West Magazine, August 20 2016 by DCMedia

20.08.16

Model life Meet beauty’s boldest belle

Hidden gems in your back yard

HOW TO:

detox

like a celeb

A blooming great

SUMMER

Meet south Devon’s queen of flowers LATEST_COVER.indd 1

16/08/2016 13:53:12

The Art of Living

Hearth & Cook brings a new experience to home lovers and makers.

Expertly gathered together in our showroom in Exeter is a selection of the finest

products designed to transform homes and inspire wonderful culinary creations,

including an extensive range of beautifully designed outdoor ovens from renowned Danish stove manufacturer, Morsø. Visit our showroom now to see many of these appliances in action or browse our website for more information.

• RANGE COOKERS FROM LA CORNUE AND ESSE • MORSØ STOVES & OUTDOOR LIVING RANGE • ASHGROVE BESPOKE KITCHENS Find us in Oaktree Place, 100 yards behind Carrs Ferrari & Maserati.

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Call 01392 797679 www.hearthandcook.com 14 Oaktree Place, Manaton Close, Matford, Exeter, Devon EX2 8WA

16/08/2016 11:27:36

‘I was placed third in the Star in a Bra competition with lingerie brand Curvy Kate in 2011. I had finally made peace with my body and who I really am.’

BRIGHT IDEAS Interiors to transport you to the tropics

Plus-sized model Georgina Horne, p12

12 44

SHE’S A HANDFUL Georgina Horne embraces her curves

POSTCARD PERFECT Discover secret spots

[contents[ Inside this week... 6

THE WISHLIST Our pick of the best treats this week

JUST BETWEEN US... Sh! We have the latest gossip!

SEAMLESS STYLE The star behind the Big Tights campaign

GOODBYE SUGAR Time for a detox

IN FULL BLOOM I quit my day job to sell flower crowns

TROPICAL HEAT How to add exotic chic to your home

ASK GRACIE... Our new style guru guides the way

FULL BEAM Sartorial shine you’ll love

NATURALLY GOOD FOR YOU Bridie Nicol cooks scrumptious snacks

SMART WAYS WITH WINE April Marks picks her favourite tipples

WISH YOU WERE HERE Devon postcards, with a difference

HOLIDAY FUN The National Trust has you covered

CHANGING GEARS Phil Goodwin on boys and bikes

SOUP’S UP Tomato and bacon, hot or cold

LOOKING GOOD

Expert beauty tips

Contents_Aug20.indd 3

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aroline Hodges is an expert. Her mintgreen vintage flower van is bursting with beautiful blooms, jewel-like strawberries and DIY flower crowns, all designed to make your day out at Bantham Beach even more beautiful. Read all about how she swopped her office job for a florist’s life on page 16. Sometimes though, more is definitely more. Take plus-sized model Georgina Horne for example. Fierce, fun and with the face of an angel it is no surprise that she has over 111,000 instagram followers. Georgina has become a familiar face in Cornwall, modelling for The Big Tights company,

in an if stored 1-2 days keep for and will made aheadeaten! ies can be being k.com The Blond long without earthandcoo that www.h cookers: they last of Esse

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BLOOMING LOVELY

Vintage flowers in South Devon

[

of the week

[

a Penryn-based brand with a big following. Turn to page 12 for a peek of the curves that have made her famous. Want to work on your own signature style, but not sure where to start? Then be sure to linger over our regular Ask Gracie feature on page 26. Gracie Stewart is a beauty and fashion guru with an international client base. Lucky for us she now calls Exeter home. Because style starts at home we think you’ll enjoy the bold interiors on page 22. Colourful and tropical, they’ll go a long way towards curing you of any Olympic-induced Rio envy. Another surefire cure? A cup of tea and an hour curled up with this mag. After all, West is best!

[

Gracie Stewart is a beauty and fashion guru with an international client base

@hearthandcook We’ve spied this tasty @ESSE1854 recipe in the latest issue of @WMNWest magazine! have a go #baking with the kids! TO ADVERTISE: Contact Cathy Long: 01752 293017 or 07557 576668, clong@dc-media.co.uk

Becky Sheaves, Editor

EDITORIAL: westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk Tel: 01392 442250 Twitter @wmnwest

COVER IMAGE: Steve Haywood

MEET THE TEAM Becky Sheaves, Editor

Phil Goodwin

Kathryn Clarke-McLeod

Gillian Molesworth

Cathy Long

EdsLetter_1thing_Aug20.indd 4

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If you do one thing this week... Why not send someone a seriously lovely hamper by post (or snaffle it for yourself)? Brown and Forrest is a small family run smokery, started 31 years ago in Hambridge, Somerset. It produces the finest smoked eel and salmon as well as a whole range of delicious smoked foods including chicken, duck, lamb and trout, used by the likes of Rick Stein and Fortnum & Mason. This family hamper costs £60 and contains smoked salmon, smoked chicken breast, hot-smoked trout fillets and much more besides. www.brownandforrest.co.uk

Win

We have a Brown and Forrest Family Hamper to win, worth £60. To enter, simply tell us which Somerset village you’ll find this smoker in. Send your answer, along with your full contact details, to: Brown and Forrest competition, westmag@ westernmorningnews.co.uk to arrive by September 2. Normal terms apply, West magazine will not share your details. Alternatively, you can post your entry to Brown & Forrest competition, West magazine, Queens House, Little Queen Street, Exeter EX4 3LJ. 5

EdsLetter_1thing_Aug20.indd 5

15/08/2016 13:42:19

GRUB’S UP! Bamboo fibre set of four bowls £29.99 Very

the

wishlist West’s top picks for spending your time and money this week

CHEERS Feather cocktail tools £25 for a set of two, Marks & Spencer

Rose gold feather hair slides £6 for a set of three, Accessorize

NEAT Gold Dish Rack £30 Marquis & Dawe 6

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Wishlist

fave!

SNUGGLE Calanques wool throw £65 Amara

Palm tree candelabra £25 Debenhams

Store we adore...

STYLISH Puerto table lamp £49.50 Marks & Spencer

STORE WE ADORE: Chandos Deli

Driven by an ethos that is simple and clear. Good food. The delis in Bristol, Bath and Exeter are renowned for sourcing delicious and authentic foods from around the world. Favourites include the lumberjack cake, bacon ciabatta and a pretty impressive selection of wines from

across the globe. The deli is a veritable foodie’s dream, farmhouse cheeses, charcuterie, oils, vinegars and pasta all vie for attention but if you just need a quick pick-me-up then the flat white comes highly recommended too. www.chandosdeli.com 01392437379 7

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talking points Gillian Molesworth

Story of my life... Mealtime memories ell we had a special treat meal the other night. Freddy’s friend Ben came over for a sleepover and I let them choose the meal: tacos. “You should make a pudding to go with it,” I said, spreading some cookbooks out on the table. They perused their options and finally agreed on a vanilla cream pie with coconut topping. nearby iPad. The best linens “That sounds amazing,” I said, were on the table, immaculately and we headed off to Tesco to buy set with crystal glasses, plates the ingredients. and silverware. A jug of freshly My heart sank when we got squeezed lemon and lime juice into the parking lot, which looked sat on a trivet. like the M25 at rush hour. As did “Wow,” we all said, and the the aisles inside. tacos were served. When we eventually returned It did seem a bit incongruous I flung all the groceries away and eating a casual and let’s face it, had to run down to the stables to rather messy main course in such do the horses. “You’re in charge a classy setting. But it’s amazing of supper,” I holwhat a good atmoslered to Freddy phere can do to lift a and Ben. They’re meal. All the family The pièce de 11, right? Plenty had been rather old enough to grumpy earlier, but résistance: was pull their weight this brought out the pie. This had around the place. good conversation taken the boys When I eventuand laughter. ally returned After the taco the better part from a ride in plates were cleared of two hours, the rain and a away, it was time for lot of heavy liftthe pièce de résistand they were ing, there was a ance: the pie. This very proud of it barricade across had taken the boys the kitchen. “You the better part of can’t come in two hours, and they yet,” said a voice, with a lot of were very proud of it. Justifiably shushing sounds. so: this was essentially a form I had just washed my hands of custard, involving technicaliwhen a bell sounded on the other ties such as separating eggs and side of the barricade. Freddy bringing things to a bare simmer. and Ben swept aside a curtain. “What is the name of your resThey were dressed in white shirts taurant?” asked James, and they and dark jackets, and each had a finally agreed on “Le Fren”, a white towel folded over his arm. combination of their names, with “Madam, would you like to a little French thrown in. come this way?” said one small So if you’re looking for a classy waiter. The rest of the family venue, I give Le Fren three stars. bumbled in in surprise. You’ll have a meal to remember. Jazz music floated from a We certainly did.

Gillian Molesworth is a journalist and mum-of-two who grew up in the USA and moved to north Cornwall when she met her husband.

BOLD

and beautiful For her last appearance outside Downing Street as the wife of then Prime Minister David Cameron, the ever-immaculate and stylish Samantha Cameron left a lasting impression in this £1,490 graphic print dress by Roksanda. The 45-year-old wore the elegant dress with a zip front from the designer’s 10 year anniversary capsule collection, pairing it with black suede pointed court shoes and a patent black belt. If your wallet doesn’t stretch as far as Mrs Cameron’s you can get a similar look for a fraction of the cost with our style steals from the high street.

Stripe maxi dress £35 Bonmarche

steal her

style

OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN

OPTION A Yellow Graphic print dress £50 River Island

OPTION B Peach Colour-block striped shift dress £39 M&Co

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20.08.16

‘I DREAM OF CAKE’ Diving champion TOM DALEY says he dreams of taking part in the celebrity version of The Great British Bake Off. The 22-year-old revealed that despite his regimented diet he enjoys cooking and would like to try the celebrity version of the baking programme. He

told Radio Times: “I have a real sweet tooth and I treat myself to a frozen yoghurt or bit of cheesecake a couple of times a week. I’m a very keen baker. I’ve got the art of cheesecake down to a T. Celebrity Bake Off? Yep, that’s the dream.”

[[ Next up for me? Starring in a Western!

FROM BUTLERS TO BRONCOS Our favourite Downton Abbey star MICHELLE DOCKERY has signed up to star in a Western. The actress, 34, recently ended her role as Lady Mary in Downton when the hit ITV show came to an end after five years of global success. Now she will play the female lead in a new period drama, Godless, a mini-series from Netflix to be broadcast next year. British actor JACK O’CONNELL and The

Newsroom star JEFF DANIELS have also been cast in the period drama. Dockery plays Alice Fletcher, the owner of a ranch where Roy Goode (O’Connell) is hiding from menacing outlaw Frank Griffin (Daniels). Griffin terrorises towns across the West as he hunts for Goode, his mortal enemy. His chase leads him to a quiet town in New Mexico, which is mysteriously made up entirely of women.

Just

between us Gossip, news, trend setters and more – you heard all the latest juicy stuff here first!

MY FRIENDS TERRIFIED HIM! ANDREA MCLEAN has said boyfriend Nick Feeney was terrified of meeting her fellow Loose Women panellists. The star of ITV’s flagship afternoon series opened up about her relationship during an interview with Hello! magazine. The couple, who have four children from previous marriages between them, were set up on a blind date. They kept their relationship quiet for a year until going public in 2015. On the subject of businessman Feeney’s introduction to the other Loose Women, she said: “He was terrified! But the ladies were lovely to him, especially Linda Robson, who calls herself Nana Linda and is my surrogate nana”.

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Smile: Pretty as a picture at Looe Carnival

in pictures Proud: Matthew Chee, aged 10, and his dog Megan did well at Porthpean Fun Show

Wow: Jonathan Hill played a Stradivarius worth ÂŁ1.6 million alongside a 37piece orchestra on Lusty Glaze beach near Newquay Surreal: Thatching straw stooked the old-fashioned way near Crediton in mid Devon

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talking points A HISTORY

of the

WEST in

100

objects QUIZ OF THE WEEK:

8: BENHAM’S BOOTS

How Westcountry is:

From northern India to Plymouth, 1930s

YOUR CAR? What are you currently driving? A. A white Range Rover Evoque. B. A VW split screen camper van. C. A Daihatsu Fourtrak. How do you keep your car smelling nice? A. My car smells lovely anyway, of new leather seats and my Jo Malone perfume. B. Surf wax seems to do the trick. C. My other half gave me a Magic Tree air freshener but after a few years they really don’t work as well as they should. What is on your back seat? A. Just my Mulberry handbag – they’re local you know, from Somerset. B. A wetsuit, a cheese pasty and a lot of sand. C. An old coathanger and string, to be used as a ewe-prolapse fixing kit. And a ewe.

If you could choose any vehicle in the world, what would it be? A. An Aston Martin DB5 – if it’s good enough for James Bond… B. The new California Ocean camper van from VW but at £48,500, that’s looking unlikely. C. A John Deere 6R series tractor. What is your other vehicle? A. Ride-on mower – these lawns don’t cut themselves, you know. B. BMX. You’re never too old to pull a wheelie. C. Very muddy Massey Ferguson 590 tractor. It does the job, boy. Your favourite Westcountry drive... A. As I pass Stonehenge on the A303. Then I really know I’m coming home (for the weekend). B. The coast road along past St Agnes, Porthtowan and Gwithian. C. Mostly I only ever drive to Mole Valley Farmers and back.

RESULTS:

Mostly As: Look, you’re just not Westcountry at all. White is not a clever colour for a 4x4. And would you mind not parking right across the

Mostly Bs: You’re north coast Westcountry, which probably means you are from Australia. Or going to Australia.

Mostly Cs: Yes you are definitely Westcountry, and we applaud you. That ewe doesn’t look at all well, though.

Julien Parsons is the Senior Collections Officer, at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. He says: The owner of these leather boots certainly had itchy feet. Between 1904 and 1938, globetrotter Getrude Emily Benham (known as Truda) went around the world seven times, climbed 300 peaks over 10,000ft high and amassed hundreds of ethnographic artefacts and plant specimens. Truda’s wanderlust began after her parents had died, leaving her a modest inheritance. In 1904 she travelled to Canada, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, India, Egypt and Corsica. And more trips followed almost every year and saw her scale Mount Kilimanjaro, walk across central Africa, navigate up the river Congo and trek from Simla to Srinagar in Kashmir. Armed with little more than a Bible and a pocket edition of Shakespeare’s plays, Getrude Benham was all but unstoppable – only the First World War interrupted her progress. By 1933-4 she was on a seventh circumnavigation of the globe when she tramped to the Himalayan town of Leh in these weather-beaten boots. Getrude eventually died in 1938 –

off on yet another adventure. Ten years earlier she had disembarked at Plymouth and was so taken with its museum that she pledged to donate her collection there. Given the city’s associations with so many great explorers – from Francis Drake to Captain Scott – it’s a fitting home for the artefacts of such a remarkable woman.

The owner of these boots went around the world seven times.

Bringing the World to Plymouth Gallery, Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery until September 3. 11

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SEAMLESSLY

stylish

Penryn-based lingerie manufacturer The Big Tights Company has asked curvy blogger Georgina Horne to model its plus-size underwear collection. Amber Key finds out more 12

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eorgina Horne is relaxing in a leather chair in Truro’s Toni & Guy salon. Her auburn hair is being styled by a technician, whose assistant arranges the rollers by size. To the right is Georgie’s blog photographer, to the left, a PR account manager from her client’s agency. Everyone wants a bit of Georgie. And it’s not surprising. This month alone, this in-demand model has posed for Simply Be, the fashion brand for a more voluptuous figure, and Edith & Winston plus-size bridalwear. Today she’s in Cornwall to model lingerie for The Big Tights Company, a Penryn-based brand with a loyal following. Type “Georgina, model, blogger” into Google and her blog, FullerFigureFullerBust, pops up. This voluptuous siren of all things glamorous has 96,000 followers on Instagram and her page has 84,000 Likes on Facebook (to put this in context, the Alexa Chung Daily has fewer - around 80,000). Make no mistake - clothing for larger ladies

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is a growing market. And Georgie is at the heart of this movement, an icon of femininity with her rollered 1950s-style hair, photogenic face and nipped-in waist. It’s this girliness which attracts the attention of regular readers. “My followers are nice women and I really like that,” she says. “I went to a blogging conference recently in Italy and met some popular Americans who really inspired me. The more followers you have, the more you can change attitudes. Occasionally there are negative comments but I ignore them and remember the good stuff.” At a time when so many people are starting blogs and competing to be noticed, how does she stay on an upward curve, if you’ll forgive the pun? “I keep it real, I guess,” she says, laughing at herself with four people working on her at this moment as she files her nails. “Integrity is important.” Today’s shoot is purely lingerie, a topic on which this model waxes lyrical. Georgie’s relationship with Big Tights began in 2015 and she loves her modelling visits to Cornwall. “Laura at Big Tights always puts me up in a glamorous hotel with a sea view. I really enjoy having time to myself to relax, take my make-up off, have a soak in the bath and get ready for the two days of shooting,” she says. The company produces a range of underwear garments, all created for women who want comfort and need a bigger size than you can readily find on the high street. “Underwear is not a shameful thing,” says Georgie. “Without good underwear, your outfit looks bad. I compare it to constructing a building – good foundations ensure the rest stays up. And nothing makes you feel better than wearing a matching set of lovely underwear.” Georgina works hard at looking good, regularly training with weights and pushing her body to its limit in workouts which she posts to Instragram. There’s no clever lighting, photoshopping or pouty Kardashianstyle angles at work here – look out for a bright red face, posted proudly, and genuine perspiration. She explains: “I have to stay fit because shoots are really demanding on my body. They can be a real shock to the system if you don’t have any strength to hold a pose, say on one leg. Stamina is important – no one realises that modelling is physically hard work. Then you finish for the day and lug a heavy suitcase home.” Today she’s more than happy to enjoy the Cornish hospitality before returning to normal life in Twickenham via a train ride with that heavy suitcase.

‘I had finally made

peace with my body and who I really am’

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Interview

Q&A Georgina Horne How did you get into modelling? I was placed third in the Star in a Bra competition with lingerie brand Curvy Kate in 2011 and gradually got more and more jobs. I had finally made peace with my body and who I really am. What are you currently most excited about? I got married at the end of last year and now we’re buying our first house! All my time is spent dreaming about furniture. Best underwear advice: Ignore the size label and choose what fits, even if you have to go up a size. Bulges are unsightly under clothes. Most unusual shoot: I was wearing latex in a cold shower standing on one leg for a creative photographer I work with regularly. The results were great! Advice for wannabe bloggers: Keep it real. Be careful about making your blog too commercial, as readers see through it. I review a mix of make-up products on my blog – some are sent to me from companies; others are items I’ve bought myself and liked. In another life: I would be running a salad bar. Just before I became a model, I was signing the paperwork to open a London franchise of an Australian brand called Sumo Salad. They make awesome, nutritious food. Maybe one day…

All about: The Big Tights Company The Big Tights Company began Penryn in 2007, originally as a reseller of plus-size lingerie. Spotting a gap in the market for extra-large underwear, founder Laura Murray soon moved into making tights. “Nobody was manufacturing tights that were either long enough or had enough room in the thighs,” says Laura. “In 2009, I went off to Italy for three months armed with an Italian-English dictionary to meet selected hosiery manufacturers and explain the brief.” Big Tights now make garments up to a UK size 33/34, using only the best Italian quality materials. “It was a bit of a struggle to explain the sizing requirements to our Italians, but once they understood, we were flying,” explains Laura. Sales of this unique Cornish success story continue to grow. www.thebigtightscompany.co.uk 15

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a FEAST for the senses A haven of all things vintage, florist Caroline Hodges tells Anna Turns about the vision for her new flower van photography: Steve Haywood

erhaps it’s Caroline Hodges’ keen eye for detail or maybe it’s her simple, natural, signature style that draws you in. Whatever the magic formula, Bantham’s new mint-green vintage flower van is a feast for the senses. From the cones of sweet, fresh strawberries grown in South Milton on the front counter to the colourful locally-grown flowers in silver tin buckets and carefully-selected homewares from other South Devon-based start-ups; everything fits her ethos for local sourcing and the casual summer beach vibe. You won’t find any cellophane or fancy ribbon bows here – there’s just a big roll of brown paper hanging on the wall and a ream of natural raffia on the worktop, so the hand-tied bunches of flowers can speak for themselves. Sweet peas, dahlias, cornflowers, sunflowers and agapanthus – the van is filled with stunning cut flowers and

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People

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MAKE A FLOWER CROWN Grab a jam jar at the flower van and your little ones can make their own pretty princess crowns with fresh flowers or a native American headdress with ferns and foliage. 1. Cut individual flower heads off as close to the top of the stem as possible. 2. Remove the outer paper from the double-sided sticky tape and stick flower heads on to the sticky area of the cardboard crown. If using ferns, place the tallest in the centre and shortest towards the sides. 4. Place the crown around the child’s head and staple the ends of the crown together for the perfect fit.

Caroline is having fun creating beautiful posies with them. “A simple bunch of sweet peas in different shades looks so beautiful together. For weddings and events, I’m a big fan of using a single flower type, especially for bigger arrangements, I love the simplicity of it. But for my flower van, I’m enjoying putting contrasting flowers together, for example striking sunflowers combined with blue agapanthus. I also love the clashing colours of our awesome bright dahlias - for a fiver, you get

a vibrant blast of colour to sit in a jug on your kitchen table,” says Caroline whose enthusiasm for creating eye-catching floral bouquets is infectious. For the summer season, she has trained up her team of four, Kim, Molly, Vily and Jaz, in the art of combining flower types and creating something special. “My girls are all creative people who love flowers and take a lot of pride in their work so I can give them a lot of free reign,” explains Caroline who is booked up with weddings

I was fed up with my

office job so retrained at

McQueen’s college in London

most weekends this year. “I have taught them the basics but I’m giving them space to develop their own instinct for floral design so they can put together their own posies.” Caroline set up her successful wedding floristry business five years ago when she moved back to the South Hams. Having grown up in Newton Ferrers, she worked abroad and it was while living in Paris that she first dreamt of being a florist: “Every day when I walked past this really beautiful flower shop on my way to work in an office just outside the city, I’d think to myself ‘I want to be in there, it smells amazing’. So I vowed to make my millions and have a little flower shop on the side but by the time I turned 30, I still hadn’t won the lottery and I was fed up with my office job so I retrained at McQueen’s College in London.” She got her first job at a florist shop in

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People

Caroline juggles school runs around making bespoke bouquets for beautiful brides Christchurch where she was living with her husband, Toby. The couple then moved back to Thurlestone when they were expecting their first baby and since then both her business and her family have blossomed - she now has two daughters, Lola, five and Agnes, one. “Lola just adores the flower van. For her, it is just like playing shops and she really enjoys suggesting which flowers go with each other!” laughs Caroline, who at 38 is a busy working mum, juggling school runs around making bespoke bouquets for discerning brides. This flower van is an eclectic mix of lovely things and textiles, a sort of a pop-up boutique, selling handmade dried flower crowns by Bantham-based Zen Flower Den, plus rugs and blankets produced using 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles by Weaver Green in Loddiswell. With provenance and an eco-friendly approach at their heart, Caroline’s favourite local designers all share her philosophy. “Caro Stephenson at Roam Devon imports these gorgeous palm straw beach baskets from a family who hand make them in Morocco,” explains Caroline who has selected the star design in gold or silver with very ‘on trend’ brightly coloured pom poms. In one way, the flower van has brought Caroline back to what first inspired her about floristry. “It’s so fantastic to have a retail outlet and it feels like I’m harping back to the days when I always imagined having my own beautiful little flower shop, but that just isn’t practical for me with such a young family.” And while her more formal wedding work involves ordering very specific quantities of certain flowers, the flower van is more fluid and follows what’s in season in the Westcountry. This month it’s all about agapanthus, delphinium, snap dragons, stocks, cornflowers, larkspur and sweet peas. “I want the flowers be themselves so I don’t manipulate them into elaborate forms. The flowers are all so beautiful in their own right,” says Caroline who lets the flowers do the talking. And they speak volumes. 20

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interiors

recipe

beer

explore 21

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Hot, hot houses If all the Olympic action in Rio has given you a taste for the tropical, why not inject a little exotic passion into your home décor. Becky Sheaves finds out how…

Linea Home Amazon double duvet set, yellow, reduced from £50 to £35 at House of Fraser

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10/08/2016 12:10:51

Interiors

t’s time for a style samba at home, as the Rio Olympics have put jungle prints and flamboyant carnival colour firmly on the interior decor map. Luckily, you don’t need to travel far to find a profusion of palm-print designs, on everything from wallpaper to fabrics, mimicking the lush, leafy landscapes of jungles and Amazonian rainforest, as designers embrace a ‘hot house’ look for interiors. The trend for turning up the heat in rooms with sultry settings is a reflection of our continuing enthusiasm for all things natural for interiors - from botanical prints to materials such as wood and stone - as well as a growing willingness to use more colour. Be as classic or exuberant as you like, accessorising with those most fashionable decor creatures, monkeys - used for everything from ornaments to lamps this season - and then add to the atmosphere with plenty of pot plants. Throw caution to the wind and go full-on carnival with a kaleidoscope of colour, from pink to burnt orange, and wing it with accessories featuring flamingos or parrots. “The infectious spirit of Brazil is sweeping the UK. Brazilian art and design, food and culture are inspiring everything from fabrics and ceramics through to furniture,” says Joanna Feeley, founder and CEO at forecasting agency Trend Bible. “This is an energising trend featuring bold, upscaled geometrics, thick looped lines and painterly effects for prints and textiles. Roughly-glazed brightly painted ceramics add to a crafted feel and playful details are key, from paper garlands and strands of fairy lights, to flamingos and parrots, helping create a party atmosphere inside and out.” One way that you can work this trend is by sourcing some oversized foliage designs to create a tropical

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Interiors vibe.” Create a tropical carnival-themed room by mixing natural green hues and botanical prints with a pop of contrasting colour, such as red or burnt orange. While green maintains an element of serenity, it’s good to enliven it with an injection of hot colour,” says Samantha Parish, interior design manager for bed specialists Hypnos. “Alternatively, look to the jewel-bright colours of a carnival procession for inspiration. Try mixing golden shades with rich-gemstone hues, such as deep purple and turquoise. Invest in a statement piece of furniture in a bold fabric and soften the look with patterned cushions and accessories in complimentary Wall murals, shades. The key to achieving this look at home is to focus on a now in vogue couple of bright, complementaafter years in the ry colours and then to play with doldrums, could pattern and shades.” Wall murals, now in vogue also be a way to after years in the doldrums, spirit your home could also be a way to spirit your home to foreign climes. Pixers’ to foreign climes comprehensive collection includes a jungle scene complete with lizards famed for changing their appearance and their chameleon wall mural (200x240cm) costs £139. Graham & Green has a gorgeous jungle animal cocoon chair (£275) decorated with parrots, monkeys and sloths. This trend-conscious company also has parrot-on-stick garden ornaments, £9.95 each, which would work just as well indoors, and a Marcel white monkey money box for £55. If you’ve got a serious case of jungle fever, consider a Brighton midi sofa upholstered in Barbara Osorio Principe fabric, which has a design Matthew Williamson’s butterfly home floral print tropical bed linen

[[

Chameleon wall mural £139 from Pixers

The dining space is lit from above thanks to its glass roof

of lush foliage and tropical blooms. It costs £2,841 from Sofas & Stuff. Alternatively, bag a Brazilian-inspired bargain at House of Fraser. A Linea Home amazon duvet set is currently reduced from £50 to £35 for a double. Pineapples still pack a punch in interiors and The Contemporary Home has a cute yellow ceramic pineapple for £30, while a set of four tropical birds melamine plates (£20.50 from Limelace) would make a lovely addition to any patio table. As well as the ubiquitous monkeys, flamingos are strutting all over décor these days, and their hot pink plumage instantly evokes sun-drenched foreign climes. “Exotic carnival-style colour is a great way to add vibrancy and visual interest into a space. When decorating with carnival inspired colours - think hot pinks, zesty green, lemon yellow, electric blue and so on - remember a little goes a long way,” says Will Taylor, interiors and design consultant and blogger, who’s currently collaborating with blinds specialists Hillarys. “This doesn’t mean you can’t add a big dose of hue, but it’s important to consider the surrounding space in order to get it right. For example, if

you wish to go all out with, say, a hot pink splashback in a kitchen, keeping the cabinetry and surrounding walls white will act as a calming foil, also allowing the pink to zing and become that statement in the space. “If you are looking to add carnival colours in more subtle ways, why not consider hanging a gallery wall of black and white photographs, where each frame is painted a different bright hue? Adding colour via window treatments is also a stylish way to invite festival hues into a room - a graphic patterned roller blind in blue and yellow, or colour block bi-fold solid shutters, for example. “Finally, as feathers are so synonymous with carnival, consider paying a nod to the colourful party vibes by hanging an African Juju hat in a vibrant shade to make a bold colour statement in a space. Doing this also invites tactile texture into a scheme.” Finally, if your passion’s for parrots, Matthew Williamson, renowned for his exotic designs, has created a stunning Arini wallpaper, £79, from Osborne & Little, which has Macaw parrots with shimmering metallic wings fluttering across it. We love it!

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GET THE

LOOK

Simple, stylish and modern ideas guaranteed to raise the temperature in your home

Yellow ceramic pineapple £30 The Contemporary Home

Metro chair upholstered in Christian Lacroix Caribe Perroquet from £1,054 Delcor

Cushion £7.99 Sainsbury’s

Tropical birds melamine plates £20.50 for four, Limelace

Brighton midi sofa upholstered in Barbara Osorio Principe £2,841 Sofas & Stuff Small pink flamingo £65 Out There Interiors 25

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10/08/2016 12:12:11

Ask Gracie... Want to look your best this week? Our styling expert Gracie Stewart of Exeter can help you look your best, in every possible way. All you have to do is ask...

Pink belted shorts £32 Miss Selfridge

Bumble and Bumble Prep detangler £17 House of Fraser

Short cut to style Q

Autograph tailored shorts £32.50 Marks & Spencer

“Is it OK to wear shorts to the office during summer?” JN, Truro

In order to maintain some level of professionalism in the workplace (without dying of heat exhaustion), I think it’s crucial to find a couple of pairs of shorts you can wear to work. Of course, you should always check your office dress code before you waltz in showing some extra skin but many business places will let it slide so long as you follow these tips. •

Lipsy Love Michelle Keegan tailored shorts £38 Lipsy

• • •

Keep your shorts to an appropriate length. That means, no booty shorts or frayed denim cut-offs. Seek out special detailing. Pleats down the front, a clean hem, or a high-waisted silhouette are great examples. Opt for neutrals. Look for classic colours like black, khaki and navy. Style them with dressy pairings. Tuck in a nice blouse and wear it with a blazer. Dress your shorts up the same way you would a pencil skirt.

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Gracie’s shopping list

Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence conditioning spray £22 Marks & Spencer

Blonde ambition “As a bottle blonde my hair has become incredibly dry and brittle. What can I do to get it back into a healthy condition?” HG, Tiverton

The best way to combat dryness, brittleness and breakage is to use a pre-shampoo deep conditioning treatment three days before and also after bleaching or highlighting, and then weekly thereafter. This plumps your hair with moisture, making it more elastic and less likely to snap. The correct pre-shampoo treatments also add shine, manageability and bounce. I’m a big fan of the L’Huile de Leonor Greyl preshampoo treatment. You should also use a daily damage defence product such as Philip Kingsley’s Daily

Damage Defence conditioning spray to keep your hair hydrated, shiny and protected from daily environmental damage. Products like these also help to seal gaps caused by a raised cuticle. While you may not be styling your hair throughout the day, pollution, air conditioning/ central heating, wind and UV rays can take their toll. Remember, bleached hair is already vulnerable to damage and snapping so be careful not to brush or pull your hair roughly and be especially gentle when you style. To help prevent breakage, gently detangle bleached hair when wet (or dry), starting from the ends and gradually working up to your roots. You can also use a detangling spray such as the Bumble and Bumble Prep Detangler.

Suede neo-nomad fringed tote bag £54.99 Superdry Embrace your inner cowgirl with this fringed tote bag. L’Huile de Leonor greyl - pre shampoo treatment £28.50 cultbeauty.co.uk

Edina Multi large camera bag £29 Accessorize Rochelle Humes beaded batwing playsuit £89 Very Cut with a nipped-in waist, split-back detail and batwing sleeves, this playsuit will flatter your figure while ushering the spirit of 70’s disco. Plaid Parallel City Trouser £129 Jigsaw

Biba Jungleprint kimono dress £99 House of Fraser

Mix it up “I love the idea of mixing Q big, bold prints but I’m just not sure how to go about it.” PA, Plymouth Mixing quirky patterns with even crazier ones can seem a bit daunting but anyone can rock the look. Here’s my go-to guide to getting it right: 1. Mix patterns from the same

colour family Using hues from one colour family when mixing patterns will create a subtler look while still showing your daring side. It’s visually stimulating for the eye but in a more refined way. 2. Look for patterns that complement each other The last thing you want to do is look like you got dressed in the

dark so choose patterns that complement each other. Stripes and floral always mesh well, as do leopard print and stripes. 3. Space the patterns out There is no need to wear a patterned skirt with a patterned jacket or top. Mixing a top or skirt with patterned shoes can give your outfit the right amount of wow factor. .

fave! Versicolour ersicolour Stain in Forever Darling £20 M.A.C Cosmetics This is the ultimate fusion of gloss and stain that melts onto lips for a full-on glassy shine that lasts all day.

Got a style or beauty question? Email Gracie Stewart at westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk with the subject Ask Gracie

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16/08/2016 11:09:34

Shine on

Love clutch £150 Folli Follie

hine bright like a diamond with these metallic ensembles. From glittering accessories to dazzling dresses, the key to wearing these striking fabrics is to keep it simple and opt for one piece at a time. Try ramping up a sleek all-black outfit with shiny metallic shoes or a mirrored clutch. It’s your time to shine.

Roll-neck £49 metallic skirt £109, both Jacques Vert

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Fashion

fave!

Therapy Syden metallic cami dress £38 House of Fraser

Metallic zigzag cami £15 Very

Metallic pleated dress £68 Next

Lace-up pumps £22 JD Williams

Fresher heeled sandals £68 Office

Metallic Love backpack £175 Folli Follie

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Shop Bag £6 Primark

Back to school

Purr maids gym bag £10 Paperchase

It’s time to plan your new pencil case! The new school year is just around the corner. And with over 70 top high street brands, a visit to Drake Circus will make finding the perfect school gear easy H

Blue boys’ fleecelined jacket £32-34 M&S

ere are six must-have buys that get our top marks.

1. A brilliant school bag. Stamp

your identity and make life easier, with a really good school bag. Paperchase, Cath Kidston and Marks & Spencer have some great ones. We like one from Primark at a bargainous £6 or you could look in TopShop or River Island for something slightly more quirky, such as this cute gym bag that doubles as your weekend bag - this Purrmaids bag from Paperchase is a cuties.

Apple core eraser £2 Tiger

2. Cool stuff for your pencil case. If there’s one thing that can make a student happy on the first day of school it’s a lovely clean pencil case packed with goodies. In the interests of research we’ve spent nearly a day in Paperchase and Tiger (it was tough, but someone had to…) and came up with items of school loveliness: wooden pencil cases, pencils with birds, fruit pens - and an apple core eraser (pictured). Do you have pencil case envy now? Do you?

3. New school gear. Fresh New Look white shirt. Check. Skater M&S skirt. Check. Shiny new Primark shoes. Check. Get down to Drake Circus and bag some great new uniform items - that are on trend - and good for school. We also like this cosy boys’ school fleece lined jacket from M&S. 4. Awesome sports kit. The great thing about sportswear these days is that you can wear it for sport - or just hanging around. We like these trainers form JDSport - as they could also double as school shoes. A classic Nike rucksack from JD sports is also good for sportswear and school stuff. 5. Super school shoes. Who likes new school shoes? We do! There are some amazing shoes which are so cool you want to wear them at the weekend - at Drake Circus. Our picks are these

Nike Air Huarache Ultra £100 JD Sports

Wolf Gang revision cards £5 Paperchase Lelli Kelly £50 Schuh

red shiny ones from Shuh Kids, but you can also pick up some patent numbers from Kickers (at Schuh Kids). Boys will like sturdy, tough shoes from school shoe experts, Clarks, in Schuh Kids.

6. Instant cleverness. So school is not just about style, you have to work hard too, right? Paperchase have come up with the perfect solution - a stylish set of revision cards. Read them and your IQ could instantly go up a notch or two

(maybe). So that’s it - school all sorted at Drake Circus. For more details visit drakecircus.co.uk

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PHOTOGRAPHY: MATT AUSTIN

Wellbeing

Naturally Bridie’s

Spicy Indian Nut Salad Bridie Nicol says: This is definitely not your typical old lettuce, cucumber and tomato salad. Your family and friends will be impressed when you place this salad on the table. Spicing up summer is so easy to do when we get creative

You will need:

Method:

¼ cup sunflower seeds ¼ cup pumpkin seeds ¼ cup almond nuts ¼ cup cashew nuts 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp coriander seeds 4 pods cardamom seeds ½ tsp cayenne pepper ½ tsp chilli powder 1 tsp garam masala 60g baby lamb’s lettuce 1 red pepper

1. 2.

4. 5.

Preheat the oven to 140°C fan, 284°F. Add into a bowl sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds and cashews. Give a little mix with the olive oil. Using a pestle and mortar, grind up the cumin seeds, coriander seeds and cardamom pods to allow the oils to come out. Once ground, remove the cardamom skin and discard. Add the cayenne pepper, chilli powder, garam masala and mix up. Add the spices into the seeds and nuts and stir in. Place some foil over an oven tray and evenly pour the ingredients in. Shake the tray so the ingredients are not bunched up. Place the tray into the oven for about 20 minutes. Don’t forget to check after 10 min-

utes and give the tray a shake. Now you can serve the seeds and nuts warm or let them go cold. 8. In a salad bowl place your washed lamb’s lettuce as the base for the salad and pour your spicy mixture over the top in the centre. 9. Cut off the top and bottom and de-seed the sweet pepper. Slice up into thin strips and place around the bottom of the spicy mixture, creating a contrast between the green lettuce and the red from the pepper. 10. Now just let the flavours take over and enjoy! 7.

@naturally_bridie

Bridie Nicol runs nutrition advice business Naturally Bridie in east Devon www.naturallybridie.co.uk 31

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Wellbeing

the boost

Life just got better. Our wellness guru Charlotte Dear has handpicked the latest health secrets and expert advice to help you be your best self, every day

ARE YOU ALREADY SWEET ENOUGH? Could you be addicted to sugar? Check yourself into Somersetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sugar Detox Retreat to curb those cravings, mood swings and low energy levels and kick start your new low-sugar regime. During your week-long stay youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll eat well, detox the mind and enjoy gentle exercise before heading home armed with a carefully considered plan for lasting results www.thebodyretreat.co.uk

SCREEN BREAK TIME Do you spend eight hours a day at your desk? According to the World Health Organisation, those of us who do should also be squeezing in an hour of exercise every single day. No need to shell out on a gym membership fee; a brisk walk to and from work or lunchtime stroll is enough to offset those sedentary hours spent at your screen. 32

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WORK OUT IN WATER Looking to shake up your exercise routine and try something out of the ordinary? Exeter-based fitness company Aqua Physical has launched Floatfit, high-intensity workout classes incorporating burpees, lunges, squats and planks, all on water. To test your balance, strengthen your core and have a laugh while doing so, look out for a class near you www.aquaphysical.com

FRUITFUL IDEAS Taking the kids on the weekly food shop can be a challenge to say the least, which is why many parents resort to bribery in the form of sweet treats to see them through to the checkout. Recognising this sugary ritual, supermarket chain Tesco has launched a new healthyeating initiative to offer children free fruit while their parents shop in 800 of its stores.

LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GET TOGETHER According to recent research published by medical journal The Lancet, getting out and about, seeing friends and taking part in physical activities can help boost our moods. So rather than waiting until you feel brighter before arranging to meet a friend for lunch, you might just find that your mood will improve a lot quicker if you seize the opportunity.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coming up? Tweet us your wellbeing diary dates

@WMNWest or email westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 33

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15/08/2016 11:18:33

Cook

Roasted Tomato Soup with Crispy Bacon Recipe: Carol Bowen Ball, author of Esse’s The Four Seasons Cookbook

Ingredients

Method:

950g English vine-ripened tomatoes, quartered 2 red onions, finely sliced 4 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tbsp olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper 6 rashers dry cure smoked streaky Bacon 1 litre hot vegetable stock 4 tsp balsamic vinegar

Preheat the oven if necessary to 220ºC/Fan 200ºC/Esse Dial Guide HOT. (Aim for the dial reading to be at the top end of HOT).

Place the tomatoes, red onion and garlic in a roasting tin. Drizzle with the olive oil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Roast for 20 minutes until softened and slightly charred.

Serves: 4

Meanwhile, put the bacon on a rack set over a baking tray and place in the oven for the last 15 minutes of the tomatoes’ cooking

time. Remove when crisp, leave until cool then break into pieces. 4.

Bring the stock to the boil in a large pan, add the roasted tomato mixture and mix well. Purée until smooth.

Reheat if necessary then ladle into warmed bowls or mugs. Drizzle with the balsamic vinegar and scatter with the crispy bacon to serve.

This soup is also delicious served cold in warm summer months. Prepare as above, chill and serve drizzled with balsamic vinegar and torn Parma ham rather than crispy bacon. The Rangemoors Hearth & Cook showroom in Marsh Barton, Exeter supplies the full range of Esse cookers: www.hearthandcook.com 34

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Drink

Happy h ur with drinks expert April Marks

April says: It’s no secret that I get excited about wine! On the odd occasion I become star struck over one. Right now it’s the triple award-winning Familia Pasqua 2006 Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Riserva which won ‘Best Amarone’, ‘Best Veneto Wine’ and ‘Best Italian red’ in this year’s prestigious International Wine Challenge (IWSC). This is not awarded subjectively by a judge or two. This wine was blind tasted alongside hundreds of others on three separate occasions throughout the year by no fewer than 10 different judges.

Enough of its credentials, what is it about this amazing blockbuster that has me spellbound? From the Valpolicella area of Veneto, Amarone wines are produced from predominantly Corvina and Rondinella grapes which are partially dried to intensify the wine’s body, flavour and sweetness. Pasqua carefully selected and hand picked grapes for this limited release wine which were then dried for four months on wooden racks before a slow vinification, finishing with 26 months barrel aging. The result is a rich and powerful Amarone with great body and a polished texture, displaying flavours of dark chocolate, black cherry and spice

The wine was blind

A fitting wine to celebrate Pasqua’s 90 years of trading they produced a mere 1,925 bottles (their founding year) of which only 120 bottles are destined for the UK. Not an everyday drinking wine at £90 a bottle, but one to be savoured with rich red meat dishes, game or even dark chocolate. April Marks is co-founder of Regency Wines Ltd Exeter @regencywinesuk

tasted alongside

hundreds of others

Making a splash: The D&T Daffy’s Gin is making a splash using the finest botanicals including Lebanese mint. They steep the gin for four days followed by a gentle nine-hour distillation in a copper pot still. Serve with good tonic and garnish with mint and lime for a slight Mojito effect! Currently being served at The Swan Inn in Lympstone.

Just the tonic Glazebrook House is holding a gin tasting evening on Wednesday, September 7.. The host is gin expert Lauren Hodgkins who will talk you through a superb selection of gins, tonics and garnishes.

WINE OF THE WEEK Familia Pasqua Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Riserva 2006 See my main feature on this exquisite limited release wine, now available from our Exeter showroom. 35

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Drink Beer of the week If you want a good standard German lager to slake your thirst on a hot August afternoon, look no further than Hofbrau (5.1% ABV). Smooth and very well balanced, this is as far as a pseudo-foreign, British-brewed, fizzy yellow lager as you get, with delicate lemon citrus notes and balancing juicy malt. A classic of its style.

Darren Norbury

talks beer was never a great scholar. Daydreamed through school, then cruised through college getting the minimum qualifications to become a journalist on a local paper upcountry before moving down to Cornwall in 1989. Ironic, then, that I now find the company of students so enjoyable, notably the ones I come across regularly in Falmouth while touring the pubs and bars down there. A report by Oxford Economics concluded that, in 2014/15, the university campus at Tremough contributed £58.3m gross to the Cornish economy, accounting for 1,300 local jobs and £17.1m in tax receipts. On the other side of the argument is the endless tirade from some local residents that the students are spoiling the town. Now, I appreciate that I don’t live there and

New look for Plymouth fest Plymouth CAMRA’s annual beer festival has a new venue and a new date this year. It will be at the Plymouth Albion RFC ground at The Brickfields, on September 23 and 24, with 60 real ales and more than 20 real ciders and perries. The event will be family friendly until 6pm and is fully accessible for wheelchair users.

perhaps the students I tend to run into – the ones who appreciate good beer rather than propping up the bar in a bargain pub swilling mass-produced lager – are the exception to a rule, but the economic evidence does seem to be incontrovertible: the students are good for the town. I bet it’s a problem Penzance, which turned down the chance to have the university campus when the project was being discussed, would like to have. Another incontrovertible fact is that the beer scene wouldn’t be as big as it is now without young people. The recent upsurge in craft breweries and beers has a lot to do with the under-30s and you only have to do the circuit of those great Falmouth beer houses – the HAND Bar, Beerwolf, and The ’Front, for instance – to see that they’re a big audience.Ironic, then, that a Google alert from the Financial Times has just pinged into my inbox relating to the ongoing debate

about the future of CAMRA, the headline: “Real ale campaigners need refreshment to attract young members.” The problem for CAMRA is that these youngsters have never had to fight for decent beer. For most of them, it’s been around for their drinking lives. They don’t need to campaign. Their objective is to discover new brewers, new flavour, new twists on the themes. And not just in Falmouth. There are good bars in Exeter, for instance, and in Truro now, too, with the likes of Sonder, in Princes Street, and the Hub, in Kenwyn Street. Craft beer could yet be a fad among young people, but I do suspect the future of brewing is safe in their hands, both as consumers and brewers. And if I feel a little younger when drinking with them, well that’s good for me, too. Darren Norbury is editor of beertoday.co.uk @beertoday

CAUGHT ON CAMERA “I went off to university ostensibly to study accountancy and discovered pubs.” So Guy Sheppard says in a new video showcasing his Exe Valley Brewery, near Exeter. At just under three minutes long, it crams a lot of information in and the photography, by Foxwell Films, is lovely. Visit vimeo.com/177223368

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16/08/2016 13:17:36

culture vulture Our guide to what’s on in the South West bywoman-in-theknow Gracie Stewart Lend us a tenor… Hear the best songs from the world’s opera houses, Broadway theatres and concert halls as the three tenors known as “the Rat Pack of Opera” take you from Venice to Vegas. Singers Jem Sharples, Scott Ciscon and Paul Martin are on their national tour and will be joined by a local pianist Nigel Brooks on their north Devon date. September 9, 7.45pm at The Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple, tickets from £18.50 www. tenorsunlimited.com

Celebrating all things fishy

Born to be wild Cornish artist Mel Chambers is holding her annual exhibition at the Port Navas Village Hall and this year she is capturing the magic and beauty of all things wild. A collection of original paintings, Raku-fired ceramics and Alchemy Tiles, as well as hand-carved inlay tiles capturing inspiring quotes, poetry and images will all be on sale. On now until Bank Holiday Monday, August 29. Port Navas Village Hall, Cornwall. 10am – 6pm everyday with free entry. www.melchambers.com.

Satisfy your appetite with the best seafood you’re likely to find and help raise money for the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen at this year’s Newlyn Fish Festival. There will be displays, cookery demos by top local chefs and the Cornish Fishmonger of the Year competition. It’s all happening on Bank Holiday Monday, August 29, in and around the harbour in Newlyn, just west of Penzance. Doors open at 9am and close at 5pm. Admission is £5, while under 16s are free. www.newlynfishfestival.org.uk

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10/08/2016 12:57:57

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16/08/2016 11:27:59

Max Watson age 14

Young talent School pupils in Devon are paying homage to their home county upils at Okehampton College have turned out these remarkable pieces of art, all celebrating their home county of Devon. The pictures - each of which was completed in a single day - are now being showcased at a number of the county’s top hotels in the form of a set of special postcards. They were produced as part of an art workshop for gifted and talented artists aged between 11 and 14, during which the students produced a range of images celebrating what they love best about life in Devon. The youngsters were set the challenge by the well-known Exeter-based PR and Marketing consultancy, One Voice Media. Lisa Vanstone, director of One Voice Media, met the students to explain how they could develop their artistic and creative skills for future careers and to inspire them with details of job opportunities that might be available to them in the future. Amber Hughes, the project leader and an art teacher at Okehampton College, said: “The students were really inspired to learn about opportunities to work within the creative industries, and being set this challenge really spurred them on.” Lisa said: “I was really impressed with the work the students completed on the day. It was a fantastic project to take part in and one that fits with our companys ethos to help young people understand how their passions and skills are valued within the working environment.” Darryl Chapman, executive principal, of Okehampton College said: “I was extremely struck by the imagination and skill our students have

Lauryn Voaden age 14

Louise Noyes age 14

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Enjoy

'I was really impressed with the work the students

Isaac Carter age 12

completed on the day' shown during this workshop. Im very proud of the fact that the students postcards will be available to see in such a range of hotels across the county – very well done!” The students’ work can be viewed at www. devonhotels.com and has since been turned into a series of postcards, which hotels across the county are displaying. Derek Phillips, honorary secretary of Devon Hotels and Restaurants Association, added: “The hospitality and tourism industries are so important for the South West and have a significant

impact on the wider business community in areas including the creative industries. The students’ work on this project demonstrates this perfectly. I am pleased to be able to share their work through the Devon Hotels and Restaurants Association.”

Sacha Manners age 13

Senan Robinson age 12 Lucinda Aveyard age 14 41

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Enjoy

Trust in a stick! Have a fun summer outdoors with the National Trust t’s official - the stick is this summer’s must-have item. With the power to unleash every child’s imagination, the humble stick can be transformed into a wand, a way marker, a sword or a wild animal. Sticks are also essential tools for trying many of the ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities. Research commissioned for the National Trust revealed that over 82 per cent of parents in the South West felt that the stick is the perfect catalyst for inspiring their children’s creative urges. In this region, children today spend about half the time playing outdoors that their parents did (4.4 hours a week vs 7.7 hours a week). This is on par with the national findings, despite the South West being thought of as a particularly outdoorsy place to live. This summer the National Trust hopes to inspire kids all over the South West to get outdoors, find their perfect stick and start an adventure in nature. Sticks are free, easy to find and offer adventures right on your doorstep. You could head to the local park, a National Trust woodland or simply your own back garden. Here are some icky sticky ‘50 things’ adventure ideas across the South West for a naturefuelled day out:

Climb a tree Knightshayes, Devon Holiday Havoc, Tuesday August 23, 24, 25, 10am-5pm How high will you climb? Have a tree adventure with the Great Big Tree Climbing Company at Knightshayes. Use the ropes and hoists to reach the tops of the largest turkey oak in England. What will you discover? Price: £20 (age 6+) Contact 01884 254665

Play pooh sticks Eye Bridge, Kingston Lacy, Dorset There’s no simpler pleasure than a good old-fashioned game of Pooh Sticks. Your first task is to find a winning stick. Will it be big, small, thick or thin? Once you’ve chosen suitably head to Eye Bridge to drop your sticks into the Stour River and see who wins! Afterwards you can enjoy a walk upstream through unspoilt countryside, collecting more sticks to race once you get back to Eye Bridge car park. Contact: 01202 883402

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Create some wild art Summer of play, Trengwainton Garden, Cornwall, July 25 - September 1, 10.30am–5 pm There’s a whole summer of play at Trengwainton with activities every day until the end of August – from welly wanging to wildlife spotting. Why not unleash your imagination and create some wild art using sticks, leaves and other natural materials found around the garden? Normal admission charges apply Contact: 01736 363148

Go on a walk barefoot Godolphin, Cornwall Barefoot Festival, August 21, 10am–4pm Feel the grass between your toes as you join in with the barefoot festivities at Godolphin. Enjoy a feast of textures for the feet on the specially-made barefoot trail of wood, mud, stone, slate and fabric, and have a go at yoga, Tai Chi, arts and crafts all with your socks off. Afterwards why not try creating your very own barefoot walkway made of sticks and leaves? Price: Free event (normal Godolphin admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01736 763194

Build a bug hotel Trelissick Garden, Cornwall Summer activities, August 24 2pm-3.30pm Ever wondered how you might build a hotel for bugs and mini-beasties? Have a go, and learn how to build one for the wildlife at Trelissick, so you can recreate one for the wildlife in your own back garden. Price: Free event (normal Trelissick Garden admission charges apply) Contact: 01872 862090 43

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MAIN PICTURE: DAVID PEAKE

My Secret Westcountry Tremayne Carew Pole Tremayne Carew Pole, 42, lives in his ancestral home of Antony House, east Cornwall. He is married to Charlotte, has a daughter Jemima (14 months) and another on the way

Port Eliot

My favourite: Walk: There are so many to choose from in Cornwall. I recently walked across Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor, but I don’t think you can beat the rugged beauty of the cliffs, and the walk from Rame Head to Mount Edgcumbe starts on the cliffs, descends through the fishing villages of Kingsand and Cawsand, and then through the parkland of Mount Edgcumbe. It has everything. Place to eat: At the moment it’s The Devonport Inn in Kingsand (www.devonportinn.com), good

atmosphere and delicious food right on the sea front. The perfect setting. But I’m really excited about my new project, The Carew Arms in the village of Antony (www.carewarms.com), which is going to bring delicious, locally-sourced, farmto-fork food at affordable prices to the Rame Peninsula, from two chefs who both took their previous pubs into the Top 50 gastro pubs in the country.

Festival:

It has to be the neighbouring Port Eliot Festival (www.porteliotfestival.com), from food and fashion to music and books there’s

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People

Cawsand

Antony House

so much for everyone. I’ve been going since it started and what I love is the lack of stuffiness, there are no backstage areas for VIPs so you can be dancing next to A-list actors or drinking with Booker prize-winning authors.

Pub: It has to be Mike Jones’ Rod and Line in

View: In

Food: I

Antony Woodland Garden (www.antonywoodlandgarden.com) there is a point where you walk through a small wood and out into a glade with a bench, from there you can see down the entire expanse of the Lynher estuary to Port Eliot. At sunset when the water is high it’s so peaceful and clear.

Tideford – everything you’ve always wanted out of a country pub and more. Mike’s largerthan-life personality is what gives it that atmosphere. have a real soft spot for sausages and Paul Bray & Sons in Tideford’s Cornish sausage is one of the best around, packed full of flavour and beautifully juicy.

Drink: Although distilled in London, Sipsmith VJOP gin (at a whopping 57.7%) is made by two

Cornish boys, Fairfax Hall from Gwinear and Sam Galsworthy from Grampound. The gin is incredibly junipery and it only takes a couple to knock you sideways.

Secret place: Antony Woodland Garden is one of the best gardens for magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons. It winds around the edge of the beautiful Lynher estuary and is a place to lose yourself for hours. www. carewarms.com 45

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My life man and boy

Paris here he comes! Phil Goodwin, dad of James, six, on this sporting life ast your mind back to those old a race, right? He gets it. So, I told him how the comic film clips where a cigarleader rides in yellow, all about the different jerchomping trainer cycles down seys and how tough these guys are. Just casually, the road, towing a puffing boxer you know. Sowing the seed. behind, a rope tied around his A few days later, half way through the Tour, midriff. Now reverse the roles, lose the tow my wife comes back from dropping him off at rope and you have basically got me and the lad pre-school one morning and tells me James had at the moment. It’s all part of our new training confessed his new-found ambition. regime. Of course, I wouldn’t dream of intro“He just told me wants to ride a bike, like they ducing him to the world of pugilism. No, this do on the television,” she confided, clutching is all about the long road to Paris, the maillot his helmet, which is emblazoned with racing jaune and victory on the Champs-Élysées in, cars. “Please, anything but football,” she is say, 2024. Yes, I am talking the Tour de France. thinking. And in this case I am the coach, puffing hard “No problem,” I said. “I don’t think without a cigar and hanging on to his wheel as they start until about eight years old, we lap the streets of Exeter. though.” I need to explain. Readers Now, I am by no may recall my frustrated means what you might call a attempts to recruit young pushy dad. And I don’t seriousThis is all about James to the football-suply expect the kid to make it in the long road to porting ranks and share in sport. But ability alone means my boyhood love of Livernothing without backing. Ask Paris, the maillot pool FC. Sadly, the World any successful footballer’s dad jaune and Cup has done little to boost how many miles he has driven his lack of enthusiasm for up and down the country to victory on the the ‘beautiful game’. In a trial matches. Champs-Élysées damning indictment of the So off we go for our usual in, say, 2024 penalty box theatrics of ride, still with the stabilisers modern football, he seems on the back, but now with a to think the object of the fresh purpose. The guiding game is simply to fall over hand I once used to help push in a comic fashion. Even I have to admit: when him up hills is now banished. you watch one or two players these days you “Let me go, daddy” he barked at me the other do wonder if perhaps he is not that wide of the day, as we climbed the steep incline from the mark. front door to the main road. Of course, like most sport-mad blokes, I And let me tell you, on the flat, this boy has refuse to be limited in my affections. I am really got some power. Ringing his bell, he also a road cyclist and cycling fan. Or bore, as speeds up quickly around Exeter city’s flat and friends and family will say. There are more of bike-friendly centre and I am forced to pick up us about than you might think. I won’t deny it. the pace. By the time we are half way down I do get excited when the main bunch of riders the High Street, I break into a jog. As we - the peloton - snakes and winds its way to the navigate the low tunnel and emerge into the Alpine peaks and Pyrenean summits. I haven’t cobbles of Cathedral Green, I am running full forced the boy to watch it, but he is a keen rider pelt and still losing touch. Allez Allez! Paris himself and has been taking an interest. It’s here we come!

main picture: Steve Haywood

[[

NEXT WEEK: Chris McGuire on life in the Westcountry and being a dad to newborn Sam 46

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