The Jersey Life - September issue

SEPTEMBER 2020 | thejerseylife.co.uk

Honouring Nature...

home | beauty | food and drink | motoring | the arts | fashion | travel | property | business | health | garden | antiques

GALLICHAN JEWELLERS 16 Royal Square, St Helier Tel: 01534 722915 • Email: ejgallichan@gmail.com

Publisher Fish Media Ltd Jersey JE1 1FX Email: hello@thejerseylife.co.uk NEW WEBSITE Visit: www.thejerseylife.co.uk Editor Juanita Shield-Laignel Email: juanita@thejerseylife.co.uk Travel Writer Rebecca Underwood underwoodrebecca@hotmail.com Photography Simon Finch simon@fishmedia.biz Production Sarah Le Marquand Sales Manager Juanita Shield-Laignel juanita@thejerseylife.co.uk Accounts and Administration Sarah Donati-Ford accounts@fishmedia.biz Director Jamie Fisher Contributors Stephen Cohu Rebecca Underwood Mark Shields Lorraine Pannetier Katya Pastorini Paul Darroch Front Cover Le Pulente Sunset

by Neil Dorgan

Follow us on Twitter: @TheJerseyLife1 Like us on Facebook: The Jersey Life Follow us on Instagram: @the.jerseylife © All rights reserved. The Jersey Life is copyright and may not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers. Whilst Fish Media takes every reasonable precaution, no responsibility can be accepted for any property, services or products offered in this publication and any loss arising there from.

Whilst every care is taken with all materials submitted to The Jersey Life the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to such material. Fish Media reserves the right to reject of accept any advertisement, article or material supplied for publication or edit such material prior to publication. Opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Fish Media. We accept no liability for any misprints or mistakes and no responsibility can be taken for the content of these pages.

So with the children ‘back to school’, what seems to be ‘normal’ routine has returned to an otherwise, onoing, ‘stranger than fiction’ life…

Personally I found (and continue to find) my garden a great source of calm and tranquillity when the world around was fraught with uncertainty during lockdown and beyond – it seems that in our time of need, nature, nurtured us…and in so doing gave us a stark reminder that we need to continue to ‘nurture nature’ with all our might!

Our front cover is emblazoned with one of the most beautiful natural resources we have here in our Island – sea, sky, sunsets…all capable of ‘soothing the savage breast’; we truly are blessed, so are honouring the natural world in many of this month’s features.

Caroline Earle, Author of ‘Ahimsa: A personal journey, via an animal sanctuary in India, to veganism’ has written a thought provoking and stirring piece regarding her travels… having been a life-long meat-eater – her conversion was a great surprise, as she explains.

Nigel Jones of Jersey In Transition has written a wonderful article on the joys and sensibilities of Permaculture and the way forward for those wishing to participate….enjoy on page 54 Countryside colour at home, running safely through pregnancy and the many health benefits of swimming are all covered as is coping appropriately with stress – very poignant for many right now.

Lighter and Brighter helps us spruce up our homes – so important to feel happy at home now and for the foreseeable future – and ‘Tablescaping’ may become your new thing!!!

Intrigued? Read page 24.

Decluttering, manifesting and loft conversions are some of the other diverse subjects we have going on this month – so something for everyone.

Please share far and wide – realising our carbon footprint is now minimal – we intend to keep going with digital for as long as it makes sense. With so much print ending up in landfill, despite recycling efforts (especially glossies) – it just seems like the right thing to do…so fire up your kindle, switch on your laptop, make a brew and enjoy!

In Health and Hope

Juanita x If you have an interesting story to share or would like your business reviewed, please feel free to call me on 619882.

I’d love to hear from you.

September 2020

3 WELCOME and The Jersey Life contact information

LOCAL 10 BEYOND EVEREST Reaching new heights for Headway Jersey

11 WALKING THROUGH AUTUMN With the National Trust For Jersey

12 GET TOGETHER FOR GOOD CAMPAIGN

By Macmillan Jersey and JT

COMMUNITY 50 TRAVELLING THROUGH COVID

By Philippa Alexandre

BUSINESS 46 BUSINESSES START GETTING BACK TO NORMAL

52

What is the secret of HPO’s, Mark Shields explains

FOOD AND DRINK

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60 LUNCHBOX RECIPES! Easy, quick and inspiring ways you can to reclaim your lunch hour

ARTS AND CULTURE 52 SURVIVING LOCKDOWN A musician’s perspective

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HISTORY 66 TELL THE STORIES THAT WANT TO BE TOLD

By Paul Darroch

HEALTH AND WELLBEING 8 WE ARE ALL CAPABLE OF CHANGE Caroline Earle defines her life’s change of direction in 2018

54 BACK TO THE GARDEN

By Nigel Jones

34 EAT YOUR WAY TO A SIX PACK

By Scott Harrison

36 A GUIDE TO PREGNANCY RUNNING Can you keep running as a mum-to-be

38 THE HEALTY BENEFITS OF SWIMMING For body and mind

42 DEALING WITH STRESS Some simple exercises to help you control and conquer it

HOME AND GARDEN 14 COUNTRYSIDE COLOUR

38

Add a burst of nature pop to your décor

30

18 LOFT CONVERSION Some things that you need to know

22 MAKE YOU HOME FEEL LIGHTER AND BRIGHTER In time for Autumn

24 TABLESCAPING The latest interior trends everyone needs

28 BELONGINGS MAY BE RUINING YOUR RELATIONSHIP Is clutter having a greater impact on your love life

30 WANT TO GROW YOUR OWN CHILLIES? Here’s what you need to know

FASHION 58 COULD CRYSTAL JEWELLERY CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

By Katie Wright

TRAVEL 56 ALL ABOARD A CITY BREAK IN BRISTOL

By Rebecca Underwood

MOTORING 62 THE NEW LAND ROVER DEFENDER The latest set of wheels taken for a spin 6 | www.thejerseylife.co.uk

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WEBSITE DESIGN FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND START UPS Social Media Marketing - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Contact: hello@thejerseylife.co.uk

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Journey’s End:

CONCLUDING THAT WE ARE ALL CAPABLE OF CHANGE This month should have seen the sixth Jersey Festival of Words. In celebration of the event, author Caroline Earle chooses three words which defined her life’s change of direction in 2018…

The author outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar

Women with no vote. Smoking in workplaces. Homosexuality illegal. Times change. We change. We are all open to change our ideas, beliefs and habits all the time. And this is what I found happening to me, over six months in South East Asia and India.

It’s not what I expected when I got on the plane from Heathrow to Bangkok. From there, it was north to Chiang Mai, and then a slow boat down the Mekong to Laos, a nightmare 26-hour bus ride to Vietnam, into Cambodia, a hop over to Sri Lanka, and three months in India, from Madurai in the south to Amritsar in the north.

This was not just sightseeing. This was a midlife reboot, pressing the ‘back to factory settings’, living out of a suitcase for six months. The joy of having more money and slightly more wisdom than you had when you were 18, when I was more worried about finances and the state of my bowels than politics, religion or indeed compassion.

I used to be the kind of person who would haggle like my life depended on it… until I realised that I was negotiating over the equivalent of 5p. This time, there was a growing compassion that I had not known before, a caring for all who were poor, disadvantaged, or disabled.

At one point, in India, I saw a beggar who was prostrate, limbs gangly in all directions, as if he had landed splat on the ground like the coyote from the Road Runner cartoon. He inched forward, pushing an aluminium pot in front of him to collect money, pulling himself forward with his arms. As foreign tourists we are advised Beggar children - always asking for more

METANOIA… (n) the journey of changing one’s mind, heart, self, or way of life Earlier this year, sometime before lockdown, I was watching the remake of Dumbo with my grand-daughter. Even though I know the elephants are computer graphics, I found it almost unbearable to watch.

My grand-daughter, who had not yet reached three, certainly picked up on the fact that Dumbo and his mum were incredibly sad.

Performing animals in circuses… What were we thinking?

A decade ago I took my kids to Seaworld to see dolphins jumping through hoops and ‘trained’ whales flipping wet-suited humans in the air. I wouldn't do it now. What were we thinking?

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HEALTH AND WELLBEING

An Indian boy cuts up animal livers with his feet at the side of the road

to ignore the beggars. But they are people and every one of them has a story to tell. I am not saying we can give to them all and we continued to be wary, but we started to ‘see’ the beggars.

One day, we came out of a large temple and noticed a man with severely deformed legs. We were about to cross the road to talk to the street cow and a couple of friendly dogs, when we realised that we’d be ignoring the human being. We gave him some money, probably a lot more than he earned in a day, but to us was little more than the cost of a Starbucks. His face lit up with a smile and he kissed the money and said thank you by touching his heart.

This brings us to my second new word, SAWUBONA… a Zulu word meaning ‘I see you’. Former US president Bill Clinton, when asked for a piece of life advice, said: ‘I’ve come to believe that one of the most important things is to see people.

The person who opens the door for you, the person who pours your coffee. Acknowledge them. Show them respect. Sawubona.’

I wasn’t just noticing the human beings, of course. I was becoming very aware of the animals. It started in Chiang Mai where we stayed at an elephant rescue sanctuary and we learned about Phajaan, the brutal practice of beating elephants into submission for any human interaction. I am ashamed to recall that I have ridden an elephant in the past. But doesn't this illustrate perfectly how we can and do change? When we know better we do better.

Nowhere is animal welfare (or lack of) more in your face than India. In Udaipur I volunteered for two weeks at Animal Aid Unlimited, the most wonderful animal sanctuary. Disabled dogs, mangy dogs, a brain-injured dog who walked like he was a puppet, dying cows, calves that smelled of candy floss, wonky donkeys, and a water buffalo called Flower who liked to cuddle up and put her head in your lap. I really did find myself telling a cow that I’d never eat meat again. The experience forms the opening chapter of my book, AHIMSA…, another wonderful word, from Hinduism and Buddhism, meaning respect for all living things and avoidance of violence towards others.

I went vegetarian just before the travelling, because I didn't want to eat dodgy meat. I told my sister, who has been vegan for more than 25 years, that I would never be vegan. She merely replied: ‘Never say never.’

In the back streets of Old Hanoi I saw a dog being roasted on a spit. I saw tortoise on the menu. The reaction was predictable

A water buffalo called Flower taking a nap in Caroline's lap

when I said as much on Facebook. It was my sister who said: ‘What’s the difference?’

What, indeed, is the difference between tortoise in Vietnam and crab or lobster on the menu at home? What is the difference between a spit-roast dog in Hanoi and a hog roast at a summer party in Jersey? It got me thinking. Me, a meat-eater all my life.

And then one evening I watched the documentary Dominion and I realised that veganism was indeed my next step.

Veganism has never been easier, food production is evolving, it’s good for the planet and good for your health. Can you justify taking a sentient being’s life just for the taste in your mouth for a matter of minutes? But can just one person make a difference?...

Well, it’s estimated that by going vegan, you can save 100 lives per year. If I reach 85, which I sincerely hope I do, I could save 3,000 lives. If the six members of my close family were also vegan, together we could save 24,000 animals. That makes it worth doing, doesn’t it?

Eating dead flesh. Destroying the oceans. Drinking the milk of another species and sending their babies to be slaughtered, just for being born male. Just imagine that in 10, 20, 50 years time, thousands if not millions more people will be saying: What were we thinking?

Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money – Indian proverb *Ahimsa: A personal journey, via an animal sanctuary in India, to veganism, by Caroline Earle, is available on Amazon, as well as locally at the Harbour Gallery and Cooper’s at Castle Quay. A special podcast with the author is being produced for the Jersey Festival of Words.

See their website or Facebook for details.

The word ‘vegetarianism’ was coined in the 1840s. Before that, vegetarians were referred to as Pythagoreans after the Greek philosopher Pythagoras, who lived from 570-490 BC. He said: ‘As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings, he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love.’

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 9

COMMUNITY

Beyond Everest Reaching New Heights for Headway Jersey

View from Snowdon summit The 'Beyond Everest’ Challenge was the culmination of intensive training for Headway Jersey’s fundraising and events Manager Bryce Alford and perhaps his greatest challenge yet, but does not compare to the challenge he believes Headway Jersey faces having lost £100,000 due to Covid-19. His intension was not only to raise £10,000 (£1 for every metre of elevation achieved), but also to inspire the Jersey public to set their own elevation challenge throughout September and in so doing he created the Beyond Everest Virtual Challenge.

You can make a difference too, join the challenge and ''Reach Higher for Headway'. Whether you walk or run, use the stairs at home or in the office, the treadmill at the gym or find a more challenging dog walking route, or cliff path walk the choice is yours.

How high are you prepared to climb? Here are just a few of the mountains around the world for you to set your sights on: Mount Everest - 8,848m Nepal Mount Kilimanjaro - 5,895m Tanzania The Eiger - 3,970m Switzerland The combined 3 Peaks - 3,408m UK Half Dome - 2,694m Yosemite National Park Mount Kosciuszko - 2,228m Australia Mer de Glace - 1,913m France Ben Nevis - 1,345 Scotland Mount Snowdon - 1,085m Wales Scafell Pike - 978m England

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A unique Beyond Everest wooden Eco Medal and E-Certificate will be your reward, along with knowing that you will be helping to save Headway Jersey’s life changing services for those who have suffered brain injuries, such as Aneurysm, Brain tumour, Stroke and accidents amongst many other causes.

Each year running costs are £350,000 with the greater part coming from fund raising activities. Register at the Race Nation link here: https://race-nation.co.uk/register/headway-jerseyltd/beyond-everest-virtual-challenge.

Here is an easy way for you to achieve the Scafell Pike challenge at 978m. A flight of stairs at home or at work would give you 3m of elevation. Whilst this might not sound a lot, if you were to ascend 10 times each day you would accumulate 30m of elevation throughout the day. If you repeat this for 20 days in the month that would give you 600m. If you were then to add in a more challenging dog walk in a week or perhaps a hilly run or a cliff path walk each weekend, you would achieve your goal.

As we approach our 24th year, Headway Jersey are grateful for all the continued support from the generous Jersey public.

Our just giving page is www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ bryce-alford-hope24 all donations are greatly welcome.

Contact details; Bryce Alford T: 01534 505937 E: brycealford.headway@gmail.com www.headway.org.je

THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR JERSEY is staging its annual ‘Walking through Autumn’ festival next week from 9th – 13th September. Sponsored

by Jersey Water, the festival offers the public the perfect opportunity to enjoy the very best of the Island on foot at a beautiful, and quieter time of the year.

‘Walking through Autumn’ offers over 26 walks taking in National Trust lands and properties including Grouville Marsh, La Mare au seigneur (St Ouen’s pond) and other sites around the Island. Participants can enjoy themed walks such as wildlife and wellness walks at sunrise and sunset, heritage trails around St Mary, St Lawrence and Trinity, town trails, nature walks, foraging and even Forest Bathing!

Helier Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Jersey Water, said: “Our purpose is supplying the water for our island to thrive today and every day. Water is at the heart of island life and we are focused on securing that high-quality supply which we all need to flourish and prosper while protecting the landscapes we love.”

“Our reservoirs are critical for supplying water, for our island’s biodiversity and as beautiful open spaces for you to enjoy.

We are proud to be sponsoring the Walking Though Autumn Festival and supporting the National Trust, an organization very much aligned with our values.”

“There’s something for everyone as the walks focus on the National Trust's sites and wildlife and so are the perfect opportunity to get out in the fresh air and enjoy autumn with friends and family."

Donna Le Marrec. Marketing and Events Manager for The National Trust in Jersey said: “We’re fortunate to have many wonderful sites and buildings in our care and what better way to enjoy them, but with a walking festival. Each walk is led by a Blue Badge Guide, specialist or by one of our Lands Team and is tailored to a specific area or site. What sets this festival aside, is the opportunity to experience ‘behind the scenes’ such as access to a particular site or to access somewhere not normally available to the public. We’re very grateful for Jersey Water’s support, as without them this activity wouldn’t be possible”.

The festival starts on Wednesday 9 September with the first walk at 9.30 am. and finishes on Sunday 13 September.

All walks are free for National Trust members and £10 per walk for non-members.

For access to the e-brochure please click on the walking programme link:- https://www.nationaltrust.je/walking-throughautumn-festival-2020/ For more information and to book on any of the walks please visit the National Trust website www.nationaltrust/je/events

MACMILLAN JERSEY AND JT LAUNCH THE 7 DAY ‘GET TOGETHER FOR GOOD’ CAMPAIGN The annual fundraising day for MacMillan Cancer Support Jersey is changing this autumn with a challenge to use 7 days to make a real difference. This year Macmillan Jersey are asking us to help them to continue to help our loved ones, and with JT are launching the ‘Get Together for Good’ campaign.

‘Get together for Good’ is a week of activities and challenges running from 21 to 27 September. Each event is about bringing friends, colleagues, classmates and families together, either online or in person. Making every day and every event unique by uniting the whole community, for one week, to make a change.

MacMillan Jersey receives no funding from MacMillan UK and relies on the donations and generosity of islanders to provide much needed services for local patients and their families. With JT’s help, the charity hopes that a refreshing approach to fundraising, allowing everyone to personalise their day, will help raise the funds needed to maintain their services.

Local businesses, eager to play their part, have really embraced the idea, providing prizes for the bumper prize draw and pledging donations for purchases made towards group events.

Lauren Perchard-Rees, Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support Jersey, said: “We felt that 2020 was the year for change and with the creativity and passion of the JT team, 12 | www.life-mags.com

we decided to give people loads of opportunities to get together to raise money for our work. Every penny raised here, stays here, in Jersey, helping not only cancer patients but also their support network of family and close friends. The Oasis cancer support centre alone costs over £300,000 a year to run but we need more than that to continue our work with patients, especially this year as our fundraising is 50% down on previous years.”

Tamara O Brien, Group Head of Customer Experience for JT, said: “We know that in small communities such as ours in the Channel Islands, the chances are that most of us will know someone affected by cancer. By supporting MacMillan Jersey, we have helped turn the traditional one-day fundraiser into a week of fun that can be done online or in groups, giving everyone plenty of options including staying at home to having small gatherings.

There will be links to downloadable invitations, suggested movie lists, bunting and posters, all to help spread the message of supporting the brilliant and vital work of MacMillan Jersey.”

MacMillan Jersey helps people with all types of cancer and has provided over 3000 support sessions in the last 12 months.

To find out more about the ‘Get together for Good’ week, how to become a partner and how to donate visit www.macmillanjersey.com

HOME LIVING

Countryside Colour

Fancy adding a burst of florals and nature pop to your decor? Sam Wylie-Harris picks out the best of the bunch...

With our parkland and gardens a verdant green and flora and fauna running wild, the countryside's teaming with inspiration at this time of year - and you don't need a holiday cottage or walled garden to embrace it.

Meadow flowers, beautiful bouquets and ditsy prints can be all be brought to life in your home decor. Pairing colourful plant-inspired designs with a simple sofa or armchair could transform a tranquil corner and create impact in rooms. While freshly picked grasses and shades of green can create a positive and calming space, a variety of plant shapes can be used for contrast - and you can always artfully place flowers among them.

Here's our pick of the bunch...

BLOOMSBURY CLANCY GREY WALLPAPER, ÂŁ60 PER ROLL, GRAHAM & BROWN We may not have made it to any of the famous garden shows or festivals this year, but this big blousy print is worthy of its place

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AT HOME

HOME LIVING among the magnificent floral displays we would have been dazzled by. Impressive as a feature wall too, you can almost smell these scented blooms.

THE SHOPPER IN MORNING GLORY (CENTRE) AND FUSCHIA (LEFT), £18, CATH KIDSTON Of course, it goes without saying you'll need a suitable bag to bring home your rich bounty of sprays - and what could be prettier than a reusable chintz-inspired floral shopper? Lightweight and durable, Cath Kidston will make a 20% donation from every Shopper sold to The Prince's Trust Women Supporting Women initiative, which aims to change the lives of 10,000 young women within five years.

REVERSIBLE GLASS VASE, £38, BLOCK DESIGN A really cute idea, especially when you consider it only takes a single stem, such as a dahlia or chrysanthemum, to create some wow factor and lift your mood. A dual-purpose vase made from laboratory glass, it can be flipped to give your prize pick a different pose.

THE SHOPPER IN OAK LEAF, £18, CATH KIDSTON And if you're feeling creative, we love this down-to-earth idea of snipping some leafy branches or picking up a bundle of eucalyptus and planting it inside one of these shoppers for a decorative work of art.

ARTIST COLLECTION ROSES BY PAUL DONAGHY, £40, MALVERN SIDEBOARD, £299, NEXT A reproduction of a floral still life by Irish artist Paul Donaghy, whose paintings are inspired by nature and the likes of Cezanne and Matisse. Donaghy has exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the UK and Ireland, and this really is a priceless piece to imbibe the natural beauty of sunny blooms.

THE SOFOLOGY CRICKET IN CRICKET VELVET MIX GREEN, £949, SOFOLOGY This sumptuous velvet sofa in lush green plays well against a backdrop of periwinkle blue, especially if it's framed by ferns, plants and succulents. With contrast piping and deep, hand-buttoned detailing on the back, this is a striking and super-comfy statement piece.

EMMA BRIDGEWATER PINK ROSES COLLECTION, FROM £14.95 FOR A SMALL MUG TO £17.95 FOR A DINNER PLATE, EMMA BRIDGEWATER We've got a crush on this flirty pink tableware, which combines flower power and a rosy outlook. Mix it up with bold colours, eclectic decos and an embroidered tablecloth for some tip-top tablescaping and a nod to boho styling.

continues overleaf...

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 15

HOME LIVING

SET OF SIX PEONY GLASSES, £89, GRAHAM & GREEN With the promise of peonies in season 24/7, these intricately etched tumblers will not only give your drinks trolley a makeover, but you can colour code them for cocktails, mocktails, spritzers and fruity infusions.

VILLA MULTI FLORAL RUG, FROM £49.99 (OTHER ITEMS PART OF ROOM SET), CARPETRIGHT (PICTURED ABOVE) Throw rugs offer endless inspiration, especially if you love moving things around. And a little bit of matchy-matchy can work wonders with bed linen in a similar floral print. After all, who doesn't want to wake up to life being a bed of roses with petals strewn at their feet?

MIMULUS ANTHRACITE WALLPAPER, £175 FOR THREE ROLLS, MIND THE GAP If you want to go wild with bold wallpaper, this menagerie of foliage suggests fistfuls of buttercups, narcissi and ferns - and probably the closest thing to a greenhouse to call your own, without the bother of having to tend to all those seeds, bulbs and plants.

TWILIGHT GARDEN SINGLE REVERSIBLE DUVET SET, £45, CATH KIDSTON This reversible single set includes a duvet cover and pillowcase (200 thread count in 100% cotton) in a wild flower meadow print. And will look perfectly at home in a guest room or dreamy sanctuary to call your own.

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MEL OWERS Painters & Decorators Limited

Interior and Exterior Decorating Covering all aspects of the trade including Specialist Paint Effects and High Quality Wall Coverings

726663 Or contact John McInally on 07797 710 890 anytime Daytime telephone and fax number:

Email: melowers@hotmail.co.uk Kroonstad, Clairvale Road, St Helier

HOME LIVING

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN CONSIDERING A

Loft Conversion

Loft conversions can add more space and value but there's a lot to think about first.

Sam Wylie-Harris seeks some expert advice...

It's safe to say our homes have seen a lot of action over the past few months. So much so that some of us may be thinking about going up in the world - with a loft conversion, to create extra living space without having to move.

Savvy as it may sound, large construction jobs come at a price and there's lots to consider. To help, we turned to trades site myjobquote.co.uk for insight into some of the key things to think about if you're considering a loft conversion...

HIRING AN ARCHITECT When planning a loft conversion, it's best to hire an architect to design and draw up the plans. This means the loft conversion will certainly be safe, and there's a clear plan for contractors to follow to save any confusion, time and money. Architect fees need to be considered and added to any budget for a loft conversion.

PLANNING PERMISSION AND BUILDING REGULATIONS Most loft conversions don't need planning permission, however it's always recommended you double-check. An architect or builder will have more of an idea whether you need to apply for planning permission, but it's also good to research yourself.

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Even if your loft conversion doesn't need planning permission, it will still need to adhere to building regulations and guidelines. Both contractors and architects should ensure all work being carried out follows building regulations. Not following regulations can lead to fines and even knocking down conversions that aren't up to scratch.

TYPE OF LOFT CONVERSION There are a number of different kinds of loft conversion, and it's always good to have an idea of what type you can have in your property and what outcome you want. This will also give you an idea of what budget you'll need too.

For example, if you're looking for a cheaper loft conversion, a roof light loft conversion is the most affordable option, whereas a mansard loft conversion is the most expensive type. The type of loft conversion you have can also be dictated by what type and size of space you have available.

Roof light loft conversion: This is the most affordable option, as no construction is carried out on the roof, but windows are added to let in light. They don't provide as much space as other conversions because the roof is left where it is, so if you want more space, other loft conversions may be ideal. continues overleaf...

HOME LIVING

JFA ARCHITECTS RIBA Jane Blakeley BA Hons Dip Arch Cert Urban Des RIBA JFA ARCHITECTS have particular focus to house architecture from one off houses to refurbishment and extensions with a policy of no project being too small.

The practice has an open door policy to discuss projects at a preliminary level.

"Our homes no longer need to be confined to simply four walls, we can explore the opportunity of the 'outside being brought in', says Jane, 'and garden landscape and design merging as an extension of the home'.

T: 01534 744773 • E: JANEF@LOCALDIAL.COM www.jfa-architects.org SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 19

HOME LIVING Dormer loft conversion: A dormer conversion increases the amount of head space in your loft, so you'll have more space to play around with than a roof light conversion. Extra space is added by extending from the roof, and a dormer window is then added.

Hip-to-gable loft conversion: A hip-to-gable loft conversion changes the shape of a property's roof entirely. This will give a lot of extra room to a home, but usually can only be built on semi-detached and detached houses as a sloping roof is changed to a vertical roof.

Mansard loft conversion: This type of loft conversion will give a property the most space, as the roof is completely altered (most of the time to become a flat roof) and new walls are added too.

BUDGET Having a clear budget to stick to helps you decide what loft conversion you can afford, and what finishes and furnishing you can afford too.

There are a lot of options out there to choose from, from door handles to windows, and having a budget can help you make decisions and ensure you're not left out of pocket.

The size of your loft conversion can have a massive impact on your budget. Smaller loft conversions can cost around £15,000, whereas a larger loft conversion can cost up to £40,000 - so you definitely need to consider what size loft conversion you need and what you can afford.

STAIRCASE Think about where you can put a staircase and how much space is available for it. This is an important part of the build as you need the loft conversion to link with the rest of the house, so the property's layout flows naturally and the conversion doesn't create a disjointed space. There's a range of staircases available, even for the smallest spaces, but having a plan is a must.

HEAD SPACE NEEDED The space between the ceiling and floor in your loft will give you an idea on whether your loft can be converted comfortably. The minimum height for a loft conversion is about 2.2 metres, so if your loft is smaller than this, you may not be able to convert it, or you may need extra construction work to create enough head space.

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20 | www.life-mags.com

INCREASED HOUSE VALUE Building a loft conversion could increase your home's value by up to 22%, according to a survey conducted by Nationwide Building Society, so it's often well worth the time, effort and money.

It's generally the best value-for-money option to add value to your home, rather than extensions and garage conversions. However, if your main aim is to increase your property's value, make sure you do your research first on houses in your area, as there always a ceiling price on properties and you don't want to overspend.

There are more advantages to building a loft conversion than disadvantages, as long as you do your research, keep within your budget and work with trusted contractors; there will be no unwanted surprises.

It's always recommended that you thoroughly research any significant decisions before beginning any building work.

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HOME LIVING

EASY WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME FEEL

Lighter and Brighter Rooms feeling a bit dark and dingy? Here's how to brighten them up... By Luke Rix-Standing Homes tend to feel pokier the more time you spend in them - and at a time of national claustrophobia, we could all benefit from a bit of a refresh.

Here's how to make your home feel bright and breezy, without spending hours in showrooms or breaking the bank...

LET THEIR BE LIGHT Often, the simplest way to brighten up a dwelling is to add more light.

Use accent lighting (smaller, directed sources like lamps) to emphasise focal points, like desks and tables, and give a space a sense of texture and contrast. Make sure said lights aren't too concentrated, though - you're going for layered illumination, not a spotlight from a police interrogation room.

22 | www.life-mags.com

Consider kitting out fixings with 'white light' bulbs, which serve up a cool, daytime feel compared to their cosier, yellower counterparts.

HOME LIVING LEAVE YOUR WINDOWS CLEAR Could you do more to maximise natural light? Placing a tall item of furniture next to a south-facing window is a classic design sin, and you don't want hatstands or shelving unit casting a swathe of shadow across a room that should be bathed in light.

If possible, keep your furnishings low-slung across the board.

However cluttered your floor space, if most of the volume of a room is empty, it provides unbroken lines of light and sight. The higher the ceiling seems, the breezier and bigger the room will feel.

ADD SOME PLANTS The positive effects of nature on the psyche has been studied time and again, and even a few paltry pot plants can help a room feel instantly fresher and more lively. Spending time around greenery has a regenerative effect, and indoor-appropriate options range from large-leafed peace lilies to low-maintenance succulents, palms and cacti.

GIVE IT A GOOD CLEAN Which do you think looks brighter and cleaner: a surface coated in a layer of grey grime and dust, or a freshly cleaned surface sparkling in the morning sun? The humble duster is perhaps your greatest ally in the battle against dinginess, and you won't always be able to tell whether an area is poky until you've seen it after a good scrub.

If your fingers lack even a tinge of green however, there's no shame in opting for faux options. Today's synthetic flowers are far less cardboard-like than in years gone by.

MASTER THE MIRRORS Wall-mounted, full-length, or even dainty and decorative, mirrors will always brighten your abode, and a little strategic positioning can really optimise the ambience. A mirror opposite a door can visually double a room's depth, lending any area the illusion of space, while a mirror opposite a window sends natural light bouncing from wall to wall.

For added glamour, you could even experiment with mirrored furniture.

CONSIDER YOUR COLOURS There's nothing to say you can't go for darker colours in small spaces, providing it's done right. But generally speaking, lighter shades absorb light far less than darker ones, and a fairer palette leaves a room looking big, bright and breezy. Pale, natural woods, whitewashed window sills, a cream-coloured couch or on-trend pastel furnishings - anything that takes your fancy can play a part in this but most important by far is your paint or wallpaper. Dark walls can be elegant and attractive, but if it's bright and airy you're after, you might want to go for softer shades.

'WASH' YOUR WALLS No, not another way of telling you to get cleaning - by 'wash' your walls, we mean bathe them in horizontal splashes of light. This is usually achieved by putting a lamp tight against the wall, so that light spills across the surface at an acute angle, giving the impression that the whole space is aglow.

Wall-washing can be as economical as it is attractive, and it's better to bathe one area with a broad sheet of light than clutter it with a crowd of fixings.

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 23

HOME LIVING

Tablescaping:

THE LATEST INTERIORS TREND EVERYONE NEEDS

Gabrielle Fagan discovers why laying the table is a hot new topic...

Eating at home has never been more popular.

As we gather round our dining tables, now more than ever, there's a new trend for 'tablescaping'. Hugely popular in America and taking off over here, it's simply the art of dressing up a table for a special occasion.

Tablescaping is a wonderful way to show off your creativity and taste, and of course, ensures your table is Instagram-worthy (if you're seeking inspiration, there are more than a million entries on #tablescaping on Instagram).

"I think of dressing the table as being similar to the way I dress up myself for a night out," says Ellie Moore at Dress For Dinner, a company offering bespoke tableware solutions.

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HOME LIVING

"I like to look glamorous and the table should look the same, but it needn't be complicated or expensive. There are no rules, it's just about using your imagination and whatever you have to hand," says Moore, whose Miniscape starter kit (candlesticks, candles and vases) is £49; and four-place Tablescape setting is £139.

"The trend for tablescaping's grown hugely, because we've been at home so much more, and that's fuelled a real desire to make the occasions we do have count. A curated decorated table helps create a magical atmosphere, is welcoming and shows guests you've really taken trouble."

If the task still feels a little overwhelming, there's help on hand - we've got table-tastic advice and tips from the experts who can help you create your own stunning table setting.

MAISON MARGAUX: CREATE A DESTINATION "Home tablescapes are all over Instagram and have replaced those food images from restaurants, which were so popular pre-lockdown," says Louisa Preskett, co-founder of Maison Margaux, which offers inspired looks for a tabletop that can be hired or bought.

(Tablescapes costs from £45 per person to rent, excluding flowers and tablecloth.)

"It's about those meals we've cooked and the tables we have created, and people are pouring more and more creativity into them. It's no wonder, because at the moment, we all need to escape, cheer ourselves up, share and express our taste, and entertain our friends."

On trend buys this year, she says, include scallop-shaped details for plates and linens, green and white foliage-inspired designs on china, bamboo-style cutlery, woven rattan place mats, and a profusion of hand-painted Italian lemon motifs.

"With travel put on hold for so many, table settings evoking memories or feelings of holiday destinations are in big demand," points out Preskett.

"A printed, patterned tablecloth - my choice would be fresh blues or greens for summer - can elevate the look of the plainest white china," she points out. If an expensive cloth is beyond the budget, she suggests sourcing fabrics from markets.

Work on three items for each setting, she advises; a charger or place mat, a middle plate for the main course, and finally, a beautiful, smaller 'top' plate.

"Candles, seasonal flowers and simple touches (like a bowl of lemons or lush red vine tomatoes) don't just add colour, but bring a table to life. Hand-written place cards or guests' names written on shells, stones or even leaves can look charming."

If the whole thing still feels a bit intimidating, she adds reassuringly: "It's lovely to have a theme and to pay attention to details, but things don't need to be too perfect. The best tables feel personal, intimate, and beautiful but welcoming."

SUMMERILL & BISHOP: TALK TO THE TABLE "If a table is a visual feast, people will spend more time there, linger and the occasion will be extra special and memorable," declares Seb Bishop, CEO of Summerill & Bishop, specialists in sophisticated, timeless tableware and accessories.

"The table, as a place where we share time, talk, and exchange experiences and worries, has really been valued in the current difficult times," he adds. "People are much more aware of taking time to enjoy moments with friends and family."

Ramp up the colour if you want to be on trend, he advises, with bright, bold tablecloths, which can transform the look of a room, as well as a table.

"Don't be afraid to mix and match, and include items that mean something to you and bring you joy. Add an heirloom plate, a quirky continues overleaf...

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 25

HOME LIVING

vase or a bloom tied with ribbon to each napkin - so you conjure your own table 'recipe'," he says.

"A successful table is one that looks lovely, but also has individuality and details which trigger memories and anecdotes, which will be talking points and add to that sense of occasion."

ALICE NAYLOR-LEYLAND: VIEW IT LIKE ART "It's a bit like creating a painting," explains Alice Naylor-Leyland, lifestyle writer and influencer, who provides bespoke settings (a ready-made tablescape costs around ÂŁ340) and also tableware and accessories.

"I start with the base (a tablecloth) and then build it from there," she says. "I arrange all the settings and then work on the middle 'the dead space' - and decide what I want to fill it with, whether it's candles, flowers or a theme, so eggs if it's Easter."

She says large vases can overwhelm a table and make it hard for guests to see each other, so opt instead for small bud vases.

"You only need a couple of blooms in each and if you add coloured candles, complementing the colour of the flowers, you will create an instant tied-together look, which isn't expensive," she confides.

WAYFAIR: GO AL FRESCO EXOTIC "Think of your summer tablescape in the same way that you would your interior, choosing a handful of recurring colours running throughout," advises Nadia McCowan Hill, resident style advisor, Wayfair.

26 | www.thejerseylife.co.uk

"An exotic faux plant or tree will always add atmosphere. If you're looking to channel destination style, focus on a few hot accent shades - think look-at-me pink, bold cobalt or sunny yellow. Use a range of jugs, vases and glasses in staggered heights, and a medley of different florals, from blowsy roses to majestic foxgloves for a more wild, organic look."

Her top tip is to include an eclectic mix of ?plates and platters with organic forms? and finishes, for informal occasions, as it conjures a more laid-back but stylish look. If you're short of a centrepiece, fill a clear glass carafe with fresh fruit or leafy herbs, and you can enjoy its contents as part of the meal.

THE WHITE COMPANY: PLAY WITH LIGHT "For a special table, I love using lots of reflective surfaces to pick up candlelight: glass storm lanterns or mercury tea light holders, and then pure white china, which sets the food off beautifully," says Chrissie Rucker, founder of The White Company.

"Make sure your glasses are buffed, as they'll sparkle more," she says, "and personalise place settings with simple luggage tags, or tie napkins with raffia and add a little sprig of flowers.

"Seasonal flowers or an arrangement of leaves sprayed silver or gold for a special occasion, and a cluster of candles, make a perfect table centre, but do keep arrangements low, so they are easy to talk over."

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HOME LIVING

SIGNS YOUR BELONGINGS MIGHT BE RUINING YOUR RELATIONSHIP

Clutter could be having a greater impact on your love life than you think, as interiors therapist Suzanne Roynon tells Sam Wylie-Harris...

Clutter means many things to many people. And what might be one person's clean and tidy could be someone else's super-messy.

you to eat chocolate during a diet; or open another bottle when it's time to stop," explains Roynon. "It's incredibly powerful, and dictates your actions every single day."

But whatever side of the clutter fence you sit on, one thing's for sure - we all own stuff that's sentimental to us.

So, what has this got to do with relationships? "Quite simply, everything!" she says.

"The average home is a sea of memories," says Suzanne Roynon, interiors therapist and author of Welcome Home: How Stuff Makes Or Breaks Your Relationship.

Here, Roynon - who's worked with clients all over the world reveals how you can create more harmony at home...

"Although we've learned clutter is bad for our wellbeing, most people don't realise their possessions (not just clutter) have a much greater impact than they might think."

If you're single and want to be loved, or your relationship is going downhill, Roynon says interiors therapy can reveal the story your home is telling - and change it for the better.

"No one likes a sneak, but your home is the biggest one you know! Thanks to coronavirus, we've been inviting people into our homes via Zoom and other platforms.

"Looking at places where friends and colleagues live, we've subconsciously made judgements based on the tiny square of information on screen... but did it cross your mind you do the same thing to yourself?"

Indeed, our subconscious is the part of our mind which remembers things we'd rather forget; and influences our behaviour without us being aware of it. "Your subconscious tells

28 | www.thejerseylife.co.uk

YOU NEED SPACE FOR LOVE "Look around the home of a single person, male or female, and you'll see single things everywhere - in photos, art, imagery, a lamp, sole night-stand, a solitary chair at the table. They've been drawn to them, because they reflect their situation.

HOME LIVING

These homes say 'one is fun', that you are happy alone, and you want to keep it that way.

"Taking it to another level, in the homes of singles, the wardrobe, drawers and closets are often bursting with clothes, sports gear and stuff they don't use, need or love. There's physically no room for anyone else to live there.

home, gifts you've been given, things you inherited and recentlydecorated spaces. Ask yourself the story it's telling - is it supporting your relationship? Is it describing what's going on?"

LIFE CAN MIRROR ART "Where infidelity occurs, classic triggers include forgotten items.

They might still be in a box unopened in a corner.

"If you desire a romantic relationship, the first thing to do is make space to welcome love into your life."

"Look for wedding mementos after a divorce, letters from past loves...

THERE'S NO SYMMETRY "I've noticed genuinely contented couples tend to buy matching pairs. They instinctively create symmetry, which makes everything more harmonious. You can see this pair energy in happy homes, large and small. The funny thing is, you can easily re-frame your subconscious mind by using pair energy - it pays off twice over, by bringing more balance in other areas of your life, too."

"If you put something on the wall look at it closely, is it showing a couple walking away? A fight or violence? A woman alone on a bed? Life frequently mirrors art - what is it saying about the two of you?"

NEW HOME ITEMS MIGHT BE CAUSING WOBBLES It may sound far-fetched, but Roynon is adamant: "There's something you aren't seeing in your home. Even if you're now separated or divorced, you want to identify the source before it does more damage.

"Begin by looking for changes coinciding with the wobble in the relationship. A good place to start is with new additions to the

Understandably, a change in physical or emotional health can have a massive impact on a couple. Roynon says, if you're overwhelmed, depressed, feeling trapped and everything is against you, look for grey in your home.

"It drains the life from a room and energy from people. Yes, it's glamorous and fashionable, but only a room with masses of natural sunlight can carry off a grey scheme.

"Anywhere else is going to seem bleak and listless. Sound familiar? No one wants to be a grey man or woman, it reflects in your life and your complexion!"

YOUR HOME'S LOOKING UNLOVED "In practical terms, check your home for evidence of depleted resources, damage from leaks or a dripping tap - get them fixed.

If you live surrounded by broken items or threadbare clothes, you suggest you aren't worthy of money, love or anything better.

"It's time to upgrade your thinking and improve your outcome... you deserve the story your home tells, to be one of love and connection, rather than heartache," adds Roynon.

Welcome Home: How Stuff Makes Or Breaks Your Relationship

by Suzanne Roynon, is published by Panoma Press, priced ÂŁ14.99. Available now.

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 29

GARDENING

Want to grow your own

Chillies?

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

As chilli festival season begins, expert Nigel Parker offers top tips on picking, planting and maintaining your own spicy crops. By Hannah Stephenson...

With the beautiful summer we've had, any chillies you've been growing in sheltered, sunny spots against warm walls should have ripened beautifully, if you've kept them fed and watered.

Nigel Parker, an expert grower who will be exhibiting his chillies at Holker Chilli Festival in Cumbria in September, says that providing you follow a few key rules, you shouldn't go far wrong.

Here, he discusses the dos and don'ts and shares some top tips for growing chillies...

CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLANT FOR THE RIGHT PLACE "If you have a greenhouse, you can grow virtually any chilli on the market because you have an extended growing season," Parker explains.

"The general rule of thumb is the hotter they are, the longer they will take to fruit."

Really hot habaneros take longer to mature, so you need a conservatory, polytunnel or a greenhouse to grow them successfully. "If you grow them on a windowsill, or you intend to put them on the patio, choose a chilli variety that's faster, such as 'Prairie Fire', 'Basket of Fire' and 'Super Chilli', which are quick maturing if you haven't such good conditions."

HOW HOT SHOULD YOU GO? "Don't underestimate the heat," Parker warns. "Often people grow types that are too hot for them. A jalapeno is around 6,000-8000 Scoville units, the measuring scale of heat.

"A habanero can be 30 times hotter than a jalapeno. So when you say something is 'a bit hotter', people don't realise it's a significant jump.

"Extremes include as the 7 Pot group - including 7 Pot Jonah which are really hot, and then you have the ghost chillies such as the bhut jolokia, which are running at a million Scoville units."

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AND IF YOU WANT SOMETHING MILDER...

Milder types include 'Beaver Dam', a really large podding type, which is quick to grow and can be stuffed or used in a salad.

For a slightly warmer flavour, you might prefer purple jalapeno, which is also an attractive plant.

GERMINATION IS KEY You need a propagator for germination, at a minimum of 22ยบC, or ideally 28ยบC. If you sow seeds in the ideal conditions, they can germinate in six to 10 days. Cooler temperatures will result in much slower germination times.

"Don't sow too early. Some people sow in January or February, but you'd be wasting your time. Sow chillies in early March through to late March. They will grow faster because the light's better," Parker advises. "If they need watering, use warm water, not water straight from the tap which will be too cold and you'll stop the germination. Then the seed will have to heat up again.

Use water that's the same temperature."

continues overleaf...

GARDENING

POTTING THEM ON If growing chillies in a pot, you can put six to eight seeds in a 9cm pot in a standard seed and potting compost. If you're using a propagator, take the lid off as soon as the seeds have germinated because lids reduce light levels, even if they are clear plastic or glass. Too little light will make seedlings leggy.

Don't overwater them, and transplant when there are two mature leaves big enough to handle on each seedling and pot on to a 7cm or 9cm pot individually, using a good quality compost, and definitely not a soil-based one. You can put the plants outdoors from late-May onwards, after all risk of frost has passed.

Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) and seaweed extract (calcium nitrate) can also be watered in. Do that from time to time from flowering onwards. "Epsom salts improves the quality of the fruit, with better skin quality, and makes the plant look healthier, while calcium helps prevent deficiencies in the fruit."

WHEN WILL THEY BE READY? If you put your plants out at the end of May, you should be picking fast varieties by the middle of July onwards. "'Super chilli', for instance, is very quick and you'd be picking green pods in mid-July and red pods at the end of July and beginning of August. Flavours do change depending on the ripeness," says Parker.

"Purple jalapeno is nearly black to start with and when it ripens it goes burgundy. With this one, you need to wait until it ripens.

Others in their first stages, such as standard jalapenos, can be eaten green or red."

HARVESTING AND PRESERVING "Once you've picked them, chillies will keep in a fridge for several weeks. You can keep them longer by freezing them. I just freeze them whole and they do retain their heat," adds Parker. "They may go a bit mushy, like soft fruit, but if you are using them in curries and stir-fries it doesn't matter."

BUY PLANTS TO SAVE TIME Small chilli plants can be obtained from garden centres, to be planted straight into a pot and placed in a sunny, sheltered spot on the patio.

"If you put the plant close to a brick wall, the wall will act as a heat reservoir so you're creating a little micro-climate to improve conditions," says Parker.

MAINTENANCE IS KEY Add granular slow-release fertiliser to the compost, which will feed your plants for three to six months, but also feed the plants with a high potash feed, such as tomato food, when the fruits have set.

32 | www.thejerseylife.co.uk

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

The ‘Live-in’ connection

By CI Home Care work in Jersey two weeks on and two weeks off (under normal circumstances) – which feels like having repeating holidays throughout the year!

Some of my colleagues live in Jersey, others in the UK or in France like me, but we all share a passion for making peoples’ older age the absolute best it can be. And enjoy the luxury of being able to do that on a one-on one basis as opposed to in a group, residential setting.

The role of a Live-in carer is to provide support to the individual, maintaining their ability to stay safely in their own home, whilst respecting their privacy and letting them lead as independent a life as possible. My first client suffered from dementia and did need constant support. Another client is more astute than many people half their age, albeit she does have a debilitating condition, and much of my time has spent ferrying her from one social engagement to another!

“A day of the life of a Live in Carer” said our Director – “just jot down your thoughts about the role and why you do it.” Continued the request.

It sounded quite simple. I’ve been a paid Live-in Carer for nearly two years now and met some amazing and inspirational clients – on top of having cared for elderly family members before that.

My world changed when I became a Live-in Carer. I’ll admit that as well as being excited when I met my first client there was a tiny bit of apprehension. “Would they like me? Would I remember everything I’d been told in the briefing and handover? If I got into difficulty how long would it be before help arrived? What if…..”

But the self-doubt quickly vanished. The Home Care company assured me that a good match is made between the Carer and the client and they were completely right. I loved my first client…and my second….and going back to the first…and everyone I’ve met in between as schedules have had to be constantly rejigged during covid due to varying travel restrictions.

I am a British ex Policewoman who now lives in France. I have one remaining “child” in education, and the others, in their early twenties, are more than capable of looking after him. I therefore

As time goes by you do develop strong bonds with both the person and their family and the word “Carer” morphs into being a companion and support to both that person and their family.

Someone they know they can rely on whatever the day may have in store.

No two days are ever the same, even when a client likes routine, as each day you learn more about the person, their character and life they once led. With dementia clients this can be harder to uncover, but through photographs, videos and music you can usually rekindle memories, and like a jigsaw piece together the picture of their earlier life. Those precious glimpses into the person you are caring for are so rewarding – as is being able to help family members see a client enjoying life, whether during face to face visits or via Skype.

I still think about arriving on my first day, suitcase in hand, a knot in my stomach and the hope that the ‘match making’ had been done brilliantly by the management angels at the company. I’ve had the pleasure of supporting several clients now - exploring their routines, personal preferences and those little idiosyncrasies we all have. And I wouldn’t change it for the world! It’s an incredibly rewarding working experience.

Live-in care specialists Hourly home care enquiries welcomed Overnight and respite care also available Simply call Nicola or Emma on 01534 883 886 for further information or to arrange a no obligation informal chat.

Complete Individual Home Care Ltd., Suite 3 Longueville Business Centre, Longueville Road, St Saviour JE2 7SA

Registered with the Jersey Care Commission Flexible, consistent and friendly care SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 33

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

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HEALTH AND WELLBEING

EAT YOUR WAY TO A SIX PACK

By Scott Harrison Scotty is direct, authentic and endlessly passionate about helping people transform their body and mind. A fully qualified Personal Trainer, Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, Black Belt Karate Instructor with a real passion for food and cooking, Scotty has worked hard to find the optimal balance for his Six Pack Revolution participants.

The groups are flooded with positivity and taught to look at life from a different perspective, with many live Zooms held by Scott himself. As you can see from the thousands of results and positive reviews that Scott has a unique, direct and super effective way of motivating participants to reach goals they never believed possible!

Scotty is a self-confessed disrupter of the yo-yo diet industry.

Dubbed the “Age Hacker”, Scotty has developed a 75 day transformation programme: The Six Pack Revolution that has changed the lives of many thousands of participants from all over the world! Scotty’s own unique system transforms the body and mind through a fitness and nutrition plan that completely eradicates the need to add unnecessary salt and sugar!

You have had huge highs and lows in your life, what has it taught you?

I went from a dream job as a trader at a bank, to entrepreneur with solariums, jewellery businesses and a happy marriage, to seeing it all collapse around me (including my marriage) with debts of almost £100,000 at 32.

Now a popular figure in the public eye, Scotty is sought out by many for his different approach to mind-set, nutrition, fitness and coaching; providing the tools and support for thousands of ordinary people to be their best selves.

Scott’s fitness journey began later in life at the age of 42, staring at the other dad’s in the school playground he realised he was now one of them, an unfit, overweight dad whose New Year’s resolution was to get fit and get himself a six pack within 90 days.

Scott educated himself on nutrition, discovering a way of fuelling the body that had scientifically been proven to get the most outstanding results.

Following a strict plan of results driven healthy eating and exercise, Scott documented his journey on Facebook, engaging his friends and followers and in the end 36 people joined him on his fitness journey.

Using his new-found knowledge, Scott was extremely strict on the group to ensure that everyone got the results that were achievable. The 90 days came to an end and Scott and his friends were all looking and feeling fantastic. Through word of mouth and Facebook friends, Scott was in demand to lead another 90-day plan and this time he had an impressive 120 people joining him.

I began reading a personal development book called The Secret and how the law of attraction could have a positive affect on every area of our lives. The effect on my life has been immeasurable.

I paid off my debts, created a £15 million double glazing business and am happily married with two wonderful children. But as time went on I began to feel I had more to give, to be remembered for good.

What have been the health benefits?

I look and feel years younger and I’m fitter than most people half my age. Mentally and emotionally I’m the strongest I’ve ever been and The SPR is the most rewarding job anyone could ever ask for. We spend most of our lives worrying but all of life’s trials and tribulations are just obstacles to get over and learn from.

A healthy, strong body and mind is always the best foundation.

The Six Pack Revolution is now in over 48 countries including Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Zambia and has approx. 20,000 participants to date.

There is also the best seller recipe book and secrets of SPR - Eat Your Way To A Six Pack Also the meal replacement and post workout smoothies.

With a new lease of life and a dream to reach even more people with his plan Scott completed a level 3 PT qualification, fitness diploma with distinction and various other courses including; nutrition, food intolerances, diabetes, psychology and yoga.

Using his academic knowledge and personal experience he began to perfect his plan, now known as The Six Pack Revolution, which officially launched in September 2016.

Scott worked tirelessly on how to improve the programme to achieve the amazing SPR results in less time and he successfully managed to bring the term to now only 75 days. Participants are told exactly what to eat and drink each day with an abundance of recipes, must complete an exercise regime and are held accountable by The Six Pack Revolution team of coaches.

The exercises are short but highly effective, taking 10-15 minutes per day and with two sessions of approximately 30 minutes a week. All participants must also follow a strict plan created by Scott involving eating carefully mapped out meals and snacks six times a day.

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 35

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

A GUIDE TO PREGNANCY RUNNING Can you keep running as a mum-to-be?

Lauren Taylor finds out...

Keeping active during pregnancy is important - for both mother and baby - but pregnant women are also told not to push themselves when it comes to working out. So it can be pretty confusing to know what's safe and what's not.

The reality is, it's different for every woman. It all depends on your fitness levels prior to falling pregnant, how you feel during pregnancy and how far along you are.

While pregnancy is not the time to train for a half marathon, or start the sport from scratch, it can be part of your fitness routine while carrying a child.

We caught up with pre and postnatal running coach Chris Betteridge, at We Run (we-run.co.uk), to get the low down.

REGULAR RUNNERS SHOULD CONTINUE "If we are regular, strong runners - and by this I mean someone who runs once a week and doesn't suffer from recurring injuries then we can be confident that our bodies are conditioned for that discipline," Betteridge says.

And being 'strong' doesn't have anything to do with distance or speed.

"You can be a strong runner even if you PB is a 40 minute 5k."

He adds: "I wouldn't recommend running to someone (in pregnancy) who is not a regular runner, but for those who are, there is very little else that can rival it."

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THE HEALTH BENEFITS ARE HUGE "The physical benefits of running with good form are almost endless: strength, bone density, cardiovascular health, joint strength, and muscle tone - all of which, you will continue to benefit from when pregnant.

"I strongly urge women to not aim for weight or fat loss during pregnancy, but it is worth noting that regular exercise whilst pregnant can control the weight gain often experienced," he says.

"It also helps to reduce the risk of gestational diabetes, back aches and swelling whilst increasing energy levels and improving posture.

There is even evidence to suggest that it can help the mother cope with the process of labour and get back into shape quicker after the baby is born."

IT'S GOOD FOR THE MIND During what can be an overwhelming, anxious time, looking after your mental wellness is also key.

"For me, the real difference with running over other forms of exercise lies within the mind," says Betteridge. "If you run every week, the chances are you love it. It becomes more of a release than a workout, and an escape than an exercise.

"It builds confidence, a meditative sense of freedom and space and at times during pregnancy, this is what is needed most."

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

WATCH YOUR POSTURE "I would get your technique checked as early as you can," he suggests.

"Postural strength is perhaps the biggest factor to affect the mother's experience of pregnancy. Running with poor technique and/or posture is an easy fix and massively reduces your risk of injury."

CHOOSE FLAT GROUND Your biggest risk does not come from running at all, but from falling, Betteridge explains. "If you run through trip-hazard countryside, down mud-hills, or running on country roads with no pavement then you are taking a far higher risk than is necessary.

"Run with company, run at a pace that you can enjoy and run mindfully - if you are running without paying full attention to your body, you will end up injured."

ACCEPT THAT YOUR FITNESS LEVELS WILL DECREASE For anyone who is used to aiming for improvements in their fitness levels, pregnancy is a particularly strange time. As the baby grows, your ability to keep even the same level of fitness will decrease - everything simply becomes harder - but any physical activity you can still do will be beneficial.

"The most appropriate advice that I can give pregnant women is that their only fitness ambition should be to maintain their current level of fitness and strength for as long as you can - no PBs for a while," says Betteridge.

"Right from day one, my advice would be to reduce your ambitions to simply 'enjoyment and attendance'.

Regular, maintenance distance running is far more beneficial than PB hunting.

"Finish every run thinking that you could have done an extra 20%.

If you finish a run thinking, 'Thank goodness that's over!' then you've done too much. Be comfortable from start to finish and enjoy it."

ADJUST DEPENDING ON YOUR TRIMESTER The first trimester for many women includes sickness or extreme tiredness, but otherwise your body might feel just as capable as before.

Betteridge suggests trying to keep your workout routine relatively unchanged. "Just be aware that this is the time that your blood pressure can drop - this is why you might feel dizzy and nauseous. So be sensible and don't push it."

Lots of women love the second trimester - you may find you have a little more energy and feel less sick. "Continue to be sensible," he says, "and be aware that the closer to your third trimester you get, the less you may be able to do. Keep listening to your body, be prepared to reduce your max distance some more. Remember it's maintenance only, regular, comfortable running."

By the third trimester you might not want to run at all, but if you do, there are a few important considerations. This is when you'll have more of the hormone relaxin in your body - it helps your joints adjust to allow the baby to be born, but can end up affecting your other joints too, so if you experience any pain or discomfort running it's important to stop.

"In general, it is OK for women to run in their third trimester, but speak to your health professionals and listen to your body to determine when is right for you to pause," Betteridge says.

"And don't panic, given time you can get back to where you were."

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 37

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

HEALTH BENEFITS OF SWIMMING FOR BODY AND MIND

Often described as an ultimate full-body workout and brilliantly accessible, swimming has a lot to offer. Liz Connor finds out more...

If you're looking for a way to supercharge your fitness after months of repetitive jogging and living-room workouts, once they're fully open, it might be time to show your local swimming pool some love.

You might not have swum laps since school, but there are plenty of great benefits to taking to the water as an adult.

Swimming is an all-body workout that can leave you not just physically stronger but mentally recharged too; experts say it can soothe stress, boost physical endurance and burn serious calories.

Pools may have been out of bounds for much of the year, but now many are set to open again, it's the perfect excuse to dig out your goggles and take the plunge.

Not convinced yet? Here are just some of the brilliant benefits of swimming...

IT'S LOW-IMPACT ON YOUR JOINTS Experts recommend 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, and swimming is a great all-rounder with multiple health benefits no matter your age, physical ability or fitness level.

"It's particularly helpful if you experience joint pain in your knees," says LloydsPharmacy pharmacist Anshu Kaura (lloydspharmacy.com). "The water supports your body, meaning

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there is less impact on the skeletal system, including joints.

Gentle swimming or water aerobics can also help strengthen muscles around your joints, reducing the impact of aches and pains over time."

Kaura adds that not only is swimming a great low-impact option, but strengthening your muscles can help reduce the degenerative impact of joint pain in the future. "Warm pools are particularly beneficial," she adds, "as the heat can help loosen stiff joints, supporting flexibility."

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HEALTH AND WELLBEING

IT'S A WHOLE-BODY WORKOUT There's a reason many fit and healthy people get out of breath after just a couple of laps in the pool. "It's basically an all-round form of exercise, which keeps your heart rate up, improves cardiovascular fitness, as well as building endurance and muscle strength," says Scott McDougall, co-founder of The Independent Pharmacy (theindependentpharmacy.co.uk).

Swimming utilises nearly all muscles in the body, including often under-worked areas of your arms. Not only does it engage your legs, which need to kick to propel you forward, it also recruits your core strength, and the lats, deltoids and traps.

"Swimming is unique, as alternating between different strokes lets you target specific muscle groups with your swimming workout," adds McDougall.

Think of the water like your own personal gym. Unlike other popular forms of exercise like running and cycling, where there's little variety, with swimming you can potentially pick different strokes to influence the intensity and focus of your sessions.

THERE ARE MENTAL BENEFITS TOO We all know exercise-induced endorphins can help blitz away stress, but simply being in the water can have its own restorative benefits.

A recent YouGov poll commissioned by Swim England found almost half a million British adults with mental health problems reduced their visits to their GP or therapist as a result of regular swimming.

When asked about the impact of swimming on their day-to-day life, 43% of regular swimmers in the survey said it makes them feel happier, while 26% feel more motivated to complete tasks, and 15% believe life feels more manageable.

It's thought that being in water can help ease sensory overload on our nervous system, helping to promote feelings of calm and

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relaxation, according to a study published in the Journal of Pain Research last year.

IT SUPPORTS WEIGHT MANAGEMENT "Swimming can help you to maintain a healthy weight, or lose weight as part of a wider plan," says McDougall. "In fact, you can expect to burn around 200-400 calories per half-hour of swimming, depending on your speed, stroke and weight."

Butterfly is probably the hardest stroke to learn, but is said to be highly effective (although not always popular with other pool users due to the splashing!). If you're new to swimming, it's a good idea to start off small and build up your swimming levels at a pace that works for you. Even 15-minute sessions of gentle breaststroke can have benefits.

If you're not confident with your stroke, adult swim lessons are available nationwide.

IT'S GOOD FOR ALL AGES One of the best things about swimming is that anyone can reap the benefits - and you can keep it up at any age.

Unlike many trendy HIIT workouts that are popular at boutique gyms right now, swimming feels more inclusive to all ages and fitness levels, and you don't have to be an amateur athlete to enjoy it.

"The bottom line is that regular swimming is great for everyone; studies have found it can help you lead a healthier, longer life and reduce your risk of developing many major health conditions, including heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes," says McDougall.

"It's very good for those who aren't particularly active, have injuries or are a bit older. So whatever your fitness level, age or ability, it's an accessible way to keep fit."

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HEALTH AND WELLBEING

3 ANXIETY-BUSTING STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH STRESS Stress can affect you in lots of different ways. Liz Connor discovers some simple exercises to help you control and conquer it...

From a small annoyance like getting stuck in traffic, to a major crisis like a sudden change in your financial situation, stressful situations are a natural part of life.

But too much chronic stress can be detrimental to our health experts say it can weaken the immune system and cause long-term health issues like high blood pressure, depression, anxiety and even heart disease.

While you can't prevent stress from happening entirely, you can manage the way you respond to high-pressure situations.

We asked experts to share a variety of stress-relieving tools you can try...

1. VISUALISE A SAFE PLACE This easy tool is used in a number of psychotherapeutic techniques such as Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) - a type of therapy used to help people overcome the effects of psychological trauma.

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Active visualisation can help relieve negative symptoms associated with stress, says Dr Paul McLaren, a general adult psychiatrist and medical director at the Priory Hospital Hayes Grove (priorygroup.com).

"Essentially you picture yourself in a place where you have previously felt completely content and relaxed," says McLaren, who adds that this could be a favourite holiday destination, a garden or another place of comfort. "Actively bring your destination to mind by trying to connect with the different senses you associate with the place.

"Start by closing your eyes and imagining what you can see around you, before taking in the imaginary sounds too - it could be softly crashing waves or birds in the trees. Next, bring to mind the smells you'd be able to experience too, and the sensation of your feet on the ground."

After 10 minutes visualising yourself in your safe space, McLaren says you should start to feel calmer and relieved.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

2. ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATHING Just focusing on your breath or changing the way you breathe can make a big difference to your overall stress levels, says Chatty Dobson, yoga teacher and owner of FLEX Chelsea (flexchelsea.com). "Although you may not realise it, we have one dominant nostril at any one time, and they [are thought to] alternate [roughly] every 90 minutes [depending on the individual].

She explains: "Left nostril breathing is associated with the feminine character of calm and restoration, whereas the right is masculine, dynamic and powerful."

Dobson says alternate nostril breathing can be a great way to cleanse the mind. "Take a comfortable seat, sitting tall and rest the left hand gently on the left thigh or in the lap.

"Bring your right hand into a 'peace' sign, and then switch the thumb and fingers so that the index and middle finger are in your palm. Your thumb and little finger should be extended.

"Take a deep inhalation and close the right nostril with the thumb.

3. LOOSEN AND AFFIRM As soon as you recognise the symptoms of stress, like shortness of breath and a fast heart rate, psychotherapist Nick Davies (ndhypnotherapy.com) recommends taking a moment to physically address any tension.

"Make your body go as loose, limp and floppy as possible by sitting back in your chair or lying down, and relaxing every muscle from the top of your head down to the tips of your toes."

He suggests trying to ignore unhelpful thoughts and focus on breathing diaphragmatically [taking deep breaths by contracting the diaphragm], as this can help activate the 'parasympathetic nervous system' in the brain, responsible for returning the body to rest.

"Then slowly repeat the following affirmations five times each in your head: 'I am calm and relaxed', 'I am safe and well', 'I've got through this before and will again,'" recommends Davies.

"The most effective way I've found of overcoming stress is not to fight it, but to allow the feelings to pass."

Exhale through the left nostril to the count of four. Next, close the left nostril with the little finger, release the thumb, and inhale through the right nostril to the count of four. Repeat this for at least 10 rounds, or until you start feeling calmer."

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 43

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

CARE OF THE DOG SpareRoom releases the first at-home guided meditation video featuring dogs, letting renters who aren’t allowed pets enjoy the stress-busting benefits of cute canines • Only 8% of room ads in the UK said they would ‘consider’ allowing pets, making it difficult to find a place to rent if you have or want pets • Dogs have proven stress-busting qualities, so to give renters missing out a slice of this, SpareRoom has created a guided meditation dog video – combining the calming benefits of meditation with clips of cute dogs • The video contains clips of dogs and puppies sleeping, snoozing, playing and generally being super cute, alongside meditation instructions to help bring a sense of calm during this chaotic time to pet-less renters The past few months have been very stressful for us all, and the demand for pets up and down the country has been really high – which makes sense, because pets can help to alleviate stress.

However, for renters, taking on a pet isn’t always an option, with only 8%1 of rooms ads in the UK saying they’d ‘consider’ allowing pets. To give those that don’t have pets (and those that do, if they want some extra puppy time) the benefits virtually2, flatsharing site SpareRoom has created the first ever at home guided meditation video featuring dogs, highlighting the positive and calming effects dogs can have on us.

Working with Clinical Psychologist Dr Cinzia Pezzolesi, the 5-minute video called ‘Care of the Dog’, marries the essential principles of mindfulness and meditation classes with cute dog videos – showcasing their natural therapeutic powers.

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Through specific uplifting videos of dogs sleeping, playing, and running, the guided class allows the viewer to focus on, and pay attention to the sensations, thoughts and emotions evoked by the dogs. This will give them some of the benefits of owning a pet, whilst also helping bring a sense of calm to their day – something many of us will especially need at the moment.

A relaxing voiceover guides the viewer through the class, making it suitable for beginners as well as seasoned meditators.

Matt Hutchinson, SpareRoom Director said, “There’s so much research to show that pets have a calming effect on people. But we also know that it can be incredibly difficult for renters to find places that accept pets. So, we put together a video to let anyone, whether they own, rent or share their home, experience a little of that calm.

With everyone being at home more over the past few months, things like gardens, space to work, and the ability to have a pet are becoming more important. This might seem like a fluffy idea excuse the pun - but we need to keep having conversations about how we live, and the importance of feeling at home, regardless of who owns the property you live in.”

The guided meditation video featuring dogs has been created by SpareRoom to give pet-less Brits some puppy love during this turbulent time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf7QtSTrXB0

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

With Jersey businesses getting back to normal as lockdown lifts what makes some companies excel and others fail WHAT IS THE SECRET OF THE HIGH PERFORMING ORGANISATION WHERE WE ALREADY KNOW THEY WILL ALWAYS ACHIEVE, EVEN IN SUCH CHALLENGING TIMES‌.

PART 3 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STRATEGY, PHILOSOPHY, VISION AND MISSION OF AN ORGANISATION.

Mark Shields shares the secrets of the Channel Islands HPO’S HPOs create strong vision, value, and mission statements which guide their organisations and align them with the outside environment. Everyone that works for the HPO buys into the business philosophy with mission statements found on the wall in every corridor, office and public area of the HPO for the world to see.

Employees carry cards stating the companies values and similarly company values can be found on company stationary, letter heads and all company correspondence. This is done to drive a consistent message to clients, staff, competitors and key stakeholders.

The mission, vision, and values of the organisation act as foundations on which the organisation is built. They inform employees what is rewarded and also what is not.

Minimum standards of sales and service levels of activity are set, agreed and managed.

HPOs implement vision statements that are specific, strategic, and carefully thought through.

Leaders propagate the vision at all levels by ensuring that activities are aligned with vision and strategy of the organisation.

HPOs also set challenging , but measurable and achievable outcome focused goals for their organisation in order to guide their vision.

The vision and strategy of the organisation is made clear to employees at all levels. A common understanding of the organizations strategy and direction creates a strategic mind-set among employees that helps the organisation achieve its goals.

THE BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY A business philosophy is a set of beliefs and principles that a company strives toward. This is sometimes referred to as a mission statement or company vision. It's essentially the company's operational blueprint. The business philosophy explains the company's overall goals and its purpose.

BUSINESS VISION The vision statement, outlines your purpose, requirements and goals at the beginning of the plan. Developing a vision for your plan involves identifying your business requirements so that you can state your intentions clearly.

It outlines what an organisation would like to ultimately achieve and gives purpose to the existence of the organisation. A good vision statement should be short, simple, specific to your business, leave nothing open to interpretation. It should also have some ambition.

When the vision or thoughts are written down, they begin solidifying.

The vision written down helps us to start making a path or business plan that we can accomplish. If we don't write the vision down, then we can quickly forget it. But when it is written down we begin walking in the reward of its success.

HPO leaders often have their mission statement published in offices, communal areas, public areas and even printed on company stationary and headed paper.

BUSINESS MISSION A mission statement is a short statement of why an organisation exists, what its overall goal is, identifying the goal of its operations: what kind of product or service it provides, its primary customers or market, and its geographical region of operation.

A good mission statement can enhance, inspire, and transform your business. They provide a clearly stated purpose of your business and the goals you have for succeeding. They confirm and state what the business is setting out to do.The best mission statements go hand-in-hand with corporate philosophy and culture and help guide a company from the present into the future.

An HPO Mission statement has three main components-a statement of mission plus vision of the company, and a statement of the core values that shape the acts and behaviour of the employees, and a statement of the goals and objectives.

THE BUSINESS PLAN A business plan is a formal written document containing business goals, the methods on how these goals can be attained, and the time frame within which these goals need to be achieved.

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HEALTH AND WELLBEING The GROW model is used at review meetings to review individual goals, look at the actions being taken, sense check results to see if goals are being achieved, look at options where we are not achieving goals, IE do differently's and finally and agreed way forward to ensure the business is back on track by the next review period. HPO's are super focused and will use GROW to review goals, daily, weekly and monthly.

GROW IS AN ACRONYM THAT IS LAID OUT AS FOLLOWS: G – Goal (aspirations) R–

Reality (current obstacles or situations)

O – Options (strengths, resources) W – Way Forward (accountability and personal actions) (What, When, by Whom and the WILL to do it) A business plan contains short, medium and long term business goals and the required planned actions to achieve these goals.

Short term plans are normally 1 to 6 months and account for 70% of time allocation, compared to 20% time allocation for medium term 6-18 months and 20% to long term business planning 18 months to 2 years.

All HPOS's have robust business plans always working at least 2 years ahead in their planning.

OUTCOME FOCUSED GOALS An outcome goal is a goal that includes everyone and everything that is affected when the goal is achieved. It's the big picture.

Outcome-based goal setting gets everyone aligned first, before you even begin to think about your individual goal. This way, creating measurable results is effective and achievable. This framework is outcome-based thinking, and generates an environment where performance is managed on a continuous basis.

INDIVIDUAL GOALS A goal is an idea of the future or desired result that a person or a group of people envision, plan and commit to achieve. People endeavour to reach goals within a finite time by setting deadlines.

Successful businesses are based on both goals and objectives, as they clarify the purpose of the business and help identify necessary actions Goals are general statements of desired achievement, while objectives are the specific steps or actions you take to reach your goal.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - KPI'S Key performance indicators KPI's are best known to be the tool that tracks the progress of the business plan.

A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is a measurable value that demonstrates how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives. Organisations use KPIs to evaluate their success at reaching targets.

A good KPI should act as a compass, helping you and your team understand whether you're taking the right path toward your strategic goals. To be effective, a KPI must: Be well-defined and quantifiable.

Be communicated throughout your HPO. Every member of staff of an HPO will know their numbers inside out and will always know at any given time where they are against any specific KPI or target.

They work on the premise If you don't know where you are against your objectives how do you know what you need to do to achieve them. Its a no brainer really. Achievers always know their numbers and where they are against their individual targets.

Article written by Mark Shields Educator, Coach, Author.

CEO Life Practice Group 01462 431112 https://courses.thecamcoach.com/p/nlppractitioner3

Business goals should be SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound). This helps ensure they are strategic and clearly defined. Goals are general statements of the achievements you would like to reach, and you can set them in a variety of different areas.

HPO's always limit outcome focused goals to a maximum of 5 short term goals, 5 medium term goals and 5 long term goals.

OUTCOME FOCUSED ACTIONS Actions are what is required to achieve the company's goals.

All actions need to be SMART as are the goals and there should be a maximum of 5 key actions per goal to keep things simple and focused.

THE GOALS REPRESENT WHAT THE HPO WANT TO ACHIEVE WHILST THE ACTIONS REPRESENT THE HOW REVIEW PERIODS HPO'S use the GROW model to ensure the company's goals and actions are monitored and reviewed regularly.

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 47

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

COULD THE MILLENNIAL TREND FOR MANIFESTING HELP YOU LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE? Dreaming of kick-starting that career shift or heading off on a solo adventure? Liz Connor hears how mastering the art of manifesting might help...

Sometimes in life, things just seamlessly slot into place with little intervention. Other times, you want something so badly that you spend hours dreaming of the outcome, and when it finally comes to life, it almost feels like you willed it to happen.

According to some, this pure psychological 'magic' isn't just luck or coincidence. Instead, it's what's known as manifesting - and there's a long list of books, essays, workshops and retreats dedicated to the skill of reprogramming your subconscious beliefs in order to make things happen.

"It's basically the ability to draw in anything you desire into your life. It's defined as the ability to create the exact life that you want," says emotional health advisor Roxie Nafousi (roxienafousi.com), who hosts sell-out manifesting workshops in London.

Describing it as an "inner power", Nafousi discovered manifesting when she was at "one of her rock bottoms", having battled with depression throughout her 20s and been on a long journey of self-development.

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HEALTH AND WELLBEING

You could also listen to positive affirmations [Nafousi has some available on her website specifically designed to help clients manifest] or vision board your future.

"I recommend writing regular love letters to yourself - it's a really simple tip that really works. Start to take care of yourself and say no to things you don't want to do." Talking to yourself lovingly, exercising and nourishing your body with the right foods are all part of learning to love the skin you're in, she adds.

"It was often a case of two steps forwards and one step back.

I was feeling utterly fed up and at a loss as to how to really change my life.

My best friend told me I should listen to a podcast on manifesting, which led me to research the practice," she recalls.

"Within a week, I met my partner, a year later I had my baby boy, and two years on my life is unrecognisable in all the best ways."

Rhonda Bryne's 2006 self-help book The Secret - and the associated film - catapulted the idea of the 'law of attraction' from a niche interest into a mainstream concept, with views and teachings from a wide range of spiritual practitioners.

The movement posits that setting goals, learning from negativity and tapping into positive thinking can help you to achieve everything you want in life.

Today's millennial manifestors take Bryne's ideas one step further though, using tools and therapy exercises to help unlock their self-worth and access their most authentic, vulnerable and magnetic selves.

"The most important thing people should know is that true manifestation is not just the law of attraction; you cannot simply visualise or think of something you want and then wait for it to happen," says Nafousi.

Success mentor Sara Longoria (saralongoria.com) has taught manifestation to hundreds of individuals and companies around the world. She uses her background in biomedical sciences and neurophysiology to help people tap into their inner power through a practice she calls 'rapid manifestation'.

Her approach combines manifesting positive affirmations with a practice called emotional freedom technique (EFT). Sometimes described as a psychological version of acupuncture, it involves repetitive tapping on various areas of the face and body - such as the side of the eyes, eyebrows, collarbone and under the arms believed to be end-points of major meridians (energy channels within the body).

"As you move through the tapping points, say exactly how you feel. This can take some getting used to," says Longoria. You could start by tapping your meridian points three to seven times, repeating negative thoughts, before tapping through a positive round of uplifting phrases.

"Anyone can use it, that is the beauty of the method," says Longoria.

"It is easy and available to us all."

Nafousi says, ultimately, manifesting is all about allowing yourself to believe and trust in the universe and its magic. "When you learn to manifest, you realise that you have full control over your life," she adds. What could be better than that?

"Most people confuse the two concepts and that's why they are often unsuccessful at it. We do not manifest from our thoughts alone; we manifest from our subconscious beliefs about what we deserve."

Intuitive manifesting is all about working on your confidence and self-esteem, says Nafousi - concepts that are rooted in traditional psychology and widely used in CBT practices. Although the idea of picturing your dream life might sound like spiritual woo-woo, it's a type of psychological skill we can all practice and master, she says.

"Everything is energy - thoughts, emotions, feelings - and people who manifest believe energy attracts like energy. To put it simply, we attract to our lives whatever we put out. When we learn how to raise our energetic frequency and learn the secret to manifesting, we can attract anything we want."

So how can you harness the skill for yourself? "Work daily on selfworth and self-love," says Nafousi. "A great way to do this is to practice gratitude - a gratitude journal every evening is a great place to start.

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 49

COMMUNITY

Travelling rough Covid PART I

Words and Images by Philippa Alexandre...

By March 2020 we'd been travelling around Europe full-time in our motorhome, for about 7 months. We had just started to relax back into travel life after a month in Malta over Christmas and New Year when we first heard about 'coronavirus'. By this time we'd been in Spain for about six weeks and were heading towards Portugal to meet up with some friends. It was starting to get really hot in southern Spain so we decided to spend a couple of days relaxing next to a lake before we started driving again. That's when we heard about the 'lockdown' in Spain. Our first thoughts were that this couldn't last that long, we had enough supplies with us to wild camp at the lake for two weeks. The weather was sunny and warm so that would keep the solar panels topped up & we weren't too worried.

As time went on we checked in with various news sources in Spain and the UK and also on the advice being given to travellers. From what we could see, most people were heading back to their home countries. We were torn between returning to Jersey or staying where we were. If we returned home would we have to quarantine in the motorhome for two weeks? We could maybe fly back but where would we park the motorhome if we left it? We couldn't stay with either of our families as they were either in the 'high risk' categories or didn't have room for the motorhome. We travel with our cat, Theodore, what would we do with him? At this point the number of coronavirus cases in Spain was higher than the UK but did we want to leave our safe place, isolating in the mountains to drive all the way up to northern France and mix with hundreds of people on a boat back to Jersey? The more we thought about it, we seemed safer where we were.

After two weeks, the lockdown had been extended with an ever changing end date. We couldn't stay at the lake much longer.

We were running out of food and drinking water and we desperately needed to empty the chemical toilet. Thankfully we had made good contacts with other van-lifers in Spain who had

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set up a WhatsApp group to find safe places to stay. We found a studio flat for rent high up in the mountains above Granada.

It was self-contained with its own entrance and outside area.

Most importantly it accepted pets!

On our way to the mountains we had to stop at a supermarket to replenish our food supplies. We had seen photos and heard reports of huge queues and panic buying in the UK. Our foreign reg motorhome got a few strange looks as we pulled into the supermarket car park, this was not a time for holiday makers but we had no trouble. The queuing systems outside the shops were overseen by the local police (Guardia Civil). They were firm but friendly, making sure people had masks on and either gloves or used hand sanitiser (sometimes both!) and that everyone queued a metre or so away from each other. Everyone was calm and orderly, no one was panic buying or stocking up, just going about their tasks as normal - just a lot quieter.

Our drive up to the flat wasn't as easy as we had hoped. The flat was so far up into the mountains that it didn't even have a proper postal address. Our 7.5 metre, 3.5 tonne motorhome struggled to make it up the steep dirt track but thanks to teamwork and great driving skills we squeezed the van into the driveway of what would become our home for the next seven weeks‌

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ARTS & CULTURE

Surviving Lockdown - 2020 A Musician’s Perspective By Giles Davies Giles at St Brelade's

As many of us in the performing arts were witnessing through media channels and TV, the Covid 19 viral pandemic by March was growing faster in London than any of us could have possibly predicted. Everyone will have their own stories and theories. For this professional singer, actor, musicologist and producer of many years, nobody could have expected such a devastating turn of events for the entire performing arts and hospitality sectors.

I was looking forward to celebrating Surrey Opera’s 50th Birthday, with both an Opera Gala and fully staged production of one of my very favourite of all Operas, Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni’, in which I was preparing for the physically demanding yet highly rewarding role of Leporello. As the weeks passed, it was clearer that lockdown would continue for a considerable time and that our planned rehearsal schedule was an impossibility.

Over a decade ago I had the immense good fortune of visiting the ‘Stavovske Divadlo’ in the incredible City of Prague, in the old East of Europe. This was the very theatre, still standing and having changed little since the 1780’s, where Mozart himself directed the very first performance of ‘Don Giovanni’.

Giles as Leporello in Don Giovanni

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This location was used in Milosz Forman and Peter Schaffer’s still highly controversial movie ‘Amadeus’ (1984), which nevertheless had Academy Awards for just about everything dripping from it’s huge Box office successes at that time. I recall Sir Neville Marriner, Maestro of the Soundtrack album, commenting in an interview that it would have taken a hundred years for Mozart’s extraordinary music to reach as many people as the masses who saw the film in the Cinema. It also so happens that the Symphony which Mozart wrote for this City, known as the ‘Prague ‘ (No.38), is one of my own favourite musical works.

Next, of course, as the pandemic worsened, the schools closed.

Now, there was the difficult double act of home schooling our twin boys, Charles and Laurence, and the learning curve of continuing my usual voice and drama coaching online through Zoom.

Not easy trying to give online lessons and keeping two very noisy boys quiet. As somebody who has always been highly allergic to video calls from home, this has been a necessity, but one I hope will not have to continue for very much longer.

As usual at this time of year, we spend the summer in St Brelade’s so that my mother, Barbara, can spend as much time as possible with her Grandsons, who are now growing up fast. She is busy as ever as a writer, currently publishing letters from a long career with my father, which will run to three volumes between the 1960’s and the new Millennium. Sadly, we lost my father just before Christmas, 2018. He was a lifelong enthusiast for Italian Opera, particularly Giuseppe Verdi, and it is still impossible for me as his son, to hear one single note of this composer’s music without thinking of him.

A few unwelcome surprises for the boys this summer on the Island. La Marquanderie, where they used to love playing on the climbing frame for children had closed down, the local Leisure Centre also closed due to C19, and ‘quelle horreur’, only one bus an hour on favourite routes.

Thespis at Normansfield Theatre

ARTS & CULTURE

Giles filming on location in Norfolk, 2005

Giles as the Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe

On the upside, the stabilizers were wrenched off their bicycles this year, and the boys are having a fabulous time this summer visiting the Elephant Park, St Brelade’s, Beauport Bay and Corbiere, all by bike.

Now it is time to photograph the dazzling sunsets over Corbiere again, a passion of mine since my teenage years with a Praktika 35mm Camera given to me my my wonderful Great Uncle, Reginald Hillyer.

The Entertainer Toy Shop in St Helier was open thankfully, so Charles and Laurence were delighted with their new boxes of Leggo!

I believe this was one of the Cameras used by the legendary French photographer Cartier Bresson, so this was definitely a good starting point for my lifelong love of both photography and cinema.

During the exhausting heatwave in early August, the Corbiere Path as usual, proved the perfect location to remain cool when it was too hot for the beaches.

I was invited to talk live online through Zoom to Charlie McArdle on BBC Radio Guernsey’s Saturday morning show, discussing Beethoven 250, the C19 pandemic’s devastating effect on the performing arts, and Surrey Opera’s shelved 50th Birthday celebrations.

Many of my colleagues who are longing to return to the stage as fast as possible don’t quite understand the repercussion of C19 if they are by any misfortune infected. Scientists now know that even if somebody survives the most acute form of the virus, this can nevertheless cause permanent lung and tissue damage, the death knell of any career for a singer or actor who relies on vocal stamina onstage. Where we all go from here is still something of a conundrum.

As I write, we have had one of the hottest days of the summer, but the early evening breeze is just starting to kick in thankfully.

I’ve been visiting Jersey since the early 1970’s as a child, so I’ve followed all the changes here over the years, warmly recall the TV series ‘Bergerac’, (I was most surprised to hear from my Polish wife, Katarzyna, that John Nettles was a heart-throb in Poland in the 1980’s - how on earth did they get this BBC show on TV there?)

Another noteworthy point. I had the honour of knowing the late movie memorabilia collector David Gainsborough Roberts, a resident of the Island who had amassed a most impressive collection of Hollywood artifacts from the golden age. I was most humbled and deeply moved, that he had collated most of Marilyn Monroe’s film costumes, although by all accounts his family could’t understand why on earth he was buying up historic movie costumes. He probably had the last laugh on his death, though I have no idea who the buyers were for Marilyn’s iconic movie wardrobe. He mounted a memorable exhibition here on Jersey one summer, so I had the amazing experience of standing a few centimetres from all the costumes Marilyn wore herself in most of her seminal movies.

David also owned Charles Chaplin’s personal violin in his collection. As a fellow Lambeth boy, born right next to the old Victorian Lambeth Workhouse at the children’s hospital in the 1970’s, (the Chaplin boys spent some time in the ghastly workhouse on this site) this was of course of interest.

Let’s hope that before too long, around Europe and the UK, we might see a world again we have tragically lost through the C19 pandemic.

With Reg at Reg's Garden

And so a few more weeks then back to Blighty, and as a Londoner a place I barely recognize. Part ghost town, part semi-tourist attraction, with Restaurants, bars and Cafe’s struggling for their dear life and Theatres, Clubs and Performance Venues still closed. It seems we are in for something of a bumpy ride for a good while yet. Let’s hope by Spring 2021, we can all start to bounce back to something resembling social normality.

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 53

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Back to e Garden

By Nigel Jones

Permaculture design courses are sometimes just about gardening. They teach you about compost making, no-dig gardening, companion or ‘guild’ planting, patterns and relationships. Permaculture is about much more than gardening, however. The word itself is a contraction of ‘permanent’ combined either with ‘culture’ or with ‘agriculture.’ Some say both, because you can’t have life without food, and you can’t have culture without thriving life.

What is it that is impermanent about our present culture – and agriculture? By impermanent we mean unsustainable.

By unsustainable we mean that we are heading for the buffers, for a full stop, in various ways. In 1972 a report was published called ‘The Limits to Growth’ that described some of the ways mainstream economic thinking was leading to a crash a dead end.

These days, the ideas have been further refined and are sometimes referred to as Planetary Boundaries. Academics have identified nine fundamental measurements that cover the ways in

which human life puts pressure on the rest of the living world.

Of these nine, it is already known that mankind’s pressure on at least climate change, biodiversity loss and nitrogen pollution have already crossed safe planetary boundaries.

Oxford University economist Kate Raworth has developed a concept called ‘Doughnut economics.’ It is necessary to make some impact on the living world if humans are to live and thrive.

In a just world, there are minimum levels of food security, health, housing, energy, water and other requirements for every human alive. Nonetheless, the planetary boundaries mentioned above still apply.

Combined, we get a safe area, not too little and not too much, for each of our species’ needs in life. When the metrics are plotted as axes radiating out from a point, the safe area appears like a ring doughnut on the page. If our present achievements are marked on each axis and joined up, a spiky star appears showing too little effort in some social areas and way too much greedy damage in others.

Environmental doughnut infographic 54 | www.thejerseylife.co.uk

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

The city of Amsterdam has announced that its ‘new normal’ after the Covid-19 crisis will be based on doughnut economic principles. The US cities of Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon, have made similar pledges while Copenhagen, Durban, Lisbon, New York City, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and Vancouver are involved in similar planning.

So, yes - the plight of our human civilisation and the urgency of our need to establish a sustainable, more permanent way of doing things goes much wider than gardening. So why the interest in fruit, nuts, pulses, vegetables, compost and fungal networks? It’s because we are alive: we are living animals on a land that supports us, indeed upon the very land that grew us.

Permaculture is about being in an ongoing conversation with the living world. Plants, animals, insects, all of us, make up a continually changing, diverse and intelligent family. A family that has always been there for us. This broader family life can give us – alternately and at the same time – sharp hard knocks, sweet insights, and gentle abundance. This living family is actually the real world.

In this world, money means nothing and ownership is an illusion.

It is not possible for a human to own land any more than a spider owns the bush where she spins her web. What really matters is what we give and what we get. The real currencies are our relationships, our kindness and our communication. The three ethics of permaculture are Earth care, people care and fair shares.

We are far from this ideal in most of our working and everyday lives. One thing that may help us to get there might be gardens, and I am particularly interested in community gardens.

In a permaculture community garden, there may be a 'head gardener' or project leader, but the idea is for everyone to be involved. This means people who live around the garden, and some who walk a little further, up to maybe about 100 people.

Everyone nurtures, plants, tends and shares the harvests.

We also all sit on the benches, drink the tea, and chat, laugh and make plans together.

Such gardens could of course mean free food for those involved, like the lovely 'help yourself' bed outside the Town Church in St Helier, but bigger, more abundant, and with more people involved. I would like to help develop plans for a community garden in the new extension to the Millennium Town Park. I can see room for another in People's Park, perhaps at the back on the sloping part. Instead of some of the mown grass around flats, like at Le Marais and at Les Quennevais, they would be ideal.

The principle of a community garden is a commons. A commons is well-defined thing. Wikipedia is a commons, and so is Linux, the software that underlies Android in most of the world’s smartphones. It has been said that a commons consists of three things: the goods or assets held in common, the people who tend, create and look after those assets, and thirdly the rules that those people presently want to put into place to manage and sustain those assets. I can see many ways in which such thinking would make a big difference to our lives.

Nigel Jones is chair of Jersey in Transition. His philosophy is that all living things are intimately and very snugly connected together, and that we always have been.

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 55

TRAVEL

All aboard for a city-break in

Brunel’s Bristol

by Rebecca Underwood

Clifton Suspension Bridge courtesy Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust

Being Brunel

SS Great Britain - credit Max McClure

Bristol is recognised as one of the UK’s most popular tourism destinations and in 2014 and 2017 it was declared, by the Sunday Times, to be the best British city in which to reside. Bristol offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into its intriguing heritage and rich maritime history, and the opportunity to view the engineering masterpieces of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Born in Portsmouth in 1806, Brunel was sent by his French engineer father, Sir Marc, to study in France. At sixteen years of age he worked with his father on the design of the 'Gaz' engine, which was powered by gas as an alternative to steam. Four years later he held the post of chief engineer on his father's project to build the Thames Tunnel from Rotherhithe to Wapping, which was an outstanding success. Today, Isambard Kingdom Brunel is still revered as one of the most skilful figures of the Industrial Revolution and one of Britain’s greatest civil, structural and marine engineers. He designed dockyards, steamships, bridges, viaducts, tunnels and locomotives and he was the celebrity of his day. As chief engineer of the Great Western Railway he surveyed the entire route from London to Bristol on horseback, and he developed the Great Western Steam Ship Company's first propeller-driven iron-hulled ship to carry passengers from Bristol to North America.

London Paddington station was designed by Brunel and opened in 1854 and I decided to hop on the Great Western Railway train direct to Bristol and find out more.

Once on board, I settled back in my comfortable seat, whilst observing social distancing and wearing my face mask. Cocooned in the comfort and style of a first-class carriage and soothed by the clickety-clack of the track, I admired the charming and tranquil views of the English countryside from the windows and my journey was a real treat.

Brunel at Paddington

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I disembarked at Bristol Temple Meads railway station; the oldest covered railway terminus in the world, which opened in 1878 and was also

TRAVEL

Premier Suites Bristol Cabot Circus

Brunel's plaque displayed on the Clifton Suspension Bridge designed by Brunel. I made my way outside and boarded a local bus, bound for the Premier Suites Bristol Cabot Circus, which is located on Quarker’s Friars, in the centre of the city. And for those of us keen on a spot of retail therapy, the building is a few steps from the main entrance of Harvey Nichols!

Premier Suites Bristol Cabot Circus offers modern serviced apartments, which are ideal for families as each one or two bedroom apartment’s measures either 45 or 60 square metres.

Features include an open plan lounge with a pair of plump comfy sofas and a flat screen television, a dining area, and a fully equipped kitchen, which includes a hob, oven with grill, microwave, toaster, kettle, fridge-freezer, dish washer, and every utensil needed to whip up a breakfast, lunch or dinner to suit busy timetables. A separate utility area houses a washer/dryer, iron and ironing board. My airy apartment featured two bedrooms and two spacious bathrooms (one en-suite) with wall to wall tiling, one with a shower and the other with a bath and over-head shower and each with a generous selection of Paul Costelloe toiletries.

My ultra-comfortable double bed, swathed in crisp, white linens, resulted in a long leisurely lie-in and after a hearty home-cooked English breakfast I hopped on a local bus headed for the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Brunel’s first project at the age of only 23.

The construction lasted for 33 years and the bridge opened in 1864, alas, it was five years after Brunel passed away. Traversing the Avon Gorge and the River Avon the bridge is grade one listed and is among Bristol’s top tourist attractions. With a length of 412 metres and a width of 9.45 metres it is simply magnificent.

After admiring the splendid, panoramic views from the bridge and my head still in the clouds I took another local bus and made my way to view yet another masterpiece designed by Brunel.

The sight of the SS Great Britain at the Great Western Dockyard is glorious. Slowly wandering along her decks, I reflected on her long and fascinating history. Launched in 1843, with Prince Albert in attendance, the SS Great Britain was the longest purpose-built passenger ship in the world combining an iron hull with screw propulsion. At 98 metres in length, a beam of 15.39 metres, a draught of 4.88 metres and a speed of 10 to 11 knots, the SS Great Britain was the talk of the nation. The three decks provided accommodation for 360 passengers and 120 crew members and featured a sumptuous saloon, ladies boudoirs, a dining saloon and a steward’s galley. The vessel’s maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York in 1845 took only 14 days and 21 hours.

In 1852 the ship was sold and adapted and set sail for Australia

carrying up to 700 emigrants. After many years as a passenger ship the vessel was converted to carry cargo from England to the west coast of America. In 1886 she suffered severe damage whilst sailing off Cape Horn and her captain steered her to the nearest port of refuge in the Falkland Islands where she was sold to the Falkland Islands Company. The ship’s working life ended in 1933 and she was abandoned until she was rescued in 1970 and returned to Bristol on a huge floating pontoon, pulled by tugs and having sailed around the world 32 times her arduous restoration began.

A wander around the ‘Being Brunel’ exhibition, adjacent to the SS Great Britain, is highly recommended and I was enthralled by many of Brunel’s possessions on display including a small scrap of paper with an impressive and detailed drawing of a rocking horse, which he created when he was only six years of age.

The time flew by relentlessly and there were still so many exhibits demanding my attention but my city-break was coming to an untimely end. I reluctantly left the Great Western Dockyard but my spirits were lifted when I reflected on the wise words of Isambard Kingdom Brunel 'Nil desperandum has always been my motto'.

'Top tip' Accommodation Premier Suites, known for ‘bringing home a little closer’, offers the perfect alternative to a traditional hotel stay. For more information on the featured property and more around the UK and Europe visit premiersuiteseurope.com 'Top tip' Transport Avoid the roads and travel in style and comfort with Great Western Railway direct from London Paddington to Bristol in 94 minutes. For more information visit gwr.com * Be sure of safe travel by wearing a face covering (unless exempt), maintaining social distance, washing hands throughout the journey, and using e tickets and contactless payment.

‘Top tip’ Attractions For a fun-filled family day out Bristol Zoo is one of the city's most popular attractions. Residents include gorillas, sloths, Asiatic lions, African penguins, meerkats and much more. For more information visit bristolzoo.org.uk. And for more information on the SS Great Britain visit ssgreatbritain.org 'Top tip' local transport Purchase an 'mTicket' from the free First Bus app and get around with ease. Unlimited travel for 1, 7 or more consecutive days on First buses, including metrobus but excluding Airport Flyer services. For more information visit firstgroup.com/bristol SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 57

FASHION

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HOME FASHION LIVING

COULD CRYSTAL JEWELLERY CHANGE YOUR LIFE? 5 ENERGY-ALTERING STONES YOU CAN WEAR EVERYDAY Whether you believe in their mystical powers or not, these gemstone jewels are undeniably pretty, says Katie Wright...

Crystals have been used in jewellery for centuries - because what's not to love about their gorgeous, glinting colours?

But recently, the semi-precious stones have taken on new meaning, as crystal healing has become increasingly popular with millennials - and celebrities.

Katy Perry says she loves the amorous effects of rose quartz, Kim Kardashian claims crystal helped her recover after her Paris burglary incident, and Victoria Beckham believes in their power so much that she designed a range of crystal necklaces and charms as part of her autumn/winter collection.

"I like to surround myself with positive energy, so I was so excited to have been able to include gemstone jewels in my collection this season," the fashion designer wrote on Instagram, alongside a ÂŁ350 six-stone necklace which promptly sold out.

SO HOW CAN THESE SHINY STONES HELP US? "When we are doing crystal healing, we're looking for blockages," explains Reeya Avani, a crystal therapist and dealer (reeyaavani.com) who performs hour-long sessions with her clients, placing crystals on the seven 'chakra' points of the body. "It's the energy of the crystals that work with your energy, removing the negative energy and making you feel better," she adds.

Avani says removing blockages can alleviate physical and emotional ailments and even help your career - but it should be pointed out that sceptics say there's no evidence crystals can do anything of the sort.

We say each to their own. Magical effects aside, crystal jewellery is beautiful - and even if it doesn't change your life, it will certainly aid you aesthetically.

Here, Avani talks us through five types of crystals and how they can (possibly) effect you, and we match her recommendations with the coolest jewellery...

1. Rose quartz "I certainly use rose quartz. It helps open the heart chakra, it helps when you are going through hard times emotionally, so it gives you emotional support. Its very calming, it's good for pain.

It's good for depression and anger," says Avani.

2. Lapis lazuli "There's a mix of different crystals that will help with the physical side. Lapis lazuli is good for back pain. "I would generally use blue stones on our throat chakra," adds Avani.

"Crystals like aqua aura and lapis lazuli give you confidence. They work on the throat and help give you the confidence to speak for yourself."

3. Amethyst "Mental stones - a big one I would say is amethyst, it helps with the third eye, which is just below the crown," says Avani.

"That's the mental part of the body, so it helps you think.

It will absorb your negative energy from inside and from your environment."

4. Clear quartz "There are some crystals which are high vibration crystals; I always put clear quartz in the corners [when doing healing], which magnifies the crystals being used on the centre of the body.

"If you want the best from your work, you should have a good work environment. Clear quartz is good to have in the office."

5. Aventurine "There are also crystals that help with heart problems, such a cholesterol and high blood pressure. By wearing, say, green aventurine regularly, you will feel better - it balances [the energy] and your cholesterol comes down," says Avani.

(We're not in any way suggesting crystals are an alternative to heart medication!)

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 59

RECIPE

Lunchbox Recipes!

Forget soggy sandwiches and banish dull lunchtimes with our lunch on the go ideas. Easy, quick and inspiring ways you can to reclaim your lunch hour, our salads, sarnies & snacks are all portable, delicious & filling

ASPARAGUS, BROAD BEAN MINT AND MOZZARELLA BRUSCHETTA Makes 4, Serves 4 as a starter or snack Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes You’ll need: 300g podded and shelled broad beans 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil plus an extra drizzle at the end 1 lemon, juiced A handful mint leaves, saving a few small ones back to garnish Salt and pepper for seasoning 100g British asparagus, cut in half lengthways 4 slices rustic white bread, such as sourdough 1 garlic clove, peeled but left whole 1 small ball (approx.150g) of buffalo mozzarella, roughly torn What to do: Cook the broad beans in boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain, refresh under cold water, drain again, then peel from their skins.

Use the back of a fork to roughly crush the beans with the olive oil and lemon juice, then stir through the mint. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cook the British asparagus in boiled salted water for 1 to 2 minutes and drain under cold water too.

Heat a griddle pan, toast the bread on both sides, then rub with the garlic clove. Spoon some of the beans over each slice of bread, scatter over the British asparagus, mint and mozzarella and drizzle with more olive oil to serve.

Credit: www.british-asparagus.co.uk

MUFFIN TIN FRITTATAS WITH SHALLOTS, ROAST NEW POTATOES, HAM AND PEAS These individual frittatas are great served alfresco as a part of a picnic or packed into a lunchbox on a work day.

Makes: 6 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 30-35 minutes You’ll need: 150g baby new potatoes, quartered 3 shallots, sliced into chunky rings 2 tbsp olive oil a pinch of dried herbs 5 eggs 30g freshly grated parmesan a handful of frozen peas a couple of slices of ham, chopped salt & freshly ground black pepper You will also need a 6 hole muffin tin.

What to do: Preheat the oven to 180°C fan. Tip the potatoes and shallots into a small roasting tin. Sprinkle over the herbs and season well with salt and pepper. Drizzle over half the olive oil, tossing to cover the potatoes and slide into the oven to roast for 15-20 minutes, stirring half way through cooking, until they are just cooked through. Lightly beat the eggs in a jug then stir through two thirds of the parmesan and set aside. A few minutes before the potato and shallot are due out the oven, drizzle the rest of the olive oil into the holes of the muffin tin and brush well all over. Slide into the oven to heat up. Remove the hot tin and the roasted potatoes and shallots from the oven. Quickly pour the egg mixture into the holes of the muffin tin, whilst the oil is still hot (this will help prevent sticking). Then divide the roast vegetables evenly between, spooning them in gently. Finally gently scatter over the peas and ham, so the egg doesn’t spill out, they will be quite full. Sprinkle over the reserved parmesan.

Slide the tin into the oven and bake for about 12 minutes until the egg has just set. When removed from the oven allow to cool in the tin for a few minutes or so, then slide a knife around to release. Serve warm or leave to cool to room temperature before storing in the fridge.

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Credit: www.ukshallot.com

RECIPE

BERRYWORLD STRAWBERRY ROCKY ROAD Our strawberry rocky road is a decadent and quick way to indulge. Whip up a batch when you’re expecting visitor, just don’t expect it to last long! It’s the ultimate naughty but nice snack.

Serves: 6 Preparation time: 15 minutes You’ll need: 400g plain chocolate 2 tbsp golden syrup 50g unsalted butter 250g strawberries, hulled and halved 1 apple peeled and cut into chunks 100g blanched almonds 100g dried sour cherries Icing sugar to dust What to do: Line an 8” square tin or small roasting tray with greaseproof paper. Melt the chocolate, syrup and butter over a pan of simmering water. In a bowl, mix the strawberries, apple, nuts and cherries. Once the chocolate has melted, pour over the fruit and nuts and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin, and allow to set. Turn the Rocky Road out, and cut into chunks before dusting with icing sugar.

Credit: www.berryworld.com

BEETROOT & BUTTERBEAN HUMMUS WITH CELERY WEDGES Team up butterbeans and beetroot in this seriously tasty dip that’s perfect served with crunchy crudites like celery, carrots and cucumber.

Serves: 4-6 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: none You’ll need: for the dip 250g cooked beetroot dipped in vinegar (not pickled) 1 tin butterbeans (410g), drained & rinsed 1-2 cloves garlic, crushed small bunch fresh chives, finely chopped (reserve a few for garnish) 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil sea salt & freshly ground black pepper to serve plenty of celery stalks, chopped into small batons ½ cucumber chopped into small batons 2 medium carrots, chopped into small batons What to do: Chop the beetroot into small dice, set aside in a medium bowl.

In a food processor blitz the butterbeans with the garlic, chives and olive oil. Season to taste with sea salt & freshly ground black pepper.

Transfer into the bowl with the beetroot and gently fold through to mix. Spoon into a serving bowl, drizzle with a little extra olive oil and garnish with a few snipped chives.

Serve as a dip with pitta crisps, or part of a salad lunch spread.

Credit: www.lovethecrunch.com

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 61

MOTORING

LAND ROVER DEFENDER By Darren Cassey The new Land Rover Defender promises traditional off-road abilities with new-found on-road composure but how does it fare? Darren Cassey finds out...

WHAT IS IT? When discussing the greatest off-road-capable cars ever produced, few come close to the classic Land Rover Defender. The iconic 4x4, which has its roots way back in the 1940s, became the go-to vehicle for those who need off-road capability and nothing else. However, as buying habits changed and rivals became more capable, the traditional Defender needed shaking up.

Revealed last year, the new Defender has burst onto the scene with a cool new look, better-than-ever off-road abilities - but a new-found air of luxury, comfort, and driveability on the road too.

Facts at a glance Model as tested: Land Rover Defender 110 D240 S Engine: 2.0-litre diesel Power: 240bhp Torque: 430Nm Max speed: 117mph 0-60mph: 9.9 seconds MPG: 31.7 - 29.3 Emissions: 234 - 253g/km CO2

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MOTORING

Some purists have decried the fact it's no longer the rugged, utilitarian 4x4 of the past. But by keeping its traditional abilities while appealing to a new, more lifestyle-focused audience, does Land Rover have a massive hit on its hands? We put the new Defender to the test on urban streets, country roads, boggy forests and boring motorways to find out...

WHAT'S NEW? The new Defender is so far removed from the car it replaces that it's not even worth comparing the two. It sits on a vehicle platform that's '95% new' compared with the current Land Rover range, and made from lightweight aluminium that's been upgraded for 'extreme' capabilities.

It's three times stiffer than traditional designs, features independent suspension and can integrate electrified powertrains.

It also gets the latest version of Land Rover's Terrain Response, which is now configurable so that off-road experts can tweak settings to their own preference, while the latest Pivi Pro infotainment system is also introduced, including over the air software updates.

There's also that all-new look, the latest engines (including a plugin hybrid later), 90 (three-door) and 110 (five-door) body styles as well as a commercial version... the list of newness is endless.

WHAT'S UNDER THE BONNET? The plug-in hybrid engine is arguably the biggest news, but since that's not available at launch we've been testing the D240 engine, which will likely be the most popular.

It's a twin-turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel unit from the latest family of JLR Ingenium engines. Its stats are 240bhp, 430Nm of torque, fuel economy of up to 31.7mpg and CO2 emissions up to 253g/km.

For a car like this, that torque figure is arguably the most important, because when you're on a boggy forest track you need it to help pull you out of trouble. On the road, it's impressively quiet, while power is more than adequate for most situations.

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? There are two aspects to the driving experience - on-road and off-road.

We tested the Defender in the forests surrounding Eastnor Castle, not far from JLR HQ and the place where the car was tested during production. There are three tyre options: the standard road tyre, an off-road tyre, and a compromise between the two, which is what our test car was fitted with. You wouldn't have known it.

While the Defender unsurprisingly found little issue with dry, dusty paths, no matter how steep, at times the route would turn to a gooey, chalky mess. The Defender never hesitated. There was barely any slip, with the on-board technology taking over and giving pure confidence that any terrain is passable, even without the top-spec tyre.

And when the road became narrow or sharp crests appeared, the on-board cameras made them a breeze to navigate. It was almost boringly easy.

On the road? Excellent. Again, you'd expect a lot of tyre noise from the 'compromise' tyre, but if you didn't know you'd think it was quiet enough to be a road-focused tyre. The ride is sublime too, ironing out bumps to make for carpet-like comfort, while wind and road noise is minimal at motorway speeds, too.

There are a couple of complaints. Although it's fantastically comfortable, that high centre of gravity and soft suspension does lead to a lot of head wobble when the road gets particularly bumpy.

Meanwhile, the gearbox is frustratingly slow to respond to inputs, which is likely related to hitting emissions targets. Overall though, it drives much better on the road than any car this good off-road should.

HOW DOES IT LOOK? One of the toughest jobs for any car designer is reimagining an icon, but when the new Defender was revealed, there can't have been many who were disappointed with how it turned out. continues overleaf...

SEPTEMBER ISSUE | 63

MOTORING

Its boxy, upright stance remains, with enough chunky design features to give it the rugged looks its abilities deserve. There are nods to the old model to keep aficionados happy too, while that side-opening rear door gives it real character and allows for a full-size spare wheel to be attached.

There are two body styles available - three-door (90) and fivedoor (110) - with the latter commanding a slight premium. There's some more cool charm attached to the three-door, but for family life, the five-door's extra space and practicality can't be ignored.

WHAT'S IT LIKE INSIDE? The interior has been one of the most contentious issues among enthusiasts, but for the general public, there's nothing to complain about. Land Rover has managed to give the cabin a touch of luxury, with some expensive-feeling materials, chic design, and the new infotainment system, while keeping a more rugged look in places.

For example, there are exposed bolts in the door cards, and a metal structural element is visible in the dashboard. These have been integrated in a way that doesn't detract from the premium feel while also hinting at its tougher abilities.

Gone are the days of cramped interiors too. While classic Defenders were famed for having little room up front, the new one feels big and spacious inside. If you're looking for a family car it'll do a fantastic job of carrying multiple people and all their things.

WHAT'S THE SPEC LIKE? At launch, there are four trim levels available: Defender, Defender S, Defender SE and Defender HSE. There are also two separate models, called First Edition and Defender X. The entry level Defender 110 includes 18-inch steel wheels, LED headlights, fabric upholstery, sat nav and all the off-road

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technology you could require. Upgrade to the S and you get 19-inch alloy wheels, part-leather upholstery, and an integrated driver display.

SE adds 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with the signature DRL and LED taillights, front fog lights, a leather steering wheel and the upgraded Meridian sound system. The HSE gets different 20-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, a folding fabric roof, and full leather upholstery.

First Edition models add electronic air suspension, configurable terrain response, a heated steering wheel and khaki leather upholstery. And finally, the Defender X gets more advanced off-road abilities, a sliding panoramic roof, and two-tone leather upholstery.

VERDICT The Land Rover Defender had an almost impossible task on its hands, appealing to those who have long loved its no-nonsense ruggedness as well as those looking for a practical, characterful family runaround.

After a day behind the wheel, it's fair to say it has succeeded in its task. Our tricky off-road route was mere child's play for the Defender, yet when we took it to the Tarmac it was quiet, refined and comfortable with fantastic entertainment technology on-board.

The high-spec versions are too plush and too expensive to be considered for a truly workhorse lifestyle, but there are more affordable options at the bottom of the range, not least the forthcoming commercial version. It's safe to say Land Rover has nailed the brief.

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HISTORY

Tell e stories at want to be told

BY PAUL DARROCH

Five million nights or so ago, a fiery sun set over Jersey.

It glinted over the steep snowfields of our plateau, in an age when the ice still held the world in its grip.

A band of hunters had crossed the endless tundra to come here. Somewhere to the north, the sluggish Channel river, miles wide, marked the boundary of the earth.

In the midst of this desolation, at the encampment known to us as Les Varines, early people started to carve images onto flat stones. They etched abstract likenesses that might have been animals, landscapes, men and women. They began to connect, to embed meaning, to tell stories.

We know nothing of these people, their names or their lives.

They might be shadows, but the work of their hands remains.

And, some fifteen thousand years later, in August 2020, Jersey found itself on the front pages, with the discovery of the oldest art in the British Isles.

Stories – whether told through images or words – are a fundamental part of being human. They help people process memories and meaning, both as an individual and as a society.

In times past in Ireland, the roaming storyteller, or seanchaí, was a prized custodian of history. Even today, several major corporations employ storytellers specifically to embed the culture and identity of a business. If you embrace creative writing this season and put pen to paper, you will be entering into one of the greatest human traditions.

Storytelling is not just a job for the greats; it’s open to all of us.

In Jersey, we may recall the iconic image of Victor Hugo, sat upon Le Rocher des Proscrits at Le Dicq, gazing out across the waters he could not bridge, towards his cherished homeland. The fact that we can never aspire to write Les Misérables should not deter us from sharing the stories we can.

Don’t be deterred if the field is crowded; simply tell something fresh, from a new angle. Jersey’s history has been chronicled many times, but I chose to write Jersey: The Hidden Histories from an immersive, first-person perspective. Instead of focusing on the well-worn terrain of the Occupation, or simply starting “at the beginning”, I opened the Island’s story in the midst of the rain-drenched summer of 1912.

The book opened with an event that would have struck onlookers as dramatic and exhilarating – the very first aeroplane landing in St Aubin’s Bay on August 26, 1912. This was the same month when an unknown Charlie Chaplin cavorted in the Battle of Flowers and was captured on cine-camera for the first time.

This sepia-tinged summer, poised on the precipice of the Great War, struck a genuine emotional chord with me.

Only when I had established this setting did I plunge back into the deep past and start the Island’s story with the first hunters crossing the river valley to claim the high ground that one day would become Jersey. The story then traversed the centuries, and eventually circled back to end on the same day it had begun, with the departure of the first aviators on August 26, 1912.

Writing is a marvellous pursuit. You are seeking permission to occupy a space in a stranger’s mind, to entertain them and share your story. The seething and boisterous world of characters, places and events that exists in your own mind is somehow going to pass through the page and be re-created by someone else.

Some writers prefer to employ formulas to achieve this impact – they speak of the “seven basic plots”, of classic tropes such as the hero’s journey, the tragedy, or the rags-to-riches tale. I prefer to mine history itself for true stories that already read as if they might be novels. I look for the stories that want to be told.

Many writers fret unduly over commerciality. If something strikes you as emotionally poignant or compelling, then chances it will also appeal to others too. If it does not, then it will still likely find its own readership in time.

It took a hundred and fifty centuries for the buried stones of Les Varines to be unearthed and exposed to the light. Today their story offers us a tantalising glimpse of another world.

The story that wants to be told will find its way home.

Paul Darroch is the author of Jersey: The Hidden Histories and Jersey: Secrets of the Sea, available as Seaflower paperbacks and on Amazon Kindle.

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Occupation Reconciliation The Life and Times of Michael Ginns MBE

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“This book is a treasure trove of information for anyone interested in Jersey’s Occupation history.”

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