Coastal Living Dec 2019 - Jan 2020
The fantastic festive issue is here, packed with local events, Christmas fun, delicious recipes, chef Michael Caines plus travel to Oman and advice on buying a new home.
The fantastic festive issue is here, packed with local events, Christmas fun, delicious recipes, chef Michael Caines plus travel to Oman and advice on buying a new home.
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Contents<br />
A Note<br />
from the editor<br />
A Culinary puddings Journey through without a<br />
24Christmas sultana Northern in Ireland sight<br />
Chef Michael<br />
Caines<br />
IN THIS ISSUE...<br />
04 What’s On<br />
We are in full festive mode with a diary<br />
full of events over Christmas and into<br />
the New Year<br />
10 Education<br />
The Boarding Schools Association<br />
give their advice and clear up<br />
misconceptions about boarding<br />
17 Michael Caines<br />
We catch up with the West Country<br />
chef, on his quest for a second<br />
Michelin star at Lympstone Manor<br />
19 Christmas Crackers<br />
Five pages of beautiful puddings to<br />
help you savour every second of the<br />
festive season<br />
26 Amazing Oman<br />
17<br />
We take in the mountain passes and<br />
the breathtaking sand dunes in this<br />
diverse country<br />
30 Homebuying Guide<br />
If the festive period shines a light on<br />
your desire to move, we have tips on<br />
the process<br />
Magical<br />
Oman<br />
26<br />
32<br />
Creating the<br />
perfect guestroom<br />
Editor Katie Thomson<br />
e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk<br />
Key Account Manager Simeon Wynn<br />
e simeon@minervapublications.co.uk<br />
dd 01225 613 515<br />
twitter: @<strong>Coastal</strong><strong>Living</strong>1<br />
w www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk<br />
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening -<br />
Christmas’s here, your heart quickening?<br />
With gifts still to buy, and cards left to write<br />
- holy heck there’s still so much to do!<br />
That’s how the song goes right? Like it<br />
or loathe it, we are well into the festive<br />
preamble (what number tin of Quality Street<br />
are you on? I count three...). It’s time to get<br />
serious about your festive salutations and<br />
batten down the hatches - the guests will<br />
be here before you can say ‘figgy pudding’!<br />
This issue aims to highlight the best of the<br />
festive season, with a packed events guide<br />
and lots of festive fun. I’ve been extra<br />
selfish this issue and curated a section<br />
especially for the Christmas pariahs among<br />
us - those that hate festive puddings! Try<br />
as I might, I can’t stand Christmas Pudding,<br />
Cake, mince pies - anything with the spiced<br />
fruits combo - I’m out.<br />
I reckon I’m not alone (though perhaps<br />
you’ve not outed yourself yet, just<br />
pretending you’re full up when a bowl is<br />
proffered in your direction), so for my fellow<br />
outcasts, please enjoy a bumper batch<br />
of celebratory puds which are perfect for<br />
the big day, without a sultana in sight.<br />
We also caught up with one of the UK’s<br />
most famous and decorated chefs, Michael<br />
Caines on his passions outside of cooking<br />
(he’s one charitable guy!)<br />
That’s all for now - we will see you again in<br />
February, when we will be recovering from<br />
post Christmas food comas and thinking<br />
about moving a bit more and maybe eating<br />
a little less.<br />
In the meantime, we wish you the happiest,<br />
healthiest New Year. Now, pass the Quality<br />
Street please.<br />
Publisher Sally Thomson<br />
Katie<br />
Katie<br />
Contributors Rebecca Williams, Peter Thomson, Dan Weston, Angela Cave, Pete<br />
Lawrence, Kate O’Connell and Lucy Saunders.<br />
MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ<br />
County Gate, County Way<br />
Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 7FJ<br />
t 01225 308128<br />
w www.minervapublications.co.uk<br />
visit our website www.<strong>Coastal</strong><strong>Living</strong>Suffolk.co.uk<br />
Disclaimer: The publishers shall not be held liable for any loss occasioned by failure of an<br />
advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions and<br />
misprints. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the<br />
publishers. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publishers.<br />
www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk | 3
EVENTS<br />
GUIDE<br />
Winter is here and yes it’s chilly, however there<br />
is plenty going on to keep everyone entertained<br />
throughout the winter months...<br />
Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall<br />
Crabbe Street, Aldeburgh IP15 5BN<br />
07980 748547<br />
www.aldeburghjubileehall.co.uk<br />
19, 20 -22 and 27 -31 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
The Snow Queen<br />
A new adaption with dance and music<br />
from one of Hans Christian Andersen’s<br />
most loved fairy tales. Expect sleighs,<br />
bandits, reindeer, a wise old crow and the<br />
most magical story of loyalty, bravery and<br />
love. Music by Suffolk composers and<br />
songwriters including the up and coming<br />
star Ben Goble.<br />
Wednesday 1 - Friday 3 <strong>Jan</strong>uary<br />
Sherlock Holmes & The Warlock of<br />
Whitechapel<br />
Ancient artefacts are disappearing from<br />
museums and private collections all over<br />
Europe, a pre-Christian effigy one day, a<br />
shamanic totem the next, a pagan fetish<br />
at the weekend. Either someone’s on their<br />
own personal antiques road trip, or they’re<br />
trying to summon dark forces and gain<br />
mystical powers. But to what end and<br />
why......?<br />
Blackthorpe Barn<br />
Rougham, Bury St Edmunds IP30 9LZ<br />
01359 270880<br />
www.blackthorpebarn.com<br />
Runs until Monday 23 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Christmas - Yule’ll love it!<br />
Every year, the heavy oak doors of<br />
Blackthorpe Barn are drawn back during<br />
the winter season to unveil a truly magical<br />
and unique Christmas experience for all<br />
to enjoy.<br />
This year the Country Christmas Shop is<br />
bigger and better, as it suggests, a haven<br />
for everything Christmassy from special<br />
gifts, baubles and decorations to lighting<br />
and gift wrap.<br />
There will be Festive Nights (late night<br />
shopping) on Fridays in <strong>Dec</strong>ember to 7pm.<br />
Felixstowe at<br />
Christmas<br />
Friday 20 - Monday 23 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Christmas Ice Rink<br />
The synthetic Ice Rink, provided by the<br />
Town Council and sponsored by the East<br />
of England Coop, will return to Great<br />
Eastern Square.<br />
4 | www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk<br />
Easton Farm Park<br />
Pound Corner, Easton IP13 0EQ<br />
01728 746475<br />
www.eastonfarmpark.co.uk<br />
7, 8, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 & 24 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
The Easton Farm Park Christmas<br />
Special<br />
Go and see Father Christmas<br />
Far better than a Christmas Grotto.<br />
The visit lasts 2 1/2 hours and includes<br />
Meeting Father Christmas<br />
Elf Workshop<br />
Visiting our magical reindeer*<br />
Story time with Mother Christmas<br />
Christmas cookie decorating<br />
Christmas party food<br />
Indoor and outdoor play areas<br />
Of course there are all the animals to see<br />
too!!<br />
There’s a hot drink and cake for the grown<br />
ups!<br />
* please note that although they are a farm<br />
park we choose not to use real reindeer for<br />
this experience<br />
Framlingham Castle<br />
Church Street, Framlingham IP13 9BP<br />
01728 724189<br />
www.english-heritage.org.uk<br />
Saturday 28 - Sunday 29 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 11am<br />
- 3pm<br />
Festive Falconry<br />
Witness graceful hawks and glorious<br />
falcons in flight as expert falconers<br />
demonstrate the art of training, exercising<br />
and hunting with birds. Hear how food was<br />
caught for the Christmas dinner table whilst<br />
these amazing creatures swoop overhead.<br />
Glemham Hall<br />
Glemham Hall, Little Glemham, Nr<br />
Woodbridge IP13 0BT<br />
www.glemhamhall.co.uk<br />
Saturday 7 <strong>Dec</strong>ember - Sunday 8<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Meet Father Christmas<br />
Father Christmas is going to be at<br />
Glemham Hall where your child can enjoy<br />
Story Time with the Elves and then join in<br />
with some Christmas crafts, make some<br />
reindeer food, write & post a letter to the<br />
North Pole, a Reindeer Hunt in the gardens<br />
and of course, a special & personalised<br />
meeting with Father Christmas where each<br />
child will receive a small gift!<br />
Helmingham Hall<br />
Gardens<br />
Helmingham, Stowmarket IP14 6EF<br />
01473 890799<br />
www.helmingham.com<br />
Friday 13 - Saturday 14 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Luxury Festive Wreath Workshop<br />
Join Thea Lily loves to make your own<br />
luxury Christmas wreath, using foliage,<br />
ribbons, feathers and natural decorations.<br />
Lashings of tea, coffee, soft drinks and<br />
cake and mince pies will be served and this<br />
year, you can also enjoy a warming bowl of<br />
homemade soup and a bread roll to keep<br />
you going. No experience is necessary.<br />
You will need to take a pair of secateurs<br />
and maybe an apron.<br />
Ickworth National<br />
Trust<br />
Horringer, Bury St Edmunds IP29 5QE<br />
0344 800 1895<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth<br />
1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 & 22 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Family Christmas Sparkle <strong>2019</strong><br />
Create magical memories with some<br />
traditional Family Christmas activities.<br />
Make Christmas decorations and crafts,<br />
sit next to the Christmas tree with stories<br />
and gifts from Father Christmas, visit the<br />
kitchen so your little ones can decorate<br />
their own biscuit and for the Adults - warm<br />
up with a cup of Mulled wine or apple and<br />
a tasty treat.<br />
1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 & 22 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Children’s Crafts -<br />
Christmas is Coming<br />
Celebrate the festive season with some<br />
Christmas themed crafts!<br />
Monday 2 - Friday 6 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Ickworth’s Light Nights<br />
Experience a garden that glows with this<br />
brand new Light Nights event.<br />
This winter, visit Ickworth’s Italianate<br />
garden that glows. Awaken your senses<br />
with a sound and light based trail capturing<br />
the magic of a Gothic Victorian Stumpery<br />
and the Gardener’s modern additions.<br />
Thursday 26 <strong>Dec</strong>ember - Sunday 5<br />
<strong>Jan</strong>uary<br />
Children’s Crafts -<br />
Bringing in the New Year<br />
Celebrate the change of the festive season<br />
with some New Year themed crafts!<br />
continued
Ipswich Regent<br />
3 St. Helen’s St, Ipswich IP4 1HE<br />
01473 433100<br />
www.ents24.com/ipswich-events/regenttheatre<br />
Friday 6 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great<br />
Britain<br />
Imagine the sounds of your favourite<br />
grunge, classical, punk, rock ‘n’ roll and<br />
indie classics, all through the medium of......<br />
ukulele. Struggling? Let this cult collective<br />
show you the way! Fans includes Michael<br />
Palin, HRH Princess Anne and Sir Paul<br />
McCartney. They unite fans across the<br />
globe in celebration of ‘one plucking thing<br />
after another’ on instruments bought for<br />
loose change.<br />
Saturday 14 - Tuesday 31 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Cinderella<br />
Join in the festive fun with the lovable<br />
Buttons, the handsome Prince Charming,<br />
the wicked Ugly Sisters, the magical Fairy<br />
Godmother and of course, the beautiful<br />
Cinderella and make it a Christmas to<br />
remember for the whole family. Watch with<br />
amazement as Cinderella’s pumpkin and<br />
white mice are transformed into a beautiful<br />
coach and horses in this true rags to riches<br />
story, but will Cinderella remember to leave<br />
the ball before midnight?<br />
Kentwell Hall<br />
Long Melford CO10 9BA<br />
01787 310207<br />
www.kentwell.co.uk<br />
7, 8 & 14,15 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Dickensian Christmas<br />
Kentwell’s Dickensian Christmas is a<br />
wonderful day out for the whole family, with<br />
a huge amount to see and do.<br />
Victorian Household, Mr Dickens narrates<br />
‘A Christmas Carol’, with authentic Victorian<br />
Illusions, Visit the Music Hall and Magic<br />
Show, Father Christmas Carols round the<br />
Tree, Christmas Crafts, Victorian Tavern,<br />
Tea Room.<br />
Mid Suffolk Light<br />
Railway<br />
Brockford Station, Wetheringsett,<br />
Stowmarket IP14 5PW<br />
01473 890622<br />
www.mslr.org.uk<br />
7, 8, 14, 15, 21 & 22 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Santa Specials<br />
You will travel from Brockford Station to<br />
meet the Santa at North Pole Halt. Each<br />
child will receive a special ticket and be<br />
given a present by Santa in his Magic<br />
brake van. All visitors will be given a mince<br />
pie and a drink. There is also children’s<br />
entertainment available after your journey.<br />
6 | www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk<br />
Please note that places must be prebooked<br />
as there are no places available to<br />
buy at the railway on the day.<br />
Wednesday 1 <strong>Jan</strong>uary<br />
New Year Steam<br />
Steam away the hangover at the Middy,<br />
Suffolk’s only standard gauge heritage<br />
railway. They will be running rides in their<br />
Victorian 4-wheel coaches. Start <strong>2020</strong><br />
with an early dose of steam!<br />
RSPB Minsmere Nature<br />
Reserve<br />
Westleton, Saxmundham IP17 3BY<br />
01728 648281 (visitor centre)<br />
www.rspb.org.uk/minsmere<br />
Sundays and Wednesdays, 1, 4, 15, 18<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember & 5, 8, 19 & 22 <strong>Jan</strong>uary<br />
Birdwatching for Beginners<br />
Hints and tips from volunteer guides on<br />
beginning birdwatching, what equipment<br />
and field guides to use and how to make<br />
the most of your hobby, as you spot<br />
some of Minsmere’s special wildlife.<br />
No experience needed, and binoculars<br />
available to hire if needed.<br />
3, 8, 10, 14, 17 & 29 <strong>Dec</strong>ember - 4, 7, 14, 18<br />
21, 26 & 28 <strong>Jan</strong>uary<br />
Winter Wildlife Wander<br />
Discover what makes Minsmere such<br />
a special place to visit in winter as the<br />
guides show you some of the wildlife and<br />
historical highlights. You’ll look for ducks,<br />
birds of prey and perhaps a few mammals<br />
and enjoy a bracing stroll along the beach.<br />
Stonham Barns Leisure<br />
& Retail Village<br />
Stonham Aspal, Stowmarket IP14 6AT<br />
01449 711111<br />
www.stonhambarns.co.uk<br />
Saturday 7 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Evening of Christmas Laughter in<br />
the Barn<br />
This Christmas they have the perfect festive<br />
dinner show for all the family at Stonham<br />
Barns.<br />
Resident entertainers Robbie James and<br />
Alex Morley bring their unique brand of<br />
comedy to the festivities in this fun-filled<br />
family evening.<br />
Enjoy a delicious 3 course dinner followed<br />
by an evening of entertainment that can be<br />
enjoyed by all the family.<br />
Sundays 8, 15 & 22 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Breakfast with Santa<br />
They have made special arrangements with<br />
the North Pole this year, and are delighted<br />
to offer for the first time, a wonderful<br />
opportunity for your youngsters to have a<br />
meet and greet with Santa, receive a gift<br />
and have a wonderful breakfast experience.<br />
Fridays 13 & 20 and Saturday 21<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
A-Lad-In - The Adult Panto<br />
‘A Lad In’. It’s panto, but not like you know<br />
it! A panto like no other.<br />
Enjoy a delicious 2 course dinner in the<br />
Barn before taking your seats in beautiful<br />
theatre for an hour of adult panto!<br />
The fearless company of actors bring you<br />
an evening of corny jokes, raunchy plots<br />
and blatant sexual innuendo which will<br />
have you rolling in the aisle.<br />
After the show head back to the Barn to<br />
dance the night away with the resident DJs.<br />
Please be aware this show is for strictly<br />
18 years and over and will contain strong<br />
language and sexual themes.<br />
Saturday 14 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Mrs B’s Christmas Comedy Dinner<br />
Show<br />
Comedy Dinner Shows bring their version<br />
of Ireland’s most famous Mammy to<br />
Stonham Barns for one night only. That’s<br />
nice!<br />
Mrs B is hosting a festive soiree but things<br />
aren’t quite going to plan. For a start, she<br />
didn’t realise you were all coming!<br />
Friday 20 - Tuesday 31 <strong>Dec</strong>ember (No<br />
shows 25 or 26)<br />
Aladdin<br />
Set in the ancient city of Peking, join<br />
Aladdin and friends in this perfect family<br />
panto!<br />
Packed with all of the traditional pantomime<br />
ingredients, Aladdin will feature laugh-outloud<br />
comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful<br />
costumes and plenty of boos and hisses.<br />
Seckford Theatre<br />
Burkitt Road, Woodbridge IP12 4JH<br />
01394 382240<br />
www.seckfordtheatre.org<br />
Saturday 7 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 6.45pm<br />
Spirit of the Season<br />
Experience the magic of Christmas with<br />
Theatre Emporium’s enchanting festive<br />
production<br />
Wednesday 11 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 7.30pm<br />
Queen at Christmas by OEP Live!<br />
With stunning accuracy in sound and<br />
vision, UK Queen will produce a high<br />
energy show which will rock the house with<br />
an all evening classic hit after hit show.<br />
Friday 20 - Sunday 29 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Red Riding Hood<br />
By Deben Players<br />
Red Riding Hood manages Grandma’s very<br />
successful bakery “The Rolling Scones”.<br />
Sire Percy Widdle, the evil landlord, raises<br />
all the rents. His henchmen, Stinky and<br />
Winky, are tasked with collecting the<br />
monies. Enter Woody, the woodcutter.<br />
Thus the scene is set for a battle, good<br />
versus evil. A family friendly pantomime.<br />
continued
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Silver Sun Jewellery<br />
A family run business based in the beautiful market<br />
town of Woodbridge, we are retailers of quality<br />
Sterling Silver, precious & semi precious<br />
gem stone Jewellery.<br />
Tel: 01394 386661 / 0800 169 4269<br />
www.mandrcars.co.uk<br />
mandrcars@btconnect.com<br />
53a The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge IP12 1DB<br />
Telephone: 01394 382114<br />
Email: Silversunjewellery@gmail.com<br />
Open: Monday - Saturday 10am(ish) - 5pm(ish)<br />
Sundays - Please phone in advance<br />
Fresh from their latest<br />
cookbook<br />
‘One Pot Wonders’<br />
discover some delicious<br />
recipes to create this<br />
Christmas - turn to<br />
page 14 for inspiration<br />
www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk | 7
Wednesday 8 - Saturday 18 <strong>Jan</strong>uary<br />
The Famous Four & A Half Go Wild<br />
In Thetford Forest<br />
On their hols, Rupert, Nick, <strong>Jan</strong>,<br />
Phil(omena) and Dimmy the dog, do battle<br />
with a shady figure who has stolen their<br />
Aunt’s time machine. A crazy chase visits<br />
a future Thetford by the Sea, some hipster<br />
Neolithics at their local derby, and a certain<br />
Home Guard rehearsal. Once again,<br />
Eastern Angles hits the wacky heights and<br />
spoofs the kids whose adventures we all<br />
learnt to read by.<br />
The New Wolsey<br />
Theatre<br />
Civic Drive, Ipswich IP1 2AS<br />
01473 295900<br />
www.wolseytheatre.co.uk<br />
Running until Tuesday 31 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Ed Sheeran - Made In Suffolk<br />
A unique exhibition at Christchurch<br />
Mansion on the life of Ed Sheeran, to<br />
coincide with the Suffolk singer -songwriter<br />
playing four “coming home” concerts in<br />
the town. This exhibition features portraits<br />
by renowned artist Colin Davidson,<br />
photography by Mark Surridge and<br />
personal items portraying the journey from<br />
Ed’s school life in Suffolk to international<br />
stardom.<br />
Tuesday 3 - Sunday 29 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Arthur’s Dreamboat<br />
Based on the book by Polly Dunbar.<br />
It is the story about a little boy who has a<br />
dream. A magical playful children’s show<br />
with breathtaking puppets, so enchanting<br />
that everyone will want to sail away with<br />
Arthur’s in his dream boat! This brand new<br />
show is brought to you by Long Nose<br />
Puppets.<br />
Wednesday 8 - Saturday 18 <strong>Jan</strong>uary<br />
Sherlock Holmes & The Warlock of<br />
Whitechapel<br />
Ancient artifacts are disappearing from<br />
museums and private collections all over<br />
Europe. A pre-Christian effigy one day, a<br />
shamanic totem the next, a pagan fetish<br />
at the weekend. Either someone’s on their<br />
own personal antiques road trip, or they’re<br />
trying to summon dark forces and gain<br />
mystical powers. But to what end and why?<br />
8 | www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk<br />
The Spa Pavilion<br />
Undercliff Road West, Felixstowe IP11 2DX<br />
01394 284 962<br />
www.spapavilion.uk<br />
Friday 13 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 8pm<br />
The Rat Pack Live Christmas Party<br />
They were the definition of cool during<br />
their Fifties and Sixties Vegas heyday -<br />
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy<br />
Davis Jnr.<br />
Combining the full sound of big band<br />
swing with charisma, panache and<br />
swagger, the trio collectively known as<br />
The Rat Pack, had attitude to spare.<br />
Rat Pack Live invites you to be part of<br />
the gang and features all the patter and<br />
razzamatazz of their infamous live shows.<br />
Saturday 14 <strong>Dec</strong>ember, 7.30pm<br />
Arrival - The Hits of Abba<br />
On the 45th anniversary of their legendary<br />
Eurovision win, go and celebrate the<br />
music of one of the biggest selling and<br />
most iconic bands of all time.<br />
The high-energy production features<br />
ABBA’s best loved hits including ‘Mamma<br />
Mia’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Super Trouper’,<br />
‘Voulez Vous’, and of course ‘Waterloo’,<br />
plus many more!<br />
Sunday 15 <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
The Bluejays - Rock & Roll<br />
Revolution Live!<br />
Award-winning band The Bluejays take<br />
you on a jiving journey through the<br />
fabulous fifties. Packed with over 40<br />
classic hits including Rock Around The<br />
Clock, That’ll Be The Day, Jailhouse Rock,<br />
Johnny B. Goode, Tutti Frutti, C’mon<br />
Everybody, Stupid Cupid, Great Balls of<br />
Fire and La Bamba, all performed live on<br />
stage! The Rock and Roll Revolution will<br />
transport you back to the era when music<br />
changed the world forever!<br />
Saturday 21 <strong>Dec</strong>ember - Sunday 5<br />
<strong>Jan</strong>uary<br />
Dick Whittington -<br />
The Dennis Lowe Panto<br />
Dick Whittington tells the rags to riches<br />
tale of a young man and his cat on an<br />
exciting quest for fame and fortune for the<br />
purr-fect family show. With all the usual<br />
elements of a family panto, you’ll be kept<br />
in suspense waiting to see if the evil King<br />
Rat thwarts Dick’s plans. Can the Good<br />
Fairy save the day? Did the Bells of Bow<br />
Church give Dick false hope? All will be<br />
revealed in this magical and spectacular<br />
family pantomime.<br />
Saturday 11 <strong>Jan</strong>uary, 7.30pm<br />
‘Elvis In Concert’ starring Marshall<br />
King<br />
Returning just a few days after what<br />
would have been The King’s 84th<br />
Birthday, Marshall King brings his stunning<br />
recreation of a full Elvis show.This jawdropping<br />
concert show with 11 piece<br />
band, including top musicians, brass<br />
section and backing singers is the ultimate<br />
Elvis experience not to be missed. All<br />
presented with jumpsuits made by Elvis’<br />
very own costume designers!<br />
Saturday 18 <strong>Jan</strong>uary, 7.30pm<br />
Back to Bacharach<br />
Critically acclaimed ‘Back to Bacharach’<br />
with their West End cast and the amazing<br />
musicianship of the Magic Moments<br />
Orchestra are proud to present The Very<br />
Best of Burt Bacharach celebrating “The<br />
Hitmaker” behind one of the greatest<br />
American songbooks of the 20th Century.<br />
Back to Bacharach bring you The<br />
Sensational Soundtrack of the 60’s and<br />
beyond!<br />
Sunday 26 <strong>Jan</strong>uary, 3pm<br />
The D-Day Darlings & The Songs<br />
That Won The War<br />
Be taken on a musical journey back to the<br />
heart of the 1940’s featuring songs by The<br />
Andrews Sisters, Vera Lynn, Gracie Fields<br />
and many others. With a series of authentic<br />
costumes, complemented by a backdrop<br />
of original film footage of life and events<br />
from the era, a story is told which depicts<br />
the courage and community spirit that kept<br />
our nation strong.<br />
Monday 17 February - 1pm & 4.30pm<br />
Jungle Book<br />
Join Joseph Purdy Productions for the<br />
February half term as The Jungle Book<br />
swings into The Spa Pavillion!<br />
Mowgli was a young boy who has been<br />
raised in the jungle by wolves although<br />
comes under threat when the evil tiger<br />
threatens to kill him. Baloo and Bagheera<br />
agree to take the young boy to the<br />
village for his safety. Join in on this crazy<br />
adventure through the deep, dark depths<br />
of the jungle where you’ll be laughing and<br />
singing along to this live action family<br />
musical adventure - who knows what<br />
creatures you’ll meet along the way!<br />
With a laugh a minute script with songs<br />
and dance for all ages - you’d be bear<br />
mad to miss it! Featuring brand new<br />
sparkling sets and glittering costumes you<br />
really will have an awfully roarsome time!<br />
Woodbridge Farmers<br />
Market<br />
Woodbridge Community Centre,<br />
Woodbridge IP12 4AU<br />
www.woodbridgefarmersmarket.co.uk<br />
Every 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month,<br />
9am - 1pm<br />
One of the oldest farmers’ markets in<br />
the country. The markets encourage the<br />
provision of local food for local people by<br />
local producers. There is also the chance to<br />
‘meet the producer’ face to face. The aim<br />
is to bring the finest products to the market<br />
visitor, protecting local food producers for<br />
the future of the next generation.<br />
Sutton Hoo<br />
Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3DJ<br />
01394 389700<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-hoo<br />
Sunday 19 <strong>Jan</strong>uary<br />
Introduction to Photography<br />
Explore Sutton Hoo through the lens of<br />
your camera and discover top tips from an<br />
expert photographer on developing your<br />
photographic skills.<br />
We take great care in compiling the<br />
listings however, we recommend that you<br />
contact the venue in advance as events<br />
and activities may change
Image courtesy Cottesmore Prep School<br />
TOP TIPS FOR CHOOSING A<br />
BOARDING SCHOOL<br />
The unique educational experience<br />
provided by a British boarding school offers<br />
busy families a top-quality education with<br />
built-in flexibility. And although academic<br />
achievement is important, it is the ‘extras’<br />
that really make a boarding school<br />
experience count.<br />
Boarding fosters meaningful relationships<br />
with peers and house staff, enabling pupils<br />
to gain independence and experience<br />
a breadth of opportunities. But with so<br />
many institutions offering so many different<br />
experiences, choosing the right school for<br />
your child can seem daunting. Below are<br />
our top tips to consider when choosing a<br />
boarding school.<br />
1. Narrow your search<br />
Single sex or co-ed? Country or city? Faith<br />
school or not? Some schools will say they<br />
take children of all faiths and none, and they<br />
do, but sometimes a family finds the overall<br />
ethos and ‘climate’ of a faith school to<br />
their taste, regardless of their own religious<br />
views.<br />
2. Study the detail<br />
Every child is different - a rower will want a<br />
school near a river, a rugby player a good<br />
record of the sport in the school and a<br />
violinist great music rooms. Many families<br />
nowadays consider location first - can you<br />
get there to watch a game or a play, or even<br />
in an emergency?<br />
3. Do your research<br />
Boarding schools are like universities - you<br />
don’t have to be local, nor to take a month<br />
touring the country. The modern wouldbe<br />
applicant goes online and drills into<br />
individual websites which can tell you a lot<br />
in what schools don’t say or in how they say<br />
what they do.<br />
4. Visit<br />
Visit several schools. Get the feel. Is<br />
lunchtime a noisy scrum? Are corridors<br />
orderly between lessons? Do pupils look<br />
you in the eye? All these give you a flavour<br />
of the school over and above the publicity,<br />
the motto, the official words. Eyes open,<br />
compare notes.<br />
5. Ask for a pupil tour<br />
This is partly for you to see all parts of the<br />
school, but more to ask questions. Is the<br />
food really as good as they say? How much<br />
is there to do at weekends?<br />
6. Check out the weekend<br />
programme<br />
You may want a school which offers weekly<br />
boarding, but if a school has a large number<br />
of weekly boarders, the numbers staying<br />
at weekends can reduce dramatically, and<br />
that makes providing a wide enough range<br />
of activities difficult. If you want your child to<br />
be at school at weekends, ask for details of<br />
what was done in the last couple of weeks,<br />
and exactly how many boarders were on<br />
the premises.<br />
7. Talk to staff<br />
And not just the Head. House staff,<br />
matrons, tutors, cleaners and caretakers –<br />
these are the people at the sharp end of<br />
your child’s care. Do you like them? Would<br />
you trust them with your child? If you’re<br />
worried and email them, will they reply and<br />
when?<br />
8. Involve your child<br />
Whatever the final decision, your child will<br />
have to live it. This school will be his or her<br />
home for several years. Here, he or she<br />
will make friends for life and forge bonds<br />
that will sustain them through their whole<br />
lives. They have to feel it is right for them.<br />
Trust your child’s gut reaction. Becoming a<br />
boarder is a growing-up kind of decision -<br />
let them have a major say in the final choice.<br />
For further information and boarding school<br />
searches, please visit www.boarding.org.uk.<br />
Robin Fletcher<br />
Chief Executive<br />
Boarding Schools’ Association<br />
10 | www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk
SOUTH LEE<br />
SCHOol<br />
Ruth O’Sullivan, Headmistress at<br />
South Lee School speaks about the<br />
access their pupils have in all extracurricular<br />
programmes....<br />
Academic rigors and pursuits such as complex problem solving<br />
and critical thinking activities go far to strengthen the mind, but<br />
excellent extra-curricular activities will take this brain training<br />
even further.<br />
By offering activities involving learning and skills that the<br />
classroom alone cannot always facilitate, the children are<br />
exposed to a rich plethora of exciting, fun activities in which to<br />
immerse themselves.<br />
For example, a debating club can provide an opportunity to<br />
do more public speaking, a Greek club can enable children to<br />
experience life in Ancient Greece, and sport fosters strong team<br />
building skills along with healthy competition.<br />
Access to the Arts should be a given in all extra-curricular<br />
programmes. Today’s children are growing up in a very<br />
academically driven society, so they are under a huge amount of<br />
pressure to perform well in exams.<br />
By exposing our pupils to a rich, diverse and full extra-curricular<br />
program, we are allowing them to explore new things and to learn<br />
about themselves and what<br />
their future interests might<br />
be. Access to fun activities<br />
outside of the classroom<br />
is so important for mental<br />
health, providing a much<br />
needed space away from the<br />
pressures of academia.<br />
Ruth O’Sullivan,<br />
Headmistress, South Lee School in Bury St. Edmunds<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
Contact:<br />
South Lee School, Nowton Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2BT<br />
01284 754654<br />
office@southlee.co.uk<br />
www.southlee.co.uk<br />
www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk | 11
The importance of extra-curricular<br />
activities for children<br />
In team based sports they will learn how to<br />
work well in a team and they also build a lot<br />
of endurance. Every sport has something<br />
good to offer your child, whether they are<br />
played in teams or individually.<br />
Your child has spent a long day at school,<br />
however their first port of call when they<br />
home will probably be their X Box or<br />
something on the TV.<br />
However, we suggest that they will benefit<br />
greatly from a non-academic activity that<br />
they have an interest in. They can choose<br />
from sports, chess clubs, dance clubs,<br />
book clubs, and music clubs and so on…<br />
your child is bound to find something to like.<br />
There are many options for after-school<br />
activities for kids. Talk to your child about<br />
their interests and see what she may be<br />
interested in. High energy children may<br />
prefer sports or dance, while children<br />
who are quieter tend to prefer the calmer<br />
activities like book clubs, cooking class or<br />
perhaps pottery.<br />
Here are some extra-curricular activities<br />
that your child might enjoy.<br />
1. Music<br />
Some children learn to play instruments,<br />
while others prefer to sing. There are some<br />
who are good at doing both. There are so<br />
many instruments to choose from that you<br />
are bound to find something that they will<br />
enjoy playing.<br />
There is a certain freedom in music, and<br />
a lot of children find joy in it. Children also<br />
tend to learn a lot about history and culture<br />
while learning something such as a musical<br />
instrument or song.<br />
2. Sports<br />
Sports such as football, basketball, cricket<br />
and softball require teamwork and a lot<br />
of energy, but if this type of sport doesn’t<br />
sound like it suits your child, there are other<br />
options such as tennis, badminton and golf<br />
that your child can try.<br />
12 | www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk<br />
3. Dance<br />
Even among dance, there are so many<br />
types to choose from that your child is sure<br />
to find the perfect fit. Be it ballet, tap or<br />
modern dance is something that will help<br />
your child develop physically and mentally<br />
as most forms of dance require discipline<br />
and a strong body and it keeps them active<br />
as nowadays there is very little physical<br />
activity at school.<br />
4. Painting and Sketching<br />
Perhaps your child is a blossoming artist.<br />
Playing with colours is a lot of fun and<br />
creating different works of art may be<br />
something your child would prefer over<br />
other more boisterous activities.<br />
Your child will improve creative skills as<br />
the brain will begin to develop the areas<br />
associated with creativity. Painting and<br />
drawing can also help develop problemsolving<br />
skills.<br />
5. Crafts, Pottery and Sculpting<br />
Working with clay and creating something<br />
with their hands can give a child a sense of<br />
satisfaction that is not found through just<br />
any activity. Clay can have a therapeutic<br />
effect and is capable of keeping your child<br />
occupied for hours.<br />
Your child is going to develop sensory<br />
and motor skills through creative works.<br />
Children learn about shapes, the threedimensional<br />
world and even need to have a<br />
form of discipline, especially when working<br />
with clay.<br />
6. Martial Arts<br />
Though the varied styles of mixed martial<br />
arts like judo, Tae Kwan do, karate and<br />
others may make one think of violence,<br />
what these really teach is discipline and<br />
how to control strength rather than wielding<br />
it for violence.<br />
Martial Arts teach self-control and selfdiscipline.<br />
They also help in socialization<br />
skills and physical development in your<br />
child.<br />
7. Sewing Classes<br />
Sewing may not be something that<br />
crosses very many people’s minds for an<br />
extracurricular activity, but it is a skill that<br />
is very handy indeed. Many children grow<br />
up with a passion for fashion, and this may<br />
be a very handy first step for them for their<br />
futures.<br />
Sewing is as creative a field as painting or<br />
sculpting, and it is to be noted that it can<br />
be very educational for those children who<br />
want to be future designers.<br />
8. Book Club<br />
Book clubs are a great way for little<br />
bookworms to have their fun and socialise<br />
with other book lovers.<br />
Many things can be gained from a book<br />
club. Not only will the literature itself teach<br />
your child a lot about the world, the way it<br />
works and so much more, but it will also<br />
help them to develop their reading skills,<br />
which will have a tremendous impact on<br />
their writing skills.<br />
9. Cooking Class<br />
Cooking classes are great for children<br />
as they are not only an essential skill but<br />
another area where they can express their<br />
creativity.<br />
There are quite a few benefits to this as<br />
cooking food is something that will help<br />
your child develop focus, creativity and will<br />
also teach your children useful skills like<br />
how to handle sharp knives. It also teaches<br />
them about different ingredients and how<br />
to prepare healthy and balanced meals, all<br />
with the company of others their age.<br />
10. Drama Club<br />
Your little drama kings and queens will love<br />
this one as it is a fun and productive way to<br />
use up their dramatic energies.<br />
Drama club helps your child to develop<br />
physical, artistic, social and public speaking<br />
skills. It also helps to improve a their<br />
memory and improvisation skills. Often,<br />
shy children who have a talent for acting<br />
become more confident and social through<br />
drama club.<br />
When you have a general idea of what your<br />
child wants, you can do some research<br />
to see who provides these classes in your<br />
area and then take the time to take your<br />
child to visit the place while a class is in<br />
session and see if is a stimulating and<br />
comfortable environment.
Kesgrave<br />
Sixth Form<br />
offers more<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
Kesgrave Sixth Form offers students over 40 subjects to choose from without<br />
restrictions so they can study those subjects they are passionate about.<br />
However, we think it is also important that students are given experiences<br />
beyond their academic studies to give them the edge when competing in their<br />
post 18 pathways.<br />
All students in Year 12 and some of Year 13 choose an<br />
elective.<br />
This could be another qualification such as the Silver or<br />
Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award or the Extended Project; an<br />
independent research project providing project management<br />
opportunities, which is thought highly of by top universities.<br />
It could be work experience or giving something back to the<br />
school or community by volunteering as a literacy ambassador<br />
or peer mentor. Students can learn new skills like beginners<br />
Spanish or photography or simply something for wellbeing<br />
such as sessions in the multi-gym. We have a vibrant<br />
committee who organise events to raise money for a charity of<br />
their choice. This year students have chosen the Jess Grant<br />
Celebration charity and have already organised a successful<br />
RAG week. There are also life changing experiences such as<br />
our Shamwari expedition where students get to travel to South<br />
Africa and be part of conservation and community projects.<br />
Not only do these opportunities provide new and diverse skills<br />
that make a CV stand out they are also based on the five steps<br />
to positive well-being which is crucial for success at any level.<br />
These experiences allow students to gain the most from their<br />
sixth form experience and given them memories that will last<br />
a lifetime.<br />
Contact Details:<br />
Mrs Smith<br />
Tel: 01473 618993<br />
Email: 6thformoffice@kesgrave.suffolk.sch.uk<br />
www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk | 13
THE HAIRY BIKERS<br />
Easy Eats<br />
The following recipes have been taken from Si and Dave’s<br />
new cookbook based around one-pot recipes. The hearty<br />
meals featured in their book are delicious and nutritious and<br />
hopefully there will be no fighting about who will be doing the<br />
washing up. Just right for Christmas...<br />
Turkey and ham<br />
C hristmas Casserole<br />
This is a great way to use up any leftover<br />
turkey and ham at Christmas, or you can<br />
substitute chicken at any other time of<br />
year. The topping is made from stuffing<br />
ingredients and turns out beautifully crunchy<br />
and tasty - of course, many of us think the<br />
stuffing is the best part of Christmas dinner.<br />
A fab festive feast. Serves 4<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
50g butter<br />
3 leeks, cut into rounds<br />
30g plain flour<br />
100ml white wine<br />
500ml chicken stock<br />
100ml double cream<br />
400g cooked turkey (or chicken), diced<br />
150g ham, diced<br />
2 tarragon sprigs, leaves finely chopped<br />
100g peas, defrosted<br />
6 cubes of frozen spinach, defrosted<br />
salt and black pepper<br />
Stuffing crust<br />
100g breadcrumbs<br />
1 small onion, grated<br />
100g chestnuts, grated<br />
50g dried cranberries, soaked in warm<br />
water (optional)<br />
2 tsp dried sage<br />
small bunch of parsley, finely chopped<br />
large knob of butter<br />
14 | www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk<br />
METHOD<br />
First make the filling. Heat the butter in a<br />
large flameproof casserole dish. When it<br />
has melted, add the leeks with plenty of<br />
seasoning and turn down the heat.<br />
Cover the dish with a lid and leave the leeks<br />
to cook gently until tender. Stir regularly<br />
and try not to let them take on any colour.<br />
Stir the flour into the dish to form a roux<br />
around the leeks. Add the wine and stir<br />
vigorously - it will thicken considerably.<br />
Gradually add the stock, stirring constantly,<br />
until you have incorporated it all, then add<br />
the cream. Fold in the turkey or chicken,<br />
ham, tarragon and peas. Squeeze any<br />
excess water from the spinach, then stir the<br />
spinach into the dish. Taste for seasoning<br />
and add salt and pepper as needed.<br />
To make the topping, mix the breadcrumbs,<br />
onion, chestnuts, drained cranberries and<br />
the herbs, then season with plenty of salt<br />
and pepper. Sprinkle this mixture over the<br />
top of the filling, then dot with butter. Bake<br />
in the oven for 25-30 minutes until the filling<br />
is bubbling and breaking through the crisp,<br />
golden-brown topping.<br />
Veggie chilli<br />
with cornmeal dumplings<br />
We do like a dumpling and these sweetcorn<br />
ones are just right with our veggie chilli.<br />
There are lots of great flavours here and<br />
this is a good filling feast for hungry hordes.<br />
Serves 4<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
2 tbsp olive oil<br />
1 large onion, diced<br />
1 green pepper, diced<br />
1 red pepper, diced<br />
2 celery sticks, diced<br />
2 jalepeño chillies, finely diced<br />
4 garlic cloves, crushed<br />
2 bay leaves<br />
1 tbsp ground cumin<br />
25g red lentils, well rinsed<br />
750ml vegetable stock<br />
400ml coconut milk<br />
1 head of baby spring greens, shredded<br />
2 x 400g cans of black or pinto beans,<br />
drained and rinsed<br />
juice of 1 lime<br />
salt and black pepper<br />
Cornmeal dumplings<br />
150g self-raising flour<br />
75g chilled butter, diced<br />
125g fine cornmeal<br />
125g sweetcorn, defrosted if frozen<br />
50ml buttermilk<br />
1 egg<br />
100g vegetarian Cheddar cheese, grated<br />
chopped fresh coriander<br />
METHOD<br />
Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole<br />
dish with a lid and add the onion, peppers,<br />
celery and chillies. Cook over a medium<br />
heat until the vegetables have started to<br />
soften, then stir in the garlic, bay leaves,<br />
cumin and red lentils. Season generously<br />
with salt and pepper, then pour in the<br />
vegetable stock.<br />
Bring to the boil and leave for 5 minutes,<br />
then turn down the heat and continue to<br />
simmer until the red lentils have softened.<br />
Add the coconut milk, spring greens and<br />
beans and cook until the spring greens are<br />
tender and the lentils have collapsed and<br />
thickened the sauce. Taste for seasoning<br />
and add the lime juice.<br />
To make the dumplings, put the flour into<br />
a bowl with a pinch of salt. Rub in the<br />
butter until the mixture resembles fine<br />
breadcrumbs, then mix in the cornmeal,<br />
sweetcorn, buttermilk and egg. Bring<br />
everything together into a firm dough, then<br />
divide into 12 pieces. Roll them into balls.<br />
Arrange the dumplings over the chilli and<br />
cover. Cook over a medium heat for about<br />
25 minutes until the dumplings are well<br />
risen and glossy. Serve the chilli with grated<br />
cheese and plenty of chopped coriander.<br />
The Hairy<br />
Bikers’ One<br />
Pot Wonders<br />
by Si King<br />
and Dave<br />
Myers is<br />
published by<br />
Seven Dials<br />
in hardback<br />
at £22,<br />
photography<br />
by Andrew<br />
Hayes-<br />
Watkins
MIRACLE SELF-SAUCING<br />
Black Forest Gateau<br />
Self-saucing puddings like this are little<br />
miracles. You bung everything in the baking<br />
dish and it magically separates into moist<br />
sponge and gooey sauce. We like to add a<br />
drop of the hard stuff, but if you don’t fancy<br />
it, leave it out and the pud is still fab. The<br />
simplest Black Forest gateau you’ve ever<br />
seen. Serves 4–6<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
butter, for greasing<br />
400g frozen black cherries, defrosted<br />
Sponge<br />
125g self-raising flour<br />
200g light soft brown sugar<br />
50g cocoa powder<br />
pinch of salt<br />
125ml milk<br />
60ml vegetable oil<br />
Sauce<br />
50g cocoa powder<br />
100g muscovado sugar<br />
150ml just-boiled water<br />
25ml Kirsch or rum (optional)<br />
To serve<br />
double cream<br />
METHOD<br />
Preheat the oven to 180°C/Fan 160°C/<br />
Gas 4. Butter a 2-litre pudding dish, then<br />
tip in the cherries – no need to strain them.<br />
Give the dish a shake so they are evenly<br />
distributed.<br />
For the sponge, mix the<br />
self-raising flour with the<br />
light soft brown sugar, cocoa<br />
powder and a generous<br />
pinch of salt. Whisk the milk<br />
and vegetable oil together<br />
and then pour them over the<br />
dry ingredients. Mix until you<br />
have a smooth batter, then<br />
spoon this over the cherries.<br />
For the sauce, mix the cocoa<br />
with the muscovado sugar<br />
and sprinkle this evenly over<br />
the batter. Pour over the<br />
water and Kirsch, if using.<br />
Bake the pudding in the oven for 30–35<br />
minutes. The top will turn into a cracked<br />
chocolate sponge and the bottom will<br />
have a rich, chocolatey sauce around the<br />
cherries. If the sponge is still wet in the<br />
middle, continue to cook for a few more<br />
minutes. If it looks black around the edges,<br />
don’t worry, it won’t be burnt.<br />
Serve hot or at room temperature (the<br />
sauce will thicken as it cools) with cream.<br />
The Hairy Bikers’ One Pot Wonders by Si<br />
King and Dave Myers is published by Seven<br />
Dials in hardback at £22, photography by<br />
Andrew Hayes-Watkins<br />
www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk | 15
The Christmas Pantry<br />
DELICIOUS DELIGHTS FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON<br />
James White & Co.<br />
This elegant range with a stylish label<br />
design offers juices from English<br />
orchards: Bramley; Cox; Russet;<br />
Apple & Elderflower and Apple &<br />
Summer Berries. They make the<br />
perfect sophisticated alternative<br />
to wine, using filtration techniques<br />
borrowed from the wine world. If<br />
you’re partial to a crisp dry wine then<br />
Bramley is the juice for you. While<br />
Cox provides a delicious light and<br />
fruity taste, as one would expect from<br />
Britain’s favourite apple. All feel right<br />
at home served in a wine glass, so<br />
who will know the difference?<br />
www.jameswhite.co.uk<br />
The Heart of Suffolk Distillery<br />
The Heart of Suffolk Distillery is a<br />
small family-run business that skilfully<br />
and lovingly produces handcrafted,<br />
artisan ‘London Dry’ style gins that<br />
capture the spirit of Suffolk. It was<br />
formed by Martyn and Karen Luke<br />
in February 2018 and is based in<br />
Bacton, Suffolk. Here the gin is<br />
distilled in small batches of approx.<br />
70 bottles a time with each beautifully<br />
designed bottle being filled and<br />
labelled by hand. Each label bears the<br />
hand-written signature of the master<br />
distiller and the batch number.<br />
heartofsuffolkdistillery.co.uk<br />
www.yeovilales.com<br />
Powters Limited<br />
Powters Chefs’ Pig sausagemeat will<br />
be available in Tesco Stores across<br />
the region in time for Christmas! Made<br />
to our Great Taste Award Winning<br />
Newmarket Sausage recipe, which<br />
dates back to 1881 using Free Range<br />
British Pork, and a secret blend of<br />
seasoning and spices - it’s perfect<br />
for Christmas baking and stuffing. If<br />
you can’t get to the shops then don’t<br />
worry we’re also offering a fantastic<br />
‘bundle’ deal on our Christmas<br />
Favourites Varieties delivered to your<br />
door from our website<br />
www.powters.co.uk<br />
The New England Boar<br />
Company<br />
At The New England Boar Company<br />
we breed and raise our own purebred<br />
British wild boar in our woodland<br />
on the Essex/Suffolk border.<br />
We offer a range of premium<br />
charcuterie, fresh meat and baked<br />
goods. Order charcuterie online at<br />
www.thenewenglandboarcompany.<br />
co.uk or call 07785 256191<br />
Cocoa May<br />
Cocoa May was founded by<br />
Ballymaloe trained chef, Rosie, who<br />
produces a mouth-watering range of<br />
chocolate brownies from her Suffolk<br />
kitchen. With an array of flavours,<br />
current choices include; salted<br />
caramel, chocolate orange, pistachio<br />
& sea salt along with many more.<br />
Gluten free and vegan varieties are<br />
also available. These letterbox friendly<br />
gift boxes make the perfect gift, and<br />
you can even request a hand written<br />
note to go in the box when you order<br />
online at<br />
www.cocoamay.com<br />
Essence Foods<br />
Based on an organic farm in Salle<br />
Norfolk their family run business is<br />
the largest independent mustard<br />
manufacturer in East Anglia with<br />
10 mustards and 10 condiments in<br />
their range. This comes from over<br />
30 years of experience within the<br />
food industry and as a company they<br />
pride themselves on using the best<br />
local ingredients. This pride in the<br />
best quality has meant that they have<br />
recently won the Pride of Norfolk<br />
Food and Drink Award. Find more on<br />
social media: @EssenceNorfolk<br />
16 | www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk
NOTES<br />
from the pass<br />
Michael Caines MBE, chef/patron of Lympstone<br />
Manor, is one of Britain’s most decorated and<br />
well-known chefs. Sally Thomson caught up with<br />
him to discuss his ventures in wine, his passion<br />
for teaching and his need for speed...<br />
When we last met you were at<br />
Kentisbury Grange, and I note that you<br />
received some awards for that?<br />
Yes, the Small Hotel of the Year and<br />
Restaurant of the Year. It’s great!<br />
Kentisbury Grange is owned by my old<br />
school friend Mark Cushway. Mark asked<br />
me to get involved and help him with<br />
his project, which I did, and it’s great to<br />
see that over the years we’ve managed<br />
to acquire many awards which is a<br />
tribute to the team. The chef there at the<br />
moment is James Checkley and he is<br />
doing a great job, and we just continue<br />
to advance and improve. There are<br />
challenges being in North Devon that are<br />
different to being located in South Devon,<br />
unfortunately places in North Devon can<br />
get overlooked on the culinary map, so<br />
it’s nice to be able to contribute to the<br />
North Devon economy by creating a<br />
lovely venue, and to see it do well.<br />
When we last spoke you mentioned that<br />
your pride and joy was Lympstone Manor.<br />
You are now nearly into its third year…<br />
It’s incredible to think that when we last<br />
met, it was just in its infancy. We won a<br />
Michelin Star within six months, and we<br />
are very pleased to announce that we<br />
have been given five rosettes this year,<br />
so it is great progress and we just look to<br />
the Michelin gods that we might advance<br />
to two! But the main thing is that since<br />
we spoke we planted a vineyard and the<br />
whole property has settled and matured.<br />
It really is the best of me and everything<br />
that I have achieved in my career<br />
combined into this wonderful place.<br />
Do you draw back the curtains and pinch<br />
yourself to remember that it’s yours?<br />
Every day! When I walk into that<br />
"Lympstone Manor<br />
really is the best of<br />
me, and everything<br />
that I have achieved in<br />
my career combined<br />
into this wonderful<br />
place."<br />
property and I look<br />
at that view…I do pinch myself! But<br />
I also recognise that it has been a<br />
huge amount of hard work and it still<br />
continues to take a lot of commitment.<br />
So about your vineyard! The harvest<br />
in 2018 was good wasn’t it?<br />
The harvest in the UK in 2018 was<br />
brilliant, it was the best harvests in the<br />
history of English wine making, it’s been<br />
incredible. We planted our vineyard in<br />
2018, and in its second year it will<br />
produce grapes that we can harvest<br />
(next year), those grapes will then be<br />
vinified and we will be releasing our first<br />
wine in 2024. So it takes three years for<br />
the vineyard to establish. We are now in<br />
our second year. We planted, in eleven<br />
acres, 17,500 vines, of which 50%<br />
are Pinot Noir, 20% Meunier and 30%<br />
are Chardonnay. They are the classic<br />
champagne varietals, so we are looking<br />
forward to producing some wonderful<br />
English sparkling wine. Hopefully they will<br />
have their own story to tell, alongside the<br />
story of Lympstone Manor.<br />
I’ve been watching Jason Atherton<br />
in The Chef’s Brigade, and what I<br />
hadn’t really realised is the interaction<br />
between each person in the kitchen<br />
and how it can affect the cuisine. I<br />
work in an office, and each person<br />
does their own thing, whereas in a<br />
kitchen, the relationship between each<br />
person is quite a complex one!<br />
In all honesty it’s not that different! Similar<br />
to what you described with your office,<br />
everyone has different disciplines. The<br />
editor brings into the magazine all those<br />
different skills that contribute into a great<br />
publication. In a kitchen it is similar, it’s<br />
like an orchestra, and we conduct that<br />
orchestra, but we edit it and so we are<br />
the curators but it requires an individual<br />
team working alongside each other and<br />
communicating. Our deadlines however<br />
are very immediate! It requires massive<br />
amounts of effort and discipline, and<br />
that discipline is not self-indulgent,<br />
it’s selfless, as it is a requirement. It is<br />
a very tough environment. We are all<br />
interconnected and intertwined, but it’s<br />
also like the analogy of a swan, where on<br />
the surface to the customer we appear<br />
very calm, but underneath there’s two<br />
legs paddling! But we’ve got more than<br />
two legs on the team, and those legs are<br />
components, all working together. It’s<br />
fascinating and it’s a good insight into<br />
what goes on behind the scenes.<br />
17
On a completely different note, did<br />
you go to Silverstone this year? If so,<br />
how many Grand Prix’s did you get to<br />
attend?<br />
I did go this year, it was great! I’ve seen<br />
four this year, sometimes it’s five. But I<br />
did three Europeans and one fly-away,<br />
and so we send a chef out to all the<br />
Europeans to support ROKiT Williams<br />
Racing, and I go to Monaco, British,<br />
Monza and America. Sometimes I do Abu<br />
Dhabi and I might try and do Singapore<br />
next year. I do as many or as few as I<br />
want, but no less than three.<br />
What’s your favourite?<br />
Monaco is amazing but the racing is<br />
dull. Monza is the fastest track. Italy, I<br />
love Italy. But I love Silverstone for pure<br />
racing, it’s a great track. It’s a fascinating<br />
sport, and I think as much as we criticise<br />
it, one minute you can have a dull race<br />
and the next minute you can have the<br />
most exciting race.<br />
I know you are very involved with<br />
charities, and you have the Michael<br />
Caines Academy at Exeter College?<br />
It’s probably more of an educational<br />
programme at Exeter College where we<br />
take sixteen students through two years<br />
of training and they then graduate as<br />
a Michael Caines Academy student. In<br />
that time they have a slightly shortened<br />
curriculum where they spend six weeks<br />
in work experience and they have do<br />
one ‘experience day’ a week, which are<br />
cooking demonstrations, visits to the<br />
industry etc. After these two years when<br />
they graduate they are very sought after,<br />
because of the experience they have<br />
gained. So the academy is very important<br />
and it’s doing a great job supplying the<br />
industry with some much needed talent.<br />
They are all like-minded and are fabulous<br />
kids, and now in its eighth year we’ve had<br />
sixty cohorts going through, and we will<br />
continue to develop. We might increase<br />
the cohort, and we might expand the<br />
academy within other colleges. But in<br />
terms of the charity work I do, I work with<br />
seven different charities. I’m patron of<br />
Families for Children which is an adoption<br />
charity, I’m the president of the wonderful<br />
charity Farms for City Children, I’m on the<br />
board for the Exeter Chiefs Foundation,<br />
which is the charity for the Exeter Rugby<br />
team which do a fantastic job. I’m also<br />
an ambassador and advisor to the board<br />
of the Calvert Trust, and I also work<br />
alongside Damon Hill’s Charity who<br />
support people with Down’s Syndrome.<br />
So it’s lots of different charities! But it<br />
increases public awareness, and I’m<br />
particularly proud to have been made<br />
a deputy lieutenant to the lieutenant of<br />
Devon, because through this position<br />
I am able to work on improving the<br />
network of charities in Devon, and get<br />
them working together.<br />
In terms of the success of the Exeter<br />
Chiefs, and the work that they do – we<br />
support seventeen charities every<br />
year, but alongside that we donate<br />
undesignated funds to a huge amount of<br />
different charities. What we are seeing<br />
is a way in which we can help charities<br />
with capital projects, and last year we<br />
got together with the Property Ball.<br />
They raised £55,000 last year towards<br />
charities, and we chose to match fund<br />
"If you are a public<br />
figure...then I<br />
think you have a<br />
duty of care to do<br />
something and<br />
put back in the<br />
community"<br />
that, and so between the two charities<br />
we raised £110,000 to refit Devon<br />
Hospice in Exeter, which was a wellworthy<br />
cause and an incredible thing<br />
to do. But it’s things like that, that are<br />
about the community, that inspire you<br />
to get involved. If you are a public figure<br />
or you are someone who is perceived<br />
to be a celebrity or you are successful<br />
then I think you have a duty of care<br />
to do something and put back in the<br />
community. Not everybody does it but I<br />
think it is important.<br />
You can find out more about Michael<br />
Caines at michaelcaines.com<br />
and Lympstone Manor at<br />
lympstonemanor.co.uk<br />
18
C hristmas<br />
MINI CHOCOLATE &<br />
RASPBERRY TARTS<br />
So, you're not a fan of mince meat and<br />
dried fruit? Christmas is a challenging<br />
time then. Just as well to have<br />
these delicious Christmas pudding<br />
alternatives for the big day. Recipes<br />
from egg experts Clarence Court<br />
Prep: 30 mins | Cook: 30 mins to 1 hour<br />
Serves 6<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
For the pastry:<br />
150g (5oz) plain flour<br />
4 level tbsp icing sugar<br />
Pinch of salt<br />
100g (3½ oz) unsalted butter<br />
1 Burford Brown egg yolk<br />
For the filling:<br />
4 tbsp raspberry conserve<br />
284ml carton whipping cream<br />
2 tbsp liquid glucose<br />
200g bar dark chocolate<br />
50g (1¾ oz) unsalted butter<br />
Few drops of vanilla extract<br />
Fresh raspberries and chocolate curls or<br />
fans, to serve<br />
Icing sugar, to dust<br />
METHOD<br />
Pre heat the oven to 180°C (350°F, gas mark 4).<br />
Pour flour, icing sugar and salt into a bowl and stir.<br />
Cut the butter into smaller pieces before adding it to<br />
the flour and rubbing together.<br />
Add the Burford Brown egg yolk and bind together<br />
(if required, add 1-2tbsp of water to get the desired<br />
consistency). Wrap the pastry in cling film and leave<br />
to chill it for around 15 mins.<br />
Roll the pastry and use it to line the tins. Prick<br />
the bottom of the pastry and line with backing<br />
parchment and baking beans before putting it in the<br />
oven to bake for 12-15 minutes.<br />
Remove the baking parchment and baking beans<br />
then return to the oven to bake for a further 3-5<br />
minutes or until the pastry is cooked through.<br />
Take out of the oven and leave to cool. Remove the<br />
pastry from the tin and cover the bases with jam.<br />
For the chocolate filling, carefully bring cream to the<br />
boil and remove from the heat. Stir in liquid glucose<br />
and pour over the chocolate, stirring until it's<br />
melted. Add butter and vanilla extract and stir until<br />
melted. Pour the chocolate into the cases. Chill until<br />
filling has set. <strong>Dec</strong>orate with raspberries to finish.<br />
THESE HEAVENLY CHOCOLATE<br />
TARTS ARE NOT ONLY A<br />
MOUTHFUL OF CHOCOLATE<br />
RASPBERRY HEAVEN, BUT THEY<br />
ARE ALSO SO EASY TO MAKE.<br />
19
WINTER FRUIT<br />
& NUT PAVLOVA<br />
Prep: 30 mins | Cook: 1 hour 20 mins<br />
Serves: 6-8<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
6 large Clarence Court Burford Brown egg<br />
whites (keep the yolks in the fridge for<br />
another day or make eggnog)<br />
300g caster sugar<br />
Pinch sea salt<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />
2 tablespoon icing sugar<br />
50g pecans<br />
300ml double cream<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste<br />
4 figs<br />
200g mixed berries (red currants,<br />
raspberries)<br />
1 clementine or tangerine, peeled into<br />
segments<br />
4 tablespoons sweetened chestnut puree<br />
Ground cinnamon<br />
METHOD<br />
Pre-heat the oven to 120°C. Line a baking<br />
sheet with greaseproof paper and draw a<br />
30cm circle on it as a template.<br />
IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO MAKE<br />
ONE ONCE YOU'RE NEARLY<br />
DONE WITH THE OVEN AFTER<br />
A DAY OF BAKING AND<br />
ROASTING. ONCE COOKED,<br />
TURN OFF THE OVEN AND<br />
ALLOW THE MERINGUE TO<br />
COOL IN THERE UNTIL THE<br />
NEXT DAY.<br />
Place the egg whites in a large, spotlessly<br />
clean mixing bowl and whisk with a hand held<br />
or freestanding electric mixer until stiff peaks<br />
have formed. Add the caster sugar a spoonful<br />
at a time, whisking the whole time then add<br />
the sea salt and vanilla extract. Continue<br />
to whisk for around 8 minutes or until all<br />
the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is<br />
smooth. To test this take a pinch of mixture<br />
between your finger and thumb and rub<br />
together. If it’s a little gritty, continue mixing.<br />
Spoon the mixture on to the lined baking<br />
sheet using the back of the spoon to create<br />
peaks. Place the pavlova in the oven for<br />
around 1 hour and 20 minutes or until set<br />
and crisp. Once baked switch off the oven<br />
and allow the oven to cool down completely.<br />
Once cooled you can keep the pavlova in<br />
an air tight box for around 3 days in a cool<br />
dark place.<br />
About 30 minutes before you’re ready to<br />
serve remove the pavlova from the oven and<br />
pre-heat to 200°C. Line a small roasting tin<br />
or baking sheet with grease proof paper.<br />
Rinse the pecans under cold water in a sieve<br />
and tip into a roasting tin whilst wet, sprinkle<br />
over 1 tablespoon icing sugar, toss together<br />
and bake in the oven for around 15 minutes<br />
until toasted and crunchy.<br />
Meanwhile pour the cream into a large mixing<br />
bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoons icing<br />
sugar and vanilla bean paste. Whisk to soft<br />
peaks and place to one side.<br />
Wash fruits, quarter the figs. Place the<br />
pavlova on a serving plate or board and<br />
spoon over the cream, spoon the chestnut<br />
puree on top and arrange over the fruit.<br />
Scatter over the caramelised pecans and<br />
dust over a little ground cinnamon.<br />
20
FLOURLESS<br />
CHOCOLATE<br />
CAKE<br />
Prep: 30 minutes<br />
Cook: 1 hour | Serves: 8-10<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
6 Clarence Court Burford Brown eggs,<br />
separated<br />
200g unsalted butter<br />
200g dark chocolate<br />
Finely grated zest of one orange (cut the<br />
orange itself into thin slices for serving<br />
with the cake)<br />
1 tablespoon cold espresso<br />
250g caster sugar<br />
70g cocoa powder<br />
Créme frâiche (or salted caramel sauce)<br />
for serving<br />
Pecan nuts (optional)<br />
METHOD<br />
Preheat the oven to 160°C/gas mark 3.<br />
Grease a 23cm springform cake tin, and<br />
line with baking parchment.<br />
Place a heatproof bowl over a saucepan<br />
of simmering water. Add the butter,<br />
chocolate and orange zest to the bowl,<br />
and, stirring occasionally, allow to melt<br />
until smooth. Stir in the espresso. Take<br />
the bowl off the heat and place to one<br />
side to cool a little.<br />
In a mixing bowl, whisk the sugar and egg<br />
yolks until they’re pale and fluffy. Sift in<br />
the cocoa powder and fold through, then<br />
sprinkle in a pinch of salt. In a separate<br />
mixing bowl, whip the egg whites into soft<br />
peaks using an electric hand whisk. Stir<br />
the melted chocolate mixture into the egg<br />
yolk mixture, then gently fold through the<br />
egg whites until just combined.<br />
Carefully pour the cake mix into the lined<br />
cake tin and place in the oven for around<br />
one hour. Test the dense cake after an<br />
hour by inserting a skewer into the centre:<br />
if it comes out nearly clean, it’s ready.<br />
Remove the cake from the oven and allow<br />
it to cool on a rack before removing it<br />
from the tin.<br />
Serve with the blood orange slices and<br />
créme frâiche, and/or the salted caramel<br />
sauce, with a handful of pecans (optional).<br />
FUDGY, MOUSSEY AND RICH.<br />
WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE? A<br />
PERFECT CAKE TO SERVE AS A<br />
GLUTEN-FREE TREAT, THAT’S<br />
SO DELICIOUS EVERYONE WILL<br />
WANT SOME. EGGS ARE THE<br />
KEY TO THIS CAKE, GIVING IT<br />
BODY AND RISE.<br />
21
PEAR &<br />
BLACKBERRY<br />
FRANGIPANE<br />
TART<br />
Prep: 1 hour | Cook: 1 hour<br />
Serves: 8<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
Plain flour<br />
1 500g pack shortcrust pastry<br />
160g unsalted butter, softened<br />
160g caster sugar<br />
2 Clarence Court Burford Brown<br />
eggs<br />
160g ground almonds<br />
2 tablespoons plain flour<br />
1 teaspoon almond extract<br />
50g blackberry jam<br />
100g blackberries<br />
3 pears<br />
Icing sugar<br />
METHOD<br />
Roll the pastry to 3mm thick on<br />
a lightly floured work surface.<br />
Carefully line a 22cm, round, fluted<br />
tart tin allowing for a little overhang.<br />
Prick the base all over and place the<br />
lined tin in the freezer for 1 hour.<br />
Meanwhile place the butter, sugar,<br />
egg, almonds and extract in a large<br />
mixing bowl. Whisk together until<br />
smooth and place to one side. Peel<br />
one of the pears, core and chop<br />
then place to one side.<br />
Pre-heat the oven to 180c/350f/<br />
gas mark 4. Fill the chilled case with<br />
baking beans and blind bake for 15<br />
minutes. Remove the baking beans<br />
and return the case to the oven and<br />
bake for a further 5 minutes or until<br />
golden.<br />
Once baked, remove the tart case<br />
from the oven and spoon the jam<br />
into the bottom of the case. Scatter<br />
over the chopped pear. Fold half of<br />
the berries into the frangipane and<br />
spoon over the jam and chopped<br />
pear. Smooth over with a spatula.<br />
Halve, core and slice the remaining<br />
2 pears. Arrange the slices over the<br />
frangipane and dot the remaining<br />
blackberries around. Place the tart<br />
on an oven tray and bake for 30<br />
minutes or until just risen and set.<br />
Allow to cool for a few minutes<br />
before removing from the tin and<br />
allow to cool on a wire rack. Serve<br />
warm with creme fraiche and<br />
berries or allow to cool completely.<br />
Dust with icing sugar and serve.<br />
QUICK HOMEMADE<br />
FRANGIPANE IS THE PERFECT<br />
CARRIER FOR ALL TYPES<br />
OF FRUIT. CRANBERRIES<br />
AND CITRUS FRUITS ARE<br />
ALSO GREAT CHOICES FOR<br />
CHRISTMAS<br />
22
EGGCELLENT EGGNOG<br />
Prep: 10 mins (plus chilling) | Cook: 10 mins<br />
Serves 6<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
565ml (1 pint) milk<br />
200ml double cream<br />
1 vanilla pod, halved, seeds scraped out (or 1 tablespoon<br />
vanilla bean paste)<br />
Half a whole nutmeg, grated (plus a little extra for serving)<br />
2 sticks cinnamon<br />
2 whole cloves<br />
4 Burford brown eggs separated<br />
100g golden caster sugar<br />
130ml Cockspur fine rum<br />
3 tablespoons demerara sugar<br />
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />
METHOD<br />
Pour the milk and cream in to a saucepan. Add the spices<br />
(including the empty vanilla pod) and place on a medium<br />
heat. Bring to a simmer (but not boiling) and allow to cool for<br />
5 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse.<br />
Meanwhile place the egg yolks and sugar in a large mixing<br />
bowl. Whisk well until light and thickened. Strain the warm milk<br />
into a jug through a sieve. Pour the spiced milk into the bowl of<br />
egg yolks in a steady stream whisking well. Stir in the rum.<br />
You can either place the mixture in a cooled sterilised bottle<br />
with a tight fitting lid and allow the flavours to develop in the<br />
fridge. If you decide to do this you can freeze the egg whites<br />
in a sandwich bag until you’re ready to use. Then defrost<br />
them in the fridge before whisking.<br />
If you would like to serve straight away. Place the egg whites<br />
in a large mixing bowl and whisk the whites to soft peaks.<br />
Mix the demerara sugar and ground cinnamon on a plate.<br />
Have a small bowl of rum or water ready.<br />
Fold the egg whites in to the eggnog mix then pour into a<br />
serving jug. Dip the rims of serving glasses into the rum or<br />
water and then dip straight into the sugar and cinnamon mix.<br />
Divide the eggnog between glasses and finish with a grating<br />
of nutmeg.<br />
Images Courtesy David Loftus<br />
23
OWLEEZ<br />
Interactive Owleez<br />
responds to your<br />
touch, movement<br />
and care – it has<br />
over 100 sounds<br />
and movements<br />
and can even fly!<br />
£44.99, amazon.<br />
co.uk<br />
MY PARTNER PIKACHU<br />
3 touch sensors let you and<br />
Pikachu communicate in a<br />
new and fun way. £17.99,<br />
smythstoys.com<br />
24<br />
PET POOKI<br />
The interactive pet! With<br />
over an hour of content,<br />
movement and sounds<br />
Pooki will respond<br />
differently to your child's<br />
interaction. Pooki will<br />
look for you when you<br />
call her name, don't shout<br />
though she gets scared.<br />
£49, argos.co.uk<br />
NEON MARL<br />
Fun and bright<br />
sweatshirts and<br />
hoodies for her,<br />
the kids plus<br />
festive designs.<br />
From £30,<br />
neonmarl.co.uk<br />
SUEDE SLIPPERS<br />
Beautiful, soft handmade<br />
Moroccan slippers with<br />
padding inside that moulds<br />
to the feet. Grey and Tan<br />
Brown available. £16 with<br />
free P&P, hauslife.co.uk<br />
FLORIS REED<br />
DIFFUSER<br />
Fill your home with the warming fragrance of<br />
Ginger & Sandalwood from luxury scent makers<br />
Floris. £70, florislondon.com<br />
PERFORMANCE<br />
GYM BALL<br />
Help support fitness<br />
goals at home with<br />
this sturdy 65cm ball<br />
and pump. £21.99,<br />
1000mile.co.uk<br />
SNEAK V TRAINERS<br />
Sustainable, vegan lace up sneaker in breathable and<br />
soft (yet hard-wearing) alternative to leather, featuring<br />
perforated Po-Zu butterfly<br />
logo detail. £99,<br />
po-zu.com<br />
PICTIONARY AIR<br />
A fun take on a classic.<br />
Just download the free<br />
Pictionary Air app and<br />
take turns drawing<br />
clues in the air while<br />
your teammates<br />
guess the images<br />
that appear on the<br />
screen! £19.99,<br />
amazon.co.uk<br />
HER<br />
KIDS<br />
THE VERY MERRY<br />
CHRISTMAS BOARDGAME<br />
Move around the board<br />
collecting presents (present<br />
cards) to put in your stocking.<br />
Presents have a value<br />
depending on whether they’re<br />
nice… or naff! £20, Debenhams<br />
and Amazon<br />
LONG DACHSHUND MATCHES<br />
At 29cm these long matches are a<br />
joy to behold as well as being ideal<br />
for lighting hard-to-reach candles or<br />
lanterns. They come in a beautifully<br />
letter press-printed box.<br />
£10, noblemacmillan.com<br />
HARRY POTTER GAMES<br />
Know your OWLS from your<br />
NEWTS? Test your HP knowledge<br />
with word game Lex-GO or<br />
get quizing with Top Trumps<br />
with a twist. Lex-GO, £14.99,<br />
Waterstones and Top Trumps,<br />
£9.99, amazon.co.uk<br />
CACAO & VANILLA CANDLE<br />
Get a chocolate hit without<br />
the calories with this sublimely<br />
scented candle from Hotel<br />
Chocolat, made with natural<br />
soy, coconut and beeswax<br />
for a cleaner burn. £28,<br />
hotelchocolat.com<br />
LEATHER POUCH<br />
Beautiful, buttery soft leather<br />
pouches with sublime<br />
tassels - make yours pop<br />
with your initial too! Leather<br />
Pouch, £99 and Alphabet<br />
Keyring, £40,<br />
noblemacmillan.<br />
com
FLEX DELUXE MICRO SCOOTER<br />
A premium scooter with a wood and<br />
fibreglass deck that flexes to absorb<br />
bumps and large 200mm wheels that<br />
glide serenely over any terrain. Matt<br />
Black Flex Deluxe, £179.95,<br />
micro-scooters.co.uk<br />
HIM<br />
MOSHI PORTO Q 5K<br />
A Qi Wireless battery<br />
which will have you<br />
charging on the go without<br />
worrying about cables.<br />
£79.95, moshi.com<br />
MOSHI WORLD<br />
TRAVEL ADAPTER<br />
This international<br />
power adapter<br />
features US/EU/<br />
UK/AU power plugs<br />
to cover over 150<br />
countries. Charge up<br />
to six devices at the<br />
same time with the<br />
AC socket, USB-C<br />
port, and four USB<br />
ports. £54.95,<br />
moshi.com<br />
MYZONE MZ3<br />
The Myzone MZ3 tracks heart rate with<br />
99.6% accuracy and provides live workout<br />
feedback on your phone. £129, amazon.<br />
co.uk or myzone.org<br />
STM DAPPER<br />
WRAPPER<br />
Great for those that travel<br />
with tech, this handy rollup<br />
wrapper keeps cables<br />
tidy and all in one place.<br />
£24.95, stmgoods.com<br />
TINCUP AMERICAN WHISKEY<br />
A bourbon style profile with a bold<br />
and spicy finish. £30, asda.com<br />
SALTED CARAMEL HAMPER<br />
Complete with truffles, vodka,<br />
nut spread, shortbread and<br />
decadent hot chocolate. £27.50,<br />
hotelchocolat.com<br />
CHOCOLATE<br />
SLABS<br />
Hotel Chocolat has<br />
perfect bits for the<br />
whole family - we<br />
love the no alcohol<br />
Winter Puddings<br />
Sleekster Luxe<br />
and the Chocolate<br />
Slabs with cheery<br />
faces. Sleekster<br />
£35.95 and Slab<br />
£8,hotelchocolat.com<br />
ITALICUS<br />
A perfect festive botanical aperitivo to<br />
add to sparkling wine - not to mention a<br />
beautiful bottle for the drinks cabinet.<br />
£29.99, masterofmalt.com<br />
PRESTAT<br />
The ideal chocolate for gifting,<br />
we love their beautiful packaging,<br />
especially on the Mini Truffles<br />
Bauble. £12, prestat.co.uk<br />
BLACK COW VODKA<br />
FOOD<br />
& DRINK<br />
The only vodka made<br />
entirely from whey from<br />
grass-grazed cow’s milk<br />
left over from the<br />
cheese-making<br />
process. £28,<br />
blackcowvodka.<br />
co.uk<br />
CAPUCANA CACHACA<br />
Brazilian fire water! Capucana<br />
combines nine varieties of<br />
sugar cane distillate which<br />
gives its bright golden<br />
colour and its stewed fruit<br />
and grassy character. £36,<br />
masterofmalt.com<br />
BETTY'S<br />
CHOCOLATE<br />
DESIRES<br />
12 hand-piped<br />
chocolate discs<br />
topped with fruit and<br />
nuts. £12.75,<br />
bettys.co.uk<br />
PORTER’S<br />
TROPICAL<br />
OLD TOM GIN<br />
A classic juniper<br />
based gin lifted<br />
by exotic notes<br />
of passion fruit,<br />
guava and white<br />
tea. £34.67,<br />
masterofmalt.<br />
com<br />
25
magical<br />
OMAN<br />
Katie Thomson journeys to the mountains and dunes of Oman to<br />
discover unrivalled landscapes and classic Arabian hospitality<br />
26
The name Oman is a particularly evocative one. It<br />
speaks of the shifting sands of dunes and deserts, the<br />
intricate mastery of wood carving, interiors bedecked in<br />
jewel-toned fabrics reflected in shining brasswork and<br />
of millennia-old traditions and classic Arabic hospitality.<br />
It is also a country of contrasts - high mountain passes<br />
with spectacular valleys and picture postcard famous backdrops of<br />
sand dunes.<br />
You might not think mountains when you think of Oman, but the<br />
country has some of the most spectacular landscapes and vistas<br />
anywhere in the Middle East. Indeed, many nationals from the UAE<br />
or Saudi head to the Omani mountains for their holidays, preferring<br />
the milder climate in the summer months.<br />
Sitting atop a peak in Jabel Al Akhdar is the Sahab Resort and Spa,<br />
the latest hotel offering from the Omani Al Nahda group. Known for<br />
their strong commitment to service and luxurious settings, this hotel<br />
seeks to offer a mountain getaway where guests can truly relax. The<br />
hotel is of course centred around the views - spectacular vistas of<br />
gorges, waterfalls and stone cut ridges. The designers have been<br />
keen to ground the hotel in its location through a series of careful<br />
touches - the million year-old fossils found in the valley are visible<br />
throughout all of the grounds and the local rosewater scents the<br />
halls.<br />
Sahab offers 27 rooms in three different categories - Studio rooms,<br />
Suite rooms & Family Suites. The decor is influenced by rich Omani<br />
culture, equipped with all the modern amenities and offering a<br />
magnificent view of the Jabal Al Akhdar mountain range. It was<br />
special indeed to sip my morning coffee whilst gazing out across<br />
the vastness of the surroundings, watching as the sun stretched and<br />
touched each mountainous ridge in turn.<br />
There are lots of excursion options from the hotel - some abseiling<br />
and mountain climbing for adrenaline-seekers, alongside more<br />
sedate tours of local villages, the rose garden or even star gazing. I<br />
opted for the village tour, taking in the local waterfall and getting a<br />
sense of the unique challenges of living in somewhere so remote.<br />
After days of soaking up the endless views by the pool, it was time<br />
to move on to a more archetypal Middle Eastern experience in the<br />
sand dunes.<br />
Mirage-like and utterly majestic, the Dunes by Al Nahda resort sits<br />
amongst the undulating sand dunes of Wadi Al Abyad. Only 40<br />
minutes from Muscat, it’s a world away from city life, creating an<br />
authentic taste of the Omani experience. The hotel is made up of<br />
a series of static ivory one or two bedroom Bedouin tents, each<br />
luxuriously furnished with dark woods, richly patterned fabrics and<br />
ultra-comfortable beds. For a truly majestic stay, and this resort<br />
does host royalty, there are the Royal Suites. The size of almost<br />
four tents together, each is capacious at 139 square meters and<br />
equipped with separate bedrooms, a living room and a private patio.<br />
Dunes Resort and Spa<br />
“IT IS ALSO A COUNTRY<br />
OF CONTRASTS - HIGH<br />
MOUNTAIN PASSES WITH<br />
SPECTACULAR VALLEYS AND<br />
PICTURE POSTCARD FAMOUS<br />
BACKDROPS OF SAND DUNES.”<br />
27
“IT WAS SPECIAL<br />
INDEED TO SIP MY<br />
MORNING COFFEE<br />
WHILST GAZING<br />
OUT ACROSS THE<br />
VASTNESS OF THE<br />
SURROUNDINGS”<br />
Other than the opulent accommodation, what makes<br />
Dunes unique is the swimming pool - unlike many desert<br />
camps, Dunes is unique in having a spectacular infinity<br />
pool, with views stretching out for miles over undulating<br />
terrain. This immersion in the landscape is important, and<br />
it is emphasised at every opportunity - each tent enjoys<br />
similarly spectacular view of the dunes or the distant Al<br />
Hajar mountains, so, if like me you have a little jet lag, you<br />
can watch the sunrise over the sands from your bed!<br />
The resort offers a whole host of amazing experiences<br />
- from riding on Abdul the resident camel, guided quad<br />
biking on the dunes and even a most spectacular Arabian<br />
feast served under the stars. Just as in Sahab, Dunes<br />
prides itself on an excellent menu of Indian and Omani<br />
dishes. These are served in the Fleur Restaurant, open<br />
on all sides to the panoramic mountain views. Fleur’s<br />
head chef is somewhat of a local celebrity, having won<br />
the Omani equivalent of MasterChef. He was also a part<br />
of Rick Stein’s series on India - showing the calibre of the<br />
cookery on offer.<br />
It is clear with both resorts that the work is collaborative<br />
and dependent upon excellent staff. The chefs, both<br />
Indian, are adept and dexterous in the kitchen, creating<br />
different takes on classic Omani dishes and elevating<br />
them to fine dining - of course with some spice and curry<br />
flavours thrown in. The spas too are what the group are<br />
known for; Dr Mary Ann is one of those brought in at the<br />
conception of the hotel group, with the owners seeking<br />
out her health and wellbeing expertise to set up the<br />
medi-spa in the original Al Nadha Hotel. Her ethos and<br />
whole-body approach to wellbeing is echoed in each<br />
resort and she has designed a treatment menu for each<br />
that reflects its setting.<br />
In Sahab, perched as it is high in the mountains, the<br />
signature scent is called ‘Clouds’ - an uplifting fragrance<br />
which pairs with the Signature massage. In Dunes, the<br />
scent is a more musky ‘Arabian Nights’ and the signature<br />
treatment is quite extraordinary. Called the ‘Sand Spa’,<br />
clients take to an open air treatment room are immersed<br />
in sand which has been heated by the sun. It is said that<br />
a sand bath provides relief for people suffering from a<br />
range of muscular disorders as well as helping to ease<br />
the symptoms and heal various skin conditions too -<br />
the gentle heat is also supremely relaxing, bringing a<br />
soothing warmth to the body without becoming overly<br />
hot. After the sand, which exfoliates the skin too, a<br />
moisturising coating of natural yoghurt is applied to the<br />
skin. Quite unique and almost elemental in its approach,<br />
this is a treatment unlike any you might find elsewhere.<br />
28<br />
Dr Mary, originally from Scotland, was certain she would<br />
return home after setting up the spas - but she fell in
Images, clockwise from top left: Bedrooms at<br />
Sahab; amazing views from the Sahab pool<br />
area; the infinity pool at Dunes; Dunes tent<br />
interior; Abdul, Dunes' resident camel<br />
with Oman and moved permanently. I asked<br />
her about her thoughts on the way the modern<br />
world is changing what is ostensibly a traditionled<br />
country “the country is not virgin anymore,<br />
in the respect of technology and infrastructure,<br />
she is newly married though - growing a little,<br />
finding her way, experiencing new things and<br />
of course changing - but ultimately Oman is<br />
not so changed from its core and that is what<br />
makes it so magical.”<br />
It is amazing that a country can have as peaceful<br />
an existence as this, often called upon to be<br />
the mediator of other political conflicts. The<br />
Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said plays a part<br />
in this prosperity, and his particular penchant<br />
for aesthetically pleasing architecture has<br />
seen Oman, and Muscat in particular, grow<br />
gracefully and with tradition at its heart - you<br />
won’t see the skyscrapers of Dubai here as all<br />
buildings are limited to four storeys. There are<br />
lots of excursions available from Dunes which<br />
take in some of the city’s best sights - you can<br />
meander through the nearby Matrah Souk or<br />
visit the city’s architectural gem - Sultan Qaboo’s<br />
Mosque. This mosque can accommodate<br />
over 7,000 worshippers inside it’s cool marble<br />
prayer rooms and at its heart it houses the<br />
most dazzling chandelier I have ever seen - all 8<br />
tonnes of it.<br />
I have travelled fairly extensively in the Middle<br />
East, but something about Oman really did<br />
capture my imagination. It offers so much<br />
to the traveller - world-class scenery, lots of<br />
cultural sights, and of course that wonderful<br />
Omani hospitality.<br />
The Al Nahda Group too make the most of these<br />
elements, amplifying them in their hotels to give<br />
guests an authentic, but relaxing experience<br />
and surely fond memories of a holiday filled with<br />
adventure and discovery.<br />
TRAVEL TIPS:<br />
• 4 nights at Sahab and then three nights at Dunes, private transfers and<br />
return flights with Oman Air<br />
• Cox & Kings (0203 642 0861, coxandkings.co.uk) offers 4 nights at Sahab<br />
Resort & Spa on a full board basis and 3 nights at Dunes by Al Nahda on a<br />
half board basis from £2,395 per person (two sharing) including all private<br />
transfers and return economy international flights with Oman Air.<br />
• The currency is the Omani Rial - 2 rials is approximately £1<br />
• The national language is Arabic - handy phrases include 'Shukraan' - thank<br />
you, 'Salam Alaikum' - hello or peace be with you to which the response is<br />
'Wa-Alaikum-Salaam' - and peace with you also<br />
29
THE HOMEBUYER'S<br />
Thinking about moving or buying your first home? Read on...<br />
If you are beginning the process of buying<br />
your first home, selling to buy a bigger<br />
property or even downsizing once the<br />
kids have flown the nest, you may find<br />
that the property market is an unknown<br />
entity, full of potential pitfalls, doubts<br />
and unexpected costs. Couple that with<br />
the looming uncertainty of BREXIT, and<br />
you have a complicated set of hoops to<br />
jump through. In this guide, we aim to<br />
demystify homebuying and give useful<br />
advice for each stage of the process.<br />
BREXIT BLUES?<br />
UK house price growth remains subdued<br />
as uncertainty about the direction and<br />
shape of Brexit continues to weigh on the<br />
market.<br />
The latest figures from Nationwide show<br />
UK house prices rose by 0.4% on the year,<br />
the 11th month in a row that annual price<br />
growth remained below 1%.<br />
City A.M. says the latest modest rises<br />
“underline concerns over a slowdown<br />
in activity in the UK’s housing market,<br />
particularly in London and the South,<br />
despite a recent improvement in earnings<br />
and employment”.<br />
“It’s hard to see the market emerging from<br />
this sub-one per cent annual growth rut<br />
until there is clarity on Brexit,” said David<br />
Westgate, chief executive of Andrews<br />
Property group, adding “the sheer level of<br />
political uncertainty has left the property<br />
market in a protracted limbo”.<br />
Which? magazine says: “Whether you’re<br />
a staunch remainer or avid Brexiteer,<br />
there’s no denying that the uncertainty<br />
around when the UK will leave the EU, and<br />
the terms under which it may happen, is<br />
causing property market jitters.”<br />
What has the impact of Brexit been so far?<br />
“The economic uncertainty caused by<br />
Brexit has undoubtedly affected the<br />
market, with house price growth slowing<br />
year-on-year and the number of sales<br />
taking a dramatic dip in recent months,”<br />
says Which?.<br />
Nationwide’s chief economist Robert<br />
Gardner said this week that average<br />
prices rose by £800 over the last 12<br />
months, a sharp slowing compared with<br />
the year to October 2016, just after the<br />
Brexit referendum, when prices jumped<br />
by £9,100.<br />
Data released by Rightmove earlier this<br />
month found that the price of property<br />
coming to market has endured its weakest<br />
month-on-month rise at this time of year in<br />
over a decade.<br />
Prospective home buyers have been<br />
undeterred by the approaching Brexit<br />
deadline, while sellers have been put off<br />
by ongoing uncertainty over UK house<br />
prices, according to the real estate<br />
platform.<br />
While the latest Brexit extension has<br />
pushed back the imminent threat of a nodeal<br />
Brexit, investors and market experts<br />
have expressed concern about the<br />
potential consequences given it remains<br />
the default position if an agreement<br />
cannot be ratified by Parliament by 31<br />
<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2020</strong>.<br />
Information from theweek.co.uk<br />
FIRST-TIME BUYERS<br />
So, you’re about to make the biggest<br />
investment of your life so far. Scary, right?<br />
There’s a lot to think about, and a lot of<br />
costs you will not have even considered<br />
until the process has started. Your<br />
mortgage is the first thing you should<br />
think about, because until you have your<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ision in Principle, you will not know<br />
what you can afford to buy. By going to<br />
an independent mortgage advisor, you<br />
will have the choice of many different<br />
banks and building societies, so you<br />
can assess options like the term of your<br />
mortgage, fixing interest rates and any<br />
cash back offered.<br />
Viewing Houses<br />
This is probably the most fun bit of<br />
the process, because you get to know<br />
your tastes and can have a look around<br />
some lovely properties in the process.<br />
Rightmove is a great resource, as is<br />
Zoopla for comparing prices in an area.<br />
As well as relying on these sites, it is<br />
vital that you make yourself known to<br />
lots of different local agents. Let them<br />
know in as much detail as possible what<br />
requirements you have (location, number<br />
of bedrooms, garden, garage etc) and<br />
your upper price limit. A good agent will<br />
let you know about properties about to<br />
come to the market, helping you get a<br />
head start on other buyers.<br />
Viewing Tip - When viewing houses,<br />
try to take some pictures (with the estate<br />
agent’s permission) on your phone as<br />
an aide memoir and if you have furniture<br />
from renting to fit in, take a tape measure<br />
and see if it would fit in the space.<br />
CONVEYANCING<br />
So, once you’ve found the property you<br />
want, you will need to instruct a solicitor<br />
to do the conveyancing for you. Before<br />
deciding on one, we recommend emailing<br />
or calling around for some quotes to<br />
make sure you get a competitive rate.<br />
30
GUIDE<br />
CHARTERED SURVEY<br />
Unless the property you are buying is less<br />
than 10 years old, it really does make good<br />
sense to have a survey. Most surveyors<br />
offer a choice between a RICS Homebuyer<br />
Report or a Building Survey. Send over<br />
the property details you have and they<br />
will help you decide on the best survey for<br />
peace of mind. Once again, it does pay to<br />
enquire with a few different firms to keep<br />
prices competitive and to find the right<br />
surveyor for the type of property you buy.<br />
Surveying Tip - If you are buying a<br />
flat, it can be difficult to know whether<br />
you need to have a full building survey<br />
(formerly called a structural survey). If<br />
you are buying a flat in a listed or older<br />
building, talk to your surveyor about<br />
whether they can offer a special package<br />
for you.<br />
SELLING<br />
Over the past few years, the property<br />
landscape really has become a seller’s<br />
market. With a high demand for property,<br />
estate agents are having to be creative<br />
in the way they compete for instructions.<br />
This is great news if you are selling, as<br />
you can ask them to be competitive in the<br />
rates they offer.<br />
Surveying Tips - It is likely that you<br />
will need to provide certificates or<br />
documentation of any major work you<br />
have had done on your home in the last<br />
10 years, primarily electrics. De-clutter<br />
before the estate agent comes to take<br />
photos. Your home needs to be a blank<br />
canvas, so the potential buyer can imagine<br />
their possessions there, without yours<br />
dominating their vision.<br />
MOVING<br />
So, you’ve accumulated a lot of stuff eh?<br />
Here are our top tips to make moving easier:<br />
• Start packing the areas of your<br />
home that you use the least. Pack<br />
essentials last.<br />
• At least 8 weeks before the date,<br />
notify change of address for any<br />
subscriptions.<br />
• Pack early if you are using the<br />
services of a moving company. Also<br />
be sure to label clearly and keep<br />
heavy boxes double taped.<br />
• Recycle anything you don’t love<br />
anymore. Start this process early,<br />
using a skip for unsellable items and<br />
send other bits to the charity shop.<br />
Removals companies sometimes<br />
charge by volume, so reducing the<br />
amount you take with you cuts costs.<br />
Help to Buy?<br />
The Help to Buy scheme offers an equity<br />
loan where the government lends firsttime<br />
buyers and existing homeowners<br />
money to buy a newly-built home.<br />
The purchase price must be no more<br />
than £600,000. Under this scheme, you<br />
can borrow 20% of the purchase price<br />
interest-free for the first five years as<br />
long as you have at least a 5% deposit.<br />
If you live in London, you can borrow up<br />
to 40% of the purchase price.<br />
The Government has confirmed it will<br />
extend its Help to Buy equity loan<br />
scheme from 2021 to 2023. However, this<br />
extension will be restricted to first-time<br />
buyers purchasing newly built homes.<br />
From 2021, there will also be new<br />
regional price caps which could reduce<br />
the maximum value of homes that can be<br />
bought through the Equity Loan Scheme.<br />
Help to Buy: Equity loans<br />
How they work<br />
• You need at least 5% of the sale<br />
price of your new-build flat or<br />
house as a deposit.<br />
• The government lends you up to<br />
20%, or 40% if you live in London,<br />
of the sale price.<br />
• You borrow the rest (up to 75%, or<br />
55% if you live in London) from a<br />
mortgage lender, on a repayment<br />
basis.<br />
• The equity loan must be repaid<br />
after 25 years, or earlier if you sell<br />
your home.<br />
• You must repay the same<br />
percentage of the proceeds of the<br />
sale as the initial equity loan (i.e.<br />
if you received an equity loan for<br />
20% of the purchase price of your<br />
home, you must repay 20% of the<br />
proceeds of the future sale).<br />
• You don’t pay any interest or fees<br />
on the government’s equity loan for<br />
the first five years. In the sixth year,<br />
you’ll be charged 1.75%.<br />
• After then, the fee rises by inflation<br />
based on the Retail Prices Index<br />
(RPI) plus 1% each year.<br />
• RPI figures are put together by the<br />
Office for National Statistics.<br />
Help to Buy: Shared<br />
Ownership<br />
If you can’t quite afford the mortgage on<br />
100% of a home, Help to Buy: Shared<br />
Ownership offers you the chance to buy<br />
a share of your home (between 25% and<br />
75% of the home’s value) and pay rent<br />
on the remaining share. Later on, you<br />
could buy bigger shares when you can<br />
afford to.<br />
You could buy a home through Help to<br />
Buy: Shared Ownership in England if:<br />
• Your household earns £80,000 a<br />
year or less outside London, or<br />
your household earns £90,000 a<br />
year or less in London<br />
• You are a first-time buyer, you used<br />
to own a home but can’t afford<br />
to buy one now or are an existing<br />
shared owner looking to move.<br />
With Help to Buy: Shared Ownership you<br />
can buy a newly built home or an existing<br />
one through resale programmes from<br />
housing associations. You’ll need to take<br />
out a mortgage to pay for your share of<br />
the home’s purchase price, or fund this<br />
through your savings. Shared Ownership<br />
properties are always leasehold.<br />
You can get help from another home<br />
ownership scheme called Older People’s<br />
Shared Ownership if you’re aged 55 or<br />
over. It works in the same way as the<br />
general Shared Ownership scheme, but<br />
you can only buy up to 75% of your<br />
home. Once you own 75% you won’t<br />
have to pay rent on the remaining share.<br />
31
Left, Blinds from<br />
englishblinds.co.uk<br />
Below, Lamp, £79,<br />
atkinandthyme.co.uk<br />
HOW TO MAKE YOUR GUEST BEDROOM<br />
Easy updates to make your<br />
guest room more inviting<br />
feel like home<br />
Whilst it can feel like another job to add<br />
to the list, preparing the guest bedroom<br />
to receive guests can actually be quite<br />
relaxing - making a space comfortable<br />
and inviting really does something good<br />
for the soul.<br />
When you start to plan your guest room,<br />
think about what you’d expect to find<br />
in a lovely hotel and try to make your<br />
room measure up to that standard. Your<br />
budget may not be enough to create a<br />
getaway oasis, but you can clear the<br />
decks, lay out all the necessities, and<br />
provide a quiet place to relax.<br />
PROVIDE A COMFORTABLE BED<br />
Don’t give your guests the oldest,<br />
saggiest mattress you have. Try sleeping<br />
in the room yourself and assess the<br />
quality of your sleep on that mattress - it<br />
may be time to invest in a new one. If<br />
you can’t afford a new bed, think about<br />
getting a quality air mattress.<br />
UPGRADE YOUR BEDDING<br />
Beyond clean, crisp bedding, think<br />
about adding luxurious bed linens and<br />
comfort items supplied by fine B&Bs: a<br />
featherbed or wool mattress topper, a<br />
choice of pillows, a cosy down quilt or<br />
thick throw, extra blankets and freshly<br />
ironed pillowcases.<br />
SUPPLY EXTRA LINENS<br />
Always have an extra set of bed and bath<br />
linens available for your guests. Accidents<br />
do happen! Or you may have one of those<br />
wonderful guests who insists on changing<br />
the sheets when they leave. Let them do<br />
it, and thank them profusely.<br />
MAKE ROOM FOR A SUITCASE<br />
Clear a space to put a luggage rack or<br />
provide a small table or bench to set down<br />
a suitcase. No one likes to have to stoop<br />
over to the floor to pull out a clean pair of<br />
socks. Even a chair is better than nothing.<br />
– more space, more comfortable, and<br />
more welcoming. Get rid of anything you<br />
would not find in a hotel room. Keep only<br />
the most useful items in the room, like a<br />
clock and calendar.<br />
BRIGHTEN THINGS UP<br />
One of the biggest hotel decor missteps<br />
is when an otherwise nice room has no<br />
light to read by. It’s always helpful to<br />
have a light control near the bed so your<br />
guest won’t have to stumble around in<br />
the dark just to turn a light on. If nothing<br />
else, provide a good reading light near a<br />
chair or over the bed. Another fixture or<br />
lamp near a desk would be great. A small<br />
night light is helpful, and a lit magnifying<br />
makeup mirror is a real luxury.<br />
CLEAN THE WARDROBE<br />
If your guest room shares space with<br />
a home office, clear at least a foot or<br />
two of pole space in the cupboard. Or<br />
purchase an inexpensive over-the-door<br />
hook that can accommodate some<br />
hanging clothes. It’s likely that guests<br />
will have items they’d like to hang. Don’t<br />
forget a supply of six to eight hangers.<br />
A simple hook on the wall or behind a<br />
wardrobe door can hold a coat or bag.<br />
DON'T FORGET SIMPLE BASICS<br />
A lighted clock next to the bed is a great<br />
amenity, and an alarm clock or clock/radio<br />
is even better. Provide paper and pens,<br />
scissors, tape, tissue, and a hairdryer to<br />
have all the bases covered. If you can,<br />
provide somewhere to sit in front of a<br />
mirror so guests can do make up or style<br />
their hair. If you don’t have an extra iron<br />
and ironing board to offer, be sure to tell<br />
your guest where they can find yours.<br />
PROVIDE PRIVACY<br />
You might know that the big willow tree<br />
just outside<br />
the<br />
window camouflages everything going<br />
on, but your guests won’t. Choose<br />
window coverings that add to the<br />
character of the room and also provide<br />
privacy and light control. If you need to<br />
keep it simple, blinds work great. You<br />
can always add a beautiful valance or<br />
side panels later.<br />
ADD SOME PERSONALITY<br />
Guest rooms can suffer from being<br />
personality vacuums - try to let some<br />
of your personal style infuse the space,<br />
or try out some decorative ideas that<br />
inspire you. We love spaces that mix<br />
mid-century modern furniture with boho<br />
soft furnishings, or fabulous colour on<br />
a single wall with dramatic wallpaper or<br />
artwork. Maybe dare to go<br />
dark with dark navy on the<br />
walls and gold detailing.<br />
FINISHING TOUCHES<br />
Add some lovely<br />
finishing touches to<br />
the room - a reed<br />
diffuser to fill it with<br />
delicious fragrance<br />
and pop some throw<br />
pillows on the bed<br />
or chair. If you like<br />
them, add some cut<br />
flowers to a dresser<br />
or move some<br />
of your existing<br />
houseplants into<br />
the space for<br />
some greenery. If<br />
you don’t use your<br />
room much during the<br />
year, be sure to open<br />
the windows for a few<br />
hours before guests<br />
arrive to<br />
help air it<br />
out.<br />
T<br />
32<br />
CLEAR THE DECKS<br />
Resist the temptation to put your<br />
beautiful collection of dolls on the dresser<br />
or fill the closet with out-of-season<br />
clothes. In a guest room, less is more<br />
Extra large Cotton Throw £59,<br />
and Mudcloth Pillow, £56,<br />
hauslife.co.uk; Navy Pillow, £50,<br />
Soho House; Fish Lamp, £90,<br />
Dar Lighting; Moorish Mirror,<br />
£75, thefarthing.co.uk<br />
4
Baby it's cold outside<br />
The garden is bare, the leaves have fallen and now is the opportunity to take stock of what you would<br />
like to see during the wintertime. It’s also the time to plan for the spring and summer. Perhaps you<br />
have a sunny patch where you could lay some decking or an attractive terrace, create an arch or a rose<br />
garden are just a few examples. Here are some ideas of making your winter garden attractive and<br />
planning for next year...including getting rid of that shed that’s on its last legs!<br />
Gardeners in the UK have plenty of reasons to get cold feet about<br />
winter. Plants are at rest and their bright colours have gone. And with<br />
very little to plant, those of you who love their gardens might think<br />
there are few winter landscaping tips - or to dos.<br />
In fact, careful planning in spring, summer, and autumn - plus a few<br />
easy accents during winter - can lead to a beautiful and pleasing<br />
landscape.<br />
Here are six winter landscaping tips to<br />
help make you love your garden during<br />
this season and in the future.<br />
1. Focus on bark <strong>Dec</strong>iduous trees do<br />
lose their leaves in wintertime, leaving<br />
their branches and trunks in focus.<br />
It is a good idea to look out for<br />
interesting ornamental trees that<br />
have really visually distinctive<br />
bark, which will add winter<br />
interest. Many of those trees and<br />
some shrubs are smaller, meaning<br />
they’re easier to find spots for in the<br />
winter landscape. Dogwoods and birch<br />
trees are particularly good examples.<br />
2. Include berries Many trees and shrubs<br />
have berries they hold onto during autumn<br />
and winter, and not only look attractive but<br />
also provide food for birds. Crab apples, holly<br />
and firethorn are very attractive.<br />
3. Remember evergreens Evergreens are great at this time of year.<br />
Firstly, there’s colour: Evergreens are not just green; they’re available<br />
in yellow, such as Gold Thread False Cypress, and blues, the Dwarf<br />
Blue Spruce, and all colours in between. When you are planting a<br />
new border, try to have at least one evergreen.<br />
4. Check out your hard landscaping Winter is a good time to<br />
critically assess the layout of your garden, figuring out where<br />
it’s missing focal points. The solution to enhancing your winter<br />
landscaping might not be a plant at all. Winter is the best time to<br />
consider the bare bones of the garden. You may wish to place a<br />
trellis, a bench, an arbour, and if you can run to it, a garden sculpture<br />
which will add another dimension. Perhaps plan to put in a small or<br />
indeed large fountain for sound…the possibilities are endless.<br />
5. Make use of your summertime containers Window boxes,<br />
hanging baskets, winter-hardy containers are perfect for winter<br />
landscaping. They will still need to be watered during dry periods.<br />
You can plant up winter primroses and pansies, trailing hedera,<br />
colourful cyclamen with their delicate flowers and leaves. Also<br />
consider adding some spring flowering bulbs to bring colour into the<br />
early part of the year.<br />
6. Try these four-season perennials Some perennials have<br />
evergreen foliage - ornamental grasses, hellebores, - dianthus with<br />
its beautiful low-creeping foliage - making them great for winter<br />
landscaping,<br />
Happy gardening!<br />
show home now open<br />
A stunning collection of 2, 3, 4 & 5 bedroom luxury homes,<br />
located in the heart of Suffolk’s beautiful countryside.<br />
To arrange a viewing please call William H Brown Woodbridge<br />
on 01394 380280<br />
34 | www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk
ADVICE ON buyING a new<br />
home In <strong>2020</strong><br />
If you are planning to buy a new home in <strong>2020</strong> here are some<br />
useful tips to help you secure the perfect property...<br />
With the nights drawing in, and as the<br />
summer holidays are a distant memory,<br />
your thoughts may be turning to the New<br />
Year. If getting on the housing ladder or<br />
moving home are on your list of goals for<br />
<strong>2020</strong>, it is a good idea to start planning now.<br />
While many people are waiting to see what<br />
happens with Brexit, there are advantages<br />
to moving house now if you’re a buyer.<br />
Many sellers are open to lower offers as the<br />
market slows. The same applies for new<br />
build homes too. Volume house builders<br />
have been busy building but have seen a<br />
drop off in demand. So there are deals to<br />
be done on shiny new build homes across<br />
the country.<br />
We’ve asked Paula Higgins, Chief Executive<br />
of the Home Owners Alliance, to explain<br />
what you need to know before you buy a<br />
new build home in the current economic<br />
climate.<br />
Research, research, research!<br />
This is one of your biggest financial<br />
investments, so don’t just rely on glossy<br />
promotional materials. Read around about<br />
the developer of your new build home,<br />
search for online reviews and forums, and<br />
visit homes they’ve built on other sites<br />
Get your finances in order<br />
Developers work to tight timescales and<br />
once you’ve put down a deposit you may<br />
have only 28 days to exchange. Speak to<br />
a fee-free broker to find the right mortgage<br />
for you. For more information see new build<br />
homes and getting a mortgage (www.hoa.<br />
org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/iam-buying/new-build-homes-and-gettinga-mortgage-top-tips/)<br />
Get your conveyancing solicitor lined up<br />
Try to find a conveyancer with experience<br />
of new build developments. They will need<br />
to check planning permissions, restrictive<br />
covenants and - importantly - the terms of<br />
any lease if you are buying a leasehold flat.<br />
Negotiate!<br />
With the slowing down of new build sales<br />
developers need to boost sales figures.<br />
That doubled with Brexit uncertainty and<br />
a slowing market means there is no better<br />
time to negotiate. Be bold and see what<br />
else can be added into the mix, such as<br />
upgraded finishes and appliances could be<br />
part of the negotiation process.<br />
Getting a survey<br />
Many builders won’t allow you to view<br />
the property until the day of completion.<br />
If this is the case you want to very quickly<br />
get an independent snagging inspector to<br />
identify and report on any defects or errors<br />
(from cosmetic to structural). You can read<br />
more about whether you need a snagging<br />
survey (www.hoa.org.uk/services/snaggingsurvey/)<br />
The HomeOwners Alliance www.hoa.org.<br />
uk offers expert advice and services for<br />
every step of your home buying and selling<br />
journey.<br />
www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk | 35
Nightingales Close, Melton - Only 3 brand new homes remaining<br />
Just three properties remain at the prestigious Nightingale Close development. Tucked away on the<br />
outskirts of Melton, yet within easy walking distance of Woodbridge town centre and local shops,<br />
buses, railway station, schools and wonderful riverside walks, as well as being only a few minutes<br />
from the A12.<br />
Each property is built to a high specification, providing light and energy efficient living spaces.<br />
The government backed ‘Help To Buy’ scheme is available on one of the properties and part<br />
exchange can be an option subject to certain terms.<br />
Wickham<br />
Market<br />
£379,950<br />
One remaining detached 3-bed<br />
bungalow, within a short walk of<br />
Wickham Market village centre.<br />
Brick and tile construction,<br />
10 year structural warranty.<br />
Accommodation comprises 3<br />
bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge/<br />
diner, kitchen, utility room, gas<br />
CH, garage and parking, easily<br />
maintained gardens.<br />
Part exchange possible (subject<br />
to terms).
Do you have property<br />
Wickham Market<br />
Do you have property<br />
or Land with<br />
£379,950<br />
2 individual Det 3-bed<br />
bungalows, now available within<br />
a short walk of Wickham Market<br />
or Land with<br />
Development<br />
village centre. Brick and tile<br />
construction, 10 year structural<br />
warranty. Accommodation<br />
comprises 3 bedrooms, 2<br />
Potential?<br />
Development Potential?<br />
bathrooms, lounge/diner, kitchen,<br />
utility room, gas CH, garage<br />
and parking, easily maintained<br />
We are a local company with an excellent<br />
gardens. Part exchange possible<br />
(subject to terms).<br />
established We are local company with an excellent<br />
We are track a local record company and with are seeking an excellent building<br />
land<br />
established track record and are seeking building<br />
The established - Nightingales with or without track Close, record planning Melton and are permission seeking building - within a<br />
Only land 3 brand with new or homes without remainingplanning permission within land - with 15 or mile without radius of Woodbridge. permission - within a<br />
15 mile radius of Woodbridge.<br />
Just three properties remain 15 mile at the prestigious radius Nightingale of Woodbridge.<br />
Close development. Tucked away on the<br />
outskirts of Melton, yet within easy walking distance of Woodbridge town centre and local shops,<br />
buses,<br />
If<br />
railway station, schools and wonderful riverside walks, as well as being only a few minutes<br />
from If<br />
you<br />
the you<br />
think<br />
A12. think<br />
you<br />
you<br />
have<br />
have<br />
a potential<br />
potential development<br />
development<br />
site<br />
site<br />
then If<br />
Each then please you think<br />
property please contact you have<br />
is built to contact us.<br />
a high specification, us. We a potential<br />
We will<br />
providing light consider development<br />
and energy efficient individual individual site<br />
living spaces. or or<br />
then<br />
The government multiple please contact<br />
backed ‘Help To Buy’ scheme is available on one of the properties and part<br />
plots plots and us. We we will will consider cover all all individual<br />
costs. costs. or<br />
exchange can multiple be an option subject plots to certain and terms. we will cover all costs.
NEW YEAR<br />
sustainable me<br />
With the swirling pressure<br />
of making New Year’s<br />
resolutions, it can be<br />
easy to get a little too<br />
introspective - most of the<br />
time, these resolutions<br />
centre on self improvement<br />
(or sometimes self<br />
flagellation disguised as<br />
self improvement!) but<br />
what if this year, instead of<br />
looking in, you looked out?<br />
We are all aware of the impact, both<br />
positive and negative, that we can have<br />
on the environment - so this year, we<br />
are investigating the ways we can be<br />
more sustainable in our daily choices<br />
and lifestyle. Information overload is a<br />
real threat though, pushing those with<br />
the best intentions into an environmental<br />
existential spin - to keep it simple, we’ve<br />
summed up a few small changes that<br />
could have a big impact that are easy to<br />
adopt into every day life.<br />
Home Energy Saving<br />
Our homes are big energy guzzlers.<br />
Both the emissions made by our central<br />
heating and the greenhouse gases<br />
created in electricity production are huge<br />
contributors to our carbon footprint.<br />
But lots of changes can be made in<br />
the home, which also have the added<br />
benefit of being money savers too…<br />
The UK’s leading price comparison<br />
website, MoneySuperMarket, reveals<br />
the costs and savings associated with<br />
the most readily available renewable<br />
energy sources and efficiencyimprovers<br />
around the home.<br />
Renewable energy, defined as an energy<br />
source that is not depleted when used,<br />
offers the greatest monthly savings<br />
at £28.33 on average a month. On<br />
the other hand, efficiency measures,<br />
including energy-saving lightbulbs and<br />
reduced-water showerheads, offer an<br />
average of £6.92 in savings each month.<br />
• Energy-saving light-bulbs: Changing<br />
the light bulbs around your house to<br />
energy-saving would cost you around<br />
£51.80 which could result in a financial<br />
saving of £27 a month. Generating<br />
significantly less carbon dioxide whilst<br />
last much longer than a traditional<br />
lightbulb this investment would pay for<br />
itself in a month.<br />
38 | www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk<br />
• Cavity wall<br />
insulation:<br />
With an<br />
installation fee<br />
of £466, you’ll begin to<br />
see a return on your investment after<br />
three years and seven months. Not<br />
only does cavity wall reduce the cost<br />
of your energy bill, it also keeps your<br />
home warmer for longer and therefore<br />
reducing your carbon footprint.<br />
• Rooftop Solar Panel: Solar panels can<br />
provide electricity to your house using<br />
the light of the sun. Although installing<br />
them could cost you up to £8,0000, you<br />
could see saving up to £36.09 a month.<br />
However, solar panel benefits aren’t<br />
just about money. Solar panels don’t<br />
produce carbon emissions as they work<br />
so they can significantly reduce your<br />
home’s impact on the environment.<br />
Other small changes include turning<br />
power off at the switch, adding<br />
insulation to windows, doors and the<br />
loft, reduce the temperature of your<br />
washing machine and fix broken/<br />
leaking taps.<br />
Greener Cleaning<br />
How often do we think of the chemicals<br />
we are using in the home? And worse,<br />
that end up in the water system. Green<br />
cleaners have a bit of a bad rep, but<br />
an amazing selection of products from<br />
Microbz might provide the answer -<br />
these clever cleaners are probiotic and<br />
restore the balance of positive microbes<br />
in your home, which naturally protects<br />
against pathogens - this means<br />
they continue to clean the surface<br />
long after they’ve been applied. The<br />
250ml concentrate bottle is extremely<br />
economical and makes 50, 500ml<br />
diluted spray bottles. See the full range<br />
and find out more about the science at<br />
microbz.co.uk<br />
Clockwise from left. Microbz Power Cleaner,<br />
250ml Concentrate £14.95, microbz.co.uk;<br />
Todds Coir Scrubs, £5 for two,<br />
hauslife.co.uk; Net Bag set, £1.95,<br />
rexlondon.com;<br />
Muslin Bag set, £15.99, amazon.co.uk<br />
On the topic of cleaning, did you<br />
know that every synthetic sponge you<br />
use ends up in a landfill and takes<br />
up to 52,000 years to decompose?<br />
Enter another natural solution, Todd’s<br />
coconut coir scrubs - these little natural<br />
pads replace conventional scourers<br />
and sponges and are 100% eco<br />
friendly, 100% bio-degradable, retain<br />
less water and are more hygienic than<br />
synthetic sponges - plus, they support<br />
local communities in Sri Lanka where<br />
they are made. hauslife.co.uk are the<br />
exclusive UK stockists.<br />
Quick Tips:<br />
• Shop locally and support local farmers<br />
where you can<br />
• Reusable everything - use reusable<br />
bags plus try to buy glass containers<br />
that can be refilled<br />
• Reduce household waste by using a<br />
compost bin<br />
• Unsubscribe to letters/catalogues you<br />
don’t wish to receive<br />
• Dry laundry on a line<br />
• Use cloth instead of paper to clean<br />
your kitchen<br />
• Switch to cloth nappies – or at least<br />
combine with disposables (even one<br />
cloth nappy per day means 365 fewer<br />
disposables in the landfill annually)<br />
• Use menstrual cups or menstrual<br />
underwear like ModiBodi to reduce<br />
landfill<br />
• Ditch cling film and plastic bags<br />
for vegetables and use breathable,<br />
reusable bags and beeswax food wraps<br />
• Walk and cycle where you can. If you<br />
use the car, try to reduce trips and<br />
avoid aggressive driving
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
farm cafe + shop<br />
Are you trying to live more sustainably?<br />
Have you decided to ditch the plastic<br />
packaging, shop locally and take steps to<br />
lessen your impact on the environment?<br />
We can help you do just that right here at<br />
the Farm Cafe + Shop.<br />
In the shop much of what we offer for sale is sourced right<br />
here in Suffolk from a myriad of enthusiastic small artisan<br />
producers. We have a wide range of products on offer from<br />
hand-made soaps, soy candles, and beeswax wraps to<br />
delicious sea salted chocolates, luxury dog biscuits and even<br />
Suffolk grown Christmas trees during <strong>Dec</strong>ember, all offered<br />
without any plastic packaging. Even our milk is sold in<br />
glass bottles! We offer meat and poultry from locally reared<br />
animals, seasonal fruits and vegetables grown right here on<br />
our doorstep and free-range eggs that travel just 9 miles<br />
from the hen house to us by electric vehicle! We have ice<br />
cream, honey, wines, beers and even kombucha produced<br />
right here in Suffolk. Our shop freezer contains an ever<br />
changing range of ready meals, pies and soups produced in<br />
small batches in the cafe kitchens by our talented chefs and<br />
made with the best of the fabulous local produce we find<br />
around us.<br />
The cafe also has taken steps to reduce its impact on the<br />
environment so why not stop by when you are visiting the<br />
shop and enjoy a guilt free cup of coffee. Your Fairtrade<br />
coffee will be made with care using only 100% green<br />
electricity and your cup will be washed using environmentally<br />
friendly washing up liquid. Should you choose a take-out<br />
option, your cup will be compostable so you can just throw<br />
it on your compost heap when you get home. Or better still,<br />
bring your own reusable cup and we will fill it with coffee at a<br />
discount. Even the grounds left from making your coffee are<br />
freely available for you to collect to use in loads of different<br />
ways on your garden. Check out our Facebook page for<br />
some surprising uses for coffee grounds around the garden<br />
and help yourself from the metal dustbin outside the shop.<br />
Just don’t forget to bring your own container!<br />
Contact Details:<br />
Main Road (A12),<br />
Marlesford,<br />
Woodbridge,<br />
Suffolk IP13 0AG<br />
01728 747717<br />
www.farmcafe.co.uk<br />
www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk | 39
ealise futures and Poppy's Pantry<br />
Realise Futures Eco Furniture and Poppy’s Pantry are social businesses,<br />
both part of Realise Futures CIC. Realise Futures combines the commercial<br />
trade of products and services alongside work placements, employment and<br />
training opportunities for adults with disabilities and/or disadvantages.<br />
Realise Futures Eco Furniture is based<br />
in Ipswich and sell 100% recycled<br />
plastic outdoor furniture and play<br />
equipment.<br />
Our furniture is:<br />
• Made from 100% recycled plastic<br />
• Long lasting<br />
• Splinter free<br />
• Weather resistant<br />
• Graffiti resistant and theft<br />
resistant<br />
Despite its wooden-like appearance,<br />
our recycled plastic furniture is low<br />
maintenance with no special chemicals<br />
needed to treat the furniture. The socalled<br />
Blue Planet effect resulting from<br />
Sir David Attenborough’s revealing<br />
nature documentary have shone a<br />
light on the problem of plastic waste,<br />
and just what effect it is having on<br />
the environment and marine life. The<br />
program seems to have kick-started<br />
the consumer war on plastic, ranging<br />
from campaigns to get supermarkets<br />
to provide plastic-free food aisles, to<br />
calls for single-use coffee cups and<br />
plastic straws to be banned.<br />
We hope that people in our community,<br />
as well as nationally, will recognise the<br />
benefit to the environment of buying<br />
garden furniture made from recycled<br />
plastic waste which would have ended<br />
up in landfill sites – things like CD and<br />
DVD cases, plastic bottles, plastic<br />
carrier bags and plastic containers.<br />
Products range from picnic benches,<br />
tables, signs, planters, play equipment,<br />
picnic tables, bus shelters and log<br />
stores. They are designed and<br />
manufactured in Ipswich and are<br />
shipped all over the country. We<br />
have made bins and planters for the<br />
leading wildlife attraction Colchester<br />
Zoo, a play tractor at Jimmy’s Farm,<br />
and Anglo-Saxon long boat for the play<br />
area of the Suffolk heritage site Sutton<br />
Hoo, as well as play galleon ships and<br />
cars for the schools and councils.<br />
When you buy from Eco Furniture<br />
you not only do right by the planet<br />
because you are buying recycled<br />
plastic otherwise destined for landfill<br />
sites, you are also helping to change<br />
people’s lives.<br />
The primary aim for Realise Futures is<br />
to improve and promote the economic<br />
and social wellbeing of those who<br />
are disadvantaged and/or disabled.<br />
We provide professional and tailored<br />
opportunities that support people to<br />
realise their potential. Realise Futures<br />
is one of the largest social enterprises<br />
in the East of England, employing<br />
around 246 people, 41% of whom have<br />
a disability.<br />
Success, for us, is measured by the<br />
positive impact on the lives of those<br />
we support and progress, as well as<br />
the profit we generate.<br />
REALISE FUTURES ECO FURNITURE<br />
Lovetofts Drive, Ipswich, IP1 5NZ<br />
01473 242527<br />
Info@realisefutures.org<br />
Poppy’s Pantry is an award winning<br />
wholefoods shop based in Melton,<br />
Woodbridge. We sell vegetarian and<br />
vegan produce, as well as gluten-free,<br />
wheat-free, organic and dairy-free<br />
products. We sell healthy snacks, nuts,<br />
seeds and dried, as well as local fruit<br />
and vegetable and free-range eggs.<br />
Reducing single use plastic and<br />
helping customers to reduce their<br />
carbon footprint are a big focus for<br />
Poppy’s Pantry. We offer an extensive<br />
range of refills for household, bathroom<br />
and personal cleaning products. Bring<br />
your empty bottles and purchase<br />
refills, saving you money and saving<br />
the environment! Find a vast array of<br />
plastic alternatives including shampoo<br />
bars, bamboo chopping boards,<br />
bamboo toothbrushes and more. There<br />
really is something for everyone in our<br />
shop.<br />
In addition to the shop, every<br />
Tuesday we run a pop-up café in St<br />
Mary’s Church Centre, Woodbridge.<br />
Selling hot and cold drinks, delicious<br />
handmade cakes and light lunches,<br />
the café is the ideal place to get<br />
together and meet other people in the<br />
community.<br />
POPPY’S PANTRY<br />
Units 2-6 The Sidings, Wilford Bridge<br />
Road, Melton, Woodbridge, IP12 1TB<br />
01394 389599<br />
Info@realisefutures.org<br />
www.realisefutures.org<br />
“When you buy from Eco Furniture<br />
you not only do right by the planet<br />
because you are buying recycled<br />
plastic otherwise destined for landfill<br />
sites, you are also helping to change<br />
people’s lives.”<br />
www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk | 41
From Fat to Fit<br />
With lots of us making New Year’s resolutions to improve our<br />
health and fitness, <strong>Jan</strong>uary is a great time to think about<br />
your pet’s health and body condition too.<br />
Recent data has shown that<br />
approximately 50% of dogs and<br />
40% of cats in Britain are currently<br />
overweight or obese and up to 20% of<br />
dogs under the age of four are already<br />
obese. Obesity in cats and dogs is<br />
known to increase the risk of health<br />
conditions such as joint disease, skin<br />
disorders, cardiorespiratory issues and<br />
diabetes.<br />
Cats and dogs are classed overweight<br />
when they more than 15% above their<br />
ideal weight and the term “obese” is<br />
used when a cat or dog weighs more<br />
than 30% above ideal weight.<br />
Regular exercise can help to keep<br />
your pet’s weight in a healthy range,<br />
but diet is a major factor too. There<br />
are many slightly reduced calorie<br />
“light” pet foods available, which are<br />
great for maintaining weight in pets<br />
that are prone to being overweight.<br />
42 | www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk
However, if your pet has a lot of<br />
weight to lose then you would have to<br />
significantly restrict the amount of light<br />
or maintenance food they are receiving<br />
to elicit weight loss. This restricts<br />
calories, but also restricts the amount<br />
of nutrients consumed, so it can be<br />
beneficial to use a specially formulated<br />
weight loss diet in pets that have more<br />
than a very small amount of weight<br />
to lose to make sure that they are still<br />
getting all of the vitamins and minerals<br />
they need. Weight management diets<br />
commonly contain a joint supplement<br />
to help support joints whilst under<br />
additional strain from the extra weight.<br />
You can assess whether your pet is<br />
overweight, by running your hands<br />
over your pet’s ribcage. You should be<br />
able to feel each individual rib without<br />
having to press too hard. It is also<br />
worth seeking the advice of your vet<br />
or a veterinary nurse to assess your<br />
pet’s body condition. Many veterinary<br />
practices offer free weight clinics<br />
with Registered Veterinary Nurses.<br />
The nurse will weigh your pet and<br />
determine a healthy target weight.<br />
They will then formulate a nutrition<br />
plan for your pet and help to ensure<br />
that they lose weight at a safe and<br />
sustainable weight if needed.<br />
Top tips for weight management in<br />
pets:<br />
• Weigh your pet’s food on digital<br />
scales. Even a few extra biscuits<br />
at each meal can add up to the<br />
equivalent of an extra meal every<br />
week!<br />
• Keep some of your pet’s daily<br />
weighed allowance of food back<br />
to use as treats, or if your pet has<br />
a treat, remember to reduce their<br />
food at meal times accordingly.<br />
It is easy to forget about little<br />
extras such as dental chews and<br />
bedtime biscuits.<br />
• Neutered pets and senior<br />
pets may have a slower<br />
metabolic rate<br />
and need fewer<br />
calories, so they<br />
may benefit<br />
from being<br />
fed a diet<br />
designed<br />
for neutered<br />
or senior<br />
pets, which<br />
will help<br />
to prevent<br />
unnecessary<br />
weight gain.<br />
Call us on 01728 602599 to speak<br />
to one of our friendly Customer<br />
Care Advisors to register your pet,<br />
book an appointment or if you<br />
have any questions!<br />
www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk | 43
Caring for the elderly members of your family<br />
Over Christmas you may have spent some time with the family and perhaps more time with<br />
the elderly members and you become concerned about their health?<br />
Here we list 8 warning signs to assess if they need help and what to<br />
do if they do. You may wish to consider the following questions:<br />
1. Is the person (persons) able to take care of themselves?<br />
Pay attention to their appearance. Failure to keep up with daily<br />
routines - such as bathing and tooth brushing - could indicate<br />
dementia, depression or other physical impairments.Also pay<br />
attention to their home. Are the lights working? Is the heat on? Is the<br />
garden overgrown? Any changes in the way things are being done<br />
around the house could provide clues to their health. For example,<br />
scorched pots could mean they are forgetting about food cooking<br />
on the stove. Neglected housework could be a sign of depression,<br />
dementia or other concerns.<br />
2. Are they experiencing memory loss?<br />
Everyone forgets things from time to time. Modest memory<br />
problems are a fairly common part of ageing, and sometimes<br />
medication side effects or underlying conditions contribute to<br />
memory loss. There’s a difference, though, between normal<br />
Changes in memory and the type of memory loss associated with<br />
Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Are the memory<br />
changes limited to misplaced glasses or an occasionally forgotten<br />
appointment - or are the changes more concerning, such as<br />
forgetting common words when speaking, getting lost in familiar<br />
neighbourhoods or being unable to follow directions?<br />
3. Are they safe in their home?<br />
Take a look around their home, keeping an eye out for any<br />
problems. Could their be a difficulty navigating a narrow stairway?<br />
Are they able to read directions on medication containers? When<br />
asked, do they say they feel safe at home?<br />
4. Are they safe on the road?<br />
Driving can be challenging for older adults. Do they become<br />
confused while driving or are you concerned about their ability to<br />
drive safely, it might be time to stop driving. They could be a danger<br />
to others.<br />
5. Have they lost weight?<br />
Losing weight without trying could be a sign that something’s<br />
wrong. Weight loss could be related to many factors, including:<br />
• Difficulty cooking.<br />
• Loss of taste or smell.<br />
• Underlying conditions - indicating ill health.<br />
6. Is the person (persons) in good spirits?<br />
Note their moods and ask how they’re feeling. A drastically different<br />
mood could be a sign of depression or other health concerns.<br />
7. Are they still social?<br />
Talk to them about their activities. Are they connecting with friends?<br />
Have they maintained interest in hobbies and other daily activities?<br />
Are they involved in organisations or clubs? Have they given up on<br />
being with others, it could be a sign of a problem.<br />
8. Is the person (persons) able to get around?<br />
Pay attention to how they are walking. Are they reluctant or unable<br />
to walk usual distances? Have they fallen recently? Is knee or hip<br />
arthritis making it difficult to get around the house? Would they<br />
benefit from a cane or walker? Issues such as muscle weakness<br />
and joint pain can make it difficult to move around as well. If<br />
someone is unsteady on their feet, they might be at risk of falling - a<br />
major cause of disability among older adults.<br />
Taking action<br />
There are many steps you can take to ensure the person/persons’<br />
health and well-being, even if you don’t live nearby. Share your<br />
concerns with them. Your concerns might motivate them to see a<br />
doctor or make other changes.<br />
Encourage regular medical check-ups<br />
If you’re worried about weight loss, depressed mood, memory<br />
loss or other signs and symptoms,encourage them to schedule a<br />
doctor’s visit.<br />
You might offer to schedule the visit or to accompany them to the<br />
doctor - or find someone else to attend the visit. Ask about<br />
follow-up visits as well.<br />
Address safety issues<br />
Point out any potential safety issues you have observed - then make<br />
a plan to address the problems. For example, the person (persons)<br />
concerned might benefit from using assistive devices to help them<br />
reach items on high shelves. A higher toilet seat or handrails in the<br />
bathroom might help prevent falls. If they are no longer able to drive<br />
safely, suggest other transportation options -such as taking the bus<br />
or using a taxi.<br />
Consider home care services<br />
Particularly if they are having trouble taking care of themselves, you<br />
could hire someone to clean the house and run errands and help<br />
with daily activities, such as bathing. To ensure good nutrition Meals<br />
on Wheels is also an option.<br />
And finally<br />
It would be a good idea to secure an Enduring Power of<br />
Attorney to ensure that if things get worse you can step in<br />
without having to involve the Court of Protection. Your<br />
solicitor will be able to give you good advice on this.<br />
44 | www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk
www.coastallivingsuffolk.co.uk | 45
9<br />
Bellway | Essex<br />
www.bellway.co.uk<br />
Ho Ho Home<br />
Come and speak to us about<br />
our great festive offers<br />
www.bellway.co.uk<br />
Forest View and The Orchards are in the Roman market town of Colchester, boasting historic landmarks such as Colchester<br />
Castle Park. Both benefit from easy access to the train station, the A12 and for exploring the stunning surroundings.<br />
Beaumont Green is set in the countryside and Henderson Park enjoys being close to the coast.<br />
Both, in tranquil villages, have easy access into busy towns such as Colchester, Ipswich and beyond,<br />
offering a semi-rural lifestyle coupled with the facilities of a large town.<br />
Call/visit our Sales Centres to find out about our fantastic incentives and schemes available<br />
Beaumont Green, Great Blakenham IP6 0GG<br />
01473 833053 | Open daily 10-5<br />
The Orchards, Colchester CO4 9AF<br />
01206 844834 | Open Thur to Mon 10-5<br />
Forest View, Colchester CO4 6DA<br />
01206 853629 | Open daily 10-5<br />
Henderson Park, Thorpe-le-soken CO16 0NF<br />
01255 863874 | Open Thur to Mon 10-5<br />
Selection of 2-5 bedroom homes | Prices from £229,995<br />
VISIT OUR<br />
BEAUTIFUL<br />
SHOWHOMES<br />
Help To Buy * ...how it works:<br />
• You pay a 5% deposit<br />
• 20% interest free equity loan is<br />
provided by the Government<br />
• You only need to secure<br />
a 75% mortgage<br />
Contact our experienced Sales Advisors today about your dream home<br />
or to find out about our other developments in Essex by calling 01245 259 989<br />
or visit www.bellway.co.uk<br />
Computer generated images and photography are indicative only. Specification on site may differ. *Terms and conditions apply. Prices correct at time of print.
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