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Taunton and South Somerset Living Dec 2021 - Jan 2022

At last the Christmas editions are here! With festive fun, gifts and interiors, plus kitchen design advice from Interior Design expert Julia Kendell and an interview with the Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen. Plus, our competition pages return, with staycations, laundry upgrades, festive hampers and a chance to win tickets to see Paloma Faith in concert!

At last the Christmas editions are here! With festive fun, gifts and interiors, plus kitchen design advice from Interior Design expert Julia Kendell and an interview with the Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen. Plus, our competition pages return, with staycations, laundry upgrades, festive hampers and a chance to win tickets to see Paloma Faith in concert!

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A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE AWAITS YOU<br />

Visit our extensive showroom with over 25 displays, to view at your leisure.<br />

Call the team on 01823 665 663 or email enquiries@mayflowerbathrooms.co.uk<br />

to speak to one of our expert bathroom designers.<br />

Showroom open by appointment only basis<br />

5c Castle Road, Chelston Business Park, Wellington, <strong>Somerset</strong>, TA21 9JQ<br />

www.mayflowerbathrooms.co.uk<br />

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm<br />

by pre-arranged appointment only.<br />

Weekends available upon request


Contents<br />

A Note<br />

from the EDITOR<br />

26<br />

The<br />

A Culinary Journey through<br />

Northern<br />

Home Irel<strong>and</strong><br />

Hit List of jobs<br />

It’s certainly the challenge of<br />

publishing that you always have your<br />

head in the wrong season - each year,<br />

Christmas begins for us in July, which<br />

is about the same time as I start to<br />

ask my friends <strong>and</strong> family what they’d<br />

like as a present or if they’re free for a<br />

meal in <strong>Dec</strong>ember - each year I’m met<br />

with the same furrowed brows <strong>and</strong><br />

a ‘my god, I haven’t started thinking<br />

about that yet!’<br />

Forward planning aside, it is a rather<br />

lovely, smug feeling to know that I’m<br />

mostly sorted for the festivities - my<br />

only issue being losing said gifts<br />

between July <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dec</strong>ember 25th. If<br />

your industry doesn’t quite prepare<br />

you in the same way though, we’ve<br />

got a bevy of festive features to help<br />

get you prepped.<br />

Our competition<br />

page returns<br />

04<br />

Alongside Christmas features,<br />

we’ve got a lovely interview with<br />

The Yorkshire Shepherdess Am<strong>and</strong>a<br />

Owen - her new book has some of<br />

the most stunning photography <strong>and</strong><br />

amazing anecdotes from her life.<br />

We’ve also got a festive gift guide<br />

to get the ideas flowing <strong>and</strong> some<br />

delicious new ideas for special festive<br />

food from the experts of flavour -<br />

Maldon Sea Salt.<br />

14<br />

The Yorkshire Shepherdess<br />

Am<strong>and</strong>a Owen<br />

Editor Katie Thomson<br />

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk<br />

Publisher Sally Thomson<br />

Pre-press Manager Kate Norris<br />

Contributors Rebecca Rose, Peter Thomson, Sue Cooke, Matthew Biggs<br />

Front cover courtesy of Cox & Cox<br />

Key Account Manager Ade Hill<br />

e adrian.hill@minervapublications.co.uk<br />

t 01225 984 496<br />

twitter: @<strong>Taunton</strong><strong>Living</strong><br />

22<br />

Interior Designer<br />

Julia Kendell<br />

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ<br />

Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton, Trowbridge<br />

BA14 6JB t 01225 984 550<br />

w www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />

visit our website www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />

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

advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions <strong>and</strong><br />

misprints. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the<br />

publishers. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publishers.<br />

The news has been all doom <strong>and</strong><br />

gloom of late, but I think it’s important<br />

that, toy shortage/turkey drama/fuel<br />

crisis or not, this year’s Christmas is<br />

looking so much brighter than 2020’s,<br />

<strong>and</strong> there’s so much to be thankful<br />

for. This quote from the legendary Bob<br />

Hope really captured that for me:<br />

“My idea of Christmas, whether<br />

old-fashioned or modern, is very<br />

simple: loving others. Come to<br />

think of it, why do we have to<br />

wait for Christmas to do that?”<br />

We are looking forward to seeing<br />

you again in February - we are<br />

doing away with the New Year, New<br />

You nonsense <strong>and</strong> instead focusing<br />

on what <strong>2022</strong> can offer you. Until<br />

then, take care, have a very Merry<br />

Christmas <strong>and</strong> a peaceful New Year.<br />

Katie<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 3


COMPETITION<br />

To enter any (or all!) of our competitions, head to<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk/competitions.<br />

Find the competition <strong>and</strong> enter on that post,<br />

using the appropriate keyword.<br />

T&C’s apply <strong>and</strong> no cash alternatives available. Winners chosen at<br />

r<strong>and</strong>om - entries made after closing date will not be accepted.<br />

WIN<br />

A Laundry<br />

Bundle from<br />

Brabantia<br />

worth over<br />

£500<br />

For most of us, laundry is a bit of a chore, so to lighten the load,<br />

we’re giving away a luxury laundry bundle from Brabantia worth<br />

over £500.<br />

The prize includes Brabantia’s new Bo Laundry Bin Hi, which<br />

will blend effortlessly into your decor with its sleek finish <strong>and</strong><br />

has two 45L compartments for easy separating your whites<br />

from your colours. When spring comes around again, you<br />

can then hang your washing out on Brabantia’s Rotary Dryer<br />

Lift-o-Matic Advance which can easily be adjusted to your<br />

ideal height. For those grey days, Brabantia’s 23m Drying Rack<br />

Tower is the perfect inside solution. Finally, prep your fresh<br />

laundry for the wardrobe with a Brabantia Ironing Board. ThisXL<br />

model is designed for easy ironing of any outfit!<br />

brabantia.com<br />

Closes 15/01/<strong>2022</strong> - Competition keyword ‘BRABANTIA’<br />

Looking for the perfect gift this Christmas? Delight your friends<br />

<strong>and</strong> family with a selection box of delicious treats. One lucky<br />

reader will win a ‘<strong>Dec</strong>adent Christmas in a Box’ containing the<br />

following:<br />

6kg Free Range Whole Turkey | 4.5kg Unsmoked Ham | 1kg<br />

Side of Smoked Salmon | 1kg Organic Cheddar | 1kg Cropwell<br />

Bishop Stilton | Christmas Pudding | Harrow & Hope Brut<br />

Reserve (750ml bottle) | Classic Cranberry Sauce | Granny’s<br />

Apple Chutney | Artisan Coronation Sauce | British Goose<br />

Fat | Luxury Bread Sauce | Traditional Roast Gravy | Sage &<br />

Onion Stuffing | Pigs In Blankets | 200g Smoked Chicken 200g<br />

Smoked Duck<br />

WIN<br />

Christmas in<br />

a box! Worth<br />

£375<br />

4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />

copasturkeys.co.uk<br />

Closes 10/12/<strong>2021</strong>. Competition keyword<br />

‘TURKEY’<br />

HURRY!<br />

CLOSING SOON!<br />

WIN<br />

2x GOLD<br />

PLUS tickets<br />

to see Paloma<br />

Faith worth<br />

£180<br />

Looking for the perfect excuse to get<br />

away? The outst<strong>and</strong>ing Paloma Faith is<br />

touring the UK in the Summer of <strong>2022</strong><br />

for her “Summer of Optimism” Tour <strong>2022</strong><br />

<strong>and</strong> we are giving you the chance to win<br />

2 x GOLD PLUS tickets (worth £180) to<br />

see her live at any of the following venues: Parc<br />

Y Scarlets, Llanelli – Saturday 18th June, Central Park,<br />

Plymouth – Saturday 9th July, Darlington Arena – Saturday<br />

16th July, Bitts Park, Carlilse – Saturday 24th July, Slessor<br />

Gardens, Dundee – Sunday 24th July, Leicestershire County<br />

Cricket Club – Sunday 31st July. The winning gold plus<br />

tickets will grant the lucky winners early entry (no queuing!),<br />

premium bar <strong>and</strong> toilet facilities, <strong>and</strong> are situated in the Golden<br />

Enclosure, which is the closest area to the stage. If you win,<br />

you can choose from any of the locations above <strong>and</strong> make a<br />

weekend of it!<br />

lizhobbsgroup.com<br />

Closes 15/01/<strong>2022</strong> - Competition keyword ‘PALOMA’<br />

WIN<br />

an overnight<br />

stay <strong>and</strong><br />

dinner worth<br />

£299<br />

Win a luxury stay at the Charlecote Pheasant in the historic<br />

Stratford-upon-Avon. Your prize includes an overnight stay in<br />

a Suite with breakfast, bottle fizz in your room <strong>and</strong> a 3 course<br />

dinner or a 3 course Sunday lunch.<br />

charlecotepheasanthotel.co.uk<br />

Closes 15/01/<strong>2022</strong> - Competiton keyword ‘CHARLECOTE’.<br />

Adagio, the European leader in aparthotels is giving one lucky<br />

winner a two-night stay for two at one of their amazing UK<br />

properties in London, Birmingham, Edinburgh or Liverpool. Their<br />

apartments comprise of a kitchen, bedroom <strong>and</strong> living area<br />

with flat screen smart TV - great for lounging after a busy day of<br />

activities. T&Cs available online.<br />

WIN<br />

A City<br />

Break with<br />

Aparthotel<br />

Adagio!<br />

adagio-city.com<br />

Closes 15/01/<strong>2022</strong> - Competition keyword ‘ADAGIO’


TAUNTON, SOMERSET<br />

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01844 267816<br />

recruitment@affinitytrust.org<br />

SAT 4 DEC, 7:30PM<br />

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01823 414141 | tacchi-morris.com<br />

6 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


CHOOSING A NEW SIXTH FORM<br />

The Good Schools Guide offers some suggestions to take into consideration when making the change<br />

Whether you want to change from a<br />

single sex school to co-ed or from day to<br />

boarding, private to state, A levels to IB -<br />

or vice versa there are plenty of reasons to<br />

move schools post - GCSEs.<br />

When to start looking<br />

We’d advise getting the ball rolling<br />

towards the end of their year 10 in time<br />

for sixth form open days <strong>and</strong> applications<br />

which generally take place the following<br />

autumn.<br />

Discussions about post-GCSE options<br />

will already be taking place at your child’s<br />

current school by then <strong>and</strong> looking at<br />

other sixth forms will widen your options.<br />

Maybe the broader based curriculum<br />

of the IB would suit them better than<br />

specialising at A level? Maybe they want<br />

to pursue a more practical, less exam<br />

based, route? Or perhaps your child<br />

simply feels ready for a fresh start <strong>and</strong><br />

new faces.<br />

Choosing a new sixth form<br />

The decision needs to be a joint effort<br />

between parents <strong>and</strong> children, based as<br />

much on personal preference as objective<br />

research. Your child may have formed<br />

opinions about other schools via friends<br />

<strong>and</strong> social media but however popular a<br />

particular sixth form may be, it’s no good<br />

if it doesn’t offer the subjects they want<br />

to study.<br />

Guide your child to consider the areas<br />

of study they genuinely enjoy or find<br />

interesting. Also bear in mind that the<br />

dem<strong>and</strong>s of some A levels, such as<br />

maths, are a big jump from GCSE <strong>and</strong><br />

most schools will set higher GCSE grade<br />

requirements for these.<br />

It may seem too early when your child<br />

hasn’t even finished their GCSE courses<br />

to start talking about university subjects<br />

<strong>and</strong> destinations, but if they are going to<br />

change school for sixth form it’s important<br />

to at least start thinking about the ultimate<br />

goal. For instance, if Oxbridge or medical<br />

8 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />

school is the aim then A level choices<br />

need to be made accordingly <strong>and</strong> a<br />

potential school’s record of Oxbridge <strong>and</strong><br />

medical school places taken into account.<br />

If university isn’t part of the plan then you’ll<br />

need to ask the school or college about<br />

provision for pupils who are interested in<br />

alternative post-18 options such as degree<br />

apprenticeships.<br />

You can find latest information on a<br />

school’s Oxbridge, medical school <strong>and</strong><br />

non-university destinations in the ‘Exit’<br />

section of The Good Schools Guide<br />

reviews.<br />

Day to boarding<br />

A move to boarding school for sixth form<br />

- see this article for more - is often said<br />

to be a good preparation for university.<br />

But manage your expectations – in our<br />

experience most sixth form boarding<br />

accommodation is more luxurious than the<br />

average university hall of residence!<br />

Most boarding schools have separate<br />

provision for sixth formers where they can<br />

live more independently <strong>and</strong> with fewer<br />

restrictions than younger pupils. If you<br />

are looking at full, as opposed to weekly,<br />

boarding then find out how many sixth<br />

formers are in school at weekends <strong>and</strong><br />

what activities are on offer (our writers<br />

suggest looking at boarding house<br />

noticeboards to see sign-up sheets for<br />

weekend activities).<br />

While it’s usually possible, with<br />

permission, for boarding sixth formers to<br />

attend day pupils’ parties for instance,<br />

it’s unlikely that any school will allow the<br />

same freedom to socialise (particularly<br />

with regard to sexual relationships) as day<br />

school pupils. Discuss school rules <strong>and</strong><br />

regulations frankly with your child - if they<br />

(or you) are horrified then maybe boarding<br />

isn’t the right choice.<br />

Independent to state<br />

A move from independent to state school<br />

is often determined by family finances, but<br />

we wonder whether it could also now be a<br />

strategic decision.<br />

State school sixth forms or sixth form<br />

colleges often have exam results that are<br />

comparable to independent schools <strong>and</strong><br />

they may also offer a wider range of post-<br />

GCSE choices.<br />

And as the UK’s top universities strive to<br />

rebalance their admissions procedures to<br />

correct what was (rightly) criticised as an<br />

independent school bias, will this prompt<br />

more independent school parents to send<br />

their children to take A levels at state sixth<br />

forms? Time will tell.<br />

State to independent<br />

If you think your child would benefit from<br />

taking A levels at an independent school<br />

but are worried about affording the fees, it<br />

could be worth checking whether you can<br />

apply for a bursary. Some schools offer<br />

bursaries specifically for pupils joining the<br />

sixth form from the local state sector.<br />

Entry requirements<br />

These differ considerably but five or six<br />

GCSEs including English <strong>and</strong> maths at<br />

grade 6 or above, with grade 7 or higher<br />

in subjects to be studied at A level (can<br />

be 8 or 9 for maths/further maths), is the<br />

minimum for most selective schools.<br />

Many schools set the sixth form entry<br />

bar much higher <strong>and</strong> in addition to a<br />

full set of GCSEs at grades 9-7, also<br />

expect c<strong>and</strong>idates to sit papers in their<br />

prospective A level subjects. Schools will<br />

usually interview prospective sixth formers<br />

too.<br />

The Good Schools Guide is the UK’s<br />

number one school guide, helping<br />

parents in every aspect of choosing<br />

the best education for their children<br />

using their unbiased <strong>and</strong> impartial<br />

school reviews, alongside a host of<br />

articles advising on all aspects of<br />

school life. Find out more at www.<br />

goodschoolsguide.co.uk


“<br />

A school for the<br />

21st century<br />

“<br />

Scholarships at <strong>Taunton</strong> School<br />

We warmly invite day <strong>and</strong> boarding pupils from any school to apply for an award <strong>and</strong> discover the benefits of an<br />

inspiring <strong>Taunton</strong> School education. There’s still time to apply, the application deadlines are as follows:<br />

• 13+ Scholarships (Entry into Year 9): Monday 10th <strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2022</strong><br />

• International Baccalaureate Scholarship: Monday 24th <strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2022</strong><br />

To find out more call 01823 703703 or visit www.tauntonschool.co.uk<br />

Follow us @<strong>Taunton</strong>School


The Best of the<br />

SOUTH<br />

WEST<br />

THE SOUTH WEST IS HOME TO<br />

SOME INSPIRING BUSINESSES<br />

WHO REALLY KNOW HOW TO<br />

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD.<br />

WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF<br />

THE FINEST ON OFFER...<br />

BLACKDOWN SHEPHERD HUTS<br />

Local company Blackdown Shepherd Huts have recently<br />

launched their 10th anniversary design, named the ‘1121’ to<br />

celebrate their journey.<br />

Managing Director Will Vickery said, “We really wanted to bring<br />

in the elements of the original shepherd huts that inspire us<br />

every day, showcase the skills we have learnt over the last 10<br />

years <strong>and</strong> challenge our amazing team to design <strong>and</strong> build yet<br />

more market-leading innovations into our latest Blackdown<br />

Brace Shepherd Hut for <strong>2021</strong>.<br />

Inside, you’ll find our signature lounge <strong>and</strong> kitchen space, but<br />

our bench <strong>and</strong> table configuration has been upgraded <strong>and</strong> now<br />

can be converted into a cinema/sleeping booth, with the ability<br />

to close the area off as a family bedroom. We’re very excited to<br />

be bringing this to the market.”<br />

You can find the exciting new design at their display garden near<br />

Ilminster. Viewings are by appointment only.<br />

blackdownshepherdhuts.co.uk<br />

Shrubbery Farm, Catherine Wheel, Ilminster, <strong>Somerset</strong><br />

SOUTHWEST KILN DRIED FIREWOOD<br />

We’re a family ran business based in <strong>Taunton</strong> <strong>Somerset</strong> pleased<br />

to be supplying quality wood fuels for homes <strong>and</strong> businesses<br />

with a friendly & personal service.<br />

All of our wood fuels are produced by us then dried to well<br />

below 20% moisture content in our custom-made kiln, fuelled<br />

by our wood shards & timber unsuitable to produce into logs to<br />

sell. What do we mean by unsuitable to sell? This would be logs<br />

that have been processed too small too large or from a species<br />

that we don’t supply this results in us having zero wood waste<br />

product.<br />

Our timber is sourced locally from responsibly managed<br />

sustainable woodl<strong>and</strong>s. We never import timber or logs this<br />

keeps us in tight control of quality & stock levels. Not importing<br />

also reduces our carbon footprint, the less our wood travels<br />

before it reaches you the better.<br />

Importantly we’re a Woodsure certified fuel supplier, our wood<br />

fuels arrive with you ready to burn.<br />

07412 792227<br />

www.southwestkilndried@gmail.com<br />

THE LEVELS FINANCIAL LLP<br />

The Levels Financial is a mortgage <strong>and</strong> protection brokerage<br />

based in Long Sutton on the picturesque <strong>Somerset</strong> Levels. The<br />

brokerage was founded by its three directors - Tom, Connor <strong>and</strong><br />

Luke - who wanted to take their years of experience advising<br />

clients <strong>and</strong> combine it with their shared ethos for putting client’s<br />

needs first.<br />

With their holistic approach <strong>and</strong> recommendations from both<br />

existing clients <strong>and</strong> developers <strong>and</strong> estate agents across four<br />

counties, they have exp<strong>and</strong>ed the team this year to include three<br />

more team members who ensure that their high st<strong>and</strong>ard of<br />

service continues as the business grows.<br />

The Levels’ online reviews show that their clients are at the heart<br />

of everything they do, <strong>and</strong> their friendly approach also means<br />

that you will be totally at ease while making what is likely to be<br />

the financial commitment of a lifetime. From first time buyers<br />

to portfolio l<strong>and</strong>lords <strong>and</strong> everyone in between, The Levels<br />

Financial have a wealth of knowledge <strong>and</strong> access to a variety of<br />

lenders to try <strong>and</strong> cater for each situation, <strong>and</strong> customer service<br />

that is second to none.<br />

10 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />

01458 772 040<br />

www.thelevelsfinancial.co.uk


BATH ART SALES<br />

The Woolverton Gallery near Bath opened on 1st June this year<br />

<strong>and</strong> is rapidly establishing itself as a top private gallery with over<br />

100 works of art displayed in the 5 stunning exhibition<br />

rooms.<br />

GRANTS OF SOMERSET<br />

Grants of <strong>Somerset</strong> is a boutique-style shop with a big<br />

reputation. As <strong>South</strong> Petherton’s premier destination for home<br />

decor <strong>and</strong> gifts, we’ve built a loyal customer-base in <strong>Somerset</strong><br />

<strong>and</strong> beyond. Filled with everything from gorgeous lamps <strong>and</strong><br />

vases, luxurious cushions <strong>and</strong> c<strong>and</strong>les, right through to fine<br />

glassware <strong>and</strong> sustainable greetings cards, there really is<br />

something for everyone.<br />

So, whether you’re looking to refresh your home, or want to put<br />

a smile on someone else’s face with a fantastic gift, make sure<br />

you drop into Grants of <strong>Somerset</strong> on Market Square. We’re in<br />

the beautiful <strong>Somerset</strong> village of <strong>South</strong> Petherton where there’s<br />

plenty to see <strong>and</strong> do. If you can’t make it to the shop, we’re<br />

always open online <strong>and</strong> offer free national delivery on all orders<br />

over £15.<br />

We represent the work of 30 fine artists, with a wide variety of<br />

styles <strong>and</strong> price range: there is something for even the most<br />

discerning.<br />

Ray Jones, the gallery owner/curator says “We are delighted<br />

with our first half year, it has been a privilege working with such<br />

a wonderful group of artists, being able to provide them with a<br />

venue to exhibit their work <strong>and</strong>, in particular, to finalise a good<br />

number of sales.”<br />

The gallery is open 7 days a week, <strong>and</strong> Ray is always inhouse<br />

to give visitors personal attention <strong>and</strong> information about all the<br />

artworks.<br />

07843448956<br />

www.bathartsales.com<br />

Want to treat someone? No problem. If you’ve got a special<br />

request such as gift-wrapping or a personalised message, just<br />

let us know – we’re always happy to help.<br />

www.grantsofsomerset.co.uk<br />

8 Market Square, <strong>South</strong> Petherton, <strong>Somerset</strong> TA13 58T<br />

KEEPERS KITCHEN & BAR–<br />

BRIDGWATER<br />

Keepers Kitchen <strong>and</strong> Bar, Bridgwater’s newest chic restaurant!<br />

Situated within the ibis Bridgwater Hotel, Keepers is open to all,<br />

providing a sanctuary in a hive of activity.<br />

Local Provenance <strong>and</strong> supporting suppliers in the area is a<br />

passion for all at Keepers. This ethos runs through the heart<br />

of the menu, from the butchers to the various cheeses we’ve<br />

sourced, all the way to the ice cream – <strong>and</strong> of course the<br />

fabulous honey that features throughout!!<br />

Keepers champion local talent through #ibismusic with<br />

monthly music evenings offering guests <strong>and</strong> local residents the<br />

opportunity to listen whilst they dine or simply enjoy a Zeal <strong>and</strong><br />

Tonic; the signature Gin produced by E18TEEN Gin.<br />

We are soon to launch a Keepers Loyalty scheme, where regular<br />

<strong>and</strong> local diners will be rewarded with discounts <strong>and</strong> special<br />

offers, unique to them!<br />

I<br />

@keepers.kitchen.bridgwater<br />

www.thefork.co.uk/restaurant/keepers-kitchen-bar-r684649<br />

E18TEEN GIN<br />

<strong>Somerset</strong> gin maker Leigh Kearle founded E18hteen in 2016<br />

<strong>and</strong>, after successfully launching his classic London dry gin, has<br />

now exp<strong>and</strong>ed the distillery’s repertoire to include a range of<br />

fascinating new flavours gin <strong>and</strong> more recently a range of rums<br />

which are already collecting awards <strong>and</strong> being noticed.<br />

Our E18hteen Gin is expertly crafted from sugar beat vodka<br />

produced by master distillers. This enables us to give you the<br />

very best yield <strong>and</strong> makes our artisan gin flavoursome, fragrant<br />

<strong>and</strong> smooth. We are among a minority of distilleries that opt<br />

to create their gin this way, meaning our gin delivers unrivalled<br />

freshness, taste <strong>and</strong> the perfect finish to the palate.<br />

We are proud to source local produce for the making of our<br />

premium vodka, including sugar beet, for an outst<strong>and</strong>ingly bold,<br />

smooth <strong>and</strong> aromatic blend.<br />

After creating our distinct vodka, we re-distil it. This enables us<br />

to give you the very best taste yield that makes our artisan gin<br />

so flavoursome, fragrant <strong>and</strong> smooth.<br />

I<br />

e18hteengin<br />

www.18gin.co.uk<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 11


Kaloo Lapinoo Rabbit,<br />

£17.99, jojomamanbebe.co.uk<br />

Guide<br />

The gift<br />

Help children<br />

learn to code with<br />

Blockly, Snap!,<br />

JavaScript,<br />

Python <strong>and</strong><br />

C++<br />

Artie Max, £110,<br />

amazon.co.uk<br />

Designed by<br />

AndaSeat, who<br />

previously<br />

manufactured<br />

race car seats.<br />

with lumbar<br />

<strong>and</strong> head<br />

pillows<br />

Leather Gaming<br />

Chair, £369.99,<br />

<strong>and</strong>aseat.com<br />

GOTS Organic<br />

Cotton<br />

Pyjamas, £26,<br />

polarnopyret.<br />

co.uk<br />

Unisex Mouse<br />

Babygrow Set, £45,<br />

magnetmouse.co.uk<br />

Woodl<strong>and</strong> Nesting<br />

Creatures, £22,<br />

rosa<strong>and</strong>bo.com<br />

Everhot<br />

Electric Stove<br />

£1,295,<br />

everhot.co.uk<br />

Organic cotton<br />

<strong>and</strong> amazing<br />

colours <strong>and</strong><br />

prints<br />

Nila Nepp Top,<br />

£22 <strong>and</strong> Kieran<br />

Kneepatch<br />

Joggers,<br />

£28, both<br />

welovefrugi.com<br />

Lindt Bear <strong>and</strong><br />

Styorybook Set, £10,<br />

Waitrose<br />

WHEN THEY HAVE EVERYTHING<br />

Aranya Hmong<br />

Cushion, £32,<br />

hauslife.co.uk<br />

Stunning photobooks on high quality<br />

paper with helpful autofill options<br />

Soft, Fabric or Hardcover<br />

Photobooks, from £18.99,<br />

rosemood.co.uk<br />

FOR KIDS<br />

Veloce Coffee Machine, £600,<br />

cuisinart.co.uk<br />

Lattes flat whites <strong>and</strong><br />

more! Get those coffee<br />

shop style drinks in a<br />

flash at home with this<br />

bean to cup coffee machine<br />

Master Lock Biometric Padlock - with up to<br />

10 saved fingerprints, £89, masterlock.eu<br />

Gusbourne Brut Reserve 2017, £39,<br />

gusbourne.com<br />

Cuisinart Precision St<strong>and</strong> Mixer,<br />

£275, cuisinart.co.uk<br />

12 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


A personalised softcover<br />

notebook is a thoughtful gift<br />

Polaar Polar Night<br />

Revitalizing Cream<br />

with Boreal Algae,<br />

£42, polaar.com<br />

Lavender<br />

Eye Pillow<br />

Made from sustainably<br />

harvested natural cork bark<br />

with a non-slip surface<br />

which increases grip with<br />

perspiration<br />

Cork mat <strong>and</strong> block set, £75,<br />

bullfrogbottles.com<br />

Heatable Lavendar<br />

Eye Pillow, £11.99,<br />

hauslife.co.uk<br />

FOR HER<br />

Softcover Printed Notebook,<br />

£16.99, rosemood.co.uk<br />

Build the perfect bar<br />

cart with Dartington’s<br />

Limelight Mitre champagne<br />

saucer, £55 for set of two or<br />

pair of Margarita glasses,<br />

£20, dartington.co.uk<br />

Luxury Heavyweight<br />

Merino Scarf, £90,<br />

pantherella.com<br />

T3 Curl ID, £189,<br />

t3micro.co.uk<br />

The ultimate curler which<br />

adapts to your hair type<br />

<strong>and</strong> damage level<br />

Cashmere Sweatshirt<br />

in Emerald, £179,<br />

loopcashmere.co.uk<br />

BeGlow Tia All-In-<br />

One Sonic Skincare<br />

System, £199,<br />

johnlewis.com<br />

Micro Merlin<br />

Japanese<br />

Knife Trio, £99,<br />

souschef.co.uk<br />

FOR HIM<br />

The Micro<br />

Explorer Electric<br />

Scooter, £349.95,<br />

reduced from<br />

£449.95<br />

micro-scooters.<br />

co.uk<br />

18 mile range,<br />

foldable <strong>and</strong><br />

ultra light weight<br />

with 15mph<br />

top speed<br />

Andrée Jardin<br />

Sneaker Care<br />

Kit, £33.50,<br />

souschef.co.uk<br />

ONESONIC® BXS-HD1<br />

True Wireless Stereo<br />

Earphones, £57.99,<br />

onesonic.co.uk<br />

Eco Sports<br />

Cloak Long<br />

Sleeve, £119.95,<br />

charliemcleod.co.uk<br />

Perfect if they love outdoor<br />

pursuits or sports<br />

Scrivner For Men 5 Step<br />

Skin Strategy - £127,<br />

janescrivner.com<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 13


Am<strong>and</strong>a Owen<br />

The yorkshire Shepherdess<br />

Tells us about her life in the Dales<br />

Known to millions as The Yorkshire<br />

Shepherdess, Am<strong>and</strong>a Owen is the<br />

author of five best-selling books about<br />

her life on Ravensea, one of the most<br />

remote farms in the country, where she<br />

lives with her husb<strong>and</strong> Clive <strong>and</strong> nine<br />

children. She currently stars in Channel<br />

5’s popular TV show Our Yorkshire<br />

Farm <strong>and</strong> her latest book is Celebrating<br />

the Seasons includes stories, recipes<br />

<strong>and</strong> photos from the farm <strong>and</strong> is out now.<br />

I underst<strong>and</strong> that you had had no<br />

previous links to farming, may I ask<br />

how you became so involved in this line<br />

of work?<br />

I grew up in Huddersfield <strong>and</strong> no one in<br />

my family is from a farming background.<br />

I loved the James Herriot books when I<br />

was a child, <strong>and</strong> watched the TV series.<br />

Because of James Herriot I loved the idea<br />

of being a vet, probably like most other<br />

children of that era, but was told at school<br />

that I was not academic enough to make<br />

the grades. One day in the school library<br />

I picked up a book called Hill Shepherd.<br />

It was a photographic documentary of<br />

hill farming in Yorkshire <strong>and</strong> Cumbria.<br />

Reading that book was an epiphany for<br />

me, the pictures of the hill shepherds on<br />

the moors with the sheep made me realise<br />

it was where I wanted to be. It ticked the<br />

box of wanting to work with animals in<br />

the countryside <strong>and</strong> importantly it also<br />

ticked the rebellion box as it was so the<br />

opposite of my townie life up until then.<br />

Years later after I had married my husb<strong>and</strong><br />

Clive, we realised that there was actually a<br />

photograph of him in Hill Shepherd!<br />

So it’s a very important book to me.<br />

14 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />

How did you learn your crafts? One of<br />

the many things I learnt from your book<br />

was how important it is to get the grass<br />

in - in good time.<br />

I started out as a farm h<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> then<br />

moved on to being a contract shepherd,<br />

working on different farms all over the<br />

country. But really, I learnt everything as I<br />

went along.<br />

Most of my crafts came through natural<br />

progression, learning to ride a horse<br />

by riding it, learning to clip a sheep by<br />

clipping my first one, learning to work a<br />

dog, by taking the dog out with me for the<br />

first time.<br />

You can only learn what to do by doing it,<br />

you have to get practical on the ground<br />

experience. Nothing comes close to<br />

learning how to be a shepherd, other than<br />

actually doing the work of a shepherd <strong>and</strong><br />

it’s not just about learning about sheep,<br />

it’s about learning about the l<strong>and</strong>.<br />

With the grass it starts with the sheep.<br />

You’ve got to have your sheep in good<br />

order - we grow hardy stock through the<br />

winter, so it’s absolutely vital that you grow<br />

your crop well, so they have food to eat<br />

throughout the winter.<br />

What would you like to tell our readers<br />

about your life?<br />

I want people to know that Celebrating the<br />

Seasons is a book about going your own<br />

way. It’s not a blueprint for how you should<br />

live your life, it simply says this is what we<br />

do as a family this is how we do it, feel free<br />

to follow the recipes, or do them your own<br />

way. I want people to not let themselves to<br />

be stereotyped, to know that all things are<br />

achievable if you really want to do it. So<br />

many people said you won’t have time to<br />

write<br />

a book,<br />

you won’t<br />

achieve<br />

that. But<br />

I believe<br />

you can do<br />

anything<br />

you just<br />

have to<br />

start doing<br />

it. If you<br />

want to<br />

write a<br />

book,<br />

start<br />

writing. I<br />

got an E<br />

in GCSE English, <strong>and</strong> this is my<br />

fifth book. Anything is possible.<br />

Celebrating the Seasons with The<br />

Yorkshire Shepherdess by Am<strong>and</strong>a Owen<br />

is available from Pan Macmillan, £20.


Meet the real life elasti-boy<br />

with a rare condition that<br />

leaves him extremely bendy -<br />

whose mum describes him as a<br />

'little superhero' for dealing<br />

with the pain it causes...<br />

ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

“With all the stuff he goes through daily, he’s a<br />

little superhero, I’m so proud to be his mum.”<br />

ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

Wilson was 10 years old when they<br />

first approached bibic for support.<br />

They deliver therapeutic programmes<br />

to children <strong>and</strong> young adults with<br />

developmental <strong>and</strong> neurological<br />

difficulties. His mum, Julie-Anne<br />

suspected that Wilson had Autism<br />

Spectrum Disorder <strong>and</strong> Ehlers-Danlos<br />

Syndrome, which affects the body’s<br />

connective tissue. At four years old<br />

Wilson was diagnosed with hypermobility<br />

- the ability to move joints beyond the<br />

normal range of movement - which<br />

causes him great pain.<br />

Julie-Anne said: “I didn’t know what to<br />

think, I didn’t even know what it was.<br />

I noticed his legs bent backwards <strong>and</strong><br />

weren’t straight. He’d ask ‘Why am I so<br />

bendy?’ - We now say it’s his special<br />

superpower however some days it’s that<br />

bad, he can’t walk up the stairs.”<br />

Wilson said: “My bones feel horrible, <strong>and</strong><br />

I need a wheelchair sometimes.”<br />

His conditions stop him doing things<br />

most other children do, such as playing<br />

football which Wilson said he ‘would<br />

really love to do.’ But “I’m ill all the time.<br />

It’s not fair.”<br />

Julie-Anne said: “We’ve approached<br />

medical professionals but had no luck.<br />

During lockdown we also couldn’t see<br />

anyone, I spoke to six different doctors<br />

in a year-<strong>and</strong>-a-half <strong>and</strong> was tired of<br />

constantly repeating myself. It took so<br />

long to get any help, that’s why we turned<br />

to bibic, after being recommended we<br />

reached out to them.”<br />

Wilson’s therapist, Jess, completed a<br />

‘very emotional’ wellbeing assessment<br />

with him. Wilson was happy to take part,<br />

however his demeanour changed from<br />

this happy boy to very reserved. When<br />

answering when he ‘felt like crying’,<br />

Wilson said ‘right now’ <strong>and</strong> broke down<br />

in tears because of the way he felt about<br />

himself. Wilson gets a lot of anxiety. He<br />

struggled socialising <strong>and</strong> couldn’t deal<br />

with or control his emotions, leading to<br />

meltdowns.<br />

Wilson said: “being like this makes life<br />

hard in every way. My senses are on<br />

overdrive, it’s horrible <strong>and</strong> depressing.”<br />

Julie-Anne has managed alone for four<br />

years without any help or support until<br />

now, due to Wilson’s separation anxiety,<br />

she’s not had any time to herself, <strong>and</strong><br />

said ‘I wouldn’t want to, but every parent<br />

needs a break.’<br />

“Getting the support from bibic, I felt<br />

relief, like a weight was lifted off my<br />

shoulders.”<br />

bibic provided a tailored therapeutic<br />

programme to help manage Wilson’s<br />

behaviour, emotions, <strong>and</strong> difficulties.<br />

Julie-Anne added: “With bibic’s support,<br />

I felt like I finally had everything I needed<br />

to get the help that Wilson had been<br />

waiting so long for. bibic has opened up a<br />

lot of doors for Wilson, it was a relief that<br />

someone believed us. Because of bibic,<br />

people are now finally listening to us.”<br />

Doctors have now referred Wilson to<br />

other specialists after reading bibic’s<br />

report, Wilson’s now working with an<br />

occupational therapist <strong>and</strong> improving his<br />

speech <strong>and</strong> language.<br />

Wilson now has access to respite care to<br />

help him socialise more <strong>and</strong> do activities.<br />

Julie-Anne said: “The report helped<br />

no end, <strong>and</strong> it helped to get Wilson an<br />

Educational Health Care Plan, which we<br />

had been trying to get for four years, as<br />

well as other support which we had been<br />

fighting so long for.<br />

Through bibic’s support, Wilson now has<br />

more awareness <strong>and</strong> notices the build up<br />

of his emotions, he is able to manage <strong>and</strong><br />

underst<strong>and</strong> his behaviour, express how he<br />

is feeling, <strong>and</strong> accepts help from others.<br />

He now identifies when a meltdown is<br />

coming <strong>and</strong> will say ‘help me’.”<br />

“I now underst<strong>and</strong> Wilson’s feelings more<br />

<strong>and</strong> how to cope <strong>and</strong> deal with his needs<br />

too. bibic’s made us look to the future<br />

with more hope which is so much brighter<br />

now. I’m proud of the boy he’s growing<br />

up to be. He’s loving <strong>and</strong> funny - after<br />

all he’s been through, he still comes out<br />

smiling.”<br />

Wilson explained: “Having problems is<br />

hard. I need a lot of help <strong>and</strong> care, but it<br />

makes me unique so that’s cool. I wants<br />

to go back to school to make lots of<br />

friends.” And when he grows up he wants<br />

to be an emergency services call h<strong>and</strong>ler.<br />

Julie-Anne said: “I think this is because<br />

he wants to help people like they have<br />

helped him. We were stuck with no help<br />

for so long <strong>and</strong> would still be stuck if we<br />

hadn’t received bibic’s support, it makes<br />

a massive difference to people’s lives,<br />

they have helped us get the support <strong>and</strong><br />

help Wilson needs for his future.”<br />

bibic receive no government funding, to<br />

help others like Wilson, please donate<br />

now via bibic’s website:<br />

www.bibic.org.uk<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 15


ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

MEET THE CHEF<br />

We chat with Head Chef at Keepers<br />

Kitchen <strong>and</strong> Bar, Kane Edwards, to find<br />

out what makes him tick. We also delve<br />

in to what we can expect to see on the<br />

menu this Christmas...<br />

Firstly, let’s get straight into it; what<br />

made you want to train to become a<br />

chef? Have you always had a love of<br />

food?<br />

As far back as I can remember I’ve<br />

always really loved cooking <strong>and</strong>, so<br />

naturally, I wanted to become a chef. A<br />

lot of our family get togethers involve<br />

huge amounts of food! Everyone<br />

gathered in the Kitchen cooking or other<br />

family members bringing food with them<br />

for us to enjoy. My mother has always<br />

been the family cook <strong>and</strong> a wonderful<br />

host for everyone. She is a big reason<br />

why I love to cook! Growing up I watched<br />

her bring pleasure to everyone else with<br />

her cooking. It’s the creative nature of<br />

cooking that I love, the simplicity of<br />

taking just a few ingredients <strong>and</strong> making<br />

something tasty!<br />

Do you have a favourite festive dish?<br />

I think it’s all the sweet dishes around<br />

Christmas time that I love, like stollen <strong>and</strong><br />

mince pies. The classics!<br />

What would you say is your favourite<br />

ingredient, one that you couldn’t live<br />

without?<br />

Everything from my spice shelf! I was<br />

brought up on lots of spicy foods, from<br />

my mums pakistani foods, <strong>and</strong> my dad’s<br />

Bajan roots, I don’t think my taste buds<br />

could live without some heat!<br />

When you aren’t working hard in the<br />

kitchen, do you have any hobbies?<br />

I normally spend my days just relaxing<br />

with my partner or I’ll take my dog out for<br />

a walk <strong>and</strong> listen to some music.<br />

With Christmas just around the corner,<br />

what can we expect to see on the<br />

menu at Keepers Kitchen <strong>and</strong> Bar this<br />

year?<br />

We’ve all worked really hard to make our<br />

Christmas menu a bit different from the<br />

usual <strong>and</strong> have some fun with the classic<br />

dishes. Our ethos is to provide sanctuary<br />

amid a hive of activity <strong>and</strong> our food needs<br />

to reflect this; so alongside our twist on<br />

the classic Christmas Dinner, you’ll find<br />

our Christmas pizza with sprouts <strong>and</strong> our<br />

turkey burger with all the trimmings! Why<br />

not try something different this Christmas.<br />

Keepers Kitchen & Bar<br />

ibis Bridgwater, Woodl<strong>and</strong>s Court<br />

Business Park, Bristol Road,<br />

Bridgwater TA64FJ<br />

Email: hb670@accor.com<br />

Tel: 07767 656298<br />

Website: www.ibis-bridgwater.com<br />

Follow @ibisbridgwaterkeepers


ROLLED<br />

PORCHETTA WITH<br />

PISTACHIOS,<br />

FENNEL AND<br />

LEMON<br />

Porchetta makes a wonderful alternative to Turkey<br />

for your festive centrepiece. Porchetta originates<br />

from Italy <strong>and</strong> is a rolled joint of pork belly stuffed<br />

full of fragrant herbs. It is slow cooked for soft<br />

tender meat but still with beautiful crispy crackling<br />

on the outside. Serve this Porchetta alongside<br />

rosemary roast potatoes <strong>and</strong> fresh sautéed greens.<br />

Serves: 6 people<br />

Prep time: 20 minutes, plus chilling overnight<br />

Cook time: 2 hours 30 minutes<br />

INGREDIENTS:<br />

2kg pork belly, boneless<br />

2 tbsp olive oil<br />

1 onion, finely diced<br />

2 garlic cloves, crushed<br />

1 tbsp fennel seeds<br />

1 lemon, zested<br />

50g pistachios, finely chopped<br />

10g sage, finely chopped<br />

15g parsley, finely chopped<br />

50g fresh breadcrumbs<br />

1 tbsp Maldon salt<br />

METHOD:<br />

Begin by prepping your pork. Score the skin of the pork<br />

belly with a knife in lines at an angle across the whole skin,<br />

then place in the fridge uncovered overnight – this will help<br />

dry out the moisture in the skin <strong>and</strong> ensure you have super<br />

crispy crackling.<br />

Meanwhile you can make the stuffing for the porchetta. In<br />

the olive oil lightly fry the onion with a pinch of Maldon salt<br />

for 5 minutes until softened. Then add the crushed garlic<br />

<strong>and</strong> fennel seeds <strong>and</strong> fry for another 2 minutes. Remove<br />

from the heat <strong>and</strong> tip into a bowl to cool. Once cooled<br />

add the lemon zest, chopped pistachios, sage, parsley,<br />

breadcrumbs <strong>and</strong> season with Maldon salt <strong>and</strong> cracked<br />

black pepper. Mix well <strong>and</strong> set aside.<br />

Preheat the oven to 200C°.<br />

Once you are ready to cook your pork remove from the<br />

fridge. Place it on a board skin side down, <strong>and</strong> then cover<br />

the flesh with your stuffing mixture. Using butchers string<br />

carefully roll your meat <strong>and</strong> bind together in 3 or 4 places<br />

tightly to keep it in a roll.<br />

Place the rolled joint onto a baking tray <strong>and</strong> drizzle the skin<br />

with olive oil, rubbing it in <strong>and</strong> then sprinkle liberally with<br />

Maldon salt. Place the tray into your preheated oven for 30<br />

minutes until the crackling is crispy <strong>and</strong> golden. Then turn<br />

your oven down to 180C° <strong>and</strong> cook for a further 2 hours. If<br />

the crackling begins to look a little too dark, then you might<br />

want to cover it with some foil.<br />

After the cooking time remove your porchetta from the oven<br />

<strong>and</strong> rest for 20 minutes until ready to serve!<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 17


BBQ PRAWNS,<br />

LOBSTER AND<br />

CRAYFISH WITH<br />

HERB BUTTER<br />

AND SIRACHA<br />

MAYONNAISE<br />

Lobster, prawns <strong>and</strong> crayfish are often considered<br />

delicacies for a special occasion, so this BBQ recipe with<br />

smoky siracha mayonnaise <strong>and</strong> herbed butter is perfect<br />

for a showstopping Christmas feast.<br />

Loved by professional chefs <strong>and</strong> home cooks the world over,<br />

Maldon Salt has been h<strong>and</strong> harvested by the same family since<br />

1882. It’s unique pyramid flakes <strong>and</strong> tactile texture continues<br />

to inspire chefs <strong>and</strong> cooks to this day. The choice of the<br />

passionate <strong>and</strong> the adventurous to elevate flavours <strong>and</strong> create the<br />

extraordinary!<br />

Serves: 6 people<br />

Prep time: 10 minutes<br />

Cook time: 15 minutes<br />

INGREDIENTS:<br />

2 lobster, sliced in half lengthways<br />

450g king prawns<br />

300g crayfish<br />

150g unsalted butter, softened<br />

1 tsp Maldon salt<br />

Cracked black pepper<br />

10g parsley, finely chopped<br />

10g cori<strong>and</strong>er, finely chopped<br />

2 lemons, halves<br />

100g mayonnaise<br />

1 tbsp siracha<br />

METHOD:<br />

Begin by mixing together the herb butter for your seafood. In a<br />

small bowl mix together the softened butter with Maldon salt,<br />

cracked black pepper, the chopped parsley <strong>and</strong> cori<strong>and</strong>er. Set<br />

aside.<br />

The perfect way to cook your seafood is on a hot BBQ, however<br />

if you don’t have one then a griddle pan will work too. Make sure<br />

it has reached a medium to high temperate, <strong>and</strong> start by grilling<br />

your lobster halves. Cook flesh side down on the griddle until<br />

the meat has turned pink <strong>and</strong> has some lovely charring on it.<br />

The shells will turn orangey pink too, <strong>and</strong> this is when you know<br />

your lobster are cooked. Do the same with the king prawns <strong>and</strong><br />

crayfish, although these will take less time to cook.<br />

While your seafood is cooking, it is also nice to griddle some<br />

lemon to serve alongside. Simply add your lemon halves cut<br />

side down onto the grill <strong>and</strong> allow them to cook <strong>and</strong> char for 3<br />

minutes.<br />

Once your seafood is all cooked, pile onto a large serving platter<br />

<strong>and</strong> using a pastry brush, brush all across the flesh with your<br />

delicious herb butter – letting it melt in. Place your griddled lemon<br />

onto the serving platter too.<br />

In a small bowl mix together the mayonnaise <strong>and</strong> siracha. Serve<br />

this alongside the platter of BBQ seafood <strong>and</strong> allow everyone to<br />

tuck in!<br />

18 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


Blue<br />

INTO THE<br />

Emily Baker takes in ultimate luxury<br />

in the inimitable Maldives<br />

I<br />

t’s difficult to write about the Maldives<br />

without descending into clichés - it<br />

is every bit as beautiful as you<br />

imagined, the ocean suites with their<br />

glass floor hatches are equal parts<br />

luxurious <strong>and</strong> mesmerising, <strong>and</strong> of course<br />

the combination of s<strong>and</strong>, sea <strong>and</strong> allinclusivity<br />

really are a winner - so, I’ll try<br />

<strong>and</strong> limit myself to only using the word<br />

crystalline a h<strong>and</strong>ful of times, but what<br />

can I tell you that you don’t already know?<br />

I think I could start with the journey -<br />

though travelling is my bread <strong>and</strong> butter,<br />

long haul can test even the most excited<br />

of voyagers. There are a few different<br />

routes to the mainl<strong>and</strong> of Male, but for<br />

those looking to fly in the lap of luxury<br />

(<strong>and</strong> if you’re heading to the Maldives,<br />

who isn’t) then Qatar Airways is the<br />

best choice - with a short layover in the<br />

ultra-plush Doha airport, it’s enough to<br />

make the journey an event, rather than<br />

a task. Their internationally-celebrated<br />

Qsuite experience is unlike any other<br />

I’ve experienced in the air - your own<br />

private suite with partitioned doors offers<br />

ambient mood lighting, fully lie-flat beds<br />

<strong>and</strong> generous storage space. You can<br />

open up the space to enjoy meals <strong>and</strong> a<br />

glass of fizz with your travel party, before<br />

slipping back into ultimate comfort <strong>and</strong><br />

privacy. The food is exceptional too -<br />

both on board <strong>and</strong> in the Doha Business<br />

Class lounge. It’s easy to see why it’s<br />

consistently rated the best in the world.<br />

If you’ve been nervous to travel since the<br />

p<strong>and</strong>emic, the in-flight team are so highly<br />

professional, you can relax in complete<br />

safety <strong>and</strong> start your holiday off in the<br />

most wonderful way.<br />

Once in Male, the final leg of the journey<br />

begins - <strong>and</strong> for us, it was by seaplane.<br />

There is something other-worldly about<br />

seeing this string of atolls from the air for<br />

the first time. The inky-blue sea stretches<br />

out like a vast blanket, punctuated by<br />

bursts of green, framed by the turquoise<br />

necklace of each isl<strong>and</strong>’s reef. Even<br />

whilst feeling weary from the long flight, I<br />

pressed myself to the window like a child,<br />

completely mesmerised by the views<br />

below along the 40 minute hop. If you’re<br />

looking for that international-traveller ‘I’ve<br />

made it’ feeling, then arriving by seaplane<br />

has to tick all the boxes.<br />

The welcome on arrival at the spectacular<br />

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Resort was the<br />

first taste of the the Sun Siyam group’s<br />

trademark hospitality - a gleaming small<br />

army in white uniforms <strong>and</strong> glowing<br />

smiles awaited, festooning us with flower<br />

garl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> introducing each guest to<br />

their own dedicated villa butler - they<br />

are your go-to whilst on the resort, for<br />

everything from booking restaurant tables<br />

to helping you hitch a ride on one of the<br />

golf buggies that transport guests around<br />

the 52 acre isl<strong>and</strong>.<br />

There are a h<strong>and</strong>ful of different<br />

accommodation options for guests -<br />

either stays on those quintessential<br />

oceanic villas, decked with their steps<br />

straight into the water, or a series of<br />

beach villas, either with direct access to<br />

the beach or with oceanic views <strong>and</strong> their<br />

own private infinity pools. Whilst some<br />

of the fixtures <strong>and</strong> fittings are looking a<br />

little tired in places, the sheer delight of<br />

the location more than makes up for any<br />

shortcomings inside, as does the wealth<br />

of activities, both in the water <strong>and</strong> out,<br />

available from your doorstep.<br />

This brings me on to my other<br />

assumption - one I think many travellers<br />

make - that the Maldives is a destination<br />

for loved-up couples to fly <strong>and</strong> flop in<br />

luxury. And whilst there’s definitely scope<br />

for that, I wasn’t overcome by a raft of<br />

couples acting amorously by the pool,<br />

but instead greeted by a huge breadth<br />

of guest profiles - there were, of course,<br />

couples, but also groups of friends on<br />

a girls getaway <strong>and</strong> families - taking<br />

advantage of the total safety of the<br />

isl<strong>and</strong> to let little ones run around freely.<br />

Though, unlike other family-friendly<br />

resorts, the children are seen but not<br />

heard - there’s space for everyone, so<br />

adults can still find their escape. Kids<br />

<strong>and</strong> adults alike can partake in aquatic<br />

adventures, with guided reef swimming,<br />

“If the term barefoot luxury is<br />

b<strong>and</strong>ed about too much, it’s very<br />

much found its true definition here”<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 19


paragliding, <strong>and</strong> options to learn to dive in the resorts PADI<br />

<strong>and</strong> DDI Diamond certified diving school.<br />

If the term barefoot luxury is b<strong>and</strong>ed about too much,<br />

it’s very much found its true definition here - this is a<br />

place of relaxation, aided by that extra oomph that only<br />

an all-inclusive stay can offer. In all there are 15 venues<br />

for drinking <strong>and</strong> dining - offering a mixture of worldwide<br />

cuisines. Where the food really shines is in the bevy of<br />

freshly grilled reef fish <strong>and</strong> Maldivian curries - there are<br />

fine dining options available, but it was the Bamboo<br />

restaurant with its tables in the s<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> menus of fresh<br />

salads <strong>and</strong> Pan-Asian cuisine which really hit the right<br />

notes in the afternoon heat.<br />

Knowing as they do that tourism in these areas have<br />

hugely adverse effects on the local environment, Sun<br />

Siyam as a group continually look for ways to reduce<br />

their footprint. Being an archipelagic state, the Maldives<br />

does rely on a significant array of food imports, but the<br />

group has its own farm isl<strong>and</strong> which grows a variety of<br />

produce, limiting the carbon impact. Guests to the resort<br />

can visit too, for a unique farm to plate experience.<br />

I suppose the other big question for everyone tentatively<br />

dipping their toes back into international travel, is, is it<br />

safe? The major advantage of the Maldives is the sheer<br />

space between the isl<strong>and</strong>s, meaning that they can isolate<br />

cases as <strong>and</strong> when they occur. How this l<strong>and</strong>scape will<br />

change as more vaccines are rolled out across the globe<br />

is still unknown, but its clear that each resort is doing their<br />

part. As it currently st<strong>and</strong>s, to change resorts you are still<br />

required to take a PCR test - whilst some might consider<br />

this an unnecessary expense, I think it’s a sensible <strong>and</strong><br />

safe practice to make sure you can enjoy your stay fully.<br />

Now, if there is a spa to be found in a resort, you will<br />

generally find me ensconced inside it. Within a humblelooking<br />

bungalow off one of the jungle tracks, lies Iru<br />

Fushi’s - a world-leading spa by French br<strong>and</strong> Thalgo -<br />

don’t be fooled by initial appearances though - knock on<br />

the heavy black-lacquered doors <strong>and</strong> you’ll be whisked<br />

into an exotic oasis, where pebble-lined paths snake<br />

through bubbling koi ponds. Massages here are on the<br />

expensive side, but hey, you’re in the Maldives - lean in<br />

to the luxury <strong>and</strong> enjoy your slice of paradise, it really is<br />

worth it.<br />

I suppose the thing that really sets the tone for any trip,<br />

<strong>and</strong> indeed the make or break, are the staff within the<br />

resort, <strong>and</strong> Sun Siyam really do have a spectacularly good<br />

team. Throughout the stay, nothing was too much trouble.<br />

Want a pinch-me romantic dinner on your own stretch<br />

of beach, surrounded by the twinkle of c<strong>and</strong>les? You’ve<br />

got it. In our little quintet of ladies holidaying together, we<br />

mentioned we would like to have a meditation session<br />

on the beach - what we got was a heart shape h<strong>and</strong>-dug<br />

into the s<strong>and</strong>, punctuated with tea lights <strong>and</strong> frangipani<br />

flowers, with yoga mats rolled out <strong>and</strong> a selection of oils<br />

from the spa to aid relaxation. This beautiful scene was all<br />

the work of our dedicated butlers <strong>and</strong> could not have been<br />

more special. This attention to detail extends everywhere -<br />

even my own very British sensibilities about having a butler<br />

were eased, as the service they offered was completely<br />

unobtrusive <strong>and</strong> very intuitive.<br />

There’s not much I can say that you might not already<br />

know, but that shouldn’t be a reason to stop you getting<br />

into the Maldivian groove <strong>and</strong> discovering it for yourself -<br />

flawless hospitality, great food, a wealth of activities <strong>and</strong><br />

the unrelenting joy of the location, I think Sun Siyam could<br />

make even the most cynical resort-snob fall under its spell.<br />

www.sunsiyam.com<br />

20 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


HORIZON WATER VILLA<br />

HOW TO BOOK<br />

ECONOMY<br />

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives - 5<br />

7 nights from £2719 pp (1 Nov’21 – 16<br />

<strong>Dec</strong>’21) , +£400 pp (11 <strong>Jan</strong>’22 – 31 Mar’22)<br />

Includes return Qatar Airways flights from<br />

London Heathrow, Deluxe Beach Villa (lead<br />

in room category), All Inclusive, domestic<br />

flight & speed boat transfers. Includes a<br />

booking discount - saving over £1560 per<br />

couple. Prices are per person based on a<br />

twin/double share for travel on selected<br />

departure dates from November’21 –<br />

March’22 | www.southalltravel.co.uk<br />

BUSINESS<br />

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives - 5<br />

7 nights from £6279 pp (1 Nov’21 – 16<br />

<strong>Dec</strong>’21) , +£400 pp (11 <strong>Jan</strong>’22 – 31 Mar’22)<br />

Includes return Qatar Airways flights from<br />

London Heathrow, Deluxe Beach Villa (lead<br />

in room category), All Inclusive, domestic<br />

flight & speed boat transfers. Includes a<br />

booking discount - saving over £3340 per<br />

couple. Prices are per person based on a<br />

twin/double share for travel on selected<br />

departure dates from November’21 –<br />

March’22 | www.southalltravel.co.uk<br />

Qatar Airways<br />

You can book flights directly with Qatar<br />

Airways online at www.qatarairways.com<br />

Please be sure to check any travel<br />

requirements for your journey ahead of<br />

booking.<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 21


KITCHEN DESIGN ADVICE<br />

FROM AN EXPERT<br />

We speak to Julia Kendell, interiors <strong>and</strong><br />

decorating expert from ITV’s ’60 Minute Makeover’<br />

<strong>and</strong> ‘Rebuild Our Home’ <strong>and</strong> spokesperson for The<br />

National Homebuilding & Renovating Show...<br />

THE KITCHEN IS THE UNDISPUTED<br />

HEART OF THE HOME - AS WELL<br />

AS FEEDING EVERYONE, IT’S<br />

BECOME THE SOCIAL HUB, HOME-<br />

SCHOOLING AREA AND MUCH<br />

MORE – HOW DO YOU START YOUR<br />

DESIGN PROCESS WITH CLIENTS?<br />

Yes absolutely, the kitchen has had<br />

to really take the strain in the past 18<br />

months <strong>and</strong> now more than ever my<br />

clients are eager to find ways to ensure<br />

their new kitchen spaces are flexible<br />

enough to cope with whatever might be<br />

round the corner.<br />

The design process starts with<br />

underst<strong>and</strong>ing my client’s functional<br />

needs for the room, both now <strong>and</strong> as far<br />

into the future as we can determine (after<br />

all, a good quality kitchen should last<br />

20-30 years). My design principles centre<br />

on wellbeing in the home <strong>and</strong> creating<br />

spaces that fully support the family to<br />

ensure everyone can be organised <strong>and</strong> in<br />

harmony with one another. This involves<br />

spending time working out the each<br />

individual’s daily movements around<br />

the kitchen, their needs <strong>and</strong> what they<br />

enjoy doing. If there’s a keen baker in<br />

the household, I will suggest a dedicated<br />

‘baking cabinet’ where everything<br />

you need is in one place, st<strong>and</strong>-mixer<br />

plugged in ready for use <strong>and</strong> no excuses<br />

not to achieve ‘Star Baker!’ I believe<br />

good design ensures we can be the best<br />

versions of ourselves <strong>and</strong> take obstacles<br />

out of the way of our daily successes.<br />

MANY OF US ARE LOOKING TO<br />

SAVE THE COST OF MOVING AND<br />

INSTEAD IMPROVE OUR HOMES –<br />

ARE THERE SIMPLE CHANGES WE<br />

COULD MAKE TO IMPROVE THE<br />

LOOK AND FLOW OF OUR HOMES?<br />

It sounds obvious, but a total de-clutter,<br />

removing as much as possible from a<br />

room to be able to view the room with<br />

‘fresh-eyes’ is a great start to make<br />

meaningful changes. One of the simplest<br />

yet most effective improvements is<br />

to increase the levels of daylight into<br />

the home. Texture, whether fabrics or<br />

carpeting absorbs a huge amount of<br />

daylight <strong>and</strong> it can be transformational to<br />

swap out curtains for shutters/ blinds <strong>and</strong><br />

hard flooring such as engineered wood<br />

to replace carpet. Instantly the rooms will<br />

feel larger <strong>and</strong> brighter <strong>and</strong> any increase<br />

in daylight in the home can only improve<br />

your mood <strong>and</strong> wellbeing.<br />

WHEN DESIGNING A KITCHEN,<br />

WHERE SHOULD YOU SPLURGE<br />

AND WHERE SHOULD YOU SAVE?<br />

Areas that receive the most use should<br />

be prioritised in the overall budget. Most<br />

kitchen units are well constructed these<br />

days so choosing an affordable unit with<br />

a good quality worksurface is a good<br />

option. It’s amazing the difference adding<br />

expensive h<strong>and</strong>les can make to uplifting<br />

an otherwise ‘st<strong>and</strong>ard’ kitchen. I caution<br />

my clients to think carefully about their<br />

appliance choices too. It’s very easy to<br />

get excited about the latest gadget, but<br />

with appliances a large proportion of<br />

the overall cost of a kitchen, be realistic<br />

about how useful an appliance will be.<br />

Do you really need an oven with 42<br />

functions?!<br />

WHAT HAVE BEEN THE KEY<br />

LESSONS YOU’VE LEARNT ABOUT<br />

INTERIOR DESIGN IN YOUR<br />

EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY?<br />

Without doubt, the most important lesson<br />

is to design holistically <strong>and</strong> to engage<br />

all of the senses. It’s not enough just to<br />

create a pretty, ‘instagrammable’ room.<br />

The way we experience our homes <strong>and</strong><br />

workplaces is crucial to our mental<br />

health <strong>and</strong> performance <strong>and</strong> shouldn’t be<br />

underestimated. From choosing a colour<br />

palette to reflect your personality <strong>and</strong><br />

emotional needs to providing good air<br />

quality, creating a harmonious space that<br />

‘feels’ <strong>and</strong> functions as good as it looks is<br />

key to good design.<br />

SINCE THE PANDEMIC, HAVE YOU<br />

NOTICED ANY CHANGES IN THE<br />

WAY PEOPLE WANT THEIR HOMES<br />

TO FUNCTION – A MOVE AWAY<br />

FROM FULLY OPEN PLAN FOR<br />

EXAMPLE?<br />

There is still a strong appetite for openplan<br />

living as it provides the space,<br />

light <strong>and</strong> connection to one another we<br />

all crave. That said, to mitigate some<br />

of the issues with open-plan such as<br />

noise, privacy issues <strong>and</strong> cooking-smell<br />

transference from the kitchen, ‘brokenplan’<br />

is becoming a useful design tool.<br />

Broken-plan essentially incorporates<br />

vertical divides within the open-plan<br />

space using glazing, open-backed<br />

shelving, or sliding doors to delineate<br />

areas without closing off the visual impact<br />

of the space. This is also a great way to<br />

bring some architectural interest to an<br />

otherwise ‘large box’ that can too often<br />

feel like an airport lounge! I think anyone<br />

with shares in garden offices will have a<br />

good year ahead…<br />

WHAT TRENDS FOR <strong>2022</strong> ARE YOU<br />

EMBRACING THE MOST?<br />

Houzz are reporting a huge increase in<br />

interest in dedicated activity spaces such<br />

as art rooms, home bars, home gyms <strong>and</strong><br />

cinema rooms. I am very excited to see<br />

this as it shows that we are choosing to<br />

design our interests <strong>and</strong> passions into our<br />

homes. It’s refreshing to feel such a sense<br />

of optimism when chatting with clients<br />

<strong>and</strong> I am working with warmer colour<br />

palettes <strong>and</strong> being asked to incorporate<br />

planting <strong>and</strong> natural texture into room<br />

schemes. There seems to be a continued<br />

need to connect with nature after the past<br />

18 months <strong>and</strong> I’m loving it!<br />

Julia Kendell will be the design expert<br />

at the Farnborough Homebuilding &<br />

Renovating Show, 15-16 <strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2022</strong><br />

farnborough.homebuildingshow.co.uk<br />

22 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


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www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 23


Tough on all Pathogens<br />

BACTERIAL, VIRAL & FUNGAL<br />

Yet skin pH Neutral, Gentle to Skin<br />

Reasons to<br />

5LOVE LEUCILLIN<br />

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because Leucillin is alcohol free! It’s<br />

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matches our natural pH meaning kind<br />

to skin <strong>and</strong> safe for all.<br />

At home or away, Leucillin is a<br />

effective essential for all skin<br />

concerns, it is soothing <strong>and</strong> calming<br />

to; Red, Sore, Itchy skin, Minor Cuts<br />

<strong>and</strong> Grazes, Bites, Stings <strong>and</strong> Burns.<br />

suitable for all ages <strong>and</strong> skin types including<br />

highly sensitive, ears <strong>and</strong> eyes. Leucillin is<br />

your germ protection, antiseptic care <strong>and</strong><br />

daily cleanser.<br />

300x more effective than most sanitisers YET Leucillin<br />

is passed by the Organic Soil Association, has recyclable packaging, is cruelty free <strong>and</strong> vegan<br />

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Available in stores <strong>and</strong> online<br />

For promotional 500ml product offer please visit: www.leucillin.co.uk/promotions<br />

PROMO CODE: LEUCILLINTOTHERESCUE<br />

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For People AND our Pets, Leucillin is a<br />

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cleansing <strong>and</strong> sanitising skin safely including<br />

your face! Leucillin removes germs without<br />

drying skin, so however species diverse your<br />

family unit is, Leucillin has you covered.


putting our pets first<br />

We may feel as if we have had ‘information<br />

overload’ when it comes to germ<br />

prevention <strong>and</strong> protection, but sometimes<br />

a product comes along that dem<strong>and</strong>s our<br />

attention - enter Leucillin. This is a skin<br />

health product for pets that is proving to<br />

be a product which all of us may well be<br />

putting in our first aid chests very soon.<br />

We spoke to Georgina Bashforth (pictured<br />

right) about the product <strong>and</strong> its exciting<br />

potential…….<br />

First of all, in layman’s terms – what is<br />

Leucillin?<br />

Leucillin is a clever antiseptic applied to<br />

the skin topically to protect against harmful<br />

germs. Leucillin is a revolutionary fresh new<br />

take on what an antiseptic is <strong>and</strong> can be<br />

capable of.<br />

Leucillin mimics the body’s own immune<br />

system, providing you a powerful solution<br />

which delivers the ultimate shield in<br />

topical skin protection against harmful<br />

pathogens. Leucillin’s unique formulation<br />

does not contain any alcohol, steroids or<br />

antibiotics, it is the natural choice for safe<br />

skin sanitising.<br />

Our pets our so important to us, how<br />

is Leucillin used <strong>and</strong> what specific<br />

applications is it effective for?<br />

Leucillin has a great reputation for safety<br />

<strong>and</strong> efficacy, supported by pet healthcare,<br />

veterinary <strong>and</strong> grooming industries,<br />

this year. It has been awarded human<br />

approvals <strong>and</strong> begun an exciting new<br />

chapter in healthcare.<br />

Furthermore it can be safely applied in<br />

any topical application where the skin,<br />

ears <strong>and</strong> eyes need care, whether broken,<br />

red, sore, inflamed, cuts, stings, bites<br />

or grazes, Leucillin’s powerful antiseptic<br />

properties eradicate germs on contact<br />

creating the perfect environment for rapid<br />

recovery.<br />

For children, as well as our pets, it’s<br />

“Ouch Free” formula is kind, it has been<br />

developed to match the natural pH of skin<br />

so no more wincing on that grazed knee.<br />

It seems to be a very gentle solution<br />

to a number of particularly stubborn<br />

problems - can it be used long-term?<br />

Leucillin achieves an unbeatable<br />

99.99999% reduction in bacteria on<br />

contact, but how does that compare with<br />

the 99.99% which we think is good? Well;<br />

it’s a massive 10’000 times better!<br />

Fast effective pathogen reduction means<br />

no resistance therefore long-term usage is<br />

always effective <strong>and</strong> no harmful ingredients<br />

means Leucillin is always safe!<br />

And finally, how else can it be used <strong>and</strong><br />

what are your hopes for the product<br />

going forward?<br />

Our goal is to help alleviate the dependence<br />

on antibiotics <strong>and</strong> pharmaceutical<br />

intervention in the area of germ protection,<br />

for a more natural, safe, non-invasive <strong>and</strong><br />

most importantly effective alternative.<br />

During the p<strong>and</strong>emic Leucillin has been<br />

proven effective against all coronaviruses<br />

including SARS-CoV-2 topically <strong>and</strong><br />

has been used by animal care industries<br />

including Police Dog H<strong>and</strong>ler units for<br />

reducing risk.<br />

We have also recently teamed up with The<br />

Humanimal Trust founded by Professor<br />

Noel Fitzpatrick - aka The Supervet, we’re<br />

excited to be supporting mental health <strong>and</strong><br />

raising money for ONE Medicine, so that<br />

humans <strong>and</strong> animals can benefit equally<br />

from all medical progress.<br />

COURSES FOR<br />

ADULTS <strong>2022</strong><br />

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www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 25


THE HOME<br />

hit list<br />

JOBS TO TACKLE THIS AUTUMN<br />

SEASONAL<br />

REFRESH<br />

PROPERTY MOT<br />

Home maintenance is a year-round<br />

endeavour, but these are the top jobs<br />

to get sorted before the worst of the<br />

winter weather sets in:<br />

CHECK ALL DOOR/WINDOW<br />

SEALS FOR DRAUGHTS<br />

Check that existing seals are still<br />

intact <strong>and</strong> repair any cracks or holes<br />

that have formed. For a quick <strong>and</strong><br />

easy solution, fit doors with draught<br />

excluders to keep rooms warm <strong>and</strong> to<br />

prevent energy wastage.<br />

CHECK YOUR BOILER<br />

Have a boiler service <strong>and</strong> check the<br />

system is running efficiently. Many<br />

people put off replacing older boilers,<br />

but you will save money in energy with<br />

more efficient models. If you have one,<br />

make sure your external condenser<br />

pipe is well insulated.<br />

CLEAR GUTTERS<br />

Clear gutters <strong>and</strong> drainpipes of leaf<br />

debris to reduce the chance of leaks.<br />

Also be sure to check drains for<br />

blockages - prevention is better than<br />

fixing it on a cold night!<br />

CHECK THE OUTSIDE<br />

Look over all external masonry,<br />

checking for cracks, gaps around<br />

windows or issues with roof. Make<br />

sure your front door closes snugly (<strong>and</strong><br />

make sure your property is secure<br />

whilst you’re at it).<br />

INSULATION<br />

Insulate your pipes (burst pipes cause<br />

huge damage). Make sure your loft<br />

insulation is adequate <strong>and</strong> look into<br />

cavity wall insulation, which can<br />

save hundreds ££ on energy bills.<br />

If you can, look into upgrading the<br />

efficiency of your windows with triple<br />

or secondary glazing.<br />

Why is it that we save all the<br />

property redecoration for when we<br />

are getting ready to move? How<br />

about giving your rooms some<br />

TLC with a fresh lick of paint <strong>and</strong><br />

swapping in some new accessories<br />

to update the palette.<br />

Try switching out cooler grey tones<br />

for warmer neutrals <strong>and</strong> introducing<br />

more natural materials like linen,<br />

leather <strong>and</strong> wood - this means you<br />

can use your base furniture pieces,<br />

<strong>and</strong> just give them a lift with new<br />

decorative items.<br />

DIY panelling is another huge<br />

trend which is helping people give<br />

rooms a completely new look for<br />

less - why not try adding a wall to a<br />

bedroom in a strong contrast colour<br />

for maximum impact?<br />

PRACTICAL<br />

HOME-WORKING<br />

It looks as though working from home,<br />

or at least a hybrid, flexible model is<br />

here to stay. With that in mind, many<br />

of us are choosing to carve out proper<br />

working spaces instead of balancing on<br />

the end of the kitchen table.<br />

Investing in a proper desk <strong>and</strong> chair<br />

are fundamental - it’s well known that<br />

sitting for long periods on chairs not<br />

specifically designed for desk work can<br />

cause long-lasting pain.<br />

For desks, there are lots of options for<br />

built-in models into wall space or even<br />

st<strong>and</strong> up desks. If you don’t have the<br />

space for a full office room, you can<br />

still find inventive ways to incorporate a<br />

desk into wardrobe areas or even into<br />

cupboards, meaning the workspace<br />

can be neatly tucked away at the end<br />

of the day <strong>and</strong> the space can resume<br />

its original purpose. Storage is another<br />

essential element to stop work admin<br />

spilling out into home life.<br />

Finally, take some time to make your<br />

work space look homely - it stops it<br />

from feeling transitory. Hang some<br />

prints, invest in some greenery or buy<br />

some soft furnishings like cushions<br />

or blankets to make it feel like an<br />

extension of your home.<br />

Boston Fern from £9.99, hortology.co.uk;<br />

Hathai Cushion, £34, hauslife.co.uk<br />

26 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


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Help with cleaning & laundry<br />

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www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 27


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Enhancing your natural beauty<br />

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28 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


HOUSING-WITH-CARE<br />

Allowing older people to live where they want to live<br />

Imagine you’re an older person in your<br />

70s, approaching your later years <strong>and</strong><br />

perhaps in need of more support soon,<br />

but still with so much to give, so many<br />

talents to unlock, so many friends to<br />

make. You’re thinking about moving<br />

from the family home you’ve lived in<br />

for years to somewhere which provides<br />

security <strong>and</strong> care if <strong>and</strong> when you need<br />

it, but which also allows you to keep<br />

your independence <strong>and</strong> connections to<br />

the local community, <strong>and</strong> which has a<br />

range of activities <strong>and</strong> facilities to keep<br />

you busy.<br />

It’s this middle ground, this golden<br />

mean, combining independence with<br />

care <strong>and</strong> support, which housing-withcare<br />

settings across the country are<br />

offering to older people in increasing<br />

numbers. Sometimes called retirement<br />

communities, retirement villages or extra<br />

care housing, these settings give older<br />

people the opportunity to rent or own<br />

a flat or apartment, on a site with 24/7<br />

staffing, high-quality care provision if<br />

needed, <strong>and</strong> facilities like restaurants,<br />

bars, cafes, gyms, activity rooms <strong>and</strong><br />

much more.<br />

While long-st<strong>and</strong>ing options for older<br />

people like care homes <strong>and</strong> traditional<br />

retirement housing will continue to have<br />

a vital place, there is a growing need<br />

for middle options like housing-withcare<br />

which allow older people to stay<br />

independent <strong>and</strong> healthy for longer.<br />

The evidence is clear: housing-withcare<br />

improves health <strong>and</strong> well-being,<br />

drastically cuts down hospital <strong>and</strong> GP<br />

visits, <strong>and</strong> reduces feelings of loneliness.<br />

Not only do older people themselves<br />

benefit, but so too does the NHS <strong>and</strong><br />

whole social care system.<br />

Housing-with-care settings can be in<br />

either rural or urban locations, giving<br />

older people the chance to choose the<br />

lifestyle they want. Often, they are closely<br />

connected with the town centre, <strong>and</strong><br />

people of different ages are able to use<br />

the facilities at the retirement community<br />

<strong>and</strong> mix with older residents. Far from<br />

being ghettos of the elderly, housingwith-care<br />

settings can be hubs of<br />

intergenerational connection.<br />

ARCO’s role as the representative body<br />

for the housing-with-care sector is to help<br />

our members provide the best possible<br />

service to their older residents, <strong>and</strong> to<br />

ensure the sector thrives <strong>and</strong> grows in<br />

the way that it should. An important part<br />

of ARCO’s work is helping members<br />

set high st<strong>and</strong>ards through the ARCO<br />

Consumer Code, a new edition of<br />

which was launched in September this<br />

year. The code upholds the principles<br />

of transparency <strong>and</strong> fairness, giving<br />

customers <strong>and</strong> residents confidence that<br />

housing-with-care operators achieve<br />

high levels of consumer protection in<br />

everything from marketing, sales <strong>and</strong><br />

lettings, <strong>and</strong> resident relations.<br />

Because, ultimately, housing-with-care is<br />

all about the residents. About responding<br />

to the growing dem<strong>and</strong> from older<br />

people for housing options that combine<br />

independent, active living with care<br />

<strong>and</strong> support if needed. About allowing<br />

residents to live the life that they want<br />

to live.<br />

For further email please visit<br />

www.arcouk.org<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 29


Putting people first – 30<br />

years of care in <strong>Somerset</strong><br />

Travel back in time to 1991, <strong>and</strong> we were<br />

driving Ford Escorts, eating Pop Tarts <strong>and</strong><br />

listening to Queen. In <strong>Somerset</strong>, something<br />

very significant was also happening in our<br />

communities, as we became the first county<br />

to privatise residential care homes previously<br />

run by the local authority.<br />

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, <strong>Somerset</strong> Care<br />

took over the management of 26 residential care homes from<br />

<strong>Somerset</strong> County Council in 1991, supporting over 1,000<br />

residents to live the life they choose. Fast forward to today,<br />

<strong>and</strong> thous<strong>and</strong>s of people have been supported by <strong>Somerset</strong><br />

Care’s specialist residential, community, learning disabilities <strong>and</strong><br />

dementia support teams.<br />

A lot has changed in 30 years, but many things have also<br />

remained constant.<br />

CEO, Gary Ridewood, reflects on <strong>Somerset</strong> Care’s story so far:<br />

“A significant milestone always provides the opportunity to look<br />

back – <strong>and</strong> look forward.<br />

“Flicking back through the archives, the faces may have<br />

changed, but some of the care sector headlines around funding<br />

shortfalls <strong>and</strong> recruitment could have been written yesterday. The<br />

need to provide care in our communities hasn’t gone away either,<br />

<strong>and</strong> that tailored support is perhaps needed more now than ever<br />

as we continue to navigate a global p<strong>and</strong>emic. I cannot thank<br />

ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

our dedicated teams enough for the selfless commitment they<br />

continue to show for those in our care.<br />

“As a not-for-profit company, <strong>Somerset</strong> Care has grown, had<br />

several new looks, received multiple Royal visitors <strong>and</strong> moved<br />

offices in the last 30 years, but our ethos remains the same. We<br />

exist to deliver high-quality care for those who need it in our local<br />

communities – whether in our residential care homes or their own<br />

homes. As long as that need is there, we will be here to meet it.<br />

“As we enter the next chapter of <strong>Somerset</strong> Care’s story, we look<br />

forward to providing the specialist support needed to help even<br />

more people to live the life they choose.”<br />

To find out more about <strong>Somerset</strong> Care, its history, settings <strong>and</strong><br />

services, please visit www.somersetcare.co.uk or call<br />

0800 8174 990.<br />

Established 1991<br />

Celebrating<br />

30 Years of Caring<br />

<strong>Somerset</strong> Care are proud to have been supporting people<br />

to live the life they choose for the past 30 years. We would<br />

like to say thank you to all of our customers, residents,<br />

employees <strong>and</strong> the local communities who have been on<br />

this journey with us so far. Here’s to the next 30 years!<br />

0800 817 4990 - www.somersetcare.co.uk<br />

That special<br />

Someṛset Care<br />

thing<br />

30 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


EXPERT ADVICE.<br />

WHEREVER YOU ARE,<br />

WHEREVER YOU’RE HEADING.<br />

Our advisers work with you to build a complete<br />

picture of your aspirations alongside the<br />

realities of your financial situation <strong>and</strong> the<br />

possibilities for the future.<br />

albertgoodman.co.uk<br />

Albert Goodman Chartered Financial Planners is a trading style of Albert Goodman Financial<br />

Planning Limited which is authorised <strong>and</strong> regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).<br />

The West Country welcomes you to its<br />

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Sea or Minehead, all within easy reach of Chilton Park. Across of the<br />

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Chilton Park, Chilton Trinity, <strong>Somerset</strong> TA6 3JW | www.chiltonpark.co.uk | 01278 426005 or 07858 404593<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 31


discover our world<br />

michaelspiers.co.uk<br />

M_Spiers-<strong>Somerset</strong> <strong>Living</strong>-Christmas-Ad-OCT<strong>2021</strong>.indd 1 14/10/<strong>2021</strong> 16:58

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