MMM magazine March'18

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ISSUE 74 March 2018

MMM | Ke nt’s l e a d i ng l i f e s t y l e ma ga z in e

THE POWER OF ROWLING HOW J.K. KEEPS STRIKING IT LUCKY

18 MOTHER’S -PAGE

DAY SPECIAL SPRING INTO THE PERFECT CELEBRATION

SLEEP YOUR WAY TO SLIMNESS

PLUS

EASTER

EGGSTRAVAGANZA

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: AFTERNOON TEAS � HISTORY � MOTORS & GADGETS

A ENT RY

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8 | WELCOME

MOTHER’S DAY How to plan ahead – page 25

he daffodils are blooming (or will be any day), the sun is finally breaking through the clouds and spring is in the air – thank goodness for that!

Welcome to the March edition of MMM, and a very special one at that, because inside we celebrate Mother’s Day – just one of the days of the year when we should remember those who raised us and continue to provide us with inspiration.

Of course, we should be thankful for these fabulous women all year round, but March 11 gives us the chance to put them centre stage – or honour their memory.

I know I have many clients and friends who pick up a copy of MMM to share with their mums – so hopefully this edition will provide plenty of entertainment for you all.

My own mother has proved hugely influential in my life. And though I am also a mother, she still retains the ability to pick me up when I am down and help me with sage advice.

Our celebrity article this month is on JK Rowling – the author whose famous rags to riches tale is a lesson to us all to keep hold of our dreams and never give up.

As a parent herself, her relationship with her own mother, who died aged just 45 and before seeing her daughter’s remarkable success, inspired some of the key themes of her Harry Potter books – as did raising her own children.

Elsewhere, we have a special look at the ideal places for a fabulous afternoon tea – surely the perfect outing for that special woman in your life?

With Easter bank holiday just around the corner, too, we look at great ideas for days out as the weather finally begins to warm up.

Oh, and keep your fingers crossed for me this month. I’m very honoured to have been selected as a finalist in two categories of the Kent Women in Business Awards 2018.

This great initiative highlights the work of those women making a different in their communities, and I’m delighted to be in the running for both the Innovation and Leadership and Management Awards. Win or lose, it’s something I’m very proud of.

Read more in our Local News. All in all, there’s plenty to discover inside our packed pages – so dive right in.

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The finalists have been chosen in busiest year yet.

See page 135

The sweet taste of Easter looms.

Enjoy an array of eggs in our guide, from page 61

My Mum and I

Read how danger still lurks in the Thames Estuary on page 124

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17 JK ROWLING’S FANTASTIC FEATS

43 AFTERNOON TEA SPOTS

25 MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

52 FOOD

Hot on the heels of the Harry Potter exhibition and her latest screen creation, downbeat detective Cormoran Strike, returning to TV, we catch up on how the bestselling author’s pen appears to be her very own magic wand.

We all adore our mothers, so we bring you a hugely affectionate guide to entertaining family outings and activities, great gifts, tantalising treats, fabulous fashion and the best in beauty – all you need to say “Thank you, mum!”

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

With spring breaking this month, we thought we’d celebrate by rounding up some of the yummiest places in the Garden of England for one of the tastiest English traditions – with lashings of cream and jam, of course. For an additional touch of class in a glass, we’ve even included Champagne options.

As a toast to the (hopefully) sunnier weather, we go abroad for a soup-er special featuring a warming Vietnamese Pho and a chilled Spanish Salmorejo, which hails from Cordoba. And to finish off, a Seville Orange Drizzle Cake.

We can’t wait!

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We’re egging each other on!

59 EASTER SPECIAL

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This fun month is being rounded off with the big four-day religious festival when everyone eats much more chocolate than they should! Eggs, bunnies, chicks – what’s not to love? To add to the eggsciting mix we have unusual choccy offerings, as well as lots of wonderful events and Easter Egg hunts with the National Trust.

Plus fun facts and a spot of Easter decor.

69 TRAVEL

Taking a leaf out of the Prime Minister’s holiday book, we explore the joys of both summer and winter breaks in Switzerland. It’s one big high!

74 MEN’S FASHION

Line up – it’s all about the stripes this month.

77 MALE GROOMING

Time for essential body maintenance routines, gentlemen, including brushing those beards.

80 FITNESS

Who knew you can shed those extra pounds while you sleep? And no, it’s not all a dream…

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87 HEALTH & WELLNESS Spice up your life with healthy herbs.

91 HOMES & GARDENS

Rejoice – colour and clutter are back! So max out out your rooms with purple and patterns.

Outside, get set for the good life by going green – it’s time to plant organic veggies.

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107 PROPERTY

We do love to be beside the seaside, especially in wonderful Whitstable.

114 MOTORS

As ever, we’re full of get up and go – zipping out and about in trendy Hot Hatches.

121 GADGETS

Order films and pizza at the same time with your new in-house PA, Amazonian Alexa.

124 HISTORY

What a Liberty! The explosive tale of an alarming shipwreck off the Isle of Sheppey.

131 LOCAL NEWS

Including plans for a new superstore, an ambitious art treasure hunt, a surprsing rescue and the Kent Women in Business Awards.

138 LOCAL EVENTS

Yet more Mother’s Day and Easter adventures, as well as free tickets, Jake Bugg, dockyard déjà vu and Phil Daniels as both Jekyll & Hyde.

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144 HOROSCOPES By the legendary Claire Petulengro.

Enjoy this issue!

MMM Media Ltd GHL House, 2nd Floor, 12-14 Albion Place Maidstone, Kent ME14 5DZ t: 01622 299035 e: sales@mmm-media.com w: www.mmm-media.com www.mmm-magazine.co.uk

­­ rights reserved. The views expressed in All this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. ©MMM Media Ltd 2018

Cover image by BBC Publisher: Rasa Dregva Editorial: Tom White, Robin J Brooks, Sarah Bond, Sarah Vince Design: Becky Appleton, Katy Morrison Sales: Brenda Eveleigh, Claire Byfleet, Rebecca Marguet -Turner

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17 | COVER STORY

THE MAGICAL WORLD OF

JK ROWLING

Eleven years after the last Harry Potter book, the world of witchcraft and wizardry is still being serviced by the world’s richest author. Amazing when she started out stony broke, with nothing but a pen.

We take a look back over her spellbinding career…

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18 | COVER STORY

L

ater this year, some 11 years after the last Harry Potter book was published, millions around the world will make a pilgrimage to the cinema for the latest chapter in the magical universe.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is the sequel to the first Potter spin-off movie – about a previous student of Hogwarts – which came out two years ago. And it will only swell the enormous fortune of the series’ creator – the legendary JK Rowling. Especially as it forms only the second instalment in a five-movie deal to expand on an area not covered by the main Potter books.

As will the sell-out West End run of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – a play set some 19 years after Potter’s dramatic last year at school. It expands to Broadway in April and work is also underway on a production in Australia which starts next year.

Not only has the author, now 52, become the richest author of all time, but also one of the richest women in Britain. But that is just one aspect of a remarkable career which inspired generations and will undoubtedly continue to do so for many decades to come.

A strong, independent female, Rowling challenged the perceived notion of literary success and created a world in which children and adults alike swam in, and many still dip their toes in years later.

She transformed the reading habits of

‘She transformed the reading habits of children – young boys in particular – who were suddenly found with their nose in a book’

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19 | COVER STORY

EXPELLIARMUS! Rowling’s first book was rejected by a dozen publishers, who must feel very shame-faced now

FANTASTIC TREATS: To the thrill of JK Rowling fans everywhere, her world of magic lives on

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children – young boys in particular – who were suddenly found with their nose in a book. The impact cannot be underestimated.

As we look to celebrate Mother’s Day this month, there are perhaps fewer stronger role models upon which young girls can base themselves. Rowling has enjoyed success on her own terms and with her feet still firmly placed on the ground. Yet she remains scarred by the death of her mother, who died after a traumatic 10-year battle with multiple sclerosis before her daughter wrote the first Potter book.

Sadly, Rowling’s mother would never see its publication or success, but would heavily influence the style and much of the emotional thrust of the series. There are, perhaps, few books where the bond with a departed parent are quite so clearly drawn. Hence Harry losing his own parents and Voldemort fighting death.

And the series has links with Kent. Just last year, BBC TV crews filmed parts of the documentary Harry Potter: A History of Magic (to accompany the British Library exhibition) at Holly Hill Woodlands between Snodland and Vigo, where they visited wand makers in the county.

Our appetite for the world of witchcraft and wizardry – fact or fiction – remains undimmed.

Rowling’s rags to riches story is well documented, as is her struggle to get published in the first place. Less well known are her struggles to get into print post-Potter.

After publishing the Casual Vacancy in

20 | COVER STORY

2012 – her first work of fiction since 2007’s Deathly Hallows brought the curtain down (for then at least) on our voyage of discovery with the boy wizard – she started writing under a pseudonym.

A long-held desire to have her writing judged on her own ability rather than living in the shadow of her most famous creation, she adopted the name Robert Galbraith.

“When I was a child,” she recalled, “I wanted to be called Ella Galbraith. So I thought I might be LA Galbraith, but then I didn’t want to use initials as that might give the game away.

“I sent out the manuscripts to a whole load of publishers, and there was a small press that wanted to take it. But by that time the Little, Brown Book Group were interested.

“It would have been a big secret to ask a small press to keep.”

Not that it lasted long anyway.

Famously turned down by a dozen publishers for the first Harry Potter instalment, this time around knockbacks from publishers before finally striking a deal was seen as a return to some sort of normality by the author.

“I was so thrilled with every rejection letter,” she revealed. “It was all about the writing. I wish it could have gone on a bit longer.”

Published in April 2013, the accompanying promotional material which came with the book said the author was a former soldier.

It had entered the top 5,000 books in the Amazon sales charts, but when the truth was exposed – just three months later – her

ECHOES OF HOGWARTS? Curiously, JK Rowling lives near Edinburgh Castle

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STANDARD QUAY Faversham

FOR A TOTALLY UNIQUE SHOPPING AND LEISURE EXPERIENCE RICH IN HISTORY! HISTORIC STANDARD QUAY One of Faversham’s hidden gems! Sitting alongsidethe Creek at the far end of Abbey Street and in easy walking distance from the town centre, it gives thevisitor a truly unique experience.

Offering Creek side walking, shopping, eating and a chance to see Faversham’s living history. It’s home to several classic ships and boats including barges such as Cambria and Greta as well as traditional fi shing boats, classic tugs and overnight moorings of all sorts! One of Standard Quay’s classic ‘barn’ buildings, that dates back to the seventeen hundreds, is the temporary home of the Cambria Thames Barge Exhibition.

THE HISTORIC MONKS GRANARY This was constructed using timbers from Faversham Abbey, built by King Stephen & his wife Queen Matilda in 1148, it was also their burial place. The Abbey was then torn down as part of King Henry V111’s plans to sweep the monasteries from England.

THE TEA ROOM AND SECRET GARDEN So while you’re here , visit the lovely garden and admire the many speciality plants & shrubs and the large selection of glazed and terracotta pots. When you’ve finished here, visit the Tea Room & Coffee House, they serve delicious home-made food, so you can treat

yourself to a snack, a meal or maybe a piece of home-made cake, all created on the premises!

ALADDIN’S LOFT Just above the Tea Room is Aladdin’s Loft indoor market, the name speaks for itself!

Definitely worth a browse as it has 22 different retailers selling antiques and collectables, perfect is you’re looking for something unusual or “not on the high street”.

In addition to all this, there are 5 independent outlets selling antiques & used furniture, with traditional, nautical and retro themes; OLD ENGLISH TOOLS which attracts visitors who come to see and buy the classic & rare wood & metal work tools from yesteryear!

And if this wasn’t enough, there is also THE INNER GODDESS offering hair, beauty and holistic treatments, and a gallery on site.

NOW OPEN - Salt and Spice - offering Global spice blends and herbs and spices by the gram and Quayside Fireplaces - for the supply and installation of Wood Burning Stoves, logs, coals and kindling.

To make your visit more convenient, there is plenty of free on-site parking; you can even have your car washed and your tyres checked while you browse or visit the Tea Room!

So next time you’re looking for somewhere different to visit, try Standard Quay.

You won’t be disappointed!

Standard Quay, Faversham – OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Faversham ME13 7BS (SatNav) | Tel 01795 597616 | www.standardquay.co.uk

Many unique shops & outlets at Standard Qu Historic Standard Quay is one of Faversham’s hidden Jewels. Sitting alongside the creek at the far end of Abbey St with many exciting outlets to browse.

22 | COVER STORY

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23 | COVER STORY

new star character, maverick private detective Cormoran Strike, found himself catapulted to the top of the bestseller list. It went on to sell a million copies and spawn a string of followups – all still under the Galbraith name.

Last year, the BBC turned it into a drama series which, needless to say, also proved a huge hit. It stars Musketeers’ heartthrob Tom Burke, who grew up in Faversham and Canterbury, and the third much-awaited episode was screened at the end of last month.

The success of Potter, it seems, will ensure Rowling continues to triumph – whatever name she uses.

“I had this dream that I’d manage to get two or three books out before being rumbled,” she confessed.

But anonymity is a dream Rowling can most likely never live again – although she admits she has still to accept she will spend a lifetime of never having to worry about money again.

A mother of three, and happily married since 2001 to second husband Neil Murray, the author lives in Edinburgh– and Scotland is the country in which she studied and wrote many of the first Potter books.

Yet she says success in her life and career has taken some getting used to.

‘Some people would assume you’re sitting around feeling simply marvellous and shining your baubles…

But in my flat, where I was still a single mum and I didn’t know who to call to do my hair, everything felt phenomenally overwhelming’

JK ROWLING IN NUMBERS 910 MILLION Amount, in dollars, of JK Rowling’s net worth

15 BILLION

Estimated value, in dollars, of the Harry Potter brand

6

Number of years JK Rowling spent writing the manuscript that launched her: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

12

Number of publishers to which JK Rowling’s agency sent her 200-page partial manuscript of the book

2,400

Amount, in dollars, of the advance paid to JK Rowling

by Londonbased publisher Bloomsbury one year later

40,000

Value, in dollars, of a Bloomsbury first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

LUCKY STRIKE: Kent star Tom Burke continues as JK Rowling’s rebellious TV detective

“Some people would assume you’re sitting around feeling simply marvellous and shining your baubles,” she said.

“But I remember, a week after I got my American deal, which got me a lot of press, one of my very best girlfriends rang me and said: ‘I thought you’d sound so elated!’

“From the outside, I’m sure everything looked amazing. But in my flat, where I was still a single mum and I didn’t know who to call to do my hair, everything felt phenomenally overwhelming.”

Rowling’s career since the phenomenon of Harry Potter has been overwhelming by anyone’s standards.

She continues to hold strong political views – she donated more than £1million to the Labour Party under Gordon Brown (she is close friends with his wife, Sarah) and another £1million to the campaign fighting against Scottish independence in that country’s referendum. With that and Twitter, she clearly feels comfortable speaking out on issues she feels are important to her.

JK Rowling was always a huge fan of Jane Austen, and if she becomes just as celebrated an author over time as her heroine, it would be highly ironic to see the world’s richest author also ending up on a bank note…

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25 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

SUNDAY

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DESIGNED BY FREEPIK

March

INSIDE THINGS TO DO FASHION GIFTS

We love the annual toast to all of our marvellous mothers – it’s a wonderful chance to say ‘thank you’, and here we give lots of lovely ways to celebrate

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26 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

PERFECT THINGS TO DO

ON MOTHER’S DAY

If you are a mum, where would you like to spend your annual celebration? If you are still not sure, we bring you four pages full of fabulous treats…

GET PAMPERED

Aside from the celebrations and ‘Thank you mum’ tributes, this is the perfect day to enjoy a spot of time for a rest and relaxation treat

THE RETREAT

THE LONDON BEACH HOTEL Ashford Road, St Michaels, Tenterden TN30 6HX 01580 766279 www.londonbeach.com

EASTWELL MANOR Boughton Lees, Ashford TN25 4HT 01233 213000 www.eastwellmanor.co.uk

MOTHER’S DAY IS ‘ME TIME’ And no one can quibble! Make the most of it…

THE BANNATYNE SPA Westwood Road, Broadstairs CT10 2NR 01843 600606 www.bannatyne.co.uk

ASHFORD INTERNATIONAL HOTEL SPA Simone Weil Avenue, Ashford TN24 8UX 01233 219988 www.qhotels.co.uk

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The Victorian House, 64 London Road, Maidstone ME16 8QL 01622 664866 www.theretreat.uk.com

27 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

GO FOR A SUNDAY LUNCH Always the favourite way to celebrate Mother’s Day – someone else does the cooking!

VILLAGE GRILL – VILLAGE HOTEL MAIDSTONE Castle View, Forstal Road, Maidstone ME14 3AQ 01622 235170 www.village-hotels.co.uk

WYATT & JONES 23-27 Harbour Street, Broadstairs CT10 1EU 01843 865126 www.wyattandjones.co.uk

THE SWAN BAR & BRASSERIE DESIGNED BY FREEPIK

35 Swan Street, West Malling ME19 6JU 01227 788072 www.theswanwestmalling.co.uk

THE MARQUIS Alkham Valley Road, Alkham, Dover CT15 7DF 01304 873410 www.themarquisatalkham.co.uk

OAKWOOD HOUSE Oakwood Park, Maidstone ME16 8AE 01622 620720 www.oakwoodhousehotel.co.uk

VISIT SISSINGHURST CASTLE GARDEN WITH THE NATIONAL TRUST

Wander through Sissinghurst Castle Garden for inspiring ideas or simply soak up spring.

Enjoy the rich, warm colours of the cottage garden, and on the Moat Walk discover a bank of bright yellow azaleas.

Also known as the spring garden, the Lime Walk is one area where former owner Harold Nicolson – the British diplomat, author, diarist and politician who married writer Vita SackvilleWest – controlled the design and planting.

Long beds of tulips, fritillaries and hyacinths are marked out by an avenue of pleached limes, scattered by generous terracotta pots, every inch bursting with colour for about four weeks.

Early spring sees this garden become a carpet of colour: Pink chinodoxias, scillas and white anemones, looked over proudly by a Magnolia salicifolia and a big, bold mauve rhododendron. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

EYES ON THE PRIZE The azaleas were planted in 1946 by Vita with £100 she won from the Royal Society of Literature’s Heinemann Prize for her poem ‘The Garden’

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01622 235170

29 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

MARGATE MUSE BY RUTH MCDONALD

GET SOME CULTURE

Mother’s Day is also a fabulous chance to feed the mind, soul and spirit…

TURNER CONTEMPORARY An exhibition about poet TS Eliot’s links with Margate. Famously, he is said to have written Part III of ‘The Waste Land’ in a seafront bus shelter while recovering from a breakdown.

Local artists Chris Snow, Nick Kelly, Anthony Giles, Ruth McDonald and Claire Gill have all produced work inspired by the poem. www.turnercontemporary.org

ORCHARD THEATRE, DARTFORD Treat your mum (or yourself) to an afternoon of delicious food and entertainment from acoustic folk rock singer Rich Lown, who will play you a mix of original music and some favourites in an intimate setting.

Your ticket includes a drink on arrival and a three-course set menu meal. Plus there will be a surprise gift for every mum attending. www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

GET A FAMILY PHOTOSHOOT

LEEDS CASTLE

This experience provides the perfect excuse to get the family together for a memorable portrait which can be cherished for years to come.

Enjoy a lovely Mother’s Day opportunity to hear the Leeds Castle Chapel organ being played by castle organist Jenifer Horbury at 12.30pm and then again at 1.30pm.

Jenifer will play a selection of classical pieces and give a brief talk about the history of this special instrument. If you miss it on March 11, you can see her March 18, too. www.leeds-castle.com

JOANNE COLLINS PHOTOGRAPHY 01580 438002 www.joannecollinsphotography.co.uk

GRAHAM SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY 01622 683868 www.grahamscottstudio.net

OAKHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY 07725 805768 or 07703 493574 www.oakhousephotography.co.uk

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TIM HENSEL PHOTOGRAPHY Tel: 01303 766130 Mobile: 07966 778445 www.timhenselphotography.com

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30 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

West Malling Flowers 01732 874874 Sweet William Headcorn 01622 891767 Lucy’s Florist Penenden Heath 01622 356692 Flowers by SP Broadstairs 01843 860003 Stem by Stem Folkestone 01303 252626 Contemporary Flowers Canterbury 01227 713232 Kent Wedding Flowers Tonbridge 01622 831377 The Sevenoaks Florist Sevenoaks 01732 450145 Jane At Graham Greener Whitstable 01227 277100

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BUY SOME FLOWERS A TÊTE-ÀTÊTE? Or a night out with the whole family?

SPLURGE ON A FANCY DINNER

If you didn’t go out for lunch, or even if you did, then make a Mother’s Day night out of it, either for two with appreciative dad or for the whole family. There are plenty of choices of wonderful restaurants in our selection, including some with private dining rooms for small parties. But they are likely to be busy on this day of thanks to lovely mothers everywhere, so it’s best to book in advance.

KITS COTY Kits Coty Brasserie, 15 Old Chatham Road Blue Bell Hill, Aylesford ME20 7EZ 01634 684445 www.kitscoty.co.uk

HYTHE IMPERIAL HOTEL Princes Parade, Hythe CT21 6AE 01303 267441 www.hytheimperial.co.uk

CHILSTON PARK HOTEL Sandway,Lenham ME17 2BE 01622 859803 www.handpickedhotels.co.uk

Flowerpower Sandwich 01304 614377

BAY AT SANDS HOTEL Marine Drive, Margate CT9 1DH 01843 228228 www.sandshotelmargate.co.uk

THE SMUGGLERS LOUNGE 212 Canterbury Road, Birchington on Sea, Thanet CT7 9AQ 01843 841185 www.smugglersbirchington.co.uk

Sunflowers Florist Herne Bay 01227 371063

THE POACHER & PARTRIDGE Hartlake Road, Tudeley, TN11 0PH 01732 358934 www.elitepubs.com

Floral Studio Cranbrook 01580 715141

See more Mother’s Day events on Page 136 MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

’ s D r e a h y t o M DESIGNED BY FREEPIK

Carvery Lunch £19.95 adults £9.95 children* At Oakwood House 11th March

Sitting times:12.30 & 13.15 Please call to pre book. *Terms & Conditions Apply

Oakwood House, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8AE t:01622 620720 | e:info@oakwoodhotel.co.uk | w:oakwoodhousehotel.co.uk

32 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

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33 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

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LASH & H

WITH 10 SHOTS OF FILM

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON FRAME £20 DEBENHAMS

A

N

D

ST

R AP POSH TOTTY DESIGNS WONDERFUL MUM CARD & NECKLACE SET £20.99 GETTING PERSONAL

IL T

NF

PHOTO UPLOAD ME TO YOU BELGIAN CHOCOLATES £9.99 GETTING PERSONAL

LF

O D E, B U

-I

LOVE YOU MUM DOGS £3.95 PAPERCHASE

M IE

GOLD PLATED COVE 8 X 10 £195 RALPH LAUREN

PINK GOLD BLOCK FRAME £18 OLIVER BONAS

GREEN LEATHER PHOTO ALBUM £7.99 TKMAXX

WONDERLUST ROCOCO FLOWERS PHOTO FRAME £75 WEDGWOOD

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

35 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

• Homemade cakes • Freshly prepared sandwiches • Gluten free options • Locally sourced coffee • Design led gifts and homeware • Birthday parties available .home.gifts f o o d . c o f f•e eSpace available for hire.

harpers

• homemade cakes • freshly prepared sandwiches • toasted sandwiches and much more • locally sourced coffee • gluten free cakes

Design led gifts, homeware, jewllery and many other unique finds

design led gifts, homeware, jewellery and many other unique finds

harpers now open I monday to saturday 9 – 5pm under new ownership 12 market buildings , me14 1hp

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

34 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

EYELASH EXTENSIONS | EYELASH LIFT | EYEBROW TINTING & WAXING

30 UNION STREET, MAIDSTONE, ME14 1ED | 07588 042824

SPRING

MARCH & APRIL

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

this own. d yet

ounge

es a

36 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

MOTHER’S DAY

GIFTS

A selection of beautiful presents to show your parent how truly precious she is

MOTHER OF PEARL PHOTO FRAME £15 MONSOON

MERCER MEDIUM MESSENGER BAG £225 MICHAEL KORS

BLUE TIMELESS ELEGANCE STUD EARRINGS £55 PANDORA

MULBERRY MINI ZIPPED BAYSWATER BAG £895 HOUSE OF FRASER SPARKLING DC RING £85 SWAROVSKI

buy PERFECT

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

SIGNATURE STUD EARRINGS £90 PANDORA EVERY DAY IS MOTHER’S DAY £55 LINKS OF LONDON

37 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

SCENT WITH LOVE…

PEONY & BLUSH SUEDE FRAGRANCE TRIO £70 JO MALONE LONDON MUM MUGS £19.95 EMMA BRIDGEWATER

TEA LIGHT HOLDERS (SET OF THREE) £18 DEBENHAMS COUNTY SQUARE

LANCOME LA VIE EST BELLE ECLAT 75ML £82 DEBENHAMS, COUNTY SQUARE

FLOWERS AND FOIL SCARF (DUE IN APRIL) £32 OLIVER BONAS

TI M

EP

I

EC

GABRIELLE CHANEL £112 DEBENHAMS, COUNTY SQUARE

ET O TREASUR E

MK3737 LADIES CINTHIA WATCH £249 MICHAEL KORS

PAPER ROSE SCATTERED WOVEN PJ SET £55 CATH KIDSTON

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

MONET SILVER & CRYSTAL WREATH BROOCH £40 HOUSE OF FRASER

MARC JACOBS DAISY EAU SO FRESH £85 DEBNHAMS COUNTY SQUARE

38 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

ALL WRAPPED UP TEIMAH BARDOT TOP £99 TED BAKER

love

OLANA MOTIF BUCKLE LONG SILK SCARF £55 RALPH LAUREN

WE

DOORA BOW TIE NECK ALINE DRESS £169 TED BAKER

THIS

F U L L OF

TILLY PRINTED SKIRT £89 COAST

FO

RE

ST GEMS

BARBARA MEDIUM ENVELOPE CLUTCH BAG £225 MICHEAL KORS

METALLIC BOW TIE £12 HOUSE OF FRASER

MUM CAN PLAY SPOT THE HARE POWDER FOREST HARE PRINT SCARF IN MUSTARD YELLOW £22 CUCKOOLAND

NAVY AND BLACK GEOMETRIC TIE £12 BURTON

AMBERLEY CLUTCH BAG £495 MULBERRY

VELVET BOW TIE £60 JOHN LEWIS

JAEGAR £49 HOUSE OF FRASER

LET HER SHINE In a gorgeous glitter dress

RUBY MEDIUM HEART CLUTCH BAG £175 MICHEAL KORS

MANZONI SPARKLE KNIT JUMPER DRESS £130 FRENCH CONNECTION

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

CALVIN KLEIN BOTANICAL WEAVE TIE £45 JOHN LEWIS

GOODBYE WINTER

o l l e h !

g n i r p S Bolongaro Trevor Hugo Boss Armani Esemplare

True Religion Scotch & Soda Mos Mosh

J .Lindeberg

Day Birger

MA.Strum

Circle of gentlemen

Rebecca Rhoades

Versace

John White

Religion

J Brand

Matchless

Replay

Circolo 1901

www.woodsdesignerclothing.com

Samsoe

40 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

A

SKIN

N

CARE

GEING A TI

Help mum look terrific, and maybe even younger than her years, with this range of beauty gifts covering all skin types

GO BIG ON BIOENERGY

C O M BI

NA

This biotic day cream for combination skin harnesses the patent-pending bioenergy complex of encapsulated zinc and copper. The acids, blended with a potent phyto-bioactive, help to support the skin for optimum function and vitality. The complexion is left balanced, fresh and shine free.

TI

O ON

NATURAL YOUTH This age-delaying creme is infused with Iris Florentina extract, which works alongside the skin’s natural antioxidant defence system to help strengthen it and fight against the appearance of signs of ageing – even before they appear. Specially formulated to be gentle on the skin, this creme has an ultra-fine texture offering optimal comfort, and contains naturally derived ingredients which leave it appearing toned, smoothed and reinvigorated so you can look youthful-looking for longer.

ELEMIS BIOTIC SKIN ENERGISING DAY CREAM £75 DEBENHAMS

I LY S KI

love WE

THIS

DIOR CAPTURE YOUTH AGE-DELAY ADVANCED CREME £75 DEBENHAMS

N

ise

Remember to cleanse, exfoliate & moistur A TRIPLE TONIC Skin care is easy with this three-part set.

Just three minutes, morning and night, and you’ll begin to see clear, smooth, radiant skin in about two weeks.

CLINIQUE 3-STEP INTRODUCTION KIT FOR SKIN TYPE 3 £20 JOHN LEWIS

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

DECLÉOR AROMA PURETÉ SHINE CONTROL OXYGENATING FLUID £29 HOUSE OF FRASER

ES

APPLY In the evening to the face and neck with very light pressing motions

QUICK FIX

On the go!

SE

KI

YP NT

AL L

S

41 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

N

TI SI

VE SKIN

USE IT

CLARINS SUPER RESTORATIVE NIGHT CREAM £76 BOOTS

When you are experiencing bad skin days

CLEANSING BRUSH HEAD £17 CLINIQUE

LANCÔME ADVANCED GÉNIFIQUE SENSITIVE DUAL CONCENTRATE £59 JOHN LEWIS

GET YOUR REAL BEAUTY SLEEP

NIGHT-TIME REINFORCEMENT

This night cream is intensively replenishing, lifting and renewing and dedicated to women of 50 plus, whose skin is weakened by age-related hormonal changes.An innovative formula that compensates for the decrease in hormonal influences on the skin, this cream hydrates skin throughout the night and restores a more youthful look. It is rich and emollient yet lightweight and easily absorbed, reducing redness whilst dressing the skin in a sheer and flatting veil of soft pink pigments.

A freshly activated dual concentrate that will help soothe your skin whenever you feel it needs it most. A night skin saviour that combines the potency of probiotics extracts – yeast, bifidobacterius and lactobacillum – which are known for their glow-enhancing, reinforcing and soothing properties, plus an antioxidant booster enriched with vitamin E and ferulic acid. It will make your skin feel reinforced against environmental and internal aggressors.

BALMS AWAY EYE MAKE-UP REMOVER £16.75 DEBENHAMS

Great for sensitive skin...

SOFT AS YOUR SKIN

A luxurious, velvety, extra gentle cleansing foam designed with a formula that excels in removing make-up, dirt and impurities without irritating or drying the skin.

Suitable for very dry to dry combination skin types.

SONIC EXTRA GENTLE CLEANSING FOAM £18.50 CLINQUE

BENEFIT THE POREFESSIONAL INSTANT WIPEOUT MASKS £17 JOHN LEWIS

FORMULA DAILY ADVANCED FACIAL CLEANSING WIPES £4 MARKS & SPENCER

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

MURAD SENSITIVE SKIN SOOTHING SERUM £49.50 JOHN LEWIS

EXTRA-COMFORT TONING LOTION DRY SENSITIVE SKIN £21 CLARINS

FASHION

MOTHER’S DAY

42 | MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

SARAI PALACE GARDENS £49 TED BAKER

BIBA EMBROIDERED LOGO SPOT BLOUSE £59 HOUSE OF FRASER

LIBBY STRIPE BLOUSE £55 OLIVER BONAS

EMBROIDERED LOGO SPOT BLOUSE BIBA £59 HOUSE OF FRASER

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

43 | AFTERNOON TEA

AFTERNOON

tea spots

Mother’s Day made us realise how much we love teas all year round, so we went in search of some of Kent’s top tea spots…

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

44 | AFTERNOON TEA

HOME FRONT TEA ROOM, RAMSGATE A wonderful idea – a tea room that harks back to the ‘camaraderie of the 1940s’, serving spam and corned beef sandwiches, jacket potatoes and items on toast – pilchards being their bestseller. Other treats include jelly, fruit cocktail or peaches with ice cream, custard or evaporated milk. They also serve scones, crumpets, teacakes, 17 different teas, various coffees, including Camp, Ovaltine and Bovril.

Cold drinks include Lemon Barley Water, Vimto cordial, Tizer and lashings of Ginger Beer. www.40stearoom.co.uk

THE YARROW, BROADSTAIRS Guests can indulge in one of the hotel’s traditional afternoon teas, with a selection of the finest freshly made sandwiches, alongside a range of mouthwatering scones and homemade cakes.

Taken in either the wonderfully warm solarium or snug lounge, you’ll be surrounded by history and character allowing you to enjoy every moment of the experience. All the afternoon tea delights are freshly made by aspiring pastry chefs working under the watchful eye of Head Chef Ben Williams.

And if you fancy something a little more luxurious, why not add a glass of Champagne? www.yarrowhotel.co.uk

JAM TODAY?

MERCURE GREAT DANES HOTEL, MAIDSTONE

Oooh, yes please!

This hotel provides a quiet and relaxed atmosphere to enjoy afternoon tea. On sunny afternoons, the summer terrace is perfect for appreciating the stunning views of the grounds. The venue is located next to Leeds Castle, just off the M20, and is the ideal place for those who wish to stop for afternoon tea while visiting the castle. www.mercuremaidstone.co.uk MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

45 | AFTERNOON TEA

BESSIE’S TEA PARLOUR, BROADSTAIRS This establishment brings another touch of nostalgia to a beautiful Kentish seaside town.

So pop in to try some delicious tea in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

It’s a great place to catch up with friends for a natter, or perhaps celebrate a special occasion with all the loveliness of afternoon tea served on pretty vintage china.

If you would like to learn or share a new skill, or perhaps find that little vintage something for your home that you didn’t know you needed, this could just be the place.

Whatever your reason for visiting, the staff at the tea parlour will do their very best to make each visit memorable. www.bessiesteaparlour.co.uk

Humming ‘Tea for two and two for tea’

T2 MARIGOLD MAGIC TEAPOT, CUP AND SAUCER FOR ONE £42 JOHN LEWIS

THE GRAND, FOLKESTONE

Lap up the views from the Palm Court Restaurant overlooking the Channel. High Tea includes sandwiches, a scone with all the trimmings and a pastry chef ’s special, served with a small cafetière of coffee or a pot of tea www.grand-uk. com

IS IT TICKLE OR TINKLE THE IVORIES? You may even have a pianist as the debate goes on!

CUCKOO & BUTTERFLY BLOOM TEAPOT, SUGAR BOWL & CREAMER £170 WEDGWOOD

ALBERTINE CAKE TINS £30 LAURA ASHLEY

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

DOVER MARINA HOTEL & SPA, DOVER Watch the hustle and bustle of the Dover Harbour while you sip, chat and eat.

With its glorious waterfront panorama overlooking the beach, you can choose whether to take a formal afternoon tea in the Waterfront Restaurant or opt for the more casual Waterfront Bar & Lounge.

Open seven days a week, this Best Western hotel is a great place to meet.

As well as choosing the setting, you can choose from three afternoon teas – The Marina Cream Tea, The Marina High Tea or the Marina Afternoon Tea (gluten-free version available). www.dovermarinahotel.co.uk

46 | AFTERNOON TEA

ALICE AND THE HATTER, HERNE BAY AND CANTERBURY The aim at these imaginative Alice-themed storybook venues is simply to be the best tea rooms in Kent, for all ages.

They cater for and appeal to anyone who likes a touch of the unusual and afternoon tea with a twist.

The Hatter brings a food focus to ‘open book sandwiches’ for those who want a healthy choice, with accompanying offerings of both specialist teas and coffees not been seen before locally.

And a gluten-free selection is also available. www.aliceandthehatter.co.uk

THE SECRET GARDEN ASHFORD

Whether you desire a quick coffee and cake, or would like a full sweet or savoury afternoon tea served on chintzy china cake stands direct to each table, this is the perfect place to relax and unwind with friends and family. www.secretgarden kent.co.uk

Mercure Great Danes Hotel

PIP STUDIO PINK SHABBY CHIC CHINA RANGE PRICES VARY, DAISY PARK

THE BEARS TRADING COMPANY, TANKERTON From beautiful homemade cakes to delicious fresh scones, the relaxing and informal ‘bears’ environment allows you a cheeky treat with friends or on your own. Enjoy two delicious sultana scones served warm with strawberry jam, thick clotted cream and tea or coffee. www.thebearstradingcompany.co.uk

From

Ashford Road, Hollingbourne, Maidstone, ME17 1RE

M

ercure Maidstone provides a quiet and relaxed atmosphere to enjoy afternoon tea.

On sunny afternoons, the summer terrace is perfect for appreciating the stunning views of the grounds.

This venue is located next to Leeds Castle in Kent, and is the ideal place for those who wish to stop for afternoon tea while visiting the Castle. www.mercuremaidstone.co.uk

£30 afternoon tea for two for two glasses £40 of prosecco Book now on: 0844 815 9045

Mercure Maidstone, Hollingbourne, Nr Maidstone, Kent ME17 1RE MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

47 | AFTERNOON TEA

Indulge in the great British tradition of Afternoon Tea at The Cliffe Restaurant in Folkestone.

Located on the famous Leas, enjoy panoramic views of the seafront while you dine with us in style.

Our Afternoon Teas are available Monday - Saturday 12pm - 4pm www.clifferestaurantfolkestone.co.uk | t: 01303 847 880 | e: reservations@clifferestaurant.co.uk

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

48 | AFTERNOON TEA

TUDOR PARK MARRIOTT HOTEL, MAIDSTONE

CUCKOO TABLEWARE PRICES VARY, WEDGWOOD

Pop in to Tudor Park, maybe after a walk around the nearby Wildlife Trust in Bearsted, and order the beautifully-crafted cream tea. It comes with scones that defy gravity and lashings of cream.

If you are a real afternoon tea connoisseur, you won’t be disappointed – Tudor Park has recently brought in British tea specialist Simpsons Tea, and has also teamed up with Kent’s leading wine producer, Chapel Down, to offer its sparkling wine as part of a royal afternoon tea package.

A great idea ahead of the royal wedding. www.marriotttudorpark.co.uk

EASTWELL MANOR, BOUGHTON LEES

TEA BREAK Combine a manor tea with a visit to their Champneys Spa

What a fabulous way to spend an afternoon – sitting by a crackling log fire in a beautiful manor house or, during the summer months, relaxing on the terrace overlooking the manicured gardens.

Queen Victoria was a frequent visitor and much is still as described by Princess Marie, the future queen of Romania, who was born there in 1875.

Whether you choose the classic Eastwell Manor, Pimm’s, Champagne or Celebration Tea, all are served from elegant silver teapots and silver cake stands. The scones come with preserves and clotted cream, there is a delicious assortment of sandwiches, and the cakes are all sublime. There is also a large selection of leaf teas or a cafetière of coffee if you prefer. Perfect whether indulging yourself or treating that someone special, Eastwell Manor is a five star venue in every way imaginable. www.eastwellmanor.co.uk

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

CHILSTON PARK HOTEL, LENHAM Guests at hotel, which dates back as far as 1100, are delighted with afternoon tea, and there is no finer place to enjoy this very English tradition than in the Marble Lounge with its beautiful chandeliers.

This great country house was built for pleasure for rhe lords of Leeds Castle, and it is in the lounge where this spirit is most prevalent – here you can allow yourself to be outrageously indulgent as you devour the selection of carefully prepared pastries, sandwiches and the finest leaf tea.

For that extra special occasion, you can also take afternoon tea a private dining room. www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/chilstonpark

49 | AFTERNOON TEA

ROWHILL GRANGE, DARTFORD

IONA 3-TIER CAKE STAND £42 LAURA ASHLEY

THE LONDON BEACH HOTEL, TENTERDEN Situated just outside the historic town of Tenterden, the hotel is surrounded by beautiful countryside with stunning views across a parkland golf course and beyond.

And there is a magnificent conservatory and terrace where you can relax and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea. With high teas and champagne teas booking is essential, as the cakes will be freshly made for you. www.londonbeach.com

PIP CAKE STAND £60 DAISY PARK

lonon beach advert

A charming 18th-century country house hotel surrounded by acres of gorgeous gardens and a lake. Take afternoon tea out on the terraces or in one of the comfy lounges, and enjoy a decadent selection of home-baked pastries and freshly made scones with thick clotted cream and jam. www. alexanderhotels. co.uk

THE BRASSERIE ON THE BAY on Sandwich Bay

Afternoon tea at The Brasserie on The Bay A beautiful selection of sandwiches, scones, cakes and pastries all served with a choice of teas and coffees

Open 7 days a week T: 01304 611118 E: reservations@princesgolfclub.co.uk W: www.princesgolfclub.co.uk Please book your table in advance

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

Prince’s, Prince’s Drive, Sandwich Bay, Kent CT13 9QB

50 | AFTERNOON TEA

LEMONY CUCUMBER & PRAWN INGREDIENTS 6 slices wholemeal bread ½ cucumber, thinly sliced 4 tbsp mayonnaise zest of 1 lemon 6 large cooked prawns

COFFEE & WALNUT FLAPJACKS WHO KNEW? Walnuts help keep your mind sharp and are smart for the heart

Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes Makes: 20

INGREDIENTS

280g butter 85g dark brown soft sugar 100g golden syrup 100ml espresso or strong coffee 100g walnut pieces 175g whole porridge oats 175g rolled porridge oats 100g plain flour

For the icing: 75g butter 3 tbsp hot strong coffee or espresso 350g golden icing sugar 20 walnut halves, plus 2 tbsp finely chopped walnuts

METHOD

• Heat oven to 190°C (170°C for gas oven) and line a 20 x 30cm cake tin with baking parchment.

• To make flapjacks, melt butter in a pan with sugar, syrup and coffee.

• Stir in the walnuts, porridge oats and flour with a pinch of salt.

• Press evenly into the tin and bake for 25 minutes, then leave to cool.

• Meanwhile, make the icing. Melt the butter into the coffee, then stir into the icing sugar to make a smooth icing.

• Once the flapjacks have cooled to room temperature, spread over the icing.

• Carefully space out your walnut halves, then scatter over the finely chopped walnuts to finish.

• Leave until the icing is set and firm – you can pop them in the fridge to speed up this bit if you like. They will keep in an airtight container for a week.

From BBC GoodFood www.bbcgoodfood.com

We’re nuts about these!

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

METHOD • Lightly spread the slices of wholemeal bread with butter.

• Cover with a layer of thinly sliced cucumber, then use a 5-6cm round cutter to stamp out 12 circles.

• Mix together 4 tbsp of mayonnaise with zest of one lemon.

• Top each circle with one halved large cooked prawn and a dollop of the lemony mayonnaise.

51 | AFTERNOON TEA

MORE TEA?

ROYAL PIP SMALL JUG £11 PIP STUDIO

PLATES, SET OF 6, IN BLUE £48 ROYAL DOULTON

CHINA ROSE CAKE STAND £42 LAURA ASHLEY

ABODE HOTEL, CANTERBURY Situated in the heart of Canterbury, within the ancient city walls, this hotel offers the perfect place to enjoy afternoon tea after a busy day enjoying the shops, historic sites and traditional architecture.

Afternoon tea is served in the elegant County Restaurant, which takes its name from the original name established for the hotel in 1892. You can enjoy a traditional tea, which includes a selection of finger sandwiches, cakes and scones, accompanied by a hot beverage of your choice. www.abodecanterbury.co.uk

CUCKOO TABLEWARE PRICES VARY, WEDGWOOD

LONDON TEA SET FOR ONE £28 CATH KIDSTON

BRANDSHATCH PLACE HOTEL & SPA, LONGFIELD This is the ‘place’ to go for the ultimate in Champagne afternoon tea.

Speciality teas from Twinings, a variety of delicate finger sandwiches, a selection of traditional cakes and pastries and freshly baked scones are all on the menu.

Better still, they are all hand-prepared, using only the freshest ingredients, and they change with the seasons.

For those extra special occasions, the Champagne afternoon tea serves you with a glass of Bruno Paillard, which uses a unique blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier to achieve its unique structure and fresh, dry and vibrant taste. www.handpickedhotelshotels.co.uk/ brandshatchplace MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

SPRING TO LIFE CAPPUCCINO CUP & SAUCER IN PINK £13 PIP STUDIO

SARAH MILLER CHELSEA TEACUP & SAUCER IN GREEN £22 HOUSE OF FRASER

MÉDAILLON MÉANDRE D’OR CUP & SAUCER £109 VERSACE

52 | FOOD

ALL RECIPES SUPPLIED BY

TOP TIP When marmalade oranges aren’t in season, use 1 lemon and 1 orange in this recipe instead

SEVILLE ORANGE DRIZZLE CAKE METHOD

INGREDIENTS

175g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 175g light brown soft sugar 2 Waitrose Cooks’ Ingredients Marmalade Oranges, zest of both and about 4-5 tbsp juice 3 eggs, beaten 175g plain flour 1 tsp baking powder 50g golden granulated sugar

Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 55 minutes Total time: 1 hour15 minutes Serves: 8-10

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

1. Preheat oven to 180˚C, gas mark 4. Grease 900g loaf tin and line with parchment. Beat butter and brown sugar with electric beaters for 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy. Beat in zest of 1 orange. Slowly beat eggs into batter, adding a spot of flour if mixture starts curdling.

2. Fold in flour and baking powder until just smooth then stir in 1 tbsp orange juice. Pour into loaf tin and bake for 45-55 minutes until golden and an inserted skewer comes out clean.

3. When cake comes out of oven, pierce top all over with skewer. Mix remaining orange juice and zest with the granulated sugar and spoon over top. Cool in tin before serving.

Sunday: OPEN ALL DAY

The Vineyard Restaurant BOOK NOW FOR Mother’s Day 11th March Set in the picturesque village of Wrotham Heath, The Vineyard is one of the finest restaurants in the region, where your dining experience will almost certainly exceed your expectations.

The Vineyard offers fine dining for an affordable price, and warmly welcomes couples, groups, parties and families for an enjoyable meal. It can also be booked for wedding receptions and other special functions.

Arriving there is hassle-free as they have a large car park, and the atmosphere is relaxed, warm and friendly. If you are in the area, why not try this rather special venue?

The Vineyard Restaurant, A20 London Road, Wrotham Heath TN15 7RU | 01732 882330 dine@thevineyardrestaurant.co.uk | www.thevineyardrestaurant.co.uk

54 | FOOD

SALMOREJO: CHILLED TOMATO & BREAD SOUP Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS

250g day-old rustic white bread 800g ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to serve 2 tbsp sherry vinegar 2 cloves garlic, crushed 4 slices Serrano or Parma ham, roughly torn 2 medium Waitrose British Blacktail Free Range Eggs, hard-boiled and chopped Greek basil leaves, to serve (optional)

METHOD

1. Tear the bread into small pieces and place in a large bowl. Cover with ice-cold water (at least 750ml) and set aside for 10 minutes. In a powerful blender, whizz the tomatoes, olive oil, sherry vinegar and garlic until smooth.

2. Squeeze the excess water from the bread and add the bread to the blender (reserving the water). Blend until smooth and, with the motor still running, loosen with about 400-500ml of the ice-cold water until you have a thick, yet pourable soup. Chill until ready to serve.

3. Divide between 4 bowls (or 8 glasses, if serving as a starter). Top with the ham and egg then ďŹ nish with a drizzle of oil, a good grinding of black pepper and sprinkle with a handful of Greek basil leaves.

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

55 | FOOD

CRUMBS! This is a great way to use up any old bread you have

FOOD & DRINK NEWS HAPPY TO SAVE LOCAL PUB Ramblinns, which owns a chain of country pubs in Kent, has come to the rescue of a 160-year-old derelict hostelry in Folkestone.

Owner John Rogers has delighted the locals by promising to breathe new life into The Happy Frenchman in Christ Church Road. It’s hoped it will open in May.

DAIRY-FREE JOY FOR EASTER Selected branches of supermarket ASDA have launched a range of vegan hot cross buns for Easter. They join Sainsbury’s and M&S in providing buns for special diets.

HAS KFC HAD ITS CHIPS? Fans of Kentucky Fried Chicken were shocked when several branches of the fast-food chain suddenly shut last month.

Some thought they had run out of chicken but it was said the problem was a lack of chips, due a delivery mess-up. The issue became quite a hot potato.

Reportedly, affected restaurants included Maidstone High Street, Ashford’s High Street and Eureka Park, Gravesend Perry Street, Sittingbourne, Canterbury and Sheerness.

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

mmm 19

57 | FOOD

TOP TIP Vary the vegetables used in this recipe – try with mangetout, baby spinach or sliced mushrooms

METHOD

VIETNAMESE BEEF PHO INGREDIENTS

1 bunch salad onions, sliced 4cm piece root ginger, peeled and chopped 3 whole star anise 2 lemongrass stalks, finely chopped 3 x 500g tubs Cooks’ Ingredients Beef Stock 200g pack Thai Taste Folded Rice Noodles 2 x 200g essential Waitrose British Beef Rump Steak, lean, trimmed of fat 300g bag beansprouts 235g pack pak choi, halved lengthways 1 tbsp Thai fish sauce 1 tsp light muscovado sugar Juice of lime, plus wedges to serve 1 red chilli, seeded and sliced and coriander leaves, to garnish

Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Serves: 4

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

1. Set aside some green salad onion slices to garnish and place the remainder in a large saucepan with the ginger, star anise, lemongrass and stock and simmer for 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, place the noodles in a heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water and cover the bowl with clingfilm, leave to soak for 10 minutes or until tender.

3. Heat a frying pan until very hot and cook the steak for 2 minutes on each side until nicely browned but pink in the centre.

Transfer to a plate and leave to rest for a few minutes.

4. Place the beansprouts and pak choi in a large saucepan and pour or strain over the hot stock. Bring to a simmer, add the fish sauce, sugar and lime juice to taste.

5. Drain the noodles and divide between bowls. Ladle over the broth and vegetables then thinly slice the steak and place on top.

Scatter with reserved salad onions, chilli and coriander leaves and serve with lime wedges on the side.

PAD THAI rESTAURANT

A Unique Experience At West Malling

MOTHER’S DAY MENU 11TH MARCH

BOOK NOW Bookings now being taken for lunch & dinner

Opening Hours Open Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Lunch

Dinner

12 - 2.30pm 12 - 2.30pm 12 - 2.30pm 12 - 2.30pm 12 - 2.30pm

5.30 - 10.30pm 5.30 - 10.30pm 5.30 - 10.30pm 5.30 - 11.00pm 5.30 - 11.30pm

Please visit our website and browse our extensive Menu with a Set Meals section which we hope you will find excellent value for money

To book call: 01732 870 000 15 HIGH STREET, WEST MALLING, KENT ME19 6QH

manta@pad-thai.co.uk

www.pad-thai.co.uk

59 | EASTER SPECIAL

EASTER SPECIAL GET cracking for Easter!

INSIDE GIFTS EVENTS EGG HUNTS DESIGNED BY FREEPIK

FACT-FINDING THEMED DECOR

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

60 | EASTER SPECIAL

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EGGS CHOCS We’re choc-a-bloc with mouthwatering treats from unicorns and lambs to pixies – so dive in and take your pick CHOCOCO’S EASTER EGGS Award-winning, artisan chocolatier Chococo presents its new collection of handmade luxury Easter Eggs for 2018

UNICORN EGG £11.50 CHOCOCO’S EASTER EGGS

BUTLERS PINK FLAME EGG WITH MILK CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES, 265G £12 JOHN LEWIS

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

LAMB AND MINT SANDWICH £10 HOTEL CHOCOLAT

BUNNY’S BOUNTY HAMPER £100 HOTEL CHOCOLAT

61 | EASTER SPECIAL

HAND-FOILED EASTER EGGS

EXTRA-THICK EGG – JUST MILK £27 HOTEL CHOCOLAT

THE EASTER H-BOX £12.50 HOTEL CHOCOLAT

EXTRA-THICK EGG – CHAMPAGNE £27 HOTEL CHOCOLAT

… such a treat.

Amelia Rope’s mini Easter eggs in delicious Colombian chocolate are created using the company’s bestselling ingredient – salted butter caramel flakes from the Loire.

To keep both dark chocolate and milk chocolate fans happy, they offer four Easter eggs in Dark Salted Caramel Butter and four Easter eggs in Milk Salted Caramel Butter.

Their bags are made from biodegradable plastic and tied with VV Rouleaux ribbon, and sustainability is top of the company’s agenda so it’s ‘chocolate with a conscience’.

What isn’t there to be excited about? £9.50 www.ameliarope. com

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DARK CHOCOLATE PIXIE EASTER EGG, 205G £20 GODIVA

FOILED EASTER EGG TRAY, 450G £10 JOHN LEWIS

Eggs pick ’n’ mix

SEASIDE STUDDED EGG £11.50 CHOCOCO’S EASTER EGGS

62 | EASTER SPECIAL

EASTER

EVENTS

The four-day holiday is a great chance to head out for some fun, if you are not too busy eating all those eggs! We’ve hatched some tasty ideas…

SPRING INTO EASTER MARCH 30-APRIL 15 At Kent Life

EASTER QUEST MARCH 30APRIL 15

SPRING ALERT! Watch for daffs trumpeting in the season

DAZZLING DAFFODILS MARCH 21-25 At Hever Castle

Visitors will feel uplifted this spring during the castle’s new Dazzling Daffodils event.

With 14,000 new bulbs set to bloom across the gardens, there will be a wide range of varieties to enjoy. This new event will throw the spotlight on the narcissus family and showcase the best in daffodils.

Master grower Johnny Walkers of Walkers Bulbs, and winner of 35 RHS gold medals, will be onsite giving free talks and tours and sharing his encyclopaedic knowledge of bulbs accrued over a lifetime of growing daffodils. www.hevercastle.co.uk

At Leeds Castle Seek out clues hidden around the castle grounds on a fun quest for children of all ages.

Answer each of the questions and receive a chocolate treat as a reward.

Please note, there is an additional £1 charge to take part in the quest on top of admission. www.leeds-castle. com

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It’s the heritage farm park’s favourite time of year as they celebrate Easter and the birthing boom that comes with spring.

Meet the lambs and goat kids and have a go at bottle feeding them in sessions throughout the day. See the farm’s calves and piglets, too.

You can also hop on a fun farm ride, or get creative in the Paint-a-Pot studio, creating the perfect Easter gift.

Enjoy indoor and outdoor play areas, the bouncy castle, donkey rides, cuddle corner and so much more.

Don’t forget to visit the Big Top to catch one of the Easter Shows – the line-up will be announced soon.

And from Friday March 30 to Monday April 2, keep an eye out for the Easter Bunny and some yummy Easter treats.

Please note, a small additional charge applies to some of the above attractions. www.kentlife.org.uk

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64 | EASTER SPECIAL

HOPPING GOOD EASTER FUN MARCH 30-APRIL 15 At The Hop Farm

Enter the magical family park from 10am every day. The £1 per person entry fee includes all-day indoor soft play, outdoor adventure play and crazy golf.

The kids can let off steam and enjoy the fabulous children’s attractions and rides, including Hovermania, The Magic Castle, Giant Jumping Pillows, Hopper’s Animal Farm and much more.

Plus egg-citing Easter games for the kids.

And you can get up close to the gorgeous lambs, bunnies and chicks. www.thehopfarm.co.uk

BEST ‘BAAAH’ NONE Lambs are always favourite

EASTER AT THE MANOR APRIL 1-18 At Cobtree Manor Park

April 1-18: Easter Egg Hunt Trail April 4, 10-12: Make an animal mask April 10-17: Easter bonnet photo competition (free to enter) www.cobtreemanorpark.co.uk

MEDIEVAL EASTER WEEKEND MARCH 30 TO APRIL 2

YOU LOOKIN’ AT ME?

RARE EASTER PANTO MARCH 30-APRIL 2

IT ’S

We love a bunny with attitude!

E

C GG

ITING!!!

At the Rare Breeds Centre

Wiley Wolf productions will stage an Easter panto – Goldilocks and the Three Bears – in the big barn at 12noon and 2pm.

And the Easter bunny will be on hand to say ‘hello’ and help you find the clues on the choccy bunny hunt. When you’ve finished she will reward you with an Easter chocolate. www.rarebreeds.org.uk MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

At Dover Castle Take a journey back in time to when medieval knights and princesses roamed the land, as St George valiantly battles the dastardly dragon on horseback.

With storytelling and fire-eating jesters too, it’s a medieval funpacked journey to a bygone era. www.englishheritage.org.uk

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E EMMETTS GARDEN Easter Egg Hunt Spring Colour Trail March 30-April 15

Explore the garden to find Lubbock the lamb’s flock and discover their favourite spring colours on plants and trees.

See if you can spot Lubbock the lamb along the way, and afterwards collect your chocolate prize. Normal admission applies, £2.50 per trail.

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

IZ

The cat has caught the bunny!

Have fun out and about in the grounds as you collect ‘egg points’ in the Easter Egg Hunt.

Make your way around the castle’s 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ nature trail.

A chocolatey prize awaits you at the end of the trail.

Normal admission applies and hunts cost £3.

R

BODIAM CASTLE ‘50 THINGS’ NATURE HUNT MARCH 30APRIL 15

SCOTNEY CASTLE Easter Egg Hunt – Edward Hussey’s Bird Trail March 30-April 15

The Husseys lived in the castle from 1778 to 1970, and you can get Easter off to a flying start with an egg hunt inspired by Edward Hussey’s childhood diaries.

Seek out the wooden bird boxes in the garden to reveal which type of egg belongs to the indigenous species of the Scotney estate. Follow all the clues to win a prize.

You can also try den building on the woodland trail, or tackle the balance beams in the wild play area.

Normal admission, hunts cost £3.

67 | EASTER SPECIAL

BATEMAN’S Birds and Bees Hunt March 30-April 15

Rudyard Kipling’s children had a secret playground at their home. Try an Easter Egg Hunt inspired by nature from bees to birds, which will lead you to seek out the clues, and maybe the playground.

Complete the puzzle in the beautiful garden and win a chocolate treat.

Normal admission applies, hunt cost £3

Rumour has it you may spot a ghost CHARTWELL Giant Leaf Trail March 30-April 15

Explore the garden and woodland at Churchill’s much loved home to find all of Randolph the rabbit’s favourite giant leaves. See if you can spot Randolph the rabbit himself, too, and at the end collect your chocolate prize. Normal admission applies, £2.50 per trail

The king of camouflage with his map!

IS IT A CALENDAR HOUSE?

KNOLE

Knole has 365 rooms, 52 staircases, 12 entrances and 7 courtyards

Easter Egg Hunts March 30-April 6

Collect your map and follow the Egg Hunt through Knole’s medieval parkland, historic courtyards and atmospheric Orangery. Solve the clues and claim your prize before the deer beat you to it! On Mondays during the Easter holidays, try the spring-themed crafts.

Hunts cost £3, separate hunt for 3-5 years & 7-12 years.

SMALLHYTHE PLACE EASTER EGG HUNT MARCH 30-APRIL 2

Solve riddles to search for hidden clues, or for younger explorers, tick off the top nature highlights around the garden. Once the quest is complete you will be rewarded with an Easter treat.

Normal admission, hunts cost £3.

See more Easter Events in What’s On Page 138

King Henry VIII hunted here, too!

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68 | EASTER SPECIAL

EASTER

DECOR

SAINSBURY’S HOME EASTER DINING & ACCESSORIES PRICES VARY ‘ROOST’ DOUBLE EGG CUP £27 ALESSI

BOWL IN SUNSHINE £60 SOPHIE CONRAN FOR PORTMEIRION

PINK PANSY 10½ INCH PLATE £19.95 EMMA BRIDGEWATER

HEN & TOAST £19.95 EMMA BRIDGEWATER

ARTIFICIAL DAFFODILS IN TIN £4 JOHN LEWIS

NATIONAL TRUST PRICES VARY

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

EMBROIDERED TULIP CUSHION £34.99 ORLA KIELY

RABBIT STATUE £8 M&CO

EASTER BUNNY BUNTING £2.20-£12 JOHN LEWIS

69 | TRAVEL

R G

!

I Z E Ü Welcome to Switzerland

S

witzerland is a truly fascinating and diverse holiday destination, and with a large number of UK flights taking under 90 minutes to arrive, and the option to travel all the way by train, it is no wonder more and more people are choosing to go there for both winter and summer holidays.

With resorts such as Verbier, Zermatt, Klosters and St. Moritz, the winter ski market remains strong, and will continue to do so.

Not only is Switzerland one of the more beautiful places to ski, but it also offers reliable conditions and boasts some of the highest resorts and ski lifts in the Alps.

A common misconception is that the main reason for winter travel there is to ski and snowboard, but there is no better destination in Europe for a non-ski winter holiday.

‘There is no better destination in Europe for a nonski winter holiday’

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

Choose from walks by glistening glaciers, snowy rail holidays with a view, winter spa breaks, horse-drawn sleigh rides, or simple family fun in the snow, the options are endless.

Summer in Switzerland has always been a popular time for the UK market. Scenic Rail holidays, Lakes & Mountains and City Breaks continue to attract tourists of all ages, but dig a little deeper and the experiences available add up to a fascinating holiday.

Sample freshly made cheese, and meet the cows on one of the many small working Alpine areas scattered around the mountain paths; try your hand at becoming a ‘master chocolatier’; or try local traditional craftmaking – the options for adults and families alike are in abundance.

If relaxing and enjoying the outdoors is your thing, then top up your water bottle from a mountain stream and explore one of the world’s most beautiful natural adventure parks.

70 | TRAVEL

SCENIC RAIL JOURNEYS

With its 26,000 captivating kilometres of train, bus and boat routes and many mountain railways, Switzerland is like one big natural pleasure park. From majestic mountains, crystal clear lakes and verdant valleys to villages and vibrant cities, the country is a truly unique travel experience.

From west to east or north to south, along highways and byways, Switzerland is always on the move and always with the most breathtaking scenery and views.

Panoramic routes such as the Glacier Express and Golden Pass Line have long enjoyed international acclaim, and to this day have lost nothing of their fascination.

MOUNTAIN EXCURSIONS

s

We’re off to find Heidi, Peter and the goat

What a comfy way to see the Alps MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

When arriving in the mountain resorts of Switzerland, you can’t help feeling a sense of adventure and exploration come over you.

Whether it is a cable car, mountain railway or cogwheel train, the options for visitors to explore high Alpine Switzerland are unrivalled.

A simple coffee and admire the view, a short hike to an inviting mountain lake, or a walk back down through the pine forests, stopping for a picnic halfway – the Swiss mountain excursions are truly magnificent and have something for everyone. Mount Rigi above Lake Lucerne is one of Switzerland’s most popular day excursions – a firm favourite with guests since Victorian times – or you can take a trip to the Jungfraujoch (the highest train station Europe) to marvel at an ice palace and views over the mighty Aletsch Glacier.

71 | TRAVEL

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

72 | TRAVEL

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

ON OUR WISH LIST

The combination of spellbinding scenery, a superb infrastructure, and good service makes Switzerland the ultimate destination for outdoor activity fans.

With the world’s only totally integrated network of marked hiking, mountain biking, cycling, skating and canoeing routes, it’s an easily accessible outdoor paradise.

For the more adventurous, extreme sports are available in abundance, from paragliding to base jumping and canyoning to river rafting. Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland is regarded by many as the adventure capital of Europe, so whether its earth, water or air activities you are looking for, gentle or extreme, there is no better region for getting out in the open air.

PEAK BEAUTY And a chance for some really fresh sparkling water

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WINTER WONDERLAND

Brimming with majestic peaks, snowy valleys, idyllic villages and world-renowned ski resorts, Switzerland has it all for a memorable winter holiday.

And for skiers, Switzerland offers some of the best resorts in the Alps – High Altitude ski areas, outstanding ski runs, and well prepared pistes await, whether you are an experienced skier or a complete beginner For the non-skier, the winter landscape is just perfect, and the year-round, fully operational transport system allows you to enjoy every part, even when the snow is deep.

As you enjoy winter walks along the shores of a frozen lake, or on paths through a forest of spruce trees laden with snow, there is a picture postcard scene around every corner.

74 | MEN’S FASHION

S E P I R T S S E P I R T S

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y tripe s g n i just t look u n o a b h t a to it is all f e r 8 1 o 0 ick o 2 sm p ’ e r r u e o d th ere’s H !

– an a aves… br h e t z s g mu goin son’s a e s this

AMI JUMPER £260 MR PORTER BURTON MENSWEAR LONDON

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STRIPED ACCESSORIES

T-SHIRT £29 JOHN LEWIS

DENTON PIQUE COTTON CREW STRIPE T-SHIRT £55 REISS

TRAINERS £145 PAUL SMITH

WALLET £680 MR PORTER

ANIMAL INSTINCT

These John Lewis basics are brilliant!

OK, so this one is a bit zebra – perfect for nuzzling!

SOCKS £10 HOUSE OF FRASER

E IP

S

S M AR T

ST

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JUMPER £85 REISS

LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT £35 JOHN LEWIS

UNDERWEAR £27 PAUL SMITH

SHIRT £95 REISS

T-SHIRT £50 LEVI’S

ON OUR WISH LIST POLO SHIRT £25 JOHN LEWIS

BRACES £25 JOHN LEWIS

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

76 |

“

If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be.

And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see? Alice and the Hatter Bringing the Nonsense to Canterbury.

@and_hatter

“

@AliceandtheHatterHerneBay

@aliceandthehatterhernebay

01227 467937 | info@aliceandthehatter.co.uk | www.aliceandthehatter.co.uk

PRE kcwed - REGIST ER A ding and g sandevent T: et aut s.co.u om k entere d into atically the dr aw

Wedding Show Dates for 2018 Sunday 4th February 2018 St Augustine’s Priory, Bilsington. Ashford. 10.30am-3pm Sunday 11th February 2018 Oakwood House Hotel, Maidstone. 11.00am-3pm Sunday 18th February 2018 Hythe Imperial Hotel. 10.30am-2.30pm Sunday 25th February 2018 Wedding Show Dates for 2018 The Ashford International Hotel, Ashford.

10.30am-2.30pm Sunday February 2018 Sunday418th March 2018 Augustine’s Priory, Bilsington.

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th th February 2018 Sunday918 September 2018 Sunday Hythe Imperial Hotel.

10.30am-2.30pm Oakwood House Hotel, Maidstone.

11.00am- 3pm

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th th March 2018 Sunday 718 October 2018 Sunday The Holiday Holiday Inn, Inn, Ashford Ashford North North A20.

A20. Ashford.

Ashford. 10.30am-2.30pm 10.30am-2.30pm The th April 2018 Sunday1422 October 2018 Sunday St St Augustine’s Augustine’s Priory, Priory, Bilsington.

Bilsington. Ashford.

Ashford. 10.30am-3pm 10.30am-3pm nd

There will be many local wedding specialists exhibiting. They will be available to discuss your big day with you and can offer advice and many will have on the day promotions. With your free entry, you will get a goody bag, along with a chance to win a prize from our free draw.

Pre-register at www.kcweddingsandevents.co.uk and get automatically entered into the draw.

There will be many local wedding All of our shows are free to will enter! specialists exhibiting.

They be available to discuss your big day with you www.facebook.com/kcweddingshows/ and can offer advice and many will have www.kcweddingsandevents.co.uk on the day promotions. With your free enquiries@kcweddingshows.co.uk entry, you will get a goody bag, along with a chance to win0800 a prize our free draw.

246from 5496

Sunday 9th September 2018 Oakwood House Hotel, Maidstone. 11.00am- 3pm

Pre-register at www.kcweddingsandevents.co.uk and get automatically into theyour draw.big day with you and can offer advice and There will be Sunday many local wedding specialists exhibiting. They will be availableentered to discuss 23rd September 2018 many will haveInternational on the dayHotel, promotions.

With your free entry, you will get a goody bag, along with a chance to win a prize from our free draw.

The Ashford Ashford.10.30am-2.30pm All of our shows are free to enter!

Sunday 7th October 2018 The Holiday Inn, Ashford North A20. Ashford. 10.30am-2.30pm

www.facebook.com/kcweddingshows/

0800 246 5496 | www.facebook.com/kcweddingshows www.kcweddingsandevents.co.uk | enquiries@kcweddingshows.co.uk enquiries@kcweddingshows.co.uk October 2018 Sunday 14www.kcweddingsandevents.co.uk th

St Augustine’s Priory, Bilsington. Ashford. 10.30am-3pm

Wedding Show Dates for 2018 Sunday 4th February 2018 St Augustine’s Priory, Bilsington. Ashford. 10.30am-3pm th

0800 246 5496

77 | MALE GROOMING

GROOMING ESSENTIALS

This month it’s mostly about teeth, hair and all those beards –and how to look like the perfect gentleman!

EASIER THAN IT SOUNDS

BOOK £20 JOHN LEWIS

THE QUINTESSENTIAL GROOMING GUIDE The Quintessential Grooming Guide for the Modern Gentleman is a practical treatise for chaps who wish to look their tip-top best.

Drawing on Captain Fawcett’s far-flung travels, culturally rich experiences and extensive historical research, the book offers fascinating insights from the world’s most respected barbers, tonsorial artists, style aficionados and master craftsmen of essential male-grooming items.

Dior Homme Dermo System Pore Control Perfecting Essence may be a bit of a mouthful, but as a new all-in-one daily skincare for men it’s simple to use.

On the skin’s surface, high-tech blurring agents instantly correct imperfections and conceal pores without dulling its glow, leaving skin looking radiant.

With a lightweight cool sensation, this essence also gently melts without leaving an oily film.

PORE CONTROL ESSENCE £20 DIOR

HAIR CLAY £20 KIEHL’S

TEXTURIZING HAIR CLAY Formulated with Moroccan Lava Clay, this hair clay for men may be used to define, shape and texturise locks with a flexible, long-lasting hold.

Infused with an appealingly woodsy blend of aromatic cedarwood, sandalwood and eucalyptus essential oils, this formula is easy to apply and rinses out clean.

FACIAL MASK £24 HOUSE OF FRASER

BLACK SCRUB

Formulated with charcoal powder – known in Korea for its mattifying properties – and cotton microfibres, this scrub is a tripleaction exfoliating purifying mask.

EYE… EYE! Make eye creams and serums part of your nightly grooming routine to wake up looking great

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

78 | MALE GROOMING

WASTE NOT…

FRAGRANCE £134 HOUSE OF FRASER

pick OUR

PENHALIGON’S ENDYMION CONCENTRÉ This eau de parfum is named after a shepherd/prince who, when offered his choice of destinies by the god Zeus, chose immortality and youth in a perpetual slumber.

A fragrance of contrasts between light and dark, this masculine scent opens with fresh, zesty notes of bergamot, lavender and aromatic sage, tempered by heart and base accords of smoky suede, leather, incense and nutmeg.

want not, or at least buy less toothpaste! The correct way to squeeze a tube may be one of the most common domestic disagreements.

The answer to your problems is Lorenzi Milano’s chrome-plated squeezer. Set on a sturdy perspex base, it rotates to ensure you’ll benefit from every last minty drop. A great gift for the man who has everything!

MOUTHWATERING

Made by Buly 1803, and formulated with thermal spring water from French spa town Castéra-Verduzan, this toothpaste contains a natural sulphur renowned for its soothing anti-bacterial properties. It’s also sweetened with orange and spiced with ginger and clove for a powerfully cleansing flavour.

TOOTHPASTE SQUEEZER £154 MR PORTER

SPLURGE! TOOTHPASTE £24 MR PORTER

A MUST BRUSH!

Take hair care on the chin!

BEARD BRUSH £20 JOHN LEWIS

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

The pure natural boar bristles this Kent brush have been cut and shaped to improve performance while being gentle on the skin.

Boasting an ergonomically shaped handle, each brush comes with a hand-stitched cotton bag printed on both sides. Not only handy to store your brush in, but for those who also use beard oil it will protect your clothes from any excess oil held in the brush.

79 |

Will, Estate or Power of Attorney dispute?

Do you have a dispute regarding how a Will, Estate or Power of Attorney has been handled?

Whitehead Monckton has considerable experience in helping clients to resolve these difficult disagreements and in many cases achieving excellent financial results.

We can offer a ‘NO WIN – NO FEE’ service for Will, Estate and Power of Attorney disputes.

Call us today on

01622 698031 for an initial no obligation consultation by phone.

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80 | FITNESS

NEW RESEARCH: Snooze away for longer to shift those extra pounds Fancy another excuse to have a lie in? New research suggests that sleeping for longer could help you lose weight. That extra hour or so in bed could help you cut down on sugary foods, compared to those who have less sleep, according to the study by London’s King’s College. Win, win!

MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

81 | FITNESS

NUTRITIONIST CASSANDRA BARNS SHARES HER THOUGHTS:

SORRY, THE BEDTIME WINE HAS TO GO!

“The results of this study definitely make sense. Previous research has found that a lack of sleep is linked to higher calorie intake and a higher risk of obesity, and so it’s no surprise that it can increase our sugar intake too – and that getting more sleep can help us cut down on the white stuff.

“This study provides even more evidence of the importance of sleep for our overall health and wellbeing. And when it comes to weight, rather than looking to complicated diet solutions or weight loss aids, maybe the first thing we need to do is get to bed on time, and spend more time resting!”

Twitter: @cassandra_barns

So, what should and shouldn’t we be doing before bedtime to get a good night’s sleep?

Our experts explain…

2 HOURS BEFORE BEDTIME

PUT THE GLASS OF WINE DOWN

“Alcohol may help you to get to sleep but it is likely to cause you to wake up throughout the night,” explains Dr Marilyn Glenville, author of Natural Alternatives to Sugar.

“It will affect your blood sugar, so it can cause a drop in the middle of the night and then adrenaline will be released causing you to wake.

“Alcohol has a diuretic effect on the body, so it can wake you to go to the toilet but also leave you very thirsty.

“Alcohol also stops the passage of tryptophan into your brain, and it is this amino acid which is converted into serotonin, the ‘feel good’ brain chemical.” www.marilynglenville.com

PIPPA CAMPBELL NUTRITION & WEIGHT LOSS COACH

MAKE THE MOST OF MAGNESIUM

If you’re a night-time worrier and you struggle to ease your anxieties as soon as your head hits the pillow, then make the most of ‘nature’s tranquilliser’, magnesium.

Nutritionist Cassandra Barns explains: “Magnesium can be effective in calming your nervous system, so try where possible to add magnesium-rich foods to your diet.

“I’d also recommend taking KalmAssure Magnesium Powder, by Natures Plus (£24.50, www.naturesplus.co.uk). This is a naturally chelated magnesium which is very easy to absorb and is easily delivered to the tissues.”

“When we sleep we burn most of our fat, so if we don’t sleep this can significantly affect weight loss.

“Interrupted or impaired sleep can cause a pre-diabetic state, making you feel hungry even if you’ve already eaten, which can wreak havoc on your weight.

“Some of my clients do come to me complaining of poor sleep, and I’ve found that people who work shifts often find it harder to lose weight.

“But what you eat can contribute to a better night’s sleep, which we look at in my weight loss programmes.

“For example, for some clients we need to address stress levels to help them sleep. This may be through breathing exercises and/or adrenal support supplements.” www.pippacampbellhealth.com

1 HOUR BEFORE BEDTIME

SAY GOODBYE TO STARCHY CARBS AND SUGARS BEFORE BED

“Starchy carbs and sugars will raise your blood sugar and delay sleep,” warns Pippa MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

82 | FITNESS

Campbell. “Later, when blood sugar drops too low (hypoglycemia), you may wake up and be unable to fall back asleep.

“However, if you are suffering with severe stress you may find that a pre-bedtime small protein/carb snack might help.

“In these instances, I advise my clients to eat some almond butter on a small rye or gluten-free cracker.”

SMELL YOUR WAY TO A BETTER SLEEP

When you go to bed feeling relaxed you’re more likely to fall asleep easily and quickly. Dr Marilyn Glenville suggests incorporating scented oils into your bedtime routine: “Try using aromatherapy oils such as bergamot, lavender, roman chamomile and marjoram in a warm bath just before bed.

“A few drops of lavender oil on your pillow at bedtime can also help.”

30 MINUTES BEFORE BEDTIME

GET FRISKY

HEAVEN SCENT Let beautiful smells waft you away to dreamland

Getting your heart pulsing (and other areas) with your partner can be another way that can help us relax and drift off into a deep sleep.

Dr Marilyn Glenville explains: “Sex can help you to get to sleep by relaxing you and releasing tension that may have built up during the day.”

ALEXA SLEEP SOUNDS

This feature on related Amazon devices plays ambient sounds to help you sleep peacefully.

To Get Started, simply say: “Alexa open Sleep Sounds”. To get a list, say “List Sounds”.

Then choose one by saying, for example, “Play Thunderstorm” or “Play Rain”. To have a sound picked for you, just say: “Play Random”.

Other sounds available include Babbling Brook, Train Ride, Crickets, Cat Purring and the intriguingly named Beautiful Dream.

When a sound is playing, you can say “Alexa Next” or “Alexa Previous”. The sounds will loop automatically until you say “Alexa, Stop”.

To limit the time that the sound will play, first play it, then say: “Alexa, set a sleep timer for two hours” or whatever limit you would like.

Alexa also now has Sleep Stories, adding a short tale to the beginning of selected sounds.

These sleep-inducing stories will help you relax and calm your mind before you drift off www.amazon.co.uk and alexasounds.com MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

© PA

CRUNCH TIME FOR KIDS

Schools are increasingly helping to fight childhood obesity with exercise – but now one Kent primary has taken a surprise swerve towards putting lunchboxes through their paces, too – and banned crisps!

ITV’s Meridian News reported that no crisps are to be eaten at Wateringbury Primary School for four days a week – on top of an existing ban on fizzy drinks.

So for parents who’d like to stay one step ahead of such bans, here are some healthy lunchbox options for kids from the NHS: • Swap crisps for homemade plain popcorn or plain rice cakes.

• Base the box on foods like wholegrain bread, rice, pasta and potatoes.

• Make it more interesting by using varing shapes, like bagels, pittas and wraps.

• Cut down on spreads in sandwiches and try to avoid using mayonnaise.

• Pick lower-fat sandwich fillings, such as lean meats, fish, reduced-fat cream cheese and reduced-fat hard cheese.

• Always add salad to sandwiches – it all counts towards your child’s five a day.

• Cherry tomatoes, or sticks of carrot, cucumber, celery and peppers all count towards their five a day, too. Add a small pot of reduced-fat hummus or other dips.

• Try chopped apple, peeled satsuma segments, strawberries, blueberries, halved grapes or melon slices to make it easier for kids to eat. Add a squeeze of lemon juice to stop them going brown.

• Add a small pot of tinned fruit in juice.

• Dried fruit is cheaper than processed fruit bars and snacks and can be healthier.

• Swap cakes, chocolate, cereal bars and biscuits for malt loaf, fruited teacakes, fruit breads or fruit.

• Go for low-fat and lower sugar yoghurt.

• Involve the kids in preparing lunchboxes.

They are more likely to eat the food then!

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88 | HEALTH AND WELLNESS

DANDELION

4

“For many, dandelions are an irritating garden weed, but traditionally the roots and leaves of the plant have been used as medicines for breast problems, bloating, digestive disorders, aching joints, fevers, and skin disorders.

“Dandelions contain fibre so can help you feel full longer. The leaves are very rich in vitamins, including A, C, D, and B-complex. They also have high levels of minerals, so dandelion can be a good herb for women approaching the menopause or those who have a poor diet.

“Dandelion can also be used as a gentle diuretic and can decrease cholesterol in some.

“Today, many herbalists use dandelion to purify the liver and gall bladder of toxins, and it can stimulate bile,” explains Dr Glenville.

5

BASIL

“I add basil to practically everything I make, from eggs to vegetables to soups.

“Basil has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties and can help prevent osteoarthritis.

“It has also been used in digestive disorders.

“Though commonly used in Italian cooking, Basil is a versatile herb that can be added to practically anything. Try making your own pesto with basil, garlic, toasted pine nuts and some nutritional yeast with a good olive oil.

“I add Basil to my bolognaise at the end of cooking,” says Pippa Campbell.

ARROWROOT

6

“Arrowroot is a starchy herb that I keep on hand, especially since I went gluten-free. It has an amazing thickening ability similar to cornstarch, and it can be added to soups, dips, baking, etc. Arrowroot can be used in place of flour for a roux, or as the main baking ingredient in a gluten-free teething biscuit for kids. It is soothing and highly digestible, so it is often used in treatment for conditions like irritable bowel syndrome,” says Pippa Campbell.

8

TURMERIC

“Turmeric is the yellow spice often used in curries.

Its active ingredient is curcumin, which has had a lot of research focused on its anti-inflammatory effects for conditions like arthritis.

“Although the research has not shown that curcumin can actually help with weight loss, it is thought to stop the re-growth of fat after someone has lost weight. This could be helpful as many people end up putting back the weight they have lost after a diet,” explains Dr Glenville.

7

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MINT

“Mint has been used to calm digestive troubles and alleviate nausea.

“Many enjoy tea made from spearmint or peppermint leaves, and the oils in both have been used in breath fresheners, toothpastes and gum.

“Externally, the oil or tea can be used to repel mosquitos.

“Mint is easy in beverages, though an adventurous cook could add it to meat dishes or desserts.

“Try adding it to a Greek Salad, or chop finely into homemade meatballs,” suggests Pippa Campbell.

89 | HEALTH AND WELLNESS

THYME

9 OREGANO

“A herb that’s common ingredient in Italian and Greek cuisine, and they have the right idea!

“Oregano (and it’s milder cousin, marjoram) are antiviral, antibacterial and antibiotic. Its oil and leaves are used medicinally in the treatment of cough, fever, congestion, body ache and illness. Combined with basil, garlic, marjoram, thyme and rosemary, it creates a potent antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial blend.

“It can also be sprinkled on any kind of savoury foods. A couple teaspoons added to a soup will help recovery from illness,” advises Pippa Campbell.

CARDAMOM

“This contains thymol, a potent antioxidant.

Water boiled with thyme can be used in homemade spray cleaners or added to baths for to treat wounds.

Thyme water can be swished round the mouth for gum infections.

“Thyme teas have been used to treat athlete’s foot and vaginal yeast infections,” says Pippa Campbell.

10

12

“Cardamom is thought to help increase fat burning by improving metabolism.

“It is also thought to be good for digestion, so people would often have cardamom tea after a meal to help reduce flatulence and general digestive discomfort,” explains Dr Glanville.

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11

GINGER

“Like turmeric, ginger also acts as an anti-inflammatory and is thought to help with maintaining healthy joints. It may also have the same thermogenic effects as capsaicin because it has warming effects in the body.

“Simmering a few slices of ginger root in boiling water makes a ginger root tea that stimulates and aids digestion. Ginger in food has the same effect,” explains Dr Glanville.

12

87 | HEALTH AND WELLNESS

HERBS & SPICES

for better health Our experts share the lowdown on how good these amazing natural health boosters can be…

2 1

CINNAMON

“Cinnamon has the highest antioxidant value of any spice. It has been shown to reduce inflammation and lower blood sugar and blood triglyceride levels. Cinnamon has also been used to alleviate nausea, increase sensitivity to insulin and aid in fat burning. It provides manganese, iron and calcium.

“It is often hard to branch out from common uses of cinnamon: Biscuits, muffins, desserts.

Other places in the world use cinnamon in savoury and sweet dishes – everything from breakfast to dessert. I like to use it in curries and add a sprinkle on top of my coffee,” advises Nutrition & Weight Loss Coach Pippa Campbell www.pippacampbellhealth.com

CAYENNE PEPPER

“Capsaicin is found in peppers – the compound that gives peppers their heat. It is thought to help fight weight gain by decreasing calorie intake and lowering blood fat levels. The heat may help with a process called thermogenesis, where your body can convert fat into heat, so burning more fat.

Including these thermogenic ingredients in your diet may boost metabolism by up to 5 per cent and increase fat burning by up to 16 per cent,” says Dr Glenville www. marilynglenville. com

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BLACK PEPPER

“Black pepper contains a substance called piperine, which has similar effects to capsaicin in peppers. Piperine may help to stop the formation of new fat cells.

“A combination of these spices may be even more beneficial than single spices, because when black pepper is combined with other spices such as capsaicin, it has been found to burn the same amount of calories as taking a 20-minute walk.

“Black pepper can also act as an antiinflammatory; so can help with problems such as arthritis and painful joints in general. Black pepper may also help with lowering cholesterol and fighting infections,” explains Dr Glenville.

3

HOMES

&

GARDENS Who wouldn’t cheer to hear that clutter is the latest in home decor? Better still, it’s the designer kind. Plus bold, vibrant ‘maximalism’, Pantone purple and Moroccan Bohemia…

PAGE 99 Wallow in the Moroccan Bohemia warmth

E S I M I l a i AX t n 92 | HOMES & GARDENS

M

e t o p your Forget clean lines and muted colours.

Refined minimalism has had its day, and exuberant maximalism is about to set the design world’s imagination on fire. Think artfully arranged clutter, vibrant colours and wallpaper so patterned it’ll make your eyes go funny! Maximalism is all about great textures, mismatched furniture and knowing there’s always space in any design for that little bit extra.

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93 | HOMES & GARDENS

DLR SHADE IN PINK & ORANGE £55 LUSH DESIGNS

TROPICAL PARADISE CUSHION £30 ART WOW

THINK PINK! £79.99 IAN SNOW

SWAN TEA TOWEL £13 SARA MILLER LONDON

Mix and match with kitchen accessories like tea towels and plates!

FACE TIME… £46 IAN SNOW

GO GEOMETRIC £73 DASH AND ALBERT

TROPICAL TOUCAN PLATE £15 ART WOW

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94 | HOMES & GARDENS

MIX UP PATTERNS Tom Baker’s Doctor would love this mix ’n’ match chair!

Created by Patricia Urquiola in 2012 for eccentric Italian manufacturer Moroso, the Fishbone range features a unique and head-turning tabletop which is handmade from Sintetica methacrylate. Available in three different colour variants and four sizes, these tables are great on their own, but even better in a group.

TRAVELLER ARMCHAIR £895 IAN SNOW

INALUXE ATLAS RUG £299 HARLEY AND LOLA

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96 | HOMES & GARDENS

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PANTONE’S

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BLOOM GLASS PITCHER £15 AMARA

Colour kings Pantone announced their colour of the year for 2018 is ‘ultra violet’– a rich, vivid purple inspired by galaxies and exploration (back to Doctor Who!) In the home we’ll see it in rich velvet while it’s still cold, and then in more vibrant accessories and floral prints going into summer

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97 | HOMES & GARDENS

PAINT FROM £28 MYLANDS FILM TELEVISION AND THEATRE COLOURS

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GEO THERMOS FLASK £49.95 NORMANN COPENHAGEN

ON OUR WISH LIST

ARCADE CUSHION £35 KIRKBY DESIGN

BEDROOM PURPLE REIGNS Clematis duvet cover £389 Amara

“A dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.

“The Pantone Color of the Year has come to mean so much more than ‘what’s trending’ in the world of design; it’s truly a reflection of what’s needed in our world today.”

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99 | HOMES & GARDENS

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Traditionally used in Morocco to store flatbread or cakes, each storage pot is individual. They are handwoven using coiled reeds and brightly coloured wool with patterns unique to the artisan maker. The pots look great in a group, so pick some clashing patterns and make a statement with these quirky accessories.

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103 | HOMES & GARDENS

GET READY TO GO

ORGANIC The latest news about chemicals in food makes organic fruit and veg even more appealing, and now is the time to get planting if you haven’t already. It’s easy…

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104 | HOMES & GARDENS

FLASH THE BIRDIE Tie CDs to sticks by veg. Flashing sun will keep the birds off

M

arch is the time for sowing the seeds of the good life, and going organic is becoming a better idea all the time with the press full of worrying stories about what is in non-organic food.

It’s very telling that so many baby foods on supermarket shelves are now organic, and it would be a great idea for us all to follow suit.

But shop-bought foods can add quite a bit to the monthly budget, and with fruit and veg at least, you can easily grow your own, and mush it up for baby food, too. It’s not hard to grow your own if you have the space.

Good soil and creating compost comes first, but watch out with the latter because many stems will still be home to insects that will crawl from the heap when they hatch.

The charity Garden Organic says preparation is key in March: “Prepare beds for sowing; organise the greenhouse; buy in new seed compost and order seeds.”

(Even better, make your own compost, see how on their website, below).

Here are some of their tips to get you going with your organic fruit and vegetable garden:

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Soil Structure • If your soil is still wet from winter rains, avoid walking on it until it’s had a chance to dry out.

Use planks to spread your weight.

• Spread compost, well-rotted manure or other soil-improvers. Organic material in the soil will stimulate the billions of micro-organisms that maintain health and fertility.

• If you have a patch that won’t be cultivated until summer, sow green manure (plants grown to benefit the soil) to give the soil a quick fertility boost. Fenugreek will germinate this month and will provide beautiful blue flowers loved by pollinators.

• Give your compost heap a ‘spring turn’ to aerate and stimulate the contents.

• If you have a worm bin, it can be put outside at the end of the month.

Vegetables • Use this month to pre-warm soils with a cloche or sheet of plastic for a week or two before sowing or planting.

• Plan a crop rotation for your fruit and veg.

This helps prevent disease and makes best use of the soil’s nutrition.

105 | HOMES & GARDENS

DON’T BASH THE BEETS!

Those who turn their noses up at the poor old beetroot may like to know this red root vegetable brings surprising health benefits, as it’s rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Beetroots can improve circulation, which is good for the heart, are excellent for eye health, and can help in the treatment of many things, including cancer, constipation, indigestion, anemia and even dandruff !

GET THE BEERS IN… to the ground that is, in pots to deter slugs and snails

Fruit • Sow poached egg plant around bushes to attract aphid-eating predators such as ladybirds.

Herbs • If your soil is heavy and water-retaining, lightly fork in some horticultural grit over the whole area to improve drainage.

• Perennial herbs will benefit from some garden compost or rotted manure. www.gardenorganic.org.uk March is the last chance to plant bare-root apple and pear trees and fruit bushes.

Early in the month is good for planting spinach, carrots, broccoli, beetroot, turnips, garlic and mustard. In mid-to late March, you can also plant tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers (in a heated environment). Late in the month is the best time to plant herbs.

Hardy crops such as chitted potatoes, broad beans, beetroot, carrots, cabbages, parsnips, spinach, peas and brassicas can be planted outside, but watch for late frosts. It may be wise to keep them under a cloche or other cover for protection.

That important salad staple, lettuce, can be grown indoors or outdoors.

Inside, you can start off more veg, including aubergines, sprouts, artichokes and celery.

Other fruit and veg that can be planted now include pot-grown apples, blackberries, asparagus, goosberries, grapes, onions, raspberries, rhubarb and strawberries.

And while planting, don’t forget to sow plenty of flowers, or even create a special wild flower garden, to attract those vital bringers of continuing life, bees!

Friends of the Earth say: “We may take them and other pollinators like butterflies and hoverflies for granted – but they are vital for stable, healthy food supplies.

“Bees are perfectly adapted to pollinate… and so keep the cycle of life turning.”

The Royal Horticultural Society website has lots of tips on growing your own veg, and a very easy Grow Your Own Veg Planner that is both printable and downloadable: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/beginners-guide/vegetable-basics/ positioning-vegetables Wyvale Garden Centres have a handy online tool that allows you to create a personalised ‘Grow Your Own’ Calendar based on your choices: www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk And Suttons Seeds have an online Vegetable Garden Planner to draw out your beds: www.suttons.co.uk MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

HEROES NEEDED TO SAVE HEDGEHOGS Last month brought the shock news that Britain’s hedgehog population has declined by a half since the Millennium.

And estimates show there only has around a million of the animals now compared with 30 million in the 1950s.

Surprisingly, figures in a report compiled by two wildlife groups called The State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2018 indicate that the decline is faster in the countryside due to intensive farming reducing hedgerows and the crop-free margins around fields.

The groups are extremely concerned.

Emily Wilson of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society added that: “Largescale pesticide use has reduced the amount of food for them to eat.”

Householders are being asked to help hedgehogs by putting out wet cat and dog food, leaving wild areas for them to nest and making holes in the fence to enable them to move from garden to garden.

See how to become a hedgehog hero at: www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs

106 | ADVERTORIAL

A DIFFERENT LOOK FOR WALLS

EXTRA

ARTÉ

ANTHOLOGY

ordinary wallpapers

MY STORY BY Suzy Nina

harder-wearing papers, there are incredible vinyl-backed collections. I’m a particular fan of Artè and Anthology, they are really innovative and not beyond domestic budgets.

WHO ARE YOU?

Suzy Nina; interior designer, traveller, business owner of Suzy Nina Interiors in Ramsgate.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE YOUR STYLE?

WHY RAMSGATE?

DO YOU STILL TRAVEL?

After spending ten years in Thailand with two large furniture shops and manufacturing units providing soft furnishings and interior design to the expat community in Southeast Asia and six-star hotels, I decided to come back home.

There wasn’t much call for beautiful fabrics and curtaining on a tropical island, however there was a big demand for high-end furniture and interior design.

I really missed working with luxurious textiles and placing them in old Victorian and Georgian architecture, so it seemed like a sensible idea to open up in Ramsgate.

Yes we currently have a project in Italy and we recently finished a villa in Spain. However, I love the Thanet area and helping clients bring the best out of their incredible homes here.

The architecture is second to none

MATTHEW WILLAMSON

Rich, luxurious with a warm ambience.

I really want to use the Osborne & Little ‘Pantanal’ wallpaper on my cloakroom ceiling.

It’s hugely eccentric – I’m just plucking up the courage!

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOUR HOUSE WHAT WOULD IT BE?

SUZY NINA

WHAT NEXT?

Having been a huge fan of fabrics, I’ve now turned a corner and am loving the new wall coverings that are available. They are made with natural fibres, for example jute, sisal, linen or silk. Also, if there is a need for

DO YOU HAVE A HOME OBJECT OF DESIRE?

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Absolutely nothing! I love it, it’s a real sanctuary. Home should be a space that reflects your personality and lifestyle.

Pop into the NEW SHOWROOM at 2A Addington Street for inspiration or call 07799592846

107 | PROPERTY

COASTAL CHARACTER

£625,000

H

arvey Richards & West are delighted to offer for sale this large ‘double plot’ end-of-terrace period property in Regent Street, at the heart of seaside town Whitstable’s popular conservation area.

This lovely four-bedroom home offers an abundance of space over two floors and benefits from a large private garage at the end of the garden. It still retains many period features, such as cast iron fireplaces and box sash windows, which all add to the charm.

With its ideal central location, this property is less than 500ft from the high street with its array of independently run restaurants boutiques and cafés, and the mainline train station is less than half a mile, providing fast

HARVEY, RICHARDS & WEST SALES LTD 1 Oxford Street Whitstable CT5 1DB 01227 771196 www.hrwest.co.uk

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Regent Street Whitstable and frequent links to both London St Pancras and London Victoria.

The front door to the house is set on the side of the property and opens into the hallway. Both the large double reception room and the kitchen/diner lead off from this.

The double reception room has a fireplace and two large bay windows which flood the room with light. The kitchen/diner, which is a fantastic size for entertaining, leads to a conservatory and the utility room and downstairs shower room.

All four bedrooms are on the first floor, with a family bathroom.

The garden is mostly laid to lawn and accessed via a set of French doors in the conservatory which lead out on to a patio.

108 | PROPERTY

SUPER-STYLISH FARMHOUSE

Farm Road, Otham Maidstone

ÂŁ1,175,000

A

n exceptional character farmhouse located on the fringes of the village of Otham, on the outskirts of Maidstone and close to the prominent villages of Bearsted and Leeds.

This countryside location is well placed for local amenities, including schools, a London line station and easy access to the M20.

The property has five to six bedrooms, including a recently refurbished suite on the ground floor that could equally be used as a home office or secondary living area.

The farmhouse enjoys character throughout with contemporary finishes, especially evident in the two high quality kitchens.

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109 | PROPERTY

PAGE & WELLS 132 Ashford Road Bearsted ME14 4LX 01622 739574 www.page-wells.co.uk

WINE & DINE Enjoy triple wine chillers with granite counter tops!

The sitting room has a beamed ceiling and an inglenook-style fireplace with a Chesneys wood-burning stove., while the main kitchen has an electric 4-oven Aga range cooker.

There’s a vaulted games room, too.

The property sits within a flat plot of approximately one acre that is attractively arranged with expansive swathes of lawns, a large gravelled driveway plus a sandstone patio that overlooks the rear garden.

Powered entrance gates lead into the drive and there’s an oak-framed double garage.

We’d love a fun life on the farm MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

110 | PROPERTY

A GEM BY THE SEA

£450,000 Brownings Yard Whitstable

H

arvey Richards & West are delighted to offer for sale this fantastic three bedroom terrace property located in central Whitstable in the heart of the town centre. Arranged over three floors and with private off street parking and a court yard this would make a lovely home for someone looking to be close to both the beach and the main high street.

Once through the front door you enter in to a lovely hallway with plenty of room for coats and shoes, there is also a handy under stairs W/C. The kitchen and reception room are open plan with large French doors which fill the room with light.

HARVEY, RICHARDS & WEST SALES LTD 1 Oxford Street Whitstable CT5 1DB 01227 771196 www.hrwest.co.uk

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On the first floor there are two bedrooms, the larger of the two benefiting from built in wardrobes, there is also a family bathroom with a three piece suite and overhead shower.

The largest bedroom is found on the second floor and measures a generous 13’4 x 11’3 with a great en-suite shower room.

The rear garden courtyard is accessed via a set of French doors in the living area. The court yard area is enclosed by a wooden fence and has a gate providing access to the parking area. The parking space is also part of the freehold, and is within a secured parking area.

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Lucky

L

aunched on June 1, 2014, DS Automobiles is presently surfing the crest of a wave. Due to bold innovation, cutting-edge technology and the experience enjoyed by their customers, they were determined to re-establish these distinguished initials within the French automobile industry, and the men and women who work for the brand have spent three passionate years turning that vision into reality.

Above all, this entailed producing exceptional cars, and the design of the DS 7 CROSSBACK – the first new generation DS – began immediately after the brand’s creation.

Its proportions, refined styling and the technologies it packs are exactly what they want DS to stand for.

At the same time, the DS 7 CROSSBACK is being marketed via a bespoke, innovative, multi-channel network that is exclusive to the brand, their wish being to provide customers with an exceptional experience, not only in the DS Stores and DS Salons, but also digitally.

The manufacturer’s sales outlets have been conceived not as conventional dealerships, but as luxury stores where customers can extend the relationship with them that began in virtual form with DS Virtual Vision.

There are some 400 new DS sales points opening up every day around the world, 60 or

INTRODUCING: The all new DS 7 CROSSBACK

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115 | MOTORS

so of which are in the UK. With their Only You programme offering a comprehensive range of exclusive services, including DS Rent – which provides an opportunity to discover the range by hiring a model – and the DS Privilege club with its MyDS app, they are breaking new ground when it comes to delivering an engaging brand experience.

The response the company has received to the creation of DS world confirms that they have brought something new to the market.

As part of a large group, yet with the flexibility of a start-up business, the DS brand has been created, shaped and built by teams who are totally committed, and their three years of hard work is now bearing fruit.

The company’s first reward will be to see the first customers join them in writing a fresh chapter in the history of 21st century motoring as they take to the wheel of the DS 7 CROSSBACK. Local General Sales Manager James Tomlin says: ‘‘Everyone here at DS Salon Maidstone is very proud to be flying the DS flag for the entire Wilmoths group, and they are ready to cater for every customer’s individual buying experience as part of the ‘DS Only You’ programme.’’

The DS 7 CROSSBACK is a completely new model, developed from the ground up.

In addition to injecting a fresh dynamic, it places the cursor particularly high in terms of styling, comfort and technology and stands out as an inspiring reward for all those who played a part in its design and development.

“Over the three decades I have worked in the automobile industry, I have been involved in numerous model launches,” says Eric Apode, Product and Development Director of DS Automobiles, “and I can confirm that the DS 7 CROSSBACK is different. I am so looking forward to seeing it on the road.

“It marks the advent of a new brand, plus new, innovative products that I am convinced will win over customers. These are extremely exciting times for us.”

DS Automobiles is the latest ambassador for the world of French luxury, a claim backed by the refinement and creativity of its products, as well as the prestige materials it employs and the ultra-technology it packs.

The plans prepared by Eric Apode and his colleagues for the brand’s launch are founded on the release of six new modes over a period of as many years.

ON OUR WISH LIST

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116 | MOTORS

‘The interior of this car symbolises the very best in French Savoir-Faire, Clous De Paris detail around the centre console, Pearl stitched handmade dashboards to a luxury BRM rotating clock’ James Tomlin, General Sales Manager DS Salon Maidstone

And given the market’s current physiognomy, they believed it was only natural that the first new generation DS should be an SUV. ‘‘I’ve been to the development Factory in Paris to see the next generation of DS products, and I can tell you this is just the start – they have some very exciting times ahead,” says Mr Tomlin.

A new benchmark DS 7 CROSSBACK is DS Automobiles’ new flagship. It goes on sale in all the brand’s markets.

At the same time, it’s underpinning design cues – including generous proportions and spectacular styling.

“We are targeting customers who want to assert themselves and who are looking for a new motoring experience,” says Eric Apode.

“After carefully studying their expectations, we decided to focus on cultivating our hallmarks and identity, while at the same time providing a comprehensive range of customisation opportunities.

“When it comes to the vehicles they drive, our customers tend to have exacting aspirations. They are very much up to speed with what the market has to offer and want to stand out from the crowd. They want a car that mirrors their status, success and individuality.’’

Mr Tomlin adds: ‘‘The DS 7 CROSSBACK is not just a new product launch, instead, it represents a major milestone for our brand.”

DS PS: There’s a plug-in hybrid E-Tense 4x4 version, too

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RIDE AND DRIVE EVENT An invitation from James Tomlin of the DS Salon Maidstone

Following its grand reveal at the Geneva Motor Show this month, it will give us great pleasure to finally introduce the DS 7 CROSSBACK to the UK – and you are invited to be one of the very first people to test drive it – on Saturday March 24, from 10am-4pm.

The DS 7 CROSSBACK will be appearing at the Maiden’s Tower, Leeds Castle, where you will be able to witness its muscular and charismatic design in the flesh. In addition, DS Virtual Vision will allow you to explore its class-leading technology and high quality interior materials – along with the rich personalisation options available. It will be a truly unique and immersive experience.

AND PRESENTING… DS 7 CROSSBACK LA PREMIÈRE Available for a limited period only, the Launch Edition model, La Première, is the epitome of avant-garde innovation – a perfect fusion of power and elegance combined with a relentless obsession with detail. When you come to experience the DS 7 CROSSBACK, you’ll also be able to explore this exceptional model in extraordinary detail using DS Virtual Vision.

Entry to Leeds Castle on the day is included, and there will also be food and drink and a chance to win a one-night luxury stay at the castle.

By invitation only. Please register your interest on www.wilmoths.co.uk

118 | MOTORS

UP!

get

‘This is a wonderful little hot hatch that simply makes driving truly fun once again. It is so accessibly priced, and yet so generously equipped’ Geraldine Ingham, Head of Marketing at Volkswagen UK

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119 | MOTORS

E

ven before the sporty new model’s official UK showroom debut, this exciting addition to the burgeoning GTI bloodline has already met with a rapturous media response.

The BBC’s Top Gear magazine named it ‘pocket rocket of the year’, Car magazine awarded the four-seat firebrand a rare fivestar verdict after their initial experience of it overseas, and style gurus GQ last month handed it their ‘Scream If You Want To Go Faster Award’ in the GQ Car Awards 2018.

As desirable as it is affordable, the newest member of the up! family joins a stable of Volkswagen GTIs that now offers practical performance across three key models, with the up! GTI sitting alongside the recentlylaunched new Polo GTI and award-winning Golf GTI and Golf GTI Performance.

The up! GTI is powered by the most potent petrol engine yet offered in the model range: A turbocharged, three cylinder, 1.0-litre (999 cc) TSI which offers up to 115 PS (5,000-5,500 rpm) and up to 200 Nm of torque (2,0003,500 rpm). This urge is channelled to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, and enables the charismatic newcomer to sprint from rest to 62 mph in 8.8 seconds and press on to a top speed of 122 mph.

Weighing in at only 1,070kg, and with a sports suspension set-up lowered by 15mm versus that of the standard car, the up! GTI is as agile as it is engaging, with a spirit that conjures up that of the original 1976 MkI Golf GTI – which today’s up! broadly matches for size and performance.

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Styled inside and out to be an unmistakable member of the modern-day GTI fraternity, the up! GTI of course boasts the famous GTI badge front and rear along with other details synonymous with the GTI, such as the sporty honeycomb front grille, darkened side windows at the rear and bright red brake callipers. There is also a chrome-tipped exhaust, plus red trim strips front and rear, bold 17-inch alloy wheels and sporty twin side stripes that recall the styling of the original 1970s Golf hot hatch.

Paint colours are also reminiscent of the Golf that started it all – pure white, red, dark silver metallic and black pearl are the options, with a roof of white, red and silver. GTIs are optionally available in contrasting black.

Inside, this sporty up! is distinguished by both traditional and modern GTI trademarks.

It makes a real style statement, from the recognisable Jakara Red checked cloth trim on the front sports seats to the GTI gearknob and flat-bottomed three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, which is leather-bound and features contrasting red stitching, as well as the red ambient lighting and Red 2D Pixel dashpad.

The up! GTI is also one of the first Volkswagen cars to launch with a closecoupled petrol particulate filter.

Its use reduces particulate emissions by up to 95 per cent. After flowing through the turbocharger, the exhaust gas gets fed directly into the particulate filter, which, with its special coating, also works in parallel as a regular catalytic converter.

For more details on the Volkswagen up!

GTI, please visit www.volkswagen.co.uk

121 | GADGETS

TECH REPORT

Here’s our pick of the latest gadgets & gizmos

HANDY TILE ITEM FINDER

need WE

Tile is the result of one man’s quest to help his wife find the many, many things she lost! The compact, lightweight, innovative design of this Bluetooth tracker means you can easily attach it to most objects you’re worried you might mislay, then find them via the accompanying app.

For example, it easily hooks on to your house, car or bike keys, but can also be attached to a laptop, handbag and case – even the bike itself.

Detection: Once your smartphone is within a 200ft Bluetooth signal of the Tile it’ll start the hunt, with a melody growing louder as it closes in.

THIS

£19.95 JOHN LEWIS

NEW FITBIT

A Flex 2 is the perfect sporting piece to track your activity. And with the accompanying elegant pendant, you’ll be able to do so in style.

How to add it: Simply remove the compact tracker from the wristband and pop it into the stainless steel pendant.

A built-in magnet will allow you to track your steps.

£39.95 AMAZON

£69.99 FITBIT

AMAZON FIRE TV STICK WITH ALEXA

Stream on the big screen. Just plug your Fire TV Stick into an HDTV and start the smooth entertainment in minutes. Use the included Alexa Voice Remote to search across apps and find the best way to watch.

The new stick has the fastest Wi-Fi and most accurate voice search of any of its kind. Quickly find what you want to watch. Just say: ‘Find romantic comedies’ and Alexa will show you results from apps such as Netflix and Amazon Video. Speed things up further by skipping the opening credits, press the microphone button and ask for music, order from a restaurant and more. New skills are being added all the time.

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122 | GADGETS

SPEAKER B&0

£559 CANON

SNAPSHOT This cutie is the ideal camera for beginners!

BEOLIT17

The Beolit17 is a small but mighty wireless speaker which packs a powerful punch. Enjoy the signature sound of Bang & Olufsen with dedicated 360 degree audio and fine details which will complete your whole listening experience. It’s been redesigned and refined on the previous model to improve power output so it sounds even more remarkable.

DELL INSPIRON 13 5000 CONVERTIBLE LAPTOP Here is a stylish, portable and powerful, 2-in-1 laptop that shares the characteristics of a tablet, thanks to its 360-degree hinge.

Created with a 13.3in Full HD touchscreen and an 8th generation Quad-Core Intel i5 processor, it will easily fly through your work projects, TV streaming or gaming requirements.

Power Processor Fitted with an Intel 8th generation, Quad-Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, this PC will effortlessly blast through your computing needs.

You’ll happily experience flawless multitasking without interruption because you have enough onboard power to work with multiple demanding applications open.

Solid State Drive The 256GB Solid State Drive [SSD] gives you the capacity to store your documents and media while ensuring quicker and reliable access to your files and programs.

SSDs are far faster than regular hard drives.

Ingeniously, they don’t use moving parts to work, which makes them far more dependable and also quieter.

Great Entertainment The crisp 13.3in, Full HD screen means that viewing your high resolution photos, films and videos will be a luxurious pleasure.

This laptop has been designed to convey stunning, immersive images and it makes for a great gaming and multimedia experience.

CANON EOS 200D DIGITAL SLR CAMERA Combining the creative power of a DSLR, an ultra-compact body, and the shooting versatility offered by a vari-angle touch screen, this camera is perfect for adventurous photography.

It makes it easy to take more advanced compositions with fantastic quality, whether you’re travelling the world or exploring closer to home. Snap away anywhere you go.

Record movie footage in Full HD, capture that perfect moment with 5-frames-per-second burst shooting and super-sharp autofocus, then share your masterpiece online in an instant.

The guided interface even increases your photography know-how as you shoot.

All told, the 200D is a powerful, intuitive, feature-packed and fully connected photo companion that you’ll want to take everywhere.

£699.95 DELL

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PHOTO: C Harvey

124 | HISTORY

DANGER beneath the waves One of the ships sent to Britain from America within the confines of the wartime Lend/Lease Act was a Liberty ship which carried a cargo of over 7,000 tons of explosives. It was intended for Cherbourg to assist the allied push in France, but she never reached her destination. Robin J Brooks explains why – and the threat she now poses to a corner of Kent MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

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T

he Thames Estuary is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the country.

Every day container ships, luxury liners and many smaller craft traverse through its waters. At the mouth of the estuary, and just before they enter or leave the River Thames, they pass a wreck which at low tide becomes very visible – and at high tide displays just its masts. This is the ship often called ‘a disaster waiting to happen’.

Lying just a mile from Sheerness and Minster, it is the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery, a Liberty ship sent from America to help Britain in its hour of need.

The Lend/Lease Act was signed into law on March 11, 1941 and was a programme of American aid sent to several countries, including Britain.

The Battle of Britain saw enormous cost, plus the fact that when the country went on the offensive, money for defence was low.

Thus by 1941 many assets had been liquidated and the country was running short of money.

With the Americans entering the war after Pearl Harbour, Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt entered discussions regarding the idea of the Lend/Lease Act. This included armaments, aeroplanes and ships, one of which was the Richard Montgomery.

Richard Montgomery

MAP: Bobleroi MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

Named after an Irish soldier, the ship was one of 82 Liberty ships built by the St John’s River Shipbuilding Company based in Jacksonville, Florida. Launched in July 1943, she did several trips in America, one of which was to the munitions depot at Hog Island, Philadelphia, where seven tons of bombs and munitions were taken on board.

After several days of careful loading, the ship left the depot and entered the Atlantic Ocean sailing in convoy HX-301 with 70 other ships. A safe crossing saw her approach the Thames Estuary, where she would wait until joining a convoy bound for Cherbourg.

Slipping anchor off the port of Sheerness in the area known as the Great Nore anchorage, the captain accordingly anchored his ship off the north edge of the sand at the instruction of the King’s Harbour Master. This was an area of sea that is only 30ft deep at low tide, but – laden as she was with explosives – the Richard Montgomery sat 31ft in the water.

As she rode at anchor on Sunday August 20, 1944, a strengthening wind caused her to drift, and with no action being taken by the First Officer or the Captain (who was ashore at the time), and the fact that it was low tide, she ran aground on the middle bank.

126 | HISTORY

STATESIDE: The SS Richard Montgomery leaving New York harbour – with the Statue of Liberty just peeking out on the left

PHOTO: C Harvey

It did not take long before the control room of the Thames Naval Control realised that the order to anchor off the north edge of the middle bank in fairly shallow water was a mistake. Words had taken place earlier querying the decision of the King’s Harbour Master, which had resulted in the Assistant Master – knowing it was dangerous for a ship of that size to anchor there – demanding that the order to anchor off the north edge be put in writing. (He was later removed from his post for insubordination.)

Whilst the control room staff were arguing over the best way to tackle the problem, the hull of the Montgomery was sinking further down on to the bank, causing some of the hull plates to buckle.

Many other ships that were passing or were also at anchor saw the ship was in distress, and in desperation had sounded their horns and sirens. Only when she had settled firmly on the middle bank did the crew realise the gravity of the situation. With the buckling plates of the hull, many panicked and took to the lifeboats less the volatile cargo exploded.

It was soon realised that the ship could not be refloated for some time, at least until there was a high tide, and even then, only if most of the cargo was offloaded.

WHAT LIES BENEATH? Sailors look below the choppy waves

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Arrangements were made for this to be conducted as soon as possible with the help of the river tugs and various other craft.

Just when it all seemed to be going well and a quarter of the cargo had been removed, the Montgomery moved with the tide causing her to break her back.

As she settled even further into the bank, it was realised that the underwater holds could not be emptied and the decision was reached to leave her where she lay.

Seventy three years on, that decision has never been revoked, and the threat of 3,500 tons of unstable explosives still remains a large threat to the Isle of Sheppey.

Many have ignored the threat, including local fishermen who frequently trawl for catches around the wreck. There have even been some who have fished from the wreck, which is illegal, and have faced prosecution.

Several near misses by other vessels have also been recorded, but somehow the people of the island have learnt to live with the danger.

Some say the explosives have been made safe by time and tide, others do not agree.

Signalman Leonard Nadel, the only surviving crew member, now lives in New Jersey.

Speaking in 1977, he said: “I was 17 when I first joined the Montgomery. To say that the

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128 | HISTORY

crew was inexperienced is to put it mildly, but it was all we had at the time to man the Liberty boats.

“I suppose I was one of the old hands. I knew the boat well and I stayed with her until we ran aground in Kent. When that happened we were told to stay on board. It was just five volunteers and two signalmen, the rest of the crew just vanished. We had to remain until it was decided just what to do.

“Later we helped remove the cargo from the holds above water and placed it very carefully in barges that were called Lighters. As we were doing this, a storm blew up, and the ship began to sink further down.

“Everybody just downed tools, jumped on to the boats and left. We realised just what could happen.”

So just what does remain in the crippled SS Richard Montgomery? There are various reports of its present cargo, but certainly there is a vast quantity of phosphorus bombs still on board. These are relatively safe underwater, but once open to the air could ignite and combust. In addition, the original cargo consisted of 250lb bombs, armour piercing bombs, fragmenting bombs, cases of fuses and various small arms ammunition.

Some of these were obviously removed earlier, but it is still estimated that a considerable amount of dangerous explosive

devices remain on board posing a great danger to the surrounding area.

In 1948 and 1967, the Americans offered to make the ship safe. However the British Government of the time refused on the grounds that the submerged bombs would become safe with time. (Since then, however, enquiries to the American Embassy in London have resulted in the answer that their records show the ship was broken up and sold for scrap!) Regular surveys over the years have reached the same conclusion regarding safety, but the last survey done by Royal Navy divers found the ship had broken completely in half, exposing some of the cargo.

Some of the phosphorus bombs have been found washed up on the shore, requiring a naval unit to come and take them away, yet still no final decision has been made on whether to remove the explosives or leave them alone.

So the people of Sheppey live with the wreck as it gently rusts away beneath the waves. Some say they have become complacent and have accepted that the danger will always be there.

A comment by a local councillor some years back put the entire episode of the Montgomery into perspective when he said: “If this were sited outside the Houses of Parliament, something would have been done long ago.”

For now, however, the danger remains.

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TERROR OF THE THAMES The remains of the Montgomery shipwreck

129 | WATCHES

TIME WELL SPENT (AND MONEY)

We round up the best watches for under £100

QUICK CHECK Our guide will save you hours of shopping around!

SPEED DIAL

Still using your phone to check the time?

Be more on-trend with Molvena – a watch collection that’s both a conversation and timepiece. Available in five finishes.

THRIFTY FASHION Watches – minus the commitment. Molvena is affordable enough to switch with your outfit or mood. Find one that suits your signature style, and one to shake things up at night.

MADE EXCLUSIVE A SELECTION OF WATCHES £49 MADE

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Exclusive to MADE, Molvena showcases our love for materials. Check the rose gold and white marble or pared-back tan. All wrapped up for your wrist with 100 per cent real leather and case-matching fastenings.

130 | WATCHES

SOFT AND STYLISH

Also available in a range multi-colour stem print facias

Pretty and very feminine, this is a classic watch with a slender case, and a velvety nubuck leather strap in soft mint grey with a decorative metal ring. The strap can be easily adjusted to a minimum length of 12cm and a maximum of 16cm. Simple and delicate.

BOLD SHAPE-SHIFTER Add a fresh and distinctly different edge to your wrist with this Orla Kiely watch from her imaginative Rectangular Stem collection.

The stylish and attractive timepiece offers a clean and smart rectangular dial set with the brand’s signature stem print in a range of bright colours and delicate gold hands.

The delicate quartz movement that powers the watch and the eclectic patterned dial are protected in a rectangular brushed gold-toned stainless steel case.

The watch is complete with a soft leather strap and a classic pin and buckle clasp.

ROSEFIELD WEST VILLAGE MINT GREY/ROSE GOLD WATCH £89.99 PRINTER + TAILOR

ORLA KIELY RECTANGULAR STEM WATCH £79.95 JOHN LEWIS

ON OUR WISH LIST

CLASS ACT With a supple leather strap and large 44mm dial, punctuated by easy-to-read Roman numerals, this classic Grant watch from Fossil has everything a man needs for a best-dressed season.

It also features a chronograph movement.

ANNE KLEIN BETTY WATCH £85 HOUSE OF FRASER

BETTY DAZZLER

FOSSIL GRANT CHRONOGRAPH WATCH £97.75 JOHN LEWIS

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This attractive watch has a PVD gold-plated case and is powered by a quartz movement. It is fastened with a white plastic/resin strap and has a white dial. Another Klein gem.

131 | LOCAL NEWS

LOCAL

NEWS

Here’s our round-up of what’s new and interesting in Kent

WHAT’S IN STORE? An artist’s impression of how the new M&S at Eclipse Park would look

NEW SUPERSTORE PLANS GO PUBLIC

Proposals to create a new Marks & Spencer superstore at Eclipse Park, near junction 7 of the M20, went on show at the end of last month to gain the public’s feedback prior to a planning application being submitted.

A public exhibition was held at the Hilton Hotel, Eclipse Park on February 22, and the plans by Marks & Spencer [M&S] and Gallagher Properties would, if approved by Maidstone Borough Council, create 300 full and part-time positions when the store opens.

The M&S proposals follow a decision by Waitrose not to proceed with its plans for a store on the site after they gained planning permission. M&S requires a new store that is the same footprint, with a 300-space car park.

It will have striking design, incorporating high quality materials, as above, and provide approximately 5,760m2 (62,000ft2) of sales area. Subject to final decisions, the current thinking is that the store would offer: • Food hall – 1,050m2 (11,300ft2) • General merchandising (fashion and household) – 4,413m2 (47,500ft2) • Hospitality (café) – 297m2 (3,200ft2) Gallagher Properties’ Nick Yandle said: “The combination of a Marks & Spencer and NEXT at Eclipse Park would improve Maidstone’s retail offer as the county town to local residents and people from across a wider area of Kent… It would send out a positive message about the town as a location for business.”

Find out more about the M&S plans at: www.marksandspencer-maidstone.co.uk MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

OPENING TIME If the proposal goes ahead, the store will open in autumn 2019

132 | LOCAL NEWS

PCC ISSUES CYBERBULLYING SURVEY

DELIVERING HEALTHY FOOD: Maidstone’s Andrew and Sam Garnham

BUSINESS SET TO BOOM FOR LOCAL ORGANIC VEG TEAM Things are looking good for Maidstone couple Andrew and Sam Garnham, who deliver Riverford’s organic veg boxes to homes in Kent, following the latest Soil Association Organic Market Report.

The report tells of a 6% growth to the organic market in the last year, and this is the sixth year of growth, with sales rising to a record £2.2billion.

The Garnhams said: “This is really good news for us. Like the rest of the organic industry, Riverford have seen year-on-year growth with new customer numbers and weekly deliveries. It seems more and more people are recognising organic food for its health benefits, assurance of trust and

traceability, and also as a more environmentallyfriendly way to buy food and support a sustainable farming system.

“Sustainability is one of the main reasons Riverford have farmed organically for over 30 years. Since day one, the business has believed in a better way of producing food and it’s so reassuring to see others are catching on, too.”

Sales of organic products in supermarkets rose by 4.2%, while home delivery services like Riverford saw an impressive 9.7% rise.

The amount of farmland in conversion to organic also rose by 22% as growers respond to the growing demand for organic food.

Riverford have delivery offices in Charing and Dartford, and their organic offering extends to high welfare, pasture-reared meat and dairy, recipe boxes and much more.

Find out more at www.riverford.co.uk See how to go organic in your garden on Page 103 MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

Schoolchildren across Kent are being asked about their experiences of cyber-bullying to help the county’s Police & Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, lobby for more to be done to help them.

He has sent a CyberBullying Survey to around 900 schools.

Responses will be anonymous.

Mr Scott said: “Their answers will allow me to build a broader understanding of how much cyberbullying is going on in Kent and where, and to hear from young people what apps they are using.”

Examples of cyber-bullying include sending abusive or mocking messages and circulating rumours or embarrassing pictures or videos.

Mr Scott wants to share the findings with government ministers and social media companies to solve the problem of online abuse and harassment.’

To complete the survey, go to www. kent-pcc.gov.uk/ consultations

133 | LOCAL NEWS

MARGATE HEADS NEW £850K TREASURE HUNT ART TRAIL FOR TOURISTS

Photo: Manu Palomeque

A groundbreaking Turner Contemporary and Visit Kent project to create world-class art that will bring more tourists to the South East has been awarded £500,000 by Arts Council England and £350,000 by the government.

The project will see the South East’s outstanding art galleries come together with leading artists and tourism businesses to create a unique cultural ‘treasure hunt’ trail.

Turner Contemporary will work with the Creative Foundation, De La Warr Pavilion,

TURNER CONTEMPORARY: (Left) Antony Gormley’s Another Time sculpture and (above) the Summer of Colour festival

PUBLIC VOTES FOR EATERY’S GREAT TASTE

The Carriage Restaurant in Faversham has been shortlisted from more than 500 entries for the 2018 Taste of Kent Awards.

Situated in Shepherd Neame’s historic Railway Hotel, the eatery is battling against The Buoy & Oyster, Margate, The Corner House, Canterbury and The Mulberry Tree, Boughton Monchelsea to be named Kent Restaurant of the Year. This year, there were so many public votes, the finalists were increased from three to four. They will be judged by mystery diners to decide the winner.

The Carriage Head Chef Nicky Martin, 29, who grew up in Faversham, offers traditional dishes with a contemporary twist, using local produce from suppliers such as Macknade Fine Foods of Faversham, Ripple Organic Farm, Wye, and Stour Valley Game, Chilham.

All the award winners will be announced on March 8 at the Kent Events Centre in Detling.

To see the full list of Taste of Kent Awards finalists, visit www.producedinkent.co.uk

THE

CLOCK’S T

IC K

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Photo: Stephen White

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Jerwood Gallery, Metal, Towner Art Gallery and Whitstable Biennale.

A new digital foot, cycle and train trail will be created that will include the Thames Estuary, Whitstable, Margate and Folkestone.

Along the route, visitors will be able to find the new original artworks and log treasure containers – ‘geocaches’.

Arts Council England’s Hedley Swain said: “I am excited for what this project means for our coastal areas, not just in terms of reaching new audiences, but also for how it will contribute to the region’s economy, reputation and sense of pride.”

EXCITED: Nicky Martin and Tania Bourne (right) with The Railway’s Mel Hatchard

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134 | LOCAL NEWS

MEETING KATE

Three Kent youngsters met the Duchess of Cambridge at a mental health conference in London last month.

They were invited

by HeadStart Kent and spoke at the event before meeting Prince William’s wife, Katherine.

Charlotte Swaine, 16, from Ashford, Millie May, 13, from the Isle of Sheppey, and Lizzy Parker, 13, from Gravesend all talked of their experiences.

HeadStart Kent aims to help 10-16 year olds in schools cope better when faced with difficult circumstances.

It operates in Swale, Gravesham, Ashford, Shepway and Canterbury.

This year, it will extend to Thanet and Maidstone, and in 2019 to Dover and Tonbridge & Malling.

DRAMATIC CHURCH TOWER RESCUE

HIGH HOPES: The emergency crews

Passers-by were shocked to see firemen rescuing an injured bell-ringer from the tower of St Botolph’s Church in Chevening recently.

The accident happened when a woman carrying out maintenance on the bells 80ft up inside the tower slipped and ended up trapped under one of the heavy objects, which can weigh more than two tonnes (or 2,000kg).

A second bell-ringer phoned 999 and Kent Police were first on the scene. They requested the assistance of the Kent Fire & Rescue Service [KFRS] technical rescue team.

It proved a tricky technical task to lower the patient to safety from the outside using a system of ropes and a special stretcher.

But the person on the stretcher was a dummy, because fortunately this was a mock drama – part of a joint training venture between KFRS and Kent Police.

The KFRS team is trained to use specialist equipment capable of handling a range of major emergencies, and decided ropes would be quicker than using the spiral staircase.

Afterwards, the emergency crews practiced their rapid descent by abseiling from the tower.

Crew Manager Steve Partington said: “It was a valuable training exercise because it gave us a great opportunity to test our skills in a realistic environment.”

NEW HEAD TO TAKE OVER AT DICKENS SCHOOL Gad’s Hill School in Higham, near Rochester, will be familiar with its new Headmaster when principal David Craggs retires after 18 years.

The Head of the Senior School, Paul Savage, 37, is set to take over this summer and described his new role as ‘a privilege’.

Gad’s Hill is world famous as the former home of author Charles Dickens, who lived there from 1856 until his death in 1870. It is also where he wrote two of his novels – Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities.

Mr Savage is proud of the school’s links with Dickens and will ensure all children have the chance to explore the rich history of the site.

He will work closely with the Dickens Trust to revitalise parts of the mansion and bring them back to former glories so pupils enjoy the benefit of learning in a living museum.

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Paul Savage has Great Expectations!

A recent inspection of the independent school reported that pupils are ‘confident and articulate communicators’. Mr Savage said: “The happiest children are always those who are making good progress. We know our children – we know their strengths and their needs, and we will keep classes small.”

He said they had the ‘highest standards’ and added that other headteachers had often told him they know pupils from Gad’s Hill will be ‘eloquent, well-mannered and adventurous’.

135 | LOCAL NEWS

HISTORIC DOCKYARD WINS GOLD IN TOP TOURISM AWARDS The Historic Dockyard Chatham has been awarded a Gold standard in tourist body VisitEngland’s ‘Attractions Accolades’.

The prestigious awards recognise the quality of visitor experiences at the nation’s leading attractions and museums.

The dockyard is the only Kent attraction to have achieved the Gold standard for 2018, and one of only 20 across the country to receive the coveted honour.

Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust’s Chief Executive, Bill Ferris, said the team at Chatham are ‘delighted’ to see all their hard work in providing a superb visitor experience recognised in this way.

VisitEngland is the national organisation promoting the country as a top tourist destination. Their awards are given out to participants in the Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme [VAQUAS], an independently assessed ‘mystery shop’ review which the dockyard recently passed with flying colours.

Mr Ferris said: “We are delighted with the

AND FINALLY…

Full steam ahead for anniversary!

news of the Visit England Gold award which is testament to the great quality standards that we strive to deliver here and bring to the local tourism economy.

“This award recognises and showcases the quality of every aspect of a visit to The Historic Dockyard Chatham, from the website and telephone handling pre-visit to the quality of catering, attractions, play facilities and even the loos!

“The assessors pay attention to encounters with staff, and the team here at Chatham impressed without exception – this makes me incredibly proud of all that the team achieves.

“It is only by ensuring excellence in everything we do that we have achieved the Gold standard.”

VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said of the winners: “These attractions offer a warm welcome, unique storytelling, high quality food and drink and unparalleled customer service, and rightly deserve these accolades.

“They provide visitors with amazing experiences and create reasons to travel the length and breadth of the country, increasing the economic benefits of tourism.”

With a nod to the dockyard’s other big celebrations this year, Mr Ferris added: “Gaining Gold at the start of our 400th anniversary year couldn’t be a better way to commence the many festivities planned!”

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The finalists in the 2018 Kent Women in Business Awards have been announced, with the organisers revealing that this year has been the busiest yet.

“With a record number of entries that really do showcase some fine talent in this fine county, we don’t envy the judges who have to now decide the final results,” they have said.

“To have made it to finalist stage is a massive achievement, and for those who unfortunately didn’t make it this time around… your time will come.”

The winners will be revealed at a black tie dinner on March 9 at the Great Danes Hotel, Hollingbourne.

To see the finalists, visit www. kwibawards.co.uk

SO PROUD MMM’s own Rasa Dregva has been shortlisted for two accolades!

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Holiday Home for Cats Now takinggs bookinfor early r Easte One of Kent’s most established catteries Unashamed luxury offered for your feline friends Collection and delivery possible Please call Sarah or Kerry to discuss your cat’s individual requirements on:

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137 | WHAT’S ON

&

WHATS ON

1

WHEN

Spring arrives this month, so both the indoors and the great outdoors beckon.

Here are ideas for a dozen days out…

MARGATE WINTER GARDENS: JAKE BUGG – SOLO ACOUSTIC TOUR MARCH 7, 8PM It will be a real thrill to see this rising folk-rock star, who says his defining musical moment was hearing Don McLean’s Vincent on The Simpsons! With a No.1 album, a couple of Glastonburys and a clutch of awards already under his belt, Bugg’s acoustic Tour comes in the wake of his fourth album, Hearts That Strain, jumping into the Top 10 on release. It saw Jake working in Nashville, recording with some of the best players in popular music. And you may have heard some of his songs in surprising places – such as Me and You rolling out in the Dumb & Dumber credits, and his single Trouble Town becoming the theme for the hit TV series Happy Valley. Do coast along to catch him. www.margatewintergardens.co.uk

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PENSHURST PLACE AND GARDENS MARCH 10-11, 12-4PM

A weekend of workshops for all ages.

March 10: Children’s crafts and card making.

Step inside The Old Coach House and create a beautiful card for Mother’s Day. March 11: Adult Pot Pourri Workshop. Jan Black will help you make Pot Pourri and lavender bags to take home.

Included in the price of a standard gardens ticket: Adult £9.50, Child £6. www.penshurstplace.com

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138 | WHAT’S ON

DREAMLAND JUDY’S VINTAGE FAIR MARCH 10

One for nostalgia lovers – Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair and the Vintage Furniture Flea are bringing their first ever vintage fashion and furniture market to the Hall By The Sea at the Dreamland amusement park in Margate.

You’ll find more than 40 traders from around the country selling the finest vintage fashion from 1940s onwards, plus a selection of fantastic vintage furniture and homewares – all under one roof.

Entry: £2 on the door, under-12s free. www.dreamland. co.uk

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QUEX PARK MOTHER’S DAY EXTRA SPECIAL AFTERNOON TEA, MARCH 11

5

Head to Birchington to spoil mum with the extra special afternoon tea in Mama Feelgoods Function Suite. Let the pastry chefs treat you to delicate sandwiches, warm homemade scones served with preserves and fine sweet and savoury pastries.

Choose speciality tea or fresh coffee, along with a complimentary glass of Prosecco. If that’s not enough, there’s live music from Ja Ja Jive for a wonderful Mother’s Day ambience, too. www.quexpark.co.uk

HAZLITT THEATRE THE JUNGLE BOOK MARCH 11, 2.30PM Arriving in Maidstone, Immersion Theatre are thrilled to bring their trademark energy to their wildest show yet – a brand new musical MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

adaptation of family favourite The Jungle Book, filled with catchy music, a laugh-outloud script and audience interaction.

Join Mowgli and his friends Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther on a madcap adventure as they meet and attempt to outwit a slithering snake, some cheeky monkeys and the fierce tiger, Shere Khan.

Funny, exciting and wildly entertaining, this larger-than-life musical promises to be the perfect treat for families of all ages.

And there’s a chance to meet the characters after the show. www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

139 | WHAT’S ON

6

ROMNEY, HYTHE & DYMCHURCH RAILWAY, MARCH 11 Treat the special lady in your life this Mothering Sunday.

During this annual family celebration, ‘Kent’s mainline in miniature’ will be running their ‘Mums Drive a Train’ special from New Romney Station to the outer station limits.

Mum will be supported by one of their experienced drivers and will receive a commemorative certificate upon completion.

Make the day extra special by booking a Southern Maid’s Afternoon Tea in Hythe’s vintage-style Tea Room.

Pre-booking is advised for this popular option. www.rhdr.org.uk

8 HALL PLACE RIVER CRAY NATURE WALK MARCH 17

CHUFFED We will be now mums can drive the train!

HEMPSTEAD VALLEY MOTHER’S DAY GIFT FAYRE MARCH 11, 10AM-4PM Take a trip to the Gillingham shopping centre and you’ll find a wide selection of artisan and bespoke Mother’s Day gifts from a wide range of local independent exhibitors that will be sure to make your mum smile.

Choose from local artisan gin from Copper Rivet Distillery, Vintage china gift and hire, locally-produced fudge from The Fudgery, jewellery, plants and flowers and the works of Kentish artist Grenville Allen.

And of course, when you’ve finished shopping , there are plenty of cafés and restaurants to refresh you.

The fayre will also be held throughout the malls from March 5, in the lead-up to Mother’s Day (hours: 9am-8pm Monday to Friday, 9am-7pm Saturday).

And don’t miss the chance to enter the Mother’s Day competition within the centre for your chance to win a Mother’s Day Gift.

Free admission and car parking. www.hempsteadvalley.com

7 FAYRE PLAY FOR MOTHER’S DAY: Offerings from Copper Rivet Distillery

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Join the Bexley RSPB group on a 90-minute nature and bird walk around the estate.

Choose a time: 8am, followed by breakfast 10.30am, followed by packed lunch 1pm followed by a hot drink and cake.

Price £11pp.

Advance booking required. www.hallplace. org.uk

WEATHER WATCH Don’t duck out of wearing suitable clothing!

140 | WHAT’S ON

FREE ENTRIES ALL AROUND THE COUNTY KENT BIG WEEKEND MARCH 24-25 ORCHARD THEATRE DR JEKYLL & MR HYDE STARRING PHIL DANIELS MARCH 13-17

A twisted tale of nerve-jangling horror comes to Dartford in this adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Gothic thriller.

Ex-EastEnder Phil Daniels (recently seen in The Hatton Garden Job and Endeavour) stars as both Jekyll and Hyde.

In a secret experiment, respectable Dr Henry Jekyll splits his personality into two, releasing the fiendish and murderous Edward Hyde.

As Hyde brings about mayhem, terror and death in foggy London, can Jekyll find a way to fight off his monstrous alter ego? www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

Thousands of free tickets to a whole host of attractions are up for grabs across Kent, but hurry, the ballot closes on March 11.

Visit the website and browse through the 129 attractions available for registered users to claim. You can bid for as many as you wish, but will only be allowed to have one ticket offer allocated to your account.

Tickets will be available to download on March 19. You will need to log in to claim. www.kentbigweekend.co.uk

10 FREE TICKETS? Wow – count us in! What will you choose?

HE’S HAD HIS PHIL: Daniels as Jekyll, or is it Hyde?

HEMPSTEAD VALLEY EASTER GIFT & GARDEN EVENT MARCH 26-31, OPENING TIMES VARY

9

The Gillingham shopping centre’s malls will be filled with specialist stalls selling a wide range of handmade crafts, quality gifts, plants and flowers – perfect for Easter. Choose from a range that includes hand-decorated goose eggs, jewellery and chocolate to gardening equipment and plants.

Hours: 9am-8pm Monday to Friday and 9am -7pm Saturday.

Free admission and car parking. www.hempsteadvalley.com

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141 |

JAZZ ON THE LAWN 2018

JAZZ ON THE JAZZ ON THE LAWN 201 8 LAWN 2018 JAZZ ON THE LAWN 2018 JAZZ ON THE LAWN 2018

EXCLUSIVE EVENT on SUNDAY 17th JUNE This summer sees the return of our exclusive event 'Jazz on the Lawn' at Tudor Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club. Listen to a live jazz band next to our gazebo in the beautiful grounds of the hotel, whilst EXCLUSIVE EVENT enjoying a delicious traditional afternoon tea. on SUNDAY 17th JUNE This summer sees the return of our exclusive event 'Jazz on the Lawn' at Tudor Park Marriott Hotel & Starts at 2pm for arrival tea and coffee Country Club. Listen to a live jazz band next to our gazebo in the beautiful grounds of the hotel, whilst 2.30pm onwards live jazz enjoying a delicious traditional afternoon tea.

3.30pm afternoon tea is served Starts at 2pm for arrival tea and coffee 2.30pm onwards live jazz 4pm more EVENT live jazz on SUNDAY 17th EXCLUSIVE JUNE 3.30pm afternoon tea is served £25 per person This summer sees the return of our 4pmexclusive more live jazzevent 'Jazz on the Lawn' at Tudor Park Marriott Hotel & Book your ticket now and avoid disappointment per person Country Club. Listen to a live jazz£25 band next to our gazebo in the beautiful grounds of the hotel, whilst Book your ticket now and avoid disappointment at: tudorpark.events@marriotthotels.co.uk enjoying a delicious traditional afternoon tea.

Starts at 2pm for arrival tea and coffee TUDOR PARK Tudor Park Marriott 2.30pm onwards liveMARRIOTT jazz TUDOR PARK MARRIOTT Tudor Park Marriott Ashford Road Ashford Road EXCLUSIVE EVENT on SUNDAY 17th JUNE 3.30pm afternoon tea is served Maidstone, Kent ME14 4NQ Maidstone, Kent ME14 4NQ @TUDORPARK @TUDORPARK This4pm summer sees the return of our exclusive event 'Jazz on the Lawn' at Tudor Park Marriott Hotel & more live jazz 01622 632 006 01622 632 006 Country Club.

Listen to a live jazz band next to our gazebo in the beautiful grounds of the hotel, whil £25 per person enjoying a delicious traditional afternoon tea.

Call for more information and terms and conditions Book your ticket now and avoid disappointment more information and terms and conditions Starts Call atfor2pm for arrival tea and coffee 2.30pm onwards live jazz EXCLUSIVE EVENT on SUNDAY 17th JUNE 3.30pm afternoon tea is served ThisTUDOR summer the return of our exclusive event 'Jazz on the Lawn' at Tudor Marriott Hotel & PARKsees MARRIOTT Tudor Park Park Marriott 4pm more live jazz Ashford Roadhotel, whilst Country Club. Listen to a live jazz band next to our gazebo in the beautiful grounds of the £25 per person Maidstone, Kent ME14 4NQ @TUDORPARK enjoying a delicious traditional afternoon tea.

Book your ticket now and avoid disappointment 01622 632 006 Starts at 2pm for arrival tea and coffee

142 | WHAT’S ON

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SOLLEY’S ICE CREAM PARLOUR SUMMER OPENING, MARCH 30

It’s never too early for a Kentish ice cream!

The Ice Cream Parlour & Farm at Ripple, near Deal, is opening its doors for the whole summer season on Good Friday. Visitors can choose a cool sundae or other iced treat and walk around the new farm trails, or hop on the tractor and trailer for a more leisurely tour. www.solleysicecream.co.uk

LEEDS CASTLE – TARZANNA OUTDOOR AERIAL THEATRE MARCH 30-APRIL 2

EASTER AT BROGDALE MARCH 30-31 & APRIL 1

Rides on the Faversham Miniature Railway and Easter celebrations at the home of the national fruit collection are not to be missed.

Meet the lambs, calves, pigs, sheep, and more in the Animal Barn, and catch the tractor trailer for an adventure through the orchards on the Easter Egg Trail. You can also meet the Easter Bunny and collect a chocolate treat, and buy local produce. Free parking. www.brogdalecollections.org & www.favershamminiaturerailway.co.uk

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TARZAN He was a viscount, but we don’t think he ever swang through this castle!

The castle plays host to a playful aerial theatre show where families can watch the performers literally climb, jump and swing through the air during an incredible performance. Children will also be able to learn circus skills throughout the day, including the trapeze and tightrope, if parents dare to let them!

Tarzanna is included with the price of admission. www.leeds-castle.com

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THE HISTORIC DOCKYARD CHATHAM POWERFUL TIDES – 400 YEARS OF CHATHAM AND THE SEA MARCH 23-JUNE 17

Enjoy an exhibition celebrating the dockyard’s 400 years through art, including paintings showing what this award-winning ‘Gold’ attraction used to look like, from industrial to romantic and community scenes.

The gallery is also displaying loans from Tate Modern and Turner Contemporary, as well as artwork featuring celebrated artistic Margate groundbreaker Tracey Emin, who’s won a few honours of her own!

The different perspectives of this wonderful dockyard are clearly visible on this fascinating journey through time. www.thedockyard.co.uk MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

144 | HOROSCOPES

…it’s written in the

STARS Monthly horoscopes for March by legendary astrologer Claire Petulengro www.clairepetulengro.tv CANCER

ARIES

(June 22nd-July 23rd) 2017 was all about righting wrongs, and it’s taken you a while to recover. Try to use the astrological new year to start a fresh chapter.

You’re older and wiser and all that you want can be yours with a little confidence. Listen to the compliments new faces are trying to shower upon you, then you’ll start to feel like the best version of you. Try to not leave work given to you for others. Important faces are judging you.

(March 21st-April 20th) You’ve been through so much, that is plain to see, Aries. But look how well you’ve done.

Although not everything is tied up to your satisfaction, you are slowly but surely coming out the other side. Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope and don’t sell out. You find out from the 16th you have more supporters than enemies.

Your love sector is pushing you to ask for more than you may want. Sleep on personal decisions.

TAURUS

(April 21st-May 21st) You’re fearing the unknown, but remember mountains are there to be climbed. Earth signs such as Taurus are made for challenges. A change to the way a close one has to live their life mid-month makes you take a deeper look at your own. House moves will be on the mind of many of your sign. Don’t rule out making the home you live in a better place to be rather than running towards more dramatic options.

DANIEL CRAIG March 2

VIRGO

GEMINI

(May 22nd-June 21st) I can see you’ve taken on more than a normal amount of challenges since this year began, but faith, my friend, is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.

Remember, your ruling planet is Mercury and you were made to take chances. In fact, going with your first instincts this month can make your life a better place to be. An old flame is on your mind for all the wrong reasons.

LEO

(July 24th-August 23rd) You long to find out what happened behind closed doors. But by making an enquiry you will only be make yourself part of a dramatic story which never had anything to do with you in the beginning! Your ruling planet, the Sun, helps you tell right from wrong, and can also save you this month from getting involved with someone who could have been your downfall. Now you realise you need brains not just a pretty face.

EVA MENDES March 5

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(August 24th-September 23rd) A situation which was beginning to see you feeling more down than up is given a breath of fresh air by someone who wasn’t involved but now wants to be. Use the help that is on offer to gain clarity and harmony. Why you have to think you should cope alone is more to do with your stubborn nature than your sensible one! Past and present begin to mix well as time has allowed someone to mellow.

145 | HOROSCOPES

AQUARIUS

LIBRA

(September 24th-October 23rd) Things have been so hard it’s been difficult to find the time to ask loved ones how they are doing. Make that time before the 11th, my friend, and you’ll find out information which can make your life a better place to be. You couldn’t put your finger on what was missing, but now you realise it was being a part of the experiences of those you love. This astrological new year is the time to get back in the game!

LEN WISEMAN March 4

(January 21st-February 19th) Don’t let other people live your life. Take control and take the lead. The last two years’ events have made it easy for you to know what you do and do not want. You may have to distance yourself from someone who seems to think they have the right to be involved in all aspects of your life. Actions, not words, are what’s needed to keep your private life private.

You’re not going to be used any more, are you?

PISCES

(February 20th-March 20th) Don’t think it’s a bad thing to have to go over work you’ve already done. If those involved did not trust you then they would cut ties with you altogether. It’s hope and inspiration others see in you, my friend. A powerful conjunction promises to show who is on your side and who has been deliberately trying to undermine you.

Things you buy at this time say a lot about where you see yourself in five years.

SCORPIO

(October 24th-November 22nd) The full moon on the 2nd will see you refusing to put up with lies or half truths. You want to know exactly what is fact and what is fiction, and thanks to your inbuilt psychic nature it won’t take you long to work out who was at the root of a lie which began last month. You begin to build, or in some cases rebuild, the base of a relationship which makes for one of your most fulfilling personal years yet.

SAGITTARIUS

(November 22nd-December 21st) I can see you have not really been in charge of your emotions recently, but that all changes with this month’s powerful line-up. Don’t let Jupiter push you into spending money you know you should be saving. You’re older and wiser after last month’s experiences, and this is no time to start going back on what you’d promised yourself and your close ones.

Mercury blesses travel from the 17th.

CLAIRE PETULENGRO EXPERT ASTROLOGER

CAPRICORN

(December 22nd-January 20th) You waited last month and in the process others had the power to ruin your good times and plans. Do not wait to strike until the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking. By showing initiative, you can prove you’re the right choice for the time and money others will be willing to invest. New friendships have the potential to be so much more. Just don’t rush what can and should be an enjoyable chapter of your life.

For just £55 you can have a 20-minute personal phone reading, or 40 minutes for £90 For your appointment, please email : clairepetulengro@gmail.com For more information, visit www.clairepetulengro.tv HOTLINE TO CLAIRE’S IN-DEPTH STARS: 0905 072 0237* *Calls to 0905 phone numbers cost 77ppm from a BT landline.

Mobile costs may be higher. Please check costs with your phone provider and seek the bill payer’s permission. SP: Sq1 Comms Ltd, PO Box 3512, BA13 3ZP

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146 | ADVERTORIAL

DESIGNED BY FREEPIK

IS BREAKING UP

hard to do?

I

How to approach ‘Divorce Day’ Whitehead Monckton advise clients to consider are mediation and collaborative law.

Mediation helps couples work through their problems together and reach a solution both parties can live with. It is not counselling – it involves a third party being present to facilitate the difficult conversations you may need to have. The focus is on moving forwards in a positive way, which may help to maintain an amicable relationship or the ability to co-parent children effectively in the future.

Collaborative law is a similar process, but you and your partner will each have your own lawyer present to offer legal advice, moral support and help with any difficult aspects.

Collectively, the couple decide with the lawyers the issues to be discussed. Sometimes decisions need to be taken to bring in third parties such as a pension expert or a therapist to help with issues relating to the children.

The couple decide when they are able to achieve an agreement on the terms for the divorce and how to divide financial assets.

Whitehead Monckton’s family law solicitors can help work out the right process for you.

t is well known that many family lawyers experience a large volume of enquiries from separating couples early in the new year when they have been forced to spend time together and realise the relationship is over.

Indeed, it is said that the first working Monday after Christmas is commonly known as ‘Divorce Day’, when people decide to end a failing relationship and seek divorce advice.

But does the anger, resentment or disappointment that led them to that point have to continue through the divorce process?

It is sometimes reported in the media that a celebrity ‘had their marriage dissolved by a High Court Judge in a matter of seconds’. This leads people to believe that the only option for ending a marriage is through the court. Whilst it is a court that has the power to dissolve a marriage and grant a decree of divorce, the process does not need to be contentious or require attendance at court. No one should feel that a combative ending to marriage is the only way forward.

A number of specialist family lawyers offer options to reduce any upset. Two of the main alternative dispute resolution processes that

Whitehead Monckton – The Kent Law Firm Canterbury 01227 643250 | Maidstone 01622 698000 Tenterden 01580 765722 | Docklands 020 7531 2990 enquiries@whitehead-monckton.co.uk|www.whitehead-monckton.co.uk MMM-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

The Kent Garden Show

26th, 27th, 28th May 2018

This show will feature over 300 exhibitors with a wide variety of goods on display and for sale. The features of the show include the floral marquees with their stunning floral displays including medal winners from Chelsea.

The garden exhibitors have all manner of gardening goods for sale and include over sixty nurseies. There is a craft pavilion, food hall, brass band and children's rides.

Garden furniture Water features Garden sheds This show will feature over 300 exhibitors with a wide Buildings, tools, variety of goods on display and for sale. The features of the show include the floral marquees with their stunning sculptures, and floral displays including medal winners from Chelsea.

much more

KENT SHOWGROUND | DETLING | ME14 3JF CHILDREN FREE UNDER 16 | ADULTS £8 | SENIORS £7 WWW.KENTGARDENSHOW.COM | KENT SHOWGROUND, DETLING ME14 3JF