LOVEEAST M
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December 2015
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ISSUE 22
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Free
your
FREE award-winning magazine
Panto, gifts, food and drink
We have your East End Christmas covered
Your East London – What's on – Food – People
Welcome... 0 0 3 ÂŁ % 5 9 . 0
ucher o V s i w e John L
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To celebrate the recent opening of our newly designed flagship Victoria Park estate agency office, we are offering you a gift to make your move with us a little sweeter!
A ÂŁ300 John Lewis gift voucher and just 0.95% + vat sales commission fee* So, if you are considering selling your home, call us now or drop by and speak to one of our team.
020 8986 2222
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Welcome to your local magazine Dear neighbours So this is Christmas. Are you ready? A very good friend of mine prepares her Christmas cards in September and has everything else sorted by October. If, like me, you live in the real world and haven't yet begun to think about presents or what you're going to eat on the big day, this month's issue will help. Our Christmas shopping pages are full of local makers and sellers offering beautiful gifts, from hand-crafted jewellery to delicious deli delicacies (p16). You don't need to go far to buy your presents and you'll have the added bonus of getting something that's either made in East London, or sold from one of our local businesses. The food pages (p32 to 36) have all you need to make a wonderful Christmas feast. We have a mouth-watering porchetta recipe by Hackney Pearl chef and owner James Morgan, a foraged chestnut soup and our very own Winter Garden, a warming Christmas cocktail made especially for LoveEast readers. All this and our great interview with panto star Kat B, our regular columns, and an eclectic mix of events in our calendar and What's On pages. Have a very Merry Christmas.
Julie
CONTENTS
4
Meet Kat B, Hackney panto's finest
8
Saved by technology. How our kids can learn to be inventors
16
Shop local. Why go anywhere else for Christmas gifts?
32-6
Food & drink. All you need for the best Christmas feast ever
39
Julie Daniels T: 07752 288405 E: julie@nutshellpublications.co.uk www.nutshellpublications.co.uk Facebook: facebook.com/LoveEastMag Twitter: @LoveEastMag
Bah humbug... how to get through Christmas with the family Cover photo: Kat B as the snowman in Jack and the Beanstalk, Hackney Empire, 2015
To advertise in LoveEast please call 07752 288405 or email julie@nutshellpublications.co.uk for further information. Deadline for December edition is 6 December (please allow an extra two days if design is required). Nutshell Publications cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions, or endorse companies, products or services that appear in this magazine. ©LoveEast all rights reserved. Magazine design, www.ilkadickens.com. No reproduction can be made without permission. Please recycle.
LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 3
East life Kat B, the multi-talented entertainer, takes time out of panto rehearsals to talk to Christine Preisig Kat B is a firework of a man. He bursts into our quiet corner of Stage 3 café like a small explosion and smiles from the beginning of the interview to the end. His positive energy is infectious. He's cheerful and light-hearted and doesn’t hide his excitement about his many achievements. So far, he's best known as an entertainer – currently playing the snowman in Hackney Empire's Jack and the Beanstalk – but Kat B has many strings to his bow and is determined to get as much out of life as he can. I don't doubt for a minute that he will realise all his ambitions. Growing up in Stratford and Hackney he played a lot of youth theatre. His career started when he was asked to do a gig as a dancer with MTV. From there he went on to become one of their presenters. Susie McKenna, Hackney Empire’s creative director, discovered him when he was appearing in The Wiz and offered him a job. That was 15 years ago. Except for the one year when the Empire was closed for renovations, he has had a role in every panto since. This year’s performance marks his ninth consecutive appearance, and with that he joins Charlie Chaplin in the Empire's history books. Despite the strains – during panto season Kat does 12 shows per week – the Christmas pantos have been a thoroughly positive experiences for him. He's given the freedom to shape his stage characters and make them more personal. He can identify with all the roles he's played so far. This makes it more interesting for him to perform and also more authentic and lively for the audience. Asked if he gets tired of playing the same show over and over again he says that the audience is upbeat and energetic and that this rubs off on him. “It’s exhausting but in a very positive way. Laughter is medicine.” 4 LOVEEAST
Kat B as Billy Goose in Mother Goose, 2014
To wind down, Kat regularly disappears underneath the Hackney Empire stage. If anyone asks what he's doing, they're advised to just leave him in peace. What happens in this sub-stage workshop is Kat’s unique woodwork. "Some people smoke, some drink, I make stuff,” he says. As if that wasn't enough to keep him busy, he visits schools to run workshops in storytelling, scriptwriting, movement and music. He's a regular comedian at the Starlite Weekenders all across the world, hosts radio programmes, and prepares for his own one-man stand-up show. With his entertainer hat off, he's studying for his degree in animal psychology. “Lots of actors are unemployed so I have to prepare for that as well.” Next year, his cookbook Kooking with Kat will be launched, and Kat can be booked for massages (yes, really) or to have an event covered via aerial images he shoots with his remote-control drone. “It’s no joke. People think I’m doing comedy when I mention all my activities, but no… It’s all true.”
East life What drew you to the area? I grew up here. I am a proper East Londoner. Stratford, Hackney… My cousin, Eddie Nestor lives just down the road. He said “You, you're a bit wayward, I take you under me wing”. Now he's proud of me as I am focused on something. Does the area influence you? Everything influences me. When I’m in Hackney it feels like I'm at home. Everyone embraces me – all the shops know me. I couldn’t do anything (bad) in Hackney. Everybody would say, "You are a role model, you can’t do that…” What makes you most proud? The fact that I can watch family members being inspired by what I do. That people all over the world tell me they like what I am doing. Being dyslexic and make another dyslexic people feel like they can do stuff. Teaching them a method that works for them and giving them confidence. What are you working on now? Tons of things (see above) and I’m also doing
a draft for a wildlife program with the BBC. I’m filming a series about street fighting for online TV and I produce my own videos. They are amazing! Best coffee in these parts? Here's good (Stage 3, Mare Street) and Ed’s Café around the corner is very welcoming. It's very chilled in there. Sometimes I go to Appetite. It depends how strong you want your coffee… Where do you eat out? It depends… Ed’s, or there is a Vietnamese noodle place (on Graham Road). The Picturehouse is good for cakes. They have a lovely apple and Earl Grey cake. I buy two pieces for myself, and one to share with everybody else. And here at Stage 3 the food is greeeeeat! I don’t like to share my food when I eat here. It’s too delicious. What do you do at weekends? I might be scribbling ideas down because as soon as an idea pops in I write it down – or sing it into my phone. I like to cook or bake. So me and Continued overleaf...
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LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 5
East life nanny James (she'll cry if she reads this) we like to make things and cook for all the grandchildren. Anything you would change? I wouldn’t change anything. Everything is a learning curve and the scars I have remind me of it. There is no limit to what you can do only the limit of your own imagination. If you fall down, pick yourself up. Learn from it. It’s in the past. Always own everything. If you make a mistake, own it. The area's best-kept secret? That it's not scared to grow, it’s not scared to love, it’s not scared to shout. It’s not scared to do anything. Before people said: “Oh, Hackney is so horrible, so run-down”. But when you come here you go “wow!” Just come to my monthly club night The Boum Boum Room and you'll see what I mean. If Hackney were human? Your mum. If you're from the East End you feel safe here. If you're not you see that it's like a mini London, all condensed into one area. It’s so multicultural. It’s like being home with your mum.
Wonderland Ceramics
Time to be Creative 237 Victoria Park Road E9 7HD Ph 020 8985 1214
Ceramic Café, Pottery Painting,
Children's Birthday Parties, team building, and lots of fun unique gifts,
www.wonderlandceramics.com info@wonderlandceramics.com
6 LOVEEAST
Some of the Jack in the Beanstalk cast. Clive Rowe, left, Buttercup, Debbie Kurup and Kat B
Kat B can be seen in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Hackney Empire until 3 January 2016. hackneyempire.co.uk
British-grown Christmas trees & decorations!
Growing Concerns Garden Centre 2 Wick Lane, London E3 2NA - 0208 985 3222 info@growingconcerns.org Wednesday delivery available LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 7
East London makers
Electro dough kit
Technology Will Save Us are inspiring young people to fix, create and invent, writes Christine Preisig Founded in 2012 by Bethany Koby and Daniel Hirschmann Technology Will Save us (TWSU) designs and produces a range of devices, kits and resources to help young people learn about technology in a hands-on way. Their DIY gadget kits include a games console, an electronic synthesiser, loudspeakers, a moisture sensor (for keeping plants watered) and conductive dough, and cost between £15 and £65. The more advanced ones require quite elaborate techniques like soldering and programming, but the online tutorials demonstrate how easily a seemingly complicated device can be built. The idea to start TWSU came to Bethany and Daniel when they found a fully functioning laptop 8 LOVEEAST
in the bin. They realised that people generally don’t have a good understanding of how technology works and it was the beginning of a mission to improve people’s digital literacy and make technology more understandable. Initially they created workshops but this soon evolved into making and selling their own DIY kits. They hope to inspire a generation of future inventors; people who won't just consume technology, but who will us it creatively. It's normal to giving kids paint and paper to play with, so why not technology? Coding is now part of the curriculum – kids learn it at school but rarely get the chance to apply it afterwards. That’s where TWSU comes in. Using the DIY kits they show school children what they
East London makers
Pictured, clockwise: TWSU founders Bethany Koby and Daniel Hirschmann; making your own conductive dough; DIY Synth Kit; DIY Gamer Kit
can do with programming, how sensors are used and how you build a circuit; but most importantly, it teaches them about general problem-solving.
collection, and London’s Design Museum has nominated it for the Design of the Year Award.
Within the last two years the company has made a major breakthrough in distribution and are now scaling up significantly. The Museum of Modern Art has the gamer kit as part of its permanent
TWSU products are sold globally through retailers and via their online shop techwillsaveus.com
Are you feeling the chill? Banish those draughts for ever. Our windows are individually made and fitted by experienced craftsmen To see us at work, check out our video at www.wall2wallsashwindows.co.uk 020 8533 7228
LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 9
What's on in December MON
TUES
WEDS
THURS
7
Weekly Yoga for Mums and Babies.10.15am Tea and biscuits too. Hackney Forge, E9. 07958 645 978 or email clare@claredayyoga.co.uk
2
3
6.45pm, 8pm. Yoga, Victoria Park Community Centre, Gore Road, E9. Email Nadia missbocheva@ gmail.com
7
Benjamin Clementine at St John of Hackney church, Lower Clapton Road. ticketweb.co.uk/ event/
14
Son Little plays at Moth Club £9 ticketsmothclub.co.uk
14
6.45pm or 8pm. Yoga, Victoria Park Community Centre, Gore Road, E9. Email Nadia missbocheva@ gmail.com
14
Oval Space: interactive feast by Moro-trained chef. forestfeast.co.uk
21
Tea dance led by the aptly-named Mr Wonderful.1.30pm4.30pm. Shoreditch Town Hall. £4 advance £5 on the door. shoreditchtownhall. com
10 LOVEEAST
1
Order a pre-panto snack box and pie for daily performances of Jack & The Beanstalk, Hackney Empire. Reduced matinees early Dec. hackneyempire.co.uk
1
The Big House theatre (working with young people who have been in care) present Electric at the Rio. £16 thebighouse.uk.com/ electric/
15
5pm-10pm. Meet the neighbours for a festive drink. £4. Vicky Park Community Centre, E9.
15
10am. Storytime for under 5s at Vicky Park Community Centre, Gore Road, E9
22
Clapton Hart pub quiz 8-11pm. Free entry.
12pm-3pm. FREE over 50s tea dance. To book call 020 7364 4504 or email victoriapark@ towerhamlets.gov. uk. Hub building, Victoria Park.
9
Join the staff at Brooksby's Walk on Chatsworth Road for Christmas cocktails.
16
Cardinal Burns Presents. Moth Club's new monthly comedy night. £8 online, £10 on door. mothclub.co.uk
16
2pm. Dalston Ladies Choir Christmas concert, St Michael's Church, Dalston. Elizabeth Martin, 01228 711817
16
10.30am-12.30pm. FREE. Christmas coffee morning at Vicky Park Community Centre, Gore Road, E9.
16
7pm. St Joseph's Hospice Xmas Concert at St John of Jerusalem, led by Victoria Park Singers.
7pm. Wah Wah 45s proudly present their first live show at The Yard Theatre. theyardtheatre.co.uk
3
3pm-8pm. Come see refurbished Victoria Park Community Centre, Gore Road, E9.
10
Vout-O-Reenees Members Show. Painting & Sculpture at The Stash Gallery at vout-o-reenees.com
10, 17
5pm-8pm. Late night shopping at Chatsworth Road, E5.
17
7.30pm. Carols and winter songs, Victoria Park Singers at St John at Hackney. Book: victoriaparksingers. co.uk Profits to Bow & Hackney Foodbanks.
17
7.30pm. Christmas a cappella music geffrye-museum.org.uk
31
10.45am. Parent and Baby screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens £9-11 riocinema.org.uk Continued on page 29
26TH NOV TIL 23RD DEC
VICTORIA PARK LONDON, E3
FREE ENTRY WELCOME TO THE TOWN OF WINTERVILLE, LONDON’S ALTERNATIVE FESTIVE DESTINATION
BACKYARD CINEMA BIG FISH LITTLE FISH BIG WHEEL BIZARRE BAZAAR BOGAN BINGO BUGGED OUT’S LITTLE BUGGER CIRCUS FEAT. MOSCOW STATE CIRQUE DU CABARET CRAFT ALES FRIDAY I’M IN LOVE GUILTY PLEASURES INDEEDY MUSICAL BINGO JAMES YORKSTON & THE ATHLETES LA LA PIANO BAR PLONK CRAZY GOLF THE POP SHOP SH*T FACED SHAKESPEARE SNOW WHITE PANTOMIME STREET FOOD ULTIMATE POWER VENN ST MARKET
OPEN EVERYDAY CHECK WEBSITE FOR TIMES
WWW.WINTERVILLE.CO.UK
the Toybox or a cool tee and accessories from Little GEMs. When they team up they can do anything. BAM! The Force is strong with these two. Both heroes are masters in the art of beautifully giftwrapping with super speed, it’s all part of the service – and now, the dynamic duo is powering up once again to help you take on the biggest challenge yet – Christmas. Superhero Alex at Little GEMS
Kaboom! Meet Victoria Park's mightiest superheroes, The Toybox and Little GEMs – lifesavers to the community, thanks to their unique powers What powers? Like many superheroes, the clue is in the name. The Toybox has the power of toys with a Tardis-ful of them for all ages, all occasions and all pockets. WOW!
Invited to children’s birthday parties? BOOM! This mission is child’s play for our two heroes. Present problem solved with creative arts and craft sets from
And what about Little GEMS? Having scoured the Earth to find fab fashion, stylish footwear and baby gifts galore, Little GEMs kits out kids everywhere, using their super styling powers. SHAZAM! On your way to congratulate friends or family on a new baby? They rush to the rescue. Little GEMs sweeps in with a bib and a babygrow while The Toybox unleashes the softest stuffed animal in the known Universe. A winning combination. POW! 12 LOVEEAST
Saviour of the Universe, Loic at The Toybox
The Toybox has trained all year for this moment, so with anything from scooters to Lego, it is ready to kick ass. Little GEMs has Christmas jumpers, hand-knits and stocking fillers galore, plus they both have the forthcoming Star Wars fever covered. Victoria Park superheroes assemble. Let’s make this Christmas your best one yet! thetoyboxshop.co.uk 223 Victoria Park Road, E9 7HD littlegemsboutique.com 243 Victoria Park Road, E9 7HD
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www.millerandlove.com LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 13
Culture corner Museum of Childhood This Christmas there will be a selection of festive films on show at the museum. Relax with The Muppet Christmas Carol, Frozen, Toy Story or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – £3 per person, check website for dates and times.
The pick of Christmas books This is My Rock, the new picture book by our local author, David Lucas, about sharing and friendship, and presented exquisitely by local publisher Flying Eye Books at £11.99. Companion book to There Are Cats In This Book, only funnier because this time there are dogs! Is There a Dog in this Book? Viviane Schwarz's book is published by Walker at £6.99. The third Goth Girl from Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell. Plus… we are in it! See if you can spot us. Published by Macmillan at £10.99.
Image: Fishing net, Jivya Soma Mashe
The Tales We Tell: Indian Warli Painting is an exhibition that gives a rare insight into Warli, a tribal art form from Western India, drawing on memory, myths and everyday life. Focusing on the innovative style of Jivya Soma Mashe (see image, above), the exhibition shows a pictorial exchange between pupils at Redlands Primary School, Tower Hamlets, and a village school in Dahanu, India. It also features a film by artist Johnny Magee reflecting on Mashe's practice and daily life. Showing until July 2016. On Saturday, 5 December, there will be a Soft Toy workshop for adults with maker Emma Skinmore. She will show you how to use a range of hand-sewing techniques and reclaimed materials to create an owl-inspired by the Ostrobogulous! £65 (concessions £60). V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA. vam.ac.uk/moc/whatson Museum is closed 24, 25, 26 Dec and 1 Jan. 14 LOVEEAST
If you have a child who loves Horrible Histories then Adam Murphy's Corpse Talk is for you. Published by David Fickling Books at £7.99.
The Curious Tale of the Lady Caraboo, a new mature mystery from local author Catherine Johnson (who will be speaking in Hackney; details on the Story Habit website). Published by Random House at £7.99. Jenny Downham's Unbecoming is one of the most exciting, mature YA novels I have ever read. Published by David Fickling Books at £14.99.
Joanna de Guia, storyhabit.co.uk
From the makers of Back in Time for Dinner, and Who Do You Think You Are?
New BBC Living History Series will recreate The Victorian East End and the search is on for families and individuals to move in Would you like to experience the life your East End ancestors once lived?
Are you ready to change your life?
Do you live in East London and you’d like to explore the history of your streets? Do you have a traditional trade that could be put to good use? Would you like your family to experience the reality of life for millions of Victorian children?
Personal training with Michelle Crawford, Fighting Fit Studio, 15 Bow Wharf, E3 5SN michellept.wordpress.com
07805 612127
Could you survive the Victorian slum?
Email casting@walltowall.co.uk call 020 7241 9228 or visit www.walltowall.co.uk (TAKE PART)
LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 15
Christmas gifts Kassandra Lauren Gordon
Tags image: Erlend Johansen
Black Moon earrings, black rhodium plate on hallmarked sterling silver, with diamond cut orange sapphires £138
Shop
this local Xmas
Night Sky pendant, rose gold plate on hallmarked sterling silver with diamond- cut white sapphire £156 kassandralaurengordon.com
Rachel Gale
Etsy shop at rachelgale.com
16 LOVEEAST
Wonderland Ceramics
Baby grows £20
Baubles £12 each
Tote bags £10
Vase (to decorate yourself) £26 237 Victoria Park Road, E9 7HD wonderlandceramics.com
Christmas gifts Sublime Clockwise from left: Ortigia Bath Oil, £38 I Am Woman mug, £15 Book Lovers’ London, £12.99 Helen Moore faux fur Peter Pan collar, £38 Red pom pom hat, £24
225 Victoria Park Rd, E9 7HD sublimeshop.co.uk
The Deli Downstairs
Workshop Pottery
Fresh tarts daily £4.50 each
Scamorza, £6.50 each Cabrales, £3.10/100g Parmigiano Reggiano, £3.00/100g 211 Victoria Park Road, E9 7JN thedelidownstairs.co.uk
Mugs & jugs, bowls & dishes, £10-£50 77A Lauriston Road, London, E9 7HA carolinebousefield.co.uk
LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 17
Christmas gifts SNAP Clockwise from left: Knitted T-Rex £14.95 (small, 24cm tall) £24.95 (large, 30cm tall) London Tote £16.95 by Alfred & Wilde No 8 Bus screen print £33 by Made by Morris
465 Roman Road, E3 5LX & 12c Grove Road, E3 5AX. snap-store.com
Branch on the Park Clockwise from left:
Courtesan ring, made in 18ct gold with rose-cut grey diamond. POA. Gold-plated Marnie brooch with green onyx drop, £65 18ct gold hoops (not plated) sold individually. Pick & mix, £50-£120 (stones include diamonds, sapphire, green onyx, aquamarine) 18ct gold-plated Granulation necklace with Iolite gemstones, £185
227 Victoria Park Rd, E9 7HD branchonthepark.co.uk
18 LOVEEAST
Ballet Classes for boys & girls ages 3-8 years Victoria Park Village
Christmas Activities New Class for Adults Places Available More info:
mafaldaballetblog.blogspot.com/p/welcome.html Contact Mafalda on:
07550 722 693
From Anatolya . . .
. . . to hackney delicious chargrilled Turkish food /scoffs grill
020 3489 3359
scoffscafe
Fully licensed restaurant. LoveEast readers will receive 10% off the bill. Scoffs Grill,355-357 Wick Road, E9 5DH LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 19
Noticeboard Victoria Park hosts Winterville once more
Winterville is back and it promises to be packed with great things. Entry is free to the "town" but once you're in there are various ticketed events such as the ice rink, the circus (featuring stars from The Moscow State Circus), Backyard Cinema’s The Winter Night Garden, Snow White panto, crazy golf, and so on. There are some discounted tickets available for Tower Hamlets and E9 postcode residents, so book via the website (you'll need to get to stage 6 of the ticket booking system before the discount kicks in). There are a limited number available, however, so book soon. Also on offer are fairground rides, the big wheel, artisan markets, festive street food, Bar Humbug pub plus Spiegeltent with Shit-Faced Shakespeare, comedy, cabaret, DJs and more. It's all happening in Victoria Park until 23 December. winterville.co.uk
Victoria Park fireworks were bang on
It was a long wait but the Vicky Park fireworks finally returned on 7 November after five long years, and more than 75,000 people turned up to watch. After a rainy, miserable day, the skies cleared just in time and we were treated to 20 minutes of dazzle from Titanium Fireworks (best known for the London New Year's Eve display). It was all set to a great mix of music from Rihanna to Shirley Bassey, as well as East London's own Dizzee Rascal. The crowd management worked well with some park railings having been removed to help with the flow of thousands of people leaving the event at the same time. A good job, well done and thanks to Tower Hamlets's mayor John Biggs for getting the show on the road again.
Built on Bass
If you haven't yet seen and heard Project Instrumental you really ought to visit Hackney Attic for their latest performance. Built on Bass brings together a composer, a sound artist and a visual artist to create a multi-sensory musical environment using sound, electronics and cymatics. A recent Time Out London Critic’s Choice, PI are bold, imaginative and boundary-defying. They have a straightforward contemporary approach to classical music and create not just concerts, but experiences. 7.30pm. Friday, 4 December, Hackney Attic, 270 Mare Street, E8. Photo: Toby Summerskill. projectinstrumental.org
20 LOVEEAST
From Christmas trees and holly, to festive flowers and mistletoe, A G PRICE has just what you’re looking for
www.agpriceflowers.co.uk 217-219 Well Street, E9 6QU
020 8986 0250
We have a new shop here!… SNAP 12C Grove Road Mile End E3 5AX T 020 8981 1112
Tuesday - Friday 9am-7pm Saturday 10am-5.30pm Sunday - Monday closed
Contemporary greeting cards, gifts, prints and more...
www.snap-store.com hello@snap-store.com
And we are also here… SNAP 465 Roman Road Bow E3 5LX T 020 8617 8944
Monday - Friday 10.30am-6pm Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday closed
snapstorelondon LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 21
MON
TUES
WEDS
THURS
1
2
3
Art events
Jack & The Beanstalk, p10
General events
Mum & baby yoga, p10
Outdoor events
Big House theatre, p10
7
8
Vinyasa & Hatha, p10
Wah Wah 45s, p10 Over 50s tea dance, p10
Open day, Vicky Park Comm Centre, p10
9
10
Christmas cocktails at
Stash Gallery show p10
Brooksby's Walk, p10
Late night shopping, Chatsworth Rd, p10
14
15
16
17
Vinyasa & Hatha, p10 Son Little plays Moth Club, p10
Festive drinks, p10
Comedy, Moth Club, p10
Music at Geffrye, p10
Storytime for under 5s,
Coffee/sherry morning, p10
Late night shopping,
p10
Christmas concert, p10
Chatsworth Rd, p10
St Joseph's Hospice
Christmas Carols, p10
Interactive feast, p10
Christmas Concert, p10
21
22
23
24
Vinyasa & Hatha, p10
Clapton Hart quiz, p10
Last day of Winterville,
CHRISTMAS EVE
p11, 20
Surely time for the Love East winter
Tea Dance, p10
cocktail? p36
28
29
30
31 Parent, baby screening Star Wars: The Force Awakens, p10
22 LOVEEAST
FRI
SAT
SUN
4
5
6
Life drawing, p29
Urban Makers East
E5 pastry class, p29
Project Instrumental, p20, 29
Christmas Market, p29
Chatsworth Rd Xmas
St Dominic's Xmas fayre, p29
Poem-a-thon, p29
Market, p29
Real East End tour, p29
Robin Hood panto p29
11
12
13
Orlando Seal and the Swell at
Festive fun at The Russet, p29
Chatsworth Rd Xmas
Oslo, p29
Create a festive garland, p29 Well Street Winter Festival, p29
Market & Festival, p29
Create a festive garland, p29
Hackney City Farm Xmas Fair, p29
18
19
20
ONE WEEK TO GO!
Wreath-making and mince
TH Cemetery Park, p29
pies, p29 Festive fun at The Russet, p29
Christmas singalong
Winter Wonderland Walk,
Spectacular, p29 Chatsworth Rd Xmas Market, p29
25
26
27
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
There must be some left-over
Double-check the yummy
porchetta...?
LoveEast Christmas recipes on p32, 34 and 35
December LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 23
Christmas decorations
Making Christmas decorations with the kids is a perfect project for a wintery afternoon, says Loraine Hourdebaigt Decorations needn't cost anything, and with just three ingredients that most of us have in our cupboards, you can make some smooth, non-sticky bicarbonate of soda dough in minutes. Children love playing with the stuff and once cooked, the dough ornaments can be painted, glittered up, you name it – just be creative. Here's a simple way to make Christmas ornaments with leaf prints. It will work best using plants such as a conifer branches, fern fronds, rosemary sprigs, etc, or any vegetation that's not soft to the touch. 1. In a pan, mix 2 cups of bicarbonate of soda, 1.5 cups of water, and 1 cup of corn starch. Gently cook over a medium heat, stirring all the time. It will get lumpy, but don’t worry. After a few minutes, it will form a dough. Now turn your homemade play dough onto a clean surface, and leave it to cool, covered with a damp cloth. 24 LOVEEAST
2. Once at room temperature, it's ready to be handled. On a sheet of baking parchment, roll out the dough with a rolling pin. 3. Now place the foliage over the dough and turn the rolling pin over it. Carefully lift off the leaves (or you can leave them on) and cut out shapes with biscuits shapers. Remove the excess dough and lift the ornaments onto a baking sheet. Make a hole in each shape with a skewer – this is so you can hang them later. 4. Bake for around an hour at 175°C. The foliage imprints will come out even better after baking. Once cool and completely dry, tie a bit of ribbon or twine through the hole in your decorations. They are ready to hang on the Christmas tree or as part of your festive decorations. growingconcerns.org
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What to do Potter and paint There's great fun to be had at Wonderland Ceramics on Victoria Park Road. Kids (or adults) can get creative and paint ready-made ceramics or, if you have a pre-Christmas celebration coming up, why not book the Alice in Wonderland-themed party space? wonderlandceramics.com Museums Free drop-in activities every day at The Museum of Childhood, including arts and crafts, tours, trails and storytelling. For ages 3-12 years. Cambridge Heath Road, E2. (See p14 for current events.) There's always something interesting happening at the Ragged School Museum, 46-50 Copperfield Road, E3.
Stepney City Farm has a great café, as well as a farmers’ market every Saturday from 10am3pm. stepneycityfarm.org, hackneycityfarm.co.uk, spitalfieldscityfarm.org, mudchute.org Check out the websites for Christmas events. Children’s Centres Wentworth on Cassland Road (wentworth. hackney.sch.uk), Gainsborough on Berkshire Road (gainsborough.hackney.sch.uk/childrens-centre), and Morningside on Chatham Place (morningside. hackney.sch.uk/childrens-centre). Meath Gardens Children's Centre, 1 Smart Street, E2; Mile End Leisure Centre, The One O'Clock Club (Vicky Park near boating lake); Overland Children's Centre, 60 Parnell Road, E3.
Sutton House is not only beautiful but fun for the kids, too. Exhibitions, treasure hunts, puppets and costumes. nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-house/ Want to be a Geffrye Explorer? There is lots of fun to be had between 12.30pm and 4.30pm every Saturday at geffrye-museum.org.uk Cinema Hackney Picturehouse Kids’ Club is for ages 3-12 years. picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Hackney_ Picturehouse Swimming London Fields Lido offer swimming lessons and they’ve started giving stages 3-8 swimming classes again. Go to betterlessons.org.uk for details and booking. Plus of course, there's Mile End Leisure Centre, York Hall in Bethnal Green and the gorgeous Aquatics Centre, QE Olympic Park. Farms At city farms in Hackney, Stepney, Spitalfields and Mudchute you can introduce your kids to the pongs and pleasures of real farm animals. 26 LOVEEAST
NOW OPEN St Mary of Eton Church, Eastway, E9 5JA (Entrance – new building via car park)
Free childcare places available Vacancies for qualified childcare staff Contact us for more info: eastway.preschool@yahoo.co.uk 07958 074462
with the kids Yoga for babies... Baby-focused classes using massage, classical yoga postures, stretches and balances adapted to their stage of growth. Fridays, Royal Inn on the Park, E9.10.45am-11.45am. £6.50. Karen: firsttouchmassage@hotmail.co.uk, 07902 227 669. Yoga for babies... and their mums Yoga for Mums and Babies, every Tuesday at 10.15am with tea and biscuits afterwards. Hackney Forge, E9. 07958 645 978 or email clare@clareday-yoga.co.uk Singing Angel Voices, tunes for toddlers. Tuesdays, 9.45am-11am in term-time at St. Michael’s and All Angels in London Fields. No charge but donations welcome. Call Connie on 07830 349 362. Theatre Hackney Children’s Theatre situated in 700-yearold St John at Hackney church, hosts monthly performances for kids and their families. facebook. com/hackneychildrenstheatre
07550 722 693 for details. Also at the Hackney Forge you’ll find Saturday Street Dance and Musical Theatre classes. 12 noon-1pm, 1.15pm2.15pm and 2.30-3.30pm, Call Lisa on 07985 945 335 for details. Street Dance: Tues 4pm-5pm (5-11 year-olds), Fri 6pm-8pm (11-19 year-olds). New Kingshold Community Centre, 49 Ainsworth Road, E9. Kicking Monday afternoon kickboxing for 3-5 and 6-11-year-olds at the Hackney Forge. Call Maria for details on 07872 188 655. Please do check on times/availability via the websites or phone numbers provided.
Award winning classes for 0-5 yrs
Acting Try Hackney Forge on a Wednesday morning. Cbeebies actress Samantha Seager runs acting classes for little tots. actingbugs.co.uk Music Piccolo music for babies and toddlers, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the V&A building in Victoria Park. Toddler class 10am, baby class 11am. Just drop in. Stefanie, 07708 451 314. Suzuki Hub runs music lessons for kids (violin, viola, cello, flute). Suzuki Hub, 116 Weymouth Terrace, E2 8LR. suzukihub.com
At Gymboree our focus is on encouraging and nurturing your baby in every aspect of their development, with you right by their side. We offer a variety of fun and sensory led classes from newborn to 5years. Gymboree classes are designed by experts in early childhood development to help young children learn as they play.
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59-61 Roman Road, London, E2 0QN gymboree-uk.com
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History hangout Image: Engraving after 16th century portrait
tried in front of Archbishop Cranmer and sent to the Marshalsea – condemned to perpetual imprisonment. In 1549 Nicholas Ridley succeeded him as Bishop of London. “Bloody Bonner” was well known for the persecution of heretics. When he wasn't condemning them to be burned alive, he was lashing his victims using a “whip with six strings”. While Bishop of London, he carried out official dirty work and was notorious for his cruelty. Queen (Bloody) Mary restored Bonner’s position as Bishop of London. In 1555 he condemned bishops Ridley and Latimer to be burned at the stake for heresy. In 1556 he chose the same fate for Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. “Bonner, brutally jeering, showed no mercy whilst degrading his Archbishop and now fallen foe.”
Did you know... about the notorious Bloody Bonner? Our local connection to the calamitous prelate Bishop Bonner is his huge residence Bonner Hall, formerly on the site of the London Chest Hospital and not far from Bonner Gate (of course) in Victoria Park.
Nice house, though. Next month: Stand and Deliver – Dick Turpin stalks Cambridge Heath
Stephen Selby
Edmund Bonner graduated in civil and canon law at Oxford. His first appointment was chaplain to Cardinal Wolsey. As aide to Thomas Cromwell Bonner was soon elevated to chaplain to Henry VIII. He was sent to Rome in 1532 to defend the king in the judicial proceedings from the Papal Curia (referred to as the schism). He became Bishop of London in 1553 and, in 1538, was sent to Paris to promote the new publication of the English Bible. An unrepentant catholic, in 1547 Bonner was committed to four months' imprisonment at the Fleet Prison for coming into conflict with young King Edward VI’s government. Two years later he again fell out with the government by opposing the Book of Common Prayer. He was 28 LOVEEAST
Bonner Hall
Copyright: Trustees of the British Museum
Edmund Bonner, C. 1500-1569
Queen Elizabeth I wouldn't allow him to kiss her hand on accession, and in 1559 he refused to take the Oath of Supremacy. He was sent to Marshalsea again where he died ten years later. He is buried at St George’s Southwark.
What's on in December FRI Weekly 7pm-9pm. Swap Christmas shopping for life drawing class at the Garrett Centre Bethnal Green, E2. £8.50 per evening. £6 conc. or £30 x 5 classes. meetup.com/ londonlifedrawing/ events
4
3.45pm-6pm. St Dominic's RC Primary School Xmas Fayre. Balance Road, E9.
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7.30pm. Built on Bass A composer, a sound artist and a visual artist create a multi sensory musical experience. Go see/ hear at Hackney Attic, 270 Mare Street, E8. £6 adv, £10 door, projectinstrumental. org
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7pm. Orchestral indie folk Orlando Seale And The Swell. oslohackney. com
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2pm-5pm. Join the Geffrye museum gardeners to create a 17th century-inspired festive decoration with fresh greenery. £50/ £45 conc. (includes short talk, workshop and materials). geffryemuseum.org.uk
SAT Weekly 12.30pm and 2.30pm. Catch a one-hour Saturday matinee of Snow White the panto at Spiegeltent, Winterville, Vicky Park. winterville.co.uk
5
11am-5pm. All your Christmas shopping under one roof at Urban Makers East Christmas Market. Over 40 local designers, food, music, workshops. Free entry. St Paul's Church, St Stephen's Road, E3. urbanmakerseast. co.uk
5
12noon-11pm. Poem-a-thon. 60 poets,10 hours (poets do it for charity – refugees/Medecins sans Frontieres). Vout-O-Reenees, East London's most wonderful club. vouto-reenees.com
5
7pm. See Robin Hood panto at Stratford East Theatre. Tickets £13.50-24.50. stratfordeast.com
5
Explore the wonders of Vicky Park. Under 12s must be accompanied
SAT
SUN
by an adult. email victoriapark@ towerhamlets.gov.uk
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10.30am-4pm. Create gorgeous greeneryinspired garlands to hang in your home. Free workshop at the Geffrye Museum. 2-16yrs. Under 11s to be accompanied by an adult. Workshops allocated on a first come, first served basis 30 minutes before the workshop begins.
12
11am-5pm. Well Street are running their Winter festival and looking for stall holders. Call: 07890 654 068
12, 19
11am-4pm. The Russet, Hackney Downs' favourite, brings together artists, crafters, bakers, food producers, jewellers, face-painters, carol-singers and more for two afternoons of seasonal market merriment.
19
1pm-3pm. Christmas wreath-making with foraged materials from Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, mulled wine & a mince pie. £8. Booking Essential fothcp.org 16+
1pm-3pm. The Real East End: A Walking Tour with Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Club. £8/£5 concession fothcp.org
6
11am-5.30pm E5 Bakehouse's monthly one-day pastry class. £175 e5bakehouse.com
6, 13, 20
11am-9pm. Christmas markets at Chatsworth Road and on the 13th a special Christmas festival with road closed to traffic.
13
12-6pm. Hackney City Farm Christmas Fair. Craft stalls, carols, stocking-fillers, mince pies and mulled wine.
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2pm-4pm Winter Wonderland Walk with winter treats. Free. All welcome. fothcp.org
20
Singalong Christmas Spectacular with musicians and comedians for Richard House Children's Hospice. £10. hackneyshowroom. com
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Fitness They were a central part of Soviet army training – and have proved fashionable and effective in the West. They are a lovely, tactile piece of equipment to hold. You can build a great little routine with this one piece of kit, and it is small enough to tuck away in the corner (or use as a door stop) when not in use. You would buy one, usually 8kg, 12kg, 16kg and so on in graduations of 4kg, and do a circuit of exercises.
Roger Love, a personal trainer, continues our A-Z of fitness with... K Kettlebells Very often, when it comes to exercising, a weight is a weight is a weight. If it is heavy and can be lifted – whether it’s a dumbbell, a barbell, or, even, a rock – you can do most exercises. There is, however, a notable exception; a piece of equipment with which you can do exercises that border on the unique. It’s a kettlebell – a sort of cannonball with a handle – which gets its name because it looks like an old-fashioned Russian kettle. 30 LOVEEAST
Some are the same exercises that you do with other weights: squats, lunges, shoulder presses, upright rows (for the back), tricep extensions, sit-ups and bicep curls. But there are also exercises for which kettlebells are uniquely suited – most notably the "kettlebell swing", which is fantastic for strength and cardio work. It is important to get the technique correct and, although what follows is a description of the exercise, I would recommend more research before trying it at home. Talk to a trainer, watch videos online, go to a kettlebell class, film yourself or get a friend to watch your form and give you feedback. Practice without a weight to start with. If you feel the exercise in your lower back, stop and look again at your technique. The swing works primarily the bum, the thighs and the front of the shoulder. To do it, stand with you feet hip-width apart. Half squat
by bending your hips and knees. Hold the kettlebell by the handles and let in hang between you knees. Keep the arms extended although with a slight bend in elbows. Keep your abs tight. Swing the kettlebell forwards and upwards to shoulder height by extending your hips and knees and letting your shoulders swing freely. Resist lifting the weight with your arms; let your hips create the momentum of the swing. It is not a squat – it is a hip thrust. After doing your reps (say 10 to start with), let the kettlebell come slowly to a halt. Invest some time in getting the technique right and you will reap great rewards – and it could be the centrepiece of powerful sets of exercises that you could do a home all with one piece of kit. Roger Love is a personal trainer based in Netil House, Hackney. www.hackneypt.com
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What to eat
Illustration: rachelgale.com
Prune & Chard Stuffed Porchetta, the ultimate festive roast – serves 10-12 Porchetta is a classic Italian pork roast that has its origins in the city of Ariccia near Rome and dates back at least 500 years, perhaps even to Roman times. While it takes a little time to prepare, it is not difficult and the results are spectacularly good. It’s not only delicious hot, but also makes fantastic sandwiches. No wonder it has stood the test of time. It’s also almost impossible to overcook. What’s not to like?
2. Using a very sharp knife, or Stanley knife, make shallow scores at 2cm intervals across the skin. 3. Turn the belly over so that it is skin side down and lay the loin on top. 4. Grind all the rub ingredients together with a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder, then rub into the flesh of the pork. Now for the stuffing
Method
1. Sautée onions in butter or oil until soft.
The rub
2. Add spices and chard stems and cook gently for 30 seconds before adding the chard leaves.
1. Place the pork belly skin side up on a clean surface. 32 LOVEEAST
3. Cook until chard has just wilted (not long) then fold the lot with the bread crumbs and chopped prunes. 4. Season well with salt and pepper. 5. Spread the stuffing mixture in a tight log down the centre of the pork. 6. Carefully roll the pork over the stuffing and continue rolling until you have a roasting joint enveloped in skin. 7. Tie the joint firmly every two inches with kitchen twine. 8. At this point, if you have time it would be good to
What to eat Ingredients Half a whole skin-on pork belly – approx. 30cm. Optional: half a whole pork loin, skin removed and butterflied lengthways (ask your butcher). Try to use free range British pork. It has higher welfare standards and usually much tastier than imported pork. leave this in the fridge overnight or even up to two days, but it’s not essential. 9. Preheat oven to 240°C. 10. Massage skin liberally with sea salt then transfer pork onto a rack in a baking dish. 11. Roast at 240°C for approximately 20 minutes, or until the skin starts crackling, before turning the oven down to 160°C and roasting for a further two hours (check after 1.5) or until it reaches 60-65°C at its thickest point (make sure you measure the pork not the stuffing). Reduce cooking time by 20 minutes if you're not using pork loin.
12. Rest in a warm place for 10-15 minutes, by which time the core temperature should have reached 70 °C. 13. Slice and serve with roast potatoes and cavolo nero or Brussels sprout tops. Serves 10-12 people with the loin, or 6 people without.
James Morgan Director & Cook The Hackney Pearl. thehackneypearl.com
For the rub
1 tablespoons peppercorns 2 tablespoons ground fennel seeds 1 tablespoon dried chilli flakes 2 tablespoons chopped sage 1 tablespoon chopped rosemary 1 teaspoon juniper berries ½ teaspoon cinnamon 2 blades mace 12 cloves garlic – finely grated Marsala or medium sherry (just enough to moisten the mix) Sea salt to taste For the stuffing
See p36 for the perfect wine to accompany porchetta.
24 prunes soaked in hot black tea for 30 minutes to an hour, then drained and chopped 3 medium onions finely diced 3-4 chard leaves, stems, chopped and blanched;leaves chopped. 3-4 handfuls of cubed stale bread 1 tablespoon fennel seeds – freshly ground 1 teaspoon chilli flakes ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg Sunflower oil or butter for sautéeing Salt and pepper LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 33
What to eat 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. 2. Cut a cross in the bottom of each chestnut, place on a baking tray at the bottom of the oven and roast for 30 minutes. 3. Toss the pumpkin in olive oil, season with salt and bake on the top shelf of the oven for 40 minutes or until soft. 4. Cover the bottom of a large saucepan with olive oil, place over a medium-low heat and add the onion and garlic. After 5 minutes add the celery and cook gently until the onion is golden and translucent.
Enjoy Elinor Brett's Christmas sweet chestnut and gorgonzola soup Sweet chestnuts are the highlight of the forager’s winter. Not to be confused with the green spiky (and slightly poisonous) horse chestnut, sweet chestnuts have a brown prickly shell and usually contain several small nuts. They're fiddly to remove from their shells, but the reward is a dense, sweet, almost floury nut that can be used in recipes from chocolate cake to Christmas stuffing. Best collected shortly after they have fallen to the ground, it is easiest to remove the spiky shells by stamping on them and picking out the nuts from the mess that is left. Discard any that have holes, as this indicates the presence of weevils. Chestnuts can be roasted, boiled or microwaved, but are 34 LOVEEAST
easiest to peel when they're warm and damp, so keep them wrapped in a towel and move fast. Crush at the pointy end and slip them out of their skins, removing both the hard outer husk and the inner brown skin. Chestnut soup – serves 2
400g chestnuts, foraged or bought 600g pumpkin, peeled and roughly cut into chunks 1 onion, chopped 1 clove of garlic, chopped 3 sticks of celery, finely chopped 500ml vegetable stock, hot 200g gorgonzola Olive oil Salt and pepper
5. Peel the chestnuts as described above, then add the chestnuts and squash to the pan with the onion. Cook gently for another 5 minutes. 6. Pour in the hot stock, bring to the boil and turn the heat down to low, cover with a lid and allow to simmer for 30 minutes. 7. When finished, remove the pan from the heat, crumble in 150g of the gorgonzola and then whizz with a food processor or stick blender. 8. Taste for seasoning, divide the soup into bowls and serve garnished with the rest of the gorgonzola and a good grind of black pepper.
For more foraging suggestions go to hotbutteredmackerel. squarespace.com Instagram@hotbutteredmackerel
What to eat 2 tablespoon brandy (or rum) 150ml dark ale or stout, such as Guinness 2 small eggs, beaten Flour & butter for preparing the basins Method
Sift together the flours, baking powder and spices in a bowl. Stir in the almonds, suet, sugar and breadcrumbs, mixing well. Add the remaining pudding ingredients, stirring well after each addition. Cover with cling film and leave in the fridge or a really cool place for 24 hours or up to one week if possible, stirring a few times.
Alibi Pantry's Guinness and brandy Christmas pudding Alibi Pantry is run by Alison Noor who has had a long career as an top chef, most notably at the Hartford Group, Boisdale, and recently at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Foundation, where she taught underprivileged young adults to become chefs. She's created a great recipe for a delicious traditional Christmas lunch finale. It's easy to prepare and promises to top off your festive feast in style.
Ingredients 75g plain flour ¾teaspoon baking powder ¼teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg One third teaspoon mixed spice 20g Ground almonds 75g shredded suet 75g dark muscovado sugar 30g white breadcrumbs from a 2-day old loaf 500g mixed dried fruit (currants, raisins, sultanas, figs, prunes, etc) 1teaspoon black treacle Third of a lemon, finely grated zest & 1 tablespoon juice Third of an orange, finely grated zest, 2 tablespoon juice 1 small carrot finely grated Half a medium cooking apple, peeled & grated
2. Grease and lightly flour a 1kg basin and pack in the pudding mixture. Top the surface of the pudding with a circle of greaseproof paper, then place the lid on (or you can make one using tin foil, tied with string to keep it in place). Place in a steamer of boiling water for 6 hours, topping up with water every so often, making sure it doesn’t boil away. If you don’t have a steamer you can place the puddings on an upturned bowl in the bottom of a saucepan, making sure water covers the bottom third of the pudding basin. 3. Leave to cool, and then remove the greaseproof paper and replace with a new lot. Dry the lid and replace. The puddings can now be stored in a cool dry place. On the big day the pudding should be steamed for about 1½-2 hours, or covered loosely and heated in the microwave for about 6 minutes on high, checking its progress every so often by inserting a skewer into the centre and leaving for a couple of seconds. If the skewer comes out piping hot it is ready. Let stand for 1 minute. 4. To flame the pudding half-fill a metal ladle with brandy and carefully heat over a gas flame or lit candle. When the flame is hot enough, the brandy will light. Pour the flaming brandy over the pudding. Make sure the lights are out when taking to the table for a grand entrance. 5. Simply serve with cream. alibipantry.com LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 35
What to drink Local experts Vinarius recommend a great wine to match The Hackney Pearl's Christmas porchetta In Italy, porchetta is a dish prepared for a special occasion and therefore it needs a good and supple red wine to match the crispy crackling and the tasty, juicy meat (see p32).
Winter Garden is LoveEast's delicious Christmas cocktail, perfect for festive parties
Barbera d’Asti Superiore “Genio” has a very attractive nose with prune, vanilla and a delicate smokey aroma but, more importantly, it has a very elegant, rich but fresh palate that compliments the porchetta very well, with bags of red berry, redcurrant and cherry aromas. The producer is Gianni Doglia from Castagnole delle Lanze in Italy, a one of Vinarius's favourite winemakers and a good friend.
Inspired by al fresco autumn gardens, our cocktail is a delicate twist on a winter mulled drink and will bring a warm embrace to any party over the festive season. Citrus ingredients reflect the harvest of fruit in the garden surrounded by seasonal floral aromas.
The wine was named after Gianni’s grandfather Eugenio (the Maestro) and it has just been awarded the Tre Bicchieri, which is one of the most prestigious wine ratings in Italy.
Serve warm and garnish the drink with diced apples and pears.
Ingredients – serves 10 500ml Peroni Nastro Azzurro 400ml brandy 200ml falernum (available online if you can't find it in your local supermarket) 150ml lemon juice 400ml apple juice 50g sugar Created by The House of Peroni’s award-winning mixologist, Simone Caporale, thehouseofperoni.com 36 LOVEEAST
Vinarius imports Genio directly from the producer and sells it at a retail price of £18.95. Vinarius, 536 Roman Road, E3. vinarius.london
East End bites
The Marksman
pudding, and chicken. The accompanying bread sauce and horseradish where homemade, and you don’t see that very often round here, but it’s this sort of devotion that makes The Marksman very likeable indeed. They revel in the simple joy of cooking some very good food. Our roast potatoes were a prime example. They were presented to us in a bowl, no fuss, for everyone to share. They looked and tasted perfect.
It’s been a busy month for the Birtwistles. We have a little shop, Birtwistle Outpost, opening in Calvert Avenue over December. Pop by and have a coffee with us if you’re in the hood. The shop’s also a private dining space for three nights a week, so it’s all been a bit 24/7 lately. We were in need of a little break, and If some of you find yourself feeling similar around this time of year, I’d recommend a trip to The Marksman. It’s a great place and a little like an outpost itself, being not quite Columbia Road, nor Shoreditch. It's a proper pub, but nice in a green leather banquette kind of way. You can have a pint, stand at the bar, put some money in the jukebox. It’s definitely no dying old boozer. We went for Sunday lunch frazzled and a bit rushed. It was packed. I was first to get there and on my own for a while. I was greeted and escorted from pub level to the more tranquil dining
level upstairs. This building has two different worlds and the colourful staircase works as a transporting wormhole. Want it lively and noisy? Stick to downstairs, as upstairs is more refined, quieter, a little like sitting in a multihued kitchen showroom, all lovely lino, perfect fittings and splashes of colour. It’s relaxed and easier to hangout on your own than the pub. I decided to pimp up this moment of lonesomeness and ordered some delicious Lindisfarne oysters with a little piquant apple and cucumber on top. It’s a nice touch that they loosen the oyster meat. I enjoyed them so much that I would have ordered more, except my reverie was broken. My dining companions were now here. We ordered the roasts straight up. Beef rump with a flamboyant and large Yorkshire
The show-stopping moment is pudding. A good friend had sent me a picture of the Baked Alaska she’d ordered. It looked wonderful, but for me the brown butter and honey tart is the way to go (see pic). This pudding has reached mythical status for good reason. Presented in a sharply cut slice without adornment, the pastry snaps to the spoon and the golden filling, described by Jay Rayner as having "the wobble and softness of a newborn thigh," is just that. Adorable and sweet. All this uncomplicated glory is down to Tom Harris and Jon Rotheram who were previously both chefs at St John’s, and their place is first and foremost a pub. You’re as welcome here for a pint as you are for food and it’s just the sort of merry place you’ll want to be at some point around Christmas.
Susan Birtwistle Starters £3-£10, Sunday roasts and mains £16-£25 Puddings £6-£8. The Marksman Pub 254 Hackney Road, E2 7SJ marksmanpublichouse.com LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 37
Legal advice
The festive season can put extra strain on already difficult relationships – sometimes leading to divorce proceedings in the New Year. In fact, January sees twice as many couples begin divorce proceedings than at any other time of year. There are fewer bigger and bolder decisions you can make than to divorce or separate. All relationships are complex and unique and the decision to end one is just the starting point. There may be children. Who will live where? How will assets accrued during that relationship be divided? You may be able to discuss these issues with your spouse/partner – but for many, the mere mention of it may start an argument. Everyone is different. It is daunting and unknown territory. The number of misconceptions people have are numerous, and you may share some yourself. The quickie divorce There is no such thing. While separation and divorce will be different for everyone, the process remains the same. However, having professional help can make the process run as quickly and smoothly as possible. Divorce ends financial claims Not true. Until you get a court order recording terms of settlement your ex could still make a financial claim. This was highlighted in the case of Vince v Wyatt (2013), in which the wife had been given the opportunity to make a financial claim against her husband, despite divorcing in 1992. Dealing with those issues at separation provides peace of mind and finality, enabling a fresh start. 38 LOVEEAST
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The start of the new year can sometimes mean the end of a relationship. Sarah Stace dispels some myths about divorce and separation
Common law wife/husband Living together, no matter how long, does not automatically give you rights over the assets of your partner, nor does it provide you with financial protection in the event of separation. There are, however, steps you can take to ensure that you get what you intended from the relationship and professional advice will provide you with options and understanding. Whether you are thinking of taking steps to separate or are half way through the process, don't struggle on your own. Forewarned is forearmed and it always pays to seek professional advice as soon as possible. Finally, it need not be an expensive process and the sooner you seek help and are aware of your options (which can include numerous alternatives to litigation such as mediation) the more informed and cost-effective your decisions will be. A fixed fee consultation is the chance to be listened to, receive advice on the law and to help you plan the best way forward – and for you to get that information with no hidden costs.
Sarah Stace is a family lawyer at TV Edwards. For further information contact her on 020 3440 8048, or at Sarah.Stace@tvedwards.com
So who’s up for a different, more positive and enjoyable experience? Here's how I've learnt to appreciate the festive season. Let go of expectations I don’t expect anything. I go and remind myself that time spent with my family is precious, that I don’t see them very often and that my mother and aunt are elderly. This helps me to open up and be more accepting.
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Wellbeing
Seek out the pleasurable things When I arrive I look for what is there rather than what’s not there. I appreciate the small things. For example, although it bothers me that my mother hardly ever listens and changes the subject constantly, I love to find my favourite chocolate bar on my pillow the first night of my arrival. Do something different and inspire others We now go for a walk on Christmas day after lunch. I made the suggestion and everybody was up for it. It only needs one person to have an idea and to share it.
Bah humbug! The festive season can be a time of contrasting emotions. It doesn't have to be that way, says Karen Liebenguth While it’s hard not to get excited by the festive lights and decorations, there’s also the anticipation of spending extended time with family. Let's face it, while we love them dearly they're also the very people who know how to press our buttons. Each Christmas I spend two weeks with my family. I would be excited about seeing everybody again, but then I would soon find myself feeling annoyed about this or that, about things that were said or not said. We’d more often than not end up getting grouchy with each other. These days I make a conscious effort to think about what I can do to have a more satisfying and enjoyable time.
Be curious I often ask "How have you been; what’s been happening for you?" And then listen. It’s different from asking "How are you?" It never gets much of an answer, and people like the attention it gives. Be grateful Having lost my father in 2006 and seeing my mother age, I’ve stopped taking her for granted. It helps me be more patient with her. I now listen more and do things for her. I've become more appreciative of her motherhood, the fact that she wants to care for me (even though it might not be exactly how I want to be cared for). Merry Christmas everyone! Karen Liebenguth offers 1:1 coaching while walking in Victoria Park, 1:1 mindfulness training, mindfulness courses for the workplace & mindfulness for stress and chronic pain. To book a free taster coaching session email karen@greenspacecoaching.com or call 07815 591279. For more information visit greenspacecoaching.com LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 39
Legal advice Advertorial
beneficiaries at all times. This means that any decisions you make in relation to the assets are based on the needs of the person at the time. For example, if they are in full-time education you might have to arrange to pay school fees, etc. You also have a number of duties and responsibilities which can include the following: (a) Investing the trust fund or trust assets in a responsible manner. You may want to take professional advice on how to do this properly. (b) Where the trust consists of property, making sure that these are safe and secure. For example, you may need to put appropriate insurance in place to protect property.
The job of a trustee isn't an easy one, as Sangeeta Moore explains Have you been asked to become a trustee by a member of your family or a close friend? Many people feel privileged in being asked but it is important to know exactly what it means to be a trustee. A trustee's job is to manage the trust. Put simply, a trust is a legal way in which a person (your family member or friend) can give a gift to others without actually giving them any control over it. Why would anybody do this? A trust can be created in two ways, the first is when you are living and the second is on your death through your will, which is the most common type of trust. Trusts in wills take effect after you have died and there are various reasons for including them in a will. A common one is because the person making the will has young children, or perhaps has a disabled or vulnerable person in their family that they wish to provide for after they have died. By law children cannot own property or money in their own name until they are 18 years old. Therefore, any property or money left to them while they are under 18 will have to be held in a trust. A trustee's job is to look after assets of the trust fund for the benefit of young children or vulnerable persons (called beneficiaries). As a trustee, you must act in the best interest of the 40  LOVEEAST
(c) Paying for the education and day-to-day needs of the beneficiaries as and when these are needed. Being a trustee is not an easy job. The law gives you wide powers to look after the trust assets and trust fund. However, with such wide powers come accountability. You must make sure that you use the trust funds and trust assets for the benefit of the beneficiaries only. This means that you cannot personally benefit from the trust. If you do, you will be in breach of your duties as a trustee and the beneficiaries can challenge you. Equally the court will take a very dim view if you have abused your powers. It is therefore important that you seek professional legal advice on the full extent of your duties and responsibilities so that you can do the job properly. Some trustees will often appoint a professional firm to manage a trust, particularly if the trust fund is large. This is but a brief insight into a the role of a trustee and if you need specialist advice on the subject, please get in touch. Next month: New Year's resolution – make a will.
Sangeeta Moore is a solicitor at The Law House. Contact her on 020 8899 6620, 07825 838 922 or write to her at smoore@thelawhouse.com Home visits at no extra charge.
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The Law House solicitors
At The Law House we believe in giving excellent service
We are based throughout London and specialise in the following areas of law
Wills • Lasting Powers of Attorney • Trusts • Probate • Inheritance Tax Planning At The Law House, our costs are transparent and we offer fixed fees. Our priority is to offer an exceptional service to you, including, wherever possible, meeting you at a time and place convenient for you – which need not be limited to the hours of 9am to 5pm on weekdays, as offered by most solicitors. Call us on 020 8899 6620 or you can email us at: sbedford@thelawhouse.com www.thelawhouse.com LOVEEAST DECEMBER 2015 41
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