west december 5 2015

05.12.15

+ GIFT GUIDE EXTRAVAGANZA

INSIDE:

+ NEW SEASON COMFORT FOOD

+ ‘OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT FEAR’

REAL LIFE:

pg 12

Festive� nery

The good, the bad and the � u� y

Cover_Dec5.indd 1 01/12/2015 12:14:12

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Julian Foye West Mag _Winter 2015.indd 1 01/12/2015 11:29:15Ads_Dec5.indd 7 01/12/2015 11:44:09

33

8 A DOG’S LIFEOur columnist has canine company

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

12 CHRISTMAS JOYThe family who are, � nally, free of fear

16 THE WEST GIFT GUIDE All your shopping, sorted

22 RESTORATION DRAMAA Georgian labour of love in Penzance

26 I REALLY, REALLY WANT...Anne Swithinbank’s yuletide advice

30 FESTIVE JUMPERSYou know you want one...

32 SPARKLES AND SEQUINSKathryn Clarke-Mcleod dresses up

35 YOUR WEEK AHEADCassandra Nye looks into the stars

36 BOOST YOUR WELLBEING Great ways to feel your best this week

41 ALE AND HEARTYOur beer expert’s favourite festive brews

46 THOU SHALT NOT STEALPhil Goodwin on moral dilemmas

contents[ [Inside this week...

‘A� er all, sparkles should be for life, not

just Christmas’

Kathryn Clarke-Mcleod goes shopping, p 32

16 THE WEST GIFT GUIDEGorgeous local goodies they will love

44 SECRET PLACESCool spots to discover now

HOW TO WEAR ITSparkle at parties this season32

FESTIVE JUMPERSYou know you want one...30

9 ALL THE GOSSIP You heard it here � rst!

42 RECIPE OF THE WEEKCornish brie frittata - mmm...

Contents_Dec5.indd 3 30/11/2015 18:10:45

Becky Sheaves, Editor Sarah Pitt Kathryn Clarke-McLeod Catherine Barnes Lynne Potter

4

[[ [[welcome[ [

No, neither have I. But the plan is, as you are reading this, I will defi nitely be getting the tinsel out and baubles to the ready.

As for Christmas shopping, the good news is that we have a fabulous festive gift guide in the magazine today, packed full of gorgeous items, many of them made lo-cally right here in the Westcountry. It’s been put together by our shop-ping expert Sarah Pitt and, I think you’ll agree, she has done a fantastic job. I can see so many great ideas for things to give my nearest and dearest: and I really want the Russian doll kitchen measuring cups (page 16) - for myself !

If, like me, you’re worried you are in danger of feeling a little too commercialised this Christ-mas, then do read our wonderful feature by Cath-erine Barnes (page 12). She meets Louise and Gez Thomas, the Plymouth parents who really do un-

derstand that the best thing about Christmas is not the presents or parties, but time spent together with the people you love. After years of gruelling treatment for leukae-mia, their son Dylan,

now nine, has fi nally been given the all-clear. This year, they are celebrating his fi rst healthy Christmas in a long time, and I am sure you will wish them all well, as we do.

[ [The best thing about Christmas? Time spent

with people you love

Becky Sheaves, Editor

So, have you got your tree up yet?

[

THE NEW COOLInteriors perfection in Penzance22

COVER IMAGE: Jumper £35 and jeans £18, EvansEDITORIAL: [email protected]: 01392 442250 Twitter @wmnwest

@jillysargent@WMNWest What

beautiful sisters, Jemima & Naomi. Such a sel� ess

act, donating a kidney #prayingforanothermatch

MEET THE TEAM

Becky Sheaves, Editor Sarah Pitt Kathryn Clarke-McLeod Catherine Barnes Lynne Potter

Tweetof the week

TO ADVERTISE: Contact Lynne Potter: 01752 293027 or 07834 568283, [email protected]

12

Interview

13

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-WIC

KS

The gi� of life

NAOMI TREGONING

[[All Naomi Tregoning wants for Christmas is a new kidney. Her sister

sel� essly donated one to her six years ago, but now Naomi urgently needs

another. We hear their heart-breaking story...

here’s a bright fi re in Naomi Tregoning’s

sitting room in Redruth, Cornwall as she

and her sister Jemima Rowe chat to me

over a cup of tea. As the sisters recount the

long ordeal they have been through togeth-

er, their bravery shines through. There are smiles and

even the odd laugh.There’s a special bond between the sisters - who live

just yards apart - that runs deeper than many siblings

because of all they have been through together. Six

years ago, Jemima, now 42, went through an operation

to donate her younger sister a kidney. The transplant,

at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, was carried out be-

cause chronic kidney disease had left Naomi, now 36,

with her kidneys close to failing.The tragedy for the sisters is that, despite Jemima

being a perfect match for her sister in both blood type

and tissue type, the transplant ultimately failed. As a

result, Naomi has for the past four years spent 12 hours a

week hooked up to a dialysis machine at the Royal Corn-

wall Hospital in Truro.The situation, says Naomi, has a big impact on her

husband Andrew, a builder, and her two children Abe,

14, and Tegen, 13. “They have to live the life of a chroni-

cally ill person too,” she says. “For about two and a half

years I was having really bad seizures, and the children

had to deal with so many of them themselves.”

The dialysis sessions, in which the machine takes the

place of Naomi’s kidneys in fi ltering waste products

from her blood, are physically very draining. When we

meet, Naomi looks visibly unwell. She talks slowly, and

has very little energy. She can’t drive, because her sei-

zures have been so violent she’d knock pictures off the

walls and be found with blood pouring from her nose. On

one occasion Abe had to rescue her from drowning in the

T

Naomi, left, is supported by

her sister Jemima, right

By Sarah Pitt

EdsLetter_1thing_Dec5.indd 4 01/12/2015 11:01:07

55

one thingIf you do

this week...

Rediscover Charlotte Brontë’s dramatic story of the trailblaz-ing Jane Eyre, beamed live from the National Theatre in London to cinemas across the Westcoun-try, on December 8. Director Sally Cookson’s ac-claimed re-imagining of Brontë’s masterpiece was � rst performed by Bristol Old Vic last year. See ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk to � nd a screening at a cinema near you. Venues include the Picturehouse in Exeter, the Phoenix in Falmouth, the Tivoli Theatre in Tiverton and the Savoy in Penzance.

EdsLetter_1thing_Dec5.indd 5 30/11/2015 18:11:37

VisitBristol.co.uk/Christmas

Treat yourself this Christmas with a shopping break to Bristol. A great line up of stores is complemented by a host of Christmas treats,

including a traditional German market and local specialities, all topped off with ice rinks, pantos and some of the UK’s finest restaurants. Get your skates on and book yourself a festive break – we’ll keep the mulled cider warm...

Get bRiSTol on your Christmas list!

Galleries Grotto Until 24th December, The Galleries, Bristol Shopping Quarter

German-themed Christmas Market Until 22nd December, Bristol Shopping Quarter

Harbourside Christmas Market Every weekend until Christmas, Harbourside

At-Bristol’s Ice Rink and Local Market Until 5th January (closed 25th), Millennium Square, Harbourside

Winter Wonderland Until 10th January, The Mall at Cribbs Causeway

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015 Until 10th April, M Shed

A Victorian Christmas Until 6th January, Brunel’s ss Great Britain

Made in Bristol Gift Fair 5th, 12th & 13th Dec, Colston Hall, all 10am – 4pm.

Santa Specials at Avon Valley Railway Weekends until 20th December plus 23rd & 24th December

Spiegeltent Until 19th December, Waterfront Square

Santa’s Invention Workshop Until 4th January, At-Bristol Science Centre

Santa’s Grotto Until 23rd December, Bristol Zoo Gardens

Bristol Local Christmas Market Until 23rd December, Broadmead

Twilight and Illuminations Tour 11th, 12th, 18th & 19th December, Bristol Insight

Treefest 8th – 13th December, St Mary Redcliffe

St Nicholas Christmas Market Mon, Tue, Thu, Sun until Christmas, Old City

Picton Street Christmas Fayre 12th December, 11am – 7pm, Montpellier

Enchanted Christmas Evenings 18th – 20th December, Bristol Zoo Gardens

Starfish in the City 19th December – 3rd January, Bristol AquariumWIN!

To enter go to:


Terms and conditions apply

The ultimate Bristol shopping

trip with Harvey Nichols

and Hotel du Vin

All details correct at time of going to print. Please check the website for times and prices before travelling.

For full event listings go to visitbristol.co.uk/Christmas @visitbristol #merrybristmas

CHRISTMAS MUSIC & THEATRE

The Light PrincessUntil 10th Jan, Tobacco Factory Theatres

Sleeping BeautyUntil 17th Jan, Bristol Old Vic

Snow WhiteUntil 3rd Jan Bristol Hippodrome

Living Spit’s A Christmas Carol8th Dec – 3rd January, Brewery Theatre

Gareth Malone12th Dec, Colston Hall

The Nutcracker & The Snowman20th Dec Colston Hall

Untitled-1 2 01/12/2015 13:47:14


Treat yourself this Christmas with a shopping break to Bristol. A great line up of stores is complemented by a host of Christmas treats,

including a traditional German market and local specialities, all topped off with ice rinks, pantos and some of the UK’s finest restaurants. Get your skates on and book yourself a festive break – we’ll keep the mulled cider warm...

Get bRiSTol on your Christmas list!

Galleries Grotto Until 24th December, The Galleries, Bristol Shopping Quarter

German-themed Christmas Market Until 22nd December, Bristol Shopping Quarter

Harbourside Christmas Market Every weekend until Christmas, Harbourside

At-Bristol’s Ice Rink and Local Market Until 5th January (closed 25th), Millennium Square, Harbourside

Winter Wonderland Until 10th January, The Mall at Cribbs Causeway

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015 Until 10th April, M Shed

A Victorian Christmas Until 6th January, Brunel’s ss Great Britain

Made in Bristol Gift Fair 5th, 12th & 13th Dec, Colston Hall, all 10am – 4pm.

Santa Specials at Avon Valley Railway Weekends until 20th December plus 23rd & 24th December

Spiegeltent Until 19th December, Waterfront Square

Santa’s Invention Workshop Until 4th January, At-Bristol Science Centre

Santa’s Grotto Until 23rd December, Bristol Zoo Gardens

Bristol Local Christmas Market Until 23rd December, Broadmead

Twilight and Illuminations Tour 11th, 12th, 18th & 19th December, Bristol Insight

Treefest 8th – 13th December, St Mary Redcliffe

St Nicholas Christmas Market Mon, Tue, Thu, Sun until Christmas, Old City

Picton Street Christmas Fayre 12th December, 11am – 7pm, Montpellier

Enchanted Christmas Evenings 18th – 20th December, Bristol Zoo Gardens

Starfish in the City 19th December – 3rd January, Bristol AquariumWIN!

To enter go to:


Terms and conditions apply

The ultimate Bristol shopping

trip with Harvey Nichols

and Hotel du Vin

All details correct at time of going to print. Please check the website for times and prices before travelling.

For full event listings go to visitbristol.co.uk/Christmas @visitbristol #merrybristmas

CHRISTMAS MUSIC & THEATRE

The Light PrincessUntil 10th Jan, Tobacco Factory Theatres

Sleeping BeautyUntil 17th Jan, Bristol Old Vic

Snow WhiteUntil 3rd Jan Bristol Hippodrome

Living Spit’s A Christmas Carol8th Dec – 3rd January, Brewery Theatre

Gareth Malone12th Dec, Colston Hall

The Nutcracker & The Snowman20th Dec Colston Hall

Untitled-1 3 01/12/2015 13:47:35

8

talking points

Actress Rhea Bailey looked incredible in this silk jumpsuit at a recent red carpet event. Rhea, who’s known for roles in Blue Murder and The Mentalist, is the sister of singer Corinne Bailey Rae. She accessorised her pared-down out� t with a simple clutch. The jumpsuit revival shows no sign of waning this winter; take note from the way that Rhea wears it – it’s no mere workaday look. We love this � attering long-sleeved version by Glamorous.com in pink paisley and, at £50, the price is right, too.

JUMP for joy

OPTION BSleekTeal jumpsuit £25 F&F at Tesco

OPTION APrintPaisley jumpsuit £50 Glamorous

stealherstyle

OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN

Black lace jumpsuit Wallis £48

am being stared at by three dogs. It’s a bit dif-fi cult to write. The inten-sity of all their attention

is really putting me off. They are quite expressive about their feel-ings.

The red setter is anxious because her owners, our house-guests, have gone off to visit the north coast of Cornwall. She is not sure if they are EVER coming home. They said it would only be till after lunch, but who knows – this could be IT. She could be stuck with these weird Cornish people for the rest of her born days. In between staring at me mournfully to let me know just how unappealing the prospect is, she stands at the door whining gently at the back of her throat.

The spaniel (also visiting) really, really, really wants me to throw a ball. It’s not a very nice ball – he found it quietly decomposing in the garden yesterday. Really it should have stayed where it was. But he’s a fan of upcycling, and there’s plenty of wear left in this ball, and “fetch” really does make a splendid game. He’s great at it.

First he drops it on the fl oor and stares at it hard. Then he stares at me hard. His tail is wagging nineteen to the dozen. When no throw is forthcoming, he thinks maybe he should put the ball in my lap. Or just hold it there, wagging and staring.

My own dog isn’t sure what’s going on but he doesn’t want to miss a trick. Ordinarily he’d be

happily asleep on the sofa at this time of day (yes, we regret letting him onto the sofa, but it was cute when he was a puppy, so now our bed’s made). But today there are many unanswered questions. Are the houseguests really never coming back as the red setter sug-gests? Is the spaniel’s ball going to be thrown? And, even though we all just went for a walk, are we going for another one? That

would be cool. Dogs. They make

our lives so much fun when we’re in the boring grind of the everyday. Travelling is tricky, though, isn’t it. You feel so bad putting them in kennels, so you want to bring them with you. This means you have to stay with friends who like dogs.

It’s a shame you can’t speak to dogs, and teach them as you would your children. “So on this trip there will be fun walks and balls to play with, but the rules are the same as they are at home. No peeing on the furniture, no chewing shoes or doorjambs or whatever. And remember, our hosts have a right to a good night’s sleep – so no howling.”

And, I would add, no staring at your hostess when she is working in the home offi ce. Grrr.

Story of my life...

Gillian Molesworth

When canine company gets all a bit much

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

I

She stares mournfully, fearing she

could be stuck with these weird Cornish people

for the rest of her born days

MoleyGossip_Dec05.indd 8 30/11/2015 16:20:05

A TINY BIT

TIDDLY...Michelle Keegan and Emma Bunton are amongst the stars who have signed up for the new series of the TV show Drunk History. The pair will get to show o� their skills narrat-ing “drunk” historical stories for the second UK series of the Comedy Central show.Jack Whitehall, Olivia Colman and Hugh Dennis will also appear in the upcoming eight-part series, which will air in early 2016, while Jimmy Carr will reprise his role as the narrator.Each episode of Drunk History features a comedian getting very drunk in order to tell a true historical story, with a host of actors and celebrities acting out their slurred and blurry versions. Horrible hic-stories, anyone?

9

Justbetween us!Gossip, news, trend setters and more – you

heard all the latest juicy stu here � rst!

5.12.15

Naomie Harris has revealed why she would never bare for an acting role, not even for 007.The actress, who plays Moneypenny in Skyfall and Spectre, says she wouldn’t strip o� because: “I don’t feel it’s part of my job, I don’t like this

sexualisation and objecti� cation. It’s not what I’m about at all.”She added: “I thought, ‘I don’t think I can be a Bond Girl’. I always associ-ated them with being very sexual and sensual, and that’s not what I associ-ate with myself.”

Devon-born star Chris Martin has admitted he felt “down and confused” during his marriage break-up from Gwyneth Paltrow. “A few years ago I was in a low place in my life and was feeling kind of down and confused,” he told an

Australian radio station. “Some friends gave me a book and a poem and those two things started me o� on this whole journey where I just feel so happy to

be alive. That may sound a little simple, but I suddenly feel very grateful to be alive and if it’s coming across then that’s great to hear,” he added.

‘I was feeling

down and confused’ [[

CHRIS: I’M HAPPY NOW

I WON’T STRIP OFF, THANKS

MoleyGossip_Dec05.indd 9 30/11/2015 16:20:29

10

in pictures

Wave on: Santa was spotted surfing at Fistral Beach, Newquay

Party: Kathryn Short celebrated World Prematurity Day at Derriford Hospital with her baby Isabelle, born 11 weeks early

Light up: The apple

arch at the Lost Gardens of Heligan is

being lit up for Christmas

Preservation: Rev Tim

Hawkins is fundraising

to save Gulval parish church’s

beautiful roof

WIP_Lists_Dec05.indd 10 30/11/2015 16:25:00

11

The local

talking points

Top 10

Wonder stu

This week 50 years ago

1 The Carnival Is Over (Seekers)

2 My Generation (The Who)

3 Get O Of My Cloud (Rolling Stones)

4 1-2-3 (Len Barry)

5 Tears (Ken Dodd)

6 Yesterday Man (Chris Andrews)

7 It’s My Life (Animals)

8 Wind Me Up (Cli� Richard)

9 Here It Comes Again (Fortunes)

10 Positively 4th Street (Bob Dylan)

DID YOU KNOW?

David Hasselho� has begun following Jamie on

Twitter

This week:

Famous faces with links to the Westcountry

ONE OF US

The acoustic singer-songwriter, 39, was born and raised in Plymouth’s St Budeaux area

Jamie Lawson

The happy list

10 things to make you smile this week1 Cards fun to get, friendly to

send

2 Carols sing along

3 Mousehole Christmas lights so beautiful

4 Homemade presents fudge, biccies, chutney... mmm

5 Christmas stamps festive

6 Bargains hard to resist

7 Plans family get-togethers

8 Work parties let your hair down

9 Killerton fabulous day out

10 Trees time to decorate

10 uses for vinegar

1 Cleaning biro o paintwork

2 Preventing mildew

3 Ungluing sticky price tags

4 Absorbing paint fumes

5 De-rusting old tools

6 Speeding some seeds to germinate

7 Repelling ants

8 Preventing reds from running in the wash

9 Cleaning your washing machine

10 Shining shower screens

Famous pubs in TV-land

1 The Rovers Return (Cornonation Street)

2 The Woolpack (Emmerdale)

3 The Crown (Men Behaving Badly)

4 The Feathers (The Royle Family)

5 The Winchester (Minder)

6 Eddie’s Bar (Hustle)

7 The Queen Victoria (EastEnders)

8 The Kebab and Calculator (The Young Ones)

9 Dog in the Pond (Hollyoaks)

10 The Nag’s Head (Only Fools and Horses)

Childhood: Jamie grew up in Plymouth and attended Barne Barton Primary School, later studying at Tamarside Community College. He played guitar from the age of eight, when he was given a guitar as a Christmas present.

Success: Fame’s been hard-won by Jamie, whose album reached Number One in the charts last month. “It still hasn’t sunk in. It wasn’t until I went into HMV and I saw it there in the Number One slot that I decided it was real.”

Early days: Jamie began playing live at Plymouth venues such as the B-Bar and The Hub.

Cornwall: He lived for a while in a caravan near Padstow.

Big break: He rose to fame when Ed Sheeran signed him to Gingerbread Man Records, in March this year. “For

Ed there was a bit of a risk with signing me. I’m a bit older and singing something quite di� erent but he never saw it like that.”

Single: Jamie’s single, Wasn’t Expecting That, has been a huge hit. “Wasn’t expecting that was just one of those phrases that you hear all the time. I heard it a million times and then it stuck.”

Tour: Jamie has forthcoming dates in Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester and London. He says he would love to play in Plymouth in 2016.

Support: As well as supporting Ed Sheeran, he has also supported One Direction in the past.

Competition winners:Congratulations to… winners of the competitions in West magazine on October 17

• Emylia Hall’s novel The Sea Between Us – Lesley Ferguson, Thurlestone; Maggie Loates, Paignton; Jean Cavey, Launceston; Chris Roberts, Bude; David Rogers, Tavistock

• National Trust family day pass – Kathleen Gay, Dawlish

WIP_Lists_Dec05.indd 11 01/12/2015 11:52:58

12

People

t this time of year, there are so many things to look forward to, but Louise and Gez Thomas are simply enjoying the moment. They say they’ve wished enough time away

since the April day in 2012 that their son Dylan, now nine, was diagnosed with leukaemia.

It’s been three months since Dylan fi nished treatment and the family can fi nally begin to chart milestones that don’t involve chemother-apy and steroids or tears (nor, as Dylan very fi rmly insists, the packets of Frazzles crisps that sustained him during his gruelling treatment.)

“We’re looking forward to the perfect Christ-mas – a family one,” says Louise, 37. “Each New Year’s Eve we’ve thought, we’ve made it through this year and are another step closer to what we all desperately want – for Dylan to be better and off treatment. You don’t want to wish your time away and yet, when it all began Dylan and Olivia were both so tiny.”

In fact it’s only now that the Plymouth family is beginning to refl ect and make sense of the journey they’ve been on. And, as they recount, it really did involve being fl ung, completely un-prepared, into battle against the disease. Dylan had just begun school, and little sister Olivia was only three, when the family’s life was turned upside down in less than a week.

During a family wedding, Dylan suffered a nosebleed that took an age to staunch. Days

later and far more tired than usual, he became unwell, with doctors diagnosing bladder and ear infections. Then the family began to notice the bruises, which began as little speckles on his neck and had begun to merge. At this point, they headed to A&E at Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital for blood tests.

“Within two hours we were in a side room being told that at best Dylan had a virus, worst case, he had leukaemia,” says Louise.

“The following afternoon we were in the am-bulance being taken to Bris-tol,” says Gez, 45, taking up the story. “By the time we got there, Dylan was complaining his legs were aching and that it hurt to walk.

“That was horrendous,” adds Louise. “We didn’t understand leukaemia then, and I just thought, if it’s cancer it might have spread.”

Dylan was diagnosed with acute lymphoblas-tic leukaemia. Louise and Gez, who’s a profes-sional singer, barely had time for the news to sink in, before their little son was whisked off to undergo his fi rst chemotherapy administered under general anaesthetic.

“When we were fi rst told that Dylan had leu-kaemia it was too much to take in,” says Gez.

Free of fear

FAMILY COURAGE

[[By Catherine Barnes

This is a special Christmas for Louise and Gez Thomas, who are looking forward to family time without the shadow of cancer

treatment hanging over their young son Dylan

‘We drew Dylan a picture of a battle between bad

black cells and good white cells’[ [

“Even though by then we were pretty sure Dylan had leukaemia we still held onto the hope that he didn’t. We were shocked, upset, trying to listen to what the consultant was saying but struggling to take it in. He said Dylan would need three years of treatment and that the prognosis was good.”

“The next day,” says Louise, “was when we asked questions. How do we tell him? When? Should he know?

“We told Dylan he was very poorly and drew him a picture of a battle between bad black cells

and good white cells. We told Dylan he needed medi-cine so the white cells would win the fi ght.”

Battle lines had been drawn against the disease, physi-cal, invasive and immediate.

“One of the hardest things was Dylan’s move onto the oncology ward,” says Gez. “We didn’t want to go onto the ward, we didn’t want to face the reality of the situation we were in. There were so many children in a really bad way. We assumed this was how Dylan would be but soon learnt that every child and cancer is different.”

Louise and Gez had dashed from Plymouth to Bristol in the clothes they stood up in and slept for nights in the hospital, with Louise’s parents looking after Olivia. Then charity CLIC Sargent got in touch, with the keys to a family room in

A

Louise_Christmas_Dec5.indd 12 01/12/2015 10:51:08

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The Thomas family will be celebrating Christmas

together this year

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14

People

a house near the hospital. “It made such a dif-ference,” says Louise, who works part-time as a journalist. “It just took so much pressure off, as only one of us could stay at the hospital overnight but neither of us wanted to be far away.”

Dylan stayed in hospital in Bristol for two weeks, during which the treatment was intense. Most painful were the huge injections adminis-tered in his thigh, which made him scream.

“I had to hold him in my arms and very early on, I was on my knees, bawling my eyes out,” says Gez.”I said to Dylan that’s the only time you’ll see me like this. And I’ve stuck to it.”

The family’s hopes were raised when tests showed Dylan had responded well to initial treat-ment, only to be dashed by signs the disease was tightening its grip, and Dylan had to be switched to a more intensive treatment protocol.

“They say children with leukaemia are on a piece of elastic – in and out of hospital all the time,” says Louise. “There’s no such thing as a routine. They can be fi ne at breakfast time and

in hospital by lunch. And when things are not going well, the treatment pushes their bodies to the limits.”

“Then his hair began to fall out,” says Gez. “He had a mop of blond hair and I just ran my hand through it like I always do, and a clump came away. That was really upsetting. It was such a physical sign that he was ill.

“Suddenly, he looked like a child with cancer,” refl ects Louise. “Do you remember?” she asks Dylan.

“Nope” he replies in tones of supreme unconcern.

“We had to realise it didn’t bother him,” she says.

“It just didn’t faze him,” Gez agrees, with a smile.

While Louise admits that there were the occasional tears in private, she and Gez decided very early on that they’d do their best to be the happy family they’d always been.

Days out and gatherings with their close and very sup-portive extended family were important. Little breaks away in Devon - often curtailed with an emergency dash back to hospital - gave them a sense of wellbeing, too. When he was well enough, Dylan would go back to school and, with support, is now progressing with so much of the work he missed (Maths is his favourite subject, he confi des).

It’s perhaps Louise and Gez that are saddened most at the thought of things Dylan’s missed. The friend’s birthday party he was desperate to attend, only to be sick on the threshold and unable to go in. Then, says Louise, were the invi-tations that never came as Dylan spent less time

with his friends and more time in hospital. When Dylan’s hair grew back, people wrongly assumed he was better.

“He no longer looked like the ‘sick boy’ and we had to remind people that he was still very poorly and undergoing chemotherapy,” says Louise.

The experience, they say, has seen some friend-ships dissipate, others grow stronger. Family has been their all and little Olivia has been the shin-ing star that has kept everyone feeling uplifted.

“If it wasn’t for her, life would have been com-pletely different,” Gez says. “She’s up in the morning, always happy and chatting away and it’s been a distraction for us and for Dylan – she makes Dylan laugh and his laugh is infectious.”

Through it all, Louise and Gez also had to establish and manage house-rules and routines that every child grows up with.

“Dylan’s CLIC nurse Petra re-minded us there still have to be boundaries, as three and half years is a long time,” says Louise.

Daily chemotherapy treatment left Dylan struggling to walk and suffering from painful mouth

ulcers and sickness, as well as more rare reac-tions including a seizure.

Steroids played havoc with his emotions and taste buds, causing mood swings, weight gain and cravings. At one time, it was Frazzles and there was no fooling Dylan when Gez could only lay hands on an own-brand packet of the crisps.

“He had an absolute meltdown,” he remem-bers.

“While steroids cause some children to be hyperactive, Dylan lost his energy and became emotional,” explains Louise. “It was like he was

Dylan and sister Olivia together today

A poorly Dylan with Olivia at Christmas two

years ago

‘We have to let him run around and have fun, he

has to get back to enjoying his

childhood’ [[Dylan’s first day back at

school during treatment in January 2013


15

depressed, it was so upsetting.”Happily, in August this year, Dylan’s treat-

ment was fi nally complete and the Thomases cel-ebrated the all-clear with a family party, letting off red and white balloons representing healthy blood cells.

“We had black ones, too,” laughs Louise, “and we all sat on them and squashed them.”

While Dylan will always need checkups, the family are now adjusting to a new normal. Des-perate to swim now that his central line has been removed, Dylan spent three hours in the pool on his fi rst visit and next April he’s looking forward to taking part in the Plymouth Half Marathon Schools’ Challenge with classmates, instead of cheering from the sidelines. One treat on the ho-rizon is a trip to Disney World in Florida through the Starlight Foundation charity next spring and another Olivia is playing Mary in the school na-tivity this month.

“Come February Dylan will have all his child-hood inoculations again, “says Louise. “We have to let him run around and have fun even if he does get knocked or fall over, he has to get back to enjoying his childhood.”

It’s only really now they’ve all come so far that she and Gez have begun to refl ect on the enor-mity of what they’ve all been through.

“They say don’t look too far ahead, but all I wanted to look forward to was the end of treat-ment and Dylan being better,” says Louise. “We’ve made friendships with families who are now in the early days of their own journeys and it’s bringing back memories of what it was like. It’s so upsetting to see other people’s children and what they are going through. Dylan’s been so accepting and strong.”

“We are so thankful to Dylan’s doctors, nurses and the many charities that have helped us, and of course our family and friends.

“This Christmas we do not have to worry about whether Dylan is well enough to enjoy all the festivities or if he might be in hospital. We will treasure every moment of seeing our children happy and healthy and that has to be the best gift of all.”

Dylan and Olivia enjoy a break in Weymouth during

treatment, June 2013

Dylan has now finishied his treatment for

leukaemia


16

1. Russian dolls measuring cups, £18.75, www.kitchenbuddies.co.uk 2. Blue topaz and diamond ring, £1,150, from Westcountry jeweller Michael Spiers, www.michaelspiers.co.uk 3. Gold, silk and amethyst bracelet, £36, from north Devon-based www.wanderlustlife.co.uk 4. Fox Terrier phone case, £15, made in Cornwall

by www.poppytre� ry.co.uk 5. Bold Blue Tit mug, £12, from Barnstaple’s www.marthaandhepsie.com 6. Rosie for Autograph perfume by Tavistock’s Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, from £14, Marks & Spencer 7. Paul & Joe face and eye colour, £25, from Roos Beach near Newquay and www.roosbeach.co.uk 8. Golden pear soap, £8.25, www.duperedesign.com and Dupere Interiors in Modbury 9. Christmas candle set £41.50 from Cornwall’s www.stevalcandlecompany.co.uk

Gi� guide

1 2 4

5

6

78

3

9

Gift_Guide.indd 16 30/11/2015 16:44:40

17

10. Field & Flower Luxury Steak Box, from traditional breed cattle on a Somerset farm, £62.50, www.� eldand� ower.co.uk 11. Hilarious Ladybird book for grown ups £6.99, from good bookshops including Book Stop, Tavistock 12. Leather washbag, £61, handmade in Cornwall by Celtic & Co, www.celticandco.com or call 0844 557

8877 13. Gibson Les Paul Supreme electric guitar in seafoam green, currently £2,999, www.amazon.co.uk 14. Find out where all that booty’s hidden with the Devon ship-wrecks map screenprint £39 clareloves.co.uk 15. Rugby journal made from the so� est calf skin leather from Italy, £30-£40 according to size, www.theclementine.co.uk

Gi� guide

13

10

11

12

1415

Gift_Guide.indd 17 30/11/2015 16:45:20

18

16. Stripy dinosaur rompersuit and hat, £17, en.dawanda.com 17. Cat baby shoes made of the so� est leather, £17.95, www.annabeljames.co.uk 18. Exeter Monopoly £24 from John Lewis in Exeter 19. Tap into your kids’ creativity with the Make Your Own Zoo book, £12.99, www.amazon.co.uk

20. Personalised prints, from £35, made in Devon by www.fromlucy.com

17

18

19

20

Gi� guide

16

Gift_Guide.indd 18 01/12/2015 11:51:03

19

21. Tiger rocker, suitable for children from one upwards, £99, www.newmakers.com 22. Crocodile ruler, £2.95, www.dotcomgi� shop.com 23 Limited Edition Marvel Comics Stars Wars prints signed by artist Stan Lee, from £695, at Exeter’s www.castlegalleries.com 24. There’s a pony theme to the � rst children’s book by Devon writer

and horse lover Lucy Johnson, £9.99, www.forelock-books.co.uk 25. Pirate shack, £200, made in Newton Abbot by former magician Keith Hathaway and his team, www.canvasandwillow.com 26. Livestock market for toy farm, £106.70, from South Molton-based www.brushwoodtoys.co.uk

Gi� guide

21

22

23

24

25

26

Gift_Guide.indd 19 30/11/2015 16:46:17

20

Gi� guide

fave!

27. 1793 Collection mugs, inspired by an old piece of pottery featuring the Mount, £7.50 each, www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk and shops on the Mount, see website for opening times 28. Kodak SP360 Extreme Action Camera, £339, Argos 29. Ideal for teen skin £4 to £8 from Devon’s www.samfarmer.co 30. Distilled in Cornwall,

Tarquin’s dry gin, £33, www.purelycornish.co.uk and stores across the region 31. Fowey map cushion, £42, The Clementine in Fowey and Truro, www.theclementine.co.uk 32. Courage Storybox, £125, handmade by Claire Read on her Devon smallholding, see www.littleburrowdesigns.co.uk

Ed’s note: We just love these striking mugs featuring an old drawing of St Michael’s Mount

inspired by an antique � nd dating

from 1793

27

28

30

31

29

32

Gift_Guide.indd 20 30/11/2015 16:53:28

GALLERY

If it’s festive inspiration you are after then prepare to be inspired…With a stunning selection of jewellery, ceramics, paintings and glass art for all tastes and budgets waiting to be discovered, why not make it a very merry Christmas for someone special, to you, with a gift of art from Mayne.

Follow us and keep up to date with all the latest news

www.maynegallery.co.uk [email protected] 01548 853 848 14 Fore Street, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 1NY

ADD SOME SPARKLE TO YOUR SEASON.

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22

Restorationdrama

chapel house, penzance

[[hen Susan Stuart first saw Chapel House in Penzance, she felt it needed a saviour. The rundown Georgian house – which in its glory days had been the dream of home

of one Admiral Robert Linzee – had been on the market for some time.

Susan, who worked for many years as a chartered accountant in the City of London, was mulling over the idea of moving to Penzance, her favourite place to spend holidays. Her ideas for a much smaller house, though, were abandoned the moment she pushed open the front door of Chapel House.

“I just love Georgian architecture and this is such a beautiful house,” she says. “It is right up above the harbour and Mount’s Bay and we can see the whole

of the bay right out to the Lizard and, in the other di-rection, as far as Penlee Point. I just loved the place from the moment I walked in.

“I decided very quickly that I wanted to buy it and move here, and my next thought was ‘How do I make this work financially?’”

For years, the house had operated as the Pen-zance Arts Club and was, says Susan “close to fall-ing down” with original features covered in thick layers of paint in many different hues.

Having already restored a Georgian house in London though, Susan was not daunted. Working with Penzance architect Keith Bell, she has restored the house to all its original graciousness and now runs it as a home-from-home boutique hotel.

Her first move was to have the chimney stacks

W

sarah pitt hears how restoring the beautiful Georgian home of an 18th century penzance admiral became a labour of love

Interiors_Dec5.indd 22 30/11/2015 17:12:09

23

Interiors

ph

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og

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ph

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24

Interiors

– which were about to topple over – completely re-built, along with other structural work. Then she set to work on the paintwork, spending hours stripping paint off interior doors to reveal beautiful lead en-graved glass panels.

She put in the same dedication into removing layers of paint from cornices and other ornate mouldings on the ceilings, abandoning plans to take paid consultancy work in favour of working on the house.

“I quickly realised I could save more money than I could earn by stripping the paint myself, so it was my job to be chief stripper,” she jokes. “I spent many hours doing that and, actually, it was really re-warding.”

She also tackled the walls, re-placing shocking pinks and deep reds for pale blues and greys.

“The bedrooms were painted all sorts of different colours. One had pink walls with blue ceilings and blue woodwork,” she says. “And the walls and ceilings in the hall-way were all painted blood red! It was really quite extraordinary.

“I felt, though, that the house really needed softer colours. My whole idea was to make it really spacious and relaxing, somewhere where when you walk through the door you feel like you just want to hunker down. The light from the sea fl oods into the house, and I wanted the rooms to be full of light.”

It was during the restoration that she found out a bit more about Admiral Linzee, who built the house at the end of his time on active service, in the late

1700s. “During the restoration, we

found a piece of skirting board, made from a packing case which had ‘Captain Linzee’ inscribed on it,” says Susan. “When I googled him I found out that he had been a Commander in the Napoleonic wars. He captured the Temeraire, a French ship which was, famous-ly, painted by Turner. He was a Commander of the naval base in Penzance and was quite a player.

This was a really grand house to build for Penzance in those days.”

The house would originally have been decorated in a classical style and Susan has recaptured that lost elegance while bringing the decor subtly up-to-date using a mixture of antique fi nds, mid-century vintage furniture and some specially commissioned

new furniture. These include an antique wooden rocking chair she bought 25 years ago in a Penzance antiques shop and oak four poster beds made by craftsman Ben Williams from Mousehole. “A lot of the design was about mixing the modern with the old,” she says.

With six bedrooms, there are plenty of places to sleep, and when the house is not full of guests, that is exactly what Susan does. “It would be a shame to live here and not use any of the rooms,” she says. I like Bedroom Two the best, because it has three windows with the most fabulous panoramic views.”

Taking on Chapel House has proved a big project for Susan, but not one she regrets. “The house hadn’t been maintained, and this was all about bringing her back to life. She was built in 1790, and now she should be good for another couple of hun-dred years.”

To book: chapelhousepz.co.uk or call 01736 362024

‘We found a skirting board with Captain

Linzee inscribed on it, and

discovered he was a Napoleonic

admiral’ [[Interiors_Dec5.indd 24 30/11/2015 17:13:15

25

Shopping

GET THELOOK

Pair classical pieces with bright colours for eye-catching decor

Oriel chair £2,428 www.rume.co.uk

Chromeo lamp £95 www.loaf.com

Dartington Crystal Admiral’s Decanter £84 www.black-by-

design.co.uk

Estella horizon rug £269 www.kelaty.com

Regency dining table from £1,400, www.oficinanglesa.

com


26

ANNE SWITHINBANK

Gardengi� s

Gardens

Devon’s Anne Swithinbank, panellist on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, knows what she – and other gardeners – would really like for Christmas

he chances are that if you are keen on gar-dening and otherwise diffi cult to buy for,

right at this moment some hapless relative is ordering a gardening gift pack, useful book or jar of hand lotion just for you. They’ll prob-ably all be put to good use, but what would make a really great present – and should we be dropping hints?

I’m glad to report that, after last year’s moans, I haven’t been given any more ‘I’m out in the garden’ signs to hang on my offi ce door. Once out there, attempts at camoufl age have been successful and I’ve gone un-detected and un-disturbed.

During the year, home-grown plant gifts received have included a forest type cactus whose succulent pink stems will have shocking pink fl owers at their tips. It is probably a rhipsalis or rhipsalidopsis and operates along the same lines as a Christmas cactus. I’ve also gained a dainty busy lizzie (probably Im-patiens pseudoviola) whose pale pink fl owers have incredibly long, elegant spurs. Finally, the garden-

ing writer Peter Seabrook sent me some spring fl owering outdoor cyclamen to plant under a clipped beech. All have been so welcome, I conclude that attractive home-grown plants make great gifts. Ditto delicious produce such as damson jam and green tomato chutney.

Possibly the most novel object I’ve been given this year has been an original carboy. These massive

glass containers sat in wicker crates and were used to carry acids and other cor-rosive substances in bulk for com-mercial use. They date mainly from the days before branding and pre-packaging, when merchants would decant and bottle up the contents themselves. Thor-oughly cleaned, redundant carboys

became popular during the 1960s and 1970s for planting bottle gar-dens. I can remember reading arti-cles where keen indoor gardeners strapped kitchen knives, forks and spoons to long canes, so they could cultivate and plant inside these narrow necked bottles. The hobby eventually became so poplar that wider necked bottles were special-ly made for the purpose. The idea

T

I’m pleased to say that, a� er

last year’s moans, I haven’t been given any more ‘I’m out in

the garden’ signs [[Gardening_Dec5.indd 26 30/11/2015 17:56:31

Why do some of my larger house plants such as dracaena, palm and calathea have brown tips to their leaves? I don’t let them dry out too much, feed them occasionally

and they get moderate light and are not close to any radiators.

Unless there are spider mites about (check using a hand lens), brown tips are a sign of stress. In the wild, plants would look a lot worse and probably not take any lasting harm but of course we want our indoor plants to be as decorative as possible. Too much or too little water, a build up of nutrients in the compost, fluctuations in temperature and dry air from general heating can all take their toll. I’m going to latch onto the words ‘larger house plants’ because it is possible you are not giving these plants enough water at one time to sink right down to the bottom of a deep pot and satisfy all the roots. Make sure they have an adequate saucer and when you decide to water, put in enough so that a little leaks out of the bottom but is then reabsorbed. Then wait until the surface begins to dry out again.

27

I have had several attempts at growing acers in pots but they all struggled and eventually died back. What am I doing wrong?

I’m assuming they’ve been dainty Japanese maples or delicate coloured-leaved kinds like the snakebark Acer x conspicuum ‘Red Flamingo’. These can be fussy but think of a woodland style location (shelter, light shade, cool roots), make sure drainage in the container is excellent and that the plant doesn’t dry out in summer and all should be well. These maples are too often sited in cold, exposed or hot, dry positions. Try to find a spot where they are sheltered by other plants. They are not always vigorous and plant food will run short in the pot, so apply a controlled release or tree and shrub fertilizer early in the year to keep them growing. Cover with a layer of new, fresh compost.

Q

Question time with AnneWest reader queries answered by Anne Swithinbank

Send your questions to Anne at [email protected]

This week’s gardening tipsAnne’s advice for your garden

Q

• Birds will be struggling to find food and keep warm, so keep feeders topped up and water available.

• If clearing the garden don’t tackle all the thickets at once because birds and other wildlife need somewhere safe and sheltered to roost at night.

• Dahlias have taken their time to die back. If you are not going to lift them, then pile a mulch of compost or leaf mould over the top and mark their position so they are not accidentally disturbed. The markers will act as a reminder to control slugs when growth starts again next year.

Make a holly ballLeafing through an old book (The Woman Gardener penned by the late Frances Perry in 1955), I came across instructions for making a holly ball. You take a large potato, bore a hole through it, thread a string through and hang it up. Holly twigs are then prepared at various lengths with the ends cut into points. These are forced in around the potato until it is hidden and trimmed lightly to a spherical shape.

Potted plantsChristmas visitors might arrive with potted plants as gifts. Hibiscus, poinsettias and phalaenopsis orchids enjoy warm rooms but find a cool, bright windowsill for cyclamen and water without soaking the top of the tuber. Or water from below.

was that water would evaporate, condense on the sides and run back down, making the garden self sufficient. Mine’s still empty but on a dull, dark day after Christmas, I might plant it up.

Thoughtful pieces of kit to make gardening easier are always welcome. My husband John and I increasingly find ourselves reaching for a sack truck. Anyone with a large collection of plants in containers will find themselves shuf-fling them around during autumn and spring be-tween house, greenhouse and garden. Faced with a huge spiral aloe (Aloe polyphylla) whose spiny tips now thrust over the edges of its wide and weighty glazed pot, neither of us wanted to lift it into the greenhouse. Sliding the pot onto the flat plate of the ‘truck’, leaning it back and wheeling it backwards into the greenhouse was a doddle.

Seed packets make great stocking fillers and Suttons (0844 326 2200, www.suttons.co.uk) have come up with a good one. Their Sweet Corn Shoots (F1 Boadacious) can be sown even in the depths of winter, into a seed tray then stood in a

warm, dark place. The sweet, crunchy shoots are harvested at 7cm high when a vibrant yellow and eaten immediately.

Buying us gardeners a book could be risky, as we all have our favourite titles and authors. Old books have great character and I recently splashed out £40 on the 1977 reprint of The Veg-etable Gardener by Vilmorin-Andrieux first published in 1885. Full of lovely drawings and de-lightful French names, it also delivers on detail. For instance I can see which squash and pump-kin varieties descend from the same species and can then group them accordingly to help with pollination.

New books that combine inspiration with prac-ticality are the best and I’ve enjoyed The Flower Farmer’s Year by Georgie Newbery and her more recent Grow Your Own Wedding Flowers, all in-spired by her Somerset flower farm. Personally, I’d like The Finest Gardens of The Southwest by Tony Russell because my New Year’s resolution will be to visit as many as possible.

Gardening_Dec5.indd 27 30/11/2015 17:56:51

28

Beauty

Beauty guru Abbie Bray of Newton Abbot has ideas for presents

Beauty box

Abbie’s

It is finally December and for me that means it is officially Christmas! This week I am getting in the festive mood and thinking about the perfect gifts to go under your tree on December 25.

The Body Shop Shea Ultimate Luxuries £35

This nutty fragrance chimes with the festive mood and this little treat contains three gorgeous

moisturisers, from a light scented oil to a thick body butter. Whichever you prefer, this gi� will keep

your dry skin moisturised this winter.

Shea trio

Paul Mitchell Dapper Gent Gi� Set , £27This would make a great gi� for the man in your life. My boyfriend loves these products; the sham-poo is a no-fuss product that has a clean, fresh scent but conditions the hair too. He especially rates the Barber’s Classic Styling Cream, saying “ it is easy to use, not sticky and it lasts all day”.

Smooth style

Bene� t Real Cheeky Party Set, £29.50, Debenhams I love this gi� and would be over the moon to � nd it under my tree this Christmas (hint hint). It contains � ve gorgeous blusher shades to suit every skintone, with a mini They’re Real eyeliner and mascara to � nish your party look.

Make me blush

Recovery Package, £41, www.dontbuyher� owers.

com These products will leave your skin feeling smooth

and smelling great. My favourite is the coconut

oil, which smells amazing and can be used as a

cleanser, conditioner and even a cooking oil.

Smell sweet

Personalised Manicure Sets, £14.99, www.vivabop.co.uk

This would make a lovely gi� for the girl with perfect nails this Christmas,

with an added personal touch in your chosen message engraved on the front.

Mine’s a mani

We have two personalised manicure sets, like the one above, to win. To be in with

a chance, email your details to Manicure Set, [email protected]

by December 19.

WIN:

fave!

Beauty_Dec5.indd 28 01/12/2015 11:47:47

29

Fashion

+

Phase Eight £120

CJG Collection £115

Debenhams £22 JD Williams £34.99

The editYour straight line to style: Ellie Jones shares her top party season picks

TK Maxx £35.99

+

Dune £79

+ + +

+

JD Williams £55

Deichmann £29.99

Look Again £60

Beauty_Dec5.indd 29 01/12/2015 14:20:58

30

To bejolly...

Slogan sweater£19.99 New Look

is the season, and chances are you’ll soon be the proud owner of a festive jumper this Christmas, whether you want one or not. But

don’t be downcast – take a leaf out of Bridget Jones’s Mark Darcy’s book and wear yours with pride. Besides, some of them are actually rather lovely this year. We particularly like this sequinned number from New Look, and the one with the loved-up Scottie dogs from BHS is so cute we can actually envis-age wearing it on other days apart from December 25. And if you really can’t face the full-on yuletide sweater look, then you could always show willing with a pair of socks instead.

T£20 Bonmarche

Fashion_Dec05.indd 30 30/11/2015 17:54:18

31

Fashion

£25 Very£25 Very

£14 Primark

£12 George at Asda£12 George at Asda

£28 BHS

£10 M&Co

Necklace£5 Dorothy

Perkins

Sweater £29 Science Museum Shop

£4 M

&C

o

£8 So

uth

Beach

Officia

l

£1.99 New Look£1.99 New Look

Scarf £20 Science Museum Shop

Museum Shop

Museum Shop

Hat £20 Science

Museum Shop

Earrings£5 Dorothy

Perkins

Fashion_Dec05.indd 31 30/11/2015 17:54:42

ntricate detailing is your best friend this party season. Beading, sequins and rhinestones have been sprin-kled liberally across the rails of my favourite stores, and I am delighted.

This trend pleases not only the girl in me but the grown up woman too. Alexa Chung has fa-mously said that she is not a fan of ‘sexy’ and feels uncomfortable in anything tight or bodycon, and there are days where I share this sentiment wholeheartedly. These sparkly pieces mean you can feel resplendently feminine, without having an outfi t that accentuates your fi gure to the point of not being able to have a single canapé.

Luckily, fashion royalty agree. The AW15 shows were awash with shine and dazzle. The team behind New York label Proenza Schouler grabbed the bull by the horns and went so far as to show-case a jaw-dropping dress embel-lished with over 300,000 sequins. My fashion envy went into seri-ous overdrive, but a) those of us on a journalist’s salary don’t typically indulge in haute cou-ture and b) where, realistically, would I wear such a magnifi cent garment?

In the interests of versatil-ity and value for money, I went on a quest to fi nd the ultimate outfi t for the festive season and beyond. I didn’t have to look far. Coast delivers on this sort of remit in their sleep. Their Exeter store is a veritable emporium of good taste and opulent glamour. This combination of oversized structured skirt and detailed top is a real win. Worn together, and I am ready to swan into the most sophisticated seasonal soiree the South West can throw at me.

My legs are swathed in excess fabric so no one has to suffer watching my knees turn blue. The inky hue looks fantastic on the most sun-starved of complexions, and the glittering top means that hair, make-up and accessories can be kept to an elegant (and fuss-free) minimum.

What do I plan to do with my princess-esque en-semble come January you ask? I’ll tell you. I’ll get every pound’s worth from these separates.

The skirt will make for an enviable addition to my monthly girls’ night out at a fancy restaurant. I’ll pair it with ballet pumps and a soft knit. I want to travel to Italy next summer, and I just love the idea of wearing this with a cropped sleeveless turtleneck, red lipstick and simple black pumps for an evening of alfresco prosecco-sipping. Hair swept up into a messy top, certamente.

Ok, I hear you say. But what about the spangly top? Easy. Add my favourite high-waisted Top-shop jeans and a pair of wedges and I will be ready for casual cocktails in town. Or I could throw it on with my best white pencil skirt, a grey blazer and court shoes and I am completely unafraid to wear it to the offi ce.

After all, sparkles should be for life, not just Christmas. All fashion in these pictures is from Princesshay Shopping Centre, Exeter, www.princesshay.co.uk

32

Trend

I am ready to swan into

the most sophisticated

seasonal soiree the South West

can throw at me

There’s more to feminine than form-� tting says Kathryn Clarke-Mcleod

HOW TO WEAR IT:

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Embellishment

Bella Marie embellished top, Coast, Princesshay, £119

Bella Marie high low skirt, Coast, Princesshay, £129

Navy scalloped shoes, Next, Princesshay, £45

Faith sequin clutch, Coast, Princesshay, £45

Trend_Embellish_Dec5.indd 32 01/12/2015 14:12:17

33

GET THE

look

Star by Julian Macdonald top £45

DEBENHAMS

Ombre sequin dress £99 SIMPLY BE

Nine by Savannah Miller zig zag sequin

clutch £39 SIMPLY BE

J by Jasper Conran skirt £55

DEBENHAMS

Waist belt £14.99 NEW LOOK

Ombre sequin top £32.99 NEW LOOK

Green sequin pencil skirt £29 VERY

Glam sequin hoops £8.50

MISS SELFRIDGE

Trend_Embellish_Dec5.indd 33 01/12/2015 14:13:12

34

culturevulture

Our guide to the arts scene in the South West by woman-in-

the-know Sarah Pitt

The wonderful Mark Thomas (often to be heard on Radio 4) will be stopping off at Calstock Arts in south east Cornwall this Friday, as he tours the UK with his latest show, Trespass. Prepare to contribute some ideas of your own in this hugely entertaining mix of theatre, stand-up comedy, seasoned with dash of journal-ism and dollop of mayhem. Friday December 11, 7pm for ages 16 and over. Tickets from £13, call 01726 879500 or visit www.calstockarts.org

On the Mark

Keep an eye out for famous chefs including James Martin, Angela Hartnett and Mark Hix at Padstow’s annual Christmas Food Festival this weekend. Food writer Xanthe Clay and Rick Stein will be debating the latest food trends today, while Ready Steady Cook chef Brian Turner will appear tomorrow. There will be cookery demos at Sharp’s Chef Theatre and the Festival Kitchen and a marquee where you can try and buy from more than 100 local food producers. Visit www.padstowchristmas-festival.co.uk for more details.

Live streaming from the Bolshoi

Foodie fun in Padstow

The Bolshoi Ballet’s beautiful The Lady of the Camellias will be screened live at Dartington Hall’s Barn Cinema, tomorrow at 3pm. It’s a great chance to see some world-class dancing, right here in the South West. In this superb performance, The Bolshoi breathes new life into John Neumeier’s tragic masterpiece, inspired by Alexandre Dumas’ novel and accompanied by Chopin’s exquisite score. Sunday December 6, tickets £17.50 www.dartington.org

CultureVulture_Stars_Dec5.indd 34 30/11/2015 17:45:52

35

Enjoy

Your starsby Cassandra Nye

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20)Don’t take it for granted that you know what others want for Christmas,

especially family. You may feel it a bit crass to ask but that is better than wasting your hard earned cash. An elderly relative may need something in particular done for them but be slow to ask.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19)With a good sense of self-worth you have never seen yourself as simply

part of the crowd. However, a recent quiet period may have given that impression to others. Are you ready to reinstate your per-sonality and get into more of the social scene? There couldn’t be a better time.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20)This is not a time when you want to save money. You would much rather be spend-

ing it. Even so, if you have a big item to fi nd, after the holiday could be better. Write yourself notes to stay organised and avoid overspending.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20)You are in a thoughtful mood which is just as well as you have a lot to think

about. The important thing to remember is that there is no point in clinging to the past. Listen carefully to others as there will be real gems of information to help you.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21)Thinking outside the box gets you on track. This is especially true when it

comes to tasks at work. Some may be run-ning down in the run up to the holiday, but your areas are still active. Think big and aim high. Be there for your boss when you spot stresses and strains. It will be noted that you are not the fi rst to bolt for the exit if things get diffi cult.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21)Moving a situation on is fi ne but avoid cutting corners. Paperwork becomes

important as midweek arrives and letting something slip now would be silly. Finances may be linked to a personal project that involves others. Be fair, but not to the detriment of your family cash fl ow.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22)There is little point in expecting others to do what you tell them if

you are not around to check up. When it comes to organising something for the holidays you may think that there is plenty of time. That is only true if things are on schedule now.

LEO (July 23 - August 23)A romantic gesture needs careful planning. The fewer people who are

involved the less chance of it going wrong, that’s for sure! As you are capable of

concentrating on long term projects this is a great time to impress the boss with your efficiency.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23)When your eye is on the ball you can be

great at managing fi nances. Sometimes, though, there are so many distractions that your attention is elsewhere. This week could see you lose money simply by not paying attention. Check that paperwork and take a deep breath. If you fi nd that you have paid a bill twice or forgotten to collect money owed to you, stop! Check that paperwork and take a deep breath.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23)Get others to do some of the work this week. It will give you time to plot and

plan for the weeks ahead. Although there seem to be many bargains around, hold fi re, as they get better. Keep your eyes open for someone who is going to agree a date and then go back on it.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22)If you fi nd that the smallest stress to your system makes you feel rough, look

after yourself. People always seem to have their health checks in the New Year, but why not have yours now? It is easy to neglect those little niggles when you are very busy, isn’t it?

Susannah Reid

This week’s sign: Happy birthday to...People born under the Sagittarius star sign are independent by nature and. even as they grow older, are more likely to keep travelling the world in search of the next adventure than settle down. They may turn down good opportunities in their life because they � nd it di� cult to commit to one place or person. They make excellent friends, though, because they are kind-hearted and positive and, valuing their own freedom so much, are never possessive. or jealous.

born December 10 1970Susannah began her career with the BBC in Bristol and was the face of BBC Breakfast for 11 years until she switched to ITV’s Good Morning Britain sofa last year. A� er winning people’s hearts on Strictly in 2013, she and long-term partner Dominic Cotton split up, but the couple, who have three children, continued to live in the same house. She’s raised eyebrows with her � irty interview technique, but her Septem-ber TV chat with David Beckham looked like a lot of fun. Who could blame her for feeling ‘a little hot under the lights’ that day!

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21)Move on from an upsetting time or com-ment. This week sees you in a forgetful

mood. Not good if you pay your bills twice but great if you want to rule out negative forces! Your creative juices are fl owing well. This extends into your love life to bring a spe-cial sparkle to the weekend. Make it special.

CultureVulture_Stars_Dec5.indd 35 30/11/2015 18:15:46

Katy Perry and Kelly Osbourne have both kept their gures in shape by including lots of low-fat,yet lling

mushrooms in their diet. But did you know that some varieties of fungi are also considered to have medicinal

properties? Shiitake, Reishi, Lion’s Mane and King Trumpet are among those said to boost the immune and cardiovascular systems and boost energy levels.

You can nd them in organic supplement form (£55) at hifasdaterra.co.uk

SECRET INGREDIENT

36

Wellbeing

the boost

Life just got better. We’ve handpicked the latest wellness trends,

best-body secrets and expert advice to help you be your

best self, everyday

Looks like lots of us have been growing our own superfoods this year: Wyevale

Garden Centres says that thanks to healthy-eating trends, there has been a 500% increase in the number of its

antioxidant- rich berry plants this year, with goji, blueberry, blackberry and

raspberry topping the list.

New Year, new youFeeling like a fresh start for 2016? Charlotte Mews Studios are

launching a series of one-day workshops aimed at helping you start your own Westcountry businesses.

Their How to Become Women Entrepreneurs workshop takes place on February 25 2016, and is all about how to turn talent into turnover,

making your business dreams come true. Says MD Jayne Oliphant-Thompson: “We will have successful businesswomen on hand to

explain everything from marketing to social media. It’s going to be a truly inspirational, yet fun, day packed with practical tips and advice.” The workshop, with lunch included, takes place in central Exeter and

costs £145. To book, call 01392 909930 or visit www.charlottemews.com

SUPER BERRY BOOM

Wellbeing_Dec05.indd 36 30/11/2015 17:49:49

37

What’s coming up? Tweet us your wellbeing diary dates @WMNWest or email [email protected]

Removing dead skin cells can help brighten your winter complexion – bring yours back to life with an at-home peel. The fruit acids in Elemis’s papapya enzyme peel (£32, www.timetospa.co.uk) gently lift away dead skin cells to help restore your natural glow.

Fruity!

Two extra hours of sleep can significantly enhance sports performance, according to research by Bensons for Beds. The study saw members of Durham University Sports Team sleep for seven hours a night for a week, followed by nine hours a night for a week.

Comparing their training performances each week, as well as their speed increasing by 15%, over half reported higher energy levels, a quarter felt more self-confident, and their pain threshold improved by a third. They also felt more relaxed.

Sugar and Spice

What are little girls made of? Well, according to food psychologist Dr Christy Fergusson, women do tend to be more tempted by sugary foods, and it could be for biological reasons. “There are certain factors which play a universal role in attracting us to specific foods,” she says. “The notion that chocolate is almost impossible to resist really is true – because of the ‘feel-good’ chemicals it releases: endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. We remember the way chocolate makes us feel, so we want to keep eating it. Even hearing the word ‘chocolate’ can make some people feel euphoric.”

Time for an early night?

Wellbeing_Dec05.indd 37 30/11/2015 17:50:39

Wellbeing

I don’t eat much bread, but love my pasta. Yet quite often I feel uncomfortably

boated to the point of quite ill after a starchy meal and am be-

ginning to wonder if I should cut wheat out of my diet altogether.

How can I tell if I have an allergy or an intolerance - and what’s the difference? HG, Bude Devon-based dietitian Sophie Medlin says: These days, many people feel they have an intolerance to certain foods, with wheat and dairy being the most common offenders.

It is important to differentiate food intolerance from a food allergy, which is a potentially seri-ous condition that only affects about two per cent of the adult population. Food allergy symptoms come on rapidly and often cause rashes, wheez-ing and itching.

While food intolerances are not dangerous, they can be very uncomfortable and affect our quality of life. The typical symptoms of food intolerance are bloating and stomach cramps which usually develop between 30-90 minutes after the food has been ingested.

QPeople with food intolerances can sometimes

feel that they have nowhere to turn, as they might have been reassured that they don’t have an allergy but aren’t offered any further help. This leaves sufferers vulnerable to online and high street retail-ers offering unreliable tests that can cause more harm than good. Some of these tests might in-clude looking at a strand of hair or even a drop of blood. Others use kinesiology or muscle strength to test if you are weak-ened by different foods. Unfortu-nately, these tests are not a safe, reliable solution and, more often than not, leave the sufferer with a long list of foods to avoid, with no support as to how to follow a balanced diet after excluding everything.

The safe and reliable way to find out what foods are upsetting you is to keep a thorough food and symptom diary. Look for patterns and consider an elimination-type diet with the support of a registered dietitian. An elimination diet involves

38

Hard to stomach

People with food intolerances

can feel they have nowhere to turn, as they

aren’t offered any further help [[

Could it be an allergy?excluding the foods that are likely to be upsetting you and reintroducing them one by one to test whether they cause you a problem.

Many people feel that they are sensitive to gluten, which is the protein found in wheat, barley and rye which usually makes up about a third of our diet. What we do know about gluten is that is it a fermentable carbohydrate and therefore contributes to the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome for many people. Also, our consumption of wheat has increased five-fold in the past 70 years so it is reason-able to expect that some people would be sensitive to the higher levels of wheat. There are many naturally gluten-free foods and companies are now produc-

ing a wide range of gluten-free products. Often, though, gluten-free foods have added fat or sugar to improve the taste, so watch out for unexpected weight gain if you are using these products!

www.sophiedietitian.com

Wellbeing_Tim_Dec5.indd 38 30/11/2015 17:22:24

39

Tim Maddams is a Devon chef and author of Game: River Cottage Handbook no. 15 (Bloomsbury £14.99)

’m partial to a parsnip and sweet on swede but the root that really rocks for me at this time of year is beet-root, in all its wonder and glory. De-spite all the many

modern variations now avail-able – candy-striped, yellow, white and more – it’s the good old-fashioned purple variety that I like the most. It seems to deliver the most beetrootyness per pound.

Beetroot has been around for years, though most of us I am sure suffered greatly at the hands of the vac-packed, cooked-to-all-hell and enshrined in shrink-wrap version that haunts the supermarket veg aisle like so many unrealised dreams. I have had many delicious beetroot dishes over the years from borscht to brownies, crisps to cupcakes and beyond. A beetroot and cocoa ice cream was amazing.

There are various easy wins with the red root. The main trick is to make sure you cook them in a way that will bring out their best for your intended use. Grated raw and given the pakora

treatment they are a sheer joy with a dollop of garlic yoghurt to seal the deal. Washed, peeled and sliced thinly they quick pickle excellently and will keep for weeks in this state in the fridge. Scrubbed, wrapped in foil with oil, salt and pepper and then baked they are good for a whole host of things, from purees and hummus to soups, stews and sides.

Decent beetroot may have the added bonus of some leaf, too, which works well in salad or as a substitute for spinach. Sourcing some may be tricky unless you have a good greengrocer or a veg

box delivery. Try farmers’ markets and farm shops – the ones near me seem to have a pretty good supply now, and hopefully yours will too.

IRoast beetrootI really like to roast raw beetroot in wedges. Peel them, then cut into segments and toss them in a tray with rapeseed oil, caraway seeds, garlic, chopped rosemary and salt and pepper, and roast in a hot oven. They make an excellent addition to a roast or a hearty winter salad. Grilled fi sh and winter mustard leaves make a fi ne combination, fi nished with a little green sauce. And beetroot with smoked mackerel is another marriage made in heaven.

@TimGreenSauce

I have had many delicious beetroot dishes over the years

from borscht to brownies, crisps

to cupcakes [[

Eat

Ingredient of the Week

Beetrootwith Tim Maddams

Wellbeing_Tim_Dec5.indd 39 30/11/2015 17:22:54

Ads_Dec5.indd 2 30/11/2015 18:25:04

Drink

You and I have been saying it for ages, but “Beer o’clock” has � nally made it into the Oxford English Dictionary, described as “an appropriate time of day” to have the drink. So good to see it’s o� cially ‘a thing’. Quite right too.

Nadelik Lowen*Sharp’s Nadelik has returned for a limited run. It’s a medium-bodied ale with a festive aroma of piney hops, inviting candy � oss and to� ee notes, says the brewer. The beer is brewed in north Cornwall using roasted barley and colourful malts to give a well-balanced, rich � avour, with a bittersweet � nish.

(*Happy Christmas)

MY WORD!

41

Darren Norburytalks beer

here’s nothing like a book shop is there – for, well, buying books. The Amazon experience just isn’t the same if you’re not sure what, if

anything, you want and are just browsing. And it’s the same with beer. There’s plenty online but it’s not like going into a shop to have a browse, and try a sample or two.

I declare an interest here: I have my offi ce in a shop sell-ing beer, Cornwall Specialist Beer, in Redruth. If you’re look-ing for a great Christmas gift, beer is the one I’d go for (well I would say that, wouldn’t I?)

Many shops have a good selection of local beers. Or you could go for a selection from around the UK, again most in-dependent beer shops have these. But foreign beers are popular, too, and a case of, say, Bel-gian and American beers can be a fascinating virtual beer tour. Some brewers also have their own presentation packs of beer.

Down here in Cornwall, Red Elephant Beer Cellar, in Truro’s Quay Street, is popular, as is John’s off-licence in St Ives, which has a big

stock of Cornish beer and cider. Skinner’s and St Austell brew-eries both have shops stocking their full range of bottled beers.

In Devon, Tucker’s Maltings’ beer shop in Newton Abbot is well established, selling brews from the Teignworthy Brew-ery among others, while Hops + Crafts is a new kid on the block in Exeter’s McCoy’s Arcade, spe-cialising in local beers from the likes of Powderkeg, Hanlon’s and Dartmoor. Totnes Brewing Com-pany, meanwhile, has its own shop The Beer Library, next to

the brewery.You could do worse than try your local beer

shop for unique gifts. And you’ll fi nd friendly staff able to advise on choice. Why not visit this weekend?Darren Norbury is editor of beertoday.co.uk @beertoday

T

St Austell’s new stout, Mena Dhu (black hill in Cornish) has

enjoyed a good launch. The 4.5% ABV brew is ‘black as yer ‘at’ with a foaming beige head

and o� ers, in varying degrees of subtlety, roast malt, chocolate, co� ee and liquorice, with hints

of smoke and oak. The beer completes St Austell’s regular

portfolio, alongside the likes of Tribute and Proper Job, with

depth of � avour and a relatively low ABV. A recommended buy.

Beer of the week

If you’re looking for a great

Christmas gi� , beer is the one I’d go for (well I would say that,

wouldn’t I?) [[BEER_Dec5.indd 41 01/12/2015 11:49:17

42

Eat

Method:

This recipe comes from A Taste of the West Country (£16.99) by the food producers’ cooperative, Taste of the West, with photography by David Griffen.To order your copy, designed by Jeff Cooper of We Make Magazines, see www.tasteofthewest.co.uk or call 01404 822012

1. Peelthesweetpotatoes,washandchopthemintosmallpieces.

2. Drizzlethepotatoeswiththeoliveoilandroastintheovenfor30minutesat180C/Gasmark4.

3. Meanwhile,boilthenewpotatoesfor15-20minutes,oruntilcooked.Allowtocool,thencutintoquarters.

4. Sweattheonioninafryingpanforacoupleof minutesandallowtocool.

5. Linealargeflanorquichecasewithbakingparchmentpaper.If youdon’thaveeither,usealargefryingpan.

6. Inalargemixingbowlwhisktheeggsandcreamandseasonwell.

Ingredients2largesweetpotatoes12largefreerangeeggs140mldoublecream125gspinach1largewhiteonion,diced6thickslicesof Cornishbrie340gmaturecheddarcheese8newpotatoesExtra-virginoliveoilSeasaltandgroundblackpepper

Sweet potato, spinach and Cornish brie frittata

Recipe by Will Sherry of Boscastle Farm Shop in north Cornwall

7. Spreadtherawspinachinthecaseorpanandsprinklethecheddaroverthetop.Theninafan-likeshape,placethebrieontopof theotheringredients.

8. Gentlypourtheeggmixturearoundtheseingredients,makingsureitdoesnotcomeoverthetop.

9. Placeinapreheatedoverat180C/Gasmark4for10minutes,thenturntheovendownto170C/Gasmark3andcookforanother25-35minutes.Whencooked,thefrittatashouldbegoldenbrowninappearanceandnotwobble.

10. Turnoutof thecase,allowtocoolfortenminutes,thenservewithawell-dressedmixedleaf salad.

Will says: “When cooked, this should be golden-brown and not wobble. It goes perfectly with a well-dressed salad.”

TOW_DEC5.indd 42 30/11/2015 17:57:41

Home is where the hearth is.Home is where the hearth is.

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Visit our showroom in Exeter, website, or call us to find out more.

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To see the finest selection of Morsø Stoves in the South West, many ofwhich are live & working, visit Hearth & Cook. Here you’ll find a huge rangeof both traditional and contemporary appliances that will suit every home.

Visit our showroom in Exeter, website, or call us to find out more.

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44

My Secret Westcountry

Kate Janse Van Rensburg

44

My favourite...

Walk: There is a spot just past Widemouth Bay where on a good, clear day you can see all the way to Hartland Point and even Lundy Island. The cliffs are beautiful and there is a lovely contrast between the green of the fields and the blue of the sea. Beach: I love our local beaches here in Bude. Especially when the tide is out and you can walk

Kate Janse Van Rensburg is the head of sales in a family-run business which owns three boutique hotels in Bude – Hebasca, An Mor and Tommy Jack’s on the Beach. Kate was born in South Africa and came to England aged 11. She is married to husband Bo and the couple have an 18 month old son, Grayson and another baby on the way, due in February.

Port William Inn, Trebarwith Strand

Millook

MSW_Dec05.indd 44 30/11/2015 17:51:48

45

People

For more information on Hebasca Hotel, visit www.hebasca.co.uk

4545

about 14. We used to go down to Summerleaze beach after school and at weekends. He would hold the surf board in place while I lay on it wait-ing to catch the wave. I will never forget the fi rst time I stood up – I got so excited I didn’t know what to do next, so I just jumped off ! When our kids get older my husband and I are really look-ing forward to taking them out in the surf.

Weekend away: We are really spoilt for choice in the Westcounty. If I want to do a couple of days of exploring (and, of course, surf-ing) I will go somewhere on the north coast. As a family, we usually like to stay in the Mawgan Porth area. If we are going for chocolate box pretty, though, we will head towards the Sid-mouth area of east Devon.

Shop: Bude has some great local shops. My new favourite is Kittiwakes. It has something for everyone. I recently brought some chalk paint there to redo a fi replace and I have been eyeing its decorative bunting for my son’s bedroom! Another one of my favourites here is Satis House, which has a great collection of vintage clothing, accessories and furniture.

Treat: Cornish clotted cream ice cream – any fl avour, really, though mint choc chip is my all-time favourite.

Tommy Jack’s on the Beach

along to the other neighbouring beaches for miles. The cliffs are beautiful here and there is a very old shipwreck buried in the sand.

Food: It has to be the Cornish pasty. It’s a great mix of meat, potato and veg but my favourite bit is the thick pastry crust. I am usually pretty health conscious – but not when it comes to this treat.

Tipple: Cider, for sure. Especially with lots of ice.

Pub: The Port Gaverne Hotel near Port Isaac. Before I became a mum, I enjoyed a few sum-mers of gig boat rowing. We used to launch the boat on Port Gaverne beach and I loved it there.

It was so beautiful and peace-ful. After the row we would have a drink in the pub and it always had a great atmos-phere.

Restaurant: The Port William Inn at Trebarwith

Strand near Tintagel is one of my favourites. Some of my earliest memories of the Cornish coast as a child come from very cold walks along this beach. The restaurant is perched on the cliffs and has fantastic views.

Way to relax: Walking on Bude’s cliff paths and beaches with my family. We love the fresh air and beautiful views.

Sport: My dad taught me to surf when I was

Satis House vintage store, Bude

A room at Hebasca, Bude

Some of my earliest

memories of the Cornish coast

as a child come from very cold

walks [[MSW_Dec05.indd 45 30/11/2015 17:52:12

46

man and boy

Thou shaltnot steal [[

my life

hanks to a gang of car thieves in Liverpool, I have recently been giving thought to the Eighth Com-mandment: Thou shalt not steal. Given the decades of jokes I have

listened to across the south of England about finding cars on bricks when visiting my home town, I don’t mention the attempted theft of my Vito van lightly.

In fairness, I had parked in about the dumb-est place possible – a deserted spot not far from the dock road – and left it overnight. It was la-ziness. I took a chance. When I returned with the boy the next day and saw it still there I was quite relieved. On spotting the crowbar marks on the windows I was hardly surprised.

Someone had tried to force open both front windows, leaving my driver’s window sag-ging a few inches. This caused no end of grief the next day at Knowlsey Safari Park, when a cheeky baboon spotted the slit and tried to climb inside, prompting shrieks of panic in the van and sending me scrabbling for the gaffer tape to keep the creature out. The subsequent garage bill has set me back £100 rather than the tenner I should have paid for overnight park-ing, so lesson learned.

When James understood what had hap-pened, he was upset and really angry. It took ages to calm him down. He loves the van and I think he was a bit shocked that someone had tried to pinch it. He preferred the fiction that some animal – a dinosaur – had tried to claw its way inside than the truth that strangers had wanted to take his property.

Honestly, I have never seen him upset in

quite that way. Maybe, for him, it was something like the shock of coming home and seeing your house trashed by burglars, which is something I remember vividly.

After the initial fury died down, we end up in a

philosophical discussion about stealing. There was an incident in school recently, it seemed, though it was far from serious. Naturally, I said it was wrong to take something that belongs to someone else. We didn’t explore the issue deeply. He is five years old after all. It seemed like that was that.

Then we find ourselves reading a familiar fairy tale at bed time: Jack and the Beanstalk. And it occurred to me, for the first time, that our hero is little more than a common thief. He steals the gold, which he and the mother duly squander, then goes back for the golden hen and harp. What with the chopping down of the beanstalk while the giant was chasing him, I make that three counts of burglary and one of assault.

I asked the lad what he thought about this and he said the giant was bad. He ate people. I might argue that was the culture of a foreign land but the implication is clear: Jack is poor and entitled to the giant’s ill-gotten goods. Like the Robin Hood motif, this is a common theme, and has complicated our moral discussions.

It put me in mind of an old tale of Bob Dylan in his early days. The great moral conscience of America was not averse to taking things which did not belong to him. He stole a load of old blues records from a friend on his way to New York.

Of course, a year or so later, Bob was forgiv-en this indiscretion on the grounds that he had needed them to become a superstar. The theft had been part of destiny; a greater need served. Seems things are not so simple as Moses would have us believe.

James loves our van and was shocked that someone

had tried to pinch it[ [T

Phil Goodwin and James, five, debate a moral point

ManandBoy_Dec5.indd 46 30/11/2015 17:29:47

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west december 5 2015

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