Southsea Lifestyle December / January 2021/22

December 2021/ January 2022

Southsea CELEBRATING 17 YEARS IN PRINT

NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE QUEENS HOTEL

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Lifestyle

• Fabulous Carpets from Greendale, Brintons and Ulster • Crucial Trading/Alternative Flooring Specialist • Fabulous Vinyl Tiles from Amtico, Karndean and Polyflor • New Click only Vinyl Planks and Tiles from Karndean • Fabulous Quickstep Laminate Flooring • Oak Floors – Engineered Planks and Solid Click • Fabulous Bamboo & Unnatural Flooring • Supersoft Carpets in Twist & Saxony Pile

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31 The Square, Petersfield, Hampshire t: 01730 262223/267381 e: sales@waterloovillecarpets.co.uk

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WORK IN PROGRESS

2013

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CONTRIBUTORS Kate Thompson is a Southsea writer with a passion for uncovering quirky human interest stories Neil Maxwell is director of Fry & Kent Estate Agents, and a volunteer crew member of the RNLI Samantha Worsey Founder of Southsea Bathing Hut: natural skincare from the seaside

CONTENTS 14 WAITROSE RECIPE 16 STRESS FREE CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINING 18 ISLE OF WIGHT DOUGHNUTS 19 SUPERFOODS FOR SUPER SKIN 20 SOMETHING LASTING AND MEANINGFUL 36 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 42 AN ARTISTIC EYE FOR DETAIL 48 HOME OR A DEAL 53 REFLECTIONS

Daniel Nowland has loved food his whole life, and spent ten years working as the Head of Technical for Jamie Oliver. He is now the owner of The Southsea Deli and organiser of supper clubs, workshops and other food events in Southsea James Rayner author of the new book ‘Historic Isle of Wight Food’, available from Wightlink ferry terminals, retailers accrise the Isle of Wight and online at wightoriginals.com

Southsea Lifestyle Produced by Salad Publishing Ltd Editor: Kevin John Dean Editorial assistant: Kai Austin Dean Creative Director: Zirrinia Austin Dean Social media: Urban Salt Web design: Daniel Sweeney

59 A CITY OF SANCTUARY & KINDNESS 60 RARING TO ROW

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often think Scrooge gets a bad rap. Everyone remembers his miserly ways, but never his transformation when he realises that kindness has more benefits than selfishness and the accumulation of wealth. Shaun Martinez is big on kindness with his plans to help refugees (p.59) and Kevin Watkins is too, in raising money for Action Medical Research by rowing across the Atlantic (p.60)

Scrooge’s Ghost of Christmas Past is always with us, particularly last Christmas, when we were in the midst of lockdown and so much worry and uncertainty. So let’s take pleasure in our new, if still cautious freedom, to enjoy the celebrations, but to always remember Scrooge’s promise to himself ‘I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year’ Kevin John Dean

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Affordable advertising rates and a loyal readership, no wonder 75% of our advertisers have been with us for 2 years or more. Just request a media pack for our October/November edition.

Call: 07981 867826 e: info@southsealifestyle.com

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JOIN US FOR THE MOST STYLISH NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY IN THE CITY …

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ay goodbye to 2021 in style at the Queens Hotel by joining our magical Fire & Ice extravaganza.

We will be pitching the elements of fire and ice together to create a fabulous New Years eve experience at the Queens Hotel.

Ditch the little black dress in favour of something far more daring and unleash the fiery side of your personality.

We hope ladies will opt to wear red and raise the temperature in the room, while gents are encouraged to slip on a cream dinner jacket to reflect the ice theme.

You can expect gorgeous surroundings, delicious food and drink, and great company for an evening of feasting, fun and dancing.

The evening starts with cocktails and oysters on arrival, while eye-catching performers will bring a little drama to the room before the feasting begins.

Dinner will be served in Restaurant 1865 (starter and main course), and the vibe will evoke a cosy, fire element, with candlelight helping to create the perfect atmosphere.

want to dance the night away.

Midnight will be marked as only the Queens know how as we say hello to 2022. Champagne will be flowing to mark the new year and there will be music until 1am.

Tickets are £125 per person. To book your place and for more details email events@queenshotelportsmouth.com

FIRE & ICE MENU STARTERS served feasting style BEETROOT GRAVADLAX, PICKLED VEGETABLES, HORSERADISH SNOW TIGER PRAWNS, CHARRED LEMON BUTTER SLOW ROASTED TOMATO, MOZZARELLA & BASIL SCALLOPS, CHARRED CORN PUREE SMOKED OX CHEEK CROQUETTAS

MAIN COURSE served feasting style SMOKED BEEF SHORT RIBS, BOURBON & MAPLE GLAZE PAPRIKA & SAFFRON CHICKEN WINGS LEMON, GARLIC & PARSLEY OCTOPUS

There will be 10 round tables each seating 12 people. (Please note groups of less than 12 will be seated at tables together to enjoy our sharing, feast style menu).

MONKFISH TAIL COOKED OVER COALS, N’DUJA BUTTER

Cordelectra, the vibrant electric string trio, much loved by our Garden Party audience, will play on arrival and in Restaurant 1865.

DESSERT STATION

Following the main course, the doors to the adjoining Elizabeth Room will be opened and guests will be invited to partake in a bit of glacial glamour including a frosty igloo photo booth and more themed performers.

CHOCOLATE S’MORE TARTS

Dessert will be served in the Elizabeth Room and there will be a party band and DJ making sure you

SLOW SMOKED ROOT VEGETABLES WHOLE SMOKED CAULIFLOWER HASSELBACK POTATOES CHILLI & CHOCOLATE PARFAIT CINDER TOFFEE BAKED ALASKA ICE CREAM SANDWICHES MANGO & FIREBALL MOUSSE STRAWBERRY PAVLOVAS ORANGE & SPICED APPLE CIDER ARCTIC ROLL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS CAN BE CATERED FOR BUT WE NEED TO BE MADE AWARE AT THE TIME OF BOOKING.

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Southsea’s only craft butcher offers exceptional turkeys for Christmas, supplied by Paul Tanner’s Great Oaks Farm near Lymington.

We offer two varieties Buckwells Classic White and Buckwells Bronze. All are adult birds that have been kept in spacious, open barns and prepared on the farm with the minimum of stress.

The birds are hand plucked and game hung to develop full flavour and tenderness.

Boneless turkey breasts also available.

Order your turkey now to avoid disappointment

Buckwells 34th year of serving Southsea at Christmas Tel: 023 9282 7053 70 Osborne Road, Southsea PO5 3LU 10

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MIMI GREEN’S DELICATESSEN

tep inside Mimi Green’s Delicatessen in Palmerston Road precinct and you may be reminded of holidays in the Mediterranean, with shelves filled with exquisite pasta sauces, preserved fruits, and tempting biscuits, much of it from Spain, Portugal, and Italy, while the chilled cabinets have an amazing selection of cheeses and cured meats.

moved with his family from London to begin his new venture. “London has lots of really good delis, and I think we’ve managed to replicate that same metropolitan atmosphere and range of stock — here in Southsea.

“We are also offering a range of platters and hampers for the festivities, customers are free to select the contents, or we can make our own selection.

“L’incontro translates to ‘the meeting’, I’d like to think the people of Southsea will take pleasure in meeting myself and my family and trying some of the wonderful products we have stocked in Mimi Green”, said Kim with a smile.

“We love food, says Kim Shawani from behind the counter of Mimi’s. ‘We like to think we are fussy, but in a good way: we like natural ingredients and take care with where food comes from. I love to wander around food markets in the UK and abroad, where you can find an abundance of gorgeous food and drink, all made by independent producers, rarely seen in the supermarket and I’m very pleased to have stocked Mimi Green with some of these products”, explained Kim, who has

Opening times: Monday - Saturday 7am-6pm Sunday 8am-6pm 13 Palmerston Road, Southsea PO5 3QQ Tel 023 9275 4111 www.mimigreen.co.uk 11

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LITTLE COFFEE CO

ave you spotted a rather lovely little van parked almost opposite The Queens Hotel selling fresh coffee and cakes? Olivia House tells the story of how she launched her Little Coffee Co and how she has just opened another — opposite Gunwharf Quays.

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“I was made redundant from long haul cabin crew in June 2019, but as it turned out, this was to be a blessing in disguise. With no idea of what I wanted to do next but knowing that I had a love of coffee and cool venues, Little Coffee was launched in September 2020. It was a bit of a risk, because although I had lots of experience in customer service and working with the public, being a barista was a whole new territory.

“My first location is on Southsea Common, opposite The Queens Hotel, which was an exciting launch and within a short space of time Little Coffee had a loyal following. Throughout lockdown this location became a prime meeting spot and a real social hub. Our greatest achievement is the coffee community we have created.

“It is important to us to be as sustainable as possible. We encourage customers to keep their cups, offering a discount to those who do, supplying locally sourced products and providing only recyclable or decomposable packaging.

“We have recently opened our second

van, Little Coffee Harbour. You can find it in St Georges Square, opposite Gunwharf Quays, serving the same great quality coffee and Bread Addiction pastries six days a week. Opening at 7am, it is one of the few places open for early risers and commuters.

“Whatever you’re doing, shopping, catching a train, or just in the area visit Little Coffee Harbour and support local!”

Little Coffee Southsea @littlecoffeesouthsea 13

CAULIFLOWER & CHICKPEA TIKKA MASALA Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 25 minutes Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS

1 medium cauliflower (about 1kg) • 2 tbsp vegetable oil 400g can chickpeas, rinsed and drained • ½ tsp ground turmeric 1 onion, finely chopped • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 15g fresh root ginger, finely chopped ½ x 283g jar Patak’s Tikka Masala Spice Paste 200g fresh tomatoes, finely chopped 3 tbsp non-dairy yogurt alternative, such as oat ¼ x 25g pack coriander, leaves only Steamed basmati rice, to serve

METHOD 1 Preheat the oven to 220C, gas mark 7. Line a large baking tray with foil. Break the

cauliflower into large florets, reserving any tender leaves. Toss the florets with 1⁄2 tbsp oil and spread over one side of the baking tray. Toss the chickpeas with another 1 tbsp oil and the turmeric, and spread over the other side of the baking tray. Roast for 20 minutes, stirring each side and adding the cauliflower leaves halfway through.

2 Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1⁄2 tbsp oil in a large pan. Fry the onion for 5 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and ginger and fry for 1 minute. Add the curry paste and fry for 2 minutes. Pour in 50ml water and cook until evaporated.

3 Add the tomatoes and 200ml water to the pan; simmer for 5 minutes, then spoon in the

cauliflower. Simmer over a medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Take off the heat and stir in 2 tbsp yogurt alternative. Add the chickpeas and cauliflower leaves. Finish with the final 1 tbsp yogurt alternative and the coriander leaves. Serve with steamed basmati rice.

Image courtesy of Waitrose

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Thousands of recipes can be found at www.waitrose.com/recipes

THE MARMION HOUSE RESTAURANT “By chance, we believe this building was first used as a tea room, and although we don't serve a lot of tea, it feels as though it’s come full circle”’ laughed Jasmine Ryan, who opened The Marmion House Restaurant earlier this year.

However, the idea of opening the restaurant was agreed 7 years ago, when Jasmine ran into a friend, Craig Emery, whom Jasmine had worked with at the Loch Fyne restaurant. “We both decided, then and there, that we wanted to open somewhere together, but we didn’t know where, or how we’d do it. Then a friend told me this beautiful shop, (formerly Victoriana) had become available. There was then a long process of planning applications to change the use of the premises, and lots of building work... and then along came COVID. Now the restaurant is finally open Jasmine can barely contain her excitement, “Ever since I was young I’d always wanted to work in hospitality.

I’ve worked in lots of local, well known restaurants, from a waitress to manager, but I’ve always wanted to have my own establishment.

Craig and I have brought together a great team, led by our brilliant chef Danny Carter, formerly of Maddisons. People are loving the food and the ambiance’. We serve a mix of small plates, or one mains dish if customers prefer. It’s an eclectic mix of modern European food, with Asian influences, but we are constantly evolving the menu. We want everyone to feel comfortable about popping in, maybe for a coffee, or a glass of wine and then to perhaps order food — and we’ve tried to keep the prices very affordable.”

The Marmion House restaurant may have taken a long time to come to fruition, but it certainly seems to be well worth the wait.

89 Marmion Road, Southsea PO5 2AX 023 9279 6920 Marmion house

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STRESS FREE CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINING Words: Daniel Nowland

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bviousyl, it being December, I feel compelled to talk about Christmas dinners! Personally, it’s one of my favourite meals of the year, and it’s always a dilemma between sticking to what I know and love, or trying something a little more adventurous.

Assuming, like me, you are a sucker for tradition, I will offer a few tips to take some of the stress away to make sure the cook in the house also gets to enjoy Christmas morning.

For me, the first thing to consider is getting the timing right. Eat too early and it will consume your whole morning, eat too late and you’ll likely have no room for supper. We tend to eat at around 4pm, which gives us time to enjoy a good breakfast, not rush the lunch, and then still enjoy a late night buffet on Christmas night.

as usually this causes more stress and probably won't result in a more enjoyable meal.

My favourite Christmas day meat is a rolled turkey breast and thigh joint. Turkey thigh meat is the most flavoursome part of the bird, and although darker in colour, it cooks beautifully rolled up inside the breast meat, giving you the best of both worlds. As these joints come rolled and tied, they also take up much less space inside the oven than a whole bird with its various limbs protruding from your roasting tin!

If you are cooking a roast dinner for a group this Christmas (as I always do!), I can offer the following tips to minimise hassle and stress:

Choosing your main centerpiece for Christmas day can be a tough choice! My personal advice is to choose the one you will enjoy the most — and don’t overwork yourself by attempting to roast several different meats, 16

* Make your gravy several days in advance. A good gravy can make or break your dinner, and if you get it perfect a few days before, it's one less thing to worry about. I like to add a touch of cranberry jelly and good balsamic vinegar to mine to make sure it packs a punch.

* Equip yourself with a meat thermometer.

Your turkey should be cooked to 72℃ in the centre, but hotter than this and it will start to dry out. Check it regularly, and once it reaches 72℃ in the thickest part, take it out, cover it, and rest it for as long as necessary.

This will keep it juicy and tender, and some piping hot gravy will help if it cools too much. * Part cooking and then roasting your veg is a great way of freeing up space in the kitchen, and reducing the number of pans to wash. I often partly boil veg on Christmas eve such as potatoes, carrots, parsnips etc, fill some roasting tins and they are ready to slide into the oven on Christmas day. Good olive oil, fresh herbs and seasoning can be added to the veg before baking to make sure everything is tasty. * Don’t boil your sprouts!! Most people don’t like sprouts because they are too often boiled and bitter. My favourite method

is to finely slice them, and then quickly fry them with a little butter, cider vinegar and seasoning. Just three or four minutes in a pan and they will be bright, crunchy, sweet and delicious.

LATE NIGHT SHOPPING ON EACH THURSDAY IN DECEMBER TILL 18:30

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ISLE OF WIGHT DOUGHNUTS - A FORGOTTEN LOCAL SPECIALITY A recipe from James Rayner’s book ‘Historic Isle of Wight Food’, available from Wightlink Ferry terminals and retailers on the Isle of Wight

Makes 10 300g strong white bread flour • 175ml whole milk • 50g unsalted butter • 50g fine brown sugar 7g sachet of yeast • 2 tsp. allspice • 1⁄4 tsp. cinnamon • a pinch of ground cloves • a pinch of ground mace • 1⁄2 tsp. salt • Vegetable oil for deep frying• Filling: small wild plums / plum jam

1. Sift the flour and spices into a bowl, adding salt and sugar on one side and the yeast on the other. Add the softened butter and 120ml of the milk. Combine by hand, gradually adding as much of the remaining milk as you need until the dough is soft and tacky.

2. Knead on a floured surface until smooth. Oil the bowl, return the dough to it and cover, leaving somewhere warm to rise until doubled in size.

3. Place the dough back on a floured surface and fold inwards until the air is knocked out and the dough is smooth. Divide into ten and roll into balls.

4. Make a hole in each ball with the thumb and push or pipe some of the filling inside.

Stretch the dough over the hole to close it, twisting the join to seal. Once filled, place the balls on baking trays lined with parchment and cover for 45 minutes to double in size.

5. Deep fry the balls, a few at a time for around 7 minutes, until cooked through and a fine brown in colour. Turn them over half way to ensure even colouring 6. Remove them from the pan with a slotted spoon, drain on kitchen paper and leave to cool.

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SUPERFOODS FOR SUPER SKIN

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Samantha Worsey

MISO PASTE Made of fermented soya beans or grains, such as rice or barley, this versatile paste is great for your digestion and skin. It’s packed with amino acids, peptides and proteins to help support your skin’s function and appearance. Add a little paste to hot water for a salty umami flavoured drink, or add to winter stews, marinades, sauces or dips.

s a skincare formulator professionally and psoriasis sufferer personally, I know the science is right: healthy skin is deeply connected with lifestyle and environmental choices. Imbalance in these aspects of your life can cause everything from premature ageing, to dull complexion and dehydration.

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SEAWEED As Portsmouth’s home of natural skincare, we’re passionate about the benefits of seaweed for skin. It’s particularly high in iron, which encourages healthy blood flow, to support a healthy cycle of skin cell renewal. I add seaweed to sandwiches, salads and sauces.

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SPIRULINA POWDER Spirulina is a blue green algae that’s packed with protein, vitamins, iron and probiotics. It is well known for helping to clear troubled skin and give a nice healthy glow. It’s a very versatile ingredient for smoothies, sauces, soups and pancakes.

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COCONUT WATER Most people who show signs of dry skin are actually, very simply, dehydrated. If you aren’t drinking enough water, no cream or potion in the world is going to beat the dryness. Brimming with Vitamin C, which stimulates collagen production to keep skin firm and plump, coconut water is a tasty, nutritious alternative to plain water.

We make a range of natural, vegan skincare products to help improve and maintain your skin. But products can only ever magnify the effects of healthy lifestyle decisions.

Perhaps the biggest controllable factor in getting glowing, healthy skin is diet. For example, acne and blemishes are linked to a high carb, high sugar diet.

Here are my top 5 superfoods for super skin in 2022: ·

FLAXSEED High in antioxidants and fatty acids, this super grain improves skin texture, tone and overall radiance. I recommend ground flaxseed, as it’s easier for your body to digest. Simply sprinkle onto your daily porridge, cereal, or yoghurt.

Keen to know what skincare products will best suit your skin type and needs? Visit southseabathinghut.co.uk 19

SOMETHING LASTING AND MEANINGFUL

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Yoga as an antidote to New Year’s Resolutions

any of us are immersed into the change of season by now, settling into winter, looking ahead to festive celebrations, and casting our minds towards a fresh new year.

We love the chance to reset that a new year offers. Stepping into this renewal with a sense of resolve can be a strong place from which to make changes, take stock and carry forward what’s working. However, we can’t help but take the idea of ‘new year, new me’ with a pinch of salt, and here’s why.

You made it here, and every step of the way you brought your whole self with you.

Resolutions can have their purpose, setting us off on the right track, but what happens when the path gets rocky along the way?

Or when life gets busy, our loads get heavy, and we lose our sense of direction? If a resolution becomes something to which we must attach a sense of ‘failure’ or ‘success’, does adding another burden really contribute to our wellness?

What could you do with your new resolve if you took your whole self with you into the new year? Leave behind the language that speaks to quick fixes and begin something lasting and meaningful?

We love yoga because it’s slow and steady.

Each time you practice, you accept the immediate benefits from your class, as well as taking a step towards lasting and

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meaningful change.

Regular yoga practice creates a sustainable relationship to exercise, mindfulness, focus and community. With yoga at LANO we have the chance to move our bodies, breathe a little more deeply and settle busy minds.

How can our decisions for the new year reflect what we’ve learned over the last 18 months about the value of time, community, balance and connecting to others? How can we integrate this intention throughout 2022, rather than burning ourselves out

by February?

We have lots ways to start.

of

If you’re looking for something more intense to energise and build up a sweat, try 26+2 (Hot Yoga Sequence) or Flow.

If you’re seeking a gentle way to stretch and breathe, try Classic, Gentle or Restore.

At LANO Southsea we have a full schedule of daily classes in a variety of styles. All ages, abilities and experiences are welcome, whether you’re with us to relax or as part of a personal fitness regime. Our facilities include infrared hot-yoga heating systems, changing rooms, showers and a spacious yoga studio for classes.

Drop-ins, class packages and memberships are available, as well as our Intro-Pass for first time visitors.

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ART SCHOOL FOR ADULTS

rt colleges don’t have to be just for the young or super talented. And after a long career of working as a part-time lecturer, artist Kevin Dean has used his experience to create an amazing, art college for adults. “The UK has some of the best art colleges in the world, and yet art education for adults can often be poor, but it doesn’t have to be that way. By bringing together a team of professional artists and tutors, each with their own speciality our students are getting an exciting blend of different mediums, often with short introductory lectures, written notes and feedback sessions,” said Kevin. “Complete beginners are very welcome, or if someone has some experience, they can join one of our improvers classes. The courses are 11 weeks, and a lot of our students can’t believe how much

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progress they make in just a few sessions. We also keep the classes small with no more than 9 students per class, for both COVID safety and to give everyone plenty of individual attention.

“The courses are very affordable, a half-day session works out at £27 which includes all materials, background notes and sketchbooks for people to take away with them. But we are more interested in creating a community of artists and bringing people together with a shared interest, than making profits, so if the fees are a problem for someone, we can offer concessions.

“We run the classes, at The Omega Centre, it’s a beautiful former Victorian school in Southsea.

We also have use of the printmaking room, so this term we are introducing etching into the programme, along with mono-printing”.

Tutors: Chris Wood (drawing, acrylics & printmaking), Sadie Tierney (acrylics & printmaking), Jacqui Mair (collage and colour theory), Kevin Dean (drawing, watercolour & printmaking).

Classes for Spring Term Starting Monday 10th Jan - 21st March 2022, 2 - 4.45pm – NEW BEGINNERS AFTERNOON CLASS Starting Monday 10th Jan - 21st March 2022, 6.45 - 9pm – IMPROVERS 1 EVENING CLASS (2 places available) Starting Wednesday 12th Jan - 23rd March 2022, 6.45 - 9pm – NEW BEGINNERS EVENING CLASS Starting Thursday 13th Jan - 24th March 2022, 10am - 12.45pm – IMPROVERS 2 (2 places available) Starting Thursday 13th Jan - 24th March 2022, 2 - 4.45pm – IMPROVERS 1 AFTERNOON CLASS (2 places available)

LEARN DRAWING, WATERCOLOUR, ACRYLIC PAINTING, PRINTMAKING AND COLLAGE WITH PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS Some quotes from current students:

“I’ve waited years, hoping for a course like this in Portsmouth.” Claire, Improvers class “I have really enjoyed the classes and I’m looking forward to next term.” Linda, Beginners class “The Thursday afternoon class is the highlight of my week.” John, Beginners class Email omegaartschool@gmail.com today and receive a detailed description about our courses, the different classes, our tutors and booking information.

the Omega art school 2 Omega Street Southsea PO5 4LP 29

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BLACK DYKE BAND

n Saturday 2nd July 2022 The Portsmouth Grammar School and Ports Fest will be hosting the Black Dyke Band, formerly John Foster & Son Black Dyke Mills Band, one of the oldest and best-known brass bands in the world. The schedule will consist of masterclasses for pupils during the day, while in the evening the Black Dyke Band will be performing a public concert in the Kings Theatre Portsmouth. Tickets are available from the Kings Theatre box office 02392 828282 or via their website kingsportsmouth.co.uk. For more information about the day please email info@pgs.org.uk Black Dyke Band is the most recorded brass band in the world with over 350 recordings and growing every year. In October 2020 the band’s recording of music by John Rutter became the first by a brass band to reach No.1 in the classical music chart. The band recorded the soundtrack to the BBC gardening makeover series Ground Force, and appeared in the Christmas edition of

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Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies. Black Dyke played on the Academy Award nominated song That’ll Do from Babe: Pig in the City. They have featured on recordings and live performances by acts including The Beatles, Paul McCartney, and Tori Amos. They have toured all over the world, performing to sell-out crowds in the Sidney Opera House, New York’s Carnegie Hall and London’s Royal Albert Hall to name just a few. They have played at the BBC Proms, and in 2017 were the first brass band to be featured at the Glastonbury Music Festival.

It is also the most successful contesting band in the world, having won the European Championships 13 times, the British Open no fewer than 30 times, and the National Championships of Great Britain 23 times. In recent years, the band secured an unprecedented hat trick of wins at the Yorkshire regional championships in 2016, 17, and 18, which they followed up with another win in 2020.

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ecky opened Coastal Remedy, an independent lifestyle gift shop, post-lockdown in June 2020 and after a tough year within the retail sector she was honoured to win Best New Indie Business 2020 (Southsea Folk Awards).

Having built up a regular and loyal customer base, she is pleased that she has become one of the go-to places for gifts: whether it’s a present for a loved one, or a treat for yourself, you’ll definitely have lots to choose from.

Recently featured in Conde Nast Traveller as one of the must-visit places in Portsmouth, their products include lifestyle books, art, jewellery, natural beauty products, homeware, confectionary, and much more.

“Some of our best selling products are books centred around Wild Swimming and VanLife along with the ever popular Shakti Acupressure Mat and Tisserand range of aromatherapy products geared towards relaxation.

“Despite the rocky start I’ve never looked back, and I absolutely love choosing the next products to feature in the shop. Now we’re gearing up for the Festive Season and along with lots of other local independent shops along Marmion Road we’ll be opening until 8pm on Thursday nights in the lead up to Christmas, so that you can enjoy the atmosphere and shop into the evening!”

13 Marmion Road, Southsea PO5 2AT www.coastalremedy.co.uk Follow us on Instagram or Facebook

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CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

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ndependent traders tell us that they have received enormous support from shoppers over the past few months. With your continued custom this could be their best Christmas yet and give a l l o u r w o n d e r f u l r e t a i l e r s t h e financial security they need to enter the new year. Here are a few ideas for your Christmas shopping.

CORONA CHRONICLES a wry and humorous observation of the pandemic, in words and pictures. £20 info@kevindean.co.uk

WILD AURA Indulge Gift Set – Includes Oat Milk Bath great for eczema, includes a reusable muslin bag. Plus Coconut Wax Candle & cotton bag filled red roses. All Organic. £22 www.wildaura.co.uk

DESIGN HOUSE SOUTHSEA A huge range of gifts perfect for Xmas. Including Jellycat giant Monkey £55,Donkey £29. 55-57 Marmion Road, Southsea designhousesouthsea.co.uk

CHARLOTTE CORNELIUS JEWELLERY Designed & EDITH & BLANCHE Find the perfect Christmas outfit, gifts, and more for the special little ones in your life at Edith and Blanche in Southsea. Price £14-34 5 Marmion Road, Southsea edithandblanche.com 36

Handmade in the heart of Southsea Bubble Links from £99.

In-store, online, gift vouchers.

87a Marmion Road, Southsea charlottecornelius.co.uk

SEEDED RETAIL LTD Christmas Crochet Kits from Knitty Critters and are £24.95 per ki 5, Clarendon Road Southsea PO5 2DU www.seeded.com

SOUTHSEA BATHING HUT A relaxing home spa experience, handmade in Southsea. Packed with floral scented pampering products, this gorgeous collection fits through a letterbox. southseabathinghut.co.uk

SOUTHSEA SALVAGE An emporium of Antique & Vintage object d’art. For Original Christmas gifts and dressing your period home. FIND US on Instagram Southsea_Salvage

Barbara Tipple Jewellers

A handcrafted necklace from Barbara Tipple’s workshop.

15 Marmion Road, Southsea www.barbaratipple.co.uk

ALICE AND IVY BEAUTIQUE A gorgeous selection of independent beauty, skincare and wellness products.

Perfect for gifting, but you may want to treat yourself too! 7 Marmion Road Southsea PO5 2AT @aliceandivysouthsea www.aliceandivy.co.uk

THE MYSTERY OF SOUTHSEA'S LAUGHING SAILOR Outdoor Adventure Book. Turn the historic streets of Southsea into a giant outdoor escape room!

Get outside, solve the clues & catch the villain behind the legendary Southsea mystery!. www.mysteryguides.co.uk

THE CRAFT BEER MYSTERY IN A BOX! 10 CRAFT BEERS hold cryptic clues hidden somewhere on their labels... Unravel the story & solve the football mystery, one ale at a time! www.mysteryguides.co.uk

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CHRISTMAS AT ALICE AND IVY

orget the Holly and the Ivy – all you need for Christmas is alice and ivy, the beautique in the heart of Southsea. Just in case you haven’t discovered them yet, they are one of Marmion Roads newest additions and a sanctuary for skincare, makeup and well being.

We chatted to owner Zara about her top three gifting ideas for Christmas this year.

“The Lola’s Apothecary range is perfect for someone that likes to pamper themselves and create a luxury ‘home spa’ experience. The range includes a decadent bath and shower oil, body polish and a delicious body souffle to finish. Giving these products will make you more popular than Santa Claus.

Photos: Hashtag Social

“For the man in your life – how about one of our ‘Dapper Chap’ or ‘Bearded Inked and Awesome’ wash bags? And if you’re feeling

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generous, why not pop in something from our men’s product ranges – the Skin Regimen or some Ilapothecary Beardy Balm.

“I’m really excited about our newest range — Jane Iredale Cosmetics. This incredible range combines skincare and makeup. It’s beautiful, cruelty-free, clean make up, easy to use and it’s great for anyone with skin sensitivity. The range includes the pure mineral face powders, nourishing skin primers and foundations, gorgeous lip glosses, and amazing mascara”.

This is just a small selection of what’s on offer at this wonderful beautique – from stocking fillers and Secret Santa to statement gifts, alice and ivy has you covered. All purchases can be gift wrapped so all you need to do is deliver them. And if you can’t decide what to buy, they also do gift vouchers, which are redeemable against products or treatments. alice and ivy also has YOU covered for the party season! Come on in, and get yourself party ready! From a brow shape and tint with Keeley the ‘Brow Whisperer’, to creating that Christmas party look with a 45 minute make up session (costing £30 – which is redeemable against any products you buy!), you’ll look and feel fantastic.

Along with the other great shops on Marmion Road, they’ll be opening late night on Thursdays until 8pm and every Sunday from now until Christmas from 10.30 – 3.30. alice and ivy. They’re the gift that keeps on giving!

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DESIGN HOUSE SOUTHSEA

Gifts galore at your local home furnishings shop. Everything you need for your home plus that special gift for someone you love.

55-57 Marmion Road Southsea PO5 2AT

Tel/Fax 02392 838038 www.designhousesouthsea.co.uk 40

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AN ARTISTIC EYE FOR DETAIL Words: Kate Thompson. Photos: Paul Windsor

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acqui Mair’s home is full of joy.

From the 30 or more colourful jugs that live on the dresser in the breakfast room to the glorious collection of mis-matched singleton Staffordshire dogs in the delightful sitting room, she has created the perfect balance between playful and stylish.

The spacious Victorian house with 11 rooms (not including the delightful shower room with a porthole and the cellar that houses lots of fun stuff — but more of that later) provides the perfect backdrop for an artistic collection gathered over many years and several continents.

It’s no surprise that the Southsea based artist has put her mark on the property that has been home to the family since 1987.

When she and her husband Mike bought the property, it had been divided into bedsits. Far from being put off by the fact the back wall had fallen down, the roof was in a bad way and there was no kitchen, Jacqui felt invigorated.

In recent times Jacqui’s distinctive illustrations and collage have started to find their own space on the walls and they sit well with other well chosen artworks, each with an intriguing story to tell.

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“You could tell that people enjoyed living here - and it had almost seeped into the walls.

“In the beginning we lived very basically because we had no money. We worked our way through the rooms and initially it was a bit rushed but over time we have gone back and sorted out all the temporary stuff that held it together in the beginning,” she explained.

The former cook’s room houses the wonderful dresser.

“The dresser was here when we moved in and we haven’t done anything to it other than fill it.

“There probably are too many jugs on there but I can honestly say that they all get used,” said Jacqui, who studied Fine Art at Bristol Polytechnic and the Royal College of Art. The colour scheme for the house is calm in terms of colour with a bone white shade or something similar on most walls.

In the fabulous bathroom there is a shade beloved of Ben Nicholson that was replicated 43

thanks to the service offered by B&Q whereby they can scan a colour from a book or magazine and mix it for you.

rooms in the house and at one stage she even moved to an address away from the home but not for long.

“I love going into the bathroom in the morning and seeing that Ben Nicholson colour. I’m a great believer that a bathroom doesn’t just have to be a bathroom, it can be a living space as well as a place where you take a bath.

“The house didn’t feel the same without me working here - it’s as if it needed me to be creating within these four walls.

“When the person came to fit the carpet, he looked a bit concerned that it was going in a bathroom but to my mind there’s no reason not to have carpet,” said Jacqui.

While having art on the wall is second nature to Jacqui she understands some people may be more hesitant but she has some great advice.

“I would always suggest that people go with what they like and don’t be too tied to finding a piece of artwork that is a certain size or shape. You can always move things around and rather than buying mass produced art why not go to a local gallery or a student art show and buy directly from the artist - you will definitely make their day,” she said.

Jacqui’s own art studio has been in several

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“I have held collage workshops in the front room and people are often concerned about making a mess but I’m never worried as you can always clear it up,” she said.

Her relaxed attitude is part of what makes the house so beguiling. Jacqui and Mike love to host parties and the cellar houses all the fun stuff they use to dress the house. Along with Christmas decorations, there are textiles brought back from India that they have used to recreate a Raj palace in their front room as the setting for a wonderful party.

“I hope I never lose the art of the silly,” quipped Jacqui.

To view Jacqui’s work: www.jacquelinemair.co.uk and jhmair on instagram. Find out more about her workshops go to www.lessoeursanglaises.com

Lasting Powers of Attorney Annabelle C Jones

LLM

Solicitor

LPA Specialist By setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) you can appoint people you trust to make decisions with or for you in case an accident or illness in the future means you are not able to make the choices on your own.

If you would like to know more about creating your LPA, contact Annabelle for a free no obligation discussion.

Annabelle C Jones, Solicitor Email: Annabelle@acjlaw.co.uk Phone: 07591 527713 Website: www.acjlaw.co.uk Annabelle C Jones is a freelance solicitor, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

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WE CAN SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES

A

s our thoughts turn to Christmas trees and all things festive, the team at Chinneck Shaw is focused on the 500+ trees that are being planted as part of our new green way of doing business.

The trees represent house sales and each time a house is sold by Chinneck Shaw in Southsea and Portsmouth, a tree is planted.

We are working with Carbon Footprint Ltd to analyse our carbon footprint, with the aim of offsetting and reducing the impact the business has on the environment.

We used their business calculator to calculate our business carbon footprint

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and so far we have invested in: ● Tree planting in South East UK ● Tree planting in the Great Rift V alley, Kenya. ● Global Portfolio of verified Carbon Reduction Projects ● Gold standard Community Based Verified Carbon reduction Projects ● Americas Portfolio of Verified Carbon Reduction Projects And the great news is, we purchased 5x more than our actual calculated CO2 emissions. This means that Chinneck Shaw Limited is a Carbon Neutral PLUS organisation. (the PLUS comes from offsetting more than your footprint).

OUR GREEN PLEDGE We promise to plant a tree for every house we sell. What we like about this scheme is that clients can either choose any one of the projects or a specific project, they will receive an email and a certificate to confirm that we have planted a tree.

As a business we want to work in the most sustainable way we can and do a little bit more – we are making a commitment to be Net Zero by getting involved with the government’s UK Business Climate Hub and we hope other Pompey businesses will follow suit…

When we saw Portsmouth City Council’s announcement to create a new green space in the city centre, it made our hearts sing.

Coming on top of the recent news in the Chancellor’s budget statement that there are plans to create the UK’s longest urban park at the northern end of Portsea Island - this latest announcement, can only help make the city even more attractive to buyers and investors.

According to the council’s website, they are looking at a multi-functional, green space that will not only serve existing communities and users of the city centre but will also be the linchpin for new homes and a new community. The ambitious long-term plans extend beyond the former Sainsbury’s site, and the proposed development sees a phased approach of work that could total 9 hectares of land.

It really is exciting to see the environment being taken so seriously in Portsmouth and for green matters to be so high on the agenda.

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IS IT A HOME OR A DEAL? Neil Maxwell

A

n Estate Agent’s legal obligation is to get the best possible price for the property they are selling. So, as sometimes happens, when a client asks what works should, or could be undertaken to improve a property’s value, we need to make a judgment call of cost, versus benefit.

This judgement isn’t something that we take lightly as we wouldn’t want a customer paying out thousands only to receive the price quoted before the works were undertaken, because let’s face it, Southsea is a small place and bad reputations travel fast.

New kitchens do make a difference, but it’s often the case that new work surfaces, or re-painting wooden doors can often give a much-needed facelift, without spending a lot of money on an entirely new kitchen. A property I sold recently for the fifth time in my career, believe it or not, has the same solid wooden units but over the years the kitchen has had several new work surfaces and lots of coats of paint.

Adding additional bedrooms through a loft conversion can make a healthy difference and the best returns from loft conversions tend to be when the master bedroom is also fitted with an en-suite. However, any addition and any hike in value, is going to have to be

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justified by a buyer’s surveyor - if the house is to be sold.

The other consideration… ‘is it a home, or a deal?’ if you’re thinking of moving in the near future, then there’s probably going to be monetary difference between renovating for the short term and the long term.

Those jobs you’ve been putting off for years will no doubt need doing in order to achieve the best price, but why not do them anyway and enjoy the result? A recent client who told me they’d been putting off renovating the bathroom and kitchen, for fifteen years, needed to replace both in order to achieve the best price for their house, their only regret was not getting to enjoy the improvements themselves.

Light and bright homes, tidy gardens and first and last impressions are the basic essentials to make a home as appealing as possible and to achieve the best price. But, most important of all, is to get sound advice from established, experienced estate agents who have integrity and know the market, so perhaps make that your first priority!

Best wishes to all readers for 2022 from myself and all at Fry & Kent and we look forward to seeing you during the course of the New Year.

HIGH STREET, OLD PORTSMOUTH - £695,000 • Four bedroom grade II listed Georgian town house in Old Portsmouth.

• Approximately 250 years old with a wealth of period features throughout including wood paneling, original exposed beams and floors.

• Over 2,900 sq. ft of accommodation spanning over four floors including a master bedroom with dressing room and en-suite.

• EPC Exempt

LIVINGSTONE ROAD, SOUTHSEA - £775,000 • Substantial Five Bedroom Family home in quiet Southsea Street with unique self-contained annexe/apartment.

• 29 ft open plan kitchen/diner with separate utility room & cloakroom.

• Large southerly facing rear garden with detached home office.

• EPC Rating D

RICHMOND TERRACE, SOUTHSEA - £650,000 • Stunning four bedroom period family home in heart of Southsea’s highly requested Owens conservation area.

• This bright and airy home boasts a large 15ft by 14ft master bedroom and spacious four piece bathroom.

• Beautiful westerly facing court yard garden and driveway parking.

• EPC Rating D

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LOCAL COMPANY, GIGANET CONNECTING SOUTHSEA TO 10 X FASTER BROADBAND

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orget superfast and ultrafast, Southsea now has hyperfast broadband, courtesy of Giganet. A brand new full fibre network is rapidly being built, with over 19,500 homes and businesses already able to benefit. With engineers extending the network at a rate of 2,000 homes per month, Fareham-based Giganet is becoming the trusted provider for Southsea’s broadband.

More than 10 times faster than Portsmouth’s average broadband speed of 88.21Mb/s, full fibre is incredibly fast (up to 900Mb/s), ultrareliable, and delivers exactly what the modern household demands.

With today’s need to effectively work from home, transfer large files instantly, video call with no freezing or dropping out, full fibre broadband is simply the only way. Combined with the growth in smart homes, and an increasing rise in door locks, televisions, thermostats, cameras, lights, and even appliances being controlled through the internet, the need for full fibre increases further. If you like to stream movies and game online without lag, full fibre is the only way to make all of this possible, all at the same time. And it does.

SO, WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR EXISTING COPPER BROADBAND AND THE NEW FULL FIBRE? You may have heard the terms ‘fibre broadband’ and 'superfast' — you may have even signed up to a superfast broadband connection. But, did you know that these are not real full fibre, and only deliver speeds of up to 80Mb/s? The fundamental difference between these ‘Fibre to The Cabinet’ services, and Giganet’s hyperfast ‘Fibre To The Premises’ broadband is that aging copper cables are still 50

used. As opposed to Giganet’s end-to-end fibre (with not a millimetre of copper in sight!)

SO, WHAT’S THE ISSUE WITH COPPER? Absolutely nothing…if you lived in the Victorian era and only needed to make a phone call!

Copper wires were installed throughout the UK a hundred years ago and were never designed to support anything more than telephone calls. Yet many broadband providers like Sky, TalkTalk, and BT still rely on this feeble technology to provide their customers with broadband. Then there are companies like Virgin, who also advertise their products as ‘fibre’, but their cable still contains unreliable copper elements, similar to cable TV. The old copper cables were never designed for the things we do today. So streaming, gaming, and even basic working becomes painstaking.

IN CONTRAST, GIGANET’S FULL FIBRE BROADBAND MEANS YOU’RE SET FOR LIFE, WITH FIBRE ALL THE WAY TO YOUR HOME. With one-month rolling contracts, you will be blown away by Giganet’s speed, reliability and customer service. They don’t tie customers down to lengthy contracts. And with significant funding, they are here to stay, at a time when you see other companies folding.

Giganet aren’t on price comparison sites, but along with free router and installation for most types of home, their monthly pricing is set. No nasty add-ons, just one low fixed price. This local company are doing things differently, which is why they’re rated excellent on Trustpilot.

Want to know if you can get full fibre yet?

Check availability at your postcode: www.giganet.uk/Portsmouth or follow @giganetuk for updates.

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Independent practice since 1996 24hr Emergency Service Surgical theatre on site 34 Elm Grove • Southsea • Hants • PO5 1JG Tel: 02392 861122 • www.grove-vets.co.uk

PORTSMOUTH CHORAL UNION

Christmas Oratorio - Bach Saturday 11 December 2021 at 7.30pm St Mary’s Church www.pcuchoir.org

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REFLECTIONS

I

Poet Diana Swann talks about her book project

have earned a living as a classical musician all my life but I am now 88 and arthritic. I can no longer play the piano for it has become increasingly painful and frustrating. When lockdown began, I needed something to occupy longer hours of solitude.

I am lucky in that I live in a comfortable retirement residence facing the sea and I have always enjoyed walking along the seafront aided by a rollator. I had often found that phrases lodged in my head about scenes and happenings during my walk; and I began to write them down. Soon these phrases were being worked into poems which I began to send to long-suffering friends and family.

My eldest son suggested that I collect them into a book and he would support the publication, so I did. There are poems about COVID,

Portrait of Diana

Portsmouth and the sea, and thoughts about my own past, current and future life. I try to express the fears and hopes of people of my age, not only about our remaining days but also our worries about climate-change.

Hopefully the poems will make readers smile, reflect, and empathise.

To find out more about Diana’s book go to: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/amb1/ reflections-special-poems-about-past-presentand-future-lives?ref=user_menu 53

THE GOODS YARD

Reclamation Yard & Designer Showroom Floorboards, Victorian pine doors, radiators, fireplaces, antique furniture

PAINT STRIPPING SERVICE - doors, furniture etc POWDER COATING SERVICE - gates, railings, radiators etc On-site parking GOLDSMITH AVENUE, FRATTON, PORTSMOUTH P04 OBT T: 02392 818703 M: 07503 146108 thegoodsyard

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PLUMBER

NO CALL OUT CHARGE For all your plumbing needs call

Terry on: 07850 831078

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THE CARPET CAVERN “Traditional values, Modern materials”

The Carpet Cavern is a new carpet and flooring store run by JDS Carpets ltd.

With 20 years experience in the trade we can help you with all your flooring needs. We have 100s of top branded carpets, vinyls and LVTs to order as well as bargain price roll stock, remnants and rugs!

Supplied and professionally fitted or just supplied and locally delivered, we have something for everyone from budget ranges to the high end Rolls Royce of ranges! Come to see and feel the materials for yourself in store.

Our products are not just good value, they are guaranteed and come with great aftercare too!

The Carpet Cavern 48 Cromwell Road, Southsea PO4 9PN Tel: 07730653809

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J

LOCAL AUTHOR LOREE WESTRON’S DEBUT NOVEL, SET IN PORTSMOUTH AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT

enny’s life is at a crossroads. Her marriage has grown silent since the sudden death of her youngest daughter, two years ago, and now her eldest and only child is pushing her away. Nobody at home seems to need her anymore. At the Royal Mail sorting office where she is the only woman to have stuck with the job, her position is equally precarious. Though her boss can’t fault her work, he has made it clear he wants her out. Undermined at home and at work, Jenny is desperate for something to change. So, when a postcard from Australia, begging the recipient for forgiveness, but with an incomplete address on the Isle of Wight lands on her sorting table, she does the unthinkable – she slips it up her sleeve and sets off on her bicycle to deliver it herself. If she can’t save her own faltering relationships, perhaps she can help someone else save theirs.

condition. ~ Gabrielle Kimm, author of His Last Duchess A story of family and grief and yearning, wrapped up in a compelling mystery. Without a doubt, a writer to watch. ~ Laura Pearson, author of I Wanted You to Know Sublime writing and emotionally captivating. ~ Pete Adams, author of Black Rose

Set in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight during the turbulent summer of 1984, Missing Words captures Thatcher’s Britain at a moment of national unrest and social change. Loree Westron’s debut novel is an ultimately uplifting story about love, loss, the importance of family and finding redemption.

WHAT THE READERS SAY: An utterly human and moving family drama in which we watch one woman double-back into her past to find the future. ~ Alison MacLeod, author of Tenderness Loree Westron possesses that rare commodity: a tender and wise understanding of the human

Missing Words is published by Fairlight Books, and is available from Pigeon Books on Albert Road, and from other booksellers.

LoreeWestron.blogspot.com 57

FOR ALL YOUR TREE SURGERY NEEDS 24 HOUR CALL OUT

WE REMOVE THE TREE AND THE STUMP IN ONE CLEAN OPERATION Crown reduction, lifting and thinning Stump grinding Deadwooding of tree canopies Hedge trimming and reduction Supply, planting and aftercare of new trees & hedges

Removal and responsible recycling of green waste Tree Protection Order (TPO) research, application for planning consents with local authorities and conservation area trees completed free of charge We will beat any written quotation

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Timber furniture repairs, restoration and refinishing • Structural repairs • Colour matching service • Furniture making commissions • Ercol and mid-century furniture repairs specialist

•

www.artabelle.eu admin@artabelle.eu Call: Isabelle on 07973 269 673, Mike on 07546 497 945 58

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A CITY OF SANCTUARY & KINDNESS

P

ortsmouth has been designated a City of Sanctuary, one of a series of cities across the UK who welcome refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum. Shaun Martinez, who recently moved back to Portsmouth after 25 years abroad is working with refugees and is also developing a network of venues across the city, that once trained, will be able to offer support to people at risk. Called Spaces of Sanctuary (SoS) it aims, to train people to help support our most vulnerable neighbours. The idea is quite simple, different places around the city will open their doors to anyone who needs support, offering them kindness, a cup of tea and offer help towards finding solutions to the problems people might have.

Consent is central to any actions to be taken.

The scheme is unique.

Portsmouth is unique.Shaun thinks the scheme works because people in this city care and are truly kind. Other schemes in the city exist, Pompey Safe Space Scheme is one. ‘We are partnering with them and applaud Harriet Evens’ commitment to making Portsmouth a city free from sexual violence and harassment.

Places like Dice and Head Barbers on Albert Road have signed up, and we are looking forward to working with them to help make Portsmouth that little bit kinder. The libraries, galleries, churches, supermarkets and the university have also joined the scheme. To extend our map of

kindness we really need you… Our training is free and everything you need to be a volunteer is built into the project. We also encourage our volunteers to talk about their own lives and experiences of being a good neighbour with our expert trainers. I believe this is a great project for Portsmouth. Join us.

If you are interested in the scheme or any of Portsmouth City of Sanctuary’s work contact Shaun at shaun.pcos.sos@gmail.com

Harriet Evens from Pompey Safe Space Scheme and Shaun Martinez of Portsmouth City of Sanctuary. Photo by Riley Ellis

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“

RARING TO ROW

One of the hardest parts of rowing the Atlantic is to get to the start line in La Gorma and that’s exactly what we have found,” explained Kevin Watkins, who had previously planned to row the Atlantic in aid of the charity Action Medical Research with Team Elijah.

Instead, Kevin took the decision to set up another team – Raring to Row and to set off in Dec 2022.

“The two teams are on the best of terms and we are looking forward to cheering on Elijah Star when they set off on their journey”.

Raring to Row is now a mixed team, with everyone bringing something different to the campaign. Gemma, a seasoned ocean rower, completed the Tallisker Whiskey Atlantic Campaign (TWAC) in 2020 as part of Force Genesis and is seeking to set a record for the first woman to row the TWAC twice. “There is competition for this record though, which is

going to make things interesting,” said Kevin, who is the teams’ Royal naval veteran and his engineering skills will no doubt come to the fore during the crossing. Helen currently makes up the line-up, with a pedigree of crewing sea racing yachts and small boats at the highest level and out of the sight of land - a great asset to the team. “We are actively recruiting for a fourth member of the team and so if this interests you contact hello@raringtorow.com”, Action Medical Research actively fund research into rare disease in childhood, which is woefully unfunded and can often leave families without any hope or support. The Raring to Row team, want to give genuine hope to children and families affected by rare diseases. This issue is very much understood first-hand by the team, as Gemma tragically lost two sisters to Rare Diseases.

The team at the Dine with Davina event in aid of Action Medical Research.

L-R is Helen Stone-Ward, Davina McCall, Gemma Best and Kevin Watkins

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIGHTINGALES GOLDEN CARE

Staff at Nightingales look forward to celebrating their 20 year milestone anniversary this February

N

ightingales Golden Care has been providing high-quality, low-cost home care in Portsmouth, and the surrounding area, for two decades.

The company was founded in 2002 by its clinical lead nurse Sally Ridley who set out to make a difference having seen the difficulties people faced in obtaining good quality home care in Portsmouth whilst working as a district nurse.

“We believe that everyone deserves to remain in their own home and get the support they require to be as independent as possible.

“What’s more we don’t think services like these should be expensive.

“We didn’t plan to be the biggest. We are proud to be a small-family run care company that values its staff and places people over profit,” Clinical Lead Sally Ridley said.

“We have all learned so much in these two decades,” manager Ben Chudley said.

and how to work alongside family members to ensure they can get the most out of their lives.

“We are so proud of our staff, many of whom have been celebrating their own milestone anniversaries.”

One of Ben’s favourite tasks is handing out big cheques. The company has a policy of rewarding carers with a £500 bonus after ten years of continuous service and is proud of how many staff go on to meet this milestone.

“Come February we will be needing even bigger cheques as staff go on to celebrate 20 year anniversaries.

“It’s an incredible achievement. We are really proud. We know just how much our clients value the continuity of service delivery and this is why it makes this such a big cause for celebration.

“If you have been working with a client for a long time, you really can't underestimate the importance of the relationships that you build over time. The familiarity that can bring.

Ben joined Nightingales as a carer shortly after the business was launched.

“We have service users and clients who have been working together for nearly 20 years – day in, day out.

“We’ve learned about what it means to people to be able to be in their own homes even at their most vulnerable moments, about how best to help without taking away their independence

“These staff really feel like family members.

They have a good sense of what is important to that client and how to make a difference in their lives.”

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Aboveboard Floor Sanding Free Quotation Clean reliable service Public liability insurance

07976 551 614 01489 602 650 aboveboardfloorsanding.com aboveboardflooring@live.com

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MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS

Southsea Lifestyle

Helping local businesses grow for The Arts Society Portsea Island looks forward to resuming our normal lecture programme, as soon as possible.

In the meantime a programme of Zoom meetings can be accessed by members on our website:

www.pidfas.org.uk

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the past 17 years If you would like to join them, ask for our media pack today info@southsealifestyle.com

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W

RUSHMERE FARM

e are now running lots of workshops, volunteer days and feasts with opportunities to stay in a yurt, a shepherd’s hut or use the space for your own events. Greenwood stool making and spoon carving workshops all start with a tour of the farm and woodland, with excellent tuition from our resident woodworker @wodwo.wood, and delicious home-grown food @digginrootsveg for lunch and tea.

Rushmere Farm is just to the north of Portsmouth in Hambledon, and is making its final steps towards certified organic, nature friendly farming in a commitment to grow nutrient dense, healthy food, with a positive environmental impact. If this is something that interests you, you have questions or you want to get involved, please get in touch.

Tel: 07832 535933 Email: george@rushmerefarm.com www.rushmerefarm.com @rushmerefarm 66

Funeral Directors & Memorial Consultants

Your local & Family Owned Funeral Home of Portsmouth & Southsea A Funeral Home, Wholly Owned by South Downs Funeral Service A Family Company 90 Elm Grove, Southsea, Hants PO5 1LN Tel: 023 92 875575 • info@mayfieldsfunerals.co.uk

Direct Funeral Services from £995.00 Tailored & Simple Funeral Services from £1625.00 www.mayfieldsfunerals.co.uk Under the personal care of Mr Rowan Maxwell, Miss Lucy Thomason and Mrs Lisa Legg • Golden Charter Funeral Plans • 24 hour local, personal care and support • Floristry Service • Stonemasonry Service • Fully accredited and regulated members of SAIF • No deposit or credit checks required