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J'AIME April 2021

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A P R I L 2 0 2 1<br />

J’AIME<br />

Y O U R L O C A L L U X U R Y L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E<br />

Between<br />

the lines:<br />

SPRING’S MOST<br />

STYLISH PRINT<br />

J O I N O U R<br />

#LOVE<br />

LOCAL<br />

C A M PA I G N<br />

SERENE SPA<br />

VIBES FOR YOUR<br />

BATHROOM<br />

MASTERCHEF’S BART<br />

VAN DER LEE COOKS UP<br />

A STORM IN LICHFIELD


P R E P<br />

All our parents have one thing in common – they do not want their children to grow up too fast.<br />

Childhood is the precious time when imagination knows no bounds.<br />

Repton Prep is set in 55 acres of Derbyshire countryside. It is a magical place where children can<br />

be children and yet learn at the same time. A den in the woods and an English lesson, a picnic in the<br />

bluebells and a Science class – at Repton Prep, all of these experiences are learning opportunities.<br />

Our co-ed community of 440 happy pupils welcomes full and flexi-boarders from age 7-13 and day<br />

children from age 3-13.<br />

“ WE WANT OUR<br />

CHILDREN TO<br />

STAY CHILDREN<br />

FOR LONGER.”<br />

reptonprep.org.uk<br />

<br />

To arrange your personal virtual tour for you and your child please<br />

call us on 01283 707112 or email registrar@repton.org.uk


Welcome to J’AIME<br />

<strong>April</strong> has all the makings of a month to remember. It’s set<br />

to be the month when we can finally get a haircut, enjoy<br />

lunch outside a cafe or shop in person for things that aren’t<br />

just the absolute essentials.<br />

Here at J’AIME we couldn’t be more excited about<br />

getting some of our freedoms back and seeing some of<br />

our favourite local businesses opening their doors once<br />

again. That’s why we have chosen this month to launch<br />

#LoveLocal, a campaign to highlight some of the<br />

amazing independents based right across our patch.<br />

Over the next six months we will be celebrating local<br />

businesses as they reopen and life starts to return to<br />

something a little more like normal. In this month’s<br />

#LoveLocal coverage you can read about pubs investing<br />

in their outdoor spaces, read about the plans of three<br />

local food and drink businesses, hear more from a hair<br />

salon owner about her reopening plans and read about<br />

three Lichfield businesses. Keep an eye out for more<br />

#LoveLocal content next month.<br />

You’ll see the address of our website across the bottom<br />

of each page in this magazine and that’s because we’ve<br />

given www.jaimemagazine.com a wonderful revamp.<br />

You can visit the website to read everything you see in the<br />

magazine plus much, much more. The website is updated<br />

each day and includes positive, uplifting lifestyle articles<br />

from right across the Midlands.<br />

As well as being delivered to homes in selected postcodes<br />

J’AIME is now available to pick up free of charge in major<br />

supermarkets around the Midlands. You can also read a<br />

digital, flick-through version of the magazine free of charge<br />

at www.jaimemagazine.com<br />

Within the <strong>April</strong> magazine you can read our interview with<br />

MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Bart van der Lee<br />

and read about an award-winning artist who paints mobile<br />

phones into his masterpieces.<br />

Add to that our usual mix of interiors, property, fashion,<br />

beauty, travel, fitness and food and we hope we have<br />

something for everyone.<br />

We hope our upbeat, positive content will bring a little<br />

added cheer to your life.<br />

Please don’t forget to support your local independent<br />

businesses. When you buy from a small business you’re<br />

supporting your community and helping to keep people in<br />

jobs.<br />

From everyone at J’AIME, may we wish you a happy, sunny,<br />

cheerful <strong>April</strong>.<br />

EDITOR: AMY NORBURY<br />

EDITOR@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />

ADVERTISING: JAN ASHLEY<br />

ADVERTISING@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />

07388 335 931<br />

DESIGN: DESIGN@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />

CONTRIBUTORS: JENNY AMPHLETT, NATHAN<br />

COLLINS, DEBORAH MITCHELL, RAUL ROMERO<br />

J’AIME IS PUBLISHED BY ASHBURY<br />

PUBLICATIONS LIMITED AND PRINTED BY KEP<br />

LIMITED, TAMWORTH.<br />

Check us out online at:<br />

WWW.JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />

Find us on<br />

/JAIMEMAGAZINE<br />

@JAIMEMAGAZINE<br />

@JAIMEMAGAZINE<br />

SPONSORED BY<br />

3


CONTENTS<br />

InsideJ’aime this month...<br />

6 Feature - MasterChef: The Professionals<br />

finalist Bart van der Lee<br />

8 Feature - Meet the award-winning artist who<br />

paints mobile phones into his masterpieces<br />

10 Property - Could this be the home of your<br />

dreams?<br />

12 Interiors - Go green<br />

18 Interiors - Bathroom inspiration<br />

22 #LoveLocal - Lichfield independent businesses<br />

24 #LoveLocal - Hospitality businesses prepare to<br />

reopen<br />

26 Food and drink - The new rum made using<br />

Staffordshire honey<br />

28 Travel - Exciting new destinations and<br />

itineraries to look forward to<br />

32 Fashion - Stripy style<br />

34 #LoveLocal - Hair and beauty businesses<br />

prepare to reopen<br />

36 Beauty - Finding the right moisturiser for you<br />

38 Fitness - Squat hard or go home<br />

40 Health - The health benefits of owning a<br />

dog<br />

42 In the news - Anniversary celebrations for a<br />

community group<br />

SPONSORED BY<br />

4


FEATURE<br />

A work of Bart<br />

TV CHEF BART VAN DER LEE HAS BEEN COOKING UP A STORM IN<br />

LICHFIELD, SO J’AIME SENT JENNY AMPHLETT TO MEET HIM<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BECKY TRANTER<br />

MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Bart van<br />

der Lee usually spends his days working as the<br />

private chef for a wealthy family in Chelsea,<br />

creating healthy daily meals and catering for<br />

the glittering parties they held pre-coronavirus.<br />

But the 33-year-old runner-up in the 2020<br />

series of the TV show took a week out from<br />

cycling around the capital in search of the<br />

best quality seafood to cook for people in the<br />

Midlands instead.<br />

Bart, who is originally from the Netherlands<br />

and runs his own recipe website, spent a week<br />

in Lichfield creating exclusive dine at home<br />

boxes with Sauce Supper Club.<br />

The three course meals were based on the recipes he<br />

cooked in the final of MasterChef: The Professionals,<br />

including a starter of scallops and a beef sirloin<br />

main.<br />

“The dine at home boxes were a real hit and they<br />

all sold out very quickly,” he says. “I was cooking for<br />

around 250 people, so very different to my day to<br />

day life when I’m mostly cooking for one family and<br />

their private parties.”<br />

Bart found himself faced with no less than 45 kilos of<br />

sirloin steak and 35 kilos of oxtails.<br />

“I looked at all those oxtails and thought how<br />

on earth am I going to pull it all off the bones.<br />

Thankfully I had a couple of great guys working with<br />

me in the kitchen.”<br />

It was the first time Bart has visited Lichfield or<br />

even the Midlands, and he says he enjoyed a bit<br />

of sightseeing as he cycled between his hotel and<br />

Thyme Kitchen, where Sauce Supper Club is based.<br />

“It’s been lovely to cycle past the cathedral and the<br />

pools, to get to know the area a little bit,” he says.<br />

“I’m usually down in Chelsea making breakfasts,<br />

lunches and dinners for one family. It’s incredibly<br />

personalised; I’ve known the family for more than<br />

10 years so I have a very good idea of what they<br />

do and don’t like to eat. Before that I’ve worked in<br />

restaurants and been a private chef on a yacht.<br />

“When you’re a private chef you know all about<br />

every individual dietary requirement but also need to<br />

be able to create big dinners for parties.<br />

“The last year hasn’t involved any parties though,<br />

just mainly lots of very healthy seafood and fish.<br />

“So I usually spend my days cycling around West<br />

6 www.jaimemagazine.com


London going to markets to buy the best produce<br />

and then preparing a delicious lunch.<br />

“The family never tell me what I have to cook so<br />

I’m completely free to be creative and use the best<br />

ingredients I can find.”<br />

Bart says the opportunities he’s been given as a result<br />

of appearing on MasterChef: The Professionals have<br />

been ‘amazing’.<br />

“I’ve been given the chance to do things I could<br />

never have imagined,” he says. “I was a simple and<br />

humble chef and I still try to be that, but people<br />

want to celebrate and have offered me the chance to<br />

do all sorts of new things.”<br />

Bart has a recipe website and an online shop and is<br />

currently working on ideas for a television series.<br />

“I have an idea for me and my family to go on a<br />

culinary world tour, traveling to different countries<br />

and trying different cuisines,” he says. “I’m trying to<br />

get it televised.<br />

“I had no idea quite how exciting life would become<br />

after appearing in MasterChef: The Professionals.”<br />

To find out more about Sauce Supper Club and<br />

Dine at Home visit www.saucesupperclub.co.uk<br />

www.jaimemagazine.com<br />

7


FEATURE<br />

Art for the smartphone generation<br />

AWARD-WINNING ARTIST PETER DAVIS LIKES TO CAPTURE HIS PORTRAIT SUBJECTS<br />

USING THEIR ELECTRONIC DEVICES. JENNY AMPHLETT MET HIM TO FIND OUT MORE<br />

Like a Renaissance painter capturing women with<br />

flowing locks and enigmatic smiles or a pop artist<br />

depicting tins of soup, Peter Davis is representing<br />

a moment in time when he has his portrait subjects<br />

pose with their mobile phone in their hand.<br />

Peter, who was born and raised in Birmingham,<br />

is keen to stress that he isn’t passing judgment on<br />

people for using devices, merely including devices as<br />

they are now as integral a part of a person’s being<br />

as the clothes they wear or the style they choose for<br />

their hair.<br />

“Most of my work has a person on their phone<br />

or using a technological device of some kind. It’s<br />

something that we stop seeing when we look at other<br />

people, it’s just become so normal, but when we see<br />

it depicted in art we do see it because it’s unexpected<br />

in art. The role of an artist is to put a mirror up to<br />

society. I’m enjoying doing that.<br />

“If you went back 20 years and said everyone was<br />

going to have this thing they’d be glued to and<br />

that they’d be living a digital life we wouldn’t have<br />

thought that would happen.<br />

“The rate at which society has changed is fascinating,<br />

but I don’t see it as a negative. I see it as a moment in<br />

time and it’s lovely to document it.”<br />

The 50-something has just had his work selected<br />

for the John Moores Painting Prize exhibition at the<br />

Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, the equivalent of<br />

receiving an Oscar nomination in the art world.<br />

It’s the UK’s most celebrated and well-known<br />

painting competition, with past winners including<br />

Patrick Heron, David Hockney, Euan Uglow and<br />

Peter Doig.<br />

“I’m thrilled to have been selected,” he says. “There<br />

were more than 3,000 entries this year and only 67<br />

paintings were selected for the show.<br />

8<br />

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“It’s an honour to participate as it showcases the<br />

best of what British contemporary painters are<br />

doing.”<br />

The selected painting, Wetin Dey, is a portrait<br />

of Solomon Onaolapo, a music producer<br />

and co-founder of Rising Stars North West, a<br />

community project that provides support for<br />

aspiring young musicians who are disadvantaged<br />

and unable to afford a rehearsal and recording<br />

space themselves. Wetin dey is a Nigerian<br />

greeting meaning “Hey, what’s going on?”<br />

It isn’t Peter’s first experience of art awards.<br />

He won first prize in the Three Counties<br />

Open Exhibition in 2017 with Golden Girl, his<br />

portrait of Joyce Richards from Walsall. The<br />

same painting won a prize at the RBSA Gallery<br />

in Birmingham in 2018.<br />

Peter studied at Manchester Polytechnic School<br />

of Art before a career as an art director in the<br />

advertising industry.<br />

“As time went on, more and more of the work<br />

I was doing in advertising was aimed at people<br />

accessing it on their devices and on phones, by<br />

using technology,” he says.<br />

“As I migrated into becoming a fulltime professional<br />

artist the idea of people using technology became<br />

a fascination for me. 10 to 15 years ago there was a<br />

seismic shift with technology.”<br />

A contemporary portrait painter, Peter’s work<br />

became more difficult when the pandemic prevented<br />

him from having sittings with his subjects.<br />

So instead he started to develop a new series<br />

capturing urban landscapes, including in Life is<br />

Too Short to be Unhappy, which features a brightly<br />

coloured panel on a derelict building in Hanley,<br />

North Staffordshire.<br />

“I walked past one day and saw this wonderfully<br />

uplifting statement and Mondrian-style pattern<br />

and just felt compelled to capture it in a<br />

painting.” he says.<br />

“My urban landscapes look at our communities,<br />

towns and cities. They also usually have<br />

somebody in there on their device.<br />

“They’re very ordinary scenes that people might<br />

look at and say ‘that’s just life’, but for me it’s<br />

like looking at amazing photographs from the<br />

1950s and 60s. I’m documenting it because I<br />

think it’s amazing.<br />

“As an artist it’s up to me to look at these things<br />

with a fresh set of eyes. I’m looking at modern<br />

life and documenting it.”<br />

You can visit the John Moores Painting Prize<br />

exhibition virtually at<br />

www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/jmpp/<br />

john-moores-painting-prize<br />

Peter is represented by Barewall Gallery and<br />

you can see more of his work at<br />

www.barewall.co.uk<br />

9


PROPERTY<br />

Property of the Month<br />

EACH MONTH WE SHOWCASE ONE OF THE MOST LUXURIOUS PROPERTIES<br />

CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET IN THE MIDLANDS. THIS HOUSE IS IN ONE OF<br />

THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER SPOTS IN THE REGION<br />

Cherrywood Way, Little Aston. £1,995,000.<br />

On the market with Aston Knowles: 0121 362 7878.<br />

THE AGENT SAYS: This beautiful modern family home<br />

is located off a privately gated road and features extensive<br />

living and entertainment accommodation. The block-paved<br />

driveway leads up to the porch entrance and front door and<br />

into the welcoming reception hallway with stunning walnut<br />

hardwood flooring that comes back throughout the ground<br />

floor. Double doors lead off to the right to the drawing room<br />

and to the left to the games room. A guest cloakroom is<br />

located further along the hallway. A spacious and carpeted<br />

study is also located off the hallway with rear aspect bay<br />

window overlooking the sizeable garden and offering a perfect<br />

space for working from home. This space could alternatively<br />

be used as a playroom. The drawing room with bay window<br />

to the front offers great scope for relaxing and entertaining,<br />

with an amazing feature Stovax log burner set in an exposed<br />

brick surround. Double French doors lead out to the garden.<br />

The games room is located on the opposite end of the<br />

hallway and is a truly breathtaking entertainment space with<br />

wooden flooring and a feature bespoke walnut cabinetry with<br />

lighting and two built-in wine fridges. Double French doors<br />

lead out to the garden, offering the opportunity to open the<br />

space up in summer and a door to the side leads into the<br />

laundry room. The laundry is finished to a beautiful standard<br />

with bespoke cabinetry, sink, and further work and storage<br />

space as well as a washing machine, space for a tumble dryer,<br />

and access to both the garage and the garden.<br />

W E L O V E :<br />

THE HUGE GAMES ROOM WITH ITS<br />

BUILT-IN WINE FRIDGES.<br />

10 www.jaimemagazine.com


FOUR OAKS<br />

FOUR OAKS<br />

SOLD IN<br />

<strong>2021</strong><br />

GUIDE PRICE £2,500,000 GUIDE PRICE £1,325,000<br />

ONE OF A KIND<br />

ASTON KNOWLES<br />

Here at Aston Knowles, we are committed to providing the best service possible to our clients.<br />

This means treating every client individually and tailoring our approach<br />

to meet your specific needs.<br />

Our focus is on client care and communication. This, together with our skill at combining the<br />

right people with the right property, positions us perfectly to achieve the best results<br />

over and over again.<br />

The property market in Sutton Coldfield and surrounding areas is currently experiencing an<br />

imbalance in supply and demand, with a strong interest in premium property from proceedable<br />

purchasers. If you are considering selling your home, now is the ideal time to book<br />

a no-obligation market appraisal.<br />

GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR TEAM | Book your FREE Sales/Lettings Appraisal today!<br />

ALDRIDGE<br />

SUTTON<br />

COLDFIELD<br />

GUIDE PRICE £1,050,000 GUIDE PRICE £1,050,000<br />

HAMMERWICH<br />

DRAYTON<br />

BASSETT<br />

GUIDE PRICE £795,000<br />

GUIDE PRICE £550,000<br />

0121 362 7878<br />

enquiries@astonknowles.com<br />

www.astonknowles.com<br />

@astonknowles


INTERIORS<br />

Sage<br />

advice<br />

AS we head into spring proper, it should come as no<br />

surprise that we’re taking more and more inspiration<br />

from nature and the outside world when it comes to our<br />

interiors.<br />

Greens are considered to be calming, peaceful hues so<br />

after such a tumultuous year it seems only right that<br />

they’re coming to the fore.<br />

Moving away from the deep dark forest hues of autumn<br />

and super-sweet pastel shades, the greens of choice for<br />

spring are a sophisticated bunch. Muted midtones of sage<br />

and the slightly deeper and richer olive work perfectly in<br />

any room and with a plethora of design schemes, from<br />

pared-back freshness when mixed with whites and pale<br />

woods, to beautifully bold when teamed with darker hues<br />

and warm metallics.<br />

For a spring style statement, sage is fast becoming one of<br />

the hottest colours for kitchens; opt for the same shade for<br />

both cabinetry and walls for a seamless transition which<br />

makes the most of the hue.<br />

BRINDLE SMALL SIDEBOARD, £479.99, OAK<br />

FURNITURELAND. WWW.OAKFURNITURELAND.COM<br />

ORIGINAL BTC TITAN SIZE 5 PENDANT,<br />

OLIVE GREEN WITH VISOR.<br />

WWW.ORIGINALBTC.COM<br />

£79<br />

£38<br />

£439<br />

BALTIMORE LOW STOOL IN SAGE GREEN<br />

VELVET, CULT FURNITURE.<br />

WWW.CULTFURNITURE.COM<br />

£36<br />

OLIVE GREEN CERAMIC VASE SET,<br />

MARQUIS AND DAWE.<br />

WWW.MARQUISANDDAWE.CO.UK<br />

SAGE GREEN LUCY VASE, ELLA JAMES.<br />

WWW.ELLAJAMES.CO.UK<br />

12 www.jaimemagazine.com


£89.99 £79<br />

£750<br />

GEORGETTE ROUND FOOTSTOOL<br />

IN OLIVE PURE COTTON MATT VELVET,<br />

WWW.SOFA.COM<br />

ICON INDOOR OUTDOOR BEANBAG<br />

ARMCHAIR, BAZAAR GROUP.<br />

WWW.BEANBAGBAZAAR.CO.UK<br />

STELLA BAR STOOL IN SAGE<br />

GREEN VELVET, CULT FURNITURE.<br />

WWW.CULTFURNITURE.COM<br />

SELKY BEDSPREAD,<br />

WWW.MADE.COM<br />

£59<br />

£720<br />

PIRO PENDANT, SWOON EDITIONS.<br />

WWW.SWOONEDITIONS.COM<br />

£49.99<br />

SAGE ADVICE EMULSION AND EGGSHELL<br />

PAINT, DOWSING & REYNOLDS.<br />

WWW.DOWSINGANDREYNOLDS.COM<br />

£1,395<br />

£99<br />

MARGAUX BAR STOOL IN OLIVE,<br />

WWW.SOFA.COM<br />

SLIM JIM SOFA IN CLEAN GREEN BRUSHED<br />

COTTON FABRIC, LOAF. WWW.LOAF.COM<br />

PUDDING SOFA IN THYME GREEN VINTAGE<br />

LINEN, £1,395, LOAF. WWW.LOAF.COM<br />

14 www.jaimemagazine.com


BAYLISS<br />

creating bathroom envy since 1929...<br />

Visit our extensive prestigious bathroom and tile showroom....<br />

regarded as one of the finest in the Country!<br />

Bayliss Limited, 23 Gate Lane, Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield B73 5TR<br />

T: 0121 362 1800 www.baylisslimited.co.uk<br />

Refreshingly Different<br />

A new door for the new decade<br />

Visit our Stylish Showroom<br />

11 Belwell Lane, Sutton Coldfield, B74 4AA - Tel: 0800 996 1241<br />

Visit our fantastic website www.jmiwindows.co.uk - enquiries@jmiwindows.co.uk<br />

Windows | Doors | Bi-Fold Doors | Garage Doors | Conservatories | Orangeries | Secondary Glazing | Window Repairs


HAZE FREESTANDING BATH IN TRANQUIL DAWN,<br />

£2,495, ELEMENTS COLLECTION, WATERS BATHS<br />

OF ASHBOURNE, AVAILABLE FROM BATHART,<br />

MITCHELLS CENTRE, SUTTON COLDFIELD.<br />

WWW.BATHART.CO.UK<br />

EGYPTIAN COTTON TOWELS IN FOREST<br />

AND SAGE GREEN, FROM £5, DUNELM.<br />

WWW.DUNELM.COM<br />

SANTINO ACCENT CHAIR IN SAGE GREEN,<br />

£679, SOFOLOGY. WWW.SOFOLOGY.CO.UK<br />

SCINTILLA OLIVE GREEN STAR PATTERN<br />

TILES, £24.95/SQM, WALLS AND FLOORS.<br />

WWW.WALLSANDFLOORS.CO.UK<br />

16


For safe, professional care at<br />

home, contact Givecare on<br />

0182763560<br />

Because there is nothing<br />

like home.<br />

Find out more about our<br />

services by visiting<br />

givecare.co.uk<br />

Part of Bosworth Homecare.<br />

ANGLIA RANGE IN BLANCO<br />

CALIBRATED TO 20MM<br />

605MM X 605MM £25.93<br />

PER M 2 PLUS VAT(£9.49 PER TILE)<br />

EUROPA WAY, LICHFIELD, WS14 9TZ<br />

01543 440000 TIPPERS.COM<br />

MON-FRI<br />

7:30AM - 5:00PM<br />

SATURDAY<br />

8:00AM - 2:00PM


INTERIORS<br />

Small space,<br />

big impact<br />

WHEN it comes to interior makeovers, it is one of the<br />

smallest rooms which can have the biggest impact. That’s<br />

right; the bathroom can make or break a property.<br />

We want our bathrooms to be smart, luxurious and, above<br />

all, rooms we can retreat to - a miniature haven where we<br />

can relax and unwind from the stresses of the day.<br />

After the chaos that was 2020, it’s unsurprising that<br />

bathroom trends for <strong>2021</strong> centre around the trend for<br />

creating a home spa; a cocooning space which offers a<br />

sense of quiet luxury. From mood lighting to oversized<br />

baths, massage showers to luxurious fittings, bathrooms<br />

today are so much more than purely functional rooms.<br />

Moving away from clinical white and polished ceramics<br />

with their clean, contemporary - and, dare we say it,<br />

boring - feel, bathrooms are becoming more and more a<br />

space where we can be bold and expressive, playing with<br />

colour and texture to create a seamlessly blended space.<br />

When it comes to styling, vintage meets modern with<br />

Victorian rolltop baths pairing perfectly with modern tech<br />

for a fabulous fusion.<br />

BREEZE FREESTANDING BATH, £2,495, WATERS BATHS OF<br />

ASHBOURNE. AVAILABLE FROM BATHART, MITCHELL CENTRE,<br />

SUTTON COLDFIELD. WWW.BATHART.CO.UK<br />

£65<br />

£89<br />

VASILO BATHROOM 3 LIGHT CEILING<br />

LAMP, WWW.MADE.COM<br />

£325<br />

FABULOUS FEATHER MIRROR, JOE BROWNS.<br />

WWW.JOEBROWNS.CO.UK<br />

WYE VALLEY BATHROOM PENDANT<br />

LIGHT, FRITZ FRYER LIGHTING.<br />

WWW.FRITZFRYER.CO.UK<br />

£75<br />

NOBLE ISLE FIRESIDE GLOW 3 WICK CANDLE,<br />

AMARA. WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

18<br />

www.jaimemagazine.com


£45<br />

£870<br />

£400<br />

LUXE MARBLE LOOK VANITY TRAY AND<br />

BATHROOM ACCESSORIES, AMARA.<br />

WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

MENU NIMBUS MIRROR BRONZED BRASS,<br />

AMARA. WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

£120<br />

MENU MARBLE SHOWER TRAY, AMARA.<br />

WWW.AMARA.COM<br />

MENU TOWEL LADDER, NEST.<br />

WWW.NEST.CO.UK<br />

STRAIT BATH IN MINT GREEN, WATERS BATHS OF<br />

ASHBOURNE. AVAILABLE FROM BATHART, MITCHELL<br />

CENTRE. SUTTON COLDFIELD. WWW.BATHART.CO.UK<br />

QUARTZITE GREY MATT TILES, £17.49, TILE MOUNTAIN.<br />

WWW.TILEMOUNTAIN.CO.UK


MILANO BARQ WET ROOM SHOWER ENCLOSURE,<br />

FROM £309.99. BIG BATHROOM SHOP.<br />

WWW.BIGBATHROOMSHOP.CO.UK<br />

DRIFT FREESTANDING BATH, £1,895 - WATERS BATHS<br />

OF ASHBOURNE. AVAILABLE FROM BATHART, MITCHELL<br />

CENTRE, SUTTON COLDFIELD. WWW.BATHART.CO.UK<br />

ADELPHI CABINET, £265, ADELPHI MIRROR, £75, AND<br />

ADELPHI TOWEL LADDER, £90, GARDEN TRADING.<br />

WWW.GARDENTRADING.CO.UK<br />

MILANO DALTON DOUBLE BASIN WITH BLACK<br />

WASHSTAND, £299.99, BIG BATHROOM SHOP.<br />

WWW.BIGBATHROOMSHOP.CO.UK<br />

LINEAR GEO TOWELS, FROM £8, NEXT.<br />

WWW.NEXT.CO.UK<br />

LAYERED BATHROOM LIGHTING WITH LUCCA<br />

UPLIGHTS, OSLO FLOOR WASHERS AND POLESPRING<br />

DOWNLIGHTS, FROM A SELECTION AT JOHN CULLEN<br />

LIGHTING. WWW.JOHNCULLENLIGHTING.COM


Advanced technology<br />

for superior hearing<br />

Offering the latest in hearing technology, award winning local audiologists<br />

Steven Hale Hearing are one of the very few hearing specialists qualified<br />

to fit Lyric, the world’s only 100% invisible hearing aid.<br />

MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT NOW AND<br />

FIND OUT HOW LYRIC WILL TRANSFORM<br />

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#LOVELOCAL<br />

J’AIME<br />

#LoveLocal Lichfield<br />

OVER THE COMING MONTHS WE WILL BE CELEBRATING SOME OF THE BRILLIANT INDEPENDENT<br />

BUSINESSES FROM ACROSS OUR PATCH. HERE ARE THREE FROM THE LICHFIELD AREA<br />

ALLEN BROWN<br />

These gorgeous 18ct white gold earrings with 0.24ct multi coloured<br />

sapphires are priced at £1,420 and available online from Allen<br />

Brown Jewellery at www.allenbrownjewellery.co.uk<br />

Formed in 1986, Allen Brown Jewellery is renowned for its<br />

contemporary classic designs that draw on Allen’s love of coloured<br />

diamonds, gems, platinum and other precious metals. Timeless<br />

favourites, his collections are both beautiful and practical.<br />

The business is based within Heart of the Country Shopping Village,<br />

Swinfen, Lichfield but has been trading online during the lockdown.<br />

ROSEMARY LODGE<br />

A residential care home for elderly ladies and gentlemen, Rosemary<br />

Lodge aims to provide levels of care, community and comfort that<br />

are second to none.<br />

Based in Walsall Road, Lichfield, Rosemary Lodge is open to new<br />

residents and remains COVID-19 free.<br />

It is situated just a short distance from the bustling centre of Lichfield<br />

and is set in landscaped gardens. The care home offers respite care,<br />

holiday stay and limited day care in addition to residential care.<br />

Visit www.rosemarylodgecarehome.co.uk to find out more.<br />

RIPPLE HR<br />

Run in Lichfield by Jane Galvez, Ripple HR has been operating<br />

throughout the pandemic to help businesses navigate human<br />

resources issues.<br />

Jane set up and ran a successful e-Learning business and moved into<br />

HR within that business. After several years she then worked in a<br />

variety of SMEs, always taking responsibility for HR. She became<br />

Head of HR in an international automotive business, then set up<br />

Ripple HR.<br />

Visit www.ripple-hr.co.uk to find out more.<br />

22 www.jaimemagazine.com


アパート<br />

夀 䔀 䄀 刀 匀 伀 䘀<br />

O N L I N E S H O P<br />

N O W O P E N<br />

䈀 䔀 匀 倀 伀 䬀 䔀 䘀 䤀 一 䔀 䨀 䔀 圀 䔀 䰀 䰀 䔀 刀 夀 ꀀ<br />

伀 渀 攀 漀 昀 琀 栀 攀 氀 愀 爀 最 攀 猀 琀 挀 漀 氀 氀 攀 挀 琀 椀 漀 渀 猀 漀 昀<br />

挀 漀 渀 琀 攀 洀 瀀 漀 爀 愀 爀 礀 ǻ 渀 攀 樀 攀 眀 攀 氀 氀 攀 爀 礀 椀 渀 琀 栀 攀 唀 䬀<br />

Specialists in designing<br />

and making, remodelling<br />

and refurbishing<br />

匀 瀀 攀 挀 椀 愀 氀 椀 猀 琀 猀 椀 渀 搀 攀 猀 椀 最 渀 椀 渀 最 愀 渀 搀 洀 愀 欀 椀 渀 最 Ⰰ<br />

爀 攀 洀 漀 搀 攀 氀 氀 椀 渀 最 愀 渀 搀 爀 攀 昀 甀 爀 戀 椀 猀 栀 椀 渀 最 昀 漀 爀 アパート 礀 攀 愀 爀 猀<br />

ALLEN 䄀 䰀 䰀 䔀 一 䈀 BROWN 刀 伀 圀 一 䨀 JEWELLERY<br />

䔀 圀 䔀 䰀 䰀 䔀 刀 夀<br />

䠀 Heart 攀 愀 爀 琀 漀 of 昀 吀 The 栀 攀 䌀 Country 漀 甀 渀 琀 爀 礀 匀 Shopping 栀 漀 瀀 瀀 椀 渀 最 Village 嘀 椀 氀 氀 愀 最 攀<br />

匀 Swinfen, 眀 椀 渀 昀 攀 渀 Ⰰ Lichfield, 䰀 椀 挀 栀 ǻ 攀 氀 搀 Ⰰ<br />

匀 Staffordshire 琀 愀 昀 昀 漀 爀 搀 猀 栀 椀 爀 攀 WS14 圀 匀 㐀 9QR 㤀 儀 刀<br />

01543 㔀 㐀 アパート 㐀 481948 㠀 㤀 㐀 㠀<br />

眀 www.allenbrownjewellery.co.uk<br />

眀 眀 ⸀ 愀 氀 氀 攀 渀 戀 爀 漀 眀 渀 樀 攀 眀 攀 氀 氀 攀 爀 礀 ⸀ 挀 漀 ⸀ 甀 欀<br />

昀 椀 琀<br />

We make it happen<br />

Moving House<br />

Family Matters<br />

Wills<br />

Cannock<br />

01543 466 660<br />

Lichfield<br />

01543 263 456<br />

Halesowen<br />

0121 550 0010<br />

Sutton Coldfield<br />

0121 716 3716


#LOVELOCAL<br />

J’AIME<br />

#LoveLocal<br />

Hospitality<br />

STAFFORDSHIRE-BASED INDEPENDENT PUB OPERATOR PUNCH PUBS HAS SPENT<br />

£1 MILLION PREPARING ITS VENUES FOR OUTDOOR REOPENING THIS MONTH<br />

Outdoor spaces such as beer gardens, patios and<br />

courtyards have never been so important in the world<br />

of pubs.<br />

Punch Pubs, based in Burton upon Trent, has<br />

invested in a million-pound Inside|Outside<br />

programme to help publicans make the most of<br />

trading safely outside while also complying with<br />

Government guidance.<br />

The success of the scheme will allow many pubs to<br />

open outdoors on <strong>April</strong> 12, including plenty that<br />

previously would have not had the capacity.<br />

This means 662 (72%) Punch pubs in England are<br />

now set to welcome guests back to their local this<br />

month.<br />

Andy Spencer, managing director of Punch Pubs,<br />

says: “Working together with hundreds of our<br />

publicans, we have breathed new life into many of<br />

our pub gardens and outdoor spaces. Creating safe,<br />

warm, and welcome environments to give our guests<br />

fantastic experiences when we reopen and for the<br />

future.<br />

“Like all of our publicans able to reopen, we are<br />

excited to welcome our customers back in <strong>April</strong>.<br />

However, it remains vitally important to remember<br />

that pubs will be operating at a significantly reduced<br />

capacity.<br />

“We need restrictions to continue to be relaxed<br />

during the reopening period to ensure the long-term<br />

survival of the Great British pub.”<br />

Punch and their publicans have been working in<br />

tandem to create solutions from new furniture to<br />

stretch tents, festoon lighting, cosy huts, and allimportant<br />

outdoor heating.<br />

The scheme has already seen hundreds of projects<br />

completed across the country.<br />

24 www.jaimemagazine.com


#LOVELOCAL<br />

J’AIME<br />

AS PART OF OUR #LOVELOCAL CAMPAIGN, OVER THE COMING MONTHS WE WILL CELEBRATE<br />

SOME OF THE BRILLIANT HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES ACROSS OUR PATCH AS THE WORLD<br />

GRADUALLY OPENS UP ONCE MORE<br />

THYME KITCHEN<br />

Waffles with crispy bacon, fried eggs and maple syrup is just one of<br />

the recipes chef Susie Mandleberg is trying out ahead of the planned<br />

official reopening of Thyme Kitchen on May 18.<br />

The head chef of the breakfast, brunch and lunch venue, at<br />

Curborough Countryside Centre, Lichfield, is currently developing a<br />

new menu ahead of the reopening.<br />

Thyme Kitchen is also the base for Sauce Supper Club and its Dine<br />

at Home boxes.<br />

Sauce Supper Club events are set to resume on May 29 with a six<br />

course dinner prepared by chef Tom Shepherd.<br />

To find out more about Thyme Kitchen visit<br />

www.thymekitchen.co.uk<br />

MOOR HALL<br />

The terrace at Moor Hall Hotel and Spa, in Four Oaks, Sutton<br />

Coldfield, will reopen for outside dining on <strong>April</strong> 12.<br />

Afternoon teas, graze and laze boxes and pizzas are just some of<br />

the options that will be available between 8am and 8pm each day.<br />

There will be screens, blankets, parasols and heaters to help keep<br />

things cosy and people are invited to take along their own picnic<br />

blankets if they wish.<br />

Tables should be booked in advance and diners are asked to<br />

mention when they book if they would like to order afternoon tea.<br />

For more information visit www.moorhallhotel.co.uk<br />

THE GEORGE HOTEL<br />

The George Hotel’s city centre courtyard will be the perfect place to<br />

enjoy outdoor dining in Lichfield when it reopens on <strong>April</strong> 12.<br />

Food will be served between 8am and 8pm every day and there is<br />

no need to book in advance, but diners are asked to pre-book if they<br />

would like to order afternoon tea.<br />

Heated canopies mean that guests will be able to enjoy their alfresco<br />

dining experience whatever the good old British weather decides to<br />

throw at them.<br />

The menu will include lunches, evening meals, light bites and hot<br />

drinks.<br />

For more information visit www.thegeorgelichfield.co.uk<br />

www.jaimemagazine.com<br />

25


F O O D & D R I N K<br />

Gin Rummy<br />

A STAFFORDSHIRE FAMILY WHO LAUNCHED THEIR OWN GIN AFTER COVID-19<br />

STOPPED THEIR BUSINESS FROM OPERATING HAVE NOW CREATED A BRAND<br />

OF RUM AND STARTED A PROJECT TO HELP BEES<br />

When Alex and Natalie Conti’s arts and travel<br />

business was grounded by coronavirus the Lichfield<br />

couple were determined not to waste their newfound<br />

free time.<br />

The keen beekeepers installed a vast new apiary as<br />

a lockdown project then, when faced with kilos of<br />

surplus honey, masterminded a new brand of honey<br />

gin.<br />

Just a few months later they have two varieties of gin,<br />

a newly launched honey rum and have brought an<br />

historic beekeeping site back to life with an adopt a<br />

hive scheme.<br />

“We wanted to install more hives to produce more<br />

honey so we found a beautiful spot,” says Alex.<br />

“We’d already chosen it when we discovered that<br />

it actually used to be an apiary around 150 to 200<br />

years ago.<br />

“Staffordshire County Council and our local<br />

councillor have been incredibly helpful and we have<br />

all kinds of plans on the go including planting huge<br />

swathes of wild flowers to go alongside new hives<br />

we’ve commissioned.”<br />

Alex is making 12 hives available for<br />

adoption by people who love the idea of<br />

safeguarding the future of honeybees,<br />

having a regular supply of locally-produced<br />

honey from their own colony and helping a<br />

small, independent business along the way.<br />

Adopting a hive for one year for £250<br />

buys people the chance to visit and handle<br />

their own bees during the summer, regular<br />

updates, a welcome pack with honey plus<br />

honey gin or honey rum and then 10 pots of<br />

honey from their very own bees.<br />

It’s an innovative project which Alex<br />

believes may be one of the first of its kind.<br />

“It’s very exciting and just the start of<br />

lots of ideas we have for the future,” he<br />

says. “We’re very much looking forward<br />

to welcoming people to the site once<br />

coronavirus restrictions have lifted so that<br />

we can share our enthusiasm for bees and<br />

honey.”<br />

The honey rum was a natural progression for the<br />

business.<br />

“We’d always been thinking of other spirit types in<br />

the background,” says Alex. “Spiced honey rum is<br />

already a thing but we couldn’t find a honey rum on<br />

the market in the UK that interested us.<br />

“My wife used to live in Cuba, where honey rum is<br />

very popular, and I’ve travelled to Cuba a lot over the<br />

years so this is exciting for us both.<br />

“Our honey rum is Cuban in spirit but it’s entirely<br />

made in the UK, right down to the base spirit, and<br />

uses our own Staffordshire honey.<br />

“We realised very quickly that our own honey was<br />

never going to be plentiful enough for us to keep<br />

pushing the Apiarist brand forward, which is why we<br />

had to think about extending the apiary.<br />

“Being able to bring an historic apiary back to life<br />

along the way has been a wonderful byproduct of<br />

that.”<br />

Apiarist products are available from<br />

www.theapiaristgin.com<br />

24


Experience informal outside dining with<br />

fantastic views at Moor Hall Hotel & Spa<br />

in Sutton Coldfield this Spring!<br />

Our Terrace reopens on 12th <strong>April</strong><br />

for outside dining every day between<br />

8am and 8pm.<br />

AFTERNOON TEA*<br />

NEW GRAZE & LAZE BOXES* FOR PICNICS<br />

COFFEE REPUBLIC HOT DRINKS<br />

FULL DRINKS MENU<br />

BRUNCH | SANDWICHES | SALADS<br />

PIZZAS | MAIN MEALS<br />

* Please pre-book<br />

Our Lichfield city centre courtyard is the<br />

perfect spot for a hot drink, light bite,<br />

lunch or evening meal this spring!<br />

Our courtyard reopens on 12th <strong>April</strong> for<br />

outside dining every day between<br />

8am and 8pm.<br />

AFTERNOON TEA* | SOUPS & SANDWICHES<br />

JACKET POTATOES | MAIN COURSES<br />

HOT DRINKS<br />

* Please pre-book Afternoon Tea<br />

Moor Hall Drive, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield B75 6LN<br />

0121 308 3751 www.moorhallhotel.co.uk<br />

Visit our website for menus and to pre-book your table<br />

Bird Street, Lichfield, WS13 6PR<br />

01543 414822 www.thegeorgelichfield.co.uk<br />

Visit our website for menus and to book your table<br />

DINE AT HOME | APRIL<br />

AS NEW SHOOTS START TO CREEP<br />

THROUGH, iT’S TiME TO SWAP<br />

THOSE HEARTY ROOT VEGETABLES<br />

FOR SPRiNG iNGREDiENTS!<br />

LiGHTER, CRiSPER & DELiCiOUS!<br />

DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR<br />

PREPPED & READY TO REHEAT,<br />

PLATE AND ENJOY!<br />

SEE WEBSITE FOR ALL APRIL MENUS AND TO<br />

BOOK YOUR DINE AT HOME EXPERIENCE!<br />

#staysafe #dineathome<br />

T 01543 264050<br />

E hello@saucesupperclub.co.uk<br />

www.saucesupperclub.co.uk


T R AV E L<br />

Holiday hot list<br />

WE’RE GETTING EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF FINALLY HEADING OFF ON HOLIDAY<br />

AGAIN. NATHAN COLLINS, JOINT MD OF LICHFIELD-BASED RB COLLECTION, LOOKS AT SOME<br />

OF THE EXCITING NEW DESTINATIONS AND HOLIDAY OPTIONS WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO.<br />

Despite significantly fewer<br />

holidays taking place over the<br />

past 12 months many hoteliers,<br />

destinations and cruise lines<br />

continued to work on exciting<br />

new properties, itineraries and<br />

experiences in the background.<br />

This means there are a lot of fresh<br />

opportunities ready and waiting<br />

for you.<br />

Exciting new hotels<br />

The Ikos brand has made a name<br />

for itself in Greece, offering a fresh<br />

approach to the all-inclusive model<br />

in Kos, Halkidiki and Corfu. I<br />

stayed at their Halkidiki resort a<br />

couple of years ago with my wife<br />

and two boys and was really impressed. Opening<br />

this year will be their first resort outside of Greece in<br />

Andalucía, Spain.<br />

Their chic and stylish family-friendly resorts<br />

effortlessly combine five-star service with the ease<br />

and comfort of luxury all-inclusive. You won’t find<br />

any wristbands or long queues at buffets here. The<br />

quality of the food and beverages offered is superb<br />

and it was certainly a cut above many other allinclusives<br />

I have stayed at.<br />

New hotels like these in familiar areas such as<br />

the Marbella area don’t happen very often. It is<br />

refreshing to see Ikos take on the challenge in such<br />

a popular and vibrant resort. Just one hour from<br />

Malaga airport, it will no doubt be popular with<br />

British tourists who are already familiar with the area<br />

but seek somewhere new to try.<br />

Over in the Balearic Islands, Ibiza welcomes two<br />

new luxury hotels this year. Famous for its nightlife<br />

and party weekends, the island also has a more<br />

sophisticated side with popular up-market beach<br />

clubs, sunset bars and now more luxury hotels on<br />

offer too. There are plenty of flights from the UK<br />

but its popularity and small size does mean we<br />

recommend booking early.<br />

Six Senses are known for their resorts in Thailand,<br />

Oman and the Maldives but recently expanded into<br />

Cambodia, Portugal and China. This year the group<br />

plans to open in Ibiza and Israel. Their hotels always<br />

have dramatic locations and a real wow factor.<br />

Their Ibiza hotel is located in the north east of the<br />

island above the crystalline waters of Cala Xarraca<br />

Bay. Like all their properties, the hotel is designed to<br />

reflect its surroundings seamlessly. Design elements<br />

are earthy and natural whilst comfort, wellness and<br />

relaxation play an important role. The hotel will be<br />

a unique sanctuary, away from the crazy wild side of<br />

the island. As a small island however, everything is<br />

within easy reach if you need a party fix.<br />

Due to open this July, Six Senses Ibiza will be the<br />

talk of the town and we are really looking forward to<br />

visiting and showcasing it to our clients. We’ve stayed<br />

at some of their Thailand properties and they are<br />

really special indeed as they offer a unique take on<br />

modern luxury.<br />

Staying with the laidback luxury theme is the new<br />

Oku Ibiza, just outside Sant Antoni. If you want to<br />

be closer to the action this will be a great option. The<br />

hotel continues the current luxury trend for moving<br />

28 www.jaimemagazine.com


away from gold taps and marble bathrooms, instead<br />

opting for earthy tones, inspired by Japanese design<br />

like their original hotel on the Greek Island of Kos.<br />

Oku Ibiza has one of the largest pools on the island<br />

and 200 rooms which includes an ocean view<br />

penthouse and private four-bedroom villa. This is<br />

another unique new hotel for Ibiza. Combined with<br />

Six Senses and the Kempinski 7Pines which opened<br />

in 2018, we are reminded that Ibiza is one of the<br />

most aspirational luxury places to stay in the world.<br />

Staying in the Mediterranean, we are excited to hear<br />

about the new Four Seasons San Domenico Palace<br />

in Taormina, Sicily. This iconic hotel dates back to<br />

1896 and was really popular with our clients as well<br />

as famous names such as Oscar Wilde, King Edward<br />

VIII, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Sophia<br />

Loren. Four Seasons has totally refurbished this 14th<br />

century monastery. It’s close proximity to the town,<br />

stunning infinity pool and Four Seasons luxurious<br />

style and standards mean this hotel will no doubt<br />

attract a lot of attention this summer.<br />

The chic Greek island of Mykonos welcomes an<br />

extraordinary ensemble of boutique villas that<br />

overlook the turquoise Aegean Sea. The Myconian<br />

Panoptis Escape has an exclusive, hilltop position,<br />

surrounded by the wild, natural sun-caressed beauty<br />

of Mykonos. This island sanctuary promises serenity<br />

in every sense. Think soft breezes, soul-affirming<br />

views, mesmerising sunsets and exceptional service.<br />

Bound by imaginative contemporary architecture,<br />

minimalist styling and artisan craftsmanship,<br />

everything about Panoptis Escape is the definition of<br />

less is more. I hope to visit Mykonos in June for my<br />

wedding anniversary and look forward to comparing<br />

it to our visit to the quieter Santorini a few years<br />

back.<br />

New Rail Route<br />

Over the Atlantic, the famous Rocky Mountaineer<br />

Railroad with its domed viewing cars has expanded<br />

from Canada south into the USA. The new scenic<br />

route from Colorado to Utah is a really exciting<br />

development for the company and we expect this to<br />

be popular. Many clients have already enjoyed the<br />

stunning journey through the Canadian Rockies<br />

and now have the opportunity to enjoy a different<br />

view and country with the same level of service and<br />

experiences.<br />

The new itinerary is called Journey through the Red<br />

Rocks and offers two days of varying landscapes<br />

through Moab, Utah and Denver, Colorado. You<br />

will witness vast canyons, inspiring deserts, natural<br />

archways and enchanting hoodoos, the famous rock<br />

formations the area is well known for.<br />

Many highlights best seen by train include Ruby<br />

Canyon, Mount Logan and crossing the Continental<br />

Divide. You can also add on pre and post extensions<br />

with options to start or end your journey in Las<br />

Vegas or Salt Lake City.<br />

New Flights and Airline Innovations<br />

Airlines have understandably been forced to reassess<br />

their schedules following the pandemic. This has<br />

resulted in a number of new routes too. Many of<br />

these are in anticipation to holiday demand this<br />

summer including Turkey, Cyprus and Greece, the<br />

latter of which has a number of new flights later into<br />

the autumn as holiday companies look to extend the<br />

summer season.<br />

Birmingham welcomes a new direct service to<br />

Gibraltar as well as Athens which will be good news<br />

to cruise lovers as many Mediterranean cruises<br />

depart from the Greek capital. To fulfil demand<br />

to the West Country, there is a new Manchester<br />

to Newquay flight too. Long haul, Boston will be<br />

connected to Heathrow with a new service from<br />

United Airlines.<br />

Emirates have responded to demand to allow<br />

passengers to purchase empty seats around them<br />

to have more free space if they wish. They are also<br />

in the process of rolling out their new Premium<br />

Economy cabin on select A380 services. Services<br />

from Birmingham are due to continue as they prove<br />

popular to connect holidaymakers to the Arabian<br />

29


Peninsula and onwards to Asia and Australasia.<br />

Additional flights are also being laid on from<br />

Birmingham to Majorca from a number of airlines<br />

including Eurowings who launch their first holiday<br />

routes to the UK.<br />

Finally, Aer Lingus are moving into the long-haul<br />

market from Manchester with a direct service to<br />

Orlando, Boston and New York.<br />

Cruise holidays<br />

Pre-pandemic, the cruise industry was literally<br />

riding a wave of huge popularity. Despite the pause<br />

in operations and some changes in fleets there<br />

are still many new ships, itineraries and product<br />

enhancements in the pipeline.<br />

There are so many different types of cruise holidays<br />

now on offer, from large ships with endless things<br />

to do, to luxury liners offering more space per<br />

passenger, luxury yacht cruises that can access<br />

smaller ports and coastal routes to popular river<br />

cruises which can book up very early (especially on<br />

the Douro in Portugal).<br />

The ultra-luxurious cruise line Regent Seven Seas<br />

recently announced they will position one of their<br />

ships in Barbados this winter instead of Miami.<br />

This move will certainly be attractive to UK cruises<br />

as they will be able to fly direct from the UK to the<br />

Caribbean island, bypassing the USA where their<br />

cruises usually depart from. I toured one of Regent’s<br />

ships last year and was struck by the vast amount<br />

of space onboard. The ships take around 700<br />

passengers so a lot less than some of the larger lines.<br />

Celebrity Cruises have adapted their board basis to<br />

be all-inclusive as a minimum. They offer additional<br />

packages to upgrade to, but all cruisers can now<br />

relax knowing their drinks, WIFI and gratuities are<br />

all included.<br />

For those looking for a more adventurous cruise,<br />

destinations such as the Galapagos and Antarctica<br />

are seeing new ships and itineraries go on sale right<br />

up to 2023.<br />

These smaller vessels and unique<br />

expert-led itineraries are always<br />

popular and following a year of<br />

paused operations it is no surprise<br />

they are on sale so far in advance to<br />

fulfil pent up demand. My fellow MD<br />

Oliver visited the Galapagos so can<br />

offer his take on the variety of ships<br />

and itineraries.<br />

One of these purpose-built<br />

expedition ships is the Seabourn<br />

Venture. The first of the line’s two<br />

new Polar class vessels has only<br />

132 suites with two custom-built<br />

submarines, kayaks and 24 Zodiac boats.<br />

Smaller still, luxury yachts allow you to cruise<br />

smaller ports and coasts. In recent years these have<br />

been popular in Croatia and Montenegro as well as<br />

around the Greek Islands.<br />

Emerald are well known for river cruises and are now<br />

offering itineraries on their new purpose built, 110<br />

metre long, 5* luxury yacht. You’ll be one of only<br />

100 guests onboard with plenty of space and a really<br />

personalised and intimate experience. Itineraries<br />

commence in 2022 and will explore the Adriatic<br />

Coast, Eastern Mediterranean, the Red Sea, Western<br />

Mediterranean and in 2023 the Black Sea.<br />

Closer to home and more imminent (pending<br />

government permission), a number of the large<br />

cruise brands such as P&O, Princess, Hurtigruten,<br />

Cunard and Fred Olsen have all announced plans for<br />

UK cruises this summer. This is another example of<br />

how the industry is adapting to consumer demand to<br />

stay closer to home for now.<br />

Other new ships on the horizon include Virgin<br />

Voyages three new vessels: Scarlet Lady, Valiant<br />

Lady and Resilient Lady. Due to launch just before<br />

the pandemic, Virgin aims to disrupt the cruise<br />

industry offering their own take on the large cruise<br />

experience. Their uniquely designed ships offer a<br />

younger vibe.<br />

As you can see, there are lots of developments in<br />

the world of travel and we are all gearing up for<br />

an exciting time ahead. The pent-up demand will<br />

no doubt mean many of the new offerings will be<br />

popular and book up early. My advice is to secure<br />

your places as far in advance as possible and at<br />

the time check the flexibility and conditions when<br />

booking which should now be much more favourable<br />

than before the pandemic.<br />

To discuss your next special holiday give<br />

me a call on 01543 258631 or email<br />

vip@rbcollection.com. Remember to<br />

mention J’aime magazine when you call.<br />

30 www.jaimemagazine.com


OPEN<br />

FOR NEW<br />

RESIDENTS<br />

WE<br />

REMAIN<br />

COVID<br />

FREE<br />

We are a trusted, local family, dedicated to providing<br />

a truly personal service for those who need us<br />

Burials, Horse-drawn Funerals, Bespoke<br />

Funeral and pre-payment Funeral Plans available<br />

The perfect ‘Home from Home’<br />

at Rosemary Lodge in Lichfield<br />

Rosemary Lodge Care Home for<br />

elderly ladies and gentlemen offers a<br />

level of care, community and comfort<br />

that is second to none. Situated a short<br />

way from the bustling City Centre of<br />

Lichfield and set in landscaped gardens,<br />

Rosemary Lodge is light, spacious and<br />

beautifully decorated, offering residents<br />

just the right combination of interest,<br />

activity and relaxation. It is a place that<br />

encourages residents to retain their<br />

independence and individuality whilst<br />

being fully supported to live a fulfilled<br />

and enjoyable life.<br />

Rosemary Lodge Care Home is a family<br />

run concern, and has been a highlyregarded<br />

part of the community for<br />

almost 30 years. Offering 24 hour care,<br />

our fully trained staff work together to<br />

communicate with residents and ensure<br />

personal care needs are met in a fully<br />

person-centred approach, thus building<br />

an important relationship of trust and<br />

friendship.<br />

Our two qualified chefs offer a<br />

nutritionally balanced and varied<br />

menu, (catering for any special dietary<br />

requirements) using fresh, locally<br />

sourced produce and served in a<br />

spacious dining room that offers views<br />

out towards the Orangery and to the<br />

gardens and fountain. The Orangery also<br />

creates a perfect space for residents,<br />

family and friends to meet up, chat,<br />

enjoy coffee and snacks and take<br />

advantage of the sunshine, no matter<br />

the season! The on-site hair and beauty<br />

salon also ensures that little bit of<br />

pampering is always available.<br />

All rooms are en-suite, and are<br />

designed to comfortably accommodate<br />

individuals and couples. There is full<br />

WiFi connectivity throughout to allow<br />

residents the opportunity of keeping in<br />

touch with family and friends through<br />

video link or FaceTime.<br />

Regular activities and entertainment<br />

such as movement-to music, musical<br />

theatre groups, pet therapy, pub lunches<br />

and visits to local events are regularly<br />

organised, but privacy and peace-andquiet<br />

is also ensured in this beautiful<br />

‘home from home’. Our close proximity<br />

to Lichfield also means that shopping<br />

trips and community activities are just<br />

on the doorstep.<br />

Our commitment to offering just the<br />

right amount of care and support<br />

has led to an excellent reputation<br />

in the community and with the care<br />

professionals who work with us. We<br />

value our staff highly, and recognise that<br />

their care and commitment are a great<br />

part of our success.<br />

We also offer respite care, holiday<br />

stay and limited day care. To arrange a<br />

visit or to learn a little bit more about<br />

us, call Jane Evans, Registered Care<br />

Manager or Shirley Kent Administration<br />

Manager, please see contact details<br />

below.<br />

All-inclusive Funeral Packages for<br />

Cremation with no hidden costs<br />

Including Crematorium, Doctor and<br />

Religious/Non-religious Celebrant<br />

Simple - £2,300<br />

Traditional - £2,650<br />

(includes family car, service sheets and floral tribute)<br />

16 - 20 North Street, Cannock, WS11 0BA<br />

01543 529813 (Anytime)<br />

Visit our web and Facebook sites to see our reviews<br />

www.omalleyfunerals.co.uk • www.facebook.com/omalleyfunerals<br />

CQC RATING GOOD<br />

Rosemary Lodge Residential Home<br />

191 Walsall Road, Lichfield. Staffs.<br />

WS13 8AQ.<br />

For more information please contact<br />

Jane Evans (Registered Care Manager) or<br />

Shirley Kent (Administration Manager).<br />

01543 415223 - Email: roselodgehome@aol.com<br />

www.rosemarylodgecarehome.co.uk


FA S H I O N<br />

Between the lines<br />

IT’S TIME TO EARN YOUR FASHION STRIPES IN THE MOST<br />

VERSATILE PRINT FOR SPRING, SAYS AMY NORBURY<br />

HORIZONTAL or vertical, diagonal or zig-zag;<br />

when it comes to prints, there’s one particular<br />

standout as we head into the warmer months.<br />

Fashion’s love affair with stripes is welldocumented,<br />

with this perennial favourite<br />

popping up in multiple guises from season to<br />

season. From the preppiness of the ultra-classic<br />

Breton stripe to the playful rainbows which make<br />

up fashion giant Missoni’s signature look, it’s a<br />

look which we’ve turned to time and time again.<br />

And perhaps that’s part of the message behind<br />

some of the trends which have emerged for<br />

spring and summer; in times of uncertainty,<br />

there’s comfort to be found in sticking to what<br />

you know and making the most of what you<br />

have. After all, most of us will have some stripey<br />

numbers lurking in our wardrobes which can be<br />

resurrected and refreshed for <strong>2021</strong>.<br />

So, how to wear your stripes this season? Well,<br />

the bigger, the bolder, the better was the message<br />

from the SS21 catwalks, where everyone from<br />

Burberry to Bottega Veneta was toeing the line<br />

with stripes galore.<br />

The freshest way to incorporate stripes was a<br />

case of ‘more is more’, with head-to-toe and<br />

rainbow brights emerging as the most impactive<br />

iterations.<br />

Elsewhere, monochrome magic came into<br />

its own as the pared-back palette offered an<br />

elegantly wearable take on the trend.<br />

Team a classic Breton striped top with widelegged<br />

trousers for instant casual chic, opt for a<br />

striped blazer as your spring outerwear of choice<br />

or feel spring fresh with a striped midi dress,<br />

perfect for dressing up or down as the occasion<br />

demands.<br />

For a bolder touch, look to animal prints; zebra<br />

and tiger stripes offer a playful take on the trend,<br />

or add a stripey splash with striped detailing on<br />

block colour.<br />

STRIPED MIDI DRESS IN LINEN BLEND, £70, MONSOON.<br />

WWW.MONSOON.CO.UK<br />

32 www.jaimemagazine.com


£45<br />

£39<br />

£235<br />

£65<br />

STRIPED KNITTED TOP, KHOST<br />

CLOTHING AT M&CO.<br />

WWW.MANDCO.COM<br />

STRIPED STRETCH MIDI SKIRT, VICTORIA,<br />

VICTORIA BECKHAM AT HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

LINEN MIDI DRESS, KHOST CLOTHING<br />

AT M&CO. WWW.MANDCO.COM<br />

STRIPE SHIRT DRESS, MONSOON.<br />

WWW.MONSOON.COM<br />

£280 £45<br />

STRIPED PURE VIRGIN WOOL YARN<br />

JUMPER, MAX MARA AT HARVEY NICHOLS.<br />

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />

SIDE STRIPE GREY JUMPER, OLIVER BONAS.<br />

WWW.OLIVERBONAS.COM<br />

CANPAR CANDY STRIPED DRESS, £179,<br />

TED BAKER. WWW.TEDBAKER.COM<br />

PINK AND RED SWAT TOP, £39.50, AND<br />

JOGGERS, £45, OLIVER BONAS.<br />

WWW.OLIVERBONAS.COM<br />

33


#LOVELOCAL<br />

J’AIME<br />

#LoveLocal Hair and Beauty<br />

AS HAIR AND BEAUTY BUSINESSES PREPARE TO REOPEN THIS MONTH, WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE<br />

OWNER OF AN INDEPENDENT SALON IN STAFFORDSHIRE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HER PLANS<br />

If you can’t wait to head back to the hairdressers to<br />

have your unruly mop sorted out then just imagine<br />

how frustrating it must feel for stylists who have been<br />

waiting months to pick up their scissors once again.<br />

Fringe, in Upper Brook Street, Rugeley, is one of<br />

so many salons around the UK eagerly awaiting<br />

reopening day on <strong>April</strong> 12.<br />

“There are so many of us in this boat,” says business<br />

owner Anna Waterworth. “We have four stylists,<br />

three helpers and a beautician and we’re selfemployed.<br />

“We’ve been doing this for a long time and all have<br />

our own regular clients, who we can’t wait to see<br />

again.”<br />

For Anna, the stop and start nature of trying to trade<br />

around three national lockdowns has been difficult<br />

but she says she was pleasantly surprised when it was<br />

announced salons would be amongst the first wave of<br />

businesses to reopen.<br />

“Hairdressers were amongst the last to reopen after<br />

the first lockdown, but it worked out pretty good<br />

for us this time. At this stage the opening date is still<br />

provisional, but we’re going to carry on making plans<br />

to reopen until we’re told otherwise.<br />

Anna, who has owned the business for five years, has<br />

put in place a number of safety measures including<br />

dividing screens between customers. Staff will wear<br />

both a mask and a visor, a plastic apron plus gloves<br />

wherever possible.<br />

“We have to ask clients to wait outside until it’s their<br />

turn, rather than in an indoor waiting area, but<br />

everyone has been very good about that,” she says.<br />

Anna says she and the team are genuinely excited<br />

about getting back to a job that they all love.<br />

“Our job is so sociable, it’s a happy job,” she says.<br />

“We all love what we do, we all love coming to work.<br />

“Over the years our clients have become our friends,<br />

in fact sometimes we end up seeing them more than<br />

we see members of our own family.<br />

“We’ve been getting lots of texts from people saying<br />

they can’t wait to be back in the chair and having a<br />

pamper session.<br />

“Going to a salon is a treat for a lot of women. It’s<br />

time out, something for them and they can’t wait to<br />

get back to that.”<br />

Fringe will reopen its phone line for bookings from<br />

<strong>April</strong> 1 and Anna is expecting an initial surge of<br />

interest.<br />

She adds: “Like all salons, the pandemic has<br />

definitely put us in a difficult financial situation, but<br />

we just can’t wait to welcome people back.”<br />

Fringe, Upper Brook Street, Rugeley,<br />

www.fringe-hairsalon.co.uk<br />

34 www.jaimemagazine.com


eyond the horizon<br />

Let’s create something to look forward to<br />

Nothing can beat personal advice when you’re looking to put<br />

the last few months behind you and make plans to look<br />

forward, whether that’s a last-minute getaway or you’re<br />

planning ahead to next year.<br />

You will always have the support of a real person,<br />

be it face-to-face, by video, phone or email -<br />

whenever you need me.<br />

Charlotte Mitchell<br />

Travel Counsellor<br />

0121 314 6650 or 07860 944207<br />

charlotte.mitchell@travelcounsellors.com<br />

www.travelcounsellors.com/charlotte.mitchell<br />

www.facebook.com/CharlotteMitchellTC<br />

Spring is in the air...<br />

is there a spring in your step?<br />

Or are you concerned about your<br />

profit because your people are not<br />

performing well or just don’t ‘get it’?<br />

Ripple HR can help with HR ISO9001 processes<br />

which support your business through tough<br />

times and good times.<br />

Call us to talk about how Positive HR<br />

can ripple through your business.<br />

07771 780 146<br />

jane.galvez@ripple-hr.co.uk<br />

ripple-hr.co.uk<br />

Jean Lamb Wealth Consultancy<br />

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

wealth management advice to my clients for more<br />

than 25 years.<br />

I specialise in the following key areas<br />

and welcome your enquiry:<br />

• Investment Planning<br />

• InheritanceTax and Estate Planning<br />

• Pre and Post-Retirement Planning<br />

• Care Fees Planning and Funding for Care<br />

Telephone: 01543 417342<br />

Website: www.jeanlamb.co.uk<br />

Email: jean.lamb@sjpp.co.uk<br />

Office: 6A Market Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LH<br />

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)<br />

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.


B E AU T Y<br />

Why you need a moisturiser<br />

WHEN IT COMES TO LOOKING AFTER YOUR SKIN A MOISTURISER IS INVALUABLE, BUT<br />

WHICH ONE IS BEST FOR YOU? WE ASKED CELEBRITY FACIALIST AND FOUNDER OF HEAVEN<br />

SKINCARE DEBORAH MITCHELL TO TAKE US BACK TO THE BASICS<br />

Put simply a moisturiser is used to protect,<br />

hydrate and lubricate the complexion.<br />

Because the skin on your face is thinner<br />

than anywhere else on your body it can<br />

become dehydrated; by not keeping skin<br />

moisturised it quickly shows early signs of<br />

ageing.<br />

Think about it, you wouldn’t go a day<br />

without drinking water, right? So don’t<br />

go a day without hydrating your skin; the<br />

benefits of using the correct moisturiser<br />

will be visible years into the future.<br />

HOW TO MOISTURISE<br />

Apply a small amount of moisturiser onto<br />

your face and gently massage with your<br />

fingertips, not forgetting to cover the allimportant<br />

neck area. Choose a product<br />

that is designed for your skin type – for example, a<br />

gentle formula for more sensitive skin – and opt for a<br />

specific cream for your delicate eye area.<br />

Some people make the mistake of only applying<br />

moisturiser when their skin feels dry but you should<br />

be applying it every day, morning and night. After<br />

cleansing, exfoliating and toning your skin you<br />

should then apply the correct moisturiser for your<br />

skin type.<br />

FOR DRY OR DAMAGED SKIN:<br />

My signature Silver Bee Venom Mask works to<br />

control facial muscles by tightening, firming and<br />

lifting and at the same time penetrates fine lines for<br />

an immediate anti-ageing effect. Apply after your<br />

cleansing routine and combine with a serum for<br />

long-term results.<br />

FOR MATURE SKIN:<br />

My Divine Cream contains organic mandarin and<br />

orange, both natural sources of Vitamin C which<br />

help boost collagen and elastin while working to<br />

reduce pigmentation, acne scarring and blemishes.<br />

It’s light on the skin, making it the perfect all-day<br />

cream.<br />

FOR NIGHT TIME:<br />

Thanks to its vitamin B content, Heaven’s Overnight<br />

Success Cream releases oxygen to detoxify and<br />

replenish your complexion. Perfect for dull or<br />

damaged skin, it can also be used during the day –<br />

especially in the summer – and also helps keep acne<br />

at bay and controls rosacea.<br />

FOR EVERY DAY:<br />

My Youthful Moisturiser is designed to bring all<br />

skin types – even the most sensitive – back to a state<br />

of equilibrium. It may feel light in the skin but its<br />

innovative formula means it long-lasting too. It’s<br />

great if you suffer from blackheads and enlarged<br />

pores.<br />

FOR YOUR EYE AREA:<br />

My vegan Nettle Venom Eyes is designed to ease<br />

puffiness and dark circles while relaxing fine lines<br />

and wrinkles. It’s light enough so that it doesn’t<br />

weigh down the area yet effective enough to really<br />

make the eyes glow.<br />

You can shop the complete range of moisturisers<br />

exclusively online at heavenskincare.com<br />

36 www.jaimemagazine.com


PUT YOUR HANDS IN OUR HANDS<br />

DO YOU FEEL SYMPTOMS OF PAIN, CLICKING,<br />

NUMBNESS OR TINGLING IN YOUR HANDS?<br />

HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY SIGNS OF HAND LUMPS,<br />

SWELLINGS OR MUSCLE WASTING?<br />

If you answered yes - see below for some common hand conditions.<br />

Carpal Tunnel – Common symptoms include pins and needles, numbness<br />

and tingling in the fingers waking you from sleep.<br />

Trigger Finger – Signs of finger locking and clicking in the fingers and<br />

thumb.<br />

Dupuytren’s Contracture - A thickening of skin in the palm and fingers<br />

are experienced, along with a fixed bending of the fingers meaning hands<br />

cannot be placed comfortably flat on a table.<br />

Arthritis of the Thumb – Signs include a general dull ache around the<br />

thumb base, which may mean sufferers struggle to open tight jars. The<br />

thumb position may change.<br />

If you detect any signs or symptoms of a hand condition, let the Midland<br />

Hand Clinic help you to reach the correct diagnosis and receive the right<br />

treatment.<br />

More and more people are choosing to pay for their treatment and find<br />

costs are often less than they had anticipated.<br />

Online consultations are available as well as face to face appointments, if<br />

you would like to be seen but would prefer not to attend a hospital setting.<br />

For more information visit www.midlandhandclinic.com<br />

Midland Hand Clinic lead by Mr G Shyamalan FRCS<br />

NHS consultant hand surgeon.<br />

All patients welcome whether you have private medical<br />

insurance or you are self-paying.<br />

Hand Clinic PA: Pam Dziubany<br />

Email: pdziubany@hotmail.com<br />

Call: 07815 460786 - 01827 892952<br />

www.midlandhandclinic.com


H E A LT H<br />

Squat hard or go home<br />

LICHFIELD PERSONAL TRAINER RAÚL ROMERO TALKS SQUATS<br />

AND JUST HOW TRANSFORMATIONAL THEY CAN BE<br />

For years, squats have been a firm favourite of<br />

trainers to work out the lower body. They can<br />

have a whole array of benefits that can truly<br />

be transformational if performed correctly and<br />

consistently. So what exactly are those benefits?<br />

Strengthening and toning the muscles<br />

Squats predominantly work our lower bodies,<br />

specifically the quadriceps and glutes. The position<br />

of the knees in particular, when bent to a 90 degree<br />

angle or lower, helps activate these muscle groups<br />

effectively. They also work the abductors, adductors,<br />

hamstrings and calves. To top it off, they engage our<br />

core muscles with stabilising the body during the<br />

movement. They really are a win win in terms of<br />

versatility in engaging so many muscles.<br />

Burning calories and losing weight.<br />

This is probably one of the most common goals I<br />

hear from my clients and squats are a great way to<br />

help make this happen. Squats, used as a strength<br />

exercise, can be an important part of any successful<br />

weight loss plan. Regular strength training helps<br />

increase our metabolism and can decrease body fat.<br />

The great thing is that squats work so many muscles<br />

simultaneously. This ensures an extra boost of<br />

calorie burning and increase of anabolic hormone<br />

production, which is one of the main hormones<br />

that help lose fat and build muscle.<br />

Reduced risk of injury.<br />

Squat movements strengthen the<br />

tendons, bones and ligaments around<br />

the leg muscles, and can help take<br />

some of the load off our knees and<br />

ankles, thus helping to reduce the<br />

risk of injury. Of course, once we<br />

lose weight (which again can be<br />

accelerated by incorporating squats<br />

into our workouts), there is a lower<br />

load on our joints which in turn also<br />

helps to reduce the risk of injury.<br />

To reap all of these benefits, how can<br />

we perform the perfect squat?<br />

38 www.jaimemagazine.com


• Stand up straight with your feet shoulderwidth<br />

apart and your chest facing forward.<br />

• Bend the knees and hips, sticking your bottom<br />

out as if you’re sitting down on a chair.<br />

• Squat down until your thighs are parallel to<br />

the floor. Then squat a bit lower so your hips<br />

are below parallel. Your knees from above<br />

should be behind your toes.<br />

• Pause for a second. Your back should be<br />

straight, not curved at all.<br />

• Press into your heels and straighten your legs<br />

to return to the upright, standing position.<br />

For more detailed instructions and to check your<br />

technique it’s always best to contact a qualified<br />

personal trainer in order to avoid injury from<br />

incorrect technique.<br />

Variations<br />

Variety is the spice of life. There are a whole<br />

range of different types of squats that can be<br />

incorporated into workouts to help keep them<br />

fun and varied. It’s so easy to get bored of<br />

always performing the same old exercises so<br />

adding variety to our workouts will really help<br />

with maintaining motivation and not getting<br />

bored and giving up. Different squats also<br />

target the muscles slightly differently, for<br />

example squatting with the legs further apart<br />

works the inner thighs and glutes a little more<br />

than the quads.<br />

If a squat variation includes an upper-body<br />

movement, like an overhead press, our upper<br />

bodies will then also be worked (in this case<br />

some shoulder and arm work).<br />

Squat variations that include plyometrics,<br />

like a jump, can increase our heart rate<br />

quickly, making them great for combining<br />

cardio training as well as lower body strength<br />

training.<br />

Equipment can be used to vary squat<br />

workouts, such as dumbbells, kettlebells,<br />

barbells and resistance bands.<br />

My clients’ firm squat favourites are: sumo<br />

squats, single leg squats, prisoner squats, front<br />

squats, squat pulses, squat jumps, narrow<br />

squats and overhead squats. There are many<br />

more to choose from and enjoy in your<br />

workouts.<br />

For more information on squats, squat<br />

techniques or anything else fitness related,<br />

contact Raul at raul@ambitionpt.co.uk<br />

or via social media. Happy squatting!<br />

39


H E A LT H<br />

Your health’s best friend<br />

THEY’RE MAN’S BEST FRIEND, BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT DOGS CAN ALSO HELP IMPROVE OUR<br />

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH? JENNY AMPHLETT HAS BEEN FINDING OUT MORE<br />

When Cheryl Beaumont’s husband was<br />

left disabled after an accident their GP<br />

made a surprising recommendation to<br />

improve family life - getting a pet dog.<br />

Cheryl, who was in her mid-20s at the<br />

time, had recently lost her mum and was<br />

in the midst of grief as well as dealing<br />

with her husband’s health issues.<br />

“Our doctor recognised that we both<br />

needed something else to focus on,” says<br />

Cheryl.<br />

“My husband suffered a back injury<br />

and still has a lot of pain from that. The<br />

advice was that a dog would give him<br />

something else to focus on, that it would<br />

get him out of the house and help to<br />

keep him active.<br />

“I needed something else to focus on too,<br />

something that would bring a little bit of<br />

happiness and joy back into my life.”<br />

Fast forward nearly two decades and<br />

Cheryl, now 43, and husband Simon, 49,<br />

are devoted dog owners.<br />

They have two dogs, a patterjack called<br />

Ozzy and a jackapoo called Star. Cheryl<br />

says she and Simon both feel the mental<br />

and physical health benefits of being dog<br />

owners.<br />

“My husband is able to work full time but<br />

he still suffers with a lot of pain and his<br />

condition is progressive. Having the dogs<br />

gets him out of the house to walk them.<br />

When you have dogs you don’t really<br />

have a choice in the matter.”<br />

Cheryl’s job involves delivering health<br />

and social care training at care homes across the East<br />

Midlands.<br />

She was furloughed for four weeks at the beginning<br />

of lockdown while key worker Simon left the house<br />

each day to work in mental health. Cheryl says the<br />

dogs helped to get her through that difficult time.<br />

“Having dogs gives you a focus and a reason to get<br />

up and get dressed in the morning, because the dogs<br />

need a walk.<br />

“Having dogs forces you to get out and about, to get<br />

exercise and to see people.<br />

“Then there’s the unconditional love you receive<br />

from dogs. They’re always happy to see you - you<br />

can’t be in a bad mood when you come home and<br />

see your dogs.<br />

40 www.jaimemagazine.com


“You could be gone for five minutes but to them it’s<br />

as if you’ve been gone for hours. There’s so much<br />

affection from them.”<br />

Cheryl’s job has also given her an insight into<br />

the role animals can play in a care environment,<br />

particularly with elderly patients or patients with<br />

Alzheimers.<br />

“I’ve observed a pet activity, where a carer brought<br />

in her cat from home for elderly residents in a care<br />

home to spend time with. People could touch and<br />

stroke the cat and have it sitting on their knee.<br />

“It worked fantastically. The residents who took<br />

part thoroughly enjoyed it and got a lot out of the<br />

experience.<br />

“I think for some of them it brought back memories<br />

of their own pets. Being able to play with an animal,<br />

to touch and cuddle it, meant such a lot to them. It’s<br />

an activity that would work particularly well with<br />

patients with dementia.”<br />

For Cheryl, the many benefits of dog ownership far<br />

outweigh the financial costs involved.<br />

“Dogs aren’t very expensive really, not when you<br />

think of the happiness they bring to your life.<br />

“They give you a purpose - you’ve got to walk, clean,<br />

bath and feed them. They also give you so much love<br />

and can do wonders for your wellbeing.”<br />

Dog ownership has soared during<br />

lockdown, with extra time at home<br />

prompting many families to consider taking<br />

on a pet.<br />

According to research by Ipsos MORI, nearly<br />

half of families who already owned a dog<br />

introduced at least one new animal to their<br />

family during lockdown.<br />

Around 80% of dog owners credit their pets<br />

with helping them to stay fit and active and<br />

around 40% say they are now taking their<br />

dogs for longer and more frequent walks.<br />

Around 37% of people who worked from<br />

home during lockdown say they feel they<br />

now have a stronger relationship with their<br />

animals than they did before the pandemic.<br />

According to the RSPCA the physical<br />

benefits of dog ownership include improved<br />

cardiovascular health, increased physical<br />

activity, fewer visits to the doctor and<br />

reduced risk of allergies for children.<br />

Mental health benefits can include a more<br />

structured life, enforced exercise and fresh<br />

air, stress relief, reduced loneliness and<br />

unconditional love.<br />

www.jaimemagazine.com<br />

41


F E AT U R E<br />

A supportive start<br />

A LOCAL ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP HAS BECOME AN INVALUABLE SOURCE OF ADVICE,<br />

COMFORT AND LISTENING FOR NEW PARENTS STRUGGLING THROUGH AN UNPRECEDENTED<br />

START TO THEIR PARENTHOOD JOURNEYS. AMY NORBURY DISCOVERS MORE<br />

When mum-of-two Helen Campbell spotted a<br />

Facebook post on a Lichfield community group by a<br />

new mum, it got her thinking about just how much<br />

the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown restrictions<br />

were affecting pregnant women and new parents at<br />

one of the most incredible - and yet daunting - times<br />

of their lives.<br />

With women facing scans and hospital appointments<br />

alone and new parents left with limited contact from<br />

health professionals, new rules meaning extended<br />

families were unable to meet new additions, and<br />

the closure of face-to-face baby groups which many<br />

parents rely on in those early days, the journey into<br />

new parenthood had suddenly become a lonely one.<br />

“When my first, Toby was born I depended upon a<br />

support network, new friends, old friends, meeting<br />

mummy friends, so much to get you through those<br />

first few months that is the amazing whirlwind of<br />

having a newborn,” says Helen.<br />

“At the point of the first lockdown being announced,<br />

I couldn’t stop thinking about all those poor new<br />

parents, this whole section of the community, who<br />

were going to be completely without that support<br />

network.<br />

“Then I saw a post from a new mum on the<br />

Facebook Lichfield community group looking for a<br />

takeaway recommendation because she had a daysold<br />

baby and wanted somewhere that was going to<br />

be safe to collect from. I remember those early days<br />

when you just need food bundles being delivered to<br />

your house by your friends and family, so I contacted<br />

her and asked if I could take some food around to<br />

her.<br />

“Later I messaged her to ask that if I set up a<br />

Facebook group to put pregnant ladies and new<br />

parents in touch with each other, would that be<br />

helpful, and she said yes. So I did.”<br />

Now, a year later, the Lichfield 2020 Babies and<br />

Beyond Facebook group is celebrating its first<br />

anniversary with some 1,100 members, having<br />

become a lifeline for local parents and parents-to-be<br />

THE LICHFIELD 2020 BABIES AND BEYOND FACEBOOK<br />

GROUP HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL<br />

PARENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC<br />

at a time when many traditional forms of support<br />

have been unavailable.<br />

“I’m immensely proud how everyone within the<br />

group has made it into such an amazing community,”<br />

says Helen. “Everyone is so genuine and so kind. I’m<br />

overwhelmed with how much support, love, care and<br />

thoughtfulness there is in the group, with people who<br />

haven’t even met each other.<br />

“When you’re a new parent and you’re flustered<br />

by everything, having other mums and dads come<br />

forward to help out is just the best thing.”<br />

The group has also attracted the attention of local<br />

healthcare professionals, with many health visitors<br />

joining so they can be on hand to share their wisdom<br />

and offer advice directly.<br />

Local businesses offering everything from baby<br />

classes to buggy refurbishment to breastfeeding<br />

support have also joined, able to offer their services<br />

straight to the people who need them.<br />

“Going forward, there are so many ideas as to what<br />

we can do,” says Helen. “It’s great that we can help<br />

local businesses as well as local mums and dads who<br />

are desperate for these services.”<br />

And between lockdowns, the group has spilled over<br />

from online friendships to real-life support, with<br />

buggy walks, meet-ups and baby groups arranged.<br />

“Just knowing that we, as a group, have helped<br />

people through this time is amazing,” says Helen.<br />

“Hearing that people have made friends for life,<br />

or met people that, in that moment of need, have<br />

helped them, feels really special. I’m so proud of<br />

what this group has become.”<br />

42 www.jaimemagazine.com


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44 www.jaimemagazine.com

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