J'AIME NOVEMBER 2020

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J’AIME

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28152_1280472 - Q4 J’aime Mag Nov Advert 280(h) x 190(w)mm_FA.indd 1 14/10/2020 13:07

Welcome to J’AIME

Here at J’AIME we aim to bring you positive,

uplifting articles that will not only give you everyday

inspiration but also help to put a smile on your face

in the process. We hope the November edition will

do just that.

We bring you the story of a family who spent

lockdown keeping bees in their garden and have

now turned the honey into a brand new range of

gin - The Apiarist. The husband and wife team

have been unable to run their usual business due

to COVID-19 but have put their time to very good

use. We were inspired and we hope that you will be

too.

If it feels like you’ve been spotting more

mushrooms than usual during your daily walks then

that’s because we’re in the midst of wild mushroom

season. We chatted to two experts to find out the

dos and don’ts of picking your own - and how not

to poison yourself in the process!

For interiors we look at luxury flooring options and

show you how you can include the colour of the

season into your home.

Fashion is all about snuggling up in cosy knitwear

- from slouchy jumpers to glitzy knits with a bit of

sparkle. We’re loving the knitted trousers that we’ve

spotted, and can’t wait until it’s cold enough to

wear a bobble hat.

Also this month we celebrate the reopening of

Harvey Nichols (we’ll race you to the cocktail bar),

review Staffordshire’s newest eaterie and find out

more about the future of travel.

If you’re planning to start your Christmas present

shopping then you may find our gift guide useful.

Please try to shop local and support independent

businesses wherever you can in the run up to the

festive season and beyond - it’s never been more

important.

If you want to get out and about this month then

we have some great suggestions for you in the

what’s on section - including an evening of wine

and classic cinema in Birmingham and guided

walks around Lichfield. We may be living through

very unusual times but there’s still lots going on that

you can take part in safely with your family. Enjoy!

EDITOR: AMY NORBURY

EDITOR@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM

ADVERTISING: JAN ASHLEY

ADVERTISING@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM

07388 335 931

DESIGN: DESIGN@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM

CONTRIBUTORS: JENNY AMPHLETT, OLIVER

BROAD, RAUL ROMERO, DEBORAH MITCHELL

J’AIME IS PUBLISHED BY ASHBURY

PUBLICATIONS LIMITED AND PRINTED BY KEP

LIMITED, TAMWORTH.

Check us out online at:

WWW.JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM

Find us on

/JAIMEMAGAZINE

@JAIMEMAGAZINE

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F E AT U R E

Celebrate the fungus among us

WHETHER YOU BUY THEM FROM A DELI OR GROW YOUR OWN, AUTUMN IS MUSHROOM SEASON.

JENNY AMPHLETT SPOKE TO FORAGING INSTRUCTOR MARLOW RENTON AND FOREST SCHOOL

TRAINING OFFICER DUNCAN COLEMAN FOR SOME EXPERT TIPS

LEWIS CURRENTLY HAS 18 CHICKENS

IN HIS FLOCK AT HOME

If I told you there was a mushroom that costs about

the same as a piece of fillet mignon steak you might

not believe me. But I’d be right.

Chicken of the woods is one of the most prized

cheffy ingredients - a wild mushroom that not

only looks phenomenal in any dish but also tastes

remarkably like poultry.

I’ve never been lucky enough to find or eat one but

Duncan Coleman, forest school training officer with

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, has not only cooked

chicken of the woods he grows them in his own back

garden.

The 40-year-old, who spends his days out in the

Staffordshire countryside, is no stranger to spotting,

identifying and occasionally eating wild fungus.

“Autumn is typically seen as mushroom season as

many species tend to fruit at this time of the year but

of course mushrooms are around throughout the

year, you just might not be able to see them,” he says.

Duncan explains that when he’s teaching forest

school techniques, whether that’s to children or

adults, his general advice is to not pick mushrooms

and definitely not to destroy them.

“There’s a lot of fear of mushrooms because some

mushrooms are poisonous and some are fatal,” he

says. “But you have to injest them for them to be in

any way dangerous to you. Mushrooms don’t bite

you or hunt you down. If you leave them alone

they’re harmless.

“They make a beautiful autumn setting and we’ve

really only just started to understand the importance

of the symbiotic relationship between fungi and

trees. When you see a mushroom you’re seeing a

flower, the fruit that the fungi sends up. The fungus is

still there even when you can’t see a mushroom, but

it’s under the ground or in dead wood.

“What we’re starting to discover is that a network

of fungi join up lots of different trees. Fungi is

important for various different tree species.”

Duncan gives the example of fairytale red and white

mushrooms (which are really called fly agaric) which

typically grow near silver birch trees.

“If you value the trees in your garden then leave

any mushrooms that you see exactly where they are,

they’re doing a job.

“Similarly if you value your lawn then try to leave

fungus alone. If you’ve got mushrooms in your lawn

it can indicate you have healthy flora, fauna and

aeration.”

Incidentally if you do have mushrooms in your lawn

then the chances are that they’re waxcaps, some of

which are protected.

Many people have reported seeing more mushrooms

this year, but Duncan says there aren’t necessarily

more out there, it could just be that we’re more

attuned to finding them.

CHICKEN OF THE WOODS,

PHOTOGRAPHED BY

DUNCAN COLEMAN.

“People are noticing more about the natural world

because it’s become quite important for stress relief

to get outside the home. We wouldn’t necessarily

have been doing that before COVID-19.

“Now people are using the outdoors for recreation

more and more they’re noticing the little things that

may have been there all along but gone unseen.

“I don’t think this year is a particularly good fruiting

year overall, although individual species like different

conditions.”

Species that Duncan has come across in Staffordshire

include curry scented milk caps, which smell like

curry and contain a milky substance if a small piece

is broken off.

He’s also found giant puffball mushrooms, which can

grow as large as beachballs. He says it’s hard to go

out looking for them - you just stumble across them

by accident.

You may really need to keep your eyes peeled when

out mushroom spotting on your daily walk though as

Duncan says some varieties can shoot up within one

day and then be gone just three or four days later.

Rather than foraging for mushrooms, Duncan

recommends people literally grow and pick their own

by introducing carefully selected species of fungi into

their own garden.

“You can buy infused shitake logs or dowel rods with

spores on them. That way you can grow your own

crop - you’ve put them in there so you know what

you’re picking. I have king oyster mushrooms and

chicken of the woods growing in my back garden.”

He says chicken of the woods tastes so like meat that

last year he turned some into a mushroom version of

KFC.

He may advise people against doing it, but if you’re

intent on foraging for mushrooms then Duncan

says you should always make sure you seek the

landowner’s permission first and should check out

any local by-laws put in place to stop foraging.

“It’s always a good rule of thumb that if you find a

group of mushrooms you shouldn’t take more than

a third of them,” he says. “Leave plenty behind for

nature as they’re a valuable food sourse for slugs and

small mammals.”

Duncan stresses that you need to be 100 percent

certain that you know what you’re picking before you

pick it, preferably by doing some sort of training.

“Even if you’ve picked something that you know is

an edible species, only try a small amount of it at

first, because people have different immune systems

and allergies.”

He says that most mushrooms you’ll come across

while you’re out walking wouldn’t taste very nice, but

there are a handful of species that will kill you if you

eat them.

“There’s the Deathcap and the Destroying Angel -

the names pretty much say everything you need to

know about them.

“The Deathcap mushroom leads to a particularly

cruel death as people suffer incredibly but then get

better before their organs go into failure.

“There’s nothing that medical science can do about

either of those mushrooms.”

Duncan says statistically it isn’t children who tend to

be poisoned by mushrooms, it’s adults who haven’t

identified the type correctly or who have eaten lots of

mushrooms that don’t agree with their body in one

sitting.

But he says he does understand the allure of foraging

in the days of food accountability, where we like to

be able to know where our food comes from.

* In his role with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Duncan

delivers accredited forest school courses and provides

forest school programmes for schools and other

clients.

DUNCAN COLEMAN

WITH A GIANT PUFFBALL

MUSHROOM.

Marlow Renton used to live in London and

run a web development company. Then

when the country spiralled into recession

after the banking crisis he decided to give it

all up to become a foraging instructor.

Now the 43-year-old runs foraging courses

across the country through Wild Food UK,

a business he founded, and has written a

bestselling book about foraging.

“It started nine years ago and was a hobby

to begin with really, then grew quite

naturally into something bigger than that.

When the recession hit I started doing more

foraging to get away from London and the

office.”

It was initially a personal interest, but then

Marlow’s friends started asking him to take

them out foraging and he realised it could be

a business opportunity too.

The turning point was when someone paid

for him to stay in Cardiff purely to lead a

group of people on a foraging expedition.

He says: “I was becoming bored of my old

life and realised I could make a new job

from teaching people to forage. It’s a wonderful skill

to teach people, a skill for life that connects people

with nature.”

It definitely helped that Marlow’s web developer past

meant he knew a lot more about the internet than

your average forager. Run an internet search for

foraging in the UK and it’s Marlow’s business that

jumps out first.

He now has a team of five foraging instructors,

COURTESY OF WILD

FOOD UK

MARLOW RENTON LEADS

A FORAGING SESSION.

including one in the Birmingham area, and a

YouTube channel with 16,000 followers. He’s also

written his own book, The Wild Food UK Foraging

Pocket Guide.

“We teach around 2,500 people per year about

foraging and nature, and it’s growing,” he says.

“My original plan was that I’d travel around Britain

during spring, summer and autumn then take the

winters off to have some fun. But I’m married

now and have a child so it’s more a case of having

instructors in

different areas.”

Marlow feels

he is helping to

reintroduce skills

that people would

have had in days

gone by.

“The average

person can identify

a blackberry, a

raspberry and an

apple while they’re

out walking but

there’s just so much

more to find out

about. It makes

walks so much more

interesting if you

know what you’re looking at.”

He stresses that he and his fellow instructors are very

ecologically minded, and says that when he takes a

group out they pick things purely to make a meal at

the end of the session. He teaches strict guidelines

and sticks to them himself.

“It isn’t a case of coming home with enough to stock

up the fridge. That said, one of our venues has so

much wild garlic they consider it a weed and almost

ask us to take it away.”

Marlow asks his pupils to use their new found skills

wisely and to perhaps put their knowledge to use in

their own garden.

“At the beginning of lockdown I did a series of four

back to basics videos showing people what they could

find during their daily exercise. I had lots of people

saying it had helped them to start a new life.”

When it comes to mushrooms he says there is more

to choose from in autumn, but also more varieties to

make mistakes with.

For Marlow the first rule of foraging is to not pick

anything unless you know exactly what it is.

“You can find out from photos, books, the internet

and from asking knowledgeable people like ourselves.

We get emails every day from people asking us to

help them identify things they’ve found and asking

whether they’re edible and common.

“It’s important that people know not to just pick

things willy nilly because some things are rare.

“I always advise people to go on a course to learn

how to forage respectfully. We also always teach

people to follow the Countryside Act. As long as they

follow that and don’t pick things unless they know

what they are then they’ll stay safe.”

* To find out more about Wild Food UK and

Marlow’s book visit www.wildfooduk.com

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Bayliss Limited, 23 Gate Lane, Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield B73 5TR

T: 0121 362 1800 www.baylisslimited.co.uk

Proud to be a family run business for over 35 years

HOME IS WHERE THE WARMTH IS

“Fantastic

service and

great products.

Thanks Kieran”

Sam McD,

Whitaker

Heath

1/7 High Street, Erdington B23 6RG Next to Highclare School

Telephone: 0121 384 5251 - www.abbeyfirecentre.co.uk

Open: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm (closed Wednesdays), Sat: 10am - 2pm

Suppliers of: Contura, Jotul, Gazco, Paragon, Scan, Town

& Country Fires, ACR Heat Products and many more

Installers and suppliers of gas fires, bespoke limestone

surrounds, and gas and woodburning stoves, since 1981.

For your safety and to observe social distancing we are

asking that you telephone or email to arrange a personal

viewing of our showroom.

abbeyfirecentre @abbeyfirecentre abbeyfirecentreltd

I N T E R I O R S

Breaking

new ground

DIVE into the new Dulux Colour of the Year for 2021,

Brave Ground. This earthy beige hue connects us to

nature and will bring a sense of warmth to our interior

space. Brave Ground is a versatile new neutral that

will work perfectly when paired with darker browns,

cinnamon, light beige hues and caramels.

Marianne Shillingford, creative director, Dulux UK, says:

“The colours on our walls are the backdrop to how we live

our life. For many of us, lockdown has served to emphasise

how important our home environment has become, it has

been the place where we work, learn, relax. It can lift us

up, nurture us, comfort us.

“We continue to live through uncertain times. In 2021, the

warm and grounding tones of Brave Ground will allow

us to find certainty in the strength from the very ground

beneath our feet, emboldening us to go forward and begin

to live again and giving us the flex to adapt to the ever

changing circumstances we face.”

MONTREUX PENDANT LIGHT IN SAND BY ITS ABOUT ROMI,

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£225

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BUTTONED VELVET SOFA, NEEDWOOD

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DULUX BRAVE GROUND, FROM £16.42/LTR

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Curtains | Blinds | Wallpaper

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WS13 6UY

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SYMPHONY SALE

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DULWICH MIDI SOFA IN SAHARA ROPE,

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ARMCHAIR, PEPPERMILL INTERIORS,

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ENZO SOFA, £449.99, FURNITURE CHOICE

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07815 460786

01827 892952

Hand Problems

Be Your Own Hand Detective

Do you feel symptoms of pain, clicking, numbness or tingling in your

hands? Have you noticed any signs of hand lumps, swellings, or

muscle wasting?

Common Hand Conditions

Carpal Tunnel – Common symptoms include tingling and

numbness in the thumb, index and middle finger, with occasional

thumb muscle wasting.

Trigger Finger – Signs of finger locking and clicking

are seen - the finger may flick up from a bent position.

Dupuytren’s Contracture - A thickening of skin in the palm and

fingers are experienced, along with a fixed bending of the fingers

meaning hands cannot be placed comfortably flat on a table.

Arthritis of the Thumb – Signs include a general dull

ache around the thumb base, which may mean sufferers

struggle to open tight jars. The thumb position may change.

The Midland Hand Clinic have been safely

treating patients through face to face or virtual

consultations. We understand that access to

healthcare can be challenging at the present

time but let us help you in the best way we

know how, by looking after your hands.

Midland Hand Clinic lead by

Mr G Shyamalan FRCS NHS

consultant hand surgeon.

All patients welcome whether

you have private medical insurance

or you are self-paying.

Ask us about our self funding

prices for minor hand surgery.

Hand Clinic PA: Pam Dziubany

Email: pdziubany@hotmail.com

Call: 07815 460786 - 01827 892952

www.midlandhandclinic.com

25/02/2019 09:55

BREEZE COUNTERTOP BASIN IN BESPOKE BRAVE

GROUND, £365, WATERS BATHS OF ASHBOURNE

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COCO THREE SEATER SOFA, £749, SOFOLOGY

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tatlowcarpets

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Please see our website for further details www.tatlowcarpets.co.uk

Finance facilities available

Tel: 01543 264766

Open to the public. Mon-Fri: 9.00am - 5.00pm. Sat: 10.00am - 4.00pm

Unit 4, Europa Way, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield, Staffs, WS14 9TZ

Based in the heart of Staffordshire in the picturesque village

of Alrewas, our shop is packed with ideas and inspiration for

your home. Incorporating Jo Raybould Interior Design within,

for those who require the services of a professional designer.

needwoodliving.co.uk

136 Main Street Alrewas, DE13 7ED

01283 711 272

info@needwoodliving.co.uk

t he heart of t he home...

Visit our showroom to be amazed by the choice -

from traditional to modern

With such a wide range of fires, fireplaces and stoves

there is sure to be a style to suit you & your home

WE OF F ER

A C OMP LE T E

INST ALLA T ION

SERV ICE

Visit our showroom and be amazed by the choice! With such a wide range from traditional to modern, there’s sure to be a style to suit you!

5 Stafford Road, Lichfield WS13 7BZ - Tel: 01543 263 383 • www.thefireplacelichfield.co.uk • Email: sales@thefireplacelichfield.co.uk

Opening hours: Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 4pm. Closed Sundays, Monday’s and bank holidays . FREE ON-SITE PARKING.

F O O D & D R I N K

It’s Thyme for brunch

BRUNCH MAY WELL HAVE JUST BECOME THE VERY BEST MEAL OF

THE DAY, AS JENNY AMPHLETT DISCOVERS AT THYME KITCHEN

Opening a new food business in the midst of a global

pandemic is either brave or ambitious. Staffordshire’s

newest eating place is both of those - and an inspired

move too.

Thyme Kitchen has opened in the former Mabel’s

Tearoom, a much-loved 30-year-old business at

Curborough Countryside Centre in Lichfield.

Mabel’s was looking unlikely to reopen after

lockdown so the owners of Sauce Supper Club

stepped in to take it on.

The airy, beamed eating areas will now host the

club’s monthly pop up events with guest chefs. The

award-winning Tom Shepherd cooked for the first.

The venue is also now the base for Dine at Home

with Tom Shepherd - a business that creates and

delivers restaurant quality three course meals for

people to serve up at home.

Alongside all that, Thyme Kitchen is open from

Tuesday to Sunday for breakfasts, brunches and

lunches created using locally-sourced seasonal

produce.

Thyme Kitchen is located on the outskirts of the

cathedral city. There’s lots of free parking and you

PANCAKES WITH

BERRIES

ONE OF THE EATING

AREAS AT THYME

KITCHEN

can combine your meal with a visit to the garden

centre or one of the other independent businesses on

the site.

We’d booked a table for midday on Sunday, when the

menus change from breakfast/brunch to breakfast/

lunch. It was bustling, with a mix of families and

small groups of friends.

The wood beams and log burner give a cosy feel and

the series of interconnected rooms mean that you

can almost tuck yourself away.

The tables are spaced well apart, so that you never

feel you are too close to anyone other than the loved

ones you’re dining with.

I took my 10-year-old daughter along and she was

immediately offered a colouring book and crayons to

help keep her entertained.

This is a family-friendly venue with a children’s

section of the menu, definitely designed with tiny

tastebuds in mind.

We started off by ordering drinks. My daughter had

great fun reading the alcohol menu. She very much

liked the idea of a Bloody Mary (£8) or a Dead

Man’s Finger (£4) before turning the menu over and

THE TABLES AT

THYME KITCHEN ARE

WELL SPACED.

spotting the option of a luxury hot chocolate (£4).

This is a hot chocolate and a half, and possibly

a meal in itself for some people. The vast mug

was piled high with cream and topped with

marshmallows and grated chocolate. I think my little

girl’s face may well have been the picture dictionary

definition of bliss.

I ordered the rather more sedate pot of Earl Grey

(£2.50) which comfortably gave me two cups of tea.

The children’s menu includes the

likes of homemade fish finger

sandwich (£4), boiled eggs and

soldiers (£5) and Little Thyme

Kitchen breakfast (£6).

My daughter ordered an adult

portion of pancakes with yogurt

and berries (but without the yogurt)

(£5). Her stack of three pancakes

topped with red berry compote

was beautifully served and came

complete with edible flowers.

I opted for the Persian eggs (£7)

and they were without doubt the

prettiest poached eggs I’ve seen, let

alone eaten.

The eggs were perfectly cooked and

oozed when I cut into them. They’d

been dusted in a Middle Eastern

spice mix called za’atar (I had to

look it up). The eggs sat on top of

Greek yogurt and a beetroot and

mint hummus. They were served

PERSIAN EGGS

with toasted sourdough and the plate was sprinkled

with pomegranate seeds.

I love poached eggs but tend to serve them on top

of asparagus or a good old slice of toast. Who knew

that poached eggs with yogurt and pomegranate

would be such a brilliant combination? I’d definitely

order Thyme Kitchen’s Persian eggs again, even

though there were several other dishes on the menu

that caught my attention too.

I had also been tempted by the Shakshouka-style

baked eggs (£10) served in a rich tomato, spinach

and chorizo sauce with toasted sourdough.

I also liked the sound of the sausage hash (£9) made

with Thyme Kitchen’s own recipe sausage, pumpkin,

rosemary, spinach, caramelised onions, harissa and

two poached eggs on toast.

If we’d have booked for the breakfast menu we could

have sampled the full English breakfast (£12) or the

vegan breakfast (£9.50).

There’s also no reason why you can’t indulge in

breakfast or brunch pudding. We were too full by

that point but we could have chosen lemon and

thyme loaf (£4) or even a warm hazelnut and

chocolate brownie (£5).

There is an old saying that you should breakfast like

a king. I reckon you should brunch like a king too.

Thyme Kitchen, Curborough Countryside Centre,

Watery Lane, Lichfield, 01543 264050,

www.thymekitchen.co.uk

F O O D & D R I N K

Honey I’ve made bee-autiful gin

A LICHFIELD FAMILY HAVE CREATED A NEW BRAND OF GIN USING HONEY

FROM THEIR OWN GARDEN. JENNY AMPHLETT WENT TO MEET THEM

Alex and Natalie Conti usually spend

their days running a business that

involves the arts and travel, so they’ve

ended up with rather a lot of time on

their hands this year.

The couple, who live in a rural spot

between Shenstone and Stonnall,

have been spending their days in the

garden with children Leo, six, and

Isabella, three.

Keen beekeepers for the past two

years, they installed a vast new apiary

as a lockdown project which left them

with kilos of surplus honey. Then they

had an inspired idea.

“My wife and I run a company

that specialises in making travel arrangements for

international art exhibitions, mostly for clients in

the US,” said Alex, 39. “We’ve been in business for

10 years and have been the market leader in a very

small niche for the last couple of years.

“We both usually travel

a lot and will be away

from home for around

four months of the

year or so. But then

COVID-19 happened.

“As of March the

company has been in

stasis because none of

our clients are travelling

and everything has

been postponed. So

we’ve been spending

more time than usual

with the kids and more

time than usual in the

garden.

“It’s a great way to

teach the kids about

nature and also to help

pollinate the fruit trees

that we have here,” said Alex. “It helps the local

environment and we get honey too.”

Early into lockdown he and Natalie, 38,

commissioned a local craftsman to build a large new

hive to their own specifications.

“Our first lockdown project was to get that built,

then we expanded the colony which meant we had

lots of honey.”

They eventually hit on the idea of using it to make a

honey gin - and worked out that their surplus honey

could create a 90 bottle batch.

Rather than setting up their own distillery at home

the Contis worked with Fifth Spire in Lichfield to

create the debut batch of The Apiarist Gin.

“We’ve been buying Fifth Spire’s gin for years.

They said they’d be happy to make something new

and different using our honey to infuse gin. We’ve

brought this to market together.”

Around four and a half kilos of the Contis’ honey

has gone into the first 90 bottles of gin. Alex has

worked out that equates to the nectar from 200,000

flowers in each bottle.

The family are reinvesting any profits they make into

their apiary. They now have two colonies and have

two more hives on the way.

It’s a fledgling business with the potential to expand

quickly, but Alex is keen to stress that it was really

Christmas may be a little different this year and at this

moment we are uncertain to what this may mean for many

of our Christmas events and dining. However, Christmas is not

cancelled at Moor Hall! We have adapted our events so you

can celebrate this most wonderful time of the year at our

country house hotel safely and comfortably.

PARTY NIGHTS | CHRISTMAS CAROLS & AFTERNOON TEA

AFTERNOON TEA WITH SANTA

FAMILY LUNCH WITH SANTA | BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

Christmas may be a little different this year and at this

moment we are uncertain to what this may mean for many

of our Christmas events and dining. However, Christmas is not

cancelled at The George! We have adapted our events so

you can celebrate this most wonderful time of the year at our

Lichfield city centre hotel safely and comfortably.

FESTIVE CARVERY LUNCH | FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA

FAMILY LUNCH WITH SANTA | FESTIVE DINNER

CHRISTMAS CAROLS & AFTERNOON TEA

Moor Hall Drive, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield B75 6LN

0121 308 3751 www.moorhallhotel.co.uk

Visit our website for more events, menus and to book

Bird Street, Lichfield, WS13 6PR

01543 414822 www.thegeorgelichfield.co.uk

Visit our website for more events, menus and to book

PLAN YOUR PERFECT CHRISTMAS DAY

& NEW YEAR EVE CELEBRATIONS WITH OUR

SEASONAL MENUS FROM TOM SHEPHERD

...ENSURE YOUR FESTIVE DINING IS SAFE & STRESS FREE!

AVAILABLE TO BOOK ONLINE | DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR

PREPPED READY FOR YOU TO HEAT & SERVE | £60 PER HEAD

PLEASE EMAIL TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THE MENU

OR VIEW ONLINE AT SAUCESUPPERCLUB.CO.UK

T 01543 264050

E beth@saucesupperclub.co.uk

www.saucesupperclub.co.uk

only intended as a side project alongside

his life’s work in the art world.

“We hope that when this year is over

we can go back to what we do best, but

this has been a fun and interesting side

project - and there may well be other

batches of gin.

“As with anything with nature, you

are at the mercy of it. If we have a

difficult year next year and don’t make

any honey then there won’t be any gin.

It’s all down to the weather and the

environment.”

Alex and Natalie’s neighbours are

happy to have gin makers on their

doorstep and say their fruit trees are yielding more

due to the bees - including a cherry tree that didn’t

bear a single fruit for 26 years until this year.

All four members of the family have their own

beekeeping suits, which means the children can enjoy

getting up close to the bees without risking being

stung.

“The children look really funny in their little suits.

My daughter isn’t so keen on having bees on her, but

my son is really inquisitive and loves it.”

Bees, honey and gin have brought some much

needed positivity to what could otherwise have felt a

very downbeat year for the family.

“Our company deals with travelling, events and the

arts - all of which are among the industries that have

suffered most - so it’s an unbelievable depressing

time. Clients are laying off staff and struggling.

“In that context it’s been nice to have something

that’s been able to be a really positive distraction for

us. We’ve boosted the bee population and had a bit

of fun with gin.”

The Apiarist Gin is available online from

www.theapiaristgin.com or can be bought

in Lichfield from The Spirit Works, 55 Wade St,

Beerbohm, The Trooper or The Boat Inn. It can be

bought in Birmingham from Purnell’s.

Jean Lamb Wealth Consultancy

My offices are situated in the historic city of Lichfield and I have been providing personal

wealth management advice to my clients for more

than 25 years.

I specialise in the following key areas

and welcome your enquiry:

• Investment Planning

• InheritanceTax and Estate Planning

• Pre and Post-Retirement Planning

• Care Fees Planning and Funding for Care

Telephone: 01543 417342

Website: www.jeanlamb.co.uk

Email: jean.lamb@sjpp.co.uk

Office: 6A Market Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LH

Jean Lamb Wealth Consultancy is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management Plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority)

for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.

LO CA L A R E A

Welcome back Harvey Nichols

BIRMINGHAM’S HARVEY NICHOLS STORE HAS

FINALLY REOPENED, AND WE COULDN’T BE HAPPIER

It’s been seven long months since it closed for

lockdown, but the Harvey Nichols store in The

Mailbox has finally reopened for customers.

It’s a massive shot in the arm for retail in the city,

and a welcome treat for those of us who love nothing

better than browsing the shoe department then

sipping a cocktail in the bar.

Various social distancing measures have been put in

place, but you can still expect retail therapy of the

highest order.

Harvey Nichols’ chief operating officer, Manju

Malhotra, said: “Together with our team members,

I am very much looking forward to our stores

reopening and welcoming customers back to Harvey

Nichols.

“Whilst we will be adhering to new health and safety

measures to protect both customers and staff, we will

be focusing on what we do best, which is providing

a high level of personal service and an exceptional

shopping experience, within a safe and comfortable

environment.

“Government guidelines are being fully met to

ensure health and safety of all in the store and we are

excited to, once again, bring our customers the very

best in new, niche brands across fashion, beauty, food

and wine.”

The bar has reopened and you can still try on shoes

and clothes, with items quarantined and/or sanitised

before being returned to the sales floor.

The beauty counters are open, although testers aren’t

available quite yet.

The new opening hours are 11am to 6pm from

Monday to Wednesday, 11am to 7pm from Thursday

to Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sundays.

Travelling forwards

T R AV E L

OLIVER BROAD, JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR OF RB COLLECTION, UPDATES US ON

THE LATEST TRAVEL NEWS AND LOOKS AHEAD TO A NEW WAY OF TRAVELLING

PRIVATE POOL VILLA, MAJORCA

It is fair to say we never expected to commemorate

our 35th year in business with a complete halt in the

world of travel! Whilst it has certainly been the most

challenging time for many, we continue to hear from

clients about how they miss their holiday and look

forward to travelling again when the time is right. And

when that time comes we will be here to help, whether

that’s now or in a few months’ time.

As we look ahead to the future we can offer some

updates, hints and tips based on what we have learnt

from this year.

This summer we managed to send clients away on

holidays to Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Italy, France and

Cyprus. For some, it was a race against time to enjoy

a much-needed break away before the government

adjusted their travel advice. At the time of writing this

article our most popular destination remains Cyprus

as clients escape the cold autumn months for warmer

days.

Let’s take a look at some of the key points surrounding

travel and how we see these affecting your future travel

plans:

COVID TESTING

Currently, some destinations such as Cyprus and Italy

require a negative Covid test before departure. We

have teamed up with a postal service which sends the

kit to you at home the next day and you then send

it back at the right time so that the result is provided

within the required time. For Cyprus for example you

need the result within 72 hours of going on holiday.

The rules can change regularly and so we talk these

through with clients as part of the booking process. It

is a really simple process and one which a handful of

clients have undertaken recently with no issues. There

are also clinics which offer an in-person service if you

prefer.

Airport testing is a hot topic and one which the travel

industry is campaigning for with the government.

It would help reduce the quarantine requirements

upon returning home for example and you may have

seen the news that Heathrow has already set up this

system and is just waiting for the government to make

a decision. Many airports abroad are offering arrival

testing. At certain destinations it is mandatory unless

you have your own test certificate on departure.

Whilst it may seem extra hassle, we have to remember

all these protocols can only make it safer for us all to

travel and, like many new things, once you do it for

the first time you will wonder why you were concerned

about it in the first place. We walk our clients through

the steps and help with the latest advice.

QUARANTINE & FCDO TRAVEL ADVICE

The government has now synced its travel advisory

with quarantine restrictions. Therefore if they

require you to quarantine when you return home

this will also mean the FCDO advise against travel

to that destination. It is important to note this travel

advice doesn’t mean you cannot visit that country.

For example, airlines continue to fly to destinations

where travel is not advised by the FCDO. For many

who need to visit family or to travel for work they can

continue to do so. Traveling against FCDO advice can

invalidate insurance (see below for more details). Many

clients are choosing to continue their travel despite

advice and do of course discuss all the necessary

requirements before proceeding.

At the time of the Spanish advisory change in the

summer, Spain had a much higher rate of infections

but at the time of writing this the UK had in fact

overtaken Spain. Travel advice is of course a hot

topic of discussion and there are ethics to take into

account also. The advice is reviewed every week with

announcements usually made on a Thursday evening.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

A number of insurance companies now offer Covid

cover including ABTA, Holiday Extras and Citybond.

Cover may vary so our advice is to read everything

very carefully and think of the scenario you are

concerned about and check if that would be covered.

There are also policies to cover when the FCDO

advises against travel from insurers such as Rock and

Battleforce.

If you have annual policies or cover via your bank,

we always suggest paying particular attention to your

cover and never presume you are insured for every

eventuality. Even before Covid some policies may

have exclusions you would presume are there, such

as winter sports not covering snowmobile trips or low

levels of cover for valuables.

Many destinations, hoteliers and airlines have started

to include some form of Covid cover when traveling

or staying with them. This is great news but do make

sure you have your own policy too which will ensure

you have cover for all areas you need.

THAILAND JUNGLE BUBBLES

MALDIVES

NEW HOLIDAY OPPORTUNITIES

This summer saw domestic tourism in the UK soar as

many decided to holiday closer to home. We launched

our own range of UK holidays including walking trips

and luxury private home rentals. Looking ahead, there

have been a range of new products being launched

onto the market. These include cruises around the

UK, smaller group tours and a real focus on private

villas whether as part of a large resort with facilities or

in remote locations. Destinations such as the Maldives

are proving popular with their over-water villas which

offer plenty of space and privacy.

Many hotels have been quick to innovate and either

promote their existing accommodations that are really

suitable to the new normal or have developed new and

exciting opportunities.

Whilst it is a challenging time, it is also an exciting

period for our industry. Entrepreneurs and business

owners are seeking to develop new products and

opportunities and to adapt to the new way of taking a

holiday. We look forward to being part of this journey

so we can stay at the forefront of these developments

and offer our clients the very best service.

OUR HOLIDAY TIPS & SUGGESTIONS FOR

2021…

JUNGLE BUBBLES – UP CLOSE &

PERSONAL WITH NATURE…

These transparent, air conditioned bubbles bring

guests closer to nature and provide the perfect

socially distanced, safe space with a once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity to be up close and personal with the 60

elephants living on the grounds. This luxury hotel

experience gives a new meaning to ‘close to nature’.

These special bubbles are part of a well-established 5*

hotel which commands the best in service and care for

its wildlife. These bubble style accommodations are

also available in other destinations such as the Wadi

Rum desert in Jordan for stargazing and the Maldives

for a unique overnight on the beach.

6* CRUISE AROUND THE UK…

For those who want to avoid flying why not rediscover

the UK on this luxury cruise next May. See subtropical

flora in Scilly, history laden 13th century

castles in Wales and the birth and resting place of the

famous Book of Kells. Ireland’s legendary hospitality

surely needs no introduction, while Scotland’s natural

heritage will give you something to talk about for years

to come. The full list of ports of call are: Guernsey,

Isles of Scilly, Milford Haven in Wales, Skomer Island,

Fort William, St Kilda, Lunga, Iona, Dublin, Isle of

Man, Waterford, Dartmouth and London.

PRIVATE VILLAS WITH POOLS (BOOK

EARLY)…

Private villas are already in huge demand for summer

2021 holidays as clients seek space, privacy and

independence. With many 2020 holidays already

rearranged for next year this does mean demand

outstrips supply in many destinations. Therefore

early booking is advised, especially if you need

to stick to school holidays and you are traveling

in a larger family or group. The Algarve in

Portugal is one of the most popular villa

destinations but do consider trying somewhere

new if the obvious spots are full. We can help

advise and find the right one for you and your

needs.

make a group or ‘bubble’ of your own with friends or

family.

DON’T BE AFRAID, JUST ASK…

Whilst the changing landscape may seem daunting

for some, we have managed to send clients away

on holiday this summer and the feedback has been

overwhelmingly positive. There are a few more hoops

to jump through and protocols to get used to, but once

overcome them you can relax and enjoy your trip.

Our final tip is to seek the advice of a professional.

You may have read horror stories in the press about

travellers booking online this summer and turning

up to a closed hotel or being denied boarding at the

airport as they didn’t have the right forms completed.

This is the perfect time to seek a professional to help

with the arrangements. Like you would seek a solicitor

for your mortgage, find a trusted, reputable travel

agent that is financially bonded, offers ATOL bonded

holidays and has easy methods of communication to

help. Of course, we are here to help so do get in touch

and we will be here to arrange your next trip when

you are ready to do so.

Contact Oliver or Nathan at RB Collection on

01543 258631 or email vip@rbcollection.com

ESCORTED TOURS DEVELOP THEIR

FORMAT…

Many tour companies have begun offering

their itineraries with smaller group numbers

but now also on a private basis or you can

join up with your favourite couple. Traveling

as part of a group can be a fun and sociable

experience especially with like-minded travellers

sharing experiences and stories. We saw tours

start again this summer and watched one in

particular visit Sicily albeit with less members in

the group. The feedback was excellent as clients

were so happy to once again explore and enjoy

a trip away. Group touring is diversifying, and

we are able to offer more flexible experiences.

The same itineraries for example can often

be taken on a private basis with just you, your

loved one and your guide meeting you for

excursions. This also gives you the flexibility

to add in rest days here and there. Or why not

H E A LT H

Perfect your pins

LICHFIELD’S FAVOURITE PERSONAL TRAINER, RAUL ROMERO, EXPLAINS WHAT WE CAN ALL

DO FROM THE COMFORT OF OUR HOME TO ACHIEVE BEAUTIFUL, STRONG, TONED LEGS

Our legs are the biggest muscle group in our body

and we need to give them the importance they

deserve when it comes to training. This means

planning more than just one weekly ‘leg day’ if we

really want to get them in the best shape possible and

improve their strength and stamina.

There are various different ways to achieve those

perfect pins. Some of which include:

Strength training: either using your own body

weight or additional weights, strength training is

essential in developing shape and toning your legs.

I recommend planning one or two days of strength

training to pave the way for perfect pins. These

training sessions don’t have to be long and tedious, in

fact short and intense is often far more effective.

Squats and lunges: yes, as simple as these sound,

these two classic exercises are some of the best when

it comes to enriching your leg workout to achieve

those perfect pins. The great thing is you can mix

the variations to make your workout more interesting

and not get bored.

Unilateral exercises: in more simple terms, these

are single-leg or single-arm movements. The primary

benefit of including unilateral exercises in your

training program is that the exercise uses both sides

of the body equally. Some examples include single

leg squats, single leg deadlifts, lunges etc.

Core work: this is one of the most commonly

known techniques and the fab thing about core work

is that it has so many different benefits. Incorporating

core work into your weekly workout will significantly

strengthen posture and therefore brace muscles a

lot better for training other muscle groups - it will

without a doubt help to maintain correct form

and technique when it comes to leg workouts.

Additionally, training our core muscles is key in

protecting our legs from injury by providing extra

core support.

Healthy eating and Hydration: this is such

a simple concept yet one that many forget when

it comes to achieving those perfect pins. Eating a

healthy balanced diet with correct portion sizes will

help your body burn fat and remain healthy. Portion

control is key here - we need to fuel our body with

enough to enable us to function at an optimum level,

but not too much so as to make us feel sluggish and

overfull. The best types of food are whole, natural

foods and we should aim to drink plenty of water to

provide our body with all the nutrients it needs to

function at its best.

Here are my favourite five leg workouts to do from

the comfort of your home:

Squats: If there’s one exercise that has the ability to

challenge most of the muscles in your body, it’s the

squat. Quadriceps, gluteus, hamstrings, abductor, hip

flexor and calves are the muscles that are worked and

targeted in the legs with squats and the best thing is

that squats also target the core muscles.

How to achieve the perfect squat: Start by

standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, resting

your arms down at your sides.

While bracing your core and keeping your chest up

and neck neutral, bend your knees and push your

hips back as if you’re going to sit on a chair. Slowly

push from your heels and go back to the starting

position.

Static lunge: The static lunge gets its name because

the feet remain static, or in the same position,

throughout the exercise. This exercise targets your

glutes, quadriceps and hamstrings, but also works on

balance and stability.

How to achieve the perfect lunge: Begin by

standing in a split-stance with your right foot forward

and your left foot back. Engage your abdominal

muscles, straighten your back and look

straight ahead. Maintain this position

as you bend your legs to lower your hips

toward the floor. Continue down until your

left knee nears the floor then press through

your right heel to return to the starting

position. Complete the desired number of

repetitions then repeat the exercise with

your left leg forward.

Standing Leg lift: This is a simple yet

effective way to build strength in the outer

thighs and the hip abductors, which include

the gluteus medius and minimus.

How to achieve the perfect standing

leg lift: Stand straight with your feet

together. Raise your left leg to the side as

far as possible and return to the starting

position. Repeat until you complete the set

and then change sides. For more intensity

use a miniband.

Single leg deadlift: This variation of a

traditional deadlift involves lifting one leg

off the ground and extending it out behind

you. The more complex movement works

even more core muscles as well as the

standing leg, which help to improve balance.

How to achieve the perfect standing

leg deadlift: Stand with your feet together.

Lean forward from your hips, shifting your weight

onto one leg while your other leg engages and starts

to extend straight behind you. Lift your extended leg

and pitch your body forward until your body forms

a ‘T’ shape. Your arms should be hanging straight

down, holding onto the weight. Keep a slight bend in

your standing leg. Slowly bring in your extended leg

and return to the starting position.

Hip bridge: The best thing about the hip bridge

is that it works the entire back of your legs and your

glutes. Specifically, it fires up your hamstrings and

gluteus maximus.

How to achieve the perfect hip bridge: Lie with

your back on your mat, knees bent. Place your feet

flat on the mat. Now squeeze your glutes and lift

your hips, lower back, buttocks and thighs so they

form a straight line. Hold the position for one second

then lower to just above the floor.

As with any goal, in order to achieve the goal of

perfect pins we have to bite the bullet and make a

start then remain consistent in our training.

For more information on strengthening and toning

your legs, or any other health, fitness or nutrition

queries, contact Raúl at raul@ambitionpt.co.uk.

Happy training!

B E AU T Y

TLC For winter skin

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE MAY WELL BE FRIGHTFUL BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOUR SKIN HAS TO

BE. FROSTY MORNINGS COMBINED WITH RISING CENTRAL HEATING TEMPERATURES LEAVES YOUR

COMPLEXION FEELING DRY, DULL AND LACKLUSTRE. THERE ARE PLENTY OF PRODUCTS YOU CAN

INTRODUCE TO KICKSTART YOUR WINTER REGIME AT HOME; ONES DESIGNED TO PROTECT FROM THE

COLD, INTRODUCE MUCH-NEEDED HYDRATION AND IMPROVE ELASTICITY. WE ASKED ROYAL FACIALIST

DEBORAH MITCHELL TO SHARE HER TOP TIPS TO ENSURE GREAT-LOOKING SKIN ALL WINTER LONG.

TIP ONE: The most important thing you

can do for your skin is to ensure it is properly

cleansed every morning and every night

and, for me, the most effective way to do this

is to do it twice. The reason for this is the

first cleanse can simply move the dirt and

grease around your face and this can lead to

breakouts; repeating your cleansing routine

means you get deeper into your pores.

My Hydro Cleansing Milk (£37.91,

120ml) hydrates and removes daily

pollutants while it cleanses. Created with

delicate organic jojoba – the closest match to our own

natural oil – it helps to balance and condition while

being gentle enough for all skin types.

TIP TWO: Hydrated skin equals healthy

skin. If you feed and water your face every

day it not only feels amazing but looks

amazing too. Trouble is, during the winter

months a combination of cold days and

evenings curled up by the radiator means it

quickly becomes dehydrated, dry and dull.

For an instant beauty boost try Heaven’s

Chamomile Hydrogel (£37.91, 120ml)

which soothes skin while minimising redness.

The delicate chamomile and echinacea

act as an anti-inflammatory and are antiallergenic,

while organic witch hazel reduces

and controls sensitivity.

TIP THREE: Look after

the skin on your hands just as

you do the skin on your face,

especially at this time of the

year. I always find my hands

can become very dry during

the winter so ensuring I have

a nourishing cream nearby to

reach for after doing chores is

a must.

My Vanilla Pod Hand Cream (£19.91) instantly

nourishes, thanks to the addition of vanilla and

coconut; hydrating hands, nails and even cracked feet

to leave them feeling smooth and soothed.

TIP FOUR: While traditional

moisturisers sit on the surface of the

face, serums have smaller molecules

so can penetrate the epidermis and

deliver ingredients directly into your

skin. Opt for one that targets your

main concern – whether that’s ageing,

dryness or sensitive skin. Due to their

high concentration you only need a

small amount and you’ll find a few

drops go a long way.

I created my SOS Serum (£55,

30ml) to balance oil levels, hydrate

and feed the skin, while its vitamin content can help to

repair acne, scars and damaged skin. I like to add 1-2

drops to my favourite moisturiser or foundation.

TIP FIVE: Sleep is vital when it comes to repairing,

regenerating and restructuring the skin but you can

help this process with an effective regime before you go

to bed. However, piling on too many products in the

evening can confuse your skin, so choose a cream that is

designed specifically for night time that allows all those

great ingredients to get working while you get your

shut-eye.

Thanks to its vitamin B

content my Overnight

Success Oxygen

Cream (£91, 50ml)

releases oxygen to

detoxify and replenish

your complexion. Perfect

for dull or damaged skin,

its anti-ageing properties

help boost collagen

production.

Products featured are available online at heavenskincare.com

Why do you

need HR?

Is it because you want everything

to run smoothly, so you can

focus on the business instead

of working in the business?

If that’s true I can be on your team with you to

achieve that. I translate business strategy into HR

practices which make a great culture, with happy

people who achieve their best.

Let’s find out together how HR can ripple

positively through your business.

Why do you

07771 780 146

jane.galvez@ripple-hr.co.uk

need HR?

ripple-hr.co.uk

Is it because you want everything

to run smoothly, so you can

focus on the business instead

of working in the business?

If that’s true I can be on your team with you to

achieve that. I translate business strategy into HR

practices which make a great culture, with happy

people who achieve their best.

Let’s find out together how HR can ripple

positively through your business.

07771 780 146

jane.galvez@ripple-hr.co.uk

We are a trusted, local family, dedicated to providing

a truly personal service for those who need us

Burials, Horse-drawn Funerals, Bespoke

Funeral and pre-payment Funeral Plans available

ripple-hr.co.uk

OPEN

FOR NEW

RESIDENTS

The perfect ‘Home from Home’

at Rosemary Lodge in Lichfield

Rosemary Lodge Care Home for

elderly ladies and gentlemen offers a

level of care, community and comfort

that is second to none. Situated a short

way from the bustling City Centre of

Lichfield and set in landscaped gardens,

Rosemary Lodge is light, spacious and

beautifully decorated, offering residents

just the right combination of interest,

activity and relaxation. It is a place that

encourages residents to retain their

independence and individuality whilst

being fully supported to live a fulfilled

and enjoyable life.

Rosemary Lodge Care Home is a family

run concern, and has been a highlyregarded

part of the community for

almost 30 years. Offering 24 hour care,

our fully trained staff work together to

communicate with residents and ensure

personal care needs are met in a fully

person-centred approach, thus building

an important relationship of trust and

friendship.

Our two qualified chefs offer a

nutritionally balanced and varied

menu, (catering for any special dietary

requirements) using fresh, locally

sourced produce and served in a

spacious dining room that offers views

out towards the Orangery and to the

gardens and fountain. The Orangery also

creates a perfect space for residents,

family and friends to meet up, chat,

enjoy coffee and snacks and take

advantage of the sunshine, no matter

REMAIN

COVID

FREE

the season! The on-site hair and beauty

salon also ensures that little bit of

pampering is always available.

All rooms are en-suite, and are

designed to comfortably accommodate

individuals and couples. There is full

WiFi connectivity throughout to allow

residents the opportunity of keeping in

touch with family and friends through

video link or FaceTime.

Regular activities and entertainment

such as movement-to music, musical

theatre groups, pet therapy, pub lunches

and visits to local events are regularly

organised, but privacy and peace-andquiet

is also ensured in this beautiful

‘home from home’. Our close proximity

to Lichfield also means that shopping

trips and community activities are just

on the doorstep.

Our commitment to offering just the

right amount of care and support

has led to an excellent reputation

in the community and with the care

professionals who work with us. We

value our staff highly, and recognise that

their care and commitment are a great

part of our success.

We also offer respite care, holiday

stay and limited day care. To arrange a

visit or to learn a little bit more about

us, call Jane Evans, Registered Care

Manager or Shirley Kent Administration

Manager, please see contact details

below.

All-inclusive Funeral Packages for

Cremation with no hidden costs

Including Crematorium, Doctor and

Religious/Non-religious Celebrant

Simple - £2,300

Traditional - £2,650

(includes family car, service sheets and floral tribute)

16 - 20 North Street, Cannock, WS11 0BA

01543 529813 (Anytime)

Visit our web and Facebook sites to see our reviews

www.omalleyfunerals.co.uk • www.facebook.com/omalleyfunerals

CQC RATING GOOD

Rosemary Lodge Residential Home

191 Walsall Road, Lichfield. Staffs.

WS13 8AQ.

For more information please contact

Jane Evans (Registered Care Manager) or

Shirley Kent (Administration Manager).

01543 415223 - Email: roselodgehome@aol.com

www.rosemarylodgecarehome.co.uk

G I F T G U I D E

Seriously gifted

THIS IS GOING TO BE A FESTIVE SEASON LIKE NO OTHER. WITH CAREFULLY CHOSEN PRESENTS YOU

CAN HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT CHRISTMAS 2020 IS MEMORABLE FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS.

BUYING FROM INDEPENDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES WILL HELP TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL AREA AS

WELL AS PUTTING A SMILE ON THE FACE OF THE SPECIAL PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE.

£1,152

9CT WHITE GOLD, MOONSTONE AND

DIAMOND RING, ALLEN BROWN JEWELLERY

£30

FELT WOODLAND CRITTERS IN AN EGG

BOX, SHOP.NATIONALTRUST.ORG.UK

£2,160

£45

£80

9CT WHITE GOLD OPAL AND

DIAMOND EARRINGS, ALLEN

BROWN JEWELLERY

£88

SCENT DIFFUSER,

NEST.CO.UK

SILVER, QUARTZ, FREE FORM

PERIDOT AND MOONSTONE

EARRINGS, ALLEN BROWN

JEWELLERY, HEART OF THE

COUNTRY SHOPPING VILLAGE,

SWINFEN, LICHFIELD,

WWW.ALLENBROWNJEWELLERY.CO.UK

SILK CHEMISE,

FIGLEAVES

GIFT VOUCHERS FOR MOOR HALL SPA, FROM £10, CAN BE USED THROUGHOUT

2021. AVAILABLE FROM MOOR HALL HOTEL AND SPA, MOOR HALL DRIVE, FOUR

OAKS, SUTTON COLDFIELD, WWW.MOORHALLHOTEL.CO.UK

£180

£549

CASHMERE SWEATER,

PURE COLLECTION

BARBOUR SUPA-COMMANDER

WAX JACKET, BARBOUR.COM

RUGBY BALL WASHBAG,

WWW.GETTINGPERSONAL.CO.UK

£19.99

£25

GENTS TITANIUM RINGS, FROM £220 TO £350, ALLEN

BROWN JEWELLERY, HEART OF THE COUNTRY

SHOPPING VILLAGE, SWINFEN, LICHFIELD,

WWW.ALLENBROWNJEWELLERY.CO.UK

RASPBERRY AND HIBISCUS PINK

GIN, JOHN LEWIS

£21

£159

WOOL SOCKS,

WWW.FALKE.COM

£25

BELT, MARKS AND SPENCER

RECORD PLAYER TURNTABLE,

WWW.CUCKOOLAND.COM

£255

£55

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE HAMPER,

WWW.HOTELCHOCOLAT.COM

STAINLESS STEEL WARWICK CUTLERY DINING

SET, FROM ARTHUR PRICE FACTORY SHOP,

BRITANNIA WAY, LICHFIELD,

WWW.ARTHURPRICE.COM

STAFFORDSHIRE BUN TERRIER

PLATE, WWW.AMARA.COM

£125

INDIVIDUALLY-MADE DOOR WREATH

BY RUSTIC CHIC, £46.50 INCLUDING UK

DELIVERY. FROM WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/

RUSTICCHICBYCHRISSYJOAN OR BETTIES

BROCANTE, BEAUCHAMP INDUSTRIAL

PARK, TAMWORTH B77

£25

£17.50

PETAL LEAF LAMP, NEEDWOOD LIVING,

MAIN STREET, ALREWAS,

WWW.NEEDWOODLIVING.CO.UK

OLIVER BONAS CHRISTMAS CANDLE,

WWW.OLIVERBONAS.COM

CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON TEA HAMPER,

WWW.CARTWRIGHTANDBUTLER.CO.UK

£60

£265

PORCELAIN CHRISTMAS TREE,

WWW.LUXDECO.COM

PORCELAIN AND WOOD

NORTHERN LIGHTS LANTERN,

FROM £48.99, CASA HOME,

BARTON MARINA, BARTON

UNDER NEEDWOOD,

WWW.CASAHOME.CO.UK

POCELAIN TEALIGHT HOUSES,

FROM £12.99, CASA HOME,

BARTON MARINA, BARTON

UNDER NEEDWOOD,

WWW.CASAHOME.CO.UK

LO CA L A R E A

What’s On Local

LIFE MAY BE A BIT DIFFERENT FOR ALL OF US AT THE MOMENT, BUT THERE ARE STILL

PLENTY OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY ENTERTAINED THIS MONTH.

WHAT: SPOOKY GUIDED TOUR

WHERE: LICHFIELD CITY CENTRE

WHEN: DATES TO SUIT YOU

Halloween may be over for another year, but that doesn’t mean the spooky

fun has to stop. Guided ghost tours are continuing to run in Lichfield, so

that you can enjoy thrills throughout November too.

Visit Lichfield is organising the tours for groups of up to five people, who

will be accompanied by a knowledgeable tour guide. Tours can be tailored

to meet the needs of individual groups.

Expect to find out about spooky sightings in the city, Civil War battles and

gruesome burnings at the stake.

Tours cost £30 per group and last for 90 minutes. To book a tour call

01543 308924 or visit www.visitlichfield.co.uk/tours

WHAT: ART EXHIBITION

WHERE: BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

WHEN: WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY, 10AM TO 5PM

Benny’s Babbies, a two-metre-wide collage by artist Cold War Steve, is one of

the new pieces of work you can see for the first time at the recently reopened

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Launched digitally during lockdown, the collage includes notable Brummies.

Visitors are encouraged to see who they can spot before using a QR code to

discover everyone who features.

Birmingham Museums commissioned Cold War Steve to create the piece

using thousands of out-of-copyright images from the city’s collection.

Also new at the gallery following its reopening is a portrait of girls’ education

activist Malala Yousafzai, which is on loan from the National Portrait Gallery

and has never been on public display before.

WHAT: CINEMA AND WINE TASTING

WHERE: MILLENNIUM POINT, BIRMINGHAM

WHEN: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12

Imaging sitting back to watch one of the best-loved films of all time while

sipping no less than five glasses of carefully selected wine. Sounds perfect,

yes?

Millennium Point has joined forces with The Wine Events company to stage

this very special socially distanced screening of Back To The Future, which

will also include fun movie trivia throughout the evening.

Capacity has been reduced in the venue, all seats will be allocated in

advance and there will be hand sanitising stations throughout.

It sounds a perfect evening of escapism with Marty McFly.

WHAT: LIVE MUSIC

WHERE: LICHFIELD GARRICK

WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7

It somehow feels so right that Tony Christie should be

performing one of the first live music events at the Lichfield

Garrick since its reopening.

The singer, who lives in the cathedral city, will be performing

all his classics in front of a socially distanced, limited capacity

audience.

He will be on stage alongside his own touring band rather

than the orchestra that had been originally planned.

It’s likely to be an emotional evening for all concerned, and

one not to be missed by fans.

WHAT: FIREWORK FESTIVAL

WHERE: WEST MIDLAND SAFARI AND

LEISURE PARK

WHEN: NOVEMBER 7 AND 8

There will be fireworks and late night rides at this annual

event, which is still set to take place this year.

Visitors can enjoy walk-through areas such as Ice Age, Land

of the Living Dinosaurs, Penguin Cove and Creepy Crawlies,

although the safari drive-through will be closed throughout

the weekend.

Tickets must be booked in advance as none will be sold on the

gate on the day and face coverings must be worn throughout,

both indoors and outdoors.

There will be food vendors and a licensed bar both before

and during the fireworks display.

WHAT: FAMILY FUN

WHERE: CADBURY WORLD

WHEN: THROUGHOUT NOVEMBER

Cadbury World is open with social distancing measures in

place, but you must pre-book your tickets before you go rather

than simply turning up on the day.

This month’s special attractions include a stage show called

DJ Freddo’s Disco Dance Party, which will be on selected

weekends.

Father Christmas arrives early at Cadbury World, so you can

start to see him in his stage show from November 21 onwards.

The attraction is largely a self-guided tour, which means you

can take your time and stay socially distanced from other

visitors.

FA S H I O N

Get knitted

AS THE THERMOMETER PLUMMETS, REACH FOR YOUR

COSIEST KNITS TO SEE YOU THROUGH WINTER IN STYLE,

SAYS AMY NORBURY

IT’S the time of year when swiftly plummeting temperatures will

have you sifting through your wardrobe for your cosiest options.

That’s right, as we head into the chilliest months, your knitwear

collection is set to become your daily style saviour so if it’s

lacking in any department then now is the time to stock up.

And with an array of knitwear trends hitting the high streets,

wrapping up warm has never been more cool.

Moving on from the fine, lightweight knits beloved of

transitional season dressing, it’s now a case of the bigger, the

better as winter approaches - instead of bemoaning the chilly

climes, the feeling is that we should embrace it. Heavy cable

knits and chunky ribbed numbers will become your seasonal gotos,

with an oversized element adding to that feeling of cosy.

Add a layer of luxury to comfort dressing with your fabric

choices; elevate the look of your classic jumper with merino,

cashmere and alpaca wool. Keep things pared back and

polished with neutral hues - beige, cream and camel spell

timeless elegance for any occasion, while a quality finish and

luxurious details like gold buttons will ensure your knitwear is

clocking up some serious style points.

While classic shapes always equal investment-worthy elegance,

for a seasonal twist look out for experimental silhouettes; draped

necklines add that little bit of sex appeal, while balloon sleeves

are an AW20 trend which is here to stay. Embellishments and

on-trend details like fringing and ruffles add a dynamic appeal.

A firm favourite among the street style set in recent seasons, the

cardigan has shrugged off its ‘librarian’ image to become a hot

pick across the biggest catwalks. Pair with Seventies-style denim,

as seen as Chloe, for casual cool or add a pencil skirt a la Fendi

and Christopher Kane for boardroom to bar dressing, winter

style.

But it’s not just about jumpers and cardis; no longer the preserve

of loungewear, knitted trousers have earned their spot as an

effortlessly easy-going option for contemporary comfort, while

you can pair your favourite cardigan with a knitted vest top to

create the new twinset.

DIAMANTE BUTTON CROPPED

CARDIGAN, £35, LIGHT BLUE MID

RISE SLIM JEANS, £29, AND QUILTED

CHAIN SHOULDER BAG, £25, ALL

MISS SELFRIDGE.

WWW.MISSSELFRIDGE.COM

£28 £35

£540

ONI TAUPE WIDE LEGGED RIBBED

KNIT TROUSERS, NANUSHKA AT

HARVEY NICHOLS.

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM

BLACK PEARL EMBELLISHED

PUFF SLEEVE JUMPER, WALLIS.

WWW.WALLIS.CO.UK

£280

CAMEL CABLE BUTTON

CARDIGAN, DOROTHY PERKINS.

WWW.DOROTHYPERKINS.COM

IRIS MUSTARD ALPACA BLEND

JUMPER, ISABEL MARANT AT

HARVEY NICHOLS.

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM

£35

£49.50

STAR BUTTON GREY CARDIGAN,

OLIVER BONAS.

WWW.OLIVERBONAS.COM

£22

AUTOGRAPH LEOPARD PRINT

JUMPER, MARKS AND SPENCER.

WWW.MARKSANDSPENCER.COM

SALT AND PEPPER KNITTED

SNOOD, OLIVER BONAS.

WWW.OLIVERBONAS.COM

BLACK NEPPY NEON KNITTED

HAT, OLIVER BONAS.

WWW.OLIVERBONAS.COM

£99

GREY RIB HIGH NECK JUMPER, £26,

AND GREY RIB MIDI SKIRT, £24, BOTH

DOROTHY PERKINS.

WWW.DOROTHYPERKINS.COM

IVORY BATWING RIBBED JUMPER,

£18, DOROTHY PERKINS.

WWW.DOROTHYPERKINS.COM

LO CA L A R E A

Creating a Buzz

FROM WINE TO ARTISAN MARKETS AND NOW A FASHION BOUTIQUE,

BUZZARDS VALLEY OFFERS A UNIQUE SHOPPING AND LEISURE EXPERIENCE

With its vineyard, wine and gift shop, wholesale

florist and six coarse fishing pools, family-owned

business Buzzards Valley has long offered

something to appeal to all tastes and interests.

It is run by brother and sister Yvonne and Leon,

who have introduced a monthly artisan market

with around 60 traders offering a vast array of

diverse items. It has become so popular that

each market attracts around 1,000 customers.

The vineyard was planted in 2001 by Ivan

Jones and comprises 8,000 vines of seven

different grape varieties.

It has produced award-winning red, white and

rose wines, both still and sparkling, plus a range

of gins produced by distilling the wine.

At the time of planting Ivan created six coarse fishing

pools, which are very popular.

The shop is packed with products that have been

carefully chosen for their quality and, wherever possible,

are made by local British companies.

There is a vast array of artisan handmade goods which

include Buzzard Valley’s own wines and gins, various

cheeses, chocolate and lots of different gift items. All

products can be used in hampers that are now being

produced for individuals and companies looking for

fresh ideas on how to send love or thanks to family,

friends, staff or clients for being there when needed, or

even for just being there!

Buzzards Valley is the place to visit for your Christmas

gifts. There will even be real Christmas trees of all sizes

SHY TIGER BOUTIQUE HAS BEEN

DESIGNED FOR REAL WOMEN.

THE MONTHLY MARKET AT BUZZARDS

VALLEY ATTRACTS AROUND 60 TRADERS.

for you to choose from, arriving in late November.

The newest addition to the Buzzards Valley lineup is Shy

Tiger Boutique, launched by Becky Winter from Sutton

Coldfield.

A working mum of two, Becky has designed a boutique

for real women who multitask and want to look and feel

their best by wearing effortless style every day.

The location offers a spacious and relaxing shopping

experience with hassle free parking. The boutique

provides stylish, of the moment clothing at prices

that won’t leave you feeling guilty. There is a diverse,

affordable and eclectic mix of clothing and accessories,

all handpicked and with new lines added weekly.

Whilst Shy Tiger does stock some international

labels, the majority of the clothing and accessories are

manufactured in the UK.

Becky said: “We’re continually evolving and searching

for new, exciting brands. We have a

passion for what we do and aim to reflect this onto our

customers. Word is spreading and it’s going really well.

People are surprised at the reasonable prices.”

Shy Tiger Boutique, Buzzards Valley, Drayton Bassett,

open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, 0121 308

7711, www.shytiger.co.uk, Follow on Facebook:

shytigerchic and Instagram: @shytiger.co.uk

Buzzards Valley, 37 Shirrall Drive, Drayton Bassett,

Tamworth, B78 3EQ, 0121 3081951,

www.buzzards-valley.co.uk

BUZZARDS

VALLEY

WELCOMES SHY TIGER & PURPLE HIVE

STYLISH, OF THE MOMENT CLOTHING, AT PRICES THAT WON’T LEAVE YOU FEELING GUILTY

HOME ACCESSORIES AND ART WITH ATTITUDE. GREAT SELECTION AVAILABLE TO VIEW IN SHY TIGER BOUTIQUE

Our Wine and Gift shop offers a wide range of Artisan goods including Cheeses

and chocolates plus our own wine & gins as well as a variety of gift ideas. All

items from the shop can be used in hampers for individuals or companies alike.

Hampers available at a variety of prices. Average £35. Case of 6 wines is £50

10% OFF SHOP PRICES ON HAMPERS & CASES OF WINE

(RED, WHITE, ROSE OR A MIX)

FREE delivery on wine within 5 mile radius

(Offers only apply if quoting J’aime magazine.

Offers valid until Christmas 2020)

HOME TO A MONTHLY ARTISAN MARKET, WITH A FANTASTIC

& VARIED RANGE OF GOODS FROM AROUND 60 TRADERS.

NEXT MARKET ON 8TH NOVEMBER.

CHECK OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR DETAILS: BUZZARDSVALLEYVINEYARD

REAL CHRISTMAS TREES ARRIVING LATE NOVEMBER!

Buzzards Valley, Shirrall Drive, Drayton Bassett B78 3EQ • 0121 308 1951 • www.buzzards-valley.co.uk

0121 308 7711 • www.shytiger.co.uk • facebook shytigerchic • Instagram: @shytiger.co.uk & @purplehive

Buzzards Valey open daily • Shy Tiger open Mon - Sat 10 - 5.

I N T H E N E W S

An excellent Choice

A FAMILY-OWNED INTERIORS BUSINESS HAS OPENED A LICHFIELD

SHOWROOM, AND IT’S ALREADY PROVING TO BE A POPULAR CHOICE

With more than 35 years of soft furnishings

experience and two-and-a-half years of running a

family business, opening a Lichfield showroom was a

natural next step for Interior Choice.

The first floor showroom above Sure Storage in

Eastern Avenue, Lichfield, stocks all the leading

fabric and blind brands as well as offering a design

and fit service if required.

Customers can choose from more than 6,000 options

across curtains, blinds and wallpapers with tracks,

poles, awning and automated blinds also available.

Interior Choice aims to have the largest selection in

the area and to compete with internet prices.

Key brands include Prestigious Textiles, ILiv, Bill

Beaumont, Curtain Express, Voyage, Villa Nova,

Romo, Luxaflex, Silent Gliss and ILiv Contract

collections.

All budgets are catered for, from entry-level express

curtain and roman blinds to machine-sewn and

bespoke hand-sewn products.

Everything comes with a three year warranty, subject

to fair usage rules, with a five year warranty on

certain Luxaflex lines. All blinds are fitted with child

safety devices as standard.

If you’ve just moved into a new home or need your

new purchases quickly then an express service means

that some blinds and curtains can be delivered and

fitted within seven to 10 days.

And if you’re looking for blinds or curtains for a

commercial premises then Interior Choice even has

ranges designed specifically with your needs in mind

which carry commercial grade specification.

Visits to the 512sq ft showroom are currently by

appointment only, which means that you can browse

the collections with peace of mind.

There is a seven day no-obligation booked

appointment system in place. When you arrive you

can park free of charge and will have exclusive use

of the showroom for up to two hours. No other

customers will enter the showroom during your slot

and refreshments will be available.

During the friendly and personal consultation you

will get to see lots of samples and will have all of the

options explained to you so that you can choose the

right option for your family and your home.

NHS track and trace systems are in place and

plentiful free hand sanitiser is available.

Late night appointments are available to fit in around

busy work and life schedules.

Interior Choice is a family-owned and family-run

local business with a reputation that is growing daily.

They have become a five star rated Best of Lichfield

approved supplier. If you’re looking for new soft

furnishings then they could be the right choice for

you. To find out more visit interiorchoice.net or

call 01543 406162.

Probate and formal valuations

for inheritance tax purposes

Our reliable and sympathetic

team can assist all executors in the

administration of deceased estates

From jewellery and large collections

to cars, furniture and household

items, we handle everything

Specialist

jewellery valuations

by appointment only

at The Lichfield

Auction Centre

on Tuesdays

Comprehensive, bespoke

clearance service and

downsizing solutions

We handle clearance of an entire

estate from houses, bungalows and

flats to offices and all other buildings

We specialise in:

Antique and modern jewellery

Watches

Gemstones

Silverware

Coins, medals and militaria

Works of art

Whisky and wine

Vintage toys

Stamps and ephemera

Cameras and record collections

Scientific equipment

Antique and modern furniture

Qualified

All members of our jewellery

department are certified

gemmologists and diamond graders

Record-breaking

international sales

More than 3,800 bidders from

all over the world joined our

online auctions last month

Online services available

Virtual estimates, online auctions

and contactless collections.

Valuations and viewing by

appointment only

NEW TIMES

MEET US LOCALLY

Weekly Valuations

Every Thursday

For your Jewellery

and Watches

With Heather Callaway

FIRV FGA DGA AMEA

The Hub at St Mary’s

Market Square,

Lichfield City Centre, WS13 6LG

Thursdays 9.30am -12 noon

Established – Professional – Transparent

The Winterton family name has been synonymous

with auctioneering in Staffordshire since 1864

01543 251081

www.richardwinterton.co.uk

richardwinterton@richardwinterton.co.uk

The Lichfield

Auction Centre,

Wood End Lane,

Fradley Park

WS13 8NF

NAJ A4 ad_Nov_2020.indd 1 05/10/2020 16:22

J'AIME NOVEMBER 2020

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