20.08.2020 Views

Abingdon Living Sep - Oct 2020

We celebrate the best of autumn, with delicious recipes from James Martin plus a host of interiors inspiration to make you love home again.

We celebrate the best of autumn, with delicious recipes from James Martin plus a host of interiors inspiration to make you love home again.

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

A little bit naughty...<br />

...but very, very nice<br />

Use code<br />

‘WELCOME10’<br />

for 10% off<br />

your first order<br />

Cheesecakes and fudgecakes in a range of<br />

decadent flavours. Available to buy direct online<br />

englishcheesecake.com<br />

All desserts arrive frozen for freshness.<br />

Also available in the chilled aisle of Waitrose


Contents<br />

A Note<br />

from the EDITOR<br />

A Culinary ingredients Journey and through recipes from<br />

Northern 12Hero James Martin’s Ireland Islands to Highlands<br />

17<br />

Transform your<br />

home, inside and out<br />

Editor Katie Thomson<br />

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

Publisher Sally Thomson<br />

Pre-Press Manager Kate O’Connell<br />

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

Angela Cave and Pete Lawrence. Front cover courtesy of Islands to Highlands by James Martin<br />

Key Account Manager Marcus Hawke<br />

e marcus.hawke@minervapublications.co.uk<br />

d/l 01225 984505<br />

twitter: @<strong>Abingdon</strong><strong>Living</strong>1<br />

Planning for spring<br />

and summer colour<br />

Edcation<br />

COVID<br />

post-07<br />

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ<br />

Unit 21c, Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton<br />

Trowbridge BA14 6JB<br />

t 01225 984 550<br />

w www.minervapublications.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 />

21<br />

Don’t tell the other magazine issues,<br />

but the <strong>Sep</strong>tember/<strong>Oct</strong>ober is often<br />

one of the most fun editions to<br />

pull together in the year, and that<br />

must have something to do with<br />

<strong>Sep</strong>tember being a favourite month.<br />

Perhaps it is my love of watching<br />

the changing of the seasons in<br />

full swing, with the leaves turning<br />

burnished shades of gold and amber<br />

as summer makes way for autumn.<br />

Or maybe it is autumn’s bounty of<br />

produce filling the farm shops and<br />

the menus of my favourite local<br />

spots. We try to make this edition<br />

evocative of this lovely time and<br />

hope this one is no exception.<br />

Good food is usually top of the<br />

list in this magazine, and we’ve<br />

been spoiled with some wonderful<br />

recipes from James Martin. You<br />

might have caught his latest series,<br />

Islands to Highlands, on TV and<br />

this selection of recipes is straight<br />

from the accompanying book. These<br />

were so tasty that I went out to buy<br />

the book and have been happily<br />

cooking up a best of British menu<br />

ever since.<br />

We’ve all gotten to know the four<br />

walls we call home rather well over<br />

the last six months, and maybe<br />

we’ve discovered that things aren’t<br />

as we’d like them. If you’ve decided<br />

to stay put, we’ve got a lovely piece<br />

on making your home work better<br />

for you, through extensions, glazing<br />

and even using the garden as an<br />

extra room.<br />

Education in the face of COVID<br />

has certainly changed - there won’t<br />

be a need for snow days anymore<br />

with the trialled and tested Zoom<br />

classrooms proving so successful.<br />

The Independent Schools Council<br />

gave us their insights into this longlasting<br />

change.<br />

Finally, lockdown might have given<br />

you a new perspective on retirement<br />

- we get our resident later life<br />

representative (aka my dad Peter)<br />

to give his reflections of life after<br />

lockdown.<br />

Next time we see you it will be...<br />

*whispers* the Christmas issue!<br />

Until then, stay safe, stay well!<br />

Katie<br />

www.abingdonliving.co.uk | 3


Wonderful waterperry<br />

The Garden Shop, Gift Barn and Gallery are now open again for<br />

business, the Ornamental Gardens are open to visit and outdoor<br />

and pre-booked indoor seating is available from the Tea Shop!<br />

The magnificent herbaceous border at Waterperry Gardens bursts<br />

with late summer colour with the flowering of its Michaelmas<br />

Daisies (Asters). The plant centre, housed within the ancient walled<br />

garden offers plant connoisseurs and budding amateurs alike the<br />

chance to buy unusual varieties of shrubs and herbaceous plants<br />

whilst our friendly and knowledgeable staff are always available to<br />

provide advice, information and inspiration.<br />

This is also the time of year to start thinking about bulb planting for<br />

that glorious show of colour we all look forward to in the spring.<br />

Waterperry starts the planting season in style with an extensive<br />

variety of plants, seeds and bulbs available.<br />

Gardens open for the National Garden Scheme -<br />

Sunday 6th <strong>Sep</strong>tember<br />

As the season moves into autumn, apples are at the forefront of<br />

our Orchard Manager’s mind. Come along to Waterperry’s Apple<br />

Weekend on 10th & 11th <strong>Oct</strong>ober, a great family day out.<br />

For further details and updates please visit www.<br />

waterperrygardens.co.uk<br />

4 | www.abingdonliving.co.uk


The local choice for affordable cleaning<br />

Operating<br />

Hours<br />

Monday – Sunday<br />

09.00 am – 5.30 pm<br />

Commercial<br />

Service<br />

Contact us and we’ll do<br />

the cleaning for you!<br />

Home<br />

Service<br />

Invest in your free<br />

time with our services.<br />

Get started with an<br />

in-home estimate!<br />

Special<br />

End of Tenancy<br />

Get end of tenancy cleaning<br />

in Oxford, <strong>Abingdon</strong>on-Thames<br />

and across<br />

Oxfordshire even at very<br />

short notice.<br />

PLUS<br />

Commercial Covid cleaning<br />

now available<br />

01235 248072<br />

info@beclean-abingdon.co.uk<br />

6 The Square, <strong>Abingdon</strong>, OX14 5AR<br />

www.abingdonliving.co.uk | 5


THAT FEELING<br />

YOU GET<br />

WHEN A<br />

DIGITAL SALE<br />

POPS IN...<br />

93% of online experiences start<br />

with a search engine...<br />

so where is your business<br />

ranking compared to<br />

competitors?<br />

Whether you are looking to<br />

gain new customers, have a<br />

burgeoning online store or<br />

want to diversify how you get<br />

traffic, it is vital your online<br />

marketing strategy is aligned<br />

with your business goals.<br />

Done well, Search Engine<br />

Optimisation is the most<br />

powerful and cost effective<br />

way to boost your business in<br />

the areas that matter to you. We<br />

have an 89% client retention<br />

rate because our services<br />

deliver measurable returns on<br />

investment. Packages start from<br />

£129+VAT per month. Can you<br />

afford to miss out on online traffic?<br />

MINERVA: DIGITAL & SEO SPECIALISTS<br />

01225 984550 | minervadigi.co.uk | hello@minervadigi.co.uk<br />

GET IN<br />

TOUCH NOW<br />

FOR A FREE<br />

WEBSITE AUDIT<br />

& KEYWORD<br />

ANALYSIS<br />

WITH NO OBLIGATION


How has<br />

covid<br />

changed<br />

education?<br />

What positives can<br />

we take from this<br />

pandemic?<br />

Teaching during these<br />

difficult times has created a<br />

blended learning approach,<br />

meaning a school has had<br />

to develop a multi-faceted<br />

approach to education.<br />

Andy Perryer, Digital<br />

Learning Adviser for<br />

Cognita, reflects on how<br />

teachers and pupils have<br />

embraced online learning<br />

during the pandemic in this<br />

piece for the Independent<br />

Schools Council.<br />

Last week, a teacher at Breaside Prep,<br />

one of the Cognita schools just outside<br />

London, showed me how her class had<br />

taken to using collaborative documents.<br />

It sounds ordinary but is anything but. It<br />

started with a blank screen. Then a sprout<br />

of an idea appeared, followed by one<br />

branch and another; images were added,<br />

giving life and colour to the initial thinking,<br />

and a stream of comment boxes popped<br />

over the screen. All within the space of a<br />

minute: an explosion of creativity.<br />

Online teaching under Covid-19<br />

restrictions has been a hothouse for<br />

EdTech in the independent sector.<br />

Sometimes painful necessity has seen<br />

schools’ digital wizardry advance two+<br />

years in mere weeks, as online tools once<br />

viewed as ‘nice to have’ additions become<br />

everyday necessities. So the future has<br />

arrived early, with lasting implications for<br />

what it means to be a teacher.<br />

But the story of the last few months is not<br />

a chronicle of the wonders of technology<br />

– rather the value of good teachers who<br />

are flexible, adaptable and committed.<br />

Evidence has shown that just giving<br />

children digital devices and software<br />

leads nowhere. The technology is an<br />

engine of education, but it’s the quality<br />

of the teacher’s guidance, motivation,<br />

feedback and interaction that are the allimportant<br />

wheels.<br />

Our schools in the UK were able to learn<br />

key lockdown lessons early on due to<br />

experiences shared by our sister schools<br />

in Asia, where the pandemic hit first.<br />

Chief among these was that well-being<br />

and a sense of security had to be the<br />

initial foundation. Pupils had to see their<br />

teachers and classmates, albeit virtually,<br />

and have time to re-establish feelings of<br />

being part of a community - before the<br />

impetus for learning was unlocked.<br />

There’s no doubt it’s been a trial by fire.<br />

Before Covid-19, teachers tended to<br />

fall into two camps: those who were<br />

comfortable with IT anyway, and those<br />

who couldn’t wait to turn off their<br />

laptop and get back into the classroom.<br />

Either way, the transition to online has<br />

prompted an incredible groundswell of<br />

teacher collaboration as peers share the<br />

challenges they’re feeling in this brave<br />

new world - along with ideas, support<br />

and handy hacks for overcoming them.<br />

Out went normal routines and mindsets<br />

as the realisation soon set in that an<br />

element of freewheeling agility is what’s<br />

needed. For example, as soon as we<br />

learned how to set up outward-facing<br />

webinars on Microsoft Teams in April, we<br />

had live online events up and running for<br />

parents from the following week on how<br />

to support children through lockdown.<br />

Before, this would have likely involved<br />

months of planning.<br />

We’ve been fortunate at Cognita in that the<br />

UK pandemic restrictions came towards<br />

the end of our national initiative to refresh<br />

how EdTech was being used, introducing<br />

mobile technology and wireless screen<br />

sharing as standard in the classroom. We<br />

were already encouraging teachers to be<br />

more mobile around classrooms, making<br />

their teaching practice more flexible and<br />

intuitive. They could take a snap of a<br />

student’s piece of work for instantaneous<br />

sharing and peer feedback, and teach<br />

from where they were needed rather than<br />

be tethered to the corner of the room<br />

where the tech used to sit. We showed<br />

them how digital tools could transform<br />

learning, not just substitute what is done<br />

without them. That’s what lockdown<br />

brought into sharp focus.<br />

As per the opening example of children<br />

using collaborative documents,<br />

we’ve seen how difficult times have<br />

opened eyes to how learning can be<br />

enhanced: the limits to collaboration<br />

and participation while working on<br />

paper in a classroom; the benefits of<br />

personalisation and student agency,<br />

when students get to choose how and<br />

when they study and who they learn<br />

with. Feedback has been transformed.<br />

Teachers have more options, from the<br />

simple text box, to a short piece of<br />

audio or a fully interactive video that<br />

encourages more depth and variety in<br />

responses; if a group of students are<br />

experiencing the same issue, they can<br />

provide group face-to-face feedback;<br />

and most importantly the feedback is on<br />

record, something that can be returned<br />

to rather than advice in a classroom that<br />

can’t always be remembered.<br />

The <strong>2020</strong> pandemic won’t be remembered<br />

as a blip for education but a step change,<br />

the opening up of the box to genuinely<br />

blended learning - the best of both online<br />

and face-to-face. And that will mean<br />

more flexibility and freedom for teaching<br />

professionals, no longer rooted in the<br />

classroom but able to move between the<br />

physical and virtual<br />

worlds, marshalling<br />

stores of resources<br />

and collaboration in<br />

ways that provide<br />

a more engaging,<br />

innovative education<br />

experience for our<br />

children.<br />

The Independent Schools Council (ISC)<br />

brings together seven associations and<br />

four affiliate associations to represent over<br />

1,300 independent schools. These schools<br />

are amongst the best in the world, and<br />

educate more than half-a-million children.<br />

www.abingdonliving.co.uk | 7


ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

School Remote Learning<br />

battleground, boredom or<br />

brilliance?<br />

Creativity, inspiration, fun and exceptional communication<br />

creates an experience that sets the bar high at OLA...<br />

Last term’s remote learning in schools<br />

created a concerned reaction across the<br />

country. Fears of education being set<br />

back were very real for many. Contrast<br />

this with the experience at OLA, where<br />

parents awarded an impressive 4.49<br />

out of 5 for the school’s remote learning<br />

provision.<br />

OLA’s remote learning programme is led<br />

by Deputy Head Dr Beth Reynaert:<br />

“The biggest success of the remote<br />

learning period has been the engagement<br />

and communication with everyone in the<br />

process. There was never any pretence<br />

we had the perfect package - we knew<br />

we had to keep evolving it to a better<br />

place.”<br />

Quick action and flexibility were the<br />

key features of OLA’s policy, plus a<br />

determination to make the switch from<br />

school to home learning as seamless as<br />

possible. Microsoft Teams was used as<br />

the school’s learning platform, alongside<br />

Zoom for video teaching, all supported by<br />

school email.<br />

Staff, pupils and parents enthusiastically<br />

joined the training on the new systems,<br />

and everyone rose to the task<br />

magnificently.<br />

In the 24 April School newsletter,<br />

Principal Stephen Oliver wrote:<br />

“I would like to thank all OLA families<br />

for the positive way you have engaged<br />

with the challenge of online learning.<br />

The responses we have received have<br />

demonstrated again the strength of the<br />

bonds that link us as a community.”<br />

That same newsletter also saw the launch<br />

of the first weekly parent and student<br />

surveys requesting feedback on all that<br />

was happening on the other side of the<br />

Zoom camera.<br />

One of the earliest issues was screen<br />

time. Staff were focused on doing all<br />

they could to replicate the classroom<br />

environment, but 100% Zoom time per<br />

lesson was too much for pupils.<br />

Lessons were quickly adjusted to 50%<br />

Zoom, with work being given to pupils<br />

via Teams to do for the rest of the<br />

period and to feed back to teachers the<br />

same way. The surveys and the weekly<br />

newsletter were just two of the many<br />

ways OLA used to keep parents, pupils<br />

and staff connected and motivated.<br />

Dr Reynaert created a new connectED<br />

blog which provided themed motivational<br />

tips.<br />

Motivation also required praise for effort<br />

and support. The Class Charts app<br />

was identified as the answer, providing<br />

a digital pupil wellbeing tracker and a<br />

system for accumulating award points.<br />

Keeping Year 11 and the Upper Sixth<br />

motivated after exam cancellation<br />

required something different. A bespoke<br />

enrichment programme Learning<br />

Journeys was created providing<br />

academic and practical sessions for<br />

students as they prepared to progress to<br />

OLA 6th or university. This programme<br />

received considerable parent acclaim.<br />

The longer remote learning went on, the<br />

more the younger age groups across the<br />

school began to feel remoteness from<br />

their friends. To answer this an afternoon<br />

a week was set aside to allow pupils to<br />

have time with each other in a relaxed<br />

environment. Another change warmly<br />

received by parents and pupils.<br />

On the last day of Trinity term there was<br />

a real sense of achievement. For the OLA<br />

community of staff, parents and pupils<br />

it was a proud fulfilment of the school’s<br />

motto “Whatever you do, do it well”!<br />

www.abingdonliving.co.uk | 9


KEEP ON TRACK<br />

The key to these changes is making<br />

them sustainable - you’re far more likely<br />

to keep on track if you make it a lifestyle<br />

change, not a quick fix. You can still have<br />

the foods you love, just try to make sure<br />

you’re choosing lower sugar alternatives<br />

if they are something that factor into daily<br />

life, instead of an occasional treat.<br />

Obviously cutting<br />

down on your alcohol<br />

intake is a healthy<br />

bet, so how about still<br />

having something that<br />

feels like a treat with a<br />

Caleño and soda? It’s<br />

like gin with a slightly<br />

tropical vibe, and only<br />

10 calories per unit<br />

with no sugar. £18 50cl,<br />

calenodrinks.com<br />

Breakfast Favourites<br />

Breakfast spreads are often packed<br />

with sugar - guaranteed to spike that<br />

blood sugar then make you slump.<br />

Skinny Food Co to the rescue with<br />

their guilt-free versions - we love the<br />

Chocaholic spread which has 92%<br />

less sugar than conventional hazelnut<br />

spreads and no palm oil. Their low<br />

sugar jams also pack in loads of<br />

flavour, with 4g sugar per 100g<br />

compared to Hartley’s eye-watering<br />

61g! From £3.99, theskinnyfoodco.com<br />

HEALTHIER<br />

Swaps<br />

If you’ve developed some lockdown love handles<br />

(no judgement here) or just want to reassess<br />

your diet, these are some delicious, healthier<br />

alternatives to some of your favourites<br />

The versatile low carb wrap<br />

After a lockdown of sourdough and banana bread, many<br />

of us are looking for lower carb staples. Lo-Dough are a<br />

great alternative to carb and calorie-laden wraps - each<br />

Lo-Dough wrap has only 32 calories, 2.2g net carbs and an<br />

amazing 9.3g fibre. They’re really versatile too - use them as<br />

tart bases, low carb breadcrumbs, pizza bases and even as<br />

flour replacement. We also love the new offering of low carb<br />

Southern Fried Chicken coating - check it out!<br />

From £3.25 per pack, lodough.co<br />

The Protein Bakery’s range of goodies include<br />

favourites like Brownie and Millionaire’s<br />

shortbread and have 11g of protein and<br />

4g fibre per bar, and only about half<br />

the sugar of a regular cake slice.<br />

£19.50 for a pack of 10 on amazon.<br />

co.uk or £2.29 each at Holland & Barrett<br />

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

It’s very tempting to reach for a cake<br />

or baked good with a cuppa, but if these<br />

are more than an occasional treat, it might<br />

be worth opting for something a bit more<br />

nutrient-dense.<br />

We have two favourites:<br />

No Guilt Bakes are low carb and sugar<br />

free, meaning they are keto-friendly and<br />

stop that awful blood sugar spike that you get after<br />

eating conventional cakes. We love the range<br />

of classic flavours and convenient packaging<br />

- they’re a great source of fibre too! From<br />

£1.99 noguiltbakes.co.uk<br />

Whether you<br />

follow a low<br />

carb diet or<br />

not, ketogenic<br />

or low carb/no sugar products are a<br />

sensible snacking choice. As they<br />

don’t cause a blood sugar spike, you<br />

are much less likely to overeat - usually<br />

a square or two should help take the edge<br />

off that need to snack. Be Keto’s range are<br />

also infused with MCT oils, which the body<br />

finds easy to convert straight into energy<br />

- meaning your 3pm sweet snack will help<br />

give you an energy boost, not a slump.<br />

From £2.90, beketo.uk<br />

You might think that reaching for a savoury snack<br />

will stop that blood sugar spike, but products with<br />

starchy carbs a preservatives, like crisps, will still<br />

cause these issues and it’s very easy to overeat. We<br />

love the crunch of the ultra-satiating Cheesies - they<br />

give you that delicious crisp hit but without the carbs.<br />

Variety of flavours available, 99p per pack cheesies.co.uk<br />

WHY LOW SUGAR?<br />

Until more recently, we’ve been told fat is the<br />

enemy - making us reach for low fat products<br />

that are often loaded with sugar. As well as<br />

being highly addictive and the reason for those<br />

energy crashes or binge eating, sugar can play<br />

havoc with insulin and over-doing it can lead to<br />

serious metabolic conditions. Sugar is loaded<br />

into almost ever processed food we eat, so<br />

making an effort to focus on eating wholefoods<br />

and reaching for lower sugar alternatives for<br />

treats can make a huge difference for our health.


Waitrose & Partners No.1 Dry Aged Sirloin of Beef Roasting Joint<br />

Rubbed with French wet salt, sea salt and three types of pepper, and served bone-in for a more intense flavour.<br />

SRENTRAP NODGNIBA<br />

& ESORTIAW


ISLANDS TO<br />

highlands<br />

CLAM VONGOLE<br />

Good clams can be found year-round on<br />

the coast all around Britain, but are at their<br />

best in the colder months. Clam vongole is<br />

simply the best pasta dish, in my opinion,<br />

but when made properly like Francesco<br />

Mazzei showed me, it’s on a different level<br />

entirely. Serves: 4<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

2 tablespoons olive oil<br />

3 garlic cloves, chopped<br />

1 shallot, diced<br />

100ml dry white wine<br />

1kg clams, cleaned (see tip)<br />

sea salt and freshly ground<br />

black pepper<br />

1 red chilli, diced<br />

zest of 2 lemons, plus juice of 1 lemon<br />

small bunch of parsley, chopped<br />

50g parmesan, grated<br />

METHOD<br />

Bring a large pan of salted water to the<br />

boil and cook the pasta, following the<br />

packet instructions, until al dente.<br />

While the pasta’s bubbling away, start the<br />

sauce. In a large saucepan with a lid, heat<br />

the oil over a medium heat, add the garlic<br />

and shallot and cook for 2 minutes, stirring<br />

often. Pour in the wine and clams, season<br />

well, then put the lid on the pan and bring<br />

to the boil. Reduce the heat a little and<br />

cook for a further 4 minutes.<br />

Resting a colander over a bowl, use a<br />

large slotted spoon to lift the clams out of<br />

the sauce into the colander, then bring the<br />

sauce to the boil and simmer, uncovered,<br />

until reduced by half.<br />

Drain the spaghetti and add it to the pan<br />

with the sauce and cook for a further 2<br />

minutes. Add the chilli, lemon zest and<br />

juice and parsley and season well.<br />

Stir everything together, then pop the<br />

clams back into the pan along with any<br />

of the juices caught in the bowl. Give<br />

everything a really big stir again to mix it<br />

all in, then scatter over the parmesan and<br />

drizzle in a little more olive oil, if you like.<br />

Serve immediately.<br />

JAMES’S TIP<br />

Fresh clams need to be alive before you<br />

cook them. To clean the clams of sand or<br />

grit, soak them for 20 minutes in a bowl<br />

of cold salty water. Drain, then transfer<br />

to a bowl of clean cold water to soak for<br />

a further 10 minutes, so they don’t taste<br />

too salty.<br />

STEAK WITH<br />

WHISKY BRAISED<br />

ONIONS<br />

Every chef becomes obsessed with certain<br />

ingredients at some point in the year and<br />

right now, my obsession is onions. These,<br />

combined with steak and a simple mustard<br />

sauce, were a favourite dish of Johnny on<br />

Camera Two when we were filming the<br />

show. Serves: 2<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

4 onions, peeled<br />

50ml whisky<br />

600ml beef stock<br />

100g salted butter<br />

1 garlic clove, crushed<br />

a few pine sprigs, washed and patted dry<br />

1–2 tablespoons olive oil<br />

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper<br />

400g rump steak, 5cm thick<br />

150g long-stem broccoli<br />

FOR THE SAUCE<br />

2 tablespoons Scottish grainy mustard<br />

½ teaspoon English mustard<br />

2 tablespoons salted butter<br />

25ml whisky<br />

75ml double cream<br />

METHOD<br />

If using, light your BBQ. When the coals<br />

are silvery in colour, it’s ready to cook on.<br />

Place the whole onions in a pan with the<br />

whisky and beef stock.<br />

Cover and bring to the boil then reduce<br />

the heat slightly and simmer for 40<br />

minutes. Use a slotted spoon to lift the<br />

onions out of their cooking liquor and set<br />

aside to cool a little. Reserve the liquor.<br />

Meanwhile, place the butter, garlic and<br />

pine sprigs into a separate pan and place<br />

over a low heat to melt the butter. If not<br />

cooking on the BBQ, preheat a griddle pan<br />

over a high heat.<br />

Cut the onions in half horizontally, then<br />

drizzle over the oil and season well. Cook<br />

on the griddle pan or on the BBQ, flatside<br />

down, for a couple of minutes until<br />

charred. Lift onto a plate and set aside.<br />

Season the steak all over, then brush with<br />

some of the melted pine butter. Cook on<br />

the hot griddle pan or on the BBQ for 2<br />

minutes, then brush with more butter, flip<br />

over and cook for another 2 minutes.<br />

Add the long-stem broccoli to the pan or<br />

BBQ for the last 2 minutes of cooking,<br />

again brushing with pine butter. Lift the<br />

steak onto a board and rest for 4 minutes.<br />

To make the sauce, put both types of<br />

mustard in a pan with 1 tablespoon of the<br />

butter and 200ml of the reserved onion<br />

cooking liquor. Pour in the whisky, then<br />

flambé to burn off the alcohol, tipping the<br />

pan gently and carefully to ignite. Place<br />

over a medium heat and simmer until the<br />

liquid has reduced by half, then stir in<br />

the cream and season well. Whisk in the<br />

remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to finish.<br />

Slice the steak into 3-cm thick slices and<br />

place on a platter with the broccoli, then<br />

spoon over the sauce. Pull the onions into<br />

petals and dot around before serving.<br />

TARRAGON AND<br />

WILD GARLIC<br />

RISOTTO<br />

with mushrooms and baked<br />

kombu potatoes<br />

In essence, this is of course two separate<br />

dishes. I wanted to serve the potatoes<br />

separately on the show, but little Sammy<br />

Head – the legend of the food team –<br />

couldn’t be bothered to walk back down<br />

the mountain to get another bowl, so it<br />

became one dish! A great, simple risotto<br />

should be packed full of flavour; watch the<br />

seasoning as it usually needs more salt<br />

than you think and, whatever you do, don’t<br />

make it too thick. Serves: 4<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

50g salted butter<br />

1 garlic clove, chopped<br />

1 shallot, diced<br />

12 | www.abingdonliving.co.uk


CHEF JAMES MARTIN<br />

WAS KIND ENOUGH TO<br />

SHARE SOME FABULOUS<br />

RECIPES FROM HIS BOOK<br />

ISLANDS TO HIGHLANDS,<br />

CELEBRATING THE BEST OF<br />

THE BRITISH ISLES<br />

Recipes and words from<br />

James Martin’s Islands to Highlands:<br />

80 fantastic recipes from around the<br />

British Isles. Published by Quadrille<br />

Publishing Ltd. RRP £25 and<br />

available from all good book shops<br />

and online<br />

200g risotto rice<br />

50ml dry white wine<br />

500ml vegetable stock<br />

200g wild mushrooms, roughly torn<br />

50g mascarpone<br />

25g parmesan, grated<br />

small bunch of tarragon, chopped<br />

a few wild garlic leaves<br />

sea salt and freshly ground<br />

black pepper<br />

FOR THE POTATOES<br />

150g new potatoes<br />

1 parmesan rind<br />

1 tablespoon kombu dried seaweed<br />

pinch of sea salt<br />

TO SERVE<br />

2 tablespoons crème fraîche<br />

a few micro herb sprigs or<br />

a few chives, chopped<br />

METHOD<br />

If using, light your BBQ. When the coals are<br />

silvery in colour, it’s ready to cook on.<br />

Heat the butter in a deep non-stick pan over<br />

a medium heat. Once the butter is melted<br />

and foaming, add the garlic, shallot and<br />

rice, stirring until the rice is well coated in<br />

the butter. Stir in the wine and around threequarters<br />

of the stock, bring to the boil, then<br />

simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.<br />

Stir through the mushrooms and cook for a<br />

further 5 minutes until the rice is cooked and<br />

just tender.<br />

Put the potatoes in a saucepan and cover<br />

with water, then add the parmesan rind,<br />

kombu seaweed and pinch of salt. Bring to<br />

the boil, then simmer for 15 minutes. Drain<br />

the potatoes, then put them directly onto<br />

the grill bars of the BBQ and cook for 2–3<br />

minutes, turning occasionally, until charred.<br />

Carefully lift out of the barbecue and set<br />

aside.<br />

To finish the risotto, stir in the mascarpone,<br />

parmesan, tarragon (reserving a few sprigs<br />

for garnish), wild garlic and remaining stock,<br />

then season to taste. The texture should be<br />

slightly runny.<br />

To serve, spoon the risotto onto 4 plates<br />

and garnish with a few extra sprigs<br />

of tarragon and micro herbs. Split the<br />

potatoes, top them with crème fraîche,<br />

micro herbs or chives and either serve on a<br />

separate plate alongside or place directly on<br />

top of the risotto.<br />

www.abingdonliving.co.uk | 13


BLACK BUTTER AND APPLE<br />

BAKEWELL TART<br />

In the Channel Islands, I went to see how Jersey black<br />

butter was made. It’s not actually made with butter – to be<br />

honest there’s none in it at all. In fact, it’s a preserve made<br />

with top quality apples, liquorice, spices and sugar, which<br />

is cooked in the traditional way over a firepit and stirred<br />

all the time to prevent it from burning. As it slowly cooks it<br />

develops an amazing, caramelised, sweet flavour. It is not<br />

only great in this tart, but also fabulous served on its own,<br />

spread on toast or scones. Serves: 6-8<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

FOR THE PASTRY<br />

225g plain flour,<br />

plus extra for dusting<br />

pinch of salt<br />

2 tablespoons icing sugar<br />

100g cold salted butter, cubed,<br />

plus extra for greasing<br />

1 egg, beaten<br />

1 tablespoon iced water<br />

FOR THE FILLING<br />

4 tablespoons black butter preserve<br />

225g softened salted butter<br />

225g caster sugar<br />

4 eggs, beaten<br />

175g ground almonds<br />

50g plain flour<br />

2 English apples, cored and<br />

thinly sliced<br />

FOR THE GLAZE<br />

1½ tablespoons caster sugar<br />

1½ tablespoons boiling water<br />

TO SERVE<br />

Jersey cream, whipped<br />

METHOD<br />

To make the pastry, sift the flour and salt into a bowl.<br />

Stir in the icing sugar, then add the butter. Use your<br />

fingertips to rub the butter into the flour mixture until it<br />

resembles breadcrumbs. Mix in the egg and water using<br />

a round-bladed table knife, then gently bring the mixture<br />

together into a ball. Wrap in clingfilm and pop in the<br />

fridge for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C<br />

fan)/350°F/gas 4. Grease a 23-cm fluted tart tin lightly<br />

with butter.<br />

Dust a little flour over a clean work surface and roll out<br />

the pastry into a large round big enough to line the tart tin.<br />

Lift into the tin and press into the edges gently. Trim away<br />

the excess pastry, then spoon the black butter preserve<br />

for the filling into the base. Use the back of the spoon to<br />

spread it out to cover the pastry dough.<br />

Make the filling by beating the butter and sugar together<br />

in a large bowl. Mix in the eggs, then fold in the ground<br />

almonds and flour. Spoon the mixture evenly over the<br />

black butter and layer the apple slices over the top.<br />

Bake for 35–40 minutes until golden, then remove from<br />

the oven and leave to cool to room temperature in the tin.<br />

Meanwhile, make the glaze. Pop the sugar and boiling<br />

water into a small pan and heat, stirring until the sugar<br />

has dissolved. Brush the tart with the glaze, then carefully<br />

remove from the tin to a serving plate. Slice and serve<br />

with the cream.<br />

14 | www.abingdonliving.co.uk


BRITISH FOOD<br />

FORTNIGHT <strong>2020</strong><br />

Why there’s never been a<br />

better time to support the<br />

British food industry and buy<br />

seasonal, local produce<br />

British Food Fortnight will take place this year from 19th<br />

<strong>Sep</strong>tember - 4th <strong>Oct</strong>ober. The campaign was created by Love<br />

British Food, the leading national promoter of British food and<br />

the only organisation that encourages retailers and the caterers<br />

responsible for sourcing food in our schools, hospitals and food<br />

outlets to make British food their preferred supplier of choice.<br />

British Food Fortnight is THE opportunity for everyone to<br />

come together and promote the benefits of buying and eating<br />

from our home-produced British larder.<br />

WHY CHOOSE BRITISH?<br />

Choosing British means supporting British farmers whose work<br />

helps to keep the British countryside the way we want it to look:<br />

no sheep, or cows, or fruit, or vegetables – no countryside!<br />

• You will be supporting the economy – everyone from the<br />

farmer, to those who work in food processing and the<br />

retailers selling the food.<br />

• British food travels less far from farm to shop so has a<br />

lower carbon footprint than most imported foods.<br />

• British meat is produced to some of the highest welfare<br />

standards in the world: no growth-promoting hormones<br />

are allowed and any antibiotics are administered only<br />

under veterinary direction.<br />

• Britain’s pig farmers operate by UK law to standards of<br />

welfare that are some of the highest in the world.<br />

• Britain’s beef and sheep industries are the envy of the<br />

world; breeding livestock and genetics from our native<br />

breeds are much sought after by farmers in other<br />

countries. Protect our great native livestock industry by<br />

buying the real thing, not an imported substitute.<br />

• Britain’s cattle passport system means that each animal can<br />

be uniquely traced to its dam (mother) and place of birth.<br />

• British chicken is reared to some of the highest standards<br />

in the world.<br />

EAT SEASONALLY<br />

Eating British fruits and vegetables in season is good for you.<br />

Foods in season contain the nutrients, minerals and trace elements<br />

that our bodies need at particular times of the year. British food<br />

travels less far from farm to shop so regardless of how carbon<br />

footprints are calculated it self-evidently has a lower carbon<br />

footprint. Storming into season over the coming months are:<br />

Plums – Sloes<br />

Fish: Brill – Dabs – Dover Sole – Flounders – Oysters – Skate<br />

WINTER<br />

Meat: Chicken – Gammon – Goose – Partridge – Pheasant –<br />

Sausages – Turkey – Venison – Wild Duck<br />

Vegetables: Bay Leaves – Brussels – Sprouts – Cabbage –<br />

Carrots – Cauliflower – Celeriac – Curly Kale – Fennel – Leeks –<br />

Parsnips – Potatoes – Red Cabbage – Swede – Turnips<br />

Fruit: Apples – Pears – Quince<br />

Fish: Grey Mullet – Mussels – Scallops<br />

It’s easy for anyone to take part in British Food Fortnight, whether<br />

in your community, online, or simply your own home. Even the<br />

smallest thing makes a big difference. Visit lovebritishfood.co.uk<br />

for lots of inspiration.<br />

Our veggie Boxes<br />

We deliver to your door free of charge on a Friday<br />

(15 mile radius)<br />

£15 Family Box, £10 Couple/Single Box<br />

Packed with seasonal fruit and veg plus basics<br />

each time including potatoes, onions, carrots<br />

and 6 free range eggs.<br />

AUTUMN<br />

Meat: Chicken – Grouse – Ham – Heather-fed Lamb – Pies Pork<br />

– Sausages – Venison<br />

Vegetables: Field Mushrooms – Lettuce – Marrow – Potatoes –<br />

Pumpkin – Rocket – Squashes – Sweetcorn – Watercress<br />

Fruit: Apples – Blackberries – Damsons – Elderberries – Pears –


LOVING<br />

home<br />

With holiday plans scuppered and moves delayed, we<br />

look at the ways you can transform your home into the<br />

perfect, functional family space you need<br />

Image from Lights4Fun.co.uk<br />

www.abingdonliving.co.uk | 17


STYLE TIP<br />

Looking to replace your French doors?<br />

Crittall-style aluminium doors look wonderful<br />

in a whole host of properties - including<br />

period rooms where they complement the<br />

grandeur and scale of the space.<br />

Image from Ideal Glass<br />

CONSERVATORY CONVERSION<br />

Replacing a glass or polycarbonate conservatory roof with an insulated<br />

solid composite roof will match it up to the house and make it look like<br />

a natural extension with a sense of permanence. There’ll be no more<br />

problems with sun glare, leaks or a build-up of condensation, transforming<br />

your old conservatory into a more usable living space that is<br />

also more sound-proof. Composite roofs are also ideal for home office<br />

spaces, home studios, garden rooms, and orangeries.<br />

Image from Ultraframe<br />

18 | www.abingdonliving.co.uk


Image from Herringbone Kitchens<br />

EXTENDING LIVING<br />

SPACE<br />

If a move is off the cards but your house is bursting at<br />

the seams, first consider where you can make the most<br />

of unused space - it’s generally the most cost-effective<br />

way to gain those extra square feet.<br />

Loft conversions will require professional drawing plans<br />

and, in some cases, planning permission too. If you live<br />

in a flat, a semi-detached, or terraced property, then a<br />

party wall agreement will also be needed. And if you<br />

live in a conservation area as well, there are additional<br />

hoops to jump through. Lastly, loft conversions need to<br />

adhere to building regulations. As a rule of thumb, you<br />

need a minimum height of 2.1 metres over 50% of the<br />

room after the new floor has been put in.<br />

Image from Ideal Glass<br />

There are many different types of loft conversion<br />

available including: skylight, rear dormer, double dormer,<br />

mansard, double mansard and hip-to-gable. So, giving<br />

an estimate of costs is tricky as it also depends on<br />

where you live in the UK. But once you’ve decided<br />

to invest and upgrade your loft space, you can take<br />

comfort in knowing you’ve created that<br />

beautiful extra room you and your family<br />

have been looking for. And, of course,<br />

you’ll have added several thousand<br />

pounds to the value of your home.<br />

STYLE TIP<br />

Indecision costs! Before starting your conversion of any space, make sure<br />

your plans are fully spec’d out. Make the most of all storage space - that’s<br />

often at a premium in smaller homes. The addition of a bathroom is great in a<br />

loft conversion, but don’t add one at the expense of making the bedroom too<br />

small. Keep decor light and breezy and invest in roof insulation to help control<br />

temperature in the space, as well as sufficient wall coverings.<br />

If a loft conversion won’t satisfy your<br />

needs, then you might want to consider<br />

a reconfiguration or extension in your<br />

living space. Rules, known as ‘permitted<br />

development’ rights, allow you to extend<br />

a house without needing to apply for<br />

planning permission if specific limitations<br />

and conditions are met - check your local<br />

authority website to find out the specific<br />

details. Usually, even an extension of<br />

a few square metres can make a huge<br />

difference to how you can use and<br />

configure living space - creating more<br />

convivial, conversational zones which<br />

appeal to modern ways of living.<br />

www.abingdonliving.co.uk | 19


Collection from bridgman.co.uk<br />

Large Antique<br />

Brass Lantern, £95,<br />

ellajames.co.uk<br />

GARDEN ROOMS<br />

Those blessed with larger gardens have probably<br />

made the most of a lockdown in the sunshine...<br />

but larger gardens can also house garden rooms.<br />

These purpose-built structures can be fully<br />

plumbed in and have electricity installed, making<br />

them a viable space if your new work from home<br />

regime looks likely to stay in place - anyone who<br />

has been working balanced on the edge of the<br />

dining table with the family running riot around<br />

them will know it is not conducive to a happy<br />

working environment, so utilising space outside<br />

of the house is an excellent solution which<br />

causes no major interior upheaval. Unless you<br />

live in a conservation area or your home is listed,<br />

you will generally not need planning permission<br />

for these structures.<br />

Even with a smaller garden, utilising the space<br />

and making it feel like one homogeneous zone<br />

will make your living space feel amplified.<br />

Consider using matching or tonally similar<br />

flooring from the kitchen out to the patio, and if<br />

budget allows, opt for large panes of glazing or<br />

bi-fold doors to really allow the spaces to flow<br />

between each other.<br />

When setting up your outside space, the key is<br />

layering soft furnishings and lighting to make the<br />

seating area feel inviting. Use similar tones and<br />

textures in the adjoining room to make the spaces<br />

flow between each other. Al fresco entertaining<br />

will never have been so stylish!<br />

STYLE TIP<br />

Light and dress your outside space with the same care and<br />

attention you would your dining table when hosting. Will<br />

there be enough light after sunset, from the side, the table<br />

and maybe overhead like these fabulous string lights form<br />

lights4fun.co.uk. Dress the table too with lovely linens and<br />

have provisions like small throws over the backs of chairs<br />

just in case the temperature drops.<br />

Turkish Cotton<br />

Throw, £26,<br />

hauslife.co.uk<br />

Antique Brass<br />

Tray, £75,<br />

ellajames.co.uk<br />

Hampstead Bench, £290,<br />

gardentrading.co.uk<br />

Savannah Grey Liftup<br />

Garden Daybed,<br />

£649, danetti.com<br />

Ennial Outdoor Rug, from<br />

£49, escapologyhome.com<br />

Mai Cotton<br />

Cushion Cover,<br />

£40, hauslife.co.uk<br />

20 | www.abingdonliving.co.uk


NOTES FROM THE GARDEN<br />

PLANNING next year's springtime<br />

Matt Biggs is our resident garden<br />

advisor. Here he gives us advice<br />

on how to prepare our garden for<br />

next year. Matt trained at The<br />

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and<br />

has presented numerous television<br />

programmes including Channel 4’s<br />

Garden Club.<br />

There is no doubt that this year has been a<br />

year like no other. It has changed so many<br />

things in so many ways, and one of those is<br />

the time that some of us have had to spend<br />

in our gardens. Whether you are a true<br />

‘son of the soil’ or someone who wouldn’t<br />

necessarily know a daffodil from a daisy, we<br />

have had time to contemplate that space<br />

outside of our window, be it a window box,<br />

courtyard or garden.<br />

Gardening offers us so many benefits - the<br />

opportunity to exercise, space to think,<br />

space to grow new plants, delicious edibles<br />

and fabulous fruit, play with the kids, count<br />

butterflies, feed birds, and there is another,<br />

really important thing that it offers us - the<br />

opportunity to plan for the future.<br />

With so much uncertainty in life there is<br />

something very life affirming about planning<br />

our gardens for next year - and now is the<br />

time to do that. Ornamental bulbs are in our<br />

garden centres now - bulbs are amazing!<br />

They require very little care, takes almost<br />

no skill at all to plant - even if you plant it<br />

upside down it will still appear - kids love to<br />

help choose and plant them and then there<br />

is that wonderful day when a green shoot<br />

spikes its way out of the ground heralding<br />

the beauty to<br />

follow. So this<br />

month get out<br />

to your garden<br />

centre or<br />

nursery, take a<br />

pen and paper<br />

and make a list<br />

or check put<br />

a bulb catalogue<br />

and start planning for a new year filled with<br />

colour and optimism - and bring some<br />

excitement and colour into your life next<br />

spring - all from a little brown bulb!<br />

To find out more about Matt’s love of<br />

gardening please visit www.matthewbiggs.<br />

com where you will discover some<br />

inspirational material.<br />

www.abingdonliving.co.uk | 21


image from Studio McGee<br />

DECOR HOW TO:<br />

THE MODERN RUSTIC AESTHETIC<br />

What do you get when you mix<br />

mid-century modern furniture with<br />

rustic materials and accents? A<br />

perfectly modern rustic look! Kate,<br />

the founder of online homewares<br />

company Haus, delves into how you<br />

can achieve the look in your home.<br />

New to modern rustic style? You’ve<br />

probably seen it before and just<br />

didn’t know what to call it. It involves<br />

comfortable but streamlined furniture,<br />

natural elements, earth tones, and<br />

reliance on rustic materials and decor.<br />

This style is all over Instagram and<br />

Pinterest, and brilliant designers like<br />

Amber Interiors and Studio McGee often<br />

design rooms that you could easily say<br />

are of this style.<br />

Comfortable foundations<br />

Comfort is key with this look. So, the<br />

largest pieces of furniture in any modern<br />

rustic room should be streamlined<br />

but never skimp on comfort. In living<br />

rooms, start with cosy oversized sofas.<br />

In bedrooms, opt for plush, upholstered<br />

beds. For a dining room, look for an<br />

oversized, rustic wood dining table<br />

around which big groups can gather.<br />

But, while prioritizing comfort, make sure<br />

the furniture lines are clean and simple to<br />

keep the look modern.<br />

Add Mid-Century Modern<br />

Accents<br />

Once the comfortable foundation is<br />

laid, introduce a more mid-century or<br />

eclectic vibe. At first it may seem odd<br />

to mix these styles—but the contrast<br />

they create is what makes this look so<br />

dynamic and fun.<br />

An easy place to do this is with your<br />

accent furniture. Think of an eclectic<br />

woven leather armchair or a coffee or<br />

bedside table with an antique flair. In<br />

dining rooms, pair your farmhouse dining<br />

table with more modern seating, like<br />

Wishbone or Eames shell chairs.<br />

Create Conversational<br />

Layouts<br />

A family-friendly style by nature,<br />

modern rustic interiors often have more<br />

symmetrical layouts that are geared<br />

toward large gatherings and facilitate<br />

conversations. (Hence the huge, rustic<br />

dining table we suggested above.) This<br />

is where the look leans more rustic and<br />

formal rather than modern and eclectic.<br />

Layer on Natural<br />

Textures<br />

When bringing the modern<br />

rustic style to life, we love<br />

the opportunity to play<br />

with textures and different<br />

materials. This keeps a<br />

room looking liveable and<br />

approachable. Look for natural<br />

materials like seagrass, jute,<br />

ceramics, leather, and liveedge<br />

woods—then mix and<br />

match them together in one<br />

space, incorporating them<br />

in furniture, lighting, and decor accents!<br />

This helps the room feel dynamic and<br />

visually interesting<br />

We love introducing lots of texture with<br />

soft furnishings too - think of fringing<br />

and tufts plus artisanal products like the<br />

gorgeously tactile mudcloth cushions,<br />

with their handwoven texture and<br />

abundance of prints and patterns.<br />

Introduce Industrial<br />

Lighting<br />

With modern rustic, light fixtures are<br />

often industrial with sleek, streamlined<br />

forms that are sculptural in nature. Look<br />

for matte black or antique brass options,<br />

or even rattan and include multi-level<br />

light sources.<br />

Shop the range of artisanal<br />

homewares at www.hauslife.co.uk<br />

Fox Club Chair,<br />

£870, limelace.co.uk<br />

Tray, £40, sweetpeaandwillow.com<br />

22 | www.abingdonliving.co.uk


image from modsy.com<br />

ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

Cosmia Tassel Throw,<br />

£58, hauslife.co.uk<br />

Anouk Pillow Cover<br />

(also available in coral),<br />

£35, hauslife.co.uk<br />

image from One Affirmation<br />

image from Studio McGee<br />

SHOP<br />

THE<br />

LOOK<br />

Layer these<br />

items in your<br />

home to nail the<br />

modern rustic<br />

look<br />

Anouk Pillow Cover,<br />

£56, hauslife.co.uk<br />

Wells Bubble Vase<br />

Wide, £40,<br />

gardentrading.co.uk<br />

Lines Mudcloth<br />

Pillow, £58,<br />

hauslife.co.uk<br />

Boston Reclaimed Wood<br />

Coffee Table, £314,<br />

modishliving.co.uk<br />

Extra Long Calliope<br />

Lumbar Cushion, £75,<br />

hauslife.co.uk<br />

www.abingdonliving.co.uk | 23


24 | www.abingdonliving.co.uk


We're Back<br />

We're Safe<br />

We're Newly Refurbished!<br />

01235 521555 | 26 Stert Street, <strong>Abingdon</strong><br />

www.utopiabeautysalon.com<br />

CHECK OUT<br />

OUR SAFETY<br />

PROCEDURES


Later life...<br />

Let the fun begin !.?<br />

Here Peter Thomson takes stock of time during lockdown and how<br />

many older people benefitted from their time at home<br />

The past few months have been<br />

remarkable in mainly a bad way but<br />

thankfully with a few positives thrown in.<br />

Wishing to avoid adding to the negative<br />

bombardments we have been receiving<br />

daily, I am going to concentrate on some of<br />

these positives and how they might interact<br />

with ‘later life’.<br />

Enforced lockdowns have afforded many<br />

of us the ‘luxury’ of decoupling from the<br />

daily grind and given us a time to take<br />

stock. With no workday commuting nor<br />

competing activities to get in the way we<br />

have been able to undertake projects<br />

that have remained on the back burner<br />

or indulge ourselves with new hobbies or<br />

fitness regimes.<br />

It has in effect been a form of preretirement<br />

when people approaching<br />

their golden age get a chance to taste<br />

the future without having to make the<br />

big decision. Retirement used to be at<br />

a fixed age whereby a suitable present<br />

was bought and a venue booked so that<br />

everyone could give their soon to be<br />

former colleague a good send-off. If you<br />

are having to make this decision yourself<br />

do you soldier on whatever or call it a day<br />

26 | www.abingdonliving.co.uk<br />

half dreading a retirement with nothing to<br />

do. You can only bake so many cakes and<br />

the garden is not a 7 day a week job. At<br />

this point anxieties can be awakened in as<br />

the old adage ‘use it or lose it’ cuts in and<br />

people become fearful for their future.<br />

But what has the lockdown taught us?<br />

Without getting on an ecological soapbox,<br />

we have all had time to appreciate the<br />

environment we live in. With much less<br />

travel and industry taking place the world<br />

gently began to heal itself. Seemingly bluer<br />

skies and more birdsong have been truly<br />

gladdening. Hopefully all this good will<br />

not be undone as we begin to return to<br />

the new normal. There has been a huge<br />

upswing in the amount of walking and<br />

cycling that has been taking place. People<br />

have discovered some beautiful locations<br />

within a short distance of their homes as<br />

well as getting exercise.<br />

It has also taught that the business of living<br />

is very important for people of all ages.<br />

If you do not nurture these processes<br />

and realise their importance you will<br />

miss out on many uplifting and enriching<br />

experiences. In a funny way it should not<br />

be called’ later life’, but just ‘life’!


Stowford House Care Home<br />

Your Future Matters


ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

Community and<br />

Connection at<br />

Bridge House<br />

While the past few months have brought<br />

unprecedented restrictions for all of us,<br />

life at Bridge House Care Home has by<br />

no means slowed down...<br />

Home Manager, Lucy Porter<br />

“Bridge House is a warm and welcoming<br />

home, with compassionate care at its<br />

heart. Our caring team is devoted to<br />

ensuring our residents lead happy and<br />

fulfilling lives despite the challenging<br />

times we all face.<br />

“We have adapted our busy schedule<br />

of meaningful activities and events,<br />

embracing virtual concerts and online<br />

movement and art classes, to ensure<br />

our residents have always got choice<br />

and variety in how they spend their time.<br />

Not to mention, the many birthdays and<br />

anniversaries we’ve celebrated together<br />

over tea and cake in our beautiful bistro.<br />

“Thanks to Zoom, relatives have been<br />

able to continue to stay in touch and<br />

as national restrictions have eased, it’s<br />

been wonderful to reintroduce socially<br />

distanced visits, so our residents can<br />

spend time with their loved ones again.<br />

“We have also been overwhelmed by the<br />

way the local community has reached out<br />

with unwavering kindness and generosity.<br />

Thank you to everyone who has sent<br />

cards and gifts – they have been truly<br />

touching.<br />

“Working in care and supporting our<br />

residents to maintain purposeful lives<br />

gives me a great sense of pride.<br />

I love leading our award-winning team<br />

who consistently demonstrate their<br />

passion and dedication, making every<br />

day meaningful for everyone who<br />

lives here.”<br />

“We have adapted our busy schedule<br />

of meaningful activities and events,<br />

embracing virtual concerts and online<br />

movement and art classes, to ensure our<br />

residents have always got choice and<br />

variety in how they spend their time.”<br />

Our resident, Mary<br />

“From the moment I came in they<br />

welcomed me like they knew me and<br />

we were all friends. The team are quite<br />

remarkable because they actually want to<br />

know the person.”<br />

Denise and John’s son, Martin<br />

“It’s such a relief to know that they’re<br />

safe and they’re happy. Now they’re in an<br />

environment where they have lots of help<br />

and people that can take the pressure<br />

away, so they can enjoy life.”<br />

To hear more from our wonderful<br />

residents and families and to find out how<br />

we continue to keep everyone safe<br />

and well, visit:<br />

www.bridgehouseabingdon.co.uk<br />

call our team on 01235 425 305<br />

or like our Facebook page:<br />

/bridgehousecarehome<br />

Bridge House Care Home, Thames View,<br />

<strong>Abingdon</strong>, OX14 3UJ<br />

28 | www.abingdonliving.co.uk


ABINGDON<br />

Business Directory<br />

Attractions<br />

<strong>Abingdon</strong> County Hall Museum<br />

Run by <strong>Abingdon</strong> Town Council, the aim<br />

of the museum is to present the history<br />

of <strong>Abingdon</strong> and the surrounding locality<br />

in the most informative, exciting and<br />

accessible way. 01235 523703<br />

abingdon.museum@abingdon.gov.uk<br />

www.abingdon.gov.uk/partners/<br />

abingdon-county-hall-museum<br />

<strong>Abingdon</strong> School Sports Centre<br />

Situated within the grounds of <strong>Abingdon</strong><br />

School, it’s the perfect venue for business<br />

and sporting activities and events.<br />

01235 849 062<br />

sports.centre@abingdon.org.uk<br />

www.abingdon.org.uk/sports-and-leisure/<br />

Denman College<br />

WI’s centre for learning, offering a wealth<br />

of opportunities to learn new skills on day<br />

schools and residential courses in the<br />

field of cookery, craft and lifestyle.<br />

01865 391 991 | info@denman.org.uk<br />

www.denman.org.uk<br />

Music at Oxford<br />

An artistically curated annual concert<br />

season, utilising a diverse array of<br />

buildings across the city to bring highquality<br />

live music to wider audiences.<br />

01865 244806<br />

info@musicatoxford.com<br />

www.musicatoxford.com<br />

Education<br />

Rye St Antony School<br />

Independent Catholic school in Oxford<br />

providing first class education to pupils<br />

aged from 3 to 18. 01865 762802<br />

www.ryestantony.co.uk<br />

Food & Drink<br />

Horsebox Coffee Company<br />

Independent coffee roastery based in<br />

South Oxfordshire with sustainability at<br />

the forefront. 01491 598520<br />

hello@horseboxcoffeeco.com<br />

www.horseboxcoffeeco.com<br />

Lamb Catering<br />

Oxford based catering company<br />

specialising in weddings & funerals,<br />

business & corporate catering, and<br />

private parties. 01865 772446<br />

info@lambcatering.co.uk<br />

www.lambcatering.co.uk<br />

Marcopolo Bakery<br />

Family run artisan bakery passionate<br />

about hand crafted bread using<br />

age old traditional techniques.<br />

07917043594/07827918180<br />

www.marcopolobakery.co.uk<br />

The Mole Inn<br />

Countryside 2AA rosette tavern with<br />

sprawling gardens, serving a seasonal<br />

menu of globally influenced cuisine.<br />

01865 340001 | info@themoleinn.com<br />

www.themoleinn.com<br />

Nut Tree Inn<br />

Traditional village pub with a thatched<br />

roof serving refined seasonal modern<br />

British food. Michelin Star since 2008.<br />

01865 331253 | www.nuttreeinn.co.uk<br />

The Railway Inn<br />

A traditional pub and restaurant offering<br />

delicious home-cooked food and bed and<br />

breakfast accommodation.<br />

01235 528046 | info@railwayinnculham.<br />

co.uk | www.railwayinnculham.co.uk<br />

Health & Beauty<br />

The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight<br />

Plan with Pavlina<br />

The perfect way to achieve rapid weight<br />

loss through meal replacement shakes,<br />

soups and snack bars, with Pavlina, a<br />

dedicated consultant to help guide you<br />

along your way. 07818 881624<br />

pavlinanewman@gmail.com<br />

www.facebook.com/PavCWP/<br />

House & Home<br />

Admiral Windows &<br />

Conservatories<br />

Double glazing and bespoke<br />

conservatories in Oxford, Kidlington,<br />

<strong>Abingdon</strong>, Didcot, Aylesbury, Banbury,<br />

Bicester, Buckingham, Chipping Norton,<br />

Newbury and more! 01865 788333<br />

sales@admiralwindows.co.uk<br />

www.admiralwindows.co.uk<br />

David Wilson Homes<br />

David Wilson Homes Southern are<br />

currently building in Oxfordshire,<br />

Berkshire and Hampshire and have been<br />

a 5 star builder for 10 years in a row.<br />

01488680300 | www.dwh.co.uk<br />

AsNew Upholstery<br />

High quality furniture re-upholstery,<br />

repairs and modifications, made to<br />

measure curtains and blinds and more.<br />

01235522770<br />

info@asnew-upholstery.co.uk<br />

www.asnew-upholstery.co.uk<br />

Didcot Calor & Paving<br />

Extensive and stylish range of natural and<br />

manufactured stone paving, walling and<br />

edging products, as well as our garden<br />

and landscaping supplies and, of course,<br />

Calor Gas and other fuels.<br />

01235 814186<br />

sales@didcotcalor.co.uk<br />

www.didcotcalor.co.uk<br />

Family Furnishings<br />

A family run business with a passion<br />

for interior design, it’s their goal to<br />

help you turn your house into a home.<br />

07920438216<br />

ahfamilyfurnishings@gmail.com<br />

www.family-furnishings.co.uk<br />

Finders Keepers<br />

First class property letting and<br />

management agent with eight offices in<br />

Oxfordshire. 01235535454<br />

www.finders.co.uk<br />

abingdon@finderskeepers.co.uk<br />

Milton Property Maintenance<br />

Trained specialists in high quality roofing,<br />

from repairs and restoration to a new roof.<br />

01235 884188 | roofersinoxford.co.uk<br />

Swedemade UK<br />

Offering bespoke kitchens and bathrooms<br />

at high street prices! Also offer bedroom<br />

storage options and building renovation.<br />

01865 864636 | info@swedemade.co.uk<br />

www.swedemade.co.uk<br />

Instil Design<br />

Bespoke bathrooms designed to<br />

reflect your style and personality, from<br />

contemporary through to traditional spa<br />

bathrooms. 01865 368810<br />

info@instil-design.co.uk<br />

www.instil-design.co.uk<br />

Motoring<br />

Lodge Hill Garage<br />

Long established family business<br />

that has been supplying quality used<br />

cars in Oxfordshire for over 12 years.<br />

01865326666 | cars@lodgehillgarage.com<br />

www.lodgehillgarage.co.uk<br />

Motorline Nissan Oxford<br />

Featuring the latest models in the<br />

Japanese marque’s car and van ranges,<br />

as well as a large number of Approved<br />

Used models. 01865 849700<br />

www.motorline.co.uk/nissan/dealerships/<br />

oxford/<br />

Later Life<br />

<strong>Abingdon</strong> Court Care Home<br />

A care home offering nursing and<br />

dementia care. A professional team<br />

ensure your loved one is well cared for.<br />

01235 535405 | www.mmcgcarehomes.<br />

co.uk/care-homes/abingdon-court<br />

Stowford House Care Home<br />

A beautiful purpose-built nursing home<br />

situated in the village of Shippon,<br />

providing nursing, residential, dementia,<br />

respite and palliative care. 01235 538623<br />

stowford@futurecaregroup.com<br />

www.stowfordhousecarehome.co.uk<br />

30 | www.abingdonliving.co.uk


haus<br />

HOME | LIFESTYLE<br />

ARTISANAL SOFT FURNISHINGS FOR THE MODERN HOME<br />

USE CODE<br />

LIVE15<br />

FOR YOUR<br />

EXCLUSIVE<br />

15% OFF ALL<br />

ORDERS<br />

Image courtesy of<br />

cityfarmhouse.com<br />

NEW COLLECTIONS OF MUDCLOTH AND KILIM PILLOWS AND<br />

LEATHER POUFFES COMING SOON - AVAILABLE TO PRE ORDER NOW<br />

FREE UK P&P ON ALL ORDERS<br />

www.hauslife.co.uk

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!