Wokingham and Bracknell Lifestyle Feb - Mar 2022

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Contents 

A Note 

from the EDITOR 

09 A Culinary Journey through 

Northern 

We catch Ireland 

up with Chef Brian Turner 

19 

A real life bathroom 

transformation 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Assistant Editor Kate Norris Production Manager Rebecca Rose 

Contributors Peter Thomson, Sue Cooke, Matthew Biggs 

Front cover courtesy of Lipsy 

Interim Account Manager Katie Thomson 

e katie@minervapublications.co.uk 

e 01225 984 430 

Our competition 

page returns 

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. 

04 

10 

Delicious vegan 

dishes 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ 

Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton, Trowbridge 

BA14 6JB t 01225 984 550 

w www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

Hello and welcome to our first, fullyfledged 

edition of 2022. I hope that 

January has been gentle to you! I 

know that for my own part I called 

the start of the year a ‘soft opening’ 

- taking some of the pressure off 

myself to ease into some better 

habits, rather than cut off my supply 

of Quality Streets cold turkey - that 

kind of thing can be dangerous 

- especially for those around me 

when that 11am craving hit! 

I would encourage anyone to take 

a bit more of a holistic approach to 

goal setting - and just to be kinder 

to ourselves generally. Perhaps 

naively, we assumed we’d be wellshot 

of all the COVID business by 

now - but amidst this new normal, 

our habits have changed and our 

priorities have re-framed a little - I 

think for the better. 

In line with this, we have done 

away with the usual ‘New Year 

New You’ sentiments - let’s leave 

any judgement at the door - and 

instead we’ve looked at ways to 

feel healthier and steps toward a 

greener home. We can all make 

improvements in our home to 

better their energy efficiency and 

reduce their toxic loads, and our 

guide gives some practical steps. 

We were thrilled to welcome top 

Yorkshireman and TV Chef Brian 

Turner into this issue - plus we are 

serving up some meat free recipes 

if you’re still giving plant-based 

eating a good go. 

Also on the home front is an 

amazing family bathroom 

transformation, which we hope will 

inspire you to make your home 

work that bit better for you. 

There’s lots more to enjoy this 

edition - grab a cuppa and any of 

that lingering Christmas chocolate 

and please enjoy. We will see you 

again in April when we will be talking 

all things Easter! 

Katie 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 3

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4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk

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Interweaving science and the arts 

Susan McFarlane, head of art at Bedales Prep, Dunhurst, 

explains how pupils can benefit from a holistic approach to 

teaching science and the arts. 


When The Times reported that researchers were recommending 

that the arts and sciences should be taught together, around real 

problems rooted in pupils’ experiences, I found myself nodding 

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people, and so we encourage our pupils to develop a facility for 

understanding their subjects from as many different perspectives 

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stressing the value of the arts and humanities to the understanding 

of science, technology, and in fact pretty much everything. 

To this end, in 2019 Dunhurst’s art and design department staged 

a week-long celebration of Leonardo da Vinci. We recreated his 

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Bimba Landmann (illustrator), and masterpieces inspired by 

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STEAM Week then saw artist Roz Hall encourage pupils to make 

connections between art and science and, serendipitously, 

reference the Salvator Mundi attributed to Leonardo. Stressing 

how technology has always influenced new artistic developments, 

Roz drew on work we had done in art on the scientific discoveries 

around light and colour that inspired the Impressionists. His iPad 

work with pupils not only underlined his technological point, but 

led to us all learning how to use Autodesk SketchBook. 

This was to be one of the last things we were to do together 

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coronavirus pandemic, and it turned out to be prescient. Through 

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make animations on iPads, inspired in part by the call of a great 

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gravy 

IT'S ALL 

FULLER’S PUBS HAVE TEAMED 

UP WITH LEGENDARY CHEF, 

BRIAN TURNER CBE, TO TELL 

THE STORY OF FULLER’S 

SUNDAY ROASTS AND ALL 

THE TOUCHES THAT MAKE 

THEM A CUT ABOVE THE 

REST. FROM CAREFULLY 

SOURCED INGREDIENTS 

TO PASSIONATE PEOPLE, 

FULLER’S PRIDE THEMSELVES 

ON DELIVERING EVERYTHING 

THAT MAKES A SUNDAY 

SPECIAL AND EVEN BETTER 

WHEN YOU CAN SHARE THESE 

MOMENTS WITH FAMILY 

AND FRIENDS. THAT’S WHY 

THEY’VE INTRODUCED SHARE 

SUNDAYS. 

WE CAUGHT UP WITH CHEF 

BRIAN TURNER TO FIND OUT 

MORE... 

How did you get involved with Fuller’s 

pubs, and what made you choose to 

carry on with it? 

The way I got into Fuller’s was quite 

easy. For 28-29 years I was the British 

president of the UK team of the Bocuse 

d’Or competition, which is a worldwide 

cooking competition in Leon in France. 

It was held every two years and then it 

became every year and I was the judge 

for the British team. And somebody 

managed to make a connection between 

Fuller’s and the Bocuse d’Or, wanting to 

help sponsor it. So that’s how I met the 

Fuller’s team. Listening to Fuller’s team, 

I was really enthused and excited by the 

way they approached their training of 

chefs. 

From what I understood, they want 

to do something great as far as Chef 

training is concerned? 

Well, the reality of course is quite simple; 

it is for the survival of the future of the 

hospitality industry, which has been 

amazingly good to me. And amazingly 

good to lots of people. And those that 

have taken the opportunity have actually, 

I believe, got a better way of life. Even 

if you get trained in the hospitality 

business. If you get trained to be a chef, 

and for whatever reason you need to 

leave the industry, it leaves you with 

life skills; knowing how to buy the right 

product from the right place at the right 

price, and then convert it to the right dish 

on a plate. And then eventually, if you 

leave the business, it’s a skill that you 

need at home. 

I remember when I was at school a 

long, long time ago, we had domestic 

science, which was two hours on a 

Wednesday afternoon. It was a good 

thing to do! 

It was even better in my day. I was at 

school in the 1950s and in those days 

when we got to the third year in grammar 

school, you had to choose a craft, a skill. 

For boys it was woodwork or metal work 

for girls needlework or cookery. I was one 

of the few in Yorkshire that said ‘I want to 

do cookery’. They said ‘no lad, you can’t 

do that!’. But I did. Elsie Bibby, the lady 

who taught cookery at the parish, after 

the first month would say, “Okay girls, 

let’s gather around Brian’s table because 

his is always the best”. I was hated by the 

girls, but loved by Elsie Bibby! 

Is that when you first started cooking 

or were you always interested in it? 

No, I was quite fortunate in that respect in 

that my father was conscripted and went 

to the Second World War and served 

in Belgium and he was drafted into the 

catering corps. When he came back he 

went back to his job in the Morley Co-op. 

It would appear, having read the history 

of Morley Co-operative society, that my 

father gained a bit of a reputation for 

being a bit of a whiz with the old food 

knowledge he picked up in the war. So 

he opened a transport cafe. He had four 

children with my mother in five years so 

consequently she was overworked. I was 

the eldest, so whenever he could my dad 

took me down to his cafe to get me out 

of my mums way! So add Elsie Bibby on 

top of that, I would say that’s how I really 

got started in the business. 

So what’s your first foodie 

memory then? 

As a young man I was in the Salvation 

Army; I used to play in their band. And 

they used to have a congress regularly 

where all the Salvation Armys around the 

area in Yorkshire would meet together 

and have a jolly old singsong. It was on a 

Sunday, but we had to eat so we had to 

go out. We had elders who helped. And 

they took us to an Italian restaurant where 

I ate food like I’ve never eaten before. 

So it was a very rare occasion and it was 

just so special. And we only managed to 

get to go there when we would do this 

congress. 

So what was your first job when you 

actually did go into kitchens proper, so 

to speak? 

Well, if we count the fact that I worked 

for my Dad in his transport cafe, so 

eventually all four of us used to go on a 


Saturday morning, leave my mother to 

have a rest at home, we would come to 

the café with my dad and then my dad 

when he closed at 11 o’clock would lock 

the doors from the outside. And he would 

say: “I’m just going to see a man about 

a dog”. We didn’t realise he meant The 

Dog and Hound pub next door! So we 

would then clean up the cafe and get it all 

ready so that Monday morning when you 

reopen it was bright and sparkling. For 

that we were rewarded; we were allowed 

to have one Blue Ribbon chocolate 

biscuit. 

What other projects are you getting 

stuck into lately? 

I run a competition called Future chef, 

which I think is part of which attracted 

Fuller’s because it is getting 11 to 16 year 

olds, getting them interested in where 

their food comes from. All the things 

that we have talked about, we’re trying 

to instil those because we’d like to do it 

earlier in life. But the education system 

doesn’t allow us to do that. What I don’t 

understand is that I suspect if you did a 

poll, that at least 50% of our MPs have 

children in school. They are then going 

to finish school and go to university and 

you need them to be healthy and have a 

proper functioning brain, which is what 

we teach kids with cooking. If you get the 

right balance of food, then you grow to 

be healthy. 

We run a scheme as well called Adopt 

a School for the Royal Academy where 

we send chefs into classrooms to try and 

teach young people about the palette 

and where food comes from and what 

to look for. So what we want to do is to 

stimulate. And I have to say we have a 

waiting list of schools as long as your 

arm. Once people have been in and done 

it, everybody gets on telling their mates! 

That’s fantastic, are you running that 

nationwide? 

Yes, we have a Northwest branch and we 

have a Scottish branch. But it is far more 

East London centric with the outposts, 

if you like, who do a great job. Because 

we don’t really want to send too many 

people from London to Scotland because 

it’s A) expensive, and B) it doesn’t help 

our carbon footprint. How it started was 

one gentleman whose daughter was at 

school in Putney and learning nothing 

about food and he was getting frustrated. 

“Well I’ll come and do it!” he said. So he 

did and it was as simple as that! 

My husband has only just got into 

cooking and now he’s into it in a big 

way. And I’m now not allowed in the 

kitchen! 

Well that’s the thing, you can share 

it around a bit now! You’d be gobsmacked 

the number of people, when I 

did the shows, that walk past, men by 

themselves, and they say: ‘Hi Brian. You 

saved my life because my wife passed 

away and I’ve suddenly nobody to cook 

for me”. It’s so gratifying to see this 

system actually works. 

Do you ever get a chance to eat out 

yourself? 

Yes, I do. I haven’t been out as much just 

recently. But certainly, it’s in my DNA if 

you like. I go out to lunches more than 

dinners these days. Then I can get home 

at a sensible time. But it’s keeping up 

with what’s going on. And there’s so 

many things that are changing these days 

and so many people that need supporting 

that the list of where to go is just getting 

bigger and bigger and bigger. 

Apart from James Martin who you’re 

very friendly with, do you have any 

other foodie heroes in your life? 

Well two of my heroes have sadly passed 

away, the Roux brothers. But then there’s 

the wonderful Raymond Blanc who is a 

foodie hero of mine. He’s a wonderful 

man and we have had some good times 

together. But let me just take you back 

a little bit; there was a guy called Eric 

Scamman, who taught me to make 

sauces at the Savoy Grill. I’ll never forget 

the words that he gave me, helping me 

understand how to make the right the 

right sauce. Then of course, Paul Bocuse; 

the great French chef of my era, who has 

also sadly passed away. He was a great 

contributor to all our lives. 

He influenced your cooking? 

Oh yes. The way I look at it is you know 

with music colleges when you come to 

do your examinations? They ask you to 

choose a piece of music that you want to 

play and you choose whatever you want 

to play, and you play. And then they say 

‘Right, that’s very good. Now, here’s a 

piece of music you’ve never seen. Play 

that’. You have to cite read it. I think 

that’s how we should look at cooking. 

We need people to be able to understand 

the basics of the classics, the French 

cuisine as I understood it. Once you’ve 

learned that you can go off on a tangent 

and you can cite read someone. I don’t 

wish to uplift Ready, Steady Cook too 

much, but that’s what that programme 

did. Here are some items, do something 

with them. Sometimes you did something 

phenomenal. People would say ‘Oh I 

must make that!’. Other times people 

would say ‘Oh, that looks rubbish. I’m 

not going to do that’. But in fact, the 

two principles were aligned with a music 

examination. 

What’s the best meal you’ve ever had? 

You’re going to ask me for the dishes, 

which I won’t be able to tell you but 

many moons ago, I can’t remember 

when it was now, I was filming in Hong 

Kong. The food and beverage manager 

of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which 

was where we were staying, invited me 

to dinner one night after we had finished 

filming. We had dinner in the Mandarin 

Oriental overlooking Victoria Harbour 

in a Chinese restaurant called Manwah 

and that was probably the best meal 

I’ve ever had. I’ve been very fortunate to 

have some wonderful meals around the 

world in the houses of some great chefs. 

But I have also sat around the table with 

friends and just sat and eaten and you 

couldn’t ask for much more. 

What are your plans for this year? 

I think that Fuller’s Sunday lunchtime is 

going to take quite a bit of my time this 

year and I’m quite happy to devote my 

time to that. I think that certainly in winter 

times when you can go into a pub like 

Fuller’s and see a an open fire going…to 

me that suddenly tells you this is the time 

to sit down and eat and enjoy yourself 

and the company of others. 

To find your nearest Fuller’s pub and to 

book a table, please visit: 

www.fullers.co.uk/pubs/pub-finder 


WALNUT, 

AUBERGINE & 

MUSHROOM 

KEEMA CURRY 

Now Veganuary might 

be over, but we felt 

compelled to include 

a couple more vegan 

recipes in this issue, 

perfect for those 

midweek days when 

you just aren’t sure 

what to serve up! 

PREP TIME: 20 minutes 

COOK TIME: 20 minutes 

SERVINGS: 4 

CALORIES: 561kcal 

INGREDIENTS 

150g California Walnuts chopped 

1 tbsp oil 

1 onion chopped 

1 red chilli finely diced 

1 tbsp medium curry powder 

1 tsp ground turmeric 

1 aubergine cut into 1cm dice 

200g mushrooms sliced 

400g can chopped tomatoes 

100g baby spinach 

225g basmati rice cooked 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Soak the walnuts in lukewarm water for 

20 minutes, drain well. 

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying 

pan and fry the onion and chilli for 4-5 

minutes, add the spices and then the 

aubergine and mushrooms, cook for a 

further 4-5 minutes. 

Stir in the tomatoes, 100ml water and 

the walnuts, bring to the boil, cover and 

simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the spinach 

until just wilted and season. 

Serve with the cooked basmati rice. 

COOKS TIP 

Try adding chickpeas instead of the 

aubergine and stir in chopped coriander 

at the end. 

www.californiawalnuts.co.uk 


MOROCCAN 

MINCED 

WALNUT 

FLATBREADS 



SERVINGS: 2 


INGREDIENTS 

100g California Walnuts plus extra to 

serve 

1 tbsp olive oil 


2 tsp harissa paste 

1 tsp honey 

3 tbsp chopped coriander 

2 flatbreads 

100g houmous 

50g pomegranate seeds 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Finely chop the walnuts and place in a 

bowl, cover with lukewarm water for 20 

minutes, drain well. 

Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the 

onion for 5 minutes, add the harissa and 

honey then add the walnuts and half 

the coriander and cook for a further 2 

minutes. 

Warm the flatbreads and spread with 

the houmous. Sprinkle over the walnut 

mixture and then the pomegranate seeds, 

extra chopped walnuts and the remaining 

coriander. 

COOKS TIP 

Great rolled up in wraps or used to fill 

pittas instead of flatbreads. 

WALNUT, 

AUBERGINE & 

MUSHROOM 

KEEMA CURRY 



SERVINGS: 4 


INGREDIENTS 

150g California Walnuts chopped 

1 tbsp oil 


1 red chilli finely diced 

1 tbsp medium curry powder 

1 tsp ground turmeric 

1 aubergine cut into 1cm dice 

200g mushrooms sliced 

400g can chopped tomatoes 

100g baby spinach 

225g basmati rice cooked 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Soak the walnuts in lukewarm water for 

20 minutes, drain well. 

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying 

pan and fry the onion and chilli for 4-5 

minutes, add the spices and then the 

aubergine and mushrooms, cook for a 

further 4-5 minutes. 

Stir in the tomatoes, 100ml water and 

the walnuts, bring to the boil, cover and 

simmer for 10 minutes. 

Stir in the spinach until just wilted and 

season. 

Serve with the cooked basmati rice. 

COOKS TIP 

Try adding chickpeas instead of the 

aubergine and stir in chopped coriander 

at the end. 

NUTRITION 

Serving: 481g | Calories: 561kcal 

Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 16g 

Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 3.6g | Fibre: 8.2g 

Sugar: 9.2g 



BBQ 

CALIFORNIA 

WALNUT 

‘MEAT’ PIZZA 

SERVINGS: 4 


INGREDIENTS 

PIZZA DOUGH: 

420g strong white bread flour 

2 tsp fast action dried yeast 

1 tsp salt 

250ml tepid water 

2 tbsp olive oil plus extra for greasing and 

topping 

TOPPINGS: 

140g pizza sauce shop-bought or see 

below for our homemade version 

200g vegan cheese grated 

1/2 yellow pepper sliced 

1/2 red pepper sliced 

1/2 red onion sliced 

100g marinated artichokes in oil 

quartered (fresh or jarred) 

2 pinches of chilli flakes 

1 small handful of fresh basil 

WALNUT MEAT: 

120g California walnuts 

2 tbsp bbq sauce 

2 tsp soy sauce 

Pizza Sauce 

1 tbsp olive oil 

1 garlic cloves peeled and diced 

1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes 

1/2 tsp dried oregano 

salt + pepper 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Add the flour, yeast and salt to a large 

mixing bowl. Stir to combine and make a 

well in the middle. Pour in the water and 

olive oil and stir to combine, then empty 

the dough onto a clean work surface. 

Bring the dough together with your hands 

and knead for 10 minutes until you can 

stretch the dough without it tearing (note: 

you shouldn’t have to flour the work 

surface - this might make the dough too 

dry). When you’re ready, lightly oil the 

mixing bowl you used earlier, add the 

dough and cover with a slightly damp tea 

towel. Leave somewhere warm to prove 

for 45 minutes to an hour or until it has 

doubled in size. 

Preheat the oven to 240°C. Lightly punch 

the air out of the dough and divide it into 

two pieces. Place one piece underneath 

the damp tea towel or freeze it for 

another time. Then drop the other piece 

of dough in a cast-iron pan (we use a 

26cm pan). Use your hands to gently 

push the dough to the edges of the pan. 

Then add half of the pizza sauce, using 

the back of a ladle or spoon to push the 

sauce to the edges of the base. Sprinkle 

over half of the cheese, followed by 

half of the yellow pepper, red pepper, 

red onion and artichokes. Bake for 17 

minutes. 

Meanwhile, add the walnut meat 

ingredients to a food processor and blend 

into a mince-like texture, then leave to 

one side. 

Take the pizza out of the oven, scatter 

half of the walnut meat mixture on top 

and place the pizza back in the oven for 

2-3 minutes. 

When the pizza is ready, sprinkle over 

a pinch of chilli flakes, add half a dozen 

or so fresh basil leaves and drizzle over 

some olive oil. Slice and serve, then start 

building the remaining pizza if you’re still 

hungry! 

TO MAKE THE PIZZA SAUCE: 

Add the olive oil to a saucepan on a lowmedium 

heat. As soon as the oil is hot, 

add the garlic and fry for a minute or two, 

or until the garlic begins to turn golden. 

Then add the chopped tomatoes, dried 

oregano and pinches of salt and pepper. 

Simmer for 20 minutes, then remove from 

the heat. Use straight away or store the 

sauce in the fridge in an airtight container 

for up to 5 days. 

NUTRITION 

Serving: 337g | Calories: 263kcal 

Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 6.1g 

Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Fibre: 2.3g 

Sugar: 2.6g 



HURLEY HOUSE HOTEL 

IS A MULTI-AWARD-WINNING BOUTIQUE HOTEL 

AND RESTAURANT IN THE BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE OF 

HURLEY, WITH GREAT FACILITIES FOR PRIVATE AND 

BUSINESS GUESTS 

More details about Hurley House: 

• Winner of the Condé Nast Johansens 

Awards for Excellence for the ‘Best Small 

& Exclusive Property’ in the UK and Ireland 

in 2019 and 2021 

• 2021 ‘MICHELIN Plate: Good cooking’ for 

the fourth year running 

• AA 5 Stars Gold Award for ‘Restaurant 

with Rooms’ 

• 10 en-suite bedrooms with five-star 

amenities 

• Formal dining restaurant, private dining 

rooms and bar 

• Unique outdoor terraces and BBQ grill 

• Elegant Garden Pavilion, for large 

weddings and special events 

• Parking for up to 65 cars, including 4 

electric charging stations 

• Licensed Wedding Venue 

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR CONTACT US FOR 

FURTHER INFORMATION: 

01628 568 500 | hello@hurleyhouse.co.uk | hurleyhouse.co.uk 

Hurley House Hotel, Henley Road, Hurley, Berkshire, SL6 5LH

5 things 

I wish I knew 

when planning my wedding... 

Kate & Sam’s Wedding Day 

A new year is here, and for many couples, it’s the one in which they finally 

manage to tie the knot! Our own Assistant Editor Kate Norris recalls the trials 

of planning her wedding mid-lockdown in 2021, as well as divulging some 

important tips that she wishes she knew back at the start of the planning process... 

Like many others, I was unlucky enough 

to be left stuck planning our wedding 

in the midst of a global pandemic. 

It was not something that I would 

recommend, and all being well, as time 

has progressed, it is something that no 

couple will have to endure. I have to say, 

I had moments when I wondered if we 

were cursed. We had been together for 

over a decade before we FINALLY got 

engaged, and it was a good few years 

before we put our thinking caps on and 

started planning the big day. We were all 

booked in for July 2020 but of course as 

fate would have it, covid arrived and we 

were plunged into lockdown. 

Very long story short, we ended up 

getting married on the 4th attempt, a 

full year later in July 2021 and while it 

was a very different day to the one we 

had planned back in 2020, the fact that 

we had been forced to scale the big 

day back meant that, in some ways, we 

got the day we didn’t know we actually 

wanted all along. 

Weddings may not go completely back 

to normal for some time but hopefully 

couples currently planning their big 

day won’t have to endure such intense 

pressures, so to lend a hand I have 

put together a quick ‘what I wish I had 

known’ list when it comes to planning 

your wedding day. 

Set a budget 

Now this is an obvious one, and I know 

everybody says the same, but seriously. 

Do it. It’s remarkable how quickly 

planning can deteriorate when you don’t 

have the basics determined. According 

to nimblefins.co.uk, the average cost of 

a UK wedding stands at £30,000. But 

don’t panic - there are ways to cut back. 

Be sensible, put pen to paper, get that 

calculator out and work out what you can 

both afford. 

Buy a wedding diary/planner 

Back in 2019, my sister-in-law-to-be 

bought me one of these, but being the 

disorganised mess that I am, I didn’t 

make use of it and as such, as the big 

day loomed, I was constantly realising 

little bits and pieces that we hadn’t 

purchased/organised. Most wedding 

planners have check-lists and timelines, 

so the planning is broken down into 

bite-size chunks. If you do invest in one, 

they will make everything feel a lot less 

overwhelming, manageable, and dare I 

say it, potentially enjoyable. 

Identify your priorities 

This comes a lot more naturally to some, 

but it is invaluable advice. Ask yourself; 

what are some things that you are 

absolutely not willing to compromise on? 

Is it a dream venue? A colour theme? A 

dress? Whatever it is, this will give you a 

starting point to begin moulding the other 

details around. This is massively helpful, 

because if you are anything like me, you’ll 

find yourself dithering for months and 

months all due to the fact that you don’t 

know where to begin! On that note... 

Choose your venue 

There isn’t a whole lot of planning you 

can get stuck into until you decide on 

your venue. This determines your date, 

style, location and capacity of your 

wedding so...it’s pretty vital! And spoiler 

alert: it’s going to be where the largest 

chunk of your wedding fund goes. But 

again, remember your budget. Only view 

what you can afford as you’ll end up 

falling in love with something that’s going 

to bankrupt you. For our ‘4th attempt 

wedding’, we held the reception in our 

local pub...and it was fab! Your day is 

what you make it. 

DELEGATE 

This is one area where I really failed - all 

my friends and family will corroborate. 

And if I had to do it again *shudder*, I 

would of spoken up and asked them for 

help. If you are like me, it doesn’t come 

naturally to ask people for favours. But 

it’s a wedding, and your loved ones will 

expect it. Choose your helpers wisely and 

get delegating! Remember, you can thank 

them in the speeches, and when their 

time comes you can return the favour. 


YOUR VENUE... 

YOUR WEDDING... 

YOUR PARTY... 

YOUR DAY! 

Bearwood Lakes brings together 

everything you need in one outstanding 

location. Luxurious facilities surrounded 

by 200 acres of beautiful countryside 

and woodland. Our Events Manager and 

enthusiastic team will ensure your day is as 

unique as you are. 

V 

M 

: 

01183048200 

weddings@bearwoodlakes.co.uk 

www.bearwoodlakes.co.uk/celebrations 

Bearwood Lakes Golf Club, Bearwood Road, 

Wokingham, RG41 4SJ 

You are invited 

to attend... 

Our 2022 

Bespoke Wedding Fairs 

All fairs free admission 

and parking | 11am - 3pm 

Fashion Shows at some venues. 

GIVE A GIFT 

that means a little more 

Sunday 6th February De Vere Wokefield Estate RG7 3AE 

Sunday 20th February Bix Manor RG9 4RS 

Sunday 27th February Coppid Beech Hotel RG12 8TF 

Sunday 6th March Easthampstead Park RG40 3DF 

Sunday 20th March The Great House at Sonning RG4 6UT 

Sunday 3rd April Stanlake Park Vineyard Weddings RG10 0BN 

www.berkshireweddingfairs.co.uk 

info@berkshireweddingfairs.co.uk 

berkshireweddingfairs | berkshireweddingfairs 

07708 249 440 | 07990 711 444 

RSVP via our website 

sustainable, wellness-based 

gift boxes - customisable and 

beautiful, from £10 

available from hauslife.co.uk 


Premium 70s Topstitch 

Relaxed Blazer, £103, 

warehousefashion.com 

Drew Pussybow 

Frill Dress, £99, 

Monsoon 

Shirt Dress, £22, 

F&F at Tesco 

Tori Blouse, £49.50, 

Nina Coatigan, 

£65, Elise Wide 

Leg Trouser, £55, 

Ribbed Beanie Hat, 

£19.50 all FatFace 

Bronze Knitted Midi 

Skirt, £55, Oliver Bonas 

SPRING/SUMMER ‘22 

Trends 

Shoes, £32.99, 

New Look 

Ultra High Rise 

Flare Jeans, £72, 

abercrombie.com 

SEVENTIES 

Revival 

The throwback we can really get 

behind - it’s all about the stripes and 

soft silhouettes 

Broiderie Frill Green 

Cotton Blouse, £28, 

oliverbonas.com 

Military Button 

Cowl Neck 

Jumper, £36, Lipsy 

Phase Eight Tania 

Dress, £99, Freemans 

Jumpsuit, 

£60, Joe 

Browns 

Blaze Boilersuit, £55, 

dancingleopard.co.uk 

Sienna Blazer, 

£25, Primark 

Aldo Jess 

Heels, £79.99, 

zalando.co.uk 

Kayla Blouse, £42.50, 

FatFace 


Belted Ribbed 

Dress, £38, 

riverisland.com 

Hygge Tunic, £69, 

White Stuff 

Suedette Jogger, 

£18, F&F at Tesco 

BACK TO 

Basics 

After nearly two years of home-based 

fashion, we aren’t quite ready to give up 

our comfies. Trends are reflecting this, 

with super soft basics and loose fits 

Roll Neck Jumper, 

£19.99, New Look 

Sweatshirt, £25, 

Joggers, £25 and 

Teddy Coat, £68, 

all Anyday at John 

Lewis 

Pink Batwing 

Cashmere Jumper, 

£65 F&F at Tesco 

Leather Trainers, 

£39, Kaleidoscope 

MRS 

Brightside 

Brights are back - whether it’s hot pink, 

emerald green or cerulean blue, wear 

your hues bold. Extra points for block 

colour in a full outfit 

High-neck knit 

dress £77, 

guess.eu 

Merino Cashmere 

Blend V-Neck 

Jumper, £150, 

aspiga.com 

Orange Copenhagen 

Jumper, £79 and 

Orange Wrap Skirt, £69, 

neverfullydressed.co.uk 

Valentino Belted 

Crepe Maxi 

Dress, £1,380, 

net-a-porter.com 

Lobster Oversized Shirt 

£79 and Lobster Jaspre Skirt 

£59, neverfullydressed.co.uk 

Valley Mini Dress, £48, 

dancingleopard.co.uk 


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BATHROOM 

BLISS 

How rethinking a layout and some luxury finishes can transform a 

dated family space. We caught up with homeowner Kate to find 

out how she made this little sanctuary 

Tiles: RAK Ceramics Fashion Stone in Ivory; 

Bath: RAK Cloud Freestanding Bath 


The drying wall 

solution - hooks 

RAK Moon 

The sleek Lithe Audio Ceiling 

Mounted Bluetooth Speaker 

looks amazing paired with 

the flush shower head 

What were some of the obstacles you 

faced with this project? 

Firstly, the room is really small for a family 

bathroom! It measures 2.2m long by 

1.65m wide. Previously, I guess because 

of the small width, the bath was against 

the longer wall with the door - but it 

meant you basically walked into it as 

soon as you entered the room. By opting 

for a shorter bath, we were able to flip the 

orientation and create a space that feels 

much larger. 

What made you choose this design? 

I love the look of micro cement and 

Venetian plaster, but it was coming out 

at £130 per square metre. So when I 

found the Fashion Stone range at RAK 

Ceramics, I was thrilled - it’s exactly the 

warm stoney beige colour I was looking 

for and had a beautiful graduation 

of pattern through it that mimics the 

micro-cement. I also had the mosaic tiles 

installed in the shower niche - cement 

doesn’t allow for pattern, so I think it was 

the perfect option. 

I’ve wanted black taps since about 2016 

when I saw them on an Australian design 

show - I was so thrilled to find RAK also 

stock them. Most of the bathroom is 

kitted out with the Amalfi range, which 

has the most amazing textured finish - it 

looks and feels so luxurious. 

The basin tap feels so amazing - I read 

once that you should invest in the objects 

you touch everyday and this tap is 

honestly dreamy. The motion to turn it on 

is really slick - it’s the little things that add 

up to making a space feel luxurious. 

Is the shower over a freestanding bath? 

Yes - this design decision did cause 

some head scratching for the builder! I 

wanted the look of a free standing bath, 

especially because we knew we’d have 

to get a smaller one, so I thought why not 

emphasise it. The way we counteracted 

the water issue is to have a small wet 

room former tray in each corner behind 

the bath, and also to run the underfloor 

heating in this area to help dry out the 

splashes. So far, so good! 

The bath is an absolute beauty - it’s the 

RAK Cloud design and at a petite 1.4m, 

it was the perfect size. It is very heavy 

though, as it’s resin - so just bear that in 

mind when planning! The shape of it is 

unlike anything I’ve ever seen before - it 

really has a beautiful form and gorgeous 

curves. I love that it sits on a base. 

Did you have any tech installed? 

Yes - was a must for my partner. We’ve 

got the most beautiful shaver socket 

and dimmer switches from Corston 

Architectural Detail- the black bronze 

finish is so modern but also timeless. The 

switch outside controls the spotlights and 

then the LED strip lighting in the recess 

by the bath separately. The recess it sits 

in offers a handy space to put products 

for showering and was created by adding 

a shallow stud wall. 

Then there’s the Lithe Audio waterproof 

speaker in the ceiling - it looks amazing 

set against the inset circular RAK shower 

head too. It allows you to connect your 

phone or tablet wirelessly - amazing for 

watching movies in the bath or listening to 

the radio in the morning as you get ready 

for work. We will be using the same tech 

all synced up in the rest of the house. 

Finally, the loo! Who knew a toilet could 

be exciting, but this one is! The RAK 

Ceramics Des Rimless Close Coupled loo 

has a touch-less flush - super hygienic 

and very easy to clean - the battery life 

RAK Joy Wall Hung Vanity 

Unit with Built in Basin in 

Grey Elm - 600mm with 

Amalfi Basin Tap 

Corston Architectural 

Shaver Socket in bronze 

Before 


LAYOUT 

More than anything, it was the 

layout of this space that made it 

feel cramped. The bath protruded, 

meaning you all but knocked into 

it as you came in. You’d have to 

edge past the basin to get to the 

loo. By moving the loo and flipping 

the bath, the whole space is more 

open and that creates an amazing 

feeling of luxury. 

Below is the before and after of the 

layout. Thee door has also been 

flipped so you come into an open 

space, rather than side stepping. 

After 

WC 

lasts two years too! The toilet is also rimless inside, meaning 

there are fewer nooks and crannies for bacteria to live. 

BATH 

BASIN 

WINDOW 

Where’s the towel rail? 

Another one that confounded the builder a bit - again because of 

the size of the bathroom, I was worried about the projection of a 

towel rail into the room. My other half also only hangs his towels 

rather than folding them on a rail - so we came up with a different 

solution. The underfloor heating is electric and these wires can 

be (carefully) taken out of the matting - we asked the builder to 

cut grooves into the wall to accommodate the cables and tile 

over them - thus creating a warm wall. We then positioned hooks 

about 10cm clear of the top edge of the cables and the towels 

hang against a warm wall to speed drying. 

DOOR 

What’s the secret to a successful bathroom scheme? 

I think we are looking for bathrooms to feel like an escape - in 

line with that, lots of storage is essential - looking at clutter is 

not relaxing! Making more of a layout and maybe opting for 

smaller baths to maximise the feeling of space also helps. Our 

vanity unit is a floating one, helping the volume of furniture in 

the room to feel smaller. 

BATH 

STOCKIST INFORMATION: 

For tiles, bathroom furniture and taps: 

RAK Ceramics: www.rakceramics.com 

Find your nearest supplier here: www.rakceramics.com/uk/en/ 

store-locator/united-kingdom 

WC 

WINDOW 

For light swtiches and sockets: 

Corston Architectural Detail: www.corston.com 

For audio Equipment: 

Lithe Audio: www.litheaudio.com 

DOOR 

BASIN 


NEW YEAR 

Greener Home 

Looking to make some 

sustainable changes in the 

home this year? Read on... 

CHANGE YOUR 

HEATING 

As boilers can be fuelled generally by four 

different fuels, homeowners can decide 

what would be best for their house. 

The possibilities range from gas boilers, 

oil, electric boilers, and biomass boilers. 

Ground-source heat pumps use buried 

pipes to extract heat from the earth 

for your home’s heating and hot water 

circuits. You won’t usually need planning 

permission, but you’ll need to be 

prepared for the disruption of digging up 

your garden. 

Air-source systems use a similar 

principle, but extract heat from the air. 

They can be fitted to an external wall or 

sometimes in roof space, making them 

ideal for retrofits. Air source heat pumps 

cost from around £2,000. 

Wood-fuelled heating systems burn 

pellets or logs to power central heating 

or warm a single room. A biomass boiler 

(from £9,000 including installation) feeds 

your central heating and hot water. It 

should provide for all your heating needs, 

but requires plenty of space; a spacious 

utility room should suffice. A standalone 

stove (around £3,000) heats one room 

and can be fitted with a back boiler to 

provide water heating. 

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems convert 

sunlight into electricity. They don’t need 

direct sunlight to work – so you can 

generate on a cloudy day – but you’ll 

need to attach them to a roof or wall that 

faces within 90 degrees of south. Costs 

vary between £8,000 and £14,000. 

INSULATE 

Attaching renewables to your home is 

pointless if it’s so poorly insulated that 

heat flows straight out. Insulation is 

essential for any eco-renovation, 

because as much as 40 per cent of a 

home’s heat loss is down to a lack of it. 

Insulating loft or cavity walls is relatively 

simple. You can be do this with a range 

of materials, from sheep’s wool to 

expanding foam. Insulating either will 

cost from £250 and could save more 

than £150 a year in energy bills. 

IMPROVE GLAZING 

Over 10 per cent of a home’s energy 

can be lost through the windows, so 

it’s essential that yours perform well. 

Replacing single-glazed windows with 

double- or even triple-glazed versions will 

slow heat transfer. To reduce this further, 

consider a product filled with a lowconductivity 

gas, such as argon. 

You can even get hold of low-emissivity 

(low-e) glass, which has a special coating 

to reflect heat back into the room. 

CHEMICAL-FREE 

CLEANING 

A lot of mainstream cleaning products 

contain various ingredients that 

are harmful to the environment. In 

fact, a lot of chemicals used to clean 

our clothes, dishes, and house end 

up causing damage to our planet 

and its biodiversity. Chemicals such 

as detergents, preservatives, or foaming 

agents are the ones that cause the most 

harm to nature. Switching to products 

that contain sustainably grown or raised 

ingredients that do not deplete the 

ecosystem, nor harm it when expelled 

back out. 

DECREASE THE 

TOXIC LOAD 

We are becoming increasingly aware of 

the volume of chemicals in the building 

products used in our homes - but by 

choosing products consciously, we can 

reduce these elements. Most eco-paints 

are water-soluble and use plant oils and 

resins to form the solution, with pigments 

coming from minerals or plant dyes. 

Environmentally-friendly wood varnishes 

and waxes are also available, as are 

green options to clean and prepare walls. 

Sustainable wallpapers include natural 

coverings made from materials such as 

hessian, cotton and wool. 

There are many natural flooring products, 

with wood being the most popular. Make 

sure it is derived from a sustainable 

source (the FSC logo is a good indicator). 

If wood’s not your thing, consider cork, 

marmoleum or even rubber, which can 

all be 100 per cent natural – but always 

check the supply chain. 

LAY UNDERFLOOR 

HEATING 

If you’ve always used radiators, maybe 

it’s time for a change. Underfloor 

heating (UFH) is a great alternative, 

and should be easy to install if you’re 

pulling up floors as part of the renovation 

process. It operates at a temperature just 

a few degrees warmer than the room air 

temperature by circulating warm water 

through a network of cross-linked pipes 

installed under your flooring. The low 

operating temperature means it’s easily 

linked with alternative heating sources 

with similar low temperature outputs – 

such as solar thermal or heat pumps. 

RECYCLE WATER 

Thousands of litres of rainwater fall on 

your roof each year – so why not collect 

it? This water can function to flush 

toilets, fill washing machines and water 

gardens. Consider a rainwater harvesting 

system that collects rainfall via a 

drainpipe, filters out leaves and debris, 

and then stores the useable water in a 

tank. Also think about changing your 

toilets and showers. A low-flush toilet 

uses less than four litres per flush and a 

low-flow showerhead less than 10 litres 

per minute. 

“We are becoming increasingly aware of 

the volume of chemicals in the building 

products used in our homes - but by 

choosing products consciously, we can 

reduce these elements.” 


New Luxury Park Home Coming Soon! 

A stunning Lissett Odyssey home, measuring 46’ x 22’ is coming to Warfield Park. The luxury home 

boasts a huge list of additional extras as well as two bedrooms with en-suite and dressing room, and 

a study. In addition, this beautiful home comes with a private landscaped garden, 

garage, driveway and parking. 

This spectacular park home is located in the prestigious Warfield Park, a well-established park home 

estate consisting of more than 500 homes located between Ascot and Bracknell. 

This home is available from October 2022. 

01344 884 666 

enquiries@warfieldpark.co.uk 

warfieldpark.co.uk 

MacLaren House, 

Warfield Park, Bracknell, 

Berkshire, RG42 3RG

NOTES FROM THE GARDEN 

STEPPING INTO SPRING 

In this edition Matt Biggs gives us some 

ideas as to how to get our gardens in 

order ready for the Spring... 

Looking out at the garden in mid-winter might not seem the ideal 

time to gain inspiration – but it is the ideal time to look at the 

bones of what you have and plan for the year ahead! 

With little in the way of foliage and flowers to distract you, an 

hour spent contemplating your space can be very useful. 

You can see what works, see if the paths are in the best places, 

what you need to work on, any spaces that are overcrowded or 

those that are underused. If the paths don’t take you the way you 

like to walk you should be able to see the short cuts that show on 

the lawn- known as lines of desire - and you can plan to reset the 

paths to suit the way you use the space. You can also see if there 

are areas that don’t get much traffic, areas that are odd shapes – 

it is all there before you. 

If you aren’t a dab hand with a pencil, then photograph what you 

have and make a list of what you would like. 

If the past couple of years have taught us anything, the value 

of accessible outdoor space must be high on the list, as is the 

necessity to be kind to our world, so maybe a high maintenance 

lawn can give way to a wildflower lawn, trees can have nesting 

boxes added, a space for composting might be included and 

maybe a pond for wildlife – with child safety in mind – could be 

an addition you would want to make. Growing veggies, herbs, 

fruit and delicious items for the kitchen can also be incorporated 

– what an exciting prospect and now is the ideal time to plan it! 

If you are daunted by the task, call in a local landscaper or 

garden designer and see how your space can be transformed 

into something useful, beautiful and productive – 2022 is the 

year for you! 

haus 

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Image courtesy of cityfarmhouse.com 



"SO MUCH 

MORE THAN 

A ROOF OVER 

OUR HEADS" 

Buy to Let Hunter is a 

niche company offering 

investors a chance to 

purchase perfect small 

properties to rent on 

a short-term, serviced 

basis in the dormitory 

suburbs... 

But who, I hear you ask, chooses to stay 

in a tiny house in Binfield? One of our 

guests, Blair Baker, recently had a chat 

with us about her experience as a guest 

with Buy To Let Hunter. 

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE STAYING 

IN ONE OF OUR PROPERTIES? 

“We sold our house in June, on the very 

day we put it up for market! We were 

relocating as a family to the States and 

for that to happen, my husband needed 

a visa. Due to Covid his application was 

delayed. We found ourselves in a total 

pickle – we were advised to stay in an 

Airbnb and wait. We had no idea it would 

be for six months!” 

HOW HAS THE EXPERIENCE WITH 

BTLH BEEN? 

“When we found your house in Binfield, 

we felt grateful and blessed: it was a 

proper home for us – with a garden for 

Shadow and a locked shed for storage. It 

was just so wonderful to find somewhere 

we were able to live with the dog and feel 

like part of the neighbourhood and to be 

looked after.” 

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OTHER 

PEOPLE IN YOUR POSITION? 

“This has been a major life transition 

for us and being able to feel at home, 

welcomed by the neighbours and 

supported by the BTLH team has made 

it so much easier than staying in a hotel. 

You have shown us flexibility and genuine 

care, giving so much more than a roof 

over our heads: honestly, it has made all 

the difference! This great set-up provides 

the perfect stop gap for those who are 

stuck in a life transition, a true safe place 

for us to be in the midst of stress and 

turmoil.” 

BLAIR AND HER FAMILY ARE 

PACKING AND HOPEFUL TO 

FINALLY MAKE THE NEXT STEP 

TOWARDS A NEW LIFE TOGETHER 

IN MASSACHUSETTS WITH FLIGHTS 

SCHEDULED AND A SHINY NEW VISA 

IN HAND. 

“As difficult as it has been there are a few 

tender memories: the genuine friendships 

with our neighbours, your staff have 

been super great and I believe they 

genuinely care - this isn’t just a business 

for them. We think we will leave next 

week – but now we have to take Covid 

tests, so everything is still somewhat up 

in the air… it’s like the most suspenseful 

storyline narrative ever, isn’t it! “Will they 

stay or will they go?”” 

IN THE NICEST POSSIBLE WAY, WE 

HOPE BLAIR, SHADOW AND HER 

FAMILY LEAVE FOR GOOD! 

The owner of Blair’s serviced and 

furnished home has been earning twice 

as much in rental, has the warm fuzzy 

feeling of providing a much-needed home 

and has a hassle free, flexible investment. 

If you would like to learn about our other 

guests or investors please do read the 

whole series of interviews on the website. 

Can BTLH help you find the perfect 

property? Get in touch and have a 

chat: 020 7550 9396 or 

hello@buytolethunter.com. 

For more information check out 

www.buytolethunter.com 


WHI S 

I love skiing 

in the Alps. 

Truly I do. But 

Lord forbid I should 

find myself in a February 

half-term lift queue, caught in 

the paradox of desperately trying 

to remain balanced on pinned down 

skis whilst being held upright by the 

crush of irritated holidaymakers in the 

shared knowledge that this is our selfappointed 

fate for the next 20 minutes, 

only to be repeated in another 30 after 

a short respite of crisp white bliss. If we 

can find an opening in the piste that is. 

Unfortunately, the majority of families 

are limited to this crowded and 

expensive period of the school holiday, 

yet, if you are open to venturing further 

afar, might I suggest somewhere that 

I have found myself more and more 

drawn to; North America. Boasting 

wide open runs, generally shorter, 

well-managed lift queues and more 

consistent snow, Canada in particular 

offers an attractive alternative, 

especially when you consider that their 

school holiday dates don’t coincide 

with ours. Allow me then to introduce 

one of my favourite resorts; Whistler 

Blackcomb. 

North America’s skiing Mecca, 

Whistler is held up as a pinnacle of 

skiing excellence in the snow sports 

community, the echoes of which I have 

heard continually throughout my 20- 

year skiing career. It elicits pilgrimages 

from around the globe and is steeped 

in the history of the industry, playing a 

pioneering 

role in 

shaping modern 

day snowboarding, 

freestyle skiing and even 

(perhaps most excitingly) ski 

resort management. 

Split between the once rival Whistler 

and Blackcomb mountains, the skiable 

area and its runs are vast. With 200 

runs and over 8000 acres, Whistler 

Blackcomb is, if a little shy of some of 

our sprawling European counterparts, 

the largest ski resort in North America. 

With all levels of runs, kids-zones, 

terrain parks, trees and powder bowls, 

there is something for people of all 

abilities to get their teeth into. A well 

maintained and often-updated lift 

system puts all of this within easy reach 

with the pièce de résistance being the 

spectacular peak to peak gondola, 

which spans the valley between the two 

mountains and links what used to be 

two separate areas via an unforgettable 

ride across Fitzsimmons Creek valley. 

The snow here is heavier than in the 

higher elevation Rocky Mountains, so 

don’t expect the champagne powder 

“With many outdoor areas and people spilling 

out onto the snow, the vibrant atmosphere of 

the whole village places the après experience 

firmly above any I’ve experienced in Europe 

(with exception perhaps to La Folie Douce… 

if you know, you know)” 

the 

area is 

renowned 

for, however 

with usually 

consistent snow, 

making new fresh tracks 

is a pleasure you can find time 

and time again. 

A great mountain only provides half of 

the story when it comes to great resorts 

and the village of Whistler itself more 

than carries its own weight. Top off a 

long bluebird day sipping a cold few with 

your boots loosened on the first-floor 

patio of the Garibaldi Lift Co. (The GLC in 

local parlance), or if the adrenaline of the 

afternoon hasn’t quite worn off, stomp 

your feet along to the ski bum classics 

of The Hairfarmers at Merlin’s Bar and 

Grill or head to another of the many lively 

bars or quieter pubs on offer. 

With many outdoor areas and people 

spilling out onto the snow, the vibrant 

atmosphere of the whole village places 

the après experience firmly above 

any I’ve experienced in Europe (with 

exception perhaps to La Folie Douce… 

if you know, you know). Once back 

into a pair of comfortable shoes, you 

have a vast array of restaurants, cafés, 

pizzerias, crêperies and burger joints 

to choose from - catering to all sorts of 


STLER 

WE SENT JOSH TOBER AWAY FROM HIS USUAL 

ALPINE FAVOURITES TO TRY THE WIDE PISTES 

AND BUSTLING APRÈ S IN WHISTLER, CANADA 

budgets. 

There’s also 

the Whistler Grocery 

Store within a short walk 

from the bottom of the lifts should 

you wish to self-cater. If the evening 

still hasn’t tired you out then dance the 

night away at nightclubs like Garfinkel’s, 

MoeJoe’s and Tommy’s Lounge who 

often boast international bands and DJs 

hosting some of the wildest parties in 

British Columbia! 

Of course, those wishing to experience 

a more peaceful getaway are also 

generously catered for. If the essence 

of Whistler is the land of thrills and 

adventure, then its antithesis and the 

perfect cure to the inevitable hangover 

or burned-out legs is the Scandinave 

Spa. Isolated in a clearing amongst 

the picturesque coniferous forest just 

outside 

of town, 

you are presented 

with a snow globe scene 

of tranquillity and peace enclosed 

on all sides by frost-touched pines. A 

path winds its way amongst steaming 

hot and icy cold plunge pools, the 

surface of which are kissed silently by 

lazy flakes of snow. Bear in mind that 

talking is prohibited within the spa itself; 

a blessing, or a curse to some! 

Once thoroughly relaxed, enjoy a dash 

of local culture and visit the Audain Art 

Museum. Housing a collection of works 

from 

the 

indigenous First 

Nations through to 

world renowned coastal British 

Columbian contemporary artists, the 

striking architecture of the museum is 

arguably as much a part of the draw 

as the exhibits on display. Afterwards, 

when evening settles in, Vallea Lumina 

Destination Canada/Grant Gunderson 


offers a whimsical journey through a forest filled with light, 

sound and special effects. This is definitely one for the kids! 

The Fairmont Chateau 

The catered ski chalet model we are used to seeing in 

European resorts hasn’t really taken off in most of North 

America and the few that do exist tend to be luxury 

end offerings with a walloping price tag. However there 

are still a good many of choices of accommodation in 

Whistler, from the fabulous ski in-ski out Fairmont Chateau 

(complete with ski hosts to take and store your skis from 

you before you even step inside) to the more modern pod 

hostel concept on offer within the Pangea Pod Hotel (still 

located slap bang in the centre of the action in Whistler 

Village and a short walk to the gondolas) there are hotels, 

AirBnB apartments, lodges and hostels to suit all budgets. 

EN-ROUTE 

The typical route to Whistler is to fly into Vancouver 

and then take a cruise along the Sea to Sky Highway, a 

stunning route in itself on the days when visibility hasn’t 

been reduced to a few hundred metres. Why not extend the 

trip and build up the anticipation by stopping for a couple 

of days in BC’s capital? 

Vancouver manages to be at once isolated yet intrinsically 

linked with its striking backdrop of the Coastal Mountains. 

The town itself holds all the usual trappings of quirky 

bars, eateries and museums, but where it excels is as a 

platform to kick-off and ease you into the exploration of its 

magnificent setting. 

Start off in a gentile manner; hire a bike and ride the ample 

cycle paths to Stanley Park where the city seamlessly starts to 

blend into its surroundings. Ride, walk or ride the train along 

the routes criss-crossing the 400 Hectare park of coniferous 

forest, hidden lakes and beaches with views of the foothills 

of the Coast Mountains dipping their toes into the Strait of 

Georgia (keep an eye out for river otters!). For the slightly more 

adventurous, take the free shuttle to the Capilano Suspension 

Bridge Park; set around a cedar rainforest lined gorge, it 

represents quintessential back country Canada. Treetop and 

cliff-side hugging walkways have been added to complement 

the historic suspended footbridge, the crossing of which, 

with its slight swaying and bouncing, make the experience as 

exhilarating as it is beautiful. 

Once the bracing outdoor air has roused your adventurous 

spirits, take part in a plethora of other outdoor activities, 

which offer something for any age, weather or season; 

snowshoeing and ziplines at Grouse Mountain, scenic 

sea plane tours from the harbour, rooftop jeep tent hire, 

canyoning, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, white 

water rafting and more hiking trails in the surrounding areas 

than you can shake a trekking pole at. 

While I won’t be swapping my annual helping of tartiflette 

for a portion of poutine for good any time soon, I’d 

encourage anyone; family or not, to give more than passing 

consideration to a winter trip West of the pond. See you 

out there! 

Destination Canada/Grant Gunderson 

BOOKING YOUR TRIP: 

Accommodation in Whistler was with the stunning 

Fairmont Chateau - find out more and book at 

www.fairmont.com 

More information about the resort can be found at: 

www.whistler.com 


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

Caring for the elderly members of your family 

Over Christmas you may have spent some time with the family and perhaps more time with 

the elderly members and you become concerned about their health? 

Here we list 8 warning signs to assess if 

they need help and what to do if they do. 

You may wish to consider the following 

questions: 

1. Is the person (persons) able to take care 

of themselves? 

Pay attention to their appearance. Failure 

to keep up with daily routines - such as 

bathing and tooth brushing - could indicate 

dementia, depression or other physical 

impairments.Also pay attention to their 

home. Are the lights working? Is the heat 

on? Is the garden overgrown? Any changes 

in the way things are being done around the 

house could provide clues to their health. 

For example, scorched pots could mean 

they are forgetting about food cooking on 

the stove. Neglected housework could be 

a sign of depression, dementia or other 

concerns. 

2. Are they experiencing memory loss? 

Everyone forgets things from time to time. 

Modest memory problems are a fairly 

common part of ageing, and sometimes 

medication side effects or underlying 

conditions contribute to memory loss. 

There’s a difference, though, between 

normal Changes in memory and the type of 

memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s 

disease and other types of dementia. Are 

the memory changes limited to misplaced 

glasses or an occasionally forgotten 

appointment - or are the changes more 

concerning, such as forgetting common 

words when speaking, getting lost in 

familiar neighbourhoods or being unable to 

follow directions? 

3. Are they safe in their home? 

Take a look around their home, keeping an 

eye out for any problems. Could their be a 

difficulty navigating a narrow stairway? Are 

they able to read directions on medication 

containers? When asked, do they say they 

feel safe at home? 

4. Are they safe on the road? 

Driving can be challenging for older adults. 

Do they become confused while driving 

or are you concerned about their ability to 

drive safely, it might be time to stop driving. 

They could be a danger to others. 

5. Have they lost weight? 

Losing weight without trying could be a sign 

that something’s wrong. Weight loss could 

be related to many factors, including: 

• Difficulty cooking. 

• Loss of taste or smell. 

• Underlying conditions - indicating ill health. 

6. Is the person (persons) in good spirits? 

Note their moods and ask how they’re 

feeling. A drastically different mood could 

be a sign of depression or other health 

concerns. 

7. Are they still social? 

Talk to them about their activities. Are 

they connecting with friends? Have they 

maintained interest in hobbies and other 

daily activities? Are they involved in 

organisations or clubs? Have they given up 

on being with others, it could be a sign of 

a problem. 

8. Is the person (persons) able to get 

around? 

Pay attention to how they are walking. 

Are they reluctant or unable to walk usual 

distances? Have they fallen recently? Is 

knee or hip arthritis making it difficult to get 

around the house? Would they benefit from 

a cane or walker? Issues such as muscle 

weakness and joint pain can make it difficult 

to move around as well. If someone is 

unsteady on their feet, they might be at risk 

of falling - a major cause of disability among 

older adults. 

Taking action 

There are many steps you can take to 

ensure the person/persons’ health and wellbeing, 

even if you don’t live nearby. Share 

your concerns with them. Your concerns 

might motivate them to see a doctor or 

make other changes. 

Encourage regular medical check-ups 

If you’re worried about weight loss, 

depressed mood, memory loss or other 

signs and symptoms,encourage them to 

schedule a doctor’s visit. 

You might offer to schedule the visit or to 

accompany them to the doctor - or find 

someone else to attend the visit. Ask about 

follow-up visits as well. 

Address safety issues 

Point out any potential safety issues you 

have observed - then make a plan to 

address the problems. For example, the 

person (persons) concerned might benefit 

from using assistive devices to help them 

reach items on high shelves. A higher toilet 

seat or handrails in the bathroom might help 

prevent falls. If they are no longer able to 

drive safely, suggest other transportation 

options -such as taking the bus or using 

a taxi. 

Consider home care services 

Particularly if they are having trouble taking 

care of themselves, you could hire someone 

to clean the house and run errands and 

help with daily activities, such as bathing. To 

ensure good nutrition Meals on Wheels is 

also an option. 

And finally 

It would be a good idea to secure an 

Enduring Power of Attorney to ensure that 

if things get worse you can step in without 

having to involve the Court of Protection. 

Your solicitor will be able to give you good 

advice on this. 


Award 

winning care 

homes 

Our dementia specialists take a gentle yet 

proactive approach to care, supporting each 

resident to be as independent as possible. We 

champion innovation through our partnership 

with the Association for Dementia Studies at 

the University of Worcester. 

We’re here to help you and your family at every 

step of the journey. 

If you’re considering care, call Suzanne on 

01344 987620 or email 

suzanne.woodward@careuk.com 

Trusted to care. 

Rated 

10 

out of 10 on 

carehome.co.uk 

Bickerton House care home 

Bracknell 

careuk.com/bickerton-house

A home for life at Buckler’s Lodge, Crowthorne 

Opening early 2022 

Our state-of-the-art care home will offer luxury 

living with 24 hour residential and dementia care. 

Register your interest and find out more: 

call Kim on 01344 949280 or 

email kim.buc.ra@greensleevescare.co.uk 

Ask us about our nursing home, Glebelands in Wokingham. 

greensleeves.org.uk

Wokingham and Bracknell Lifestyle Feb - Mar 2022

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