In this issue: Greg Rutherford talks Fatherhood Page 4 Icons Re-Engineered - 125 years of Barbour
Page 6
Autumn, What’s on Page 10 New Openings – Rumah Birkdale Page 15 Food & Drink – Lost and Found, Knutsford Page 16 The Zeitgeist – What’s new now Page 24 Behind The Brand – Steph Douglas Page 26 Women’s Style – Autumn Edit Page 29 Kids style – Back to School Edit Page 30 Travel – 48 hours in Nice Page 34 Travel – Destination Mexico Page 36
F O U R FAT H E R H O O D I N T E R V I E W
Fatherhood Interview
Greg Rutherford From the Olympic sandpit to children’s playgrounds - world champion long jumper Greg Rutherford talks fun and fatherhood with ParentFolk
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
G
reg Rutherford has set numerous British records, won two Olympic medals and achieved so much professionally, but it his family life and kids, Milo (4) and Rex (2) that he is most proud of; “having kids is by far the best and most important thing I’ve done, sport comes second to being a dad. I wanted kids from a relatively early age and I just love being around for them. The boys are lovely and I like to think that’s a reflection of what we’re doing. I’m incredible proud of how they are shaping up. Being a dad makes you see the bigger picture, I take much more pride in my boys than I ever did in my career.” Greg retired from professional sport last year and hasn’t looked back; “I had prepared myself for retirement so the transition has been pretty easy. Two years leading up to it, I knew it was on the cards; as a professional sportsman your body takes such a pounding and I had so many various injuries that by the time I made the decision to retire, it felt like the right one. I had lots of aspirations and ideas about what I wanted to do, when it came to it, it felt good. It’s great not to worry about training every day and thinking about what I’m eating and drinking all the time. For the first time in my adult life I can relax a bit.” One of the main advantages of retirement for Greg is being around more for his kids; “They are so young and so many people have said to us you don’t get that time again. I love it when Milo slips his hand in mine and asks me to come and play with him. They are only little for such a short amount of time and before I was sometimes away for six to eight weeks at a time, so it’s great that I can be here more now.” So what kind of dad is he? “I’m definitely a hands-on dad. I’m basically the human climbing frame. We love a bit of rough and tumble and I can definitely be guilty of getting the kids over-excited. I don’t believe in this whole ‘Daddy Day-Care’ thing. They’re your kids. You’ve got to just crack on. I love being involved in every aspect, nappy changing, cooking for them, the whole lot.” As a retired sportsman, how important is it to get kids into sport? “This is an interesting one as you often see adults living vicariously through their kids, pushing the sport that they would have loved to have done. One thing I say to young sports people all the time is that you have to enjoy it. It’s so important to love it. I really recommend trying as many different sports as possible. As a parent, you might love football, but
your kid might be an amazing badminton player or a great swimmer. You don’t know until they try it. I didn’t really excel until my late teens, so for me it’s about exposing kids to lots of different sports. Being active is hugely important to us as a family and we’re always outside having fun. You have to make sure that fun is the prime part of that activity.” There is definitely a sense of fun in the Rutherford-Verrill household (Greg’s partner is instagrammer, blogger and mum influencer Susie Verrill). “It’s really important for us to have fun as a family. You’ve got to enjoy yourselves and make time for it. I’d love to think that when the kids are older I want them to look back at their childhood and think that they enjoyed every minute, that we had such a fun time and that they had such a brilliant relationship with their parents.” “Susie and I are lucky because we have the same approach to parenting, we’re a pretty good team and share the same views. I sometimes have to walk away when she’s discipling them as I can just see so much of myself in the children and find it really funny, but we put on a united front. We’re a strong unit. It’s made me realise what I put my own parents through, that’s for sure.” And what has having kids taught him? “Before having the boys, I was a professional athlete, everything was managed and scheduled. I think having kids teaches you patience and you have to learn to relax. You might be about to walk out the door and you have a massive nappy explosion. You’ve just got to ride with it.” Greg and Susie have teamed up with Haliborange to launch their “Every Parent’s A Winner” campaign. “Social media gives just a snap shot of people’s every day lives. You never get the full picture; you don’t always see what’s really going on and that can make people feel bad about themselves. I genuinely believe that 99.9% of parents are doing a wonderful job and they should be rewarded for that. We’re really open, we’ve never feared talking about the bad stuff as well as the good. It’s the little wins that can make your day- being on time or just getting out of the door. We can relate so well to it. Rex put his shoes on the right feet for the first time this morning and that just made me so proud.” And what about food and nutrition? Is it something that they place a lot of emphasis on? “We’re quite relaxed about food - I want the kids to have a healthy association with food and mealtimes, so we try to be as laid back as possible and get them to try lots of different things. We were laughing about the kinds of
“
“We’re really open, we’ve never feared talking about the bad stuff as well as the good. It’s the little wins that can make your day- being on time or just getting out of the door. We can relate so well to it.” food that our kids eat now compared to when we were growing up. I don’t think avocados were even around then. It can be stressful getting kids to eat. We have it all the time, you make the kids’ dinner and they decide they don’t want it anymore, even if they ate it the day before. We give the kids Haliborage supplements so that we don’t worry if they eat broccoli one day and not the other. It’s not dissimilar to when I was training and I would supplement my diet to make sure I was getting the best nutrition I could. It’s all about peace of mind to take away the stress and help us get on with things.” Greg Rutherford is working with Haliborange, the UK’s No 1 kids vitamin brand, on the ‘Every Parent’s a Winner’ campaign, which celebrates those everyday parenting wins. Recommended by 9 out of 10 parents, Haliborange is available from Boots supermarkets and pharmacies. For more information, visit www.haliborange.com
S I X I N D U S T RY I N T E R V I E W
125
Barbour launch Icons Re-Engineered collection for 125th Anniversary L
eading heritage and lifestyle brand, Barbour celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. A celebration of the five generations of the Barbour family who since 1894 have developed, guided and led the company from its small beginnings supplying mariners with oilskins in South Shields in the North East of England to the global lifestyle brand it is today. 125 years is a significant milestone for Barbour, celebrating the company’s longevity and
sustainability throughout the five generations. To celebrate the 125th anniversary, Barbour has launched a new collection, Icons Re-Engineered for Autumn Winter 19. Taking five key moments in Barbour’s history, jackets from the archive have been re-imagined in contemporary fits and styles. To support this new collection, Barbour has recreated an archive image of a ‘Cheers’ shot from the 2001/2002 catalogue. The 2019 ‘Cheers’ shot, filmed in Richmond Park, London was made up of ten Barbour wearers
Shop the collection www.barbour.com
who all have their own personal relationship with the brand, all in Icons Re-Engineered jackets from the collection. Paul Wilkinson, Global Marketing and Commercial Director said “It was great to bring together ten different friends of the brand to recreate the ‘Cheers’ shot which we found from our archive. Each person has their own individual, authentic relationship with Barbour and it’s great to see so many different personalities embracing the ‘Barbour Way of Life’.
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
INTERNATIONAL POLARQUILT RRP £229 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
EDITH BOWMAN HAYDON WAX £279 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
LINER RRP £89.95 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
LADY JANE GLOVES RRP £52.95 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
JB GILL BEACON WAX RRP £339 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
CHAD McQUEEN WAX JACKET RRP £319 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
HAYDON WAX RRP £279 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
WAX TARRAS BAG RRP £135 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
LAURA WRIGHT LIDDESDALE QUILT RRP £189 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
LINER RRP £89.95 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
TEMPEST WELLINGTON BOOT RRP £99.95 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
BEACON SPORTS WAX RRP £399 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
BEN FOGLE LIDDESDALE QUILT RRP £149 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
DURHAM JACKET RRP £299 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
LAMBSWOOL TARTAN SCARF RRP £29.95 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
LAWRENCE DALLAGIO BEDALE WAX £299 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
BETTY INTERACTIVE LINER RRP £119 AVAILABLE ON BARBOUR.COM
NINE FOOD & DRINK
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
Behind Closed Doors:
Dhuma, Wirral A
new Indian Restaurant is coming to The Wirral and we have been given exclusive access as they head towards launch date. An artist is hard at work inside as we chat to owner Mahfuz Rahman about the developments and the ambitious plans for the new independent. “Well, we have put together a team who we really believe are destined for great things. Combined, we have
too many years to mention in the hospitality industry!” He laughs. “We are far from old - we just started out young! And now, from award winning restaurateurs, international chefs and highly trained, vastly experienced front of house team.... we believe we have a special team here.” Head Chef Salam Abdul has been brought up from London where he has worked at the high end restaurants of Mayfair, Notting Hill
and Fulham - including a stint with none other than Gordon Ramsay. “I have worked with a lot of amazing chefs all over the world.” He says. “Just because someone is of high profile, it doesn’t mean they are better than others. I have worked in a wide range of restaurants cooking all different types of cuisines. My style of cooking is rather unique and the ideas that Sam has for Dhuma matched my own ambition, so we can’t wait to get started.”
Dhuma will not only be home to top quality Indian cuisine with tantalising signature dishes created from scratch - but the team will also have a number of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free dishes available. Everyone catered for in relation to food - as well as a thoughtfully created cocktail menu on offer. A number of flavoured gins and a variety of gin serves with fresh fruit and edible flowers will also be on the list. In terms of beer, expect the
usual Kingfisher/Cobra Indian Lager as well as locally brewed Love Lane IPA. All in all, very much something to look forward to, coming soon to The Wirral. Keep an eye on Dhuma’s social media for updates, job opportunities, news and a chance to win tickets to their exclusive VIP launch party. www.dhuma.co.uk
TEN OUT & ABOUT
&
Out about BRICKLIVE comes to Livepool Friday 25th October- Sunday 27th October Exhibition Centre Liverpool.
The UK’s largest interactive brick-filled exhibition comes to Liverpool in October. Families will be able to access more than 2 million bricks, exclusive digital content and life-sized professionally built statues. BRICKLIVE is a truly unique experience for children and adults alike. The event is bursting with awe-inspiring models from British history, the world’s most iconic buildings and epic fantasy creations. Visitors can enjoy detailed models such as an 8m long Flying Scotsman, a fire breathing dragon and even a scale replica of the Great Pyramid of Giza. There will also be a full range of interactive features to keep the whole family entertained for hours, including a galactic adventure zone, featuring Star Wars themed bricks to build your own spacecraft. Additionally there are Minecraft and Xbox gaming tables, racing ramps, selfie stations and giant brick pits each containing over 250,000 LEGO® bricks. Alongside these amazing models will be a full range of interactive features to keep the whole family entertained for hours. Friday 25 October: 2pm to 5.30pm Saturday 26 October: 10am to 1.30pm | 2pm to 5.30pm Sunday 27 October: 10am to 1.30pm | 2pm to 5.30pm
Halloween arrives at SEA LIFE MANCHESTER 12th October – 3rd November This Halloween, dive into the deep at SEA LIFE Manchester and discover some spooky creatures beneath the waves.Help the Sea Witch locate the missing ingredients to cast her spell and claim your reward! Visit the Ascarium from 12th Oct – 3rd Nov. www.visitsealife.com/manchester
Fangtastic Halloween fun at Vampire Pleasure Beach 12th October - 31st October Gather your squad ghouls and dare to enter Blackpool Pleasure Beach for hair-raising and spell-binding Halloween experiences, as the park transforms into Vampire Pleasure Beach, hosting several un-boo-lievable activities for all ages to enjoy. With wristbands starting at a wicked £23 per person, there’s something spooky for all Halloween lovers at Vampire Pleasure Beach; spot Lougarock the Werewolf roaming around, if you’re unlucky. Visit Creepy Hollow in Planet Rock and get up close and personal with all kinds of crawlies. Visitors can also have a go at carving their very own pumpkin to take home. Get the party startled on Saturday 26th October as Blackpool Pleasure Beach opens its gates until 10pm for the Halloween Late Night Riding &
Fireworks event, providing a spine-chilling visit whilst transforming into a ghastly place. Join the hordes of zombies and vampires, goblins and ghouls partying in the park to live music around the FY4 area and the Spooktacular Dancing Fountains. The skele-fun is then followed by a hair-raising evening of late-night riding and an amazing firework display at 10pm. For those intrigued by things that go bump in the night, late night lovers can take a trip on the Journey To Hell – Freak Nights, where only the brave will survive. Dare to enter the park after dark and spend the evening with those who are simply ‘dying’ to meet you. Scream Screen, the frighteningly good drive-in cinema is a wicked experience, not to be missed. Watch
a Halloween movie under the moonlight whilst defying the silence of the night. Visitors can enjoy snacks and drinks, and the film might not be the only thing making guests jump! The event is adults only (18+) and will run from the 27th October to 31st October. For little monsters, things get spooky down at Nickelodeon Land. Visitors can join Team Nick in this year’s, Nick Or Treat. Dress up and join the fearsome fun, with freaky face painting guaranteed to provide a terribly good makeover. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is offering a delightful, yet frightful Halloween that caters for all ages. Wristbands are priced from £23 per person and are available online at www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
5TEEN FOOD & DRINK
R
Southeast Asian dining and cocktails, bring a taste of Indonesia to Birkdale village
Rumah Bar & Kitchen, 51 Weld Road, Birkdale, PR8 2HG Facebook: @Rumah Instagram @rumahbirkdale www.rumahbirkdale.co.uk
umah Bar & Kitchen is the brainchild of owners Lynsey and Ian Smith who fell in love with the Indonesian island of Bali on their travels. They’ve worked with creative interior, food and drink experts to bring the chic designs, adventurous tastes and stunning aromas from Bali to this new venture. Head chef Troy Amador grew up on the Indonesian border and has worked extensively in the country. He developed Rumah’s lunch and dinner menus during a special two month research trip. Speaking about his influences, Troy Amador said: “As I grew up in a developing country my diet was amazing - flavoursome and varied with spices and zesty flavours put together with a lot of rice. But it was the care and attention to preparing those ingredients that stands out most and it is what has been instilled in me as a chef. I am preparing the food that I’ve always eaten and prepared in Bali - the small plates, spicy salads and traditional dishes - with a modern twist. Plus there is obviously a bit of rice!” Rumah has an extensive drinks menu with fine wines from Europe, America and
New Zealand. While the cocktails are inspired using flavours discovered centuries ago during the first spice trades between Asia, Africa and Europe. With aromas of tea, grain, rice, spice and sugar cane there really is something for everyone. ‘Rumah’ translates to home in Indonesian, and designer Chris Naughton from Sheila Bird has created a space that is welcoming and homely together with the vibrant colours and textures of Indonesia. With a contemporary interior, spacious dining terrace and outdoor courtyard. Rumah offers different zones and spaces for adults, families, children - and dogs. Lynsey Smith said: “Rumah has taken us years to develop. My husband and I fell in love with the beautiful island of Bali years ago. It’s so enchanting, with restaurants full of fresh and tasty food served with warmth and unsurpassed hospitality. We knew we wanted to try and recreate a little bit of Bali here. We can’t wait to welcome people from Birkdale and afar to have a quiet daytime coffee, a lunch with friends or an evening cocktail.” Cheers - or as they say in Bali - tepuk tangan!”
6TEEN FOOD & DRINK
Hidden Gem
THE LOST AND FOUND KNUTSFORD U
nlock the secrets of this beautiful Victorian hideaway and discover an avant-garde, all-day bar and restaurant. Recalling the glamour of bygone eras, where enjoying great food and drink with old and new friends in the comfort of beautiful surroundings was the order of the day.
A Little Decadence
From the designer of the Natural History Museum Alfred Waterhouse, step through the arching gothic doors of this Grade II listed former town hall and into the sweeping bar and restaurant, filled with ethereal artefacts from the world of mythological Victorian Professor Emily B. Kingsley; expert in the study of butterflies. Intricately printed wallpapers with scenes of nature and Lepidoptera, hanging floral arrangements and vintage pendant lights create a sense of mystery in this elaborate drinking den and restaurant. Ascend the ‘Shhh’ topped staircase and enter The Board Room, the perfect place for a friends and family intimate celebration, or for your next business lunch. Or take a left and push aside the portrait of Emily, to slip away into a hidden bar where secrets are shared over sultry sips of carefully crafted cocktails. Rumour has it there are bookcases lined with the good Professor’s teachings, and plenty of chest tables decorated with tea lights that create an air of mystery.
Stunning Sips
Infused spirits and homemade concoctions are mixed, muddled and beautifully served by the city’s most creative mixologists. Sip your way through the extensive list of tipples all created by an expertly trained bar team, including a collection of signature ‘Lost’ cocktails, celebrating twists on forgotten drinks of the past. Delight in the Pina Caledonia reminiscent of the classic Pina Colada. Or, sip on one of the ‘Professor Cocktails’ such as the Picture Perfect – an indulgent blend of Absolut Pear Vodka, Licor 43, lemon juice, almond syrup and apple juice, garnished with a personalised polaroid picture. ‘Found’ cocktails bring added decadence to our most-loved
concoctions including The Honey Bee with honeycomb infused Absolut Citron Vodka, St Germain Elderflower Liqueur, limoncello, orange and lemon juice and Ms. Better’s botanical foamer. Can’t decide which poison to drink? From sweet to dry, or strong to light, navigate the ‘Taste map’ to find your signature sip or join Emily’s cocktail club every Sunday to Friday from 5pm-8pm and enjoy your ‘Found’ cocktail for £5, as well as selected draught pints and glasses of wine for £3.50.
And to eat…
Sit beneath the impressive vaulted ceilings and draped lighting while savouring an eclectic menu ranging from the classic to the contemporary. Come lunch or dinner, choose sensational starters such as crispy duck salad with shredded vegetables and hoisin dressing or smoked Scottish salmon on a warm potato cake with horseradish crème fraiche. Hearty mains include roast chicken breast with torn buffalo Mozarella and crispy prosciutto with fondant potato and a tomato and basil sauce or coconut, sweet potato and butternut squash curry with sticky jasmine rice. Steak fans can enjoy a wide array of charcoal oven steaks handpicked from the finest beef producers. Choose from 8oz matured British cuts of rump or sirloin, or opt for a 12oz Argentinian Ribeye. A 16oz tender chateaubriand is ideal for sharing with lashings of peppercorn or béarnaise sauce. Modern must-have sourdough pizzas come adorned with every topping imaginable, including peppadew peppers, Iberico chorizo, beef ragu and spicy ‘Nduja to name a few, before being cooked to perfection at 350 degrees in the wood fired oven. Relax in style with The Lost & Found’s Sunday Roast collection. Choose from British sirloin, roast half chicken with sage and apricot stuffing and cauliflower rarebit, all served with garlic roast potatoes, thyme roasted purple carrots, butternut squash, candy beetroot, shallots and a Yorkshire pudding with rich gravy. Decadent cocktails, delicious food and hidden nooks... discover Knutsford’s favourite secret.
www.the-lostandfound.co.uk/restaurant/knutsford
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
menu favourites
8TEEN FOOD & DRINK This popular dish is currently available on the White Horse, Chester, main Menu. Chef Jamie has been inundated with requests for the recipe since it was launched on the menu. Try your hand at this delicious family meal.
Crispy katsu chicken Served with stir fried Asian vegetables, sticky rice and katsu sauce SERVES: 4
INGREDIENTS To create the crispy chicken 4 Chicken Breasts 150g plain flour, for dredging 150g bread crumbs 2 large eggs, beaten For the katsu sauce 1 tbsp Curry Powder 1 tbsp Madras Paste 2 Garlic Cloves 1 tbsp Cumin 1tbsp Coriander
2 White Onions 2 tins of Coconut Milk 300g Basmati Rice For the sir fried Asian vegetables 1 Red Pepper, sliced 1 Green Pepper, sliced 1 Yellow Pepper, sliced 1 Onion, sliced 1 Courgette, finely sliced 1 Carrot, grated
METHOD
Pre-heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Using the flat side of a meat-pounder/rolling pin, pound each chicken breast to equal thickness. Put the flour, eggs, and the bread crumbs separately in 3 dishes. Pat the chicken dry and season. Dip each breast into the flour, then shake off the excess. Next, coat the breast through the egg. Finally, lay the chicken in the bread crumbs, turn it over and press it into the breading to coat. Lay on a piece of waxed paper. Shallow fry chicken breasts smooth-side down in the pan.
Cook the chicken for about 2 minutes without turning until beginning to brown. Put all the katsu sauce ingredients in a pan and bring to the boil, allow this to simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer chicken to a paper towel to drain. Place chicken into the oven and bake for 20- 25 minutes, until firm. Season the rice and bring to the boil, cook until sticky. Blend the katsu sauce until smooth, keep on a low heat until serving. Pan fry all the stir fry Asian vegetables together. Serve.
Introducing the next generation of bar Duke Street Food & Drink Market launch first bar in the North West to be fully ‘lab operated’ Duke Street Food & Drink Market has unveiled pioneering bar, which aims to cut down on waste by 70%, as well as improving consistency and customer experience. Waste is a hot topic at the moment with the latest statistics* from WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) stating that one million tonnes of food prepared in the hospitality & food service sector is thrown away each year, totalling a huge £2.9million. Keen to address the situation, Duke Street Food & Drink Market has opened their mezzanine level bar with news that it is to be operated from a centralised ‘lab’. Thought to be the first of its kind in the North West, the Lab will produce batches of spirits, bitters and liqueurs to ensure quicker service and consistency. In turn, this reduces waste and improves stock control so that perishable ingredients aren’t ordered until necessary. Co-founder of Duke Street
Market, John Ennis, Director of Graffiti Spirits Group, comments: “The Graffiti Spirits Group Lab has been a long time in the making and we’re so pleased that we’re finally ready to launch at Duke Street Market. The main aim of the Lab is to make the drinks more efficient for service, the guest and environment. With the hospitality industry being one of the worst offenders for wastage, we’ve long been interested in minimising waste across the business and the Lab will reduce it by around 70%, as well as ensuring that the ‘perfect cocktail’ is delivered time and time again. “The development of the bar menu for Duke Street Market was carried out over the course of six months, but some drinks have been years in the making. The preservation of ingredients and how to make the most out of them has long been part of our heritage in the UK, with jam being a prime example. With the Lab initiative we’ve taken this one step further to ensure we still have
the fresh taste rather than a stewed fruit flavour. Other techniques we’re trying out in the Lab include sous vide cooking, carbonation, freeze distilling, filtration and pressurised batching to serve our guests the best possible drink at Duke Street Market.” So, will guests notice anything different when visiting the Duke Street Market bar? John continues: “As well as reducing our environmental impact, the main aim of the bar is to serve our guests a really great drink. Our lab will produce batches of ingredients; from citrus (simulated lemon or lime juice) to crystal clear ice. The guests will notice a fresh clean taste with all the cocktails served on the island bar and non-complicated serves. Not only will they be the best cocktails you’ve ever had, the queue times will be reduced too so it’s win win.” Find the bar at 46, Duke Street, Liverpool L1 0NA. For more information, follow @ dukestreetmarket on Instagram or visit www.dukestreetmarket.co.uk.
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
TWENT Y LITTLEFOLK
G
athering inspiration from French flea markets and antique fashion finds, FAUNE is fast gaining cult status for its delicate vintage-style design.
Indian summer vibes
Originally designed as a nightwear collection, the pure cotton pieces are perfect for both sleepy nights and playful days. The ethicallysourced collection offers Victorian
shapes, dreamy colour palates and traditional detailing. FAUNE was founded by friends Nicola and Delia when they realised pure cotton children’s nightwear had
become a thing of the past; ‘We wanted to return to timeless cotton nightwear with beautiful traditional detailing, cut at a longer length and in a looser fit to last more than
one season. It can and should be lovingly passed on to become a keepsake item.’ www.faune.co.uk
TWENT Y6 BEHIND THE BRAND
Behind the brand
Don’t Buy Her Flowers On the eve of its fifth anniversary, founder Steph Douglas tells ParentFolk how she built her business from scratch and what she’s learnt along the way
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
myself that everything is looking really good. We’re entering a really exciting phase.
How did the idea for Don’t Buy Her Flowers come about? When I had my first baby I received eight beautiful and well-meant bouquets, and as I sat on the sofa feeling weepy and overwhelmed it struck me as bonkers that the go-to gift for new mums was another thing to care for, when you’re doing more caring than you’ve ever done in your life. When friends had babies I then would send them a magazine and some chocolate - nothing fancy, but something that was for them, along with a message telling them it would be ok and they were brilliant. Their response was always so emotional, far more than a couple of bits in a jiffy bag warranted, but it showed me that someone reaching out when you might be feeling rubbish meant a lot. We’ve now grown to cover lots of occasions, from new mums to get well and birthday and any occasion when someone needs some TLC. How quickly did you go from the idea to starting the business? I had the idea when Buster was born in 2010 and didn’t start the business until four years later! I think it’s important to stress, especially for people with small children, that there is no harm in going back to your old job and quietly plotting in the background. The security of a salary and also the familiar can feel really good when you’ve got small children and everything has been thrown up in the air a bit. A few years in, I just couldn’t shake the idea and simultaneously was thinking ‘how the hell is trekking in to London going to work when the kids start school’ and starting my own thing started to feel like it might be a better option. Starting a business felt so massive, so I actually launched a blog first, writing about motherhood and relationships. If people related to that, then I knew there was something in the idea. Posts started going viral and that gave me the confidence to quit my job. Thinking back to those early days, what did you find the hardest thing about getting your business off the ground? Feeling that there was SO much to do and I was so focused on all the things I hadn’t done yet, it was exhausting. I’ve learned that you’re never going to be ‘done’ in business so you’ve got to stop and reflect on what you have achieved or you’ll burn out. Is the business you have today the same as the one you imagined you’d have at the start? The core idea of thoughtful gifts is the same, and the whole team see that as our focus. Whether that’s in products that encourage the recipient to take a bit of time for themselves, our extra helpful customer services, the fact our packaging is recyclable
How do you manage the parenting/ work juggle? Hmmm… some weeks I feel like I’m doing brilliantly and others everyone is crying, nothing is getting done and the milk has gone off! It’s hard and no one has it down, even if they look like they have. My youngest seems to catch at least one bug a month and be off nursery, which throws everything up in the air, but the thing I seem to be getting better at (some of the time!) is taking a deep breath and accepting it. Having a young family and working is hard. But it’s even harder if you spend the little energy you do have beating yourself up for not doing it well. What advice would you give to someone who’s wanting to start their own business? Stay focused and don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. It’s wasted energy that you can be pouring in to pushing along your own path. And don’t try and do everything you did before and run a business on top - getting something off the ground is hard work and you might need to sack off your social life, lower standards at home and eat cereal for tea and that is all ok. - we’re very clear on who we are and how we want people to feel. The biggest difference is that we started out as gifts for new mums and now we cover so many occasions, and we’re really growing our Corporate & Workplace gifting offer, all with thoughtfulness at the centre. What’s been the best piece of advice you’ve been given during your business journey? Ben Jones, one of the founders of Graze.com, said ‘when you’re 70% sure of something, go for it’. A lot of us hold back waiting for things to be perfect, but it’s unlikely to be perfect at the beginning and I’ve found you learn a lot from getting things in front of customers. No successful brand ever started with their final product - you need to have somewhere to take your product or service. You’ve now got a team working for you - what’s the best and worst thing about having staff? I love that there are other people responsible for getting things done as it was all on me for those early years and it’s a lot of plates to spin. The worst is probably just the responsibility I feel - it’s not just bad for me if it doesn’t work out now, people have left jobs to work with us and they have bills to pay! But we’ve nearly five years of growing month on month so I just need to remind
What have been the best resources for you on your business journey? I really enjoy business podcasts How I Built This, Conversations of Inspiration with Holly Tucker and Rethinking Business with Piers Linney. Hearing people talk about the early years is always a reminder that no one just rocks up with a multi-million pound business in a few months! It’s great to learn from other people too. What does the future hold for DBHF? Where will you be in another five years? We’re in a really exciting period of growth - in terms of the size of the business, a new bigger warehouse and building a team - so I feel like we’re just hitting our stride! The thing with Don’t Buy Her Flowers is that there is so much potential - so many ideas I’ve got but not had time to fully explore, customers such as corporate that we know are interested because they’ve come to us but we’ve not promoted to. Having a team means we’re starting to tackle all that, as well as improve our service, from packaging to delivery times, so it’s only going to get better! www.dontbuyherflowers.com
THIRT Y LITTLEFOLK STYLE
A class act
Back to school with NEXT
LEFT: White 2 Pack Three Quarter Sleeve Blouse (3-16yrs) £9 - £14. Skater Skirt (3-16yrs) £6 - £11 RIGHT: Chunky Brogues (Older) £32 - £41 White 2 Pack Ruffle Socks £3 - £4 All items available from www.next.co.uk
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
TOP: 2 Pack Poloshirts Blue, Red, Yellow and White (3-16yrs) £6 - £11 BTM: Knitted V-Neck Jumper (3-16yrs) £8 - £13 All items available from www.next.co.uk
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
THIRT Y2 LITTLEFOLK STYLE
MAIN IMAGE: Jersey Pinafore Dress (3-14yrs) £9 - £14. Navy Shower Resistant Long Narrow Channel Padded Jacket (3-16yrs) £26 - £32 TOP RIGHT IMAGE: Shower Resistant Parka (3-16yrs) £34 - £40 BTM RIGHT IMAGE: Shower Resistant Anorak (3-16yrs) £28 - £34 All items available from www.next.co.uk
1.
9.
11. 10. 12. 2.
GET YOUR SPOOK ON
8.
Throw a be-witching party with the new Halloween collection from Meri Meri www.merimeri.co.uk
6.
3.
7.
4.
5. 1. Giant Skeleton Decorations £12.50 2. Witch: Halloween Character Large Plates £5.75 (pack of 12 in 4 designs) 3. Cobweb Tutu and Headband £50 (Set of two) 4. Skull Zip Pouch £15 5. Luna Witch Doll £53 6. Black Cat backpack £19.50 7. Halloween Cape Dress Up set £36 (includes cape and wand) 8. Bat Cups £6.75 9. Pumkin: Halloween Character Large Plates £5.75 (pack of 12 in 4 designs) 10. The witch is a witch hat hair clip £5.50 11. Silver wand - part of a set with item 6 12. Black Feather Crown £12.50
T H I R T Y 4 T R AV E L
Weekend
48 Hours in Nice (without the kids) WORDS BY NICOLA SPINDLER
W
hen I was in my 20’s I couldn’t wait to be a mummy! Some years and four kids later, it’s fulfilled me in ways I didn’t know possible, it’s a challenge, a rollercoaster and no two days are ever the same. Being a mother has made me look at the world differently, made me more compassionate, more resilient, but let’s be honest way more tired. So as much as love my brood, the opportunities for a weekend of ‘just me and him’ are far and few between and if presented are grabbed with both hands! If the stars align and there’s a chance to get away for a weekend then you’ll want to maximise those precious hours, which is why Nice in the South of France has always been one of our favourite go to weekend
destinations. Travel with hand luggage and you can find yourself from the runway to poolside within the hour (yes we timed it!) Unlike previous trips where we have stayed in boutique hotels in the Old town, we opted for a stay at the recently refurbished Radisson Blu, on the Promenade des Anglais. Just a 7 min taxi ride from Nice Cote d’Azur Airport, this modern welcoming property sits in prime position with sea views, a rooftop pool and a private beach.
Rooms
With 331 rooms, all upgraded in 2018, the Radisson Blu Nice, offers a chic and modern stay. Rooms are stylish and contemporary in design, dressed in natural tones with grey and blue accents, providing a
calming and fresh feel to the space. With smart TV’s, coffee makers, and Radisson Blu brand’s signature fast and free wifi everything is on hand for a relaxing stay.
Beach Club
It’s easy to laze the day away at the hotel’s private Beach Club. Booking ahead is recommended especially during peak season, it’s a popular place with locals as well as guests. There’s a cool vibe here with laid back beats, a delicious menu and waiter service direct to your lounger.
Where to Dine
Dinner with a view? Then it has to be Calade rooftop restaurant. Specialising in local seasonal fresh ingredients served in an intimate setting, Calade is place you won’t
forget. With the largest panoramic terrace in Nice, you’ll be blown away by the exceptional views before you even take your seats. Dinner is served until 10.30pm daily, booking recommended.
Close By
The hotel is right on the popular Promenade des Anglais. Walk down the palm tree lined promenade, take in the sights and savour the eclectic atmosphere. Head to the Old Town (5 minute taxi ride from the hotel), stroll the Cours Saleya Flower Market and browse the delicious food stalls and the locally made crafts. Sit in one of the many cafés in the squares and enjoy a coffee as you watch the world go by, in the evening the same sleepy cafes come alive with music, food and an
international clientele. The Radisson Blu is a great base to explore Nice and the surrounding area, but more than this the hotel facilities including rooftop pool, gym, bar, restaurants and beach club make for a relaxing and enjoyable stay. With first class service and plenty of attention to detail you’ll return home rested and refreshed and more than ready for the school run. Radisson Blu Nice offers accommodation on a B&B basis from £248 per room per night. For reservations visit www.radissonblu.com
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
T H I R T Y 6 T R AV E L
W
hen you think of holidaying in Mexico, it’s more than likely that the well-known destinations of Tulum and Cancun spring to mind. But with an annual average temperature of 25º C and over 330 days of uninterrupted sunshine each year, Mexico’s Pacific Coast offers an exciting year-round family holiday destination. Just in case you need a bit more persuading, here are some great reason to visit Puerto Vallarta in the state of Jalisco and Riviera Nayarit, in the state of Nayarit:
Arriba Arriba, put Mexico’s Pacific Coast on your family bucket list
A Natural Playground Thanks to a thriving, diverse ecosystem, a real-life national geographic experience awaits you. Different seasons bring different animals but there are many beautiful spots that can be explored at any time of the year. Tours to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Islas Marietas in Riviera Nayarit, including a beautiful hidden beach, and a visit to El Salado Estuary in Puerto Vallarta, a protected natural area of 169 hectares with crocs and hundreds of bird species are two of the best. Discover Marine Life Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit’s rich marine life is a real treat for families. Aside from snorkelling and diving, you can get up close to sea animals with a variety of excursions. You can visit dolphins in their natural environment and participate in a research project that helps to understand and protect dolphins in the region. There’s also the opportunity to see baby sea turtles at Riviera Nayarit, which has leading turtle programmes with farms dedicated to harvesting, hatching and releasing them. A Variety of Events every Month In both Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit you’ll find many different kinds of events taking place each month. Lively Independence Day celebrations take place in September whilst the colourful Day of the Dead and International Gourmet Festivals are held in November. The rest of the year you’ll find many celebrations happening in the smaller towns as
well as a variety of sports events, including El Día Nacional del Charro - Charro Day in Puerto Vallarta and the Polo Cup, in Sayulita, Riviera Nayarit. Paradise Beaches Beaches in Mexico’s Pacific Coast are sure to never disappoint and make a great base for a family holiday. Enjoy an amazing excursion to the Majahuitas or Yelapa beach in Puerto Vallarta, full of restaurants, bars and activities, then relax the following day in Riviera Nayarit’s Lo de Marcos, a serene town with one of very few remaining untouched beaches. Vibrant Arts & Culture Mexico’s Pacific Coast puts on a vibrant art show all year round. The art scene is graced by many national and international artists, sculptors and musicians and there are plenty of galleries and shows, many of which are family-friendly. In Puerto Vallarta, you can see various sculptures and paintings along El Malecon. Whilst in San Pancho, the cultural heart of Riviera Nayarit, you can enjoy local cultural events at the Community Centre, an Arts Collective and a flourishing local music scene. Colourful Snorkelling & Diving Snorkelling and diving are great activities at all times of the year and the water is wonderfully warm and waves are fairly calm all year round. From December to February you are more likely to encounter manta rays and dolphins in the wild, whilst the water is at its warmest and visibility is clearest from June to October. King of The Jungle One of the Pacific Coast’s biggest attractions is the lush jungle. Home to hundreds of colourful birds, exotic plants and crocodile-filled lagoons, these protected areas make for an exciting adventure for the whole family. If you’re looking for a real thrill, you can explore the jungle via zip lines – Puerto Vallarta is home to Mexico’s longest and fastest zip line. www.visitpuertovallarta.com www.rivieranayarit.com
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
F O R T Y I N D U S T RY I N T E R V I E W
My Moozik Newton Faulkner’s latest musical venture is the launch of My Moozik, designed to bridge the gap between nursery rhymes and inappropriate pop music. ParentFolk caught up with Newton and some of his My Moozik crew, his brother Toby and manger-sister Lottie to find out more. Congratulations on the launch of My Moozik. Can you tell us what it is and why you wanted to launch it? Lottie - Thank you, we’re so excited that we can finally talk about it all. My Moozik is a brand new musical venture by The Faulkner Family, our first product is an Album called ‘My Day’ that comes with an illustrated lyric book. We have always talked about wanting to do something creative with our Dad, Keith Faulkner who has written & produced children’s books for over 50 years. You may have heard of the
Wide Mouthed Frog… that’s one of his. Since Newton had a son, we’ve all felt that there seems to be a real lack of proper music out there for kids and it felt like the right time now, after Newton’s Best Of Album to do something a bit different next. Who’s involved in it? Lottie - We really tried to create a dream team on this project and bring in some great friends as well as family. So, on the music front we have Newton, Toby and our friend Jimmy Sims, who have written,
recorded and produced all the songs. We have the brilliant engineer, Mark Allaway, who has worked with us on Newton’s albums for years and John Davis, who mastered the recordings over at Metropolis, a total music legend. Art & Design for the book, we have Philip Horton who’s worked in children’s illustration for many years. Dad and I worked closely on the production & editorial side of things and I helped to A&R the record, plus project manage the whole thing. We’re all used to working together as a family, but this was a particularly fun project
for us all. How did the idea come about? Lottie - Newton and Toby had been churning out albums for 10 years, so after The Best Of we had time to take a moment. I think Dad and I were having a coffee and a chat about how it felt like there was a gap in the market for pop music that was lyrically designed for kids. We all see that they love the sound of pop but some of it is so inappropriate and as they hit 5/6/7 nursery rhymes just aren’t enough anymore. The boys
have always been brilliant at writing sillier songs too...UFO, She’s Got The time & Professional Dog food Taster... to name a few. The album explores themes to help kids and their development, how did you approach this? Toby - Mainly by trying to incorporate positive messages, especially with the typically trickier parts of the day like meal times, cleaning your teeth and bedtime etc Lottie - We also spoke to a child
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK psychologist, to make sure we were doing things right. Music is such a positive way to engage children and help them learn, from the age of four they get much better at detecting basic features of music, which is why nursery rhymes start to become a bit boring for them. Newton- I very much drew from the things I’m trying to pass on to my son and some of the things he’s found difficult growing up. He’s eight now so there was a lot choose from. I’ve asked what he takes away from the lyrics of the more morally driven songs and messages seem to translate really well. How difficult was it to come up with something that kids and parents both like? Was there a long creative process or was it easy? Toby - It’s definitely a fine line to tread, but I think the key for me was to not treat kids like they’re stupid. Newton -When listening to My Day for the first time, we didn’t really want people to know straight away that it was specifically for kids until the lyrics kicked in. I think nods to Randy Newman, The Beatles, The Specials, Steppenwolf, OutKast and Justin Bieber have helped parents get on board too. Lottie - When A&R’ing ‘My Day’, I tried to keep my Battenberg Records hat on and treat it very much like a contemporary pop album. We wanted to put the same amount of time & care into this album as any other album we’ve made. Your music is a really family affair - what’s the secret to working with your siblings? Toby - The great thing about working with family is that we all really care about the projects and each other. We’re brutally honest and that can lead to some friction but ultimately we know we’re all on the same team and just want to create something we’re all proud of. Lottie - We’ve all been working together for a long time now, over ten years. So we’ve found our groove; our parents put in a great foundation for us all to be friends as
well as brothers and sisters, without the friendships I think we’d struggle sometimes. Newton - Working as a family has its pros and cons but luckily for us, the pros massively out way the cons. Yes, there is a level of honesty that is treacherous to say to least, but having a manager that cares about me as a human being and not just a product and a co-writer who occasionally forces me to write songs on my own for my own development is truly invaluable. And what’s the feedback from the younger generation in your family to My Moozik? Newton - My son’s been cleaning his teeth to ‘Shiny and Bright’ since the first demo, his disco dancing has dramatically improved as a result. All the kids we’ve played stuff to have really got into it. His favourite at the moment ‘Physical Education’ Lottie - Jimmy also has two little girls, who have been great critics and are even backing singers in a couple of songs. What kind of music do you play to your son, Newton? Newton - Literally everything. His favourite song a few years ago was by an Asian band called Hanggai. He loves Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, we ate with classical music in the background last night but, his favourite artist is obviously me, I mean Elton John. How important do you think music is for kids? How can we encourage a life-long love of music? Toby - Music is super important for kids, as it can shape your whole world view and give you sense of belonging. Lottie - We made sure in the album that we showed as many different genres of music as we could get it. So you can rap your way through breakfast, rock’n’roll on down to school and get your sea-shanty on at bath time. Newton - I think one of most important things is letting them
make decisions about what music they like. That way, it becomes part of who they are and not just stuff they are forced to listen to and have no control over. How much is your music influenced by your family-life? Toby - Our passion for music was passed down from our parents so a lot of my musical influences come from the records they had. Like the Kinks, Beatles, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Neil Young, Bob Dylan etc Lottie - Music was always a huge part of our lives, the first gig I ever went too was The Eagles at Wembley Stadium when I was 5. I still remember my mum singing along to ‘Desperado’ with tears streaming down her face.
Newton - Hugely! From both ends of the spectrum. My parents ignited my love for music with their record collection, as Toby mentioned, but also having your heart hijacked by parenthood is a massive source of inspiration.
Lottie - Back then, our Dad’s office was in the barn next door to our house, so everyday we’d come back from school and be surrounded by creative people, writing, illustrating and making kids books. It was a really great time.
You guys grew up in Reigate -what are your memories of your childhood there?
Newton - My two favourite memories of growing up are listening to conversations in my dad’s office which regularly contain phrases like “Ok, well in that case, we are just going to have to cut the giraffe’s legs off ” and smirking and rolling my tiny eyes while I did my homework and my mum singing the Circle Game by Joni Mitchell to me.
Toby - Reigate was a great place to grow up, tobogganing in Priory Park, the old school sweet shop on our road. Mr and Mrs Ransom next door. Recording the top 40 on cassette. Neon clothing and skateboarding, cuts and bruises, learning to ride a bike, my blue and yellow Raleigh Burner. Classic 80’s childhood.
The My Moozik album My Day is available from October 21st. It is available to pre-order at www.mymoozik.com
F O R T Y 2 E V E N TS
A weekend of sunshine at the White Oak UK Polo Series
A
lively two-day polo tournament, sponsored by White Oak UK for a sixth consecutive year, took place across Friday 6 and Saturday 7 September at the home of Chester Polo Club, Chester Racecourse. 1000 people enjoyed four matches with a total of 16 chukkas, including the opportunity to hunt for the silver cork during the half-time divot stomp. Four teams battled it out to achieve top spot in the tournament and take the coveted trophy, with team Laurent-Perrier scoring top. Title sponsored team White Oak UK took the runner up prize, whilst Arbuthnot Latham and Partner Tech finished third and fourth consecutively. In addition to the action on the pitch, a new format to the Saturday for families saw ParentFolk+ Family take over the family area. There was an abundance of activities for youngsters to get involved in, from
slime workshops with Slime for Fun, to a pamper bar by Mini Madams, toddler play with Ginger Monkey Play and creative craft workshops with Square Pegs. Activities were not just for children, ParentFolk’s resident DJ, DJ Goldtash, played live sets throughout the afternoon in the delectable Laurent-Perrier Champagne garden, bringing a festival feel, pitch side. Many took advantage of the pamper touch-ups in “The Silver Bullet” Harvey Nichols’ Marc Jacobs Beauty pop up. Those brave enough were able to participate in a daring Land Rover Experience, an off-road activation situated close to the pitch and representatives from Inchcape Jaguar Land Rover showcased their very best showroom models throughout the tournament. Spectators were welcomed to take a front row seat to the action in the latest luxury of a Jaguar, Land Rover or a Range Rover.
Delicious street food from indie pop up eateries such The Big Dub of Love, Burger Joe’s, Little Rasco and Forza Pizza Bar kept the crowds full throughout the afternoon and Hyacinth Icecream provided a treat for those with a sweet tooth. Black lodge Brewery, The Gin Joint and Two brother’s coffee provided refreshments. The pop-up shopping village showcased their unique brands, including Rockaway Toys, Smudge Kids, Bear Four Studio, Spencer’s Friends and The Little Outfitters showcasing their latest collections. Nicola Spindler, Founder of ParentFolk commented: “We were so pleased to be working in collaboration with Chester Polo Club for the White Oak UK Polo Series this year, it’s a brilliant day out for families and really captures the imagination of the youngsters. We have the perfect balance of live polo and activities between chukkas, we’re already looking forward to
next year!” The pitch-side hospitality marquee proved popular with the corporate crowd, selling out on both days to clients or friends and family with an occasion to celebrate. Chester Race Company’s own catering and events business; Horseradish, delivered outstanding catering within the new-look marquee. Style was a key focus throughout the tournament and in addition to the delectable menus, hospitality guests were treated to a pop-up within the marquee showcasing the latest collections from luxury menswear brand, Hackett, who partnered with Chester Polo Club for a second consecutive year. Chester Racecourse’s latest hospitality offering for 2019, Parade, staged an outside pop-up, with guests able to relax on the terrace on plush furniture, whilst enjoying the afternoon’s action on the pitch. All polo guests were provided an information pack and personal
invitation to attend Parade. A generous hospitality crowd raised nearly £3,000 for the White Oak UK nominated charity The Marina Dalglish Appeal. Carl D’Ammassa, Director at White Oak UK commented: “We do a lot with Chester Race Company and the polo event is phenomenal. A fabulous setting, the hospitality is great and every year the event grows and feels just as fresh.” The weekend’s action anchored by presenter Vanessa Binnie-Ryle was captured by Sky Sports Racing and a feature is expected to air on the channel showcasing the excitement of the event and the diversity of the offering at Chester Race Company in the coming weeks. Information regarding 2020 Polo fixtures, including price and on-sale date of tickets and badges will soon be made available.
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
F O R T Y 4 I N D U S T RY P R O F I L E
Inspiring Folk
Kerrine Bryan Kerrine Bryan is a children’s author, founder of publishing house Butterfly Books, which produces stories that endeavor to tackle diversity issues across industries from the grassroots, and is an award winning chartered electrical engineer.
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
C
ited as one of the Telegraph’s Top 50 Women in Engineering, Kerrine Bryan scooped the Precious award for Outstanding Woman In STEM and was one of Management Today’s 35 Under 35 most notable businesswomen in the UK. Tell us about your career background: I’m a chartered electrical engineer. I’ve worked in the oil and gas industry for 12 years in London, after which I took a 2 year career break to have my daughter before embarking on a new role, new company and new country. I’m now a lead electrical engineer for WSP, a global engineering and professional services consultancy. Based in New York, my role is a mixture of technical, project management and business development work. I’m currently working on some exciting power generation projects including cogeneration, energy saving studies and renewable power. I love my job, but engineering definitely wasn’t something I dreamt about doing as a small child. I never really knew such a job existed or was available to someone like me, even as I grew older and was choosing my A Levels. Because I loved maths, I thought that accountancy would be the best professional fit for me. Only, at aged 17, when a teacher suggested I attend a programme at a university introducing students to different types of engineering did I really become interested in this. It was a seminal moment, as I then went on to change my course of study from accounting to finally work as an engineer. What inspired you to set up Butterly Books? I am passionate about my job and am keen for children, especially girls, to understand what engineering entails. For me, I think it blends creativity and problem solving perfectly. Having volunteered at schools to talk about my role and experiences as an engineer as a STEM ambassador, I realised how biases and misconceptions around engineering were formed at a young age, and this led me to start Butterfly Books with the help of my younger brother, Jason Bryan. He’s the lyricist and poet. The view that engineering is a hands-on, manually difficult and dirty job for older white men is far too common place, and it’s this kind of harmful misconception that is contributing to the engineering sector’s diversity issue. I know that
males; although I understand that this won’t be every woman’s story. I can see how engineering as a profession can be off-putting and intimidating to women. There was only one time when, during a placement at a manufacturing company when I was 18, that I had an uncomfortable situation where my manager and mentor said that I looked “sexy in overalls”. What do you love about your job? I love what I do. Seeing a project from initial design through to the end product is a great feeling. Sometimes when flying over Kent on a good day, I can see the LNG import terminal, and I remember when it all existed as just an idea on paper a few years back. You have two jobs - how do you manage?
if young children and young adults don’t see people who look like them doing a particular job, then they are less likely to pursue this. In a sense, I felt that there was something creative we could produce that would capture children’s imaginations and normalise women doing typically ‘male’ jobs and vice versa. We believe that this could be achieved with children’s picture books and rhyming verses. Who are your books created for? We are targeting children aged 4 to 7 years old; we want to open their imagination up to the possibility that they can be anything they want to be – firefighter, scientist, plumber or farmer – irrespective of their gender or social background. It’s important that this is communicated to children early enough, before these gender norms become too established. The resounding message is that the world is their oyster and, give and take some grit, determination and hard work, they can achieve anything. Why do you think it’s important to have books like the ones you publish? The discourse is changing for the better. Over recent years, we’ve seen a new spate of empowering children’s books that address misconceptions around conventionally male and female-led
roles, and at the same time celebrated remarkable historical figures that have innovated or changed the course of history. From Emily Pankhurst to Joan of Arc, Mother Theresa to Florence Nightingale. These kinds of books have formed part of a wider movement within children’s literature that is changing the bedtime ritual for the better. We are seeing better role models for children that break the mould and celebrate difference, diversity and bravery, and we want to be a part of this force for positive change.
“
“I’ve been lucky in that I’ve never really faced too many problems being a minority, in every sense of the word, in an industry dominated by white, middle class males; although I understand that this won’t be every woman’s story.” What do you think we need to do to inspire our children’s generation in male dominated industries? We need diversity of representation of people in male dominated industries, but also in female dominated sectors too. This requires a complete cultural shift, a complete mindset change. This won’t happen overnight, and it may not happen in www.butterflybooks.uk
our lifetime. But it requires that all companies and organisations think about how they present themselves to the public, especially via advertising; because this can be used as an agent for change to redress the diversity imbalance, rather than peddle the usual stereotypes that keeps inequality in place. We also need to see more influential men become advocates of women; they can act as real enablers, smashing away glass ceilings so that more women can finally have a seat at the boardroom table. But it takes a persistent combination of education and experience to bring down barriers and dismantle antiquated systems of working that causes such inequality and bias. How have you found working in your industry? I initially worked at a large oil and gas contractor on a graduate scheme directly after finishing my 4-year Masters degree in electronic and electrical engineering with German. I had a very supportive peer group; many male colleagues had commented on how they really respected professional female engineers more for making it through all of the barriers that existed, and still do exist, for women going into STEM careers. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve never really faced too many problems being a minority, in every sense of the word, in an industry dominated by white, middle class
Running a business alongside a demanding career has immense challenges, especially as you have to work on the venture outside of normal business hours. But with technology, it’s possible – and I learnt that we normally have more time to devote to our passions than we realise. Who are your role models? Baroness Karren Brady of Knightsbridge CBE. I went to a talk she was giving and her story of how she got to where she is today, as well as her work ethic, was inspiring. I also admire Sir Richard Branson. He has built a hugely successful business and is giving back to society by supporting small businesses, as well as in many other social investments. What do you hope to achieve with Butterfly Books? We’d like the books to be teaching aids at school; it will stoke some interesting classroom discussions with the children and will hopefully inspire them to find out more about the diversity of people working in amazing jobs. And of course, it would be great to get the book distributed globally. Although difficult to gauge, it would be wonderful for a child to become inspired and pursue a profession in adulthood and for Butterfly Books to have seeded or helped him or her realise that passion from the early years. And, in some small way, we will hope to have had a positive contribution to subverting misconceptions that positively impacts on equality and diversity, particularly in STEM industries.
FORT Y7 CHARITY
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
Giving smiles to children with a cleft in Malawi
A
generous £4 million donation from charity trust The Kentown Wizard Foundation is enabling Operation Smile to build a five year programme that aims to treat everyone living with a cleft condition in Malawi. This will change the lives of thousands of children and young adults, giving them hope for a brighter future. As well as free surgeries for thousands of patients performed by medical volunteers, the Malawi programme will also include nutritional support and education and training initiatives to upskill Malawian healthcare workers to build a sustainable and self-perpetuating ability to provide cleft care in the country. The Kentown Wizard Foundation’s CEO Margaret Ingram visited Malawi to see first-hand the incredible work that is being done. The following is an account from her travel diary during her recent trip: “As I left Lilongwe airport I was instantly struck by how green and beautiful the country is. Before arriving I had imagined a dry, red landscape but the rain over the previous few weeks had brought everything to life. Over the next five days I observed the medical mission and talked to many of the volunteers taking part. For me, it was a very humbling experience. The dedication and commitment of these volunteers is unquestionable – many of those I spoke to have been giving their time and considerable skills to Operation Smile missions for many years. In between meeting volunteers I was able to observe every stage of the registration and assessment process. The dignity and patience of the Malawian mothers and fathers who brought their children for surgery was incredible and although the process was lengthy and tedious, there were smiles and good humour everywhere I looked. On day four, I observed three operations and was completely awe struck by the skill of the surgeons. These surgeons really do change the lives of these children forever. I will always remember what one of the volunteers said to me while discussing Operation Smile missions: “You think you are healing the children but really they are healing you” and I couldn’t agree more.”
Georgina’s Story Growing up with a cleft lip was hard for Georgina. Born into a farming family in a small Malawian village, her community was accepting of her condition but children from neighbouring villages often mocked her and called her names. After Georgina’s birth, her parents had been told that her condition could be corrected with surgery, yet this type of operation was far beyond what Georgina’s father Mtengeni and his wife Bernadette would ever be able to afford as subsistence farmers, living off the food they are able to grow in their garden. But they never gave up hope they would find a way to help their daughter.
After five years of anticipation, they received the news that they had desperately been waiting for; free surgery through Operation Smile was available in the capital for people with Georgina’s condition. Although he wasn’t sure if doctors would be able to fix Georgina’s cleft lip, Mtengeni knew this medical mission was his daughter’s best shot at receiving the care she needed and he was able to borrow the money for the long bus fare from his friends and neighbours. It took several days and a significant amount of effort and by the time Mtengeni and his daughter reached the Operation Smile
Margaret Ingram, CEO of the Kentown Wizard Foundation, playing with a child in Malawi
medical mission site, the patient screening process had ended and surgery had already begun. Mtengeni was sure that they had missed out on his daughter’s one chance to receive surgery. When Operation Smile medical volunteers agreed to give Georgina a medical evaluation and approved her for surgery, Mtengeni was overcome with happiness. He could not believe his daughter would receive surgery that same day. That evening, Mtengeni and Georgina were able to celebrate the success of her surgery and marvel at her repaired lip. Even after Georgina’s lip healed, Mtengeni continued to prioritise his daughter’s cleft care. The nearest district hospital was three hours away by bus, but Mtengeni always managed to find a way to bring Georgina for her follow-up appointments, helping to ensure that her new smile stays healthy and beautiful throughout her lifetime. Since her surgery, Mtengeni has seen a transformation in Georgina’s disposition. She is happier and much more confident now that her cleft has been corrected. People are better able to understand what she is saying, and because of this Georgina has become much more talkative, constantly chatting to everyone she meets. But Mtengeni doesn’t mind — he’s happy to have found a way to help his daughter access life-changing surgical care.
“
“You think you are healing the children but really they are healing you”
What is Operation Smile? It is estimated that every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate. Those who do survive may be unable to eat, speak, socialise or smile. In many cases, their parents can’t afford to give them the surgeries they need. Operation Smile is an international medical charity, founded in 1982. They have provided free surgeries to children and young adults born with a cleft lip or cleft palate in the world for over three and half decades. Surgery typically takes just 45 minutes for an expert procedure and because Operation Smile’s skilled network of medical professionals are 100% volunteer based, it costs only £150. Donors can be reassured their money is going towards the patient’s surgery costs. A small amount of money can make a big difference in a child’s life, and that of their family, with Operation Smile. www.operationsmile.org.uk/ parentfolk
FOCUS ON
FORT Y8 FOCUS ON
WWW.PARENTFOLK.CO.UK
Quinta do Lago Resort, Algarve
E
ffortlessly cool, unapologetically confident, and picture perfectly beautiful. This is Quinta do Lago resort. This prestigious Algarve resort is one of the leading golf destinations boasting 5 golf courses Laranjal, Pinheiros Altos, Quinta do Lago North, Quinta do Lago South and San Lorenzo, so it’s no wonder this resort attracts a celebrity clientele who are assured privacy in this haven away from it all. In recent years however Quinta do Lago has attracted more and more families and it’s not hard to see why. With its luxury private residences and 5 star hotels, this peaceful resort ticks all the boxes when it comes to a family trip. A choice of leading hotel properties, professional standard sporting facilities, stunning beaches, nature reserve and award winning international restaurants has put Quinta do Lago on the map.
Where to stay
The Magnolia Hotel
This cool and quirky accommodation wouldn’t look out of place in Palm Springs or Miami, with its low lying position, candy striped towels, turquoise pool, pastel hues, pink plush reception and neon signs, this really is a modern retreat. We recommend the cottages at The Magnolia, accommodating up to 6.
Where to dine Bovino
Bovino places the finest of dry-aged beef at the heart of its philosophy, serving up the most tender of steaks in a stunning setting. This bespoke venue, created by one of Europe’s most acclaimed interior designers,
combines striking décor with prime beef cooked to perfection to produce the most exclusive steakhouse experiences you can have in the Algarve. Perfect place to spot a famous face or two.
Where to get active
The Campus Sport features high on the agenda in Quinta do Lago. The Campus is an incredible sports venue offering a wide range of sports, the resort’s goal is to deliver professional level training and coaching to their residents and guests. Their calendar includes an array of school holiday clubs and football camps led by professionals, there’s even a Tennis Camp with Judy Murray.
Where to party The Shack
If you’re after a little more life with your sundowners, head to The Shack, the lakeside bar where live music plays on the deck and where dancing on the tables is the norm (oh, and they serve a pretty fabulous cocktail). With a delicious menu of light bites this is the perfect post beach day spot.
The heads up
Book your autumn stay with The Magnolia Hotel and your children can stay and eat for free! For bookings visit: www.quintadolago.com