Living in Suffolk Coastal - Issue 42

ISSUE 42 ... EARLY SPRING ISSUE 2024

LIVING IN

SUFFOLK Spring inside ... expert makeovers Suffolk gals ... making waves Rendlesham UFO ... new evidence

AWARD WINNING

MAGAZINE 2024!

ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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Local home owners… throw open their doors Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod! Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours

YOUR BRAND NEW FREE HOMES & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

© Jemma Watts

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ON OUR COVER ...

We love this Suffolk kitchen by designer Charlotte Crofts, photographed by Jemma Watts.

Charlotte gives us her top ten makeover tips this spring. See pages 16 and 17. l Check Charlotte’s work out at, charlottecrofts.com

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LIVING IN

GET INVOLVED …

If you’ve got a topical story, an inspiring home or business to show off or an event you’re planning, then do get in touch. The deadline for our next issue - our April/May edition which hits the streets in early April - is 16th March. l For advertising information or if you’d like to submit any collaboration ideas including offers of a million pounds, don’t be shy.

Email us at, info@livinginsuffolk.com

© John Richardson

Editor: Angela Hagan 07930 184773, info@livinginsuffolk.com Designer: Lewis Webb Writer: Carl Stickley carl@livinginsuffolk.com Media Sales: Alison Green alison@livinginsuffolk.com livinginsuffolk.com

Local home owners… throw open their doors

Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod! Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours

YOUR BRAND NEW FREE HOMES & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Due East Media Ltd: Ferry Quay Office, Ferry Quay, Woodbridge, IP12 1BW. Registered in England number 10242873

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Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor the editor, nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party for omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication. Living In … Suffolk Coastal does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, without prior permission of Due East Media Ltd.

ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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Local home owners… throw open their doors Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod! Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours

YOUR BRAND NEW FREE HOMES & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

CARAVANS & MOTORHOMES WANTED! Top Prices Paid Instant payout Finance Settled Nationwide Collection

Foxburrow Farm, Waldringfield Road, Brightwell IP10 0BJ

SUFFOLK SISTERHOOD… As International Women’s Day looms on 8th March, the female movers and shakers of Suffolk are paving the way. We asked them, “what is your greatest achievement?”

“I think my greatest achievement is helping so many people in so many different ways by founding and then developing, along with a great team, the INK theatre company and annual INK Festival.”

JULIA SOWERBUTTS

“Opening four salons in four Suffolk towns in eight years during a somewhat challenging economy and then winning a whole raft of awards!

Very proud indeed of all our team.”

“Being able to follow my heart and instincts throughout my life.”

JANENE HAWKINS-BUSH

SUSANNA COOK

Artistic director of inkfestival.org

Founder of suffolkhair.com

© John Ferguson

Owner of themerchantstable.co.uk and founder and creative director at alliesdesign.com

“Raising three children while simultaneously running Homespun Clothing and New Street Market; an imperfect juggling act all done with love and a huge dollop of humour!”

SAM DENNY HODSON

CEO of homespunclothing.com and newstreetmarket.com “Three things - starting my own business 20 years ago and being given my first company cheque book from my bank in Woodbridge. Working with generations of clients in their homes and knowing that I am being called back to assist them with small or large projects. Helping to reuse clients’ own pieces of furniture and fabrics,mixed with a few new pieces and seeing the joy on their faces when all is completed, on time and on budget.”

CAROLINE FOOKS

Owner of carolinefooksdesign.com

“I managed to win two PSA titles this year; Calgary CFO Consulting Champion 2023, Monte Carlo Classic Champion 2023. I was also runner up at the South African Open. I’m currently ranked 22 in the women’s world rankings and am half way through my PSA season.”

LUCY TURMEL

Suffolk squash star.

Follow her on Insta @lucyturmel

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“My greatest achievement? 40 years as a successful comedy writer? Yes! Swimming in the North Sea every day? Definitely, yes! But I think perhaps my greatest achievement is that my husband, son, daughter and four teenage grandchildren still enjoy my company. At least, they say they do…..”

JAN ETHERINGTON

Award-winning comedy writer, INK Festival contributor and journalist. Conversations From A Long Marriage, her hit Radio 4 comedy, starring Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam, begins a fifth series on 22nd February at 6.30pm “Some of the best things in life come later; one of my proudest moments has been seeing the results of taking the risk in my late 50s to open my own business, Gallery East. Thanks to all the fantastic artists who are working with us, we continue to show some inspiring art. “ “Being a mother and watching my daughter fulfil her dreams.”

SUSIE TURNER

Owner of galleryeast.co.uk

MANDY LEESON “In addition to my two talented children and building my digital marketing company Brandnation, my greatest achievement has to be mentoring many young talented individuals who have gone on to great success in their chosen careers.”

Owner of legendary Scandi-inspired vanil.co.uk

MARY KILLINGWORTH Managing director of brandnation.co.uk

“Achieving Designated Bathing Water Status for the River Deben at Waldringfield which obliges the water company to make improvements to the waste water recycling plant infrastructure at Martlesham Heath.”

RUTH LEACH

Suffolk County Councillor and founder of the Save The Deben campaign group, savethedeben@gmail.com

“Being the only female on a build team tasked with designing and fitting 200 high end New York apartments. That, and other prestigious projects led on to me opening three beautiful Suffolk stores.”

REBECCA BROOKER

Mum-of-two and owner of Little White Box in Aldeburgh, Woodbridge and Lavenham. Visit, little-white-box.com

“Always trusting in yourself!”

CATHY FROST

Part of the Smallbiz 100 in 2022, Ipswich borough councillor and owner of Ipswich favourite, loveone.co.uk ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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© John Ferguson

“Overcoming debilitating health issues to pivot my career, win awards and rebuild a happier life, with thanks to the support of friends, family and my professional peers.”

ELMA GLASGOW

National award-winning changemaker and inclusive storyteller at elmaglasgowconsulting.com

“My greatest achievement is starting my own business at the age of 55 and expanding to own a chain of ladies boutiques across Norfolk and Suffolk.”

“Running a mostly-female team (in a once male-dominated profession) who we enjoy nurturing and mentoring and watching them blossom!”

SALLY HICKS

Co-founder/owner of tilleyandgrace.co.uk

CLARE BARLOW

NEWS

© Carl Stickley

Partner at Ipswich-based solicitors, christchurchlaw.co.uk

PULP star Jarvis Cocker

LIVING IN …

WINS AWARD!

Jazzie B

© John Ferguson

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he new year started with the fabulous news that we have scooped the title of ‘Best Local Business Advertising Publication 2024 - East Anglia’ in the MarTech Awards. In reaching their decision the judging panel of online giant Innovation in Business, told how they took into account certain criteria.

They said, “To determine the results, Innovation in Business judging panel and research team consider the commitment, expertise, and innovation shown by nominees through nomination information, votes, any supporting evidence, along with the results from their own comprehensive fact-checking and research process.”

Magazine editor, Angela Hagan, says: “We’ve always felt proud of how well read

we are – even by stars such as Jarvis Cocker and Jazzie B! Now we are thrilled to say we are officially East Anglia’s number one magazine! Thank you so much to those who nominated us.” l To find out more about the magazine, visit, livinginsuffolk.com Or check out the awards here on this QR code.

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ON THE

MARKET Your latest local property news from around the coastal region …

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL The kitchen, it is said, is the very heart of the home. And in the case of this lovely, detached period property just a few minutes’ walk from Woodbridge’s bustling town centre, it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Bursting with light and character in equal measure, this four bed family home boasts three stunning reception rooms, two bathrooms, a large mature garden complete with veggie patch and greenhouse, garage, large shed and

off-road parking for multiple vehicles.

But it’s the bespoke kitchen with fabulous glass vaulted ceiling, island unit and quartz surfaces which really set our pulses racing.

It’s a foodies’ kitchen with real wow factor.

And we love the original pantry. Outside is a pretty private brick courtyard garden set in a secluded south facing position - it’s the perfect setting for entertaining and alfresco dining. Happy days!

Offers in excess of £700,000 l Contact Potters on 01394 447487 or visit, pottersestatesagents.com

FORESTERS GLADE One of our favourite haunts is Bawdsey and these fabulously energy efficient detached homes situated on a boutique development is causing a stir.

Foresters Glade, for sale through Jackson-Stops’ Land and New Homes Department, are meticulously designed to be as energy efficient as possible with air source heat pump heating, floor to ceiling insulation and provision for EV charging points. These properties also come with a 10 Year NHBC Warranty and 2-year builders’ warranty with the highly regarded Crocus Homes.

Prices from £450,000 l Call Jackson-Stops Land and New Homes Department on 01473 218218 or visit, jackson-stops.co.uk

ON THE TOWN …

This stylish two bed apartment positioned over two floors is accessed from the Thoroughfare in the centre of Woodbridge.

Offering a newly created 125 year lease, this spacious flat, which is set over two floors with the bedrooms located upstairs, is well worth viewing.

Guide price, £290,000 l Call Fenn Wright on 01394 333346 or visit, fennwright.co.uk ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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WHAT A

GEM!

I

t is a year of anniversaries for Rick and Maggie Chapman who run Woodbridge Jewellery Workshop. 2024 marks ten years in the town’s Thoroughfare and 50 years since Rick started making jewellery.

Perhaps the most poignant anniversary of all is it’s been five years since Maggie was diagnosed with cancer.

It was in 2018 after she had just returned from Austria “fit as a fiddle,” that she noticed blood in her urine. Tests revealed a 5cm tumour in her bladder and she was diagnosed with high-risk grade three bladder cancer.

After an operation to remove the tumour, there followed a chemotherapy treatment, a six-week intensive course of immunotherapy BCG treatment and then a further two-year course of BCG - 27 treatments in all!

So far, it has worked. And five years on, and with the help and support of the

charity Fight Bladder Cancer, Maggie and Rick want to celebrate with a charity open day at the workshop in the town’s Thoroughfare.

“We’re delighted to be here and want everyone to celebrate with us,” says Maggie. “It’s to help raise money for Fight Bladder Cancer as they helped us five years ago with support and advice.”

“Rick will be making an 18ct gold, platinum and diamond necklace in just one day here at the workshop – it takes place on Saturday 2nd March.”

“To enter the draw to win the necklace all you need to do is donate £10 to Fight Bladder Cancer (see details below). You can enter as many times as you like; each £10 donation will count as an entry. We would absolutely love to raise £2,000 - please help us. And remember to include your contact details - if you remain

“We’re delighted to be here and want everyone to celebrate with us” anonymous, we won’t be able to contact you if you win!

“We’d like as many people as possible to come in throughout the day to watch progress and celebrate with us. Suffolk choir Pop Chorus are performing at

HAILING ALL FREQUENCIES!

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fter co-producing the fabulous Woodbridge Yuletide Weekend on Whisstock’s Place in the town, Jan Pulsford discovered one of her Christmas songs, co-written and sung by Cyndi Lauper, had garnered close to 12 million Spotify streams!

Appearing on many seasonal compilations, it appears ‘Early Christmas Morning’ has become a seasonal favourite.

Since arriving in Woodbridge back in 2011 Jan has been involved with both the local music scene and community radio.

“I’ve been experimenting with streaming since 2003, when the metaverse became an option for live music,” she says. “When I moved back to the UK, I continued my love of community radio by broadcasting the ‘Ambient Music

World’ show on Deben Radio, then Radio Ditto in London, up to Castle Radio in Framlingham, over to Eurobeat Radio, occasional shows on ICR, then to Bentwaters with Radio Mothership and Rendlesham Radio.

“At the height of our listenership during covid, Radio Mothership had over 7,000 listeners but things changed dramatically with lockdown, and we sadly had to give up our studio and licence. We kept the stream and used it for pop ups at various live broadcasts like the Woodbridge Ambient Music Festival but gave up 24/7 radio. We’ve recently rebranded as Mothership. Voyage as the Radio part seems a bit obsolete - we’re now a pop-up stream and digital label, hailing all frequencies!”

11.30am and in the run up to the draw at 4.20pm.”

Visitors to the Charity Open Day at the grade II listed workshop will see first-hand Rick’s skills as a jeweller. Maggie says, “After a pre-apprentice course at Sir John Cass College, he was apprenticed at the Crown Jewellers Aprey of Bond Street for five years, and on passing out became a Freeman of the City of London. He mastered all the traditional skills of making jewellery - and continues to make everything by hand.” l To enter the draw, visit, giving. fightbladdercancer.co.uk/pf/ woodbridgejewelleryworkshop For further details go to, woodbridgejewelleryworkshop.co.uk Woodbridge Jewellery Workshop, 80 Thoroughfare Woodbridge IP12 1AL. The Mothership is heading to Felixstowe Radio, for two hourly shows a week on 107.5 FM, just down the river and the gateway to the North Sea and rest of the world.

Mondays at 9pm, Jan will be broadcasting her ‘ambient music world’ an hour of music to relax and unwind.

“On Saturdays at 8pm, Gary James continues his ‘Uptown Transmission’ which has become a firm favourite with listeners of eclectic mixes of underground music,” says Jan. “Aside from running the Pavilion Cafe in Woodbridge, Gary releases albums as Floormat Doormat and Slow Down Missy. He recently released his ground-breaking Stylophone album ‘Timber Barracks’ - Drybridge Hill will never sound the same again.”

Tune in and chill out to Felixstowe Radio and follow Jan and the Mothership on her next voyage. l You can listen to Felixstowe Radio by asking Alexa to play “Felixstowe Radio” or visit, felixstoweradio.org.uk

Jan Pulsford (end right) has worked many times with superstar Cyndi Lauper ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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RELISH

Huge congratulations to the Unruly Pig which has just scooped number one place in the Estrella Damm UK Top 50 Gastropub Awards, 2024.

The team were delighted though they are no stranger to accolades. Having been named number 77 in the National Restaurant Awards 2023 as well as GQ Magazine Food and Drink Awards 2023 ‘Best Pub,’ this is the second time The Unruly Pig hit the number one slot - it scooped the 2022 Estrella Damm UK Top 50 Gastropub Awards and thus went on to host the 2023 awards at the Woodbridge pub.

Chef/ patron Dave Wall says, “It means so very much because it is our peers who vote for these awards, and I am humbled by their generosity and kindness in voting for us.”

Owner Brendan Padfield, adds: “These are troubled times for hospitality; Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis continue to adversely impact every single day, so this is a remarkable, timely and so well-deserved shot in the arm for Team Unruly.” © Claudia Gannon

© Rebecca Dickson

TEAM UNRULY DOES IT AGAIN!

l To book a table visit, unrulypig.co.uk

HIGH FIVE TO THE SUFFOLK The Suffolk Sur Mer in Aldeburgh makes it a hat trick of awards this season, having made it onto SquareMeal’s UK’s Top 100 Restaurants for 2024 – for the second time in so many years. If you haven’t yet tried it, you are in store for a treat. l Check it out at, thesuffolk.co.uk

LARK ASCENDING …

Lark in Bury St Edmunds has been awarded the prestigious Bib Gourmand in 2024’s Michelin Guide. Based in the town’s Angel Hill, it has also been named as one of the best places to visit in the UK by food critic Jay Rayner. l Visit, larkrestaurant.co.uk

by many USAF security police personnel in the farmer’s field in Rendlesham Forest and this incident had actually been filmed with motion picture cameras (cine and early video).

Bustinza reckoned the base commander of the twin bases of RAF Bentwaters and adjacent RAF Woodbridge, Colonel Gordon Williams, was present when “entities” were seen beside the craft.

“It sounds like science fiction,” says Gary who claims to have unearthed 17 different timed UFO events, “but Bustinza’s testimony corroborated, almost word for word, a controversial account given by the original military whistleblower, airman Larry Warren, when the case made international headlines back in October 1983. Now we have clear corroboration that incident really did occur.”

Another new witness he interviewed, a former airman called Steve Longero, claimed he was actually inside a nuclear Weapons Storage Area at RAF Bentwaters when he saw a UFO shining a beam of light along the ‘hotrow’ of bunkers. He Iikened to the Roswell Incident in New described the beam as moving like it was Mexico in 1947; an alleged crash and ‘making a scan’ of what was inside the recovery of an ET vehicle and its occupants. bunkers.

UFOs are now back in the headlines again, The Ministry of Defence has stated that not least as US Congress last summer held the event posed no threat to national a public hearing looking security and has never into claims it was officially investigated it. concealing a longstanding Gary, who is founder programme which editor of the bimonthly “It sounds like retrieves and reverse PDF ezine UFO Truth science fiction engineers UFOs. Magazine, reckons his Former detective and book contains many more but this incident author Gary Heseltine has revelations. really did occur” devoted the last two This summer, he plans decades to researching to return to Rendlesham Gary Heseltine UFOs (unidentified Flying to host a fascinating tour Objects) or UAPs with more details to be (Unidentified Anomalous revealed in a later edition Phenomena). of Living in Suffolk Coastal magazine.

Five years ago, he began his own re-investigation into what happened at l NON-HUMAN The Rendlesham Forest Rendlesham Forest just outside RAF UFO Incidents: 42 Years of Denial is Woodbridge, which was used at the time available only on Amazon (500 pages) by the United States Air Force (USAF) from and priced at £17.99. Visit, its nearby twin base, Bentwaters. His ufotruthmagazine.co.uk subsequent book, which took three years to write, and more than 40 trips to Suffolk (he lives in Yorkshire), is called NONHUMAN The Rendlesham Forest UFO Incidents: 42 Years of Denial. It was released on Amazon last year with glowing reviews.

In it, Gary re-interviewed many of the known witnesses to the event, as well as obtaining new testimony from former military personnel. One, a USAF sergeant, Adrian Bustinza, claims to remain traumatised by what he saw, namely a significant second UFO landing witnessed

DECADES OF DENIAL?

Author and former police detective Gary Heseltine on his investigation of the Rendlesham Forest Incident, and his talk in Suffolk this summer …

M

ost people have heard

about the Rendlesham Forest Incident but will we ever know for sure what went on one cold and frosty evening in the winter of 1980?

A former detective constable with the British Transport police, Gary Heseltine, who spent five years researching his latest book claims he has new evidence about what happened and plans to return this summer to give a tour.

For the uninitiated, just after Christmas in 1980, at RAF Woodbridge, American military personnel claimed they witnessed strange lights in Rendlesham Forest.

Deputy Base Commander Lt. Col. Charles Halt was said to have lead an investigation, in which they discovered mysterious impressions and elevated radiation levels. Witnesses described seeing a metallic craft with hieroglyphiclike markings. The incident was dismissed as being nothing more than the deceptive lights of the former Orford Ness Lighthouse. However, declassified documents and witness testimonies have fuelled speculation about extraterrestrial involvement.

Whatever your view, there’s no doubt that the incident has shone a spotlight on our corner of the world. It is one of, if not the most famous of UFO cases, often

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INTERIOR LIVES LOVE IS … BLIND We love this dreamy range of bedroom roller blinds which come in a variety of fabric treatments including blackout, heat reflective and flame-retardant materials. Energy, solar and anti-glare protective coating fabrics are also available. Blinds can also be coated to relieve hayfever symptoms. Their children’s range includes glow-in-the-dark blackout blinds. l Check them out at, norwichsunblinds.co.uk

DOORS REACH DIZZY HEIGHTS Those clever people at the Burgess Group are now designing and installing the sensational Spitfire range of contemporary aluminium entrance doors.

A favourite among architects and developers, these stunning entrance doors offer an unprecedented level of choice and flexibility. Offering widths of up to two metres and breathtaking heights up to three metres, there’s 600 styles to choose from, including traditional hinged designs and pivot opening doors. l Visit, burgess-group.com

SPRING MAKEOVER!

Charlotte Crofts is one of our leading interior designers and an Edward Bulmer paint consultant, working from her colourful shop on the Market Hill in Woodbridge. Here she gives us her top ten makeover tips this season …

l The big number one, which is easy to forget when faced with a million amazing photos on Instagram is that this is your home, not a show house. Your family knick-knacks, children’s drawings and photos are part of your story so take inspiration from them. Working with the things you love will give your project a stamp of authenticity which just cannot be bought. l Use colour and pattern. There is very little grey in nature other than a dull day so be inspired by glorious gardens and sunny skies and bring the joy in. l Don’t get worked up about white but do avoid ‘pure brilliant white’ because it is actually a super pale blue with optical brighteners rather like laundry powder and is very cold. Paint up an A4 piece of paper in your wall colour and take it to the paint shop to put against the whites available and take them outside also, you are looking for gentle contrast not the liquorice allsort effect. l Very dark colours should be used with caution.

Look for rich mid-tones that have a warm base which are much better suited to our brief summers and long periods of low light. Try to use cusp colours, those that sit happily in two camps such as the deep blue greens, the browny pinks and warm based reds.

Green is always lovely and can always be brought in with lots of plants.

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l Give man-made fibres a wide berth at all times.

Shiny is not good, unless it’s a very country house cotton chintz or wonderfully puffy pair of silk curtains. l Avoid feature walls if you can. We are asked about these a lot but they unbalance a room and leave the other three walls wondering why they weren’t invited to the paint or paper party. If you love wallpaper or a beautiful colour then go for it and decorate all four walls, you won’t regret it. l Play with scale. In a small room scale up otherwise you’ll get the Lilliput effect where everything seems really diddy and insignificant. Try a large wallpaper, wide panelling, maybe big blousy curtains.

Photography by Jemma Watts jemmawatts.com

l In a large sitting room for example, start in the middle and work out, the fireplace is a good focal point if you have one. Make sure your furniture is generously sized and well away from the walls. Have your sofas and armchairs comfortably close to each other as as nobody likes to squint across the room to distant friends. Sofa tables piled high with books, a beautiful upholstered ottoman, plentiful little drinks tables and patterned, squashy upholstery will make your large room feel very inviting.

l After a long day you should be able to reach your drink and a handful of nibbles without leaning too much from your chair, comfort is key. l Finally, if you do need some professional advice remember a good decorator is there to help you and ease your furrowed brow. A second pair of eyes can often be just what’s needed as it is famously difficult to see a room afresh when you’ve seen it a thousand times, so never be worried about asking for help.

Happy decorating!

l Charlotte Crofts & Co, 36 Church Street,

Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1DH Call, 01394 388125, visit, charlottecrofts.com Instagram: @charlottecroftsandco For colours check out, edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

SUFFOLK JOBS

HOW’S IT GOING CAREER WISE? According to the latest figures the unemployment rate in East Suffolk has increased since last year.

Here career coach Lottie Stickley gives some top tips on getting back into the job market …

What does the current job market look like?

I’d be lying if I said it was easy out there.

The economy has been challenged over the last few years by Brexit, covid and wars we’ve all heard so many sad stories. As a result, there are fewer jobs around particularly in this area. Suffolk has always been a strong sector for jobs in energy, finance, hospitality, ICT and ports/ logistics.

With an elderly population the social care sector is also strong. However, from April 1st 2025, the local authority is proposing to cut its arts fundings by 100% due to inflation and the rising cost of social care.

So what is your professional experience?

I’m a qualified and experienced trainer who spent many years working for the NHS. My day job is working for local government and I’m also a self-employed career and wellbeing coach. I have personal experience in managing redundancy, separation, beginning a career later in life and overcoming trauma.

My passion is in supporting people to achieve their goals, as well as supporting them during challenging times. Unlike therapy, which supports your mental health in healing from trauma/difficulties, coaching focuses on goals with the aim of influencing the future.

What are you currently seeing with those who are unemployed?

As a career coach I’m seeing people who

are tired and struggling with keeping their faith and optimism in finding that niche job. Their confidence has been knocked particularly since covid as possibilities are a bit more limited now.

Whether you’re looking for a new career or just being employed again, the competition is rife.

What can they do?

People have got to be really targeted in their approach. Resilience is so important when we’re going through any transition, be it a separation, finding a job after uni or looking for employment later in life.

The mindset that we have is crucial.

When you get that interview, the ability to show the best version of yourself at that time is paramount.

What sort of clients do you attract?

Anyone, from university leavers to sixty-somethings. I helped a man recently, in his fifties who had been made redundant and was feeling a bit embittered and frustrated that he was in that situation. He’d gone for numerous interviews and couldn’t seem to get beyond the interview stage and didn’t know why. Coaching isn’t a magic wand - it’s a series of conversations and the ability to be able to highlight different ways to look at a problem. Coaching can help explore why this might be, and I can offer insight and suggestions on how to move forward. It might be the attitude people go in with themselves (younger people interviewing them might make them feel uncomfortable or frustrated).

I’ve also supported many women who haven’t worked for a number of years and want to get back into the world of work, but perhaps lack confidence and feel they have nothing to offer. Again, a coaching conversation can really help.

LOTTIE’S TIPS:

1

The job market is very iT-orientated now and it’s important to know how to send application forms to get in front of the right people. For example, a lot of people - even young people - don’t know about the ATS which stands for Applicant Tracking System. When an employer advertises a job they might use keywords or phrases to attract the right applicant.

The ATS is an AI (artificial intelligence) software which then sifts out those people who haven’t used those keywords or phrases in their applications. In fact, there’s a strong chance their application won’t even be seen by human eyes. It’s crucial you reflect those keywords back in your application. Many companies use this ATS as it drastically reduces the time a human being takes to go through each application as hundreds might be applying for just the one role.

Local home owners… throw open their doors

Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod!

Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours

YOUR BRAND NEW FREE HOMES & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

2

It’s important, particularly for younger people, to consider geography. If you’re planning to stay in Suffolk, really study the local labour market information for what industries are here. For example, if you want to be a museum curator, don’t be expecting to find many opportunities in rural Suffolk! So be prepared to travel or relocate.

3

Many people struggle with putting their CV together and include way too much information. A CV should ideally give a brief synopsis of what you can bring to the table and of your qualifications. Your cover letter can go into a little bit more depth but not everything has to be put into that either. Also make sure you tailor your CV and cover letter to EVERY job you apply for. Your applications can’t follow a one size fits all approach as these may well be sifted out on the first hurdle by the Applicant Tracking System.

l For more information on how Lottie can help you visit, careerwise.co.uk ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

Local home owners… throw open their doors Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod! Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours

WELLBEING

YOUR BRAND NEW FREE HOMES & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Karen likes to look on the bright side of life!

ARE YOU HAVING A LAUGH?

We all need a good belly laugh at the moment and Karen Clarke offers just that with her lifeaffirming Yoga Me Happy Sessions in Felixstowe.

Promising, “an hour of fun, laughs, chuckles and chortles with deep breathing and relaxation,” Karen says the hour-long sessions held at @inc Felixstowe in the town’s Hamilton Road, bring joy and happiness. “No postures and no experience required,” says Karen who reckons many clients tell her it’s just the tonic they needed. “I also offer video calls to people who can’t get here easily, like my carers group. We don’t talk, we just laugh – a lot. It’s a real icebreaker. One lady whose husband has MS, says it makes her so connected just having a good laugh with others.

Sometimes we even hear her husband, who is bedridden, joining in on the chuckles in the background!

It’s such a joyous thing.” l Find more about her work at, karenyoga.wixsite.com Or email her on, Karen offers side karenclarke06@aol.com splitting sessions Call, 07526 119529.

BEST FOOT FORWARD…

There’s very little foot health practitioner and skincare specialist, Rosie Jackson, doesn’t know about feet and nails. Trained at the UK’s prestigious SMAE Institute, Rosie launched Balance Skincare and Wellbeing last year at The Lounge hair salon in Woodbridge. Her unique selling point is that she offers holistic and medical grade treatments. Anything from cryotherapy, medical pedicures, Dermalux LED Light Treatments to holistic therapies such as reiki.

“Older clients often tell me they wish they’d looked after their feet earlier in life,” says Rosie, who also specialises in toenail reconstruction as well as Dr Hauschka treatments and Environ facials. l Call 07967 793877 or visit, balance-skincare.com

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BREATHE!

CLEANING UP

In February 2020 business owner and fatherof-three Craig Trevain faced a lifethreatening diagnosis of stage four pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer following a rugby injury. At just 48 he underwent the first of seven gruelling rounds of chemotherapy.

“All the time I was going through chemo I researched how to help myself,” he says. I looked at holistic medicine and other ways to clean up my life. It was shocking to me how many things used in everyday life are toxic or carcinogenic, causing such a negative impact on our bodies, a lot of the time without us even being conscious of it.

“I had been working in the commercial cleaning business surrounded by these chemicals all my working life.”

The cancer metastasised to his liver, which meant that for the subsequent months, his life was dictated by “doctors and modern medicine while I waited to be told what was to happen next.”

“This feeling of powerlessness did not sit right with me,” recalls Craig. “I wanted some semblance of control, so I started to

All your holistic health, beauty and wellbeing news from around the coastal region …

Local home owners… throw open their doors

Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod!

Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours

YOUR BRAND NEW FREE HOMES & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

research what I could do to help myself, which very quickly sent me down the path of holistic medicine. The chemo only shrunk a bit of the tumour in my liver but it was so overall harsh on my body.

Applying a holistic lifestyle over time shrunk a lot more on my liver and even a little from the pancreas - something which the doctors told me would never happen! This personal experience became the foundation for a venture aimed at sharing knowledge and providing non-toxic alternatives for better health and wellbeing.”

Last year he opened up Polar Brite Clean Living in Coggeshall - a one-stop shop for those looking for clean, non-toxic products and treatments.

“We are a health shop with all sorts of products, from supplements and protein drinks to personal care, hygiene and home cleaning supplies,” he says.

“We also have treatments like our resonant light machine, infra-red sauna and a photon genie machine which harmonises your energy and vibrational frequencies.”

As well as wholefoods and drinks, Polar Brite provides supplements free from artificial ingredients and chemicals as well as essential vitamins, minerals, and innovative liposomal products from part of their lifestyle range. “From our popular functional mushroom coffee to the handsoap we use, the emphasis is on promoting a non-toxic lifestyle.”

Craig, who says he owes much to discovering the benefits of intravenous and liposomal vitamin C, has learnt so much along the way – far too much to

RELAX WITH YOGABILITY

Those lovely people at Yogability are offering a soothing Inner Sanctum Retreat featuring yoga, breathwork, cacao ritual and heart chakra meditations to name but a few.

Tickets are available now for this event in Ipswich, which takes place on February 24th from 3-5pm.

Namaste. l Find them on social media @yogability_ or call, 07377 153676

mention here – but his shock and bewilderment at being diagnosed with cancer soon turned to absolute clarity about why it had struck. He admits that his life before – working too hard, playing rugby and enjoying drunken nights out – has been kicked into touch in favour of a new and restful lifestyle which has seen his tumours shrink and the cancer kept at bay.

“The beginning was tough,” he adds. “But I’m four years into this and I’m viewing it as a blip that will strengthen me in the future due to the wonderful holistic healing.” l Visit, polarbrite.co.uk ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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MAMA AFRIKA

What’s new in your lively local arts scene?

Angela Hagan has the lowdown …

WHO WRITES THIS RUBBISH!

The wonderful 142 Gallery in Felixstowe plays host to an exhibition of the diverse and anarchistic art of London’s Klinker Club and its Suffolk founder Hugh Metcalfe. The exhibition, running from 15th to 21st February, celebrates over 40 years of an organisation which has championed truly original free improvisation and artistic performance in its many forms.

Expect the unexpected as ‘free improvisation’ is expression in its rawest form where the artists articulate their creative genius through sound, film, dance, music, percussion, images, poetry, prose and whatever comes to hand. What comes out fits no genre, maybe has no rhythm nor any rational structure. It is gloriously experimental, can appear unrehearsed and is sometimes

harmonious, but more often it’s challenging, controversial and seemingly eccentric!

Hugh Metcalfe (pictured left) and Michael Kehoe have brought together a collection of the art, artefacts and people of Klinker to create this month’s exhibition entitled, ‘Who Writes This Rubbish’, where visitors can immerse themselves in the bizarre and amazing story of Klinker. Some of Hugh’s recorded albums, including ‘My Guitar is a Virgin,’ will be on sale during the exhibition along with original artworks.

Klinker Club continues in 2024 with live shows which include music, improvisation, poetry and ‘whatever happens on the night.’ l Find them on Facebook at Klinker Zoundz or Insta at Klinker.Zoundz

Multi-talented Zimbabweanborn singer, musician and storyteller, Anna Mudeka, presents this powerful UK tour with two dates in Suffolk.

The show is a moving and spiritual account of the life of the iconic South African singer, songwriter and antiapartheid activist, Dr Miriam Makeba, better known as Mama Afrika. It charts her incredible rise from the townships of South Africa to global star and enforced exile for her stand against apartheid.

Dr Makeba, who married Black Panther party leader, Stokely Carmichael, was also shunned by the American establishment for aligning with the civil rights movement.

Anna says of her epic production, “I’m proud and excited to be able to bring this show to people around Britain as we mark three decades since the official end of South African apartheid, and to inspire and educate audiences about this incredible woman.” l See Mama Afrika: Hope, Determination and Song, on Saturday 2nd March at The Cut in Halesworth (thecut.org.uk) or on Thursday 18th April at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich (wolseytheatre.co.uk)

REALITY TO ABSTRACTION

Gallery East’s latest exhibition, Reality to Abstraction, is coming soon. Launching with a private view on Friday 8th March this stunning exhibition features leading contemporary artists from Suffolk, London and Cornwall. They include Alex Ayliffe, Jane Kell, Caroline Mackintosh, Jean Noble RI, SWA, and John Piper. All with their unique style, they represent the landscape as they see it with colours and contours distinctive to the terrain they inhabit. We love this striking oil on canvas, pictured left, by Jane Kell called ‘Cerulean Cove.’ l Visit Gallery East, 24 Church Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 IDH, galleryeast.co.uk or call Susie on 07836 325497 ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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PRAISE BE …

Exciting news reaches us that acclaimed British abstract artist Peter Vaillant is exhibiting at The W Gallery in Woodbridge this month (February). His distinctive artwork, a favourite of celebrity collectors, adorns numerous divergent venues.

Liverpool Cathedral acquired ‘Praise’ which hangs next to the artwork of Tracey Emin and Dame Elisabeth Frink. The BBC commissioned Peter for Queen Elizabeth II, Diamond Jubilee Pagaent. The finished artwork joined another piece by Sir David Hockney. l Check it out at, The W Gallery, 45A Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, IP12 1AH.

This wonderful literary event has in the past featured two Nobel Prize winners, two Chancellors of the Exchequers, one Pulitzer Prize winner and many other distinguished speakers. The 23rd Aldeburgh Literary Festival takes place from Thursday 29th February to Sunday 3rd March in Aldeburgh.

Originally started in 2002 by John and Mary James of The Aldeburgh Bookshop - indeed, 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of this much-loved book shop – the festival promises something for everyone. This year it plays host to many great names in the literary world including Elizabeth Burke, Nick Cottam, Kate Bingham and Martha Kearney. One highlight sees presenter of Radio 4’s Today programme, Nick Robinson, in conversation with political columnist, Daniel Finkelstein, about his powerful and at times heart-breaking memoir, Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad: A Family Memoir of Survival. In it, Finkelstein tells of his parents devastating experiences of persecution, resistance and survival during the Second World War. His mother, Mirjam Weiner, was the youngest of three daughters born in Germany to Alfred and Margarethe Weiner.

Alfred, a decorated hero from the Great War, is now widely acknowledged to have been the first person to recognise the existential danger Hitler posed to the Jews and began, in 1933, to catalogue Nazi crimes in detail. After moving his family to Amsterdam, he relocated his library to London and was preparing to bring over his wife and children when Germany invaded Holland. Before long, the family was rounded up, robbed, humiliated and sent to Bergen-Belsen.

Finkelstein’s father Ludwik was born in Lwow, the only child of a prosperous Jewish family. In 1939, after Hitler and Stalin carved up Poland, the family was sent by the communists to a Siberian gulag. Working as slave labourers on a collective farm, his father survived the freezing winters in a tiny house they built out of cow dung.

All festival events take place at Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall except the film, We Fought Them in Gunboats, presented by Julia Jones, which will be shown at the Aldeburgh Cinema at 10am on Sunday 3rd March l For more details visit, aldeburghbookshop.co.uk Daniel Finkelstein is a member of the House of Lords.

© Richard Cannon, The Times

ALDEBURGH LITERARY FESTIVAL

INK IS BACK!

Described by the BBC as “this region’s mini Edinburgh Festival,” the 8th annual INK Festival returns to Halesworth and it’s bigger and better than ever!

YOUR CALENDAR OF EVENING PERFORMANCES AT THE CUT …

T

his year the festival will expand further across the town, creating more original performance spaces, and showcasing 70 new short plays for both stage and radio. These plays are chosen from nearly a thousand submissions reflecting the talent of both new as well as experienced writers, many from our region.

What sets INK Festival apart is that every play is selected, cast and produced

by INK. These original plays are all under 20 minutes. Each entry is read at least five times before a shortlist is formed.

Directors then make their choices from this selection. INK casts the plays from auditions in Suffolk and London bringing together a team of more than 60 professional theatre practitioners.

This year the diverse submission categories include: A Play on a Bus, Planet INK, Cock Ups, Treasure and Radio Comedy creating a wide variety of relevant, entertaining and thought-provoking plays.

There are also a number of five-minute plays from some very special supporters The INKredibles: John Boyne, Jon Canter, Christopher Douglas, Rachel Joyce and Jan Etherington (see page 6).

Beyond the plays, the festival boasts an exciting line-up of stand-up comedy, art, poetry, music, children’s programmes,

l Thursday 111h April - The Comedy Store Players, 7pm £20 An evening of the very best improvised comedy performed at an eyewatering pace. Formed in 1985 this group of comedy players has included Sandi Toksvig and Paul Merton. Today the group features Josie Lawrence, Lee Simpson, Neil Mullarkey and Richard Vranch.

fascinating talks including acclaimed actress Juliet Stevenson (pictured), workshops, short new films and much more.

Sunday Funday (14th April) transforms the Market Square with street performers, music, stalls and food – an ideal free event for families to enjoy.

Poet Luke Wright has curated a stunning line up of performance poets featuring James McDermott, Alice D’Lumiere, Martin Figura, Kate Fox and Elvis McGonagall.

Luke himself showcases his new show Joy on Saturday 13th April.

There will be workshops to help you write better scripts, better comedy and better poetry! And special guests to enlighten you! All these events are covered by the day ticket with prices starting from £25.

Day Tickets for students aged 16-25, £10. A carer ticket is available for free.

Under 16s are free with an accompanying adult. l The eighth annual INK Festival takes place on April 11-14th in Halesworth.

For tickets and further details, go to, inkfestival.org

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l Friday 12th April - Suffolk Shorts and ‘Orchestra of Samples’ by Addictive TV, 7pm £20 A double bill treat from two Suffolk greats. l Saturday 13th April - An Evening With Mark Thomas, 8pm £20 One of the few stand-ups still to carry the political standard of alternative comedy, Mark Thomas, is essentially an observational comic – only his observations tend to revolve around the crusading anti-corporate, anti-greed investigations he undertakes. He is best known for his campaigning Channel 4 series, in which he employed, Michael Moore-style, televisual stunts to get his message across. l Sunday 14th April Ink Finale – The Big Band Night, 7pm £20 A band formed of more than 17 of the best musicians from the BBC and Strictly will perform an amazing programme of music to lift the roof off The Cut at the finale of the festival for another year.

Programme compiled by Dick Walter.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE can only afford one session a week which just isn’t enough for most people. At Resolve, our members have multiple sessions each week at a far lower price than traditional personal training to ensure that they get the most out of their efforts.

Not to mention having 12 available sessions per day to choose from to allow for complete flexibility.

READY TO MAKE A CHANGE? Resolve Fitness offers a pioneering new gym experience to its clients who are put at the very centre. Personal trainer Zak Gladwell tells all …

What first inspired your love of fitness and exercise ?

It was initially sparked during my time in the army. I joined at 16, straight after school, and worked in the Airborne Forces for seven years which largely involved being immersed in an environment which prioritised physical fitness as a core component; it instilled a deep appreciation for the benefits of staying active and healthy. It’s this love of fitness which made me go down the route of becoming a personal trainer. I want to create a community of people who share the same excitement and enthusiasm for health as I do as a coach.

How has it helped you in life?

Fitness has been incredibly beneficial in various aspects of my life. Not only has it improved my physical health, but it has also provided me with mental clarity, discipline, and resilience which has translated into other aspects of my life such as owning my own business. I could never have done this without fitness being a staple in my life.

What prompted you to open up Resolve Fitness?

The idea to open Resolve Fitness stemmed from my personal experiences with the conventional gym model. Having worked in and been a member of many gyms before, I experienced first-hand how they fell short on a lot of fronts. The community aspect felt fragmented, there was a lack of personalised support, you had individual trainers with individual views which led to more confusion for the members and meant that there was no real definition of fitness. Many people are also intimidated and overwhelmed by traditional gyms: not sure what to do, they’re left feeling

self-conscious and embarrassed. At Resolve Fitness these aren’t issues. The small groups, constant guidance from our coaches and tailored programmes eliminate all of those points. I knew this was a better, and much more effective, way to do it which led me to creating what I believe to be - a more holistic and effective approach to fitness.

How’s it going?

Opening Resolve Fitness has been both challenging and rewarding. Building a business from the ground up during an uncertain climate has, without doubt, been the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

However, seeing our members thrive, achieve their goals, and foster a sense of community within our facility makes every effort worthwhile.

What is the most rewarding part of your role?

The most rewarding part is witnessing the positive impact we have on our clients’ lives. Whether it’s helping someone reach a fitness milestone, overcome a personal challenge, or simply supporting them on their journey to better health, knowing that we’ve made a difference is incredibly fulfilling.

Tell us about the gym and its facilities?

Resolve Fitness boasts a state-of-the-art facility designed to cater to all fitness levels. We offer ample parking for our members’ convenience, ensuring easy access to our gym. Our facility is equipped with top-of-the-line equipment, dedicated coaching spaces, and comfortable amenities to enhance the overall fitness experience. It’s our clients’ home from home. Our support goes beyond the norms of what you would expect from Personal Training though. Offering additional benefits such as free coffee, free heart rate monitors, providing nutritional support, conducting regular body composition analysis, hosting social events and lots more. We want to provide our members with everything we possibly can to make it a fitness experience like no other.

What will clients get out of joining Resolve?

Clients who join Resolve Fitness can expect to receive comprehensive support tailored to their individual needs from the moment they walk through the door. Our goal is to empower our members to achieve long-term success in their health and fitness journey.

Any plans for the future?

Looking ahead, we have ambitious plans to further expand and enhance the services we offer at Resolve Fitness. This includes introducing new fitness programs, hosting more social events and continually investing in our facility to ensure we remain at the forefront of the fitness industry. Our ultimate aim is to continue inspiring and supporting our members to lead happier, healthier lives. l Resolve Fitness, Unit 12a, Riduna Park, Melton, IP12 1QT. Visit, resolvefitness.co.uk email, info@resolvefitness.co.uk Insta, @resolvefitness_

What is the unique selling point you offer clients?

It’s a culmination of many things. By offering small group personal training sessions, we provide the benefits of individualised coaching, support, and accountability within a high energy, supportive community setting, all at a fraction of the cost of traditional one-onone personal training. Generally, one-onone personal training simply doesn’t get the results because the majority of people ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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DOG ABOUT

M

y name is Wren and I’m a beautiful threeyear-old Bedlington Whippet. My parents got me from Chard in Somerset during something called lockdown. According to what I overheard at the time I wasn’t planned - I was part of an unexpected litter of four - so my mum and dad got me for free. I like to think they got the bargain of the century with me - I’m priceless.

When I first arrived back at my Suffolk home I had so much energy my family couldn’t believe how fast I could run. They say I was like a streak of grey fur and squiggles whizzing past them in our back garden.

My favourite thing in the world is my squeaky deer toy and also playing with my dad. For some reason he will say, ‘do you want beef?’ and it drives me crazy. I’ve been known to jump over the sofa to the other end of the room in one giant leap to then chase him down the corridor, nipping at his feet! My mum says my dad shouldn’t encourage me but she’s always laughing when she says it, so we get away with it. Now that I’m three, mum says I’ve calmed down a lot and I love sleeping on her side of the bed. I’m quite laid back now - apart from when dad plays with me. I think it’s fair to say my family are the luckiest people on earth.”

“

l Have you got a dog who would like his or her 15 minutes of fame? Email your best photos to: info@livinginsuffolk.com

BUSINESS BULLETIN © Matt Forster

All the latest business news from around the Suffolk coastal region …

DAYTIME RAVING! Hangovers will soon be a thing of the past as the daytime clubbing trend sweeping the nation comes to Woodbridge!

We Are One is the brainwave of electrifying DJ Tallulah Goodtimes, AKA Sophie Tott, performer, artist and all-round music superstar, and will take place monthly on Saturdays launching 17th February.

Inspired by the legendary dance and wellness event, Morning Gloryville, which kickstarted the trend back in 2013, Sophie is bringing dancefloor magic with reggae, disco, soul and funk, house, electro swing and a dash of drum and bass.

She says, “It’s a party, fitness class, and wellbeing event rolled into One. Start your day with a guided warm-up, lose yourself in the music, then cool down and recharge with a short, energising meditation. Leave your cares at the door and greet your weekend with a spring in your step and a smile on your face.”

WHEN TWO BECOME ONE! Congratulations to Sam Cook who is moving her much-loved clothing and lifestyle boutiques, Moose and Number 10, under one glorious roof.

Sam tells us refurbishment works are underway at the new shop – located next door to the existing Moose shop in Market Hill, Woodbridge.

“We’re going to have all our favourite brands under one roof including top sellers like Billi, 100 Stars and Rino & Pelle,” says Sam. “The new shop is slightly bigger, it’s still going to have the same lovely, homely feel but it’s got two changing rooms which is perfect!” l The new shop – at 18 Market Hill, Woodbridge IP12 4LU - opens with bubbles to boot on March 1st. Follow them on Insta @mooseonthehill

The Friends of Woodbridge are teaming up with leading retailers Tilley & Grace, Laura Jane, Moose and Phoebe and Flo to stage a charity fashion show.

Taking place on Thursday 18th April from 7pm at Woodbridge Preparatory School (previously known as The Abbey), the glittering event will showcase garments from each of the retailers and includes a raffle in aid of the hospice. Community and projects fundraising manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, Celia Joseph, says, “The Friends of Woodbridge have been fantastic St Elizabeth Hospice supporters for many years, and hold many community events and the fashion show will be a wonderful event to showcase local shops. We cannot thank them, and everyone involved, enough for helping the hospice.”

Tickets cost £12 and include a glass of wine plus canapés. l For further details, or to book tickets, contact, Anne Barratt at anne@barratt1.myzen.co.uk or visit one of the four shops mentioned above.

CHARITY CATWALK

l To find out more about the hospice visit, stelizabethhospice.org.uk.

© Suffolk Mind

l Tickets cost £10 per person and you can purchase them in advance; tallulahgoodtimesmusic.com/events or pay slightly more at the door.

SUFFOLK MIND’S MIDSUMMER GALA

Tickets are now on sale for Suffolk Mind’s glittering midsummer gala which takes place on Saturday 13th July at Fynn Valley Terrace near Ipswich.

It comes after the phenomenal success of its sold-out 2023 Gala on the Farm, which raised more than £27,000 to support mental health in Suffolk.

Fundraising Manager for Suffolk Mind, Julie Long, says, “Our 2024 package provides amazing dining and entertainment experiences, in a beautiful setting, alongside opportunities to support our fundraising through a raffle and auction - there is even a cruise to be won. Whether you are a group of friends, a network of colleagues, or you are looking to entertain business contacts, this is the perfect summer event. Book your tickets now so you don’t miss out!” l Visit, suffolkmind.org.uk/gala ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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TALES FROM KUALA LUMPUR …

Suffolk author Alexandra Carey says her latest book was inspired by a move abroad …

“In 2006 we moved to Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, as my husband was offered a great job there,” says Alexandra, who lived in Suffolk as a child and moved back after having her children.

“At that time expat spouses weren’t allowed working visas so I suddenly found myself giving up my career and becoming a mum at home.

The Light That Bends Round Corners is based on my experiences in Kuala Lumpur.”

She says she loved spending so much time with her children but felt a loss of identity at giving up her job as a classical music publicist.

“However, before long I had discovered the joy of writing and whilst there, I published my two children’s books, Ted Ted and the Dhobi Ghats and Ted Ted Trouble in Tokyo, inspired by family

holidays in India and Japan.”

After seven years in Malaysia (the family moved back in 2013), it was a creative writing course at Faber Academy which started her writing this book about two very different women - Laura, a mother-of two and successful fashion journalist, and her Filipina maid Mariel, who hasn’t seen her own children for nearly ten years. One is on a journey of self-discovery and the other is fighting

for a better life.

“As soon as I started writing it, I realised that I had the theme of my book - the extraordinary contrast of two very different women’s lives even though they were both living in the same house,” says Alexandra. “And as the book developed, it was Mariel’s story which became the dominant one.”

She says she took the title, inspired by the

humidity in Malaysia which is “so high that the sunlight refracts through the tiny droplets of water in the atmosphere. This means there is light where there should be shadow - for me that was the perfect metaphor for the story.”

Now she is working on her second novel which is set in a small Suffolk village. “It’s still in the very early stages when I’m planning out the story, but for me this is the best bit - escaping into my imagination!” l The Light That Bends Round Corners by Alexandra Carey is available online or from Suffolk book shops. For more details visit, alexandracarey.co.uk

ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

LIVING IN … TRAVEL

Local home owners… throw open their doors Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod! Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours

YOUR BRAND NEW FREE HOMES & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

AN OASIS OF CALM

By Angela Hagan

I

n the depths of winter we escaped the unforgiving east wind and spent five sun-filled days in Marrakesh. To say we were delighted with our mini-break would be the understatement of the century!

Lying to the west of the foothills of Morocco’s majestic Atlas Mountains, Marrakesh is home to a glorious mish mash of ancient mosques, palaces, palm trees, museums, camel-strewn roads, pavement cafes and exotic gardens.

Known as the Red City as it oozes with ochre and red buildings and pops of bougainvillea and orange trees, it is a welcoming assault on all the senses. It’s hard to believe this is all just over three hours flight away from Stansted airport.

Inside the old walled part of the city, known as the medina, it’s densely packed with maze-like alleys and colourful souks (marketplaces) and shops selling traditional textiles, jewellery, spices, pottery - you name it, they sell it.

Here you can stroll down the alleys (be prepared to get lost several times) and if the handmade jewellery, kaleidoscope lanterns, handbags, luscious Berber rugs and linen clothes don’t appeal, you are tripping over expert craftmakers all happy to whip something up for you.

The bustling main square, known as Jemma el Fna, is filled with an intoxicating smell of vying street food stalls. This place is a mecca for tourists and locals alike renowned for its vivid stalls, herbalists, henna artists and street entertainers including storytellers and snake charmers!

It’s utter chaos, full of laughter, bartering and music, and somehow utterly lifeaffirming. Some may tell you that

Berber family).

The stylish bedrooms at Riad Orangeraie - all named after warming spices such as Cinnamon, Ginger, Saffron – are elegantly decorated in trademark Berber style and come with huge comfy beds, sumptuously soft bedding and spacious bathrooms complete with handmade toiletries.

The food was off the scale. The plan was to eat out most days but once we’d tried chef Nadia’s starters of zaalouk of aubergines and carrots spoked with cumin followed by a mouth-watering slowcooked tagine accompanied by fresh local figs, prunes, apricots and dates, we knew we’d be hard-pressed to better this. Each Marrakesh is not for the faint-hearted but evening, after a spectacular feast they’d we say it most certainly is.

All you need is a welcoming home-from- beam Casablanca onto the whitewashed riad walls – it was ridiculously romantic. home based in the midst of this The breakfasts were incredible and cosmopolitan stew, where you can debrief would set you up for the entire day - served from the day’s cultural load over exquisite on the sun-drenched home-made food. roof terrace with its And Riad Orangeraie “They deserve every panoramic views, we offers just that – it’s on freshly quite simply the success, but I fear it may feasted squeezed juices, the best hotel we’ve become so booked we will finest Moroccan stayed in. It almost and a glorious pains me to write never get back there!” coffee array of home-made this, as they deserve breads, pastries, every success, but I jams, yoghurts, smoothies and just-baked fear it may become so booked we will cakes. never get back there!

Needless to say, we are ticking off the Owner Cyril and his team offer an oasis days until our return. of cool, calm comfort in this seven-bed If you want to get away from it all, you boutique hotel with its own mosaic pool need only book your flights – one call to and sun-drenched terrace. It also has a Cyril at Riad Orangeraie and watch how the stylish annex sleeping two-four people, city break of a lifetime will unfold. just around the corner You can fly to Marrakech with Ryanair, From the moment I spoke with Cyril BA, Easyjet or Air Arabia Maroc. (he’s easy to get hold of on WhatsApp) we were treated like family. After an easy l WhatsApp or phone Cyril direct on transfer from the airport, we loved the 00 33 623 924005. Visit, riadorangeraie.com informal, relaxed atmosphere of the riad on our arrival. That, and the peace. The outside noise and heat seemed to melt away once inside these ancient riad walls.

Nothing is too much trouble for the friendly staff who are bi-lingual, attentive (though not overly) and genuinely the most gorgeous bunch of people you could hope to meet. We felt nurtured and safe and any bespoke sightseeing trips we wanted were seamlessly arranged for us at affordable prices too. (We spent one memorable day high up in the Atlas Mountains in which we were treated to a traditional feast provided by a lovely ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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© John Ferguson

Les Spaine, Ben Osborne and Jazzie B at Woodbridge Festival in 2021

OUT AND ABOUT! Top things to do around the coastal region this spring …

© RSBP Minsmere

WOODBRIDGE FESTIVAL OF ART AND MUSIC Amongst the festival’s many events this year, culminating in the fabulous Elmhurst Park shindig on 30th August - 1st September, is an exciting new strand in its Projections for Peace series. The Festival of Colours takes place on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th March and features a night of music and projections at the town’s popular 1975 winebar in Gobbit’s Yard on the Saturday, and music and light art at the town’s Tide Mill and Whisstock’s Place on the Sunday.

Inspired by the Holi Festival, a traditional Hindu event celebrating the victory of love over evil, this promises music, artwork, live projections and a new community art and music project.

The weekend also includes participatory art events and workshops at the Tide Mill and other places around town. l For more details on all the events visit, woodbridgefestival.com

DISCOVER MINSMERE IN SPRING! RSPB Minsmere, Sheepwash Lane, Saxmundham, IP17 3BY - 10am 3rd March Savour the spectacle of spring at Minsmere as their guides take you on a tour in search of breeding and migrant birds, spring flowers and early insects. l All ticket prices include reserve entry fees and a hot drink in the cafe after the walk. Prices start from £10.20.

Visit, rspb.org.uk

© Benjamin Eagle

BERYL & PAM Winch Gallery, Snape Maltings, Snape, IP17 1SP from Saturday 17th FebruarySunday 14th April, daily from 10am-4pm.

Beryl & Pam is a pioneering series of two-person exhibitions coming to Britten Pears Arts at Snape Maltings fostering a dialogue between female-identifying/ women artists and their respective bodies of work. This first collaborative showcase kicks off in the Winch Gallery with Suffolk-based Anna Ilsley and Margate artist Hannah Lees. Running from Saturday 17th February until Sunday 14th April it runs daily from 10am-4pm. Looking ahead, artist Maggi Hambling will be paired with trailblazing Ipswich ceramicist Karen Densham to explore themes centred around humanity and nature, on Saturday 27th April until Sunday 23rd June. Both these events are fabulously free. l Visit, brittenpearsarts.org

Margate artist Hannah Lees ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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Suffolk’s Anna Ilsley

AN AUDIENCE WITH BOB FLOWERDEW …

Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall. Saturday 9th March from 7.30pm.

He’s one of Britain’s leading organic gardeners and a much-loved television presenter, author and expert panellist on Radio 4’s Gardener’s Question Time. Bob Flowerdew’s East Anglian roots run deep. Combining an easy charm and personal stories of a gardening life, Bob presents an evening in his company at Aldeburgh’s Jubilee Hall; a fascinating survey of his passions, taste and expertise. And, of course, there’s bound to be useful information included for all gardeners!

The son of a farmer, Bob’s family have been working the land in East Anglia since Elizabethan times. l Tickets, aldeburghjubileehall.co.uk Or call, 01728 454022.

ALDEBURGH LITERARY FESTIVAL EXHIBITION The Aldeburgh Gallery, 143 High Street, Thursday 29th February to Monday 4th March, 10am - 5pm Exhibition Party on Friday 1st March from 6.30 pm This wonderful exhibition presents work by artists who contributed to A New Suffolk Garland, the anthology of Suffolk writing and art published in 2022 to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the Festival of Suffolk. With contributions from 90 authors and 45 artists and photographers, the book edited by John and Mary James, Dan Franklin and Elizabeth Burke, has raised over £15,000 for Suffolk charities. The works include oil paintings, drawings, linocuts, engravings, photographs and a sculpture. The paintings and artworks on sale at the exhibition are not necessarily the same ones as reproduced in the book. Artists displaying work include Ffiona Lewis, Maggi Hambling, Derek Chambers and Tessa Newcomb. l Visit, aldeburghbookshop.co.uk/aldelitfest

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COCKTAILS SERVED TO YOUR CINEMA SEAT? YES PLEASE! Cinema, as you never experienced it before, has landed in Bury St Edmunds …

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ith locations all across the UK, Everyman is redefining cinema, bringing an innovative lifestyle approach to its venues, where you swap your soft drink for a nice glass of wine and slices of freshly made pizza are served to your seat. Scratch that - to your own sofa!

Designed to deliver a warm and friendly atmosphere, each Everyman venue has a unique interior with plush velvet sofas and armchairs for ultimate comfort. With a curated selection of films and events that encompasses something for everyone, Everyman screens present state-of-the-art technology for highquality viewings of the latest blockbuster films, classic flicks, documentaries, and live screenings.

Spoilt for choice in every department, Everyman guests can pick from an extensive food and drink menu including hand-stretched pizzas and small plates, from hot honey halloumi to tempura prawns, as well as a range of vegan dishes, including pizza topped with chargrilled artichoke, sun dried tomato and plantbased mozzarella.

Your new local Everyman also provides a range of premium burgers from

Everyman’s exclusive Spielburger offering which includes the bacon, cheese and harissa ‘1216’, the Shrimp and Avocado patty, a Vegan Cheeseburger, and more.

Everyman’s full bars offer specialty wine and beer, delicious cocktails, and a range

of alcohol-free drinks to make for a decadent evening without the hangover.

And for those with a sweet tooth, there’s a range of milkshakes, freshly baked cookie dough, and even the option to build your own sundae.

Of course, this can all be ordered and served directly to your seat so you can sit back and indulge in a great film whilst Everyman’s friendly staff look after you.

If you simply can’t get enough of all the above, an Everyman membership is the one for you. Members get more tickets for less, discounts on food and drinks, special previews, and much more. Become one of the first 300 members at your new local, and you’ll also receive unlimited popcorn for the year, and an exclusive card.

See it all for yourself at the brand new three-screener Everyman Bury St Edmunds, located within the Arc Shopping Centre. Now open!

Enjoy the ultimate cinematic experience in style.

Sink back into a sofa for two and get carried to a different world.