Taunton and South Somerset Living Dec 2020 - Jan 2021

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Contents 

A Note 

from the EDITOR 

09 

Perfect 

A Culinary recipes Journey to add through a 

Northern little festive Ireland sparkle 

Our new 

competitions page 

06 

Preparing a Christmas issue is usually 

a little more straightforward than this 

edition has been, and all the doom and 

gloom this year is enough to make you 

cry ‘humbug, Christmas is cancelled!’ 

Whilst the festive season might not take 

its usual shape, there’s still a lot to be 

thankful for, and that’s what we hoped 

to highlight in this edition. 

The good news is, in our field, we talk 

to lots of independent businesses from 

the vast spectrum of the lifestyle world, 

and overall, the outlook is an optimistic 

one. We may have missed out on a 

summer of attractions and events, but 

as a nation we’ve shifted focus to 

home, considering more closely where 

and how we spend our money and 

honing-in on projects that matter to 

us - in our homes, our personal lives 

and our workplace. Maybe we’ve got a 

different, but special festive season on 

the horizon - one where family ties are 

strengthened and our shopping habits 

support our neighbourhoods. 

We’ve got a look at some wonderful 

recipes from Waitrose designed to 

sprinkle some sparkle into proceedings 

and ideal for serving to any group size! 

16 

A real-life before and 

after cellar renovation 

EDITOR Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

PUBLISHER Sally Thomson 

PRE-PRESS MANAGER Kate O’Connell 

CONTRIBUTORS Sue Cooke, Matthew Biggs, Angela Cave, Rebecca Rose 

Front Cover courtesy of Cox & Cox 

Key Account Manager Claire Harris 

e claire@minervapublications.co.uk 

twitter: @TauntonLiving 

w www.WestDorsetLiving.co.uk 

A very Scandi 

Christmas 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ 

Unit 21c, Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton, 

Trowbridge BA14 6JB 

t 01225 984 550 

w www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

visit our website www.tauntonlivingmag.co.uk 

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

advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions and 

misprints. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the 

publishers. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publishers. 

23 

Then, if you’re considering a renovation, 

we look at a really unusual space - 

a Georgian vault - and how it was 

transformed from a damp and dark 

hovel into a luxurious snug - hopefully 

it inspires you to re-examine your own 

spaces that could be overdue a face lift 

- we can guarantee that can’t be much 

more challenging than this one! I hope 

you like this issue’s cover - I’ll admit, 

it’s a rather self indulgent one as that’s 

my little dog Molly who helped with the 

photoshoot this edition! 

We are also welcoming in a new addition 

to the magazine - our competition page! 

This will be a feature in each new 

addition, and this issue’s is offering a 

staggering £1000 worth of amazing 

prizes - make sure to check it out! 

Next time we see you it will be nearly 

spring 2021 - a whole new year - 

and hopefully a better and brighter 

one than the craziness we’ve just 

endured! All that’s left is to wish a 

very Merry Christmas and a peaceful 

and prosperous New Year to you 

and yours! 

Katie 

www.tauntonlivingmag.co.uk | 3

COMPETITION 

Win a 

VAX carpet 

washer worth 

£249! 

Time 

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

www.minervamagazines.co.uk/competitions. 

Find the competition and enter on that post, 

using the appropriate keyword. 

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

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

The VAX Platinum Power MAX carpet washer is a Christmas 

and New Year must-have to tackle accidental spills and 

upholstery stains, or a full carpet clean once your guests 

depart. Proven to clean better than the leading rental carpet 

cleaner, 1 it removes 93% of bacteria. 2 

And we’ve got one to give away to one lucky winner! VAX 

Platinum Power Max (including free steamer), £249, 

www.vax.co.uk 

Closes 12/12/2020 - Competition keyword VAX 

Refs: 

1 Cleaning effectiveness on carpet, tested in deep clean mode 

according to IEC 62885-3:2014 part 5.2.1 

2 Independent laboratory research conducted by the University of 

Worcester’s Institute of Science and the Environment (Dec 2017) 

Curved fish 

tank worth over 

£320! 

With homeworking now the ‘new normal’ 

having an aquarium that combines a 

unique look and high-spec equipment is 

essential for anyone wishing to create a 

tranquil and relaxing home workspace. 

The AquaCurve complete, easy-set-up, 

aquarium kit from leading UK indoor 

aquatics brand, Interpet, is fitted with 

an ultra-bright LED light to give healthy 

looking plants and vivid tropical fish 

colours. The Easy-Care Filter keeps water 

healthy and clear with its four-stage 

filtration process. Find our more at 

interpet.co.uk. 

Now you have the chance to win 

one of these amazing curved 

tanks and stands worth £324.98 

- just follow the steps above! 

Closes 12/12/2020- Competition keyword 

INTERPET 

Kit your home out with the 

must-have interior item - the 

amazing mudcloth cushion. 

A favourite of interior designers 

across the world, mudcloth 

is an amazing fabric-making 

process orginating in Mali, 

where fermented mud 

is used to create highly 

patterned pieces. 

Haus is giving two lucky readers 

the chance to win a mudcloth of 

their choice - worth up to £55 - 

just follow the steps above! Head 

to hauslife.co.uk to see the full 

mudcloth collection, plus a host of 

other amazing home accessories. 

Closes 12/12/2020- Competition 

keyword HAUS 

Over 

£100 

worth of cushions 

to be won! 

£100 

to spend on 

prints of your 

www.inkanddrop.com are offering one lucky 

choice! reader a £100 gift voucher to spend on art 

prints for their home. So if you’ve been planning 

a seriously cool gallery wall this is the perfect 

competition for you! 

Ink & Drop is a small family business, born from a passion for 

all things interior, and in particular, unique cool art prints with a 

belief that every home should have great artwork, regardless of 

budget, style or theme. A collection of artwork unlike anything 

else on the internet, Ink & Drop prints can transform your room 

and freshen up your walls regardless of interior style and for a 

very small budget. 

Closes 12/12/2020 - - Competition keyword INK 

Win a Myth 18L backpack from 

STM Goods. With plenty of space 

for both personal and comfortable 

gear, the Myth provides the ultimate 

in tech protection. The dedicated 

laptop pocket suspends your laptop 

off the floor of the bag and away from 

the sides – so if the bag gets dropped 

your laptop is away protected from 

impact. 

The neat CableRouting system means 

you can charge on the go and keep the 

bag interior cable tangle free thanks to 

the ports between sections and cable clips 

routed throughout the bag. The inventive 

AirPod pocket and earbud keeper will keep 

your earbuds safe and secure with easy 

access for when you need them the most. 

Win a 

tech-friendly 

backpack worth 

£99.95 

The PassPort luggage pass through means you can easily 

connect the pack to other baggage items, and the specially 

designed back panel will ensure a comfy carry all day, no matter 

what you have packed. £99.95. Available in 3 colours from 

Amazon.co.uk. 

Closes 12/12/2020 - Competition keyword STM Goods 

6 | www.tauntonlivingmag.co.uk

Not Just a Pair of Socks 

PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFTS IDEAS FROM SOME OF 

OUR LOCAL, INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES... 

Hestercombe Gardens 

Treat your friends and loved ones to Hestercombe’s 

renowned afternoon sweet or savoury tea for two. 

www.hestercombe.com/gifts 

Wild Grove 

Locally handmade bath and body products. All made 

in small batches to maximise freshness and fragrance. 

www.wildgrove.co.uk 

Honey’s Cider 

Using only the best varieties of apples to produce 

quality cider on our farm just outside Bath, Somerset. 

www.honeyscider.co.uk 

Geoanimals 

Art which helps your headspace. Products are prints 

on canvas, or framed. T-shirts and colour-in calendars. 

www.geonimals.co.uk 

OlliesOpals 

We specialise in Antique Opal Repair and Restoration. 

Also creating bespoke Jewellery in Gold and Silver. 

www.olliesopals.com 

The Recycled Candle Co 

Luxury candles made from 100% recycled wax. 

Scents to fill any home with exquisite fragrance. 

www.therecycledcandleco.co.uk 

Pittards 

Est 1826, Pittards is world-famous for its high quality 

leather and still makes it locally in Yeovil today. Visit 

the factory store today. www.pittards.com 

Lottie Loves 

Lottie Loves sells a collection of fashionable 

accessories which are kind to hair, from £5. 

www.lottie-loves.com 


Social icon 

Circle 

Only use blue and/or white. 

For more details check out our 

Brand Guidelines. 

Tor Theatre present… 

Cinderella 2 or… Buttons bounces back! 

Sun 6 Dec, 1:30pm 

…and they all lived happily ever after. Oh no they didn’t! 

Buttons isn’t happy. His best friend Cinderella has run off, got 

married and gone all… Princessy! And the one person who can 

help Buttons find a new friend isn’t a person at all. She’s a Fairy 

Godmother. Oh, the shame! Get ready to go on a quest through 

Pantoland with songs and laughs and thrills aplenty. 

Remaba Productions present… 

The Show Will Go On - A Christmas Musical Spectacular 

Sat 12 Dec, 2:30pm & 7:30pm 

Supporting and raising funds for Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre and 

Reamba Productions. 

Join us for a show of musical madness as Reamba Productions 

and Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre team up for a performance of 

songs from the musicals. 

TOR THEATRE 

TAUNTON, SOMERSET 

SUN 6 DEC, 1:30PM 

REAMBA PRODUCTIONS 

SAT 12 DEC, 2:30PM & 7:30PM 

The All Seasons Live 

A Tribute To Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 

Fri 18 Dec, 7:30pm 

Scintillating vocals and incredible harmonies. Bringing to life the 

music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The All Seasons 

present a show that will wow fans of the ‘Jersey Boys’ sound. 

Crammed with singalong hits, The All Seasons is a West End 

experience brought to Taunton. 

Santa’s Christmas Cracker 

Sun 20 Dec, 11am & 2:30pm...the socially distanced show where 

every child can get a present from Santa! 

www.tacchi-morris.com 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

FRI 18 DEC, 7:30PM 

Satisfied souls 

made at Killerton 

SUN 20 DEC, 11AM & 2:30PM 

Take in the views of the parkland or 

find a moment of calm in the garden. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/killerton 

© National Trust 2020. Registered Charity no. 205846. 

Photography © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey. 

01823 414141 | tacchi-morris.com 


CHRISTMAS 

Who knows what form Christmas will take this 

year? With that in mind, we’ve left the main 

event ideas in your court (depending on how 

many you’re feeding) and are serving up some 

delicious accompaniments that can be scaled 

to any party size... 

Sparkle 

ROSE GIMLET 

A fruity and floral cocktail, with gin, lime and the delicate 

flavour of rose cordial. Add the final flourish with a 

sprinkle of rose petals 

Makes: 1 

INGREDIENTS 

50ml pink gin (or regular gin) 

30ml lime juice 

30ml Frobisher’s Pomegranate and Rose Cordial 

Rose petals for garnish 

METHOD 

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the gin, cordial and 

lime juice then shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain 

into a chilled glass and garnish with rose petals. 


CHRISTMAS SMOKED 

SALMON & CRÈME FRAÎ CHE 

BLINIS 

Preparation time: 10 minutes | Cooking time: 10 minutes 

Makes: 20 

INGREDIENTS 

125g self-raising wholemeal flour 

Pinch salt 

1 medium egg, separated 

150ml semi-skimmed milk 

200ml pot full fat crème fraîche 

1-2 tsp vegetable oil, for frying 

1 ruby grapefruit 

1 tsp hot horseradish sauce 

½ x 20g pack fresh dill, chopped 

1 pack Waitrose & Partners Christmas Citrus Smoked 

Scottish Salmon, cut into 20 strips 

METHOD 

Put the flour and a good pinch of salt in a large bowl. Make 

a well, then drop in the egg yolk. Follow with the milk and 1 

tbsp of the crème fraîche, then whisk to a thick batter. Using 

a clean whisk, whip the egg white to medium peaks, then fold 

carefully into the batter using a metal spoon. 

Put ½ tsp oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. 

Drop 1 tbsp of the batter into the pan, giving it room to 

spread to about 5cm across. Repeat until the pan is full. Cook 

for 1 minute, then fl ip with a fish slice and cook for 1 minute 

more, until puffed up and golden on both sides. Lift onto a 

plate lined with kitchen paper. Repeat to make 20 blinis. 

Segment the grapefruit, allowing the juice to drop into 

a separate bowl, and roughly chop the flesh. Stir the 

horseradish and most of the dill into the remaining crème 

fraîche, season, then fold in the grapefruit. Serve on top of the 

cooled blinis, with a twist of salmon, a sprinkle more dill and a 

grinding of black pepper. 

ORGANIC HONEY-ROASTED 

VEGETABLES 

Preparation time: 15 minutes | Cooking time: 50 minutes 

Serves: 4-6 

INGREDIENTS 

300g small organic potatoes, halved 

300g organic butternut squash, cut into 1cm slices 

4 organic red onions, halved 

1 organic garlic bulb, halved horizontally 

2 tbsp organic extra virgin olive oil 

2 tbsp Rowse Organic Honey 

¼ organic lemon, trimmed and sliced thinly 

250g organic cooked beetroot, drained and cut into wedges 

2 tbsp organic half fat crème fraîche 

½ tsp organic cider vinegar 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6. Toss the potatoes, 

squash, red onions and garlic in a bowl with 1½ tbsp oil and 

1 tbsp honey; season. Spread over a large parchment-lined 

roasting tray and roast for 20 minutes. Toss the vegetables, 

adding the sliced lemon, and roast for another 20 minutes. 

Toss the beetroot wedges with the remaining ½ tbsp oil and 

add to the roasting tray. Drizzle the remaining 1 tbsp honey 

over the vegetables and roast for a final 10 minutes. 


Remove the tray from the oven and take out the garlic. 

Squeeze the cloves into a bowl and mash with the 

back of a fork. Stir in the crème fraîche, vinegar and 1-2 

tsp water to make a loose dressing; season. Arrange 

the roasted vegetables on a platter and serve with the 

garlic crème fraîche. 

COOK’S TIP 

Add a bag of Duchy Organic Baby Leaf & Rocket Salad 

to the roasted vegetables to create a lovely, substantial 

side salad that can be served with Christmas cold cuts 

or Boxing Day ham. 

FESTIVE SPICED 

LATTE CAKE 

Preparation time: 25 minutes | Cooking time: 50 

minutes 

Serves: 10-12 

INGREDIENTS 

250g unsalted butter, melted 

300g self-raising white flour 

1 tsp baking powder 

250g Billington’s Light Brown Soft Sugar 

½ tsp ground nutmeg, plus a pinch more 

¼ tsp salt 

1 tbsp instant coffee powder, plus 1 tsp 

75ml whole milk 

275g low-fat fresh vanilla custard 

3 medium British Blacktail Free Range Eggs, beaten 

4 tbsp Billington’s Golden Caster Sugar 

2 tbsp dark rum 

200ml whipping cream 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 180˚C, gas mark 4. Use a little of 

the butter to grease a 23cm springform tin, then line 

the base. Sift the flour and baking powder into a large 

bowl. Add the light brown soft sugar, a pinch of nutmeg 

and the salt. Mix well with your hands to smooth any 

lumps in the sugar, then make a well in the middle. 

Recipes and images courtesy of 

waitrose.com, where you can find 

1,000’s more delicious recipes 

In a cup, mix 1 tbsp coffee with 1 tbsp hot water. Stir 

into the melted butter with the milk, 175g custard and 

the eggs; whisk into the dry ingredients until smooth. 

Pour into the tin and bake for 50 minutes, until risen, 

golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes 

out clean. While the cake bakes, mix 1 tsp coffee with 2 

tbsp caster sugar, 1 tbsp water and 1 tbsp rum to make 

a syrup; set aside. 

Place the cake, in its tin, on a wire rack to cool. After 30 

minutes, poke lots of holes into the top using a cocktail 

stick and brush with the coffee syrup. Once cooled 

completely, remove from the tin and put on a plate. 

Make a frothy topping by whipping the cream with the 

remaining 2 tbsp caster sugar and 1 tbsp rum until very 

thick, then fold into the remaining 100g custard. Spoon 

and spread the topping onto the cake, then use a fine 

sieve or tea strainer to dust with the remaining ½ tsp 

nutmeg. 

COOK’S TIP 

Making the cake ahead of time? You can keep the 

cake in an airtight container for a couple of days. When 

ready to serve, make and add the topping as per step 4 

of the method (above). 


SUPPORTING BOARDING SCHOOLS 

How boarding schools are coping with the COVID-19 pandemic 

Like all organisations, boarding schools 

have quickly had to adapt to a ‘new 

normal.’ In recent months, they have 

supported pupils and parents through 

first-class online learning, and we have 

organised a variety of seminars for schools 

to help them modify their teaching and 

learning styles for this new world. Here 

Robin Fletcher tells us more. 

Through our BSA Academy, we’re 

continuing to offer a comprehensive range 

of online learning on a variety of subjects. 

These include the possible impact of 

COVID-19 and lockdown on the mental 

health and wellbeing of students; how to 

create positive and healthy routines for 

young people during the pandemic, and 

students’ future mental health. We have 

also just announced our ‘BSA COVID 

Conference: lessons learned and planning 

ahead,’ which will be taking place virtually 

on November 18. 

Supporting the health and wellbeing 

of boarding students is at the heart of 

everything we do; never more so than 

during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. In 

response to the pandemic, we developed 

our COVID-SAFE Charter, which schools 

can voluntarily adopt. The charter offers 

reassurance to boarders and their parents 

/ guardians that schools have done 

everything they can to ensure their safety 

and it has been welcomed enthusiastically 

by the boarding family across the world. We 

also translated the COVID-SAFE Charter 

into several different languages to keep 

international parents informed and also 

delivered a series of webinars to parents 

and agents in China, Hong Kong and 

Germany, designed to reassure them that 

UK boarding schools were safe places for 

their children. 

The main concern schools reported to us 

was that parents / guardians wanted to 

know their children were going to be as 

safe as they could possibly be when they 

returned. For example, they wanted to 

know what cleaning protocols the schools 

had in place; what their procedures were 

for testing students for coronavirus and 

what measures would be implemented for 

isolating pupils if there was a positive test; 

whether students could wear face masks or 

coverings in class if they wished, and that 

students would have an opportunity to raise 

any concerns. We responded by creating 

a COVID-19 supplier list to help schools 

find suppliers of products such as face 

coverings, sanitisers, testing and tracking 

devices and temperature camera systems. 

We’re continuing to work with a range of 

government departments to ensure all our 

member schools and staff receive the most 

comprehensive, up-to-date information as 

the coronavirus pandemic continues. We’re 

here to support to all our member schools 

and provide any advice and guidance 

they may need – we’d encourage them to 

contact us as soon as possible if they do 

require any assistance. 

Robin Fletcher, CEO, BSA and BSA Group 

A copy of the BSA COVID-SAFE Charter 

can be viewed by visiting their website 

www.boarding.org.uk where you will be able 

to link onto their advice. 


ENROL NOW! 

COURSES FOR 

ADULTS 2021 

Make it a resolution! 

ENROL ONLINE 

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LOANS AVAILABLE 

BRINGING OUT YOUR BEST 

www.btc.ac.uk 

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www.lydiaboothphotography.com 

Our pets are full of energy, 

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photos capture those moments 

and provide you with beautiful 

memories to treasure! 

To book a session email 

lydia@lydiaboothphotography.com 


ADVERTISING FEATURE 

leading the future 

People with Science, Technology, Engineering and 

Maths (STEM) qualifications are in demand, and 

at Taunton School we strive to equip our students 

for their future with the best foundations in these 

important subjects... 

The striking gothic exterior of our 

Science building, located within our 56 

acre campus, is in vivid contrast to the 

state-of-the-art facilities that occupy it. 

Recently refurbished laboratories and 

strong funding allows us to innovate 

and invest in equipment and resources 

beyond those found in many other 

schools. 

Our science students have travelled to 

Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Galapagos 

Islands and also carry out field work 

closer to home. We organise specialist 

trips for Pre-Engineering and Pre- 

Medicine students and regularly visit 

learning attractions such as zoos and 

scientific museums with junior classes, 

who also benefit from year group STEM 

days hosted within the school. 

Outreach 

Our Science department has an active 

outreach programme and works regularly 

with local primary, prep and secondary 

schools to share their knowledge and 

expertise. 

Some examples of this include: 

Skirting Science 

We are the proud hosts of the 

inspirational ‘Skirting Science’, organised 

alongside woman’s group Soroptimists 

International. Aimed specifically at girls 

with an interest in science, it attracts 

more than 250 Year 9 girls from all over 

the region. 

The STEM Challenge 

The STEM Challenge is a well-attended 

annual competition for local Prep and 

Primary schools, hosted at Taunton 

School. It explores the practical uses of 

science, engineering and technology and 

is designed to stimulate creativity, build 

confidence and further team working 

skills. 

Careers Evening 

We work alongside partners in associated 

health industries, universities and the 

Armed Forces to hold an open ‘Health 

Related Careers Evening’ every year for 

all sixth form aged students in Taunton 

School and other schools in our region. 

This provides invaluable opportunities to 

meet with professionals within the STEM 

field. 

Leading the future 

Science students at Taunton School 

have gained Nuffield Bursary awards and 

placements in universities in the UK and 

Europe. Others have undertaken Open 

University degree modules through the 

Young Applicants Science Scheme. 

We actively encourage our students to 

challenge themselves and participate in 

competitions including: 

• The National Biology, Chemistry 

and Physics Olympiads 

• The Harry Kroto science video 

competition 

• The Royal Society of Chemistry 

Top of the Bench and Chemistry 

Analysis competitions 

• The Melbourne Great Spaghetti 

Challenge 

• CREST Awards 

Our scientific accolades include the Royal 

Society of Chemistry Bill Bryson Award 

(Taunton School was the first school to 

win it) and the Royal Zoology Society 

Prince Phillip and Marsh Prize for studies 

in animal behaviour. 

ALUMNI 

Dr Zoe Bush: Doctor 

Zoe attended Taunton School for 11 

years, and went on to study Medicine 

at the prestigious University of Bristol. 

Whilst there, she was awarded numerous 

prizes and bursaries. She held the 

position of Chair of the University of 

Bristol GP Society from 2014-15, and 

in 2016 won the GP Online & RCGP 

Choosing General Practice competition. 

Now working as a junior doctor in 

Gloucestershire, she is grateful to those 

at Taunton School who supported her in 

her early ambitions to become a medic. 

James Robinson: Developing Drugs 

for Cancer 

James has worked in the Innovative 

Medicines team at the pharmaceutical 

company AstraZeneca since 2015. He 

uses cellular assay technologies to 

identify novel therapeutic approaches for 

cancer and design strategies to develop 

drugs. He read Biochemistry at Exeter 

College Oxford, spent four years studying 

for a PhD at University College London 

and went overseas to spend four years 

working in the Molecular Therapeutics 

Department at Scripps Research 

Institute, South Florida. James credits the 

supportive and stimulating environment 

at Taunton School for inspiring him to 

achieve his chosen career. 


With more of us working from home or putting 

off a move, we need to maximise every inch of 

space in our homes. This issue, we look at a 

real-life vault conversion which has given the 

homeowner ample new living space and room 

for guests... 

WORDS Katie Thomson 

PHOTOGRAPHY Lydia Booth Photography 

The side table is both practical and allows for cosy 

candlelight. Table and vase, jysk.com; candle, Pecksniffs 

Aromatherapy; Cushions, hauslife.co.uk; Tray, Homesense 


MAXIMISING 

f you’ve never ventured into the belly of a Georgian 

building, the term ‘vault’ might be an unfamiliar one to 

Iyou. During what was a hugely prolific building period, 

Regency architects created many of their characteristic 

town houses with an interconnected series of rooms below 

ground level, with vaulted ceilings. All houses except the 

poorest had basements containing a kitchen, scullery and 

other stores such as a pantry and larder. More generally, 

these allowed for the services of the household to operate 

without needing to use the front door. 

In the intervening years, many of these properties have 

been converted into flats and remedial works have 

been started on these vault spaces - so was the case 

with this room. Before work commenced (with relevant 

permissions), the vault was dark and the previous 

tanking system had failed entirely, leaving blown 

patches of plaster on the walls. The flooring was a thick 

carpet laid over a concrete substrate, only adding to the 

issues with damp. 

Unlike some spaces, this room had the benefit of a 

window, so for owners Dan and Kate, it made sense 

to be able to make it more habitable as a ‘snug’ with 

an option to accommodate guests. “The project was a 

daunting one, but the damp issue was getting worse and 

I knew we needed to take some action” explained Katie, 

“we wanted to make the space both dry for storage and 

somewhere we could actually use - but as you can see, 

the shapes of the walls made sure it wasn’t a standard 

project. The number one priority was getting it dry.” 

The first steps were removing the failed tanking and 

applying a new membrane. Where possible, Kate was 

very conscious not to harm the fabric of the building “I 

was adamant that I didn’t want wires channelled into the 

walls or any harm done to the building itself, so together 

with our builder we devised the panelling - the batons 

are secured to the walls and hide the myriad of cables to 

supply socket points and the LED up-lighting. The power 

for these comes from the original power source already in 

place in the room.” 

Once tanked and rendered, the next big challenge for the 

couple was the flooring. Even with all precautions taken, 

this is an underground space and the flooring needed 

to be able to withstand moisture but also be able to be 

laid in a space with such an unusual shape “there is not 

a single right angle in this room!” says Dan, “aside from 

making it challenging to plaster, the flooring had to be 

really easy to cut to size. We couldn’t go with laminate 

Space 

“The project was a daunting one, 

but the damp issue was getting 

worse and I knew we needed to 

take some action” 


“We were just desperate for some 

extra space with us both working 

from home, and this has given 

a new lease of life to a space we 

hadn’t been using.” 

really easy to cut to size. We couldn’t go 

with laminate because it doesn’t cope 

well with moisture, so the more obvious 

choice were luxury vinyl planks. We chose 

a product from the Colosseum range at 

Lifestyle Floors (lifestyle-floors.co.uk - you 

can find your local supplier on the website) 

which we had installed through a local 

fitter - the 7” plank width was perfect and 

the colour was exactly what we needed.” 

The colour of the flooring in a space like 

this is crucial too, “if you were to stand 

looking straight down the wall, you would 

see the floor undulates back and forth, 

like a wobbly line! We couldn’t have a dark 

coloured floor as this would highlight this - 

we went for the finish Limed Oak and it is 

perfect - it looks like real wood and gives 

us that nice Scandi look we love. I can’t 

recommend this flooring enough - whether 

your space is straightforward or tricky! 

It looks spectacular, is so cost effective 

and feels great underfoot. We finished 

it with this beautiful Savannah rug from 

Rug Love (ruglove.co.uk), which is the 

plushest, loveliest rug we’ve ever had! The 

colours really tie in well together and it’s 

handwoven.” 

Another challenge presented by this 

project was furnishing. Due to the huge 

curve and narrowness of the staircase 

down to the room, the owners knew most 

sofas and sofa beds would not fit into the 

room. Thankfully the answer was found 

with Snug Sofa (snugsofa.com). These 

ingenuous sofas arrive in their constituent 

parts in three boxes and are then 

assembled in under five minutes. What’s 

more, Snug can usually deliver within a 

week - gone are the days of waiting eight 

weeks for a sofa to arrive, only to realise 

it won’t fit through the door. The other 

sofa options include modular elements, 

helping your sofa grow with your family 

- and they come in a whole host of stainresistant 

(coffee, wine, small hand prints, 

paw prints) colours. 

Owner Dan was also sceptical about 

ordering a sofa online - Snug Sofa have 

UK stores to try out the products, but 

these were not in his locale. Though, 

he admits he needn’t have worried 

“the sofa is amazingly comfortable - 

my expectations were low as it was a 

sofa bed, but amazingly it’s even more 

comfy than my normal sofa upstairs. 

That, combined with lightning fast 

delivery, made something I was dreading 

Molly the dog is also a big fan of the Snug 

Sofa Bed, snugsofa.com, and the Elowen 

throw from hauslife.co.uk 

incredibly easy. Because of lockdown, we 

haven’t had guests yet, but they’ll be able 

to sleep on a queen sized bed, which is 

pretty impressive for a sofa bed! It was a 

good opportunity to inject some colour 

into the room too!” 

Did the couple have any regrets from 

the project? “Only that I wish we’d 

done it sooner” says Kate. “Working on 

renovations this size are intimidating, 

but having a good plan of each step and 

executing it are the key points - you do 

have to consider the unique challenges 

of your own project and try to plan ahead 

to a degree. We were just desperate for 

some extra space with us both working 

from home, and this has given a new lease 

of life to an area we hadn’t been using. It 

feels like a natural extension of our home 

and I love all the products we’ve used - so 

much so that we are thinking of changing 

up some rooms upstairs!” 


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efore 

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

Today, renovation can only being with 

prior consent in the case of historically 

significant buildings and it is likely 

only granted if previous works have 

been started - it is important to check 

the details with your local planning 

authority before starting any works. 

Product Information: 

Cushions, throw, floor cushions and 

pouf from hauslife.co.uk 

Hotel-quality luxury bed linen set 

from riseandfall.co 

Savannah Rug in Grey (160 x 230cm) 

£319, from ruglove.co.uk 

Prints and frames from desenio.co.uk 

The Colosseum Flooring in ‘Limed Oak’ from 

Lifestyle Floors was the perfect choice for the space 

Lydia Booth Photography - 

lydiaboothphotography.com 

lydia@lydiaboothphotography.com 


A VERY SCANDI 

CHRISTMAS 

PERFECT, PARED-BACK CHRISTMAS DECORATING 

Bring a Nordic forest feel to your home with 

natural textures and the softest of fabrics. 

Create a woodland theme this festive 

season and embrace the Scandi style of 

decorating. Add forest finds, handmade 

decorations and soft, cosy fabrics to your 

home for a truly rustic Christmas. 

Less is more but it's not just about what 

the room looks like, but how it makes you 

feel. Fill your space with candles, chunky 

knits and faux fur throws to create a warm 

and cosy ambience, as well as neutral 

interiors injected with natural materials. 

THE TABLE 

For the Scandi style, the table should 

feature textural, natural linens in a neutral 

palette. Glassware can be kept simple and 

pared-back too. Fill the table with the soft 

glowing light of candles (or LED ones if 

there will be lots of little people around!). 

Then decorate the space with lots of green 

foliage - eucalyptus looks wonderful, as 

does ivy - all interspersed with pine cones 

and white ceramic details. 

MANTELPIECE 

If you have one, a really stunning effect 

is to cover it with lush greenery - again 

eucalyptus looks great and smells 

wonderful, but you can use any mixture 

of what you have. Add a delicate string of 

LED lights and some LED candles, then 

finish with a simple wooden bead garland. 

stick) in the oven at approx 120˚C. Leave 

for 2-3 hours. Turn 2-3 times and keep 

checking on them - they can catch 

quickly so beware. Turning (especially 

at the beginning) them will prevent them 

sticking from the rack. 

DECORATING 

When choosing decorations for a Scanditheme, 

keep the natural world in mind. 

Dried grasses, logs, branches and twigs, 

pine cones and natural tones all work. 

We also love simple geometric shapes 

like stars and a very neutral palette. 

Suspending decorations from the ceiling 

also looks very effective. 

If you’re not worried about it being too 

traditional, you can add in some elements 

of sparkle. 

Images on this page, clockwise from 

top right. Pre-lit Christmas tree 

from Cox & Cox; Paints from 

Annie Sloan; Marble serving 

platter, £18, and hanging star 

decorations, gardentrading. 

co.uk; Paper Ornament, 

£6.99, coffeeandcloth. 

co.uk; Dried Grass Filled 

Glass Baubles, from £6, 

hauslife.co.uk; Advent 

Candle Ring, £31.99, 

giselagraham.co.uk 

DRIED ORANGE 

SLICES 

Whist not necessarily a Scandi tradition, 

dried citrus slices really compliment 

a Nordic scheme. To make, slice your 

oranges (or limes, lemons or grapefruit) 

to approx 1cm wide. Place on a rack (if 

you put them on a tray they will *really* 

Wooden Garland from hauslife.co.uk 


Volvo XC60 

Motoring Journalist Sue Cooke test 

drives the all-new Volvo XC60... 

A good friend of mine is a planner to the 

utmost. He will always have a plan B and 

even a plan C just in case plan A goes 

awry. For him, driving a car powered by 

a hybrid system is reassurance that if 

the plan A electric battery runs out, then 

there is always plan B automatic switch 

to petrol or diesel. 

Volvo considers that hybrids are the part 

time electric cars that will encourage 

confidence in and changes in people’s 

driving behaviour for a transition towards 

fully electric cars. The Volvo XC60 has 

a plug in hybrid model with a powerful 

petrol engine and a battery powered 

electric motor. This gives the owner a 

virtually silent, zero emission city car, an 

astonishingly fast performance car or a 

reassuring all wheel drive car, all at the 

touch of a button. 

While emitting less CO2 emissions so 

you pay less road tax, this medium 

sized SUV has so many other benefits 

which I discovered during my week 

of road testing. Having spent lock 

down clearing out my wardrobe, I took 

unwanted clothes to a charity warehouse 

in Shenstone. A lady came over to the 

car to give me some instructions and did 

a double take as she said, wow I love 

the interior of your car. It is beautiful. I 

received comments like that all week, 

but I was driving the top of the range trim 

- Inscription Pro. The power operated 

tailgate closed at the touch of a button 

as I unloaded black bags from the boot 

which will hold 483 litres and walked 

across the road to donate. 

There is a beautiful crystal gear 

lever which operates the automatic 

transmission with a light touch, forward 

or reverse. The powered glass tilt and 

slide panoramic sunroof provides an 

almost convertible like driving mode as it 

stretches the length of the car but has a 

‘sun curtain’ if required. I felt as if I was 

sitting on a cushion of air as the nappa 

soft leather seats have front seat cushion 

extensions. There is a front seat backrest 

massage option and plenty of space 

for long legs and many useful storage 

spaces. 

The Keyless start meant I could keep 

the keys in my pocket and not have to 

search my bag to find them. In a week 

of hot sunshine, the B pillar ventilation 

was of more use than the heated seats. 

A technology which I always find useful 

is the head up display which provides 

information on the speed of the road, the 

speed the car is achieving and any sat 

nav instructions. 

There is an option for a Bowers and 

Wilkins audio system with 14 speakers, a 

fresh air subwoofer and surround sound 

and voice activation which allows me 

to change the radio station, input an 

address in the sat-nav and even change 

the cabin temperature, all without moving 

my hands from the steering wheel or my 

eyes from the road. 

The 2020 model might be able to achieve 

a top speed of 140mph, but Volvo has 

announced that from 2020, all new 

cars will have the top speed limited to 

112mph. A ‘Care key’ allows further 

speed restrictions if needed. 

Whether taking a refined city drive or an 

exhilarating adventure there is little need 

for plans B or C, when the very intuitive 

Volvo XC60 is in charge. It says it all when 

the company announces that by 2020, 

the vision is that nobody shall be killed or 

seriously injured in a new Volvo. 

Facts at a Glance 

Model: Volvo XC60 Inscription Pro 

Automatic 

Price: £60,855 otr 

Engine: Hybrid T8 Twin Engine AWD 

Performance: 0-62 in 5.5 seconds and 

on to a top speed of 140 mph, capped 

to 112mph 

CO2 emissions: 47 g/km 

Combined fuel consumption: 94.2- 

122.8 mpg WLTP. All electric range 

27.3-33.6 miles. 


Positive Wellbeing in Times of Uncertainty 

In the past few months Sharon Dyke, a 

Solution Focused Hypnotherapist based in 

Taunton tells us, “I have seen many clients 

who were suddenly thrown into working from 

home as a result of the pandemic”... 

“Often, we discuss how to make it meaningful and keep those 

human connections. We are all going through unprecedented 

times and having to be innovative, this can often mean working 

in ways that are alien to us. At my practice we talk about positive 

thinking, positive interaction, and positive action. This means 

focusing on opportunities to experience positive emotions, being 

engaged in activities that we enjoy, and maintaining positive 

relationships with people we care about. When we do this, we 

can manage those more challenging events in our lives.” 

But how do we do this? Sharon gives us some tips for building 

emotional resilience. 

Positive emotions 

Three positive things, ask yourself, “What are three things you are 

positive about right now (these can also be things you are looking 

forward to or that have recently happened)”. The reason this is so 

effective is because it reframes how we look at the world. 

Engagement 

Play to your strengths, strengths are not activities you are good 

at, they’re activities that strengthen you. A strength is an activity 

where, before you’re doing it, you look forward to doing it; while 

you’re doing it, time goes by quickly and you can concentrate; 

and after you’ve done it, you feel a sense of achievement. 

Relationships 

Connect with people, pick up the phone, use group chats, 

video call someone. We need to keep talking to each other, It is 

wonderful to keep feeling that support from others. 

Meaning 

Know what drives you, find a way to regularly remind yourself, 

especially when you lose focus or motivation, what is meaningful 

for you. 

Accomplishment 

Quick wins, break up your day, make short goals for the next 2 

hours, it’s easier to see how far you have already come and it 

can feel less daunting. Self-praise/reflections, it is important to 

recognise our own achievements and spend time reflecting on 

what went well during the day, celebrate when you did 

something well. 

Sharon is a fully-qualified and insured 

senior hypnotherapy practitioner and 

member of the CNHC, a voluntary 

regulator for supplementary therapies. 

Sharon is also a senior supervisor 

supporting practitioners across the 

country, and a senior lecture with Clifton 

Practice Hypnotherapy Training, teaching 

other like-minded people to join one of 

the country’s fastest growing models of therapeutic interventions. 

To find out more please visit Sharon’s website 

www.sharondykehypnotherapy.co.uk or you can contact her 

directly to book a consultation on 07766250113. 


we we 

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only only 

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Sometimes 

Help to 

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After all, After you’re all, only you’re human only human

I’m dreaming of a green Christmas.... 

Angela Cave gives us some ideas in how to 

bring Christmas in all its glory into the house. 

Angela originally trained as a horticulturist and 

spent a year living, working and learning at 

the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey. 

She retains a love of plants, trees and 

anything that grows and her own garden, she 

readily admits, is completely full, but she still 

manages to fit in something new! 

“When I was little, we had a family Christmas 

tradition of spending one afternoon out in 

the country-side picking twigs and leaves 

and berries and whatever we could garner to 

make our own Christmas decorations. The 

usual result was very muddy tired children 

and rather chilly grown-ups, but it is a stand 

out memory and one which I treasure - and I 

seem to also recall the smell of mulled wine 

warming to revive said grown-ups! 

This year many of us will have spent a lot of 

time in our gardens and in doing that have 

seen just how beautiful each individual plant 

can be - and when it is silhouetted in frost 

just how magical our winter gardens are too. 

Even one bare branch silhouetted against the 

sky can be magical. There are lots of ways 

to use winter foliage and berries, and even 

feathers - and clever ways to ensure they 

last - just google and the various methods 

will be revealed. Here are just a few ideas to 

make your Christmas decor that bit special 

and personal. 

Twig trees. The family Christmas tree is 

very special, but it is also good to have a 

few twig sprays around the house. Sprayed 

white, silver or gold they are the ideal vehicle 

for the kids to make their own individual 

decorations and paper, wool, leaves, feathers 

and berries can all be hung to make a really 

individual display. I can never resist overseas 

decorations when on hols, so I have a twig 

cluster festooned with my well- travelled 

decorations, from Santa on a surf board to a 

merry Christmas sloth (yes, really) it is great 

fun and very colourful! 

This Christmas we may not be able to be 

with all of our family members so how about 

having a real ‘family tree’ and hanging family 

photos, nativity days past, daft fashion faux 

pas, holiday snaps - fun family memories to 

enjoy and share. 

Your front door can be a delight to everyone 

who passes as well as those who come in 

and so a wreath of leaves and berries, even 

a simple raffia and twig circle is a lovely way 

to mark the festive season and again you 

can gather what you need on a walk. If you 

have a staircase, ivy garlands intertwined with 

lights is a very simple but effective way to 

decorate it. 

Holly, ivy and mistletoe are all an essential and 

traditional part of Christmas, and your local 

florist will have some other beautiful additions 

to suggest and who can resist a poinsettia! 

Whatever you chose to do and however you 

chose to spend it, I hope your Christmas is 

special.” 


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Our Family Team appreciate that a relationship breakdown is a traumatic 

event, we treat all issues with sensitivity and provide a tailored service to meet 

your demands, whether you need help regarding a divorce, seperation or 

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Please contact Jayne Turner for advice. Jayne is a Partner in the Family team 

in Taunton. She is a Resolution Accredited Specialist in Complex Financial 

Remedies and Pensions on Divorce, an Advanced Member of the Law Society’s 

Family Law Panel and trained and experienced collaborative lawyer. Jayne is 

described in the Legal 500 as “sensible, client focused and knowledgeable.” 

+44 (0)01823 232370 cj.turner@ashfords.co.uk 

A number of our team 

are Resolution Accredited 

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VISITS TO CARE HOMES 

We have an overview as to 

how the Covid19 pandemic has 

changed visits to care homes. 

Here Professor June Andrews 

gives us some advice plus we 

have some advice for being 

cared for at home 

Everyone understands that with the 

current risks from the Covid19 pandemic, 

government rules about visiting in 

hospitals and care homes must be tight. 

Care homes are disappointed that they 

can’t welcome visitors in any time, day or 

night, when normally visitors and relatives 

have free range, even having sleepovers 

with their loved one in a spare room, or 

special guest wing. 

Care homes know that it is important for 

families and friends of residents to be 

connected as much as possible. They 

have been trying to make this happen 

while the local rules have changed, 

sometimes week on week. hey aim to 

reunite residents with everyone else, but 

they have to keep people safe from the 

virus. One manager told me, “It’s about 

balancing risk. The local inspectors are 

really worried about the Covid19 risk. 

I worry just as much about the risk of 

depression and anxiety from people being 

isolated. We love our residents and try to 

be like family, but we never really are.” 

Staff must have regular coronavirus testing 

and there are risk assessments from 

local public health officials. And if the test 

comes back positive, the staff member 

has to go off, and staffing problems are 

caused because you don’t want just 

anyone to step in and fill their shoes. 

With imagination and flair new visiting 

ideas have come up. Sweet little beach 

huts decorated with bunting, with soft 

furnishings and comfy chairs have sprung 

30 | www.tauntonlivingmag.co.uk 

up in the gardens of care homes. With 

two entrances, and a discrete Perspex 

screen down the middle, the visitor and 

the resident can feel as if they really are 

together and can talk freely. In some 

places it started with basic pop up tents, 

and garden chairs, but even now, spare 

rooms on the ground floor are being 

converted as the weather turns colder. 

Still no cuddles though. 

Care homes have Wi-Fi and access to 

tablets so that residents can communicate 

with family and see them with face time 

calls and skype. It is not ideal, because 

many older residents are not accustomed 

to this or have lost recent skills due to 

dementia, but in many cases it is good 

fun, and a comfort to the families to see 

their relative. 

Most people would prefer not to go to a 

care home, but a good home is a place of 

peace and comfort at the end of life. They 

are working hard to make things right in 

this extraordinary time, and with practice, 

and increasing flexibility about the rules, 

things are getting better, and will continue 

to do so. 

Professor June Andrews OBE FRCN 

FCGI is an expert in care of older frail 

people and people with dementia. She has 

worked in the NHS and government, as 

well as academia and is currently working 

across all sectors of health and social 

care, independent and statutory. 

Professor Andrews has written many 

books including Care Homes: When, Why 

and How to choose a Care Home. 

Home care or a care home (if, or when, 

it is needed) can be a joy and a respite, 

exactly as you would want it to be, and a 

welcome solace when living independently 

has become too hard or lonely. 

To find out more visit 

www.juneandrews.net 

Help at home from a carer 

Having a carer come to visit you in 

your home can make a huge difference 

to your life, especially if you 

have difficulty walking or getting 

around. It can help you stay living 

independently in your own home. 

This type of care is known as 

homecare or domiciliary care or 

sometimes home help. 

Help at home from a paid carer 

costs around £20 an hour, but it 

varies according to where you 

live. Sometimes, the council will 

contribute to the cost. 

Homecare is very flexible. You 

might need a carer for only an hour 

a week or for several hours a day. 

You might need a live-in carer. 

It can be temporary - for example 

for a few weeks while you recover 

from an illness. Or it can be long 

term. 

You might also consider home 

adaptations or household gadgets 

or equipment to make life easier. 

When should I consider help at 

home from a paid carer? 

You might want to consider care 

at home if: 

you’re finding it difficult to cope 

with daily routines, such as 

washing, dressing and getting out 

and about 

you don’t want to move into a care 

home 

you can still get about your home 

and it’s safe for you to live in – or it 

can be adapted to make it safe 

How can homecare help me? 

A carer can visit you at home to 

help you with all kinds of things. 

For more information please visit 

www.nhs.uk

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discover the magic 

michaelspiers.co.uk 

M_Spiers_Taunton Living-Ad-CHRISTMAS-2020.indd 1 23/10/2020 11:26

Taunton and South Somerset Living Dec 2020 - Jan 2021

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