Leamington and Warwick Living Nov - Dec 2020

Contents 

A Note 

from the EDITOR 

20 

Perfect 

A Culinary recipes Journey to add through a 

Northern little festive Ireland sparkle 

Our new 

competitions page 

04 

I was hoping to introduce this issue 

into a settled environment - but it 

seems both the world and the weather 

don’t know what they’re doing. I got 

caught out this week - my carefullycurated 

wardrobe of earthy neutrals, 

including cream coloured jeans, took 

an unceremonious splashing after an 

encounter with an articulated lorry and 

a rather large puddle. 

Preparing a Christmas issue is usually 

a little more straightforward than this 

edition has been, and all the doom and 

gloom this year is enough to make you 

cry ‘humbug, Christmas is cancelled!’ 

Whilst the festive season might not 

take its usual shape, there’s still a lot 

to be thankful for, and that’s what we 

hoped to highlight in this edition. 

The good news is, in our field, we talk 

to lots of independent businesses from 

the vast spectrum of the lifestyle world, 

and overall, the outlook is an optimistic 

one. We may have missed out on 

a summer of attractions and events, 

but as a nation we’ve shifted focus to 

home, considering more closely where 

and how we spend our money and 

honing -in on projects that matter to 

us - in our homes, our personal lives 

and our workplace. Maybe we’ve got a 

different, but special festive season on 

the horizon - one where family ties are 

strengthened and our shopping habits 

support our neighbourhoods. 

24 

Creating a restful and 

inviting guest bedroom 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Pre-Press Manager Kate O’Connell 

Contributors Peter Thomson, Sue Cooke, Matthew Biggs, Angela Cave, 

Front Cover courtesy of Linda Barker Paints 

Key Account Manager Marion Cassidy 

e marion@minervapublications.co.uk 

d/l 01225 984502 

twitter: @LeamingtonLive 

Education in 

COVID-times 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ 

Unit 21c, Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton 

Trowbridge BA14 6JB 

t 01225 984 550 

visit our website www.leamingtonspaliving.co.uk 

08 

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

advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions and 

misprints. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the 

publishers. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publishers 

So, assuming we will be able to 

entertain guests come the Christmas 

season, we are looking at ways to 

make a guest bedroom a special place 

to stay - even if it has been your office 

for the last few months. 

We’ve also got a look at some tasty 

Christmas treats that you can start 

hoarding like a little festive squirrel - 

though the stash does become rather 

tempting on a cold November evening 

too. This, plus some wonderful recipes 

from Waitrose designed to sprinkle 

some sparkle into proceedings! 

Next time we see you it will be... 2021 

- a whole new year - and hopefully 

a better and brighter one than the 

craziness we’ve just endured! All that’s 

left is to wish a very Merry Christmas 

and a peaceful and prosperous New 

Year to you and yours! 

Katie 

www.leamingtonspaliving.co.uk | 3

COMPETITION 

Win a 

VAX carpet 

washer worth 

£249! 

Time 

To enter any (or all!) of our competitions, head to 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk/competitions. 

Find the competition and enter on that post, 

using the appropriate keyword. 

T&C’s apply and no cash alternatives available. Winners chosen at 

random - entries made after closing date will not be accepted. 

The VAX Platinum Power MAX carpet washer is a Christmas 

and New Year must-have to tackle accidental spills and 

upholstery stains, or a full carpet clean once your guests 

depart. Proven to clean better than the leading rental carpet 

cleaner, 1 it removes 93% of bacteria. 2 

And we’ve got one to give away to one lucky winner! VAX 

Platinum Power Max (including free steamer), £249, 

www.vax.co.uk 

Closes 12/12/2020 - Competition keyword VAX 

Refs: 

1 Cleaning effectiveness on carpet, tested in deep clean mode 

according to IEC 62885-3:2014 part 5.2.1 

2 Independent laboratory research conducted by the University of 

Worcester’s Institute of Science and the Environment (Dec 2017) 

£250 

curved fish 

tank to 

be won! 

With homeworking now the ‘new 

normal’ having an aquarium that 

combines a unique look and highspec 

equipment is essential for 

anyone wishing to create a tranquil 

and relaxing home workspace. 

The AquaCurve complete, easy-set-up, 

aquarium kit from leading UK indoor 

aquatics brand, Interpet, based in 

Taunton, Somerset, is fitted with an ultrabright 

LED light to give healthy looking 

plants and vivid tropical fish colours. The 

Easy-Care Filter keeps water healthy and 

clear with its four-stage filtration process. 

Find our more at interpet.co.uk. 

Now you have the chance to win one 

of these amazing curved tanks - just follow the 

steps above! Interpet reserves the right to alter the 

prize depending on available stock. Closes 12/12/2020- 

Competition keyword INTERPET 

Kit your home out with the 

must-have interior item - the 

amazing mudcloth cushion. 

A favourite of interior designers 

across the world, mudcloth 

is an amazing fabric-making 

process orginating in Mali, 

where fermented mud 

is used to create highly 

patterned pieces. 

Haus is giving two lucky readers 

the chance to win a mudcloth of 

their choice - worth up to £55 - 

just follow the steps above! Head 

to hauslife.co.uk to see the full 

mudcloth collection, plus a host of 

other amazing home accessories. 

Closes 12/12/2020- Competition 

keyword HAUS 

Over 

£100 

worth of cushions 

to be won! 

£100 

to spend on 

prints of your 

www.inkanddrop.com are offering one lucky 

choice! reader a £100 gift voucher to spend on art 

prints for their home. So if you’ve been planning 

a seriously cool gallery wall this is the perfect 

competition for you! 

Ink & Drop is a small family business, born from a passion for 

all things interior, and in particular, unique cool art prints with a 

belief that every home should have great artwork, regardless of 

budget, style or theme. A collection of artwork unlike anything 

else on the internet, Ink & Drop prints can transform your room 

and freshen up your walls regardless of interior style and for a 

very small budget. 

Closes 12/12/2020 - - Competition keyword INK 

Win a Myth 18L backpack from 

STM Goods. With plenty of space 

for both personal and comfortable 

gear, the Myth provides the ultimate 

in tech protection. The dedicated 

laptop pocket suspends your laptop 

off the floor of the bag and away from 

the sides – so if the bag gets dropped 

your laptop is away protected from 

impact. 

The neat CableRouting system means 

you can charge on the go and keep the 

bag interior cable tangle free thanks to 

the ports between sections and cable clips 

routed throughout the bag. The inventive 

AirPod pocket and earbud keeper will keep 

your earbuds safe and secure with easy 

access for when you need them the most. 

Win a 

tech-friendly 

backpack worth 

£99.95 

The PassPort luggage pass through means you can easily 

connect the pack to other baggage items, and the specially 

designed back panel will ensure a comfy carry all day, no matter 

what you have packed. £99.95. Available in 3 colours from 

Amazon.co.uk. 

Closes 12/12/2020 - Competition keyword STM Goods 

4 | www.leamingtonspaliving.co.uk

Regency Fireplaces & Stoves 

We are proud to be a stockist of 

these stunning electric fires. 

We have displays in our 

Leamington showroom and 

would love to show you just 

how good they are. 

With this advert we are offering 

10% off the RRP 

and we have a great team on hand to offer a 

full installation service. 

LFH 

01926 882 279 | regencyfireplaces.co.uk 

69 Rugby Road, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 6DF

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

Small Classes: central 

to pupil success 

At Arnold Lodge, our school ethos – which focuses on the happiness 

and confidence of pupils – underpins all that we do... 

For us, the recipe is pretty straight 

forward; only when a child is happy, 

safe and confident can they set out 

to challenge themselves (and to be 

challenged, in turn). For us, school should 

be filled with lots of learning and laughter 

and be a place where pupils are excited 

to come whether they are starting out 

their learning in Reception or pursuing 

their passions at A Level. 

From the foundation of happy learners, 

our pupils’ academic and personal 

successes rest on three pillars; small 

class sizes, high quality teaching and 

our exceptional school values. Staff at 

ALS are highly qualified, committed and 

driven to ensure that our pupils receive 

the very best throughout their school day. 

Our shared school values – hard work, 

honesty and kindness – are expected 

from the whole school community and 

drive our expectations of pupils to show 

dedication, outstanding behaviour and 

personal responsibility. 

We do not expect pupils to arrive at ALS 

as exceptional writers, mathematicians or 

musicians. We do not expect our pupils 

to arrive at ALS knowing the path they 

wish to take for the future. However, we 

do expect pupils to make exceptional 

choices for the things in their power; the 

choice to be hard working, to be honest 

and to be kind. We expect each pupil to 

demonstrate the very highest standard 

in the choices they make and their 

commitment to be their best; from there, 

it’s for their school to do the rest. 

Our ethos, culture and quality of our 

teachers goes a long way, of course, but 

it’s our class sizes that helps our pupils 

make the most outstanding personal 

and academic progress. Claims of 

“small classes” are ubiquitous in the 

independent sector but, for ALS, we 

mean it. 

We have small classes, not ‘smaller’ 

classes. Our EYFS class has just 16 

pupils with a teacher and a teaching 

assistant (giving a ratio of 1:8) and this 

number holds through to Year 2. At Key 

Stage 2, our maximum class size is just 

18. Then, in our Senior School, we have 

a year group size of 42 made up of three 

classes of just 14. 

Your child deserves the care and 

attention they need to fulfil their potential. 

With small classes, teachers can give 

each child the time and attention 

they deserve to reach the next goal. 

Academically, this provides an even 

higher quality of teaching as children 

can receive the type of 1-1 contact time 

that helps all children flourish. Whether a 

child needs a little extra confidence or to 

have an advanced concept explained to 

develop and challenge them even further, 

teachers have the capacity, time and 

resource to give each the very best. 

Year on year, our GCSE and A level 

results are outstanding and demonstrate 

the impact small classes have on 

children’s grades. On average, our 

children make more than 11 grades 

additional progress from Year 7 to Year 

11 than they would be expected* to 

make elsewhere. At A Level, our pupils, 

on average, score 2.3 grades higher 

than expected* - that’s a pupil targeted 

BBB achieving AAB. From our data we 

know small classes support all children 

to achieve higher – at ALS, our highest 

achievers often have a value added score 

that is just as high, reflecting the impact 

small classes can have on turning grade 

8s in to 9s and A to A*. 

Whilst small classes are central to 

academic success, they also have 

significant impact on the wellbeing of the 

children in school. Our mentor groups 

reflect our class size, with each child 

having a mentor who is dedicated to 

supporting their wellbeing and personal 

development. In Junior School, the class 

teacher has plenty of time to support 

each child’s development and to liaise 

with parents on a frequent basis. In 

Senior School, mentor groups of just 14 

continue this same ethos and help to 

make sure that each child has the time 

and attention they deserve to be their 

best. 

*Our targets are set externally by GL 

Assessment using Cognitive Ability 

Testing. At A Level, we use ALPs based 

on pupils’ GCSE grades. 

For more information on Arnold Lodge 

School, visit www.arnoldlodge.com 


Sixth form 

Making the right choice 

So your child is going to do A levels. For 

most, this will mean staying on at their 

current school, either because they want 

to, you want them to, or it just feels the 

safest option. But some youngsters opt 

for, or have no alternative but to make, a 

fresh start with new people in a new place. 

If your child fits into this second group, it’s 

essential to take time out to consider the 

options and make the right choice. 

The Good Schools Guide knows from 

visiting hundreds of schools and colleges 

ever year that some students wind 

up compromising on subject choices. 

Sixth-forms vary, with many guaranteeing 

literally any subject mix and others 

restricting certain combinations because 

of insoluble timetable clashes. Your child 

may not know exactly which subjects 

they want to study but its worth making 

sure that they are broadly on the same 

page as any prospective sixth form. The 

full breakdown of past exam results (not 

just the simple summary!) and previous 

students’ university destinations should 

tell you if the place is aligned with your 

child’s own aspirations. Find out how 

many A levels a pupil is expected to take. 

And can you drop one if it all gets too 

much? 

Sixth form, for many, is when thoughts 

turn to higher education, some schools 

and colleges offer mock interview 

practice, guaranteed work experience, 

special Oxbridge classes and meticulous 

help with personal statements, among 

other things. But university isn’t the be-all 

and end-all. 

We’re always impressed when schools 

embrace alternative routes, such as 

degree apprenticeships. How does the 

school or college get students thinking 

about different careers and industries, for 

example through careers fairs, outside 

speakers and getting students out into the 

business world? 

Track down a current pupil to find out 

what the teaching and class sizes are like. 

The search for small teaching groups is 

often a key pull for parents and students 

at sixth form. The culture matters too. Are 

pupils trusted to manage their own time 

and is there proper support for when the 

stress levels start to creep up. It would 

be easy to bypass pastoral care for these 

nearly-adults but, with all the exams and 

life-planning, this is a time when support 

can be critical. Many schools now employ 

on-site counsellors or see that teachers 

receive appropriate training to help pupils 

with well-being issues. 

Read inspection reports. Everywhere will 

have one, but check the date and don’t 

treat it as gospel if more than a year or 

two old. The Good Schools Guide reviews 

many good sixth forms so see what we 

have to say too. But what should really 

swing it for you, once you’ve worked your 

way through the suggestions here, is your 

child’s gut feeling. 

Take advantage 

of open days, 

soak up the 

atmosphere, 

continue to 

visit and ask 

questions of 

local colleges 

and schools 

and ultimately make 

sure your child feels happy with their 

choice. 

The Good Schools Guide 22nd 

hardback edition 

Over 1,200 in-depth reviews of leading 

private and state schools, for children 

aged 3-18, in the UK. These cover 

everything you want, and need, to know 

about a school and you won’t find this 

level of independent, honest detail 

anywhere else. Reviews are written by 

parents, for parents, to help you find the 

best school for your child. 

The Good Schools Guide’s unique take 

on:- 

Academic and money matters 

Head teacher profiles 

Pastoral care, well-being and atmosphere 

Extra-curricular activities, games, the arts 

Entrance and exit information 

www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk 


your chance TO WIN 

A collectable print from independent 

designer LucyLovesThis 

‘LucyLovesThis is a small design studio, set up by book cover 

designer Lucy Stephens. Having grown up in Cambridge, studied 

in Leeds and then settling with her family in South London, 

Lucy knows how the places she’s lived in have shaped and 

inspired her. The collection features over 180 different letters. The 

letter designs are made up intricate illustrations, monochrome 

typography and contain the landmarks and icons that celebrate 

each place. 

Over seven years Lucy has grown a loyal fan base, excited to 

collect prints and gifts that celebrate the places that make up 

their life journey. Customers come back time and again to buy 

their friends and family gifts that celebrate graduations, housewarmings, 

weddings and birthdays. Prints are available unframed 

for £21 and framed for £55. 

See the full collection at lucylovesthis.com 

THE COMPETITION 

The team at LucyLovesThis have an amazing competition for 

us - offering the winner a framed A4 print of their choice worth 

£55! Plus, 5 runners up will receive an A4 unframed print of their 

choice too, each worth £21! These personal prints filled with 

local nods make amazing 

gifts or treasured pieces 

for your home. To be in 

with a chance of winning, 

simply head to www. 

minervamagazines.co.uk/ 

competitions and enter 

on that page - using the 

keyword ‘LUCYLOVES’. 

Competition closes 

10/12/2020 and winners 

will be notified by email 

to choose their print. No 

cash alternative available, 

T&Cs apply. 


“WONDERFUL EXHIBITIONS, 

SUCH A RANGE OF 

REAL QUALITY. 

BEAUTIFULLY CURATED.” 

“STUNNING SPACES.” 

PLAN YOUR VISIT 

Warwickshire, CV35 9HZ 

comptonverney.org.uk 

T. 01926 645500 

Lottie 

USE CODE 

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I F P 

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STYLISH 

HANDMADE HAIR 

ACCESSORIES 

The no-kink hair tie that is 

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@LOTTIE.LOVES.HAIR 


Real Christmas Trees 

Delivered to you, next day 

We are a family run Christmas tree farm & have been 

growing Christmas trees for over 40 years 

Pre order your tree & delivery date from 

1 st November 

UK Grown 

All our trees are grown here in the UK 

Harvested to order. 

We offer a nationwide next day delivery 

service direct from the grower. 

All our trees 

are cut to order, 

packaged & shipped 

direct from the Farm 

We are experiencing a large volume of 

enquires & we are expecting a very busy 

year so please pre order where possible to 

avoid disappointment. 

We also have a large 

selection of Christmas tree 

stands & lights in our 

online store 

www.realfreshchristmastrees.co.uk 

office@realfreshchristmastrees.co.uk 

Call the farm office on: 01455 299911

Hair accessories 

and no-kink hair 

ties, from £4, 

lottie-loves.com 

This kitchen timer plays 

Mozart’s soothing “Rondo Alla 

Turca” when the countdown 

is complete. £16.99, 

ackermanmusic.co.uk 

HER 

Colour and create 

shimmery drawings using 

the metallic Pixelo dot pen! 

£25.24 Amazon.co.uk 

Hestia Gold Plated 

Multi-Strand 

Necklace, £24 

hauslife.co.uk 

Emoji Action, £12, 

hacche.co.uk 

Perfect for 

gym bunnies or 

those who love 

beautifully made 

loungewear 

KIDS 

Whether she’s a fitness fanatic or 

loves luxe loungewear, Ryderwear is 

a great choice. These NKD leggings 

are lululemon dupes and half the 

price! £49.99, uk.ryderwear.com 

Extra Large Wood Ibed 

Lap Desk, £23, Amazon 

CHRISTMAS 

Gift Guide 

3D Wooden 

Puzzle Cat, 

£6.93, Amazon 

Four bags of 

premium organic 

ground coffee, all 

snugly packed in a 

sustainably 

sourced rustic 

wooden presentation 

case. £25, 

traidcraftshop.co.uk 

Perfect for ethical 

coffee lovers 

Pampas, feather 

and eucalyptus filled 

glass baubles, from 

£6, hauslife.co.uk, 

available from Mid- 

November 

One of the best shows 

on TV made into a board 

game! £22, Smyths 

HIM 

Make iPads easier 

to use! 

Highly-scented, 

hand-poured 

aromatherapy 

candles in a 

range of uplifting 

fragrances, £34, 

hauslife.co.uk 

Create amazing 

rainbow style 

letter art! £22.70, 

from Smyths 

Ultra-soft, organic 

cotton ‘Parsnip’ 

dungarees, £24, 

welovefrugi.com 

SuperGraph Drawing 

Station has an amazing 

patented optical viewer 

which allows you to copy 

any picture inserted in 

the picture easel, £16.99, 

from Argos 

HOME 

Branch lighting, 

baubles and candles, 

all from a collection at 

lights4fun.co.uk 

Excellent burn and longlasting 

fragrance 

Three puzzles in one! Carnovsky 

Jigsaw, £15, hacche.co.uk/ginger-fox

Colin the Caterpillar has 

turned 30! And he’s looking 

great for it with a range 

of new goodies like these 

white chocolate mini faces, 

£2, M&S 

Christmas Hare Platter, 

£24.95, 

annabeljames.co.uk 

A beautiful medium-blend 

all-day coffee, Café York 

Blend Coffee in Caddy, £10, 

cartwrightandbutler.co.uk 

Great for 

gifting 

A TASTE 

of Christmas 

Grand Cru Swiss 

chocolate at its 

finest, Langues 

de Chat, £7.30, 

bettys.co.uk 

As the festive season approaches, we begin 

to fill the larder with delicious goodies 

A delicious assortment 

of cocoa dusted 

truffles, Monty 

Bojangles Taste 

Adventures Cocoa 

Dusted Truffles, £8 

Amazon.co.uk 

Luxury Lobster Christmas 

Crackers, £36, nancyandbetty.com 

The perfect accompaniments for all your 

Christmas meats and cheeses, Rubies in the 

Rubble Classic Chutneys Relish Trio, £13, 

Amazon.co.uk 

Traidcraft Organic Fairtrade 

Chocolate, from £2.65 per bar, 

traidcraftshop.co.uk 

Make your matcha latte at 

home, PureChimp Matcha 

Green Tea Powder, £9.95, 

Amazon.co.uk 

Partridge In A Pear Tree Tray, from 

£30, sophieallport.com 

Awardwinning 

English 

sparkling 

wine 

The multi-award-winning sparkling wine created 

from 100% Chardonnay grapes. Blanc de Blancs 

has classic Chardonnay aromas of green apple 

and citrus, combined with mineral notes and 

white stone fruits on the palate. Gusbourne Blanc 

de Blancs 2015, £59, gusbourne.com

Christmas 

2020 

Please get in touch 

for further details on 

our Christmas Awardwinning 

Free Range 

Turkeys & Apple fed 

cockerels. 

Click & collect & 

delivery options 

available or contact us 

for your local stockist. 

Get in touch today! 

www.adlingtonltd.com 

01676 532681

CHRISTMAS 

Who knows what form Christmas will take this year? 

With that in mind, we’ve left the main event ideas in 

your court (depending on how many you’re feeding) 

and are serving up some delicious accompaniments 

that can be scaled to any party size... 

Sparkle 

ORGANIC HONEY- 

ROASTED 

VEGETABLES 

Preparation time: 15 minutes | Cooking 

time: 50 minutes 

Serves: 4-6 

INGREDIENTS 

300g small organic potatoes, halved 

300g organic butternut squash, cut into 

1cm slices 

4 organic red onions, halved 

1 organic garlic bulb, halved horizontally 

2 tbsp organic extra virgin olive oil 

2 tbsp Rowse Organic Honey 

¼ organic lemon, trimmed and sliced thinly 

250g organic cooked beetroot, drained and 

cut into wedges 

2 tbsp organic half fat crème fraîche 

½ tsp organic cider vinegar 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6. Toss 

the potatoes, squash, red onions and garlic 

in a bowl with 1½ tbsp oil and 1 tbsp honey; 

season. Spread over a large parchment-lined 

roasting tray and roast for 20 minutes. Toss 

the vegetables, adding the sliced lemon, and 

roast for another 20 minutes. 

Toss the beetroot wedges with the 

remaining ½ tbsp oil and add to the 

roasting tray. Drizzle the remaining 1 tbsp 

honey over the vegetables and roast for a 

final 10 minutes. 

Remove the tray from the oven and take out 

the garlic. Squeeze the cloves into a bowl 

and mash with the back of a fork. Stir in the 

crème fraîche, vinegar and 1-2 tsp water to 

make a loose dressing; season. Arrange the 

roasted vegetables on a platter and serve 

with the garlic crème fraîche. 

COOK’S TIP 

Add a bag of Duchy Organic Baby Leaf & 

Rocket Salad to the roasted vegetables to 

create a lovely, substantial side salad that 

can be served with Christmas cold cuts or 

Boxing Day ham. 

FESTIVE SPICED 

LATTE CAKE 

Preparation time: 25 minutes | Cooking 

time: 50 minutes 

Serves: 10-12 

INGREDIENTS 

250g unsalted butter, melted 

300g self-raising white flour 

1 tsp baking powder 

250g Billington’s Light Brown Soft Sugar 

½ tsp ground nutmeg, plus a pinch more 

¼ tsp salt 

1 tbsp instant coffee powder, plus 1 tsp 

75ml whole milk 

275g low-fat fresh vanilla custard 

3 medium British Blacktail Free Range 

Eggs, beaten 

4 tbsp Billington’s Golden Caster Sugar 

2 tbsp dark rum 

200ml whipping cream 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 180˚C, gas mark 4. 

Use a little of the butter to grease a 23cm 

springform tin, then line the base. Sift the 

flour and baking powder into a large bowl. 

Add the light brown soft sugar, a pinch of 

nutmeg and the salt. Mix well with your 

hands to smooth any lumps in the sugar, 

then make a well in the middle. 

In a cup, mix 1 tbsp coffee with 1 tbsp hot 

water. Stir into the melted butter with the 

milk, 175g custard and the eggs; whisk 

into the dry ingredients until smooth. Pour 

into the tin and bake for 50 minutes, until 

risen, golden and a skewer inserted into 

the centre comes out clean. While the cake 

bakes, mix 1 tsp coffee with 2 tbsp caster 

sugar, 1 tbsp water and 1 tbsp rum to make 

a syrup; set aside. 

Place the cake, in its tin, on a wire rack to 

cool. After 30 minutes, poke lots of holes 

Recipes and images courtesy of 

waitrose.com, where you can find 

1,000’s more delicious recipes 


into the top using a cocktail stick and brush with the coffee syrup. 

Once cooled completely, remove from the tin and put on a plate. 

Make a frothy topping by whipping the cream with the remaining 2 

tbsp caster sugar and 1 tbsp rum until very thick, then fold into the 

remaining 100g custard. Spoon and spread the topping onto the cake, 

then use a fine sieve or tea strainer to dust with the remaining ½ tsp 

nutmeg. 

COOK’S TIP 

Making the cake ahead of time? You can keep the cake in an airtight 

container for a couple of days. When ready to serve, make and add 

the topping as per step 4 of the method (above). 

CHRISTMAS SMOKED SALMON & 

CRÈME FRAÎ CHE BLINIS 

Preparation time: 10 minutes | Cooking time: 10 minutes 

Makes: 20 

INGREDIENTS 

125g self-raising wholemeal flour 

Pinch salt 

1 medium egg, separated 

150ml semi-skimmed milk 

200ml pot full fat crème fraîche 

1-2 tsp vegetable oil, for frying 

1 ruby grapefruit 

1 tsp hot horseradish sauce 

½ x 20g pack fresh dill, chopped 

1 pack Waitrose & Partners Christmas Citrus Smoked Scottish 

Salmon, cut into 20 strips 

METHOD 

Put the flour and a good pinch of salt in a large bowl. Make a well, 

then drop in the egg yolk. Follow with the milk and 1 tbsp of the crème 

fraîche, then whisk to a thick batter. Using a clean whisk, whip the egg 

white to medium peaks, then fold carefully into the batter using a metal 

spoon. 

Put ½ tsp oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Drop 1 

tbsp of the batter into the pan, giving it room to spread to about 5cm 

across. Repeat until the pan is full. Cook for 1 minute, then fl ip with a 

fish slice and cook for 1 minute more, until puffed up and golden on 

both sides. Lift onto a plate lined with kitchen paper. Repeat to make 

20 blinis. 

Segment the grapefruit, allowing the juice to drop into a separate bowl, 

and roughly chop the flesh. Stir the horseradish and most of the dill 

into the remaining crème fraîche, season, then fold in the grapefruit. 

Serve on top of the cooled blinis, with a twist of salmon, a sprinkle 

more dill and a grinding of black pepper. 

ROSE GIMLET 

A fruity and floral cocktail, with gin, lime and the delicate flavour of 

rose cordial. Add the final flourish with a sprinkle of rose petals 

Makes: 1 

INGREDIENTS 

50ml pink gin (or regular gin) 

30ml lime juice 

30ml Frobisher’s Pomegranate and Rose Cordial 

Rose petals for garnish 

METHOD 

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the gin, cordial and lime juice then 

shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish 

with rose petals. 


Christmas 

AT MALLORY COURT 

Magical Christmas in Warwickshire 

Nestled in the heart of Warwickshire, Christmas at Mallory Court is 

really rather special. Sink into one of our plump armchairs, feel the 

warmth of our roaring fires and enjoy the magic of our hotel. 

Indulge in award-winning dining with our specially selected Christmas 

menus and delicious festive afternoon tea. Why not relax and reset with 

a festive pampering treatment in our Elan Spa or book one of our 

Christmas experiences! 

MALLORYCOURT MALLORY_COURT MALLORYCOURT 

WWW.MALLORY.CO.UK | 01926 330214 

30_09_20 - Leam/Warwick Living - Mallory Court.indd 1 21/09/2020 15:02 

The Harvester 

An outstanding & relaxed countryside pub 

A PLEASING-EVEN-THE-PICKY-ONES 

CHRISTMAS 

•Traditional Turkey with all the trimmings 

•Pork & Cranberry Pâté 

• Bourbon-glazed short rib of beef 

•Banoffee Profiteroles & Baileys sundae 

• Kids menu • Book Today! 

Church Road, Long Itchington, 

Southam CV47 9PE 

Tel: 01926 812698 l @liharvester 

www.theharvesterinn.co.uk 


MAKING A GUEST ROOM 

W 

feel like home 

hilst it can feel like another job to 

add to the list, preparing the guest 

bedroom to receive guests for 

Christmas can actually be quite relaxing - 

making a space comfortable and inviting 

really does something good for the soul. 

When you start to plan your guest room, 

think about what you’d expect to find in 

a lovely hotel and try to make your room 

measure up to that standard. Your budget 

may not be enough to create a getaway 

oasis, but you can clear the decks, lay out 

all the necessities, and provide a quiet place 

to relax. 

PROVIDE A 

COMFORTABLE BED 

Don’t give your guests the oldest, saggiest 

mattress you have. Try sleeping in the room 

yourself and assess the quality of your sleep 

on that mattress - it may be time to invest 

in a new one. If you can’t afford a new bed, 

think about getting a quality air mattress. 

adding luxurious bed linens and comfort 

items supplied by fine B&Bs: a featherbed or 

wool mattress topper, a choice of pillows, a 

cosy down quilt or thick throw, extra blankets 

and freshly ironed pillowcases. We like to 

provide a decorative basket in the room filled 

with extra blankets. 

MAKE ROOM FOR 

A SUITCASE 

Clear a space to put a luggage rack or 

provide a small table or bench to set down 

a suitcase. No one likes to have to stoop 

over to the floor to pull out a clean pair of 

socks. Even a chair is better than nothing. 

SUPPLY EXTRA LINENS 

Always have an extra set of bed and bath 

linens available for your guests. Accidents 

do happen! Or you may have one of those 

wonderful guests who insists on changing 

the sheets when they leave. Let them do it, 

and thank them profusely. 

UPGRADE YOUR 

BEDDING 

Beyond clean, crisp bedding, think about 

CLEAR THE DECKS 

Resist the temptation to cover the top of the 

dresser with your prized collectables or fill 

Earthy materials and handmade items make spaces feel cosy. Left to right: Clio 

Basket, £25, habitat.co.uk; White Arrow Mudcloth, £56, hauslife.co.uk; Arizona 

Natural Woven Chair, £385, Cielshopinteriors.com 


clear a descent amount of space. In a guest 

room, less is more – more space, more 

comfortable, and more welcoming. Get rid 

of anything you would not find in a hotel 

room. Keep only the most useful items in the 

room, like a clock, a make up mirror and a 

waste-paper bin. 

MAKE SURE THERE’S A 

COMFY PLACE TO SIT 

Remember that your guests might like a little 

relaxation time away from the rest of the 

house, so make sure they have somewhere 

nice to sit in the room. Some people do 

not feel comfortable sitting on a bed and 

your guests shouldn’t have to. Place an 

upholstered armchair or side chair in the 

room with a table and lamp close by. 

BRIGHTEN THINGS UP 

One of the biggest hotel decor missteps is 

when an otherwise nice room has no light to 

read by - make sure your room doesn’t fall 

prey to the same issue. It’s always helpful 

to have a light control near 

the bed so your guest won’t 

have to stumble around in 

the dark just to turn a light 

on. If nothing else, provide 

a good reading light near 

a chair or over the bed. 

Another fixture or lamp 

near a 

desk would be great. A small night light is 

helpful, and a lit magnifying makeup mirror 

is a real luxury. 

CLEAN THE WARDROBE 

If your guest room shares space with a 

home office, clear at least a foot of pole 

space in the cupboard. Or purchase an 

inexpensive over-the-door hook that can 

accommodate some hanging clothes. It’s 

likely that guests will have items they’d 

like to hang. Don’t forget a supply of six 

to eight hangers. A simple hook on the 

wall or behind a wardrobe door can hold a 

robe, coat, or a handbag. 

ADD SOME PERSONALITY 

Guest rooms can suffer from being 

personality vacuums - try to let some 

of your personal style infuse the space, 

or try out some decorative ideas that 

inspire you. We love spaces that mix midcentury 

modern furniture with boho soft 

furnishings, or fabulous colour on a single 

wall with dramatic wallpaper. Maybe dare 

to go dark with dark navy on the walls and 

gold detailing. Have you got artwork that 

evokes some feeling on the walls? Or a 

grand full length mirror? Even table lamps 

can inject some personality. You can afford 

to have a bit of fun and creative license 

with the styling of these kinds of spaces. 

MAKE SOME 

DRAWER SPACE 

If you have an extra chest of drawers, 

that’s ideal, but if not, clearing out at 

least one or two drawers 

for small items is 

sufficient. Both you and 

Left to right: Stucco 

Table Lamp, £120 and 

shade £58, pooky.com; 

Cressida Tassel Pillow, 

£39, hauslife.co.uk; 

Rattan Table, £179, 

ellajames.co.uk; Detroit 

Side Table, £169.99, 

oakfurnitureland.co.uk; 

your guest will feel better with odds and 

ends out of sight. 

DON’T FORGET 

SIMPLE BASICS 

A lit clock next to the bed is a great 

amenity, and an alarm clock or clock/radio 

is even better. Provide paper and pens, 

scissors, tape, tissue, and a hairdryer to 

have all the bases covered. If you can, 

provide somewhere to sit in front of a mirror 

so guests can do make up or style their 

hair. If you don’t have an extra iron and 

ironing board to offer, be sure to tell your 

guest where they can find yours. 

PROVIDE PRIVACY 

You might know that the big willow tree just 

outside the window camouflages everything 

going on, but your guests won’t. Choose 

window coverings that add to the character 

of the room and also provide privacy and 

light control. If you need to keep it simple, 

blinds work great. You can always add a 

beautiful valance or side panels later. 

NO BED, NO PROBLEM 

Over the last few months, many of us 

have had to use guest bedrooms as home 

offices. Rather than spending 360 days of 

the year edging around the periphery of 

a large and mostly unused bed, consider 

swapping it for a smart sofa bed. This gives 

you more usable space in the room, and 

somewhere to take a quick coffee break 

away from your desk. Just make sure the 

bed element is comfortable and supportive. 

FINISHING TOUCHES 

Add some lovely finishing touches to the 

room - a reed diffuser to fill it with delicious 

fragrance and pop some throw pillows on 

the bed or chair. If you like them, add some 

cut flowers to a dresser or move some of 

your existing houseplants into the space 

for some greenery. If you don’t use your 

room much during the year, be sure to open 

the windows for a few hours before guests 

arrive to help air it out. 


SAVE ON ENERGY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE 

OF THE GOVERNMENT GRANTS GREEN 

HOMES GRANT SCHEME AND THE 

RENEWABLE HEAT INCENTIVE 

If you currently use oil or LPG to heat your home, then the 

savings by switching to a heat source pump will make you feel 

all warm and cuddly! 

Even if you are currently using natural gas to heat your home, 

then the grant and the renewable heat incentive will slash your 

heating bills this winter! 

We are an accredited installer for Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan air source heat pumps. 

The heat pumps are an extremely efficient heat exchange system, they use the same 

technology as your fridge. In the case of a heat pump this technology runs in reverse, they 

use the air outside your home to heat water and heat your home. 

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Studley, Warwickshire B80 7LG 

www.fenlanddireck.uk 

01527 857750

Makers of fine bespoke 

furniture since 1987 

BEDROOMS | BOOKCASES & STUDIES | LIVING & DINING 

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Wall Tiles | Mosaics | Floor Tiles 

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Trinity Tiles & Bathrooms have undoubtedly one of the finest selections of wall & floor tiles in Warwickshire. 

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z 


PAINTING 

THE TOWN 

We caught up with TV’s favourite interior 

designer Linda Barker to discuss 

renovation projects, loving your home and 

her new range of luxurious paints 


W 

e’ve all had an unprecedented 

amount of time at home in the 

past few months – and we’ve 

all probably had a go at some home 

improvements! Did you tackle any 

projects yourself? 

I have a big renovation project in Yorkshire 

where I am now. I’m relocating here from 

London and we purchased a large Georgian 

House which is taking up a lot of our time 

and energy. It’s a year-long project which 

started in earnest just before lockdown. 

New plumbing, new guttering, new windows, 

new doors and a complete rewiring of the 

electrics and that’s just for starters, so I 

guess you can say that I’m definitely tackling 

some home improvements, yes. 

We almost have a brand new roof at the 

time of writing and my new kitchen is 

scheduled for later in the autumn and at the 

moment we’re fixing up new bathrooms, 

you name it we’re doing it. 

Are there some easy projects or ideas 

to refresh a space that you would 

recommend? 

Painting is always the easiest project to 

tackle yourself and the transformation it 

has on a room is by far the most rewarding 

thing you can do. I recommend pulling all 

your furniture into the middle of the room, 

throwing a dust sheet over everything, then 

you can pretty much get started. 

A re-paint using the same or similar colour 

will brighten a room but a new colour 

change will be instantly refreshing. You 

don’t need to change colours dramatically 

either, a subtle colour change from say 

ordinary white to a pale pistachio green/ 

grey like my ‘Hall i’th Wood’ will be a 

stunning transformation. 

We are a nation obsessed with our 

homes – how have you seen styles 

change over the past 10 years? 

There have been many, many changes over 

the last 10 years. What I’m seeing now 

are homes that have a more gentle, and 

supportive role for those that live there rather 

than show homes which shout ‘look at me’. 

There’s more of a considered approach to 

using colour for instance. We need colours 

that make us feel happy and uplifted 

because we’re likely to be at home more 

often. There’s less inclination to buy a 

sparkling, all white kitchen for example, often 

choosing one with two or more colours for a 

more unique and considered look. 

These days we are likely to share a multigenerational 

household too, and space 

needs to be used more efficiently. There 

might be at least one person who chooses 

to work from home, so every square 

centimetre of space needs to be used more 

efficiently. A cupboard in the bedroom or 

under the stairs may reveal a work space 

with enough room and internet connection 

for a home worker or student. Homes that 

“There’s more of a considered approach to 

using colour for instance. We need colours that 

make us feel happy and uplifted because we’re 

likely to be at home more often” 

are sustainable are becoming more talked 

about, choosing materials that are healthy 

for us as well as the planet are increasingly 

important considerations. 

Sustainability has certainly become a hot 

topic – does that feed into your designs? 

Absolutely, it’s one of the most important 

aspects of design and decoration going 

forward. There’s no excuse to use an 

unsustainable product or material in our 

homes these days as there are always 

better and healthier choices. Clear labelling 

and good credentials on products from 

paint to timber are increasingly being talked 

about which is a great thing and helps us all 

make the right choices. 

From re-purposed sustainable kitchens to 

the cushion on your sofa, there’s no excuse 

not to care and that’s why when I started 

curating my new chalk paints, I focussed 

on natural paint ingredients that are better 

for the planet, your home and your health; 

my water-based formulations provide 

exceptional coverage while also being 

super-breathable, virtually odourless and 

with minimal VOC content. 

Your new paint collection features 

some fabulous colours – what was your 

inspiration in creating this collection? 

Thank you, it’s been a passion project 

of mine from start to finish. The colours 

are those that I see in nature and I’m 

very inspired by the vast wrap-around 

landscapes around me in Yorkshire. 

I’m a great advocate of bringing the healing 

colours of the outdoors, inside; it makes a 

huge difference to our health and wellbeing. 

Colours of water like those seen in lakes, 

ponds and rivers as well as those seen out 

to sea and along the coast all provide me 

with colour inspiration. Colours from the 

earth too; rocks and hills as well as mud - 

there’s lots of mud in Yorkshire! 

Would you suggest customers mix and 

match shades? 

Definitely choose several shades for 

a space. I love a room that has been 

decorated using layers of colour, these 

are more interesting spaces to use and be 

in. Two colours for the walls perhaps and 

one or more for some painted pieces of 

furniture; another for the woodwork trim and 

ceiling. It’s lovely to take time to consider the 

colours and how they’ll work together. 

I like to have darker colours to anchor a paler 

room colour for instance; it’ll have a strong 

grounding effect in the room. Pale pinks like 

my ‘Sweet Rita’, ‘Dear Sofa’ or ‘Favours’ 

with a deep ‘Malham Tarn’ or ‘Ridge’ - even 

a flash of bright colour like ‘Niggle’ in a 

window reveal will demonstrate originality 

and charm and is astonishingly modern. 

I curated my palette of 90 colours carefully 

and have displayed them using the Colour 

Compass method which displays colours 

in a way that is designed to take the worry 

out of choosing and combining colours for 

your living spaces. I think people can tend 

to stick to safe single colours or predictable 

colour combinations because they aren’t 

sure how to combine two or more colours 

and are frightened of making a mistake. 

With the Colour Compass the darker 

shades are towards the middle, lighter 

shades to the outside with the colour 

families I rotation as you move around the 

compass. This means that as you move 

along different axis of the compass, it is 

easier to visually combine contrasting and 

complementary colours. Whatever the 

combination, no two colours will clash; you 

an confidently mix and match as will, safe 

in the knowledge that whatever you chose, 

the shades will work together. 

How would you describe your own 

personal style? 

I think my style is natural, original and fun! 

Order your free colour compass and buy 

Linda Barker’s natural chalk paint direct 

from www.lindabarkerpaints.com 


£15.65m 2

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I’m dreaming of a green Christmas… 

Angela Cave gives us some ideas in how to 

bring Christmas in all its glory into the house. 

Angela originally trained as a horticulturist 

and spent a year living, working and learning 

at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey. 

She retains a love of plants, trees and 

anything that grows and her own garden, she 

readily admits, is completely full, but she still 

manages to fit in something new! 

“When I was little, we had a family Christmas 

tradition of spending one afternoon out in 

the country-side picking twigs and leaves 

and berries and whatever we could garner to 

make our own Christmas decorations. The 

usual result was very muddy tired children 

and rather chilly grown-ups, but it is a stand 

out memory and one which I treasure - and I 

seem to also recall the smell of mulled wine 

warming to revive said grown-ups! 

This year many of us will have spent a lot of 

time in our gardens and in doing that have 

seen just how beautiful each individual plant 

can be - and when it is silhouetted in frost 

just how magical our winter gardens are too. 

Even one bare branch silhouetted against the 

sky can be magical. There are lots of ways 

to use winter foliage and berries, and even 

feathers - and clever ways to ensure they 

last - just google and the various methods 

will be revealed. Here are just a few ideas to 

make your Christmas decor that bit special 

and personal. 

Twig trees. The family Christmas tree is 

very special, but it is also good to have a 

few twig sprays around the house. Sprayed 

white, silver or gold they are the ideal vehicle 

for the kids to make their own individual 

decorations and paper, wool, leaves, feathers 

and berries can all be hung to make a really 

individual display. I can never resist overseas 

decorations when on hols, so I have a twig 

cluster festooned with my well- travelled 

decorations, from Santa on a surf board to a 

merry Christmas sloth (yes, really) it is great 

fun and very colourful! 

This Christmas we may not be able to be 

with all of our family members so how about 

having a real ‘family tree’ and hanging family 

photos, nativity days past, daft fashion faux 

pas, holiday snaps - fun family memories to 

enjoy and share. 

Your front door can be a delight to everyone 

who passes as well as those who come in 

and so a wreath of leaves and berries, even 

a simple raffia and twig circle is a lovely way 

to mark the festive season and again you 

can gather what you need on a walk. If you 

have a staircase, ivy garlands intertwined with 

lights is a very simple but effective way to 

decorate it. 

Holly, ivy and mistletoe are all an essential and 

traditional part of Christmas, and your local 

florist will have some other beautiful additions 

to suggest and who can resist a poinsettia! 

Whatever you chose to do and however you 

chose to spend it, I hope your Christmas is 

special.” 

Some great plants to use in your 

decorations: bay, box, crab apples, holly, 

ivy, euonymus ‘silver queen’, sarcococca, 

pittosporum and aucuba, pine-cones and 

acorn cups. 

Angela Cave 


“Simply wow!” 

Real words from happy residents, during lockdown. 

Our villages are filled with people 

who, more than ever, truly appreciate 

the power of community in later life. 

Is now the right time to move to an Inspired village? 

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*Terms & conditions apply. You must complete by 1 December 2020. Please see our website for full details. 

F_IVG_1097 Austin Heath - Leamington & Warwick Living - FP - 24.10.20.indd 1 17/09/2020 14:48

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Polo Fields – 

the perfect place 

to be you! 

Everyone’s different, but we all want to live 

happy, healthy, independent lives... 

And our community at The Polo Field in Dunchurch ticks all the 

boxes - creating space for positive ageing shaped by those who 

live there while offering the opportunity for enriched retirement 

living. 

Whether you are looking to buy or rent your retirement home, a 

stunning selection of beautifully designed two and three-bedroom 

cottages await you at The Polo Field; an extension of the already 

thriving and vibrant Lime Tree Village community where residents 

enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle with a fantastic range of amenities. 

With everything that this community - set in 26 acres of mature 

grounds- has to offer, it’s no wonder this latest phase of new 

properties is causing such a stir! 

The cottages come in a selection of three styles, the Martingale 

offers two bedrooms whilst the Pelham and the Manipur 

both offer three bedrooms. Like all Retirement Village Group 

properties, they are designed with modern retirement living very 

much in mind. Open plan living, contemporary kitchens with fully 

integrated appliances, bathrooms and en-suites equipped with 

walk-in showers. 

There’s a selection of tenure options to choose from too. From 

purchase to part ownership and rental – benefit from the choice 

that suits you best. 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

And to help curb the cost of moving, Retirement Villages Group 

Ltd will match the buyer’s Stamp Duty relief, which could mean a 

saving of as much as £30,000 on a £500,000 new home! 

With a wide range of services available, settling into this luxury 

lifestyle will be no chore. These services range from grounds and 

property maintenance, housekeeping, catering, administration 

and management services. 

And just to top everything off, as a resident you’ll gain exclusive 

access to the magnificent Cawston House, an Edwardian 

mansion, that comprises of a snooker room, restaurant, bar, 

conservatory, meeting room, library – and a weekly visiting GP. 

The community is centrally located in Warwickshire and is 

placed within reach of Stratford, Leamington Spa, Coventry, and 

Birmingham airport. The M1, M6 and M45 are all located closely 

to the village, making the rest of the UK and beyond easily 

accessible. 

And with two properties now sold and a further three reserved, 

now is the time to see just what The Polo Field has to offer. 

To find out more about this rewarding lifestyle and to discover 

your perfect retirement property at Polo Field, or to arrange a 

viewing appointment, please call 01788 211799 or visit 

www.limetreevillage.co.uk 

Providing high 

quality care across 

Warwickshire for 28 years 

Speak to us today about how we can help you to 

keep doing the things that are important to you. 

Ask us about our Coronavirus infection 

prevention measures: 

use of PPE 

safe admissions policies 

sanitising spraygates 

support for keeping in touch with family including 

pre-booked indoor and garden visits, and video calls 

I moved in 

with my sewing 

machine and 

Kenwood mixer 

and they’re both 

still getting plenty 

of use! 

” 

Woodside Care Village, Warwick, CV34 5SS 

01926 569300 woodside@wcs-care.co.uk 

wcs-care.co.uk 

/wcscare 

@WCS_Care 

Registered charity number 1012788 


Video calls with loved ones, a relaxing 

stroll in the garden, or having a stretch 

in an exercise class are just some of 

the things residents have enjoyed, and 

continue to enjoy, at Priors House care 

home. Add to that delicious home cooked 

food from our in-house chef, tailored 

care delivered by our fully trained and 

experienced team, the highest standards 

of safety and cleanliness, and you can 

see why we’re the ideal choice. 

If you’re considering care for yourself or 

a loved one, we’re here for you. 

To arrange a virtual tour or one-to-one 

video chat, please call 01926 679798 or 

email maria.cridge@careuk.com 

NEW NURSING 

SUITE NOW OPEN WELCOMING NEW RESIDENTS 

Priors House care home 

Old Milverton Lane, Leamington Spa CV32 6RN 

careuk.com/priors-house

VISITS TO CARE HOMES 

We have an overview as to 

how the Covid19 pandemic 

has changed visits to care 

homes. Here Professor June 

Andrews gives us some 

advice. 

Everyone understands that with the 

current risks from the Covid19 pandemic, 

government rules about visiting in 

hospitals and care homes must be tight. 

Care homes are disappointed that they 

can’t welcome visitors in any time, day or 

night, when normally visitors and relatives 

have free range, even having sleepovers 

with their loved one in a spare room, or 

special guest wing. 

Care homes know that it is important for 

families and friends of residents to be 

connected as much as possible. They 

have been trying to make this happen 

while the local rules have changed, 

sometimes week on week. hey aim to 

reunite residents with everyone else, but 

they have to keep people safe from the 

virus. One manager told me, “It’s about 

balancing risk. The local inspectors are 

really worried about the Covid19 risk. 

I worry just as much about the risk of 

depression and anxiety from people being 

isolated. We love our residents and try to 

be like family, but we never really are.” 

Staff must have regular coronavirus 

testing and there are risk assessments 

from local public health officials. And if 

the test comes back positive, the staff 

member has to go off, and staffing 

problems are caused because you don’t 

want just anyone to step in and fill their 

shoes. 

With imagination and flair new visiting 

ideas have come up. Sweet little beach 

huts decorated with bunting, with soft 

furnishings and comfy chairs have sprung 

up in the gardens of care homes. With 

two entrances, and a discrete Perspex 

screen down the middle, the visitor and 

the resident can feel as if they really are 

together and can talk freely. In some 

places it started with basic pop up tents, 

and garden chairs, but even now, spare 

rooms on the ground floor are being 

converted as the weather turns colder. 

Still no cuddles though. 

Care homes have Wi-Fi and access to 

tablets so that residents can communicate 

with family and see them with face time 

calls and skype. It is not ideal, because 

many older residents are not accustomed 

to this or have lost recent skills due to 

dementia, but in many cases it is good 

fun, and a comfort to the families to see 

their relative. 

Most people would prefer not to go to a 

care home, but a good home is a place of 

peace 

and comfort at the end of life. 

They are working hard to make things 

right in this extraordinary time, and with 

practice, and increasing flexibility about 

the rules, things are getting better, and will 

continue to do so. 

Professor June Andrews OBE FRCN FCGI 

is an expert in care of older frail people 

and people with dementia. She has 

worked in the NHS and government, as 

well as academia and is currently working 

across all sectors of health and social 

care, independent and statutory. 

Professor Andrews has written many 

books including Care Homes: When, Why 

and How to choose a Care Home. 

Home care or a care home (if, or when, 

it is needed) can be a joy and a respite, 

exactly as you would want it to be, 

and a welcome solace when living 

independently has become too hard or 

lonely. 

To find out more visit 

www.juneandrews.net 


DEMENTIA AND CORONAVIRUS 

Alzheimer’s Support offers sound advice during these difficult times 

This is a difficult and uncertain time for 

people living with dementia and their 

families. At Alzheimer’s Support everything 

is done to build social connections and 

stimulation through company and contact 

- so the restrictions we are all living under 

now are harder to bear. 

However, there is support out there and a 

growing amount of good advice, ideas and 

resources. 

At home with dementia or caring 

for someone with dementia 

Keep to a routine as far as possible. 

Try to find diverting activities and stay 

entertained. 

Avoid too much rolling news if it is 

upsetting. Perhaps limit the amount of 

news you are seeing on the TV, radio or 

phone and tune in or look for Government 

updates at set times of the day. 

Set up different areas in your home for 

different activities. Watch favourite films 

in the living room. Do jigsaw puzzles or 

craft activities at the table. Build some 

‘time out’ for you both into the day if this is 

possible in the space you are in. 

If you can, take walks around the garden, 

do a spot of gardening or just sit out 

in the fresh air. If you are close to open 

countryside, or in a quiet town or village, 

you may be able to get outside for a short 

walk each day if you are well enough and 

subject to Government advice. Fresh air 

and green space is stimulating and will 

give you new things to talk about. 

Ask friends to bring you puzzles, films, 

games that you think you would enjoy 

together or alone. Ask them to leave them 

outside the front door or in the porch. 

44 | www.leamingtonspaliving.co.uk 

Activity and resource ideas 

Explaining the situation 

Obviously what you say will depend on 

the person and how well they can process 

the information. Bear in mind that this 

is outside most people’s experience so 

people will not have a rationale to fall 

back on. 

You may need to explain the current 

situation to the person with dementia 

using simple and short sentences that you 

can repeat on a frequent basis, rather than 

trying to explain things in detail. And give 

lots of reassurance. 

For example, you could say that there is a 

flu outbreak and people are being advised 

to stay at home. You could write this on a 

note on the front door where it will be seen 

before leaving the house. However, if the 

person with dementia insists on leaving 

the house, assess the level of distress it 

would cause if you were to try to persuade 

them otherwise. 

If putting up signs works for you or the 

person you care for, reminders (including 

pictures reminders) to wash hands is a 

good idea in the bathroom or elsewhere in 

your home. 

Supporting from a distance 

Finding ways to keep in touch will be the 

most important thing everyone can do to 

help people coping at home. 

If you support or care for someone with 

dementia but do not live with them it is a 

particularly hard time. You can still help 

by dropping off, or arranging, deliveries 

of groceries, games or films, personal 

notes, treats and items that you know will 

have meaning for the person or couple. 

Leave them outside or in the porch of 

course. It may not feel like much but it 

will be appreciated and show that you are 

thinking of them. 

Phone often and rediscover the joy of 

letter-writing. It won’t suit everyone - and 

of course it is best to use a platform 

people are already familiar with - but you 

may be able to set them up on Skype or 

use WhatApp video or Facetime to check 

in every day. Calling at the same time each 

day gives reassurance and something to 

look forward to. 

If your relative is in full-time care the issues 

will be different. While you may not feel 

so responsible for day-to-day welfare and 

health, not being able to visit inevitably 

brings its own pressures and worries. 

Again, phone often and see if the staff can 

set up Skype or Facetime call so you can 

continue to connect. 

An appeal from Alzheimer’s Support 

There are many unknowns with this virus 

but one thing we do know is that people 

with dementia still need our support, now 

and into the future. 

Every day that this crisis lasts our charity 

is losing income. 

Please support us by making a donation 

if you can. 

£18 will pay for a skilled dementia 

professional to give advice and support 

by telephone to a family they know well. 

£60 will cover a day’s rent on one of our 

day centres. 

Thank you in advance for any amount 

you can give.

We train other 

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in good hands 

We offer the full range of 

dentistry from Fillings through 

to Full Mouth Rehabilitation. 

Invisalign, Implants, General or Cosmetic 

A family run, private practice and 

specialist dental referral centre that 

has been in Solihull for over 30 years. 

We welcome new 

patients with a smile! 

CALL NOW ON 0121 705 2705 

OR VISIT SMILECONCEPTS.CO.UK 

New Patient Exam £65* 

*Includes a full extra and intra oral examination (including gum 

periodontal, bite/occlusion, tooth wear and dental decay (caries and oral 

cancer screen), an OPG radiograph or two small dental x-rays maybe 

taken. Please allow approximately 45 minutes 

SMILE CONCEPTS, 91 LODE LANE, SOLIHULL, B91 2HH 

SMILE@SMILECONCEPTS.CO.UK 

WWW.SMILECONCEPTS.CO.UK 


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Leamington and Warwick Living Nov - Dec 2020

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