common, this is called transferring<br />

ownership.<br />

How Many People Can Own a<br />

Property?<br />

No more than four people can be legal<br />

owners of a property. However through<br />

use of a Trust, it is possible to have any<br />

number of owners. In this circumstance,<br />

the legal owners hold the property as<br />

trustees on behalf of the additional<br />

owners who are beneficiaries of the Trust.<br />

In this circumstance it is possible for<br />

both trustees <strong>and</strong> beneficiaries to be true<br />

owners of the property. A Trust would<br />

be necessary in the case of inheritance,<br />

where more than 4 people st<strong>and</strong> to inherit<br />

a share of the property.<br />

If you would like any more information on<br />

joint ownership of a property or on any<br />

other legal matter, please contact us at<br />

info@fraserdawbarns.com or telephone<br />

any of our offices:<br />

<strong>Ely</strong> 01353 383483<br />

March 01354 602880<br />

Downham Market 01366 383171<br />

Wisbech 01945 461456<br />

King’s Lynn 01553 666600


NEW YEAR<br />

sustainable me<br />

With the swirling pressure<br />

of making New Year’s<br />

resolutions, it can be<br />

easy to get a little too<br />

introspective - most of the<br />

time, these resolutions<br />

centre on self improvement<br />

(or sometimes self<br />

flagellation disguised as<br />

self improvement!) but<br />

what if this year, instead of<br />

looking in, you looked out?<br />

We are all aware of the impact, both<br />

positive <strong>and</strong> negative, that we can have<br />

on the environment - so this year, we<br />

are investigating the ways we can be<br />

more sustainable in our daily choices<br />

<strong>and</strong> lifestyle. Information overload is a<br />

real threat though, pushing those with<br />

the best intentions into an environmental<br />

existential spin - to keep it simple, we’ve<br />

summed up a few small changes that<br />

could have a big impact that are easy to<br />

adopt into every day life.<br />

Home Energy Saving<br />

Our homes are big energy guzzlers.<br />

Both the emissions made by our central<br />

heating <strong>and</strong> the greenhouse gases<br />

created in electricity production are huge<br />

contributors to our carbon footprint.<br />

But lots of changes can be made in<br />

the home, which also have the added<br />

benefit of being money savers too…<br />

The UK’s leading price comparison<br />

website, MoneySuperMarket, reveals<br />

the costs <strong>and</strong> savings associated with<br />

the most readily available renewable<br />

energy sources <strong>and</strong> efficiencyimprovers<br />

around the home.<br />

Renewable energy, defined as an energy<br />

source that is not depleted when used,<br />

offers the greatest monthly savings<br />

at £28.33 on average a month. On<br />

the other h<strong>and</strong>, efficiency measures,<br />

including energy-saving lightbulbs <strong>and</strong><br />

reduced-water showerheads, offer an<br />

average of £6.92 in savings each month.<br />

• Energy-saving light-bulbs: Changing<br />

the light bulbs around your house to<br />

energy-saving would cost you around<br />

£51.80 which could result in a financial<br />

saving of £27 a month. Generating<br />

significantly less carbon dioxide whilst<br />

last much longer than a traditional<br />

lightbulb this investment would pay for<br />

itself in a month.<br />

• Cavity wall<br />

insulation:<br />

With an<br />

installation fee<br />

of £466, you’ll begin to<br />

see a return on your investment after<br />

three years <strong>and</strong> seven months. Not<br />

only does cavity wall reduce the cost<br />

of your energy bill, it also keeps your<br />

home warmer for longer <strong>and</strong> therefore<br />

reducing your carbon footprint.<br />

• Rooftop Solar Panel: Solar panels can<br />

provide electricity to your house using<br />

the light of the sun. Although installing<br />

them could cost you up to £8,0000, you<br />

could see saving up to £36.09 a month.<br />

However, solar panel benefits aren’t<br />

just about money. Solar panels don’t<br />

produce carbon emissions as they work<br />

so they can significantly reduce your<br />

home’s impact on the environment.<br />

Other small changes include turning<br />

power off at the switch, adding<br />

insulation to windows, doors <strong>and</strong> the<br />

loft, reduce the temperature of your<br />

washing machine <strong>and</strong> fix broken/<br />

leaking taps.<br />

Greener Cleaning<br />

How often do we think of the chemicals<br />

we are using in the home? And worse,<br />

that end up in the water system. Green<br />

cleaners have a bit of a bad rep, but<br />

an amazing selection of products from<br />

Microbz might provide the answer -<br />

these clever cleaners are probiotic <strong>and</strong><br />

restore the balance of positive microbes<br />

in your home, which naturally protects<br />

against pathogens - this means<br />

they continue to clean the surface<br />

long after they’ve been applied. The<br />

250ml concentrate bottle is extremely<br />

economical <strong>and</strong> makes 50, 500ml<br />

diluted spray bottles. See the full range<br />

<strong>and</strong> find out more about the science at<br />

microbz.co.uk<br />

Clockwise from left. Microbz Power Cleaner,<br />

250ml Concentrate £14.95, microbz.co.uk;<br />

Todds Coir Scrubs, £5 for two,<br />

hauslife.co.uk; Net Bag set, £1.95,<br />

rexlondon.com;<br />

Muslin Bag set, £15.99, amazon.co.uk<br />

On the topic of cleaning, did you<br />

know that every synthetic sponge you<br />

use ends up in a l<strong>and</strong>fill <strong>and</strong> takes<br />

up to 52,000 years to decompose?<br />

Enter another natural solution, Todd’s<br />

coconut coir scrubs - these little natural<br />

pads replace conventional scourers<br />

<strong>and</strong> sponges <strong>and</strong> are 100% eco<br />

friendly, 100% bio-degradable, retain<br />

less water <strong>and</strong> are more hygienic than<br />

synthetic sponges - plus, they support<br />

local communities in Sri Lanka where<br />

they are made. hauslife.co.uk are the<br />

exclusive UK stockists.<br />

Quick Tips:<br />

• Shop locally <strong>and</strong> support local farmers<br />

where you can<br />

• Reusable everything - use reusable<br />

bags plus try to buy glass containers<br />

that can be refilled<br />

• Reduce household waste by using a<br />

compost bin<br />

• Unsubscribe to letters/catalogues you<br />

don’t wish to receive<br />

• Dry laundry on a line<br />

• Use cloth instead of paper to clean<br />

your kitchen<br />

• Switch to cloth nappies – or at least<br />

combine with disposables (even one<br />

cloth nappy per day means 365 fewer<br />

disposables in the l<strong>and</strong>fill annually)<br />

• Use menstrual cups or menstrual<br />

underwear like ModiBodi to reduce<br />

l<strong>and</strong>fill<br />

• Ditch cling film <strong>and</strong> plastic bags<br />

for vegetables <strong>and</strong> use breathable,<br />

reusable bags <strong>and</strong> beeswax food wraps<br />

• Walk <strong>and</strong> cycle where you can. If you<br />

use the car, try to reduce trips <strong>and</strong><br />

avoid aggressive driving<br />

www.newmarketliving.co.uk | 41


BEST FACE FORWARD<br />

We are used to trends in the beauty world - from<br />

snail slime to acid peels, there are few things we<br />

won’t try in the pursuit of perfect skin. In amongst<br />

all the noise though <strong>and</strong> let’s face it, beauty confusion,<br />

is a treatment so popular <strong>and</strong> effective that<br />

one is performed worldwide 13 seconds.<br />

Enter the HydraFacial - an invigorating medical-grade treatment<br />

that not only immediately boosts your glow, but also offers longlasting<br />

skin health. So with that in mind, we sent Katie Thomson to<br />

try it out…<br />

I’ve had a lot of facials <strong>and</strong> beauty treatments, but the HydraFacial<br />

was intriguing, not least because of its popularity <strong>and</strong> tribe of loyal<br />

fans. The treatment can cover a range of issues but in the main it<br />

helps to reduce fine lines, wrinkles <strong>and</strong> skin pigmentation, increase<br />

the firmness of skin, even skin tone <strong>and</strong> help with oily, congested<br />

or enlarged pores.<br />

The facial itself has six steps, each designed to gently but<br />

thoroughly cleanse <strong>and</strong> exfoliate the skin. As with any normal<br />

facial, you start with a thorough cleanse, then you have a<br />

lymphatic massage to drain some of the fluid from the face. The<br />

next stage involves simultaneous cleansing <strong>and</strong> exfoliating. Dead<br />

skin cells are buffed away, while a combination of lactic acid <strong>and</strong><br />

glucosamine are pushed into pores to aid the exfoliation <strong>and</strong> boost<br />

hydration deep down.<br />

Then it was onto the acid peel - the process uses a powerful<br />

but gentle mix of glycolic <strong>and</strong> salicylic acids to help loosen <strong>and</strong><br />

dissolve any leftover debris <strong>and</strong> brighten the complexion. Then<br />

followed the supremely satisfying bit - the extraction. The spiral<br />

tip spins <strong>and</strong> draws out blackheads <strong>and</strong> other impurities from the<br />

pores <strong>and</strong> you can actually see the results in the extraction cup.<br />

It feels even more gentle than tan manual exfoliation, but it is far<br />

more powerful.<br />

After this, a cocktail of customised hyaluronic acid, peptides,<br />

<strong>and</strong> antioxidants are funnelled into the pores to plump, hydrate,<br />

<strong>and</strong> repair the skin, even temporarily filling out fine lines. The<br />

moisturising effects of a HydraFacial could last up to one week at<br />

a time.<br />

The last (optional) part of the facial involves targeted LED light—<br />

blue to kill acne bacteria <strong>and</strong>/or red to reduce any residual redness<br />

<strong>and</strong> help boost collagen. Your specialist will determine what’s<br />

necessary post-treatment. The cocktail of ingredients can be<br />

tailored to your skin to help you with your specific concerns - be<br />

they city pollution, acne flair ups or sun damage.<br />

The results were amazing <strong>and</strong> I’m a HydraFacial convert - joining<br />

the ranks of superfans. It’s the perfect pick me up post party<br />

season or a great treatment if you need glowing skin for a special<br />

event. Find your nearest provider at hydrafacial.co.uk<br />

health <strong>and</strong> beauty salon<br />

All Over Beauty is your local approved HydraFacial<br />

Clinic, offering a range of options to suit your<br />

individual skincare needs<br />

With prices starting from just £85, you can experience<br />

this celebrity favourite treatment from the USA, with a<br />

variety of tailored upgrade options available<br />

01284 706692<br />

email@alloverbeauty.com<br />

www.alloverbeauty.com<br />

All Over Beauty, 48 - 50 West Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3EJ<br />

42 | www.newmarketliving.co.uk


Silver Sun Jewellery<br />

A family run business based in the beautiful market<br />

town of Woodbridge, we are retailers of quality<br />

Sterling Silver, precious & semi precious<br />

gem stone Jewellery.<br />

Est. 1990, built on reputation &<br />

delivering the highest st<strong>and</strong>ards of<br />

dry cleaning & laundry<br />

Bridal wear cleaning & preservation<br />

Repairs & Alterations<br />

Suede & Leather Specialists<br />

Curtains, rugs & removable covers<br />

Full domestic laundry cleaning<br />

Same day cleaning service available on<br />

specific garments<br />

53a The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge IP12 1DB<br />

Telephone: 01394 382114<br />

Email: Silversunjewellery@gmail.com<br />

Open: Monday - Saturday 10am(ish) - 5pm(ish)<br />

Sundays - Please phone in advance<br />

On site<br />

tailor<br />

Available for<br />

repairs &<br />

alterations<br />

5c Wellington Street, <strong>Newmarket</strong>. 01638 560610<br />

17 Whiting Street, Bury St Edmunds. 01284 701060<br />

143 Milton Road, Cambridge. 01223 755 180<br />

info@farthingscambridge.co.uk<br />

www.farthingsdrycleaners.co.uk<br />

#<br />

www.newmarketliving.co.uk | 43


44 | www.newmarketliving.co.uk


Caring for the elderly members of your family<br />

Over Christmas you may have spent some time with the family <strong>and</strong> perhaps more time with<br />

the elderly members <strong>and</strong> you become concerned about their health?<br />

Here we list 8 warning signs to assess if they need help <strong>and</strong> what to<br />

do if they do. You may wish to consider the following questions:<br />

1. Is the person (persons) able to take care of themselves?<br />

Pay attention to their appearance. Failure to keep up with daily<br />

routines - such as bathing <strong>and</strong> tooth brushing - could indicate<br />

dementia, depression or other physical impairments.Also pay<br />

attention to their home. Are the lights working? Is the heat on? Is the<br />

garden overgrown? Any changes in the way things are being done<br />

around the house could provide clues to their health. For example,<br />

scorched pots could mean they are forgetting about food cooking<br />

on the stove. Neglected housework could be a sign of depression,<br />

dementia or other concerns.<br />

2. Are they experiencing memory loss?<br />

Everyone forgets things from time to time. Modest memory<br />

problems are a fairly common part of ageing, <strong>and</strong> sometimes<br />

medication side effects or underlying conditions contribute to<br />

memory loss. There’s a difference, though, between normal<br />

Changes in memory <strong>and</strong> the type of memory loss associated with<br />

Alzheimer’s disease <strong>and</strong> other types of dementia. Are the memory<br />

changes limited to misplaced glasses or an occasionally forgotten<br />

appointment - or are the changes more concerning, such as<br />

forgetting common words when speaking, getting lost in familiar<br />

neighbourhoods or being unable to follow directions?<br />

3. Are they safe in their home?<br />

Take a look around their home, keeping an eye out for any<br />

problems. Could their be a difficulty navigating a narrow stairway?<br />

Are they able to read directions on medication containers? When<br />

asked, do they say they feel safe at home?<br />

4. Are they safe on the road?<br />

Driving can be challenging for older adults. Do they become<br />

confused while driving or are you concerned about their ability to<br />

drive safely, it might be time to stop driving. They could be a danger<br />

to others.<br />

5. Have they lost weight?<br />

Losing weight without trying could be a sign that something’s<br />

wrong. Weight loss could be related to many factors, including:<br />

• Difficulty cooking.<br />

• Loss of taste or smell.<br />

• Underlying conditions - indicating ill health.<br />

6. Is the person (persons) in good spirits?<br />

Note their moods <strong>and</strong> ask how they’re feeling. A drastically different<br />

mood could be a sign of depression or other health concerns.<br />

7. Are they still social?<br />

Talk to them about their activities. Are they connecting with friends?<br />

Have they maintained interest in hobbies <strong>and</strong> other daily activities?<br />

Are they involved in organisations or clubs? Have they given up on<br />

being with others, it could be a sign of a problem.<br />

8. Is the person (persons) able to get around?<br />

Pay attention to how they are walking. Are they reluctant or unable<br />

to walk usual distances? Have they fallen recently? Is knee or hip<br />

arthritis making it difficult to get around the house? Would they<br />

benefit from a cane or walker? Issues such as muscle weakness<br />

<strong>and</strong> joint pain can make it difficult to move around as well. If<br />

someone is unsteady on their feet, they might be at risk of falling - a<br />

major cause of disability among older adults.<br />

Taking action<br />

There are many steps you can take to ensure the person/persons’<br />

health <strong>and</strong> well-being, even if you don’t live nearby. Share your<br />

concerns with them. Your concerns might motivate them to see a<br />

doctor or make other changes.<br />

Encourage regular medical check-ups<br />

If you’re worried about weight loss, depressed mood, memory<br />

loss or other signs <strong>and</strong> symptoms,encourage them to schedule a<br />

doctor’s visit.<br />

You might offer to schedule the visit or to accompany them to the<br />

doctor - or find someone else to attend the visit. Ask about<br />

follow-up visits as well.<br />

Address safety issues<br />

Point out any potential safety issues you have observed - then make<br />

a plan to address the problems. For example, the person (persons)<br />

concerned might benefit from using assistive devices to help them<br />

reach items on high shelves. A higher toilet seat or h<strong>and</strong>rails in the<br />

bathroom might help prevent falls. If they are no longer able to drive<br />

safely, suggest other transportation options -such as taking the bus<br />

or using a taxi.<br />

Consider home care services<br />

Particularly if they are having trouble taking care of themselves, you<br />

could hire someone to clean the house <strong>and</strong> run err<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> help<br />

with daily activities, such as bathing. To ensure good nutrition Meals<br />

on Wheels is also an option.<br />

And finally<br />

It would be a good idea to secure an Enduring Power of<br />

Attorney to ensure that if things get worse you can step in<br />

without having to involve the Court of Protection. Your<br />

solicitor will be able to give you good advice on this.<br />

www.newmarketliving.co.uk | 45


ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

Subaru Levorg<br />

Motoring Journalist Sue Cooke test drives<br />

the new Subaru Levorg....<br />

Time spent with my family is a rare treat<br />

so I’m looking forward to Christmas this<br />

year. My other half builds up holidays at<br />

work <strong>and</strong> when we finally agree the week<br />

that suits both our hectic schedules <strong>and</strong><br />

the school holidays, the thought of the<br />

usual frantic preparations are off-putting.<br />

The biggest frustration is getting the kids<br />

ready on time <strong>and</strong> then trying to cram<br />

everything into the boot of whichever car<br />

I am road testing.<br />

Luckily for us the week we chose for our<br />

holiday with relatives up North, was the<br />

week that Subaru delivered their latest<br />

family tourer. The refreshed <strong>2019</strong> Levorg,<br />

is a sporty but practical estate car. I<br />

enjoy the prestige of driving a br<strong>and</strong> like<br />

Subaru. But when I take my family away,<br />

then I want to know I am driving a safe<br />

car <strong>and</strong> Subaru has been voted Best<br />

Manufacturer for Safety Features in the<br />

<strong>2019</strong> Driver Power Survey.<br />

The Levorg has Symmetrical All-Wheel<br />

Drive technology. Other manufacturers<br />

will boast four-wheel drive but only<br />

Subaru has a system which delivers<br />

power to all four wheels, at all times. This<br />

provides instant <strong>and</strong> better traction on<br />

wet <strong>and</strong> slippery roads. Combined with<br />

the Boxer engine, which sits centrally,<br />

deeper in the engine bay, the Levorg has<br />

a more stable <strong>and</strong> safer ride, perfect for<br />

the flooding we encountered.<br />

The Levorg is also very comfortable,<br />

so much so that my partner who was<br />

supposed to help with the kids wants <strong>and</strong><br />

needs, while I drove, slept throughout the<br />

journey. The kids said how comfortable<br />

the ride is in the rear <strong>and</strong> the driver’s seat<br />

has power adjustable lumbar support,<br />

but I was quietly happy to experience the<br />

sheer driving enjoyment that Subaru has<br />

always been able to deliver.<br />

The exterior front face has been<br />

revamped with a more refined front<br />

bumper, a sharper front grille <strong>and</strong><br />

refreshed LED steering responsive<br />

headlights which provided good visibility<br />

as the light dimmed. There are enhanced<br />

fog light designs <strong>and</strong> newly styled 18”<br />

alloy wheels.<br />

In the quality cabin, there has been<br />

a variety of discreet upgrades to the<br />

instrument panel, door trim <strong>and</strong> switches.<br />

Rear seat <strong>and</strong> boot space usability has<br />

been enhanced with a new 40/20/40 split<br />

folding rear seat configuration that is<br />

particularly suited to loading long items<br />

with two passengers seated in the rear.<br />

Levorg features all of the infotainment<br />

<strong>and</strong> audio offerings you would expect<br />

in a family tourer. The intuitive 7”<br />

multifunction colour touchscreen is easy<br />

to use <strong>and</strong> contains Apple CarPlay <strong>and</strong><br />

Android Auto, DAB radio, Bluetooth®<br />

connectivity <strong>and</strong> satellite navigation.<br />

For <strong>2019</strong>, there is a new 2 litre naturally<br />

aspirated petrol engine combined with<br />

Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT transmission.<br />

Safety features include EyeSight driver<br />

assistance with adaptive cruise control,<br />

pre-collision braking <strong>and</strong> lane departure<br />

warning. Previous technologies included<br />

blind spot monitoring <strong>and</strong> a reversing<br />

camera <strong>and</strong> for <strong>2019</strong>, there is a front<br />

view camera <strong>and</strong> smart rear-view mirror<br />

to improve visibility in areas that would<br />

ordinarily be obstructed from view.<br />

Comfortable <strong>and</strong> capable around town,<br />

effortless on the motorway <strong>and</strong> with<br />

exhilarating h<strong>and</strong>ling on a coastal road,<br />

the refreshed Subaru Levorg was our<br />

perfect family tourer.<br />

Facts at a Glance<br />

Model: Subaru Levorg GT Lineartronic<br />

Price: £ 30,995otr<br />

Engine: 2.0i litre Boxer<br />

Performance: 0-62mph in 11.7 seconds<br />

<strong>and</strong> on to a top speed of 121mph<br />

Combined fuel consumption: 22.03-<br />

32.62mpg (WLTP)<br />

CO2 emissions: 167g/km<br />

46 | www.newmarketliving.co.uk


(BETTER where it MATTERS)<br />

THE NEW SUBARU LEVORG.<br />

DRIVING VERSATILITY.<br />

Estate car practicality, Sports Tourer<br />

comfort <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>ling with<br />

always-on All-Wheel Drive confidence.<br />

Subaru Levorg 2.0i GT Lineartronic<br />

FROM<br />

ONLY £30,995<br />

DISCOVER MORE AT<br />

Cambridge Subaru 01223 633706<br />

www.cambridge-subaru.co.uk<br />

158 Shelford Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB2 9NE<br />

SUBARU LEVORG fuel economy <strong>and</strong> CO2 results (WLTP): Combined 32.62mpg, CO2 emissions 167g/km. Fuel consumption figures are<br />

determined according to the WLTP test cycle. Mpg figures are official EU test figures for comparative purposes & may not reflect real<br />

driving results. CO2 figure shown is based on the outgoing NEDC test cycle & will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration.<br />

Only compare fuel consumption & CO2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical st<strong>and</strong>ard. Fuel consumption achieved<br />

in real life conditions & CO2 produced depends on a number of factors including accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in<br />

weather, driving styles & vehicle load.<br />

†Every vehicle marketed by Subaru (UK) Ltd, excluding WRX STI, is covered by a 5 Year/100,000 mile (whichever comes sooner) Limited<br />

Warranty which comprises of a st<strong>and</strong>ard 3 Year/60,000 mile (whichever is sooner) Manufacturer’s Warranty (bumper to bumper,<br />

excluding clutch driven plate) <strong>and</strong> an Extended Warranty (applies to powertrain only) provided by the importer. Vehicle shown is a<br />

Subaru Levorg 2.0i GT Lineartronic with optional special paint finish (£550). OTR price of £31,545.00. OTR price incl. VAT, delivery,<br />

number plates, 12 months road fund licence <strong>and</strong> first registration fee. Prices correct at time of going to print. Please consult your local<br />

Subaru dealer for exact quotation.

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