New Forest Living Jul - Aug 2022
Summer is here – we’ve got an issue filled with sunshine! We’ve interviewed French chef Raymond Blanc, got some delicious recipes and are looking at all the ways to transform the home and garden in a few easy steps.
Summer is here – we’ve got an issue filled with sunshine! We’ve interviewed French chef Raymond Blanc, got some delicious recipes and are looking at all the ways to transform the home and garden in a few easy steps.
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C O N T E N T S<br />
A NOTE<br />
from the editor<br />
17<br />
DISHES FROM RAYMOND<br />
I sit writing this in the most<br />
bucolic of settings - we are<br />
lucky in that our offices are<br />
within farmlands (we are<br />
actually housed in a former<br />
hen shed - we say that’s why<br />
we sometimes run around<br />
like headless chickens).<br />
From my desk, I get to<br />
watch the seasons change -<br />
we welcomed the swallows<br />
who put on the most<br />
wonderful of shows - and<br />
only occasionally knocking<br />
into the windows during<br />
their frenzied activity!<br />
06<br />
COMPETITIONS<br />
We are really looking forward<br />
to the warmer months,<br />
and this issue is certainly<br />
a celebration of that. We<br />
caught up with French<br />
chef Raymond Blanc and<br />
were lucky to have a really<br />
insightful chat with him<br />
about the British food scene<br />
and his love of teaching - we<br />
also managed to nab some<br />
recipes from his latest book.<br />
15<br />
RAYMOND BLANC<br />
Editor Katie Thomson<br />
e katie@minervapublications.co.uk<br />
Assistant Editor Kate Norris<br />
Publisher Sally Thomson<br />
Pre Press Manager Rebecca Rose<br />
Contributors<br />
Matthew Biggs, Angela Cave,<br />
Louise Thomson, Pete Lawrence<br />
FOR ADVERTISING<br />
Account Manager Helen Skeates<br />
e helen.skeates@minervapublications.co.uk<br />
t 01225 984494<br />
Cover image courtesy of OKA oka.com<br />
4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />
HOME & GARDEN<br />
21<br />
MINERVA PUBLICATIONS<br />
Unit 21c, Paxcroft Farm,<br />
Hilperton BA14 6JB<br />
t 01225 984 550<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />
Printed on sustainably sourced paper.<br />
Please recycle this copy or pass it along<br />
when you are finished for someone else<br />
to enjoy.<br />
Disclaimer: The publishers shall not be<br />
held liable for any loss occasioned by<br />
failure of an advertisement to appear, or<br />
any damage or inconvenience caused by<br />
errors, omissions and misprints. No part of<br />
this publication may be reproduced without<br />
prior permission from the publishers.<br />
The opinions expressed within are not<br />
necessarily those of the publishers.<br />
We’ve also got some<br />
fabulous editorial aimed<br />
at getting the house up<br />
together for the summer<br />
months - with a range of<br />
projects both large and<br />
small to create that home<br />
you’ve always coveted. It<br />
can be really daunting, but<br />
ever so rewarding to refresh<br />
the spaces in your home - so<br />
we have a range of projects<br />
to consider.<br />
We hope you enjoy this<br />
edition - look out for the next<br />
one in September, when we<br />
will be hoping for an Indian<br />
Summer, and shining our<br />
shoes for a new school year.<br />
Until then, school’s out!<br />
Katie
Exbury<br />
offers the<br />
perfect day out<br />
Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway is a<br />
spectacular 200-acre woodland garden<br />
and narrow-gauge steam railway located<br />
on the edge of the Beaulieu River.<br />
World-famous for the Rothschild collection of rare<br />
trees and shrubs, Exbury is much more than a garden!<br />
Boasting an adventure play area with brand new<br />
Log Trail, woodland walks and river views.<br />
For more information or to pre book, visit<br />
info@exbury.co.uk or call 023 8089 1203.<br />
www.exbury.co.uk<br />
Exbury Gardens, <strong>New</strong> <strong>Forest</strong>, Hampshire, SO45 1AZ<br />
Exbury Gardens is a registered charity: 801349
COMPETITION<br />
To enter any (or all!) of our competitions, head to<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk/competitions.<br />
Find the competition and enter on that post,<br />
using the appropriate keyword.<br />
T&C’s apply and no cash alternatives available. Winners chosen at<br />
random - entries made after closing date will not be accepted.<br />
WIN<br />
A HOTEL<br />
STAY FOR<br />
TWO!<br />
Ready to relax, recharge and<br />
recuperate? Soon you could<br />
be enjoying some ‘you’<br />
time, with the chance to<br />
win an incredible weekend<br />
away with spa treatments.<br />
We’ve teamed up with The<br />
QHotels Collection, to give one<br />
of our lucky readers an exclusive<br />
staycation for two people at a spa<br />
hotel within the collection.<br />
With 17 gorgeous spa hotels across the UK,<br />
you’ll be able to leave your worries behind<br />
at the likes of historic hideaway, Slaley<br />
Hall - nestled deep in the serene North-<br />
East landscape, or Crewe Hall, set in eight<br />
acres of stunning grounds in the peaceful<br />
Cheshire countryside, with its lavishly<br />
decorated historic pile dating back to the<br />
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Park, set in a blissful parkland just outside<br />
historic Winchester and Oulton Hall, Spa &<br />
Golf Resort very accessible to Leeds city<br />
centre, while set within the rolling Yorkshire<br />
countryside.<br />
This incredible prize includes two night’s<br />
stay with breakfast, plus a two-course dinner<br />
and a spa treatment for two people.<br />
For a full list of The QHotels Collection spas,<br />
visit: www.qhotels.co.uk/our-spas/<br />
Closes 15/09/<strong>2022</strong> -<br />
Competition keyword: ‘RELAX’<br />
WIN<br />
A CBD<br />
BEAUTY BOX<br />
WORTH<br />
£77.99<br />
The MotherSage CBD Beauty Box is an ‘Evolution in Skincare’<br />
featuring a fantastic collection of the very best quality, legally<br />
registered, natural cannabinoid-based skincare products, in a<br />
beautiful gift box. Each contains their Anti-Cellulite and Slimming<br />
Gel, Body Butter, Bath Salts and Body Oil.<br />
They can be used individually or as part of a treatment regime<br />
ensuring the full range of benefits inspired by Mother Earth’s<br />
natural ingredients are used to ‘Soothe Your Soul’. Retailing<br />
at just £77.99 each, we have four fabulous MotherSage CBD<br />
Beauty Box’s to giveaway to four lucky readers.<br />
www.hir.global/collections/mothersage<br />
Closes 15/09/<strong>2022</strong> - Competition keyword: ‘MOTHERSAGE’<br />
Family run, online blinds<br />
retailer BlindsbyPost is<br />
offering you the chance<br />
to refresh your home and<br />
spruce up any room with the<br />
opportunity to win fabulous<br />
new blinds. The £200 voucher<br />
works across the website,<br />
giving you the opportunity to<br />
choose from the huge variety<br />
of blinds available.<br />
From motorised blinds<br />
which can modernise your windows and<br />
make them an integral part of a smart home,<br />
and blackout blinds for complete peace and<br />
relaxation to aid sleep, to versatile, functional and<br />
affordable roller blinds, and wooden venetian blinds which add<br />
a stylish touch to any room, the options really are endless. One<br />
lucky reader will win a £200 voucher to spend online. Find the<br />
full T&Cs on the Minerva website.<br />
www.blindsbypost.co.uk<br />
Closes 15/09/<strong>2022</strong> - Competition keyword: ‘BLINDS’<br />
WIN<br />
A £200<br />
ONLINE<br />
VOUCHER<br />
WITH<br />
BLINDSBYPOST<br />
WIN<br />
A STAY<br />
FOR 2 IN A<br />
BOUTIQUE<br />
LONDON<br />
HOTEL<br />
Win a night’s stay for<br />
two in Holmes Hotel.<br />
Located on London’s<br />
iconic Chiltern Street in<br />
the heart of Marylebone<br />
Village, Holmes Hotel is a<br />
chic boutique hotel that<br />
blends a unique sense<br />
of Baker Street heritage<br />
with contemporary style<br />
and luxury.<br />
On the doorstep of the crème de la crème of<br />
Marylebone’s shopping, cultural and dining<br />
destinations, it is the perfect base from which<br />
to explore the city.<br />
One lucky reader will win this fabulous stay.<br />
www.holmeshotel.com<br />
Closes 15/09/<strong>2022</strong> - Competition keyword ‘HOL,MES’<br />
WIN<br />
A HENRY<br />
VACUUM<br />
CLEANER!<br />
Reliable classic brand Henry has brought out<br />
two new offerings in the home. Henry Pet has<br />
all the great features of the Henry you know<br />
and love, with the added bonus of extra pet<br />
friendly features. Ready to remove stubborn pet<br />
hairs and reduce lingering pet odours, Henry Pet<br />
will become (almost) as important a part of the<br />
family as the furry-friends he’s cleaning up after.<br />
Awarded the British Allergy Foundation Seal of<br />
Approval, Henry Allergy is scientifically proven<br />
to reduce exposure to dust and pet-related<br />
allergens around the home.<br />
We have one of each of these amazing vacuum cleaners to give<br />
away – specify the one you’d like to win with the Keyword ‘Henry<br />
Pet’ or ‘Henry Allergy’.<br />
www.myhenry.com<br />
Closes 15/09/<strong>2022</strong> - Competition keyword:<br />
‘HENRY PET or HENRY ALLERGY’<br />
6 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
LOCAL FAMILY RUN BUSINESS CATERING<br />
FOR ALL YOUR VEHICLE NEEDS<br />
We have an established reputation for expert<br />
workmanship and first-class service in all<br />
aspects of Land Rover maintenance. We cater<br />
for all class of vehicles, not just 4x4s!<br />
WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:<br />
MOT | WORK | SERVICING | FABRICATION<br />
WELDING | FULL DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES<br />
T: 023 8081 1973 | E: info@nf4x4.co.uk<br />
<strong>New</strong> <strong>Forest</strong> Garage Services, The Yews Workshops,<br />
Southampton Road, Cadnam SO40 2NG<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 7
Sweaty Betty<br />
opens in Ringwood<br />
On 18th May, global activewear brand Sweaty<br />
Betty opened their newest retail shop at<br />
The Furlong shopping centre in Ringwood,<br />
marking the first store in Hampshire to-date.<br />
This is Sweaty Betty’s 62nd store in the UK, following recent<br />
re-fits and openings in Edinburgh, Brighton, and Cheltenham with<br />
additional shops to come in Victoria.<br />
The stunning glass-fronted store showcases Sweaty Betty’s<br />
entire multi-sport activewear range including its famous<br />
bum-sculpting leggings and performance pieces representing<br />
categories such as run, yoga, train, and the new eco-friendly<br />
swim edit. Complimentary services offered in the Ringwood store<br />
will include in-store workout classes and community events.<br />
Doors opened at 9:30am on 18th May, with exclusive goodie<br />
bags for the first 50 customers. The team were met by long<br />
queues of excited customers who were eager to get their first<br />
peek of the new store.<br />
Comment from Charlie Reed, Marketing Director at The Furlong:<br />
“We had a fantastic first day with customers literally queuing<br />
around the back of the car park to get into the new store. The<br />
feedback from customers was extremely positive. It was also<br />
great that some of our Furlong retailers like Love to b and Boston<br />
Tea Party supported the launch with free giveaways - a perfect<br />
demonstration of the Ringwood community spirit. We would like<br />
to wish all the Sweaty Betty team a very happy home with us.”<br />
Feedback from customers included:<br />
“I live in Wimborne but I’ll definitely come to Ringwood now to<br />
visit Sweaty Betty.”<br />
“This is so exciting. I love this brand and usually shop online but<br />
it’s so good to see and feel the clothes I’m buying.”<br />
“This is such a boost for a market town like Ringwood.”<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
Caroline Scott, Sweaty Betty’s SVP of Global Retail remarks, “We<br />
were really excited to launch our first store in Hampshire reaching<br />
new and existing customers in our local community empowering<br />
women through fitness and beyond. Ringwood is a delightful,<br />
unspoilt historic town with both quaint and modern shops, street<br />
entertainment, restaurants, pubs and cafes”.<br />
The Sweaty Betty Ringwood shop is located at 16A The Furlong,<br />
Ringwood, BH24 1AT.<br />
For more information on Sweaty Betty, please visit sweatybetty.<br />
com or about The Furlong visit www.thefurlong.co.uk<br />
Bring your<br />
family to St<br />
Barbe this<br />
summer...<br />
Dinosaurs on your Doorstep<br />
23 <strong>Jul</strong>y – 10 September<br />
Journey back to Jurassic times to find out about the reptiles that once<br />
dominated our planet.<br />
This family-friendly exhibition to introduces visitors to magnificent<br />
carnivores, herbivores, marine and flying reptiles. This summer find<br />
out facts and fun such as what these giant beasts ate, how they lived<br />
and get hands-on with real fossilized dinosaur bones telling the story<br />
of these amazing creatures.<br />
This exhibition of original fossils, impressive casts, models and photorealistic<br />
graphics looks at important dinosaur material found along<br />
the South Coast – remains all found within a 75-mile radius around<br />
Lymington, including the Isle of Wight and Barton-on-Sea.<br />
See our social media for children’s activities, especially created for<br />
budding palaeontologists.<br />
Exhibition provided by Bespoke Scientific.<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
St Barbe Museum + Art Gallery, <strong>New</strong> Street, Lymington, SO41 9BH<br />
Adults £6, Concessions £5, Child £3 aged 5-15, Family (2+4) £12<br />
www.stbarbe-museum.org.uk | 01590 676969 | charity no 1018779<br />
8 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
VISIT RINGWOOD’S AWARD-WINNING<br />
SHOPPING HAVEN<br />
Discover the <strong>New</strong> <strong>Forest</strong>’s best shopping secret.<br />
With big brands, independent boutiques and charming cafès; all nestled around a<br />
picturesque courtyard, it’s easy to see why The Furlong has won both the Gold<br />
and the Silver awards for the Best Shopping Destination on the south coast.<br />
For the latest events, store offers & opening times visit thefurlong.co.uk<br />
GET BEHIND THE SCENES WITH US ON ANY OF<br />
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS @FURLONGCENTRE<br />
FREE PARKING<br />
FOR 2 HOURS<br />
OPEN 7<br />
DAYS A WEEK<br />
FIND US JUST OFF<br />
THE A31, RINGWOOD.
On Saturday 13th <strong>Aug</strong>ust –<br />
after three no-show years<br />
– Ellingham Show will be<br />
back on the beautiful grounds<br />
of Somerley House, near<br />
Ringwood in Hampshire.<br />
Run entirely by volunteers,<br />
the show is in its 75th<br />
anniversary year.<br />
WE’RE BACK!<br />
Saturday 13th <strong>Aug</strong>ust<br />
Ellingham is relaxed and fun,<br />
one of the summer’s best-loved<br />
local shows, with something<br />
for all the family. Opening<br />
hours are from 9am to 5pm,<br />
and the traditional programme<br />
of events awaits: from horses<br />
and donkeys to cattle and<br />
sheep; from browsing and<br />
shopping to relaxing with a<br />
cup of tea or a pint of Hall and<br />
Woodhouse’s finest.<br />
You’ll also be able to get closer<br />
to our Horse Show, where<br />
there is more emphasis on fun<br />
and a whole ring dedicated<br />
to demonstrations and<br />
children’s classes.<br />
Booking is easier too. The<br />
website has been updated<br />
to include online booking,<br />
and as ever, sales both online<br />
and on the gate go towards<br />
supporting local charities.<br />
So, even if your dog doesn’t<br />
succeed in the scurry, the whole<br />
community wins.<br />
We’re excited to see old friends<br />
again and, hopefully, make<br />
some new ones. See you there?<br />
www.ellinghamshow.co.uk<br />
Follow us on Facebook<br />
facebook.com/ellinghamshow
Ellingham is back<br />
Until the pandemic threw us all into<br />
gloom, Summer in England always<br />
meant country shows...<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
A chance to socialise with friends; watch the Horse Show; look<br />
at the animals; shop for goodies; enter nutty dogs into races. But<br />
then came Lockdown. Ellingham Show in the <strong>New</strong> <strong>Forest</strong> had<br />
already suffered a cancellation in 2019, when dangerously highwinds<br />
forced the committee to cancel at the last minute. And the<br />
pandemic slammed the lid on it for another two years.<br />
Ironically, it was two years after WW2 ended that Ellingham<br />
Show was born in 1947, a shot in the arm for a battered country<br />
community. A chance to dress up, watch the animals go through<br />
their paces, enter the produce and floral competitions, eat, drink,<br />
and perhaps even buy a new hat.<br />
Now, in <strong>2022</strong>, two years after the pandemic silenced the rings in<br />
the gracious grounds of Somerley House, the Show is back and<br />
promises to be better than ever.<br />
The committee have used the time well. Taking place on Saturday<br />
13 <strong>Aug</strong>ust <strong>2022</strong> from 9am to 5pm, there’s a delicious diary of<br />
delights in place.<br />
All the best loved ‘shopping’ tents will be back. Visitors will be<br />
able to stock up on locally made natural lotions and potions.<br />
Craftspeople, local artists and traders are back too, selling works<br />
of art, clothes, jewellery and antiques, as well as local produce.<br />
As well as the traditional mix of entertainments, there is a<br />
revamped Horse Show. In this, the show’s 75th anniversary year,<br />
the aim is to appeal to most horse disciplines, but with fun being<br />
a priority. One ring is dedicated to children’s classes.<br />
There’ll also be opportunities to chat with local charities and<br />
conservation organisations about volunteering, or just more ways<br />
to support their work.<br />
Booking is easier too. The website has been updated to include<br />
online booking, and as ever, sales both online and on the gate go<br />
towards supporting local charities. So, even if your dog doesn’t<br />
succeed in the scurry, the whole community wins.<br />
We’re excited to see old friends again, and hopefully make some<br />
new ones. See you there!<br />
www.ellinghamshow.co.uk<br />
Follow us on Facebook: @ellinghamshow<br />
Ringwood Auctions<br />
Regular sales include:<br />
Silver, Jewellery, Works of Art, Paintings, Ceramics, Furniture, Guns, Books and Collectables<br />
Victorian star brooch<br />
SOLD £1,020 inc<br />
18ct gold cigarette case<br />
SOLD £2,500 inc<br />
01425 480178<br />
www.ringwoodauctions.co.uk<br />
The Close, Ringwood BH24 1LA<br />
Winnie the Pooh first<br />
edition book<br />
SOLD £1,200 inc<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 11
TAKE THE CAKE<br />
Thinking of letting<br />
If you need a cake for your next<br />
celebration, look no further than My<br />
Baker - Katie Thomson enjoyed one of<br />
their delights for her recent birthday...<br />
Whether you’re five or fifty, it’s universally agreed that the<br />
birthday cake is an important part of festivities. On my recent<br />
30th birthday, the absolute centrepiece of the day was the<br />
triumphant arrival of a glorious pastel-coloured and meringue<br />
kiss-festooned monolith of a cake.<br />
your holiday property?<br />
Having gone back and forth with some local bakers unable to<br />
make the cake to the requirements, I stumbled upon the amazing<br />
My Baker - who sells delicious artisanal cakes made by a<br />
network of independent bakers. The company has just celebrated<br />
its second birthday and is going from strength to strength -<br />
offering both local bakers a great income and consumers an easy<br />
way to order their dream cake.<br />
There are a variety of bolt-ons available too, from candles and<br />
cake toppers, to cupcakes and macarons, to make sure you have<br />
everything you need for your special occasion. The hardest bit<br />
will be choosing your flavours - I opted for a delicious lemon and<br />
raspberry cake called ‘Squeeze the Day’ (pictured) - perfect for<br />
a summer party and so pretty - it was easy to adjust the order to<br />
cater for my party size too.<br />
For those who need their cakes in a flash, My Baker’s range<br />
20,000 bookings<br />
of unique, fresh-to-order cakes are now available with a newly<br />
launched Next Day delivery service. Now, cake lovers can<br />
purchase one of My Baker’s cakes to be delivered to anywhere in<br />
the UK within 24 hours for an additional £10 (on top of the regular<br />
delivery fee). For peace of mind, it’s great value, and it helps to<br />
1.04 million web users<br />
take the stress out of your festivity preparations. And the £10<br />
goes to the baker who pulls out all the stops to get you your cake<br />
on time!<br />
Thinking of letti<br />
your holiday pro<br />
7 million properties viewed<br />
Over the past five years<br />
Wedding cake, birthday cakes and more all available at My<br />
Baker. Find out more at mybaker.co.<br />
Your local holiday cottage specialist is currently<br />
looking for properties in the area to add to their<br />
ever-growing portfolio in the <strong>New</strong> <strong>Forest</strong>.<br />
Thinking of letting<br />
your holiday property?<br />
If you are considering letting your holiday home,<br />
we offer free, honest, expert advice on how to<br />
get the most out of your holiday property and<br />
the potential income you could generate<br />
through marketing.<br />
20,00<br />
1.04 milli<br />
7 million prop<br />
Over<br />
20,000 bookings<br />
1.04 million web users<br />
7 million properties viewed<br />
For more information and advice, contact our experienced<br />
property team on 01590 679655 or Over visit our the website. past five years<br />
www.newforestcottages.co.uk<br />
Your local holiday cottage specialist is currently<br />
looking for properties in the area to add to their<br />
ever-growing portfolio in the <strong>New</strong> <strong>Forest</strong>.<br />
If you are considering letting your holiday home,<br />
we offer free, honest, expert advice on how to<br />
get the most out of your holiday property and<br />
the potential income you could generate<br />
through marketing.<br />
Your local holiday cottage specialist is currently<br />
looking Your for local properties holiday in the cottage area to specialist add to their is currently looking for<br />
ever-growing properties portfolio in <strong>New</strong> the <strong>Forest</strong> in area the Cottages <strong>New</strong> to add <strong>Forest</strong>.<br />
advert to 2021.indd their ever-growing 1 portfolio in<br />
15/11/2021 11:13<br />
the <strong>New</strong> <strong>Forest</strong>.<br />
If you are considering letting your holiday home,<br />
we If offer you free, are honest, considering expert advice letting on your how to holiday home, we offer<br />
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12 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />
<strong>New</strong> <strong>Forest</strong> Cottages advert 2021.indd 1
O<br />
YOung<br />
Artists’<br />
HOliday<br />
Club<br />
25–30 <strong>Jul</strong>y | 15–20 <strong>Aug</strong>ust<br />
No art experience needed, just buckets of enthusiam!<br />
AUB’s vibrant and inclusive one-week holiday club is specially<br />
designed for budding artists aged 8-12 to:<br />
Ŷ Have fun<br />
Ŷ Nurture their talent<br />
Ŷ Develop new creative skills<br />
Ŷ Learn from our creative experts<br />
Ŷ Explore and experiment creatively<br />
Ŷ Study in a leading specialist university<br />
Ŷ Increase confidence in their artistic abilities<br />
Ŷ Harness their imaginations in a supportive environment<br />
2O22<br />
Young Artists’ Holiday Club<br />
Arts University Bournemouth<br />
This course is highly practical so there’s a strict limited<br />
number of places available. We highly recommend<br />
booking early.<br />
Book now<br />
aub.ac.uk/summer<br />
summercourses@aub.ac.uk<br />
01202 363222
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freedom-leisure.co.uk
aymond blanc<br />
Bon appetit<br />
Editor Katie Thomson caught up with acclaimed<br />
French chef Raymond Blanc following his appearance<br />
at this year’s Blenheim Palace Food Festival – we<br />
talked all things sustainability, the British food scene<br />
and his love of teaching…<br />
Food and produce are at the centre of<br />
your life – you exude such a passion for<br />
it – where did this passion begin?<br />
It began in my childhood, in Franche-<br />
Comté. My mother was the greatest<br />
inspiration of my life. Through her I learnt<br />
about the importance of seasonality and<br />
the purity of ingredients. I was very much<br />
her kitchen helper and it wasn’t until<br />
the age of 14 that I made my first dish –<br />
crêpes Suzette, thin pancakes in a sweet<br />
sauce of caramel and Grand Marnier.<br />
I made about 30 pancakes, as light as<br />
feathers, and I was an extremely proud<br />
teenager. I folded them and arranged them<br />
on a big Pyrex dish. Then I made a light<br />
brown caramel, adding the juice of orange<br />
and lemon, and then the Grand Marnier. I<br />
poured the sauce over the pancakes and<br />
then decided to reheat the whole thing on<br />
a gas ring. Perfect! Or so I thought. At that<br />
moment catastrophe struck. The Pyrex<br />
dish exploded into millions of tiny pieces.<br />
Of course it was a blow to my ego but, as<br />
you know, I am delighted to say it didn’t<br />
put me off cooking.<br />
How important is the garden at Le<br />
Manoir aux Quat’Saisons?<br />
There is not just one garden in the<br />
grounds – there are many, from the<br />
potager to the orchards and herb<br />
gardens, and the valley of mushrooms<br />
and the Japanese garden with its little<br />
tea-house. For me, it is a daily ritual<br />
to wander through these enchanting<br />
gardens with their unusual herbs and<br />
the sweet, exotic scents of near and<br />
faraway places. Every little part of Le<br />
Manoir helps to make it a place with<br />
soul, a big heart and an appetite for<br />
humanity. My childhood in postwar<br />
France might seem ancient and<br />
simplistic, and we may have lacked<br />
today’s science or high-tech values,<br />
but we had one great asset: common<br />
sense. Information was passed on<br />
from one generation to another. We<br />
understood and appreciated that<br />
food connected with everything – the<br />
table, the family, environment, society,<br />
health. We respected what came from<br />
the soil.<br />
You’ve always been passionate about<br />
putting vegetables in the spotlight – do<br />
you think we are reconnecting with<br />
our understanding of produce and<br />
how it links to both our health and the<br />
environment?<br />
It begins with the young. We have to<br />
teach our children about the value of<br />
a meal, and instil in them that sense<br />
of place, of region. We need to show<br />
our children what flourishes near their<br />
homes and how to grow our own<br />
vegetables in the garden. If that’s not<br />
possible we can use window boxes and<br />
teach our children the miracle of the little<br />
seeds that contain the life force. If you<br />
grow and cook your own vegetables,<br />
life will feel better and you and your<br />
family will feel better. You will be part of<br />
gastronomy, too!<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 15
Have you seen the British restaurant<br />
industry change since the 1970s?<br />
Beyond belief. When I crossed the<br />
Channel in the seventies the nation<br />
was in economic turmoil and the<br />
quality of the food supply chain was<br />
not questioned; it had become an<br />
irrelevance. We had embraced intensive<br />
farming, and we held it as a triumph.<br />
This was reflected in the restaurant<br />
industry which, yes, has changed<br />
dramatically, so that today London is<br />
considered one of the great gastromic<br />
cities of the world. Remember, food<br />
connects with every single part of<br />
our lives, a truth that was ignored for<br />
decades. Oh, how times have changed.<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
Do you think our appreciation of food<br />
in Britain has had a similar overhaul?<br />
Yes, and also think of ‘the positives’<br />
of the pandemic. Lockdowns<br />
encouraged many people to head for<br />
the kitchen and discover the great<br />
pleasures of cooking. It made me<br />
think about how it would impact on our<br />
lifestyles and the food we eat. We will<br />
seriously tackle food waste, and we<br />
will be closer to our farmers, butchers,<br />
fishmongers, cheesemakers and our<br />
other food producers. We do need to<br />
reconnect more with seasonality and the<br />
provenance and authenticity of produce.<br />
Sustainability must be the driving force<br />
in the years to come. We’ll rediscover<br />
our skills, grow more and import less.<br />
That’s good for the farmers and the<br />
economy. I have long felt that by digging<br />
into the past, we shall find our future.<br />
Maybe I am just an old romantic, but I<br />
do believe truly that this will happen.<br />
You appeared at the Blenheim Palace<br />
Food Festival this summer – what were<br />
the highlights in this special Jubilee<br />
year?<br />
The Blenheim Food Festival is a<br />
wonderful event with the focus firmly on<br />
eating well. It is buzzy, happy and fun,<br />
with lots of artisan producers with stalls,<br />
and cookery demonstrations. I hosted<br />
a question-and-answer session, and<br />
talked about my life, as well as my latest<br />
book, Simply Raymond, which is a little<br />
treasure chest of easy recipes.<br />
Do you enjoy sharing your knowledge<br />
– both on stage and to your brigade at<br />
Le Manoir?<br />
Without question, teaching is one of the<br />
greatest pleasures of my life. Over the<br />
years thousands have come to learn<br />
at the Raymond Blanc Cookery School<br />
at Le Manoir. And to think of the many<br />
young chefs who have come to work<br />
at Le Manoir ... and gone on to win<br />
Michelin stars!<br />
What has been your proudest<br />
achievement as a chef?<br />
Ultimately, it is sharing knowledge and<br />
watching others become masters of the<br />
incredible crafts of cooking and looking<br />
after our guests. I must tell you also of a<br />
special highlight… Many years ago the<br />
Queen Mother came to Le Manoir. With<br />
her entourage she enjoyed a particularly<br />
fabulous and long lunch, and then she<br />
stood and led her guests in a rendition<br />
of Le Marseillaise. Then she insisted that<br />
I gather together about 80 members of<br />
staff so that she could personally thank<br />
them for the wonderful experience. I am<br />
French Republican but I must tell you<br />
that on that day when the Queen Mum<br />
visited I came very close to becoming a<br />
royalist.<br />
Fantastic Food Festivals is hosting two<br />
more festivals this summer.<br />
The iconic Royal Victoria Park situated<br />
in the historical city of Bath will host the<br />
next food festival on Friday 29th <strong>Jul</strong>y to<br />
Sunday 31st <strong>Jul</strong>y with the final festival<br />
at Upton Country Park in picturesque<br />
Poole during the Bank Holiday on<br />
Saturday 27th <strong>Aug</strong>ust – Monday 29th<br />
<strong>Aug</strong>ust <strong>2022</strong>.<br />
For more information and tickets visit<br />
www.fantasticfoodfestivals.co.uk<br />
‘Simply Raymond: Recipes from<br />
home’ by Raymond Blanc (£25,<br />
Headline) is out now<br />
16 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
Raymond Blanc<br />
MUSSEL AND<br />
SAFFRON RISOTTO<br />
Mussels and saffron are united harmoniously in this classic<br />
risotto. There’s no need for that constant stirring. Instead, the<br />
rice is stirred towards the end of the cooking time to activate the<br />
starches, a trick you can use with any risotto you make.<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
For the mussels<br />
1kg fresh mussels<br />
1 onion<br />
2 bay leaves<br />
2 thyme sprigs<br />
1 tablespoon unsalted butter<br />
100ml dry white wine<br />
For the risotto<br />
1 garlic clove<br />
1 tablespoon unsalted butter<br />
200g carnaroli rice (or arborio)<br />
2 bay leaves<br />
a couple of pinches of saffron powder or<br />
strands<br />
pinch of cayenne pepper<br />
2 pinches of sea salt flakes<br />
100ml dry white wine<br />
300ml water (or fish stock)<br />
To finish<br />
50g Parmigiano Reggiano cheese<br />
2 teaspoons unsalted butter, at room<br />
temperature<br />
a handful of coarsely chopped flat-leaf<br />
parsley<br />
100g cooked peas (optional)<br />
a handful of baby-leaf spinach (optional)<br />
½ lemon, for squeezing<br />
TO PREPARE<br />
First, the mussels. Ensure that all<br />
the mussels are tightly closed and not<br />
damaged before you begin to cook;<br />
any mussels that are damaged or open<br />
should be discarded. The preparation<br />
can be done in advance. Wash the<br />
mussels in a large bowl and under cold<br />
running water. Mussels that float at this<br />
stage are not very fresh, so discard them.<br />
Remove any barnacles and beards, but<br />
don’t scrub the shells as this can end up<br />
colouring the cooking juices. Drain.<br />
Finely chop the onion and peeled garlic<br />
and grate the cheese.<br />
In a large saucepan over a medium heat,<br />
sweat half the<br />
onion, the bay<br />
leaves and thyme in the<br />
butter for 1 minute. Increase the heat to<br />
high, add the mussels, pour in the wine,<br />
cover with a lid and cook for 3 minutes.<br />
Drain in a sieve over a large bowl and<br />
discard any mussels that have not<br />
opened. Reserve the cooking juices,<br />
you will need about 200ml to make the<br />
risotto. Once the mussels have cooled,<br />
pick the mussels from their shells, leaving<br />
a few in their shells for decoration, and<br />
put them all aside.<br />
Now, to the risotto. Melt the butter in a<br />
large saucepan on a medium heat.<br />
Add the remaining onion, cover with a<br />
lid and cook for 2–3 minutes, until the<br />
onion is translucent. Add the garlic and<br />
stir in the rice. Add the bay leaves, saffron<br />
and cayenne pepper and lightly season<br />
with salt. Stir and continue to cook on<br />
a medium heat for 2 minutes, until the<br />
grains of rice are shiny.<br />
Pour in the wine and let it boil for 30<br />
seconds – bubble, bubble – and stir.<br />
Pour in the mussel cooking liquor and the<br />
water or fish stock and stir again.<br />
Now cook on the gentlest simmer, with<br />
just a single bubble breaking the surface.<br />
Cover with a lid and leave for 20 minutes,<br />
but it mustn’t boil.<br />
Now it’s time for 5 minutes of some<br />
serious and fast stirring. At full speed, stir<br />
the risotto. The grains rub against each<br />
other, extracting the starch, and this gives<br />
the rice its creaminess. Yet every grain<br />
remains whole, unbroken.<br />
Taste – the rice should have a slight bite.<br />
Add the cheese, butter and parsley to the<br />
risotto, along with the cooked peas and<br />
spinach, if using, all the cooked mussels<br />
and a strong squeeze of lemon. Stir, taste<br />
and correct the seasoning just before<br />
serving.<br />
SERVES<br />
4<br />
PREP<br />
20<br />
Simply Raymond: Recipes from Home by Raymond Blanc<br />
(£25, Headline) is out now<br />
Photo credit: Chris Terry<br />
COOK<br />
40<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 17
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
DELICIOUS SEAFOOD AND MUSIC TAKES<br />
CENTRE STAGE AT LYMINGTON<br />
Once again the market town of Lymington comes alive for<br />
their annual seafood festival and this year sees their biggest<br />
line up of food and music since launching six years ago...<br />
Held at Bath Road Park, with views<br />
across the Solent estuary, the threeday<br />
fishy celebration is a must for local<br />
foodies to enjoy.<br />
With around fifty different seafood dishes<br />
on the menu and cuisines from around<br />
the world, the weekend also showcases<br />
some of the regions best artisan<br />
producers.<br />
Festival go’ers will be able to feast on<br />
scallops, lobster, tempura prawn boa<br />
buns, langoustines, soft shell crab and<br />
mussels. Or, could you be tempted by<br />
seabass, seared tuna, swordfish, cockle<br />
popcorn and Nordic flamlach smoked<br />
fish. With tastebuds transported to<br />
Mexico, Scandinavia, Spain, Asia and the<br />
Caribbean.<br />
If all of that delicious food leaves a<br />
thirst to quench there’s award-winning<br />
English sparkling wine from Hampshire’s<br />
Hattingley Valley, craft gin from Pothecary<br />
and the ever popular rum shack from<br />
former naval officers at the Portsmouth<br />
Distillery.<br />
This year also sees the festival take big<br />
steps to being as environmentally friendly<br />
as possible. With the power being run on<br />
bio-diesel and a push for everyone to use<br />
reusable cups, purchased for a princely<br />
pound with around half being donated<br />
to this year’s charity the Air Ambulance.<br />
There will also be a big push on recycling<br />
with single use plastics not permitted.<br />
The environmental theme is further<br />
supported by this year’s headline<br />
sponsors Lexus Hedge End who will be<br />
showcasing their range of self-charging<br />
and plug-in hybrid cars.<br />
Organisers have also teamed up with<br />
<strong>New</strong> <strong>Forest</strong> local Will Bradshaw landlord<br />
at the Monkey Brewhouse. Award-wining<br />
brewer by trade, Will is planning a special<br />
festival ale that pairs beautifully with<br />
seafood.<br />
Of course, a festival wouldn’t be<br />
complete without some great live music.<br />
With over twenty bands and artists set<br />
to take the stage for some foot tapping<br />
blues, soul, rag-time, rock and pop.<br />
Highlights include Andrew Bourn, who<br />
reached the finals of Britain’s Got Talent<br />
and immediately signed by pop mogul<br />
Simon Cowell which saw Andrew embark<br />
or a world tour, a top ten selling album<br />
and performing at Proms in the Park.<br />
Saturday night sees UK Queen tribute<br />
band who are certain to get the park<br />
up and dancing. Also entertaining the<br />
crowds will be street performers Dan<br />
the Hat with his comedy stuntman show<br />
and Matt Barnard who’s performed at<br />
Glastonbury.<br />
Vegan’s and vegetarians are also well<br />
catered for with a range of stands<br />
adapting dishes including the Tinkers<br />
Granddaughter who has a growing<br />
reputation for plant-based delights.<br />
Tickets are on sale and priced<br />
at £5 for adults. Kids under 16 years<br />
old go free. <strong>Jul</strong>y 15th – 17th,<br />
Bath Road Park, Lymington<br />
www.lymingtonseafoodfestival.co.uk<br />
18 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
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Refresh<br />
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Dulux’s new heritage<br />
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A lick of paint really does transform a space. This season, interiors have been<br />
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the creamy whites now available - they give a hit of school-house warmth. For a<br />
calming bedroom or gender neutral nursery as above, try layering warm neutrals<br />
on details like panelling. Thanks to regency drama Bridgerton, greens are still<br />
hugely popular - the hues are endless depending on whether you want to create<br />
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Dulux Heritage in Waxed Khaki,<br />
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Using Crittall style doors<br />
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(Image credit: Paul Raeside)<br />
RENOVATE<br />
Lots of us have decided to stay put and improve our<br />
existing properties - nothing does this quite like new<br />
glazing. <strong>New</strong> doors and windows breathe fresh life into<br />
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If you want to look into increasing openings, check with a<br />
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Bi-fold doors remain the most popular option - allowing<br />
for an expansive opening of the space. We also love<br />
Crittall-style French doors for industrial chic.<br />
The use of glass from expressbifolds.co.uk<br />
creates an amazing feeling of space<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 21
enew<br />
With electricity prices soaring, it<br />
makes good sense to upgrade<br />
your appliances where you can<br />
- and making them smart-home<br />
compatible will help to futureproof<br />
your property.<br />
Free up space<br />
on the worktop<br />
with boiling<br />
water at the<br />
push of a button<br />
with the GROHE<br />
Red tap<br />
Haier’s I-Pro Series 3 Washing Machine is<br />
A rated - saving 33% on a D-rated product.<br />
We love the steam refresh programmes<br />
to remove the bacteria from clothes and<br />
the intelligent steam functionality, making<br />
ironing almost unnecessary. I-Pro Series 3,<br />
haier-europe.com<br />
EcoPower technology saves<br />
water and energy with a cleverly<br />
designed water supply that reduces<br />
consumption, plus, this product<br />
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Quiet Mark certified. Miele G 7100<br />
SC Dishwasher, £999, quietmark.com<br />
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AI in the kitchen is taken<br />
to a new level with Haier’s<br />
Chef@Home system - the<br />
touch screen detects user<br />
presence and the sensors can<br />
detect the type of food in the<br />
oven, timing the cooking to<br />
perfection. Chef@Home Series<br />
3, haier-europe.com<br />
Dark kitchens continue to be<br />
popular - with bottle green<br />
shades joining classic navy<br />
and charcoal<br />
Mix open shelves with<br />
closed cupboards for<br />
a feeling of space. The<br />
drawer dishwasher here<br />
from Fisher & Paykel is a<br />
great solution for a busy<br />
family. fisherpaykel.com/uk<br />
Larder cupboards keep all those<br />
essentials at hand. Clever lighting and<br />
the continuation of the worktop inside<br />
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kitchen when the doors are open - but<br />
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RENOVATE<br />
When selecting a kitchen, it’s not about trends - but<br />
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One such design that works for large and small<br />
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a workspace inside to house appliances like the<br />
toaster and coffee machine, these cupboards banish<br />
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22 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
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www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 23
Refresh<br />
The perfect option for a quick and easy update, or<br />
for renters, peel and stick tiles are a great option<br />
to breathe new life into walls and floors - without<br />
expense or long term commitment<br />
Self adhesive splashback<br />
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Ashley Mr Jones Splashback,<br />
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removable, these wallpaper<br />
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roll), £190, limelace.co.uk<br />
renew<br />
Rather than replacing whole pieces of furniture, you can<br />
breathe new life into items and rooms by upgrading the<br />
hardware. From new handles to lights or sockets, it<br />
can be a surprisingly dramatic change without<br />
too much upheaval.<br />
Kilburn Knob, £10.80,<br />
corston.com<br />
där Lukas Light,<br />
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darlighting.co.uk<br />
3G Two Way Dimmer Switch -<br />
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Cushion, £39,<br />
cultfurniture.com<br />
Tap, £189.99, dowsingandreynolds.com<br />
Decorative tray, £23,<br />
sassandbelle.co.uk<br />
Bridgman Sunbury Sofa and<br />
Cushions,bridgman.co.uk<br />
Refresh<br />
Elowen Throw,<br />
£69, and Charu<br />
Cover, £34, both<br />
hauslife.co.uk<br />
Surely the quickest renovation win of all is a<br />
switch up of soft-furnishings and decorative<br />
objects. No mess and instant impact! If you like<br />
to change these items seasonally, try to shop<br />
with companies using sustainable materials and<br />
paying workers fairly for their craft.<br />
24 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
GROW FOR<br />
Gold<br />
In this edition, our regular<br />
contributor Matt Biggs gives<br />
us advice on how growing<br />
your own can be both cost<br />
effective and rewarding...<br />
With prices rising and evidence of some<br />
empty shelves in the shops, now might be<br />
the time for a little bit of ‘Dig for Victory’<br />
spirit!<br />
There are so many ways of adding to<br />
your food options, from a few radishes to<br />
add some peppery perk to your salads to<br />
courgettes, beetroot, peas, Japanese and<br />
Chinese salad leaves, tomatoes and, of<br />
course, the humble spud!<br />
Even if you have no space, balconies,<br />
hanging baskets and even windowsills<br />
can host something edible from chilli<br />
plants and herbs to hanging tomatoes -<br />
and there is nothing like picking your own<br />
home grown produce and taking it straight<br />
to the kitchen. Many local Colleges offer<br />
short courses to help you get started,<br />
there are books, videos, TV programmes<br />
and your local garden club - all there to<br />
get your growing energies into gear.<br />
As well as the physical activity involved<br />
in preparing the ground and hoeing and<br />
weeding there is a mental benefit too<br />
and this is becoming more and more<br />
recognised as we rush from work to shop<br />
to home - a little time spent in the open<br />
air with the birds in the background is<br />
very beneficial and if you join a gardening<br />
club there is a social side too, as there is<br />
in having an allotment and sharing both<br />
gardening knowledge and produce.<br />
Children too can join in - an easy to grow<br />
packet of seeds and a large pot or a<br />
patch of earth and off they go - and there<br />
is a lot of learning in a packet of seeds,<br />
from biology to botany, the maths of<br />
sowing and spacing, the responsibility of<br />
being in charge of something, watering<br />
and weeding and then the joy of sharing<br />
what is grown - it is win, win all the way,<br />
and if the odd slug or snail comes along,<br />
they too have a place!<br />
To find out more about Matt visit his<br />
website matthewbiggs.com<br />
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www.lymingtontiles.co.uk<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 25
OKA<br />
Al Fresco<br />
IN THE GARDEN<br />
With long summer nights ahead, we look at how to turn<br />
your garden into a beautiful extension of your living space<br />
Cox & Cox<br />
LIGHT THE LIGHTS<br />
As with setting the scene for dining,<br />
don’t forget to light other areas of the<br />
garden to provide drama and depth.<br />
We love these solar-powered spots to<br />
light up trees from below in areas where<br />
you don’t have mains electric access.<br />
4 x 1W LED Premium Solar Spotlight<br />
Kit, £99.99, and Moroccan Stake Light,<br />
£16.99, both lights4fun.co.uk<br />
DINING AREA<br />
Creating a beautiful, exciting outdoor dining space<br />
is easier than you might think - the key is multi-level<br />
lighting. Festoon lights work beautifully for a romantic<br />
feel, then pepper in candles or LED candles for a soft<br />
glow on the table. Just because you are outside, don’t<br />
forget the linens and place settings - runners, chargers,<br />
proper napkins and nice glassware help to set the scene.<br />
Lights from lights4fun.co.uk.<br />
lights4fun.co.uk<br />
FIRED UP<br />
Firepits and heaters aren’t just<br />
lovely focal points - they help<br />
the party carry on even when the<br />
evening gets cooler. Before buying<br />
consider your usage - some come<br />
with cooking attachments, saving<br />
space on needing a separate<br />
BBQ. Standing Iron Brazier, £350,<br />
coxandcox.co.uk<br />
Maira,<br />
Roma and<br />
Boho Floor<br />
cushion,<br />
from £29,<br />
hauslife.<br />
co.uk<br />
TEXTURES &<br />
TONES<br />
Style a garden as you would your<br />
living room - layer blankets, rugs,<br />
pouffes, cushions - just bring them<br />
in at the end of the evening - there’s<br />
no need to buy special outdoor<br />
cushions. Play with textures you<br />
might not have in the house, like<br />
ruffles, fringing and jute.<br />
Linen Napkins,<br />
£10, ooh-noo.<br />
com, Brisa plate<br />
and serving<br />
bowl, from £16,<br />
hauslife.co.uk<br />
lights4fun.co.uk<br />
lights4fun.co.uk<br />
26 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
Help at hand with the press<br />
of a button 24 hours a day<br />
50% off an installation<br />
with code ‘NEWFOREST’<br />
Always at the end<br />
of the phone for you<br />
Helping to keep you<br />
independent at home<br />
A helping hand<br />
when you need it most<br />
Staying connected<br />
so you’re never alone<br />
023 8028 5523<br />
appletree.careline@nfdc.gov.uk • newforest.gov.uk/appletreecareline<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 27
Quality care in Sway<br />
you can trust<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
When a family is thinking about care<br />
for a loved one, they want the best -<br />
they want to know that the care home<br />
they choose will put their loved one’s<br />
safety, happiness and wellbeing first...<br />
Sway Place is managed by award-winning provider Care UK -<br />
one of the UK’s most highly successful care home operators*<br />
with over 40 years’ experience of delivering high quality care to<br />
older people.<br />
<strong>Living</strong> at Sway Place is all about quality of life. Every colleague<br />
in the home is passionate about enabling residents to enjoy<br />
a fulfilling lifestyle, tailored around their unique needs and<br />
preferences. The lifestyle team organises a huge variety of<br />
group and one-to-one activities, with plenty going on each<br />
day.<br />
With the extra support that our care home offers, new residents<br />
are often surprised at what they can do, whether that’s being able<br />
to continue with an activity they’ve enjoyed in the past, or even<br />
discovering new hobbies with our daily activities.<br />
The purpose-built home is designed for enjoying a luxury lifestyle,<br />
with en-suite rooms and facilities including a bistro, hair and<br />
beauty salon, and comfortable lounges and dining rooms. The<br />
home also boasts stunning gardens with wheelchair friendly<br />
pathways – the perfect place to spend some time when the<br />
weather allows.<br />
Whether your loved one enjoys a quiet cup of tea in bed before<br />
starting the day, loves going for strolls in the landscaped<br />
grounds, or enjoys a chat over a glass of wine, the team at Sway<br />
Place will spend time to enable them to continue living life the<br />
way they want to.<br />
Sway Place care home<br />
Sway Place Church Lane Hampshire, Sway SO41 6AD<br />
01590 608130<br />
Careuk.com/sway-place<br />
*As rated by the Care Quality Commission in England and the Care<br />
Inspectorate in Scotland.<br />
28 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
Supporting<br />
over 8,000<br />
families<br />
Sway Place care home,<br />
Sway<br />
We champion training and innovation to<br />
support our care home teams to deliver<br />
outstanding care. Residents’ quality of<br />
life is at the heart of everything we do,<br />
helping individuals to stay active and<br />
independent so they can live each day to<br />
the full.<br />
Trusted to care.<br />
If you’re considering care<br />
01590 608130<br />
laura.blake@careuk.com<br />
careuk.com/sway-place
FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR A<br />
HAPPY RETIREMENT<br />
The secret to a successful retirement is to<br />
slowly and surely build up your retirement<br />
pot. Exactly how you do that will depend<br />
on your situation – but there are lots of<br />
things you can do. Here we have advice<br />
from Money Helper (moneyhelper.org.uk)<br />
which is a government advice service.<br />
As with any financial planning matter, it is<br />
important that your unique circumstances<br />
are considered and you seek the advice<br />
of a certified professional.<br />
REVIEW PENSIONS<br />
REGULARLY<br />
It’s important to review your pensions<br />
regularly. If they’re not on track to give<br />
you the income you want in retirement,<br />
you need to look at how to boost them.<br />
If they’re broadly on track, you can make<br />
a clearer plan so that your pensions will<br />
be able to give you the income you want<br />
when you retire.<br />
REVIEW THE WAY<br />
YOUR PENSION POT IS<br />
INVESTED<br />
If you have a defined contribution<br />
personal or workplace pension, you<br />
get to choose how your pension pot is<br />
invested. Typically, this involves choosing<br />
from a range of funds offered by your<br />
pension provider.<br />
These funds will be weighted differently<br />
between various types of assets, which<br />
offer different levels of risk and potential<br />
return. Generally, you can afford to take<br />
more risk when you’re young, and less as<br />
you get older.<br />
The longer your money will be invested,<br />
the more scope you’ll have to deal with<br />
investment performance going up and<br />
down over time. So if you are some way<br />
from retirement and your pension savings<br />
are invested conservatively, you might<br />
want to consider moving at least some of<br />
your fund into potentially higher-growth<br />
assets, for example, company shares.<br />
But bear in mind that there’s no<br />
guarantee that higher growth will be<br />
achieved.<br />
Transferring a personal pension into a<br />
self-invested personal pension (SIPP)<br />
can give you a wider range of investment<br />
options to choose from.<br />
But this brings higher risks if you’re not<br />
an experienced investor. And you might<br />
face higher charges.<br />
Unless you understand how the different<br />
pension investments work, you might<br />
want to consider getting regulated<br />
financial advice before making any<br />
changes to your pension investment.<br />
REVIEW THE CHARGES<br />
DEDUCTED FROM YOUR<br />
SAVINGS<br />
All pension providers will charge for<br />
managing your pot and investing your<br />
money. In defined contribution personal<br />
and workplace schemes, these charges<br />
are often called an annual management<br />
charge or ongoing charge figure and are<br />
automatically deducted from your pot.<br />
An annual charge of 1.5% a year could<br />
have eaten away a quarter of your<br />
pension pot after 35 years. An annual<br />
charge of 0.5% would have reduced your<br />
pension pot by only 1/10th over the same<br />
period. You don’t need to worry about<br />
this if you’re in a defined benefit scheme.<br />
But if you have a defined contribution<br />
scheme, charges reduce the value of your<br />
pension pot. Workplace pensions often<br />
have lower charges but that isn’t always<br />
the case.<br />
HOW MUCH MONEY WILL<br />
YOU NEED IN YOUR<br />
TOTAL PENSION POT?<br />
It’s important to think about your pension<br />
income in building blocks - first with the<br />
state pension, then with your private or<br />
workplace pension savings, and then with<br />
any other additional income you might<br />
get, from investments or property.<br />
How much extra income you need to<br />
generate from your private pension<br />
savings will depend on the type of private<br />
pension you have.<br />
Defined benefit and final salary pensions<br />
pay you a regular monthly income - how<br />
much you get is based on your earnings<br />
while you were working.<br />
If you have one or more of these, you<br />
should receive annual updates telling you<br />
how much you can expect to get.<br />
Adding that to your state pension<br />
(which you can find out by getting a<br />
state pension forecast) will help you<br />
understand how much you’ve got to play<br />
with in retirement.<br />
If you have any confusion surrounding<br />
multiple pension pots, investments or<br />
other pension queries, it is worthwhile<br />
seeking the advice from an IFA.<br />
30 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
Celebrating<br />
30 Years Of Care<br />
Oakhaven is proud to be marking our 30th<br />
anniversary this year, 30 years of providing<br />
expert care and support to those in our<br />
community who are facing end of life...<br />
As part of our ongoing celebrations, we<br />
would like to remember all those special<br />
people who have been supported by our<br />
wonderful Hospice since our opening in<br />
1992.<br />
We know a picture paints a thousand words<br />
but your heartfelt messages mean so much<br />
to us. If you’d like your loved one to be<br />
featured in our ‘30 Years of Care’ photo<br />
exhibition, then please send us your photo<br />
before 14th <strong>Aug</strong>ust <strong>2022</strong>.<br />
How to send in your photo and message:<br />
Please email us your electronic photo to<br />
us at the address below. However, if you<br />
only have a printed photo, please follow<br />
the instructions below as we are unable to<br />
return your photo to you.<br />
We understand how precious these images<br />
are to you so kindly ask that you retain your<br />
original photo and to make a copy to send<br />
to us. You can make a copy in one of the<br />
following ways:<br />
Take a photo of your original image<br />
(using a phone or digital camera) and<br />
email the photo to us along with your<br />
message<br />
Scan your original image and email the<br />
scan to us along with your message<br />
Take your image to a photography store<br />
and ask them to make a copy to post to us<br />
Please send us your photo with the name of<br />
your loved one before 30th <strong>Jul</strong>y <strong>2022</strong><br />
Email your photo to:<br />
fundraising@oakhavenhospice.co.uk<br />
Post to Oakhaven Hospice 30 years<br />
of Care, Lower Pennington Lane,<br />
Lymington SO41 8ZZ<br />
Please only send one photo and a short<br />
message. We want to make this as easy<br />
as possible for you, so if you have any<br />
concerns or difficulties in sending us your<br />
picture, please don’t hesitate to call The<br />
Fundraising Team on 01590 677773 who<br />
can assist you will your submission.<br />
Your continued support will allow us to<br />
be there for families for the next 30 years,<br />
a regular gift each month will allow us<br />
to continue to provide expert care and<br />
support for those in our community who<br />
need us most.<br />
www.oakhavenhospice.co.uk<br />
Helen’s Story<br />
“<br />
Mum was the heart of our<br />
family. Married to Dad for<br />
nearly 50 years, 2 adoring<br />
daughters and three doting<br />
grandchildren. Towards<br />
the end of her life, Mum<br />
was taken into hospital<br />
and unfortunately, her<br />
health deteriorated quickly<br />
and we were told that she<br />
did not have much time left<br />
but was too unwell to go<br />
home.<br />
Obviously, we were<br />
devastated and scared that<br />
mum’s last moments would<br />
be on a busy hospital ward,<br />
hooked up to machines,<br />
with little privacy. This<br />
was when Oakhaven<br />
literally ‘scooped’ us all up.<br />
Within hours mum had<br />
been transported to the<br />
hospice where she received<br />
exemplary care and we<br />
were looked after too by<br />
the incredible staff and<br />
volunteers, nothing was<br />
too much trouble and Dad<br />
was able to remain by her<br />
side the whole time, even<br />
during the night. Thanks to<br />
this wonderful place, mum<br />
was made comfortable and<br />
spent her last moments,<br />
surrounded by the whole<br />
family in such a beautiful<br />
and peaceful environment.<br />
“