Kent

The Ridings Woodfield Lane Essendon, Herts AL9 6JJ Tel : 0844 800 8439 Fax : 01707 655 718 www.thelifemagazines.com Email: peter@fishmediagroup.co.uk Editor Faye Manning Assistant Editor Katie Miller Sub Editor Alex Lux Fashion Editor Kitty Shead Contributors Maureen Cole John Ruler John Bly Bruce Edwards Jack Smith Regan Maloney

EDITORS LETTER T

Hello and welcome to the November issue.

his month we are celebrating the release of the new James Bond film SPECTRE on our front cover and as our main story. If you have already seen Spectre or are thinking about going to see this superb new smash hit Bond movie, then you must read our interview with Daniel Craig the current James Bond. Daniel told us that the basic aim was always to make Spectre better than Skyfall and he outlined the style and attitude that he brings to the character and role. He also tells us what he has been doing after the last Bond film Skyfall. It makes fascinating reading and we can definitely recommend seeing this exciting film.

We are also delighted to include our Winter Health and Beauty Supplement in this issue, so if you want to look and feel your very best this winter we have lots of help, advice, tips and suggestions from the experts.

As usual we have spotlighted some more local events and places for you and your family to visit over the next few weeks including:- Ice Skating in Tunbridge Wells. Late night shopping in Westerham. Afternoon tea at Chiddingstone Castle. A wonderful Toy exhibition at Hall Place and Gardens. Christmas around the world at Hever Castle plus our highly popular Whats On section.

We are sure that you will enjoy the November issue.

Until next month…..

Design & Production Creative Bonfire hello@creativebonfire.co.uk Photography Adam Swaine Accounts Kathy Manning Ken Fleet Business Development Managers Tim Lees Lisa Westerman SALES Vanessa Lane Anita Hill DIRECTORS Peter Smith Rory Smith Patrick Smith

All Rights reserved. All Fish Media Group Ltd magazines are copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers. Whilst Fish Media Group Ltd takes every reasonable precaution, no responsibility can be accepted for any property, services or products offered in any of our publications and any loss arising. Whilst every care is taken with all materials submitted to all of our magazines the publisher cannot accept the loss or damage to such material. The Fish Media Group Ltd reserves the right to reject or accept any advertisement, article or material prior to publication. Opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily repr sent the views or policies of Fish Media Group Ltd. We accept no liability for any misprints or mistakes and no responsibility can be accepted for the content of these pages.

You will be pleased to know that you and your friends can now read our magazines online at www.thelifemagazines.com

To advertise contact: Tim Lees on 07944 129393 or Peter on 077111 43342

LOCAL EVENTS

Whats On...

NOVEMBER 2015

Blood Donation Session If you are fit and healthy and aged between 17- 65 why not come along and save a life.

Wed 9 Dec 2015. 1.30pm-4.30pm and 5.30pm-8.00pm. HSBC Sports and Leisure, Lennard Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 1QW. To book an appointment, please call 0300 123 23 23 or visit our website at www.blood.co.uk Hayes Symphony Orchestra Winter concert Dvorak - Carnival Overture Khachaturian - Adagio from Spartacus Dvorak - Slavonic Dance No.8 Vaughan-Williams - The Lark Ascending - Soloist: Lynn Cook Borodin - The Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor.

7.45pm start, doors open from 7.15pm Tickets £10 adults, children under 18 free. St Francis of Assisi Church, Ravenswood Avenue, West Wickham, Kent BR4 0PW. Sat 28 Nov 2015.

Tel: 07713 790377 www.hayessymphony.org.uk Brushworks - art exhibition and sale Come and see a wide range of art styles at the 105th annual exhibition and sale at the Kaleidoscope Gallery in Sevenoaks. Originals and greetings cards on sale at very reasonable prices. Small canvases on sale to raise funds for local charity Sevenoaks Mind.

Free entry - open library hours. Kaleidoscope Gallery, Sevenoaks Library, Kent, TN13 1LQ. Tues 17 Nov to Sat 28 Nov 2015. www.sevenoaksartclub.org Christmas Fayre West Heath School Sevenoaks. With a special appearance from Father Christmas in his magical grotto, your children will be wowed by it all! Raffle, Children Tombola, Silent auctions and more to entertain the whole family!

A great family day to enjoy our home made cakes, pies, mulled wine and more. The local stall holders will be offering great items for those perfect Christmas presents.

Saturday 14th Nov. 10:30am - 2pm. £1 per adult and £0.50p per child.

All profits to go to our School Charity. West Heath School, Ashgrove Road, Kent, TN13 1SR. Sat 14 Nov 2015. Tel: 01732 468 993 www.westheathschool.com Small Print Show An opportunity to see framed etchings created by the users of Seal Chart Etching Studio. Mounted prints, art cards and calendars available. Learn more about etching and discuss which course might suit you. Classes take place on the Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, therefore access to see the work is not as good as the other days of the week but you are still

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welcome and will see work in progress.

Free entry. Seal Chart Etching Studio, Kent, TN15 0ES. Fri 27 Nov to Sun 29 Nov. Tues 1st - Sun 6 Dec. Tel: 07876 373072 www.sealchartetchingstudio.info Chartwell - Into the Trenches After the success of Death of a Hero join us for another exhibition focusing on Churchill’s role in World War One. To mark 100 years since Sir Winston Churchill made the decision to go and fight at the Western Front in the First World War, this exhibition explores his daredevil escapades.

Booking Not Needed. A National Trust Event - Gates open 10:00. Start 11:00 - 15:00. General Admission Prices Apply. Chartwell, Mapleton Road, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1PS. Sat 14 - Wed 23 Dec. Sat 26 - Thurs 31 Dec.Tel: 01732 868381. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events Christmas Market Hospice in the Weald Come and enjoy a wealth of craft and food stalls at this year’s Christmas Market. The perfect opportunity to find wonderful presents for your friends and family whilst supporting the Hospice at the same time. £3 admission on the doors, kids go free!

All proceeds go to Hospice in the Weald.

Hospice in the Weald, Maidstone Road, Pembury, Kent TN2 4TA. Tel: 01892 820527. hospiceintheweald. org.uk/fundraise/event/hospice-in-thewealds-christmas-market-2015 Carols by Candlelight with Penshurst Choral Society Carols Old and New including a selection by Bob Chilcott and Morten Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium. Conductor: Anthony Zerpa Falcon.

6.30pm. £7.50 at the door which includes a donation to St John the Baptist Church, Penshurst, Kent, TN11 8DB. Sun 6 Dec 2015. www.penshurstchoralsociety.co.uk Scotney Castle - History of the Weald tour Our estate is full of history. It has been worked for thousands of years.

Charcoal, clay bricks, iron, hops and stone have all been made, grown or extracted from our Wealden landscape. Walk with our estate guides on a tour of the key features with demonstrations along the way.

A National Trust Event - Start times vary. General Admission Prices Apply. Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 8JN. Sat 7 - Fri 13 Nov 2015. Tel: 01892 893 868. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events Finchcocks Christmas Fair 2015 with crafts, gifts, art, food & drink and Christmas music. Delicious homemade hot lunches, teas and refreshments available throughout the day

to include a selection of homemade main course dishes priced at £8.75.

10.30am-4.30pm Adults: £5 Children: £2. Goudhurst, Kent, TN17 1HH. Sun 15 Nov 2015.Tel: 01580 211702. www.finchcocks.co.uk Emmetts Garden - Elf trail Find out what the elves have been up to this year at Emmetts Garden. Make your way around Emmetts Garden with a new festive adventure helping the elves get ready for the big day. Come and see the competition winning trail from last year and have a go making your own.

Booking Not Needed. Children are welcome. Dogs on leads welcome. A National Trust Gates open 10:00. Start 10:00. End 16:00. Collect your trail from the Visitor Reception. Emmetts Garden, Ide Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 6BA. Tues 1 - Wed 23 Dec. Sat 26 - Thu 31 Dec. Tel: 01732 868381.

A Natural Christmas: Decoration Making and Gifts inspired by Nature See how Victorian house staff would have celebrated Christmas and join us in the Butler’s Pantry of Down House for festive craft making using natural foliage found in the garden. From winter stems, to holly and pine cones, weave your magic as we help you create small seasonal items for your home.

Booking: Essential. The Home of Charles Darwin (Down House) – Luxted Road, Downe, Kent, BR6 7JT.Sat 28 and Sun 29 Nov 2015.

Tel: 0870 333 1183 www.english-heritage.org.uk/downhouse England’s Finest Concert by Temenos Chamber Choir, conducted

by Charles Vignoles. Motets by Tallis, Gabriel Jackson’s “Cecilia Virgo”, and Vaughan EDITORS Williams’ Mass in G Minor. Instrumental items for Recorder and Chamber Organ by Byrd, Gibbons, Henry VIII, Handel, John ’S D ENGLAN Bull, Castello and Van Eyck, played by MaryT S FINE Jannet Leith and Richard Moore.

7.30 pm. Tickets £10 (£5 students) from 01959 523765, or visit Sevenoaks Bookshop or on the door. St Nicholas Church, High Street, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1JA. Sat 14 Nov 2015.

Tel: 01959 523765 or 01732 452715 www.temenos-chamberchoir.org.uk

CHOICE:

42nd Street performed by the Oxted Operatic Society The 1980 Broadway production of 42nd Street won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit. With great songs such as ‘Lullaby of Broadway’, ‘We’re in the Money’ and stupendous dancing, this is a show not to me missed! 2.30 (Sat) & 7.45pm. £12.00 - £15.00. 07530 528094. Barn Theatre, 25 Bluehouse Lane, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0AA. Tues 17 Nov - Sat 21 Nov 2015. www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk Glow Theatre Group – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat The Biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colours comes to vibrant life in this delightful musical parable.

Wed 2nd – Fri 4 Dec. 7.30pm. Tickets £9.00 available from www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 07813 916105. 15a High Street, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1RA. Quo-incidence The UK’s Premier Authentic Tribute to Status Quo. Sat 5 Dec. 7.45pm. Tickets £15.00 available from www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 01959 561811. 15a High Street, Westerham, Kent. TN16 1RA. Winter Wonderland at the Barn Variety fundraiser brings Christmas to the Barn.

Sat 12 Dec. 7.30pm. Tickets £12 available from www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 01959 561811. 15a High Street, Westerham. Kent. TN16 1RA.

CONTENTS EDITORS LETTER

3

WHATS ON

4

LOCAL LIFE Ice Skating in Tunbridge Wells Christmas Around the World at Hever Castle Late Night Shopping in Westerham National Trust Local Favourites Toys that Rocked the World

8 10 12 14 16

Christmas Gift Guide

20

Babington School – The local school of choice Afternoon Tea at Chiddingstone Castle

22 24

The London International Horse Show

26

Focus on The Pilgrims Way with Adam Swaine Chislehurst’s forgotten corners with John Ruler Gunpowder: Kent’s booming industry with John Ruler

28 30 34

Star Interview – 007 Daniel Craig.

36

Winter Wonderland

40

Christmas Hotspots around the world

44

Winter Health and Beauty Brace Yourself 6 Unusual Ways to keep colds at bay Winterproof your immune system Therapia – massage and reflexology Spa Hotel The beauty of giving Doctors at Petts Wood take a patient approach Supercharge your smile

45 46 48 50 51 53 54 56

Fashion – Rethink Pink

60

Winter run 2016

64

Divorce or Separation issues with Thomas Dunton

65

HOME AND GARDEN Come dine with me Neptune – The festive season is on its way Tilemates – Tiles in every style A Morso stove - the heart of your home Wren Kitchens – The Linda Barker range Alaris – Kitchens to fit your lifestyle Kelvin Fireplaces – The quality professionals.

C & H Fabrics for your Christmas gifts

66 70 72 74 76 78 80 82

Travel – The Dubai life

84

CWJ Solicitors

87

Get your skates on this winter

88

BOOKS Review with Bruce Edwards

90

FOOD AND DRINK A taste of London Michel Roux – A sausage fan!

92 94

LOCAL LIFE

Get your skates on ICE RINK REOPENS IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS

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The Royal Tunbridge Wells ice rink opens for its fifth season.

et in the beautiful splendour of Calverley Grounds’ do with a truly festive feel. It’s the only real ice, outdoor rink amphitheatre and bathed in twinkling festive lights, in the area and the setting of the rink in the park is beautiful the Royal Tunbridge Wells ice rink is back, bigger with wonderful lighting. and better than ever. Opening on There are fantastic food and drink choices Friday 20 November 2015 the ice at the rink or you can make your visit last a rink will run for seven weeks until Sunday 3 bit longer and try out one of the town’s many Opening January 2016. restaurants or cafes”. y on Frida Sponsored by Tunbridge Wells Borough Due to popular demand we have added an 20 Council, the 35 x 20 metres ice rink, with a extra morning parent and toddler session - the capacity of up to 250 skaters, will be open seven ice rink opens at 9.45am each day with two November days a week (closed Christmas Day). dedicated sessions for under 4’s and their 2015 The ice rink welcomes skaters of all ages parents, with main skating following every hour and abilities and is perfect for a family day out, a from 11am. romantic first date, a festive office party – or just Advanced booking is recommended at peak a great fun night out with friends. Community groups are also times –Thursday and Friday evenings, school holidays and warmly welcomed. all day Saturday and Sunday. Non motorised wheelchairs are Easily accessible by bus and National Rail, the rink is in welcome on the ice but must be pre-booked in advance. the heart of Tunbridge Wells surrounded by an extensive The cost of one hour’s skating including hire of boots offering of shops, bars and restaurants. For those wishing to will be from £7 for children and £9.50 for adults. Seal skating watch friends and family enjoying themselves, the spectator’s aids are also available for hire for children aged 2 – 4 years. area is back, adjacent to the rink and offers a range of drinks and food.

THE DETAILS Councillor Jane Marsh, Cabinet Member with Tickets are on sale from 1 October and can be responsibility for Tourism, Leisure and Economic purchased in person at Assembly Hall Theatre Box Development says: Office, online at www.tunbridgewellsatchristmas.com “When the ice rink opens in Royal Tunbridge Wells it’s a or by calling 01892 554645. The onsite ice rink Box sign that Christmas is coming! If you haven’t visited the rink Office opens on Friday 20 November. in Calverley Grounds you really should. It’s a great thing to

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LOCAL LIFE

Christmas

Around the World at Hever Castle As Christmas creeps closer, head to Hever Castle & Gardens in Kent for a fun filled family day out celebrating ‘Christmas Around the World’.

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isitors can wander through the rooms adorned with beautiful decorations to discover how people in different countries decorate their homes, what they eat on Christmas day and how they celebrate the festive period.

As dusk falls, follow the magical Christmas Trail lit by fairies along the snowy path. Journey through the enchanted fairy dell,past Father Christmas’ Grotto into the colour washed Italian Garden and along to the Tudor Garden.

Nothing says ‘Christmas’ for children quite like a visit to Father Christmas who is in residence at the Castle on weekends from 28th November – 13th December and daily from 14th – 24th December. Young visitors will be enchanted by the magical Grotto where they will be greeted by Mother November Christmas and taken by an elf 28th – through the ‘snowy forest’ to meet 13th: Santa in his log Cabin. Each child December ys receives an age-appropriate gift Wednesda to take home. Visits to Father s y – Sunda Christmas must be pre-booked and December cost £11.00. A valid admission ticket : is also required for this experience.

14th – 24th On weekends from 28th Daily November and daily from 21st – 24th December, you’ll meet characters from Christmas stories on the Christmas Trail. Children can take part in a Christmas craft workshop (small additional charge) and hug a husky in the Husky Hideout. Look out for donkeys at the nativity scene and learn about donkey welfare from a local donkey rescue trust (weekends only).

Christmas shoppers are sure to be inspired by the wonderful array of tempting gifts, luxurious decorations, toys and stocking fillers that can be found in the Hever Shop. Then round off the day with a choice of delicious winter warmers and tasty snacks in the decorated restaurants where a warm welcome awaits. With so much to see and do it’s the perfect

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way to enjoy the season of good will with family and friends.

TWILIGHT CHRISTMAS December 11th 18th, 22nd and 23rd; Open 18.00; Last entry 20.00; Final Exit 21.30 Twilight Christmas at Hever Castle makes a wonderful outing for all the family. Wrap up warm and enjoy a walk under the stars to witness the enchantment of the Castle and Gardens festooned with fabulous colours and twinkling lights. A limited number of tickets are available for this popular event which captivates the spirit of Christmas.

Bring torches and pop on your wellies to explore the Christmas trail where you will discover characters from Christmas stories surrounded by sparkling lights and floodlit landscapes. Marvel at camels ridden by three wise men bearing gifts for the new born King who can be found at the nativity scene complete with donkeys before visiting the Husky Hideout to hug a husky. Then warm up inside the beautifully decorated fairytale Castle to discover how other countries celebrate the festive season. All this followed by some family fun on the Castle forecourt where fairground stalls and vintage games like hoopla add to the festive atmosphere.

THE DETAILS For further information about Christmas activities, prices and booking Father Christmas visits, see www.hevercastle.co.uk or tel: 01732 865224.

LOCAL LIFE

It’s Jingle bells, Lights and Shopping

Jonathan ‘JB’ Gill at Westerham’s Christmas extravaganza TV star and farmer, JB Gill - best known as former member of boyband JLS - will visit Westerham on Thursday 26 November to turn on the town’s Christmas lights.

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he ex X-Factor star, and contestant on The Jump, farms locally. He will arrive with Father Christmas, in a Hurst Green Shires’ horse-drawn carriage, to the strains of seasonal music from Churchill School Choir.

In addition to the appearance of JB, there will be a seasonal music from Morven and Ian Rae, and the shops – mostly small independent retailers – will be filled with unusual gifts and will remain open until 9pm. There will also be children’s entertainment, hot chestnuts and market stalls.

That day will also see St Mary’s Westerham come alive with its annual Festival of Christmas Trees, which transforms the historic church into a veritable Christmas grotto. Local schools, businesses, clubs and societies, families and individuals contribute elegant, quirky or entertainingly decorated trees, lighting up the aisles.

In addition to the appearance of JB, there will be a seasonal music from Morven and Ian Rae THE DETAILS For the latest details of Westerham Christmas celebrations, see www.visitwesterham.org.uk/ whats-on/w-late-night-shopping

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Thurs 26 Nov

LOCAL LIFE

National Trust festive favourites revealed

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hristmas is a time for traditions, from those passed down through families to new discoveries with friends that become part of your festive celebrations. Sending cards, decorating trees, carol singing, advent calendars, mince pies and mistletoe…there are some festive traditions without which Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas.

For many, a day out to a National Trust house and garden is already a Christmas must do. Over the festive season, National Trust places will be decked out with Christmas sparkle, Father Christmas will visit special grottos, there’ll be wreath making and Christmas crafts, and atmospheric estates will be packed full of festive traditions to bring Christmas to life through the ages.

There are plenty of activities on offer to help make your Christmas that extra bit special in these winter wonderland locations.

Here are our favourites in Kent and East Sussex: Every single visit this Christmas will support the National Trust’s work as a charity looking after special places for future generations to enjoy.

Kent

Chartwell – Christmas market Daily from Friday 27 November to Sunday 29 November, 10am-4pm. The popular Chartwell market returns to kick start your festive shopping. The shop will also be open with samples available and mulled wine and minced pies will be on sale in the café. Free event, normal admission charges apply to visit the garden Emmetts Garden – elf trail Daily from Wednesday 2 December to Sunday 3

January, (closed 24 and 25 December), 10am-4pm.

Discover what the elves have been up to by following a festive adventure through the garden. The elves have lost the reindeer’s name tags and can’t remember all their names – can you help Klaus and his elf friends discover what

it’s making a sugar paste decoration for your Christmas cake, decorating a bauble for your tree, making Christmas cards or creating truffles this is an ideal opportunity to get crafty. Normal admission charges, crafts vary from 50p to £2.50 per craft.

Knole – wreath and swag making workshops Tuesday 8 December, 1.30-4.30pm Wednesday 9 December, 9.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4.30pm Thursday 10 December, 9.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4.30pm Friday 11 December, 9.30am12.30pm. Make a beautiful Christmas wreath or swag for your home. All materials are supplied in these hands-on workshops which include a demonstration and help to create your magnificent decoration. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided. Tickets £55 per person, booking essential on 0844 249189.

the names are using the clues, search for candy canes or draw your own reindeer? Don’t forget to send Father Christmas a Christmas card.

Normal admission charges apply, £1 per trail including a small prize.

Ightham Mote – Christmas crafts Tuesday 3, Tuesday 10 and Tuesday 17 November, 11am – 3pm. Come along to our drop in craft sessions for adults. With Christmas coming, be inspired to make something hand-made whether

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Quebec House – a Georgian Christmas Every weekend between Saturday 5 and Sunday 20 December, 1pm-4pm. See the house decorated for a Georgian Christmas with greenery from the garden, warm open fires and the smell of dried hops. Taste some Christmas baking and have a go at playing carols on the Broadwood piano too. Normal admission charges apply.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden – festive market Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November, 11-3pm. Visit the festive market filled with local suppliers and produce - perfect for Christmas gifts or a treat for you. They’ll be entertainment throughout the weekend, with mince pies and mulled cider in the restaurant to warm you up too. Free event with free parking.

LOCAL LIFE

The Mobo Toys that Rocked Around the World Called Mobo and made in Erith, they were no ordinary toys.

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he famous Mobo Bronco, Night Rider and their first walking animal; the Toy-toise were stars in a whole stable of mobile toys. Pedal cars soon followed, including a miniature version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! Kids across the UK and in the US loved them, making their creator, David Sebel, a British success story in the 1950s and early 60s.

This exhibition tells the remarkable story of how a metal working factory in Erith took the world by storm by producing toys.

A number of the toys on display are from the Bexley Museum collection, looked after by Bexley Heritage Trust. In preparation for the exhibition Collections Manager Kirsty Macklen carefully cleaned the Mobo toys and catalogued and researched them with help from our team of museum volunteers.

The exhibition also features other well known toy brands from Kent, including Hornby, Meccano and Airfix.

THE DETAILS Hall Place & Gardens, Bourne Road, Bexley, Kent, DA5 1PQ www.hallplace.org.uk

19 SEPT 6 MARCH 2016

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0800 6893 451 Email: info@maidsin.co.uk Web: www.maidsin.co.uk

Telephone:

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Our teams of maid have the training and experience to provide the following services: household cleaning, window cleaning, gardening services and dog walking.

The best thing about MaidsIn.co.uk is that we know the industry 100%, however this is not enough as we wish to learn what your needs and desires are. After all, no two houses are the same and so it goes with the owners. For peace of mind, all of our cleaners are also checked by a third party checking service called Onfido and trained to NVQ Level 1 in cleaning and hygiene.

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GIFT GUIDE

Christmas

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e ckabl – ic, sta ‘Class Cadenzza ry by lle rings igner jewe m s o e r the d pt store f e e h c t n – o c vski Swaro gift at just t c e perf 9 each’ £3

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Wacoal E Full Cu mbrace Lace p Bra C U -E cup W Thong £43, S X L £28 Availa 302 Up ble from: Leia per Gu ild Hall Bluewa , te Tel: 013 r, DA9 9SN www.le 22 313 887 ialinger ie.com

ream ing c n n a of t urse r ottle every co ilable fo ay b e r e a p v h t Fr S a i s w er nna X eds h c u e b i vo S un Gift h Nails, oline S anning is d Erg aus T l l e G s an : Be Tan able from oms d, l i Ro on Roa 6 8NL Ava t f Cro nt, BR 415b om, Ke 59980 tt 689 8 ksbo 1 Loc Tel: 0

itrine 6ct C a 8 .

1 & y gold ded b ellow g Surroun cut white y t c 8 t 1 Rin ic, lian Halo 0.65ct bril .00. ‘Class the 0 – f 0 o a 8 , l z tota onds. £2 Cadenz store diam e rings by concept ift at tg ry abl stack ner jewelle the perfec g – i i s k e ’ s d v ch ey Swaro ust £39 ea ic Walmsl d. j a from in e h m r o e m: D uare, Riv o r f e l q ab Avail ry, 3 The S 779 555 m co 32 le jewel Tel: 017 walmsley. c i n i dom www.

Silver Reindeer - £49.99 A truly stunning metal silver reindeer, perfect for inside the home or out in the garden in this festive season!

Available from: 3-Spirit 26 London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1AP Tel: 01732 666060 Shop online: www.3-spirit.co.uk Email: info@3-spirit.co.uk

Tea for 2 Afternoon Spa at The ble hers availa Gift vouc ne at on li otel.co.uk www.spah lling or by ca 331 01892 520

s Stand ellery £27.50 w e J Stag 13.75 to nge of £ ra From from our al gift in e g s i r o o o Ch ional hristmas. t a r i p ins s this C : idea ailable from o.uk .c n Av o t d s aking , Riverhea v .e w ww on Road 2BU nd 25 Lo ent TN13 350 K 9 45 01732

www.thelifemagazines.com

| NOVEMBER 2015 21

LOCAL SCHOOL

Why choose an

independent education?

Finding the right school for your child is so important, it should be an environment where he or she can be happy, learn and thrive.

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lass size is one factor to consider and it is proven that children learn more effectively when they are in small class sizes. In fact, this is one of the main reasons why you might send your child to an independent school and a class of 20 children is ideal. Immediately pupils are placed in a situation where they have to engage and interact with each other and with their teacher, they are surrounded with attention and encouragement, creating an excellent climate for learning.

But small class size alone does not ensure a good education. The quality of the teaching, the school leadership, the size of the school, the amount of parent involvement and other factors are important to consider too.

Good early years’ education is essential to compete for a place in the top independent senior schools. Entrance exams for independent senior schools, just like the grammar schools’ 11+ assessments, can be tough.

The leading academic and state schools in the area, such as Babington House (Independent 3-18) Eltham College (Independent 11-18) Bromley High (GDST 4-18) Newstead Wood (state grammar 11-18) and St Olaves (state grammar 11-18) all have challenging entrance tests for their Year 7 entry and they all have highly selective Sixth Forms as well.

It is important to prevent your child getting too overwhelmed by the stress and worry of the exam process.

Visit the schools in the area and ask them about how their entrance exams actually work. At Babington House, for

22 NOVEMBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

Come and see for yourself

example, the Entrance Examination from which academic scholarships are decided, includes verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, Mathematics and English.

The examination day also provides an opportunity to meet teachers and other pupils already at the school and have some fun. Taster days before the examination day or afterwards are encouraged and this makes the whole experience less stressful and as the Headmaster, Mr Lello, said “it also gives us a chance to see the wider talents and gifts of our prospective pupils”.

For Sixth Form entry, there are many choices and children often move school for Sixth Form. The Sixth Form at Babington is unique with the focus very much on A level study in small sets whilst at the same time providing work experience to develop the pupil’s CV and self-confidence.

Babington House is a modern school with traditional values where bright pupils benefit from carefully monitored and well directed learning in class sizes of no more than 20 children.

THE DETAILS www.babingtonhouse.com

LOCAL LIFE

Enjoy a Sunday Winter Afternoon Tea at

Chiddingstone Castle!

Where better to have a delicious, old fashioned afternoon tea than in the Castle’s beautiful White Rose Drawing Room or the grand, oak panelled Great Hall?

Sunday 6 & Sunday 13 Dec 2015

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ea will be served at approx. 3pm on Sunday 6 and Sunday 13 December 2015.

A delicious selection of homemade sandwiches, homemade cakes and scones with homemade preserves and clotted cream will be served on delightful vintage china. £18 per person; £9 per child (aged 6 and under). Prosecco is available to purchase separately either by the bottle or glass.

Visitors who book afternoon tea can also enjoy some of the Castle’s unique exhibition rooms including the Egyptian Collection, Housekeeper’s Room, Buddhist Collection, Denys Eyre Bower’s Study and the Victorian Kitchen and Scullery.

December Afternoon Teas were hugely popular last year so please book early to avoid disappointment.

THE DETAILS Full payment is being taken upon booking, with a cancellation/refund policy that will be advised.

Please call 01892 872746 to book. For enquiries, email events@chiddingstonecastle.org.uk Chiddingstone Castle, Hill Hoath Road, Chiddingstone, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7AD. Tel: 01892 870347.

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HORSE SHOW

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LOCAL FOCUS

The

Pilgrims Way

1

2

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Pictures: Adam Swaine 1. North Down nr Wye Village | 2. Detling Village 3. Lenham Village | 4. Boxley Village 5. North Downs nr Charing Village 6. Kemsing Village (P/O & Tearoom) | 7. Chilham Village

Adam Swaine Photography www.adamswaine.co.uk adamswaine@rocketmail.com | 07798 526 569

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28 NOVEMBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

LOCAL HISTORY

Clues to the past lie scattered all around us !

JOHN RULER meets author Joanna Friel a forager in Chislehurst’s forgotten corners Photos by ADAM SWAINE ‘Anyone living anywhere can do the same … uncovering all sorts of lovely stories, along with a few skeletons in the cupboard. If you have a desire to find the answers are now out there, thanks largely to the Internet and local archives..

The journey of discovery is so much fun.’

As a fellow local history lover, I could not have put it better myself.

WITHOUT giving too many secrets away, our accompanying gallery provides a few clues to what Joanna’s book contains.

FOLLY ONCE HID A SECRET GARDEN This ivy covered West Folly in Susan Wood (far left), off Old Hill, is more than just one of a Grade II pair of towers created around 1860 by landowner George Baskcomb for his landscape garden. Much more likely they were converted limekilns once used for lime burning for the chalk used in mortar construction and agricultural fertiliser. Though entrances to the quarry, in what was then called Denbridge Wood, were blocked, Mr Baskcomb could get in from his land, creating a hidden subterranean kitchen garden where he grew celery and other vegetables.

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id you know the bench at the corner of Lubbock Road and Old Hill, Chislehurst, relates to a young Czech girl rescued from Nazi Germany – or, on a lighter note, that leftover tiles in the loo at St Mary’s Presbytery are part of the church’s fine Napoleonic architectural features ?

You may if you’ve tuned into ‘Friel on Friday’, the regular YouTube spot used by local author Joanna Friel to bring alive local history in the same ‘Did You Know That … ‘ style that shines throughout her new book Secret Chislehurst with photographs by our own Adam Swaine.

That she succinctly captures the curiosity common to us all – witness the rise in TV programmes delving into family trees or reliving the past – is remarkable enough. To do so while dealing with multiple sclerosis is a lesson on sticking to a subject, regardless of physical setbacks. ‘ I already had a degree in history so when I left work in 2009 after being diagnosed with MS in 2002 it gave me a chance to follow my fascination with local history – and I can always sit on my backside if necessary for a spot of researching at the computer.’ Then there are my “foot soldiers” who can get to places I can’t get to; I couldn’t manage my story telling without them.’

And it’s story telling based on personal accounts that Joanna does best, often based solely ‘on two or three line snippets’ from her prize possession, a three inch thick Webb’s History of Chislehurst written in 1899.

Joanna believes that Chislehurst is historically no more unique than any other town or street. ‘ I began by looking into the history of my house,’ she said. ‘This took me next door and then the whole road.

‘I still dream of writing a history of Lubbock Road, a significant street with houses built for the new middle class of Victorian entrepreneurs, businessmen, lawyers and bankers.

AMERICAN HERO WAS A BRIT !

The dramatic release of an American citizen kidnapped in Tangier by the so-called ‘Last of the Barbary Pirates’ helped President Theodore Roosevelt win a landslide victory in 1904 – hailed as a hero for his defence of Americans everywhere.

The trouble was that Ion Perdicaris, whose mother came from a wealthy South Carolina family, abandoned his citizenship after settling in Tangier when the American Civil War threatened his playboy life. Hence he was no longer an American when he and his step son were held captive. This remained a secret until 1933.

His grave in St Nicholas Churchyard (pictured above), proves the point, by showing his various abodes as not just Trenton, New York, New Jersey, and Tangier – but also Chislehurst.

It was after returning to England with his wife, Elle– whom he married following an affair which led to her divorce on a previous visit to Britain – that the couple settled in Chislehurst; the 1911 census shows them and their servants living in Manor House.

Anyone can uncover all sorts of lovely stories in their own street – or even house. The joy of discovering the answers is so much fun …

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CHILDREN RESCUED FROM THE NAZIS Behind the writing on the bench at the corner of Lubbock Road and Old Hill lies the story of Jewish children rescued from Nazi held Czechoslovakia, part of a dramatic mission recently highlighted by the death of Sir Nicholas Winton at the age of 106, Dubbed Britain’s Schindler, he saved more than 650 children, mostly Jewish, from the Holocaust by organising the so-called Kindertransports, under which they could be housed in UK foster homes.

Of these, 68 were rehoused in Seven Trees and Mount Zion, the former home of Sir John Lubbock, both in Lubbock Road – thanks to the support of Rev I.E. Davidson who on a visit to Prague in early 1938 was besieged by hundreds of families who, claiming British nationality, were desperate to get their children to England.

One of those rescued, now in her seventies, recalled calling one senior staff member ‘ a buxom lady with a fine singing voice “Mother”.

HANGMAN TREE’S DROOPY BLOOMS Talk about spooky … this horse chestnut tree (right) at the junction of Bromley Road and Watts Lane has consistently failed to produce a good display of bloom. But then it does stand at the site of what is known as Hangman’s Corner, along with the stone reminding would-be felons that this is where the gibbet stood– though there’s no actual evidence of hangings having taken place. Just for the record, there was a small prison – the cage – with straw bedding, which, built in 1788, due to ‘ the great increase in vagrancy ‘ located on the green of what is now the Royal Parade.

The adjoining village stocks were removed in 1839 and the ‘cage’ in 1854.

LIVINGSTONE ‘LEGEND’ HAD ‘EM ALL FOOLED !

If you consider these ornately painted organ pipes (pictured below) colourful, so, too, is the story of George Watto, of Willow Grove, who pumped the Methodist Church organ bellows for many years.

His claim to fame was that he came from Africa, allegedly rescued from Portuguese slave traders

by Dr David Livingstone no less; even better he was also one of six boys who brought the explorer’s body back home to London and was one of the bearer’s of his coffin. But the funeral actually took place in what is now Zambia, and the only black coffin bearer was one Jacob Wainwright.

But George, the spelling of whose surname was even open to question, left his mark.

He was allegedly sacked from

pumping the bellows because of his habit of peering over the organ screen and grinning at the congregation during sermons. He would then disappear from view.

On his death in 1931, aged around 87, he was pictured holding a spear, standing by a picture of Livingstone, claiming he was the sole survivor of the expedition…

NAPOLEONIC TILES TELL A TALE Though generally known that Chislehurst’s list of visiting royalty includes Queen Victoria – she came here four times – and the Queen Mother, it is sometimes forgotten that the exiled French Emperor, Louis Napoleon III, and his family lived at Camden Place.

Both he and Empress Eugenie (left) let their mark in many ways, most noticeably with the Prince Imperial Monument at Chislehurst, as well as at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church with its magnificent Napoleonic architectural features. The stone eagle (bottom left), is a prominent emblem of Imperial France.

The Napoleonic theme even extends to the inner sanctum of the presbytery where the, er, ’throne room’ (pictured) is superbly decorated with leftover tiles.

The lavish funerals of both the Emperor and that of his 23 year old son, killed in June 1879 while an observer during the Anglo-Zulu War, were held at St Mary’s.

Though the Prince’s body rested temporarily at St Mary’s, Princess Eugenie, with the church unable to find a suitable resting place for her husband and son, looked elsewhere. And, on January 9, 1888, the two bodies were removed and taken by train from Chislehurst to the newly built St Michael’s Abbey at Farnborough, Hampshire, where they still lie. The Empress died on 11 July 1920.

Both Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie left their mark at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church with its magnificent Napoleonic architectural features.

Joanna will be signing copies of the book at the Third Sir John Lubbock Memorial Lecture at Christ Church, Lubbock Road, Chislehurst , on November 26 at 7.30pm. Proceeds from the sale along with donations will be in aid of the MS Society. To reserve seats email joanna.friel@yahoo.co.uk or ring 0208 295 3180. Copies also available from Joanna at £12 discounted from £14.99 p & p £2

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| NOVEMBER 2015 31

NATIONAL GALLERY

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LOCAL HISTORY

John Ruler looks at a blast from the past….

Gunpowder: Kent’s booming industry

What have Faversham, Dartford and Leigh have in common? Bang on if you said explosives, with all three Kentish centres producing gunpowder for use in the battles of Trafalgar and Waterloo.

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right. Did they get kes is the third from the The plotters – Guy Fawfor their failed plot to blow up Parliament? t Ken ) gunpowder from National Por trait Gallery (Picture: Courtesy of the

nd that’s not number of workers in Kent.

Faversham and Dartford,still remains. all. As we It proved the worst disaster ever And that is purely down to the sterling work ‘Remember, in the history of the UK explosives of Leigh Historical Society, sparking off, too, remember the industry. Included in the final tally a fulsome history of the mills by their ex TV fifth of November’ it seems of 116, was the whole of the Works producer chairman Chris Rowley. some of the 36 gunpowder Fire Brigade. Although many bodies It was the strategic role of the Medway, barrels ready for use by Guy were recovered from the surrounding which once recognised Tonbridge as the county’s Fawkes’ failed plot to blow marshes and dykes seven were commercial hub, that in 1811 encouraged a up the Houses of Parliament recorded as missing, most probably group, mainly of Tonbridge worthies, in starting in 1605 could have been atomised by the explosion. up what was initially called The Ramhurst sourced, legally, or otherwise, Many were buried in a mass Powder Mills. locally. grave at Faversham Cemetery on 6 Again there were accidents, generally Why was Kent so April, 1916. Special commemorative down to human error, though in 1917 there commercially involved events will be held next year. was an explosion when a building was struck in creating explosives ?

Tragedy was not confined to by lightning. It was said people could read a Coincidently because the Faversham. Even when, in 1732, newspaper in Tonbridge High Street in the glare. county’s rivers and canals, vital Dartford Gunpowder Factory Fast forward to 2005 and the historical links with the capital and ports was established at Wilmington, society, under Chris, set out to save rapidly such as Chatham, tied in neatly explosions still occurred, The most deteriorating remains. Thanks to £16,044 sale: an with the availability of alder massive was on January 7, 1883, Heritage Lottery grant and a further £7,750 from Sporting gunpowder for r John advert by big time supplieFaverand willow trees. destroying several mills and killing Nationwide Building Society restoration work Hall & Son with mills in And these were needed to at least seven workers. began in 2007. sham and Scotland. create the vital 15 per cent of A third important and, at first By the end of work in 2009, nature had charcoal require to produce gunpowder, along sight, the least likely location was Leigh, not just again covered the site which is not opened to the with potassium nitrate or saltpetre and sulphur. the successor to the Tunbridge (as it was spelt public, nor can conducted tours be undertaken These likewise were imported via the London then) Gunpowder Factory or Works but the by the Society. and other ports by barges. tranquil setting for In Faversham production is known to have gunpowder specialists begun before 1558; it may even have been started such as Curtis &

by John Caslock, the last Abbot of Faversham, Harvey. in the period 1499-1538, making it the earliest A rather production site in Britain. surrealist –perplexing The first factories were small, near the town, to those not in the and alongside the stream, between the London know – is a roadside to Dover road (now the A2 road) and at the head sign stating Powder of the creek. By the early 18th century, these had Mills, a reminder coalesced into a single plant, subsequently known that at least a as the Home Works. valuable slice of The Chart Gunpowder Mill, the oldest of industrial heritage, its kind in the world, now lies tucked away amid ranking in size to typical suburban streets, whose names bear Women packing canisters at witness to their industrial past. Restored by the Oare Gunpowder works. C 1925.

Powder wagons at Marsh Works, ever resourceful Faversham Society, it fell into Faversham, c1915 disrepair after its closure in the 1930s.

Though the work was financially rewarding, it was also dangerous, despite tight safety precautions by owners to protect both personnel WHO CAN HELP: and their money–spinning mills.

The Faversham Society, which runs the Fleur de Even so, horrific accidents happened. But Lis Heritage Centre. This includes a book shop by far the worse was when at 4.20 on Sunday which sells The Dartford Gunpowder Mills by April 2, 1916, 109 men and boys were killed by Brian Philp a renowned Kent archaeologist, See a powerful explosion at the Explosives Loading www.faversham.org/history/explosives.aspx; Company factory at nearby Uplees. Due to the also Leigh Local History Society factory’s vital role in World War One the number www.leighhistorical.org.uk/around-the-parish/ killed was not revealed in the Press until 1917, powder-mills. (for Chris Rowley’s book) der Mills 1967, merely that a huge explosion had killed a large The Chart Gunpow ation before restor

34 NOVEMBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

007 STAR INTERVIEW

er g g i b e b Had to and better

d on last appeare ig ra C l ie n a ing ars since D ck and enjoy a b g n ti it It’s three ye s om ’s been en, but far fr and now, he 12 0 2 the big scre n e nd e time betw vie in the Bo o m th 4 2 e some down th ash Skyfall, n Spectre m o s l g a in b lo rk g o w e busy -up to th ffice. d the follow at the box o n a rs a e ll is o h d c n S a U fr on in over 1 billi which raked

ing all of t job of parody did such a grea uldn’t e co “H u that yo and spy movies it feeling like s in the making, nd ar Bo ye d o ol tw e th en t be om his has “ t Bond withou eaking, I went fr make jokes abou we’ve spent a huge amount so realistically sp ere wasn’t a gap t bu , dy Th to find the it was paro Skyfall onto this. , looking relaxed in movie just trying is th on e aig Cr tim of for me,” says igan. “It may humour in it.” e director Sam irt and blue card ng on this sh Tte hi w a s, ectre, he and th e success ki Sp or jean w ith w en be nd e A g th , but I’v united followin appear there was Mendes, who re time was right to nod to the .” ng lo e so th for of Skyfall, felt was simple. s of old. m fil nd Spectre Bo ghtly different d work with a sli ne. The film The remit for better than Skyfall,” ul co e “W be her films I’ve do “We wanted it to dn’t have a choice; we had style from the ot t also harks back a little to di e “W . t aig se e Cr bu w es , al stat yfall films of the is very individu d better. With Sk ted to go a bit fore in the Bond hire-born be to be bigger an ne an w go e s w ha d t an ha es w n, Ch io s ot s,” explain something in m experiment a bit more.” ies and Seventie fourth outing in the film xt Si d an 7 it 00 ith ted as es his further w actor, who debu rget Craig, who mak ith a licence to kill.

The 47-year-old n fo tw ca en ag ho w I6 M nd e (a th le ck to some as o Roya ht lig e desire to “get ba ush it to os th ed in 2006’s Casin ar in sh r aig ei Cr Th of s “p ot d sh an ic ol glamour” those still-icon Mike Myers’ of that old-scho t, from the cars and gadgets, tr unks?), admits fficult for the en id ev blue swimming di is e ” lif extremes movies made Austin Powers while. franchise for a

T

36 NOVEMBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

e changes. ount of costum it am le ab ic pl ex make to the in ie. You’ve got to “It’s a Bond mov d as glamorous as possible, an look as beautiful tick all the boxes,” the star u and hopefully yo rm the past remarks. yptic message fo In Spectre, a cr a rogue mission to Mexico nd on sends James Bo r one of the most impressive fo ’s 53-year City, the setting s in the franchise ce en qu se g openin the action history. for starters, with nd meets And that’s just Bo re he w e, on to Rom a Bellucci), swiftly moving a Sciarra (Monic ds ci Lu ow id w o Mafios re he fin of Austria whe then the slopes Seydoux), and ea (L n an Sw ne Doctor Madelei frican desert.

A e th dscape of movie, as far the parched lan entirely reactive quence, an as w ll fa ky “S first se ncerned. In the as Bond was co mebody with all his old focus so the credits he was pursuing gets shot before and drive, but he e rest of the movie, he’s one r th even roll, and fo Bardem’s character, Silva,” er vi Ja argue that step behind “You could even not kept s. de en M s ain expl He’s yfall, he’s failed. at the end of Sk time I wanted to give him a is th M alive, hence mption.” chance of rede eypenny (Naomie Harris) Aided by Mon s to contend shaw), Bond ha and Q (Ben Whi (Andrew Scott) - the man gh with Max Denbi the Centre For National of appointed head tions the need for field agents es Security, who qu - while also attempting to e ag d an of a sinister in this day s and meaning in ig or e th h rt unea

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| NOVEMBER 2015 37

007 STAR INTERVIEW

group known as Spectre.

The infamous organisation has featured in six previous Bond films and introduced a whole host of villains. In this chapter, they’re not adhering to any previous versions of Spectre but rather “rediscovering” it - as well as the super villain, this time played by the two-time Oscarwinner Christoph Waltz as Oberhauser.

“Having Spectre in the film opens up lots of avenues for us to explore,” notes Craig.

“Having this organisation allows us to be both traditional, while also bringing in something very new.”

Every Bond villain needs a henchman of course, and in this movie it’s Hinx, played by the wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista.

Craig recalls accidentally hitting his herculean co-star on the nose during a stunt sequence set on a speeding train.

“I thought he’d come after me, but he was so sweet about it. He said, ‘Look, it’s happened before. Don’t worry about it’,” reveals the actor, who likes to keep the stunts “as real and fresh as possible”.

“We try to do stuff that we don’t think people have seen before, but having someone like Dave, who spent most of his career being thrown around and throwing other people around, he really knows what he’s doing and he’s incredibly safe. I’m obviously the one that isn’t safe,” he adds with a grin. “But he moves so quickly and is so agile, and for me, I think the sequences with him are all the more terrifying because of his presence.”

Naturally, the Bond franchise has its loyal fans, some of whom have been known to mix fact with fiction.

Asked if he’s ever experienced any overly-zealous

fans attempting to ‘take Bond on’, Craig smiles and says: “Sometimes, but it’s OK. You just smile sweetly, it’s all good.

Sometimes people also say, ‘You look like Daniel Craig’, and I’ll say, ‘Really? Thank you’.”

He and wife Rachel Weisz, who won an Oscar for her role in 2005’s The Constant Gardener, are one of Hollywood’s most private couples, but he doesn’t ever regret taking on one of cinema’s most iconic roles.

“No, not for a minute,” insists the actor, who has a daughter, Ella, from his first marriage to actress Fiona Loudon.

“I was aware of that [the loss of privacy that could come with the role] going in, and I’ve remained as private as I possibly can,” he adds. “That for me is the most important thing, but I’ve also managed to make the movies, which are also incredibly important to me.”

Next year, he’ll return to the stage for an off Broadway production of Othello. “I’m really looking forward to it, it’s exciting,” remarks Craig, who’ll appear as Iago alongside David Oyelowo, a man who some have tipped to be his 007 successor.

There’s much talk of whether Spectre marks Craig’s final outing as the iconic spy, and despite the actor making headlines for joking that he’d “rather slash my wrists than play James Bond again”, he refuses to confirm either way for now.

“I love making these films and the chance to come and make a movie after Skyfall was a huge challenge,” Craig concludes - but he offers up some advice to whoever does get involved with making any future Bond films... “Just make them better.”

“We could work with a slightly different style from the other films I’ve done. The film is very individual but also harks back a little to what has gone before in the Bond films of the Sixties and Seventies,

38 NOVEMBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

DAYS OUT

40 NOVEMBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Seethe big picture this Christmas

The Kent-based Beoshop group of Bang & Olufsen retailers is inviting customers to end 2015 and start 2016 in fine style by experiencing what is literally going to be the next big thing in audio-visual enjoyment.

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aking centre stage and available for immediate demonstration at the group’s Bang & Olufsen showrooms in Bexleyheath, Bromley, Cambridge, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells is the new BeoVision Avant 85” – a phenomenal Ultra High Definition television that boasts an incredible 85” screen.

Also available 75” version In addition, a 75” version forms part of the BeoVision Avant family at the Beoshop group showrooms. In fact, so impressive is the BeoVision Avant that it was also bestowed a CES Innovation Honoree Award at this year’s annual event.

Both the 75” version and 85” BeoVision Avant are big brothers of the BeoVision Avant 55” that was launched to great acclaim in 2014. The flagship television sets the perfect stage for a truly cinematic movie experience. With crystal clear action images and an engaging surround sound, it’s perfect for entertaining family and friends with all of 2016’s eagerly-awaited DVD and Blu-ray movie releases.

Those who experience the BeoVision Avant 85” will find that it’s not just its size that stands out either – its

Each of our showrooms has BeoVision Avant 85 ready for demonstration

incredible reproduction of the smallest detail or noise is equally impressive. With impeccable, Ultra High Definition (4K) technology, it offers four times the picture quality of a ‘normal’ HD television, while exceptional sound is reproduced via its 3-channel stereo loudspeakers.

Beautiful, synchronised movement Beoshop group visitors will also find that big is certainly beautiful. The stylish BeoVision Avant 85” is certain to draw admiration with its beautiful, synchronised movement and it’s even possible for its opening sequence to be personalised via the ‘MyButtons’ feature on the included BeoRemote One remote control. For example, the remote can be programmed so that at the single touch of a button it can move the television to your favourite position and play your favourite channel at your favourite sound level.

As Paul Blake, Dealer Principal of the Beoshop group of retailers, explains, customers who call in to experience the BeoVision Avant 85” will find that seeing really is believing.

“Even before you take its competitive price into consideration, BeoVision Avant 85” is incredibly attractive in every way and you can’t help but be amazed by its performance,” said Paul.

“But while there’s no denying it has a very big presence, BeoVision Avant 85” doesn’t have to have an almighty impact on your living environment. A variety of mounting options are available and it can be wall-mounted on either a fixed or motorised wall bracket.”

Paul continued: “Each of our showrooms has BeoVision Avant 85” ready for demonstration and we’ll be delighted to guide visitors through its many features – I’m certain that anyone who sees and hears it will be astounded.” www.beoshop.co.uk

42 NOVEMBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

TRAVEL

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HEALTH&BEAUTY THE WINTER HEALTH & BEAUTY GUIDE • NOVEMBER 2015

6 unusual ways to keep colds at bay Supercharge your smile Winter proof your immune system Brace yourself Spa and Leisure Breaks A new beautiful You www.thelifemagazines.com

| NOVEMBER 2015 45

Health & beauty

Brace Yourself!

Have you ever looked in the mirror and found yourself wishing you had straighter teeth?

Did you then remember the metal train track braces your friends had at school and think you’d rather have crooked teeth than endure those? Yes, us to. But as Chislehurst Life found out on a recent visit to H.Williams and Associates Dental Surgery in Petts Wood, orthodontics has moved on leaps and bounds since our school days…

Orthodontist: Radha Sunnak

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eather Williams, the owner and principal dentist of H. Williams and Associates smiles when I mention the notorious NHS train tracks of my youth. “We hear that all the time when we talk to patients about teeth straightening.

Everyone remembers the huge metal train tracks their friends had as kids, and they worry that if they have a brace that’s what they’ll have to have, and it’s just not the case anymore. At least not here it isn’t.”

It’s a surprise when Heather explains the number of options available to help her patients to get the straight teeth they want. “We offer several solutions here, from the ceramic Clarity braces which are a really discreet option, to

Invisalign aligners and Incognito braces where the brackets are actually positioned BEHIND the teeth, so they’re completely invisible when you look at someone’s smile.” Heather’s enthusiasm shines through here as she explains how Incognito braces are completely custom-made in Germany. “It’s very impressive, 3M have made a great product, and we’re very lucky that we can offer it here. We also use their metal Victory appliances, and they’re excellent too”. She laughs as my face drops at the mention of the dreaded train tracks, and explains, “Don’t worry, they’re a world away from the one’s we remember from our youth.”

So treatments have certainly moved on in recent years, but are people interested?

“Orthodontics has become really busy for us recently, so much so that we’ve had to take on two more orthodontists so we can offer more appointments. We even run Saturday surgeries now to give our patients the chance to visit us outside of work or school hours.”

And what’s caused this increase does she think? “It’s hard to say really. People are more knowledgeable and it’s more acceptable now I think. And the improvement in treatment options and the fact that it’s affordable definitely helps. To be honest though, I just think everyone deep down wants to have, straight, white, healthy teeth, and people are just thinking to themselves, you know what, “I want to smile again in photos, I want to look good for that interview and for the family wedding”. And who can blame them,

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because as I tell all my patients, they really do deserve it, everyone does”.

H Williams Nurse: Melissa Ettridge

Exclusive opportunity for readers of Chislehurst Life H Williams and Associates are offering all Chislehurst Life readers a free orthodontic consultation worth £25.

To book yours call 01689 823636 and quote the code CL15, or book online at www.hwilliamsandassociates.co.uk and enter the code when prompted. This offer is valid until December 31st 2015.

Health & beauty

UNUSUAL WAYS TO KEEP COLDS

at bay

If you work in an enclosed spare with lots of other people, use public transport, or regularly hang around with people who do, then chances are, you’re going to get at least one cold at some point this winter.

of course, there are things that can help (or at least make us feel like we’re trying!) to ward off the germs - and that doesn’t just mean spritzing the antibacterial hand gel and popping Echinacea and vitamin C. Here are six less common methods for beating the seasonal sniffles...

DRINK CAMOMILE TEA

Growing up, I had a Peter Rabbit plate with a picture of the bunny in bed that read: ‘Peter was not very well during the evening. His mother put him to bed, and made him some camomile tea’.

Turns out mummy Rabbit was right - people who drink camomile tea have high levels of the anti-inflammatory hippurate, which can ease cold symptoms. Plus, the herbal drink will help you keep hydrated, which makes your body more able to fight infection.

HIBERNATE

OK, we don’t actually mean go to bed until spring, as tempting as that sounds. But this year, research at the University of California, San Francisco, found that a good night’s sleep helps us fight off infections. Those who slept for less than six hours a night were four times more likely to get ill than those who regularly got more than seven hours’ shut-eye. So turn in a little earlier each night to give your immune system a fighting chance.

MAKE TIME FOR SEX

Couples who have sex once or twice a week have 30% greater levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A, which helps combat colds, than those who get intimate less often, according to researchers at Wilkes-Barre University in Pennsylvania. But interestingly, those who had sex three times or more, had lower levels of the cold-fighting antibody than those who abstained completely. So maybe there can be too much of a good thing...

RUN A BATH

Wonder why we’re more prone to catching flu in winter? There are a number of factors, of course (and no, it’s not merely because of a drop in temperature), but according to scientists in the US, whose study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, flu viruses love cold, dry air. These conditions dry up people’s mucus, making it

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harder for the body to repel particles of the influenza virus. With this in mind, a hot steamy bath might not just be soothing and warming on a cold winter’s evening - it could help keep those vital mucus functions in top bug-beating condition too.

SWAP SEATS

It might seem rude, but as airborne germs can fly up to 3.5 metres when someone coughs or sneezes (according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), the easiest way to avoid them is by moving away from the person on the bus/ train/desk with a cold.

ADOPT A DOG

Stroking a dog for 18 minutes can boost immunoglobulin A antibodies that fight infection, according to a study in the US. So what are you waiting for? But remember: a dog’s for a life, not just to help you fight colds.

Health & beauty

Winter-proof YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

50 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

Alex Gurney undertook courses in reflexology and Indian head massage followed by advanced courses in maternity reflexology, pregnancy massage, lymphatic drainage massage and in the use of specialised massage techniques to help prevent lymphoedema in breast cancer patients. She has also studied facial massage and mind and body therapy for stress management.

Alex now specialises in working with pregnant women, with those who have had breast cancer and with women and men with chronic conditions such as ME (chronic fatigue

A

lex Gurney, BA (Open) MFHT, is an experienced clinical complementary therapist who established her own business, Therapia, in 2003. Having previously worked in advertising and law, she became disillusioned with the corporate world and decided to explore career options in the health and wellbeing sector.

Alex completed a course in human anatomy, physiology and massage and was bowled over by the benefits which some of her early clients reported. She decided to train further in the field of complementary therapy, and

She is a gentle, compassionate, empathic and highly professional clinical therapist who is keen to help anyone with these conditions. syndrome) but also offers relaxation therapies for general wellbeing. During pregnancy, many women suffer aches and pains such as backache, sickness and swollen ankles and Alex’s knowledge and skills can help alleviate these.

She has completed a Diploma in Reflexology for Pregnancy and can also provide specialist treatments for birth preparation.

Alex’s experience of helping a friend with

breast cancer fuelled her interest in working with women suffering from lymphoedema, a condition which causes severe swelling and pain in the arms following mastectomy. She works at the Primrose Centre in Orpington, providing lymph drainage massage and reflexology to breast cancer patients and will also see women in their own homes.

Alex is one of only two therapists in the Bromley area registered with UK Lymphology Clinics as a lymphatic pressure therapist offering a unique technique for helping prevent arm lymphoedema in breast cancer survivors.

Lymphatic massage can also be effective in treating lymphoedema in the feet and legs, a genetic condition which can occur in both women and men. Manual lymph drainage has also been proven to help people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (ME), multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia.

Alex’s degree in human biology and psychology, completed in 2009 with the Open University, means that she is well placed to understand her clients’ physical and emotional needs to provide completely holistic treatments.

She is a gentle, compassionate, empathic and highly professional clinical therapist who is keen to help anyone with these conditions. She offers treatments in your own home or in one of her clinics in southeast London and north Kent.

Health & beauty

Winter Proof your Immune System Continued from page 50

52 NOVEMBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

SpaSpa...

The Beauty of Giving This Christmas give a personalised gift to the ones you love. With our beautiful gift wrap service, you can customise your gift with 10% off when you buy 2 products, or 20% off when you buy 3 products or more.

I

f you are a little unsure, our Gift Vouchers are perfect and can be redeemed against any Spa Treatment or Spa Day. Gift Vouchers can be purchased online at www.spahotel.co.uk, or by calling SpaSpa directly 01892 553590, or pop into the Hotel.

We have some fantastic offers this December ~ the 12 Gifts of Spa! So make sure you keep an eye on the website for details.

Health & beauty

Approach Take a Patient

Ready for your call: DPWs Reception

It’s been a month or two since Chislehurst Life last paid a visit to Doctors at Petts Wood, so as part of this Health & Beauty special we headed back to BR5 to see what’s new, and discovered a surgery striving to give their patients the things they want.

O

ur first discovery is that Doctors at Petts Wood has opened an online booking system. So is this the end of the road for receptionists at Doctors at Petts Wood? “Not at all”, laughs Dr Williams, GP, and Doctors at Petts Wood’s Clinical Director. “Our entire team is more important than ever. The patient is at the centre of absolutely everything we do, and that begins from the moment we pick up the phone to you. Our whole surgery is built around the idea of giving patients what they want, which is why we have the early morning and evening appointments, it’s why we’re open on Saturdays, and it’s why we give patients 30 minute consultations. Everything we do here is for the patients.

Online booking is just a part of that; it’s something some patients prefer.”

So as we head into the busy winter season, why else should patients visit Doctors at Petts Wood? “Oh, that’s a good question! Well there are lots of reasons why. As I’ve

The Doctors at Petts Wood & H Williams and Associates team

said, we offer an incredible level of patient service here. And of course, there’s the clinical service itself. We’ve got a hugely experienced team here, and yes, we know people have their own NHS GPs, but our service is completely complementary to that. We’ll keep in touch with your GP as little or as much as you want us too, it’s all up to the patient. We can be the second opinion you want for piece of mind, or we can provide services you just can’t get on the NHS, such as the Meningitis B vaccine, or certain travel vaccinations. We always put our patients first, and we will always go that extra mile to help them”.

So there you have it, if you want your needs to be put firmly at the centre of your healthcare, Doctors at Petts Wood is the place to call (or click) this winter.

Exclusive Offer for readers of Chislehurst Life

Dr Andrew Williams

54 NOVEMBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

Doctors at Petts Wood are offering all Chislehurst Life readers a £10 reduction on the price of a GP consultation. To book call 01689 897901 and quote the offer code CL15, or book online at www. doctorsatpettswood.co.uk and enter the code when prompted. This offer is valid until December 31st 2015 and can only be redeemed once.

Health & beauty

SUPERCHARGE YOUR

SMILE 56 NOVEMBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

In recent years, teeth have shifted from just being a dentist’s domain to your best beauty accessory. Buoyed by the pursuit of the Hollywood smile and the perfect Instagram post, brightening those gnashers at home is now virtually as easy as highlighting your face.

TEETH BRIGHTENING A bright, open smile is your secret weapon for a dazzling first impression (research shows you have just seven seconds - so make it count!).

“The mouth is the first focus when we meet people,” says Graham Barnby, dental care expert and Arm & Hammer ambassador. “Boost your smile confidence by removing stains and brightening teeth, using a non-abrasive whitening toothpaste. Used twice daily, you should begin to notice a difference in five days.”

Amp up the whiteness with a safe, DIY booster that won’t damage tooth enamel. There are countless techniques, from dissolvable strips to 100% natural charcoal polish.

Be mindful of what you eat and drink too, if you’re dedicated to upping the whiteness. Barnby lists coffee, tea, red wine, curry and fried foods as prime teeth stainers.

ty

Bea u

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ore than half of Brits (57%) say there’s more pressure than ever to have a good smile, according to a recent Philips survey.

Thankfully, an abundance of at-home products can produce convincing transformations with minimum commitment. Think subtle tweaks, rather than dayglo fakery.

From pearly whites to pout plumping, try this step-by-step guide to smile self improvement...

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| NOVEMBER 2015 57

Health & beauty

&

TRIED TESTED

Lisa Haynes faces autumn with a seasonal complexion brightener...

I hate autumn. It’s the start of cold, dark months ahead, and this year my face has started to protest about the seasonal change too. To banish my new-found dry patches and dull complexion, I head for a Sothys Oxygenating Seasonal Facial. The five-step treatment uses blueberry and cranberryenriched products to detoxify and oxygenate skin.

The therapist begins by peering closely at my skin with a beaming magnifying mirror to assess the damage. I’m told I have typical combination ‘city skin’, with some congestion and random dry patches, so a facial at this time of year is perfect to hydrate, restore radiance and buff away any dregs of summer tan.

My make-up is removed with micellar water and then my face is swathed in hot towels, before a two-in-one mask exfoliant is applied to my face and neck for five minutes.

The blueberry and cranberry combination smells fruity but not overpowering, and once removed, my skin feels instantly fresher.

Next, a rich, luxuriant modelling cream is used to massage my face. It feels unbelievably relaxing but, at the same time, wakes up my lazy facial muscles. Once again, there’s a focus on the neck, which the therapist tells me is a commonly neglected area.

A thick paste of peel-off mask is applied while my hands and arms are blissfully massaged, then the final step is an oxymineral serum that’s smoothed onto my face.

I look in the mirror, having de-aged about five years on the treatment bed. The next day, my skin looks even fresher. Autumn, I am officially ready for you. w Sothys Oxygenating Seasonal Facials, from £45 for one hour, are available at Sothys salons and spas nationwide. To find your nearest spa, visit www.sothys-uk.co.uk

LIP PRIMING Whether your teeth are the star attraction or not, hydrated, plump lips can dramatically improve a smile - and they require extra TLC over the winter months.

“Lips need to look smooth and moist for lip products to look their best,” says Rupert Kingston, creative director of Delilah cosmetics. He suggests exfoliating with a gentle sugar scrub and using a healing lip balm.

If fine lines are your bugbear, use a light eye and lip cream to tighten and plump the contours daily.

Before you reach for your lipstick bullet, prep around your mouth for a smooth finish. “Start by using a primer, concentrating on the nasolabial folds [smile lines] and any creases that run through the lip line,” Kingston suggests. “Then use a brightening cream concealer through the same areas, to lift out any shadows.”

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cult colour Gold was a stage circuit ck ba e th on mmer 16. for spring/su ic elids metall Turn your ey rly, with a season ea ited edition Lancome’s lim o Hypnose ccarell Anthony Va lden Black.

Palette in Go mes e palette co ey r ne sig ld The de black and go th wi e et pl com er d faux leath an ing ag ck pa only, able online sleeve. Avail me.co.uk £38, at lanco

SMILE ENHANCING The type of lip product you use can be a cheat in itself, in the quest for whiter-looking teeth and juicier lips.

If you’re after instant lip volume, opt for a plumping gloss containing chilli extracts and lightreflecting particles.

For brighter teeth, you can create the instant illusion of whiteness simply by using the right shade of lipstick: “A red or pink lipstick with a blue tone or subtle amount of blue pearl can be very flattering, because it makes your eyes and teeth look whiter and brighter,” says Poppy King, founder of Lipstick Queen.

Conversely, brown and peachy tone lipsticks can bring out the yellow in your teeth, so avoid these if you’re on a whiter-than-white mission.

Don’t be daunted by full-on blue lip products either. “They actually give lips more of a berry tint,” explains King, “and they’re perfect for maximising a brighter smile.”

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FASHION

RETHINK

PINK How many items of pink clothing do you have in your wardrobe?

N

ot many is probably the answer: Barbie’s favourite colour evokes everything from mild dislike to outright fear, but even the most ardent chromophobe will be rethinking their stance when they clap eyes on the rose-tinted AW15 collections.

Prada led the pack, with all but a handful of looks featuring the frosted hue, from salmon trouser suits to leather opera gloves and silk Mary Janes.

Also in Milan, Dolce & Gabbana’s ode to motherhood included blush capes and shift dresses, made all the more girly with the addition of red rose embellishments.

But it’s not all about flashy fuchsia and ultrafeminine styling - crisp minimalism and ladylike chic are the buzzwords this season.

And when the sugary shade looks this good, you’ll be dying to indulge your sartorial sweet tooth...

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FASHION PINK ALL OVER “The shade of pink that is most popular with the fashion pack right now is a pale, pastel pink,” says Veronique Henderson, managing director at Colour Me Beautiful, who advises that Prada-style head-to-toe rose is best for those with lighter hair colours. “If your overall look is more muted, then you have a soft colouring and can embrace a powder pink, blush or even salmon.”

A sharp Sixties or Seventies style coat is an easy way to tap into the trend. Pair it with pleat-front trousers if you want to go all-out or match with a similarly cool-toned grey rollneck or jumper dress.

FIZZY MIX For an equally fashion-forward take on the trend, create a patchwork of pinks by mixing different shades in one ensemble.

“If you have light colouring [fair hair with blue eyes and light skin], then you could try mixing warm and cool coloured shades of pinks together, apricot and salmon pink with powder or opal pink,” suggests Henderson.

The key to keeping in step with the season’s minimal vibe is to choose block-coloured pieces in soft and silky fabrics think satin, cashmere and neoprene, and avoid chintzy prints.

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ON THE BRIGHT SIDE If icy hues leave you feeling washed out, you’ll be pleased to hear the season’s pink palette isn’t limited solely to the sherberty end of the spectrum.

“If you have deep colouring, then pink is a great colour for casualwear, but you’ll need to go a little stronger than the pale tones seen on the catwalks,” says Henderson.

Likewise, if you’ve got red or black hair, steer clear of pinks that lean towards white or grey, instead you want warm-toned blush or coral.

Or you could cheat a bit and choose an item that isn’t worn near your face: a bag is a great way to grab a colour trend if you’re feeling timid.

THE PERFECT MATCH What to pair with pink now? It’s easy to mix with dark staples, so think black cigarette trousers or a grey midi skirt with a pink silk blouse.

“If you’re a red head, then try coral and salmon pink, these look fabulous worn with golden brown and moss green,” says Henderson. “If you’re blonde, try wearing it with a contrasting colour, so baby pink with plum would be a fabulous combination.”

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WINTER FITNESS

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HOME & GARDEN

Come dine with me Our dining dreams are getting grander, and a ‘proper’ dining room is increasingly featuring on home wish lists, as we rediscover an appetite for lingering over meals and savouring the opportunity to connect and socialise with loved ones.

A

lmost 60% of us prefer dining areas to be a separate room, according to a survey by Anglian Home Improvements, and hankering for more formality appears to be in tune with a general change in attitude to mealtimes. TV dinners on the couch are falling out of favour, recent research by Waitrose revealed (apparently a round a third of people are cutting back on that habit), while 50% of parents are making a ‘conscious effort’ to gather the family together for at least one meal a week.

“Separate dining rooms fell out of favour at the turn of the Nineties, with hugely popular TV renovation shows such as Changing Rooms focusing on open-plan multi-functional rooms, but as with all trends, it looks as though the modern British household could be set for a separate dining room revival,” says Julie Yarwood, interior designer at Manchester-based furniture store, Housing Units.

“With increasingly busy lifestyles, the dining experience can be a welcome break from everyday stress and a chance to reconnect with family members and friends. Not only this, a separate room allows us to temporarily remove ourselves from the post-meal clean-up, which often looms over diners in open-plan kitchen and dining areas.”

Post-recession Britain’s also become more budget-conscious, she believes, and as a result, the ‘big night in’ trend is stronger than ever. “It’s inspired a dinner party revival and those often work best in a separate dining room environment.

We all wish to make more of dining, and a beautifully furnished space where we can fully enjoy the moment, is becoming an essential,” she says.

If your dining area’s looking a bit dull, or your dining room rarely used, it’s time to revamp the space. No matter what’s on the menu, this should be a space to suit every occasion...

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HOME & GARDEN DOWNTON DINING Separate dining rooms are spaces where you can truly play with decor and conjure stately home grandeur (butler optional).

“We’re noticing an enormous change in the approach to dining areas,” says Mark Kelly, marketing manager at Furniture123, who recently found that 69% of people now regard the dining room as their favourite place in the home, while 89% spent more on furnishing it - around £3,000 - than on any other room.

“This is no longer a room used only for special occasions - it’s the main gathering point for the family and where people lavish a lot of care and attention getting the decor and furnishing right. They want dressers, a console table, wine racks, decorative lighting and accessories such as mirrors.

It’s all about creating a stylish sanctuary which combines a cosseting, comfortable atmosphere - essential so you can enjoy a meal - with practicality and good storage.”

TIPS: Round tables generally suit smaller groups better, allowing for intimate gatherings. Avoid large vases and flower arrangements or tall ornaments in the middle of a table, as they can form a barrier and discourage interaction.

“This needs to be a multifunctional space - for food, for games, for homework, for catching up over coffee and cake”

MODERN TASTE The essential ingredients for this recipe are streamlined tables and chairs and a pared-back approach, so clutter is minimal or hidden in extensive storage.

“Dining spaces are one of the hardest working zones in the home and have huge potential when it comes to style. You can opt for sophisticated glamour, think generous tables and overhanging pendant lighting in a combined kitchen/dining area which will make the eating area a stunning focal point,” says Kate Tansley, creative director at Multiyork.

“Bench seating has come a long way from the schoolroom and can take up less space than individual chairs and looks more modern. Just add cushions for essential comfort!”

RUSTIC RETREAT Natural materials - especially wood - are ultra fashionable and suit an informal setting.

“While we haven’t seen a huge push for one specific style, one thing which has become clear is that large dining spaces are back and here to stay. Eight to 12-seater tables are proving extremely popular, as people focus on creating a central hub

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for family and friends to gather,” says Jenny Hurren, founder of Out There Interiors.

“This needs to be a multi-functional space - for food, for games, for homework, for catching up over coffee and cake.

There really is no one formula for creating the perfect dining space; it has to work for you and your individual home, and you should feel free to experiment.

“Bold, rich colours can make a separate dining area or room feel snug and cosy, while open plan areas can look stunning decorated in light, neutral tones, which blur the boundary between the indoors and outdoors, if they look out onto a garden.”

TIP: Establish which size table you need - it’s the main focus of the room and must be large enough to seat the required number of people, but too large and it will swamp a room. If space is an issue, opt for an extendable option for versatility.

HOME & GARDEN

The festive season is on its way!

Creating the warmest of welcomes has been our inspiration this season.

W

hat makes an English home unique is the clever combination of elegance and informality. A home where great love and attention goes into creating beautiful, practical rooms but where a warm welcome is always the most important consideration. A home with a heart and soul, rather than perfectly kept spaces.

Rooms in which to live well and laugh often!

We’ve designed hallways to invite people into, built tables ready for guests, created kitchens perfect for parties, found lighting to set the mood and mixed colours that exude warmth.

So whether you are opening your door to friends or closing it to stay cosy inside, make your way to NEPTUNE TONBRIDGE, to make your home the only place to be this Autumn.

THE DETAILS Neptune Tonbridge, 1-2 Tannery Road, TN9 1RF, 01732 351866 info@neptunetonbridge.com

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HOME & GARDEN

Tilemates for kitchen tiles in every style In recent years grey has emerged as the colour of choice for kitchens and it would be hard to find a better combination than grey kitchen units paired with a glossy white tile.

G

lossy rectangular white wall tiles are a design classic and have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent times, largely due to their versatility and the ease of pairing them with strong hues.

Timeless and fresh, white tiles can be a great way to make a kitchen feel clean, light and more spacious. Whilst large format white floor tiles with rectified edges laid closely together with minimal grout lines, further enhance the sleek and seamless look.

The trend for pretty, vintage-inspired pastel kitchens is also going strong and rustic edge white wall tiles are an ideal accompaniment for kitchen cabinetry in quaint candy hues.

Where kitchen units are painted in soft pastel shades of lavender, mint, duck egg blue, lemon or rose pink, fresh white wall and floor tiles are sufficiently neutral to stop them from overwhelming the kitchen scheme whilst still allowing them to sing.

In recent times we have also seen a real resurgence in the popularity of retro-inspired interiors, this look can work especially well when translated into a kitchen setting. Vintageinfluenced floor and wall tiles paired with

painted cabinets and decorative flourishes, deliver a real statement for the kitchen.

Crisp, chic and versatile, our glossy Metro subway wall tiles will add a subtle retro feel to your kitchen scheme. In a traditional rectangular brick format of 7.5cm x 15cm, and with a crackle-glaze surface, choose from a neutral palette of classic white, stone or cream - an ideal base, whether you have a vintage pastel or retro bold colour theme in other parts of the kitchen.

With a muted palette of cream, stone, terracotta, brown and blue, our highly patterned Hexatile also draws on a number of historical influences including Victorian and art deco with geometric and floral motifs blending 20 different combinations for a patchwork look for kitchen walls and floors.

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If you are looking for a floor tile that combines the aesthetic qualities of real wood with the practical, low-maintenance benefits of porcelain - then porcelain wood floor tiles are the perfect choice. In the interior design world, realistic wood-effect porcelain tiles emerged a few years ago as a trend, and their popularity has remained constant ever since.

Porcelain wood tiles are exceptionally easy to clean, as well as being hardwearing, durable and low-maintenance – no need for sealing or treating. Porcelain wood floor tiles capture all the character, beauty and warmth of real wood in a kitchen but with the qualities and benefits of porcelain tiles.

Large format neutral porcelain floor tiles which closely resemble stone are also an appealing option as they are hard-wearing, durable and easy to install, and don't require the commitment of treatment and maintenance that natural stone demands. They are also compatible with underfloor heating systems which makes them an excellent choice for kitchens and open plan living areas.

With five showrooms in South East England - in Brighton, Crayford, Petts Wood, Tunbridge Wells and Welling – Tilemates offers customers a variety of ceramic and porcelain wall and floor tiles to suit all homes, budgets and interior styles. If you would like to find out more about our tile ranges, please speak to a member of the Tilemates team at your nearest showroom.

THE DETAILS For more information and for local branch details please visit www.tilematesgroup.com

HOME & GARDEN

Morso stove

A Morso stove is so much more than simply a stove, it quickly becomes the heart of your home. Combing timeless elegance with traditional craftsmanship and quality, it cannot be beaten.

A

s a family business in the trade for many years we decided to move away from the standard ‘stove showroom’, with rows and rows of black boxes to choose from, restricted brand knowledge and drastic differences in quality we believe that Morso stoves need and deserve to stand centre stage. Our small but well equipped showroom displays everything from a small but mighty inset model that can fit a standard sized opening in your property to a beautiful free-standing cylinder model with side glass to view from every angle, perfect for kitchen diners.

With gas and oil prices steadily rising wood burning stoves are becoming essential for home owners, and aside from purchase and installation costs they will begin saving you money right away. It is encouraged to heat the room you are in, many of us waste money on the central heating to warm a house when in reality we spend most of our time in only a one or two rooms. And what could be better on a cold, dull day than the crackle of a real log fire, flickering flames and a warm cosy room?

We pride ourselves on good customer service and installations tailored to your specific requirements, with a free

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survey we can assess the condition and suitability of your existing chimney or design a bespoke flue system if you do not have one, there is almost always an option for a wood burning stove, sometimes where you would have never imagined it We have a large selection of ‘Defra Approved’ models, this means even in a smoke controlled area you can burn logs on one of the approved models.

Morso have been making cast iron wood burning stoves for a very long time, over 150 years now. Danish technology and design producing modern yet timeless models that are loved as a piece of furniture rather than just an appliance. When you choose a Morso wood-burner, you make a choice for life. We truly believe the brand speaks for itself and we are proud to provide these superbly manufactured, elegant, fuel efficient and environmentally friendly castiron stoves. Come and visit our showroom today, let Morso make the difference in your home.

THE DETAILS Morso Fires Ltd, 180 Petts Wood Road, Greater London BR5 1LG. Tel: 01689 872745 www.morsofires.co.uk sales@morsofires.co.uk

HOME & GARDEN

Wren Kitchens

Wren Kitchens is exceptionally proud to present an exclusive range of Linda Barker kitchens, which incorporates the thoughtful finishing touches you’d expect from experienced interior design specialist Linda Barker.

T

he collaboration began back in 2012 when Wren Kitchens donated a kitchen to a family of flood victims, which was shown on a programme that Linda was presenting. Wren started talking to Linda and it soon became clear that they shared the same values; Wren are proud to be a family-owned business, with roots in Yorkshire where Linda herself is also from. Linda admired Wren’s ambition to completely transform the UK kitchen market, and the collaboration blossomed from there, with Linda becoming Wren’s ‘Creative Director’. They soon began working on an exclusive kitchen collection which would provide consumers with the biggest choice of kitchen door styles and colours in the UK. And all manufactured here in the UK at Wren’s own factories in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. This Collection was a year in the making, and was launched to the UK-wide market at the end of 2013.

There are eight door styles to explore and 40 sumptuous shades chosen exclusively by Linda herself for her Collection - each available in a gloss, eggshell or matt finish. Traditional dovetail jointing on solid oak drawer boxes reflects the level of quality: another opulent feature unique to the Linda Barker collection, which comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Last year Linda had her own Wren kitchen installed in her beautiful Yorkshire home. Linda wanted to make the most of her space, while creating a social environment where

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she could entertain her family and friends, incorporating the panoramic views through her floor-to-ceiling windows of the Yorkshire countryside. She chose the Sculptured door style with complementary colour palette, combining Gullwing, Royal Purple and Damson to great effect.

“All the internal fittings are beautifully lined in oak, which means I never worry about my cupboard doors being left open. The design maximises the space available and although no structural changes were made I feel as if I have a much bigger, more efficient kitchen with infinitely more storage space.”

Linda is now heavily involved with Wren’s Kitchen Designer training at their head office, ‘The Nest’ in North Lincolnshire. At the end of the designers’ 2-week induction, Linda provides a specialist interior design session, encouraging them to experiment with colour and offering advice on everything from kitchen layouts to the latest appliances and trends. Linda has become a part of the Wren family, and she is more than just the ‘face’ of Wren, it’s a synergy that is cemented in her passion for interiors and love of the brand.

All the internal fittings are beautifully lined in oak, which means I never worry about my cupboard doors being left open.

THE DETAILS To view the entire range and book a design appointment, visit wrenkitchens.com

HOME & GARDEN

space planning for the whole family. With exclusive design highlights everything is possible and this can all be done with the highest degree of individuality providing unique design and with intelligent equipment details.

PRONORM KITCHENS Pronorm can look back over a long company history. It began production of high quality kitchen furniture back in 1945 at its location in Vlotho Germany. Pronorm are now one of the leading manufacturers of high quality kitchens which cater for our most discerning customers looking for modern style and functionality.

Lifestyle Kitchens See the unmistakable quality of Mereway, Pronorm and Rempp kitchens for yourself and then rely on Alaris to be an efficient and experienced partner when you are choosing and designing a new kitchen. With our kitchen ranges we can set a high value on design, quality and functionality. This is reflected in the variety of our kitchens which will always offer future trends in style and design and are the result of our close co-operation with our kitchen brands.

Modern colours, forms and materials are as important as the development of solutions which last the test of time.

It’s important that the kitchen you choose will suit your aspirations and lifestyle for many years to come. The Alaris design team can be trusted to help you achieve your perfect kitchen that will exactly match your personal requirements and your lifestyle. Alaris designers have the experience to guide you through the many options offered by modern kitchen layouts, from small kitchen spaces to comfortable

Rempp Kitchens Since its foundation as a little joiner´s workshop in the 1930’s Rempp Küchen has cultivated its tradition of craftmanship.

Modern production engineering is also needed to create beautiful kitchens and with Rempp Küchen tradition and progress go hand in hand. They have features that are truly exclusive for those who are impressed by perfectly engineered components.

Mereway Kitchens The Mereway name means exercising taste and judgment, but more than that, it means taking the time to make choices that enhance your life. Just as a coffee lover would never choose an instant coffee because it was cheaper, quicker to make or more conveniently available, so a typical Mereway Kitchens customer would take the time to select a kitchen on the basis of quality of craftsmanship, inspirational design and exceptional customer experience.

To experience the Alaris difference why not visit a showroom or the website and ask for a free design consultation.

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HOME & GARDEN

Kelvin Fireplaces Kelvin Fireplaces Ltd showroom is conveniently situated in the ‘Gift and Furniture’ section of Polhill Garden Centre,

O

pen Seven days a week and with plenty of free parking, with over 40 displays. You will find a friendly team of sales advisors who understand the important details that concern people when purchasing a fireplace, possibly for the first time.

The bright and airy showroom will have a range of classic and contemporary gas, electric and solid fuel fires; specialising in a range of wood burning and multifuel stoves, hole in the wall fireplaces, together with natural limestone, timber, granite and marble fireplaces.

They offer a complete made to measure service if required, as well as ready made styles that can be delivered or installed by their Gas Safe and Hetas registered fitters.

A full complement of surveyors, chimney sweeps, flue specialists, builders, plasterers and electricians complete their professional installation service.

THE DETAILS Kelvin Fireplaces, Polhill Garden Centre, London Road, Badgers Mount, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 7AD Tel: 01959 532444 www.kelvinfireplaces.co.uk

HOME & GARDEN

Come to C & H

for all your gift needs this Christmas

I

We stock a fantastic selection of homewares including the stunning, handcrafted range of tableware by Polish Pottery. The beautiful blue designs complement each other to create an eclectic set and are sure to impress.

f you are entertaining this Christmas then why not take a look at the choice of placemats and coasters from Pimpernel, the premier brand. The high quality, heat resistant finish ensures protection for your furniture and with designs by Morris & Co., Spode, Wrendale and Portmeirion, you are sure to find the perfect set for your home.

For your little ones why not pick up a heatable soft toy – these cuddly and comforting winter warmers include an adorable puppy, wise owl, fierce dinosaur, sweet penguin and more!

Our collection of gorgeous stationery is sure to appeal to the scribbler in your life, so why not check out the designs we have available in store. We offer pens, notepads, sticky memo blocks and more – perfect for stocking fillers or as a complete set.

Our selection of home fragrance gifts includes diffusers, scented candles, pomanders and sachets. Choosing the right fragrance for your home is important, so we offer something for everyone from floral blends and homely scents to more exotic aromas.

All this and more is available at C & H, so let us help you choose the perfect gifts for you and your loved ones this Christmas 113-115 Mount Pleasant Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1QS

C & H NOT JUST A FABRIC SHOP

We also offer a wide range of stunning gifts, shoes, handbags, home wares, and children’s toys and games.

candh.co.uk

01892 522618

We have something for all tastes and budgets, so why not make us your one stop shop this Christmas time.

10% DISCOUNT OFF ALL STOCK PRODUCTS ON PRODUCTION OF THIS ADVERT

Fiveways Fires & Stoves Experienced, Friendly.

Family Run Showroom.

Hetas and Gas Safe engineers.

Multi fuel stoves all Defra approved, Gas Fires and Mantles, The New Optimist range of Electric Fires and Stoves.

Open 6 days a week: 10 until 6.

743-745 Sidcup Rd, New Eltham, SE9 3SA (located along Sidcup Bypass)

Tel: 0208

127 4747

TRAVEL

THE DUBAI life WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK The fiery red sun is sinking beneath the desert dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see in every direction.

T

he only noises piercing the eerie silence are the revs of 4x4 engines, followed by the laughter of our driver and gasps from passengers as we climb another dune.

We are taking part in one of Arabian Adventures’ Sundowner Desert Safaris - a magical evening that begins with a thrilling journey over the sand dunes in the Dubai Conservation Reserve, and ends with a Middle Eastern feast under the stars at a traditional Bedouin-style camp.

Although we had only arrived in the UAE a few hours earlier, the forest of shiny skyscrapers, network of busy highways, and hustle and bustle of the city that greeted us now seems a million miles away.

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“Largest in the world”, and “world record holder” are phrases that I hear quite often on my five-day trip to Dubai.

Construction work is taking place everywhere, and it’s even been suggested that 25 per cent of the world’s cranes are situated in the city, as it continues to expand both horizontally and vertically.

But despite being the world’s fastest growing urban area, Dubai is still in touch with its traditions and Arabian way of life, and visitors can easily find areas rich in history and culture, as well as modern luxuries that won’t break the bank.

Of course, it is totally free to visit Dubai’s old town, but for just 155 Dirhams (£28) per person, an Arabian Adventures guide will take you on a Merchants’ Tour around the cobblestoned streets of the Fahidi Historical District, across the Dubai Creek and on to the famous spice and gold souks.

Almost everything you can think of is for sale at these markets, some of it authentic and valuable, but most not.

However, it’s great fun finding out what’s what - bartering and bantering with the shopkeepers, and trying out the local delicacies, including camel milk chocolate.

For Western visitors to the UAE, it is also worth popping down to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre For Cultural Understanding (SMCCU).

At the SMCCU, we join a pair of Emirati hosts for a traditional Saturday breakfast (100 Dirhams/£17.50 per person) to talk about a variety of topics, including the Muslim dress code, the Arabs’ role in the world and even the abstinence of pork and alcohol.

In fact, the two hosts encourage us to ask them absolutely anything the more outrageous and controversial the better, as they attempt to (and succeed in) opening the eyes of the handful of tourists in their audience.

Nevertheless, despite Dubai’s rich history, it is the 21st-century hotels, shopping malls, beaches, clubs and bars that have made the city into of the most popular tourist destinations on Earth. And although many visitors are bound to make a beeline for the high-rise hotels down on Jumeirah Beach or at the Marina, boutique hotels such as Manzil Downtown Dubai and Vida Downtown Dubai, offer a similar level of service, luxury and comfort, but in a more scaled-down fashion. And with a much more digestible price tag of around £140 per night for a deluxe double room.

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| NOVEMBER 2015 85

TRAVEL Both Manzil and Vida ooze style, and from their location on the palm-tree laden Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, they have amazing views of mega-tall skyscraper the Burj Khalifa, and are a stone’s throw away from the Dubai Fountains and Dubai Mall.

Manzil, from the Arabic word meaning ‘home’, is the slightly more traditional of the two, and with its white, brown and beige decor, has more of an Arabian theme.

The ultra-hip Vida, meanwhile, has fashionable urban styling throughout its six floors and the cabana-surrounded pool is the place to be on a Friday afternoon.

Before I arrived in Dubai, I had heard all about the legendary all-youcan-eat-and-drink Friday Brunches that take place throughout the city’s hotels. But nothing could have prepared me for Vida’s weekly Urban Picnic event. With packages starting at 295 Dirhams (under £50) per person, it is one of the best value brunch events in the city, especially compared to most of the larger hotels on Jumeirah Beach, which usually charge upwards of £100.

After a sophisticated first hour with a banquet of food in the cool air-conditioned 3In1 restaurant, the action soon spreads out into the cabanas, where (with a £20 upgrade on the basic drinks package), Moet & Chandon and ice buckets are the order of the day.

A great place to visit any night, but particularly post-brunch at Vida, watersports at Watercooled, adjacent to the Doubletree By Hilton Hotel.

We cruise around the bay on a Hobie catamaran (just 200 Dirhams, or less than £40, between a small group for half an hour), while the others try stand-up paddleboarding (100 Dirhams for an hour), all in the shadow of the enormous Manhattan-style skyline created by the luxury big-name hotels.

There is also work going on erecting a London Eye-style ferris wheel just off Jumeirah

is the sky lounge NEOS Bar over the road at The Address Downtown Dubai - where you can take a lift to the 63rd floor and enjoy surprisingly reasonably-priced beers or cocktails, with views of the glittering city below.

The cream-coloured taxis are dirt cheap as well in Dubai. Fifty Dirhams (£10) will get you from any area of central Dubai to another, meaning even if you’re on a budget, you can still see most parts of this amazing city.

On our final day, we leave the steaming hot city, desert and old town behind, and head to Jumeirah Beach for a cooling afternoon of

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Beach, but as with the Big Ben replica and most other things in the city, it will be significantly bigger than the original.

And speaking of size, on our final evening in Dubai, we get to see what all the fuss is about - and take the 124 floors up to the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa.

The 829m skyscraper is a wonder of modern technology. It took six years to complete, with 20,000 people working on the tower in its final weeks of construction.

The overall cost eventually reached more than £1bn, so the 125 Dirham (£22) entrance fee to scale the world’s tallest building hardly seems extortionate.

Neighbouring Saudi Arabia is currently in the process of building something even bigger - the Kingdom Tower. But if there’s one thing I learn from my weekend in Dubai, it’s that no expense will be spared to topple the world record again.

And that’s the thing about Dubai, although there is cash, construction and sheer extravagance everywhere, Arabian adventure and affordable luxury is also within your grasp.

The real jewels in Dubai’s crown are still relatively inexpensive and, as the stunning sunset over the desert proves, the best things in life are free.

CWJ

Placed on National Award Shortlist...

! e c i w T

We are proud to reveal that CWJ has been shortlisted for two categories, best community contribution and best digital presence, and will be joining other leading law firms from across the country at the finals of the 2015 LawNet awards.

T

he annual awards recognise innovation and excellence amongst members of LawNet, the leading national network for independent law firms.

LawNet’s chief executive Chris Marston commented “Each year we recognise the outstanding work that is being done by members of LawNet across the country. They are all independent law firms with a commitment to excellence and the awards are a great opportunity to recognise their contribution to the standing of legal excellence in the UK, and to recognise the staff behind these outstanding initiatives.”

All LawNet members share a commitment to excellence and must achieve and maintain LawNet’s own ISO.9001 standard and the associated Mark of Excellence to ensure they deliver the highest standards in client care and professional service.

“It’s a real boost for everyone at CWJ to receive national recognition in this way, especially after all of the consistent hard work put in by the team. We look forward to the awards evening in November where we are hopeful of taking an award home – fingers crossed!”

Andrew Wright (Above)

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| NOVEMBER 2015 87

WINTER FUN

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| NOVEMBER 2015 89

BOOK REVIEWS

The

BookShelf

“Sometimes there’s more to a book than seen at first glance beyond first impressions another story often lurks - discover delights in diversity.”

WORDS by Bruce Edwards

Versatile Verse Norman Friskey Pub. by: P/b:

Paradise and Plenty Mary Keen Pub. by: H/b:

Pimpernel Press £50

With half an eye on Christmas and the ideal present for garden lovers, Pimpernel have released a truly magnificent publication, one that could well fall into the category of the ideal ‘coffee table’ book. We often suffer low standards of book production, particularly in fictional genres, to meet the ever present problem of heavy discounting especially from that wellknown internet gobbler of author’s margins so it is good to see Pimpernel challenging those standards. Details like two marker tapes, fold-out photos and well designed end papers add quality though we mourn the sad necessity for printing in China. That said, the way in which Keen outlines the world of gardening excellence within the Rothschild’s Eythrope private garden is first class and it is outside the scope of a small review to do justice to the comprehensive facets of its presentation, be it vegetables, fruits, glasshouses or border; suffice it to say one would be hardpressed to find a nicer book to add to one’s shelves - or table.

ISBN:

Mereo Books £7.99

When National Poetry Day came and went without overmuch in the way of media coverage (except a television programme possibly designed to shock sensitive viewers) perhaps we should reflect on what drives anyone to commit thoughts to verse; is it emotion or to take a sideways swipe at life? This small but consequential volume conceivably does both.

The one poem which will link with ‘Paradise & Plenty’ is entitled ‘ The Trees’, alongside another addressed ‘To Kathleen’; both will help quantify the header sentence above. Not everyone will take to poetry for a multitude of reasons, but our poet here has a pleasant approach to words in a quietly meaningful way.

Some ‘modern’ poetry is incomprehensible to all but a few academics, and a read of some published in the London Review of Books will illustrate the point perfectly, but this collection is fine, in every use of the word. Don’t be afraid to consider the ‘Passport to Paradise’ or ‘Social Insecurity’! Another one for the bookshelf.

ISBN:

978-1-9098-7461-9

978-1-9102-5812-5

Borrowed Years Jon Beattiey Pub. by: P/b:

Tregertha Imprints £12.99

Set primarily in the evocative countryside of Northumbria - the Debateable Lands belonging to the past days of the lawless ‘reiver’ (from where we get ‘be-reaved’ and, oddly, ‘black-mail’) - here we have a very feisty girl sent into virtual isolation to mend the error of her ways. And that error? Being her own person and standing up for her rights as a woman, a topical subject whilst the film ‘Suffragette’ is doing the rounds. Luckily, the girl’s North Country mentors have a less formal view of society’s rigid codes whilst Enid’s reputed ‘Aunt’ extends her talents into elegant pastimes. Despite being an apt pupil, she cannot forgo her principles; the result has a fair chance of precipitating total disaster though, in keeping with our topic, the remote evocative countryside and the underlying theme of independence bring her to another view of life and a chance to repay her ‘borrowed’ years. Hidden behind the story there is a subtle moral - girls, don’t take everything at face value.

ISBN:

978-0-9931-4881-1

Can’t find a title? Want to discover a different source of intriguing titles? Pass your enquiry onto us at: writerselect@gmail.com

90 NOVEMBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

Food & DrINK

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| NOVEMBER 2015 91

FOOD & DRINK

ARE ROUX A SAUSAGE FANATIC TOO? Michel Roux Jr. loves sausages. He really, really loves sausages (“It’s as simple as that!”), so it makes sense that he’s signed up to be the face of this year’s British Sausage Week (November 2-8).

E

“

ven though I have got French heritage, I was born in England and brought up on the great British banger,” explains the chef, who heads up his family’s two-starred Michelin restaurant, Le Gavroche, in London.

His current go-to sausage recipe is definitely on the gourmet end of the banger spectrum though: a take on beef bourguignon, it’s pork sausages grilled and cooked like a stew in red wine sauce, and served with mashed potato.

So no, you won’t often spot him tucking into a ketchup-dripping sausage butty down his local caff...

“I do occasionally - very occasionally - go to a greasy spoon. I’m more of a sausage at home man,” he says with a rueful laugh. “For me, they’re a comfort food.”

In between cooking up a storm on the sausage front and leaving MasterChef: The Professionals in 2014, the 55-year-old has been braving budding cooks, ranging in age from nine to 12 years, in First Class Chefs on the Disney Channel UK. “It was wonderful, absolutely wonderful,” he says enthusiastically. “Having never worked with children on camera before, it was quite an experience, very heart-warming. And it was great to see them so passionate about food.”

Were there any dramas?

“Loads and loads! They were working as teams, so sometimes they were best friends and, because they didn’t always agree on how to cook a recipe, things could get very, very fraught - but they all made up in the end.”

He’s hopeful there will be a second season, but even if there isn’t, his diary is already bulging over the next few months.

There’s a Channel 4 series he’s just finished filming called The Diner, big plans for another cook book, and then there’s the success of his daughter and their joint projects to focus on too.

Emily Roux has recently been hired as a consultant by the prestigious hospitality company, Restaurant Associates.

While Roux-the-elder is suitably proud, it

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doesn’t stop the pair clashing in the kitchen. “’Course we do!” he shouts.

“We’re Rouxs! We’ve got certain ideas about how food should be cooked and presented, and we’re not afraid to voice our opinions.

“But it is very good,” he adds sweetly, “it makes us stronger.”

From how he appears on TV, it’s difficult to imagine Roux Jr. ever really losing his temper, whether at his daughter or his roster of top chefs.

When he does, “it’s normally very short lived and I always make sure that afterwards I explain why I lost my rag”, he says.

“I tend not to lose my temper because if you do, you actually lose control, and I’m a control freak, so very rarely will I blow my top. But if I do, it’s not nice!”

A keen marathon runner (20 and counting), he has been out of action for a few months due to a problem with his calf muscles, but promises: “Next year I’ll come back with a vengeance.”

Aside from the obvious health benefits, he explains that mentally, running is “a great escape, and to be on my own, that’s really nice. And then, because you burn off a lot of calories, you can eat whatever you want. Haha!”

Just before Roux Jr. returns to his sausages (he’ll be taste-testing many of the 500 that will be on offer during British Sausage Week), since we’re talking bangers, the question has to be asked... “My first ever car was a Peugeot 104. It was certainly rough around the edges. It was old and was even rougher round the edges when I sold it on to the next person - an even bigger banger!”

Planning your own sausage feast? Try one of these twists on a classic meal, including Michel Roux Jr.’s bourguignon and wasabi recipes:

VIETNAMESE PREMIUM SAUSAGE SANDWICH For the pickled carrot and radish: n 1 large carrot n 8 radishes n 3tbsp rice wine vinegar n 1tsp caster sugar n Salt For the sausages: n 2tsp sunflower oil n 6 spicy sausages n 1 lemongrass stick, chopped n 2tbsp honey n 1tbsp rice wine vinegar n Freshly ground black pepper

For the sandwich: n 1 baguette n 4 tbsp mayonnaise n 1/4 cucumber, finely sliced into ribbons n 3-4 pickled jalapeno chillies, sliced n Large handful of coriander

Serves 4

Make the pickled carrot and radish. Finely chop the carrot into matchsticks. Slice the radish finely. Put in a bowl with the rice wine vinegar, sugar and a pinch of salt and set aside.

Heat the oil in a pan and fry the sausages for 15-20 minutes until golden all over and cooked through. Stir the lemongrass into the bottom of the pan, followed by the honey and rice wine vinegar, season and toss the sausages in this glaze. Set aside.

Slice the baguette into four pieces then split each through the middle.

Spread the base of each with one tablespoon of mayonnaise. Lay the cucumber on top. Slice the sausages in half lengthways and arrange on top, then scatter over the chillies.

Top with a spoonful of pickled carrot and radish and finish with the coriander. Drizzle the sticky glaze left in the pan over each banh mi (sandwich) and serve.

WASA BI DUC HESS POTATO WIT H HON EY AN D SOY GL AZ ED SAU SAG E n 3 baked potatoes, mashed n 2tbsp butter n 4 egg yolks n Salt n Wasabi paste to taste n 6 pork sausages n 1 red chilli n 2tbsp honey n 6tbsp soy sauce n Juice of 1 lime

Serves 4

Take the mashed potato and, while still warm, beat in the butter, yolks and seasoning, adding as much wasabi as you like.

Place this in a piping bag with a star nozzle; pipe onto a non-stick tray circles the shape of doughnuts with a hole in the middle.

Take the skin off the sausages and shape the meat into four balls that fit into the hole of the doughnut.

Bake in oven at 200C for 10 minutes. The sausage meat should be cooked and the potato golden.

Bring the honey, soy and lime juice to the boil and then simmer until sticky. Use this to glaze the sausage meat, then sprinkle thinly sliced chilli on top for a real kick.

“I tend not to lose my temper because if you do, you actually lose control, and I’m a control freak, so very rarely will I blow my top. But if I do, it’s not nice!” www.thelifemagazines.com

| NOVEMBER 2015 95

FOOD & DRINK

3BEST... of the

Chilli jams Stokes Chilli Jam, £3.39 for 250g (Waitrose)

Tangy and sweet, there isn’t too much of a chilli heat kick to contend with, and it’s great with roast chicken and potato wedges.

Eat 17 Chilli Bacon Jam,

PORK AND LEEK SAUSAGE BOURGU

n 8 pork and leek sausages n 12 button onions, peeled n 12 button mushrooms n 2 carrots, peeled and sliced n 500ml strong red wine n 500ml beef stock n 2 cloves garlic, crushed n 2 tbsp butter n 1tbsp plain flour n Salt and pepper n 2tsp sugar n 1 sprig thyme n 1 bay leaf n Parsley (optional)

IGNON

£2.99 for 105g (Tesco) Don’t be put off by the ‘bacon’ bit - it’s not too piggy at all. In fact, it’s subtle with a hint of spice and excellent in a cheese sandwich.

Serves 4

Boil the wine with the thyme, bay leaf and sugar until reduced by half, pass through a sieve and set aside.

M Signature Jalapeno Chilli Jam, £1.46 for 305g (Morrisons) Nice and chunky, the heat level in this chutney is balanced and the pieces of red pepper add to the sweetness. Excellent on cold meat leftovers.

Cook the onions in a saucepan until golden using all the butter, then add the flour and garlic and mix well with a wooden spoon. Pour in the wine and stock, bring to the boil, add the mushrooms and carrots.

Lightly grill the sausages until coloured but not cooked through. Add these to the red wine sauce and continue to simmer for 20 minutes.

Check the seasoning, sprinkle with a little chopped parsley and serve with either a creamy mashed potato or buttered new potatoes.

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THE DETAILS For more information about British Sausage Week (November 2-8), visit www.lovepork.co.uk Find out more about the campaign’s celebrity ambassador, Michel Roux Jr, at www.michelroux.co.uk

17th CENTURY PUBLIC HOUSE

The hidden jewel in North Kent’s crown WHATS ON GUIDE:

November

DECember

Fri. 13th ABBA girls Live Musix!

WED. 2ND KILLER POOL

Sun. 15th Quiz Night Fri 27th Live entertainment with a superb Neil Diamond tribute!

Sun. 29th Quiz Night

FRI. 4th KARAOKE SUN. 13th CHRISTMAS Quiz THURS. 24TH CHRISTMAS EVE WITH BLONDE! THURS. 31ST RICKY’S DISCO

CHRISTMAS MENU STARTERS Minestrone Soup with croutons.

Chicken liver pate with red onion jam and toast.

Succulent Crab and prawn cocktail with whole grain mustard dressing, gem lettuce and lemon for squeezing.

Stuffed Mushrooms with caramelised red onion and Welsh rarebit.

MAINS Traditional roast turkey with stuffing, chipolatas wrapped in bacon, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, winter vegetables, cranberry sauce and pan jus.

Pan fried Duck Breast with spiced red cabbage, fondant potatoes and red currant jus.

Oven roasted salmon with fricassee and green cabbage, bacon and potato.

Goats cheese tart with new potatoes and salad.

SWEETS Christmas pudding with brandy sauce.

Bailey’s crème brulee.

Apple crumble with whisky custard.

Double chocolate cheese cake.

TO FINISH Mince pie and coffee.

Cheeseboard £2.00 extra

Rushmore Hill, Pratts Bottom, Kent BR6 7NQ 01689 852 553 | www.thebullsheadpub.net | info@thebullsheadpub.net