West Dorset Living Oct - Nov 2021

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE AWAITS YOU 

Visit our newly renovated showroom across 2 floors of Bathrooms, Bedrooms and Kitchens, to view at 

your leisure. Call the team on 01258 454 821 or email enquiries@countryimage.co.uk to speak to one of 

our expert designers. 

Showroom open by appointment only basis. 

7 Sunrise Business Park, Higher Shaftesbury Road, Blandford Forum, DT11 8ST 

www.countryimage.co.uk 

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm 

by pre-arranged appointment only. 

Weekends available upon request

Contents 

A Note 

from the EDITOR 

20 

Guest 

A Culinary Journey through 

Northern 

bedroom Ireland 

inspiration 

“There is something so special 

in the early leaves drifting 

from the trees–as if we are all 

to be allowed a chance to peel, 

to refresh, to start again.” 

– Ruth Ahmed 

There is something so special about 

this time of year - it has a grounding 

effect which forces us to consider 

the passage of time and the tangible 

changes around us. As the hues 

of the trees shape our landscape, 

we settle down into the embrace 

of those cooler, darker evenings 

- a sense of quietude before the 

inevitable Christmas rush begins. 

Our competition 

page returns 

04 

We hope this edition makes a good 

companion to a cosy evening or a 

peaceful morning with a cuppa. We 

couldn’t resist the opportunity to carb 

load here with an interview with west 

country expert baker (via France!) 

Richard Bertinet - sorry not sorry to 

have you reaching for that bread and 

butter... 

10 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

Baking legend 

Richard Bertinet 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Pre-press Manager Kate Norris 

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

Front cover courtesy of Richard Haughton/Raymond Gubbay Ltd 

Key Account Manager Laura Rodney 

e laura@minervapublications.co.uk 

t 01225 984501 

twitter: @WDorsetLiving 

14 

Comfort food 

dishes 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ 

Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton, Trowbridge 

BA14 6JB t 01225 984 550 

w www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

visit our website www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

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

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

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

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

This lovely chat falls alongside 

some delicious recipes and some 

inspiration for the home and 

garden - this issue we are focusing 

on getting the guest bedroom in ship 

shape ahead of welcoming visitors 

this Christmas - well, fingers and 

toes crossed we will have them this 

year - bet you never thought you’d 

think that! 

It wouldn’t be right to have an 

edition without one of our most 

popular pages - the competitions! 

You can enter all the ones listed on 

the page, plus some web-exclusives 

at minervamagazines.co.uk - you 

can also opt into being the first to 

hear about new giveaways when 

they are launched. 

We are looking forward to seeing 

you again in December, where we 

will be unapologetically thrusting 

you into the Christmas swing. Don’t 

say I didn’t warn you! Until then, 

take care and enjoy this issue. 

Katie 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 3

COMPETITION 

Time 

WIN 

A a two-night stay 

for two people at 

Whittlebury Park 

WORTH 

£338 

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

www.minervamagazines.co.uk/competitions. 

Find the competition and enter on that post, 

using the appropriate keyword. 

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

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

Whittlebury Park, a four-star countryside hotel in 

Northamptonshire, is nestled in hundreds of acres of tranquil 

ancient parkland, making it the perfect destination to get away 

from it all. It’s surrounded by a host of local attractions, from 

lakeside walks at Stowe Gardens to designer retail therapy 

at Bicester Village and thrilling history at the Silverstone 

Experience Museum. 

Terms and conditions: The prize is for a winner plus one guest. Prize 

winner and guest must be aged 18 and over. Only one winner will be 

drawn. The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable, non-exchangeable 

and there are no cash alternatives. Cannot be used in conjunction with 

any other offer or promotion. The prize is available Friday – Sunday. 

Valid until 31 December 2021 excluding Good Friday, Easter Monday, 

Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and Bank Holiday Mondays. Full terms 

and conditions available on website. 

whittlebury.com 

Closes 01/11/2021 - Competition keyword ‘WHITTLEBURY’ 

WIN We are giving one 

lucky reader the 

The Ultimate chance to win 

baby Starter the Ultimate 

Pack! Starter Pack 

from Kit & Kin, 

the eco-friendly 

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baby essentials, the beautiful 

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adorable Bunny Hat and super soft Alphabet All-in-One, as well as 

a luxuriously snuggly Knitted Blanket and Sleeping Bag, to ensure 

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Closes 01/11/2021 - Competition keyword ‘BABYWEAR’ 

Eliza Southwood 

practiced as an 

architect for ten years 

before deciding to 

take up a career as an 

artist and illustrator fulltime 

in 2010, although 

she has consistently 

drawn and painted throughout 

her life. Her first illustration 

commission was a Spanish children’s 

book, when she was aged 13. 

Eliza’s speciality is silk screen 

printing, but she also works in mixed 

media, watercolour and acrylic. As 

a keen cycling fan, she is known 

particularly for her cycling themed 

artwork, but she also produces work 

on a wide range of subjects such as 

cityscapes, dogs, sports and people. 

We have two prints worth £250 each 

to give away. 

www.elizasouthwood.com 

Closes 01/11/2021 

Competition keyword ‘ELIZA’ 

WIN 

A print 

worth 

£250 

Ramekins & Wine offer 

immersive dining 

experiences where 

the wine takes 

centre-stage, the 

food is designed to 

showcase its character 

and deliver a true taste 

sensation. We are giving readers 

the chance to win a Home 

Tasting Box for two people 

which includes six specially 

selected wines and perfectly 

matched ramekins of food. 

T’s and C’s: Three lucky winners 

will enjoy a Home Tasting Box 

for two people. 

ramekinsandwine.co.uk 

Closes 01/11/2021 - Competition 

keyword ‘WINE’ 

Leading flowers and 

gifts delivery service, 

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to offer 8 lucky readers 

the chance to win an 

arrangement from its 

new letterbox collection. 

WIN 

A Home 

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for two! 

WIN 

A letterbox 

floral 

arrangement 

from Floward 

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Floward is a full-fledged 

e-commerce solution that 

offers prime fresh-cut flowers 

sources from the best growers 

and farmers around the world 

which are arranged locally by an expert team of florists and 

designers. Following a successful launch into London at the 

start of the year, Floward is expanding its distribution across 

the country, to offer a next day delivery service which allows 

customers to place orders by 12pm and guarantees that their 

flower arrangements will arrive the next day. What’s more, as 

part of Floward’s worldwide CSR programme, 1% of all annual 

revenue generated by sales will be donated to the Mental Health 

Foundation. 

floward.com 

Closes 01/11/2021 - Competition keyword ‘FLOWARD’ 

4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk

GOING FOR GOLD 

AT MINTERNE 

HIMALAYAN 

GARDENS 

Why not ‘join the 

gold rush’ and visit 

Minterne for the 

autumnal scenery. 

CONSCIOUSLY 

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USE CODE LIVE15 

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HAUSLIFE.CO.UK 

Synonymous with Rhododendrons, Acers & Magnolias, and set 

around lakes, streams and cascades, Minterne’s 27-acre garden 

will give you a taste of autumn in the Himalayas. The stunning 

warm colours of the leaves, berries and barks will entrance you as 

you walk around this tranquil garden. 

Over 200 Acers will delight any visitor and together with many 

mature specimen trees with their tints of scarlet, russet, pumpkin 

and yellow, dazzle in their intensity. 

Garden open daily 10am – 6pm until 7th November. 

NOT suitable for wheelchairs or disabled access. 

Coaches welcome. Free parking opposite the church. 

On A352 Dorchester to Sherborne road, 2 miles north of Cerne Abbas. 

Café on the terrace open (weather permitting) 

Minterne Magna, 

Dorset DT2 7AU 

Contact: 01300 341370. 

enquiries@minterne.co.uk 

www.minterne.co.uk 

36 TH 

YEAR 

RUNNING 

6 th & 7 th November 2021 

Get Christmas ready... 

Visit the Christmas Craft and Gourmet 

Food Fair to stock up on those extra 

special treats and presents for Christmas 

Back for its 35th year our Christmas Craft and Gourmet Food Fair 

continues to get bigger and better, attracting thousands of visitors 

over the weekend. Come and join in the fun this November 9th 

and 10th, it’s a great day out for the whole family and the perfect 

place to start your Christmas Shopping. Chose some treats from 

Gourmet Food Stands and whether your taste buds are tempted 

by Gin, cheese, mead, chutney or teatime treats you will be 

happy browsing among our fabulous artisan producers. 

Tick off the Christmas list by stocking up on cards, candles and 

decorations, chose some stunning presents to delight the most 

discerning taste and while you are there, treat yourself – from 

jewellery to leather, glassware to ethical angora there really is 

something for everyone. 

Kingston Maurward House, 

Dorchester 

www.wessexfoodfestival.co.uk 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

£3.50 £3.00 


E-bikes for 

everyday use 

E-bikes are more and more being used 

to replace cars for short journeys and 

every car journey saved reduces total 

carbon emission... 


Owners are incorporating their electric bike into the daily 

routine, either for leisure or practically, such as for commuting 

to work. E-bikes offer the freedom and ease of a standard push 

bike but the speed and power assistance allows riders to travel 

further and faster than their manual counterparts. 

People often say to me how many e-bikes you now see on the 

road. This is because statistics show that e-bike owners use 

their bikes for everyday activities far more that the owner of the 

standard bike. 

Cycle to Work Schemes. 

Commuting by e-bike as well as being a more sustainable 

way of travelling can mean that you travel alone rather than 

use public transport or can make it to a job where there is 

no alternative. Cycle to Work Schemes work through your 

employer and enable you to purchase an e-bike over 12 months 

and save on Tax and National Insurance. Typically an employee 

can save 32% of the purchase price (depending on employment 

status.). Employers can be members of large National Schemes 

such as Cyclescheme. But small employers can work on an 

individual basis with employees using such schemes as “Green 

Commute Initiative” 

Leisure, Shopping, going to school. 

In addition to leisure rides from your home, although the bikes 

are heavier than standard bikes with the aid of the motor you do 

not notice the weight and so they are good for loading up with 

shopping, or the tools to go to the allotment, gym or fishing. 

You name it. There is a huge array of baskets and panniers 

so that you can transport your shopping or equipment. Many 

of these can be taken off when not required, so you can travel 

unencumbered. 

14+ year olds are beginning to ride e-bikes to school. 

Owners get into the practice of using their e-bike for certain 

trips like going to the bank and are amazed at how they clock 

up the miles over time. 

And every mile saves a carbon emission. 

IN STOCK FOR AUTUMN 

Axcess Hunter2 Step-through 

From £1445 

MBM Pulse 

£1499 

17” Frame 

26” Wheel 

36V X 13Ah (468Wh) 

Battery 

4 Colours: Red: Grey: Blue: Light Blue. 

2 Battery Options:10Ah (375Wh) 16Ah (576)Wh 

LCD Display: 5 Power Settings: Disc Brakes: 7 Gears 

Falcon Turbine e-MTB 

£1259 

18” Frame 

21 Gears 

36V X 10Ah (360Wh) 

Battery 

Good selection of used second hand e-bikes: see website below 


DORCHESTER 

CURIOSITY 

CENTRE 

- FURNITURE - ANTIQUES - 

- VINTAGE CLOTHING - RECORDS - 

- COLLECTABLES - TEXTILES - 

We have over 70 traders across 12,000sq 

feet and at the heart is our Curiosity 

Centre Cafe offering a delicious menu of 

tasty delights. 

Enjoy free wi-fi and ample parking as you 

browse beautiful antiques, retro items, 

quality crafted shabby chic, glassware, 

ceramics and thousands of curios & 

collectables. 

Open 7 days a week 

Mon - Sat 9-5 and Sunday 10-4 

The Old Bus Depot, Grove Trading Estate, 

Dorchester DT1 1 ST 

Tel. 01305 251886 

Email: dorchcuriocentre@live.co.uk 

www.dorchestercuriositycentre.co.uk 

www.facebook.com/DorchesterCurioCentre 

lnstagram@dorchcuriocentre 

We also buy items and offer a delivery 

service across Dorset.

CAN YOU 

LEND US A.. 

Tenor 

Ade Hill catches up 

with ‘The People’s 

Tenor’, Russell 

Watson, where he 

discusses getting 

back out on stage 

post pandemic, as 

well as something we 

can all relate to... 

the great lockdown 

clear-out! 

Images by Richard Haughton/Raymond Gubbay Ltd 

It sure has been a tough year for 

everyone, especially for the performing 

arts and theatres. How did you 

personally find lockdown? 

In some respects when it first kicked in 

I don’t think anybody in the industry, or 

the country for that matter, anticipated 

just how long the lockdown would last. 

So when we initially thought it was just 

going to be a few weeks I thought ‘Well 

this could be a good opportunity for me 

to rest my voice, rest the infrastructure’. 

I also wanted to settle down – I had 

been constantly touring for about ten or 

eleven years without much of a break. 

So it was kind of going to be just a long 

lay-off but it didn’t quite work out like 

that! I remember when it started to unfold 

it was evident that the lockdown was 

going to be much longer than we were 

anticipating and it was then that my wife 

presented me with this great big long list 

of jobs that I’d been promising to do for 

the last eleven years, culminating with the 

tidying of the proverbial garden shed. It’s 

only a simple 8x6 garden shed, but once 

I’d opened the door to it I realised that it 

probably had a similar capacity to that 

of Dr Who’s Tardis! There was so much 

junk in there, I wasn’t able to actually 

get through the door. So the first point 

was to clear the doorway by emptying 

the immediate contents onto the garden 

lawn. The first thing I noticed was that 

there were about five or six kites in there 

that remained unopened. But the most 

interesting thing I found was at the back 

of the shed lurking were three bikes that I 

didn’t even know I owned! 

That’s quite a find! Now I hear that 

in your lockdown sort-out you found 

boxes of old stage gear, including a 

suit that you wore to meet the Queen? 

Yes, and this was all in my shed! It was 

all piled up in these plastic containers. 

I pulled a lot of it out thinking ‘I thought 

this had gone years ago?!’. This beautiful 

silk white suit that I had worn when I 

received my first Brit Award. All manner 

of stuff was in there. It was like Aladdin’s 

cave. It’s funny because a lot of the stuff 

doesn’t fit anymore, as it is twenty years 

on. It is designer stuff, there’s Dolce & 

Gabbana and Armani and all that. So we 

bagged it all up and took it to the local 

homeless facility. It was funny because 

the guy rang me up a few days later 

and said “Russell we’re so grateful for 

the clothes, we shouldn’t laugh but all 

the guys here are now walking around 

in Dolce & Gabbana and Armani, it’s 

brilliant!” 

That’s really brilliant! It is great to 

donate. 

We’ve attempted to do a lot for homeless 

people over the years. I’ve recently been 

involved with a big project with The 

Big Issue, to try to raise for homeless 

people who at the moment are suffering 

more than ever. With people not leaving 

home because of the pandemic it’s been 

incredibly difficult for a lot of homeless 

people. I am a huge advocate for 

supporting the homeless. 

Tell us more about your 20th 

Anniversary tour. How does it feel to 

finally be able to go back to what you 

do best? 

Well it was the tour that was meant to 

happen at the beginning of 2020. Then 

it was moved to the middle of 2020. 

Then it was moved to the end of 2020. 

Now it has ended up in Autumn 2021. 

It’s difficult to know what to put on the 

tour poster. ‘The tour that nearly was, 

then wasn’t. But then nearly was again, 

but wasn’t. But might be, but wasn’t. 

But probably could be but we just don’t 

know’ tour. December 2019 was my last 

concert in front of an audience, and so 

this Friday (20th July) was my first show 

for the best part of eighteen months. It 

was an outdoor festival in Hale Barns 

and it was just wonderful to get back on 

stage with all my musician friends and 

deliver a show to an audience that, you 

could just tell, were long overdue some 

live entertainment. It was such a great, 

great night. 


” 

On his 20th 

Anniversary tour: 

I’m very proud of 

the fact that I’ve 

been able to remain 

in the industry for 

such a long period of 

time, and it really is, 

from my perspective, 

something to 

celebrate. 

” 

I can imagine. Just to get out and 

see you and also see friends again. 

Because we’ve all had to give up a lot 

of our life! What can we expect from 

the tour? 

It’s a collection of material from the last 

twenty-one years of my recordings. It’s 

the repertoire that I think the fan base 

would expect first and foremost and 

then similarly a few surprises in there. I 

think it’s all the material and repertoire 

that underpins the last twenty-one years 

of my recording career. I’m very proud 

of the fact that I’ve been able to remain 

in the industry for such a long period of 

time, and it really is, from my perspective, 

something to celebrate. 

Does it feel like it’s been twenty-one 

years since you recorded your first 

album? 

You know what, when I think about 

all the things that have happened to 

me over twenty-one years it feels like 

two lifetimes! But when I actually look 

back in retrospect to, say for instance, 

when I first went into the studio with my 

producer Nick Patrick in 1999, it literally 

feels like the blink of an eye. It feels 

like it was last week! It’s such a strange 

feeling, but life is like that isn’t it? I think 

all those moments that we feel underpin 

who we are, the successes in our lives, 

the failures, the difficult times, they’re the 

moments that we single out and they are 

they key elements in our lives. They are 

part of a big jigsaw, and when you look 

back on them it doesn’t feel like they 

were that long ago but when you think 

about all the water that’s gone under the 

bridge in between it feels like I’ve done so 

much, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate 

in my career as well. 

It’s like looking at old pictures of 

yourself back in the 80s. Did I really 

have a mullet? I did. 

I know what you mean. I look at pictures 

from that period, particularly with 

reference to my teenage years and even 

though, stylistically, some of the stuff I 

was wearing was odd, I just look back on 

it and think ‘Oh my god, that was such an 

uncomplicated period of my life’. It just 

seemed like it was sunshine every day 

of the Summer, and snow in the Winter 

and everything just seemed so massively 

uncomplicated. 

So you’ve been busy with a new 

album? 

No, there’s no new album this year. I’ve 

decided to take a year off from recording. 

But last year at the beginning of 2020 

I went into the studio to make to 20th 

anniversary recording which was released 

last Christmas. So they’ll be nothing this 

year. I just sort of feel like I want to let 

the dust settle on 2021 and then maybe 

next year, if everything is fully operational 

again and we have some sort of 

semblance of normality, then maybe we 

can look at another four quarter release 

for 2022. 

During your career you have played 

at some amazing venues around the 

world. Does it still make the hairs on 

the back of your neck stand up when 

you walk on stage? 

That can happen for different reasons. 

It’s not necessarily with regards to the 

location I’m performing in. But it can 

happen if I get a moment in a song where 

there’s maybe a memory of a certain 

moment or somebody that maybe I’ve 

lost in my life and a memory comes 

in. But with regards to being in venues 

where I would most definitely look out 

and think: “My God how did I end up 

here? This is awe-inspiring.” I mean the 

Vatican is one of those moments that I 

can single out. It was just tremendous, 

not least of all because the Pope was 

there as well. 

No pressure there then! 

You know what? I’ve never really felt 

pressure. It’s funny, it’s something that 

was born into me and it’s not something 

I ever really think about. I just go on there 

and I do what I do. It doesn’t matter 

whether I’m singing to ten people or ten 

thousand people. I go on and I do what I 

do, and I do it with the same enthusiasm 

and technique as I would do it anywhere. 

I remember doing the opening ceremony 

for the Commonwealth Games, and there 

was one of the yellow bibbed stewards 

stood at the side of the stage. I was 

waiting to go on and he said to me: “You 

alright there Russell mate?” I said: “Yeah 

I’m good thank you.” He said: “You’re 

not nervous are you?” I said: “No, I’m 

fine.” He says: “There’s a lot of people 

out there, about forty-thousand people in 

the stadium I’ve heard.” I said: “Really? 

Great!” He continued, saying: “All the 

athletes from all the nations, all with their 

banners. They’re all out there.” I said: 

“Lovely.” He then says: “Her majesty 

the Queen is out there, yeah she’s out 

there too. And I’ve heard there’s about a 

billion people watching live on TV.” I said: 

“Right, please be quiet now because you 

are making me nervous!.” 

Who would you say are you musical 

influences? 

Believe it or not, my biggest musical 

influence as a child would have been 

my Gran! Whenever I would go round 

my Gran’s house, she was a massive 

classical music fan. I’ve been listening 

to everything from Chopin, Schubert, 

Schumann…all those greats. Mario Lanza 

was a constant fixture in the house so I 

was very familiar with a lot of those big 

classical artists from an early age. So 

she was a big influence. But in regards 

to artists, Luciano Pavarotti was a big 

favourite of mine. But as a kid it was all 

about Paul Weller and The Jam and The 

Beatles to a degree. I mean The Beatles 

were slightly before my time, but still I 

had my old semi-acoustic guitar and I 

used to bash out tunes with my old pals, 

sit up in our bedrooms or whoever’s 

garage we could use and jam away to the 

old Beatles bumper book of 101 songs. 

Great memories, they were probably my 

biggest influences. 

How can we find out more information 

on the tour? 

You can find all the information you need 

on the website including the dates that 

we are doing. It’s russellwatson.com, 

so you’ll find all my new dates on there, 

plus you are able to book through it too 

so that’s great. 


HIS 

BREAD 

& BUTTER 

SUSTAINABLE HOUSING 

DEVELOPMENT IN 

GLOUCESTERSHIRE REACHES 

KEY MILESTONE 

Richard Bertinet is well-loved 

and well-known for being the 

UK’s baking ‘godfather’. 

His books about baking and his 

bread-making courses alike 

have delighted audiences for 

many years. 

Sally Thomson talks to Richard 

to discuss books, baking and 

BBC Maestro, where you can 

catch him offering the ultimate 

online bread-making course... 


HOW ARE YOU ON THIS GLORIOUS 

DAY? 

Making croissants with this weather! It’s 

a bit hot in the kitchen but it’s nice to be 

open again so all is good. 

YOU ARE DOING WONDERFULLY 

WELL AT THE MOMENT APART 

FROM THE FACT WE HAVE ALL 

BEEN THROUGH THIS RATHER 

INTERESTING YEAR THINGS SEEM TO 

BE GOOD WITH YOU. 

We opened in April and we have just tried 

to push everything we could this year and 

last year. It’s very busy. 

SO, PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO COME TO 

YOUR CLASS NOW? 

Yes, we reopened in April. 

SO, THESE CURRENT RESTRICTIONS 

HAVEN’T CHANGED YOUR PLANS? 

No, we are Covid compliant and can still 

have the same number of people. In Bath 

40% of the customers come from the 

rest of the World so Japan, The States 

and Australia. Obviously, they cannot 

come to Bath at the moment so we have 

a massive backlog of people wanting to 

come when they can travel*. 

I SEE THAT YOU OFFER CLASSES FOR 

CHILDREN, HOW DO YOU FIND THAT? 

Teaching children was always very 

important to us and we also work with a 

lot of local schools in the area and teach 

some classes plus talk to the children. 

It’s good fun and nice to see them smile 

when they try something that they haven’t 

done before. I think it’s a shame that so 

many schools don’t use cooking and 

baking anymore. 

I SEE THAT YOU ALSO WORK WITH 

PING COOMBES. 

Yes, Ping does classes for me. She 

teaches Malaysian cooking plus stuff 

from my book. 

YOU HAVE PRODUCED 6 BOOKS SO 

FAR. HAVE YOU GOT ANYMORE IN 

THE PIPELINE OR DO YOU NOT HAVE 

ENOUGH TIME? 

I’ve got a couple of ideas but it’s getting 

the time to do it and I like to write a book 

for the right purpose not just for the sake 

of it so I need to get the time and wait 

until things get back to normal. 

YOU NEED TO BE CLONED SO THAT 

THERE IS ANOTHER ONE OF YOU 

AND YOU CAN KEEP UP! 

That’s true but there is only one of me 

I’m afraid. 

WHEN YOU FIRST CAME INTO BATH 

IN 2005 DID YOU EXPECT YOUR 

CAREER TO TAKE OFF AS IT DID? 

I knew the concept we had was good and 

if it worked out, we would have success. 

When I first moved to Bath a lot of local 

businesses gave us 6 months to survive 

but that made me more determined to 

make it. 

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR 

COOKERY SCHOOL - IT’S GOING 

FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH BY 

THE SOUNDS OF IT? 

Well, the school has been going since 

2005 and since then we have won a lot 

of awards, we then sold the bakery and a 

lot of things have happened in 15 years. 

The school is so busy it’s a worldwide 

attraction which means we bring a lot of 

people to Bath. We won the South West 

Tourism Award two years ago due to the 

number of people that we attract to Bath. 

We have a few guest chefs coming in as 

well, but the core classes are with me 

learning about bread making, as well as 

what I write about in my books. 

YOU HAVE SO MANY ACCOLADES 

AND EVERYBODY ENJOYS WHAT YOU 

HAVE BEEN DOING. 

We pride ourselves on the services we 

give our customers and also the way I 

teach is quite unique - I’m very hands on. 

Our school is quite small so it means that 

I can spend time with everybody. 


On his baking classes 

for children: “It’s good 

fun and nice to see 

them smile when they 

try something that they 

haven’t done before. I 

think it’s a shame that 

so many schools don’t 

use cooking and baking 

anymore.” 

DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE 

GETTING BACK TO NORMAL? 

Until we get all our backlog of people 

who couldn’t attend last year’s classes 

hopefully then we will be back on an 

even keel but not yet I’m afraid. We are 

open and running and there are some 

businesses that can’t do that so in a way 

we are one of the lucky ones. 

I HEAR THAT YOU WILL BE GETTING 

INVOLVED WITH BBC MAESTRO. 

Yes, it’s been amazing. We have just 

finished editing. I absolutely loved it! It’s 

a challenge to do live broadcasts, it’s 

recipe lead and different from how I teach 

in my classes, but it was well done. The 

team were amazing. 

YOU HAVE BEEN ON OTHER 

COOKERY SHOWS SO DID YOU FIND 

THAT THIS WAS A STEP UP? 

Yes, I’ve been on Saturday Kitchen and 

on James Martin’s show so it’s a different 

buzz being filmed live and you have to be 

mindful of what you do and say. 

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WILL BE 

SPECIALISING IN? 

It’s specifically about bread and things I 

like to do at home. It goes from making 

brioche, sourdough to bagels, all that 

kind of stuff and things to give people 

the confidence to bake at home and feel 

that they learn something. It’s going to be 

good. The production team was amazing, 

and I can’t wait for it to launch. 

YOU ARE FROM BRITTANY HAVE 

YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO GO BACK 

RECENTLY? 

We went to France last year, Provence. 

We have a house down there and 

managed to visit just before lockdown. 

*At the time of the interview there was 

uncertainty regarding travel to the city 

of Bath. 

BBC Maestro with Richard Bertinet 

is available now at bbcmaestro.com. 

The course costs £80 for 23 episodes 

including written class notes for 

each one. An additional bonus festive 

episode is expected to launch later in 

the year exclusively to subscribers. 

thebertinetkitchen.com 


CHOCOLATE, ORANGE 

& PISTACHIO LOAF 

INGREDIENTS 

150g good quality dark chocolate chips 

75g roughly chopped pistachios 

Zest of 2 oranges 

50g mixed peel 

1 tablespoon Cointreau (optional) 

125g unsalted butter straight from the 

fridge 

125g full fat milk 

3 medium eggs 

500g strong white bread flour (plus extra 

for dusting) 

15g fresh yeast 

45g caster sugar 

10g fine sea salt 

FOR THE GLAZE 

2 eggs 

Pinch fine sea salt 

METHOD 

Mix the chocolate chips, nuts zest 

and mixed peel in a bowl and stir in 

the Cointreau if you are using it. Place 

the cold butter between 2 sheets of 

greaseproof and bash it with a rolling pin 

to soften it and break it up into smaller 

pieces (without warming it up). 

Put the milk and eggs into the bowl of a 

food mixer and then add the flour. Break 

up the yeast and add to one side of the 

bowl. Add the sugar and salt on the 

other side of the bowl. 

Mix on a slow speed for 4 minutes. 

Increase the speed to medium for another 

2 minutes then add the butter piece by 

piece until it is all incorporated. Continue 

mixing on medium speed for 10-12 

minutes until the dough comes away from 

the sides of the bowl. 

Stop the mixer. Add the chocolate and 

pistachio mixture to the bowl and mix 

for no longer than 30-40 seconds on 

the slowest speed – you don’t want the 

chocolate and nuts to become mushy. 

Lightly flour your worksurface and turn 

the dough out onto the work surface. 

Form the dough into a ball and then place 

into a lightly floured bowl. Cover and 

rest for about 45 minutes until just under 

double in size. 

Lightly flour the surface again, turn out 

the dough and divide into 10 equal pieces 

of about 110g each. Form each piece 

into a ball and then press gently into 

cake or loaf tins until they are full. In the 

picture I have used tiny tins that only take 

one ball but if you use a larger one you 

will have a finished loaf or two that will be 

perfect to tear and share. Whether you 

have one or two will depend on the size 

of your tins. Cover and leave to prove 

for about 1 hour until just under double 

in size. 

While the dough is proving, pre-heat the 

oven to 190°C and beat the eggs and 

pinch of salt for the glaze. Brush the top 

of each loaf with the egg glaze and use a 

pair of scissors to snip into the dough for 

decoration. 

Place the tins on a baking tray and 

put into the pre-heated oven. Turn the 

temperature down to 180°C and bake for 

15-20 minutes until golden. 


COMFORT 

When the darker nights set in, you 

just want some go-to comfort food 

recipes - and here, Waitrose has 

delivered! Find more recipes at 

www.waitrose.com 

Calling 

CHICKEN SHAWARMA 

FLATBREADS WITH 

YOGURT 

Prep time: 20 minutes + marinating 

Cooking time: 20 minutes 

Serves: 4 

INGREDIENTS 

8 British chicken thigh fillets 

3 tbsp Cooks’ Ingredients Shawarma 

Paste 

½ red onion, finely sliced 

2 lemons, juice of 1, 1 cut into wedges 

1½ tsp Cooks’ Ingredients Sumac 

½ large cucumber 

250g Yeo Valley Organic Greek Style 

Natural Yogurt 

1 small clove garlic, finely grated 

15 mint leaves, finely shredded, plus extra 

to garnish 

4 Waitrose & Partners Hand-Stretched 

Flatbreads 

50g pomegranate seeds 

1-2 handfuls wild rocket 

METHOD 

Slash each chicken thigh a few times, 

concentrating on the thicker parts of the 

fillet. Season, then rub all over with the 

shawarma paste. Cover and chill for 20 

minutes (up to 2 hours). Meanwhile, mix 

the onion, lemon juice and sumac with a 

good pinch of salt. Set aside until ready 

to serve. 

To make the sauce, coarsely grate the 

cucumber and put in a sieve. Toss with a 

pinch of salt and leave over a bowl for 10 

minutes to drain, then gently press with a 

wooden spoon to extract as much liquid 

as possible. Tip into a bowl and stir in the 

yogurt, garlic and mint. 

Heat a griddle pan over a high heat. Cook 

the chicken for 5-8 minutes on each side 

(depending on the fillets’ size) until the 

juices run clear and there is no pink meat, 

then set aside for 2 minutes. Clean the 

pan then use it to griddle the flatbreads 

for 30 seconds on each side. Arrange 

them on plates and top with the chicken, 

pickled onion, pomegranate, rocket and 

the cucumber and yogurt sauce, finishing 

with the extra mint leaves and lemon 

wedges for squeezing over. 

COOK’S TIP 

This recipe also works well with lamb or 

pork steaks instead of chicken (adjust 

cooking times accordingly). 

COTTAGE PIE WITH 

SWEET POTATO 

Prep time: 20 minutes plus standing 

Cooking time: 1 hour 20 minutes 

Serves: 4 

INGREDIENTS 

1 tbsp olive oil 

500g British beef mince 

1 onion, diced 

1 stalk celery, diced 

1 carrot, peeled and diced 

1 Oxo Beef stock cube 

1 tbsp tomato purée 

1½ tbsp plain flour 

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 

3 thyme sprigs 

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled 

1 tbsp unsalted butter 

METHOD 

Heat ½ tbsp oil in a large sauté pan or 

casserole dish over a high heat. Add 

the beef and fry, breaking it up, for 4-5 

minutes, until browned. Remove from the 

pan, add the remaining 1⁄2 tbsp oil, lower 

the heat to medium and fry the onion, 

celery and carrot with a pinch of salt for 

10 minutes, until softened. Meanwhile, 

dissolve the beef stock cube in 500ml 

just-boiled water. 

Return the beef to the pan, add the 

tomato purée and cook for 1 minute, then 

stir in the flour and fry for 1 minute more. 

Add the stock, Worcestershire sauce and 

2 thyme sprigs and simmer for 25-30 

minutes, until the beef is coated in a thick 

gravy. Meanwhile, slice the potatoes 

as thinly as you can and put in a bowl. 

Cover with just-boiled water from the 

kettle; set aside for 10 minutes. Drain and 

use kitchen paper to pat dry thoroughly, 

then lay out on more kitchen paper to 

finish drying. 

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

Melt the butter. Tip the beef and gravy 

into a medium ovenproof dish. Toss the 


We are looking to expand our portfolio 

With a local and enthusiastic team, Dorset Hideaways are well placed to make the process 

of sharing your holiday home easy and enjoyable. We are dedicated to managing 

your property with the same care and attention you would and with tailored services 

to suit your needs, you can be as involved as you like. 

Email newowners@dorsethideaways.co.uk or please call us on 01929 448 708 

dorsethideaways.co.uk 

GIVE A GIFT that means a little more 

sustainable, wellness-based gift boxes - customisable and beautiful, from £10 

available from hauslife.co.uk 


potatoes with the butter and leaves from 

the remaining thyme sprig. Season and 

arrange in circles over the beef. Bake for 

30 minutes until bubbling hot and the 

potatoes are cooked through. Stand for 

10 minutes before serving. 

COOK’S TIP 

Scatter grated cheddar over the potatoes 

halfway through baking to give the pie a 

nice cheesy crust. 

CHEWY BROWN SUGAR 

COOKIES 

Prep time: 15 minutes plus chilling 


Makes: 12 - 14 

INGREDIENTS 

200g unsalted butter, roughly chopped 

300g Billington’s Dark Brown Soft Natural 

Unrefined Cane Sugar 

300g plain flour 

1 tsp baking powder 

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 

½ tsp ground cinnamon 

½ tsp fine salt 

1 large British Blacktail Free Range Egg 

1 tsp vanilla bean paste 

METHOD 

Put the butter and sugar in a large 

saucepan and set over a medium heat. 

Heat gently, stirring occasionally, until 

the butter has melted and the sugar has 

dissolved. Set aside off the heat for 5 

minutes to cool. Meanwhile, mix the flour, 

baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, 

cinnamon and salt in a bowl. 

With a wooden spoon, beat the egg 

and vanilla into the butter-sugar mix, 

then beat in the dry ingredients until 

completely combined. Transfer to a bowl, 

cover with a plate and chill for at least 2 

hours (up to 24 hours). 

Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4; 

line 2 large baking trays with parchment. 

Leave the cookie dough out of the fridge 

for 15 minutes to warm up a little. Roll 

into 12-14 balls (about 65-70g each) 

and space out well on the baking trays 

(the cookies spread quite a lot during 

cooking, so bake in more than 2 batches 

if needed). Bake for about 15 minutes, 

turning the trays halfway if needed, until 

deep golden and cracked on top. Cool 

for 5 minutes on the trays, then transfer 

to a wire rack to cool completely. 

COOK’S TIP 

Ovens can vary in temperature, so after 

about 12 minutes, keep an eye on your 

cookies. Once they look set and golden 

at the edges and start to crack on top, 

they’re ready. 

CHERRY & ALMOND 

BRIOCHE FRENCH 

TOAST 

Prep time: 15 minutes 


Serves: 4 

INGREDIENTS 

425g can black cherries in light syrup 

3 tsp Tate & Lyle Fairtrade Cane Icing 

Sugar, plus extra for dusting 

1 medium British Blacktail Free Range 

Egg 

250ml whole milk 

½ tsp almond extract 

8 slices sliced brioche loaf 

2 tbsp unsalted butter 

150g pot vanilla yogurt 

1 tbsp toasted flaked almonds 

METHOD 

Put a sieve over a small saucepan and 

drain the cherries. Set the cherries aside 

and simmer the juices for 5 minutes until 

reduced. Add 1 tsp icing sugar and the 

drained cherries to the saucepan and 

simmer for another 5 minutes, until the 

cherries are coated in a glossy syrup. 

Meanwhile, set your largest frying pan 

over a medium-highheat. In a large, 

shallow dish, whisk the egg, milk, 

almondextract and remaining 2 tsp 

icing sugar. Add 4 brioche slices to the 

mixture, soaking on each side for about 

45 seconds until they’ve absorbed plenty 

of the mixture but aren’t too soggy. Add 

1 tbsp butter to the frying pan and, when 

foaming, fry the brioche for 4 minutes 

on each side until golden and puffed up. 

Arrange on plates while you prepare the 

remaining slices in the same way, frying in 

the remaining 1 tbsp butter. 

Serve 2 slices of brioche per person. Top 

with a spoonful of vanilla yogurt and the 

warm cherries and syrup (reheat briefly 

if necessary). Scatter with the toasted 

almonds and dust with a little icing sugar 

to serve. 


TONIQ On Demand 


We caught up with personal trainer Arron Collins-Thomas to find out about his new 

online fitness offering, expanded from his very successful gym TONIQ... 

Your gym, with its fully-rounded approach to health and 

lifestyle, has made national news for its incredible client 

results – what will the app offer? 

At TONIQ we recognise that good health is more than just 

regular workouts, it encompasses taking care of every aspect 

of your body. We have created a solution where everything from 

nutrition, mindfulness, amazing workouts, yoga and more is 

available with guidance from fantastic trainers and experts in 

one place. 

Not only this, but as part of TOD you have access to your own 

coach, ensuring that you have someone you can speak to, to 

keep you on track and accountable as well as supporting you 

throughout. 

We have had some incredible results over the past few years at 

TONIQ and we want to be able to bring those results to more 

people. With the app we aim to give anyone, anywhere in the 

world, a taste of the TONIQ-life. 

As a TONIQ On Demand member you get to join the incredible 

community online, have access to our on demand workouts as 

well as live workouts, Q&As and educational talks. We have an 

incredible coaching team with a huge array of skills to bring to 

you including yoga, qigong, nutrition and mindfulness. 

The main workouts are written based on what we are up to at 

TONIQ in any given training block and a new phase of workouts 

launches every 6 weeks on the app as well as regular bonus 

content to keep the training varied and inspiring. 

Can you get a good experience with online coaching? 

Are you accountable and is it personalised? 

With TOD you have a designated TONIQ coach who you speak 

to on a one to one basis. When you first sign up with us you 

will have a call to help you set up your accountability sheets, 

help you curate your workout schedule and set you on the 

right nutrition plan for you. Then every month you get another 

call with your coach to help keep you on track and answer any 

questions you may have. Accountability is key if you really want 

to get results and that is one of the reasons why TONIQ has 

been so successful. 

Are the classes accessible no matter your fitness level? 

Some of us are self-conscious about going to the gym or 

nervous in COVID times. 

No matter what your levels of fitness we can help you. Our 

expert coach will advise what level to start at for you and 

how hard to push yourself in the first consultation you have 

with them. It will be based around your fitness and any health 

concerns, so you can feel secure in the fact that you won’t be 

over training or causing yourself any harm by taking part in our 

programs. 

For people who aren’t ready for the gym again yet or who are 

self conscious TONIQ On Demand is the perfect choice. You get 

personal trainer support and expert written workouts, all from 

the comfort of your own home. 

You also get to join a great online community who share their 

experiences and help support each other to get the results they 

desire. 

TONIQ ON DEMAND 

MORE THAN A WORKOUT 

Join our community from anywhere, at anytime with 

TONIQ on Demand, our app gives you access to: 

Personalised plans developed with expert coaches. 

Nutrition plans based on your needs and goals. 

Monthly 121 check in calls with an expert coach. 

Extensive library of classes including SWEAT, STRONGER, 

BURN and CHILL. 

Visit TONIQLIFE.COM to find out more

autumn 

wedding wins 

Beautiful custom invites from 

papierandplume.co.uk 

PLANNING GUIDE IN COVID TIMES 

Whether you’re planning a wedding at home 

or abroad, there are countless moving parts 

surrounding COVID-19—and what it means for 

your event, specifically, really depends on your 

wedding date, guest count, location, and extent 

of travel involved. 

Be prepared, follow the news closely, and maintain an open 

conversation with your vendors and guests. Also, if you can, 

book a planner—even an hourly one if your budget allows—to 

help navigate everything. And, most importantly: Keep your 

eye on the end goal! All the stresses and strains of the previous 

months will melt away when you can enjoy your day with your 

nearest and dearest. 

First and foremost when planning, be aware of the health 

risks and guest safety, and, second, government COVID-19 

guidelines. Sadly, these things don’t always align—sometimes 

laws being too lax when risks are high and sometimes being 

too strict when risks are low. There has been an unpredictability 

and capriciousness to when local government officials update 

COVID-19 rules so it’s pertinent for couples to continue to plan 

for both hopeful and cautious scenarios until this is truly all 

behind us. 

www.cutflowersbykate.co.uk 

For 2022, the primary challenge is venue and vendor availability, 

there’s never been so much interest in weddings and gatherings. 

The key is getting a plan together and acting quickly - book 

everything as soon as possible! Whether you’re doing this by 

yourself or with a planner, you’ll want to book many of your 

vendors simultaneously as your venue to guarantee availability. 

Planning your wedding abroad? They key to success depends 

on the destination - a good start is to begin researching what 

travel lists they’ve been on in the past and how they’ve handled 

COVID-19 so far. Are they the type of country that will just close 

down to tourists with 24 hours’ notice? Are they the type of 

country that hasn’t been big on regulations at all? Ultimately, 

you need to choose a destination that will make your guests 

feel comfortable. Some countries are really excelling at that, 

and some are not at all. The same goes for planning your 

honeymoon - pick the destination carefully or have a staycation 

until you can head to your dream location. 

The key in all of this is flexibility - not only with date and location 

but also guest count. There will basically be two wedding 

seasons into one (2020/21 postponements being knocked into 

2022), so giving yourself as many options as possible is really 

important. 

Festoon lights, LED candles and 

faux eucalyptus, lights4fun.co.uk 

Wedding Florist and cut flower grower 

for loose stem orders 

T: 07788217521 E: katewh1@live.co.uk 

Dairy House Farm, West Chelborough, DT2 0PY 


We make designer 

Hats and Fascinators 

to suit you 

We also stock a large 

range of coloured 

pashminas 

and clutch bags 

At CW Millinery Events we offer luxury millinery events to suit all of your 

guest and budgets starting at £50 per person. 

All packages include materials, expert tuition of one of our millinery team 

and an experience that will be fun with creativity for your special event. 

We also offer local in person millinery courses. 

www.cwmillineryevents.co.uk www.facebook.com/cwmillineryevents 

We also offer local in person millinery courses. 

Courses - Dorset’s Millinery Group www.facebook.com/groups/1121719298336806 


www.norsu.com.au 

www.anboise.com 

GUEST BEDROOM 

perfection 

DON’T: WORRY IF YOU 

DON’T HAVE LOADS OF 

SPACE 

Ultimately you have to work with what 

you’ve got - in the last 18 months, 

many of us have seen our guest rooms 

overhauled into home offices. If you’ve 

ditched the bed don’t worry - how about 

adding an attractive sofa bed that you 

can actually use the rest of the time as a 

break out area from your desk. 

DO: PROVIDE BASIC 

AMENITIES 

The more things you can put in the room 

to make their stay easier, without having 

to ask you for everything, the more 

relaxed everyone will feel. A mirror is 

important, as are fresh towels, tissues, 

and perhaps even a hair dryer. A bedside 

carafe and some glasses means they can 

help themselves to water too. 

DO: INVEST IN GOOD 

WINDOW TREATMENTS 

As you might have never slept in this 

space, you might not know how light 

behaves or how effective the current 

window treatments are for blocking out 

light. For a really luxurious look, pair 

blackout blinds or shutters with thick, 

decorative drapery. 

DON’T: SETTLE FOR A 

LUMPY MATTRESS 

The same goes for the mattress as the 

window treatments - spend a night in the 

room and see if the bed is up to scratch. 

DO: PROVIDE GOOD 

LIGHTING 

Multi-level lighting is key for making a 

space feel cosy - make sure there are 

two bedside lamps and then another 

light source in the space, such as a 

standing lamp in the corner or a lamp on 

a dressing table 

DON’T: SKIMP ON THE 

BED LINENS 

Good bed linen really is worth the money 

- and it tends to wash better too. Provide 

a good quality duvet and pillows, linens 

and some additional blankets if your 

guests feel the cold. 

DO: CREATE 

SOMEWHERE THEY CAN 

UNPACK 

We all know it’s a bit stressful trying to 

live out of a suitcase - allowing for some 

hanging space and a few drawers to 

unpack into, can really help guests keep 

on top of things whilst they’re with you. 

DO: MAKE IT SMELL 

LOVELY 

Kit the room out with either fresh flowers, 

a reed diffuser, or room sprays. 

DON’T: BE A 

PERFECTIONIST 

If your guests were hoping for hotel 

standards, then that’s where they should 

have stayed. Just aim to make sure 

the space is clean, comfortable and 

functional, then relax - there’s enough to 

be worrying about in the festive season 

without adding high expectations on top 

of that. 

If you’re looking for a total decorative 

overhaul, check out our moodboards! 

www.frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk 


haus 

HOME | LIFESTYLE 

NEW LIGHTS • NEW DISPLAYS • NEW IDEAS 


ARTISANAL SOFT 

FURNISHINGS 

FOR THE MODERN 

HOME 

USE CODE 

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WE ARE BACK OPEN ON THE 12 TH APRIL 

WE ARE BACK OPEN ON THE 12 TH APRIL 


COME AND SEE OUR FRESH NEW SHOW ROOMS 


WE ARE ALWAYS HERE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS 

AND NOW OFFER A HOME DESIGN SERVICE, 

JUST CALL OUR SHOP FOR DETAILS 

F U S I O N L I G H T I N G 

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APRIL 

We are proud suppliers of Thomas Kent Clocks & Yankee Candles 


01305 251543 | www.fusion-lighting.co.uk | sales@fusion-lighting.co.uk 

01305 251543 | www.fusion-lighting.co.uk | sales@fusion-lighting.co.uk 


Bromley Chest, £399, 

Made.com 

Black Branches Print, from £6.99, 

www.juniqe.co.uk 

Jute Effect Daylight Roller 

Blind, from £22, John Lewis 

Bedroom by Pure Salt Interiors 

BRIGHT 

& CRISP 

Off-White Linen Bed Set. 

£170.99, www.truelinen.co.uk 

Limestone Wood Paint, £18 

750ml, thorndown.co.uk 

Dar Lighting 

NUS422, from £82, 

wtlighting.co.uk 

Furn Contra Olive Cushion, 

£25, www.persora.com 

London Bench, from £499, 

www.boconcept.com 

Mala Pile Rug, 

200x290cm, £299, 

Made.com 

Reims, Iron/Metal Four Poster Bed Frame, from 

£649, www.obc-uk.net 

Black Bud Vase, £29, 

room356.co.uk 

Achieve this look by 

layering different 

neutral textures, and 

adding structural 

touches of black and a 

few strong accent colours 

Juna Striped 

Cushion, £34, 

hauslife.co.uk 


INTERIORS 

CLASSIC CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY 

We are passionate about finding new homes for antique, vintage and 

contemporary pieces that are beautifully designed, masterfully created 

and enduringly desirable. 

Through experience, knowledge and research we look to share the story, 

history and social context of individual pieces; from design origins, points 

of craftsmanship to materials used. 

As a business we are dedicated to sustainability and invite you to help us 

reduce carbon production, waste and pollution by considering an older 

and cherished item to furnish your home. 

01305 267503 

www.martingreeninteriors.co.uk 

63 High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1UY F I


Century 1 Light 

Chandelier in Rich 

Auerelia Gold with Clear 

Heritage Crystal, £906.12, 

weybridgelights.co.uk 

Design by Turner Pocock 

Clemence Mirror, £174, 

sweetpeaandwillow.com 

So’Home Lamp, 

£139, laredoute.co.uk 

Rustic Apricot Blossom 

Wallpaper, £44 for 10m 

roll, litfad.com 

MODERN 

REGENCY 

Porthallow Footstool, from 

£746, sofasandstuff.com 

Botticelli Demi Lune 

Console Table, £495, 

perchandparrow.com 

Country Living Linen 

Pom Pom Cushion, £20, 

homebase.co.uk 

Estella Headboard from £545, 

headboardsbydesignonline.co.uk 

400cm Core-Edo 

Coordonne mural, £470, 

thebestwallpaperplace.com 


Pembridge Pendant 

Size 3, £1319, 

www.originalbtc.com 

B O H O 

COASTAL 

Dulux Paint in ‘Paper Chain’ 

Natural Ceramic Table Lamp, 

£99,barkerandstonehouse.co.uk 

Kilby Bedside 

Table, £229, 

made.com 

Design by Studio McGee 

Fingal 3 Seat 

Sofa, £1210, 

sofa.com 

Navy Seigaiha Wave Cushions £32 and Kayla Woven Cushion £31, hauslife. 

co.uk, Weeping Palm Tree Velvet Cushion Cover, £32.95, audenza.com 

Malibu Print, from £6.99, www.juniqe.co.uk 

Tulana Double Bed, 

£599, made.com 

Elowen Throw, 

£75, hauslife.co.uk 


WOOD BURNING STOVES 

The importance of wood as an efficient, renewable and low carbon energy source 

Wood burners vs Open fires: the stats:- There are few things in life 

more comforting and mesmerising than the long, lazy flames and 

crackling sound of a freshly lit wood fire, however, there is some 

confusion surrounding the impact of wood burning stoves on the 

environment and the efficiency and sustainability of firewood as a 

fuel source. 

With air quality an ever growing issue, especially in urban areas, it 

is vital that government, stove manufacturers, dealerships and fuel 

suppliers alike, work together to educate Brits that by following 

best practice and making the right choices when it comes to wood 

burners and fuel, stove owners can ensure that they are getting the 

best possible performance from their appliance whilst also playing 

their part in protecting the environment. 

Contrary to popular opinion, when used and maintained correctly, 

the right appliance can provide an efficient, cost effective and 

sustainable domestic heating solution. Likewise, firewood is a highly 

efficient and low-carbon energy source. 

Why is wood a good fuel option? 

Unlike coal or natural gas, wood is a low-carbon fuel. This means 

that burning wood results in a relatively small net release of carbon 

dioxide into the atmosphere, which is then re-absorbed when new 

trees grow. This effectively balances out the combustion of bio-energy. 

When changing from smokeless or mineral fuels to burning wood, 

this contributes to a reduction in carbon emissions. 

Unlike fossil fuels such as coal, crude oil and natural gas, wood is 

a renewable energy source. A renewable resource is defined as a 

natural resource which can be replenished to replace the portion 

depleted by usage. 

Wood is renewable in that a tree cut for fuel will naturally be replaced 

by a younger tree that grows or is planted in its place. However, 

it is also important to consider the concept of sustainable forest 

management; both locally and worldwide… 

Most firewood is produced from thinning the forest to provide 

space, nutrition and light for thicker, more established trees to 

prosper. Localised coppicing helps to ensure ‘low fuel miles’ as 

wood is transported to areas nearby, within a 30 to 100 mile radius, 

rather than sourced from forests abroad. 

How efficient is wood burning? 

Using firewood contributes to fuel independence as it can nearly 

always be sourced locally, within a 30-100-mile radius, which means 

it extremely efficient in fuel miles terms and those purchasing 

firewood are also supporting the local economy. 

In the case of rural properties that do not necessarily want to heat all 

spaces at all times, local space heating using firewood is the most 

efficient heating solution. 

Just two logs per hour are required to keep a wood burner going, 

whilst eight logs are needed to burn for an hour in an open fire. 

Similarly, a wood burning stove is 60 percent more efficient at 

heating the home as heat transfer is convected into the room rather 

than being lost up the chimney in the case of conventional open 

fireplaces. 

It is advisable to replace an open fireplace with a closed wood 

burning stove. 

For more information, visit www.contura.eu. 

Visit our showrooms in October and November for exciting offers 

WOOD BURNER & GAS 

SHOWROOM 

Millers Close, Dorchester DT1 1SS 

01305 751700 

Open Tuesday to Friday 9am - 5pm 

Saturday 9.30am - 4pm 

ELECTRIC & FIREPLACE 

SHOWROOM 

13 Buttermarket, Poundbury DT1 3AZ 

01305 259007 

Open Tuesday to Saturday 

10am - 4pm 

www.fireplaceandstovecentre.co.uk 


after a diagnosis of dementia 

What are the next steps? 

A diagnosis of dementia can be a big shock 

- for the person with the condition, and their 

family. It can be difficult to know what to 

do, what decisions need to be made, who 

to tell, what support is available and what 

happens next. 

There can either be a lot of information 

given to you at the time of diagnosis, or not 

very much at all. Either way, whatever is 

said to you at the time of diagnosis can be 

forgotten in this emotional and challenging 

time. 

Dementia UK provides specialist dementia 

support for families through the Admiral 

Nurse service. Admiral Nurses give families 

the compassionate one-to-one support, 

expert guidance and practical solutions 

they need to face dementia with more 

confidence. 

The families they work with want a simple 

checklist of what to ask, what to do and 

who to approach - so the important next 

steps are clearly outlined in one place, 

with links to more detailed information to 

consider later, when it’s needed. 

The Dementia UK next steps checklist:- 

This checklist has been written by dementia 

specialist Admiral Nurses, to help in the 

early days after you or your family member 

has received a diagnosis of dementia. 

For each item on the checklist, there is a 

further link to additional information, as 

and when you need it. If you don’t have 

access to the internet, you can contact the 

Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline for more 

information and support 

Ask whether there will be a follow up 

appointment after the diagnosis. 

28 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

If yes, who will you see? How often? Who 

makes this appointment? 

Who will be your main point of contact? 

Who will be responsible for coordinating 

subsequent care and support? 

Please record these details and your notes 

in the Dementia UK Practical guide to 

get the best out of GP and other health 

appointments. 

Arrange a Lasting Power of Attorney for:- 

Health and welfare. 

Property and financial affairs. 

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a 

legal document, nominating a person to 

make decisions on behalf of a person with 

dementia, if and when the time comes 

that they no longer have the capacity to 

make these decisions themselves. It is 

very important to fill in and register an LPA 

for both health and welfare, and property 

and financial affairs, while the person with 

dementia still has the capacity to do so. 

Discuss plans and wishes for the future 

with your family, including:- 

Your wishes regarding your future care. 

Your wishes regarding your future medical 

treatment. 

Your hopes about your involvement with 

activities. 

An Advance Care Plan is a document that 

outlines a person’s future wishes for their 

care and medical treatment. 

Apply for a Carers’ Assessment 

Anyone with caring responsibilities for a 

person with dementia is entitled to a Carers’ 

Assessment, to be carried out by their 

Local Authority. The Assessment will look 

at the impact that caring for a person with 

dementia is having, and will then identify 

the type and level of support that is needed. 

This could include some care for the person 

with dementia, some training or some help 

coming in to the home. You will need to 

request the Assessment from your Local 

Authority. 

Apply for all of the relevant financial 

support you are entitled to:- 

People with dementia and their family 

carers are entitled to various benefits, 

tax discounts or financial support. It is 

important to make sure you are receiving all 

of the financial help you are entitled to. 

Organise your home so it helps you live 

safely and independently 

There are lots of simple, practical steps 

that can be taken to help a person with 

dementia to be safe and comfortable in 

their home. 

Inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing 

Agency (DVLA) and your vehicle 

insurance company your diagnosis 

People with a diagnosis of dementia do not 

automatically have to give up their driving 

licence – but you do need to take certain 

steps to make sure you are insured and 

abiding by the law. 

Inform your employer about the 

diagnosis 

If you are diagnosed with dementia and still 

working, it is very important that you tell 

your employer, so that steps can be taken 

to support you in your job, if possible. 

Similarly, if you are caring for someone with 

dementia, telling your employer about your 

changing responsibilities will help you plan 

together, so that you can continue working 

and caring as effectively as possible. 

For more information call 0800 888 6678 or 

visit www.dementiauk.org.

FRAMEWORK 

COVID- 19 FREE 

• Part of the Alexandra Care group 

of homes. 

• Situated near to the beautiful 

Weymouth coastline. 

• Comfortable with 24-hour care 

and support within 25 en-suite 

rooms. 

• Communal living areas for 

everyone to enjoy. 

14 Alexandra Road, Lodmoor Hill, 

Weymouth DT4 7QH 

01305 775462 | danmorlodge@hotmail.com 

www.danmorlodge.com 

• Two passenger lifts give level 

access to all rooms. 

• 24-hour care and support for our 

long stay clients. 

• 24-hour care and support for our 

short stay respite clients. 

• Day care services including 

social stimulation, activities, 

lunch and a bath or shower by 

request for our day visitors. 


MOBILITY MATTERS 

Mobility aids can make a huge difference to someone who is older or living 

with a disability, by giving them the opportunity to remain independent both 

at home and out and about 

If you’re living with limited mobility there 

are a number of mobility aids available 

which can make it easier for you get 

around - whether you’re inside or outside. 

From help getting to and from your car, 

to effective mobility equipment which can 

aid you climbing the stairs, investing your 

time in investigating your care and mobility 

aid options can assist you in making daily 

activities simpler and more enjoyable. 

As we age, our balance can often 

become compromised, leading to slips, 

trips and falls. While inconvenient and 

painful at any age, a fall for someone 

of advancing years can have dramatic 

consequences – ageing bones are more 

liable to breaks than younger ones, and 

take considerably longer to mend, rarely 

restoring complete function. 

WALKING STICK 

A walking stick is a simple and effective 

method of providing extra support for 

anyone who experiences problems with 

balance or walking. Easily available, they 

come in a range of sizes and designs, 

making it easy to find one that suits your 

loved one’s circumstances. 

4-WHEELED ROLLATORS 

4-wheeled rollators are a great option if 

you need more support when walking. 

They come in a variety of different styles, 

including one with seats so you can rest 

when you need to or bags so you can 

carry your shopping without having to 

struggle with carrying extra bags. 

30 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

WHEELCHAIRS 

If your loved one’s doctor thinks that a 

wheelchair would be appropriate, they 

will be offered an appointment with their 

nearest NHS Wheelchair Service centre. 

In these instances, the wheelchair will 

be completely free of charge and will be 

maintained by the NHS. 

If your loved one would prefer to organise 

their own wheelchair, they will be offered 

a voucher to set against some, or all, of 

the cost. 

Where the NHS does not consider a 

wheelchair to be necessary, it is still 

possible to source one through a range 

of providers, with some models folding 

down for ease of transportation. 

MOBILITY SCOOTERS 

Mobility scooters are a reliable way to 

help you get around if you find walking 

distances difficult and need extra 

support. When choosing a scooter, bear 

in mind: 

• How often you need to use it 

• what you need it for (roads or 

pavements) 

• Whether it needs to go in a car 

• Where you’ll store your scooter and 

how you will charge it 

• How much it costs to maintain and 

repair 

• Whether you’ll be able to steer it 

(some have special levers to steer 

them if you have arthritis in your 

hands) 

STAIRLIFTS 

With more elderly people choosing to 

remain in their own homes, rather than 

moving into residential care, elderly care 

at home is becoming a popular option. 

High quality live-in care agencies will 

closely match a carer with your loved one 

to ensure their needs are met fully. 

Where stairs are an issue, a stairlift can 

offer real benefits, allowing your loved 

one to move about their own home in 

complete safety. Stairlifts come in a 

variety of styles and designs and can be 

fitted to most stairways, even where they 

have many twists and turns. 

HOME MOBILITY AIDS 

There are a variety of products available 

to help your mobility around the home. 

These include, but are not limited to: 

• Grab rails/handrails, to help prevent 

falls around the home 

• Grab rails for the bed or a chair to 

help you to stand 

• Raised toilet seats or commode 

chairs, toilets with button flushes 

• Walk in baths or showers with a 

seat 

• Easy to turn taps in the kitchen and 

bathroom 

• A kettle with a holder to make it 

easier to pour, alongside easy to 

grip utensils 

• Gadgets to help pull shoes and 

socks on 

• A contact care button to help in the 

event of a fall

Stay Safe, Stay Well, Enjoy 

Life at Pine Martin Grange 

We are open to new admissions and would be delighted to 

welcome you for a tour of our award winning home. 

Our homes are safe and offer a range of outstanding facilities as well as 24 hour nursing, residential 

and dementia care. Get in touch today and talk through your requirements with our team. 

Please contact us on 01929 768204 or visit www.dormycare.co.uk 

PINE MARTIN GRANGE

Let us let yours 

Your Cottage, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1 Pet. 

But to us so much more than just a holiday let. 

So we give you a team 

that lives and breathes your location 

(A kind friendly face , not a big corporation) 

And though we market your home on a national scale 

We’re just a quick call away or a simple email 

While we offer advice and a few hints and tips 

So yours is the home on everyone’s lips 

Cherished and loved and enjoyed and looked 

after, 

As it’s filled full of memories, friendship and laughter. 

Original Cottages. 

The clue’s in the name. 

Swanage 

Let with us and fall in love with local at 

dorsetcottages.com

West Dorset Living Oct - Nov 2021

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