South Hams Lifestyle Dec 2023 - Jan 2024

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C O N T E N T S 

A NOTE 

from the editor 

18 21 

INTERIOR HOME FOR UPDATES XMAS 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie@minervapublications.co.uk 

Assistant Editor Kate Norris 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Pre Press Manager Rebecca Rose 

Contributors 

Matthew Biggs, Angela Cave, 

Louise Thomson, Pete Lawrence 

JACK KITCHEN STEIN RENOVATION 

INTERVIEW & RECIPE 

22 16 

FOR ADVERTISING 

Account Manager Adrian Hill 

e adrian.hill@minervapublications.co.uk 

t 01225 984496 

04 

COMPETITIONS 

10 27 

PLANTS FOR POLLINATORS 

GIFT GUIDE 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS 

Unit 21c, Paxcroft Farm, 

Hilperton BA14 6JB 

t 01225 984 550 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

Printed on sustainably sourced paper. 

Please recycle this copy or pass it along 

when you are finished for someone else 

to enjoy. 

Disclaimer: The publishers shall not be 

held liable for any loss occasioned by 

failure of an advertisement to appear, or 

any damage or inconvenience caused by 

errors, omissions and misprints. No part of 

this publication may be reproduced without 

prior permission from the publishers. 

The opinions expressed within are not 

necessarily those of the publishers. 

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and 

I our had festive my spirits first are English soaring 

strawberry higher than this Santa’s week, sleigh! and my As 

word, we gear it was up for beyond the upcoming delicious 

- Christmas perfectly festivities, sweet, it was we’re a 

very excited good to share advert the for joy eating and 

seasonally. merriment with I’ve you. tried to echo 

this in all my recent fruit and 

vegetable 

In the spirit 

purchases, 

of giving, 

and 

we’ve 

it’s 

had 

wrapped 

a transformative 

up some 

effect 

fantastic 

on 

my 

articles 

cooking 

for you 

- everything 

to delve into 

just 

in the coming weeks. From 

tastes better - more vibrant, 

delicious Christmas recipes 

needing less seasoning and 

to gift guides - we’ve got 

just overall very tasty. 

even the most challenging 

person to buy for covered! 

I’m making the most of 

Let’s not forget our amazing 

cooking whilst I still have a 

competition guide, with 

kitchen - mine is due to be 

hundreds of pounds worth of 

ripped 

prizes to 

out 

be 

in 

won. 

two weeks and 

it will be camping stove and 

air 

If 2024 

frying 

sees 

for two 

you 

months 

undertaking 

from 

there! work on I’ve your already home, picked then our my 

kitchen, transformation but it got me thinking is sure 

about to inspire all the you other - hopefully areas that you 

need can take updating some tips, in my tricks home. and If 

you design are cues thinking from of this a similar lovely 

refresh, space. please check out our 

home pages this edition - 

they’re As we full bid of inspiring adieu to trends this 

and rollercoaster a few timeless of a year, classics. let’s not 

forget the lessons it taught us. 

We’ve If 2023 also was a got movie, some it’d lovely be a 

editorial blockbuster on with the best unexpected plants 

for plot pollinators twists and - a finale it’s never that 

been left us so eagerly important awaiting to support the 

wildlife sequel. in Here’s the garden. to hoping 2024 

brings fewer reboots and 

The more competition uplifting plot-lines! guide this 

issue is a bumper one - we 

have Wishing an you outdoor all a furniture festive 

set season from filled Bramblecrest with joy, laughter, worth 

nearly and the £3,000, warmth plus of loved a cordless ones. 

lawnmower May your days worth be £679 merry to and get 

that bright. garden in shape. This, 

plus a lot more makes it well 

worth Thank a you look for and reading an enter! our 

magazine - and to our loyal 

We advertisers. will be back Together again you in 

August 

make this 

- I’ll 

venture 

be fully rebooted 

possible, 

and 

and 

recharged 

I want to 

into 

give 

summer 

you all 

mode. 

a heartfelt 

See you 

thanks 

then! 

from the 

whole team. Cheers to a 

positively sparkling holiday 

season and a peaceful Katie and 

prosperous 2024. 

Katie 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 3

Time 

COMPETITION 

Find out more about entering our competitions online 

at www.minervamagazines/competitions. 

All the below close on 15th January 2024 with the exception of 

Copas which closes on 10th December 

CHRISTMAS HAMPER 

WORTH £500 

We have the ‘Decadent Christmas in a 

Box’ to give away to one lucky reader. 

Worth £500, this delicious hamper is 

filled with goodies, including a 6kg 

free range turkey, 4.5kg unsmoked 

ham, 1kg side of salmon, 1kg organic 

Cheddar, 1kg Cropwell Bishop Stilton, 

Christmas Pudding, Harrow & Hope 

Brut Reserve, Pigs in Blankets, a range 

of luxury sauces and oils and Copas 

Rosemary Gin. 

You can see the full Christmas range at 

www.copasturkeys.co.uk 

Keyword ‘Copas Turkeys’ 

WIN A CANDY SMART WINE 

COOLER WORTH £300 

We are offering one lucky reader the 

chance to win a smart Candy Wine 

Cooler worth over £300. This appliance 

helps preserve the natural taste and 

smell of your wine, giving you the 

experience of a professional wine cellar. 

Smart home appliance brand Candy 

has partnered with Vivino - when you 

connect to the hOn app, you can 

enjoy the ‘SNAP MY WINE’ function 

- allowing you to keep a record of the 

wines in your cooler, helping you pair 

wine with different kinds of food. 

Keyword ‘Candy Wine Cooler’ 

BATTERY-POWERED 

PRUNERS 

STIGA, a world-leading manufacturer 

and distributor of gardening machinery 

and equipment, announces its firstever 

battery-powered pruner, the SC 

100e. The SC 100e’s exceptional 

performance pruning capability adapts 

to the operator’s needs and to the 

task at hand. Its high-quality carbon 

steel blades are extremely sharp. With 

an option to select from three blade 

opening settings, this allows the cutting 

and trimming of branches up to 3.0 cm 

in diameter. We have three of these to 

give away! www.stiga.com/uk 

Keyword ‘Stiga Pruner’ 

SOS SUPERSTARS SET 

Give the gift of radiant skin this 

Christmas with the SOS Serum 

Skincare Superstars Beauty Elixir 

gift set. Inside there’s a gel-cream 

cleanser, hydrating daily moisturiser 

with SPF 30, a Night Cream that is 

ready to help you regain healthy skin 

that positively glows and nourishing 

and mattifying lip balm with broad 

spectrum SPF 30. We have 4 sets to 

give away, comprising SOS Cleanse, 

SOS H20 Day Cream SPF 30, SOS 

Night Cream, SOS Lip Balm SPF 30, 

andEssential Drops Fragrance for the 

Home: Pomegranate & Lychee 

Keyword ‘SOS Superstars’ 

A LUXURY LINGERIE SET 

Create a storm this winter... New 

bra and brief set, Bobette, is both 

luxurious and seductive. 

Featuring feminine lace and with a 

generous cleavage the elastic lace 

creates a three dimensional look in an 

exciting play of colours. 

Choose from the elegant Black or 

breath-taking Ruby Red versions. 

Available from www.ouhlala.co.uk 

Bra - £72, Shorty £33. Fits B-E cup 

We have two sets to give away. 

Keyword ‘Bobette’ 

A SMART HEATING KIT 

FROM WISER! 

Wiser, the award-winning smart 

heating system, is giving two lucky 

readers the chance to win a home 

heating kit worth £299.99, which 

includes a Room Thermostat, Heat 

Hub and two Radiator Thermostats. 

Easy to install, the Wiser heating 

system can lower your energy bills by 

up to 30% per year. Wiser is available 

in classic white or stylish anthracite to 

suit your home. To find out how Wiser 

can help you save on your energy bills, 

head to wiser.draytoncontrols.co.uk 

Keyword ‘Wiser Energy’ 

4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk

DEVON CHRISTMAS 

TREE FARM CROWNED 

CHAMPION GROWERS 2023 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

Dartmoor Christmas Trees has once again 

been chosen to supply Downing Street with a 

Christmas tree this festive season. 

Stuart and Jennie Kirkup have won Champion Christmas Tree 

Grower now three times, in 2016, 2019 and 2023. As a result they 

have been asked to supply the tree for outside number 10 this 

year. 

In this year’s competition, which is run by the British Christmas 

Tree Growers Association, Dartmoor Christmas Trees won in 

the grower of the year category as well as walking away with 

five other awards including Best Norway Spruce, Best Fir Other 

Runner Up, Celebrity Choice Tree Winner, Celebrity Choice 

Wreath Winner and Best Natural Wreath Runner-Up. Yorkshire Vet 

star Peter Wright was also in attendance as a celebrity judge. 

Stuart and Jennie who have been growing Christmas Trees in the 

heart of Dartmoor for over 20 years have won over 40 industry 

awards for their trees. 

Stuart attributes their success to their passion about what they 

do and their dedication to producing beautiful trees that are local 

and sustainable. 

Stuart says, ‘We are delighted to be crowned British Christmas 

Tree Grower of the Year again, and our thanks go to the British 

Christmas Tree Growers Association and all the judges for 

choosing us. To be recognised by peers and other growers is 

a testament to the hard work and perseverance that goes into 

growing the best Christmas trees.’ 

Dartmoor Christmas Trees have worked in partnership with 

Forestry England at Haldon Forest in Exeter for many years and 

will once again open their retail centre there this year; where they 

boast a huge selection of real Christmas Trees. Whether you 

prefer the low drop Nordmann fir or Fraser fir or the traditional 

smells and shape of the Norway spruce, they can help you 

decide on your perfect Christmas Tree. 

Dartmoor Christmas Trees can also be purchased at Morrisons 

Paignton & Totnes, or you can book their unique Choose & Cut 

service from their farm on Dartmoor. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

WHERE TO BUY YOUR FRESH CUT AND LOCALLY 

GROWN CHRISTMAS TREE THIS CHRISTMAS 

4 ways 

TO BUY 

Available at Haldon 

Christmas Tree Centre 

Order online for local 

delivery 

Choose your own tree from 

our Dartmoor farm - BOOKING 

REQUIRED via website 

Available at Paignton and 

Totnes Stores 

WWW.DARTMOORCHRISTMASTREES.CO.UK 


Christmas at 

Occombe Farm 

The most wonderful time of the year 

is swiftly approaching. Whether 

you’re shopping, eating or playing 

at Occombe this festive season, we’ve 

something for everyone. 


When it’s all about celebrating with the finest food, drink and 

gifts, Occombe Farm Shop has got you covered. Brimming with 

extraordinary seasonal products, sourced from the most talented 

artisans in our region. Stock up with local cheeses, handmade 

pies, wines from across the region, beers, ales and ciders. Devon 

made chocolates handmade cakes and mince pies too. Our 

collection of gifts, books, toys even tree decorations is unique. 

There’s Christmas hampers for the ultimate gift. Crammed with 

delightful West Country products. Ready-made or create your 

own! 

Pick up a real, traditional Christmas tree from Occombe too. 

Our locally grown Nordmann firs are sourced from Dartmoor 

Christmas Trees and on sale from the beginning of December. 

Occombe Farm Café is unveiling our most indulgent afternoon 

tea yet! This festive feast features a mix of farm-made savoury 

bites and decadent cakes – a must-do-stop-off with friends 

during the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations. Gather 

with family, colleagues or your gang on an Occombe Farm festive 

supper evening. Choose from a specially created menu for the 

ultimate seasonal celebration. Every Friday throughout December 

until 15th. Advance booking is a must and parking is free! 

Shopping for gifts, joining family for supper or indulging in a 

festive afternoon tea at Occombe Farm not only brings joy but 

also contributes to the wonderful work of our parent conservation 

charity, Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust. Our local charity is 

dedicated to conserving Torbay’s most beautiful green spaces, 

cherished by all, including gems like Cockington Country Park, 

Berry Head National Nature Reserve, and numerous wildlifefriendly 

woodlands, meadows, pathways, and bridleways in the 

Torbay. Good times that do good! 

www.occombe.co.uk www.countryside-trust.org.uk 

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

#occombefarm #torbaycountryside 

Christmas 

at Occombe 

Unique gifts, local products, 

delicious food & drink, & Farmer 

Christmas Markets. Festive supper 

evenings and afternoon teas. 

Asparagus 

See our website or in-farm for more... 

@occombefarm 

www.occombe.co.uk 


Introducing Paignton Zoo’s biggest ever festive event… 

GloWild is an after-dark immersive light experience that will transport you to 

a magical world. See Paignton Zoo like you’ve never seen it before, with giant 

illuminated animals, light tunnels, a silent disco and much more. 

Paignton Zoo is seeing out its centenary year in style with this interactive winter light 

extravaganza. GloWild will invite you into another dimension, starting with a giant storybook 

that will kick off an adventure around the zoo. Keep your eyes peeled for amazing fibre optics, 

kaleidoscopes and illuminated trees, as well as a magical wishing well where you can make all 

your Christmas wishes come true. Will you spot the frogs leaping overhead, the gigantic 

butterfly, or the colourful chameleon? 

Be dazzled by the majestic snow wolf on his journey around this 

enchanted light trail, and chat to Paignton Zoo’s founder Herbert 

Whitley as he makes an extra-special appearance 100 years since he 

first opened the zoo gates. Don’t forget to leave time for a boogie in 

the atmospheric silent disco, where you’ll be enchanted by a whole 

host of special characters… 

Enjoy a mulled wine and a mince pie to fuel your journey 

around the zoo in this awe-inspiring experience. 

This one-of-a-kind event is running on selected dates from 17th 

November to 2nd January, with a special SEN night on 19th 

November. Corporate packages and group rates are available. 

Booking is essential, so be sure to grab your tickets before they sell 

out! Go to paigntonzoo.org.uk to find out more. 

GloWild is an after-dark immersive 

light experience that will transport 

you to a magical world 

See Paignton Zoo like you’ve never 

seen it before, with giant illuminated 

animals, light tunnels, a silent disco 

and much more

LOCAL HERO 

We talk to businesses in and 

around South Hams who are 

passionate about what they do... 

JAM ART 

GALLERY 

Tell us more about Jam 

Jam is the art collective of Ashburtonbased 

creatives Michael Jones and 

Glen Middleham. We’re proud to own a 

boutique gallery in the heart of Ashburton 

that opened this summer, where we offer 

an eclectic selection of prints, nostalgic 

dioramas and statement art pieces. 

What type of art do you sell? 

At Jam, we create art designed to spark 

conversation. 

Much of Glen’s work is inspired by his 

memories of family walks exploring 

Dartmoor, growing up by the South Devon 

coast and enjoying summer holidays in 

North Devon. Vintage ephemera from the 

region is regularly given a new lease of 

life in his collages, using old postcards, 

pamphlets, maps and literature. 

In contrast, Michael combines traditional 

printmaking methods with technology 

in his work, drawing inspiration from the 

pop art movement, vintage posters and 

typography, having trained as a graphic 

designer. 

Where in Ashburton are you? 

The Jam Gallery is on the main street in 

Ashburton at 18 North Street – we’re just 

a two-minute walk from the town’s car 

park, diagonally opposite the Town Hall. 

How can I find out more? 

Visit madebyjam.co.uk where you can 

view and order our entire range of prints 

and original art. Or pop into the gallery 

when you’re next in Ashburton – we’re 

open every day apart from Sundays. 

DAWN BOWMAN 

Tell us more about your new book? 

Snail Village was first written in 2016 

and launched October 8th 2023, here in 

Plymouth. It is my first publication and 

its success so far has been extremely 

gratifying. 

So this is a story about a little girl who 

concerns herself about the safety of 

small creatures, how she gets through 

her upset and finds a way to help them, 

creating a little happy place in the end. 

Where did the idea come from? 

It’s a true story of myself and daughter 

Perri, who on the school run, would scour 

the ground, looking for snails to save, she 

would allow them to slide on her hand 

and put them safely to one side. This led 

me to think about how thoughtful she 

was. I wanted to highlight the importance 

of morals by story, like timing and a few 

other meanings along the way. 

You recently had a book launch – How 

did it go? 

The book launch was a huge success, it 

was a beautiful sunny day at the lovely 

BOAT HOUSE Seafood restaurant- 

Plymouth and the response was amazing 

selling over fifty signed copies that day. 

I had help from the following people- 

WTTB printing company, the amazing 

posters were designed by a Devon based 

printing company PDS and other prints 

from ABC printers, local photographer 

Darren Bond, local artist Paige Nolan for 

the clay snails and last but certainly not 

least the very talented illustrator Lorna 

Davey also based in Devon. 

We had a lovely couple of hours, 

celebrating with friends and family and 

the children enjoyed colouring in pages 

taken from the book at the colouring 

station with sweeties of course! 

How does it feel to have your first book 

published? 

To finally publish my first children’s book 

feels like I am literally living the dream. 

I have been truly humbled by the 

response from many children. To hear 

that parents are reading with them at bed 

time, and that some have taken the book 

to their schools has literally made my 

heart grow bigger than ever. 

Where can I find out more and order a 

copy? 

You can purchase a copy of Snail Village 

by going to www.bubbsoneguild.co.uk 


Jam Contemporary Art 

Visit The Jam Gallery to view an eclectic range of prints, nostalgic 

dioramas and statement art pieces designed to spark a conversation. 

SHOP ONLINE 

18 North Street, Ashburton, TQ13 7QD • madebyjam.co.uk 

Introducing 

SNAIL VILLAGE 

the new children’s book by local 

author Dawn Bowman. 

Snail Village was first written in 2016 and launched 

October 8th 2023, here in Plymouth and illustrated by the 

talented Lorna Davey, also based in Devon. 

Join Sammy on her journey, 

as she tries to prevent small 

creatures from harm and how 

she manages to help them 

create a home. 

Visit Dawn’s new website 

www.bubbsoneguild.co.uk 

where you can have a browse about me 

and my journey and buy the current book. 


Alya Phone Case Bag 

Leather Black, £69, 

lonestaroflondon.com 

Hotel-quality dressing gowns - with 

embroidery options available Hotel 

Velour Robe, £70, tielleloveluxury.co.uk 

Comes in 

a matching 

cotton gift 

bag 

Keratin-coated hot air styler with 

8 accessories for drying your 

hair and creating different styles 

with a single movement, £99.99, 

bellissimaitalia.co.uk 

Orange & Neroli 100ml Reed 

Diffuser, £21, hauslife.co.uk 

gifts for 

HER 

Cotton PJ Sets, from 

£44.99, hauslife.co.uk 

Get a lash lift at home with this 

amazing complete kit - for only 

£39.99; glowforitshop.com 

Hayman’s Sloe Gin, £29, 

haymansgin.com 

Ideal for 

cooks 

This offers interchangeable grinding 

discs, a 15° grinding angle for a filigree 

edge and a 20° grinding angle for more 

robust blades. £159, horl.com 

More than just 

an air fryer, it’s 

a master in 

slow cooking, 

roasting, and more, 

thanks to precise 

temperature 

control. I-Master 

Air Fryer Series 

5, £199, smallappliances-uk. 

haier-europe.com 

Men’s Active Puffy 

Jacket £200, 

hellyhansen. 

com 

gifts for 

HIM 

British Wool Honeycomb 

Chunky Jumper, £79.95, 

glencroftcountrywear. 

co.uk 

Neoprene Dumbell 

Hand Weights, 

Currently priced at 

£19.99, amazon.co.uk 

Handleless Coffee 

Cup, £11.99, 

hauslife.co.uk 

Not only is it ultra-lightweight, but it 

also includes a travel case and has an 

amazing battery life of up to 90 days on 

a single charge. SonicSmile Plus £45, 

silkn.co.uk 

Ultra cosy 

and water 

repellent 


Disney’s Wish Star 

Plush by Simba, 

Currently priced at 

£14.99 amazon.co.uk 

Pokémon Train 

and Play Deluxe 

Pikachu Toy, £34.99, 

smythstoys.com 

The perfect STEM gift. Once 

assembled, children learn about 

music notations and can compose 

their own tunes by placing the 

pegs in different slots. £37.99, 

smarttoysandgames.co.uk 

They’re easy to 

make - simply stick 

two puffy stickers 

together to make a 

charm! Wear them, share them 

or mix and match them! DIY Puffy 

Charms, £19.99 Argos 

Perfect for 

hard-to-buyfor 

teens 

Slimline Hollywood Mirror 

£84.99, vonhaus.com 

Perfect activity 

packs for all ages, 

toucanbox.com 

gifts for 

KIDS 

Squishmallow 16” Toy, 

smythstoys.com 

The Scottish 

Pantry £85, 

baxtersofscotland. 

com 

KitchenAid 

Cast Iron 26cm 

Casserole Dish 

with Lid, £200, 

hartsofstur.com 

Perfect smoked 

salmon from the 

experts. Whisky 

& Soy Glazed 

Salmon from 

£9.90, smokinbrothers.com 

This perfect gift for condiment lovers, spice 

freaks and foodies alike; Fermented Hot Sauce 

Discovery Box, £29.99, eatenalive.co.uk 

Salt and Pepper 

Mill, Set, £29.99, 

amazon.co.uk 

gifts for 

FOODIES 

Chocolate Slab Gift Box, 

£54.99, meltchocolates.com 

A delectable assortment of the most 

delicious Italian goodies - this is a great 

option for those avoiding alcohol at 

Christmas, but there are lots of great 

options on the website. The Grand 

Teetotaller, £93, lavialla.com

TONY 

HADLEY 

THE 

BIG SWING 

TOUR 2024 

Performing some of the greatest swing songs from a classic era 

of music as well as reworked versions from his own repertoire. 

Ade Hill met the legend to find out more! 

HI TONY. YOU’RE ON THE ROAD 

NEXT YEAR WITH THE BIG SWING 

TOUR. TELL US MORE? 

The Big Swing Tour 2024 which I’m 

so looking forward to performing will 

see such songs by the likes of Ella 

Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and Frank 

Sinatra; alongside stuff from Elvis and 

of course songs from Spandau ‘True’ 

and ‘Gold’ which will have a real Vegas 

swing style version to them. 

GROWING UP WAS SWING A 

PART OF YOUR YOUNGER 

LIFE? 

Oh yeah very much so. My Mum and 

Dad would always be playing the 

greats, especially on the run up to 

Sunday lunch. I just adored how they 

sang and every summer we would 

holiday at Pontins which is where I 

started to sing as a young kid. We 

formed the band when I was sixteen 

at school and my parents were like 

we know you like Queen, Bowie, Led 

Zeppelin etc., but check these guys 

out. Really listen to how Sinatra and 

these other greats sing. I really started 

to analyse just how great story tellers 

they were and still are, so yes, I was 

very influenced growing up. 

I’VE GOT TO ASK ABOUT 

SPANDAU OF COURSE. WHERE 

DID IT ALL START? 

It really started at school. I wanted to 

be an orthopaedic surgeon but soon 

found out I wasn’t cleaver enough and 

discovered music. We formed the band 

at 16 and did R&B covers like any other 

school band, then became a punk 

band. We played all these punk places 

in and around town at the time until the 

music scene changed, and we changed 

with it. We bought a synthesizer after 

hearing Depeche Mode and that really 

changed everything. 


THIS MUCH IS TRUE... 

THE EARLY 

80’S WAS AN 

EXCITING 

CHANGE IN 

TERMS OF 

MUSIC AND 

FASHION, 

RIGHT? 

Yeah. If you look 

back at post punk 

around 78/79 

and punk was 

in decline, then 

you had stuff like 

Ultravox, Bowie, 

Duran Duran, The 

Human League all coming out with 

these incredible sounds. It really was 

a fascinating period and a defining 

decade. 

YOU GUYS STARTED OUT IN THE 

FAMOUS BLITZ CLUB, BUT WHAT 

WAS IT REALLY LIKE? 

It was a wine bar during the day. Steve 

Strange and Rusty Egan came along 

and said to the owners we’ve got a 

whole lot of people that want to drink 

and party, can we take it over on a 

Tuesday night, so the owners basically 

said you guarantee to fill the place 

then yeah. It became the place to be 

seen back then. You had Steve on the 

door and if he didn’t like the way you 

were dressed, then he would turn you 

away. He even refused Mick Jagger 

one night! 

WASN’T YOUR FIRST VIDEO 

SHOT AT THE BLITZ CLUB? 

Our first proper gigs were at the Blitz 

yeah. We were the house band, but 

our first video was actually shot at the 

London Dungeon in our tartan outfits. 

WHERE DID THE NAME SPANDAU 

BALLET COME FROM? 

It was from our Mate Rob Elms who 

gave us the name. He was working for 

London radio at the time and was in 

Berlin at a club one night. Basically, he 

went to the loo and saw it written on 

the toilet wall! We thought that sounds 

cool, so we nicked it. 

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE SINGLE 

TRUE. MY FIRST SNOG WAS TO 

THIS WITH A GIRL ON HOLIDAY 

“It was from our mate Rob Elms who gave us 

the name...Basically, he went to the loo and 

saw it written on the toilet wall! We thought 

that sounds cool, so we nicked it. ” 

WHEN I WAS ABOUT TWELVE. 

YOU MUST BE SO VERY PROUD 

OF THIS ABSOLUTE CLASSIC? 

When I sing True it has this effect on 

people, young and old singing along to 

all the words. 

It’s a very emotional song and you 

often see a few tears. It’s a very 

powerful song and holds memories for 

a lot of people. It’s a beautiful song 

and I absolutely love singing it still 

today. 

LOOKING BACK, WHAT BANDS 

DID YOU ADMIRE OR STILL 

LISTEN TO TODAY, TONY? 

I’ve always loved Duran Duran and 

good friends with. Depeche Mode, I 

adore. We used to hang out with these 

guys before they were signed. I’ve 

always loved live music so would see 

as many bands as I could from punk to 

Bowie and stuff. 

TONY IT’S BEEN A REAL 

PRIVILEGE TO SPEND TIME 

WITH YOU. WHERE CAN I BOOK 

TICKETS TO THE BIG SWING 

TOUR? 

I start the tour in Portsmouth on March 

3rd and finish in Ipswich on March 

21st. 

Check out dates and venues here. 

https://myticket.co.uk/artists/tonyhadley 


STYLISH 

Stays 

Katie Thomson heads for a restorative break at the 

Dylan Coastal Resort, Carmarthenshire 

You may have visited South Wales 

for the gems of the Gower Peninsula, 

or even the coastal routes of 

Pembrokeshire - but if you didn’t stop 

to explore the joys of Carmarthenshire, 

you are missing some of the country’s 

most scenic spots. On its Western 

borders you will find the ancient 

Brecon Beacons, right to the golden 

sandy beaches along Carmarthen Bay 

- there’s so much to discover. 

Nestled in the quiet seaside town of 

Laugharne on the Carmarthen coast, 

the Dylan Coastal Resort is a state 

of the art, luxurious holiday retreat, 

complete with a beautiful spa and Milk 

Wood House, the on-site restaurant 

featuring the best of local produce. 

The Dylan Coastal Resort makes the 

most of the expansive vistas afforded 

by its prime location on the hills 

overlooking the Taf Estuary. The resort 

is a collection of 60 luxury lodges, 

all designed to maximise the setting 

and offer a supremely comfortable 

self-catering experience. Some, like 

our ‘Epic’ lodge, come with a hot 

tub - perfect for soaking up the everchanging 

sea view. 

Taking its name from poet and Welsh 

literary legend Dylan Thomas, guests 

can enjoy the same views as Dylan 

himself - his famous writing hut is set 

on the cliff edge below the resort. The 

setting is certainly inspiring and you 

can visit his hut, as well as enjoying 

some spectacular circular walks taking 

in coastal and woodland scenery just 

a stroll from the main entrance. 

With so much on offer on the site, 

you’d be forgiven for not wanting to 

14 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

venture far - there are a few lovely 

eateries in Laugharne, but we loved 

Milk Wood House. With three separate 

terraces to dine on, an open kitchen 

featuring a wood-fired pizza oven, 

and a refined yet rustic approach to 

cooking, the Milk Wood Kitchen and 

Bar is the perfect place to drink and 

dine, soaking in the views. 

Relaxation is paramount here and the 

spa delivers on every level. It has been 

thoughtfully designed to maximise the 

views - the swimming pool featuring 

two-storey windows out to the sea. 

The on-site spa also offers up a host 

of luxury treatments with premium 

skincare brand ishga, to help you relax 

into your stay, brightening, cleansing 

facials to deep tissue massages – all 

of which will be tailored to suit your 

individual needs. 

The resort is ideally placed for further 

exploration - on a gloriously sunny 

day, we took the scenic coastal route 

to Tenby. If you’ve not visited before, 

I’d implore you to - with it’s historic 

13th century fortress walls alongside 

rows of brightly coloured terraces, 

it’s picturesque and a joy to wander 

around. Couple that with it’s bevy of 

independent stores and charming 

pubs, it’s the perfect day trip from 

the resort. 

A trip to recharge the batteries was 

needed and the Dylan Coastal resort 

delivered on every level. If you’re 

looking for a destination which offers 

fantastic facilities, unparalleled 

comfort and the most picturesque of 

settings, consider this beauty spot for 

your next staycation. 

Stays at Dylan Coastal Resort start from £379. 

For more information or to book, please, visit 

www.luxurylodges.com/dylan-coastal-resort

Christmas 

Gift Vouchers 

available 

Torquay 

Escape to our Spa and take 

some time for yourself. 

• Luxury ELEMIS treatments 

• OPI manicures and 

pedicures 

• Dedicated relaxation area 

• Aztec Spa Shop 

• Aztec Spa Fire & Ice 

multisensory thermal suite 

Call 01803 400190 

www.tlh.co.uk 

Spa Days 

from 

Only 

£80pp 

A range 

of Gift 

Vouchers 

Available 

We’re social, join us on 

#TLHhotels 


Cooking for 

CHRISTMAS 

We have some delicious recipes from the 

appliance pros at Cuisinart to make festive 

hosting easier 

Shredded Brussels & Pancetta 

INGREDIENTS 

80g pancetta, cubed 

125g sprouts 

Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette 

1 clove garlic, slightly crushed 

1 lemon, juiced 

3 tbsp dijon mustard 

40ml apple cider vinegar 

120ml olive oil 

2 tsp honey 

Sea salt & pepper 

METHOD 

Add the pancetta to a medium / 

hot frying pan and cook until the fat 

renders and the pancetta is crispy. 

Place the pancetta on paper towel 

before setting to one side. 

Trim and peel the sprouts. In the 

Easy Prep Pro, set up the fine slicing 

disc in the large work bowl and 

process the sprouts on ‘HIGH’. 

Set up the small work bowl with the 

small chopping/mixing blade. 

Add all the vinaigrette ingredients 

to the small work bowl. Secure the 

lid and process on ‘HIGH’ until a 

thick emulsion forms. Season with 

sea salt and black pepper. Run the 

machine using the ‘PULSE’ button 

until thoroughly mixed. Pour the 

vinaigrette into a suitable jug for 

serving. 

Place the sprouts into a serving dish 

and drizzle over a generous serving 

of the vinaigrette. Combine well and 

scatter over the crispy pancetta. 

Tip: Any remaining vinaigrette can 

be stored in an airtight container in 

the fridge for up to 5 days. 

Spiced Victoria 

Sponge 

INGREDIENTS 

250g butter, room temperature 

250g caster sugar 

4 medium eggs 

1 tsp vanilla essence 

1 tsp ground cinnamon 

1 tsp grated nutmeg 

175g self raising flour 

75g ground almonds 

1tsp baking powder 

Clementine Cream (not shown) 

300 ml double cream 

1 tbsp sifted icing sugar, plus some 

for dusting the cake 

1 large Clementine, zested and 1 

tbsp juice 

To Serve 

Seasonal berries 

Chopped pistachios 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 180ºC / Fan 

160ºC / Gas Mark 42. 

Grease a fluted bundt cake tin, 

alternatively you can use two 

greased and lined 20 cm springform 

cake tins. This will produce a more 

traditional cake. 

Set up the large work bowl of the 

Expert Prep Pro with the large 

chopping/mixing blade. Place the 

butter and sugar in the bowl and 

process on high until creamy. 

Add the eggs through the feed tube 

one by one, processing between 

each addition. Add the vanilla 

essence, cinnamon and nutmeg. 

Process to combine. 

Add the flour, ground almonds and 

baking powder. Process lightly. 

Pour the cake mixture into the cake 

tin(s) and smooth the batter until 

level. 

Bake in the oven for 30 to 35 

minutes until the cake is golden 

brown on top and a skewer comes 

out clean. 

Allow to rest for a moment in the 

tin(s) before turning out onto a wire 

rack and leave to cool completely. 

Decorate the cake with berries, 

chopped pistachios and lightly dust 

with icing sugar. 

Make the Clementine cream by 

softly whipping the cream with the 

icing sugar, Clementine zest and 

juice using the whisk attachment of 

the hand blender. 

Serve with the clementine cream. 

If using traditional springform tins 

the clementine cream can be used 

between the sponges. 


Catch of the day 

Mackerel stir-fry recipe 

If you’re trying to get more fish into your diet, try this 

wallet-friendly mackerel stir-fry recipe. Ready in just 

25 minutes, top gingery noodles and veg with a crispy 

mackerel fillet for a speedy midweek dinner idea... 

Ingredients 

2 tbsp vegetable oil 

4 mackerel fillets 

4 nests fine egg noodles 

30g ginger, peeled and finely chopped 

2 garlic cloves, sliced 

320g vegetable stir-fry mix 

3 tbsp light soy sauce, plus more to serve 

15g fresh coriander, leaves picked 

Method 

1. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium-high 

heat. Pat the mackerel fillets dry with kitchen paper and fry 

skin-side down for 5 mins. Flip carefully with a spatula and 

cook for another 2-3 mins until cooked through and the fish is 

flaky. Transfer to a plate and keep warm. 

2. Cook the noodles in boiling salted water for 2-3 mins until 

tender. Rinse under cold water and drain well. 

3. Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok or frying pan over a high 

heat. Add the ginger and garlic, then fry for 1 min until fragrant. 

Tip in the veg mix and fry for 4-5 mins, stirring continually, until 

cooked but still with a little bite. Toss in the cooked noodles 

and soy sauce. Mix well until everything is coated, then divide 

between bowls. Serve with the mackerel on top, scattered with 

the coriander leaves. Serve with more soy sauce if you like. 

CATCH OF THE DAY 

Fishmongers 

With over 40 years combined experience in the 

fish industry, we can prepare for you the finest and 

freshest available fish to your exact requirements. 

As well as superb local fish we offer a large range of 

frozen seafood products to compliment any meal. 

On site producers and suppliers of the famous 

Salcombe Smokies - named Champion Fish at the 

Taste of the West Awards. 

If that wasn’t enough, our shop 

also snatched the Gold status 

at the awards! 

Also supply restaurants and hotels 

and hold the highest award for 

hygiene the Council can give. 

54 Fore Street, Kingsbridge TQ7 1NY 

Telephone 01548 852006 

FANCY A FESTIVE BREW 

THIS CHRISTMAS! 

We chat to Plymouth’s Original Craft Brewery... 

Tell us more about Summerskills Brewery? 

Summerskills Brewery was founded in 1983 by Adam 

Summerskill using the redundant kit from Penrhos Brewery 

set up by Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. Initially situated 

in Bibgbury, near Adam’s home in Ringmore, the brewery was 

moved to the current site at Plymstock in 1985. 

What have you got brewing for Christmas? 

We have our Christmas beers “Turkey’s Delight” at 4.6% ABV in 

cask and 5.1% in bottles and our “Christmouse” at 5.1% cask 

only brewed, bottled and ready for Christmas. 

Can I purchase gift sets? 

We offer 3 bottle gift sets and you can select from our range of 

about a dozen different bottled beers. 

Where abouts are you? 

We are situated at 15 Pomphlett Farm Industrial Estate, just 

on the edge of the new Saltram Meadow housing estate, off 

the Billacombe Road in 

Plymstock and we have a ADVERTISING FEATURE 

premises licence for the retail 

sale of alcohol so you can 

buy direct from the brewery. 

Where can I find out more 

online? 

Our website is 

www.summerskills.co.uk 


Winter Pavlova 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 140ºC/120ºC 

fan/gas 1.Line a baking tray with 

greaseproof paper. Mark out 

a 23cm circle on the backing 

paper to help size your pavlova. 

Attach the whisk attachment to 

the Cuisinart Hand Blender and 

whisk the egg whites in a clean, 

dry bowl on a medium setting 

until frothy. Add the cream of 

tartar and the white wine vinegar. 

Continue to whisk on a higher 

setting until the egg whites start 

to form stiff peaks. 

Gradually beat in the sugar, 

whisking it back to stiff peaks 

after each addition. When it 

is glossy and smooth spoon 

the meringue mixture onto the 

baking paper, making a shallow 

dip in the centre with the back of 

the spoon. 

Bake in the oven for 70 minutes, 

until the meringue looks slightly 

gooey in the middle and crisp on 

the outside. Turn the oven off, 

leaving the door open slightly 

and allow the meringue to cool 

completely. 

Whip the cream to soft peaks 

using the whisk attachment of 

the Cuisinart Hand Blender on a 

high setting. Whisk in the icing 

sugar and vanilla essence being 

careful not to over whisk the 

cream. 

Spoon the cream onto the 

cooled meringue and decorate 

with the clementines. 

Sift over a dusting of icing sugar 

before serving. 

INGREDIENTS 

4 egg whites 

1 tsp cream of tartar 

1 tsp white wine vinegar 

225g caster sugar 

250ml whipping cream 

1 tbsp sifted icing sugar 

1 tsp vanilla essence 

4 - 6 peeled clementines 

Icing sugar for dusting 


Scan to watch 

senior designer, 

Jason, discuss 

why the Sovereign 

range is so special. 

Reign supreme. 

Our NEW Sovereign range makes for 

the ultimate high-end, contemporary 

or classic, hand-crafted bespoke kitchen. 

Call to arrange a free no-obligation home design 

visit or book an appointment to visit a showroom. 

01363 773533 · ashgrovekitchens.co.uk 

Head Office and Showroom: Marsh Lane, 

Lords Meadow, Crediton, Devon, EX17 1ES

Renovate & 

ELEVATE 

We take a deeper look into a beautiful renovation to find out what 

makes a good kitchen great - with thoughts from the owner, Kate 

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE 

DESIGN PROCESS? 

Absolutely - we all know there are a lot of 

options out there for kitchens, but I knew I 

wanted an in-frame, painted design with a light 

wood grain. I came across Smile Kitchens and 

instantly loved the elevated styling they offer - 

the Hampton range caught my eye particularly. 

It had all the timeless styling that I was looking 

for, and a lovely combination of colours. 

I was initially a little concerned by the lack of 

a showroom, but I needn’t have been. After a 

discovery consultation where I listed my must 

haves, my designer Corinne got to work on 

rendering that with my space dimensions. In 

the meantime, I was sent large door and knob 

samples so I could have them to hand when 

my design was ready to view. To really give me 

a feel for how the kitchen would look, it was 

rendered onto a video, giving me a 360 view of 

the space. I make a few tweaks and Corinne 

came back each time, just perfecting the vision I 

had for this important space. 

This is a big room (approximately 4.5 x 5.5m) 

and it has openings or glazing on all sides - this 

meant that planning a more conventional kitchen 

with lots of base and wall units was a challenge. 

The interruption on each of the walls meant that 

the cupboard configurations had to be carefully 

considered - and Corinne got this spot on. We 

opted for lots of tall cabinets, including a built in 

larder and a pantry with bi-fold doors - perfect as 

a breakfast station. These cupboards hide all the 

“I think the triangular work space 

concept is a little outdated for how 

we use kitchens now. Of course it 

makes sense to keep everything 

accessible and easy to move around, 

but for me, it was also important 

that the space felt social and made 

the most of the setting.” 

big appliances, meaning the worktops can stay 

clutter-free, and help to keep you organised with 

lots of internal shelves. 

LET’S TALK FLOORING... 

Tiles are a great option for flooring, but because 

of the painted kitchen finish and the quartz 

worktops, I wanted to warm up the space with 

timber. Obviously, kitchen floors need to be 

robust - able to withstand spills, items being 

dropped and the general traffic of daily life. I 

was concerned a timber or engineered floor 

would dint, so instead opted for LVT from 

the experts at Karndean. I spent a lot of time 

comparing samples before settling on Canadian 

Nude Oak - it was light enough without reading 

too grey or white. 

The best bit about this floor was the ease of 

installation - my partner and I were able to cover 

a huge area over the course an evening. The 

rigid core planks click together easily and have 

a reassuring solidity. 

FUNCTIONALITY IS KING IN A 

KITCHEN - HOW DO YOU MAKE 

SURE THE SPACE WORKS? 

I thought long and hard about how I’d use the 

space. I think the triangular work space concept 

is a little outdated for how we use kitchens now. 

Of course it makes sense to keep everything 

accessible and easy to move around, but for me, 

it was also important that the space felt social 

and made the most of the setting. The kitchen 

sink enjoys the best views - looking even better 

with the lovely CRL quartz running over the sill. 

I wanted the island to be social - I didn’t include 

a sink on there because I didn’t want the 

washing up to be the focus. Instead the hob 

faces out into the room. Finally, the fridge is 

right by the island, so you can load shopping in 

easily, or food out ready to be prepped. 

Then for me it was about choosing the right 

appliances. These are the bits that make all the 

difference! I’ve lusted after a fridge with double 

doors for years, and this amazing Haier model 

is a technological gem. It automatically detects 

Hotpoint Built 

In Double Oven; 

Hampton Kitchen 

in Pearl 


Clearwater Kettle Tap; 

CRL Stone Quartz 

worktops in Verona 

Photography by Lucy Hartley-Saunders 

Origin Bifold Doors; 

Hampton Kitchen in Onyx 

Heritage Bronze Sockets and Switches from 

Corston Architectural 


We have qualified buyers seeking 

homes throughout the South Hams 

Chartsedge is an Independent Estate Agent in Totnes 

specialising in selling properties in the South Hams to 

buyers both locally and nationwide. 

With demand in the area still good, if you are thinking 

of selling, please give the team a call to arrange for a no 

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01803 505115 

www.chartsedge.co.uk 

Anstey House, 

Jubilee Road, Totnes TQ9 5BW 

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when you’ve gone shopping, and 

adjusts the temperature of the fridge 

in anticipation. Its different humidity 

control zones means food stays 

fresher for far longer too. The freezer 

drawers are perfect for actually 

being able to see everything - there 

will be nothing lurking at the back, 

forgotten about. 

The oven is lovely and capacious 

- mounted into the tall units for 

convenience. And the integrated 

dishwasher is ideal, with moveable 

baskets and there’s also ActiveDry 

technology, which opens the door 

near the end of the cycle to allow air 

to circulate. 

The design of the kitchen 

necessitated a venting hob - this 

means we can keep that clean look 

above the island without a hood. 

This hob from Hotpoint is a thing of 

beauty - it has a vast cooking area 

which can also be synced, creating 

increased zones for larger pots and 

pans. My favourite feature is the 

‘keep warm’ setting - perfect when 

you’re not ready to serve. Above 

the island is an inset ceiling speaker 

from Lithe Audio, which you connect 

to your phone with Bluetooth - it 

really creates a great social space or 

just a lovely place to cook. 

Finally, I’m not sure what my life 

was before a boiling water tap - 

but I don’t want to go back there. 

This is a quadruple function kettle 

tap - in essence it does everything 

your normal tap does, but with the 

bonus of filtered cold and 98C water. 

It makes cooking a breeze, and 

that morning cuppa so much more 

efficient. It’s got built in safety features 

too to make sure kids can’t get hurt. 

THE WORKTOPS ARE 

LOVELY - WHAT ARE 

THEY MADE FROM? 

I knew from the outset that I wanted 

quartz worktops - these are slim 

20mm profile tops from CRL Stone. 

I went with the Verona finish, which 

had a subtle marble to help bring 

together the colours of the wall units 

and the island. It’s hard-wearing and 

looks so beautiful - it’s the ultimate 

luxury. 

THE GLAZING IS SUCH 

A SIGNIFICANT PART OF 

THE ROOM - WHAT DID 

YOU CHOOSE? 

Yes, so we have glazing on three 

walls - the windows above the 

sink are UPVC but the doors are 

all aluminium. We agonised over 

whether to have bifold doors or 

sliders - worried that bifold doors 

can lose energy efficiency over 

time. We opted in the end to go 

with industry leaders Origin Doors - 

they are manufactured to very high 

standards and come with a 20 year 

guarantee, which was so reassuring. 

They have an eight-point locking 

system too, so essential for security. 

We had a 3.7m gap, so opted for 

three large doors - meaning we have 

a single openable door which is 

more convenient for everyday life, 

and fewer frames - maximising the 

views and the feeling of the outside 

being in. Origin make the doors 

to order, so they can find the right 

configuration for your space. 

ANYTHING YOU’D DO 

DIFFERENTLY? 

Nope! I genuinely love it and love 

cooking in here. It has a great feel 

and just functions so well. I love 

all the tech - it makes life so much 

easier. 

STOCKIST DETAILS: 

Appliances: Haier HFW7819EWMP 

Smart Fridge Freezer; Hotpoint 

PVH92BUK Black 90cm Vented 

Hob; Hotpoint Class 2 DD2 540 IX 

Built-in Double Oven - Stainless 

Steel Hotpoint H8IHT59LSUK Fully 

Integrated Standard Dishwasher; 

Clearwater Kettle Tap, 01684 299555, 

clearwaterproducts.co.uk 

Kitchen: Hampton Range in Pearl 

and Onyx from Smile Kitchens, 

smilekitchens.com 

Flooring: Karndean Luxury Vinyl 

Tile in Canadian Nude Oak from 

palioexpress.com 

Worktops: CRL Stone in Verona, 

01706 863600, or visit crlstone.co.uk 

Sockets and switches: corston.com 

Ceiling Speaker: Lithe Audio, 

litheaudio.com 


Located above Plymouth’s bustling Ridgeway highstreet, 

our highly skilled team have been designing and 

creating handmade, made to measure, curtains, blinds, 

and soft furnishings for over 20 years. We will guide you 

through the process of planning and selecting styles 

and fabrics to complement your type of windows and 

interior. From the initial consultation to provide ideas and 

inspiration, to a full survey, delivery and installation. 

“ ” 

Marie delivers knowledgeable advice in a friendly manner, 

from choosing fabrics through measuring up to delivery 

and installation of my blinds and cushions it has been a 

pleasant experience and needless to say I am delighted 

with the finished product. All round excellent service from 

Marie and her team. 

Sam, Private Client 

Marie Hewitt 

Marie is actively involved in the day-to-day activities of 

the studio, contributing her experience, knowledge and 

creativity to both her clients and team. “Even though I 

have been dressing windows for over 17 years, I still love 

what I do and my favourite part of the process is faffing 

with curtains and cushions at the completion stage!” 

Sourcing products such as fabrics, linings, tracks and poles to suit any scheme and budget, we are able to 

work with a variety of clients, including local homeowners with one window to large-scale 

commercial projects for Interior Designers. We will travel to wherever the work takes us - delivering projects 

all over the UK from the depths of Cornwall, to the Lake District and Jersey to name a few. Our attention 

to detail provides our clients with a “personable service from beginning to end”, as quoted by a client on a 5 

star Google review. 

As a major fabric supplier for over 40 reputable brands, the studio holds around 30,000 fabric and wallpaper samples 

to choose from and we are happy to supply fabric by the metre. We are also suppliers of roller, venetian and vertical blinds, 

shutters, upholstery, and handmade cushions. With 2 workbenches, 3 full-time seamstresses, 4 sewing machines and 3 

project assistants, we invite you to visit our light and spacious studio to see our team in action! 


Winter in the garden 

NOTES FROM 

THE GARDEN 

As you look out of your window on 

a cold grey day you might not be 

inspired to head into the garden. 

However, there are all sorts of jobs to do and a good hour or two 

in the garden means that your cup of coffee at the end of it will 

taste even better – and you can reward yourself by snuggling up 

with your favourite gardening magazine or plant catalogue and 

plan for sunnier days! 

Apple and pear trees are due for a prune and this can be a 

prospect that is a bit of a challenge. Really good loppers, 

telescopic ones work really well, are essential and not tackling 

the whole tree in one go is an 

idea too. When pruning, do 

remember to step back regularly 

to just look at your progress, as 

you need to maintain its natural 

shape. It is very easy to go at it 

full tilt and then realise you have 

been less than consistent - this 

applies really to any pruning you 

do. 

The greenhouse is a good refuge 

from those cold winds and now is the time to clean it out, clean 

the pots, with a scrubbing brush and environmentally friendly 

disinfectant and get everything spic and span for Spring. I 

really love doing this as it reminds me that soon I will be sowing 

seeds and taking cuttings ready for a lovely new gardening year. 

You can even sow broad beans now and keep them in a cold 

greenhouse so its not all cleaning and tidying! Don’t forget to 

plan for the bees and bugs, making home-made bug hotels will 

keep the kids happy for hours – and do keep feeding the birds 

and ensuring that they have clean unfrozen drinking water. 

Bare beds can be turned over now too – a really good work out, 

or cover them with a layer of well- rotted compost if you favour 

the ‘no dig’ method. At the end of all this hard work you can 

sit with a notepad cuddling your hot coffee and start planning 

changes so that 2024 is a fabulous gardening year. 

For more advice, visit Matt Bigg’s website: 

www.matthewbiggs.com 

Get your weekends back 

Unit 4-7 Torr Trade Park. Torr Quarry Industrial Estate 

Tel: 01548 853679 


PRACTICAL PLANNING: 

When it's time 

to Divorce 

The festive season, with its 

pressures, close confines and focus 

on family-time, can sometimes be 

the final straw in the breakdown 

of a marriage. Getting divorced 

after the Christmas season can be 

emotionally challenging, but it’s 

important to approach the process 

with a clear understanding of your 

rights and responsibilities. In the UK, 

divorce proceedings are governed 

by family law, and the process 

typically involves several steps: 

REFLECT ON YOUR 

DECISION 

Before initiating divorce 

proceedings, take some time to 

reflect on your decision. Divorce 

is a significant life event, and it’s 

essential to be sure that it’s the 

right step for you. Consider seeking 

counselling or support from friends 

and family to help you navigate your 

emotions. 

CONSULT WITH A 

SOLICITOR 

Once you are certain about your 

decision to divorce, it’s advisable 

to consult with a solicitor who 

specialises in family law. A solicitor 

can provide you with legal advice 

and guide you through the divorce 

process, helping you understand 

your rights and obligations. 

FILLING OUT THE 

DIVORCE APPLICATION 

Your solicitor will assist you in 

completing the divorce application. 

This document is then filed with the 

court, along with the appropriate fee. 

SERVE THE DIVORCE 

APPLICATION 

The divorce application must be 

served on your spouse, who will 

have the opportunity to respond. 

This is usually done online or by 

post. Your solicitor can help ensure 

this step is carried out correctly. 

FINANCIAL 

SETTLEMENT 

Alongside the divorce proceedings, 

it’s essential to address financial 

matters, including the division 

of assets, property, and financial 

support. You may wish to attend 

mediation sessions to reach an 

agreement or via solicitors. If an 

agreement cannot be reached, an 

application to court can be made 

and the court can make a decision 

based on the circumstances. 

CHILD 

ARRANGEMENTS AND 

SUPPORT 

If you have children, it’s crucial 

to decide on arrangements for 

them and child support as soon 

as possible. The court’s primary 

concern is the best interests of 

the children, and it’s typically best 

if both parents can agree these 

matters through mediation or 

negotiation. The sooner these are 

settled, the better for your children. 

ATTEND COURT 

HEARINGS 

Depending on the complexity of 

your case and whether you and 

your spouse can agree on the 

terms, you may need to attend 

court hearings. These hearings will 

address any outstanding issues 

related to financial matters and 

child arrangements. 

CONDITIONAL ORDER 

AND FINAL ORDER 

After the court grants a Conditional 

Order, there is a waiting period of 

at least six weeks before you can 

apply for the Final Order, which 

finalizes the divorce. 

MOVING FORWARD 

After obtaining the Final Order, 

your marriage will be legally 

dissolved. Take this time to focus 

on your emotional healing, seek 

support from friends and family, 

and begin planning for your future. 

Getting divorced after Christmas 

or any time of the year can be 

a difficult process, but with the 

right legal advice and emotional 

support, you can navigate it 

successfully. Remember that every 

divorce is unique, and the specific 

steps and timeline may vary 

depending on your circumstances. 

Consulting with a qualified solicitor 

is essential to ensure that you 

understand and meet all legal 

requirements in the UK. 



UNDERSTANDING DIVORCE 

As many people are aware, divorce law changed in April 

2022. To obtain a divorce under the old law you had to prove 

fault on the part of the other spouse. 

The divorce process did little to bring 

about a sense of acceptance needed 

in order to move forward with life. 

It was also a rather cumbersome 

process which could easily get side 

tracked into satellite issues such as 

costs. Under the new law there is 

every incentive for spouses to consider 

the sharing of the divorce costs at 

the start and agree how to proceed 

either via a joint application or a sole 

application. The divorce application is 

issued through His Majesty’s Courts & 

Tribunals Service (HMCTS). The online 

process is relatively straightforward for 

those comfortable with technology. 

However, I would urge caution before 

issuing. For a young couple without 

dependants and few assets, there 

may not be too much to worry about 

but for others, there could be a lot 

more at risk. Before doing anything, 

it is sensible to consider how divorce 

will impact your position. There are 

many areas to consider. It is important 

firstly, to be fully aware of all the 

assets you may individually or jointly 

own or have an interest in. Thereafter, 

consideration can be given to how 

these might be shared fairly. Pension 

entitlements should be assessed. 

Widow/widower benefits might be 

wiped out by the hasty issue of the 

Final Divorce Order. Whilst that might 

ultimately be rectified through pension 

sharing, a period of risk will have been 

created which could otherwise have 

been avoided if matters had been 

considered at an early stage. In my 

experience, most cases ultimately 

reach agreement which can be 

incorporated into a final clean break 

type order approved by a judge and 

without the need for contested court 

proceedings. 

People are becoming more aware of 

options to try to safeguard their assets 

and potentially assets of extended 

family, should the worst happen. 

Marriage is not for everyone and 

cohabitation remains as popular as 

ever. Be-spoke documents such as 

Pre-Nuptial Agreements, Cohabitation 

Agreements, Post Nuptial Agreements, 

can all assist in trying to preserve 

assets. Other steps such as making 

wills and buying properties with a 

Declaration of Trust may also assist. 

Should you wish to discuss matters, 

please do not hesitate to contact me, 

Helen Saunders email 

helen.saunders@beersllp.com or 

01548 857000. 


CARE CONSIDERATIONS: 

OPTIONS 

FOR CARE 

IN THE 

HOME 

Many people living with chronic 

pain, illness or limitations on mobility 

maintain a strong desire to stay in 

the home – but, to ensure safety, 

there are lots of considerations to 

bear in mind. There are various 

considerations to ensure their 

comfort, safety, and well-being. We 

explore essential factors for providing 

care at home... 

MOBILITY AID 

SUGGESTIONS 

Wheelchairs: Wheelchairs offer 

mobility for individuals with limited 

or no ability to walk. Choose 

between manual or powered 

wheelchairs based on the 

individual’s strength and preference. 

Mobility Scooters: For outdoor 

independence, consider mobility 

scooters, which can be used for 

shopping, outdoor activities, or 

visiting friends and family. 

Walking Aids: Walking sticks, 

crutches, or walking frames provide 

support for those with limited 

mobility. Ensure they are the right 

height and offer proper support. 

Stairlifts and Ramps: Install 

stairlifts or ramps to make the home 

more accessible for individuals who 

have difficulty climbing stairs. 

Adaptive Bathroom Equipment: 

Invest in grab bars, shower chairs, 

and raised toilet seats to enhance 

bathroom safety. 

LIVE-IN CARE OPTIONS 

Overnight Care: Overnight care 

provides peace of mind for both 

the individual and their caregivers. 

Trained professionals or family 

members can stay overnight to assist 

with any needs that may arise. 

Respite Care: Respite care offers 

caregivers a temporary break while 

ensuring the person’s well-being. 

It can be arranged for a few hours 

a day or several days a week, 

depending on the caregiver’s needs. 

Personal Care Assistants: 

Personal care assistants are trained 

professionals who offer personalised 

support with daily activities such 

as bathing, dressing, medication 

management, and meal preparation. 

Live-in Caregivers: Live-in 

caregivers provide continuous 

support, allowing individuals to 

maintain their independence while 

receiving assistance with daily 

tasks and companionship. These 

caregivers can also help with 

household chores. 

CONSIDERATIONS FOR 

QUALITY CARE 

Assessment and Planning: 

Begin by conducting a thorough 

assessment of the individual’s needs 

and preferences. Create a care 

plan that outlines specific tasks, 

schedules, and goals. 

Training and Certification: Ensure 

that caregivers are properly trained 

and certified to handle the specific 

needs of the individual, whether it 

involves medical care or assisting 

with mobility. 

Communication: Maintain open 

and regular communication with 

the care team, including healthcare 

professionals, to monitor the 

individual’s condition and adapt the 

care plan as needed. 

Safety Measures: Implement safety 

measures such as fall prevention 

strategies, proper medication 

management, and emergency 

response plans. 

Emotional Support: Recognise 

the emotional needs of both the 

individual and the caregiver. Seek 

support from support groups or 

counselling services if necessary. 

Caring for someone with chronic 

pain, illness, or physical disability 

at home requires careful planning 

and consideration. By selecting the 

right mobility aids and exploring 

care options, individuals can 

receive the support they need while 

maintaining their independence and 

quality of life. 


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Luxury Adjustable Beds 

Rise & Recline Chairs - Made to 

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Mobility Scooters - Lightweight & 

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Powerchairs 

Walking Aids & Rollators 

Wheelchairs 

Bath Lifts 

Stairlifts - Straight & Curved 

Daily Living Aids 

Scooter Servicing & Repairs 

Visit One of our Showrooms Open 6 Days 

Trudoxhill Nr Frome - *Shepton Mallet - Coxley, Wells - Warminster - Melksham 

CALL US ON 01373 836165 

www.lifeandmobility.co.uk 

*Open Sunday & Bank Holidays 

Hundreds of rolls of designer fabrics 

at discounted prices. 

Avon Mill 

Café, Garden Centre & Shops 

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Wonderful Woodland walks • Dogs welcome 

Cosy Café serving Fabulous Breakfasts, 

Lunches & Devon Cream Teas. 

Loddiswell • Kingsbridge TQ7 4DD 

www.avonmill.com 01548 550338 


Beautiful bedrooms, creatively designed for you. 

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Showroom Opening Times: Monday-Friday 9.00am-5.00pm, Saturday 10am-4pm (Or by Appointment) 

MADE IN 

BRITAIN 

01392 922 182 | master-bedrooms.co.uk 

Master Bedrooms is a division of Ashgrove Kitchens Ltd, 3 Lords Meadow Industrial Estate, Marsh Lane, Crediton EX17 1ES. Company Registration No. 2092604. 

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M_Spiers_Taunton_Living_Ad_OCT23_options.indd 1 04/10/2023 09:59

South Hams Lifestyle Dec 2023 - Jan 2024

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