Malvern Living Mar - Apr 2021
Spring has arrived and this edition is a celebration of the best of it - great food, Easter bakes, spring cleaning and, an amazing home transformation.
Spring has arrived and this edition is a celebration of the best of it - great food, Easter bakes, spring cleaning and, an amazing home transformation.
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GOSPEL PLACE<br />
MALVERN<br />
A CHOICE OF OPTIONS FOR<br />
MODERN LIVING IN MALVERN<br />
Gospel Place offers a selection of 14 new homes at Ranelagh<br />
Road, <strong>Malvern</strong>. The range includes 2-bedroom apartments<br />
(standard or duplex), 3 and 4-bedroom semi-detached houses<br />
and 4-bedroom detached townhouses.<br />
AVAILABLE NOW!<br />
Prices start from<br />
£245,000<br />
Contact Cathy Styler in our on site Show Home for a COVID safe inspection - Call: 01684 892282<br />
To book an appointment or receive more information and updates:<br />
Call: 01386 55 24 17 Visit: www.gospel.place<br />
GOSPEL PLACE Ranelagh Road, <strong>Malvern</strong> Link, Worcestershire, WR14 1BQ<br />
BEAUTIFUL HOMES IN THE FINEST TRADITION<br />
Call: 01684 892 892 Call: 01905 426 000
Contents<br />
A Note<br />
from the EDITOR<br />
12<br />
Glorious<br />
A Culinary Easter Journey recipes through to<br />
Northern celebrate Ireland the spring<br />
I was hoping we would be<br />
approaching this edition with a bit<br />
more of a certain outlook, but at the<br />
time of going to press, the shape<br />
of the next few months still looks<br />
rather…fluid. Time to call on some of<br />
that British resilience and adaptability<br />
– and wait for the joys of spring to<br />
flow forth. After all, there’s nothing<br />
that a big old wedge of cake can’t fix,<br />
so that’s what we are providing!<br />
This edition is still a celebration of<br />
my favourite season – a time of<br />
fabulous food, spring cleans and<br />
new beginnings. We hope you enjoy<br />
reading it as much as we have<br />
enjoyed putting it together!<br />
The competition<br />
page returns<br />
04<br />
Whilst Easter might yet again not take<br />
its usual form, we still have some<br />
celebratory and seasonal recipes to<br />
help you take joy in the preparation<br />
and flavour of good food - no matter<br />
how much company you have to<br />
share it with.<br />
On the home front, we have a<br />
wonderful kitchen before and after<br />
feature to inspire. If lockdown has<br />
seen you improve instead of move or<br />
you love your home but the space is<br />
no longer working the way it should<br />
for you, take a look at what can be<br />
done with a bit of imagination!<br />
A real-life before and<br />
after kitchen renovation<br />
16<br />
Editor Katie Thomson<br />
e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk<br />
Publisher Sally Thomson<br />
Pre-Press Manager Kate O’Connell<br />
Contributors Rebecca Rose, Peter Thomson, Sue Cooke, Matthew Biggs<br />
Angela Cave and Pete Lawrence. Front cover courtesy of Next<br />
Key Account Manager Steve Davies<br />
e steve.davies@minervapublications.co.uk<br />
d/l 01225 984506<br />
ttwitter: @<strong>Malvern</strong><strong>Living</strong><br />
Spring clean tips<br />
from the experts<br />
MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ<br />
Unit 21c, Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton<br />
Trowbridge BA14 6JB<br />
t 01225 984 550<br />
visit our website www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />
24<br />
Disclaimer: The publishers shall not be held liable for any loss occasioned by failure of an<br />
advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions and<br />
misprints. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the<br />
publishers. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publishers.<br />
Spring is a traditional time for a<br />
good clean and clear out - given<br />
we are bursting out of the seams of<br />
our homes, we should be making<br />
the most of the storage we have<br />
and reduce the clutter - so we’ve<br />
got some expert tips to banish the<br />
baggage and some cleaning hacks to<br />
make your house shine.<br />
Our ever-popular competition page is<br />
back with a bumper crop of amazing<br />
prizes - don’t forget to enter - I always<br />
bemoan the fact I can’t as there are<br />
some exceptional goodies to be had!<br />
All that’s left is to wish that the next<br />
time we see you, we are firmly on<br />
the road back to normality - there’s<br />
a palpable good feeling in the air and<br />
long may it continue!<br />
Katie Katie<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 3
COMPETITION<br />
SnüzPod<br />
bundle worth<br />
over<br />
£250<br />
Time<br />
To enter any (or all!) of our competitions, head to<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk/competitions.<br />
Find the competition and enter on that post,<br />
using the appropriate keyword.<br />
T&C’s apply and no cash alternatives available. Winners chosen at<br />
random - entries made after closing date will not be accepted.<br />
There’s no doubt about it, when it comes to a happy parent<br />
and child, it all starts with a good night’s sleep. At Snuz, it’s an<br />
ethos you can see running through every one of their products.<br />
SnüzCloud: SnüzCloud is the super stylish baby sleep aid<br />
that promises more ZZZ’s every parent needs! With super soft<br />
plush fabric, 4 soothing sounds and two light options; the cute<br />
and cuddly sleep aid will help comfort and settle baby day and<br />
night – it’s a must!<br />
SnüzPouch: An award-winning baby sleeping bag with a<br />
genius nappy change zip to limit all disturbances for babies<br />
(and parents)! Available in a range of stylish designs, bedtime<br />
couldn’t get any cosier (or more convenient)!<br />
SnüzPod4: An effortlessly stylish first bed for baby, keeping<br />
them close by mum and dad always, whilst also promising<br />
more sleep for the whole family!<br />
Closes 20/04/<strong>2021</strong> - Competition keyword ‘SNUZ’<br />
Win Gtech’s new<br />
Power Tools<br />
collection worth<br />
£280<br />
Gtech, award winning specialists in home<br />
technology, have added a brand new<br />
selection of cordless power tools to help<br />
you tackle home DIY with ease.<br />
The cordless 20V Combi<br />
Drill was designed for the<br />
most popular DIY tasks. It<br />
offers three modes of operation<br />
so you can switch between<br />
drill, hammer and screwdriver<br />
modes with 21 different torque<br />
settings for driving jobs requiring<br />
precision.<br />
The cordless 20V Impact Driver<br />
makes driving screws, nuts and<br />
bolts a breeze, helping you handle<br />
larger screws, thicker materials and<br />
remove tight fittings easily to take<br />
the strain out of DIY. Both available from<br />
gtech.co.uk Closes 20/04/<strong>2021</strong><br />
Competition keyword ‘GTECH’<br />
The Alcatel 3T 10<br />
comes with an Audio<br />
Station, so you can<br />
dock your tablet and<br />
enjoy crystal clear sound<br />
whether that’s to sit back<br />
with your favourite shows<br />
while the living room is<br />
occupied or keeping the<br />
kids entertained!<br />
You can host virtual parties,<br />
movie nights and more.<br />
The tablet also comes with<br />
built-in Google Assistant<br />
too meaning it can be<br />
voice-controlled and you<br />
won’t have to lift a finger.<br />
Available at jdwilliams.co.uk<br />
Closes 20/04/<strong>2021</strong><br />
Keyword ‘ALCATEL’<br />
Tablet and<br />
speaker worth<br />
over<br />
£199<br />
Win a stylish Milo console table<br />
from Zurleys<br />
Are you working from home but<br />
using a cluttered kitchen table?<br />
Online furniture store Zurleys is<br />
giving away a stylish Milo console<br />
table, so that you can create a<br />
dedicated workspace at home.<br />
This sleek,<br />
Scandinavianstyle<br />
table in<br />
grey and white,<br />
features two<br />
roomy drawers.<br />
Ideal as a home<br />
office desk, the<br />
Milo is equally<br />
well-suited to a<br />
modern-style<br />
living room or<br />
bedroom.<br />
Closes 20/04/<strong>2021</strong><br />
- Competition<br />
keyword ‘ZURLEYS’<br />
Console table<br />
worth over<br />
£160<br />
Win a beautiful pair<br />
of unisex, vintage<br />
Christian Dior<br />
sunglasses.<br />
With a beautiful<br />
collection of pre-loved<br />
and vintage glasses<br />
and sunglasses, Queen<br />
of Specs offers a more<br />
sustainable option when it<br />
comes to choosing your<br />
next pair of glasses.<br />
Based in Cheltenham<br />
and with over 50<br />
years in optics, Queen of Specs have curated a<br />
collection of eyewear that includes designs from<br />
leading fashion houses such as Prada, Gucci,<br />
Cazal, Christian Dior and Hugo Boss for quality<br />
conscious people. They offer worldwide<br />
delivery and prescription lenses for any of<br />
their glasses frames are available from £29<br />
per pair. queenofspecs.com<br />
Closes 20/04/<strong>2021</strong><br />
Competition keyword ‘SPECS’<br />
Win a pair of<br />
unisex, vintage<br />
Christian Dior<br />
sunglasses worth<br />
£99<br />
4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
Image courtesy Heathfield School<br />
FAMILY LIFE IN LOCKDOWN by Jane Prescott<br />
We all know how limiting, frightening, and<br />
all-consuming the impact of the Covid-19<br />
pandemic continues to be on our lives.<br />
But there have also been positives, and<br />
in many households, enforced lockdown<br />
has been an opportunity to re-engage with<br />
family life and reclaim relationships and<br />
values.<br />
As a head teacher, I speak to other Heads<br />
as well as the staff and children in my own<br />
school. While there are always concerns<br />
and individual struggles, what I repeatedly<br />
hear is how many of us are now doing<br />
things together as a family.<br />
Many of us are eating more healthily<br />
and cooking with our children, dining<br />
together around the table, rather than in<br />
front of the TV. This is such a valuable<br />
lesson for children, preparing meals from<br />
basic ingredients and enjoying the social<br />
benefits of family mealtimes.<br />
Families are taking walks and gardening<br />
together. For teenagers, walking can be<br />
an opportunity to enjoy one-to-one time<br />
with a friend whose company they might<br />
previously have enjoyed only in a group.<br />
This is when friendships can deepen and<br />
flourish.<br />
Indoors, we’re digging out old board<br />
games and jigsaws, and reading books<br />
with younger children has become a joy<br />
rather than something to shoehorn in<br />
at the end of a frantic day. Parents are<br />
brushing up and passing on their knitting<br />
and crocheting skills. It’s as if lockdown<br />
has given us permission to slow down, be<br />
creative, and talk to one another instead<br />
of being hunched over our mobiles all<br />
evening.<br />
Of course, screen time remains important.<br />
School moved online during lockdown and<br />
technology helps children to stay in touch<br />
with friends. Nevertheless, it seems we<br />
now use technology together to contact<br />
extended family and grandparents. I<br />
regularly hear about online quiz nights<br />
for all generations of the family. You<br />
could argue that some families are more<br />
in touch than ever, as the grim reality of<br />
the pandemic makes us more inclined to<br />
reach out to those we love.<br />
Time plays tricks on us. When we have<br />
less of it, we try to recapture it with ready<br />
meals and gadgets. When we have more<br />
of it, we often squander it. But when we<br />
are forced to embrace day after day at<br />
home, we bake bread, play games, and<br />
take walks. In fact, the amount of time<br />
available is always the same, it’s simply<br />
that lockdown has demonstrated what can<br />
happen when we choose to enjoy it with<br />
our families.<br />
I want all my students back in school,<br />
where unhappy children are less likely to<br />
fall through the net. But lack of family time<br />
can also impoverish a child, and it’s my<br />
hope that children who have flourished<br />
during lockdown are able to carry on<br />
enjoying those valuable, whole-family<br />
experiences.<br />
Image courtesy Westfield School<br />
Jane Prescott is President (2020/21)<br />
of the Girls’ Schools Association and<br />
Headmistress of Portsmouth High<br />
School GDST. www.gsa.uk.com<br />
6 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
What did you<br />
learn at school<br />
today?<br />
Pose that question to a child at<br />
The Downs <strong>Malvern</strong> and you’re likely<br />
to receive some very interesting<br />
unusual answers from excited young<br />
learners… including how they<br />
learned to drive a railway engine or<br />
design a spare part for it.<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
As well as a host of sporting and leisure activities and hobbies<br />
that keep day-children and boarders alike busy when they’re not<br />
studying, the school is extremely proud of its unique learning<br />
resource: the world’s oldest privately-owned miniature steam<br />
railway.<br />
The “Downs Light Railway” – with its own charitable trust to fund<br />
and guide its community teaching work – has just been entered<br />
for a national heritage award, and for 92 years it has been<br />
imparting a rich range of skills to pupils. The importance for their<br />
later careers cannot be underestimated, with the nation facing<br />
growing skills shortages in science, technology and engineering.<br />
“Our railway really brings engineering to life,” says Headmaster<br />
Alastair Cook, “inspiring generations of pupils. It acts as an<br />
outdoor classroom, encouraging young people to develop<br />
practical skills that will not only act as a foundation should<br />
they go on to careers in technology or the sciences, but also<br />
prepare them for the world of work.<br />
“We teach them about design and workshop practice and<br />
often find that the children are more interested in this than<br />
actually driving the trains! They also develop life skills such as<br />
leadership, teamwork, risk awareness, time management and<br />
responsibility which will last them a lifetime.”<br />
That’s an awful lot that children can learn from just one<br />
activity!<br />
Inspired.<br />
Individual.<br />
Independent.<br />
PART OF<br />
THE MALVERN COLLEGE<br />
FAMILY OF SCHOOLS<br />
Inspiring children to<br />
reach new heights<br />
“I love the way that the children are prepared for the bigger world.<br />
It’s wonderful to watch them flourish in such a beautiful<br />
environment with such supportive staff.” Current Pre-Prep Parent<br />
www.thedownsmalvern.org.uk<br />
Want to learn more? Call the Registrar +44 (0)1684 544108<br />
CO-EDUCATIONAL PREP SCHOOL 3-13YRS. DAY & BOARDING OPTIONS.<br />
#inspiredtolearn<br />
www.thedownsmalvern.org.uk
Take On Charity's<br />
Challenge To Save Lives<br />
In Worcestershire<br />
The lifesaving crew of Midlands Air<br />
Ambulance Charity is challenging the<br />
people of Worcestershire to help raise vital<br />
funds for critical care missions in <strong>2021</strong>,<br />
as part of the organisation’s 30th<br />
anniversary year...<br />
The Air30 Airbase Challenge is based on four distance options,<br />
ranging from 27 – 121 miles, which represent the distance<br />
between the charity’s three airbases. Participants can select<br />
how they complete the chosen mileage as an individual or a<br />
group. Any method can be used; run, jog, walk, swim, cycle (or a<br />
combination of), or even by pogo stick! Once started supporters<br />
will have 30 days to complete the activity.<br />
The Air30 Airbase Challenge starts on 1st January <strong>2021</strong> and will<br />
end on Monday 31st May <strong>2021</strong>, when the charity first formed.<br />
All participants can choose their 30-day window for completion.<br />
As well as setting themselves a physical challenge, participants<br />
are also being tasked with raising funds for the rapid response,<br />
pre-hospital emergency service in a bid to increase donations<br />
following the difficulties of 2020.<br />
There will be four challenge options in total, representing three<br />
operational airbases across the Midlands – RAF Cosford in<br />
Shropshire, Tatenhill Airfield in Staffordshire and Strensham<br />
Services on the M5 in Worcestershire.<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
These distances include:<br />
Tatenhill to RAF Cosford: 27 miles – route helimed09<br />
RAF Cosford to Strensham: 40 miles – route helimed03<br />
Strensham to Tatenhill: 54 miles – route helimed06<br />
Or participants can take on the Helicopter Challenger, the full 121<br />
miles, which is the distance between all three airbases as the<br />
helicopter flies.<br />
Each of the distances will benefit from a member of Midlands Air<br />
Ambulance Charity’s aircrew allocated as a team leader, who will<br />
be sending regular emails to keep participants motivated in their<br />
challenges.<br />
A small sign-up fee is required in addition to any sponsorship<br />
monies raised. Registering as an individual will cost £5, or £10 for<br />
a team registration, with a maximum of four participants.<br />
To register your interest and for more information on Midlands<br />
Air Ambulance Charity’s Air30 Airbase Challenge, visit<br />
midlandsairambulance.com/air30-airbase-challenge and<br />
follow the organisation on social media. Participants complete<br />
the activities at their own risk.<br />
en?<br />
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8 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
R<br />
Challenge yourself<br />
and help save lives<br />
in your area<br />
To kickstart our 30th anniversary year in <strong>2021</strong>, join the aircrew<br />
on our New Year - New You challenge.<br />
Take on one of four distances to raise vital funds to<br />
support our lifesaving service. It’s a great way to<br />
help our charity and get fit at the same time!<br />
£5 for individuals £10 for a team of four<br />
Sign up now at: midlandsairambulance.com/air30-airbase-challenge<br />
Help make our next mission possible
FORD FIESTA<br />
Vignale H ybrid<br />
Motoring Journalist Sue Cooke test drives the ever-popular<br />
Ford Fiesta, the Vignale Hybrid model...<br />
Despite lockdown it seems that people<br />
are still buying cars and in 2020, the Ford<br />
Fiesta was the most popular choice.<br />
Figures released by independent car<br />
retailer, Motorpoint revealed that the<br />
hatchback was the most delivered car<br />
to people’s homes in England, Scotland<br />
and Wales.<br />
Ford sold nearly 78,000 Fiestas in the UK<br />
in 2019 and it’s hardly surprising that the<br />
award winning compact car is so popular<br />
when there is an edition that suits most<br />
driving requirements. For the first time the<br />
Fiesta is now available with an electrified<br />
powertrain. Drivers can go even further<br />
on a tank of fuel, as power is delivered by<br />
the 1 litre Ecoboost petrol engine, a belt<br />
driven integrated starter/generator which<br />
replaces the standard alternator and will<br />
store energy when the car is coasting and<br />
which charges the 48 volt lithium ion air<br />
cooled battery pack.<br />
So, there is the technical stuff out of<br />
the way. While driving the hybrid, I<br />
didn’t notice any difference to driving<br />
a traditionally powered car. There are<br />
various displays which are interesting<br />
to watch as energy trickles into an<br />
icon battery and out of it again. As an<br />
owner what I would notice is the 5%<br />
improvement in fuel efficiency over the<br />
petrol engine on its own.<br />
The 17” alloys and LED headlamps<br />
with daytime running lights add to the<br />
five-door exterior good looks. The model<br />
I road tested was the Vignale, so front<br />
fog lamps have cornering lights and<br />
automatic high beam which really helped<br />
when I was driving at night. The Vignale<br />
model is easily recognisable with its<br />
unique front grille and body styling and<br />
rear and wing badges.<br />
In the interior, there is a range of colours<br />
and materials in different contrasts,<br />
dark gloss surfaces and high-tech<br />
metallic accents. The Vignale premium<br />
seats are comfortable and heated.<br />
The most striking feature is the centre<br />
console which says Ford, is a mobile<br />
phone inspired entertainment system,<br />
completely different to any other car.<br />
For ease of parking there are front and<br />
rear parking sensors and a very clear rear<br />
view camera. For the icy weather which<br />
reared its ugly head during my week of<br />
road testing, there is a quick clear heated<br />
windscreen.<br />
Sophisticated new driver assistance<br />
technologies include Adaptive Cruise<br />
Control with Stop & Go and Speed<br />
Sign Recognition, designed to deliver<br />
less stressful driving experiences on<br />
motorways and around town.<br />
On the Vignale there is a very long list<br />
of features which help with everyday<br />
life, such as Keyless entry when I was<br />
juggling shopping bags. The boot will<br />
swallow 292 litres of luggage and folding<br />
the seats creates up to 1093 litres of<br />
space.<br />
You will pay £400 extra for the ‘Magnetic’<br />
body colour and £600 for the full LED<br />
headlamps. Safety features include<br />
electronic stability programme with hill<br />
start assist. Safety isn’t just exclusive to<br />
the inside occupants either as there is an<br />
array of pedestrian protection features.<br />
Ford is committed to offering an<br />
electrified version of every passenger<br />
vehicle it brings to market in Europe and<br />
says it will grow its range of electrified<br />
vehicles in Europe to 18 on sale before<br />
the end of <strong>2021</strong>. And, when it comes to<br />
the choice of brand for home delivery<br />
Motorpoint says Ford leads the way<br />
in terms of popularity with the Fiesta,<br />
Focus, Kuga and Transit all in the Top 20.<br />
Facts at a Glance<br />
Model: Ford Fiesta Vignale Hybrid<br />
Price: £23,505otr without the options<br />
Engine: 1litre EcoBoost Hybrid 155PS<br />
Performance: 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds<br />
and on to a top speed of 136mph<br />
CO2 emissions: 116g/km<br />
Combined fuel consumption: 43.5-<br />
64.2mpg (WLTP with options)<br />
10 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
EASTER<br />
Though it is still not Easter as<br />
we know it, it doesn’t mean you<br />
can’t celebrate with some special<br />
dishes and delightful bakes.<br />
These fabulous recipes all come<br />
from Clarence Court Eggs<br />
Bites<br />
SIMPLE HERBY<br />
ASPARAGUS OMELETTE<br />
WITH FETA AND RADISH<br />
Preparation time: 10 minutes<br />
Cooking time: 10 minutes<br />
Serves: 1<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
150g British asparagus spears<br />
A small handful radishes<br />
Juice of half a lemon plus a wedge for<br />
serving<br />
½ teaspoon honey<br />
Extra virgin olive oil<br />
½ small bunch fresh dill, leaves picked<br />
A few sprigs parsley, leaves picked<br />
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper<br />
2 Clarence Court Hens Eggs<br />
A knob of butter<br />
40g feta cheese<br />
METHOD<br />
Click the woody ends from the asparagus<br />
and place a medium frying pan on a<br />
medium/high heat. Add all but one spear<br />
of asparagus and dry fry for about 5<br />
minutes or until starting to soften, turn<br />
occasionally.<br />
Use a speed peeler to peel strips of<br />
radish and the raw asparagus. Add to a<br />
bowl, with the lemon juice, honey and a<br />
drizzle of olive oil. Toss together and add<br />
a few of the herb leaves and a pinch of<br />
salt and pepper.<br />
When the asparagus spears are cooked,<br />
remove from the pan and place to one<br />
side on a plate. Return the pan to a low/<br />
medium heat. Beat the eggs well with the<br />
remaining herbs and a good pinch of salt<br />
and pepper. Add the butter to the pan<br />
and swirl it around, once melted tip in<br />
the eggs and use a spatula to draw lines<br />
through the mixture and make sure any<br />
raw mixture gets contact with the pan.<br />
Cook to your liking arrange the asparagus<br />
on one side of the omlette, scatter over<br />
the feta and fold the omelette over.<br />
Gently transfer the omelette to a serving<br />
plate, top with the salad and serve with a<br />
lemon wedge.<br />
PEA AND PECORINO<br />
QUAIL EGG ARANCINI<br />
Preparation time: 10 minutes, plus time<br />
for cooling<br />
Cooking time: 6 minutes<br />
Serves: 6<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
6 Clarence Court quail eggs<br />
1 white onion, diced<br />
1 garlic clove, minced<br />
A splash of white wine<br />
200g of pearl barley<br />
600ml of vegetable stock<br />
50g frozen peas, thawed and roughly<br />
chopped<br />
50g of butter<br />
50g of Pecorino, grated<br />
2 tablespoons plain flour<br />
1 Clarence Court egg, whisked<br />
4 tablespoons breadcrumbs<br />
Vegetable oil for frying<br />
METHOD<br />
Boil the quail eggs for 2 minutes, peel<br />
and set aside.<br />
In a pan over a medium heat, sweat down<br />
the onion in a little oil until softened but<br />
not browned, add the garlic and cook for<br />
a further minute before adding the barley<br />
stirring well.<br />
Add the wine and stock one ladle at a<br />
time until all the liquid has been absorbed<br />
and the barley is cooked through. Add in<br />
the chopped peas, butter and Pecorino<br />
and season to taste. Spread the mixture<br />
onto a tray and allow to cool.<br />
Lay out the flour, beaten egg and<br />
breadcrumbs in 3 separate bowls. Take<br />
a handful of barley risotto and with<br />
wet hands, gently lay a quail egg into<br />
the middle and mould into a ball. Roll<br />
in flour, dip into egg and roll into the<br />
breadcrumbs. Cook two at a<br />
time in oil at 160ºC for 3-4 minutes until<br />
golden brown.<br />
Drain onto kitchen paper and serve warm.<br />
12 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
HOT CROSS BUNS<br />
Preparation time: 2 hours, 20 minutes<br />
Cooking time: 15-20 minutes<br />
Serves: 12<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
500g strong white bread flour<br />
10g fine salt<br />
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon<br />
2 teaspoons ground mixed spice<br />
1 orange zest, finely grated<br />
1 lemon zest, finely grated<br />
300ml semi skimmed milk<br />
60g unsalted butter<br />
10g fast action yeast<br />
1 large Clarence Court Hens egg, beaten<br />
150g sultanas<br />
50g dried cranberries<br />
50g chopped mixed candied peel<br />
Vegetable or flavourless oil<br />
75g plain flour<br />
100g Bonne Maman <strong>Apr</strong>icot Conserve<br />
METHOD<br />
Place the strong white bread flour in a large<br />
mixing bowl. Stir in the salt, mixed spice, ground<br />
cinnamon, orange and lemon zest. Make a well in<br />
the centre.<br />
Gently heat the milk until lightly steaming and stir<br />
in the butter until melted. Pour the milk and melted<br />
butter into a jug (check that’s it’s lukewarm) and<br />
stir in the yeast. Mix until frothy then pour into the<br />
well and add the beaten egg. Mix with a dinner<br />
knife at first bringing the flour slowly into the milk<br />
mixture and forming a rough dough.<br />
Transfer to a free-standing mixer with dough hook,<br />
spoon in the mixed fruit and knead to a smooth<br />
dough for about 5 - 10 minutes. Tip into a lightly<br />
oiled large bowl and cover with clingfilm. Place<br />
in a warm cupboard or by a radiator for 1 hour or<br />
until double in size.<br />
Meanwhile line two baking trays with greaseproof<br />
paper. When the dough is ready turn out on to a<br />
clean lightly floured work surface and ‘knock back’<br />
divide the dough into 12 equal sized balls, using a<br />
weighing scale helps make sure they are all even.<br />
Place 6 balls on each tray fairly close to each<br />
other. Place each tray in a large food safe bag<br />
(large roasting bags work well) and secure with an<br />
elastic band making sure the bag doesn’t touch<br />
the buns. Place the trays back in the warm place<br />
and allow the buns to double in size (about 45<br />
minutes).<br />
Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC/Gas <strong>Mar</strong>k 7. Mix the<br />
flour with 75ml water and spoon the paste into a<br />
small icing or piping bag.<br />
When the buns are ready, remove them from bags<br />
and pipe a cross over each bun. Place the trays<br />
in the oven and bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until<br />
golden brown. Turn the trays halfway.<br />
Meanwhile, melt the jam in a pan and pass<br />
through a sieve. Once the buns are cooked<br />
remove from the oven, brush over the glaze<br />
and allow to cool a little. Serve fresh or toasted<br />
with butter. You can freeze the buns, just cool<br />
completely and glaze after defrosting and<br />
reheating.<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 13
EARL GREY AND GINGER<br />
SIMNEL CAKE<br />
The Simnel Cake is buried deep in the traditions of England. It<br />
signals the start of new beginnings with the coming of Spring.<br />
It often now served around Mothering Sunday. This zesty<br />
version includes the not too traditional addition of warming<br />
ginger and citrus Earl Grey tea.<br />
Preparation time: 40 minutes (plus soaking fruit overnight)<br />
Cooking time: 2 hours<br />
Serves: 10-12<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
6 pieces of stem ginger in syrup<br />
50g dried apricots<br />
50g glace cherries<br />
100g sultanas<br />
50g dried cranberries<br />
125g currants<br />
60g chopped mixed peel<br />
Zest of 2 oranges<br />
200ml earl grey tea (made with 3 tea bags and cooled)<br />
250g unsalted softened butter<br />
250g soft light brown sugar<br />
230g self-raising flour, sieved<br />
4 large Clarence Court Hens Eggs<br />
½ teaspoon mixed spice<br />
1 teaspoon ground ginger<br />
3 tablespoons apricot jam<br />
Icing sugar for dusting<br />
300g marzipan<br />
Mini eggs and edible flowers to decorate<br />
METHOD<br />
The night before you bake the cake, chop the stem ginger,<br />
apricots and cherries and add them to a bowl with the<br />
remaining dried fruit, orange zest and cooled tea. Cover the<br />
bowl and set aside to soak overnight.<br />
The following day drain the fruit and discard any tea that<br />
hasn’t been soaked up. Grease and line a deep, heavy, 20cm<br />
round baking tin with baking parchment. It’s often useful to<br />
wrap a sleeve of foil wrapped in baking parchment around<br />
the outside of the tin and secure it with string. This prevents<br />
the cake from browning too much as its baked for around 2<br />
hours.<br />
Pre-heat the oven to 150ºC/gas mark 2. Place the butter,<br />
sugar, sieved flour and spices into the bowl of a free-standing<br />
mixer. Whisk for a minute or two until beaten into a smooth<br />
cake mix. Alternatively, you can do this by hand with a<br />
wooden spoon. Fold through the tea-soaked fruit.<br />
Spoon the mixture into the lined tin and level out evenly. Place<br />
the cake in the oven to bake for 2 hours or until golden and<br />
risen. To check it’s ready, insert a skewer into the centre of the<br />
cake. If any mixture remains on the skewer, cover the cake<br />
with tin foil and bake in the oven for a further 10 minutes.<br />
When it’s ready, allow the cake to sit in the tin for 20 minutes<br />
on a cooling rack, then carefully turn it out and allow to cool<br />
completely.<br />
Melt the apricot jam and brush it on to the top of the cake.<br />
Roll out half of the marzipan to a 20cm circle on a clean work<br />
surface dusted with icing sugar and place on top of the cake.<br />
Roll out 11 balls and arrange them around the edge of the<br />
marzipan circle. Use a blow torch or place on a hot grill for a<br />
minute or two to achieve a golden-brown finish. Top with mini<br />
eggs and edible flowers if using.<br />
14 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
This isn’t<br />
just leftover<br />
Sunday roast<br />
This is<br />
tomorrow’s<br />
lunch
FAMILY<br />
FOCUSED<br />
living<br />
As well as shaping our lives and plans, the last year of intermittent<br />
lockdowns has certainly changed the way we need our homes to<br />
function. With kitchen tables shared between home schooling and<br />
home-working, or living spaces packed with exercise kit, many of<br />
us have gotten to know our four walls very well - but found them<br />
falling short in terms of how they work for us...<br />
This was the case with homeowners<br />
Lisa and Phil, who had to put off a more<br />
significant move in <strong>Mar</strong>ch 2020, “we<br />
had had our offer accepted on a period<br />
property that needed lots of work, but<br />
right as we were about to exchange,<br />
our buyers pulled out. In a way, it was a<br />
blessing in disguise, as whilst our house<br />
isn’t our dream home, we were glad to<br />
not have to live in a full-house building<br />
site during lockdown. All this did make us<br />
reconsider our space and how to make it<br />
work better for us in the present.”<br />
With two young children, like many<br />
homes, the kitchen and dining areas<br />
were the heart of the action, “I suppose<br />
our layout was a fairly standard one – a<br />
kitchen looking over the back garden,<br />
then a separate dining room which had<br />
an opening into the sitting room. We also<br />
had a conservatory which was just never<br />
used – it was either very cold or upwards<br />
of 50ºC in the summer months. It just<br />
seemed like a huge waste of space and<br />
created this awkward, multi-door access<br />
to the garden, with about 1,000 trip<br />
hazards for my two-year-old.”<br />
Many of us have spaces like this, which<br />
don’t fit with how we want to live – often<br />
the kitchen is separate and leaves one<br />
family member away from all the action.<br />
The old conservatory (right) transformed<br />
into a modern extension and new<br />
French doors from the kitchen.<br />
“The kitchen had only wall units too and I<br />
really wanted a breakfast bar area where I<br />
could have friends over for coffee but have<br />
eyes on the kids playing at all times too.”<br />
Lisa and Phil wanted to create a ‘broken<br />
plan’ space – that is, an open-plan<br />
kitchen/diner with some seating and<br />
a play area for the kids, then closing<br />
off the sitting room to have more of a<br />
cosy retreat. “Rather than having a full<br />
extension, we found out that we could use<br />
the existing conservatory foundations and<br />
half wall to create a whole new room with<br />
a skylight – then, by removing the existing<br />
wall between the kitchen and dining room,<br />
we could create a large L-shaped space,<br />
with a snug for the kids and a peninsula<br />
- we didn’t have the clearance room for<br />
BEFORE<br />
16 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
an island, but this gives us a lot of the feel<br />
without making the walkways feel cramped”<br />
says Lisa, “this reconfiguration also allowed<br />
us to have French doors direct from the<br />
kitchen to the garden – something I’ve always<br />
wanted for summer dining outside.<br />
“We decided to seal up the opening between<br />
the dining area and sitting room so we had a<br />
separate space - a retreat from the kids and<br />
all their stuff!”<br />
The couple went to a local kitchen supplier<br />
who suggested they look at the Lifestyle<br />
Kitchen range by Crown Imperial – they<br />
loved the sleek simplicity of a modern shaker<br />
style called Avio and the colour options<br />
were fantastic. “I’ve always loved the look<br />
of dark kitchen units, so we went with a<br />
mix the Graphite shade on the bulk of the<br />
cabinets and white on the storage around<br />
the banquette seating area. I was worried<br />
the dark colour might overwhelm the space,<br />
but it’s gorgeous – there’s such a depth to it<br />
which shifts in the light and the simple lines<br />
keep it timeless. The doors and drawers<br />
have such a feeling of quality, they’re really<br />
robust and easy to clean - important with<br />
sticky kids about – and they have the soft<br />
close function, which is just amazing when<br />
you’ve not had it before! We opted for a<br />
mix of conventional cupboards, a larder<br />
BEFORE<br />
“MANY OF US HAVE SPACES LIKE THIS,<br />
WHICH DON’T FIT WITH HOW WE WANT TO<br />
LIVE – OFTEN THE KITCHEN IS SEPARATE<br />
AND LEAVES ONE FAMILY MEMBER AWAY<br />
FROM ALL THE ACTION.”<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 17
BEFORE<br />
“THE PENDANT OVER<br />
THE DINING TABLE IS<br />
CALLED THE ‘ALANA’<br />
AND I WAS ATTRACTED<br />
TO ITS STYLISH FORM<br />
AND FUNCTIONALITY - IT<br />
LOOKS AMAZING IN SITU.”<br />
Table, vase, tray, sculpture and<br />
candle all jysk.co.uk<br />
Mudcloth Throw, hauslife.co.uk<br />
Amtico Flooring in<br />
Honey Oak<br />
DAR Lighting<br />
Alana Pendant<br />
18 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
COUNTRY CORNER<br />
Your local Outdoor store and stove specialist<br />
Country Corner is situated in the quaint market town of<br />
Newent in Gloucestershire.<br />
We are an independent family business with 40+ years of retail experience, and<br />
we pride ourselves in offering excellent customer service.<br />
As a stove specialist we stock the full range of Arada and ACR stoves,<br />
which are British built. Arada our main supplier pride themselves<br />
with over 40 years of experience of<br />
setting new standards in their excellent<br />
craftsmanship and stylish range in fires.<br />
We have our own Hetas Fitter and can<br />
arrange whatever your requirements<br />
and needs are.<br />
23 Broad Street, Newent, Glos GL18 1AQ | Tel: 01531 822460<br />
Open Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm | Sat 9.30am - 4.30pm<br />
WWW.COUNTRYCORNERNEWENT.COM<br />
haus<br />
HOME | LIFESTYLE<br />
ARTISANAL SOFT<br />
FURNISHINGS FOR<br />
THE MODERN HOME<br />
HANDMADE<br />
RESPONSIBLY<br />
SOURCED<br />
ONE OF<br />
A KIND<br />
Use code LIVE15 for<br />
an exclusive 15% off<br />
your order<br />
NEW COLLECTIONS OF MUDCLOTH<br />
AND KILIM PILLOWS AND LEATHER<br />
POUFFES COMING SOON -<br />
AVAILABLE TO PRE ORDER NOW<br />
FREE UK P&P ON ALL<br />
ORDERS<br />
www.hauslife.co.uk<br />
Image courtesy of cityfarmhouse.com<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 19
Frayed linen cushion and mudcloth<br />
cushion, both hauslife.co.uk<br />
DAR Lighting Osaka Track<br />
and Dynamo Pendants<br />
“IT HAS COMPLETELY<br />
TRANSFORMED THE WAY<br />
WE LIVE. WE OPTED FOR<br />
THE BEST QUALITY WE<br />
COULD AFFORD AND I’M SO<br />
GLAD WE DID”<br />
GROHE Minta Tap and<br />
K700 Stainless Steel Sink<br />
cupboard around the fridge, a curved one for the<br />
breakfast bar and of course the full height ones<br />
on the banquette seating – great for housing the<br />
hoover and large kitchen appliances!”<br />
Peg Board and Imitation<br />
Coral from jysk.co.uk<br />
Lighting was a huge consideration for this newly<br />
zoned, multi-function room. Lisa wanted the<br />
lights to help define each space - with functional<br />
track spotlights in the kitchen, pendants over the<br />
breakfast bar and a beautiful statement light over<br />
the dining table. “To save on costs, instead of<br />
having a raft of new spotlights installed, we chose<br />
these beautiful ‘Osaka’ track spots from DAR<br />
Lighting. Then we chose the ‘Dynamo’ pendant<br />
lights for the breakfast bar - they have a diffuser<br />
on the bottom which stops the light from having<br />
that stark, interrogation appearance - they create<br />
a fabulous ambiance. The pendant over the dining<br />
table is called the ‘Alana’ and I was immediately<br />
attracted to its stylish form and functionality - it<br />
looks amazing in situ. Despite choosing lights from<br />
three different collections, they work together really<br />
well and all have a stunning antique chrome finish,<br />
which tied the metallic finishes on the handles and<br />
tap together.”<br />
20 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
Cabinets from Crown Kitchens<br />
Tap and Sink from GROHE<br />
Accessories from jysk.co.uk<br />
Whilst you may not consider it, the sink and tap are some of the most<br />
important purchases in the kitchen - especially with our heightenedawareness<br />
of the importance of regular hand washing. This beautiful<br />
GROHE Minta SmartControl kitchen mixer tap is perfect for the<br />
hygiene-focused and budding chefs alike with its button-controlled<br />
start technology, “it’s so convenient - if you have a heavy pot to fill<br />
with water or have handled raw meat, you can start the tap with the<br />
touch of an elbow or wrist. You can adjust the flow of the water with<br />
the button too - the spout can also pull out so you can rinse down the<br />
whole sink with ease. We paired it with the GROHE K700, which has<br />
an undermount design - it’s so sleek and looks amazing against our<br />
composite worktop.”<br />
It’s no secret that kitchens require robust flooring – it has to be able to<br />
cope with water but also resist damage from dropped pans or knives.<br />
The obvious answer was luxury vinyl, so Lisa and Phil went straight to<br />
the experts at Amtico, “we knew we wanted wood effect and I am a huge<br />
fan of a classic herringbone pattern. Our concern was that this floor had<br />
to run into the hallway too, but that’s too narrow to support this pattern<br />
– but the beauty of these Amtico planks was that they can be laid in a<br />
whole host of different configurations – ours has a transition from straight<br />
planks in the hallway to my beautiful herringbone. We went for the colour<br />
Honey Oak, but you can even mix and match shades in the range to<br />
create some lovely tonal variations and patterns. They also come with an<br />
amazing 25 year guarantee which gives real peace of mind.”<br />
Having now completed the project, would they change anything?<br />
“Honestly, it’s surpassed our expectations - it was a relatively painless<br />
process which has completely transformed the way we live. We opted<br />
for the best quality we could afford and I’m so glad we did - this is<br />
beating heart of our home and now it works for all of us.”<br />
STOCKIST DETAILS: Sink: K700 undermount sink, £591.13 excl. VAT and Minta<br />
SmartControl kitchen tap in Supersteel £395.97 excl. VAT, both grohe.co.uk;<br />
Lights: Osaka, £134.40, Alana, £96 and Dynamo, £132, all darlighting.co.uk;<br />
Flooring: Amtico in Honey Oak part of the Amtico Spacia Collection, amtico.com;<br />
Cabinets: Lifestyle Kitchens by Crown Kitchens, crown-imperial.co.uk<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 21
An Escape From<br />
Lockdown<br />
Ok well not quite an escape…but Reunion<br />
Lifestyle was born out of the first UK<br />
national lockdown in spring 2020 when<br />
Jason & Vicky Rammell were searching<br />
for ideas to ‘escape’ from lockdown...<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
Like all of us, this couple from north Worcestershire were<br />
suddenly thrust into this new situation with their usual travel<br />
activities completely curtailed.<br />
Being fortunate enough to travel extensively for work within<br />
the International Exhibition & Event industry and with regular<br />
trips to Spain and Florida they enjoyed a very mobile lifestyle.<br />
When work came to an abrupt stop in <strong>Mar</strong>ch 2020 and finding<br />
themselves at home more so than in the prior 15 years, they set<br />
about creating an enhanced home lifestyle to ‘escape’ lockdown.<br />
First up was a small summer-house built in the garden finished<br />
in a retro-industrial bar theme. The interior is bright and airy<br />
and the bar itself is bespoke, made from re-claimed floorboards<br />
sourced locally. Optics were a must and the refrigerator inside<br />
the base a cool addition.<br />
Next, the garden space around the ‘Let’s Get Shedded’ bar<br />
needed an upgrade to make it a perfect alfresco space. Over the<br />
following weeks exactly the right outdoor sofa, barbecue, patio<br />
heater and of course hot-tub were sourced to complete this new<br />
outdoor sanctuary.<br />
Finally, as the autumn set in, attention was turned to a spare<br />
room that would be perfect for creating an indoor entertaining<br />
space complete with pool table, large screen, comfy seating and<br />
of course a bespoke black and white Gin bar.<br />
Reunion Lifestyle was born out of Jason & Vicky’s desire to<br />
have an oasis at home. The meticulous effort that was put into<br />
sourcing the right home products for their own home was just<br />
the inspiration they needed to embark on their new business<br />
manufacturing & sourcing the right luxury products & gifts to<br />
make their customers’ homes the ultimate retreat.<br />
Visit www.reunionlifestyle.co.uk, email<br />
vicky@reunionlifestyle.co.uk or give us a call on 01905 754209<br />
for Outdoor <strong>Living</strong>, Cooking & Heating products and Indoor<br />
Entertaining, Heating, Homewares & Gifts.<br />
Check out our spring offers at<br />
www.reunionlifestyle.co.uk<br />
Inspirational Home Goods and Gifts<br />
Call us on<br />
flii<br />
01905 754 209<br />
Email us at sales@reunionlifestyle.co.uk<br />
22 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
SPRING<br />
Spring cleaning and<br />
organisational tips<br />
refresh<br />
CLEANING HACK<br />
Regular vacuuming may leave carpets looking spotlessly<br />
clean but lurking within the fibres of the household<br />
carpet is a layer of bacteria that cannot be removed<br />
by vacuuming alone. Regularly washing your carpets<br />
will keep bacteria at bay, and ensure they keep their<br />
appearance for longer and smell fresh and clean.<br />
LAUNDRY HACK<br />
To make laundry<br />
smell amazing,<br />
soak a thick<br />
sponge in 5 parts<br />
water to 1 part<br />
fabric softener,<br />
wring it out until<br />
damp and then<br />
add it to the drying<br />
cycle - your laundry<br />
will smell amazing<br />
and it’s more ecofriendly<br />
than using<br />
dryer sheets<br />
New VAX Platinum SmartWash<br />
Our carpets have to stand up to a lot of action, but<br />
sometimes vacuuming just isn’t enough. Wage war<br />
on dirt, bacteria and odours in the home with the new<br />
Vax Platinum SmartWash, the UK’s first carpet washer<br />
with motion sense technology that removes over<br />
99% of bacteria trapped in your carpet fibres that can<br />
cause bad smells.The clever solution for home carpet<br />
washing also outperforms the UK’s leading rental and<br />
leaves carpets dry in as little as just one hour.<br />
Carpet washing has never been easier. Just add<br />
warm water and VAX Platinum Antibacterial Solution,<br />
turn on and push forward to start washing. The<br />
advanced FlexForce brush bars set to work agitating<br />
the carpet to remove tough stains, dirt<br />
and spills, delivering a deep clean<br />
seven times more effective than<br />
vacuuming alone. If time is short,<br />
simply activate the ‘dry only mode’<br />
after washing and pass over your<br />
carpets again; to dry them in as<br />
little as one hour.<br />
Where to buy: Direct from<br />
www.vax.co.uk priced<br />
£299.99 including 2 x 250ml<br />
VAX Platinum Antibacterial Solution<br />
and 1 x Pre-Treatment Spray, free delivery and a free steam<br />
cleaner worth £59.99.*only when purchasing direct from VAX.<br />
Which Interior Personality Are You?<br />
With The Home Edit and<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>ie Kondo sparking a<br />
generation of interior and<br />
organisation obsessives,<br />
Brabantia is working<br />
with organiser to the<br />
stars Vicky Silverthorn<br />
Set of Four Square<br />
to reveal the personality<br />
Stacking Canisters,<br />
£31.50, brabantia.com types when it comes to<br />
home organisers<br />
In response to the<br />
decluttering trend,<br />
Brabantia and Vicky Silverthorn have<br />
identified five personality types when it comes<br />
to how we keep our homes.<br />
WHICH PERSONALITY ARE YOU?<br />
THE PRACTICAL: tidying up is a breeze<br />
for this person, within 10 minutes the house<br />
is looking spotless without what looks like<br />
any effort<br />
THE SHOW HOME: their home is clean<br />
and shiny at all times, and the pride in their<br />
immaculate space is clear. It’s just so!<br />
THE TRY HARD: this person really wants<br />
to be tidy; the intention is there but there’s<br />
always too much ‘stuff’ they’re buying!<br />
THE NATURAL: they don’t live with much<br />
stuff, so organising their belongings is easy.<br />
THE THROW AWAY: how this person’s<br />
house looks depends on the day. They like to<br />
shop, but equally like to have a mass clear out<br />
every few months, but it always fills back up.<br />
TOP TIPS<br />
START WITH THE KITCHEN: Clear your<br />
food cupboards, give to the food bank and<br />
get the food looking like a shop shelf so you<br />
can see exactly what you have. Food which<br />
needs using up at the front and surfaces clear<br />
ready for healthy prep time.<br />
CHARITY SHOP BOX: Place a box or bag<br />
in your hallway (or hang on door handles) so<br />
when you spot something you don’t want / try<br />
something on you no longer want, you have<br />
somewhere to put it before it heads to the<br />
charity shop. Not having this often means we<br />
put things back and think ‘I’ll do it later’ and it<br />
often never happens.<br />
THROW THE RULEBOOK OUT THE<br />
WINDOW: Ignore any unnecessary rules<br />
such as have I worn it in the last year and<br />
ask yourself the most powerful question of all<br />
(if you are decluttering to give yourself more<br />
space) ‘Can I live without this?’.<br />
THINK CONSCIOUSLY: More sustainable<br />
living – this is a valuable reason to be more<br />
conscious of what you are buying. The<br />
throwaway culture we have lived in needs to<br />
come to an end and placing appreciation on<br />
long lasting good quality items needs more<br />
focus and attention.<br />
DECLUTTER FIRST, STORAGE<br />
SECOND: You need to declutter before you<br />
buy storage which is too big and not actually<br />
needed. Often once you’ve got rid of things<br />
you no longer want you’ll find your storage<br />
problem isn’t as bad as you first thought.<br />
BE PRACTICAL: Get rid of what isn’t<br />
working for you and replace it with practical<br />
equipment. This could be anything from a<br />
bin that is too small or a clothes dryer that<br />
annoys you every time you try and put it up!<br />
The right equipment will make life easier and<br />
reduce stress!<br />
Organister to the stars<br />
Vicky Silverthorn<br />
Bo Touch Bin, from £158,<br />
brabantia.com<br />
24 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
NOTES FROM THE GARDEN<br />
SPACE STATION<br />
Our regular contributor Matt Biggs is<br />
currently away, meanwhile we talked<br />
with our in-house gardening expert<br />
Angela Cave and discussed how we may<br />
wish to consider making the most of<br />
our gardens...<br />
Whatever we have been doing, or not doing, over the last year<br />
most of us will have spent quite a lot of time at home. For those<br />
of us with gardens there may have been a reappraisal of how<br />
we use the space we have, and many people will be feeling that<br />
the space they do have in the garden might be up for a re-think.<br />
Working from home may have been temporary for some, others<br />
might be re assessing how they work and wanting to work from<br />
home on a more permanent basis or starting a new venture which<br />
needs just that bit more overflow and storage space.<br />
Image courtesy of Gpod<br />
Enter the garden building. This option is becoming increasingly<br />
popular as it adds space without the need, usually, for planning<br />
permission and it can be achieved relatively quickly too. There<br />
are other perks apart from a shorter commute - why not install<br />
a home cinema so that your office can turn into a place of<br />
recreation once the working day is over, add a bar and have a<br />
home pub, add some gym equipment and get the abs you have<br />
always wanted, there are so many great things about new space!<br />
For those just starting a new business, it can be a workshop,<br />
production area, packing space, even a studio to film those allimportant<br />
blogs and vlogs - the more you think about the options<br />
the more essential it becomes!<br />
It would be a good idea at this stage, to get in touch with a local<br />
company who can advise on the options, make yourself a mood<br />
board and a list of what you want your space to do, how big<br />
you want it, how it is going to blend into your existing space and<br />
the style of your home - there are many things to consider, but<br />
whatever you decide, the anticipation and realisation of having<br />
your own new space is definitely something to look forward too.<br />
Gain a space to work or play with<br />
your own bespoke garden pod<br />
that perfectly fits modern life.<br />
the gardenpod company<br />
Visit our team and on-site<br />
showrooms at Blackwell,<br />
Warwickshire or contact<br />
us for more information:<br />
www.gpod.company<br />
enquiries@gpod.company<br />
01608 544096<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 25
COPING WITH DEMENTIA<br />
Across the world, 44 million people live<br />
with dementia. Hundreds of millions of<br />
people are affected by the dementia of<br />
parents, partners, siblings or friends.<br />
And as much of the world struggles with<br />
an aging population, dementia is set to<br />
become ever more of a challenge for<br />
societies and individuals.<br />
But most people who are diagnosed, or<br />
who are dealing with the diagnosis of a<br />
loved one, feel as though they are alone.<br />
This book fills the gap, providing practical<br />
information and support for living with, or<br />
caring for, Alzheimer’s and other forms of<br />
dementia.<br />
With clear and sensible information about<br />
recognising symptoms, getting help,<br />
managing financially, staying at home,<br />
treatment, being a carer and staying<br />
positive, this guide will help those with<br />
dementia and their families to make sure<br />
that they can stay well and happy as long<br />
as possible.<br />
To find out more about this condition we<br />
would recommend that you read Professor<br />
June Andrews’ book: Dementia:<br />
What You Need to Know.<br />
Professor June Andrews RMN, RGN,<br />
FRCN is an inspirational woman whose<br />
impact on healthcare in the UK, and<br />
further afield, is profound.<br />
26 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />
She is a refreshing force of nature - smart,<br />
politically astute, amusing and possessed<br />
of a razor-sharp intellect. A Scot, she<br />
trained as a nurse in Nottingham,<br />
England before taking up a series of<br />
posts that moved from practice to policymaking<br />
and strategic management and<br />
influencing.<br />
As Director of the University of Stirling’s<br />
Dementia Services Development Centre,<br />
Professor Andrews makes ambitious<br />
things happen all the time: she recently<br />
conceived of a new online design<br />
guide for care homes and hospitals,<br />
ensuring wall-to-wall media coverage<br />
and heightened public and professional<br />
awareness of the practical things you<br />
can do to make life better for people with<br />
dementia.<br />
Working to make change internationally<br />
Not content with revolutionising dementia<br />
care in the UK, Professor Andrews is<br />
simultaneously working to make change<br />
internationally. She has worked in many<br />
countries including the Netherlands,<br />
Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Ireland,<br />
Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the<br />
USA, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong; she<br />
has been an adviser to the Canadian<br />
Knowledge Translation Network,<br />
and judged awards for the European<br />
Foundations in Dementia and the NHS/<br />
Design Council. In 2011 she gained<br />
recognition for her international work<br />
through<br />
the Robert Tiffany Award, and<br />
was presented in Philadelphia with the<br />
first-ever Founders’ Award of the British<br />
American Project, of which she is a Fellow<br />
and advisory Board member.<br />
June supports other health and social<br />
care teams as a coach and mentor,<br />
and has led successful teams for three<br />
decades. Because of her considerable<br />
achievements as a nurse leader, she<br />
received the Chief Nursing Officers’<br />
Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.<br />
Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing.<br />
In 2014 she was made a Fellow of the<br />
Royal College of Nursing of the United<br />
Kingdom, the highest honour that the<br />
RCN can bestow. In 2013 she was listed<br />
in the Health Services Journal as one<br />
of the fifty most inspirational women in<br />
health care and separately as one of the<br />
100 most influential clinicians in England.<br />
To find out more visit<br />
www.juneandrews.net
ENTERPRISE<br />
RETIREMENT<br />
LIVING<br />
MOUNT<br />
BATTENHALL<br />
MOUNT BATTENHALL<br />
Discover<br />
companionship<br />
and comfort in a<br />
vibrant community<br />
Mount Battenhall offers independent<br />
living within a friendly community<br />
of like-minded people, with the<br />
assurance and convenience of<br />
24-hour on-site staff.<br />
Featuring an exquisite Grade II* Listed<br />
mansion surrounded by beautifully<br />
landscaped gardens, this luxurious<br />
retirement village is just minutes from<br />
the centre of Worcester.<br />
An excellent choice of both new build and<br />
converted apartments and houses will<br />
be complemented by superb community<br />
facilities including a restaurant, bar, gym,<br />
salon and guest suite for visitors.<br />
Call to find out more.<br />
“There can’t be anywhere more perfect<br />
to be at a time like this. The weeks just<br />
seem to fly and there is no feeling of<br />
loneliness.”<br />
Sylvia F - Property owner at ERL<br />
retirement village, The Red House<br />
Call 01905 630490 or visit mountbattenhall.co.uk<br />
The <strong>Mar</strong>keting Suite, Mount Battenhall, Battenhall Road, Worcester WR5 2BS<br />
Show home viewings by appointment only. Exterior image shown is computer generated.
01684 562087<br />
Do you need live-in care?<br />
For short or long term care<br />
call us to discuss our friendly,<br />
professional service.<br />
WORCESTERSHIRE • GLOUCESTERSHIRE • HEREFORDSHIRE<br />
Email: broomhillgroup@aol.com<br />
www.broomhill24.co.uk<br />
93 Barnards Green Road, <strong>Malvern</strong>, WR14 3LT<br />
Regulated by the Care Quality Commission<br />
28 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
What is your equity<br />
in your home doing<br />
for you?<br />
“I’d love a holiday home somewhere<br />
warm” – this is one of the many starts to a<br />
conversation where the solution could be a<br />
lifetime mortgage...<br />
What is your equity in your home doing for you?<br />
It’s always been the dream of many homeowners to make that<br />
last payment to live mortgage free in their home for life but is this<br />
actually the best option for you or your family?<br />
For a surprisingly low interest rate with no monthly payments to<br />
make and no upfront costs you could release some of the money<br />
tied up in your home to<br />
• Repay an outstanding mortgage to reduce monthly costs<br />
• Enhance your retirement income and therefore your lifestyle<br />
• To help your children with a deposit for a house<br />
• To go on that holiday of a lifetime<br />
• To buy a holiday home in the UK or abroad<br />
• Or a multitude of other reasons<br />
Interest rates on lifetime mortgages are at an all-time low with<br />
many providers offering a fixed rate for life making it a great<br />
solution for people who would like to make more use of their hard<br />
earned equity.<br />
Most lifetime mortgage providers are offering inheritance<br />
guarantees so you can be reassured that you are able to leave a<br />
proportion of your property value as an inheritance.<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
Putting any kind of mortgage on your house is not a decision to<br />
be taken lightly so we will always look at your specific situation to<br />
ensure you have considered all options. We will encourage your<br />
family to be involved in the discussions so that you are able to<br />
draw on opinions of your loved ones too.<br />
We are a family team regulated by the Financial Conduct<br />
Authority specialising in Financial Advice, Retirement Planning,<br />
Mortgages and Protection Insurance. We have a wealth of<br />
knowledge enabling us to make sure that you are comfortable<br />
that you’re making the right choices for your situation.<br />
Aged 55 and over and in need of more information, please give<br />
us a call or email on 07577 921 992 or dom@midasfp.co.uk and<br />
we can have a no obligation initial conversation.<br />
This is a lifetime mortgage which may reduce the value of your<br />
estate and may affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits.<br />
To understand the features and risks ask for a personalised<br />
illustration. Midas Financial Planning Services Ltd is authorised<br />
and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority<br />
Enjoy your life….<br />
What is your equity in your home doing for you?<br />
Enhance your income Help a family member Fund a dream holiday<br />
Clear an existing mortgage<br />
Dom Whitehouse CeRER, CeMAP<br />
Peter Whitehouse CeRER, DipFA<br />
Worcestershire Whole of <strong>Mar</strong>ket<br />
Equity Release Specialists<br />
To find out more and book a no obligation appointment, call:<br />
07577 921 992 or email dom@midasfp.co.uk<br />
This is a lifetime mortgage which may reduce the value of your estate and may affect your<br />
entitlement to means-tested benefits. To understand the features and risks ask for a personalised<br />
illustration. Midas Financial Planning Services Ltd is authorised and Regulated by<br />
the Financial Conduct Authority<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 29
Ledbury<br />
Nursing<br />
Home<br />
We Have Respite<br />
Spaces Available.<br />
Vaccinations<br />
PPE<br />
Stringent<br />
Hygiene<br />
COVID<br />
Compliant<br />
2m<br />
Accepting<br />
New Residents<br />
Social<br />
Distancing<br />
Risk Assessment<br />
Shaw healthcare is welcoming new residents<br />
to ensure that we are there for those that<br />
require care and support.<br />
The home is located right in the centre of Ledbury allowing easy access<br />
to shops and local amenities as well as the opportunity to ‘watch the<br />
world go by’ from one of the numerous lounges.<br />
Contact us today to book a virtual tour<br />
or find out more about our services on 0800 902 0092<br />
@shawhealthcare shawhealthcare www.shaw.co.uk<br />
a care home<br />
full of life<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
Owned and operated by leading care provider<br />
Avery Healthcare, winners of the 2020 Health<br />
Investor award for Residential Care Provider<br />
of the Year, Droitwich Mews is one of the<br />
latest additions to a portfolio of over fifty care<br />
homes nationwide and provides a stunning<br />
environment in which to enjoy<br />
retirement within...<br />
Avery’s approach is to deliver ‘Care with a Difference’. Resident<br />
well-being is their primary concern, and they will ensure that<br />
residents have the highest quality of support tailored to their<br />
individual needs. A wide range of healthy exercises, well<br />
balanced and freshly prepared fine dining, along with daily<br />
activities and outings all help residents enjoy life to the full. A<br />
dedicated team of Well-being and Activities staff will also be on<br />
hand to provide a daily calendar of events.<br />
All of Avery Healthcare’s homes are run to exacting standards.<br />
They are some of the safest places to live, meaning within local<br />
and national guidelines they can facilitate family visits, not only<br />
in the gardens but also inside the home. It is an important matter<br />
now for everyone to consider when a loved one is supported in<br />
care. To help maintain contact with family and friends and the<br />
wider community, tablet PCs will be available for residents to use<br />
video calling and social media, with Wi-Fi for internet access free<br />
to all.<br />
There is a private dining room where residents can host a private<br />
lunch or celebration with family and friends, and they will be able<br />
to enjoy freshly brewed coffee and tea with home-baked cakes<br />
in the café, or relax in one of the quiet lounges. Residents will<br />
be able to experience hair and beauty treatments in the salon or<br />
catch a film in the cinema too, making Droitwich Mews a happy<br />
and memorable experience every day.<br />
Call 01905 934184<br />
or visit averyhealthcare.co.uk<br />
30 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk