Taunton and South Somerset Living Dec 2022 - Jan 2023

C O N T E N T S 

A NOTE 

from the editor 

14 

FESTIVE DESSERTS TO INSPIRE 

I do hope you’re ready for 

some festive fun - because 

this edition is coming in 

with (sleigh) bells on! After 

so many years of disrupted 

celebrations, it’s great to be 

able to look forward to some 

normality and really get into 

the spirit. 

Before I launch into what is 

coming up - I want to apologise 

for a recipe mistake in the 

last edition - we misprinted 

a recipe for a spicy dahl - the 

correct method is available 

on www.minervamagazines. 

co.uk should you wish to 

make the dish. 

06 

COMPETITIONS 

Right...this issue - first up we’ve 

got some delicious recipes - if 

you aren’t a fan of Christmas 

pudding (I’m in your camp) 

we’ve got lots of alternatives 

to keep everyone happy! 

The competition section in 

this edition is a real bonanza 

- we’ve got an adult and child 

bike duo, a smart washing 

machine, 2 x £150 vouchers 

for cashmere clothes and 

accessories, a deluxe hamper 

and family fun at the Sea Life 

centre all to be won! 

2023 INTERIORS 

24 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie@minervapublications.co.uk 

Assistant Editor Kate Norris 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Pre Press Manager Rebecca Rose 

Contributors 

Matthew Biggs, Angela Cave, 

Louise Thomson, Pete Lawrence 

FOR ADVERTISING 

Account Manager Adrian Hill 

e adrian.hill@minervapublications.co.uk 

t 01225 984496 

Cover image courtesy of 

Hestercombe House and Gardens 

4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

HOMEMOVING GUIDE 

21 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS 

Unit 21c, Paxcroft Farm, 

Hilperton BA14 6JB 

t 01225 984 550 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

Printed on sustainably sourced paper. 

Please recycle this copy or pass it along 

when you are finished for someone else 

to enjoy. 

Disclaimer: The publishers shall not be 

held liable for any loss occasioned by 

failure of an advertisement to appear, or 

any damage or inconvenience caused by 

errors, omissions and misprints. No part of 

this publication may be reproduced without 

prior permission from the publishers. 

The opinions expressed within are not 

necessarily those of the publishers. 

This is all alongside our usual 

dose of school, home, garden 

and later life advice. 

I hope you enjoy this issue 

and have some time in the 

coming months to take pause 

and reflect on the year - the 

passing of a much loved 

monarch, but a host of new 

beginnings - we will have the 

first King’s Christmas speech 

this year to punctuate our 

own celebrations. However 

you spend the festive season, 

I, and the rest of the team 

here, wish you a very happy 

Christmas and a peaceful New 

Year - see you in February! 

Katie

COMPETITION 

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

www.minervamagazines.co.uk/competitions. 

Find the competition and enter on that post, 

using the appropriate keyword. 

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

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

WIN Bobbin, the 

A SET OF PARENT London based 

AND CHILD independent 

bike retailer 

MATCHING offers a 

VINTAGE STYLE selection 

BIKES FROM of vintage 

style bikes in 

BOBBIN 

pastels and 

BIKES! beautiful bright 

shades, suitable 

from age two with 

balance bikes, all the way up to 

adults. 

They also offer a range of 

complimentary accessories 

including wicker baskets, pannier bags, 

helmets and bike decorations. 

We are offering one lucky reader an 

adult Brownie 7 Dutch Bike worth £549, 

Bobbin’s signature Dutch bicycle and a 

matching child’s Gingersnap bike (12”- 

26”) start from £189 

All handmade in small batches the 

Bobbin bikes offer high quality and 

comfortable, not to mention stylish, 

leisure bikes for the whole family. 

www.bobbinbikes.com 

Closes 19/12/2022 - 

Competition keyword: ‘BOBBIN’ 

Did you know that a Candy RapidO washing machine is so 

smart that you can show it a photo of your laundry and it will 

tell you the perfect cycle to wash it at? Candy’s Snap&Wash 

smart feature allows users to communicate with their washing 

machine via an app. This feature offers technology that provides 

efficiency from the comfort of your phone. 

If you like to keep things simple but not compromise on quality, 

then Candy is the perfect option for you. And we have a smart 

Candy RapidO washing machine to offer one lucky reader! 

www.candy-home.com 

Closes 19/12/2022 - Competition keywords: ‘CANDY RAPIDO’ 

Loop Cashmere is the home 

of feel good cashmere. Each 

garment is crafted with love, 

following sustainable practises 

from goat to finished garment. 

Our Winter 22 collection is out 

now, offering gorgeous lofty knits, 

irresistible textures and a rainbow of 

colour. The collection is designed in the 

softest cashmere to effortlessly see you 

through the winter months in complete 

luxury. 

We’re offering you the chance to win one of 

two £150 gift vouchers and treat yourself or 

a loved one, to a little sustainable luxury. 

www.loopcashmere.co.uk. 

Closes 19/12/2022 - Competition keyword 

‘LOOP’ 

WIN 

2 X £150 

VOUCHERS TO 

SPEND ONLINE 

WITH LOOP 

CASHMERE! 

WIN 

A CANDY SMART 

WASHING 

MACHINE 

WORTH OVER 

£400! 

Looking for the perfect gift this Christmas? 

Delight your friends and family with a selection box of delicious 

treats. One lucky reader will win a ‘Decadent Christmas in a 

Box’ containing the following: 

6kg Free Range Whole Turkey | 4.5kg Unsmoked Ham | 1kg 

Side of Smoked Salmon | 1kg Organic Cheddar | 1kg Cropwell 

Bishop Stilton | Christmas Pudding | Harrow & Hope Brut 

Reserve (750ml bottle) | Classic Cranberry Sauce | Granny’s 

Apple Chutney | Artisan Coronation Sauce | British Goose 

Fat | Luxury Bread Sauce | Traditional Roast Gravy | Sage & 

Onion Stuffing | Pigs In Blankets | 200g Smoked Chicken 200g 

Smoked Duck. 

www.copasturkeys.co.uk 

Closes 09/12/2022 - Competition keyword ‘COPAS’ 

Discover the amazing 

underwater world of the 

SEA LIFE Aquariums 

at one of the 11 

locations throughout 

WIN 

4 X TICKETS 

TO ANY SEA 

LIFE CENTRE! 

WIN 

CHRISTMAS IN 

A BOX WORTH 

OVER £400 

WITH COPAS 

TURKEYS! 

the UK and Ireland. 

Are you a Shark lover, a 

Humboldt Penguin fan, or 

a clownfish fanatic? At SEA 

LIFE you can see them all - from 

the curious and the rescued to the rare and the enigmatic. Every 

SEA LIFE is unique, and so are its creatures – a visit here will get 

you closer to the oceans than ever before. 

There are 11 SEA LIFE centres where the prize can be redeemed; 

London, Birmingham, Great Yarmouth, Loch Lomond, 

Blackpool, Brighton, Manchester, Scarborough, Hunstanton, 

Weymouth and Bray. Three lucky readers will win 4x tickets. 

www.merlinannualpass.co.uk 

Closes 19/12/2022 - Competition keywords: ‘SEA LIFE’ 

6 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk

GOLD TO RIO 

SAT 26th NOV 7.30PM 

Two of the UK’s most iconic bands will be brought 

to life in one power packed show! From Gold to Rio 

will take you on a nostalgic journey back to the 

New Romantic era which ruled the charts for over 

a decade. 

LOS PACAMINOS 

with Paul Young 

Also featuring Drew 

Barfield, Mark Pinder, 

Steve Greetham, Jamie 

Moses and Melvin Duffy. 

Los Pacaminos play the 

very best in Tex Mex 

Border music. 

SAT 3rd DEC 8PM 

CHRISTMAS AT THE OPERA 

FRI 9th & SAT 10th DEC 7.30PM 

Spend an evening with The 

London Festival Opera and 

enjoy some of the greatest 

arias and ensembles from the 

operas of Mozart, Rossini, 

Verdi, Puccini, and Gilbert & 

Sullivan. Starring the baritone 

Philip Blake-Jones 

SNEAK PEAK OF WHAT'S COMING IN 2023... 

Living Spit - More than a Feline 

Forever in Blue Jeans 

Cara Dillon 

THEATRE 

DANCE 

MUSIC 

COMEDY 

CINEMA 

GALLERY 

CAFÉ 

VENUE 

HIRE 

TAUNTON, SOMERSET 

FRI 9 - WED 21 DEC 

A.J.’S BIG BAND 

BOX OFFICE: 01258 475137 BOOK ONLINE 24/7: WWW.STUR-EXCHANGE.CO.UK 

SAT 4 FEB, 7:30PM 

A ROOM OF 

ONE’S OWN 

SAT 11 FEB 

7:30PM 

MISTER 

MAGNOLIA 

SUN 26 FEB 

2:30PM 

01823 414141 | tacchi-morris.com 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 7

MEET THE 

Tauntonians 

WE TALK TO BUSINESSES 

IN AND AROUND THE 

TAUNTON AREA WHO ARE 

PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT 

THEY DO... 

TACCHI-MORRIS 

ARTS CENTRE 

ANDY PULLEYN 

CENTRE DIRECTOR 

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR ROLE 

AT THE THEATRE? 

My role is Centre Director for Tacchi-Morris 

Arts Centre. I’m responsible for managing 

the arts centre and making sure we’re 

serving our community and audiences as 

best, and in all of the different ways, we 

can. This involves programming the shows 

and events, looking after our finances, 

working with our team to make sure they 

have everything they need, and generally 

getting involved in anything else that 

needs doing. 

IS EACH DAY DIFFERENT? 

A lot of the time, yes. Whilst we have 

regular shows that return, or similar types 

of events happening, our programme is 

different each week. This means my days 

can be quite varied depending on what 

is happening and also what I need to 

be planning for the future. We’re always 

looking at new opportunities and new 

things we can do - so there’s a lot of 

variety. 

WHAT DO YOU MOST LOVE ABOUT 

YOUR JOB? 

We have a small team of excellent, 

dedicated staff, supported by a brilliant 

larger team of volunteers. We couldn’t 

operate the way we do without all of 

these people giving their time, heart and 

expertise. It creates a lovely working 

environment making me very fortunate to 

be here every day. 

AS WE LEAD INTO THE FESTIVE 

SEASON ARE THERE ANY 

PRODUCTIONS YOU’RE MOST 

LOOKING FORWARD TO? 

For a smaller venue (about 250 

seats) we’re really fortunate to have a 

professional pantomime here. This year 

it’s Sleeping Beauty and the producer 

Reamba Productions always bring us 

a top-quality show. So I am very much 

looking forward to panto season - the 

Christmas spirit, the excellent bad jokes, 

and show after show with lots of smiling, 

happy audiences. 

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE 

ABOUT WHAT’S ON? 

The best way is to visit our website 

tacchi-morris.com or pop in! We’re always 

delighted to see people and tell them 

about what’s coming up. 

tacchi-morris.com 

WEST SOMERSET 

RAILWAY 

CAROL HAWKINS 

VOLUNTEER 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A 

VOLUNTEER AT WEST SOMERSET 

RAILWAY? 

I have been a volunteer for over six years, 

having applied in August 2016. 

WHAT DO YOU GET TO DO AT THE 

RAILWAY? 

I was asked and then chosen to volunteer 

with the catering team serving on the 

trains buffet car due to my catering 

background. It seemed a great fit for me. 

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO 

VOLUNTEER? 

Without a doubt my fascination for steam/ 

engineering! 

IS IT FUN? 

Yes most definitely. After 6+ years 

buffet car/cafe I’ve never had a bad day 

volunteering. Every day is always different 

and our teams are like family. 

My father/grandfather were both Royal 

Engineers in army but also engineers in 

civilian life. My grandfather worked on 

the MOD trains after WW1 and actually 

lost part of his leg between two cargo 

carriages when they shunted back; 

crushing him. I was fascinated by his 

stories from an early age so it was in my 

blood. I also loved watching steam trains 

running past my village for years as a 

child. I was asked by Didcot steam trains 

to volunteer whilst living in Oxfordshire 

but was in process of moving back to 

Somerset. After few years I raised the 

courage to apply to West Somerset 

Railway in 2016. 

FOR ANYONE WANTING TO 

VOLUNTEER, WHAT ADVICE CAN 

YOU GIVE? 

Think about your own strengths firstly, 

mine was customer based /catering, there 

are so many volunteering roles within the 

railway so challenge yourself. You will be 

warmly welcomed. Once tried you will be 

hooked. 

west-somerset-railway.co.uk 


Our popular illuminated train returns for 2022. 

Book now for a magical experience this Winter. 

Selected dates in November and December 

£22.50 per person (Under 1s on lap - free) 

CATERING AND GIFTS AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK 

CAFE AND SHOP AVAILABLE ON THE EVENING 

www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk 

info@wsrail.net 

01643 704996 

Photograph - Aaron Manley


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ADVERTISING FEATURE 

What's on the menu? 

AT QUEENS COLLEGE TAUNTON 

Joe Mann Head of Faculty of Art, Design, and Food at Queens College Taunton tells us 

more about his role as a food teacher and just how things have changed for the better... 

Tells us more about your role at 

Queens College 

I am a Food Teacher at Queen’s College 

who has an enormous passion for 

teaching children about Food and 

Nutrition, delivering effective food 

education, and equipping children 

with valuable food life skills at Queen’s 

College and beyond. It’s also about 

providing a range of extra-curricular 

opportunities for our pupils to engage 

with: growing fresh produce, rearing, 

harvesting fruit and vegetables, cookery 

competitions, visiting professional chefs, 

inviting in outside food celebrities and 

speakers, and visits to farms, restaurants, 

hotels and other catering establishments. 

These are just a few of the ways we like 

to engage our pupils in providing handson 

and educational activities that develop 

a love of the subject and opportunities 

beyond the classroom, that keeps our 

school motto alive: ‘we learn not for 

school but for life’. 

How important is a balanced diet to 

school today? 

There is so much disconnect and 

confusion nowadays about, where 

their food comes from living in our 

convenience society with so much 

eating processed foods that it has never 

been so important to understand what 

constitutes a healthy balanced diet as 

part of a healthy balanced lifestyle. As a 

nation, we need a sustainable, positive, 

food system that provides choice and 

access to high-quality products that 

support healthier and home-grown diets 

for all. As a school, we understand this 

need and foods served in the dining 

not only reflect our push for a healthy 

balanced diet, we have had organic foods 

grown by pupils served in the canteen 

and school chefs delivering lessons about 

the food they cook in our classes. 

How much has changed in terms of 

dietary food in the last 10 years? 

In schools, there have been far stricter 

guidelines in place, in the latest decade 

there has been a huge increase in the 

types of healthier food being both served 

in school canteens and taught about 

in kitchen classrooms. In lessons, the 

move was made towards teaching how 

to prepare predominantly savoury items 

and in the school canteens, guidelines 

were put in place limiting the number of 

processed foods served each week and 

ensuring a minimum amount of fruits 

and vegetables are present in each meal, 

with various new nutrient-dense, healthy 

options available to pupils every day. 

How do you go about creating what is 

good for your pupils? 

In the last decade, there has been a 

huge shift change from teaching Food 

Technology to the advent of Teaching 

Food and Nutrition in 2014. Food and 

Nutrition is a practical subject that has a 

strong focus on applying the principles 

of nutrition and healthy eating to the 

foods we cook. Pupils are taught to cook 

a repertoire of predominantly savoury 

rather than sweet dishes and become 

competent in a range of practical skills, 

processes and techniques. We are 

passionate about instilling a love of 

cooking in our pupils that will open a 

door to one of the great expressions 

of human creativity. Learning how to 

cook is a crucial life skill and our pupils 

become competent in a range of cooking 

techniques so that they are able to feed 

themselves and others a healthy diet, 

now and in later life. 

Children are renowned for being fussy 

eaters. How do you combat this? 

Many children and young people go 

through phases of refusing meals or 

being pickier with food. This can be a 

normal part of growing up. There are 

lots of reasons why a child might not eat 

particular foods and they can become 

simply overwhelmed by eating certain 

foods. It’s always worth remembering 

that we use all our senses when eating 

and they all work together. We teach that 

eating starts with our eyes. We all look 

at the shape, colour and presentation 

of our food when deciding what to eat, 

but we also use taste, touch, smell and 

even hearing (especially with a crusty 

baguette!) We all process sensory 

information differently. What smells good 

to one person can be unpleasant to 

others. The best tip is to involve children 

in lots of exciting and engaging food 

preparation activities and it is hugely 

important that children see others 

enjoying eating and trying different foods. 

And for Vegetarian/Vegan pupils? 

There has certainly been a lot of talk 

recently about the number of people 

adopting a plant-based diet increasing 

enormously over the last few years. 

At Queen’s, we teach the government 

healthy eating guidelines of a balanced 

diet using the Eatwell Guide. When it 

comes to protein intake it means we 

talk about beans, pulses, fish, eggs, 

meat and other proteins. Beans, peas 

and lentils are good alternatives to meat 

because they’re naturally very low in fat, 

and they’re high in fibre, protein, vitamins 

and minerals. But if you like your meats 

then that is fine as well but we advise 

that some types of meat are higher in fat, 

particularly saturated fats. To cut down 

on fat it is worth choosing leaner cuts 

of meat and going for a leaner mince, 

cutting the fat off of meat and the skin off 

of chicken, trying to grill meat and fish 

instead of frying and having a boiled or 

poached egg instead of fried. If you eat 

more than 90g of red or processed meat 

per day, then we suggest trying to cut it 

down to no more than 70g per day. 

01823 340830 

admissions@queenscollege.org.uk 

www.queenscollege.org.uk 


The family school of choice 

The Ambitious family • Creative school • Active of choice 

• Caring 

Ambitious • Creative • Active • Caring 

• Extensive range of co-curricular activities 

• Caring • Extensive and supportive range of co-curricular community activities 

• Strong • Caring academic and supportive resultscommunity 

• • 

Family Strong fee academic support results and sibling discount 

• Family fee support and sibling discount 

• Buses available across the region 

• Buses available across the region 

• No academic lessons on Saturday 

• No academic lessons on Saturday 

mornings 

mornings 

• Dedicated to sustainability 

• Dedicated to sustainability 

• Outstanding • creative and performing arts arts 

• 570 • 570 seat seat theatre – – the largest in the region 

OPEN EVENTS 

Assisted places and 

PREP 

a range of Scholarships 

Friday 30 September 9:30am-12pm 

Academic SENIOR · Art · Performing Arts · Sports 

Saturday 01 October 9am-12:30pm 

Music · Outdoor Education 

SIXTH FORM 

Tuesday 18 October 6:30pm-8:30pm 

Register your interest via our website 

Contact our friendly admissions team 

Contact our friendly admissions team 

01823 340830 

01823 340830 

admissions@queenscollege.org.uk 

www.queenscollege.org.uk 

NURSERY • PRE-PREP • PREP • SENIOR • NURSERY SIXTH FORM • PRE-PREP • PREP • SENIOR • SIXTH FORM

FESTIVE Fancies 

Perfect alternatives to the 

traditional Christmas Pud 

CHOCOLATE 

& HAZELNUT 

SNOWFLAKE 

Prep time: 25 minutes + chilling 

Cooking time: 35 minutes 

Serves: 8 

INGREDIENTS 

2 x 320g packs Jus-Rol Puff Pastry 

Sheet 

100g hazelnut chocolate spread 

50g chopped roasted hazelnuts 

1 British Blacktail Free Range Medium 

Egg, lightly beaten 

Icing sugar, for dusting 

METHOD 

Unroll both of the pastry sheets and 

cut a 20-22cm circle from each (save 

the offcuts to make tarts, cheese twists 

or palmiers). Put one pastry circle 

on a sheet of baking parchment and 

cover one side evenly with hazelnut 

chocolate spread. Sprinkle over ½ 

the hazelnuts, leaving a 1cm border 

around the edge. Put the second 

pastry circle on top, pressing lightly 

around the border to seal. 

Put the lid of a small jar (about 4-5cm 

in diameter) in the centre of the pastry 

(so you don’t cut through it), then use 

a sharp knife to cut the pastry into 

quarters (excluding the central circle). 

Cut down the centre of each quarter 

and then repeat. You should have 16 

equal strips of pastry attached to the 

centre. 

Take 2 strips next to each other and 

twist them away from each other 3 

times. Press the ends together in 

a point, to seal. Repeat all the way 

around the circle – you should now 

have 8 snowflake ‘arms’. Slide the 

snowflake, on its parchment, onto a 

baking sheet; chill for 30 minutes. 4 

Preheat the oven to 200ºC, gas mark 6. 

Lightly brush the egg all over the top of 

the snowflake. Bake for 30-35 minutes 

until golden and puffed up. Allow to 

cool, then dust with icing sugar and 

sprinkle over the remaining hazelnuts 

to serve. 

IRISH CREAM 

FUDGE 

Prep time: 20 minutes + cooling + 

chilling 


Makes: Makes about 30 pieces 

INGREDIENTS 

397g can condensed milk 

150ml whole milk 

425g light brown soft sugar 

115g unsalted butter 

100ml Baileys The Original Irish Cream 

Large pinch of salt 

100g dark chocolate (70% cocoa 

solids), chopped 

METHOD 

Line a 20cm x 20cm baking tin with 

parchment. Put the milks, sugar and 

butter in a large, nonstick saucepan 

and warm over a medium heat, stirring 

occasionally, until the sugar has 

dissolved. Put a sugar thermometer in 

the pan and turn up the heat a little, 

bringing the mixture to a moderate 

bubble. Stir continuously until the 

thermometer reaches 113-115ºC or 

‘soft-ball stage’ (this should take about 

15 minutes). Take the pan off the heat 

and set aside for 5 minutes. 


Monkton Heathfield, Taunton, 

Somerset, TA2 8QN 

01823 412381 

info@monkton-elm.co.uk 

Your Local Garden Centre Christmas Destination of Choice 

OUR 

FRESH,LOCAL 

CHRISTMAS TREES 

NOW IN STOCK: 

Norway Spruce, Nordman Fir and 

Fraser Fir Trees. 

NEW IN FROM IRELAND: 

The Noble Fir, a beautiful and 

fragrant tree 

Fresh trees in stock from the 23rd November 

PLUS 

See our beautiful range of 

seasonal Holly 

and Mistletoe! 

We thank all our Customers for their support in 2022 and 

look forward to seeing everyone again in 2023 

Happy Holidays!

QUOTE 

TAUNTONLIVING 

when booking 

at 

ENMORE PARK GOLF CLUB 

Established 1906 

AVAILABLE FROM 

28th NOVEMBER - 23rd DECEMBER 2022 

STARTERS 

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MAIN COURSE 

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Nut Roast, Garlic & Thyme Potatoes, Seasonal Veg, Yorkshire Pudding 

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Christmas Pudding & Brandy Sauce 

Lemon Tart with Raspberry Coulis 

Strawberries & Chantilly Cream 

1 COURSE - £14.95 pp 

2 COURSE - £20.90 pp 

3 COURSE - £26.85 pp 

(Minimum of 10 people per booking) 

Bookings can be made over the bar at the Club House 

or by phoning 

01278 672100 (option 5) 

www.enmorepark.co.uk 

Enmore Road, Enmore, Bridgwater TA5 2AN 

ENMORE PARK 

Golf Club 

Established 1906

Stir the Irish cream and salt into the 

mixture. Using electric beaters set to 

a medium speed, beat for about 10 

minutes until you have a thick mixture 

that’s starting to come away from the 

sides of the pan. (You can also do this 

with a wooden spoon, beating for about 

15 minutes.) Tip the mixture into the 

lined tin, spreading it out evenly. Cool to 

room temperature, then cover and chill 

for 1 hour. 

Melt the chocolate in a bowl set over a 

pan of gently simmering water, stirring 

until smooth. Meanwhile, put a large 

sheet of baking parchment on the work 

surface. Turn out the fudge and trim the 

edges to neaten, then cut into squares 

about 3cm x 3cm. Dip ½ of each square 

of fudge in the chocolate. Leave to set 

on the parchment, chilling again briefly 

if needed. 

STICKY DATE 

PUDDINGS 

Prep time: 25 minutes 


Serves: 8 

INGREDIENTS 

175g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra 

for greasing 

80g light brown muscovado sugar 

6 Waitrose Medjool Dates, pitted and 

finely chopped 

3 British Blacktail Free Range Medium 

Eggs 

2 tbsp treacle 

175g self-raising flour 

1 tsp baking powder 

1 heaped tsp mixed spice 

½ tsp fine sea salt 

2 tbsp whole milk 

STICKY DATE SAUCE 

40g unsalted butter 

3 Waitrose Medjool Dates, pitted and 

finely chopped 

125g light brown muscovado sugar 

250ml double cream, plus extra to serve 

METHOD 

For the puddings, preheat the oven to 

180ºC, gas mark 4. Lightly grease 8 mini 

pudding moulds (each about 175ml in 

volume), put a small circle of baking 

parchment in the base of each, then sit 

them in a large, deep-sided roasting tin. 

Boil the kettle. In a large bowl, using 

electric beaters, cream the butter, sugar 

and dates for 2-3 minutes until light 

and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and then the 

treacle. Lightly beat in the flour, baking 

powder, mixed spice and salt, then loosen 

the mixture with the milk. Divide the 

mixture evenly between the moulds; it 

should fill them about halfway. 

Pour a kettle of just-boiled water into 

the roasting tin so the water sits about 

halfway up the outside of the moulds. 

Cover the top of the tin with 3 layers of 

large pleated sheets of tin foil, ensuring 

the foil is tightly sealed around the edges 

(you don’t want steam to escape as the 

puddings won’t rise). Bake for 30 minutes 

until risen and springy. 

To make the sauce, put the butter, dates 

and sugar in a saucepan and set over a 

low heat. Add a pinch of salt and stir until 

the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the double 

cream until combined; keep warm. 

Remove the foil and carefully release the 

side of the puddings from the moulds 

using a small, sharp knife. Invert onto 

plates and pour over the sticky date 

sauce, adding a little extra whipped 

cream, if liked. 

VEGAN COCONUT, 

CHOCOLATE & 

CARAMEL POTS 

Prep time: 30 minutes + chilling 


Makes: 4 

INGREDIENTS 

200ml pouch coconut milk 

2 pitted medjool dates, roughly chopped 

1 tsp vanilla bean paste 

100g vegan dark chocolate (such as Raw 

Halo Dark 85%), finely chopped 

250ml pack Oatly Whippable Creamy Oat 

1 tbsp maple syrup 

Raw vegan cacao powder, for dusting 

METHOD 

Put the coconut milk, dates and vanilla 

in a blender and whizz until smooth. Tip 

into a small pan and bring to the boil. 

Simmer vigorously, stirring regularly for 

10 minutes until thick and reduced by 

half. Divide between 4 small glasses and 

set aside to cool, then cover and chill for 

at least 1 hour. 

When the coconut caramel has chilled, put 

the chocolate in a medium mixing bowl. In 

a small pan, heat 100ml whippable creamy 

oat and the maple syrup to just before 

boiling. Take off the heat and pour over the 

chocolate in the bowl. Leave to melt for 1 

minute, then stir until smooth. 

Put the remaining 150ml whippable 

creamy oat in another mixing bowl and 

use electric beaters to whisk to soft 

peaks. Set aside 2 tbsp to garnish, then 

fold the rest into the melted chocolate. 

Spoon into the glasses on top of the 

coconut caramel. Serve with a dollop 

of the whipped creamy oat and a 

dusting of cacao. These are best served 

immediately, but can be covered and 

chilled for up to 30 minutes. 

All recipes and images courtesy of 

Waitrose - thousands more recipes can 

be found at www.waitrose.com/recipes 


Please come and join us for 

Community Lunch Club 

Abbeyfield Taunton Defendamus Society, 

40 Northfield Court, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1AD 

Everyday from 12pm-2:30pm 

We are welcoming new and old friends to come and join us at our popular 

lunch club at Northfield Court 

Non residents of Northfield Court are invited for a two-course lunch, 

followed by a selection of drinks tea, coffee or sherry at a cost of £9.50 per head. 

We look forward to welcoming you to Northfield Court! 

In order to book a luncheon, please contact us on 

01823 339328 or Abbeyfield-taunton@abbeyfield.com 

and let us of know of any dietary requirements. 

www.abbeyfield.com 

Registered in England and Wales, Company 574816, Charity 200719, RSH No. H1046

A CHRISTMAS 

CRACKER OF AN 

EVENING! 

ADVERTISING 

FEATURE 

Taunton Brewhouse launch a new 

regular comedy night... 

Head to Taunton’s new monthly 

comedy night for an evening of 

laughter and live entertainment 

courtesy of the UK’s greatest comedy 

acts. 

From much-loved favourites to 

exciting new talent, the regular 

BrewHaha Comedy Night offers 

something for everyone! Each 

evening features three different top 

stand ups delivering side-splitting 

sets, all compered by an engaging 

MC. 

Be sure to complete your night with 

a trip to our theatre bar, where you’ll 

find a range of premium snacks and 

refreshments, including many local 

brands. 

Upcoming dates: 

14 December 2022 

18 February 2023 

17 March 2023 

28 April 2023 

Brew Ho Ho Ho! 

Christmas Special 

– 14 December 2022 

The next Brewhaha Comedy Night 

will be a festive special! Join top 

stand up comedians Paul McCaffrey, 

Laura Lexx and Jake Lambert for a 

Christmas cracker of an evening. Yule 

be laughing all the way home! 

Tickets from £14.50 

Book at tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk or 

call the Box Office on 01823 283244. 

BREWHAHA 

COMEDY NIGHT 

Taunton’s new monthly comedy 

night with the UK’s most 

hilarious acts 

14 December 2022 

18 February 2023 

17 March 2023 

28 April 2023 

Box Office: 01823 283244 www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk 

E D Q @brewhouselive 

Tickets: £14.50 


FIRST IMPRESSIONS 

How making your door a focal point could wow buyers 

and help sell your home... 

When people come to look around 

your property, they make very quick 

judgements. One of the first impressions 

they’ll see of your home is the front view, 

this could be on an estate agent website 

or as they drive past and see the ‘for 

sale’ sign. Which is why kerb appeal is 

so important, as it helps get buyers in the 

right frame of mind before they actually 

view your home. 

You may be surprised to learn that 

research suggests that the colour of your 

front door could play a part in the sale of 

your home too, so pay attention to the 

little details when your property is on the 

market. 

CHOOSING THE PERFECT 

FRONT DOOR 

Many property experts believe that the 

front door is extremely important when 

it comes to selling a house. When you 

arrive at a property, you’ll notice that most 

estate agents will chat to you on the front 

step before opening the door, so in fact, 

quite a lot rests on the humble front door 

that you take for granted, when it comes 

to making a first impression. 

However, whilst your front door is 

important, sadly there is not one single 

colour of front door that will specifically 

make your home sell faster, instead, 

it’s down to picking a colour that 

complements your home and the kind of 

style buyers in your area will desire. 

For example, when it comes to rustic 

country homes, natural wood with 

a touch of varnish will work well, as 

potential buyers are likely to be looking 

for a stripped down, natural look. If your 

property is near the coast, then seaside 

colours work well in your décor, so you 

could try and incorporate a maritime 

theme for example, and have a blue front 

door. 

City dwellers tend to like bold colours 

for their front door. If you walk around 

big cities like London or Manchester, 

you’ll see Victorian terraces with 

bright red or blue doors, or sleek and 

sophisticated black doors. These are 

often finished off with shiny letters and 

numbers and a vintage brass knocker, 

adding instant sophistication to the 

property. 

If your house isn’t period and doesn’t 

have a particular style, then stick to the 

basics such as blue or white. Just make 

sure the door has been power-washed or 

painted so it looks nice and clean. 

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Heatherton Park Studios, Bradford on Tone, Taunton, Somerset TA4 1EU 

* Our Design Studio is open by appointment only. 


THE HOME MOVING 

Guide 

WE WENT TO THE EXPERTS AT THE HOME 

OWNERS ALLIANCE TO FIND OUT ABOUT 

THE HOT TOPICS IN THE HOUSING MARKET 

WHY AVOID THE 

BUSIEST DAY TO 

MOVE? 

While it may seem sensible to move on 

a Friday, moving at the same time as 

large swathes of other people can put 

pressure on the professionals helping 

you move, which can mean a greater 

risk of delays. 

Of course delays can occur at any time, 

but on the last Friday of the month, it is 

also peak time for conveyancing fraud 

and you will need to pay more for a 

removal company. If there are delays in 

transferring funds at completion, you may 

have to spend the weekend in a hotel or 

on a friend’s sofa. 

For those reasons, moving on the busiest 

day of the year isn’t for the faint-hearted, 

especially with the August bank holiday 

also happening that week, pushing more 

moves onto the remaining four days. 

Tips on avoiding moving day delays 

Suggest a mid-week move to all in your 

chain pointing out the potential downfall 

of choosing to move on a busy day like 

Friday. Savings are possible, for example, 

removals firms may offer mid-week 

deals on prices. See our guide to house 

removals costs at hoa.org.uk/advice 

Book the removals firm. Make sure 

everyone in the chain knows you’re 

working towards that date and book 

your removals firm well in advance, so 

you only need to confirm as soon as you 

exchange. It’s best to ask them to come 

to your house to assess the volume of 

your belongings. This ensures you have 

the right sized van and number of team 

members on the day of your move. 

Choose a removals firm you trust and 

have rapport with. 

Talk through what would happen if a 

delay occurred. For example, do they 

have emergency storage if needed? 

HOW TO ADD VALUE 

TO YOUR HOME 

Significant home improvements are 

expensive, so it’s important to consider 

how your plans will add value to 

your home. More and more of us are 

choosing to improve rather than move. 

So, here are 10 ways to make your 

property better to live in, in a way that 

can also add value to your home. 

If you have lots of plans for home 

improvements, it makes sense to focus 

on projects that will also add value. That 

way what you spend now will be reflected 

in the price of your property when you 

sell. But what adds value to a house? 

We asked over 300 members of the 

Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and 

estate agent members of the Guild of 

Property Professionals which projects 

will add value to your house. Here’s what 

they said. 

1. Knock down a wall for open plan or 

broken plan living 

Our research found that removing an 

internal wall to create an open plan 

kitchen and diner was the best way to 

add value to your home. 

Not only will this add value to your home, 

it should also make it more pleasant to 

live in, with more and more of us opting 

for open-plan living. Knocking down walls 

means more communal spaces where 

families can enjoy quality time together, 

whether that’s chatting while dinner is 

cooked or keeping an eye on kids while 

they do their homework. 

Best of all, this is a relatively simple 

project that most builders can complete 

in under a week. 

2. Build a garden room 

Another option is to add another living 

space outside. With so many more of 

us working from home, it is great to 

delineate living and working space and 

claw back that guest bedroom but having 

a dedicated office. Or it could be used 

as a gym! 

3. Spruce up your kitchen 

A new kitchen isn’t just a treat for you, 

it can also significantly boost the value 

of your home. Putting in a new worktop, 

cabinet doors or floor doesn’t have to 

break the bank – it costs around £4,000 

on average. But, it could add £17,000 

to the value of a London property, or 

the FMB and The Guild of Property 

Professionals found it could add 

around £15,000 to the average home in 

Cambridgeshire. 

4. Create a downstairs loo 

A downstairs toilet is a big attraction 

to a variety of different buyers. Adding 

one will make your home attractive to 

young families with children, those that 

like entertaining and don’t want guests 

wandering upstairs, to older buyers who 

might be looking to future proof their 

homes. 

So, turning wasted space, such as an 

understairs cupboard into a loo can add 

value to your home. This is a great project 

if you have a limited budget because for 


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only a relatively small outlay of around 

£1,500-£2,500 you could add around 

£26,000 to your home’s value, according 

to our research. 

5. Make way for an en suite 

Another way to add extra bathroom 

space is to carve some space out of your 

master bedroom to create an ensuite. The 

job should take around 11 days but could 

add £14,525 to the value of the average 

London home. 

6. Create a parking space 

We love green front gardens but if parking 

is at a premium in your neighbourhood, 

then paving over part of your front garden 

to create space for off road parking could 

significantly boost your home’s value. A 

parking space can add as much as 13% 

to the value of your home according to 

Direct Line. 

You’ll need to check with your local 

council to see if you need planning 

permission to do this. Usually, if your 

home isn’t on an A or B road you won’t 

need permission, but you will have 

to comply with your local authority’s 

regulations on dropping the kerb. 

7. Spruce up your back garden 

Gardens are often overlooked when 

property projects are concerned but 

ploughing some money into your green 

space can be rewarding. Our analysis 

found that adding decking and lighting 

to your back garden can really boost the 

asking price when a property goes on the 

market. 

8. Decorate 

If you are planning to put your property 

on the market make sure you give it a 

fresh lick of paint first. Don’t understand 

the importance of kerb appeal by 

updating the exterior of your home. 

Getting professionals in could set you 

back around £1,000, but it could add 

£5,000 to your home’s value, according 

to property expert Phil Spencer. 

9. Convert your loft 

Homeowners looking to add floor space 

could significantly add value to their 

home. 

10. Get planning permission 

If you are preparing to sell your home 

and can’t afford a big project to boost the 

value, you could consider just getting the 

planning permission. Buyers are prepared 

to pay quite a premium to avoid the 

paperwork involved in an extension and 

to know red tape won’t stand in the way 

of their plans and allowing them to start 

works the minute they pick up the keys. 

Submitting a basic planning application 

costs up to £400 but could add as much 

as 10% to the value of your home, 

according to insurance firm Hamilton 

Fraser. 

Get help submitting an application from a 

local planning consultant. 

And finally, before you start, ask the 

experts 

Improving your home to make it more 

enjoyable is a benefit for you and your 

family today. Opting for a project that 

will also give you a big financial boost 

when you sell only adds to the benefits. 

However, if your primary aim is to add 

value to your home then you should 

consult an expert first to make sure you’ll 

get a return on your investment. 

Invite a few estate agents to value your 

property and ask them what they think 

will add the most value. The best local 

agents will be able to tell you what 

refurbishment projects other homes on 

your road have benefited from and how 

much value those projects added. 

www.hoa.org.uk 


2 

1 

4 

OCEAN HUES 

Echoing the reassuring and relaxing colour of the sea, 

aqua is set to be one of the hottest shades of the season. 

Opt in with larger pieces of furniture wrapped in 

oceanic hues, or make it easier to incorporate into an 

existing scheme with smaller accessory items. 

INTERIORS 2023 

It’s that time of year where we look at our spaces anew 

– here are our forecasts for some upcoming interior 

trends if you want to refresh your home. 

3 

ARCHES 

Arched doors are big news in extensions 

and renovations, and the gentle curves are 

softening the hardened edges that have 

proliferated for so long. Use as a motif if 

you’re decorating, or as a shape for windows 

and doors if you’re renovating. 

SOOTHING PASTELS 

While we might see a rise of deep and bold colors in 2023, 

certain spaces still call for a level of zen—and this is where 

pastels come back in. Think eucalyptus, mid-level blues, 

soft pink and putty taupes. 

5 

GET THE LOOK 

1. Diamond Aqua Blanket, 

£55, weavergreen.com; 2. Blue 

Arches Ceramic Pot Cover, 

£24.99, giselagraham.co.uk; 3. 

Cliff & Ocean Art Print, £41.95, 

abstracthouse.com; 4. image 

© Studio McGee; 5. Eucalyptus 

No.92, victorycolours.co.uk; 6. 

Squishmeister Corner sofa £2845, 

loaf.com 

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Beehive Toys for sale in store at Beehive Self Storage, 

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TREES MATTER 

In this edition, our regular contributor 

Matt Biggs gives us advice on where to start 

if you want to plant a tree... 

For thousands of years, we have appreciated 

trees, we have planted trees, we have written 

about trees, we have even worshipped trees. 

Even before we knew just how important they 

are to our environment, something within us 

recognized that trees matter. 

Now that we know so much more about what they contribute to 

our world and its wellbeing, there is no better time to plant a tree. 

There are so many options that the first task must be to decide 

what you want your tree for. Is it for structure within your garden, 

for shade, for visual impact? Might it be for fruit, to attract birds 

or just because it is your favourite tree! 

There are some great books on the subject, your local nursery or 

garden centre can give advice and radio and TV programmes are 

full of inspiration too, so do some research and choose your tree. 

Basic stuff but do look at the eventual height and spread of your 

tree – you might not see it when it is fully grown but you don’t 

want to cause problems for others and it is such a shame to have 

to remove a tree because it was in the wrong spot. 

Winter is a good time to plant, as long as the ground is frost 

free and not waterlogged; it is really important not to stint on 

the groundwork. Water the tree roots really well, even stand it in 

a bucket for an hour and make sure the hole is big enough – it 

needs to be three times as wide as the pot and the same depth. 

Fork the soil in the hole so that the roots can make their way 

easily as they develop, tease out the roots from the rootball and 

plant in a square hole. Use mychorrizal fungi to help the roots 

grow, and make sure when you place it in the hole the various 

aspects of it are where you want them – branches showing their 

‘best side’. When you refill the soil into the hole don’t leave any 

pockets of air, firm and water well and stake the tree if need be – 

all of this info is readily available to ensure that your tree has the 

best possible start in life. Do not plant trees too deeply, the soil 

level should be the same as it was in the pot. 

You can, of course also get the kids in on the act, acorns, 

conkers and tree seeds are so easily collected, pop them in a 

pot, labelling them so you know what is what, water and wait! It 

is so exciting to see that first green shoot and the tree and the 

child can grow together, how lovely! 

Whatever you plant and wherever you plant it, planting a tree is 

one of the most positive things you can do, for yourself and for 

future generations. 

To find out more about Matt visit his website 

matthewbiggs.com 

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A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO 

BEREAVEMENT 

The emotional aspect of dealing with a 

bereavement – even one that was expected 

– can be devastating, but when you start 

thinking about the practicalities of what to 

do next it can become even more stressful 

and overwhelming. It can be very easy 

to over complicate the process and get 

lost on your journey - the experts at 

the Bereavement Advice Centre have 

compiled this extensive guide... 

The steps below outline the main areas 

you’ll need to cover from the day your 

loved one passes away to the day the 

estate administration is completed. 

STEP 1 – WHERE DO I START? 

During the first few hours after a loved 

one has died, it can be very difficult 

knowing what to do with yourself. 

Knowing where to begin and taking that 

first step can be the hardest bit. While 

you’re waiting to collect the official 

paperwork from the doctor or the hospital 

to register the death, there are a few 

things you can be getting on with if you 

want to. 

One of these is finding any paperwork 

which might detail, for example, whether 

there are specific funeral wishes or 

requests for organ/body donation, as 

these need to be identified very soon 

after the death. If you feel up to it you can 

also begin to call family and friends to let 

them know what’s happened. 

STEP 2 – REGISTERING THE DEATH 

With the exception of when the Coroner 

is involved you’ll usually be contacted 

by either the hospital or the deceased’s 

doctor to arrange collection of the 

Medical Certificate of Cause of Death 

(MCCD for short). You can then make 

an appointment with the Registrar to 

complete the official registration, it’s 

worth bearing in mind the death needs 

to be registered in the county where the 

person died, not where they lived. 

STEP 3 – MAKING THE FUNERAL 

ARRANGEMENTS 

It’s important to remember when you 

hand over the “Green Form” you are 

personally entering into the contract for 

payment with the Funeral Director. 

If you’ve found a Will or even a Letter 

28 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

of Wishes this might give you an idea 

about what your loved one wants for their 

funeral. This can be a relief for some as it 

takes some of the decisions out of their 

hands, but it can be a concern for others 

especially if there isn’t enough money or 

the requests are unrealistic. It’s important 

to understand that funeral wishes in a Will 

aren’t legally binding and don’t have to 

be followed if they’re not possible. 

STEP 4 – BUILDING A PICTURE OF 

THE ESTATE 

If you had Power of Attorney or managed 

the deceased’s finances you will probably 

have a clear picture of how the estate is 

put together. Alternatively the deceased 

may have been very organised, leaving 

you with a folder or filing cabinet 

containing all the information you’ll need 

to look after the estate. 

If you aren’t in this position don’t panic, 

it may take a bit more investigating but 

you will get there. Take some time to 

check through any paperwork for details 

of who they dealt with for banking and 

other matters. You’re only looking for 

a name – it doesn’t matter at this point 

whether accounts are open or closed. A 

starting point could be a debit or credit 

card in their purse or wallet, a bank 

statement, a utility bill or even a memory 

of a conversation about going to a certain 

bank or building society. It all helps. 

STEP 5 – LETTING EVERYONE KNOW 

There will probably be more people to tell 

about the death than you expect, and it 

can be hard to think of everyone. 

It can be helpful to make two lists, one 

for personal e.g. family/friends/work 

colleagues and another for professional 

e.g. financial organisations/insurance 

companies/family solicitor/accountant/ 

financial advisor. You can then use the 

lists to make additional notes, which will 

help you keep track of what you have 

done and what is left. 

STEP 6 – WORKING OUT IF YOU 

NEED PROBATE 

It’s worth remembering that Probate is 

only needed in certain circumstances, 

not just because a Will hasn’t been 

made or because the total value of the 

whole estate seems high. There are 

different factors which make Probate 

a requirement, but in simple terms it is 

decided by the value of individual sole 

assets within a person’s estate. There are 

exceptions to this rule so call us and we 

can check for you. 

STEP 7 – THE FINAL STEP 

Once you’ve obtained Probate (if required) 

then you can arrange for any sole assets 

to be sold or transferred. Before you hand 

over anything to the beneficiaries you’ll 

need to make sure any debts are settled 

and Inheritance Tax has been paid. 

When you’re comfortable that all debts 

have been paid you can either: 

Follow the instructions in the Will to pay 

any Legatees/Beneficiaries OR Distribute 

the estate to the deceased’s relatives in 

line with inheritance laws called the Rules 

of Intestacy 

It’s really important that you keep clear 

records that show what money is coming 

in and out of the estate as this will give 

you a clear paper trail showing how the 

estate has been administered. You can 

then put these together with the Death 

Certificate, the Will (if there was one) and 

the Grant of Probate (if this was required) 

to form your estate accounts. 

Edited from an article published for 

the Bereavement Advice Centre, you 

can find more information and advice 

at bereavementadvice.org or call 0800 

634 9494.

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General services quarter page Taunton Living Taunton 07 11 22.indd 08/11/2022 1 11:52:12 


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