Abingdon Living Jan - Feb 2020

Contents
A Note
from the editor
A Culinary meat-free Journey recipes throughthat
Northern 19Fantastic still comfort Ireland
cosset
BBC Producer of Planet
Earth II Mike Gunton
In this issue...
04 What’s On
24
We embrace the chill and find the best
events this winter - with lots of fun to
blow away the January gloom
17 Michael Caines
We interview the Michelin star chef
from Devon on his passion for motor
racing and his charitable work
19 Veg Out
Four fabulous recipes if you’re
attempting Veganuary this year or are
just looking to reduce meat intake
22 Live Well
If you’re looking to retune your health
this year, we have some excellent tips
to get you started
26 Magical Oman
We visit the mountains and the dunes
of Oman, a glorious country with a
rich history
30 Homebuying Guide
If the New Year heralds a big house
move, we bring together tips to make
the process easier
17
Michael
Caines
I’d love to hear your resolutions for the New
Year - please do email them to me and add to
the inspirational pot. In the meantime, you can
get a flavour of everything else in this issue by
32
looking left. Whatever your resolutions or goals,
I hope 2020 is a fantastic year for you.
Country House
Interiors
Editor Kate Thomson | e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk
Publisher Sally Thomson
Pre-Press Manager Kate O’Connell
Contributors Rebecca Williams, Peter Thomson, Sue Cooke, Matthew Biggs
Angela Cave, Lucy Saunders and Pete Lawrence. Front cover from Waitrose
Key Account Manager Marcus Hawke
e marcus.hawke@minervapublications.co.uk
d/l 01225 308 094
twitter: @AbingdonLiving1
Here we are in a new decade. 2020, with all its
numerical symmetry, has both the promise of
a new year and a new epoch. It goes without
saying that this is a time for reflection, both
inward and outward - what shape would we like
our lives to have taken come January 2021?
My goals would usually be overly simplistic and
a little nebulous - lose a few pounds, drive less,
learn a language; I’m almost doomed to failure
by the lack of framework in the first instance.
This year, I’m trying the opposite approach -
detailing exactly how I will do something and
here it is, printed - I can’t look back now.
1. Walk, Run or Cycle 5km a day, for the
whole of 2020. This sounds bonkers, but
we all need to move more and even the
most fitness-phobic person can walk 5km
in a day...well, I’ll update you in March with
my progress.
2. Consume Less - I’m not talking just about
food. I’ll be limiting myself to one new
piece of clothing a month (the rest will
come from resale sites and charity shops).
I’m going to get store-cupboard staples
from zero waste shops and I’ve swapped
my cleaning products for natural ones.
This was in part inspired by our amazing
interview this issue with Mike Gunton of the
BBC’s Natural History Unit - his passion for
environmentalism is infectious.
3. Live Well - ok, this does sound like I’m
straying into generalities but a quote I heard
really hit home: ‘everything you eat will either
prevent disease or fuel it’. We only get one
body, so I’m going to treat mine with more
respect by getting the nutrients I need - you
can read more on that in our health guide.
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Katie
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