+ BE A MERMAID FOR A DAY

+ BALLET IN CORNWALL

24.10.15

+ RAINPROOF HALF TERM INSPIRATIONS

INSIDE:

DON’T MISS:

Purple

Our beauty guru’s guide to autumn

reign

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ADD SOME COLOUR INTO YOUR LIFE

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33

6 THE WISHLISTThis week’s pick of lovely things to buy

8 JUST RAZZLE DAZZLE ‘EMChannel Rachel Weisz in sequins

9 CAREY’S BABY JOYSh! We have the latest gossip!

12 THE WEDDING PAINTERWatercolour challenges for the big day

16 HELP, IT’S HALF TERM! Action Nan’s advice for happy children

22 A NIGHT IN THE CELLSThe police station that’s a cool new home

26 ANNE SWITHINBANK Our garden guru has a Caribbean crush

30 COSY UP FOR WINTERHow to wrap up in style

35 YOUR WEEK AHEADCassandra Nye looks into the stars

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

39 SEASONAL SEAFOODDevon’s Tim Maddams cooks squid

40 A TASTE OF THE WESTDelicious scallops from Cornwall

44 GOD VERSUS SANTAJames, � ve, has some tricky questions for dad Phil Goodwin

contents[ [Inside this week...

‘I’m just a granny with an over-active imagination’

Why Pat Smith from Cornwall is known as Action Nan, p 16

11 THE CIDER DECIDERTop tipples and where to � nd them

22

HELP, IT’S HALF TERM Where to go, what to do 16

THE GLITZ SPIRITSteal Rachel Weisz’s style8

14 THE ART OF MATRIMONYThe Westcountry wedding painter

40 TASTE OF THE WESTScrumptious scallops to cook

A NIGHT IN THE CELLSThe St Ives police station that’s now a luxury home

Contents_Oct24.indd 3 20/10/2015 12:39:31

4

[[ [[welcome[ [

s the author WC Bryant once said, autumn is “the year’s last, loveliest smile”. Right now, with the leaves turning fl ame-red and half term upon us, our

thoughts are wending their way towards crisp mornings, real fi res, pumpkins and apple-bob-bing. With this in mind, our fashion choices this week are all about keep-ing warm and looking good as you do so. Turn to page 30 today for some truly gorgeous knitwear, just for starters.

Also on the subject of late October, meet a really rather remarkable woman on page 16 today. Pat Smith from Cornwall is also known as Action Nan,

thanks to her fabulous blog packed full of ideas for how to entertain small people. Pat’s adored by her grandchildren and today she shares her tips for having fun, whatever the weather, with us.

The good news is, lots of her ideas don’t cost a fortune either: com-pulsory reading for all grandparents (and par-ents) I’d say.

Coming back to the topic of keeping warm in style, don’t forget to

enter our competition to win top-quality alpaca wool socks, all made in north Devon (see oppo-site). Oh, and do turn to page 34 for our fabulous new arts feature Culture Vulture, with yet more inspiring ideas of things to see and do right now.

EDITORIAL: westmag@westernmorningnews.co.ukTel: 01392 442250 Twitter @wmnwest

@cabolithoLovely article about

@NTKillerton apple festival this weekend in today’s @WMNWest magazine

[ [She shares her tips for having fun, whatever the weather, with us

Becky Sheaves, Editor

MEET THE TEAM

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

What a lovely time of year this is

Tweetof the week

[

IN THE SWIMMake like a mermaid for health, � tness and fun37

COVER IMAGE: iStock.com/Kharichkina

A

TO ADVERTISE: Contact Lynne Potter: 01752 293027 or 07834 568283, lynne.potter@dc-media.co.uk

55

Enjoy a family day out for free, thanks to the National Trust! We have two family day visit tickets (for two adults

and two children) to visit the National Trust property of your choice, worth up to £32 each.

To win one, send your contact details to: National Trust competition, westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk by

October 30. Normal terms apply. West magazine will not share your details.Win

Enjoy a taste of autumn at

Killerton’s cider and apple festival

today and tomorrow (October 17

and 18). The beautiful orchard

at the National Trust property

in east Devon will be decorated

with bunting and filled with fun

activities all weekend.

Live music will have you dancing

around the apple trees, while

youngsters can enjoy campfire

cooking and apple foraging, a

bumblebee parade and a magic

show. Don’t forget, too, to bring

along your own apples to press

in Killerton’s 200-year-old apple

press.

Tickets are £4 for adults, £2 for

children. Visit www.nationaltrust.

org.uk/killertonapples

If you doone thingthis week...

Letter_Onething_Oct24.indd 4 20/10/2015 11:24:48

55

We have three pairs of alpaca bed socks for West readers to win. To be in with a chance, just email your name, address and phone number to westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk by November 9. John Arbon will contact

the winners so they can choose their sock colour and size. Normal terms apply. We will not share your details.Win

Snap up some of these lovely alpaca bed socks in time to get cosy in front of the � re this autumn. Made by John and Juliet Arbon at their textile mill in north Devon, they are so snuggly-so� you’ll want to live in them. Priced at £15 they come in three sizes and a range of colours. See www.jarbon.com

If you buyone thingthis week...

Letter_Onething_Oct24.indd 5 20/10/2015 10:48:12

6

the

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

wishlist

Lena ChapmanLena Chapman, 22, is front of

house at Wagamama, Plymouth

Lena says: “I visualise and style my out� ts as I shop and will buy

a whole out� t at a time. They love me at House of Fraser in

Plymouth!”

Necklace: Accessorize

Jacket: Vera Moda

Top: Mango

Jeans: Mango

STREET STYLE STAR

Zebra handbag £40 Dorothy Perkins

Children’s hedgehog and fox socks £7.50 www.oliverbonas.com

Faux fur scarf £120 Cuckooland

CUTE

WILD

Wishlist_Oct24.indd 6 19/10/2015 13:31:01

7

Wishlist

Located just across the road from the beach steps leading to the Causeway and St Michael’s Mount, Avalon Art is Marazion’s longest established art gallery. It shows a wide range of work from the best of Cornish contemporary artists, with abstract and naive paintings alongside sea and landscapes, shell-like silver jewellery and ceramics in seashore tones.Avalon Gallery is at West End, Marazion, telephone 01736 710161

adoreStore weAvalon Gallery, Marazion

fave!

Rosie for Autograph cami £35 Marks & Spencer

Pheasant cuffl inks £29.95 www.annabeljames.co.uk

Gatsby earrings £21 www.rockmyvintage.

co.uk

Dwarf orange tree £25 www.plants4presents.co.uk

Isabelle bedside table, £129 www.

swooneditions.com

Pretty in...

SWOON

ZESTY

Wishlist_Oct24.indd 7 19/10/2015 13:31:25

8

talking points

Rachel Weisz wore a striking sequinned dress by Marc Jacobs at a special screen-ing of her movie The Lobster at the New York Film Festival recently. The star teamed her contemporary geometric patterned gown with strappy silver heels and matching sparkly clutch. This Look Again dress with bold sparkly stripes channels Rachel’s look at a fraction of the designer price . This party season, we’re putting on the glitz!

GLITZSpirit

OPTION BGoldGold sequin stripe tunic £35 Very

OPTION ABoldPer Una sequinned dress £109 Marks & Spencer

stealherstyle

OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN

Sequinned dress £200 Look Again

hen I was small, I learned to play the piano. My older brothers and sister played it and I wanted to

be like them. Practising the piano meant getting noticed by my father, who loved music, and also enjoying some time in our beauti-fully appointed sitting room, with the sofa suites and smart arm-chairs, the Victorian coffee table, the antique ‘dry sink’ bar with a set of glass apothecary’s jars, the handmade tapestry cushions that were Christmas gifts from my aunt. I would sit down to our grand Bechstein piano and take out my books from our hardbound set of Chopin and Mendelssohn, green and red leather. Our dog would hear the piano and come lie down on the carpet, and often the cat would leap onto the stool next to me, curl-ing her long tail around her body and hunkering down to listen. She was a music afi cionado.

When I was young I went to piano lessons at the house of Mrs Binding, a kind grandmoth-erly woman with snow white hair in a curly halo around her head. She smelled of talcum powder and steph-anotis. Her house was deeply upholstered in cream carpets and furniture, so that the mahogany piano glowed in the room.

Mrs Radcliffe was a harder taskmistress. She was Hungarian by birth, and I suspect had been rapped over the knuckles by her teachers. Her voice had the same effect: “curl ze fi ngers!”

But it was pleasant at her

recitals, when all her students sat on the dining room chairs in a semicircle round the piano, and listened to what the others had been working on. Then we had tea and cakes. Very civilised.

When I want away to boarding school at 15, my piano experience went downhill. You had to prac-tise upstairs in the arts centre, where there were several standup pianos each in its own sound-

proof room. White walls, no pictures. It was like being in a padded cell.

I tried switching to harpsichord, but that was worse. It was kept in a climate-controlled room in the back of the chapel, which I needed a key to get into. It was lonely and spooky, espe-cially when it was dark outside and

you had to turn on the lights in the echoing building. My interest dwindled and I gave it up.

My kids have taken up violin and clarinet, so I’m working on making a music room that’s pleasant to play in. We’ve got a jolly multicolour stand, and I put up a poster of famous composers. It’s not quite up to the standard of Mrs Binding or Mrs Radcliffe: but it’s a start. At least with their instruments they get to play in a group.

Story of my life...

Gillian Molesworth

Making music can be a solitary business

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

W

Our dog would hear the piano

and lie down on the carpet while

the cat would perch on stool

MoleyGossip_Oct24.indd 8 20/10/2015 12:41:42

9

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

heard all the latest juicy stu here � rst!

24.10.15

BABY

Congratulations to actress Carey Mulligan and musician husband Marcus Mumford on the birth of their baby girl Evelyn. The low-key showbusiness couple , who have a home near Exeter, welcomed their daughter last month, although Carey never announced her pregnancy– simply turning up to red carpet events this year with an expanding baby bump. A slimmer Carey looked stunning in Chanel couture at the London premiere of Su� ragette (co-star-ring Helena Bonham-Carter and Meryl Streep) and tellingly radiant. Smiling Carey con� rmed specula-tion during an appearance on the Graham Norton show, but apart from that, she’s keeping mum!

Carey Mulligan

#NADIYATOR?We’re among the legion of #Nadiyators: That’s the huge fan base that sprang up during Great British Bake O� champ Nadiya Hussain’s rise to clinch this year’s title. The mum of three’s expres-sive face-pulling during the challenges was a joy, but something she’d been

completely unaware of, until she tuned in with the rest of us. “My sister said, ‘Oh yeah, we knew your face did that’” she says. “I was like, ‘You could have warned me before I went on national television!” Never change, Nadiya, we love you just the way you are!

JOY

Westcountry actor Ben Hardy has been tipped as one to watch, on an in� uen-tial list of the UK’s next big names in the movie industry. Dorset born Ben,24,

who grew up in Sherborne, became a household name playing Peter Beale in EastEnders and is featured on the UK Stars of Tomorrow 2015 list. This year,

he wrapped his � rst Hollywood role in X-Men: Apocalypse, due out in cinemas next year. Ben admitted that he’d initially struggled with fame, confessing : “I

didn’t realise the impact it would have on my life.”

I didn’t realise the

impact it would

have [[X-MEN FACTOR

ARE YOU A

MoleyGossip_Oct24.indd 9 20/10/2015 12:43:10

10

in pictures

Champs: The British Stand-Up paddleboarding championships were

spectacular at Watergate Bay near Newquay

Nymph: The International Body Painting Festival took place at The Eden Project

Royal: Prince Harry visited

Paignton Rugby Club

Superpug: Katie

Heaseldene from Torbay

has been reunited with

Penny after the little pug

was lost on the moor for nine

days

Lists_WIP_Oct24.indd 10 19/10/2015 12:23:56

11

Feed me!

talking points

Tipple

Nutritious

10 local ciders and their makers:

1 Bumbleberry (Sandfords)

2 Devon Blush (Ashridge)

3 Sam’s Poundhouse (Winkleigh)

4 Jack Ratt Scrumpy (Lyme Bay)

5 Dorset Starlight (West Milton)

6 Rattler (Healeys)

7 Lerryn Boathouse (Haye Farm)

8 Clodgy (St Ives)

9 Somerset Glory (Fosseway)

10 Cornish Black (Polgoon)

Early life: Frank’s father and mother were both diplomats and their international life fostered his love of travel.

Chance meeting: When he was 16, Frank and his mother met the Arabian explorer Sir Wilfred Thesiger on a London bus and they were invited to the explorer’s home in Chelsea. Partly as a result, Frank decided to study Arabic.

Adventure: In his gap year Frank went backpacking to Greece, then bought a £100 one-way ticket to the Philippines where he lived with the tribal people.

Study: Frank graduated in 1984 from the University of Exeter with a BA in Arabic and Islamic Studies. He worked as an investment banker for nine years before becoming a journalist.

Attack: In 2004, while reporting from Saudi Arabia, Frank was shot six times by al-Qaeda sympathisers. His BBC colleague, Irish cameraman Simon Cumbers, was killed. Frank

needed 14 operations, spent seven months in hospital and was le� partly paralysed.

Work: Frank returned to work in 2005: “Friends say I haven’t changed a bit – my jokes are just as bad as they always were. I think it has made me more determined… physically, my life has changed beyond recognition. But you roll with what you’ve

got and move on.”

Home: Frank lives in London with his wife Amanda and their two daughters.

Skiing: A� er his spinal injury, Frank resumed skiing using a bobski, a device that allows disabled people to ski while seated. He is honorary president of the Ski Club of Great Britain.

Descendant: Frank recently appeared in an episode of the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are, and discovered he was a direct descendant of both William the Conqueror and Edward I.

DID YOU KNOW?

Frank has an OBE for services to journalism

This week:

Famous faces with links to the Westcountry

ONE OF US

BBC journalist Frank Gardner studied at Exeter University

Frank Gardner

The happy list

10 things to make you smile this week1 Forgotten � ve pound

notes in winter coat pockets

2 Evelyn the name of Carey Mulligan’s new baby girl

3 Jennifer Lawrence ad-dressing the gender pay gap

4 Real porridge with syrup

5 Uncrowded surf bliss

6 Haim pop singing sisters

7 Taylor Swi� and Calvin Harris still together

8 Bene� t mascara hello mile-long lashes

9 Pumpkins how will you carve yours?

10 Ponchos they’re back!

Beans and goodness (per 100g):

1 Kidney (403 mg potassium)

2 Chick peas (1.53 mg zinc)

3 Edamame (9.7mg vitamin C)

4 Soy (138 mg calcium)

5 Black eyed peas (0.2mg vitamin B1)

6 Broad beans (43 mg magnesium)

7 Pinto beans (2.09 mg iron)

8 Haricot (307mg potassium)

9 Butter (4.6g ¥ bre)

10 Cannellini (19g protein)

10 birds you may spot this winter

1 Sparrows2 Blackbirds

3 Robins

4 Starlings

5 Blue tits

6 Collared doves

7 Green� nches

8 Thrushes

9 Fieldfares

10 Cha� nches

Lists_WIP_Oct24.indd 11 19/10/2015 12:24:31

12

Interview

Capturingthe moment

Charlotte atkInson

[[Bridal artist Charlotte atkinson tells anna turns how her very special ‘live’

paintings create beautiful memories for wedding couples

professional artist with 20 years experience behind the easel, Char-lotte Atkinson is venturing out of the studio and into the realm of live event painting for her new business,

Watercolour Weddings. Whereas many artists prefer to spend their days secluded away in a quiet gallery, Charlotte chooses to take herself to the front line, where the action is to create beauti-ful paintings and illustrate a wedding day.

“I love the buzz of live painting,” says Char-lotte who was born in Plymouth and now lives in a coastal village near Kingsbridge with her sev-en-year-old son George. “It is quite unusual, and I suppose it is a bit of a performance in that re-spect. I entertain and chat to the wedding guests while I paint – but for me, engaging people is what art is all about. I feel so lucky to be doing some-thing I love.”

She describes her style as colourful and fluid: “I think my work is naturally quite feminine which is probably why it lends itself to weddings,” she

says. For her, every wedding day starts early in the morning, before guests arrive, so that she can start painting the location. “I meet the bride and groom beforehand, so I have chatted with them to get a feel for what they want on their big day. A painting is a really nice way of showcas-ing the venue as well as the wed-ding on the day,” says Charlotte. She then spends seven to eight hours painting one canvas with acrylics. “I work pretty fast but the great thing is that I can add thoughtful details in about the day as I go and as it happens.

“For example, I can paint the cake, add in hints of the colour scheme, and paint significant key

members of the family surrounding the bride and groom in the centre of the piece.”

This type of live event painting is a new con-cept for weddings, though it tends to be more popular in America. Ultimately, each picture rep-resents an impression of the day and makes for a

special memento for the couple to treasure. “I love the reaction that I get at the end of a day’s painting – it makes it all worthwhile.”

C h a r l o t t e ’ s business all began a couple of years ago

when a friend asked her to paint her wedding dress and then suggested she paint on the day too. It snowballed from there and, in addition to live wedding painting, Charlotte now gets com-

‘It’s a bit of a performance. I entertain and chat to the wedding

guests while I paint’[ [A

WeddingPainter_Oct24.indd 12 19/10/2015 12:18:00

13

Charlotte Atkinson paints weddings ‘live’

during a couple’s big day

WeddingPainter_Oct24.indd 13 19/10/2015 12:18:19

14

missions to paint the bride’s bouquet, venue or wedding dress, which she can paint from photo-graphs after the event: “It’s like having a couture fashion illustration of your own dress,” she says, “and everyone always appreciates something handmade.”

Some couples commission her to spend the day painting little portraits of guests. Each image takes her just seven or so minutes to paint and is a keepsake of the day for guests to take home with them.

Charlotte says that the art of painting the per-fect portrait is all about knowing when to stop: “I can add as little or as much detail and colour as I want to. I think it is usually the lines that you leave out that make it. For example, I’ll just subtly suggest the nose with my Chinese brush pen but I wouldn’t necessarily paint in every line.”

In terms of not being fazed by people looking over her shoulder at the easel, Charlotte’s years of experience and training stand her in good stead. Recently, she spent an intense three weeks in Florence, Italy, learning the ‘size method’, the

WeddingPainter_Oct24.indd 14 19/10/2015 12:18:45

15

Interview

technique Michelangelo used to draw so accu-rately. “I was classically trained as an illustrator so I really had to dig deep to tap into a different part of my brain with this method and it blew my mind a bit,” she explains.

It involves working from an easel at the far end of the studio, away from your subject, and then observing the object close-up before returning to the easel with a picture in your mind’s eye and making a mark on the canvas. “It’s about engag-ing your left brain, so rather than directly copy-ing I learned to remember the image, making for a really accurate representation.

“Our teacher was quite a hard taskmaster, which is probably why I’m not bothered about people looking over my shoulder these days. I got used to him being there, questioning every single mark I made.” When she’s painting an event, she says she takes a “snapshot” in her mind of what a person looks like: “That way, if they start moving I don’t need to worry”.

Since having her son George, Watercolour

Weddings represents a completely different de-parture for Charlotte. After studying illustration at Hereford College, she spent a year in Scotland building up her portfolio and working with pub-lisher DeMontfort Fine Art. While she worked there she won numerous awards. But Charlotte’s

‘I’m used to people looking

over my shoulder these days’[ [

particularly enthused about her wedding ven-ture because it involves something “completely different”, in a genre she is passionate about.

As a working mum, life is always a juggling act but, as Charlotte explains: “There’s noth-ing better than working for yourself. There are always time pressures and the buck stops with me – but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”Contact Charlotte Atkinson: 07943 377711www.watercolourweddings.com

One of Charlotte’s paintings at The Deer

Park Hotel, east Devon

WeddingPainter_Oct24.indd 15 19/10/2015 12:19:06

16

Grandchildren Wilf, Megan and Sam out on an Action Nan adventure

BACKUP.indd 16 20/10/2015 12:45:21

17

Enjoy

’m a granny with an over-active imagination,” confesses Pat Smith, who has become better known these days as ActionNan, thanks to her lively accounts online of happy days spent out and about in the Westcountry with her four

young grandchildren. Pat, 67, manages to combine running a full-time holiday

business (she runs Bosinver Farm Cottages, near St Austell) with being the go-to gran who’s on call and ready to child-mind at the drop of a hat.

This childminding duty may well strike a chord with many grandparents, while anyone with younger children might well ask, do she take requests?

Over the past couple of years, Pat’s penned an online diary of the outdoor adventures she’s shared with grandchildren Wilf, eight, Megan, six, Sam, three and Jasmine, one, all of whom live within 20 miles of her.

“I see being a grandparent as a pleasure,” says Pat, whose sons, Paul and Mark, relocated back from Brighton to Corn-wall where they grew up. Both sons have two children each. “I’ve had a Nanny Pat day once a week ever since the two eldest were small, plus babysitting as well, so long as I can

What would

do?

By Catherine Barnes

Stuck for half term amusements that won’t cost the earth? Grandmother of

four and blogger Pat Smith has plenty of ideas up her (waterproof) sleeves

I

Action Nan

“

BACKUP.indd 17 20/10/2015 12:45:49

18

Enjoy

Searching for Pirates at Prussia Cove (free)Action Nan says: “This walk is beautiful and packed with interest. It’s only 1.7 miles, so it’s ideal for little (and older!) legs. There are many fabulous stories about the smuggling which took place here, as ships would offl oad their cargo whilst keeping the navy at bay with their cannons.”Action Nan’s top tip: You can buy a Spotty Dog Trails Map – with instructions, a route, clues and a photo tick list for children – at the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth or the Falmouth Museum and Art Gallery.

fi t it in around work. Sometimes I have them for days!”

She’s even compiled an e-book, Nanny Pat’s Adventures. It’s packed with wonderful ideas for parents and grandparents on what-shall-we-do days, from forages in local woods to playing knights in armour on ancient castle keeps.

In the past few weeks, the grandchil-dren and Pat have fol-lowed clues on a spy trail around Tintagel, while grandson Sam collected a trove of au-tumnal treasures on a woodland walk. Pat even took the three eldest in her camper-van to the three-day Port Eliot festival this summer

“There are a few years where the grandchildren love to be with you, so I really value these pre-cious outings.” says Pat.

As do Wilf, Megan, Sam and Jasmine, who can be guaranteed to have their faces pressed up against the window in anticipation on a Nanny Pat Day.

“They’ll be jumping up and down with excitement, asking where are we going?” she laughs. And I’ll say, “Wait

and see! It wouldn’t be an adventure if I told, you, would it?”

Rain never stops play, as far as Pat’s concerned. “They’ll look at me when it’s raining and say, are we going out-side? And I’ll say, what do you think?” she laughs. “On one rainy day recent-ly, we stood underneath the waterfall at Kennal Vale near Falmouth. It was

amazing, watching the rain from behind the water.”

Although Pat in-cludes the occasional paid-for attraction among her grand-children’s days out, she mostly prefers to make an adventure the things we have for free here in the West-country.

Shop-bought treats are limited to the oc-casional ice cream and the family saves

a small fortune by taking a packed lunch. “We make it a picnic of it. The materialistic side is out of the window as far as I’m concerned,” says Pat, who admits: “We’re all usually exhausted by the time we fi nish. Once I get home, I close the front door, go ‘phhwww-whh’ and open a bottle of wine.” Three cheers for Action Nan!

‘There are a few precious

years where the grandchildren love to be with

you’ [[

What do

you mean,

it’s raining?Here are Action Nan Pat Smith’s

suggestions for whatever-the-weather half term fun with young children

Outdoors:Sam, three, defends a castle from marauding Action Nan

BACKUP.indd 18 20/10/2015 12:46:18

19

Cycling at Lanhydrock (free for National Trust members)Action Nan says: “Lanhydrock boasts a series of excellent bike trails which cater for a range of abilities. We have enjoyed lots of great days out here, combining bike riding with walking in the woods and clambering over the wonderful play equipment.”ActionNan’s top tip: We usually do the Lodge Trail which is the easiest and just right for four-year-old Megan on a small bike fi tted with stabilisers. There are other trails with steeper inclines and challenging drops designed for thrill seekers.

All aboard!Action Nan says: “A day out by train is always exciting for little ones and the trip from St Erth to St Ives by train is among my top child-friendly days out. The St Ives Bay branch line is one of the most picturesque in the country. Kids of all ages will feel the anticipation building as the stunning stretch of coastline comes into view.” Action Nan’s top tip: It’s worth buying a Devon and Cornwall Railcard for reduced price travel. With this, accompanying children travel for a fl at rate of £1 to £2. Once you have your card you won’t be able to resist seeing where it will take you!

Scavenger hunts (free)Action Nan says: “Scavenger hunts are a fun way of encouraging kids to explore the out-doors. Combining the thrill of a treasure hunt with an opportunity to learn more about the natural world, once you get started you might fi nd it hard to stop. Sam, baby Jasmine and I recently spent a glorious October day looking

for telltale signs that autumn has arrived here in the South West.”Action Nan’s top tip: We crunched our way through leaves on the Woodland Walk through Trelissick Garden near Truro. It’s only two miles of fl at walking with glimpses of the River Fal – ideal for little legs, and you can even manage with a buggy here.

BACKUP.indd 19 20/10/2015 12:46:43

20

Enjoy

Rockpooling (free)Action Nan says: “An investigation of your local rock pools might reveal anemones, sea urchins, hermit crabs and cushion stars. Avoid the day turning into a damp squib by bringing several changes of warm clothes and of course wellies, plus filling a flask of hot chocolate. Gel hand warmers are also a great idea. Do check the local tides (www.metoffice.gov.uk) and keep an eye on changing seas and weather conditions.”Action Nan’s top tip: Take a seashore identifi-cation book with you so you can look up the creatures and plants you find. The classic I-Spy books are great for keeping older children busy ticking off what they’ve spotted.

Tall Trees Walk, Dunster (free)Action Nan says: “Discover mammoth Douglas Fir trees on this circular walk of around an hour through peaceful forest a short drive from the village of Dunster in Somerset. Here you will find the tallest tree in England - a 60.05m tall Douglas-fir planted in the 1870s.”Action Nan’s top tip: You can download a trail map and a quiz from the Dunster Estate website (www.dunsterestate.co.uk). Then take a stroll down Dunster high street, where the fairy-tale castle will inspire imaginations.

Kennall Vale Gunpowder Works, near Penryn (free)Action Nan says: “The Kennall Vale Wildlife Reserve (managed by Cornwall Wildlife Trust) has a rather explosive past, as it was home to the Kennall Vale Gunpow-der Works, and once played an im-portant part in the mining industry here. The ruins are well preserved and you can still see some of the massive iron cogs that were turned by water wheels. While adults may be intrigued by the history of the area, for children it’s an magical place full of things to discover.” Action Nan’s top tip: For more information, take a look at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust website (www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk), where you can also download a guide to the nature reserve and the gunpowder works which will really make history come alive during your trip.

Indoors:Manna From Devon family cookery courses, Kingswear Action Nan says: “Cooking with kids can be great, if a little messy – but that’s all part of the fun, just like our love of mud and wellies! And you never know, they might just discover a vocation; you could have the next Jamie Oliver on your hands! Manna From Devon has a series of family courses taking place over half term, including pasta, bread making and wood-fired cookery.”Action Nan’s top tip: Manna from Devon family classes are perfect for children aged between eight and 15, which can be a really tricky age which sometimes leaves grandparents at a loss for shared activities.

National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth or the Blue Reef Aquarium, NewquayAction Nan says: “Plymouth and Newquay are both great family-friendly destinations with plenty to do all year round. My grandchildren are obsessed with CBeebies Octonauts, a cartoon series of underwater adventures, so visiting an aquarium seemed a great way to

build on their fascination with sea life. You could also follow this with a spot of rockpooling later in the week.”Action Nan’s top tip: At Plymouth’s aquarium, you can save time and money (10% discount) by buying tickets online in advance. You can spend virtually an entire day at either of these aquariums, taking a break for lunch or a picnic.

Paradise Park, Hayle Action Nan says: “Paradise Park in Hayle is one of our favourite days out. It’s a great place to visit all year round and has a fantastic indoor play area which is ideal for under-fives. We usually spend the morning doing a circuit of all the bird and animal areas outside. There are some incredibly colourful birds, including parrots, flamingos, toucans, peacocks and even Cornish choughs.” Action Nan’s top tip: One of the best things here is feeding the penguins –Wilf and Megan love feeding them fish by hand. Check up on feeding times beforehand so you don’t miss out.www.bosinver.co.uk/blog/nanny-pats-days

Twitter @ActionNan

The classic I-Spy books

are great for ticking off

rockpool finds

BACKUP.indd 20 20/10/2015 12:47:12

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interiors22 fashion 30

escape42 eat40

Untitled-1 21 20/10/2015 12:25:47

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Interiors_Oct24.indd 22 19/10/2015 12:02:50

23

Interiors

In good nick

Sarah Pitt discovers a hidden gem in the centre of St Ives, a cool Scandinavian interior in what was once the town’s

police station

or St Erth-based interior designer Kerry Knight it was an unusual brief, to transform part of a Vic-torian building which was once St Ives police station – including the

section which once housed the custody cells.Kerry, who has her own interior design com-

pany Beatengreen, had already transformed the main part of the building earlier in the year, with a quirky and imaginative design scheme using pops of bold colour and eye-catching textiles.

And when owners Chris and Jo Russell asked her to work her magic again on the second half of the building, the Sergeant’s Retreat, she jumped at the chance.

The result is a scheme of cool colours, splash-es of colour and sleek modern sofas juxtaposed with ‘upcycled’ wooden furniture painted in serene colours.

There’s a touch of humour, too, courtesy of St Ives builder Sam Narbett, who transformed the outside loo into a shower complete with bars at the window and lines etched on the wall as though the occupant is counting down the days.

It was while Sam was working on the kitchen –the part of the 1890s building which housed the old custody cells – that he dreamed up the idea.

“It was such a good idea we went with it” says Kerry, adding that her clients, were very open to the idea. “They are absolutely the best clients I have ever worked for, because they are very trusting. I had already done one house for them, so they knew I understood what they wanted,” she says. “They were really open-minded.”

From the outside, the two properties which

F

Interiors_Oct24.indd 23 20/10/2015 12:54:35

24

were built in the 1890s as the town’s police sta-tion – look like one. Inside, though, they have a completely different feel.

While Kerry has opted for bright colours and opulent wallpaper in The Old Police House, she has gone for something calmer in its neighbour.

“I didn’t want to just have a second version of the one I had already done,” she says.

Kerry and her husband Matt, who used to run their own shop in St Ives selling ‘upcycled’ furni-ture and accessories, worked together sourcing unusual fi nds for The Sergeant’s Retreat.

The couple’s hunting grounds include auctions and second-hand shops as well as online auction sites. Kerry is particu-

larly proud of the antique linen press – a substantial wardrobe with drawers underneath – which Matt restored and paint-ed a deep blue.

In the sitting room, she has gone for new sofas from online

companies Loaf.com and Sofa.com – in sunny yellow and sky blue – which work as an effective backdrop to pictures, screen-printed lampshades and original ceramics. Many of the pieces Kerry has chosen come from galleries in the town.

“I always go for injecting some originality into each scheme, ” she says.

“If you can fi nd the right piece, it can really make a room.”

When The Old Police Station was being con-

verted, Kerry and the owners delved into its his-tory, unearthing a vintage photograph of police-men standing on the front steps which hangs on the wall.

While the building closed as a police station over 20 years ago, and been used as holiday ac-commodation ever since, some people still have memories of staying overnight here in quite a different context.

“We got some post through the door saying, ‘when I was a lad I was in there’,” says Kerry. “It looks quite different now!”

The Sergeant’s Retreat, and The Old Police Sta-tion are available to rent for holidays from www.cornwall-cottage-boutique.co.uk See also www.beatengreen.co.uk.

‘I always go for injecting some originality. The right piece can really make a

room’ [[Interiors_Oct24.indd 24 19/10/2015 12:03:42

25

Interiors

GET THELOOK

Pair up Scandinavian blues and greys with bursts of yellow

Dazzler bed £695 www.loaf.com

Marimekko Lumimarja cushion

£37.50 www.cloudberryliving.

co.u

Scandinavian geometric cushion

cover £15 www.andshine.co.uk

Pineapple lamp £100 www.designsonline.

co.uk

Broste stoneware vases £29.50 www.scandinavianshop.

co.uk

Runner £62 www.cloudberryliving.

co.uk

Interiors_Oct24.indd 25 20/10/2015 12:56:08

26

ANNE SWITHINBANK

Exoticappeal

Gardens

Devon’s Anne Swithinbank, panellist on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, is on the lookout for some Caribbean planting to add spice to her garden

itting outdoors for elevenses in the October sunshine with dew still sparkling on the grass is a fi ne thing. Fig leaves have turned yellow

and late butterfl ies are on the wing, drinking nectar from Verbena bonariensis and tasting the juice from rotting windfalls. The garden is on the turn and I’m beginning to feel excited about straightening it up for winter.

One plant looking particularly fi ne is the South African restio growing in the exotic border. All our borders have names, to emphasise their identity and help us choose the right plants for them. This one runs along the wooden outbuild-ing where we have our offi ces, an old structure held together by a wing and a prayer that stood here long before the house was built. It used to be painted an agricultural green, possibly to make it blend into its landscape but we decided that cream with blue detail might give it a chic, Caribbean shack look. To help this theme along, adding hardy (or hardyish) plants which have the illusion of being exotic or even tropical seemed a good plan and so far, it has worked. These kinds of borders are great fun and we’re always on the lookout for suit-able plants.

To help me along, I refer to a wonderful book called Carib-bean Style (beware veranda envy) bought years ago while visiting Balata, a garden on the French Island of Martinique. This was a present to myself, as a memento for fi lming Gardens of The Caribbean about eighteen years ago, possibly my most plum job ever. A lot of Caribbean borders

are fi lled with palms, bananas and colourful fo-liage like crotons, aglaonema, caladiums and acalypha, with hibiscus, oleander, pentas and bouvardia for fl owers. Instead, aucuba (spotted laurel), hardy begonia (B.grandis subsp.evansi-ana), Persicaria ‘Red Dragon’, the succulent-like

Kniphofi a caulescens and bamboo iris (I.confusa) serve well as faux tropical foliage, with the col-ourful New Zealand fl ax Phormium ‘Alison Blackman’ and the restio mimicking the shape of palms and screw pines (pandanus).

Restios (short for members of the family Res-

S

The red stems of pink, green

and cream leaves are said

to smell like bitter Seville

oranges [[Gardening_Oct24.indd 26 19/10/2015 17:15:02

I sowed some beetroot back in the summer, thinking that by now I’d have good-sized roots to pull. The plants are very small with almost no root on them at all, though

nearby mooli radish have grown very well. Where did I go wrong?

Timing is important, so that plants can settle and develop good roots. Quick-growing round beetroot varieties are sown into July but slower rowing round and long-rooted types should be sown by the end of May. They need good soil and the seedlings should be thinned promptly and gradually, so there is at least 8cm/3in between the smaller quick-growing kinds and 20cm/8in between the larger ones. This is where a lot of gardeners go wrong, by not giving the plants space to develop good roots. Good light is important too, so don’t use a bed overshadowed by trees or fruiting plants. You may have done all this and the plants failed to do well because we had bad weather in late July and August when everything seemed to stop growing.

27

We’ve recently moved into a property with a greenhouse in the garden. We’ve cleared all around it and washed it down inside and out. Will it have to stand empty all winter or is

there anything we can grow in it now?

You can sow cut-and-come-again salads into wide, shallow containers. Even plastic chocolate selection ‘tins’ with holes made in the base are good for this. Scatter seed thinly, cover lightly with compost and you’ll soon have hardy mixes of rocket, mizuna and other oriental leaves and kales to cut with scissors. Pot up spring-flowering bulbs such as narcissus, crocus and tulips but hyacinths sometimes need to be covered by soil as insulation against frost in colder areas. Potted Christmas rose, camellias, Jasminum polyanthum and Cytisus canariensis will give you early spring flowers. A potted dwarf peach and standard-trained grapevine would be fun. Sow sweet peas as suggested in my gardening tips, above right.

Q

Question time with AnneWest reader queries answered by Anne Swithinbank

Send your questions to Anne at westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk

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

Q

• Sow sweet peas by setting one seed per Root Trainer, loo roll innards, or similar long, slim modules filled with good compost. Keep in a cold frame or unheated glasshouse to harden off and plant out in March.

• Plant spring cabbage firmly in ground where the soil has not been dug and loosened. I like to plant them in wide drills, so

soil will fall in around the stems and firm them up even more. Protect from pigeons.

• Pick pears such as ‘Doyenne du Comice’ before they fall from the tree. They’ll be stored in a cool, frost free place until November or December. Bring them into the warmth of the house in small batches to ripen for eating.

Make sureall but the embryo, pea-sized figs at the tips of shoots are removed now. This is important, otherwise plants waste energy trying to hold on to and swell medium–sized fruits doomed to turn black and fall off. Wear gloves to protect skin from the sticky sap.

Ensureall potted plants are back indoors for the winter, frost-tender ones under glass with a thermostatically controlled heater in place. Slightly tender plants like olive, hardy banana, canna and agapanthus will benefit from an unheated greenhouse.

tionaceae) are South African rush-like plants little changed from prehistoric times, which par-ticularly suit the mild climate of the south west. Our Rhodocoma capensis relishes this windy border and has settled down to make a large splay of growth reaching 2.4m/8ft. Usefully, res-tios don’t spread but tend to grow out from one dense clump of rhizomes and roots. Most prefer a neutral to acidic soil but I know our exotic border is very slightly alkaline. We have toyed with a few other kinds but this has proved the toughest by far.

Parked halfway along the border, this large wind resistant plant filters the gales that blow up from the sea and provides a much needed screen for the delicate begonia, edgeworthia, banana, iris and lily of the valley on the far side. Every-thing on the windier side has to fend for itself.

Other plants with tropical appeal would in-clude Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’ (pic-tured) often sold as an aquatic plant. You’d do well to keep this in a pot though, as it spreads like mint. At 30cm/12in high, the red stems of pink,

green and cream leaves are joined by white flow-ers. The foliage is said to smell like oranges (to my mind the bitter marmalade scent of Sevilles) but die back in winter.

Half the fun of a border like this is looking around for suitable material and trying it out. Opt for 80 per cent hardy plants but ring the changes by adding a few tender half-hardies. These can always be lifted and brought under glass for winter, or take summer cuttings and leave the parent plants out to take their chance. This year I added dahlia, blue Salvia patens and penstemon to the mix.

You don’t need masses of space to get the look, as a small tool shed could be painted in Carib-bean-style colours and borders planted to give the impression of swirling around it. You could even add a mini veranda to complete the look.

You can buy restios from Trevena Cross near Helston (01736 763880 trevenacross.co.uk) or Kelnan Plants near Penzance (mail order, visit by appointment or plants from Truro Farmers Market 07773 586603, www.kelnanplants.com).

Gardening_Oct24.indd 27 19/10/2015 17:15:34

28

BeautyBeauty

Expert advice from beauty guru Abbie Bray of Newton Abbot

Beauty box

Abbie’s

‘I love doing both a strong

lip and eye and I’m not ashamed to

admit it!’ [[

In the world of beauty, the saying goes that you should either emphasise your eyes or your lips. Doing both is a complete beauty faux pas. Well, not me. I love doing both – and I am not ashamed to admit it.Whatever colour your eyes,

I believe that you truly can wear any shade you choose on them – I do! There are three key questions to ask when choosing eye shadow colours (and brands): Does it crease? Does it flake? How long does it last? Eye primers (yes, they do exist) are definitely a product worth investing in. Applied under your shadow, they keep the colours on for twice as long. So, do you want to subtly enhance your eyes or make a statement? This season is all about plums and purples. Don’t panic, anyone can wear these colours – here are some that I’ve put to the test this week. And do make sure you use a good blending brush!

Bene� t Air Patrol eye primer (Debenhams, £21.50)One pump click of this primer does both eyes, and it helps prevent my eye shadow creasing, making it last even longer. Result!

Eyes right

Sheba Goddess palette (Beauty Bay, £22.50). These are great if you like a subtle � nish, giving a perfect wash of colour (they did � ake a bit on application, though).

Super subtle

Bene� t They’re Real mascara (Boots, £19.50)If you like a full lash e� ect, this is amazing. For me, no eye shadow look is complete without it.

Full on

Mary Kay baked eye trio (Mary Kay, £8)Honestly? I was scared to try these as they looked so bright, but the pigment is fab and they stay on all day.

Eye to eye

The Body Shop shadow palette in plum (£15)My mum loves these. She says they are easy to apply and they really last.

Plum choice

Beauty_Oct24.indd 28 19/10/2015 17:04:50

29

Fashion

+

£125 La Redoute

£49 Monsoon

£60 The Great Gift company £25 Dune

The editYour straight line to style: brave the chill with a cute bobble hat, a leather jacket and classic jeans

£15 Marks & Spencer

+

£57.50 JD Williams

+ + +

+

£75 Look Again

£49.95 White Stuff

£399 Jaeger

Beauty_Oct24.indd 29 20/10/2015 15:03:37

30

Fashion

Cashmere scarf

£85 House of Fraser

Sian roll neck jumper£139

www.baukjen.com

Orange supersoft cowl neck£22 BHS

Ribbed long cowl sweater

£98 Jigsaw

Heavy rib cardigan

£189 Jigsaw

Ice blue sweater

£39.50 www.oliverbonas.

com

Fashion_Oct24.indd 30 19/10/2015 11:56:12

31

Cosy knits

I

Foxy jumper£45 White

Stuff

Gemstone jumper

on sale at £25 M&Co

Jumper£42 White

Stuff

Camilla zigzag print cape

£28 www.missyempire.com

t’s getting chilly out, but there’s a lot of fabulous knitwear coming in. Crew, cowls and roll necks are among the big news this season. So

weed out the baggy and bobbled jumpers from the bottom drawer and reassign them to gar-dening duty, as there’s a whole lot of fabulous winter warmers out there.

A big cosy dress-down knit is a weekend es-sential, teamed with jeans and slouchy boots. Decisions, decisions...Jigsaw’s cream ribbed cowl is a more fi gure fl attering take on the tradi-tional sloppy Joe, while Baukjen (this trending label was previously known as Isabella Oliver 365) is behind the Sian roll neck in navy, a real investment piece.

White Stuff’s green jersey channels the effort-less 60s chic of Audrey Hepburn. It’s a warm, but very stylish option and we love it.

Soft boucle sweater

£98 skirt£129 Jigsaw

Fashion_Oct24.indd 31 20/10/2015 12:59:37

ne of my favourite things in the world is when my beau gives me his jacket on a chilly day. It’s a loving gesture and the fact that it is too big makes it all the more cosy. The

good news is that the proportions of this season’s must-have tailoring are oversized and asymmet-ric. So now I can recreate this feeling without having to worry my poor man will come down with man fl u in the process.

Design leaders Stella McCartney and Victoria Beckham both sent models down the runway re-cently in ensembles that proved that more can defi nitely be, well, more. Think draped blazers and wrap-waist trousers. Lots of volume, with clean edges and impeccable details.

The biggest fears when shopping within this trend are that it will look a bit unkempt, and that it will make you look bigger than you actu-ally are. Fear not. Done right, you will discover that there is something about being swathed in extra material that actually enhances femininity. There is something quite lovely about a woman’s wrist peeking out from an extra-large sleeve.

And as for unkempt, if you buy your tailored piece at a re-spectable store, you will always look well put together, end of story. A lovely element of this trend is the cluster of wide-legged trousers which are appearing on high street racks. These are truly timeless and universally fl attering. It’s also a wonderful treat not to have to consider whether your socks can be seen peeking out from the top of your ankle boots.

When buying yours, keep a careful eye on the length. Too short looks bizarre and too long really does look a bit slovenly. In my opinion it is always worth the extra £15 to get trousers short-ened. Culottes also make an exciting addition, if you have the mettle to be a little daring. They

look fabulous with high leather boots.All of these pieces are best bought in neutrals,

or classic black. They are large pieces and their proportions can go from arresting to alarming when in too bold a shade. Don’t get me wrong, there are some among us who can pull it off. I’m picturing her now. She has short purple hair, the most fabulous cats-eye spectacles, oversized gold earrings and probably works as something glamorous like a fashion buyer or an interior de-signer. When she walks into a room in an outra-

geously voluminous red coat, it looks to-die-for and you immediately want to be her best friend. If I walked into the room in the same coat, I would look like I had swathed myself in a hotel curtain like a bona-fi de lunatic. What I am really saying is, know your fashion boundaries.

After much deliberation I chose this beauty, turns out I like my coats like I like my coffee - warm, comforting, extra-large and milky brown. All fashion in these pictures is from Princesshay Shopping Centre, Exeter, www.princesshay.co.uk

32

Trend

Done right, being swathed

in extra material actually

enhances femininity

Kathryn Clarke-Mcleod considers the appeal of a roomy coat

HOW TO WEAR IT:

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Oversized tailoring

Trousers, Next, Princesshay, £46

Shoes, Next, Princesshay, £25

Coat, LK Bennett online, Princesshay, £295

Blouse, Next, Princesshay, £35

Necklace, Next, Princesshay, £14

Bag (opposite), LK Bennett online, Princesshay, £225

Trend_Oct24.indd 32 20/10/2015 11:17:13

33

GET THE

lookHOBBS Keeva trousers £179

DEBENHAMS Red Herring sleeveless

blazer £38

HOBBS Angie blouse £129

MISS SELFRIDGE lilac military wide-legged trousers £45

NEXT lace up court shoes £35

NEXT belted coat £160

Trend_Oct24.indd 33 20/10/2015 11:18:36

34

culturevulture

Our superb new guide to the arts scene in the South West by culture expert Sarah Pitt

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Sam Lewis’s music brings together elements of country, soul and blues, delivered with laidback style and skill. Currently on tour with his acoustic guitar, he will be sharing tracks from new album Waiting for You, including the rousing Things Will Never Be The Same. See Sam Lewis at beachside bar The Wa-tering Hole at Perranporth on Thursday, entry free, and The Barrel House in Totnes on Friday (tickets £7 on the door).

Singing the blues

Watching the athletic prowess of the Richard Alston Dance Company is mes-merising – you can’t help but think ‘how did they do that?’ Now the choreogra-pher’s famous London-based company, celebrating its 20th anniversary, is touring with a three-part repertoire, including Alston’s newest work Mazur, danced to Chopin’s energetic piano Mazurkas. See them at the Hall for Cornwall on November 3 (www.hallforcornwall.co.uk, tickets £15.50-£19.50), or The Octagon in Yeovil on November 5 (www.octagon-theatre.co.uk, tickets £16.50).

Feast your eyes on the colourful, joyous art-work of the late legendary St Ives painter in a special exhibition organised by the Tate St Ives at The Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange in Newlyn to mark the centenary of Sir Terry’s birth. The famous artist discovered his artistic talent sketching fellow inmates in a prisoner of war camp during the Second World War. Despite this early experience, his personality was as sunny as his art. The show, running until January 9, brings together work over the six decades of Sir Terry’s career. Entry is £3.50 for adults and free for under 18s, with free entry for all on Saturdays, see newlynartgallery.co.uk.

Dancing to Chopin in Cornwall

Terry Frost in colour

November 3 and 5

CultureVulture_Stars_Oct24.indd 34 19/10/2015 15:07:06

35

Enjoy

Your starsby Cassandra Nye

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21)A tie-up between work and love makes your eyes sparkle. Something that has

been a drain on your fi nances needs to be dealt with, but maybe you have already done this? Is someone nagging at you to make a deci-sion over an important matter? Do so, before something comes along and does it for you.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20)As a fun and frolicsome week begins, you want to be the best you are able

to be. Is there someone you want to impress? No problem. Naturally thrust into the spotlight you can take charge of any situation. This in itself makes you attractive and seen as commanding. Keep a positive stance.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19)Apart from taking extra care on jour-neys this week, you’ll also be taking on

new challenges. However, risks of any kind need to be considered on balance, even if you are feeling lucky. A powerful Full Moon sees you torn between home and work. If you cannot fi nd a balance naturally, veer toward home.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20)Everyone seems to have an opinion this week. Are they trying to tell you what to

do, or even what to think? They are wasting their breath, as they will soon fi nd out. Still, it is irritat-ing when others think they know what you need.

When you know that you are right, it is hard to suffer foolish comments - stay strong.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20)This week’s Full Moon brings a break-through in your fi nances. Put in extra

effort now for rich rewards. This allows you to make good on a promise. Although the emphasis is on money, a smouldering relationship is in the background. If this is to turn into a full-blown romance though, you need to the effort in here as well.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21)Romance seems to be tied up with fi -nances. Be reassured that buying some-

one’s loyalty or love is not necessary. You are more loveable than you feel! At times you are inclined to be a little hot-headed, so take a look at your general attitude and decide where you are out of kilter.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21)This is a week of success and intrigue. The Full Moon shows up any cracks in

your fi nances, but it also shows up any fortunes. You could be a lot more effi cient than at present. Denying this could see you over-looked for promotion or an interesting opportu-nity.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22)This is an adventurous and fun week for you. Should you feel like throw-

ing or joining a Halloween party, it’s just the time! Get out those glad rags and prepare for some serious fun. You may not be in a business mood but, if you need some advice, getting it from an older person could be the way forward.

LEO (July 23 - August 23)The bright Full Moon this week may show up your anxieties, especially

about health matters. See a doctor for check-ups rather than relying on search engines, unless you want to believe you have every disease under the sun! Could it be that you need to socialise more?

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23)This week’s Full Moon stirs up emo-

tions and creates misunderstandings. Avoid being stubborn over disagreements and do your best to compromise. Talking it through does not mean you’ll change your opinion, although this can make your partner feel better. It is possible to get hints of the future through dreams and meditation.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23)There are mixed feelings about a fi nan-cial matter. You seem confused. If it is a

friend, try to compromise. If the situation seems just too much, however, do not hesitate to end it. Mercury and Pluto may be at odds, but you will manage to fi nd the right words. Keep your eyes and ears open for anything unusual.

Yasmin Le Bon

This week’s sign: Happy birthday to...Scorpios are strongly passionate souls and can be � ercely loyal. It takes a while to build up their trust, but once you do, you have a friend for life. Although beware - the converse can be true, if you ever let them down. Scorpios can use their allure to persuade and disarm, but need to make sure their inclination towards honesty doesn’t appear as lack of tact.

born October 29, 1964It’s a birthday week in the Le Bon household, with model Yasmin celebrating her 51st birth-day on Thursday just two days a� er Duran Duran singer husband Simon turns 57. They’re also marking their 30th wedding anniversary in December. Yasmin and daughter Amber are taking part in a charity rickshaw race across India, to save the Asian elephant (see www.yasminlebon.net to sponsor them). Scorpios like Yasmin and Simon have the ability to ac-complish anything they put their mind to - and they don’t give up easily. Good luck, Yasmin!

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22)Having decided to deal with a fl ounder-ing relationship, you now need to fi nd

the right words. Emotionally you may be agitated and even irritated. Finally making a decision, however, brings fi nancial benefi ts. A chance meeting at a party or communal gather-ing provides you with an exciting possibility. With a heavy workload it is easy to become upset. Get enough sleep and relaxation, even if it means cancelling a few dates.

CultureVulture_Stars_Oct24.indd 35 19/10/2015 15:07:31

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

STRESSED SKIN?

We’ve seen the future and next July looks like this. If that’s not reason enough to buy the 2016 It’s In The Bag Supportive Pants

calendar (£10), then just to let you know, it’s raising funds to back South West chaps diagnosed with testicular cancer and

support their families through di� cult circumstances. Bag yours and � nd out more at itsinthebag.org.uk.

Here’s your incentive to workout: chocolate

milk’s better for you than the average

sports drink according to research by Cornell University. It’s actually great for replenishing

our bodies’ sodium, potassium and other

mineral levels, as well as glucose post workout. But you’ll have to work up a

sweat to earn it!

Better known as the whortleberry in these parts, bilberries are big

beauty news thanks to the omega fatty acids in their seeds. Find

this restorative along with skin brightening elder� ower extract

and other bene� cial botanicals in this indulgent handmade bath oil

(£30) from greenandspring.com

FYI

A VERY GOOD

PHWOARSE

Wellbeing_Oct24.indd 36 19/10/2015 13:33:27

37

What’s coming up? Tweet us your wellbeing diary dates @WMNWest or email westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk

We’re loving labdoor.com’s fun infograph-ics, which illustrate how by dabbing your pizza with a napkin, you could reduce your calorie and fat intake per slice, by over a third. Based on the startling stat that the average American eats 23lb of pizza a year, Labdoor reckons their method could save 6611 calories and trim 1.9lb off waistlines over 12 months!

Rita Ora’s looking like the ultimate catch of the day in newly-opened

London restaurant Sexy Fish’s stunning publicity photos. If you

love the look, you can learn to swim and freedive for fitness in Newquay:

Freediveuk.com runs mermaid courses in a heated pool from

£100 (loan of tail included!) For the Little Mermaid in your life www.

planetmermaid.com sells colourful children’s fishtails from £32.99.

A mermaid’s tail

Go To Work oN aN eGG?

According to The Grocer magazine, more of

us are doing just that, with around eight per

cent of us now starting the day off with eggs for breakfast. Studies

suggest they’re a great aid to weight loss,

helping reduce cravings and leaving us feeling

satisfied for longer.

to dab or not to dab...

Wellbeing_Oct24.indd 37 20/10/2015 13:04:16

Wellbeing

Would it be helpful to have acupuncture

alongside fertility treatment? Devon-based acupuncturist

Helen Stafford says: It is estimated that one in seven

couples in the UK experience problems with fertility. According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the number of women receiving IVF in the UK is increasingly yearly and, therefore, so is the number of women looking for support during this emotionally and physically draining time.

Acupuncture can be very beneficial on a variety of levels. Many couples faced with fer-tility problems make lifestyle changes. This may include a healthier, more varied diet, a re-duction in alcohol consumption, increased exercise and giving up smoking. All of which are posi-tive steps.

However, stress is often one of the most difficult issues to combat, and it can have a pro-found effect on our overall well-being. Many couples find the process of IVF treatment quite demanding and emotionally challenging, often on top of already busy lives. Research shows that acupuncture may help to reduce stress levels, which could be hugely ben-

Q

eficial to anyone undergoing the treatment There are a variety of factors at play here, not

least of which is the fact that you are taking time out for yourself. The nature of the treatment means that you are forced to stop completely

and lie very still, which is a rare thing in today’s world.

A lot of fertility treatment, even the traditional support resources such as counselling, require you to be very engaged, constantly asking and answer-ing questions. Even when you go home you will probably find yourself researching the topic. You are almost constantly using your head, which can be ex-hausting. I always try to create a quiet and calm space for my cli-ents where they can just switch off for 45 minutes.

During a treatment, fine nee-dles are inserted at a very shallow depth along specific meridians on the body, with the aim of restoring balance to its many complex systems.

38

At the sharp end

Most clinical trials suggest acupuncture

may be beneficial in the embryo transfer

stage of IVF [[Can acupuncture cure infertility?

With regards to fertility, the reports are prom-ising. The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) has reported that most clinical trials suggest that acupuncture may be beneficial in the embryo transfer phase of IVF and result in an increase in pregnancy rate. The BAcC cites a number of re-search studies which demonstrate acupuncture may also support fertility treatment in a number of beneficial ways: by regulating hormone levels; by increasing egg production and egg quality; and by stimulating an increase in blood flow to the reproductive organs, including the lining of the womb, therefore increasing the chances of embryo implantation.

I think the reason so many are choosing acu-puncture as their me-time over a massage or a trip to the nail salon is that not only is it won-derfully relaxing, but it could also be of very real benefit on your quest to conceive. Choose a thera-pist that is registered with the British Acupunc-ture Council, and with whom you feel comfort-able and relaxed. Good luck.Helen Stafford is a qualified acupuncturist based in Exeter with a particular interest in gynaecology and fertility. Visit www.hstaffordacupuncture.co.uk

Wellbeing_Tim_Oct24.indd 38 20/10/2015 13:23:14

39

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

here are few fi ner autumnal treats than the arrival of the squid to the local waters of the South West and right now they are here in reason-able numbers. Big,

fresh, premium-quality cepha-lopods of unrivalled perfection are swimming just offshore, throwing themselves with aban-don onto squid “jigs” of rod and line fi shermen up and down the coast.

It would be an absolute tragedy not to take the chance of tucking in and enjoying a few. Do try your hardest to get locally line-caught specimens as the ones that get caught up in the trawlers’ drag nets are nowhere near as good, simply because they get damaged in the process of trawling and hauling.

Fresh squid, once cleaned, is a delight, both texturally and fl avour-wise. It’s akin to a slightly

more chewy scallop but less sweet and with a depth of fl avour most people seem to overlook. Unsurprising, I suppose, when most people’s only squid encounter is with a frozen then deep-

fried calamari of suspect origin. But liberated from batter and given the correct treatment, squid is probably the best seasonal seafood swimming in our coastal waters right now.

Cleaning squid can be a faff, but it’s also rewarding. Remove the skin, guts and ink sack, reserving the ink if you wish to use it. Then score the inside of the squid and cut it into pieces. When you prepare the tentacles there is a small piece of hard cartilage within each little suction cup. It’s worth persevering with getting them out too, as they aren’t a lot

of fun to eat. A word of warning: cook squid either very hot and very quick, or long and slow, it won’t thank you for anything in between.

T Squid specialsI love seared squid with sour cream, chermoula (the north African version of pesto), and coriander but I also love to braise it too, with some nice local chorizo. An absolute win every time though is to slice squid into strips and sauté with chilli and garlic. Add spaghetti and fi nish with chopped parsley, very good olive oil and a good squeeze of lemon juice.

@TimGreenSauce

Ingredient of the Week

Squidwith Tim Maddams

Akin to a slightly more chewy scallop but

less sweet and with a depth of

� avour most people seem to

overlook [[

Eat

Wellbeing_Tim_Oct24.indd 39 19/10/2015 12:14:05

40

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 Gri� enTo order your copy, designed by Je� Cooper of We Make Magazines, see www.tasteo� hewest.co.uk or call 01404 822012

1. Beat the egg in a small mixing bowl.

2. One at a time, dip the scallops into the egg, then into the breadcrumbs and set aside.

3. in another mixing bowl, place all the spices and herbs and mix well, adding the vinegar last.

4. Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the scal-lops one by one. Cook for about one minute until golden on one side, then turn over and cook for 30 seconds or so on the second side.

5. Once both sides are golden, take the scallops out of the pan and serve with the vinegar dip.

IngredientsFor the scallops12 large scallops (cleaned)1 egg60g panko breadcrumbsOil for frying

For the vinegar dip400ml Artisan Malt Vinegar¼ tbsp ground bay leaves¼ tbsp celery salt¼ tbsp dry mustard¼ tsp ground black pepper¼ tsp ground ginger¼ tsp sweet paprika¼ tsp ground white pepper¼ tsp ground nutmeg ¼ tsp ground cloves¼ tsp ground allspice

By Tom Mackins, head chef of the Falmouth Bay Seafood Café, Truro

Made with Artisan Malt Vinegar from Coverack

Tom says: “Remember that scallops can overcook very easily, so work quickly and ensure that all ingredients are to hand.”

Crispy Cornish Scallops

TOW_BEER_OCT24.indd 40 19/10/2015 12:21:50

41

Drink

Pubs want fair rates deal

The British Beer and Pub Association will be campaigning

for a fairer deal for publicans as the Conservatives announce major changes to business rates. With pubs paying 2.8% of all business

rates, but accounting for just 0.5% of all turnover, the BBPA says it’s

time for a more level playing   eld.

DRIFTWOOD DRINKS

Darren Norbury

talks beerwo brewing giants are slugging it out on the world stage, as SAB Miller shareholders resist the overtures of AB InBev. By the time you read this, the battle may well

be over. The world’s biggest brewing group may have been created and cracking its knuckles in anticipation of domination.

The question is, to the dis-cerning beer drinker, does it really matter? No matter how big these companies grow, you’re unlikely to see me stand-ing at the bar holding a bottle of Bud. However, it’s worth noting that each has good brands among its portfolio. Pil-sner Urquell is part of the SAB Miller stable and considered one of the world’s fi nest lagers, while Leffe and Hoegaarden, both popular Belgian brews, are among the ABInBev offer-ings.

Most drinkers are standing back, shrugging: “So what? Doesn’t affect me.” And if it wasn’t for the rise of craft beer, maybe it wouldn’t. But the big boys are looking to get in on the craft act now. Witness, in the UK, SAB Miller’s recent acquisition of London’s Meantime Brewing Company, one of the most highly regarded in-dependent breweries in the country. In the US, among other similar deals, AB InBev became

Darren Norbury

talks beerthe majority shareholder of Chicago indie Goose Island Brewery. As one commentator noted, few drinkers may be aware that what they think is a craft brewer is a subsidiary of a mega-brewery.

Happily, I suspect that the microbrewery and craft beer movement is swelling fast enough at the moment that the big boys will have their

market share chipped away at slowly and misrepresentation, in-tentional or otherwise, won’t be a problem. The worst thing that could possibly happen, ironically, is for the mass market brands to disappear altogether. As Beer Advocate magazine noted at the start of the year, the independ-ents would take years to build the capacity to satisfy the market on their own, and a good deal of their distribution is reliant upon the globals who have effi cient networks worldwide.

No, the world needs big brand beers. Even on a local level, if

there was no Doom Bar, for instance (owned by Molson Coors), there wouldn’t be 140 brewery jobs at Rock, in Cornwall, or specialised Connois-seurs Choice range beers that are so popular. If Carling is your thing, that’s fi ne – enjoy it. I’ll stick to my local micro-brewed IPA.

Darren Norbury is editor of beertoday.co.uk @beertoday

T

On an unseasonally sunny and warm October a� ernoon, my

� rst beer at the � rst Boathouse festival, in Falmouth, was

Pioneer Wheat Beer, from the Dynamite Valley Brewery,

Ponsanooth. If it had been the middle of summer this orange coloured, and slightly orange � avoured classic wheat beer

would have been the ultimate thirst quencher. At 4.2% ABV

it’s eminently sessionable and has that clove, banana

undercurrent associated with the style.

Beer of the week

The worst that could happen,

ironically, is for the mass

market brands to disappear

altogether [[

The Dri� wood Spars in St Agnes, Cornwall stages an unprecedented third beer festival of the

year next week (October 30 to November1). It’s cryptically called a Beer Fest of Two Halves. I don’t

know (at time of writing) what it’s about, but I do know I’ve never been disappointed by a Dri� wood

Spars event yet!

TOW_BEER_OCT24.indd 41 20/10/2015 12:33:24

42

Enjoy

radition meets upmarket chic in St Mawes on the tip of The Roseland peninsula in south Cornwall. It’s a beautiful fishing village which is

now a luxurious holiday destination.

Stay: Push the boat out with a night at Olga Polizzi’s Hotel Tresanton. Their winter rates begin today, with dinner, bed and breakfast costing from £280 per double room, per night. If you can’t stretch to a stay, do lunch: the restaurant here is outstanding and offers a set lunch special at £23 for two courses or £27 for three. Both include a glass of wine. On a budget? The centuries-old Victory Inn in the heart of the village serves great pub grub and has two bed and breakfast rooms, with last-minute deals offering B&B in a cosy double for £60 a night. Boutique retreat The Idle Rocks has prices starting at £195

T

a wEEkEnd in...

for a stay in its nautical-themed rooms.

Eat: At the St Mawes Hotel and Bar mains include grilled catch of the day, pickled broccoli, brown shrimp and samphire (£15). The Idle Rocks serves up artfully simple locally-reared, caught and foraged food, with lunchtime plates priced between £8 and £18. Grilled mackerel, blue cheese and watercress, please!

do: Buy fresh fish on the quayside from St Mawes Seafood. It comes directly off the family-owned trawler The Celestial Dawn and the catch of the day could include monkfish, Dover sole, turbot. You can order dressed crab, too.

Shop: Browse Onda Boutique for a carefully curated selection of designer knits and laidback daywear by labels including Banjo & Matilda,

St Mawes

WeekendIn_Oct24.indd 42 19/10/2015 14:26:10

43

Momoni and Kristensen Du Nord, as well as accessories and beauty treats. Find gorgeous gifts at Grace and Favour, including snakeskin pumps in a choice of rainbow hues and silver charm bracelets.

Browse: Check out the artworks at The Waterside Gallery. Featured artists include local artist Heather Lemmer, whose quirky mosaics of holiday-making rabbits are utterly delightful.

See: St Mawes Castle, now looked after by English Heritage, is open at weekends at this time of year. Built by Henry VIII as a big gun artillery to defend Falmouth harbour from invading ships, it’s a fascinating insight into Tudor times and still in very good condition today. You can take the characterful wooden Fal ferryboats between St Mawes harbour and the town of Falmouth, which is well worth a visit while you are here. Visit www.falriver.co.uk for details of the ferries and scenic river cruises.

St Mawes Castle

Stay at The Idle Rocks Hotel

The chefs from Hotel Tresanton forage for

wild ingredients

Shop at Onda Boutique Hotel Tresanton

Dinner at The Idle Rocks

WeekendIn_Oct24.indd 43 19/10/2015 14:26:33

My favourite...

Walk: Tarr Steps, Exmoor. Jim and I start high up on the moor and walk gently downhill along muddy lanes passing heather and gorse bushes (the vibrant yellow petals smell of coconut). An excellent lunch at Tarr Farm Inn stokes our bellies for a walk across the ancient clapper bridge, a meander along the River Barle and the fi nal pull back to the car.

Weekend: A lie-in, then hot crumpets drip-ping with loads of salty butter for brunch. If the weather’s good, I’ll have a romp over the fi elds and hills at the back of our house, then Jim and I drive off somewhere to fi nd the per-fect cream tea (it’s a tough task, but hey, I can handle it!).

Venue: Exeter’s quayside. Our soon-to-be open cookery school is in a huge 1830s Grade II listed warehouse on the waterfront. I can’t wait to get started!

Ingredient: Duck. Running a cookery school in the Dordogne, I couldn’t avoid it. Duck has become a staple not only at home, but will also regularly feature at our cookery school. I’ve found Crediton’s Creedy Carver to be the best for us, as their free range duck is perfectly tender and the skin crisps up beautifully. Pub: The Masons Arms at Knowstone is my favourite pub and favourite restaurant, too. It’s run by chef Mark Dodson and his wife Sarah and holds a Michelin star. Their food and service refl ect that honour. It’s cosy with low beams, uneven fl oors and a massive fi replace. And it’s also where the locals drink – a proper village pub.

Cafe: Cakeadoodledo, tucked away in Deanery

Tarr Steps on Exmoor

My Secret Westcountry

Lucy Fisher recently relocated from the south of France to launch the Exeter Cookery School, with her chef husband, Jim. It’s set to open its doors on the city’s Quayside in December. The couple live in Bampton and have a daughter, Jenny, 23, who’s a London-based model

Lucy Fisher

44

Lucy and Jim Fisher

MSW_Oct24.indd 44 19/10/2015 17:23:49

People

Meet The Exeter Cookery School opens in December. Sign up for course details at www.exetercookeryschool.co.uk.

4545

Place opposite the entrance to Exeter Cathe-dral. It’s an intimate family-run cafe with a tiny, secluded courtyard at the back. An oasis of tranquillity. And the cakes are good, too.

Grocery store: The Real Food Store in Paris Street, Exeter is an Aladdin’s cave of local and organic produce. The bread is made and baked in-house by Emma Parkin, a true artisan baker who also doubles up as their PR guru.

Gi� shop: The Carousel Pig in Wiveliscombe, Somerset. It’s a hidden gem which is literally rammed with an eclectic mix of trinkets and home decor items, from hand-painted ceramic door knobs to pastel glass candelabra, wind chimes and table lamps.

Secret place: It’s an ancient tumbledown stone barn in a fi eld near us and it’s in des-perate need of a cuddle. I have ambitions to convert it into a fabulous home to retire to, although that’s just a dream at the moment.

Exeter Quay

The Knowstone ArmsCreedy Carver duck

The Real Food Store

MSW_Oct24.indd 45 19/10/2015 17:24:39

46

man and boy

Hit or myth? [[

Phil Goodwin and James, five, have some religious debates

my life

fter two years and one month of Christian education under the loose tutelage of the Church of England my son, aged five, has just casually declared that God is

nothing more than a ‘myth’. Seems he has lost belief already. Naturally, I was taken aback. For a start,

who knew that he knew what the word myth meant? Mind you, he dropped “hypothesis” on me a few months back, informing me it was an “idea you can test”.

“So what’s a myth, then?” I asked, curious as to where he had obtained this latest pearl – not from school, obviously – and he simply said: “A story that’s made up”. Close enough to the dictionary definition, I’d say.

During the theological and philosophical discussion that ensued, I proposed that Father Christmas may also fall within this definition. This, however, prompted a scowl of disapprov-al. After all, he is hoping for not one but two big Lego toys this year. One from me, the other from Santa, otherwise known as me again.

That young James had lost faith in the Al-mighty at such a young age doesn’t seem strange to me at all. I was schooled in the Cath-olic system from an infant, so I know a thing or two about the subject. It seems the lad is tired of singing hymns, trips to church and fan-tastical tales from the Bible. So young, so cynical.

But hey, he thinks he has got it hard at a state primary, run by a few reli-gious governors? My school had monks on campus. Brothers from the De La Salle

order lived in a priest house inside the gate, in-cluding the cane-happy headmaster, Brother Maximus. I kid you not, that was his name. These Brothers glided around the place in neck to floor black cassocks hiding their legs, like cotton-clad Daleks – and with about the same level of compassion. “Exterminate” could have been the motto on our crest, beneath two crossed canes complete with curly handles. As for religious instruction, we were back and forth to mass on

a weekly basis. And every time we had to belt out the school anthem… “Glorious patron here before thee come thy sons with hearts aflame….” Sung to the tune of Deutschland Uber Alles, as I later discovered.

I hated the Latin and the RE but I must con-fess I did enjoy the old Biblical stories: Lazarus, the Feeding of The Five Thousand, that one about driving the possessed herd of pigs into the Sea of Galilee. The Wedding Feast at Cana was another good one. Who cared that they were all made up?

I pressed him a bit on this new found athe-ism. It seems the forthcoming Harvest Festival celebrations are playing on his mind. Yet an-other morning spent wriggling in an uncom-fortable pew as teachers and ministers blather on about anything and everything, except what he considers the pressing business of life: di-nosaurs.

I later found out that he had picked up the “myth” line from a schoolfriend, a Syrian girl whose parents have little time for organised religion. Hardly surprisingly considering what fanatics are currently doing to their country.

In an ideal world, I would have sent James to a non-faith school. We picked this one be-cause it is good and practically next door to our house. But I’m not worried he will be indoctri-nated. Nor am I about to try and turn him away from God. Seems the system is doing a good

enough job without my help.

After all, he is hoping for two big Lego toys this

year. One from me, the other from Santa[ [

A

ManandBoyOct24.indd 46 19/10/2015 12:28:00

?

©LW

BUY ONLINE

www.brigidfoley.co.uk

01822 612203

BRIGIDFOLEY Est’d. 1973

©LW

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